: , , . Dela Kofi 08.08.2017 LISTEN A leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Dela Coffie has asked why former President John Mahama should lead the NDC again in 2020 upon the abysmal performance at the 2016 polls. Mr Coffie came under serious criticism after declaring the coming back of former President John Dramani Mahama would be doom for the NDC party. In a sharp rebuttal, Mr Dela Coofie said, "people are dying to hear a very strong argument that completely nullifies the argument being put forward by those of us on the other side". He asked, " am i a traitor for being critical of the fact that some people want to bring back a candidate that has not served the party well in the last elections?". Dela Coffie who was once the communications director for Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, FONKAR has been calling for new presidential candidate for the NDC. Below is the rebuttal of Dela Coffie: Dela Coffie writes! So, I came across one of those intellectually lazy rebuttals to my earlier article from a supposed leading light among the latter day appostles of John Mahama. Indeed, it was a jaw dropping experience reading that piece. And to think that such a hollow write up could come from a trained legal practitioner beats my mind. In his attempt to rubbish my article, this sleazy writer with scant regards for substance says some appointees of Rawlings were imprisoned but it never damaged Prof Mill's candidature and so prosecution of former president Mahama's appointees won't affect his come back in 2020. You see the level of their thinking? Did Rawlings contest elections after the prosecution of his former appointees? Did he loose election as a sitting President based on a corruption rhetoric as propagated by the then opposition? And was Rawlings humiliated at the polls with an embarrassing outcome? Can't these John Mahama minions even attempt to try and make an argument or defend their blind allegiance? Have their brains all rotted that much? In any event, shoudn't we be looking at a meaningful ways to discuss the prudence in bringing JM back after such an abysmal performance at the 2016 polls? I have been asking legitimte questions over the last few months as to why folks want the return of JM after his overwhelming rejection at the polls. Till date, not a single chronicler of the Mahama court has been able to put together a compelling advocacy in support of his comeback. I almost passed out when I took a second look at the attempted sophistry by this young lawyer loyalist of JM. His article on brain power lacked the scholarly patina, and could not even appeal to preschoolers. Intriguingly, those who have never picked up a pen to put together intellectual work worthy of critique are the ones who engages in behaviours that are untypical of engaging minds. And this ingrate have the effrontry to call me a traitor for expressing dissenting opinion on John Mahama's 2020 comeback? Really? Vampires can't see their reflection in mirrors, right? Why would a learned mind call me a traitor for putting on the table scholarly work worthy of intellectual discussion? What makes me a traitor for questioning the status quo that Ghanaians have roundly rejected? I am a traitor for being critical of the fact that some people want to bring back a candidate that has not served the party well in the last elections? So whoever offers critique of JM2020 comeback is a hater, traitor and an enemy? We hate him and yet stood by him and championed his 2016 candidature and re-election bid? What is it with this twisted mentality with which some people do their politics in this country? It has been my experience that JM loyalists are universally incapable of accepting obvious truths about him and, by extension, themselves, rendering any discourse pointless. Not only is their unrefined gatekeeping attitude a disgrace to our party, it also exposes to the larger public the level of our intellectuality, and crudity in accommodating opposing views. Let it be known to them that some of us were raised to always think outside of the box and never be a sheep. I am not afraid to debate anyone. I dont cringe in the face of controversies. In my world, no topic is a taboo, no matter the discomfort it creates. Indeed, I am not a pleaser, and I dont give due consideration to party folks who have tried, without success, to twist our hands to tinker with issues that affect our collective good as a party. If you are a believer in JM2020 agenda, and want voters and potential voters to support John Mahama's candidature, put forward a very convincing and cogent argument in support of him. People are dying to hear a very strong argument that completely nullifies the argument being put forward by those of us on the other side. Take up the challenge now, or just shut it. Enough said!! Source: Daniel Kaku Lagos (AFP) - A Nigerian court has confiscated the $37 million luxury apartment complex of a former oil minister accused of fraud and money laundering as well as rental proceeds from the properties. Lagos high court judge Chuka Obiozor on Monday also ordered ex-minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to handover more than $2.7 million (2.3 million euros) that she made leasing the apartments. Since leaving office in 2015, Alison-Madueke has been implicated in bribery, fraud, misuse of public funds, and money laundering cases in Nigeria, Britain, Italy and the United States. The first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC -- who was one of Africa's most prominent female politicians -- has always denied the allegations, which involve billions of dollars syphoned from oil deals and state accounts. The ruling followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that followed an uncontested temporary forfeiture order issued last month. The anti-graft agency had accused Alison-Madueke of acquiring the apartment complex on Lagos' ultra-chic Banana Island with stolen government cash. Banana Island is a gated community which is home to business tycoons, top politicians and celebrities. Alison-Madueke was appointed the country's first female oil minister by former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2010. She is currently on police bail in London after being arrested in connection with a British probe into international corruption and money laundering. Her name has also featured in a bribery complaint in the United States and a corruption investigation in Italy over a $1.3 billion oil deal between ENI and Shell. President Muhammadu Buhari, elected in 2015 on an anti-corruption platform, is seeking to stamp-out Nigeria's widespread graft. The 74-year-old retired general said after taking office that "mind-boggling" sums had been stolen from the public purse over the years. Investigators have arrested several high-ranking officials from Jonathan's administration on corruption charges, but few have been convicted. A former deputy Chief of Staff Valerie Sawyer has urged former President JJ Rawlings to go and help the fight against illegal mining at Denkyira-Boasi now New Boasi, if he has nothing challenging to do. In an epistle addressed to the NDC founder, the media-shy politician accused Rawlings of hypocrisy in his consistent attacks on his predecessors, aside President Akufo-Addo. The galamsey problem is still in existence despite the fact that the Government is trying to pretend that it has gone away. I am sure you are needed in places like Denkyira Obuasi to help clamp down on the menace. This will help your twin brother President Akufo-Addo fulfill his anti-galamsey promise. Even though he did promise the galamseyers before the 2016 elections that he would leave them to ply their trade. Hmmm confusion here, there and everywhere! The army worms have destroyed a lot of our crops, signaling some level of food shortage in the country in the not too distant future. Under better regimes, the Ministry of Defence and the army were brought in quickly to deal with the problem anytime the worms reared their heads, she wrote. Mrs. Sawyer also called on the leadership of the NDC to be bold and challenge the claims of their founder. NDC, where are our men and women? NDC where are our leaders? I challenge you to rise and speak the truth unblemished and fearlessly!!! The truth can be told by all no man or woman is the sole repository of truth! Below are details of the letter by Valerie Sawyer They say he booms I say he buzzes like an agitated mosquito looking for his next victim. Again, he heads for other Heads of State describing their governance as riddled with corruption. Is he trying to say that his reign was unblemished or that his twin brothers (President Akufo-Addo) reign is unsullied? Really? Who born dog in fact who born monkey? BOST sells 5 million litres of contaminated fuel to a non-registered non-licensed company, Movinpinaa Energy, under questionable circumstances and he has not seen or heard? Indeed, the matter is before the High Court Suit No. GJ 1010/17. Minister for Finance issues US$2.25 billion worth of bonds, 95% of which is purchased by Franklyn Templeton Investment Limited under opaque circumstances giving rise to conflict of interest issues, and he has not seen or heard? There is a suit before the High Court requesting for certain details of the transaction; a Petition before CHRAJ on conflict of interest issues; a suit before the Supreme Court requesting clarification on whether the Attorney-General can defend the Minister for Finance in a conflict of interest matter; a Petition before the United States Security & Exchange Commission; and a Whistleblower Complaint lodged with the Regulator in Luxemburg (Commission de Surveillance de Secteur Financier). Minister for Interior deports someone under questionable circumstances and the High Court quashes the deportation order, and he has not seen or heard? Suit No. GJ/1034/2017 (Justice Ackaah Boafo). Members of the Philip Addison Committee investigating AMERI are financed by the same AMERI on an overseas trip under unethical circumstances, and he has not seen or heard? Cocaine goes missing at the port under fishy circumstances, and he has not seen or heard? GHC5 million from state coffers is spent on [email protected] celebrations under hazy circumstances, after we have been told that corporate Ghana will sponsor the celebrations, and he has not seen or heard? Has Government been able to tell the nation how much they received from corporate Ghana? I could go on and on Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, the author JJ oooo JJ the great Papa JJ the one and only Junior Jesus the great saint who never does wrong you are still flogging a dead horse the NDC is in Opposition in case you have not noticed, while a living raging bull is moving around with reckless abandon destroying everything it finds in its path including the assets and citizens of this nation. but I guess you really cant see it or you are waiting for it to raise its tusks in avenging rage to gore your eyes out. I hope when the tusks are raised, the bond or pact you have made with the brass band conducting President will be strong enough to cause the tusks to be lowered before they pierce your eyes that see only what you want to see in line with whatever agenda you deem fit. By the way, did you see the President conducting the brass band? Was that the police band or army band? Was it in Ghana or overseas? Ei, Mr. President, what was that? Papa Stone, I hear you said When I talk they say I dont like NDC, no! I dont like stealing, I dont like disgrace so if NDC does good I will praise them if they are bad I will say it as well. Who has said you dont like the NDC? Are you setting your own questions and answering them please? Nobody has said you do not like the NDC. Stop putting words in our mouths. Indeed, some think you crave for the NDC so much that you are prepared to destroy anyone and anything in the NDC if that will suit your agenda to always be in control of the NDC. but I dont blame you Papa J I blame the NDC after you taught us probity, accountability and transparency, why cant we rise to demand same of you? After you taught us to be fearless in upholding the truth, why dont we rise to demand same of you? When you twist and manipulate us, why dont our leaders ask you why you are breaching your own so-called rules? With all due respect, have you named those you KNOW to be involved in corruption? Maybe they will explain to you that the Head of State put the money in a bag and placed it on the plane and that it was used for the good of the country the same way the US$5m (oops US$2m) was placed in a briefcase and put on the plane and was used for the good of the country. Maybe they will explain to you that the luxury car you see in their yard was given to them as a gift by unnamed friends the same way the black convertible Chevy Coupe sports car was given by unnamed friends as a birthday gift. You never know what their explanations would be. It is therefore important that you name them and allow them to have a hearing in line with the rules of natural justice. NDC, where are our men and women? NDC where are our leaders? I challenge you to rise and speak the truth unblemished and fearlessly!!! The truth can be told by all no man or woman is the sole repository of truth! and what is Comrade Martin Amidu also babbling about? Martin, did I not tell you that your pomposity, over-bloated ego and sense of self-importance constitute your Achilles heel? Remember, when I told you (years ago) after a presidential press conference, that a directive had been issued that no appointee should grant a press interview in order to avoid any contradictory statements on air and you screeched who are you small girl like you where were you when I was Attorney General etc etc? Remember I told you that it is your Achilles heel that would destroy you? Barely a week or so after that, you were relieved of your post as Attorney-General after attempting to assault a sitting Head of State? Since then you have become a so-called crusader, sinking lower and lower in the NDC as you seem to rise higher and higher in the NPP. I am not a soothsayer, neither am I a harbinger of gloom and doom but once again I say to you this time with a nation full of witnesses that your Achilles heel will destroy you! Respectfully Martin, cut the crap! You have achieved your aim the NDC is in Opposition. I challenge you to resign from the NDC since you no longer promote the cause of the NDC. Or do you also subscribe to the agenda to destroy to take over? The agenda that is based on the premise that it is easier to take over the NDC when it is in Opposition! Hahahahaha!!! I am waiting for the surrogate groups that will spring up suddenly like jacks in the box (I understand the plural is either jack in the boxes or jacks in the box) to lambast me and everyone or everything that is connected with me the modus operandus is always the same I am waiting for the NDC men and women who will suddenly find their voices and go on air and call me unprintable names the modus operandus is always the same I am waiting for the NDC leadership who will summon me because all of a sudden they have found their disciplinary tongues having been whipped in line by bullies who seek to terrorise those around them the modus operandus is always the same Buzz buzzzzz buzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Papa J, what happened to the anti-malaria crusade you were supposed to have embarked on after you left office? We have not heard much about it. Did you not find enough minions to work on it for you to ensure that you could take the glory? Is it true that you fell out with a majority of those who worked diligently for you at different stages of your journey the Ahwois, the Tsikatas, the Peprahs, the Abodakpis, the PV Obengs (blessed memory), the Sherry Ayiteys, the Kwesi Botchweys, the Martha Tamakloes, the Sipa Yankeys, the Ibrahim Adams, the Mould Iddrisus, the Herbert Mensahs and a whole host of others? I guess the anti-malaria crusade was too calm a crusade for you. Then with all due respect, please look for something more exciting The galamsey problem is still in existence despite the fact that the Government is trying to pretend that it has gone away. I am sure you are needed in places like Denkyira Obuasi to help clamp down on the menace. This will help your twin brother President Akufo-Addo fulfill his anti-galamsey promise. Even though he did promise the galamseyers before the 2016 elections that he would leave them to ply their trade. Hmmm confusion here, there and everywhere! The army worms have destroyed a lot of our crops, signaling some level of food shortage in the country in the not too distant future. Under better regimes, the Ministry of Defence and the army were brought in quickly to deal with the problem anytime the worms reared their heads. This Government was busy doing paperwork to request millions of Cedis to enable them bring the situation under control. Then, finally, the amazingly incompetent Minister for Agriculture lied to the people of Ghana, telling us that the worms had been eradicated when it was not true. He should keep on lying till he wakes up one day to find the worms crawling in his hair but I guess the dye is strong enough to kill them oops! I promised Kwesi Botchway that I would behave myself hehehe after 50 years, most of us women are dying our hair anyway, so why not the men? President Akufo-Addo where are your men and women? Do not be deceived by JJs recent rantings that seem to favour your cause. Your Government in seven months is reeking of corruption. Rise up and do something about it instead of waving that baton with that uninspiring look on your face to the left, up and down to the right, up and down! A man is only as good as his word! and for your information, the primary responsibilities of a conductor is to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble, and to control the interpretation and pacing of the music (Wikipedia). With all due respect, is that what you were doing in the conducting video I saw? Is that what you are doing in governance today? Years ago, we used to have some kind of insect spraying equipment that looked like a pump it had a can which contained the insecticide and a long arm for pumping the insecticide towards the target. Nowadays, we have a simple tall can with a spray nozzle at the top. Maybe it is time to stop the gentle puffs with the modern cans and find one of the old bazookas! The buzzing sound still continues I am going back into hibernation what I choose to call Peaceful Opposition! but before I leave Mr. President, is it true that Peter Mac Manu (former NPP Chairman) was deported from Kenya where he was going to consult for the National Super Alliance (Nasa), Kenyas Opposition Coalition, on control of electoral data? hmmm! I am for peace Shalom!!! August 7, 2017 Nairobi (AFP) - Raila Odinga, Kenya's veteran opposition leader and one-time prime minister, is hoping to go one better than his father in Tuesday's presidential election. The 72-year-old has been a mainstay of Kenyan politics since the 1980s, but has yet to win the top job. So far then, his career has resembled that of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who led the opposition for three decades but never the country. This time round, Odinga leads a coalition called the National Super Alliance (NASA), which hopes to overcome traditional opposition divisions to defeat incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, 55, and his ruling Jubilee Party. The Kenyatta vs. Odinga battle should be the closing chapter in a dynastic political rivalry between the two families. A generation ago, Jaramogi Odinga lost out to Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first post-independence leader. This time around, Uhuru Kenyatta is only allowed to serve one more term, and Odinga is seen as too old to make a fresh bid for the presidency in five years' time. Lifelong presidential ambition Born into political royalty, a member of Kenya's western Luo tribe, Odinga entered parliament in 1992 during the rule of president Daniel arap Moi. He had spent much of the previous decade in prison or in exile during the struggle for democracy. He ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1997, 2007 and 2013, claiming to have been cheated of victory in the last two votes. And many observers agree with Odinga's view that the 2007 election was stolen from him. That result triggered widespread politically motivated tribal violence that left more than 1,100 dead. To stop the killings, international mediators forced a deal that saw the incumbent, Mwai Kibaki, continue as president, while Odinga took the specially created position of prime minister in a power-sharing government. He held the post until 2013 when he ran for president, losing to Kenyatta by a very narrow margin -- and losing his court challenge of the result. A decade on, the violence of 2007 still casts a shadow over Kenya's political landscape and tribal resentment endures. Odinga's backers among the Luos believe they are being denied political power by a cabal of Kikuyu elites currently led by Kenyatta. In rallies and public statements Odinga has said he is "poised for an outright win". He has accused Kenyatta of seeking to rig the election and called on his supporters to "protect our vote" -- a barely veiled threat to take to the streets if they don't like the result. A polarising politician While his supporters consider Odinga a much-needed social reformer, for his detractors he is a rabble-rousing populist unafraid to play the tribal card. He is renowned as a firebrand speaker capable of galvanising a crowd with his oratory. But Odinga also has a reputation for being described as stubborn and sometimes short-tempered. For some observers, he has lost some of his crowd-pleasing skills, which some attribute to ill health and advancing years. Orange power: Odinga has a passionate following among supporters of the National Super Alliance (NASA) party With his speech notes in hand he often stumbles and labours over his words -- especially in English. Speaking off-the-cuff in his native Swahili however, he still has the ability to inspire. Raised an Anglican, he later converted to evangelicalism. In 2009, he was baptised in a Nairobi swimming pool by a self-proclaimed prophet. He studied engineering in communist former East Germany and named his eldest son Fidel, who died in 2015, after the Cuban revolutionary. However observers say the "socialist" and "communist" labels he was given were more an attempt to discredit him by the Moi regime than an accurate reflection of his leanings. After returning to Kenya in 1970 Odinga set up as a businessman before following his father into politics. Nowadays he describes himself as a social democrat who wants to fight inequality. Married, Odinga has three surviving children: Rosemary, Raila Junior and Winnie. The speaker of parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, on Friday traced the roots of the current constitutional dispensation to the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). According to him, the birth of the UGCC laid the solid foundation for the Second, Third and Fourth Republican Constitutions which have cemented constitutional rule in the country. Prof Oquaye, who was delivering a lecture to commemorate the founding of the UGCC under the theme, '4th August, Ghana's Day of Destiny' in Accra on Friday, said the First Republican rule under Dr Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party (CPP) was like an authoritarian or military rule with draconian laws like the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) that effectively wiped out his (Nkrumah's) political opponents and incapacitated rival parties thus, enabling him to declare a one party state under his reign. The public lecture was attended by President Nana Akufo-Addo; former president, J.A. Kufuor; ministers of state; Members of Parliament (MPs) and the 2016 presidential candidate of the CPP. Prof Oquaye said those who founded the UGCC like Dr Joseph Boakye Danquah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Edward Akufo-Addo, William Ofori-Atta, George Alfred Grant, R.S. Blay, J.W. de Graft Johnson, Francis Awoonor Williams and John Tsiboe were the ones who drafted a constitution for self-rule which the 1969, 1979 and 1992 Constitutions became derivatives of. The name Ghana, the flag of the country, the eagle for the emblem of the nation, were all mooted and accepted by the founding fathers of the UGCC before Nkrumah was later invited to join the group before eventually leaving to form his own political party, CPP, the speaker recalled, stressing that it could be said impliedly without equivocation that Dr Nkrumah was not the founding father of the nation. According to Prof Oquaye, Dr Kwame Nkrumah achieved a lot for the country as the first president but he ruled with iron fists as a communist, sending his political opponents into prison without trial. The speaker, who was a former lecturer in political science, noted that it was from the UGCC that the UP and the NPP were born, emphasising that the Danquah/Busia/Dombo tradition is respecter of fundamental human rights of individuals and the rule of law. He noted that it is the tradition that introduced decentralization which was conceptualized by the Progress Party (PP) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Prof Oquaye said that the UP tradition was one that defined true democracy of the nation and also fought for open, transparent and credible elections. We are the trail-blazers of democracy in the country. We welcome political pluralism. When we boycotted the parliamentary elections in 1992, we did not resort to violence, but wrote the 'Stolen Verdict.' We had a vigorous opposition outside parliament to put the government on its toes. We fought for the expansion of the electoral college, he claimed. He noted that under the regime of former President J.A. Kufuor, the criminal libel law was repealed with the help of the current president, Nana Akufo-Addo, who was then the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Prof Oquaye said President Akufo-Addo is going to build on the achievements of former President J.A. Kufuor and bring prosperity to Ghanaians. He pointed out that the current largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), does not have any tradition but generated its strength from Kwame Nkrumah's CPP. By Thomas Fosu Jnr Rabat (AFP) - Morocco's opposition chief has resigned to take responsibility for the troubles facing his Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), including last year's election defeat, the party said. Ilyas El Omari's party was beaten by the ruling Islamists in Morocco's legislative polls in October, but more than doubled its number of seats in the new parliament. The PAM, formed in 2008 by a close adviser to the king, had poured enormous resources into a campaign criticising the government's economic record. But party detractors accused the PAM of acting on behalf of the royal palace in a bid to weaken the Islamist Justice and Development Party which eventually came first with 125 seats out of 395 in the election. Since then, PAM fell out of favour with the royal court and its influence on the political scene weakened with another liberal party, RNI, rising as a new buffer against Islamists. A PAM statement released late Monday said El Omari "assumes the political responsibility" of the party's decline, particularly after the election. El Omari is also president of the regional council for the restive north and media reports said his resignation was partly linked to unrest in the neglected Rif region, which has been shaken by weeks of protests and violence this year. The reports allege that local officials, most of whom are PAM members, have failed to strike a dialogue with demonstrators to appease tensions. Protests erupted in the region last October after a fishmonger was crushed to death in a rubbish truck as he tried to retrieve a swordfish confiscated for being caught out of season. Demands for justice later snowballed into a wider social movement named Al-Hirak al-Shaabi, calling for jobs, development and an end to corruption. Professor Stephen Adei, the renowned administrator and educationist has joined the debate on who founded Ghana, saying that there is no reason to celebrate Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister of the country, as the founder of Ghana. According to him, Dr Kwame Nkrumah broke out of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), the first political movement to be formed in the country to fight the colonial powers because he wanted to become a Prime Minister. He explained that if Kwame Nkrumah had been with the UGCC to fight for the country's independence, there was no way he [Nkrumah] could have become a Prime Minister, hence breaking away from the united front to form his own political party, the Conventions People's Party (CPP). Speaking at the official opening of a photo exhibition by the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) at the La Palm Royal Hotel in Accra, dubbed 60years through the lens of Graphic, Prof Adei said there is no need to celebrate him [Nkrumah] as the founder of Ghana since others started the fight before he joined. He said one of the founders of UGCC, Paa Grant, paid for the travelling expenses of Kwame Nkrumah to come from abroad to the country to become the secretary of UGCC. He said since there was already a political movement with the aim of emancipating the country from the shackles of colonial powers, Kwame Nkrumah cannot be solely celebrated as the founder of Ghana. Background There is an ongoing debate in Ghana as to who or whom to celebrate as the founder or founders of Ghana. While some think only Kwame Nkrumah needed to be celebrated as the founder of the country, others are of the view that many people contributed to the country's independence struggle, hence the need to celebrate all actors that contributed to the country's political liberty from colonial masters. General Manager of MTN Mobile Financial Services, Eli Hini, has said that the introduction of the Mobile Money platform has led to the creation of jobs for over 75,000 active agents nationwide. Speaking at the launch of the MTN Mobile Money Month dubbed, MoMo month at the Madina Market in the La Nkwantang Madina Municipality (LaNMA), Accra last Thursday, Mr Hini added that the platform has 6.2 million active users every 30 days. The 2017 Mobile Money month is the sixth since its establishment and is being celebrated under the theme, 'Expanding Digital Payments for Economic Transformation. The success of the Mobile Money Service in Ghana is evident, and we appreciate that through ongoing initiatives to deepen awareness, more of Ghana's unbanked population will sign on to our digital financial services platform, he noted. According to the Manager, activities lined up for the MoMo month include stakeholder conferences, campus activities (second and tertiary institutions), workshops for agents and consumer promotions. The Manager stated that technological advancement and innovations are impacting on every fabric of life for which it has become critical to introduce digital products intended to provide solutions for financial needs. He mentioned that the transactions support payments for shopping, banking and payments for utility and transport services among other transactions. Speaking on threats to digital payment systems, the manager called on all to be extra vigilant about the activities of fraudulent people. He gave assurance that MTN will continue to collaborate with the Police, media and the E-Crime institutions to mitigate mobile fraud and other related crimes. This year, MTN, in partnership with a number of institutions such as Ecobank, UBA and Fidelity Bank, has launched a number of financial products, including the Y'ello Save Account, Bill 4All and Tap2Pay also intended introduce financial transactions at the doorsteps of customers. The Manager further mentioned that its biggest area of focus is the creation of an enabling payments system through its robust Mobile Money Platform to enable Bulk Payments Solutions for clients to make payments to many customers in one goal, among other payments. Mr Hini mentioned that already a number of state institutions, including caterers on the School Feeding and Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programmes, have signed onto the MoMo initiative. By Solomon Ofori Justice Sylvain Ore, President of the African Court 08.08.2017 LISTEN Accra, Aug. 8, CDA Consult The 46th Ordinary Session of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights has been fixed for September 4th to 22, at Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania. Justice Sylvain Ore, President of the African Court explained the session will examine cases and disputes submitted to it. He said as part of a broader mechanism to project the relevance of the African Court, it will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on the continent, including Member States, National judiciaries, organs of the African Union, National Human Rights Commissions, and Civil Society Organizations. Justice Ore said the African Court will continue to enhance its effectiveness and the protection of human rights on the continent. He also noted that following the adoption of the Statute on the Establishment of a Legal Aid Fund by the 25thOrdinary Session of the Assembly, the Court looks forward to the appointment by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission of the Board Members and launching of the Fund. The African Court President noted that the operationalization of the Fund will enhance access to the Court through the granting of legal assistance to indigent complainants and applicants. The African Court also looks forward to the establishment of a proper reporting and monitoring mechanism to ensure the effective implementation of its judgments. He said the mechanism will facilitate the Executive Councils task of monitoring implementation of judgments of the Court, on behalf of the Assembly. Provide State Parties with concrete information and guidance on the implementation of the judgments of the Court and give confidence to African citizens and parties that appear before the Court that there is a proper mechanism in place to ensure States compliance with the Courts judgments. On the operations of the African Court, Justice Ore said the Court has seen a remarkable increase in the number of cases filed before it, stressing that between January and June this year, the African Court has registered a total of 16Applications. As the Court continues to receive more applications and deliver judgments, and safeguard its integrity and independence, its visibility and citizens confidence in it will be enhanced. With these positive indicators, there is good reason to remain optimistic that the number of cases filed before the Court will continue to grow. This increase is a demonstration of the fact that more and more States, NGOs, individuals and the civil society in general are becoming aware of the existence and work of the African Court, he said. The African Court President said to sustain this momentum and build the Court as a viable pillar in Africas quest for socio-economic and political development, Member States and all other stakeholders must play their respective roles. He said notwithstanding the progressive achievements of the African Court it however continues to face a number of challenges, which may endanger the successes recorded thus far and threaten its effectiveness. These challenges include, the low level of ratification of the Protocol, slow rate of deposit of the declaration allowing individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court, lack of awareness of the Court, non-compliance with Court decisions, insufficient resources and the fact that Judges work on a part-time basis. One of the major challenges to the effectiveness of the Court in particular and the protection of human rights in Africa as a whole, is the low level of ratification of the Protocol, and the lower number of Article 34(6) declarations made and deposited. Almost two decades after the adoption of the Protocol, it has been ratified by only 30 out of the 55 Members States of the African Union; and of these 30, only eight have deposited the declaration required under Article 34(6) of the Protocol. The fact that only 30 Member States are parties and only 8 have deposited the declaration means that the Court does not have jurisdiction to hear cases from individuals and NGOs, from the vast majority of Member States of the Union, because the States have either not ratified the Protocol or deposited the declaration. Effectively therefore, the African Court does not have the capacity to receive cases for alleged human rights violations from a large number of citizens of the Union, he said. He said For the African Court to be able to discharge its mandate effectively, and assert its independence, it must be empowered to have an independent and uninterrupted source of funding, in the form of, for example, an Endowment or Trust Fund. It is hoped that the study on the establishment of a trust fund commissioned by the Executive Council will go a long way to finding a sustainable solution to this challenge. It is composed of eleven Judges, nationals of Member States of the African Union elected in their individual capacity. The African Court is a continental court established by African countries to ensure the protection of human and peoples rights in Africa. It complements and reinforces the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. The jurisdiction covers, the Protocol and any other relevant human rights instrument ratified by the States concerned and also has the power to render an advisory opinion on any legal matter relating to the Charter or any other relevant human rights instruments, provided that the subject of the opinion is not related to a matter being examined by the Commission. The African Court meets four times a year in Ordinary Sessions and may hold Extra-Ordinary Sessions. Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) provides tailor made development communication tools necessary for operational transformation and translating dreams into achievable goals and equips clients with mechanism for public education on specific issues. It also provides effective back-up or frontline monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure value for money delivery of projects, whilst providing clients with skills to deliver timely and accurate information on their activities, work, programmes and projects. CDA Consult is also aimed at building a responsive working culture for corporate growth through a social process at institutional levels based on dialogue using a broad range of tools and methods. It also assists client to use continuous and adaptive process of gathering, organising and formulating information and data into argument and to communicate to policy-makers through various interpersonal and mass media communication channels. 08.08.2017 LISTEN Ghana has one of the most vibrant and competitive telecommunication (telecom) industries in the sub region. As one of the earliest countries in Africa to liberalise and deregulate its telecommunication sector in the early 1990s, Ghana has seen very rapid technological transformation, growth and intense competition across the mobile, Internet and fixed-line services. Currently there are two fixed line service operators, six mobile network operators, four mobile broadband access providers, 52 authorised Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and over 100 value added service providers[1]. At the end of April 2017, the total number of mobile voice subscriptions was 35,984,280 while the total subscriptions of mobile data in the country was 21,584,899 with a penetration rate of 76.22%[2]. The table below illustrates the growth in voice and data subscription since 1992. In spite of the steady growth in the telecoms sector, introduction of new technologies and services is unusually delayed due to Ghanas licensing regime, which requires operators to acquire new set of licenses to deploy new technologies and services. The delay and denial affects telecom service operators as well as consumers who are denied improved service quality and affordable prices. Evolving License Regimes Telecommunication market regulatory frameworks are hinged on licensing.[3] License is an official authorisation given by a communication regulatory body to service providers to operate networks or other value added services. It is usually a regulatory code that defines the terms and conditions under which the licensee may operate as well describe the rights and obligations of the service provider[4]. Licensing is also a means for Governments to generate revenue from network and service providers. There are several frameworks for authorising telecommunication operations in a country. The type of licensing regime adopted has significant implications for barriers to entry for new providers and ease of introduction of new technologies. The table below summarises existing frameworks and with example of countries using it. Type Description Example Specific license Licenses are developed and awarded to individual service providers, with specific terms and conditions. Many initial fixed and mobile telephone licenses. Uniform license All similar service providers have the same licenses, terms, and conditions. Ghana Unified license Licenses are combined into a single license covering a wide range of services, effectively technology- and service- neutral. Kenyas licensing regime uses a unified, technology-neutral licensing framework that allows any form of communications infrastructure to be used for any communications service Other countries in Africa include Nigeria, Cote,Divore, Egypt, Tanzania, etc. Class license Technology-neutral licenses that include broad types of services under a single license. Malaysias framework consists of 4 class and technology-neutral licenses, down from 31 in the older setup. Notification Operators are free to provide services subject to regulatory obligations and only have to notify the regulator before, or shortly after, initiating service. EU members are moving toward an authorization regime using minimal regulatory intervention and requiring individual licenses only if strictly necessary (as with the use of finite available resources such as radio frequencies and telephone numbers). No license No license is needed to provide communications services. In some countries like Japan, value added or Internet services do not require licenses. Source: ICT regulation toolkit, MainTypes of Authorisation Regimes ( www.ictregulationtoolkit.org ) License regime in Ghana The license framework in Ghana is designed to encourage widespread entry into the telecommunication market place. The license regime is based on the various market segments and services provided in Ghanas telecommunication value chain[5]. These are broadly categorised into international services, domestic public telephone services and dedicated transmission networks, internet services, and broadcasting services according to the 2007 National Telecommunication Policy. Specifically, the National Communication Authority has issued the following licenses and authorisations across the telecoms market landscape: ISP/ Public Data Network, Television, FM Stations, UHF/VHF/HF Radio Networks, VSAT network, Dealership license, Aeronautics, Studio-To-Transmitter Link (STL), Maritime, International Submarine Cables, Tower Infrastructure Companies, Broadband Wireless Access, Fixed Network license, Mobile Network (GSM), and others. This means vertically integrated mobile network providers in Ghana have multiple licenses to provide various services in the market landscape. Limitations of existing license regime Technological advancement is blurring the boundaries between wired telecommunications, wireless telecommunications and broadcasting services. The networks and systems supporting voice, data (internet) and content transmission to the end user has become interchangeable. This phenomenon, referred to as convergence[6]is gradually disrupting telecom business models, regulatory and license frameworks across the world. The existing regulatory framework in Ghana played a significant role in encouraging healthy competitions, resulting in nation wide network coverage, improvement in quality of service as well as competitive pricing of voice and data services. However the licensing framework in its current form is convoluted and is slowing down convergence happening in the telecommunication market. The service-based license regime as we have now is not technology neutral. This means introduction of new technologies into the market will always require new set of licenses to be issued. The current license framework delay existing service providers from entering new markets and also creates an unfair competitive playing field for other service providers. The network of existing service providers are far advanced to provide services beyond the current requirements of their license. The restriction of license requirements is hindering them from utilising and expanding the range of services they can offer. For instance, Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) licensees are permitted to implement 4G services only until they are able to meet the 50% coverage threshold, before they can offer voice service[7]. This license regime is depriving the BWA licensees the opportunity to share in the voice market segment revenue. Additionally, the six Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Ghana have the capability of delivering fixed telephone service to diversify their client base. But due to the limitation of the GSM license, only three (3) have been authorised in the wired market segment with two currently operating.[8] Denying the full use of a networks capabilities reduces its financial viability. Similarly, a license regime that denies some operators the opportunity to enter new markets is unfair in terms of providing a competitive playing field for all players. In the award of the Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) 4G licenses in the 2500 2690 MHz band in 2013, only Ghanaian companies were permitted to bid for the spectrum.[9] Existing multinational MNOs were denied the opportunity to compete for the 4G license in the bid to ensure local content in the telecoms sector. Though the need for local content is important, a more innovate policy option should have been proposed to empower more local entrepreneurs into the telecom value chain. Ultimately, it is the Ghanaian consumer that loses out on the benefits of competition among multinational MNOs who already have the capacity to deploy 4G Internet faster across the country at much more affordable prices. Long delays by the regulatory authority in permitting expanded or better service choices to customers, slows innovation and makes network investments in infrastructure less attractive for network operators.. The limitations of the existing license regime can be addressed with a natural migration to a unified license - a global trend in regulatory frameworks. A case for new license framework- Unified license Unified license framework combines a wide range of service licenses into one set, which is technology and service neutral[10]. The objectives of unified licensing are to encourage the growth of new applications and services; simplify existing licensing procedures to ease market entry and operations; regulatory flexibility to address market and technological development and efficient utilisation of network resources, so that individual networks may be used to provide a broad range of ICT services [11]. The cardinal principles guiding unified license include; lack of distinction between mobile or fixed services, satellite or terrestrial services, data or voice services among others. Instead, licensees will be categorised based on whether they are Network Facilities Provider, Network Services Provider or Content Services Providers.[12]Unified license framework promotes technology and service neutrality in spectrum management, which enables convergence in telecommunication. This ensures effective and flexible utilisation of spectrum to the benefits of consumers.. Technology neutrality Uniform license framework ties service operators to specific technologies to specific spectrum bands. Mobile network operators pay a lot of money to acquire these spectrums. The rapid evolution of telecommunication technologies means spectrum bands portfolios become devalued overtime at a fasterrate. This is a disincentive to investment into the sector. When 3G technologies were introduced for instance, most countries including Ghana authorised its operation in 2.1GHz band, separate from 2G technology bands. Service providers paid a lot of money to acquire this spectrum. 3G technologies later become available for commercial deployment in the bands used by 2G systems. Service providers that paid large sums to acquire spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band for 3G services now have to devalue their spectrum holdings and face higher capital costs because lower 2G frequencies have better propagation characteristics. In Australia, a network operator estimated that it would cut capital costs by 40 percent using the lower frequencies.[13] Unified license framework makes it possible for Mobile network operators to efficiently manage and deploy new technologies easily within existing spectrum bands. Service neutrality Many countries (Australia, EU, UK, Japan Singapore etc.) have adopted a service neutral approach to allocation of telecom spectrum. This allows mobile network operators to decide the bundle of services to provide to their customers in a given band of spectrum to maximise digital dividend.[14] For instance, in the United States of America, the Federal Communications Commission, the regulatory agency has allowed service providers to use the 700 MHz spectrum for a variety of broadcasting and telecommunications uses including fixed and mobile wireless commercial services; fixed and mobile wireless uses for private, internal radio needs; mobile and other digital new broadcast operations[15]. Benefits of unified license regime Migrating to a unified license framework is a win-win for telecommunication companies, regulatory agencies, customers and a country as a whole. The removal of artificial distinctions between telecommunication services that unified license promotes affords MNOs and other operators the opportunity to choose technologies and systems in providing a variety of services to their customers in order to maximise returns on investment in infrastructure. It facilitates competition, innovation in service delivery and encourages the introduction of new technologies quickly. Ultimately the end user is the greatest beneficiary with better services at affordable prices. Botswana for instance moved nine (9) point up from 23rd position to 15th position in Alliance for Affordable Internets Affordability Driver Index[16]. According to the report, the improved performance is attributed to the simplification of existing multi-service licensing regime towards a unified license in 2015.The positive externalities of affordable telecom services are key determining factors in the growth equation of every country. License unification will also benefit the National Communication Authority. It will simplify the licensing structure thereby reducing the burden in monitoring and enforcing multiple license conditions and obligations. An efficient regulatory environment ultimately promotes growth and advancement of the telecoms sector. Transitioning to a new licensing framework In September 2014, the Minster of communication hinted the National Communication Authority (NCA) created four new license categories, a unified license inclusive.[17] This was followed by an advertisement by the NCA in December 2014 for the opening of a public consultation on Unified Service License on its website[18]. Since then, nothing has been heard about a unified license. With barely two years to the expiration date of the current GSM license it is important for the NCA to provide clarity on steps being taken towards a transition to a unified license besides past rhetoric. The argument for the need to transition Ghanas regulatory license regime to a unified one is now trite. The conversation should now be about the procedure and terms for the transition to a unified license regime. Key issues the NCA has to consider in transitioning to unified regulatory framework according to the International Telecommunication Unions regulatory guidelines and principles for converging services include: whether to overhaul existing system all at once or phase the process; remapping services to be included in unified license and a decision on whether existing license holders will be compensated in the move to the new license regime. Finally, the unified license fees, compliance costs, management fees and others should not be exorbitant to facilitate an easy and efficient migration[19]. Conclusion Convergence is the future in the telecommunication sector. It is opening new opportunities for innovations in the telecommunications in the fourth industrial revolution. Forward-looking countries have already developed policies and new regulatory frameworks to exploit the benefits of convergence, that is encouraging healthy competition in the telecoms sector, quality service and affordable broadband pricing. The Ministry of Communication and the NCA, as a matter of urgency must state its position on the way forward on unified license framework in Ghana, modalities and timelines for transition. The bus has already left the station and Ghana is late. IMANIs Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy produced this paper. For interviews, please call Mr. Brian Dzansi on 0554 309 966 / 0302 972 939 National Communication Authority (2017) [2] Ibid. [3] Scott W Minehane. (March 2015). What, who and how to regulate? Best practice licensing frameworks in Asia and globally. Thailand. Retrieved from Windsor Place Consulting via https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regional-Presence/AsiaPacific/Documents/Events/2015/March-DigitalEconomy/Session1-1_Scott_Minehane.pdf [4] Ibid. [5] Ghanas telecommunication value chain attached as appendix i. [6] Convergence- The coming together of previously technologically and commercially distinct markets such as broadcasting, print publishing, cable television, fixed wire voice telephony and cellular mobile and fixed wireless access. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) [8] National Communication Authority Annual Report. (2008) Ghana. [9] Myyoyonline (Feb, 2014). 4G LTE coming on stream in Ghana this year. Available at http://www.myjoyonline.com/business/2014/February-5th/4g-lte-coming-on-stream-in-ghana-this-year.php [10] Telecommunication Development Sector (July, 2009). Regulation for licensing and authorization of converging services.ITU. Available at https://www.itu.int/ITU-D/treg/Events/Seminars/GSR/GSR09/doc/STudyGroup_draftreportQ10.pdf [11] Ibid [12] GSM Association (May 2012) Licensing to support the mobile broadband revolution. GSMA . Retrieved from https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp content/uploads/2012/03/gsma_licensing_report.pdf [13] Rajendra Singh and Siddhartha Raja. (June 2008) Convergence in ICT services: Emerging regulatory responses to multiple play. World Bank. Accessed via http://bit.ly/2vocxFp [14] Digital Dividend- the broader development benefits from using these technologies. World Bank. [15] Federal Communications Commission (2000). FCC affirms rules for the 700 MHz band.. Accessed via https://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/News_Releases/2000/nrwl0017.html [16] Internet affordability index measures the range of policy and regulatory steps that countries are taking to drive down broadband prices and effectively tackle the affordability barrier to access. [17] GhanaWeb (Sept 2014). Four new telecom license categories soon. Accessed via https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Four-new-telecom-license-categories-soon-324684 [18] National Communication Authority (Dec, 2014). NCA Opens Public Consultation on Unified Service Licence Many people in rural African communities still believe that disability is caused by supernatural forces, curses and as punishment for wrongdoings according to University of East Anglia research (UEA, UK). The resultant stigma leaves disabled people vulnerable to neglect and abuse - with sexual abuse reported by 90 per cent of people with learning difficulties. Many disabled children are kept locked up at home often for their own safety. But the more that communities come into contact with disability, the more awareness and understanding grows. Meanwhile medical explanations for disability are beginning to emerge, with increasing numbers of families seeking medical advice for children with disabilities rather than consulting a witchdoctor. The Preparation of Communities: Using personal narratives to affect attitudes to disability in Kilifi, Kenya (Pre-Call) project was set up to promote disability awareness in small communities in a rural part of Kenya, by encouraging a process of reflection and education. The research team at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) led focus groups to find out how cultural beliefs and knowledge shape peoples understanding of disability. The discussions involved 21 community groups located across the five constituencies of Kilifi County, bordered one side by the Indian Ocean coast and stretching into the rural interior. A total of 263 participants were involved who observed Christianity (70 per cent), traditional religious practices (20 per cent) and Islam (10 per cent). Lead researcher Dr Karen Bunning, from UEAs School of Health Sciences, said: Information on the medical causes of childhood disability are not widely available across communities in low-income countries and understanding is generally poor. In Namibia for example albinism is explained by the mother having sex with a white man or a ghost. And in Guinea-Bissau, epilepsy is widely thought of as being caused by evil spirits, or sometimes as a punishment for wrongdoing. We found that disability is often explained by things like extra marital affairs invoking a curse, witchcraft, supernatural forces such as demons or ghosts affecting the child, and the will of God. Curvature of the spine or limbs represented the effects of a curse, saliva production was linked to demons and ill-gotten financial gain. The different explanations represent a real mixture of traditional, religious and biomedical beliefs, she added. And while biomedical factors such as inherited conditions or antenatal care were increasingly talked about, these explanations did not negate other culturally-based accounts. The findings reveal that underpinning all of these explanations is a desire to make sense of disability and, particularly for carers, to improve the given situation. And where an explanation of wrongdoing or the presence of an evil force might result in a visit to a local witchdoctor, a medical attribution might be followed with a visit to a medical centre. The project also looked at the challenges faced by people with disabilities and their carers. Dr Bunning said: What tends to happen is that these types of cultural beliefs affect how individuals with disabilities view themselves and how other people see them. Attributing the childs condition to some form of malevolent preternatural force by reference to demons, evil spirits and witchcraft contributes to the view of disability as both undesirable and unacceptable. People with disabilities in Africa have poor access to health provision, low school attendance, limited employment rates and low wages. More extreme consequences include neglect and abuse with sexual abuse reported to occur at some time in the lives of 90 per cent of the population with learning difficulties. People with communication difficulties are at a high level of risk because they are less able to report abuse. We found that children with disabilities are often kept apart from the local community in restricted environments contributing to the social distance between them. Although in many cases this is to protect them from abuse and keep them safe. The burden of caring for family members with disabilities also led to discrimination by association, she added. And the stigma associated with people with disabilities is so great that it also extends to anyone trying to help. The implication being that anyone offering help would also give birth to a disabled child. But we found that the more people come into contact with disability, the better their understanding. Real life encounters with people who have disabilities can be a really positive step, so raising disability awareness in small communities can really help. The perception of disability by community groups: Stories of local understanding, beliefs and challenges in a rural part of Kenya is published in PLOS ONE on August 3, 2017 . The research was led by UEA (UK) in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya), the University of Oxford (UK) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK). The University of East Anglia (UEA) is a UK Top 15 university and ranks in the top one per cent of universities in the world. Known for its world-leading research and outstanding student experience, it has achieved a Top 10 rating in the National Student Survey every year since the survey began. UEA is a leading member of the Norwich Research Park - one of Europes biggest concentrations of researchers in the fields of environment, health and plant science. www.uea.ac.uk. Former Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Valarie Sawyerr is unhappy Jerry John Rawlings consistent critiques of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party he founded. Dr. Sawyerr expressed her outrage over what she described as demonizing comments he made against the current leadership of the party. In an article she accused Mr. Rawlings of still flogging a dead horse although they are in opposition. Rawlings had opined that the NDC lost bitterly in the December 7, 2016 polls due to some huge corruption scandals that rocked the Mahama administration and had on several instances praised President Akufo-Addo of having zero tolerance for corruption. While calling for a complete overhaul of the leadership of the NDC, Rawlings said the party has thrown into the gutters the long tenants of the party which included probity, transparency and accountability. But Dr. Sawyerr in her latest epistle said Rawlings is not being fair to the NDC in the wake of some scandals that has rocked the Akufo-Addo's government. They say he booms I say he buzzes like an agitated mosquito looking for his next victim. Again, he heads for other Heads of State describing their governance as riddled with corruption. Is he trying to say that his reign was unblemished or that his twin brother's (President Akufo-Addo) reign is unsullied? Really? Who born dog in fact who born monkey? JJ oooo JJ the great Papa JJ the one and only Junior Jesus the great saint who never does wrong you are still flogging a dead horse the NDC is in opposition in case you have not noticed, while a living raging bull is moving around with reckless abandon destroying everything it finds in its path including the assets and citizens of this nation, she added. Below is Dr. Sawyerr's full article: When will this buzzing sound stop? Aaba! Should I call them ntomtom (Twi word for 'mosquitoes') or nwansena (Twi word for 'flies')? In the Ga dialect, the mosquito is referred to as tonton and the fly adidon. Yet another day dawns in which we are supposed to share love, peace and laughter yet again the buzzing sound is on distracting all from the joy that the day brings. They say he booms I say he buzzes like an agitated mosquito looking for his next victim. Again, he heads for other Heads of State describing their governance as riddled with corruption. Is he trying to say that his reign was unblemished or that his twin brother's (President Akufo-Addo) reign is unsullied? Really? Who born dog in fact who born monkey? BOST sells 5 million litres of contaminated fuel to a non-registered non-licensed company, Movinpinaa Energy, under questionable circumstances and he has not seen or heard? Indeed, the matter is before the High Court Suit No. GJ 1010/17. Minister for Finance issues US$2.25 billion worth of bonds, 95% of which is purchased by Franklyn Templeton Investment Limited under opaque circumstances giving rise to conflict of interest issues, and he has not seen or heard? There is a suit before the High Court requesting for certain details of the transaction; a Petition before CHRAJ on conflict of interest issues; a suit before the Supreme Court requesting clarification on whether the Attorney-General can defend the Minister for Finance in a conflict of interest matter; a Petition before the United States Security & Exchange Commission; and a Whistleblower Complaint lodged with the Regulator in Luxemburg (Commission de Surveillance de Secteur Financier). Minister for Interior deports someone under questionable circumstances and the High Court quashes the deportation order, and he has not seen or heard? Suit No. GJ/1034/2017 (Justice Ackaah Boafo). Members of the Philip Addison Committee investigating AMERI are financed by the same AMERI on an overseas trip under unethical circumstances, and he has not seen or heard? Cocaine goes missing at the port under fishy circumstances, and he has not seen or heard? GHC5 million from state coffers is spent on [email protected] celebrations under hazy circumstances, after we have been told that corporate Ghana will sponsor the celebrations, and he has not seen or heard? Has Government been able to tell the nation how much they received from corporate Ghana? I could go on and on JJ oooo JJ the great Papa JJ the one and only Junior Jesus the great saint who never does wrong you are still flogging a dead horse the NDC is in Opposition in case you have not noticed, while a living raging bull is moving around with reckless abandon destroying everything it finds in its path including the assets and citizens of this nation. Valarie Sawyerr, former Deputy Chief of Staff but I guess you really can't see it or you are waiting for it to raise its tusks in avenging rage to gore your eyes out. I hope when the tusks are raised, the bond or pact you have made with the 'brass band conducting' President will be strong enough to cause the tusks to be lowered before they pierce your eyes that see only what you want to see in line with whatever agenda you deem fit. By the way, did you see the President conducting the brass band? Was that the police band or army band? Was it in Ghana or overseas? Ei, Mr. President, what was that? Papa Stone, I hear you said: 'When I talk they say I don't like NDC, no! I don't like stealing, I don't like disgrace so if NDC does good I will praise them if they are bad I will say it as well'. Who has said you don't like the NDC? Are you setting your own questions and answering them please? Nobody has said you do not like the NDC. Stop putting words in our mouths. Indeed, some think you crave for the NDC so much that you are prepared to destroy anyone and anything in the NDC if that will suit your agenda to always be in control of the NDC. but I don't blame you Papa J I blame the NDC after you taught us probity, accountability and transparency, why can't we rise to demand same of you? After you taught us to be fearless in upholding the truth, why don't we rise to demand same of you? When you twist and manipulate us, why don't our leaders ask you why you are breaching your own so-called rules? With all due respect, have you named those you KNOW to be involved in corruption? Maybe they will explain to you that the Head of State put the money in a bag and placed it on the plane and that it was used for the 'good of the country' the same way the US$5m (oops US$2m) was placed in a briefcase and put on the plane and was used 'for the good of the country'. Maybe they will explain to you that the luxury car you see in their yard was given to them as a gift by unnamed friends the same way the black convertible Chevy Coupe sports car was given by unnamed friends as a birthday gift. You never know what their explanations would be. It is therefore important that you name them and allow them to have a hearing in line with the rules of natural justice. NDC, where are our men and women? NDC where are our leaders? I challenge you to rise and speak the truth unblemished and fearlessly!!! The truth can be told by all no man or woman is the sole repository of truth! and what is Comrade Martin Amidu also babbling about? Martin, did I not tell you that your pomposity, over-bloated ego and sense of self-importance constitute your Achilles heel? Remember, when I told you (years ago) after a presidential press conference, that a directive had been issued that no appointee should grant a press interview in order to avoid any contradictory statements on air and you screeched 'who are you small girl like you where were you when I was Attorney General' etc etc? Remember I told you that it is your Achilles heel that would destroy you? Barely a week or so after that, you were relieved of your post as Attorney-General after attempting to assault a sitting Head of State? Since then you have become a so-called crusader, sinking lower and lower in the NDC as you seem to rise higher and higher in the NPP. I am not a soothsayer, neither am I a harbinger of gloom and doom but once again I say to you this time with a nation full of witnesses that your Achilles heel will destroy you! Martin Amidu Respectfully Martin, cut the crap! You have achieved your aim the NDC is in opposition. I challenge you to resign from the NDC since you no longer promote the cause of the NDC. Or do you also subscribe to the agenda to destroy to take over? The agenda that is based on the premise that it is easier to take over the NDC when it is in Opposition! Hahahahaha!!! I am waiting for the surrogate groups that will spring up suddenly like jacks in the box (I understand the plural is either 'jack in the boxes' or 'jacks in the box') to lambast me and everyone or everything that is connected with me the modus operandus is always the same I am waiting for the NDC men and women who will suddenly find their voices and go on air and call me unprintable names the modus operandus is always the same I am waiting for the NDC leadership who will summon me because all of a sudden they have found their disciplinary tongues having been whipped in line by bullies who seek to terrorize those around them the modus operandus is always the same Buzz buzzzzz buzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Papa J, what happened to the anti-malaria crusade you were supposed to have embarked on after you left office? We have not heard much about it. Did you not find enough minions to work on it for you to ensure that you could take the glory? Is it true that you fell out with a majority of those who worked diligently for you at different stages of your journey the Ahwois, the Tsikatas, the Peprahs, the Abodakpis, the PV Obengs (blessed memory), the Sherry Ayiteys, the Kwesi Botchweys, the Martha Tamakloes, the Sipa Yankeys, the Ibrahim Adams, the Mould Iddrisus, the Herbert Mensahs and a whole host of others? I guess the anti-malaria crusade was too calm a crusade for you. Then with all due respect, please look for something more exciting The galamsey problem is still in existence despite the fact that the Government is trying to pretend that it has gone away. I am sure you are needed in places like Denkyira Obuasi to help clamp down on the menace. This will help your twin brother President Akufo-Addo fulfill his anti-galamsey promise. Even though he did promise the galamseyers before the 2016 elections that he would leave them to ply their trade. Hmmm confusion here, there and everywhere! The army worms have destroyed a lot of our crops, signaling some level of food shortage in the country in the not too distant future. Under better regimes, the Ministry of Defence and the army were brought in quickly to deal with the problem anytime the worms reared their heads. This Government was busy doing paperwork to request millions of Cedis to enable them bring the situation under control. Then, finally, the amazingly incompetent Minister for Agriculture lied to the people of Ghana, telling us that the worms had been eradicated when it was not true. He should keep on lying till he wakes up one day to find the worms crawling in his hair but I guess the dye is strong enough to kill them oops! I promised Kwesi Botchway that I would behave myself hehehe after 50 years, most of us women are dying our hair anyway, so why not the men? President Akufo-Addo where are your men and women? Do not be deceived by JJ's recent rantings that seem to favour your cause. Your Government in seven months is reeking of corruption. Rise up and do something about it instead of waving that baton with that uninspiring look on your face to the left, up and down to the right, up and down! A man is only as good as his word! and for your information, the primary responsibilities of a conductor is to 'unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble, and to control the interpretation and pacing of the music' (Wikipedia). With all due respect, is that what you were doing in the 'conducting video' I saw? Is that what you are doing in governance today? Years ago, we used to have some kind of insect spraying equipment that looked like a pump it had a can which contained the insecticide and a long arm for pumping the insecticide towards the target. Nowadays, we have a simple tall can with a spray nozzle at the top. Maybe it is time to stop the gentle puffs with the modern cans and find one of the old bazookas! The buzzing sound still continues I am going back into hibernation what I choose to call 'Peaceful Opposition'! but before I leave Mr. President, is it true that Peter Mac Manu (former NPP Chairman) was deported from Kenya where he was going to consult for the National Super Alliance (Nasa), Kenya's Opposition Coalition, on 'control' of electoral data? hmmm! I am for peace Shalom!!! August 7, 2017 By: Dr. Valerie Sawyerr The writer is a former Deputy Chief of Staff By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin The former deputy Chief of Staff Valerie Sawyerr has called on former Attorney General Martin Amidu to stop the unnecessary attacks on members of the opposition National Democratic Congress and other accomplished individuals of the nation. Mr. Amidu who has christened himself the citizen vigilante has attacked members of the NDC including former President John Mahama on several occasions. In his recent epistle, Mr. Amidu blamed the Mahama-led government for the chaos at the Electoral Commission. He claimed that the EC chairperson Charlotte Osei was appointed to help the NDC rig the 2016 elections. But in a heavily worded response, Mrs. Sawyerr asked Mr. Amidu to cut the crap, challenging him to resign from the NDC since he no longer promotes the cause of the party. She added that Mr. Amidus pomposity, over-bloated ego would finally destroy him for good. and what is Comrade Martin Amidu also babbling about? Martin, did I not tell you that your pomposity, over-bloated ego and sense of self-importance constitute your Achilles heel? Remember, when I told you (years ago) after a presidential press conference, that a directive had been issued that no appointee should grant a press interview in order to avoid any contradictory statements on air and you screeched who are you small girl like you where were you when I was Attorney General etc etc? Remember I told you that it is your Achilles heel that would destroy you? Barely a week or so after that, you were relieved of your post as Attorney-General after attempting to assault a sitting Head of State? Since then you have become a so-called crusader, sinking lower and lower in the NDC as you seem to rise higher and higher in the NPP. I am not a soothsayer, neither am I a harbinger of gloom and doom but once again I say to you this time with a nation full of witnesses that your Achilles heel will destroy you! Respectfully Martin, cut the crap! You have achieved your aim the NDC is in Opposition. I challenge you to resign from the NDC since you no longer promote the cause of the NDC. Or do you also subscribe to the agenda to destroy to take over? The agenda that is based on the premise that it is easier to take over the NDC when it is in Opposition! 08.08.2017 LISTEN Ei, so Paul Kagame claims he got 99% of the vote in Rwanda in the presidential election of 4 August 2017? That means he will be Rwanda's President for a third seven-year term. That verdict probably reflects his true standing in the country. But he really got 99 percent? Do me a favour! It reminds me of the time when the Communist Parties of Eastern Europe used to announce that they'd got 100 percent of the votes cast in elections they had held in the Soviet Union, East Germany, Poland and other Soviet satellites. Certainly, claiming to have obtained an unrealistic number of votes in an election does not demonstrate the strength of a party but rather, its weakness. Y0u see, parties that enjoy real popular support don't obsess about what percentage of votes they get. Implementing a well-thought-out agenda should make party leaders extremely busy and not have the time to play the numbers game. When they achieve good, visible results, they don't need to massage figures. Neither do they need to stay in power too long for that can make the leadership boring to the populace. It can safely be speculated, I think, that it was sheer boredom with dull, unimaginative, bureaucratic administrations that eventually killed off communism in Europe. But what do I know? The absurdity of the claim of 100 support was the subject of one of the best jokes told by an unforgettable character who used to live in Ghana in the 1960s, a Jamaican novelist called Neville Dawes, author of the novel, The Last Enchantment. His wit was simply 'wicked'! The story he told me and other friends was this: there was a guy who hung around Oxford University called Otto, a Central European who had fast-footed it to England in order not to be swept away by the advance of socialism in Eastern Europe. In the UK, right-wing organisations welcomed him (as was their wont) and helped him to become a sort of permanent student to whom grants could be channelled without questions being asked. But Otto was such a spendthrift that he was always broke and therefore attended any students' meeting at which he knew tea and sandwiches, scones or biscuits, would be served. One day, at such a gathering, the speaker began enumerating the size of the political support a European country's political movements were claiming for themselves. He began the Social Democrats claim 21%; the Christian Unionists 18%; and the Communists.... As soon as the name of the Communist Party was mentioned, Otto interrupted the speaker and cried out loudly: Zey give zemselves a haaandred!.... A haaaandred! Everybody laughed. And so did we, when Neville Dawes told us the story. Neville's ironic insinuation was that if you were going to claim false figures, then claim the utmost, for people like Otto would never believe you anyway! I am reminded of this story both by the figures Paul Kagame is alleged to have obtained in the Rwandan election,and also by the controversy that has broken out in Ghana regarding how the state of Ghana was founded and whether it was Kwame Nkrumah and his CPP or J B Danquah and his UGCC who should be credited with being the founder of Ghana. Indeed, the question is an idle one which should not distract our attention from such life-and-death issues as galamsey. But so inane does the journalistic agenda tend to be in Ghana that it was thrown at me, out of the blue, by Paul Adom-Ochere when I appeared on his TV programme, Good Evening Ghana, (MetroTV), on 31 July 2017. Of course on a live TV programme, I had to respond and I told him that my own view is that Dr Kwame Nkrumah's position as the single most influential person in Ghana's struggle for independence is not in any doubt. But resentment at that fact had been created by the excessive emphasis of his role in the struggle, to the exclusion of everyone else's including his own lieutenants such as K A Gbedema, Kojo Botsio and N A Welbeck to say nothing of Dr J B Danquah and the other members of The Big Six club (Ako Adjei, Edward Akufo Addo, William Ofori Atta and E Obetsebi Lamptey.) But (I pointed out) if say, a school's founder, laid the foundation of the school but could not, either for pecuniary or other reasons (say death) complete the building and someone else, or some people, came to complete the building and put students in it, would they not be acting in a selfish and egotistical manner if they named themselves as the sole founders of the school? Especially if they tried to erase the name of the originator of the school idea from any connection with the founding of the school? People appreciate fair-play, and when you mention Achimota School, for instance, the names of at least three people always come up for mention Guggisberg, Frazer and Aggrey. Is it necessary to dissect the trio, isolate one among them and credit him with having founded Achimota? The school was named Prince of Wales College, for crying out loud! Ad that was not merely because the founders necessarily wanted to honour the British royalty but because they were all were all noble, self-effacing individuals. In my view, it is the arrogance and egotism of the Convention People's Party, the sycophancy of its leadership (as acknowledged by Kwaku Boateng's We were all gaping sycophants comment after the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah); its overweening devotion to empty propaganda and its general intolerance of views which made the party decide to make Kwame Nkrumah the sole civitatis Ghaniensis conditor (founder of the state of Ghana) with his head on Ghanaian coins. People waited, and at the right time, they began to dismantle what they had resented silently as the cult of personality around Nkrumah. Colonel Emanuel Kotoka, in his short broadcast announcing the coup d'etat of 2 February 1966, found room in it to say that The myth surrounding Kwame Nkrumah is broken! You see, action begets reaction, and since the CPP's slogan more or less changed from the Forward ever backward never motto of the glorious pre-independence days, to the more aggressive and intolerant CPP up! United Party down down, down, down to the gutter! was waiting to be expunged with a vengeance and it was. Even people who admired Nkrumah his courage and the clear-thinking that marked his strategic decisions about how to force the British out, frowned upon the fact that he had taken all the glory of the struggle for himself. He did not even ask the CPP Central Committee to choose a deputy for itself, after he became Life Chairman. When he became Prime Minister,too, he did not appoint a Deputy Prime Minister, although either Komla Gbedema or Kojo Botsio could have acquitted himself creditably in that position. After all, when the CPP was in its infancy, and therefore in its most vulnerable state, it was Gbedemah who led it superbly when Nkrumah was put in prison by the British. Why could Gbedema not have led it in the more favourable circumstances of an independent Ghana, should the occasion have arisen? Is it any wonder that he later sold himself to the CIA?. Nkrumah was vain, although he tried to pass off excessive glorification of himself as a necessary tactic that was to drive the fact home to the largely illiterate populace that the British had really gone and that it was Kwame Nkrumah who ruled them now. And that inevitably led to a desire by the people who did not like his policies to try and obliterate his image, once he was not around any longer. It may well be that they would have given him his due had they not felt so bitter towards him. As to the history of Ghana itself, the facts are clear the struggle against the colonialists only started in earnest in 1897, when the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society (ARPS) was formed by intellectuals and businessmen to fight both here and in the UK against the seizure of Ghana's ancestral lands by the British Crown. Among the leading members of the ARPS were John Mensah Sarbah, Kobina Sekyi, J E Casely Hayford and J W De Graft Johnson. Significantly, the businessman, Alfred (Paa) Grant (who was only 18 when the ARPS was formed) became a member of the ARPS. And it was at Paa Grant's suggestion that as Dr J B Danquah himself acknowledged the United Gold Coast Convention [UGCC] was formed in August 1947. So it can be said that through Paa Grant, the APRS led seamlessly to the formation of the UGCC, and just as the UGCC, by inviting Kwame Nkrumah to become its Secretary-General in 1947, also afforded Nkrumah the opportunity (at the very east) to have an organisation from which to break away to form the Convention People's Party in 1949! Of course, it was he CP that he used with great effect to achieve independence for Ghana. But would there have been a CPP without a UGCC? Even more important, would Nkrumah have returned to the Gold Coast in 1947 had there not been a UGCC? To see the UGCC only in terms of what it achieved politically, and ignore the significance of its having been existence at a crucial time with a stated objective to which even Nkrumah could work for (whatever his reservations about its methods) is therefore a myopic way of looking at history. . We should, however, jettison this penchant of ours to apportion glory to some and and deny it to others all on the basis of happenings in a past era, when many of our people had not even been born. The Americans decided to recognise the pat that Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson played in America's history and finished with it for ever. Why can't we too pay our respects to a collective leadership, and stop the unprofitable argumentation? The past is safer for many of us, isn't it? You cannot do anything about the past except exchange hot words about it, whereas the present has its crying problems, which need brilliant thinking and tough action to solve qualities which, alas, we seem to have thrown to the winds, if ever we possessed them in the first place. The Government of Ghana has stressed that it has no intention of interfering in the 2017 Kenyan elections, via Peter Mac Manu, who was prevented from entering the east African country as a leader of a team of election observers from the Democratic Union of Africa. This dismissal followed murmurs that Mr. Mac Manu, and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), of which he is a member, planned to meddle in the election and support the opposition leader Raila Odinga to create a parallel election tally result platform. The Democratic Union of Africa is noted as an umbrella body of centre-right parties in Africa which includes some opposition parties in Kenya. A Kenyans queue in polls to choose between President Uhuru Kenyatta his long-standing rival Raila Odinga, government, in a statement, denied any ploy to compromise the Tuesday polls and said Mr. Mac Manu was in Kenya own his accord, not the State's. We wish to make it clear the government of Ghana has no interest whatsoever in who emerges the winner in Tuesday's poll. The decision as to who leads Kenya for the next four years as President remains the sole preserve of the Kenyan people. The Ghanaian Constitution guarantees every citizen of Ghana the freedom to participate in political activity inside or outside of the country, within the laws of Ghana or wherever they find themselves. They do so in their own capacity as free citizens of a free state, and not at the behest of the government of Ghana. NPPs denies ill intent The NPP earlier came out to deny similar allegations, with the partys Deputy General Secretary, Nana Obiri Boahene posting Mr. Mac Manus deportation was a serious indication that things were not well with the countrys polls. They said they will not allow Peter Mac Manu to go there and it is a serious indication that things are not going on well. How do you accuse the NPP in Ghana that they want to rig the elections? This primitive way of handling matters ongoing in Kenya, we need to be serious about it. Chief Agent of Kenya's National Super Alliance, James Orengo Kenya's National Super Alliance (NASA) however explained that Mr. Mac Manu was not the only individual who was denied entry into Kenya as some representatives from the United States suffered a similar fate. This should be seen in the context of an operation that they were carrying yesterday not just in this national centre but everywhere. They were removed from the plane, they did not formally disembark from the plane, they were taken away by the Police and pushed into another plane back to Ghana, the Chief Agent of Kenya's National Super Alliance, James Orengo explained. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana The debate on the governments plan to carve new regions out of existing ones has been reignited. President Nana Addo on Monday indicated at a durbar of chiefs and the people of the Bibiani-Anwhiaso-Bekwai District, on the first day of his three-day tour of the Western Region, that the proposal to carve a new region out of the Western Region is currently at the consideration stage. The revelation has left the nation divided over the intended move. While some have argued the said creation is laudable, others are kicking against the move, saying it is only going to add a new layer to the bureaucracy. Despite concerns for government to channel resources that would be used to undertake this project into other ventures, research has shown that majority of Ghanaians, especially residents in the four areas where the said regional re-organisation is expected to take place support the idea, except the Volta Region where there has been a bit of resistance. A Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Ransford Gyampo who made this revelation on the Citi Breakfast Show indicated that though regional re-organisation is feasible, it would require rigorous processes. The President would have to set up a commission and the commission would do a lot of consultation to find out from the people whether the idea is feasible. If it is clear at the Commission's level then there should be a referendum which will require conducting a plebiscite among the people who will be affected by the regional reorganisation there and 40 or 50 percent would have to turn out to vote and also get 80 percent votes for it. The opposition is also allowed to go and campaign against it, he explained.. Cost Mr. Gyampo also wondered whether government had taken into consideration the cost implications of carving new regions. Have we considered the cost implication? This is a government that inherited an ailing economy. There is a lot of cost implication. You need to procure vehicles. He further questioned the motive for creating new regions, saying what is the rational for re -organisation. Is it for development? If it is for development, I am not sure because the various institutions and local assemblies that are supposed to be putting in place government strategies will not immediately get up and work once a new region is created from another region so let us find out why they are not able to work to bring about development. Mr. Gyampo therefore asked government to thoroughly reconsider the creation of new regions especially as it claims the country does not have a strong economic footing. Meanwhile a Lecturer at the Institute of Local Studies, Dr. Oduro Osae has lauded moves to create new regions arguing that it would lead to some level of development. Once the region is created, you need an administrative capital and you have most of the businesses relocating to the region. Once it is created , you will have us realigning the various district assemblies so that Common Fund can also be allocated to those districts, he argued. He however indicated that one major challenge that besets this move is administrative bureaucracies. The other challenge is administrative bureaucracy in the creation because once we create, it means we will have more than ten regions. Administering a country with more than ten regions, having more than ten regional Ministers is one of the administrative bureaucracies that will be created. The carving of new regions was one of President Nana Addo's several campaign promises in the run up to the election. By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @EfeAnsah As part of key initiatives to enhance cross-border trade in the West African sub region, the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet) has facilitated a transit data exchange programme between the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and its Ivorian counterpart. The move will boost the business competitiveness, as well as help prevent fraud, eliminate delays and facilitate the movement of goods and people among others between the two countries. The transit data exchange programme, which was piloted in May 2017, was fully deployed on July 28, 2017 to expedite cross-border trade among the two countries while deepening regional integration initiatives and protocols to bring the West African community together. The historic exchange collaboration is seen as a key move to addressing transit related challenges in cross border trade and serve as a huge boost to revenue mobilisation while eliminating barriers that militate against easy movement of goods across the borders of the two countries. It will also change the face of transit trade in the sub regions corridors. The initiative is in fulfilment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement on exchange of data between Customs administrations of countries to facilitate transit trade and also in fulfilment of the Abidjan - Lagos Trade and Transport Facilitation Project (ALTTFP) launched in 2007. The Project was approved by the World Bank in 2010 and was expected to witness a 50% improvement in cross border trade between Ghana and Cote DIvoire when operational. Prior to the launch of the Transit Data Exchange programme, a five member team from the Ivorian Revenue Authority and their GRA counterparts had been discussing full interconnectivity arrangements between the two Customs Authorities. The discussions focused on areas such as Exchange of Transit Data, Enforcing Post Clearance Audit, Ensuring an improved Warehousing System and Post Entry after Clearance among others. The Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Mr. Isaac Crentsil commended the World Bank and GCNet for their commitment and support to the project which will help address the challenges in transit trade as espoused by the Vice President at the Port Efficiency conference. He noted that the initiative would address a major challenge of transit trade, and serve as a boost to facilitate paperless regime in Ghana, pledging the commitment of the Customs Division to ensure that the project succeeds. The General Manager of GCNet, Mr. Alwin Hoegerle noted that Information Communication Technology including e-solutions have become important enablers of innovations and development the world over. However, in his estimation, Ghana was yet to take advantage of the full benefits of e-solutions, which would revolutionize our economy. It is for this reason that GCNet has been at the forefront of playing a pioneering and leadership role in deploying e-solutions in the trade facilitation environment, Mr. Hoegerle assured. There was a live demonstration of exchange of transit data by the Operations team of GCNet led by A Deputy Manager, Mr. Anthony Nkansah. The exchange programme is expected to be replicated in the other corridors of the sub region including Togo and Burkina Faso as a way of deepening the compliance of the exchange of trade data among Customs administrations. The data exchange program between Ghana Customs and Cote DIvoire is timely as it has commenced on the heels of the just ended 2017 World Customs Organisation IT Conference and Exhibition in Tbilisi, Georgia on the theme: The Power of Data Advancing Border Management. In a related partnership, GCNet has facilitated the deployment of the e-health project a web based Electronic Health Management Information System (eHMIS) which sits on GCNets robust and tested electronic tier three data platform. According to Mr. Alwin Hoegerle, GCNets mandate as a technical partner to the GRA has resulted in the deployment of e-solutions for the automation of GRA operations and deepening the single window platform for trade facilitation and business competitiveness. This partnership over the years keeps growing and blossoming into different projects one of which is the web based Electronic Health Management Systems (eHMIS). The Electronic Health Management Information system is deployed by GCNet in a public private partnership with GRA and GIZ. This pioneering initiative by GCNet is seen as an extension of the paperless concept to the health sector in Ghana. Cape Town (AFP) - South Africa's opposition derided President Jacob Zuma as a "broken and corrupt" leader Tuesday as lawmakers prepared to vote in a secret ballot that could oust him from office after years of scandals. Zuma faces a no-confidence vote in the Cape Town parliament later Tuesday in a severe test of the unity of the ANC party that has ruled since the end of apartheid rule in 1994. "Since the dawn of our democracy, the stakes have never been higher," Mmusi Maimane, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party, told lawmakers. "Our choice is between right and wrong, between good and evil. Vote with your conscience, and remove this corrupt and broken president from office." Criticism of Zuma from within the African National Congress (ANC) has grown amid multiple corruption scandals and mounting economic woes, and the celebrated party of Nelson Mandela has declined sharply at the polls. But senior ANC leaders and most analysts believe the president will survive the vote given the party's large parliamentary majority. "We are not sell-outs... we will vote for the ANC. The ANC rejects this motion with the contempt it deserves," deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude said in reply to Maimane's attack. Several opposition parties led thousands of anti-Zuma protesters outside the national assembly, while supporters of the president held a rival march. Zuma, who has built up a network of loyalists in the ANC since coming to power in 2009, has survived several previous parliamentary votes that were held without secret balloting. A 201-vote majority would be needed to remove him from power, and the ANC holds 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament. His cabinet would also be forced to resign. ANC loses its lustre Baleka Mbete, the speaker of parliament, made a surprise decision Monday to hold the ballot in secret after a campaign by the opposition who hope to encourage ANC members to vote against their leader without fear of intimidation. "Mbete's decision was made knowing that Zuma will be secure," Darias Jonker, of the New York-based Eurasia political analysis consultancy, said. "The vast majority of ANC MPs are not willing to risk the stability of the party in order to remove Zuma in this fashion." Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president before the 2019 general election -- lessening pressure for his party to trigger imminent change. The ANC has acknowledged recent criticism of the party, including the impact of a cabinet reshuffle in March when respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan was replaced with a close Zuma ally. Gordhan's sacking led to a string of downgrades to South Africa's credit rating as well as causing the rand currency to tumble. Public support for the ANC, which swept to power under Mandela in the first non-racial elections in 1994, slipped to 55 percent in last year's local polls -- its worst-ever result. A handful of MPs, including Gordhan, have joined calls from anti-apartheid veterans and trade unions for Zuma to resign, as South Africa endures record unemployment and a recession. Zuma has been engulfed by corruption allegations while in office. A court last year found him guilty of violating the constitution after he refused to repay taxpayers' money used to refurbish his private rural house. He has been accused of being in the sway of the wealthy Gupta business family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments, contracts and state-owned businesses. He is also fighting a court order that could reinstate almost 800 corruption charges against him over a multi-billion dollar arms deal in the 1990s. Zuma is seen as favouring his ex-wife, former African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to succeed him ahead of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Municipal Chief Executive ( MCE) for Asokore Mampong, Alhaji Alidu Seidu has re -affirmed his commitment to deliver on good leadership to the people of Asawase. Leadership he said, was not only the act of leading people to achieve their goals but also being firm and focus on the ground to achieve those objectives. He noted that since assumption of office as the MCE, he has stood firm and focus despite the fact that some group of persons are trying to sabotage his efforts to change certain unwarranted projects. The MCE was speaking to a group of journalists at his office at Asokore -Mamapong at the weekend. " I am not purported by anybody or group persons who tend to mare my activities because i am very focused on my duties to serve the people". He alluded Alhaji Alidu indicated that in the previous administration, corruption has undermine public confidence in the effective delivery of services at the municipality because of weak accountability. As the result of that, he is critical in fighting and rectifying those anomalies for justification and expediency. He added. He hinted that, plans were far advance in ensuring unemployment becomes the thing of the past. He therefore called on Ghanaians especially the people of Asawase to pray for the NPP government to deliver on its campaign promises. Four UCT Honours students are elated after winning the 4th annual GirlCode Hackathon a 48-hour non-stop programming challenge in Johannesburg over the weekend. The four-woman team from the University of Cape Towns Information Systems (IS) department, scooped the first prize of an all-expenses paid trip to Silicon Valley in the U.S. During the 48-hour challenge, they created an innovative website, Amava which means experience in isiXhosa and connects volunteers with NGOs. Winning is surreal. We cant quite believe that were going to the US. We are very, very excited about going to Silicon Valley to learn more and network. Its a tremendous opportunity, said team member, Fadzai Mupfunya. The challenge was run by non-profit organisation, Girl Code, which aims to empower women through technology. It also encourages and motivates women to pursue careers and leadership positions in the male-dominated tech industry. The GirlCode Hackathon is held annually on the first weekend of August to dovetail with Womens month. This experience has given us the confidence to show clearly that we have a lot to bring to the table. As women, we can rise to the top in the tech space, said UCT IS Honours student, Valerie Tshiani. The UCT IS honours students chose social welfare as their category and targeted a solution for unemployment. Team member, Lorna Nqodi, said the website connected non-governmental organisations and volunteers in a novel way for mutual benefit. Amava is targeted at unemployed millenials and people who want to upskill themselves. It directly links volunteers with roles that are advertised in the workforce. These include posts for accounting, engineering and software development that are needed by NGOs that cant afford to hire these skills. The benefit of using Amava for volunteers is to gain experience and get references that can be used to market themselves to potential employers. Volunteers are able to find NGOs in communities close to them, while transport and food costs would be covered. As an unemployed millennial, transport and food costs are often a hindrance when it comes to volunteering your time with no pay. Amava specifies that these costs are covered. We want people from different economic backgrounds to volunteer, gain experience and attain usable references." Kungela Mzuku said participating in the GirlCode Hackathon had been an inspiring experience. We coded and worked for 48 hours. We didnt sleep at all, but were kept going with food and drinks and encouragement, said Mzuku. Speakers from the industry and mentors kept the inspiration and energy up. At the end of the challenge, the teams presented their website to the judges. UCT was joined by teams from Wits University and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in the top three places. Vice-Chairwoman of GirlCode, Jeanette Theu, said the GirlCode Hackathon was open to all women who wanted to collaboratively create a website, game or mobile app that addressed a selected real world challenge. At most hackathons, the main incentives are cash prizes, international trips and bragging rates, But we believe that women would be more drawn to a more altruistic goal, projects that will make a difference to society as a whole. Theu said the hackathon was intended as collaborative learning experience in which everyone would walk away with new knowledge and starter kits which would continue to help them continue their journey in exploring the ICT space. The four-woman team called Ruby credited UCTs IS department and their lecturers for encouraging them to enter the GirlCode Hackathon and for arranging for them to participate in Johannesburg and ultimately achieve one of their dreams. ANGOLA Trine University is expecting an increase in the number of students enrolled at its main campus this fall, with new student enrollment fueling growth. The university is estimating an overall count on its main campus of 4,060 students including returning, new, undergraduate and graduate students up 8.8 percent from 3,730 in the fall of 2016. We are excited by the growth our student body is experiencing as an increasing number of students become aware of the quality education offered at Trine University. We look forward to welcoming this larger group of students and already have plans in place to ensure the high standard of their Trine experience is maintained, said Earl D. Brooks II, Trine president. Many students are recognizing that with the employment rate of our graduates above 99 percent and our generous financial aid packages resulting in a low debt load, a Trine degree can play a large role in achieving their future growth and professional goals. Trines freshman class will set records, with an estimated 615 new freshmen expected, up 19 percent from 461 last year. Freshman and transfer new student enrollment is estimated at 710, a 37 percent increase over last years 518. The university said its new hockey programs are helping fuel the enrollment gains by bringing new students to campus. Trine also is seeing growth in many of its academic programs, including exercise science, which offers graduates the option of entry to its doctor of physical therapy program, as well as its biochemistry, biomedical engineering, business, criminal justice and education majors. High school dual enrollment on the main campus is expected to rise 23 percent to 1,950, up from 1,587 last year. Dual enrollment provides many college-bound students the opportunity to take college-level courses in their high schools, on campus and online for credit toward college. Trine Universitys new Thunder Ice Arena is nearly complete and will open to the public Sept. 5. The facility will serve as the home for Trines mens and womens hockey teams. It also will host club and youth hockey programs, and it will be open to the public for skating at designated times. Construction continues on the MTI Center, which is expected to open in January. The MTI Center will host Trines mens and womens basketball teams, include a six-lane bowling alley and esports center and serve as a venue for entertainers. Juba (AFP) - The head of South Sudan's UN mission announced on Tuesday the long-awaited arrival of troops from a regional force meant to patrol roads and quell violence in the war-ravaged country. The UN Security Council decided a year ago to deploy a 4,000-strong regional force, two months after fighting in the capital Juba killed hundreds of people and led to the collapse of a peace agreement between President Salva Kiir's government and rebels loyal to his former deputy Riek Machar. However the plan has been bogged down in delays and bureaucratic hurdles David Shearer, head of the UN mission UNMISS, told a press conference about 150 troops from Rwanda arrived at the weekend for the regional protection force (RPF). A team of Nepalese soldiers and an engineering company from Bangladesh who will join east African troops for technical support have also arrived. "It will enable us to put more patrols along insecure roads where there have been attacks on civilian convoys," Shearer said of the RPF. "It will enable us, as I said before, to help protect civilians and build a durable peace in South Sudan." More troops from Rwanda along with a contingent from Ethiopia are also expected to arrive, Shearer added. Thousands of people have been killed or maimed in fighting between South Sudanese government and opposition forces that first erupted in 2013 There are already around 12,000 troops operating under UNMISS in South Sudan, but the Security Council authorised the deployment of the RPF after the July 2016 violence amid complaints that UN forces failed to respond to attacks on civilians. The Security Council mandate allows the RPF to secure Juba's airport and "promptly and effectively engage any actor that is credibly found to be preparing attacks or engages in attacks". Shearer blamed "bureaucratic hurdles" for the 11-month delay in deploying the troops. "We have liked it to have been quicker," he said. South Sudan descended into a vicious civil war in 2013 after Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. Machar is now in exile in South Africa. Thousands of people been killed and millions displaced by the violence, which briefly plunged part of the country into famine earlier this year. Dear Ken Ofori-Atta, Greetings! I understand you have a notion that Ghanaians talk more and do less right? You said this during your presentation of the Mid-Year budget review. You got it all wrong. Who born dog? How can one walk through a refuse dumb without expecting to be pierced by a broken bottle? You talk too much! In fact you were referring to yourself and the entire NPP fraternity not Ghanaians! The stink-rat has married the widow of the large malodorous ant and the evil shell is thereby increased. Then again, whoever burns his hair will definitely smell the scent. Mr. Minister, the most important thing you can do right now is to apologize to the Ghanaian people that you lied your way to power and re-engage them in the process of the NPPS governance to get them understand what can work in your government to make the Ghanaian politics cool again; and interesting again; and important again as you inherited from the NDC-Mahama-led administration. Understand this; "one who brings untrodden faggots to his house should expect the visit of Lizards" .Let us examine the untrodden faggots you brought upon yourselves and you will understand why lizards are currently your guests and why I said you were talking to NPP members not Ghanaians. Let's go for a reality check because we can't go the way of false hopes! Let us reflect back on the instances that enabled the NPP to win elections 2016. Hon. Finances Minister, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that he would restore Trainee allowances in 100 days of his Government if given the nod. We are in August already; 8 months after taking over the mantle of leadership trainee allowances have not been paid; we don't know when their allowances would be restored; if it can be restored at all! That's talking more and doing less! Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that; "Ghanaians are becoming increasingly concerned about their security due to the increasing levels of crime and lawlessness under the Mahama led NDC government. Today Ghanaians do not feel safe. The Mahama led NDC government has failed the people of Ghana in terms of security of the country and its citizens. Our existing laws are largely not enforced and when they are, they're done selectively often with much interference from the Executive." Reality check; today criminals are protected by nolle prosequi, miscreants are encouraged, criminality has been entrenched by subtle executive order. The courts are threatened and the masses are DOOMED. Even our men in uniform are living under fear and panic because they're being killed daily by your vigilante groups. The ordinary Ghanaian lives in fear and panic; always wondering where the next attack would be launched and who would be the next victim and every day now in Ghana presents further evidence of worried Ghanaians wanting their security guaranteed. Only God can help us. This is talking more and doing less. Untrodden faggots; the reason lizards have become your guests. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that he will pursue an agenda of 1 village 1 dam in the whole of the 3 regions of the North. Today we're being told it's raining and for that matter he can't start it this year. That's talking more and doing less. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that he would ensure $1 million was sent to each of our 275 constituencies to be used for their individual developmental needs over his 4 years tenure if given the nod. The reality check is that it can't be implemented this year according to the Minister for Special Initiatives Hon. Akoto Osei. That's talking more and doing less. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that he would implement free education for all second cycle institutions as enshrined in our 1992 constitution contrary to the NDC's promise of progressively free education starting for all day schools across the country and construction of more infrastructure to accommodate the numerous students that would be expected when such a program is fully implemented. The reality check is that you can't implement it. You're contemplating starting with only first Year entrants who must score an aggregate of not more than 24 knowing very well that the pass mark is aggregate 30. Scholarship is what you're talking about Methinks! Talking more and doing less. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that unemployment was an end product of "Incompetent Mahama" and that he would create jobs for all our graduates when given the nod. Today he's saying the cause of our graduate unemployment is our academic curriculum! Awurade Yakubu judgment day will be so interesting. In fact since assuming office in January; over 30 000 Ghanaians who were gainfully employed have been rendered jobless and the only excuse is that they're NDC sympathizers as if NDC sympathizers are not Ghanaians or the NDC is a criminal organisation. I'm a living testimony! Don't even attempt to deny it. No single job have been created since the NPP took over the mantle of leadership. This is talking more and doing less. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that he would fight corruption; the reality check is that the NPP government have reduced the corruption fight to the MICROPHONE. Corruption today has assumed unproportionate heights. The CANCEROUS USD 2.5 MILLION BOND OF KYEBI FOR MON KYENDI 2017 is still fresh on our minds. Boakye Agyarko a.k.a BOAKYEGATE of GH150,000.00 parliamentary bribery scandal fame still remains a nightmare. Alfred Obeng Boateng of the BUSTED BOST BOSS fame is also fresh on our minds and many others. This is talking more and doing less! Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo condermed President Mahama without mincing words. He accused President Mahama of pursuing a family and friends government and promised the opposite. The reality check reveals that Nana Akufo-Addo is not only running a Family and Friends government but Girlfriends and Shadow Wives government too! This is talking more and doing less! Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo accused President Mahama of running a large government and promised a lean government if elected. The reality is that Nana Akufo-Addo's government is unprecedented in the history of the country Ghana. The largest government in the world today! This is talking more and doing less. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that it was incompetent to borrow and that he would not borrow if given the nod. In fact Dr. Bawumia granted a press conference and reaffirmed that it's incompetent to borrow and that President Mahama has an insatiable appetite for borrowing because he's incompetent all he thinks is borrowing. He added "I have worked in the Bank of Ghana and I know the money is there. It's because of incompetence and mismanagement we're suffering" The reality check reveals that the NPP government borrows an average of GHS 3billion every month. They have done that for the past 7 months. No kilometre of road has been constructed; no toilet has been constructed; no hospital has been built. So the question Ghanaians are asking is that where's the money? This is talking more and doing less. Untrodden faggots, the reason lizards have become your guests. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians that the cost of electricity was higher than the cost of rent and that when elected president; he would immediately reduce the cost of electricity and water tariffs. The reality check reveals that the cost of electricity is still higher than the cost of rent. Electricity and water bills are still high! There's rumor in town that its even going to be increased by close of year. This is talking more and doing less. Galamseyers; cocoa farmers, spare parts dealers, Western-North region in 6months; transport fares; fuel prices; lower cost of living and many more were promised. The reality check reveals that all is not well with them. Even common army worms cannot be combated in this regime. This is talking more and doing less. Untrodden faggots, the reasons Lizards are currently your guests. What has changed? Why the sudden turn of events? Are we safe? Were you making these phantom promises from BEER TENTS? Or were you granting those interviews in the run up to elections 2016 from your LIQUOR CABINETS? Preacher man don't tell me that heaven is under the earth. You have no idea what life is really worth. It's not all that glitters that is gold. Half of your story have never been told and now feeling the heat.... Get ready for more fire. The worst is yet to come. What you're seeing is a tip of the ice berg. Hmmmmmm change has come indeed and I'm really gritting my teeth and shaking my damned head in utmost disbelief. Yours Sincerely, Assibid Dauda A concerned citizen. #LetsSeeHowItGoes #ThisMustNotExceed4Years #JonnyB3Gy3SteerNo! 08.08.2017 LISTEN A former Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Agyei Darko, has suggested a rebranding of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to serve its constitutional purposes. Mr. Agyei Darko said the NCCE is perceived as an extension of political parties and that image is killing the integrity of the commission. He said he was instrumental in the process for the 1992 constitution to capture the NCCE but never thought the commission would one be seen as employing political party activists. The former Local Government Minister said this when he was speaking on the Space FM Morning Flight show, hosted by Dickson Smith on Monday. The NCCE is the state agency responsible for the education of Ghanaians on civic matters. Per the constitution of Ghana, the commission is to develop and maintain with the community the sense of the principles and objectives of the constitution of the Republic of Ghana as the fundamental law of the Ghana. The commission is also to educate and encourage the public to defend the constitution at all time, against all forms of abuse and violation. The NCCE is also develop policies for the consideration of Government , from time to time , programmes at the national, regional and district levels aimed at realizing the objective of the constitution of Ghana, among others. Mr. Adjei Darko alleged that CDR members in those days were pushed into the commission and that had made Ghanaians to perceive the commission as an extension of a political party. The former Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani West constituency in the Brong-Ahafo region, said from the start, NCCE dented its image and that affected its education and made the public not to patronise their civic education at the various communities in the country. Mr. Agyei Darko said ever since then, the NCCE has never had any proper image and that, they really need rebranding. Kinshasa (AFP) - Opposition campaigners launched a two-day general strike Tuesday to pressure DR Congo President Joseph Kabila to set an election date -- a day after 12 people were shot dead in an anti-government rampage in the capital. The "dead city" action in Kinshasa, organised well before Monday's killings, was to turn up the heat on Kabila, who is still in power despite his mandate expiring last year. Business activity was noticeably slower in the morning after the opposition had called on residents to stay home. Two-thirds of shops and banks were closed, AFP journalists reported, as soldiers and police were out in strength to monitor the situation. "Everything is closed. The city is paralysed," a city resident, Kiki Kalombo, told AFP. "It's to make Corneille Nangaa put out a calendar for the elections," he added, referring to the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). Nangaa has already stated that they cannot organise a presidential poll as anticipated by year's end. The government meanwhile has written to mobile phone operators, calling on them to limit the "abusive" use of social media, in what appeared to be a bid to stop photos being posted of the protests which were also taking place in other cities. At Lubumbashi, a regional capital in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the main fish market was closed after youths clashed with the security forces. Elsewhere in the city, however, it was business as usual. And in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the country's restive east, riot police were posted at all main junctions in the city, an AFP correspondent said. A few dozen youths using rocks tried to barricade some streets. Anti-Kabila rampage The 'dead city' action in Kinshasa Tuesday had a noticeable impact on businesses and on the city's traffic Police say Monday's killings came as the anti-Kabila Bundu Dia Mayala group went on a rampage, attacking the security forces in several neighbourhoods around Kinshasa. Members of the group, sporting red bandanas, had sprung their attack while chanting "prayers and slogans hostile to legally established institutions," said police spokesman Pierrot Rombaut Mwanamputu on Monday. The victims were hit by stray bullets, he added. But while many citizens of Kinshasa backed Tuesday's strike, not everyone was happy. "The 'dead city' policy has never come up with the hoped-for results," said Alexander, owner of a fish store. "My business is shut. I've lost clients. The economy is on its knees," he said. In his eyes, a strongman was needed to force out Kabila, who came to power in 2001 after the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila. The political instability in the vast country of 70 milion in the heart of Africa has raised concerns in the international community, and a top UN official in Kinshasa Monday met with the government to discuss ways to move rapidly toward elections. Kasai bloodshed Ahead of this week's protests, Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala insisted on Saturday that the country was "on course" for elections. But he failed to give the opposition the detailed timeline they have been demanding for months. One of the main obstacles to organising polls was the continuing violence in the central, diamond-rich region of Kasai where a rebellion has been going on for a year now, according to the electoral commission chief. Both the government and rebels have been accused of carrying out atrocities in Kasai and the international community has repeatedly expressed concern at the government's handling of dissent. Only last week, the UN's peacekeeping mission in DR Congo known as MONUSCO voiced alarm at "arbitrary arrests" during a protest against Kabila. And just a few days later a UN report detailed more than 250 "extrajudicial or targeted killings" of civilians in Kasai earlier this year, with dozens of children among the victims. Detailing cases of people being burned alive or mutilated, the report blamed government troops as well as militia groups on both sides of the conflict. Rabat (AFP) - A protester in a coma after being struck on the head last month in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in northern Morocco died Tuesday of his injuries, officials said. The neglected northern Rif region of Morocco has been shaken by weeks of protests and violence with demonstrators demanding jobs, development and an end to corruption. On July 20, Imad Atabi was hit in the head in clashes in the main Rif city of Al-Hoceima, and taken to a military hospital in Rabat after falling into a coma. At the time the official MAP news agency, quoting the authorities, said Atabi had been wounded by "stone throwing". The Al-Hoceima prosecutor said he died on Tuesday, and said an investigation was still under way to determine the circumstances that led to his death and who was responsible for it. The Rif protests erupted last October after a fishmonger was crushed to death in a rubbish truck as he tried to retrieve swordfish confiscated for being caught out of season. Demands for justice later snowballed into a wider social movement named Al-Hirak al-Shaabi, calling for jobs, development and an end to graft. Leaders of the grassroots movement were arrested at the end of May and the July 20 demonstration was called by Hirak supporters t9o demand their release. At the end of July, King Mohammed VI pardoned more than 1,000 detainees, including 40 people arrested for taking part in the Rif protests. However, more than 150 Rif activists, including protest leader Nasser Zefzafi, remain behind bars. 08.08.2017 LISTEN Airtel Ghana, the Smartphone Network, continues to demonstrate leadership and innovation in the use of Social Media to engage with customers and relevant stakeholders. At the Ghana ICT and Telecom Awards (GITTA) held recently, the Smartphone Network was presented with the Most Innovative use of Social Media Award, for the second consecutive year, in recognition of the companys dexterity at using Social Media to engage with customers. The Awards recognises Airtel Ghana for effectively using social media to provide relevant content that inspires and connects with customers and followers, as well as for adopting a proactive strategy to engage and respond to queries and customer complaints in a timely manner. This recognition is however not new to a company that has led the industry in driving innovation pushing the boundaries in product and services innovation across different products and customer segments. For example, Airtel Ghana was the first telecom provider in Ghana to launch free Facebook and for zero-rating over 40 sites to promote digital inclusion. Within a few months after launching free Facebook, Airtel introduced a first to market innovation Bundles on Facebook to enable customers purchase data bundles on Facebook in real time. So instead of customers looking for agents to buy a recharge card and subsequently bundling data packages, customers have theconvenience to purchase bundles right on Facebook with a click of a button. Such innovations have driven data uptake for the Smartphone Network with more than 60% of the entire customer base using data services. By effectively innovating product and services around Social Media and supporting this with a deliberate engagement strategy that enables the Smartphone Network to extend its reach to customers to engage, respond to queries and inspire customers to action, it is no wonder that the company continues to lead on the use of Social Media to engage customers and to drive real commercial value. Over the last two years, Airtel Ghana has dominated the Social Media space from the way the company engages customers to its influence on the platform. In late 2015, Airtel Ghana emerged as the Most Influential telecommunications company on Social Media in a rankings released by the Ghana Social Media Rankings (GSMR). The comprehensive annual rankings measures a company or brands social media engagement, post reach, mentions and activations across key social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Airtel Ghana clearly led the telecommunications industry across the various channels. Last year, Airtel maintained its position as one of the two most Influential telecom companies on Social media missing the first slot with the slimmest of margins. On multiple occasions, Airtel Ghana has been recognised as the most Socially Devoted brand by Socialbakers a global Social Media analytics firm which monitors over 8 million social profiles across all the major Social Media platforms of companies on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google+ and VK to set a benchmark for response times and response rates to questions from fans and customers of multiple companies. Airtel Ghana has consistently led with over 90% response rates across different platforms. Airtel Ghana continues to demonstrate the real value in driving meaningful engagementson Social Media with the plethora of awards and visible results from such engagements from product campaigns to customer complaint handling and resolution. About Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 17 countries across Asia and Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 3 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. In India, the company's product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, high speed home broadband, DTH, enterprise services including national & international long distance services to carriers. In the rest of the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services and mobile commerce. Bharti Airtel had over 372 million customers across its operations at the end of March 2017. To know more please visit, www.airtel.com About Airtel in Africa Airtel is driven by the vision of providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all. Airtel has 17 operations in Africa: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Airtel International is a Bharti Airtel company. For more information, please visit www.airtel.com, or like the Airtel Ghana Facebook page via www.facebook.com/airtelgh or follow us on Twitter via the handle @airtelghana. Accra, GHANA The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Energy hosted a workshop to discuss increasing electricity access in Ghana on August 8-10, 2017. The event brought together senior officials from the Ghana Government, the private sector and development partners under the theme: Shifting Ghana onto a Path of Clean and Affordable Energy. USAID/Ghana Acting Mission Director Steven E. Hendrix and Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy Lawrence Apaalse delivered remarks and expressed their commitment to sustainably developing Ghanas energy sector. The event featured presentations and panel discussions on generation expansion and renewable energy integration, mobilizing financing for the power sector, as well as lessons learned globally. Topics discussed included international best practices and case studies on renewable integration; energy planning processes to support long-term development; and emerging business models. The aim of the event was to enhance the capability of the Ghanaian power sector to address the challenges of integrating renewable energy resources like wind, solar and hydropower in the national grid. In 2013, the U.S. government launched the Power Africa Initiative to increase energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. Together with our partners, we work to add new generation capacity, connect homes, hospitals and businesses to the electricity grid and deliver power to communities who live beyond the national grid, remarked Mr. Hendrix. Scaling up renewable energy is critical to our agenda of delivering power to all Ghanaian citizens. Through the power of partnership we are leveraging private sector investment to provide renewable energy solutions that will build Ghanas power sector for years to come. This event was organized under the U.S governments Power Africa Initiative, which aims to support energy sector development on the continent. Through Power Africa, USAID works in partnership with the Ghana Government to enhance energy efficiency and encourage the use of renewable energy. About USAID USAID is the lead U.S. government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID has supported Ghana in increasing food security, improving basic health care, enhancing access to quality basic education, and strengthening local governance to benefit all Ghanaian people. 08.08.2017 LISTEN To worsen matters, the Mahama government has placed a ban on public sector employment and it appears things will worsen come next year when the government rolls out its agreement with the IMF. The IMF is not more important than Ghanaians in the discourse this is quoting verbatim the words of the current Vice president on the 5th of May 2016 when he spoke at Accra polytechnic on the topic Youth Unemployment, Causes and Solutions. He proceeded by stating that the reason for the excessive borrowing Ghana was witnessing at the time was share incompetence and mismanagement and that there is enough resources in Ghana to expand the economy and employ more youth and not be slave to the IMF. The then vice presidential candidate sounded profoundly intelligent and appeared to have all the answers the youth of the country wanted. Just seven months down the line, the senior minister is espousing the same position for which they criticized of the Mahama government. Is that the change you promised Ghanaian youth? The vice presidential candidate of the shadow government of the time could not have been ignorant of the workings of the IMF and the financial strength of our economy. He was a deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana before assuming the position of Vice Presidential candidate and was capable of getting any information he needed for an accurate and informed conversation on the economy. The hungry and angry young people of this country hated this IMF arrangement and were very happy to associate themselves with the position of the NPP at the time; that Ghana does not need the IMF to dictate to us who to employ and when to employ them. The TUC and other worker unions supported that clarion call for a retreat from the IMF deal. Nurses and Teacher trainees burnt down party paraphernalia of the ruling party of the time in support of NPPs position. We were told that the young people of this country needed jobs and could not wait for the time of Mahamas incompetent austere regime to end. By the grace of God, the government of the internationally acclaimed economist, the man who would not trade his competence and intelligence to the dictates of the IMF won the election, the long awaited game changer had finally arrived and all of a sudden the richly available resources of this country has disappeared? The internal avenues of resource generation has suddenly vanished such that the same men of competence who chastised others of borrowing are issuing bonds left, right center to the tune of 40billion dollars in less than a year. The so called incompetently austere impositions on Ghana by the incompetent Mahama government is being upheld and repeated and no one is shouting this to remind them of their promises? Well, I am happy of the emerging agitations by the same youth who were chanting and clapping for him when he was romanticizing the queens language on Accra poly and Central University campuses. Talk is cheap! But that is not enough. Where is the outspoken Catholic Bishop Conference? Why is the TUC silent this time? Where are the nyansafo)) professor Martey ask about? Why must it take their own invincible and the Delta forces to remind them of the worsening plight of the Ghanaian youth? I call this duplicity, hypocrisy and dishonesty of this groups who are silent on this! Ghanaians were told there is going to be full implementation of free SHS by September 2017 if Nana Addo wins, Nana Addo won and it has suddenly metamorphosis from the full implementation to a step by step progressively free implementation beginning with the first years only. Was that the promise? Who is fooling who here? And they wont even apologize and speak the truth about it. The NPP stated during the campaign last year that each of the 216 constituencies were to be allocated 1million dollars each beside the district common fund and their internally generated funds to support the rapid development of our districts. Ghanaians supported, chanted and applauded them. In much this year, the vice president reiterated that it was to take effect in June 2017, today is 8th August 2017. The monitoring and evaluation minister said it wont happen this year and no one is agitated about this. But if it were Asamoah Gyan missing a penalty, you would have seen the anger and aggression of the Ghanaian. The nurses and teacher trainees who voted for the NPP has not benefited from the allowances they were promised. They are rather told that new admissions will be offered the allowance. The health minister categorically indicated that those completing this year should look for their own jobs because they are not bonded by the state. A complete stab at the back! Why should President Mahama put the lives of 26 million Ghanaians in danger by accepting to settle the two ex-Gitmo detainees in Ghana? They must be taken back in the supreme interest of the country this was the NPPs statement issued on the 26th Jan. 2016. When this same party in power was offered the opportunity to return these terrorists they regularized their stay without apology to Ghanaians and everyone is silent about it. Its normal to lie and go scot free. I have said this somewhere and will repeat it here that; when you exaggerate you competence into power, the realities of the issues of governance will expose you. For those of you who think we should wait until four years to pass a judgment, the Vice president told you when he was in opposition that when you board a bus and the driver is demonstrating incompetence; you dont wait until he crushes. We will not stop reminding Bawumia and the NPP of their broken promises so far. The same civil societies, religious bodies and individuals who yelled at Mahama for the wrongs that are still being repeated today should be bold and speak out! [email protected] , Facebook: suaka peter, tweet; @suakapeter. WhatsApp; 0200922728 The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu has inaugurated the Northern Regional Lands Commission and charged the thirty-three members to avoid the temptation of being used as a conduit to sell state lands to private developers. I enjoin you to avoid the temptation of being influenced by peddlers and chasing for lands for yourselves, family, and friends. The recent past should be a clear lesson for us all. You will need to provide leadership, guidance and more importantly monitoring the implementation of national policies on land and the ones that you will develop for the region. John Peter Amewu emphasized that government would not countenance illegal land activities that will undermine the implementation of flagship programmes including the planting for food and jobs and one district-one factory. Let me remind you that land as the biggest contributor to all factor contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Ghana is key to achieving the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. I urge you to take a special interest in SADA and the Ministry of Agricultures programmes, which are envisaged to provide job opportunities for our teeming youth. These efforts can catapult the region from the current morass of poverty that has become so endemic, he stated. He pointed to the initiation of the Northern Development Authority and the Zongo Development Fund that required the allocation of vast land for their operation. There is so much potential for the Northern Region. Tonnes of resources are being poured here from different sources including government, the private sector, civil society organizations, religious entities and the donor community. Access to land and security of tenure should not be an issue when it comes to deploying these resources. The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed bemoaned the encroachment of state lands aided by some chiefs in the region. According to him, parcels of land within the boundaries of the Regional Coordinating Council were not spared. Salifu Saeed disclosed the intention to establish a joint security Task Force to reclaim the said state lands. Chairman of the newly inaugurated Commission, Lawyer Mahama Yakubu Dubik pledged members' commitment to diligently discharge their duties without fear or favour. He posited that the nation's natural resources conservation remained the ultimate responsibility of all well-meaning citizens. Lawyer Yakubu Dubik thanked government for the privilege and promised to galvanize members to actualize their mandate. By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana 08.08.2017 LISTEN I am struggling to see what is being celebrated here. The UGCC was formed in Aug 1947. Nkrumah joined as SG four months later. As a colonial office dispatch observed, prior to Nkrumahs arrival in December of that year the movements main supporters were in the large coastal towns of Accra, Saltpond, Cape Cost, Sekondi and Kibi the home of Dr Danquah. Aiken Watson of the eponymously named commission he chaired conceded that the UGCC did not get down to business until Nkrumah arrived. The post war austerity boycotts and exservicemen changed the course of history. The infamous shooting of ex servicemen who sought only to present a petition to the Governors office did not include UGCC officers or members. While Nkrumah and Dr Danquah had met members of the legion the day before to help with drafts, the UGCC was not involved in the march and in fact disavowed the riots that broke out following the unlawful murders of three ex-service men; they blamed it all on Nkrumah. William Ofori Atta and Obetsebi Lamptey ransacked his apartments looking for incriminating material to use against him. But it WAS precisely these riots that led to the arrest of key UGCC officers (earning them the dubious sobriquet of the Big Six) and the establishment of the Watson Commission which recommended the appointment of a Constitutional Committee to draft a new constitution to pave the way to self government. The Coussey Committee included UGCC officers who repudiated the riots that created the circumstances for their membership and many sections of society except Nkrumah (blamed for the riots that led to the Committees establishment) and Trades Unionists. Even with the scales tipped in their favour, the UGCC managed to botch the elections organised under the auspices of the constitution they drafted and gerrymandered rules they defined and lost in a landslide to the CPP. And with that, they passed on to Nkrumah, who they excluded from the Committee, the mantle of carrying through the programme for self government. That was momentous! It is probably THE day worth celebrating : when Dr. Danquahs command of Gold Coast politics ended and Nkrumahs took off. So what exactly are we celebrating? What was the singular contribution of the UGCC to an independence struggle they did not trigger? The 1951 constitution? which prominent members among them (Ofori Atta and Dr Danquah included) and Nkrumah described as bogus and fraudulent? The UGCC were not the handmaidens of our independence. They had no role in the events that caused the British to initiate the process of self-government with the establishment of the Coussey Committee Nii Kwabena Bone, his boycotters and the ex service men did. They could not win the first All-African general elections whose rules they wrote and they ceased to exist after the 1951 elections and reconstituted themselves into various opposition parties whose raison detre was to stop Nkrumah from leading Ghana to independence. This is a celebration of a party with no singular political achievement or historical contribution! Here is the crux: There is a dangerous historical conflation here; of projecting Dr Danquah and the UGCC as one. Dr. Danquahs contribution to the anticolonial struggle is immense and it predated the UGCC by more than a decade. An intellectual colossus of all time, he paved the way for Nkrumah and those that came later. But Dr Danquahs achievements are not the same as those of the UGCC. In fact by the time of the establishment of the UGCC Dr. Danquah had peaked. His best and most productive years were prior to that. I have no qualms about celebrating Dr Danquahs contribution. It has meaning. The celebration of the non-performing UGCC with no singular political achievement makes no historical sense. To the extent that the UGCC achieved anything it was their invitation of Nkrumah to head the partys secretariat which together with the boycotts and riots altered our history. But that too was Dr Danquahs (and Ako Adjeis) achievement perhaps his final and crowing glory. In battle, business and in politics, sometimes the best and most transformative decisions are in the choice of personnel. The choice of Nkrumah was the finest decision Dr Danquah made it gave finality to his lifes work. Nairobi (AFP) - Vote counting was underway in Kenya Tuesday night after elections dominated by a close battle between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga, which has raised fears of violence in east Africa's most vibrant democracy. Only a few hours after polls closed, more than one-and-a half million votes had been tallied in the presidential vote, but some were still voting due to delays and long queues. It was too early to see any trends. "We now enter the most critical moment in the election cycle," electoral commission (IEBC) chief Wafula Chebukati told reporters after polls closed. Emotions are high after a bad-tempered campaign marred by opposition claims of a plot to rig the vote, and counting is considered the most sensitive part of the process in a country with a history of post-poll violence. Tuesday's elections took place a decade after a shambolic 2007 vote -- which foreign observers agreed was riddled with irregularities -- sparked violence which left more than 1,100 people dead and 600,000 displaced. People stood patiently for hours in snaking queues around the country for a vote that went off peacefully, despite reports of some technical glitches and delays. Kenyatta, who is seeking a second term in office, urged Odinga to accept the result should he lose. "I also want to say that if I lose, I will accept the will of the people," Kenyatta said after voting. Odinga, 72, is taking his fourth and likely final stab at the presidency. He claims elections in 2007 and 2013 were stolen from him. "In the unlikely event that I lose I don't need a speech, I will just speak from my heart," he said shortly before voting. 'Good job' This year's campaign was marred by the brutal murder and torture of a top election official The IEBC electoral commission moved quickly to deal with any complaints, removing clerks in a polling station where ballot papers were pre-marked as "rejected". In the port city of Mombasa a clerk was arrested for issuing double ballot papers to certain voters, local police said. IEBC chief Wafula Chebukati said voting had gone "smoothly" despite minor delays and technical hiccups at some of the 41,000 polling stations. In semi-arid northwest Turkana, flooding from heavy rain cut off roads and several polling stations had still not opened by closing time. Odinga's National Super Alliance opposition coalition (NASA) released a statement praising poll officials and security forces. "We commend them for the good job so far and urge them to keep it up," it said. However, the coalition complained some of its voters had been turned away or their names were missing from the voters' register. NASA also said it had reports of "pre-marked ballot papers" and attempts to bribe voters. As vote tallying starts, the focus is on the electronic system in place to send results to Nairobi. The failure of this system in 2013 meant votes had to be counted manually, leading Odinga to cry foul. 'Same old faces' Security is tight for Kenya's general elections after post-poll violence in 2007/2008 killed over 1,100 people The devolution of power to Kenya's 47 counties after a post-conflict constitutional reform means elections are now a complex affair, with citizens casting six different ballots. The presidential election is set to be the final showdown of a dynastic rivalry that has lasted more than half a century since the candidates' fathers Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga went from allies in the struggle for independence to bitter rivals. The men belong to two of Kenya's main ethnic groups, Kenyatta from the Kikuyu, the largest, and Odinga from the Luo. Both have secured formidable alliances with other influential communities in a country where voting takes place largely along tribal lines. At a polling station in the capital, 54-year-old Concepta, who did not give her surname, was one of those still waiting in line, and said she still did not know who she would vote for. "It's the same old faces, again and again. I was hoping there would be someone new but unfortunately, it's Kenyatta/Odinga again," she said. Kenyatta, 55, is seeking re-election after a first term in which he oversaw a massive infrastructure drive and steady economic growth of more than five percent. "Kenyatta has done a tremendous job, he has improved communications, built roads and other infrastructure, he has to keep the job," said Sashikat Bhaga, 68, in the Nairobi suburb of Parklands, home to many Kenyans of Indian or Pakistani origin. But he has been criticised for soaring food prices -- with prices jumping 20 percent year-on-year in May -- and massive corruption scandals on his watch. More than 150,000 members of the security forces were deployed for polling day. There are more than 19 million registered voters in the nation of 48 million. Half are aged under 35. 08.08.2017 LISTEN The Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiamah has disclosed that investment group, MenzGold is not licensed to conduct banking business. He says though the Company was licensed by the Minerals Commission to buy and sell gold, it had veered off into accepting deposits from unsuspecting customers. This would be the latest financial sector scam following DKM and God is Love Fun Club among others. Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee hearing today on the Central Bank's measures against such scams, Dr. Asiamah cautioned that anybody who dealt with MenzGold did so at their own peril. Only last week we published a notification in the newspaper about MenzGold to the effect that we have not licensed them to accept deposits because to accept deposits you need a license from Bank of Ghana and we have not licensed them for that purpose, and hence if you go ahead to do business with them it's at your own risk he cautioned. The Minerals Commission has given them a license to purchase gold so based on that we cannot just get up and close them down. There has to be evidence that they are accepting deposits thereby flouting the our regulations. So we took the first step by notifying the public and it came out in quite a number of the newspapers that these people are not to accept deposits and if they ask you to give them money you should not do so, he added. Dr. Asiamah assured that the central bank is working with other relevant agencies in the gold industry to find a lasting solution to the problem. Now we are following on from the next level where we will have to sit down with the respective agencies. Because if they are licensed to purchase gold that doesn't have anything to do with us. So going forward, we are collaborating on that very issue he assured. Dr. Asiamah stated that measures were being put in place to ensure that people become aware of licensed financial institutions in the country. Let me use this medium to educate our people. We are just too ready to give money to anyone that promises a good return. We are quick to just give our monies to them. If you look at the newspapers now we are publishing what we call the clean list. Explaining the DKM Microfinance debacle, Dr. Asiamah stated that the processes are ongoing to liquidate the company. You mentioned the DKM issue and as you know when any company goes down it has to go through liquidation. So there is a liquidation process that is going on by the Registrars General. They are working with their lawyers, they are working with one of their audit firms and they are working in line with the liquidations act. By: Sixtus Dong Ullo/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana The Director-General in Charge of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, COP George Akuffo Dampare has assured Ghanaians of the readiness and commitment of the police administration to provide them with maximum security and protection in the wake of rising crime rates. During a three-day working visit to the Brong Ahafo Region, he issued a stern warning to criminals in the country to reform or face the full rigors of the law. The region has experienced some high profile crimes including robbery on the Kintampo Buipe highway which claimed the life of one and left four others with various degrees of injuries. The visit took Dr. Dampare to Kintampo, Babator, Tahiru Akuraa, Buipe, Atebubu, Yeji, Kwame Danso and Kojokrom. The visit was to afford COP Dampare the opportunity to assess the trouble spots, and assess the security situation on the ground and strategies put in place by the local Police to deal with issue. He also used the visit to facilitate community engagement to enhance the community-police rapport to build the confidence of community members play informants role to help police with information on the hideouts of the criminals. The Director-General of Operations in an interaction with the senior police officers and district commanders in Sunyani, Kintampo, Atebubu, Yeji and Kwame Danso tasked them to be professional and discharge their duties without fear or favour. He assured them that the Police Administration was putting in measures to address all their logistical and manpower challenges to enable them combat crime. He said the introduction of operational strategies in the service was part of the Police transformational agenda that was yielding results in the big cities will be replicated across the country and encouraged the officers to be proactive and preventive in their strategies since the challenges of the region was highway robberies and not inner-city robberies. He disclosed the National SWAT and National Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) had been deployed to the area to augment their efforts in the fight against armed robbery, crimes and maintain law and order and tasked the officers to collaborate effectively to succeed. Meeting with GPRTU He assured the leadership of the GPRTU that the police administration was working to rid the country of criminals and appealed to them to assist and collaborate with the police by providing timely and credible information on criminals and their activities. He expressed the commiseration of the IGP and the Police Administration to residents, family of the deceased and the GPRTU for their loss and tasked them to remain vigilant and expose criminals in the community in fighting the rising crime menace. Kwame Danso At Kwame Danso, district capital of the Sene West, the District Chief Executive (DCE) Hon. John Nyaba promised to provide accommodation and fuel to enable them discharges their duties effectively and requested for more personnel to be posted to the area to help beef up the security situation of the area. He outlined the assembly's plan to provide the police with motorbikes and construct Police posts at robbery prone areas to help curb the menace. The Director General of Police Operations on his part commended the DCE for his kind gesture and assured the Police will do everything possible to ensure citizens are protected. COP/Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has since left for the Ashanti Region where he is expected to hold similar engagement with the Police Command in the region. By: Mashoud Kombat, Brong Ahafo/citifmonline.com/Ghana Patience Gbeze/Victoria Adonu, GNA Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, the Minister of Roads and Highways, said the Abidjan Lagos Corridor Development Programme requires cooperation and commitment of all stakeholders and immense political will to ensure successful execution. He said the Abidjan Lagos Corridor constituted the most viable trading corridor section of the Trans-West African Highway network and its development would facilitate tourism and further deepen regional integration. The Minister was speaking at the opening of a four-day Ministerial Steering Committee and Experts Meeting for the Abidjan Lagos Corridor Highway Development Programme in Accra. The meeting would be held in the five countries that are undertaking the project namely: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria to review each member state's efforts and help to strengthen their resolve to provide the Sub-region the required infrastructure for sustainable socio-economic development. Mr Amoako-Attah said: 'Considering the immense benefits to be derived from this project, we are convinced without a doubt that the regional approach is the best way to implement a project of such magnitude. 'Although the development of the Corridor will offer various economic, technological and resource utilisation benefits, it will also bring along some implementation challenges,' he said. He said the idea of the project was borne at the 41st Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments in 2012 where the ECOWAS Commission was tasked to intensify its efforts towards the development of regional infrastructure as a catalyst for regional economic growth. 'The Heads of State and Governments of Benin, Republic of the Cote D'Ivoire, the Republic of Ghana, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Togolese Republic, decided during their meeting held in Addis Ababa on May 25, 2013 to expand the Abidjan Lagos Corridor to a Three Lane Dual Carriage Highway. 'It was based on the recommendations of the meeting of the Ministers of Infrastructure, Transport, Finance and Justice held in Abuja on 22nd April, 2013. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is leading with the coordination for the development of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway,' he added. The Minister said the Abidjan- Lagos Corridor was a priority flagship programme of the ECOWAS and formed part of the West African Priority Action Plan of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which was adopted by the African Heads of State and Government as the continental infrastructure framework in 2012. He said like most global integration concepts, the project required a wider perspective on issues for the broader good. He expressed Ghana's gratitude for the cooperation she had enjoyed from the ECOWAS and the unwavering partnership with the states along the Corridor and their technical experts in working together to realise the objectives of the project for the common good of all. 'Ultimately, the decisions to be taken at this meeting will very much be guided by the experience and expertise of the technocrats whose collective opinions we believe, would be objective,' he said. Dr Antoinette G. Weeks, the Commissioner for Infrastructure, ECOWAS Commission, said at their last steering committee meeting in Lome, Togo in March, 2014, they agreed to review the progress of the project in connection with the implementation of the Abidjan Lagos Corridor Six-Lane Dual Carriage Highway Project. She said since then there were amicable achievements including the completion of the study on the legal and institutional framework documents for the establishment of the supranational management corridor authority for the Abidjan Lagos Corridor Highway project. 'Specifically, the study covers the development of the corridor management structure that will guide the preparation, construction, and operation management as well as the maintenance of the Corridor. 'We also focus on drafting a legal document necessary for the development of the Corridor management authority, the development of the communication materials for the mobilisation of resources and the promotion of support and investment including the creation of a film for the Corridor. She said they also developed a logo model, supplementary brochures and fliers exclusively highlighting and promoting the Corridor. 'We've also completed the project work base platform at the request of the Honourable Ministers at the last Steering Committee meeting. They requested the ECOWAS Commission and our development partners; the AfDB, to work on this platform, which would give not only the ministers but experts the opportunity for information sharing as well as a resource for gathering updates on the development of the corridor. 'So we are pleased to say that work in collaboration with members of the Commission and AfDB has been completed and I will rollout a pilot demonstration of the work base platform during this steering committee meeting not only for the review but the input ..prior to presentation to the ministers on Friday. Mr Chukwunwike Ogbonna, the Chairman of Committee of Experts, said the Steering Committee had done a lot to drive the Abidjan Lagos Corridor Development programme. He said rotating the meeting among the five member states would give them the opportunity to measure individual member states' efforts and urged them on in areas that they were lagging. He, therefore, urged members to continue to work hard to enable them to achieve the goal of the project. The Presidents of Ghana, CAte d'Ivoire, Benin and Nigeria and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Togo signed a Treaty in March, 2014 under which they agreed to the construction of a six-lane highway from Abidjan to Lagos. They also agreed to the establishment of a supranational management authority, which will oversee the management of the Corridor on behalf of the States and ensure harmonised project implementation and a higher quality of service and performance. GNA Accra, Aug 8, GNA - Members of the Abossey-Okai Spare Parts dealers Association have commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for abolishing the 10 per cent import duties on spare parts. They have also pledged to embrace government's proposed automation and paperless policy to reduce the congestion and tension that had hindered early clearance of goods at the ports. Mr Clement Boateng, Public Relations Officer of the Association, who gave the commendation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra said since its implementation two weeks ago, prices of spare parts have been stabilised. In his 2017 budget presentation to Parliament in March, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance announced the abolition of the 10 per cent import duties on spare parts. The reduction, government envisaged would reduce the burden on importers and subsequently bring relief to the transport sector. Mr Boateng said although most of their goods were cleared before the implementation two weeks ago, the executive members would on Thursday, August 10 hold a valid meeting and later in the third week of August educate theirs members on the mode of price reduction on their goods. On challenges since the implementation, the PRO mentioned upliftment of values on goods and delays on the clearance as some of the teething problems. He said the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority was now raising the values on their goods far above what was done by the disbanded Destination Inspection Companies. He explained that previously members spent a maximum of three days to receive their Final Classification Valuation Report that enabled them to clear their goods, and the current system was operating within a minimum of one week thereby increasing the cost of clearance. Mr Boateng expressed the hope that the implementation of the paperless automation would speed up activities to reduce the financial burdens of the dealers. The PRO appealed to the government to check the fall of the Cedi against major currencies such as the Euro since most of them imported their parts from the European countries. He said although the Cedi had stabilised against the United States Dollar, the same could not be said of the escalating Euro and United Kingdom Pound. GNA By George Ramsey Benamba, GNA 08.08.2017 LISTEN Akwatia (E/R), Aug 08, GNA - Japanese Company, Kobe Marine Corporation (KMC) has signaled its readiness to establish a palm oil processing factory in the Denkyembour District in the Eastern Region. A memorandum of understanding has already been signed between the company and the district assembly. This ties in with the government's one district one factory policy. Mr. Paul Kwabena Amani, Managing Director of PMKF Ghana Limited, who wooed the Japanese company to the area, said the benefits would be enormous. KCM, he indicated, was well-endowed, had the expertise and tremendous experience in palm oil processing. It had been operating in Malaysia and Indonesia and that the nation's economy stood to gain from its presence. Mr. Amani said it would start with palm oil production and then move into other things including the making of dried fertilizer and bio-fuel or refined fuel. He underlined the need to scale up the drive to attract more foreign investors, to bring in the technology and expertise to grow local businesses. He said they were engaging the Ghana Small Scale Oil Palm Producers Association to aid them to acquire loans from MASLOC to establish oil palm nurseries and plantations to assure the factory of raw materials supply. He said KCM had targeted to establish five factories in the Eastern, Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions by year 2020. Mr. Seth Birikorang Ofosu, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said the assembly was eager to support the farmers to expand their oil palm plantations. He assured the company of strong support and cooperation. Osaberima Kofi Boateng III, the Akwatiahene, pledged to make land available to investors. GNA By Benjamin Akoto, GNA Ho, Aug. 8, GNA - Mr Israel Akrobortu, Volta Regional Director, Department of Children, has said the non-availability of shelter homes is frustrating efforts being made to take children off the streets in the region. He said though shelter homes are last resorts in child welfare promotion, they are needed to help prepare 'social inquiry report' for easy family tracing and reintegration. Mr Akrobortu said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency whiles raising concerns on the activities of child hawkers at traffic lights in the central business district of Ho. He said it was sad that child hawkers were increasing by the day in the regional capital, with some who were trafficked, working as head porters and breadwinners for their 'masters and madams' at the expense of their education. 'These are all due to urbanization and poverty but we are doing our best to contain the challenge through education and sensitization,' Mr Akrobortu said. Mr Cyril Deamesi, Ho Municipal Social Welfare Officer, said due to lack of funds and shelter homes, they occasionally rescue a few of the children and reintegrate them with their families. He said apart from these challenges, they are regularly abused by traders in the central business district. GNA By Sumaiya Salifu Saeed, GNA Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - Airline Operators in Ghana's aviation sector have raised concerns over challenges that require urgent attention in order to foster growth in the sector. They raised the concerns at a maiden Breakfast Meeting organised by Aviation Ghana, an online aviation news portal, to provide a platform for stakeholders in the sector to engage with the Ministry of Aviation on issues of key concern to the growth of the sector. Speaking to the GNA prior to the closed session, Mr James Eric Antwi, the Chief Executive Officer of Starbow Airlines, said some of the main concerns that he would raise as a domestic airline operator was the lack of appropriate aviation infrastructure at the various domestic airports. He noted that the domestic airlines faced challenges in their operations during harmattan seasons as visibility became poor and they found it hard to operate their regular schedules to destinations like Kumasi and Tamale due to lack of modern navigation systems. 'We keep on disappointing our customers. We need to have proper navigational systems, modern ones at those airports so that we can run our schedules during the harmattan because when customers lose confidence in our services, they don't come back again,' he said. He also raised concerns with fifth freedom rights given by Ghana to other countries in the sub-region based on the Yamoussoukro Decision. He said those countries were not committed to giving the same rights to Ghanaian airlines, putting impediment in the way of those who try, and urged the Ministry to address the issue. He also bemoaned the unfair competition posed by international airlines who also operate regional routes saying it was important for authorities to limit such operations to enable domestic airlines remain competitive. Mr Hendrik Du Preez, Emirates Airlines Country Manager for Ghana, said while Ghana's quest to make Ghana the preferred aviation hub in the sub-region was commendable, it was important to ensure that international airlines played their part to support the vision. He observed that although Emirates operates flights from Abidjan to Accra, it was mainly to feed their international flights and was not a major route. 'As competition increases, there's a lot of factor we'll need to look at. Pricing will go down, which will make it more accessible for people to travel and this is the ultimate goal; get more people to travel to fill up the capacity of international airlines and get more people to come through here,' he stated. GNA By Belinda Ayamgha, GNA 08.08.2017 LISTEN Accra, Aug 8, GNA - The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in partnership with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued a warning to individuals parading false claims of possessing a cure for HIV. The partners also warned the staff of both institutions who condone such claims by allowing these drugs to be sold to patients who visited their health facilities, to desist from such unprofessional and unethical acts or face strict sanctions or prosecution if found out. The Commission said the only approved prescriptions for the treatment of HIV were the antiretroviral drugs, which could be taken for the effective management and suppression of the viral load of Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV). They therefore encouraged PLHIV to strictly adhere to the intake of these medications and not to be deceived by anyone who possess any other preparations whether herbal or orthodox, as a cure for the disease. Ambassador Dr Mokowa Blay Adu-Gyamfi, the newly appointed Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, who addressed a joint press conference with the GHS in Accra on Tuesday, said the warnings were based on the persistent reports reaching both institutions on claims of a cure for HIV. 'We deemed it our mandate to appropriately address these issues, and also brief the media on the status of the GAC with regards to past, present and future activities,' she said. She said although such reports had occasionally come to their notice over the years, and the GAC had always come out to caution the public about the fact that currently there was no cure for HIV, the present one was disturbing as it had the tendency of reverting the gains made so far in saving the lives of PLHIV, who were now abandoning their antiretroviral drugs for these preparations resulting in relapses and deaths. Dr Adu-Gyamfi said the Commission recently received yet another of such reports on the Centre of Awareness's Food Supplement known as the COA FS, which was being promoted by some vendors as a cure for HIV. She discredited the claims, placing on record that although the COA FS had been certified as a Food Supplement by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), it was never a cure for HIV, as had been confirmed by Dr Samuel Ato Duncan, the Executive President of the Centre of Awareness, an NGO, at an earlier press conference in Accra. She said the GAC, GHS and stakeholders were not by these condemning the efforts of the traditional herbal practitioners, but were worried about the negative implications of such unsubstantiated claims. She said 'Food supplements can be utilised by the general public and not specifically PLHIV. It is important that persons living with HIV focus on taking their antiretroviral drugs as prescribed. Failure to adhere to the antiretroviral drugs has negative consequences such as ill-health, retrogression, resistance to treatment and even death',. She also spoke about claims by some pastors, prophets and other spiritualists who claimed to have cured PLHIV through fasting and prayers, saying that although good to be highly religious, proving one's HIV status through an authentic test was the only way of determining whether one was cured or not. Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, said his outfit was very displeased with the constant misleading claims of HIV cure by persons who would want to prey on the suffering of others to enrich themselves. He said the GHS had supported PLHIV throughout, and would not relent on such efforts, or hesitate to make public any information on a cure for HIV, giving the assurance that research was still ongoing to find a cure for the disease. He said the GHS had developed strict monitoring strategies to expose and punish any of its staff found as a culprit. GNA By Christabel Addo/ Cassandra Amegashie, GNA 08.08.2017 LISTEN By Lydia Asamoah/Wilhelmina Tuseg Tengmaa Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - The Maisha National Association of Ghana (Maisha Ghana), a Non-Governmental Organisation seeking the proper integration of Ghanaian returnees into the society, has been launched in Accra with a call on citizens to help make returnees feel at home. The returnees have also been encouraged to take advantage of on-going opportunities being provided by the Government and make the best out of them. Ms Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister for Special Development Initiatives, who made the call at the launch of Maisha Ghana on Tuesday, said the government acknowledged that unemployment was a major factor that pushed young people to migrate to Europe and other countries and was, therefore, putting up measures to address the situation. She said the Government was undertaking a number of development programmes, including the implementation of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) that would allocate the cedi equivalence of one million dollars annually to each of the 275 constituencies to be invested in priority development initiatives. The IPEP initiative would involve the Government's One District One Factory; One Village One Dam, small business development, agriculture infrastructure; Water for All; and Sanitation projects that would all become job avenues for the teeming youth. 'Through the implementation of these programmes substantial job opportunities would be created for the youth which will include Ghanaian returnees from abroad,' Ms Koomson said. She said the Government would continue to build an enabling environment to support the private sector to create jobs, especially for the youth. 'We believe that if the youth are empowered, they will not be in a hurry to move out to seek greener pastures,' the Minister said. She, therefore, commended the Founder and Executive Director of Maisha Ghana, Mrs Virginia Wangare Greiner, for establishing a branch of her NGO in Ghana, which is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, to help alleviate the sufferings of returnees. Mrs Greiner, a Kenyan who stays in Germany, said the Association, which had branches in Germany and Kenya, was established in 1996 to represent the concerns of the Diaspora and to promote educational opportunities designed to give employment to both the returnees and young people in programme countries. She said the interventions would serve as a measure to deter most of the people from going outside their countries to look for non-existing opportunities. Mrs Greiner said most of the African migrants, especially the women and the returnees, face numerous heart-breaking challenges in their endeavour to migrate to Europe and other countries in search of greener pastures. Most of them, however, were unable to tell their experiences to deter others from taking the same steps while others continued to hide in countries wanting to return home but without anyone to help them out, she said. Mrs Greiner said Maisha Ghana would, therefore, train and support the entrepreneurship activities of trainees by providing seed money to them. The Reverend Dr Garnet Parris, a Researcher at Maisha Germany, said the situation of the African migrants was so perturbing and dangerous that governments needed to make it a priority in supporting all efforts at making their stay comfortable. He said most of the migrants faced molestation on the deserts as they sought to travel through unapproved routes, while others had their body organs removed and sold to some doctors and surgeons to save other rich people's lives. 'Europe is now going more to the right and they have bad feeling about migrants. Some do not want to see migrants at all and some want to see only Christians. African governments need to protect their people from falling into bad situation,' Rev Parris said. Ms Mary Laing-Moses, a Director and Secretary of Maisha Ghana, said activities of the Ghana branch would focus on four key pillars; Housing, Orientation, Reconciliation and Enterprises to benefit the returnees. GNA Nairobi (AFP) - President Uhuru Kenyatta took a significant lead in Kenya's tense elections, according to early results released Wednesday, as he bids for a second term at the helm of east Africa's most vibrant democracy. With more than 10 million ballots counted, Kenyatta was leading with 55 percent of the vote against longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga's 44 percent, a difference of more than 1.1 million ballots, according to results released by the electoral commission (IEBC). Over 26,000 of the country's more than 41,000 polling stations had reported in, the IEBC said, but millions of votes were still to be counted. The contest between Odinga and Kenyatta -- old foes who previously faced off when Kenyatta was first elected in 2013 -- was expected to be close, and emotions are high after a bad-tempered campaign marred by opposition claims of a plot to rig the vote. Tuesday's elections took place a decade after a shambolic 2007 vote -- which foreign observers agreed was riddled with irregularities -- sparked violence which left more than 1,100 people dead and 600,000 displaced. To win Kenya's presidency in the first round of voting, a candidate must score a majority of the votes nationwide and at least a quarter of ballots in a 24 of the country's 47 counties. Counting is considered the most sensitive step of the electoral process in a country with a history of post-poll violence. "We now enter the most critical moment in the election cycle," IEBC chief Wafula Chebukati told reporters after polls closed on Tuesday evening. Maasai voters queue to vote in Saikeri, Kajiado West County People stood patiently for hours in snaking queues around the country for a vote that went off peacefully, despite reports of some technical glitches and delays. Kenyatta urged Odinga to accept the result should he lose. "I also want to say that if I lose, I will accept the will of the people," Kenyatta said after voting. Odinga, 72, is taking his fourth and likely final stab at the presidency. He claims the elections in 2007 and 2013 were stolen from him. "In the unlikely event that I lose I don't need a speech, I will just speak from my heart," he said shortly before voting. 'Good job' The IEBC electoral commission moved quickly to deal with any complaints, removing clerks in a polling station where ballot papers were pre-marked as "rejected". This year's campaign was marred by the brutal murder and torture of a top election official In the port city of Mombasa a clerk was arrested for issuing double ballot papers to certain voters, local police said. IEBC chief Wafula Chebukati said voting had gone "smoothly" despite minor delays and technical hiccups at some polling stations. In semi-arid northwest Turkana, flooding from heavy rain cut off roads and several polling stations had still not opened by closing time. Odinga's National Super Alliance opposition coalition (NASA) released a statement praising poll officials and security forces. "We commend them for the good job so far and urge them to keep it up," it said. However, the coalition complained some of its voters had been turned away or their names were missing from the voters' register. NASA also said it had reports of "pre-marked ballot papers" and attempts to bribe voters. As counting got underway, the focus was on the electronic system in place to send results to Nairobi. The failure of this system in 2013 meant votes had to be counted manually, leading Odinga to cry foul. 'Same old faces' Security is tight for Kenya's general elections after post-poll violence in 2007/2008 killed over 1,100 people The devolution of power to Kenya's 47 counties after a post-conflict constitutional reform means elections are now a complex affair, with citizens casting six different ballots. The presidential election is set to be the final showdown of a dynastic rivalry that has lasted more than half a century since the candidates' fathers Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga went from allies in the struggle for independence to bitter rivals. The men belong to two of Kenya's main ethnic groups, Kenyatta from the Kikuyu, the largest, and Odinga from the Luo. Both have secured formidable alliances with other influential communities in Kenya, where voting takes place largely along tribal lines. Kenyatta, 55, is seeking re-election after a first term in which he oversaw a massive infrastructure drive and steady economic growth of more than five percent. But he has been criticised for soaring food prices -- with prices jumping 20 percent year-on-year in May -- and massive corruption scandals on his watch. More than 150,000 members of the security forces were deployed for polling day. There are more than 19 million registered voters in the nation of 48 million. Half are aged under 35. Everything being equal, a company that pays dividends is usually more expensive than the one that doesnt. The reason why is due to a number of factors. For one, investors typically think more about the present than the future. They like the idea of getting cash now as compensation for their investment. Or maybe some investors dont want to fuss over picking growth stocks. They just want the highest yield for their lump sum of cash. A third reason why investors like dividend payers is because of what it says about the company. Having the luxury to pay dividends, the business must generate plenty of recurring cash they dont necessarily need. This is not just a widely-held perception. In Douglas J Skinner and Eugene Soltess 2009 paper, What do dividends tell us about earnings quality? they found: dividends provide information about the quality of reported earnings, we find that the relation between current earnings and future earnings is stronger for firms that pay dividends than for those that do not. Skinner and Soltes go on to say (my emphasis): The fact that we find that it is dividends per se that matter for earnings quality, rather than the amount of those dividends, suggests that dividend payers are a relatively homogeneous group for which earnings are of materially higher quality than those of nonpayers, which enables dividend payers to sustain economically meaningful regular dividends. Why dividend payers are a good long-term bet With this in mind, would you prefer to buy companies paying dividends over those that dont? Say I gave you two options. You could either invest in company A or company B. Assume both have the same capital structure (same amount of debt) and earnings ($1 per share) at present. The only difference between the two is that company A pays a dividend and company B doesnt. And because company A pays a dividend, its slightly more expensive. So, which one do you choose? You might choose company A. Even though its slightly more expensive, the quality of their earnings is likely to be greater. And with your dividend payments, you could reinvest in other businesses, or take your family on a holiday. Investing in company A is probably the safer choice. As stated in JP Morgans 2013 report, Dividends for The Long Term: Over the long term, dividend-paying stocks have posted strong long-term returns with lower volatility than the broader market. While some investors may think of dividend payers as stodgy companies in slow-growth businesses an outdated view from the 1980s and 1990s when capital appreciation dwarfed dividends dividend payers can be found across a broad range of sectors and industries. Dividends can sometimes serve as a good litmus test for companies with strong businesses and management teams that are committed to returning capital to shareholders. But thats not to say you should always pick the dividend payer. Why reinvestment returns should change your opinion Lets go back to our scenario and add in a few more assumptions. Assume both company A and B can reinvest earnings at 10%. Company A only reinvests 50% of earnings. They use the other 50% to pay out as dividends. Company B on the other hand reinvests 100% of its earnings. So, over five years, company A will grows earnings by 5% annually (0.5*0.10). And company B will grow earnings by 10% annually (1.0*0.10). That means company A will grow earnings per share (EPS) from $1 to $1.28. And company B will grow EPS from $1 to $1.61. Now, would this change your answer? Lets also assume investors like company A slightly more because of its dividends. Theyre willing to pay 15-times earnings for company A and 12-times earnings for company B. Therefore, over the five years, returns from company B (61%) would be far higher than company A (47%), even when you include dividends. But reality is hardly ever this static. A company that grows earning by 10% each year is usually every expensive. Rates at which companies reinvest also differ from year to year. Even payout ratios change as management sees fit. But even considering such variable changes, dividend payers could potentially do wonders for your portfolio. Finding a growing income Stocks that pay dividends arent always high-growth businesses that make you 10-times your initial investment. The reason why they pay out dividends in the first place is because they dont have abundant activities that generate super-high returns. But that doesnt mean you cant get both income and capital gains together. Take Astro Japan Property Group [ASX:AJA] for instance. The stock is a listed property group investing in Japanese real estate. The whole purpose of the stock is to pay out rental income to shareholders. Over the past five years, AJA has paid out a growing income to shareholder. Annual dividends have increased from 5 cents in 2012 to 21 cents in 2016. Along with growing dividend payments, AJA has also appreciated 156%. Yet not everyone has the time or expertise to find stocks like AJA. Which makes it harder to find income plays that can potentially make a difference to your portfolio. If youre interesting in discovering some of the most overlooked dividend stocks on the ASX, click here to find out more. Regards, Harje Ronngard, Junior Analyst, Money Morning 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. 'The big truck is still on ... ANGOLA The following people were arrested over the weekend by law enforcement officers working in Steuben County and lodged in the Steuben County Jail. Chip A. Aiken, 45, of the 300 block of South Main Street, Ashley, arrested on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. Christian J. Bishop, 25, of the 500 block of West State Street, Ashley, arrested at home on a felony charge of domestic battery in the presence of a child. Charles L. Boocher Jr., 37, of the 7000 block of North C.R. 1000W, Orland, arrested on S.R. 327 in Orland on a felony allegation of habitual traffic offender and misdemeanor charges of leaving the scene of a property damage crash and operating while intoxicated. Sabrina J. Bruner, 50, of the 5000 block of West C.R. 30N, arrested at home on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. Logan A. Gaona, 26, of the 1000 block of South C.R. 420W, arrested at the jail on a felony allegation of probation violation. Benjamin D. Holmes, 42, of the 4000 block of East Church Street, Hamilton, arrested on a misdemeanor fugitive warrant. Andrew O. Inman, 21, of the 25000 block of Trucker Miller Road, Centreville, Michigan, arrested at the jail on a misdemeanor charge of operating while intoxicated. Jon D. Partezana, 42, of the 10000 block of West C.R. 650N, Orland, arrested at home on a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. Jordan D. Robbins, 26, of the 4000 block of East Church Street, Hamilton, arrested at home on felony charges of assisting a criminal and destructive devices and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Cody A. Vitek, 21, of the 1000 block of North S.R. 827, arrested on a misdemeanor warrant alleging probation violation. Democrats: We Agree With Trump On Buy America Microphone and US Flag View Photos During the Democratic Weekly Address, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) touted the Democrats Better Deal as a proposal that prevents trade deals from hurting our workers, takes on Chinas cheating, and puts an end to rewarding companies with tax cuts for shipping jobs and factories to other countries. Baldwin was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are her words: Hi, Im Tammy Baldwin and I have the honor of working for Wisconsin in the United States Senate. In Wisconsin, we have a strong work ethic, and a long and proud tradition of making things: Paper, engines, ships, motorcycles and yes, cheese, brats, and beer. We possess one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the nation, supporting a large share of our workforce and exporting goods all over America and the world. However, for too long, big and powerful multinational corporations have dictated how unfair trade deals and foreign acquisitions are negotiated and American workers have seen their jobs shipped overseas. Its simply wrong for Washington to leave our workers behind with shuttered factories and lower wages. Thats why Ive been fighting for years to build a made in America economy that rewards hard work and helps workers get ahead. Wisconsin families depend on our manufacturing jobs and I believe if we give our workers and manufacturers a level playing field, we will compete and we will win. To level the playing field, Democrats are proposing A Better Deal. A Better Deal that prevents trade deals from hurting our workers, takes on Chinas cheating, and puts an end to rewarding companies with tax cuts for shipping jobs and factories to other countries. We would also put in place stronger Buy America requirements for all taxpayer-funded projects. Folks outside of Wisconsin may not know the city of Neenah and I always tell them, just look down. A great Wisconsin manufacturer, Neenah Foundry, has been making manhole covers for 145 years. The men and women who work at Neenah Foundry help build our nations water infrastructure and they deserve a solid commitment from us on a strong Buy America standard that rewards their hard work. In fact, I wrote Buy America legislation because I strongly believe American workers should build our infrastructure with American products, and taxpayer money should not be spent on iron and steel from foreign countries like China and Russia. My Buy America reform passed the Senate with bipartisan support. But when it got to the House, the foreign steel companies bought Washington lobbyists to kill it. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell gave them what they wanted and American workers were left behind again. In April, President Trump came to Wisconsin and announced his support for my Buy America legislation, but Congressional Republican leadership continues to stand in the way. This needs to change. Its time Washington put American manufacturers and workers first, ahead of powerful special interests. Our Better Deal will close loopholes that provide foreign producers access to large sums of your taxpayer dollars. We would also require that taxpayer dollars be spent on U.S. companies and U.S. jobs for all federal public works projects. Put simply, our reforms will make sure the federal government is spending American tax dollars to buy products made in America. The bottom line is this: Democrats and Republicans agree that we need a major federal investment to rebuild our roads, bridges and water infrastructure. Now we need Republicans to stand with us, with our manufacturers, and with American workers. Lets get the job done on strong Buy America reforms. Lets put people to work rebuilding our infrastructure with the words Made in America. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. The personal life of stars has always and will always be a source of interest among fans. Some Nigerian celebrities are very open to the public about their personal details, while others try to keep their private life away from the public as much as possible. Find out what there is to know about Ice Prince baby mama and son. Ice Prince Zamani, a BET award-winning rapper, has a 5-years old child named Jamal. The name of Ice Prince baby mama is Bimbo Babatunde. Jamal was born on the 1st March 2012. At the time the boy was born, Bimbo has been studying at the University of Lagos. Because Bimbo and Ice Prince are not together, the child is being raised by his mother. Ice Prince, Jamal, and Bimbo Babatunde Ice Prince and his girlfriend Maima Nkewa Maima and Jamal Now the hip-hop artist is in a hot romance with another woman - Maima Nkewa. Fans approve of this relationship and they often talk about seeing the stars get married. Ice Prince is still very much responsible for his son. Well talk about him and his mother. The childs birth Lets list some facts from the private life of Ice Prince and Bimbo: Bimbo was once in a relationship with one of Ice Prince's colleagues, Jesse Jagz. Her relationship with him continued even after she fell in love with Ice Prince. Of course, no man would want to be second best to a woman. So the artist ended up having to go through a serious relationship drama. When the rapper (Ice Prince) learned about Bimbos pregnancy, he denied his involvement and said he was not responsible for the pregnancy Ice Prince girlfriend did not receive congratulations from her beloved. He was rude to her and at first just wanted to run away from the responsibility. As we can see, stars are not immune from the relationship troubles regular folks like us often face. Many love affairs begin and end. It takes a lot to build and continue a relationship. READ ALSO: Ice Prince girlfriend cheating - is it true? Present rappers relationship with the baby mama and kid Despite the unpleasant circumstances surrounding the baby's birth, in time, his father started to love him and agreed to take responsibility. Ice Prince became more matured and found a certain joy and happiness in paternity. To see two strips on a test for pregnancy and to hold a living small person on your hands are completely different things. When people first hear about pregnancy, they often think only about the cargo and burden that will soon fall on them. But then comes the awareness that this tiny person loves, trusts and depends on you. It is hard to turn your back on that. The rapper hardly ever talks about his former girlfriend anymore. About his relationship with his son, he says that they see each other regularly, although not as often as he would like. He communicates with Jamals mother. They have a calm and friendly relationship. Ice Prince says about this communication: "I speak to his mum a lot, I chat with her, I have her on my Whatsapp." Ice Prince and Jamal in the car Let's wish Ice Prince son and baby mama health and happiness, and the rapper himself - a successful relationship with Maima Nkewa! READ ALSO: Debie Rise is the type of woman Ice Prince wants (video) Source: Legit.ng - APDA has vowed to dislodge PDP in Ekiti during 2018 governorship election - The new party said that it has what it takes to win the next gubernatorial election in the state - It also noted the focus of the party as youth and women A newly registered party, Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has vowed to dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti during 2018 gubernatorial election in the state. In a statement sent to Legit.ng, the partys National Chairman, Mallam Shitu Mohammed said the Ekiti state chapter of the party was unveiled at the weekend where he charged the state working committee led by Mrs Foluke Okeya to mobilize the state and get ready to take over government in the next year governorship election. READ ALSO: Boko Haram: Group sends warning signal to Fayose over comments on Army In his speech while unveiling the Ekiti chapter of the party, Muhammed said that, APDA is the next biggest thing in the country as we begin a new democratic journey to salvage our dear nation and the unveiling of Ekiti chapter is very strategic in the southwest of Nigeria at this material time as we approach the governorship election next year. APDA is a birth of an ideological political party that believes in mobilizing Nigerian youths and women to take charge of the destiny of this country. We have given 30% of appointive and elective position to women in our party 25% to youths and 5% to the physically challenged. This is a departure from the way things were done in the past. No party in Nigeria today has giving such to this critical stakeholder before now. We equally believe that the country must be restructured for development and there must be devolution of powers to states so as for states to develop without constitutional hindrances that have slowed the pace of development in most states of the federation. We therefore appeal to National Assembly to revisit this bill that was voted against. We call on the fountain of knowledge people to come and embrace APDA and take ownership of this newborn baby and nurture it to restore the old glory of Ekiti. We equally appeal to the youths and women to see this platform as their own because we have no God fathers here and no money bag will hijack this party but everyone will be giving a level playing field during primaries as our constitution stipulates direct primaries. The newly inaugurated state chairman, Mrs Foluke Okeya promised the national leadership of the party that they will rescue the state from stomach infrastructure governor and bring in a government that will set up industries for our teaming youths. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The National Chairman was equally received by the state Police Commissioner Abdullahi Tsafe and director of state security service of Ekiti state. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Fayose on Monday, May 22, said he would contest the 2018 gubernatorial election so that he could serve his term which was truncated in 2006. In this video, Legit.ng asked Nigerians who they would vote for between Fayose and President Muhammadu Buhari and this is what they had to say: Source: Legit.ng When you root your Android, you will get complete access to it. Nevertheless, for safety, warranty or other reasons - you might want to know how to unroot your phone. That`s why Legit.ng gives you this guide about how to unroot with Kingroot! Continue reading to find out more! Kingroot Apk Kingroot is one of the applications for your mobile devices that can delete all restrictions for using your mobile OS. It`s the most popular rooting application. That`s why you can also use this application to unroot your device. Why do you need such an application that can hack into your mobile phone? Here are some suggestions: - You need to install incompatible apps; - You have a desire to automate tasks; - Boost the battery life; - Block ads; - Cheat in mobile games; - Back up all your mobile phone data; - Remove preinstalled apps; - Personalize your device. However, this advance functionality of your mobile phone comes with a price. That price is your warranty. Therefore, you need to know how to unroot your phone. How to unroot my phone? READ ALSO: How to use simple server on Android phone? Do you want to know how to unroot android with Kingroot? Why do you need to do this? It could be for one of these reasons: - You are worried about security measures; - You want to return your warranty back (Still, do not overestimate your chances with the warranty service return. In 99% of cases, it`s pretty easy to find out if you have used root apps.); - Download the updates for your mobile phone. No matter the reasons, you will know how to unroot Kingroot with PC or without it just by following the next simple steps. Step 1. Kingroot Uninstalling Process It`s your first step to release your mobile device from the hands of Kingroot. Go to Setting and then select the Apps. In the apps section, you need to find the Kingroot app. Clear up the cache and date of the application. After that, just select the uninstall button. Step 2. The KingUser app Now it`s time to check your KingUser app. Select it to run. Click on the gears on the top right side of the application. It will show you the Setting page. Next, tap on the Root Authorization Setting in the gear section of your KingUser app. In the authorization section, you will see the option Remove Root Permission. Select this option and click OK when the confirmation message pops up. Step 3. Unrooting Process If you have done everything right in the previous steps, then you are about to get the notification that the root has been removed. After that, you just need to reboot your mobile phone. And voila! Your mobile phone is unrooted. Root Apps Root apps give you freedom with your mobile phone. You can truly taste how you can influence its functionality. Nonetheless, everything comes with a price! In this particular case, you will surely lose your warranty. But remember: do not underestimate the warranty service staff. These people will find out that you have used root apps. Still, root apps can boos your mobile phone performance! Only you can choose whether you need to save your warranty or unlock the hidden abilities of your device. READ ALSO: How to stop MTN auto renewal subscription? Source: Legit.ng In a recent PBS NewsHour, Fred de Sam Lazaro began his report on human trafficking from the West African country of Cameroon. He travels the world as part of his Under-Told Stories Project, often bringing to our homes stories of the daily concerns of far away people who increasingly affect our lives, as the mission statement of the project puts it. Considering his travels, I was surprised to see him just a few steps away in the lobby of a Beethoven Festival concert in Winona last month. We were standing with friends waiting to go to our seats. Look, over there, isnt that, uh, Lazaro of the NewsHour? I said nodding toward him. Gretchen and I are fans of his outstanding work. Our friend, Jean, walked over to him and told him he had fans thereabouts. Where? he asked, and walked quickly toward us. We introduced ourselves and thanked him for his work. He, in turn, thanked us for watching the NewsHour. As we settled into our seats for the concert, I pondered his life so filled with travel that he has two passports, one always out for visas. He lives in Saint Paul with his wife, a school teacher. They have three children. But his travels take him from Haiti to sub-Saharan Africa to South Asia, according to an online biography. His project with the NewsHour, where he has been a correspondent since 1985, is a joint venture with the University of St. Thomas since January 2016. It was previously located at St. Marys University of Minnesota in Winona. The St. Thomas news release noted that, in 2015, stories took de Sam Lazaro to China, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam. He has reported from 62 countries, focusing on stories such as AIDS, public health crises, challenges faced by developing nations and social entrepreneurship. For example, he led the first American team to cover the crisis in Sudans Darfur region and he broke the first network story on the burgeoning AIDS epidemic in South Africa, according to oneline biographies. The importance of de Sam Lazaros work is amplified by the efforts of the present administration to step back from Americas role in the world. President Trump has proposed drastic cuts in the foreign aid budget. Even before he took office, Bill Keller of The New York Times saw a new isolationism creeping across the land. And Sen. John McCain alleged that there are 15 isolationists in the Senate GOP caucus. So there is special urgency to his projects mission statement that includes this: We hope to reawaken the generous curiosity of Americans our students in particular about a world we can no longer ignore. De Sam Lazaro also teaches at St. Thomas and faculty and students assist him with the 18 to 24 stories that he produces every year for PBS. And there is this about de Sam Lazaro that is so relevant to the politics of the day: He is an immigrant, born in Bengalore, India. He immigrated to the United States with his mother in 1975. His journalism career started as an intern with Minnesota Public Radio while he attended St. Scholastica in Duluth where he got his college degree. His contributions since then to journalism and to our understanding of the world demonstrates the value that immigration adds to our culture. In his story about human trafficking, he went from Cameroon to Kuwait to visit a shelter where We spoke with five women from countries as diverse as Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Philippines. All said they were either unpaid or severely underpaid. Many were lured here under false pretenses. He described efforts to help women trapped in servitude, often lured to countries in the Persian Gulf or Middle East a powerfull journalistic effort to reawaken the generous curiosity of Americans journalism that has won our admiration and respect. Our chance encounter with Fred de Sam Lazaro at the Beethoven Festival concert was an unexpected pleasure. The music was fine as well. - Boko Haram's campaign of terror seems to be on a rise in recent times - This is despite the assurances of the Nigerian military that the terrorists have been technically defeated - The insurgents focused on fishermen in their latest attack There are indications that at least 31 fishermen have been killed by Boko Haram in two separate attacks in the Lake Chad boundary area near Borno state. A report on Vanguard quoted fishermen and vigilantes fighting the Islamist group confirming the incident on Monday, August 7. According to the report, Boko Haram stormed the fishing islands of Duguri and Dabar Wanzam in the freshwater lake on Saturday, August 5 attacking fishermen working in the area and shooting their victims. PAY ATTENTION: Read the best news on Nigerias #1 news app Boko Haram attacked Duguri and Dabar Wanzam islands and killed 31 people, a member of a local militia fighting the terrorists in Maiduguri, Babakura Kolo said. They (Boko Haram) killed 14 in Duguri and another 17 in Dabar Wanzam, Kolo added. The fishermen were said to have returned to the fishing hub of Baga on the lakes shores days earlier and had paddled out to the two islands in wooden canoes on Friday, August 4, looking for fish. News of the attacks was slow to emerge with communication in the area difficult as Boko Haram has destroyed telecom masts in the region in attacks over the last few years. Boko Haram first attacked Duguri island where they killed 12 fishermen and injured two others who later died, said fisherman Sallau Inuwa. The attackers split into two groups. While the first attacked Duguri the second went to nearby Dabar Wanzam where they laid in wait for those who fled the attack in Duguri. They killed 17 in Dabar Wanzam, Inuwa stated. The attackers spared one fisherman in Duguri and loaded the 12 bodies of the men they killed in a canoe and ordered him to take them to Baga as a warning that no one should fish in the lake, said another fisherman Dauda Tukur. They told the man they spared to inform the troops in Baga that they were waiting for them on the islands, he said. READ ALSO: Vacate middle belt region before October 1 - Group tells herdsmen The military and Nigerian officials have not yet commented on the attacks. The attacks happened a week after military authorities lifted a two-year ban on fishing in the freshwater lake that straddles Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Nigerian military banned fishing on the Nigerian side of the lake following accusations that Boko Haram was using proceeds from fishing to fund its armed campaign. The ban left thousands of displaced residents impoverished, forcing them to rely on food handouts from government and aid agencies. The lifting of the ban drew many fisherman back to the area. Meanwhile, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state on Tuesday, August 8 confirmed that Boko Haram insurgents had killed 31 fishermen at Baga in Kukawa local government area of the state. Shettima made the confirmation at the presentation of relief materials donated to the state by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the Internally Displaced Persons in Maiduguri. He said that the attack indicated that the Boko Haram insurgents were still unleashing terror, killing and maiming people in the Lake Chad Basin. Shettima noted that the military and other security agencies were yet to verify the report. Somebody called me this morning and informed me that the insurgents had killed 31 fishermen in the Lake Chad Basin. The security agencies have not commented on the attack; so, you cannot confirm it. This shows the level of crisis we faced in Borno, as the so-called Jihadists continued with their inhuman acts in the Lake Chad basin, Shettima said. He, however, commended the efforts of the military toward ending insurgency and ensuring that peace returned to the North-East region. About two weeks ago, Legit.ng reported that one civilian and four Boko Haram terrorists were killed in a bomb attack in Meme, Mayo-Sava, Far North Cameroon. The incident was revealed by international investigative journalist and traditional ruler, Chief Bisong Etahoben, via his Twitter page. Watch the Legit.ng TV video of survivours of Boko Haram's attacks: Source: Legit.ng Houston County will soon benefit from two new pup trailers after the county board approved the highway departments purchase request. Along with the highway department equipment update, the Houston County Board of Commissioners also approved the appointment of Nathan Smith as a sheriffs office investigator and the appointment of Chad Ready as a sheriffs office jailer at the Aug. 1 meeting. Although the trailers newness only applies to the countythe two pup trailers are a 1995 Mar Tech Pup Dump Trailer and an unspecified years pup dump trailer with a new boxthey will replace the countys current 1967 and 1969 models. Pup trailers are short semi-trailers that are usually between 26-and 32-feet long. The trailers are used extensively in the summer to haul sand and rock. This winter during inspections it turns out that the 1967 pup trailer is no longer Department of Transportation certified, said Brian Pogodzinski, Houston County Highway Department Engineer. Although the purchase is worth $17,000, the highway department will exchange its two current pup trailers to Zenke Auction and Realty Inc. for a trade-in allowance of $5,000. The total cost of the exchange will be $12,000. The highway departments $11,887 road patching project was also approved by the board. There will be four road patching projects done on Hwy. 27 and one on Hwy. 12 by Dunn Blacktop Company of Winona. In Other News Nathan Smiths appointment to investigator was approved by the board. Due to a disagreement between Sheriff Mark Inglett and the countys local law enforcement union over interpretation of a contract, Smith will be retroactively classified as an investigator starting on June 26, 2017. Chad Readys switch from probationary jailer and dispatcher to jailer and dispatcher was approved by the board. Ready was hired August 2016. Commissioner Fred Arnold presented the Houston County Fair Board Building Committees updated plans once again. The committee is now pushing to construct one building to house sheep, goats and hogs in the next year. It would be found at the old sheep barns location. The current hog building would be torn down, as well. Over the past few months, the fair board has looked at re-configuring the Houston County Fairs animal display barns. This new change, comes after the July 18 board meeting announcement that the committee was exploring four separate buildings. - The protesters were observing their second day of the protest to force President Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria when the incident happened - The police, in a convoy, reportedly stormed the venue of the protest and fired teargas canisters at the protesters - While the injured was rushed to a clinic, the protesters remained at the venue for at least one hour One person has been confirmed injured as officers of the Nigeria Police Force clashed with a group protesting against the continued stay of President Muhammadu Buhari in London. The Punch reported that the incident happened in Abuja on Tuesday, August 8, the second day of the protest. READ ALSO: Osinbajo speaks after gunmen attacked Catholic Church in Anambra The report said the police fired tear gas canisters at the protesters wounding a citizen who was rushed to a clinic at the Federal Secretariat complex, a few kilometres from the scene of the incident. The incident reportedly happened while members of the group, a coalition of some organisations, had their sit-out at the Millennium Park opposite the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja. The police reportedly fired tear gas canisters to disperse the unarmed protesters as they sat. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app It was learnt however, that instead of leaving the venue, the protesters continued with their meeting for up to one hour. Legit.ng earlier reported that the organisation, Concerned Nigerians, on Monday, August 7, converged at the Unity Fountain in Abuja urging the president to either resume duty or resign. The group said it will march to the Presidential Villa to demand the resignation of the president. Are Nigerians really tired of President Buhari? This is the question this video wants answered: Source: Legit.ng - The Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line will be ready by June 2018 - This is the submission of the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday, August 7 - The federal government had given its word that the project would be completed by the first quarter of 2018 Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transportation, on Monday, August 8 said the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge rail lines would start commercial operation in June 2018. The minister made this known while inspecting the ongoing rail project in Warri, Delta state. He said that the federal government had instructed that the project must be completed by the first quarter of 2018, which was included in the budget. He stated that the project was first awarded in 1987 and abandoned for over 30 years which would have been the first standard gauge in Africa. Amaechi inspecting the area as workers and other officials look on. Photo credit: Israel Ibeleme PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app His words: There are two phases of the contracts; the first one was awarded in 1987. We have a directive from the federal government that we must complete the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line and it was put in this year budget. By the end of December last year, we had disbursed some money to the contractors; Julius Berger and others to commence work, so we have come to see how far. We are constructing bridges too in order to reduce contact with humans beings who would try to cross the track because this is a speed lane and once it starts, it is going to be 120 to 150 km per hour because it is a standard gauge. If this contract was completed within the time it was awarded, Nigeria would have been the first country in Africa to have a standard gauge line. We need to get this place functioning and the directive of the federal government is, we should start and our target is that by June, commercial activities will resume. The rail line has been abandoned for decades. Photo credit: Israel Ibeleme The minister revealed that Julius Berger opted out of the project because it did not have equipment on ground after the Itakpe-Ajaokuta rail tracks were vandalised. He also said that the vandalised tracks would be given to China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) because it has the facilities on ground to complete the project. He further disclosed that Julius berger would however handle the civil work to construct new yard, the 99 bridges, flyovers and refurbish the 178km yard in Agbor. The rail line is expected to start operation in June 2018. Photo credit: Israel Ibeleme On his part, David Imafidon, Julius Berger site engineer told journalists that with the level of work ongoing, the project could be completed within the speculated time. He said that 99 bridges were to be constructed in the ongoing project with 12 rail stations to be constructed, adding that the overpasses to Agbor town were already completed. Mr Chiedu Nwazojie, the Consultant of Team Nigeria Ltd. said that the company would make all the adjustment indicated by the minister to expand the bridges to accommodate more vehicles. He said that the June 2018 date given to them by the minister was feasible. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent on the entourage observed that the rail site had abandoned facilities such as the wagons, communication towers, locomotives workshop, rolling stock depot and clinic. The rail site was constructed since 1994 but was not completed, while the Agbor, Abraka and Warri sites, the tracks and the environment were covered with thick vegetation. READ ALSO: NNPC denies recruitment exercise, warns Nigerians About a month ago, Amaechi inspected some facilities at the Kaduna Inland Dry Port, the first Dry Port in Nigeria. Speaking at the event, Amaechi promised that the rail line would be complete before the year ends. The current administration, with this project is doing everything possible to create jobs. Once we get our rail system operating and moving lots of our freight traffic then we will experience economic boost, he said. Watch Amaechi give a summary of Buhari's administration in the Legit.ng video below: Source: Legit.ng A lot of us have probably heard the name of the designer of Nigerian flag - Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi. The man was only 23, when he gave Nigeria its national symbol, the green and white flag. How many of you know the sad story of this once famous man? Today we will learn more about the man who designed the Nigerian flag. The creator of one of the national symbols of Nigeria - the Nigerian flag Taiwo always loved to study. He was accepted to a university on London so he left his country in order to study at the Norwood Technical College. One day, the future electrical engineer was reading a newspaper, as he often did. He saw an interesting advert in paper. It was calling people to enter the competition of creating a design for the Nigerian flag. The award was 100 pounds, which was about $281 in 1959. He gave it some thought and decided to enter the competition. He mailed his submission to Lagos. Sometime later, in October he was invited to the London office of the Commissioner of Nigeria in the UK. Young Michael Taiwo was surprised to hear that his green and white design was selected. However, the original design was slightly different - there was a red sun in the white part of the flag. Taiwo says: I took the details of what is expected to design a flag that would be used by a country that was about to witness the independence. He won the competition as well as a place in the history books of his home country. An important day in the life of Michael Taiwo Akinunmi. Interesting fact - it all happened in October 1959, only a year before his home country was granted full independence. He never thought that he would be the man who designed the Nigerian national flag. From that day on, people knew him as the Flag Man. He says I was well-known all over the place. Youd think the famous man will live a happy life. Not necessarily rich but at least enough for a peaceful retirement. But unfortunately, not everything can be as we wish. Who designed the Nigerian flag? READ ALSO: West African countries and their capitals The once famous Flag Man lives in Ibadan, in one of the poorest areas. You can recognize his house instantly - it is in the colours of the flag he has designed. The house can only be reached by foot. The only person that keeps Michael Taiwo company is his 28-year old son. Sometimes he walks through the neighborhood and visits two friends from his school days. He cant even call them - Taiwo does not have a phone. Taiwo has some problems with his memory. He sometimes forgets the names of his two best friends. He even forgets his age, but gladly his son is there to help him. Taiwo doesn't remember the day Nigeria raised the national flag for the first time, but he can certainly say that he felt happy. Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi was forgotten by the government until one Sunday Olawale Olaniran helped him. It was in 2006 when they met. Sunday remembers that even though Michael was living in terrible conditions, he never said anything bad about Nigeria. The first time Sunday and Michael Taiwo met, the boy could not believe his eyes. The man who designed Nigeria flag was sitting in front of him, incoherent and talking to himself. Sunday decided that he has to help him. He got in touch with a journalist. Even the journalist couldn't believe the man was still alive", he says. Then things started to get better for Michael Taiwo. In 2008 he appeared in a special edition of Who Want to be a Millionaire where he won two million naira. The money was used to complete the house. A few years later, in October 2010, the Flag Man received "an award for being a distinguished Nigerian". Can you imagine that it was the first time Akinkinmi was honored in any way by the federal government? He once visited Abuja in 2014 to receive the national honour from the former president Goodluck Jonathan. He also got a lifetimes salary of a special assistant, which is about 800,000 naira. However, the once famous man cannot remember what the then-president said to him. But we can understand - it is one of the hazards of growing older. He used to be in the government service. However, in 1993 he was advised to leave because of his illness. The man himself did not remember what was diagnosed. He just knows that he was "thinking too much and had a recurring fever. Mr. Flag Man is still living in his small, green and white house. He still goes to his friends from time to time, even though he forgets their names. We hope that he will not be forgotten by the government as he was once. READ ALSO: Features of Nigerian currency notes and coins Source: Legit.ng From the public files of the La Crescent Area Police Department. Friday, July 21 Background check regarding conditional offer of employment with the City of La Crescent. Main Street. 2:50 a.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. Kistler Drive. 4:53 a.m. Complaint of harassing phone calls and messages. Main Street. 7:04 a.m. A 62-year-old La Crescent man cited for disobeying stop sign. Hwy. 14/61. 9:55 a.m. Resident inquiry to a Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicle service letter. Letter referred that La Crescent Police Department had taken action against subject, records verified and Department of Motor Vehicle Services found to be in error. Main Street. 12:14 p.m. Welfare concern. Larch Avenue. 12:36 p.m. Permit to purchase firearm application received. Main Street. 12:41 p.m. Vehicle stalled in traffic lane. Hwy. 14/61. 12:51 p.m. Shore Acres Bypass opened for utility service vehicle. Shore Acres Road. 1:04 p.m. Temporary parking permit issued. Main Street. 1:09 p.m. Driving record requested for employment. Main Street. 1:12 p.m. Driving record requested for employment. Main Street. 2:13 p.m. Fingerprinting for adoption process. Main Street. 4:24 p.m. Juvenile welfare concern. Hill Street. 5:43 p.m. Auto unlock. Third Street. 8:44 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 14/61. 9:51 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. Main Street. 9:57 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed and equipment violation. 14th Street. 10:19 p.m. Open door, building secured and owner notified. Walnut Street. 10:24 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. DNR Landing Road. 11:25 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. Industrial Drive. 11:38 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 14/61. 11:49 p.m. False burglary alarm. Main Street. Saturday, July 22 12:36 a.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for equipment violation. Hwy. 14/61. 12:41 a.m. A 18-year-old Dakota man cited for speed. Hwy. 16. 12:53 a.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. Hillview Boulevard. 1:02 a.m. Open door, building secured. Kistler Drive. 1:22 a.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speeding. Kistler Drive. 3:14 a.m. Motor vehicle unlock. Third Street. 3:16 a.m. Assisted Winona County Sheriff's Office with a motor vehicle pursuit. Suspect continued into Wisconsin where Minnesota authorities discontinued and La Crosse County authorities apprehended suspect. Hwy. 14/61. 7:19 a.m. A 38-year-old La Crescent woman cited for speed. Hwy. 16. 10:33 a.m. Extra patrol request. Second Street. 12:14 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 12:15 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. County Road 7. 12:20 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. Hillview Boulevard. 12:28 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 12:34 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 12:35 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 12:48 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 12:56 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 1:04 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 1:10 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 1:14 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 1:17 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 1:31 p.m. A 31-year-old Spring Grove woman cited for speed. Hwy. 76. 1:47 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 2:07 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 2:25 p.m. A 39-year-old Genoa, Wisconsin, man cited for speed. Hwy. 16. 2:34 p.m. A 38-year-old La Crosse man cited for speed, expired registration, and driving after suspension. Hwy. 16. 2:46 p.m. A 34-year-old La Crosse man cited for speed. County Road 7. 3:03 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Mill Street. 3:03 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Kistler Drive. 3:08 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Kistler Drive. 3:14 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 3:19 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 3:32 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Shore Acres Drive. 3:37 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Shore Acres Drive. 3:39 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. DNR Landing Road. 3:49 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Kistler Drive. 3:55 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Kistler Drive. 11:07 p.m. Verbal warning given for speed. Hillview Boulevard. Sunday, July 23 2:56 a.m. Emergency medical. Redwood Street. 4:17 a.m. Verbal domestic, parties separated. Skunk Hollow Road. 6:58 a.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for speed. Hwy. 16. 11:11 a.m. Compliant of water flowing around structure, water was a result of heavy thunderstorms. Fourth Street. 1:01 p.m. Trouble with party. Larch Avenue. 9:15 p.m. Complaint of train blocking private crossing, no action taken as issue is not regulated by Minn. law. Main Street. Monday, July 24 7:32 a.m. Report of domestic cat struck by motor vehicle. Elm Street. 8:35 a.m. Fingerprinting for employment. Main Street. 12:12 p.m. Caledonia resident located stray dog in La Crescent, taken to La Crescent Animal Rescue. 12:53 p.m. A 36-year-old Redwing, Minnesota, woman cited for speed and driving after revocation. Sycamore Street. 2:23 p.m. Opened Shore Acres Bypass for concrete delivery. Shore Acres Road. 3:12 p.m. Harassing communications leading to a 31-year-old La Crosse man cited for disorderly conduct. Second Street. 7:58 p.m. Over time parking complaint. First Street. 8:05 p.m. Assisted Houston County Sheriff's Office with driving complaint after three separate emergency calls received about driver. Subject stopped in Hokah and investigation turned over to Hokah Police. Main Street. 8:52 p.m. A 50-year-old La Crescent woman arrested for driving while intoxicated. 16th Street. 9:42 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning for illegal lane use. Hwy. 14/61. 11:21 p.m. Assist Winona County Sheriffs Office in recovering stolen property. Hwy. 16. Tuesday, July 25 7:25 a.m. Complaint of Canadian Pacific locomotive stopped not blocking public crossing, however it was stopped close enough to crossing tripping crossing arms blocking intersection for excessive period of time, railroad contacted. Main Street. 8:38 a.m. Opened Shore Acres Bypass for concrete delivery. Shore Acres Road. 9:00 a.m. Drivers license record request. Main Street. 9:49 a.m. Assisted male subject having mental health crisis in Winona County and seen at hospital in La Crosse. Subject was attempting to walk to vehicle. Third Street. 1:05 p.m. Auto unlock. Main Street. 4:33 p.m. Welfare concern of subject displaying angry, delusional behavior. Second Street. 7:19 p.m. Report of juveniles jumping off of swing bridge, complaint was on Black River in Wisconsin so no action could be taken. Shore Acres Road. 7:40 p.m. Assisted Houston County Sheriffs Office with report of juveniles jumping off the railroad bridge at Millers Corner. Canadian Pacific Rail is prosecuting trespassers. Hwy. 16. 8:02 p.m. Assisted stalled vehicle. Main Street. 11:14 p.m. A 44-year-old Rushford man arrested regarding a Wisconsin warrant and for possession of controlled substances such as methamphetamine and prescription pills, stolen vehicle registration tab, driving after revocation, no insurance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and expired registration. A 45-year-old Trempealeau, Wisconsin, woman arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Shore Acres Drive. Wednesday, July 26 2:15 a.m. Assisted Minnesota State Patrol with wrong way driver that went in the ditch near La Crescent. Interstate 90. 7:40 a.m. Two vehicle property damage crash. Hwy. 14/61. 10:30 a.m. Opened Shore Acres Bypass for concrete truck delivery. Shore Acres Road. 10:52 a.m. Overtime parking complaint. Jonathan Lane. 11:40 a.m. Drivers license record request. Main Street. 11:47 a.m. Emergency medical. Second Street. 2:44 p.m. Opened Shore Acres Bypass for oversize construction vehicle. Shore Acres Road. 4:53 p.m. Assisted La Crosse Police Department with uncooperative female who fled into Minnesota on foot. Hwy. 14/61. 9:41 p.m. Fireworks complaint. First Street. 9:43 p.m. Lost cat reported. Second Street. Thursday, July 27 1:51 a.m. Harassment restraining order placed on file. Second Street. 8:49 a.m. Shore Acres Bypass opened for over size construction vehicle. Shore Acres Road. 9:33 a.m. Received a call from subject inquiring about having a person removed from residence. Subject did not identify themselves or residence. Lancer Boulevard. 9:50 a.m. Found credit card and returned to owner. Main Street. 11:02 a.m. Juvenile welfare. Spruce Drive. 11:15 a.m. Juvenile welfare. Oak Street. 1:18 p.m. Property damage motor vehicle crash on private property. Third Street. 1:28 p.m. Complaint of children in an unoccupied vehicle. Parent had stepped into business for a brief time. Walnut Street. 3:32 p.m. Application for permit to purchase firearm. Main Street. 3:40 p.m. Abandoned bicycle kept safe. Fourth Street. 4:42 p.m. Abandoned bicycle kept safe. Fourth Street. 5:02 p.m. Assisted driver with flat tire. 7:01 p.m. Auto unlock. Third Street. 7:29 p.m. Probation check. Redwood Street. 7:38 p.m. Dogs running at large on County Road 25. Dogs were returned to their residence in La Crescent. Bluff Drive. 8:52 p.m. A 22-year-old La Crosse man arrested on active warrant. Walnut Street. 10:45 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for expired registration and obstructed vision. Birch Street. 11:16 p.m. Traffic stop with verbal warning given for obstructed windshield. Hwy. 14/61. 11:35 p.m. Assisted person walking in the dark along highway with a ride. Hwy. 14/61. - Hajia Maimuna Aliyu has responded to corruption allegations against her - Aliyu's name and that of another nominee, Mr Sa'ad Alanamu were withdrawn from the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) - Acting President Yemi Osinbajo dropped the duo after allegations of corruption cropped up following their nomination Hajia Maimuna Aliyu has responded to corruption allegations against her which cost her nomination into the board of the ICPC. Aliyu's name and that of another nominee, Mr Sa'ad Alanamu were withdrawn from the board of the ICPC by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, after allegations of corruption against them cropped up in the media following their nomination. She however denied the allegations levelled against her, attributing it to a petition she wrote to anti-graft agencies, where she exposed the alleged fraud at a popular savings and loans firm. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app In a statement sent to Legit.ng, Aliyu said the firm sold a land at Jahi, Abuja as part of efforts to recover N1billion donated to Jonathans campaign funds. She stated that on June 21, she submitted the petition to the Department of State Services; the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as the ICPC and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. She said that nothing was done about the petition and those she accused were quick to go to the press to deny her of an appointment. No matter how long it takes; the real truth about the plundering and looting of Aso Savings and Loans Plc will be made open irrespective of the threat to my life and my family. I have been harassed and openly embarrassed as a result of this but I am resolute that the truth will vindicate me. It is important to note that being investigated does not amount to being guilty or culpable of the issues of investigation. Even when there are issues to clear, the final destination is the court of competent jurisdiction before any verdict can be passed on anyone. I find it ridiculous that whereas I had written a petition alerting the appropriate authorities of the financial malfeasances at Aso Savings and Loans, rather than take the necessary action against the company and the persons so identified, I am being maligned and my name being dragged to the mud for flimsy reasons, part of the statement said. Aliyu said she was surprised that the police that had shown unwillingness to commence investigation into her petition, were quick to allegedly issue a report concerning their previous investigation about her. While thanking the presidency for the opportunity of the nomination in the first place, I will pray that proper independent investigation be carried out by the Acting President to fathom out the real situation of things. That is the only way that proper justice would be seen to have been done. I will personally be happy to see that those who plundered Aso Savings and Loans are brought to book, she added. Legit.ng gathered that Aliyu is a former executive director of the Aso Savings and Loans. READ ALSO: Osun has disbursed N5.1bn of 6.3bn Paris refund for salaries and pension arrears - Lani Baderinwa Legit.ng cannot however verify the claims of Aliyu against the organisation as efforts to reach their spokespersons were not successful. Watch the Legit.ng TV video report of the anti-corruption walk of the EFCC that held in Abuja recently. Source: Legit.ng Yves here. In this Real News Network interview, Bill Black describes how the tax reform plans, such as they are, for both parties are lousy, although the Republicans by design is much lousier for the non-rich. And a point not often included in these discussions is that spending in the US is regressive while it is progressive in other advanced economies. The rush transcript had typos, mainly the absence of apostrophes. I cleaned some but not all of that up. Sharmin Peries: Its The Real News Network. Im Sharmin Peries, coming to you from Baltimore. Following the disastrous defeat in attempting to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the Trump administration has turned its attention to tax reform. Conservatives and business-allied advocacy groups such as the American Action Network and the Business Roundtable plan to spend millions of dollars this month alone in order to push forward business-friendly changes to the tax code. This comes just as the Democratic senators signed an open letter to Donald Trump and the Republican leadership calling for bipartisan approach to tax reform. Joining us today to discuss the Republican and Democratic plans for the tax code and the overall federal budget is Bill Black. Bill is a white-collar criminologist, associate professor of economics and law at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Hes the author of The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One. Bill, welcome back. Bill Black: Thank you. Sharmin Peries: Bill, the Democrats have plan on tax reform, and their plan actually stated three objectives. One, that it should not increase taxes for the middle class or cut taxes for the top 1% of the owners, which sounds good. It should, they said, should also follow regular order on the senate floor, and three, it should not add to the budget deficit. How do you respond to these demands? Bill Black: First, of course, its not a plan. Its preconditions for any bipartisan effort that might become a plan, and its interesting that, of course, that this is one where the Democrats sensibly could have an actual plan and present it, and its a failure, a real lost opportunity to avoid doing so. Now, the second thing is two of the provisions in the demands make perfect sense, but the third makes no sense at all, and that is that there being nothing that would ever, as part of a physical plan, increase the deficit, and thats going to turn right around and bite Democrats very badly and more to the point, bite the nation very hard in future years as it has done in the past. The federal deficit is not the same thing remotely as if you or I ran a deficit or have a debt. Its not the same thing as if a state government or a municipality. The United States of America is a sovereign government with a sovereign currency. These things about deficits and debt ceilings come out of a different era. There was a gold standard that, by the way, produced in numerable recessions and was a horrible standard, and we have evolved beyond it 50-plus years ago basically, but we still have these old rules as if we were under a gold standard, and we dont, and they really get in the way in particular of social programs, which the Democrats say that they favor and the safety net, which they say that they favor. This is bad economics and bad politics on the part of the Democrats. Sharmin Peries: Now, Bill, heres a clip from the Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, explaining part of the governments tax agenda. I understand that you Lets take a listen to it first. Here we go. Steven Mnuchin: We will pass tax reform. Hear, hear. This is about creating jobs. This is about creating wage growth. This is about a simpler and fairer tax system. Were going to simplify personal taxes where 95% of Americans will be able to fill out their tax return on a large postcard. Sharmin Peries: Now, I imagine you might have some concerns about that, particularly the financial literacy of those pushing certain tax proposals. Can you explain? Bill Black: There are large number of issues anytime you change taxes, and the most abused word at Washington, DC is the word reform because they apply it to changes, for example, in health insurance that harm people, and that would seem to be the opposite of a reform. Here, the first premise that the Treasury has is that taxes explain why United States growth is low, has fallen, and that is simply Theres no economic basis for that claim at all. United States does not have the highest corporate taxes, and in practice, the corporate tax rate is much lower, but there are problems with the corporate income tax. Its extremely hard to collect that tax because it is so easy to evade and because corporations, large corporations and small governments find it in each others interest to create tax havens and do special deals to massively reduce taxation. Of course, if youre Luxembourg or Cayman Islands and such, even if you just get a tiny, tiny, tiny percentage tax and claim falsely that the income of a major incorporation was largely earned in your country, youll get incredible windfall in terms of tax revenues, but of course, much, much larger taxes will be lost to the nations where those corporations are really based like United States and such. This is a pernicious standard, and it creates Greshams dynamic. In a Greshams dynamic, its what happens when bad ethics drives good ethics out of the marketplace. If Im an honest corporation and Im trying to compete with folks to have this special tax deal that allows them to escape most of their corporate income tax liability, Im at an enormous competitive disadvantage and may will be driven out of business unless Im willing to play the same sad and abusive game. Lots of economists would be happy to see moving away from the corporate income tax to other forms of taxation, but they probably wont do that. Sharmin Peries: All right. Bill, so draw on some examples out there that we can learn from. Bill Black: If the corporate income tax was paid by every corporation in the same amount, economists dont actually know who as a practical matter ends up bearing that tax, but most economists think it would probably act like a sales tax. Of course, that would be and it would get passed on to the consumers, and a sales tax tends to be a pretty regressive tax. The words, Poor people pay a higher percentage of their income. Sometimes, much higher percentage of income. What tends to work instead is progressive income, personal income taxes and then some forms of wealth taxes. Of course, the leading form of wealth tax we have in United States is the property tax and such, so there really isnt a crisis in public finance at the national level. At the state-local level, there often is. Although, those crisis are again created by these perverse competition between the states. We just saw an example of this with this massive giveaway of public funds by the state of Wisconsin to bring a Taiwanese company in, which supposedly is going to create that 10,000 jobs, but a large number of them will be robots and such, and the $3 billion giveaway of taxes will exceed any benefits from this company coming in, so you could stop those kinds of perverse competitions. You could ban them. You could provide more federal taxation to raise the money, and then have it distributed to the states and localities. There are lots of things we could do if people really wanted to fix things. Basically, you could do whatever Kansas did, you do put a negative sign in front of, and you do the opposite. Youll make places much better off, but neither the Republicans nor the Democrats, as I said, there is no real Democratic plan, are offering these better alternatives. Sharmin Peries: Great. Bill, what are the main difficulties this government faces when it comes to both the federal budget, and the debt ceiling, and of course, the tax reform that goes along with all of that? Bill Black: The debt ceiling is a classic example of something that doesnt make any sense. Okay? Its a product of a bygone era when you owed debts in gold, and if you didnt have gold, it would be a really big problem, but we have a sovereign currency. Not only can we borrow money in our own currency at any time and pretty much without limit, but on top of that, thats not how you actually make money most of the time. Make money at the Federal Reserve by, literally by making key strokes on a computer. All the debt limit does is to provide a device for extortion by whichever group is willing to make me the most extreme, and for the last 15 years, this has been the Freedom Caucus, which is one of the worst most inaccurate aims in history, and its predecessor, ideological groups, particularly in the house of representatives. They basically hold the debt ceiling hostage and say, Were going to bring down the whole financial system by gratuitously causing the federal government to default on its debt unless you give us the following things. What they, in particular, want to do now, particularly given their failure to gut healthcare, is that bill that was going to gut healthcare was also going to defund planned parenthood, so it is expected that Freedom Caucus members are going to say that they will try to prevent assuage of increasing the debt ceiling unless theres a writer to the bill that would defund planned parenthood. You want to get rid entirely of this device of extortion. We should get rid of the debt ceilings and simply use normal budgetary processes to figure out what you want to spend and what you want to tax. Sharmin Peries: Does this situation offer us any opportunities one could cease? Bill Black: The left can do the same thing, of course. It can say that, We will not provide votes to raise the debt limit unless you give X. Again, for the same type of reason that we shouldnt lie, we shouldnt create this false narrative that the federal deficit is just like a household going into debt, and we shouldnt emulate these highly destructive tactics used by the Koch Brothers through their creatures, the Freedom Caucus, and have the left compete for irresponsibly threatening the financial health of not only the nation. If you actually cause the default in US debt, which these morons could actually do by refusing to raise the debt limits, then you would cause not only an economic crisis in the United States, but globally. Sharmin Peries: Bill, when Donald Trump and Mike Pence running for office last September, they released their economic vision, promising a growth tax plan that would create 25 million new jobs in the next decade. Now, the link to that fact sheet and the plan now leads to an error message, but how would you compare the current proposals to the economic vision they outlined during the election campaign? Bill Black: Their vision is the type of thing that comes from ingesting too much POD. It doesnt make any economic sense. Theyve been claiming similar variants of this for 50 years that if only we were to dramatically reduce the marginal income tax for the wealthy, we would suddenly get this incredible burst of growth. We substantially reduced the highest marginal tax rate. Its down dramatically from what it was under Eisenhower, for example, and growth has slowed instead of increased. The premise that people dont work because theres an income tax or that corporations dont work because theres a corporate income tax is simply false at all kinds of levels, all the kinds of levels of taxation that were talking about. Yeah. Certainly, you could impose 100% tax and people would in fact cut down their working very substantially at that point, but no one in the United States wants to do that. Sharmin Peries: All right, Bill. Im a great advocate of the best way to understand economics is to listen to Bill Black. I thank you so much for joining me today. Bill Black: Thank you. Sharmin Peries: Thank you for joining me on The Real News Network. The famous Hermitage Museum keeps 74 cats to keep its basements mice-free Vintage News (margarita). From earlier this year. Remarkable New Evidence for Human Activity in North America 130,000 Years Ago NPR (Chris S) Driver crawls across ladder in Texas floods BBC Error 404: A Look At Digital Decay Visual Capitalist (micael). This is a big issue. For instance, NC is an important resource to economists and historians and even more so post 2011 due to our detailed reporting on the crisis in real time and excerpts from sources that have since gone dark. The End of Typing: The Next Billion Mobile Users Will Rely on Video and Voice Wall Street Journal How Smartphones Are Making Kids Unhappy NPR (David L) North Korea The Omnipresence of Dust in Kathmandu Pacific Standard Brussels warns egg scandal could now involve seven countries Politico Brexit Northerners more likely to die early from diseases of despair The Times The Future of Greece Jacobin Whats Left of the Bolivarian Revolution? Venezuela Analysis (micael) Syraqistan New Cold War The Russian Revolution, Debt Repudiation, War and Peace Defend Democracy Big Brother is Watching You Watch Why Facebook should pay us a basic income Financial Times (David L). A provocative ways of arguing users should be paid for their data. Youre CLEAR CLEAR (UserFriendly). Super duper bad. Normalizing handing over biometric data for mere convenience. We Anonymously Controlled a Dildo Through the Tor Network Motherboard. While this is all good fun, it also means someone can probably anonymously control your IoT device if hes determined to do so. Trump Transition. Look at what happens when Trump is on vacation and not getting himself in hot water! The news flow dies down. No wonder the MSM is up in arms. The Congressional Map Has A Record-Setting Bias Against Democrats FiveThirtyEight (furzy) Sanders litmus test alarms Democrats Politico. Important. Lambert: Good. They ought to be alarmed. More like this, please. De Blasio Proposes Tax on Wealthy to Fix New York Citys Crumbling Subways Bloomberg (furzy) As Congress tries to criminalize BDS, the Democratic Socialists of America endorse it Intercept I know this is supposed to be a family blog, but given that we are having a transgressive post, I thought I might as well cheer you up. Even though this photo might have been staged (as in the poster removed before sunrise; the reflection at the top is such a good touch that I doubt this was Photoshopped). a reader reports that this type of poster is popping up all over San Francisco: Millennials Are Killing the Oil Industry In These Times. UserFriendly incurred great personal cost, as a chemical engineer who graduated IIRC in 2009 in not taking a job in the petroleum biz when there were pretty much no other jobs for someone with his education on offer. However, if young Americans continue to shun oil companies, they will lobby to. bring in foreign workers. Government Report Finds Drastic Impact of Climate Change on U.S. New York Times New McCarthyism Evidence of Google blacklisting of left and progressive sites continues to mount WSWS. Google is explicitly censoring non-MSM views: In a set of guidelines issued to Google evaluators in March, the company instructed its search evaluators to flag pages returning conspiracy theories or upsetting content unless the query clearly indicates the user is seeking an alternative viewpoint. We also had our WordPress guru dig up our Google stats over time. Confusingly the WordPress analytics tools says we only get 3% of our traffic from search (of all types) while Google Analytics says its over 30%, which is down from over 50% in 2014 before the Panda change but still higher than I expect, given that we just about never appear on the first page of searches and 99% of the click-throughs are on first page results. But maybe that many people are searching for naked capitalism. Weve seen a steady decay since the Panda algo change (meaning in addition to the dramatic drop we saw at the time) in search traffic v. organic traffic. We need to do more granular work on 2017. Referrals from Google have fallen since April but I dont yet have it as a percentage of overall traffic to see if the fall was merely seasonal or whether the slide in Googles contribution to our overall traffic levels has accelerated. We also understand why the WP reports are so different before we can say much more. U.S. Credit-Card Debt Surpasses Record Set at Brink of Crisis Bloomberg (David L) Tracking the Amazing Junk Bond Bubbles in the US and Europe Michael Shedlock (EM) Behind the Push to Keep Higher-Priced EpiPen in Consumers Hands Wall Street Journal Median Price-to-Revenue Ratio Higher in All Deciles vs 2007, 90% vs Dot-Com Bubble: THE Choice Michael Shedlock (EM) Uber Chairman Says Travis Kalanick Wont Return as CEO Wall Street Journal. Note that Uber should not feel the need to say this sort of thing during a CEO search Here Are All the Signs Investors Are Growing More Worried About Retail Bloomberg Guillotine Watch Class Warfare Antidote du jour. Stephen L: Bald eagle, Ladner, BC. See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Its so routine for private equity firms to run roughshod over the law that industry publications dont even bother pointing out the misconduct. An example is a new article in PE Hub, Why PE firms are buying orthopedic and ophthalmology practices . Mind you, private equity firms buying up medical practices is hardly new. For instance, some private equity firms were acquiring outpatient surgery centers years ago. Roy Poses at Health Care Renewal pointed out in 2015 that private equity was targeting primary doctors practices. And as Wolf Richter wrote later that year: A report by Bain and Company found that last year, healthcare buyouts by PE firms not corporate M&A in North America soared nearly 60% year-over-year, to a new record of $15.6 billion, across 80 mostly smaller deals, with only two deals above $1 billion. The new thing is that PE firms are targeting primary care groups. Its a land-grab right now, Todd Spaanstra, a partner at Crowe Horwath, an accounting and consulting firm, told Modern Healthcare in April. Part of the reason why theyre chasing after primary care practices is because specialty practices have become targets of publicly traded corporate entities that have been driving up prices beyond what PE firms are willing to pay. The PE Hub article describes some but not all of the rationale for private equity firms snapping up speciality practices. They are targeting ones that combine insurance-covered procedures as well as more highly paid ancillary services, such as Lasik, or for dermatologists, lucrative vanity procedures, like Botox and injections to plump up sagging faces. As the article elaborates: A case in point is the investment in CORE Institute, an orthopedic practice, by Frazier Healthcare Partners and Princeton Ventures. When the deal was announced in January, COREs chief executive, David Jacofsky, an orthopedic surgeon, summed up the attractiveness of the sector: Musculoskeletal care is the fastest growing segment of inpatient hospital admissions in the U.S. This exponential growth is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. While details of the CORE deal were not announced, well-run orthopedic and ophthalmology practices can fetch premium valuations consistent with recent dermatology transactions, implying multiples of trailing 12-month EBITDA of 10x or more. And while larger practices are generally valued more aggressively than smaller ones, investors appear to have an appetite even for those that employ only a handful of doctors. A typical strategy PE firms employ is to partner with an established practice group and augment that investment by acquiring and rolling up smaller practices to establish regional and national brands. These larger groups are better positioned to confront changes in the evolving healthcare landscape and to offer significant resources to doctors who wish to focus on the delivery of care. These structures enable doctors to recognize some economic benefits while maintaining ownership and the ability to work in democratic physician-led practices. Nowhere is there mention of what Rosemary Batt pointed out by e-mail: private equity firms had earlier been buying hospitals, but found that state regulators imposed standard of care requirements on them as part of approving the sale that meant that the private equity firms werent able to engage in the cost-cutting measures they had in mind. So their attention has turned to the high-margin ancillary services. They are buying them up.with the intent of selling them to hospitals. Given how state regulators did intervene in the sale of hospitals, their complacency in the face of what in many states is an illegal practice, that of non-MDs owning a medical practice, is surprising. As one industry participant wrote: The practice of non-doctors owning doctor practices raises regulatory compliance issues in many states, as it is generally a requirement that physician practices must be owned by physicians. PE firms are just openly flouting these regulations all over the place. They do so via structuring, where they own a parent company that has all of the economic benefits of owning a practice as well as the control, while nominally leaving the doctors in place on the filings with state authorities. This is an open and notorious practice there is no way that state regulators dont know about it in general, and I have a hard time believing that it complies with the letter of the law in many states. If a doctor who owned a large practice died and his non-doctor widow tried to step into his ownership shoes via the same legal structure, I am sure that the authorities would land on her like a ton of bricks, but where its OK when the PE guys do it. Its also an example of the general practice used by business with respect to regulation that if they are out of compliance with the letter of the law, argue that its the form, not the substance that matters, or if they get the desired result with the opposite, its the substance, not the form argument, make that one instead. And if you think that our source is exaggerating about the fact that regulators have an enforcement double-standard, with the big dogs getting big breaks, he added this anecdote: A relative manages the New York state portion of a multi-state womens health retail chain that has offices in the NYC area and is owned by her brother, a gynecologist. For many years, one of their daughter-in-laws who lives in another state maintained a New York state medical license solely to preserve the option of stepping into the ownership of the New York portion of the business to preserve her mothers income should something happen to her mothers brother (he has been in poor health for a long time). At one point, at a family meeting on the topic that included lawyers, I inquired about structuring the legal entities so that the mother-in-law could achieve economic ownership while letting a non-family member doctor act as formal owner. The strong consensus of the lawyers was that, given the political vulnerability of the business as a provider of abortion services, they thought that it would be extremely unwise to attempt to claim to the regulators that such a structured arrangement was legal. Now readers might argue that the abortion services made this case different, but the business at hand is located in communist New York City in the hardly right wing state of New York. Its not as if womens choice is a hot-button issue in this state. The real subtext seemed to be that if anyone wanted to meddle in a deal like this (say an angry ex-employee or patient who had access to savvy lawyers) that theyd have good odds of succeeding. And thats before we get to the reason that these prohibitions exist in the first place. Regular readers have seen Roy Poses at Health Care Renewal chronicle how the corporatization of health care, which is having MBAs and bean counters determine how medical services are provided, has undermined care. From one of his many posts: We have posted about the plight of the corporate physician. In the US, home of the most commercialized health care system among developed countries, physicians increasingly practice as employees of large organizations, usually hospitals and hospital systems, sometimes for-profit. The leaders of such systems meanwhile are now often generic managers, people trained as managers without specific training or experience in medicine or health care, and managerialists who apply generic management theory and dogma to medicine and health care just as it might be applied to building widgets or selling soap. We have also frequently posted about what we have called generic management, the managers coup detat, and mission-hostile management. Managerialism wraps these concepts up into a single package. The idea is that all organizations, including health care organizations, ought to be run people with generic management training and background, not necessarily by people with specific backgrounds or training in the organizations areas of operation. Thus, for example, hospitals ought to be run by MBAs, not doctors, nurses, or public health experts Furthermore, all organizations ought to be run according to the same basic principles of business management. These principles in turn ought to be based on current neoliberal dogma, with the prime directive that short-term revenue is the primary goal. A constant theme of managerialism, and the neoliberalism that underlies it, is economic efficiency. The usual narrative is that efficiency means providing better goods and services at lower costs. Instead, managerialism and noeliberalism may mean decontenting goods and services so as to lower costs to the organizations providing them, but not necessarily providing more value to consumers. In health care terms, managerialism and neliberalism may lead to less accessible, more mediocre health care that increase revenue to the organizations providing it, as implied by the physicians comments above. Making the US the most commercialized, managerialist run, and arguably neoliberal health care system among the developed countries has not led to lower costs, better access, or better health care quality. Mind you, the resulting crapification is a feature, not a bug. From a 2013 post: Dr. David Edelberg, describes a recent presentation by a large insurance company. Theyve apparently been hosting similar sessions with physicians in the Chicago area in large medical practices. Here are the key bits (emphasis original): The speaker at these evenings is always a physician employed by the insurance company. His/her title is medical director (I begin to think there must be dozens and dozens on their payroll) and he always begins by reassuring the audience that he was in clinical practice himself so he understands something of what physiciansespecially primary care physiciansare facing. I view this physician more as a Judas steer, the animal that leads an innocent but doomed herd of cattle through the slaughterhouse corridors to the killing floor. The health industry hopes that individual medical practices and small medical groups will ultimately disappear from the landscape by being financially absorbed into larger groups owned by hospital systems. And heres what to expect: Physicians are expected to spend a limited amount of time with each patient, and are encouraged to see as many patients as possible during a workday. The insurance companies, sometimes with the token cooperation of a few physician-employees, create vast books of patient-care guidelines to which they believe their physicians must be accountable (remember this word, it will crop up again). These guidelines might mean documented Pap smear and mammogram frequency, weight management and exercise, colonoscopies for patients over 50, and getting that evil LDL (bad cholesterol) below 99 by any means possible If the chart audit system discovers that a physician, for whatever reason, is an outlierthat shes either not following the guidelines exactly or not getting the results anticipated for her patient populationshell be financially penalized. A quick example of what might occur: if your LDL is 115, you may be on the receiving end of a statin sales pitch from your doctor, not because bringing it down to 99 will improve your longevity, but because your refusal to do so will impact her financial bottom line. So private equity is doing its part to speed up this sorry trend. While it appears to be too late to harass complicit state regulators with letters asking them to explain why they are refusing to enforce the law, the possibility of single payer represents an even bigger monkey wrench to private equitys exit plans. The combination of reimbursed (medically necessary) with vanity and anti-aging or performance related treatments that dont have a solid research foundation wont turn out to be a tidy rollup if the way one part of the business operates is subject to a regime change. In the meantime, patients should keep their eye out for changes of ownership in the practices they visit and seriously consider switching doctors in the event of an ownership change. My primary MD struck out on her own, despite the high costs and risks of doing so when her small practice was sold. She told me the reason was that she would have rules imposed on her that would undermine what she thought was a good standard of care. That confirms other doctors have seen the sort of MBA-imposed changes that Poses and Edelberg warned about. Having a doctor you like is no protection if that doctor is hamstrung by profit-minded overlords. Scientists from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre have come up with what sounds like a science fiction - a nanotechnology device that can switch the cell functions in such a way that the failing organs are revived using a single touch. This technique is called Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) and the tiny nanotechnology devices inject a new genetic code into the skin cells. These genetically modified skin cells then transform into other types of cells that can help in the regeneration of the diseased cells. The study is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, authored by Daniel Gallego-Perez and team. Chandan Sen, PhD, holds a chip that could revolutionize medical care. In laboratory tests on mice at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the chip was able to heal serious wounds with a single touch by converting skin cells into vascular cells. Image Credit: Ohio State University Dr. Chandan Sen, director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell-Based Therapies at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center explains that the chip would take only a single touch and a fraction of a second. As soon as it touches the wounded area, the cells begin to reprogramme into something different. For example they used the chip in the labs on injured legs of mice he said. The injured legs had little or no blood supply and were damaged to begin with. The chip instructed the skin cells to turn into blood vessel cells or vascular cells. The skin cells thus started becoming vascular cells and in a week improvement began noticeably. Within the second week the blood vessels were fully formed to the injured leg and by the end of third week the leg was saved with nothing other than the wonder nanochip. Researchers demonstrate a process known as tissue nanotransfection at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. In laboratory tests, this process was able to heal the badly injured legs of mice in just three weeks with a single touch of this chip. The technology works by converting normal skin cells into vascular cells, which helped heal the wounds. Image Credit: Ohio State University Study collaborator Professor L. James Lee of chemical and biomolecular engineering department at Ohio State explained that this was gene therapy. He added that this concept was not a new one and has been studied for quite some time now. What is new is the delivery of the DNA that needs to be inserted into the host genetic code. Breakthrough device heals organs with a single touch Play The chip with the device contains a special genetic code that is encoded within proteins. A small electrical current passes through the skin as it is placed over the skin of the test animal. This creates an electric channel from the chip to the skin cells. Though these channels the DNA or RNA genetic materials, are injected into the skin cells. These injected genetic materials then start to reprogramme the skin cells into becoming what they are programmed to become. The technique worked with 98% efficiency say the researchers led by Daniel Gallego-Perez an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and general surgery and previously a postdoctoral researcher in both Sens and Lees laboratories. Perez explained that there are two parts of this technology; The designed nanochip that would deliver the genetic load to the living adult cells of the body The actual design of the genetic material that is to be transferred. Dr. Sen said that the skin cells or any type of tissues this technology was applied could become anything the researchers wanted them to become. For example in laboratory mice with brain stroke, the skin cells were coaxed to become brain cells. The new brain cells of the mice grew from the skin cells. They were then harvested or grown in the laboratory and finally injected back into the brains of the mice. Within a few weeks after the stroke, the mice had restored brain function and they were found to be completely healed from the stroke. What is wonderful is that the technique does not depend on externally applied medications. Since it uses the patients own cells, the technique could get approval for human clinical trials within a year feel researchers. Till now it has been shown to be effective in laboratory animals such as mice and pigs. It could be a breakthrough in repairing injured tissues, restoring functions to the aging tissues such as blood vessels, organs and nerve cells. Not wrongly Sen called the skin a fertile land where elements from any failing or declining organ may be grown. Further the chip is not implanted within the patient and also does not affect the immune system in any manner. So no worries about long term effects or suppression of immunity are necessary explained Dr. Sen who also is executive director of Ohio State's Comprehensive Wound Center. This research was funded by Leslie and Abigail Wexner, Ohio State's Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell-Based Therapies and Ohio State's Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. An economic experiment to inform policymakers considering Medicaid expansion shows small cash incentives to low-income people with new health care coverage can promote primary care visits that may significantly reduce costs overall. The study, by Cathy Bradley, professor of health systems management and policy at the Colorado School of Public Health at CU Anschutz, published today in the August issue of Health Affairs. "This shows a potential for cost savings for a very small amount of money," Bradley said. "Access to primary care does not necessarily mean a visit will occur. Establishing a primary care relationship with an initial visit helps prevent chronic conditions, avoids hospitalizations and use of emergency departments and provides better care to the patient." Some employers use cash incentives to encourage healthy behaviors among workers and the Affordable Care Act expanded the use of such incentives to public insurance programs. "At the time this experiment began, Medicaid expansions were happening across the US," Bradley said. Previous studies reported that low-income patients could be especially responsive to financial incentives like cost-sharing responsibility for emergency department use. "An emergency room visit would treat the patient's immediate acute need and discharge them," Bradley said. "A primary care doctor will do all the things that improve their well-being and prevent a medical crisis." In a randomized controlled trial with subjects in Virginia living 100 percent below the federal poverty level, researchers studied low-income adults newly covered by a primary care program to determine if a cash incentive could encourage them to make an initial visit to a primary care provider. Among four total participant groups, three were given a baseline survey by telephone and then either $50, $25 or $0 to visit their provider within six months. A control group received no incentive or contact from the researchers. The findings also suggest that interaction with a health care program coordinator who shows low-income enrollees through the system may also encourage primary care visits without further cash incentives. In the $0 incentive group, more people sought and received care than the unpaid control group. "It shows that for a small amount of money and a conversation you can get a person to obtain primary care," Bradley said. Subjects in the $50 and $25 incentive groups were more likely to see a primary care provider (77 percent and 74 percent, respectively) compared to the $0 group (68 percent). In the control group, 61 percent received care. Study subjects were identified and enrolled through a community-based primary care program from a safety-net health care provider in Virginia serving low-income patients. All were newly enrolled in a health care program and had not seen a primary care provider or specialist in the previous nine months. Overall, 1,228 participants were included in the three incentive groups and completed the baseline interview. There were 414 in the control group. Bradley said the biggest limitation to the study was recruitment. A significant amount of potential subjects did not have stable phone connectivity, were homeless or incarcerated, making study enrollment a challenge. The Jackson County Sheriffs office was tipped off to a possible kidnapping after a phone call from the Eau Claire County Sheriffs office Monday. Deputies were told that a man, later identified as Dontay L. Reese, struck a woman and then pulled her into his car, taking off down Interstate 94 toward Jackson County. Wisconsin State Patrol officers found the vehicle near mile marker 97 in the ditch with no one inside, but they did see Reese in the woods near the fenced area. Reese fled, while the woman he was with emerged from the woods crying for help and was assisted by authorities. Reese eventually surrendered while the woman told troopers that he had kidnapped her earlier that day in Minneapolis. She also told officers that she was sexually assaulted and that Reese had cocaine on him. Reese is at the Jackson County Jail for and faces charges of first-degree sexual assault, kidnapping and possession of cocaine. Anybody with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriffs Office and speak with Detective Adam Olson at 715-284-5357. This case is under investigation. According to latest research, gold particles can be effective in certain cancer therapy areas. Researchers at the Edinburgh University report in their new study that gold particles can help enhance the effectiveness of the agents used for lung cancer cells. The study is published in the scientific journal Angewandte Chemie. Gold was chosen for this purpose because it is a safer element. In addition it can also improve and accelerate or facilitate certain chemical reactions. For the study the scientists used gold nanoparticles which are actually very minute particles of the metal. These were then encapsulated within a chemical. The final package could be used to target only the diseased and cancerous cells rather than the healthy cells. This would drastically reduce the harmful and potentially life threatening side effects of chemotherapy as we know it today. Only the diseased cells would be killed sparing the healthy cells of the body. According to Dr. Asier Unciti-Broceta, from Cancer Research UK's Edinburgh centre, gold was not known to have this property of a delivery metal that could carry the chemotherapy drugs directly into the tumour and thus prevent it from affecting the healthy cells in its path of travel. He added however that this was still very preliminary and more work was needed before it could actually translate into something useful for patients. But Dr. Unciti-Broceta called this a step forward. This could lead to a technology in future where a device could be made that could go directly into the tumour and the doctor could control the release of the drug into the tumour alone. This could stop the harmful effects of the chemotherapy on the healthy organs the team explains. The study has potential to improve cancer treatment and reduce side effects agreed Dr Aine McCarthy, Cancer Research UK's senior science information officer. Dr. McCarthy said that that it could especially be beneficial in treatment of brain tumours and other difficult to treat cancers. Now what remains to be established is how safe this new technique is for humans and what the long and short term side effects of this treatment are. It remains to be seen if this is a better way to treat the cancers. The researchers used zebrafish for their experiments and soon they said the method could be tried in humans as well after approval from suitable authorities. The researchers implanted the encapsulated gold particles into the brains of the zebrafish. This was done to establish its safety in living animals. The study was given its present form in collaboration with researchers at the University of Zaragoza's Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon in Spain. Funds were provided by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. History of gold in cancer therapy This is not the first time that gold nanotechnology has been studied for cancer chemotherapy. Weibo Cai and colleagues for example in 2008 reported the use of gold nanospheres, rods, shells and cages for use on cancer chemotherapy drug delivery. These could be used not only for treatment but also for imaging studies and radiolabelling they write. They say that the future looks bright for uses of gold nanoparticles and call it a magic gold bullet against cancer. References The very same treatment that thwarts breast cancer has a dark side it can fuel the spread of the disease to the lungs. Researchers at The Ohio State University studied the cascade of events that lead to metastatic cancer and found clues to why it happens, opening up the possibility of one day interfering with the medication's downsides while preserving its cancer-fighting properties in breast tissue. The front-line chemotherapy drug paclitaxel sets off a variety of molecular-level changes that allow breast cancer cells to escape from the tumor. At the same time, it creates an environment in the lung that is more hospitable to the cancer cells, facilitating the spread of the disease, the researchers found in a mouse model of breast cancer. The study, which appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, includes an analysis of data from women with breast cancer that suggest the findings from mouse models could be relevant to breast cancer metastasis in humans. "That chemotherapy can paradoxically promote cancer progression is an emerging revelation in cancer research. However, a molecular-level understanding of this devastating effect is not clear," said Tsonwin Hai, the study's senior author and a professor of biological chemistry and pharmacology. The changes in both the tumor and the lung documented in the study depend on a gene called Atf3, which is turned on by stress. In human data, the researchers found higher Atf3 gene expression in patients who had chemotherapy than those who did not. "This gene seems to do two things at once: essentially help distribute the 'seeds' (cancer cells) and fertilize the 'soil' (the lung)," Hai said. First, the chemo appears to send signals to increase the number of molecular doors through which the cancer cells can escape from the primary tumor into the bloodstream, freeing them to travel to other organs, the researchers found. "I think it's an active process a biological change in which the cancer cells are beckoned to escape into the blood -; rather than a passive process in which the cancer cells get into the bloodstream because of leaky vessels," said Hai, a member of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. This finding is bolstered by another recent study conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and published in Science Translational Medicine, which showed a similar result using imaging techniques to observe the tumor in mice, Hai said. Second, the Ohio State researchers found that, beyond aiding cancer cell escape, paclitaxel creates a cascade of events that makes the tissue environment in the lung fertile ground for circulating cancer cells. "There are signals that help cancer cells enter the lungs and set up shop, that make the environment more immunologically tolerant to cancer cells," Hai said. A molecular-level understanding of why chemotherapy sometimes increases risk of metastatic cancer is in the early stages, Hai said. She said it's important to recognize that the cancer cells in the study's mouse model are very aggressive and that it would be interesting to test whether paclitaxel also enhances the escape of cancer cells at earlier stages in cancer progression. Hai cautioned that much more work is required before extrapolating the findings in mice to human cancer treatment. "At this point, what our study and the recent literature on chemotherapy taught us is that it is prudent to keep our mind open, realizing that chemo can help treat cancer, but at the same time may increase the possibility of the spread of that cancer," she said. What set their study apart from other research in this area is the identification of the stress gene Atf3. They showed that paclitaxel -; a stressor -; exerts its pro-cancer effect at least in part by turning on Atf3. "It's possible there could be a treatment given in conjunction with the chemo that would inhibit this problem by dampening the effect of the stress gene Atf3," Hai said. And that will be a focus of Hai's work in this area going forward, she said. New research published in the EPJ Data Science, suggests that people, just like signaling their sadness through behavior and body language, can also reflect their depression through images in their social media. Credit: Namning/ Shutterstock.com According to the research which was carried out by Chris Danforth from the University of Vermont and Andrew Reece from Harvard University, when a persons feelings turn blue, his photos also turn more blue - or grey and dark - and can contain a fewer number of faces. The team also concluded that computers, when applied with machine learning, can identify depressed people successfully by obtaining clues from their Instagram images. The rate of detection by computers is 70% - a more dependable rate than the general practitioners rate of successful diagnosis of depression at 42%. Chris Danforth commented that this result points towards a novel method for early diagnosis of depression as well as other mental illness and he believes that this algorithm may help in detecting depression before proceeding with clinical diagnosis. In the study, 166 participants were recruited from the Amazon's Mechanical Turk and were asked to share their history of mental health as well as Instagram feed. The researchers were able to collect 43,950 photos. Ideas from well-established psychology studies on color, brightness and shading preferences of people were used for analyzing the images. The study was designed in a way that about 50% of the participants were reported to be clinically depressed in the last three years. In a blog post that accompanied the research, Danforth and Reese wrote: Pixel analysis of the photos in our dataset revealed that depressed individuals in our sample had the tendency to post photos that were, on average, bluer, darker, and grayer than those posted by healthy individuals." Their findings also showed that Instagram filters such as Valencia, which gave the images a warm brighter tone was chosen by the healthy individuals, whereas, Inkwell (which makes the photos black-and-white) was the most common filter among depressed people; i.e., people who suffered with depression were more likely to choose a filter that literally removed all the color out the pictures they wanted to post. Indications of depression were also provided by the faces in the images. As per the study, it was more likely for the people affected with depression to post images which included faces of people. Howeverthose photos, on average, had less numbers of faces than the Instagram feeds of healthy people. Danforth and Reece noted: "Fewer faces may be an oblique indicator that depressed users interact in smaller settings. According to them, it either corresponds to other research associating depression to reduced social interaction or, it might be indicate that depressed people take many self-portraits. They added that the hypothesis of sad-selfie remains untested. As a part of this study, volunteers were asked to differentiate the Instagram posts of healthy as well as depressed people. Yet, those volunteers were not able to complete the task as efficiently as the statistical computer model; the rating done by humans lacked much correlation with the features of the photos that were identified by the computer. Chris Danforth, who is also a co-director of the university's Computational Story Lab, commented that it is obvious for a person to have knowledge on a friend than computer; however, while flipping through the images, he might not be able to identify depression that efficiently. Deeper ethical questions as well as privacy concerns do exist as the world of artificial intelligence and machine learning spreads into many fields of life. According to Danforth, there is a need for more thinking on the morality of machines. While considering issues like mental illness, clever artificial intelligence might be able to find signals. He also believes that this kind of application can in future help people during the onset of mental illness, avoid wrong diagnoses, and provide a new cost-efficient test for mental health services. It is thought to help those who may not otherwise have access to a trained expert, like a psychiatrist. "This study is not yet a diagnostic test, not by a long shot, but it is a proof of concept of a new way to help people," says Danforth. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us. Captain America and the Winter Soldier Special #1 takes Marvel's secret history to a whole new level with a real world historical figure If you know who Gavrilo Princip is, prepare to be shocked Advertise With Us We are pleased to offer you new age advertising media that would certainly help to your business. News Track is one of the fastest growing web portal for News and current affairs in Hindi. Currently we are generating more then 2 million page views per month across the globe. Online advertising is more popular nowadays as the reach of active users on internet is increasing rapidly. 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Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. Even on Goldman Sachss earnings call, which included several questions and answers related to regulations, not once did any official suggest that the firms earnings were a result of lighter regulatory burdens. Indeed, the bank warned several times that it was too early and too difficult to predict exactly how deregulation efforts would affect its various businesses. Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, famously was so upset on his conference call about the state of Washington and the inability to get anything done, he declared: We have become one of the most bureaucratic, confusing, litigious societies on the planet. Of all Americas various industries, it is the Wall Street banks that should see the most benefit from deregulatory measures. Already, prosecutors have sought less in fines from the banks than they did under the Obama administration. And Mr. Trump has pledged to repeal or at least reform Dodd-Frank, the checks on the banking system imposed in the wake of the most recent financial crisis, but that would require legislation. The administration is, at a minimum, telling a one-sided story its a bit disingenuous, Charles Campbell, managing director at MKM Partners, said about Mr. Trump and his teams taking credit for the rising stock market. For the average American who is uninformed, it probably passes as sounding correct, he lamented. But Mr. Campbell said it was a little early for companies to see direct benefits from deregulation efforts. This is the first full reporting period, quite honestly, since Mr. Trump took office, he noted. In industries like finance, Mr. Campbell said, stocks are trading with the expectation that there will be business-friendly changes in the regulatory environment. It is the anticipation that there will be an effect, he said. It is very true that Mr. Trumps deregulatory agenda should eventually make its way into the earnings reports of United States companies, but to suggest that it has already happened is a stretch. SAN FRANCISCO Google on Monday fired a software engineer who wrote an internal memo that questioned the companys diversity efforts and argued that the low number of women in technical positions was a result of biological differences instead of discrimination. The memo, called Googles Ideological Echo Chamber, angered many in Silicon Valley because it relied on certain gender stereotypes like the notion that women are less interested in high-stress jobs because they are more anxious to rationalize the gender gap in the tech industry. The memo quickly spread outside the company, as other Google employees railed against many of its assumptions. In a companywide email, Googles chief executive, Sundar Pichai, said portions of the memo had violated the companys code of conduct and crossed the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. The memo put the company in a bind. On one hand, Google has long promoted a culture of openness, with employees allowed to question senior executives and even mock its strategy in internal forums. However, Google, like many other technology firms, is dealing with criticism that it has not done enough to hire and promote women and minorities. HOKAH Alfred F. Miller, 81, of Hokah died Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, at Valley View Healthcare, in Houston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Peters Catholic Church, Hokah. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to service Saturday, both at the church. A full obituary will follow. McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia is assisting the family with arrangements. Wells Fargo, the scandal-plagued bank, is facing new regulatory scrutiny for not refunding insurance money owed to people who paid off their car loans early, according to people briefed on the inquiry. Just last month Wells Fargo was found to have forced unneeded collision insurance on consumers who financed their car purchases. That practice, first disclosed by The New York Times, affected 800,000 customers according to an analysis commissioned by the bank. Some 274,000 people were pushed into delinquency as a result, and 25,000 cars were wrongly repossessed. The latest inquiry, by officials at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, where the bank has its headquarters, involves a different, specialized type of insurance that is sold to consumers when they buy a car. Called guaranteed auto protection insurance, or GAP, it is intended to protect a lender against the fact that a car the collateral for its loan loses significant value the moment it is driven off the lot. GAP insurance, also known as guaranteed asset protection, makes up that difference for a lender if, for instance, a car is stolen before the loan is paid off. Regular car insurance typically covers only the current market value. WASHINGTON The average temperature in the United States has risen rapidly and drastically since 1980, and recent decades have been the warmest of the past 1,500 years, according to a sweeping federal climate change report awaiting approval by the Trump administration. The draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies concludes that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now. It directly contradicts claims by President Trump and members of his cabinet who say that the human contribution to climate change is uncertain, and that the ability to predict the effects is limited. Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, a draft of the report states. It was uploaded to a nonprofit internet digital library in January but received little attention until it was published by The New York Times. The authors note that thousands of studies, conducted by tens of thousands of scientists, have documented climate changes on land and in the air. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate change, they wrote. The rusted gates at the Catholic Church of St. John the Martyr in Manhattan remained padlocked on Sunday, as they have since the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York closed them for the last time in 2015. This year would have been the churchs 130th anniversary as a house of worship, but the Church of St. John the Martyr is sacred no more. The church, on East 72nd Street on the Upper East Side, was one of 18 shuttered churches that the archdiocese deconsecrated recently, paving the way for the properties to be repurposed or sold, which appraisers say would bring tens of millions of dollars to church coffers. The decision to deconsecrate which means transform the houses of worship to secular purposes was announced in decrees posted on the archdiocese website in June. As a growing number of elite boarding schools have released investigations into the sexual abuse of students, they have revealed the connections that allowed teachers to move from one school to the next, forging a chain of misconduct. In April, Emma Willard School, a girls school in Troy, N.Y., released a report documenting a history of sexual misconduct by faculty and staff at the school dating to the 1950s. After that report was released, new information came to light, and on Friday, Emma Willard released an addendum that named an additional former faculty member, Brian Davidson, who engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student in the class of 1995. Just days before, Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., had named Mr. Davidson in its own updated report. It said he had sex with a student in the 1970s while he was on faculty at Abbot Academy, an all-girls school that later merged with Andover. The Emma Willard update said that in 1993, Mr. Davidson had become involved in a conspiratorial relationship with a 16-year-old student that culminated in one instance of physical contact on the day after graduation. The report said Mr. Davidson went on to contact her throughout the summer and fall. At the time of the relationship, a school employee had asked the girl if there was anything inappropriate going on with Mr. Davidson, the report said; she said there was not. Another bill introduced by Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, and Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey would go a step further. If the attorney general wanted to remove the special counsel, he would first have to seek pre-approval from a three-judge panel. The special counsel could be fired only after the panel found that the removal criteria had been met. Under both bills, the three-judge panels ruling could be directly appealed to the Supreme Court. While both bills are likely to face constitutional objections, we think that theyre likely to pass judicial muster: In the 1988 case Morrison v. Olson, the Supreme Court blessed a similar removal provision in the independent counsel statute. The problem with the new bills is not that they are unconstitutional; it is that they are ineffectual. While they make it harder for Mr. Trump to fire Mr. Mueller, they still allow the president and his subordinates to obstruct the investigation in countless other ways. The roots of Mr. Muellers vulnerability date back to the middle of 1999. At the time, most Democrats thought that Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel investigating various allegations against President Bill Clinton, abused his power. And many Republicans believed that the independent counsel who investigated Reagan administration officials involved in the Iran-contra affair had also gone too far. When the independent counsel statute came up for renewal, lawmakers from both parties decided to let it lapse. In its place, President Clintons Justice Department issued a new set of regulations allowing the attorney general to appoint a special counsel to investigate administration officials accused of misconduct. Those rules put the special counsel on a short leash. They require the special counsel to notify the attorney general at least three days before any major investigative or prosecutorial step, and they authorize the attorney general to stop the special counsel from proceeding. They also require the special counsel to seek reauthorization from the attorney general every Oct. 1 in order to press forward with his inquiry, and they allow the attorney general to set the special counsels budget. With Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused from the Russia investigation, oversight of the special counsel falls to the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein. So if President Trump wants to halt Mr. Muellers inquiry, he can order Mr. Rosenstein not to reauthorize the special counsels investigation this October or to starve the special counsel of funds. If Mr. Trump wants to stop Mr. Mueller even sooner, he can instruct Mr. Rosenstein to exercise veto power over the special counsel at every step of the way. And if Mr. Rosenstein rebuffs the presidents commands, Mr. Trump could replace him with a loyalist who will follow his instructions. Neither bill deals with these scenarios, and yet theyre the likeliest avenues for Mr. Trump to interfere with Mr. Muellers work. Your job is to tell the president things he does not want to hear. But youve got to walk them to the truth you just cant slap them in the face with it and run out of the Oval Office. MICHAEL V. HAYDEN, a former director of both the C.I.A. and the National Security Agency, on the ability of Mike Pompeo, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to communicate in a style in which President Trump is comfortable. If the government continues providing funds for the subsidies, insurers will have a small profit, said Craig Wright, the chief actuary at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. If the subsidies are not funded, carriers would face the prospect of large financial losses, which could increase the risk to their solvency. It could be very damaging, Mr. Wright said. Our market wouldnt recover. With no guidance or clarity from the Trump administration, state officials are agonizing over what to do. Many expressed a sense of urgency, saying they needed to make decisions soon on rates to be charged in 2018. Trump administration officials were invited to speak to state insurance regulators and were listed in the program for at least one public session, but they did not show up at that event to provide the promised update on federal policy. Most of us are hoping and praying that this gets resolved, said David Shea, a health actuary at the Virginia Bureau of Insurance. But thats not the case right now. Without the federal subsidies, insurers would need to get the money estimated at $7 billion to $10 billion next year from another source. And that means higher premiums, state officials said. Mark Morris, Michelle Dorrance and Kyle Abraham are among the choreographers who will create new works for this years edition of the Fall for Dance Festival, New York City Centers annual series of affordable and diverse performances. The festival, planned for Oct. 2-14, will feature five programs and five world premieres, as well as revivals of works by prominent choreographers including Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon and Trisha Brown, who died this year at 80. As usual, all tickets will cost $15 but they are coveted, and often sell out the same day they become available. They go on sale at 11 a.m. on Sept. 10. Troy Schumacher will create a new dance, which doesnt have a title yet, for Miami City Ballet on the festivals first program (Oct. 2-3). That evening will also include the premiere of Ms. Dorrances Myelination, an extended version of her Fall for Dance-commissioned work of the same name in 2015, danced by her company. The Trisha Brown Dance Company will also present Ms. Browns You can see us (1995) and dedicate the performances to her memory. VAIL, Colo. Is the sociology of the dance world changing? The last two years have brought many more commissions for female choreographers. English National Ballet made a splash in 2016 with an entire program of new choreography by women. And this years NOW: Premieres program at the Vail Dance Festival here was subtitled Celebrating Women Choreographers. Does this sound like mere tokenism? Its worth pointing out that all four of these female dance-makers Michelle Dorrance (this years artist in residence), Lauren Lovette, Claudia Schreier and Pam Tanowitz have worked at the festival before. Ms. Dorrance, the tap prima, proves the most mature and engaging of the four. Her piece, we seem to be more than one, occupying the whole second half of the program, turned the motley crew of guests at Vail, which draws performers from all over the country, into a true company. Dancers of flamenco, Memphis jookin, virtuoso modern dance, tap and from several ballet companies as well as the clown Bill Irwin were all put through their tap paces. Ms. Dorrance gave them room to show their home idioms, but demonstrated how these other tributaries fed into the great tap river. MIAMI I had a lot of living to do and it wasnt going to happen in Miami, Peter Menendez recalls. In the aftermath of Cubas revolution, his family fled its native Havana and resettled in South Florida. But Miami in 1963 was still a sleepy Southern town with little appeal to a young Cuban with an affinity for art and a desire to live as an openly gay man. New York was Mecca, Mr. Menendez added. The ink was barely dry on his high school diploma when he headed north. He eventually built a career as an architect while becoming intimately involved in downtown New Yorks percolating art scene. His perception of Miami didnt shift until he returned there in 1982. Waves of immigration in the 1970s had begun subtly changing the social fabric; the arrival of nearly 125,000 Cubans via 1980s Mariel boatlift supercharged this transformation. Miamis once sclerotic arts world became roused by many of the newly arrived exiles including the novelist Reinaldo Arenas and the painter Carlos Alfonzo who brought an avant-garde spirit and an expansive vision. The city itself had begun to have cultural ambitions, said Mr. Menendez, who joined a Miami architectural firm, gave up his New York apartment and settled in. He quickly became a player within Miamis art milieu as a founding trustee at the Miami Art Museum (now the Perez Art Museum Miami), and as a shepherd for several generations of newly arrived Cuban-exile artists. Its a role he still plays, connecting emerging talents with curators and helping them navigate an art market that remains opaque even to sophisticated economists. Work by those same Cuban artists fills Mr. Menendezs Miami home. Mr. Alfonzos haunting Figurat, from 1991, with crimson swathes encircling a figure, chronicles the painters deterioration AIDS ravaged his body. A recent sculpture by Rafael Domenech, who immigrated from Cuba in 2010 emphasizes its material process elliptical bands around a hanging Saturn-like structure seem to defy gravity, while diagrams installed nearby trace those same bands die-cut origins. PDQ has told the state that it will lay off the majority of its 313 employees the week of Oct. 9, but its unclear if those stores will remain open or close temporarily as they are converted to Kwik Trip stores. Kwik Trip announced July 19 that it was buying all 34 of Middleton-based PDQs Wisconsin stores, the vast majority of which are in Dane County. La Crosse-based Kwik Trip has said it hopes to finalize the purchase of PDQ in October and spend $30 million to $35 million to re-image all of the newly purchased facilities into Kwik Trip-branded stores. Kwik Trip spokesman John McHugh could not be reached late Monday for comment on how the transition would take place and if stores would be closed or remain open during the conversions. When it announced the purchase, Kwik Trip said about 1,000 jobs would be created after the sale is finalized in October because the company will double and in some cases triple the number of people that PDQ employs at each store. None of the current PDQ employees is assured of a job with Kwik Trip, but they have been encouraged by the company to apply. In a filing Monday with the state Department of Workforce Development, PDQ officials detailed the companys plan to lay off its employees, but the document did not include six PDQ locations in the Milwaukee area. It was not clear late Monday when those stores would close or the number of employees who would be terminated. PDQ said that on Oct. 9, it will close six stores affecting 55 employees in Madison, Fitchburg, Waukesha and Kenosha. On Oct. 10, PDQ will close six stores with 52 employees in Middleton, Madison and Waukesha; on Oct. 11, seven stores will close and 93 employees will lose their jobs in Madison, Middleton and Kenosha; on Oct. 12, five stores will close with 60 people losing their jobs at stores in Madison and Middleton while on Oct. 13, three stores in Madison will close with 25 people being put out of work. The filing with the DWD also said that 28 people who work at the PDQ corporate offices in Middleton will lose their jobs between Oct. 13 and Jan. 31, 2018. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 throbs to the beat of the 70s while giving Kurt Russell a digital face-lift. And Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner get their whine on in a new season of Difficult People. Whats Streaming GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017) on iTunes and Amazon. Marvels motley crew of galactic heroes blasts back to the future with a 70s soundtrack and an origin story for its leader, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a.k.a. Star-Lord. This time hes grappling with daddy issues after Ego (Kurt Russell), the godlike ruler of a nearby planet, claims to be his real father. Meanwhile, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the teams mean, green killing machine, has a new enemy: her sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan), who has vowed to fight Gamora to her death. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has all the digital bells and whistles as well as much of the likable, self-aware waggery of the first, Manohla Dargis wrote in The New York Times. But, occasionally, the director James Gunns ambitions backfire. Like some of the canned music (Fleetwood Mac, the Electric Light Orchestra), the movies visual design gestures toward the past but mostly comes across as a generational yearning for such memories, Ms. Dargis wrote, adding, While the first Guardians earned that love as if by accident, this one begs for it. Lone, the home secretary, is among Shamsies most sophisticated creations. Hes had to thread many needles while rising in British politics. Hes mocked by some for becoming Mr. British Values. Mr. Strong on Security. Mr. Striding Away from Muslim-ness. Shamsie humanizes him. She writes about his extravagant snort, which his children were always amazed he could restrain from in public life. The best story told about Lone is probably the one about the time Eamonn was pining over a lost love, a woman his father found diffident. We read about a moment reminiscent of The Godfather: The door of his bedroom had been kicked open and Karamat Lone had walked in, knees buckling slightly under the weight of the halibut in his arms, ice chips glinting on its skin. He had lowered the massive fish onto his sons bed, with the single word replacement. Shamsie, who was raised in Karachi, in Pakistan, and lives in London, is vastly better known in England than in the United States. This is her seventh novel. Twice a finalist for the Orange Prize, she was one of Grantas Best of Young British Novelists in 2013, and writes essays and criticism for The Guardian. There are occasional small blunders in Home Fire. A consideration of grief, for example, becomes a word goop. Grief spread its wings large like an eagle, grief huddled small like a porcupine, Shamsie writes, grief needed company, grief craved solitude; grief wanted to remember, wanted to forget. Grief wants to be left alone. These moments are rare. Her humor mixes freely with her intellection. There is a disquisition on ecosystem beards, so named because they are so large they contain entire small worlds. The humor fades into fatalistic meditations on life lived while straddling worlds. Aneeka comes up with a plan to get her brother home, a plan that will have consequences for everyone in this novel. Its a plan so intrepid that Aneeka is asked if she or her brother stopped to think about those of us with passports that look like toilet paper to the rest of the world who spend our whole lives being so careful we dont give anyone a reason to reject our visa applications? Dont stand next to this guy, dont follow that guy on Twitter, dont download that Noam Chomsky book. CHIEF ENGINEER Washington Roebling, The Man Who Built the Brooklyn Bridge By Erica Wagner Illustrated. 364 pp. Bloomsbury. $28. Suffering is a word that comes to mind while contemplating the creation of any great project, be it a bridge or a book. But the journalist and editor Erica Wagner insists that each must have firm foundations, a strong structure and effective working if it is to endure, and in that way writers and engineers are alike. The subject of Wagners engaging new biography, Chief Engineer: Washington Roebling, The Man Who Built the Brooklyn Bridge, is known for his engineering legacy, but he was also a talented wordsmith. Roeblings unpublished memoir, letters and carefully preserved notebooks complement Wagners detailed portrait of a sensitive and tormented man who survived well into his 80s via two lifelines: a clever mind and a saintly wife. Washingtons father, John A. Roebling, invented a wire rope that aided in revolutionizing modern American industry and subsequently created an empire fit for that tireless cliche, the American dream. Yet Washingtons own memoir reveals the stupefying degree of force that his father employed with the family to assert his authority: In addition to the outright battery of his wife, Johanna, and their children and despite his practical employment of physics in his career John Roebling denied the validity of doctors and medical science in favor of water cures. Torture is what Washington later called the quackery, describing with remarkable deadpan the regular administration of ice-cold enemas as the antidote for any ailment. The elder Roebling haunts the first half of Wagners work a bit too much, perhaps a reflection of his sons awful experience, so it is indeed satisfying when Washington later insists in a letter that in building the Brooklyn Bridge, I claim the full credit. Dear Match Book, I enjoy a good mystery as much as the next reader, but my favorite reading consists of biographies, as well as the letters and diaries, of artists and writers. The books Ive most enjoyed recently include Megan Marshalls biography Elizabeth Bishop: A Miracle for Breakfast. Marshalls book The Peabody Sisters is one of my all-time favorites. I also enjoyed At the Existentialist Cafe, by Sarah Bakewell, for its portrait of the group of writers and philosophers connected in various ways to existentialist thought. Robert D. Richardson Jr.s books on Emerson, Thoreau and William James provided brilliant insights into the history of transcendentalism. Other recent reads include The Art of Rivalry, by Sebastian Smee, and You Must Change Your Life, by Rachel Corbett. All such amazing and wonderful books! Im looking for something equally absorbing to carry me through the summer months. KAREN RACZ SHELBURNE, MASS. Dear Karen, Literary stars: Theyre not just like us! Ernest Hemingway shot sharks with a machine gun. Emily and Anne Bronte plotted adventures in an imaginary realm they named Gondal. Emily Dickinson spoke to visitors through half-closed doors. The unconventional lives of artists and writers have given biographers plenty to write about. Lost and Found Two absorbing books subvert the typical conventions of biography and tell the stories of celebrated writers lives through their possessions. In the extravagantly evocative Hemingways Boat, Paul Hendrickson traces about 27 years of Ernest Hemingways tumultuous life through his beloved 38-foot cabin cruiser, Pilar. She wasnt a figment or a dream or a literary theory or somebodys psychosexual interpretation she was actual, Hendrickson writes. The nine objects owned by Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte and affectionately cataloged by Deborah Lutz in The Bronte Cabinet are smaller treasures, including miniature books, a walking stick and a brass collar that fit around the large neck of Emily Brontes dog, Keeper. Lutz uses the humble items to tell stories about the 19th-century writers domestic and creative lives, placing them in the larger context of Victorian culture. For decades, there has been disagreement about whether humans try to put out too many forest fires that start naturally. The political and scientific debate continues today, and even Smokey acknowledges the benefits of some natural fires. Sarah Anderson contributed reporting. _____ This briefing was prepared for the European morning. You can browse through past briefings here. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. Advocates for the elderly persuaded federal housing officials two years ago to offer more rights and protections to the spouse of a borrower who takes out a reverse mortgage and later dies. Now there is concern that a small wording change in the Trump administrations proposed budget request for the Department of Housing and Urban Development could undo some of those protections potentially increasing the chances that a surviving spouse who did not sign the mortgage documents could lose a home in a foreclosure. Two United State senators sent a joint letter to Ben Carson, the secretary of HUD and Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and the Budget two months ago, seeking clarity on the proposed wording in the budget request. The two Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, a Nevada Democrat asked whether the agency was seeking to reverse the earlier policy change. The senators have yet to receive a response from the housing agency about its intent for reverse mortgages, investment products that allow the elderly to tap the equity they have built up in their homes. And that is causing some concern. The story of an epic lifelong feud between the Kellogg brothers is a compelling yarn and a fascinating window into the genesis of both modern medicine and management. John Harvey Kellogg, in his day by far the more famous brother and one of Americas most beloved physicians, popularized and advanced preventive medicine, health food and the wellness movement. Will Keith Kellogg, who toiled much of his life in obscurity under the thumb of his abusive older brother, founded two enduring institutions: the Kellogg Company and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. When Will finally broke free from his humiliating servitude, the result was decades of litigation and recriminations. The two lived into their 90s, but never reconciled, or fully recovered, from the breach. Its reputation is already tarnished by a fake accounts scandal. Now, Wells Fargo is facing questions for a second time in a month for its insurance practices. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is examining the banks practices around a specialized insurance product called guaranteed auto protection insurance, known as GAP. The bank is accused of not refunding insurance money when consumers paid off their auto loans early, according to people briefed on the inquiry. The insurance is intended to make up the difference between the value of a car and the value of the loan still owed if something happens to the vehicle before the debt is paid. While not mandatory, auto dealers often push consumers to buy the product and lenders like the security it provides. When a loan is paid off early, borrowers are entitled to a refund of some of the premium. One of the chief selling points of the Impossible Burger, a much ballyhooed plant-based burger patty, is its resemblance to meat, right down to the taste and beeflike blood. Those qualities, from an ingredient produced by a genetically engineered yeast, have made the burger a darling among high-end restaurants like Momofuku Nishi in New York and Jardiniere in San Francisco, and have attracted more than $250 million in investment for the company behind it, Impossible Foods. Now, its secret sauce soy leghemoglobin, a substance found in nature in the roots of soybean plants that the company makes in its laboratory has raised regulatory questions. Impossible Foods wants the Food and Drug Administration to confirm that the ingredient is safe to eat. But the agency has expressed concern that it has never been consumed by humans and may be an allergen, according to documents obtained under a Freedom of Information request by the ETC Group as well as other environmental and consumer organizations and shared with The New York Times. Kody Conniff acknowledges that he hadnt been in a school for a while, but he absolutely loves living in one in what was the oldest operating school in La Crosse until its renovation into the Roosevelt School Apartments. The building is beautiful, the 21-year-old Conniff said in an interview in advance of the ribbon-cutting to signal completion of the affordable housing project in the historic building at 1307 Hayes St. at 10 a.m. Wednesday. It kind of has a school feel, and I havent been in a school for a while, the Logan High School grad said with a laugh. I love it. I would highly recommend it. Conniff, who has lived in the former school since moving there from a house in June, said his one-bedroom apartment has plenty of room. Everything is brand new, and it was the best for my budget. Every apartment is different, and they have nice floors, said Conniff, office manager at Bertrang Financial Corp. in Onalaska home of advisers who can perform the services with the interesting title of Financialoscopy. The $6.9 million project endured several oscopies of its own in its metamorphosis from a school that closed in June 2014, weathering initial opposition from some neighborhood residents and ultimately gaining the citys support to restructure financial resources to bolster the redevelopment and preservation project. We are proud to have supported this project that preserves this beautiful school and creates housing thats affordable and high quality for our citys workforce and for our seniors, Mayor Tim Kabat said in advance of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, at which he will be one of several speakers. Also lauding the project will be Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, who said, As a proud kid from the North Side of La Crosse, Im happy to see the Roosevelt School building being put to good use. This project is a great example of what happens when we work together to make affordable housing a reality," Kind said. "In addition to creating new homes, we were also able to preserve an important historic landmark in the neighborhood." Gorman and Co. of Oregon, Wis., bought the former Roosevelt Elementary School, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, from the La Crosse School District for $300,000 in 2013. The city and Gorman brainstormed to advance the project, with support from state and federal Historic Tax Credits and 4 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, as well as $450,000 in Community Development Block Grant loans from the federal Housing and Urban Development Department through the city and $300,000 in a tax-increment financing loan. Constructed in 1923, the building has been restored and renovated to accommodate 33 families in one- and two-bedroom apartments. Gorman, which specializes in downtown revitalization, affordable housing and historic preservation, will continue to own and operate the building, with property management staffers on site. The income-restricted apartment building, where rents range from $685 to $885 a month, includes a community room, fitness center and computer room for residents use. The apartments classification as affordable housing means that tenants can earn no more than 60 percent of La Crosse County's median income $25,000 if single or up to $45,000 for a family of four. That classification propelled pushback from several North Side residents, who raised the specters of drug use, graffiti, trash and other stereotypes often associated with low-income housing. Many pressed for market-rate housing for seniors. The positive images of two other Gorman projects in La Crosse the Gund Brewery Lofts at 2130 South Ave. and the Grand River Station apartments downtown helped assuage the fears. Other officials at the ribbon-cutting will include Gorman President Gary Gorman, Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, and state Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse. Telegram- Obozrevatel Viber . ! French journalist Renaud Girard recently published an article in Le Figaro announcing the decline of the neoconservatives. What surprises the reader is not his announcement but his description of neoconservative thinking. He sees it as a "messianic democracy". If it is, why should it vanish? Alas, it isn't. It is neither messianic nor democratic. It is brutal and destructive. That's why it is doomed. In "Toward a neo-Reaganite foreign policy", Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan claim that the "moral goals and fundamental national interests [of the United States] are almost always in harmony". This appraisal does not rest on morality but on raw power. It is no accident that neo-conservatism, as we know it today, came to pre-eminence immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union when the world turned unipolar for a time. In a 1992 Defense Ministry document written by Paul Wolfowitz, one can read: "Our first objective is to prevent the re-emergence of a new rival, either on the territory of the former Soviet Union or elsewhere that poses a threat on the order of that posed formerly by the Soviet Union." There is nothing "moral" in this objective, which postulates a hegemonic vision of the world. The "re-moralization" of American foreign policy Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan advocate will only fool the gullible reader. What really matters to them is American hegemony. Hence, the call for a new Pearl Harbor in "Project for a New American Empire". It will be 9/11. Those who may find our analysis cynical would do well to remember the Norwood Operation, which envisioned the death of several thousands of Americans to force President Kennedy's hand in Cuba, or the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which precipitated the United States into a violent and useless war in Vietnam, or again Madeleine Albright's statement that the security of the United States was worth the lives of half million Iraqi children. Need it be mentioned Colin Powell's pathetic performance at the United Nations on February 5th, 2003, to convince a skeptical world that Saddam Hussein was in possession of chemical weapons? Iraq was invaded and destroyed but no trace of chemical weapons were ever found. From 1991 onward, U.N. inspections, led by the International Atomic Energy Agency's general manager, Hans Blix, had proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that such arms did not exist. The United States is an empire -- an extremely violent empire. Witness the Korean War. Once they were convinced they could not subdue the northern part of the country, Americans decided to eradicate it with heavy bombings. A similar policy was applied as in Vietnam with the massive use of an herbicide named "Agent Orange" to hide its horrific effects on the population and the countryside. American history is replete with similar barbaric acts. At the end of World War II, the image of the American soldiers handing out chocolate bars to a famished populace in Europe should not fool anyone. It's a human and spontaneous gesture from "boys" totally disconnected from their leaders. There is nothing "messianic" or "democratic" in the destruction of Libya, Syria and Yemen that follows the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These actions were planned before 9/11. Several documents attest to it; e.g., "A new strategy to secure the Kingdom" written by Richard Perle in 1996, or the letter addressed to Bill Clinton in January 1998 by Robert Kagan, William Kristol, Richard Perle, Donald Rumsfeld, and Paul Wolfowitz. In his October 3rd, 2007 speech, General Wesley Clark, former head of NATO, tells his audience how he learned quite by accident, ten days after September 11th, that the Pentagon planned to destroy seven countries: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran. Since the American people knew nothing about it, Clark didn't hesitate to talk about a "coup". Ten years later, we know this plan has essentially been carried out. So, is the neoconservatives' hegemonic policy about to vanish? Maybe. Neither Russia nor China stand for it. Worse, it produces the exact opposite of the expected outcome. Iraq is now a de facto Iranian ally -- a rapprochement leading the United States, under pressure from Israel, to envision a "regime change" in Iran. Violence breeds violence but misses the stated goal: replace the Sykes-Picot Agreement by Colonel Ralph Peters' redesigned Middle East map. This objective, which appeared within reach at one time, is now receding unless the United States takes direct action in Syria and Iraq. Putting boots on the ground in Syria would mean entering into a direct confrontation with Russia, according to Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in his February testimony at the Senate. An open conflict with Iran is even less likely since it would violate the P5+1 Agreement signed by Iran, the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, France, and Germany. Only if Iran made a blunder could the United States move in, but this is unlikely. The Iranians know how eager the United States is to take action. They will stay put, even if provoked. The neoconservatives' foreign policy, so heavily lauded by Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan, is an absolute disaster, especially if one factors in the human and financial cost. It puts the United States' stability into jeopardy as Donald Trump's election demonstrates. It is doomed. Yet, will it vanish in the near future as Renaud Girard is telling us? In spite of its failures, it remains the dominant philosophy in Washington, DC. The vote of new sanctions against Russia by Congress is testimony to its resilience. Empires rarely disappear without staging one last battle. While Turkey is trying to support Qatar in its confrontation with other Persian Gulf countries and blames Donald Trump for provoking this regional crisis, the Greek-American elites in alliance with the Israeli lobby are hitting Ankara once more, this time in the religious sphere. Concordia Europe Summit in Athens Highlight: Keynotes by Fmr. Vice President Joe Biden and Remarks by Patriarch Bartholomew (Image by YouTube, Channel: Concordia) Details DMCA Perhaps, in spite of the magnitude of the situation that has arisen as a result of the bold statements of the US president, Recep Erdogan should consider who poses a bigger threat to Turkish interests, and what challenges actually require a harsher response on his part. Lobbyism has deeply rooted into US politics. So, the Democratic Party somehow receives funding from Qatar, and from Israel, and from the Greeks, and from the Gulenists. Each group has its own interests, and the final decision largely depends on the ratio of contributions from different sources. Thus, Trump could give a go-ahead for bullying Doha in order to weaken the Qatari lobby, and pacify the Israelis. In any case, Israel seems to be the only Middle East country benefiting from the current crisis. So perhaps Trump's meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem at the height of the Qatari crisis was not a mere coincidence. Moreover, on the eve of his trip to Riyadh, Donald Trump hosted President of Turkey to discuss issues of regional politics and cooperation in fighting terrorism. One can assume for sure their conversation was straightforward and to the point because Recep Erdogan was one of few world leaders who greeted Trump's inauguration and US President in his turn, unlike other European leaders, did congratulated his Turkish counterpart on the successful referendum. On the other hand, bilateral relations sank to the lowest point at least three times just in the last five years of Obama's Administration. Despite of all the sweet words about democracy, "religious freedom", "a sense of global responsibility" America has brazenly interfered with the internal affairs of Turkey and tried to use Turks for its own geopolitical purposes, ignoring Ankara's interests. Even after losing the majority in Congress, Democrats continue to trample on the interests and laws of Turkey. It is known that Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of terrorism and plotting of a coup, funds the Democratic party. In their turn, such long-standing donors of the Democrats as Bloomberg L.P., Coca-Cola Co., Libra Group Inc. are sponsors of the Greek-American NGO, The Hellenic Initiative (THI). Among its contributors are lobbyist Andy Manatos, who actively influences Washington's policy on the Cyprus issue, and Anthony Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew. Honorary Chairman of THI executive committee is Bill Clinton, the executive director is the former cleric of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (EP), Mark Arey. The NGO's executive committee also includes CEO of the Libra Group, George Logothetis, Chairman of the Coca-Cola Company Muhtar Kent (a longtime friend of Patriarch Bartholomew), and the influential Public Affairs assistant to the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOArch) and the spiritual adviser of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Fr. Alexander Karloutsos, who has submitted a letter in support of Gulen's Immigrant Visa Petition. Then, in early June, many US Congressmen received emails with another Limberakis' tough statement, apparently in response to Erdogan's accusations of discrimination against Muslims in the United States. The same text was sent to news media, including on behalf of the GOArch. One would think that Orthodox Greek-Americans pursue only their own interests by showing their loyalty to the White House in order to facilitate reopening of the Theological School on Heybeliada Island. However, that's not true. They just took advantage of the ongoing uproar for purely political reasons: to inflict the long-awaited blow to Turkey, while remaining in line with the usual Washington's political posture. According to the American Greeks close to the White House, there is extremely strong criticism towards Trump in the Order of St. Andrew, which unites influential Greek lobbyists, particularly since the present US President is concerned about the real problems of Americans, and not about all vague threats "of global warming", the main hobby of the "green patriarch" Bartholomew. Thus, some of the Order's members do not miss the opportunity to take advantage of their connections and influence lawmakers and Administration staffers. As to the above-mentioned statement, it is said to be written by Mark Arey at Fr. Karloutsos' request. Interestingly, its author was not just disfrocked long ago but apparently has also ceased to understand what he likes more -- Christianity or Buddhism. That is, these people simply hide behind religion while selling themselves for Gulen's money and donations from the Clintons, Cypriot businessmen and the Israelis. There has already been multiple articles on the media about the formation of an anti-Turkish axis between Athens, Nicosia and Tel Aviv. It is unlikely that Ankara can come to any agreements with the Greek-Israeli lobby in the US Congress, at least until they stop playing ball with Gulen. And even more so, it is questionable whether it's now worth talking to anti-Turkish forces after they were pushed aside from many levers of government. Perhaps the only thing that President Erdogan should do in present situation is to neutralize the Greek-American resident agency settled on the Fanar and Heybeliada, i.e. in Turkey itself. And only after this an agreement can be attempted with those who really define US foreign policy and are capable of a fair dialogue. Michael Moore 2011 Shankbone 6 | Michael Moore promoting his. | Flickr680 -- 1024 - 301k - jpg (Image by flickr.com) Details DMCA "Hard not to hear. Seems to me he's been talking up a storm for a long time." I sipped myself a milk mustache. "What's the sound bite this time?" "He said the Democrats need to run a celebrity for President in 2020." "The Republicans ran one in 2016 and look how good that's been for the country," I scoffed. "No, he meant somebody likeable, like Oprah or Tom Hanks." "I have to agree. Both are pretty likeable. Tom Hanks is our modern-day Jimmy Stewart." "So why are you furrowing your brow?" "Does anybody actually say that in a real conversation?" Suzy raised a hand. "Okay, you just didn't seem to be on board with Moore's advice." "Right again. And nothing against Oprah and Tom. Oprah is not only a great actor, businesswoman, and role model, but a passionate advocate for social justice. And Tom, well, Tom Hanks is a national hero. Apollo 13, Miracle on the Hudson, Bridge of Spies, Saving Private Ryan, and those Da Vinci Code movies. The man has saved so many lives--" "He is a hero," said Suzy, "that's why he'd be a great President." "Finishing my sentence. On screen." I nodded, "I love Tom Hanks movies, even when he's voicing Woody. He's a wonderful actor, has a charming warmth in such a breadth of roles, drama, comedy, romance, thrillers, you name it. He out-Sully'd Sully. But, if I'm flying to New York, I don't want Tom in the pilot's seat. It's Sully I need there. If I'm not going to the moon, I'd prefer to have Buzz Aldrin at the controls." I swallowed my coffee. "You see my point." "Well, what about Ronald Reagan?" "You see my point. In any case, Reagan cut his teeth as a governor." Another sip. "Look, I've met Tom, and he genuinely is a mensch. Enough of one that I wonder if he could go beyond his menschness to doing what our powers that be demand of our presidents, like sending real American soldiers off to war, or launching drone strikes that decimate obscure targets and kill millions in collateral damage." I shook my head. "I wish being President was just about domestic politics--draining the swamp and reversing the corporate plutocracy. Golly gee, I could truly see Tom goshdarning his way to success. Single party payer, he'd sell it. A living minimum wage, affordable housing, tuition-free college? Heck, he could even filibuster his way to saving Social Security by reading the Gettysburg Address. Even without the top hat and the beard." "But?" "But that's not what the Presidency is about, is it? At least not anymore. Corruption was Capra's windmill in 1939. Things haven't gotten better, have they, really?" Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. Slouching Toward Mar-a-Lago The Post-Cold-War Consensus Collapses By Andrew J. Bacevich Like it or not, the president of the United States embodies America itself. The individual inhabiting the White House has become the preeminent symbol of who we are and what we represent as a nation and a people. In a fundamental sense, he is us. It was not always so. Millard Fillmore, the 13th president (1850-1853), presided over but did not personify the American republic. He was merely the federal chief executive. Contemporary observers did not refer to his term in office as the Age of Fillmore. With occasional exceptions, Abraham Lincoln in particular, much the same could be said of Fillmore's successors. They brought to office low expectations, which they rarely exceeded. So when Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885) or William Howard Taft (1909-1913) left the White House, there was no rush to immortalize them by erecting gaudy shrines -- now known as "presidential libraries" -- to the glory of their presidencies. In those distant days, ex-presidents went back home or somewhere else where they could find work. Over the course of the past century, all that has changed. Ours is a republic that has long since taken on the trappings of a monarchy, with the president inhabiting rarified space as our king-emperor. The Brits have their woman in Buckingham Palace. We have our man in the White House. Nominally, the Constitution assigns responsibilities and allocates prerogatives to three co-equal branches of government. In practice, the executive branch enjoys primacy. Prompted by a seemingly endless series of crises since the Great Depression and World War II, presidents have accumulated ever-greater authority, partly through usurpation, but more often than not through forfeiture. At the same time, they also took on various extra-constitutional responsibilities. By the beginning of the present century, Americans took it for granted that the occupant of the Oval Office should function as prophet, moral philosopher, style-setter, interpreter of the prevailing zeitgeist, and -- last but hardly least -- celebrity-in-chief. In short, POTUS was the bright star at the center of the American solar system. As recently as a year ago, few saw in this cult of the presidency cause for complaint. On odd occasions, some particularly egregious bit of executive tomfoolery might trigger grumbling about an "imperial presidency." Yet rarely did such complaints lead to effective remedial action. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 might be considered the exception that proves the rule. Inspired by the disaster of the Vietnam War and intended to constrain presidents from using force without congressional buy-in and support, that particular piece of legislation ranks alongside the Volstead Act of 1919 (enacted to enforce Prohibition) as among the least effective ever to become law. In truth, influential American institutions -- investment banks and multinational corporations, churches and universities, big city newspapers and TV networks, the bloated national security apparatus and both major political parties -- have found reason aplenty to endorse a system that elevates the president to the status of demigod. By and large, it's been good for business, whatever that business happens to be. Furthermore, it's our president -- not some foreign dude -- who is, by common consent, the most powerful person in the universe. For inhabitants of a nation that considers itself both "exceptional" and "indispensable," this seems only right and proper. So Americans generally like it that their president is the acknowledged Leader of the Free World rather than some fresh-faced pretender from France or Canada. Then came the Great Hysteria. Arriving with a Pearl Harbor-like shock, it erupted on the night of November 8, 2016, just as the news that Hillary Clinton was losing Florida and appeared certain to lose much else besides became apparent. Suddenly, all the habits and precedents that had contributed to empowering the modern American presidency no longer made sense. That a single deeply flawed individual along with a handful of unelected associates and family members should be entrusted with determining the fate of the planet suddenly seemed the very definition of madness. Emotion-laden upheavals producing behavior that is not entirely rational are hardly unknown in the American experience. Indeed, they recur with some frequency. The Great Awakenings of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries are examples of the phenomenon. So also are the two Red Scares of the twentieth century, the first in the early 1920s and the second, commonly known as "McCarthyism," coinciding with the onset of the Cold War. Yet the response to Donald Trump's election, combining as it has fear, anger, bewilderment, disgust, and something akin to despair, qualifies as an upheaval without precedent. History itself had seemingly gone off the rails. The crude Andrew Jackson's 1828 ousting of an impeccably pedigreed president, John Quincy Adams, was nothing compared to the vulgar Donald Trump's defeat of an impeccably credentialed graduate of Wellesley and Yale who had served as first lady, United States senator, and secretary of state. A self-evidently inconceivable outcome -- all the smart people agreed on that point -- had somehow happened anyway. A vulgar, bombastic, thrice-married real-estate tycoon and reality TV host as prophet, moral philosopher, style-setter, interpreter of the prevailing zeitgeist, and chief celebrity? The very idea seemed both absurd and intolerable. If we have, as innumerable commentators assert, embarked upon the Age of Trump, the defining feature of that age might well be the single-minded determination of those horrified and intent on ensuring its prompt termination. In 2016, TIME magazine chose Trump as its person of the year. In 2017, when it comes to dominating the news, that "person" might turn out to be a group -- all those fixated on cleansing the White House of Trump's defiling presence. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "In his groundbreaking new book Bottom Up: Tapping the Power of the Connection Revolution, Rob Kall invites and eases us into in a much-needed meta-level shift -- a truly basic paradigmatic shift from top-down to bottom-up. He capably and imaginatively explores the differences between these ways of approaching life, clearly demonstrating that bottom-up allows us to flourish. His vision and his book are enriched by telling references to interviews which he has engaged in over the years with bottom-up researchers, theorists, activists, and dreamers in a variety of areas. Think about Rob's interviews. Read this revolutionary book. And take one step further into the bottom-up universe yourself. You will not regret it." Bonnie Burstow, MD, author of Psychiatry and the Business of Madness and Radical Feminist Therapy, associate professor at the University of Toronto Dairy Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their diaries after publishing them. To see if the diary was renamed or re-published, please click here. Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. From Connsortium News With U.S.-Russia tensions as dangerously high as they've been since the worst days of the Cold War, there is potential new evidence that Russia was not behind a hack of the Democratic National Committee, although Congress and the U.S. mainstream media accept the unproven allegation of Russia's guilt as indisputable fact. The possible new evidence comes in the form of a leaked audiotape of veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh in which Hersh is heard to say that not Russia, but a DNC insider, was the source of the Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks just before the start of the Democratic National Convention in late July 2016. Hersh said on the tape that the source of the leak was former DNC employee Seth Rich, who was murdered on a darkened street in a rough neighborhood of Northwest Washington D.C. two weeks before the Convention, on July 10, 2016. But Hersh threw cold water on a theory that the murder was an assassination in retaliation for the leak. Instead, Hersh concurs with the D.C. police who say the murder was a botched robbery. Mainstream news outlets have mocked any linkage between Rich's murder and the disclosure of the DNC emails as a "conspiracy theory," but Hersh's comments suggest another possibility -- that the murder and the leak were unrelated while Rich may still have been the leaker. In dismissing the possibility that Rich was the leaker, mainstream media outlets often ignore one of the key reasons why some people believe that he was: Shortly after his murder, WikiLeaks, which has denied receiving the emails from the Russian government, posted a Tweet offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the solution of the mystery of who killed Rich. Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder and publisher, brought up Rich's murder out of context in an interview with Dutch TV last August. "Whistle-blowers go to significant efforts to get us material and often very significant risks," Assange said. "As a 27-year-old, works for the DNC, was shot in the back, murdered just a few weeks ago for unknown reasons as he was walking down the street in Washington." Pressed by the interviewer to say whether Rich was the source of the DNC emails, Assange said WikiLeaks never reveals its sources. Yet, it appeared to be an indirect way of naming Rich, while formally maintaining WikiLeak's policy. An alternative view would be to believe that Assange is cynically using Rich's death to divert the trail from the real source. But Assange is likely one of the few people who actually knows who the source is, so his professed interest in Rich's murder presents a clue regarding the source of the leak that any responsible news organization would at least acknowledge although that has not been the case in many recent mainstream articles about the supposed Seth Rich "conspiracy theory." Hersh's Unwitting Tapes Hersh's taped comments add another element to the mystery, given his long record of shedding light into the dark corners of the U.S. government's crimes, lies and cover-ups. He exposed the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War; revealed illegal CIA spying in the 1970s spurring wide-ranging Congressional investigations and reform; and uncovered U.S. torture in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. In the audiotape -- which Hersh told me was made without his permission -- he quoted an unnamed government source who told him that Rich offered the DNC emails to WikiLeaks in exchange for money. "What I know comes off an FBI report. Don't ask me how. You can figure it out, I've been around a long time," Hersh says on the tape. "I have somebody on the inside who will go and read a file for me. This person is unbelievably accurate and careful, he's a very high-level guy and he'll do a favor. You're just going to have to trust me." The FBI cyber unit got involved after the D.C. police were unable to access protected files on Rich's computer, Hersh said. So the FBI "found what he'd done. He had submitted a series of documents, of emails. Some juicy emails from the DNC," to Wikileaks, Hersh said. 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). The seven-million strong American Muslim community is alarmed over Saturday's mosque bombing in Minnesota, which the community sees as a further evidence of an anti-Muslim backlash that has worsened in recent months. A blast caused by what the FBI called "an improvised explosive device" rocked the Dar Al Farooq Center before dawn Saturday (August 5), just as a small group of Muslim worshipers had gathered for the day's first round of prayers. No one was hurt in the explosion, which heavily damaged an imam's office at the Islamic Cente and shattered windows in the office. The blast was reported at 5:05 a.m. as about a dozen people gathered in a room nearby for morning prayers and jolted awake many residents of the neighborhood, according to Minnesota Star Tribune. Congregants and neighbors expressed relief that there were no injuries. While American-Muslim leaders were still waiting for the results of the FBI probe, they noted the explosion came amid a national surge in incidents targeting Muslims around the country that includes harassment, workplace discrimination and school bullying. The FBI investigators were seeking the person or persons responsible for the homemade bomb that tore through a suburban Minneapolis mosque. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has condemned the bombing as "an act of terrorism." He, Lt. Governor Tina Smith and other elected officials toured the site and met with local leaders of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington Sunday morning. "What a terrible, dastardly, cowardly terrible act this was that was committed yesterday," Dayton was quoted by USA Today as saying. "As someone said in the meeting, if the roles were reversed, it would be called a terrorist attack. And that's what it is, an act of terrorism." "Anything I could do to put a stop to it, I would gladly do," Dayton said. "Because in Minnesota, we accept one another, we support one another, we respect one another. ... We're not going to let one bad person get in the way of all that." On his part, Lt. Governor Tina Smith said: "That action is despicable and hateful, but it does not represent who Minnesota is," Smith said. "It does not represent the vast majority of the people who live in this fantastic state." Bloomington Mayor Gene Winstead noted the Islamic center has been in the city for six years. "It has grown to be an important part of our community going forward," Winstead said. "And we're happy to have them here. That said, when there's an attack on part of our community, it's an attack on our entire community." Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called on President Trump to condemn the attack. "Silence on the part of public officials at the national level only serves to empower Islamophobes," Hooper said in a statement. Mosques around the nation had already been on increased alert or heightened security after a number of them received death threats and hate mail in recent months, said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Greater Los Angeles chapter. Even during Eid al-Fitr, which marked the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in late June, the security of worshippers was mentioned as a top concern, he said. CAIR noted last month that the number of reported anti-Muslim bias incidents nationwide increased by 24 percent this year compared with the first half of 2016. Thirty-three of the 451 such incidents reported occurred at mosques or Islamic centers, according to CAIR. Muzammil Siddiqi, chairman of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California said: "People are concerned about it and certainly, we condemn this kind of behavior on any part." "All the places of worship, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu or Buddhist, all of them should be respected and people should be safe to go and worship there." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). (Image by Tony Orlando) Details DMCA People should come out of their homes and have a discussion about what is going on! I am afraid that some of us are going to be next, and we all really need to talk about that now. Don't think commenting below about how history repeats itself will really do any of us good during our discussion. It is now I am worried about, and want to know how to handle this problem when tomorrow does come. So let's jump right in and get this discussion started, and let's let the words flow over the rim of this cup here, and into the very streets where you live, work, and play. One day, these things you take for granite may no longer be. Some of us out there may not realize that political campaigns pit people against each other so that you will choose a side, then guess what, that man running for office says hooray for our side, you should elect me. It is one thing using people to market yourself for your own career, but it is entirely another story when these ideas become real in your streets. Our elected officials whom many Americans have chosen to represent their future in this country are now believing their marketing hog wash is real. Mayors of major cities are being threatened large fines if they do not go along with their campaign. In my big city of Houston this is exactly what is happening. I could be very specific and give the names, the nationality of those people, even give their birth dates, but this is not important here. What is important is if intelligent people in our offices are acting out in this way, and our city governments are standing up to the state, and nation; then this is what should get you out of your robes at night and into the streets so you may begin talking about your future. Already, this decision that passed in the state of Texas in downtown Austin (please do not visit that city, boycott if we feel passionate), which passed a law, and now even before the date it goes into effect; catastrophic effects have already been seen by city officials. Crimes are not being reported, this includes raping of our women, poor people loosing their belongings they worked their whole life for, and our children being beaten. They are afraid to report what they see right in front of them; instead of being scared of the individual that is actually committing the crime, they are more afraid of our government, our state. Because now, if they do, they will be detained and questioned not by the police force, but by these bigger institutions. This goes even deeper in your communities; food banks have noticed a big drop in numbers, people are afraid and would rather go hungry than take a chance and get food because they may be later detained. I ask my readers, do you want your children to go out in this world and have fears such as these. Will your own fears for your children be so grand, so gross; should they get hurt on the streets, no one will report it, or even be helped by your neighbors. After you read this, and discuss below, or read what other have discussed here in front of you, I ask that you take part in this problem that has now become very real, thus affecting your family's safety. Stand behind your city officials as they stand up to the state, and this nation. Stand in the streets in front of your downtown police building, and show your support for these men and women who work there. Offer to pay for these fines should your city police chief get arrested. On the other hand, if you do witness your police force harassing the people whom you know and frequent in your town, get out of your car, and stand up for that person. Don't drive away until that policeman feels enough intimidation from you, do not walk away until he drives off. Get on your phone while you are standing there in front of that brutality, that harassment you are witnessing, and call up people you know, and let them be aware of where you are. Let the policeman see that you are reaching out to others while on this phone, that you will not be so easily intimidated by him. If you can, have some of these people you call meet you where you are parked and standing. Please be at a safe distance, but know if you do nothing, you will lose even a larger safety. Living in fear from your own elected officials, or their police force is no way to live in a town. Maybe now I can tell you these people's names, birthdates, and nationalities who are most afraid now, because you have already felt the realism of my words. Hispanics are being targeted, and before them it was people from further-away countries. Do you really trust the people in office to just stop there. Will the writer of this article you are reading be next, and will you be next for being the reader of what I wrote. And when you stand up to these people in the streets, or talk about this in the streets with your neighbors, who is to say that you all will not be next after us. There comes a time when government is to be told that our great people of a nation officials have sickened, that we have decided to take over the responsibility ourselves. It begins in our family, we interact in a responsible way that ensues a healthy cause and effect of our actions, healthy investments of our time and money ensure our family and neighbor's future. There was even a time we seek out further relationships deeper in town as so these relationships developed as well. There is no one I have seen do it better in observing inner city relationships than the lady who wrote about her observations in the documentary called "Citizen Jane, Battle For the City". You will see why I am so passionate, if you could please just watch that short documentary for me, or just do it for your own, your own city. I have followed the behavior of people around me, and this has taken me further in the form of reading news events in our great nation. I felt hope both at home, and in my community all up until yesterday when I read an article by Amy Goodman about this important topic I am telling you about now. I was shocked to see this story be about my own city. You can be better prepared than I was. I want to give you some words, words that have a certain tone about them. Change these words as you need fit, but keep the tone in them strong. What I have learned in my own situation is that I can not fight the people who harm me, I can not do it all alone; I needed help. All it takes is just another person, or two; then the dynamics of the situation totally changes, you will not be intimidated so easily then! Go into the street and meet your neighbors, and stand up together for what is right. Find strength in what you and your neighbors share in common, then share this to the people who have no chose but to listen to your new tone! I don't believe in scaring people. Our government has done that so they may take away your freedoms, so that you and I will work to make more guns. Instead I urge you to notice that you are being manipulated. I think we all can agree, we are being manipulated! Do you hear this, the loud sound of your hard-earned money flying in the sky, floating on the water, and being fired out that gun barrel. Is this really what you think your country needs! We can stop all that noise, come together, and stop all that noise. I want you to listen to something instead. It rings a loud tone as well. That is your sound, and it is going to be heard! A little about myself: for the past year I have shared on this forum the things I have observed from people who are around me at home. Noticing how often it happens that another just goes along with things, how no one seams to speak up or even ask a good question so issues may then be resolved. It is important people see that dealing with problems leads to trust, it helps assure an individual that lending out a hand further in his community helps build things. It is a fine line when speaking of such things because holding back and going along surely helped build these problems we face in our communities, it is a superficial love for your neighbors and country. What if we got serious, excited, and have fun doing this nation building for real this time. We use to have block parties, where you block off part of the street and celebrate with your neighbors. Homes used to have large porches that were covered, even stores where you shop had these so people could come over and talk about that new fabric that has been ordered, sharing with other on that porch the excitement you all share about the dress you could make with such a fabric. On your neighbor's porch, talking about how wonderful life is that you get to see your children grow, and proud of the world you have given them. Maybe we all have been so departmentalized from life, that we need reminding. Maybe I am right here, and problems really are a blessing, they bring people together, and remind us each of their importance. From Counterpunch Donald Trump, the Snake Oil Salesman that Conned America (Image by Beverly & Pack) Details DMCA Bernie Sanders has joined the chorus of politicians and pundits who warn that the U.S. is sliding into authoritarianism under Trump. But he's kind of wrong about how. There are indeed reasons to worry that civilian and constitutional rule are giving way to institutional post-democracy. Trump's cabinet and top White House staff contain enough military generals to give Pakistan a run for its money. Trump's party controls both the House and Senate yet the president prefers to dash off executive orders rather than making the necessary effort to shepherd legislation through Congress. And of course there's his police-state rhetoric, like when he "joked" that cops should bash their suspects' heads into the sides of their squad cars. But the most reliable indicator of looming authoritarianism can be found in the media, specifically in its obsession with the president. A study by Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy found that 41% of all news stories during the president's first 100 days were about Trump. That's three times higher than any other president. Six months in, news outlets still devote hundreds of broadcast hours and thousands of words dissecting 100-character tweets Trump dashed off in seconds at four o'clock in the morning. Trump has a lot on his plate: healthcare, tax reform, the border wall, Venezuela for some reason. But one story towers above all others in news coverage: the Russia-Trump connection. Fifty-five percent of all stories about Trump on TV network news since Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel have been about the Russia probe, according to the conservative Media Research Center. (Count me among the guilty: as a political cartoonist, it's hard not to notice that images of Trump garner more clicks than those about climate change. Here I go again, right here in this column.) Americans are divided along party lines. But Trump has brought us together in one respect: he's making everyone feel anxious by creating a constant atmosphere of crisis. The president's Republican supporters are worried sick that a Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy will force Trump out before he can carry out his promises. "BREAKING NEWS! WATCH: Top Republican Issues Warning About 'Taking Out' Trump -- This Is Terrifying..." warns an email blast from TeaParty.org. From the same email: "Establishment RINOs just teamed up with the bloodthirsty Democrats to betray their constituents and keep Obamacare -- the DISASTER that is destroying he lives of millions of Americans." These emails hit in boxes of Republican voters at an hourly rate. Here's another: "Within the darkest, dankest bowels of our government, the Leftist Deep State has nursed its wounds and regathered its might. They're preparing for another surprise attack. The highest Deep State archons have gone absolutely berserk with gnashing, fist-bleeding, spit-flinging rage." Terrifying! Given how much effort goes into working them up, it's amazing how few gun owners go on a shooting spree. Liberals are going crazy too. "Get Organized to Drive Out the Fascist Trump/Pence Regime. In the Name of Humanity -- We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America!" urges an email from RefuseFascism.org. "We're in a crucial moment in history, when the danger of a full-out fascist regime, as we have analyzed, threatens the people all over the world and the planet itself as a viable place for humans and other species to thrive and survive." Even the bugs are doomed! No false equivalence here -- I'm an unapologetic leftie. The point I'm making here is, everyone is obsessed with Trump, not just the media. And that obsession is a strong clue that the authoritarian era may already be underway. For 15 years the global embodiment of authoritarian rule was Turkmenistan under former Soviet strongman Saparmurat Niyazov. Like Trump, Niyazov was a quirky megalomaniac who routinely issued executive orders on everything from grandiose construction projects (a vast man-made lake in the world's hottest desert) to the mundane (a ban on chewing tobacco, ejecting dogs from the capital because of their "unappealing odor"). Like other visitors to Turkmenistan, I was struck by the ubiquity of Niyazov's image on currency stamps, statues and posters. But what really made an impression on me was how carefully the Turkmen people studied his every move, both literally and figuratively. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from healthoverprofit.org Medicare for All Rally (Image by mollyktadams) Details DMCA On August 2, 2017, The Nation published an article by Joshua Holland, "Medicare for All isn't the Solution for Universal Health Care," chastising Improved Medicare for All supporters because, in his view, the single payer movement has "failed to grapple with the difficulties of transitioning to a single-payer system." The article, which doesn't quote anyone involved in the movement for Improved Medicare for All, begs a response because it shows what liberals opposed to single payer believe. Holland dredges up the same arguments used to keep single payer off the table during the creation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He even dusted off a few that were used to try to stop Medicare from coming into existence in the 1960s. And then he attempts to distract single payer supporters away from supporting Improved Medicare for All and settling for something less, as was done successfully in 2009. The first error that Holland makes is confusing the term "Medicare for All" as meaning that advocates would simply take the current Medicare system, with both traditional and 'Advantage' plans, and expand that. This is why it is important to use the phrase "Improved Medicare for All." As outlined in HR 676: The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, the new system would be based on the current Medicare system, which is already national, but it would be a single public plan that is comprehensive in coverage and does not have out-of-pocket costs or caps. It would ban investor-owned facilities and ban private insurers from selling policies that duplicate what the system covers. A single system is the simplest for patients and health professionals because there is one transparent set of rules. Most people who purchase health insurance have no idea which plan is best for them because nobody can anticipate what their healthcare needs will be in the future. A study of the Massachusetts health exchange plans done by the Center for American Progress showed that some plans were best for patients with cancer and other plans were best for people with heart disease or diabetes, but that isn't something that can be advertised up front. Even if it were, people can't predict if they will be diagnosed with cancer, heart disease or diabetes in the future. HR 676: The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act solves this problem by creating a single public plan designed to cover whatever our healthcare needs will be. (Image by healthoverprofit.org) Details DMCA A second error that Holland makes is saying that HR 676 calls for the new system to start within a single year. The bill will take effect "on the first day of the first year that begins more than [emphasis added]1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act." This means that if HR 676 were to be signed by the President in July of 2018, then it would take effect in January of 2020. Holland raises the concern that we can't move the whole country into the new Improved Medicare for All system that quickly. In fact, HR 676 has transition periods for the Veteran's Administration, the Indian Health Service, displaced workers and buying out for-profit health providers. When Medicare was enacted in 1965, more than 50% of seniors were uninsured and the rest had some form of health insurance. Without computers and without a national health system in place, all 19 million seniors were enrolled in the first year (almost twice as many as were enrolled in the ACA in the first four years). At present, the United States has Medicare infrastructure in place and all practicing health professionals have a National Provider Identifier issued to them by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). When the new Improved Medicare for All system takes effect, enrollment will be very simple because there is only one plan that is universal and paid for up front though taxes. All health professionals will be in it. Every person could be sent a card, much as CMS does now for people who are turning 65. For those who do not receive a card, HR 676 has a solution -- when they present for care at a health facility, they are assumed to be in the system, are treated first and then are enrolled in the system afterwards. Next, Holland brings up the same arguments used to prevent universal health care attempts in the past. He states that people don't want to give up what they have. This is called 'loss aversion.' It is a task of the single payer movement to build the public support for Improved Medicare for All necessary to overcome any potential loss aversion. Public figures and elected officials can play a role in building support as well. Holland raises concerns that employers and seniors won't want to give up their private plans, but that is based on his mistaken belief that Improved Medicare for All will be the same as current Medicare. The reality is that people will be less worried about giving up what they have if they know that it will be replaced with something better and that they will no longer fear losing their doctor as they will all be in the new system. Improved Medicare for All will provide more comprehensive benefits, no out-of-pocket costs and an unrestricted network of health professionals from which to choose. Employers will no longer be burdened with the high costs of health insurance. People with pre-existing health conditions will no longer worry about losing coverage or having to pay more. Unions and employers can offer supplemental plans for extras not covered by the new system, as is done in countries like France, if they choose to do so. Holland also raises the concern that people will lose their doctor because they will opt out of the system due to low reimbursements. We are already losing doctors because of the current system. Physician burnout was listed as the second biggest concern by the Surgeon General last year. Under Improved Medicare for All, all health professionals will be in the system. There won't be any place to opt out to. And why would they want to? Health professionals will save tens of thousands of dollars each year on billing and won't have to worry about whether a patient has insurance or not. They can see anyone who calls for an appointment. And they will have a system with which to negotiate fair reimbursement. Private health insurance doesn't negotiate with physicians and hospitals. Each year they make an offer and providers can either basically take it or leave it. Doctors in single payer systems that spend much less per capita than the United States are paid well, so the US can certainly afford to reimburse doctors adequately. Every transformative change has suffered from loss aversion, but that hasn't stopped them. When Medicare was enacted, it was called socialized medicine, a government intrusion that would take away people's choices and freedom and become an opening to government control over our lives. The scare tactics didn't work and Medicare is one of the most popular parts of our current healthcare system. Desegregation, women's rights, workers' rights and more were great changes that were successful and we are a better society for them. Why is the right to health care any different? Finally, Holland dives into the myth that we can't afford Improved Medicare for All because it will be too expensive. My first response when I hear this is that the same excuse wasn't made when we spent $16 trillion to bail out the banks in 2008 and is never made when we invade another country, so why is it raised when it comes to one of the most basic necessities a society can have? The United States has the highest wealth and the highest wealth inequality of industrialized nations. The new "Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index" recommends social spending on education, health and other basic social protections as its top priority. Congress can appropriate the funds to do this. This should be a top priority in the United States as well. The reality is that the United States is already spending the most on health care per person each year because the market has failed to control costs. That is exactly why we need a single payer system like National Improved Medicare for All. It is the only way to simplify the bloated bureaucracy of the current healthcare system, which would save around $500 billion each year, and to control the costs of medical procedures, medical devices and pharmaceuticals by having a single system that can negotiate fair prices. In addition to the bureaucracy created by a multi-payer system, the US subsidized the insurance industry with more than $300 billion last year. A system based on health, rather than profits for investors, can identify and prioritize our greatest health needs and work to address them. For example, the US is failing when it comes to care for people with chronic diseases. There are numerous reasons why this is occurring -- lack of access to consistent care, inability to afford medications, insufficient time for health education when patients see a health professional, cheap and highly processed food, environmental pollutants and more. An actual health system could take meaningful action to address these issues, and keep people healthier. Think about it: people with high blood pressure or diabetes in the US may not be able to see the doctor regularly or stay on their medicines due to cost, but when they suffer a stroke or kidney failure, and need long term care or dialysis, then they can receive disability benefits and Medicare. How much better and less expensive would it be for everyone to prevent strokes and kidney failure in the first place? Just as many 'progressive' groups did during the health reform process that resulted in the ACA, Holland works to convince us that we don't need a single payer system, and that we can work with the current system. Once again, Jacob Hacker, a leading advocate for the ACA and single payer opponent, is invoked and we are told that we can add a Medicare buy-in or another form of a public option. We are told that other countries use private insurance, so why can't we? The Democrats, beholden to the medical industrial complex, want us to believe these false non-solutions that protect the insurance industry. It feels like 2009 all over again. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Ghana requires substantial and fresh investments in the agricultural sector if the country is to boost growth of the economy sustainably, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Ami Mehl, has said. He observed that the countrys eight million hectares arable land lying uncultivated could ensure food security when put to use. For a country that wants to reduce food import to save money to cater for other aspects of the economy, the way to go is to produce your own food he said. Available data shows the country spent US$2.2 billion on food import in 2016. Mehl, believes the amount would be higher this year if Ghanaian investors look elsewhere rather than investing in agriculture. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), for instance, estimates that organic mango farmers in Ghana could take advantage of the US$500 million US organic mango market through exports. Worryingly, also, an estimated US$150 million worth of fruit juice is said to be imported into the country each year, while demand of local fruit juice processors go unmet. The challenge, Mehl believes, is due to the countrys inability to produce more fruits to feed fruit processing companies. I represent Israel in Ghana and my goal is to take businesses and investments back to boost Israels economy but I also have to be truthful and advice citizens of this country to take agriculture serious and invest in it he said. Speaking to the Goldstreet Business at the Ghana-Israel Chamber of Commerce forum on Thursday, Mehl noted that the most important thing is for the countrys leadership to take an initiative to re-engage investors while making efforts to build stronger relations with other countries to bring in investments. CEO of GIPC Mr. Yofi Grant, guest speaker at the forum, said though Ghana and Israel have good trading relations, Israels investment in Ghana, as at 2016, stood at only US$56 million. The amount, he noted, is on the low side for a country that has a longstanding relationship with Ghana, right from its independence. Israel is a leader in agriculture, innovation, technology and several other sectors. It would be prudent that more Israeli companies come to do business in Ghana. We have a good incentive regime for foreign companies that want to do business in Ghana Grant said. Source: goldstreetbusiness.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 Head of the Ahmadiyya Mission in Ghana, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih has condemned politicians in Ghana who draw religious leaders in to the countrys body politics for their selfish gains. According to him, this act has the possibility to affect religious stability currently being enjoyed in the country. This was evident according to him during the just ended general election, when some religious leaders openly predicted election results which provoked some level of tautness. He said; my only fear is the politician, because they try to draw the religious leaders into politics, the recent elections we had, where you will find some of the political parties getting religious leaders unto their sides predicting who will win. That wasnt the right thing to do adding that the religious leaders will not just come out to do this things without the interference of the political parties. Commending the religious bodies for their active role and participation in sustaining the peace and stability within the country, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih also asked politicians to prove their worth and show how capable they are towards governance, stating that; the Ghanaian is patient but observant towards current happenings within the political space, measuring the performance and competence of leaders within their given tenure. The Ghanaian is so patient when it comes to some of these things, because we are not rowdy, if a government is ruling and is not ruling well, they will keep quiet to have your day because they know you are there for four years and then vote you out On the recent international terrorist attacks, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih asked Ghanaians particularly religious leaders who receive various forms of aid from foreign partners to be wary of possible places of conflict and not be swayed by the charities they receive in the form of building churches and mosque by these partners, encouraging them to make it a point to explore their motives. We should try to find out where places of conflict could be and try to nib it in the bud. Terrorism is not home grown and for us to stop it the religious bodies must make a conscious effort to ensure that their partners outside do not export that kind if militarism to Ghana in the name of building mosques for us or building churches or carrying out humanitarian services. The Head of the Ahmadiyya Mission in Ghana made these remarks on the sidelines of 51st Jalsa Salana, the annual convention of the Ahamadiyya Muslim mission in the United Kingdom. This convention attracted almost 40000 people from all over the world. The convention was addressed by the head of the world Ahmadiya mission Khalifah Masroor Ahmed V. 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 National Vice Chairperson of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Madam Anita De Sosoo has emphatically stated that her name will not be missing in Ghanas top three most powerful female politicians - if any survey is conducted. She described herself as a prominent politician whose contribution to the political fraternity has been awe-inspiring. The NDCs 'iron lady' noted that she feels saddened when women in politics are been despised by the dominated men. Take it or leave it, my name will be mentioned among the top three most influential female politicians in the country. I will not dispute the fact that politics is mainly dominated by men, but some of us are doing well in politics and making a difference, she said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie. Madam Anita De Sosoo also noted that I was born a politician looking at where I started my political journey from. I have seen it all to the world level so no one can intimidate me in any way. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Zimtstern Kelzie Jersey and Taila Short. Swiss brand, Zimtstern have been on the rise in the European mountain bike scene over the past few years. With roots in snow, Zimtstern now produce ski, snowboard, and bike apparel. Started by two snowboarders back in 1995 the crossover and influences can be seen throughout the line with Zimtstern not shying away from using a range of colors and designs in their bike range. The brand offer an extensive range of women's bike kit for all disciplines in a mix of colors which is a bold, refreshing move from a relatively small brand. Zimtstern Kelzie Jersey Freeride line Lift pass pocket Drop tail Sanitized finish Zippered pocket for valuables 100% polyester Colors: Moss, Ink Blue or Spice Red Sizes: XSXL MSRP: 74.95 Zimtstern Kelzie Jersey Freeride line Lift pass pocket Drop tail Sanitized finish Zippered pocket for valuables 100% polyester Colors: Moss, Ink Blue or Spice Red Sizes: XSXL MSRP: 74.95 3/4 sleeves with room for lightweight elbow pads. Zipped jersey pocket Despite belonging to the trail line, the Talia shorts are a great accompaniment to the Kelzie jersey. Not too tight or too loose and created with a stretchy Fineflex fabric they are designed for comfort on the trail. An adjustable Velcro waistband means you can find a comfortable fit and the cargo pocket means they remain functional without becoming overly cumbersome. Available in Purple Mel (shown), Greener Mel, Ink Blue Mel, Iron Mel, and Moss Mel the Talia come with a DWR finish (water and dirt repellent) whilst still remaining lightweight and durable. Other features include mesh-lined zippers for when things get more than a little toasty, two open side pockets and a contoured waist band. Retailing at 109.95 the Talia meet the bluesign criteria and come with VAT and shipping cost included within Europe. Zimtstern Taila Short Details Trail Short Splitech Velcros at Waistband Mesh-Lined Waistband Mesh-Lined Ventilation System 66% nylon / 28% polyester / 6% spandex 4-way stretch and DWR Cargo Pockets Colors: Purple Mel (shown), Greener Mel, Ink Blue Mel, Iron Mel and Moss Mel Sizes: XSXL MSRP: 109.95 Zimtstern Taila Short Trail Short Splitech Velcros at Waistband Mesh-Lined Waistband Mesh-Lined Ventilation System 66% nylon / 28% polyester / 6% spandex 4-way stretch and DWR Cargo Pockets Colors: Purple Mel (shown), Greener Mel, Ink Blue Mel, Iron Mel and Moss Mel Sizes: XSXL MSRP: 109.95 For when you've reached peak temperature. Velcro and button closure system Performance Taila Short: Kelzie Jersey: Pinkbike's Take: Functional, well-designed kit that offers the option for mixing and matching with other lines. Lauren Jenkins The Kelzie comes from Zimtstern's freeride line offering a relaxed fit, 3/4 sleeves and bluesign approved with Line Tec and Blender fabrics (meaning it's manufactured in an environmentally friendly way). There's also the added bonus of the wicking material and odor-inhibiting Santized finish which means you should dry pretty quickly and inevitable odors should be kept at bay if things get a little warm. Other jersey features include a zipped pocket with room for something like a lift pass, keys or a bank card. There's also a dropped tail to stop it from rising up when you ride. The Kelzie has minimal branding, so while the jersey comes in Moss (shown), Ink Blue or Spice Red with a star design, the branding is a rather subtle small label on the bottom corner, with the Zimtstern name printed along the elastic hem. Retailing at 74.95 the website indicates this cost includes VAT and shipping costs within Europe.With the risk of sounding 60 years older than I am, this kit combination is a little 'louder' than I'd usually opt for, often sticking to my tried and tested stealth preferences, maybe being a little adventurous with some grey once in a while, blue at a push, putting this on made me feel a little like a Power Ranger, like there was going to be some kind of expectation that I was going to be speeding off down the trails in my 'oh look at me' kit. However, having come to terms with the fact the above is all just me, I grew to really like the more colorful kit wearing version of myself. Following months of wearing this kit at home, abroad and for things like press camps (as my Instagram will definitely attest) it's become one of my favorites.I opted for size medium in both jersey and short and while I'll admit back in April they were a little snug, a few weeks of riding meant they didn't feel too tight when worn with padded shorts and according to the size guide on the site the medium was the correct sizing. Length wise the shorts, which often seems to be the case with me, come up a little short (I'm no giant at 5'9") but thankfully there's no dreaded gap between kneepad and hem. The stretchy material means there's room for a reasonably sized trail pad, I've mostly been riding with lightweight trail pads but it's worth noting, however, the hem itself does not stretch meaning you may struggle if you have anything too wide on the knee.I would have liked for the shorts to be just a little longer but it has little detriment to performance and even when pedaling the shorts don't rise up to reveal a gap. I don't often use the open pockets but the zipped pocket has ample room for my phone, keys and a snack, falling just to the side of the leg so it doesn't become a nuisance when you're pedaling. As much as I thought I wouldn't use the vents they were a huge bonus when riding out in Sospel earlier this year when it got too hot I just popped them open and it helped to cool me down, back home in more modest, Welsh temperatures it's a feature I don't really make use of as the shorts are fairly breathable as they are. There's also a little mantra of sorts printed inside the hem of the leg that reads, 'Santa Stella, protect me from car drivers, snake bites and broken bones,' which is a little quirky but I quite like it. The shorts have held up well following a few months of fairly regular use, the fit is comfortable and they are pretty lightweight which means they are the ones I grab quite often when I'm off out riding.The jersey is a little on the thick side for me, perfect for rides when things are a little cooler, but as someone who gets hot very easily, I found myself overheating on climbs at times. Luckily the Kelzie dries pretty quickly so any moisture was gone once I'd cooled down a little. The material is super soft and feels great on, the cut is really nice, it's loose but not baggy so when you're descending there are no issues with the jersey flapping around. Again in terms of length, I would like it to be a little longer, not by much but as more of a personal preference rather than anything against performance. The three-quarter sleeves are a personal favorite, I don't often ride in short sleeves and find myself pulling long sleeves up so this is the best of both worlds. I had plenty of room for slim, lightweight elbow guards when I needed them, but you may struggle with hard shell pads. The color has lasted well through washes and mud, there is no visible staining and the material has retained its softness which is a huge plus (washing on 40-degree cycle and no tumble drying) Overall I like the feel, fit and color and how nice it feels on. Will There be Another Big Prop Bet at the 2017 Cash Game Festival Bulgaria? August 08, 2017 Jason Glatzer Editor The 2017 Cash Game Festival Bulgaria is about to begin more than 120 hour of nonstop ring game poker action at Platinum Casino in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria from Aug. 9-13. The festival follows many successful stops earlier in the year in London, Slovenia, Tallinn, Gibraltar and Malta. As is the case during all Cash Game Festivals, games will be available in any format you can think of at stakes high and low. In addition, twice a day Cash Game Festival Commentator Brandon Allen and a variety of co-hosts will be hosting two live poker streams. Allen is especially excited thanks to the Cash Game Festival Twitch channel just receiving a subscribe button. "This marks the one year anniversary of my commentating the live stream for the Cash Game Festival," shared Allen. "I am not only excited about returning for this reason, but this will be the first festival where our fans can subscribe to our Twitch channel." Last year's Cash Game Festival Bulgaria went viral thanks to a heads-up prop bet between Cash Game Festival Co-founder Martin "Franke" von Zweigbergk and Estonian recreational poker player Janar Kokk. The winner of the match was able to choose where the loser would move to live for a month. Kokk lost the bet and recently spent a month in the Polish town of Hrubieszow. The location was deemed to be a punishment by von Zweigbergk, however, Kokk was able to turn it into a reward. His trip was covered by all of the national media and near the end of his month a charity poker event was held. There are many Cash Game Festival regulars planning to come to Sunny Beach for this Cash Game Festival, including Betsafe Ambassador Monika Zukowicz, "Trumulis", "Karolis" and Peter La Terra. These players are all known to love action both on and off the poker tables, so it wouldn't be surprising if another crazy prop bet. Increasing the odds even more a prop bet is the fact the von Zweigergk is on the way in a Slowball car with Cash Game Festival regulars Kalle Fagerstrom, Kadi Kask and Petra Poola. Slowball is another event created by von Zweigbergk that runs every two years. The event is one of a kind where old cars are renovated and then transformed into pieces of art by artists. This year there were 18 cars traveling through Estonia, Sweden and Finland. Von Zweigbergk and others decided to take things to another level and are now traveling via a Slowball car for at least two days from Finland to Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. The Cash Game Festival is more than about just poker. There are many activities planned for qualifiers and those with the hospitality package, including welcome drinks, a sporting activity, a world-class dinner, a VIP party and a guided tour. PokerNews will be on hand to report all the excitement for the 2017 Cash Game Festival Bulgaria. Head to the Cash Game Festival website for more information about the festival and to register for the TV and side tables. *Images courtesy of Cash Game Festival. PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 14:00:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 392 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Toronto, ON (FSCWire) - Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSX Venture:BAY). has issued a press release with the following headline:Aston Bay Holdings 2017 Storm Property Exploration Program UnderwayTo 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 Aston Bay Holdings Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.Source: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSX Venture: BAY)Date: August 08, 2017Time: 8:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) Cloud ELN Service Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 12:01:21 Press Information future market insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage,NY united state email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 967 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,NYunited stateAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Electronic lab notebook (ELN) are computer applications which performs functions of laboratory notebooks digitally. With the help of ELN, data is captured and recorded with better accessibility and security. It helps to achieve better efficiency with lower costs. ELN services are been offered on premise and are preferred by many organizations because the data is kept within their own firewall and is been considered more secured mode for data storage.Many ELN supplier are now providing ELN services hosted as Software as a Service (SaaS) through cloud where the service is offered on a subscription model by the vendors and can be accessed by any device from any location by the user. The market is in its infancy stage but growing number of engineers, technicians and scientists have started using the application and is expected to attract more number of users because of its advantages over on premise ELN services where various functionalities are been managed by vendors such as performing periodic system backups, software up gradation, server support etc. Access to data is allowed to allotted user where the data can be encrypted by signatures and passwords so as to make portability of the service more convenient without compromising on the security of the data.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1984 Cloud ELN Market SegmentationSegmentation of cloud ELN market on the basis of mode of deployment:Public Cloud:Public cloud supports multiple users with single code basis and since many clients can be supported by the same systems, these services are cost effective because the overall costs are been distributed over larger set of users. Also since there is no requirement for hardwares such as servers and networking devices, the service requires no investment.Although public cloud hosted ELN services are suffered by certain drawbacks such as lack of customization for individual users, high risk on data security etc. but will be in demand from medium and small scale organizations, research firms, individual doctors, scientists, technicians etc.Private or Hosted Cloud:In private or hosted cloud, service providers hosts the application for limited number of users where the applications are been supported individually and no other user share the same code. The host manages other operations such as backup and data security. Private clouds although suffer by performance issues because the same hardware supports all the clients on distributed systems, corporate organization are expected to choose private over public cloud because of customized applications and better data security.Segmentation of cloud ELN market on the basis of usage in different industries:PharmaceuticalsChemicalsLife ScienceResearch LabsAcademic InstitutionsOthersOn the basis of usage cloud ELN can be segment into corporate, academics & research, government and other sectors. Corporate, academic and research usages are expected to contribute maximum because these sectors are expected to use the technology in its nascent stage as they are been considered early adaptors compared to government sector who are expected to use cloud based ELN services at a later stage because this sector is more hesitant in using any new technology offered in the market and normally follows any technology only after it has been adopted by the corporate sector.Regional OverviewOn the basis of geography, global cloud ELN market can be segmented into four key markets namely North America, Europe, Asia and rest of the world. North America is expected to dominate market for cloud ELN among all the regions. USA in particular is expected to account for largest share in cloud ELN market and is expected to grow at highest CAGR. Europe market for cloud ELN trails behind the North American market. With increasing healthcare, research and IT developments, Asia-Pacific provides lucrative opportunities for the cloud ELN market. In rest of the world, countries belonging to Latin America and East Asia are expected to contribute more because of increasing healthcare and IT industry.Increasing adoption of cloud computing services in healthcare and research fields will motivate more users to move towards ELN and cloud ELN because of their latent advantages over paper based lab notebooks such as data security, portability, accuracy of the data, cost effectiveness etc. In todays scenario where most of the records in the fields of healthcare and research are been stored on servers instead of traditional paper based storage systems, more and more users will be attracted towards benefits offered by cloud based ELN services. ELN offered as public cloud is expected to attract more individual users because of its cost effectiveness which is expected to come down further with increasing number of users for the same shared service.Acceptance of SaaS for keeping confidential data such as patent related information in the cloud can be challenging task for the users who will fear from data security issues and can be a major restrain for cloud based ELN services. Although the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks but data security is one such fear which will be difficult to overcome for the users. Resistance to change can be a restrain for the market as users have been using paper lab notebooks from a long time and may show reluctance in using cloud ELN. Even on premise based ELN services can be a substitute for cloud ELN and will be preferred by corporate and government agencies who are quite critical about data security.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1984 Some of the major companies offering Cloud ELN services are PerkinElmer, Dassault Systemes, Core Informatics, Arxspan and Biovia. Many a companies are offering on premise ELN as well as cloud supported ELN both so as to meet the demands of varying set of customers. Cloud ELN being in its nascent stage is expected to drive the demand more after few years compared to on premise ELN. Fuel Cell For Data Center Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 11:57:24 Press Information future market insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage,NY united state email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 585 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,NYunited stateAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 As more companies look for reliable, resilient technologies to provide constant power as well as reduce its carbon footprint, distributed generation (DG) and renewable energy are gaining focus of the corporate culture. One of such prime technology as a renewable source of energy is fuel cell. A fuel cell generates electricity using an electrochemical reaction, not combustion, and depending on the fuel source, produces near to zero polluting emissions. Utilization of fuel cell allows onsite power generation thereby reducing reliance over traditional grid system and using grid electricity in case of absence of fuel. Fuel cells have emerged as the most viable alternative to solar, wind or grid-powered electricity due to low cost financing, government subsidies, and the companies desire to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1983 Fuel Cell for Data Center Market: DynamicsReduction in fuel and energy cost coupled with low carbon emissions and increased energy efficiency & reliability are primarily gaining customer attraction. Significant tax reduction on fuel cell adoption for corporate data centers, thus luring the corporate culture to switch to fuel cell technology for powering data centers is primarily expected to increase the demand for fuel cell in near future. Technological advancements in fuel cell usage specifically for data centers is expected the drive the market during the forecast period. For instance, Microsoft Corporation is developing mini fuel cells for IT server racks thereby reducing the need for power electronics from central systems which results in high energy consumption. However, low capital organization are reluctant to employ fuel cell primarily due to increasing reliance over fuel as a source of power.Majority of the companies operating huge data centers are signing long term lease contract or purchase agreements instead of owning them as fuel cells have a long term payback period for their capital investments.Fuel Cell for Data Center Market: SegmentationThe global Fuel Cell for Data Center Market can be segmented on the basis of product type, data center types, facility size and region. Based on product type global fuel cell market for data center can be segmented into hydrogen, solid oxide, molten carbonate and phosphoric acid, By Data center type the market can be segmented into Telecoms, ISPs (internet Service Provider), CoLos (Co-located server hosting facilities), server farms, corporate data centers, university/ national laboratory and others. Based on facility the market can be segmented into less than 200 sq.ft , 200-700 sq.ft , 700-1,200 sq.ft , 1,200-6,000 sq.ft and more than 6,000 sq.ft Fuel Cell for Data Center Market: Region-wise OutlookGlobal Fuel Cell for Data Center Market is expected to encounter significant growth during the forecast period. North America dominates the fuel cell market for data center, followed by North America, Europe is the next major market for the fuel cell market for data center. Asia Pacific is emerging market for the Fuel cell system, and is anticipated to represent substantial growth during the forecast period, particularly in regions such as China and India. Japan is other significant region and expected to contribute major share in the global fuel cell market for data center.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1983 Fuel Cell for Data Center Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players identified across the global Fuel Cell for Data Center Market includes FuelCell Energy, Inc., Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc., Bloom Energy pvt. Ltd., Logan Energy, AFC Energy, Ballard, Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems Corporation, Plug Power, Panasonic and Hydrogenics. High Density (HD) Cell Banking Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 12:04:43 Press Information future market insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018 , Valley Cottage,NY united state email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 730 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage,NYunited stateAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Cell banking is a process of separation and storage of cells belonging to a specific genome which are used in biological research, drug development, and medical use. The cell banking technique involves a lengthy process of extraction, and scale up owing to which the cells become more susceptible to contamination and lot of time is wasted before the cells are actually used for research or clinical purpose. High density (HD) cell banking technique is used to eliminate delay and reducing the chance of contamination.. The HD cell banking technique reduces the number of expansion steps involved in the scaling up process which are required in the traditional cell culture and turn reduces the process time and increases the level of automation in the process. In high-density cell culture technique, the cells are dispensed directly into single-use bioreactor or culture vessel which in turn speeds up the creation of homogenous cells and eliminates the need for centrifugation and dilution processes, moreover high-density cell culture reduces the interactions with the culture and in turn reduces the risk of contamination. High-density cell cultures market is expected witness robust growth over the forecast period owing to its technological advantages over traditional cell culture techniques.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1985 High Density (HD) Cell Banking Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe demand for High Density (HD) Cell Banking is fueled by growing research and development spending in biotechnology and medical industry. The growing life science industry and increasing applications of biological drugs derived through genetic engineering and cell culture techniques. High retention of the cells in the high-density cell culture, increases productivity owing to which HD cell banking market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period. Growing demand for stem cell research in therapeutic areas like cancer and autoimmune diseases worldwide is expected to boost demand for high-density cell banking over the forecast period. Moreover the adoption of cell culture processes for manufacturing of industrial enzymes and other proteins is growing especially in the developed and emerging economies which in turn is expected to boost demand for high density cell banking globally, however low awareness of the technology and lack of technical expertise is expected to hamper revenue growth of the high-density cell banking market over the forecast period.[RD1] High Density (HD) Cell Banking Market: SegmentationThe global high density (HD), cell banking market, is classified on the basis of end user and regional presence.Segmentation by End UsersPharmaceuticals CompaniesBiotechnology CompaniesChemical & MaterialAgricultureAcademic & Research InstitutesHigh Density (HD) Cell Banking Market: OverviewThe high density (HD), cell banking market, is largely penetrated by some key global players and is expected to witness healthy CAGR regarding revenue owing to increasing applications and high adoption rate of high density (HD) cell banking technique in research and academics globally. The entry of new players and development of enhanced technology in the high density (HD) cell banking market is expected to create fierce competition over the forecast period in the market.High Density (HD) Cell Banking Market: Regional OverviewGeographically, the global high density (HD), cell banking market, is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Middle East and Africa (MEA).North America dominates the global high density (HD) cell banking market followed by Europe. North America and Western Europe (comprising EU5 countries) regions are expected to witness significant growth due to increased adoption of high density (HD) cell banking and due to awareness in these regions. APEJ is expected to witness significant growth as compared to other regions and countries owing to increase in spending in pharmaceutical sector and presence of several biotechnology and research and development institutions. Latin America and MEA regions are expected to witness sluggish growth due to low adoption of high density (HD) cell banking equipment. However, increasing healthcare spending may boost the growth of high density (HD) cell banking market in these regions during the forecast period.Visit For TOC @ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1985 High Density (HD) Cell Banking Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players operating in the market for High Density (HD) Cell Banking are Genzyme Corporation, REPLIGEN CORPORATION, Pall Corporation, General Electric Company, Sartorius AG, Merck Millipore Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and others. Above manufactures are upgrading the traditional technology and concentrating on market penetration. PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 15:00:28 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 Miranda Gold Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, BC (FSCWire) - Miranda Gold Corp. (TSX Venture:MAD). has issued a press release with the following headline:John Anderson of Purplefish Capital Group Joins Mirandas Board of DirectorsTo 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 Miranda Gold 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/Miranda Gold Corp.Source: Miranda Gold Corp. (TSX Venture: MAD, ISIN: 900 519, WKN: CA6046731031)Date: August 08, 2017Time: 9:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Miranda Gold 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.) Official Logo of LATAM E-COMMERCE SUMMIT 2017 PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 15:35:58 Press Information InforValue Consulting Company Room 1409, Building 1, No.1505, Lianhang Road Jay Teo Conference Manager +86 21 54851027 email http://ecommercelatin.com/ # 403 Words Room 1409, Building 1, No.1505, Lianhang RoadConference Manager+86 21 54851027 Latin America is one of the top regions in the world for e-commerce growth. It is one of the fastest-growing regions for e-commerce, behind Asia-Pacific. The online retail sales are to grow at CAGR of 17% between 2014 and 2019 to reach $85 billion in sales at the end of the forecast period. We are so delighted to announce that LATAM E-COMMERCE SUMMIT 2017 (LES 2017) will be organized from Dec. 4th to 5th in Hotel Hilton Buenos Aires, Argentina.If any of below objectives apply, the LATAM Ecommerce Summit 2017 is for you. Interested in trading online in Latin America but dont know how to start? Want to maximize your international trading potential? Need to stress-test your ecommerce strategy but not sure how? Will to know what is the current stage of the ecommerce in Latin America? Desire to enhance your ecommerce marketing skills? Eager to network with the international ecommerce giant like Alibaba?Its an intensive and engaging whole two days packed with know-how via: Keynotes: Big hitters explore the big issues Panel Discussion: Retailers and brands share invaluable insights Networking: A room full of ideas and experience Exhibition: A exhibition area to showcase your service Welcome Dinner: A relax dinner to connect your partners One on One Meeting: A special meeting to reach your objectivesTake a look at partial Inviting Speakers. Lino Baranao, Minister, Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation Gustavo Sambucetti, President, Camara Argentina de Comercio Electronico (CACE) Name TBA, China, Alibaba Name TBA, France, Carrefour Ariel Graizer, President, Camara Argentina de Internet (CABASE) Tony Harris, Executive Director, Camara Argentina de Internet (CABASE) Julio Vega, General Director, Mexican Internet Association (AMIPCI) Adolfo Babatz, President, Mexican Association of Payments Aggregators Mauricio Salvador, President, Brazilian Electronic Commerce Association (ABComm)Whatever stage youre at in your e-commerce journey, two days at LATAM E-COMMERCE SUMMIT 2017 gives you: A checklist of strategic and tactical pointers to maximize Latin trading success Answers to your most pressing questions and concerns to optimize Latins performance A chance to update your e-commerce connections - invaluable face-to-face contact with people who can help deliver results A platform to connect your business with the current e-commerce giants like Alibaba, Wish and Amazon.If you want to attend the LES 2017, please kindly reach organizing committee by Jay Teo ( jay.teo@inforvalue.com) or +86 (0)21 54851027.We are looking forward to meeting you soon in Argentina.Visit event website: http://ecommercelatin.com/ PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 15:15:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 389 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for MMEX Resources Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS (FSCWire) - MMEX Resources Corp. (OTC Pink:MMEX). has issued a press release with the following headline:MMEX Resources Corp. Applauds TxDOT Plan to Rebuild Mexico Rail Bridge with Federal GrantTo 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 MMEX Resources 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/MMEX Resources Corp.Source: MMEX Resources Corp. (OTC Pink: MMEX)Date: August 08, 2017Time: 9:15 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of MMEX Resources 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.) Oil Field Drill Bits Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 09:22:58 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 Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com Shrikant Ghuge Analyst 1-347-918-3531 email http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/oil-field-drill-bits-market # 655 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.comAnalyst1-347-918-3531 Oil and gas are the most important resources of energy and has been backbone of society. Drilling is the primary tool used for extraction of oil and gas from earth crust, it also used for environmental monitoring, remediation, and scientific studies of earths substances.Drill bits are used to make cylindrical holes or crush or cut rocks to extract hydrocarbon resources, with application of high frequency vibration and hydraulic pressure. Drill bits are made up of various material such as Tungsten, Carbide, and Diamond among others. There are however many variations in the design of drill-bits, and the bit selected for a particular application will depend on the type of formation to be drilled. On the basic of types, drill bits can be classified as roller cone cutter bits and fixed cutter bits. Roller cone drills bit are most common type of bit used for oil and gas drilling across the globe. Roller cone drills bit by cutting or fracturing the formation with tooth shaped element, while fixed cutter bit is made-up of very hard material such as synthetic or natural diamond for scraping or grinding of rock by rotary action. Roller cone bits are used for drilling of conventional wells and therefore accounts for maximum share of the global drill bits market. However the discovery of unconventional shale gas reserves is expected to create potential opportunity for growth of fixed cutter bits market, this is mainly because of fixed cutter bits offers enhanced rate of production (ROP) and durability during the unconventional drilling for shale gas.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1944 Oil field Drill Bits Market DynamicsDrilling is one of the most expensive operations in oil and gas industry. According to the American Petroleum Institute, total U.S. oil and gas drilling and exploration was accounted for US$ 45.2 Bn in 1990. Expenditure for drilling was accounted for US$ 10.9 Bn which were concentration mostly in exploration and development of oil well. The global drill bits (well) market is closely associated with production and consumption pattern of petroleum products, increasing number of exploration activities is a key driver to augment demand for drill bits. Global drill bits market is highly dependent on factors such as technological advancement with respect to design and regional regulatory policies for the explorations and production activities. However, sustainability of the market is majorly depends on the price and supply of raw materials, and product development.Oil field Drill Bits Market: Market SegmentationBased on types, the global Oil field Drill Bits Market can be segmented as follow as;Fixed Cutter BitsPolycrystalline Diamond BitsNatural Diamond BitsRoller Cone Cutter BitsMilled-tooth BitsTungsten Carbide InsertsBased on application, the global oil field drill bits Market can be segmented as follow as;On Shore DrillingOff Shore DrillingBased on geographies, the global drill bits can be segmented as follow as;North AmericaLatin AmericaAsia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ)Western EuropeEastern EuropeJapanMiddle East and Africa (MEA)Oil field Drill Bits Market Regional OutlookOil and gas resources has geographically distributed, and the oil field drill bits market is highly dependent on oil and gas exploration activities. North America has extensively engaged in shale gas exploration and expected to emerge as most attractive segment over the forecast period. While Argentina, China and Algeria has significant resources of shale gas and expected to create an opportunity for growth of drill bits market. Middle East and Asia Pacific has continuously engaged in conventional oil and gas exploration activities, demand for drill bits in these region is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1944 Oil field Drill Bits Market Key PlayersSome of the key players in global Drill Bits (Well) Market are as follow as;HalliburtonSchlumberger LimitedNational Oilwell VarcoVarel International, Inc.RockpeckerTercel Oilfield Products LimitedPalmer Bit Co.Ulterra PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 13:00:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 392 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Petrodorado Energy Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta (FSCWire) - Petrodorado Energy Ltd. (TSX Venture:PDQ). has issued a press release with the following headline:Petrodorado Energy Announces Reverse Takeover Acquisition Of Western Atlas ResourcesTo 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 Petrodorado Energy Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Petrodorado Energy Ltd.Source: Petrodorado Energy Ltd. (TSX Venture: PDQ)Date: August 08, 2017Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Petrodorado Energy Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 11:53:48 Press Information future market insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage,NY united state 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,NYunited stateAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 The smart contact lens contains a wireless chip and miniaturized sensor for monitoring of physiological parameters such as glucose levels in tears of a diabetic patient or intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. These sensors are embedded inside the two layers of soft lenses and a tiny hole in the outer layer allows the tear to flow into the sensor which measures the necessary parameters and data is transmitted to the wireless device for storage, via hair-this antenna. U.S. FDA has recently approved a smart contact lens to continuously monitor intraocular pressure in patients of glaucoma, which is the major cause of irreversible blindness. Triggerfish smart contact lens is a single use lens worn for 24 hours by glaucoma patients. According to Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, U.S., 60.5 Mn people across the world are affected with glaucoma and the number is expected to increase to 79.6 Mn by 2020. Advances in ophthalmology and contact lens technology would thus be beneficial for glaucoma patients and also to the manufacturers of innovative products such as smart contact lens. Currently many companies are working on the smart contact lens technology to apply it in various health aspects. Google Inc. is developing a smart contact lens with Alcon, an eye care division of Novartis AG, which can detect the blood glucose levels from the tears and is expected to launch in the global market in next 5-6 years.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1982 Smart Contact Lens Market: Drivers and RestraintsAdvances in ophthalmology and growing demand for the more efficient and revolutionary glaucoma management approaches are the factors expected to drive the growth of global smart contact lens market. Increasing prevalence of glaucoma, increasing cases of diabetes related complications such as eye disorders, cataract and blindness, expanding aging demographics with presbyopia (long-sightedness), rising demand for user-friendly and self-monitoring devices are some other factors expected to fuel the growth of global smart contact lens market. According to American Diabetes Association, diabetes patients are 40% more susceptible to the glaucoma and 60% more likely to develop cataract than people without diabetes and the susceptibility to diabetes related glaucoma increases with age.Smart Contact Lens: SegmentationThe global smart contact lens market has been classified on the basis of application, end user and geography.Based on application, the global smart contact lens market is divided into following:Continuous Glucose MonitoringIntraocular Pressure MonitoringBased on the end user type, the global smart contact lens market is divided into following:Home Care SettingsClinicsSmart Contact Lens: OverviewIntraocular Pressure Monitoring application type segment would constitute the global market for smart contact lens in 2016. In March 2016, United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Triggerfish Sensor which helps ophthalmologists to identify the best time to measure the intraocular pressure, which can eventually damage the vision of a patient. Triggerfish is the only FDA approved smart contact lens so far while Googles smart lens technology for continuous glucose monitoring and correction of presbyopia is under clinical investigation and would launch in the global market. The technology is expected to transform the way of management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma. For instance, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea is involved in the development of a combination of smart contact lens and eyeglass which can be used to monitor a diabetes and dispensing of medication on-demand.Smart Contact Lens: Regional OverviewRegion wise, the global smart contact lens market is classified into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East and Africa.North America leads the global smart contact lens market followed by Europe. The clinical trials for Triggerfish Sensor have been conducted in countries such as France, Denmark, India, Canada, Spain, Israel, Germany, Belgium, Poland and Switzerland.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1982 Smart Contact Lens: Key PlayersSome of the key players in global smart contact lens market are Sensimed AG, Google Inc., Novartis AG, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Innovega Inc. and others. PR-Inside.com: 2017-08-08 13:00:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 395 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Theralase Technologies Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Toronto, Ontario (FSCWire) - Theralase Technologies Inc. (TSX Venture:TLT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Theralase Anti-Cancer Technology Effective for the Destruction of Lung CancerTo 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 Theralase Technologies 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/Theralase Technologies Inc.Source: Theralase Technologies Inc. (TSX Venture: TLT, ISIN: CA88337V1004, WKN: A0DLB7, OTCQX: TLTFF)Date: August 08, 2017Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Theralase Technologies Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. Contact Lesley Stephen ***@daystar.com Lesley Stephen End -- Philip Cameron stood outside the Moldovan orphanage faced with a difficult decision. Eighteen girls were being released and he only had room to take three with him. Not taking the remaining 15 girls meant that he was leaving them to face the harsh reality of fending for themselves in a place flooded with human trafficking. This was the moment that changed Cameron's life forever.Philip and his wife, Chrissie Cameron, founded The Orphans Hands after that day at the orphanage. Their non-profit organization is committed to helping children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected by parents who couldn't take care of them or who didn't want to take care of them. Through this ministry, lives once shattered and hopeless are being restored and renewed by the message of the Gospel. By providing practical needs such as food, housing, and medical treatment, these children are discovering God's love for His people."As believers, we're specifically commanded to help orphans," said President and Founder of Daystar Television Network, Marcus Lamb. "It only makes sense when you consider that's what God has done for us by adopting us into His family. That's why Daystar is honored to support the work of the Orphans Hands. By investing in these precious children, we are building the Kingdom and showing them that their lives have meaning and purpose."Daystar Television donated $100,000 towards The Orphans Hands housing project known as Vatra Village. Located 100 yards from Moldova's largest lake, this six home development will accommodate up to 90 children. Once completed, Daystar's newly renovated house will be the first place they call home."This foundation gift of $100,000 puts Daystar at the center of the exciting plans laid out for Vatra Village," Cameron said. "Young women and men who, without Christ, are destined to an unspeakable future will have, at Vatra Village, a place to continue their education safe from human trafficking and will be a disciple in the cause of Christ."Originally purchased for one million dollars, the owners of Vatra Village reached out to The Orphans Hands and offed it to them for half the price. Believing this was an answer to their prayers, the ministry accepted the offer and immediately began raising funds to buy it."Daystar partnering with The Orphan's Hands turns orphans into missionaries,"Cameron said. "Thank you Marcus and Joni Lamb, and the partners of Daystar Television Network."For more information, visit http://Daystar.com ( http://www.daystar.com/ ) and http://TheOrphansHands.org.# # #Daystar Television Network is an award winning, faith-based network dedicated to spreading the Gospel 24 hours a day, seven days a week all around the globe, through all media formats possible. Reaching over 109 million households in the United States and over 2 billion people worldwide, Daystar is the fastest growing faith-based television network in the world. To learn more, visit http:// Daystar.com By: 100+ Men Who Care Central Oregon 100 Men Who Care Logo Contact Steve Shropshire, Board Chair 541-647-2979 ***@gmail.com Steve Shropshire, Board Chair541-647-2979 End -- 100+ Men Who Care Central Oregon announces its third-quarter meeting.100+ Men Who Care Central of Oregon will hold their next meeting in the backyard at GoodLife Brewing on Wednesday, August 16, 2017. Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the meeting or to become a member and participate. Over the last seven quarters, the organization has raised more than $70,000 for Central Oregon charities.Wednesday, August 16, 2017GoodLife Brewing Company70 SW Century Dr.Bend, OR 97702Registration and happy hourMeeting begins100+ Men members may nominate a charity until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 14. Anyone interested in learning more about 100+ Men Who Care Central Oregon or wishing to become a member should visit the organization's website at www.100mwcco.org.The 100+ Men Who Care organization is built on the crowd-sourced philanthropy fundraising model. Members nominate charities to be picked in a drawing. Those charities who are randomly picked pitch their mission to the membership. The membership then votes and the selected charity is awarded the proceeds from the evening. The group's goal is to raise at least $10,000 per quarter.Membership is open to all men living in Central Oregon. The members agree to contribute $100 per quarter toward that quarter's charitable donation. Eligible charities include 501(c)(3) organizations located in Central Oregon. By: Zack Academy, Inc. Contact Peter Sfraga ***@zackacademy.com Peter Sfraga End -- Zack Academy, a national provider of certification and training courses, announced today that it has partnered with License Preparation Institute to expand its lead RRP classes in Michigan.Based in Ypsilanti, MI, License Preparation Institute (LPI) offers initial and refresher lead paint Lead Renovator RRP training in Ann Arbor, Michigan. LPI is also certified to offer blended learning courses for Lead Renovator Initial and Lead Renovator Refresher, where students can complete a majority of the program online at home, and then finish the last few hours and certification exam in-person at their facility after work! The company's next Online Lead Renovator RRP Initial With Local Exam class on August 11th consists of an online lecture and in-person hands on activities / final certification exam at their facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan."We are excited to welcome License Preparation Institute to the Zack Academy Network as our newest Lead RRP trainer. License Preparation Institute is the first member of the Zack Academy Network that offers online Lead RRP training in with a local exam in Michigan, so we look forward to making the training process simpler for students in that region!," said Zachary Rose, founder and CEO of Zack Academy.License Preparation Institute is an EPA accredited training provider for the Lead RRP Initial Certificate (8 Hours Classroom Training or 2.5 Hours Hands on Activities with Online Lectures) and Lead RRP Refresher Certificate (100% Online or 1.2 Hours Hands On Activities with Online Lectures). Our focus is on the online training, which save time, money and is convenient. We are dedicated to providing high quality, interactive, content-rich online training in a user-friendly format.Zack Academy ( http://www.ZackAcademy.com) is a leading online marketplace for career-oriented training and certification courses, offering classes and seminars across the United States in areas including software and programming training; construction;contractor licensing and renewal; lead, asbestos and mold certification;LEED exam prep; stormwater and water management; solar training; cleaning/restoration/water damage; business practices; analytics; and more. Zack Academy provides a one-stop shop for career and certification training in partnership with hundreds of local training companies across the United States. Customers can rely on Precision Door Service of Myrtle Beach to provide the type of service expected from a locally owned company while enjoying the security that doing business with a national franchise company can bring. By: Precision Door Service of Myrtle Beach Contact Suzanne Odisho ***@precisiondoor.net Suzanne Odisho End -- Precision Door Service is very pleased to announce the August 7, 2017 opening of Precision Door Service of Myrtle Beach.Precision Door Service of Myrtle Beach is a full service garage door company specializing in garage door repair, new garage door installment, and repair and replacement of garage door openers. This location proudly services customers in the following counties: Florence, Georgetown, Horry, and Marion,to Doug Kale, owner of Precision Door Service of Myrtle Beach. Doug is also the owner of Precision Door Service of Charleston and Precision Door Service of Columbia. He assembled great teams that are dedicated to customer satisfaction in both markets, and looks forward to doing the same in Myrtle Beach. Doug states, "We're excited to bring our 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee with Precision's outstanding service and premium products to the consumers in the Myrtle Beach area."When a customer calls Precision Door Service of Myrtle Beach, the call will be answered by a live operator and an appointment will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for the customer.- Evening & Weekend Appointments- Phones Answered 24 Hours A Day- Outstanding Warranty- Trained and Professional Technicians- All Major Credit Cards Acceptedwww.PrecisionDoorMyrtleBeach.com"Make the right decision. Call Precision." Phone:843-444-2120 ( tel:(843)%20444- 2120 With 88 locations servicing more than 1000 doors per day, Precision Door Service is the nation's leading garage door repair company. Precision Door Service provides consumers the highest levels of customer service and value for all garage door needs, specializing in garage door repair, new garage door installment, and repair of garage door openers.The Precision Door Service mission is to provide outstanding garage door repair service and complete customer satisfaction. Three Time TADHack Challenge Winner hosts event in September Contact German Goldenstein german@webrtc.ventures German Goldenstein End -- WebRTC.ventures is proud to announce that they will host TADHack Global 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina from September 22-24 and September 29-October 1.TADHack - or Telecom Application Development Hackathon - has been taking place since 2013. TADHack brings together developers, businesses, even non-coders basically anyone interested in learning more on how innovative telecom apps, services and solutions can grow their businesses and beat out their competition.In addition to Buenos Aires, this year's 2017 event will take place in over 30 other cities across the globe.Sponsored Challenges will take place at each city. Teams are challenged to create a hack or prototype using sponsor telecom technologies to solve a local or global problem. This year's sponsors include: Apifonica, Matrix, Telestax,Temasys and Vidyo.io."Our team of developers have previously participated in a number of TADHack events and even won coveted prizes and Awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017 for our innovative telecom app prototypes, but this is the first year we will host", said Arin Sime, CEO of WebRTC.ventures.WebRTC.venture winning hacks included a Telemergency Line app that provides virtual assessment on emergency situations via video-chat and phone calls using a panic button as the entry point of the flow, a multichannel bot to demonstrate the possibilities of virtual medical assistants and an Apple Watch real-time emergency communication app to make a telephone call to from the iOS app and provide text-to-speech in order to tell the call recipient who is having a heart attack and where to find them.Learn more or register for TADHack Global ( https://tadhack.com/ 2017/global/ ABOUT WEBRTC.VENTURES & THEIR WINNING HACKSWebRTC.ventures ( http://webrtc.ventures/? utm_source=online_ prsites& utm... ) is a custom design and software development agency that specializes in building real-time contextual video and audio communication applications using the WebRTC standard. The team of 60 experts in the design and development of WebRTC web and mobile applications spans North and South America, and works with clients around the globe in telehealth, online education, and broadcasting solutions. Contact Aeron Labs OU Alice Hansen pr@aeron.aero +3727121717 Aeron Labs OUAlice Hansen+3727121717 End -- When boarding an aircraft, there is a general assumption that the pilot and their flight team are properly trained and licensed. Unfortunately, this is not a guarantee. The current system for logging training and flight hours is easily manipulated to show numbers that the pilot wants to show. Flight logs are still done on paper, with the numbers, signatures, and confirmation stamps all being done manually.The point of a flight log is to monitor the progressive experience of a pilot. This is one of the ways that determines when a pilot can be licensed. As an example, to become a licensed private pilot, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires 40 flight hours to acquire experience and skill.However, since the logging is done on paper, it is possible to forge these numbers to get a license faster. Legal trouble is not the worst outcome for forging these documents.In 2008, millionaire Paul Spencer crashed his helicopter only moments after taking off, killing him and his wife Linda. The investigation into the crash discovered that Ian King, Spencer's flight instructor, had submitted fake flight logs to get Spencer his license faster.This incident of fake documents was costly. Two lives were lost due to inadequate flight training and an instructor who let it happen. Ian King was jailed for six months.There is no doubt that the current system of flight logs is dangerous and outdated. There is no way for centralized aviation authorities such as FAA or EASA to identify forged hours on a log. However, Aeron.aero has developed a solution to make flying safer for everyone.Aeron's solution relies on blockchain technology to track aircraft maintenance and pilot logs. Aeron is constructing a database and an online system that is decentralized, hosting global data on aircraft, flight schools and pilots. This electronic logging system would force pilots to have logs that reflect accurate flight hours, making aviation safer for everyone involved.If you want to help build a safer aviation experience, support this project by participating in a token sale. The funding will go to finalizing the technology and assist with legalizing the system with aviation authorities. If you cannot buy a token at this time, please share this article with your friends and family to bring awareness to the dangers surrounding the current flights logging system. Anniversary Party planned at their Anchorage location for the family owned restaurants. Media Contact Beacon Media + Marketing Jennifer Christensen jennifer@beaconmm.com 9073104300 Beacon Media + MarketingJennifer Christensen9073104300 End -- Alaskan family-owned restaurant Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina is celebrating 35 years of business on Saturday August 19, 2017. To celebrate the occasion, and say thank you to the many people who have made the resturants a success in this many decades, the Anchorage Don Jose's location will be holding a 35th Anniversary bash. The restaurant is renting out a large space in front of its building in addition to its indoor seating and outdoor open patio seating. The added space will also include a stage for live performances from musicians, featuring Los Angeles-based Mariachi Quinto So l and local Alaskan songstress Kelly Rachai Thomas, as well as other artists. Buffet, Specialty Margaritas, prizes and giveaways available from 12-8 p.m.Founded in 1982 by its namesake, Mr. Jose Ramos, the first Don Jose's location was built in Homer, Alaska. It has since expanded to existing locations in Soldotna, Alaska and Anchorage, Alaska. As with any restaurant, many aspects were bound to change over 35 years of operations, but according to Mr. Ramos' son, Don Jose's Director of Operations Ivan Ramos, the foundation of the restaurant has stayed the same. "When we first started out in Homer, when I was 7, we actually had MexicanItalian food - we served pizzas! But good customer service, high quality food, and a welcoming atmosphere... Those things haven't changed."As Don Jose's looks forward to its next 35 years, Ivan believes the restaurant has much in store for its growing fan base. "Our menu is always evolving. We've added new features like the Healthy Menu for people trying to improve their lifestyle. Many people don't realize that quality Mexican cuisine can actually help with that. Our "Pure Protein" meal is a perfect example. Overall, we're always trying to keep things fresh. To do that, we're offering a growing number of dishes that are more 'gourmet'-style than what we've previously offered, but at the same time we try to make sure those dishes still reflect the affordable price we've prided ourselves on."That balance of staying fresh and staying true are what the Ramos family and the entire Don Jose's family looks forward to celebrating on August 19, 2017. Festivities will begin at 12 PM AST and will continue through 8 PM AST. Partygoers can expect plenty of live music, engaging activities, and an abundant serving of the food that has made Don Jose's and Alaskan name. In fact, three dining options will be available: their traditional menu, a cafeteria-style plate available at a flat rate, and a smal list of "quick order" items like enchiladas, tacos, and burritos. Drink specials will be featured as well.ABOUT DON JOSE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND CANTINAFounded in 1982, Don Jose's, LLC has three locations throughout the state of Alaska: Anchorage, Homer, and Soldotna. The restaurant focuses on serving high-quality, authentic Mexican food at an affordable price for the entire family. By: NextHome Music City Realty Contact Holly Boldrin, APR, CPRC, Priority Marketing 239-267-2638, mediarelations@ prioritymarketing.com ***@prioritymarketing.com Holly Boldrin, APR, CPRC, Priority Marketing239-267-2638, mediarelations@prioritymarketing.com End -- NextHome Music City Realty is opening its doors to serve home buyers, sellers, renters and experienced investors in the Tennessee counties of Williamson, Rutherford and Maury, including the towns of Franklin/Cool Springs, Murfreesboro, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Thompson Station and Nolensville, which are just south of Nashville.Located at 1804 Williamson Court, Suite 102 in Brentwood, Tennessee, the company's knowledgeable professionals strive to deliver outstanding customer experiences throughout each real estate transaction.NextHome Music City Realty is committed to providing exceptional customer service to buyers, sellers and renters alike. For buyers and renters, that includes customized services to help them find home options within their price range and desired location and assist them with every aspect of the home-buying or rental process. For sellers, it's walking clients through the listing process, creating a customized marketing package, sharing comparative market analysis of property values, traversing the closing process, and navigating economic factors. Customers can expect an individualized concierge service that focuses squarely on delivering stellar results.Randy and Kimberlee (Kim) Bacik, co-founders, have successfully owned and managed multiple real estate companies over the past 27 years, and are thrilled to bring nearly three decades of expertise with them to this new endeavor. Already having created thousands of satisfied customers to date, the Baciks are excited to continue sharing their unique brand of excellence under the NextHome Music City Realty banner with real estate customers in Williamson, Rutherford and Maury counties, near Nashville."As full-time, professional real estate agents, Kim and I pride ourselves on offering superior personal service before, during and after every transaction. Knowledge, commitment, honesty, expertise and professionalism are the cornerstones of our business, and at NextHome Music City Realty we take each of these aspects very seriously," said company co-founder and real estate broker, Randy Bacik."We see buying or selling a home as a very personal experience, and we enjoy getting to know clients personally in order to help them achieve the best possible outcome. Our approach is to earn your trust, as well as your business, and develop a lasting friendship. After all, our customers are our neighbors, and we want to be there for them every step of the way. We know the difference quality service makes to people's lives," said company co-founder and affiliate broker, Kimberlee (Kim) Bacik.To learn more, please visit www.nexthomemusiccityrealty.com or call 615-610-7111.Built on a commitment to provide home buyers, renters, sellers and investors with superior customer service, NextHome Music City Realty is located in Brentwood, Tennessee. NextHome Music City Realty serves Williamson, Rutherford and Maury counties, including the towns of Franklin/Cool Springs, Murfreesboro, Brentwood, Nolensville, Spring Hill and Thompson Station. With almost three decades of experience successfully managing real estate companies, co-founders Randy and Kimberlee Bacik look forward to continuing to help neighbors and friends reach their real estate goals. To learn more, or for access to a variety of free real estate resources online, please visitwww.nexthomemusiccityrealty.com. Randy and Kimberlee can also be reached directly to answer any questions on buying or selling a home by calling 615-610-7111. By: Encore Bank Contact Conric PR & Marketing Josh Milton ***@conricpr.com Conric PR & MarketingJosh Milton End -- Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU), headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Encore Bank, headquartered in Naples, Fla. The combined entity will have approximately $5.6 billion in assets, over $9 billion in serviced mortgages, with ten branches in Florida and over 40 in Michigan."We are delighted that Encore Bank has agreed to join with Lake Michigan Credit Union, to help strengthen and expand our presence in the growing Southwest Florida region," said Sandy Jelinski, president and chief executive officer of LMCU. "We admire Encore's high-level of personalized service, focus on improving our communities, and the commitment they have to always doing what's best for their customers...it's the same model we live by every day. This is an exciting opportunity for both organizations, our collective customers, and our dedicated teams of bankers. Encore's six branches are a perfect fit for our four Florida branch locations...there is no overlap. Plus, Encore is a healthy, well-run bank with experienced staff that when joined with our staff will immediately make the combined team a key player in this market.""We are excited to join the LMCU Team," said Tom Ray, CEO of Encore Bank, who will stay on as regional president of Lake Michigan Credit Union of Florida after the acquisition is completed. "We are extremely proud of the relationships we have built at Encore Bank and I am convinced this partnership will significantly benefit our customers and the communities we serve." The agreement was approved by the Board of Directors of each company. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, subject to all required regulatory requirements and approvals and the fulfillment of all customary closing conditions.LMCU was advised in this transaction by Mike Bell from Howard and Howard, as legal counsel, and Donnelly Penman and Partners, as financial advisor. Encore Bank was advised by Jack Greeley from Smith Mackinnon, as legal counsel, and the Hovde Group, as financial advisor.Founded in 1933, Lake Michigan Credit Union, a state chartered credit union, is the largest credit union in Michigan, and is one of the top performing credit unions in the country. With a staff of over 1,000, LMCU's assets exceed $5.2 billion, and mortgages serviced and portfolioed total over $9 billion. With over 360,000 members, LMCU has 42 branches, including four in Southwest Florida. LMCU members have access to over 55,000 AllPoint ATMs worldwide. LMCU provides a full-range of financial services, from high interest checking accounts (one named by Money magazine as the Best in America), to personal loans, mortgages, investments, and commercial banking. To find out more please visit www.lmcu.org Founded in 2010, Encore Bank is headquartered in Naples, Florida and operates as a community focused bank with local decision making. Encore has approximately $400 million in assets and operates six branches in Southwest Florida. Encore's loan portfolio is balanced between consumer, commercial and commercial real estate and their client base consists of small and mid-sized businesses and their owners, professionals, real estate associations and retirees. To find out more please visit www.EncoreBank.com For more information:Lake Michigan Credit Union, Senior Vice President of Marketing(616)-242-9774 (tel:(616)%20242-9774) or email don.bratt@lmcu.orgEncore Bank, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking(239)-437-7063 (tel:(239)%20437-7063) or email DPatel@EncoreBank.com If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. Nashville gets a new bookstore; promoting bookstores as "places of ideas"; a Nevada store under threat of closing; and more. New Bookstore Opens in Tennessee: Words of Wisdom Bookstore opened in Hermitage, Tenn., outside Nashville, this past weekend. Californian Promotes Bookstores as "Places of Ideas": Anne Mery, owner of the South Park West Grove Collective bookstore, says bookstores are more than places just to buy books. A List of Hip Indie Bookstores: MSN offers a look at 15 of the "coolest" bookstores in America. The Top Bookstores in Central Ohio: A Columbus television station offers a run-down of the best bookstores in the area. Nevada Bookstore May Close: Amber Unicorn, a used bookstore in Las Vegas, may close after customers disappeared following the closure of a nearby Trader Joe's. Spanish Mountaineer's Book Preempted in France Summits of My Life by Kilian Jornet, a professional mountaineer, has just been preempted by French publisher Arthaud (which is part of Flammarion). Ara Llibres will publish the book in Spanish and Catalan in October, and Ella Sher Agency controls rights on their behalf. Jornet, a famous Spanish climber who currently holds the fastest ascent and descent times for mountains like Matterhorn and Denali, looks back at his climbing accomplishments in the book, touching on the occasions when he fell short. Simsion's Collaboration Draws Bidders The Australian husband-and-wife writing team of Graeme Simsion (The Rosie Project) and Anne Buist has been drawing buzz with their first collaboration, a novel called Two Steps Forward. Rights have sold to, among other houses, Morrow (U.S.), Two Roads (U.K.), and S. Fischer Verlag (Germany). Australia's Text Publishing will release the book, a romantic comedy told in alternating perspectives, in October. The novel follows Zoe, a widowed American, and Martin, a divorced British engineer. French Editor's Book Racks Up Sales A nonfiction work called Climbing Mont Blanc, by Gallimard editor Ludovic Escande, has been acquired in Italy and Germany. The book chronicles Escande's attempt to climb Mont Blanc. The effort is both an attempt to fulfill his childhood dream, and the chance to overcome his recent divorce. The book will be published in France this month by Allary Editions and deals for it have also just closed with Einaudi (Italy) and Malik/Piper Verlag (Germany); Pocket has acquired French mass market rights. (The 2 Seas Agency is handling rights on Allary Editions' behalf.) Pariat's 'Heart' Sells in Italy Janice Pariat's The Nine Chambered Heart continues to pick up sales, with the most recent one being to Bompiani in Italy. We first reported on the book in June, and deals have already been made with, among others, HarperCollins (for world English) and Siruela (Spanish language). The Pontas Agency controls rights to the novel, which follows several characters recounting their relationship with one woman. Although the United States has focused its efforts on defeating the Islamic State (also known as ISIS), al Qaeda has quietly lingered on and is attempting to make a comeback. But whether it will succeed is up for debate. Assessments about its future vary between two broad camps. Some, such as Georgetown University's Daniel Byman, maintain that the group has been in decline because of limited popular support, effective counterterrorism efforts by the United States and other countries, and al Qaeda's killing of Muslim civilians. He concludes that there is good reason to be optimistic that al Qaeda's decline is for real and might even be permanent. Others, such as former FBI agent Ali Soufan, disagree. Soufan contends that al Qaeda is transitioning from a small terrorist outfit with struggling affiliates to a potent transnational network of branches that has gained in numbers and fighting strength and now spans the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies argues that the group has emerged stronger by pursuing a strategy of deliberate yet low-key growth. But many such predictions about whether al Qaeda will resurge or further decline are presumptuous because they fail to identify the most important factors that could impact its trajectory. Al Qaeda's past strength has never been linear, but has waxed and waned based on such factors as the collapse of governments in countries such as Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Consequently, the initial task in analyzing al Qaeda's future is a methodological one: to identify those factors that could affect its future path. Most of the debate about the future of al Qaeda or the Islamic State has lacked such an analytical approach, and policymakers and academics have too quickly jumped to conclusions about whether al Qaeda will strengthen or weaken, which is mostly guesswork. In this regard, al Qaeda's revival will likely hinge on its ability to take advantage of future opportunities such as the withdrawal of small numbers of U.S. or other Western counterterrorism forces from key battlefields such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria; more revolt in the Middle East or even a second Arab Spring; U.S. or European policies or actions that feed the perception of Muslim oppression; the rise of another charismatic al Qaeda or other jihadist leader; a large-scale conventional deployment of U.S. or other Western military forces, however unlikely at the moment, to the Middle East or South Asia; or the collapse of ISIS in the Middle East, Africa, or Asia. Al Qaeda's further decline will likely be caused by the absence of these opportunities or the movement's failure to take advantage of them. Al Qaeda's Ebb and Flow In 1988, Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and other leaders established al Qaeda to combat Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda's rise came in four waves. In 1988, Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and other leaders established al Qaeda to combat Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Ten years later, on August 7, 1998, al Qaeda perpetrated simultaneous attacks against the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Al Qaeda operatives then bombed the USS Cole on October 12, 2000, while it was refueling in Yemen. The attack killed 17 U.S. soldiers and injured 39 others. This first wave of attacks peaked in 2001 with September 11. Over the next two years, al Qaeda faced a reversal as the United States and its allies captured or killed its leaders and operatives in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and across the globe. A second wave began to build in 2003 after the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his group, Jamaat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, began an aggressive insurgency campaign against the United States and its allies. Zarqawi then joined al Qaeda in 2004. Outside of Iraq, the group conducted attacks in such countries as Indonesia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. In March 2004, North African terrorists inspired by al Qaeda's ideology conducted coordinated bombings against the commuter train system in Madrid, Spain, killing nearly 200 people and injuring approximately 200 others. In July 2005, al Qaeda pulled off one of its most audacious attacks in Europe as suicide bombers targeted three trains in the London Underground and a double-decker bus. The attack killed over 50 people and wounded another 700. But by 2006, al Qaeda in Iraq had been severely weakened, British and American intelligence agencies had foiled several plots, and U.S. drone strikes had killed senior al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan. Al Qaeda surged for a third time between 2007 and 2009 following the rise of Anwar al-Awlaki, a charismatic Yemeni-American who had served as an imam in mosques in California and Virginia, and the emergence in Yemen of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. On November 5, 2009, Nidal Hasan, a U.S. Army major who was in contact with Awlaki, gunned down 13 people and wounded 43 others at Fort Hood, Texas. The next month, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253, which was flying from Amsterdam to Detroit. The bomb ignited, but the main charge failed to go off. That same year, Najibullah Zazi, a U.S. citizen from New York, was arrested for plotting to bomb the New York City subway after meeting with senior al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan. The reversal of this wave began with the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden and the deaths of other senior al Qaeda leaders following an aggressive U.S. drone campaign. The Arab Spring and the downsizing or withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan created the conditions for a fourth wave, as al Qaeda affiliates expanded their presence in countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. Most of the al Qaeda attacks in the fourth wave occurred in near enemy countries, not in the West. But the group weakened in 2014 after the rise of ISIS, which was formerly al Qaeda in Iraq. Affiliate Groups Al Qaeda remains a loose, overlapping, and fluid network across multiple regions. Ayman al-Zawahiri is al Qaeda's leader, flanked by general manager Abd al-Rahman al-Maghrebi and senior manager Abu Muhsin al-Masri. The group's nominal leadership appears to have limited legitimacy and influence over an organization that has five affiliates: Jabhat al-Nusrah in Syria; al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen; al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent in South Asia; al Shabaab in Somalia; and al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in North Africa. In addition, the group retains an active relationship with groups across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia such as Ahrar al-Sham in Syria, the Taliban and Haqqani Network in Afghanistan, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Pakistan, and Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen in the Maghreb and West Africa. Among al Qaeda's most active affiliates are those in Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen. Among al Qaeda's most active affiliates are those in Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen. In Syria, Jabhat al-Nusrah remains an important component of the insurgency against the Syrian regime. In January 2017, it cooperated with elements of Ahrar al-Sham and other groups to form Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, but Jabhat al-Nusrah continues to effectively function as al Qaeda's Syria branch, with as many as 10,000 fighters. In Yemen, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has tried to expand its foothold in the Abyan, Marib, and Shabwah governorates with upwards of 4,000 fighters. In April 2017, Qasim al-Raymi, the group's leader, outlined his strategy of building broad and deep support among Sunni groups and tribes in Yemen: We fight [alongside] all Muslims in Yemen, together with different Islamic groups. We fought with the Salafs without exception. We fought with the Muslim Brotherhood and also our brothers from the sons of tribes. We fought together with the public in Aden and elsewhere. We participate with the Muslims in every battle. In September 2014, Zawahiri announced the creation of a new affiliate, al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, which oversees activities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The group is led by Asim Umar, a former member of Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, a Pakistan-based terrorist group with branches across the Indian subcontinent. Umar is flanked by Abu Zar, his first deputy, and oversees perhaps 200 fighters. Despite al Qaeda's persistence, the movement has conducted few successful attacks in the West over the past several years. Unlike ISIS, al Qaeda has also failed to inspire many attacks overseas. One of the last major al Qaeda plots in the U.S. homeland occurred nearly a decade ago, when Najibullah Zazi and two accomplices prepared to conduct suicide attacks on the New York City subway. But it was foiled by U.S. and British intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Cherif Kouachi, who trained in Yemen with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was involved in the January 2015 attack against the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The attack killed 12 people and injured 11 others. But the Charlie Hebdo attack was an outlier, since most of al Qaeda's violence of late has been directed at targets in near enemy countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. A Coming Resurgence? It is unclear whether al Qaeda will be able to establish a fifth wave as the group's leaders still seek to establish a caliphate that extends from Africa through the Middle East to Asia. Several factors may impact the riseor declineof al Qaeda over the next several years. Most of these factors are outside of al Qaeda's control, although much will depend on how it or other Salafi-jihadist groups respond to them. The withdrawal of U.S. or other Western military forces from jihadist battlefields could contribute to a resurgence. First, the withdrawal of U.S. or other Western military forcesparticularly special operations forces and air powerfrom jihadist battlefields could contribute to a resurgence. Examples include the withdrawal of U.S. or other Western forces from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Syria. In at least two of these countriesSyria and Afghanistansome Trump administration officials have questioned the wisdom of a long-term U.S. commitment. U.S. actions in these countries, however limited, have served as a check against al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. The U.S. and Soviet exit from Afghanistan in the late 1980s and early 1990s contributed to the country's further deterioration and the rise of the Taliban and al Qaeda. The U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 contributed to a resurgence of al Qaeda, the rise of ISIS, and the spread of extremist ideology across the region. Second, another Arab Spring or the collapse of one or more governments in the Arab world might allow al Qaeda to strengthen. Instability in some countries (such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia) or continuing war in others (such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, or Syria) could provide al Qaeda or other jihadist groups with key sanctuaries. Among the most significant reasons for al Qaeda's fourth wave was a weakening of governance during the Arab Spring. Third, events that highlight the oppression of Muslims by Western governments could give potential propaganda opportunities to al Qaeda. In 2004, the story broke of abuse and humiliation of Iraqi inmates by U.S. soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison. The uncensored photographs appeared on jihadist websites and were used for recruitment purposes. A similar atrocity could be used by Salafi-jihadist groups for propaganda. In addition, the United States or other Western countries could overreact to a terrorist attack on their soil and implement domestic policies that broadly target Muslims and create a perception of a so-called war against Islam. Such a development could increase radicalization and recruitment for al Qaeda and other groups. In May 2017, al Qaeda labeled bin Laden's son Hamza a shaykh, suggesting that it might be considering him for leadership. Fourth, the rise of a charismatic al Qaeda leader might help revitalize the movement. Osama bin Laden was an inspirational leader, as was Anwar al-Awlaki. But current leader al-Zawahiri has been far less charismatic. This, however, could change. In 2016, al Qaeda leaders began to promote one of bin Laden's sons, Hamza, in their propaganda. In May 2017, the group labeled Hamza bin Laden a shaykh, suggesting that it might be considering him for leadership. Although it is unclear whether he will be charismatic enough, his leadership could potentially help increase global support for the movement. Fifth, a large-scale deployment of U.S. or other Western military conventional forces to Islamic battlefields, however unlikely, could increase the possibility of a resurgence by al Qaeda or other groups. The U.S. deployment of conventional forces to fight terrorists overseas has generally failed to stabilize countries and has often been counterproductive. In Iraq, for instance, the U.S. conventional presence contributed to radicalization. Large numbers of U.S. forces in Muslim countries can facilitate terrorist recruitment by increasing local fears of foreign occupation, enabling terrorist recruiters to attract foot soldiers in order to defend Islam. Many of the extremists involved in U.S. homeland plots after September 11, 2001such as Jose Padilla, Nidal Hassan, Najibullah Zazi, and Faisal Shahzadwere motivated, in part, by the deployment of large numbers of U.S. combat troops in Muslim countries. At the moment, it is unlikely that the Trump administration or the U.S. population would support the large-scale deployment of military forces to fight terrorism. But some Americans might rethink this possibility after a major terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Sixth, the collapse of ISISparticularly the core of its so-called caliphate in Iraq and Syriamight allow al Qaeda or other groups to rejuvenate. The further weakening or collapse of ISIS could also increase the possibility of a merger between fighters loyal to both al Qaeda and the Islamic State under one umbrellaor even to the emergence of a new Salafi-jihadist group. A Resilient Ideology Al Qaeda today is a different organization from what it was even a decade ago. The movement is less centralized, less focused on terrorist operations in the West for the moment, and less popular. Based on these challenges, it is unclear whether al Qaeda or other Salafi jihadists will be able to rebound. Even if there is a resurgence, it could be led by al Qaeda, ISIS, a new organization, or a mix of Salafi jihadist groups. Such a revival will likely hinge on the ability to take advantage of opportunities that emerge, such as the collapse of one or more Arab governments. But the Islamist extremism that al Qaeda represents will not go away soon. The ideology will survive in some form as wars in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East continue to rage. Seth G. Jones is director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, and author, most recently, of Waging Insurgent Warfare: Lessons from the Vietcong to the Islamic State (Oxford). This article is adapted from testimony the author gave to the House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, on July 13, 2017. This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Affairs on August 7, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Al Jazeera has denounced the decision by the Israeli Government to shut down its operations in the country. Israelis Communications Minister Ayoub Kara said the Qatar-based media networks bureau in Jerusalem would be closed, and media credentials of Al Jazeera journalists revoked. In addition, Al Jazeeras cable and satellite transmissions would be shut down over allegations of incitement to violence and unprofessional journalism.No date has been given for the decision to be implemented, however further legislation is expected before the bureau could be closed.In a statement, Al Jazeera said it will watch closely the developments that may result from the Israeli decision, and will take the necessary legal measures towards it.The network said it would continue to cover news from Israel and Palestine in a professional and objective manner in accordance with the common journalistic standards set by the relevant international organisations, such as the British broadcasting code of Ofcom.In July, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanjahu said on Facebook that he wanted Al Jazeera expelled from the country. The Al Jazeera channel continues to incite violence around the Temple Mount, he said, referring to the site known by Muslims as Haram esh-Sharif. I have appealed to law enforcement agencies several times to close the Al Jazeera office in Jerusalem ... If this is not possible because of legal interpretation, I am going to seek to have the necessary legislation adopted to expel Al Jazeera from Israel.New York-based organisation Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has criticised Israels move. Censoring Al Jazeera or closing its offices will not bring stability to the region, but it would put Israel firmly in the camp of some of the regions worst enemies of press freedom, Sherif Mansour, CPJs Middle East and North Africa programme coordinator, said in a statement. Israel should abandon these undemocratic plans and allow Al Jazeera and all journalists to report freely from the country and areas it occupies.This latest setback to Al Jazeera follows the closure of its bureaus in Riyadh and Amman by the governments of Saudi Arabian and Jordan respectively, and fierce opposition to the news network from the UAE and Bahrain. The action has coincided with the severing of diplomatic relations , trade and transport links by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to Qatar, over alleged support of Islamist militants and the Iranian regime allegations that Qatar denies. High performance from ads touting its uSwitch Best Network Coverage Award during the last week of the month have driven telco O2 to leadership position in July in the 4C Insights TV advertisement rankings. The data science and media technology company gauges the top ten brands for the month by the amount of air time given in minutes through its proprietary Teletrax system, claimed to be the largest global TV monitoring network. It also calculates TV social lift rankings measuring each brands social media engagements such as tweets, likes, comments, and so on, in the two-minute period after the start of a TV ad to the brands average social media engagement rate.In addition to O2 driving the highest social engagement lift from its TV commercials in July, the survey also showed that arch-rival Vodafone also climbed in the July rankings from its spot, proclaiming it as the UKs best network for roaming. Social engagement lift was higher at the end of the month as people evaluated making a carrier switch at the end of the month. People also responded well to food brands on the second-screen in July. Grocers Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Asda, and Lidl all drove high social engagement lift from their TV spots as people focused on summer food.For the summer season as a whole, Samsung has held the top spot across pay-TV and overall rankings, despite a 32% drop in the total number of ad minutes from June to July. 4C Insights also tracked the fact that travel brands, including Trivago and TripAdvisor, have invested in a late summer ad drive, managing over 1,840 minutes of air time each, lining up well for the post-peak travel season through September.By contrast, the study found that insurance comparison sites including Compare the Market and Moneysupermarket.com, who held top spots in prior months, were focusing efforts elsewhere as TV ad spend has fallen back for July. Direct Line, however, invested in 1,967 minutes of air time to come second for July.Brands have excelled in taking advantage of the summer season. As we would hope to see, big travel names including Trivago and Tripadvisor have invested in over 1,840 minutes of air time each over July, commented 4C EMEA CMO Aaron Goldman. Equally, grocery brands including Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Asda, and Lidl all drove high social engagement lift from their TV spots as people focused on barbeques and garden parties. Elsewhere, mobile brands continued to dominate TV and social, demonstrating the awareness among technology companies of quite how symbiotic these two channels have become. Network coverage has clearly erupted as the main area of contention between O2 and Vodafone with both companies contesting domestic and roaming services. Ukrainian officials and local residents moved to stabilize conditions in the freshly recaptured southern city of Kherson, as Russian symbols were being torn down and with the restoration of Ukrainian radio and television service and a new police presence. 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. The action on November 12 came after months of occupation by Russian forces following their unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February and as Ukrainian and Western officials hailed Kyivs latest extraordinary battlefield success and Moscows strategic failure. Separately, Russian occupying forces said late on November 12 that they were preparing to leave the city of Nova Kakhovka, the site of a damaged dam on the Dnieper River, to a safer location, according to Russian state-run TASS news agency. As jubilant Kherson residents awoke the morning following the arrival of the first Ukrainian troops, Ukraines military said it was putting stabilization measures in place to ensure safety. Ihor Klymenko, chief of the National Police of Ukraine, said about 200 officers were at their posts in Kherson and that checkpoints had been set up. Authorities also began seeking out any evidence of possible Russian war crimes, he said in a Facebook post. The Ukrainian communications watchdog said national TV and radio broadcasts had resumed in the strategic southern city and officials said aid supplies had begun to arrive from nearby regions. Social media postings on November 12 showed local residents removing memorial plaques put up by Kremlin-installed authorities during the occupation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other officials warned that while special forces had entered central Kherson, the full deployment of Ukrainian troops was still under way and that some Russian soldiers could have shed military uniforms for civilian clothing and remained in the city. Even when the city is not yet completely cleansed of the enemys presence, the people of Kherson themselves are already removing Russian symbols and any traces of the occupiers stay in Kherson from the streets and buildings, Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. But he said that medicine, communications, social services are returning. Life is returning. WATCH: Local residents welcomed Ukrainian soldiers into Snihurivka on November 10, as advance forces of the Ukrainian military recaptured the town in the southern Mykolayiv region. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, speaking to world leaders at an ASEAN summit in Cambodia, warned that the celebratory mood could turn grim with the possible discovery of war crimes evidence in Kherson. Such evidence was discovered after Russian troops pulled out of the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions months ago. Every time we liberate a piece of our territory, when we enter a city liberated from the Russian Army, we find torture rooms and mass graves with civilians tortured and murdered by the Russian Army in the course of the occupation of the territories," he said. "Its not easy to speak with people like this. But I said that every war ends with diplomacy and Russia has to approach talks in good faith. The White House on November 12 hailed Russias withdrawal from Kherson as an "extraordinary victory" for Ukraine. "It does look as though the Ukrainians have just won an extraordinary victory where the one regional capital that Russia had seized in this war is now back under a Ukrainian flag -- and that is quite a remarkable thing," U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters as he accompanied President Joe Biden to the ASEAN summit. Sullivan said that the Russian retreat would have "broader strategic implications," including relieving the longer-term threat by Russia to other southern Ukrainian cities such as Odesa. "It's a big moment, and it's due to the incredible tenacity and skill of the Ukrainians, backed by the relentless and united support of the United States and our allies," Sullivan said. Asked about reports that the Biden administration has started to press Zelenskiy to explore negotiations with Moscow, Sullivan said Russia, not Ukraine, was the side that has to decide whether or not to go to the table. "This whole notion, I think, in the Western press of, 'When's Ukraine going to negotiate?' misses the underlying fundamentals," Sullivan said. Russia, he added, continues to make "outlandish claims" about its self-declared annexations of Ukrainian lands, even as it retreats from Ukrainian counterattacks. "Ultimately, at a 30,000-foot level, Ukraine is the party of peace in this conflict and Russia is the party of war. Russia invaded Ukraine. If Russia chose to stop fighting in Ukraine and left, it would be the end of the war. If Ukraine chose to stop fighting and give up, it would be the end of Ukraine," he said. "In that context, our position remains the same as it has been and fundamentally is in close consultation and support of President Zelenskiy. Separately, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on November 12 that Moscow's "strategic failure" in Kherson will sow doubt among the Russian public about the point of the war in Ukraine. "Russia's announced withdrawal from Kherson marks another strategic failure for them. In February, Russia failed to take any of its major objectives except Kherson," Wallace said in a statement. "Now with that also being surrendered, ordinary people of Russia must surely ask themselves: 'What was it all for?'" Meanwhile, Pavel Filipchuk, the head of the occupation government in Nova Kakhovka, told administrators and residents that Russian forces will be pullng back from the city on the right bank of the Dnieper River. He cited concerns that the key dam could be damaged by missiles, which would result in flooding. Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of planning to blast the dam, which has already been severely damaged. With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, and Reuters Toomaj Salehi's lyrical support for protesters in Iran has landed him behind bars before, but this time the popular rapper's fortune-telling has fans and family members fearing for his life. Just days before his September 30 arrest, the 32-year-old Salehi released his latest music video, in which he makes foreboding predictions about the future of Iran's clerical regime if it continues its violent crackdown against ongoing anti-government demonstrations. "I am the predictor, the fortune teller," he raps in the video for Omen, which shows him reading the patterns left in his coffee cup and warning that brute force will not prevail. "I saw a cage in the coffee grounds -- a lion was hunting a jackal," he explains, alluding to a fairy tale about wisdom defeating physical strength. "We will rise from the bottom and target the top of the pyramid." Salehi goes on to warn that the regime's protectors -- including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Basij paramilitary forces, the Intelligence Ministry, and the state media -- will all get their day in court. Salehi followed up on the new video by posting on social media images of him standing alongside protesters and chanting against security forces in his native city in Isfahan Province. The rapper, an ethnic Lur who was arrested last year after releasing other songs critical of the government, offered to turn himself in if protesters detained in his hometown of Shahinshahr were released. In subsequent posts, he called the provincial authorities "cowardly vermin" and "scum who suppress and arrest [innocent] people." Shortly afterward, Salehi went missing and has not been heard from since. State media reported on September 30 that Salehi had been arrested, and a news agency close to the IRGC published a photo of the blindfolded rapper inside a car. A short video later released by a press club associated with Iran's state broadcaster purports to show the rapper admitting he made a mistake. But the reports' claims he had been caught while "illegally exiting the western borders of the country" have been fiercely disputed, and the video confession has been labeled a fake by some and a coerced confession by others. Family members as well as Salehi's official Twitter account have said the rapper was, in fact, arrested in the southwestern Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, hundreds of kilometers from Iran's western border. In a statement, Salehi's uncle Eghbal Eghbali said his nephew was in the province's city of Borujen on the morning of September 30 when he wrote saying "suspicious things" were happening outside his home. Soon after, Salehi stopped communicating. Eghbali said he learned from Salehi's neighbors and friends that security personnel had arrived to take the rapper away. Later on September 30, a prosecutor in nearby Isfahan Province was quoted by the Meezan news agency, which is close to Iran's judiciary, as saying Salehi was arrested "in one of the provinces of the country." The prosecutor alleged the rapper had played a key role in "creating disturbances and inviting and encouraging the recent disturbances in Isfahan Province and in Shahinshahr." The official IRNA news agency, meanwhile, quoted a judiciary official from Isfahan Province as saying Salehi stood accused of "propagandistic activity against the government, cooperation with hostile governments, and the formation of illegal groups with the intention of creating insecurity in the country." Thousands of Iranians, many of them from the younger generation, have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died shortly after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran's hijab law requiring that women cover their hair. As the protests have continued, the authorities have intensified their crackdown, resulting in the deaths of at least 305 people, including 41 children, according to the latest figures released by the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) on November 6. Salehi is among the hundreds of prominent young voices, including activists, artists, and athletes, who have been arrested for speaking out against the states bloody crackdown on the protests. Overall, activists estimate thousands of people have been arrested by the authorities since the rallies erupted. Faced with a potential existential threat to Iran's clerical rule, 227 of 290 Iranian lawmakers this week called for even greater force by urging the judiciary to "deal decisively" with those behind the protests. In recent years, Salehi has gained notoriety for his open opposition to the country's leadership, using his music and social media presence to take on issues that resonate with Iranian youths. In the song Normal, he highlights the effects of poverty, saying "Our children sleep hungry at night" and asking Iran's leaders how their conscience can let them sleep. The song Rathole, released in 2021, accuses members of the media and art community both inside and outside Iran of being an "ally of the tyrant," a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In another song, he blasts Tehran's close relationships with Moscow and Beijing, asking: "Haven't you robbed us enough? Now, you want to give away half [of our resources] to China and the rest to Russia." Salehi was detained in September 2021 after security agents raided his home in Isfahan, with Human Rights Watch decrying the detention of the artist for "exercising his right to freedom of expression." Salehi was charged with "spreading propaganda against the state," but after more than a week was released on bail. In January, he was sentenced to six months in prison but was released on a suspended sentence in February. While out, he continued his work and released Omen amid the states increasingly violent crackdown on anti-government protesters. "Someone's crime was dancing with her hair in the wind," he raps. "Someone's crime was that she was brave and criticized." Listing a litany of violent acts carried out by the authorities against protesters, Salehi asks, "How many young people did you kill building a tower for yourself?" and predicts that next year, the 44th year of the clerical regime's rule, will be its "year of failure." Salehi's arrest has led to widespread condemnation inside and outside Iran, and his advocates have spread the #FreeToomaj hashtag on Twitter to shed light on his situation. His family has said they do not know Salehi's whereabouts or health, leaving them wondering if he is even alive. But the authorities have shed some light on the fate of another Iranian rapper arrested shortly before Salehi. The judiciary announced on November 7 that Saman Yasin, a rapper from Kermanshah Province -- a northwestern region with a significant Kurdish population and that has been a focus of the government crackdown -- has been accused of waging "warfare" against Iran and acting against the country's security. Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, with contributions by RFE/RL senior correspondent Michael Scollon An Iraqi Shi'ite militia says dozens of its members have been killed in an attack on its positions near the Syrian border. The Iran-backed Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada militia said on August 8 that more than 30 of its fighters were killed and at least 75 others were wounded in the attack. The group, which is part of the Iraqi government-allied Popular Mobilization Forces, said U.S. aircraft were to blame for the August 7 attack, adding that "this action will not pass unpunished." However, the U.S.-led coalition denied its forces had been involved. Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said at a news conference in Baghdad that an initial investigation showed the Islamic State launched the attack against the Shi'ite militia. The extremist group said on August 7 that it killed scores of Iraqi soldiers in an attack in the area. Iranian-backed militia and the U.S.-led coalition are fighting separate campaigns against the IS group in Iraq. IS fighters lost Mosul in June but still control territory in three areas located southeast, west, and southwest of the northern Iraqi city. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and the BBC The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. North Korea said on August 9 that it is "carefully examining" plans to launch a missile strike on the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang that any threats would be met with "fire and fury." North Korea has said its goal is to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States and has shrugged off international sanctions aimed at forcing it to halt its nuclear and missile programs. A strike by a medium- to long-range strategic ballistic missile could be launched toward Guam at any moment once leader Kim Jong Un makes a decision, a spokesman for the Korean People's Army said in a statement carried by the North's state-run KCNA news agency. The spokesman said the strike would aim to "contain the U.S. major military bases on Guam." Guam is a critical outpost for the United States to launch military missions in the Asia-Pacific region. North Korea also accused the United States of preparing a "preventive war" that it said would turn into an "all-out war wiping out all the strongholds of enemies, including the U.S. mainland." Guam Governor Eddie Calvo dismissed Pyongyang's threat and said the island was prepared for "any eventuality" with strategically placed defenses. Calvo said he had been in touch with the White House and there was no change in the threat level for Guam, whose population is about 163,000. In a video message, Calvo said, "Guam is American soil...We are not just a military installation." Trump earlier had warned Pyongyang of dire consequences from threatening the United States. "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States, Trump told reporters at his golf course in the U.S. state of New Jersey. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen." Trump issued the warning after a Washington Post report said Pyongyang had produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles -- a key step in the country's attempt to become a full-fledged nuclear power. The rhetoric between the White House and Pyongyang has heated up dramatically after North Korea tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, taking a significant step toward its goal of developing a long-range missile capable of striking anywhere in the mainland United States. The UN Security Council on August 5 unanimously imposed new economic sanctions on North Korea, aimed at pressuring Pyongyang to end its nuclear program. North Korea said the sanctions infringed its sovereignty and warned that it was ready to give Washington a "severe lesson" with what it called its strategic nuclear force in response to any U.S. military action. On August 8, The Washington Post reported that U.S. intelligence officials assess that North Korea has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, including by intercontinental missiles. The article, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, said the confidential analysis was completed by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency last month. It said it was not known if North Korea had successfully tested the smaller warhead design, although North Korea last year claimed to have done so. The Washington Post also reported that another intelligence assessment estimated that North Korea now has up to 60 nuclear weapons, more than previously thought. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry of Japan, a key U.S. ally, concluded in an annual white paper released on August 8 that "it is possible that North Korea has achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has developed nuclear warheads." North Korea has ignored international calls to halt its nuclear and missile programs. It says its ballistic missiles are a legitimate means of defense against perceived U.S. hostility and accuses the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions by conducting military drills. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held talks with Malaysian officials on August 9, as part of a Southeast Asia trip designed to persuade allies to maintain pressure on North Korea over its nuclear missile program. Tillerson, the first senior Trump administration official to visit Malaysia, held closed-door talks with the country's prime minister, Najib Razak, and his deputy, Zahid Hamidi. His tour began on August 5 in Manila, where he attended the ASEAN Regional Forum and the U.S.-ASEAN ministerial meeting, and then visited Thailand. With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Reuters A Pakistani charity that the United States accuses of being behind the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks has announced that it is forming a new political party. The new Milli Muslim League party was announced by Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which the United States says is a front for the banned militant group Lashkar-e Tayyaba and is run by Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 attacks that killed 166 people. The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Saeed. Pakistan placed him under house arrest in January. Milli Muslim League President Saifullah Khalid said the new party will work to turn Pakistan into "a real Islamic and welfare state," adding that the party demands the immediate release of Saeed. In the past, Saeed has denounced democracy and the electoral process, saying it is not compatible with Islam. Charity officials said they have filed registration papers for the new party with Pakistan's election commission. The charity has always denied being a front for terrorists, and says it carries out humanitarian work in the name of Islam. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Pakistani authorities say they have foiled a terrorist attack in the eastern city of Lahore, hours after a bombing wounded more than 30 people. The Counterterrorism Department (CTD) said on August 8 that it was following up information that militants from the Pakistani Taliban were planning an attack on Lahore police. A statement said that CTD forces formed a blockade near the bomb site late on August 7, where they exchanged fire with militants. "The terrorists started firing at CTD officials, who took precautions. When firing stopped, four terrorists were found dead, while the other attackers fled the scene, it added. Earlier on August 7, officials said a bomb planted inside a truck loaded with fruit exploded in Pakistan's second-largest city, wounding at least 32 people. Some reports said one person was also killed. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, and it was not clear whether the militants killed were responsible for the bomb blast. Despite the bombing, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif plans to travel with a convoy of supporters by road on August 9 from Islamabad to Lahore, where he is to hold a rally, a spokesman said. Sharif resigned as prime minister on July 28 after the Supreme Court ordered his disqualification in a case linking him and his family to offshore wealth revealed in the leaked Panama Papers last year. He has denied any wrongdoing. Lahore, Punjab Provinces capital, is Sharis power base. The city has been hit by significant militant attacks this year. Last month, a bombing claimed by the Pakistani Taliban killed at least 26 people, including police officers. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and Dawn Before he passed away on Jan. 5 at the age of 90, Charles Chuck Rupp made sure three of his final wishes were known. One was completed Thursday night when Rupps wife of 62 years, Donna, donated $5,000 to the Tomah Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1382. Chuck Rupps niece, Luann Hubert, and nephew, Stephen Hubert, accompanied her. Donating was his wish, Donna Rupp said. We didnt have any kids and we both worked and we saved money, she said. When he got his life insurance he said, I want you to give that to the VFW, American Legion and we gave a donation to Chasing Daylight (Animal Shelter), because he was an animal lover. They were the three loves of his life, besides Donna, niece Luann Hubert said. One of the most remarkable things is when he was in the hospital and he told the doctor that he had everything set ... he had a lawyer write it up that the three loves of his life, the American Legion, the VFW and Chasing Daylight, she said. It was bittersweet giving the donation to the VFW, Luann Hubert said. Before hed talk about it so fondly and exactly what his wishes were and stuff, but when the reality hits you that were putting it in motion its pretty difficult, she said. But hes with us and smiling down on us. It felt great, Stephen Hubert said. I think its ... awesome, I do, he said. I didnt serve myself. I ended up in college, stayed out of the Vietnam War by the time I was out, so I really appreciate those that have served and do serve. Chuck Rupp was proud of his time in the Army, Luann Hubert said. What I remember most is when hed wear his hat or have some indication that he was in the service, people would say, Thank you for serving or whatever, and hed say, I was proud to serve, she said. He always spoke with a lot of respect. Donna Rupp agreed. Chuck was always very proud to have served his country and his motto was, Old soldiers never die, they just fade away, she said. It meant a lot to receive the donation, VFW quartermaster John Rusch said. It shows, first of all, the family is very appreciative of the VFW, and a Korean War vet, he certainly qualified, he said. Its quite an honor for us and for them. The funds will be used to purchase a gun safe and to make repairs and maintain the VFW post building, said Pete Henning, commander and Chuck Rupps great-nephew. He was an avid hunter and weve been broken into a few times in the last couple years and our gun safes always been broke into, so in memory of him were going to buy a big gun safe to make us more secure, he said. Chuck Rupp served in the U.S. Army from when he was drafted in 1951 until he was honorably discharged in 1953 as a staff sergeant. In 1952 he was flown into the combat zone in Korea where he remained until he was rotated back to the U.S. in January 1953. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, three bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. Also, in 1953, Chuck Rupp met his future wife at a bar, but it was not the first time theyve seen each other, Donna Rupp said. When I was in first grade we lived in the same neighborhood, we both went to the same school, she said. He was in about the third or fourth grade and I was in first grade, but I didnt really know him then but he always said he remembers me, because I was just a little shrimp, skinny thing. Then we ended up together. They married on Jan. 29, 1955 and were inseparable, Donna Rupp said. We farmed and we worked, we went fishing and hunting, we did everything together, she said. After the Army, Chuck Rupp worked for a trucking outfit, until he had heart trouble, and then worked in the maintenance department in the school system for about 18 years until his retirement in 1988. Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia and reiterated Russias support for the separatists. The Georgian government condemned the August 8 visit, which coincided with the ninth anniversary of the five-day Russia-Georgia war, as a cynical action. Following the 2008 war, Georgia and Russia broke off diplomatic relations and Moscow recognized Abkhazia and another Georgian breakaway region, South Ossetia, as independent countries. Only a few countries followed Russia's lead. "The most important thing is that we have entirely special relations with Abkhazia," Putin said as he met with the regions separatist leader Raul Khadzhimba in the Black Sea resort of Pitsunda. "We reliably guarantee the security, self-sufficiency, and independence of Abkhazia, he added. I am sure that will continue to be the case." Putin also said that the two sides need to find ways to develop Abkhazia's economy to create jobs, adding, "This is what we will be talking about today." After the talks, the Russian president said that he considers it possible to soon ease controls and customs procedures on the border with Abkhazia to encourage travel and facilitate trade. The anniversary of the 2008 war was marked in Georgia with the political leaders paying tribute to the Georgian soldiers who died in the conflict. Following a wreath laying ceremony at a military cemetery in the outskirts of Tbilisi, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili told journalists that the Georgian government is building a united, strong, prosperous, democratic, truly European Georgia in order to make it a common home for Georgians, Abkhaz, and [South] Ossetians. President Giorgi Margvelashvili, who also visited the cemetery at Mukhatgverdi, said, No Georgian will ever tolerate the [Russian] occupation. Meanwhile, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said Putins visit to Abkhazia serves for legitimization of forceful change of borders of the sovereign state through military aggression, ethnic cleansing, and occupation." The ministry also urged the international community to respond to Russia's "aggressive steps." Russia maintains thousands of troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in what Georgia considers an occupation, and Georgian authorities have accused Moscow and the separatists of taking control of additional territory in recent months. A NATO spokesman said that Putin's trip was detrimental to international efforts to find a peaceful and negotiated settlement. NATO is united in full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, Dylan White said in a statement. We will not recognize any attempts to change the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as regions of Georgia. During a visit to Tbilisi last week, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence reaffirmed Washington's support for Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity and denounced Russias aggression and occupation of Georgian territory. With reporting by TASS, Interfax, civil.ge, AFP, AP, and Reuters Relations between Kazakhstan and China have been good for more than two decades now. The two neighboring countries have what could easily be described as excellent economic ties, with trade between them totaling billions of dollars annually. Recently, however, security concerns have crept into the Kazakh-Chinese relationship. Chinese authorities have been waging a campaign against "separatists" in the western Xinjiang Autonomous Uyghur Region for decades, and there have been a series of violent attacks recently in Xinjiang that authorities blame on the Uyghurs. As the full title of the region's name suggests, the region now known as Xinjiang is the traditional homeland of the Uyghurs, a Turkic people that converted to Islam several centuries ago. Some Uyghurs have been fighting an essentially nationalist campaign to avoid being swallowed up entirely by Han Chinese culture. Sometime early this year, the Islamic State militant group posted a video of Uyghur fighters in Syria who made an assortment of threats against China. It was not the first time Uyghur militants in the Middle East released a video threatening China, but on this occasion it certainly caught the attention of President Xi Jinping, who vowed on March 10 to build a "great wall of iron" to protect Xinjiang. Chinese authorities had already imposed new regulations on the Uyghurs designed to break the Uyghurs' connection to Islam. Except for the elderly, Uyghur men could not have beards; Uyghur women were banned from dressing in burqas; children under 18 were forbidden from attending mosque; and Chinese authorities made no provision for Ramadan, insisting that Uyghurs not fast during working hours and ordering Uyghur merchants to keep their shops open. But those rash words of a handful of Uyghurs in Syria, caught on film and disseminated via the Internet, unleashed a fierce new crackdown on the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Kazakh Diaspora The Kazakhs are a Turkic Muslim people, and many Kazakhs live in China. In fact, China is home to the largest Kazakh diaspora -- between 1.25 million and 1.5 million, most of whom live in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and the Tarbaghatay (Tacheng) and Altay prefectures in the northern part of Xinjiang, bordering Kazakhstan. The same restrictions Chinese authorities have imposed on the Uyghurs apply to the Kazakhs. Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that, in early June, a popular Kazakh imam known simply as Akmet was detained in Xinjiang. That came after a Kazakh imam named Okan was detained earlier this year, apparently for performing traditional Islamic prayers at a funeral. Okan was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Akmet died while in police custody on the night of June 4. Authorities said he hanged himself. Local authorities started detaining Akmet's friends and by July RFA had reported that more than 100 of the imam's friends and classmates were in custody. State Media Turns A Blind Eye China has become such an important economic partner of Kazakhstan that authorities in Astana could be expected to be wary of information about Xinjiang reaching Kazakhstan's citizens. Rumors in early 2016 that impending land reforms in Kazakhstan would give Chinese the right to purchase Kazakh land sparked the biggest protests Kazakhstan had seen in two decades. So, China's moves against ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang have not been reported on in Kazakhstan's state media, although several small independent media outlets have carried information on it. The Qazaq Times website, for example, posted an article on June 6 with the headline: "Why is Akorda [Kazakhstan's presidential palace] not interested in protecting the rights of the Chinese Kazakhs?" The 7kun.kz website reported on a press conference some well-known Kazakh writers organized in June to call on Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev to help ethnic Kazakhs in China. The Kazakh government has been able to publicly avoid the issue of the treatment of China's Kazakhs, but Astana faces a more difficult task as the problem spreads to Kazakhstan. Shortly after independence in 1991, Kazakhstan opened its doors to ethnic Kazakhs around the world, inviting them to return to their historic homeland and take up residence. Kazakhstan is a large country with a small population and a demographic that, right after independence, showed the majority of people living in Kazakhstan were non-Kazakhs In an effort to correct this, Kazakh authorities have repatriated some 1 million Kazakhs from other Central Asian states, Turkey, Russia, Mongolia, and from China. They are called "oralman." Unexplained Detentions Some of the oralmans from China have been telling RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, known locally as Azattyk, that they and their relatives have been encountering difficulties with Chinese authorities recently. Raushan, who only gave her first name, is an oralman who moved from China to Kazakhstan in 2005 and received citizenship in Kazakhstan in 2008. Her husband, Omir Bekaly, 46, is also an oralman and he went to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, on March 23 on a business trip. Bekaly attended the meetings in Urumqi then decided to go see his mother in Turfan and bring her back to Kazakhstan. Bekaly disappeared and Raushan has not heard from him since. Raushan was successful in contacting Bekaly's mother, who said he had been detained. Azattyq contacted Bekaly's employers; the Akku tourist agency located in Almaty. A representative named Fariza confirmed Bekaly was an employee, and that he had gone to China and was detained there, but there was no more information. Raushan said she has appealed to Kazakh authorities to help find her husband in China, but so far without any success. Another oralman, Berik, who asked not to use his last name for fear of reprisals against his relatives in China, said Chinese authorities started detaining oralmans in January. That would be about the time IS posted the video with the Uyghur militants. Berik recently made a trip to Xinjiang and said oralmans were often taken to "political education" centers and kept there for periods ranging from three days to several months. Berik's and Raushan's accounts are supported by a leaked copy of a June 5 speech from Zhu Hailun, the deputy party secretary of Xinjiang. 'Propaganda Work' Zhu said a new priority for regional officials is "dealing with the issue of Chinese nationals [...] in Kazakhstan." Zhu also said, "We must also properly carry out propaganda work with the Chinese Kazakh population in Kazakhstan." Azattyq has been reporting for months that now there are often problems for citizens of Kazakhstan to obtain visas to go to China, even for students who have been attending Chinese universities. Kazakhstan's citizens, ethnic Kazakhs included, are not radicals. However, a small number of Kazakhstan's citizens have gone to the Middle East and joined extremist groups and, generally, citizens of Kazakhstan are able to more freely practice Islam. That seems to be enough to have convinced Chinese authorities that greater caution is warranted with the Kazakhs of Kazakhstan, especially with the Uyghurs and, now, the oralmans. This new policy of Beijing will not help China's image in Kazakhstan. But the Kazakh government, which does not exercise the same degree of control over the media that China's government does, will struggle to keep a lid on it. It's only a matter of time before what is happening to the ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang, and what is happening to Kazakhstan's oralmans, becomes common knowledge in Kazakhstan. Galym Bokash, Ruslan Medelbek, and Nurtai Lakhanuly of RFE/RL's Kazakh Service contributed to this report. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL. Sergei Udaltsov, a prominent Russian opposition activist imprisoned over a May 2012 protest against Vladimir Putin and his government, has been released after serving a 4 1/2-year term. Udaltsov was freed from a penitentiary in the Tambov region southeast of Moscow on August 8, his wife, Anastasia Udaltsova, wrote on Facebook. Udaltsov, leader of the opposition group Levy Front (Left Front), was placed under house arrest months after a protest on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012 -- a day before Putin's inauguration to a third presidential term. In July 2014 he was convicted of organizing "mass disorder" in connection with the protest, which erupted into violence that demonstrators and police blame on each other. More than 400 people were detained in connection with the protest, part of a series of demonstrations that drew Russians angry over evidence of widespread fraud in December 2011 parliamentary elections and dismayed by Putin's return to the presidency after four years as prime minister. More than 30 people were prosecuted in what came to be known as the Bolotnaya Case, and more than 20 were sentenced to prison or served time in pretrial custody. Kremlin opponents and rights activists say that the prosecutions are part of a Kremlin campaign to stifle dissent and suppress protests during Putin's current term. They contend that protesters were provoked and that the state's claims of violence were strongly exaggerated. Two women who were convicted of treason for sending text messages about the movement of Russian military equipment on the eve of Russia's 2008 war with Georgia have been released after being pardoned by President Vladimir Putin. Annik Kesyan and Marina Dzhandzhgava were freed from the Lefortovo jail in Moscow on August 8. Kesyan told journalists that she and Dzhandzhgava, who were pardoned by Putin in late July, "will fight for the full cancelation of our convictions." The two women were found guilty of treason for sending text messages to friends in Georgia about the movement of Russian military hardware near the border with Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia shortly before the five-day war broke out in August 2008. Dzhandzhgava was given a prison term of 12 years in 2013, and Kesyan was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2014. In March, Putin pardoned a third woman, Oksana Sevastidi, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2016 for texting in 2008 about a Russian train full of military equipment heading toward Abkhazia. Kesyan said after her release that another woman who was convicted on similar charges, Inga Titusani, remains in prison in the Vologda region. Based on reporting by Rapsinews.ru and Interfax A Russian court has set an August 16 starting date for the bribery trial of former Economic Development Minister Aleksei Ulyukayev, the highest-ranking government official to be arrested on corruption charges since the Stalin era. At a preliminary hearing held behind closed doors on August 8, Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky district court also prolonged Ulyukayevs house arrest until January 27, 2018. Ulyukayev was detained in November 2016 after he was allegedly caught red-handed receiving a $2 million bribe in exchange for his ministry's approval for state oil giant Rosneft to acquire a majority stake in regional oil company Bashneft from the government. Speaking to journalists before getting into a prison service car to be returned home after the hearing, Ulyukayev said he is innocent. "I did not take a bribe," he said. "It's all a provocation." Ulyukayev, 61, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. His arrest sent shock waves through the Russian elite and sparked speculation about high-stakes economic and political battles in circles close to President Vladimir Putin. Putin fired Ulyukayev after his arrest in November. Ulyukayev had headed the Economic Development Ministry since 2013, and had been deputy chairman of Russia's central bank for a decade before that. Ulyukayev, who had overseen the massive privatization of state companies, initially opposed the sale of the stake in Bashneft to Rosneft, but later endorsed it after Putin said it could give the state budget a boost. Rosneft is headed by Igor Sechin, a Kremlin insider who is regarded as Putin's close ally and one of the most powerful people in Russia. Ulyukayev was seen as a member of the more liberal camp in circles surrounding Putin, who observers say has sought to maintain power and control by balancing various forces in the elite and playing them off one another. The minister's arrest came amid a high-profile antigraft campaign and shake-ups among senior Russian officials that observers tied to the presidential election due in March 2018, in which Putin is widely expected to seek and secure a fourth term. In June 2016, liberal Kirov Oblast Governor Nikita Belykh was arrested and accused of accepting a 400,000-euro bribe. He is in jail and has yet to be tried. In September 2016, Interior Ministry Colonel Dmitry Zakharchenko was arrested after police found $120 million in cash during a raid on his Moscow apartment. A poll conducted by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Center after Ulyukayev was detained indicated that most Russians saw the allegations as the result of a clan war in the government. The polling agency said that 54 percent of respondents believed the it was most likely an "assertion of power, a settling of scores or a conflict between competing clans." With reporting by Rapsinews.ru, gazeta.ru, RIA Novosti, 5-tv.ru, AFP, and dpa Uzbekistans government says its plan to abandon a requirement for Uzbek citizens to seek the authorities permission to leave the country will make it much easier for them to travel abroad. In an August 8 statement, the Foreign Ministry said that a draft presidential decree on the abolition of exit visas is being reviewed by government agencies. The proposal is one of a number of initiatives that appear aimed at opening up the country under President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who was elected after the death of longtime autocrat Islam Karimov last year. The Foreign Ministry said that the draft presidential decree would also make it easier for Uzbek nationals to relinquish their citizenships or to obtain official documents when they reside abroad. In January, a draft presidential decree posted on a government website included a clause that would scrap the long-standing requirement that Uzbeks seeking to travel abroad receive an exit visa. However, some Uzbek officials have played down expectations that the tightly controlled Central Asian nation will abolish exit visas anytime soon. The exit-visa system inherited from the Soviet era has been a major barrier for Uzbeks seeking to leave the country. It has also become a source of illegal income for officials who expedite the process in exchange for bribes. The child was found dead the next day as temperatures surpassed 100 degrees. Convicted of first-degree murder, Sammantha Allen became the third woman sentenced to death in this state. She was also found guilty of child abuse, intentional or knowing child abuse and negligent child abuse. The jury deliberated for more than a week. They considered her age, her dysfunctional upbringing and the fact that she had no prior criminal record. But they determined the horror of the crime outweighed all of those. From the Facebook page built to honor Ames memory We the jury duly impaneled and sworn in the above entitled actions upon our oaths having considered all the facts and circumstances unanimously find that the defendant should be sentenced to death. What strongly impressed the jury was the fact that the woman did not seem to be sorry about her role in Ames death. The woman had been on trial in Maricopa County Superior Court since May. Allens husband, John Allen, also is charged with murder and child abuse. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 9. Three other family members are already in prison for their roles in the case. All around the globe, ancient cultures and religions attempted to explain solar and lunar eclipses. Many of those stories involved gods, demons, dragons and other creatures that prowled through the sky and threatened to devour the sun or the moon. People prayed, made offerings or hurled things into the sky to chase off the invaders. Today, as the U.S. prepares for the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, when the moon will cover 100 percent of the sun's disk, areas that lie in the path of the total eclipse are planning festivals and multiday celebrations. In the modern age, scientists can predict when and where these cosmic events will occur, and skywatchers can appreciate their beauty rather than fear that the events might bring devastating consequences. It seems that humanity's perception of eclipses has changed over the centuries. And yet, the stories and superstitions of ancient times haven't completely gone away, said E.C. Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and an expert on cultural aspects of astronomy including eclipse folklore and superstition. And even though most people today have access to science-based information about eclipses, misinformation, myths and superstitions continue to surround these celestial events. [Where to See the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, State by State] A depiction of Columbus observing a lunar eclipse in Jamaica in 1502. (Image credit: New York Public Library) Serious trouble What causes the moon to turn a deep shade of red during a lunar eclipse? A story from the Toba people of South America claimed it was because the spirits of dead people had taken the form of jaguars and attacked the Earth's lunar companion, leaving it bloody in the sky, Krupp wrote in his book "Beyond the Blue Horizon (opens in new tab): Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars and Planets," (HarperCollins, 1991). When the Toba people saw the moon turn red, they would have to shout and make their dogs bark at the sky in order to scare off the jaguars and stop the slaughter. There is great variety in the world's many myths and folktales that attempt to explain the occurrence of solar and lunar eclipses. But these ancient stories tend to have a few things in common, Krupp told Space.com: They often involve eating or biting, and they tend to portray the eclipse as bad news. "There's certainly a uniform response and by that I mean worldwide that most people, most of the time, thought eclipses of the sun or the moon were trouble. Serious trouble," he said. "And the nature of the trouble had to do with the fact that the foundation of their world seemed to be at risk [during an eclipse]." People living in the modern world might not often think about why eclipses would be so deeply terrifying to ancient groups, Krupp said, but the lives of those people would have relied deeply on the "fundamental rhythms of the sky." Things like sunrise and sunset, the lunar cycle, and the change of seasons gave order to the world, traced the passage of time, and in many ways determined people's ability to survive, he said. Throughout history, different cultures and religions have told stories to explain celestial events, including eclipses. Greek stories about the arrangement of stars in the night sky persist in modern culture. Shown here, Sagittarius the centaur and archer. (Image credit: New York Public Library) "So, when a tremendous break in the rhythm happens, like the sun going even partially out or the moon disappearing, it is more than just an astronomical inconvenience. It's actually serious business for them," he said. The people who held these beliefs about eclipses also carried out rituals included shouting or wailing at the sky during an eclipse, firing arrows into the heavens to chase off beasts, or making offerings to the creatures responsible for these events. "The myth and the ritual are all part of interpreting and engaging the forces that make the world the way it is," Krupp said. In his book, Krupp excerpted a passage from a book by a Spanish priest named Bernardino de Sahagun, who lived with Aztecs in ancient Mexico. According to the priest's account, when a solar eclipse became visible in the sky, there was "tumult and disorder. All were disquieted, unnerved, frightened. There was a weeping. The common folk raised a cry, lifting their voices, making a great din, calling out, shrieking People of light complexion were slain [as sacrifices]; captives were killed. It was thus said, 'If the eclipse of the sun is complete, it will be dark forever! The demons of darkness will come down; they will eat men.'" Fear of eclipses didn't end with the dawn of the scientific era. Krupp noted that total solar eclipses can be somewhat unsettling to behold because they are "an extraordinary reversal from what should be" specifically, day turning into night. Modern skywatchers have reported being so hypnotized by these events that they completely forget to do things like snap a photograph or execute a scientific experiment. Skywatchers who have witnessed total solar eclipses may understand why people throughout history, and even into the modern era, have felt that these celestial events were a sign from another world. Take, for example, the story of a Roman emperor who witnessed a total solar eclipse in A.D. 840. In his book "American Eclipse" (Liveright, 2017), journalist David Baron reported that the emperor was "so unnerved" by the sight of the eclipse that he stopped eating and eventually starved to death, "plunging his realm into civil war." On a somewhat happier note, in the sixth century B.C., a battle in Asia Minor between the Medes and the Lydians came to a halt when a total eclipse darkened the sky, Baron wrote; following the event, the soldiers were eager to make peace, believing the eclipse was a sign for them to stop the fighting, reports say. An edition of Harper's Weekly describes the total solar eclipse of 1869. (Image credit: Harper's Weekly) Total solar eclipses continued to have such dramatic effects on people at least into the 19th century. In the summer of 1878, a total solar eclipse swept down through the continental U.S. In his book, Baron chronicled the deep impact this eclipse had on 19th century astronomy, due largely to observations of the eclipse performed by a young Thomas Edison, and the scientists James Craig Watson and Maria Mitchell. But despite relatively extensive news coverage of the event, and despite the fact that astronomers knew not only when the event was coming but also where it would be visible, some of the people who witnessed the event swore it was a sign of the end times, Baron's book said. A man named Ephraim Miller believed the eclipse marked the coming of the apocalypse, and rather than stay to see the horrors that were sure to follow, he took his own life, right after he murdered his son with an axe. "The way beliefs work, it's rare that someone suddenly lifts the shade and everybody changes their mind," Krupp said. "There's a spectrum of understanding across any culture." [Solar Eclipses and Thailand's Kings: A Curious History] A demon's revenge Out of the many folktales Krupp has heard from around the world that provide an explanation for the eclipses, one stands out as his favorite, he said. "There's nothing quite so elaborate and colorful and entertaining," he said, as the eclipse myth from the Hindu text known as the Mahabharata. The very simplified version of the story goes like this: A group of gods wish to create an elixir of immortality, so they enlist a few demons to help them churn the cosmic ocean (using a mountain for a churning stick). The ambrosia eventually emerges like curds in milk. This process also leads to the creation of the moon and the sun, among other enchanted things. The gods promise to share the elixir with the demons, but when the task is done, the god Vishnu disguises himself as a woman, enchants the demons and steals their portion of the elixir. In the Hindu text known as the Mahabharata, the demon Rahu creates eclipses of the sun and moon by periodically swallowing the celestial bodies. The demon Rahu then sneaks into the camp of the gods and manages to steal a swig of the elixir, but the sun and the moon spot him and blow the whistle on him. Vishnu cuts off Rahu's head, but because the demon is immortal, this doesn't kill him. He's angry at the sun and the moon for ratting him out, so he chases the two objects through the sky. Every once in a while, he catches up with one of his betrayers and swallows it, but because he's just a severed head, the sun or the moon slips back out through his disconnected neck. Nonetheless, the demon continues his pursuit indefinitely. The complete story is beautiful and entertaining not to mention one of the less ominous eclipse myths and it did not disappear as people who practiced Hinduism learned about the science of the planetary bodies, according to Krupp. As Eastern astronomers deciphered the orbital geometry of these three bodies, the story was adapted, not abolished. In particular, the demon Rahu became associated with what are known as eclipse nodes, Krupp said. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth lies directly between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface. During a solar eclipse, the moon is between the Earth and the sun, casting its shadow on the Earth's surface. The moon's orbit is tilted with respect to Earth's orbit, so the three bodies don't line up every time the moon loops around the planet. The points where the moon's path crosses the path of the sun are called nodes, and both the sun and the moon must be located at those nodes for an eclipse to occur (this can include partial or total eclipses, as well as annular solar eclipses). The sun and the moon both come close to these two nodes about every six months, when Earth experiences an "eclipse season." As Western astronomy from Greece and the Mediterranean made its way east to regions like modern-day India, Hindu astronomy adopted geometric and mathematical models of the motions of heavenly bodies, Krupp said. The demon Rahu was associated with the two nodes, and eventually one node became associated with Rahu while the other became associated with the demon Katu, which is actually Rahu's tail, Krupp said. The nodes are invisible, and so are the demons; the nodes change position in the sky, as the demons are pictured to do. By tracking the movement of the nodes, astronomers could eventually predict when and where eclipses would occur. The story of Rahu's vengeful pursuit of the sun and the moon is also depicted on a wall of the main temple on the predominantly Hindu island of Bali, Krupp said. In 1983, when a total solar eclipse passed over Indonesia, representations of this traditional story were used extensively in advertising, he said. Two competing beer manufacturers on the neighboring island of Java (which is predominantly Muslim) both used images of the demon Rahu on their eclipse-themed brews. "It shows you that [the story] is part of the living tradition in Bali," Krupp said. "And then if you were to ask the devout Balinese people, 'Do you believe these Hindu stories?' The answer is yes. And probably if you asked many of them 'Do you understand how the solar system works?' they'd say yes. And that is a confirmation of the extraordinary human ability to talk out of both sides of the mouth at the same time." The people of Bali aren't the only ones carrying these historic interpretations of eclipses into the present day. In many languages, Krupp said, the words used to describe eclipses are the same words that mean "to eat" or "to bite." In the English language, "eclipse" is derived from the Greek term "ekleipsis," which means "an omission" or "an abandonment." An artistic depiction of the July 29, 1878 total solar eclipse by E.L. Trouvelot. (Image credit: New York Public Library) Modern myths In 1963, a total solar eclipse was visible in Alaska and parts of Maine, while a partial eclipse was visible from much of North America. That year, Charles Schultz produced an eclipse-themed edition of his famous "Peanuts" comic strip. In it, the character Linus states, "There is no safe method for looking directly at an eclipse. And it is especially dangerous when it is a total eclipse." Linus' statement is entirely untrue. One can look directly at an eclipse with the help of solar viewing glasses, and when the moon fully covers the solar disk (a total eclipse), skywatchers should absolutely remove their eye protection and view the event with their naked eyes. Space.com columnist and night sky expert Joe Rao said he deeply laments that this eclipse myth was spread by Schultz so much so that Rao wrote a children's bookto help dispel it. Observers at the University of Colorado's Folsom Field football stadium use solar eclipse glasses to view the annular solar eclipse of May 20, 2012. (Image credit: Casey A. Cass/University of Colorado) The false belief persists; many people have a general fear that looking at a total solar eclipse can be worse than looking at the unobscured sun. And Krupp said that in modern-day society, many people have reservations about looking at the eclipsed sun without eye protection, because so much emphasis is placed on not looking directly at the sun at any other time. Doing that can in fact cause blindness or other permanent eye damage. (Having never seen a total solar eclipse myself, I confess I was skeptical when an expert told me that observers should look at the totally eclipsed sun with the naked eye.) Krupp said this concern or a fear of a liability issue could persuade parents or teachers to keep children from viewing the eclipse. Fear of eclipses has not been completely snuffed out in the modern age. Krupp wrote an article for "Sky and & Telescope" magazine about a persistent belief that eclipses can cause birth defects in unborn fetuses or miscarriages in pregnant women. He said there is clear evidence that this belief arose in central Mexico around the time that European settlers arrived there (people also thought that during an eclipse children would turn into mice), but the idea is not unique to that country. Over the decades, the observatory has received multiple calls from people wanting to know if this belief is true, so that they might protect themselves or a pregnant loved one, Krupp said. To be clear, there is no evidence that eclipses harm pregnant women or their fetuses. For the Aug. 21 eclipse, NASA and the American Astronomical Society have conducted a massive campaign of public awareness. In addition to providing people with information about eye safety, the organizers are warning people about the massive crowds that are expected to gather in the path of totality. Traffic is likely to be nightmarish if too many people drive into the path of totality on the day of the eclipse, experts have warned. Gasoline could become scarce near the path, and people should make sure they have access to food, water and bathrooms. Angela Speck, a researcher at the University of Missouri who is part of the AAS Eclipse Task Force told Space.com that conditions are "going to resemble a zombie apocalypse." While humanity may have moved beyond some ancient responses to eclipses, the 2017 total solar eclipse could be an example of a new mythos surrounding these awe-inspiring cosmic events. Editor's note: Space.com has teamed up with Simulation Curriculum to offer this awesome Eclipse Safari app to help you enjoy your eclipse experience. The free app is available for Apple (opens in new tab) and Android, and you can view it on the web. If you take an amazing photo of the Aug. 21 solar eclipse, let us know! Send photos and comments to: spacephotos@space.com. Editor's Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Rahu-themed beers were produced in Java for the 2016 total solar eclipse; they were produced for the 1983 eclipse. If you can't get a live view of the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse that will sweep across the U.S., there's another option for seeing this celestial event watching it in virtual reality. Volvo Car USA and CNN plan to offer a 360-degree, 4K video shot from four locations along the total eclipse path. Viewers will be able to watch the event on a computer, smartphone or VR device, according to CNN's website. The four cameras will be spaced across the United States, with one each in Snake River Valley, Idaho; Beatrice, Nebraska; Blackwell, Missouri; and Charleston, South Carolina. A host at each location will guide viewers through the event. The hosts include Andy Weir (author of the novel "The Martian," which inspired the movie of the same name) and former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman. [Solar Eclipse Glasses: Where to Buy the Best, High-Quality Eyewear] The "interactive experience" is intended to enhance what you would see if you were watching the eclipse in person, according to a statement from the companies. Additional details about how the eclipsed sun will look in the video have not been released. Footage from the different locations will appear as separate livefeeds. There will also be separate livestreams with branded content from Volvo to promote the new 2018 Volvo XC60s car. "The 2017 eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Bob Jacobs, Volvo Car USA's vice president of marketing, product and brand communication, said in a statement. He added that when the last total solar eclipse raced across the country in 1918, people didn't have many of the technological tools that are at our disposal today. "It's amazing to think that when the last solar eclipse crossed the United States coast-to-coast, an artist's painting or perhaps a photograph was the best way to share it. Thanks to Volvo, CNN and emerging technology, people can experience the eclipse as if they are there." More information on the event is available at www.RacingTheSun.com. NASA will also be hosting a livestream of the eclipse, featuring views from multiple locations along the eclipse path. You can watch on NASA's website or through various eclipse apps, which also provide real-time information about where to go. Space.com recently reviewed seven eclipse apps, which are available on Apple and Android devices. Editor's note: Space.com has teamed up with Simulation Curriculum to offer this awesome Eclipse Safari app to help you enjoy your eclipse experience. The free app is available for Apple (opens in new tab) and Android, and you can view it on the web. If you take an amazing photo of the Aug. 21 solar eclipse, let us know! Send photos and comments to: spacephotos@space.com. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. L ong before England existed, London was a Roman capital. Deep beneath the tarmac and steel of the City of London fragments of Londinium can still be found. Sometimes the dead are literally underfoot on Bury Street, for example, is the grave of a Roman girl. Discovered in 1995 as foundations were being dug, the skeleton was re-interred in 2007. The Lady Mayoress of the City attended to pay respects to the 1,600-year-old Londoner. This year, the City of London Corporation is celebrating the citys earliest Roman heritage. The Londinium programmes next event will be Swords and Sandals film screenings in Guildhall Yard. The origins of the capital go back to the reign of the Emperor Claudius, who in AD 43 ordered the conquest of Britain and whose engineers constructed the first London Bridge. Its annihilation a decade on at the hands of Boudiccas hordes proved only temporary. By the time Hadrian arrived in AD 122 the city was established as the political, financial and commercial capital of Britain. When walls were built around it at the end of the 2nd century, they enclosed an urban space that was the fourth- largest north of the Alps. Portions of these fortifications can still be seen, with a particularly impressive stretch at Tower Bridge. Under London Wall there is even a chunk of the eponymous masonry stranded in the car park. Equally subterranean is the only fragment of a Roman domestic structure in the City: the so-called Billingsgate House. Discovered in 1848, its most notable feature is a complex of baths with underfloor heating. A more recent discovery is the amphitheatre, located in 1988 next to the Guildhall. This is where the inhabitants of Roman London would have assembled to watch gladiators fight, a practice which is the theme of a small exhibition titled Trauma. To visit the Roman city is to enter a world that is mysterious as well as familiar. Nowhere will better convey this than the London Mithraeum: an underground temple to a bull-slaying Persian god that has led a peripatetic existence since its discovery in 1954. Rebuilt on Queen Victoria Street, it has been moved back to its original site, seven metres below the modern street level it opens in October. The worship of Mithras took place underground, much like the experience of visiting Londons Roman remains. Joseph Conrad, imagining the wilderness surveyed by a first-centurion navigating the Thames, declared that it too, like the upper reaches of the Congo, had once been one of the dark places of the Earth. The chance to explore the first urban settlement on the rivers banks is one no Londoner will want to miss. visitlondon.com/romans A 'plus-size icon' who hates the term 'plus-size', Ashley Graham is well-versed in the controversial topic of elitism within the fashion industry. More commonly found at the centre of discussions surrounding model shape, Graham has now acknowledged the industry's prejudiced attitude to race in a recent interview with New York magazine. Acutely aware of the disproportionate celebration of her body type, the 29-year-old admits that she and her husband of seven years - a black cinematographer whm she met at church - have discussed the fact that her lauded shape is in fact a norm for many women of colour. "I know Im on this pedestal because of white privilege." she revealed to the magazine. "To not see black or Latina women as famous in my industry is crazy!" "I have to talk about it. I want to give those women kudos because they are the ones who paved the way for me." Ashley Graham - style file 1 /28 Ashley Graham - style file September 15, 2015 Walking the Addition Elle/Ashley Graham Lingerie Collection runway in New York Getty Images January 28, 2016 At the NYDJ 2016 Fit To Be Campaign Launch Getty Images February 16, 2016 At the SiriusXM Studios Getty Images February 17, 2016 At the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2016 Swim BBQ VIP Getty Images for Sports Illustrated February 28, 2016 At the Vanity Fair Oscars party in Beverly Hills AFP/Getty Images April 30, 2016 At the 102nd White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Getty Images May 23, 2016 Filming an episode of Amazon's Style Code Live Getty Images for Amazon June 5, 2016 At the Miss USA pageant Getty Images August 10, 2016 At the 'Fit to Be' campaign press day Rex Features August 28, 2016 At the MTV Video Music Awards AFP/Getty Images September 6, 2016 At the GQ Men Of The Year Awards Getty Images September 10, 2016 At the Jonathan Simkhai show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images September 10, 2016 At the Charlotte Tilbury x Samsung party in New York Getty Images September 11, 2016 At the Prabal Gurung show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images for New York Fashion Week: The Shows September 13, 2016 At the Christian Siriano x Lane Bryant PA Getty Images for Lane Bryant September 14, 2016 Ahead of the Addition Elle/Ashley Graham lingerie collection fashion show in New York Getty Images September 14, 2016 Walking the runway for the Addition Elle/Ashley Graham lingerie collection Getty Images October 1, 2016 At the Beautycon Festival in New York AFP/Getty Images November 14, 2016 Revealing the new Barbie at Glamour Women Of The Year 2016 LIVE Summit Getty Images for Glamour November 14, 2016 At the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in Hollywood AFP/Getty Images December 2, 2016 At the he 2016 VH1's Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night at Kings Theatre in New York Getty Images Although now considered a modern-day supermodel, Graham is still not immune to prejudice. And despite topping a number of this year's Met Gala best dressed lists wearing H&M couture, the model admitted that had been "on hold" for the event the year previously before spending the night at home. "I couldn't get a designer to dress me," she revealed. "You can't just show up in jeans and a T-shirt." Met Gala 2017 - red carpet fashion 1 /125 Met Gala 2017 - red carpet fashion Met Gala 2017 Lily Aldridge, Lily-Rose Depp, Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Gisele Bundchen Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Gigi Hadid Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Kendall Jenner Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Kendall Jenner Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Lily-Rose Depp Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Rihanna Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Lily Aldridge Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Bella Hadid Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Ashley Graham Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Gisele Bundchen Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Kim Kardashian West Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Katy Perry Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Cara Delevingne Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Blake Lively Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Celine Dion Getty Images For US Weekly Met Gala 2017 Hailey Baldwin Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Kylie Jenner Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Karlie Kloss Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Jourdan Dunn Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Lupita Nyong'o Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Kate Hudson Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Stella Maxwell Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Kate Bosworth Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Candice Swanepoel Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Emily Ratajkowski Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Chrissy Teigen Getty Images For Entertainment Weekly Met Gala 2017 Naomi Campbell and Edward Enninful Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Selena Gomez Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Taylor Hill Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Amy Schumer Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Lena Dunham Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Adwoa Aboah Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Madonna Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Helen Lasichanh Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Ruby Rose Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Alexa Chung Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Gwyneth Paltrow Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Rita Ora Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Emmy Rossum Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Lily Collins Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Nicki Minaj Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Julianne Moore Getty Images For Entertainment Weekly Met Gala 2017 Solange Knowles Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Hailee Steinfeld Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Joan Smalls Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Dakota Johnson Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Kerry Washington Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Miranda Kerr Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Lily James Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Zendaya Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Sofia Richie Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Adriana Lima Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Natasha Poly Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Halle Berry Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Katie Holmes Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Rose Byrne Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Claire Danes Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Serena Williams Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Cassie Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Thandie Newton Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Bee Shaffer Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Elizabeth Banks Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Laura Dern Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Lara Stone Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Zoe Kravitz Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Behati Prinsloo Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Doutzen Kroes Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Daria Strokous Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Laura Osnes Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Sarah Paulson Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Aymeline Valade Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Carly Steel Getty Images Met Gala 2017 La La Anthony Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Katie Lee Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Daisy Ridley Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Anna Wintour Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Emma Roberts Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Priyanka Chopra Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Sophie Turner Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Mindy Kaling Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Brie Larson Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Salma Hayek Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Riley Keough Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Allison Williams Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Felicity Jones Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Liu Wen Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Jennifer Connelly Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Maggie Gyllenhaal Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Karen Elson Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Rila Fukushima Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Diane Von Furstenberg Getty Images Met Gala 2017 Jessica Chastain Getty Images And while she insists that it's because she didn't have the right designer relationships at the time to have a custom gown made, this wouldn't have been an issue were she not out of sample-size range. W est End stars and theatre-goers today called for an end to Big Brother-style rules that force ticket-holders to drink out of plastic cups. They urged London to follow New York and most European cities in allowing glass into auditoriums. The Hudson Theatre on Broadway swapped plastic for glass for the run of 1984, a British adaptation of George Orwells novel starring Tom Sturridge and Olivia Wilde. Drink sales have gone up, with minimal breakages. In the West End, theatre groups say licensing laws prevent the use of glasses with audiences and stars blaming a misplaced fear of injury or violence. James Ballanger, who has appeared in Kinky Boots, Billy Elliot and From Here To Eternity, said: I cant imagine a theatre audience becoming rowdy enough to do anything regrettable with any glassware. Anything to heighten an audience members visit to make it more memorable and enjoyable Im completely in favour of. Jodie Prenger, who played Nancy in Carmen Mackintosh's revival of Oliver!, said: If the audience is well-behaved and tidies up after themselves Im all for glass. For some performances, the more you drink the better it gets. It can be a refined event but its all dependent on the show. Theatre-goers at Mamma Mia! and Beautiful, the Carole King musical, also called for a change. Raliat Williams, 53, a teacher from Croydon, said: Were not hooligans for goodness sake. I cant remember anyone ever being injured in the theatre with glass. Author Michael Samways, 67, visiting from South Africa, said: Back home we always do it. Its much classier. You can really slink back with a lovely glass of wine and completely lose yourself. London is lagging behind get with it. William Differ, operations director at Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, said: We are not allowed to have glassware in the auditorium as part of our licence so when people are spotted going back into the auditorium with real glassware they are politely asked to decant into plastic. The Hudson is being leased by the Ambassador Theatre Group, which owns West End venues including the Apollo Victoria, Duke of Yorks, the Lyceum, the Phoenix and the Savoy. It said that because of licensing regulations it had no plans to ditch plastic in the UK. Westminster council said: It is not a requirement that all theatre establishments serve with plastic cups, but it may be asked of the establishment by the licensing authority. P ad Thai is probably the most famous of all Thai noodle dishes. Its always a safe bet to serve this dish because everybody loves it, even the fussiest of eaters. Deliciously pungent tamarind is the key ingredient in this dish. Here's a recipe for a Pad Thai with added prawns from London restaurant Rosa's. Ingredients (serves 2) 4 eggs, beaten 300g (10oz) rice noodles, soaked in warm water for 20 minutes, then drained 810 prawns, shelled, deveined and heads removed 2 tablespoons dried turnip (available from Asian supermarkets) 2 handfuls of bean sprouts Chilli powder, to taste (optional) Bunch of Chinese chives or 2 spring onions, chopped 4 tablespoons roasted peanuts, crushed Lime wedges, to serve For the pad thai sauce 3 tablespoons tamarind pulp 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 shallots, chopped 2 tablespoons palm sugar 1 tablespoon nam pla (Thai fish sauce) Method First make the Pad Thai sauce. Soak the tamarind pulp in 6 tablespoons of warm water, then stir until it becomes a thick liquid. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a wok, add the shallots and stir-fry until almost golden brown. Carefully add the tamarind (in case it spits) and cook for 1 minute to reduce slightly. Add the palm sugar, stirring to break it up, then stir in the fish sauce and continue to cook over a high heat for 1 minute until it has thickened slightly. Transfer the Pad Thai sauce to a bowl and set aside. This recipe makes enough sauce for about 4 servings, so store any leftover Pad Thai sauce in an airtight container and use within 4 weeks. Now prepare the noodles. Scramble the beaten eggs in a hot wok with the remaining oil, then add the noodles and stirfry until the egg breaks up and the noodles are soft. Add the prawns and dried turnip and stir-fry until the prawns are nearly cooked. Mix in 8 tablespoons of the reserved Pad Thai sauce and continue to stir-fry until the noodles take on a nice golden brown colour. Add the bean sprouts, chilli powder (if using), Chinese chives and crushed peanuts and keep stir-frying for another 2 minutes. Transfer the noodles to 2 serving plates and serve immediately with lime wedges. This recipe is taken from Head Chef and Co-Founder Saiphin Moore's best selling Rosa's Thai Cafe, The Cookbook and is available at all Rosa's Thai Cafes across London. Today August 8, you can order Rosa's Pad Thai for 1 from 12pm-5pm at all of its restaurants. It's first come, first served... W hen my 25-year-old son told me he was bringing his new girlfriend home to meet me, I chilled the wine and whacked a chicken in the oven. Clearly they were getting serious and I was so pleased and excited. Until he arrived home with a 48-year-old woman. I opened the door to stare into a visage nearly as lined as my own. My own smile froze. I then noticed we were also wearing similar outfits. Five minutes into some rather awkward small talk in the living room, I realised that we were reading the same book and had just been to the same exhibition. I seemed to have much more in common with her than my son. I also admitted that I was going for gold in the Hypocrisy Olympics as the Grand Canyon between my beliefs and my behaviour yawned before me. You see, I feel about ageism the way all feminists do its an inexcusable reflection on the double standards of our sexist society Unless its an older woman dating my son and then Im like: Call the police! As I watched them canoodling on the couch I retreated to the kitchen with my sister, whod just popped in. Is this even legal? I whispered to her in dismay. My sister was finding the situation hilarious. Look how happy they are. Your sons the wind beneath her bingo wings! she enthused. Maybe all middle-aged women should just follow suit and date younger blokes? Hes not dating. Hes joined the National Trust! I mean, compared to him, that woman is a crumbling edifice, I retorted. She just wants to feel young again, my sister shrugged. Clearly youre only as young as the man you feel. To my mind, if this 48-year-old wanted to feel younger, why didnt she try a makeover or bikram planking or yogalates instead of having an inappropriate relationship with a boy nearly half her age. But once Id calmed down and thought it through I realised that if Brigitte Macron was asked if shed be happier with a man her own age, shed probably decline on the grounds that she doesnt really crave a life of carpet slippers and watching TV instead of talking. Ms Macron greets Rihanna. / AP The trouble is, we live in a facially prejudiced and ageist society. Think about it. Do you judge a woman on her looks? Do you prefer Botox to reading between a womans lines? If youre a bloke, then the answer is probably yes. A report in the papers last week revealed that three-quarters of British men think theyve got better looking as theyve got older. But while men are happy to embrace silver fox status, women the same age are branded hags, old bags and past it. You think Im exaggerating? Well, have you ever heard a bloke described as mutton dressed as ram? Exactly. So, its no wonder ageing to women is like kryptonite to superman. Show me a woman who is happy with her age and Ill show you the electro-convulsive therapy scorch marks. Men date women half their age and nobody raises a judgmental brow. Hollywoods leading men constantly co-star with females young enough to be their daughters. When Bill Murray, then 53, starred in Lost in Translation with the nubile Scarlett Johansson, I wasnt sure if he was going to date her or adopt her. In The Horse Whisperer, Robert Redford was 62 when he fell in lust with 34-year-old Kristin Scott Thomas. For 62-year-old Jack Nicholson, things really were As Good As It Gets when he won the heart of Helen Hunt, aged 34. And somewhere right now, Woody Allens next co-star is probably being potty trained. But turn the sexist tables and the Tube announcement mind the gap takes on a whole new, condemnatory meaning. Just look at the flak directed at Macron for marrying a woman 24 years his senior. Donald Trump is 24 years older than Melania but their age difference rarely rates a mention. Nor is the world exercised by Rupert Murdochs 25-year age gap with Jerry Hall. (Marrying an older man does put so much less pressure on the till death do us part clause though). But the vitriol surrounding Macron and Brigittes union has been vicious. Media pundits have described her as a cradle snatcher and a dirty old woman. My girlfriends and I are peeved on Brigittes behalf. Why cant women of a certain age fall head-over-orthopaedic-heels in love with a younger fella? I want to rewrite The Graduate and make sure Mrs Robinson gets to keep her college boy. After all, we mature females have biology in our favour the male of the species hits his sexual prime in his late teens; a woman in her late forties. You dont have to be Einstein to do the math. Let me put it this way, 19 goes into 50 a hell of a lot more than 50 goes into 19. Yes, a toy boys vocabulary may be small, but who cares when he ends every sentence with a proposition? Yep. As Madonna, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Demi Moore, Vivienne Westwood, Susan Sarandon, Joan Collins, Kate Winslet and Kate Beckinsale etc have discovered, a younger man with an older woman makes perfect sense. Not only do older women know their way around the wine list and pay for dinner but, most important of all, they dont want any more progeny. Older women can appreciate a younger mans ingenue charms and he can enjoy her at her most ripe. Ive never understood why men like their wine old but their women young. Fine wine takes many years to mature, so just think of women my age as a Petrus 82. The woman my 25-year-old son brought home may have been 48, but she was also young at heart, attractive and intelligent. But sadly, just when Id warmed to the idea of their union, their HMS Relationship got a touch of the Titanics and hit the rocks. But the experience did give me a brainwave. My lovely son Jules is on the autistic spectrum, which means girls his own age can sometimes find him too quirky, while older women have always been drawn to his wit and warmth. And for Jules, if a woman is witty and warm, age has always been irrelevant. As young autistic males tend not to be facially prejudiced and older, wiser females can think outside the neurotypical box, why not put them together? The most sexually voracious types I know are fiftysomething, divorced, HRT-patched women chewing holes in the furniture with sexual frustration and desperately desirous for a last hormonal hurrah and young autistic boys, priapic because they cant get a date with girls their own age. So why not match-make them on an app called perhaps Tinder-ism, or Au-Tinder Or what about Square Pegs for Round Holes? Im just off now to write my app pitch to Mark Zuckerberg because the truth is, age really isnt important not unless youre a Stilton cheese or a grapevine. Ive known some dour women in their twenties who are a chore and a bore to be with, and Ive known men in their sixties and seventies who are playful, mischievous and the most riveting company. So the truth of the ageing matter is this ageing really is a case of mind over matter if you dont mind, it dont matter. Kathy Lettes latest novel, Best Laid Plans, a dark comedy about dating, is published by Bantam, 8.99. Follow her on Twitter @KathyLette A s Londoners were spoilt for shopping opportunities, not least because brands from all over the world are welcomed here with open arms. Take Maje for example. The Parisian label is loved by fashion industry insiders for its canny ability to balance barefoot bohemia, a cool girl attitude and sophisticated city chic. Founded nearly 20 years ago by Moroccan-born Parisian Judith Milgrom who cut her teeth at Sandro, her older sisters company - in recent years Maje has come to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping the way modern young women dress. And with celebrity devotees such as Bella Hadid, Emma Stone and Pippa Middleton, its clear to see just how broad her influence has spread. Today Milgrom still lives and works in Paris, but her label has a global sensibility thanks in part to her own love of travel. Visiting big cities, especially fashion capitals, means seeing the sights, although its not the traditional tourist traps that Milgrom is interested in: observing local women and how they dress is where her interest lies. Closer to home, her mother and grandmother have been a big influence too, passing on practical sewing and crafting skills as well as their innate sense of style. The autumn/winter collections are already arriving in store at Maje in Westfield London, meaning you can get a head start on your new season style with a touch of Parisian je ne sais quoi. Click through for some of our favourite new season pieces. Get shirty The trend for statement shirting is going nowhere. The soft, unstructured shape and minimal ruffles of this light blue blouse will look great with high-waisted jeans and oversized sunglasses. Poplin shirt with frills, 185 Flower power This floral print dress will be perfect with tan sandals for the last days of summer. Then, add a round-neck T-shirt and heeled leather boots to take you into autumn. Printed chiffon dress, 260 Know the 'drille We cant get enough of the laidback European vibes a pair of espadrilles bring these leather ones are sturdier than canvas versions so will keep your feet warm as the weather changes. Leather espadrilles, 209 Black dress to impress Update the classic LBD with this sweet and chic design the oversized eyelets add a bit of edge, while the ruffle design emphasises a feminine shape. Flowing dress with eyelets, 315 In the bag The brands classic M Bag gets updated every season and comes with both suede and textured leather options. This rosy shade will stand out from the crowd without screaming statement. Suede M Bag, 209 Discover the very latest autumn/winter collection at Maje, Westfield London now A police front counter which opened in south London after 500,000 restoration work two years ago has been earmarked for closure under new cost-cutting plans. Residents have condemned the move to close the premises as a waste of public money in a growing protest over police station cuts. The front counter was opened in February 2015 in a former shop in Streatham High Road as a replacement for the local police station which was closed in the last round of cutbacks. Now Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced plans to axe 40 stations as well as dozens of neighbourhood officers and public contact points in libraries and supermarkets in an effort to meet 400 million of government savings. Senior police officers and the Mayor argue few people visit the buildings and that most people want to report crime over the phone or online. The Mayor has proposed there should be one 24-hour police station in every borough while local ward officers should hold community contact sessions in convenient locations. However, the plans are meeting increasing resistance from residents and politicians. In Streatham, Julian Heather, chairman of a safer neighbourhood panel, said: People were furious when they closed the original police station. The front counter was supposed to be a replacement and they spent about eight years and half a million pounds bringing it back into use as a police front counter and local neighbourhood base. How cash could have been spent Annual salary for 12 detective constables 19 fully kitted police cell vans 333 new X2 model Tasers 28,000 handcuffs Shutting it after just two or three years is a monumental waste of money, it is squandering public money. He added: People want a proper focus in the community where they know the police are based. In Wimbledon, residents are campaigning to save their local police station which is earmarked for closure, while neighbouring Mitcham will stay open. Local Tory MP Stephen Hammond said: Wimbledon police station is integral to the local community, there is a vibrant night-time economy and a large transport hub which needs policing. If you are going to close a station it makes sense to close the one with less contact with the community which is Mitcham. This also strikes me as a deeply political move, since Mitcham is Labour and Wimbledon Conservative. The Mayor needs to make sure that he is policing London correctly and there is a good need for a police station at Wimbledon. Meanwhile, the leaders of 20 Labour- run boroughs around London have declared their opposition to further police station closures. In an open letter coordinated by Lambeth leader Lib Peck, they called on the Government to scrap planned cuts to the police service and work with the Mayor to keep stations open. A total of eight are earmarked for closure in Lambeth, with only Brixton remaining open. A spokeswoman for the Mayors Office for Policing and Crime said the plans were still open for consultation. The Mayor said recently that government cuts left him no choice but to take drastic action. He said: We will still be able to maintain a 24/7 front counter service in every borough and are improving the telephone and online services that Londoners value so highly. A teenager was airlifted to the hospital Saturday after his motorcycle crashed into a truck and he got stuck underneath it. The Vernon County Sheriffs Department reported the accident happened at about 2 p.m., in the town of Franklin, south of Viroqua. Josiah Jon Petersheim, age 17, of rural Soldiers Grove, was driving a motorcycle north on Hwy. 27, near the intersection of Hwy. 82. Gordon Dale Peterson, age 69, of rural De Soto, was driving a truck south on Hwy. 27. The Peterson vehicle turned left into a private driveway and the motorcycle struck the passenger side of the truck. The motorcycle went onto its side and came to rest under the rear of the truck, trapping Petersheim. Petersheim sustained serious injuries and was extricated by the Viroqua Fire Department before being airlifted to Gundersen Medical Center, in La Crosse. Petersheim was wearing a helmet and protective upper clothing. According to the Vernon County Sheriffs Office on Sunday, Petersheim was still hospitalized in La Crosse, but reported in stable/good condition. Peterson, was not injured. Tri-State Ambulance, Med-Link Air, a volunteer from the North Crawford Rescue Squad and several citizens assisted at the scene. A man is fighting for life after he suffered head injuries in a street fight outside a McDonalds restaurant. Police and paramedics raced to the scene of the attack in Deptford, south-east London, in the early hours of Tuesday. The 39-year-old victim was rushed to hospital with critical injuries where he remains, police said. The incident happened in Bestwood Street, near the junction with Evelyn Street, shortly before 2.30am. A Met Police spokeswoman said: Officers believe that the male suspect had been driven to Bestwood Street in a blue car moments before the assault. The suspect ran off on foot along Bestwood Street after the incident. There has been no arrest at this early stage. Anyone with information should call Lewisham CID via 101 or via Twitter @MetCC To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org L ondon's runners have condemned a man captured on video pushing a woman into the path of a bus and dismissed claims the attack was down to so-called joggers rage. Footage released by police shows a runner shoving a pedestrian into oncoming traffic as he goes past. The victim is sent flying into the road and is inches away from being hit by a double-decker bus, which swerves just in time. Will Cockerell, trainer at Belgrave Harriers running club, dismissed claims the man was suffering runners rage a phenomenon apparently caused by low blood sugar and branded the act a serious crime. He told the Standard: Ive been running on paths across London for 25 years and Ive never got into a situation like this. The man makes a beeline for the female pedestrian We all have collisions but you stop and have that chat, that are you okay? and make sure theyre still on their feet. What you see in the video looks deliberate, shes not in his way, you see both arms move like a shove I wouldnt condone this even if someone was in your path. Its a serious crime. Its violent. Mr Cockerell added that he has never seen anything like this and hailed the case unique. The woman's head narrowly misses being crushed under the bus He said: It doesnt matter how fatigued the runner is, even if they say they have low blood sugar, no one behaves like this in their right mind. We all get tired but we dont attack people. Tim Navin-Jones, founder of City Runners, branded the joggers actions despicable. He added: There is no way you can blame that on low blood sugar. Sometimes if youve run a very long way you can get a bit sloppy but he had plenty of room in on his section. You dont deliberately barge into people. Mr Navin-Jones praised the quick reactions of the bus driver who swerved to avoid hitting the victim. He said: Thank goodness for the bus driver, if he hadnt reacted so quickly goodness knows what would have happened. People took to social media to discuss the footage which was released by police on Tuesday. It shows the runner appear to deliberately angle his run towards the 33-year-old victim, who was walking towards him on the pavement. The CCTV footage shows him barging into her, knocking her sprawling into oncoming traffic. The bus misses her head by inches before stopping, as the jogger runs off. Mai Taby wrote on Twitter: If it were not for quick reaction of the bus driver this woman would (have) suffered serious injury or even (been) killed. Matt Dixon said: He looks like he's pushed her or punched her, either way, the Putney Bridge jogger needs to be found. Another person added: What would you have done if the cowardly man on Putney Bridge pushed you over? Police are appealing for information about the incident which happened around 7.45am on May 5. The jogger is believed to live in the Fulham area. He is described as a white man, in his early to mid-thirties, with brown eyes and short brown hair. He was wearing a light grey T-shirt and dark blue shorts. Anyone with information or any witnesses is asked to call the Putney safer neighbourhood team on 020 8785 8874 or 101, or tweet @MetCC. Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org A new type of snake has been discovered and reclassified in the UK. Natrix Helvetica, a new barred snake, is said to be a different species from the common grass snake, Natrix natrix. The new snake for years was considered part of the same family as N.natrix, both of which are commonly found across lowland areas in southern England. But after researchers in Germany discovered the new N.helvetica was in fact genetically distinct, it is now considered the fourth species to live in the UK. The newly distinguished barred grass snake is grey with black stripes, not olive green like its the N.natrix and does not have the same bright yellow collar. Natrix Natrix: The olive green barred grass snake is commonly found in lowland areas in southern England / Melita Vamberger/Senckenberg Research Institute The research team at Senckenberg Research Institution studied the genetic makeup of more than 1,600 grass snakes, including those held as museum artefacts. They found that the two species had different genetic lineages, which means any attempt to cross breed would lead to reproductive barriers. Lead researcher, Professor Ewe Fritz, told the BBC: "We discovered that the barred grass snake, previously considered a subspecies, is in fact a distinct species. "We now pay close attention to which species of grass snake is involved in each case, in order to be able to assess whether one of them may be more threatened than previously thought." Under UK legislation, the grass snake is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act making it a criminal offence to injury or kill the animals. Following the latest classification, the total number of snake species living in the UK is now four. A n endurance athlete has died while attempting to swim the English Channel. Douglas Waymark, 44, became unwell roughly half-way through the 21-mile swim from Dover to France on Monday evening. He had been undertaking a 300-mile ultra-triathlon from Marble Arch in central London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. He previously completed ten triathlons in as many days, and succeeded in the seven summits challenge in 2009 which involved climbing the tallest mountain on every continent. His friend Graham Fletcher confirmed that Mr Waymark had died after falling ill and swimming to his support boat for help. He said: "We are all devastated but take comfort in him doing what he loved best to the very end. French fishing boats on the English Channel / PA Archive/PA Images "I have spoken to Douglas's sister and sent the condolences of the whole club for the tragic passing of Douglas to his family. "All of us who knew Douglas Waymark will have so many memories of him and shared some great times with him. "I am, as i'm sure you will be devastated by the news this morning." His channel swim was charted in a series of tweets by Enduroman Events which suddenly stopped at 8.30pm. The last one read: "Water taken. Moon is rising behind a cloud over Calais. Air temp dropping, light fading. #DougWaymark swims on." The coastguard received a call for help from a support vessel at about 9.20pm and a search-and-rescue helicopter arrived on the scene within ten minutes. The swimmer was airlifted to William Harvey hospital in Ashford but later died. Kent Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and a report would be prepared for the coroner. Mr Waymark had reportedly been around 12 nautical miles north of Dover when he was picked up by the rescue crew. The London-Paris triathlon, which costs 3000 to enter, has been completed by just 25 people. A soldier who survived landmine horrific injuries in Afghanistan has asked lawyers to investigate failings in his care, saying he is not given enough funds for essentials. Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, 33, lost both legs and suffered more than 40 injuries, including brain damage affecting his memory and speech, in a blast in 2006. The paratrooper, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and his mother, Diane Dernie, are now urging care organisations to explain gaps in his support and to demand that more be done to help. L/Bdr Parkinson's care is provided by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), NHS England and Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), but Mrs Dernie said the organisations failed to properly coordinate her son's care. She said the soldier also does not receive enough funding to cover around-the-clock care. Lawyers meanwhile said the 540,000 compensation he received is not enough to pay for his "ongoing and extensive care requirements". Legal experts at law firm Irwin Mitchell have now written to the organisations alleging a series of failings, claiming that they are in breach of the Armed Forces Covenant - a promise that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, as well as their families, are treated fairly. They also allege that the MoD has failed in its duty to develop a coherent plan of care for the soldier and that NHS England and the CCG have not met their responsibilities under key legal frameworks. Mrs Dernie said: "Considering everything that Ben has been through, it was a huge relief to secure some compensation a few years ago and we believed that Ben's care needs would be met going forward. "Sadly we have faced a number of issues with support and it has been difficult to identify who is responsible for what parts of Ben's care. "Time and again we have asked for these urgent issues to be addressed, but Ben is still not receiving anywhere near the level of funding required to buy all the care he requires." She said they had "no option" but to pursue legal remedies. Alice Cullingworth, the lawyer representing L/Bdr Parkinson and his mother, said: "We are concerned that there appears to be a lack of a coherent strategy regarding his care and that the provision of such support may well have fallen through the cracks between the NHS, MoD and the Doncaster CCG. "Ben has urgent care and specialist equipment needs that Ben considers are not being properly met. Sadly, he feels that promises made to him by the MoD are not being fulfilled." The organisations involved with providing care for L/Bdr Parkinson said they are working together. An MoD spokeswoman said: "We work closely with veterans and service personnel to ensure they receive the appropriate level of care. "We are developing a new initiative with the NHS to provide patient-centred support." A spokeswoman for NHS England said: "The NHS takes the healthcare for members of the armed forces very seriously and, as a serving member, Ben Parkinson currently has a comprehensive package of care funded by the NHS and the Ministry of Defence, which will be reassessed whenever needed. "We are working with the organisations involved to arrange appropriate reviews of Ben's ongoing care and treatment requirements." A Doncaster CCG spokeswoman confirmed they had received the letter and are acting upon the information. Reporting by Press Association T he UKs new aircraft carrier the HMS Queen Elizabeth has been photographed sailing the seas alongside US warships during a military exercise off the coast of Scotland. Britains largest every warship met up with the US carrier group on exercise as it continues sea trials which began in June. The 3 billion HMS Queen Elizabeth was pictured alongside the HMS Westminster, HMS Iron Duke, HNoMS Helge Ingstad from Norway, USS Donald Cook and USS Philippine Sea and USS George HW Bush. More than 60 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines are on board the USS George HW Bush honing their carrier strike skills ahead of HMS Queen Elizabeth's entry into service. During the exercise UK staff have been working with their American counterparts to fight off a series of simulated threats from enemy forces, using all the air, surface and sub-surface assets of the entire task group. HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is undergoing sea trials, sails with the USS George HW Bush and her carrier strike group, off the coast of Scotland / REUTERS Commodore Andrew Betton, Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, and his team have been directing jets and firepower for the last ten days as they practise their skills. HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful ship ever built for the Royal Navy, set sail for the first time in June from Rosyth in Fife and is due to enter her new home in Portsmouth in around two weeks. Captain Jerry Kyd, her Commanding Officer, said: "The USS George HW Bush battle group is an awesome embodiment of maritime power projection. "And given that the United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group Commander and his staff are embedded on board the US carrier for Saxon Warrior shows the closeness of our relationship with the US Navy and the importance that both nations place on the delivery of the UK's Carrier Strike programme. Footage of the HMS Queen Elizabeth sailing under the Forth Bridge "HMS Queen Elizabeth is at the start of her journey to generate to full warfighting capability, but we are working hard to ready ourselves to take our place in operations and the line of battle alongside our closest allies." The new 280-metre, 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier met up with the USS George HW Bush and her carrier strike group off the coast of Scotland during a brief pause in the exercise's activities. The group includes two Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigates, HMS Westminster and HMS Iron Duke, destroyer USS Donald Cook, missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad. Captain Ken Houlberg, Chief of Staff to the Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said: "The US Navy, out of huge generosity, has given us the whole of their carrier strike group so that we can practise the command and control of a carrier doing these operations in British waters so that when HMS Queen Elizabeth comes into service later this year we will be well on the way to forming our own carrier strike capability." There are 15 ships from across NATO taking part in the exercise, called Exercise Saxon Warrior, with more than 100 aircraft and nearly 10,000 people. HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is set to be the nation's future flagship, and her 700-strong ship's company have been taking part in maiden sea trials over the summer. The second ship in the class, HMS Prince of Wales, is being fitted out in the Rosyth dock in Fife. B russels police opened fire on a car during a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek, before arresting the driver - who claimed it was packed with explosives. Up to 500 people were then kept on lockdown in shops nearby as bomb experts and police worked to clear the area. Police fired once at the car, according to Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch, after they were alerted when the driver ran a red light. The car then reversed into a police car when it became trapped in traffic as it tried to get away, according to police sources quoted by Belgian broadcaster RTL. The shots did not stop the car getting away and it was only apprehended after colliding with another police car, according to the reports. The area was placed on lockdown / REUTERS "When they got the person out, he immediately claimed that there were explosives inside," Ms Van Wymersch said. The man was alone and no one has been injured, she added. Army bomb disposal experts were called in as police sealed off the area, locking hundreds of people in nearby shops as a precaution. The heavily protected team could be seen removing plastics bags containing some items from the car, which was surrounded by a number of police vehicles. Police cars at the scene in Molenbeek / EPA Police officers and forensic experts without protection were seen walking around the car about three hours after the incident, suggesting the area was safe. Brussels police spokeswoman Dorothee Cattrysse said 400 to 500 people were being kept inside shops in the area. Brussels has been on high alert since 32 people were killed in suicide attacks on the city's airport and subway in 2016. Molenbeek became notorious because many suspects linked to those attacks and the November 2015 massacre in Paris lived in or travel through it. A Chinese restaurant has been slammed by angry punters after it reportedly offered women discounts depending on their bra size. A seafood eatery in Hangzhou, the capital of China's Zhejiang province, put up posters complete with a useful diagram denoting that women with larger bra sizes pay less for their meal. According to the Qianjiang Evening Post customers complained after seeing the posters, which feature a sketched line-up of seven women in their underwear alongside the slogan: "The whole city is looking for BREASTS." One angry woman called the mayor's hotline to complain the signs were "vulgar advertising" and represented "discrimination against women". But the restaurant manager defended the posters, saying he had seen a flood of new customers - most of whom were women. The discount means that women with an A cup receive a five per cent discount but savings multiply the higher the cup size. A woman with a G cup could claim 65 per cent off her meal, although it is not clear how the restaurant verifies the bra sizes. "The posters have been removed, but our discount activities continue," said Lan Shenggang, branch manager, quoted in the Qianjiang Post. S outh Africas president Jacob Zuma has survived a parliamentary no-confidence vote, crushing hopes that he would be removed from office. 198 voted against the no-confidence motion, while 177 voted for it and nine abstained. Lawmakers from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) broke into song and dance as the result was returned, saving Mr Zuma from dismissal. Mr Zuma, in power since 2009, has struggled to fend off accusations of corruption and mismanaging the economy. If the vote had gone against him, he would have had to relinquish office. Protestors rally calling for Jacob Zuma to be dismissed / AP The parliamentary speaker on Monday ruled the vote would be by secret ballot a decision the opposition hoped would embolden ANC members who are unhappy with Mr Zuma to vote against him. The rand, bonds and banking shares surged on that news, buoyed by the prospect of Mr Zuma's removal. The rand was slightly firmer as the no-confidence vote in parliament began. But it dropped one per cent after the result was announced. "I plead with you let us put the people of South Africa first and vote to remove Jacob Zuma today," Mmusi Maimane, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party told parliament earlier on Tuesday. Speaking on behalf of the ANC, deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude said the motion against Mr Zuma amounted to a "power grab" by the opposition. "The ANC rejects this motion with the contempt it deserves," she said. Mr Zuma has upset investors in particular by removing finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March. The country's credit rating was downgraded to junk by two of the top three rating agencies, unemployment is at a 14-year high of 27.7 per cent and the economy is back in recession. The ANC has 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament and the opposition controls 151, so it would only have taken 50 ANC lawmakers backing the opposition to vote Mr Zuma and his cabinet out. The party, which has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, is deeply divided and several ANC lawmakers have voiced criticism of the 75-year-old Mr Zuma. But ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said that at a meeting before the parliamentary session, the party had resolved to support him. Several ANC lawmakers left the vote singing. "You hear the singing," Mthembu told eNCA television channel. "Zuma was toyi-toying (dancing), that is what we do when we are under attack." Mr Zuma was described as being calm and jovial at the meeting, but did not address the lawmakers. On the streets, protesters blocked roads with burning tyres and rocks in the commercial hub Johannesburg and capital Pretoria, temporarily blocking traffic. Mr Zuma has survived eight no-confidence votes during his eight years in power thanks to loyal voting by ANC lawmakers, but those votes were not secret. Reporting by Reuters T he family of a London mother-of-three shot by gangsters in Brazil after accidentally driving into a slum today told how her ex-paratrooper husband saved her life. Teaching assistant Eloise Dixon, 46, narrowly avoided being killed in front of her three daughters after a language mix-up saw them drive straight into a favela ruled by Brazils second most important criminal organisation in Rio de Janeiro. She was hit in the stomach when the gang fired at their vehicle after they took a wrong turn after a language mix-up, having asked for directions to a place where they could buy water. A second bullet, apparently aimed at her head, slammed into the headrest. Her mother-in-law told how she was saved when her former paratrooper husband Maxwell Dixon sped to the nearest police station despite gunmen blasting all four tyres. Eloise Dixon was shot in the passenger seat while her husband was driving with their three children on the back seat Hazel Dixon, 76, said her son, who is now a firefighter for the London Fire Brigade, sped back to the highway and reached a police checkpoint. She told the Daily Mail: Maxwell is a very good driver and an ex-paratrooper. Hes very, very good in an emergency. The gunman shot out the tyres, but apparently he drove the car as fast as he could with four flat tyres to a safe area and to the nearest police station...It could have been so much worse. She added: Obviously I sing his praises but I think he would have been really gutsy. Hes useful when it comes to the crunch because hes as calm as can be. Eloise Dixon was hit in the stomach and underwent emergency surgery Mr Dixon served five years in the Territorial Army before he became a fireman in Bromley, south-east London, in 1998. The couple, from Hayes, flew to Brazil last Monday and were staying at the resort of Angra dos Reis, near Rio, with their daughters Isabella, 13, Holly, eight, and Alice, seven. The family were attacked after failing to understand orders to leave the favela called Agua Santa - Holy Water in Portuguese - police said. His mother, who lives in Woldingham, Surrey, added: It could have been absolutely horrendous, but shes going to be OK. The bullet must have come through the car door and lost some of its velocity. Mrs Dixon was today in hospital having undergone emergency surgery. She was said to be in a stable condition, with doctors saying she was very lucky to have survived. She is expected to be transferred to a private hospital in Rio within 72 hours, officials said. The two men who attacked the family were on the run last night. Dear reader, we're asking for your help to keep local reporting available for all. Your financial support keeps stories like this one free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. Start your day with LAist Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings. Subscribe The family of Nikki Brar, an 8-year-old transgender girl, has sued her former Orange County private school for discrimination, alleging it caused unnecessary hardship and trauma for refusing to let her dress and identify as a girl while at school. The L.A. Times reports Brar decided to come forward publicly in the case (minors can choose to be anonymous) because she believes in "fighting on behalf of her right to an education without discrimination." Nikki expressed her desire to fully identify as female in June 2016, right before turning seven. Her parents supported the decision, taking her to a therapist who specializes in gender and specifically seeking out Heritage Oak Private Education school in Yorba Linda because "[the] philosophy at Heritage Oak is to develop the whole child," according to the school's website. Nikki's parents informed the school of Nikki's transition as she started the school year, and their complaint against Heritage Oak claims its executive director, Phyllis Cygan, "deferred a decision" on whether to accomodate Nikki's transition. Later in the year, when Nikki chose to fully identify as a girl, the school "insisted that Nikki wear the boys uniform," and "said she would have access to a staff bathroom, but she couldnt go to the bathroom used by her female classmates," according to the lawsuit. Heritage Oak responded in a letter to O.C. Weekly, explaining how they wanted to take a slow and deliberate approach towards addressing Nikki's transition. "We believed it was extremely important to respond, not hastily, but with deliberate care, to decide when and how to inform and educate our entire elementary school community," the letter says. They claim to have "told the family we had decided to retain an outside consultant to assist us, and we were communicating with the family on a consistent basis to discuss potential experts and specific accommodations," but that Nikki's family felt the accommodations weren't adequate and chose to withdraw Nikki from the school. The case specifically uses the Unruh Civil Rights Act as the basis for discrimination claims. The Act, which became California law in 1959, states: All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever. Mark Rosenbaum, the attorney who has taken on the case, told the Times that this is "the first [transgender rights] case to use a state anti-discrimination law as one of the grounds for relief." In the lawsuit, Rosenbaum and his colleagues describe Heritage Oak as a hypocritical institution, claiming they told Nikki's family that "the school is a 'conservative institution' that focuses on 'character education' and that allowing Nikki to transition there would 'create an imbalance in our environment.'" Nikki withdrew from Heritage Oak in February and her mother began home-schooling her. She will attend a Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District public school starting this fall, which "has been affirming of her gender identity and has worked closely with her parents to ensure a safe and welcoming environment," according to O.C. Weekly. N orth Korea may have already developed nuclear warheads capable of attacking the West, according to Japan. The news came after the isolated regime's leader Kim Jong-un ratcheted up tensions by threatening "thousands-fold revenge" on the US over recent UN sanctions. In an urgent warning on Tuesday, Japan told of the acute threat posed by North Korea's weapons programmes as Pyongyang continued a series of missile and nuclear tests in defiance of the sanctions. Japan released its annual Defence White Paper after North Korea fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) last month on lofted trajectories to land off Japan's west coast. Kim Jong-un waves at an official occasion in Pyongyang / AP "It is conceivable that North Korea's nuclear weapons programme has already considerably advanced and it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturisation of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads," the Defence Ministry said. Trump threatens North Korea with 'fire and fury' amid nuclear weapon reports "Since last year, when it forcibly implemented two nuclear tests and more than 20 ballistic missile launches, the security threats have entered a new stage," it added in the 563-page document. The Washington Post also on Tuesday published revelations that North Korea had produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery based on leaked confidential US intelligence documents. North Korea's latest ICBM test showed Pyongyang may now be able to reach most of the continental United States, two US officials told Reuters news agency. The growing threat has prompted Japanese municipalities to hold evacuation drills in case of a possible missile attack, and boosted demand for nuclear shelters. Missiles launched on a lofted trajectory were difficult to intercept, the defence ministry said. With North Korea pressing ahead with missile tests, a group of ruling party lawmakers led by Itsunori Onodera, who became defence minister on Thursday, urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in March to consider acquiring the capability to hit enemy bases. If realised, that would be a drastic change in Japan's defence position. Tokyo has so far avoided taking the controversial and costly step of acquiring bombers or cruise missiles with the range to strike other countries. "North Korea's missiles represent a deepening threat. That, along with China's continued threatening behaviour in the East China Sea and South China Sea, is a major concern for Japan," Onodera told a news briefing in Tokyo. Loading.... Additional reporting by Reuters R ussian president Vladimir Putin has sparked a diplomatic spat by visiting the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia in what was seen as a provocative move. Both NATO and Georgias president have slammed the visit, which came just a week after US Vice-President Mike Pence condemned Russia's ongoing presence on Georgian territory during a visit to the capital Tbilisi. Mr Putin arrived in Abkhazia's Black Sea resort of Pitsunda on Tuesday, coinciding with the ninth anniversary of the Russo-Georgian conflict of 2008. Abkhazia and another Georgian region, South Ossetia, have considered themselves as separate from Georgia since the early 1990s. Mr Putin recognised their independence in August 2008 after war broke out. Most other countries still consider the breakaway regions part of Georgia. The visit came just days after Mr Putin was pictured on a hunting trip during which he was snapped shirtless in scenes reminiscent of infamous previous macho shots. Mr Putin poses with a fish in Tyva, Siberia, in scenes reminiscent of his barechested horseback shots / REUTERS Mr Putin has stepped up military, economic and political support for Georgia's separatist regions in the past few years. At a meeting with Raul Khadzhimba, leader of the separatist administration, Mr Putin said Moscow was committed to building up a joint Russian-Abkhaz military contingent to ensure the security of people in Abkhazia. "The most important thing is that we have entirely special relations with Abkhazia," the Russian president said at the meeting. "We reliably guarantee the security, self-sufficiency and independence of Abkhazia. I am sure that will continue to be the case." Russia has said in the past that it had to act during the 2008 war to defend civilians in the breakaway regions from Georgian military attacks. Western governments, however, say Russia fomented the separatist conflicts to frustrate Georgia's drive to join NATO and the European Union. After laying flowers on the graves of Georgian soldiers who died in 2008, Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili said on Tuesday: "Today, while grieving about the losses we have had during this tragedy, we see the president of the Russian Federation visiting Georgian Abkhazia." He said Mr Putin's visit was "a violation of international law and trying to legitimise the historical injustice that the Russian Federation committed against Georgia". A NATO spokesman said Putin's trip should have been agreed with the Georgian authorities beforehand. "President Putin's visit to the Abkhazia region of Georgia on the ninth anniversary of the armed conflict is detrimental to international efforts to find a peaceful and negotiated settlement," the spokesman said in an emailed statement. Reporting by Reuters S panish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has urged his countrymen to be more welcoming to the millions of holidaymakers that flock there every year. Mr Rajoy spoke as his country faced a wave of anti-tourist protests and travel chaos at airports. Anti-tourism activists have targeted Barcelona and Majorca this summer, attacking an open-top bus and setting off smoke flares outside a restaurant. The protesters, from a youth group affiliated to the left-wing CUP party, claim the tourism industry is destroying cities, driving up rents and forcing out the young. Meanwhile airport workers demanding pay rises are threatening three months of strikes that would bring travel nightmares for millions of Britons. Mr Rajoy branded the anti-tourist demonstrators radical extremists and said: I dont know if we have to receive tourists with placards saying welcome Mr Tourist, but what we cant do is kick those people who come here to spend money. That seems to me to be crazy. Mr Rajoy said that Spain was the third biggest holiday destination in the world, adding: Tourism today employs more than 13 per cent of people who work in Spain, with more than 2.5m Spanish people working in this sector. I call for responsibility, good judgement and common sense, because this is one of the sectors which is driving the Spanish economy and we must support it and look after it. Im in favour of tourism, of the jobs it creates, and I dont like the radical extremists who I believe are growing in number in this country. Protesters recently posted a video of rental bikes in Barcelona being vandalised. Jeremy McConnell was dealt the verdict at Liverpool Magistrates Court after assaulting Davis at her home in Rainhill, Merseyside, on March 10 in a cocaine-fuelled attack she said made her fear for her life. Davis who has a seven-month-old son, Caben-Albi, with the Irish model said she is now ready to rebuild her life. In a statement her representative said: We are delighted with the decision in court today and are pleased that justice has been done we await the decision on Friday and the appropriate sentencing. New start: Stephanie Davis said she is ready to "rebuild" her life / PA Stephanie and her family would like to thank everyone for their support throughout this process which has been stressful and has put them all under massive pressure. Stephanie would like to thank her family, friends and team around her who have stuck with her and helped her to begin to rebuild her life. Davis who met McConnell on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 said she wants to dedicate her time to helping to prevent other women from suffering the same ordeal she did. The statement finished: Stephanie now wishes to work with domestic violence and abuse charities to raise awareness and stop what has happened to her happening to other women in the UK. Davis told the court that McConnell had completely destroyed her life. She recalled how McConnell had returned to her house out of it on cocaine at midnight on March 9 before grabbing her by the face and biting her on the arm. Guilty: Jeremy McConnell leaving court / Peter Byrne/PA Davis described how he left before later returning. She said she let him in the house as she feared he would smash her patio doors and said once inside he punched her to the side of the head and pushed her against the wall twice. She told the court: Every time I got up he got me by the face and threw me down forcefully. All I was thinking is how do I get Caben away. He could have killed him. She said McConnell, who she described as psychotic, left the house but returned again, this time snapping handles off the patio doors of the house to get in. McConnell, of Swords, Dublin, pleaded guilty to criminal damage of Davis property at an earlier hearing. Judge Wendy Lloyd adjourned sentencing until Friday and warned McConnell custody was a possibility. He was bailed on the condition he does not contact Davis, her mother or her aunt. C elebrity Big Brothers Jemma Lucy has slated fellow housemate Sarah Harding for thinking shes better than the other contestants. Speaking to Brandi Glanville in the bathroom, Jemma complained: No one is better than any-f******-one else. Im sick of the fact that she thinks she is. Her comments come after Monday nights nominations drama which saw Harding and Paul Danan come to blows, and Lucy get slated by CBB viewers after she accused the former Girls Aloud band member of not having a career. While Hardings feud with Lucy intensified, she did manage to patch things up with Danan despite revealing in the Diary Room that she felt he was playing games. Later in the show the pair sat down for a chat to clear the air, with Danan explaining he had made comments about Hardings negativity out of concern. I was concerned for you. That was the reason. It wasnt out of malice. It wasnt out of me trying to f****** get you out of here. Believe me, he explained. Celebrity Big Brother Launch 2017 - In pictures 1 /25 Celebrity Big Brother Launch 2017 - In pictures Sarah Harding Getty Images Shaun Williamson PA Sandi Bogle Getty Images Sam Thompson Getty Images Sarah Harding PA Shaun Williamson PA Sandi Bogle PA Karthik Nagesan PA Brandi Glanville Getty Images Sam Thompson Getty Images Marissa Jade PA Jemma Lucy PA Derek Acorah PA Trisha Paytas PA Chad Johnson PA Helen Lederer PA Paul Danan PA Amelia Lily PA Jordan Davies PA Elsewhere in the show Jordan Davies and Marissa Jade agree to cool down their flirting, after Paul accused Davies of being in a showmance, something which the Welsh lad fiercely denied. Im not doing that sh*t. Im not faking it. A casual flirt I wouldnt have minded, as long as it was real, he commented. Big Brother continues tonight at 9pm on Channel 5. This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. Britain is upgrading its 38 older CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters to the latest (CH-47F) standard. This will involve replacing the older analog cockpit displays with digital ones and upgrading other electronic systems. Since Britain carries out upgrades like this with British made electronics they use British nomenclature for the different models. The latest American CH-47 is the F model and the British upgrade with change older HC4 models (similar to the American CH-47D/E) to the HC6A (American CH-47F). Britain also refers to the helicopter officially as the Chinook, which is the official nickname for what the Americans call the CH-47. What the U.S. and Britain agree on is that the CH-47 continues to be one of the most useful and reliable transport helicopters available. Since 2001 this has been demonstrated repeatedly in Iraq and Afghanistan where more recent designs proved less effective than a CH-47, even ones that had not been upgraded regularly. Britain currently operates sixty CH-47s (out of 72 procured over the years.) At the end of 2015 Britain received the last of fourteen CH-47F Chinook helicopters ordered in 2009. Actually Britain wanted to buy another 22 American CH-47Fs back then in order to provide the army with 70 of these transport aircraft. That order was reduced to 14 in 2011 as a result of budget cuts. Because of the long waiting list for Ch-47Fs Britain was initially told it would not receive all 22 until 2017. Because of the reduced order all of them arrived by the end of 2015. These cost nearly $40 million each but Britain now has 60 CH-47s, all equipped slightly differently depending on how long ago they arrived. In 2009 the original CH-47F order was justified by the fact that Britain was then losing about a hundred troops in Afghanistan each year, most of them because of roadside and suicide bombs. Many of these casualties could be avoided if more helicopters were available. Back in 2009 media reports pointed out that British troops in Afghanistan had one helicopter for every 700 troops while the Americans had one for every 200. British commanders admitted that they needed (based on American experience) about fifty helicopters. The British government promised more, and the order for 22 Chinooks was part of an effort to make it so, at least in the future. Britain has been using CH-47s since 1980 and these have served in the Falkland Islands, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. The CH-47 is the best helicopter for use in Afghanistan, having proved itself able to deal with the dust and high altitude operations better than other transport choppers. The CH-47 has been engineered, over the years, to deal with the dust. The first CH-47s entered service in 1962, able to carry only five tons. Current models carry more than twice that. Some 750 CH-47s saw service in Vietnam, and 200 were lost in action. During 1982-94, 500 CH-47s were rebuilt to the CH-47D standard. The new CH-47F is more durable and easier to maintain than the CH-47D, and most D models will be upgraded to the F standard eventually. Right now, everyone still wants more CH-47s (used, refurbs, new, whatever), and there are never enough to go around. In mid-2017 South Korea received the last of the eight British made AW159 Wildcat helicopters ordered in 2013. These are for the new locally built FFX frigates. South Korea is trying to develop the ability to build such helicopters locally but that has proved to be more daunting a task than being able to build the warships that carry them. The Wildcat is based on the earlier Super Lynx and Lynx naval helicopters. The British Army and Royal Navy have also ordered AW159s. Similar in size and capability to the U.S. SH-60 Seahawk, these two helicopters often compete with each other for export sales and generally dominate the market for naval helicopters.. South Korea plans to build 15 or more FFXs and each will require two Wildcats, even though these frigates often go to sea with only one. The six ton Wildcat has a normal endurance of 90 minutes. This can be extended to 270 minutes carrying max fuel, staying at low altitude (2,000 meters/6,000 feet) and moving slowly. This is how the South Korean AW159s will often operate because their main function is ASW (anti-submarine warfare). While top speed is 290 kilometers an hour that would rarely be used because it burns so much fuel so quickly. The AW159 can operate up to 490 kilometers from where it took off. For ASW operations the AW159 carries an AESA radar to find small subs (and other small ships) on the surface and dipping sonar to detect submerged subs. Most North Korean warships are small, including most of their submarines. While the ASW electronics are European the one or two anti-submarine torpedoes carried are South Korean made K745 models torpedoes, which weigh 280 kg (616 pounds) each and have a range of up to 19 kilometers in the water and a top speed of 83 kilometers an hour. The AW159 can also carry depth charges but the lightweight torpedoes are the preferred, and most effective way to deal with subs. For surface targets AW159 can carry up to four long-range (25 kilometers) Israeli Spike missiles. This version of Spike is called NLOS (Non Line-Of-Sight). Each one weighs 70kg (155 pounds), twice what the next largest version. Spike is a series of anti-tank (or whatever) missiles with ranges from 200-25,000 meters. Spike NLOS can be fired at a target the operator cannot see (but someone else, with a laser designator, can see). Spike NLOS is usually fired from helicopters equipped with a laser designator. South Korea wants to use Spike NLOS off their west coast, to help block North Korean attempts to invade South Korean islands near the maritime border. An AW159 with Spike NLOS only has to be about 40 meters (122 feet) high to spot something 25 kilometers away. The Spike NLOS has multiple guidance systems, including a live video feed that allows the pilot to fly the missile into to the target, or use the image of the selected target to have the missile home in by itself (fire and forget). On the downside Spike NLOS is expensive, costing over $250,000 each. In cargo mode AW159s can carry seven passengers or half a ton of cargo. The first FFX frigate entered service in early 2013. These are 3,200 ton ships and are each armed with a 127mm gun, eight anti-ship or cruise missiles, three torpedo tubes, a RAM anti-missile launcher, and a Phalanx anti-missile gun system and a hanger for one helicopter. The ships are highly automated, requiring a crew of only 140. Top speed is 61 kilometers an hour. Range is 8,000 kilometers. Most of the equipment (including electronics) and weapons are locally built. South Korea plans to build at least fifteen of these ships. The first six were all to be in service by 2016. The first ship in the class, the Ulsan, cost over $110 million. South Korea hopes to export the FFX to many navies who want a quality, low cost, warships. Meanwhile, South Korea has also built larger warships and is getting more into submarine production. The Islamic terrorist problem in the northeast is being sustained in part by competition. Boko Haram has split into two major factions that see each other as rivals, not allies. The two faction leaders spend most of their time staying out of view while trying to rebuild and organize terror attacks designed to attract the most media coverage. The Barnawi faction is recognized by ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) leadership while the Shekau faction (while still claiming to be part of ISIL) is not. Because of this the two factions have been operating quite differently. Barnawi is believed to have established a base in southern Libya, where ISIL still operates and has access to smuggling routes from Libya south (via Niger) to northern Nigeria, Mali and the Atlantic coast. Barnawi is concentrating on training and developing an organization that will last. The Shekau faction is still in northeast Nigeria doing what Boko Haram has always done; killing as many Nigerians as possible. While the Barnawi faction has been relatively quiet the Shekau faction is killing about a dozen people a week. This includes some attacks in neighboring Cameroon, where Boko Haram often seeks sanctuary from military pressure in Nigeria. Boko Haram also recruits from refugee camps in Cameroon housing refugees from Nigeria. The Boko Haram split began in August 2016 when ISIL announced that it was replacing Abubakar Shekau with Abu Musab al Barnawi., ISIL accused Shekau of mismanagement, especially because he devoted too much effort to killing fellow Moslems (especially civilians) rather than the real enemies of ISIL (local security forces and non-Moslems in general). ISIL leadership was also unhappy with the Boko Haram use of children and women as suicide bombers. While the new Boko Haram leader has concentrated attacks on the security forces and non-Moslems he has also used children, especially females, as suicide bombers. Barnawi is a son of Mohammed Yusuf, one of the Boko Haram founders. Barnawi was appointed chief Boko Haram spokesman in January 2015 and established himself as a leader. Although Barnawi has developed a following in Boko Haram Shekau refused to accept the ISIL decision. Shekau attracted Boko Haram veterans who regretted the 2015 decision to become part of ISIL. At the time this was believed to be an effort to avoid a split in Boko Haram as more radical members declared themselves followers of ISIL or even tried to go to Syria to join ISIL. Few African Islamic terrorists have done that, largely because of the cost and difficulty travelling from Africa to areas where ISIL is (or was) dominant. But in many parts of the world older Islamic terror organizations are fracturing because their more enthusiastic members prefer the ISIL style of ultra-violence. By the time Boko Haram joined ISIL was already on the defensive in the Middle East and by mid-2017 ISIL was facing the loss of its primary sanctuary in Syria and Iraq. For that reason the smaller operations in Africa (mainly Libya and Nigeria) assumed greater importance. ISIL still had resources and Nigeria was now near the top of the list of those who would get them. The two Boko Haram factions appear to have achieved some kind of truce with each other and continue to operate independently. The intelligence agencies believe the two factions are pursuing different goals because one faction is international while the original one was strictly about Nigeria. This is a common patter with Islamic terrorists groups in Africa. Boko Haram And The Donate A Daughter Option Police seeking to discover why so many children and girls were being used by Boko Haram as suicide bombers believe they have discovered the reason. Boko Haram will often protect are area from violence (mostly the work of Boko Haram) if the locals pay taxes. This is often in the form of cash or supplies (like food), labor or use of structures. In 2015 it became common for Boko Haram to demand children (as fighters or girls for wives) but Boko Haram leaders noted that the younger kids could be persuaded to cooperate in suicide bombing operations, especially if you didnt tell them they were going to be blown apart. These were rural kids that were illiterate and did not have access to electronic news media so were unaware of what they were getting into. This use of kids became very noticeable in early 2017 when it was noted that the use of children as suicide bombers has tripled this year (27 in the first three months of 2017 compared to nine in 2016) was rapidly increasing. The Other Economy It appears that Nigeria is recovering from the recession and will end 2017 with some (under one percent) GDP growth. The new government has made some progress on curbing the corruption and helping the economy adapt to lower oil prices. At the same time oil production has grown to 2.35 million barrels per day (BPD). At the same time actual oil income is less than expected because world oil prices remain low. That has been the trend for the last few months. Production rose 22 percent in April to 1.48 million BPD. Production was 1.53 million BPD at the start of 2017 but then declined to 1.43 million in February and 1.21 million BPD in March. The April increase is largely the result of the federal government making acceptable peace deals with the local tribal rebels who have been bombing pipeline and other oil facilities. That violence returned in 2016 because of corruption in the local state governments that became an issue once more. Back in late 2016 the government proclaimed the 1.56 million BPD in November 2016 put Nigeria on the way to the goal of 2.5 million BPD by 2020. Then reality intervened as promises to the locals were broken. Peace and more oil production is unlikely to be achieved much less sustained unless there are some fundamental economic and political changes in the Niger River Delta oil fields. That is happening, but at a glacial pace because so many of the local politicians and government officials have gotten rich from corrupt practices and are still opposing change. August 6, 2017: In the southeast (Anambra state) gunmen entered a Catholic church during a heavily attended mass and began shooting. Twelve people were killed before the gunmen suddenly left. It quickly became clear that this was not another Islamic terror attack (Boko Haram is rarely encountered in this part of the country) but a gang war. The gunmen were in the church looking for a specific target, who wasnt there and the gunmen stopped shooting and left when they realized that. Since this happened in a church and only innocent civilians died lots of people were willing to tell the police what they knew. People connected with the shooting were soon found, arrested and confirmed what many had suspected. August 3, 2017: The government has agreed to legalize many of many of the illegal oil refineries that supply refined petroleum products to several million people in the Niger River Delta and work for thousands. Such refineries are common in the Niger River Delta where they using stolen crude oil but the government will provide crude oil for the legal refineries. For decades gangs have punched holes into pipelines and gathered oil for use in crude illegal refineries that produce low grade kerosene and diesel. In 2016 the security forces destroyed 181 of these illegal refineries and seized oil and refined products worth about $1.3 billion. The government proposal would allow these improvised refineries to be set up all over the country to deal with the chronic shortage of refined petroleum products (another side effect of decades of corruption). The government would supply the crude oil to the legal mini-refineries (that would pay their taxes and not pollute the neighborhood). August 2, 2017: The United States has apparently overcome political opposition to selling Nigeria twelve A-29 Super Tucano warplanes and given final permission for the sale. This is something the Nigerian military had wanted since 2015 but the U.S. refused to provide because of the corruption and Nigerian security forces tendency to kill a lot of civilians. The A-29 can be used for pilot training as well as air support of soldiers and police. Such support includes surveillance and reconnaissance as well as bombing. The Super Tucano is a single engine turbo-prop trainer/attack aircraft that is used by over a dozen nations. This aircraft carries two internal 12.7mm (.50 caliber) machine-guns along with 1.5 tons of bombs, rockets, camera/signal collection pods or even a 20mm autocannon pod. It can stay in the air for 6.5 hours at a time. It is rugged, easy to maintain and cheap. These cost about $18 million each when you include training, spare parts and support equipment. These aircraft are more useful than jet fighters, which are much more expensive to buy and operate and are not as effective for ground attack. July 30, 2017: Acting president Osinbajo ordered the senior military leadership to establish a headquarters in the northeast and visit it regularly to deal more effectively with the continuing Boko Haram violence up there. The military chiefs obeyed and visited an airbase near Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. This is where most of the Boko Haram violence has occurred and Maiduguri was where Boko Haram first became active. The military chiefs know that the acting president (and his boss, who is on sick leave) follow up on things like this. So the Maiduguri air base has been ordered to prepare for regular visits and staff officers stationed at the base were told that their work in the next few months could make, or break, their careers. July 28, 2017: Boko Haram released a video of three civilian oil exploration personnel (from the faculty of the University of Maiduguri) who were kidnapped in the aftermath of an ambush on the 25th in Borno State. The three men are being held by the Barnawi faction of Boko Haram. This faction is recognized by ISIL and has access to resources Islamic terror groups use to get large ransoms for hostages, especially foreign hostages. So far there has not been a specific demand. July 26, 2017: President Buhari met in London with governors of seven Nigerian states to clear up some of the mysteries that had developed because he had been in Britain receiving medical treatment since early May. Buhari had not appeared in public since then nor had he made any live media appearances. Today he explained to the seven governors that he was following the advice of his doctors and resting while taking the time to complete his treatments. He did not say (in his own voice, which had not changed) how long that would take. Buhari did appear ill but was alert and confident he would return to Nigeria. The vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, has officially been acting president since May because the 74 year old Buhari had been incapacitated and unwilling to communicate. This has happened before but this is the longest Buhari has been on medical leave and the 60 year old Osinbajo (a popular and highly regarded lawyer) has filled in competently. But there was growing unease over the lack of information about exactly what Buhari is suffering from, the extent to which he is disabled and how long it will last. Some lawsuits were filed to compel the government to provide answers. To deal with this the governors were invited to visit Buhari in London. July 25, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) Boko Haram ambushed a large convoy headed for Lake Chad. The attack killed 69 people in the convoy including 19 soldiers, 33 local defense volunteers and 17 civilians (most of them senior officials from the University of Maiduguri and the National Oil Corporation). This attack turned out to be the work of the Barnawi faction. In the last few months most of the Islamic terrorist violence in the northeast has been the work of the Shekau faction. July 24, 2017: OPEC announced that Nigerias new production limit was 1.8 million BPD. Nigeria produced 1.7 million BPD in June. July 11, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) the military allowed commercial fishing to resume on the Nigerian portion of Lake Chad. Such fishing had been suspended three years ago because Boko Haram was using fishing boats (and pretending to be fishermen) to move weapons, men and equipment around via the lake. Within a week of fishing resuming Boko Haram had killed at least 30 fishermen in retaliation. City councillors have called for an investigation into how Taurangas pensioner housing will best work in the future. Councillors have been presented with two options; either sell off the citys pensioner flats or lease them to an organisation that can operate them. Our decision was heavily based on the desire to improve tenant wellbeing, says Chair of the Community and Culture Committee, Terry Molloy. One of Councils key priorities is to provide a higher standard of living for all its residents, and that includes affordable, fit for purpose housing for our ageing population. A report by the New Zealand Housing Foundation, recommends that Council sell its portfolio to a community housing provider or it could retain ownership and partner with a CHP to run them. A working group established as part of the review, considers both options are worth pursuing and recommends that they are both investigated further before a decision is made. The working group will report back to the Committee before the end of the year. Any future decision, will involve public consultation, before it is implemented. There is a growing need to increase the current Elder Housing stock to keep up with demand, says Terry. We already have over 30 people on a waiting list who require affordable housing. Without access to government funding, it makes it very difficult for Council to provide a sustainable service going forward. If we stay with the status quo, it would be a disservice to the people who really need the support. We are committed to finding the best way forward to ensure affordable Elder Housing can continue to be offered in Tauranga, while protecting the welfare and tenure of our current tenants, says Terry. Alongside NZHFs report, Council established a tenant advisory group and working group. Tenants from each of the nine Elder Housing villages in Tauranga made up the tenant advisory group. Representatives from a range of community organisations, government agencies, technical experts and a representative from the tenant advisory group, formed the working group. Central government is using law changes to turn councils away from providing pensioner housing. They make council tenants ineligible to access Income Related Rent Subsidies and limit Councils access to government funding to build new units. Council has 246 Elder Housing units spread across nine villages in Greerton, Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Central. Councils Elder Housing stock is ageing, with over one third of the units around 50 years old and none less than 25 years. On a fit for purpose basis, one village is in need of redevelopment within five years and at least three other villages within 10 years. If you are planning to view the total solar eclipse that will be crossing the United States on August 21, you better be ready because total viewing time will only be just over two minutes. This may seem like a long time, but it goes by faster than you think thanks to Sperling's "8-Second Law." However, astronomers at NASA plan to extend the total viewing time by almost five minutes by chasing the moon's shadow with two WB-57F jets from the 1960s. Amir Caspi and his team of fellow scientists from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, will use the two converted warplanes to fly in the path of the eclipse at 460 mph for just under four minutes each, which will extend the viewing time to seven and a half minutes. This is not the first flight extending an eclipse's duration. For example, in 1973 scientists chased an eclipse for 74 minutes at Mach 2 in a Concorde. However, at supersonic speeds, air turbulence hampers telescopic observations. Another eclipse-chasing flight occurred last year that was at an altitude of 35,000 feet at subsonic speed. It only lasted about three minutes but was extremely exciting for the astronomers on board. The planes will launch from Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and travel over Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee at an altitude of 50,000 feet. The jets will use high definition cameras in their modified noses that will take 30 pictures per second. The high altitude will put the planes well over cloud cover, and the subsonic speeds should allow for the clearest pictures ever taken of a total eclipse. The increase in altitude also means the sky will be 20-30 times darker than on the ground increasing the contrast. Caspi says he hopes they will be able to capture nanoflares, small explosions that occur high above the sun's surface. Scientists have yet to see them visually, but the phenomena are theorized to be the cause of coronal heating and an explanation for why the sun's corona and magnetic fields seem to appear uniform. The project is only one of 11 NASA funded eclipse studies, most of which are ground-based. Even though Caspi's team consists of several researchers, only four will be aboard the jets; one pilot and one equipment operator will be in each plane. "It's my first eclipse, but I'll be watching it from a monitor in Houston," Amir joked. In fact, NASA will be streaming the eclipse live. If you cannot see it from where you live, at least you can watch the space agency's broadcast. The eclipse will follow a path through 15 US states including Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. The width of the moon's shadow is only 70 miles wide though, so only a select few areas in these states will have the best views for totality. Partial eclipses will be viewable throughout the rest of North America. The next total eclipse to cross the United States will not occur until 2024, so if you are in the path of this one be sure to catch it. It might be your only chance to see a total eclipse in your lifetime. Amazon over the years has gathered a wealth of shopping information from its customers. Unsurprisingly so, the company has taken that data and developed a number of "house brands" like Amazon Basics to sell products directly to consumers. The strategy has allowed Amazon to effectively eliminate the middleman and put more money in its pocket. What you may not know, however, is that Amazon operates far more in-house brands than it initially lets on. Quartz recently skimmed more than 800 trademarks applied for by or awarded to Amazon. The publication found 19 brands owned by Amazon that sell products or have product pages on the e-commerce giant's site. Some of the brands have previously been identified as belonging to Amazon - Franklin & Freeman, James & Erin, Lark & Ro and Single Cow Burger, to name a few - but others aren't readily known to be owned by the company. The publication also identified several other brands owned by Amazon that don't yet have products online such as Bloom Street, Find, GT Prime, Single and Sweatermen and even more still that only sell products on Amazon and list the same address for an incorporation company in Delaware. When probed for comment, a spokesperson told the site that Amazon has a range of brands including Amazon Basics, Happy Belly, Mama Bear, Pinzon, Presto!, Wickedly Prime, Goodthreads, Amazon Essentials, Mae, Ella Moon, Buttoned Down, The Fix and Lark & Ro but declined to comment further. So, what's the reasoning for operating so many brands? Mark DiMassimo, a direct-economy expert and the CEO of New York-based advertising agency DiMassimo Goldstein, suggests to Quartz that the Amazon brand can only stretch so far. "Can you imagine anyone ever saying, 'oh lord this Amazon personal lubricant is just so sexy?'" DiMassimo asked. "There are limits to the Amazon brand that Amazon would be wise not to cross." Good point. Lead image via Scott Sady, AP Photo It was back in July last year when China finished work on the world's largest single-aperture telescope. It took five years and $180 million to build the Five-Hundred-Meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, which was switched on in September. But there's a problem - nobody wants the job of overseeing the facility. According to the South China Morning Post, the telescope's owner - The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - has been looking overseas for candidates to take on the role of FAST's operator-in-chief because no local astronomers have the required experience. "The post is currently open to scientists working outside China only. Candidates can be of any nationality, any race," a human resources official at the academy's bureau of personnel told the publication. The position's pay is comparable to similar jobs found in the west. The head of the facility will also receive eight million yuan in research funding and subsidies such as free housing. But finding a suitable person - and someone who wants the job - isn't proving easy. Candidates must have 20 years' experience, had a leading role at a similar project, offer plenty of managerial experience, and hold a professorship - or equally senior position - in a world-leading research institute or university. Language barriers and cultural differences are also reported to be hurdles, as is the requirement to live in the mountains of Guizhou, a relatively poor location in one of the country's least developed areas. Strangely, other reports say the Chinese government and CAS are denying the South China Morning Post's claims. CAS says there is no current recruitment drive, and that the leadership position has been filled since July last year, though it failed to name the person running the facility. Several scientists working at the telescope refused to comment on the matter, saying it could lead to "political trouble." The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has spoken out against Apple for refusing to cooperate on the implementation of a national Do-Not-Disturb app. Trai claims that Apple is making it difficult for consumers to forward information about telemarketers, potential scams, and other unwanted electronic communication. "While Google's Android supports our Do-Not-Disturb (DND) app, Apple has just been discussing, discussing, and discussing. They have not done anything," stated R.S. Sharma, chairman of the regulatory authority. Why the app in question has been repeatedly denied to appear on the App Store is somewhat of a mystery, but it is likely that Apple would like to prevent outside groups from gaining influence over how content is filtered on devices. Only SMS and call history is reported, not the content or recordings of any communication. According to Sharma, use of the app is completely optional and sharing information from it is no different than using an app to share data with your bank. This brings into question whether you truly have full access to your own information if there are restrictions on how you can use your own personal data. Apple has not responded to comment on the matter and is still believed to remain in continued negotiations with Trai. Meanwhile, Sharma has voiced support for Android and its full support for his Do-Not-Disturb app. Increasing privacy concerns and the desire to not be tracked are important as more personal information is collected and sold from all electronics. However, some users may find it worth giving up metadata if it means the end of unwanted phone calls and spam messages. A new Pentagon policy has been approved that allows military personnel to shoot down private or commercial drones if they are deemed a threat. Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis announced that the policy was transmitted to the various military branches back in July but still remains classified. The new policy does not actually change the laws for flying a drone, it just outlines the rules of engagement for drones that are approaching a no-fly zone. Each situation will be different, but the military now has the authority to disable, destroy, or track drones. Military bases, national parks, airports, and sporting venues have all been no-fly zones for many years. The FAA also banned unauthorized consumer drone use over 133 military facilities. Before this new policy, penalties for flying in a no-fly zone included fines and possibly jail time. Enforcement of these rules was difficult though due to specific wording in the legislation and the difficulty in locating a drone's actual operator. The Department of Defense said this policy will affect 133 military facilities, which likely refers to those previously classified by the FAA. Flying over the sites is still illegal, the military just has a way to defend itself now. The White House has also proposed letting police monitor drones and disable or destroy them if they are deemed a threat. Most consumer drones have some form of geofencing to automatically avoid these no-fly zones, but they can easily be fooled with software modifications. Back in July, HBO was hit with a major cyberattack where hackers made off with scripts and episodes for HBO programs such as Game of Thrones, Ballers, and Room 104. The hackers recently published a publicly accessible link to a treasure trove of data. This latest batch of data included administrator passwords for HBO's internal network, drafts for five Game of Thrones episodes, emails from HBO VP, Leslie Cohen, and the personal phone numbers of Game of Throne actors. Now they're back and demanding a ransom. In a five-minute video letter from someone called "Mr Smith", the hackers told the company to pay within three days or they would reveal more HBO shows and confidential corporate information. Additionally, they would only deal directly with HBO CEO Richard Plepler and only send one letter detailing how to pay. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the text in the video reads: "We successfully breached into your huge network...HBO was one of our difficult targets to deal with but we succeeded (it took about 6 months)." Although the amount of money wasn't specified, the hackers demanded "our six-month salary in bitcoin", claiming they "earn" $12 million to $15 million a year from blackmailing other organizations they've compromised. HBO is apparently the 17th target of this hacker group with only three companies refusing to pay. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, an HBO spokesperson responded: "HBO believed that further leaks might emerge from this cyber incident when we confirmed it last week. As we said, the forensic review is ongoing. While it has been reported that a number of emails have been made public, the review to date has not given us a reason to believe that our e-mail system as a whole has been compromised." While the original motive behind the initial hack was unclear, it seems now that extortion is the end game. Netflix faced a similar conundrum back in April when a hacker group known as the "TheDarkOverlord" leaked the fifth season of Orange is the New Black and demanded Netflix pay a ransom. The leak of internal HBO documents seems to prove the authenticity of the hack but it's unknown how HBO plans to respond to the ransom demands. According to a lawsuit recently filed in San Francisco, the Walt Disney Company has allegedly been collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 and selling it to advertisers. The filing claims Disney and three other software companies - Upsight, Unity, and Kochava - have violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and is seeking an injunction to bar the companies from collecting and sharing data without parental consent. It is also looking to collect punitive damages and legal fees. The plaintiffs listed in the case are Amanda Rushing and her child, L.L., "on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated," indicating that it is a class action suit. The plaintiffs allege that Disney and its software partners embedded tracking tools within popular apps targeted at young children. Most of the apps are rated for children younger than five or for everyone / all ages. "[The trackers] exfiltrate that information off the smart device for advertising and other commercial purposes," the suit claims. Profiles are sent to data and analytic companies for "commercial exploitation." "These are heavy-duty technologies whose role is to track and monetize individuals," Jeffrey Chester, the executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, told the Washington Post. "These should not be in little children's apps." Disney issued a statement yesterday denying the claim and pledging to fight the lawsuit in court. "Disney has a robust COPPA compliance program, and we maintain strict data collection and use policies for Disney apps created for children and families. The complaint is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of COPPA principles, and we look forward to defending this action in Court." Despite its "robust COPPA compliance program," Disney has been found guilty of similar violations in the past. In 2011, the Federal Trade Commission fined the Disney subsidiary Playdom $3 million when it violated the child protection act by registering 1.2 million users for online play. Most of these users were under the age of 13. The registration collected similar information as the current apps in question such as email addresses, ages, full names, instant messenger handles and physical locations. Some of the 42 apps listed in the lawsuit are extremely popular. Stats on the Google Play Store, for instance, show that Where's My Water? 2 has been downloaded over 100 million times and has been reviewed by almost two million users. Disney's Frozen Free Fall, which has been downloaded more than 50 million times, is another listed on the court filing. The full list of apps named in the lawsuit includes: AvengersNet Beauty and the Beast Perfect Match Cars Lightening League Club Penguin Island Color by Disney Disney Color and Play Disney Crossy Road Disney Dream Treats Disney Emoji Blitz Disney Gif Disney Jigsaw Puzzle! Disney LOL Disney Princess: Story Theater Disney Store Become Disney Story Central Disney's Magic Timer by Oral-B Disney Princess: Charmed Adventures Dodo Pop Disney Build It Frozen DuckTales: Remastered Frozen Free Fall Frozen Free Fall: Icy Shot Good Dinosaur Storybook Deluxe Inside Out Thought Bubbles Maleficent Free Fall Miles from Tomorrowland: Missions Moana Island Life Olaf's Adventures Palace Pets in Whisker Haven Sofia the First Color and Play Sofia the First Secret Library Star Wars: Puzzle DroidsTM Star WarsTM: Commander Temple Run: Oz Temple Run: Brave The Lion Guard Toy Story: Story Theater Where's My Water? Where's My Mickey? Where's My Water? 2 Where's My Water? Lite/Where's My Water? Free Zootopia Crime Files: Hidden Object The class action seeks to represent consumers in 35 states. A trial date has not yet been set. Go In Snow - Car Review: 2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring Review By John Heilig THE AUTO PAGE By John Heilig Senior Editor and Bureau Chief Mid-Atlantic Bureau The Auto Channel REVIEWED MODEL: 2017 Subaru Outback Touring ENGINE: 3.6-liter H-6 TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 256 hp @ 6,000 rpm/247 lb.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm WHEELBASE: 108.1 in. LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 189.6 x 72.4 x 66.5 in. TIRES: P225/60R18 CARGO CAPACITY: 33.5/73.3 cu. ft. (rear seats up/down) ECONOMY: 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/26.6 mpg test FUEL TANK: 18.5 gal. CURB WEIGHT: 3,856 lbs. TOWING CAPACITY: 2,700 lbs. COMPETITIVE CLASS: Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Mazda CX-5 STICKER: $39,070 (includes $875 delivery) BOTTOM LINE: The Subaru Outback is a smooth, well-handling comfortable riding station wagon with everything one could want. You can best judge a vehicle when its under strain. The Subaru Outback endured several hours of agonizing traffic on I-95 around Washington, DC, and I still didnt feel like taking a sledgehammer to it. In fact, the more time we spent in the Outback, the more it endeared itself to us. Honestly, though, we were still glad when our endurance test was over. The Outback is a station wagon. There, I said it. In this world of SUVs and CUVs, the Outback is unabashedly a wagon. The styling reflects this rather than a UV. Still, it has a high road clearance to take advantage of the asymmetrical all wheel drive that Subaru is famous for. As a wagon, and therefore more sedan-like, the Outback has great cargo capacity without sacrificing comfort. Ride quality under all circumstances is very good to excellent, depending on road surface. Operation is virtually silent, and almost no road noise intrudes into the cabin. We took the Outback on asphalt, cement, and gravel-and-tar covered dirt with no serious reduction in ride quality. Only Pennsylvania roads presented a challenge, but thats another story. Power is outstanding from the 3.6-liter horizontally opposed six. It is rated at 256 horsepower, which is more than enough for the 3,856-pound vehicle. We spoke with an owner of an older (by a couple of years) Outback and she said she rejected the 2.5-liter H-4 because it felt underpowered. The optional 3.6-liter H-6engine is quiet, even when provoked under hard acceleration. And even with our tortuous Interstate experience, economy was very good at 26.6 mpg, almost matching the EPA estimated highway figures. Maneuverability is also very good. The low-mounted Boxter engine and AWD contribute to good handling on winding roads and (ugh!) Interstates. We took the Outback over our favorite hillclimb course and totally enjoyed it. Brakes are very good and not tacky. At one point in traffic, the Outback didnt think I was braking fast enough and warning lights came on at the base of the windshield. This crash avoidance feature is useful. In all situations so far, I have had my foot on or near the brake pedal when the lights come on, but still its a great safety feature. Many times, a driver can be distracted for a short period and something in front can happen that requires fast action. Other safety features include adaptive cruise control and lane departure alerts. The cruise control worked perfectly. It was one of the best we have encountered, although all are great. The LDA, on the other hand, can be annoying. I looked in the owners manual to figure out how to turn it off, but it took a visit to Google to find the answer. Styling of the Outback is conservative, but an improvement over the previous generation. Our tester wore an interesting exterior color - Brilliant Brown Pearl - that we felt was outstanding. In addition, the center stack and dash have been redesigned for the better. All the buttons and switches are within easy reach of the driver. All interior surfaces were black and soft to the touch. There was tasteful wood trim on the dash that matched the dark brown seats and, of course, the brown exterior color. Visibility's great all around with a lot of glass. There are even wing windows to give visibility in the difficult corner at the base of the A-pillar. They dont move, but could have been attached to the door window. Im certain the designers chose to make them non-moving for a reason. Front seats are comfortable on long rides. Rear seats offer excellent leg room. The rear seats lower easily to more than double cargo capacity with a flat floor. The trunk in our tester had a rubber-like floor insert that is good for containing spills. Other interior cargo spaces include a cubby at the base of the center stack with a pair of USB outlets and the requisite number of cup holders. Few vehicles have intrigued my wife and me as much as the Subaru Outback. It could have been the exterior color, but just a short time behind the wheel showed me that the ride quality was excellent and the performance matched the looks. The bad news? My local dealer told me that the exterior color has been discontinued...oops! (c) 2017 The Auto Page Syndicate The Most In-Depth Subaru Vehicle Shopper's Research - Anywhere! ATLANTAMercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced today that it has received approval from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Veterans Affairs including State Approving Agencies (SAA) to become the first luxury automotive manufacturer to offer a Registered Apprenticeship Program in four U.S. states, certifying Mercedes-Benz DRIVE as part of the National Apprenticeship System. Through MBUSAs 16-week technician training and development program, Mercedes-Benz DRIVE, veterans and nonveterans alike will be trained for in-demand technician careers at authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Specifically, candidates interested in obtaining a career as a systems technician will receive training in core competencies such as brakes and traction, service and maintenance and telematics, in addition to E-Mobility, diagnostic strategy and electrical fundamentals. Students will also take a course in career development, helping them prepare for a successful transition into the automotive industry. The complexity of our current and future luxury vehicles, along with significant sales growth, has created a strong and growing need for skilled, professional technicians, said Christian Treiber, vice president of customer service at MBUSA. Mechanics are now technologists with a high level of sophistication. With an eye towards the future, Mercedes-Benz has mapped out a new path that makes technician jobs attractive to veterans as well as providing much-needed assets for dealerships. At the successful completion of the programs hands-on and instructional learning, apprentices receive a certificate from both MBUSA and the DOL. These certifications will be recognized at all Mercedes-Benz dealerships throughout the United States, honoring the significant achievement of completing over 640 hours of specific, manufacturer training. Mercedes-Benz DRIVE is offered in four locations across the country: Long Beach, Calif; Dallas, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Norwood, Mass. Applicants are able to obtain additional information about Mercedes-Benz DRIVE by emailing mbdrive@mbusa.com. About Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 15 model lines ranging from the sporty CLA-Class four-door coupe to the flagship S-Class and the Mercedes-AMG GT S. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans and smart products in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com. FORGELINE CARBON+FORGED SERIES WHEELS NOW IN FULL PRODUCTION DAYTON, Ohio August 7, 2017; After debuting their revolutionary new Carbon+Forged Series wheels at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, the team from Forgeline Motorsports returned to their Dayton, Ohio manufacturing facility and focused their attention on working with their advanced composites technology partner, Emergent Carbon Wheels, to ramp up production and begin fulfilling orders. Though the ramp up period took a bit longer than originally hoped, which is not surprising given the nature of such a new proprietary technology, Forgeline's new Carbon+Forged Series wheels are now in full production, and almost all sizes of the lightweight carbon fiber barrels are currently in stock and ready to ship. Utilizing weight-optimized CNC-machined forged aluminum centers combined with Emergent's revolutionary proprietary carbon fiber barrels, Forgeline's new made-to-order Carbon+Forged wheels deliver the ultimate in technological advancement, exclusive styling, and unparalleled lightweight performance. "The positive reaction to the Carbon+Forged wheel prototype at SEMA was incredible. We worked really hard to bring this to market, and we are proud of the strength and performance of these wheels. Our Carbon+Forged wheels are great to look at and are an exclusive model for our customers who want to set themselves apart from everyone else," said Forgeline President David Schardt. Forgeline Carbon+Forged wheels are engineered to set entirely new standards of appearance and performance. The super-lightweight carbon fiber barrels utilize a high-density carbon fiber bundle, high-clarity resin system and an unusually large carbon weave pattern to create a rim that is attractive and visually distinctive. The resulting rim is 42 percent lighter than its aluminum equivalent, delivering a weight reduction to the wheel's most critical outer perimeter where it has the greatest reduction in unwanted inertia and yields real-world improvements to acceleration, braking, cornering traction, ride quality, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), driver/passenger comfort and fuel economy. Forgelines Carbon+Forged carbon fiber barrels are also engineered and tested to deliver industry-leading levels of fatigue strength, impact and damage resistance and deflection stiffness. Tested by an independent automotive industry laboratory, the wheels have proven to be incredibly strong and robust, exceeding all existing Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and TUV test specifications and surpassing the AK-LH 08 Radial Impact Test standard. The first wheels available from Forgeline's new Carbon+Forged Series are the lightweight racing-inspired CF201, featuring a five V-spoke design and aggressive I-beam machining details, and the stylish CF202, featuring a very unique directional sculpted angular spoke design. They are available in 20- and 21-inch fitments, each uniquely engineered for exclusive modern sport and luxury vehicles including the Corvette Z06, Ferrari 458/488, Audi R8, Acura NSX, Lamborghini Huracan/Aventedor, Porsche 918/GT3/GT3RS as well as Aston Martin, McLaren, Mercedes and BMW applications. As of July 2017, orders for all Forgeline Carbon+Forged CF201 and CF202 wheels are now being accepted, and orders are shipping daily following Forgelines usual 4-6 week production schedule. About Forgeline Motorsports For over 20 years Dayton, Ohio-based Forgeline Motorsports has designed, engineered and manufactured premium, custom-made one-piece and three-piece forged aluminum street performance and racing performance wheels for the ultimate combination of fitment, performance and style. With a reputation for excellent quality and outstanding customer service, Forgeline creates bespoke wheels that are American originals. For more information call 1-800-886-0093 or visit www.forgeline.com. Follow on Facebook: Facebook.com/Forgeline, Twitter: @ForgelineWheels or Instagram: #forgeline. CHERRY HILL, N.J., Aug. 8, 2017 --In celebration of its 50th anniversary, and in keeping with its philosophy of supporting local communities, Subaru of America, Inc. announced today its donation of 50 vehicles to Meals on Wheels America. This fall, 50 new 2018 Subaru Outback vehicles will be donated to select Meals on Wheels programs throughout the county, to be used in the delivery of an estimated 53,000 meals to an additional 3,700 seniors across 39 states. The donation will address the Meals on Wheels network's growing demand for fuel-efficient, versatile and safe delivery vehicles to enable our nation's most vulnerable seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. Subaru has supported Meals on Wheels for the last nine years through Share the Love, contributing more than $12 million to Meals on Wheels America and providing more than 1.7 million nutritious meals, friendly visits, and safety checks to seniors in communities nationwide. Subaru announced the donation to its 630-strong retailer body at the company's National Business Conference in Denver, CO. This was particularly appropriate as Subaru retailers participate in the company's annual Share the Love event and donate to causes in their local community. The company's '50 Cars for 50 Years' vehicle donation will enable Meals on Wheels programs to deliver more nutritious meals and moments of companionship, expanding its reach to seniors in need. "This generous vehicle donation will have an immediate and indelible impact on local Meals on Wheels programs and the seniors they serve many of whom live in rural, remote and difficult to reach places," said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO, Meals on Wheels America. "This latest act of care and kindness further underscores Subaru of America's longstanding commitment to giving back to communities large and small." The Subaru and Meals on Wheels partnership is part of Subaru Loves to Help, a pillar of the automaker's larger Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment effort dedicated to making a positive impact on local communities across the country. Each 2018 Subaru Outback donated will be delivered to local retailers and wrapped with Meals on Wheels America and 'Subaru Loves to Help' co-branding. "We were pleased to break this announcement to our retailers as they do so much to help their local communities and showing them the first of 50 vehicles in the metal really brings the program to life," said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. "We wanted to celebrate our 50th anniversary in America in a way that is appropriate for our brand and are delighted to donate vehicles that will support local communities by combatting threats of isolation and hunger affecting seniors across the country. At Subaru, we believe in providing safe and reliable vehicles for all of life's journeys and are honored to partner with Meals on Wheels to help people live more nourished lives." SUBARU '50 CARS FOR 50 YEARS' RECIPIENTS City of Kenai /Kenai Senior Services, Kenai, AK Homer Senior Citizens, Inc., Homer, AK United Way of Central Alabama , Birmingham, AL Senior Activity Center of Elkins , Elkins, AR CareLink , North Little Rock, AR , Coconino County Community Services Department , Flagstaff, AZ , Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services , Walnut Creek, CA , Service Opportunity for Seniors , San Leandro, CA , Gray Gourmet , Grand Junction, CO , Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc., Jewett City, CT Meals on Wheels, Etc. , Sanford, FL , Athens Community Council on Aging , Athens, GA , Senior Citizens, Inc. , Savannah, GA , Metro Meals on Wheels , Boise, ID , Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois , Lincoln, IL , REAL Services, Inc. , South Bend, IN , Meals on Wheels Nemaha County , Seneca, KS , Tri-County Community Action Agency, Inc. , LaGrange , KY , , KY St. Martin Council on Aging , Breaux Bridge, LA , Ethos Jamaica , Plain, MA Plain, MA Eastern Area Agency on Aging , Bangor, ME , SeniorsPlus , Lewiston, ME , Benzie County Council on Aging, Inc. , Honor, MI , CEAP Meals on Wheels , Brooklyn Center, MN , Putnam County Senior Citizens , Unionville, MO , Senior Services, Inc. , Winston Salem, NC , Meals on Wheels of Durham , Inc ., Durham, NC ., Tabitha, Inc. , Lincoln, NE , Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada , Reno, NV , Foodnet Meals on Wheels , Ithaca, NY , Meigs County Council on Aging, Inc. , Pomeroy, OH , Pomeroy, OH Westlake Meals on Wheels , Westlake, OH , Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa , Tulsa, OK , FOOD for Lane County , Eugene, OR , Meals on Wheels of Northampton County , Bethlehem, PA , Berks Encore , Reading, PA , East Cooper Meals on Wheels , Mount Pleasant, SC , Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota , Rapid City, SD , Smoky Mountain Meals on Wheels , Maryville, TN , Meals on Wheels of Johnson & Ellis Counties , Cleburne, TX , Meals on Wheels San Antonio, San Antonio, TX Brigham City Senior Center Meals on Wheels , Brigham City, UT , Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens , Cedar Bluff, VA , Waterbury Area Senior Citizens Association, Waterbury, VT Whatcom Council on Aging, Bellingham, WA Senior Life Resources, Meals on Wheels , Richland, WA , Independent Living, Inc. , Madison, WI , Pendleton Senior and Family Services, Inc., Franklin, WV Tucker County Senior Citizens, Inc. , Parsons, WV , Uinta Senior Citizens Inc., Evanston, WY About Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. About Meals on Wheels America Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org. The following companies are subsidiares of Newmont: AC40689 Limited, Administradora de Negocios Mineros S.A. de C.V., Australian Capital Territory, Battle Mountain Resources Inc., Cayman Pampas Ltd., Con Exploration Ltd., Datawave Sciences Inc., Dawn Mining Company LLC, ELLC Grazing Membership LLC, EMH (BVI) Inc., Elko Land and Livestock Company, Empresa Minera Maria SRL, Fronteer Development (USA) LLC, Fronteer Development LLC, Fronteer Royalty LLC, GCGC LLC, GMK Investments Pty Ltd, Galore Creek Mining Corporation, Galore Creek Partnership, Glamis Rand Mining Company, Gold S.p.A., Goldcorp (Barbados) Inc., Goldcorp America Holdings Inc., Goldcorp Aureus Inc., Goldcorp Aurum Argentum Inc., Goldcorp Canada Ltd., Goldcorp Capital Corporation, Goldcorp Exeter Ltd., Goldcorp Faja de Plata S.A. de C.V., Goldcorp General Holdings Ltd., Goldcorp Global Services Inc., Goldcorp Holdings Europe B.V., Goldcorp Holdings GmbH, Goldcorp Inc., Goldcorp Insurance Company Inc., Goldcorp Internacional S.A. de C.V., Goldcorp Kaminak Ltd., Goldcorp Latin America Finance Limited, Goldcorp MC Holding S.p.A., Goldcorp Penasquito S.A. de C.V., Goldcorp Porcupine Nominee Ltd., Goldcorp Red Lake Nominee Ltd., Goldcorp Stratum Inc., Goldcorp Tesoro Inc., Goldcorp Trading GmbH, Goldcorp USA Holdings Ltd., Goldcorp USA Inc., Goldcorp USA Services Inc., Goldfields Power Pty Ltd, Hemlo Gold Mines (Ghana) Limited, Holdco S.p.A., Honduras Holdings Ltd., Hospah Holdings Company, Idarado Mining Company, International Mineral Finance S.AR.L., MMC Acquisition Limited, Mexicana Resources Inc., Minera Alumbrera Ltd., Minera BMG, Minera Choluteca S.A. de C.V., Minera Faja de Plata S.A. de C.V., Minera Los Tapados S.A., Minera Newmont (Chile) Limitada, Minera Penasquito S.A. de C.V., Minera Yanacocha S.R.L., Miramar Gold Corporation, Miramar HBG Inc., Miramar Northern Mining Ltd., Montana Exploradora de Guatemala S.A. de C.V., Moydow Limited, Musto Explorations (Bermuda) Ltd., N.I. Limited, NP Kalgoorlie Pty Ltd, NVL (USA) Limited, NVL Haiti Limited S.A., NVL PNG Limited, NVL Solomon Islands Limited, Nevada Eagle Resources LLC, Nevada Gold Mines LLC, New Verde Mines LLC, Newmont (Guyana) Incorporated, Newmont AP Power Pty Ltd, Newmont Australia Investment Limited, Newmont Boddington Pty Ltd, Newmont Bolivia Limited, Newmont CC&V Mining Corporation, Newmont Canada Corporation, Newmont Canada Holdings ULC, Newmont Capital Limited, Newmont Capital Pty Ltd, Newmont Colombia S.A.S., Newmont Euronimba B.V., Newmont FH B.V., Newmont GTR LLC, Newmont Galore Creek Holdings Corporation, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Newmont Gold Company, Newmont Gold Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Australia Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Boddington Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Exploration Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Integrated Services Inc., Newmont Goldcorp Red Lake Holdings Ltd., Newmont Goldcorp Services Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Tanami Pty Ltd, Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, Newmont Holdings ULC, Newmont Indonesia Investment Limited, Newmont Indonesia LLC, Newmont International Exploration Pty Ltd, Newmont International Group BV, Newmont International Services Limited, Newmont Investment Holdings LLC, Newmont Landco Pty Ltd, Newmont Latin America Limited, Newmont McCoy Cove Limited, Newmont Mineral Holdings B.V., Newmont Mines Limited, Newmont Mining Finance Pty Ltd, Newmont Mining Holdings Pty Ltd, Newmont NGL Holdings Pty Ltd, Newmont Nevada Energy Investment LLC, Newmont North America Exploration Limited, Newmont Nusa Tenggara Holdings B.V., Newmont Overseas Exploration Limited, Newmont Pacific Energy Pty Ltd, Newmont Peru Limited, Newmont Power Pty Ltd, Newmont Realty Company, Newmont Second Capital Corporation, Newmont Suriname LLC, Newmont Technologies Limited, Newmont USA Limited, Newmont Ventures Limited, Newmont Woodcutters Pty Ltd, Newmont Yandal Operations Pty Ltd, Newmont de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Normandy Company (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Normandy Overseas Holding Company Sdn Bhd, Nusa Tenggara Partnership B.V., Orcana Resources Inc., Oroplata S.A., PT Newmont Minahasa Raya, Pequop Exploration LLC, Peridot S.A., Pittston Nevada Gold Company Ltd., Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation, Red Lake Gold Mine Services Ltd., Resurrection Mining Company, Saddleback Investments Pty Ltd, San Juan Basin Holdings Company, Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation, Sermineros de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Sermineros de Mexico S.A. de C.V. <0.0010% Sermineros Zacatecas S.A. de C.V., Sociedad Contractual Minera El Morro, Suriname Gold Project CV, Takari Mining SAS, Talapoosa Mining Inc., The LeClair Consolidated Mines Company, The Matoa Gold Mining Company, US Mineral Company Inc., Vol Mines Limited, and West Pequop Project LLC. Read More 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. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and leases freight railroads. It operates through three segments: North American Operations, Australian Operations, and U.K./European Operations. The company transports various commodities, including agricultural products, autos and auto parts, chemicals and plastics, coal and coke, food and kindred products, lumber and forest products, metallic ores, metals, minerals and stone, petroleum products, pulp and paper, waste, and other commodities. It owns or leases 122 freight railroads, including 105 short line railroads and 2 regional freight railroads located in the United States, 8 short line railroads located in Canada, 3 railroads located in Australia, 1 railroad located in the United Kingdom, 1 railroad in Poland and Germany, and 2 railroads in the Netherlands with a total of approximately 16,200 miles of track. The company also operates 6,200 additional miles of track that is owned or leased by others. In addition, it operates deep sea maritime containers and provides bulk haulage, including coal, aggregates, cement, and infrastructure services. Further, the company provides rail service at approximately 40 ports; rail-ferry service in North America, Australia, and Europe; and contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut. The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets. The company offers financial advice and solutions, and day-to-day banking products, including debit and credit cards, chequing and saving accounts, investments, mortgages, loans, and insurance to individuals; and business banking solutions comprising lending, deposit, cash management, and trade finance solutions to small, medium, and large businesses, including automotive financing solutions to dealers and their customers. It also provides wealth management advice and solutions, including online brokerage, mobile investment, full-service brokerage, trust, private banking, and private investment counsel services; and retail mutual funds, exchange traded funds, liquid alternative funds, and institutional funds. In addition, the company offers international banking services for retail, corporate, and commercial customers; and lending and transaction, investment banking advisory, and capital markets access services to corporate customers. Further, it provides online, mobile, and telephone banking services. The company operates a network of 954 branches and approximately 3,766 automated banking machines in Canada; and approximately 1,300 branches and a network of contact and support center internationally. The Bank of Nova Scotia was founded in 1832 and is headquartered in Halifax, Canada. General Cable Corporation develops, designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, construction, specialty, and communications markets. It offers electric utility products, including low- and medium-voltage distribution cables; high- and extra-high voltage power transmission cables; bare overhead conductors; and submarine transmission and distribution cables. The company also provides electrical infrastructure products, such as rubber-and plastic-jacketed wires and cables, low- and medium-voltage industrial power cables, and cable wire harnesses, as well as rail and mass transit, shipboard, oil and gas, armored mining, and alternative energy power generation cables. In addition, it offers communications products comprising high-bandwidth twisted copper and fiber optic, multi conductor and pair fiber and copper networking, telecommunications exchange, coaxial, and low detection profile cables, as well as fiber-optic submarine cable systems, submarine networks, and offshore integration systems. Further, the company provides construction products consisting of construction cables, flexible cords, halogen-free, low-smoke, and flame retardant cables, as well as rod mill products, including copper and aluminum rods. Additionally, it offers design, integration, and installation services for products, such as high and extra-high voltage terrestrial and submarine systems. The company sells its products directly to utilities, independent distributors, retailers, contractors, and original equipment manufacturers in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa/the Asia Pacific. General Cable Corporation was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines, specialty medicines, and biopharmaceutical products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company offers sterile products, hormones, high-potency drugs, and cytotoxic substances in various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, injectables, inhalants, liquids, transdermal patches, ointments, and creams. It also develops, manufactures, and sells active pharmaceutical ingredients. In addition, it focuses on the central nervous system, pain, respiratory, and oncology areas. Its products in the central nervous system include Copaxone for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; AJOVY for the preventive treatment of migraine; and AUSTEDO for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and chorea associated with Huntington disease. The company's products in the respiratory market comprise ProAir, QVAR, ProAir Digihaler, AirDuo Digihaler, and ArmonAir Digihaler, BRALTUS, CINQAIR/CINQAERO, DuoResp Spiromax, and AirDuo RespiClick/ArmonAir RespiClick for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Its products in the oncology market include Bendeka, Treanda, Granix, Trisenox, Lonquex, and Tevagrastim/Ratiograstim. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has a collaboration MedinCell for the development and commercialization of multiple long-acting injectable products, a risperidone suspension for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Google triggered a social-media backlash with the firing of an employee who had blasted the companys diversity policies, fuelling tension over an issue roiling Silicon Valley. The dismissal of James Damore, a Google engineer, came after he wrote a 10-page manifesto criticizing what he deemed a left-leaning culture at Alphabet Inc.s web division that he said ignores the differences between the sexes. In an email confirming his firing, Damore said hes currently exploring all possible legal remedies. Some right-wing websites lionized Damore and accused the company of censoring conservative views. Firing the engineer could be seen as confirming some of the claims in the memo itself that the companys culture makes no room for dissenting political opinions. That outcome could galvanize any backlash against Alphabets ongoing efforts to make its workforce more diverse. The imbroglio at Google is the latest in a long string of incidents concerning gender bias and diversity in the tech enclave. Uber chief executive officer Travis Kalanick lost his job in June amid scandals over sexual harassment, discrimination and an aggressive culture. Ellen Paos gender-discrimination lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in 2015 also brought the issue to light, and more women are speaking up to say theyve been sidelined in the male-dominated industry, especially in engineering roles. In Canada, increasing the number of women in managerial positions especially in science, technology, engineering and math could add as much as $150 billion to annual GDP by 2026, according to a report in June by the McKinsey Global Institute. Statistics Canada data show women made up 27 per cent of the national information and communication technology workforce in 2016, a percentage that has hovered between 29 per cent and 25 per cent since 2011. Women hold only 21 per cent of management positions in the sector, says a study released by Canadian Women in Communications and Technology. That organizations executive director, Joanne Stanley, said the climate is improving, however, citing the commitment of the federal Liberals to gender diversity and enlightened companies in areas such as financial technology. There is more empathy, more understanding, added Steph Guthrie, a consultant who worked with online hub Techgirls Canada on a guidebook that helps small-to medium-sized businesses take steps toward diversifying their workplaces. Still, she said the views espoused in the Google memo are not unique, noting that women in tech workplaces in Canada can face isolation, a lack of female mentors and the absence of a path to advancement, with some regarded by some male peers as merely diversity hires. Guthrie said its a culture that can discourage women from applying for or remaining in engineering and gaming jobs, for example, suggesting that some tech firms have shown a reluctance to disclose the gender and ethnic makeup of their workforces. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, meanwhile, sent a note to employees Monday that said portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace, a note that was retweeted by Google Canada. But he didnt say if the company was taking action against the employee. A Google representative, asked about the dismissal, referred to Pichais memo. The companys shares closed on Monday, essentially unchanged. Damores memorandum argued that biological differences play a role in the shortage of women in tech and leadership positions. It circulated widely inside the company and became public over the weekend, causing a furor that amplified the pressure on Google executives to take a more definitive stand. After the controversy swelled, Danielle Brown, Googles new vice-president for diversity, integrity and governance, sent a statement to staff condemning Damores views and reaffirmed the companys stance on diversity. In internal discussion boards, multiple employees said they supported firing the author, and some said they would not choose to work with him, according to postings viewed by Bloomberg. We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, Brown said in the statement. Well continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul. The memo and surrounding debate comes as Google fends off a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Labor alleging the company systemically discriminates against women. Google has denied the charges, arguing that it doesnt have a gender gap in pay, but has declined to share full salary information with the government. According to the companys most recent demographic report, 69 per cent of its workforce and 80 per cent of its technical staff are male. Following the memos publication, multiple executives shared an article from a senior engineer who recently left the company, Yonatan Zunger. In the blog post, Zunger said that based on the context of the memo, he determined that he would not in good conscience assign any employees to work with its author. You have just created a textbook hostile workplace environment, he wrote. He also said in a email, Could you imagine having to work with someone who had just publicly questioned your basic competency to do your job? In her initial response to the memo, Brown, who joined from Intel Corp. in June, suggested that Google was open to all hosting difficult political views, including those in the memo. However, she left open the possibility that Google could penalize the engineer for violating company policies. But that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies, and anti-discrimination laws, she wrote. But reaction to Damores firing in conservative circles was swift and harsh. One meme doing the rounds online reworked Googles famous logo to read Goolag, a reference to Soviet-era forced-labour camps. Breitbart accompanied a news article of his dismissal with a photograph of a woman wearing a gag with the word silenced written on it. Eric Weinstein, who runs Peter Thiels investment firm, tweeted that Google should stop teaching girls that their path to financial freedom lies not in coding but in complaining to HR. The subject of Googles ideological bent came up at the most recent shareholder meeting, in June. A shareholder asked executives whether conservatives would feel welcome at the company. Executives disagreed with the idea that anyone wouldnt. The company was founded under the principles of freedom of expression, diversity, inclusiveness and science-based thinking, Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt said at the time. Youll also find that all of the other companies in our industry agree with us. With files from Star staff Read more about: SHARE: NEW YORKRalph Lauren and Michael Kors merchandise is less likely to be marked down these days, and thats showing up on the bottom line for both companies. The two fashion houses posted profit that handily beat analysts estimates on Tuesday a sign of progress in their efforts to get customers to pay full price and helped send the stocks soaring. Deep discounts had squeezed earnings in recent years and eroded the prestige of the brands. Now many shoppers seem to be less obsessed with getting a low price and more focused on the product itself, said John Idol, chief executive officer of Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. The London-based company has cut down on its promotions, and the typical customer is not fighting us on that, he said on a conference call. As long as we are giving her the right product, shes responding extremely well, he said. Michael Kors climbed as much as 22 per cent to $45.49 (U.S.) in New York trading, while shares of Ralph Lauren Corp. advanced 11 per cent to $87. The gains represented the stocks biggest rallies in at least 18 months. Read more: Share your thoughts Ralph Lauren CEO Stefan Larsson steps down U.S. fashion brand Michael Kors adds shoes to lineup with Jimmy Choo deal Michael Kors lowers 2017 outlook after store sales fall At Ralph Lauren, first-quarter earnings amounted to $1.11 a share, excluding some items. That topped the average analyst estimate by 17 cents. In one sign the company is charging higher prices, gross margin increased more than 2 percentage points to 63.2 per cent. Margins are expected to expand at least another percentage point in the second half, Chief Financial Officer Jane Nielsen said on a conference call. Clearly, the significant improvement in gross margin is a great sign the strategy of tightening inventory and pulling back on promotions is helping profitability, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Chen Grazutis. The jury is still out as to how successful the company could be in bringing consumers back to the brand and drive top-line growth. The results represent an early gift for new CEO Patrice Louvet, a Procter & Gamble Co. veteran who took the helm last month. He comes into the job after a rocky stretch. The five-decade-old business has been closing retail locations, including its flagship Polo store on Fifth Avenue. And the previous CEO, Stefan Larsson, left the company after creative differences with its founder. Louvet said he plans to improve customers online and in-store experiences, and will modernize the brands to pull in younger consumers. The company is introducing five limited-edition Polo shirts through November, and will market them on social media, Nielsen said. While Ralph Laurens same-store sales declined 6 per cent, that was roughly in line with the 5.8 per cent drop predicted by analysts, according to Consensus Metrix. Revenue was $1.35 billion in the period, compared with a $1.34-billion average estimate. Michael Kors, meanwhile, posted profit of 80 cents a share last quarter. That topped analysts 62-cent projection. Sales fell 3.6 per cent to $952.4 million, but the decline was far milder than projected. Wall Street was bracing for a drop to $919 million. Idol said the companys two bestselling products in the past quarter were Mercer handbags and smartwatches all of which sold at full price. Its Bancroft bags, which are made in Italy and cost about $1,000 on average, are also selling well. The CEO said he is seeing some improvement in the department-store business. We really have shown that if its the right product, you do not have to have these aggressive markdowns happening at retail, Idol said. Starting with the Spring season, the company plans to begin raising prices at its own shops and at department stores, starting with its Michael Kors Collection handbag, he said. Michael Kors has been diversifying beyond handbags by expanding its smartwatch, menswear businesses and its womens ready-to-wear lines, which Idol said is seeing strong results. The company expects smartwatches to account for 25 per cent of total watch sales by the end of the year. The company also agreed to buy shoemaker Jimmy Choo Plc for $1.2 billion last month, aiming to add lustre to the brand. And Idol said hes planning to make more acquisitions as part of his growth strategy. But for now, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors are using similar tactics: making their products more exclusive by closing storefronts and relying less on the troubled department-store industry. The progress shows that a brand like Michael Kors can once again regain the permission to charge full price, said Simeon Siegel, an analyst at Instinet LLC. Investors have been afraid that Michael Kors was on a downward spiral, but this result appears to show them emerging from that black hole, he said. SHARE: Chris Pratt and Anna Faris are legally separating, the couple announced late Sunday night. In a joint statement posted to their social media accounts, Pratt, 38, and Faris, 40, explained that they tried hard for a very long time and are really disappointed. They have been married for eight years and have one child together, Jack, who will turn 5 in August. Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward, the statement added. We still have love for each other, will always cherish our time together and continue to have the deepest respect for one another. Pratts representative Allison Garman confirmed the news to USA Today. Pratt and Faris co-starred in the 2007 film Take Me Home Tonight and have been open about their relationship in the past. This past May, Pratt posted a tribute to Faris on Mothers Day. A big Mothers Day kiss and hug across the pond to my darling wife @annafaris and our sweet boy, he captioned a photo of Faris and their son. I miss you both so much. I love you. SHARE: A Canadian government delegation is in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang to discuss the case of imprisoned Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim, the Prime Ministers Office confirmed Tuesday. The delegation is reportedly led by Daniel Jean, national security adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Its the second time in about nine months that a Canadian envoy has been sent to Pyongyang to discuss the release of the 62-year-old senior pastor of the Light Presbyterian Church in Mississauga. The last delegation travelled to North Korea in late 2016. Pastor Lims health and well-being remain of utmost importance to the government of Canada as we continue to engage on this case, said Cameron Ahmad, media relations manager for the Prime Ministers Office, in an email. As this is an active case, we will not provide further comment at this time. This government visit comes less than a month after North Koreans arranged a July 14 meeting in the humanitarian spirit between the imprisoned Lim and a Swedish Embassy diplomat in Pyongyang, according to state media outlet Korean Central News Agency. Lim has high blood pressure and requires medication, which the North Koreans have allowed to be sent to him. Lim is reportedly in failing health and has lost upwards of 60 pounds. The pastor, who has made more than 110 humanitarian missions to North Korea on behalf of his church, has been in detention since January 2015. He went missing during a routine visit in a northern region where the Canadian was a familiar face. Local officials had granted him a frequent access visa. Weeks after his disappearance, North Korean authorities confirmed theyd arrested Lim, purportedly for scheming to overthrow Kim Jong Uns authoritarian regime. The pastor was sentenced to life in a hard labour camp in late 2015. Read more: Trump says North Korea will be met with fire and the fury like the world has never seen if it doesnt stop threatening the U.S. Read more about: SHARE: A new UNICEF report says children and youth consider holistic health, having a sense of belonging and being treated with respect among the factors that are important to their happiness and well-being. The report, entitled My Cat Makes Me Happy: What children and youth say about measuring their wellbeing highlights the findings of six workshops held across the country, in which young people discussed what mattered to their happiness. The report found that economic opportunities, access to activities and education, and not facing discrimination were also priorities for youth well-beingas were positive friendships, having a permanent, caring adult in their lives, future opportunities, and safe environments. When assessing well-being, researchers often look at objective measures like physical health, grades, obesity rates, screen timethings that are really measurable, said Alli Truesdell, UNICEF Canadas Youth Participation Lead. We want to be measuring things beyond that, and the only way to figure out what mattersto their well-being is actually going out and asking young people themselves. UNICEF commissioned the report in response to Canadas mediocre performance on a 2013 UNICEF report card, where it ranked 17th out of 29 rich countries on overall child well-being. When children rated their own sense of happiness, Canada dropped to 24th out of 29 countries. As of 2017, UNICEF says Canada ranks 25th out of 41 rich nations when it comes to child well-being. This report was one of the ways UNICEF is trying to improve the countrys ranking by better understanding youth well-being, and included a review of 25 years worth of information on the subject. The workshops, which included about 80 participants between the ages of 11 and 21, were held in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, Victoria, Whitehorse, an Indigenous reserve in Manawan, Quebec, and a youth closed custody facility in the Atlantic region. Young people talked about what mattered to their own happiness, and built their own index for best measuring child and youth well-being. Health was one of the most frequently mentioned theme among the workshops, with young people discussing the need for a balance between physical, mental and spiritual health, the report said. Having a sense of belonging was another priorityand was described differently by youth in different communities. Indigenous youth in Quebec described belongingness as being connected to nature, their Elders and culture, for example, while youth in Toronto frequently described their peers and social interactions as important to a feeling of belonging. As the title suggests, pets also came up time and time again, said Truesdell. Participants often said things like my cat makes me happy, or when Im feeling stressed I go and hang out with my dog and I feel better, she said. Having access to safe and healthy environments was another common theme. Liam Bullock, 17, was one of the youth participants in the Toronto workshop. He says his surroundings and support networks have a big influence on his own sense of well-being. All the support I have from high school teachers to guidance counsellors, family, friends, he said. My surroundings are the biggest factor. Truesdell said this report highlights the importance of involving youth in the research process. She said it also suggests researchers should go deeper when assessing youth well-being, and consider factors that arent explicitly measurablesuch as how a pet might affect a childs happiness. Olivia Lam, 16, is involved with UNICEF projects and gave feedback on the report. She said child and youth well-being is currently measured on a very surface level way, and undervalues factors like friendships and relationships. I think if there are improvements to the kind of questions that are being asked to measure child well-being in Canada, I think wed get a much better vision of how youth are doing, said Lam. UNICEF will use this report as it designs a Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being. The index will be part of its One Youth movement launching this fall, which aims to make Canada the best place to grow up in by 2030. When you go and you ask young people what matters to your well-being...we learn things that arent typically on our radar when were doing research, Truesdell said. We now have domains and indicators that really reflect what young people told us. SHARE: What the %*$@#&!? No, really, what the %*$@#&!? Out of all the reasons U.S. President Donald Trump has to fire any of his White House bootlickers incompetence and craziness come most immediately to mind why was Anthony Scaramucci bounced after a mere 10 days on the communications director job for the relatively venal sin of phone-bombing profanities? This is, after all, the president who notoriously cackled about grabbing female p----. See what I did there? Employing dashes some prefer asterisks because a family newspaper generally does not allow vulgarity or profoundly hurtful slurs in print. (I take credit for years ago getting the N-word on the Stars banned list. A former managing editor deleted the front half of a direct quote f------ n------ from a court story because it would offend readers. But n----- is worse, I argued. She agreed and struck out the entire thing. The N-word, save for exceptional instances, would never appear in these pages again.) Ive listened to parts of Scaramuccis pungent telephone conversation with Ryan Lizza, reporter for the New Yorker, arising from his annoyance over published information about a secret dinner between Trump and Fox News. The Mooch certainly did unleash a volley of F-grenades, inserting the common Anglo Saxon expletive all over the place. Although its arguably more disturbing to have called White House chief of staff Reince Priebus a paranoid schizophrenic than threatening to f------ kill all the leakers. Read more: Do you censor the F-bombs? How editors handled Anthony Scaramuccis expletive-laced rant Anthony Scaramucci calls Trumps chief of staff a paranoid schizophrenic, tosses foul insults at top strategist Good riddance to another of Donald Trump's frat boys: Teitel Scaramucci may be a lounge lizard but, for him, f--- is clearly a verbal tic. He might as well have been saying watermelon-watermelon-watermelon. One American columnist even situated Scaramuccis obscenity yips within the context of his Italian ethnicity, a kind of Tony Soprano caricature. It didnt mean anything, just empty sound with or without fury. Thats a stereotype but not necessarily wrong, though I dont think Italians are more foul-mouthed than anybody else. The words do flow richly off the tongue, however, and we bring to the conversation an array of semaphoring gestures to go with. The thing is, everybody swears 0.3 per cent to 0.7 per cent of the time on average, according to research even if moderately and euphemistically, replacing f--- with, say, fudge or fiddlesticks. But the meaning remains clear. Its a little lexicon game the prim and pedantic play. Yet full-frontal swearing is still considered taboo in many places, in many circumstances, where words meet ears (or eyes) even as language evolves culturally. In increasingly secular societies, blasphemous imprecations such as goddamn and Jesus Christ have lost their force and thus their no-no heft. Though occasionally readers still take me to task for it, complaining that they have to keep the paper away from their young children to shield their eyes from objectionable words and phrases. Oh great, sez I, now were supposed to write to the level of an impressionable 10-year-old. Have these parents listened to the music making mush out their kids brains? (As an aside on that subject, I was appalled wont say offended because theres entirely too much of that going on by the Lil Kim track blasting in the Blue Jays clubhouse last week. But its their space.) In these times, swearing jargon more commonly devolves from the scatological a hierarchy of effluvia, as one linguist put it: From crap and fart, which are now ho-hum, to s---, which still doesnt pass the editor sniff-test, to a whole host of bodily function vocabulary which I wont list because this column is already tangled up in dash-knots. And the sexual references, of course, the down and dirty, which flow so easily off the tongue, often for shorthand emphasis. Why do we talk this way? You can waste hours reading the academic literature, as Ive just done, or you can use your own intuitive sensibility. It effing feels good, mostly. Its cathartic. Its kind of bonding. It can literally make what hurts less painful like swearing a blue streak when youve slammed the car door on your hand. Its succinct. Its venting, lets off emotional and physiological steam. In moments of acute anger, its certainly preferable as a substitute to physical violence. And just as often, theres no conscious undercurrent, no cognitive thinking it out before erupting anymore than you can control a sneeze. F--- off as an achoo. Its like using the horn on your car a brief toot-toot warning, a celebratory honk or an infuriated blare. Scientific studies have shown that teeing off with a spray of vulgarities has a corresponding physical effect pupils dilate, pores open, heart rate increases. But your blood pressure will probably spike if all those exclamatory words are kept inside. Contrary to what was once common belief, people who cuss lots are not less educated or from a lower socioeconomic class. But the well-educated, with larger vocabularies, can generate more creative blue miasmas. Further oy, so many scientific papers on the topic foul-mouthed folks are actually viewed as more trustworthy than those who wouldnt say s---- if they had a mouthful. Scaramucci back to the beginning may have been channelling his inner Trump, going all bleep-bleep on Lizza. He f------ up. But rather a dick on the phone than a schmuck in the White House, no dashes required. Rosie DiManno usually appears Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Read more about: SHARE: CAMPBELL, CALIF.A video showing a Northern California police officer pointing his gun for more than nine minutes at the passenger in a car stop has drawn attention on social media. The Campbell Police Department says the officer pulled over the car for speeding on July 28 on Highway 101. Campbell police Capt. Gary Berg tells the Mercury News the officer asked for the license of the woman driving, the cars registration and proof of insurance. While the occupants were looking for those documents, Berg says the passenger started to reach under his seat. The phone video shows the unidentified officer pointing his pistol at the passenger. The passenger holds up his hands and explains that he was looking for the requested documents, noting the papers on the floor and asks why the officer is pointing the weapon at him. The Campbell Police Department is defending the officers decision to draw his gun. Berg says the recording is incomplete and does not show what led up to the interaction nor its conclusion. We are in a position to provide the context because we have reviewed the officers body-worn camera, which recorded the encounter in its entirety, Berg said in a lengthy statement about the encounter. The officers actions were in line with his training, Berg said. Our officers receive a tremendous amount of training on a consistent basis and that training is what dictates our response, he said. This is intended to protect our officers as well as those they come in contact with. Berg said at the end of the footage, the officer explained his actions to the passenger. The passenger indicated he understood why it happened and actually apologized to the officer, Berg said. Officials are reviewing whether to release the body-camera footage, in its entirety or through excerpts. SHARE: At first, the French were charmed by Brigitte Macron, the 64-year-old wife and former high school teacher of Frances new president, 24 years her junior. But do they really want Brigitte, as she is known here, to have an official public role complete with a title, an office and a budget, all paid for by taxpayers? Not so much. By Monday, about 200,000 people had signed an online petition against Brigitte Macron being given an official role, a repeated desire of her husband. The petition is the latest blow to the presidents image, whose approval ratings have continued to fall over his dogged refusal to back down on budget cuts. Read more: French President Emmanuel Macron sets sights on being leader of the free world Emmanuel Macron meets with Rihanna about education initiative Although elected in a landslide in May, only 36 per cent of French people now approve of President Emmanuel Macron, according to recent polls. There is no reason for the wife of the head of state to get a budget out of public funds, reads the petitions text, written by Thierry Paul Valette, a writer, artist and activist. Valette did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. We fiercely denounce all the sexist attacks against Brigitte Macron, and we do not in any way seek to question her competence. But in a time of moralizing French public life . . . we cannot sanction the creation of a special status for the spouse of President Macron. During the presidential campaign earlier this year, Emmanuel Macron frequently said that he wanted his wife to have an official, defined status as first lady along with a fully public role. I want there to be a defined role for her, and I will ask for a proposal to be presented on how to proceed in that regard, he said on the campaign trail. In an arrangement that Macron described then as a kind of French hypocrisy, the spouses of presidents do receive security guards, office space and a small staff all of which is paid from the budget of the Elysee Palace. By contrast, creating any kind of official position for Brigitte Macron would require an additional and separate allotment of public funds. The controversy has erupted in part because Macron has made moralizing public life such a central priority of his young administration. Today, the principal danger to democracy is the persistence of breaches of honesty among politicians whose behaviour is unworthy of the position of representative of the people, read his campaign platform. A public spending scandal took down the campaign of Francois Fillon, one of Macrons right-wing opponents in the election, who was accused of siphoning nearly 900,000 euros in public funds to pay his wife and children for jobs they did not do. The other issue is optics. Since the election, Macron has alarmed some in France by an embrace of what critics have called monarchical tendencies. He rarely speaks to journalists and prefers to deliver addresses in the hallowed halls of Versailles, a place deeply associated with absolute monarchy. He has also shown an unwillingness to suffer critics. As he told troops in July, in the throes of a public dispute over military spending cuts, I am your boss . . . I need no pressure and no commentary. This, for many signatories of the petition, was the real offence behind Macrons desire to bestow on his wife an official position, especially one with a budget of its own. Macrons official proposal on the matter is expected in the fall. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump keeps calling the Russia investigation fake news. But with each passing week, the independent investigation into Trumps campaign ties to Russia is getting more real, not less. Heres how: Its expanding, both in size and scope. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has built a team of lawyers who have expertise in cybercrime, white-collar crime, the mob, money laundering and Watergate. Together, his team has more than a century of legal experience. The Department of Justices No. 2, Rod J. Rosenstein, originally appointed Mueller to investigate Trump campaign connections to Russia, but Mueller has wide latitude to look into whatever he wishes. So far, we know thats expanded to: Jared Kushner, Michael Flynn, unspecified financial crimes and very specific accusations by the former FBI director that Trump himself tried to obstruct justice. Read more: Trump tries to rally his base as approval rating slips We now know how the Trump presidency will end. Let's hope we survive: Burman Trump not under investigation, his attorney says, despite presidents tweets about witch hunt Its getting more in depth. As the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, theyve set up a grand jury, which can subpoena witnesses and documents and, if need be, indict people. The presidents defenders, like New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie, point out that grand juries are a normal process of any investigation. But implicit in that statement: Its a normal process in any serious investigation. If there really was nothing to see here, as Trump claims, Muellers team wont need to keep digging. And it suggests they had enough evidence to convince a federal judge to OK the grand jury. As Rep. Adam B. Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on CNN Sunday: [R]ather than turning that investigation off, rather than concluding, we have looked at this for a year, theres really nothing to see here, as the president would claim, instead, if these allegations are true, its moving into a new phase. Congress is taking it seriously. Republican-led committees in the Senate and the House are leading parallel investigations into Russia meddling in the U.S. election and have said theyll go wherever the facts lead. Outside those committees, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Congress are writing legislation to give Mueller room to do his investigation and make sure that Trump cant fire him. Its yet another example of Congress putting its faith somewhere besides with Trump. They forced Trump to sign a Russia sanctions bill into law last week, and the Senate left town, but technically stayed in session so that Trump cant fire, then self-replace, his attorney general and reshape the special counsel investigation. The Trump campaign has a lot of Russian connections. And the more we learn about them, the deeper they seem. Take Donald Trump Jr.s campaign meeting with a Russian-government-connected lawyer. First, he told the New York Times it was about adoptions. (A narrative the Washington Post reports Trump himself dictated.) But that explanation quickly caved to reveal the truth: It was to get dirt on Hillary Clinton, and came after he was told the Russian government was trying to help provide that dirt. And then you have former campaign aides Paul Manafort, Carter Page and Michael Flynn, all of whom have done business with and have connections in Russia. Others now in the administration, such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Kushner, have not been forthcoming about their Russia meetings, however innocuous they might have been. As Schiff said in March: Is it possible that all of these events and reports are completely unrelated and nothing more than an entirely unhappy coincidence? Yes, it is possible. But it is also possible, maybe more than possible, that they are not coincidental, not disconnected and not unrelated. Congress, the judicial branch and Trumps own administration have all played a role in expanding the investigation and taking it seriously. If this were a witch hunt, as Trump claims, then its a witch hunt the entire political and judicial system is in on. Even the most cynical person has to acknowledge that would be an extraordinary conspiracy the likes of which the U.S. has never seen. Now, just because an investigation is indeed very real doesnt mean we know its conclusion. It could take months, even years, to finish, much less come to a conclusion about whether Trump colluded with Russia to win the White House. But with each passing day, its increasingly clear this investigation is neither made up nor built on fake news. SHARE: WASHINGTONAfter six months of infighting, investigations and legislative failures, U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to combat new signs of weakness in his Republican base and re-energize his staunchest supporters. White House officials have been urging the president to refocus on immigration and other issues that resonate with the conservatives, evangelicals and working-class whites who propelled him to the Oval Office. The president has ramped up his media-bashing via Twitter, long a successful tactic for Trump, and staged rallies hoping to marshal his base to his defence. The effort underscores Trumps shaky political positioning not yet seven months into his presidency. Trump has remained deeply unpopular among Democrats, and there are signs that his support among Republicans may be softening. His advisers are aware that a serious slip in support among his core voters could jeopardize hopes for a major, early legislative accomplishment and would certainly increase Republicans worries about his re-election prospects. Read more: GOP shadow campaign for 2020 begins to take shape as doubts grow about Trump Special counsel Robert Mueller using grand jury to help probe Russian meddling Trump set to leave for an extended vacation flouting his own advice White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway acknowledged the concerns Sunday on ABC, saying the presidents approval rating among Republicans and conservatives and Trump voters is down slightly. It needs to go up, she said. In a Monday morning tweet, Trump dismissed his advisers statement. The Trump base is far bigger & stronger than ever before, he wrote on Twitter. He later insisted that his support will never change! But polling doesnt support Trumps claim. A recent Quinnipiac University survey showed the presidents approval dipping into negative territory among whites without college degrees a key group of supporters for the president. The percentage of Republicans who strongly approve of his performance also fell, with just over half of Republicans saying they strongly approved of Trump. Thats down from the two-thirds of Republicans who strongly approved of the presidents performance in June. Just one-third of all Americans approved of his job performance, a new low in the poll. The presidents struggles already have prompted public speculation about his political future. The White House pushed back angrily Sunday against a New York Times report about Republicans preparing for 2020 presidential race that may not include Trump. The report described Vice-President Mike Pence as laying groundwork in case Trump does not run. Pence called the report disgraceful. The chatter has been fuelled by Trumps unsuccessful attempt to shepherd health care legislation through Congress, the drip-drip of revelations about his associates ties to Russia and the churn of turnover and turmoil at the White House. The presidents advisers have tried to drown out the bad news by focusing on his agenda. They are telling him just enact your program, Conway said of the presidents base. Dont worry about a Congress that isnt supporting legislation to get big ticket items done. And dont worry about all the distractions and diversions and discouragement that others, who are trying to throw logs in your path, are throwing your way. In a televised event at the White House last week, the president endorsed legislation that would dramatically reduce legal immigration to the United States. The bill is unlikely to ever become law, but that mattered little to Trumps advisers. Their barometer for success was the reaction from conservatives like commentator Ann Coulter, who called the White Houses embrace of the controversial legislation the best moment of the Trump presidency since the inauguration. Immigration is expected to continue being a focus for Trump in the coming weeks, including a push for the border wall. Officials also are weighing a more public role for White House policy adviser Stephen Miller, a favourite of Trump backers whose hard-line immigration policies irritate some congressional Republicans. The appointment of White House chief of staff John Kelly also fits in to that effort. While Kelly was brought in primarily to bring much-needed discipline to the West Wing, officials note that he, too, is viewed favourably by some Trump loyalists for his early execution of the administrations immigration policy as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Kellys appointment was particularly welcomed by senior strategist Steve Bannon, who has taken on the task of ensuring Trump doesnt drift from the promises he made to his base during the campaign. Several White House officials and Trump advisers insisted on anonymity in order to discuss the ways the administration is moving to shore up support for the president. Like Trumps embrace of the legislation curtailing legal immigration, some of what the president has to offer his core supporters is more show than substance. In late July, Trump announced on Twitter that he was banning transgender people serving in the military a policy shift sought by social conservatives despite the fact that the Pentagon had no plans in place to enact the change. The policy is now being crafted. Alice Stewart, a conservative who worked for the presidential campaigns of Sen. Ted Cruz and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, said Trump is right to make overtures toward his coalition of loyal supporters, even if some of his moves are incomplete. I think people realize half a loaf is better than none, Stewart said. Mitch Harper, a former GOP state legislator and Republican activist in Indiana, said Trump will get credit from conservatives even for partial measures simply because he is articulating things that they have not heard anyone articulate in a long time. And what about the results? Harper said Trump supporters are willing to wait. Indeed, even some of Trumps advisers still marvel at the loyalty of the presidents supporters. For now, conservatives are pinning the blame on Washingtons failure to get health care done not on Trump, but on the handful of Republican senators who blocked legislation aimed at overhauling Obamacare. I think on health care the president is viewed as someone who did everything they could, said Matt Schlapp, who heads the American Conservative Union. SHARE: Belgian prosecutors said no explosives were found in a car stopped by police gunfire after a high-speed chase in the flashpoint Brussels suburb of Molenbeek. Police chased the car after the driver ran a red light and the vehicle was involved in two collisions before it was finally brought to a halt, Ine Van Wymersch, spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutors office, said. When the person got out, he immediately claimed that there were explosives inside, Van Wymersch said. She declined to identify the suspect, but said he was a Rwandan national born in 1981 who was not previously known to police. A few hundred people were kept in nearby shops as a precaution while heavily protected army bomb disposal experts were called in to assess the situation. Unprotected police and forensic experts were later at the scene, taking objects from the car and examining them. Nothing suspicious was found in the vehicle, Van Wymersch said. The all-clear was given just over three hours after the car was stopped. No one was injured. Brussels has been on high alert since suicide bombers killed 32 people in attacks on the citys airport and subway on March 22, 2016. Many suspects linked to those attacks and the November 2015 massacre in Paris lived in or transited through Molenbeek. SHARE: WASHINGTONOne of the biggest questions about U.S. President Donald Trump is how he would respond to a crisis. Thus far, Trumps presidency has been marked by controversies and stubborn politics, yes, but also by a strong economy and no natural disasters, major domestic terrorist attacks or new large-scale foreign conflicts. That may be starting to change. A new report indicates that North Korea is approaching the Trump administrations red line faster than previously thought. According to the Washington Post, a previously secret Defense Intelligence Agency analysis indicates that Kim Jong Uns regime has produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside one of the intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that it has been testing. Those tests drew a unanimous vote on new sanctions from the United Nations Security Council over the weekend. The big takeaway, as The Post is reporting, is that North Koreas nuclear capabilities appear to be advancing far more rapidly than previously believed. This is a milestone when it comes to North Koreas ability to strike distant targets with nuclear weapons. Although its not known yet that Pyongyang can strike the United States with an ICBM, U.S. officials concluded last month that the effort was proceeding more rapidly than experts had anticipated. Now we find out that those ICBMs could be nuclear-tipped. In other words, North Korea may have solved half of the puzzle when it comes to threatening the U.S. mainland with a nuclear weapon something it has made clear is its goal. And, importantly, thats a threshold that the Trump administration has said North Korea simply wouldnt be allowed to cross. North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It wont happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2017 It wont happen! Trump tweeted in January. National security adviser H.R. McMaster also said as recently as this weekend that North Korea having nuclear weapons that could threaten the United States would be intolerable, from the presidents perspective. The DIA report is dated July 28, more than a week before McMaster made those comments. The president has been very clear about it: He said hes not going to tolerate North Korea being able to threaten the United States, McMaster told Hugh Hewitt on MSNBC. McMaster said the list of possible responses to that includes a military option. As The Posts report indicates, plenty of other options also are on the table, including new multilateral negotiations and putting U.S. battlefield nuclear weapons back on the Korean Peninsula. Obviously, war is the most serious decision any leader has to make, McMaster said. And so, what can we do to make sure we exhaust our possibilities, and exhaust our other opportunities to accomplish this very clear objective of denuclearization of the peninsula, short of war? The prospect of war, of course, cant help but hang over this entire drama. And polls show that Americans are increasingly resigned to the fact that the conflict may be headed in that direction. While they dont necessarily back military action now, its clear that public support could quickly be marshaled under the right circumstances. A new Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll, for instance, shows that 62 per cent of Americans would support sending troops if North Korea invades South Korea up sharply from recent years. The poll also shows a rise in the threat North Korea is perceived to pose, with 75 per cent labelling it a critical threat. But a CBS News poll released Tuesday morning shows pessimism about Trumps ability to handle a showdown. About 6 in 10 registered voters 61 per cent said they were uneasy about Trumps ability to deal with the situation. Only 35 per cent said they were confident. The same poll showed that only 29 per cent favoured military action now, but Republicans were about evenly split, with 48 per cent in favour a striking level of support for military action in the presidents own party. And those numbers are likely to rise given Tuesdays news. Trump received plaudits for his limited airstrikes against the Syrian government and even seemed dazzled by his ability to launch them. Increasingly, he also seems to be facing some difficult decisions ahead on North Korea. And for the American people, thats a moment thats clearly interlaced with fear. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a stern warning to North Korea, saying that if its threats to the United States continue, the outcast nation will be met with the fire and the fury like the world has never seen. Trump comments came as North Korea spurned a new round of sanctions approved by the United Nations Security Council and pledged to continue to press forward with development of nuclear weapons that could reach the U.S. mainland. Earlier Tuesday, news broke that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, crossing a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power, according to a confidential assessment by U.S. intelligence officials. Trump was speaking at a briefing on opioid addiction at his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., where Trump is on a 17-day working vacation, he said that North Korea best not make any more threats of the United States. They will be met with the fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before, Trump said. The Washington Post on Tuesday reported that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, crossing a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power, according to a confidential assessment by U.S. intelligence officials. The new analysis of North Koreas new capabilities, completed last month by the Defense Intelligence Agency, comes on the heels of another intelligence assessment that sharply raises the official estimate for the total number of bombs in the communist countrys atomic arsenal. The U.S. calculated last month that up to 60 nuclear weapons are now controlled by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Some independent experts believe the number of bombs is much smaller. The findings are likely to deepen concerns about an evolving North Korean military threat that appears to be advancing far more rapidly than many experts had predicted. U.S. officials last month concluded that Pyongyang is also outpacing expectations in its effort to build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking cities on the American mainland. While more than a decade has passed since North Koreas first nuclear detonation, many analysts believed it would be years before the countrys weapons scientists could design a compact warhead that could be delivered by missile to distant targets. But the new assessment, a summary document dated July 28, concludes that this critical milestone has already been reached. The IC (intelligence community) assesses North Korea has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, to include delivery by ICBM-class missiles, the assessment states, in an excerpt read to the Post. The assessments broad conclusions were verified by two U.S. officials familiar with the document. It is not yet known whether the reclusive regime has successfully tested the smaller design, although North Korean officially last year claimed to have done so. The DIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. An assessment this week by the Japanese Ministry of Defense also concludes there is evidence to suggest that North Korea has achieved miniaturization. Kim Jong Un is becoming increasingly confident in the reliability of his nuclear arsenal, analysts have concluded, explaining perhaps the dictators willingness to engage in defiant behaviour, including missile tests that have drawn criticism even from North Koreas closest ally, China. On Saturday, both China and Russia joined other members of the U.N. Security Council in approving punishing new economic sanctions, including a ban on exports that supply up to a third of North Koreas annual $3 billion (U.S.) earnings. The nuclear progress further raises the stakes for Trump, who has vowed that North Korea will never be allowed to threaten the United States with nuclear weapons. In an interview broadcast Saturday on MSNBCs Hugh Hewitt Show, national security adviser H.R. McMaster said the prospect of a North Korea armed with nuclear-tipped ICBMs would be intolerable, from the presidents perspective. We have to provide all options ... and that includes a military option, he said. But McMaster said the administration would do everything short of war to pressure Kim Jong Un and those around him, such that they conclude it is in their interest to denuclearize. The options said to be under discussion ranged from new multilateral negotiations to reintroducing U.S. battlefield nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, officials familiar with internal discussions said. Determining the precise makeup of North Koreas nuclear arsenal has long been a difficult challenge for intelligence professionals because of the regimes culture of extreme secrecy and insularity. The countrys weapons scientists have conducted five nuclear tests since 2006, the latest being a 20- to 30-kiloton detonation on Sept. 9, 2016, that produced a blast estimated to be up to twice that of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. But producing a compact nuclear warhead that can fit inside a missile is a technically demanding feat, one that many analysts believed was still beyond North Koreas grasp. Last year, state-run media in Pyongyang displayed a spherical device that government spokesmen described as a miniaturized nuclear warhead, but whether it was a real bomb remained unclear. North Korean officials described the September detonation as a successful test of a small warhead designed to fit on a missile, though many experts were skeptical of the claim. Kim has repeatedly proclaimed his intention to field a fleet of nuclear-tipped ICBMs as a guarantor of his regimes survival. His regime took a major step toward that goal last month with the first successful tests of a missile with intercontinental range. Video analysis of the latest test revealed that the missile caught fire and apparently disintegrated as it plunged back toward Earths surface, suggesting North Koreas engineers are not yet capable of building a re-entry vehicle that can carry the warhead safely through the upper atmosphere. But U.S. analysts and many independent experts believe that this hurdle will be overcome by late next year. What initially looked like a slow-motion Cuban missile crisis is now looking more like the Manhattan Project, just barrelling along, said Robert Litwak, a non-proliferation expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and author of Preventing North Koreas Nuclear Breakout, published by the centre this year. Theres a sense of urgency behind the program that is new to the Kim Jong Un era. While few discount North Koreas progress, some prominent U.S. experts warned against the danger of overestimating the threat. Siegfried Hecker, director emeritus of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the last known U.S. official to personally inspect North Koreas nuclear facilities, has calculated the size of North Koreas arsenal at no more than 20 to 25 bombs. Hecker warned of potential risks that can come from making Kim into a bigger menace than he actually is. Overselling is particularly dangerous, said Hecker, who visited North Korea seven times between 2004 and 2010 and met with key leaders of the countrys weapons programs. Some like to depict Kim as being crazy a madman and that makes the public believe that the guy is undeterrable. Hes not crazy and hes not suicidal. And hes not even unpredictable. The real threat, Hecker said, is were going to stumble into a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. In the past, U.S. intelligence agencies have occasionally overestimated the North Korean threat. In the early 2000s, the George W. Bush administration assessed that Pyongyang was close to developing an ICBM that could strike the U.S. mainland a prediction that missed the mark by more than a decade. More recently, however, analysts and policy-makers have been taken repeatedly by surprise as North Korea achieved key milestones months or years ahead of schedule, noted Jeffrey Lewis, director of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies East Asia Nonproliferation Program. There was similar skepticism about Chinas capabilities in the early 1960s, said Lewis, who has studied that countrys pathway to a successful nuclear test in 1964. There is no reason to think that the North Koreans arent making the same progress after so many successful nuclear explosions, Lewis said. The big question is why do we hold the North Koreans to a different standard than we held (Joseph) Stalins Soviet Union or Mao Zedongs China? North Korea is testing underground, so were always going to lack a lot of details. But it seems to me a lot of people are insisting on impossible levels of proof because they simply dont want to accept what should be pretty obvious. With files from The Associated Press Read more about: SHARE: The average temperature in the United States has risen rapidly and drastically since 1980, and recent decades have been the warmest of the past 1,500 years, according to a sweeping federal climate change report awaiting approval by the Trump administration. The draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies, which has not yet been made public, concludes that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now. It directly contradicts claims by U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet who say that the human contribution to climate change is uncertain, and that the ability to predict the effects is limited. Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, a draft of the report states. A copy of it was obtained by The New York Times. The authors note that thousands of studies, conducted by tens of thousands of scientists, have documented climate changes on land and in the air. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate change, they wrote. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump The report was completed this year and is a special science section of the National Climate Assessment, which is congressionally mandated every four years. The National Academy of Sciences has signed off on the draft report, and the authors are awaiting permission from the Trump administration to release it. One government scientist who worked on the report, Katharine Hayhoe, a professor of political science at Texas Tech University, called the conclusions among the most comprehensive climate science reports to be published. Another scientist involved in the process, who spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity, said he and others were concerned that it would be suppressed. The White House and the Environmental Protection Agency did not immediately return calls or respond to emails requesting comment Monday night. Read more: Donald Trump goes to Paris, a city he says is ruined, from Washington, a city his son has left in chaos Trump isolates U.S. on G20 climate change action G20 leaders shouldnt let Trump stop action on climate change: Editorial The report concludes that even if humans immediately stopped emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the world would still feel at least an additional 0.50 degrees Fahrenheit (0.30 degrees Celsius) of warming over this century compared with today. The projected actual rise, scientists say, will be as much as 2 degrees Celsius. A small difference in global temperatures can make a big difference in the climate: The difference between a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and one of 2 degrees Celsius, for example, could mean longer heat waves, more intense rainstorms and the faster disintegration of coral reefs. Among the more significant of the studys findings is that it is possible to attribute some extreme weather to climate change. The field known as attribution science has advanced rapidly in response to increasing risks from climate change. The EPA is one of 13 agencies that must approve the report by Aug. 18. The agencys administrator, Scott Pruitt, has said he does not believe that carbon dioxide is a primary contributor to global warming. Its a fraught situation, said Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geoscience and international affairs at Princeton University who was not involved in the study. This is the first case in which an analysis of climate change of this scope has come up in the Trump administration, and scientists will be watching very carefully to see how they handle it. Scientists say they fear the Trump administration could change or suppress the report. But those who challenge scientific data on human-caused climate change say they are equally worried that the draft report, as well as the larger National Climate Assessment, will be publicly released. A new study says those moderate weather days will dwindle in the future because of global warming. The planet on average will lose 10 postcard-perfect days by the end of the century. The National Climate Assessment seems to be on autopilot because theres no political that has taken control of it, said Myron Ebell, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He was referring to a lack of political direction from the Trump administration. The report says significant advances have been made linking human influence to individual extreme weather events since the last National Climate Assessment was produced in 2014. Still, it notes, crucial uncertainties remain. It cites the European heat wave of 2003 and the record heat in Australia in 2013 as specific episodes where relatively strong evidence showed that a man-made factor contributed to the extreme weather. Worldwide, the draft report finds it extremely likely that more than half of the global mean temperature increase since 1951 can be linked to human influence. In the United States, the report concludes with very high confidence that the number and severity of cool nights have decreased since the 1960s, while the frequency and severity of warm days have increased. Extreme cold waves, it says, are less common since the 1980s, while extreme heat waves are more common. The study examines every corner of the United States and finds that all of it was touched by climate change. The average annual temperature in the United States will continue to rise, the authors write, making recent record-setting years relatively common in the near future. It projects increases 2.8 to 4.8 degrees Celsius by the late century, depending on the level of future emissions. It says the average annual rainfall across the country has increased by about 4 per cent since the beginning of the 20th century. Parts of the West, Southwest and Southeast are drying up, while the Southern Plains and the Midwest are getting wetter. With a medium degree of confidence, the authors linked the contribution of human-caused warming to rising temperatures over the Western and Northern United States. It found no direct link in the Southeast. Read more about: SHARE: Video transcript: There was a special moment in that White House press conference with Trump adviser Stephen Miller: It recalled for me a famous moment from the 1950s when lawyer Joseph Welch took down witch-hunting senator Joe McCarthy, who McCarthyism is named for: Except in Millers case, Id say: till then Id never gauged how narrow, doctrinaire and parochial these guys are. It was him using the term, cosmopolitan, as if everybody knows it. He returned to it lovingly: But hes living in a dream. Cosmopolitan is a rare word known mainly to far right zealots like Miller and Steve Bannon. Its a political slur meaning outsiders who dont really belong in the nation as we define it. Its usually meant Jews. In the mid 1800s, when European revolutions failed, their leaders were often driven into exile and labelled cosmopolitans. By the late 1800s, it became an anti-Semitic term, with rootless often attached. That allowed anti-Semites to blame Jews for cross-border phenomena, like capitalism and communism. In the 1940s, Stalin used it to smear Soviet Jews. Its an obscure word and shows how far the White House has been occupied by a cult or sect. Its as if Trotskyites or Earth Firsters moved in there, except theyd be considerably less self-infatuated, and far less offensive. SHARE: Jack Rabinovitch accomplished what once seemed impossible: he made CanLit sexy. He did it with a big idea creating the Giller Prize for Canadian fiction in memory of his late wife, Doris, a former books editor at the Montreal Star, Montreal Gazette and finally the Toronto Star. And he did it with thousands of tiny gestures, starting with the red rose that comes with every invitation to the annual ceremony a promise that the evening wont be just one more bland institutional function. He made the Giller both the most important literary award in Canada and a highly personal gesture of the love that he and Doris shared for writing and reading. Rabinovitch died on Sunday at the ripe age of 87, full of honours and well deserving of the outpouring of praise coming his way. But his passing still came as a shock. Until the end his spirit infused the Gillers. He didnt simply endow the award and then hand it off to others to manage. He made sure the announcement was a special party every year, with an open bar and a guest list that brings together leading figures in politics, media, business, fashion and, of course, publishing. Crucially, he made sure the show would be televised live and actually be worth watching (the audience topped half a million at one point and was hosted one year by both Ben Mulroney and Justin Trudeau). That created the kind of excitement that had never been part of the staid world of Canadian writing. More than anyone else, he gave CanLit the zip it was badly missing. Money was part of it. Rabinovitch grew up poor in the Montreal immortalized in the novels of his childhood friend Mordecai Richler the once largely Jewish neighborhood around the Main. He became wealthy in property development with the Bronfman family and moved with Doris to Toronto in the mid-1980s. As she once told a friend in her no-nonsense way: Ive been poor and Ive been rich. And believe me, rich is better. After Doris died far too young in 1993, Rabinovitch worked with Richler to create the award bearing her name and made it worth $25,000 an eye-catching amount at the time. Now, with the support of Scotiabank, the top prize is worth $100,000, substantial even by global standards. Others have followed. Canada now has plenty of literary prizes, including major, well-funded awards for fiction, non-fiction, political writing and poetry, as well as the long-established Governor Generals awards. But almost a quarter century after it was launched, the Giller is still the one that gets the most publicity and sells the most books. It changed the landscape of Canadian literature. Those who benefit in the end are Canadian writers and those who love to read them. They, and the entire country, owe a special debt of gratitude to Jack Rabinovitch. SHARE: Re: Parks Canada prepared for exceptional levels of visitation for Canada 150, Aug. 6 Parks Canada prepared for exceptional levels of visitation for Canada 150, Aug. 6 The article resembles a government press release and lacks balance and perspective. It applauds the planning purportedly taken to prepare for the onslaught of increased visitation, but fails to mention what is actually happening in national parks. Passing reference is given to ecological impact risks and increased human-wildlife interactions. The Canada National Parks Act says that parks are to be maintained and left unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. I suspect that if someone on the front lines such a warden or a visitor services attendant in Banff was asked and allowed to answer if there are serious adverse effects being caused by the additional boots on the trails and people in the parks created by the free pass in honour of Canada 150, that there would be a markedly different perspective given than that portrayed in the article. Jon Heshka, Associate Professor of Adventure Tourism, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, B.C. SHARE: According to an analysis by Swiss bank UBS (UBS) - Get Free Report pilotless planes might be on the way and they could be here sooner than you think. Are people ready for it? The study found that autonomous planes could possibly save airlines up to $35 billion a year by reducing pilot and fuel costs. Even though this could lead to a reduction in ticket prices, more than half of people asked said they would not travel in a pilotless plane. Boeing (BA) - Get Free Report has previously revealed that it is testing pilotless aircraft, discussing the technology at the Paris airshow in June. Passenger jets already use computer software to take off and cruise. The report predicted that cargo planes would be the first aircraft to go pilotless, stating "cargo is not concerned with the status of its pilots. For this reason, pilotless cargo aircraft may happen more swiftly than for passengers." More of What's Trending on TheStreet: Shares of Blackberry Ltd undefined were falling over 3% in Toronto trade on Tuesday after investment firm Goldman Sachs reiterated its "Sell" rating on the company's stock. BlackBerry's U.S.-listed shares were inching higher during mid-morning trading on Tuesday. The firm cited concerns regarding rising competition in its core mobile messaging business as the key driver for Tuesday's downgrade. BBM Enterprise, the company's secure mobile messaging platform, allows employees to capitalize on the speed, reliability and privacy of BBM for faster communication, collaboration and decision making while maintaining control over corporate data, the company says. More of What's Trending on TheStreet: The following companies are subsidiares of Cigna: Accredo Health Group, Accredo Health Incorporated, Alegis Care, Allegiance Life & Health Insurance Company, Allegiance Re, American Retirement Life Insurance Company, Benefits Management Corp., Bravo Health Mid-Atlantic, Bravo Health Pennsylvania, Brighter, CareAllies, CareCore National LLC, Central Reserve Life Insurance Company, Ceres Sales of Ohio, Choicelinx, Cigna & CMB Life Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Apac Holdings Limited, Cigna Arbor Life Insurance Company, Cigna Beechwood Holdings, Cigna Behavioral Health, Cigna Behavioral Health of California, Cigna Behavioral Health of Texas, Cigna Bellevue Alpha, Cigna Benefits Financing, Cigna Brokerage & Marketing (Thailand) Limited, Cigna Cedar Holdings, Cigna Chestnut Holdings, Cigna Corporate Services, Cigna Data Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Cigna Dental Health, Cigna Dental Health Plan of Arizona, Cigna Dental Health of California, Cigna Dental Health of Colorado, Cigna Dental Health of Delaware, Cigna Dental Health of Florida, Cigna Dental Health of Illinois, Cigna Dental Health of Kansas, Cigna Dental Health of Kentucky, Cigna Dental Health of Maryland, Cigna Dental Health of Missouri, Cigna Dental Health of New Jersey, Cigna Dental Health of North Carolina, Cigna Dental Health of Ohio, Cigna Dental Health of Pennsylvania, Cigna Dental Health of Texas, Cigna Dental Health of Virginia, Cigna Elmwood Holdings, Cigna Europe Insurance Company S.A.-N.V., Cigna European Services (UK) Limited, Cigna Finans Emeklilik ve Hayat A.S., Cigna Global Holdings, Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Global Reinsurance Company, Cigna Global Wellbeing Holdings Limited, Cigna Global Wellbeing Solutions Limited, Cigna HLA Technology Services Company Limited, Cigna Health Corporation, Cigna Health Management, Cigna Health Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna HealthSpring, Cigna Healthcare Holdings, Cigna Healthcare Mid-Atlantic, Cigna Healthcare of Arizona, Cigna Healthcare of California, Cigna Healthcare of Colorado, Cigna Healthcare of Connecticut, Cigna Healthcare of Florida, Cigna Healthcare of Georgia, Cigna Healthcare of Illinois, Cigna Healthcare of Indiana, Cigna Healthcare of Maine, Cigna Healthcare of Massachusetts, Cigna Healthcare of New Hampshire, Cigna Healthcare of New Jersey, Cigna Healthcare of North Carolina, Cigna Healthcare of Pennsylvania, Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina, Cigna Healthcare of St. Louis, Cigna Healthcare of Tennessee, Cigna Healthcare of Texas, Cigna Healthcare of Utah, Cigna Holding Company, Cigna Holdings, Cigna Holdings Overseas, Cigna Hong Kong Holdings Company Limited, Cigna Insurance Middle East S.A., Cigna Insurance Public Company Limited, Cigna Insurance Services (Europe) Limited, Cigna Intellectual Property, Cigna International Corporation, Cigna International Health Services, Cigna International Health Services BVBA, Cigna International Health Services Kenya Limited, Cigna International Health Services SDN BHD, Cigna International Services, Cigna International Services Australia Pty. Ltd., Cigna Investment Group, Cigna Investments, Cigna Korean Chusik Hoesa, Cigna Laurel Holdings, Cigna Legal Protection UK Ltd., Cigna Life Insurance Company of Canada, Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.- N.V., Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, Cigna Life Insurance New Zealand Limited, Cigna Linden Holdings, Cigna Magnolia Holdings, Cigna Myrtle Holdings, Cigna Nederland Alpha Cooperatief U.A., Cigna Nederland Beta B.V., Cigna Nederland Gamma B.V., Cigna Oak Holdings, Cigna Palmetto Holdings, Cigna Poplar Holdings, Cigna Sequoia Holdings, Cigna Spruce Holdings GmbH, Cigna Taiwan Life Assurance Company Limited, Cigna Walnut Holdings, Cigna Willow Holdings, Cigna Worldwide General Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Worldwide Insurance Company, Cigna Worldwide Life Insurance Company Limited, CignaTTK Health Insurance Company Limited, Connecticut General Corporation, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, CuraScript Inc., E-2 CIGNA CORPORATION - 2018 Form 10-K, ESI Mail Pharmacy Service Inc., ESI Partnership, ESI Resources Inc., Express Scripts Holding Company, Express Scripts Inc., Express Scripts Pharmaceutical LLC, Express Scripts Pharmacy Inc., Express Scripts Strategic Development Inc., FirstAssist Administration Limited, Firstassist Insurance Services Ltd, Great-West Healthcare of Illinois, Grown Ups New Zealand Limited, Health-Lynx LLC, HealthSource, HealthSpring, HealthSpring Life & Health Insurance Company, HealthSpring of Alabama, HealthSpring of Florida, HealthSpring of Tennessee, KDM Thailand Limited, LINA Financial Services, LINA Life Insurance Company of Korea, Life Insurance Company of North America, Loyal American Life Insurance Company, MCC Independent Practice Association of New York, Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited, Medco Containment Life Insurance Company, Medco Health Services Inc., Medco Health Solutions Inc., NewQuest, NewQuest Management Northeast, Olympic Health Management Services, Oz Parent, PT Asuransi Cigna, Provident American Life and Health Insurance Company, Qualcare, Qualcare Alliance Networks, Qualcare Captive Insurance Company Inc. PCC, Qualcare Management Resources Limited Liability Company, RHP (Thailand) Limited, Scibal Associates, Sterling Life Insurance Company, Tel-Drug, Tel-Drug of Pennsylvania, Temple Insurance Company Limited, United Benefit Life Insurance Company, Verity Solutions Group, Zurich Insurance Middle East, and eviCore 1 LLC. Read More Cardinal Health, Inc. operates as an integrated healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. The company operates in two segments, Pharmaceutical and Medical. The Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded and generic pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical, and over-the-counter healthcare and consumer products. The segment also provides services to pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers for specialty pharmaceutical products; operates nuclear pharmacies and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities; repackages generic pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter healthcare products; and offers medication therapy management and patient outcomes services to hospitals, other healthcare providers, and payers, as well as provides pharmacy management services to hospitals. The Medical segment manufactures, sources, and distributes Cardinal Health branded medical, surgical, and laboratory products and devices that include exam and surgical gloves; needles, syringe, and sharps disposals; compressions; incontinences; nutritional delivery products; wound care products; single-use surgical drapes, gowns, and apparels; fluid suction and collection systems; urology products; operating room supply products; and electrode product lines. The segment also distributes a range of national brand products, including medical, surgical, and laboratory products; provides supply chain services and solutions to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, and other healthcare providers; and assembles and sells sterile, and non-sterile procedure kits. The company was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Bank of Hawaii Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Bank of Hawaii that provides various financial products and services in Hawaii, Guam, and other Pacific Islands. It operates in three segments: Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers checking, savings, and time deposit accounts; residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, automobile loans and leases, personal lines of credit, installment loans, small business loans and leases, and credit cards; private and international client banking, investment, credit, and trust services to individuals and families, and high-net-worth individuals; investment management; institutional investment advisory services to corporations, government entities, and foundations; and brokerage offerings, including equities, mutual funds, life insurance, and annuity products. This segment operates 54 branch locations and 307 ATMs throughout Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, and a customer service center, as well as through online and mobile banking. The Commercial Banking segment provides corporate banking, commercial real estate loans, commercial lease financing, auto dealer financing, and deposit products. It offers commercial lending and deposit products to middle-market and large companies, and government entities; commercial real estate mortgages to investors, developers, and builders; and international banking and merchant services. The Treasury and Other segment offers corporate asset and liability management services, including interest rate risk management and foreign exchange services. Bank of Hawaii Corporation was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. owns and operates utilities, transport, midstream, and data businesses in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company's Utilities segment operates approximately 61,000 kilometers (km) of operational electricity transmission and distribution lines; 5,300 km of electricity transmission lines; 4,200 km of natural gas pipelines; 7.3 million electricity and natural gas connections; and 360,000 long-term contracted sub-metering services. This segment also offers heating and cooling solutions; gas distribution; water heaters; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioner rental, as well as other home services. Its Transport segment offers transportation, storage, and handling services for merchandise goods, commodities, and passengers through a network of approximately 22,000 km of track; 5,500 km of track network; 4,800 km of rail; 3,800 km of motorways; and 13 port terminals. The company's Midstream segment offers natural gas transmission, gathering and processing, and storage services through approximately 15,000 km of natural gas transmission pipelines; 600 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage; 17 natural gas processing plants; and 3,900 km of gas gathering pipelines, as well as one petrochemical processing complex. Its Data segment operates approximately 148,000 operational telecom towers; 8,000 multi-purpose towers and active rooftop sites; 10,000 km of fiber backbone; 1,600 cell sites and approximately 12,000 km of fiber optic cable; and 2,100 active telecom towers and 70 distributed antenna systems, as well as 50 data centers and 200 megawatts of critical load capacity. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. is a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. One of the best smartphones on the market just got a lot more durable. But it also debuts with a much higher price tag. (Image credit: Galaxy S8 Active (Credit: Samsung)) AT&T and Samsung have taken the wraps off the Galaxy S8 Active, which it bills as a more rugged, longer-lasting version of the Galaxy S8. What's different is that this new Galaxy device should be able to take more of a pounding. Samsung touts the S8 Active's screen as shatterproof, and it says the new phone can withstand shocks, water and dust. The Moto Z2 Force is also shatterproof, but it's not water-resistant. Instead of the curved edges of the S8's display, the S8 Active features a flat screen accompanied by a metal frame that's designed to stand up to inadvertent drops and bumps. Swipe to scroll horizontally Specs Galaxy S8 Active Galaxy S8 Price $850 $750 (on AT&T) Display (Pixels) 5.8 inches (2960 x 1440) 5.8 inches (2960 x 1440) Rear Camera 12 MP 12 MP Front Camera 8 MP 8 MP CPU Snapdragon 835 Snapdragon 835 RAM 4GB 4GB Storage 64GB 64GB Battery 4,000 mAh 3,000 mAh Battery Life Not yet tested 10:39 Colors Meteor Gray, Titanium Gold Midnight Black, Orchid Grey, Arctic Silver The S8 Active certainly commands a premium over Samsung's flagship phone. The S8 Active is available for pre-order from AT&T for $850, or $28.34 if you pay for the phone in 30 monthly installments. To put that price in context, AT&T sells the Galaxy S8 for $750 right now. But Samsung is offering the Galaxy S8 for $575 at the moment, though that price reflects a $150 discount off the regular $725 price tag. A 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+ will cost you $675 currently, discounted from the regular $825 asking price. (opens in new tab) Galaxy S8 Active Samsung is betting that people who want the added durability will pay up for the S8 Active. Other than being tough on the outside, the new phone is a lot like the S8 that debuted earlier this year. It's got the same 5.8-inch Quad HD display wit the extra-wide 18.5:9 aspect ratio that Samsung introduced with the S8. The S8 Active also features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage all features you'll find on the S8. The S8 Active should also last longer on a full charge, thanks to a 4,000 mAh battery inside the phone. The regular S8 runs on a 3,000 mAh battery while a 3,500 mAh power pack keeps the larger S8+ juiced up. Those two phones lasted 10 hours, 39 minutes and 11:04 on our battery test, respectively, so we're expecting big things from the S8 Active when we have a chance to test out that phone. Presales of the Galaxy S8 Active begin at AT&T tomorrow (Aug. 8), with the phone landing in stores on Aug. 11. Samsung says the S8 Active will be exclusive to AT&T but only for a limited time, so if you prefer another carrier, you'll need to bide your time for now. AT&T and Samsung, though, are throwing out a number of deals to convince you that there's no time like the present to get the S8 Active. AT&T customers will be able to get $200 in credits by trading in an eligible smartphone. They can also add a Samsung smartwatch at a discount either the Gear S2 for 99 cents or the Gear S3 for $49.99 though that deal requires a two-year contract. Buy a phone and add an AT&T line along with a DirecTV subscription, and AT&T will give you a Galaxy S8 for free. The wireless carrier is also offering a $500 credit toward a Samsung TV when you buy an eligible phone and add DirecTV service. A well-connected analyst says that this year's iPhone models won't be delayed, despite earlier reports that said the iPhone 8 may not hit shelves until October or even November. In addition, all three devices will reportedly be available in just three colors and the once-popular rose gold isn't making the cut. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The report comes from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a reputation for scoops on Apple's upcoming iPhone moves. Kuo's latest research note, spotted by MacRumors, contends that Apple will unveil the iPhone 8 and its iPhone 7 updates all at once in September, with the three models shipping at the same time, too. The OLED-equipped iPhone 8 is expected to be in short supply for the rest of 2017, though. MORE: New iPhone 8 Leak Shows Off Bezel-Free Design Still, that's a lot more optimistic than other reports about the iPhone 8's release, as some analysts had been talking about the new phones not arriving until late in the year. Besides shortages of the OLED panels which will feature prominently in the new iPhone, some reports say that Apple engineers are struggling to perfect new features like wireless charging and face recognition. The research note also says that Apple plans to release black, silver and gold versions of its iPhones this fall. What's more, those color schemes apply to all of Apple's iPhones the rumored iPhone 8 as well as the more modest iPhone 7s and 7s Plus that are expected to debut alongside the new-look iPhone. (Image credit: Are these the three colors for this year's iPhones? (Credit: Weibo via MacRumors)) A trio of colors would be a bit of departure from Apple's current array of iPhones. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus debuted last year in black, jet black, silver, gold and rose gold versions. A [Product] Red model of each phone arrived in March. Colors are notoriously hard for the rumor mill to nail down before a phone launch. Last year, rumors circulated about a blue iPhone 7 that never materialized. MORE: iPhone 8 Rumors: What to Expect from the 10th Anniversary iPhone Still, Kuo's strong track record for iPhone forecasts he was among the first to peg wireless charging as a feature for this year's iPhones, and now that's widely expected to be added to Apple's phones coupled with other leaks suggest Apple may limit the color scheme for the iPhone 8. Kuo's report squares with a leak that MacRumors had found earlier on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo that showed the iPhone in black, silvery white and a gold color described as "champagne gold" even if it looks more copper in the leaked image. While Apple doesn't comment on rumors about upcoming products, CEO Tim Cook didn't sound particularly fretful during a phone briefing last week with Wall Street analysts in which he talked enthusiastically (if non-specifically) about already-announced products such as iOS 10, macOS High Sierra and the HomePod speaker. "We can't wait to deliver all these innovations in the months to come," Cook said. "And we might even have more to share with you this fall." A lot of the advice you've received about passwords over the last 14 years was wrong, says the man who came up with most of it. Bill Burr, formerly of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, now says that his 2003 guide on creating strong, secure passwords could actually make you more vulnerable to hacking. (Image credit: designer491/Shutterstock) "Much of what I did I now regret," Burr, now 72 and retired, told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. The document, "NIST Special Publication 800-63. Appendix A," was an 8-page guide to creating passwords, though the suggestions were easy to guess and ultimately led to lazy security practices. The advice led users to insert obvious special characters in place of letters (like using a dollar sign instead of an "s"), tossing in a few numerals and potentially unexpected capital letters. (The original recommendations are pages 46-54 on this archived document.) Following this guidance, one might create a password like "P@sswrD1!" that looks complex but is easy to guess, thanks to such common substitutions. Burr also wrote that users should change their passwords every 90 days, but that led user to make only small, incremental changes, like updating to "P@sswrd2!" or something equally easy to guess and lulling users into a false sense of security. New NIST guidelines by advisor Paul Grasssi did away with Burr's rules completely, including requirements for special characters and changing after a specific mount of time. You can find our own guide to creating safe, strong passwords here. We recommend using at least 15 characters in your passwords, as stronger computers can crack shorter passcodes quickly, as well as using upper-case and lower-case letters, special characters and numbers. Don't use the same password in two places (especially with the same user name or email address) and store them all in a password manager. "In the end, it was probably too complicated for a lot of folks to understand very well, and the truth is, it was barking up the wrong tree, Burr said. But it's never too late to start with strong security practices. Most African politicians have, on average, been bad leaders. But the failure of economic development is primarily due to the pervasiveness of bad ideas, which translate into bad advice by influential economists those in the position to shape or influence policymaking. Poverty and underemployment in Africa today (at a time when resources of all kinds and opportunities have never been so numerous and so cheaply available everywhere) primarily reflect the imagination deficit among development economists not the incompetence of politicians. After all, politicians everywhere do what they are supposed to: politics, a selfish and often dreadful sport. It is the responsibility of economists to put great ideas on the table and find ways to positively influence the public discourse and the policies that are implemented. Retreating to their ivory towers, and complaining that political leaders do not solicit their wisdom and knowledge, is an easy escape route. It does not absolve them from their duty as elites, intellectuals, social leaders, and minority members of a community in which they represent what W.E.B. Du Bois called the talented tenth. They do not seem to fully grasp the burden of the responsibility that comes with being highly educated in a society that craves for knowledge and learning. To repeat: What exactly happened to Ghana and to other African and developing countries? In my view, two basic dynamics negatively reinforced each other over decades. First, national leaders gained political power, often in unconventional ways, and spent most of their energy either trying to replicate the governance models from colonial times, or to imitate policy frameworks in vogue in advanced countries but inappropriate for theirs. Then, they quickly ended up succumbing to the intoxicating luster of authority and struggling to maintain their grip on the levers of state political and financial power. Many of them failed to understand that the most effective way to remain at the top and retain control was to deliver quick, tangible results, and to improve the lives of their people. Most of the time, they consistently picked and implemented bad ideas, often from well-meaning economists and development experts. The combination of the two processes gradually made things worse and worse. The main results were economic failures, massive unemployment, poverty, despair, distorted belief systems, social and political chaos, and the generalization of witchcraft. Frustrated by the course of events, many good economists gave up in fact, the field of development economics was pushed to the fringes of the discipline for much of the sixties and seventies. Others opted for intellectual laziness, spending their time in intellectual mimicry, and simply transferring whatever concepts or theories were in fashion in Latin America and Asia to their analyses of African countries. It is not surprising that a lot of development economics has been dominated by the identification of the sins committed and the search for who is to blame. The good news is that time has gone by. Lessons have been learned. Spectacular successes such as the rise of China, Taiwan-China, Singapore, South Korea, Dubai, and the United Arab Emirates, and unfolding ongoing successes in Mauritius, or Vietnam, have shed light on what should be done or avoided. Despite many failed experiments, economic history now provides enough good stories that do not have to be copied but that can certainly inspire both researchers and policymakers. There are possibilities of redemption for political leaders and development economists in Ghana and elsewhere. This note summarizes some of the key elements of the knowledge accumulated in development economics. It is obviously biased toward my own work with Justin Yifu Lin (under the label New Structural Economics), and Joseph Stiglitz (on the rethinking of industrial policy) a selected reading list is provided in the references. Section 2 challenges the dominant paradigms of development thinking, from a fundamental, philosophical perspective. Section 3 sums up the key recommendations for a more appropriate approach. Section 4 offers concluding thoughts. Economics as a Prayer: A Critique The wrong assumptions and preconditions Choosing the wrong model or reference economy to copy carries some heavy implications and leads to risky optical errors. Instead of seeing the resources already in place in each poor country and focusing the intellectual and policy resources to maximizing the existing assets and building on successes to accelerate reforms, one focuses only on the missing ingredients for growth and prosperity, and quickly becomes obsessed with the lengthy list of preconditions to be fulfilled before the growth process can be ignited. This is a disturbing trend, and a counter-productive intellectual attitude. That mindset of missing elements and gaps has translated into a peculiar intellectual posture: economists have confined themselves to the role of detectives, if not prosecutors. Without fully realizing it, many development experts behave like detectives in Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie novels. They have converted themselves into a Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot whose divine mission is to find what is wrong with low-income countries, not what may be right and sufficient there to start something good. The gap mentality among researchers has therefore stimulated the emergence of a dominant brand of development policy that is basically an obsessive (if not compulsive) quest to correct the deficiencies. Of course, the search has produced long lists of true or false deficiencies, real or imaginary gaps, and truly missing or illusory ingredients for development recipes, which are presented as necessary conditions for economic progress. But the whole exercise has not paid off. Indeed, the search has created more problems for economists and policymakers than it has brought solutions. Instead of focusing on what each country even the poorest already has to build a viable development strategy, the compulsive search for the missing gap has validated and legitimized the notion that little can be done in poor countries unless they meet a long list of preconditions. Instead of adopting the mindset of how to maximize whatever few production factors are in place, development economists have too often devoted their energy and creativity to what must be done as preconditions for growth and prosperity. Instead of looking at the glass as half full, they have consistently seen it as almost completely empty. Yet, we know from the history of development that no single successful economy in the world started out with ideal country conditions. Successful development processes always emerge from average if not very poor institutional and policy environments. Neither the United States nor Great Britain had excellent infrastructure stocks prior to the Industrial Revolution, or even in the years and decades after that. China did not have adequate levels of human capital when Deng Xiaoping launched the shocking economic journey of growing the economy by nearly 10 percent a year for three decades and lifting some 600 million people out of poverty. By succumbing to the Sherlock Holmes syndrome, some researchers miss what should be the focus of economic policy in low-income countries and that is structural transformation, the transfer of human resources and capital to the most productive activities. This may be because many of us limited the development agenda to the Washington Consensus policies, mainly designed to address macroeconomic imbalances that developing countries experienced in the 1980s. Macro stabilization and structural reforms were necessary but not sufficient conditions for prosperity. They were not necessarily recipes for creating employment. Rwanda President Paul Kagame has declared that his country scores among the top-performers in almost all categories of the Doing Business Indicators but has not created enough employment in the formal sector. That is true: his country has done remarkably well in improving the business environment, but it must still do even more to generate the kind of good laborintensive industries that will eventually bring prosperity to the people. Another issue not always carefully studied is good governance. We all know how important that is and can see the correlation with GDP per capita in cross-country regressions. But we need to dig deeper, define it more precisely in our research, and customize what good institutions might look like in different country contexts. Let me just give one example to illustrate the point. Late Presidents Felix Houphouet-Boigny and Julius Nyerere are among the most admired in recent African political history. Yet, the former who once said at a press conference that any serious individual should have a Swiss bank account and urged people not to dwell on high levels of corruption in Cote dIvoire was able to propel his country on a long path of high growth. Compare his development performance with that of President Nyerere, widely perceived as a near saint for running arguably the least corrupt African government of the post-independence era, who apologized for failing his people with low growth and high poverty. Clearly, poor governance is a grave issue to be tacked energetically. But even as this is still under way, smart growth strategies can be implemented and yield satisfactory results. Development thinking should aim at providing more actionable sets of policies to political leaders, and avoid offering laundry lists of reforms that are politically difficult to implement and may not immediately yield the intended results. Leaving economic development to the market is taking a bet on what I call the painful economics of chance, approaching economics as a prayer that may or may not be answered. Different industries require distinct types of infrastructure. And since low-income country governments do not have the financial resources to accommodate all industries at once, it is best to work with the private sector to identify industries where the economy has a comparative advantage, and to focus on providing specific infrastructure and transparent, limited incentives that would allow these industries to grow. Look at the list of recent success stories in Africa to understand the role of industrial policies. Textiles in Mauritius, apparel in Lesotho, cotton in Burkina Faso, cut flowers in Ethiopia, mangos in Mali, and gorilla tourism in Rwanda all required that governments provide different types of infrastructure. The refrigeration facilities needed at the airport and the regular flights to ship Ethiopias cut flowers to the auctions in Europe are obviously quite different from the improvements required at the port facilities for textile exports in Mauritius. Similarly, the type of infrastructure for the garment industry in Lesotho is distinct from the one for mango production and export in Mali or for attracting gorilla tourism in Rwanda. Because fiscal resources and implementation capacity are limited, the government in each of those countries had to prioritize and decide which specific infrastructure they should improve or where to optimally locate the public services to make those success stories happen. Dr. Celestin Monga is the African Development Banks Chief Economist and Vice President, Economic Governance and Knowledge Management. The findings of this Brief reflect the opinions of the author and not those of the AfDB, its Board of Directors or the countries they represent. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. One day there were eggs for sale. The next day there were not. News reports show heavy equipment dumping eggs by the thousands into waste truck bins full of slimy, yellowish soup destined never to be consumed by man nor beast. Millions of eggs have been recalled in Germany and the Netherlands and are blocked from sale in Belgium after release of a notification of the insecticide fipronil (between 0.0031 and 1.2 mg/kg - ppm) in eggs on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission. Critics immediately protested the waste. The eggs were contaminated, but could still be eaten in normal quantities by adults without a real risk. The German agency for risk assessment issued advice that a child of 16 kg (35 pounds) could exceed the 'safe dose' by eating two eggs at the highest contamination levels found. But it is worth noting that the safe dose is set with a safety factor of 100, so even in this worst case, the probability of actual harm is as good as nonexistent. Was destroying the eggs an over-reaction? Or in the face of customer fears, were grocers doing what was necessary to protect their reputation and react decisively in the interest of the consumer? So how did it come to this? And what does it mean for the farmers? I am not going to name companies and products here. The objective is not to point fingers, but to highlight the importance of having knowledgeable chemical specialists involved in any decisions about formulation and use of chemical products, especially in the food and consumer exposure sectors. With that caveat, here is the story at this point in the investigation. Chicken farmers contracted with a locally based company for professional cleaning of their farm equipment. The cleaning company used a product intended to be "natural," based on menthol and eucalyptus, for controlling red mites. The natural product is approved for this use and safe for human consumption even in the case of unintentional contamination of food products. But apparently the "natural" product was not succeeding at controlling the mites. Someone decided the product needed a boost -- and here it seems unclear whether the manufacturer of the natural cleaning product added some fipronil or whether the professional cleaning company mixed up a new concoction using the natural mite control product with a fipronil booster. Europe has a powerful law on the use of biocides. It requires that every biocide be registered and the legal uses of the product be specifically approved under the law and communicated with every sale of the product. Fipronil is registered for legal use to treat fleas, ticks and lice -- but it is banned from use to treat farm animals. The law is very clear on this, pointing out that for fipronil "Only professional use indoors by application in locations normally inaccessible after application to man and domestic animals has been addressed in the Union level risk assessment." The indoor application is intended to protect bees, also suspected of being harmed by this pesticide. It is hard to imagine what went wrong that led to this fiasco. Was the cleaning product intentionally adulterated in violation of the law? Is it possible that all the weighty regulations failed to make clear the hazards when someone unwittingly played at pesticide chemistry? The consequences, regardless of how we got here, are devastating. The pesticide fipronil accumulates in the fat of the chickens, so Dutch farmers caught up in the scandal now face the prospect of losing all of their laying stock, and the chickens involved face an even more terrible fate. As food suppliers ramp up to "certify" their eggs as fipronil-free, and agencies double down on food safety testing, they will turn to experts in certification laboratories to rebuild confidence in the food supply chain. We spoke with someone in the business and learned that a test for detecting fipronil costs less than 100 euros ($115) per sample, using the GC-MS method. (GC-MS stands for "gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy." The technique first separates various chemicals and then analyzes them; because it creates a sort of "chemical fingerprint" the method is considered very specific, identifying the presence or absence of precise chemicals even at very low limits.) The question of how many samples to test, and how often to repeat tests, is more difficult. Testing costs add to the consumer food prices as well, although the cost per test quoted suggests that a level of food safety scanning that remains cost effective can be achieved. It certainly gives one something to think about over a bowl of Bircher muesli for breakfast, while waiting for the eggs to return to the market. -It is D Day and Kenyans are already thronging polling stations in anticipation to cast their votes - This comes after politicians mounted intense campaigns ahead of the Tuesday, August 8, most highly contested election in Kenya's history - Here is Barack Obama's message to Uhuru and Raila as he also urged Kenyans to vote in the right leaders to secure Kenya's bright future The election day is upon Kenyans and many are heading to polling stations to cast their votes in this highly anticipated Tuesday, August 8 election. In the weeks leading up to this day, politicians have mounted intense, passionate campaigns both physically and on social media in this highly contested election. Many, especially, are eager to cast their presidential vote for either the two main presidential candidates to watch; incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASAs Raila Odinga, or the other five presidential candidates. READ ALSO: 7 ingenious ways IEBC has made it easy for every Kenyan who'll be voting President Uhuru (l) receives former USA president Barack Obama during his trip to Kenya in 2015 at the JKIA. Photo: PSCU. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Rowdy man jumps on stage and goes straight for Raila, you need to see Mudavadi's reaction (video) With high expectations from botth the local and international communities for a peaceful election, former United States of America president Barack Obama was among the first to send their well wishes to Kenyans, as well as a message to Uhuru and Raila. According to his statement posted on Twitter on Monday, August 7, and seen by TUKO.co.ke, Obama urged Kenyans to vote in the right leaders to secure Kenyas bright future. Kenyans will be picking their leaders- the since the devolved government was introduced- on Tuesday, August 8. Above is the senatorial ballot paper. Photo: Citizen TV. READ ALSO: KTN's Betty Kyalo opens up on why she broke up with Hassan Joho I urge Kenyans to reject a politics of tribe and ethnicity and embrace the extraordinary potential of an inclusive democracy. The choice is in your hands because you more than anyone know the needless pain and agony thousands suffered as a result of the crisis in 2007. You can make clear that you will reject those that want to deal in tribal an ethnic hatred. Today, those voices- your voices- are needed more than ever, said Obama in part. Below is the full statement: READ ALSO: Raila's last personal message to Uhuru ahead of titanic battle to lead Kenya NASA's Raila Odinga and incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta are the two main presidential candidates to watch among 7 vying for the top seat. Photo: Daily Nation. Install TUKO App To Read News For FREE In a separate message to Uhuru and Raila, he reminded them that this election is a milestone for Kenya and the proverb we have not inherited this land from our forebearers, we have borrowed it from our children should be respected. President Uhuru and Raila Odinga, you must ensue unity among Kenyans prevails regardless of the outcome. I have witnessed Kenyas remarkable progress and Id like to return to see you fulfill your even more remarkable potential, added Obama. Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke Source: TUKO.co.ke - Kenyans have come out in large numbers to vote in the much anticipated August, 8 General Election - From old women, to the sick, to the disabled, no one wanted to be left behind The D-day is finally here! Kenyans from all walks of life on Tuesday, August 8, 2017, woke up at the crack of dawn to hit their respective polling stations to exercise their constitutional right, which is voting. Voters across the country made their way to different polling stations as early as 1 AM, with nearly 4.5 million of the 19.6 registered voters taking part in the process for the first time in their lives. Voters queuing at the Moi Avenue Primary School,Nairobi. Photo: Courtesy A male voter arrives at a polling station with his daughter on his back. Photo; Courtesy A granny being carried to the polling station. Photo: Courtesy Mutomo Primary School polling centre where @UKenyatta will be voting today Photo: John Allan Namu READ ALSO: Obama's sobering message to Uhuru and Raila as Kenya's highly anticipated election kicks off From old women, to the disabled, Kenyans came out in large numbers, making this election one of most historic in the country. An injured man being helped to a polling station. Photo: Courtesy Gideon Moi at his polling station. Photo: Courtesy READ ALSO: Live coverage: Voting gets underway in some areas as polling stations open in historic event In other words, no one was ready to be left behind. Even the injured and the sick made their way to polling stations. An old woman walking to the polling station. Photo: Courtesy Photos from different polling stations have already gone viral on social media, showing how Kenyans could not wait for the much anticipated poll. Kenyans casting their votes in Uganda. Photo; Courtesy READ ALSO: Another prophet predicts Uhuru will beat Raila just hours to election day Politicians who are vying for different seats just like other Kenyans came out to cast their ballots. Gideon Moi casting his vote. Photo: Courtesy Evans Kidero casting his vote in Nairobi. Photo: Courtesy Boniface Mwangi and his family casting their votes. Photo: Boniface Mwangi/Facebook Hassan Joho casting his vote in Mombasa. Photo: Hassan Joho/Facebook Ken Lusaka casting his vote in Bungoma. Photo: Courtesy Unconfirmed reports intimate that voters from some parts of Kisumu and Bungoma Counties arrived at polling stations as early as 9PM on Monday, August 7 2017. A man enters a polling station with his baby. Photo: Courtesy A man seen assisting an elderly woman to go cast her vote. Photo: Abulatsia Imbukwa Mikkie/Facebook Man walks into a polling station with his baby on his back. Photo: Courtesy Keep it TUKO.co.ke for real time update on all the happenings in different polling stations in the country. NASA publicly names police officers in tallying centre raid ; Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke Source: TUKO.co.ke If I were to mention anything about chasing lights in the north, most people would immediately assume that I must be referring to the Northern Lights, or the Aurora Borealis those highways of bright light that appear in the dark night sky. While Id love to see those one day, theres another special type of light to look out for in this part of the world. And, on my recent trip to Finland, I got to experience this natural phenomenon for the very first time. During the summer months in locations north of the Arctic Circle (and south of the Antarctic Circle), something rather peculiar happens: the sun doesnt set. This is especially the case around the Summer Solstice, where you can get up to 24 full hours of daylight on a clear day. The setting for my first midnight sun experience couldnt have been more dramatic. For four days we would be exploring Inari-Saariselka, a region in northern Lapland. To get there, I first caught my flight from London to Helsinki; from the capital, a second flight brought us to Ivalo Airport. The latter airport holds the impressive title of being both the northernmost airport in Finland as well as within the EU. As the plane started to make its descent into Ivalo, I could already recognise how unique this area was. All around literally as far as I could strain my eyes was a vast expanse of pine forest with almost no sign of manmade structures. Ive always loved the outdoors and, even before we got off that plane, I knew that I would fall in love with this part of Finland. Bags claimed, we drove towards our home for the next two days, Fell Centre Kiilopaa. The roads were lined with the same pine trees I had spotted from up above and, along the way, we made two stops in order to meet some famous Lappish residents: reindeer. We would have plenty of other reindeer encounters (keep reading for these) during our time in Finland but we made haste so that we could prepare for our first activity of the trip. I cant say that Ive ever made a regular habit of setting off on hikes at 10PM, but we had an excellent reason to do so on this particular evening. Fell Centre Kiilopaa is ideally located to explore the many walking trails within Urho Kekkonen National Park, which spans a massive 2,550 square kilometres. The walking trails fit within a huge range, with everything from half- or full-day walks to multi-day excursions staying in overnight huts. Our goal that night was to climb nearby Kiilopaa Fell in order to witness the full effect of the midnight sun. Even though we started our walk at 10PM, the images imply that we were climbing in broad daylight. And it felt like we were! I knew that Id spent my whole day on planes, but the sunlight tricked my body out of feeling tired. So, instead, we walked. To get to the top of the Fell, its about a 1.9km walk straight up following the wooden planks and stairs. But youre allowed to get up in any way you choose. We first followed along a sandy path within a pine forest. Now and then, the path would be overtaken by watery streams, which paid little regard to the fact that walkers are constantly trying to traverse them. The smell of the pine forest was intensely fragrant, and immediately reminded me of the forest walks I used to take with my family when we were living in Cape Town. As we hit the bottom of the Fell, it was if some unspoken rule was in play, as the pine forest that had surrounded us very quickly stopped. Instead, a new ground-hugging vegetation took over and I felt like the rest of my hike was partly occupied by examining as much of this arctic plantlife as possible. To protect themselves in their exposed location, with the plants battling all sorts of weather elements, the vegetation has adapted by growing close to the ground. Thick branches holding green leaves clutch at the soil and rocks, while bursts of colour can be found in the tiny arctic flowers and mosses displaying all manner of hues grow here in abundance. On all of the rocks and boulders, I could see a rainbow of lichens splashing out against an otherwise monotonous stony canvas. Up ahead, our final destination was now clear, with the steps leading to the top of the Fell. At the start of the walk, to all appearances it looked like we were walking in normal afternoon light. As we started making our ascent, however, the light took on a golden quality, which only intensified during the rest of our time on Kiilopaa Fell. Our group started on the wooden planks and steps before taking a detour around the side of the Fell. Along the way, we learned more about the area, the typical plants and wildlife you can find in Urho Kekkonen National Park and that the Sami people, the indigenous people of Lapland, make part of their livelihoods from reindeer herding. It was as we left the path and explored the side of the Fell that the most magical moment of our hike occurred. My new friend Tara and I were taking photos of the pine-filled landscape below us when we noticed movement on the hillside. A small herd of reindeer was coming down the Fell, perfectly silhouetted on the hillside by the suns golden glow. It was too perfect. We turned to each other and simultaneously said, no way! The next few moments saw everyone fumbling with all of their devices, trying to get the shot before the reindeer made their way down the Fell. Having just spoken about reindeer, it was surreal that they had made such a sudden appearance and rewarded us with a sight that can be described as being completely iconic of the Inari region. I think I was still recovering from that moment as we made our way to the top of Kiilopaa Fell the summit being signalled by a large mound of rocks. We didnt have time to linger, though, as the breeze carried over the sound of singing, and we discovered that yet another surprise awaited us. With the sun approaching its lowest point of the day, two Inari Sami women sang folk songs for us. Our visit to Kiilopaa coincided with a photography workshop, so a little crowd accumulated as the ladies shared their stories and songs from their culture. Their traditional red and navy clothing stood in bright contrast to the surroundings, and, while we were listening to them on top of that Fell, it felt like I couldnt be further away from my daily life. We learned that there are many subgroups within the Sami people, as well as different languages and traditions depending on which part of Lapland you live in. After the performance, we got the chance to ask questions and photograph the ladies in their outfits (along with their beautiful Samoyed dog, which I may or may not have wanted to steal). We had some time to explore Kiilopaa Fell and watch the sun, which was dipping close to the horizon. From one side of the Fell, we were told that you can glimpse in the far, far distance hills located beyond the Russian border. Looking back at the images from that evening, even though I was there, I still struggle to comprehend that these really were taken at midnight. Ive gotten to travel to some incredible places in my life but experiencing the midnight sun in this spectacular location will always be a special moment. The views, the fresh air, the Sami performance and afterwards, another remarkable quality, stillness the complete lack of auditory interference all worked together to make this the purest and most memorable introduction to the phenomenon of midnight sun we couldve ever hoped for. Since midnight had come and gone (despite appearances), it was time to head back down the Fell, even if our bodies didnt realise that it was past our bedtimes. Our climb up the Fell had been marked by golden hues but now the light quality had changed yet again. Instead, the sky was filled with a blush of pastel shades: pinks, purples, blues and yellows. The stairs, much easier to traverse this way around, are the quickest route down Kiilopaa Fell. And it was quick we were down at the bottom of the Fell all too soon and then back into the forest. Back in my room that night, I, unsurprisingly, struggled to sleep. At all times, light sneaked around the edges of the curtains; I peered out of the window at about 3AM to what looked like daytime, but a daytime utterly devoid of people or activity. Instead of feeling frustrated about getting cheated out of sleep, I remember lying back in my bed and smiling at the novelty of it all and the newly acquired knowledge that, for two months of the year, the sun forgets to set in Inari-Saariselka. Where I stayed in Kiilopaa While exploring Kiilopaa Fell and this part of Urho Kekkonen National Park, I stayed in Fell Centre Kiilopaa. I stayed in a twin room, but the centre features accommodation to suit all budgets, from hotel rooms to hostel beds to holiday apartments. The centre is perfectly placed for an outdoors-focused getaway and you can also rent gear, such as bicycles, here. Theres a restaurant and small grocery store on site and, in true Finnish tradition, sauna facilities as well (including a stream that you can dip into in between sauna sessions). *** Since this article is all about phenomena: If youve ever encountered that feeling of this planet being a small world then Im sure youll smile at this. I was hiking in a group of strangers in the middle of Finnish Lapland experiencing the midnight sun on top of a Fell and I managed to run into someone I know! My friend Iain of Mallory on Travel and I bumped into each other at Kiilopaa, out of all places, reminding me, again, that you never know when you can see a familiar face while out exploring the world. Is Lapland on your travel bucket list? Or have you ever witnessed midnight sun before (and where)? Id love to hear from you in the comments below! Note: I visited Kiilopaa Fell as part of a press trip organised by Visit Finland and Inari Saariselka, but, as always, all opinions and newly envisaged career as a reindeer watcher are entirely my own. * Pin it for later: * - Voting in parts of the country have been delayed due to failure by the electronic kits - Areas affected are Rabour Primary School, Nyando, 2 stations at Moi Avenue Primary School, Nairobi - Live coverage: Voting gets underway in some areas as polling stations open in historic event Thousands of voters have been left frustrated after voting was delayed in parts of the country. The areas affected by the delay were Rabour Primary School in Nyando and two polling stations at Moi Avenue Primary School. READ ALSO: Obama's sobering message to Uhuru and Raila as Kenya's highly anticipated election kicks off The areas affected by the delay were Rabour Primary School in Nyando and two polling stations at Moi Avenue Primary School. Photo: Daniel Courier Twitter. READ ALSO: Another prophet predicts Uhuru will beat Raila just hours to election day In Greenspan, Donholm in Embakasi East constituency voting was yet to start as we went to press at 10am. According to the voters who were affected, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not set up voting booths thus the delay. READ ALSO: The lack of network in some areas is very suspicious - NASA IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati. In a press conference on Tuesday, August 8, IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati said other areas polling was delayed include Kasarani and parts of Westlands with the presiding officers in the affected parts removed and replaced with new offcers. Chebukati also promised to extend time wasted in the affected areas by 3 or more hours. ''In areas where polling stations open late, we shall compensate the time by extending voting time,'' he said. As early as 4 am, some Kenyans were already lined up outside polling centers awaiting for the gates to be opened at 6 am. For some, they were already in line by Monday night, August 7, to beat the queues. Eager Kenyans lined up outside polling stations to cast their votes in the August 8 poll, the most highly contested election in Kenya's history. Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke NASA publicly names police officers in tallying centre raid. Source: TUKO.co.ke -Deputy President William Ruto has called out for peace in the country before and after polls - Addressing the media, Ruto urged Kenyans to move on from the polls, regardless of the results - According to Ruto, there will be other elections in future where loser candidates can participate in - Follow live updates from the electoral process across the country here Peace should be the end game, regardless of the election results. Deputy President William Ruto has insisted. Speaking in his home in Sugoi, Ruto called for peace during and after the polls, urging Kenyans to move on from the polls, despite the winners of the various elective positions. According to Ruto, life had to go on regardless of the winner of the polls. DP Ruto heading to Kosachei Primary School polling station in Turbo to vote PHOTO:Nation READ ALSO: Obama's sobering message to Uhuru and Raila as Kenya's highly anticipated election kicks off It does not matter who wins, there will be a next time and another chance to seek Kenyans mandate to lead this great nation. For as long as it is a Kenyan who wins the election, He told media. READ ALSO: All powerful photos from historic voting in Kenya including where politicians voted Rutos seemingly neutral sentiments came as a surprise, considering the fact that he had exuded unwavering confidence in a Jubilee win in recent campaigns. Even if there are losers, it is not the end of the world. In another five years, we will take this test again and there will be new leaders. He continued. READ ALSO: Panic as voting is delayed in these parts of Kenya The voting process has kicked off in virtually all the counties, with Kenyans turning out in their numbers to make their votes count. According to information reaching TUKO.co.ke. results will start trickling in from midnight. Have anything to add to this article or suggestions? Share with us on news@tuko.co.ke A video of Uhuru Kenyatta sending a message to Kenyans intending to flee the city ahead of the August polls: Source: TUKO.co.ke - The IEBC has taken stern action against election officials after voting delayed in parts of Nairobi causing panic - The electoral body fired the preceding officers as they are responsible for affairs at each polling station - IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati has since said voting hours shall be extended by the same number of hour it delayed in the respective polling station - Normal voting kicked off at 6 AM in most polling stations and is expected to end at 5PM Follow today's live voting process live Presiding officers in Westlands, Embakasi East and Kasarani have been replaced by IEBC after voting was delayed in their polling stations. So far, TUKO.co.ke understands that thousands of voters have been left frustrated after voting was delayed in parts of the country. In Greenspan, Donholm in Embakasi East constituency voting was yet to start as we went to press at 10 am. READ ALSO: Panic as voting is delayed in these parts of Kenya READ ALSO: It might not really matter who wins the polls so long as there is peace - DP Ruto According to the voters who were affected, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not set up voting booths thus the delay. IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati has promised to extend time wasted in the affected areas by 3 or more hours. More details on the same can be found HERE Source: TUKO.co.ke - Retired president Daniel Moi is said to have cast his vote at Kabarak University - His counterpart Mwai Kibaki on the other hand voted at the last minute after ears he would not vote - His name was missing from the list of voters at his known local polling station making everyone believe he would not vote - Earlier in the month, it was said that Kibaki was sick and hospitalized at Nairobi Hospital - His personal assistant however rubbished the claims, saying the former president was fine and enjoying his retirement Kenyans on Tuesday, August 8 2017, came out in large numbers to exercise their civic right- voting. Politicians were not left behind either in the much anticipated exercise. From sitting Members of Parliament, to incumbent governors to veteran politicians, all came out to take part in the General Election.Retired President Daniel Moi could not miss the chance either. Retired president Daniel Moi votes at Kabarak University. Photo : Nation READ ALSO: Kibaki admitted to hospital?TUKO.co.ke has the details TUKO.co.ke has learnt that Moi, just like other Kenyans cast his vote at the Kabarak University. Mois counterpart, Mwai Kibaki on the other hand had not voted at the last minute, slightly after 5PM when polling stations were expected to close. Kibakis absence sparked a series of questions with quite a multitude asking whether he was well. Neither IEBC officials nor his handlers explained why Kibaki had not voted. However, according to intimate reports reaching our news desk, Kibakis name was missing from the list of voters at his Munaini Primary school polling station. READ ALSO: 63-year-old man collapses and dies after voting in Raila's stronghold Retired president Mwai Kibaki addressing Kenyans. Photo: Mzalendo READ ALSO: All powerful photos from historic voting in Kenya including where politicians voted TUKO.co.ke has learnt that Kibaki traveled to Mweiga in Nyeri County on Sunday, August 6, where he was to cast his vote. However, the former President could not get to the polling station and vote because his name was missing from the list of voters pinned on the primary school's walls. Apparently,the former Presidents security team arrived at Munaini Primary school at around 10AM but was kept at the polling station for hours as IEBC tried to sort the issue. The issue was duly sorted judging by Kibaki's last minute appearance at the Munaini Primary School. Surrounded by his security,Kibaki made his way to the polling station where he cast his vote at around 5.50PM. Have something to add to this article? Send to news@tuko.co.ke NASA publicly names police officers in tallying centre raid; Source: TUKO.co.ke A total of 121 people have been imprisoned for corruption crimes in Ukraine in the first half of 2017, whereas 33 have been sentenced to restraint of liberty and 265 have received a fine. This is stated in the statistics of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, which was announced at a press conference on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to the materials, in the first half of the year the courts received 4,444 criminal cases on corruption crimes and cases on administrative offenses related to corruption. The courts considered 2,063 cases over this period. As a result, 1,373 people were brought to justice, including 469 for committing corruption offenses and 903 for administrative offenses related to corruption. As a result, the Ukrainian courts convicted 58 employees of the National Police and the Interior Ministry, 44 servicemen, 29 employees of the State Tax Administration, a Security Service officer, 19 heads of villages and towns, as well as 32 local government officials. op Military communication is a high-tech basis of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which requires the personnel of the signal corps to receive high-professional training. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said this in his congratulations on the occasion of the Day of the Army Signal Corps. "Military communication today is an integral part of the control system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, its high-tech basis. This requires the personnel of the signal corps to receive a high-level professional training based on the world achievements in science and technology, confident knowledge of the latest approaches to the introduction of innovative communication technologies in different conditions of use of troops," Turchynov stressed. He also stressed that in extremely difficult conditions, the personnel of the signal units heroically performs its military duty. "We bow our heads to the memory of those Ukrainian soldiers who gave their lives fighting against the strong and insidious enemy of our country!" the NSDC secretary said. He wished the personnel of the signal corps good health, professional success and victories, new achievements in the further development of the signal corps and strengthening the state's defense capability. ish President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman congratulated Ukrainian combat signallers on the Day of Communication Troops. The congratulations of the president and the prime minister have been posted on their Facebook pages. "I congratulate combat signallers on their holiday! Thank you for your dedicated service and your faithfulness to your military duty!" Poroshenko wrote. "I congratulate our combat signallers on their professional holiday! Thank you for your hard work and invaluable contribution to the military strength of our state," Groysman wrote. The Day of Communication Troops was established in Ukraine in line with the president's decree as of February 1, 2000. iy France will raise funds for Ukraine to assist it in developing technical and economic assessment for the project on solar power stations construction in the exclusion zone in Chornobyl. The press service of the national energy company Ukrenergo posted this on its Facebook page. Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Kistion enlisted the support of the French government regarding the allocation of funds to help Ukraine in developing a feasibility study for the construction of solar power plants in the exclusion zone of Chornobyl NPP. The overall vision of the project will be developed with the assistance of French experts until the end of this year, reads the report. At the same time, Ukrenergo as soon as by October will develop technological and economic assessments, namely: a plan for the development of network infrastructure in the exclusion zone and the zone of evacuation so that to ensure the connection of future solar energy capacities of up to 1,200 MW. According to Ukrenergo, the project is a very important infrastructure project for the country. It will triple the total amount of solar generation in Ukraine. iy The Russian occupation forces have wounded a civilian during shooting exercises near the village of Kadiyivka in Luhansk region, the main intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported on Facebook. "The criminal actions of the Russian occupation forces cause a constant increase in the number of unjustified material and human losses, including among the ordinary local population. In particular, according to the decision of the command of the fourth separate motorized rifle brigade (Alchevsk) of the second army corps (Luhansk), the Russian Armed Forces conducted practical shooting exercises in an unequipped area near the village of Kadiyivka," the report says. According to the directorate, a civilian sustained a bullet wound and several private houses were fired upon as a result of violations of the rules of firing. Appeals from the population to the so-called law enforcement agencies were ignored, the report says. op Ukraine's accession to NATO is supported by 30 percent of residents of Donetsk region. Pavlo Zhebrivsky, the chairman of the Donetsk Regional Military and Civil Administration, posted this information on his Facebook page referring to the results of the poll which was conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation. "30 percent of Donetsk region residents support Ukraine's accession to NATO. This number is thrice as much as in Luhansk region, where only 10 percent of the population support joining NATO," Zhebrivsky wrote. In addition, according to sociologists, 32 percent of Donetsk region population support Ukraines joining the European Union (as contrasted to 14 percent in Luhansk region). Almost every third resident of Donetsk region (29%) positively perceives the idea of introducing a visa regime with Russia (as contrasted to 10 percent in Luhansk region). ol The third annual Capital Ukrainian Festival in Ottawa has been attended by over 25,000 guests, including 6,000 tourists from the United States and Ukraine, according to The Ukrainian Weekly. "The third annual Capital Ukrainian Festival brought another fantastic weekend of Ukrainian food, music, dancing and culture to the nation's capital. With an attendance of over 25,000, including 6,000 tourists from cities and towns from all over Canada, the United States and Ukraine, the celebration of all things Ukrainian was in the air on Friday through Sunday, July 21-23," the statement reads. According to the newspaper, the programming was spectacular and dynamic. The audience was wowed by Kyiv-based DakhaBrakha's unique sound, and visitors were entertained by the over 500 performers that took the stage over the course of the weekend. To top the night off on Saturday, Zirka, Canada's favorite "zabava" band, hosted the largest and best Ukrainian dance party that Ottawa has ever seen. In addition, well-known chefs led two incredible cooking demonstrations, showing the crowd how to make traditional Ukrainian food. As a result, 45,000 dumplings and 250 liters of home-made borsch were eaten over the weekend. op Five European countries have received 29,895 applications for a permanent residence permit from displaced people from Donbas since the war in the east of Ukraine started. According to the UN Refugee Agency, 9,616 people wanted to move to Germany, 9,319 to Italy, 4,278 to Poland, 3,459 to France, and 3,148 to Sweden. A total of 427,240 Ukrainians wanted to leave from the ATO zone for Russia, and Ukraine granted asylum to 1.583,759 internally displaced persons. ish A regular rehearsal of the military parade on the Independence Day of Ukraine took place in Kyiv. The rehearsal of the military parade dedicated to the 26th anniversary of Ukraine's independence was held on the territory of the Antonov Aviation Plant in Kyiv. The parade will be attended by servicemen of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and NATO, as well as representatives of law enforcement agencies. This year, 4,500 military officers will march along Khreshchatyk Street, over 1,000 of them took part in combat operations in the ATO. Ukrainians will celebrate the Independence Day on August 24. ish Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius has said he thinks that former Head of Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili should be given an opportunity to defend in court his right to citizenship of Ukraine. He stated this in an interview with the BNS news agency, according to DELFI. "Saakashvili should be able to defend his rights in a transparent trial," Linkevicius said. He also assured Ukraine of support from Lithuania. The former Georgian president received Ukrainian citizenship under a decree of the Ukrainian president in late May 2015. He served as Odesa regional governor from May 30, 2015 to November 9, 2016, and then he announced his resignation. On July 26, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stripped Saakashvili of his Ukrainian citizenship. According to the Presidential Administration, such a decision was made, because Saakashvili provided inaccurate information when applying for Ukrainian citizenship. op President of the Ukrainian World Congress Eugene Czolij has called on Australian politicians to step up support for Ukraine, the Ukrainian Embassy in Australia has told an Ukrinform reporter. "Eugene Czolij has discussed with the Australian state leadership the importance of further political and technical support for Ukraine," the embassy said. During meetings with Australian lawmakers and government officials, Czolij praised the timely provision by Australia of humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian military who were the first to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression. At the same time, he called on Australia to continue sanctions on Russia until the latter stops grossly violating its international obligations. Czolij praised Australia's role in recognizing the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people. He also spoke about the reforms that are being conducted in Ukraine with the active support of Ukrainians living abroad. Cholij emphasized the importance of Australia's deliberate policy to counter Russian propaganda and the use of Russian hybrid warfare techniques. He praised the role of the Ukrainian community of Australia in the world's Ukrainian initiatives and thanked the Australian government for the ongoing organizational and financial support of Ukrainian organizations in Australia. During his visit to Australia, which is taking place as part of the 50th anniversary of the Ukrainian World Congress, Czolij also held a series of meetings with representatives of Australian Ukrainians so as to coordinate further actions to lobby Ukrainian interests abroad. The UWC president will also speak to experts and analysts at the Center for European Studies of the Australian National University. op More than 20,000 Russians were denied entry to Ukraine in the period from 2015 through 2017. Head of the State Border Service Petro Tsyhykal said this in an interview with Interfax. As to statistics, over 20,000 Russians were denied entry from 2015 through August 3, 2017. The figures show that most denies were recorded in 2015 - 10,900, while in 2017 about 3,000 Russian citizens were denied entry," Tsyhykal said. According to him, general grounds for refusals are insufficient explanation for the purpose of travel, exceeding the registration deadline and insufficient means of subsistence. "As to an entry ban, we are currently talking about 3,148 Russian citizens, of whom about 100 are famous Russian performers and public figures that mainly illegally visited Crimea," Tsyhykal said. iy The number of foreign tourists who visited the city of Kyiv during the period from 2015 to 2016 increased by 25.8%. Head of the Department of Tourism of Kyiv City State Administration Anton Taranenko said this during a press conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Such growth rates are very important for us, and we can say that now tourism as an integral part of the city's economy is a priority of the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv administration," Taranenko said. He added that 1.2 million people had already visited Kyiv in the first half of 2017. According to Taranenko's forecasts, this year the tourist flow to the capital of Ukraine may increase by 30-40% compared to 2016. ish The Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) 15.01 Stereotactic Prostate Adaptive Radiotherapy utilizing Kilovoltage intrafraction monitoring (SPARK) trial is a multicenter trial using Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring (KIM) to monitor prostate position during the delivery of prostate radiation therapy. KIM increases the accuracy of prostate radiation therapy treatments and allows for hypofractionation. However, an additional imaging dose is delivered to the patient. A standardized procedure to determine the imaging dose per frame delivered using KIM was developed and applied at four radiation therapy centers on three different types of linear accelerator. Dose per frame for kilovoltage imaging in fluoroscopy mode was measured in air at isocenter using an ion chamber. Beam quality and dose were determined for a Varian Clinac iX linear accelerator, a Varian Trilogy, four Varian Truebeams and one Elekta Synergy at four different radiation therapy centers. The imaging parameters used on the Varian machines were 125 kV, 80 mA, and 13 ms. The Elekta machine was measured at 120 kV, 80 mA, and 12 ms. Absorbed doses to the skin and the prostate for a typical SBRT prostate treatment length were estimated according to the IPEMB protocol. The average dose per kV frame to the skin was 0.24 0.03 mGy. The average estimated absorbed dose to the prostate for all five treatment fractions across all machines measured was 39.9 2.6 mGy for 1 Hz imaging, 199.7 13.2 mGy for 5 Hz imaging and 439.3 29.0 mGy for 11 Hz imaging. All machines measured agreed to within 20%. Additional dose to the prostate from using KIM is at most 1.3% of the prescribed dose of 36.25 Gy in five fractions delivered during the trial. Journal of applied clinical medical physics. 2017 Aug 02 [Epub ahead of print] Kimberley Legge, Peter B Greer, Paul J Keall, Jeremy T Booth, Sankar Arumugam, Trevor Moodie, Doan T Nguyen, Jarad Martin, Daryl John O'Connor, Joerg Lehmann School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia., Radiation Physics Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia., Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia., Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia., Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia., Radiation Oncology Department, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Waratah, New South Wales, Australia. PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28766904 SHARE Alexander Kutikov Appointed Chief of the Division of Urologic Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center TRUCKEE, CA (UroToday)- Alexander Kutikov, MD, has been appointed the new chief of the Division of Urologic Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Kutikov joined the Department of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase in 2010 after completing a Society of Urologic Oncology Fellowship at the Center. He earned his medical degree at Harvard Medical School and completed his residency in urology at the University of Pennsylvania. Fox Chase is a place like no other. The mission is not only to deliver world-class care, but to do so in the most compassionate way possible, Kutikov said. Im thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this second-to-none Urological Oncology team. I will work tirelessly to continue the tradition of clinical and academic excellence that was established by my predecessors. Kutikov will fill the role being vacated by Richard Greenberg, MD, who served as chief of the Division of Urology and Urologic Oncology for 22 years. Though he is stepping down as division chief, Greenberg will continue his full clinical responsibilities and serve as a professor of urology at both Fox Chase and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. I believe the time is right to pass the torch as chief of the division and look forward to the new ideas and energy Dr. Kutikov will bring into the position, Greenberg said. The team that we have built is world-class and will no doubt continue to be at the forefront of urologic oncology for many decades as we all move forward in helping alleviate suffering from, and ultimately curing, urologic cancers. Kutikov is a Professor of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase. He is a board certified, academic urologic surgical oncologist who treats urologic tumors using minimally invasive (robotic / laparoscopic) and traditional surgical techniques. He has authored or co-authored more than 175 publications and has published chapters in leading textbooks, including Campbell-Walsh Urology, and Grays Anatomy. He has held leadership positions in the American College of Surgeons, American Urological Association, and the Society of Urologic Oncology. His name appears as one of Americas Top Doctors and on the Philadelphia Magazines Top Doctors List. Dr. Kutikov is a tireless advocate for new innovations and clinical excellence and is a champion of our institutional spirit and mission, said Robert Uzzo, MD, chair of the Department of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase. Dr. Greenberg and I are confident that he will move the division boldly forward by providing the clinical and administrative leadership to maintain and expand on what Dr. Greenberg and the urology team have put together so adeptly. Kutikov assumed his new responsibilities on July 1, 2017. In the literature it is shown that the use of PSA is occasionally wrong, by requesting this marker in very young or very old men, and repeated measurements in short periods of time. The main objective of this study was to describe the use of PSA in daily practice by primary care physicians in our area, dealing with aspects such as the importance of patient age, the value in the screening for prostate cancer, or the subjective beliefs about its usefulness.A secondary objective was the comparison of use, and beliefs among doctors who claim to know PSA well, and those who do not.A descriptive and comparative study was conducted using questionnaires that were handed to primary care doctors in all health centres in our area. A descriptive analysis was performed and response rates among doctors who thought they had enough information about PSA, and those who did not, were compared using the Chi-squared test.A total of 103 questionnaires were received from the physicians, with 83.5% claiming to have sufficient knowledge about the PSA. The professionals in this latter group request PSA at an earlier age (P=.029), with a higher frequency (P=.011) and have more doubts about its usefulness (P=.009) than those with less knowledge. Almost half (49.5%) said they request less than 50 determinations per year, and 33% between 50 and 100. More than half (53.4%) of doctors would not request the first PSA on a patient until their 50s, and up to 49% request it up to 80 years. The true value of PSA has been established many times by 64.1% of requesters, and 29.1% believe it is unhelpful in the diagnosis of cancer.In our study, 64% of primary care physicians have considered the true value of the PSA several times, and 29% believe it to be of little use in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In addition, some data suggest it has limited use due to the fact that 50% made less than 50 PSA requests per years, and 28% of the professionals would never request it on a male without urinary symptoms. In this study, it has been observed that those professionals who claim not to have enough information about the PSA make more requests in patients of an older age, and consider that it is of limited use as a marker.Semergen. 2016 Jun 22 [Epub ahead of print]J Panach-Navarrete, A Girones-Montagud, E Sanchez-Cano, C Domenech-Perez, J M Martinez-JabaloyasServicio de Urologia, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Espana. Electronic address: North Korea vowed Monday to persist in its nuclear weapons development program, rejecting calls from the international community to rein in its aggressive military actions. Pyongyang's United Nations mission contended that new U.N. sanctions against it for its missile tests were a "flagrant infringement upon its sovereignty," with state media claiming they were the result of a "heinous U.S. plot to isolate and stifle" the communist country. North Korea told a security conference of key regional leaders in Manila that it would never bargain away its development of nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles, and said that it would teach the United States a "severe lesson" with nuclear strategic force if Washington takes military against it. Pyongyang said it is a responsible nation state with no intent to threaten any country other than the United States unless they join Washington in military action. But North Korea boasted that its latest missile test in late July showed the world that the "entire U.S. mainland is in our firing range." Tillerson: Stop testing North Korea's response to the U.N. sanctions came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the best step Pyongyang could take to signal it is ready for dialogue would be to halt its missile tests. "Weve not had an extended period of time where they have not taken some type of provocative action by launching ballistic missiles. So I think that would be the first and strongest signal they could send to us is just stop these missile launches," Tillerson said. He also spoke in Manila, where he is taking part in the regional forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. China, North Korea's economic lifeline, said it is fully committed to enforcing the U.N. sanctions intended to deprive North Korea of $1 billion in annual export money Pyongyang is using to fuel its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile program. "China will for sure implement that new resolution 100 percent, fully and strictly," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on the sidelines of the Manila meeting. In the U.S., the White House said that President Donald Trump talked with Tillerson and chief of staff John Kelly about North Korea for an hour. Trump has demanded quick implementation of the new sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's exports of coal, iron and iron ore, lead and lead ore, and seafood. Tillerson said Saturday's U.N. Security Council vote unanimously adopting new sanctions against North Korea for its ballistic missile tests sends a message that the entire international community finds the country's actions unacceptable, and that the clear expectation is a denuclearized Korean peninsula. "We hope again that this ultimately will result in North Korea coming to the conclusion to choose a different pathway, and when the conditions are right then we can sit and have a dialogue around the future of North Korea so that they feel secure and prosper economically," he said. Revenge threat North Korea, in the statement carried by state media, pledged to launch a "thousands-fold" revenge on the U.S. and reiterated its stance that sanctions will not force it to negotiate over its nuclear program.North Korea said it will take "action of justice," without elaborating, and said the U.S. would be making a mistake if it believed its mainland is safe because an ocean separates the two countries. The White House said Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in committed in a phone call to fully implement all relevant U.N. resolutions related to North Korea and to "urge the international community to do so as well." The statement late Sunday said Trump and Moon also welcomed the new Security Council resolution and reiterated their belief that North Korea "poses a grave threat" to their countries and Japan. China urges end to provocation Earlier Sunday, China pressed North Korea to halt its missile and nuclear tests, saying Pyongyang should not "provoke international society's goodwill." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang delivered Beijing's warning to his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial meetings. The United States cautiously welcomed China's newfound support of sanctions against North Korea, but said that it would closely monitor China's compliance with the penalties. Susan Thornton, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, told reporters that in the past China has supported efforts to curb Pyongyang's weapons development, but then slacked off. "We want to make sure China is continuing to implement fully the sanctions regime," Thornton said,"not this kind of episodic back and forth that we've seen." 2 Kenyan inmates wait in line to cast their votes in Kisumu, on Lake Victoria. This is the first time that inmates in Kenya are allowed to vote. The inmates can cast ballots only for the presidential candidates. Kenyans began voting in general elections headlined by a too-close-to-call battle between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga, sparking fears of violence in east Africa's richest economy. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the government will hold a vote later this year that could put the country one step closer to legalizing gay marriage. Turnbull told reporters Tuesday his government will present a bill to the Australian Senate to hold a compulsory plebiscite in November. If the Senate rejects the measure, the government would then hold a voluntary postal vote, with the votes due back by mid-November, at a cost of $97 million. If a majority of voters in either scenario check the yes box, parliament would then vote on the measure in December. Turnbull says he is following through on a campaign pledge to hold the plebiscite. Strong leaders carry out their promises, weak leaders break them, he told reporters. Senate lawmakers rejected a bill to hold a plebiscite last November, with opposition lawmakers citing concerns about cost and a run-up campaign filled with bigoted and homophobic rhetoric. Gay rights campaigners are also opposed to the plebiscite, calling on lawmakers to go on the record with a simple yes or no vote. The Balkans have become embroiled in a trade war over agricultural health checks after Croatia raised import fees on some farm products by around 220 percent, triggering countermeasures by Serbia and threats from others. Last month European Union-member Croatia raised its fees for phytosanitary controls agricultural checks for pests and viruses on fruits and vegetables at its borders to 2,000 kuna ($319) from 90 kuna. It cited compliance with EU standards and protection of its consumers. But ministers from EU candidates Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, as well as from fellow EU aspirant Bosnia, said the move violated their respective pre-accession agreements with the bloc under which they were guaranteed equal access to markets. "These measures are absolutely protectionist in an economic sense. They are populist in political sense and cannot be justified, They are [not] in the spirit of good neighborly relations," Serbian Economy Minister Rasim Ljajic told reporters after meeting his Balkan counterparts in Sarajevo. The ministers from the four countries called on Croatia to withdraw its decision and invited the European Commission to get involved to solve an issue they said violated the free trade principles. They also asked for an urgent meeting with the Croatian agriculture minister. However, until the issue has been resolved, each country will take counter-measures it considered adequate to protect its own economic interests, they said. Economic War in Sight? Ljajic said that Serbia has already stepped up phytosanitary controls on all organic produce from Croatia and will increase them further. This means that goods, including meat and dairy products, could be held up at borders from 15-30 days. "Our goal is not to wage any kind of economic war but to protect our economic interests and the free flow of goods," he said. Macedonia and Montenegro said they would file complaints to the World Trade Organization, of which they are members, and seek mechanisms through the body for compensation from Croatia, which raised import fees at a peak of the high season for export of fruits and vegetables from their countries. Besides discriminating against importers on its own market, Croatia is also making exports to the EU more difficult and expensive because it is vital entry point for imports to the EU from the Balkans, the ministers said. Commenting on the explanation from Croatia that their move was not aimed against the neighbors but against all non-EU members, Bosnia's Foreign Trade Minister Mirko Sarovic said: "Croatia does not import raspberries from Trinidad and Tobago but from Serbia and Bosnia." He said that Bosnia was considering an "adequate response" but declined to elaborate. Most countries in the region import more than they export to Croatia. Only Serbia operates a trade surplus with its neighbor, with exports in 2016 reaching 116 million euros ($137 million) versus imports worth 79 million euros. Relations remain strained between the two former Yugoslav countries and bitter foes during the Balkan wars of the 1990s, despite improvements in investments, the flow of people and capital. ($1 = 6.2688 kuna) Gok state officials said Tuesday more than 40 people were killed and more than 50 others were wounded in a wave of inter-communal fighting over the weekend between the Waat and Ayel communities in Cueibet County. State authorities deployed police and soldiers to prevent more violence from erupting in the area. Local leaders said armed youth from Waat carried out revenge attacks against the Ayiel community on Saturday, which led to more fighting Sunday between the two communities in the state capital, Cueibet. Isaac Mayom Malek, Gok state Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement, called it revenge fighting, adding "It resulted in [the] killing of 42 people from both sides." Malek said 53 men from both communities are being treated at various health facilities. "About twenty-something are in Cueibet hospital and 13 were referred to Rumbek [hospital]. Those with severe injuries were taken to Rumbek and about 20 are in Adhorow Primary Health Care Center," Malek said. Tensions between the Waat and Ayiel communities date back to 2012. At that time, according to Malek, the Waat community accused someone in the Ayiel community of killing a child from Waat. "Twenty-two people were killed in that incident," Malek said. Investigation under way Gok State Governor Madhang Majok chaired a State Security Committee meeting Monday to talk about how to end the violence. Malek said military troops and police were deployed to stop the fighting between cattle keepers and local residents, and to investigate who started it. "We have sent four commissioners to go and talk to the cattle keepers who are camping three hours from here to move far away from the state headquarters," Majok said. Cueibet County Commissioner Peter Anyoun Dut, who also is a member of the committee appointed by the governor, said the panel is gathering information from local chiefs to help identify the perpetrators of crimes committed last weekend. "We are trying now to sum up the number of the houses burned and to know the number of items looted and casualties; also, those who lost their lives," Dut said. Dut described the situation in Cueibet as calm on Tuesday, saying residents are going about their day-to-day activities. Malek urged residents of both communities to remain calm. Late last month, 20 people were killed and 18 others were injured when members of the Waat and Yiel communities fought in Cueibet County. South Sudan descended into chaos in December 2013 after a political power struggle between President Salva Kiir and former First Vice President Riek Machar led to deadly fighting between different ethnic communities across the country. Many of the U.S. colleges and universities that are most popular among foreign students are reporting an increase in international applicants, despite surveys earlier this year that warned of a drop. VOA Student Union contacted 20 schools with the largest populations of foreign students. Fourteen institutions reported that international applications from undergraduates increased or remained stable. Six reported drops. Collectively, the schools account for about 20 percent of all foreign students studying at U.S. universities and colleges. The final tally of foreign students who applied and enrolled in American universities each year is not publicly reported until November. For now, the VOA survey indicates that foreign students interest remains high and the number of foreigners choosing to study in America continues to grow after topping one million for the first time in the 2015-16 school year. A few months ago, a survey of the schools indicated declining interest from foreigners. The Institute for International Education (IIE) conducted a survey in March of 250 schools nationwide, showing a nearly 40 percent decline in applications from foreign students. The survey was conducted shortly after President Donald Trump issued a travel ban on immigrants including students from six Muslim-majority countries. That would have barred travelers from Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen from entering the country for 90 days. However, federal courts struck down or suspended much of the measure. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed parts of the ban to take effect in late June. Students from the affected countries who hold valid visas can still travel to the U.S. for their studies. But it was unclear whether many students would choose not to pursue an American university degree given the uncertainty around the immigration measures. Recent IIE numbers Last month, IIE followed up with another study that showed the decline in applications had narrowed to within 2 percent of last year's application numbers. Contacted by VOA Student Union this week, 14 schools reported increases or remained close to last year's applications: New York University, University of Southern California, Columbia University, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, Northeastern University, University of California-Los Angeles, Boston University, Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Michigan, University of California-San Diego, University of California-Berkeley, Indiana University and Ohio State University. Six schools that reported decreases in applications are Arizona State University, Purdue University, University of Texas-Dallas, University of Washington, University of Minnesota and Carnegie Mellon University. The declines ranged from drops of 1,000 applications this year to drops of a few hundred. Not all schools released specific numbers. The application figures are preliminary, the schools noted. Final figures will be computed in mid-September or later for most schools, after the withdrawal period for classes has ended. Top school sees boost New York University, which hosts the most international students, according to IIE, received about 20,000 international undergraduate applications for the Class of 2021. This accounts for 27 percent of its applicant pool and an increase of about 1,500 applications from last year, according to Shawn Abbott, NYU's dean of admissions. Ohio State University spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said that while applications increased by 10 percent over last year, it admitted 4.4 percent fewer foreign students to keep in line its planned student-body composition. Northeastern University, which had 11,702 international students last year, saw an increase in international applicants, said Northeastern spokesperson Matthew McDonald. The leading countries of origin of international students are China (31 percent), India (16 percent), Saudi Arabia (6 percent) and South Korea (6 percent). They account for nearly 60 percent of last year's more than 1 million international students in the U.S., the IIE report stated. International students contributed $32.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2015-16 school year, making the program the 12th largest service-sector industry in the U.S. In November, IIE will release its 2017 annual report with statistics for all schools and foreign populations. This report has been amended from its original version to include data from Carnegie Mellon University. Germany has welcomed Turkey's decision to allow lawmakers to visit German troops stationed at a NATO airbase near the Turkish city of Konya. Turkey has been blocking German lawmakers' requests to visit their troops in the country in recent months amid souring relations between Berlin and Ankara. German news agency dpa quoted the country's defense minister as saying Tuesday that it was a good solution that the seven lawmakers could take part in a visit by NATO officials September 8. Ursula von der Leyen noted that the nine German troops were part of a NATO air surveillance mission supporting the alliance's fight against the Islamic State group. A spat over lawmaker access to German troops at the Incirlik base prompted Germany to move troops from there to Jordan. U.S. technology giant Google has fired a male engineer who wrote a memo questioning the need for gender diversity programs in the industry. In a 10-page internal memo titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," James Damore asserted that so few women were employed in the technology field because they "prefer jobs in social and artistic areas," while men are more inclined to become computer programmers a fact he said was due to "biological causes." The memo created a firestorm after it was leaked on social media, reviving the debate over the lack of racial and gender diversity in the tech world. Google is under investigation by the U.S. Labor Department over whether it pays women less than men, while claims of sexual harassment at the ride-sharing firm Uber Technologies has triggered a change in management. Sundar Pichai, Google's chief executive officer, blasted Damore's memo in an email for advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. Damore revealed he had been dismissed in an email sent to various news outlets. He says he has filed a complaint with the federal National Labor Relations Board accusing Google of trying to shame him into silence. Deep below London's bustling streets, a piece of once-vital communications technology will soon be roaring back into life after years of disuse a train. The train operates on the "mail rail" line a 6.4-mile underground train track that once transported letters and parcels 70 feet below ground to and from sorting offices on the east and west sides of the city 22 hours each day. The line, construction of which began in 1915, ceased operations in 2003. It will be opened to the public next month as a tourist attraction, part of the new Postal Museum in the city's Clerkenwell district. "Mail rail originally came about because mail was being delayed in London due to congestion in the streets above us," Adrian Steel, director of the Postal Museum and mail rail, told Reuters. Visitors can now ride a section of the old track in specially built trains, and explore an engineering depot turned exhibition space. "One of the biggest jobs we've had is finding a way of taking people through these narrow tunnels that were never meant for people to pass through in a way that's not completely uncomfortable or dangerous," Steel said. Apart from their role in delivering mail, the tunnels played a useful role during World War I and World War II. Construction of the line was halted when war broke out and the space was instead used to store valuable artifacts, and was relied on heavily to avoid mail disruption during the blitz of World War II. Aside from its unique history, another aspect of the mail rail line sets it apart from other London underground train lines an absence of rats. "It's a rodent-free terminal and under London which is unusual," Steel said. "Because there were no people on the trains, there is no food for the rats and mice." Rail mail at London's Postal Museum opens to visitors on Sept. 4. Dozens of people from East Java community organizations rallied in Surabaya on Monday, demanding that a statue of a Chinese god be demolished. Claiming the representation of a warrior god known variously as Kwan Sing Tee Koen, Kwan Kong, Kuan-Ti or Guan-Yu fails to reflect Indonesian culture, protesters gathered in front of the East Java Provincial Legislative Building to demand the statues demolition. The brightly colored, 30-meter-tall statue at the Kwan Seng Bio temple in Tuban, East Java, is now draped in cloth. Local Chinese Indonesians, a minority in the worlds most populous Muslim nation, contend the protesters do not understand that the Confucian god marshals people against war. And a local official said the only problem with the statue is that it lacks a building permit, a snafu caused by an internal dispute at the temple. Religious divides raise tension The protest over the statue of the Chinese god comes during a time of religious tension in Indonesia. In Jakarta, Islamist protests against the Chinese Christian governor, Basuki "Ahok" Purnama, turned violent during his recent re-election campaign. Purnama is now serving a two-year sentence for blasphemy after losing in April to Anies Baswedan, who was backed by hardline proponents of political Islam. In July, President Joko Jokowi Widodo issued a decree banning the group Hizbut Tahrir, which advocates for a global Islamic caliphate. And while Indonesia is an officially secular country that recognizes six religions, Islamic sharia law has been on the rise. Didik Muadi, who coordinated the Tuban protest, told local media that many consider the statue an insult to Indonesia. The enormous figure has dominated the local landscape since it was unveiled in July by Zulkifli Hasan, chairman of the People's Consultative Body, who told local media he hoped the statue would become a tourist attraction. Statue's height seen as menacing That didnt sit well with Didik Maudi. If they want to make a memorial statue, it should not be that high, he said. Maybe it should be a maximum of two meters, and inside the temple, if it is a memorial. This statue is so tall, its as if the god of war has taken over Tuban, and we cant allow that! The chairman of the Regional Association of Chinese-Indonesians in East Java, Gatot Santosom, said the Tuban protest was based on a lack of understanding of the god depicted. They misunderstood and thought the statue is of a general, that we worship a war general, but thats not true, said Gatot Santosom. What we worship and respect is what he symbolizes - loyalty, our loyalty to humanity - and he defends justice. That's what we worship, not the war, no. Where's the building permit? Abu Cholifah, a member of the Tuban Regency Legislative Body, said the debate about the Tuban temple statue was an effort by outsiders who wanted to turn a statue of a Chinese god into a political issue in a nation with a long history of persecuting the Chinese community. The people of Tuban, actually, have no problem with it, because the statue has been there for some time, said Abu Cholifah. I think [outsiders] politicized the issue for their own interests. As far as the people of Tuban, no one is politicizing the statue." If there is any issue with the statue, Abu Cholifah said, it is that the local government failed to issue a building permit before it was erected. Every building in Tuban must have an IMB," Abu Cholifah said. "But because there is an internal conflict in terms of management of the temple as a foundation, no IMB was issued. A judge in Detroit has halted the deportation of 1,400 Iraqis nationwide until their cases can be reviewed. Most of these Iraqi nationals were convicted of non-violent crimes, making them subject to deportation. But as VOA's Sama Dizayee reports, they face persecution if they are sent back. 2 A Kenyan voter catches up with the day's news as he waits in line with others to cast his ballot. (L. Ruvaga/VOA) Kenyans vote Tuesday in a close presidential election between President Uhuru Kenyatta, who seeks a second term, and Raila Odinga, who lost the last two contests. The East African high-tech and commercial hub of 44 million people is often described as one of the continent's most politically stable countries, but the torture and killing of a top election official has many recalling the disputed 2007 election between the same candidates that left more than 1,000 people dead. A look at the issues around the vote: The candidates Kenyatta and Odinga are from storied political families. Kenyatta is the son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, and Odinga is the son of Jaramogi Odinga Odinga, the country's first vice president. In Tuesday's balloting, which includes other minor candidates, one must win more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff election. After losing the past two elections, this could be the last chance for the 72-year-old Raila Odinga to claim the seat that eluded his father. Odinga says he wants to restore a strong government, stamp out corruption and improve the lives of the poorest Kenyans. The 55-year-old Kenyatta wants to avoid becoming the first Kenyan president not to win re-election. He won in 2013 with 50.03 percent of the vote, triggering an unsuccessful legal challenge by Odinga. Kenyatta at the time faced criminal charges at the International Criminal Court over his alleged role in the 2007 election violence. Those charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, with the ICC prosecutor blaming unprecedented witness interference and bribery. This time, Kenyatta has appeared more confident while campaigning, pointing to major infrastructure projects, many backed by China, and claiming strong economic growth. The call of tribe Most political organizing in Kenya is tied to ethnicity. Many voters see Kenyatta as the candidate of the Kikuyu people, the country's largest ethnic group, and Odinga representing the Luo. That the Luo have never produced a head of state adds drama to the election. Many middle-class Kenyans will, in an instant, go from speaking of globalization and borderless innovation while sipping on their cafe macchiatos to offering blind support to a well-known thug who happens to be from their tribes, journalist Daniel Kalinaki wrote in a recent column for the Daily Monitor newspaper. Kenyatta's running mate under the Jubilee coalition, Deputy President William Ruto, is expected to marshal the votes of his Kalenjin people. Odinga leads the National Super Alliance, which includes political leaders of the Kamba and Luhya ethnic groups. But Kenya's political landscape is noted for shifting alliances. Kenyatta's running mate Ruto was an ally of Odinga in 2007. Ruto is now being challenged at home by an influential governor who supports Odinga, which could split the Kalenjin vote that was crucial in Kenyatta's 2013 win. Corruption, poverty and land Severe drought conditions in half of Kenya's 47 counties have worsened tensions over land as farmers face invasions from semi-nomadic herders seeking room to graze their cattle. In Laikipia county, more than 30 people have died. Some farmers say politicians have incited the herders with the aim of shifting demographics in their favor and winning elections. Despite Kenya's expanding middle class and economic growth of 5.6 percent in 2016, according to national figures, poverty remains widespread. More than 40 percent of people live on less than $2 a day. Official corruption also feeds tensions. Likelihood of violence The al-Shabab extremist group, based in neighboring Somalia, already has threatened Kenya's elections with a series of deadly attacks in border areas. That strains Kenya's security forces as they seek to keep the vote free of violence. The torture and killing in late July of Christopher Msando, an official in charge of Kenya's electronic voting system, has fueled concerns that the balloting could be rigged. The biometric system malfunctioned in the 2013 election, leading to opposition claims of vote-tampering. As election observers, including former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, prepare for the vote, Kenyan officials have said it is unlikely they will shut down the internet but they might shut down some social media if necessary to calm hate speech and incitement. Despite the concerns, the International Crisis Group has said Kenya is better prepared to handle any violence. There have been major efforts by security forces, civil society and the business community to try to forestall a crisis, its assessment says. In short, unless there is large-scale failure of electoral equipment on election day or if the defeated candidate refuses to concede, a crisis on the scale of what happened in 2007 is unlikely. Nebraska regulators opened a final hearing on TransCanada Corp's proposed Keystone XL pipeline on Monday, a week-long proceeding that marks the last big hurdle for the long-delayed project after President Donald Trump approved it in March. The proposed 1,179-mile (1,897-km) pipeline linking Canada's Alberta oil sands to U.S. refineries has been a lightning rod of controversy for nearly a decade, pitting environmentalists worried about spills and global warming against business advocates who say the project will lower fuel prices, shore up national security and bring jobs. Nebraska has last word Trump's administration handed TransCanada a federal permit for the pipeline in March, reversing a decision by former President Barack Obama to reject the project on environmental grounds. But the line still needs a nod from regulators in Nebraska which would be the last of three states to approve its proposed path into the heartland. A lawyer for opponents of the line opened the hearing in front of the five-member Nebraska Public Service Commission on Monday morning by grilling an executive for the Canadian company about how the pipeline will be disposed of after its anticipated 50-year lifetime. "Do we have to clean up TransCanada's abandoned pipeline?" attorney David Domina asked TransCanada executive Tony Palmer. On Sunday, hundreds of pipeline opponents, including members or Indian tribes, marched through downtown Lincoln under police escort, following a rally at the Nebraska Capitol. Decision expected in November Nebraska's Public Service Commission is meant to weigh whether the project is in the state's public interest, and will announce a decision by November. The arguments of opponents are constrained by the rules of the commission, however: the commission is not permitted to consider the risk of spills because the route already has an environmental permit. Opponents including scores of landowners on the proposed route will instead argue the jobs are temporary and the risks of the pipeline to local industries like cattle ranching too great. They will also note that if the commission approves the line, TransCanada could seek to seize property along the route using eminent domain law a politically unpalatable option in the conservative state. Proponents, meanwhile, will argue the project will bring in hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue. Job numbers different Trump has said the project would create 28,000 jobs nationwide, but a 2014 State Department study predicted just 3,900 construction jobs and 35 permanent jobs. The 830,000 barrel-per-day Keystone XL would link Alberta to an existing pipeline network feeding U.S. refineries and ports along the Gulf of Mexico. The project could be a boon for Canada, which has struggled to bring its reserves to market. But demand for the line has declined since it was first proposed, due to surging U.S. production, lower prices, and other Canadian pipeline projects. One of the Buddhist nationalists in Myanmar who joined an anti-government protest encampment outside Yangons famed Shwedagon Pagoda late last week has vowed that he and other demonstrators were in it for the long haul. If we get three demands, we will stop our boycott, the monk, Pyinyar Wuntha, told journalists on Friday, two days into the sit-in. Otherwise we will keep fighting until the government steps down." By Sunday evening, however, they had abandoned their position, and local residents were using a traditional disinfectant to clean up the area. Hours earlier, police broke up an affiliated protest camp in Mandalay, arresting at least half-a-dozen monks and charged them with a form of incitement. A third location in the Shan State capital of Taunggyi also emptied out. The office of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi expressed "heartfelt thanks" to members of the public for not joining the action, and the appreciation was later published on the front page of the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar. NLD hard line against nationalists Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD), which came to power more than a year ago as part of a transition away from decades of junta rule, has taken a decidedly harder line against Buddhist nationalists than the previous military-backed administration, earning cautious praise at a time when it is in desperate need of success stories. You could say that governments being the way they are, you need some pluses. Because things havent been going well for the present NLD government generally," said Khin Zaw Win, director of the Yangon-based think tank the Tampadipa Institute. So I think moving against the extremist monks is popular. He added that the crackdown was only the latest move in an ongoing contest between the two forces. You still have to finish this game, its not finished yet. And theyve got to play their cards carefully, he said. Buddhist nationalists on the defensive The former pro-democracy activists have faced withering criticism in their new roles as politicians. The economy is not exactly booming. There's a sputtering peace process, and Myanmar's military still has an uncomfortable amount of control in national affairs. But the NLD has also stepped up efforts, in concert with the state Buddhist leadership, to isolate Buddhist nationalist movements, which proliferated amid religious violence that has plagued Myanmars transition to democracy since 2011. The political winds have helped them. Support for the groups waned after historic elections in 2015, when the NLD won a resounding victory against the Union Solidarity and Development Party, which had been touted as the right pick by some of the more vocal nationalist figures such as Ashin Wirathu. The declining influence was on full display during the protest encampments, which produced a small turnout. A group calling itself the Myanmar Boycott Organizing Committee circulated a call to action on Facebook that, even though it could not be independently verified, highlighted the embarrassingly poor attendance. We would like to remind nationalists across Myanmar who are protecting race and religion. Our committee is now contacting you by phone as we need more people, the statement said. We would like to remind you to confirm whether you can come and support or not when we call. We would like to remind nationalists who said that they would sacrifice their lives for race and religion that you should pick up phone calls after taking expenses. The protesters had three demands: to release other nationalists held by authorities; to remove the NLD's religious affairs minister Aung Ko; and to formally announce that the Rohingya, a Muslim minority group in Rakhine State, do not exist and are illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Concerns remain about NLD government More than 120,000 Rohingya live in internal displacement camps since anti-Muslim clashes with Buddhists in 2012. The military stands accused of widespread rights abuses that allegedly occurred in the northern part of Rakhine during a hunt for Rohingya militants who attacked police border guard posts in October. The government denies the allegations. At a press conference over the weekend the religious affairs minister dismissed the suggestion that the government step down as unreasonable. But while many welcome a tougher position in general, concerns remain over the way the government handled the incident and whether the sit-in actually amounted to hate speech, which authorities have struggled to control with the explosion of internet access in the country over the past few years. There's a fine line here between combating extremists and violating freedoms of expression and assembly. The mark of a liberal democracy is its ability to tolerate and even protect illiberal voices, Matthew Smith, a co-founder of the NGO Fortify Rights, said in an email. We don't agree with what they stand for but we'll protect their right to stand for it, so long as they don't incite violence or use hate speech. Those who incite violence should be prosecuted and held accountable and the authorities really need to do more to combat hate speech. It's a deadly serious national problem. A senior U.N. official said Monday that civilians in Mosul, Iraq, remained at risk of revenge attacks from Islamic State militants. Lise Grande, deputy special representative of the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, said that while the fighting in the former IS stronghold was over, the humanitarian crisis was not. The problems resulting from the nine-month fight in Mosul the single largest urban battle since World War II are enormous and difficult to handle, she said. Grande said many IS fighters and sympathizers of the militant group, also known as ISIL, tried to blend in with civilians fleeing western Mosul in the final stages of the battle. She told VOA the Iraqi army had carefully screened civilians for arms, making the screening mandatory for the men. She added, however, that another layer of security screening had been imposed following a spate of deadly suicide bombings carried out by women leaving Mosul. "My understanding is that the security forces are deeply concerned that in the areas where ISIL still has capability, that, yes, they are very concerned about suicide bombers," Grande said. "In the case of Mosul right now, there have not been [bombings] for several weeks, but that does not mean that people are not worried about it." Grande said another area of concern was revenge attacks by civilians and security forces against families associated with IS. "For families who are outside of tribal protection mechanisms, you are really very, very, very vulnerable if you are alleged to have been associated with ISIL," she said. "This is why we are in discussions with the government for special protection measures for them." For example, Grande said, voluntary camps could be established for those who choose to go, knowing that extra protection would be available. She said the Iraqi government was also considering other measures, with U.N. support, to try to stop this type of retaliation from occurring. A Turkish media report says Turkey has begun construction of a wall along the country's frontier with Iran, mimicking the Turkish barrier along the Syrian border. The private Dogan news agency said the governor of Agri province, Suleyman Elban, inspected the construction of the security wall on Tuesday. The Turkish authorities are constructing the 2-meter wide, 3-meter high barrier with portable blocks, the report said. Turkey is building the wall along parts of the Iranian border to boost its security by halting the infiltrations of Kurdish militants and illegal smugglers. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced in January plans to build a wall along its borders with Iraq and Iran, similar to the one currently being erected along the 911-kilometer (566-mile) frontier with Syria. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch has called on the Turkish government to act following a spate of abductions. In a letter to Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, the rights group called for an "urgent and effective investigation of the abduction and possible enforced disappearances of at least four men in Ankara since March 2017." "As far as we can tell, there has not been an effective investigation," said Emma Sinclair-Webb, senior Turkey researcher for Human Rights Watch. "The cases we've looked at were people abducted in broad daylight in front of witnesses. "There is a lot of evidence to investigate. We got security camera images in one recent case in June. A man was abducted in front of his 8-year-old son, as well as local shopkeepers, and there is no excuse not to investigate." Neither the government nor Justice Ministry has commented on the disappearances. Human Rights Watch said there were suspicions of state collusion. The abductees had all lost their jobs in a purge against followers of U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for a failed coup last year in Turkey. The circumstances of the abductions were similar, with all the people taken by masked men using a black Volkswagen transit van. One of the four who disappeared, Onder Asan, subsequently turned up in police custody after his abductors held him for 42 days, during which he said he was tortured. The government has strongly rejected claims of torture and abuse. Earlier this year, the government reduced from 30 days to seven the period during which a person can be held without charge, under the emergency rule introduced after the failed coup. Longer interrogations Human Rights Watch warned that the abductions could be an effort to circumvent the reform. "We are assuming that these people are being held to interrogate people for a longer period," said Sinclair-Webb. She also said abductions are uniquely cruel and that the European Court of Human Rights ruled they were tantamount to torture of family members of those who disappeared. While Human Rights Watch cited four cases and said it was investigating a fifth, it acknowledged the number was most likely higher, with local Turkish rights groups and opposition parties noting other ones. The specter of people being dragged off the streets into unmarked cars evokes memories of one of Turkey's darkest chapters. During the 1990s, at the height of war by the Turkish state against the Kurdish rebel group PKK, a period characterized by gross human rights violations, hundreds of activists and civilians disappeared at the hands of the security forces. Most either turned up dead several months later, their bodies usually showing signs of torture, or were subsequently discovered in mass graves years afterward. Many of those who went missing were last seen being taken away in white Renaults, used then by security forces. The car became synonymous with abductions. When President Recep Tayyip Erdogan served as prime minister, his government had been in the forefront of ending torture. During his early years in power, groundbreaking investigations and trials were initiated against security members accused of being involved in the 1990s abductions. Human Rights Watch, however, pointed out there were only two convictions out of hundreds of cases. The latest spate of abductions, while relatively few compared with the past, is adding to fears the country is sliding back to the past. "We've seen Turkey has a very notorious past in which people 'were disappeared' by the state," Sinclair-Webb said. "We don't want to see Turkey return to that pattern, so it's very important Turkey stamps these [abductions] out." Kurds' allegations Concerns about Turkey going back to the past have been heightened by images on social media of people from Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast showing signs of abuse alleged to have been carried out by security forces. The government denies the allegations. Musa Citil stood trial in 2014 but was acquitted of kidnapping and killing 13 Kurdish villagers during the 1990s, when Citil was an Ankara district gendarmerie commander. The families of those killed are appealing the acquittal to Turkey's Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Citil won a controversial promotion this month to major general. Human rights advocates say their ability to stem deteriorating human rights is being weakened because they are being blocked by the post-coup crackdown. "None of us has security in Turkey," said Amnesty International Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner. "These activities we take on a normal basis. If all these are criminalized, it means next week it could be me that is detained, someone from Human Rights Watch, someone from Turkey's Human Rights Association." Several days ago, 30 more activists, including two senior members of the Turkey Human Rights Association, were detained on anti-terror charges. On Tuesday, all were released, pending trial, after giving statements to an Istanbul court. Spanish police said Tuesday they have arrested a Turkish-Swedish reporter and writer in Barcelona on an international arrest order from Turkey for alleged terrorism. Barcelona National Police spokesman Jose Antonio Nin said Hamza Yalcin was detained at Barcelona airport Aug. 3 and is now being held pending an extradition hearing. He said Yalcin has been handed over to National Court authorities. Jonathan Lundqvist, head of the Swedish branch of Reporters Without Borders, said the arrest was an attempt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to show "he can reach critical voices even if they are not in the country." Lundqvist said Yalcin has written in the magazine Odak Dergisi - which is critical of the Turkish regime - since he fled to Sweden in 1984. He said Spain has now to decide whether to hand him to Turkey where "over 100 other journalists have been charged by the Erdogan regime for similar crimes." "This is worrying that exiled journalists can be arrested," he told The Associated Press. Elisabeth Asbrink, chairwoman of the Swedish branch of writers' association PEN International, called for the release of Yalcin as well of another Swedish citizen, IT consultant Ali Gharavi, who was arrested July 5 while attending a seminar about freedom of the internet in Turkey. "It is obvious that Turkey and President Erdogan show a lack of respect for EU citizens. Sweden must of course do everything to ensure the release of these two and it is urgent," said Asbrink. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has made a short visit to Thailand for talks on trade and regional security matters, including discussions on pressuring North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs. Following his visit to a regional security forum in the Philippines, Tillerson, the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup, arrived in Bangkok Tuesday to meet with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai. In a statement to VOA, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson said, The Secretary discussed the broad range of U.S.-Thai cooperation on regional security, trade and investment, and other areas, including through regional forums like ASEAN. He also raised regional and global issues, including the security threat posed by DPRK [North Korea], as well as developments in the South China Sea." In addition to seeking support for a U.S. policy designed to isolate North Korea for violating United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs, Tillerson discussed trade issues with his hosts. Thailand had the 11th highest trade surplus with the U.S. at nearly $19 billion last year, placing it on President Donald Trumps list of countries to be investigated over trade practices; however, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said the trade deficit went down in the past year, giving both sides more room to maneuver on the issue. This is a bargaining chip that I think the Trump administration is not going to go all the way and start punishing Thailand and Thailand has also been trying to accommodate. This is just part of the larger relationship. I think, as you can see, Thailand being more accommodating, the Trump administration will probably be more compromising. And this will mean that their whole relationship can then realign and move on, he said. He added the U.S.-Thai relationship hit rock bottom with the Obama administration following the 2014 coup, but that the Trump administration is engaged in a regional realignment focused on its North Korea policy. The embassy spokesman said Tillerson reiterated our desire, as a long-time friend and ally, to see Thailand emerge from this transition period as a strengthened democracy that respects and guarantees human rights and fundamental freedoms at home and plays a leading role in advancing regional security and prosperity. Activists say the Trump administration is minimizing human rights concerns in a country still run by a military government. Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher for Human Rights Watch Asia, said a return to democratic civilian rule should happen for a normalization of the bilateral relationship. For Thailand, if it expects to get back in business as usual with the U.S., it needs to open with lifting repression of fundamental rights and freedoms immediately, he said. Secretary Tillerson next traveled to Kuala Lumpur for meetings with Malaysian officials. He is expected to return to Washington Wednesday. The U.S. State Department is advising its diplomats to sidestep questions from foreign governments about the Trump administration's stance on the Paris climate deal. The Reuters news agency reported Tuesday that a cable sent Friday to U.S. embassies by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson provided prospective questions foreign government officials could ask diplomats and suggested answers. For example, according to Reuters, if asked, "What is the process for consideration of re-engagement in the Paris Agreement?," the diplomat should give a generalized response, such as, "We are considering a number of factors. I do not have any information to share on the nature or timing of the process." Tillerson's cable came a little more than two months after Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the landmark Paris climate deal and on the day that the administration was reviewing a climate change report prepared by 13 federal agencies, the conclusions of which conflict with administration perspectives. The document, which was leaked ahead of publication and reported by The New York Times on Tuesday, said Americans were seeing more heat waves and rainfall as a result of climate change. The report found human activity was "extremely likely" the cause of more than half the Earth's temperature increase since 1951, a position at odds with the administration's belief that the cause of global warming is uncertain. The report said human impact caused an increase in the global temperature of 0.6 degree to 0.7 degree Celsius between 1951 to 2010 and that heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions led the way as the primary contributor. 'No alternative explanations' "There are no alternative explanations, and no natural cycles are found in the observational record that can explain the observed changes in climate," said the study, the Climate Science Special Report. The Trump administration received a copy of the most recent draft of the report several weeks ago, senior administration officials said. It was unclear whether the administration, which announced in June it would withdraw from the Paris accord, would approve the report. The study will be included in the National Climate Assessment, which is mandated by Congress every four years. Some scientists were concerned that the administration could amend or suppress the report. Conversely, skeptics of human-caused climate change were equally concerned that the report would be publicly released, along with the more comprehensive National Climate Assessment. The report concluded that if humans immediately halted greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures would still rise an additional 0.3 degree Celsius this century, compared with the actual projected increase of 2 degrees Celsius. Small increases in global temperatures can significantly affect the climate. For example, a global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees to 2 degrees Celsius could cause more intense rainstorms, longer heat waves and lead to more rapid deterioration of coral reefs, scientists say. Policy recommendations were not included in the study, but it emphasized the need to stabilize the global mean temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius by significantly cutting carbon dioxide levels. An increase above 2 degrees Celsius would push the global environment closer to catastrophic changes, scientists have said. The Paris climate accord, in which nearly 200 countries participate, includes an agreement to cut or limit fossil fuel emissions. The report said meeting the emissions goals would be a significant step toward managing global warming. The Interior Department on Monday unveiled a plan to protect the threatened sage grouse that gives Western states greater flexibility to allow mining, logging and other economic development where it now is prohibited. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced the strategy for the ground-dwelling bird that has suffered a dramatic population decline across its 11-state range. Zinke insisted that the federal government and the states can work together to protect the sage grouse and its habitat while not slowing economic growth and job creation. While the federal government has a responsibility under the Endangered Species Act to protect the bird, officials also have an obligation "to be a good neighbor and a good partner,'' Zinke said. The new plan ensures that conservation efforts "do not impede local economic opportunities,'' he said. The plan comes after a 60-day review Zinke ordered in June of a 2015 plan imposed by the Obama administration. The plan set land-use policies across the popular game-bird's 11-state range that were intended to keep it off the federal endangered species list. Mining companies, ranchers and governors in some Western states especially Utah, Idaho and Nevada said the plan ordered by former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell would impede oil and gas drilling and other economic activity. Environmental groups said Jewell's plan did not do enough to protect the sage grouse from extinction. The ground-dwelling sage grouse, long associated with the American West, has long pointed tail feathers and is known for the male's elaborate courtship display in which air sacs in the neck are inflated to make a popping sound. Millions of sage grouse once roamed the West but development, livestock grazing and an invasive grass that encourages wildfires has reduced the bird's population to fewer than 500,000 across 11 states from California to the Dakotas. Zinke said in June that "state agencies are really at the forefront of efforts to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations'' across the country, adding that the Trump administration is committed to ensuring that state voices are heard in decisions affecting land use and wildlife management. In particular, Zinke said he has received complaints from several Western governors that Jewell ignored or minimized their concerns as the 2015 sage-grouse plan was developed. Republican governors in Idaho, Utah and Nevada all want more flexibility and say the conservation efforts should rely less on land-use restrictions "and more on numbers'' of birds in a particular state, Zinke said. The new plan is intended to provide flexibility to states instead of a "one-size-fits-all solution,'' he said. On the other side, Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Republican Gov. Matt Mead of Wyoming told Zinke earlier this year they opposed any changes that would move "from a habitat-management model to one that sets population objectives for the states.'' Hickenlooper and Mead co-chair a federal-state sage grouse task force that worked to develop the 2015 plan, which was backed by more than $750 million in commitments from the government and outside groups to conserve land and restore the bird's historic range. Nada Culver, a senior policy official at The Wilderness Society, denounced the new plan as an attempt to "abandon habitat protection for unfettered oil and gas development'' in the West that "puts the entire landscape at risk.'' The 60-day review "shows a callous disregard for nearly a decade of research and collaborative work by states and agencies, while ignoring the western communities who weighed in with millions of comments and who simply want to see the [Obama-era] plans left to work as intended,'' Culver said. States affected by the plan are California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. An Iranian drone came within 30 meters of a U.S. Navy fighter jet that was waiting to land on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz as it traveled in the central Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Central Command said Tuesday. U.S. military statements said an F/A-18E Super Hornet jet was in a holding pattern above the USS Nimitz when a QOM-1 Iranian drone executed unsafe and unprofessional altitude changes nearby. The F/A-18E maneuvered to avoid collision with the QOM-1 resulting in a lateral separation of approximately 200 feet [61 meters] and a vertical separation of approximately 100 feet [30 meters]." The Navy said sailors had made repeated radio calls for the drone to stay clear of the flight operations around the USS Nimitz. A U.S. Navy official told VOA Tuesday the incident was a single run-in, but the drone had been flying in an area around the carrier for about three hours. The drone was not armed at the time of the incident, the official added. The near-collision marked the 13th unsafe and/or professional interaction between U.S. and Iranian maritime forces this year, according to the Navy and Central Command statements. Last month, the USS Thunderbolt fired multiple warning shots at an Iranian vessel in the Persian Gulf that came within 140 meters of the ship at a high rate of speed. A U.S. federal grand jury has charged a 25-year-old Bangladeshi citizen and former resident of Maryland with attempted murder and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State terror group. Nalesh Das was charged Tuesday with attempting to kill a member of the U.S. military in support of IS. Authorities allege he plotted the scheme between October 2015 and September 2016 while working with an FBI agent posing as an IS sympathizer. Prosecutors say Das spent months expressing his support for the jihadist group on social media and tweeted what he thought was the personal information of a service member, saying the individual in question wanted to "kill Muslims." Das and the undercover agent purchased ammunition and guns together before driving to the home of the service member, where Das planned to kill the person, prosecutors said. Instead of carrying out the attack, prosecutors say Das was arrested by FBI agents. Following his arrest last year, Das told The Washington Post he thought he was unfairly set up by the FBI and that he only went along with the plan because he was pressured into doing so. "I didn't really want to do it," said Das at the time. "He [the FBI agent] just came and put it in my head." Das remains in custody pending further court proceedings and, if convicted, could face life in prison. He is a legal permanent resident who arrived in the United States in 1995, according to prosecutors. When dozens of American soldiers deployed to Mogadishu back in April, their presence marked the first American military forces in Somalia, except for a small unit of counterterrorism advisers, since March 1994. VOA broke the story of their arrival, and now, VOA has learned more about their train-and-equip mission in Mogadishu. Soldiers sent to Somalia with the 101st Airborne are primarily training truck drivers for the Somali military, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington, the commander of U.S. Army Africa, told VOA in an exclusive interview. They are training Somalis how to drive to keep their logistics going, Harrington said. The general was able to see the training-and-equipping course first-hand when he visited Somalia in June. He said the Army was pleased with the results so far, adding that he would absolutely continue the training throughout his tenure as commander. When asked whether the training would be expanded to include other goals in the future, Harrington said he was sending people to Somalia to assess the needs there, in order to better understand how to help the Somali national army effectively secures its population. U.S. Army Africa works closely with the U.S. State Department to improve African partners military professionalism as part of an overall strategy to strengthen African governments so they can better serve their citizens. There is some bad history going back years in Africa [in] that they were afraid of their own soldiers, Harrington explained. Working with them on a regular basis and watching the evolution since a lot of those things happened years ago, its very encouraging to see where those armies have come. Harrington said his soldiers conduct about 300 activities and exercises with African partners in anywhere from 40 to 45 countries each year. Troops from the 101st Airborne Division in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, arrived in Mogadishu on April 2 at the request of the Somali government. The team is the first significant U.S. military presence in the country, aside from a small counterterrorism cell, since March 1994, when the U.S. pulled out of the U.N. intervention operation in the war-torn state. Five months earlier, in October 1993, 18 U.S. special forces personnel were killed in a battle with Somali militiamen that inspired the movie Black Hawk Down. The goal of the current operation in Somalia is to build partner capacity while helping to improve the logistics of local forces battling the extremist military group al-Shabab, official have told VOA. Uzbekistan, one of the most tightly controlled ex-Soviet republics, plans to abandon a requirement for all Uzbeks to seek permission from the authorities to leave the country, the Central Asian nation's foreign ministry said Tuesday. The abolition of the exit visa system inherited from the Soviet Union is one of a number of changes being brought in since Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power last year, following the death of strongman leader Islam Karimov. Millions of Uzbeks are migrant laborers, working mostly in Russia, and the new reform would make it easier for them to travel. A presidential decree has already been drafted and is being reviewed by government agencies, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Another important reform involves changes to the foreign exchange system, which are being rolled out gradually. Officials also say they are considering allowing visa-free travel for tourists from 15 developed nations, though implementation of the scheme has been delayed from this year to 2021. Venezuela's Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced Caracas district mayor Ramon Muchacho to 15 months in jail for defying orders to keep transit moving in an area routinely blocked and barricaded by anti-government demonstrations. The court said in a statement that its Constitutional Chamber ordered Muchacho's immediate arrest and dismissal from his post as mayor of the Caracas district of Chacao. Muchacho was ruled to be in contempt of court for not having obeyed an order to ensure freedom of movement in his district, the epicenter of daily protests against leftist President Nicolas Maduro. "We are being condemned for doing our job, for guaranteeing the legitimate right to peaceful protest and the right of all Venezuelans to exercise their civil and political rights," wrote Muchacho in an email message that he sends to subscribers each morning. "The coming hours will be difficult for me." Muchacho did not attend the hearings, and his location was not immediately evident. He said in his message that his communications would be "severely limited." The ruling prohibited Muchacho, a member of the opposition First Justice party, from leaving the country. The order to jail Muchacho comes just days after the opening of a legislative superbody called the constituent assembly that Maduro promises will bring peace to the country but the opposition says is aimed at consolidating a dictatorship. More than 120 people have died in political unrest since the protests began in April. The Supreme Court has issued injunctions against nearly a dozen mayors of opposition municipalities ordering them to prevent protesters from setting up barricades and to remove them if they are put in place. Critics say such cases are a violation of due process rights that are meant to punish adversaries of the ruling Socialist Party. They say the Supreme Court is stacked with Maduro supporters. The top court is hearing a similar case against the mayor of another Caracas district, David Smolansky of El Hatillo. Intelligence agents last month arrested Alfredo Ramos, the mayor of the city of Barquisimeto, on accusations that he violated the same order. Chacao is a wealthy district of Caracas and one of the five municipalities of Venezuela's capital. Its residents have historically been ardently opposed to the leftist government. Chacao developed the reputation as a center for anti-government protests in the early 2000s during the rule of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez. Kenyans stood in line for hours Tuesday to cast ballots in hotly contested nationwide polls, including a presidential vote, facing rain and both cold and hot weather throughout the day. The race for the countrys highest office pits the current president, Uhuru Kenyatta, against his longtime rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga. Voters also decide on senators, governors, womens representatives of the national assembly, members of the national assembly, and members of county assemblies. Hellen Mazitoh, a 32-year-old voter from the Githogoro slum in Nairobi, waited in line for well over seven hours, but says she isnt complaining. Let me say, the election mood is good. People are voting. Once they vote, they are going home. Nothing bad has occurred. Nobody left, people are responding well, said Mazitoh. IN PICTURES: Kenyans vote undeterred by long lines, rain I want my voice to be heard Thirty-three-year-old voter Emmanuel Musundi Wamukundi waited for more than four hours at his polling station in Nairobi. He says the lines were a bit disorganized in the beginning, but otherwise, things seemed to be running smoothly. I mean, its patriotism, this is for my country, and I want to be involved in it, said Wamukundi. I want my voice to be heard and its the only thing I can do to change things. The electoral commission said heavy rain hampered voting in three parts of the country Turkana North, Baringo and Samburu and helicopters were required to airlift materials and polling officials. The commission said voting would be extended in any polling stations that got a late start. Both candidates in the presidential race expressed confidence Tuesday as they cast their ballots in Nairobi. Opposition leader Odinga told supporters gathered outside his polling station to continue mobilizing to come out and vote. This victory is ours. President Kenyatta said the ruling Jubilee coalition had run a very positive campaign and that he believes Kenyans want us to continue moving forward. Poll taken 'very seriously Former U.S. secretary of state John Kerry and former Senegalese prime minister Aminata Toure visited Jamhuri High School in Nairobi as co-leaders of the U.S.-based Carter Center election observation mission. Kerry referenced the long lines hed seen at polling stations as a sign of the commitment of Kenyan voters. Its too early for us to draw any kinds of conclusions so were not, but obviously given whats happened in the past and given the stakes for the future, this is a very, very important election, and clearly the citizens of Kenya are taking it very, very seriously, said Kerry. Kenyas electoral commission is using biometric voter identification and electronic vote transmission systems to conduct the elections. The vote is seen as a key test for the commission after voting technology failed during the last polls in 2013, sparking allegations of vote rigging. Like so many Kenyans, voter Francis Mutiso Matheka is urging peace above all else in these elections. I would love to tell fellow Kenyans to vote peacefully, said Matheka. We need this country, after today, after tomorrow, and this country, its greater than any one of us. Also calling for a peaceful outcome Monday was former U.S. president Barack Obama, the son of a native-born Kenyan. Obama issued a statement urging voters in his ancestral homeland to "reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people; urge security forces to act professionally and neutrally; and work together no matter the outcome." The winner of the presidential election must receive 50 percent of all votes, and 25 percent of votes or more in at least 25 of Kenyas 47 counties. If neither candidate hits that threshold, a run-off will take place. Results are expected by Friday, though by law, the electoral commission has up to seven days to announce the tallies. Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged his country's voters to cast their ballots in peace and make Kenya's founding fathers proud of them. In one of the most closely watched races on the African continent, Kenyatta is facing off against his longtime rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga, in Tuesday's presidential vote. The race is projected to be tight. "Ask every single eligible citizen to turn out tomorrow in great numbers to do that which our democracy entities you to do vote for the candidate of your choice," Kenyatta said in an election-eve broadcast Monday. He urged citizens to go home after they vote, shake their neighbor's hand, have something to eat and wait for the election results together. Kenyatta and Odinga ran against each other in the 2013 presidential election, and many Kenyans say the campaign never stopped. "There's a sense in which the elections have occupied the collective national consciousness of the Kenyan citizen and the voter, so it's a big deal," said Kenyan political writer and commentator Barrack Muluka. But more than the presidency is on the ballot. Ipsos research analyst Tom Wolf believes that the 47 county races are generating at least as much attention as the presidential contest, definitely more so than in 2013, he says. "But maybe Kenyans, and weve seen this in our polling data, did not fully understand or appreciate just how much power or responsibility was being devolved from the center to the regions, for the counties," said Wolf. "So if you go and travel around the counties now, you will see as much, if not more, campaign activity thats associated directly for the contest for governor as there is for the presidency." The organization of the polls has been a source of tension for more than a year, sparking opposition protests and several court battles. Complicating matters is the recent killing of the electoral commissions technology chief, Chris Msando. Autopsy results show he was tortured and strangled. Msando was responsible for the electronic voter identification and vote transmission systems. "Theres every possibility of people tying that passing on to the elections and to the possibility that there could be foul play," said Muluka. "Remember we are not saying that theres definitively anything like that, but the context opens up space for that kind of speculation." And that hasn't been the only drama in the home stretch of Kenya's campaign season. Someone broke into the vice president's country home on July 29. The opposition said that men dressed in plain clothes raided one of its offices last Friday. Also on Friday evening, two of the opposition's foreign electoral advisers, an American and a Canadian, were seized from their apartments and deported. Fake news has also been a problem. A GeoPoll survey showed 90 percent of respondents said they have seen "false or inaccurate information" around the elections, and 87 percent viewed such reports as "deliberately false." For at least a week, people have been leaving Nairobi and other towns for their home villages; some for voting purposes and others for fear of violence. Lane Bunkers is the country representative for Catholic Relief Services in Kenya. He says that against the backdrop of the election season, Kenyans are still suffering from problems resulting from a regional drought emergency, like food insecurity and high food prices. "There are a lot of serious challenges facing the people of this country, so Im hoping for a strong outcome with elected politicians who will take their jobs seriously, and really perform for the people who are electing them," Bunkers said. Young people took to the streets of Eldoret on Friday to march for peace. Kenya's Rift Valley region was the epicenter of post-election violence in 2007 and 2008 that killed more than 1,000 people and displaced over half a million. Kenyans hope these elections will be free of violence. User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! Translate Malinska / Weak shaking (MMI III) : About 3 seconds shake. We were at the beach Vrbnik, Croatia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) Malinska / Weak shaking (MMI III) Malinska / Light shaking (MMI IV) Njivice / Weak shaking (MMI III) Malinska / Light shaking (MMI IV) Dramalj / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Strange shaking of entire building. Quite scary for people unused to such a thing. Dramalj / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Cizici (5.8 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Krizisce / Light shaking (MMI IV) Malinska, Krk / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : We were at the beach, sunbathing at the ground, and felt a vibration bit 2 seconds. Wolvega, Netherland (1056.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt Cervar-Porat, Croatia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) Beach of kos / not felt : On the beach my chair is a little bit shaking. Jadranovo / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Mykonos Son was affraid Krasica / Weak shaking (MMI III) Jadronovo / Light shaking (MMI IV) Crikvenica / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Krizisce / Light shaking (MMI IV) Cizici / Light shaking (MMI IV) Crikvenica, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija (9.1 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) Jadranovo / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Drei Mal Erdbeben! Klimno / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Jadranovo (2.2 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : Very weak 1 sec Njivice / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Tribalj / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Tribalj / Light shaking (MMI IV) : A shortly impulse of app. 2 seconds. We think about to leave the place if they we come more and more. Our first experience. Jadranovo / Weak shaking (MMI III) Jadranovo, siljevica (2.7 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Felt one moderat vibration while sitting on the Veranda. Vantacici / Weak shaking (MMI III) Crikvenica / Weak shaking (MMI III) A climate report based on work conducted by scientists in 13 federal agencies is under active review at the White House, and its conclusions about the far-reaching damage already occurring from global warming are at odds with the Trump administrations views. The report, known as the Climate Science Special Report, finds it is extremely likely that more than half of the rise in temperatures over the past four decades has been caused by human activity in contrast to Trump Cabinet members views that the mag nitude of that contribution is uncertain. The draft report, which has undergone extensive review, estimates that human impact was responsible for an increase in global temperatures of 1.1 to 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit from 1951 to 2010. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate changes, the report notes. There are no alternative explanations, and no natural cycles are found in the observational record that can explain the observed changes in climate. [Third draft of the Climate Science Special Report] (Alice Li/The Washington Post) That counters what Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have said. It remains unclear how the White House which announced in June that it would pull out of the Paris climate accord will handle the report. Many scientists are looking at it as a test case of the administrations attitude toward science in general. The current situation will provide an acid test of whether the Trump administration is open to hearing the scientific truth about climate change or is so much in the thrall of fossil fuel interests that they are fixated on hiding the reality from the public, Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University, said Monday night. The Climate Science Special Report is a key element of the National Climate Assessment, which, according to the 1990 Global Change Research Act, is supposed to be issued every four years. However, the assessment has come out only three times. The 2000 assessment, finalized under President Bill Clinton, came under attack once George W. Bush took office. Bush administration officials declined to cite it in subsequent federal reports, arguing that aspects of the data analysis were flawed. Trump administration officials received a copy of the most recent version of this report several weeks ago, according to senior administration officials. [The Arctics fabled passage is opening up. This is what it looks like] The New York Times reported on the latest draft late Monday. The Washington Post subsequently obtained a third draft of the report. The version at the White House is the fifth draft, but people familiar with both versions say there is no substantive difference. The report touches on a wide variety of issues, such as receding Arctic ice and an increase in the acidification of the oceans that is unparalleled in at least the past 66 million years. It also dismisses talk of a so-called hiatus in global warming, noting that the most recent years reinforce longer-term trends. Instead, the report says, the United States faces temperature increases of 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit over the next few decades even under significantly reduced future emissions. And the record-setting temperatures of recent years will become relatively common in the near future. Juliet Eilperin contributed to this report. Attorney Dave Domina gestures as he questions Tony Palmer, TransCanada senior vice-president, unseen, at the Nebraska Public Service Commission hearing to decide whether to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) ( ) This story has been updated. In an Oval Office ceremony after pushing through the approval of TransCanadas controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, President Trump asked the company chief executive Russ Girling when work would start. The answer wasnt that simple. TransCanada still needs to win the approval of state regulators. This week they got a taste of how difficult that could be as the Public Service Commission kicked off public hearings in Nebraska, the state where opposition to the $8 billion pipeline project has been strongest. Two days featuring TransCanada experts are to be followed by two days of experts who are opposed to the pipeline, claiming that the steel line would pose environmental dangers and arguing that there was no reason to force landowners to allow it to cross their property. Demonstrators against the Keystone XL pipeline march in Lincoln, Neb., one day before the Nebraska Public Service Commission begins a five-day public hearing to decide whether to approve the Keystone XL pipeline route. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) ( ) At the same time, TransCanada must find oil producers ready to fill the 830,000 barrel-a-day 36-inch diameter pipeline running from Canadas oil sands to a pipeline nexus in southern Nebraska. During the years of haggling between TransCanada and the Obama administration, many producers of Albertas thick bitumen quality oil have turned to other pipelines or rail cars. As oil prices have sagged, many companies have shelved expansion plans. Others, such as Royal Dutch Shell, which had been ready to commit to using the Keystone XL earlier, have sold their oil sands interests altogether. Nebraska might be TransCanadas biggest obstacle. The pipeline, first proposed more than eight years ago, has touched a populist nerve and aroused concerns that a leak could contaminate farm land and pasture, the delicate Sandhills, or water supplies. We still have a bunch of family farmers on the land that their ancestors homesteaded, said Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and a long-time organizer of opposition to the Keystone XL .They have a deep emotional and cultural tie to the land and feel a responsibility that they must protect it. Many farmers and ranchers are angered by the idea of a foreign pipeline company using eminent domain, which the 2016 Republican Party platform criticized, to force them into letting large construction equipment plow a 50-foot-wide right of way to bury the pipeline about four feet below the surface. Analysts said the regulatory process could still last another six months to a year. The first days of the PSC hearings featured David Domina, a lawyer representing landowners, who led the cross examination of TransCanada experts. He sought to discredit Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, whose work on the pipeline was not peer reviewed, and he got a TransCanada environmental specialist, Sandra Barnett, to concede that the pipeline could contribute to soil erosion or contamination. It is critical for our side to show that TransCanada is not a company that can be trusted and whose information cannot be trusted, said Kleeb. Pipeline opponents plan to feature landowners, a whooping crane expert and experts on the Ponca tribe, which might have left undiscovered artifacts along the pipeline route. Foes of the pipeline arent restricting their efforts to the PSC hearing room. About a week before the hearings began, Keystone opponents had erected a set of solar panels in a cornfield along the route of the proposed pipeline. They dubbed it Solar XL. The landowners Jim and Chris Carlson had rejected a $307,000 offer from the pipeline company for right of way to lay down the pipeline, organizers said. The organizers have a crowd sourcing page which as of Monday evening had raised $41,506.79 with a goal of $51,200. One long-time opponent of the pipeline, Jim Knopik, has launched his own rural solar installation business dubbed North Star Solar Bears. The outcome of the PSC vote is not a sure thing. When Girling told Trump in the Oval Office that the company needed permits in Nebraska, the president said he would phone the governor, Pete Ricketts, and iron things out. But the five-member PSC is an independent agency whose commissioners run for election every six years. Created to regulate railroads more than a century ago, the commission now oversees transmission lines, telecommunications carriers, grain warehouses, private water company rates and makers of modular homes and recreational vehicles. Democrat Crystal Rhoades and independent-minded Republican Mary Ridder are the most likely to vote against the pipeline. Ridder is a rancher from the Sandhills, a region of grass prairie and sand dunes in north-central Nebraska covering just over one quarter of the state. Although many pipeline opponents have tried to highlight pipeline dangers, Rhoades said in an email that Safety isn't something the Commission is permitted to consider under the law passed by the legislature. She said that the commission "can consider economic impacts, including loss of jobs to common carriers currently transporting tar sands or losses to green job growth or loss of land values and loss of tax revenue. We can also consider the fragility and permeability of the soil, the impact on endangered species, and threats to Native American burial sites and disruption of other cultural sites. We can consider input of the public. The swing vote will likely be Frank E. Landis, Jr., a lawyer and a Republican member since 1988 from a relatively progressive area of Lincoln, who has shown interest in the terms and need for new easements. Many pipeline foes have argued that TransCanada should have used the same route as an earlier Keystone pipeline. After all that, TransCanada could still walk away from the pipeline if it cant get enough customers to commit to 20-year contracts. In announcing its second quarter earnings, the TransCanada conceded that some of its core oil shippers had reduced commitments, but the company added that it had picked up other customers. Those customers could send oil from Hardisty, Alberta to Steele City, Neb., a tiny town that links to TransCanadas existing network. That leads to Cushing, Okla., a major storage and pipeline hub, or all the way to the Gulf Coast through other TransCanada pipelines. On July 22, TransCanada formally declared an open season to woo producers; the period will close Sept. 28. We continue to believe the U.S. coast is the largest and most attractive market for growing volumes of Canadian heavy oil, Girling told analysts on July 23. We also believe the Keystone XL is the safest, most efficient and more environmentally sound way to move that crude oil from western Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast. This project will enhance U.S. energy security, create significant employment for many U.S. citizens as well as generate significant cash revenues. Despite relatively modest oil prices, industry trends are leaning in TransCanadas direction. Platts Analytics, a forecasting and analytics unit of S&P Global Platts, estimates that marketable crude oil from western Canada is expected to average 5.4 million barrels a day in 2021, more than 1 million barrels a day above 2017 output. That is a combination of oil sands but also more conventional and shale oil production in Alberta. Platts said that in 2016 an average of two to three trainloads a day carried crude from the oil sands due to lack of pipeline space. Without any new pipelines, that would rise to four to five trains a by 2019. In 2020 an expansion of Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain pipeline will help, but the need for rail would remain. In 2021, Platts said, both TransCanadas Keystone XL, and Energy East pipelines will come online. But uncertainty around Energy East makes Keystone XL still an appealing alternative for oil producers. Thats why eyes have turned to Nebraska. South Dakota says its earlier approval of the Keystone XL project stands. Opponents have gone to court and lost, while Montanas public service commission is gave a green light to TransCanada. Even before the hearings started, both sides had submitted extensive materials and county boards of supervisors voted resolutions. One report said that property values would not be reduced. It said that there arent any existing residential structures in the 50-foot right of way and only 22 homes within 500 feet of the pipeline. Steele Citys local leaders urged approval saying just as important as the safety and environmental aspects of this project are, the economic benefits are just as critical. The city of Seward applauded companys change in route around a wellhead protection area. But holdouts remained. The supervisors of Boyd County, on the northern border of Nebraska, voted unanimously on May 23 to oppose the line unless there would be substantial compensation to the county. At a meeting of the Holt County supervisors, board chairman William Tielke suggested a motion that Holt County is not opposed to pipelines but is concerned with the tar sands being pumped through Holt County, according to notes submitted to the PSC. Afterwards, the board voted unanimously to oppose all crude oil and or tar sand pipelines. EMPLOYMENT U.S. job openings hit record high in June U.S. employers posted a record number of open jobs in June, a sign that the solid hiring of recent months will probably continue. Job openings jumped 8 percent to 6.2 million, the highest on records dating to 2000, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Hiring fell, however, and the number of people quitting their jobs also dropped. The data suggest that employers have jobs to fill but are struggling to find qualified workers. Typically, employers would offer higher pay to entice more applicants. But the governments jobs report for July, released Friday, showed that pay gains have not picked up. Job openings in construction and manufacturing rose sharply. They also increased in financial services, health care and in state and local government. The number of open jobs in retail fell. The report comes after the government said Friday that employers added 209,000 jobs in July and revised its June figure higher to 231,000. Tuesdays data come from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. They are more detailed and provide a fuller view of the job market than the monthly jobs figures. Associated Press ECONOMY Wis. faces $50 million loss in Foxconn deal Fiscal estimates show that Gov. Scott Walkers incentives package for electronics giant Foxconn would cost the state and local governments nearly $50 million in lost sales taxes. Walker (R) has introduced a bill that would give Foxconn up to $3 billion in incentives to build a plant in southeastern Wisconsin. According to state agencies fiscal estimates, provisions blocking sales taxes on construction materials and equipment would cost the state about $139 million. Local governments would lose about $10.7 million. Payroll and capital expenditure tax credits would cost the state about $2.85 billion. The bill also calls for borrowing $252.4 million to rebuild Interstate 94. The interest on that borrowing from 2019 through 2042 would total $408.3 million. Foxconn has said the $10 billion Wisconsin plant could bring up to 13,000 jobs. Associated Press PATENTS Regulators to review Qualcomm complaint U.S. trade officials have agreed to investigate Qualcomms allegations that Apple infringed on patents with its iPhone 7 and other devices, the U.S. International Trade Commission said Tuesday. The ITC will make its decision at the earliest practicable time and will set a target date for completing its investigation within the next 45 days, the commission said in a statement. Qualcomm filed the complaint in early July, asking trade regulators to ban certain models of the iPhone that contain broadband modem chips, which help phones connect to wireless data networks, that were not made by Qualcomm. Apple began using broadband modem chips made by Intel in the iPhone 7. Reuters Also in Business CVS Health beat second-quarter expectations and narrowed its 2017 forecast despite a continued sales slump from established drugstores that it is working to fix. The drugstore chain said Tuesday that sales from stores open at least a year slid nearly 3 percent, that a rise in generic drug prescriptions hurt the top line of its pharmacies and that it had fewer customer visits. Overall, CVS Healths second-quarter earnings of $1.1 billion rose 19 percent compared with last years quarter. Adjusted results came in at $1.33 per share, with revenue climbing 4 percent to $45.68 billion. CVS also said it expects adjusted earnings of $5.83 to $5.93 per share in 2017. Britains culture ministry is asking the countrys broadcast regulator to take a new look at the takeover bid by 21st Century Fox for satellite broadcaster Sky. The ministry said Tuesday that it had written to Ofcom after receiving new evidence and/or comment. It wants a reply by Aug. 25. Rupert Murdochs media group is trying to buy the 61 percent of Sky it does not already own. Ofcom has said the takeover could give Murdoch too much influence over Britains media. From news reports Coming WEDNESDAY 10 a.m.: Commerce Department releases wholesale trade inventories for June. Volunteer Cristy Baker plays with Guava, Delphine and Star at Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket, Thailand. Volunteers help socialize the dogs, many of whom don't know how to walk on a leash or eat food from a bowl. (Soi Dog Foundation) Jay, Inca, Boston, Vegas, Kane and Tokyo rushed over to the gate and lined up. A hand reached into the pile of tongues, tails and paws and pulled two dogs out of the pen. The pair wriggled with excitement as volunteers led them out for a stroll around a lake at Soi Dog Foundation in Thailand. During the outing on a recent afternoon, the dogs stretched their legs, sniffed the plants and eyed the resident duck. But the walk also had another purpose: The street dogs needed to learn how to be pets, an important step as they moved from a life outdoors to the animal shelter to a permanent home, often in the United States. On August 19, the world will observe International Homeless Animals Day, or IHAD. The International Society for Animal Rights created the event in 1992 to raise awareness about the millions of cats and dogs like Jay, Inca, Boston, Vegas, Kane and Tokyo that dont have a home or a human family to care for them. On this day, rescue centers, shelters and animal-welfare groups in more than 50 countries have organized such activities as dog dock diving, a dog/owner look-alike contest and pet photo shoots. A volunteer walks a dog around the lake at Soi, which recently had more than 560 dogs at its facility. Many of the dogs are transported to North America for adoption after they learn basic socialization skills, such as walking on a leash. (Soi Dog Foundation) Children can participate in IHAD by walking shelter dogs, grooming shelter animals and spending time with them, said Susan Dapsis, president of the International Society for Animal Rights. This will bring much happiness to the animals and prepare them for their journey to a new home. Of course, organizations and individuals devote their time and resources to stray animals every day of the year. At Soi Dog Foundation, on the tropical island of Phuket in Thailand, volunteers and staff members work with dogs and cats that have never eaten out of a bowl, worn a collar or curled up on a couch. To become adoptable, the animals need to learn such basic skills as how to bond with people and, for dogs, how to walk on a leash. The dogs will pull you in the lake if youre not careful, Soi Dog volunteer Ian Munday said during a guided tour of the facility. Fortunately, many of the more than 560 dogs and 200 cats living at the shelter are quick learners. Asvila was abandoned on the streets of Phuket before arriving at Soi. (Andrea Sachs/The Washington Post) Valerie peeks out from a concrete pipe at the shelter. (Andrea Sachs/The Washington Post) On a hot day in early July, a kitten plopped down in a volunteers lap as if it were a beanbag chair. A kitty with a black mustache played patty-cake with a guests toes. In an outdoor dog run, an 8-month-old named Goody stood on her hind legs and opened her paws, as if asking for a hug. Marie-Ann, a chubby beagle, rolled on her back, hoping for a belly rub. After a quick dip in a plastic pool, Chloe pranced over, her beige fur coat beaded with water. Her brother, Yoda, bounded after her. A few weeks later, the siblings would fly to Washington, just in time to celebrate International Homeless Animals Day in their new homes. Adapted from a recent online discussion. Hi, Carolyn! Im struggling with how to celebrate my twins fifth birthday. They attend preschool and are in separate classes. The norm seems to be to invite everyone in the class, so we invited both classes to a party at a play place. We have 25 RSVPs so far. This seems tacky to me now. We just wanted a party for them to play with their friends. Im sure their friends parents are wondering if they have to buy gifts for both twins. My kids do not need any more toys. My question is actually twofold: Should I try to rein in this party and somehow request no gifts or a charity donation instead, and how do parents of older twins handle this? Struggling (Nick Galifianakis/for The Washington Post) Struggling: Yes, spread the word that youre collecting for a charity in lieu of gifts. Check with a local shelter, pick something easy for your guests and use this excess for good. You can also do what we did in this situation, and have a grab bag every guest brings one gift for the bag (set a low price limit, like $10) and every guest takes one home. You contribute two to cover your twins. The grab-bag plan not only prevents the grotesque haul of 50 gifts to one family, but also replaces party favors, which are pretty universally awful. In the future, buck the norm. One of my kids schools recommended the formula of inviting either the whole class or less than half of it safeguarding, say, one or two kids from finding in out horror that everyone got together without them. I actually think it should be more skewed, to a just a few kids or everybody. A small gathering (say, one or two friends per kid) is perfectly acceptable, not to mention developmentally apt. So is doing nothing above and beyond, truly. A cake and a movie is plenty. Party culture gets insane fast. For your own sanity, in fact, for any kid not just multiples it can be really helpful to treat birthdays with different intensities over the years. One year, big, okay, but then make another low-key, and another just family, and another friends-focused, and etc. Creating fixed expectations can mess with the response you get especially when you peg them high, leading to the ever-increasing chance of disappointment. If you instead show a range of ways to show you care, then theres a better chance theyll see and appreciate what youre doing on its own merits. Re: Presents: I suspect Emily Post would disagree, but I love love love reading, No gifts, please. We have enough things! The party should be fun for the guests, not expensive for the parents! Enough Enough: Im with you I see it as the kindest part of an invitation. People with an ingrained aversion to arriving empty-handed can bring a card, ideally handmade by the kid. Re: Charity: My kid was invited to a party where the gift request is a donation to a charity, one that discriminates against the LGBT community. Should I RSVP our regrets, or go empty-handed empty-handed? Regrets Regrets: I should have specified: No politics in selecting a charity. So: food banks, shelters, period. In this case, go and just bring something else. Dear Heloise: Im helping to buy supplies for my grandchildren for the upcoming school year. Here are some hints I use to stay organized and save money: Taking inventory of what they already have and can still use was my first step. What can be recycled? What can be repurposed? Next, establishing a budget is important. Kids like and need boundaries. The school provides a list of required items. I stick to the list -- nothing fancy. I buy necessities in bulk (paper, pencils, folders, glue). Some schools have programs to help disadvantaged kids. We try to help. These hints have helped us get ready for a successful and productive school year! Mary J., Hammond, Ind. Mary J.: Fabulous! Great way to help your grandkids and others who need a hand. Heres a Heloise hug! Dear Heloise: When my bars of soap get very thin, I break them up and put them into a pump container and add water. When they dissolve, I have a convenient container of soap. A Reader, Waco, Tex. Reader: Whether this will work depends on the makeup of the soap. Some will dissolve easier than others. Dear Heloise: Living alone, I use very few dishes, so I hand-wash them. My dishwasher wasnt being used, so I turned it into a pantry! I use the top rack for canned goods, the lower rack for packaged food and dry goods, and the silverware rack for large cooking utensils. The drawer that held the utensils now gives me space to store my spices. I lay the spices in the drawer label-side up. No more standing on a step stool to find what I need in the tall cupboards. This is convenient, and it lessens the chance of falling. Once a month or so, I remove everything from the racks and run the dishwasher for cleaning. Debbie C., Warren, Ohio Debbie C.: Great way to make the most of every inch of space! Dear Heloise: My son thought that math was a bore, but he loved competing in everything. I got out the dominoes, and without him even realizing it, I taught him basic math. We added the spots to determine the value of each. Then we moved to subtracting. Thus a 5/3 domino became an 8 when adding, a 2 when subtracting. Very quickly, he could glance at the domino and know the value. I selected dominoes that could be divided and taught him division with those. This made learning fun! Texas Dad, via email Dear Heloise: I love to take a relaxing bath while giving myself a healthy, natural facial. I finely mash an avocado and mix in a few drops of witch hazel. I swirl it on my face and relax in the bath for 30 minutes, then rinse. My skin feels smooth. Janice D. in Ohio Heloises column appears six days a week at washingtonpost.com/advice. Send a hint to Heloise , P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Tex. 78279-5000, or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. Regulators are scrutinizing $3,500 in excessive donations to the 2014 election bid of Attorney General Karl A. Racine, a potential embarrassment for one of the Districts foremost champions of campaign-finance reform. The D.C. Office of Campaign Finance is reviewing five contributions that were above the legal limits imposed on donors, according to agency spokesman Wesley Williams. The illegal donations were first reported Tuesday by NBC4. Racine (D) told The Washington Post in an interview that after he and his campaign staff were notified of the excessive donations by a reporter, they reviewed their records and refunded the money. It is not yet clear whether the violations will result in fines. Whats important to note is that at the end of the day, I take full responsibility for those mistakes, Racine said. Theres a normal process of review when a contribution is made, and that normal process of review should certainly catch, if you will, excessive contributions by the same donor. That failed in those instances. Racine, who is up for reelection next year and is also widely considered to be a potential challenger to Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), said any future donations would get extra scrutiny from his campaign team to make sure they complied with D.C. limits. I dont know the specifics of how it happened or where the lapses were, he said. I do know that there were lapses, and thats enough for us to have good reason to redouble our efforts, period. Sean Rankin, a Racine campaign adviser who is now executive director of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, said the five donors whose contributions were above legal limits were the Home Depot Political Action Committee, AT&T, Chester Burrell, Jeff Guimond and Clifford Barnes. Rankin said the mistake arose in part from a glitch in the software used by the Districts campaign-finance office that did not record the donations as over the limit when the campaign first reported them. Its still our responsibility to have caught it, but we missed it, and the software missed it, Rankin said. The Districts campaign-finance regulators have been criticized in the past for lax enforcement of regulations. Williams said candidates campaigns are responsible for ensuring donations fall within legal limits. But he acknowledged that small variations in how contributors information is entered by campaign officials could affect whether the Districts filing system throws up a red flag. Such variations were present in at least four of the five excessive Racine contributions, Williams said. Going forward, we have made a number of enhancements to our electronic filing system to catch contributions such as this and we continue to seek more enhancements to improve our capabilities to do so, Williams wrote in an email. The five excess donations represent a tiny fraction of the roughly $680,000 Racine raised from more than 1,300 donors for his 2014 campaign. Such irregularities are not unusual. Two months ago, Bowsers campaign was fined $13,000 for accepting $11,000 in excessive donations from various donors. From the standpoint of public perception, however, the illegal donations could prove problematic for Racine, who has positioned himself as a leading voice for government ethics reform. The attorney general is pushing legislation before the D.C. Council that would bar contributors to political campaigns from bidding on city contracts. The bill is aimed at curbing what is widely viewed as a pay-to-play culture in which donors obtain favorable treatment in their business dealings at City Hall. I sure hope not, Racine said, when asked whether his campaigns handling of the illegal contributions would affect that effort. I hope that my mistake and the mistake of my campaign doesnt get in the way of what is a clear and strongly held view by District residents that campaign-finance legislation should pass. United Medical Center, a public hospital, serves poor D.C. neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River. It has a history of financial problems. District regulators have ordered the only full-service hospital in Southeast Washington to stop delivering babies and operating its nursery for the next 90 days. The D.C. Health Department is restricting United Medical Centers license that allowed it to perform obstetrics and nursery care while the hospital implements a plan to improve those services, a spokeswoman for the agency said Tuesday. Regulators could lift the restrictions before the 90-day mark if the hospital makes the required improvements and passes an inspection. Other services at the long-troubled public hospital, which serves some of the citys poorest residents, are unaffected by the move. District officials declined to say what prompted the suspension of services. Tom Lalley, the Health Departments communications director, said the agency was limited in what it could say about licensing decisions and referred questions to the hospital. In a statement issued on Wednesday, United Medical Center said the license restriction came in response to three seperate cases involving deficiencies in screening, clinical assessment and delivery protocols. The hospital declined to provide more details on these cases, citing a federal privacy law. Any baby already in the hospital nursery that needs long-term care will be transferred to other hospitals, according to the Health Department. United Medical Center doctors can still assist in childbirth in certain emergency situations, although the hospital said patients should go elsewhere. For other deliveries, patients can go to one of the six D.C. hospitals west of the Anacostia River. [NICU at Maryland hospital shuts down after bacteria outbreak] A recent Health Department report suggests there is enough space in those hospitals to accommodate expectant mothers. The 2014 report said about a third of the 15 OB/GYN beds were being used, on average, at United Medical Center. The restrictions put in place by the city government do not preclude the hospital from other gynecological services. Aides to D.C. Council members Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) and Trayon White Sr. (D-Ward 8), who represent Southeast Washington, said they were investigating the situation on Tuesday. Gray blasted Mayor Muriel E. Bowsers administration for what he called unacceptably nonexistent communication over the circumstances surrounding the suspension of obstetrics care. I am incredibly concerned that residents on the East End of the District no longer have the option to have their babies delivered at an East End hospital, Gray, who preceded Bowser as mayor, said in a statement. The continued struggles of United Medical Center highlight the unacceptable chasm in health equity that is currently a way of life for residents on the East End of the District of Columbia. As chair of the councils health committee, Gray has advocated for more funding for a hospital in Southeast. He and Bowser, who defeated Gray in the 2014 Democratic mayoral primary, sparred over the issue this year, with Bowser insisting that the city should find a new operator before fully funding a new hospital. Built in the 1960s, the facility that was once called Greater Southeast Community Hospital entered bankruptcy almost 20 years ago. Since then, it has been run by a string of different operators. City officials have injected regular infusions of cash to keep the hospital afloat and have paid various consultants to overhaul its operations. This past spring, there was a new stretch of financial turbulence brought on by billing errors. This story was updated Wednesday with a statement from United Medical Center. Federal immigration courts ordered 57,069 people to leave the United States in the first six months of the Trump administration, up nearly 31 percent over the same period last year, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. Additionally, 16,058 people prevailed in their immigration cases, or had them closed, allowing them to stay in the United States, according to the data, which tallied orders issued from Feb. 1 to July 31. That total marked a 20.7 percent drop from the 20,255 immigrants who prevailed at the same time last year. In a news release, the Justice Department said the notoriously backlogged court system is making a return to the rule of law under President Trump, who has vowed to speed deportations. But officials did not say how many of the orders were issued in absentia, meaning to immigrants who did not attend their hearings and therefore could not immediately be deported. The Washington Post reported last week that thousands of immigrants, some seeking protection from violence in their homelands, have missed their court dates in recent years, often because they did not know about them or were afraid to show up. Advocates for immigrants have also raised concern about the lack of legal aid for immigrants, especially for those in immigration jails. Last month, the president of the National Association of Immigration Judges said courts are severely understaffed, with about 300 immigration judges juggling a quickly rising caseload. An estimated 600,000 cases are pending nationwide. United We Dream, an immigrant youth-led organization, protested ICE raids at Lafayette Square near the White House in February. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) Unlike the traditional federal court system, which is independent of the executive branch of government, immigration courts are administered by the Justice Department. That agency said that from Feb. 1 to July 31, judges issued 73,127 final immigration decisions, an increase of 14.5 percent over the same period in 2016. Of those decisions, 49,983 were deportation orders, an increase of nearly 28 percent from the same period in 2016. The rest were orders to leave the United States voluntarily, a process by which immigrants generally face fewer barriers if they wish to apply to return to the United States in the future. Federal officials attributed the increase in case completions to Trumps Jan. 25 executive order dispatching more than 100 immigration judges to immigration jails across the country. More than 90 percent of cases heard in jails have led to orders to leave the United States. The department has also hired 54 new judges to work in immigration courts since Trump took office. More are being hired every month. Dana Leigh Marks, an immigration judge based in San Francisco who heads the national association, wrote in Newsday last month that immigration courts should be separated from the Justice Department to ensure judicial independence and protection from political influences. More skilled court management, provided by experienced court administrators, rather than a law enforcement agency with priorities other than fairness and efficiency, would greatly enhance our ability to complete the tasks, she wrote. For example, cases would not be docketed to make political statements or serve as a show of force by the U.S. government. DARLINGTON, MD - JULY 2: The Conowingo Dam, on the Susquehanna, has reached capacity with its' pollution trapping capabilities. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is moving forward with his goal of reducing sediment overflow from the Conowingo Dam, announcing Tuesday that his administration will request bids to test dredging the reservoir and reusing the materials. The plan, which would involve removing about 25,000 cubic yards of sediment from an estimated buildup of 31 million cubic yards, could help determine whether a more expansive dredging operation could improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, he said. Conowingo Dam, in northeast Maryland on the Susquehanna River, aids in preventing sediment from smothering aquatic grasses that provide food, habitats and oxygen for marine life in the Chesapeake Bay. Much of our efforts to protect the bay and safeguard our environment for future generations could be wiped out by the effects of one bad storm, Hogan said. This is a growing threat that must be addressed. Benjamin H. Grumbles, the states secretary of the environment, said the test project would cost the state about $4 million. The state will issue a request for proposals Aug. 31 and award a contract this fall, with the dredge operation starting before spring. Hogan raised concerns about the dams sediment ponds during his 2014 gubernatorial campaign, saying that the reservoirs were long overdue for dredging and that upriver states needed to bear some of the burden for the costs. After taking office, he proposed that the dams owner, Exelon, should pay most of the cost, which he said could be $250 million. The company runs an active hydroelectric generating station at the site. Grumbles said that the state will pay for the test project but that the administration plans to discuss cost-sharing options with other states, the federal government and private partners for a potential larger-scale operation in the future. For years, Maryland farmers have been at odds with environmentalists over whether sediment from the dam poses a major threat to the Chesapeake Bay compared with the phosphorus and nitrogen coming from agricultural lands and municipal sewer systems. Farmers, concerned that the cost of preventing chemicals and animal manure from reaching waterways had become too costly, pushed the state to focus more on sediment overflow. But environmental groups, worried about abandoning efforts to reduce nutrient pollution, said the sediment issue was overstated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which runs a multibillion-dollar plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay by limiting phosphorus and nitrogen, said in a 2009 study that the reservoir behind the Conowingo Dam was about half full with sediment and could continue collecting deposits for decades to come. But the EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have concluded more recently that the reservoir is nearly full. Grumbles said the test project is part of a holistic approach to protecting the bay. The science is clear that unless this sediment is dealt with and we have pollution controls upstream, we cant meet our Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals, he said. Theyre both important, but nothing has been done to date on sediment behind the dam, so we view this as a positive step forward. In May, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science gave the Chesapeake Bay one of its highest grades for overall health in 30 years of scoring. Hogan said his administration is also fighting efforts in Congress to diminish the role of states in reauthorizing hydroelectric-power projects. Exelon is seeking to renew its federal license to operate Conowingo Dam for 46 more years, which would require the state to certify that the structure meets Clean Water Act standards. The state must issue its determination by May 16. Actor Haruo Nakajima speaks during an interview at his home in Sagamihara, near Tokyo, in 2014. (Junji Kurokawa/AP) Haruo Nakajima, the Japanese actor who first portrayed Godzilla, the roaring, fire-spraying, Tokyo-demolishing, irradiated sea monster that launched a global franchise, died Aug. 7. He was 88. The cause was pneumonia, his daughter Sonoe Nakajima told the Associated Press. No other details were immediately available. Mr. Nakajima began his acting career after World War II as a stuntman in samurai movies, winning a small role as a bandit in director Akira Kurosawas 1954 drama Seven Samurai. But he would forever be associated with Godzilla, made that same year, in which a menacing, dinosaurlike creature lumbers through the Japanese capital, razing infrastructure and terrorizing the population. He reprised the role in a dozen sequels as Godzilla went on to battle giant moths, armadillos and other foes, epitomizing campy filmmaking at its best or worst. But the core of the original film was somber, an expression of the fears of a population that had endured the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and was alarmed by reports of radiation poisoning among fishermen exposed to hydrogen-bomb testing at sites off the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. Godzilla was the brainchild of producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, who dreamed up a plot involving a sea creature resurrected from a deep sleep by the bomb testing. The film borrowed heavily from a recent American picture, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, but put a distinctly Japanese spin on the allegory. Mr. Nakajima, who dressed in a rubber suit to play the original Godzilla, in 1966. (Kyodo/Reuters) Mr. Nakajima recalled gleaning little sense of his character from the script. I had no idea what the role was or how the monster would move, he told the Los Angeles Times 50 years later. Even from the script, you couldnt imagine the shape of the monster. I was thinking Id be playing something like a huge frog, which is a popular type of character in Japanese ninja movies. I also thought it might be like a stage play where the actor is inside an animal costume, like two guys playing a horse. He went to a Tokyo zoo and studied the behaviors and motion of elephants and gorillas to imagine how Godzilla might have moved. There are not a lot of actors that you can compare him to, said Akira Mizuta Lippit, a cinematic-arts professor at the University of Southern California. He, in fact, invented the kind of acting that he then performed. In that sense, hes absolutely unique. And hes unique in ways that are important to understanding Japanese culture. Gojira, as the monster was called in Japan, derived its name from the word gorilla and kujira, a Japanese word for whale. Scarcity of resources in postwar Japan made rubber and other malleable costume materials hard to come by. Tanakas Toho Studios created a colossal costume out of what Mr. Nakajima described as ready-mixed concrete, weighing more than 200 pounds. It was so heavy and hot, and with the lighting it was even hot just to touch it, Mr. Nakajima said in a video interview earlier this year with the video network Great Big Story. I was sweating all over my face, but I did the best I could. Japanese actor Haruo Nakajima speaks behind a gold statue of Godzilla in 2014. (AFP/Getty Images) Allied occupying forces encouraged the rebooting of the Japanese film industry, but with caveats. The Japanese were not to produce movies about war or feudal Japan, nor were films to be critical of the United States. Godzilla was a legacy of that policy. The monster became an unlikely scaly ambassador to Western audiences. Citizens of Tokyo were portrayed as pacifist victims, fearful of the monster that nuclear testing had brought to their neighborhoods. Mr. Nakajimas portrayal of Godzilla, with his claw-flailing stampedes, gave Japan one of the first icons of its economic reemergence, spawning a mini-industry of dolls, games and other toys. Besides its sequels, Godzilla inspired megafauna monster movies including Pacific Rim (2013). Haruo Nakajima was born in Yamagata, Japan, on Jan. 1, 1929. Complete information on survivors was not immediately available. Godzilla was not Mr. Nakajimas only costumed character; he also played a pterodactyl-like animal in the 1956 film Rodan and the title gorilla in the 1967 film King Kong Escapes. But Godzilla, which he last portrayed in the 1972 iteration Godzilla vs. Gigan, was his piece de resistance. He was the Mona Lisa of monsters, Mizuta Lippit said. You never really knew if hes good, or bad, or how good or how kind he is. At moments, hes all of those things. A family photo of Wadell Tate taken about 10 years ago. Last month, the 97-year-old World War II veteran was attacked and killed during a burglary, becoming one of the citys oldest homicide victims. (Copied by Michael S. Williamson/Family Photo) He was bludgeoned to death in his pajamas inside the two-story rowhouse hed owned for six decades and refused to leave. Wadell Tate was 97, making him not only one of Baltimores oldest homicide victims in decades but also a symbol of the relentless violence that has claimed 211 lives so far this year. On Wednesday, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh (D) is scheduled to announce her plan to tackle the record-setting surge in homicides. But whatever the city tries will come too late for Tate, a World War II veteran and retired refinery worker who still took a short walk every day before the July 21 burglary that left him dead. Youd think at 97, how much longer does he have to live? said his daughter, Sylvia Swann, 65, pausing to wipe away tears last week as she and other relatives sorted through Tates belongings and prepared to bury him. They took away his right to die on his own. [Did you hear that?: Amid a surge in killings, a faint cry in a locked car] Her familys grief and pain are familiar emotions in Baltimore, still struggling to recover from the 2015 riots after Freddie Gray suffered a fatal spinal injury in police custody. The relationship between the police and many neighborhoods remains deeply strained. The erosion in trust has fueled the spike in violence, making Baltimore one of the deadliest cities in the country. Last weekend, beleaguered city residents called for a 72-hour cease-fire, holding rallies, vigils and cookouts. But two more people were killed between Friday and Sunday. The police are trying to combat crime while changing the way they operate under a Justice Department consent decree. Police Commissioner Kevin Davis is reconstituting drug and gun squads disbanded after the riots, and the department is using crisis intervention teams after slayings to head off retaliation and offer help to crime victims. Even in a city averaging nearly one homicide a day, Tates slaying was disturbing because of his age and vulnerability. (Baltimore Police Dept.) It fell to the Police Departments chief spokesman, T.J. Smith, to deliver the news about Tates death, just weeks after he told the city that his own brother had been killed in a break-in. [Baltimores police spokesman loses his brother to gun violence] There is just not enough words to describe how disgusting an act of violence this is, said Smith, as detectives handed out fliers seeking help solving the crime. Weve seen it all. It never gets easier. He was speaking outside Tates house, but his words carried a greater sense of the citys hopelessness: We need answers, and sadly we dont have any. Up and down Darley Avenue a once-proud block now marked by rooftops sagging over the empty porches of boarded-up homes the consensus was the same. Mr. Tate, as he was known here, may have been close to a century old, but he was taken far too soon. A view of Darley Avenue from the front of Wadell Tates Baltimore rowhouse, which he purchased in 1956 and refused to leave. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) He still had life in him, said Louise Cuffie, Tates longtime neighbor. And he wanted to live. I knew he was gone It was one of Tates daughters who found him lying on his bedroom floor. Carolyn Brooks, 68, had rushed over to her childhood home when her father didnt answer the phone. She and Louise Cuffies husband, Joseph, went inside. Brooks checked the basement and found the back door kicked in. She went upstairs. The usually orderly bedroom was upended. She climbed over two dresser drawers and found her father, bloodied and in his pajamas, partially covered with blankets. She took his pulse. I knew he was gone, she said. Waiting downstairs, Joseph Cuffie heard her cry. A photo of Tate during his Army years in the 1940s. (Copied by Michael S. Williamson/Family Photo) Tates daughters had begged him to move, especially after his wife, Mary Ruth, died four years ago at the age of 91. But he wouldnt. Tate had grown up in Pacolet, S.C., 20 minutes south of Spartanburg. He didnt talk much about his childhood in the segregated South. His children knew only that hed made it through the eighth grade and later enlisted in the Army, serving in Germany during World War II. He married Mary Ruth around that time they had met at a dance where partners names were picked at random out of a hat. After the war, they settled in Baltimore, where Mary Ruth worked for decades as a maid for a prominent lawyers family and Wadell found a job refining copper at American Smelting and Refinery on the citys waterfront. He worked there until the plant closed in 1975. The couple purchased their Darley Park rowhouse in East Baltimore for $9,000 in 1956, becoming one of the first African American families on the street. Tate called Pop Pop at home raised three daughters and a son in the three-bedroom, one-bathroom rowhouse, which was 14 feet wide and 70 feet long. He was old-school thrifty. Lights stayed off until it was dark outside (complainers got flashlights); no air conditioning; no credit cards; no checking account. And later, no cable television and no cellphone. His daughters said it wasnt that he shunned innovation, just that if he didnt need it, he didnt buy it. And if it worked, he felt no need to replace it. He retired the old Zenith black-and-white TV to the basement, long after the neighbors were watching color sets. He saw no need to upgrade the porcelain kitchen sink that was there when he bought the house. Still, his family never felt deprived. Every school year, hed take us down to Hess, the most expensive shoe store in Baltimore, Brooks said. Hed buy us back-to-school shoes. He would not let us do without. Kimberly Ware checks a light switch that turned on via an old string at her grandfathers rowhouse. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) Tates decor and furnishings had not changed in decades. Even his kitchen stayed the same. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) The kids played under shade trees so close together that residents liked to say their branches kissed, supervised by neighbors. Front doors were left unlocked, she remembered. Darley Parks blight arrived as it did for many other parts of Baltimore disappearing manufacturing jobs, white flight that accelerated after the 1968 riots and, finally, the crack-cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s. Crime soared. Tens of thousands of residents fled. In Tates neighborhood, the homeowners gave way to renters, the drug dealers set up shop, and the trees disappeared. Darley Park became a place to avoid, and its red-brick rowhouses were increasingly abandoned. [Block by block, Baltimore is demolishing its blight and pieces of its past ] But Tate clung to 1723 Darley Ave. He was comfortable here, Swann said. Joseph Cuffie, 79, was Tates longtime neighbor and friend. He helped Tate take short walks and chatted with him on his porch. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) Tate spent evenings on his porch, chatting with Joseph Cuffie, 79, another holdout two doors down. Cuffie, who described Tate as a real gentleman, helped him take short walks. In his younger days, Tate would dress in a suit to walk three miles to the downtown department stores, Cuffie recalled. Though Tates formal schooling was limited, he had an encyclopedic mind filled with information from newspapers, Life magazines, television news broadcasts and PBS documentaries. He distrusted politicians, and he hated the drugs, Cuffie said. The two men watched the addicts stumble by all the time. As police seek Tates killer, his family is planning to sell the house. It is worth just $15,000, little reward for 61 years of ownership. Tates daughters are going through the house cabinet by cabinet, drawer by drawer, pausing to savor memories even as they learn more about their fathers life. Theyve found an old Brownie camera. A Freemasons card. The M-1 rifle he carried in World War II. Kimberly Ware cleans a family photo at her grandfathers home. It features his three daughters and son, who were all raised in the rowhouse where he was killed. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) Last week, as they worked, a boy paused outside the rowhouse and peered in through the open door. Swann invited the child inside. I knew him, the 9-year-old whispered to the small gathering of relatives in the dark living room. He was a nice man. He shouldnt have died. Swann gave him a hug. Thank you, sweetheart, she said, thats exactly how we feel. A man previously charged with supporting the Islamic State in an alleged plot to kill a U.S. soldier has now been charged with attempted murder, federal officials announced Tuesday. A federal grand jury in Maryland recently issued the attempted murder charge and a weapons charge against Nelash Das, 25, in addition to a count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS that was handed up last year. Das is a citizen of Bangladesh but was admitted to the United States in 1995 and was a legal permanent resident at the time of his arrest, court documents state. [Held on charges of supporting ISIS, he says the FBI trapped him in its own terror plot] Federal authorities accuse Das of supporting terrorist activity by planning to kill a member of the U.S. military who was also a special agent with the FBI, the government said. Das plotted the attack with a man who he would later learn was a confidential FBI source, according to an affidavit filed by federal officials. The two men got as far as the fake address of the targeted soldiers home before federal agents moved on him and arrested him. After his arrest, Das told The Washington Post through jailhouse phone calls that he was entrapped in a terrorism plot planned by the FBI designed to set him up. Das faces a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted. A car crash in Southeast Washington led D.C. police to arrest two suspects one of whom was linked to a robbery and a burglary, according to authorities. Police said the arrests were made after authorities responded to the crash about 11 a.m. on Aug. 3 at 14th and D streets SE. Police said one of the occupants of the car ran from the scene and was caught by officers. Police said the car they were in had been carjacked earlier in Maryland. Authorities said Derek Jerome Palmer, 31, of Northwest, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. Eartha Mae McRae, 31, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Police said their investigation linked Palmer to a robbery that occurred about 8:20 a.m. on Aug. 3 in the 600 block of 15th Street NE. Police said the victim was threatened and forced to turn over a camera and a camera bag. About 9 a.m. on the same day, police said a residence in the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue NE was burglarized. Police said an apartment was ransacked and property was taken. Palmer was charged with one count of robbery and another count of burglary. A D.C. Superior Court judge ordered Palmer detained until a hearing Aug. 23. McRaes status could not immediately be determined. D.C. police on Tuesday arrested suspects in two of four homicides, including one of a teenager, that occurred over a violent weekend at the end of July, authorities announced. Police Chief Peter Newsham said Tyrell T. Moody, 23, of Northeast, was charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of a 17-year-old on July 30. The attack occurred shortly before 3 p.m. in the 4400 block of Quarles Street NE. The victim was identified as Jermaine Richards. He was found on a sidewalk beside an apartment building in the Kenilworth neighborhood. He was pronounced dead at the scene; police have not suggested a motive. [Death toll hits four over violent weekend in District] Police also said they arrested a suspect in the July 29 fatal stabbing of Demond Marcel Rush, 39, of Southeast. Police said he was stabbed about 1:15 a.m. in the 3600 block of 22nd Street SE, near Southern Avenue, along the D.C.-Maryland border. Charged with second-degree murder while armed is Keith Archie, 36, of Northwest. Police have not made any arrests in a shooting early Sunday near Sherman Circle that claimed the lives of Juan Carlos Osorio-Herrera, 24, of Northwest, who died at the scene, and David Santiago Amaya-Medano, 23, of Northwest, who died at a hospital. Those shootings occurred about 2 a.m. in the 4800 block of Kansas Avenue NW. There have been 69 homicides in the District this year, down nearly 13 percent from the 79 at this time in 2016. Violent crime is down 26 percent from last year. Newsham said that the city has had a very good summer crime-wise but noted a little bit of an uptick on the July 29 weekend. He said his detectives work to hold those who are accountable responsible for their actions. An MS-13 member was sentenced to life in federal prison Tuesday for racketeering and the slaying of a rival gang member, one of 14 convictions connected to the transnational gangs stretch of violent activity in the suburbs of Washington from 2009 to 2014. Jorge Moreno-Aguilar, 24, of District Heights, Md., was convicted last year of conspiracy, murder and other related racketeering charges in connection with his MS-13 involvement, according to a statement from federal prosecutors announcing the sentence Tuesday. [MS-13 gains recruits and power in U.S. as teens surge across border] Also known as Flaco and Castigato, Moreno-Aguilar and another gang member found Facebook photos of someone connected to the rival 18th Street gang and plotted to kill him, the government said. Moreno-Aguilar and another man then went to the mans home in Capitol Heights and shot him in March 2013, federal authorities said. Members of the gang convicted along with Moreno-Aguilar extorted people who ran brothels or other illegal businesses and planned murders, assaults and robberies in Montgomery, Frederick and Prince Georges counties, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Maryland. Federal officials said two gang members convicted were also responsible for hacking and stabbing to death a man who they thought had testified against the group in previous MS-13 trials. It turned out that they killed the wrong person, authorities said. One man was dead and another was injured following a two-car collision early Tuesday that closed a Prince Georges County road and snarled traffic during the morning commute. Police said the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the crash was pronounced dead at the scene in the 10000 block of Riggs Road near Hyattsville. The crash occurred about 7:15 a.m. near where the road crosses over the Capital Beltway, according to traffic reports. The male driver of the second vehicle suffered what police described as non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital, officials said. There were no passengers in either vehicle. Police officers closed the road between Mistletoe Place and Towhee Avenue while the investigation into the fatal crash continues. Metrobus routes through the area have been rerouted and are running on delayed schedules. An 18-year-old from the Alexandria section of Fairfax County who went missing last week is believed to be in danger, and his disappearance may be gang-related, Fairfax County police said Tuesday. Miguel Angel Ruiz Carillo of the 4200 block of Buckman Road was last seen on the evening of Aug. 3, police said. When he didn't return home the next morning, family members reported him missing to police. Carillo was last seen in a wooded area near the end of Pole Road at Pondside Terrace, about a half-mile from his home, police said. He was known to frequent a wooded area or a pond in that area, said Officer Don Gotthardt, a spokesman for the Fairfax County Police Department. This is out of character for him to be gone this long. As the investigation progressed, police uncovered information that Carillo might be in danger and had disappeared under suspicious circumstances that were gang-related. Police declined to discuss what that information was. Fairfax police have a policy of not naming gangs involved with incidents. Police are actively searching for Carillo. The case follows the disappearance or killings of several other young people in Northern Virginia over the past year. Damaris A. Reyes Rivas, 15, of Gaithersburg was killed in Springfield in January in an incident prosecutors said was a revenge killing by the MS-13 street gang. Ten have been charged in Rivas's slaying Separately, Fairfax police are also investigating the disappearance of two other teens who are believed to be in danger and have connections with gangs. Edvin Escobar Mendez, 17, of Falls Church and Sergio Arita Triminio, 14, of Alexandria disappeared last fall. Anyone with information about Carillo's case is asked to contact Detective M. Fox at 571-489-1796. The scene inside a Maryland home was startling: a soldier from Fort Meade shot dead but with her 4-month-old daughter, alive, resting in her arms. On Tuesday, a woman pleaded guilty in federal court to helping plot the August 2015 death and providing the victims estranged husband an alibi while he allegedly carried out the crime, federal prosectors said. When Karlyn Ramirez died at 24, she was married to Maliek Kearney, another active-duty soldier and the father of her baby, according to prosecutors who said the two had separated and that Ramirez had a protective order through the Army against Kearney. Ramirez was assigned to Fort Meade and he was posted to Fort Jackson, S.C. In Tuesdays guilty plea, Dolores Delgado, 32, who lived in Florida at the time of the killing, admitted staying at the South Carolina apartment of the victims husband with his phone and car to create a facade that he was at home during the shooting, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. Delgado pleaded guilty to interstate travel to commit domestic violence resulting in death in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. Court records indicate the case against Kearney is pending. Kearney and Delgado were indicted by a grand jury on Oct. 4, 2016, court records show. Kearney allegedly staged the crime scene to make it appear to be a deadly sexual assault: removing his wifes pants, pulling down her underwear and placing their daughter in her arms, prosecutors said The crime was discovered when a maintenance worker noticed a back sliding door open at a home in Severn, Md., and called in. When he got no reply, he alerted Anne Arundel County Police, police spokesman Marc Limansky said. Authorities investigated the death of Ramirez at her off-post residence in the 8000 block of Millstone Court for about a year. It was a very difficult and in-depth investigation involving multiple agencies, Limansky said. Kearney allegedly finished work in the early afternoon of Aug. 24, 2015, and drove Delgados car from South Carolina to Maryland. In the car with him were large cans of gas for the road, bought by Delgado, so he wouldnt have to stop along the way, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. As he traveled, Delgado stayed at his house with his phone and car, prosecutors said. Kearney used his keys to enter Ramirezs house, the prosecution alleged. Ramirez tried to calm him while repeating she did not want to see him again, said prosecutors, who allege Kearney used a Taurus .357 caliber revolver, bought by Delgado, to fire three times at Ramirez, killing her. Somewhere in a Florida waterway, according to prosecutors statement of the plea, Delgado threw away evidence: the gun, shell casings, clothing worn during the killing and the key to Ramirezs house. Despite Delgados attempts to cover up the crime, such as dismantling the weapon and steps to obliterate the serial number, law enforcement divers were able to retrieve the gun and link it to Ramirezs shooting, prosecutors said in a statement. Delgado remains detained pending a scheduled sentencing Nov. 20. Dolphine Cooper, 55, second from left, examines menstrual products as volunteers with the non-profit group BRAWS deliver underwear, pads and tampons to women at Friends of Guest House, a residential re-entry program for female non-violent offenders, in Alexandria, Va. (Allison Shelley/For The Washington Post) A topic that for so long was rarely discussed above a whisper has recently been taken up by growing numbers of lawmakers. Spurred by grass-roots activism aimed at lifting the stigma surrounding menstruation, the lawmakers are proposing measures to provide broad access to menstrual products for women. Their efforts include exempting tampons and pads from state and local taxes, compelling prisons to stop charging inmates for the supplies and making them available for free at public schools and workplaces. Its outrageous that something that is a basic health need should be denied women, said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who co-sponsored a bill last month with Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) and Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) that would require free access to menstrual products as part of a proposal to promote basic rights for incarcerated women. Its something that needs to be talked about. People should not be shy about putting it right up front, Booker said in an interview. The most far-reaching legislative push has been to eliminate the sales tax on tampons and pads. Sometimes called the pink tax or period penalty, the tax on menstrual products has been called unfair. Many say the items should be deemed essential, like food and medicine, and similarly exempted. Since 2016, two dozen of the 40 states that tax menstrual products have introduced legislation to eliminate the tax. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) Four states New York, Illinois, Connecticut and Florida ultimately approved sales-tax exemptions, along with the cities of Chicago and Washington. But although D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) signed the bill, the budget the council approved did not include funding to cover the $3.3 million price tag, so the tax remains. In Virginia, a bill that would have eliminated the tax died in subcommittee this year. Maryland does not tax tampons. Opponents of tax-exemption laws say they are often unwarranted and impractical. Hygiene products are not life-sustaining in the way that food or medicine is, they say. And repealing the tax has an impact on state and local revenues, which help fund programs that serve poor families. Its better to keep exceptions at an absolute minimum, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said. We can find good reasons for exempting a lot of different types of goods and services, he said in a statement. [The tampon tax, explained] A mountain of maxipads The grass-roots movement for menstrual equity is being fueled by thousands of women who are intimately familiar with the anxiety and embarrassment that comes from not having a tampon or pad when they need one. Women get it. They just get it, said Dana Marlowe, an IT consultant in Wheaton, Md., who founded a nonprofit called Support the Girls that distributes menstrual products and bras to homeless women. Mariah Smith, 20, examines underwear and menstrual products dropped of by the non-profit BRAWS at Friends of Guest House in Alexandria, Va. (Allison Shelley/For The Washington Post) Marlowe and other activists are also pushing to make the products easily available to other poor women and to girls in public schools. What Marlowe refers to as the mountain of maxipads in her house started with a simple Facebook post, but women everywhere were quick to respond, she said. The pads, tampons and bras have come from as far away as Japan and the Netherlands and are delivered in small bags from neighbors or by the truckload from Procter & Gamble. In July, Marlowe and volunteers delivered a minivan full of products, including more than 21,000 tampons and 1,500 pads, to Marthas Table, a nonprofit that provides food and other items and services to the needy, including free clothing and hygiene products. In Virginia, Holly Seibold started an organization called BRAWS that supplies dozens of area shelters with menstrual products and newly purchased bras. The former teacher from Vienna and her volunteers also deliver menstrual products to about 140 school-age girls each month in shelters or schools in Northern Virginia and the District because she learned some girls skip school when they have their periods. Seibold said girls who are homeless often cant afford the products and are embarrassed to ask for them. Terrionna Thomas, a rising senior at Roosevelt STAY, an alternative high school in the District, said she found herself questioning whether to go to school one day when her supply of sanitary pads was low and she was not sure she could make it through the day. There is no full-time nurse, and the tampon dispensers always seem to be empty, she said. A security guard has been known to keep extra pads on hand. But what if shes not there? she thought. Its not her responsibility to be supplying pads to the school. At many schools and colleges, students are agitating for change. A Free the Tampons campaign has led several universities, including American University in the District, to begin stocking womens restrooms with free products. At School Without Walls, a high school in the District, a Planned Parenthood club started supplying a bin in the girls bathroom with a variety of free products last semester, said Janiya Proctor, 17, who just graduated. When I saw that, I wanted to applaud, she said. There is more openness Influenced by such activism, some lawmakers say that menstrual products are a necessity that should be stocked in bathrooms like toilet paper. The New York City Council last year passed first-of-its-kind legislation making menstrual products freely available in public schools, shelters and jails. Colorado lawmakers approved a plan to provide free tampons and pads to inmates. In February, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) introduced the Menstrual Equity for All Act, which would, among other things, direct large companies to offer free products in workplace restrooms. It would also require state prisons that receive certain federal grants to provide free menstrual products. When I first started talking about this issue, you could see a lot of men and some women were uncomfortable. But the climate is changing. There is more openness, Meng said. The effect of this activism has been slower to show up in jails and prisons, in part because they rarely accept donations and the public looks less sympathetically on the needs of incarcerated women, said Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, a leading activist in the movement and author of the forthcoming book Periods Gone Public. But she said female inmates, the majority of whom are mothers sentenced for nonviolent crimes, are caught in a system that was designed for men and does not take their physical needs into account. A 2015 report from the Correctional Association of New York found that 54 percent of women surveyed in state prisons said they did not get enough sanitary pads each month. Women who needed more than their allotment had to request a medical permit, the report said. One facility required women to collect a bag full of their used sanitary napkins to prove they needed more. There is little consistency across the criminal justice system when it comes to menstrual hygiene. Some jails provide pads that women can help themselves to as needed; many do not. A policy document for the federal Bureau of Prisons simply says, Products for female hygiene needs shall be available. Andrea James, executive director of the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, served time in a federal prison in Danbury, Conn., where, she said, a crate full of tiny sanitary napkins was kept on the bathroom floor. A tampon or something more absorbent could be purchased at the commissary, but that was not an option for many woman earning 12 cents an hour and counting out pennies to be able to call home, something that the Senate bill Booker co-sponsored also addresses. Ashley Palmer, 24, who was recently released from the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center in Winchester, Va., said incarcerated women are often forced to fashion tampons out of sanitary pads. Ingenious, she recalled thinking when she made her first tampon. But she soon learned that her resourcefulness would have to extend far beyond that. Corrections officers didnt always respond to requests in time, so she and her fellow inmates learned to improvise with anything they could find, including socks. Nobody cares, she said. They dont care. Palmer was released from the Winchester center this month and moved into Friends of Guest House, a reentry program for women in Alexandria. A few days later, Seibold came by the house with a donation of menstrual products and underwear. She stacked boxes of tampons and an assortment of pads high on the dining room table and told the women to take whatever they wanted. Palmer could not believe her luck. Its like period Christmas in here, she said. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the American Trucking Associations had lobbied against the rule. The organization said it opposed rushing the rule-making process, but did not lobby against the proposal. This version has been corrected. Authorities investigate the scene of a charter bus crash on northbound Hwy. 99 between Atwater and Livingston, Calif., on Aug. 2, 2016. (Scott Smith/Associated Press) Continuing its quest to relieve industries of regulatory burdens, the Trump administration has scrapped a proposal that would have required truck and bus drivers and railroad engineers to be tested for a disorder that could cause them to fall asleep on the job. In pulling back the proposed rule, the Transportation Department acknowledged that moderate to severe sleep apnea is an ongoing concern . . . because it can cause unintended sleep episodes and resulting deficits in attention, concentration, situational awareness, and memory, putting passengers and other drivers at risk. The agency concluded, however, that existing safety programs are adequate. Advocates of the testing denounced the decision. We dont want train engineers with undiagnosed sleep apnea, who actually hold lives in their hands, to fall asleep at the switch, and we dont want big-rig drivers to doze off at the wheel, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at a news conference Tuesday. This abrupt and uncalled-for withdrawal by USDOT commemorates a disaster waiting to happen. Christopher ONeil, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said the panel, which has long sought such a rule, is disappointed by the decision. The Obama administration last year proposed to test bus, truck and rail operators for sleep apnea and treat those found to have the disorder. Sleep apnea has been in the probable cause of 10 highway and rail accidents investigated by the NTSB in the past 17 years, and obstructive sleep apnea is an issue being examined in several ongoing NTSB rail and highway investigations, ONeil said. The need for this rulemaking is well documented in the safety recommendations issued to both the [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration] and [the Federal Railroad Administration], regarding obstructive sleep apnea. DOT officials did not return calls seeking comment. The American Trucking Associations, which said it had opposed rushing the rule making process, supported the move. ATA has supported getting this right, even if that takes a little longer, the organization said in a statement. Data and science matter, and FMCSA, ATA, carriers and drivers have been working to get solid data to support a rule making. Pulling this preliminary advanced notice of proposed rule making doesnt change that, and we support the process to better understand and address apnea and fatigue for commercial drivers. [Government considers sleep apnea testing for bus drivers, truckers, rail workers] But Sarah E. Feinberg, who was the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration during the Obama administration and is an advocate of sleep apnea testing, condemned the decision. This is a condition that we know has meant unnecessary deaths and injuries. And there is such an easy and inexpensive solution, she said. There is no reason to withdraw a rulemaking like this other than because you dont understand the science or because youve chosen to ignore it. More than 25 million Americans are estimated to suffer from undiagnosed sleep apnea. The disorder results in reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. In one study, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that for people who have sleep apnea, eight hours of sleep can be less refreshing than four hours of ordinary, uninterrupted sleep. Pilots already are tested for the disorder, which disrupts normal sleep and contributes to drowsiness during the day. In 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that more than 4,900 licensed pilots were being treated for it. Investigators said sleep apnea was to blame for a December 2013 commuter rail crash in New York that killed four people and injured 70. The NTSB determined that Metro-North engineer William Rockefeller nodded off just before taking a 30-mph curve at 82 mph. After the crash, Metro-North examined 320 engineers and determined that about 18 percent of them had sleep apnea. The NTSB cited a history of rail incidents it has investigated in pushing for sleep apnea testing: Aug. 17, 2014: Two long freight trains collided in the middle of the night in Hoxie, Ark., and two crew members on one of them were killed. The NTSB determined that the engineer who died was tired and likely asleep due to his diagnosed but inadequately treated moderate sleep apnea. May 25, 2013: Two freight trains collided at 2:30 a.m., sending the two crew members on one of them to the hospital. Two automobile drivers also were hospitalized after the derailment caused a bridge to collapse. The NTSB said the engineer on one train likely had undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea . . . and this likely resulted in fatigue that contributed to this accident. Although sleep apnea wasnt always the cause, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that falling asleep at the wheel caused the deaths of 846 people in traffic crashes in 2014. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that drowsy driving causes 300,000 crashes each year. The NTSB suggested that sleep apnea can raise the risk of a motor vehicle crash by up to seven times, and it noted that heavy trucks are involved in nearly 1 in 8 fatal crashes. The NTSB pointed to two crashes in particular: [NTSB: Impaired drivers tied to two crashes] June 26, 2009: A tractor-trailer traveling at 69 mph plowed into vehicles backed up by a minor crash on Interstate 44 near Miami, Okla. Ten people in cars died, and six were injured. The NTSB determined that the truck driver was suffering from acute sleep loss and mild obstructive sleep apnea. May 31, 2011: Before dawn, a bus struck a cable barrier near Doswell, Va., overturned and rolled onto its roof, killing four passengers and seriously injuring 14. The NTSB concluded that the driver fell asleep. A new poll shows Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam with a slight edge over Republican Ed Gillespie in the Virginia governors race. Democrats up and down the ticket in this falls elections have narrow leads over Republicans, according to the poll released Tuesday by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Among likely voters, 42 percent favor Northam while 37 percent favor Gillespie, according to the poll. An additional 6 percent say they support libertarian candidate Cliff Hyra, while 13 percent are undecided, the university said. But the survey has a margin of error of five percentage points for each candidates support among likely voters, so Northams overall lead is statistically insignificant. Two weeks ago, a Monmouth University poll found Virginia voters evenly split on Northam and Gillespie, at 44 percent each. The VCU polls findings show a stark distinction among voter preferences in different regions of the state. Registered voters in heavily populated Northern Virginia give a big advantage to Northam, who has 54 percent to Gillespies 25 percent. But Gillespie boasts a similar edge in the rural west, with 47 percent support compared with Northams 21 percent. Other parts of the state are more closely divided. Northam is slightly stronger among voters in the south-central part of Virginia, leading by eight points. But he has only a four-point edge in his native Tidewater area, according to the poll. The northwestern part of the state tilts toward Gillespie by three points. I think people are really waiting to see the policy positions and where the candidates are on the issues that are really important to them, said Robyn Diehl McDougle, public policy outreach director for the Wilder School. She said the relatively large percentage of undecided voters shows that the race could stay tight into the fall. The poll shows Northam with a big lead among racial and ethnic minority registered voters, with 61 percent support to only 15 percent for Gillespie. Northam has nearly twice Gillespies support among voters with a college degree: 50 percent to 26 percent. Gillespie fares much better among white voters, with 42 percent favoring him and 29 percent backing Northam. Gillespie also has a six-point edge among voters with a high school education or less. Down the ticket, Democrats also fared better in the poll than their Republican opponents, albeit by small margins. For lieutenant governor, 43 percent of likely voters favor Democratic nominee Justin Fairfax, compared with 38 percent for Republican nominee Jill Vogel, with 15 percent undecided. And for attorney general, 45 percent of likely voters support reelecting Democratic incumbent Mark R. Herring, with 39 percent backing Republican John Adams and 15 percent undecided. All 100 seats in the House of Delegates are also on the ballot this fall, and the poll asked voters which party theyd rather see in control. Republicans control the chamber, with 66 seats to 34 for Democrats. The survey found that 48 percent of voters would prefer Democratic control, while 41 percent favor Republican control. Democrats are stepping on the gas this year, with national money and attention focused on Virginia in the wake of Donald Trumps surprise defeat of Hillary Clinton in the presidential election last fall. Determined to make the state a laboratory for themes that will play out on a bigger scale next year when far more states hold elections, Democrats are running more candidates in Virginia than at any time in memory. With so many voters still undecided, this survey and last months Monmouth poll are early snapshots. Its hard to predict how Hyra, the libertarian candidate, could affect the race. Earlier polls from Quinnipiac University and The Washington Post-Schar School, conducted before the June primary elections, found Northam ahead by eight to 11 points. The VCU-Wilder School poll was a random sample of 806 adults in Virginia conducted over landline phones and cellphones between July 17 and 25. The overall survey carries a margin of error of about four percentage points, but the margin of error among the 538 likely voters surveyed is five points. Scott Clement contributed to this report. IRAN Frances Renault signs $778 million auto deal Iran signed its biggest car deal on Monday under a joint venture with French automobile manufacturer Renault, buoying its manufacturing industry in defiance of the Trump administrations moves to isolate the country. The $778 million deal follows the lifting of United Nations and European Union sanctions after Irans 2015 agreement with world powers to curb its uranium-enrichment program, a possible pathway to nuclear weapons. It also comes just days after new U.S. sanctions on Iran were signed by President Trump. American businesses have been cautious about pursuing deals with Iran because of U.S. sanctions in place that are unrelated to the nuclear program. Asian and European companies, meanwhile, have raced for a share of Irans sizable consumer market since the nuclear deal was reached. Renault and other European companies are looking to rebuild their presence in Iran. Renault says that in the first half of 2017, its sales in Iran increased by more than 100 percent to 68,365 vehicles a nearly 10 percent market share. The new deal will see Renault produce 150,000 vehicles a year in Iran. Renault will be a majority shareholder, with a 60 percent share in the deal. Associated Press BRITAIN Government denies report on E.U. exit bill The British government denied Monday that it has agreed on the amount of its European Union exit bill, after a report emerged that it plans to offer the bloc 36 billion pounds, or $47 billion. Britains outstanding tab to settle commitments it made as an E.U. member is one of the biggest issues confronting the divorce talks. The E.U. says it will not discuss future trade relations with Britain until there is progress on the bill and other key issues. The E.U. has not put an official number on the size of the bill, but estimates have ranged as high as 100 billion euros ($118 billion). Britain voted in a referendum last year to quit the 28-nation bloc and is due to leave in March 2019. The size of the bill is a hot political issue in Britain, with some insisting that the country should pay nothing. The Sunday Telegraph reported that British officials have decided to offer 36 billion pounds, or 40 billion euros, in a bid to move talks on to the key issue of trade. But a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said I dont recognize the figure. He added, however, that Britain was prepared to pay a fair settlement of its obligations. Associated Press SOUTH SUDAN Rebel headquarters reportedly captured South Sudans government forces have overtaken the rebel-held stronghold and opposition headquarters of Pagak, along the Ethiopian border, a spokesman for the opposition said. They took the main town, and our forces are now regrouping, said William Gatjiath Deng, reached by phone. The rebels burned their military barracks before fleeing, to prevent government forces from being able to use the ammunition, residents said. The government declared a unilateral cease-fire earlier this year, but there have been continued reports of government-led offensives, including killings of civilians and burnings of houses. Since South Sudan spiraled into civil war almost four years ago, Pagak has been the headquarters of the rebels, led by former vice president Riek Machar, who is in exile in South Africa. Associated Press Australia finds U.S. military aircraft that crashed: The submerged wreckage of a U.S. military aircraft was found two days after it crashed into the sea off the east coast of Australia and left three U.S. Marines presumed dead, Australias defense minister said. The MV-22 Osprey was conducting regular operations on Saturday when it crashed. Nigeria court seizes ex-officials $37.5 million mansion: A Nigerian court has ordered the permanent forfeiture of a $37.5 million mansion belonging to a former oil minister facing corruption charges. Authorities allege that Diezani Alison-Madueke bought the property in 2013 with the proceeds of unlawful activities. In February, a court ordered the seizure of more than $110 million from her bank accounts. From news services GERMANY Al-Qaeda leader claims Sept. 11 suspect is dead A German man believed to have provided logistical support to the Hamburg-based Sept. 11 hijackers has died, according to a newly released audio message said to be from the leader of al-Qaeda. The announcement came in an Aug. 2 audio message posted online. In it, Ayman al-Zawahiri says a man he identifies as Zuhair al-Maghribi, who worked for the terrorist networks media arm, is a martyr. He says Maghribi is one of several who sacrificed their lives, but he does not provide details on when or how they died. Maghribi is a known alias of Said Bahaji. He had been wanted on an international arrest warrant issued by Germany after the 2001 attacks in the United States. Maghribi, a German national of Moroccan descent, is thought to have helped suicide hijackers Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi and Ziad Samir Jarrah when they were in Hamburg and to have fled shortly before the Sept. 11 attacks. The authenticity of the Zawahiri recording could not be independently confirmed, but it resembled previous messages released by the al-Qaeda leader. The SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S. organization that monitors militant messaging, reported on the recording. Maghribi was long thought to have died, but al-Qaeda never publicly acknowledged his death until the recording a week ago. Associated Press CHINA 7 killed, scores hurt in 6.5-magnitude quake A strong earthquake shook a mountainous region in southwestern China on Tuesday evening, killing seven people, injuring 88 and knocking out power and phone networks. At least five of the dead were tourists. The 6.5-magnitude quake struck a region bordered by Sichuan and Gansu provinces at a depth of just 5.5 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage than deeper ones. The China Earthquake Networks Center measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.0 and said it struck at a depth of 12 miles. The agency said the quake occurred near Jiuzhaigou, or Jiuzhai Valley, a national park known for spectacular waterfalls and karst formations. Earthquakes are common in Chinas west. Chinas deadliest earthquake this century, a 7.9-magnitude temblor with a depth of 12 miles, struck Sichuan in May 2008, killing about 90,000 people. The China Earthquake Networks Center said the quake on Tuesday was followed about 20 minutes later by a temblor measuring 3.3 in magnitude. Meanwhile, a rain-triggered landslide hit a village in Sichuan, killing 23 people and leaving two missing, authorities said. Rescuers pulled one person out of the rubble and four others had minor injuries, according to the provincial governments news office. Associated Press BELGIUM No explosives found in Brussels scare Belgian prosecutors said Tuesday that a man who claimed to be carrying a bomb in his car was stopped by police in the Brussels district of Molenbeek but that no explosives were found. Its a mentally unstable person, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors said. The military did not find any explosive in his vehicle. She said the suspect was from Rwanda and was not known to have a police record. The suspect led police on a chase after speeding through a red light in a vehicle registered in Germany, a police spokesman said. The suspect was detained after police fired a shot at the wheels of the car to slow him, the spokesman said. Molenbeek, a poor district of the Belgian capital with a large Moroccan Muslim population, gained notoriety after an Islamic State cell based there carried out attacks on Paris in November 2015 that killed 130 people. Reuters Eiffel Tower assailant back in psychiatric hospital: A French teen who tried to attack soldiers guarding the Eiffel Tower is being sent back to a psychiatric hospital. The Paris prosecutors office said a psychiatric expert deemed the 19-year-old unfit to face prosecution. No one was hurt in the Saturday incident at the tower. The suspect had told police that he had been in contact with an Islamic State member. 17 arrested in 3 countries in Australian drug operation: Police in three countries arrested 17 people and seized nearly two tons of drugs in an operation that Australian authorities said targeted an effort by organized-crime groups to transport large amounts of drugs into Australia. Ten people in Sydney, five Australians in Dubai, and two people in the Netherlands were arrested. The drugs were worth around $640 million. From news services Progressives generally support better labor protections, including policies meant to provide higher wages, more predictable working hours, increased bargaining power, and greater access to paid family leave, sick leave and overtime. And given the raw deal that workers get so often, these are all policies that I generally support as well. But lately, as Democratic leadership has increasingly embraced the far-left impulses of its base, Ive become convinced that the left needs to think harder about the unintended consequences of such benevolent-seeming proposals. In isolation, each of these policies has the potential to make workers more costly to hire. Cumulatively, they almost certainly do. Which means that, unless carefully designed, a lefty pro-labor platform might actually encourage firms to hire less labor or at least to shift toward contract labor thats exempted from these cherished protections. These are not mere hypotheticals. A two-tier labor market, in which some lucky workers are entitled to generous compensation and job security and the rest are hung out to dry, already plagues countries, such as France and Japan, with traditionally stronger labor protections than the United States. But these are not outcomes that lefty politicians and policy wonks seem keen to grapple with. Its easier, or perhaps more politically convenient, to assume that pro-worker policies never hurt the workers theyre intended to help. Take the proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, a policy endorsed in the Democratic Partys new Better Deal platform. An increase in the federal minimum wage, stuck at $7.25 for eight years, is long overdue. But more than doubling it would likely result in massive job losses and cuts in work hours. Weve already seen preliminary evidence that raising wages in Seattle to $13 has produced sharp cuts in hours, leaving low-wage workers with smaller paychecks. And thats in a high-cost city. Imagine what would happen if Congress raised the minimum wage to $15 nationwide. In West Virginia, the median hourly wage is just $14.79; in Arkansas, its $14.48; and in Mississippi, its a depressingly low $14.22. A $15 minimum wage could be binding on more than half of jobs in these states. In fact, in every state (not including D.C.), it could cover at least a quarter of positions. That might seem like good thing. Why wouldnt you want to improve the living standards of as many people as possible? The answer: You wont actually be helping them if making their labor much more expensive, much too quickly, results in their getting fired. Similarly, a year ago, the Obama administration issued a new overtime rule. This rule massively expanded the universe of white-collar employees entitled to time-and-a-half pay for working beyond 40 hours per week. Before, white-collar workers earning salaries up to $23,660 were generally entitled to overtime. The new rule more than doubled the threshold, to $47,476. The new threshold was to be implemented in one fell swoop, starting last December. There was fierce debate within the Obama administration about the wisdom of such an abrupt increase, but those who mentioned this to me declined to ever do so on the record. Meanwhile, left-leaning groups cheered the millions whose pay was about to go up. Then, a court blocked the rule in November, and several weeks ago the Trump administration began the process of revising it. During his confirmation hearings, Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta cautiously suggested that a cutoff of about $33,000 might be appropriate, though he wanted to spend more time looking at the effects on workers and firms. As strange as it feels to say something nice about policies being pursued by the Trump administration, this might be a better approach. On this and other labor issues, says Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, We need to be debating whether a cost-benefit test is passed, something on which reasonable people can disagree. Instead, Strain says, a lot of thoughtful, well-meaning people on the left seem to be looking for a free lunch that is, for policies with all winners, no losers and no costs. (Kinda like the rights attitude toward tax cuts, I might add.) Here I confess that Ive been guilty of this. Im often drawn to studies and stories about pro-labor policies that pay for themselves. And while there often is a pro-business or macroeconomic case to be made for policies that help workers, I pledge to be more mindful about potential unintended costs as well. Readers, I hope youll hold me to this. And anyone else peddling free lunches, too. Edward Blum is a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is president of Students for Fair Admissions. The Justice Department confirmed last week that it is examining claims of racial discrimination against Asian Americans in university admissions. It is possible that this will result in investigations and lawsuits targeting our nations most competitive schools. This is a significant and welcome development. If the Justice Department follows through as it should what its lawyers will find at Harvard University and other Ivy League schools is an unfair and unconstitutional process that restricts the number of Asians admitted. That should alarm all Americans. Sadly, Harvard has a long and ugly history of using holistic admissions to discriminate against high-achieving minorities. As many historians have detailed, nearly 100 years ago, Harvards leadership believed it had too many Jews because almost a quarter of all Harvard freshmen were Jewish. In 1920, in a letter to a colleague, Harvard President Abbott Lawrence Lowell warned that the increasing number of Jewish students enrolling at Harvard would ultimately ruin the college. To solve their Jewish invasion, Harvard invented the holistic admissions system, which diminished an applicants academic achievements in favor of subjective factors such as leadership and sociability. Within a year, holistic admissions decimated Jewish enrollment. Today, Harvards discriminatory policies harm Asian Americans call it the Asian problem. To end this discrimination, Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit group which I lead as president, sued Harvard in federal court. It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court has allowed universities to grant preferences to applicants based on race and ethnicity. Last year in Fisher v. University of Texas in which Students for Fair Admissions provided counsel to the plaintiff the Supreme Court allowed the University of Texas at Austin to continue the practice. Nonetheless, in Fisher and earlier cases, the court has been clear about the how these racial preferences must be implemented: Purposeful quotas and racial balancing are strictly prohibited. And, of course, diversity can never be a justification for invidious discrimination. Proving that Harvard discriminates against Asian Americans is a complex and laborious process that will ultimately play out in open court for all of America to see. But one fact is indisputable: From 1992 through 2013, the percentage of Asians admitted to Harvard each year has been remarkably stable. In 1992, 19 percent of admitted students were Asian, while in 2013, 18 percent were Asian. This is true even though the number of Asian applicants to elite schools have disproportionately risen in recent decades. Research also shows that Asian applicants make up a large percentage of the most qualified applicants. This rate of admissions for Asians cannot be a coincidence. Just compare Harvards percentages with those at another highly competitive school that doesnt use race as an admissions factor: The California Institute of Technology, for example, has seen Asian American admittees grow from 25 percent in 1992 to nearly 43 percent in 2013. And Harvard isnt alone. The same flat rate of Asian admissions is evidenced at all of the Ivy League schools. Indeed, from 2007 to 2013, the enrollment of Asians at every Ivy League school ranged between 12 and 18 percent. Another coincidence? Since racial and ethnic preferences were introduced in the 1970s, they have been divisive. They stigmatize recipients, punish better-qualified individuals and pit Americans against one another. Most Americans understand this. A 2016 Gallup Poll shows that nearly 7 in 10 Americans (including 57 percent of African Americans) believe that a students race should not be a factor in college admissions. Racial preferences need to end. For our most competitive colleges especially, there are better means to produce a diverse student body than race-based affirmative action. In states that have banned using race by voter initiative or legislative statutes, many schools have responded by implementing a kind of socio-economic affirmative action to assist economically disadvantaged students regardless of race or ethnicity. This needs-based affirmative action, when used with traditional outreach, financial assistance and academic remediation is fairer. It cannot be reasonably argued that in the name of diversity, the daughter of an Asian working-class immigrant should be penalized in her efforts to gain admission to Harvard over the daughter of a successful white, Hispanic or African American professional. A university is more than the sum of its ethnic parts. It is comprised of individuals some black, white, Asian and Hispanic who should be admitted or rejected without their race or ethnic heritage making any difference. Lets hope the Justice Department agrees. If Cabinet members are to be judged by the gap between expectation and performance, Rex Tillerson is among the worst. He was supposed to be one of the adults in the room, a steadying force. But Tillerson has managed to be both ineffectual and destabilizing unfamiliar with the workings of government, unwilling to provide inspirational leadership, disconnected from American values and seemingly hostile to the department in his care. Who would want to be known as the secretary of state who retreated from the promotion of justice and democracy? Yet this is exactly what Tillerson seems to desire. To a certain kind of corporate mind, a statement of organizational purpose following a bottom-up, 360-degree, consultant-driven review process is a big deal. The one currently under consideration at the State Department (according to an internal email obtained by my fellow Post columnist Josh Rogin): We promote the security, prosperity and interests of the American people globally. In contrast, the previous version called for a peaceful, prosperous, just and democratic world. Lets set aside the offensive clunkiness of the new statement. No, lets not. Organizations such as corporations have statements of purpose. Institutions such as the State Department have traditions, values and missions. Tillersons new purpose statement could be adopted by any country in the world with the change of one adjective the Russian people or the Belgian people. This involves a crude reductionism. ExxonMobil may measure its success in interests and profits. But the United States is a nation dedicated to the principle that all are created equal. If our country does not stand for a just and democratic world, who will? [From I need loyalty to Witch Hunt: Trumps second 100 days, in his words and ours] (The Washington Post) This sad and serious shift begun in President Trumps inaugural address has been carried forward by Tillerson. In early remarks to State Department employees, the new secretary of state said that the promotion of American values creates obstacles in pursuit of American interests. The administrations proposed budget essentially zeroes out democracy promotion funding. Tillerson refused (against tradition) to personally unveil the State Departments annual human rights report. Here is a story for Tillerson to consider, told to me by a United States senator who was in Africa confronting a leader about human rights abuses. At one point during their testy exchange, the (increasingly) oppressive ruler said, Well, Trump is on my side. The senator, to his credit, responded, Trump doesnt even know your name. Which is probably true. But the impression that the United States no longer cares about human rights has filtered down to third-rate despots everywhere. Every American president since World War II has believed that our nation benefits from the spread of economic and political freedom. Oppressive regimes are more likely to seek destabilizing weapons and to harbor terrorists. Democratic nations are more peaceful and more likely to engage in trade. Democratization (for the most part) cannot be imposed, but it can be encouraged unless that great, defining national mission doesnt fit in the PowerPoint presentation. Meanwhile, Tillersons organizational review has been employed as an excuse to avoid making key hires. He complains that the government is not a highly disciplined organization. And surely there is room to consolidate proliferating State Department bureaus and to rationalize management structures. But under what theory of reorganization would the State Department not have assistant secretaries covering Europe, East Asia, Latin America and the rest? Just a single assistant secretary position has been permanently filled. [Whos worse for the nation Trump or Pence?] Tillersons aloofness, his public criticisms of the department and his support for drastic budget cuts (including for embassy security) have naturally had an effect on morale. And why is morale valuable? As secretary of state, George Shultz motivated (much of) a naturally skeptical department to implement President Ronald Reagans foreign policy vision. As secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice motivated (much of) a naturally skeptical department to support President George W. Bushs freedom agenda. If the Trump administration continues to treat professional staff as the deep state enemy, the department will be in a mix of despair and revolt. Bureaucracies cannot be reorganized or threatened into effectiveness. They must be led and inspired. People must know that loyalty goes both ways. They must believe that the ultimate goal is to strengthen, not undermine, the institution they have dedicated their lives to serve. As of now, there is no reason for State Department employees to believe this. In Trump world, tearing down institutions is a mark of virtue. This type of radicalism was once familiar on the hard left (burn, baby, burn). It may be more effective in the hands of a bland capitalist. Read more from Michael Gersons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook . President Trumps gibes about the failure of our foreign policy establishment and his call for a still rudimentary America first policy have led hawkish Republican neoconservatives to close ranks with indispensable nation Democrats. A remarkably unrepentant establishment has moved to resistance. If the United States is to avoid the limited choice between the delusional and the disastrous, a new progressive stance on foreign policy is utterly imperative. The neocons led by the likes of Bill Kristol, Max Boot and Dick Cheney were the ideological motor behind President George W. Bushs invasion of Iraq, the worst foreign policy debacle since the Vietnam War. The indispensable-nation crowd personified by Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright and Michele Flournoy were initial supporters of the Iraq War, championed President Barack Obamas surge in Afghanistan and helped orchestrate the disastrous regime change in Libya. Neither the neocons nor the indispensable-nation crowd has been instructed nor daunted by failure. Illustrative of their emerging alliance, as Glenn Greenwald reports, is yet another Beltway foreign policy initiative: the Alliance for Securing Democracy. The Alliance describes itself as a bipartisan, transatlantic initiative focused on Russia. Its purpose is to develop comprehensive strategies to defend against, deter and raise the costs on Russian and other actors, while working to expose Vladimir Putins ongoing efforts to subvert democracy in the United States and Europe. Consider this an updated version of Kristol and Robert Kagans 1997 Project for the New American Century, which fulminated for the invasion of Iraq. The Alliances advisory council includes Jake Sullivan, Clintons foreign policy adviser, and Mike Morell, acting CIA director under Obama. They sit comfortably with Kristol, Mike Chertoff, homeland security secretary under Bush, and hawkish former Republican congressman Mike Rogers. With a record of catastrophic foreign policy fiascoes, the establishment comes together to strike back. Surely the country could do better than Trumps flailings and the establishments failures. Led by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), progressives are driving a robust debate about domestic policy. In response, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) recently released a new agenda focused on economic policy. They admitted that Democrats had failed to champion a clear and bold economic alternative in the past and pledged not to make that mistake again. But on foreign policy, the Democrats have been largely adrift. The pursuit of Trump campaign collusion with Russian hacking in the last election has fueled inflated warnings about the threat posed by Russia. The neocons, always fervent cold warriors, used that opening to reach out to the Democratic national security establishment. (Meg Kelly/The Washington Post) Progressive voices are needed. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has recently made the case for restraint and realism in U.S. foreign policy. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) has been an independent voice, outspoken in opposition to regime change. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who courageously led opposition to U.S. support of the shameful Saudi bombing of Yemen, has sought to define alternatives to what he calls the binary choice between military intervention or isolation. In a report titled Rethinking the Battlefield, he rightly touts new tools for smart power, emphasizing diplomacy, foreign assistance, a 21st-century Marshall Plan to compete with China, Russia and even the Islamic State in the arena of development assistance. Many of his tools make sense, as does the skepticism about what he calls the blunt force of Americas military hegemony. But Murphy still assumes that the United States should, in fact, police the world. He calls for ramping up the physical U.S. presence everywhere. He urges the United States to head off emerging civil wars and conflicts before they require costly military intervention. The notion that it is vital to separate the United States real security priorities from its wayward effort to patrol the world is given too little mention. In the first six months of this year, as Nick Turse reports in the Nation, U.S. Special Operations forces operated in a staggering 137 countries, 70 percent of the nations in the world. This isnt a policy for defending the country; it is an expression of institutional and imperial hubris. Both the Republican neocons and the Democratic indispensable-nation crowd scorned Obama for being weak, for not sufficiently bombing Syria, for not being tougher on Russia. Yet Obama left office with U.S. service members engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, dropping bombs from drones on seven nations, and moving toward a confrontation with China in the South China Sea and toward a new Cold War with Russia. His last budget called for large increases in Pentagon spending that is already, in real dollars, equal to what it was at the end of the Cold War. For the foreign policy establishment, this somehow verges on isolationism. Trumps bluster has challenged the stark failures of our foreign policy, without offering a coherent alternative. Not surprisingly, the establishment is striking back. But neither offers a realistic or sensible strategy for the United States in the modern world. Progressives have driven a much-needed debate on economic policy. Now the country is in dire need of new thinking on our national security strategy. Read more from Katrina vanden Heuvels archive or follow her on Twitter. NO ONE who grasps the seriousness of the missile and nuclear weapons threat from North Korea can dismiss the significance of a unanimous vote of the 15-member U.N. Security Council, including China, Russia and the United States, for yet another round of sanctions, the eighth in 11 years. The vote reflects a broad sense of international alarm, which reached new levels after the July 4 and July 28 tests of ballistic missiles that could reach the United States. The vote is very welcome. But going beyond alarm to effective action has long been the hard part and is not getting any easier. Every military option carries the risk of setting off a devastating war; regime change, which would be the best outcome for the long-suffering North Korean people, does not appear to be imminent. What remains is some combination of persuasion, negotiation and coercion. The target of this is a belligerent leader of a country that has, over decades, repeatedly negotiated in bad faith. Not simple at all. The latest round of sanctions prohibits North Korea from buying, selling or transferring coal, iron, iron ore, seafood, lead and lead ore to other countries, and attempt to restrict North Korean labor abroad, among other things. By some estimates, if fully implemented, the punishment would cut North Koreas foreign earnings by $1 billion, or about a third. However, sanctions are a blunt instrument and can take a long time to have any effect. The sanctions on North Korea, first imposed after the 2006 nuclear test and significantly broadened in 2016, have so far had little discernible impact. Why? Implementation has been spotty and sometimes miserable. Andrea Berger, in a recent report for the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank, says the U.N. sanctions on North Korea are a house without foundations. She adds, The narrative around the UN Security Council table that sanctions are the strongest they have ever been may be true of their paper form, but is fiction in practice. The problem, she notes, is that North Korea exploits illicit supply networks, individual states dont implement sanctions fully and private-sector firms can often undermine them. Gaps allow North Korean illicit activity to persist, she says. So far, the Security Council has not taken the full plunge to choke off all economic activity that allows Kim Jong Uns regime to carry on. President Trump seems to grasp the dangers of North Koreas expanding nuclear and missile programs, but it is not clear what he intends to do, aside from his tweeted broadsides at China. Beijings role in any solution is large but not singular. This is the kind of security problem that requires deft diplomacy and alliance-building not the forte of this administration, at least so far. New sanctions are a necessary and potentially useful precondition, but what are the next steps to bring the bellicose North Korean leader to negotiate a verifiable agreement to stop his nuclear and missile programs? We have yet to see a coherent strategy. Nor has Mr. Kim felt the heat. A look at the second half of the presidents first year in the White House. A look at the second half, so far, of the presidents first year in the White House. A look at the second half, so far, of the presidents first year in the White House. President Trump appears to have found himself a new national security adviser. His name is Barack Obama. Recent days have brought evidence of two foreign policy successes for the Trump administration: On Friday, a top State Department official who has served in the Obama and Trump administrations announced that gains against the Islamic State have picked up sharply and that the militants have lost 78 percent of their territory in Iraq and 58 percent in Syria. The Washington Posts headline (which the White House circulated in an email): Under Trump, gains against ISIS have dramatically accelerated. Then, on Saturday, China and Russia joined in a unanimous U.N. Security Council vote to approve a U.S.-sponsored resolution with tough new sanctions on North Korea, a forceful world response to that countrys missile tests. These two developments, in addition to being successes, had another thing in common: In both cases, the Trump administration essentially embraced Obama administration policies policies Trump previously derided as a total failure. The Trump administration, at least temporarily, shelved the presidents bellicose rhetoric, made some tweaks to his predecessors strategies and pursued a course of relative continuity. On North Korea, Trump has long been making threats and ultimatums, promising severe things and raising the possibility that South Korea and Japan could build nuclear arsenals. He was harshly (if vaguely) critical of the Obama administrations handling of North Korea, saying Obama and Hillary Clinton who were pushing for tougher sanctions werent being strong enough. And now? Last week, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered soothing words about North Korea: We do not seek a regime change, we do not seek a collapse of the regime, we do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula, we do not seek an excuse to send our military north of the 38th Parallel, he said. We are trying to convey to the North Koreans: We are not your enemy, we are not your threat. Those words cleared the way for China and Russia to support the sanctions resolution at the United Nations on Saturday, as The Posts Karen DeYoung reported. Representatives of both countries mentioned Tillersons statement in casting their votes, with Chinas representative saying, Our hope is that the United States will translate these four nos into a firm policy. Under the headline Trumps North Korea policy resembles Obamas, Politico on Monday reported that administration officials were privately sending signals that a preemptive attack on North Korea is not on the table (although national security adviser H.R. McMaster says otherwise in public) and that the Trump administration is pursuing a five-part strategy similar to the strategy undertaken by the Obama administration. On the Islamic State, likewise, Brett McGurk, a top State Department official under both Obama and Trump, announced that steps taken by Trump notably his delegation of decision-making authority from the White House to commanders in the field contributed to the reclaiming of 8,000 square miles of Islamic State territory. Trumps decision to give more authority to field commanders makes the military more nimble. The Obama White House was justifiably criticized for its plodding micromanagement of military strategy. Former Obama defense secretary Robert Gates, among others, complained about the centralized and controlling Obama national security team. But this change is a massage not a reversal of an Obama strategy Trump repeatedly derided as weak and a disaster. By the time Trump took over, the territory controlled by the Islamic State had already fallen substantially from its peak in early 2015. Trump promised to replace the Obama strategy with a secret plan of his own. But, as DeYoung reported, Trumps Islamic State strategy looks very much like the one the Obama administration pursued: denying territory to the militants while avoiding conflict with Iran and staying out of Syrias civil war. Trumps decision to free field commanders to make quick decisions comes with downsides, which explains the Obama White Houses reluctance to delegate. As gains against the Islamic State have accelerated, reports indicate that civilian casualties are also up sharply. Trump is also relying more on Russia than Obama did to keep Syrian government forces from interfering in the U.S.-led coalitions fight against the militants. Still, these differences are matters of degree, not a wholesale change from Obamas strategy. Its not as if Trump is about to usher in a third term for the Obama national security team, nor would that necessarily be desirable. But even if these two cases turn out to be isolated and temporary, they show that within the Trump administration there is at least some instinct to tone down the wild talk and, ever so quietly, to bend to reality. Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Mike Pence is denying reports that he is positioning himself to run for president in 2020 if, for some reason, Donald Trump falls by the wayside or decides that one term is enough. The vice presidents denial was so over-the-top disgraceful and offensive, he called the New York Times article that had he been on a polygraph, he would have frizzled the wires and blown the circuits. The only thing wrong about the article was its timing. Pences presidential ambitions are nothing new. Hes been running his entire life. Pence is the very personification of the career politician. With the exception of a few years doing talk radio and television shows, he has done nothing but run for office, winning all but the first two times. In Congress, he set out to shimmy up the leadership of his party chairman of the Republican Study Committee, etc. finally running for Indiana governor in 2012 and then, with all humility, becoming Trumps running mate. Pence is not a man to look a gift horse in the mouth. Hes got his eye on 2020. In the meantime, Pence has become a parlor game in certain circles: If President Trump leaves office before his term is up if either lightning or Robert S. Mueller III strikes would it be a good thing for the nation? In other words, whos worse Trump or Pence? [From I need loyalty to Witch Hunt: Trumps second 100 days, in his words and ours] This is a hard one. Trump is a menace, both ignorant and chaotic. His saving grace is his incompetence. In his first six months in office, he has made a hash of our foreign policy, set back efforts to contain global warming, exploited public land and depopulated the State Department. But these efforts as bad as they might be have been so far confined to the margins. Trump has not passed any major legislation or, for that matter, built any walls. On the other hand, his most significant and appalling contribution has been to normalize lying as an ordinary tool of the presidency. He has ghettoized truth, confining it to something characterized as the lying and disloyal mainstream media. He lies for purpose and he lies just for the hell of it. His lying is such that it ought to be a mental ailment. Call him politically insane. That is not Pence. He is predictable, steadfast and experienced, but not conventional. His views, especially regarding social and cultural issues, are to the right of the right. He is famously antiabortion, recommends abstinence as the entire key to sex education and has taken the unique view that condoms are useless in AIDS prevention. As for global warming, back in 2000 he said it is a myth. In 2002, Pence took to the floor of the House to declaim on evolution. Like many of its opponents, he misused the term theory, making it seem like a guess or a speculation. In science, a theory is an explanation of how things work. This is quite different from what Pence cited as a comparison that God created man in his own image. Thats religion and not a theory and thats a fact. [Rex Tillerson is a huge disappointment] To anyone other than an adamant social conservative, Pence is shockingly unreasonable. But he is also shockingly hypocritical. Throughout his career, he has billboarded himself as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order. But what about Trump is any of those? Trump is a virtual pagan. He has never been ideologically nor culturally conservative and is a Republican of convenience only. Nonetheless, Pence not only leaped into Trumps arms but rebuked him only once for his Access Hollywood crack and never for what he said about Mexicans, Muslims or the disabled, or, for that matter, how he denigrated his primary-election opponents. Pence is all faith and no morality. So now Pence stands to Trumps side, his head nodding at every inanity. He is the cardboard cutout for a soulless and opportunistic Republican Party, a display to put in the window of some Trump souvenir shop. In a sense, he is worse than the man he serves. Trump is a child undisciplined, capricious and self-involved. Pence is none of those things. Trump knows nothing. Pence knows better. So who would be worse? To me, this is like the Iran-Iraq War. I cannot pick a side and, to my relief, I dont have to. But if I were Trump, Id keep an eye on that nodding head over my shoulder. Pence professes loyalty to Trump, but when it comes to principles, hes not even loyal to himself. 1 of 83 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad A look at the second half, so far, of President Trumps first year in office View Photos Scenes from the Republicans second six months in the White House. Caption A look at the second half of the presidents first year in the White House. Jan. 24, 2018 President Trump speaks to a group of mayors in the East Room of the White House. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Read more from Richard Cohens archive. President Trump used his harshest language yet to warn North Korea on Tuesday that it will be met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before, if it does not stop threatening the United States. North Korea best not make any more threats, Trump told reporters at his Bedminster, N.J., golf club, where he is vacationing. Saying that the threats had gone beyond a normal state, he twice repeated the fire and fury warning. It was not immediately clear what Trump was responding to. A North Korean military spokesman said Tuesday that Pyongyang was considering a plan to fire missiles at Guam and that it would carry out a preemptive strike if there were any signs of U.S. provocation, Reuters reported, quoting state media. Earlier in the day, North Korea said it would ruthlessly take strategic measures involving physical actions, in the wake of new economic sanctions approved Saturday by the U.N. Security Council. On Monday, Pyongyang threatened retaliation against the United States thousands of times. Trumps statement also followed a report in The Washington Post that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its ballistic missiles, crossing a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power. The report quoted a confidential assessment by U.S. intelligence officials. (The Washington Post) [North Korea now making missile-ready nuclear weapons] The unanimous U.N. sanctions vote, banning key North Korean exports, came after two tests last month of long-range missiles capable of reaching the United States. Trumps comments drew criticism from senior lawmakers. The great leaders Ive seen dont threaten unless theyre ready to act, and Im not sure President Trump is ready to act, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told a Phoenix radio station. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) said the remarks were not helpful and once again show that he lacks the temperament and judgment to deal with a serious crisis. We should not be engaging in the same kind of blustery and provocative statements as North Korea about nuclear war. The escalated rhetoric and talk of war came as the administration is trying to push North Korea toward direct talks that, despite its earlier pushes for such a dialogue, Pyongyang now shows no sign of wanting. The strategy has been pretty clear, said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal policymaking, to increase economic pressure and diplomatic isolation, with the goal of getting the North Koreans to come to their senses and begin reducing the threat, so that we can have a meaningful dialogue. Right now, there is nothing that North Korea is doing that suggests to us that they are willing to have a serious dialogue with us, the official said. Even if Pyongyang expressed interest, the administration has been intentionally ambiguous about what it would consider a sufficient change by North Korea. In comments at a weekend security conference in Manila, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that at a minimum, North Korea must stop its ballistic missile tests. That would be the first and strongest signal, Tillerson said. We have not had extended periods of time where they were not taking some type of provocative action by launching ballistic missiles. The administration has made clear that it is no longer adhering to the policy of previous administrations requiring North Korea to commit to giving up its nuclear weapons before talks can begin. While denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the ultimate goal, it is no longer a U.S. prerequisite for talks. Repeating comments he made in the spring, Tillerson last week said the United States is not seeking regime change in North Korea. If Tillersons remarks were the carrot, Trumps are clearly the stick. The White House has said it is keeping all options on the table regarding North Korea, including the use of military force. Short of war, the administration is already drawing up plans for additional sanctions, including on North Korean oil imports. Were still far short of the kind of pressure that we brought to bear against Iran, or even Iraq under Saddam Hussein, the senior official said. It remains unclear whether China, which agreed to vote for Saturdays sanctions resolution after lengthy negotiations with the United States, would agree. Up to 90 percent of North Koreas economic activity is conducted with China. For now, officials said, the administration is concentrating on making sure other countries comply with the newly enacted measures. Victor Cha, director of Asian studies at Georgetown University and former president George W. Bushs top adviser on North Korea, said he took Trumps harsh statement not to be a sign that the United States is going to attack, but [to warn that] if North Korea actually did anything behind all their bluster, they would be met with immediate and overwhelming response. That is actually good for deterrence. But at the same time, Cha said, it was unclear whether Trumps outburst was coordinated with Tillersons outreach. In any case, he said, the situation is definitely going to heat up in the next several weeks as the United States and South Korea begin regularly scheduled military exercises in August. I expect well see a bunch of fireworks during that period, he said. Trumps late-afternoon statement Tuesday came after he took to Twitter in the morning to amplify a Fox News report, based on anonymous sources, that U.S. spy satellites had detected North Korea loading two cruise missiles on a patrol boat on the countrys coast in recent days. Without adding any comment of his own, Trump, who regularly decries leaks to the media, retweeted to his more than 35 million followers a link to the day-old story, which was featured Tuesday morning on Fox & Friends, a program on Fox News. A White House spokesman did not respond to a question about whether Trumps retweet amounted to a confirmation of the story, which was attributed to unnamed U.S. officials with knowledge of the latest intelligence in the region. One intelligence official who was asked about the report said it was insignificant and not a sign that North Korea was preparing to test a ballistic missile or make any other provocation. But the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, expressed chagrin that Trump would retweet a report about something unimportant that nonetheless reveals something about our surveillance capabilities. [N. Korea says it wont give up nuclear weapons] Trump, who receives daily intelligence briefings, including while on his current 17-day stay in New Jersey, would presumably be in a position to know whether U.S. intelligence believes that the North Koreans did, in fact, load cruise missiles onto a patrol boat recently, and its significance. Asked about the report Tuesday morning on Fox, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said she could not comment. I cant talk about anything thats classified, and if its in the newspaper, thats a shame, Haley said. Its incredibly dangerous when things go out to the press like that. Ellen Nakashima and Jenna Johnson in Bedminster, N.J., contributed to this report. First, the insurgent fighters attacked a security checkpoint, shooting half a dozen local militiamen. Then, officials said, they entered Mirza Oleng, a village in the rugged hills of northwestern Sar-e Pol province, and started grabbing civilians men, women and children. When they were done, more than 40 people were dead. Some were beheaded, some had their bodies pierced, and some were thrown off the mountain, said Zabiullah Amani, a spokesman for the Sar-e Pol governor. They were savagely slaughtered. We dont know why they were killing civilians. We dont know what their motives were. There were conflicting claims about who carried out the Saturday attack. The Taliban, which controls much of the area, claimed that its fighters killed only members of the local militia. Some government officials said Islamic State fighters were also involved, and the gruesome tactics bore the hallmarks of the international Sunni extremist militia, which has fought the Taliban and also welcomed renegades from its ranks. But there seemed to be method to the mayhem. [With U.S. general under fire, Afghans fear being abandoned by Trump] The Taliban, making a summer show of force as the Trump administration weighs its options in the nearly 16-year war, has been stymied in earlier efforts to take over major cities. The insurgents are now refocusing their strategy to showcase their wide geographical reach. In the past month alone, there has been a surge of scattered attacks in remote regions, especially the northwestern provinces of Ghowr, Faryab and now Sar-e Pol, as well as in the south and east. The insurgents are also using crueler tactics to intimidate the populace and local security forces even as they provide services, security, quick-justice courts and even recreation in communities they control. They appear to be capitalizing on the high rate of civilian casualties that has fueled much of the growing public discontent with the divided and struggling government headed by President Ashraf Ghani. Civilian war-related deaths have climbed steadily since 2012, rising from 2,769 that year to 3,498 last year, and there were 1,662 between Jan. 1 and June 30 of this year, according to the United Nations mission here. The number of civilians wounded has grown from 4,821 in 2012 to 7,920 in 2016. The combined casualty figures have set a record every year. As the U.S. government ponders a new strategy, the Taliban have stepped up their attacks in order to cause worry in Washington and to show that they are everywhere in Afghanistan, said Atiqullah Amarkhel, a retired army general here. He said insurgent attacks in the north, far from the Talibans southern strongholds, have more propaganda and psychological impact on the population and the security forces. Amarkhel and others said the insurgents are also hoping to exploit the deepening rifts and weaknesses within the Ghani government, which has recently seen high-level defections, public protests, constant shuffles among cabinet ministers and a chorus of demands for change from a wide range of political groups. [Political storm brews in Afghanistan as officials from ethnic minorities break with president, call] All of these developments have escalated since a May 31 truck bombing in Kabul, still unclaimed by any group, that killed 150 people and injured 400, sparking protests that led to more deaths. In rural areas, local officials have repeatedly complained that security forces are inadequate to protect them or that officials fail to send help in time when attacks take place. A third factor in the insurgents rural upsurge may be support from the government of Iran, which has recently been accused by Afghan officials of supplying the Taliban with weapons and money. Iran, a Shiite theocracy, was once militarily opposed to the Sunni extremist Taliban, but it is now believed to be backing the group as a lesser evil and an antidote to the Islamic State, a more brutal and expansionist militia. A number of recent insurgent attacks have taken place in northwestern Afghanistan, far from the Talibans southern base and much closer to the Iran border. On Aug. 1, gunmen in suicide vests attacked a Shiite mosque in Herat, the ancient gateway city to Iran, during an evening prayer service, killing at least 29 worshipers and provoking emotional protests. In nearby Faryab province, where Taliban forces nearly overran the capital in October, insurgents captured the Kohistan district two weeks ago, while in next-door Ghowr province, they infiltrated and seized the Taywara district, burning down government buildings and a health clinic before the area was retaken after four days by government forces. The enemy was planning to open a corridor from Helmand to the mountains of Faryab and Sar-e Pol provinces, but you have foiled their plan, Abdullah Abdullah, the governments chief executive, told Afghan troops in a visit to Ghowr afterward. He said the groups goal was to destabilize the north, where insurgents now control many areas and have twice seized the capital of Kunduz province but were driven back by Afghan fighters and U.S. airstrikes. But representatives from Taywara complained bitterly that the government had responded too slowly to the Taliban attack, allowing the district to collapse with high casualties. The provincial governor, Ghulam Nasir Khaze, said that shortages and delays in government security operations let the killers of civilians get away and walk freely in the nearby capital. The Defense Ministry spokesman, Gen. Dawlat Waziri, said he believes the Taliban is targeting such regions, home to many Shiites from the ethnic Hazara minority, to turn the war into a sectarian one. He said the Taliban is staging some attacks in the name of Daesh, as the Islamic State is known here, to exploit fears of the Middle East-based militia and win support from Russia and Iran. Mirza Oleng, the besieged village in Sar-e Pol, is also a Shiite community, and a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said both Taliban and Islamic State fighters were part of that attack. He said they detained people at a mosque and prayer site, then took them away and killed them brutally. Officials said they were preparing to launch a major ground and air offensive in the area. The U.S. Embassy strongly condemned the slayings, saying that for insurgent fighters to mercilessly execute innocent villagers and those who serve to protect them proves once again that these terrorist groups are a force of evil in Afghanistan. The Taliban is keeping up attacks in Sunni and ethnic Pashtun regions, too. In southeastern Paktia province last week, its fighters captured Janikhel, a strategic supply route district, for the second time in a year. The provincial police chief, Toryalai Abdiyani, said it could fall again without a stronger military presence. The Taliban flag is visible 150 meters away, he said. Read more Opium use booms in Afghanistan, creating a silent tsunami of addicted women A much-feared Taliban offshoot returns from the dead The West is indifferent to Afghanistan and Iraqs world of terror Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson walks with Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican as he arrived Tuesday at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base in Subang. (Lai Seng Sin/Reuters) A senior State Department official on Tuesday pushed back against the assertion by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson minimized human rights concerns in a conversation they had a day earlier. R.C. Hammond, a Tillerson aide who was present during the meeting Tuesday evening at Malacanang Palace in Manila, said Tillerson brought up U.S. criticism of a drug war in the Philippines that has left thousands of people dead. But he said Tillerson emphasized solutions and made a general offer of U.S. assistance in combating drug cartels. Mr. President, we are all aware of the American peoples criticism of you in your handling of the drug cartels, Hammond quoted Tillerson telling Duterte during their hour-long meeting. Tillerson explained how the United States and Mexico had cooperated in the war on drug dealers, according to Hammond, and offered to share tactics the two countries have learned. Hammond said Tillersons offer of assistance was general in nature and had no details such as specific steps or a dollar amount. He described Dutertes response as cordial but noncommital. We provided a solution. Its up to President Duterte what he would like to do, Hammond said. The State Departments account of the meeting was strikingly different from the one Duterte provided during a news conference in Manila. Duterte told reporters that both the United States and Australia had considerably toned down their criticism of the Philippine drug war. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop met with Duterte immediately before Tillerson was ushered in, forcing Tillerson to wait in a separate room for a spell before being summoned. According to Dutertes account, both Tillerson and Bishop raised the issue of human rights only in passing. The dispute over the content of talks between the former Exxon executive who had no experience in diplomacy before becoming secretary of state and the controversial, often foul-mouthed Philippine president threatened to overshadow Tillersons relatively smooth performance at a regional conference in Manila. He spent much of it trying to corral countries into amping up the pressure against North Korea over its missile and nuclear testing. It also could revive criticism that Tillerson has not shown as much passion for condemning human rights abuses as is traditionally exhibited by a secretary of state. Questions about Tillersons talks with Duterte arose as he was visiting Thailand on Tuesday to encourage the country to make the transition to constitutional democracy in elections scheduled next year. Tillerson was the highest-ranking official to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup, arriving in a capital still draped in black bunting and mourning a monarch who died 10 months ago. According to a readout provided by the State Department, Tillerson told Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha that the United States would help if needed in Thailands elections next year. The stop also allowed Tillerson to continue his campaign of squeezing North Korea diplomatically and economically. Bangkoks relations with Pyongyang are minimal compared with China, which is responsible for 90 percent of North Koreas economic trade. But Thailand could become a model for what Tillerson is seeking elsewhere. Susan Thornton, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, said the United States wants to see a reduced diplomatic presence at the North Korean Embassy in Bangkok, tighter visa rules for North Korean visitors and a crackdown on North Korean trading firms that operate behind front companies. Washington also would like Bangkok to take the lead in freezing out North Korea diplomatically throughout the region. At several turns, Tillerson, who visited Thailand often as an Exxon executive and professes a love for the country, played up ties between the United States and Thailand that originated two centuries ago. Some were purely economic. In remarks to U.S. Embassy employees, Tillerson noted that the United States is Thailand's fourth-largest trading partner. But others were more personal and emotional. Tillerson called the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej who was born in the United States a wonderful, wonderful friend to America and the architect of the American-Thailand alliance. Tillerson and his traveling party wore black despite a muggy heat enveloping the capital, as do many Thais who still line up every day to view the kings body. Before signing the condolence book, Tillerson and aides stood before a portrait of the late king at the Grand Palace, where his body lies, and simultaneously bowed. Tillerson spent just five hours on the ground in Bangkok before heading to Malaysia, where he talked for about an hour with Prime Minister Najib Razak on his last stop before returning to Washington. Read more North Korea says it wont give up nuclear arms and that entire U.S. is within range North Korea can show its ready for negotiations by stopping missile launches, Tillerson says Tillerson to North Korea: We are not your enemy Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Kenyan voters waited in line for hours Tuesday to decide a fiercely contested election for president, as concerns about possible ethnic violence put much of the country on edge. The race pitting incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, 55, against former prime minister Raila Odinga, 72 spurred a large turnout across one of Africas most vibrant democracies. But Kenya has been torn by tribal clashes after previous elections, and Odinga had told his supporters that he believed only fraud could stand in the way of victory. The lines began forming before sunrise in Nairobi, snaking past the corrugated market stalls of its sprawling slums and the upscale apartment buildings in its ritzy suburbs. After months of nonstop campaigning, the countrys roads were lined with the billboards of political parties. [Who are the men seeking to lead Kenya?] Kenyas next president will take the helm of an economy that has outpaced the vast majority of countries on the continent. Kenya serves as a base for diplomats, business executives and aid workers, who have come to see the country as an island of stability in a fragile region, bordering South Sudan and Somalia. 1 of 69 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Voters queue to vote outside a polling station in Isinya, Kenya. View Photos Kenya's election commission announced on Aug. 11 that President Uhuru Kenyatta has won a second term as opposition candidate Raila Odinga claimed the vote was rigged. Protests and clashes with police followed voting. Caption Kenya's election commission announced on Aug. 11 that President Uhuru Kenyatta has won a second term as opposition candidate Raila Odinga claimed the vote was rigged. Protests and clashes with police followed voting. Aug. 12, 2017 A supporter of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga stands in front of a burning barricade while engaging in battle with riot police officers during a protest in the Kibera slum of Nairobi. Since the announcement of Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenyan president on Aug. 11, supporters of Odinga, who reject the official result, started rioting in various areas in and outside of Nairobi. A number of people have been killed in violent protests, the media reports say. Dai Kurokawa/European Pressphoto Agency Wait 1 second to continue. But it is nonetheless a country fraught with problems corruption in the public sector, terrorism emanating from Somalia and tribalism that has led to sometimes dangerous political clashes. In 2007, post-election violence left about 1,400 people dead. Although both Kenyatta and Odinga have produced lists of pledges and policy statements, the race is almost exclusively about ethnic groups trying to hold on to power or take power, said Murithi Mutiga, a researcher at the International Crisis Group. Tensions have deepened in recent months, first with a torrent of incendiary, fake news stories and then, in late July, with the apparent murder of a top election official and rumors about vote rigging. Early in the campaign cycle, many assumed Kenyatta would win by a wide margin, but Odinga has inched closer, and recent polls show the candidates neck and neck. The tight race, coupled with concerns about vote rigging, made the prospect of violence a worry for many of those waiting in line at polling sites. Already, large numbers of people had fled Nairobi by bus to avoid possible fighting. Of course its on my mind after what happened in 2007, said Edith Oketch, 35, who voted with her 10-month-old daughter clinging to her shoulder. [Inside the worlds largest refugee camp] Oketch had avoided political rallies, fearing they might get out of hand, but on Tuesday, there was no question she would vote. She lined up at a polling center in a primary school near her home in Kibera, Kenyas largest slum. An electoral counting officer, center, counts votes while others hold the piles of ballots counted for each candidate, at a polling station in Nairobi. (Ben Curtis/AP) Oketch has a university degree in business administration, but like many Kenyans, she has struggled to find work, even as the economy has grown by more than 5 percent annually, the tech sector has blossomed, and multinationals have opened offices in Nairobi. She now sells cereal and other food in the slums streets. You take your kid to school, you struggle, and in the end, there is nothing in return, Oketch said. Her solution: She would vote out Kenyatta, hoping that Odinga would bring change. He had even chosen to cast his vote in the slum, a good sign, she thought. But with Kenyan politics dictated mostly by tribal alliances, other polling sites in areas dominated by Kenyattas Kikuyu tribe were filled with voters who longed to keep the president in power. Under Kenyattas rule, Aiddah Mungais life improved dramatically. She started her own business a bakery called the Cake Hub and she watched as more and more customers came. Kenyatta had committed to modernizing the country, encouraging technological innovation, and Mungai has seen the results firsthand, she said. I registered my business online. I pay my yearly licensing fees online, she said. Its so much easier than it was. But Mungai recognized that even her vote was about more than just Kenyattas leadership. Like the president, she, too, is Kikuyu. Its a tribal thing here, no matter how much we say its not. It will likely take two or three days for the results of the election to be tabulated. Odinga has said that he believes he will lose only if the vote is rigged, and it remains unclear how he or his supporters would respond to such a defeat. Odinga is running for his fourth and likely last time, adding pressure on his campaign. Kenyans also voted for a range of local candidates Tuesday, as well as members of parliament. The constitution established in 2010 transferred significant power from the central government to local offices, in part with the hope of empowering groups and regions that have traditionally been marginalized. In a statement Monday, former U.S. president Barack Obama weighed in on Kenyas tribal tension and the need for a peaceful vote. In Kenyas election, we have already seen too much incitement and appeals based on fear from all sides, he said. But I also know that the Kenyan people as a whole will be the losers if there is a descent into violence. You can make clear that you will reject those that want to deal in tribal and ethnic hatred. As polls closed Tuesday evening, the streets of Nairobi, normally packed during rush hour, were mostly empty. International election observers have been positive about the vote. Id give anything to have a turnout like this back home, said Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), who was part of the monitoring team for the National Democratic Institute, a U.S. nonprofit. Read more: Rangers just killed one of Kenyas most famous lions. But they didnt have to. Ivory is worthless unless its on our elephants, Kenya says Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news A voter casts his ballot during the presidential election at a polling station in New York. (Keith Bedford/Reuters) The Justice Department has reversed its position in a high-profile voting case in Ohio, siding with the state in its effort to purge thousands of people from its rolls for not voting in recent elections. The move is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to support restrictions on who is eligible to vote, a radical change in philosophy from the previous Justice Department, which sued a number of states over voting laws that it deemed discriminatory against minorities. In a court filing late Monday, Justice Department attorneys took the opposite position from the Obama administration in a case that involves Ohios removal last year of tens of thousands of inactive voters from its voting rolls. In their brief, government lawyers say they reconsidered the Ohio vote-purging issue after the change in Administrations, and they argue that the states actions are legal under federal law. The case is headed next to the Supreme Court. Ohios procedure allows the state to purge voters who meet certain criteria for being inactive. If a voter has not cast a ballot in two years, the person is sent a notice asking them to confirm their registration. If the voter does not respond and does not cast a ballot over the next four years, the person is removed from the rolls. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) The Trump administration has signaled in other ways that it intends to back added requirements for voters as part of a crackdown on alleged fraud. President Trump in May created an advisory commission on election integrity that has been tasked with determining the extent of illegal voting. The president earlier made the baseless allegation that illegal voting cost him the popular vote against Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. The commissions only notable act so far has been to request massive amounts of voter data from the states, a move that has provoked lawsuits accusing the panel of breaching Americans privacy. The case in Ohio is not the first time the Justice Department has reversed course in a major legal battle over voting rights. In February, shortly after Jeff Sessions became attorney general, the department dropped its position in a long-running case that argued Texas intended to discriminate against minorities when it passed a strict voter-ID law. The Texas law, passed in 2011, required that voters present certain forms of identification, such as a drivers license or a weapons permit, but the state did not allow other forms, including IDs issued by colleges. Critics said these restrictions targeted voters, such as young people and minorities, who are more likely to vote Democratic. A number of courts found the Texas law to be unconstitutional, and a federal court in April found that the Texas legislature intentionally discriminated against black and Hispanic voters. Voting rights advocates said the Justice Departments action on Ohio represented a major change in direction for the U.S. governments stance on access to the polls. The move signals the broader agenda of the administration to roll back voter rights in this country, said Vanita Gupta, former head of the Justice Departments civil rights division under President Barack Obama and now president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Ohios purging process has been defended by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican who is running for governor. He said the method of removing inactive voters has been used by both Republicans and Democrats to clear the rolls of people who have moved away or died. Maintaining the integrity of the voter rolls is essential to conducting an election with efficiency and integrity, Husted said in a statement in May, after the Supreme Court said that it would hear the case. I remain confident that once the justices review this case they will rule to uphold the decades-old process that both Republicans and Democrats have used in Ohio to maintain our voter rolls as consistent with federal law, Husted said. Civil rights groups last year challenged Ohios process, arguing that such purges are prohibited under the National Voter Registration Act. The Justice Department under Obama filed a friend-of-the-court brief siding with the groups. The brief filed Monday takes the side of Ohio, and unlike the prior one was not signed by career attorneys in the departments civil rights division. The law hasnt changed since the department accurately told the court that Ohios voter purge was unlawful, said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The facts havent changed. Only the leadership of the department has changed. The Justice Departments latest action opens the door for wide-scale unlawful purging of the voter registration rolls across our country. Justice Department spokeswoman Lauren Ehrsam said that the departments position is supported by the National Voter Registration Acts text, context and history. The question is what states are allowed to do in order to maintain their voter registration records not what they are required to do, Ehrsam said. A ruling in Ohios favor would simply uphold a practice already in use in many states without requiring any state to change how it maintains its rolls. The brief defends the process by noting that multiple steps are required before a voter is removed from the rolls. Registrants are sent a notice because of that initial failure, but they are not removed unless they fail to respond and fail to vote for the additional period, the brief says. But Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School who worked in the Obama administration on this issue, said the brief suggested that Ohio can purge people who have ostensibly moved without any evidence that they have actually moved. Levitt said that not voting and not responding to one piece of mail are not enough to determine that someone is ineligible to vote and that the procedure affects less active voters, who tend to be nonwhite, young and poor. A confidential assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency says that North Korea has already developed a miniaturized nuclear weapon that can fit on top of an ICBM. (The Washington Post) A confidential assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency says that North Korea has already developed a miniaturized nuclear weapon that can fit on top of an ICBM. (The Washington Post) North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, crossing a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power, U.S. intelligence officials have concluded in a confidential assessment. The analysis, completed last month by the Defense Intelligence Agency, comes on the heels of another intelligence assessment that sharply raises the official estimate for the total number of bombs in the communist countrys atomic arsenal. The United States calculated last month that up to 60 nuclear weapons are now controlled by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Some independent experts think the number is much smaller. The findings are likely to deepen concerns about an evolving North Korean military threat that appears to be advancing far more rapidly than many experts had predicted. U.S. officials concluded last month that Pyongyang is also outpacing expectations in its effort to build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the American mainland. President Trump, speaking Tuesday at an event at his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., said North Korea will face a devastating response if its threats continue. They will be met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before, he said. Earlier Tuesday, North Korea described a new round of U.N. sanctions as an attempt to strangle a nation and warned that in response, physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilization of all its national strength. [North Korea says it wont give up nuclear weapons] Although more than a decade has passed since North Koreas first nuclear detonation, many analysts thought it would be years before the countrys weapons scientists could design a compact warhead that could be delivered by missile to distant targets. But the new assessment, a summary document dated July 28, concludes that this critical milestone has been reached. The IC [intelligence community] assesses North Korea has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, to include delivery by ICBM-class missiles, the assessment states, in an excerpt read to The Washington Post. Two U.S. officials familiar with the assessment verified its broad conclusions. It is not known whether the reclusive regime has successfully tested the smaller design, although North Korea officially claimed last year that it had done so. The DIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. An assessment this week by the Japanese Ministry of Defense also concludes that there is evidence to suggest that North Korea has achieved miniaturization. Kim is becoming increasingly confident in the reliability of his nuclear arsenal, analysts have concluded, explaining perhaps the dictators willingness to engage in defiant behavior, including missile tests that have drawn criticism even from North Koreas closest ally, China. On Saturday, China and Russia joined other members of the U.N. Security Council in approving punishing new economic sanctions, including a ban on exports that supply up to a third of North Koreas annual $3 billion in earnings. [What the new U.N. sanctions on North Korea mean] The nuclear progress further raises the stakes for Trump, who has vowed that North Korea will never be allowed to threaten the United States with nuclear weapons. In an interview broadcast Saturday on MSNBCs Hugh Hewitt Show, national security adviser H.R. McMaster said the prospect of a North Korea armed with nuclear-tipped ICBMs would be intolerable, from the presidents perspective. We have to provide all options . . . and that includes a military option, he said. But McMaster said the administration would do everything short of war to pressure Kim Jong Un and those around him, such that they conclude it is in their interest, to denuclearize. The options said to be under discussion range from new multilateral negotiations to reintroducing U.S. battlefield nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, officials familiar with internal discussions said. At the same time, the administration has been attempting to push North Korea toward talks, but Pyongyang has shown no interest in dialogue. [North Korea could cross ICBM threshold next year, U.S. officials warn] Determining the precise makeup of North Koreas nuclear arsenal has long been a difficult challenge for intelligence officials because of the regimes culture of extreme secrecy and insularity. The countrys weapons scientists have conducted five nuclear tests since 2006, the latest being a 20- to 30-kiloton detonation on Sept. 9, 2016, that produced a blast estimated to be up to twice that of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. But producing a compact nuclear warhead that can fit inside a missile is a technically demanding feat, one that many analysts thought was still beyond North Koreas grasp. Last year, state-run media in Pyongyang displayed a spherical device that government spokesmen described as a miniaturized nuclear warhead, but whether it was a real bomb remained unclear. North Korean officials described the September detonation as a successful test of a small warhead designed to fit on a missile, although many experts were skeptical of the claim. Kim has repeatedly proclaimed his intention to field a fleet of nuclear-tipped ICBMs as a guarantor of his regimes survival. His regime took a major step toward that goal last month with the first successful tests of a missile with intercontinental range. Video analysis of the latest test led some analysts to conclude that the missile caught fire and disintegrated as it plunged back toward Earths surface, suggesting that North Koreas engineers might not be capable yet of building a reentry vehicle that can carry the warhead safely through the upper atmosphere. But U.S. analysts and many independent experts think this hurdle will be overcome by late next year. What initially looked like a slow-motion Cuban missile crisis is now looking more like the Manhattan Project, just barreling along, said Robert Litwak, a nonproliferation expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the author of Preventing North Koreas Nuclear Breakout, published by the center this year. Theres a sense of urgency behind the program that is new to the Kim Jong Un era. Although few discount North Koreas progress, some prominent U.S. experts warned against the danger of overestimating the threat. Siegfried Hecker, director emeritus of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the last known U.S. official to inspect North Koreas nuclear facilities, has calculated the size of North Koreas arsenal at no more than 20 to 25 bombs. He warned of potential risks that can come from making Kim into a bigger menace than he actually is. [Some experts see Russian echoes in North Koreas missile advances] Overselling is particularly dangerous, said Hecker, who visited North Korea seven times between 2004 and 2010, and met with key leaders of the countrys weapons programs. Some like to depict Kim as being crazy a madman and that makes the public believe that the guy is undeterrable. Hes not crazy and hes not suicidal. And hes not even unpredictable. The real threat, Hecker said, is were going to stumble into a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. In the past, U.S. intelligence agencies have occasionally overestimated the North Korean threat. In the early 2000s, the George W. Bush administration assessed that Pyongyang was close to developing an ICBM that could strike the U.S. mainland a prediction that missed the mark by more than a decade. More recently, however, analysts and policymakers have been surprised repeatedly as North Korea achieved key milestones months or years ahead of schedule, said Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies. There was similar skepticism about Chinas capabilities in the early 1960s, said Lewis, who has studied that countrys pathway to a successful nuclear test in 1964. There is no reason to think that the North Koreans arent making the same progress after so many successful nuclear explosions, Lewis said. The big question is: Why do we hold the North Koreans to a different standard than we held [Joseph] Stalins Soviet Union or Mao Zedongs China? North Korea is testing underground, so were always going to lack a lot of details. But it seems to me a lot of people are insisting on impossible levels of proof because they simply dont want to accept what should be pretty obvious. Yuki Oda in Tokyo contributed to this report. Read more: North Korea is fast approaching Trumps red line Twenty-five million reasons the U.S. hasnt struck North Korea Kim Jong Uns rockets are getting an important boost from China South African President Jacob Zuma survived a parliamentary vote Tuesday that could have pushed him from office, hanging on to sufficient backing within his African National Congress party amid growing claims of corruption and worries about a stumbling economy. It was the sixth time that Zuma has ridden out a no-confidence vote since becoming president in 2009. The outcome further reinforced the dual images that have taken shape as he has beaten back challenge after challenge over the years. To supporters, Zuma is a steady hand and political patriarch needed to keep the country in balance. Among critics, he has been portrayed as a crafty strongman who muzzles internal party dissent and continually manages to choke off the opposition. Tuesdays vote marked the first time that Parliament members were allowed to vote anonymously on whether to keep him in power. Still, the outcome was the same as in previous bids to oust him, as the ANC core refused to splinter. Although Zuma survived, he emerged weakened from the process, as some members of his party voted against him for the first time. His ANC colleagues took to the well of Parliament to defend the party and its legacy fighting apartheid, but practically none expressed confidence in the president. [Nelson Mandelas granddaughter renounces party he led] Zumas ANC dominates Parliament with 249 out of 400 seats, and his opponents needed at least 50 party members to defect something that has never happened before in a party that defeated South Africas apartheid system and is known for its loyalty. In the end, however, more than two dozen ANC members voted against Zuma, making it the closest the opposition has come to forcing him out. The motion went down 198 to 177, said the Parliament speaker, Baleka Mbete. Nine lawmakers abstained, and the remainder did not vote. The results of the vote were announced after a full day of debate, voting and ballot counting. Zumas term is set to run until elections in 2019. Outside Parliament, Zuma thanked ANC supporters who had awaited the vote. And he promised electoral victory in 2019. We represent the majority of the country, Zuma declared. He said that would be proved anew in two years when we win by a big number once again. Opposition supporters march Tuesday in Cape Town, South Africa, ahead of Parliaments vote on President Jacob Zumas leadership. (Mike Hutchings/Reuters) Opposition to Zumas rule has been growing amid revelations of corruption and influence peddling. In addition, the economy has faltered and unemployment has remained stubbornly high in a country marked by deep inequalities of wealth. Zuma had been in tight spots before. In the first no-confidence vote in 2010, Zuma was accused of being unfit for office. Other votes were held over accusations that included suspected illegal improvements to his home, mismanagement of the economy and his decision in 2015 not to arrest the visiting Sudanese president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court. [Large protest shows discontent with Zuma, ANC] In a debate before Tuesdays vote, Zumas supporters said his ouster could send the country into a leadership crisis. His critics told fellow lawmakers that it was a moment to take a stand. Take our country back, said Mmusi Maimane, head of the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance. Maimane called the choice between keeping and firing Zuma a choice between good and evil, drawing boos from ANC members. Immediately after the vote, ANC Police Minister Fikile Mbalula told a raucous gathering of Zuma supporters outside Parliament: We will never surrender to Mmusi Maimane. We will never surrender to stooges. Mbete, the Parliament speaker, shocked South Africans on Monday when she announced her approval of a secret ballot, which allowed party members to vote against their leader outside the public spotlight. The no-confidence vote, she said, constitutes one of the severest political consequences imaginable, adding that her decision to allow the vote to proceed anonymously was about putting the resilience of our democratic institution to test. In June, South Africas Constitutional Court empowered Mbete to decide whether to allow a secret ballot. A small opposition party, the United Democratic Movement, called for the vote. Voting in favor of this motion will be tantamount to throwing a nuclear bomb at our country, Jackson Mthembu, the ANCs chief whip in Parliament, said before the courts ruling. [Violence in South Africa follows a surge in xenophobia] It was the first test of the president since he purged his cabinet in March. Among those fired was Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who remains a member of Parliament and had indicated that he intended to vote against Zuma. The firing of the internationally popular Gordhan had immediate effects on the economy, with credit-rating agencies Fitch and S&P Global Ratings downgrading South Africa to junk status. They cited political uncertainty in their reviews of the countrys creditworthiness. The ANCs alliance partners, the South African Communist Party and Cosatu, a coalition of trade unions, told Zuma to quit. A group of anti-apartheid veterans also asked the president to resign. Especially damaging to Zuma has been a string of leaked emails showing his tight relationship with an industrialist family, the Guptas. The family has reportedly handpicked cabinet ministers and officials to fill Zumas government. What you have is a private family actually setting up the institutions of government such that theyre the ones that make the decisions about how the country is running, said Cathy Powell, a law professor at the University of Cape Town. Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. Read more South Africa faces political turmoil after Zuma sacks finance minister The ANC is Mandelas legacy. Now his granddaughter has turned on the party. Protest shows rising discontent with South Africas president and ruling party 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... Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 08/08/2017 (1922 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Premier Brian Pallister may be running, but he will not be able to hide from the mess he continues to make for himself. Remarkably, Pallister has been incommunicado for more than a week after new details of his leisurely vacation work ethic were revealed by a freedom of information request filed by the opposition New Democrats. Email and telephone records obtained by the NDP showed that when the premier was at his now infamous Costa Rican vacation home last summer, he had almost no contact with his staff back in Winnipeg. And what contact there was came via a private cellphone and email account registered to Pallisters wife, Esther. Jason Franson / The Canadian Press Files Supporters should seriously ask themselves: would Brian Pallister tolerate the same kind of behaviour from any other member of his cabinet or caucus? The revelations are important for two reasons. First, because using your wifes private email and phone is really not an acceptable practice for a man who is charged with running an entire province. And second, because the records directly contradict claims by Pallister and members of his government earlier this year that all his visits to Costa Rica are working vacations and he was in constant, secure contact with key staff so he could continue to provide leadership on any major issues or incidents that arose. Im accessible every day and no more than a phone call away and no more than a day away from Manitoba, Pallister told reporters in Toronto last January, adding he works 90 per cent of the time he is in Costa Rica. Other cabinet ministers weighed in with claims Pallister was always reachable while in Costa Rica and is very much engaged in all aspects of government when he is vacationing. That all turns out to be fundamentally untrue. Yes, it is true Pallister has access to both mobile and landline telephones and email so he can remain in constant contact with staff in Winnipeg. But no, it appears he rarely makes use of any of that technology, preferring to leave his government in the hands of others while he is on vacation. Tory insiders claim the issue of telephone and email contact is a red herring. The insiders say Pallister spends all of his time on vacation reading and studying up on pressing issues of the day. And while that may be true, it is simply implausible to suggest any premier can take off two weeks to read background files and still be fulfilling his obligations as premier. Since this information became public, supporters and detractors have engaged in robust debate about whether Pallister deserves all the time he spends in Costa Rica and whether his lack of contact with the home office is even relevant. However, what Pallister deserves in terms of the length and nature of his vacations is hardly the issue here. The real issue is that right now, just 18 months after he became premier and two-and-a-half years before he seeks re-election, Pallister has arguably become the single greatest threat to the viability of his own government. Rabid partisans will rage at this suggestion, but in their haste to defend the premier they should ask themselves one important question: would Pallister tolerate the same kind of performance from any other member of his cabinet or caucus? From the very beginning of the media and public interest in Pallisters Costa Rican getaways, he has been evasive to the point of dishonest. It started back in 2014 when, as opposition leader, he decided to remain on vacation in Costa Rica during severe summer flooding in western Manitoba, which prompted the NDP government to declare a state of emergency. When confronted about his whereabouts, Pallister denied he was in Costa Rica and claimed he was at a family wedding out west. When records were produced during the 2016 provincial election showing he had been in Costa Rica the whole time, he apologized and said he was just trying to protect his familys privacy. You would think that getting caught in a fib like that would be a life-altering experience for any politician. It does not, however, seem to have made much of an impression on Pallister. Forced to now admit how much time he was spending in Costa Rica, the focus of his political enemies turned to what he was doing while he was there. Again, confronted with a potentially embarrassing revelation, he doubled down on the fib. Its important to note at this point that Pallisters behaviour as premier on vacation is really not that different from what he did as opposition leader on vacation. Back before he won a convincing majority mandate, Pallister was renowned in Tory circles for disappearing for weeks at a time to his Costa Rican vacation property. And while he was there, he had little or no contact with staff back in the legislature. It got to the point where, party sources confirmed, nobody in his office knew where he was or when he was coming back to work. Indeed, public records from Costa Rica showed Pallister spent an extraordinary 240 days in that country from 2012 to 2016. Has Pallister changed his ways in any meaningful fashion? In this, his second year as premier, Pallister seems to have pared down the amount of time he is spending in Costa Rica. And his government has passed new guidelines that prohibit high-ranking government officials from using private phones or email accounts for official communication. But all of that reformed behaviour doesnt add up to much if the premier still insists on taking his hands off the wheel of government for a week or two at a time when on vacation. That kind of behaviour doesnt inspire the people he leads nor does it curry loyalty with voters. It is behaviour that is simply not premierial. And then there is the premiers predisposition to back up a fib with another fib. How much time Pallister spends in Costa Rica and what he does there would be a minor footnote to his first term in government if not for the fact he continues to get caught in repeated dishonesty. Costa Rica has now become the most important chink in the premiers political armour, one that will provide great opportunities for the opposition when the next provincial election rolls around in 2020. And the only person Pallister can blame for that is Pallister. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 08/08/2017 (1922 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Its a relatively nondescript ad tucked under the part-time job tab on Kijiji, a red banner declaring it urgent: Do something amazing today donate plasma, save a life, get paid! It takes about 90 minutes to donate, Prometic Plasma Resources advises prospective donors, but theres a $100 bonus if a person donates eight times this month. That bonus is on top of the $25 for each donation. Were not trying to compete with Canadian Blood Services (CBS), said Bill Bees, the companys vice-president of plasma technologies. Were trying to complement what theyre doing. TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A blood sample is taken from a donor. Paying for plasma is a contentious issue in Canada, increasingly so in recent years after private pharmaceutical manufacturer Canadian Plasma Resources (CPR) opened a paid plasma centre, first in Saskatoon and then in Moncton, N.B. That meant Canada has three plasma clinics that pay donors. The controversy flared up recently after BloodWatch, a non-profit that advocates for a voluntary, public-only blood donation system, released a letter obtained through access-to-information that shows CBS had warned Health Canada against the proliferation of pay-for-plasma facilities. Health Canada licensed the Moncton facility anyway. Like always, Prometic warrants a media mention, usually as the long-standing original pay-for-plasma clinic in Winnipeg. But, Bees said, that description doesnt capture what Prometic does. It was a feel-good thing, he said of its origin, which dates back to the early 1970s. The facility was bought in 2015 by U.S.-based Prometic. At the time, Winnipegs Dr. John Bowman was researching Rh disease, which is when a pregnant womans immune system sees a fetuss red blood cells as foreign and her antibodies begin to attack them. It hurts the fetus and increases the risk of a stillbirth. Bowmans work led to the creation of Rho(D) immune-globulin, or WinRho, a medication that prevents the womans body from forming the antibodies. The Win is a nod to Winnipeg. Today, collecting plasma and developing it into intravenous immunoglobulin, which can be used to treat a number of rare disorders, comprises the bulk of Prometics Canadian operations. The collection centre paid its donors then as it does now because, Bees said, We feel ethically, its a good thing to do. That isnt the norm in Canada. After the HIV epidemic in the 1970s and 80s, a national inquiry looking into the safety of Canadas blood system recommended against paying for donations. The Winnipeg lab has been an exception because of its focus on rare disorders. It has grown, Bees said, from six beds when it first opened on Kennedy Street to 18 beds on the Smart Park campus at the University of Manitoba, where it has been since 2010. The facility is on track for 300 donations per week, he said. A clinical trial is underway in the United States for a new drug to treat excessive blood-clotting. Prometic plans to try to license that drug in Canada first. Kat Lanteigne, executive director of BloodWatch, said its important to understand not just the difference between the specialty work Prometic does and new clinics, but the real concern BloodWatch has with new pay-for-plasma clinics. Often, the argument gets reduced to the moral argument of whether you should pay people to sell their body parts or not, Lanteigne said, but when they say paying for plasma, it means that a private corporation is paying people to sell their plasma so they can export it from Canada and sell it on the international market. Plasma has to be processed via fractionation, which the CPR cant do in Canada, so it ships plasma overseas. (Prometic has a fractionation plant right next door). CBS has said it is not under any obligation to purchase from CPR. While Bees and Lanteigne disagree about whether paying for donors negatively affects voluntary donations, Lanteigne said shes mostly concerned about safety. If there is a blood-borne virus, CBS can trace it back through donor records across the country, she said, whereas if theres a private corporate model, we have no access to those donor records. Ultimately, Lanteigne said, CBS needs to start collecting more plasma. There are private companies who are vying to say, We really want to help, she said of the shortage, but we just need CBS to do their job. CBS declined to comment and directed the Free Press to a statement posted to its website in January. The organization has an ambitious plan to beef up its plasma sufficiency so it can eventually supply half of the immunoglobulin Canadians need from voluntary and unpaid Canadian donors. By 2024, CBS is hoping to have up to 40 plasma collection sites across the country, a plan that requires more than 144,000 new donors each year. Even with that plan, Bees said CBS will still need to look elsewhere for the other half of its immunoglobulin supply. Thats where he hopes Prometic can step in. jane.gerster@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @Jane_Gerster Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 08/08/2017 (1922 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Mark Witt carefully navigates the poorly lit stairwell of his Magnus Avenue rooming house, swaying from side to side with each dangerous step he takes. Its like trying to walk while on a roller-coaster, Witt, 57, explains as he lunges for the handrail to help steady himself. Im constantly seeing double. Sometimes, the double doubles up to quadruple. Inside his pocket is a hospital bandage bearing his name. He carries it on him at all times to make it easier for anyone who finds him if he collapses on a sidewalk or street during one of the long daily walks he takes to keep himself occupied. Theyll be able to go through my pockets and know who I am, he says. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Mark Witt in his suite at a North End rooming house, gesturing while describing his fate since an assault left him in a coma, and now in failing health. Witt might not need any introduction to the paramedics who come to pick him up. Hes met the same woman on three occasions in recent months and jokes hes on a first-name basis with many of them. Witt makes it to the top of the stairs without tumbling over and then shuffles his way into his tiny, one-room suite. It is sweltering inside, the result of direct sunlight and hot, humid air coming in through a tiny open window. A dozen cans of pasta sit on the table, the only food that is visible. Witt figures that will last him a few weeks. He doesnt have much of an appetite and says hes lost at least 20 pounds over the past couple of months; he weighs just 134 pounds. His only family, two adult daughters, live in Quebec and are estranged. His one close friend died more than a year ago. He considered getting a cat, but jokes that hes not ready for a 20-year commitment. In reality, hes just trying to survive each day. At times I sit back and wonder if Im still on life-support and this is all a dream, he says. I cant believe this has happened to my life. Satoshi Yamashita of the Manitoba Brain Injury Association says Witts case underscores a troubling reality his organization sees too often. Right now I dont think hes able to live independently. Theres often no support for the brain injury after they get out of the hospital. They will try to go back to the way things used to be, but they cant. Thats the tough part. Especially if theres no family or friends to tell them, theyre just going to become isolated from society, Yamashita says. If you have mental-health issues theres going to be lots of supports. But if its a brain injury theres very limited support. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Witt braces himself while walking up the stairs to his suite at a Magnus Avenue rooming house. Last summer, Witt was a hard-working contributing member of society, doing heavy-gauge steel framing on several big local projects. He was making more than $32 an hour and loving his life. This summer, Witt is resigned to his fate: that of a broken man who suffers regular seizures at least seven in the past couple of months and is now struggling to live while on permanent disability that gives him about $300 a month after rent, or about $10 a day. Im concerned about him, admits Pastor Peter Swenson of the Bethlehem Aboriginal Fellowship Church who, along with wife Jo-Anne, have been paying regular visits to Witt since he was discharged from hospital and resumed living independently a couple of months ago. Hes way more vulnerable today than he used to be. The only regular human interaction Witt has, aside from the Swensons, is with health workers at the Health Sciences Centre and Misericordia Health Centre, where he walks for regular appointments to follow up on the devastating injury that turned his life upside-down. How did he get hurt? The answer, it seems, is anything but clear. Witt was found one night last October bleeding heavily beside a garbage dumpster behind the Northern Hotel on Main Street. His injuries were extensive and life-threatening and required surgery to address swelling and bleeding on the brain, along with a fractured eye socket and jaw. Witt spent about seven months at HSC initially in the hospital, and then at the adjacent Lennox Bell Lodge while he recovered. Witt has little memory of the night beyond visiting a cheque-cashing service with his paycheque just after 5 p.m. He recalls leaving with nearly $1,500 in his pocket and then heading to the Northern to buy a beverage. The money was gone when paramedics were called by a passerby who found him just after midnight. Witt believes he was jumped from behind and hit with an object such as a brick or rock, then robbed and left for dead before he was found several hours later. But the call was entered into the 911 system as a medic because the person who found Witt thought he may have just been intoxicated, fell and injured himself. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Trash containers at the back of the Northern Hotel on Main Street, where Witt believes he was attacked, robbed and left for dead. And thats where this sad story takes a bizarre twist. Because of how it originally came in, nearly two months passed before police would interview Witt in hospital. By then, any surveillance video from cameras in the area had been recorded over. And with no direct witnesses to what happened, and Witt having no independent recollection, the investigation ground to a halt before it ever started. We really have nothing to go on. He feels he was assaulted, but we have no proof of that. Not to say it didnt happen. It very well could have happened, but we just have nothing that leads us down any kind of investigative path, Const. Jay Murray says. The incident is still listed in the police computer system as a medic, he says. The report also says Witt was combative and unco-operative with paramedics at the scene something he denies. I was like, Youve got to be kidding me, Witt says. As a result, he hasnt received any compensation for being a victim of a crime because he isnt officially listed as one. His requests for money to replace things such as his broken dentures and eyeglasses, along with bus fare to get to his medical appointments, have been denied. Murray said Witt may be an example of a person falling through the cracks a little bit. He did suffer an injury, absolutely, he said. From our point of view, I think we did everything we could have. Theres certain issues with investigating something two months after the fact. Unfortunately this is one of those things I dont know if well ever truly know what happened to cause those injuries. Witt also came out of hospital to discover the landlord where hed previously lived had moved all his stuff out either selling it or giving it away and found a new tenant. And his stay at Lennox Bell was tumultuous, to say the least. Witt admits he was far from an ideal resident and had run-ins with staff, something he blames on the head trauma he suffered. Police were called to deal with him on several occasions, although he was never charged. Murray acknowledges the incidents may have been a mechanism of the brain injury. Witt recalls once day where he started telling facility staff people were coming to rob them of cocaine and that their lives were in danger. He was delusional. I dont know what the hell happened. I didnt want to hurt anyone, he says. After that it was like, OK, you have to go. The staff are afraid of you. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Witt survives on $300 a month these days. Before the assault, he was a construction worker making $32 an hour. Witt was warned about his behaviour and eventually told to leave at the end of May. Staff at the facility set him up at the Salvation Army, where he remained for about a week until he got help finding his current suite on Magnus. He was also put in touch with the Easy Street brain injury program at Misericordia, which he now attends. Yamashita said someone with Witts challenges should be in a long-term treatment facility, likely for a year or two. The ongoing medical issues and erratic behaviour described by Witt, police and medical officials is consistent with someone who has suffered violent, traumatic brain injury, he says. A spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says they cant comment specifically on Witts case, but urge him to reach out if he has concerns about his experience and treatment. It can be great support for people who have concerns about their care or the way in which care was provided, she says. Swenson and his wife are now going out of their way to help, knowing they are Witts only community support. Theyve taken him grocery shopping on a couple of occasions and purchased bedding, cutlery and dishes for him when he moved in. When they turned him loose from the hospital he didnt have anything, Swenson says. Unlike police and paramedics, they have no doubt that Witt is a crime victim. He got beat up pretty good, says Swenson, who has known Witt for almost 16 years and has been a witness to the devastating changes caused by the brain injury. Hes optimistic Witt can survive on his own now, despite the many challenges he faces. Hes lived by himself for years, Swenson says. Hes not incapacitated and hes not dumb; hes an intelligent person. Witt admits he should probably be using a walker to get around, but avoids it because doing so, you may as well put a target on you. He doesnt carry cash, but thats not a problem, given his current financial situation and inability to return to work. Hes now on a daily medication regime to deal with his seizures. The doctor told me the other day its irreversible, Witt says, adding he isnt worrying about the future much these days. Well figure it out. I hate to put it this way and pardon my french, but shit happens, he says with a cackle. I dont know what I did in my past life, but man, Im being tested in this one. mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @mikeoncrime Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 08/08/2017 (1922 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Have the big changes in Albertas conservative movement united the right or will it shatter it? Members of Albertas two right-of-centre parties, the Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose, have voted to form the new United Conservative Party. Both Jason Kenney, leader of the (now-defunct) Progressive Conservative Party and former Wildrose leader Brian Jean are enthusiastic. As far as theyre concerned, a unified right will almost guarantee victory in the next provincial election. JASON FRANSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Alberta Wildrose Leader Brian Jean (left) and Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Jason Kenney announce a unity deal between the two parties in May. But what kind of party might emerge and would it unite right-of-centre voters? The three main leadership candidates have different visions for this new United Conservative Party. Kenney, a former federal Conservative cabinet minister, is a pragmatist and a master at the administrative game. Hes built his power base in Alberta politics from the inside out, seizing the initiative at the constituency level and then leveraging the organizational apparatus of the embattled PC party. Apart from nostalgia for the good old days, Kenneys political direction is anybodys guess. Hes not a great orator or visionary. And hes been speaking in very general terms about free enterprise, bringing back balanced budgets and restoring the Alberta Advantage. Jean, on the other hand, seems to have done a political 180. The former leader of Albertas socially conservative alternative, he now favours a more centralist approach, proposing a more progressive conservative line. The days of hard-right governments in Alberta are over and most Albertans want a more middle-of-the-road way of doing things, he said. Jean recognizes the danger inherent in the growing deficit and promotes spending cuts to reduce it, but promises that those cuts will be as painless as possible. Why then blow up the Progressive Conservative Party? Why not simply unite Albertas progressives and conservatives in a Lougheed-like coalition? Former Alberta premier Peter Lougheeds big-tent conservative coalition was a winning formula for almost half a century; not a bad run by any standard. On the fringes is a firebrand form of conservatism promoted by as-yet-unannounced candidate Derek Fildebrandt. Fildebrandt is no softy. Inspired by American conservatives, he rebels against what he calls milquetoast, marshmallow, vanilla conservatism. He wants to go for the jugular. Have a spending problem? He would slash government spending and unleash corporations from the dead hand of government regulation. Hes made plain that if sacrifices need to be made, just do it. Kenney, mastermind of this unification, expressed concern that one or two bad apples in both parties might not accept the outcome of the vote, even question its legitimacy and not join the new party. He need not have worried. The former rival right-of-centre caucuses were pictured smiling broadly with a thumbs-up salute for their new unity. MLA Richard Starke was the notable exception to this chummy bunch, which immediately selected Nathan Cooper as their interim leader. The larger worry is that the new party must choose a permanent leader in October and that leader will have a profound effect on the partys platform and political direction. An overly conservative platform would likely alienate non-aligned middle-of-the-road voters and certainly be a challenge for the former progressive members of the PC party. This could present a longer-term problem. In the short-term, Edmonton Sun columnist Lorne Gunter believes Alberta progressives will hold their noses and unite behind the new party, given their abhorrence of out-of-control spending. He may be right but, longer term, it needs to be remembered that progressives the pragmatic middle of Alberta have determined the outcome of the last two elections. They were persuaded to stick with the PCs in 2012 by red Tory Alison Redford, then abandoned Jim Prentices PCs and elected the inexperienced Rachel Notley as the provinces first NDP premier in 2015. Where will the progressives go, longer term? Its hard to say. But its something the party membership might want to consider when they cast their ballots for the United Conservatives new leader in October. Robert McGarvey is chief strategist for Troy Media Digital Solutions Ltd., an economic historian and former managing director of Merlin Consulting, a London, U.K.-based consulting firm. Troy Media The Japanese government announced late last month it would lift the existing tariff rate for imported beef from a number of countries, chief among them the United States. From August 1, the tariff on US frozen beef exports to Japan was due to increase to 50 percent, up from the previous rate of 38.5 percent. In part, the tariff hike is a reaction by Tokyo to US President Donald Trumps decision earlier this year to scrap the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), on which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had counted to boost the Japanese economy. More broadly it reflects rising trade tensions as the ruling elites in each country seek to offload the burden of the worsening global economic crisis onto their rivals. The official reason for the hike was that frozen beef imports to Japan have increased by greater than 17 percent compared to last yearthe point beyond which World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules permit the Japanese government to lift the tariff to safeguard domestic industries. Frozen beef imports, particularly from the US have increased substantially over recent years due to their use in popular fast food dishes, with a rise of 20 percent recorded over the past year to the AprilJune quarter. Tokyo, however, has rarely invoked the WTO rule in previous yearsthe last tariff increase was in 2003 against the US. The tariff increase affects any country without a free trade agreement with Japan, including major beef exporters such as Canada. Media attention, however, has focussed on the US, reflecting the substantial trade between the two countries. Japan is the largest importer of US beef, buying roughly 45,000 tonnes of frozen beef from the US, estimated to be worth $400 million, or about 20 percent of total American frozen beef exports. The tariff will impact most heavily on US states like Nebraska, Arkansas and North Dakota. With an estimated decline in gross domestic product of 0.5 to 1 percent, these regions, already among the poorest in the US, face significant job losses. In Japan, the increased price of frozen beef is expected to hit many fast-food restaurants that heavily use US imports, contributing to increasing unemployment. The tariff hike is a blow to the Trump administration, which has boasted loudly about improving trade relations in Americas favour. Trump claimed that by scrapping the TPP the US could negotiate better trade deals with other countries, including Japan. Other beef exporters like Australia and Mexico, both of which have free trade agreements with Japan, will now have a substantial advantage over the US. Significantly, Washington received no warning or consultation about Japans decision, and is deeply displeased. US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said the tariff increase would impede US beef sales and is likely to increase the United States overall trade deficit with Japan. He warned the decision would harm our important bilateral trade relationship with Japansuggesting the US could retaliate. Adding to US concerns is the fact that the tariff hike comes less than a month after Japan reached a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) that could potentially create the worlds largest trading bloc. A crucial part of that deal concerned the lowering of tariffs on agricultural imports into Japan, meaning that the EU will also enjoy a trade advantage over the US. For its part, the Japanese government clearly sees the tariff rise as a political tool either to revive TPP negotiations, or failing that, to force concessions by the US on trade. Although official media statements downplayed the tariff increase, a government source cited by the Nikkei Asian Review bluntly declared if the US doesnt like [the safeguard] it can return to the TPP. Japan is preparing for high-level trade talks with Washington in October. Nevertheless, there is concern in Japanese business circles that the tariff rise could backfire and result in US retaliation that would impact on the countrys stagnant economy. Furthermore, Japan is highly reliant on the US strategically. The US maintains large military bases and forces in Japan, and Trump has supported Prime Minister Abes agenda of re-militarising Japan. Given the politically volatile nature of the crisis-ridden Trump administration, the tariff rise has the potential to impact on Japanese relations with the US in both economic and military matters. With an eye to these considerations, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso offered a fig leaf on August 2. Speaking to reporters, Aso said the government had been holding internal discussions on delaying the tariff rise by three months. It is true there is talk of extending the period [delaying the tariff], he said, adding there is room for a review. Aso said the delay would expire after the scheduled October trade talks with the US. Undoubtedly the Japanese government will try to exploit the issue to gain leverage in negotiations. In the final analysis, the dispute over beef tariffs represents only a small fraction of US-Japanese trade, which is valued at nearly $200 billion. Whether it is implemented or not, the tariff rise will not significantly reduce the $60 billion US trade deficit with Japan. What only a few years ago would have been considered a relatively minor issue is now seen in the US and Japan as a sign of deeper tensions and potential conflict. It highlights the increasingly fragile nature of the global economy and risk of trade war amid the historic breakdown of capitalism. Nothing about these tariffs will safeguard the interests of workers, be they in Japan, US, or elsewhere. Ultimately, these protectionist measures are designed only to defend the profit interests of the national bourgeoisie against its international rivals, and will mean deepening attacks on the social conditions of the working class. On Saturday morning around 5 a.m., a bomb flew through a window of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota and exploded as worshippers gathered for a prayer session. Though the explosion caused a fire in the building, there were no injuries. Citing an anonymous US official, CBS News reported on Monday that the explosive used in the attack was a pipe-bomb type device of more sophistication than investigators had expected. The bomb, which FBI investigators have also described as an improvised explosive device, was thrown through a window into the imams office as prayers began. Mohammed Omar, the executive director of the mosque, told reporters that a member of the congregation saw a pickup truck speeding away after the blast. He said that the perpetrator may have known which window to throw the bomb into, as it exploded in his office. The attack invoked an immediate response from neighbors in the local Bloomington community and throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Worshippers returned to the mosque on Monday and flowers were laid at the site. The mosques congregation is made up of people from the areas Somali community. Minnesota is home to the largest community of Somali-immigrants in the United States, many of whom have fled decades of wars and violence stoked by American imperialism. Minnesotas Democratic governor Mark Dayton visited the mosque with a delegation of public officials alongside him, including Democratic Representative Keith Ellison, and declared that the bombing was an act of terrorism. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has announced a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Saturdays attack in Bloomington. The FBI also announced that they are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the suspect or suspects in the attack. The head of the Minneapolis FBI told a press conference that the investigation of the bombing is a top priority, but officials did not answer questions. The Department of Homeland Security released a perfunctory two-sentence statement on Saturday evening noting the bombing and condemning attacks on religious institutions. President Donald Trump, who has frequently taken to Twitter to highlight terrorist attacks in Europe and is known as a prolific tweeter, has not recognized the attack on his social media account. The bombing of the mosque in Bloomington comes amid a trend of rising anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic attacks in the United States since the election of Donald Trump. Trump made repeated appeals to far-right forces during his presidency and during his campaign. These forces have been further emboldened by Trumps actions since January, including his implementation of the anti-Muslim travel ban, which limits travel from six predominantly Muslim countries, as well as the fascistic forces he has surrounded himself with in the White House. A recent report by CAIR revealed that 2017 is on track to be one of the worst ever years for anti-Muslim bias incidents and hate crimes in the United States. Between 2014 and 2016 CAIR recorded a 65 percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents where there was an identifiable element of religious discrimination and a 584 percent surge in hate crimes targeting individuals or property. CAIRs report shows that, compared to the first half of 2016, the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes has risen by 91 percent, almost double what was previously the worst year since the organization began recording such incidents in 2013. While Muslim-Americans reported in 2016 that harassment was the most frequent type of abuse they encountered (18 percent), this was followed closely by intrusive questioning or targeting by the FBI (15 percent). A significant number of Muslim-Americans also reported being racially and religiously profiled by agents from Customs and Border Patrol and the Transportation Safety Administration while traveling in and out of the country. CAIR has called for investigations into possible anti-Muslim bias motives in dozens of incidents targeting mosques this year in multiple states in every region of the country including Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Texas. Earlier this month, CAIR called on the FBI and local law enforcement to investigate vandalism of Muslim Cemetery Al Maghfirah in Castle Rock, a township south of St. Paul in Minnesota. In addition to damaging property, the vandals spray-painted swastikas and wrote, Leave, you R dead. Amidst a raging opioid crisis, pregnant women and new mothers in Massachusetts womens prisons are being subjected to humiliating and dangerous practices, such as shackling during labor, transportation in vehicles with no seatbelts, and denial of adequate food to meet their increased nutritional needs. These women have been criminalized and imprisoned for mostly non-violent drug-related charges. Such practices, while illegal under existing state law, continue to take place and in many instances are codified by the states 14 female-only county jails. When contacted, a volunteer at a female prison in Chicopee, Massachusetts described the disturbing conditions she recently encountered. A woman well call Laura, who teaches childbirth education classes, requested that her identity be concealed to protect her work there. I have talked to someone recently who was shackled in labor, gave birth fully shackled. I have also talked to people who are being shackled postpartum, which by law is defined as the 6 months following birth, she said. I have one client who needed to size-up her underwear due to her pregnancy, because they were cutting off circulation. She wrote a request, but did not receive a response, so she stopped wearing them. A correctional officer noticed she was not wearing underwear and she was written up. Exposure of such abuses at womens prisons in Massachusetts, spearheaded by a coalition of advocacy groups and health care organizations, culminated in May of 2014 with the signing of bill S.359, titled An Act to Prevent Shackling and Promote Safe Pregnancies for Female Inmates by then-governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, a Democrat. The law provided certain protections for pregnant inmates in county jails, such as limits on the use of restraints and minimum standards for medical care and nutrition during pregnancy and the postpartum recovery period. However, the law was passed with no accompanying enforcement mechanism and has since been largely ignored at the states 14 female detention centers. A 2016 report published by The Prison Birth Project (a prisoners advocacy group) titled Breaking Promises: Violations of The Massachusetts Pregnancy Standards & Anti-Shackling Law, provides a detailed analysis of conditions at the states womens prisons. It cites documents obtained by Prisoners Legal Services of Massachusetts from the Department of Corrections and four counties with womens jails containing language on restraining pregnant women that directly violates the 2014 law. According to the Breaking Promises report: Written procedures at the state prison in Framingham in effect as late as March 2016 state that pregnant women admitted to an outside hospital shall be secured to the bed by one handcuff or leg iron, state that only women in active labor should not be restrained, and allow the use of waist chains on pregnant women. Similarly, Bristol County provided written material that clearly conflicts with the statute, specifying that women shall be handcuffed during delivery and shall be placed in leg irons and/or handcuffs after giving birth unless medically contraindicated, in which case only handcuffs shall be applied. Similarly, an article published on the news site masslive.com in May, 2016, noted: Berkshire Countys policy [concerning treatment of pregnant women and new mothers] violates almost all parts of the [2016] law. It does not require seatbelts for transporting a pregnant woman and does not allow a doctor or nurse to order the removal of restraints. It does not prohibit the use of restraints during a pregnant womans transportation to or from the hospital. It does not ban the use of leg and waist restraints throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Speaking on the effects of the 2014 law and the follow up report, Laura said: Since that report came out, they replaced the supplemental pregnancy meal, which had been a piece of cheese on two pieces of white bread and a carton of milk, with bread and peanut butter, plus the milkbut those women should really be getting fresh fruits and veggies. They did change the seatbelt situation, but you have to remember that my experience is only at the Chicopee facility, which is the most compliant jail to begin with, because we are there collecting information and issuing reports, so they know they need to be a little more careful. Whatever changes were made since the 2014 law may only have been made in Chicopee. I dont know what someone giving birth at the Framingham facility is experiencing. Conditions in the area surrounding the womens prison in Chicopee are particularly stark, and offer insight into the lives of many of the prisoners outside of jail. The adjacent city of Holyoke, one of the first planned industrial cities in the country and once host to a thriving paper industry, is today emblematic of many former industrial towns throughout the Northeast. The city faces massive unemployment, urban decay, high crime rates and a shattered public education system, which was placed into state receivership in 2015. Located at the intersection of two important regional highway systems, Holyoke has earned a reputation as one of the major centers for heroin distribution in the Northeast. Many residents, caught up in these conditions, invariably are turning to the sale and use of drugs, both as a source of income and to provide some relief from the devastating effects of poverty on their social and emotional lives. Speaking on the treatment of volunteers at the Chicopee jail and conditions faced by the women who are imprisoned there, Laura continued: Jails are required by law to have childbirth education classes, but they do not like our organization. In fact, we got kicked out for a while. We are really about providing some basic decency and humanity for these women Ninety percent of moms we see were arrested for substance useif not opioids then crack, but usually its heroin. A lot of people, including some doctors and nurses, are angry and think these women should be punished for using drugs while pregnant. It seems unfair though. Its true that there has been an increase in neonatal abstinence syndrome [drug withdrawal in newborns]. If a mother used opioids while pregnant, there is a chance that they will be born with symptoms like tight muscles, shaking or not sleeping much. But there is no long-term effect on these babies, and this can happen whether a mother is taking 1g of heroin a day (called a bundle) or Percocets that were legally prescribed by their doctor. Tanya, who also requested that her real name not be used, worked as a volunteer providing childbirth education and labor support at the prison between 2010 and 2014. When contacted by the WSWS, she weighed in on how social conditions in general were driving women into the criminal justice system. Mass incarceration is definitely linked to the war on drugs and the opioid crisis, she said. In my experience, 100 percent of women in jail are also survivors of sexual abuse and other types of abuse, and if they dont have the mental health care available to them to cope with the trauma, they turn to drugs, and thats a huge piece. By needlessly exposing women to dangerous and humiliating circumstances, prisons and jails in Massachusetts are not only meting out cruel and unusual punishment, but also are directly violating international human rights laws such as the Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners, adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held at Geneva in 1955 which states: In womens institutions there shall be special accommodation for all necessary pre-natal and post-natal care and treatment. Furthermore, such disregard for the welfare of pregnant inmates is not limited to the nominally liberal state of Massachusettsthe same practices have been reported on and documented throughout the country by human rights groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, which published a report in 2013 titled The Shackling of Pregnant Women & Girls in U.S. Prisons, Jails & Youth Detention Centers, whose central finding was that Shackling pregnant women prisoners is a common degrading practice in the United States. These abuses, inflicted upon female inmates throughout the country, are only one example of the callous response of the ruling class to ever-increasing levels of inequality and the social ills that come with them, such as the opioid epidemic currently wreaking havoc on working class communities throughout the Northeast region. The absence of any existing faction of the political establishment willing to advocate for massive investment in public education, infrastructure and health care ensures that repression and brutalization of the most vulnerable layers of the population will continue unabated. Only a working class party armed with a program for the liquidation of the profit system can destroy the conditions that give rise to such nightmarish circumstances. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson suggested yesterday that talks with North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile program might be possible if Pyongyang halted its missile testing. His comments came after the UN Security Council on Saturday imposed harsh new economic sanctions on North Korea over two missile tests last month. Speaking during the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers summit in Manila, Tillerson told reporters: When the conditions are right, then we can sit and have a dialogue around the future of North Korea so they feel secure and prosper economically. He suggested that the best signal that North Korea can give us that they are prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches, adding that other means of communication were also open to Pyongyang. While Tillerson has previously suggested that negotiations could take place, his remarks yesterday, outlining a specific precondition, were the strongest hint yesterday that the US would engage in talks. Tillerson, however, has also said any negotiations must involve a commitment by North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs, which the Pyongyang regime has declared previously it will not do. Yesterdays comments followed a statement last week, in which Tillerson appeared to offer security guarantees to North Korea. He told the media in Washington the US was not seeking regime change, the collapse of the Pyongyang regime or an excuse to send our military north of the 38th parallel into North Korea. The US and South Korea are still technically at war with North Korea. The Korean War, which cost the lives of millions, ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace agreement. At the top of the list of Pyongyangs demands has long been a peace treaty with the US and the normalisation of relations that would allow it integrate into global capitalism. North Korea has every reason to be suspicious of Tillersons offer, not least because of the ongoing political infighting and turmoil in Washington. While the secretary of state is suggesting talks, H.M. McMaster, Trumps national security adviser, emphasised over the weekend it was impossible to overstate the danger posed by North Korea and all options, including military strikes, were on the table. Moreover, Pyongyang has had bitter experience in past negotiations over the nuclear issue. On two occasions, in 1994 and 2007, North Korea agreed to give up nuclear programs in return for various US promises, including diplomatic relations, that were not honoured. The 1994 Agreed Framework guaranteed two nuclear power reactors to North Korea that were never delivered before President George W. Bush finally scuttled the pact. The 2007 agreement, following North Koreas first nuclear test, collapsed after Bush arbitrarily demanded additional safeguards and inspections. The Pyongyang regime has reacted to the latest UN sanctions on two levels. In a belligerent statement published by the state-run KNCA news agency, the government warned it would respond to any US crime against our country and our people with something thousands of times worse. It added: If the US does not retract its attempts to crush us to death and behave prudently, we will be ready and not hesitate to take ultimate measures. Such bluster only hands Washington a pretext for its continued military build-up in the Asia Pacific not only against Pyongyang but also Beijing. North Koreas limited nuclear arsenal provides no protection against the US, which has said any attempt by Pyongyang to use its weapons would result in annihilation. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho delivered a more measured response at the ASEAN summit. After outlining the repeated threats by the US and its allies going back to the end of the Korean War, Ri said North Koreas nuclear weapon were a legitimate self-defensive option and can neither be reversed nor bartered away. Ri hinted, however, that North Korea might be open to talks if Washington would guarantee its security. While saying Pyongyang would under no circumstances put its nuclear arsenal on the negotiating table, the foreign minister added, unless the hostile policy and nuclear threat of the US against the DPRK [North Korea] are fundamentally eliminated. The Pyongyang regime, which is among the most isolated in the world, is under enormous pressure to bow to US demands to abandon its nuclear and missile programs. China, which is by far North Koreas largest trading partner, voted for the UN sanctions and has implemented previous ones that have already impacted on the economy. The latest bans on North Korean exports of coal, iron ore, lead and seafood are expected to slash the countrys export trade by $1 billion, or about one third. After meeting with Ri in Manila, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned North Korea: Do not violate the UNs decision or provoke the international communitys goodwill by conducting missile launching or nuclear tests. At the same time, Wang called on the US and South Korea to stop increasing tensions and appealed for all parties to return to the negotiating table. China opposes North Koreas nuclear program because the US has used it as an excuse to expand its military presence in North East Asia. Beijing also fears that Japan and South Korea could cite it as a pretext to develop their own nuclear weapons. Yet, China does not want to create an economic and political crisis in Pyongyang that could lead to an intervention by the US and its allies into North Korea. Moon Jae-in, South Koreas new president, while backing the countrys military alliance with the US, including the continued presence of American bases, has opposed US military action against North Korea. In a statement following a phone call with Trump yesterday President Moon emphasised that South Korea can never accept a war erupting on the Korean Peninsula and stressed the need for the nuclear issue to be resolved in a peaceful, diplomatic manner. All the hints, suggestions and appeals for negotiations rather than war are very tentative and may come to nothing, given the internal tensions, unpredictability and recklessness of the Trump administration. While Tillerson is hinting at talks, the drum beat for military strikes against North Korea continues in the US media and political establishment. Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton, who is well-known for his right-wing, militarist views, wrote a comment in the Wall Street Journal last week entitled The military options for North Korea. In the absence of a diplomatic solution, he urged American politicians and generals to prepare for pre-emptive military strikes, ranging from hitting North Koreas military and nuclear facilities to assassinating its leaders. Bolton, however, is simply urging what is already under close discussion in the Pentagon and CIA. At the Aspen Security Forum last month, as Bolton noted, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, General Joseph Dunford ruled out allowing North Korea to have a nuclear arsenal capable of hitting the US. Dunford affirmed it was his job to develop military options to make sure that doesnt happen. At the same forum, CIA director Mike Pompeo suggested the intelligence community was developing a wide range of options for the president to separate North Koreas nuclear weapons from its leadershipthat is, to eliminate key North Korean leaders. In the closing weeks of the summer, tens of thousands of NATO and Russian soldiers are participating in dueling war games across Europe. Just over a century after the guns of August 1914 announced the outbreak of World War I in Europe, conditions are being created in multiple military flash-points for the eruption of conflict between the worlds major nuclear powers. The US aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush is joining a British carrier strike group for the Saxon Warrior exercise in the North Sea. This follows last months Saber Guardian exercise involving 25,000 NATO soldiers in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. NATO troops are joining more exercises across Eastern Europe. Thousands more are deploying to Poland and the Baltic states, on Russias borders, and 2,000 US troops have joined the Noble Partner exercise in Georgia, a former Soviet republic. This is the largest US exercise in Georgia since 2008, when a US-backed attack by the Georgian army killed Russian peace keepers stationed in the north of the country, triggering a brief war between Russia and Georgia. Meanwhile, Washington is debating whether to arm the far-right ultra-nationalist Ukrainian regime that emerged from the February 2014 NATO-backed coup in Kiev. The US first proposed this policy in 2015, but abandoned it after Germany and France, warning that escalation could trigger all-out war with Russia, negotiated a peace deal in Minsk. Moscow is staging its own war games. After holding joint naval exercises in the Baltic Sea with Chinese guided-missile destroyers, it is hosting its International Army Games involving forces from countries such as China, Iran, Egypt, Angola, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. It is also preparing for next months Zapad drill in western Russia, which NATO sources claim could involve as many as 100,000 troops. The unprecedented scope of these war exercises, the largest since the end of the Cold War, is a political warning. The military focus of the NATO alliance is shifting from the Middle East back to Europe. The New York Times reports that US and NATO units are making wide-ranging changes to equipment and strategy to prepare for war with high-tech enemies. This includes repainting their tanks from desert tan to dark green so as to blend into European terrain. Behind the backs of the masses, political and military cabals are getting ready for conflicts comparable to, or bloodier than, the world wars of the last century. US General John Healy declared, What were eventually going toward is a globally integrated exercise program so that we [are] all working off the same sheet of music in one combined global exercise. But for what is this global exercisewith drills on the Korean peninsula, in the South China Sea and in the Middle Eastpreparing? This global exercise is a dry run for global war. A deafening silence prevails in official circles as to what world war would mean. It is, however, a fact that a war in which nuclear bombs exploded over cities across North America, Europe and Russia would claim billions of lives. And so, as opposition to war and military spending grows among masses of workers in America and Europe, the political and media establishment churns out endless, unsubstantiated accusations of Russian aggression in Ukraine and Russian hijacking of the US elections in an attempt to overwhelm and intimidate the public and whip up a war fever. Military officials confess that these war games pose the danger of escalation, whether intentional or accidental, into war. However, the NATO countries media turn even this into grist for the mill of anti-Russia hysteria. In an article attacking Russias Zapad exercise, MSN.com writes, Many officials are on edge that an error by an alliance or Russian soldier, such as misreading a drill as an aggressive act, could quickly escalate into a crisis if one side were to respond with force NATO forces will avoid holding exercises close to the Russian border during the Russian drill. Claims that Moscow is responsible for the war danger are saturated with imperialist hypocrisy. Russia is carrying out exercises on its own soil, while the United States and the European imperialist powers are marching their troops right up to Russias borders. The danger of escalation and war is rooted in policies pursued by the NATO powers, above all the United States, over the more than quarter-century since the Stalinist bureaucracys dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. By means of US-led wars in Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Syria and beyond, Washington sought to establish its hegemony over the Eurasian landmass. It aimed not only to prevent the emergence of a rival power dominating Eurasia, but also to control the energy supplies and trade routes of its allies in Europe and Asia. The current escalation against Russia is the product of a series of devastating setbacks for the US in these wars. Washingtons Islamist proxy forces face imminent defeat in the civil war that it and NATO incited against the Russian-backed regime in Syria, and the NATO-backed regime in Kiev has failed to seize the entire country, losing effective control of Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine and the key Russian naval base at Sevastopol in Crimea. And amid growing economic rivalries between America and Europe, these setbacks have encouraged the European powers, led by Germany, to pursue an independent, that is, potentially hostile, foreign and military policy. Conflicts are surging as Washington seeks both to strengthen its position against Russia and split Europe by winning over allies, notably in Eastern Europe, on an anti-Russian basis. These Euro-American conflicts are rooted not in the boorish persona of Trump, but in the objective conflict between American and European imperialism. Last month, it was not Trump but the US Congress that passed sanctions cutting off critical Russian oil and gas exports to Europe and threatening Western European corporations active in the Russian energy trade with financial penalties, prompting angry protests from Germany and other US allies. The Kremlins policy, rooted in the bankrupt Russian nationalism of the post-Soviet capitalist oligarchy, offers no way forward in opposing the imperialist war drive. Afraid and incapable of appealing to anti-war sentiment in the international working class, the Kremlin instead incites right-wing forces and ethnic tensions within Russia. It oscillates between risking all-out military confrontation with the imperialist powers and capitulating to them in an attempt to reach a deal, as in its recent vote for UN sanctions against North Korea. Like their political ancestors a century ago, the rival capitalist governments are setting into motion a dynamic that leads to world war, this time, however, involving the use of nuclear weapons that could destroy the planet. There is no way to stop the drive to war outside of a politically conscious intervention by the working class. The main danger is that masses of people are not truly aware of the risks posed by this explosive situation. It is under these conditions that Google is censoring left-wing, socialist and anti-war web sites, the World Socialist Web Site first among them, removing WSWS articles from results for searches on war. And this is why the WSWS stresses the urgency of building an international anti-war movement based on the working class and an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist perspective, and asks for its readers active support in spreading its material opposing censorship and war. Germany is to deport refugees to Greece for the first time since 2011, even though asylum seekers in the country confront catastrophic conditions and frequently end up homeless or living in extreme poverty. According to official announcements, both countries interior ministries have agreed to treat the refugees in line with the Dublin III regulations. In reality, the Syriza government in Athens initially opposed the demands for the reintroduction of the Dublin III provisions made by Germany, France, and the European Commission, but has finally fallen into line. The Dublin III provisions adopted by the European Union (EU) member states allow for refugees to be deported to the country where they first arrived in the EU or were registered as asylum seekers. The German Interior Ministry told the television news programme Report Mainz that 392 transfer requests had been submitted to the Greek government under the Dublin III provisions and the first acceptances from the Greek side had been received. Greeces Interior Minister Ioannis Mouzalas justified the decision to Report Mainz by stating, We have only now approved a small number of Dublin cases for the first time from Germany and some other EU states. The asylum authorities in Germany and Greece are currently working on implementing this. There was pressure from the EU states for us to accept deportations to Greece once again. I understand that the governments want to show their populations that they are doing something. And thats why I want to help them. The subservient approach of the non-party interior minister towards the EU is typical of the Syriza government, which while initially pledging its determination to resist the dictates from Brussels, ultimately acceded to all of the EUs demands. As recently as March, Mouzalas told Spiegel Online, We are not in a position to implement a return to the Dublin regulations. I would like the Germans to understand that the reason is not political or ideological, and it is not that we do not value the assistance from Germany. Greece simply has no capacity to deal with the arrival of more refugees. We have just managed to pull ourselves together. Please dont make us flounder again. In the end, the interest in reaching a compromise with the EU proved weightier than the pure misery into which refugees will be thrust with the recommencement of the Dublin regulations. According to this procedure, the countries on the EUs southern border, chiefly Greece and Italy, will accommodate and provide for the lions share of refugees seeking protection in Europe. The Dublin procedure is aimed above all at deterring refugees from coming to Europe. In Italy and Greece, refugees confront a vast bureaucracy that endlessly drags out the asylum process, resulting in it taking many months, if not years, to complete. Refugees are usually confined for the duration of the asylum process in camps, where they have to live under deplorably unhygienic conditions and receive insufficient food. There are more than 20,000 children among the 62,000 refugees currently living in Greece in catastrophic conditions. The refugee camps are massively overcrowded. This is especially the case on the Aegean islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos. On these islands, 15,000 people are crammed together in internment camps built to house only 10,000. In Chios, 3,500 people are confined in a camp built for just 1,100, while on Samos more than 2,400 people are in a camp designed for 850. At the notorious Moria camp on Lesbos, where 4,500 people vegetate in extremely cramped conditions, even though the camp only has places for 3,500, the situation escalated dramatically around two weeks ago. Following a march of 1,000 refugees protesting for their release and freedom, a fire broke out once again in the camp. The police subsequently seized 35 refugees at random, and they are now facing charges of arson. Lawyer Lorraine Leete, who advises refugees on asylum matters in the camp, told Tagesspiegel that the police acted on the basis of racism. When everything had calmed down, the police entered the camp and searched for West Africans. All on the basis of race, she said. Even recognised asylum seekers live in Greece under impoverished conditions, as Report Mainz uncovered. Since they cannot claim state assistance, they end up homeless and must wait in line at public soup kitchens to get their sole meal each day. There is no hope of work or language courses. The refugee aid organisation ProAsyl has therefore sharply condemned the deportation of refugees to Greece. That is a lapse. The situation in Greece is as catastrophic as it has ever been, many refugees are homeless, the country urgently requires more assistance. It is simply not possible to deport people there. But the German government, which wants to return to the Dublin process at any price, has no interest in the misery facing people in need of protection. In January 2011, the European Court of Justice ruled that deporting refugees to Greece under the Dublin Accord was impermissible because refugees would be exposed to humiliating and inhumane treatment. Germanys interior minister at the time, Thomas de Maiziere, initially suspended deportations to Greece for a year, but was forced to repeatedly extend the moratorium. The influx of more than a million refugees into Europe between the summer of 2015 and April 2016, mainly from Syria and Iraq, threw the Dublin procedure into crisis. Since the conclusion of a dirty deal between the EU and Turkey and the sealing off of the Balkan route, the German government has been working at the European level to reintroduce the Dublin regulations. Berlin achieved its first success in December 2016, when the EU Commission recommended readmitting Greece to the Dublin regulations because conditions in refugee camps had allegedly improved. Greeces Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias protested at the time against deportations to the country. He told German daily Die Welt, There are some EU states who think they can use southern Italy and Greece as closed boxes where refugees can be stored. Nonetheless, the EU Commission announced in March that the readmittance of Greece to the Dublin system is an essential element of our comprehensive strategy to jointly improve our migration management. A similar tone was struck by the German Interior Ministry, which released an announcement declaring that the stabilisation of a functioning Dublin system is an indispensable component of the comprehensive efforts to stabilise our policies on asylum, migration and borders. This means nothing else than making the EUs borders impenetrable to refugees. Those who, in spite of this, manage to breach fortress Europe, will have their existence turned into a living hell by being sent back to the worst camps on the continent. The inhumane Dublin system, whose death had already been proclaimed, has also been revived by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The ECJ ruled on July 26 that the Dublin regulations were still valid even during the period when refugees were being waved through the Balkan route in the late summer of 2015. The ECJ thereby ruled against two Afghan families and a Syrian refugee who appealed against their deportation to Croatia from Austria and Slovenia, respectively. The ECJ declared the deportations to be lawful. The ECJ ruling was generally interpreted as being inapplicable to the refugees who have arrived in Germany because in the late summer of 2015, the German government declared refugees had a right of entry and thereby assumed responsibility for the asylum proceedings. Nonetheless, the interior affairs spokesman for the CDU/CSU in parliament, Florian Mayer (CSU), demanded, In Germany, we must now evaluate in detail the opportunities which arise to repatriate asylum seekers to the EU member state originally responsible for them. Although the deportations to Greece allegedly only affect those refugees who travelled to Germany from Greece after March 15, 2017, it could rapidly be expanded to tens of thousands of additional cases. Alongside de Maiziere, the Social Democrats are the driving force behind this. It was then-Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel who in March initiated discussions with the Greek government to negotiate the planned deportations. The new SPD Chairman Martin Schulz has since begun agitating against refugees. With consummate cynicism, the German government intends to enforce the mass deportation of refugees while at the same time continuing to refuse to allow families to reunite. According to figures from ProAsyl, more than 2,000 refugees requiring medical care or dependent upon their relatives currently in Germany, are in Greece awaiting approval to travel to Germany. Even though they have a right to reunite with their families, the German embassy in Athens has refused to issue the required visa. Several refugees have died as a result of the hardline stance adopted by the German embassy and the lack of medical care. By Christian Shepherd and Manuel Mogato MANILA (Reuters) - Foreign ministers of Southeast Asia and China adopted on Sunday a negotiating framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a move they hailed as progress but seen by critics as tactic to buy China time to consolidate its maritime power. The framework seeks to advance a 2002 Declaration of Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, which has mostly been ignored by claimant states, particularly China, which has built seven manmade islands in disputed waters, three of which are equipped with runways, surface-to-air missiles and radars. All parties say the framework is only an outline for how the code will be established but critics say the failure to outline as an initial objective the need to make the code legally binding and enforceable, or have a dispute resolution mechanism, raises doubts about how effective the pact will be. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the adoption of the framework created a solid foundation for negotiations that could start this year, if "the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable and on the premise that there is no major interference from outside parties." He told reporters there had been "really tangible progress" so there was "a need to cherish momentum on the South China Sea". Signing China up to a legally binding and enforceable code for the strategic waterway has long been a goal for claimant members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), some of which have sparred for years over what they see as China's disregard for their sovereign rights and its blocking of fishermen and energy exploration efforts. Beijing insists its activities are for defense purposes, in areas it considers its waters. Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines, however, all claim some or all of the South China Sea and its myriad shoals, reefs and islands. Some critics and diplomats believe China's sudden interest in the code after 15 years of delays is to drag out the negotiating process to buy time to complete its strategic objectives in the South China Sea, through which more than $3 billion of ship-borne trade passes annually. WEAKER HAND Opponents also say it is being pushed through at a time when the United States, long seen as a crucial buffer against China's maritime assertiveness, is distracted by other issues and providing no real clarity about its security strategy in Asia, thus weakening ASEAN's bargaining position. The framework has not been made public but a leaked two-page blueprint seen by Reuters is broad and leaves wide scope for disagreement. It urges a commitment to the "purposes and principles" of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) but does not specify adherence to it, for example. A separate ASEAN document, dated May and seen by Reuters, shows that Vietnam pushed for stronger, more specific text in the framework, wanting mention of a dispute resolution mechanism and respecting "sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction". Sovereign rights cover entitlements to fish and extraction of natural resources. Several ASEAN countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, have said they still favor making the code legally binding, something experts say China is unlikely to agree to. Wang said he would not try to anticipate what the code will comprise, but said whatever is signed must be adhered to. Robespierre Bolivar, foreign ministry spokesman of host Philippines, said the adoption of the framework symbolised the commitment to creating a "substantive and effective" code. (Additional reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) Veteran offensive tackle Branden Albert decided after a week that retirement wasnt for him, so he told the Jacksonville Jaguars he wants to play again. Now, the Jaguars have to decide if they want him back. In one of the weirder training camp stories of this season, Albert retired on a Monday and un-retired a week later. The Associated Press reported Albert told the team he wants to come back. The Jaguars had the right to recoup $3.4 million in signing bonus money after he retired, and that might drive any man to come back to work. It might not be as easy as Albert jumping back in at left tackle. The AP reported the 32-year-old Albert looked out of shape and past his prime early in camp. He stayed away from the team for all of its voluntary offseason workouts, hoping for a new contract that never came. AP reporter Mark Long tweeted hed be shocked if the Jaguars took Albert back after his unusual and surprising retirement last week. Its not like the Jaguars are in great shape at left tackle. Theyre likely to turn to rookie second-round pick Cam Robinson at that spot and theres little behind him. But if Albert isnt really into playing anymore, or isnt in good shape, is he that big of a help? The Jaguars replied to all of the reports with this tweet, that indicates the team isnt interested in activating him right now: On August 7th, team officials met with OL Branden Albert and mutually agreed to place him on the clubs reserve/retired list. pic.twitter.com/MHuHQq8GPT Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 8, 2017 Its certainly an unusual story. The Jaguars probably dont want to send the wrong message to their locker room either. Albert wants to play again, but its up to the Jaguars if it will be with them. Branden Albert told the Jaguars he wants to play again, after retiring last week. (AP) Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! By Sara Rossi MILAN (Reuters) - The lawyer for a 20-year-old British model at the center of an alleged kidnapping in Italy has denied suggestions that the case was a hoax, after local media raised doubts about her story. Italian police said on Saturday they had arrested the alleged kidnapper who confessed to being involved in a plot to auction the model online unless a $300,000 ransom was paid. But people in the Italian village where Chloe Ayling said she was held captive told local media that she and the man went out together. Some residents told state broadcaster Rai that the couple went to a bar and that she also went shoe shopping with Lukasz Pawel Herba, 30, a British resident born in Poland, before he released her to the British consulate in Milan. "The implication that she was involved (in the plot) - as I read with disgust in some newspapers this morning - is just unimaginable," Milan-based lawyer Francesco Pesce told Reuters. Ayling told police she had been lured to Milan last month for a photo shoot, according to police documents reviewed by Reuters. She said that on arrival at the studio she was drugged, gagged, bound, stuffed into a bag, put into the boot of a car and driven to a village in northwest Italy where she was held for six days. Four or five men were involved in the kidnapping, according to her account. Herba told police he freed her and handed her to the consulate after the group became aware she had a young child, according to documents outlining his testimony. Milan police, who are still investigating the case, declined to comment on Tuesday. Pesce said the kidnappers had removed Ayling's restraints in the village but threatened to kill her if she tried to run away or tell anyone she was being held there against her will. "A 20-year-old, drugged, stuffed into a bag and kidnapped ... I can well understand that she believed them," he said. "There doesn't need to be a physical restraint if there is a death threat ... The girl said she tried to be very compliant with him (Herba)," Pesce added. (Editing by Mark Bendeich and Andrew Bolton) LONDON (Reuters) - British police appealed on Tuesday for help in tracing a jogger who appeared to push a woman into the path of an oncoming bus on a busy west London street. Closed circuit TV footage showed the male runner jog past one man on Putney Bridge on May 5 before knocking into the 33-year-old victim. As she tumbled to the ground, her head and upper body fell into the path of an oncoming bus which managed to swerve out of her way. The jogger ran on but returned heading in the other direction about 15 minutes later, the Metropolitan Police said. The man but did not acknowledge the victim when she tried to speak to him and instead kept on running. "The victim was put in extreme danger when she was knocked into the road. It was only due to the superb quick reactions of the bus driver that she was not hit by the vehicle," said Sgt. Mat Knowles, the investigating officer. After the woman fell into the road, the bus stopped and passengers went to help the victim who had sustained minor injuries. Police said that the footage had been released as the investigation into identity of the runner, described as a white man in his 30s, had so far been unsuccessful. (Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Michael Holden) Ben Jealous speaks with a voter at an event in West Baltimore. (Photo: Andrew Bahl/Yahoo News) BALTIMORE On a cloudy summer evening in the Park Heights neighborhood in West Baltimore, about 100 people mill about an elementary school yard. They are drawn by free food, raffles and the presence of community groups who have set up shop as part of National Night Out, a nationwide series of events designed to promote public safety and violence prevention. They are not there for politics, but Ben Jealous is here anyway. The former NAACP president turned Maryland gubernatorial candidate makes his way through the crowd, shaking hands in a city that his family has lived in for more than 80 years. His presence brings a jolt of energy to a rainy evening and his banter with residents feels less like that of a politician schmoozing voters than of old friends reuniting. I know what it takes for a family to go, in a generation, from raising a child in the projects in West Baltimore, to saying goodbye to a child going off to Oxford University [on a Rhodes Scholarship], he said. You have to create a context where hard work is enough. In the car to the next National Night Out event located a few miles away, Jealous describes visiting family in the area growing up, when the houses had a fresher coat of paint and their original marble steps were still in place. Those days have long since passed, and West Baltimore has only nudged its way into the national consciousness through reruns of The Wire or when an article appears on the anniversary of protests sparked by Freddie Grays 2015 death in police custody, which occurred in the Gilmor Homes housing project just blocks away from Park Heights. Residents say they appreciate Jealous visit to their community, which tends to be ignored by the states political machine. On a very basic level, it shows a level of interest and affirming that Baltimore is an important part of the state overall, said Monica Watkins, president of the Baltimore alumnae chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, which helped organize the event in Park Heights. Story continues But the race he entered has the potential to turn messy. A half dozen Democrats have already thrown their hats in the ring, and other prominent state figures are weighing a run, enticed by a political climate favorable to Democrats, especially in true-blue Maryland. But theres also the matter of incumbent Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who enjoys a 65 percent approval rating, according to a March Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. This despite the fact that Hogan was elected in a state where Republicans are outnumbered two to one and Democrats control the state Legislature with a supermajority. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan speaks at a conference on the opioid epidemic in Providence, R.I., July 13, 2017. (Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters) Hogan has preserved his popularity in the Old Line State by focusing on job creation and steering clear of President Trump, who he declined to endorse last year. He also avoids litigating social issues, such as abortion, something that made his 2014 campaign different from those of previous Republicans in the state. Jealous campaign is undaunted by Hogans approval ratings, noting that voters respond less favorably to the idea of reelecting the Republican, and polls show a generic Democrat within striking distance of the 61-year-old incumbent. But there is little doubt among observers that Hogan is a formidable opponent, even in a year in which other Republicans may struggle. The message Jealous is taking to voters, including those in West Baltimore, is unabashedly progressive. Thats not exactly a shock, considering he was the co-chair of Bernie Sanders presidential campaign in Maryland. Sanders himself even endorsed Jealous in July, making him only the second candidate that the Vermont senator and his Our Revolution organization have backed in a 2018 race. [Jealous is] one of the great progressive leaders, not only in the state of Maryland, but in the United States of America, Sanders said at a rally in Silver Spring last month. Sen. Bernie Sanders with former NAACP president Ben Jealous during a rally to fight back against the Republican war on the working class, Feb. 16, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images) Aides for Jealous campaign say this endorsement is major boost, pointing to internal data showing that Sanders is the most popular political figure in the state, especially among African American voters, who give the Vermont senator an approval rating of 82 percent. Jealous stresses that his campaign is unique but also doesnt deny his ties to Sanders and the progressive movement. Im running as Ben Jealous Im blessed to have been both president of the NAACP and co-chair of Bernie Sanders campaign in the state, he said. And that gives us a strong foundation for building a multiracial coalition of working families. Jealous record of activism is undeniably impressive. While he has never held elected office, he is the youngest president of the NAACP and his leadership turned that organization from one struggling to maintain relevance into a political force. When he stepped down in 2013, Jealous leadership had helped turn the Baltimore-based group into a financially solvent and modern organization, buoyed by the victory of President Barack Obama and a number of state and national victories. In Maryland, Jealous was successful in mobilizing members in efforts to ban the death penalty, legalize same-sex marriage and approve a state version of the DREAM Act. All of those measures passed the state legislature. Jealous got his start organizing as a student at Columbia University. Suspended for a semester for his role in a protest against the destruction of the historic Audubon Ballroom, the site where Malcolm X was assassinated, Jealous also spent time as a community organizer in neighboring Harlem and interned for the NAACPs legal defense fund, a precursor of things to come. All of these factors, Jealous and his supporters argue, put him in a favorable position compared with past progressive candidates. But others in the state are skeptical that an unabashedly liberal message will help Maryland Democrats take back the governors mansion. Todd Eberly, an associate professor of political science at St. Marys College, said that Hogans win in 2014 was a product of his appeal to moderate Democrats and independent voters. He argues that moving to scoop up those centrists, not shifting to the left, should be the strategy of both state and national Democrats. If they run against Hogan with a dyed-in-the-wool, Bernie Sanders-style progressive Democrat, then I think they make Hogans reelection almost inevitable, Eberly said. So they have a problem. The candidate who is going to win in the primary is probably exactly what they dont need in the general election. Civic leaders, from left, National Council of La Raza President Janet Murguia; Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network; NAACP President Ben Jealous; AARP CEO Barry Rand; and National Urban League President Marc Morial, speak to reporters outside the White House in Washington, Nov. 16, 2012, after meeting with President Barack Obama. (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Jealous progressive message may indeed win him the primary, Eberly notes, and a similar platform could well lift other leftist candidates nationwide. But raising the minimum wage and securing free public higher education and single payer health care, all tenets of Jealous platform, may struggle to attract more moderate voters, Eberly added. I think [Jealous] has a hard time with a broader appeal, he has a hard time bringing independents and moderate and conservative Dems back in the fold, he said. But Jealous disagrees, arguing that the party will rally around a liberal candidate in a way they would not with a more moderate politician. There are other folks in the party who believe you beat Republicans by being Republican-lite. Republican-lite doesnt inspire anybody, it doesnt inspire Republicans, it doesnt inspire Democrats, Jealous said. This notion that the pathway to victory is mediocrity is laughable, and we are at our best when we are on fire about defending Americans basic freedoms and dignity and ending poverty and expanding opportunity. And thats what this campaign will be about. Jealous and those like him argue that progressive Democrats, especially in states like Maryland, where the party has slipped in recent years, are necessary to regaining prominence. You can never out-Republican a Republican, right? he continued. But you can beat a Republican as a Democrat in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one. Nina Turner, an Ohio state senator and president of Our Revolution, agrees with Jealous assessment. Ben Jealous announces his campaign for governor of Maryland during a rally in Baltimore, May 31, 2017. (Photo: Brian Witte/AP) Were asking people at a very critical time in our nations history to just settle, Turner said. Why should we dream a better dream, why should we try make things better for ourselves and future generations, lets just settle. Why reach high? And I just dont believe that, in this atmosphere that people should just settle. But the win-loss record for candidates supported by Sanders and Our Revolution has not, to say the least, been sterling. Although progressives have notched some key victories in local races, those running for statewide and federal offices have had less success. Tom Perriello, a former congressman and progressive supported by Our Revolution, lost the race to replace Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe to the more moderate lieutenant governor, Ralph Northam. In Montana, Rob Quist, who campaigned on multiple occasions with Sanders, likewise lost his bid to fill the congressional seat vacated by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke by five points. This was despite his opponent, Greg Gianforte, infamously assaulting a reporter in the waning days of the race. This lack of success has given rise to debate within the Democratic Party not dissimilar from the one playing out in Maryland. Those on the left say that the path to victory in 2018 and beyond is to embrace the progressive wing. Others within the party say that a more moderate approach is the key to winning back Republican seats and voters who have slipped through their fingers in recent elections. It has to be bold, Turner said of the message Democrats need to take to their constituents. Not just half measure kind of stuff and tailoring the message based off what kind of district youre running in. There are some things that are just basically fundamental and these things are not radical ideas. No matter the race, the messaging issue boils down to the same central question: How does the Democratic Party regain voters it has lost? While past Maryland elections may have been decided by voters along the I-90 corridor in the Baltimore-Washington area, Eberly said that the goal for state Democrats should be to find a candidate who can appeal to voters in the more conservative Baltimore suburbs, as well as cutting into Republican support in rural areas. Its a party that, at the moment doesnt have broad geographical appeal. And running more to the left, reinventing more to the left, isnt going to be what gets them that broad appeal, Eberly said. Ben Jealous, left, speaks with Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis during a community event designed to promote public safety and antiviolence measures (Photo: Andrew Bahl/Yahoo News) Jealous message to voters, however, is plain and simple: He is that candidate who can get that broad appeal and unite Marylanders of all stripes behind his progressive message. And his stature within the African-American community, a demographic which Sanders candidacy struggled to win over, could serve as a playbook for future candidates of color who embrace a progressive platform. As Turner notes, the traditional Democratic playbook has not found success in recent election cycles either. It boggles my mind the whole criticism of the progressive movement in terms of the win column, Turner said. When over the last 10 years theyve lost 1,100 seats over all levels of government, particularly the state level that Democrats turned their backs on. Jealous said that if Democrats stick to their partys roots they can find success in Maryland and beyond. Part of that is moving beyond what he called the temporary divisions of the last election. This is not about the state of our party in 2016, its about the state of our children in 2036, he said. And from Bernie [Sanders] to [Cory] Booker, we are seeing our partys leadership realize that we have an opportunity here to show the country that when Democrats run as Democrats we win and we win big. Read more from Yahoo News: By James Oliphant and Ben Blanchard BEDMINSTER, N.J./BEIJING (Reuters) - President Donald Trump warned North Korea on Tuesday it would face "fire and fury" if it threatens the United States, prompting the nuclear-armed nation to say it was considering firing missiles at Guam, a U.S.-held Pacific island. As tensions escalated, Pyongyang said it was "carefully examining" a plan to strike Guam, site of a U.S. military base. A North Korean military spokesman, in a statement carried by state-run KCNA news agency, said the plan would be put into practice once leader Kim Jong Un makes a decision. In another statement citing a different military spokesman, North Korea said it could carry out a pre-emptive operation if there were signs of a U.S. provocation. Washington has warned it is ready to use force if need be to stop North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs but that it prefers global diplomatic action, including sanctions. The consequences of any U.S. strike would potentially be catastrophic not only for North Koreans but also South Korea, Japan and the thousands of U.S. military personnel within range of any North Korean retaliatory strikes. "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen," Trump told reporters at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday over its continued missile tests, that could slash the reclusive country's $3 billion annual export revenue by a third. North Korea has made no secret of plans to develop a nuclear-tipped missile able to strike the United States and has ignored international calls to halt its nuclear and missile programs. It says its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are a legitimate means of defense against perceived U.S. hostility. It has long accused the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions by conducting military drills. U.S. stocks closed slightly lower after Trumps comment, while a widely followed measure of stock market anxiety <.VIX> ended at its highest in nearly a month. The U.S. dollar index <.DXY> pared gains and the safe-haven yen strengthened against the U.S. currency. TENSIONS RISE The United States has remained technically at war with North Korea since the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The past six decades have been punctuated by periodic rises in antagonism and rhetoric that have always stopped short of a resumption of active hostilities. Tensions have risen since North Korea carried out two nuclear bomb tests last year and two ICBM tests last month. Republican U.S. Senator John McCain said Trump should tread cautiously when issuing threats to North Korea unless he is prepared to act. "I take exception to the presidents comments because you got to be sure you can do what you say youre going to do, he said in a radio interview. The Trump administration's attempts to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear and missile ambitions have so far gained little traction. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned of an "effective and overwhelming" response against North Korea if it chose to use nuclear weapons but has said any military solution would be "tragic on an unbelievable scale." The United States has 28,500 troops in South Korea to guard against the North Korean threat. Japan hosts around 54,000 U.S. military personnel, the U.S. Department of Defense says, and tens of thousands of Americans work in both countries. Seoul is home to a population of roughly 10 million, within range of massed pre-targeted North Korean rockets and artillery, which would be impossible to destroy in a first U.S. strike. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, according to a confidential U.S. intelligence assessment. But U.S. intelligence officials told Reuters that while North Korea has accelerated its efforts to design an ICBM, a miniaturized nuclear warhead, and a nosecone robust enough to survive reentry through the Earths atmosphere, there is no reliable evidence it has mastered all three, much less tested and combined them into a weapon capable of hitting targets in the United States. There's a lot that we don't know," about the North Korean nuclear weapons program, including whether Pyongyang has developed "the guidance and control system, guidance and stability control, to move a rocket that distance without it breaking up," U.S. Air Force General Paul Selva, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute on Aug. 3. U.S. intelligence officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said there is no certainty about the number of nuclear warheads North Korea has assembled, with estimates ranging from 20 to as many as 60 and most experts leaning toward the lower end of that range. North Korea's ICBM tests last month suggested it was making technical progress, Japan's annual Defence White Paper warned. WAR OF WORDS On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held the door open for dialogue, saying Washington was willing to talk to Pyongyang if it halted its missile test launches. Still, he maintained the pressure, urging Thailand on Tuesday for more action against Pyongyang. Former U.S. diplomat Douglas Paal, now with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank in Washington, said Trump should not get into a war of words with Pyongyang. It strikes me as an amateurish reflection of a belief that we should give as we get rhetorically. That might be satisfying at one level, but it takes us down into the mud that we should let Pyongyang enjoy alone, said Paal, who served as a White House official under previous Republican administrations. Lockheed Martin Corp , the Pentagon's No. 1 weapons supplier, said on Tuesday its customers are increasingly asking about missile defense systems. (Additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo, Christine Kim in Seoul, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, John Walcott and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Amy Sawitta Lefevre in Bangkok and Rodrigo Campos in New York; Writing by Yara Bayoumy, Alistair Bell and John Whitesides; Editing by Nick Macfie and James Dalgleish) Chloe Ayling was reportedly put on the black market as a sex slave - Instagram Chloe Ayling, 20, is the glamour model who was drugged and abducted in Italy after reportedly being duped into attending a bogus photoshoot. Italian police say she was snatched last month by at least two men who claim to be part of dark web group Black Death, who say they sell women as sex slaves online. The kidnapping The place where a man identified as Lukasz Pawel Herba, a Polish citizen with British residency, held a young British model Credit: ITALIAN POLICE PRESS OFFICE / HANDOUT Miss Ayling was snatched last month by a group calling itself Black Death and is believed to have been drugged and transported in a bag to an isolated village near Turin, where she was held for six days as her captors tried to auction her online. She described how she was drugged, handcuffed, gagged and put in a bag in the boot of a car by kidnappers before being driven off to the farmhouse where she was held captive. A person wearing black gloves came from behind and put one hand on my neck and one on my mouth to stop me from screaming, she said in her statement. A second person wearing a black balaclava gave me an injection in my right forearm. I think I lost consciousness. When I woke up I was wearing a pink bodysuit and the socks I am wearing now. I realised I was in the boot of a car with my wrists and ankles handcuffed, adhesive tape on my mouth. I was inside a bag and was only able to breathe through a small hole. As she screamed for help she was driven 120 miles to the tiny hamlet of Borgial near the French border where they forced her to lie on the floor next to a chest of drawers and handcuffed her hands and feet to the legs, leaving her " totally immobilised". She was kept handcuffed to furniture in the village of Borgial but was freed after six days and taken to the British Consulate in Milan, despite the ransom not being paid, police said. They had taken photographs of her whilst she was unconscious which were posted on the dark web with the view to auctioning her off. Why was she released? According to Ms Ayling, one of her kidnappers confessed to her that they had made a mistake seizing her because she was the mother of a young child. Story continues He said it was against the rules of his organisation and his superiors were angry. Afterwards they removed the cuffs from her feet and allowed her to move around the farmhouse, she said. The captors demanded 270,000 from her agent but eventually dropped agreed to accept 50,000 and Herba took her to the British Consulate in Milan on July 17 where he was arrested. Her captor Photo released by police of a man identified as identified as Lukasz Pawel Herba, a Polish citizen with British residency Credit: Italian Police Photo via AP Lukasz Pawel Herba is accused of being part of a Black Death gang which drugged and kidnapped Chloe Ayling, who had been lured to Milan on the promise of a fashion shoot. Herba, 30, a Polish national who was living in Oldbury, in the West Midlands, told the 20-year-old glamour model as she was held prisoner in a remote farmhouse that unless her agent paid a ransom of $300,000, she would be sold as a sex slave in the Middle East. His home in Oldbury, in the West Midlands, has been raided by British officers. Under questioning by Italian police, he claimed he became part of the kidnapping gang because he was suffering from leukemia and desperately needed to raise half a million pounds for treatment. He could provide no medical proof of having the illness. He was arrested as he dropped the model off at the British Consulate in Milan on July 17. Who are the Black Death group? The Black Death group operates on the Dark Web and allegedly sells kidnapped women as sex slaves in online auctions. The group was investigated in 2016 amid fears that they were selling a 15-year-old British girl in an online auction. Europol had monitored the group's Dark Web site of as they advertised two teenagers for auction, one of whom was under the age of consent and described as "pure". A screenshot of a "Black Death Group" document on a laptop belonging to Lukasz Pawel Herba, Credit: REUTERS The auction of the 15-year-old, whose name was given as Laura, started at $750,000 and was due to take place at the end of May 2016, with the Black Death website warning that it was "fully booked". A second auction for a 17-year-old girl born in the UK named only as Gemma had been scheduled to take place just days earlier with a starting bid of $120,000. The age, hair colour and measurements of both teenagers were posted alongside their auction adverts. It is unknown whether these auctions went ahead. Questions over shoe shopping incident The Italian media has raised questions over the kidnapping after it was revealed the model went shoe shopping with her captor. Newspaper La Repubblica claimed Ms Ayling burst into tears when police investigators asked her about the trip. The newspaper reported: "That the kidnapping was real or that she was doped with ketamine is not put into question by the investigators. "But it is also tremendously true that many details do not add up. "Starting with a question that the police investigators suddenly asked Chloe, causing her to cry, 'But don't you think it is strange to go and buy shoes with your kidnapper? "Because that also happened and, of course, the shop assistant, identified by the cops, recognized her, and recognized the person she calls MD [Herba]." Her lawyer has called people who raised these questions "evil", defending his client's shoe shopping trip. He told Radio 4's Today programme: "She was told that she was going to be sold to somebody in the Middle East for sex. "She was told that people were there watching her and ready to kill her if she tried anything. "So she thought that the best idea was to go along with it and to be nice in a way to her captor because he told her that he wanted to release her somehow and sometime and she thought that the best thing to do was not to go in conflict with him. "So she abided to his request, 'let's go and buy groceries' and 'you need shoes, let's go buy shoes' and she didn't try to flee. "But I believe she was terrified at the moment and even if she could've asked for help she didn't because she was subjugated to this person, or people as she was given to understand." She told police she had developed a trusting relationship and even shared a bed with her kidnapper, who gave her chocolate and underwear, but she said he had not sexually assaulted her. The Curiosity rover, also called the science laboratory, launched by NASA in 2011 just celebrated its 5th anniversary on Earths neighboring planet Mars. Sunday was the official birthday for the explorer and to celebrate NASA released a host of videos of the crafts last five years. On its first birthday the rover hummed Happy Birthday to itself, something it hasnt done since, it clarified on its Twitter account. The reports of my singing are greatly exaggerated. I only hummed 'Happy Birthday' to myself once, back in 2013, read the tweet from the rover. Read: How NASA Drives The Mars Curiosity Rover: With Special Software Over the last five years the rover has spent most of its time traveling the red planet and exploring its surface specifically on the mountain side of the Gale crater on Mars. The rover has been exploring to discover whether or not ancient Mars may have been able to support life. The crater spans 96 miles on the planet and Curiosity has traveled over 10 miles so far on the planet. A time lapse video compiled of photos taken by the rover shows what it has encountered during its five years on the planet and the path its taken across the crater as well. Its traversed sand and rock and taken rock samples and more than 200,000 photos along the way. All of this travel has led to the conclusion from researchers back home that Mars likely supported life at some point. This is possible because it may have had ancient rivers, lakes and deltas where water ran. Theres also mineral evidence that groundwater once trickled across the surface of Mars. Researchers believe that the crater was habitable millions of years ago. Read: NASAs Space Camera Orbiting Mars Captures Image Of Rover On Planet Surface The rover only travels about 100 feet per hour, which is why in the last five years its only gone about 10 miles. But the rover, thats about the size of a large car, can conduct air and soil tests right on board to determine the origins of some of the matter. Its specifically on the hunt for rocks that look like they formed in water, according to NASA. It then transmits the data back to Earth. There are 10 science experiments it can conduct and it is equipped with 17 cameras and a laser that can vaporize rock. The craft has even taken a few selfies, or self portraits, while traveling. Story continues CuriositySelfie Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS The Curiosity rover isnt alone on Mars. NASA has launched other rovers in the past although they are on different areas of the planet. The Opportunity rover landed Jan. 24, 2004 and is still roving and sending back information to Earth. Its been stationary since July because of solar conjunction conditions but will connect back with NASA afterwards for instructions. The Spirit rover landed Jan. 4, 2004 and roamed until 2010, sending back data the whole time. It was primarily in the Gusev Crater on the planet. nasa opportunity rover Photo: Reuters/NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State University/Handout Related Articles President Donald Trump - Bloomberg News North Korea vowed to unleash thousands-fold revenge on the United States in response to sweeping sanctions against the nuclear-armed regime. Pyongyang also promised to continue its military build-up, despite the harsh package of restrictions on the North Korean economy that were agreed by the UN on Saturday. The warning came after US president Donald Trump said he was very happy and impressed by the unanimous approval at the UN for the sanctions. Mr Trump expressed his satisfaction in a Tweet after he spoke with the president of South Korea about the grave and growing threat of North Korea, the White House said. Just completed call with President Moon of South Korea. Very happy and impressed with 15-0 United Nations vote on North Korea sanctions. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 The North Korean government said in a statement that the sanctions were a "violent infringement of its sovereignty" drawn up by a "heinous U.S. plot to isolate and stifle" the country. "It's a wild idea to think the DPRK will be shaken and change its position due to this kind of new sanctions formulated by hostile forces," said the statement, which was published by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The North said it will take an "action of justice," without elaborating. Chinas foreign minister warned on Sunday that the sanctions which could slash by a third Pyongyangs $3 billion annual export revenue would result in the North Korean nuclear issue entering a very critical phase. And Chinese state media on Monday said that the US needs to rein in its moral arrogance over North Korea following the measures. But Mr Trump continued to highlight the rising threat of Pyongyang in his call with his South Korean counterpart, according to a statement from the White House. Story continues Donald Trump shaking hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a joint press conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC in June. Credit: AFP "The two leaders affirmed that North Korea poses a grave and growing direct threat to the United States, South Korea, and Japan, as well as to most countries around the world," the statement said. "The leaders committed to fully implement all relevant resolutions and to urge the international community to do so as well." Mr Moon has been taking more pragmatic approach towards North Korea than his predecessors, and has called for negotiations between the two countries. North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong-Ho told his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-Wha, that the offer lacks sincerity, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported. By me.....Analysis: Why China will never ditch historic ally North Korea for Donald Trump https://t.co/c7LpDqKAvM via @telegraphnews Neil Connor (@neilaconnor) June 22, 2017 The pair met on the sidelines of a meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila on Sunday. Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, raised the prospect of Washington holding dialogue with North Korean officials in comments he made at the forum. "The best signal that North Korea could send that they're prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches, he said. Kim Jong-uns regime rattled Washington in July with two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) tests. Some experts believe the US mainland is now in range of a North Korean military strike. The sanctions will ban North Korean exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood and prohibit countries from hiring additional North Korean labourers. A submarine missile is paraded across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea Credit: AP Chinas Peoples Daily newspaper, the official mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, warned that the sanctions could only be effective if they were targeted. "To the greatest possible extent sanctions have to avoid causing negative impact for ordinary people and to third countries, and avoid bringing disaster to the country in question's normal and legal trade and business exchanges with the outside world," it wrote in a front page commentary on its overseas edition. "A precision blow is the essential part of sanctions." The Global Times, meanwhile, was more direct in its editorial, which was titled: US needs to curb moral arrogance over North Korea. The US should aim for peace and co-existence rather than geopolitical dominance, the influential newspaper said. President Donald Trump: AP Donald Trump has retweeted another Fox News report citing an anonymous source even though he has repeatedly railed against news outlets for using unnamed sources. Mr Trump on Tuesday morning shared an article from Fox & Friends reporting that US spy satellites have detected North Korea loading two anti-ship cruise missiles on a patrol boat. The story cites anonymous sources in the intelligence community, a practice that Mr Trump and his aides have frequently criticised. It's the first time these missiles have been deployed on this type of platform since 2014, US officials with knowledge of the latest intelligence in the region told Fox News, the author, Lucas Tomlinson, wrote. Tensions between the US and North Korea have intensified over the past few months as the latter continues to ramp up its nuclear weapons programme. In an interview with Fox & Friends a few hours after Mr Trump retweeted the news story, Nikki Haley, the US's ambassador to the United Nations, indicated that the information in the report is classified and was leaked. I can't talk about anything that's classified and if that's in the newspaper that's a shame, Ms Haley said when asked about the article. Pushed on whether the information was leaked, Ms Haley said it's one of those things I don't know what's going on. I will tell you it's incredibly dangerous when things get out into the press like that. Mr Trump has often publicly complained about leaks, particularly when news outlets publish information related to investigations into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government probes the President has referred to as a witch hunt. Leaks are are generally defined as an intentional disclosure of secret information, often by an anonymous source whose goal is to make the information public. The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?, the President tweeted in February. Story continues Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced last week that the Justice Department is considering stricter measures to prevent leaks. Mr Trump has also suggested that when reporters dont include the names of their sources in their articles, they are disseminating fake news. Whenever you see the words 'sources say' in the fake news media, and they don't mention names...it is very possible that those sources don't exist but are made up by fake news writers. #FakeNews is the enemy! the President tweeted in May. The Hague (AFP) - In a new twist in Europe's tainted egg scandal, Dutch authorities announced Tuesday they had started testing chicken meat coming from affected poultry farms to determine whether it was also contaminated. Scientists are looking for the presence of the insecticide fipronil, a substance potentially dangerous to humans, after supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland pulled millions of eggs from the shelves. "We are currently testing chicken meat in the poultry farms where eggs were infected to determine whether the meat is contaminated as well," Tjitte Mastenbroek, spokesman for food security agency NVWA, told AFP. The probe focuses on "a few dozen" farms that produce both eggs and chicken meat, NVWA said. Meanwhile, the Dutch Safety Board, the country's agency looking into civilian safety issues, announced it was opening its own probe into why fipronil was not detected earlier in eggs as well as "the role in this of the poultry sector and Dutch government." "The way consumers have been informed about the risks of fipronil are also being investigated," the Hague-based OVV said in a statement. Millions of chickens now face being culled in the Netherlands as the scandal widens across Europe. Hard-hit Germany on Tuesday called on Belgian and Dutch authorities to quickly shed light on what it termed a "criminal network" involved in the contamination of eggs with fipronil. "When one sees a criminal energy that's almost organised as a network it's unacceptable," said German Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt. He again criticised Belgian and Dutch authorities' tardy response to the crisis. Belgium's top agricultural official Monday ordered the country's food safety agency to report within a day why it failed to notify neighbouring countries until July 20 despite knowing about fipronil contamination since June. Story continues "It's not in the spirit of the early warning system to be aware in June but only to inform us by the end of July," Schmidt said. Mastenbroek told AFP that a criminal probe by the NVWA under Dutch prosecution authorities and assisted by Belgium is continuing, looking at the role of companies in contaminating Dutch poultry farms with fipronil. Meanwhile, the French government said Monday "thirteen batches of contaminated eggs from The Netherlands" were delivered in July to food processing companies located in central-western France. - First egg, now chicken - Mastenbroek said so far her agency's "highest priority" has been the detection of contaminated eggs. "But now we also have the time to look at meat as a precautionary measure," she said. Most farms exclusively produce one or the other, said Eric Hubers at LTO, a Dutch farming organisation. If the meat tests are negative for fipronil, producers will be cleared to resume sales, Mastenbroek said. LTO said the probability of chicken meat found to be infected was small. However, if fipronil was detected "farming will be completely suspended," Mastenbroek said. - 'Cutting costs' - The contaminated egg scandal erupted last week when up to 180 Dutch farms were shuttered due to the presence of fipronil discovered in some of the eggs. It is believed the toxic substance was introduced to poultry farms by a Dutch business named Chickfriend brought in to treat red lice, a parasite in chickens. Dutch and Belgian media reports that the substance containing the insecticide was supplied to Chickfriend -- a small company operating out of the Dutch poultry heartland in the central town of Barneveld -- by a Belgian firm have not been confirmed. Currently Dutch authorities have closed down 138 poultry farms -- about a fifth of those across the country -- and warned that eggs from another 59 farms contained enough levels of fipronil that they should not be eaten by children. Belgium has blocked production from 51 farms -- a quarter of those nationwide -- with fipronil found at 21 farms, although levels were ten times below the maximum EU limit, the country's food and safety authority AFSCA said. Other European countries including Austria, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal and Romania said they were analysing imported eggs, but so far no contaminated eggs were found. Enviromental group Greenpeace on Tuesday called for massive reforms in the food supply system to become safer, healthier and more transparent and to do away with so-called "factory farming". "Factory farming has been at the centre of a number of scandals, from Mad cow (disease) to bird flu, from swine flu to horsemeat," said Davin Hutchins, Greenpeace senior food campaigner. "These are symptoms of a system trying to cut costs at every corner to maximise profits at the expense of public health and the environment," he said. bur-cvo-jhe/mt Maasai voters queue in Saikeri Maasai voters queue at a polling station in Saikeri, Kajiado West County, Kenya on Aug. 8, 2017. (Photo: Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images) Kenyan election officials began counting votes on Tuesday, as results trickled in from a hard-fought contest between the countrys foremost political dynasties and election authorities called for calm. Shrouded in fears of violence, the vote pits President Uhuru Kenyatta, the 55-year-old businessman son of Kenyas founding president, against Raila Odinga, a 72-year-old former political prisoner and son of Kenyas first vice-president. The rivals are facing each other for the second time, with opinion polls putting them neck-and-neck after two months of campaigning marked by fiery rhetoric but public speeches largely free of the ethnic hate that has sullied previous contests. During this critical phase, we urge all Kenyans to exercise restraint as we await official results from the polling stations and indeed as they start trickling in, the electoral commission said in a statement. Odinga comes from the Luo people in western Kenya, an area that has long felt neglected by the government and resentful of their perceived exclusion from political power. Kenyatta is Kikuyu, an ethnic group that has supplied three of Kenyas four presidents since independence from Britain in 1963. The razor-thin polling has increased the chances of glitches innocent or otherwise despite a high-tech electronic voting system. That could be grounds for the loser to allege fraud, as Odinga did in 2007 and in 2013. Given his age, this is probably Odingas last crack at the top job. A decade ago, vote tallying was abruptly stopped and the incumbent president declared the winner, triggering an outcry from Odingas camp followed by outbreaks of ethnic violence in which 1,200 people were killed and 600,000 displaced. (Reuters) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr. The private investor bought the street in 2015 and now owns the pavements, the street itself and other areas of 'common ground': AP The wealthy residents of an exclusive San Francisco street have threatened legal action after learning that the communal areas outside their homes have been sold to a private investor for a combined total of just 70,000. Despite the streets mansions selling for millions of dollars, an unpaid tax bill saw the carefully manicured lawns and pristine pavements of Presidio Terrace auctioned for a mere $90,000. Michael Cheng and his wife Tina Lam bought the gated street and now own the road, footpaths and other areas of "common ground" in the private development. The auction stemmed from an unpaid bill after the homeowners association for Presidio Terrace failed to pay a $14-a-year property tax, something that owners of all 181 private streets in San Francisco must do, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The Californian citys tax office put the property up for sale for $994 in an online auction to claw back unpaid back taxes, penalties and interest. The couple eventually won the street with a $90,100 bid in an April 2015 auction. But Scott Emblidge, the lawyer for the Presidio Homeowners Association, has blamed an administrative mix-up for the missed payments. According to a letter seen by the Chronicle, he said the owners failed to pay because the tax bill was being sent to the address of an accountant who hadn't worked for the homeowners association since the 1980s. Mr Emblidge said the residents didn't know their street was put on the auction block, let alone sold, until May when a company hired by the streets new owners contacted residents to ask if any were interested in buying back the rights to land immediately outside their homes. Mr Cheng and Ms Lam are said to be looking for other ways to make money from their investment, including charging residents to park on their street or renting out the 120 parking spaces that line the road. "I thought they would reach out to us and invite us in as new neighbours," Mr Cheng told the Associated Press. Story continues "This has certainly blown up a lot more than we expected." A seven-bedroom property on the street recently sold for more than $17m and the real estate investor, who was born in Taiwan, said he "got lucky with the auction two years ago. A construction worker stands in front of a gate leading into the Presidio Terrace (AP) "As legal owners of this property, we have a lot of options," he told the Chronicle. Im a first-generation immigrant, and the first time I came to San Francisco I fell in love with the city. I really just wanted to own something in San Francisco because of my affinity for the city." However, the streets residents have attempted to block the new landowners by petitioning the citys Board of Supervisors for a hearing to rescind the tax sale. The board has scheduled a hearing for October. The homeowners association has also sued the couple and the city, seeking to block them from selling the street to anyone while the appeal is pending. Additional reporting AP Fit mom Maria Kang has strong words for plus-size model Tess Holliday about body positivity. Maria Kang has some words for Tess Holliday. (Photo: James Patrick Photography) Back in 2013, Kang, a mother of three from Sacramento, Calif., posted an inflammatory Facebook photo featuring her toned abs while she was surrounded by her three young children. The photos caption read, Whats Your Excuse? The image went viral and Kang was vilified for promoting unrealistic body expectations and mom shaming. Since her rise to fame, Kang has written a health book and released a fitness calendar. Shes also been transparent about her marriage, weight, and unedited photos. So when Holliday shared her take on a man named Robbie Tripp, whose Instagram post celebrating the curvy body of his wife, Sarah, went viral on July 31, Kang didnt hold back. On Friday, Holliday shared a tweet on Instagram that called out the discrepancy between how men are treated for loving women with curves and how women are treated when they accept their own bodies. This is so real, Holliday captioned the post. Stop giving men trophies for doing the bare minimum. Story continues This is so real. Stop giving men trophies for doing the bare minimum. Also I'm not here for someone who says transphobic things. #effyourbeautystandards #transwomenarewomen A post shared by Plus ModelWifeMomFeminist (@tessholliday) on Aug 5, 2017 at 1:05pm PDT On Monday, Kang responded by writing on her Facebook page, Did anyone read this story about a husband loving his wife regardless of size? I thought it was a sweet tribute of someone loving their spouse despite any standard. When I see someone like Tess Holliday criticize this, its disheartening. Tess is an obese model (not thick, plus size or curvy) who has popularized the term #effyourbeautystandards and should promote positivity in all forms. Kangs post triggered disagreements in the comments section between people who felt Holliday was too harsh on Tripps endearing post and those who felt that a man doesnt deserve praise for accepting a womans body as it is. Facebook user Brenda Marie wrote, I think he was being sweet. there is so much talk about being thin. He was just writing something positive about his wifes body. Whats wrong with a husband loving the way his wife looks? Especially when its unconventional he is not looking for a trophy did not even get that tone from him. However, user Sarah Sedelmeier felt the opposite way, writing, He should not be praised for loving his wife even though shes not thin. That should be given. He doesnt deserve an award for being so acceptingshe is gorgeous and hes lucky to have her. Tripps post was a sweet tribute to his wife, but we live in a highly sensitive culture where people want to be applauded for self-acceptance rather than accept it from someone else, Kang tells Yahoo Beauty. It seems like Tess believes its anti-feminist for a woman to want approval from any man. She has a hard, militant stance regarding outside validation, as symbolized in her #effyourbeautystandards campaign. Holliday created the celebrated hashtag in 2014 to encourage size acceptance. Yahoo Beauty could not reach Holliday for comment. 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. The Daily Beast Marina Tanaka / EyeEm via GettyTwo planes crashed into each other mid-air Saturday during a Dallas air show that was packed with families marking Veterans Day weekend, with both planes plummeting to the ground in a fiery explosion, video footage shows. Six people who were aboard the planes are feared to have died, ABC reported. The collision took place during the Wings Over Dallas World War II Airshow. A spokesperson for the Dallas Fire-Rescue said he didnt know the status of the pilots, but th San Francisco (AFP) - Google on Monday fired the author of an internal memo defending the gender-gap in Silicon Valley tech jobs as a matter of biology, according to media reports. The move, which was not officially confirmed by Google, splashed fuel on a burning controversy about whether "political correctness" at the company was stifling free speech. Google told AFP that the company "can't comment on individual employee cases." In an email to employees, Google chief executive Sundar Pichai supported the right of employees to express themselves, saying that much of what was in the memo is fair to debate, according to a copy of the message obtained by AFP. "However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace," Pichai said in the email. "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK." Pichai noted that the company code of conduct calls for 'Googlers' to do their utmost to create "a culture free of harassment, intimidation, bias and unlawful discrimination." However, Pichai defended the author's right to criticize Google training, workplace ideology, and whether programs promoting workplace diversity are adequately open to all. "The author had a right to express their views on those topics," Pichai said. "We encourage an environment in which people can do this and it remains our policy to not take action against anyone for prompting these discussions." Recode, Bloomberg and other media outlets on Monday reported that the author of the controversial internal document was fired. - Martyr or sexist? - The news became a hot topic at Twitter, with some calling the employee a martyr and railing against Google for punishing him for expressing a view that went against Silicon Valley's efforts to promote diversity at tech companies. Story continues The leaked internal document that triggered the controversy claimed "biological causes" explained the lack of women in tech industry leadership roles. The screed -- dubbed "sexist" by US media -- went viral, reviving the simmering debate over a culture of sexism and lack of diversity in tech sectors. "I'm simply stating that the distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these differences may explain why we don't see equal representation of women in tech and leadership," read the 3,000-word fulmination. According to the author, natural aptitudes of men allow them to become better computer programmers, while women have more "openness directed towards feelings and aesthetics rather than ideas" -- meaning they "prefer jobs in social or artistic areas." In response to the leaked memo, Danielle Brown, Gooles new vice president of diversity, told employees in an email that "it's not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages." "I found that it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender." she said. The controversy comes as increasing numbers of women are going public with complaints of gender-based discrimination in Silicon Valley. Currently some 69 percent of Google's employees are men, according to the company's latest figures, a proportion that rises to 80 percent when it comes to technology jobs. In 2016 at Facebook just 27 percent of senior executives were women. At Apple, around 30 percent of total employees are women. On Friday, a male Google employee released over the companys email list a ten-page document railing against the companys culture of political correctness, taking aim in particular at the concept of diversity and representation in tech by suggesting that inherent differences between the sexes essentially meant women werent that good with computers. Motherboard first reported on the documents existence on Saturday, kicking off a frenzy of internal activity and scathing commentary from outside the company. Within hours, two executives at Google, including the companys new head of diversity, Danielle Brown, responded, after Gizmodo obtained and published in-full the rambling, lightly-sourced screed. The documents general point is that differences in equal pay between the sexes are more a result of biological differences between men and women, and that in focusing on maintaining equality and increasing diversity, Google is alienating conservatives and harming its own company culture by discriminating against men. The employee has not been named, but he allegedly works under Ari Balogh, Googles VP of Storage Infrastructure products. On Saturday, Balogh responded to with an internal Google + post: Id like to respond to the pc-considered-harmful post. Questioning our assumptions and sharing different perspectives is an important part of our culture, and we want to continue fostering an environment where its safe to engage in challenging conversations in a thoughtful way. But, in the process of doing that, we cannot allow stereotyping and harmful assumptions to play any part. One of the aspects of the post that troubled me deeply was the bias inherent in suggesting that most women, or men, feel or act a certain way. That is stereotyping, and it is harmful. Building an open, inclusive environment is core to who we are, and the right thing to do. Nuff said. Baloghs response, interestingly, was more explicit that Browns. Balogh directly mentioned that the anti-diversity employees writing focused overwhelmingly on generalizations about men and women and reflected a stereotype-filled outlook on a binary concept of gender. Interestingly, the manifesto also overwhelmingly focused on the perceived effects of allowing more women into the software design and programming workforce, but did not address the disproportionate ethnic makeup of tech jobs in Silicon Valley, where minority men (presumably, according to the manifestos author, with the same brainpower as their persecuted white counterparts) are severely underrepresented. Story continues Nothing about why black and Hispanic men arent software engineers? Charles Isbell, a black professor who is the executive associate dean of the Georgia Tech College of Computing, told the Atlantic., which notes that he was paraphrasing Dukes Jeffrey R.N. Forbes, another black computer scientist. Did I glaze over that bit? Brown, a Caucasian woman, took a relatively middle-of-the-road response to the document. Brown said the document was not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages, but unlike Balogh, she didnt allude to any of the logical failures of the original document. Heres Browns statement in full. Googlers, Im Danielle, Googles brand new VP of Diversity, Integrity & Governance. I started just a couple of weeks ago, and I had hoped to take another week or so to get the lay of the land before introducing myself to you all. But given the heated debate weve seen over the past few days, I feel compelled to say a few words. Many of you have read an internal document shared by someone in our engineering organization, expressing views on the natural abilities and characteristics of different genders, as well as whether one can speak freely of these things at Google. And like many of you, I found that it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender. Im not going to link to it here as its not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages. Diversity and inclusion are a fundamental part of our values and the culture we continue to cultivate. We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and well continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul. As Ari Balogh said in his internal G+ post, Building an open, inclusive environment is core to who we are, and the right thing to do. Nuff said. Google has taken a strong stand on this issue, by releasing its demographic data and creating a company wide OKR on diversity and inclusion. Strong stands elicit strong reactions. Changing a culture is hard, and its often uncomfortable. But I firmly believe Google is doing the right thing, and thats why I took this job. Part of building an open, inclusive environment means fostering a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions. But that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies, and anti-discrimination laws. Ive been in the industry for a long time, and I can tell you that Ive never worked at a company that has so many platforms for employees to express themselves TGIF, Memegen, internal G+, thousands of discussion groups. I know this conversation doesnt end with my email today. I look forward to continuing to hear your thoughts as I settle in and meet with Googlers across the company. Thanks, Danielle Kara Swisher, a veteran Silicon Valley journalist and the founder and editor of Recode said what neither Brown nor Balogh could, calling the document sexist twaddle, wrapped in the undeserved protection of free speech. The First Amendment goes both ways, she explained. Photos via Getty Images / Brendan Hoffman, Google Careers Written by Jack Crosbie More articles by Jack Follow Jack on Twitter More From Inverse A fired Google engineer says that he will sue his former employer. Photo: AP On Monday, Google (GOOG, GOOGL) fired the author of a notorious memo blaming the gender gap in tech on biological differences rather than bias and accusing the tech giant of alienating non-progressives. The fired software engineer, 28-year-old James Damore, promptly told The New York Times that he would likely be pursuing legal action against his former employer. However, California, like most states, allows companies to employ people at will, meaning they can generally fire people without cause as long as theyre not discriminating against them. That means your employer, unlike the government, doesnt have to recognize your First Amendment right to free speech. Still, Damore whose termination has stirred up a debate about self-expression at work may have a case against the tech giant under federal labor law. A call to arms The particular law that could apply to Damore is Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which says your employer cant punish you for engaging in protected, concerted activity such as bringing a group complaint to the attention of ones boss. Generally, concerted activity requires two or more employees to band together and, say, complain about working conditions, says Jeffrey Hirsch, a professor specializing in employment law at UNC School of Law. While it appears that Damore was the sole author of his 10-page internal screed, he could argue that the memo constituted a call to arms for certain employees, according to another employment-law professor, Matt Bodie, of St. Louis University School of Law. The key thing you have to prove is that its concerted. Bodie acknowledged that argument would be a stretch. However, he and three other employment law professors all said Damore might invoke the NLRA in a case against Google. His argument could be that he was seeking to initiate support among other employees about how this [Googles culture] wasnt good for maybe the majority of employees, said Christine OBrien, a professor at Boston Colleges Carroll School of Management with expertise on the NLRA. Story continues Illegal to retaliate Damores internal memo went viral among Google employees over the weekend, and on Saturday, Gizmodo published the full text, titled Googles Ideological Echo Chamber. The memo contained a section called Possible non-bias causes of the gender gap in tech, which asserted that womens supposedly higher levels of neuroticism may contribute to the lower number of women in high-stress jobs. The memo also criticized a number of Google policies, including its asserted special treatment for diversity candidates. Google VP and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Danielle Brown. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Glamour The memo prompted swift denunciation from Googlers, including those at the top. Googles Vice President of Diversity, Integrity, and Governance, Danielle Brown, said the memo advanced incorrect assumptions about gender, and Ari Balogh, Googles vice president of engineering, took issue with the memos stereotyping and harmful assumptions. For his part, Damore says he felt attacked for expressing himself. On Monday, he filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, which, he told The Times, alleged Google was shaming him in order to silence his complaints. He claims he was actually fired later Monday as retaliation for that complaint. He told The Times that its illegal to retaliate against an employee for filing an NLRB complaint. From Googles perspective, Im sure theyre going to say, It had nothing to do with the NLRB complaint it was the fact that he threw a grenade in the middle of our corporate culture, said Hirsch, the UNC law professor. Google did not respond to the specific allegation of retaliation, pointing to a general statement from Google CEO Sundar Pichai. First, let me say that we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it, he wrote. However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. We reached out to Damore via LinkedIn but did not receive a response on Tuesday. Erin Fuchs is deputy managing editor of Yahoo Finance. Read more: A fight over gay employees will almost certainly hit the Supreme Court A legal fight over NYC dog sitters highlights a bigger problem in America FTC likely to approve Whole Foods deal even if Amazon did deceive customers Photo: Getty Images There may be more to your social media posts than meets the eye. According to new research published in the journal EPJ Data Science, the images displayed on someones Instagram account may be an indicator of depression. In order to test this theory, scientists gathered 43,950 photos taken from the feeds of 166 individuals. Nearly half of these participants reported having been clinically depressed within the last three years. The investigators analyzed the pictures by referring to information obtained from psychological research, as well as by taking into account the volunteers preferences for brightness, color, and shading. And as a result, they discovered the following: Depressed individuals were more likely to post photos that were bluer, darker, and grayer compared with healthier individuals. In other words, people suffering from depression were more likely to favor a filter that literally drained all the color out of the images they wanted to share, wrote the authors. Depressed people tended to opt for the filter Inkwell, which turns a photo black-and-white, while healthier people chose filters that offered a brighter tone, such as Valencia. Depressed people were more likely to post photos with faces, yet these photos had fewer faces on average than the healthy peoples Instagram feeds. In another portion of the study, the researchers instructed volunteers to distinguish between Instagram posts made by depressed people versus healthy. While they were able to diagnosis a number of individuals properly, the statistical computer model performed with more accuracy. In fact, the algorithms detection rate of 70 percent was even more reliable than the 42 percent success rate of doctors diagnosing depressed patients. This points toward a new method for early screening of depression and other emerging mental illnesses, says co-study-author Chris Danforth, a professor at the University of Vermont, in a press release. This algorithm can sometimes detect depression before a clinical diagnosis is made. This study is not yet a diagnostic test, not by a long shot, but it is a proof of concept of a new way to help people. Story continues Joe Taravella, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Beauty that the link between social media and mood is a complicated issue that deserves additional research. Although we may think individuals who are depressed may be less likely to engage in social media posts, it may be a way for them to reach out to others and maintain a connection via social media, he states. A study in 2016 by Jaime Sidani, PhD, and colleagues [published in the journal Depression and Anxiety] found that people who often use social media tend to have higher rates of depression. Taravella adds that while using the computer algorithm method for diagnosing depression may be encouraging news for earlier detection of mental illness, he understands how a medical doctor may have difficulty in diagnosing patients. General physicians may ask a myriad of questions relating to their patientss overall health and well-being, but not consistently focus on their mood, he explains. Patients may shy away from mental health issues when speaking to their general physician and feel less stigmatized in front of a computer. Additionally, physicians may not follow a very specific set of formulated questions as done by a computer. Overall, Taravella believes this latest research holds a valuable take-home message. It is creating more awareness in the area of mental health, as well as better detection methods for mental illness with the advancement of artificial intelligence, he concludes. It is beneficial for all of us to be having annual discussions with our primary care physicians regarding our physical and mental health. We need to move beyond the checklist screening and create the comfort of an open and honest dialogue to enhance patient physical and mental health. 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, please follow @YahooStyle and @YahooBeauty. London (AFP) - Israel's decision to close the offices of broadcaster Al-Jazeera in the Jewish state is "a brazen attack on media freedom", Amnesty International said Monday. "The move sends a chilling message that the Israeli authorities will not tolerate critical coverage," Magdalena Mughrabi, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at the London-based group, said in a statement. "This is a brazen attack on media freedom in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories," she added. She urged Israel to "halt any attempt to silence critical media", saying that "all journalists should be free to carry out their work without facing harassment or intimidation". Israel said Sunday it would demand the revocation of the credentials of journalists working for the channel and also cut its cable and satellite connections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said on July 27 that he wanted Al-Jazeera expelled amid tensions over a sensitive Jerusalem holy site. Israel has regularly accused the Doha-based broadcaster of bias in its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The 20-year-old British model who was allegedly kidnapped to be sold in an online auction on the dark web is reportedly speaking out about her harrowing ordeal. Chloe Ayling, a British glamour model who lives in London, revealed to British newspaper The Sun that she was the woman who was kidnapped during a fake modeling job in Milan and held captive in a small house where a group planned to sell her off online to the highest bidder. Ive been through a terrifying experience, she told the newspaper on Sunday. Ive feared for my life, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour. Im incredibly grateful to the Italian and UK authorities for all they have done to secure my safe release, she continued. I have just arrived home after four weeks and havent had time to collect my thoughts. I am not at liberty to say anything further until I have been debriefed by the UK police. According to Italian police, a 20-year-old British model was kidnapped on July 11 after she traveled to Italy for a photoshoot booked by her agent. On July 10, Ayling had posted a shot of herself in a Milan bathroom, writing arrived. The cops claim that the model who was not publicly identified was assaulted by two men, drugged, and stuffed into a suitcase to be taken to a small home in Turin. A post shared by Chloe Ayling (@chloeayling) on May 18, 2017 at 11:52am PDT Police claim that the woman was handcuffed to a chest of drawers for six days and was told that she was going to be auctioned off on the dark web if her agent did not agree to pay a ransom. According to police, the group decided to let her go after they found out that she was the mother of a young child. They then took her to the British consulate. Police arrested Lukasz Herba, a 30-year-old Polish national, after he allegedly dropped her off at the consulate. Police claim the Herba organized several auctions to sell woman who he described as prey as part of an illegal human trafficking organization called the Black Death Group. Story continues Photo released by police of a man identified as identified as Lukasz Pawel Herba, a Polish citizen with British residency, who has been arrested in the alleged kidnapping of a young British model. Authorities are still searching for another suspect in connection with the case, according to CNN. This article originally appeared on People.com Residents in the highly exclusive Presidio Terrace neighborhood got a surprise taste of the citys infamous housing woes after a private road was sold at auction A home in the Presidio Terrace. The neighborhood is one of San Franciscos most expensive and exclusive. Photograph: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP For most San Franciscans accustomed to being at the whims of speculators in a soaring real estate market, the arrival of a new landlord is a near certain harbinger of bad news. But the residents of Presidio Terrace are not most San Franciscans, and its highly unlikely that theyll be crafting desperate Facebook messages seeking an affordable room to rent in Oakland (dog friendly pleeeeease), making plans to move to Los Angeles or living in a box. Still, in May of this year, the owners of 35 of San Franciscos most exclusive and expensive homes became aware of a decidedly undesirable development: they no longer owned their private street. Two upstart real estate investors from San Jose, Tina Lam and Michael Cheng, had snapped up the street, the sidewalks and the landscaped islands of Presidio Terrace at a public auction of tax-defaulted properties in April 2015. The pair shelled out $90,582.50 for the plot, and theyre how exploring ways to earn a return on that investment. One option? Charging residents to park on the street they thought they owned. We could charge a reasonable rent on it, Cheng told the San Francisco Chronicle, which first reported on the streets sale. (Parking spaces in the neighborhood are currently renting for about $350 per month on Craigslist.) They could also sell the street back to the Presidio Terrace homeowners association (HOA), presumably at a substantial markup. They are definitely looking to make this into a profit-making piece of land, said Scott Emblidge, an attorney representing the HOA. How would you like it if somebody bought your backyard in a tax sale? Maybe theyd make it a nice backyard, but that wouldnt make you happy. The residents of San Franciscos Presidio Terrace have long employed a number of tactics to keep undesirables out. Until 1948, a restrictive covenant prohibited the sale or lease of any of the streets 35 houses to any persons other than those of the Caucasian or white race. The private street still boasts an imposing set of gates and round-the-clock security guards. And the homes multimillion-dollar price tags ensure that only the wealthiest have any reason to be on the oval block in the first place. Story continues A construction workers stands in front of the Presidio Terrace, a gated community in San Francisco. Photograph: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP But a mixup over a mailing address and the failure to pay an annual tax bill of less than $14 have resulted in the homeowners current conundrum. Unlike the vast majority of San Francisco streets, Presidio Terrace is private. Residents, via their HOA, are responsible for paying for the streets maintenance and, as with any other private property, tax. The HOA stopped paying that tax many years ago, however, and in 2015 the citys tax collector placed the property into default. That set the stage for the auction and the San Jose couples windfall. The HOA claims that the tax went unpaid not out of any desire to avoid payment (or inability to come up with the cash), but because the city was sending the bill to the address of an accountant who had not worked for them since the 1980s. They also fault the city for failing to send a notice of the default to any of the homeowners or their association. They are asking the citys board of supervisors to intervene on their behalf and rescind the auction, a process allowed for by state law. Theyve also filed a lawsuit against Lam and the city. If the board of supervisors fails to rescind the sale a vote is tentatively scheduled for October the association will turn to the courts, said Emblidge. Im very optimistic that the city officials want to see a reasonable end to this, and a reasonable end is to rescind the sale and put things back the way they were, Emblidge said. The same thing that happened here could happen to anybody, poor or rich, that happens to have a parcel like this. The issue isnt really a rich versus poor situation. Its what should have to happen before someone can sell my property. (Reuters) - A federal grand jury has indicted a Maryland man on charges of attempting to murder an FBI agent and trying to provide support to Islamic State militants, U.S. prosecutors said on Tuesday. Nelash Das, 25, of Landover Hills, was arrested by federal agents in September 2016 as he was preparing to attack a U.S. military service member. He was accompanied by a person who was a paid FBI informant, court records show. Das, a Bangladeshi citizen who is a legal U.S. resident, was indicted for attempting to provide support to the Islamic State from October 2015 to September 2016, the Justice Department said in a statement. The statement and the indictment gave no details about the charge of attempting to murder an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Das also was indicted on a firearms offense. Officials were not immediately available to comment. The three-count indictment supersedes a charge filed shortly after his arrest. Das told the informant that he was committed to attacking a military service member, adding, "That's my goal in life," according to an October 2016 affidavit. Das remains in custody and if convicted faces up to life in prison. His attorney, federal public defender Julie Stelzig, did not respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Dan Grebler) Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., photographs legislation to repeal Obamacare and cut off federal funding of Planned Parenthood that had just been signed by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan at the U.S. Capitol, January 7, 2016. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) As members of Congress return to their districts for the customary August recess, at least one California lawmaker received a hostile reception back home. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., appeared at a town hall in Chico, Calif., on Monday. While LaMalfa won reelection easily last year, he was met by critics of his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act and defund Planned Parenthood, as well as his denial of man-made climate change. The most heated moment, according to the Los Angeles Times, was when a man told LaMalfa, May you die in pain. The speaker appeared to be protesting LaMalfas vote to advance the American Health Care Act, which later sputtered in the Senate. Other protesters called on LaMalfa to resign for supporting the health care bill, which would have rolled back numerous key Obamacare provisions, including Medicaid expansion in states like California. One LaMalfa critic channeled The Wizard of Oz, dressing up as the Wicked Witch of the West Coast. Heather Calun dressed up as the Wicked Witch of the West Coast in protest. She wants LaMalfa to resign over his vote to repeal Obamacare. pic.twitter.com/rBZXAnjd2l Phil Willon (@philwillon) August 7, 2017 But LaMalfa was unmoved, arguing that middle-class families in his Northern California district were being hurt by Obamacare. We really want to help middle-income Californians, middle-income Americans be able to afford health insurance as they see fit and not a government mandate, LaMalfa told a local TV station after the event. And when the boos and jeers rained down on him during the town hall, LaMalfa didnt back down. I have the mic, folks. Yep, boo away, he taunted at one point. Other lawmakers are facing similarly unfriendly crowds if they host town halls at all. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., faced criticism over his support for President Trumps penal immigration policies at a Monday event in his rural district. Story continues While that town hall lacked the fireworks of LaMalfas, the county sheriff was forced to take over the microphone on at least one occasion to restore order. Yet Meadows, who chairs the conservative House Freedom Caucus, praised the crowd at the end for being respectful even vocal. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., House Freedom Caucus chairman, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in May. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters) If you guys disagree, send me the information, Meadows told protesters at one point, as a member of the crowd grilled him over single-payer health care. Even some of the most vulnerable Republican members of Congress are engaging with their detractors. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, is expected to be a top Democratic target in the 2018 midterm elections. This didnt stop Hurd from launching a weeklong circuit of Dairy Queens in his Southwest Texas district, beginning Sunday with a stop in suburban El Paso. Given the areas proximity to the Mexican border, many residents were concerned again about Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The bills that theyre passing, its profiling, one man said. I want you to take this back to Mr. Trump to let him know what he is doing to our country. Hurd insisted the events were important to have, even as other members of Congress have shied away from meeting with angry constituents. Thats why Im doing 20 town halls in six days to hear these concerns, he told voters. Thats why Im out in a place that I didnt win because I represent everybody, not just the people that vote for me. Read more from Yahoo News: One Alabama mom is clearly excited about sending her kids back to school. In a photo that Jena Willingham shared to Facebook, the mom of three lounges in a pool chair with a drink in hand as her seemingly grumpy children stand behind her, clad in back-to-school wear. Read: Mom Sends College Student Son Trash in the Mail After He Didn't Take It Out Willingham says her children Wrangler, 11, Emmy, 7, and Sykes, 4 have been bickering all summer and she was ready for a little bit of solace. I told them I made a countdown on my phone for the first day of school and I was going to have a pool day because they have been arguing with each other all summer, Willingham told InsideEdition.com. They fight over the TV, and video games, IPad and chargers. On Sunday, the mom dressed her three children up in the outfits, which they actually wore to their first day of school on Monday, and headed to her cousins pool for the photo. She climbed in the pool and told her kids to put on their best sad faces. The [kids] thought it was funny, Willingham said. It was all a joke. Willingham said on Monday when she dropped the kids off to begin the year. However, she was actually sad. Sykes is going to pre-k so I cried a little when I dropped him off, but after a long summer home with them I was ready for a break, Willingham said. I was at the school 45 minutes before school got out because I was ready to pick them up. It got a little boring after a while but its a lot less stressful than listening to them fight all day. Read: Son Who Tricked His Mom With Tesla Autopilot Says He Was Just Getting Her Back The mom said she had no idea the photo would go viral. I post crazy stuff all the time, she said. I didnt think that many people besides my friends would see it. Watch: Mom Hilariously Pranks Daughter Who Just Woke Up From Nap: Time for School! Related Articles: North Korea has said it will launch "thousands-fold" revenge against the United States after it introduced tough new UN sanctions. The UN Security Council unanimously approved new penalties for the North after it launched intercontinental ballistic missiles. The sanctions include a ban on coal and other exports worth more than $1 (77 pence). The North's statement, carried by state media, said the sanctions were caused by a heinous US plot to isolate and stifle North Korea. The UN sanctions will never force the country to negotiate over its nuclear program or to give up its nuclear drive, Pyongyang claimed. It added that it will take action of justice, but didn't elaborate. Previous attempts to force Pyongyang into abandoning its nuclear weapons programme have been undercut by the North's trading partners not implementing them. US President Donald Trump has demanded the penalties be implemented quickly and in full. Yet Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has indicated there was a slim possibility negotiations could recommence. If the isolated state stopped testing missiles for an "extended period" longer than 30 days the US might deem the North is ready to talk, he said. A North Korean missile test is pictured: Reuters North Korea has been making headlines recently for testing its missile capabilities, raising concern in Washington that the isolated nation could be tempted to launch a nuclear attack on the United States. The situation has not improved in recent weeks as the country tested its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) prompting Donald Trump and the United Nations to impose further sanctions on the country. Heres what you need to know about the situation. Why is this being talked about now? North Korea has repeatedly tested its ICBM and nuclear capabilities this year, and it appears as though the country may have the technology or will soon to launch a nuclear missile that could hit the United States. The US, unhappy with that potential reality, responded to that threat by imposing sanctions on the country the could impact roughly $1 billion worth of North Koreas foreign exports. North Korea has vowed to fight those sanctions with a thousands-fold revenge. North Korea's recent testing is a "huge step beyond, probably, where most people would've expected Kim Jong Un to be," Howard Stoffer, a professor at the University of New Haven, told The Independent. So, interested parties are scrambling to respond to that threat. How did we get here? Things have been stewing since 1953, when China, the US, North Korea, and South Korea agreed to an armistice that ended the Korean War. Since then, the US and North Korea have been isolated from one another. While other countries like China developed into a major economic, political, and military powers, North Korea has been largely isolated from the international community by the US. "This is one of the countries that hasn't transformed," Mr Stoffer, who previously held positions with the US State Department and with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee, said. "It remained a communist country. It remained an autocratic country that has never made its economy open up." Story continues But, regimes in North Korea have refused to accept a fate of being sidelined, and have been working on developing nuclear weapons capabilities that they hope will act as a deterrent that will force the US to negotiate with them. What do the major players want, generally speaking? The United States, for its part, is keen on North Korea ending its nuclear testing and development and wants to ensure that the north doesnt launch attacks on the south that would require America to come to its defence. North Korea, meanwhile, is interested in developing and prospering as a country while maintaining its independence and keeping its cultural customs and traditions. They would also like to see the end of military exercises between South Korea and the US, which the country sees as acts of aggression. China, which is the main trading partner for North Korea, also has security concerns. Although China doesnt appear to have a huge interest in what North Korea does internally, there is some concern that their neighbouring country could turn their ire on them and launch attacks that hit the Chinese mainland. How do the three countries disagree on how to move forward? The United States believes that a strategy of strict sanctions will eventually force North Korea to abandon their nuclear program. North Korea, meanwhile, is pushing forward with their nuclear ambitions, and thinks that that is the way to get the US to work with them. At the same time, China has urged for a more diplomatic approach, and worries that sanctions could push North Korea to attack or that the regime could collapse completely, leading to an unknown level of chaos in the region that could result in anything from a civil war to a mass of refugees showing up on the Chinese border seeking help. "Between the US and North Korea, the difficulty is they are working under completely opposite logics," Tong Zhao, a fellow at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Centre for Global Policy in Beijing, told The Independent. Have sanctions worked before to stop nuclear programme development? Yes and no. The most recent example of a success came when the Obama administration announced that it had negotiated a stop to Irans nuclear development. The US had placed heavy sanctions on the Iranian regime prior, which played at least a small role in convincing the Iranians to come to the negotiating table. But, China is a strong example of sanctions failing to live up to expectations. The country persevered through years of a harsh economic climate to finally get its nuclear weapons. Because of that history, China has a different take on how effective those measures may be in convincing North Korea to drop its plans. "More fundamentally, China disagrees with the approach of imposing more sanctions. China itself went through serious sanctions during the Cold War and those sanctions werent able to force China to give up its own nuclear programmes at that time," Mr Zhao said. "So the Chinese history of essentially resisting sanctions and still being able to pursue its nuclear program, really convinced china of the inability for sanctions to change a countrys nuclear policy." How dangerous is the current climate? Experts say that, with the North Koreans showing that they may soon be able to launch missiles that hit the United States, things are particularly tense. The North Korean regime has minor gains to make to realise their goals of having a plausible nuclear deterrent against the United States. That proximity to the proverbial finish line for North Korea means that everyone involved is racing to try and ensure the their priorities win out. Added to that tense moment is Mr Trump, who experts worry is an unpredictable leader with an unknown level of knowledge about the ramifications that military assaults on North Korea could have. "I think at this moment, the situation is particularly volatile compared to previous years," Mr Zhao said. The "most important reason, is North Korea is on the verge of achieving its ultimate security goal, which is to obtain a credible nulcear deterrant" that could hit the US mainland. The issue wasn't however, unforseen. Just before Mr Trump took office, he was warned by outgoing President Barack Obama that North Korea would be one of his biggest challenges as president. Whats the primary concern for a US military attack to stop North Korea developing their nuclear missile capabilities? What reaction Kim Jong Un might have to western aggression isnt known, and that uncertainty has made decades of American presidents tread lightly on the issue. One potential reaction, however, could be that Mr Kim would retaliate with more traditional weapons and attack South Korea. The capital of the country, Seoul, is just 40 miles south of the border, and easily within range. That sort of attack would endanger the lives of the 25.6 million people in the area, and would likely leave hundreds of thousands dead. "No one really knows that if you use military force what the result will be," Mr Stoffer said. "The result could be that millions are in jeopardy and hundreds of thousands will be killed." Seoul (AFP) - North Korea dismissed offers of talks from the South during a rare exchange between the two rivals' foreign ministers, Seoul's Yonhap news agency reported Monday after the UN imposed a new round of sanctions on nuclear-armed Pyongyang. News of the brief encounter on the sidelines of a regional forum in Manila came as the South's President Moon Jae-In urged a "peaceful resolution" to the tensions in a telephone conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump. Even a conventional conflict on the peninsula could could cost a million dead or wounded within months, estimates say. Moon told Trump the South "cannot let another war to break out" on the peninsula after the 1950-53 Korean War that sealed the division of two Koreas, the presidential Blue House said in a statement. The South's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha shook hands with her Northern counterpart Ri Yong-Ho ahead of an ASEAN Regional Forum dinner on Sunday, Yonhap said. Kang urged Ri to accept Seoul's offers of military talks to lower tensions on the divided peninsula, and for discussions on a new round of reunions for divided families. But Ri retorted: "Given the current situation in which the South collaborates with the US to heap pressure on the North, such proposals lacked sincerity," the unnamed official was quoted as saying. Kang reiterated again "the South's sincerity" and repeated a call for Pyongyang to come forward for talks, the official said. It was the first time cabinet-level officials from the two Koreas had met since Moon -- who urges engagement with the North as well as sanctions to bring it to the negotiating table -- took power in May. The encounter came a day after the UN Security Council passed sweeping sanctions on the North over its first successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which sparked global alarm. The growing threat from the nuclear-armed North dominated the annual forum, which came days after the North's second ICBM test. Story continues - 'Growing threat' - The missile launches have added to tensions on the peninsula with the US leaving open the possibility of military action against Kim Jong-Un's regime. White House National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster vowed to "provide all options" on the country in a recent interview with CNN. But Moon, in a phone conversation with Trump on Monday, urged calm and "peaceful and diplomatic resolution". The two allies are due later this month to start an annual joint military drill hated by Pyongyang, which habitually slams it as a rehearsal for invasion. The White House said the two leaders "affirmed that North Korea poses a grave and growing direct threat to the United States, South Korea, and Japan, as well as to most countries around the world". They welcomed the sweeping new sanctions passed by the UN Security Council in a 15-0 vote on Saturday in a bid to step up pressure on Pyongyang over its weapons programmes. The measures ban exports of coal, iron and iron ore, lead and lead ore as well as fish and seafood from the impoverished state in a move aimed at slashing Pyongyang's foreign revenue by a third. Trump hailed the vote, thanking Russia and China for backing a measure that either could have halted with their UN veto. "Just completed call with President Moon of South Korea. Very happy and impressed with 15-0 United Nations vote on North Korea sanctions," Trump tweeted. Pyongyang has not officially responded to the latest UN sanctions. Andrew Warren left his Oxfordshire home in June and was reported missing by his family - Facebook Andrew Warren, an Oxford University employee has been arrested in connection with the killing of a 26-year old man in Chicago. Police have also arrested Wyndham Lathem, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology a Northwestern University in Chicago and expert in the bubonic plague. Mr Warren, 56, and Prof Lathem, 42, were sought by police after a hair stylist, Trenton Cornell-Duranleau, 26, was found stabbed to death in an upmarket high-rise flat in Chicago. . Chicago Police said the two men are believed to be in custody in Oakland California. by the US Marshals Service. News that the men were being held was announced by Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for Chicago police department on Twitter. Wyndham Lathem Credit: Chicago Police Department/PA A senior treasury assistant at Somerville College, Oxford, Mr Warren left the home he shared with his sister in Faringdon, Oxfordshire on June 24. He was reported missing to Thames Valley Police by Mr Warren's sister, Tracey, and his partner, Martin Grant. It is believed Mr Warren left the UK the day before, travelling to the United States without telling his boyfriend or family. Authorities haven't detailed the relationship between Mr Warren and Prof Lathem, who moved to Chicago from the Grand Rapids, Michigan. By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - Mortgage company PHH Corp will pay nearly $74.5 million to resolve claims it generated defective loans that the federal government then insured and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bought, The U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday. The deal with Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based PHH follows settlements between the Justice Department and financial companies over shoddy mortgage loans in recent years in the wake of the 2007-2009 financial crisis. "This significant resolution helps rectify the misconduct by returning more than $74 million in wrongfully claimed funds to the government," Gregory Brooker, the acting U.S. attorney in Minnesota, said in a statement. The deal also involved the company's PHH Home Loans, which operates in Edina, Minnesota. PHH, in a statement, said it cooperated fully in the investigations that led to the settlement agreements since first receiving subpoenas in 2013. It said it had agreed to resolve the probes without admitting liability. "Adhering to high legal, regulatory and ethical standards is at the core of how we conduct business, and we remain committed to serving our customers and all of our stakeholders consistent with that principle," PHH said. PHH recently won legal victories in its challenge of the constitutionality of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), after the regulator fined the company over alleged illegal kickbacks. PHH argued that the bureau's director, Richard Cordray, has more power than the Constitution allows. The Justice Department sided with PHH against the CFPB in oral arguments before an 11-judge federal appellate court. But in Tuesday's case, the Justice Department took PHH to task for failing to comply with certain origination, underwriting and quality control requirements of the U.S. Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Justice Department said that from 2006 to 2011, PHH certified ineligible home loans for FHA insurance. The government later incurred substantial losses when it paid insurance claims on those mortgages, the department said. Story continues PHH also submitted ineligible loans to be guaranteed for coverage through a Veterans Affairs Department program that helps members of the military and veterans become homeowners, the Justice Department said. It also originated and sold ineligible loans to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which the government seized in 2008 and then put into a conservatorship under the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Justice Department said. Some of the allegations in Tuesday's case arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Mary Bozzelli, a former PHH employee. She will receive $9.1 million from the settlements, the Justice Department said. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Dan Grebler and Leslie Adler) President Trump is dismissing new polls that show his base of support dwindling, his approval rating at a record low and rampant distrust in the information coming out of the White House. After 200 days, rarely has any Administration achieved what we have achieved, Trump tweeted on Tuesday. Not even close! Dont believe the Fake News Suppression Polls! After 200 days, rarely has any Administration achieved what we have achieved..not even close! Don't believe the Fake News Suppression Polls! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2017 According to a CNN poll released Tuesday, nearly three-quarters of Americans (73 percent) say they cant trust all or most of what they hear in official communications from the White House, while less than a quarter (24 percent) say they can. Among Republicans, 50 percent say they can trust most of what the White House says, while 47 percent say they cannot. When asked whether they are proud to have Trump as their president, 34 percent of Americans said they were, the survey found; 64 percent said they were not. Related: Trump claims base is bigger than ever before. Polls suggest otherwise. Overall, 38 percent say they approve of Trumps handling of the presidency, according the CNN poll, while 56 percent disapprove. Recent polls by Quinnipiac University and Gallup show Trump with a similar overall disapproval rating. CNN noted that just one other newly elected president held an approval rating below 50 percent at this point in his presidency: Bill Clinton, who had a 44 percent approval rating six months into his first term in 1993. Barack Obama, by contrast, had a 56 percent approval rating at this point in his presidency. Six-Month Approval Ratings: Kennedy 75% Eisenhower 73% Bush 69% Nixon 65% Reagan 60% Carter 60% Obama 56% W. Bush 55% Clinton 44% Trump 38% Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) August 8, 2017 On Monday morning, Trump claimed his base is far bigger and stronger than ever before, offering recent campaign rallies in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio and West Virginia as proof. But an Investors Business Daily poll released Monday afternoon showed Trumps approval rating has dropped to a record low 32 percent down 5 percent in the past month as support from his base has begun to slip. Story continues Trump lost significant support across the board, but saw big declines among areas of core support, including Republicans, Midwesterners, middle-income families, white men and the high school educated, IBDs pollsters said. Meanwhile, a new CBS News poll released Tuesday shows Trumps approval rating stands at 36 percent. That figure is unchanged from June, despite favorable views of the U.S. economy. The president does get better marks on his handling of the economy than for other issues, CBS noted, but his overall approval remains where it is partly because Americans say theyre evaluating him more on culture and values than on how theyre faring financially, and partly because his ratings for other domestic issues are negative. The CBS survey also showed that Americans lack confidence in Trumps ability to handle North Korea, whose nuclear and missile-testing programs have sparked an international crisis. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed (72 percent) are uneasy about the possibility of conflict between Washington and Pyongyang, and most (61 percent) feel that way about Trumps approach to the situation. The poll was conducted late last week, largely before the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on Saturday imposing new sanctions on North Korea for its continued tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile. On Monday, Trump complained on Twitter that the fake news media had not properly covered the passage of those sanctions. Most major news outlets, though, had covered the sanctions, with the story leading newscasts on Saturday afternoon and evening. CNNs Chris Cuomo said his channel was covering the issue when Trump fired off the tweet. John Kasich would beat Trump in NH if the primary were held today, new polling shows. #MorningJoe pic.twitter.com/QyA0V7NBIY Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) August 8, 2017 And there is yet another poll released by American Research Group on Tuesday likely to draw Trumps ire: If the New Hampshire Republican primary were held today, Ohio Gov. John Kasich would beat Trump (52 percent to 40 percent) in a theoretical matchup. Trump won the 2016 New Hampshire GOP primary, grabbing 35 percent of the vote. Kasich, who finished second, got just 16 percent. Read more from Yahoo News: President Trump welcomes Sen. Dean Heller before a meeting with Republican senators to discuss the health care bill, July 19, 2017. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) The Senates most vulnerable Republican in 2018 just got a challenger from the right, the Trump-supporting businessman and frequent political candidate Danny Tarkanian. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., already faces a likely challenge on the left from Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., a freshman lawmaker who has spent the past few weeks blasting Hellers shifting positions on the GOP effort to repeal and replace Obamacare as heartless. Tarkanian announced his decision to run on Fox and Friends Tuesday morning, painting Heller as an obstructionist of Trumps agenda and saying Republicans begged him to run against him. Dean Heller wasnt just one of the first Never Trumpers in Nevada, he was one of the most influential, Tarkanian said on the show. He actually helped Hillary Clinton win the state of Nevada. Tarkanian has run for office five times over the past 10 years without ever winning political office, though he has won Republican primaries. A spokesman for Heller pointed out that Tarkanian recently lost a congressional race to Rosen, who he would likely face again if he won the primary. Hes wasted conservatives time and cost the Republican Party seats up and down the ballot, Heller spokesman Tommy Ferraro said in a statement. If he ultimately files for U.S. Senate he will lose in the primary. The Republican establishment is likely to stay behind Heller, who eventually backed the GOP effort to repeal and replace Obamacare in late July. A super-PAC aligned with Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said it will be all in for Heller in a primary and the general election, the Nevada Independent reported. Its unclear how supportive the president will be. But Wayne Allyn Root, a conservative talk show radio host in Nevada, said he believes Tarkanian will easily beat Heller, despite his many losses in the past. I think [Tarkanians] like Abe Lincoln, quote me, Root said. He lost and lost and lost and then he won the one that matters. Story continues Danny Tarkanian at a Republican debate for Nevadas Third Congressional District in Henderson, April 26, 2016. (Photo: John Locher/AP) Root refers to Heller as one and done Dean saying hell either lose to Tarkanian or in the general election. A Daily Caller-commissioned poll found Tarkanian and Heller in a statistical tie in a matchup among registered Republican voters. Trump remains popular among Republicans in Nevada, while Heller and the president have had a tense relationship. Heller expressed doubts about Trump during the 2016 election, while Tarkanian spoke at some of Trumps rallies. This summer, Heller came out against the Senates first version of Obamacare repeal and replace, scrambling that effort. A Trump-aligned super-PAC briefly targeted him with ads over that decision, and the president publicly prodded him to get on board, saying, He wants to remain a senator, doesnt he? during a lunch meeting with other senators at the White House. Heller later voted for a revised version of that bill, but the overall effort failed. Thats allowed his opponent on the left, Jacky Rosen, to blast him for voting to take away health care from Nevadans while getting slammed on the right by Tarkanian for obstructing the president . Tarkanian argued Hellers initial stance robbed repeal and replace of much-needed momentum. This will be a bruising, resource-draining primary fight for Nevada Republicans who were already struggling to hold on to this cycles most vulnerable Senate seat, said Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II, adding Hellers dancing around on health care has hurt him. Whether were running against a two-faced fraud like Senator Heller or a tea party extremist like Danny Tarkanian, Democrats are poised to win this race in 2018. But Democrats could be in for their own bruising primary. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., has said she will announce soon whether shell get in to challenge Rosen, who was hand-picked by former Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. A poll showed Titus and Heller tied in a matchup. These figures dispel the Reid myth that I am not competitive in a statewide race, Titus said in a statement in late July. I will announce my decision after spending time in the district during the month of August. Read more from Yahoo News: Sports fans show their support for their favorite team in different ways. Apparel works for some, season tickets work for others and tattoos are reserved for the truly dedicated. Somewhere in that mix resides team flags or signage outside your home. Hey, thats your right. If you own a house, youre allowed to show off your rooting interest as long as its respectful. At least, that should be the case. The city of Gardner, Kansas told a homeowner he would have to take down a large Royals sign on his house immediately or risk a misdemeanor or daily fines, according to KCTV5. The sign, which is hung on an enclosed balcony from the second level, features the Royals crown logo with a large KC painted on it in white. It has reportedly hung on the house for years, but the city received a complaint from a citizen, which forced the issue. The sign is in violation of city code, according to a document received by the homeowner. The document states the homeowners need to either remove the illegal sign immediately or apply for a temporary sign permit, reduce the size of the wall sign to 8 square feet and leave it up for 90 days of the year. KCTV5 spoke to a number of local residents who didnt mind the sign, and seemed puzzled as to why the homeowner is being forced to take it down. One mentioned that it lights up when the Royals are playing, so we can see how that could be annoying. At the same time, that person also compared it to Christmas lights and no one calls the city to complain about Christmas lights. We dont want to take sides here, but its hard not to be a little disappointed. First off, the sign is in violation of city code. Whoever sent in the complaint is correct. The sign should be taken down. The Royals sign in question is similar to the logo pictured above. (AP Photo) But we have some serious questions over who would actually report the sign. KCTV5 has a picture of it on their website (which you can see here). The sign isnt gaudy or offensive. Its large, but not outlandishly so. And its clearly on private property. Its not in a position to injure someone passing by or anything like that. Story continues The whole thing seems pretty petty. While we dont know for sure, it certainly looks like a situation where a fan of an opposing team got mad and reported the sign. While the Royals play in Missouri, their fanbase in neighboring Kansas is pretty huge. While were engaging in wild speculation, maybe this is all the work of an angry St. Louis Cardinals fan? All it would take is one comment about how Salvador Perez is better than Yadier Molina to set them off. More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports: Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik (Reuters) - Six workers were treated for respiratory problems on Tuesday after nitric acid leaked from a package at a United Parcel Service distribution facility in southern New Hampshire, a fire official said. The facility, in Nashua, about 45 miles northwest of Boston, was evacuated following reports of a chemical leak just after 7 a.m. local time, said Nashua Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Karl Gerhard. Chemical fumes from a package forced temporary evacuation of the facility, UPS said in a written statement. By late morning employees were allowed to return to the facility. Six workers who reported minor respiratory symptoms went to two area hospitals for treatment, Gerhard said. "Nitric acid leaked from a package onto an elevated conveyer belt system they use to sort packages," Gerhard said. He added that a contractor was on site cleaning up the spilled product, which leaked through machinery. Operations would likely be affected for "the better part of the day," he said. UPS said it was cooperating with the Nashua Fire Department. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which monitors safety in the workplace, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) (Reuters) - The son of a leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel was arraigned in a federal court in California on Monday on drug trafficking charges after he surrendered to U.S. law enforcement authorities in July, the U.S. Justice Department said. Damaso Lopez-Serrano, 29, is the son of Damaso Lopez-Nunez, who was arrested in May by Mexican authorities and was believed to have been fighting for control of the Sinaloa Cartel against the sons of its captured leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Also known as "Mini Lic," Damaso Lopez-Serrano is a suspected senior official in the Sinaloa cartel and believed to be the highest-ranking Mexican cartel leader to surrender to authorities in the United States, the department said in a statement. He pleaded not guilty, local media reported. The United States is seeking the extradition of the father, also known as "El Licenciado," on a Dec. 14, 2016 indictment in Virginia for drug charges. His son was also charged in that case, the department said.Damaso Lopez-Serrano was arraigned on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in San Diego on Aug. 19, 2016, charging him and five associates with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances intended for importation and conspiracy to import controlled substances, it said. A lawyer for the suspect was not immediately available for comment. The three-count indictment said that the suspect knowingly conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Prosecutors were not immediately available to comment on what length of sentence he could face if convicted. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Editing by Frank McGurty and Andrew Hay) CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The speaker of South Africa's parliament ruled on Monday that a motion of no-confidence in President Jacob Zuma brought by opposition parties will be held through a secret ballot - a decision which increases the chances he will have to step down. The decision could embolden members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to vote against Zuma and puts him in a precarious position as he struggles to fend off opposition accusations of corruption and mismanaging the economy. If the motion succeeds, Zuma -- in power since 2009 -- and his entire cabinet would have to step down. The rand extended its gains, bonds firmed and banking shares advanced after her announcement. Speaker Baleka Mbete, who is also the ANC national chairwoman, told a news conference that her decision was meant to ensure the outcome of vote was credible. "The speaker must do that without fear or favour," Mbete said in her speech. "This decision is about putting the resilience of putting our democratic institution to test." The ANC's spokesman Zizi Kodwa said the party was not surprised by Mbete's decision and that the party supported it. The party has vowed to back Zuma in parliament. Eight previous no-confidence motions against Zuma have failed as the ANC has a commanding majority in parliament but they were all held through an open process. Zuma's sacking of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March shook South African markets, undermining his authority and threatening to split the ANC which has governed since the end of apartheid in 1994. The reshuffle was followed by the economy being downgraded to junk status. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf, Writing by James Macharia, editing by Angus MacSwan) Photographer Ricky Codio is taking pregnancy photo shoots to the next level. (Photo: Instagram/Rickycodio) Pregnancy photo shoots just got a major upgrade. A model who goes by MeccaThaModel on Instagram partnered with photographer Ricky Codio to shoot herself naked, pregnant, and covered in body paint, with a ponytail that goes down to her feet. You pretty much just have to see this gorgeousness for yourself. The tribal-inspired look was shot at MQ Factory in Philadelphia. Its being shared widely on Instagram, and Mecca and Codio have racked up hundreds of supportive comments. Fans wrote in to congratulate Mecca alongside her friends, who cant wait to welcome the baby. Aww congrats Mecc i guess this the proof i needed to see that ur no longer that 37th st baby that we all loved anymoreur a mommy having a baby, said Instagram user ziznpapi. Added a fan who goes by arewamzlovel: I love this. This is truly the best maternity photo shoot I have the pleasure of seeing. Yahoo Beauty spoke with Codio to learn the inspiration behind the photo shoot. I specialize in maternity photo shoots, and love integrating unique and creative looks, paints, and props into my work, Codio tells Yahoo Beauty. With this latest shoot, I wanted to play on the sacredness of pregnancy within the South Africa tribal culture. The white paint signifies hope, purity, and light things that many of us already associate with bringing a new baby into the world. Local Philadelphia artist Ivben Taqiy took three hours to bring the design to life, notes Codio. Hair and makeup also took about three hours, and Codio says the team was all pretty thrilled with the outcome. Story continues Mecca may have drawn inspiration from the recent dueling body-paint photo shoots by Blac Chyna and Kim Kardashian. Earlier in 2017, Chyna posed in all-bronze makeup and white tribal paint. The look came suspiciously soon after Kardashian posed in white striped body paint. I did a desert photo shoot just knowing I was trying to get pregnant soon and wanted to savor this moment! We went out to the desert and just had fun and shot this so fast, explained Kardashian. Of course, the award for the most famous Kardashian pregnancy shoot goes out to Kourtney Kardashian, who posed for DuJour in nothing but a feather chest piece. These shoots may be glam, but the true baby body paint queen just might be Mariah Carey. Who could forget the time she painted dem babies on her belly when she was carrying her twins back in 2011? Pregnancy photo shoots may have gotten a big upgrade since then, but never forget the original: finger-painting all over your belly. 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. (Reuters) - A suspected top official in a Mexican criminal cartel was arraigned in a federal court in California on Monday on drug trafficking charges after he surrendered to U.S. law enforcement authorities in July, the U.S. Justice Department said. Damaso Lopez-Serrano, 29, also known as "Mini Lic," an accused cell leader of the Sinaloa cartel, was believed to be the highest-ranking Mexican cartel leader to surrender to authorities in the United States, the department said in a statement. He was arraigned on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in San Diego on Aug. 19, 2016, charging him and five associates with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances intended for importation and conspiracy to import controlled substances, it said. A lawyer for the suspect was not immediately available for comment. The three-count indictment said that the suspect knowingly conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Prosecutors were not immediately available to comment on what length of sentence he could face if convicted. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Editing by Frank McGurty and Andrew Hay) On August 5, a Twitter account with 146,000 followers, belonging to somebody named Nicole Mincey, posted this message: Trump working hard for the American people..thanks???????? Trump gave it his official stamp of approval: a retweet. Thank you Nicole! he added. Trumps retweet got 49,000 likes and 10,000 retweets of its own. Trump was had. There is no Nicole Mincey, and Twitter suspended that account a day later. Nicole Mincey was a fake character, a woman calling herself Lorraine Elijah, believed to have run the Twitter account and a web site associated with it, told Yahoo Finance in an email. We obviously went to [sic] far. I joined twitter to make money and now this is a nightmare gone wrong. Trumps retweet of ProTrump45 Further investigation reveals that Nicole Mincey is a fabricated Internet persona based loosely on a real person who was most likely recruited by scammers through social media. But rather than some sophisticated operation run by a foreign intelligence service, as the imagination might suggest, Nicole Mincey appears to be the creation of a couple of hucksters with a more mundane plan in mind: simply selling some hats and T-shirts. Anybody with a social-media account or email address knows the Internet has a bottomless dark side filled with scams, phonies and worse. Nicole Mincey is now part of that sinister funhouse. Yahoo Finance cannot fully document who created her. But we are confident there is no such person, and that her creator duped gullible consumers, a few mainstream media organizations and even the president himself into trusting that she was real. In this context, President Trumps reliance on Twitter and his continual complaints about fake news have new significance that redound on Trump himself. Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Encrypted communication available. Yahoo Finance became interested in Nicole Mincey in mid-July, because of several irregularities on a Web site she supposedly founded, www.ProTrump45.com. The Web sites About section, for instance, was filled with typos and grammatical errors. Repeated calls to the 800 number never went through. And the Twitter account associated with the site now suspended had several hallmarks of a fake bot account, such as an inordinate number of followers. Some of those followers had profile pictures that showed up on other social media accounts with totally different names a classic sign of fakery. Story continues One of several photos that accompanied the Twitter account of the fake persona Nicole Mincey. Yahoo Finance ordered a flag from ProTrump45.com to see if it would arrive as promised in 7 to 10 days. The site took our money, through a PayPal account $30 for the flag, $15 for shipping and $2.40 for tax, for a total of $47.40. But no flag ever arrived. We did get a notice, however, saying, Your order is on its way, along with a UPS tracking number. When we contacted UPS, a spokesman told us the tracking number was bogus and the order had been stopped as fraud. We did a who is search looking up registration details for the Web site and found it had been registered anonymously through a Florida company called Perfect Privacy, essentially masking the sites real owners. We came up with this idea to make some money. The emailed order confirmation from ProTrump45 did contain one curious clue, however: an email address that belonged to a student at St. Peters University, a small Jesuit school in Jersey City, N.J. An August 5 story on heavy.com, which first raised questions about whether Nicole Mincey was a real person, said the student had been a victim of identity theft who planned to file a police report. But in a phone conversation with Yahoo Finance, the student told us she had been involved with ProTrump45 web site as a blogger and had been recruited to the effort by two people, Lorraine Elijah and Dr. William Byrd, who followed her on Instagram and invited her to join the Web operation sometime this past spring. I joined a group of people online who supported Trump, the student told Yahoo Finance. We came up with this idea to make some money off of this. We bought advertising. We bought articles. The way to make money was selling Trump merchandise on ProTrump45 hats, T-shirts, flags. The Twitter account would drive traffic to the Web site. I think Lorraine the web site operator who had recruited the student on Instagram bought followers for us, the student said. I dont even have the Twitter app on my phone. Yahoo Finance chose not to identify the student, who says she has hopes for a successful business career and would suffer if negative publicity linking her to a suspicious Web site and twitter account were irrevocably published on the Internet. Her name is not Nicole Mincey, but there are similarities between the fake name and the real one. We have not been able to independently verify what the student told us. The articles that began to appear spawned the myth of Nicole Mincey, a young black woman who supported Barack Obama back in the day, but saw the light in 2016 and ended up a Trump supporter. The first Nicole Mincey story Yahoo Finance is aware of appeared on World Net Daily on May 14, with the headline, Black, liberal woman dumps Obama to run Trump store. The story quoted the fake Mincey saying, The reason I switched to being a Republican was I realized Obama didnt necessarily help black people during his presidency like he promised. It described her as somebody who comes from a liberal Democrat background. A June 5 story in The Daily Caller, founded by Fox News host Tucker Carlson, changed the story a bit. Mincey wasnt a former liberal, but a native of hardscrabble Camden, N.J., who grew up with a mother who was a hardline conservative. Adding to the confusion, a Facebook page purporting to be the Donald J. Trump shopwhich is unverified by Facebook and separate from Trumps official Facebook pagelinked to the Daily Caller story: This Facebook account appears to be unrelated to Trumps official page. There was also a Nicole Mincey radio interview with a service known as USA Radio, on May 25. A confident-sounding woman told host Ernie Brown how she had flipped from an Obama backer to a Trump supporter. I looked up the facts of the Obama administration, she said, and I realized some pretty dismal facts about how he cared about black Americans. The student told us the radio interview was performed by a woman from Texas, also recruited by Lorraine Elijah and William Byrd, whose last name she didnt know. The student claims to have been unaware of the planted Nicole Mincey stories, and to have broken ties with the ProTrump45 operation in mid June, after writing a handful of blog entries. The store was getting disorganized, she said. They werent keeping up with the orders. I wasnt getting paid. We used an alteration of the real girls name for attention Lorraine Elijah, the web site operator, acknowledged in a series of emails using portions of the students identity while creating the Mincey myth. We used an alteration of the real girls name for attention, she said. When asked about the flag Yahoo Finance ordered from the web site, which never arrived, she said, William forgot to mail it out. She did not answer questions about who she and William really are, where they are located, or whether they made any money off the ProTrumpo45 web site. She did say a Washington Post story suggesting Nicole Minceys creator is a Russian is bullshit. I live in America and have never been out of the country. William is also American. So [are] the rest of members whose names im [sic] not disclosing. Yahoo Finance cannot verify whether Lorraine Elijah and William Byrd are real names or aliases. The woman calling herself Lorraine Elijah told us in these exact words: William byrd. Lives in Pennsylvania i believe. Hes not a dr like his twitter says. Also the business was not a scam. It was a legitamate business until William stopped doing his part there were about 3 orders that never got done. We attempted to reach William Byrd but phone calls to a number for him were not returned. Nicole Mincey made a few more media appearances in late July. On July 31, Buzzfeed ran a story on Nicole Mincey by somebody named banesclark, which described her as a twitter famous black conservative who has a whopping 146k followers. The story said that on Sept. 3, Nicole Mincey plans on trending a hashtag in support of president [sic] Trump called #ProTrump45. The page on which the Mincey story appeared has a disclaimer that says, This post has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeeds editorial staff. Buzzfeed took the story down after Yahoo Finance asked about it. A nearly identical article appeared the same day on Medium, under the byline Kendra Manning, most likely another phony ID. Medium has since taken down that article. The same piece appeared on fringe sites such as WN.com and onmogul.com. Then, on the weekend of August 5, the heavy.com expose appeared. The name on the @ProTrump45 Twitter account changed briefly, to @alexandriam0ra, but Twitter suspended the account shortly after that. The web site, ProTrump45.com is still online, but you can no longer order from it. The site is effectively disabled. Perfect Privacy, which registered the ProTrump45.com Web site anonymously on behalf of its operator, is a subsidiary of Web.com, which offers Internet services to small businesses. We told the company we suspected the web site of fraud, and asked if they could tell us who runs it. Brian Wright, a spokesman for the company, suggested we use the anonymous email address Perfect Privacy creates with each registration, to try reaching the web sites owners. The email bounced back and Web.com decline to provide any information about the real owners of the domain. The Daily Caller did not respond to questions about the Nicole Mincey story on that site. The White House did not respond to questions about Trumps retweet of the fake Nicole Mincey post, or his Facebook link to the Daily Caller story about the same bogus person. Theres no reason to think Trump was aware of the phony account when he retweeted it. And Trump has enough surrogates in the real media without having to rely on phonies. But the ability of a handful of scammers to fool the Internet and even the president, for a while, testifies to the dangers of trusting what you want to believe. Trump is certainly right when he grouses about fake news. Even more right than he probably knows. Read more: Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman Donald Trump has claimed the threat from North Korea will be met with "fire and fury like the world has never seen" if they continue to expand their nuclear and missile programmes. The comments come after reports that North Korea had produced a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). In a press conference at his Bedminster, New Jersey property, Mr Trump warned that North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un "best not make any more threats to the US". "They will be met with fire and fury and frankly power the likes of which the world has never seen before," Mr Trump said, in his first public comments since the news broke. The US Defense Intelligence Agency has determined that North Korea possesses up to 60 nuclear weapons some of which are small enough to fit on a long-range missile, The Washington Post reported. This number is more than double that predicted by most independent experts. Japan's Defense Ministry has also concluded that "it is possible that North Korea has achieved the miniaturisation of nuclear weapons and has developed nuclear warheads." The North Korean regime tested two ICBMs - that they claimed were capable of hitting the US mainland - last month. The missiles were not believed to be capable of delivering a nuclear warhead at the time of launch, with experts split over their potential range. The US retaliated by flying bombers over the Korean Peninsula and testing a missile of its own. American forces are also helping to deploy a US-made anti-missile defence system - THAAD - in South Korea. North Korea has often accused the US and South Korea of escalating tensions by conducting joint military drills. Last week, the United Nations voted to impose an estimated $1bn in sanctions on North Korea. Praising the sanctions in an interview, US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned: "It is time for North Korea to realise, we are not playing anymore". Story continues .@AP news alert: Trump says North Korea will be met with "fire and fury" if it doesn't end threats to the U.S. pic.twitter.com/9jxGU2ljhP PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) August 8, 2017 The North Korean government, however, responded by threatening to take physical action against the US. Packs of wolves are coming in attack to strangle a nation, a statement broadcast on North Korean TV said. They should be mindful that [North Korea's] strategic steps accompanied by physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilisations of all its national strength. North Korea said in a later statement that it is carefully examining a plan to strike the US Pacific territory of Guam with missiles. A spokesman for the Korean People's Army, in a statement carried by the North's state-run KCNA news agency, said the strike plan will be put into practice once leader Kim Jong-un makes a decision. The consequences of any US strike against North Korea would potentially be catastrophic for South Koreans, Japanese and US military personnel within range of North Korean retaliatory strikes - let alone the possibility of civilian casualties. US military and intelligence officials said any military action against North Korea could unleash a barrage of missiles and artillery in retaliation targeted at Seoul and US bases in South Korea and elsewhere that would likely claim hundreds of thousands of lives. Several US officials have also said that military action is a possibility, although that is far from their first choice. National security adviser HR McMaster told MSNBC's Hugh Hewitt that the President is prepared to wage a "preventative war" against North Korea. [Mr Trump] said hes not going to tolerate North Korea being able to threaten the United States, Mr McMaster said. ...So of course, we have to provide all options to do that. And that includes a military option. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned of an effective and overwhelming response against North Korea if it chose to use nuclear weapons but has said any military solution would be tragic on an unbelievable scale. Despite the tough talk, however, the majority of Americans say they aren't sure Mr Trump can resolve the conflict. Sixty-one per cent of Americans say they are uneasy about Mr Trumps ability to handle the situation, according to a CBS News poll. Others also have reservations about US action. Responding to Mr Trump's latest comments, Republican Senator John McCain said in an interview that great leaders don't threaten foes unless they're ready to act and he's not certain President Trump is ready to act against North Korea. Elsewhere, South Korea has reiterated further United Nations resolutions against Pyongyang could follow if it did not pull back. While Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the new UN resolution on exports showed China and the international community's opposition to North Korea's continued missile tests. Owing to China's traditional economic ties with North Korea, it will mainly be China paying the price for implementing the resolution, China's foreign ministry in a statement on Tuesday, citing Mr Wang. China, North Korea's lone major ally, has repeatedly said it is committed to enforcing increasingly tough UN resolutions on North Korea, though it has also said what it terms normal trade and ordinary North Koreans should not be affected. President Trump tweeted out a link to a Fox News report about North Korea that contained what U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said was classified information. Haley said on Fox & Friends Tuesday that she could not discuss the story. The president, who tweeted the Fox News report about an hour before Haleys interview aired, did not add any comment to the link. U.S. spy satellites detect North Korea moving anti-ship cruise missiles to patrol boat https://t.co/BPFXsLffgy FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) August 8, 2017 According to the report, North Korea had loaded two antiship cruise missiles onto a patrol boat. What can you tell us about that [story]? Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy asked Haley. I cant, Haley said. I cant talk about anything thats classified, and if thats in the newspaper, thats a shame, but Doocy interjected, asking, You have no reason to believe thats not accurate, though? Haley responded: I have no reason to comment on it. The Fox News report was based on two anonymous U.S. officials. Trump has repeatedly called out media outlets for using anonymous sources, his most recent criticism coming Monday about the failing nytimes and their non-existent sources. Remember, dont believe sources said by the VERY dishonest media, Trump wrote Sept. 30, 2016. If they dont name the sources, the sources dont exist. Remember, don't believe "sources said" by the VERY dishonest media. If they don't name the sources, the sources don't exist. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016 On Fox & Friends, Haley also railed against leaks of classified information, calling them incredibly dangerous. Story continues Youre not only just getting a scoop on something youre playing with peoples lives, Haley said. And this has got to stop. Whatever the leaks are coming from, if somebody thinks theyre getting power or fame from it, all youre doing is putting Americans in danger. The White House has pledged to curb leaks of classified information. Attorney General Jeff Sessions promised Friday to take a more aggressive stance on the issue. If you improperly disclose classified information, we will find you, we will investigate you and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and you will not be happy with the result, Sessions vowed. Read more from Yahoo News: Turkish gendarmes escort a former army special forces officer wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word hero. - AFP Terrorist or coup suspects will be made to wear special uniforms when they appear in court, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said, after a defendant showed up for trial last month with a T-shirt that said "Hero" on it. Mr Erdogan, who said last month that suspects in the failed 2016 military coup should be given jumpsuits like those worn by detainees at the US military prison in Guantanamo, said on Saturday that the new regulation clothing would be brown. Erdogan waves to his supporters as he arrives to commemorate the one year anniversary of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt Credit: AP "No more coming dressed as they will," Mr Erdogan said in a speech in the eastern town of Malatya on Saturday. Defendants accused of being involved in the failed military coup would wear jumpsuits, while terrorism suspects would wear jackets and trousers, he added. "They will be introduced to the world like that. Now they will show off this way," he said. Since the July 15, 2016 coup attempt more than 50,000 people have been detained and 150,000 people suspended in a crackdown which has drawn criticism from some Western allies. Turkey says it is a justified response to the threat the country faces. The "Hero" T-shirt worn by a defendant in a trial of coup suspects three weeks ago led to a heated argument inside the courtroom and the judge briefly suspended the hearing. Several people were detained by police across the country in the following days for wearing the same T-shirts, Turkish media reported. Welcome to Two Minute Money, Yahoo Finances new personal finance series offering quick explanations for some of the most important questions involving your money. Youve been selected for jury duty, and youre required to show up. However, federal law doesnt require your employer to pay you while youre serving. The good news is youre entitled to payment for your jury service. If youre summoned for jury duty in a federal court, you will get paid at least $40 a day. You could also get paid more, depending on what kind of jury you serve on. Trial jurors, as the name suggests, serve on either criminal or civil trials. Jurors determine guilt or innocence in criminal trials, and in civil trials they rule for the plaintiff or the defendant. Jurors get $50 a day after the 10th day of a trial. Grand jurors, on the other hand, decide whether theres enough evidence to indict a defendant. They get $50 a day after 45 days on a grand jury. Both grand jurors and trial jurors get reimbursed for transportation and parking fees and for meals and lodging if they have to stay overnight. A trial jury is also known as a petit jury. This is just how the federal courts work, though. State courts have varying policies on jury duty pay, and some states even require your employer to pay you while youre serving on a jury. The state of New York, however, merely encourages employers to pay workers their full salaries while theyre on jury duty. Companies that have more than 10 employees have to pay the jury fee of $40 or the employees wage (whichever is lower) for the first three days of their service (after three days, the state of New York will take over). Money you earn for jury duty is taxable income. Make sure you claim it; you should file it on the other income line of your 1040 and write in that it was for jury duty. If do you get summoned, let your employer know and make sure you show up. Jury duty can cost you money if youre only getting paid $40 a day nevertheless, you could end up getting penalized if you fail to serve. More from Money Basics: What is a hedge fund? What is the Fed? What is an annuity? What is a robo-advisor? What is an ETF? (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday upheld the conviction of a former New Jersey-based high-speed trader who was found guilty in the first U.S. criminal trial involving the manipulative trading practice known as spoofing. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago rejected the appeal of Michael Coscia, who was sentenced in 2016 to three years in prison after a federal jury found the owner of New Jersey-based Panther Energy Trading guilty of commodities fraud and spoofing. Spoofing involves placing bids to buy or offers to sell futures contracts with the intent to cancel them before execution. By creating an illusion of demand, spoofers can influence prices to benefit their market positions. The case has been closely watched as Coscia was the first person to be criminally prosecuted under an anti-spoofing provision implemented as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform. The three-judge panel rejected arguments by Coscia's lawyers that the anti-spoofing statute was unconstitutionally vague and argued that the evidence prosecutors submitted at trial was insufficient to support his conviction. "The antispoofing provision provides clear notice and does not allow for arbitrary enforcement," U.S. Circuit Judge Kenneth Ripple wrote. "Consequently, it is not unconstitutionally vague." A lawyer for Coscia, 55, did not respond to a request for comment. Federal prosecutors in Chicago accused Coscia of using computer algorithms to quickly place large orders he never intended to execute into markets run by CME Group Inc and Intercontinental Exchange Inc. They said he engaged in spoofing of various markets for commodities, including gold, soybean oil and high-grade copper, which allowed him to make $1.4 million in less than three months in 2011. Coscia denied wrongdoing. He is currently incarcerated at a medium-security prison in New Jersey. The case is U.S. v. Coscia, 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 16-3017. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) By Jonathan Stempel and Brendan Pierson NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three former executives at Transmar Commodity Group Ltd have been charged with defrauding banks to win a $400 million credit line for their now bankrupt New Jersey-based cocoa trading company, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday. Peter G. Johnson, who was Transmar's chief executive; his son Peter B. Johnson, who oversaw Transmar's Euromar Commodities affiliate; and Thomas Reich, the former finance vice president, were each charged with bank fraud, wire fraud affecting a financial institution and conspiracy to commit fraud. The three men appeared in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon and were released on bail. They are scheduled to appear again on Friday before U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff. "I didn't do it," the younger Johnson said to reporters as he walked out of the courtroom. Lawyers for the defendants declined to comment. Transmar, a Morristown, New Jersey-based unit of Transmar Group Ltd, had sold cocoa products to chocolate makers such as Hershey Co and Nestle SA prior to filing for Chapter 11 protection last Dec. 31. Prosecutors accused the defendants of "lying repeatedly" from 2014 to December 2016 by giving banks false "borrowing base" reports that inflated the amount of collateral Transmar had to support its borrowings. Transmar owed the banks roughly $360 million at the time of the bankruptcy, prosecutors said. Peter G. Johnson, 68, of Harding Township, New Jersey, and Peter B. Johnson, 38, of Morristown, were arrested at their homes on Tuesday morning, while Reich, 59, of Montvale, New Jersey, surrendered later to the FBI, prosecutors said. Each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison on each count, prosecutors said. Transmar's bankruptcy case was converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation on July 26. The criminal case is U.S. v. Johnson et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 17-cr-00482. The bankruptcy case is In re: Transmar Commodity Group Ltd, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, No. 16-13625. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Chris Reese and Dan Grebler) Exclusive: series of emails show staff at Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service advised to reference weather extremes instead Among the intense weather events qualifying as climate change under the advice in the email chain is drought. Photograph: David Mcnew/AFP/Getty Images Staff at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been told to avoid using the term climate change in their work, with the officials instructed to reference weather extremes instead. A series of emails obtained by the Guardian between staff at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a USDA unit that oversees farmers land conservation, show that the incoming Trump administration has had a stark impact on the language used by some federal employees around climate change. A missive from Bianca Moebius-Clune, director of soil health, lists terms that should be avoided by staff and those that should replace them. Climate change is in the avoid category, to be replaced by weather extremes. Instead of climate change adaption, staff are asked to use resilience to weather extremes. The primary cause of human-driven climate change is also targeted, with the term reduce greenhouse gases blacklisted in favor of build soil organic matter, increase nutrient use efficiency. Meanwhile, sequester carbon is ruled out and replaced by build soil organic matter. In her email to staff, dated 16 February this year, Moebius-Clune said the new language was given to her staff and suggests it be passed on. She writes that we wont change the modeling, just how we talk about it there are a lot of benefits to putting carbon back in the sail [sic], climate mitigation is just one of them, and that a colleague from public affairs gave advice to tamp down on discretionary messaging right now. In contrast to these newly contentious climate terms, Moebius-Clune wrote that references to economic growth, emerging business opportunities in the rural US, agro-tourism and improved aesthetics should be tolerated if not appreciated by all. In a separate email to senior employees on 24 January, just days after Trumps inauguration, Jimmy Bramblett, deputy chief for programs at the NRCS, said: It has become clear one of the previous administrations priority is not consistent with that of the incoming administration. Namely, that priority is climate change. Please visit with your staff and make them aware of this shift in perspective within the executive branch. Story continues Bramblett added that prudence should be used when discussing greenhouse gases and said the agencys work on air quality regarding these gases could be discontinued. Other emails show the often agonized discussions between staff unsure of what is forbidden. On 16 February, a staffer named Tim Hafner write to Bramblett: I would like to know correct terms I should use instead of climate changes and anything to do with carbon ... I want to ensure to incorporate correct terminology that the agency has approved to use. On 5 April, Suzanne Baker, a New York-based NRCS employee, emailed a query as to whether staff are allowed to publish work from outside the USDA that use climate change. A colleague advises that the issue be determined in a phone call. Some staff werent enamored with the new regime, with one employee stating on an email on 5 July that we would prefer to keep the language as is and stressing the need to maintain the scientific integrity of the work. The USDA has been contacted for comment. Trump has repeatedly questioned the veracity of climate change research, infamously suggesting that it is part of an elaborate Chinese hoax. The president has started the process of withdrawing the US from the Paris climate agreement, has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to scrap or amend various regulations aimed at cutting greenhouse gases, and has moved to open up more public land and waters to fossil fuel activity. The nomenclature of the federal government has also shifted as these new priorities have taken hold. Mentions of the dangers of climate change have been removed from the websites of the White House and the Department of the Interior, while the EPA scrapped its entire online climate section in April pending a review that will be updating language to reflect the approach of new leadership. These records reveal Trumps active censorship of science in the name of his political agenda, said Meg Townsend, open government attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. To think that federal agency staff who report about the air, water and soil that sustains the health of our nation must conform their reporting with the Trump administrations anti-science rhetoric is appalling and dangerous for America and the greater global community. The Center for Biological Diversity is currently suing several government agencies, including the EPA and state department, to force them to release information on the censoring of climate change verbiage. While some of the changes to government websites may have occurred anyway, the emails from within the USDA are the clearest indication yet that staff have been instructed to steer clear of acknowledging climate change or its myriad consequences. US agriculture is a major source of heat-trapping gases, with 15% of the countrys emissions deriving from farming practices. A USDA plan to address the far reaching impacts of climate change is still online. However, Sam Clovis, Trumps nomination to be the USDAs chief scientist, has labeled climate research junk science. Last week it was revealed that Clovis, who is not a scientist, once ran a blog where he called progressives race traders and race traitors and likened Barack Obama to a communist. Mr Maduro has faced months of protests against his government: Getty Venezuelas top court has ordered the arrest and detention of a senior opposition leader behind recent protests, as President Nicholas Maduro seeks to hold onto power amid mounting international condemnation. The Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Ramon Muchacho, one of Caracass five mayors, for refusing an order to remove barricades set up by anti-government protesters. Critics of the government said the move was a violation of due process and a blatant attempt to punish opponents. Mr Muchacho, who is mayor of the Caracas district of Chacao, did not appear at the hearing and said on Twitter: All the weight of revolutionary injustice has fallen on my shoulders. Todo el peso de la injusticia revolucionaria ha caido sobre mi y sobre Chacao. Se nos condena por luchar por un Cambio en Venezuela! pic.twitter.com/tu0XwlE96T RAMON MUCHACHO (@ramonmuchacho) August 8, 2017 He later emailed supporters, saying: We are being condemned for doing our job, for guaranteeing the legitimate right to peaceful protest and the right of all Venezuelans to exercise their civil and political rights. He added: The coming hours will be difficult for me. The move comes after Mr Maduro pressed ahead with a vote to establish a controversial new assembly that has been packed with his supporters and which his critics say will have unlimited powers. There is a dispute as to how many people took part in a vote for the assembly last month, but opposition parties boycotted the process. The move was condemned by the EU, US and Britain. Mr Maduro denounced the criticism from Washington as nothing more than the latest attempt by the US to interfere in the countrys affairs. The head of the CIA suggested last month the agency was working with Mexico and Colombia to bring about a transition in Caracas. Polls suggest that Mr Maduros approval rating may be as low as 20 per cent. Some observers believe that many supporters of the late Hugo Chavez, Mr Maduros predecessor, have lost sympathy as the economic situation has worsened, and food shortages intensified. Story continues Last month, the US introduced new sanctions against Mr Maduro and a dozen of his closest supporters. At least 124 people have been killed in protests against the government, yet it is unclear precisely how many of those were opponents of the government and how many were police or troops. UN human rights investigators believe security forces were responsible for at least 46 deaths, and pro-government armed groups were responsible for 27. NotiPatria: Venezuela siempre sera una Patria Victoriosa, porque somos el Pueblo Glorioso de Simon Bolivar https://t.co/UPzk3dXjf0 Nicolas Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) August 8, 2017 The Associated Press said the Supreme Court has issued injunctions against nearly a dozen mayors of opposition municipalities, ordering them to prevent protesters from setting up barricades. The court is hearing a similar case against the mayor of another Caracas district, David Smolansky of El Hatillo. Intelligence agents last month arrested Alfredo Ramos, the mayor of the city of Barquisimeto, on accusations that he violated the same order, the AP said. On Tuesday, the US said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was convinced the crisis in Venezuela could not be solved through the imposition of unilateral measures and urged the government and opposition to relaunch negotiations. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Mr Guterres is concerned that recent developments could lead to further escalation of tensions and distance the country from a path conducive to a peaceful solution to its challenges. At this critical time the secretary-general is urging negotiations for the benefit of the Venezuelan people, he said. In Geneva, UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani, said: We are concerned that the situation in Venezuela is escalating and these patterns of human rights violations are showing no signs of abating. Larry Birns, Director of the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs, told The Independent Mr Maduro retained a number of hardcore supporters who would stand by him. Regardless of the hypocrisy of the US, Maduro is becoming more politically isolated every day, he said. If the opposition feels this is its moment, it will not budge. The US, which many believe has been seeking a change of government in Venezuela since Mr Chavez was first elected in 2002, repeated its rejection of the new constituent assembly. Department spokeswoman Heather Nauer issued a series of tweets saying the US will continue to use appropriate econ/diplomatic tools to address the threat to democratic institutions in Venezuela. A 25-year-old Florida man has been arrested after he touched two girls at a Naples Walmart store inappropriately Aug.4. The girls, aged 8 and 11, were purchasing stationery items at the "Back to School" section of the store when the man allegedly groped them, according to reports. The two families were shocked when they learned the girls were groped in separate incidents by the same man, Eric Wrobleski. One of the two girls, aged 11, told her mother Wrobleski grabbed her from behind. The girl's mother complained to the store management that notified the Collier County Sheriff's Office. Hours later, another 8-year-old girl also complained to her mother the same man touched her in a similar manner while shopping, the New York Daily News reported citing an arrest affidavit. Wrobleski was arrested the same day. Such cases are not unheard of at the Walmart stores. In June, at least 16 registered homeless sex offenders listed the Walmart store at Clearlake Road, Cocoa, in Florida as their home address, ABC-affiliate WFTV reported. Under the state law, homeless sex offenders can register themselves by providing the nearest physical address. Read: Taiwanese Couple Buys Street In San Francisco For $90,000 As the reports about the sex offenders raised concern among the residents, Walmart issued a statement that read: We work to maintain a safe environment for our customers and associates. Its disturbing to learn that convicted felons would list our store as their residential address. We condemn such a practice and must refer any other questions to local law enforcement. In March, a man allegedly touched a woman and a teenager inappropriately at a Walmart store in Battle Ground, Washington D.C., police told CBS-affiliate KOIN 6 News. Another such incident was reported in January when a woman was arrested in Sumter County, Florida, over multiple charges. She drank five beers inside the Walmart store and assaulted an emergency management technician after she got handcuffed. As the woman was being evaluated by the paramedics at the store, she grabbed a technician by the testicles, CBS-affiliate News 6 WKMG reported citing the arrest report. Story continues In November, a man was arrested after he was caught on camera groping a woman at a Walmart store in Memphis, Tennessee. He was charged with sexual battery, Fox 5 KVVU-TV reported. In another incident, reported in March 2016, a 24-year-old man surrendered to police after allegedly groping a 64-year-old woman at a Walmart store in Newnan, Georgia. The police said the suspect approached the woman, 40 years his senior, groped her, and then ran away, cbs46.com reported. Read: Why Violent Crimes In Retail Stores Are More Frequent In May 2015, a man was arrested for groping multiple women at a Walmart store at Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. Court records revealed the man had allegedly grabbed several women by their backs inside the store in previous instances as well. One of the victims was just 13, CBS Miami reported. Walmart stores across the U.S. have become a haven for criminals since 2000 after the then CEO Leo Scott started cutting budgets. "The constant calls from Walmart are just draining," Bill Ferguson, a police captain in Port Richey, Florida, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg in a report published in August 2016. "They recognize the problem and refuse to do anything about it." Related Articles Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. A fter seeing an ear, nose, and throat doctor for ear pain and congestion, my 21-year-old son was told to come back 2 hours later for some testing. When he returned, no physician was present, and he received no explanation of why the testing (which turned out to be allergy testing) was ordered, how it would be conducted, possible side effects, or available alternatives. Had that discussionwhich is called informed consenttaken place, my son would have simply told them that hed had allergy testing two weeks earlier. Informed consent is important to consumers' health for many reasons. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most abused and misunderstood concepts in medical care today. That's why it's important to be truly informed about informed consent. What Is Informed Consent? It's intended to be a conversational process when your clinician explains the risks and benefits of a specific test, procedure, surgery, or other treatment. During this talk, your doctor should also outline other available options and make it clear that you are helping make decisions about your care. You then confirm your understanding of what youve been told and agree toor rejectthe doctor's recommendation. Today, however, some doctors have become far too casual about this process. Instead of a shared discussion, the goal in some cases has shifted to getting you to sign a piece of paper called a release. With your signing, a doctor or hospital feels legally protected in case something goes wrong. For your consent to be considered valid, it must be voluntary. But most people feel uncomfortableeven intimidated or coercedwhen a doctor asks them to sign a release. So they might not speak up, even if they have concerns. When It Should Happen Your doctor should initiate an informed consent discussion if he or she recommends anesthesia, surgery, or any invasive procedure (one that invades the body, usually by piercing the skin), or if you are asked to be in a clinical research trial. Story continues There is no national consensus on when informed consent is required. It varies from state to state and can be influenced by a doctor or hospitals interpretation of recommendations from professional and specialty groups. Those interpretations are not always correct. For example, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunologys sample informed consent form for allergy skin testing notes that a physician or other healthcare professional will be on hand because occasional reactions may require immediate therapy. That didnt happen in my sons situation. How the Discussion Should Go During informed consent, your doctor should explain the procedure, test, or treatment in plain words and without medical jargonand tell you which roles each healthcare provider plays. This should be a thorough verbal discussiona release form should serve as a supplement to this, not a replacement. In fact, the form should merely confirm that the discussion took place. A good informed consent discussion also uses decision aids, interactive media, or digital tools. It should include information from medical studies, best practices, and clinical guidelines. Your doctor should pull in a qualified medical interpreter, if needed, and allow for assistance for limited English proficiency or hearing or visual impairment. Making Sure You Understand During an informed consent talk, you should be able to take notes, bring along a friend or family member, ask questions, get clarifications on anything thats unclear, and have time to consider your options before you decide. Afterward, its useful to summarize back the highlights of what you heard. If you feel rushed or ignored, ask whether the decision on the proposed test or treatment can be delayed until your doctor can answer your questions fully. (In emergencies, or if you are unable to communicate, informed consent may not be necessary.) Remember, if youre uncomfortable, you have the right to say no. Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the September 2017 issue of Consumer Reports on Health. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2017, Consumer Reports, Inc. An Arizona woman who was previously found guilty of murder in the death of her cousin, who suffocated while locked in an old trunk, has been sentenced to death. Sammantha Allen, 29, was accused of locking 10-year-old Ame Deal, in the trunk in triple-digit Phoenix heat back in 2011. It was punishment, prosecutors argued, for the girl's theft of an ice pop. Read: Caretakers Arrested After 10-Year-Old Girl With Autism Found Locked in Cage: Cops "We the jury duly impaneled and sworn in the above entitled actions upon our oaths having considered all the facts and circumstances unanimously find that the defendant should be sentenced to death," the jury representative read as Allen sobbed. A jury earlier this year found that Allen knew her husband, John Allen, had allegedly put Deal in the foot locker and padlocked it on a hot June day. "[John Allen] said he remembered times where [Ame] spent times in the box overnight and survived," Allen said during videotaped statements to Phoenix police. But Ame suffocated in the 31-by-14-by-12 inch box, which only had small air holes near its handles, and was found dead the next day, authorities said. "There never was intention on killing her," Allen said in the video. He [John Allen] said he was going to get her out." In addition to first-degree murder, Allen was found guilty of child abuse, intentional or knowing child abuse and negligent child abuse. Watch: Rescuers Spend 3 Hours Cleaning Dog Found Trapped in a Barrel of Hot Tar John Allen is set to face trial on Oct. 9. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Three other relatives were also convicted of abusing Ame and are currently in prison. Watch: Woman Relives Harrowing Ordeal of Being Locked in Coffin-Like Box for 7 Years Related Articles: James Damore, the engineer who wrote the memo, said he was exploring all possible legal remedies - Facebook Google has fired a computer engineer who caused a storm in Silicon Valley by asserting that the gender gap among technology workers was down to biological differences between men and women. James Damore, a Harvard university graduate who had worked at Google for four years, ignited a sexism row last week when he distributed a 10-page manifesto that accused the company of political bias against conservatives and said initiatives to encourage female programmers were unfair. On Tuesday Damore revealed he had been dismissed by Google for perpetuating gender stereotypes and said he was considering legal action against the company. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who is holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, offered him a job and accused Google of censorship. Google's CEO Sundar Pichai Credit: Reuters Damores manifesto had accused the company of a left bias and a politically correct monoculture that maintains its hold by shaming dissenters into silence. It said the yawning gap in jobs and pay for male and female computer experts was partly due to biological causes such as mens higher drive for status and women being more prone to anxiety rather than any biases and called for an end to the companys initiatives to promote minorities. Google employees publicly criticised the memo but Damore said he had received many private messages of support from staff who felt the same way. Sundar Pichai, the companys chief executive, said that while parts of the memo were fair to debate, much of it violated the companys code of conduct. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK, he said in an email to staff. The controversy has come at a sensitive time for Google, which is under investigation by the US government after accusations of gender pay inequality, and has been forced to hand over pay records. Former Google staff member Joshua Damore (centre) with two colleagues Assange, who has repeatedly attacked Google over privacy issues, tweeted: Women and men deserve respect. That includes not firing them for politely expressing ideas but rather arguing back. Story continues Damore said he was exploring all possible legal remedies against the company. Debate over the treatment of women in the male-dominated tech industry has raged for months. Claims of persistent sexual harassment in the ranks of Uber and of several venture capital firms led to management shakeups. Management at the largest tech firms, including Google, have publicly committed to diversifying their workforces, although the percentage of women in engineering and management roles remains low at many companies. Inside Google London offices Google has unveiled new measures aimed at helping news organizations drive more subscriptions and generate revenues (AFP Photo/LOIC VENANCE) Washington (AFP) - The dismissal of a Google engineer over a memo defending the Silicon Valley gender gap has fanned the flames of a simmering debate in the tech sector over sexism, free expression and political correctness. The "manifesto" published as an internal memo by James Damore, which claimed "biological differences" were a key factor in the low percentage of women in technology jobs sparked outcry from those claiming it perpetuated stereotypes and discrimination. Then Damore was fired -- according to media reports and his own email to the far-right news website Breitbart -- which sparked a new backlash from those claiming Google was stifling free speech. The fresh controversy comes with Silicon Valley struggling in the face of accusations of rampant sexual harassment and discrimination affecting startups like Uber and venture capital firms investing in the sector. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, without commenting on Damore, said employees have a right to express themselves but that the memo appeared to "cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK," Pichai said in his email to employees. But Damore's firing fueled a wave of criticism from those arguing Google was suppressing a dissenting viewpoint. "Very sad about #JamesDamore being fired by @Google for basically popularising behavioural science. Scandalous and immoral," one Twitter user wrote. "Google went from: 'Don't be evil' to 'Speak no evil about political correctness,'" another tweet said. Damore's firing made him a hero to the far right and those claiming political correctness has gone too far. Breitbart published the first of what it said was a series of interviews with "rebels of Google" who claim the company is stifling dissent. Story continues "Witch hunts are a well-known cultural problem at Google," one employee identified only as "Hal" said. "A lot of social justice activists essentially spend all day fighting the culture war, and get nothing done." Damore's 10-page memo, which was leaked on the website Gizmodo and later on Motherboard, argued that Google has silenced anyone seeking to differ with official policy, leading to "an ideological echo chamber." - Gender woes in Valley - Currently some 69 percent of Google's employees are men, according to the company's latest figures, a proportion that rises to 80 percent when it comes to technology jobs. In 2016 at Facebook just 27 percent of senior executives were women. At Apple, around 30 percent of total employees are women. Roger Kay, who heads the tech consultancy Endpoint Technologies Associates, said the Damore case is not about free speech, and that Google has a right to keep employees who support the company's values. "They're not putting him in jail, it's not a criminal indictment," Kay said. "His speech (memo) was odious, and they're absolutely allowed to fire him for it if it promotes the greater good." Some analysts say there is no easy answer for tech firm which are seeking to promote a diverse workforce while dealing with competing factions. "Though theres been plenty of outrage over the (Damore) post among Google employees and others in the tech industry, there are also significant numbers who have welcomed it," said Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research in a blog post. "Despite the broad official push for diversity from tech companies, there's still a big chunk of the employee base that holds such views and wishes they could air them more freely." From Woman's Day OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING 1.WINNER SELECTION: Winners (individually and collectively, the "Winner") will be selected on or about 11/31/2017 in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Each sweepstakes is a different drawing that must be entered separately. All the sweepstakes in these Official Rules are individually and collectively the "Sweepstakes." In the event the Sponsor does not receive any eligible entries, the Sponsor has the right to cancel the Sweepstakes. Drawing will be conducted by Woman's Day, whose decisions are final. Odds of winning will depend upon the total number of eligible entries received. 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If any alternate(s) similarly fails to respond or declines the prize, Sponsor will use a reasonable number of attempts, in its discretion, to award the prize(s) to another alternate(s) but if it is unable to do so, the prize(s) will be finally forfeited and Sponsor shall have no further liability in connection with said Sweepstakes. List of Winner(s): For the name(s) of the Winner(s), send a separate self-addressed, stamped envelope to September 2017 Woman's Day 80th Anniversary Sweepstakes Winners' List, Hearst Communications, Inc., 300 West 57th Street NY, NY 10019 within two (2) months from the Winner notification date as specified above. Story continues Schwinn Sweepstakes: Enter beginning 12:01 A.M. (ET) on August 1, 2017, through 11:59 P.M. (ET) on October 1, 2017 (the "Entry Period"). Go to womansday.com/giveaways on a computer or wireless device and complete and submit the entry form pursuant to the onscreen instructions. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM AND ENTERED YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. Prizes & Approximate Retail Value: One (1) winner will receive a Schwinn Sivica in the color of her choice (ARV: $459.99), a Mystique Helmet (ARV: $24.99) and Key and Combo Lock (ARV: $19.99) from Schwinn. Total value of prize package: $504.97. Total ARV of all prizes awarded: $504.97. Any difference between the stated ARV and the actual value of the prize will not be awarded in any form. 3. ENTRIES: Limit one (1) entry per person per day for each Sweepstakes. Multiple entries from the same person per day for the same sweepstakes will be disqualified. Entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned. Proof of submission does not constitute proof of receipt. If applicable, illegible, inaccurate, lost, late, misdirected, incomplete, mutilated, postage due or mechanically reproduced entry forms or entry forms that have been tampered with will be disqualified. Online entrants must have valid email address and it is entrant's responsibility to update Sponsor of any change in email address. The mobile phone number and wireless service provider/carrier of mobile entrants (if applicable) will be automatically captured in the Sweepstakes database and all participation will be limited to that phone number unless entrant notifies Sponsor of a change. If there is a dispute as to the identity of an online or mobile entrant, the prize will be awarded to the authorized account holder of the email address or mobile phone. The "authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person to whom the email address or mobile phone is assigned by an internet service provider, online service provider, carrier, mobile phone provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning the email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address or responsible for assigning the mobile phone number. 4. ELIGIBILITY: For the Schwinn Sweepstakes, open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their state or territory at time of entry. For all the other sweepstakes, open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who have reached the age of majority in their state or territory of residence at time of entry. Legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) who have reached the aforementioned age in their province of residence at time of entry are also eligible to enter. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. Employees of Sponsor, its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries, participating advertising and promotion agencies, independent judging organizations, and prize suppliers (and members of their immediate family and/or those living in the same of household of each such employee) are not eligible. 5. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: Expenses not specifically included in prize description and all taxes are the sole responsibility of the Winner. Each prize is awarded "as is" with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied outside of manufacturer's limited warranty. No transfer, assignment or substitution of a prize permitted, except Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize for an item of equal or greater value in the event an advertised prize is unavailable. The Winner is required to comply with any and all applicable federal, state, provincial, if Canadians are eligible to enter, and local laws, rules and regulations. All federal, state and local taxes, and any other costs not specifically provided for in these Official Rules are solely the Winner's responsibility. If the actual retail value of any Winner's prize is $600 or more, the Winner must complete a W9 form and supply Sponsor with his/her social security number for tax purposes. An IRS Form 1099 will be issued in the name of the Winner for the actual value of the prizes received. Sponsor shall have no responsibility or obligation to the Winner or potential Winner who are unable or unavailable to accept or utilize prizes as described herein. Entrants agree to be bound by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Sweepstakes. Winner may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release and where legally permissible a Publicity Release within seven (7) days following the date of first attempted notification. Failure to comply with this deadline may result in forfeiture of the prize and selection of an alternate Winner. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate Winner. Winner hereby further agrees that it will sign any documents necessary to transfer copyright of his/her submitted entry, if applicable, to Sponsor within seven (7) days following the date of first attempted notification. By entering, Entrant grants permission for Sponsor, and any of its affiliates and subsidiaries, participating advertising and promotion agencies, and prize suppliers to use the entrant's submission (including an altered form of the entry), if any, for editorial, advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. If images are being submitted to Sponsor as a requirement for entry, Entrants agree that they have all rights to use the images submitted and to allow Sponsor, any of its affiliates and subsidiaries, participating advertising and promotion agencies, and prize suppliers to reuse any of the images, without any liability, for editorial, advertising and promotional purposes. Additionally, acceptance of the prize by Winner constitutes permission for Sponsor and any affiliates and subsidiaries, participating advertising and promotion agencies, and prize suppliers to use Winner's name and/or likeness and biographical material for editorial, advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. By accepting prize, Winner agrees to hold Sponsor, its advertising and promotion agencies and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representative agents, successors, assigns, officers, directors, and employees harmless for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused by participation in the Sweepstakes or acceptance or use of the prize. Sponsor is not responsible for any printing, typographical, mechanical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Sweepstakes or in the announcement of the prize. 6. INTERNET/MOBILE: Sponsor is not responsible for electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions or limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsor or presenter on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet, at any Web site, or via the mobile phone or any combination thereof. If for any reason the Internet or mobile phone portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt of affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. Sponsor reserves the right to select winners from eligible entries received as of the termination date. Sponsor further reserves the right to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process. Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Sweepstakes if it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, hacking, deception or other unfair playing practices or intending to abuse, threaten or harass other entrants. Caution: Any attempt by a participant to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such participant to the fullest extent of the law. 7. DISPUTES/CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by state or federal courts situated in New York, NY, (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other damages, including without limitation lost profits may be awarded (collectively, "Special Damages"), and (4) entrant hereby waives all rights to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased. New York State law, without reference to New York's choice of law rules, governs the Sweepstakes and all aspects related thereto. 8. SPONSOR: The Sponsor of these Sweepstakes is Hearst Communications, Inc., 300 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10019. You Might Also Like Maj. (res.) David (Dudi) Zohar, who was killed in an Apache helicopter crash at the Ramon Air Base on Monday night, made his grandmother Frania Goldhar, a Holocaust survivor, very proud when he became a pilot in the Air Force. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "This is her pride and also her revenge against the Nazi enemy," Zohar told Yedioth Ahronoth in an interview in January, shortly after she passed away. Zohar, a 43-year-old father-of-five, will be laid to rest at 6:30pm Tuesday at the cemetery in Haifa. Frania Goldhar waving to her grandson as he flies over her home (Photo: Eli Goldhar) "My grandmother gave lectures to children about the Holocaust," Zohar said in January. "She always finished her lectures by saying today she has a grandson in the Air Force, and this was her revenge against the Nazis. They tried to exterminate her, and now she has a grandson who is part of the State of Israel's defense apparatus." The interview with Zohar featured an emotional photo of Frania waving to her grandson who is flying a combat helicopter over her home with her arm stretched out, showing the number the Nazis branded her with when she was 21 years old: 50909. The photo was taken some seven years ago, when Frania was 88 years old. "This is a photo of victory," said Frania's son, Eli, who took the photo. "Her entire life, my grandmother worked for her family and took care of everyone. If I was able to make her proud, that makes me very proud," Zohar said of the photo. Frania passed away earlier this year at the age of 95. Her husband passed away from a heart attack when he was only 57. Four years later, her younger son Koby was killed when he was only 16 when a tractor he was riding flipped over. Her son, Eli, said his mother had two main lessons she made sure to instill in her children. "She always said, 'life is a gift, and this gift must be protected and make the most out of it.' The second sentence was that 'We only have one country, the State of Israel, and we need to protect our country, because if we wouldn't have Israel, we wouldn't have anything." Near 9pm, an A-model Apache helicopter from the IAF's Magic Touch Squadron was returning to the Ramon Air Base from a routine training flight when it encountered a technical malfunction. The pilots reported the malfunction to the control tower and continued approaching for landing. Shortly after that, the helicopter crashed between the two runways in the base. Maj. (res.) David (Dudi) Zohar An initial investigation into the accident found no connection between the technical malfunction the helicopter experienced and the crack recently discovered in the posterior rotor blade of one of the IAF's Apache helicopters during a routine check-up, which led to the grounding of two squadrons in June. The Air Force is examining all lines of inquiry, but at this points it appears technical failure in the helicopter's back rotor operations was the main factor that caused the crash. Investigators are now checking whether the technical failure originated in the steering or the propulsion system. The investigation is being overseen by Col. A., an aircrew instructor at the IAF's Command & Staff School and the former commander of a helicopter squadron. Seal on her heart The family commemorated Frania in a book documenting the story of her life, "Seal on my Heart," which comes with a CD of her poems, some written while she incarcerated at the Auschwitz extermination camp. "To tell everything is so difficult," writes Frania at the beginning of the book, "I have not forgotten, these are things you cannot forget, but it's better not to think about them again if you want to live under the sun, and not in the frayed shadows of nightmares. Most of my life I have driven the memories away, trying to go from moment to moment, from hour to hour, and move on, on and on." About being sent to Auschwitz, she wrote: "When I turned 21, time stopped, and from the moment I was thrown off the train to the day I was liberated, my life was suspended, as if I were the sleeping princess in the enchanted palace. But it was not a palace that kept me asleep, but the Auschwitz death camp, and no roses covered its walls, but electric barbed wire fences. The lips of a prince were not waiting for me, instead it was Dr. Mengele's damning finger." Frania Goldhar (Photo: Zohar Shahar) On the number branded on her left arm, Frania wrote: "This is the name I received at the age of 21. From that moment on, I had no other name but this number, which is engraved in my flesh to this day." She painfully described the trauma of have to shave her hair. "I was willing to give up food, sleep, almost anything, but not my hair," she said. "I obsessively kept my body and head clean. In spite of the terrible filth and the terrible lice that lurked in every corner of the camp, I managed to meet German standards and avoid the frequent shavings that were forced on us." But she was eventually forced to shave her hair. "I did not believe my hair would grow back and I mourned it bitterly. It was the last connection to everything that was dear to me," she wrote. Frania kept a paper bag at the entrance to her house for 50 years that read, among other things: "Knowing how to give is about listening to the other's will, forgiving others' mistake, sharing your loved one's happiness, letting others make mistakes, and knowing how to accept." Teachers at Bomigo Basic School in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, have resorted to relying on keyboards made of clay to effectively teach students about computers. Get more news on current and trending issues in Ghana here in YEN.com.gh The municipality is without electricity yet schools have been supplied black and white computers with accessories. READ ALSO: I don't cheat my employees, I pay all their benefits - Nduom responds to critics Joy News correspondent, Ivy Setordzi, who filed the initial report, had visited the area stated that, Thomas Ahiabor uses his single laptop to lead the teaching of ICT lessons. Ghanaians are outraged over students in Bomigo who learn ICT with clay-moulded computers The pupils have to envision what computers are, by relying on computer accessories such as keyboard moulded out of clay. Ghanaians are outraged over students in Bomigo who learn ICT with clay-moulded computers A frustrated Mr. Ahiabor believes relying on clay-moulded computer accessories, though ill-advised, is the most innovative thing they could do. Ghanaians are outraged over students in Bomigo who learn ICT with clay-moulded computers They are making use of local resources, in this case, the large deposits of clay they have. "The situation is very bad and we have no choice than to take advantage of the clay deposits to would the computers", the teacher said. Sadly, there are no materials for the ICT program in the school, making the situation even worse and very difficult. Ghanaians are outraged over students in Bomigo who learn ICT with clay-moulded computers Member of Parliament for the area, Kofi Humado, however, told the reporter although he has some computers available to be delivered to the school the unavailability of electricity, means it will be of no use to the pupils. "If the bridge can be constructed then the rural electrification program can also go through then the road can also follow", Mr. Humado appealed. READ ALSO: Nduom fires NPP and Nana Addo; says they are "marking history" as Ghanaians suffer Send us a message on our official YEN Facebook group or at info@yen.com.gh. 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. Source: YEN.com.gh - Dr. Valerie Sawyer has warned Martin Amidu to end his rants against the NDC and its members - She said his over-bloated ego is likely to be his Achilles Heel which could destroy him Get the latest news in Ghana on YEN.com.gh The Former Attorney General, Martin Amidu has been warned to end his harsh critique of the National Democratic Congress, by the former deputy Chief of Staff under the Mahama Administration, Valerie Sawyerr. Martin Amidu READ ALSO: These are the classy and expensive cars that convey Otumfuo Osei Tutu about town (Photos) According to Dr. Sawyerr, Mr. Amidu should end his association with the party if he no longer has any intention of pushing forward their agenda. Martin Amidu in recent weeks has launched strong verbal attacks on the NDC, throwing harsh jabs at the executives at various levels. Earlier this week, Mr. Amidu blamed the current rot at the Electoral Commission on the maneuverings of the NDC. Martin Amidu had alleged that the NDC government appointed Madam Charlotte Osei in hopes of using her position as EC chair to rig the 2016 General Elections in their favor, a plan which sadly for the NDC backfired. However, Dr. Sawyer has lambasted the lawyer who has named himself a citizen vigilante, stating he should end his rants at the party. PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest news on the go with the YEN.com.gh app right here and what is Comrade Martin Amidu also babbling about? Martin, did I not tell you that your pomposity, over-bloated ego and sense of self-importance constitute your Achilles heel? Remember, when I told you (years ago) after a presidential press conference, that a directive had been issued that no appointee should grant a press interview in order to avoid any contradictory statements on air and you screeched who are you small girl like you where were you when I was Attorney General etc etc? Remember I told you that it is your Achilles heel that would destroy you?, she said. In a report by Starr FM, Dr. Sawyerr wondered when Mr. Amidu became a proclaimed crusader for the nations interest, suggesting that his rise in the ranks of the New Patriotic Party coincides with his decline in the NDC ranks. Dr. Sawyerr challenged Martin Amidu to cut the crap and resign from the NDC, as his aim of sending them into opposition was achieved. READ ALSO: Denkyira-Obuasi residents to rename town to 'New Obuasi' to 'wash away their sins' Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us an email with your stories, photos or videos to info@yen.com.gh or contact us via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Two level 100 students of the University of Ghana (UG) are currently in the grips of the Ghana Police after circulating bare-skinned pictures of some underage Junior High School (JHS) students. Get more news on current and trending issues in Ghana here on YEN.com.gh The suspects, identified as Desmond Appleton and Elvin Boakye Agyemang, reportedly tricked their victims to send them the pictures. READ ALSO: Ghanaians are enraged that Juliet Ibrahim is dating a "rogue" Nigerian artiste After receiving the said explicit images from the two teenagers - believed to be 14 and 16 years old the two tertiary students decided to share them around amongst their friends and cronies. The two had initially demanded for a ransom from their victims, in a form of credit, threatening to leak the nude photos if their request was not granted. 2 University of Ghana students arrested for circulating explicit pictures of underage teens Upon realizing their victims were not willing to give in to their demands, they uploaded the nude photos onto the internet. The actions of the suspects led to the parents of the victims reporting the case to the Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID), for them to be arrested. Both suspects are currently in the grips of the police and are helping out with investigations. READ ALSO: Stop posting screenshots of fake accounts! Diamond Appiah warns Afia Schwarzenegger Send us a message on our official YEN Facebook group or at info@yen.com.gh. 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. Source: YEN.com.gh An article suggesting that real estate developers should be accountable for paying for property management fees triggered great dispute among the lawmakers, including those who rarely voice their opinions during AL meetings. Leonel Alves started by criticizing the fact that the bills Portuguese version was not ideal, and then pointed out an article that was strongly debated by several lawmakers who normally do not speak during the inquiry sessions. He the expressed the hope that both the government and the ALs consultants can improve their the Portuguese version of the bill. It is very easy to notice that there are some articles translated directly from Chinese to Portuguese, and that some are repeated, said the veteran lawmaker. One article suggests that property owners should be liable for management fees when the claimants or people who pre-purchased the properties did not pay for the management fees. The Legal Affairs Bureau said that the government proposed such an article based on a rule which suggests giving responsibilities to the owners, and noted that the person who pre-purchased the house is not yet considered as an owner, which deems the real owners [or property project developers] to be the actual owners of the properties. Under such conditions, if the buyers do not pay for property management fees, then the developers should pay. After listening to the governments reply, Leonel Alves suggested the AL should read two separate articles, both involving the aforementioned topics, for the lawmakers to vote on. He also criticized the two articles for being unreasonable and proposing immature measures to solve [the problem]. This terms AL is about to end, and it is inappropriate [for lawmakers] to hear this. Leonel Alvess opinion caused many lawmakers to weigh in, expressing their stances on the article. Melinda Chan deemed that it should not be the developers paying for the management fees which are not covered by the buyers. Angela Leong also said that the articles need to be explained, and she suggested that the article pointed out by Leonel Alves should be voted on independently. Fong Chi Keong, following Angela Leong, also voiced his disagreement with the article, indicating that he would not vote for it If they [buyers] own management fees, and the developers need to be accountable for the responsibilities, I think such law is very problematic. Under which reasons should developers be responsible for the money owned by other people? [] It is very unreasonable, said Fong. A consultant from the Legal Affairs Bureau also explained that the government is trying to place the responsibility on the real owners and not on the pre-buyers, having told the lawmakers that the government is respecting the majoritys interests by establishing such an article. Fong Chi Keong criticized the government for giving all the benefits to the management companies. No matter what you do, there is no reason for 100 percent of benefits. [] If you establish the law like this, where is fairness? [] You lawmakers deliver this [the bill to us], but how can we pass it? asked Fong. He also said that the government should abandon the law, and citing the opinion of some lawmakers, he added I want to say his/her name, but I am afraid that he/she will stare at me. Government high officials, including Sonia Chan, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, said that the government established the article to protect the majority of the property owners. Chan also noted that since the article is relatively independent from other ones, it can be deleted from the bill. Cheung Lup Kwan felt the article did not have too many problems. Zheng Anting hoped the government could make all articles clear to avoid future problems. The bill was not voted on entirely (three articles were passed) during the meeting, which will resume today. on the lawmakers agenda ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION Chan Meng Kam criticized the governments bureaucracy regarding how the government is subsidizing the regions small business operators installing environment protection equipment in their shops. The Environment Protection Bureau (DSPA) is continuously inspecting thousands of shops subsidized by the bureau so that they can install environmental protection equipment on their premises. The business operators are required to deliver a written explanation if they fail to pass DSPAs inspection. Chan criticized DSPAs strict requirements during the inspections, adding that many of the requirements had not been scientifically proven to be beneficial at the time the criteria were first established. DENGUE FEVER PREVENTION Angela Leong suggested health authorities should implement measures to eradicate mosquitos near residential buildings where recent Dengue fever cases have been detected. She also called on the government to demand all sectors to undertake similar measures, including ordering several construction sites and buildings to conduct cleaning- up routines. Leong noted that some buildings and construction sites still have poor hygiene conditions, even after an urgent clean up works. She suggested the authority should enhance advertising in order to raise the publics awareness, and also conduct regular cleaning works across town. In Leongs opinion, all hospitals in Macau should be well prepared to prevent a Dengue fever outbreak. ABANDONED HISTORICAL BUILDING Leong Veng Chai called on the government to pay attention to a Portuguese-style building which has been abandoned for many years. The building is located at the Av. de Demetrio Cinatti. Leong said that the buildings neighborhood informed that the building used to be an office belonging to the water police authority. The building is based on Portuguese style architecture and has some years of history, it carries both historical value and a meaning, said Leong. Leong questioned whether the government, in particular the Cultural Affairs Bureau will preserve and renovate the building or reuse it as a governmental department office. Government will not issue licenses to property caretakers The Legislative Assembly (AL) passed a bill regarding property management for common parts of condominiums. The new rules for building management firms did not trigger any large-scale arguments among the lawmakers, although one opinion brought out by Au Kam San stirred debate. According to the new law, the Housing Bureau will become responsible for issuing licenses to companies in order for them to manage common parts of condominiums, with the license being valid possibly for three years. If any company sees its license being revoked, then the company can take a maximum of up to six months to handover the associated business to another company. The bill also suggests that a minimum of one technical director should be appointed by the company, and that this director must meet the requirements indicated by the law. Au Kam San asked how the government would deal with situations where a company is required by the government to suspend its service. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosario, explained: There is no [specific] way to handle such a situation, noting that the authority will handle each singular case according to its specific characteristics. If there are special situations, they will be handled specially, declared Rosario. Au then asked the Secretary whether the government will promise to provide training to management service providers, and whether condominium caretakers will work with a license. In Aus opinion, caretakers should be trained to ensure the quality of their services. Addressing Au, the Rosario affirmed that the license will only be issued to the technical person in charge. It is impossible [for the government] to issue a license to common people [i.e., ordinary employees]. Mak Soi Kun, agreeing with Au Kam San, noted I have been pushing forward for many years the matter of caretakers holding certificates to work. They should only be allowed to work when they are in possession of a working certificate. [] Not only the person in charged needs to be licensed, [the government] needs to decide soon, [other caretakers also] need to be certificated, [because] eventually things need to be done by someone. Rosario expressed his disagreement with Maks comment. If we were to train thousands of people, what would the companies do? questioned Rosario, adding that the government only manages the technical director; while the responsibilities [in training other caretakers] should be delegated to the company, not to the government. A bowl of ice cream on a hot day in Shanghai gave American Mitchell Weinberg the worst bout of food poisoning he can recall. It also inspired the then-trade consultant to set up Inscatech a global network of food spies. In demand by multinational retailers and food producers, Inscatech and its agents scour supply chains around the world hunting for evidence of food industry fraud and malpractice. In the eight years since he founded the New York-based firm, Weinberg, 52, says China continues to be a key growth area for fraudsters as well as those developing technologies trying to counter them. Statistically were uncovering fraud about 70 percent of the time, but in China its very close to 100 percent, he said. Its pervasive, its across food groups, and its anything you can possibly imagine. While adulteration has been a bugbear of consumers since prehistoric wine was first diluted with saltwater, scandals in China over the past decade from melamine-laced baby formula, to rat-meat dressed as lamb have seen the planets largest food-producing and consuming nation become a hotbed of corrupted, counterfeit, and contaminated food. Weinbergs company is developing molecular markers and genetic fingerprints to help authenticate natural products and sort genuine foodstuffs from the fakes. Another approach companies are pursuing uses digital technology to track and record the provenance of food from farm to plate. Consumers want to know where products are from, said Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group, citing surveys the Shanghai-based consultancy conducted with consumers and supermarket operators. Services that help companies mitigate the reputational risk that food-fraud poses is a big growth area, according to Rein. Its a great business opportunity, he said. Its going to be important not just as a China play, but as a global play, because Chinese food companies are becoming part of the whole global supply chain. Some of the biggest food companies are backing technology that grew out of the anarchic world of crypto-currencies. Its called blockchain, essentially a shared, cryptographically secure ledger of transactions. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the worlds largest retailer, was one of the first to get on board, just completing a trial using blockchain technology to track pork in China, where it has more than 400 stores. The time taken to track the meats supply chain was cut from 26 hours to just seconds using blockchain, and the scope of the project is being widened to other products, said Frank Yiannas, Wal-Marts vice president for food safety, in an interview Thursday. Shanghai-based Zhong An Information and Technology Services Co. said in June it will use the technology to track chickens from the coop to the processing facility and on to the market or store. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., too, sees the potential for the eight-year-old technology to provide greater product integrity across its platforms, which accounted for more then 75 percent of Chinas online retail sales in 2015. The planned blockchain project will involve the Chinese e-commerce behemoth working with food suppliers in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Australia Post and auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Food fraud is a serious global issue, said Maggie Zhou, managing director for Alibaba in Australia and New Zealand. This project is the first step in creating a globally respected framework that protects the reputation of food merchants and gives consumers further confidence to purchase food online. Fraud costs the global food industry as much as USD40 billion annually, according to John Spink, director of Michigan State Universitys Food Fraud Initiative. In China, where the 2008 melamine milk crisis resulted in the death of at least six babies, its a hot-button issue compounded by the countrys growing appetite for higher quality food and swelling middle class. A Pew Research Center study last year found 40 percent of Chinese view food safety as a very big problem, up from 12 percent in 2008. This is not a Chinese issue its a global issue, said Yongguan Zhu, director general of the Institute of Urban Environment, part of the state-funded Chinese Academy of Sciences. What we have to do is reinforce our regulations to improve the transparency of the administration, for example information-sharing. Zhu says blockchain could play an important role in improving traceability. Its database of records can be built like a chain and cant be broken or re-ordered without disrupting the entire connection. China strengthened its food safety law in 2015 in response to the spate of scandals. Counterfeiters and food tamperers face tougher penalties, including jail time in some cases, and more than $800 million has been spent hiring more food safety personnel and bolstering monitoring facilities, according to an April report from the Paulson Institute, a Washington-based think tank. Last month, Beijing emphasized to authorities the need to be upfront in disclosing food safety issues. Food-fraud will always exist, said Yongning Wu, chief scientist at the government-run China National Center For Food Safety Risk Assessment. While authorities in China have joined the global fight against the scourge, Wu doesnt see the problem disappearing. We can only develop technology to detect it, he said. However, fake-food producers will always update their technology to dodge inspections. The wiliness of fraudsters is what makes Inscatechs Weinberg less hopeful about blockchain. His firm mainly uses informants on the ground to sniff out where in the production process food-fraud is taking place, and most of his work in China is with western companies that manufacture or source product there. The problem is the data is only as reliable as the person providing the data, said Weinberg, who recalls seeing everything in China from synthetic eggs to fake shrimp that still sizzle in a wok. In most supply chains there is one or more unreliable data provider. This means blockchain is likely useless for protecting against food-fraud unless every piece of data is scrutinized to be accurate. A months-long Bloomberg investigation into the global shrimp trade last year showed how unreliable documentation had fanned an illegal transhipping scheme involving Chinese aquaculture exporters. But blockchain is light years away from the system used by the global food industry today, which relies heavily on paper records, said Yiannas, Wal-Marts food safety chief. By recording the identity of those who input data into the chain, the technology removes the anonymity that has helped food-fraud to thrive, he said. The role of humans in recording the supply chain will also diminish, said Yiannas. More and more of these documents will eventually be captured in an automated way. Chinas Food and Drug Administration didnt immediately respond to an email requesting comment on the countrys food safety efforts. Some companies are already bringing traceability to consumers. Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd., the worlds biggest dairy exporter, started putting QR codes on cans of infant formula in April, enabling buyers to verify the products authenticity. The challenges for China the factory of the world are especially vast because of its size, population, multilayered administrative divisions, and the willingness of criminals to exploit every corner that they can in order to make money, said Michael Ellis, who ran Interpols trafficking in illicit goods unit until October. At Interpol, Ellis, a former detective with Scotland Yard in London, was involved in Opson, an operation that led to the seizure of more than 10,000 tons and 1 million liters (264,000 gallons) of hazardous fake-food and drinks across more than 50 countries. Without a presence to fight it, food-fraud globally will explode, Ellis said. It will just continue to grow, and who knows where it will lead. Bloomberg A Macau billionaire convicted of bribing United Nations diplomats can stay out of jail for now. A federal judge in New York said yesterday hell let Ng Lap Seng remain under house arrest at his luxury apartment in Manhattan until he is sentenced. But he set new rules for the 69-year-old businessman. He wont be able to meet privately with business associates anymore. He also has to leave the door open during visits from his massage therapist. Ng Lap Seng has spent nearly two years under 24-hour guard at his apartment as part of a USD50 million bail package. Prosecutors had asked that he be jailed following his conviction. Ng could face up to 65 years in prison for paying over $1.7 million in bribes. Horse Race Company granted 6-month contract The Macau Horse Race Company, Ltd was granted another six months of extended contract with the government, according to a notice published yesterday in Official Gazette. The notice was signed by the Secretary for Economy and Finance. The contract will remain standing until February 28, 2018. The Macau Horse Race Company, Ltd owns the Macau Jockey Club. The Macau Jockey Club is one of the largest private employers of Macau with around 800 employees (of which about 400 are stable hands) and over 300 part-time employees. Candidates and political analysts are criticizing the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election (CAEAL), for creating confusion between the definitions of propaganda activities and the rights of candidates to inform the public of their agenda another controversy in addition to the short amount of time given to candidates to promote themselves. A total of 25 teams, with an aggregate of 192 candidates, will contest the direct election for the Legislative Assembly (AL) on September 17. Six teams, with a total of 15 candidates will contest the indirect election. On August 1, the commission issued its second election guideline in a bid to regulate campaign promotional activities. However several candidates and political analysts expressed their belief that it is absurd for the commission to issue such guidelines. The guideline titled 2/CAEL/2017 requires the removal or deletion of any message or information displayed in any public area and online platform that aims to draw public attention to a particular candidate or candidates. Any message or information aimed at encouraging voters in an explicit or implicit way to vote or not vote for a particular candidate or candidates are also prohibited. Candidates are banned from performing any kind of act deemed as propaganda until September 2. Thus with the current silent period for candidates, some, especially newcomers, are finding it problematic to promote themselves for the AL elections. Candidate and Assistant Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Macau, Agnes Lam, lamented that the new guidelines are absurd and ridiculous, adding that the new candidates are basically forbidden to do anything. Current lawmakers, some of which are running in the upcoming election, are still permitted to voice their views at the Legislative Assembly. However, newcomers are required to keep silent. We only have two weeks to do the campaigning but then, all of the existing legislators can talk about what they can do and they can report to the voters what they have done and accomplished, Lam told the Times. Were not allowed to talk about our platforms, [] something for voters to justify if these [candidates] are having same kind of ideology, and thats very important, Lam added. As candidates are forbidden to tell voters to elect them, Lam argued that the word imply is misleading, and that the way the committee interprets the law is problematic. This is very ridiculous. It doesnt go right with the law. [] I dont even know if this is really something from the law, the candidate, who also ran in the 2009 and 2013 elections, said. Although Lam agreed that using public spaces and public resources for conducting promotional activities for the silent period could be banned, Lam expressed the belief that restricting candidates from meeting people and posting their sentiments on social media platforms is irrational. With the current regulations in place, Lam said that residents will not have enough time to understand what the newcomers are actually fighting for. Lam stated that in her view, the CAEALs regulations had good intentions, aiming to prevent candidates from buying peoples votes and to end corruption. However she went on to lament that the committee is enforcing regulations that suppress the campaign itself. Political analyst Larry So also noted that from his perspective, it was unfair for newcomers to be banned from having the chance to communicate with voters. As existing lawmakers could still conduct activities under the name of different organizations they belong to, this leaves newcomers in a less advantageous position. So suggested that the region should allow its candidates to conduct promotional activities right from the time CAEAL published the definitive version of the list of accepted candidate teams to direct and indirect elections. Meanwhile a local lawyer Sergio de Almeida Correia argued that the problem of the current pre-campaign rules lies in the interpretation of the law. The law expert recalled that the Law 3/2001, republished on February 13, 2017, according to the Executive Dispatch 21/2017, is applicable to the regulation of the election, by direct and indirect suffrage, of the members of the Macau SAR Legislative Assembly only. Almeida Correia cited that the purpose of the Electoral Committee, according to article 10, paragraph 1. 2), is to secure the effective equality of action and propaganda of the candidates during the electoral campaign. We are not yet in the period of the electoral campaign, the lawyer reminded. In my view, the interpretations that are currently being made is clearly abusive and prepotent because the Electoral Commission is making a confusion between propaganda activities and the right to inform the public and to be informed, and the freedom of expression, Almeida Correia explained. He reminded that the right to inform the public and the freedom of expression, and the right to issue an opinion about any subject is currently regulated by the Basic Law. The pre-campaign guidelines also stated that promotional messages used during the official campaigning period must be removed or deleted on or before the midnight of September 15. The unfairness and absurdity of all process are in the interpretations of the law made by the Electoral Committee. To tell the candidates that they have to remove all information, as well as messages made before the campaign official period starts is an absurdity, he criticized. To tell the candidates that they cannot inform the public about the result of the draw and of the position they occupy in the voting bulletins is another absurdity, Almeida Correia added. Previously, candidates including Lam have filed a complaint to the electoral committee regarding matters such as the short time for campaign activities. According to the lawyer, the committee can issue binding instructions in order to execute the provisions of the law, but such instructions cannot overpass and be more restrictive of what it is stated in the law. Otherwise the committee will be misusing the powers given by the legislator, and this is a serious breach of the law in any second system region, he explained. The legal expert also slammed CAEAL for violating the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, noting that the interpretation made by the committee is abusive and violates the Basic Law and the rights to inform, in addition to violating the freedom of expressions and of speech. Meanwhile Tong Hio Fong, president of CAEAL explained that candidates are permitted to discuss civic matters related to the community but are restricted from mentioning their political agendas. The lawyer criticized Fongs statement, questioning, What is a civic matter and issue of the community? This is absurd because all political programs are about civic matters and if any candidate, and some are more well known than others, participate in a debate about such issues, how can they hide that they are candidates or that what they defend is included in their programs? the lawyer asked. What he said is perfect non-sense, Almeida Correia concluded. New guidelines cause confusion among candidates The new CAEAL guidelines have also resulted in confusion among candidates, with some reportedly suspending their social media accounts, or deleting posts that they feared may violate the rules. Sulu Sou, president of the New Macau Association has reportedly hidden some contents of his Facebook page. Following the advertising ban that took effect on August 3, the candidate was reportedly notified by CAEAL that information regarding his candidacy could still be seen. Thus he opted to hide his page contents to be in line with CAEAL guidelines, but hoped to quickly obtain clearer guidelines from the commission. The name of local telecommunications company CTM is being used in a fraudulent email. CTM issued a statement yesterday alerting the public to an email which has the subject 1 New Message and states that a webmail account needs to be upgraded within 24 hours to avoid deactivation. It also comes with a hyperlink that must be clicked for the full message to be seen. The company urged receivers of this email to ignore and delete it immediately. The company stated that it did not send the email message. According to the statement issued by CTM, the company has taken immediate actions to identify and block the emails which were sent from the same IP address. CTM reminds customers to refrain from disclosing any personal information through the telephone or Internet, and to avoid clicking on hyperlinks included in any suspicious emails to browse unknown websites. CTM further added that the company would not normally request that customers provide personal information such as their ID number, user ID, password and account number over the telephone or through email. CTM urged customers to remain alert for deceptive emails and phone calls, adding that any suspicious emails should be ignored and deleted immediately. Former war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte says she is resigning from the U.N.s independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, decrying Security Council inaction to hold criminals accountable in the war-battered country where everyone is bad. In comments published Sunday by the Swiss magazine Blick, Del Ponte expressed frustration about the commission and criticized President Bashar Assads government, the Syrian opposition and the international community overall. We have had absolutely no success, she told Blick on the sidelines of the Locarno film festival Sunday. For five years weve been running up against walls. Del Ponte, who gained fame as the prosecutor for the international war crimes tribunals that investigated atrocities in Rwanda and Yugoslavia, has repeatedly decried the Security Councils refusal to appoint a similar court for Syrias 6-year-old civil war. Permanent member Russia, which can veto council actions, is a key backer of Assads government. I give up. The states in the Security Council dont want justice, Del Ponte said, adding that she planned to take part in the last meeting in September. I cant any longer be part of this commission which simply doesnt do anything. Appointed in September 2012, Del Ponte was quoted by Blick as saying she now thinks she was put into the role as an alibi. Ive written my letter of resignation already and will post it in the coming days, she said. She did not immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment. In her comments to Blick, Del Ponte described Syria as a land without a future. Believe me, the terrible crimes committed in Syria I neither saw in Rwanda nor ex-Yugoslavia, she said. We thought the international community had learned from Rwanda. But no, it learned nothing. At first in Syria, the opposition [members] were the good ones; the government were the bad ones, she was quoted as saying. But after six years, Del Ponte concluded: In Syria, everyone is bad. The Assad government is committing terrible crimes against humanity and using chemical weapons. And the opposition, that is made up only of extremists and terrorists anymore. The commission issued a statement saying it was aware since mid-June of Del Pontes plans to leave and insisted that its work must continue to help bring perpetrators in Syria to justice. Del Pontes resignation shrinks the commission to two members after Thai professor and former human rights investigator Vitit Muntarbhorn left last year to become the first-ever U.N. independent expert investigating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation. The commission was set up in August 2011 by the Human Rights Council to investigate crimes in Syria, no matter who committed them. Since then, it has compiled thousands of interviews and keeps a list of suspected war criminals under lock and key at the offices of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. But Del Ponte said that as long as the Security Council didnt put in place a special tribunal for war crimes in Syria, all commission reports were pointless. The issue of accountability for war crimes in Syria has largely taken a back seat to diplomatic efforts to end the war in recent months. The commissions relevance has also come into question after the U.N. General Assembly, acting in the face of the Security Council inaction, voted in December to set up an investigative body to help document and prepare legal cases to possibly prosecute the most serious violations in Syrias war that is estimated to have left at least 400,000 dead. Jamey Keaten, Geneva, AP Macau is once again connected to the Indonesian capital, following the termination of a direct link between the two cities when the carrier of the previous direct route, Viva Macau, filed for bankruptcy. The inaugural Jakarta- Macau flight operated by AirAsia touched down at the local airport at 7.38 a.m., where it was greeted by a water cannon salute. The flight departed from Jakartas Soekarno-Hatta International Airport carrying 162 guests. AirAsia Indonesia will operate the Jakarta-Macau service three times weekly using a 180-seat Airbus A320-200 on every Monday, Friday and Sunday. The flight frequency is expected to be increased to four times weekly from September 1. The arrival of the inaugural flight was followed by a press conference in Macau airport. The commencement of AirAsia Indonesias direct service between Indonesia and Macau will strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries and bring a positive economic impact, particularly in trade and tourism, said the Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong and Macau, Tri Tharyat. As Indonesias main gateway, Jakarta is a vibrant city with much to offer, from shopping havens to history and cultural museums, as well as a connection to the countrys other exotic tourism destinations. Eric Fong, Macau International Airports (CAM) director of marketing, noted that the new route is expected to assist in increasing the volume of passengers using Macaus airport. We encourage the growth of airlines in the number of routes and a greater frequency of flights, as it will emphasize the role of air travel in boosting the economy of Greater China, he said. AirAsia Group chief executive officer, Tony Fernandes, did not attend the event in Macau, but he issued a statement claiming that the Malaysian low cost airliner has always championed Macau. Macau was one of our first international destinations and also one of our earliest unique routes from Kuala Lumpur. Todays inaugural flight from Jakarta shows that we remain committed to our goal of improving connectivity between Macau, the Pearl River Delta and Asean, and bringing more visitors both to Indonesia and to southern China, Fernandes said. To celebrate the route, AirAsia Indonesia is offering a special launch promotion fare to further stimulate demand. A diplomat and a senior representative of Malaysias tourism board were in Macau on Friday to launch an event which will promote Malaysian cuisine. Six top chefs from Malaysia have been invited to the sixth edition of the Malaysian Food Festival, which is being held in Galaxys Festiva restaurant. They will present hot dishes such as Penang Oyster Omelet, and Nasi Lemak. Food connects people, I hope the uniqueness of Malaysian cuisine and the tropical fruit, durian, will enchant Macau people and their visitors, said Norshamshida Abdul Rahman, director of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board in Hong Kong. The tremendous success of the food festival for the past five years is a big encouragement for us, added John Sloane, assistant senior vice president, F&B Operations & Culinary at Galaxy. The festival also offers an outdoor area where guests can experience authentic Malaysian cuisine at various food stalls. Speaking to the Times, Rahman added: The hawker style this year is something different because [Galaxy] was very proud to have brought some home-cooked [style] stalls. Its a local favorite in Malaysia to enjoy the food stalls like this. Its amazing they brought it here. She also said that the durians on offer at the event will attract fans of the fruit, and that the hawker center-style setup will entice guests with its authentic Malaysian setting. Rahman invited locals to visit Malaysia, especially the state of Malacca, which has unique historical relations with Macau through links to Portugal and a shared history of trade as a port city. Also present at the event was Grace Rebekah Teh, Consul of the Consulate-General of Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macau, and Ezzwanee Ahmad, Trade Commissioner for Malaysia in Hong Kong. Both said that satay a meat skewer dish that will also be available at the event was their favorite Malaysian dish. The traditional way to cook satay is to cook it over a charcoal pit, so when you taste it you have that barbecue taste, said Teh. Malaysian satay is different from other states, Ahmad added. The Malaysian Food Festival is only available at dinner buffet session at Festiva and is priced at MOP498 per person. The event ends September 3. Jordans king flew by helicopter to the West Bank yesterday a rare visit seen as a signal to Israel that he is closing ranks with the Palestinians on key issues, such as a contested Jerusalem shrine. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Abdullah II met for about two hours, after a red-carpet welcome for the monarch at the Palestinian government compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Abbas thanked the king for efforts made on behalf of the Palestinians, including during the shrine crisis, said Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh. Abdullah expressed support for Abbas and the Palestinians, the spokesman said. The monarchs West Bank visit, his first in five years, came at a time of rising Israeli-Jordanian and Israeli-Palestinian tensions over the shrine, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The crisis erupted when Israel installed metal detectors at gates to the Muslim-administered site after Arab gunmen killed two Israeli policemen there in mid-July. The measures triggered protests by Muslims who feared Israel was encroaching on their rights, an allegation Israel has dismissed. Israel removed the devices after a few days, after intervention from the United States, Jordan and others. The step was seen by many in Israel as a capitulation and by Palestinians and the Arab world as a victory. The shrine, a sprawling 37-acre esplanade rising from Jerusalems walled Old City, is central to rival Israeli and Palestinian religious and national narratives and has triggered major confrontations in the past. Jordan serves as the Muslim custodian of the site, home to the Al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock mosques. Jordans ruling Hashemite dynasty has drawn much of its legitimacy from that role. On Sunday, Abdullah told lawmakers in Jordan that without the Hashemite custodianship and the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites, the holy sites would have been lost many years ago. Our success requires one stand with the Palestinian brothers, so that our cause wouldnt be weakened and our rights would be maintained, he said. However, the monarchs role in the standoff with Israel was complicated by a July 23 shooting in which an Israeli guard at the Israeli Embassy in Jordan killed two Jordanians after one attacked him with a screwdriver. The guard was released by Jordan the next day, after a phone call between the king and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A few hours later, the metal detectors were dismantled. The guards release, though in line with diplomatic protocol, has inflamed Jordanian public opinion, especially after the shooter was given a heros welcome by Netanyahu. The king blasted the prime ministers actions as provocative. Israeli authorities have since said they would investigate the embassy shootings, meeting a Jordanian demand. Since the embassy shooting, Abdullah has taken several steps that appeared aimed at appeasing Jordanian public opinion. He has said he would donate $1.4 million to the Muslim administration of the shrine. Separately, Abbas has said his self-rule government in the West Bank will allocate $25 million to improve services for Palestinians in Jerusalem. During the shrine crisis, Abbas said he was suspending security ties with Israel until the metal detectors have been removed. It is not clear to what extent such ties mainly cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian forces against the Islamic militant Hamas has resumed. AP Al-Jazeera denounces israeli crackdown Al-Jazeera yesterday denounced Israels decision to close the Jerusalem bureau of Qatars flagship satellite network, saying the measure was undemocratic and that it will take legal action. Israels move follows in the footsteps of four Arab countries that are aligned against Qatar as part of a months-long political dispute over Dohas politics and alleged support for extremists. The channel and its affiliate sites have been blocked in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain. Israel has long accused the network of bias against it and incitement to violence. On Sunday, Israeli Communications Minister Ayoob Kara announced he would revoke the press credentials of Al-Jazeera journalists, effectively preventing them from working in Israel, and would move to block its transmission from the country. Al-Jazeeras senior political analyst Marwan Bishara noted the irony of Israel following the lead of Sunni Arab states. Those dictatorships now dictate to Israel what it does about press and press credentials, Bishara said on-air. Israel is taking its cues from Arab dictators. The Myanmar governments inquiry into violence in northern Rakhine state last year that forced tens of thousands of Muslim Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh and led to U.N. accusations of crimes against humanity by the army has concluded that no such crimes happened. Speaking at the release of the Rakhine Investigative Commissions final report, Vice President Myint Swe a former general told reporters Sunday that there is no evidence of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights claimed. He also denied charges that there had been gang rapes by the military as it swept through Rohingya villages in a security clearance operation. The army was reacting to deadly attacks against border police posts by a previously unknown insurgent group in October 2016 in the Maungdaw area of Rakhine. The commissions report did accept that some things might have happened that broke the law, attributing it to excessive action on the part of individual members of the security forces. Rights groups have previously expressed their doubts over the commissions work, saying it lacked outside experts, had poor research methodologies and lacked credibility because it was not independent. The U.N. has mandated its own fact-finding mission to travel to the Maungdaw area to conduct its own inquiry, but the government has said its members will not be allowed to go. Zaw Myint Pe, a senior member of the government commission, said the report released by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in early February, which included accusations of rights abuses by security forces, had failed to take into consideration violent acts committed by Muslim groups. The report does not contain forward-looking constructive recommendations but instead accuses Myanmar of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing by killing Muslims and it is terribly affecting our countrys image, said Zaw Myint Pe. The government has shut down northern Rakhine, where allegations of rights abuses are ongoing, to independent journalists, rights experts and humanitarian workers for almost nine months. The security forces launched an aggressive clearance operation in Rakhine in October 2016 after shadowy insurgents killed nine border guard police officers. Esther Htusan, Yangon, AP A refugee being held in an Australian immigration camp on the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea was found dead in an apparent suicide yesterday, sparking outrage from fellow refugees and advocates who say officials failed to treat him despite a long history of mental illness. Hamed Shamshiripou, a 28-year-old refugee from Iran, was found hanging from the branch of a tree near an elementary school by students yesterday morning, Papua New Guinea police said in a statement. The school is in the Manus Island town of Lorengau, where Shamshiripou had been staying at a transit center for refugees awaiting resettlement. An autopsy was being conducted, but Police Commissioner Gari Baki said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the mans death. Shamshiripou had previously attempted to commit suicide, Baki said. Australia refuses to resettle any asylum seekers who try to reach its shores by boat. Instead, the country pays Papua New Guinea and the Pacific island nation of Nauru to house them in camps condemned as draconian by human rights advocates. Behrouz Boochani, an asylum seeker and journalist from Iran who has been detained on Manus since 2013, said in a telephone interview that Shamshiripou had a long history of mental illness. Shamshiripou had been sent to live in the islands so-called transit center, which is supposed to provide temporary accommodations for refugees waiting to be resettled elsewhere. Many refugees dont want to go there because they view it as unsafe. Shamshiripous behavior was erratic, and he was often found wandering the streets of Lorengau dressed only in his underwear, Boochani said. Several months ago, Boochani says he and around 100 refugees signed a letter asking immigration officials to treat Shamshiripou. They got no response, Boochani said. Four days ago, Boochani says, Shamshiripou tried to kill himself with a razor. Hundreds of refugees are sick they are damaged physically and mentally in this prison and Australia doesnt care, Boochani said. Australia is responsible because Australia took him by force to this island. Australia made him crazy. Australia has kept him in this prison for more than three years. Australia took him by force to the transit center and Australia left him without any protection there and now he died. So Australia is responsible. Manus Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector David Yapu said in an email that Shamshiripou tried to kill himself last year while in police custody, but was stopped by officers on duty. The fate of the more than 2,000 asylum seekers living in Papua New Guinea and Nauru has become a political nightmare for Australias government, which insists its policy of refusing to resettle any asylum seekers who try to reach Australia by boat is necessary to dissuade them from attempting the dangerous and often deadly ocean crossings. The policy, however, has resulted in scores of refugees languishing for years on the islands. There have been several high-profile suicides and attempted suicides at the camps, including a man who killed himself by setting himself on fire in Nauru last year. Australian officials thought they had found a solution after hammering out a deal with the Obama administration, which pledged to resettle the refugees in the U.S. But President Donald Trump was enraged upon learning of the agreement, and so far none of the refugees have been moved to the U.S. Daniel Webb, director of legal advocacy at Australias Human Rights Law Centre, said refugees and asylum seekers being held at the camps are in danger, and must be immediately resettled in Australia. Like every one of the 2,000 innocent people being warehoused by our government on Nauru and Manus, this man deserved decency and respect. This man deserved a chance to build a life in freedom and in safety, Webb told reporters. But instead, our government chose cruelty. Instead, our government chose to detain him for four years on a remote island. So this man lost his freedom and then he lost his hope and now hes lost his life. It is an absolute tragedy. Kristen Gelineau, Sydney, AP Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte voiced solidarity with the U.S. as it works to address global concerns about North Koreas nuclear program as the polarizing leader met Monday with the top American diplomat. Duterte and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sat down for a meeting while the American was in Manila for a regional Asia gathering. It was the highest-level interaction to date between a member of President Donald Trumps administration and Duterte, accused by human rights groups of flagrant abuses in his bloody war against illegal drugs. If the two leaders discussed those or other U.S. concerns about Dutertes government, they didnt do so in public. Instead, the two focused on the alliance between the two countries and on the North Korea issue as reporters were allowed in briefly for the start of their meeting. Entering an ornate, wood-paneled hall in the Philippine leaders palace, Tillerson was introduced to members of Dutertes Cabinet, shaking hands with each. Duterte welcomed the American and said he said he knew the U.S. was concerned about Pyongyangs missile program. You come at a time when I think the world is not so good, especially in the Korean Peninsula, Duterte said. Earlier, as they shook hands, the two ignored a shouted question about whether theyd discuss human rights. But Dutertes presidential spokesman, Ernesto Bella, said ahead of the meeting that the topic would indeed come up, along with other pressing matters such as global terrorism threats, economic cooperation and security in Marawi, the city that has been under siege by pro-Islamic State group militants for more than two months. We also welcome the opportunity to address concerns such as human rights if and when raised, Bella said in a statement. We have always included this issue in our discussions and engagements with foreign governments, particularly Western democracies. The U.S., too, said ahead of the meeting that human rights would be among the topics on the agenda. Human rights groups have questioned the Trump administrations willingness to engage with Duterte. But Tillerson argued theres no contradiction presented by the U.S. decision to help his country fight the militants, whose insurgency in the Philippines has stoked global fears about the Islamic State group exporting violence into Southeast Asia and beyond. Nearly 700 people have died in the intense fighting, including 528 militants and 122 soldiers and policemen, since hundreds of black flag waving gunmen stormed into buildings and homes in the business district and outlying communities of mosque-studded Marawi, a center of Islamic faith in the southern third of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation. I see no conflict no conflict at all in our helping them with that situation and our views of the human rights concerns we have with respect to how they carry out their counter narcotics activities, Tillerson told reporters before the meeting. He added that it appeared the Philippines was beginning to get that situation under control. To that end, Tillerson said the U.S. has been providing the Philippines with surveillance capabilities, training, information and aircraft to help it fight the militants. He said the equipment includes a few Cessna aircraft and a few drones. The real challenge is going to come with once they have the fighting brought to an end how to deal with the conditions on the ground to ensure it does not re-emerge. Josh Lederman, Manila, AP A Trump Organization company has applied for four new trademarks in the Asian gambling hub of Macau, including one for casinos, public records show. The new applications highlight the ethical complexity of maintaining the family branding empire while Donald Trump serves as president, and are likely to stoke speculation about the organizations future business intentions in Macau, where casino licenses held by other companies come up for renewal beginning in 2020. The applications for the Trump brand were made in June by a Delaware-registered company called DTTM Operations LLC. They cover gambling and casino services, as well as real estate, construction and restaurant and hotel services. The applications were first reported by the South China Morning Post. The new applications are identical to four marks applied for in 2006, and granted, but lapsed earlier this year. It was not clear from public records why, though under Macau law trademarks can be forfeited for non-use. There are currently no Trump-branded businesses in Macau. Trumps trademarks have been a source of concern to ethics lawyers and Democratic officials, who fear they can give foreign governments the opportunity to try to influence the White House. China has approved dozens of Trump trademarks since the president took office. Three U.S. lawsuits against the president contend that the Chinese marks constitute gifts from a foreign state and stand in violation of the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution. Trump and his lawyers reject that argument and contend that trademarks are a crucial defense against squatters seeking to exploit his name. Beijing says it has been fair and impartial in its handling of trademarks for the president and his daughter Ivanka Trump. Macaus six casino operators, including Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts, face renewals for their licenses starting in 2020. The government of the former Portuguese colony, now ruled by China, has released few details on the renewal process, which will be the first since it ended a decades-long casino monopoly and opened bidding to foreign companies in 2001. Authorities are expected to grant renewals to all six operators, given the big investments theyve poured into the city, but there has been speculation that they could issue one additional license to a new investor. It would be a long shot for Trump to win it, said Alex Bumazhny, a gambling analyst at Fitch Ratings. He said recent comments by officials have fueled the perception that any new license should go to a non-U.S. company. If Macau does look west, there are a handful of publicly traded gaming companies with more recent track records of developing and operating large-scale casino resorts. Macau is the worlds largest gambling market, with earnings dwarfing the Las Vegas Strips. Its the only place in greater China where casinos are legal. Donald Trump began applying for a sweep of trademarks in Macau in 2006. The governments unwillingness to uphold all of them was a source of intense irritation to Trump, who became enmeshed in a lawsuit over rights to the use of his name. He wrote to then-U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in 2011 that the courts of China and Macau were faithless, corrupt and tainted. Who could expect anything different from a deceitful culture? he added. Their behavior should be a clear warning to the rest of the world to refrain from any trade practice or business relationship with them! Trump finally prevailed in that case last year after his opponent, a local company that had filed for a Trump mark for food and beverage services, let his trademark expire. Trump has pledged to conduct no new foreign deals while in office and handed control of his business to his sons, though he retains ownership. He also has veered away from the casino business. Hard Rock International bought up the last vestiges of his failed Atlantic City gambling empire this year, paying just $50 million for the shuttered Trump Taj Mahal casino, which cost more than $1 billion to build. Back in 2001, Donald Trump was part of a consortium of billionaire investors including two men subsequently convicted of bribery and money laundering in unrelated cases that bid unsuccessfully for a casino license in Macau, the Wall Street Journal reported last year. Erika Kinetz, Kelvin Chan, AP TWIN FALLS A small business funding workshop will take place in Twin Falls later this month. The Idaho Small Business Development Center, headquartered in the College of Business and Economics at Boise State University, teamed up with the Idaho National Laboratory and the Idaho Department of Commerce to host a series of small business funding workshops across Idaho. The Idaho Small Business Innovation Research road tour stops in Twin Falls to highlight state and national grant programs, as well as local business resources for technology entrepreneurs and small business owners. The workshop takes place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 29 in the Taylor Administration Building, room 276-277. Researchers and small technology firms can learn how to access $2.5 billion in grants through the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Attendees also will learn about nearly $1 million in commercialization grants available annually to Idaho companies through the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission program. Speakers include representatives from Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Dept. of Commerce and Idaho Department of Labor. Entrepreneurs and small business owners can register for workshops at idahosbdc.org/roadtour. Everyone knows cigarettes can kill. Yet 36.5 million adults in the U.S. still smoke. So after the labels and warnings, the restaurant bans and the grisly ad campaigns, the Food and Drug Administration is exploring a radical approach to helping people quit: regulating nicotine in cigarettes. If the FDA follows through something far from certain the shift could prompt some to quit or, at least, switch to relatively safer products like electronic cigarettes or vaping. Peruz Nazli, who sat on a bench near New Yorks Central Park with cigarette butts around her feet, said she was delighted when she heard about the agencys plans. Itll be easier to quit, said the 59-year-old retail worker, who started when she was 14. People look at us different. The FDAs initiative may upend the $130 billion American tobacco industry. Its also likely to set off a ferocious lobbying and legal war in Washington, and push the cigarette industry to develop products that rely less on burning carcinogenic tobacco and more on delivering doses of nicotine through cleaner vapor. Smoking-related illnesses cost $300 billion a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interviews with New York smokers suggested that few had taken notice of the proposal announced last week, but many said they would be more likely to switch to new delivery devices than to smoke diluted cigarette after diluted cigarette. Some have already made the change. Kevin Cleare, 36, who picked up his first cigarette from a junior-high buddy when he was 13, turned to vaping three years ago on his doctors advice. He quit smoking cigarettes for the first time three years ago but resumed for a few months amid a stressful breakup before turning to vaping. Now hes never going back, and vaping looks like a long-term option. Im so disgusted with cigarettes the smell, the taste, he said. This is a fair, reasonable compromise. Over the past decades, U.S. regulators have banned smoking in many public places, sending smokers outside or into isolated corners. The rate of adult cigarette use has declined by a quarter since 1965 to only 15 percent, according to the CDC. Teens foresee life as a pariah and turn elsewhere, with daily smoking among high school seniors down to 5.5 percent in 2015. Kids look at smokers and say, Youre crazy. What are you doing? said Cleare, who works with teenagers at the New York City health department. Encouraging the remaining wannabes to suck on vape gizmos that resemble digital tape recorders is a planned inconvenience. This is just another way in making it less satisfying, said Douglas Kamerow, a senior scholar at the Robert Graham Center for Primary Care Policy Studies in Washington. Those who stick with cigs are an increasingly gray crowd. After emerging from a Mercedes-Benz onto a Brooklyn curb, Trevor Carter reached for a cigarette. The car belongs to his daughter. In the back seat is his grandson. Carter, 68, has smoked for 50 years, a habit he says is harder to break than cocaine or booze, both of which he kicked. If the retired businessman doesnt give up smoking by year-end, he said, his girlfriend will dump him. Im ready, but I cant break the habit, said Carter. But he said he wont try vaping or e-cigarettes, which mimic the traditional item. Instead, hes trying to quit the natural way. E-cigarettes are about 95 percent safer than smoked tobacco, according to the U.K. Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies. Vaping atomizers and e-cigarettes heat liquid nicotine, which then becomes vapor. They dont contain carbon monoxide and tar, chemicals in cigarettes that hurt smokers health. The FDA plan would encourage the use of the stand-ins by delaying further regulation until August 2022, giving tobacco companies a chance to build up a range of alternatives. After the FDAs announcement last month, shares of the two largest cigarette sellers in the U.S., Altria Group Inc. And British American Tobacco Plc, suffered their biggest single-day drop since the recession, reflecting investors belief that companies arent prepared for the new era. Vivien Azer, a research analyst with Cowen & Co. who follows the industry, said that despite the sell-off, companies are trying to adapt with new products that take them beyond the simple equation of flame plus leaf. Everyone seems to be leaning in heavily into heat not burn, she said. In one study published in 2015, cigarettes with lower levels of nicotine reduced not only nicotine exposure and dependence, but the number of cigarettes smoked. The research, conducted over six weeks and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, studied 780 people who regularly smoked with no interest in quitting. For now, younger smokers are caught between eras. John Mastbrook, 33, a bearded Brooklyn bike messenger, started smoking at 12 in his native Fairfax, Virginia. He vapes from time to time to wean himself from the cigarettes he rolls himself. Its just a good alternative, he said. Smoking refugees like Cleare whove switched to vaping recognize, though, that they may still spend their lives tethered to a habit they dont want. He says hes just trading one vice for another. Im still obviously addicted to nicotine, Cleare said, pausing to cough into his arm. Over the weekend, a Google employee wrote what has been described as a 10-page "manifesto against diversity." Boiling down 10 pages into a short column, and then commenting on it, is impossible. But, the long and the short of his opinion seems to be that women are underrepresented in tech because of psychological differences between women and men, not because of bias, and women are underrepresented in the top tiers of leadership because of their own preferences, not discrimination. Ultimately, he believes that "diversity" initiatives should focus more on ideological diversity, and less on immutable characteristics like race and gender. Cue the outrage and applause machines -- depending on which political tribe you belong to. Of course, the outrage machine is calling for him to be tracked down and fired. I take the opposite view, but not because I agree with him. In fact, I mostly disagree with him, though I think he makes some good arguments -- but that is beside the point. I categorically oppose the notion that if you have an opinion that deviates too far from that which is considered to be "politically correct," then the appropriate punishment is that you should lose your job -- and preferably not be hired anywhere else, either. Some are tempted to call this a "First Amendment" issue. Let me be clear, it is not. The government is not involved, and thus this is not a violation of anyone's constitutional rights. But, one of the pillars that holds up our First Amendment is the "marketplace of ideas" theory -- that ideas should compete in the free market, and that through wide-open and robust debate, we will advance. In ideology-driven authoritarian regimes, locking someone out of the labor market because you don't like their ideas is a common approach. Behind the Iron Curtain, for instance, if you weren't sufficiently Marxist, it didn't necessarily mean a trip to the gulag. You would just find that you were out of a job. Of course, the blowback against this Google employee is not top-down authoritarianism or orthodoxy enforced by the state. No, in America when you violate the PC code of conduct, a small cadre of people will dust off the outrage machine -- and millions of people will fuel it. The result of such a lynch-mob mentality fueled by intolerance for different points of view is twofold. First, it winnows out those who might disagree, making the cone of tolerance and ideological pluralism ever-more narrow. Second, it drives holders of minority viewpoints or people with differing ideas underground, and causes them to seek out and communicate only those who agree with them -- which can push them to radicalization. These results destroy our marketplace of ideas -- replacing it with a melee of venom. Today, that melee is largely a left-spinning gyre -- but let us not forget that the right does this, too. During the Red Scare and the McCarthy era, for example. Or, even during the Bush years, when being anti-war meant being anti-American. Or, even recently when Trump supporters considered a particular production of a Shakespeare play to be too (supposedly) offensive. With respect to the substance of the manifesto, I see it as almost irrelevant. To me, if you read it and are completely outraged or uniformly in favor, then you are part of the problem. If you can read anyone's opinion, spread out over 10 pages, and find nothing with which you agree, then you're almost certainly not thinking. Similarly, if you can read this guy's entire memo and find yourself blindly nodding, then you probably aren't using your brain either. But, if we are to boil down his view, it is this: that we do need diversity but it should be focused on diversity of thought, not simply diversity that looks good to some in a group photo. In that regard, I agree with him. Meanwhile, I find the claim dubious that women are somehow genetically predisposed away from engineering. But I agree that it isn't sexism that dissuades them from it, but more likely simply preferences they may have. Nevertheless, I think that it is completely valid for a company to believe that adding more gender and ethnic diversity to its pool of talent is better business. And if that's the case, then in the marketplace they should be able to make that decision. I just also happen to think that the company that looks for diversity of intellectual thought is, in the end, going to be the company that has greater success. I will not call for someone to be fired because he disagrees with me on a social issue -- and I implore you to join me in taking that position. Join me in the marketplace of ideas. Because the alternative is increasing nastiness, and increasing division, and increasing radicalization on both sides of the debate. The grownups are shopping in the marketplace of ideas. Where are you shopping? The first sockeye of the year recently arrived in the Stanley Basin, including a naturally produced fish on July 27 and a hatchery fish on Aug. 2. The fish completed a 900-mile journey that included passing through eight dams and swimming 6,500 vertical feet in elevation from the Pacific to Stanley. Through Aug. 2, 225 sockeye had crossed Lower Granite Dam about 30 miles downstream from Lewiston. Thats the last dam salmon cross before reaching Idaho, and after crossing it, the fish still have to swim another 400 miles to return to their spawning grounds in the Stanley. Fish and Game biologists are expecting about 150 fish will complete the final leg to Stanley, and they dont expect many more fish over Lower Granite this year. Typically, about 95 percent of the run has passed through Lower Granite by early August, Eagle Hatchery manager Dan Baker said. At the same time last year, 790 sockeye crossed Lower Granite, and 595 returned to Stanley. While recent sockeye runs are tiny compared with other salmon runs, theyre a vast improvement over the 1990s. When Idaho sockeye were listed in 1991 under the federal Endangered Species Act, only four adult sockeye returned to the Stanley Basin. The combined annual returns from 1991-99 was 23 fish, including two years when no sockeye returned to Idaho. Idaho has a three-prong strategy to recover sockeye. Adults returning from the ocean are collected annually in the Stanley Basin at Redfish Lake Creek and the nearby Sawtooth Fish Hatchery. Some of those returning adults are spawned in the hatchery and others released to spawn naturally in Redfish Lake. Fish and Game also raises and maintains a captive broodstock of sockeye that are spawned to augment the sockeye returning from ocean. Those three sources provided about 740,000 young sockeye that were released, or naturally migrated from Redfish Lake, during spring. 2017 has been a difficult year for all salmon and steelhead with nearly all adult returns running below average. The one bright spot has been fall chinook, which is showing strong returns, but still smaller than last year. Biologists hope the large snowpack from the 2016-17 winter improved outmigrating conditions for young salmon and steelhead, and a cooler ocean improved food and habitat in the Pacific that will boost future salmon and steelhead returns to Idaho. TWIN FALLS With the goal of protecting students of the new South Hills Middle School, the City Council approved a speed reduction on 3600 North. About 1,900 vehicles a day travel along 3600 North, which lies 800 feet south of the school, City Engineer Jackie Fields said at the Council meeting Monday. Students traveling to and from nearby subdivisions this year will likely need to cross the road. The Council voted unanimously to reduce speeds from 45 mph to 35 mph along 3600 North between Washington Street South to Blue Lakes Boulevard South. Additionally, the city plans to install variable speed signs reducing speeds to 20 mph. The flashing lights will alert drivers to the reduction shortly before and after school. You end up seeing them whether you want to or not, Fields said. Also at the meeting, the Council: Approved a request from Rex Lytle, on behalf of REEL LLC, to vacate an undeveloped right of way along Morningside Drive so the business could develop it with a building or other permanent improvement. Approved acceptance of a $3.5 million grant from the FAA for a taxiway project at Joslin Field Magic Valley Regional Airport. Construction will likely begin in the spring. Accepted a property transfer from Twin Falls County for a lot in the Castleford subdivision containing a retention pond. The city will now be responsible for maintaining the pond. TWIN FALLS A Twin Falls man is accused of trying to run over his wife with a car Friday evening and then getting into a two-hour standoff with police. Police responded to Second Avenue West, near Buhl Street, because of a call about a man trying to run a woman over with a car. When police arrived the man Matthew Myers, 33, was pacing outside the house with two knives in his hands, according to a police affidavit. The affidavit says Myers refused to listen to officers requests to drop the knives and get on the ground, and when asked what happened said I just tried to murder my wife. It says Myers told police I am going to force you to kill me. According to the affidavit, Myers wife told police she and her husband were arguing in front of the home and, when she tried to go back inside, Myers ran his car into the porch at her. She said she was able to jump out of the way into the yard. Myers then backed up into the street and into the other side of the yard toward her. She got to the other side of another vehicle as he collided with it. Myers surrendered after about two hours and is charged with assault with intent to commit a serious felony. He was booked into county jail on $150,000 bond. Prosecutors have filed notice of intent to seek an enhanced penalty because of use of a car as a deadly weapon. His preliminary hearing has been set for Aug. 18. TWIN FALLS To help students prepare for fall semester, some College of Southern Idaho offices in Twin Falls will extend their hours next week. The colleges registrar, admissions, bookstore, financial aid and advising offices will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 16-18. CSIs fall semester begins Aug. 21. New students must apply by Friday. New students are also required to complete the Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) program. For more information, call the CSI admissions office at 208-732-6221. TWIN FALLS Community members are invited to attend a retirement open house for outgoing Twin Falls School District superintendent Wiley Dobbs. The event is 6:30-9 p.m. Friday in the Sligar Auditorium at the Magic Valley Arts Council, 195 River Vista Place in Twin Falls. There will be a no-host bar and hors doverours. A short presentation is slated for 7:30 p.m. Dobbs is retiring Sept. 1. He has been superintendent of his hometown school district since 2003. Hes helping with the transition of leadership, as new superintendent Brady Dickinson took over July 1. In lieu of gifts, attendees are encouraged to consider making a donation to the Dobbs Family Wrestling Endowment. For more information, call Michelle Lucas at 208-732-7502. BOISE, Idaho (AP) Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has announced Idaho Department of Labor Director Ken Edmunds has resigned effective immediately. Otter's office on Tuesday declined to say why Edmunds had submitted his resignation. The Labor Department and Edmunds have been sued by a former department employee who says the department misused its special subpoena powers to search his personal cell phone and then fired him as a result of the search. The employee, James Cryer, contends in the federal lawsuit that the cell phone data revealed he had sent anonymous emails to state officials complaining that department employees were violating state purchasing laws and wasting government resources. Otter's spokesman Jon Hanian said the lawsuit did not play any part in Edmunds' resignation. The case is progressing in federal court and both the department and Edmunds have denied any wrongdoing. Paul Spannknebel, deputy administrator, will serve as acting director until a replacement is announced. Edmunds had been director of the labor agency since 2013. RUPERT A Rupert man wants to show his children that one person can make a difference by holding a fundraiser to help families suffering from domestic violence. Nico Garcia will run 9.5 miles from Rupert to Burley on Aug. 26 to raise money for the Mini-Cassia Shelter Advocates Against Violence. Garcia is taking sponsor donations for the run with all the proceeds going to the shelter. A father of eight, Garcia said many mothers with children do not have a place to go when they leave their home due to a violent situation. Garcia has raised $400 so far from sponsors for his solo run, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the old Kings store in Rupert and end at the old Kings in Burley. Ill be running by myself but Id love it if the community would come and help out, Garcia said. The will be the third year that Garcia has made the trek. He hopes to complete the run by 10 a.m. I really want to show my kids that if they want to help the community that they need to stand up, Garcia said. It only takes one person to make a change. Dont wait for someone else to do it first get out there and do it yourself. Some donors are sponsoring him by the mile and others are giving a flat donation. Sometimes things get discouraging, said Lynda Brennen, director at the shelter. Then someone like Nico comes along and its like an angel has come down from heaven. The shelter does not receive any federal funding and operates on donations but it is applying for small grants. We are getting by but we could definitely use the donations, she said. The needs, Brennen said, are great. The shelter needs paper products of any kind, especially copy paper and meat for the freezer at the shelter house. The shelter house also needs a new floor and sub floor and money to expand the surveillance system. The organization is also looking for two board members. Applicants should live in Mini-Cassia and be able to devote at least two hours a month to shelter activities. The need for shelter from domestic violence is on the rise, she said. The numbers have been up in the last two weeks, Brennen said. Weve had to turn away thee people and there are seven people at the shelter. SHOSHONE Hindered by wind, smoke and a vein of lava rock, the Bureau of Land Management Twin Falls District and assisting fire departments fought two fires that blazed across the southern Idaho desert this weekend. More than 85,000 acres had burned in less than 72 hours, but crews held containment lines throughout Monday and expected to stop both fires progression that night. The Mammoth Fire north of Shoshone has been re-mapped at an estimated 50,182 acres. The fire was reported Friday afternoon and led to two evacuation orders Friday and Saturday. One house and two minor structures have been destroyed. Theres hardly any smoke at all, so things are looking pretty good, BLM spokeswoman Kelsey Brizendine said Monday evening. The fire had spread quickly over a few days as aircraft have been grounded since Saturday afternoon due to low visibility from smoke. Most of the smoke is from Canada, Washington and Oregon fires, Brizendine said. It was blowing so fast and so hot, there wasnt really much anybody could do, she said. Firefighters started a backburn at Picabo Desert Road, which helped to contain the most active flank of the Mammoth Fire as it burned northeast. Multiple short-duration outages were reported in Lincoln County over the weekend because of the fire, Idaho Power Co. spokeswoman Stephanie McCurdy said. But 29 customers in Shoshone and Richfield lost power for six hours or longer Friday evening. Idaho Power Co. had concerns about losing power to the entire Wood River Valley over the weekend after the Mammoth Fire reached one of two transmission lines, McCurdy said. The other power line had been down for scheduled maintenance, but the power company paused those activities to get that line back up and running in case of an outage. As it turned out, some poles burned, but there was not enough damage to cause an outage, McCurdy said. The Mammoth Fire was expected to be fully contained by 8 p.m. Monday and controlled by 8 p.m. Thursday. Most of whats burning is the interior pockets, Brizendine said earlier in the day. These should not result in additional burned acreage. There were 24 engines, two initial attack hand crews, one hot shot crew, 20 overhead, four dozers, three water tenders and one camp crew on scene. BLM firefighters also expected to contain the Shoestring Fire, which was reported Saturday afternoon on Idaho 46 between Gooding and Wendell. The fire burned 35,737 acres in Gooding, Lincoln and Jerome counties. Control was estimated for 6 p.m. Wednesday. Fire crews have gotten containment lines all around the Shoestring Fire, while interior pockets continue to burn, Brizendine said. The cause of the Mammoth and Shoestring fires is still unclear. The BLM expects thunderstorms this week could produce gusty winds up to 40 miles per hour. The National Weather Service in Boise had issued a red flag warning for thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening. An air quality advisory had also been issued by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality for Camas, Gooding, Jerome and Twin Falls counties. Outdoor burning restrictions are in effect. Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank. The world must not turn a blind eye to the dire situation of children and families in the Grand Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) warned Monday, stressing that nothing can justify terrible acts of abuse against women and children. Children and women tell us of terrible acts of abuse. Many children have been recruited by armed forces, drugged and caught in the violence. Nothing can justify these actions, said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, in a statement. Over the past 12 months, more than 1.4 million people including 850,000 children have been forced from their homes, and their lives turned upside down by widespread acts of extreme violence. More than 200 health centres have been destroyed, and one in four health centres is no longer functioning normally. An estimated 400,000 children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition, the statement adds. Children have lost a year of education, as hundreds of schools have been targeted and looted, teachers killed or forced to flee for safety. Teachers are not able to go to work, while parents are scared to send their children to school. She urged all parties to the conflict to protect children, end grave violations against children, and preserve schools and health services. Another alarming report by the UN High Commission for Human Rights released last Friday pointed out that violence in the Kasai provinces appears to be taking on an increasingly disturbing ethnic dimension. The report cited testimonies that Government forces have led ethnicity-based attacks. Survivors have spoken of hearing the screams of people being burned alive, of seeing loved ones chased and cut down, of themselves fleeing in terror. Such bloodletting is all the more horrifying because we found indications that people are increasingly being targeted because of their ethnic group, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Al Hussein in a news release from his Office (OHCHR). Their accounts should serve as a grave warning to the Government of the DRC to act now to prevent such violence from tipping into wider ethnic cleansing, he added, calling on the Government to take all necessary measures to fulfil its primary obligation to protect people from all ethnic backgrounds in the greater Kasai area. The report is based on interviews with 96 people who had fled to neighboring Angola to escape the violence in Kamonia territory in Kasai. The UN investigating team was able to confirm that between 12 March and 19 June, some 251 people became the victims of extrajudicial and targeted killings, including 62 children, of which 30 were aged under eight. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum kicked-off in Togos capital Lome on Tuesday. The Forum is bringing together senior government officials from the United States and 38 Sub-Saharan African AGOA-eligible countries to discuss ways to boost economic cooperation and trade between the United States and Africa. The African Union and regional economic communities are also represented in the West African nations capital Lome. According to the Togolese governments website, the 3-day event will explore how countries can continue to maximize the benefits of AGOA in a rapidly changing economic landscape, and highlight the important role played by women, civil society, and the private sector in promoting trade and generating prosperity. The forum also features a closed-door ministerial session, which will discuss the future of AGOA in light of the new US administration and its foreign policy. The AGOA law, which enhances market access to the United States for qualifying sub-Saharan African countries, has been the cornerstone of the US governments trade policy with sub-Saharan Africa since 2000. Since its introduction, total AGOA imports, including GSP (Generalized System of Preferences), have increased by 13% to $9.4 billion in 2016. Non-oil AGOA surged by more than 300 percent to $4.2 billion in 2016 from $1.3 billion in 2001. The growth of these non-oil sectors has created some 300,000 direct jobs in Africa, According to US ambassador to Togo, David Glimour. In 2016, US exports to sub-Saharan Africa reached $20 billion, an increase of 4.8% over the previous year. @alextdaugherty While Donald Trump holds court in New Jersey, Vice President Mike Pence met with Sen. Marco Rubio and two other members of Congress in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan confirmed in a statement that the meeting was about "important issues in the Western Hemisphere that impact our national interests, including the crisis in Venezuela." A spokesman for Duncan declined to provide a detailed readout of the meeting, deferring to Pence's office. Representatives for Pence did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The meeting between Pence and Rubio is the latest example of the Florida senator's close relationship with the White House on Latin American foreign policy issues, particularly the situation in Venezuela. Rubio and other South Florida lawmakers are lobbying Trump and Pence to impose sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan oil imports. The White House and Treasury Department have not announced a timeline for future sanctions beyond freezing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's U.S. assets after he held an election for a constituent assembly tasked with rewriting the nation's constitution in favor of Maduro. Maduro is the fourth foreign leader after Bashar Assad of Syria, Kim Jong-un of North Korea and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to be personally sanctioned by the U.S. government. Tuesday's meeting also included Cuban-American Democratic Rep. Albio Sires of New Jersey, according to Politico. Sires is the ranking member of the House Western Hemisphere subcommittee and Duncan is the chairman. "I am grateful that the Trump administration is soliciting input on these matters from Congressional leaders," Duncan's statement said. "I applaud the Administration for its continued actions to pressure the Venezuelan dictatorship and am encouraged by the courageous steps being taken by international partners in support of democracy and the people of Venezuela." Update 6:00pm: Pence tweeted about the meeting. Fire activity was moderate but air quality nevertheless collapsed for much of western Montana on Monday as a high pressure system settled in place over the northern Rocky Mountains. Air quality alerts have been announced for Seeley Lake as well as Idaho and Clearwater counties. While a Canadian cold front forecasts the potential for showers or thunderstorms in the Glacier National Park vicinity, it may also boost east and northeast winds starting Monday night through Tuesday morning. Isolated thunderstorms could develop throughout the region on most afternoons this week, especially on Wednesday. Lolo Peak fire: Clouds and smoke shrouded the main burn area most of Monday morning, but activity picked up after noon. Most burning took place along the northern edge toward Cedar Creek and the south fork of Lolo Creek. Incident Commander Noel Livingston said crews would start intentionally burning some areas during calm periods to use up forest fuel on the northwest and northeast corners before the main fire gets there. Lolo Peak has burned 7,292 acres as of Monday, and has a crew of 396 people assigned. Rice Ridge fire: Moderate weather kept fire activity low as crews worked to improve lines on the western side of the 8,209-acre fire, which is now about 10 percent contained. Helicopters supported heavy equipment on line construction along Cottonwood Lake Road, where the southern end of the fire threatens the town of Seeley Lake. A group of water-scooping planes doused hot spots on the fires northern perimeter. Rice Ridge has 454 people on scene. Sunrise fire: Activity picked up Monday afternoon near the head of Verde Creek as firefighters continued burnout operations along Quartz Creek, Brushy Gulch and Verde Creek. Fire officials warned that some long-range spotting embers had potential to cross Interstate 90 and the Clark Fork River, but so far hadnt discovered any new starts in those areas. The fire has burned 13,488 acres and has a crew of 568 personnel. Meyers fire: Firefighters worked on contingency lines on the northern and eastern flanks of the 13,097-acre fire burning 25 miles southwest of Philipsburg. Frog Pond Basin, Copper Creek Campground and the Moose Lake area remain closed because of fire danger. A crew of 487 people is on scene. Liberty fire: After completing about 21.5 miles of fire line, the incident command at this 3,971-acre fire 17 miles southeast of Arlee hope the blaze will be contained by old fire scars, natural blockages and new line. Two cabins in the Boles Meadow area have been wrapped with protective foil. The fire has 399 people assigned and appears most active along the south fork of the Jocko River and Gold Creek divide areas. Sapphire Complex fires: The three fires burning along the Rock Creek drainage east of Missoula have grown to 24,491 acres. The Goat Creek fire continues to hold along the Rock Creek Road as firefighters mop up and protect structures in the area. Its reported at 62 percent containment. Little Hogback fire remains uncontained after burning 15,946 acres. A retardant loading site for helicopters was set up in the Willow Creek drainage to assist with operations there. The Sliderock fire has burned about 842 acres and is reported 30 percent contained. The complex has a fire crew of 637 deployed among the three burn areas. A $5 million gift from an anonymous donor will launch the University of Montana College of Education and Human Sciences to a new realm, said Dean Roberta Evans. "We've been dancing on the lawn," said Evans, head of the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences. The endowment will fully fund two new academic chairs in the college and honor Maryfrances Shreeve and son William Shreeve, "two exceptional regional educators," according to UM and Evans. The Maryfrances Shreeve Chair in Teaching Excellence will pay for a "distinguished professor in the college's Department of Teaching and Learning." The William C. Shreeve Chair in Educational Administration in the Department of Educational Leadership will support a professor "committed to translating theory into practice for future school leaders." Evans said the magnitude of the gift will push the departments to new heights in a college with 39 tenure-track faculty, seven clinical faculty and two long-term adjuncts in all. At a time when UM is losing positions because of budget difficulties, the gift will increase the instructors in education and human sciences. "Honestly, when I called this transformative, that probably was an understatement," Evans said. The posts are in departments that have been growing, and the faculty who are selected will be people who understand the vision and direction of the college and can make contributions to leadership, she said. UM will announce the recipients of the chairs this fall. Evans said the gift was structured in a "brilliant" way. The chairs will not only conduct research and refine theories, she said, but demonstrate findings on the ground. "That is what was so beneficial about this particular gift," Evans said. *** The support is particularly meaningful for UM at this time, said the UM Foundation's Kate Stober. "UM never struggles for scholarship support, but faculty support is rare," Stober said in an email. "It is always notable when someone understands that great faculty are key to a student's educational experience." She said the gift comes from an anonymous donor who wanted to shine the spotlight on two admirable educators, both deceased. Maryfrances Shreeve was born in 1907 in Deer Lodge and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from UM, according to a news release from UM. She taught throughout western Montana. "Maryfrances Shreeve was a much-loved master teacher who served the children and the state of Montana for more than 37 years," said the news release. "She never met a child no matter how gifted, poor, wealthy, talented or ordinary who did not deserve every possible opportunity." William Shreeve followed in his mother's footsteps and earned a bachelor's and master's degree in education from UM, according to the news release. UM described him as "an exceptional educator" who received his doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado and taught as a professor of education at Eastern Washington University. "He was dedicated to training quality principals and school administration professionals for K-12 school systems, instituting many national award-winning programs during his tenure," UM said. The state of Montana launched a new website where the public can report blooms of suspected toxic algae. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a seasonal phenomenon on Montanas lakes, reservoirs and ponds that can make people sick and even kill pets and livestock. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality are asking for the publics help with identifying suspected HAB sites. Last Friday, the two agencies launched a HAB reporting website www.hab.mt.gov as well as a 24-hour hotline at 1-888-849-2938. Harmful Algal Blooms can present a health risk to people and animals, said Laura Williamson, state epidemiologist at DPHHS. Direct skin contact or inhalation of the toxic blue-green algae may cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, or throat and people may experience respiratory symptoms after exposure. Nationally, there have been no human deaths caused by HAB exposure; however, animal deaths, such as livestock, pets and wildlife, have been caused by HABs. In addition to educating folks about the danger, were asking the public to be our eyes out in the field so we can respond quickly and hopefully prevent people, pets or livestock from getting sick, Williamson said. In addition to reporting basics, such as the time and date that an algal bloom is observed, the website allows users to upload photos of the bloom and pinpoint the GPS location. The site also includes the phone number for Poison Control, which should be called immediately if a HAB-related illness is suspected in a person or animal. Blooms of potentially toxic blue-green algae appear as "pea soup," "grass clippings," or "green latex paint." The algae usually are suspended in the water column or appear as floating mats; they do not grow from the bottom as do mosses or water plants. Algae bloom in abundance this time of year on Montanas ponds, lakes and reservoirs. While not all varieties are harmful, some can produce dangerous toxins. The state does not specifically monitor for blue-green algae, but there are some local efforts to test specific waterbodies. When a HAB is via the reporting website, DEQ will assist DPHHS with investigation and analysis to determine whether an algal bloom is a potentially harmful species and whether levels are of concern. If the bloom is in a public lake or pond, DPHHS will determine whether to issue a warning or closure. Over time, information gathered via the website and hotline will help the agencies with identification, early warning and prevention. DEQ is involved in Montanas HAB outreach and prevention efforts because it is the agency responsible for protecting Montanas waterways from excess nitrogen and phosphorous the two nutrients responsible for sparking algal blooms. Scientists believe HABs are becoming more common and more toxic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2014, a HAB in Lake Erie left nearly 500,000 residents of Toledo, Ohio, without access to the public water supply for nearly three days. In the fall of 2015, a HAB covered 636 miles of the Ohio River, producing a toxin that can kill cattle. Nationally this issue has gotten so much attention, said Eric Urban, DEQ Water Quality Planning Bureau Chief. In Montana, Hebgen Lake Reservoir had a confirmed HAB last summer that lasted into October with alarming levels of cyanotoxins, Urban said. DEQ also has reports of blue-green algae blooms present on Canyon Ferry, Hauser and Holter reservoirs. At this time the reports are localized and are not widespread throughout the waterbodies. The Lake County Conservation District has come up with a once-in-a-lifetime idea. An idea that does not cost Swan Valley residents anything! Our Swan Valley forests have built up an unbelievable amount of forest fuels. When these fuels ignite and burn, your Swan Lake Rural Fire Department will only invest our efforts in evacuating you, the residents of this unique valley; we cannot fight the fire that is to come. Today, everyone can see trees dying on our mountainsides here in the Swan. Old age and disease are taking its toll, causing an overload of fuel to explosive levels. The idea that the Lake County Conservation District has been studying goes like this: Establish a 60,000-acre conservation forest on federal lands, sustainably manage the forest and sell merchantable trees to the last of the few sawmills that are left in Montana. After paying the state of Montana for forest management costs and a fire protection cost, reinvest the balance in a proactive forest fuels reduction program and other important conservation projects here in Lake County. And the amount of money that is available is significant, $500,000 per year! This idea is sustainable, earns money from proactive and wise management, and it all comes from a renewable resource, trees. The Swan Lake Rural Fire Department urges you to support this idea. Take a look at this idea; the story can be found at swanforestinitiative.org. Support this idea! Let the Lake County Conservation District know that they should keep working. You can let them know you support this idea at swanstudy@gmail.com or you can send them your support letter at 64352 U.S. Highway 93, Ronan MT, 59864. This message is coming from your all-volunteer Swan Lake Rural Fire Department. Without your support, the folks that want nothing done, except to see our valley burn, will win. I read with interest the (July 31) letter thanking U.S. Sen. Steve Daines for his amendment concerning Medicare in the Republican "Better Care" healthcare bill. The author of the letter thanking Daines left one salient fact out. To wit: Daines voted against his own amendment. Once again we are confronted with the pure sham of Daines' true character and intent. To introduce an amendment portending one thing and vote to kill the same amendment is the height of political and personal dishonesty. James Beyer's letter praising Daines ends with this: "I am sure your brave stand against the health care and insurance gougers will be rewarded by Montana voters in 2020." I hope Beyer realizes the total scam of Daines' hypocrisy as shown by his actions in his introduction and rejection of his own amendment. Like Beyer, I also believe Montana voters will reward Daines in 2020 by rejecting his bid for re-election in 2020 due to his flaming hypocrisy. Mark Jaqueth, Missoula When youre born and raised in Montana, preserving our outdoor heritage is one of the many values that is instilled at a young age. That value has been under attack by the Trump administration and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke through the review of national monuments. Zinke told us not to worry, and that the Upper Missouri River Breaks will go untouched. Well, I am worried. Ryan Zinke has a record of saying one thing, but doing another. He cited his personal observations of diminishing glaciers in Glacier National Park as evidence of climate change, but turned around and defended a million-dollar cut to the parks budget. He threatened Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski over her health care vote, then called the reports "laughable"? Zinke campaigned as a Teddy Roosevelt Conservative, while undermining Roosevelts legacy legislation, the Antiquities Act. The current administration has shown their affinity for not telling the truth time and time again. I wont believe the Breaks are protected until the entire review is concluded, and in writing. Lets use another Montana value: lending a hand. We need to help our friends across the country protect the monuments close to their homes. Brenna Davis, Missoula The Muscatine Police Department reports a spike in the number of car thefts over the Nov. 5 weekend and says all the stolen cars had one thing MUSCATINE Muscatine School Board candidate Bev Gerdts has received an endorsement from a chapter of the AFL-CIO. In a news release, the Quad City Federation of Labor cited Gerdts involvement with the districts staff union as the reason for the endorsement. She understands the complexity of a school boards budget and wants to ensure all employees are treated fairly, the release said. Not only are students crucial, Beverly wants to ensure that the subjects of collective bargaining are still negotiated." Last February, then-Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law a bill that reduced the bargaining powers of state and municipal employee unions in Iowa, limiting negotiations to base salary and prohibiting negotiations over supplemental pay, payroll deductions for union fees, employee transfers, employee evaluation procedures and procedures for staff reductions, among other topics. In an interview Monday afternoon, Gerdts said she wants to use her position in the board to help district staff. A retired Muscatine school custodian, Gerdts has negotiated staff salaries with the district for 20 years. If I was an employee, things like insurance and leave and vacation things that affect me, I would think I should have a say in those, she said. Just because the law changes and they can only talk about the base wage doesnt mean they should. As a board member, she would communicate her opinion to the board that the new collective bargaining laws are a disrespect to employees. My hope is that having been a union member, that when it comes negotiation time I can, from the board side, at least bring some perspective to what the support staff brings to the district, she said. I think sometimes they look at (support staff) as not educated, not in positions of authority and they just brush them aside and dont give them the fair treatment they need or they deserve. In her work as a custodian, Gerdts said she sometimes felt dismissed by supervisors when she had ideas about how to better use a space or maintain a building. She wants to help the districts staff members with similar issues. Support staff may mentor students, she said, and can sometimes see the first signs of student distress before teachers and administrators do. The support staff have a lot of one-on-one contact with students and I think by being a representative of the support staff Im also representing the students because they are important to these students, she said. Representatives of the Quad City Federation of Labor did not respond by press time. MUSCATINE Jonathanael Torres, 5, knew immediately which backpack he wanted. Bee-lining to the edge of the card table at Community Action of Eastern Iowas Muscatine office, he faced the tall table. Standing on his tippy-toes and stretching his lanky arms as far as they can go, he grabbed a black backpack with red and orange flames. I am the fire, he said with a satisfied grin, running to the next room, where notebooks, pens, pencils and other school supplies lay neatly on tables. Come here, Jonathanael, its not time yet, said his mom, Maria Torres. He ran back to her, pulling on the straps of his new backpack. In a few moments, he would fill it with school supplies from a back-to-school list. Torres comes to Community Action of Eastern Iowa every year to get free school supplies for her children. This year, 30 to 40 people formed a line in front of the office at the Muscatine Mall in order to do so. Torres said she waited about an hour and a half to get supplies for her son and daughter, who is in third grade. But the wait was worth it. Torres doesnt work and her husband is receives disability. Being on a fixed income, she cant afford the $30 it costs for notebooks, pencils and other supplies for her children, let alone another $10-15 or more for a new backpack for Jonathanael. The free supplies relieve some of the back-to-school burden. Its a struggle, she said. I mean, I have family, but not everybody can lend me money. For the last 35 years, Community Action of Eastern Iowa has been giving free back-to-school supplies to low-income families in Muscatine. The cost of those supplies and school fees are rising, according to the Backpack Index, a measure created by Huntington National Bank and the nonprofit Communities in Schools a decade ago. Families can expect to spend $622 this year on school supplies and fees for their elementary-aged children, up 88 percent from 2007. At first, families who came to Community Action for supplies got pre-packaged kits filled with supplies, but in recent years, the program evolvedchildren now choose their own supplies. They learn that they have choices, Torres said. Its not you get what you get. Last year, Community Action also added another service: they invited Significant Souls, a United Way of Muscatine program that gives news shoes to school-aged children. Significant Souls was back this year, with bins full of childrens shoes. By mid-morning the four plastic bins they brought were half-empty and the line of people waiting to receive school supplies and shoes had not let up. Community Action included new partners this year, representatives from the Muscatine School District, who helped families sign up for free and reduced lunch, and representatives from Trinity Muscatine Public Health, who offered dental screenings. Back in the office, Jonathanael finished choosing his supplies. Mother and son headed outside to stand in a shorter line, the one for new shoes. But for Jonathanael, the new backpack was the most exciting part. Wearing it on his back, he jumped up and down, relishing the sounds his new pencil box made as it hit the binders, notebooks and other supplies in his backpack. MUSCATINE A jury has decided three female employees of Allsteel, based in Muscatine, must be compensated for gender-based wage discrimination. Erin Dindinger, Lisa Loring and Elizabeth Freund brought the suit against the furniture manufacturer in October 2011, alleging that Allsteel paid them less than it paid men performing equal work. All three employees accused the company of gender-based wage discrimination under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, while Dindinger and Loring also brought claims of wage discrimination under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Dindinger, a Safety and Environmental Manager for about 11 years, and Fruend, a plant manager, both claimed they were paid less than male employees with the same title. Loring, a manager between 2008 and 2013, claimed she was denied a promotion based on her gender. In all three cases, Allsteel claimed the employees were not paid more based on prior education and experience, seniority and poor job performance, according to court documents. Allsteel also claimed the plaintiffs were paid less due to economic conditions, such as the recession that began in 2008, plus several employee lay-offs, restructured job responsibilities and a freeze on merit-based pay raises. After a five-day trial in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, a jury sided with the employees, with the exception of Loring's failure-to-promote claim. The jury awarded the plaintiffs back-pay totaling $204,000 and attorney's fees totaling $269,877, according to the ruling. "It is not a defense under the Equal Pay Act that a woman may be paid less than a man in the same position simply because the woman is willing to accept less pay, or because the man demands more pay," the district court wrote. Allsteel moved for a new trial, which was denied by the district court, and then appealed the ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. In April, the Eighth Circuit panel mostly affirmed the previous ruling, claiming Allsteel failed to provide evidence that economic conditions could justify the difference in employee wages. "But Allsteel offered no evidence at trial showing how these cost-saving measures caused the plaintiffs to be paid less than their male comparators. No evidence suggested that the layoffs and job restructuring had any effect on the wages of the plaintiffs or their male comparators," the Eighth Circuit ruling states. The judges upheld the court's decision to award attorney fees to the three Allsteel employees, as well as most of the costs. The Eighth Circuit, however, remanded some of the costs of computerized legal research, asking the district court to determine if it is "prevailing practice in Iowa" to bill clients separately for research. Attorneys for both parties could not be reached this week. DES MOINES Farmers, builders and landowners soon will have more clarity regarding what small water bodies can be monitored for pollution by the federal government. Thats the goal of Scott Pruitt, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that is in the midst of changing a federal rule that some viewed as government overreach. Pruitt was in Des Moines on Tuesday as part of a 25-state tour. During his Iowa stop, he appeared at a roundtable discussion with Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa agriculture secretary Bill Northey, U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and leaders with the Iowa Farm Bureau. During an interview Tuesday morning before the event, Pruitt talked about the EPA's effort under Republican President Donald Trump to rewrite a water regulation rule created in 2015 under Democratic President Barack Obama. Critics of the Waters of the U.S. rule say it gives the federal government too much power to regulate small water bodies, including puddles on ditches on farm land and construction sites. Pruitt said rewriting the rule will provide clarity. Farmers and ranchers, those who build subdivisions, land use across the country was subjected to great uncertainty because they didnt know where federal jurisdiction began and ended, said Pruitt, who sued the EPA more than a dozen times while serving as Oklahomas attorney general. He called the rule a power grab. Pruitt said one element of his 25-state tour is to seek input from stakeholders. He said the new rule will be objectively measured and traditional in its view of how we should measure waters of the U.S. Like those who protest government regulation of farms and businesses that produce pollution that can get into ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, Pruitt said farmers and other landowners have a natural incentive to maintain healthy water and environment. People presume that by withdrawing the old rule and providing a substitute definition that theres going to be a dearth of regulation or a dearth of oversight with respect to water quality, Pruitt said. One of the things that weve got to keep in mind is that farmers and ranchers, as an example, are our first conservationists and environmentalists. The greatest asset they have is the land. ... And I think this concept in Washington, D.C. that drives bureaucrats, at times they look across the country and they say, We cant trust farmers and ranchers in Iowa, and we cant trust those that are engaged in industry in the state of Iowa, is absolutely misplaced. Because industry and farmers and ranchers and landowners in the state care about their own land. Theyre going to take steps to ensure that they are being good stewards for future generations. Pruitt also addressed the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, which dictates how much ethanol and other alternative fuels must be mixed in the nations fuel supply. There is strong support for the RFS in Iowa, driven by the states corn producers. Earlier this year the EPA announced the program would sustain the amount of corn-based ethanol in the fuel supply, but reduce the portion of biofuels. There are competing interests across the spectrum with respect to the RFS, Pruitt said. As we publish those (fuel levels), were looking at production and were looking at market demand. And I think that is the most objective way to measure what those volume obligations should be. 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 [] Theres a new happy hour option in Napa Valley, but this one doesnt involve alcohol. Inspired by exploration of tea times in San Francisco over the years, Calistogan Kathleen Bakula has started an on-the-go afternoon tea service in Napa Valley called Mobili-Tea. Ive always loved the idea of having tea. To me, its just one of the few civilized experiences that we can have, where were enjoying each others company without texting and being on the phone, just being in the moment and slowing down. I know thats kind of old-fashioned, but I think its healthy, said Bakula. The service isnt operated out of a truck, if thats what you were envisioning. The Mobili part of the name simply signifies Bakulas ability to host tea time at various locations, including local inns, private residences and wineries. She can also host at the customers home for a special occasion, like a birthday or bridal shower. Mobili-Tea provides pretty much everything for the tea party, styling it tastefully, not frilly, with a bunch of doilies, she said. The host provides the water, table, chairs and linens, if needed. The two-hour experience is $65 per person and includes a substantial lunch. Tea time is usually between 1-4 p.m., and its limited to 6-12 people to keep things intimate, she said. Bakula sends attendees a menu beforehand, so that they can select their tea and choice of two finger sandwiches. There are nine options of sandwiches, like cucumber and cream cheese, green apple and sharp cheddar and smoked salmon mousse. Mobili-Tea currently pours three kinds of tea: Yunann Black, which is similar to a traditional English Breakfast tea, a lighter White Peony, and for those who dont want caffeine, a herbal Lemon Lavender. All high-end teas are small lot and organic. The experiences includes a mixed green salad, sandwiches, fresh fruit and classic deviled eggs, fresh scones with preserves and clotted cream, and the meal finishes with a selection of mini desserts. All the while, guests are leisurely sipping bottomless tea and engaging in distraction-free conversation. Even if you bring a friend and you may not know anyone else, youll probably leave making new friends, said Bakula. Just come and show up. Its always a wonderful discussion. Bakula launched her business idea at the Brannan Cottage Inn in Calistoga, where she works part time. Its offered as an extra amenity to the guests, held in the parlor or courtyard, and once a month, opens up to the public. Doing afternoon tea at Brannan, its really kind of cool because its historical and takes you back in time. The vibe is very, very good, said Bakula. Shes been busy working on developing partnerships with other local businesses that are interested in offering tea services to their guests. Recently, shes added a Calistoga winery to her list and says shes in talks with a unique St. Helena location. And despite the fact that most visitors to Napa Valley are seeking out wine, Bakula has identified a need for something different. So far, she says tourists have been receptive to an afternoon tea break in between scheduled wine tastings, or after wine tasting and before dinner. Nobody is offering tea in the Napa Valley, as far as I can tell, and I thought, why is that? People come here to drink wine. But not everybody drinks wine, and theres a time where people take a break from drinking wine, she said. Bakula can be reached at info@mobili-tea.com. Several recent graduates of Napa Valley Colleges Napa Valley Cooking School are giving high praise to Executive Chef Barbara Alexander for training students through a foundation in traditional culinary techniques and an eye on the future of modern culinary world. At the Napa Valley Cooking School we are kind of old-fashioned in a modern way, said Alexander. We instill great technique, attitude, values and work ethic in our students. We value tradition, creativity and passion in this age-old trade. We look to the future of the food service industry encompassing trends, artistic styles and other artisans and we do it while cultivating the students passions. Our program is only as good as the chefs that come out of the school. We have so many students to be proud of. The school is in St. Helena, at the Upper Valley campus of Napa Valley College. A sampling of students offered a taste of what Chef B inspires. St. Helena native Ryan Gold graduated from the NVCS with confidence in his ability, passion for his chosen occupation and a solid job offer from Thomas Keller. He spent the next two years working full-time in New York City at Michelin Star restaurant, Per Se, owned by Keller. It was a lot of fun, said Gold, who plans to continue his love affair with food by studying food science at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where he attended high school. I want to work with food systems in the United States, fixing the food problems we have right now, with food sourcing, and small farms that dont have access to sustainable measures, said Gold. He said he acquired his passion for food knowledge from Chef Alexander, who inspires students to become professionals. I give Napa Valley Cooking School 10 out of 10 stars, said Gold. Especially for the cost, it is unbeatable. Ive worked with students from all types of food schools and I teach them words that Chef B has taught us. The professionalism that she instills in her classroom is outstanding. She prepared me to work where I wanted to work, doing what I wanted to do. I was as prepared as I could be. I sing the schools praises wherever I go. Matt Jaspering didnt know what to do after high school, wavering between college and getting a job. He went to work for Insalatas in his home town of San Anselmo as a prep cook. The restaurants head chef Taylor Carnes had graduated from Napa Valley Cooking School and saw that Matt, who was taking culinary classes at Santa Rosa Junior College, had an interest in learning more. I put in an application to Napa Valley Cooking School and asked Heidi Krahling, the owner of the restaurant, to give me a reference. She called Executive Chef Barbara Alexander, so I was well recommended, he recalled. I took it seriously and dove right in. I love Napa, being in the food and wine and hospitality industry, amid historic Napa and St. Helena. It had some romanticism to it. After graduating as Class of 2016 valedictorian, Jaspering had his eyes set on Taj Compton Place Restaurant on Union Square, but an even better offer came along. Chef Dominique Crenn met me at the restaurant where I got to do my externship, and I worked at Michelin star, Atelier Crenn, for six months, he said. Matt now works at Saison in San Francisco. Marielle Fabie, who graduated in 2012 and is currently working at Tartine Manufactory in San Francisco, credited Alexander for setting up students for success through a required 500-hour externship and four stages at restaurants, which is a valuable way of introducing them to chefs. The learning atmosphere is open, inviting, never abrasive, she said. You feel very comfortable, not threatened or scared. Chef B is always evolving, showing newer techniques as well as every side of the traditional. She absolutely encourages creativity. For example, students are each given a black box with mystery ingredients and told to create something on the fly within 30 minutes. You get to show your peers what you did, you get to be excited about working with a new ingredient and you come away with a new outlook. Fabie, 27, graduated from the Napa Valley Cooking School and began looking for work in some of the best restaurants. I wanted to work in a Michelin star restaurant and was looking at the best new chefs in San Francisco and found Saison. I got halfway through my externship and they were, like, You come on and work with us, and I stayed for two years. She stopped cooking for a year to go into business with a friend as a fine-dining food purveyor, but returned to cooking for two years as sous chef for Alexanders Patisserie under Executive Pastry Chef Quentin Collignon, in downtown Mountain View. I had gained a lot of organizational skills and knowledge from Chef B and became a manager in the kitchen, which led to her current job working the savory dinner service at Tartine Manufactury. My career has taken me to places I could never have seen or done. Its not very glamorous but it is something I truly love to do cooking for people, bringing people together and getting them excited to eat. Theres a story behind the connection between people and food, and Im very happy to tell it. Convicted of 3-year-old Kayleigh Slushers murder, the girls mother, Sara Lynn Krueger, and her former boyfriend, Ryan Scott Warner, have both filed notices of appeal. They were sentenced on July 27 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for Kayleighs murder. Although the basis for their separate appeals has not been disclosed, both defendants maintained their innocence through sentencing. Napa Police found Kayleighs cold body on Feb. 1, 2014 at Kruegers apartment at 2060 Wilkins Avenue in Napa. The little girl had bruises all over her body as well as internal injuries. According to court testimony, Kayleigh died from complications of mesenteric contusion and small intestinal hematoma caused by fatal child abuse and neglect. Krueger and Warner, who had left Kayleighs body behind while they fled from Napa, were arrested in El Cerrito a day later. After a trial that lasted about a month, two separate juries found Krueger, 27, and Warner, 29, guilty of murder, torture and assault on a child causing death. Warners attorney, Mervin C. Lernhart, filed his notice of appeal on July 27, the day of sentencing. Kruegers attorney, Jim McEntee, filed her notice on Aug. 1. A notice of appeal had to be filed with the court within 60 days of judgement with the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco. Krueger and Warner, who were both represented by court-appointed attorneys during their trials in Napa, both requested that new court-appointed attorneys be assigned to their appeals. The appeals court may appoint attorneys through the First District Appellate Project, a nonprofit law office based in Oakland. How long the appeals process takes depends on the county and the circumstances of the case, said Sharona Gottlieb, assistant deputy clerk for criminal appeals at the 1st District Court of Appeal. The appeal can lead to an affirmation or partial affirmation of judgment or, she said, the judgement can be revoked, partially revoked or remanded with direction. After the court makes a decision, the case can then be appealed to the Supreme Court of California. At the time of sentencing, both Krueger and Warner maintained their own innocence. In a statement read by her attorney, Krueger said that she never hurt her daughter and seemed to blame Warner for Kayleighs injuries. I didnt know he hurt her, she said. Warner also made a statement to the court, in which he said that he was not guilty and that any hatred felt toward him is misdirected. I did not cause any harm to this child, Warner said. After addressing the court, Warner told Judge Francisca P. Tisher, who presided over the trial, that his notice of appeal was ready. Krueger is currently being held at Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla, according to the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation. Warner is being held at San Quentin State Prison. There are plenty of problems with the kind of one-party government California now has, with every statewide office in the hands of Democrats, who also hold two-thirds majorities in both houses of the Legislature. Its easier to pass taxes this way and budget discipline can be hard to find, to name just two. But the one-party dominance also allows for addressing some rank injustices after theyve spent years as festering societal wounds. Cash bail is one of those. Get arrested, whether youre guilty of a crime or not, and theres a good chance youll have to put up thousands of dollars in cash, real estate or other valuables to avoid spending many months in jail. One springtime report from the nonprofit Human Rights Watch found that 459,847 persons were jailed in California for felony offenses between 2011 and 2015 but never found guilty of any crime. They accounted for just under one-third of all arrests during that time and it cost California counties an average of $114 per day to keep them in custody, a total of more than $1 billion. While a large majority of arrests were for good cause, hundreds of thousands were detained for days, weeks or months without good reason. The average bail set in those cases was approximately $50,000, with variances by county and by the type of crime involved. For many persons unable to come up with such a sum, bail bond agents are an answer. The agents often put up 10 percent of the bail amount for an accused person, and are responsible for the rest if the suspect jumps bail or does not turn up for scheduled court dates. The accused (or friends and relatives) must pay that 10 percent, or $5,000 when bail is set at the typical $50,000. That money is not returned. With a lot of low income families, $500 can be a lot to come up with so $5,000? San Francisco City and County Treasurer Jose Cisneros told a reporter. Particularly $5,000 they are never going to see again. Thats why many prisoners dont make bail and languish for months before trial. This, in turn, can cause them to lose jobs and see their children put into foster case, often for months or years after their eventual release. So bail can be a punishment just for being poor. That reality got little attention in Sacramento until this year, but now Democratic state Sen. Robert Hertzberg of Los Angeles (a former state Assembly speaker) and Assemblyman Rob Bonta of Alameda, another Democrat, want to rectify the frequent injustices. A Bonta reform measure died in the Assembly in June, but Hertzbergs virtually identical bill to ease bail passed the Senate. Now making its way through various Assembly committees, its an attempt to ensure no one now jailed and awaiting trial is held merely because of finances. Counties would have to set up an evaluation system to make sure no one gets an on their own recognizance release if theres any threat to the community or any flight risk. Theres an apparent consensus that prior criminal records will have to be considered. But no cost figure is yet attached to the new bureaucracy that would result. Said the normally ultra-liberal San Diego Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, I dont see how this works without spending a lot of money. So, like the single-payer health insurance bill that passed the Senate earlier this year only to die in the Assembly for lack of financial details, this equally humanitarian effort at equalizing bail treatment for all suspects leaves a lot of questions unanswered. No one now questions the essential inequality of todays bail setup, where the wealthy usually walk free while most poor suspects stay in jail. But no one also doubts the assertion of the Golden State Bail Agents Association that reform would see the mass release of defendants. For sure, any fix for this flawed system will see plenty of would-be defendants freed. The trick will be to make sure as many of the newly-freed as possible are among the one-third of all people who are arrested who will never be convicted of anything. Sadly, no one now knows how to make those judgments. Theres a deep sadness when we lose a friend. We miss the familiarity and good times weve spent together over many years. Similarly, theres a profound sadness when you no longer recognize what had been your home and your community. You no longer recognize it because it is being taken away from you piece by piece. Gone are the toy shop, the dance studio, downtown Safeway, Pearl, Cervoni, Zeller, Brewsters -- places where you were welcomed, where you met friends, where your children met friends. Its all in the name of progress. They (our elected and appointed officials) tell us we need tourist revenue. But We (the people who live here) need our sense of place. We are losing the soul of our Napa. And now, they have done it again. After almost weekly announcements of the demise of yet another local establishment, They told the model railroad museum at Expo it had to close. This museum was built by our fathers and grandfathers and designed to represent our Napa. But They decided the space is needed for progress. And many residents of Napa are deeply sad; this is a location so many have enjoyed for generations. Last year, Napa Vision 2050 sponsored a forum on the social and economic costs of tourism. The main message was that unless carefully managed, tourism can irrevocably destroy the essence of place. You have only to look at what has happened in Aspen and Santa Fe and now Barcelona and Venice. A noted book on this subject, Devils Bargains, (Rothman, 1998) notes that residents gradually realize, as they seek to preserve the authenticity of their community, that decision-making power has shifted from the community to the newly arrived corporate financiers. The forum was well attended by county supervisors and city council members from the Napa Valley. We encouraged them to act on this message of responsible, countywide planning by collectively managing the growth path they have been fostering. Not one of them has done so. Instead they are in the counting houses drooling over the increasing Transient Occupancy Tax. And now -- to add insult to injury -- They are taking away our community model railroad museum. Who would have predicted this move and the wrenching impact it is having on the hearts of many Napans? NV2050 is holding a community town hall meeting this Thursday evening in Napa (and on Sept. 7 in St. Helena) to hear from you. How do you feel about these changes and what do you recommend we do to bring our community back under control? Longtime Napan Harris Nussbaum will moderate the discussion at the Horsemans Association, 1200 Foster Road at 7 p.m. Please attend. For details, visit www.napavision2050.org. Dan Mufson, President Napa Vision 2050 (Natural News) Your days of saying hello to people via your smartphone in the Aloha state are numbered that is, if you are crossing the street at the same time. Pedestrians who are looking down at their smartphones or their other gadgets or texting while crossing the street will soon face fines in Honolulu, Hawaii in late October, as the area becomes one of the first major cities in the United States to pass legislation aimed at reducing instances of injuries and deaths due to inattentive road movement or distracted walking. The measure is the states answer to the accidents that a smartphone zombie usually encounters, which include stepping into oncoming traffic or coming into face-first contact with a stationary object. Starting Wednesday, October 25, pedestrians in Honolulu can face fines from $15 to $35 and up to $99 for recurrent violations based on how many times they were caught looking at a phone or swiping a tablet device while crossing the street, Honolulu Mayor Kirk William Caldwell said in an interview with reporters as they converged near one of the citys busiest intersections on Thursday, July 27. We hold the unfortunate distinction of being a major city with more pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, paritcularly our seniors, than almost any other city in the country, Mayor Caldwell said, after signing the bill that was passed in a 7-2 vote by the city council earlier this July. Sometimes I wish there were laws that we didnt have to pass that perhaps common sense would prevail, but sometimes we lack common sense, Caldwell added. For his part, Honolulu City Councilman Brandon Elefante said there is growing concern for people who were using electronic devices and not really paying attention while crossing the street in a major highway section. This issue has been a growing concern as technology has advanced and the main driving point is safety. Having a law like this will help people become more aware. The new legislation exempts people who are making emergency calls, for instance, to 911. The measure also puts a $130 fine for people who will be caught jaywalking, whether or not they did it because they were distracted by their phone. According to a University of Maryland study that was published in 2015, over 11,000 injuries were caused by phone-related distraction while walking in the U.S. between 2000 and 2011. Because of these findings, Itasca, Illinois-based non-profit organization National Safety Council added distracted walking to its yearly report of the biggest risks for unintentional accidents, injuries, and fatalities in America. Cell phones are not just pervading our roadways but pervading our sidewalks too, council spokeswoman Maureen Vogel said in a phone interview on Friday, July 28. (Related: NY lawmaker wants to ban use of cell phones and iPods in crosswalks.) The campaign to deter the prevalence of accidents involving phone-obsessed people has already been in place in Europe before this major announcement. For instance, London authorities have placed padding around their lampposts to soften the blow for distracted pedestrians who might bump into them. Last year, the city of Augsburg in Germany placed traffic signals into the ground near tram tracks to aid people who are looking down while crossing the street presumably those who are doing something with their mobile gadgets while at the same time trying to get to the other side of the road and helping them avoid injury. Critics of the new legislation said it curtails personal freedoms and can be considered as government overreach, with private citizen Ben Robinson saying in a written testimony to the council: Scrap this intrusive bill, provide more education to citizens about responsible electronics usage, and allow law enforcement to focus on larger issues. For his part, City Councilman Ernie Martin said, Given the issues that Honolulu faces, such as homelessness and our rail project having a $3 billion deficit, there are more pressing matters that Id prefer for us to focus on. Ive always been very careful not to include legislation for issues that could be addressed through other means. According to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association, Hawaii ranked in the number 17th state for pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people in 2015. Read up on more stories such as this one at NewsTarget.com. Sources include: Reuters.com Honolulu.gov DailyMail.co.uk GHSA.org (Natural News) Science can be used as a manipulative tool to distort nature for material gain, or science can help us unlcok secrets of consciousness, interconnectivity, and the intelligent design existing throughout nature. In a stunning new discovery, scientists reveal that parasitic dodder plants communicate with host plants to provide self defense against insects. There are reasons why some plants grow well together and why some do not. Every component of nature, even parasites, plays a vital role in the ecology of life. The US Department of Agriculture has listed parasitic dodder as a federal noxious weed. Current agricultural systems go to great lengths to apply carcinogenic glyphosate and other herbicide mixtures to kill off dodder. However, a team of scientists from Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology found that parasitic dodder plants of the genus Cuscuta do more than just take nutrients from host plants. Dodder give back to neighboring plants by engaging in social media-like information sharing that warns host plants about insect threats. Dodder plants act as a parasite, but are a valuable warning system that sends crucial signals to neighboring plants. Dodder does not contain roots or leaves. As a parasite, it grows on host plants, never touching the soil. It does damage to weak crops that do not have enough nutrients to share. Dodder uses their unique haustoria to penetrate host plants so they can take water and nutrients. Scientists are now learning that this relationship isnt one-sided. The dodder are latching on, connecting their vascular systems, and getting nutrients, but they are also sharing crucial information with their hosts. Are plants conscious? (Related: Stunned scientists discover that plants learn like humans and can intelligently adapt to their environments.) The warning signals help host plants prepare their defenses in advance to take on insects. Scientists have found that plants communicate underground using mycorrhizal networks. For the first time, scientists from Max Planck and Kunming Institute of Botany in China came together to study how parasitic plants communicate important insect feeding signals. For their experiment, they used soybean plants, tobacco, wild tomato and thale cress and paired the plants with the dodder. Then they unleashed Spodoptera litura caterpillars, a common pest, onto the plants. Using RNA sequencing, the scientists analyzed the transcriptome for all active genes in the leaves of all host plants. Dodder that was wounded by the caterpillars transferred defense signals through dodder bridges that connected the parasite with the host plants. Signal transfer was revealed in the major changes we found in the transcriptomes of the attacked leaves as well as the unattacked leaves of the same plant and which was most important of neighboring plants, said study author Christian Hettenhausen, a former co-worker of the Max Planck Institute in Jena. After the insects started feeding on the dodder, defense signals traveled rapidly from plant to plant via the dodder network, even over large distances said Jianqiang Wu from the Kunming Institute of Botany. A plant hormone called jasmonic acid played an important role in the signaling between the host plant and the dodder. The alarm system even traveled between different plants. Dodder proves to be less of a greedy parasite and more of an extension of plant consciousness to see, feel, and hear the world around. Study author Ian Baldwin confirms the change in mindset about dodder. Ecological interactions in nature are extremely complex. A parasite steals valuable nutrients from its host, but at the same time functions as an important link to warn neighbors. Whether this warning is unselfish after all needs further studies to clarify. For now, dodder will be targeted as a noxious weed, as carcinogenic herbicides are applied to preserve crop yields. If agricultural systems improved the integrity of the soil, then plants could share more nutrients with parasitic communication networks such as dodder, so that the plants could protect themselves naturally, long term, and without toxic suppressive chemicals. The plant kingdom adapts in profound ways and passes these naturally synthesized medicines on to humans. For more information on plant-based medicines helping humans adapt, visit Herbs.News. Sources include: ScienceDaily.com NaturalNews.com Ice.mpg.de (Natural News) The hoax of human-caused global warming/climate change unraveled further last week after the resignation of a top official at the Environmental Protection Agency. As reported by Breitbart News, the official Elizabeth Betsy Southerland didnt do it as a matter of conscience, per se; after all, shed worked for EPA for three decades, was no doubt fully vested and has an excellent retirement coming. But she claimed in her resignation letter that President Donald J. Trumps climate policies were to blame. Southerland, who was director of science and technology in the Office of Water, said in her letter that the environmental field is suffering from the temporary triumph of myth over truth (a claim most climate realists can make about the hoaxers on any given day, really). But as Breitbart pointed out, if you read her entire letter, its really a blessing that shes gone. Its supposed to be her Parthian shot a damning indictment of the decline of a once-great institution under the wicked Donald Trump and his sinister henchman, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, writes Breitbarts James Delingpole. But, actually, it tells you rather more about the weird, reality-denying mindset which prevails among the inhabitants of the swamp which Trump is busily trying to drain. (Related: The global warming hoax has been unraveling for years, as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, has pointed out.) Perhaps the most hilariously nonsensical claim in her letter is this one, Delingpole suggests: Today the environmental field is suffering from the temporary triumph of myth over truth. The truth is there is NO war on coal, there is NO economic crisis caused by environmental protection, and climate change IS caused by mans activities. No war on coal? Really? Thats rich, considering then-candidate Barack Obama said in 2008 he was planning to implement policies as president that would wipe out coal-fired electricity when he said: If somebody wants to build a coal-fired plant, they can. Its just that it will bankrupt them. And in doing so destroying an entire sector of electricity production Obama further noted that under my planelectricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. If thats not a declaration of war against coal, nothing is. But the facts are what they are, even if climate hoaxers at EPA dont want to admit it. As noted by The Daily Caller, one chart very clearly outlines the damage Obamas coal policies took on the industry. The systematic deconstruction of the coal industry has created very real economic hardship for the coal country of Appalachia, which has been economically devastated and offers very few job options for the now-unemployed workers, The DC noted. Translation: Obama didnt give a damn about these mostly rural, white, low-to-middle class workers because they belonged to an industry he sought to shut down. So for those workers, surely they suffered an economic crisis, contrary to Southerlands claims. But theres more. In 2012, one estimate said the cost of EPA regulations on the U.S. economy amounted to around $352 billion per year: Complying with EPA regulations costs the U.S. economy $353 billion per year more than 30 times its budget according to the best available estimate. By way of comparison, that is more than the entire 2011 national GDPs of Denmark ($332 billion) and Thailand ($345 billion). And Delingpole pointed out that the cost of complying with insane global warming policies costs about $1.5 trillion every year. You could buy a lot of hospitals or reduce a lot of taxes or national debt for $1.5 trillion, he said. As for her claim that humankind is causing global warming/climate change the old settled science argument that is not a scientific fact backed up by demonstrable, replicable evidence. And its certainly not a fact universally accepted by the scientific community. In fact, theres more evidence that the science has been faked than anything else. Finally, Southerland is certainly free to leave her job, but it wasnt to serve as high commissioner of the earth; she was a public servant charged with serving the government of the day. That she would resign over changes in philosophy at the agency she works for Pruitt is not a global warming hoaxer tells you more about the arrogance of Washingtons bureaucratic swamp and agency overreach Trump is attempting to vanquish. J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel. Sources include: Breitbart.com ClimateAlarmism.news DailyCaller.com Across Emory University, 96 undergraduates spent the summer taking a deep dive into the world of research through a renewed initiative known as SURE. The Emory College-based Summer Undergraduate Research at Emory program, or SURE, provides those students with 10 weeks of full-time, mentored, independent research working directly with professors in disciplines from philosophy to psychiatry. Two dozen of the student researchers attend partner institutions such as Agnes Scott and Morehouse colleges, while six are Oxford College students. The rest, like rising senior Kaela Kuitchoua, are Emory College of Arts and Sciences students who traded in a summer of flip-flops and beach reads for lab coats and access-card lanyards. Classes help explain previous research, but having the summer to devote to research is the real-life experience that makes what Ive learned come alive, says Kuitchoua, a neuroscience and behavioral biology major. She has spent the summer working under an associate professor at the Emory School of Medicine. Her job is to analyze MRI scans of socially-housed Rhesus macaques that were raised naturally by good, competent mothers, or who received poor care from their mothers. Its really allowed me to become more independent," Kuitchoua says. Full-time focus on research SURE is a continuation of an Emory initiative started 28 years ago to support students in the natural sciences. Last year, Emory Colleges Undergraduate Research Programs (URP) merged a parallel program in the social sciences and humanities with SURE to encompass all fields, says Gillian Hue, SURE director. Students accepted into the highly competitive program live together on campus, comparing notes across disciplines and schools. Weekly workshops help explain best practices such as how to navigate research literature and what to expect in graduate school. Informal and programmed lunches and dinners also let the students discuss current issues in research, such as ethical concerns or digital work. But students spend the bulk of each week, at least 40 hours, conducting research. Work in the hard sciences tends to be tied more to the mentors research, while humanities and social sciences work tends to be more independent. Cynthia Willett, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Philosophy, is helping direct Mike Demers project as she attends to her own work in Europe. Demers, a rising senior majoring in philosophy and comparative literature, is conducting an extensive study of the classical philosophical question of knowledge, with attention to how it implicates efforts to understand the current political climate. Using his readings of French philosopher Henri Bergson as a baseline, Demers aims to show how particular facts may only encompass part of a truth or reveal a bias of the user. For instance, the debate over crowd size at Trumps inauguration centered on photos showing the Mall for that event compared to Obamas inauguration. While some on the political right dispute whether the photos themselves are accurate, Demers says the political debate moved from facts into the grayer area of what that number meant. There was a conclusion some made that even if the crowd in the photo of Trump's inauguration is smaller, he still has a broader cultural mandate legitimizing, in an almost universal manner, every decision he makes while governing. And that is much harder to classify as simply a disinterested, logical appeal to fact, Demers says. That changes how we understand how facts are used and suggests that often they fail to achieve freedom from the influence of bias and incomplete understanding. The level of research needed to explore that topic is only possible on an undergraduate level because of the intensive nature of the SURE program, Willett says. Although Demers is unsure if he will continue to pursue the topic as an honors thesis, Willett says she wants to work with him to turn it into a conference paper. Mike is posing a timely question in the kind of precise and informed terms that would generate interest at professional conferences and journals, Willett says. He is investigating this question by studying both an underexplored early 20th century approach to the problem. And he is refining that approach by acquainting himself with contemporary research in psychology on biases that inflect our cognitive capacities. The goal would be to present his research at a conference normally attended only by doctoral students and professors in philosophy, Willett adds. This is very rare, but I suspect Mike is fully capable of doing this. Applying liberal arts skills to real-world work The program recognizes that capability in all of the students, encouraging them to take ownership of their inquiries and further develop the problem solving and critical thinking skills they will need, regardless of their careers. Part of the value of a liberal arts institution like Emory is our ability to offer real research that can be outside your major, Hue says. The experience helps you learn how to fully engage in your learning. The highly competitive SURE program not only brings students from other institutions to Emory, it sends undergraduates to research labs and on projects across Emorys nine schools. Kuitchoua is working at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center under the guidance of Mar Sanchez, a Yerkes researcher and an associate professor in the Emory School of Medicine. Sanchezs lab works to understand the effects of social experiences on primate brains, specifically how early social experiences and maternal care affect the developing brain. Part of that work calls for observation of the monkeys that live in social groups at the Yerkes Research Center field station, watching for the good and suboptimal care that monkey moms naturally provide their offspring. The monkeys are then trained to interact minimally with Sanchezs team, whose members take blood samples and work with other center personnel to conduct MRIs to measure the developmental consequences of the monkeys experiences. The work will translate into better understanding of maternal care in humans and could eventually help provide interventions for, say, helping foster children cope with early trauma. This is very difficult work for an undergraduate to do, with a very long learning curve, Sanchez says. It requires a significant amount of ethical thought and intense training, but its very rewarding for mature and motivated students. Kuitchoua fits the bill. She learned the research ropes in the URPs introductory Research Partners Program, which helped her apply for a summer program. As an aspiring physician, she was drawn to Sanchezs work because of its implications for humans. Her research calls for 40 hours every week, examining the MRI results of 42 different macaques, taken at different ages. She is looking for structural differences in the brains reward and emotional centers, such as the ventral striatum, amygdala and hippocampus. The work has launched Kuitchoua toward an honors thesis for the upcoming year, examining not only the structural changes but also the connectivity between the various regions. Sanchez has agreed to be her thesis adviser, and Kuitchoua is now considering a joint MD/PhD program, so she can continue conducting research. We get great students who learn so much more than research, says Folashade Alao, the director of Undergraduate Research Programs in Emory College. SURE is designed to open all of the avenues available to them when they have developed the planning, writing and analyzing skills that the best research requires, she says. Posted by Mark Williams | August 8, 2017 Toyota and Mazda have entered into an agreement in which the former will take a 5 percent stake in the latter, with the most significant outcome being a new $1.6 billion U.S. production facility that will produce as many as 300,000 vehicles a year. Production would begin in 2021. According to Reuters, the new facility could employ as many as 4,000 people. The surprise announcement Aug. 4 did not reveal where the automakers plan to build the plant or what vehicles are likely to be built there. However, given the fact that dealers have been clamoring for more mid-size Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, it wouldn't surprise us if at least part of the plant is used to produce more Tacomas. According to Automotive News (subscription required), Toyota has been looking for a way to combat the increased Tacoma competition from the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Honda Ridgeline. Additionally, a new Ford Ranger and Jeep pickup are set to enter the market in less than two years. Currently Toyota's San Antonio plant is running at full tilt building quite a few more Tacomas than Tundras and its Mexico production plant is in the midst of production-expanding construction that will not be finished until early next year. Cars.com photo above by Mark Williams; Manufacturer image below 11:23 Tajender Singh Luthra, Director General of Police (DGP), Chandigarh, today informed that both the accused in the Chandigarh stalking case had refused to give their blood and urine samples for the investigation. "The duty doctor did want to take the blood and urine sample, but the accused are law graduates, they knew the law very well. Therefore, they refused to give the blood and urine sample," DGP Luthra said. He, however, added that such a refusal shall be held against them in the investigation and during the trail. DGP Luthra assured that the investigation will not take much time and everything under the sun will be done to reach the justice. "We have captured the CCTV footage from six different places and that clearly indicates that the accused were chasing the car of the girl. We have enough information for now, additional evidence will be welcomed," he said. Luthra also highlighted that the investigation has now reached a critical stage and that is why both the accused- Vikas Barala and Ashish Kumar, have been summoned to appear before the police today. "They have been asked to appear at 11 am today. They will be interrogated once they will come and after that further course of investigation will be decided," he said. Earlier in the day, Vikas Barala, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Haryana chief Subhash Barala, who is an accused in the stalking case Varnika Kundu in Chandigarh, was summoned by the Chandigarh Police. The Chandigarh Police has asked Vikas to appear before the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sector-26 Police Station at 11 a.m. 'sharp' on Wednesday. The notice been issued under 160 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the case has been filed against Barala under Section 354D (stalking), 341 (wrongful restraint), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 185 MV Act (rash driving). On Tuesday, Subhash Barala for the very first time broke his silence on the matter and asserted that he is not using his political influence to pressurize the investigation in the matter. He further said the victim Varnika Kundu, who was stalked by his son, is like his daughter and he will cooperate to bring justice to her."Investigation is being done in Varnika Kundu case. Whatever action is required it will be taken against Vikas in this case. BJP bats for daughter's freedom and Varnika Kundu is like my daughter. Neither I nor BJP is pressuring anyone in this matter," he told ANI exclusively. The Congress has accused the BJP of hatching conspiracy and pressurizing Chandigarh administration to protect the son of Haryana BJP chief. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 01:08:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday denied Britain agreed on the amount of its Brexit divorce bill, days after a report claimed that it plans to offer the European Union (EU) 36 billion pounds (46.8 billion U.S. dollars). "I don't recognize the figure," said May's official spokesperson when asked about the figure published by The Sunday Telegraph quoting three different sources within the British civil service and government. A British government spokesman also said that London will meet its international responsibilities but Britain would not pay more than it needs to. The EU has said that it won't discuss future trade relations with Britain until there is progress on the bill and other key issues. The EU has not put an official number on the size of the bill, but there has been speculation that it could be around 118 billion U.S. dollars. Britain voted in a referendum last year to leave the 28-nation bloc and is due to leave by March 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 02:14:13|Editor: An People go out of newly built terminal of airport in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 1, 2012. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong) MOSCOW, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Citizens of 18 countries, including China, will be able to obtain electronic visas for a visit to the free port of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday. "On August 8, 2017, a specialized website of the Russian Foreign Ministry on the issuing of electronic visas to foreign citizens to visit the territory of the free port of Vladivostok will start working. The site is located at http://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/", the ministry said in a statement. Among the list are China, Japan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Mexico, according to the statement. The electronic visas are also valid for entry into and departure from the territory of Russia, but only through checkpoints in Vladivostok, which will be opened gradually as they are equipped with appropriate software and hardware, the ministry added. A period of 30 days is granted to the electronic visas, it said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 02:14:15|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close LAGOS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The governor of northeast Nigeria's Bauchi State Mohammed Abubakar on Monday attributed the security challenges bedeviling the northern part of the country to illiteracy and poverty. The governor told visiting Minister of State, Budget and National Planing, Zainab Ahmed in northern city of Bauchi that high level illiteracy and poverty had dragged many youth into joining groups of insurgents that were inflicting pains on the people, especially in the North East sub-region. Abubakar said unless something was done to reverse the trend, the problem might continue. On the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently taking refuge in the state, the governor said there was no permanent camps for IDPs in the state. The governor told the minister that all the IDPs were currently been accommodated by their host communities. He commended the federal government over some of the relief materials it has assisted the IDPs with in the state. Earlier, the minister said she led a Federal Government team to the state to flag off distribution of food items to IDPs in the state. Ahmed said the items were provided under Federal Government Special Intervention for Bauchi State, adding that 54,048 households would benefit from the gesture. She said the intervention would be done on a quarterly bases to ease the hardship being faced by the victims. Security situation in the Northern part of Nigeria became so alarming following the activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect. Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 and displaced 2.3 million people in its attacks since 2009. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 02:29:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Senior Ethiopian government officials, including former Deputy Minister of Economic Cooperation Alemayehu Gujo and former head of Ethiopian Roads Authority Zayid WoldeGebrel, have appeared before an Ethiopian court on Monday. Fifty-three senior Ethiopian government officials, businessperson and middlemen have so far been arrested in connection with the country's biggest anti-corruption scandal. Fifty-one of the detainees have appeared to court as of Monday. According to the criminal case presented to the court, the suspects including the former Ethiopian Deputy Minister of Economic Cooperation and head of Ethiopian Roads Authority, were arrested for a suspicion of embezzling over 1.256 billion Ethiopian birr (53 million U.S. dollars). Other suspects who have appeared before the court on Monday as part of an alleged large-scale corruption also include a senior official from the Ethiopian Sugar Corporation and a private construction company owner. Meanwhile, 2 suspects were arrested on Monday. However, only the identity of suspects who have appeared to court is so far revealed following their appearance to court. The Ethiopian Ministry of Government Communication Affairs Office has previously indicated that the number of suspected government officials and their associates could still rise as the large-scale investigation is still underway in the east African country. The Ethiopian government has stressed bad governance and corruption are among the major reasons for the preoccupations of the public back in late 2016. The ongoing arrest of senior government officials, businessperson and middlemen is said to be part of the Ethiopian government's reform process, which started at the end of 2016 to provide a concrete answer to the preoccupations of the public. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 02:29:26|Editor: An Video Player Close Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in Manila, the Philippines, on Aug. 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called on all countries in East Asia to strengthen security cooperation, especially on non-traditional security issues like terrorism, transnational crimes and natural disasters. He made the remarks while attending a series of meetings of the ministers with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which are being held in the Philippine capital city of Manila, including East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Wang said communication between countries on security issues is very important as it can remove misunderstanding and misjudgment whiling enhancing mutual trust. He mentioned that China issued a white paper on its policies on Asia-Pacific security cooperation this January, which showed China's determination to safeguard regional peace and stability. Current regional security architecture, which is composed of EAS, ARF, ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus and other coordinating mechanism should be improved and updated to make it more effective, Wang noted. Taking the war against extremists in the southern Philippine city of Marawi as an example, Wang called for a united voice to support Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, help the Philippines and back its people in order to end the conflicts as soon as possible. China has provided the Philippine government with a batch of emergency assistance as requested and hope people in Marawi, Mindanao to have peaceful lives again soon, Wang added. The foreign minister also noted that China is willing to offer help in rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 03:14:45|Editor: Liu Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the sidelines of a series of ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings in Manila, the Philippines, Aug. 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to make a response to the guarantees of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Wang is attending a series of meetings of the ministers with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which are being held in the Philippine capital city of Manila. Wang said China fully appreciated the remarks that Tillerson made on Aug. 1 and regarded the remarks as a positive signal. At a press conference on Aug. 1, Tillerson made four guarantees, including that the United States seeks neither a regime change nor collapse of the regime in the DPRK and the United States seeks neither an accelerated reunification of the peninsula nor an excuse to send the U.S. military north of the 38th Parallel. Wang said that China has shown its opposition, along with the international society, to the DPRK's constant missile launch activities in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, so it consulted with other members of the UN Security Council and voted for Resolution 2371. Given China's traditional economic links with the DPRK, it is China that will mainly pay the price for the implementation of Resolution 2371, Wang said. However, China will continue to fully and strictly implement all the contents of the resolution to safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintain regional peace and stability, he said. Wang said "we can certainly air our views, but meanwhile, we also could listen to the DPRK's opinions. I think it's fair and helpful." Wang cautioned against the expectation of reaching an agreement at one stroke, adding that talks are better than isolation and exchanges are better than confrontation. "Our stand is clear. That is to realize denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula, safeguard peace and stability and solve problems through dialogue and negotiations," Wang said. Wang further explained that the core of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is the issue of security. "The International community urges the DPRK to give up its nuclear and missile programs, while the DPRK hopes to ease outside military pressure. That's why the nature of the nuclear issue is not economy but security, " Wang said. Wang said there are two major components in the resolution - one is sanctions and the other is to call for the resumption of the six-party talks. China hopes that all parties concerned could earnestly take into account and accept China's "double suspension" proposal which requires the DPRK to suspend its missile and nuclear activities in exchange for the suspension of large-scale U.S.-South Korean military drills. China hopes the "double suspension" proposal could get understanding and support from relevant parties. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 04:30:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RABAT, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Morocco has adopted new plans to attract more international film producers, by tripling investments allocated to support foreign producers in the North African kingdom, local media reported on Monday. According to Alyaoum24.com news site, the government decided to offer up to 10 million U.S. dollars to subsidy foreign productions in the country. The new plan instates 20 percent cash rebate on the money spent by foreign production companies which invest over one million U.S. dollars with the productions in Morocco lasting for at least 18 days. According to official statistics, foreign producers have invested a total of 32 million U.S. dollars in Morocco in 2016. Morocco has seen a growing interest of filmmakers. Some 24 foreign films have been shot in the country last year, including Brad Anderson's "High Wire Act," Alexandre Moors' "The Yellow Birds" and Per Fly's "Backstabbing For Beginners." As for local production, Morocco produces over 20 movies a year, the third biggest producer of films in Africa after Egypt and South Africa. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 09:03:32|Editor: An Video Player Close by Zhang Jianhua VIENTIANE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- "I am really grateful. I did not think that the surgery could be so fast," the son of Soukhan, a Lao man, told Xinhua in Vientiane recently. His 67-year-old father Soukhan was the first Lao patient to receive an operation by doctors from China's Peace Train. On July 27, a team of 90 Chinese doctors from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Peace Train arrived in Laos, including 34 well-known experts from various fields. In recent years, the Chinese military has sent medical units to Haiti, Nepal and Pakistan for disaster relief after earthquakes, floods, and other medical security tasks. In addition, more than 100 groups of experts have also been sent to Laos, Zambia and other Asian and African countries to carry out medical aid. Aside from surgery, the Chinese doctors from the Peace Train program also provided comprehensive consultations and explanations to Lao doctors about the major processes of surgeries. Patients in a stable condition after receiving treatment from their Chinese surgeons are often discharged from hospital after around three days. As per a previous agreement, Chinese doctors were supposed to provide medical services to 2,200 patients. However, since then, as many as 6,500 people, including old veterans and local residents, have received treatment and check-up from Chinese doctors. Vouane, a 73-year-old veteran from the Luang Namtha province in northern Laos, was among the patients receiving treatment from Chinese doctors. Vouane was suffering from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with pulmonary heart disease and diabetes. When he came to see the Peace Train doctors, his condition was determined as being critical. After multi-disciplinary, joint consultations and several days of treatment, Vouane was able to walk for more than 1 kilometer from his home to hospital. When seeing his doctors, the old man said excitedly "Thank you for saving my life!" In addition to the provision of medical treatment for Lao military personnel and civilians, the Peace Train medical team also conducted in-depth exchanges and cooperation with Lao local doctors, and showed them a lot of advanced diagnosis and treatment technology. "Chinese medical experts are experienced. They not only provided treatment to our officers and local people, but also provided specialist medical consultation on difficult cases, and successfully carried out surgery for patients with severe illness." "Our doctors have learnt a lot from them, including new technologies, which will help us improve the level of medical treatment," Director of Lao Military Hospital 103, Khampheng Phumakeo, told Xinhua. On July 31, Chinese experts on gastroenterology had coordinated with Lao doctors to conduct a painless gastrointestinal endoscopy on a 35-year-old Lao patient, the first of its kind in Laos. Through lectures before the procedures as well as detailed instruction during the process, Lao doctors have mastered the new technology. "Thanks to the Chinese medical team for teaching us this technology," said the Director of Endoscopy Department of Lao Military Hospital 103. On Aug. 2, a center for teaching, training and examinations was inaugurated in Vientiane for Hospital 103. "We are very grateful to the Chinese medical team for donating medical training models, which will greatly improve the training facilities' conditions and increase the opportunities of actual practices. This will also help to train Lao doctors with a good theoretical basis and improve their abilities during actual operation," said political commissar of Hospital 103. In a recent meeting with the Peace Train team, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Wang Wentian said the volunteer activity reflects the friendship between the military and the people of China and Laos. Wang spoke highly of the efforts of the Chinese medical team in promoting friendly cooperation between the two armies and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. The Peace Train medical service's activities have been widely acknowledged and appreciated in Lao. "This is the first time that the Chinese side has sent such a large scale medical group to work in Laos, which fully reflects China's selfless dedication and sincere friendship to Laos," said Vongkham Puammakon, Head of the General Logistics Department of the Lao People's Army. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 09:08:34|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Mohammad Reza Rafat speaks during an interview with Xinhua News Agency in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2017. Mohammad Reza Rafat, 18, received the highest score in this year's university entrance exam among 169,000 examinees from 34 Afghan provinces. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) by Fathulbari Makhdoom, Farid Behbud KABUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Life for high school graduates in the militancy-hit Afghanistan has never been easy as they face the huge challenge of passing the national university entrance exam. "I usually spent five to 10 minutes eating food to focus on studying before taking part in the Kankor (a popular Afghan term for university entrance exam) exam. Once, I finished my meal within minutes as I was so busy with my lessons," Mohammad Reza Rafat told Xinhua recently. Working in the carpet weaving industry in Dasht-e-Barchi, a few kilometers west of downtown Kabul City, after 14 years of fleeing harsh poverty in central Bamyan province's Panjab district, Reza, 18, said he dreamed of becoming a skilled medical specialist to remedy the pains of his citizens. "So, I decided to study hard to become a cancer surgeon in the future to cure ailing citizens who spend huge amounts of money for treatment outside the country or in neighboring states," Reza said joyfully. He said he had never believed it possible to get the top score in the Kankor, but considering his hard work and dawn-till-dusk studying, he hoped to achieve an eligible score to study medicine in the public test. "My scores in the tentative exams were very good, making me hopeful to get a good score in the Kankor exams as well," said the student during an interview with Xinhua. According to Reza, it was one of his classmates who first informed him of winning the top score. "I was sleeping, when one of my friends and classmate hurried to inform me about my success in the exam, but I thought he was joking." "I didn't have the internet, or mobile phone to check if he was right, so I went to a nearby internet cafe to check. He was correct. I had succeeded in securing the top position in the national entry exam," said Reza, adding that he had scored 344.24 points to win the first position. Among his future ambitions, Reza said he hoped to continue his higher education in one of the world's most esteemed universities, like England's University of Oxford, but if he failed would join an Indian or a Turkish University. In a country plagued with security issues, Reza has been congratulated from far and wide. "I met with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in their offices, where they congratulated and applauded me for the victory," said Reza who added earlier the Ministry of Higher Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs Salahuddin Rabbani have also commended him for his success. Reza's father Ewaz Mohammad who is a worker in the Kabul municipality's sanitation department, could not properly support his seven-member family with a monthly salary of only 6,000 afghani (about 88 U.S. dollars), but encouraged his son to take supplementary courses, beside his regular school subjects. "Along with my father's contributions, I supplemented the fees needed to study with funds I raised through selling small carpets," said Reza who thanked his parent for sparing no effort to support his education. Reza's father said he was forced to leave Bamyan province for economic reasons, so headed to Kabul to seek work. "Here in the capital of Kabul, I ended up working in the sanitation department of the Kabul municipality. Each month I earn 6,000 afghani as a stipend," said Ewaz. More than 147,000 of nearly 169,000 examinees successfully passed this year's university entrance exam, of which 55,000 students are expected to enroll in private higher education institutions where they have to pay fees to study. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 09:48:48|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close CARACAS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's ruling United Socialist Party (PSUV) on Monday downplayed a weekend raid on a military base, saying it was a mercenary attack, not a military uprising. "There was no uprising here. What they wanted to sell the world was that there was a military uprising," the PSUV's vice president, Diosdado Cabello, said. Speaking at a rally in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in support of the government and a new Constituent Assembly (ANC) to rewrite the Constitution, Cabello said the attack more than anything "has to do with the breakdown of the Venezuelan opposition." He added "what is sad is that the (opposition) leadership has not condemned these violent events." Sunday's predawn raid on Paramacay Fort in the northern state of Carabobo targeted the arms arsenal, with several members of the "paramilitary terrorist" group making off with weapons, the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) said. The attackers, mainly civilians led by at least one deserter, were "mercenaries" paid by the right-wing opposition and its international allies, the United States and Colombia, according to the government. FANB troops repelled the attack, which left two people dead and another seriously wounded, officials said, adding 10 of the assailants have been arrested. The opposition said the attackers were motivated by the political and economic crisis affecting the country. In a statement issued following the raid, the opposition coalition said "the crisis our country is experiencing today in the streets and in homes was manifestly and publicly expressed in the barracks of our national armed forces." Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 09:48:49|Editor: An Photo taken by mobile phone shows people riding shared bicycles on Chang'an Avenue in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 3, 2017. The Chinese government issued guidelines on Thursday to regulate bike-sharing services, which have boomed nationwide but led to urban management challenges. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang) BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- In recent years, a number of China's technological innovations have been making their moves in the world. Among them, four stand out with a reputation of China's "four great new inventions" in modern times, which have made the daily life of the public more and more convenient. DOCKLESS SHARED BICYCLES Presently, there are over 30 bike-sharing companies in China that operate around 10 million bicycles for shared use to individuals in dozens of Chinese cities. Although the service of shared bikes originated from Western countries, China surprised the world with a business model of station-less shared bikes that spearheads the sharing economy. Compared with traditional shared bikes, dockless bikes allow users to simply pick up or park a bike anywhere on the street, instead of at designated docking points. By combining GPS, smartphone apps, mobile payment and Internet of Things technology, China's system of dockless shared bikes provides the public with a convenient and affordable transport alternative. To unlock a bike, you need to scan a QR (QuickResponse) code on a shared bike through a smartphone app. To finish riding, you manually lock the bike and pay for your ride though mobile payment services that are connected with the bike app, such as AliPay and the WeChat wallet. China's two leading bike-sharing operators, Mobike and Ofo, have been gearing up for global expansion. Mobike entered Singapore in March and Manchester, Britain, in June. Its distinctive orange bikes can also be spotted on the streets of Florence and Milan, Italy. This September, Mobike is set to land on the soil of London. Ofo, similarly, has begun operating in the United States, Britain, Singapore and Kazakhstan. In the financial market, the two rivalries have also gone neck and neck. In June, Mobike raised 600 million U.S. dollars in a Series E financing round led by China's Internet titan Tencent, the largest in the global bike sharing industry to date. Now, the company's total funding has reached nearly 1 billion dollars. In February, Ofo also raised 450 million dollars, which valued the company at 1 billion dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 10:29:11|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Fei Liena BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- It has been a testing time for Russia, widely regarded as the world's toughest nation and nicknamed the "Polar Bear." After being publicly humiliated by Uncle Sam last December with expulsion of 35 of its diplomats in the U.S., Russia chose to suck it up. Yet who would have thought, the more one gets, the more one wants. A few days ago, the American parliament overwhelmingly approved a sanctions bill on Russia for its alleged intervention in Ukraine and meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This time it's more than the Polar Bear could bear. It finally showed its teeth by demanding the United States cut 60 percent of its diplomatic staff in Russia, totalling 755 people, by Sept. 1. It is a typical Putin style tit-for-tat revenge -- an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. "We will not leave anything unanswered," Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Though a strongman, Putin was not always that strong. After years of waiting, he once found the apple of his eye -- Donald Trump. During the American election last year, Putin openly called Trump a "colorful" and "talented" person. To return the favor, Trump, complimented Putin as "a leader, far more than our president has been," referring to then-U.S. President Barack Obama. The two presidents met face-to-face for more than two hours at the Hamburg G20 summit in July -- well beyond the scheduled 35 minutes. The prolonged conversation even wore First Lady Melania Trump out that she had to barge in the meeting, trying to put an end to it. She obviously failed as her husband and Putin talked for another hour. But the Trump-Putin bromance wasn't fated to last. Soon enough, the U.S. Congress, like a meddling mother-in-law, decided to impose new economic sanctions on Moscow, and forced Trump to sign the bill. For Russia, all the waiting for the United States to turn for the better has ended up with nothing. Out of rage, Russia fought back. "Trump's administration has shown its total weakness by handing over executive power to Congress in the most humiliating way," Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Facebook. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Washington was "sliding ever deeper into the primitive ideology of the Cold War era." People say Russia's expulsion of American diplomats marks the harshest diplomatic move since the Cold War, but I think Putin has made some reservation out of hope for a warmer relationship in the future. Not only Russia leaved the American side to choose which diplomats to withdraw, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also announced on Sunday that Russia is prepared to "normalize the dialogue" with the United States. Despite the obvious mutual appreciation between Putin and Trump, the U.S.-Russia honeymoon appears to be over, at least for the time being. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 11:04:58|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close YANGON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw on Tuesday called for doubling efforts to make ASEAN region more politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible and people-oriented over the next 50 years. U Htin Kyaw made the remarks on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which Myanmar joined in 1997. He urged ASEAN members to continue and expand engagement with global partners, which he noted as the driver to promote the community's growth over the coming years, to improve the livelihood of ASEAN citizens. He expressed confidence to see the engagement will be realized through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is expected to be finalized by the end of this year. However, he warned of many challenges ahead of the goals, calling for counteracting the forces of the rise globally and regionally of populism, anti-globalization, terrorism, violent extremism and socio-economic uncertainties. He urged for participation of his country people, especially women and youth, to strive for expediting regional integration, pushing forward with next phase of consolidation and cohesiveness to make ASEAN a more open, peaceful, inclusive, resilient and prosperous region. This year's ASEAN anniversary is marked with the theme of "Partnering for Change, Engaging the World." Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 11:40:12|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close SYDNEY, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- With just over one month left in Australia's first national gun amnesty in 20 years, the results so far have been encouraging, a state minister said Tuesday. In the state of New South Wales alone, over 6,000 unlicensed firearms have been either registered, sold, or destroyed in the amnesty which began on July 1, and will end on Sept. 30 of this year, Troy Grant, the Minister for Police of New South Wales, told Xinhua. He said he was encouraged and "extremely pleased" by the results so far in the nationwide program, and is looking forward to the program's continued success. "It is encouraging to see people are taking this opportunity to ensure they possess their firearms within the strict firearms regime we have in NSW," Grant said. "From a public safety perspective, the less illegal and unregistered firearms on our streets, the better." People across Australia have until the September end date to surrender their weapons, which has so far seen assault rifles, 9 mm homemade submachine guns, AR-15 rifles, and Magnum handguns all being presented to police to be processed. The last amnesty in Australia was the National Firearms Agreement launched in the wake of the violent Port Arthur Massacre that saw 35 people killed, and 23 wounded in the picturesque Port Arthur in the state of Tasmania in 1996. At that time, over 640,000 semi-automatic guns were bought back from owners by the Australian government, which then ballooned to over a million with subsequent amnesties that were conducted. Over 460 shotguns, 1,700 rifles, and 200 handguns have been surrendered so far, with thousands more officially registered as part of the current national amnesty process. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 11:50:14|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close by Yang Ke MANILA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The adoption of a framework for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea is "definitely a step forward" in the efforts by China and ASEAN countries to ensure peace and stability in the region, a senior Philippine diplomat has said. Wilfrido Villacorta, former Philippine ambassador and permanent representative to ASEAN, told Xinhua in a interview that the framework, when translated into an actual COC, "would definitely be a joint monumental contribution of ASEAN and China to peace and stability in the region." China and ASEAN foreign ministers adopted on Sunday the framework of the COC in the South China Sea which was previously agreed during the 14th senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), held in Guiyang, capital of China's southwestern Guizhou province, in May. The framework, which will shape consultations for the COC, envisions the COC to be a "rules-based framework containing a set of norms to guide parties and promote maritime cooperation in the South China Sea," the diplomat said. He said the adoption of the framework demonstrates the advancement of ASEAN in its 50th year, in terms of its solidarity and commitment to peace, prosperity and stability. He added that the Philippines, chair of the ASEAN this year, "will be greatly honored and grateful if its passage takes place this year." Moreover, he said it is "a tribute to China as a leading strategic partner of ASEAN that respects its neighbors and shares its Asian values of reciprocity, solidarity and good neighborliness." Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano said earlier that during the last five years there were confrontations and no stability in the area and that only now there is relative peace and stability. "If the COC were to be in place and the parties comply with its provisions, there will likely be no major conflicts in the region that will arise amongst ASEAN member states in the next 50 years," the senior diplomat said in the interview. Villacorta expressed hope that "the parties will surely live up to the expectations of their constituents and the peoples of the world." In the next 50 years, Villacorta predicted that ASEAN will have an even closer partnership with China. "The prospects are bright for future ASEAN-China cooperation because the 'Chinese Dream' and the 'ASEAN Dream' complement each other. We share common traditional values, interlocking interests, historical and cultural ties and geographical proximity that bind us," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 13:25:56|Editor: An Video Player Close A grand evening party marking the 70th anniversary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is held in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 7, 2017. Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, joined the people at the evening party. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) HOHHOT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Celebrations are ongoing to mark the 70th anniversary of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the first province-level ethnic autonomous region in China. Various events to celebrate the anniversary include gala evenings, exhibitions and the Nadam Festival, a traditional event with horse racing and Mongolian wrestling. China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Monday presented gifts to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to celebrate the anniversary, while leading a delegation from the central authorities. The autonomous region was founded on May 1, 1947 under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. It is one of the country's five autonomous regions, the others being Xinjiang, Tibet, Ningxia and Guangxi. Ethnic autonomy in regions, prefectures or counties across the country were introduced to create equality, solidarity and common prosperity of all ethnic groups. Inner Mongolia covers an area of 1.18 million sq km, about 12 percent of the country's land area. The Mongolian population is 4.6 million, nearly one-fifth of the region's total. Over the past 70 years, the region's economy has expanded from 537 million yuan (78 million U.S. dollars) to 1.86 trillion yuan. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 13:35:58|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japan's current account surplus expanded to the highest level since 2007 in the January-June period, on recovering earnings from overseas investments and against a backdrop of rising prices for crude oil impacting the value of overall imports, the government said Tuesday. According to a preliminary report from the finance ministry, in the January-June period the surplus totaled 10.51 trillion yen (95 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 0.3 percent from the same period a year earlier. The ministry said the surplus in the primary income account increased 2.2 percent to 9.76 trillion yen, aided in part by a comparatively soft yen against the U.S. dollar. The primary income account serves to show how much Japan has made from the investments it has made overseas. Japan's trade surplus contracted 11.7 percent to 2.05 trillion yen, however, the ministry's latest data showed Tuesday. This was due to rising prices for crude oil, as Japan remains heavily dependent on energy imports from overseas, due to the majority of its nuclear power plants still being shuttered amid safety fears after the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The finance ministry, in addition, said that overall imports climbed 11.8 percent to 35.25 trillion yen in the recording period, while exports were up 10.1 percent to 37.31 trillion yen. The travel surplus, the ministry added, swelled to 790.3 billion yen, marking a record high for the January-June period. This compares to 727.7 billion yen booked a year earlier, and is owing to Japan's continued robust patronage from overseas visitors to the country. The service sector, meanwhile, including passenger transportation and cargo shipping, booked a deficit of 297.4 billion yen, the ministry's data also showed. Japan logged a current account surplus in the month of June alone marking the 36th successive month of black ink, the finance ministry said in its preliminary report. According to the ministry, the current account surplus in the recording month stood at 934.6 billion yen (8.43 billion U.S. dollars). Within the key components comprising the current account, goods trade booked a surplus of 518.5 billion yen, the ministry said. Japan's current account surplus is one of the broadest measure of its trade with the rest of the world. The data is keenly eyed by the Bank of Japan and the finance ministry ahead of new potential policy changes or monetary easing or tapering measures. In Japan the current account surplus increases the nation's net foreign assets by the corresponding amount, and a current account deficit does the reverse. Both the Japanese government and private payments are included in the calculation and it is called the current account because goods and services are generally consumed in the current period. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 13:46:26|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Brazilian court suspended the criminal process over four mining companies allegedly involved in the collapse of a mine dam to check and verify the validity of evidence, local news website G1 said Monday. The debacle, which happened in November 2015 in Mariana, southeastern Brazil, unleashed a tsunami of mine waste that killed 19 people and polluted waterways, thus becoming one of the largest environmental disasters in Brazilian history. The mining companies Samarco, Vale, VogBR and BHP Billiton and some individuals related to these corporations are facing multiple charges, including manslaughter and environmental crimes, which the companies have denied. According to G1, the companies' defense team alleged that the recordings of phone calls included in the criminal process were illegally obtained. The court ruled that an investigation will be carried out to clarify whether the recordings were obtained legally, and in the meantime the process will remain suspended. The prosecution denied any irregularities during investigations and protested the court's decision. "The recordings indicated by the defense as supposedly illegal were not even used in the denouncement, and so, should not have caused the process to be nullified," the prosecution stated. The so-called Mariana Disaster caused incalculable environmental and economic damages in afflicted areas. The flow of toxic mud that leaked out from the collapse went down a valley and completely destroyed a small residential community, killing 19 people. One of the bodies was never found. The mud wave also invaded and polluted the entire Doce River, the largest and most important river in that region. The ecosystem of the river was completely destroyed, affecting animals and fishermen that live on food and resources in the river. The river was also used for electricity generation and water distribution, which were both obstructed. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 13:46:31|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Endangered Australian fish have taken to seek refuge in discarded bottles in river beds, research published on Tuesday found. The study, compiled by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), found that discarded bottles at the bottom of Tasmania's Derwent River were playing a key role in saving the spotted handfish from extinction. The handfish, which uses fins resembling hands to "walk" along the seabed, was the first marine species in the world to be listed as critically endangered. Tim Lynch, a CSIRO senior researcher, said that discarded beer bottles had proved to be an ideal breeding location for the fish after their traditional breeding grounds were destroyed by man-made structures and pest species such as seastars. "The seastars can't eat the bottles at least, and we often find spotted handfish hiding behind discarded bottles," Lynch told Australian media on Tuesday. "There's quite a few bottles out there, I think there is some places where people have mooring up their yachts or windjammers since the 1800s and drinking their rum and throwing them overboard." Lynch said artificial habitats such as the bottles would be a large part of conservation efforts in the future. The CSIRO and Zoo Aquarium Association recently committed 63,000 U.S. dollars to a project Lynch involved in, which places plastic sticks in the Derwent River for the handfish to lay their eggs on. Female handfish typically lay 200 eggs after breeding with a male which they then care for until they hatch. Plans for a captivity breeding program have been approved which would see a small population captured and propagated at aquariums in Melbourne and Hobart. "Let's let people have a look at these things -- hardly anyone has seen them," Lynch said. "They shouldn't be a rare fish, they used to be very common. There should be a spotted handfish every five meters of so in good habitat." Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 13:46:34|Editor: An Photo taken on April 21, 2017 shows the scenery of the county seat of Rongcheng, north China's Hebei Province. China announced the plan for Xiongan New Area, an economic zone about 100 kilometers south of Beijing, on April 1, 2017. The new area will span Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties in Hebei Province, eventually covering 2,000 square kilometers. Hebei announced recently it would call for international bids to plan and design Xiongan New Area. Global companies are welcomed to bid with their ideas for a 30-square-km area at initial stage. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) SHIJIAZHUANG, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The management committee of Xiongan New Area has announced that a special company has been established to fund construction of the area. With registered capital of 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars), China Xiongan Construction & Investment Group is a state-owned company. The Hebei provincial government approved its founding in July. The company will raise fund to build houses and apartments, develop the Baiyangdian water area, and to build transport links, energy infrastructure and public facilities in Xiongan. China announced plans in April to establish the Xiongan New Area, a new economic zone about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. It covers Hebei's Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 13:51:37|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Over a million bank employees in India will go on a one-day nation-wide strike on Aug. 22. The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), which represents nine bank unions, has called the strike to protest against privatization and merger of public sector banks, its general secretary C.H. Venkatachalam said in a statement late Monday evening. "Nearly a million employees would participate in the strike to protest plans to privatize public sector banks, merger and consolidation of banks and other demands including not to write-off non-performing assets (NPAs) in banks," the statement said. The Indian government had earlier this year announced that at least five state-run banks are to merge with the country's largest public sector bank -- the State Bank of India -- to create a super-bank with 550 billion U.S. dollars of assets and 500 million customers. The government expects the merger to create 200 million U.S. dollars in cost savings. Public sector bank employee unions in India often call strikes to protest against government policies and for pay hikes. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 13:51:39|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australian public servants will be banned from criticizing the government on social media under a plan revealed on Tuesday. The social media guidelines of the Australian Public Service Commission were updated on Tuesday to ensure the impartiality of public servants in their roles. Under the new roles, government employees could be sanctioned for sending private emails critical of the government, liking critical social media posts and failing to exclude themselves from posts made by others about the government. "If you 'like' something on a social media platform, it will generally be taken to be an endorsement of that material as though you'd created that material yourself," the updated guidelines said. "'Sharing' a post has much the same effect. "Doing nothing about objectionable material that someone else has posted on your page can reasonably be seen in some circumstances as your endorsement of that material." The changes have been labelled a serious concern by union bosses and lawyers have raised concerns that it could be constitutionally invalid. "If you email your mates something and they put it on social media, then your job might be under threat," Nadine Flood, secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, told Australian media. John Lloyd, Australia's Public Service Commissioner, defended the policy, saying the new guidelines were not more restrictive than the old. "It's very little change, just amplifying it, making it easier to understand. We were really keen that staff could follow it," Lloyd said. "We are just telling people to be careful about what they post and how they manage their social media." Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 13:56:44|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Bitcoin, the digital currency that is rapidly rising in value but one which no one can actually handle, should be formally recognized by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), parliament members (MPs) from both of Australia's major political parties said on Tuesday. First introduced in 2009, the cryptocurrency has grown in value to be worth more than 4,264 Australian dollars (3,375 U.S. dollars) and the popularity of Bitcoin, blockchain technology and other digital currencies has prompted some in Australia's parliament to call for federal action. Australian MPs from both major political parties have vowed to put aside party differences and back a bipartisan push for the RBA to formally recognize digital currencies such as Bitcoin. Liberal Senator Jane Hume and Labor Senator Sam Dastyari recently formed the "Parliamentary Friends of Blockchain" group, and have since urged the RBA to recognize and begin dealing with its own digital currency and blockchain system or risk being "left behind." Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, Hume said that embracing the 21st-century cryptocurrency market would open up "enormous" opportunities in Australia. "The opportunities for government, academia, and the private sector are enormous," she said. Meanwhile Dastyari told Fairfax Media that Australia could choose to "follow," or it could choose to "lead" in being one of the first major nations to embrace the rise of cryptocurrencies. "We can't compete with our Asian neighbors when it comes to producing cheap goods and services anymore. We can compete when it comes to financial services but that is going to mean big, bold decisions. "This will be a revolutionary leap for the Reserve Bank and for Australian financial institutions, what we want to do here in Parliament is to create the political environment to allow that leap." Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 14:16:58|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Juan Limachi LIMA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- International mineral prices have gone up by 14-50 percent, serving as a "lifesaver" for Peru's troubled economy, said economist Carlos Aquino, a professor at the National University of San Marcos in Peru's capital. "In reality, Peru has met many problems, but we have luck because mineral prices are going up. Minerals account for around 60 percent of Peru's exports," Aquino told Xinhua. During the first four months of the year, Peru witnessed a year-on-year rise in prices of copper, zinc, iron and tin by 14, 50.6, 43.3 and 16.8 percent, respectively. Aquino said Peru's economy has been battered domestically for many reasons, including the revelation that Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht and top Peruvian officials embezzled millions of U.S. dollars in public funds, and extreme weather events such as the coastal El Nino phenomenon, causing devastating flash floods, even in parts of Lima. However, increased commodity prices are helping raise Peru's growth forecasts. "At the start of this year, the Peruvian economy was expected to grow between 3.7 and 3.9 percent. Now, everyone agrees, including the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), that we would grow 2.5 percent," said Aquino. Considering Peru a big raw materials exporter, its gross domestic product (GDP) will see a reversal in its downward trend this year and further improvement in 2018. "We don't control the prices of raw materials, which began to drop in 2011 and 2012. But now they are climbing and that is going to benefit us," said Aquino, noting copper, iron and gold are Peru's major exports. In 2016, Peru was the world's second-largest copper producer after Chile, generating substantial revenues with an output of 2.3 million metric tons (MT). According to the BCR, copper production is expected to total 2.5 million MT at the end of this year, and 2.7 million MT in 2018. Copper is projected to trade at three U.S. dollars per pound (about 0.454 kg) at the end of the year, given large demand from China and the United States. Copper exports in the first quarter of 2017 have brought in 3.978 billion dollars to Peru, with gold generating 2.323 billion dollars, the National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy (SNMPE) reported. Mineral exports in the first quarter totalled 7.852 billion dollars, a year-on-year increase of 26.7 percent. While Peru's commodity market has good prospects, public and private sector investments appear to be flagging, said Aquino. "Public sector investment accounts for only 20 or 15 percent in total investment. The largest investor is the private sector, which isn't growing either. We need to ask 'why?'" he said. The answer could lie in political instability, Aquino added. "Why would people invest in a country? First, there is a chance for economic growth; second, the country can remain high in consumer confidence. Regrettably, in the past three years we have had problems," said the economist. Aquino recalled that President Pedro Kuczynski, who came to power a year ago, has already been forced to dismiss three cabinet members. He said it is hoped that Kuczynski's second year in office will see fewer clashes with opposition legislators and build consensus to shore up confidence in the economy. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 14:57:12|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING/MANILA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Following the adoption of a new UN Security Council resolution targeting Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, major players involved in the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue have renewed their call for a peaceful solution to the issue. The renewed call for a solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue by peaceful means was made mainly during bilateral interactions or on multilateral occasion Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini exchanged views on the current situation in the Korean Peninsula, on the sidelines of a recent gathering of foreign ministers from the Southeastern Asian nations and their partner countries in the Philippine capital city of Manila. The UN Security Council resolution regarding the Korean Peninsula should be implemented in a comprehensive and full way, Wang said. China's "double suspension" proposal, which requires the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to suspend its missile and nuclear activities in exchange for the suspension of large-scale U.S.-South Korean military drills, can deal with the most urgent safety concerns of various parties and cut the vicious circle in the current situation, providing a breakthrough to resume peace talks, Wang said. The parties concerned should take due responsibilities, Wang said. The EU appreciated China's important role in tackling the Iranian nuclear issue and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue properly, Mogherini said. The EU and China have cooperated well in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue and hoped to learn from the negotiation experiences in tackling the Iranian nuclear issue and strengthen communication and cooperation so as to seek a peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, she said. The Chinese minister also urged the DPRK to respond to earlier guarantees of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, including the one that the United States does not seek a regime change in the DPRK, or an accelerated reunification of the peninsula, or using the issue as an excuse to send the U.S. military north of the 38th Parallel. Meanwhile, the United States seemed to have soften its tone regarding the DPRK, after months of tough talks. Speaking in Manila on Monday, Tillerson said Washington is willing to talk to Pyongyang if it halts missile test launches. "The best signal that North Korea (the DPRK) can give us that they are prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches," said Tillerson. He also said any dialogue would deal with how Pyongyang can "feel secure and prosper economically." Also speaking in Manila, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on all parties involved to "show the utmost restraint in order to avoid implementation of negative power scenarios on the Korean Peninsula" and immediately begin searching a political and diplomatic settlement through a comprehensive solution to the issue. Lavrov held a meeting with Ri Yong Ho, his counterpart of the DPRK on the sidelines of the foreign ministers meeting in Manila on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Some countries involved in the issue also exchanged views over the issue away from the spotlight on the Manila meetings. South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged Pyongyang to come to a dialogue table following the UN Security Council's unanimous adoption of the new resolution on Pyongyang. Moon said he and U.S. President Donald Trump had a phone conversation regarding the issue. During the phone talks, the two leaders re-confirmed that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula should be achieved in a peaceful manner, instead of military means. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 15:02:14|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close SYDNEY, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Three U.S. marines have been confirmed dead after the wreckage of their downed military aircraft was located off the coast of Australia on Tuesday. The three victims were part of the Talisman Saber joint military exercises, conducted biannually between the Australian Defence Force and U.S. military. During a scheduled exercise on Saturday, the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey which they were traveling on with 23 others crashed into Shoalwater Bay, off the coast of Queensland State. It was reported that the aircraft collided with a transport ship while it was attempting to land. The Osprey then slid off the deck of the vessel and fell into the ocean. After three days of searching, the aircraft was discovered by Australia's HMAS Melville late Monday night and a Royal Australian Navy dive clearance team immediately began the recovery operation with assistance from U.S. forces. The commanding general of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, Lieutenant General Lawrence Nicholson told local media, he appreciated the efforts made by the Australian Defence Force. "They volunteered their help before we could even ask, demonstrating their friendship and value as international partners," Nicholson said. "The crew of the Melville and its assets have been invaluable in the recovery effort. On behalf of the Marines, sailors, and families of III MEF, I thank you for your support." The 23 other men were rescued onboard the aircraft are now recovering from the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 15:17:18|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean court on Tuesday ordered Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay damages to the South Korean victims of forced labor during World War II. The Gwangju District Court, located in southwest of the country, ruled that Mitsubishi should pay 120 million won (107,000 U.S. dollars) in compensation to Kim Young-ok, 85, a surviving victim of the forced labor, and a relative of the deceased victim Choe Jeong-rye damages of 3,256,684 won respectively. The damages for the relative were based on the inheritance share of the plaintiff, according to local media reports. The plaintiffs originally demanded Mitsubishi pay 150 million won in damages to the surviving victim and 30 million won to the in-law of the late victim each. The two victims were duped in 1944, when they were elementary and middle school students, into toiling without pay at an aircraft manufacturing plant in Nagoya of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Some of the surviving forced labor victims and the bereaved families have filed a total of 14 cases against Mitsubishi and other Japanese firms, which committed war crime against humanities during the Pacific War. Hundreds of thousands of Koreans were forced, or deceived, into toiling labor and sexual slavery before and during the devastating war. The Korean Peninsula was colonized by the Imperial Japan from 1910 to 1945. Japan has claimed all colonial-era issues were resolved through the 1965 treaty that normalized diplomatic relations between Seoul and Tokyo. The South Korean court, however, ruled that it would be difficult to see the 1965 treaty include individual rights to damages, ordering the Japanese company to pay war crime compensations to the victims. (1 South Korean won = 0.00089 U.S. dollar) Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 15:47:32|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close HARBIN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- An international port trade expo opened Tuesday in the port city of Suifenhe along China's border with Russia in the northeast province of Heilongjiang. With a display area of 35,000 square meters, the expo drew over 500 companies from China and 10 other countries, including Russia and the Republic of Korea. In addition to business talks, a forum on the credit system in China and Russia and another on forestry development in the two countries will be held during the expo, according to Guo Yinghui with the China Chamber of International Commerce, which hosted the event. Suifenhe is Heilongjiang's largest port to Russia, with 80 percent of the province's cargo exported to Russia passing through the port. In April last year, a key development and opening-up zone was established in the Suifenhe-Dongning area. Official data showed that the port can handle 6 million passengers and 33 million tonnes of cargo per year. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 16:02:40|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close KABUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Afghan national army soldiers shot and killed two suicide bombers in the country's eastern province of Kapisa on Monday, foiling an attack on army personnel, said a military statement on Tuesday. "On Monday, two terrorists riding a motorcycle were identified and killed by Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel in Tagab district. The attacker's explosive materials were exploded after shootings and their bodies could not be identified," the statement issued by Army Corps Selab 201 based in the region said. The attackers tried to assault an army outpost before being killed. No member of army personnel or civilian was hurt following the explosion, the statement added. The mountainous province with Mahmud-e-Raqi as its capital, 65 km north of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between Taliban insurgents and security forces over the past years. Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since April when they launched their annual rebel offensive and intensified attacks across the country. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 16:18:00|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Tuesday denounced Japan's renewed territorial claim to its easternmost islets of Dokdo, called Takeshima in Japan, which was laid in the Japanese annual defense white paper. Japan published its 2017 defense white paper earlier in the day, in which it claimed Takeshima is part of its territory. It marked the 13th consecutive year that Japan laid sovereignty claim in its white paper to the rocky outcroppings lying halfway between the two countries. Seoul's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it strongly protested and urged an immediate withdrawal of Japan's repeated illegitimate sovereignty claim to Dokdo, which is South Korea's own territory historically, geographically and by international law. South Korea has seen Japan's territorial claim to its easternmost islets as the legacy of the Imperial Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The rocky islets were forcibly incorporated into Japan's territory following the Japanese colonization, but the couple of islets were returned to South Korea after the peninsula's liberation in 1945 from the colonial rule. South Korea's Defense Ministry summoned a defense attache with the Japanese embassy in Seoul to formally express its deep regrets toward the Japanese government over the repeated territorial claims since 2005 to the islets. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 16:53:31|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's machinery sector reported better-than-expected performance in the first half of 2017 although high costs and financing difficulties continue to weigh on profits. Profits of machinery manufacturers amounted to 857.6 billion yuan (about 127.6 billion U.S. dollars) during January-June, up 14.69 percent year on year, according to the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF). The main business revenue came in at 12.51 trillion yuan, rising 11.6 percent from the same period last year, with that in agricultural machinery, combustion engines, construction machinery and instruments all seeing double-digit growth. Chen Bin, deputy head of CMIF, attributed the improvement to business innovation and transformation, as well as a low comparison base last year. But high labor and logistics costs, and financing difficulties were still a trouble for the industry, Chen added. He predicted both business revenue and profits in the sector to expand 8 percent, with exports in 2017 to end two years of negative growth. The sector's recovery came as China's economy has gained a steadier footing in recent months, with growth expanding 6.9 percent for the first half of 2017, better than market expectations. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 17:08:39|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Okinawa Deputy Governor Moritake Tomikawa on Tuesday lodged a strong protest with U.S. forces for flying an Osprey in Japan's southernmost prefecture just days after one of the accident-prone planes crashed off Australia. Tomikawa's protest followed the central government asking the United States to stop flying Ospreys in Japan, but the U.S. response was to fly one of the controversial tilt-rotor planes from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Sunday. The plane flew from the same base as the MV-22 Osprey that crashed off Australia on Saturday, killing three U.S. Marines. Tomikawa met the top commander of U.S. forces in Okinawa to lodge a protest and express the local residents' growing concern and anxiety over the planes' increasingly checkered safety record. But the Okinawa deputy governor's concerns were dismissed by the top commander of U.S. forces in Okinawa, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, who, as quoted by Tomikawa at a press briefing, said: "Ospreys are flying around the world. It is the (U.S.) military's policy." Tomikawa said the ambivalent attitude of the U.S. military was angering. "From the viewpoint of Okinawa, it is unbearable and I cannot help but get angry. I was not able to get any convincing answers," Tomikawa told local media. The U.S. Naval Safety Center categorized the Osprey's crash off Australia as being "Class A." Exasperation at the U.S. military's continued use of the Ospreys in Japan hit a fever pitch following an Osprey making an emergency landing in Okinawa in June, with local residents still in fear and incensed following the crash landing of one of the planes in waters off Nago in Okinawa, near the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Schwab last December. The incident, which saw five crew members airlifted to safety and then subsequently treated for injuries, involved an MV-22 Osprey making a "shallow landing" according to U.S. military accounts. The crash marked the first major accident involving an Osprey since its deployment in Japan in 2012 and had Okinawan officials vehemently call for the planes to be withdrawn from Japan. Prior to these accidents, Ospreys have been involved in multiple crashes around the world leading to numerous fatalities, dating back to the plane's developmental phase in 2000. Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) march during a military parade in Daquq, nearby Kirkuk, Iraq August 5, 2017. (Reuters Photo) BAGHDAD, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A paramilitary Hashd Shaabi unit said Tuesday the U.S. forces pounded its posts near the border with Syria and killed dozens of its militants, warning that the attack will not go without punishment. The U.S. forces carried out "heavy bombardment on Monday morning on the posts of Sayyd al-Shuhadaa Brigades in Akashat area near the border with Syria, leaving large number of martyrs and wounded fighters," the unit said in a statement emailed to Xinhua. It said that group "holds the U.S. forces the responsibility for the consequences of the action. We declare that it will not go without punishment." The Shiite paramilitary unit also called on the Iraqi government to launch a probe into the incident, and urged the government of Iraq to protect border with Syria "in order to deprive the Americans from using the border line to pass their malicious agendas," according to the statement. Local media reports said that over 40 fighters from the paramilitary unit were killed and some 30 others wounded by U.S. artillery bombardment on the units posts in western Iraq. The incident came as the Iraqi forces, including the predominantly Shiite Hashd Shaabi units and Sunni tribal fighters, are preparing to liberate the IS-held town of Tal Afar, some 70 km west of Mosul. On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared Mosul's liberation from IS after nearly nine months of fierce fighting to dislodge the extremist militants from their last major stronghold in Iraq. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 17:54:08|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government's threat to investigate China's trade practices is by no means wise, as such a move based on trade protectionism would hurt its own businesses and international image, experts said on Monday. The administration of President Donald Trump has been mulling to ask the Trade Representative's Office to open an investigation into China's trade practices under the obsolete 1974 Trade Act's Section 301, which enables unilateral U.S. imposition of tariffs on trade partners. TRADE NOT A ZERO-SUM GAME Trump and his team attributed the economic slowdown and job losses to trade deficits, which are expected to be reduced by imposing tariffs and other non-tariff trade barriers when necessary, as the administration has promised. Under the "America First" policy, the United States will also rethink alliances, shifting its focus from multilateral trade pacts to bilateral cooperation to ensure the protection of "American interests." Many economists and foreign policy experts saw the trade protectionism and anti-globalization tendency in the current U.S. government and rejected the idea that trade is a zero-sum game. Liu Zhenmin, U.N. under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs, said economic globalization is an irreversible trend, with the establishment of international division of labor and the growing volume of international trade. "Countries that question economic globalization can hardly escape this process," Liu told Xinhua in a recent interview. As for China-U.S. trade relations, Stephen A. Orlins, president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, said that bilateral trade deficits are not really meaningful. Orlins, who has been doing business with China for more than three decades, said that the United States used to have trade deficits with Japan, South Korea and countries in Southeast Asia. "What happened over these years is that a lot of the semi-finished goods would go to China (for China to export), so what's happened is the trade deficit we used to have with those other countries has been transferred to China," said Orlins. "Now that is not China's fault and we should not blame China for that," he added. Many experts voiced concerns on the U.S. government's plan to adopt Section 301, a trade tool used before World Trade Organization (WTO) came into existence, which allows Washington to unilaterally impose tariffs on another country. In general, trade disputes among WTO members should be resolved through the WTO mechanism rather than a state's domestic law. "Even if China has problems with intellectual property rights, the use of Section 301 to punish China will make people think that the United States puts its domestic rules above international law, which will further tarnish the country's international image under President Trump," said Zhiqun Zhu, professor of Political Science and International Relations Bucknell University in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. [ Zhu added that if the U.S. slaps unilateral sanctions, China will certainly react in tit-for-tat retaliation. In the end, consumers and businesses in both countries will suffer. "In an age of globalization and interdependence, it is hard to believe that some people still think economic sanctions will solve trade problems," said Zhu, emphasizing that it would be a lose-lose option. FIRM HAND ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Chinese companies involved in international trade pointed out that the Chinese government has paid high attention to protecting intellectual property and has implemented regulations as strict as those of the United States. In 2015, China started a three-year campaign to protect the image of "Made-in-China" products internationally. By April of this year, more than 43,000 batches of goods suspected of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement had been seized during the campaign, involving more than 81 million individual items, according to China's General Administration of Customs. The country has also taken an active part in IPR-related affairs under multilateral frameworks, including the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Customs Organization. "Honestly I don't think China would single out the U.S. companies to violate their intellectual property rights. It's simply too costly," said an automotive industry source who declined to be named because the White House has not made a public announcement yet. The White House initially planned to announce last week the launch of the investigation, but postponed the schedule. The announcement might come out on Wednesday, according to U.S. media. He added that the Chinese government has attached great importance to this issue, because Chinese companies should learn to respect rules and the spirit of contract in order to do businesses in global markets. "To be fair, the country has made great improvement in the past three decades," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 17:54:10|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close RIYADH, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi militias in Yemen denied reports that it targeted a house in Mahdah area in the southwest of Saada Province, Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday. The joint command reviewed all operations conducted in Saada on Friday, and the house was not in the range of its targets, Col. Turki al-Malki, the coalition's spokesman, said in a statement. Al-Malki said the statements of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs were based on personal estimates rather than a fair and systematic investigation. The unconfirmed field reports could have been more accurate if with patience, credibility and evidence, he added. The joint command, in coordination with the government of Yemen, its international partners and friends, is investigating through available means, al-Malki explained. It is reported that at least 12 civilians were killed Friday in airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on a house in Mahdha area in Safra district and a private vehicle in Burkan area in Razih district. On Tuesday, the Saudi forces intercepted two missiles targeting Saudi Arabia. The first one was fired from the northern Yemen and fell in the international waters of the Red Sea, while the second one was launched from Yemen's Marib and targeted the Saudi holy city of Medina, Al Arabiya local news reported. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 18:29:24|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Construction of a new high-speed railway in northeast China's Jilin Province started Tuesday. The high speed railway, linking Dunhua city and Baihe town in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, is 113.5 kilometers long with a speed of 250 km per hour. There are many tourist sites along the route, including Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve, a top national tourist attraction. The railway will play a significant role in helping Jilin Province benefit from China's Belt and Road Initiative and the development of tourism, trade and culture in local ethnic minority areas, local authorities said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 18:34:26|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people from LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual) communities from across the country participated in the annual Pride Parade in Kathmandu on Tuesday. As every year, members of this marginalized community marched on the street with fanfare on the occasion of Gaijatra or cow festival. Nepalese Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Asha Koirala inaugurated the event by flying the colorful balloons in Thamel, the major tourist hub in the capital city. This is the only day when the LGBTI members from across the country come out in the public sphere with their real sexual identities. Sexual minorities from various districts of Nepal were seen marching in colorful attires, make up and vibrant accessories. The Pride Parade has been initiated by a non-governmental organization Blue Diamond Society to encourage the third gender people to recognize and celebrate their identity. Manisha Dhakal, Executive Director at Blue Diamond Society, told Xinhua on the spot, "Through this parade, the LGBTI members are being organized and as part of advocacy, we want to show our existence to this society and nation. Our family members, friends and representatives from government are also with us today, which is a positive aspect of this pride parade." Singing and dancing, the LGBTI members were seen carrying placards and chanting slogans. They raised their voices demanding employment opportunities, harmonious behavior from society and implementation of laws and policies. "Neither our family nor our society support us. Through this parade, we want to show our strength that we are also capable of doing things even without the support," Aniee Lama, Miss Pink Nepal 2016, told Xinhua amid the rally. Though the constitution of Nepal that was promulgated in September 2016 has guaranteed explicit laws and protection to the LGBTI community, the members are doubtful over its implementation. The Supreme Court had directed the Nepal government authorities in 2007 to amend laws to end all the discrimination against LGBTI citizens. As per this, the government has been issuing citizenship and passport for third genders under "Other" category. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 18:34:28|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close HANOI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- As part of a project on increasing prevention of cybercrime until 2030, a censorship system including software that identifies, blocks, collects and processes misleading information on the Internet will soon be launched in Vietnam. Software that prevents personal computers from accessing websites containing misleading information, and an investigation system that analyzes methods used by cyber criminals to conduct cybercrime will also be developed, Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday. The project was recently approved by the Ministry of Information and Communications. It aims at achieving the goals outlined in a national strategy on cybercrime prevention in the 2016-25 period, with a vision to 2030. As part of the project, ministry will collaborate with other ministries and sectors to develop communication plans and messages on mass media, at schools and in families to raise awareness on cybercrime prevention, especially teaching young people to filter out inappropriate information online. A system of legal documents on cybercrime prevention will be developed, which includes stricter measures against cybercrime, policies on online information management, and preferential policies that encourage the development of online services by Vietnamese information technology enterprises. The project also aims to identify, investigate and handle 100 percent of cases that perpetuate misleading information, as well as strengthening international and transnational collaboration on online information management. Vietnam signed up 9.9 million fixed broadband Internet subscribers in the first half of this year, up 16.9 percent on-year, according to the country's General Statistics Office. Source: Xinhuanet| 2017-08-08 19:12:23|Editor: Yamei BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has made great achievements on the path of modernization over the past 70 years. Modern Animal Husbandry It has been very popular in Inner Mongolia today to take advantage of modern technologies in livestock farming. Farms in Huugjilt Village, Sunite Left Banner in north Inner Mongolia were equipped with video monitoring system in 2014, allowing herdsmen to observe their animals from home on computers or mobile phones. The system has not only saved herdsmen time physically going to check their herds, but also helped cut labor costs. Automatic drinking system was also equipped on many farms in Inner Mongolia. With a sensor that keeps the water at a certain level, the system ensures adequate water for the herds. A positioning system, jointly developed by Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology and the animal husbandry bureau of Hangjin Banner, Ordos was officially put into use in Inner Mongolia in 2016. By fitting animals with GPS collars, their locations can be viewed on computers or phones, making herding much easier for the herdsmen. Sheep graze on the grassland in Urat Middle Banner of Bayan Nur City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhi Maosheng) Photo taken on July 1, 2017 shows cows in Hulun Buir grassland, in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 18:54:43|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nepali Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara said Tuesday that his country wants to reap maximum benefits from the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Unveiling a policy document of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the minister said: "Nepal-China relations have remained cordial over the years and the government is working to implement all bilateral agreements reached with China." Mahara said that the government has formed mechanisms to accelerate the development projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. "We want to reap benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative," he said. Such mechanisms are composed of senior government officials from different government ministries, including foreign affairs, finance, energy, industry, commerce, among others, according to the minister. "We are committed to pushing forward Nepal-China cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said. Nepal and China reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative on May 12 this year. The Belt and Road Initiative, announced by China in 2013, is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 18:59:49|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Indian envoy over cross-border shelling which killed a woman and injured another, officials said. The Foreign Ministry said "Indian occupation forces" fired along the Line of Control(LoC) in Kashmir region's Khuiratta and Karela Sector on Aug. 7, resulting in the killing of a 35-year old woman, Munira Bibi in Karela Sector and injury to another woman, Farena Bibi in Khuiratta Sector. "The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," the Director General at the South Asian Desk in the Foreign Ministry Mohammad Faisal told Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh. Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire in 2003 along the LoC, which divide both nuclear rivals in Kashmir. Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC. He also pushed the Indian side should permit UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. The Foreign Ministry said India continues to "indulge in ceasefire violations" despite calls for restraint. In 2017 to date, Indian forces have carried out more than 600 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, resulting in the killing of 25 civilians and injuries to 110, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016. However, Pakistani Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan informed the National Assembly on Monday that Indian troops have committed 319 ceasefire violations along the LoC in the disputed Kashmir region since November last year. Meanwhile, 66 civilians have been killed and 228 injured due to unprovoked firing by Indian forces since January 2013. There has been escalation along the LoC since a militant attack on an army center in the Indian-controlled Kashmir killed 19 soldiers on Sept. 18 last year. The Indian military blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad group for the attack and also pointed fingers at Pakistan. However, Islamabad rejected the charges and suggested an independent investigation. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 19:14:54|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of Iran, Russia and Turkey started an expert-level meeting in the capital Tehran on Syria on Tuesday, Tasnim news agency reported. The meeting aims to set the agenda of imminent Syrian peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana in near future, the report said. During the two-day meeting in Tehran, the participants will exchange views about the ongoing ceasefire and the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria. The upcoming Astana talks will be held with the participation of representatives from Iran, Russia and Turkey and Delegations from the Syrian government, Syrian opposition forces, as well as observers from the United Nations at the end of August. On July 6, Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed to form a joint working group on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria during the talks in Astana. The three countries signed a memorandum of understanding on creating four de-escalation zones in Syria on May 4, aiming to ease tensions for at least six months in Syria where the war is in the seventh year. According to the memorandum, the government and opposition forces will halt fighting in four zones, including the northwestern province of Idlib, the central province of Homs, the eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus, and areas in the Daraa and Qunaitera provinces in southern Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 19:14:54|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Yan Lei TOKYO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japan has once again mudded China's normal and justifiable maritime activities and has hyped up the so-called "China threat" in its annual defense white paper released on Tuesday. The trick, nothing new of Japan, only serves to make excuses for its own military buildup and stir up tensions in the region, which will do no good to Japan and the region. In the 2017 defense white paper, Japan made irresponsible statements on China's national defense system and smeared China's normal and justifiable maritime activities in the East and South China Seas as "attempts to change the status quo by coercion." However, the fact is that Beijing has repeatedly made it clear that China's navy and air force activities are in line with international law, domestic law as well as national defense needs. Japan has no right to make carping comments on China's legitimate activities near the Diaoyu Islands, which are China's inherent territory in all historical, geographical and legal terms and Japan has made unjustified claim for. As for the South China Sea issue, freedom of navigation has never been a problem in the area, and interference by Japan and other non-regional countries only jeopardizes peace and stability in the region. China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries have successfully drawn up and adopted the framework of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea recently, and the issue is back to the track to resolve disputes through direct dialogue and negotiation by the parties directly concerned. Japan's meddling in the issue, apparently for its own ulterior agenda of enhancing its regional influence and gaining leverage for its dispute with China on the East China Sea issue, could hardly win support from other countries in the region. Japan itself has been showing a growing ambition for military expansion, with its military expenditure keeping reaching new records over the past few years, which has caused heavy burdens to the country already deep in debt and raised concerns from neighboring countries which fell victim to Japan's aggression before and during the Second World War. The nation, with greater "defense forces" as well as the newly enacted security laws which are commonly called "war laws" in Japan, is now able to fight wars abroad, albeit in contradiction to its own constitution and protests from hundreds of thousands of its people. The support rate of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet has plunged sharply recently, at one point below the 30 percent mark, which, according to local polls, was largely due to a loss of trust in the prime minister over a series of scandals as well as disappointment at the government's policies. The recent cabinet reshuffle, though lifting people's expectations a little bit, could soon see its effects worn off, according to the majority of analysts here, unless the government could come up with policies that could really benefit its people. Under the current "growingly severe security situation" as Japan mentioned in the white paper, the proper solution would be dealing with the challenges through cooperation and coordination of the international community, rather than stoking tensions in a Cold-War way. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 19:45:12|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close by Peter Mertz DENVER, the United States, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chicago became America's second big city Monday to sue the Trump Administration over immigration policy in just four months, stirring up a new around of debate if the federal government abuses power and if more cities, especially those controlled by the Democrats, will follow Chicago's step. The 45-page suit answered Trump Attorney General Jeff Session's threat to withhold 2.3 million U.S. dollars in law enforcement grants unless Chicago police grant the federal government full access to their stations and arrest records. "Chicago will not let our police officers become political pawns in a debate," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who served as former President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff. Emanuel, 58, was re-elected Chicago mayor to a second term in 2015. Chicago, with a law enforcement budget of almost 10 billion U.S. dollars a year, is asking a judge to toss out new Justice Department rules that will make the city ineligible to apply for federal grants unless it complies fully with the new Trump guidelines. Sessions replied Monday saying that the third largest city of the United States needed a "recommitment to the rule of law and to policies that rollback the culture of lawlessness that has beset the city." "It's simple," Sessions said in a statement hours after the suit was filed. "Comply with the law or forego taxpayer dollars." The Chicago government is one of nine America local governments that received letters from Sessions warning they may lose federal funding because of their "sanctuary" policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts. The others includes the state of California, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Clark County of Nevada, Cook County of Illinois, Miami-Dade County of Florida, and Milwaukee County of Wisconsin. "Sanctuary" is used for cities that do not permit police or municipal employees to inquire about one's immigration status, or for funds to be applied to enforce federal immigration laws. "In addition to helping make Chicago the murder capital of the country, he's proud of making it a sanctuary city too," Nickarama wrote sarcastically Monday on the blog Young Conservatives. According to Shareranks.com, the Chicago murder rate is 15.2 per 100,000 and only 31st highest in the nation in 2015. "Make no mistake about it," said Louis Cardona IV, "They're targeting these areas because they are not just large centers of minorities, but also strong Democratic strongholds too." Earlier this year San Francisco and the county of Santa Clara, California won a temporary ban on enforcement of most of Trump's Jan. 25 executive order threatening to withhold funds from localities that don't cooperate. "This is a classic Republican political strategy by making life difficult for the large immigrant bases who live in America's biggest cities," Cardona, a second-generation immigrant from Puerto Rica, told Xinhua. But traditional Republicans questioned cities ignoring the new law. "The whole concept of Sanctuary Cities in opposition to federal law is wrong," said Al Rickard, Washington, DC magazine publisher and Republican insider. "Cities cannot just choose to ignore Federal immigration law," Rickard told Xinhua, "If there are specific abuses of the law than they should be addressed individually." Sanctuary cities are located in traditionally blue states, Californian Blogger Rick Gage emphasized. "They give more tax dollars to the federal government than they receive in return," he said. "Maybe it is time for these blue states to start withholding tax dollars from a federal government which only seems to spend, foolishly, on walls and wars that guard against imaginary enemies," Gage said. "The federal government is over-reaching its authority," Cardona added. "It is actually against a conservative idea of letting the states govern themselves - that this Republican Administration is ignoring," he said. Cardona's family can be traced back to the early 1700s to Grenoble, Spain, and his father was a teacher in New York City who helped immigrants find work in America in the 1950s. "Back in the 1950s, the Puerto Ricans were the bad guys -- the Hollywood musical West Side Story talks about the fights between Puerto Ricans and the American New York City kids," said Cardona. "Then it became Blacks...and now Trump has Mexicans and Middle Easterners in his crosshairs," he said. American conservatives have always been prejudiced against a foreign-based underclass, according to Cardona, and that is who Trump is targeting with his strict immigration policy. However, Young Conservative website's blogger Nickarama disagreed. "You would think that people who perform poorly have some consciousness of having done so and perhaps some same for doing so," he said in reference to Chicago Mayor Emanuel, noting the 500 murders in Chicago last year. "(Emanuel) not only doesn't follow federal law, but then has the temerity to actually sue the Department of Justice for calling them on it," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 19:50:18|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close RABAT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Morocco plans to classify Jbel Irhoud, the village where the world's oldest human species' fossils were discovered, as an international archaeological and historical site, local media reported Tuesday. "The ministry is working to classify Jbel Irhoud among the national and world historical sites, given its certain archaeological value for the whole humanity," the Moroccan daily Le Matin quoted minister of Culture and Communication Mohamed Laaraj as saying. In June, a team of international scientists discovered the fossils of Homo sapiens, the world's oldest human species, in the remote village of Jbel Irhoud near the southern city of Youssoufia. According to Morocco's Institute of Sciences of Archaeology and Heritage, the remains of the Homo sapiens date back to more than 300,000 years ago. The remains push back human species' origins by 100,000 years, and suggest that humans didn't evolve only in East Africa. Hailing the discovery of the oldest Homo sapiens in Jbel Irhoud as a "genuine achievement," Laarj said the region may witness more archaeological discoveries that could make an international impact. Since the 1960s, fossils dating back to the Middle Stone Age have been discovered in Jbel Irhoud. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 19:55:20|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade growth moderated in July, affected by currency appreciation and a higher base, official data showed Tuesday. While there are uncertainties on the trade outlook, analysts believe positive factors remain and that the economy still has sufficient momentum. Exports in yuan-denominated terms rose 11.2 percent year on year in July, compared with the 17.3-percent growth in June, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC). Imports increased 14.7 percent, slowing from 23.1 percent in June. The slower trade growth was a result of a stronger yuan in recent weeks and a higher base in the second half of last year, said Bai Ming, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. The yuan has been on an upward trajectory against the U.S. dollar this year due to the weakening greenback and steady expansion of the Chinese economy. The central parity rate of the Chinese currency strengthened to 6.7132 against the U.S. dollar on Friday, its highest level since October last year. Bai expects the pressure for appreciation to persist in the second half of the year, while predicting overall stable growth in foreign trade. Bloomberg chief Asia economist Tom Orlik said it was important to see the data movement in the coming months before concluding that a deceleration had set in. "Trade data are volatile, and a miss in a single month doesn't necessarily signal a change in the trend," he wrote in an analysis note. Orlik listed stronger consumption in the United States and Europe and a weaker yuan than a year earlier as positive factors for China's export outlook, while cautioning that China's share of global exports had already topped out and would be difficult to expand further. A leading indicator for China's exports increased from 41.5 to 41.9 month on month in July, signaling positive export potential, according to GAC. Total foreign trade reached 2.32 trillion yuan last month, up 12.7 percent from a year earlier, compared with 19.8 percent in June. Monthly trade surplus stood at 321.2 billion yuan (47.8 billion U.S. dollars) in July, up 1.4 percent year on year. Despite the slower monthly trade growth, China's broad economy remains resilient, as indicated by other data including that on expanding manufacturing activity, said JZ Securities analyst Deng Haiqing. The country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index has stayed above 51 for 10 months in a row, official data showed. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. Meanwhile, Deng described the combined trade growth for the first seven months as relatively high. "The economic momentum remains sufficient," he said. In the first seven months combined, exports increased 14.4 percent year on year, while imports rose 24 percent, resulting in a 14.5-percent decline in trade surplus. Foreign trade in the first seven months totaled 15.46 trillion yuan, up 18.5 percent year on year. With milder trade growth but still sound economic fundamentals, Deng said China was likely to keep its monetary policy "not too tight or too loose." China set its monetary policy as prudent and neutral for 2017 as authorities try to balance financial deleveraging and support economic growth. In the first seven months, China's trade with the EU, China's biggest trade partner, climbed 17.1 percent from a year earlier to 2.33 trillion yuan. Meanwhile, trade with the United States, ASEAN and Japan went up by 20.6 percent, 20.9 percent and 16.9 percent respectively. Exports of machinery, electronics and labor-intensive products continued to expand in the first seven months, while the volume of steel exports dropped 28.7 percent year on year to 47.95 million tonnes. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 20:00:26|Editor: Zhou Xin Raila Odinga (2nd L, front), Kenya's National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate, casts his vote at a polling station in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 8, 2017. About 19.6 million Kenyans are flocking to more than 40,000 polling stations across the nation to cast ballots for the election of the country's next president on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Baishun) NAIROBI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan presidential candidate Raila Odinga on Tuesday exuded confidence his run would end in victory in his fourth attempt to lead the East African nation. Speaking to a select group of journalists, including Xinhua, at his Karen home before heading to his polling center in Nairobi's populous Kibera slums, Odinga said his first presidential attempt in 1997 was introductory but his second attempt in 2007 was successful although he was rigged out. Odinga said this year's vote was a "historic step" for him and his supporters, whom he urged to turn out in large numbers to vote. "I thank Kenyans for turning up in large numbers to vote. I appeal to each and everyone to participate. They should not miss an opportunity. I am on my way to the Old Kibera Primary School to vote," Odinga said in an interview at his Karen home shortly before leaving. Odinga voted at the Old Kibera Primary School in Nairobi shortly before midday. "Today is a great day. It is a historic day for the people of Kenya," Odinga said amid cheers from his supporters who had thronged the polling center. The opposition leader said he would tour polling stations in Nairobi to witness voting and would retreat to his Presidential campaign secretariat to receive reports and updates from his campaign teams. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 20:15:29|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close AMMAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Jordan and Algeria on Tuesday stressed that the two-state solution was the key and only vital solution to address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the state-run Petra news agency reported. At a meeting between Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Algerian counterpart Abdelqader Msahel, the two sides said resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should also be in line with the Arab peace initiative, which offers Israel normal ties with the Arabs in return for withdrawal from territories it occupied in 1967. Any solution should also be in parallel with the international legitimacy resolutions and UN resolutions as well, they said. Stressing that resolving this conflict was key to regional stability and security the two sides also discussed the situation in Syria and Libya and means to bring about security in the two countries. In this regard, Safadi called for political solutions to address regional crises, calling for increased Arab cooperation to face such issues. Discussions also covered strategic cooperation between the two countries in various areas. The two sides also decided that the meetings of the Jordanian-Algerian Higher Joint Committee will be held before the end of this year in Amman to discuss various aspects of cooperation. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 20:20:34|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi court on Tuesday sentenced 40 defendants to death over charges of killing 1,700 soldiers when IS militants seized Tikrit in June 2014, judicial spokesman said. "The Central Criminal Court issued a verdict t execute 27 defendants after proving they were involved in Speicher massacre," said Abdul Sattar al-Biraqdar, spokesman for Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council. The defendants were found guilty as the evidences were enough for their conviction, Biraqdar said, adding that the court also released 25 other defendants for lack of evidences. Biraqdar said that the death sentences are preliminary and subject to reviewing by the Court of Cassation. In June 2014, armed Sunni insurgents, spearheaded by IS group, an al-Qaida offshoot, launched a surprise offensive on Iraqi security forces and captured a large part of the country's northern and western territories after government troops abandoned their posts and military equipment. Reports said that among the dozens of thousands of soldiers who abandoned their posts in June, some 1,700 soldiers who walked out of an air base, known as Camp Speicher north of Tikrit, the capital of Salahudin province, were abducted and killed by the extremist IS militants. The IS group later posted video tapes and images showing its gunmen loading dozens of soldiers in many trucks and forced them to lay on their faces and opened fire on them. Some were shown dragged to the edge of the Tigris River and threw them into the water after putting a shot in their heads. Photo shows the construction site of Isimba Power Plant. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) KAYUNGA, Uganda, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- As River Nile, the longest in the world, snakes through central Uganda, Chinese engineers and their local counterparts are constructing a multi-million U.S. dollar power plant on its bank in the remote Kayunga district. Concrete works have already been finished, according to the engineers, and they are working to ensure that the 568 million dollar power plant produces electricity during the second half of next year. The plant dubbed Isimba Power Plant Project, is one of the flagship investments that signifies China's efforts to power Uganda. Uganda accessed the fund to construct the 183 Megawatt (MW) plant from Export Import Bank of China. Construction commenced in April 2015 and conclusion is expected in August next year. "After one year we will hand over a high quality project to Uganda and contributes efforts towards building the relation between Uganda and China," Wang Yongtian, head of the construction project told Xinhua in a recent interview. Experts argue that inadequate, inconsistent and expensive power is one of the major bottlenecks hindering Uganda's fast economic development. Ugandan manufacturers and other big businesses have complained of the high cost of electricity in the country, which they say makes their products uncompetitive in the region. Photo shows the construction site of an embankment dam near the Isimba Power Plant. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) According to official figures, it is estimated that 1,131MW will be required to meet the national electricity demand by 2020. Currently installed capacity is 822MW. The Ugandan government over the last decade has been at the forefront of pushing for rapid infrastructural development with emphasis on energy and transport. To access low interest loans with no strings attached, Uganda looked at China as its financier. China is financing the construction of another hydro power plant along River Nile in northern Uganda. The 1.4 billion dollar Karuma Power Plant, is the first underground power plant in the east African region. When completed, the plant will provide over 600MW of electricity. A World Bank report issued in April this year showed that Uganda was among the countries that are showing progress towards universal access to electricity. The report, Global Tracking Framework 2017 - Progress Toward Sustainable Energy, said energy is the cornerstone of economic growth. With access to modern, reliable and affordable energy, a child can study at night, small businesses can thrive, women can walk home under the safety of working streetlights and hospitals can function efficiently and save lives. Uganda now faces the task of bringing down the high cost of electricity. In 2007, the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a 110 million loan to finance, build and operate a 250MW power plant on the River Nile near Jinja. This project pushed up the cost of power. Akinwumi Adesina, the AfDB president early this year assured Uganda that it is working to ensure that the electricity tariffs would go down. Uganda wants to pull down the cost of electricity to five cents from the current 11 cents. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 20:25:37|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close DUBAI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates set up a club to support the use of new energy cars, the state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday. Under the umbrella of the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC), the New Energy Vehicles Club, which was initiated by Engie, a French multinational electric utility company, is a charging station manufacturer, WAM said. The club aims to serve as an example of the electric vehicle and clean energy industry and support the development of the electric vehicle market. Founding members of the club include international and local companies in the electric vehicle ecosystem, and relevant work will start in the UAE with a goal to expand activities across the Middle East and North Africa "With growing demands on transportation across the MENA region, electric vehicles are arguably the future of sustainable mobility," said Stephane le Gentil, chief executive officer of the CEBC. Industry analysts believe that by 2025, electric vehicles with the running distance ranging from 200 to 500 km on one charge will have the same up-front costs as combustion engine vehicles. "This marks a game changing shift in the global economics of oil and presents a significant opportunity for the electricity and renewable energy industries," said le Gentil. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 20:25:38|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close FRANKFURT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A single-engine aircraft crashed Tuesday in Lake Constance in the southwest of Germany, sinking in about 60m deep water, reported German media FOCUS, citing a spokesman. It remains unclear how many passengers exactly were on board or what happened with them, as the rescue is underway. The small airplane was reportedly on the way from Zurich, Switzerland, to Hamburg, Germany, and had been on an instrument flight before it disappeared from the radar of the air traffic control center, according to the local media "Suedkurier". Zambia's traditional dancers attend the official opening ceremony of the Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, Aug. 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun) LUSAKA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese enterprises have taken advantage of Zambia's premier agriculture and commercial show to market their products. The Chinese enterprises are among 95 foreign firms and 718 local firms exhibiting at the 91st Agriculture and Commercial Show in Lusaka, the country's capital which was open to the public on Aug. 2-7. It is being held under the theme "Promoting Green Economy." With the ever-improving bilateral relations between Zambia and China, a number of Chinese enterprises have invested in various sectors of the southern African country's economy. However, competition is stiff and the Chinese enterprises are devising various ways of cementing their presence such as advertising as well as using events like trade fairs and shows to market their products. There is no doubt that Chinese investment is having a positive impact on the Zambian economy as seen in the number of Chinese enterprises that have invested in various sectors. According to Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, the two countries have expanded economic cooperation with an increased investment of close to 4 billion US dollars and an annual trade volume of around 3 billion dollars. There are over 500 Chinese firms operating in Zambia. "Of course we are here to market our products. We want the Zambia public to know our products and we are taking advantage of this event to help local people know about our bank," Zhu Wenlong, Bank of China (Zambia) Deputy Managing Director told Xinhua in an interview. Driven by its mission of "Serving Society, Delivering Excellence", the official said the bank was geared toward providing efficient and unmatched services to the Zambian people. Participants are seen at the Bank of China Zambia limited booth in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, Aug. 5, 2015. Various Chinese companies participated in the 91st Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun) Established in 1997, the Bank of China Zambia is the first wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of China and also the first Chinese financial institution in Africa. It provides both corporate and personal services, including credit facility, account services, international settlement, exchange services and Chinese currency services. It launched its RMB notes business in 2011. Zambian Jihai Agriculture Company Limited, which is involved in all-year round production of mushroom is another firm exhibiting at the event to market various products it was producing in Zambia. Since its establishment five years ago, the firm has expanded its line of operations and apart from mushroom growing, the firm has opened other ventures such as the JCS Food Town, a center where various agricultural products are being sold not only to the Chinese nationals but local people as well. The food market has about 79 small scale traders operating there. According to Faith Mwale, assistant manager in charge of business development and administration, the firm has established a firm print on the Zambian market and was ready to offer various products and services to the people. Camco Equipment Zambia Limited, a company that markets agricultural and other machinery made by various Chinese firms, is also exhibiting at the event, with the purpose of cementing its footprint on the market. The firm, that has been in existence in Zambia since 1998, expressed happiness over the response the equipment has received in the country. "The response has been overwhelming and we are here to ensure that we capture more customers," Josephat Ntolombita, the firm's sales and marketing officer said. Confucius Institute is also participating at the event as it tries to capture more local people to learn the Chinese language and culture. According to Professor Li Qingjun, the director of the institute, the growing relations between the two countries was enough reason to help the local people understand the Chinese culture and language. She said local people who were learning the Chinese language have a greater chance of working for Chinese firm as well as enable easy communication when they go to China for business. Since its launch in 2010, over 8,000 local people have registered at 18 teaching centers dotted in various parts of the country. "We hope we can capture more people and entice them to enroll and learn Chinese," she said. Other companies seen at the event included Chingases Company Limited which has been operating in Zambia since 2007 and is involved in the manufacture of gases such as oxygen, and Topstar, the Chinese firm engaged to provide digital broadcasting migration services. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 20:40:42|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- India should underestimate neither China's determination nor its capacity to defend its sovereignty and national interests. India sent troops into China in June and has maintained a military presence in the Doklam area ever since, an offence to China's sovereignty and a great risk to regional stability. Doklam is recognized by both India and the international community as part of Tibet Autonomous Region and Chinese sovereign territory. If there is any unsettled border issue between China and Bhutan then that is an issue between China and Bhutan. It has nothing to do with India. China respects Bhutan as an independent sovereign state and resents India's attempt to turn it into a de facto protectorate. As a great regional power, India has a duty to act in a more seemly manner rather than recklessly invading its neighbors -- weak or powerful as they may be -- based on childish assumptions and foolhardy speculations. The bottom line in international justice is that no country may pursue its security at the cost of another's sovereignty. Despite China's demonstrable goodwill, India has nothing but words. Its External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India would "keep engaging with China to resolve the dispute," and "patience, control on comments and diplomacy can resolve problems." The truth is that India has not only failed to withdraw its troops but continues to make eccentric demands and is not looking for a resolution. As of the end of July, more than 40 Indian border troops remained in China. India complains about China's new roads, but it too has been building roads and a large number of armed Indian personnel are massed in the area. There are not many signs that India is seeking peace. If India is sincere about peace, its troops should never have invaded China in the first place, and ought to immediately and unconditionally get back to their own side of the border. India's thinking is, at best, wishful: China will eventually back down. If the situation were not so serious, it would be laughable. China cannot "back down" because China is not in the wrong. It would be both foolish and dangerous for China to allow India to think that it can keep chipping away at Chinese national interests. The Indian side is deluded if it thinks that China is about to negotiate with an invading force while its national territorial integrity remains infringed indefinitely. To date, Chinese armed forces have shown the utmost goodwill and restraint. But restraint has limits and with every day that passes the tether shortens. India must not underestimate China. The People's Liberation Army was built to safeguard peace and to protect national sovereignty, security and development interests. China, eventually, will do whatever is required to safeguard its interests. India must dispel all illusions and avoid disastrous consequences. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 20:50:45|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close ROME, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Italy's naval mission to tackle human trafficking off Libya would be a proper path to try to solve the migrant crisis, local media quoted the UN special envoy to Libya as saying on Tuesday. "I am aware the issue has been a matter for discussion," Ghassan Salame was quoted by Ansa news agency as saying, adding "Yet, I believe cooperation and transparency between Italy and Libya is the most productive approach to reach results." The Lebanese former culture minister, who was appointed special representative of the United Nations to Libya in late June, spoke at a joint press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano in Rome. "We are on the right path concerning this issue, which poses a challenge to all of us," the diplomat said. Although the UN were trying their best to tackle the migrant and refugee crisis, Salame explained that every country had the "absolute right to control its borders," and the best way to do so was "cooperation between neighboring countries," according to La Stampa newspaper. Speaking more widely about the Libyan chaotic scenario, the UN envoy said he was willing to "communicate with Libya from all political and social spectrums to hear their views," according to the twitter of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). For his part, Italy's foreign minister stressed the key points driving Rome's policy on the war-torn North African country. The Italian minister warned against separate diplomatic efforts from the international community, saying they might in fact hamper the peace process. "It is necessary to reduce the many diplomatic formats on Libya down to one, and the United Nations must take the lead," he told reporters. "Too many negotiators and initiatives have produced no results so far. Yet, Libya's political instability is a top priority to tackle," noted the minister. It's not the first time for Alfano to voice against separated initiatives on Libya, which he believes would risk delegitimating the UN special envoy's work. He did so in late July, after French President Emmanuel Macron had held talks with two key Libyan rival leaders in Paris in an effort to help the peace process. Italy's naval mission off Libya was approved by Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's center-left cabinet on July 28, and authorized by parliament on Aug. 2. The mission would aim at providing logistical, technical, and operational support to the Libyan coast guard in the activities against illegal immigration and human trafficking. Italian navy's vessels would be operating in Libyan waters and Libyan ports following a specific request by the UN-backed government in Tripoli, according to Italian authorities. The mission was part of a wider effort by the Italian government to curb the inflow of people fleeing poverty and war from Africa and the Middle East through the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean from the Libyan shores. Italy has become a major gateway for those trying to reach Europe in latest years, especially after the shutdown of the so-called Balkan route in early 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 20:55:47|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close JUBA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The recently arrived Regional Protection Force (RPF) will help secure civilians along major highways in South Sudan in the wake of deadly killings and ambushes by armed groups, the UN mission said on Tuesday. Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) David Shearer told journalists in Juba that the already existing 12,000 UN peacekeepers will be boosted following the weekend arrival of the first Rwandan battalion of RPF peacekeepers who are expected to team up with Nepalese and Bangladeshi contingents. "Having additional troops means we can carry out more tasks related to our mandate to protect civilians and build durable peace. For example it (RPF) will enable us to put more patrols along insecure roads where there have been attacks on civilian vehicles such as Juba-Nimule road and Juba-Bor road," he said. Shearer disclosed that the arrival of these contingents marks the beginning of the first deployment of the 4,000 RPF troops with the mandate to protect among key installations, civilians in danger zones as authorized by the UN Security Council last year. "The RPF troops will be based here in Juba but will operate if necessary in the surrounding areas per the mandate authorized by the UN Security Council. It will carry out it's functions in cooperation with the government," he disclosed. The RPF commander is Rwandan Brigadier Jean Mapenzi and will report directly to Shearer and the head of the UNMISS force General Frank Kamanzi. Shearer disclosed that the arrival of the Ethiopian battalion is imminent and that more that 650 Rwandan peacekeepers will arrive next week to join the 120 Rwandan soldiers already in the country. South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy 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 Machar to flee into exile. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 21:15:58|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close RABAT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The leader of Morocco's main opposition Ilyas El Omari resigned on Tuesday amid troubles facing his party since its defeat in last year's election. In a press conference, El Omari of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), announced his resignation, saying he "assumes the political responsibility" of the party's decline, particularly after the election. "I am the one who chooses them, and I have to take full responsibility for their conduct," he said. Elected as the PAM chief in 2016, El Omari vowed to lead his party to win the parliamentary elections and invested enormous resources in the campaign, only to be beaten by the ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD). PAM said in a statement that it refuses El Omari's resignation, and called for the party to convene as soon as possible to make the final decision. But El Omari told the press his resignation is "irreversible." The announcement came a day after the PAM's leadership debated the party's performance since the elections at a long meeting. In the last few months, many elected members of the party resigned over the lack of enough resources to deliver services to their local communities. In addition, the party has registered the highest proportions of absence in parliament sessions. Media reports linked his resignation to the protest in the northeastern province of Al Hoceima, as he is the president of the regional council of the larger region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima and his party dominates the province. The resignation came more than a week after King Mohammed VI severely criticized politicians and public officers. In a speech to the nation on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of his ascension to the throne on July 29, the king criticized politicians and public officials for their low performance and the delay in the implementation of a set of social projects in Morocco's different regions, including Al Hociema. The situation in Al Hoceima has been tense since October 2016, when fish vendor Mouhcine Fikri was crushed to death after climbing into a rubbish lorry to retrieve his swordfish confiscated by police. The demand for justice for Fikri in the northeastern region has evolved into a major grassroots movement to request greater government investment to create more jobs. Morocco has not witnessed any protests of this size since the pro-democracy demonstrations during the Arab spring in 2011. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 21:16:00|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close MANILA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marked the 50th anniversary on Tuesday with its members pledging to strengthen integration and promote global engagement for future decades to come. The 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting issued a joint communique under the theme "partnering for change, engaging the world." It reaffirmed the organization's commitment to the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together, which sets out the future direction for a politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible and a truly rules-based, people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN Community. The communique lauded ongoing efforts to effectively implement the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, which aims to achieve a seamlessly and comprehensively connected and integrated ASEAN that will promote competitiveness, inclusiveness, and a greater sense of community. MORE REGIONAL PEACE For the past 50 years, ASEAN has united a region once rife with conflicts, through boosting understanding and cooperation. ASEAN has become a model of open regionalism and a consequential factor in addressing global as well as regional issues, said Michael Armacost, a fellow at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) of Stanford University, at a forum held here last week. When celebrating the golden jubilee of ASEAN, its members can take well-deserved pride in the prolonged peace it has preserved in Southeast Asia and the commitment its members have devoted to the principles of non- interference and decision-making by consensus, and then the doubling of its membership, which was accomplished without relinquishing faith in diversity or fidelity to the rule of law, he said. ASEAN, a most successful endeavor at regional multilateralism, has proven to be inclusive, tolerant, and exemplary in bringing peoples and nations together for the common goal of peace, prosperity and progress, said Han Sung-Joo, professor of Korea University and former foreign minister of South Korea. In a present era where geopolitics becomes more intricate, ASEAN needs to re-invent itself as a provider of regional leadership and exhibit leadership skill to address complex problems, said Pou Sothirak, executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace. BETTER REGIONAL GROWTH ASEAN has also contributed greatly to the vast improvement in the living standards of people in the region, and is expected to further boost regional development. ASEAN's 50th anniversary is a potential starting point for a new era of development and investment growth, said Stuart Tait, HSBC's regional head of commercial banking in Asia-Pacific. The emphasis on creating better-connected economies to help facilitate trade and investment is extremely important and it will help ASEAN maximize opportunities within the region as well as those stemming from the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which is key to achieving ambitions to double bilateral trade between China and ASEAN to 1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2020, Tait said. ASEAN can further tap its potentials in five aspects, namely common market, the Belt and Road Initiative, infrastructure construction, cooperation in production capacity and trade, and financial market integration, said Wang Chunxin, senior economist at the Bank of China (Hong Kong). ASEAN's combined GDP hit around 2.4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2016. As a single entity, it ranked the 6th largest economy in the world last year. When born on Aug. 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, it had five original member countries. By 1999, it expanded to 10 member countries. The bloc announced the establishment of the ASEAN Community on Dec. 31, 2015, a key milestone in its integration. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with a combined population of around 629 million people, or 8.8 percent of the world's total. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 21:26:09|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Germany recorded its biggest monthly drop in exports in nearly two years in June, according to figures released on Tuesday. After witnessing growth for five consecutive months, exports fell by 2.8 percent in June compared to May, according to Germany's Federal Statistical Office. The slump exceeded economists' expectations of a slight decrease and constituted the biggest fall since August 2015. Imports fell even further by 4.5 percent during the same period, the worst figure since January 2009. In total, German firms sold goods worth 107.2 billion euros (126.58 billion U.S. dollars) in June which still marked a slight increase of 0.7 percent year on year. Trade with other Eurozone countries grew by 2.7 percent, further underlining the bloc's strengthening economic recovery. Exports to countries outside the European Union such as the United States and China fell by 1.7 percent. Adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, German exports exceeded imports by 21.2 billion euros (25.03 billion U.S. dollars) - the biggest trade surplus since August 2016. Germany has been criticized internationally, including by U.S. President Donald Trump, for its large and long-lasting current account surpluses. The Washington-based International Monetary Fund has warned that the German trade balance suggests insufficient domestic investment which could harm growth in the longer term. Germany continues to boast high productivity by international standards, however, and the simultaneous fall in imports and exports in June may indicate a gradual reorientation of the economy towards domestic consumption. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 21:46:26|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and over two dozen injured Tuesday after a passenger bus carrying them fell into a canal in India's eastern state of West Bengal, police said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 21:56:29|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close LANZHOU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Li Na, 26, has been working as a painted-pottery maker for two years at a cultural center in the northwestern Chinese city of Yumen since 2015. Li had no hesitation to go back to her hometown Yumen in Gansu Province, after studying sculpture at a university in central China's Henan Province for four years. "Yumen is famous for its painted-pottery culture. I am happy to become a pottery maker in my hometown," Li said. The Huoshaogou Ruins, remains of a Bronze Age culture that flourished from about 1900 B.C. to 1500 B.C., were discovered in Yumen in 1976. Apart from a large number of bronze items, nearly 1,000 painted vessels were also unearthed at the site. "Different from others in Gansu, Huoshaogou pottery was produced with various colored decorations," said Wang Pu, curator of Yumen Museum. In 2006, China listed the Huoshaogou Ruins under national protection. Li bikes for 20 minutes each day to reach the center set up in 2014 by Yumen Art Gallery. It is the only place that officially produces hand-made painted-pottery in the city. Li said hand-making painted pottery is a very complicated process. From picking clay and modeling to firing and glaze, it often takes days to produce a small batch of pottery. "Yumen's pottery is all handmade, unlike many other places where painted pottery is produced by machine," Li said. The pottery will soon be displayed at a number of arts exhibitions, museums and souvenir shops to raise awareness of Yumen's painted pottery. However, Li would not have been able to find such a job before 2014 when Yumen authorities sped up its transform from an oil drilling town into a cultural and tourism city. Yumen was the first petroleum base in China which was put into operation as early as 1939. During the 1940s, the oil output in Yumen accounted for about 90 percent of total crude oil production nationwide. But after decades of development, many oil wells in Yumen have seen dropping output in recent years, with annual oil output reaching a record low in 1999. The city's prosperity has decreased with the depleted oil resources. In 2003, local people started to leave the old town for new residential areas or other cities for more job opportunities. The population dropped below 30,000 people, down from from the previous 100,000. House prices in Yumen were less than 500 yuan (75 U.S. dollars) per square meter in 2005, while Shanghai saw prices of 9,300 yuan. Yumen saw a new opportunity in 2013 when China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, which is poised to bring changes and create development opportunities for people and countries along the ancient trade routes. Yumen is at the west of the Hexi Corridor, a major part of the Silk Road. It is also only a few hundreds kilometers away from Dunhuang, home to the world-renowned Mogao Caves, and Yumen Guan, the entrance to the old trade route. Dating back to the second century B.C., the city has a long history and many historical sites. There are 126 important cultural sites, including the Huoshaogou Ruins, among which four are under national protection and five under provincial protection. In the past years, Yumen has allocated a total of 17 million yuan to protect and repair cultural relics, launch museum exhibitions, establish a painted pottery museum and set up cultural centers to foster infrastructure and tourism. Yumen is also planning to build an "oil culture" theme park to make use of its resources as the first petroleum base in China. "The Belt and Road Initiative will enhance exchanges among Yumen and countries on the trade route, which will attract more visitors to Yumen from home and abroad," said Gao Zhengsheng, director of Yumen Tourism Administration. "We hope Yumen can take the development opportunities created by the initiative and become a sustainable tourism city." After it rose by nearly 30 percent in May, Li's monthly salary is about 2,300 yuan and she has a positive outlook for the future. "The income is not quite enough and life is indeed hard, but everything will be better. My hometown will also become better soon," Li said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 21:56:32|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close JUBA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 328 people have died of cholera in South Sudan since June 18 last year as rainy season threatens further spread across the country, the UN migration agency said on Tuesday. Beldina Gikundi, International Organization for Migration (IOM) South Sudan Migration Health Emergency Officer said rapid responses are critical to stemming the cholera outbreak that has affected the country for over a year. "In a country with mass displacement and severe levels of food insecurity, the effect of the continued cholera outbreak on the health of vulnerable populations is acute," Gikundi said in a statement released in Juba. The IOM agency said cholera outbreak has compounded already dire humanitarian needs. Approximately four million people have been displaced by the conflict that erupted in December 2013. According to IOM, more than 18,000 cholera cases been reported in South Sudan, noting that health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) teams continue to respond to the outbreak through case management and preventive measures across the country. Disease outbreaks are particularly dangerous for displaced and vulnerable populations, such as children under five years of age, who account for more than one in five cholera cases reported in 2017. "As we saw the outbreak continue even during the dry season in 2017, we expect to see the trend persist throughout the rainy season, which leaves as much as 60 per cent of the country inaccessible by road," IOM said. "Sustained and flexible responses are crucial to stemming the continued transmission of the disease in this extremely challenging context," it said. IOM said its team has repaired 84 boreholes, distributed cholera response kits, including jerry cans, water treatment supplies and soap to more than 2,600 households, as well as conducted water quality monitoring and treatment at water points and distributed soap and household water treatment supplies during hygiene promotion sessions. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 22:01:34|Editor: Zhou Xin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) said its forces Tuesday conducted joint security operation with Somalia National Army (SNA) where they liberated Caalfodheere settlement in southern Somalia. AMISOM said the joint operation which took place about 20km outside Mahaday district in Middle Shabelle was aimed at securing the Mahaday-Ceelbaraf supply route for safe passage of civilian transport. Al-Shabaab militants were reported to have attacked a military convoy belonging to AU forces near the southern town of Mahaday on Monday. The attack began with a land mine explosion and reportedly struck AMISOM convoy, then a shootout between the militants and AU soldiers erupted outside the town. The security forces have been opening main supply routes blocked by the insurgents and creating a free and secure environment for the Somali people to thrive. Aid agencies say the poor state of main supply routes in south-central Somalia have provided conditions for Al-Shabaab to continue laying ambushes and use explosive devices against AMISOM convoys and Somali national security forces. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 22:21:55|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close MANILA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China has played "a very positive role in the (Southeast Asian) region," Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Tuesday. He said China's strong economy has fueled growth in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. "Definitely China will be a better driver for a socio-economic development in the region," Cayetano told a news conference at the end of the series of ASEAN and related foreign ministers' meetings that kicked off Saturday. At the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, the 10 ASEAN ministers commended the "growing role" of China in the region. In a joint communique, the ministers also stressed the need for more economic integration between ASEAN and China and the need to have more "high-level" dialogues and exchanges. "We acknowledged China's growing role in the region and highlighted that China's economic growth continues to benefit the region," the ministers said. At the press conference, Cayetano stressed the need to maintain stability in the region by focusing on positive development, adding that there is now relative peace in the South China Sea. Foreign ministers of China and ASEAN approved a framework of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea here on Sunday. "I can honestly say that the relationship of ASEAN and China has improved and been strengthened over this ministerial meetings," the Philippine foreign secretary said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 22:42:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DUBAI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday to continue his current mediation tour aimed at ending a standoff between Qatar and the Arab Quartet. Sheikh Sabah held a meeting with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, during which he handed the latter a letter to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan from Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The letter "is related to brotherly relations, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) process and the latest developments in the region," the state-run news agency WAM reported, without disclosing further details. Both Kuwait and the UAE are members of the GCC, which also includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. Before visiting the UAE, the Kuwaiti foreign minister already visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt on Monday, carrying a letter from the Kuwaiti emir to the Saudi king and Egyptian president respectively. Kuwait has been mediating between the Saudi-led Arab quartet, which also includes the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain, and Qatar in an attempt to end their diplomatic rift. The quartet cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a blockade on the tiny rich Gulf nation since June 5, citing its support of terrorism, interference in their internal affairs and seeking closer ties with their common rival, Iran. Qatar has strongly denied the charges, insisting that it has been fighting terrorism relentlessly. It has also rejected a list of demands put forward by the Saudi-led bloc for it to change its course, citing it will not back down on issues related to its sovereignty. No breakthrough has been achieved despite the intensified mediation efforts made not only by Kuwait, but also by the United States, European Union, as well as Turkey. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 22:52:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 25 others injured Tuesday after a passenger bus they were travelling in fell into a canal in India's eastern state of West Bengal, police said. The accident took place at Tehatta village in Nadia district, about 150 km north of Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. "Today a bus carrying passengers overturned and fell into a canal, killing eight people and injuring 25 others," a police official said. Reports said the bus was speeding and its driver lost control resulting in the accident. Soon after the accident, locals said they rushed to the spot to rescue the injured and informed police. The injured, according to police, were rushed to Shaktinagar district hospital. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:07:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BUDAPEST, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's film production is booming with direct film production spending expected to exceed 100 billion HUF (327 million euros) this year, the Hungarian National Film Fund (MNF) said here on Tuesday. And the government has decided to earmark an additional 7.7 billion HUF (25 million euros) for indirect support for the film industry in the deposit account managed by the MNF for the second quarter, MNF said in a statement published Tuesday by Hungarian news agency MTI. According to the statement, Hungarian film industry is expected to see a record sales of more than 100 billion HUF (327 million euros) this year. "In Hungary, the contribution of the film industry to GDP is exceptionally high at a European level: it reached 0.15 percent in 2014 and 0.25 percent in 2016. This year further increase is expected," according to the announcement. The Film Fund set up a deposit account system in 2013 to make the indirect support system simpler and more transparent. The National Film Office makes the payment according to the order of the National Media and Info Communications Authority (NMHH). The Film Fund does not supply the amount on the deposit account, but only acts as a manager of the deposit account. According to the MNF, Hungary is also the leader in competitiveness within the film industry. "Out of 11 countries surveyed, Hungary's film industry is the most competitive in selecting a foreign venue for shooting locations," according to the MNF. "The second place on the list was Ireland and the Czech Republic came in third. Hungary has a significant competitive advantage in the extent and efficiency of subsidies and in the development of film infrastructure," MNF added. The analysts of OrienTax, commissioned by MNF, have compared the film industry of 11 countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Ireland, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania) to assess the effectiveness and scale of the support system of the given countries. They also took into account the political environment, the average price and wage levels, the stability of the local currency and the available film infrastructure and language proficiency in the countries examined. Based on the experiences, Hungary is primarily among filmmakers when they are looking for a venue for their productions, and Ireland is also considered as a worthy competitor, because of its unique features. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:17:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army and allied fighters captured on Tuesday three villages in the southeastern countryside of Raqqa, becoming close to the last Islamic State (IS) stronghold there, a military source told Xinhua on Tuesday. With this progress, the army forces are about two km from Madan, the last IS-held town in the eastern countryside of Raqqa, the source said on condition of anonymity. The Syrian troops have already captured the western and southern countryside of Raqqa. Capturing Ma'dan will put the Syrian forces on the western administrative borders of the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor, the capital city of which is besieged by IS. The Syrian army is also advancing in the desert in central Syria, particularly after capturing the Sukhneh city in the eastern countryside of Homs, which is also adjacent to the administrative borders of Deir ez-Zor. The wide-scale military offensive in the Syrian desert and the countryside of Raqqa is to break the IS siege and end its presence in Deir ez-Zor. Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are also advancing inside Raqqa, and have taken control of 55 percent of the city following a two-month battle with IS. These battles aim to eliminate the IS in the key cities in Syria, as part of a Russian-U.S. understanding, which allows the Kurdish-led SDF to capture Raqqa city, and the Syrian army to retake Deir ez-Zor. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:17:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GENEVA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN humanitarian coordinator for Iraq on Tuesday said the country remains one of the largest humanitarian and most volatile operations, with ongoing preparations for more evacuations in a final push again the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. Lisa Grande told journalists here that while Syria remains the biggest humanitarian operation, "more people have been displaced in Iraq, at a faster pace than in any other place in the world." Humanitarian groups are preparing to deal with hundreds of thousands of people likely to be displaced in expected military operations in Tal Afar near Mosul in a final push against the IS. "Although the fighting is over in Mosul, the humanitarian crisis is not," said Grande referring to the hard slog to regain Iraq's second largest city from the IS that was finally routed at the beginning of July. From the time that IS, or ISIL as it is sometimes known, rose up in 2014, 5.3 million people have been displaced inside Iraq. It took nine months of continuous fighting to take back the city of Mosul. There had been 1.7 million civilians in the city, but the evacuation that took place during the fighting was the "largest managed evacuation in modern history with 955,000 people evacuated from the city," said Grande. Grande noted that normally in an urban battle displacement of people is "chaotic." People were evacuated from Mosul to prevent greater civilian casualties. A total of 3.3 million people in Iraq are currently displaced, including the population of Mosul, most of whom still have not returned to their city. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:22:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Work to track down eggs with traces of the insecticide Fipronil and supplied by a poultry farm in the Netherlands is now over, Swedish public television news broadcaster SVT reported Tuesday. The last shipment of 5,500 eggs, delivered last week to a wholesaler in Gothenburg, has been stopped. "We're done with our work. That's all we can do to track down and stop the eggs," Bernadette Weber, head of the environmental administration in Gothenburg, told SVT. Eggs in a delivery of the same size a week earlier were distributed to restaurants in Sweden and have been destroyed or eaten. "In the past two weeks about 11,000 eggs were delivered. About half were stopped. The shipment received a week before that was distributed primarily to restaurants in the Gothenburg area," Weber said. According to the National Food Agency, the wholesaler in Gothenburg appears to be the only one in Sweden to receive shipments of the tainted Dutch eggs. The food agency has said that those who have eaten the tainted eggs need not worry. "According to our calculations, which are based on Fipronil levels measured and Swedish eating habits, the eggs that have been consumed do not pose a health risk to the adults or the children who ate them," Petra Fohgelberg, an inspector with the Swedish National Food Agency, said in a press release. The wholesaler in Gothenburg will continue to work with the Dutch company, which is now supplying other more carefully monitored eggs. Millions of contaminated eggs were withdrawn from the market last week in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, after it was discovered that the eggs had traces of Fipronil. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:27:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ABUJA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Terror group Boko Haram wreaked havoc in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, killing at least 31 fishermen in two separate attacks, local officials confirmed on Tuesday. The attacks on Baga, a fishing community in violence-torn Borno State, was carried out between last Saturday and Sunday, Kashim Shettima, governor of the state said. According to the official, the recent development showed that the Boko Haram group was still unleashing terror, killing and maiming people in Nigeria's northeast region, and within the Lake Chad Basin. Fourteen persons were killed in the first attack on Saturday while some 17 others were killed in the second attack on Sunday, another official said. Shettima told reporters that even in his own capacity as the state governor, he only got the information about the attacks early Tuesday. This, according to him, explains why the military and other security agencies were yet to comment on the report. He described the attacks as "inhuman," regretting that the acts continued in the Lake Chad Basin despite the joint military efforts of the countries in that sub-region. The latest Boko Haram attacks came almost four weeks after the military had lifted the ban on fishing activities in Baga. The Nigerian military had earlier placed a ban on fishing in the area, due to allegations that Boko Haram was using proceeds from fishing to fund its armed campaign. Thousands of local fishermen who earned their living in the area had just returned there to continue their activities. Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 and displaced 2.3 million people in its attacks since 2009. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:38:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Li Laifang, Chen Lei, Zhang Yunlong and Urhan HOHHOT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Former middle school teacher and principal, Enktobxin, an ethnic Mongolian, is Chinese Communist Party chief of Damao Banner in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Born into a family of herdsmen, Enktobxin, 50, grew up under the Party's ethnic policies and has made a success of his studies and his career. "My Mongolian name means peace. I have grown up in a peaceful environment," he said. This year is the 70th anniversary of the region, China's first with a system of regional ethnic autonomy, conceived to foster equality, solidarity and prosperity among all ethnic groups. Enktobxin spoke only Mongolian at school. He learned Mandarin at college and now speaks it fluently. He obtained a master's degree in ecology from Inner Mongolia Agricultural University and a doctorate from Minzu University of China in Beijing. Leaders of autonomous regions, prefectures and counties must be members of the relevant minority group and the governments must have a proper number of personnel from minorities. In Damao Banner, 35 percent of Party and government officials come from minorities, according to Enktobxin. Ethnic minority officials currently make up about 33 percent of the regional total. "These officials maintain ethnic solidarity, social stability and ensure economic growth," said Hao Shiyuan, member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. COMMON PROSPERITY AND OPENING UP Inner Mongolia's first high-speed railway -- from regional capital Hohhot to Ulanqab -- opened on Aug. 3. A link between Baotou City and Damao Banner's border port with Mongolia will open soon, a new route for China-European cargo trains, which already pass through two other border ports in the region. In Xiramuren, Damao Banner, 80 percent of 2,200 former herders now live off tourism. Grazing has been banned since 2008 to restore grassland ruined by overgrazing and drought in the 1990s. Only 80 km from Hohhot, the prairie has been a tourist spot for decades.A Tibetan Buddhist is one of the main attractions. Li Zhanfeng, 44, an ethnic Han, and his wife earn more than 100,000 yuan (15,000 U.S. dollars) a year renting 40 yurts to tourists. "We get along well with local Mongolians. They take people horse-riding and bring them here for meals," said Li. To make more money, locals can set up commercial yurts near their homes as long as the grassland is not damaged. Dolingar, deputy head of the township, said 1.2 million tourists visited last year and many local people have bought apartments in Hohhot where they spend winter and spring. In Wutugou village near Ordos City, ex-farmers set up a haulage company with more than 50 trucks mainly transporting coal. This brought jobs to over 40 families. There were 6 million poor people living in agricultural and pasturing areas of the region in the early 1980s. Now the number is just over half a million. The average disposable income increased from 131 yuan in 1978 to 11,609 yuan last year. REVIVING TRADITIONS Mongolian culture is thriving. Narentongalag, in her 70s, makes Mongolian robes. She is busier than ever as young people who see money to be made, come to her to learn the craft. Traditional robes were listed as intangible cultural heritage in 2014. It is now fashionable to wear traditional robes with modern elements on occasions such as Nadam fairs, weddings and festivals. "In the 1980s, Mongolian tailors were hard to find. Few young girls or wives learned," Narentongalag said. She told Xinhua that one robe can sell for 10,000 yuan. The Manhan minor, a fusion of Han and Mongolian folk music in Jungar Banner,is becoming popular. The music dates back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and has also been declared national intangible heritage. "Ethnic solidarity means an exchange of cultures between ethnic groups," said Liu Haiping, head of the Manhan minor research institute in Jungar which started out with only 20 members but now has over 100. Ethnic education is receiving more financial support. Governments must hire no less than 15 percent of their staff from Mongolian language colleges. "It is a good way to protect our culture," said Muren, "so long as the governments follow the rules." Regulations protecting the prairie, Mongolian language and medicine are the backbone ethnic autonomy. Today, Mongolian parents want to see their children taught in their own language. "We cannot lose our mother tongue," said Baojie, 47, a mother in Ordos. "We want our children to speak Mongolian, Mandarin and English." Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:43:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and the African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Tuesday announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Leonard Muriuki Ngondi of Kenya as Force Commander for the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). He succeeds Lieutenant General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi of Rwanda to whom the UN Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the AU Commission are grateful for his dedication and effective leadership as head of UNAMID military component, according to an AU statement. Currently the Commandant of the National Defence College, a position he has held since 2016, Lieutenant General Ngondi has had a distinguished career with the Kenyan Defence Forces, spanning over 39 years, including as Commander Kenya Army (2015-2016), General Officer Commanding Western Command and General Officer Commanding Eastern Command, Chief Instructor Defence Staff College, Brigade Commander and Commandant School of Infantry. Lieutenant General Ngondi has also served as Force Commander in the UN Mission in Liberia (2012) and Commanding Officer, Kenyan battalion (KENBATT) in the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (2000). He was also deployed as part of the Kenyan contingent in the UN Transition Assistance Group in Namibia (1990). Ngondi is a graduate of the Kenyan National Defence College and Defence Staff College, and he holds a Bachelor's degree in Human and Social Studies from the University of South Africa and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in International Studies from University of Nairobi. Born in 1959, he is married with three children, according to the statement. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:53:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LUSAKA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Zambian court on Tuesday acquitted a former minister and four others against charges of aggravated robbery in relation to last year's disputed general elections. The accused were found with no case to answer in a matter they were facing of having stolen materials related to last year's disputed general elections. Obvious Mwaliteta, who was Lusaka Province Minister in President Edgar Lungu's government but resigned and joined the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) in the run-up to the elections, and his co-accused were arrested after the elections and charged with aggravated robbery in relation to the stealing of election materials. The former minister, who has spent one year in prison because aggravated robbery was not bailable, was accused of having stolen the election materials using force. High Judge Mwape Bowa set free the former minister and his co-accused due to failure by the prosecution to prove the case against them. The judged ruled that there was no evidence linking the accused to the commissioning of the offense because no weapons or materials were found on them to prove that they took part in the offense. The judge further ruled that there was nothing unusual about the former minister's presence at the offices of the electoral body when the incident happened because he was a political player and that the country was still awaiting the announcement of the presidential election. The opposition party has since welcomed the court's decision to acquit the former minister and his co-accused. Geoffrey Mwamba, the party's vice-president said the party has been vindicated in its calls that the arrest of party members was nothing but political. "Justice has prevailed, I am sure even all the other cases, they will fall in a similar manner because we know that we are innocent," he told reporters at the court premises. A number of supporters of the main opposition party are currently in various courts facing various charges related to the disputed elections. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 23:58:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Egypt received on Tuesday a second of four Type-209/1400 submarines from Germany at a ceremony in the German city of Kiel, Egypt's military spokesman said. Commander of the Egyptian Navy Ahmed Khalid raised the national flag aboard the submarine constructed by German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, the spokesman said in a press statement. The up-to-date marine, which will arrive in Egypt within days, is an addition to Egypt's military capabilities, the spokesman added. The submarine has a range of 11,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 21.5 knots. It is equipped to launch missiles and torpedoes. The first Type-209/1400 submarine joined the Egyptian naval forces in April. In recent years, the most populous Arab country signed influential multibillion-dollar arms deals with a number of European countries to boost its military capabilities amid regional turmoil and conflicts, especially in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 00:13:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor Guo Shengkun(R), also Minister of Public Security, meets with Panama Minister of Public Security Alexis Bethancourt in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Panama said Tuesday the two sides will strengthen cooperation on law enforcement to benefit the peoples of the two countries. Chinese State Councilor Guo Shengkun and Panama Minister of Public Security Alexis Bethancourt expressed their willingness of cooperation during their meeting on Tuesday. Guo, who is also minister of public security, said that China is willing to cooperate with Panama to facilitate people-to-people exchange, crack down on illegal immigration, protect the legal rights and interests of their respective citizens in each other's country, and cooperate in hunting down fugitives. Bethancourt said Panama will adhere to the one China policy and strengthen cooperation on entry and exit management and cracking down on transnational crimes. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 00:23:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian army killed on Tuesday five militants in Egypt's North Sinai province, military spokesman said. The militants were killed in a military raid that targeted an underground hideout of extremist elements, military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay said in a statement. The army forces also arrested three terrorists from a truck in Sinai, he added. Bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip, Egypt's North Sinai province has been the center of anti-government terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military removal of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. The army removed Morsi in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. Since then, most of the terrorist operations were claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State militant group. The Egyptian military in cooperation with the police killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects as part of the country's anti-terror war declared in 2013 by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's removal. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 00:38:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MADRID, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A joint operation between Spanish National Police, Civil Guards and police from the Republic of Estonia has led to the breakup of a drug trafficking ring known as Kemerovo, the Spanish Interior Ministry said Tuesday. The joint police operation saw a total of four arrests made simultaneously. Three were arrested in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, while the gang leader Vyacheslav Gulevich was detained in the Spanish town of Mijas, to Malaga on the south coast. The Spanish Interior Ministry informs that Estonian authorities had been investigating the organization for around two years. The gang is accused of various criminal activities such as drug trafficking. The search of Gulevich's property turned up documents, cash and information on computers, as well as an axe and a "large knife" which was found under Gulevich's pillow. The Interior Ministry said a gang member belonging to a rival group of Kemerovo was detained in Reus, in north-east Spain in June. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 00:38:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's Sinohydro Bureau 14 Co., Ltd participating in construction of the China-Laos railway has been praised for their efforts to improve local villagers' life in Laos. Access to safe drinking water is still not available to every Laotian. In the past, local residents at a village in Vangvieng District in Vientiane Province, some 70 km north of the Lao capital Vientiane, had to drink water with exceeded microbial and turbidity. In order to bring safe water to local villagers, the Sinohydro Bureau 14, which is building a section of China-Laos railway running by the village, planned and built a drinking water system for the village in early August. The project benefited 245 families in the village, providing drinking water to 1,225 local residents as well as school teachers and students. While expressing his gratitude, deputy head of Vangvieng District Bounchanh hoped that the two countries will strengthen cooperation and exchanges to fulfill the "railway dream." "We have established good friendship, mutual trust and mutual support. We believe that with our joint efforts, we will be able to well build the China-Laos railway," project leader of Sinohydro Bureau 14 Xu Youliang said. The China-Laos railway has a total length of 414.332 kilometers with over 62.7 percent of bridges and tunnels, linking Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos and capital Vientiane. Operating speed on the route is designed at 160 km per hour. Construction of the project, which started in December, 2016, is scheduled for five years. China-Laos railway is the first overseas route connecting with the railway system in China, using Chinese technology, equipment and investment. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 00:48:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BANGKOK, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson agreed on Tuesday to enhance bilateral cooperation on security and economy. Tillerson, the highest level U.S. official visiting Thailand since 2014, met with Prayut and his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai. The two countries agreed to have more cooperation on military, security, counter-terrorism and extremism and also trade and investment. Tillerson arrived here Tuesday after attending a series of ASEAN and related foreign ministers' meetings in the Philippines. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 00:48:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MADRID, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Spanish National Police on Tuesday confirmed that they have arrested a 48-year-old man who was carrying 482 kilograms of cocaine in the van he was driving. The man was arrested in the town of Xirvella in the region of Valencia in the east of Spain after failing to stop at a police checkpoint at around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The driver apparently accelerated through the checkpoint situated in one of Xirvella's main squares, forcing officers to take evasive action. The police immediately gave pursuit with the van, which was stopped after a three-kilometer chase. Upon stop, the police discovered the 482 kilos of cocaine, which had been hidden in 22 different bags, some of which were described as "wet and covered in sand". The police inform the drug had been divided into rectangular packets, wrapped in plastic and weighing a kilo apiece, adding that the cocaine is of "exceptional purity", with a street value of around 15 million euros (17.6 million U.S. dollars). They also explain the detainee was carrying 1,000 euros in cash, which is thought to have been his payment for acting as a courier and that he had previous convictions for similar offences. The driver was arrested on charges of endangering public health and is now in police custody, while the investigation continues with authorities not ruling out further arrests. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 01:04:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DHAKA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hilsa, Bangladesh's national fish popular for its tasty flesh, is set to be registered as the country's second Geographical Indication (GI) product as per guidelines of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). As no complaint was made following a gazette notification of the Bangladeshi government published in June, there is now no hurdle to register Hilsa as a product of Bangladesh, a Bangladeshi Industries Ministry official told Xinhua Tuesday. "No parties from abroad raised any objection against the Bangladeshi government's move. We were initially worried whether India and Myanmar raise any objection against our move," said the Industries Ministry official who declined to be named. He said the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks under the Industries Ministry later this month will hand over the GI certificate to the Department of Fisheries. According to the WIPO, GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In the recent years, though hilsa production decreases in other countries, it is on the rise in Bangladesh following the government efforts. Bangladesh has three kinds of Hilsa -- Tenualosa Hilsha, Chandana Ilish and Gurta Ilish. The most famous species is Tenualosa, known as Padma Illish which is the tastiest and the richest in fat and flavor among all types of Hilsas. The Illish is widely found in the territory of the country from the Bay of Bengal to major rivers. Hilsa fish is also found in India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Oman and Bahrain, but about 75 percent of the fish is caught in Bangladesh, some 15 percent in Myanmar and 5 percent in India and 5 percent in other countries. According to the fisheries department, Hilsa accounts for about 12 percent of the country's annual fish production and about 450,000 fishermen depend on Hilsa, which usually grows to a weight of 4 kg. The country's Hilsa output rose to more than 400,000 tonnes in 2015-16 (July 2015-June 2016) from about 385,000 tonnes in 2014-15 financial year (July 2014-2015). Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 01:04:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The establishment of Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL) Co., Ltd and a ceremony of work transfer were held Tuesday in the Lao capital Vientiane, completing the acquisition and transfer of China's Comba Telecom. The Lao government in August 2016 signed a joint venture agreement with Jiafu Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comba Telecom. Following bilateral agreement, as many as 51 percent stake of ETL was sold to Jiafu Holdings, and the ETL Public Co., Ltd was renamed as ETL Co., Ltd. Lao Minister of Post and Telecommunications Thansamay Kommasith said at the ceremony that it is a major event in the history of Laos' telecom, fully illustrating the determination of the Lao government in reforming ETL public company, which is of great significance in promoting the development of Lao telecommunications. Representatives of ETL Co., Ltd and Comba Telecom, for their parts, said the newly formed ETL Co., Ltd. is the first China-Laos joint venture telecom operator, with full telecommunications network qualification and national coverage of the mobile network, while the transmission network infrastructure has advantages and good foundation for further development. The Comba Telecom is confident of investing in ETL project and will provide users with better service and experience, and achieve economic and social benefits for the sake of Lao people. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 01:09:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ABUJA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese national abducted in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kaduna on Monday has been rescued by security operatives, less than 24 hours after he was held by gunmen, local police said on Tuesday. The Chinese is an engineering worker of Chinese construction firm CGCOC Group with the surname Zhang. Confirming his rescue, Yakubu Sabo, a police spokesman in Kaduna, said one of the suspected abductors had been arrested and already identified as Paul Ochalla. CGCOC also confirmed the incident to Xinhua on Tuesday. The company said it had trained staff to deal with robbery as precaution. Zhang was on his way to a site, together with a local driver, when the gunmen abducted him in Zaria, a major city in Kaduna State, according to police. A preliminary investigation by local police had revealed that the suspected kidnapper once worked on the site where the Chinese worker headed to before his abduction. The police said the suspect was dismissed last year from the site due to "his dubious acts." Further investigation into the kidnap was underway, the police added. Abduction, usually for ransom, is not uncommon in Nigeria. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 01:19:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close OTTAWA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The second annual China-Canada Foreign Ministers Dialogue is to open in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, according to the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa Tuesday. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday that she will co-chair the dialogue with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to explore ways to further consolidate Canada-China ties. "Canada will continue to work with China to deepen and broaden our relationship," said the Canadian minister in a statement before heading to Beijing. Chinese Ambassador to Canada Lu Shaye said China and Canada have maintained close high-level exchanges, and the mutual understanding and trust have constantly increased since Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exchanged visits last year, forging a new "Golden Era" for the bilateral relations. Before it, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Trudeau several times on the margin of international conferences. Canadian Governor General David Johnston just concluded his visit to China last month, and both sides reached important consensus on many fields, including economic and trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, etc. According to the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canada's bilateral trade with China reached a value of 85 billion Canadian dollars (64 billion U.S. dollar) in 2016, and Canada's two-way foreign direct investment with China stood at almost 34.7 billion Canadian dollars (27 billion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2016. China is Canada's fastest-growing tourist market and the biggest source of overseas students. The average annual growth rate of Chinese tourists to Canada has remained around 20 percent, and more than 620,000 Chinese tourists visited Canada last year. Chinese students are the largest group of international students on Canadian campus, totaling about 180,000 this year. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 01:24:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A tourist bus crashed into a tree in the city center of Helsinki on Tuesday, local media reported. Esa Pennanen, commissioner at the Helsinki Police Department, told media that the bus lost control after the driver had got sick. In addition to the driver, there were 41 tourists in the bus. According to Pennanen, the driver was seriously wounded and sent to hospital. The rescue service informed that 16 passengers were slightly injured. Finnish Transport Agency said the traffic in downtown Helsinki was congested due to the accident. There was no immediate information about the nationality of the passengers on board. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 01:34:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan South African President Jacob Zuma (C, Front) addresses supporters of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) after he survived a no confidence motion in Cape Town, South Africa, on Aug. 8, 2017. South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday survived a no confidence motion by secret ballot. Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete announced that 198 Members of Parliament voted against the motion, while 177 voted in favor and nine abstained. (Xinhua/Jaco Marais) CAPE TOWN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday survived a no confidence motion by secret ballot. Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete announced that 198 MPs voted against the motion, while 177 voted in favor and nine abstained. MPs of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) burst into applause when the result was announced. Opposition MPs walked out of the chamber, looking crestfallen. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane vowed to continue the struggle to remove Zuma from office. Hundreds of anti-Zuma protesters who gathered outside Parliament, anxiously waiting for the result, expressed disappointment over the outcome. However, crowds of ANC supporters waiting outside Parliament were jubilant when hearing the news. "This was a victory not only for Zuma but also for the ANC and the country," Swowan Laura, a middle school teacher, told Xinhua. Zuma has survived eight no confidence motion in the past seven years. But this was the first time that a no confidence motion was conducted through secret ballot. Opposition parties had been pushing for a secret ballot so as to encourage ANC MPs to support the motion. After Mbete gave the green light to the secret ballot on Monday, the ANC said it has full confidence in the loyalty of the ANC MPs when voting in the no confidence motion. "We do not nor have we ever doubted their loyalty and discipline in relation to the decisions of the movement," the ANC said. The result of Tuesday's voting once again showed the unity of the ANC and the loyalty of ANC MPs to the organization, an ANC MP said on condition of anonymity. He said that by defeating the motion, South Africa has avoided anarchy. Under the Constitution, if Zuma was removed, the whole cabinet would resign, and if no candidate was chosen from MPs within 30 days to succeed Zuma, general elections would be held in 90 days. The ANC has warned that any of its MPs who support the anti-Zuma no confidence motion risk being disciplined by the party, insisting that removing Zuma from office would not be in the best interest of the country. After the vote, the ANC congratulated the Parliament for its robust engagement in the National Assembly that resulted in the "resounding defeat" of the motion of no confidence in Zuma and the cabinet. The ANC regards it as paramount that not just the elected representatives, but all South Africans are able to engage on the most critical issues facing the country without fear of favor, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said. "The biggest victor of today's event is our constitutional dispensation. It once again reaffirms the ANC's position as the leader of society in that the country's MP's are able to exercise this critical constitutional provision aimed at safeguarding our democracy," said Kodwa. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani speaks to officals after his swearing in ceremony in Tehran, on August 5, 2017. Rouhani warned the US against tearing up the nuclear deal as he was inaugurated for a second term, but he also faces challenges closer to home amid accusations he is rolling over to conservatives. (AFP PHOTO) TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- If the United States violates the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, it will be the "loser" as Iran will keep all options on the table, Iran's nuclear chief warned on Tuesday. "The U.S. will be the loser if it goes against the JCPOA," Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), was quoted by the state-run news agency IRNA as saying. JCPOA is short for the Iranian-U.S. nuclear deal formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was signed last year by the two countries after years of tough negotiations on the controversial Iranian nuclear program. The deal was signed under the auspices of other world powers, including Britain, China, France and Russia, which are permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany. Under the deal, the U.S. eased economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for its commitment to peaceful use of nuclear energy. Tehran will reciprocally respond to Washington's violations of the international deal, Salehi warned in an interview with the Lebanese TV news channel Al Mayadeen. Washington has to bear responsibility for its actions that violate the nuclear deal, because the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified Iran's peaceful nuclear program by releasing seven reports to confirm Tehran's commitment, Salehi added. The U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump recently imposed new sanctions on Iran, which were slammed by Tehran as a violation of the nuclear deal. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 02:09:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks at the grand gathering to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) HOHHOT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Tuesday lauded the achievements of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China and expressed his hope that improving ethnic autonomy would bring better life for people in the region. Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a gathering to celebrate the region's 70th anniversary, while leading a 63-person delegation of the central authorities. Yu reiterated the importance of adherence to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) -- the solid core to unite and lead people from all ethnic groups -- and firmly sticking to socialism with Chinese characteristics. Over the past 70 years, especially since the reform and opening up in the late 1970s, the region expanded its GDP to 1.86 trillion yuan (277.6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2016, 642 times of that in 1947, and per capita GDP reached 74,000 yuan, 145 times of that in 1947, Yu said. A basic transport network has been set up and incomes have improved, with more than 60 percent permanent residents living in cities, Yu said. Yu called for releasing and developing social productivity; combining support from central authorities and economically developed provinces with the region's self-struggle; integrating improvement of living standards with ecological protection; holding the interests of the country and the Chinese nation above all; and resolutely safeguarding ethnic unity, the border and national reunification. Yu asked local officials to make efforts to ensure that the region build a moderately prosperous society in 2020, striving to solve problems which people care the most and making people from all ethnic groups feel a sense of gain and happiness. At the gathering, Vice Premier Liu Yandong read a congratulatory message by the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the CPPCC National Committee and the Central Military Commission.0 The letter said that Inner Mongolia has been led by the CPC in combining the basic principles of Marxism with the realities of the Chinese nation, and has kept the glory of "exemplary autonomous region." Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has paid more attention to and made strategic plans for the development of Inner Mongolia. In 2014, Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, put forward a set of ideas on the long-term development of the region during his inspection tour in Inner Mongolia. On Monday, Yu presented a plaque with an inscription by Xi, which reads "building a beautiful Inner Mongolia, achieving the great Chinese dream" in both Chinese and Mongolian. Tsetsenbat, a herder from Ar Horqin Banner of Chifeng City, said that he felt great changes in his hometown: his kids were in school, the seniors were covered by social insurance, roads had improved, and they had good drinking water and Internet connection. "We will keep in mind Xi's instructions to build a beautiful northern border, cherish the good situation of ethnic unity, and strive to build a better Inner Mongolia," he said. Ren Yunguo, a local ethnic affairs official, said that before the founding of Inner Mongolia, people lived under impoverished conditions and many herders were bankrupt. With efforts of poverty relief, the region will succeed in building a moderately prosperous society in 2020 at the same pace with the country, Ren said. According to the region's statistics authority, in 2016, Inner Mongolia's per capita GDP reached 74,069 yuan, up 6.9 percent year on year. The annual per capita disposable income in the region reached 24,127 yuan, up 6.8 percent year on year. Last year, Inner Mongolia ranked ninth in the country in terms of urban residents' per capita disposable income, which rose by 6.5 percent to reach 32,975 yuan, and 19th place in terms of rural disposable income, which rose at the same rate to reach 11,609 yuan. Yan Qing, professor with Minzu University of China, said that until today, regional autonomy is the only correct way for the stability and prosperity in ethnic minority regions. Wang Xien, researcher with the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Inner Mongolia has adhered to the principle of equity, unity and mutual help during 70 years of implementing regional autonomy for ethnic groups. "It has paid high attention to guaranteeing people of all ethnic groups to share equal rights and special legitimate rights of ethnic minority groups by eliminating narrow nationalism," Wang added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 02:34:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LAGOS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari had not violated any law by not returning from medical vacation after 90 days, the country's Senate said Tuesday. Spokesperson for the Senate, Aliyu Abdullahi, who made this known in statement reaching Xinhua in Abuja, the country's capital said Buhari had complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that he must hand over to the Vice President and duly inform the two chambers of the legislature about his medical vacation. Abdullahi was reacting to protests by a coalition of civil society organizations, demanding the resignation of the president over his long medical vacation in London. He urged the protesters to stop heating up the polity, saying that it was creating unnecessary tension in the country. The spokesperson said the protest was an attempt to divert the attention of the Presidency from the economic and security issues, which were already being tackled. "We, in the National Assembly, are satisfied that there is no vacuum. The Federal Government is working," he added, noting that acting President Yemi Osinbajo is providing the required leadership. "We in the Senate are happy about the report by the governors and party leaders, who recently visited President Buhari in London and we know he will soon return to continue to provide leadership to our people and the rest of Africa," he added. The president left Abuja, Nigeria's capital city for London on May 7 for follow-up on his medical checks. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 02:34:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran dismissed as "bizarre" the allegations by a Saudi diplomat in Kabul about Tehran's alleged links to Taliban militants and armed groups inside Afghanistan, Press TV reported on Tuesday. Iranian embassy in Kabul said the allegations by Mishari al-Harbi, the Saudi charge d'affaires in Kabul, are "baseless and groundless," according to its statement. The remarks by the Saudi official were also described as "unprofessional and divisive." The Islamic republic reiterates in the statement its principal policy in supporting Afghanistan's peace and stability, and said it still believes that the war-ravaged country should turn into a place for constructive interaction among states. The Saudi diplomat had recently accused Iran of supporting the Taliban militants in Afghanistan. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 02:39:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LUSAKA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Newly-appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Zambia has officially assumed her duties, the agency said on Tuesday. Pierrine Aylara has assumed her duties after presenting her letters of credence to Zambia authorities last Friday. "I am very excited to work in this great country, Zambia, with a rich history of hosting refugees and focusing on solutions for them," she said, according to a statement. The new UNHCR representative, a Benin-Swiss national, presented her letters of credence to Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chalwe Lombe. She takes over from Laura Lo Castro who completed her assignment at the end of June 2017. During her stewardship of UNHCR in Zambia, she will be fulfilling the agency's mandate of protecting and finding durable solutions for refugees as well as fostering a sustained and effective working relationship with stakeholders. On his part, Lombe said the government remained committed to the ideals of an open-door policy to refugees, and pursuit of peace and durable solutions for displaced person whom the country has hosted over the years. The new UNHCR representative has served in various field locations and at the agency's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. She has also held several stints at senior level within UNHCR in Mozambique and Angola as representative. Zambia currently hosts some 58,000 refuges and others of concern, mostly from Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Uganda. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 03:00:05|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to rapidly organize relief work and rescue the injured people after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan Province. At least five people were killed and over 70 were injured after the earthquake jolted Jiuzhaigou County in Sichuan at 9:19 p.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. Authorities should check the impact of the earthquake, evacuate and settle visitors and local people, and reduce death and injuries as much as possible, Xi said. As the earthquake took place during the flood period and tourism season, authorities should enhance meteorological early warning and geological monitoring to guard against other disasters and try their best to protect people's lives and property, Xi added. Premier Li Keqiang also urged local authorities to go all out in relief and monitoring work. China's cabinet, the State Council, has sent a national work team to the disaster-hit area to guide relief work. Local governments have activated top-level emergency response procedures. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 03:05:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LAGOS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday unveiled five new Mushshak aircraft to combat the deadly activities of the Boko Haram sect, following the renewed offensives by the insurgents. The acquisition of the trainer jets was timely to deal decisively with Boko Haram sect, the country's Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, said at a brief event in northern Kaduna. "On corruption in the system and Boko Haram, we have re-strategized and all these attacks you see are just sign of weakness and we have been doing a lot to see that all these ambushes come to an end," he added. Earlier, the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar said the relocation of service Chiefs to northeast city of Maiduguri has improved the intelligence gathering and final clean up of insurgents in that part of the country. He said NAF aircraft were roving the air for minimum of nine hours daily to ensure security of lives and property as well as protection of air asset at their Maiduguri base. He added that the NAF has no fewer than 10 training aircraft now and were expecting additional five by December this year. "The Super Mushshak is not only for the training. It can be used to fight crime because it has compartment where ammunition can be kept and applied. It can also be used for intelligence surveillance, ambulance among others," he told the gathering. Enditem Iranians hold images of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adorned with islamist-inspired bears during a rally marking al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day in Tehran on June 23, 2017. (AFP photo) TEHRAN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday that seeking de-escalation of tensions with the United States is among Iran's foreign policy priorities. The top Iranian diplomat made the remarks in a meeting with members of the Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported. "De-escalation of tensions and tension management with the U.S. are among the Foreign Ministry's priorities," Zarif said while elaborating on the his ministry's programs for the second term in office of President Hassan Rouhani. "We want peace among countries and we do not want tension," Zarif said. He made the remarks after the U.S. administration led by President donald Trump imposed new sanctions on Iran, which Tehran slammed as a violation of the Iranian-U.S. nuclear agreement. Talking about the nuclear deal, under which the U.S. had eased economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for its commitment to peaceful use of nuclear energy, Zarif said that the U.S. cannot prevent Iran from benefiting from the agreement. The Iranian-U.S. nuclear agreement, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in July last year after years of tough negotiations on the controversial Iranian nuclear program. Zarif said that the Iranian Foreign Ministry is committed to defend Iran interests enshrined in the nuclear deal, adding that the U.S. itself will pay the costs of its potential termination. The minister also said that the big number of foreign delegations attending Rouhani's inauguration ceremony on Saturday means that the policy of isolating Iran has failed and the Iranophobia plot has been foiled. Combo photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 28, 2017 shows the test-firing of a new type of anti-aircraft guided weapon system. (Xinhua/KCNA) WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The conclusion was made in a confidential assessment completed last month by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the newspaper said, citing anonymous U.S. intelligence officials. "The IC (intelligence community) assesses North Korea (DPRK) has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, to include delivery by ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile)-class missiles," the assessment states, in an excerpt read to The Post. The assessment's broad conclusions were verified by two U.S. officials familiar with the document, said the Post, adding that the development signals that the DPRK has crossed "a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power." The Japanese Defense Ministry has also warned that the threat posed by the DPRK nuclear weapons program has entered "a new stage." "It is possible that North Korea (DPRK) has already achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads," the ministry said in a report released on Tuesday, according to NBC news. On Saturday, United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution that aims to slash by a third the DPRK's 3 billion U.S. dollars annual export revenue over Pyongyang's two ICBM tests in July. The resolution would ban DRPK's exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It would also prohibit countries from increasing the current numbers of DPRK's laborers working abroad, ban new joint ventures with DPRK and any new investment in current joint ventures. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 03:50:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned Tuesday of the rising trend recently of air strikes targeting civilians in Yemen, urging for an end to such practices. The ICRC said it was extremely alarmed about recent air strikes that had killed and injured dozens of civilians in the Saada and Taiz governorates in Yemen. In the latest air strike, nine members of one family were killed and three critically injured. The casualties were between three and 80 years old. "Our colleagues have been to the village of Mahda, on the outskirts of Saada city, where they saw a house literally flattened by the explosion, while a crater showed where the impact had occurred," said Alexandre Faite, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen. "We strongly deplore the trend whereby public places, such as markets, as well as private houses, have been targeted by the belligerents. This is a pattern that runs counter to the basic tenets of the law of armed conflict, and it must be stopped." According to international humanitarian law, civilians must not be attacked and warring parties must do everything feasible to verify that targets are military objectives. Earlier on Monday, a top UN official in Yemen said a total of 201 children had been killed in the Yemeni ongoing civil war since the beginning of 2017. According to UN agencies, more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed during more than two years of war in Yemen that has displaced over three million people. In March 2017, UNICEF put the death toll of children from the war at 1,546. The country has also been hit by a deadly cholera outbreak and is on the brink of famine. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 04:00:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Tuesday that his country is proud of constructive cooperation relations with Cyprus. In a phone call with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Sisi highlighted the importance of promoting "distinguished relations" between the two countries in all fields, official MENA news agency reported. The Egyptian president also expressed his appreciation for Cyprus' supportive stances on Egypt's efforts to establish the pillars of security and stability in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Anastasiades also hailed the relations between Cairo and Nicosia, noting that his country is keen to promote such relations. They also discussed ways to strengthen the tripartite cooperation mechanism between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, the report said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 04:05:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BANJUL, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Italian government on Tuesday donated 40 pickup trucks to the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) as it seeks support of the West African state in tackling a migration crisis that has claimed many lives. The Gambia's Interior Minister Mai Ahmad Fatty said they want a special relationship with the Italian government in better handling the migration crisis that heavily involves his citizens. "Irregular migration is one of international concerns and The Gambia has a role to play in its solution. That is why today is very significant because it demonstrates the commitment of two nations towards resolving this imbroglio," he said at the handover. "Both sides have the moral and the legal obligation to ensure lives are protected and that people who embark on these perilous journeys are protected," he continued. Victorio Pissano, Director General of Italian Immigration said it is important that Italy and other states to work in collaboration through cooperation to put a stop to irregular migration. "There is a need to extend the bilateral relationship between Italy and The Gambia to be able to curb the irregular migration," he said. Over the last four years, several thousand of Gambians reached Italy through the Mediterranean Sea as economic migrants while many others lost their lives. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 04:15:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LOME, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Togo's Prime Minister Selom Komi Klassou on Tuesday urged African countries to consider trade as driver for substantial growth of wealth. He expressed this in his opening speech of the special sessions of private sector and civil society representatives as part of the 16th Forum of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) themed "The U.S. and Africa: Partnering for Prosperity through Trade" in Lome, capital of Togo. "The Lome sessions must serve as catalyst to fulfill our shared dreams and actually consider trade as unavoidable driver for substantial growth of wealth of our nations and improve the living conditions of our people," Klassou said. Over a thousand participants from 38 Sub-Saharan African countries and the United States are expected at the three-day forum. Tuesday's sessions gathered private sector and civil society representatives as well as U.S.-sponsored African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP). Discussions were focused on how they can contribute to strengthening economies through trade, expanding inclusive and sustainable economic growth, holding governments accountable, and the necessity of social corporate responsibility which contribute to the development of prosperous societies. Klassou believed that these sessions are "excellent framework for discussions that will enable to overcome the bottlenecks that are faced with in the implementation of AGOA between the United States and the eligible Sub-Saharan African countries." During the 16th AGOA Forum, officials will explore ways countries can continue to maximize the benefits of AGOA and strengthen trade and investment with the United States. The Lome meeting includes ministerial plenary with the participation of a wide range of U.S. representatives among which are members of the Congress. Ministerial session will be held on Aug. 9 and 10 and will be chaired by the United States Trade representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, sources close the organization said. AGOA is based on the existing trade programs of the United States and expands the duty-free benefits that were previously available only under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. Duty-free access to the U.S. market under the combined AGOA/GSP program stands at approximately 6,500 product tariff lines, including the tariff lines that were added by the AGOA legislation. The newly added AGOA-products include apparel and footwear, wine, certain motor vehicle components, a variety of agricultural products, chemicals, steel and many others. Enditem ABCNews.com(ATLANTA) -- Surgery is scary for anyone, but especially for kids. From Paw Patrol stuffed animals to favorite blankets, the kids headed into surgery at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta showed off the comfort items they had brought with them for the camera. These are the items that help kids feel calm before undergoing surgery and are there when they wake up from anesthesia to provide a sense of normalcy. "For patients who forget their comfort item, we provide them with onea teddy bear, blanket or even a light-up wand," Jessica Palumbo Dufur, a child life specialist, wrote on the hospital's blog, where the photos were first featured. "Comfort items are a great coping mechanism for patients on the day of surgery, and provide us an opportunity to give the child a choice in a situation when so much is chosen for them." Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 04:20:56|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close CARACAS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's National Electoral Council decided on Tuesday to bar the opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), from running in seven of 23 states for regional elections in December. In a report, the CNE says the MUD "must abstain from presenting candidates in Zulia, Apure, Monagas, Bolivar, Trujillo, Aragua and Carabobo, in compliance with legal judgments granted in these state." The seven states in question are run by the official ruling coalition, and have found irregularities in a petition presented by the MUD to call a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro in 2016. A number of political parties including the MUD had announced their candidacies recently, including Popular Will (VP), whose leader Freddy Guevara is under investigation for encouraging "violent acts" during opposition protests. Other MUD parties including Democratic Action, A New Time, Justice First and Progressive Advance had also said they would prepare candidacies in the seven states confirmed. The CNE is renewing the credentials of political parties this week, ahead of the elections. Venezuela's Supreme Court (TSJ) on Tuesday found Ramon Muchacho, the opposition mayor of Chacao in the northern state of Miranda, guilty on the charge of civil disobedience and sentenced him to 15 months in prison. The TSJ's Constitutional Court held an audience of over six hours on the case against Muchacho, who refused to heed orders to clear highways leading to Caracas during violent anti-government protests. Muchacho is part of a group of opposition mayors being investigated for colluding in blocking public highways with trees and trash for over four months during protests by the opposition MUD. The blockading of highways has been a common tactic by the MUD, in at least five of Venezuela's 23 state capitals. The whereabouts of Muchacho are not currently known and he previously failed to appear on two previous court occasions. The TSJ ordered the Bolivarian Intelligence Service to emit a "red alert" with Interpol for the immediate arrest of Muchacho. Writing on Twitter, Muchacho said that "the weight of revolutionary injustice has fallen on my shoulders." "We are being condemned for doing our job, for guaranteeing the legitimate right to peaceful protest and the right of all Venezuelans to exercise their civil and political rights," he later wrote to supporters in an email. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 04:25:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HAVANA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Construction workers in the Cuban province of Guantanamo, about 900 km east of Havana, are using a century-old Mexican technique to build houses as they seek to rebuild hundreds of homes damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. According to an article published in the daily Granma, the technique uses ceramic brick vaults for roofs and it has become very popular with workers. This solution is part of an initiative brought to the island by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which is cheaper than regular roofing techniques as it does not require steel or concrete. The extension of this technique, applied for more than 200 years in Mexica, could solve Cuba's regular shortage of construction materials to build regular concrete roofs. The Cuban construction workers, architects and engineers involved have been trained by Ramon Aguirre, director of the Mexican Bovedas and Regional Technology Institute. Bovedas are domed roofs built out of bricks. Guantanamo, the eastern Cuban province, was the worst affected area by last October's Hurricane Matthew, the third most devastating storm in the Cuban history. The storm affected 46,706 homes, of which 8,312 were completely destroyed, according to official data. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 04:51:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANAA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Yemen has prepared emergency plans to continue the fight against cholera aimed at improving the sanitation system, providing clean water and raising public awareness about this epidemic, officials said on Tuesday. The death toll from cholera climbed to 1,940 and the suspected cases to more than 463,000 on Sunday, said Abdulhakim Al-Kuhlani, spokesperson for the public health and population ministry in Sanaa. "We have a national emergency plan focused on improving epidemiological surveillance, providing fast response teams and necessary medicines, and opening treatment centers across the republic," Al-Kuhlani said. Spokesperson for the health ministry within the legitimate government in Aden, Mohammed Mustafa Yasin, said their plan is focused on environmental sanitation. "The efforts to contain cholera require cooperation among all sectors, like the health ministry, the cleanliness fund, civil society and media," Yasin elaborated. "We are also launching a house-to-house health education campaign." More than a million children suffering from acute malnutrition, including almost 200,000 with severe acute malnutrition, are caught in the areas hit hardest by a deadly outbreak of cholera, Save the Children warned last week. Yemeni officials said the number of suspected cases per day has slightly decreased in recent weeks in some areas thanks to quick and effective interventions. "In Aden, we are now receiving tens of suspected cases a day. In the first months of the outbreak, we were receiving hundreds of suspected cases a day," said Yasin. "The good news remains that 99.6 percent of the suspected cases were cured." Yemen is facing a triple threat of war, hunger and cholera, the UN has warned. Collapsing healthcare and sanitation systems, damaged water infrastructure and malnutrition, all direct consequences of a war continuing for more than two a half years, are making people more vulnerable to cholera, agencies said, while calling for scaling up aid to the country. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 05:01:12|Editor: An Rescuers work in quake-hit Jiuzhaigou County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 8, 2017. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck a remote area in southwest China's Sichuan Province Tuesday night, leaving at least five people dead and more than 60 injured. (Xinhua) CHENGDU, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck a remote area in southwest China's Sichuan Province Tuesday night, leaving seven people dead and 88 injured, including 21 seriously, by 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. At least five of the dead were visitors to the popular tourist destination of Jiuzhaigou in the epicenter of Zhangzha town, Jiuzhaigou County. The information office of the provincial government did not elaborate on the identities of the additional two deaths when releasing the latest death toll update. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to rapidly organize relief work and rescue the injured people after the quake. Premier Li Keqiang also urged local authorities to go all out in relief and monitoring work. The earthquake jolted Jiuzhaigou County at 9:19 p.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time), and the epicenter was monitored at 33.2 degrees north latitude and 103.82 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 20 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). Jiuzhaigou, or Jiuzhai Valley, is a national park known for spectacular waterfalls and karst formations. More than 34,000 people visited the tourist attraction on Tuesday. "Now it is the peak travel season and there is a large number of tourists in the scenic area," said Ye Zhi, a villager in Zhangzha. "The tourists were in panic when the quake struck and there were also stones falling down the mountain." Fearing risks from the complicated terrain, tourists and residents have been led to large open spaces for safety, said Ye. To avoid potential further deaths and injuries, the scenic area stopped accepting tourists. A landslide in the tourist site left more than 100 visitors trapped, but no deaths or injuries were reported among them. Chengdu Overseas Tourism Co., Ltd. had 30 Japanese visitors in four tour groups in Jiuzhaigou. All of them had been reached and there were no injuries, the information office said. Sangey, a worker at the popular Jiuzhaigou tourist site, told Xinhua on telephone that some houses in the scenic area collapsed or cracked in wake of the powerful quake and authorities were organizing young people to help evacuate residents. There were reported house collapses in towns like Heihe, Shuanghe and Anle. Li Changyong, head of the Jiuzhaigou county health and family planning bureau, said the quake was strongly felt in the county seat, 35 km from the epicenter, and many residents rushed out of buildings. Li told Xinhua that he saw no buildings in the county seat collapsed. Yu Qian, a local taxation bureau official, said she felt strong tremor in her home on the fifth floor. She and her two children rushed away from their home. Yu said the quake cut off power in her neighborhood and disrupted telephone service linking the scenic area where some of her colleagues worked and lived. "I was getting into a car at the time of the quake and it felt like a heavy-duty truck rumbling past," said Liu Yanrong, a local township official. "Realizing it was an earthquake, there was no panic on the street as we had experienced the devastating Wenchuan quake," said Liu. "There are currently few people on the street as most have gone back home for sleep after power was restored," Liu told Xinhua after midnight. The China Earthquake Administration and the Sichuan provincial government have activated the highest level-I emergency response procedures. Authorities have sent medical teams, rescuers as well as relief materials to the quake-stricken area where the population density is six people per square kilometer. The quake also disrupted railway services. The Sichuan railway bureau suspended 14 trains. Power, communication and water supply in the county seat have basically recovered. The quake was felt in the provincial capital Chengdu about 300 km south of the epicenter, and other regions in the neighboring provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi. The China Earthquake Administration said 107 aftershocks had been detected as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and there are possibilities of quakes around 6-magnitude in the coming days. Sichuan is a quake-prone region. In May 2008, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck Wenchuan and killed more than 80,000 people. In 2013, a 7.0-magnitude quake hit Lushan, killing 196. Members of the Azerbaijani security forces march during a military parade to mark the 96th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 2014, in Baku, Azerbaijan. BAKU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Azerbaijan and Pakistan will continue to expand their cooperation in defense area, Pakistani Ambassador to Baku Saeed Khan Mohmand said at a press conference here on Tuesday. The Ambassador said that the two countries have strong cooperation in the area of defense. "As you know, Azerbaijan has purchased 10 Super Mushshak trainer aircrafts from Pakistan. We will continue deepening our cooperation in defense and organization of military trainings," he said. The Pakistani diplomat pointed out that the purchase of Super Mushshak aircrafts by Azerbaijan does not mean the termination of negotiations on the purchase of JF Thunder aircrafts. "We hope to continue negotiations on this issue in the future," Saeed Khan Mohmand said. Although Azerbaijan has expressed interest in importing JF Thunder aircrafts, no significant deal has been reached yet. Military and defense cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan is signified by continuous high-level meetings and military agreements. Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 05:46:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KHARTOUM, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki will begin on Thursday an official visit to Sudan for boost of bilateral ties, official SUNA news agency reported Tuesday. Al-Mulki would hold talks with Sudan's First Vice-President and Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Saleh to review means of enhancing ties between Khartoum and Amman, and to discuss issues of mutual concern, according to the report. Meetings of the joint ministerial committee between the two sides are also scheduled in Khartoum, to be chaired by the two countries' prime ministers. The two sides are expected to sign a number of agreements at the ministerial committee meetings, with the aim to enhance bilateral cooperation in different fields, said the report. The Jordanian PM would be accompanied by a number of government ministers and officials. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 05:51:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MINSK, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- An orange warning was issued Tuesday for Belarus due to high temperatures on August 10-11, country's hydrometeorological center said. According to weather forecasters, Belarus will gradually warm up in the coming days. During the daytime on August 10, the maximum temperature will range from 30 to 34 degrees Celsius in the southwest of the country. On August 11, in most of the country, the maximum daily air temperatures are forecast to range between 30 and 34 degrees Celsius, in the Brest region, it will reach 35 degrees Celsius. In capital city Minsk, on the afternoon of August 11, the maximum air temperature is expected to range between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 06:21:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANAA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's National Blood Transfusion Center sent an urgent appeal for immediate help, as it may be forced to close down due to a lack of money, head of the state-run center said on Tuesday. "The center issued an urgent appeal through the state media outlets on Sunday, urging all international humanitarian agencies, charities, businessmen, anyone who is interested to provide help to keep the center operating," Ayman al-Shahari said. He added that the closure of the center would be "a big disaster" for the country. The crisis hit the center when the French medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) decided to stop their aid and support, said al-Shahari. MSF has informed the center that it had handed over the aid to the World Health Organization to help combat the spreading of cholera epidemic, he said. "The center has been working hard since the war erupted more than two years ago until now to provide patients with blood bags, medical solutions and other medical needs," he said. "But now the center suffers from a full shortage of supplies to meet the increasing daily needs," he added. The civil war started in Yemen in March 2015, after Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict by launching a large-scale air campaign to back internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who invaded the capital Sanaa militarily and seized most of the northern Yemeni provinces. According to UN agencies, more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed during more than two years of the war that also displaced over 3 million. The country has now on the edge of famine and is suffering from a deadly cholera outbreak that infected more than 600,000 people and killed nearly 2,000. UTC partners with Heroes Foundation The ceremony for the mentors known as Bigs and the mentees called Littles, took place recently at the UTCs head office in Port-of-Spain and marked the culmination of the Corpora- tions second year of participation in the Heroes Corporate Workplace Mentoring Programme. Heroes Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established in Trinidad and Tobago in 2002 with the aim of creating an avenue to meet the developmental needs of the youths by encouraging them to foster positive behaviors that would improve and build relationships in their homes and communities. Philip Julien, Founder and Chairman of the TT Heroes Foundation spoke of the value of mentorship, stressing its importance to the development of our youth which should never be underestimated. He noted that the continued corporate sectors participation in the mentorship program was a positive response to meeting the needs of the students and urged more companies to get on board and realize the benefits of mentorship as it impacts both employees and students. Ian Chinapoo, Executive Director of the UTC commended the UTC Bigs for their commitment as they gave of their time, which was not easy given their hectic schedules. Chinapoo said the mentorship programme offered an opportunity for both Bigs and Littles to share ideas, to engage and to see different perspectives but the ability to learn from each other was crucial for the programme to work. It allowed us, he told his audience comprising the Littles parents and caregivers as well as members of the UTC executive leadership team, to have a deeper appreciation of the challenges faced by our young people: drugs, peer pressures, the value of a sound education and what tools you need to survive as a young person in todays world. The Executive Director also reaffirmed the UTCs commitment to the Big Brother, Big Sister program in 2018 with Woodbrook Secondary School, saying the UTC wanted to continue to make a positive contribution in lives of the students. An emotional Bettina Harper, Case Officer at Heroes Foundation, stated how overwhelmed she was at the remarkable change she witnessed during the programme and commended the UTC for its participation. Harper heaped praise on the mentees and gave an insight into the progress made by each one Probe into Gasparillo murder Williams was found dead on Sunday at about 11.30 pm, at the side of Caratal Road. His brother in law Quacy Straker was also found shot multiple times and is now warded at hospital in a critical condition. Relatives were yesterday reluctant to speak to reporters but police reports indicated they received a report of a crash on Lightbourne Trace, Gasparillo. When police checked they saw a silver Mitsubishi Lancer and in it, Williams and Straker were found. Crime scene investigators recovered 15 bullet casings from the scene. Pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov confirmed that Williams was shot five times. The pathologist determined that the man was attempting to run away from his assailants when he was shot as entry wounds were found to his back with exit wounds to the chest. On May 22, a man bearing a similar name to Sundays murder victim, sought refuge at the home of recently retired ACP Santana saying he had just been shot by a Gasparillo businessman who was chasing after him in his (the businessman) vehicle. Santana subsequently detained the businessman who has since been slapped with several charges. Teens in court for gun, ammo, robbery Akeem Garcia and Steffon Munroe, 19, both of Church Street, Golconda Village near San Fernando, were arrested after the incident at Duncan Village, San Fernando. They were charged with several offences and yesterday, senior magistrate Cheryl- Ann Antoine read the charges to them. The first charge alleges the men were in possession of a .38 revolver and the second, that they were in possession of three rounds of ammunition. They are also accused of assaulting Shadi Rubez and Keafe Rubez with intent to rob them. The charges were laid by PC Danil Sadahanan of the Rapid Response Unit (Southern Division). Attorney Chantal Paul pleaded for bail on behalf of Munroe whom, she said, had no previous convictions. He was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 to be approved by the Clerk of the Peace. However, the magistrate granted him an alternative cash deposit bail in the sum of $20,000. Prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan told Antoine Garcia has a pending case for armed robbery and he submitted that under Section Six (2) of the Bail Amendment Act, the accused should be denied bail. Antoine agreed and told Garcia he has the right to apply to a judge in Chambers for bail. Both men are scheduled to reappear on August 24. Driver fined $2,000 for false insurance Yesterday, Imran Dhanoo, 40, of Piparo was fined $2,000. In default of payment, he will serve six months in jail. He pleaded guilty when he appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates Court. Since his arrest on June 4, the father of one appeared on a few occasions before another magistrate. Yesterday, the charge of uttering a false Bankers Insurance certificate, knowing it to be false, was read to him by Magistrate Bramanand Dubay Prosecutor Sergeant Gordon Maharaj told the magistrate that at about 3.30 pm on June 4, PC Renn had cause to stop a car on the Guaracara/ Tabaquite Road, Kumar Village, Williamsville. Dubay heard the policewoman asked Dhanoo to produce his driving documents. He handed over what purported to be an insurance certificate, but upon inspection of the document, Renn realised it was a photocopy. Renn told Dhanoo the signature on the certificate appeared to have been photocopied. The court was told Dhanoo replied, Boss, I paid a man I knew only as James $1,000 for the insurance. The false document was tendered into evidence. Dhanoos attorney Cedric Neptune pleaded for leniency for him saying he has a young daughter who will begin attending primary school in September. Dhanoo, the attorney added, was convicted two and a half years ago for driving under the influence of alcohol. Dubay granted him 60 days to pay the fine. GONE IN A BLINK Through her sobs, mother of four Basdaye Lall-Ragoo yesterday said she could not believe that despite the quick work of three doctors, who happened to be at the beach at the time Natalias limp body was pulled out of the water, she still did not survive. The girl, one half of a twin, was pronounced dead at the Pt Fortin Area Hospital. It was the police who came to the beach and carried us in a jeep to the Cedros Health Centre. There were no doctors there or anyone else who could have helped my child. We had to wait 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive to take us to Point Fortin Hospital. By that time, mama was gone, Lall-Ragoo said. Natalia was a pupil of a preschool in Bonasse Village, Cedros. She lived with her mother, father Ancil Samuel and three brothers at Sylvester Street in Fullerton Village. According to police reports, at about 5.30 pm on Sunday, Natalia and relatives where bathing at Columbus Bay when the girl disappeared under the water near the shoreline. Minutes later, a man pulled Natalia out of the water. I just turned around for a few seconds and when I turned back and watched the water, my child was not there. I did not think about going into the water because I thought she had walked off further along the beach. I believe that as I spun around, mama may have stepped off a little, fell into the water and got water into her lungs, Lall-Ragoo said. Frantically she raised an alarm and a beach goer pulled the child from the water. Despite her loss, Lall-Ragoo yesterday thanked the three doctors who were at the beach who quickly performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the child. She was still alive then. They really tried their best. It took 45 minutes for an ambulance to reach to take us to hospital, Lall-Ragoo added. She was the only daughter I had. Anywhere I go, she was with me. She does not leave my side. She is my only daughter and now she is gone, the grief-stricken mother cried. An autopsy will be performed today at the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital. Cpl Blackman of the Cedros Police Station is spearheading investigations. Councillor for Cedros Shankar Teelucksingh yesterday called for the re-establishment of a district hospital in Cedros saying it takes almost an hour to reach the nearest health centre in Cedros. He believes Natalia may have survived if she had proper medical treatment. He also called for lifeguards to be placed at Columbus Bay which is a popular bathing spot especially during the school vacation. Natalia is one of at least three children to drown within the past few weeks. On July 16, three-yearold Messi Gorkin of George Street, Port of Spain, drowned during a family outing at the Boardwalk in Chaguaramas. Police reported that at about 5 pm, his father Atiba Gorkin was standing on the steps leading to the Boardwalk where he turned his back while speaking with friends. Minutes later, Atiba realised Messi was nowhere to be seen and a frantic search ensued. Little Messis body was found floating in the waters off Pier I, the next day. On July 26, seven-year-old Riberto Heeraman drowned at his home at Millennium Park, Trincity, after his right hand got stuck in the pump inside the pool. Police said that Riberto and other siblings were bathing in one of two pools when they decided to take a break. Sometime later, a relative made the discovery. Seales sedition charge dropped The case was dismissed by Deputy Chief Magistrate Maria Earle Busby-Caddle after Seales attorneys Pamela Elder, SC, and Owen Hinds Jr argued that during a televised interview in 2015, Insp Seales did not explicitly call on members of the association to dissent against the government. In the eighth court, they argued that during the interview, Seales use of the word they did not specifically refer to the government and therefore failed to prove the States claim that a charge of sedition was committed. On being charged, Insp Seales was placed on suspension from active duty. His comments were aired on TV6s morning edition show in which he addressed the PSWAs concerns on the snails pace of wage negotiation at the time. Magistrate Busby- Caddle agreed with the defence lawyers submissions and dismissed the case. As Insp Seales walked out of the courthouse, he told reporters that he bore no grudge against anyone for his two-year ordeal and thanked his family, lawyers and PSWA members for the support he received during the duration of the case. The experience has been a humbling one and I would like to stress that I hold no malice towards anyone and I have no business conspiring against anyone... thats not my business. I am just Michael Seales and all I can be is loving and forgiving. I cannot hold anything against anyone. Seales called on Ag Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams to reinstate him to his substantive position within the Police Service now that the charge has been thrown out by the courts. Seales said he intends to speak with Commissioner Williams on the matter as well as payment of cash allowances owed during his suspension. I need to talk to the Commissioner now and say that he needs to make a public statement and he needs to reinstate me immediately because I am still on suspension officially. I was suspended the very same day of the incident so I would want to be reinstated the very same day of the dismissal of the case, Seales said. Reyad is Dr Reporter Graduating from the University of the West Indies two months ago with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees, Hosein yesterday attended his first assignment in the San Fernando Magistrates Court where he observed how the judicial system functions and even reported on two cases. Hosein, having been granted provisional registration as a medical doctor, is part of the Newsday Youth Lens and Opinion (NYLO) project, launched last week Thursday, for students who are desirous of learning how the media functions. The NYLO programme trains participants, many of them University students, in the basics of journalism and Hosein is one of several chosen for the second instalment of the programme. He is dedicated to his chosen career in medicine, but his reason for joining the programme is because of the exposure it offers in what he describes as a new dimension in understanding the world of the medical profession and medicine as a whole. Hosein, 25, is from Debe, near Penal and will be in the next batch of doctors who will begin his internship in October at the San Fernando General Hospital. Im anxious, he said, But why stay home and do nothing until October? Yesterday he had his day in court and in the coming days this week, he will accompany our newsroom reporters on other beats. A man appeared charged with fraud and was sentenced. He was in awe when he walked into the court and saw the prisoners in the dock. He immediately sent a text message to his fellow medical colleagues, Imagine they all pack-up inside a cage. Thats so sad. His colleagues admire his decision to become a reporter, albeit until October. They told him, he said, that he is brave, committed and will develop into a doctor with a difference. Pensioner drowns in Moruga According to police, at about 5 pm, Kurban and friends were in the sea when he got into difficulties. Minutes later, Kurbans body was found floating in the water. He was rushed to the Princes Town Health Facility but was pronounced dead on arrival. His sibling Ashmeed Kurban, 60, said his brother decided to venture out into deeper water. This is not something new, my brother was a great swimmer and he always used to like to go into deeper waters, so his friends were not worried when he swam out, Kurban said. He believes his brother may have suffered with and drowned. My brother has been swimming all his life. The sea was his world, so the only reasonable explanation I can give, is he got cramps and was pulled under. Kurbans nephew David said whenever his uncle was not at home, he could be found at the sea. The beach he drowned at was one of his favorites. He loved the waters there so he died in the place he loved most, David said. He had a heart of gold and was the type of person who would do without just to see someone else smile or happy. An autopsy performed at the San Fernando Mortuary yesterday confirmed Kurban died as a result of drowning. Funeral arrangements are being finalised. JTUM: Aboud being disingenuous During last Fridays Labour Day II march in Port of Spain, JTUM leader Ancel Roget called on workers to boycott 120 eliterun businesses, saying workers had to take back power from the group, which has described themselves during an interview with an international news network, as the most powerful group in society. However, Aboud who is the owner of Mode Alive, said success was not a crime and unions should instead focus on corruption. He identified Petrotrin as one enterprise which required review. However, Warwick in a telephone interview said the issue had nothing to do with race but with elitism and the class structure that exists in this country. This is a small group who is exerting influence and power over the rest of society and that is what we are talking about, Warwick said. He said Abouds diatribe on success did not take into account workers contribution to the success of those businesses. Regarding the fight against corruption, Warwick recalled the unions held a massive march on December 5, 2014 against corruption in Port of Spain and no business person had closed the doors of their businesses, in solidarity with the unions. So for you to come now and talk about being this advocate against corruption, that is a bit disingenuous, Warwick said. On Petrotrin, he said Aboud had ignored the contribution to the nations purse of approximately $15 billion which had been used in health, education and the development of the nations infrastructure. And because of the contribution of Petrotrin we are able to have subsidies in terms of the gas pump and in terms of LPG. So Petrotrin has contributed significantly over the years to the development of Trinidad and Tobago. So for him to pretend that has not happened or did not happen is a bit disingenuous on his part. Rodney Smart to get promotion Smart who is said to be on pre-retirement leave is expected to be promoted today to the rank of Major General during a handing-over ceremony at Teteron Barracks in Chaguaramas. During the ceremony, scheduled to start at 4 pm, acting CDS Captain Hayden Pritchard will be confirmed to the post and promoted to Commodore. Another officer, Colonel Phillips is expected to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and elevated to the position of Vice CDS. The rank of Major General is the highest in the military. The elevation means the officer will receive two stars instead of one but there is no increase in salary or gratuity. Well-placed sources yesterday said Smart is expected to be given a top position in Rowleys administration. Sources said the position could very well be that of National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister. Smart was quoted in a letter sent to UNC Senator Wayne Sturge, a few months ago, as having named his immediate predecessor, Retired Major General Kenrick Maharaj, as the person who organised and approved the October 2016 visit by Attorney General Faris Al Rawis son and daughter to Camp Cumuto in Wallerfield. The minors were photographed handling Army-owned weapons. Maharaj has challenged that statement saying he had nothing to do with the visit. On July 20, Maharaj received a formal letter of apology from Acting CDS Pritchard, but is now said to be exploring his legal options. Second victim dies in tow truck tragedy Alleynes mother, Yvonne Alleyne lamented yesterday too much blood is being shed daily in one form or another. At the Forensic Science Centre in St James, she said, Every day someone drowns, someone is burnt, someone is murdered or someone is killed in an accident. We are a small country. Just a drop in the ocean. We cannot continue this way. On Sunday at about 5pm, Alleynes tyre blew-out while he was driving. Newsday was told he parked his car and called the wrecking service owned by Khan. It was while Khan was assisting Alleyne that the driver of a silver Nissan AD Wagon ploughed into them. Khan was pinned to the back of the wrecker, while Alleyne was pinned underneath. Alleyne died at hospital. The driver of the runaway car was taken to the Chaguanas Police Station for questioning and remained in custody up to late yesterday. Khan and Alleynes relatives described them as loving, jovial, family oriented men. Alleyne was a father of nine children, the youngest of whom is five years old. Khan was a father of two. His youngest child was the same age as Alleynes. Alleynes daughter Nakita could not contain her tears as she spoke about her father. I will miss everything about him, she said while being supported by relatives yesterday. He was always making us laugh. He always had something funny to say. He would always make us feel better when we were down and always trying to encourage us to better ourselves and do good. Khans wife told Newsday he worked every day to provide for his children. She said she and their children were out when they heard the news. She said they arrived at the scene shortly after the accident happened, but the children could not bear to see their father in such a state. Regular donor claims he was chased from blood bank The Hermitage Village, San Fernando resident said he was chased away by a nurse who, he claimed, ordered a security officer on duty to take back his number which he had pulled when he arrived there at 8 am. Ramraj told Newsday the room was filled with people waiting to donate blood and he pulled number 67. As a regular donor, Ramraj said there is a mutual understanding between donors and the nurses and usually a concession is made when the waiting lines are long. He said he usually asks to speak to a senior official and did so yesterday but was shocked when one of the nurses allegedly became very aggressive towards him and ordered security to retrieve his number while telling him to go to another hospital to make his blood donation. It is the first time this has ever happened to me, he told Newsday. In my experience over the years as a donor, the nurse will tell you have a seat and wait. She will try her best to help out and see how she could fit in the regular donors between those who came in to donate for a special person. Donating blood, he said, is his way of him giving back to society, but because of the treatment meted out to him, he fears he may never want to give blood again. Ramraj said staff at the blood bank are usually very courteous. I dont know what happened today (yesterday) with that particular nurse and her attitude telling me to go somewhere else and treating me the way she did. My blood type is a very rare one I am glad to give it. He said the nurse even dared him to report her to her superiors on the first floor. He said he immediately reported the matter to the Customer Service department at the SFGH. Contacted on the incident, Ag CEO of the South West Regional Health Authority Gail Miller-Meade promised to contact Ramraj and to investigate the matter. Myths surrounding pH in water Dhanoo told Newsday in an interview yesterday, consuming any type of water (bottled or tap) instead of highly sweetened soft drinks and juices is one of the single best choices you can make to maintain a healthy body. He said consumption of water will decrease the chances of developing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The myths about alkaline water being healthy and acid water causing harm to you, it is a myth that has been purported, and it is a myth that has been spread because of the at-home pH kits people use. He said as a NGO with a mandate to promote good health and to ensure the well-being of families, they advocate for water as the preferred drink for everyone. In a press release, in response to several home tests conducted on social media about the pH of water and its effect on health, the association said subtle variations in the pH of the water people drink have no bearing on their health. The association said unfounded personal opinions and misinterpretations about health are dangerous as they may guide people toward trends which may be harmful to their bodies and their pockets. We know that education through the access to information is necessary for our population to make healthier choices. We are bombarded with videos and ads which spread misinformation in a very attractive way. The Diabetes Association has taken strides to provide the population with unbiased, scientific information about health-related topics which have grabbed the publics attention. The association said, on September 29 at the Centre of Excellence, their 2017 EXPO will have a special session devoted to debunking health myths including pH of water, plastic rice, plastic vegetables and miraculous herbal cures among other items. Cultural anthropologist wants apology from ministry He said the ministry discriminated against several organisations including The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, International Day of Yoga Committee, Caroni Hindu Mandir and The UWIs Film Programme Department. The omission of 11 major Indo-Trinidadian cultural events is a damning expose of the narrow conscienceness of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts. The revelation opens a can of worms about the practices and policies of the ministry. The disclosure in the calendar raises a number of critical questions. For example, is there ethnic equity in the top hierarchy of the ministrys staff, he said. He said the failure to recognise these events is also an indication the ministry is not likely to provide funding to the organisations. Elderly couple cry foul According to the couple, a malfunctioning water system in their neighbours yard have for years, seeped water onto their property. In addition to this, a broken gutter system, also located on their neighbours compound, continues to direct water onto their property following heavy rainfall events. Frustrated at the structural damage the water has done to their home and the land it is located on, the couple lamented that for the past several years they have tried to take matters into their own hands to resolve the issue but these efforts have allegedly been blocked by Borough Corporation, for unknown reasons, which they suspect is a case of sabotage. The couple insists that over the years they have tried to build a concrete structure to restrict the flow of water from the next-door property but the local authority has written them on many time to desist. Further to these claims, on occasions when they have tried to sought clarity from the corporation on why, the corporation will instead visit persons in the neighbouring property and refuses to communicate with them. After reaching out multiple times to the Caroni Health Unit, the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, the councillor for the area and spending over $6,000 in lawyers, to have the problem dealt with, the couple has had enough and is demanding that the problem be dealt with swiftly, by all parties involved. Grateful that they have not yet fallen sick to the now festering mosquito problem that has resulted from the water problem, the couple does not know how longer they can bear with the problem as the current two-inch pipe they have installed on their property to partially regulate the water and the disinfectant they use, only barely addressed the issue. When Newsday contacted Janelle Joe-Ryan, councillor for the Balmoral Park area, she stated that the issue being brought forward by the couple has never been communicated to her or her office. Joe-Ryan highlighted the severity of the claims being made but insisted that if a matter of such nature was ever brought to her attention, she would deal with it effectively. All Trinidad turns 80 Union president general Nirvan Maharaj, in a media release, stated that the ATGWTU was registered as a trade union on November 24, 1937 by Adrian Cola Rienzi, its first president general. It was then known as the All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Trade Union and had its origin in the sugar estates. Maharaj said anniversary celebrations will take place on November 24. He said this year represents a significant watershed in the unions history, having represented thousands of workers for better wages and working conditions. He stated, The union, formerly the ATSE FWTU, had its historical origin in the sugar estates of Trinidad and Tobago and was born out of the battles, protests and demonstrations for more work, better wages and improved working conditions for those who laboured in the plantation fields. Moreso, in the sometimes violent encounters of the 1934 and 1937. Former prime minister Basdeo Panday, was a former president general of the union since the 1970s, until the United National Congress (UNC) which he formed, won the general elections in 1995. The union was not limited, Maharaj said, to industrial relations, but made a valuable contribution to the social, economic, cultural and political landscape of the country. The union, he added, gave birth to two political parties - the United Labour Front which eventually became the United National Congress and lately, the National Solidarity Assembly (NSA), led by Maharaj. Minister orders probe into lewd SRP Dillon told Newsday that he has asked for a full report which will guide the Ministry on whatever decision is taken on the future of the officer. Pressed to comment further, Dillon said he could not pre-judge the outcome of the probe. The officer, Newsday was told, could be sent on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Yesterday, Head of the Transit Police Superintendent Anthony Bernard told Newsday that the SRP remains on the job while the investigation is ongoing. Right now I am in the process of preparing a report for Minister Dillon and I will be appointing an investigator to carry out the probe. But right now I am focusing on preparing a report for the Minister, Supt Bernard said. Bernard said he would not comment further on the matter. However, colleagues of the SRP believe she was set up and that the photos were leaked by someone who did not have her best interest at heart. On Sunday, the photo were shared more than 3,000 times and there were more than 350 comments. One man said, What a disgrace. Remember when pride respect and integrity used to mean something? Another wrote, I think she was joking around. It was very wicked for someone to possibly ruin this girls life and career because of a joke. Its probably some jealous person who did it. Head of the Tobago Division Acting Snr Supt Joanne Archie yesterday said, I am disappointed about what I have seen, but that is the most I am prepared to say at this time. TTPS Head of Corporate Communications Ellen Lewis said the SRP in question is not a member of the TTPS but is assigned to the Transit Police. Arima Mayor encourages volunteerism When Morris-Julien was questioned about the difficulties she observed in undertaking the Arima Volunteer network initiative, she commended the willingness of NGOs and non-profits, to assist. She however stated, The only issue that I had was that far more women than men volunteered. She continued by stating, I just think our men need to step up a bit and support the different activities taking place. Morris-Julien in general stated that more persons need to give back as this can help reduce the crime in the nation and promote more love. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Over 180 illegal migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa broke into the six-meter fence surrounding the Spanish-occupied city in northern Morocco, Ceuta. Images broadcasted in the media show the migrants sprinting over the border from the Moroccan side Monday, in the early morning before sunrise. The migrants who reached Ceuta were eventually rounded up and taken to a reception center, where they can apply for asylum in Spain. Last week, about 200 migrants stormed the high border fence, with 73 managing to get through using wire cutters and mallets. The latest major attempt at crossing the fence took place on New Years Eve when Moroccan authorities thwarted the illegal immigration attempt by nearly 1000 Sub-Saharan nationals who tried to jump the six-meter barbed wire fence of the city of Ceuta. Monitoring the borders with Spain to avert illegal immigration attempts cost Morocco an estimated annual amount of 250 million. Ceuta has been under Spanish occupation since the 16th century. Morocco claims the city along with the other Spanish occupied city of Mellilia as an integral part of its national territory. When King Juan Carlos made his first royal tour of the cities in November 2007, he stirred up a hornets nest, igniting Moroccan claims that the two enclaves be returned to their rightful claimant. Madrid asserts that both territories are integral parts of Spain and have the same status as the semi-autonomous regions on its mainland. Morocco, which imports the majority of its fuel needs and spends 10-12 pc of its gross domestic product on energy bills, bets heavily on renewables to meet its rapidly growing demand and honor its international commitments to combat climate changes. But will this North African country turn into gas exporter? It seems that the British company Sound Energy is upbeat about its gas finds in Morocco and about its future in this country. This UK-based company has announced lately that it received from the Wilaya of lOriental Region (a local authority in Eastern Morocco) an approval for the proposed route of the gas export to Europe through Gazoduc Maghreb Europe (GME) pipeline. This preliminary approval is another step in the development of the infrastructure required to support the early monetization of gas from the TE-5 Horst discovery at Tendrara. Sound Energy CEO James Parsons said:I am delighted to have received this confirmation, which supports the significant progress we have made in developing our Moroccan portfolio to date. The approval is also further evidence of the relationships that Sound Energy has built in the country since entering in 2015, and the mutual cooperation that exists with local, regional and governmental authorities, he added. Last March, Sound Energy confirmed significant gas potential upon completing the drilling of its third gas well TE8 in the Tendrara license area in eastern Morocco. It also reported success in its first two Tendrara wells (TE-6 and TE-7). These gas discoveries put Morocco on track to become a player in the gas market. The wells discovered by Sound Energy are expected to be pumping gas by 2019. According to Sound Energy CEO, Morocco has a significant untapped gas potential. For foreign firms, the country, wherein several drillings for oil and gas operations are being conducted, represents a stable frontier in North Africa. This reality has become especially clear over the last three years. In the case of Libya, the countrys new government has struggled to retain control over its energy assets and export facilities under the pressure of local militias. In neighboring Algeria, a legacy of underperforming projects, institutional corruption and political uncertainty drive away new investors. Thus, Morocco appears as the best and most secure investment alternative since it enjoys strong political stability, an open and fast-growing economy and offers several competitive incentives to investors. A brilliant mind at work. Photo: MSNBC In the early morning hours of August 5, someone hurled an improvised explosive device at a mosque in Bloomington, Minnesota. None of the roughly 20 early morning worshippers were injured, but the blast broke windows and began a small fire, filling the building with smoke. The mosques executive director told a local TV station that one of our congregation members came out immediately and he saw a truck fleeing from the parking lot, running at very high speed. The FBI is investigating; no arrests have been made. On Sunday, Minnesota governor Mark Dayton called the attack an act of terrorism. But the response from the Trump administration has been predictable yet disturbing: almost complete silence. President Trump has not issued a statement or tweeted about the Minnesota attack, preferring to direct his attention to other pressing matters, like Senator Richard Blumenthals Vietnam record. (The Department of Homeland Security did issue a strong statement condemning the attack.) In a Tuesday appearance on MSNBC, Nazi-ish quasiWhite House adviser Sebastian Gorka put forth a bizarre justification for the radio silence: The attack, you see, may have been perpetrated by the left. Theres a great rule: All initial reports are false, Gorka said. (Editors note: This is a terrible rule.) You have to check them; you have to find out who the perpetrators are, Gorka continued. Weve had a series of crimes committed alleged hate crimes by right-wing individuals in the last six months that turned out to actually have been propagated by the left. So lets wait and see, lets allow the local authorities to provide their assessments, and then the White House will make its comments. Responding to Stephanie Ruhles assertion that Trump had no problem immediately commenting on a London terror attack in June, Gorka countered that it was obvious in that case who the perpetrators were ignoring the fact that Trump tweeted out a Drudge Report story written before any facts were known. Ruhle also made the eminently reasonable point that you dont have to make a statement about who did it, but you can make a public statement about how terrible it would be to attack a building of worship. Thats fine, Gorka responded unconvincingly. And Im sure the president will do that. The Trump administrations muted response follows a clear pattern of playing down attacks by white perpetrators on minorities. When a Canadian white nationalist and Trump admirer killed six people in January, the president said nothing publicly. And when a man yelled Get out of my country while shooting and killing an Indian engineer in Kansas, Trump was deafeningly silent for a week before he finally acknowledged the crime. Then there are the thousands of other minor incidents and threats targeting Muslim people and institutions that the president has failed to acknowledge. President Trump has to date not expressed any significant opposition to Americans turning on Americans of the Islamic faith, Corey Saylor, who monitors Islamophobia for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told HuffPost. Through his Muslims ban and comments from the campaign trail, he has instead painted the entire American Muslim community as suspect. Of course, its a very different story when nonwhites, particularly immigrants, are the offenders. Nothing gets Trumps blood moving like the age-old tradition of employing over-the-top, graphically violent images to dehumanize minorities. Just two weeks ago, he described towns in which MS-13 gangs have carried out murders as bloodstained killing fields, and the immigrants who committed those attacks as animals. And at a rally that week, he told a rapt crowd that gang members will take a young, beautiful girl, 16, 15 and others and they slice them and dice them with a knife because they want them to go through excruciating pain before they die. In a way, the Trump administrations refusal to acknowledge attacks on Muslims and other minorities makes sense, since it is Trump himself who is the proximate cause of the uptick in such incidents. The steep rise in anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic incidents since the beginning of his campaign is a testament to the presidents ability to stir up anger and hatred. But even he may be too squeamish to acknowledge that he has contributed to making America into a more intolerant place. Theres nothing disloyal about Mike Pence having a contingency plan for 2020 except in Trumps neurotic world. Photo: Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images An odd thing happened over the weekend. The New York Times ran a piece that among other things discussed Vice-President Mike Pences apparent preparations for a higher political profile heading towards 2020. Yes, the article mentioned other 2020 preparations by other Republicans who arent so friendly to Donald Trump, like John Kasich. And it also quoted Republicans concerned about various indicators of Trumps weakness, with this attribution of anxiety being the most abrasive to the White House: [I]n interviews with more than 75 Republicans at every level of the party, elected officials, donors and strategists expressed widespread uncertainty about whether Mr. Trump would be on the ballot in 2020 and little doubt that others in the party are engaged in barely veiled contingency planning. But then there was this clear disclaimer when it came to Mike Pences preparations: In most cases, the shadow candidates and their operatives have signaled that they are preparing only in case Mr. Trump is not available in 2020. Most significant, multiple advisers to Mr. Pence have already intimated to party donors that he would plan to run if Mr. Trump did not. All in all: Ho-hum. But youd think from the reaction that the Times had accused Mike Pence of plotting regicide. Calling it disgraceful and offensive, Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday denounced a New York Times report that he is quietly building his own shadow campaign for 2020. Todays article in the New York Times is disgraceful and offensive to me, my family, and our entire team, Pence said in a statement Sunday. The allegations in this article are categorically false and represent just the latest attempt by the media to divide this Administration. Whoa. Disgraceful to Pences family? The statement got even shriller, believe it or not: Whatever fake news may come our way, my entire team will continue to focus all our efforts to advance the Presidents agenda and see him re-elected in 2020. Any suggestion otherwise is both laughable and absurd. The reference to fake news suggests that maybe the Pence story had something to do with the random Twitter assault on the Times today from the president, who wasnt real clear what had provoked him this time: The failing @nytimes, which has made every wrong prediction about me including my big election win (apologized), is totally inept! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 How much longer will the failing nytimes, with its big losses and massive unfunded liability (and non-existent sources), remain in business? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 If you needed any more confirmation that the Pence story had really gotten under the skin of Trump allies, the Washington Posts designated pro-Trump columnist, Ed Rogers, became more than a little unhinged: By running such a blatantly contrived story, the Times has only further proved that the mainstream media is out of control and conniving to the point of being clumsy and, dare I say, fake news. Its only goal was to disrupt the Trump White House, discourage Republican donors and distract GOP candidates on the 2018 ballot, who have no patience for anyone thinking beyond that election. At this point, the New York Times is not reporting the news but trying to create it. Lord a-mercy, these people are protesting way too much. Donald Trump is a septuagenarian whose interest in politics has waxed and waned over the years, even as his business interests have remained central to his very vivid sense of identity. Those who are most strongly attached to the political movement he claims to lead would be fools not to consider a contingency plan for 2020 in which he is not a candidate for reelection. Health and mortality issues aside, its not like an incumbent president standing down is unprecedented: Its happened twice in Donald Trumps lifetime (1952 and 1968). In a less neurotic administration, Pence and his people would have hastened to say they are promoting the vice-presidents political identity precisely because of his loyalty to Trump and Trumpism to ensure that the Trump legacy continues uninterrupted no matter what. And Trump himself could have gone out of his way to make it clear he is actively grooming his successor, whether its for 2024 (when Pence will be five years younger than Trump was in 2016) or sooner. Instead, the whole Trump political apparatus freaked out at the very suggestion that The Boss is not immortal. That is not a good sign for his longevity as a dominant influence in American politics. The upper chamber of Congress, where acreage gets more representation than actual voters. Republicans love wide open, empty spaces. From the Oval Office to many Twitter precincts, they like to brandish maps of the 2016-presidential-election results by congressional district, or even by county, implicitly suggesting the bloody-red hues signify political dominance: Spotted: A map to be hung somewhere in the West Wing pic.twitter.com/TpPPDyNFtE Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) May 11, 2017 This is extremely misleading because Americans are not distributed equally by geography, of course, and acreage does not receive representation in our electoral system, right? Wrong: Theres the United States Senate. Those who look at all the close presidential elections since 2000 and the roughly equivalent levels of party self-identification and assume the two parties have an equal shot at political power may be missing a subtle shift with profound implications: There are now far more red than blue states, and they have equal representation in the Senate. As David Wasserman explains at FiveThirtyEight: In the last few decades, Democrats have expanded their advantages in California and New York states with huge urban centers that combined to give Clinton a 6 million vote edge, more than twice her national margin. But those two states elect only 4 percent of the Senate. Meanwhile, Republicans have made huge advances in small rural states think Arkansas, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana and West Virginia that wield disproportionate power in the upper chamber compared to their populations Republicans dont even need to win any swing states to win a Senate majority: 52 seats are in states where the 2016 presidential margin was at least 5 percentage points more Republican than the national outcome. By contrast, there are just 28 seats in states where the margin was at least 5 points more Democratic, and only 20 seats in swing states. You can see this played out on the current and future Senate landscapes, where sometimes sharp partisan differences occur because only one third of the seats are up in any given cycle. Democrats have a famously difficult landscape for 2018, defending 25 of 34 seats, with ten Democrats running in states carried by Donald Trump last year (only one GOP incumbent, Dean Heller of Nevada, is running in a state carried by Hillary Clinton). It gets much better after 2018, right, but the red state/blue state factor limits Democratic opportunities for gains, even in theoretically favorable years. In 2020, Republicans will be defending 22 Senate seats, with Democrats only defending 11 in 2020. But only two of those 2020 Republicans will be running in states carried by Clinton in 2016, and both of those were relatively close states (Colorado and Maine). In 2022, Republicans will again have to defend 22 seats. But not a single one is in a 2016 blue state. Republicans having an advantage in the Senate carries no guarantees: At the moment, the Cook Political Report shows Democrats leading in all ten 2016 red states where they are defending Senate seats. If Democrats hold their own in the Senate next year, and particularly if they do well in the 2020 presidential contest, there is no reason they cannot gain control of the upper chamber in 2020 and hold it through 2022. But theyll be fighting a small-state bias built right into the system by the Constitution, which makes a mockery of the idea of equal representation. Donald Trump and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump has scrambled the political spectrum in certain ways, and one of them has been to introduce a new set of players to the national scene. Nationalists or populists (as they now call themselves), or the alt-right (as they used to call themselves), have been vying with traditional Republicans for control of the Trump administration. The nationalists tend to be pro-Russia, virulently anti-immigrant, race-centric, and conspiratorial in their thinking. Their current project is a political war against National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, a conventional Republican who displaced the nationalist Michael Flynn. The nationalist war against McMaster has included waves of Russian social-media bots, leaks placed in the nationalist organ Breitbart, and undisguised anti-Semitism. Most observers outside the nationalist wing have treated McMaster as the sympathetic party in the conflict. The Intercepts Glenn Greenwald is a notable exception. Greenwald has depicted the conflict, much like the nationalists themselves have, as the machinations of the deep state to prevent the authentic, democratically legitimate populist representatives of Trumpism from exerting their rightful authority. Greenwald himself is not a nationalist, and is certainly not a bigot, but the episode has revealed a left-wingers idiosyncratic sympathy for the most odious characters on the right. Greenwald lays out his thinking in a deeply, if inadvertently, revealing column denouncing anti-Trump saboteurs in the deep state. The foundation of Greenwalds worldview on this issue and nearly everything else is that the United States and its national-security apparatus is the greatest force for evil in the world. Who has brought more death, and suffering, and tyranny to the world over the last six decades, he writes, than the U.S. National Security State? (This six-decade period of time includes Maos regime in China, which killed 45 to 75 million people, as well as the Khmer Rouge and several decades of the Soviet Union.) In Greenwalds mind, the ultimate expression of American evil is and always will be neoconservatism. Its hard, for instance, to imagine any group that has done more harm, and ushered in more evil, than the Bush-era neocons with whom Democrats are now openly aligning, he argues. The neoconservatives have lined up against Trump, and many Democrats agree with them on certain issues. Since the neocons represent maximal evil in the world, any opponent of theirs must be, in Greenwalds calculus, the lesser evil. His construction that its hard to imagine any worse faction than the neocons is especially telling. However dangerous or rancid figures like Steve Bannon or Michael Flynn may be, the possibility that they could match the evil of the neocons is literally beyond the capacity of his brain to imagine. A second source of Greenwalds sympathy for the nationalists is their populism. The nationalists style themselves as outsiders beset by powerful, self-interested networks of hidden foes. And while their racism is not his cup of tea, Greenwald shares the same broad view of his enemies. Trump advocated a slew of policies that attacked the most sacred prongs of long-standing bipartisan Washington consensus, argues Greenwald. As a result, he was (and continues to be) viewed as uniquely repellent by the neoliberal and neoconservative guardians of that consensus, along with their sprawling network of agencies, think tanks, financial policy organs, and media outlets used to implement their agenda (CIA, NSA, the Brookings/AEI think tank axis, Wall Street, Silicon Valley, etc.). It is certainly true that all manner of elites disdain Trump. Whats striking is Greenwalds uncharitable reading of their motives, which closely tracks Trumps own portrayal of the situation. Many elites consider Trump too ignorant, lazy, impulsive, and bigoted for the job. Instead Greenwald presents their opposition as reflecting a fear that Trump threatens their wealth and power. (This despite the pro-elite tilt of his tax and regulatory policies which, in particular, make it astonishing that Greenwald would take at face value Trumps claim to threaten the interests of Wall Street and its financial policy organs.) The opposition to Trump naturally shares a wide array of motives, as would any wide-ranging coalition. Greenwalds column consistently attributes to those opponents only the most repellant beliefs. He doesnt even consider the possibility that some people genuinely believe McMaster is a safe, responsible figure who might help dissuade the president from doing something terrible. Greenwald emphasizes, Hank Paulson, former Goldman Sachs CEO and George W. Bushs Treasury Secretary, went to the pages of the Washington Post in mid-2016 to shower Clinton with praise and Trump with unbridled scorn, saying what he hated most about Trump was his refusal to consider cuts in entitlement spending (in contrast, presumably, to the Democrat he was endorsing). It is true that Trump promised not to cut entitlement spending. Greenwalds notion that this promise placed him presumably in contrast with Hillary Clinton ignores that fact that Clinton also promised to protect these programs. The passage about entitlements appears deep in Paulsons op-ed, which Paulson began by lambasting Trump for encouraging ignorance, prejudice, fear and isolationism, among other flaws. Greenwald asserts that Paulson identifies Trumps hostility to cutting entitlements as what he hated most about the Republican nominee, but nothing in the op-ed indicates this is what Paulson hated most. Greenwald just made that part up. The same concoction of motives is at work in Greenwalds contempt for McMaster and John Kelly, the new chief of staff. The pair of former generals have long been hailed by anti-Trump factions as the Serious, Responsible Adults in the Trump administration, primarily because they support militaristic policies such as the war in Afghanistan and intervention in Syria that are far more in line with official Washingtons bipartisan posture, he writes. Note that primarily. Greenwald is arguing that news coverage treating them as competent managers, as opposed to the amateurish nationalists, is propaganda by the elite plumping for greater war in Afghanistan and Syria. He is implying that if Kelly and McMaster took more dovish positions on Afghanistan and Syria, their public image would be altogether different. Greenwald supplies no evidence for this premise. In fact, McMasters most acute policy struggle has been his efforts to maintain the Iran nuclear agreement, one which has placed him on the dovish side, against an established neoconservative position. Greenwald does not mention this issue, which fatally undermines his entire analysis. The final point of overlap between Greenwald and the nationalists is their relatively sympathetic view of Russia. The nationalists admire Putin as a champion of white Christian culture against Islam, a predisposition Greenwald does not share at all. Greenwald has, however, defended Russias menacing of its neighbors, and repeatedly questioned its ties to WikiLeaks. From the outset, he has reflexively discounted evidence of Russian intervention in the election. Democrats completely resurrect that Cold War McCarthyite kind of rhetoric not only to accuse Paul Manafort, who does have direct financial ties to certainly the pro the former pro-Russian leader of the Ukraine, he asserted last year. (Manafort did have financial ties to that leader, a fact that was obvious at the time and which Manafort no longer denies.) Democratic accusations that Trump had hidden ties with Russia were a smear tactic, unhinged, wild, elaborate conspiracy theories, a desperate excuse for their election defeat, and so on. As evidence of Russian intervention piled up, Greenwalds line of defense has continued to retreat. When emails revealed a campaign meeting by Russians on the explicit promise of helping Trumps campaign, Greenwald brushed it off as politics as usual: I, personally, although its dirty, think all of these events are sort of the way politics works. Of course if youre in an important campaign and someone offers you incriminating information about your opponent, youre going to want it no matter where it comes from. This closely tracks the Trump legal teams own defense of the Russia scandal, a fact that is probably coincidental. (There are only so many arguments to make.) Greenwald is not a racist, and is the opposite of a nationalist, and yet his worldview has brought him into close alignment with that of the alt-right. A Greenwaldian paranoid would see this quasi-alliance as a conspiracy. The reality of his warped defenses of Trump is merely that of a monomaniac unable to relinquish his obsessions. Young Yemenis suspected of being infected with cholera receive treatment at a hospital in Sanaa on May 6, 2017. Photo: Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images The United States has had a dismal track record managing conflicts in the Middle East in recent years, but in Yemen, it is currently abetting a humanitarian disaster that could ultimately rival Syria and Iraq in its destabilizing impact on the region and the world. More than 10,000 people have been killed in the intractable civil war between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government loyalists over the past three years. But the tens of thousands killed by armed violence may represent only a fraction of its total victims, and the U.S. government seems to be doing everything it can to make things worse. Over the weekend, international aid agencies warned that some 20 million people were imminently at risk of dying of starvation or poverty-related diseases in Yemen and a number of African countries, all of which are facing critical food shortages. In Yemen alone, Save the Children counts 20.7 million people, half of them children, in dire need of aid. Meanwhile, a cholera epidemic is raging through the parts of Yemen hit hardest by the war, with at least 360,000 suspected cases and perhaps as many as 425,000. Some 2,000 people have already died in the epidemic, and the number of cases is rising by some 7,000 a day. Both of these crises are entirely man-made. The famine in Yemen is not a consequence of drought or crop failure indeed, in recent decades Yemen has shifted most of its agricultural land to growing the stimulant drug qat and other cash crops, and imports almost 90 percent of its food. Rather, the famine is the intentional result of a two-year blockade imposed on the country by Saudi Arabia, with the help of its allies, including the U.S., in a deliberate effort to starve the rebel-held areas into submission. The ruthless siege tactics of the Saudi-led coalition are also directly to blame for the cholera outbreak. Saudi Arabia has targeted civilian areas with its bombs, destroying vital infrastructure like hospitals and water systems. Dr. Homer Venters, director of programs at Physicians for Human Rights, says we are witnessing the weaponization of disease in Yemen, as well as in Syria. Yemenis gather at the site of a Saudi-led air strike on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Saada, on August 4, 2017. Photo: Stringer/AFP/Getty Images The U.S. cannot sidestep its own complicity in this carnage. After belatedly realizing that the Saudis were bombing Yemeni civilians with American-made weapons, the Obama administration blocked sales of cluster bombs and precision munitions to Riyadh last year. The Trump administration, however, sought to resume precision weapons sales back in March, and the Senate signed off on a new $500 million deal by a narrow margin in June. Since March, the administration has been considering expanding U.S. involvement in the Yemen conflict which the Saudis surely encouraged during Trumps visit there in May. While reports of a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia resulting from that trip may have been exaggerated (Brookings fellow Bruce Riedel noted at the time that these sales were neither final nor necessarily new), Trump clearly does not share his predecessors mild qualms about selling our allies the tools to blow up hospitals and water pumps, as long as he can plausibly spin those sales as creating jobs at Lockheed Martin. This attitude is hardly a novelty in U.S. foreign policy: As long as the Saudis buy their guns and bombs from us, were not too concerned about how they end up using them, whether its to besiege Yemen, threaten Qatar, brutally suppress protests in Bahrain, or intimidate their own citizens into quiescence. Given Trumps single-minded obsession with making deals and goosing U.S. manufacturing jobs, as well as his susceptibility to Saudi flattery, his administration is unlikely to stand up to our most troublesome ally anytime soon. Part of what allows the United States to be an accessory to these atrocities is the fact that though Yemen bleeds, it doesnt lead. Coverage of Yemen in the Western media, where it exists at all, tends to be one-dimensional parachute journalism, produced by non-expert reporters and focusing solely on the Sunni-Shiite, Saudi-Iranian proxy war dimension of the conflict. Part of the problem is that Yemen is a difficult and dangerous place for journalists to go: Way back in 2015, when the Saudi intervention was young but already destructive, Jared Malsin observed at the Columbia Journalism Review that foreign journalists were having a hard time getting close enough to the conflict to actually cover it and low internet penetration in Yemen hinders local journalism from both citizens and professionals. Similar challenges have not, however, prevented more robust coverage of Syria and Iraq. Yemens civil war may not be attracting the same kind of attention because its refugees are not reaching European shores, so the crisis is not affecting the West directly, or simply because it does not lend itself to easy hero-and-villain angles. A displaced woman drags water back to her tent in Abs IDP camp, located just 40 kilometers from the frontline to Saudi Arabia. Photo: Giles Clarke/Getty Images Indeed, the Houthi rebels and their Iranian suppliers who have recently been stepping up their infusions of cash, drugs, and weapons to the rebels have shown plenty of disregard for human rights and committed plenty of war crimes of their own, including indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and the use of mines. But the resources this side of the conflict can muster pale in comparison to what the Saudis are spending on the war in Yemen, which one study puts at $200 million a day (ironically, for all the expensive suffering theyre causing, the Saudis may be losing the war, or at least becoming bogged down in an Afghanistan-esque quagmire). One of the most pernicious qualities of war is that it is hugely profitable for certain people, and in a failed state like Yemen, those people are local warlords, heads of militias, and terrorist cells. One of the reasons the conflict has proven so intractable is that while the civilian population is starving, the rebels are making out like bandits. The pillaging of Yemen is also netting tens of millions a year for Al Qaedas local affiliate. American weapons manufacturers, meanwhile, surely arent complaining about those big orders from Saudi Arabia. Shockingly, nobody involved in the violence in Yemen seems to have the best interests of its people at heart. What really makes the war in Yemen frightening is that the country was already in a fragile state: The poorest country in the Arab region, overpopulated and heavily dependent on imports, the countrys biggest problem is that it is drying up. A population boom and the rise of a cash crop economy has led to overexploitation of scarce resources, exacerbated by the effects of climate change, and Yemen is now one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. Some experts believe Sanaa could become the worlds first capital city to run out of water entirely not decades from now, but by 2025 and what little water the city has left is now contaminated with cholera. If nothing is done to alleviate Yemens water crisis, and especially if war continues to degrade infrastructure and make repairs impossible, Yemen is a strong candidate for the worlds first major climate refugee crisis. Between civil war, famine, disease, climate change, and the indifference of the world, the land known to the Greeks and Romans as Happy Arabia is well on its way to becoming ungovernable, if not uninhabitable. So tired of winning. Photo: Justin Merriman/Getty Images Donald Trumps formula for winning reelection is the same as his formula for winning at everything else: Capitilize on a valuable inheritance, and keep a segment of the public indoctrinated into your cult of personality. More precisely, the president needs to maintain the growing economy he inherited from his predecessor, and retain the admiration of enough Republican and non-college-educated white voters to hold the rust-belt swing states. Two-hundred days in, Trump is meeting his first objective, but not his second. And that should cause some consternation in Bedminster this week after all, if the presidents base is crumbling amid a rising stock market and falling unemployment rate, what will keep it from collapsing when and if the economy stalls or backslides? Before saying more about Trumps hypothetical, future woes, lets take stock of the presidents actual, present ones. Here are the numbers that should be putting grease on Steve Bannons brow this morning: 36.6, 71, and 59. That first figure is Trumps current approval rating in FiveThirtyEights poll of polls and, also, the lowest approval rating that the president has ever posted in that sites model. A new CNN poll finds Trump standing an inch higher, but still significantly beneath his immediate predecessors, at this point in their presidencies. The second figure, 71, is the percentage of Republicans who approve of the president in a new Investors Business Daily poll. As the Washington Posts Aaron Blake notes, thats lower than Barack Obamas approval ever dipped among Democrats in any high-quality poll. Just one month ago, the IBD survey showed Trump retaining 83 percent support among GOP voters. The president does enjoy over 80 percent Republican support in CNNs poll but the network also finds that the percentage of GOP voters who strongly approve of their president has fallen from 73 in February to (grim figure No. 3) 59 this week. And those numbers may actually overstate the resilience of Trumps support. As the moguls presidency has unfolded, Republican self-identification has declined in Gallups polling. Thus, Trumps standing with Republicans in surveys may actually be inflated, since some GOP voters who disapprove of him are now telling pollsters that theyre independents. Whats more, Trump is losing ground with another core constituency: white voters without college degrees. A Quinnipiac poll released last week found that the president is underwater with the demographic, for the first time since taking office 50 percent of white, working-class voters disapproved of Trump, while a mere 43 percent stood by their billionaire. CNNs numbers arent quite so ugly, but the poll still testifies to the same trend: In February, Trump boasted strong approval from 47 percent of non-college-educated whites; now, that figure is 35 percent. The IBD survey, meanwhile, shows the presidents approval among low-income voters in free fall. Last month, 40 percent of those earning between $30,000 and $50,000 backed the president; today, just 27 percent do. In the context of all these other findings, the single grimmest poll result for Trump may be this: In CNNs survey, 53 percent of Americans said things in the country are going well. Which is to say: Trump has managed to become a historically reviled president at a time when the economy is doing relatively well, and a majority of Americans believe that to be the case. Its difficult to say how, precisely, Trump has achieved this feat. The president has provided the public with an array of discrete reasons to dislike him. One potential culprit, his administrations comical dishonesty, seems to be wearing on even his staunchest defenders. Among voters who approve of Trumps job performance, only 51 percent say they trust most (or all) of what they hear from the White House. Among the public as a whole, the percentage is 24. Theres also some evidence that Trumps decision to back draconian Medicaid cuts cost him with his low-income supporters, while his failure to shepherd a health-care bill through Congress hurt him with others. Regardless, the presidents historic unpopularity could have significant implications for our politics, well before 2020. For one thing, as NBC News notes, there is a strong correlation between a presidents approval rating and his partys fortunes in midterm elections. Why Trump's low poll numbers matter for '18 midterms: The lower the rating, the worse that party typically performs https://t.co/k7SxnlOPwq pic.twitter.com/qLJ0XFUtVj Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) August 8, 2017 For another, Trumps ability to keep congressional Republicans cooperative on legislation and, more critically, complacement about his White Houses audacius corruption could be compromised, should his support among GOP voters continue to dip. Murmurs about potential primary challenges to Trump in 2020 have already grown audible. A new poll from American Research Group finds John Kasich leading Trump by 12 points in a hypothetical, 2020 GOP primary showdown in the drug-infested den of New Hampshire. All that said, there are some bright spots for the president. Trumps approval rating remains anomalously high in battleground House districts, according to polling from Vox and SurveyMonkey; the Democratic Partys approval rating remains abysmal; and the entire playing field of American politics remains tilted in the GOPs favor (thanks to Republican gerrymandering and the disproportionate power of tiny rural states in the Senate). Still, given the presidents myriad liabilities, a well-timed recession would almost certinaly ovewhelm the GOPs structural advantages and capsize Trumps presidency next November. And, as of this writing, the House Freedom Caucus is working hard to engineer such a downturn. These two men really, really hate the slavery to Senate Democrats the legislative filibuster creates. Maybe theyll find a way to use must-pass legislation to nuke it. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images There is nothing more frightening in American politics than members of Congress deciding to play chicken with a debt-limit increase. But that is what seems to be happening now, according to a report from Matt Fuller contradicting earlier assurances that Representative Mark Meadows and his abrasively conservative House Freedom Caucus were ready to go along with the kind of clean i.e., without conditions debt-limit increase that can get through the House and also win 60 votes in the Senate. According to Fuller, Meadows and his friends have lots of dirty demands as conditions for their votes, and worse yet, might go to war with Speaker Paul Ryan if he bypasses them by securing Democratic votes for a clean bill. There are many possible political and economic ramifications of this oncoming confrontation in the House. But the logic of Meadowss position that could take the fight in an unexpected direction: placing intense pressure on Mitch McConnell and Republican senators to kill the legislative filibuster so that Republicans will never again have to kowtow to a Democratic minority in Congress. In the Fuller piece, Meadows ally Dave Brat bluntly expressed the long-standing frustration of House conservatives with having to trim their fiscal sails time after time: Its not about Paul Ryan, he said. Its about the Republican brand and fiscal responsibility. Why would we put a clean debt ceiling increase without any reforms whatsoever on a Republican presidents desk? The simple answer to Brats question is: the Senate filibuster. And while Republicans can get around a filibuster (though its easier said than done, as the GOP health care debacle has shown) with special budget rules, they are not available for appropriations bills or debt-limit bills with or without spending conditions attached. So House conservatives are shackled to the Senate so long as Republicans fall short of a supermajority in that chamber. The only way out is to blow up the legislative filibuster. As it happens, that is something in which Mark Meadows has already expressed a strong interest. Back in March he joined Ted Cruz in an op-ed calling for the repudiation of potential Senate parliamentarian rulings on which health-care provisions did not meet budget rules and thus qualify for passage by a simple Senate majority. This approach was rejected by Mitch McConnell on the accurate grounds that the practice would quickly lead to the de facto abolition of the legislative filibuster. But Meadows was fully onboard, and presumably most of his HFC buddies would be as well, since nuking the filibuster would end the frustrating tyranny of Senate Democrats. Considering the possibility this issue could pop up during the maneuvering over a debt-limit increase, its important to remember theres another influential Republican who hates the legislative filibuster and wants McConnell to kill it: Donald J. Trump. The very outdated filibuster rule must go. Budget reconciliation is killing R's in Senate. Mitch M, go to 51 Votes NOW and WIN. IT'S TIME! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017 Lo and behold, Trump also hates the idea of clean debt-limit and appropriations bills negotiated with Democrats: He wants funding for his cherished Border Wall. Mark Meadows agrees with Trump on that as well. It is not at all far-fetched to envision Trump (whose go-to move on health-care legislation was always to work with the HFC) and Meadows deciding to go after the legislative filibuster as a condition either votes for a debt-limit increase, votes for a year-end omnibus appropriations measure, or both (these two must-pass bills may well be combined). This would change the political dynamics significantly: Instead of the well-worn story of conservatives threatening a debt default or government shutdown if their demands arent met, it could look as though the real threat was coming from McConnell and his quaint attachment to hoary Senate traditions that no one else gives a damn about. Such a maneuver, if it worked, would not only make dirty, ideologically-laden debt-limit and spending bills much easier to enact: It could also revive the health-care legislation that is such a blot on the GOPs 2017 record (a filibuster-less Senate would not necessarily give Republicans the 50 votes they need to pass health-care legislation, but would make cutting a deal to get to 50 immensely easier with no budget rules involved). Who knows: Paul Ryan might even get o board the no-filibuster train, since it would shift all the grief he gets from party conservatives to McConnell. Dont be surprised if this becomes a big development. It may be just a presidential tweet away. Photo: George Rose/Getty Images Over the weekend, Motherboard broke the news of an internally viral anti-diversity memo circulating over at Google. Written by a male engineer, the ten-page document is titled Googles Ideological Echo Chamber and spells out, in grossly inaccurate details and facts, the ways that discrimination to reach equal representation is unfair, divisive, and bad for business. The full text of the document was later published by Gizmodo and is every bit as awful, if not more, than the title might lead you to believe. (Further reporting from Motherboard revealed Wikipedia was used among other, more reliable sources in the memos citations.) While Google employees knew who wrote the document, the author had, until Monday night, remained mostly anonymous to the general public. Now, Bloomberg is reporting a Google engineer named James Damore is the memos author and that he has been fired for perpetuating gender stereotypes. (Bloomberg writes that Damore confirmed this via email.) Earlier on Monday, the companys CEO, Sundar Pichai, sent a memo to staff characterizing Damores memo-writing as advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace, Recode reports. The internal memo also noted Damore had violated Googles Code of Conduct. Select All reached out to Google for comment, but the company declined to answer, saying it cant comment on individual employee cases. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump thanked a fan of his on Twitter with the handle @ProTrump45, an account that appeared at first glance to belong to an African-American woman named Nicole Mincey. But this is Twitter, and this is Donald Trump, and this is 2017, and nothing is ever quite as simple as you might hope. To start with: As many people quickly noted, the avatar for the account was taken from the website of a stock-photo company. And the website linked from the account, protrump45.com, is an online store for Trump-related merchandise concerning our president. This combination of mysterious and stolen stock photo and bald cash grab understandably garnered suspicion. How did a low-rent unofficial-merch store like ProTrump45 gain the attention of the U.S. presidency? (Occams razor: Our president is a doofus.) Interestingly enough, this wasnt the first time ProTrump45, or Mincey, had garnered media attention. The Daily Caller ran a story that consisted of Minceys promotional copy in early June, though the post has since been updated with a note that reads, The advertiser story below might be completely fake, but their deals are 100% real! Get your Trump swag while you can! Built on a DIY website service called Wix, ProTrump45 sells familiar (but not official) #MAGA apparel. This is the perfect store built by a trump supporter for trump supporters, the sites poorly worded About Us section reads. Donald J Trump is the 45th president of the United States and he represents conservative and middle america. Why would conservative media be so interested in a ramshackle web operation like Minceys? Her copy gives a clue: ProTrump45 and Nicole are beautiful representations of black Republicans and overall minority conservatives, it reads, in part. She steps outside of the liberal narrative that every Trump supporter is an old angry white man. Someone pretending to be Mincey had also called into at least one radio show to discuss politics and her business. What happened here? The president had retweeted an account using a fake photo with a clear profit interest in publicity. A narrative quickly and understandably coalesced around the idea that @ProTrump45 was a bot and that Mincey was a fictional character. The curious case of Nicole Mincey, the Trump fan who may actually be a Russian bot, reads a Washington Post headline. Trump Retweets Supporter Who Is Young, Black and Fake, wrote the Wrap. Trump retweeted a Twitter bot then it got suspended, Business Insider said (the account was suspended after it tried to sell the @ProTrump45 handle and its 146,000 followers shortly after the presidents endorsement). Twitter Has Suspended Some Fake Accounts After President Trump Thanked a Bot for Support, Uproxx wrote. The Independent Journal Review, which devotes most of its White House coverage to aggressive bootlicking, put a lighter spin on it: Trump Retweets Supporter Who Turns Out to Be Stock Photo of Nice Young Black Lady. Theres just one problem: Even cursory web-sleuthing would have revealed that there is, in fact, a real Nicole Mincy (no E) a black woman in New Jersey and that, as shared addresses showed, she was involved in the ProTrump45 operation. Her Facebook and LinkedIn accounts are just a few well-crafted search queries away. Her universitys mailing address was included on a press release announcing the online store. A phone number on the press release was linked to both the @ProTrump45 Instagram account and Mincys personal Snapchat account. Someone intent on stealing Mincys identity would have had to have had access to her phone or SIM card to link her Snapchat and Instagram to that phone number. Mincy likely helped run this business, used a stock-photo avatar, and is now denying it. So President Trump hadnt tweeted a bot at all: Hed tweeted the praise of a supporter who worked with or owned a pro-Trump store. It was odd that Mincy was using a stock photo for her avatar instead of a real photo of herself but there are weirder things on Twitter than people using photos that are not themselves. (Mincy did not respond to phone calls yesterday.) Only, as soon as everyone seemed to recognize that the woman wasnt a bot, the story got more complicated. Mincy, reached by reporters at Heavy.com, denied running the store, claiming that her identity had been co-opted and that she planned to file a report with the police. Then, yesterday, she told Daily Beast that she was one of about ten people running the operation. According to her, The group reached out to Nicole in January through her Instagram, where she had been posting pro-Trump memes and the occasional picture of herself. It was a woman named Lorraine, specifically, who asked her to join ProTrump45s blog. Mincy claims she dropped out of the group when she saw that they were using her name without her permission on Twitter. It gets even more complicated from there. Daily Beast reporter Ben Collins was unable to speak with any of the other members of the group Mincy claims exists, and there is some circumstantial evidence that Mincys own evidence of her communications with the group was forged. So, okay, thats about as much context as we actually have. The question is: Did President Trump retweet a bot? No. Did he retweet a real person? Well, hmm, not really. Probably the most accurate thing we can say at this point is that President Trump retweeted a fictionalized character being used by the marketing arm of a fly-by-night e-commerce operation to publicize its shoddy Trump merchandise. In other words, he retweeted a brand. The obsession with social-media meddling has made it so that those opposing Trump online see enemies and nefarious plots where none exist. Six months ago, fake news was the bete noire of the online resistance a category that unhelpfully collapsed the distinctions between actual for-profit hoax sites, partisan news organizations, and dumb idiots who didnt know better either way. Bots now serves the same purpose, encompassing within it actual bots (automated programs like those designed to have the top replies to Trump), Twitter accounts run by real humans with ulterior geopolitical motives, obsessive pro-Trump Twitter accounts run by American voters, normal people who use avatars that are not their faces, and whatever it is that Nicole Mincey was. Yesterday morning, House of Cards showrunner tweeted, separate from the Mincey affair, Hey @jack @Twitter, would be great if one of the report options was Suspected Bot. Theyre easy to spot. Let us help you get rid of them. Im not quite sure anyone is up to the task. A medical examination conducted on the 18-year-old girl accusing a senior police intelligence officer, Gilbert Arinaitwe Bwana of rape has confirmed that she was indeed sexually abused. The rape victim appeared on Monday before the Criminal Investigations Directorate at Kibuli together with her mother and recorded a statement implicating Arinaitwe. A reliable source at Kibuli told URN on condition of anonymity that the medical examination report that was released on Sunday shows that the girl was sexually abused. Gilbert Arinaitwe Bwana is infamous for smashing opposition doyen Kizza Besigye's car window with his pistol and then spraying pepper into his eyes in 2011 Police spokesperson, Asan Kasingye has also confirmed that the girl was abused, adding that whoever was involved will be held to account. "This young girl needed help and it's so unfortunate that someone took advantage of her. We are not hiding anything. We are going to investigate the matter to its conclusion," Kasingye said. Arinaitwe was arrested on Friday evening last week and locked up at Railways police cells for allegedly raping the schoolgirl whom he met at the Criminal Investigations Directorate headquarters in Kibuli. He reportedly hoodwinked the schoolgirl into meeting him in undisclosed location in Nakawa, a Kampala suburb where he raped her. Preliminary investigations show that Arinaitwe met the victim at CID headquarters in Kibuli, a week ago and took her contacts. The victim and her mother had gone to Kibuli to meet detectives in the Family Protection Unit. The mother had wanted officers to advise her daughter because she was losing concentration in her studies. In 2011, Arinaitwe made into the news when he brutalized Dr Kiiza Besigye, the former Forum for Democratic Change party president during the walk to work demonstrations at Mulago roundabout. He was captured on video smashing Besigye's car windows with a pistol before he pepper-sprayed him directly in the eyes leading to his transfer to Nairobi for treatment. He was suspended following wide spread condemnation and was charged with assault. However, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions exonerated Arinaitwe in August 2014 on grounds that he acted in line with the provision of the Police Act and the Penal code. In 2015, Arinaitwe's marriage was dissolved after his wife accused of adultery. Arinaitwe also hit the news recently when he appeared on TV ministering and performing healing miracles at Rubaga Miracle Center and Redeemed Church in Masajja. A grandmother and two other persons have been arrested in Butaleja district for alleged child trafficking of a 6-year-old boy. According to police, Sairuna Nabaje, a resident of Nabiganda village in Kachonga sub-county, approached Christopher Kawu and Musa Wanande, both residents of Butaleja town council and attempted to sell her 6-year-old grandson, saying she did not have money to look after him. Bukedi regional police spokesperson, Sowali Kamulya says the trio has been arrested for child trafficking. According to Kamulya, the grandmother Nabaje approached Kawu and Wanande looking for someone to buy the six-year-old boy. Nabaje reportedly claimed that the boy's mother, Maureen Nasali left for Kampala three years back leaving her in charge of the minor. Kamulya says Kawu and Wanande also approached another person only identified as Mugaga Muto and briefed him about the 'deal'. Police says that Mugaga turned down the offer, saying he didn't have money and instead offered to get them another 'buyer'. Mugaga reported the matter to police leading to the arrest of the trio. The suspects are currently in custody at Butaleja Central Police Station on child trafficking charges and are expected to appear in court anytime. Our reporter was unable to establish how much Nabaje was selling her grandson and what she expected the buyer to do with the minor. Some of these minors end up as victims of child sacrifice. This is PART 6 of a series revealing Lainey Gossip's many blind items!If you don't know, a blind item is a piece of gossip that is too juicy or legally dangerous for a gosisp journalist to publis. So they write them as anonymous riddles and leave clues for you to guess. Lainey has revealed some of her best blind items on her blog, and this series is a ~master list~ of them.More tea spilled at Part 1 Part 3 , and Part 4 Whats the measure of a truly obnoxious diva? The demands, yes. The attitude, of course. The sense of entitlement, absolutely.But dont forget a whole new way of speaking to go with a whole new level of success. Girlfriend has taken to talking about herself in the third person. Now think about how cloying this would be and imagine you were present during this recent, seemingly harmless discussion she had with her assistant. Lets call her Judy, after my mother, shall we?Judy: When is Judys call time tomorrow?Staff: were gonna get you there for 7am.Judy: 7am is too early for Judy. Judys going out late at that thing tonight? Cant you move it for Judy? :Staff: its a half day shoot and they could only get the permit until 2. Did you want me to see if I get you out of the meeting tonight?Judy: No way, everyones gotta see Judy tonight!And it keeps going and going and going. But dont doubt for a second that she doesnt know exactly what shes doing. Because as much as the third person comes out to rule in private, the words I and me miraculously re-enter her lexicon as soon as its time to sell. Lifelong training and preparation has paid offand like any true diva, this girl is a total pro.Remember the dude who excelled with his tongue? Well, it looks like he has a female counterpart.Some couples are pretty conventional. Others? Not so much. It helps when both are open minded and accepting of suggestions, don't you think? So when she was with her equally famous ex, he complained one night of her deficiency in the blowing department and to help her with it, he signed her up for private lessons with an F master. And the results were, um, mindblowing. But now that they're no longer together, she's taking her skills elsewhereand the recipient of her oral gifts cannot believe his luck. So much so that when her new lover and her old one ran into each other at an event recently, Mr. Current actually THANKED Mr. Ex for the hook up. Yet another reason why the stupid idiot should be kicking himself for being so shortsightedNot only is she is a master at it, she's also a fiend. A few months ago, at a business lunch with a couple of her boyfriend's business associates, she apparently couldn't help herself, leaned over and whispered the following in her lover's ear (and this is NOT FOR THE PRUDISH): Baby, I am gonna suck it so hard when we get in the car.Needless to say, their lunch dates were shocked...and just a little jealous.How can the privileged behave so poorly? Especially someone who sounds so elegant? Whose record has been spotless and golden?Then again, its always the ones you least expect.In her case however its become an M.O., a trail of cheapness wherever she goes.So you know when you stay at a hotel, if the soap and bath products happen to be on the higher end, its customary to ask for a few refills and take some home? This of course is standard behaviour for USbecause were broke!But how about a busy, working actress, married to a busy working man, both with several projects on the go does it then become less acceptable? Almost shameful? I think so yes.And still she does it wherever she goes on junkets, on promotional tours, whenever shes at a hotel, she orders up extras: extra shampoo, extra lotion, even extra bathrobes, taking EVERYTHING home yes, even the bathrobes. The bathrobes that are washed then used again by every guest staying in that suite, she insists on bringing it all with her. Including the gifts too.She is also not shy with special requests. Lighting fixtures, humidifiers, strollers kinda major items youd think would be on loan, right?Wrong.She packs those up with her too. The woman leaves NOTHING behind.The question is: what does she do with it all?Would you believe she gives it to her staff? She saves the little soaps and gels and crafts them into small baskets and presents them to the nannies and the housekeepers as bonuses!Can you imagine? Can you imagine a Christmas gift basket full of hotel shampoos and conditioners?I mean How.F&cking.Tacky.Celebrities are surrounded all the time by beautiful women. Especially him. He boasts an impressive track record, minus one infection, and so you would think, for a regular, non famous girl, even a really, really beautiful non famous girl, it would be an insurmountable obstacle to catch his eyeright?Not so.But just because its easy to attract him doesnt mean its easy to pleasure him. Turns out his libido doesnt quite match up to the legend. And his prowess isnt exactly the smoothest either. SO disappointing.She and her girlfriends found him at a club in Vegas recently. Danced in front of his booth and eventually caught his eye. He sent over the bodyguard, they were invited to join, and soon everyone ended up in his suite, even though hes supposed to have a sexy steady. On this night however he was playing single.First he asked his evenings target to give him a massage. She obliged. Eventually they ended up alone in his room. Making out turned to sex. He used a condom and went through the conventional motions. Highly unimaginative and even a little gross?Apparently our superstar superstud releases the most unpleasant sound effects. Grunts and groans and straight up no rhythm pounding, making it clear that without a cinematographer and a world class director, he isnt exactly the undercover loverboy we all believed he was.Like, no moves whatsoever.Needless to say, his lame technique wasnt getting him anywhere, so in relief he asked her to fondle his boys instead. By boys I mean balls. A gorgeous, willing girl in his bed, game for anything and in the end he could only finish in his own hand in front of her.Many of you love him There is certainly a hint of dark sexual deviation about him. And his unabashed lack of inhibition would suggest a tendency to experiment with all kindsa crazy that would make most of us blush. One day not too long ago, he came home from work. Dinner was ready. His partner came to greet him and was pleasantly surprised that he wasn't alone. Two luscious females and a strapping young dude were standing at the door. A party of 5, if you will. (and no. it's not Matthew Fox or the other dude who played Bailey). Extra take out was quickly ordered. They all sat round the table to feast and before you know it, the wine took effect and the clothes started coming off and the food was passed around, only it was being passed around from mouth to mouth, and then from breast to mouth, and before long, we had a full on orgy on our hands. How do I know??? Well, the housekeeper found them in varying states of excess and undress the following morning.Back to the orgiastic actor and his equally experimental partner. A couple of months after the aforementioned dinner party, he found himself in the company of a just divorced colleague who was looking to spice up her own life. Naturally, the legend invited her back to his place and as you would expect, when they arrived home, dinner was ready, the table was set, and his beautiful other half was ready to play. For some reason though, the girls ended up concentrating on each other only, leaving him to his own devicesand the digital recorder. Everything was captured on tape and, like the dog he is, he shared it with the buddies one night after a long evening of drinking.Miss Bottom had two. Both of the same fierce breed. They say of this breed that they should never be left alone together. That inevitably only one will remain.And this is what happened recently. One ate the other. The other is gone. Killed. Seeing as she has such a wonderful publicist however, this tragedy likely wont see the light of day.But every dog owner will tell you they are like our children. We are responsible for our children. We are responsible for making sure they are safe.Clearly her dogs were not safe. Clearly she was too busy publicising a romance rather than prioritising her pet.Douche.Add ha to the irresponsible pet owners post She's seen her fair share of trouble over the last year. I'm told however that things are on the up and up. Good for her. But as well as she's recovered, it certainly doesn't mean she's any less eccentric. And while her unique style doesn't work for meit certainly adds some flavah to her image. And in Hollywoodit's all about what you look like on the outside.Thing is, she also seems hellbent on matching what's hidden with what's not. The hair changes colour frequently. Which is fine. But can you believe that every time the hair goes a different colour, the pubes have to as well?? This is what's expected of her colour stylist. Not only a session with the head, but also with the P. As you can imagine, it's not a particularly pleasant job. Which is why the complaining has reached all the way hereOh and one more thinghow adorable. She has matching hair everywhere and yet she still sucks her thumb, as witnessed by fellow passengers on a recent flight. Typical little girl lost, non?" My 69 cents could be spent on better things. Reply Thread Link Her label better stop playing and release that damn album. Reply Thread Link im always really embarrassed for the artists who have to perform inside the gma studio instead of the concert stage outside Reply Thread Link Are you thinking of the Nicki Minaj performance? Lmao Reply Parent Thread Link The Today Show/GMA always put artists that can't draw a big enough crowd inside the studios lol Reply Parent Thread Link Adele was inside on one of these shows. I imagine she could have drawn a crowd. Reply Parent Thread Link so rita is as big as adele. interesting.. Reply Parent Thread Link probably because it was too cold for her to sing outside Reply Parent Thread Link Delete this Reply Parent Thread Link Coming for those Bubbling Under charts!! Reply Thread Link The song is actually not bad. Reply Thread Link dead @ Rita Ora Brasil, Brazilians will stan anyone. Smh Reply Thread Link Idk if they stan Yonka stuffing her cankles into rollerskates like you do, but aside from that yes. Lol. Reply Parent Thread Link Beyonce is THE queen in Brasil, so I guess the jokes on you. Reply Parent Thread Link It kills me how that user can shift any topic to Beyonce. The obsession is real. Reply Parent Thread Link I was joking with him, as we always do. You interjected yourself into something that had nothing to do with you. Yet again. Sad! Reply Parent Thread Link Yet again? I think it's cute that in your fantasy world I'm obsessed with you and you have friends. I guess this is what happens when your life consists of nothing but Britney and Beyonce. Good luck with your early onset dementia. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This audio pollution would be lucky to top the bubbling under chart. Reply Thread Link I don't like the lyrics, but she is very talanted and has a nice voice. I hope she can be more of a household name in US. Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link I wrote her off when she first came out as Rihanna 2.0 and her voice was grating as hell in the songs they'd picked for her but I've liked everything I've heard of off this elusive second album. I love her voice here. Reply Thread Link What chart? Reply Thread Link powerpoint chart Reply Parent Thread Link good. bye. LOL Reply Parent Thread Link Well....bless her heart. Reply Thread Link lol, gotta admire her persistence with this whole music thing. her album go pushed back again tho, oop. Reply Thread Link That's fine Reply Thread Link Lmao I came here to say the exact same thing. I think this story would be much better contained, and (hopefully) will have a very satisfying conclusion. Reply Parent Thread Link Only 5 eps left! I need to know where this is all heading. I'm still shook over episode 8. I want another revelation like that. Reply Thread Link this was me that episode fucked me up. like i had to scoop my brains off the floor after.this was me Reply Parent Thread Link I'm absolutely loving it, but good tbh. It will be so much more effective as a one and done thing. Plus it couldn't sustain itself across 2 seasons last time, it would kill me a bit if they decided to do a second season and the same thing happened. Reply Thread Link good Reply Thread Link Just give me a full season of Dale being Dale though :( 1 or 2 episodes (won't be more lbr) is not enough Reply Thread Link Girl we'll be lucky if we get 1 or 2. I can see the very last shot being Dale Cooper popping back. Lmao this is David Lynch. Reply Parent Thread Link I will CRY dont even say that Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, it's what I expected anyway since reading that Mark Frost is writing another book after this season is done. Reply Thread Link It's already available for pre order and comes out in October. Reply Parent Thread Link Well then Coop better fucking come back soon. Reply Thread Link Not sad. I've been super disappointed with The Return. It feels like another project Lynch wanted to do with only tangential links to Twin Peaks to keep fans watching. A lot of people are writing that off as just Lynch being Lynch, but it's missing the essential heart of what made the show work in the first place, and I've been forcing myself to watch. Reply Thread Link I mean, you can understand what they're going for technically and still not like it because of the reasons I mentioned. These things are not mutually exclusive, and tbh I tire of thinkpieces like this used as evidence that people who don't like the show in its current incarnation don't understand it. Reply Parent Thread Link It doesn't have the same lightness and silliness to balance the darkness as the original series did. I really miss the messy soap opera relationships. Obviously Lynch wanted to go very dark and surreal to show the effects the Black Lodge, BOB, Laura's death etc. has had on Twin Peaks for the past 25 years but I get that not everyone likes it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That's okay, I think GoT can take on Twin Peaks' quota for unnecessary scenes of violence against women. The quota for beautiful but strangely mute women will sadly remain unfulfilled. Reply Thread Link lmfao Reply Parent Thread Link I hope we get a satisfying conclusion tho. Reply Thread Link Good, it's sooo bad so far. :( Reply Thread Link probably for the best Reply Thread Link I just started the original series.... I HATED the pilot until Kyle McLachlan showed up and then really enjoyed it. I just finished episode three, and I am looking forward to slowly working through it. Reply Thread Link I would rather it end than get dragged on, but I hope it reaches a logical conclusion. Reply Thread Link Compliance with the OPEC oil output deal continues to decline as the cartel's production increases for the month of July. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Oil prices have rallied back towards $50 per barrel, retracing the steep losses in June. But upside potential is limited, and in fact, oil prices are under pressure because of waning OPEC compliance. OPEC production rose in June and July, putting the groups output at its highest level so far this year. Iraq and the UAE have routinely overproduced, while Saudi Arabia has also boosted output to meet higher summer demand. Rising production from exempted countries Libya and Nigeria are overwhelming some of OPECs cuts. Total production from the cartel stands somewhere around 32.9 million barrels per day, according to SEB, almost 1 mb/d above its low point from earlier this year. Market Movers Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP) says that sabotage or an accident might have caused the spill of diesel and drilling fluid into an Ohio wetland, which led to regulators halting construction on the $4.2 billion Rover natural gas pipeline. Saudi Aramco is considering a $2 billion investment in a Chinese state-owned refinery, giving Aramco a 30 percent stake in PetroChinas 260,000 bpd facility. The move would be consistent with Aramcos strategy of locking in demand for its crude by acquiring stakes in overseas refineries. BP (NYSE: BP) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral by Piper Jaffray, because BP is in the early stages of multi-year positive inflection after putting the costs of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster behind it. Piper Jaffray gave BP a $42 per share price target, up from $38. Tuesday August 8, 2017 Oil prices faltered on Monday on concerns about slipping OPEC compliance, as well as news that a disruption in Libya had ended. "The petroleum markets are tipping toward the lower end of their recent trading range as oil producers meeting in Abu Dhabi have been slow to assure the market that compliance with this years production cuts will be improved, Tim Evans, Citi Futures energy futures specialist, wrote in a research note. News that Saudi Arabia would cut oil exports (see below) helped steady crude benchmarks on Tuesday. Related: Venezuela Rebellion Could Send Oil To $80 Morgan Stanley: Signs of tightness showing up in certain pockets. In a new report, investment bank Morgan Stanley pointed to tightening signs for certain crude oil blends, including the Urals blend and oil from Angola. The market is showing some optimism, and narrowing differentials for other benchmarks against Brent offer some evidence about tightening conditions. At the same time, Morgan Stanley noted that U.S. shale companies tend to hedge their production at $50 per barrel, which could provide resistance for further price gains. $50 oil brings U.S. shale back. In addition to Morgan Stanley, other analysts agree that $50 is a key threshold that starts to trigger new output from U.S. shale. More fields are profitable, drillers are more likely to move ahead with new projects, and crucially, they can hedge at that level. I do think $50 is the line of demarcation, Rob Thummel, managing director for Tortoise Capital Advisors, told the WSJ. With oil below $50, producers in general are indicating that if we stay here at this price, were going to have to reassess capital and not spend as much, so production wont be as high. Saudi Arabia cuts oil exports to Asia. In an effort to accelerate the market balancing, Saudi Aramco is expected to cut oil sales to South Asia and Southeast Asia in September. Aramcos cuts across the globe could reach as high as 520,000 bpd. International oil companies pull out personnel from Venezuela as crisis deepens. Repsol (BME: REP) withdrew all of its foreign workers from Venezuela as the country continues to fall apart, and Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Statoil (NYSE: STO) and Total (NYSE: TOT) pulled smaller numbers of people out. The effect on the countrys oil production is unclear at the moment. Meanwhile, the U.S. is expected to slap sanctions on more individuals in the Venezuelan government, freezing the assets of 10 to 20 people close to the President. Disruption eases at Libya oil field. Libyas largest oil field, the Sharara, saw production interrupted by protests, but the National Oil Company said that it restored output after several hours. The 275,000 bpd is supposedly back online, however, the NOC did not say if the field was producing at full capacity. Norway oil production to enter decline by 2025. Bloomberg reported that Norways Lofoten islands will probably remain off limits for exploration, keeping what the industry believes are billions of barrels of crude oil reserves in the ground. The end result could mean that Norways oil production starts to decline by 2025, as depleted fields are not replaced. Norways output is already down 12 percent from the 2004 peak, but production has stabilized. However, a failure to find and develop new fields will mean the country sees output begin to fall apart by the middle of the next decade. Barclays: Oil to see a downward correction this quarter. Investment bank Barclays sees Brent crude prices falling in the third quarter, although the benchmark will then rebound at the end of the year. "Prices have moved higher, due to a perfect combination of a favorable macro environment, a seasonal uptick in consumption, continued inventory drawdowns, and geopolitical unrest," Barclays wrote in a research note. "Certain factors that supported prices in July are unlikely to last, and we expect a downward correction during this quarter." Related: Are Strong U.S. Crude Inventory Draws Sustainable? BP may have discovered new shale gas source in New Mexico. BP (NYSE: BP) said that one of its shale gas wells in the Mancos Shale in New Mexico reached the highest production rate in 14 years 12.9 million cubic feet of natural gas per day in the initial 30-day period. That exceeds the 8 to 12 mmcf/d seen in the Eagle Ford, for example. "This result supports our strategic view that significant resource potential exists in the San Juan Basin, and gives us confidence to pursue additional development of the Mancos Shale," said Dave Lawler, head of BPs shale gas unit, according to the Houston Chronicle. U.S. pipeline regulator finally gets back to business. The Trump administration is responsible for a backlog of oil and gas pipelines due to its insufficient and sluggish pace of filling vacancies at the powerful Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees the approval of pipelines across state lines. FERC needs three commissioners to have a quorum, and since February the agency has only had one, which meant that no approvals could be issued. That led to a backlog of around $13 billion worth of proposed pipelines. Last week, just before the U.S. Senate went on a month-long recess, they finally approved the necessary nominees. Kosmos Energy to drill off West Africa. Kosmos Energy (NYSE: KOS) said it would begin drilling the so-called super-giant gas fields off the coast of Senegal and Mauritania this month. Kosmos has been behind some of the largest discoveries in the region in recent years. "Mauritania-Senegal is the largest new petroleum system opened along the last 15 years along the Atlantic margin," Andy Inglis, chairman and CEO of Kosmos, told investors. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Trump administration is considering additional sanctions on Venezuelan individuals close to the Maduro government, but will first try to enlist support from other countries. This is what unnamed sources close to the President told Bloomberg, adding that the new sanctions will target between 10 and 20 people and will consist of freezing their assets. On July 31, the U.S. administration froze the assets of Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro in response to a vote that called for a Constituent Assemblya parliament that has the powers to amend the countrys constitution. There were expectations that the sanctions would target Venezuelas oil industry as well, but these seem to remain under consideration for the time being. In addition to Maduro, U.S. sanctions are in place against 13 senior government officials, including a vice-president of state-owned oil company PDVSA. Media reports from before the July 30 Constituent Assembly vote cited sources from Washington as saying that all options were on the table, including a suspension of U.S. oil exports to Venezuela as well as a ban on Venezuelan imports into the U.S., although the latter was highly improbable as it would create a problem for Gulf Coast refineries. Venezuela is the third-largest oil exporter to the United States. Related: U.S. Oil Sanctions Could Push Venezuela To The Brink The Maduro government has attracted much criticism, not just from Western countries but from its neighbors as well, including Peru and Chile. Eleven countries from Latin America plus Canada are meeting today to discuss the Venezuelan situation in Perus capital, Lima. Perus President, Pedro Pablo Kuczynsky last year called for foreign intervention in Venezuela on the grounds that an internationally mediated dialogue between the government and the opposition, which dominated the previous parliament, had failed to deliver results. In the meantime, oil companies that still have operations in Venezuela are removing their staff. So far, Repsol and Statoil have moved all their expat staff out of Venezuela, with Chevron and Total pulling out some employees. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BP has announced a potentially huge gas discovery in the Mancos Shale in New Mexico. The NEBU 602 Com 1H well, the company said, yielded an average 12.9 million cu ft of natural gas daily over a 30-day period, which is the highest production rate for the San Juan Basin, where the well is located, for the last 14 years. BP bought the Mancos Shale acreage from Devon Energy in late 2015. The assets include 480 wells on 33,000 acres. At the time, the British supermajor had 550,000 acres and produced 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily in the San Juan Basin. Following the NEBU 602 Com 1H news, the chief executive of BPs Lower 48 operations, Dave Lawler, said that the company believes the Mancos Shale could turn into an important new source of natural gas for the U.S. and that BP will expand its exploration activities there. BP reported underlying profit on a replacement cost basis of US$684 million for the second quarter of the year, down from US$1.5 billion for the first quarter. On an annual basis, however, the underlying RC result was only slightly lower than the US$720 million booked for April-June 2016. Net debt as of June 30, 2017, went up to US$39.8 billion, up from US$30.9 billion a year earlier. Divestments brought in US$500 million in the second quarter, up from US$400 million in Q2 2016. Operating cash flow for the three-month period came in at US$6.9 billion, up from US$5.3 billion a year earlier, excluding payments related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. The company said in late June that it had made four major gas discoveries since January, with combined estimated reserves of over 17 trillion cu ft. Gas exploration has become a more prominent part of the companys business strategy as it looks to shift away from oil and into gas, in a bid to take advantage of the rising demand for what many call a bridge fuel between fossil fuels and renewables. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia will ship one million bpd less crude oil to Asia next month in the latest sign that it is serious about shrinking the global oil glut, sources who spoke to Bloomberg said. One buyer in North Asia, the sources said, got an allocation 10 percent lower than what theyd asked for. The news came after a string of estimates from consultancies that OPECs July oil output hit its highest point so far this year. The latest figures, from Platts, pegged the cartels production at 32.82 million bpd, thanks to higher output from Libya and Nigeria. Last month, OPECs de-facto leader and largest producer pledged to cut overall August exports to 6.6 million bpd in a bid to compensate for declining compliance with last years production cut agreement aimed at boosting international prices. The figure represents a 600,000-bpd reduction from July shipments, and according to a Reuters source, would constitute the lowest monthly export level since this January. Asia is a key market for every exporter of crude oil and so far, Saudi Arabia has spared it from cuts in order to hold onto its prized market share, which is already under threat from Russia, the U.S., and Iran. Riyadh must be in a very tight spot if it has had to resort to export cuts in Asia, but the move is in line with the Kingdoms behavior since the signing of the production cut deal. Related: China Outpaces Competition In Renewable Race Saudi Arabia has made clear on numerous occasions that it will do whatever it takes to push up international oil prices, and this now seems to include relinquishing market share in Asia. Separately, the Kingdom said it would pressure other OPEC members to improve their compliance rate with the deal, but there is still the question of Libya and Nigeria, both exempt from the cuts, which are ramping up their oil output at a respectable rate. The reports of Saudi Arabias September export cuts pushed prices up slightly today, with WTI trading at US$49.54 and Brent at US$52.43 a barrel at 7:20 AM EDT. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Cascade Policy Institute Board of Directors has voted to support State Referendum 301 which seeks to refer certain taxes approved in House Bill 2391 to the November 6, 2018 General Election ballot (unless the date is changed to January 23rd by an Act of the legislature). The Referendum primarily seeks to refer some $333 million in new taxes, in the form of a 1.5 percent tax on health insurance premiums and a new 0.7 percent tax on certain hospitals. The Referendum does not affect the rest of HB 2391 which specifies how the state collects money to pay for the Oregon Health Plan, the states version of Medicaid, through assessments and taxes on health care providers. Signatures must be filed with the Secretary of States office no later than October 5, 2017. The petitioners request that all signatures be returned to them no later than October 1st. Cascade Senior Policy Analyst and Founder Steve Buckstein has written in favor of the Referendum and now makes the following statements about why the Institute believes that Oregon voters should sign it: The Oregon legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a bill designed to generate some $550 million in new taxes on health care, hospitals, and health insurance premiums. Ostensibly, this money is needed to help balance the budget, even after strong revenue growth, and to help maintain the controversial Medicaid expansion. Since the bills passage, it has become clear that that nearly half the Medicaid recipients checked in recent months no longer qualify for benefits. This alone eviscerates the supposed need for most or all of these new tax revenues. Referendum 301 only targets the most egregious of the taxes in HB 2391. It allows Oregon voters a say in whether or not they want to slap what in-effect is a sales tax on health care. According to an Oregonian editorial, when word got out that someone might refer these new taxes to the ballot, legislative leaders showed how theyre willing to protect that new revenue at all costeven hijacking the referendum process at the core of Oregons identity. The Oregonian editorial went on to say, Worse, however, the bill tosses aside the usual process requiring impartial groups to describe the measure on the ballot and in the voters pamphlet. Instead, [they gave] all that power to a committee made up of four Democrats and two Republicans. They also moved the referendum vote up from November 2018 to a January special election that will cost taxpayers more than $3 million. As of August 1st the Governor has not yet signed this referendum hijacking bill. Petitions can be downloaded from StopHealthCareTaxes.com. They should be properly signed by registered Oregon voters and returned no later than October 1st to: Stop Healthcare Taxes 29030 SW Town Center Loop E, Suite 202, #514 Wilsonville, OR 97070 Questions to the petitioners can be addressed to [email protected] Cascade Policy Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, non-profit public policy research organization. Its mission is to promote public policies that foster individual liberty, personal responsibility and economic opportunity in Oregon. iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- The effects of climate change are already having an impact on the U.S. after average temperatures have risen dramatically over the last four decades, according to a draft of a government report that was obtained and published by The New York Times on Monday. The U.S. Global Change Research Program Climate Science Special Report, compiled by a group of scientists from 13 federal agencies, found with high confidence that it was "extremely likely that more than half of the global mean temperature increase since 1951 was caused by human influence on climate." Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are primarily responsible for observed climate changes in the industrial era, the report stated. There are no alternative explanations, and no natural cycles are found in the observational record that can explain the observed changes in climate. The report is part of the National Climate Assessment, which has been congressionally mandated to take place at least every four years since 1990. A National Academies of Science committee reviewed the study and said it was "timely, accurate, and well-written." The report contradicts claims by President Donald Trump and some members of his administration who have disputed the connection between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in the past. The report's authors also described a link between climate change and severe weather events. "A change in the frequency, duration, and/or magnitude of extreme weather events is one of the most important consequences of a warming climate," the authors found, pointing to an increase in heavy precipitation, extreme heat events and tropical storms as a result. The report states with "medium confidence" that human activities "have contributed to the observed increasing trend in North Atlantic hurricane activity since the 1970s." On Tuesday the New York Times released a newer draft of the report that uses different language to describe the strength of evidence connecting human activity to climate change. A draft of the report from February describes the difference between weather and climate and describes warming trends over the last 150 years, saying that "many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate changes." But a draft from June marked as the final draft uses stronger language, saying that new evidence shows it is "extremely likely" that human influence has been the main cause of warming since the mid-20th century. "For the warming over the last century, there is no convincing alternative explanation supported by the extent of the observational evidence. The introduction of the newer draft also gives more detail about extreme weather events related to climate. It says that the cost of extreme weather has exceeded $1.1 trillion since 1980, which is not included in the earlier report. In the past, Trump has called climate change "a hoax" and rejected evidence that human activity has contributed to rising temperatures. His EPA chief, Scott Pruitt, declined to confirm whether Trump still believes climate change is a hoax during an interview with "This Week" in June. The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012 Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2014 The study must be approved by the Trump administration before it can be released publicly, according to The Times, which reported that some scientists were fearful that the report could be changed or suppressed by the administration. On Tuesday, the White House commented on the report. Its very disappointing, yet entirely predictable to learn The New York Times would write off a draft report without first verifying its contents with the White House or any of the federal agencies directly involved with climate and environmental policy," a White House official told ABC News. "As others have pointed out - and The New York Times should have noticed - drafts of this report have been published and made widely available online months ago during the public comment period. The White House will withhold comment on any draft report before its scheduled release date. The EPA released its own statement. "This is a draft report that has been in the public domain since January. We continue to discuss the best path forward for an honest, open dialogue in regard to climate science," Liz Bowman, an EPA spokesperson, told ABC News. Representatives for Global Change Research Program and the National Academy of Science did not respond to ABC News' request for comment. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Bomb blast in a fruit truck in Lahore LAHORE: A truck bomb killed one person and injured at least 34 people late Monday on Outfall Road in the provincial capital, officials said, in the latest bombing to rattle the eastern city of Lahore ahead of former prime minister Nawaz Sharifs planned rally on Grand Trunk (GT) Road scheduled for Wednesday. The explosive material was planted inside a truck which was loaded with fruit, said Abdullah Khan Sumbal, a top government official in Lahore. Upon being informed, rescue teams rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. At least 34 people have been injured, most of them were passers-by, Sumbal said, adding that the injured had been taken to two hospitals. Rescue workers also said that they had pulled out a child who was buried under the debris. Later, a body was also removed from the rubble. Heavy contingents of police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Rangers and other law enforcement agencies also rushed to the spot and started investigation by cordoning off the area. Officials initially said the explosion occurred when the truck touched high-tension wires. However, after some time, they confirmed that it was a bomb blast. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how and when the truck arrived in the area, Sumbal said. Jam Sajjad Hussain, a rescue service spokesman, said that at least three of the injured were in a critical condition. The roof of a nearby house had collapsed due to the intensity of the explosion, while the windowpanes of nearby buildings had shattered from the shockwaves. A number of automobiles were also damaged in the incident. Rai Ijaz, a senior police officer at the site, told reporters that the explosion also created a big crater. According to witnesses, the truck was parked in the open plot along with other trucks. They also said that the said truck had been parked there two to three days ago. Some residents of the area said that they had informed the police about the presence of that particular truck, but the police did not take it seriously. DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf, while talking to the media, said that it was a possibility that explosives were kept in the vehicle (truck), implying that the explosives could have been hidden there for a later use. The official said that everything would be cleared after completing the investigation, adding that the CTD and law enforcement agencies were collecting evidence from the scene. Meanwhile, Provincial Minister for Specialised Healthcare Khawaja Salman Rafique during his visit to Mian Munshi Hospital said that 24 injured people had been shifted there and all of them were stable. He said that 10 of the injured had been discharged after being given medical treatment. On the other hand, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought a report from the Punjab Police inspector general (IG) about the incident. He directed that the incident should be thoroughly investigated from every angle and the responsible persons be arrested as soon as possible. He directed the administration to provide best healthcare facilities to the injured. The chief minister had directed the Rescue 1122 and other aid agencies to speed up their rescue activities as soon as he heard about the incident. The spokesman for the Punjab government said that the injured victims were being provided best treatment facilities at the hospitals. On the direction of Shehbaz Sharif, provincial minister as well as the health secretary were personally supervising the healthcare facilities being provided to the injured, he said. The spokesman said that Rescue 1122 and other agencies immediately rushed to scene, took part in aid activities and transferred the injured to hospitals well in time. He said that doctors, nurses and paramedical staff were taking care of the injured in hospitals. Due to the prompt response of the departments concerned of the Punjab government, the injured were transferred to the hospitals as early as possible, he said. The Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has asserted, the sanitation problem in the capital city is daunting and a challenge that cannot be solved easily. Speaking to Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5fm, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah said, the issues of sanction confronting the nation is serious and "I dont like complaining when there is a lot to be done." We need to find solutions and ensure that Accra becomes the cleanest city," he added. He told the host that the AMA is indebted to all the waste management companies and that has also affected their operations since some of the staff have abandoned their post. "We took over office when all the service providers were owed." We are indebted to Zoomlion to the tune of GHc 14 million and Stanley Owusu GHc 2 million. I go on and on, he said. The failure of government to pay its debt, has weakened their operations and they are unable to buy equipment to collect the refuse. The labourers working, are Zoomlion staff and because theyve not been paid, they have refused to work. He also clarified that the management of waste at the major markets in Accra "is not under the AMA" because "we [AMA] do not take tolls from the drivers. We do not take money from the traders. It is the market company that collects these monies and it is the responsibility of the market company to evacuate the waste there." The AMA he stated has invested heavily in assisting the Kaneshie market, to evacuate waste there because when people see a heap of refuse there, they blame the AMA when it is not our responsibility. "You cannot take money from the people in the market and expect the AMA to pay for the evacuation. We will assist them so they get on their feet to do what is necessary," he said. Nii Adjei Sowah further explained that, some individuals who collect waste at some locations within Accra, dump them at major areas because they refuse to pay at the major dump sites. He described the situation as unfortunate and cautioned those to stop from doing so. According to him, some drug users who have turned themselves into waste collectors all the ones doing that. The AMA he assured will do it best to resolve the situation. The Mayor said he came to inherit 42 illegal dump sites and has written letters to such places for it to be halted. Source: Primenewsghana.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! BOLTON Adirondack Winery has opened a new tasting room at 4971 Lake Shore Drive, across from Tops Market, in Bolton Landing. The tasting room and retail outlet expands the reach of Adirondack Winery, which also operates a winery and tasting room in Lake George. Weve always wanted to have a second tasting room. We just had to find the right time and right location, said co-owner Sasha Pardy in a press release. The Bolton Landing tasting room sells more than 20 New York wines as well food items from area producers such as Nettle Meadow Farms in Thurman, Adirondack Cheese Co. in Oneida County, Saratoga Crackers, Barkeater Chocolates in North Creek and Eagle Ridge Farms in Schuylerville. Square Nail Rustics in Queensbury designed and constructed a rustic tasting bar and cabinets. Adirondack Winery, a micro-winery, has increased its annual production from 1,000 cases in 2008 to 13,000 cases now, shipping its product to 35 states and selling to 400 liquor stores and restaurants. PLATTSBURGH A convicted sex offender from Moriah has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison on child pornography possession charges in U.S. District Court in Plattsburgh. Kirkland C. Smith, 55, was sentenced to 212 months for his guilty plea to six felony charges related to a large cache of child pornography he was found to have. Smith pleaded guilty last December in connection with his Dec. 30, 2014 arrest in Essex County. He was charged after authorities found pornographic material on media in his vehicle after a drunken driving crash on Route 73 in Keene, leading to a search that discovered hundreds of images on five computer hard drives and several memory cards. Police said a state trooper spotted the material on a screen of a portable device Smith had in his vehicle. Smith is a registered sex offender who has a history of sex offense or child pornography arrests in Vermont, Louisiana and Rhode Island, according to State Police. Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue determined that the defendant had engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of minors by sexually abusing two children under the age of 12. Mordue also imposed a lifetime term of supervised release and ordered the defendant to pay $4,000 in restitution. SALEM A home off Bogtown Road was destroyed by fire early Tuesday after a debris pile fire set by the property owner jumped to the home, officials said. No injuries were reported when firefighters from numerous volunteer departments were called out to battle the blaze in a remote area northwest of the village of Salem. The home at 460 Bogtown Road, near the intersection of Dunnigan Road, had been vacant for an extended period of time. Salem Assistant Fire Chief Steven Saunders said he spotted the fire when driving nearby, and when he arrived, a large portion of the building had already burned to the ground. Officials said the property owner, identified as Kingsbury resident Richard Baker, had been burning materials nearby when the fire apparently spread to the home. The home had been a six-bedroom, two-bathroom home that sold for $77,000 in 2015. Neighbors Paul and Irene Moss said the material had been smoldering. Their house was separated by a hill and woods from the home that caught fire. We heard crackling but didnt know the house was on fire, Irene Moss said. An officer from the state Department of Environmental Conservation was on scene to look into whether any charges should be filed in connection with the burning of material before the fire spread to the home. The Washington County Sheriffs Office and Washington County Fire Coordinators Office were assisting at the scene. Firefighters from Salem, Greenwich, Hebron, Shushan, Schuylerville, Cossayuna, Cambridge and Rupert, Vermont were called out and remained on the scene into late morning. QUEENSBURY Saratoga Hospital has purchased the recently closed Carl Rs Cafe restaurant property on Main Street near Northway Exit 18 and plans to open a specialty medical complex there, the hospital announced Tuesday afternoon. Our multi-specialty group practice, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, continues to see growth in our patient population north of the hospitals main campus, said Angelo Calbone, president and CEO of Saratoga Hospital, in a news release. When the property became available, we decided the convenient location at Exit 18 made this an excellent site to explore how we can best provide the medical specialty programs and services to meet these expanding needs. The announcement comes less than a month after Glens Falls Hospital received a $19.95 million state grant to develop a medical village on its main campus in Glens Falls, which would include a new emergency department and an urgent and primary care center. Glens Falls Hospital, in collaboration with Adirondack Health Institute and other local providers, also is developing a mental health crisis intervention center, to be funded from a separate state grant. Saratoga Hospital is now assessing what specialty practices will be considered for the 1-acre parcel off Exit 18 in Queensbury, of which Saratoga Hospital is the sole owner, according to the news release. A time frame for determining specific services to be offered in Queensbury has not yet been determined. Calbone stated that the hospital often looks at a prospective location without having a specific plan until the transaction is finalized. Saratoga Hospitals plan brings new competition in the specialty care market in Queensbury and Glens Falls, which includes specialists that work for Glens Falls Hospital and Hudson Headwaters Health Network, as well as various independent specialty practices. Glens Falls Hospital and Hudson Headwaters have been aggressively recruiting new specialists in recent years, particularly in fields such a neurology and orthopedics that have shortages. Tracy Mills, vice president of Glens Falls Hospital, said Tuesday, We will be scrutinizing the Exit 18 plans of Saratoga Hospital and its partner, Albany Medical Center, very closely. Glens Falls Hospital strongly supports expansion of health care services in under-served areas, and is committing significant resources to accomplish that goal, but duplication of services in well-served areas like this at a time when hospitals are struggling to remain financially healthy makes no sense. Any proposal that would threaten the financial viability of the Glens Falls Hospital health care network and our ability to care for our patients will be strongly opposed. EDC Warren County President Edward Bartholomew, responding to Saratoga Hospitals announcement, said Tuesday evening that he hopes Saratoga Hospitals expansion in Warren County will not siphon off state and federal funding from Glens Falls Hospital and Hudson Headwaters. Health care should not be compared to or treated solely as a business. Its mission is providing patient care, he said. Saratoga Hospitals planned new specialty center is the latest of several ventures aimed at expanding its outreach to patients in Glens Falls and Queensbury and communities between Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls. In September 2016, an endocrinology practice in Wilton changed its affiliation from Glens Falls Hospital to Saratoga Hospital and moved a Glens Falls Hospital facility to a Saratoga Hospital facility. In 2014, a physician group associated with Saratoga Hospital opened an urgent care center at Mount Royal Plaza on Route 9 in Queensbury. Saratoga Hospital has been expanding its regional locations in recent years and now operates 21 locations throughout the Saratoga region. Earlier this spring, ground was broken at the Saratoga Medical Park at Northway Exit 12 in partnership with the Saratoga Regional YMCA. The new building will be home to the new Malta Y as well as additional medical specialty offices, including the hospitals Malta Regional Therapy Center. The new Malta building is located next to Malta Med Emergent Care, a partnership with Albany Medical Center. The hospital is reviewing which specialty practices will best meet the needs of the Malta community at the new location. Earlier this week, Saratoga Hospital held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the relocation of three medical specialty offices on Route 9 in Wilton, south of Northway Exit 16. The Saratoga Hospital Medical Groups endocrinology, midwifery and womens primary care practices are in the new location at Park Place at Wilton. SOUTH GLENS FALLS The fire hydrants on Harrison Avenue will be fixed in the next two days, Mayor Harry Guthiel said. Water to nearby residents will be turned off during the repair, which will take hours. Three valves need to be replaced on underground water lines. Work will be done Tuesday or Wednesday, if the parts are available. If things go well it could be as soon as half a day, Gutheil said. So we need to make sure all the parts are on site, everything is assembled. He spent most of Monday with the villages new engineering firm, Delaware Engineering of Albany. He and an engineer looked through maps and toured the village, opening manholes to look at various valves. The engineer put together a proposed plan to fix the broken valve that has depressed water pressure on Harrison Avenue. The hydrants dont have enough pressure to function, Public Works Supervisor Rick Daley said. Gutheil had hoped to buy just one valve each one costs up to $1,900 but the engineer inspected and agreed with Daleys assessment that all three should be replaced. One valve is broken and will not open; anothers stem is badly bent. Since the road is already open, replacing the third would be sensible, Gutheil said. It gives you the ability to turn off the water from one direction, he said. It will likely cost $3,000 to $5,000 in total, plus fittings, he said. In the meantime, village officials have come up with a plan for water if there is a fire. They could open a valve that would bring in water from the town of Moreau, backfilling the pipes all the way through to Harrison Avenue. Wed have all kinds of pressure, Gutheil said. Firefighters are concerned. Gutheil met with the fire chief Monday night, and the South Glens Falls Fire Co. formally requested that every hydrant in the village be tested. Then the village workers should paint each cap to tell firefighters how much water pressure would be received from each hydrant. As of right now, when apparatus need to stop at a hydrant for water, there is no way for anyone riding the apparatus to know if they will get water out of the hydrant, or if the water volume and pressure will be sufficient for the operation, said South Glens Falls Fire Chief Keith Dickinson. He emphasized that he wasnt blaming anyone, calling the problem the results of decades of neglect. The situation has also led Delaware Engineering to take a close look at the villages water pipes. They quickly discovered that the villages maps are highly inaccurate. Not only are locations sometimes wrong, as village officials already knew, but the size of the pipes are sometimes misstated. That can make a huge difference in the speed of a repair, because new parts must be sized correctly to fit with each pipe. I think were probably going to end up remapping the villages water lines, Gutheil said. Editor: There are two words, each 10 letters long. They both have three syllables and begin with the same letters comp. We all know these words, but apparently the ruling party in Congress does not. The first word is compromise, something the party of "no" has refused to consider ever since ex-president Obama was elected. Yes, both the House and Senate just passed bills imposing economic sanctions on Russia, North Korea and Iran. They were in full agreement. The problem occurs when the parties have differing viewpoints, as in health care. Rather than work together for the good of the country, a bill is introduced that would have left over 20 million Americans without insurance. Fortunately it went down to defeat, thanks to three Republicans that voted in their constituents best interest. The next word is one our president has no concept of whatsoever. It is compassion. Ban Muslims from six countries no matter how desperate their situation. Build a wall to keep out those fleeing violence. Deport law-abiding, tax-paying people who have lived here for many years, often doing difficult jobs for low pay that few citizens are willing to do; often separating them from their children who were born here. For many of us, it calls for another "comp" word like the above. All this is very hard to comprehend. Eric Krantz, Lake George Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Watching an intense tug-of-war battle across the Mississippi River on a hot day sounds like something that might make you hungry. Luckily for the 30,000 people expected to flood the small towns of Port Byron and LeClaire this weekend during the 31st Tug Fest, theres a new restaurant just for that. Its a place, located on the Port Byron riverfront, where you can grab the Tuggers Club sandwich and wash it down with one of a bunch of fittingly-named cocktails, such as the Rope Burn Bloody Mary, Mississippi Manhattan or the Tug Master Mojito. Tuggers, an eatery specializing in burgers, beers and urban nautical undertones, opened in April. Its owners and staff have been talking about this weekend its first Tug Fest since day one. The goal was to become the Tug Fest location, Kevin Steeber, general manager and chef at Tuggers, said Monday. We have one of the best views. We knew it was going to be a destination spot. With four months under its belt, the 100-person capacity Tuggers joins other Main Street establishments such as Duey's Corner Tap and Harrington's Pub in the Rock Island County village with a population of about 1,600 that enjoy an annual surge in business during Tug Fest, which runs Thursday through Saturday. Steeber, who previously served as the corporate chef at Deere & Co. and worked in the kitchen at Me & Billy in downtown Davenport, has put together a limited menu that includes the crunch and munch, a burger topped with citrus-chile dusted pork rinds. Additionally, Tuggers will extend its hours this weekend and offer specials on beer. We have no history or benchmark for this, Steeber said. Were going to learn a lot. A test for Tuggers Its a much-anticipated test for Tuggers, said Tricia Ferrell, who owns the restaurant with her husband, John, as well as a Bettendorf couple, Dominic and Christy Rivera. The Ferrells have lived in Hampton, just five miles away from Port Byron, for 20 years and they frequently visited Tuggers predecessor, called Its on the River, which closed after seven years in August 2014. The idea to bring a restaurant back to the 3,200-square foot spot was always in the back of our minds, Tricia Ferrell said. When they purchased it last summer, Ferrell said they quickly landed on a Tug Fest theme. For such a small community to do something like Tug Fest is just absolutely remarkable, Ferrell, a native of Waukon, Iowa said. Its such an accomplishment for a small town. We wanted to pay homage to the camaraderie and the friendly rivalry of it. Across the river There may also be an unspoken rivalry between the establishments on opposing sides of the river. But its all good natured, said Ryan Burchett, co-owner of Mississippi River Distilling Co. The Tug gets the headlines, but thats just a small part of it, Burchett said. There are lots of people walking around all weekend, which is great for both cities. Its small town Iowa at its best. This weekend marks the first Tug Fest for the distillerys Cody Road Cocktail House, which opened in July. In previous years, the distillery could only offer free tours and samples during the festival because of liquor legislation in Iowa. This year, Burchett and his staff have 20 cocktails on tap and the business will host live music on Friday and Saturday. The cocktail houses outdoor patio offers a "perfect view of the Tug, Burchett said, as does its neighbor, Green Tree Brewery. Its the most people well see in one weekend all year, Burchett said. We dont know what to expect. I hope were ready. The draw of the Mississippi The team behind Tuggers were hooked on the locations view and proximity to the river. Its not the ocean, but the Mississippi River is a huge landmark, Ferrell said. Once we opened, we heard that people driving by would stop near the Mississippi River just to dip their toes in. The Mississippi River has quite a draw. But, around the Quad-City area, Ferrell said, We take the river for granted. We dont have a lot of restaurants on the river, or as many as we could have. Others include the Captains Table in Moline, Driftwood Pub in Davenport and Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill in Princeton, Iowa. Tuggers is trying to make the most of its backyard, complete with a patio, beach area, outdoor games and a dock for boaters. A tiki bar is in the works. Ferrell hopes to stretch out patio season by adding heaters in the colder months. Plus, the windows are outfitted with adjustable screens. Being outside just makes you feel like youre on a getaway, Ferrell said. It also makes you appreciate where you are. It makes for an ideal setting to watch the Tug, set for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Near the restaurants front door, a scoreboard shows the competitions current tally: 19 wins for Us and 11 wins for Them. Whether or not Port Byrons winning streak of the ultimate tug-of-war continues, Tuggers may turn into the ultimate spot for a toast. Teachers and administrators in the Davenport Community School District take a number of different approaches to help ensure the success of students of all ages and abilities. During a lengthy committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday night, school board members heard more than a dozen administrators and teachers discuss paths taken to achieve that success. Superintendent Art Tate said staff members collaborate to continuously review student academic achievements as well their behavior. What can we do to do a better job of teaching? Tate said. Our job is to make it work, and put together what is needed to support (the students)." Casey Wyant, a former teacher who now is a school administration manager, or SAM a staff member who helps principals devote more time to instructional matters by helping with administrative tasks at Jefferson Elementary School, discussed the Collaborative Teacher Team approach used in schools. The approach involves four components: What standards students should learn How teachers know the students have learned the standards What actions teachers should take when students havent learned the standards What happens when students already have learned the standards. For teachers, the approach is one of the most important tools. In meetings, teachers brainstorm with other people who share strategies, Wyant said. Its a fantastic thing to sit in those meetings, he said. Board member Clyde Mayfield called the collaborative approach awesome." "It means you have more than one person think about the answer, he said. T. J. Schneckloth, director of federal and state programs and student services, discussed student success advocates at Sudlow Intermediate School who worked with 57 African-American male students. Mayfield said he thinks its important for the district to have the same program for other students. These other students need it just as much as the black males, he said. Conrad Keibler, the head school counselor at North High School, talked about a dual program at North that allows students to earn their high school diplomas and community college associate degrees simultaneously. Davenport Community Schools is the only school in the state of Iowa offering this program, said board member Julie DeSalvo. She thanked administrators for the program and said We need to shout it from the rooftops. Not only are we the first ones, but I hope that we can establish it at all our high school, Mayfield said. To go to college is what we teach our kids. Joel Franken, of the Creative Arts Academy, which has classrooms at the Davenport Public Library, said the school has just finished its third year and will transition eighth graders into its ninth-grade program. He talked about projects that the students have completed within the community. Its an amazing thing that has happened downtown at the library, said board member Rich Clewell, who praised the vitality this school is bringing to downtown. Intermediate summer school, plan development for a new special education model and Inspire Academy were among other programs that administrators and teachers discussed. The agenda for Monday's meeting also included discussion of Iowa Assessments, the state test used to measure accountability for the Every Student Succeeds Act, along with a status update of Tate's priority initiatives. Illinois Quad-City superintendents are worried part of Gov. Bruce Rauner's amendatory veto of a school funding reform bill will hurt their bottom line in the future, even as they face delays in state aid that is due this week. Some school officials say the governor's changes to how property in tax increment finance districts figure into the formula for distributing state aid will mean less money for districts, including in the Quad-Cities. "This would hurt us in a bad way," said East Moline Superintendent Kristin Humphries, a supporter of SB1, the school funding proposal state lawmakers passed in May. The governor issued an amendatory veto of SB1 a week ago. Lawmakers now have until next week to act on the changes. Rauner made a host of changes to the bill. But the argument over how limitations on property tax increases and tax increment finance districts should be accounted for when figuring state aid has garnered a lot of attention. Currently, figuring out how much a district gets is based in part on how much property tax base it has. The law, however, excludes the incremental value in TIF districts from that calculation. There also are adjustments for counties that have used a section of the law, known as PTELL, which limits property tax increases within their borders. The governor's office says this allows districts to under report the value of their property tax base, allowing them to push state aid higher. The governor's office says that Chicago benefits the most by this arrangement. "Currently the PTELL and TIF divert millions in state subsidies from truly disadvantaged schools and instead go to districts that hide their wealth through these districts," the governor's spokesperson, Laurel Patrick, said. "This is fundamentally unfair and is in critical need of being addressed if were going to talk about true education funding reform." Rock Island County hasn't taken advantage of the PTELL law that allows it to limit property tax increases. But there are several TIF districts in Rock Island County. In 2016, there was $197 million in incremental value in TIF districts in the county. Superintendents say TIF districts, by their nature, don't provide any income to school districts. TIFs are created as an economic development incentive and the incremental value isn't used to figure tax disbursements. To include that value while calculating a local district's property wealth in figuring state aid is not fair, Humphries said. The amount of a district's property value that reside in TIFs varies. Humphries said about 10 percent of its Equalized Assessed Valuation was in TIF districts. Michael Oberhaus, the superintendent for the Rock Island-Milan School District, said the figure for his district is 15 percent. In the Moline-Coal Valley District, it's 5.5 percent. Oberhaus said he didn't know how the change would affect his district's bottom line because there are too many unknowns. Humphries said it would cost his district about $1 million. The governor's office disputes the idea this would leave districts with less money than they get now. Officials there say the TIF changes apply only to school money that would be run through the new funding formula, which currently is only a fraction of overall state aid. They also note, in the future, TIFs can be unwound by local governments if they have different priorities. But state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, who has been a leading Democrat on school reform, calls this argument "trickery." If the governor wanted to come up with a new set of rules, he could have applied them to new TIFs, not existing ones, Manar said. The idea, proponents of SB1 say, is to shift the distribution of state funding to this new formula. Manar claims the governor is just trying to punish Chicago and steer the state resources away from funding education. "This pits municipal governments against school districts," Manar said. In the Quad-Cities, state Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said Tuesday she is "extremely nervous" about the TIF provision and doesn't know where it originated. McCombie, a former mayor, said the idea of a TIF is to help local economies. "Im afraid if this were to be passed this way, and Im not sure where it came from, Im afraid it would take away the economic tool aspect of it," she said. So far, there's been no district-by-district analysis of how the governor's amendatory veto would affect funding. The State Board of Education has been working on an analysis, but the board said that it will be up to Rauner's office when and how to release it. Patrick said she did not have a timeline for release of the figures. The Rock Island County Democrats' annual Salute to Labor picnic is boasting a powerful lineup this year. Five of the party's candidates for governor are scheduled to be on hand, along with the state's two U.S. senators. The featured speaker at the event will be William McNary, co-director of Citizen Action/Illinois. This year will be the 50th anniversary for the picnic, which is held at Illiniwek Park on Labor Day. At times, the picnic has played host to presidential hopefuls. Hillary Clinton was the top guest last year and the year before. Vice President Al Gore has appeared at the picnic, and so did Barack Obama when he was in the state Senate. An institution in the Illinois Quad-Cities, the picnic also draws people from the Iowa side of the river. "It's special to us. We're very excited about it," Doug House, the county party chair, said Tuesday. State Sen. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, Chris Kennedy, Alderman Ameya Pawar of Chicago, J.B. Pritzker and Bob Daiber all have committed to attend this year, House said. All five are vying for the party's gubernatorial nomination. House added he has sent out invitations to candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor in Iowa. U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, both Illinois Democrats, plan to be there, House said. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, also is attending, and so is Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill. The picnic generally takes place right after the Labor Day parade in East Moline. The Scott County Board of Supervisors considered adding jail staff and buying new vehicles during Tuesdays committee-of-the-whole meeting. Sheriff Tim Lane asked to hire two additional corrections officers temporarily to address attrition and overtime. Lane reported the jail has been fully staffed with 59 corrections officers only one year in the past 17 years with a consistent 10-officer turnover rate per year. With the hiring process and training, we keep finding ourselves behind, Lane said. Its difficult to get caught up. The Sheriffs Office currently is understaffed by two deputy sheriffs, five bailiffs and five corrections officers, Lane said. The corrections officer overfill request for the remainder of the current fiscal year would fill those five positions and add two more at a cost of $50,461 in salary and benefits per officer. Lane cited current and future department budget savings from the staff reduction of one full-time to two part-time bailiff positions and less overtime hours at the jail. I already have some savings in my budget, Lane said, but theres overtime almost every day of the week. The sheriff reported several promising corrections officer candidates from a recent recruitment process. Lane would like to hire seven officers from that pool of candidates. Barbara Branscom, manager of the countys fleet of vehicles, submitted requests to purchase eight Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles for the Sheriffs Office, three mid-size sedans for Facility Support Services and Planning and Development departments and three small-size sedans for the Health Department. Branscom recommended the low bid of $235,150 from Reynolds Ford, East Moline, to replace six police utility vehicles as budgeted and two others totaled in accidents with pending risk management claims. Branscom said the low bid $48,240 from Nissan of Greer, South Carolina, includes shipment of three in stock 2017 Nissan Altimas for Facility Support Services and Planning and Development. Ed Stivers dealership in Waukee, Iowa, turned in the lowest bid to buy Ford Focus sedans for the Health Department at a cost of $47,338. Branscom reported most of the replaced vehicles are older than the countys current plan to replace vehicles every seven to eight years for potential higher resale values and fleet cost savings. School board election season is upon us. This election has one of the lowest turnouts statewide. Please remember to vote on Sept. 12 in this important election. My service on the Bettendorf Community School Board for 11 years has been rewarding. Hopefully those who are running for school board have done their research. Do you really know what a board member does and what will be asked of you as you serve your four-year term? Are you willing to abide by the roles of a board member outlined by the Iowa Association of School Boards? Do you have a personal agenda that might be better suited to committee or school level involvement instead? Have you talked to board members, district-wide staff, teachers, parents, and students about the role of school board member who represents all children and all schools? Voters, do your homework, too. Sept. 12 will be an opportunity to bring new life to the school board be a part of it by being an informed voter. School board elections should not be a popularity contest. Vote for candidates who will add value to the work of the board and help our district leaders move school districts forward. Understand the role of board member. Talk to the candidates. Attend board meetings. Read minutes or listen to audiotapes of past meetings. Attend candidate forums in your district. And, most important, vote. Stellar schools are our communitys greatest asset. Ensure our children continue to receive a high-quality education by voting on Sept. 12. Betsy Justis Bettendorf Editors note: Justis is a member of Bettendorf Community School District Board of Education. Scary question of the day: If this is how President Trump reacts to news of a federal grand jury being employed in the Russia investigation, what happens if things turn really serious? Reports that special counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury to collect evidence reaffirmed what was already obvious to legal observers: This probe -- and for the president, this problem -- is not going away anytime soon. Mueller is beefing up his staff, bringing in former federal prosecutors with experience in complex financial investigations. Of course there is a grand jury. That's how prosecutors do their work, unless they have come to the quick conclusion that the subject is a dry hole. This was never likely in Mueller's case, and every week seems to open a new and potentially productive avenue for him to follow. So White House special counsel Ty Cobb had the right response to the grand jury news. "The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly," he said in a statement. "The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller." Restrained. Appropriate. Normal. Not so the president. Once again, he diminished the significance of Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election and demeaned the findings of the U.S. intelligence community: "The Russia story is a total fabrication. It is just an excuse for the greatest loss in the history of American politics." Once again -- as the West Virginia crowd chanted "Lock her up!" -- he said the focus should be on his vanquished opponent, not him: "What the prosecutor should be looking at are Hillary Clinton's 33,000 deleted emails. And they should be looking at the paid Russian speeches. And the owned Russian companies. Or let them look at the uranium she sold that is now in the hands of very angry Russians." Even leaving aside the factual flimsiness of Trump's accusations, the inappropriateness of a sitting president making this argument is impossible to overstate. As his still-Attorney General Jeff Sessions told the Senate Judiciary Committee in January, "This country does not punish its political enemies." This country also has mechanisms, well-honed and well-tested, for dealing with situations where criminal investigations are warranted. They require recusal in cases that pose a clear conflict of interest, as Sessions recognized in immediately walling himself off from any Clinton investigation and eventually accepted in recusing himself from the Russia probe. They set out procedures for the White House to follow in dealings with the Department of Justice involving criminal proceedings, designed, as then-Attorney General Eric Holder explained, to ensure that prosecutors are "impartial and insulated from political influence." Such niceties are not for Trump. No surprise there, but the worst of his West Virginia speech was yet to come. Trump followed by impugning the Mueller investigation as an illegitimate effort to undo the election results: "They can't beat us at the voting booths, so they're trying to cheat you out of the ... future that you want. They're trying to cheat you out of the leadership that you want with a fake story that is demeaning to all of us, and most importantly demeaning to our country and demeaning to our Constitution." Trademark Trump. He takes the very thing that he is doing -- in this case, demeaning the Constitution -- and flings that accusation back at his opponent. Trump's campaign and now his presidency have been an unceasing effort to demean the Constitution. From "fake news" to "so-called" judges, from his ill-considered travel ban to encouraging police officers' roughing up of suspects, Trump is a one-man assault on the rule of law. Inciting supporters to equate a criminal investigation (and potential prosecution) with a usurpation of their democratic choice is the most chilling yet. What Trump decries as a witch hunt is an authorized investigation being conducted pursuant to Justice Department rules, by an experienced prosecutor, selected for this job by another experienced prosecutor, who was nominated by Trump himself. That Trump and his allies are scheming to undermine Mueller's legitimacy underscores that their sole goal is retaining power, the law be damned. Some readers have asked a fair and important question: Why is nearly every column of mine about Trump? The answer is: Trump. His behavior is so extreme and so dangerous that to respond only episodically and occasionally is to risk allowing it to appear acceptable. Outrageous words and outrageous actions require expressions of outrage in return, each and every time. That will continue until the danger subsides. NEW IN THEATERS: "The Dark Tower": Stephen King's ambitious story from makes its long-awaited launch to the big screen, starring Idris Elba as Roland Deschain and Matthew McConaughey as the Man in Black. Sharing an ancient vendetta, they must fight to the death in this epic battle over the fate of the All-World Universe. PG13: 90 minutes. AMC 10, Northern Hills Cinema "Detroit": From the Academy Award-winning director of "The Hurt Locker" and " Zero Dark Thirty," "Detroit" tells the gripping story of one of the darkest moments during the civil unrest that rocked Detroit in the summer of '67. R: 143 minutes. AMC 10, Northern Hills Cinema "Kidnap": Karla Dyson's (Academy Award winner Halley Berry) will and strength are put to the test when -- after looking away for just one second - her son is taken at a town fair. She finds him just in time to see his kidnappers put him in their car and drive away, where she narrowly misses stopping them on foot, dropping her cell phone as she chases after the car. With no one to turn to but herself, she jumps in her own car and speeds after them, determined to stop at nothing to bring her son to safety and take down his kidnappers. R: 82 minutes. Rushmore 7 Coming Aug. 11 "Annabelle: Creation": Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle. R: 109 minutes. AMC 10, Rushmore 7 Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature": Following the events of the first film, Surly and his friends must stop Oakton City's mayor from destroying their home to make way for a dysfunctional amusement park. PG: 91 minutes. AMC 10, Rushmore 7 "The Glass Castle": Based on one of the longest-running New York Times bestsellers, "The Glass Castle" tells the story of Jeannette Walls' unconventional upbringing at the hands of her deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant parents, and her journey towards acceptance and fulfillment. PG-13: 127 minutes. AMC 10 NOW PLAYING: Movie showings are current up to Aug. 3 and are subject to change. For an updated listing on later dates, visit amctheatres.com, elkstheatre.com or nhcinema.com. Roy's Black Hills Twin Drive-In (Hermosa): West screen showing double feature of "War for the Planet of the Apes" and "The Dark Tower"; east screen showing double feature of "The Emoji Movie" and "Spider-Man: Homecoming" through Aug. 10. "Atomic Blonde": A high-stakes, global action-thriller that takes place in the city of Berlin, on the eve of the Wall's collapse and the shifting of superpower alliances. Charlize Theron portrays Lorraine Broughton, a top-level spy for MI6, who is dispatched to Berlin to take down a ruthless espionage ring that has just killed an undercover agent for reasons unknown. She is ordered to cooperate with Berlin station chief David Percival (James McAvoy), and the two form an uneasy alliance, unleashing their full arsenal of skills in pursuing a threat that jeopardizes the West's entire intelligence operation. R: 114 minutes. AMC 10, Northern Hills Cinema. "The Emoji Movie": This new film unlocks the never-before-seen secret world inside your smartphone. Hidden within the messaging app is Textopolis, a bustling city where all your favorite emojis live. In this world, each emoji has only one facial expression except for Gene, an exuberant emoji who is bursting with multiple expressions. Gene enlists the help of his handy best friend Hi-5 and the notorious code breaker emoji Jailbreak, and they embark on an epic "app-venture" through the apps on the phone to find the code that will fix Gene. But when a greater danger threatens the phone, the fate of all emojis depends on these three unlikely friends who must save their world before it's deleted forever. PG: 91 minutes. Rushmore 7, Northern Hills Cinema. "Dunkirk": Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II. PG-13: 106 minutes. AMC 10, Rushmore 7, Northern Hills Cinema. "Girls Trip": When four lifelong friends travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are rediscovered, and there's enough dancing, drinking, brawling and romancing to make the Big Easy blush. R: 126 minutes. AMC 10. "Valerian": In the 28th century, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are a team of special operatives charged with maintaining order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two embark on a mission to the astonishing city of Alpha, where a mystery and a dark force threaten the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets. Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe. PG-13: 137 minutes. Rushmore 7, "War for the Planet of the Apes": The third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet. PG-13: 140 minutes. AMC 10. "Wish Upon": In the latest horror film from the director of ANNABELLE, 17-year-old Clare Shannon (Joey King) is barely surviving the hell that is high school, along with her friends Meredith (Sydney Park) and June (Shannon Purser). When her dad (Ryan Phillippe) gifts her an old music box with an inscription that promises to grant the owner's wishes, she thinks there is nothing to lose. Clare makes her first wish and, to her surprise, it comes true. Before long, she finally has it all: money, popularity and her dream boy. Everything seems perfect - until the people closest to her begin dying in gruesome and twisted ways. Now, with blood on her hands, Clare has to get rid of the box, before it costs her and everyone she loves the ultimate price. PG-13: 90 minutes. Rushmore 7. "Spider-Man: Homecoming": PG-13: 143 minutes. AMC 10, Rushmore 7, Northern Hills Cinema. "Despicable Me 3": PG: 90 minutes. AMC 10, Northern Hills Cinema. "Baby Driver": R: 113 minutes. Rushmore 7. "Cars 3": G: 109 minutes. Rushmore 7. "Wonder Woman": PG-13: 141 minutes. AMC 10. "Transformers: The Last Night": PG-13, 149 minutes. Elks Theatre "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2": PG-13: 136 minutes. Elks Theatre. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales": PG-13: 129 minutes. Elks Theatre. "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie": PG: 89 minutes. Elks Theatre. "The Lion King": G: 89 minutes. AMC 10. The Rapid City Council narrowly approved the final allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds to area nonprofits Monday night. The decision gives Barb Garcia, manager of the city's Community Development Division, and her office a bit of breathing room as they approach federal deadlines for filing and spending the grant monies. The 5 to 4 vote at Monday night's meeting was split over the issue of a $75,000 allocation to a proposed affordable housing development north of Rushmore Mall. With the approval, Freeland Ranch Community Inc., a nonprofit currently being overseen by interim director Kent Hagg, will use the funds for an engineering study related to road and infrastructure designs. The proposed development is for a 128-acre plot north of Seger Drive between Haines and 143rd avenues. At least 51 percent of the housing units will be composed of affordable and workforce housing, Kent Hagg said at a May 15 meeting. Rex Hagg addressed council members Monday night in place of his brother, who he said was celebrating his wedding anniversary. Rex Hagg said the support or disapproval of the allocation would likely serve as a barometer for the citys support of future issues within the development and may determine whether it moved forward or failed. He also pointed to the larger message the vote would send. Its kind of a vote of confidence or non-confidence in the bigger picture for affordable housing in Rapid City, Hagg said, adding that the development would likely apply for a tax increment financing district for the project in the future. Alderwoman Lisa Modrick agreed. This grant is a grant that can be here today and gone tomorrow, she said, in possible reference to the federal deadlines. The city must submit the final approved CDBG allocations by Aug. 16 and must allocate and spend a percentage of the grant monies called a spend-down ratio by Jan. 31. In reality, though, contracts and disbursements of the money must be finalized by December, Garcia has said in past interviews. If the city has more than 1.5 times the amount of money awarded in 2017 still on hand by Jan. 31, the Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD would take the money back. Rapid City was awarded $433,236 for 2017, meaning the city cannot have more than $649,854 in the account. Currently, Garcia said the city has around $1 million in the account. Alderman Chad Lewis, who was not on the council when the preliminary approval was made on May 15 after a long and at times contentious debate, approved the allocation. His reason was simple. If we make a deal we have to stick to it, he said of the prior approval. Alderwoman Amanda Scott, who dominated much of the meetings discourse and questioning, reiterated her disapproval of spending grant money on studies. And though she understood Lewis point of not wanting to reverse a prior decision by the council, she made clear she never switched course. I am not reversing my position on this, she said. Alderman Steve Laurenti also repeatedly stated his disapproval for the allocation. In other council actions, members: Approved an agreement transferring the Mesa View subdivision water system to the city of Rapid City. Located about 2-3/4 miles from the eastern edge of Rapid City limits, the subdivision currently manages its own community water system. The system has a high risk of contamination according to South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources records. With 39 connections serving about 100 residents, the system will be transferred without monetary consideration and the city will build a new water distribution system to serve the subdivision as part of its East Rapid City Water Expansion plan. Mesa View residents will pay the same rate for their water as current Rapid City residents, but a $65 surcharge will be tacked onto their bills to cover the cost of constructing the extensions and water mains to reach those extensions. Approved an agreement between Rapid City and HDR Engineering for a traffic study of Sheridan Lake Road between Albertta and Corral drives. The study will look to project average daily traffic volumes up to the year 2045 as the city expects to expand its limits westward. The study will cost $148,190, and the final study report is expected to be presented to city officials on July 20, 2018. Authorized staff to advertise for bids for an estimated $1.4 million project to close an area in the Rapid City landfill that has reached its limitations per the South Dakota DENR landfill operating permit. The area will be covered with compacted clay and a vegetative layer of grass, and work will be done to improve the areas drainage, according to city documents. Unanimously approved a resolution to donate an approximately one acre lot at the corner of Denver and North First streets to Passages Womens Transitional Living, a local nonprofit transitional living facility. The city lot, which was appraised at $146,363, is within the 100-year flood plain and has been under city possession for over 22 years, Mayor Steve Allender said in a city memo. Passages hopes to use the property to build a new facility that could house up to 10 women per day after they are released from prison. The approval stipulated that a reversionary clause be included in the deed transfer requiring the nonprofit to complete and use the building for its approved and intended use for a set amount of time. The exact clause and amount of time has yet to be determined. Approved a resolution to write off uncollectible ambulance billing records worth $626,320. Many of the unpaid accounts date as far back as 2004 and are past the statute of limitations to enforce the collection process. More recent unpaid bills are the result of deceased patients without an estate or patients who have gone bankrupt, as well as mandatory write-offs due to Medicaid billing regulations, according to city documents. The Chadron City Council settled on a new city manager with a 3-2 vote after interviewing the two finalists in public. Greg Yanker, who recently relocated to a family ranch on the Dawes-Sheridan county line, won out in the head-to-head vote with Jon Holmes last Thursday. The pair were selected as semi-finalists after the council completed scoring matrices and initial interviews earlier this summer. Both were asked a series of questions in last weeks open interviews, and Yankers experience as a civil engineer and his ties to the region won out. This is my community, and I want to be a part of it, Yanker told the council at the conclusion of his interview, also noting that he has a strong passion for this type of work. Yanker has worked as an engineer with the City of Northglenn, Colo., for the last six years and moved to the Heesacker farm, which was recently honored as an Ak-Sar-Ben Pioneer Farm, with his wife earlier this summer. A Brighton, Colo., native, Yanker has long been familiar with the area thanks to trips to the region as a child and young adult. Its exciting. Im looking forward to jumping in, he said after being selected as the new city manager. Yanker replaces Wayne Anderson, who resigned earlier this year after five years in the position. The opening for city manager was a matter of circumstances coming together for Yanker, as the position was advertised just as he and his family prepared to make the move to Nebraska. Contract negotiations are in process. During his interview, Yanker said his experience as a civil engineer for a municipality has given him a large knowledge base in all manner of public works projects, including water, storm drainage and street systems. He is still developing budget and grant-writing skills. He voiced the desire to be transparent with the public in terms of public information, while safeguarding confidential information. Yanker said hes faced both language and generational barriers in his work as an engineer and has had to learn different communication styles in order to get the job done. Regardless of the situation, listening to employees and members of the public is important, as is following up with them after a situation has been resolved. The council selected Yanker with a secret ballot, with more than one of the members remarking that the city would be well served by either Yanker or Holmes. Im ready to welcome either one of them on board tonight, said Councilman Mark Werner. Holmes lives in Ottawa, Kans., and holds a masters degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a bachelors degree in social science. He most recently served as the county administrator for Franklin County, Kans., a position from which he resigned last fall. Prior to that, he spent three years as the city administrator in Odessa, Mo. His resume also lists six months of work as the city administrator in David City, and two years as a management/budget analyst for the City of Laramie, Wyo. The two men were selected as finalists from an original pool of 12 applicants, which was narrowed down to seven semi-finalists. However, before those initial interviews could take place, three candidates dropped out leaving the city with a pool of four. Coates and Councilman Mark Werner served on the hiring committee with Interim Manager Donna Rust and Human Resource Officer Bev Bartlett, tasked with interviewing the semi-finalists and making a recommendation to the full council. Sgt. David Koupal hadnt even officially started his job as an agricultural loan officer for First National Bank of Chadron before he recognized the institutions commitment to military members. Koupal, whose first official day as a mobile loan officer based out of Hot Springs was Aug. 1, nominated the bank President Steve Cleveland for the Patriot Award given by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. An active duty National Guardsman, Koupal has spent the last few months training for his position with First National Bank of Chadron and quickly realized his new employer was supportive of his obligations to the military. As a sergeant, Koupals responsibilities arent limited to the usual two weeks a year and weekend training. Soldiers under his command may have issues that arise during the week, and he often has online training that must be completed as well. The military has a lot more commitment to itso having an employer who is supportive of it makes a big difference, Koupal said, noting that were it not for supportive employers, some soldiers would have to pick either their job or their military service. Cleveland was presented the award at the bank Aug. 1 by Randy Langemeier, the area chair for Nebraskas ESGR. This is a special day, Langemeier said. In addition to Koupal, First National Bank of Chadron also employs Pete Johnson, who completed four years in the service before joining the bank. It is really our corporate duty, Cleveland said of supporting his military employees. Receiving the Patriot Award for carrying through on that is probably one of the highest honors I could receive, he continued. Supporting current active duty or veteran employees is not the banks only commitment to those who have served. The banks lobby is home to a display recognizing World War I, which began in 1917. The entrance of the United States in the First World War, also known as the Great War, shaped our country as a premier world power. We honor the American veterans and citizens who sacrificed so much so that we may continue to enjoy the freedoms envisioned by our forefathers, says the banks information sheet on the lobby display. President Woodrow Wilson declared war April 6, 1917, and the first troops of the American Expeditionary Force arrived on in Europe that June. The First National bank building on the corner of Second and Main streets in Chadron was placed into service that same year thus the decision to exhibit archives from that time, Cleveland said. A year later the Blue Star Flag was put into service to indicate that a service member had died; one of those flags from 1918 from the Whitney community is part of the banks lobby display. The intent is to honor our veterans, Cleveland said. JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) | The Air Force is offering high year of tenure extensions to active-duty Airmen in certain shortage Air Force specialty codes and grades effective Aug. 1, 2017. High year of tenure, or HYT, refers to the maximum number of years enlisted Airmen in each grade may remain on active duty. This voluntary extension opportunity focuses on retaining experienced Airmen in shortage specialties such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, maintenance, nuclear, cyber and special operations to help improve readiness. Squadron commanders may approve extensions for qualified Airmen, which reinforces the Air Force Chief of Staffs efforts to revitalize squadrons, said Col. Erik Bovasso, the Air Force Personnel Center Military Sustainment and Transitions Programs division chief. This purposeful empowerment places the approval authority and responsibility at the right level, with commanders who know their mission and Airmen best. The HYT program allows eligible senior airmen, staff sergeants, technical sergeants and master sergeants in targeted AFSCs and grades to apply for a high year of tenure extension between 12 and 24 months in order for the Air Force to retain experience and enhance mission effectiveness and readiness. Although retention is high in some career fields and (fiscal year 2016 and 2017) retention programs were successful, the Air Force needs to ensure experienced Airmen are available to complete the mission as well as train new Airmen, Bovasso said. HYT extensions will help improve mission capability in key areas where readiness is currently strained. Eligibility for HYT is limited to those AFSCs and grades posted on the matrix on myPers, and is based on the Airmans control AFSC as listed in the Military Personnel Data System on July 21, 2017. The Air Force will notify Airmen via email of their eligibility to request an extension, Bovasso said. Airmen must have a HYT date of Oct. 1, 2017, through Sept. 30, 2018, to be eligible under this program. Airmen with a previous HYT extension approved for a period of less than 24 months may, if otherwise eligible, request an extension under the fiscal 2017/2018 program. However, the total number of months of HYT extension for their approved AFSC and grade cannot exceed 24 months. For example, an Airman approved for a Hardship HYT extension for a period of 12 months, who meets the eligibility criteria, may request an additional extension of up to 12 months under the FY 17/18 program, Bovasso said. The window for submitting an HYT extension request via the application on myPers is Aug. 1, 2017, through May 31, 2018. Qualified Airmen should check with the career development element at their local force support squadron for details, as specific timelines depend on the Airmans current HYT date. Find additional information about eligibility criteria, application process and other specifics on myPers. Select Active Duty Enlisted from the dropdown menu and search HYT. For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to myPers. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following these instructions. We have been enjoying the late summer days with comfortable temperatures in the seventies and low eighties accompanied by very cool evenings here in Central Meade County. While some saw no rain droplets at all, some saw a tenth of an inch while the Stoneville are received a half inch of rain mid week. All are invited to attend Rural Neighbors this Thursday at 1:00 pm at the fellowship room of the Community Baptist Church in Union Center. One does not need to be a senior citizen to attend. They enjoy games, memories and good fellowship. Highway 34 has been buzzing with motorcycles that are traveling both ways to and from Sturgis. This traffic increased last weekend and will likely be the sights and sounds for another week. Locals believe the traffic is a bit lighter this year. Local Sturgis area folks have been enjoying the live music downtown Sturgis on Wednesday evenings. This is a new thing for Sturgis along with the beautification of Main Street. The planners and workers have done a wonderful job of making Main Street Sturgis more inviting. Faith, SD will be buzzing with activity this week with the Faith Stock Show and Rodeo. Young people are enjoying the carnival this year as well. As the Faith Independent put it, there is "something for everyone during the Faith Stock Show". The carnival was to start on Wednesday and go every day. The stock show and rodeos begin on Tuesday morning. Saturday is a big day that begins with the parade at 10:00. One can spend some time under the tent to listen to the Belle Fourche Cowboy Band. Typically the leader of the band has been Bob French. He was my (Sandy Rhoden's) band director during junior high in Madison SD. There will also be Mud Volleyball, and the tractor pull. Sunday morning Worship Service will be held at 8:30 at the Faith Community Legion Hall. One can first attend the Annual Fireman's Pancake Breakfast on Sunday morning starting at 6:30 am to help raise funds for the fire department. Sandy Rhoden and Deb Schnell are making preparations for their mother's 90th birthday celebration at Storm Mountain this coming weekend. It will be a family reunion on the Moore side of the family. Their mother is Marlyn (Morey) Moore Murphy and she resides at Aspen Grove in Sturgis. The 2017 Meade County Fair was dedicated in honor of Paul and Karen Speed. Paul and Karen have had ties to 4-H as Paul was a member of the Junior Stockgrower 4-H Club at Stoneville many years ago. Their children, Ryan Speed and Lana (Speed) Anderson were in 4-H and has helped every years since then, about 1984. Their granddaughter, Tara is actively involved in 4-H as well. Paul has had many experiences that involved the 4-H livestock sales. We commend Karen and Paul for their service in one of the greatest organizations we have for youth. It was encouraging to read that South Dakota journalists are concerned about 'fake news'. Recently at the Freeman Chautauqua there was a message heard by more than 60 people. A panel of A South Dakota journalists discussed the challenges represented by the label of 'fake news'. Accountability is something that was talked about to help journalists do better. According to David Bordewyk, executive director of the SD Newspaper Association, he said that Journalists could help the public be more media literate if they were more open and transparent about how they write their stories. Some credited the rise of social media for the rise in fake news. It was good to learn that our journalists in SD are concerned and are trying to address the issue. Many of the papers in the state provide facts and stories that are of interest and well written with fair and balanced reporting. I would commend the papers the print the CMC News to: Meade County Times, The Faith Independent and New Underwood Post. One doesn't want to underestimate the smaller newspapers as they contain some great information, news, facts and enjoyable reading. Wyoming is famous for being Wyoming and that sometimes means cheap. Yep. Squeeze-water-out-of-a-rock cheap. Its especially true of their firefighting policies. In a state built to burn, firefighters have to practically get special dispensation from the Pope to spend more than a million dollars fighting fire. While theyre waiting for the carrier pigeon to arrive, the big fire they had before gets huge and costs that were terrible two days ago are massive now. In the latest saga of the Old West, we find our fearless Wyoming Legislature deciding to withhold tax dollars from volunteer fire departments (VFDs) that are already among the poorest and most understaffed in the country. Well, sure, everybody knows if you hit a fire hard and early you reduce costs disproportionately to the expenditures, so lets cut our initial attack capacity by defunding and closing fire infrastructure. That makes a special kind of Wyoming sense. Every rancher in Wyoming, and there are a few, just hates the government right up until that fire is on their front porch and then they sing a different tune. The whole mess defies description, but its what you get when you have a bunch of people who think they can do everything by themselves without government services. Try building your own freeways or clean drinking water or any of the thousands of other things we do for each other through government that we cant manage ourselves. We need government for certain (not all) services. The VFDs across the U.S. are dwindling as younger people no longer participate in shared community services for free. Their world is virtual and the incentive to get out and do things is hampered by their world view. VFDs are like clubs and clubs are out of fashion at least clubs where you meet to do things besides drink and dance. Rotary attendance is down. The Lions Club is faltering. VFDs are going the way of the world. And thats a governance problem. Its not virtual when your house catches on fire or the neighbors kid starts a fire with a lighter. Its real and its immediate. Seconds count. Firefighting is a good candidate for tax dollars. Technical schools and professors salaries aren't good candidates for taxes. It turns out, South Dakota wants to tax cigarettes an extra dollar per pack to fund technical schools, especially teacher salaries. This proposal by Rep. Mark Mickelson is called a punitive tax, meaning it punishes the population it hopes to help by forcing them to first pay more taxes for a very specific behavior unrelated to the reason for the tax, and second by making those same people pay more for their already completely overpriced education. If were in trouble in vocational tech, lets close a technical school and give the windfall and the students to the three other schools. Sioux Falls has a plenty of industry and resources. It wouldnt notice the loss of its technical school. Truly. Rapid City would. So would Mitchell and Watertown. Schools and education are market driven, unlike firefighting, and should be treated as markets. If the market for $100,000 educations drops, cut the providers. Let the service meet the demand. Why should tobacco users bear this burden? Why should any taxpayer? The proposed increase in taxes per student would equal what I paid for five years of school at a state university. Get a grip. If you cant fund yourself through demand, get out of the way. Close the door. Thats what we want legislators to do; use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without and fight fire! BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Southern Gothic is a literary genre and, occasionally, a political style that, like the genre, blends strangeness and irony. Consider the current primary campaign to pick the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions. It illuminates, however, not a regional peculiarity but a national perversity, that of the Republican Party. In 1985, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III the name belongs in a steamy bodice-ripper, beach-read novel about Confederate cavalry was nominated for a federal judgeship. Democrats blocked him because they considered him racially "insensitive." In 1996, he got elected to the Senate. Twenty years later, he was the first senator to endorse Donald Trump, who carried Alabama by 27.7 points. Sessions became attorney general for Trump, who soon began denouncing Sessions as "beleaguered," which Sessions was because Trump was ridiculing him as "weak" because he followed Justice Department policy in recusing himself from the investigation of Russian involvement in Trump's election. On Aug. 15, Alabama's bewildered and conflicted Republicans will begin picking a Senate nominee. Of the nine candidates, only three matter Luther Strange, Roy Moore and Rep. Mo Brooks. Strange was Alabama's attorney general until he was appointed by then-Gov. Robert Bentley to Sessions' seat. Bentley subsequently resigned in the wake of several scandals that Strange's office was investigating when Bentley appointed him. The state Ethics Commission, which had scheduled an Aug. 2 hearing into charges of campaign finance violations by Strange, recently postponed the hearing until Aug. 16, the day after the first round of voting. Twice Roy Moore has been removed as chief justice of the state Supreme Court. In 2003, removal was for defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court regarding religious displays in government buildings. Re-elected, he was suspended last year for defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision regarding same-sex marriages. Yet Brooks is the focus of ferocious attacks on behalf of Strange, who ignores Moore. The attacks are financed by a Washington-based PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. This Washington Republican establishment strenuously tried but fortunately failed to defeat now-Sens. Marco Rubio and Ben Sasse, of Florida and Nebraska respectively, in their 2010 and 2014 primaries. The attacks stress some anti-Trump statements Brooks made while chairman of Ted Cruz's 2016 Alabama campaign. For example, Brooks criticized Trump's "serial adultery," about which Trump has boasted. The PAC identifies Brooks, a conservative stalwart of the House Freedom Caucus, as an ally of Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Warren. Brooks contributed financially to Trump's general-election effort and has named his campaign bus the "Drain the Swamp Express." He says he supports Trump's "agenda," including potentially its most consequential item ending Senate filibuster rules that enable 41 senators to stymie 59. Strange sides with McConnell against Trump in supporting current rules. Yet the PAC's theme is that Brooks' support of Trump is insufficiently ardent. Such ardor is becoming the party's sovereign litmus test. The three candidates are polling in the 20s. Moore is leading; the PAC's attacks are driving some Brooks voters to Moore. Among voters who say they are familiar with all three, Strange is third. A runoff seems certain, and if Moore (sometimes called "the Ayatollah of Alabama") is in it and wins, a Democrat could win the Dec. 12 general election. "Anything that comes out of the South," said writer Flannery O'Connor, a sometime exemplar of Southern Gothic, "is going to be called grotesque by the Northern reader, unless it is grotesque, in which case it is going to be called realistic." But, realistically, Alabama's primary says more about Republicans than about this region. A Michigan poll shows Kid Rock a strong potential Republican Senate candidate against incumbent Debbie Stabenow. Rock says Democrats are "shattin' in their pantaloons" because if he runs it will be "game on mthrfkrs." Is this Northern Gothic? No, it is Republican Gothic, the grotesque becoming normal in a national party whose dishonest and, one hopes, futile assault on Brooks is shredding the remnants of its dignity. Russian opposition activist Udaltsov leaves prison MOSCOW, August 8 (RAPSI) - Russian opposition activist Sergey Udaltsov, who had been sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for participation in 2012 rallies in central Moscow, was released on Tuesday, his wife wrote on her Facebook page. It was expected that Udaltsov would leave prison on August 9. According to Anastasia Udaltsova, that was a mistake which became known shortly before release. The activist has fully served his sentence. Udaltsov has earlier applied for parole; however, his petitions were dismissed. Russias High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova has also asked for the opposition activists release, his lawyer Dmitry Agranovsky told RAPSI on Monday. Another 2012 riots organizer, Leonid Razvozzhayev, was reportedly freed in April and put under administrative supervision for two years. Over 400 people were arrested and scores injured in the Bolotnaya Square protests that turned violent in May 2012. Dozens were later charged with inciting riots and assault on law enforcement officers. Riot organizers Razvozzhayev and Udaltsov were sentenced to 4.5 years in prison each based partly on testimony by Konstantin Lebedev, who was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison but released on parole. Other convicts in the riots case received punishment ranging from suspended sentences to four years in prison. Several defendants were pardoned; one is undergoing compulsory mental treatment. Moscow court suspends newspaper journalists deportation over ECHR ruling MOSCOW, August 8 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has suspended the ordered deportation of Ali Feruz (Khudoberdy Nurmatov), a reporter for Novaya Gazeta newspaper, to Uzbekistan, over the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), RAPSI correspondent reports from the courtroom on Tuesday. The deportation process will remain halted while the journalists case is reviewed by ECHR. The Moscow court also fined Feruz 5,000 rubles (about $83) and put him in a special temporary residence center for foreign citizens. On August 4, ECHR held that Feruz cant be deported during the hearing of his case in Strasbourg. On August 3, a court in Moscow ruled that Ali Feruz must be deported for violating emigration rules. The journalist pleaded not guilty. Feruz said that his life would be in danger if he is deported. Feruz, who applied for refugee status in Russia in 2014, was forced to leave Uzbekistan in 2008 because of refusal to cooperate with the countrys security agencies and tortures. The Union of Journalists, Amnesty International and Russia's Presidential Council for Human Rights have already asked the authorities not to deport Feruz. The Human Rights Council claimed that the ordered deportation of Feruz to Uzbekistan contravenes Russia's Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman of the Russian President, said in turn that the authorities are aware of this problem. The situation is rather complicated, and several factors do not allow to put aside the occurred violations, he added. Two treason convicts pardoned by Putin released from prison Context Russian President pardons two women sentenced for treason MOSCOW, August 8 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) - Two women, had earlier received prison terms for treason and had been pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin, were released on Tuesday, lawyer Ivan Pavlov told RAPSI. Putin signed a pardon decree in late July. Marina Dzhandzhgava was sentenced to 12 years behind bars in 2013; Annik Kesyan was given an 8-year prison term in 2014, according to the website of unofficial human rights group of lawyers and journalists Team 29. They were convicted of sending messages allegedly containing information about a railroad train with war equipment bounding for the Republic of Abkhazia in 2008. In March 2017, Putin pardoned another woman, Oksana Sevastidi, who had been sentenced to 7 years in prison for the same crime. She was released on March 12. According to Sevastidis lawyer Ivan Pavlov, it was not the first case opened on charges of treason because of SMS-messages sent shortly before the military operation in Georgia resulted in Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. Several entities and organizations in Butte say they have been employing newer, proven methods in Butte to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Members of Butte's Continuum of Care Coalition discussed their approach during a community meeting Butte-Silver Bow government organized and sponsored Monday night at the Copper King Hotel and Convention Center. They gave a presentation on their recent activities and then took part in a panel discussion before about 200 people. "Our mantra is we want homelessness to be rare, brief, and nonrecurring, and the system we are developing locally is to make sure that is the case," said Margie Seccomb, executive director of Action Inc., a nonprofit organization that works on poverty issues, including homelessness. But several people suggested there was still a need for a homeless shelter in Butte, and some commended the Butte Rescue Mission for its past efforts to provide emergency food and bedding. The Continuum of Care Coalition includes Action Inc., Western Montana Mental Health, the Public Housing Authority, Volunteers of America, Southwest Montana Community Health Center, and the county's health and law enforcement departments. Members said they work to immediately identify the homeless, find them housing arrangements, and match them with services they need quickly to overcome their challenges and barriers. The newer methods are very "client oriented," they said, and have worked to reduce the number of homeless in cities that have employed the collaborative and coordinated approach. Cassie O'Leary, a supportive services manager at Action Inc., said the group works first to identify the homeless. "We don't depend on someone walking in the door," she said. "We are actively going out and finding them and are quick to respond." Sometimes people have relatives they haven't considered who can provide immediate housing, she said, and some people only need "light services" to get back on track. But some in the audience, although applauding the efforts, questioned how well they were working and said Butte still needs a shelter. Rick Chappel, who owns an antique store on Broadway Street in Uptown Butte, said he often sees homeless people behind his building and there is still a problem with urine and feces in the streets. "I feel frustrated because I do think people are being missed," he said. "I do appreciate the efforts that are being made here, but I feel there has to be a shelter, somewhere for the people to go." Officials with the Butte Rescue Mission said they were not invited to be on the panel discussion, but mission President Paul Buckley spoke to the audience. The mission was forced to close its homeless shelter at 1204 E. Second St. in early April because of fire hazards. Two attempts to relocate to other buildings failed, in part because of vehement opposition by residents and businesses. The mission has since purchased several portable housing units and announced Sunday they had secured 6.6 acres of land off of Harrison Avenue in south Butte where the units could serve as a homeless shelter. They must obtain a zoning variance from the county to make that happen, however. "We do need a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week mission where people can be brought or turn up," Buckley said. "The young mother in an abusive relationship doesn't decide between 9 and 5 that they are going to do something about it. They are going to turn up at 10 o'clock on a Saturday night for help." Dave Palmer, Butte-Silver Bow's chief executive, began talking about the need for a community meeting after it was clear the mission would have to close its shelter. He said earlier Monday that although mission officials were not on the panel, he encouraged them and others to show and voice their opinions. At the start of the meeting, he thanked everyone for coming "to listen to alternative ways to handle homelessness and to find out what Butte-Silver Bow will support." TRADITIONAL SHELTER A traditional shelter "could be the way to go," he said, but there had been problems finding a location for one. He also said the meeting had nothing to do with the mission's chosen location, saying that was a matter for the zoning board to decide. But people in the audience asked about the location anyway and why it was on the "outskirts of town," away from many social services in Uptown Butte. Patty Clements, the mission's vice president, said they would have liked to relocate to Uptown but they looked at 40 buildings there and not one would be approved for a shelter. "We can't relocate to a residential area," she said. "That leaves us with a pretty limited number of areas we can move the shelter to." Palmer said earlier Monday it would be up to Planning Director Jon Sesso or Assistant Planning Director Lori Casey to call a special meeting of the zoning board to consider the mission's new variance request. That board has more autonomy than many other boards and commissions in Butte-Silver Bow, and its decisions can only be appealed to Butte District Court. The Council of Commissioners can buck decisions made by several other boards. Palmer said he wouldn't weigh in on the variance issue "either way" but noted that people can do so themselves, including before the zoning board. Comments and links to reports on science, and its applications. Udayapur, Nepal: The Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, Mr. Masashi Ogawa laid the cornerstone of a training center for womens cooperatives in Belaka Municipality (Former Thoksila and Rampur VDCs), Udayapur District. Along with Ambassador Ogawa, the former Minister of Urban Development, Dr. Narayan Khadka, attended the ceremony. The Project for the Construction of a Training Center for Womens Cooperatives in Udayapur District is funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Japanese Government. The total grant for the project is USD 80,532 (approximately Rs. 8.6 million). The training center will not only offer various types of trainings on vegetable farming, animal husbandry, bee keeping, and handicraft making, but will also provide accommodation to trainees coming from remote rural regions. The project is being implemented by the Nepal Social Development and People Empowerment Centre (NESPEC) that, since 1997, has been working with local women in the district. This training center will be used by 600 members of the Small Farmer Women Agriculture Cooperative Society, one of NESPECs partners. The cooperative provides small loans and rents out agricultural tools for use by female farmers. The Embassy of Japan hopes that this project will contribute towards enhancing the income generation skills and productivity of women in rural areas. With the success of the project, we also hope to enhance bilateral friendship between Japan and Nepal. TOKYO, August 8: He stomped over miniature bridges and buildings in a rubber suit and gave the world Godzilla, the fire-breathing, screeching monster that became Japans star cultural export and an enduring symbol of the pathos and destruction of the nuclear age. Haruo Nakajima, who portrayed Godzilla in the original 1954 classic, died Monday of pneumonia, his daughter Sonoe Nakajima told The Associated Press on Tuesday. He was 88. The film, which went on to become a mega-series and inspired Hollywood spinoffs, struck a chord with postwar Japan, the only nation in the world to suffer atomic bombing, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the closing days of World War II. Vivacious and energetic, Nakajima said he invented the character from scratch, and developed it by going to a zoo to study how elephants and bears moved. He said it was important to show the pathos of the creature, which could only smash everything in its way. The theme of his Godzilla was grand and complex, he said, addressing universal human problems, as it spoke to a Japan that still remembered wartime suffering. If Godzilla cant walk properly, its nothing but a freak show, Nakajima said in a 2014 interview with the AP at his suburban Tokyo apartment, proudly sitting among sepia-toned photos of him as a young man and Godzilla figures. Its not some cowboy movie, he said. He recalled that the rubber suit he wore was so hot, especially under the glaring lights of the movie set, that the sweat he wrung from his shirt would fill half a bucket. In the original movie, directed by Ishiro Honda with an unforgettable score by Akira Ifukube, Godzilla surfaces from the Pacific Ocean suddenly, a mutation as a result of nuclear testing in the area. Nakajima was a stunt actor in samurai films when he was approached to take the role of Godzilla. Some fans prefer Nakajimas version over some Hollywood depictions, which they say resemble an evil-looking animal. Although recent Godzilla films use computer graphics, the latest Japanese Godzilla remake, released last year, went back to using a human actor, Mansai Nomura, a specialist in the traditional theater of Kyogen. His movements were duplicated on the screen through motion capture technology. Until recently, Nakajima had continued to be a star guest at festivals and events. He had been scheduled to be featured at the Tokyo International Film Festival in October. I am the original, the real thing, he said in 2014. My Godzilla was the best. A funeral is to be held for family and close friends. Guwahati : A deputy manager of Indusind Bank of a Guwahati branch was arrested by police after she allegedly siphoned over Rs 2 crore from the account of a customer of the bank in connivance with her husband. According to the reports, a investigating team of Guwahati city police led by ACP Suprative Lal Barua had arrested the bank official named Olivia Dutta Choudhury from Nainital in Uttarakhand. 'Following a tip-off, the police team had arrested Olivia, who was absconding after siphoning the crore of ruppes,'A a top police official said. 'The police official said that, Olivia had transferred the money from the bank customer account to a bogus account and later it routed to her husband bank account. 'Earlier, police arrested her husband Samir Sinha from Gangtok, who worked as a manager in the same bank in Gangtok branch in Sikkim. (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. Breakthrough Science Society INDIA MARCH FOR SCIENCE 9th August 2017, in all major cities An appeal by scientists Friends, We are delighted to note that, on 22nd April this year, more than a million people undertook a March for Science in 600 cities across the globe, demanding robust funding for science and demanding that governmental policies be guided by scientific evidence. We are planning to complement and supplement this global effort in India as we feel it is very relevant in the current juncture. On the one hand, scientists from India have played a commendable role in the discovery of gravitational waves and of Higgs Boson, in the interplanetary mission through Mangalyaan and in reducing foreign dependence through the development of indigenous satellite launching capability. But, on the other, science in India is facing the danger of being eclipsed by a rising wave of unscientific beliefs and religious bigotry, and scientific research is suffering serious setback due to dwindling governmental support. We note with deep concern that financial support to even premier institutions like IITs, NITs, and IISERs has been slashed. Universities are facing shortage of funds to adequately support scientific research. Research funding agencies like DST, DBT and CSIR are reportedly impacted by reduced governmental support. Scientists in government laboratories are being asked to generate a part of their salary by selling their inventions and from other sources. While we can justly be inspired by the great achievements in science and technology in ancient India, we see that non-scientific ideas lacking in evidence are being propagated as science by persons in high positions, fueling a confrontational chauvinism in lieu of true patriotism that we cherish. Promoting scientific bent of mind can certainly help improve the social health of our country where incidents of witch hunting, honour killing and mob lynching are reported regularly. We feel that the situation demands the members of scientific community to stand in defence of science and scientific attitude in an open and visible manner as done by scientists and science enthusiasts worldwide. We appeal to scientists, researchers, teachers, students, as well as all concerned citizens to organize India March for Science events throughout the country, particularly in the state capitals, on 9th August 2017, with the following demands: 1. Allocate at least 3% of GDP to scientific and technological research and 10% towards education 2. Stop propagation of unscientific, obscurantist ideas and religious intolerance, and develop scientific temper, human values and spirit of inquiry in conformance with Article 51A of the Constitution. 3. Ensure that the education system imparts only ideas that are supported by scientific evidence. 4. Enact policies based on evidence-based science. Appeal by S. Mahadevan, Professor of Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics, IISc Bangalore S G Dani, Former Chairman, National Board of Higher Mathematics, Retired from TIFR, Mumbai Nitya Anand, Padmashree, Ex-Director, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow Babu Joseph, former VC, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kerala Pushpa M Bhargava, former Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad Debashis Mukherjee, Ex-Director, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata M R N Murthy, Professor of Molecular Biophysics, IISC Bangalore Arvind Gupta, Science popularizer and educator Deb Shankar Ray, Former Director, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata K M Seethi, School of International Relations, M G University, Kottayam, Kerala A P Thomas, Director, Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Kerala Ajit Srivastav, Professor, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar D. R. Naik, Former Vice-Chancellor, Sambalpur University, Odisha Partha P Majumder, Distinguished Professor and Founder, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, West Bengal Ayesha Kidwai, Professor, JNU, President JNUTA, New Delhi Dhruba Mukhopadhyay, President, Breakthrough Science Society [see other names here ] [See Related News Reports Below: ] The Hindu Scientists mustering numbers for aMarch for Sciencea in India Mohit M Rao July 12, 2017 19:29 IST For perhaps the first time, the scientific community is poised to take the protest route to get their voices heard Four months ago, when thousands of people amarched for sciencea in hundreds of cities, barely a whimper was heard in India. Now, a large group of scientists and organisations are preparing for a similar event in India to press for higher allocation for basic science research, curbing apropagation of unscientific, obscurantist ideasa and focus on aevidence-baseda science education. For perhaps the first time, the scientific community is poised to take the protest route to get their voices heard. An appeal for aIndia March for Sciencea, scheduled on August 9, has already drawn more than 40 researchers, journalists and activists. aThe global march was on April 22. India had then missed the bus, even though our problems are the same: inadequate government support and need for policies guided by science. We needed to get organised to ensure that our demands are heard by authorities,a said Soumitro Banerjee from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata. Need to increase funding Among the prime demands, and one that is long-pending, is to increase government spending on science and technology to at least 3% of the GDP. Currently, it is less than 0.8%, with the majority going towards atomic energy and space technology. aThere is emphasis on product-based science rather than basic science research. Sources of government funding for our research are reducing while asking government laboratories to raise revenue leads to greater insecurity in pursuing science,a says S. Mahadevan from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bengaluru. The appeal notes with adeep concerna that financial support to even premier institutions has been slashed while universities are facing a shortage of funds to adequately support scientific research. Pseudo-science For the scientists, it is not just funding that has been a concern. Over the past few years, Indian science, says the appeal, is afacing the dangera of being eclipsed by religious bigotry and propagation of non-scientific ideas as science by persons in high positions. The previous two editions of the Indian Science Congress ran into controversy over Vedic science and use of cow urine, apart from frequent claims of ancient India having been the source for modern inventions a all of which have fuelled aconfrontational chauvinisma, say scientists. aWe are seeing a rise in institutions and State-sponsored policies using scientific jargon to justify unscientific ideas such as, say, finding out the therapeutic value of cow urine,a says Ranjani K.S., Karnataka coordinator for the non-profit science organisation Breakthrough Science Society (BSS) which is spear-heading the protests. Pan-nation march Date: August 9 Key issues Increase government spending on science and technology to at least 3% of GDP Need for policies guided by science Concern over non-scientific ideas being propagated as science o o science Indian scientists taking to streets en masse By Sanjay Kumar Aug. 4, 2017 , 3:55 PM NEW DELHIaInspired by this past Aprilas global march for science, Indian scientists are gearing up for their own march in more than 30 cities on 9 August, organizers announced today. Their main beefs are anemic science funding and growing religious intolerance. Indiaas science investments are minuscule compared with those of China and South Korea, says Prabir Purkayastha of the nonprofit Delhi Science Forum. One pillar of Indian R&D thatas suffering, he says, is the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), a nationwide network of 23 research and teaching institutions. aIITs today have second rate infrastructure compared to what they need and barring a few, there are no institutes in India which have the kind of money required for the next generation of science,a Purkayastha says. He and other march organizers are demanding that the Indian government boost R&D spending as a percentage of gross domestic product from roughly 0.85% in 2016 to 3% of GDP. Government officials say that the march organizersa complaints are overblown. aTheir position is factually incorrect,a says Ashutosh Sharma, secretary of the central governmentas Department of Science & Technology here. Science spending is booming, he says. aIn the past 3 years, our budget has nearly doubled compared to earlier periods for both basic and applied research,a he says. Purkayastha counters that government departments are diverting funds marked for R&D to nonresearch programs. Organizers are also calling on Indian officials to steer clear of pseudoscience and instead promote a scientific temper: a spirit of inquiry enshrined in Indiaas constitution. aUnscientific and superstitious beliefs are being propagated around in a big way, and we see governmentas hand in promotion of these ideas which has made scientists extremely unhappy,a says Soumitra Banerjee, an engineering professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research in Kolkata. Banerjee, who is also general secretary of Breakthrough Science Society in Kolkata, a nonprofit that is spearheading the march, hopes next weekas marches are not a one-off event. aThis movement is likely to gain more momentum,a he says. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The 2017 edition of the Skip City Inernational D-Cinema festival has come to a close with the audience awards being announced for the world's leading festival focused on digitally produced cinema. Three awards were given - one each for features, shorts and animation - with the awards going to Kato Yoshio's 3 Foot Ball And Souls, Gori's Born, Bone, Boon and Imabayashi Yuka's Momo And Her Cat. Kato's film, in particular, sounds like the sort of thing likely to find a willing audience in these parts - a time looping dark comedy about a group of friends attempting to commit suicide by firewaorks. A group of four decides to commit suicide using gigantic fireworks. But every time the fireworks explode, they find themselves back in time before they carried out the plan. They suspect the cause to be the young age of one of the members and try to convince the high school girl to quit. Take a look at the trailer below! Guillermo Garcia Lopezs debut feature Delicate Balance delivers an engaging discourse on the inequalities and ailments faced in modern society. Centered around an interview with Jose Pepe Mujica, the former President of Uruguay who earned global recognition for his words and actions against inequality, the film centres on three different countries, drawing lessons from the people and situations found in each one. In bustling Tokyo, a salary man questions the futility of his work dominated life; in Spain, families struggle with eviction from their homes as the economy crumbles; and in a settlement in Morrocco, people face death in order to escape into Europe. Despite the dark themes of injustice and emptiness explored, this deeply engaging work ultimately offers a powerful message of optimism for the future. Sitting down with the director at Edinburgh International Film Festival, I was able to discuss some of the issues explored within his film. You got your start in filmmaking with a credit on BLANCANIEVES, which is fantastic, but your debut feature here is obviously very different and very personal. Do you consider yourself a documentary filmmaker? Actually, I don't like to tag myself, so I don't consider myself just a documentary filmmaker. I think that stories have their own timing. Maybe a story has to be a feature, maybe it has to be a short and in the same way stories need a genre. So with this story we had Mujicas speech and we thought that having him in the story was a point of view from reality. We couldn't make a fiction with his speech so that's why we chose to approach it as a documentary, but we felt that fiction and nonfiction have a thin line separating the two concepts and sometimes they are intertwined. For us this is a way of thinking that fiction and nonfiction in life are intermixed, we don't know when it's a fiction and when its reality. What is reality? Did the project start from Mujica, was his writing and teaching the genesis? Well, he was in terms of how I got inspired by his speech at the United Nations on the 21st September 2013. After I heard this speech I felt I would like to make a film with these ideas. He was talking about myself and I felt that hearing a politician talk about human issues seems to be normal, but its not normal. And we found that he speaks in a cinematic way, he speaks with images and his own voice is like a melody. We thought that it was the main element to start the project. It was the starting point but actually I wrote the whole project with the three stories intertwined, the visual treatment and the sound treatment and also the issues that we would like to talk to Mujica about, and then I showed the document to him and after some time he accepted to participate in the project. But yeah, we had the whole project well structured from the start. After taking the project to Mujica, did he have any say on the countries that you chose and the stories you were planning to tell? He knew about that. It was amazing because I needed just five minutes before the interview with Mujica alone to talk with him and say we want to do this, this and this. He was looking away at some point on the horizon and then he turned and said, Ok, I got it lets go. And then in the interview he talks about Spain, about Morocco, about Japan. What we were talking about were not new stories, these stories are happening at different times in different places. Its always the same story. Crisis inside the third world, immigration. What is immigration? Immigration is movement, its searching, its happiness, its sadness. Its supposed to be happy on one side of the fence, and sad on the other. Theres always this tension. We can translate this metaphor of the fence to our own life. We are putting up fences every day, with every one. Its not just this story of African immigration, it's a story of fences between people. And the same with Japan, the story of freedom and duties. We are choosing and its difficult to choose. It's a human condition story. Why did you choose these three cities? There could have been a lot of different stories. We had a very nice parallel project to make a website with a timeline where everyone could put there own story on this timeline, through a video, a text, a website or a public space installation. Im telling you this because there are a lot of stories there. And I think the audience can find themselves in each story. So its like a representation of different human issues. We chose those stories because it's a good way to talk about immigration, escaping from the misery and looking for freedom as a metaphor for life. For example Japan, I think we in the western world have the same problems as they do in Japan, so its not a Japanese issue it's a human issue. Also social housing and problems of housing, having the right to be under a roof, its a problem of humanity. Also, the trip to freedom from Africa, the journey starts in Africa; theyre looking for freedom, looking for life, they have a lot of strength but not material things, so when they are travelling, they escape with a lot of fire and power. This is life. This sense of looking for life and what is at the top, at the end of their trip, well they are looking for the north, the first world, material things. Something to wear, money they are looking for Tokyo. But what is the real fact we can find at the end of this journey? Well, at the beginning of the trip they are looking for life, at the end of the trip they are killing themselves. They have material things but not the strength and power of life that Africans have. At the middle of this trip is this strange place, Spain. Its supposed to be a democracy, inside the European Union that defends human rights. Its an example of well-structured countries and democracies but its false. We find these human rights violations, that's a very dark point for the history of our country. Two of the stories contained conflict, Africa and Spain, but one of them, Tokyo, was passive. Was this an attempt to get to the extremes? The polar opposite scenarios? That's a very interesting question because its mathematics. We have the number three. Theres always two and one. In Africa and Spain we have the conflict and also the resistance. In Africa they resist their fences. And theres also explicit violence in both. Theres a conflict and a resistance. In Japan we have a conflict but theres a hidden resistance, its very subliminal, very delicate. And also theres another group of two and one. Japan and Africa because they are extremes, they are opposites and theres Spain in the middle of that. In Africa you know that theres nothing and theres a lot of strength. In Tokyo you know theres a lot of things but theres no strength for life. But you don't know whats happening in Spain. This is a confusion of the metaphor for the system; its like a kind of hypocrisy. Im supposed to be in the north but Im hiding the problems that I have from the south. In Spain that happened. At the same time in Japan they don't want to show the problem of suicide to the world. Do you know suicide due to the excess of work? That's crazy. Why are we working? The system has to change everything. What is work? That is the question. What is being paid? What is being compensated? I would like to contribute to the world with my work and maybe I could find other ways of surviving. Not just put a value on my work. Why in my country does my work have this value and I go to the United States and the same work has another value. Who is this God that assigns an amount of money to a concept? The salary man in Tokyo, mentions suicide in such a casual way, like this is something I could see myself doing Yes, a psychologist I talked to could see the symptoms of suicide risk in the answers that he made. Actually Masaki-san when I met him, he was coming to the station late because a friend of his had just committed suicide, and I felt I didn't need to push him on that conversation because that reality is inside him and he can talk about that without a guide, but its about culture also. We are passionate about life in some parts of the world and afraid of death. But maybe in some countries theres not this fear of death and maybe we, you and me, are considering suicide from our point of view that its crazy for others there are other things that are important, apart form there own lives. Its interesting from our point of view, we see Japanese culture as very individualist, I can see for example in Spain many people saying they are very strange, Japanese culture, but why are they strange? We are judging them and trying to say they are individualist, but I learned Japanese think first on their collectiveness and them on themselves as individuals. We are trained on our own rights, we are a society that defends our own rights, they anticipate and put duties in front of their own rights. So this is something we should consider when thinking about a new world, a new positive future. What was the process in finding the individuals within these stories? It's a very ambitious project in terms of creativity but a very modest one in terms of production. We didn't have public funds or private funds, we used our own with a small part from crowd funding, but very small. We couldn't go to pre produce and prepare so much, this is not usual and it shouldn't be done in this way but we couldnt do it another way, so we just went with it. I went with my producer and partner in crime Pedro Gonzalez Kuhn. I went to interview Mujica in Uruguay by myself and then I came to Madrid and shot the interview, and we said lets not wait anymore, lets go to Africa. We cant wait to have funds to make the perfect trip, lets go with a camera and try to find it. We went and we were lucky and we found people and shot their stories! It was difficult to have confidence with them and let them show their faces to the camera, we only had two evenings so it was very hard. It was the same story in Spain, I was looking for stories, we went to the neighborhoods and I knew a lot of families with the same problems related to housing. And finally I went to some evictions then I found a freelance filmmaker who collaborated with me, and he knew a lot of the eviction issues because he had been working for two years on social issues and so he gave me some images and helped find images to record and also some characters that were in the images. In Japan I had a production service and they helped to find places and the most important thing to be connected with the story and be honest with the speech and message and they helped me a lot with connecting to the real Japan, so its very authentic. I want to mention Nakanouchi Tetsuya, he understood perfectly the film I wanted to do, he helped me to find the real places, the real characters that showed the issues from the point of view I wanted. He showed me an underground Tokyo. It was very interesting because we both were following in the steps of Ozu Yasujiro, Chris Marker, Wim Wenders, and we enjoyed going to Ginza, to Golden Gai going to the same places that these people were shooting. It was for us learning about a different Tokyo. And the sub-Saharan guys? It was difficult to arrive there because you get lost. Its in the mountain and then theres the military. The military go to the camp at night and they beat them, they break their hands, take their food. They hit them and break their bones. So they cant even approach the fence. Actually this military, they kill the people, they run over the bodies in cars and they enjoy that. They are racist; I know that, I saw it and I heard stories from the African people and others. At night they go directly to the camp, not to the fence and they burn the food; the food that the people take from the rubbish. The military, from Morocco at least, they go there and they burn the corn, hit them and kill them. I saw those images. Some of the images, in Spain of the evictions, how did you get that? Well, you go to the homes at midnight and you stay there because the police are doing evictions. They close the streets so you cant go inside at night so you have to stay there and then in the morning you wake up and the police come inside. This is very hard to find because normally you don't know about the evictions but I had that contact and he had spent two years of his life going there and getting those images. The atmosphere at night is crazy, its like a horror movie, do you remember Julio Cortazars tale Casa Tomada House Taken Over? Its like that. I don't know who these guys are but theyre taking me from my house with my kids they go to the streets. The way the images are edited together, there are moments when its difficult to tell if its Tokyo or Spain or wherever. Was that intentional? With a Delicate Balance there is one location: the city, the contemporary city. We feel that all the cities that we have been shooting in are the same and we treat them the same. So its like a clash between the different cities that make the main location; the urban landscape. For us its important to think about the urban landscape and the relations there. We treat the whole story as a collage of different perspectives from different countries. We work collectively with different crews around the world, but in the end we feel the same as you. We used different languages, different approaches, different techniques to shoot in cities but in the end we feel that the shooting has been made by just one person and that's like a metaphor for our message. We speak different languages but were talking about the same thing, the human issue. 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). Effective reminder of plea realities and over-criminalization in modern US criminal justice systems | Main | "The Practical Case for Parole for Violent Offenders" August 8, 2017 Horrible abuse and female defendant's demeanor lead Arizona jury to send child murderer to death row Because so relatively few women are sent to death row, it is always noteworthy when a female defendant is sentenced to death. And I found this local article from Arizona, headlined "Jurors: Sammantha Allen lacked remorse," a particularly notable account of what prompted an Arizona jury to vote to send a woman to death row yesterday for her role in the killing of a child. Here are details: Sammantha Allen dropped her head and burst into tears moments after jurors announced their verdict in the penalty phase of the woman's trial: death. "She didn't care what happened to this child," said Amanda Keagh, a juror in the trial. "It was all about what was going to happen to her." This marks the end of one more chapter in the horrific 2011 murder of 10-year-old Ame Deal, whose lifeless body was found locked inside a plastic footlocker left out in the blazing Arizona heat. Police said the girl was forced into the box as punishment for stealing a popsicle. Allen, along with her husband John, were charged in the girl's murder. The woman was convicted of first-degree murder on June 26 and arguments over whether she would be sentenced to death lasted several weeks. Jurors outside the courtroom said they maintained an open mind throughout the penalty phase of the trial, but ultimately pointed to Allen's demeanor inside the courtroom as a major factor in their decision. "So I think that was a pivotal moment for me," Keagh said. "I was waiting for something from her. That was her chance to plead for her life and it just fell short." The defense team argued Allen's actions were a result of a dysfunctional childhood and family life that was heavily influenced by Allen's mother and grandmother. Her attorney argued the control continued into Allen's adulthood including how she treated Ame. "We just felt at some point she was not as passive of a person as we previously thought," said Chuck Pritchett, another juror.... The jurors said the entire process was difficult, explaining some of the details and testimony will stay with them forever. "The hardest thing for all of us was the victim (Ame) and learning about what her life really entailed," said Ann Opseth, a juror. "The years of abuse that she suffered." This additional local article about the case provides more details about the crime and context for the sentencing. As is often true for all sorts of sentencings, both capital and non-capital, the defendant's character and history may have mattered even more than her crime. August 8, 2017 at 10:00 AM | Permalink Comments The Andy Dufresne problem -- not showing enough emotion in court. From the second article: "Superior Court Judge Teresa Sanders sentenced Allen to an additional four consecutive sentences totaling 76 years for those crimes. She was given credit for more than 2,000 days she has already spent in custody." Tragic case of child abuse. Killing her, if it ever comes to pass, is not going to help some other potential child victim that much & as a matter of retribution, a very long prison sentence would be appropriate. And, some sort of karmic justice. Posted by: Joe | Aug 8, 2017 10:08:35 AM Post a comment A group of cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and enthusiasts live inside a three-story home in Potrero Hill and they recently allowed CNBC inside for a look around. Co-founded by Jeremy Gardner, the home began as a live-work space for the decentralized prediction market platform Augur. "We didn't have the money for all the salaries to pay everyone to go live on their own so it was much cheaper to keep everyone in one place, eradicate housing costs and still be in San Francisco," Gardner explained to CNBC. Over time, the house morphed into somewhat of a commune for the cryptocurrency community, housing start-ups, and tech workers in the field, and serving as a crash pad for visiting cryptocurrency "gurus." Comma.ai CEO George Hotz lived in a Crypto Castle closet and founded his company in the property's basement. And this one time at band camp , "Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin was crashing there and got into discussions with BitTorrent founder Bram Cohen." Magical moments like that are why folks in the industry flock to the Crypto Castle. "Those collaborations are aplenty here which is really probably the best part," said Gardner. The worst part? Living with someone who uses the word "aplenty." Filled with a half dozen cryptocurrency enthusiasts and a revolving door of couch-surfers, one of the castle commune's favorite activities is watching Bitcoin grow into a legitimate and profitable currency platform. Bitcoin, if you'll recall, was the currency of choice for Silk Road drug sales website kingpin Ross Ulbricbht. It's encrypted internet money, I think. (CNN Money explains Bitcoin here.) "It's funny to see this slowly just gain more and more ground. We used to have a Bitcoin predictor on the window up there and we would guess by the end of the year it's going to hit a thousand or something. There was one moment where we had a big white board upstairs, a bunch of us were talking about different things and I think Bitcoin hit $2,000," said roommate and vice president of Operations at Comma.ai. Viviane Ford. "At that moment we popped a bottle of Champagne and celebrated." Splinter's Daniela Hernandez spent time in the Crypto Castle (and a similar home called the "Love Nest" in Silicon Valley.) She reported: "The common room of the Crypto Castle is huge, with a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows with a pristine view of the bay. It must have been breathtaking once. But the Bitcoiners' dorm-room decor has muted the effect. When I arrived, two roommates sat silently on couches with laptops on their thighs, coding away. There was a whiteboard with illegible scribbles and wall shelves lined with technical books and bottles of tequila and whiskey. Buterin, a lanky 21-year-old, walked in. He was wearing a t-shirt that said: 'You read my t-shirt. Thats enough social interaction for one day.'" This was back in 2015. From the looks of CNBC's tour, there's an orchid now. A quick peek at the Crypto Castle's Facebook page reveals an inflatable hot tub on a deck with killer views of downtown San Francisco. A hookah rests nearby. Roommates rave that the Crypto Castle is a positive, nondiscriminatory, not traditionally tech-sexist place for cryptocurrency purists. This is what I'm picturing: Related: Video: Techie Newlyweds Spend Miserable Honeymoon Living On Bitcoin Alone Some 24th Street denizens were freaking out last week when they saw that the new tenants of the former Pig & Pie / Discolandia space at 2964 24th Street were painting over the beloved Discolandia sign with white paint. But, as Mission Local explains, there's nothing to fear. Even though it may seem weird to preserve the sign of a record shop that is long gone, the neighbors in the part of the Mission are not going to let this bit of neighborhood history go. And thus the new owners of Top Round Roast Beef, a sandwich shop heading into the space in the coming weeks or months, are going to respect the 'hood's wishes, and not only keep the sign but also restore it to its original colors: orange, black, and white. Painting over this historic sign raised some eyebrows, but not to worry, it's here to stay https://t.co/MEWlO1FXpA pic.twitter.com/Fpjy1v1RCY Mission Local (@MLNow) August 5, 2017 Workers were seen whitewashing the letters of the sign last week, causing an uproar and leading to the intervention of local group Calle 24. And group council member John Jacobo tells Mission Local that the original colors will return. Top Round Roast Beef is a Los Angeles restaurant specializing in old-timey, never-frozen, slow-roasted, whole-cut roast beef sandwiches. The signature Beef and Cheese sandwich features homemade Cheese "Wizz," and they fry their curly fries in 100 percent beef fat. (They've also got some delicious looking, poutine-like "dirty fries" with gravy, caramelized onions, and Provel cheese. It appears they've just begun franchising, and this might be only the second ever location of the chain thus skirting around formula retail issues. Two years ago the company, founded by Anthony Carron (800 Degrees Pizzeria), Steven Fretz, Noah Ellis, and Jamie Tiampo, announced plans to begin franchising in Northern California out of San Jose, under franchisee Ricardo Lopez, but it looks like that didn't end up happening yet. We'll update you when an opening date for the 24th Street location comes into focus, but it may be soon. The #thirst is real! #sundayswag A post shared by Moscow Mule (@the.moscow.mule) on May 21, 2017 at 10:06am PDT It's a trend widely noted in the last half-decade at craft cocktail bars and otherwise regular bars that have tried to spruce themselves up with cocktail menus and bourbon flights and the like: the proliferation of copper mugs for Moscow Mules. But now a state health agency is calling into question whether they might be poisoning people, based on FDA guidelines on the use of copper vessels for serving food. Once mostly just an old-timey gesture at Southern California bars like the now long-gone Cock 'n' Bull on LA's Sunset Strip where legend has it the cocktail was invented and Starlite in San Diego, copper mugs are now found all over the country as vessels for mules (both the Moscow and Kentucky varieties, and some others). But the Iowa state Alcoholic Beverages Division issued an advisory last week noting that the FDA's Model Food Code specifically prohibits copper or copper alloys from coming into contact with foods with a pH below 6.0, i.e. anything with fruit juice in it like the lime juice found in a Moscow Mule. Acidic liquids like vinegar, wine, or cocktails with fruit juice can cause copper in unlined mugs to leach into a drink, potentially leading to copper poisoning. While there have not been widespread reports of such poisoning which San Francisco's CBS 5 reports can cause stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and yellowing of the skin the advisory calls to question how many bars around the country have been serving the drinks in mugs made only of copper or copper alloy, without a lining made of something like stainless steel or nickel, which are harmless. Also, how has no one noted this part of the FDA code before with all the copper mugs everywhere? The story goes that the Moscow Mule was dreamed up by a liquor distributor and a bar owner at the Cock 'n' Bull in the 1940's the former, John Martin, owned Smirnoff Vodka and was having trouble selling it to American consumers, and the latter, Jack Morgan, had been making his own ginger beer as a side project and was having trouble selling it. Copper.org includes part of the legend that there was a third person involved, a woman with a stash of copper mugs she couldn't sell, and the drink came together with lime juice and their inspiration, made all the better because copper vessels help keep drinks cold. The drink gave birth to a whole ad campaign by Smirnoff in the 1950s and 60s, including this ad featuring Woody Allen, helping popularize Russian vodka to gin-drinking Americans by way of the Moscow Mule. Fast-forward to the late 2000s, when the craft cocktail craze began reviving all things vintage, and the explosion in popularity of ginger beer in bars over the last six or seven years with Eater calling this "the golden age of American ginger beer" in 2015. Now copper mugs are available for cheap in every hipster housewares store. I should note that the more expensive varieties of the mugs, like this $40 set on Amazon, tout the fact that they're made of "pure copper" and are "unlined." The more you know... The Google software engineer who suggested that women are biologically less well-suited to engineering work in an internal memo last week was fired on Monday. Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote, "First, let me say that we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it. However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." The engineer, James Damore, told Reuters he was "fired for 'perpetuating gender stereotypes'" in his manifesto, "Googles Ideological Echo Chamber." Gizmodo obtained the 10-page document, which elicited much commentary among Google employees on social media, noting that Damore "argues that women are underrepresented in tech not because they face bias and discrimination in the workplace, but because of inherent psychological differences between men and women." For instance, Damore essentially says women, looking for a work-life balance, eschew opportunities to advance to positions of power while men are driven in their quest for status. Google's new Vice President of Diversity, Integrity & Governance Danielle Brown sent a memo to employees; according to Motherboard, she wrote, "Many of you have read an internal document shared by someone in our engineering organization, expressing views on the natural abilities and characteristics of different genders, as well as whether one can speak freely of these things at Google. And like many of you, I found that it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender. I'm not going to link to it here as it's not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages." Reuters reports, "Damore said he was exploring all possible legal remedies, and that before being fired, he had submitted a charge to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accusing Google upper management of trying to shame him into silence." Pichai's note adds, "Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK. It is contrary to our basic values and our Code of Conduct, which expects 'each Googler to do their utmost to create a workplace culture that is free of harassment, intimidation, bias and unlawful discrimination.'" Susan Fowler, the former Uber engineer who helped reveal Uber's culture of sexual harassment, was amused/resigned by the memo: I can't help laughing at this Googler's misogynist manifesto because it reminds me of what one female Uber HR rep told me Susan J. Fowler (@susanthesquark) August 7, 2017 She told me that, in her experience, there were more Asian women in accounting because Asian women are just really good with numbers. Susan J. Fowler (@susanthesquark) August 7, 2017 Likewise, she said, there were more white men in engineering because white men were simply more suited for engineering than others! Susan J. Fowler (@susanthesquark) August 7, 2017 Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg added, "Inequality in tech isnt due to gender differences. Its due to cultural stereotypes that persist. We all need to do more." The Department of Labor is investigating Google over an alleged gender pay gap. Previously: Google Employee Writes Internal Memo Railing Against Women, Diversity; Rage Ensues Big name headliners and dog pageants round out this week's list of suggested activities. From the classic band The Who to pop star Betty Who to a play about the drummer from The Who, it'll be tough to choose WHAT to attend. TUESDAY, AUGUST 8 STAMPEDE MUNCH: All human animal role players are welcome to attend this fetish event where people dress up as sexy leather-y animals, namely horses. Wicked Grounds, if you've never been, is a SoMa kink cafe and boutique that hosts a ton of BDSM events and features a full menu including ambrosia salad, tuna melts, and kids' snacks. Wicked Grounds, 289 8th Street, SF, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., free. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9 BETTY WHO: Australian pop sensation Betty Who headlines Mezzanine, bringing her adorable 90s-style brand of music (and platinum pixie) back to San Francisco. The 25-year-old Spotify star aims to be the next big thing, but SF fans already adore her. You may have recently caught Who at this year's San Francisco Pride Celebration, where she performed at the Armory's Jungle party. Mezzanine, 444 Jessie Street, SF, 9 p.m., $34. HANS ZIMMER: The German-born Grammy, Golden Globe, and Oscar-winning film composer will bring his live show to the Greek Theater, performing the scores from some of Zimmer's most famous works which include Pirates of the Caribbean, Inception, and The Dark Knight Rises. If he doesn't do "Thunderbird" from Thelma and Louise, storm out in a huff. Hearst Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Rd, Berkeley, 7 p.m., $117. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10 POLK STREET SUMMER WINE WALK: "Experience the flavor of Polk Street" and join the Lower Polk Community Benefit District, The Polk District Merchants Association and Steven Restivo Event Services for the Second Annual Polk Street Summer Wine Walk. Stroll along blocks of participating merchants, sampling classy wines along the way and enjoying sales and specials throughout the night. Polk Street between Post and Jackson Streets, SF, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 cash the night-of at 1475 Polk Street. LGBTQ PORTRAITS: The GLBT Historical Society will host a reception and panel discussion on why portraiture (as a form of art) remains " important to queer communities in the so-called post-identity era." California College of the Arts' Tirza Latimer, artist Lenore Chinn, Director of the Queer Cultural center Pamela Peniston and artist and curator Rudy Lempke will tackle the night's theme, and Chinn's pieces from "Picturing Kinship: Portraits of Our Community" will be on display. The GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street, SF, 7 p.m., $5 or free for society members. FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 MUSEUM OF CAPITALISM PUBLICATION RELEASE: Celebrate (or feverishly debate) the concept of capitalism as Oakland's Museum of Capitalism hosts a launch party for its brand new book. The museum contains both documentation and reflection on the founding of capitalism and the book is an extension of the museum's exhibits, featuring art, sketches, quotations, and "speculative essays on the intersections of ecology, race, museology, historiography, economics, and politics." Sounds intense! Contributors Kevin Killian, Jennifer Gonzalez, and T.J. Demos will be on hand to read from the new book, and presumably there will be some sort of refreshment situation. Museum of Capitalism, 55 Harrison Street, Oakland, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., free. OUTSIDE LANDS: A handful of tickets are (kind of surprisingly) still available for this year's 10th Annual Outside Lands music festival. Metallica, Lorde, Gorillaz, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Who headline this year's Golden Gate Park fest, but it's not all tunes and weed. Don't miss the culinary line-up carefully curated by restaurateur Anna Weinberg, and The Barbary comedy and improv stage with the likes of Nick Kroll, Henry Rollins, and Jeff Goldblum (and his orchestra.) Parking will be impossible and Uber will no doubt "surge" so some folks might consider the Outside Lands shuttle, ferrying festival goers from Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for a pre-paid fee. Also, BRING LAYERS. Golden Gate Park, Polo Fields and surrounding environs, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 12 noon to 10 p.m., $149 - $345. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 HOME FRONT FEST AND ROSIE RALLY: Don your best "Rosie the Riveter" ensemble and help keep (or even break) the Guinness World Record for "The Largest Gathering of People Dressed as a Rosie the Riveter" currently holding strong at 2,229 Rosies. This WWII-themed event will also feature FDR's yacht, the USS Hornet, a 1940s bus and era military vehicles, food trucks, a 1940s big band, steel drums, African dancers, and oh so much more. Those wishing to join the Rosie record-breaking can register online, must wear a bandana or headscarf, and NO OVERALLS. Women, men, and children are all welcome to participate. Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, 1414 Harbour Way S, Richmond, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, free. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE IN CONCERT: Don't be a Muggle and miss this opportunity to hear the Harry Potter score live at Davies Symphony Hall. This is an SHN event and not a San Francisco Symphony event, but a real live orchestra will perform John Williams' heart-warming (if you're into it) score while the film plays on a screen overhead. Miraculously, a very limited number of tickets are still available. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave, SF, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., tickets start at $76. SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 KEITH MOON: THE REAL ME: Starting this weekend, Mick Berry will perform his one-man biographical show focused on the life of The Who drummer Keith Moon, aka: Moon the Loon. Complete with music by Pete Townsend, the show will intimately introduce the audience to "the man behind the myth: his acute vulnerability and insecurity, and his struggle to escape the ever-looming rock and roll crash landing." Warning: this event takes place in Marin County, home to old hippies who are comfortable singing along, dusting off their headbands, etc. Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, through September 10, Fridays and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., $35. LADY GAGA: Pa-pa-pa-pokerface herself will take her artsy act to AT&T Park. The Joanne World Tour, probably named after my mother, features topless male dancers and lots of high glamour video screen action. As we know from her infamous Super Bowl exit, Gaga delivers the drama, and she'll be drawing her demo away from Outside Lands. (If she covers herself in raw meat again, please tag us on Insta.) AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, SF, 7 p.m., $64+. 4TH ANNUAL RESCUED DOG PAGEANT: Why on earth would anyone not go to this? Dogs will don costumes and perform a talent while strutting across the stage with their owners to a song of their choosing. Guests pay $1 per vote and raffle ticket. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places, plus look forward to a mobile adoption center, a hot dog bar for kids, and lots of (friendly, leashed) dogs. The pageant is a fundraiser for Berkeley Humane. Those who wish can enter their pageant-ready pup right here. Missouri Lounge, 2600 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., free to attend. NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte dismissed concerns about his country's human rights record hours after meeting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday. "Human rights, son of a b**** -- policemen and soldiers have died on me," he told reporters at a press conference. "Human rights -- you go there and you might have a bomb dropped on your head." Duterte's meeting with Tillerson came amid growing American support for his country's battle with an ISIS affiliate that has attempted to seize territory within its borders and staged increasingly violent attacks. Duterte has a history of salty language. He faced backlash for insulting former President Obama on multiple occasions -- calling him the "son of a w****" and telling him to "go to hell." His human rights record has also been a source of controversy. He has often touted a violent, extrajudicial war on drugs that has killed thousands here in the Philippines, even bragging of killing drug dealers himself. Tillerson's aides said he would raise human rights in the meeting, but the secretary of state has been criticized for a perceived lack of focus on these issues. Tillerson told State Department employees in May that American values like human rights and democracy should take a back seat to national security and economic interests at times. In the Philippines, the State Department has mostly stressed its concerns about the arrival of foreign ISIS fighters from the Middle East and about the longtime U.S. ally drifting closer to China and Russia. The Duterte government has been struggling against an ISIS affiliate that seized control of the city Marawi on the country's southern island Mindanao in May of this year. The U.S. military's Pacific Command has been tracking the flow of some foreign fighters from Iraq and Syria to that fight in the Philippines, according to Tillerson. At the end of July, the Pentagon announced the transfer of two Cessna aircraft to the Filipino military for surveillance and reconnaissance, and Tillerson revealed Monday that "a couple of UAVs," or drones, were part of that deal as well. The U.S. has also provided "some training and some guidance in terms of how to deal with an enemy that fights in ways that is not like what most people have ever had to deal with," Tillerson added. Last month, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff brought up the possibility of an operation assisting the Philippines in its fight against the ISIS affiliate, leading to speculation that the U.S. could be expanding its involvement with Dutertes government. "In every case where we see the resurgence of terror networks, particularly in the fragile areas of the southern Philippines, I think it is worth considering whether or not we reinstate a named operation not only to provide for the resources that are required, but to give the Pacific command commander and the field commanders in the Philippines the kinds of authorities they need to work with indigenous Philippine forces to actually help them be successful in that battle space," Gen. Paul Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress in testimony last month. Increased military cooperation with the Philippines could be seen by the U.S. as a buffer against Russia and China's influence in the region after Duterte challenged his country's decades-old alliance with the U.S. After touring two Russian warships Friday, Duterte said, "We welcome our Russian friends. Anytime you want to dock here for anything, for play, for replenish supplies or maybe our ally to protect us." Defending the Trump administration's ties to Duterte, Tillerson said U.S. support for his fight against ISIS is not equivalent to support for his war on drugs. "I see no conflictno conflict at all in our helping them with that situation and our views of the human rights concerns we have with respect to how they carry out their counter narcotics activities," he told reporters Monday. But Duterte himself made a direct connection between the two after his meeting with the U.S. delegation. "The war in Marawi -- what caused it, but drugs?" he said. Before the meeting, Tillerson and Duterte smiled for cameras and shook hands at the presidential palace in Manila, ignoring American reporters' shouted questions about human rights and what was on their agenda. As press was ushered out, Duterte said to Tillerson, "You come at a time when the world is not so good, especially on the Korean Peninsula." The U.S. has been seeking more pressure on North Korea from its Asian neighbors to help bring Pyongyang to the negotiating table. Tillerson was in the Philippines for a major summit hosted by Southeast Asian countries known collectively as ASEAN as he tried to rally support for full implementation of new United Nations sanctions on North Korea. Tillerson will stop in Thailand and Malaysia before returning to the U.S. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Was the violence that erupted in Detroit in July, 1967 a rebellion or a riot? The words chosen can signify your perspective and interpretation. In director Kathryn Bigelows gripping enactment of those events, Detroit, the rebellion, sparked by a genuine pushback at oppression, lapsed into a riot of theft of unthinking destruction without entirely losing sight of the frustrations fueling the unrest. The events depicted by Bigelow and her longtime collaborator, Mark Boal, have been prosecuted and litigated several times with conflicting testimony and unsatisfying verdicts. Detroit Starring: John Boyega, Will Poulter Directed by Kathryn Bigelow Rated R Detroit is a generally plausible dramatization, focused on the infamous murders at the Algiers Hotel but beginning at the beginningthe police raid on a black-owned after-hours joint that ignited the upheaval. The raid looks like one of those shakedowns that were the norm at many big city police departments in those years, usually directed at bars frequented by vulnerable minority groups and culminating in patrons hauled away in paddy wagons. Only this time, the crowd pushes back, a mob gathers, chunks of cement are hurled and the police retreat. Soon enough, someone smashes a nearby shop window and steals the bicycle on display. A Molotov cocktail is thrown at a gas station, setting the district on fire. On film as in reality, the violence spreads like a virus and is met with violence. Gov. George Romney, Mitts dad, dispatches state troopers and the National Guard. LBJ sends paratroops to a city whose depictions on network news resemble scenes from Vietnam. Detroit shows violence escalating, often through the unintended consequences of thoughtlessness and bigotry. Before long the narrative shifts to the Algiers Hotel, raided by Detroit police backed by troopers and guardsmen. They are drawn to the building by what sounds like gunshots. By the time they leave, three teenage African Americans are dead and the hotels other occupants are beaten bloody. The racism is naked, especially among Detroit cops accustomed to their role as the occupying army of the citys black ghetto. They are especially incensed by the presence of two young white women, whom they suspect of having sex with black men. Complicating the situation is the presence of an African American security guard, Melvin Dismukes (John Boyega), who wants to do the right thing but becomes an uneasy spectator to events as they spiral out of control. The only acts of conscience come from National Guard soldiers who allow one black man to escape and eventually bring the white girls to safety. Through much of Detroit, the soundtrack buzzes with the drone of newscasts, punctuated occasionally by a blast of Motown. Not unlike Bigelows Oscar-winning film about the U.S. occupation of Iraq, The Hurt Locker, Detroit is an immersion in a sweaty atmosphere of hostility and danger. With an ensemble cast and no major star roles, the dozen major characters are protagonists in a drama that intensifies scene by scene into fear, chaos and hatred. Expand Photo credit: Josh Evert Paper Holland at Silver City Studios What do legendary rock band Nirvana and Wisconsin have in common? The Dairy State is home to Viroqua-born Butch Vig, the widely-celebrated music producer most famous for recording Nirvanas seminal 1991 album Nevermind in a tiny Madison studio. The now-defunct Smart Studios produced records by other prolific artists like Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth and Garbage, alongside countless Wisconsin-based bands. Vigs star-studded recording career was memorialized in the 2016 documentary The Smart Studios Story. When local musician Andrew Jambura (Sat. Nite Duets) saw the film at last years Milwaukee Film Festival, he was inspired to open a sound studio of his own. He joined forces with fellow scene veterans Graham Hunt (Midnight Reruns, Midwives and others) and Josh Evert (The Fatty Acids) and opened Silver City Studios in April 2017. The artist-run studios motto is Low cost, high reward an ethos the founders strive to maintain consistently. The three musicians have known each other for years, having met through playing in many Milwaukee rock bands. Josh and I have been friends since the summer of 2009, when he heard my band on MySpace and invited us to play a show in his basement, Jambura explains. Graham is a guy we had both known from the music scene for a while. Were all pretty like-minded when it comes to music and get along well. He explains getting the studio off the ground was a bit serendipitous, though he and Evert both expressed interest in establishing a place to record for a while before taking the plunge. I think we were both ready to find a creative space that wasnt a lightless, subterranean mold cave (read: Riverwest basement). Not to mock basements, as nearly all our previous recordings had been done in them, but we were looking for a space that we would feel comfortable inviting clients to. Jambura and Evert heard Hunt was also looking for a place to record, and the duo invited him on board. Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE With a bachelor of arts degree in music technology and a day job recording audiobooks, Jambura has been recording music since he began playing in bands at age 15. He says Hunt and Evert have similar backgrounds and both have great ears for making music sound good. Their combined experience ensures every client is provided with a very personalized recording session. We each sort of operate independently, working one-on-one with artists, but weve definitely collaborated and will continue to collaborate in the future. It all depends on what a given project calls for. Located in Milwaukees Silver City neighborhood, the studio boasts a 400-square foot control room with an 800-square foot live room attached. Clients have the option to track up to 16 inputs separately. A wide variety of instruments are available for artists to use along with an impressive collection of recording equipment. We purchased a few new things for the studio, but weve each been collecting gear for the past 10 years, Jambura explains. We realized we could put it all together and have a pretty decent setup. Silver City Studios ensures that affordability is a high priority. An average recording session costs around $20 an hour, but varies depending on circumstances. Its been my experience that the media production business can be pretty profit-driven, explains Jambura. Theres an emphasis on knowing what your time is worth, which is important and valid, but also off-putting if communicated in the wrong way. I think were all on the same page regarding this; we want to provide a comfortable and reasonably priced recording experience. Were coming at this endeavor as artists, ourselves. The studio has so far attracted a wide variety of steady clientele and is currently looking to record with new artists. A few of Silver City Studios notable clients to date include Paper Holland, Surgeons in Heat, Bad Wig, Teenage Woman and Pay Up. Jambura says the studios goal is to keep recording music and other audio work on a full-time basis. Beyond that, he says, we just want to keep making better music and be involved in more creative projects. For more information about Silver City Studios, visit facebook.com/SilverCityStudios414. This summer, a commercial fisherman pulled a live, eight-pound silver carp from the Calumet River near Chicago. The fish, one of four species collectively known as Asian carp (silver carp, grass carp, bighead carp and black carp), was found about nine miles from Lake Michigan, well beyond the electrical barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal designed to keep these fish from advancing towards the lake. The discovery was made during a seasonal intensive sampling period that the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC), a collaboration of 40 Great Lakes region governmental agencies, undertakes twice annually. A two-week series of emergency ACRCC protocols triggered by the discovery yielded no indication of other carp having breached the electrical barriers. We treat any capture of Asian carp in a new location as a significant finding, said Mike Weimer, senior fish biologist with the ACRCC. Weimer said that the agency has an ongoing series of efforts to prevent the fish from reaching the lake. In addition to the maintenance of the electrical barrier, the ACRCC commissions large-scale harvests of carp near the northern end of their population mass on the Illinois River. Weimer estimates that the mass is about 47 miles from the lake, a position that has remained steady for several years. This latest finding comes at a perilous time for the Great Lakes. The Trump administration has blocked the release of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of possible additional methods of preventing carp from reaching the Great Lakes; the report was due out in February. While the current systems have, thus far, been mostly successful, many experts doubt the electrical barrier will be 100% effective. Furthermore, Trumps proposed 2018 budget eliminates the $300 million Great Lakes Restorative Initiative, a program that funds many aspects of the carp-prevention system. The finding of an adult Asian carp north of the electric barrier is a warning signal, said Jennifer Caddick of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Yet the administration and government agencies continue to put the Great Lakes at risk by continuing with business as usual. Pulling Off a Spawn According to Duane C. Chapman, leader of Asian carp research for the U.S. Geographical Survey, the process of Asian carp reaching and populating the lake is a complicated one. Chapman said that the carp spawning process is a very complex system about which researchers still have much to learn. Well-fed carp could possibly spawn every year, Chapman said, but a successful spawn requires a sizable population of adult fish. You dont just have one male and female pull off a spawn; it doesnt work like that, Chapman said. It seems unlikely to me that a small population of carp could pull off a spawn. Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE Chapman points to the discovery of three bighead carp in Lake Erie between 1995 and 2000. There were almost certainly more carp living in the lake at the time, Chapman said, but researchers found no evidence that the fish had successfully spawned. Should a sizable population of carp reach Lake Michigan, the success of their spawns would depend on how quickly the fish could mature in the colder waters of the lake. Chapman cites the long period between the first appearance of silver carp in the Mississippi River Basin and their more recent population explosion, which, he said, took 20 years. A similar invasion of the lake could also take decades to lead to a mass infestation, or a small population could exist and maintain its size indefinitely. A third, more alarming, outcome would involve a series of successful spawns leading to a population explosion that devastates the lakes and the communities that depend on them. Chapman has little doubt that Asian carp would prosper in the lake. They will survive, he said. They will probably do pretty well. Lake Michigan has everything they need. He says that the quagga mussel invasion of the lake has shifted the lakes base of nutrients from its middle to its margins, meaning that a population of invasive carp would almost certainly cluster within this ring of food along the lakes shorelines. From the shorelines, they would also likely infest the many rivers that flow into the lake, including Milwaukees inner waterways. On the fringes of the lake, the carp could devastate Wisconsins commercial and sport fishing industries, which generate over $7 billion annually. Asian carp can grow up to seven feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds, eating up to 20% of their body weight in a single day. Silver carp are known for jumping from the water when scared. Hundreds of videos on YouTube offer a terrifying vision of what the Milwaukee River could look like with dozens of Asian silver carp leaping as high as 15 feet from the water as boats pass by. For Milwaukee, where so much of the Downtown revival has been connected to the rivers rebirth as a major recreational attraction, the effect of a carp invasion could be catastrophic. Milwaukees lake and rivers are its history and future, Kristen Settle of Visit Milwaukee said. With more than 120 water-related companies calling Milwaukee home, any compromise to our waterways would likely have a huge economic impactnot only on our tourism industry, but also on our entire economic engine as a city. The results of a microbiological study of the carp discovered past the barrier, which could offer clues as to how the fish got to that part of the river, are expected to be released later this summer. Expand Photo Credit: Scott Billings (Flickr CC) The outrageously unqualified Republican non-politician who won the presidency has created so much political chaos its easy to forget all the buttoned-down, professional Republican politicians who embarrassed themselves during their partys presidential primary by promising to be just as bador even worse. It all came rushing back when Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker joined Donald Trump at the White House to proclaim a fantastic once-in-a-century jobs bonanza for Wisconsin that only required $3 billion in Wisconsin taxpayer subsidies and believing the political promises of Trump and Walker. But there was another more immediate consequence of the warm reunion between the president and Walker, an opponent Trump once bragged about beating like a little boy. A week after their reconciliation, Trump announced his support for one of the worst ideas Walker came up with during his short-lived presidential campaign. With Trump playing to the racist, lowest common denominator among Republican voters by attacking undocumented Mexican immigrants as murderers and rapists, Walker vowed to out-Trump Trump. He promised not only to crack down on illegal immigration, but to attack legal immigration, as well. In fact, Trump was a real piker for only promising to build a multi-billion-dollar wall between the U.S. and Mexico; Walker said we should consider the possibility of walling off Canada, as well. This was toward the end of Walkers presidential run and ridicule was growing. Cutting legal immigration was too much, even for Trump (on the campaign trail, Trump said he wanted to encourage legal immigration and strongly opposed cutting the number of legal immigrants). Trump Distracts by Attacking Legal Immigrants That was then, and this is now. The week after Walker dropped by the White House, Trump announced he wanted to slash the number of legal immigrants admitted to the U.S. every year in half from a million to half a million. Sure, it could just be coincidence. Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE Trump was going through a rough patch. The U.S. Senate had just shattered Trumps dreams of destroying health care for 22 million people. Firings were piling up bodies outside the White House. Worst of all, a special prosecutor was continuing to investigate collusion between the Trump campaign (including family members) and the Russian government to subvert the U.S. presidential electionjust because it was against the law. A surefire way for Trump to lift his spirits when hes down is to stir up more anti-immigrant and anti-transgender hatred and then fly off to West Virginia to bask in the tumultuous cheers of delirious supporters with faces like clenched fists. But it turned out to be exactly the wrong time for any president who wanted economic growth to suddenly propose gutting legal immigration. The truth about Americas aging workforce has finally caught up with the ignorant, anti-immigrant bigotry Trump rode to his unexpected election. Nearly 1,500 economists across the political spectrumRepublican, Democratic and independent, including six Nobel laureateshad just explained to Trump in a letter why there was near universal agreement among economists that cutting legal immigration would sabotage the economy and likely lead to another recession. Thats why many conservative Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, immediately responded negatively that Trumps proposal to whack legal immigration would be economically disastrous because current levels of immigration were necessary to replace the enormous numbers of aging baby boomers now retiring at a rate of 10,000 every day. Jeremy Robbins, executive director of New American Economy, a pro-immigration, pro-growth economic advocacy coalition, provided the compelling facts to politicians in a Washington Post op-ed. With U.S. birth rates at an all-time low and low unemployment in an economic recovery, just half of native-born Americans are of prime working age (25 to 64), while 72% of all immigrants are. Immigrants fill employment shortages in both higher and lower ends of the economy. Theyre twice as likely as native-born Americans to be physicians, surgeons and home health aides. Despite accounting for just 14% of the population, immigrants are nearly 30% of all new entrepreneurs creating American businesses that employ 6 million workers. One in every 10 Americans who works at a private company works for an immigrant. Cutting legal immigration wouldnt create more jobs for native-born Americans, as Trump and Walker have claimed, Robbins said. It would do just the opposite. Drastic cuts to legal immigration levels would hurt economic growth and result in fewer jobs for Americans, Robbins wrote. Limiting immigration to the U.S. is a grave mistake, seconded Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics and an advisor to Mitt Romneys 2012 Republican presidential campaign. The only way to meaningfully increase U.S. economic growth on a sustained basis anytime soon is to increase immigration. Maybe Trump should have grabbed onto Walkers other dumb idea instead and started talking about building another beautiful wall to stop all those marauding hordes of Canadian rapists. Expand Photo credit: Kim Davies In June, the Wisconsin State Assembly voted to join a multistate call for adding a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the U.S. Constitution. Under this measure, the BBA would be passed, not through Congress (as every other amendment has been), but through a state-led constitutional convention. Such an event has occurred exactly once beforein 1787, with George Washington presiding. The Founding Fathers met in Philadelphia with the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation and ended up drafting what became the constitution. Were a constitutional convention to happen today, many legal experts agree, thered be nothing to stop it from spiraling well beyond its mandate once again. The predominant opinion is that a constitutional convention can go in any direction that the representatives want it to go, says Edward Fallone, a professor at Marquette University Law School. They can consider not just specified subject matter, but anything they want. This movement has attracted a succession of states over the last few decades and recently enjoyed a surge of support among conservative lawmakers and special interest groups. Wisconsins resolution was introduced by Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and passed in the Assembly by a 54-41 votewith all Democrats and seven Republicans voting against it. Article V of the constitution requires two-thirds (or 34) of the states to issue a call for this convention before it can take place. If the Wisconsin State Senate approves Kapengas resolution, Wisconsin will be state number 28. A Balanced Budget Supporters of Kapengas proposal have praised the BBA as a countermeasure against the $20 trillion-and-counting national debt. A balanced budget might look to some like a good idea in the shadow of that towering number, but, as many have pointed out, a new amendment is not needed to achieve one. If they want a balanced budget, let them do it, says Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison), who voted against the proposal when it went before the Senate Committee on Financial Services, Constitution and Federalism in March. Theyve got the process to do it. Theyve got control of Congress. Theyve got the White House. All they have to do is do it. Of course, submitting an actual budget would require them to move past the appealing notion of balance and get into some unpleasant specifics, like raising taxes or cutting popular programs. Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, argues that supporting the BBA allows lawmakers to sidestep those details while still presenting themselves as fiscal conservatives. If they enunciate that theyre going to cut Social Security, Medicare or Aid to Families with Dependent Children, those are difficult things to explain to your constituents, he says. So they say, Im for a balanced budget amendment. Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE According to the resolutions lead sponsor, Rep. Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls), a BBA is more about reining in the debt and holding the federal government accountable. A constitutional convention is needed to accomplish this, she says, because the states have no authority over Congress to do it any other way. Critics worry that a BBA would harm the economy by blocking all deficit spendingpreventing the federal government from intervening during recessions or addressing crises like natural disasters or national security threats. Even more than that, they fear that the BBA is really just an excuse to get the convention movement off the groundthat, once formed, thered be nothing to prevent a runaway convention with delegates suggesting all manner of ideological tweaks and procedural hurdles far beyond the scope of a balanced budget. No matter what they say, the purpose is to get a group together and start fussing with the entire document, Risser says. Theres no purpose for a constitutional convention unless you want to rewrite the whole thing. For opponents of the constitutional convention movement, this is where it really starts to get scary. A Runaway Convention As the term runaway convention suggests, theres no telling what would happen if representatives decided to veer off course, but a convention would be a unique opportunity to fast-track existing agendas. Delegates would likely be selected by state leaders, and the majority of state governments at this time are dominated by Republicans. Consider those facts together, and a few possible outcomes start to emerge. I think everything weve seen in Wisconsin and nationally in the last couple of years would be really telling of what we might expect to see, says Mel Barnes, legal and policy associate for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, except without any check on that power or normal process for it to go through. Barnes says that a constitutional convention in todays political environment could pose a threat to reproductive rights and access to womens health care, in general. If, for example, delegates wanted to turn their focus to abortion restrictions or cutting federal funding for Planned Parenthood during the convention, there would be no legal mechanism to stop them. In a March testimony, ACLU-Wisconsin listed reproductive rights and gun control among the subjects that might come under consideration. The organizations executive director, Chris Ott, says that, in addition to those issues, proposed changes could infringe on any number of civil rights, undermining principles as fundamental as freedom of religion and freedom of speech. A lot of the rights that the framers gave us way back in the 18th century actually protect us pretty well in the 21st, Ott says. Instead of starting over, we need to defend and make good on the Constitution and Bill of Rights that we already have. Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee) says the convention would clearly go beyond the mandate of a BBA and could attempt such wide-ranging changes as obstructing immigrants paths to citizenship, promoting taxpayer-funded religious education and limiting voting rights. He says that, while the balanced budget amendment may be the main goal for a handful of conservatives, there are some really substantial other motivators. In spite of these concerns, Bernier says that a runaway convention is unlikely. Were some delegates to discuss changes beyond a BBA, she says, leaders would declare their actions out of order and bring them back on task. If this didnt work, they would likely adjourn the event until states agreed to focus on balancing the budget. She also points out that any amendment would still have to be approved by three-fourths of the states (as outlined in Article V) before being ratifiedmeaning delegates would still have to sell their changes to the public before anything went into effect. If its horribly flawed, it will not be ratified by 38 states, and it will be a moot point, she says. The three-fourths requirement is part of why passing amendments is so difficult and could be a powerful safeguard against any radical changes proposed in a convention. However, some legal analysts have suggested that delegates could simply modify or remove that step once convened. Depending on interpretation, an Article V convention could endow representatives with near-limitless control over one of the countrys founding documents. Opponents caution against giving anyone that kind of power, regardless of ideology. It would be a serious mistake for either party to rewrite the constitution, Risser says. Special Interests and Public Opinion While the national mood may be primed for spontaneous popular uprisings, the constitutional convention movement isnt one of them. The American Legislative and Exchange Council (ALEC) has been pushing for an Article V convention for decades, supplying state lawmakers with model legislation in pursuit of the magic number 34. According to Professor Fallone, these groups want to impede the democratic process by imposing limits on the federal government that make it harder to enact changes, even if those changes have majority support. Kapengas proposals (which include a resolution establishing procedural rules and a bill outlining the delegate selection) have not received much popular support in Wisconsin. Thanks to the redistricting that followed the 2010 election, they dont really need it. I think the only thing legislators were hearing from their constituents is that this is a bad idea, and they shouldnt do it, Heck says. But, because of the way this state is gerrymandered, a lot of the Republicans say, Well, I dont care what my constituents say. I do care what Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and Wisconsin Club for Growth and ALEC say. So Ill go with that. The U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to consider Gill v. Whitford, which concerns partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin. Kessler, an expert on redistricting, says that the outcome of this case could loosen Republicans grip on state legislatures, which is a big part of why the convention is a priority for them right now. I think they want to extend their control, he says. The push for a constitutional convention lost some steam earlier this year with several states rescinding their calls. Wisconsins joining could reverse that momentum, encouraging other conservative-leaning states to get on board. But the chances of that happening are unclear. Republicans control the Wisconsin State Senate, but some have expressed reservations about the idea, including Majority Leader Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau). I do get some encouragement from the fact that theres been bipartisan opposition to this, Ott says. A broad spectrum of groups that are not often allies have come out in opposition. I think that speaks to the need to proceed with caution, or not to proceed at all. For now, many legal experts and lawmakers still regard the constitutional convention as a remote possibility, but a terribly dangerous one, nonetheless. In our September issue, maverick director Kathryn Bigelow discusses Detroit, her account of the five-day riots that engulfed the Midwestern city in 1967, and an incendiary portrait of police brutality and racism. Our cover star John Boyega plays a security guard caught in the middle of the notorious Algiers Motel incident, where a group of young people were beaten and tortured by the riot task police force. Unsurprisingly, given Bigelows intense and immersive style of filmmaking, she ensures that the audience feels as much as possible as though it is staring into the barrel of a gun, as our interviewer Ryan Gilbey describes it. In his roving interview with Bigelow, she tells Gilbey about making a film in the shadow of recent police violence against African Americans and discusses her retreat from pure fiction into quasi-journalism Detroit is her third film to interrogate recent history after The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. Unsurprisingly, given Bigelows intense and immersive style of filmmaking, she ensures that the audience feels as much as possible as though it is staring into the barrel of a gun, as our interviewer Ryan Gilbey describes it. In his roving interview with Bigelow, she tells Gilbey about making a film in the shadow of recent police violence against African Americans and discusses her retreat from pure fiction into quasi-journalism Detroit is her third film to interrogate recent history after The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. Also in this issue: on the eve of a BFI Southbank retrospective, we look again at the cinema of French auteur Jean-Pierre Melville, with its hard-edged Gallic poetry, morally compromised war veterans and intricately-orchestrated crime procedurals. Nick James chooses key sequences from seven films to illustrate what makes Melvilles cinema so iconic. A Ghost Story is intimate love story with a cosmic scope and a study of grief that focuses on the odd but very convincing spectre of a ghost imagined by a white sheet with two eye-holes. Philip Concannon talks to David Lowery about his very untraditional haunted house movie. One of the most impressive British debuts of late is actor-turned-director Francis Lees Gods Own Country, an intense drama about the love affair between a Yorkshire farmer and his Romanian co-worker. Its also a timely film, arriving as free movement is under attack in Brexit Britain and on the anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in the 1967 Sexual Offences. Trevor Johnston talks to Lee about this personal project (Lee grew up in rural Yorkshire), his working methods and his intense focus on authenticity. And finally, Michael Chanan guides us through an era of high-quality experimental and iconoclastic Cuban documentary filmmaking that exploded in the country after the 1959 revolution. We also feature reviews of all the major summer releases, including Steven Soderberghs heist caper Logan Lucky, Christopher Nolans WWII epic Dunkirk, the riotous comedy Girls Trip and US indie Patti Cake$. Among the other highlights in this issue are a report on the historical gems unearthed by Bolognas Il Cinema Ritrovato festival; a reappraisal of the little-known but vital New York film critic and writer Annette Michelson; an interrogation of recent genre cinema, which takes itself too seriously, according to our writer Nick Pinkerton; an in-depth exploration of Suzuki Seijuns enigmatic Taisho Trilogy and an interview with the director of forthcoming Indian indie Hotel Salvation. The three Tanzanian students being treated for injuries from a May 6 school bus accident will be leaving Sioux City and returning to their east African home on Aug. 16. Samaritan's Purse is an international humanitarian group headed by the Rev. Franklin Graham. The departure date and name of the organization were incorrect in a story titled "Injured Tanzanian teenagers to fly home Thursday" on A3 of the Aug. 8 editions of The Journal. DAKOTA CITY | Statements Brayan Galvan-Hernandez made to law enforcement officers investigating a November homicide will be admissible during his murder trial, a judge has ruled. District Judge Paul Vaughan found that Galvan-Hernandez voluntarily waived his rights against self-incrimination during a Nov. 4 interview with investigators, who then stopped questioning after he asked to have a lawyer present. "The Court finds that the statements made by the defendant on Nov. 2 and 4, 2016, were knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently made and were not made in violation of his Miranda rights," Vaughan wrote in overruling Galvan-Hernandez' motion to suppress the statements. Galvan-Hernandez, 19, of Wakefield, Nebraska, is scheduled to stand trial Oct. 16 in Dakota County District Court on charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, accessory to a felony and abandoning human skeletal remains or burial goods. He and Andres Surber are accused of shooting Kraig Kubik, 41, of Emerson, Nebraska, with a 9mm firearm on Nov. 1 and dismembering his body. Defense attorney Stuart Mills had sought to suppress statements Galvan-Hernandez made to officers before he was arrested on Nov. 2 and during 20 minutes of questioning on Nov. 4, when he was in custody. Mills had argued the statements were taken in violation of his client's constitutional rights and should not be allowed to be presented during trial. Vaughan heard evidence on May 31 and watched nearly two hours of recordings that contained the disputed statements. He ruled that statements Galvan-Hernandez made to a Dakota County Sheriff's deputy on Nov. 2 were answers to non-custodial questions asked during initial questioning outside a potential crime scene. On Nov. 4, Galvan-Hernandez, while being held in the Dakota County Jail, had asked to speak with officers, who clearly explained his rights before questioning him. Galvan-Hernandez did not make a "clear and unambiguous invocation" of his right to remain silent until 20 minutes into questioning, at which point the officers stopped asking questions, Vaughan said in his ruling. Investigators responding to Kubik's disappearance on Nov. 2 found a pool of blood near his car at his Emerson residence. They found a severed arm and leg in the trunk of a car at an abandoned farmhouse in rural Dixon County, about 24 miles away from Kubik's home. The rest of Kubik's remains were found three days later in a creek about four miles from the farmhouse. Autopsy results showed a gunshot wound to Kubik's head. Surber, 26, also of Wakefield, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. In April, Vaughan found Surber mentally incompetent to stand trial, and Surber is currently receiving psychiatric treatment to determine if his competency can be restored to stand trial. The U.S. Marshals Service Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force is seeking the public's assistance in locating the following person: * Brett Sauser, 32. Sauser is 5 feet 10 inches tall and 190 pounds. He is wanted by the Woodbury County Sheriffs Office for violation of his pre-trial release. Sauser was released on bond after being charged with four counts of possession of incendiary devices and possession of drugs. SIOUX CITY | Sioux City joined three other towns Monday in unanimous support of a 16-mile, two-county trail planned to stretch from inside its corporate limits to those of Le Mars. The City Council granted 5-0 approval to a letter of intent showing the city's plans to assist with the PlyWood Trail, which is named for the first few letters of Plymouth and Woodbury counties. The vote established Sioux City's intention to assume ownership, sponsorship and maintenance of the trail from within Sioux City limits to Hinton's southern city limits. Hinton, Merrill and Le Mars -- the cities which will be connected by the route -- have also all approved similar measures. Sioux City will fund the approximately 1.5 miles of the PlyWood Trail inside city limits and will own, but not pay for, the portion of trail between the city limits and Hinton. Greg Grupp, a member of the PlyWood Trail Committee, said Monday the trail portion between Sioux City and Hinton would not technically be considered "city limits" but would still fall under the city's ownership, similar to the ownership structure of trail corridors in other portions of the state. Grupp told the council public ownership is critical to the trail's long-term success because there is liability protection not available to private nonprofits as well as the means to govern and enforce trail usage. He said at this point, the route is still being finalized. "There's a couple ideas out there, but we haven't narrowed it down," he said. "Now we're at the stage where we can do more design and development." Grupp told the council the committee is working to secure private funding for the design and development of the trail and to build a $500,000 endowment to cover upkeep expenses. He said the goal is to use Iowa Department of Transportation right of way land and acquire private land for the majority of the trail. Two meetings next week -- one 6 p.m. Aug. 16 in the Hinton Community Center and one 6 p.m. Aug. 17 in the Merrill City Council chambers -- will allow local landowners to share questions and interests. Representatives of the three other communities attended Monday, as well as members of the PlyWood Trail Foundation, Siouxland Trails Foundation and Siouxland Cyclists. All who spoke applauded the effort. "This link to our current trail system will go a long way to making us competitive with the other communities in the state of Iowa of equal size," said Craig Hartman, president of the Siouxland Trails Foundation. Prior to the vote, the council also voiced appreciation for the work of the committee, Sioux City's Parks and Recreation Department staff and the neighboring cities. "Thank you for your hard work," said Councilwoman Rhonda Capron. SIOUX CITY | The three children who received life-saving medical treatment in Sioux City after surviving a May 6 school bus accident in the east African nation of Tanzania will return home Aug. 16. A farewell reception for the children and their parents will take place at the Leiter Room at Mercy Medical Center, following a news conference where Mercy representatives and key physicians will offer updates on the children's conditions. Since receiving their treatment, a 13-year-old girl named Sadia, a 13-year-old girl named Doreen and a 12-year-old boy named Wilson have been receiving physical therapy at the Sioux City Ronald McDonald House. The sole survivors of a crash that killed 33 of their classmates, two teachers and the bus driver, the children received medical assistance by representatives of Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries (STEMM). STEMM subsequently worked with Samaritan's Purse -- an international humanitarian group headed by the Rev. Franklin Graham -- to treat the children for their injuries in Sioux City. Mercy donated tens of thousands of dollars in medical care to treat the kids, who sustained multiple fractures in the bus crash. The three were expected to make full recoveries. Lawyers for a man who was arrested in connection with a jogger appearing to push a woman in front of an oncoming London bus say he has "irrefutable proof" that he was in the United States at the time of the incident. Video footage from May 5 showed a male jogger knocking the 33-year-old woman onto the road as she walked across Putney Bridge on the River Thames. The bus is seen swerving and narrowly missing the woman. Police said the victim suffered minor injuries and passengers on the bus came to her aid. The jogger returned 15 minutes later as he made his way back across the bridge but did not acknowledge the victim when she attempted to speak with him, according to police. A 41-year-old was arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm at an address in the affluent Chelsea area, a Metropolitan Police statement said. But lawyers for Eric Bellquist said in a statement Friday that their client has a clear alibi. "Our client has been wrongly implicated in this matter; he categorically denies being the individual concerned and has irrefutable proof that he was in the United States at the time of the incident. Consequently we expect a swift resolution to this wholly untrue allegation," Duncan Lewis Solicitors said in a statement. On Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said they had released a man arrested in connection with the case without charge, and that no further action would be taken against him. Officers received "a good response" from the public after releasing the footage, police said. "The victim was put in extreme danger when she was knocked into the road. It was only due to the superb quick reactions of the bus driver that she was not hit by the vehicle," said Sgt. Mat Knowles, the investigating officer from Putney Safer Neighbourhood Team, in an earlier statement. This story has been updated to reflect the latest information from police about the suspect's age. CNN's Angela Dewan contributed to this article. WASHINGTON -- A future trivia question and historical footnote, the spectacular 10-day flameout of Anthony Scaramucci, qualifies as the most entertaining episode yet of the ongoing reality show that is the Trump presidency. (Working title: "The Pompadours of 1600 Pennsylvania.") But even as the cocksure sycophant's gobsmacking spectacle stole the show, something of real importance took place a bit lower on the radar. At five separate junctures, the sinews of our democracy held against the careening recklessness of this presidency. Consequently, Donald Trump's worst week proved a particularly fine hour for American democracy: (1) The military says no to Trump on the transgender ban. Well, not directly -- that's insubordination -- but with rather elegant circumspection. The president tweeted out a total ban on transgender people serving in the military. It came practically out of nowhere. The military brass, not consulted, was not amused. Defense Secretary James Mattis, in the middle of a six-month review of the issue, was reportedly appalled. What was done? Nothing. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs simply declared that a tweet is not an order. Until he receives a formal command and develops new guidelines, the tweet will be ignored. In other words, the military told the commander in chief to go jump in a lake. Generally speaking, this is not a healthy state of affairs in a nation of civilian control. It does carry a whiff of insubordination. But under a president so uniquely impulsive and chronically irrational, a certain vigilance, even prickliness, on the part of the military is to be welcomed. The brass framed their inaction as a matter of procedure. But the refusal carried with it a reminder of institutional prerogatives. In this case, the military offered resistance to mere whimsy. Next time, it could be resistance to unlawfulness. (2) The Senate saves Sessions. Trump's relentless public humiliation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions was clearly intended to get him to resign. He didn't, in part because of increasing support from Congress. Sessions' former colleagues came out strongly in his defense and some openly criticized the president's shabby treatment of his first and most fervent senatorial supporter. Indeed, Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, warned Trump not to fire Sessions because he wouldn't get another attorney general -- the committee's entire 2017 schedule was set and there would be no hearings to approve a new AG. That was a finger to the eye of the president. Every once in a while, the Senate seems to remember that it is a coequal branch. (3) Senate Republicans reject the Obamacare repeal. The causes here are multiple, most having nothing to do with Trump. Republicans are deeply divided on the proper role of government in health care. This division is compounded by the sea change in public opinion as, over seven years, Obamacare has become part of the fabric of American medicine, and health care has come to be seen as a right rather than a commodity. Nonetheless, the stunning Senate rejection of repeal was also a pointed rejection of Trump's health care hectoring. And a show of senatorial disdain for Trump craving a personal legislative "win" on an issue about whose policy choices he knew nothing and cared less. (4) The Boy Scouts protest. In a rebuke not as earthshaking but still telling, the chief executive of the Boy Scouts found it necessary to apologize for the president's speech last week to their quadrennial jamboree. It was a wildly inappropriate confection, at once whining, self-referential, partisan and political. How do you blow a speech to Boy Scouts? No merit badge for the big guy. (5) The police chiefs chide. In an address to law enforcement officials, Trump gave a wink and a nod to cops roughing up suspects. Several police chiefs subsequently reprimanded Trump for encouraging police brutality -- a mild form, perhaps, but brutality still. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said it was all a joke. Nonsense. It was an ugly sentiment, expressed coyly enough to be waved away as humor but with the thuggish undertone of a man who, heckled at a campaign rally, once said approvingly that in the old days "guys like that" would "be carried out on a stretcher." Whatever your substantive position on the various issues involved above, we should all be grateful that from the generals to the Scouts, from the senators to the cops, the institutions of both political and civil society are holding up well. Trump is a systemic stress test. The results are good, thus far. Economy, Theory August 8, 2017 Elmar Altvater So many accusations have been levelled against Karl Marx and, to an even greater extent, his friend and co-author Friedrich Engels in the 150 years since Capital was first published (in German in 1867) that the charges are almost too many to list. Unlike the political economists that came before him, Marx was supposedly unable to explain price formation. What is more, according to his critics, the predicted immiseration of the working class never occurred, and capitalism was not in a state of collapse, but has instead emerged victorious from the battle between competing social systems. Marx and Engels are also accused of having paved the way for Stalins atrocities with their theoretical and political writings and of thus being the intellectual ringleaders of the crimes committed in the age of extremes. Those are the harsh allegations still being penned by journalists even to this day. But some of the yawning gaps, which Marx no doubt left in his work, seem instead to appear as prejudgments: Marx, and especially Engels, supposedly had no answer to the ecological issues that are our main concern today. They are alleged to have overlooked the fact that value is not only created by labour, but by nature too; in their theoretical edifice, nature is afforded less space compared to society, and the monotheistic notion of humanitys domination of nature is not critically interrogated. But an examination of the blue volumes of Marx and Engelss collective writings, especially the first volume of Capital in volume 23 (volume 35 of the English-language Marx-Engels Collected Works ) shows that readers have left behind stains and finger prints, i.e. traces of their ecological existence. It is impossible to read Marx without any consideration for ecology. One reads Marx with ones head and, consequently, with reason, but the experience is also tactile as one turns the pages with ones fingertips. An author without blind spots in his writing is like a hero without any flaws, the very model of a saint or, in other circles, a monumental bore. Of course, readers living 150 years after the author has passed on are, first of all, smarter or at least, they should be, even if the authors name is Karl Marx. But usually this intelligence only suffices to detect those predictions made by the author that have not come to pass, as well as to spot the odd gap in their argument, and announce such discoveries to the world. Some readers are only capable of challenging Marxs theories armed with just the stale arguments of yesteryear. Like many other authors, Marx undoubtedly left himself open to attack. These weak points should be seen as a challenge to the reader to improve them with their own thoughts and the resulting arguments. This demands a certain amount of effort, even if the gaps that Marx left behind are so rich with potential that they could give rise to many hundred thoughts. But nobody nurtures these creations in times in which the president of a fake country orders very real and deadly air strikes via Twitter with little contemplation, and when less outrageously the critique of ideas, including elaborated theories for which Marx provided a scientific rationale as well as examples, becomes part of a career opportunism that adheres to affirmative conformity, or when some foolish journalist from a well-respected newspaper sets out on a hopeless mission to uncover mistakes. Gaps and Unresolved Questions One does not have to get worked up over gaps. We refer to Marx the same way we refer to other great minds who have imparted indispensable knowledge to answer the unresolved questions in our work today. We cannot even name them all because some have become second nature and a part of everyday discourse, so much so that we are surprised when somebody points out the authorship of some familiar thought or saying; for example, that economists are people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. These words were uttered by George Bernard Shaw, who obviously knew better than the elite club of economics Nobel prize winners who regularly meet in Lindau for the purpose of narcissistic self-reflection. Marx said that the coins and cash of the monetary system was essentially Catholic, whilst the credit system [was] essentially Protestant. As proof, he adds that this was already illustrated by the fact that the Scotch hate gold. ( Capital Vol. III, p. 727.) Today we know that it was primarily Protestants who brought the euro monetary system into being and Protestants who are working to completely abolish cash in Europe. A church struggle waged by monetary means. And Marx had anticipated this since he was aware of the unbreakable bond that existed between a mode of production based upon value and its cultural and ideological constructions. With every new reading of Capital , one discovers something new. But this is only the case if one approaches the text with curiosity and from a modern-day perspective, and does not read it as commandments carved in tablets of stone. Even 200 years after Marx was born, the pointless endeavor of not wanting to see the world in the same light, but rather to plunge into the twilight of ones own dimness, persists. There are Wahhabi-style Marxists who demonize a critical re-reading of Capital (such as that of Mathias Greffrath from 2017), but they are now fewer in number. It is a core intellectual task of the Enlightenment one could emphatically add, for the purpose of improving humanity to shine a light on the entire terrain of class struggle, the diversity of social conflicts and their actors, their origins, their dynamics and forms of development, and their intended consequences and unintended side effects. This diversity is now different from how it was during the time of the Russian Revolution in 1917, or a hundred years earlier when Marx was born in Trier in 1818, or in 1867, when Marx hand-delivered the manuscript of Capital to his Hamburg publisher Otto Meissner. Capital : a Projectile in the Class Struggle It was supposed to be not just a manuscript for a book, but the most terrible missile that has yet been hurled at the heads of the bourgeoisie, as Marx wrote to Johann Philipp Becker in a letter on April 17, 1867, shortly after he had been to Hamburg ( Marx Engels Collected Works , Volume 42, p. 358). A piece of writing that was theoretical, very complex, and not easily accessible to all became a projectile in the class struggle. A practical test sought to establish its suitability for theoretical work, for creating a strategy, and also developing tactics in the political exercise of generating social and political movement(s). The entire complex of bourgeois society, its economy and ecology, is targeted. Marx stands alone among economists as the only figure who, in categories he examines, considers, and analytically decodes, the general dialectical context of matter and value, material and form, use-value and exchange value, concrete and abstract labour, nature and society, social structure and individual as well as collective action thus of theory and practice. The general context of the mode of production based upon value determines the analytical approach, the form and reach of critique. It is holistic, more comprehensive than analytical approaches from other social sciences and theoretical schools of economics, which thus exhibit more gaps than theoretical approaches to Marx and Engelss work. For that reason, Marx is the only economist in whose categorical system the ecological problems of capitalist society can be appropriately analyzed and debated. Is that an arrogant and therefore brazen as well as dumb assumption? Possibly. But there are good arguments that speak for this line of reasoning. Before the beginning of the fossil-fuel driven industrial era, there were also economic theories, hence the history of dogma can be traced back all the way to biblical times. But it is only since humans began to use fossil fuels systematically that workers have been able to make use of instruments to alter nature which, on the one hand, can enable the productivity of labour and the wealth of nations to be increased to previously unreachable heights, but, on the other, also lead to the destruction of nature. The metabolism of capitalist reproduction comprises both consumption and excretion, i.e. the creation of natural material. However, this mixture cannot always be tolerated by either human or nature. The environmental crisis begins and the effects this shift has upon peoples living conditions are described by Friedrich Engels in his 1845 work Condition of the Working Class in England . The possibility for growth provides the impetus for both scientific and empirical efforts to systematically research the origins of this new wealth. Does it arise from trade carried out in the market or from the labour performed in the process of production? Those are questions that any kindhearted soul may raise but can give no satisfying answers to. Where good will falls short, science has to take over. A new discipline takes shape, initially, of course, within the traditional science canon. It is therefore no surprise that the pre-revolutionary encyclopedists of 18th-century France believed the answers to economic questions lay in moral doctrine. Here modern neoliberals can only shake their heads. Eventually, political economy came into being. Let us therefore begin with a very brief overview of the most influential schools of economic thought that the world has seen since the 18th century. Science of Political Economy 1) Classical economists understood that economic value is created by labour and that the key factor is surplus, i.e. surplus value. They also identified the difference between material and value, but failed to recognize their specific social form. To them, capitalism and the market economy were the ultima ratio of the economic as well as the natural order. The difference between the surplus in pre-capitalist societies and surplus value in capitalist society was no more a topic than the possibility of a post-capitalist society or the burning issue that the environment has become today. However, classical economists had acknowledged that economics was political and also had something to do with moral sentiments and ethics, whilst it also needed to be analytically challenging and, at the same time, be based on norms within the order of polity. Therefore, political economy was at least at the beginning of the bourgeois era a self-conscious program to design what Leibniz considered the best of all possible worlds. In the interests of the bourgeoisie (the rising capitalist class), classical political economy was a partisan science. It was still untouched by the conflicts over value judgments unleashed in the 20th century. 2) As early as the beginning of the 18th century, Bernard Mandeville (1703) in his The Fable of the Bees and Voltaire in his novel Candide , which took aim at Leibniz, tried to sully the presumptuous and indeed crazy idea of a best possible society. Derision and mockery were admittedly not the critique of political economy that Marx had worked on since the 1840s. The political economy that had first arose as a science together with the bourgeoisie did not work its way up to a critique of political economy, but rather followed the easier principle of disembedding all that was economic from social and political contexts as well as from conflicts, pressures of legitimization, traditions, and customs. It fits within the landscape of what is now the prevailing capitalist market economy. Economics mutated into the science of a disembedded market economy, which became the subject of Karl Polanyis (1978) research. Economics no longer considered itself to be political economy as the classical economists had designed it to be; it regarded morally justified norms defensively and with skepticism, and was far removed from a materialist and dialectical critique of political economy. The word economy, which was reminiscent of material and, therefore, of social and natural substance, was now also deleted and replaced by economics. Throughout this history of disembedding, over the course of which every notion of society, politics, culture and nature faded from economics, critique of economic discourses also disappeared, and was consequently dropped from university curricula disembedded, as it were, from the social context that went by the name economics. The dreary state of todays economics faculties thus has an equally dismal history. Nature and Society The neoclassical economists of the 19th century, and especially their neoliberal followers of the 20th century, were therefore only interested in the monetary side of economic processes, and devoted no time to the origin, form, and content of money, which they alone are able to employ to discuss economic issues. That is why, when they rant on about natural capital, they are not able to recognize ecological problems and discuss them sensibly. Notifications from the central banks they have established concerning the quantity of money (which, according to a much-quoted bon mot by the neoliberal high priest Milton Friedman, has been thrown from a helicopter, thus earning the name helicopter money M1, M2, M3, etc.) are enough for them. In their eyes, value created by labour as well as the material economy of matter and energy are of no importance. They are also not interested in the process of production prior to the functioning of the market and the process of disposing of waste, sewage, and exhaust fumes within the natural domain of Planet Earth after products have been produced and consumed. The only thing that matters is that everything has its price, which economists can then calculate. Nature is only interesting as natural capital; human beings as human capital. That is the nadir of economic intelligence that the Nobel Committee has celebrated with countless prizes. The economist himself concedes that this is inhuman, for the most part, without understanding what he is saying: when he (only in rare cases would she apply) tacks very artificial assumptions onto mathematical structure models or assumes the rationality of homo oeconomicus. This is always instrumental and must therefore always exclude from calculation whatever does not appear on the radar of the economic man or the investor. He is thus absolved from all responsibility for environmental damage as a consequence of the pursuit of profit that drives investment decisions. Social costs and environmental disruption may be considered the principal contradiction within the system of business enterprise, writes K. William Kapp (1971: XIV), one of the few economists to have dealt with the environmental consequences of private capital accumulation. In neoclassical economics, with its unleashed private capital, drive to accumulation, and rollback of the commons and state regulation, externalization is a structural principle, unavoidable in the modern capitalist economy. Attempts to internalize social costs could thus only deliver success if the rationality of capitalist society were to be called into question, i.e. if this society were to be changed. Externalization is therefore an expression (one that economists fail to grasp) of the market economy being disembedded from society and nature, something that Marx criticized as fetishism. This inhibits the understanding that the occupation of the planet for the purpose of capitalist (usually commercial) valorization called externalization is nothing less than the digestion of nature in the insatiable, greedy metabolic tract of the economy and society. 3) It was in the Keynesian economics that followed the great global economic crisis of the 1930s that space and time, and therefore categories of nature, were rediscovered as meaningful elements for economists. But understanding was extremely limited, since the main concern was to recognize economic instabilities that arose as the result of the uncertainty of investment decisions that would take effect in the future. A decision is made in the present on the basis of given certainties that arise from periods that are already in the past. Expectations, however, are based upon future revenues. Investments are thus always and necessarily fraught with risk and may fail, since the future is unknown and things can turn out very differently to what the decision-making economic entity had planned. This entity compares external and internal rates of interest, market interest that can be regulated within certain limits by the central bank, and the rate of profit, which is dependent upon productivity and labour costs. Decisions, however, are reliant upon private, profit-focused calculations. 4) Unlike classical economics, neoclassical economics or Keynesianism and its variants, in thermodynamic economics matter and energy and their transformations, i.e. ecological conditions of production, consumption and circulation, are central categories. Thermodynamic economics is the answer provided by economists who are dissatisfied with neoliberal and neoclassical schools of thought that forget nature. It was also directed at Marxs theory, on the basis, however, of a terribly truncated interpretation of Marxs analysis of the mode of production based upon value (and indeed not upon matter). Today, thermodynamic or bioeconomics is usually mentioned in connection with the Romanian mathematician and economist Nicholas Goergescu-Roegen and his principal work from the year 1971. Material and energetic transformations are of fundamental importance to economic analysis and must not be excluded from it, since all economic transactions occur within space and time and an economic science without consideration of physical time and physical space would therefore be absurd as it excludes the possibility of understanding the entropic character of all economic transformations of matter and energy. Over the course of time, entropy increases, i.e. once used, energy cannot be reused (the case is similar for matter). The quality of labour performance declines. This is pointed out by thermodynamic economics, which, in contrast to neoclassical economics, is able to adequately discuss the externalization of social costs generated in the private economy as mentioned above. However, the analysis of social forms of economic activity is neglected in thermodynamic economics. They are not even considered. The significance of the capitalist drivers behind todays ecologically disastrous transformations of matter and energy and how they influence ecology and environmental policy are not being sufficiently recognized. Once again, the central role of the category illustrates the dual nature of labour and its product, the commodity, as the pivot of political economy (for a more in-depth discussion, see Louis Althusser). 5) Since its beginning, political economy has been one-sided. Either money is all that matters, or matter and energy are the object of focus. The specific social form of using matter and energy in the capitalist mode of production, and the questions of why money is transformed into capital and why the mode of production then revolutionizes all ways of life do not show up on the radar of economic theorists on either side. This one-sidedness is by no means abolished when it is diversified by declaring it plural economics and emphasized using multiple names, such as plural economics, ecological, evolutionary economics, commons economics, community economics and post-growth economics (Schneidewind et al). Hence the science that has, since Marx, been referred to as the critique of political economy and which we, along with Friedrich Engels, can refer to as the science of the dialectical connected whole or, as we would describe it today, a holistic approach in line with chaos theory, does not arise. Pluralism is good, but not enough to grasp the contradictions and crises of the social dynamic of capitalist economies and the web of life (Jason Moore, 2015) that they regulate on Planet Earth. Until now, this web of life has remained unrecognized in its total complexity, and might be impossible to grasp scientifically, and also contains many actors that all play a role in social conflicts and in the class struggles of the ecological age. We must grasp them as soon as possible in order to become or remain capable of action. The environmental space at our disposal is not only limited, as has been acknowledged since the 1990s following the insights provided by studies on the limits of growth. Those of us on the limited planetary sphere (to use a term quoted by Immanuel Kant) are approaching the planetary boundaries marked by an international group of scientists led by Johan Rockstrom in 2009. We have already crossed some of them. We are living hand-to-mouth. The hand has less and less to offer, but the mouth is still being used as a raging megaphone, primarily by the great Americans. Economic Contradiction and Social Conflict The evidence provided by scientists, which proves not only the finiteness of resources but also the decline of Planet Earth as it is being turned into one giant landfill or a dumping ground for hazardous waste, is both obvious and terrifying, all the more so when the capitalist drivers analyzed by Marx, and thus specific to this social formation, are taken into consideration: value production, which treats labour, i.e. human beings, as well as the natural world with absolutely no consideration, and which must be imposed every time against capitalist interests of protecting nature and humankind. Accumulate, accumulate! That is Moses and the prophets! (Karl Marx, Capital Volume 1, p. 742) is how Marx cites the iron law of capitalism. Even the self-evident rules of cleanliness must be wrested from capital if they even slightly restrict the creation of surplus value through labour. The antagonism that exists between matter and value, wage labour and capital, nature and society, accumulation and crisis must, therefore, first of all, be understood as an economic contradiction and social conflict within the capitalist mode of production before one can reasonably speak of the common good, post-growth, etc. economics or plural economics, which refuse to acknowledge any systemic constraints. In neoliberal mainstream economics, the situation is hopeless. But even the pluralist economics of sustainability believes in reconciling the interests of capital with the interest of natural preservation and the interests of workers. Of course, social conflicts are not always conducted on a knife edge; negotiations occur, compromises are possible and even endure for some time. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) offer a glimmer of hope and are a signal for the dawning of a new, sustainable post-growth future. We can see some similarities to the events that took place during the periods of reformism, when the labour movement believed in reconciling conflicting class interests. In ecological conflicts too, the necessary groundwork is being laid so that parties can one day march hand in hand toward compromise. But how the desired social-ecological sustainability can be achieved, and what form it should take if capitals drive to accumulate is not brought to a standstill, that is to say, if Moses and the prophets are not deprived of power, is a topic that has yet to be addressed by plural economics. Marx and Engels wrote in The Communist Manifesto that until now history has been a history of class struggles. And this will continue to be the case. However, in the future struggles will not only take place concerning wages, performance and the quantity and quality of employment within the existing capitalist society, and/or if this societal framework should be overhauled, but also concerning living and working conditions in a society at the limits of planetary capacity. The organization of an imperialism of plunder, as described by David Harvey (2005), or the externalization of burdens and the placing of excessive strain on nature as a result of rational calculations made by investors, as described by Lessenich (2016), amount to nothing but desperately patching up a protective fence that has already been torn down. There is no other option but to create an economically efficient, socially balanced society organized democratically and ecologically according to principles of sustainability. Many will note this message with approval. But it does not come from an awareness of the advantages of a post-growth economy, because it cannot exist without transcending capitalism. As has always been the case in history, it is the result of class struggles for a future worth living in, both in the 21st century and beyond: pragmatic political efforts toward a humane and ecological shaping of the total dialectical context. Philip was born August 8, 1921 to the late Louis and Mary (Marshall) Thomas in Compton, Maryland. He was affectionately known as "Phil" or the "Mayor of Chaptico". He was educated in the St. Mary's Public School system. He continued his education and earned multiple honorary life degrees in farming, construction, integrity, honesty, faith and love. On October 26, 1947, he married the love of his life, the late Rose Wilson. From this union they had 11 children, 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. Philip was very humble, pleasant, soft-spoken, laid back, funny, joyful, happy, wonderful, caring, loving, giving, honest, remarkable provider and the list goes on. He was God's Angel on earth. Philip loved attending Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Chaptico, and helping with various church functions to include the annual Church Festivals. He never missed a weekly Mass! Philip was a hard worker. He worked two full time jobs. He worked numerous years as a Farmer and Construction Worker in Washington, DC with Local #657 and #456. In addition to being a Farmer and Construction Worker, he was a wonderful Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother and Friend. He instilled love and fine qualities in each of us. In Philip's spare time, he loved visiting with friends and family, sitting under his maple trees, listening to music, dancing, and watching his favorite television show "Sanford and Son". The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 10, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Morganza, MD. Where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM with Father Michal Sajnog officiating. Interment will follow in Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery, Helen, MD. Pallbearers will be: Bill Brown, John Walter Thomas, David Thomas, Louis Thomas, Jr., Robert Thomas, and David Young. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Charles Barnes, Chris Thomas, Joseph Berry and John Wilson. Arrangements by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home. (DV) On Wednesday, April 5, just a day after Lambda Legal lawyers and their client Kimberly Hively won a 7th Circuit Court ruling declaring that federal law Title VII protects lesbians and gays from employment discrimination (see Page 18) a district court judge in Colorado ruled that the federal Fair Housing Act protects LGBT people against discrimination, too. Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan said it is the first time a federal court has ruled that the Fair Housing Acts sex discrimination prohibitions apply to discrimination based on stereotypes about sexual orientation and gender identity. U.S District Judge Raymond P. Moore ruled that a Boulder County property owner violated both the federal Fair Housing Act and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by refusing to rent a housing unit to Rachel and Tonya Smith, a same-sex couple, one of whom is transgender, and their children, because she worried their uniqueness would jeopardize her standing in the community. This is a tremendous victory for Rachel and Tonya, their children, and LGBT people, couples and families across the country, Gonzalez-Pagan said. This is two federal courts two days in a row that have said that laws prohibiting sex discrimination protect LGBT people. It sends a strong message: discrimination against LGBT Americans in housing and employment is illegal and will not be tolerated. Gonzalez-Pagan said the facts in the case are indisputable: Deepika Avanti refused to rent to Tonya and Rachel Smith because they are women in a same-sex relationship raising children together and Rachel is transgender. Her concerns about Rachel and Tonyas uniqueness and unique relationship were discrimination, pure and simple, and we are grateful that the judge agreed, he added. In the courts opinion Judge Moore wrote: In this case, the Smiths contend that discrimination against women (like them) for failure to conform to stereotype norms concerning to or with whom a woman should be attracted, should marry and/or should have children is discrimination on the basis of sex under the FHA. The court agrees. Such stereotypical norms are no different from other stereotypes associated with women, such as the way she should dress or act (e.g., that a woman should not be overly aggressive, or should not act macho), and are products of sex stereotyping. Tonya Smith said she and her family are delighted with this ruling. We were so shocked and upset by Deepikas emails, that simply because of who we are she wouldnt rent to us. No one should ever have to go through what we went through, and hopefully this ruling will protect other couples like us who are trying to provide safe homes for their families. Gonzalez-Pagan said that while anti-LGBT discrimination is housing is a pervasive problem it is very much underreported. In many instances, LGBT people who are either overtly or subtly discriminated against in housing do not report the discrimination because of their immediate need to find housing or due to the costs of pursuing a claim. Property owners who engage in this kind of discrimination must be held accountable. In addition to Kimberly Hivelys victory in the 7th Circuit Court on Tuesday, Lambda Legal is currently appealing a suit against an Illinois senior living facility for failing to protect a resident from sex- and sexual orientation-based harassment. This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition April 7, 2017. A Russian court on Tuesday has stopped the deportation of a gay journalist who claims he would be tortured in his native Uzbekistan. Police last week detained Khudoberdi Nurmatov, a reporter for the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta who writes under the pen name Ali Feruz, in Moscow. Novaya Gazeta reported Nurmatov, who was born in Russia but grew up in Uzbekistan, fled the former Soviet republic in 2008 after authorities kidnapped him from his home and tortured him because of his political views. Nurmatov has been trying to receive asylum in Russia for more than two years. The European Court of Human Rights on Aug. 4 blocked Nurmatovs deportation, pending the outcome of his appeal. Radio Free Europe reported the Moscow City Court ruled Russian authorities cannot deport Nurmatov until the European Court of Human Rights issues its ruling. Russia, which is a member of the Council of Europe, is a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights that created the European Court of Human Rights. A law that President Vladimir Putin signed in 2015 allows Russias Constitutional Court to decide whether the country should comply with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights and other international judicial bodies. Novaya Gazeta in April began reporting on the anti-gay crackdown in Chechnya, which is a semi-autonomous Russian republic in the North Caucuses. The European Court of Human Rights in June ruled a Russian law that bans so-called gay propaganda to minors is discriminatory and violates freedom of speech. Nurmatov will remain in a detention facility until the court rules in his case. Michael K. Lavers, Washington Blade courtesy of the LGBTQ Media Association. Ethiopia is the worlds fifth largest coffee producer, so its no surprise that many origin stories of coffee center around the country. Nearly 50,000 folks of Ethiopian descent have taken up residence in the Toronto area, according to the Greater Toronto Areas Ethiopian Association. With those numbers, its no wonder that cafes such as Buna: The Soul of Coffee have opened their doors. Committed entirely to traditional Ethiopian coffee and the roasting ceremonies that go along with it, Buna offers a hands-on look at the countrys coffee culture. Located on a busy stretch of Queen Street West, the cafe was opened by Nunu and her husband Chris Rampen after the space next to their restaurant, Nunu Ethiopian Fusion, became available. We were hoping for a synergy between the two for sure, Rampen says, though he admits that they didnt have much of a plan in the beginning. When they opened Buna, they decided to offer an extension of the popular coffee program offered at Nunu and expand on it. Like other third wave coffee shops, the space itself is open and airy with beautiful tile work, wood finishings, and bench seating. As you step into the cafe, youre immediately hit with the smell of freshly roasted beans, which is something they take very seriously. Each day, the baristas hand-roast batches of freshly imported Ethiopian beans every hour to ensure patrons are receiving the best taste possible. For folks who are looking for a quick espresso shot, the bar stocks a Mahlkonig EK43 grinder, a Faema E91 espresso machine, and a Versalab Pneumatic espresso press. But the cafe is loyal to Ethiopian coffee culture and all its traditions: Many customers have come in for a simple jebena or the full-blown roasting ceremony. Friends have told them about jebena coffee so they come in and we serve them a jebena as if its an espresso, says Rampen. The biggest thing that Nunu and Rampen have been working on is having their customers stop to take time and enjoy the full-blown roasting ceremony. Rampen explains that many customers dont understand that the process can take just under 20 minutes from start to finish but is a whole experience in and of itself. We dont do it for the spectacle. We do it for the sensual aspect of it, which creates a superior coffee experience that everyone should have in their lives, he says. As the popularity of the shop grows, the couple has been looking to the future. Currently, the shop offers a coffee sommelier course and a coffee roasting course, aimed at folks who have a keen interest in or are involved in specialty coffee and want to learn more about how to handle Ethiopian coffees. By offering these courses, they hope to give experiences to a new generation of folks who might not have the chance otherwise to obtain this knowledge. The cafe also sells specific products such as jebena sets imported from Ethiopia, green beans (which you can roast in-house with one of their classes), and pantry products made by Nunu herself. The couple has also been exploring becoming a wholesale distributor for the cooperative theyve been working with in Ethiopia. But as Rampen explains, the business model is still to be developed for that. Until then, Buna ensures Toronto has the experience, tradition, and history of Ethiopian coffee culture. Amanda Scriver (@amascriver) is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. Read more Amanda Scriver on Sprudge. Photos by Britney Townsend Trainer Ron Burke told harnessracing.com on Monday morning (August 7) that the decision to disqualify What The Hill from first in the $1 million Hambletonian final at the Meadowlands Racetrack this past weekend will be appealed to the New Jersey Racing Commission. Burke also added that What The Hill underwent throat surgery early on Monday morning (August 7) and the colt is now "50-50" to race in the Zweig Memorial on August 18 at Vernon Downs. After having finished fourth in his Hambletonian elimination, What The Hill and driver David Miller were first across the wire in the final. Miller had tipped from second in deep stretch to go past the leading Perfect Spirit and driver Ake Svanstedt, but, as he did, contact was allegedly made between Guardian Angel AS' leg and Miller's sulky, which led to Guardian Angel AS making a break. The track judges flashed the inquiry sign, and after about five minutes it was announced they had disqualified What The Hill for causing interference and placed him ninth behind Guardian Angel AS. That resulted in Perfect Spirit being elevated from second to first. Devious Man was moved from third to second and Enterprise was moved from fourth to third. "The more we watched it, the more we felt that David (Miller) was 100 per cent in the right," said Burke. "So we are going to go forward with this." Jerry Silva, who co-owns What The Hill as J&T Silva Stables in partnership with Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stable and Deo Volente Farms told harnessracing.com that the formal appeal will ask that a review of Perfect Spirit allegedly drifting right in the stretch take place. "There are many different ideas of what caused what happened and why (What The Hill) was pulled down," said Silva. "The first item that is bothersome is the rule that you can't change lanes, and that caused us to have to go out three lanes." As for What The Hill, Burke said he is hoping the trotter recovers quickly and can race in the Zweig. "He was partially entrapped and we went in and lasered it clean," said Burke. "Right now I'd say it's 50-50 for the Zweig." (Harnessracing.com) On Sunday, September 10, the Harness Horse Breeders of NYS and the Goshen Sales Company will host an interactive seminar with Anthony MacDonald at the Goshen Yearling Sales Arena for those interested in investing in horse ownership. The seminar is open to both prospective owners and horsemen. If you have always thought that owning a racehorse was only for the select few you need to attend this seminar. Anthony MacDonald has designed an innovative ownership concept to allow anyone that has an interest in horse racing an opportunity to buy into the excitement. This will be the first time this concept will be shared in New York. MacDonald will be on hand from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. to discuss his fractional ownership website, thestable.ca, with prospective owners and horsemen. In all honesty, the response to our platform has been overwhelming, said MacDonald. My wife and I started thestable.ca to sell percentages of horses. What we quickly discovered is that were selling an experience. When packaged right, theres no end of consumers. Were equal parts social network, investment, family farm, and the sport of kings. Thestable.ca markets horses to clients in increments as low as one per cent. Owners receive weekly video updates on their horses and stay connected through social networks and training events at The Stables base of operations in Campbellville, Ontario. The lifeblood of the industry is owners. No owners, no horses. No horses, no anything, said MacDonald. We make ownership fun, accessible and stress-free. We didnt start thestable.ca to be a revolutionary change agent, but were seeing its potential and not just for our operation. For trainers that want to understand our recipe, were happy to share. Thestable.ca purchased horses at the Goshen Yearling Sale last year and this could be an opportunity to join in an adventure from the ground up. Harness Horse Breeders of NYS and the Goshen Yearling Sales Company support any initiative that will provide growth in the Standardbred Industry with an emphasis on the NY breeding, buying and racing program. Both organizations are pleased to offer this seminar to those who have an interest in becoming a horse owner. Please call Betty at 518-785-5858 to reserve a seat. Reservations are not necessary but appreciated. Refreshments will be served. (HHBNYS) Solution for 70% College Faith Dropout: The First 72 Hours on Campus is Critical and a National Coalition is Turning this Around Contact: Lisa Smith, 512-331-5991, lisa.smith@campusrenewal.org AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 8, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- All of the major US college ministries and a growing number of youth ministries and denominations have teamed together to reduce the 70% Christian students who walk away from their faith in college. The first days and weeks when freshmen land on their new college campus are critical to solving this tremendous problem. Campus Ministry Link (www.CampusMinistryLink.org) is a free online tool just released that relationally connects graduating high school students to college ministries and campus churches. Studies show that around 70% of college students leave the church. One of the major reasons is the Christian community had no way of intentionally connecting students to Christian communities before they begin college, leaving hundreds of thousands of students' faith up in the air during the most important transition of their lives. The Navigators found that the bonds students make during the first 72 hours on campus often determines the outcome. Twelve of the largest college ministries, including Cru, Intervarsity, Navigators, Chi Alpha, RUF, Young Life College, and more, have joined together for this project as well as many high school ministries and denominations. Campus Ministry Link seeks to at least double the national yearly average of students who continue to pursue their faith in their freshman year of college. Furthermore, Campus Ministry Link will allow Christian freshmen to be immediately involved in reaching out and discipling non-Christian students at the start of the school year when they are most open to the Gospel. The parent organization behind Campus Ministry Link is Campus Renewal, founded in 1997 with a mission to create and catalyze united movements that transform college campuses. "The level of commitment and enthusiasm of national college ministries has been exciting and humbling," says President and Founder of Campus Renewal, Jeremy Story. "Sending out more college graduates throughout society as influencers for Christ is critical. Campus Ministry Link will be a significant part of this." "I have longed to reverse the tragedy where 70% of our precious graduating youth walk away from their faith when they enter college. I believe this will change America more than any project I have seen," noted Bob Weiner, President Weiner Ministries International. Local campus ministries and churches who serve universities can list their information on the site as well. Parents and youth pastors can use the site as well. Some pastors are reaching out so that no student is left behind in their city. "The harvest is plentiful at universities, but the laborers have been too few," says John Decker, Partnership Director for Campus Ministry Link. "This tool will make it normal for students to prepare as high school juniors and seniors and experience growing in community and reaching other freshmen. College movements will be fueled, freshmen will return for Christmas to energize church youth groups, and many more will be discipled to change our nation and the world." To learn more about Campus Ministry Link, visit www.CampusMinistryLink.org or email info@campusrenewal.org New IFWE Book Tackles Christian Concerns About Capitalism MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 8, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE) announced Tuesday the launch of its latest book, Counting the Cost: Christian Perspectives on Capitalism (Abilene Christian University Press), an edited volume that addresses moral concerns Christians have about capitalism, featuring essays from 12 theologians, economists, and other academic leaders. Editors Anne R. Bradley and Art Lindsley said the book meets an urgent need. "There's a growing rejection of capitalism and an increasing interest in socialism, especially among young people," said Bradley, vice president of economic initiatives at IFWE. "The reality is, capitalism has played a major role in lifting people out of abject poverty, but few people know it." Lindsley, vice president of theological initiatives at IFWE, added, "If capitalism has been this pivotal in alleviating poverty, then Christians need to think critically about their concerns before rejecting the system entirely. Counting the Cost seeks to take these questions head-on, addressing each one through biblical and economic lenses." Contributing authors include the late Michael Novak, Wayne Grudem, Barry Asmus, Vernon Smith, Doug Bandow, E. Calvin Beisner, Jonathan Pennington, David Kotter, Ed Noell, Joseph Connors, Joy Buchanan, Jonathan Witt, and editors Art Lindsley and Anne Bradley. Each chapter addresses a different question about the morality of capitalism, such as: Does capitalism hurt the poor? Promote materialism and greed? Harm the environment? Allow the rich to get richer at the expense of others? Is capitalism really the best system for organizing societies and economies? The book is a project of IFWE and Abilene Christian University Press (ACUP). Jason Fikes, director of ACUP said Counting the Cost "represents a qualitative step forward in research on the ethics of capitalism. It is critical for business departments, students, and researchers to reflect critically on these important questions. Ours is a world driven by assumptions and sound bites, and Counting the Cost is a resource that can really open eyes to the underlying issues that are at stake in a discussion of economics." For interviews or to request a digital review copy, members of the media may contact kbrown@tifwe.org Foundation for Moral Law Defends the Ten Commandments MONTGOMERY, Ala., Aug. 8, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- The Foundation for Moral Law, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the defense of the Constitution as strictly interpreted by its Framers, rose to the defense of the Ten Commandments in an amicus brief filed Monday with the Supreme Court on behalf of the City of Bloomfield, New Mexico. After the City allowed a private person to place a monument of the Ten Commandments on the lawn of its city hall, two Wiccans successfully challenged the monument in federal court as a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The City recently asked the Supreme Court for review, and the Foundation has urged the Court to take the case. Foundation President Kayla Moore (photo) stated: "The Foundation was established upon the conviction that the Ten Commandments are the moral foundation of law. We hope the Court will take this case. States, counties, cities, school, and individuals all over the country are looking to the Court for assurance that the Ten Commandments can be displayed in public." Foundation Senior Counsel John Eidsmoe said: "The Ten Commandments monument is not an establishment of religion. It is a recognition of the political philosophy of the Declaration of Independence: that we are under the 'laws of nature and of nature's God,' and that those laws require respect for life, liberty, property, family, truth, and God Himself who ordained government and is the Grantor and Guarantor of unalienable rights." Eidsmoe added: "In our brief we demonstrate that when Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Reformation thinkers sought a model of republican government as an alternative to rising state absolutism, they looked not to Greece and Rome but to the Hebrew republic. As far as we know, this scholarship has never been presented to the Court. We believe it is a game-changer that has the potential to transform the Court's thinking on the role of the Ten Commandments in the history of American law." Contact: John Eidsmoe, Foundation for Moral Law , 334-262-1245, info@morallaw.org Kidnapping Reminds Models, Agents that Security is a Priority JACKSONVILLE, Aug. 8, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- A leading international news item of the six-day kidnapping of British model, Chloe Ayling, may be the most terrorizing experience imaginable, or a fabrication for publicity. What is not in doubt is that vigilance on the part of those representing models should see Ms. Ayling's reported crime as an omen and understand that the validity of any photo-shoot requires more scrutiny than ever. Very little attention has been paid to the agent representing Ayling, the model kidnapped and allegedly held for ransom in Italy. It is a primary duty of an agent or manager to prevent such crimes by vetting every appointment. Grace McCullough (photo), a 17-year-old high school senior in Florida, travels on an of average twice a month to New York City for work as a model. She never travels alone, she is never on a job without her "momager," her mom and manager, Melody McCullough. Before evaluating the pay offered or how glamorous the event, the security of the photo shoot is foremost on Melody's mind. Verifying references and checking backgrounds is part of every job. The financial cost of Grace having her mother with her is an indispensable business expense. This added expense for never being alone is seldom covered by the client hiring Grace. Though this week, the cost of having her mother in tow is being paid by Seventeen Magazine and Barbizon. Grace says, "My mom is always freaking out about the shoots I go on; she just did earlier today. She worries all the time. I definitely think about safety and try to always be aware of my surrounding. Personal security It is not a problem for quote-unquote models, it is a concern for every girl." "There has been more than one occasion when my concern for Grace's safety embarrassed her," says Melody. "Once she was on location in a dressing trailer and the crew had to move the trailer just a few feet. My response was as if she were being kidnapped. We think back and laugh, but if there is some way harm could come, I have most likely imagined it. I make no apology for being hyper-vigilant." Headlines about ongoing violence in Venezuela are practically inescapable, with at least 124 people dead since opposition-led protests aimed at toppling the government began in early April. In addition to those killed, hundreds have been injured in the protests. Right-wing opposition leaders have attempted to portray the deaths as examples of state repression and evidence of the "dictatorship" that they are aiming to topple. Mainstream media have by and large echoed this version of events, using titles like Venezuelan Regime Has Blood On Its Hands and Venezuela's Tiananmen Moment." Some outlets have even gone as far as claiming the elected government of President Nicolas Maduro as engaging in a campaign of state genocide. The reality of the situation on the ground, however, demonstrates something very different. Heres a breakdown of those killed since the opposition protests began. April 6 1. Jairo Ortiz: the 19-year-old student, was shot by transit police Officer Rohenluis Leonel Mata in the state of Miranda. Venezuelan police immediately detained Mata, who is set to face criminal charges. April 10 2. Daniel Queliz: the 19-year-old college student from Carabobo was shot by police while participating in an opposition protest. 3. Ricarda de Lourdes: the 83-year-old woman died at her home in Caracas on April 10 from hydrocephalus. When her symptoms began flaring earlier that day, she was unable to be transported to a nearby hospital because opposition protesters blocked all of the neighborhoods roads, preventing ambulances from picking her up. April 11 4. Yey Amaro: 37-year-old police officer in the state of Lara, was hit by a vehicle driven by opposition protesters on April 11 after trying to mediate protests in his home state. 5. Miguel Colmenares: the 36-year-old opposition supporter from Lara died from multiple wounds received after the detonation of explosive devices in Barquisimeto, Lara state. 6. Gruseny Canelon: the 32-year-old opposition supporter from Lara died of organ failure after being shot during an anti-government demonstration. Fifteen members of the National Guard have been placed under arrest in the incident. 7. Oliver Villa: the 29-year-old digital marketing entrepreneur was shot by unidentified assailants on motorbikes in Caracas after evading an opposition barricade in the El Paraiso sector of Caracas. April 12 8. Brayan Principal: the 14-year-old resident of the Ali Primera Socialist City was shot by opposition protesters after they toppled the main gate of the commune. 9. Carlos Moreno: the 17-year-old student was shot in the head while in Caracas. Family members say he was not involved in the protest, and it is suspected his murder was perpetrated by armed robbers who stole his motorcycle. April 19 10. Niumar Sanclemente : the 28-year-old sergeant with the National Guard was apparently killed by sniper fire in Los Teques, the capital of the state of Merida. 11. Paola Ramirez: the 23-year-old college student from Tachira was shot while in the vicinity of a demonstration. A member of the right-wing Vente Venezuela opposition group is under arrest for the murder. The fate of Cowlitz Countys needle exchange may lie in the hands of one county commissioner. About a week after Commissioner Arne Mortensen said he would vote to end the program, Commissioner Dennis Weber said Friday he approves the county health departments revised exchange plan. It sounded as complete as I expected, he said. They addressed each of the points that we came up with. Commissioner Joe Gardner said Friday he had only skimmed the new plan and hadnt made up his mind on it. Gardner didnt return phone calls for comment Monday afternoon. The commissioners have not scheduled action on whether to continue the 17-year-old program, which the county Health Department estimates gave out nearly 900,000 needles to 850 clients last year in an effort to combat the spread of infectious, blood-borne disease. Another goal of the program is to encourage addicts to get help. On June 27, the commissioners voted to suspend the exchange program within 90 days unless the health department met five conditions within 30 days. The agency submitted a plan on July 27 to revamp the exchange and proposed to put into effect on Sept. 1. The five conditions: implement a true one-for-one syringe exchange; report quarterly how many participants entered substance abuse treatment; report quarterly how many new IV drug use-related infections are reported by the medical community; limit the number of syringes given out at once to 80; and prohibit the issuing of drug starter kits. The plan outlines measures to make the program a one-for-one needle exchange, issue quarterly reports, limit the number of needles exchanged at any one time and take other steps demanded of the commissioners. But it also, citing legal issues, resists some of the commissioners other demands. Weber said that he was satisfied with health departments new blueprint, especially pleased with the discontinuance of issuing out starter kits. He said a health department warning that making the needle exchange a one-to-one exchange will discontinue using common safety practice is a facetious statement. Weber said he doesnt believe the health officials will actually endanger their employees and volunteers. The Health Department plan also says it is illegal to comply with one of the commissioners conditions: reporting how many exchange clients enter chemical dependency treatment. It would violate federal rules to directly report the number of clients entering a substance use program, according to the plan. Weber said he understood that Healths hands are tied, and said the program will simply have to rely more on reported cases of infections. Although Weber said hes satisfied with the departments plan, he said the county needs to invest money in other treatment programs, such as detox centers and medical-assisted treatment. (The syringe exchange) is not a program that anybody can be happy about, simply because (addicts) need more treatment than were offering with the needle exchange program, Weber said. For it to make sense at all, we need to have a robust level of services. Mortensen has called the needle exchange immoral. He found the plan inadequately addressed public safety concerns about improperly discarded needles and complained that the health department was acting bureaucratically by saying it would need more money and staff to operate the program if it limits clients to 80 needles each. He also criticized the agency for saying it could not report on the number of people directed into treatment. Weber said the revamped syringe exchange should help keep addicts safe while decreasing needle needle litter. I dont want to see emergency rooms becoming a de facto drug treatment center, Weber said. The whole purpose is to keep those who run the risk of infection out of the emergency rooms. But, I think the restrictions and control of limitations strike a reasonable compromise, as long as its coupled with an increase in treatment opportunities. We want to help people manage their disabilities so they can have a productive life. Eluding Lewis County Sheriffs deputies Friday arrested Timothy A. Perkins of Toledo on suspicion of eluding law enforcement and obstructing law enforcement. Theft Longview police Saturday arrested Shane Michael Ridley-Range, 22, of Longview on suspicion of retail theft with special circumstances and a felony drug offense. Assault Kelso police Sunday arrested Russel Allen Clark, 40, of Kelso on suspicion of second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment after allegedly choking his girlfriend and threatening her with a machete. Attempted theft Woodland police Saturday arrested Jorge Arroyo-Gutierrez, 33, of Salem, Ore., on suspicion of third-degree attempted theft, third-degree theft, third-degree driving with a suspended license and a felony drug possession offense. Drugs Longview police on Saturday arrested Adam Wayne Fisher, 32, of Longview on suspicion of a felony drug charge and a Department of Corrections hold. Theft Longview police Sunday arrested Ann Kathleen Steptoe, 53, of Kelso on suspicion of theft after allegedly stealing a purse containing items valued at over $1,600 from a St. Johns nurse, and a felony drug offense. Drugs Cowlitz County Sheriffs deputies Sunday arrested Joshua Clayton Hampton, 33, of Longview on suspicion of a felony drug offense. Drugs Longview police Monday arrested Andrew Duke St. Claire Mattson, 28, of Longview on suspicion of a felony drug offense. Thefts 3200 block of Rose Valley Road, Kelso. Saturday. Trespassing signs. 900 block of Holcomb Road, Kelso. Sunday. Rear license plate. 100 block of Inglewood Drive, Longview. Sunday. Jewelry. 600 block of 19th Avenue, Longview. Sunday. Bike. Vandalism/Malicious Mischief 1000 block of Front Avenue, Castle Rock. Saturday. Broken car mirror. 300 block of Grant Street, Kelso. Sunday. Torn-off window screen. Stolen Vehicles 1200 block of Minor Road, Kelso. Saturday. White 1996 Honda Accord, Washington BEJ0645. 1200 block of 6th Avenue, Kelso. Sunday. White 2002 Cadillac, Washington B33613V. 300 block of Marine Drive, Kalama. Sunday. 22-foot North River boat. Burglaries 900 block of Caples Road, Woodland. Saturday. Suspect broke into home, was possibly a squatter. 500 block of Cloverdale Road, Kalama. Sunday. A wildfire burning more than 5,400 acres of timber and brush has closed trails to Mount Jefferson and Jefferson Park indefinitely, blocking public access through the solar eclipse later this month, the Willamette National Forest Service announced Monday. Heavy smoke, heat conditions and other factors from the Whitewater fire led to the closure as a precaution, said Barbara Dogan, a Forest Service spokeswoman. The flames havent reached any of the trails, she said, but the wildfires movements are difficult to predict and could prove dangerous to visitors. The Whitewater fire is believed to have been sparked by lightning July 23 in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area in central Oregon. As of Monday, flames were burning the wilderness and nearby forestlands 13 miles east of Detroit in Marion County. More than 600 people are battling the fire. Firefighters arent expected to contain the fire until the end of October, managers said. Some alternative hiking options in the area include Cub Point, Bachelor Mountain, Three Fingered Jack and Porcupine Peak, Dogan said. The total solar eclipse will cross the United States from Oregon to South Carolina on Aug. 21. Authorities say the state is expected to see a record number of visitors during the eclipse. About 5,000 visitors were expected in the Jefferson Park area had it not been closed, Dogan said. An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 visitors are projected to be in the Willamette forest area during the eclipse, she said, and up to 1 million visitors statewide along the path of the totality of the eclipse. Taliban, IS jointly massacred 50 civilians AFP : The Taliban and Islamic State group jointly massacred dozens of civilians in an Afghan village, officials said Monday, highlighting rare co-operation between the insurgents that could increase the strain on Afghanistan's beleaguered security forces. The fighters killed more than 50 men, women and children in the remote Sayad district of northern Sar-e Pul province on Saturday after overrunning the Afghan Local Police (ALP) -- a government-backed militia-in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials. "It was a joint operation by Daesh (IS) and Taliban fighters. They had recruited forces from other provinces of the country and attacked Mirzawalang village," Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. The spokesman alleged that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters under the command of Sher Mohammad Ghazanfar, a local Taliban commander who Amani claims pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. "The fighters overran the area and it led to the massacre of innocent and defenceless civilians," he said. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Most were shot but some were beheaded, Amani added. Verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications is difficult, and AFP was not able to access the village. Mohammad Noor Rahmani, head of Sar-e Pul's provincial council, said 44 of the 50 victims were believed to be civilians, with the ALP militia also suffering casualties. "This is not the final toll. It might change because the area is inaccessible and no telephone networks are working to get an update," he told AFP. The Taliban and IS fighters have regularly clashed since the latter gained a foothold in eastern Afghanistan in 2015, as the two vie for supremacy in the war-torn country. An Afghan security source told AFP there had been around three incidents in the past where fighters from both groups had teamed up to strike Afghan forces in certain areas. "This is not the first time that they have co-operated. There are no strict ideological distinctions between them so they build bridges when it helps them both. It's very opportunistic," the source said. IS has been adding a sectarian twist to the Afghan conflict, with a number of deadly attacks on Shiites in the past year. Last week two suicide bombers throwing grenades killed more than 33 worshippers at a mosque in Afghanistan's western city of Herat, in an attack claimed by IS. A resurgent Taliban, whose ranks are mostly made up of Sunni Muslim ethnic Pashtuns, is at the peak of its summer fighting season. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, confirmed to AFP that it had captured Mirzawalang village but said it had done so alone. It also denied allegations it had killed civilians. Tillerson in Thailand presses for more action on Pyangyang U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) shakes hands with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha A during a meeting at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday. Reuters, Bangkok : U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday pressed Thai leaders for more action on North Korea during the highest level visit to Thailand by a U.S. official since a military coup in 2014 soured relations with the United States. Tillerson's top priority has been urging Southeast Asian countries to do more to cut funding streams for North Korea. The United States believes North Korean front companies are active in Thailand and is trying to encourage the Thais to shut them down, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton told reporters aboard Tillerson's plane. The companies are using Bangkok as a regional hub and change their names frequently, she said. Before meeting Tillerson, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thailand would support a U.N. resolution on new sanctions on Pyongyang over its missile tests. But he made no mention of specific action. The United States was encouraging Thailand to take as many North Korean refugees as it can handle, Thornton said. Reuters reported exclusively last week that the number of North Koreans slipping illegally into Thailand has surged in recent months. Thailand's own politics and human rights record were also in focus, as Washington strengthens relations with its oldest ally in the region after they were downgraded following the coup. "We want Thailand to emerge as a strengthened democracy that respects and guarantees human rights and fundamental freedoms at home and plays a leading role in advancing regional security and prosperity," a US embassy spokesman said. Tillerson offered no specific message on human rights when he spoke to the American community at the ambassador's residence and highlighted the 200-year-old relationship. "We want to continue to grow that relationship, even in its ups and downs," he said. Tillerson met Thailand's foreign minister, Don Pramudwinai, before junta chief Prayuth. Don also emphasized support for the U.N. resolution on North Korea. Following his meeting with Tillerson, Don told reporters in Bangkok that trade between Thailand and North Korea had dropped by as much as 94 percent over the past year. "Thailand will act as a good member of the United Nations ... one result is trade which dropped significantly. It dropped 94 percent," Don told reporters. U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken to Prayuth by telephone and invited him to the White House, but no date has been set yet. Human rights groups have voiced concern about the re-establishment of normal relations while Thailand's junta continues to crack down on critics. "It would be a practical mistake for Tillerson to not condition positive diplomatic relations on improvements in the protection of human rights," Matthew Smith, of the Fortify Rights group, told Reuters. Thailand's military seized power in May 2014 after months of street protests with a promise to eventually restore democracy, but elections will not happen before next year and a new constitution retains a powerful political say for the army. Since the coup, Thailand has aligned itself more closely with Beijing, and this year approved purchases of more than $500 million worth of Chinese submarines, tanks and helicopters, besides construction of a new rail link. 6 robbers held with arms, ammo Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in a drive arrested two members of an inter-country robber gang along with 17 firearms from Pallampara hilly area in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar district on Monday night. The arrestees are Shamsul Alam, 22, and Faridullah, 37. They are members of the inter-country robber gang, Hakim Group, and listed criminals of the Home Ministry. Assistant Superintendent of Police and Assistant Director (Media) of Rab-7 Amirullah said a team of the elite force conducted a drive in the area and arrested them along with two pistols. Later, they conducted another drive at their den in the same area and recovered 15 more shooter guns and 442 bullets. Amirullah said they had long been involved in robbery, murder, abduction and extortion along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Several cases were filed with different police stations in Cox's Bazar against them, he added. Another reports adds: Detective Branch police of Chittagong Metropolitan Police rounded up four robbers from Polo ground areas under Kotwali thana along with arms and ammos recently . The robbers identified as Tajuddin, Md Didar, Mostand Gisan. Inspector of the DB police Habibur Rahman told that acting on secret information, the conducted raid in the area and managed to apprehend them. Police recovered two pipe gun, two knives, two sharf lethal weapons and 3 bullets from their possession. Police sources said the detained robbers are shouldering a number of criminal cases before the CMP thanas . Jessore AL man kill over internal feud Jessore Correspondent : Omar Ali, 55, an activist of the ruling Awami League and a resident of Panchpota village under Jhikargachha upazila was beaten to death by a number of miscreants over internal feud at Kutir Bagan area under Jhikargachha police station on Sunday night. The officer in-charge of Jhikargachha police station Masud Karim confirming the information told that the incident took place at Kutir Bagan area over establishing supremacy between two groups of the Awami League. A person was rounded up for quizzing although no case was lodged in this connection, the OC added. Mintu Morol, son of the dead told that assailants led by Tariqul Islam Liton member of ward number 8 of Hazirbahg union council killed his father at Kutir Bagan area after abducting him from Harikhali Bazar at around 8:15pm on Sunday. Rafiq Mollah, vice-president, Hazirbahg union unit Awami League told that the Awami League activist was killed by UP member Liton and his men as Omar's brother Mahar Ali contested for the post of the union unit Awami League very recently. 'Liton is a son of Abdul Wahab, president, Hazirbahg union unit Awami League,' he added. Dr Kallol Kumar Saha, medical officer, Jessore General Hospital told that the patient died before he was rushed to the hospital at 11:40pm on Sunday. 2 get life term in Rajshahi BSS, Rajshahi : A court here on Monday sentenced a person to life imprisonment for possessing heroin. The convict was identified as Ibrahim Ali, 30, son of Ashraf Ali of Madarpur village under Godagari upazila of the district. Judge of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Monsur Alam found Ibrahim Ali guilty of the charges and pronounced the verdict with the convict in the dock. The court also fined him Taka 10,000, in default, to suffer six months more in jail. The prosecution story, in brief, is that a police team arrested Ibrahim Ali with 100 grams of heroin from his locality on May 5 last year. Later, a case was recorded with the concerned police station in this connection. After completion of investigation, police pressed charges accusing Ibrahim Ali. Special Public Prosecutor Mozaffar Hossain conducted the case on behalf of the state while Advocate Shalah Uddin Bishwas defended the accused. BSS from Chapainawabganj adds: A court here Monday sentenced a woman drug peddler to life term imprisonment for keeping drugs. The court also fined the convict Gele Banu alias Gele, 42, wife of M Tariqul Islam of Ramkistapur in Chapainawabganj municipality, Taka 11,000, in default to suffer more four months in jail. Additional District and Session Judge M Ziaur Rahman pronounced the verdict in presence of the convict. The prosecution story, in brief, is that police arrested Gele Banu with 30 grams heroin and 50 pieces yaba tablets from her house on August 28, 2015. Sub-inspector Khairul Islam of Sadar Thana filed a case on the same day against Gele Banu under Narcotics Control Act. After the investigation, inspector Sarwar Hossain submitted charge-sheet to the court on October 10 of the same year. After examining the record and witnesses the court handed down the punishment. Gender equality? It's still a man's world Anna Shen : Gender inequality is the greatest moral and social issue of our time - and the world's most critical economic challenge. If half of the global population cannot fulfill their human potential, the world's economic growth will falter. Gender inequality is the greatest moral & social issue of our time, it's up to all of us - men and women - to change the rules We are being robbed as we speak: if women fully participated in formal economic activity, it would add $12 trillion to the world's coffers, according to the McKinsey Global Institute. Drill down to specific industries - the tech sector - and globally, women face the most profound imbalances. At risk are the immense contributions to innovation that women around the world could make - if simply given the chance. We are now in what The World Economic Forum calls the "4th Industrial Revolution," an era built on technology that fuses digital, physical and biological worlds. It is imperative that women contribute to the planet's sweeping transformation. Imagine if women participated fully and their intellects, talents, and skills were fully used. Think of the products developed, technologies created, companies funded, and discoveries found. What answers would women find for the world's most pressing problems? Keep in mind women's inventions to date: Marie Curie, winner of two Nobel Prizes, who discovered radioactivity, radium and polonium; Grace Hopper, who designed Harvard's Mark I computer; and Ann Tsukamoto, who isolated stem cells, a promising discovery that could lead to a cure for cancer. Sadly, the numbers speak for themselves. Globally, women are grossly underrepresented in scientific research and development (R&D). Catalyst, a global nonprofit that works to accelerate women's workplace inclusion, reports that worldwide, females account for less than 29 percent of those employed in R&D. In America, which prides itself as possessing the worlds' most advanced tech companies, women hold less than 25 percent of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. When women actually do work in the tech sector, retention is an issue; negative work experiences and a lack of support spur women to depart at alarming rates. Almost one-third of women in science, technology and engineering in the U.S. intend to leave their jobs within a year; it is worse in other parts of the world, as women in Brazil (22 percent) and India (20 percent) plan to quit during the same time period. If one narrowly looks at the business case for gender, the argument is undeniable. Put simply, women boost the bottom line and add invaluable perspectives. According to a Morgan Stanley report that polled 108 tech firms, companies with a highly gender-diverse workforce grew 5.4 percent more revenue-wise per year. Board representation matters too. Companies in every sector, not just tech, perform 5 percent better when they have just one woman on the board, according to Credit Suisse, which examined 3,000 companies. The Peterson Institute for International Economics noted that out of 22,000 firms surveyed globally in tech and other, 60 percent had no female board members. Norway, Latvia, Slovenia, and Bulgaria had only 20 percent female representation in board members and senior executives. In developing countries, gender parity could enable greater self-sufficiency. Consider the recent visit of Google CEO Sundar Pichai to Nigeria and the promise that the company will train 10 million Nigerians in the next five years, ushering them into the digital economy, a lofty goal that would open more Africans to the global marketplace. What if half - five million - of the newly trained tech workers were women? Dr. Unoma Okorafor, founder of the Nigerian-based foundation Working to Advance African Women (WAAW), is working across eight countries to increase the pipeline of females in tech. She believes that fostering gender parity is critical to poverty alleviation and Africa's rapid development. "Technology can empower women who are currently working in agriculture or at home. Many entrepreneurs are women, however, they are excluded from the formal system," she said. Could a burgeoning tech sector wean these countries off foreign aid? If countries could train workers to think for themselves, Africa could change the narrative from aid to trade. "We could empower Africans to innovate for themselves," said Okorafor, adding that this is part of the goal of attracting women to careers in STEM. The problem is in training and retaining women leaders globally, but discrimination exists in the funding mechanism - venture capital (VC) - used to birth companies. In California's Silicon Valley, where many of the world's largest tech companies launched - Uber, Airbnb, Google, Facebook - women face obstacles in VC; in fact, women-led companies comprised less than 5 percent of all VC deals in 2016. Only 7 percent of partners at the leading 100 VC firms are women. This summer's avalanche of sexual harassment scandals at Uber and several prominent American venture capital firms have made global front-page news. Unfortunately, for women in other countries, the story is also the same. In late July, the board of Kenyan software company Ushahidi fired Daudi Were, executive director, after an investigation of sexual harassment by a former employee. She published details online, recounting the disturbing impact of his actions. Eleven other women experienced similar incidents. Access to capital is unmistakably powerful. Trish Costello, founder of Portfolia, a crowdfunding website that aims to create a new class of women investors, said that, "The goal is to design spaces that work for women in terms of investment vehicles. Men say that there are no female VCs and that is why there is a leaky pipeline, but that is not true." Ruchira Shukla, regional lead for South Asia for the venture capital arm of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), gave hopeful news: "The number of women entrepreneurs in the tech space is rising. These women will serve as role models," adding that she is heartened by the women entrepreneurs she is seeing, especially as the IFC invested in a fund for female founders. Recent discussions to raise women up are encouraging. Is it lip service? Across the tech industry, it is still a man's world. It's up to all of us - men and women - to change the rules. Innovation and the world's future are at stake. (Anna Shen is an international consultant for the United Nations, an entrepreneur, and advisor to startups around the world). Stringent security for Aug 15 The government has alerady enforced a stringent security in the capital and elsewhere of the country with increased deployment of law enforcers marking the 42nd Martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Mourning Day on August 15. "All measures have been undertaken to ensure foolproof security in the capital and elsewhere of the country on this occasion," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told newsmen after emerging from a meeting at his ministry's conference room here. Chairing the meeting, he said the government would deploy adequate security personnel along with necessary security surveillance equipment at different key points of the city for total peace and tranquility during the observance of the 42nd martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation and the National Mourning Day. Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque and representatives from other ministries were present at the meeting. The minister said adequate number of close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) would be installed at Dhanmondi Road-32, Banani graveyard area and other points to ensure security, as thousands of people from all sections of the society would throng there to pay their deep homage to Father of the Nation and other martyrs of that fateful night. He said members of law enforcement agencies including police, anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and different intelligence agencies, both in uniform and plain clothes, would remain alert to prevent any untoward incident on the day. He urged all to extend necessary help and support to the members of the law enforcement agencies on the security issue, adding, "Law enforcement agencies will beef up security in and around Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi and Tungipara in Gopalganj." The National Mourning Day marking the martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be observed on August 15 (Tuesday). The minister also placed a set of directives for ensuring security and traffic management in and around No 32 Dhanmondi, Banani and Tungipara area, which will be followed on August 15. Info on fugitive killers updated Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said the government has updated information on all fugitive killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and efforts are on to bring back home them. "Diplomatic efforts are underway to bring back home all the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu who have taken shelter in different countries," he told a press briefing at his ministry here. The press conference has been arranged after a meeting on security measures ahead of the 42nd martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Mourning Day on August 15. Asaduzzaman Khan said the taskforce committee formed by the government on March 28, 2010, headed by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq, has been working on it and diplomatic level talks with various countries have been continuing to bring back home the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu and execute the court verdict. "I am working to bring back home all the fugitive convicted killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu as a member of the committee," the minister said. The six fugitives are Col (dismissed) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haque Dalim, Maj (retd) Noor Chowdhury, Maj (retd) Rashed Chowdhury, Capt Abdul Majed and Risaldar Moslehuddin Khan. Five of the convicts-Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, and Mohiuddin Ahmed-were hanged on January 27, 2010. While another killer, Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe in 2001. Noor is now in Canada, Rashed in the USA and Moslehuddin in Germany. 3 more Hajj flights cancelled Staff Reporter : The Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Tuesday cancelled three more hajj flights for visa complications of pilgrims after two days of smooth operation. The three flights were BG 1051, BG 3039 and BG 3041, said General Manager, Public Relations Officer of Biman. So far, the national flag carrier has cancelled a total of 17 flights, for which about 9,700 pilgrims could not go to Mecca, he said. Till 9am of Tuesday, Biman transported 22,801 pilgrims, while Saudi Arabian Airlines carried 25,400 to Saudi Arabia. Civil Aviation Ministry sources said Biman was compelled to cancel the flights as the Hajj agencies failed to collect visas and air tickets of the pilgrims in time. "Every year they make the same mistakes making performance of Hajj by many pilgrims uncertain," he added. As many as 127,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh are to perform the annual Hajj this year. Biman and Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry equal number of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. The maiden pre-Hajj flight started on July 24. The final date of pre-Hajj flight is August 26. Hajj, the largest religious congregation of the Muslims, and Eid-ul-Azha are likely to be held in the first week of September. CTTC chief rules out any large-scale militant attack Terror financier held Staff Reporter : The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit chief Monirul Islam has claimed to have destroyed the operational capacity of militants, Brightening hopes that there will be no more large-scale militant attacks at the moment in the country. "We have destroyed the operational capacity of militants as their mazimum masterminds have been killed and captured during different raids by law enforcers," he asserted. Monirul Islam made the assertion while inaugurating an 'Spoken English Course, organised by Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) at Sagar-Runi auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Tuesday afternoon. The upsurge of militancy is a global phenomenon, he said, adding that no country on earth can claim that it has not encountered fear of possible militant attack. "Bangladesh has made a tremendous progress in tackling terrorism. We have successfully destroyed militants' unity and strength inside the country through series of well-planned anti-militant drives. They don't have the ability to carry out attack," he said. In response to a query about people being disappeared, he said law enforcing agencies are working to find out the disappeared persons. If any missing person is involved with militancy in a foreign country, he will be brought back with the help of international police organization Interpol. About the charge-sheet of Gulshan Holey Artisan cafe attack, Islam said one of the main accused of the case is still on remand. "The charge-sheet will be published as soon as the remand ends," he said. The biggest display of "operational capacity" of the militants was Dhaka cafe attack on July 1 last year, where 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, and two police officers were killed. Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday claimed to have arrested one of the financiers of militancy in Habiganj. Mostaq Ahmed Kha, 27, once a Bangladeshi expatriate in Turkey, used to collect money from different organisations and individuals from Turkey and spent that for terror financing in Bangladesh, said Molla Nazrul Islam, Special Superintendent of CID at his office in the capital. "He transacted several crores of money through one of his accounts with a private bank, which were distributed to different illegally run non-government organisations and some individuals," the CID official said. Molla Nazrul said CID officials, who were investigating a case filed against him, arrested Mostaq from in front of Kalapara restaurant in Habiganj as they primarily detected his involvement with terror financing. He is accused in at least six cases under Special Power Act, Anti-terrorism Act and Explosives Act, he said. Mostaq was out of jail on bail, he added. According to the CID, Mostaq went to Turkey illegally 10 years back and returned after spending nearly five years there. He established a network during his stay. Mostaq used to run an NGO named Al Kawsar in Habiganj and worked for anther NGO for Rohingya Muslims, the CID official said. The CID will also investigate whether he had funded terrorist activities during political turmoil in 2013 and 2014. A case was filed with Habiganj Sadar Police Station under Money Laundering Prevention Act. Bogra rape victim taken to safe home in Rajshahi UNB, Bogra : The female student who was allegedly raped by Sramik League leader Tufan Sarkar was taken to a safe home and her mother to a support centre in Rajshahi on Monday night. Senior jail superintendent of Bogra Mokarram Hossain said the girl and her mother were taken to Rajshahi under police security around 9 pm. After their medical treatment, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on Monday ordered the authorities concerned to send them to safe home for their security. On July 17, Sramik League leader Tufan took the girl to his house at Badurtala in the district town promising to arrange her admission to a local college, and raped her there. When Tufan's wife Asha and her elder sister Bogra municipality female councillor Marzia Hasan Rumki came to know of the incident, they along with some associates picked the girl up and her mother from their house. They allegedly beat the girl and her mother with sticks and shaved their heads. New council on cards to deal with crises of banks Badrul Ahsan : The government plans formation of an authority to solve financial crises of banks and other financial institutions, sources said. The authority will include representatives from all financial sector regulators, Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Security Exchange Commission, Micro-credit Regulatory Authority, Insurance Development Regulatory Authority and National Board of Revenue. "Yes, we are going to form an apex body namely 'Financial Stability Council' to deal with financial crises of banks and financial institutions and bail out them in need," Finance Minister AMA Muhith told The New Nation on Tuesday. "There should be an organised body to deal with if any financial crisis arises in the country's financial institutions," he added. Replying to a query, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury also acknowledged the necessity of such council. "It is in an initial stage now. We have in principal agreed to form such council in a recent meeting. Still we have to go a long way to form the body," he added. "There is a need to set up an apex body to deal with crisis resolution, especially when it comes to making decision on bailout for the banks and financial institutions (FIs) hit by cash crunch," Sur opined. Against the backdrop of global financial crisis, many countries have come up with large-scale government support and financial bailout for failed banks and other financial conglomerates in order to maintain financial stability, SK Sur Chowdhury informed. According to the BB Deputy Governor, bailout programmes may not bring an expected outcome if the loopholes in the existing resolution mechanism are not fixed. In the current resolution mechanism, many regulators move in with separate problem-solving ideas, which ultimately fail to address the issues. Under the council, two working groups - Resolution Regime for Banks/FIs and Macro-financial Monitoring - have been proposed along with a coordination council headed by the governor of Bangladesh Bank. The framework and terms of references for the proposed council and two working groups have been extensively discussed at a recent meeting. It will be finalised by the government after a critical review and feedback from participating regulators and think tanks, a Finance Ministry high official told The New Nation preferring anonymity. "Many countries in the meantime have formed such councils for risk management of their country's financial institutions. Once the authority is formed, financial stability in the country's financial sector will be stable," he said. Wage Board for journalists totally unnecessary, says Muhith Journalists in Bangladesh get paid more than civil servants, and should therefore not have a wage board, Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said. He made the comment after a meeting with the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh or NOAB on Tuesday, amid an ongoing movement by journalists demanding a new pay scale. "A wage board for journalists is unnecessary, totally unnecessary. Because your salary scales are better than government salary scales," said the minister. A journalist then told Muhith that government employees receive pension after retirement. He said he used to get paid Tk 8,000 when he entered the profession with a master's graduate. "We have peons who are university graduates. We have five pay scales," replied Muhith. The current wage board for journalists came into effect in 2012. The Ministry of Information has been working on a ninth wage board for journalists after they started a movement for better wages following the increase in salaries for government employees. The new board's formation is being put off because NOAB was yet to name its representatives, the ministry has said. Upon hearing Muhith's comment, a journalist told him that he was "being misled by newspaper owners". "Then one or two of you should take this responsibility, and give me your salary grade," the minister said. The journalists also told him that there was no wage board for television journalists, and that not all newspapers follow the scale for paying their employees. Muhith then asked, "How many daily newspapers are there in Dhaka?" A journalist replied, "201." "Rubbish! It's my answer to you. Rubbish! 201?" Muhith said. 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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 Diane Miller/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- An Iranian drone came within 100 feet of a U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jet that was waiting to land on the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the central Persian Gulf, two U.S. officials confirmed. The jet was in a holding pattern about 1,000 feet above the Nimitz when the unarmed Iranian drone performed an "unsafe and unprofessional altitude change" in its vicinity, one official said, adding that the drone came within 100 feet underneath and 200 feet horizontally from the U.S. jet. It did not respond to warnings in the form of radio calls, prompting the jet to maneuver to avoid a collision, a second official told ABC News. In a statement, the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command called the drone's actions a "dangerous maneuver" and that it was "not in keeping with international maritime customs and laws." "This is the 13th unsafe and/or unprofessional interaction between U.S. and Iranian maritime forces in 2017," the statement said. Two weeks ago, a U.S. Navy ship fired multiple warning shots at an Iranian vessel in the Persian Gulf that came within 150 yards of the U.S. ship. The Iranian vessel, belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, approached the USS Thunderbolt at a high speed despite its warnings, including voice communications and sound signals. It wasn't until warning shots were fired that the Iranian craft halted its approach, the Navy said. While close encounters between U.S. ships and Iranian small craft in the Gulf are common, it's rare for a U.S. ship to fire warning shots. July's incident was the closest that an Iranian vessel had come to a U.S. ship in the Gulf in at least a year. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. (special feature) Sao Paulo Forum discusses struggle against imperialism Youth organize to build Oct. World Festival in Russia MANAGUA, Nicaragua Over 300 delegates from 32 countries came together here to participate in the 23rd annual Sao Paulo Forum July 15-21. It is an honor, in the land of Sandino, to welcome everyone in the name of the Sandinista National Liberation Front of Nicaragua [FSLN], Daniel Ortega and all the Sandinistas, Jacinto Suarez, international secretary of the FSLN, told delegates at the opening session. Large delegations came from Cuba, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Mexico, along with delegates from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and invited guests from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The Sao Paulo forums began in 1990 at the initiative of Cuban President Fidel Castro and Brazilian Workers Party leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. They aim to bring together left political parties and activists from throughout the region to discuss and debate political perspectives to counter Washingtons ongoing interventions and to advance the fight for sovereignty and independence. This year anti-imperialist youth at the forum took the occasion to discuss building the World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi, Russia, Oct. 14-22. We must all come to the defense of Venezuela, Jose Ramon Balaguer, a member of the Communist Party of Cubas Central Committee Secretariat and head of the Cuban delegation, said at the opening session, pointing to the importance of the fight to defend Venezuelas sovereignty against Washington and the pro-imperialist opposition forces. This is important for the sovereignty and independence of all countries in the region, he said. We demand an immediate end to hostile actions and interference in Venezuela by the United States, Balaguer said. Our country is in a serious and very difficult situation, Roy Daza, representing the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), told delegates. He said that the Constituent Assembly election called for July 30 would proceed. At the same time, he said that the PSUV is ready to engage in a national dialogue with the opposition in Venezuela and with the government of the United States, while demanding an immediate end to violent protests against the government of Nicolas Maduro. Gabriel Aguirre from the Young Communists of Venezuela (JCV), the youth group of the Communist Party of Venezuela, said they disagreed. We oppose any negotiations with fascist opposition forces in Venezuela, he said. Several meetings, workshops and seminars were held during the forum, including a womens meeting, an indigenous and Afro-descendants workshop, and one on the anti-colonial struggle. One of the largest was the youth meeting, with more than 100 young people coming together to discuss perspectives. Oscar Lopez Rivera, a Puerto Rican independence fighter who was framed up and jailed in the U.S. for 36 years, opened the meeting. A growing worldwide campaign was waged to win his freedom, and he was released in May. Cubas revolution showed the importance of the youth. It helps in other countries like no other country in Latin America can, Lopez said. We have to emulate that example. In October we will celebrate the World Festival of Youth and Students, said Jose Maury de Toro, secretary general of the World Federation of Democratic Youth and a leader of the Union of Young Communists of Cuba. It will be a great pleasure to have Oscar there with us to show the world what solidarity can accomplish. Maury and some 20 representatives of youth organizations in the Americas region met the following morning to discuss political preparation for participation in the festival in Sochi. Over 1,500 delegates are registered to participate. Ronald Hidalgo Rivera, second secretary of the Union of Young Communists of Cuba, thanked delegates for all the solidarity against the U.S. blockade on Cuba, noting that Washington continues its efforts to undermine and overthrow the Cuban Revolution. Jacob Perasso, representing the Young Socialists in the United States, emphasized the need for youth groups across the hemisphere to campaign for U.S. Hands Off Venezuela! and an end to U.S. sanctions and attacks by the Organization of American States. Perasso saluted Lopezs presence and spoke about the deepening class struggle in Puerto Rico, saying the fight against U.S. colonial rule should be supported by all working people in the U.S. Perasso also pointed to the importance of speaking out against Washingtons economic war against the Cuban Revolution and demanding Washington get out of Guantanamo. One ongoing discussion at the forum was what the election of President Donald Trump signified about developments in the U.S. working class. Most middle-class left groups, and many of those at the forum, said Trumps election reflects the fact that U.S. workers are becoming more racist, sexist and reactionary. Perasso argued that workers in the U.S., like their brothers and sisters south of the border, are seeking a way forward out of the brutality and carnage wrought by todays deepening crisis of capitalism. They aim to find a way to take on the government of the Democrats and Republicans in Washington that does nothing to meet their needs, to drain the swamp, as the Trumps popular election slogan goes. Many voted for Trump, Perasso explained, not because they were excited about his ideology, but in hopes of a change, as many had done earlier when they voted for Barack Obama. In fact, workers are less racist and more open to revolutionary change than in many years. The Young Socialists and Socialist Workers Party find growing interest in our revolutionary program and activities as we join discussions with workers in the U.S., he said, including among workers who voted for Trump. We point to the example of the Cuban Revolution, Perasso said, and explain the need for workers and farmers in the U.S. to follow its example and make a socialist revolution. The forum ended in a festive atmosphere as delegates joined a rally of some 200,000 people July 19 to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the Nicaraguan Revolution, which dealt a blow to imperialism in the region. Speakers included Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, president and vice president of Nicaragua; Evo Morales, president of Bolivia; Salvador Sanchez Ceren, president of El Salvador; and Oscar Lopez Rivera. Miguel Diaz-Canel, vice president of Cuba, also participated. CAIRO U.S. Rep. Mike Bost said the fact that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is traveling to Cairo on Tuesday to meet with public housing residents and community leaders in this beleaguered but optimistic city struggling with a housing crisis and longstanding economic woes speaks volumes about his character and leadership style. I admire him for coming. I thank him for coming at my request. This is something you know how long weve been working on this. From the day that your article broke, it hit my doorstep and my son asked me, Have you read this? and then we were out running trying to help where we could. Bost, R-Murphysboro, was referencing The Southern Illinoisans Aug. 23, 2015, story titled Chaos in Cairo that kicked off an investigative series entering a third year about alleged mismanagement of the Alexander County Housing Authority and the effect that, and the overall aging housing stock, is having directly on public housing residents, and indirectly on the overall viability of Illinois southernmost city. Six months later, on Feb. 22, 2016, HUD removed the local management and placed the housing authority into administrative receivership. But the fact that the head the head is going to have boots on the ground and be able to see firsthand so that he can make decisions no one can say after this, Well, were not sure the secretarys informed. Secretary Carson is scheduled to arrive in Cairo on Tuesday morning and take a tour of the city with Mayor Tyrone Coleman before joining other community leaders for a private, invite-only conversation, according to his spokesman, Jerry Brown. After that, he is scheduled to travel to the Cairo Junior/Senior High School to hear from public housing residents. All residents of Elmwood and McBride are invited to the gathering with Carson at noon, Brown said. Bost said that after several conversations with Carson, he believes that his compassion for the public housing residents of Cairo is genuine. He noted that shortly after assuming office, Carson made addressing the horrid living conditions a top priority of his administration and dedicated numerous high level officials to the cause to a degree that had not taken place before he arrived. "Hes not here for the media coverage and from what I know of him, hes not one who will try to do this to just simply say, 'Look, were here,' the political thing." Several residents and a city leader said they hope that what Bost says is true -- that it's about more than showmanship. Mayor Coleman said he plans to ask Carson to apologize to the community for calling Cairo "dying" during a Senate hearing and also hopes that by seeing it for himself, he changes his mind about that. A resident he may visit in her home said she hopes he takes time to listen to the problems she's having with working through the relocation process, even as she's prepared to move ahead with selecting another community in which to live. Bost said he believes Carson understands the economic dynamics of Cairo and the surrounding southernmost region of Southern Illinois, and he said that the secretary is truly interested in studying the situation to come to the best possible solution for all involved. That doesnt mean there will not be pain, Bost said thats inevitable given how far south the situation has gone and it doesnt mean there will be a promise for new housing in Cairo. But Bost said he believes Carsons heart is in the right place in wanting to arrive at an outcome that balances compassion and common sense. This is a guy that in his lifetime sees problems and tries to figure out how to fix them, and remember, whether its conjoined twins or brain surgery, he comes and wants to see the problem, analyze the problem and then figure out what needs to be done, Bost said of Carson, of Detroit, who grew up in poverty in Detroit and rose to prominence as a renowned pediatric neurosurgeon. And I think that that is exactly what we need now at the leadership helm so that the people who have already been here you know, and they have, theyve been working to try to figure this out, through the department know that now the person that is over them has come. He hasnt just heard from them (his staff) and rendered paperwork and read the different things about whats going on. He is going to meet one-on-one with the people to listen and I think its a very good thing. Bost said that for Carson it is more than about housing as it is for him and other local, state and federal officials; he said its about the overall economic health of the region, as well as making sure that wherever residents land, that they are in a place that affords job and educational opportunities to them and their children so that a greater percentage of people can eventually move out of public housing. On April 10, HUD officials under Carsons leadership announced that they would begin moving about 185 families close to 400 people from two large housing complexes, Elmwood and McBride, that were constructed in the early 1940s. Residents had long complained of inadequate housing conditions including infestation, inadequate heating and plumbing, mold and a host of other issues. But when federal housing officials told the residents that most would have to relocate to communities outside of Cairo because of a shortage of affordable housing in their own city, many expressed disappointment, anger, fear and sadness. For some families, Cairo generally and the housing complexes specifically have been home for generations. The residents were told they would receive Tenant Protection Vouchers, which work the same as HUDs Housing Choice Vouchers in subsidizing rent payments for a private landlord. Because upwards of 40 percent of the children who attend Cairo Unit School District 1 live at Elmwood and McBride, school officials have expressed concern about their ability to keep the doors open into the future, or even if they can, they worry about being able to provide the same level of educational services to the children who remain since state aid is based on population count. Many others also have expressed concerns about how the eventual demolition of Elmwood and McBride will affect the overall town and what level of resources will be kept intact for the families that remain. At issue, according to HUD officials and public housing experts, is that the federal government years ago moved away from building solely publicly funded housing complexes, and instead partners with the private sector to create mixed-income developments. HUDs Brown said the move to public/private partnerships is a matter of simple math at the core there are a lot of needs and not enough funding. There are 3,200 PHAs nationwide and most, if not all, have capital needs, Brown said. If you look back at HUD funding for public housing throughout the past decade or so, youll notice that capital funding has remained the same for years while the housing stock is aging and the need increasing. The problem is that in an economically depressed city such as Cairo, its proven nearly impossible to secure a private developer to partner with the government on such an endeavor. Bost said he supports that concept, but he also said he wrestles with how it applies to rural America because he said its likely many small communities throughout his district would struggle with the same issue if and when their public housing stock reaches a point where its no longer habitable. Bost said he believes that for Carson to truly grasp the full complexity of the situation, its critical he see it first-hand, and thats why hes glad to see hes doing so. To try to explain it to someone who hasnt been there, they dont understand, he said. Bost said he first reached out to invite Carson to Cairo in late March, at the request of The Southern Illinoisan, as the newspaper sought to hold a public forum in Cairo after publishing an article in late February titled People still live here, about the fact that residents were continuing to live in horrible conditions a year after HUDs takeover and that the federal housing agency had yet to provide a clear path forward for remedying the situation. U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Illinois two Democratic senators, also invited Carson to Cairo around the same time, in early April. The three asked Carson again to visit Cairo during two separate meetings with him in Washington in mid-July. In a July 20 letter that Duckworths staff provided to the newspaper, the senators wrote to Carson that they are pleased that you are committed to joining us in traveling to Cairo to witness firsthand the unacceptable and outrageous public housing conditions, and to hear directly from families in Cairo. Ben Garmisa, spokesman for Sen. Duckworth, said the senator plans to be in attendance at the resident portion of the meeting on Tuesday. Other public officials who have indicated they plan to attend include state Sen. Dale Fowler, whose district includes Cairo and who has taken a particular interest in trying to land an inland port in the city, and Gov. Bruce Rauners government affairs manager, Kristy Stephenson. The governor will not be in attendance, according to his spokeswoman Laurel Patrick. An aide to Sen. Durbin also said he will not be able to attend Tuesdays visit, but that senior aides in his office will be there. Both Duckworth and Durbin, through their media representatives, relayed frustration that they were not notified of Carsons visit sooner. Senators Durbin and Duckworth have repeatedly asked Secretary Carson to visit Cairo with them in order to better understand the grave situation facing the ACHA residents. So we were hopeful when Secretary Carson accepted our invitation during our meeting last month, Durbins office wrote in a statement emailed to The Southern Illinoisan. But Secretary Carson and his aides at HUD were extremely secretive in the planning and announcement of this trip, giving our offices little advanced warning and never once asking for our input in the planning of this trip. We have only asked that we work together in an open and honest way to help the families and residents of Cairo. Unfortunately, HUD and others have injected politics into this, which is not helpful for the residents. Durbin has visited Cairo on several occasions to meet with residents since this past February when HUD, then under the administration of President Barack Obama, placed the housing authority into receivership. When Durbin visited for a meeting with residents in April, shortly after HUD announced its relocation plan, Durbin was asked by a resident of Elmwood Place if there was something he could do to have Cairo declared a state of emergency as a means of allocating federal funding for new housing here. Well, I can try that, but Ill be honest. Its hard, hard, hard with this new administration, he said. The budget they came out with for this department, Housing and Urban Development, is not a very kind budget. It cuts. It doesnt add anything so I dont want to create any false hope here. A few days prior, Towanda Macon, a HUD administrator working in Cairo, told residents that she, on behalf of the ACHA, had made an application for funding for renovations of Elmwood and McBride about a year prior and had been denied. This was prior to the transition of the presidency from Barack Obama to Donald Trump. Asked at that time if he had made a request to Obama for funding, Durbin said he had not and that he had not been made aware of the grant application. The two are close politically, and Obama visited Cairo with Durbin when then state-Sen. Obama was running for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Durbin had also previously told the newspaper that HUD, under the Obama administration, had done the right thing in taking over the ACHA and that he believed they were making progress toward improving living conditions. Durbin and Duckworth both voted against Carons confirmation for HUD secretary. Since assuming office in January, Duckworth also has visited Cairo, and several residents said they believed she was fighting to help them find solutions. One resident said she was touched because Duckworth gave her a personal phone number and said to call her if she needed anything, or just to talk. Garmisa said Duckworth rearranged her schedule last minute because she believes it is important that everyone come together to solve the problem facing Cairos citizens. But she also was disappointed by how the trip came together. After three separate requests from Senators Durbin and Duckworth for Secretary Carson to visit Cairo and hear directly from Elmwood and McBride residents, the senators appreciate that he is finally taking them up on their repeated invitations. While advance notice of this trip could have enabled both senators to join the secretary in Cairo, Senator Duckworth will be there and looks forward to making sure the secretary sees in person the perseverance, grit and optimism of Cairos residents, and to remind the secretary that everyone, at all levels of government, must work together to help these hardworking Illinoisans rebuild their community and economy. Brown, with HUD, said that there was not an intention to leave anyone out he said the secretary wanted to meet with and hear from Cairo residents much like Sens. Duckworth and Durbin have done on several occasions. Brown said HUDs sole aim for the trip is to keep the focus on the public housing residents who are facing a difficult situation. Hes the first HUD secretary to visit there and hes doing it for the residents, Brown said. MARION A Shih Tzu and Australian Shepherd won the coveted title of best in show Saturday and Sunday at Crab Orchard Kennel Clubs all breed dog shows, but the real winners of the weekend may have been the junior handlers entered in the show. On Sunday, Skyelar Williams, 14, of Gerogetown, Kentucky, was named best junior handler on Sunday by Judge Marilyn Pipes for showing Looker, a 4-year-old Australian Shepherd. Skyelar started showing dogs at fun shows, then joined 4-H with her brother. She said she slowly started going to American Kennel Club Shows. I can see myself doing this for a long time. I love the connection with dogs, and I love the people here, Skyelar said. Pipes said the connection between Skyelar and Looker was wonderful, and it definitely showed in the way she handled Looker in the ring. Show Chairman Bryan Helvey said the club offers a $350 scholarship for the winner. They also offer more trophies and a reduced fee for the young competitors. Juniors are the future of our sport, so we really want to encourage them, Helvey said. We have a group of kids who come in every year and make it a fun get together. In junior showmanship, the young handlers are judged on the way they show and handle their dogs. Judges really worked them a lot harder than they did in the regular breed ring, Helvey said. Young handlers are ages 9 to 18, and compete in two age groups with different experience and win levels. They have a masters class that renews each year. Once a junior has 10 best junior awards, they qualify at the masters level, Helvey said. Juniors are required to have seven best junior wins to qualify for Westminster. Two young handlers, who are too young to compete as juniors, were hits, too. Evan Catterson, 8, of Smithville, Missouri, and Gabby Horbe, 7, of Decatur, both won breed awards on Sunday. Gabby, who won winners bitch (best female) with her Saluki Fancy, was quick to tell everyone who passed by about her win. Fancy did not seem quite as impressed. Her grammy, Ellie Case was proud of Gabby for showing in the ring with adults. Evan, whose parents Paul and Kelly Catterson are professional handlers, won a best of breed. Helvey said 571 dogs were entered in the show. We are really fortunate. For our smaller show, we had really nice quality, Helvey said. A Shih Tzu named Winterholme Anyway U Want it, nicknamed Jax, took best in show on Saturday. Jax is owned by Wendy and Richard Paquette of Savage, Minnesota, and shown by Amanda Carlson. An Australian Shepherd named McMatt and Graffiti Rumer Has it captured top honors on Sunday. She is owned by Michael Halley, Paul Pombeck and Janet Loehr, and shown by Paul Catterson. Carbondale police are seeking the publics help in identifying a man who used a forged debit card to buy movie tickets. At 1:17 p.m. on July 7, an unknown man purchased tickets using a forged debit card at AMC University Place 8, located at 1370 East Main street, according to a news release from the Carbondale Police Department. The suspect is described as a white male with dark hair with thick glasses. Anyone with information about the incident or the suspects identity can call the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200 or call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 618-549-2677. The Southern COLUMBIA The South Carolina Small Business Development Centers released results of a national survey that reveals insights into the entrepreneurial mindsets of three generations. Jointly sponsored by Americas SBDC and the Center for Generational Kinetics, the study looked at Millennials (born between 1977 and 1995), Generation Xers (born between 1965 and 1976) and Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) to better understand how different generations view and approach entrepreneurship. The study cites that 41 percent of Americans would quit their job and start a business in the next six months if they had the right tools and resources. This number is higher for Millennials, with more than half of those surveyed stating that under the right circumstances (i.e., with proper guidance and easy access to resources), they would be willing to take the entrepreneurial leap in the next six months. It is clear that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, South Carolina Small Business Development Centers State Director Michele Abraham said. This presents the SC SBDC a wonderful opportunity not only to help bolster the states economy, but also to provide South Carolinians, regardless of generation, the tools and services they need to build their dream business. Additional highlights of the study include: A third of Americans (34 percent) have worked or are currently working for a small business. Sixty-one percent of Americans say they want to start a small business but dont know where to turn for help. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) of both Millennials and Generation X own or have owned a small business. Fifty-nine percent of Millennials say that with the right resources they would start a business within a year. Fifty-one percent of Millennials would absolutely want help developing a business plan. Across all generations, Americans cite not having access to capital as the biggest barrier to starting a business. More than 13 million Millennials cite not knowing where to go for assistance as the top factor impeding their entrepreneurial aspirations. It was very disheartening to learn that so many aspiring entrepreneurs are unaware of the vast resources available to them, Abraham said. This is precisely why the S.C. SBDC exists: to help entrepreneurs launch and grow successful companies. We accomplish this by offering no-cost business consulting services provided by a cohesive network of nearly 50 professionals located at 21 centers across the states 46 counties. If you have the desire and drive to be your own boss, dont wait for someday. Start living your dream today by contacting the SC SBDC. Well do everything within our power to help your small business take root and thrive. By Trend Uzbek Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with the Political Director of Serbias Foreign Ministry, special representative of the President Zoran Vujic, who arrived in Tashkent, heading Serbian delegation, according to the information published on the ministrys website. The issues of bilateral relations were discussed at the meeting. Meeting focused on promising directions of cooperation in political, trade-economic, investment, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres. Substantive talk on the course of joint work on the formation of the legal and contractual platforms for Uzbek-Serbian cooperation was held. The Serbian side was invited to the forthcoming international conference "Central Asian Renaissance in the history of world civilization" and "Central Asia: a common past and a common future, cooperation for sustainable development and mutual prosperity", scheduled for August and November of 2017. By Trend Due to the fact that Turkey is the only country that can stop the refugee inflow to Germany, Berlin needs an immediate open dialogue with Ankara, Gungor Gokdag, columnist of the Turkish ZedLife newspaper told Trend. He was commenting on the growing tensions between Germany and Turkey. Due to the fact that Germany is the most economically developed state in the EU, most of the refugees from the Middle East region and particularly, from Syria and Iraq, prefer to get to this country, said the expert. According to him, the refugee inflow to Germany can create serious social problems in this country and also contribute to the growth of Islamophobia in the German society. Gokdag outlined that, along with the economic role of Germany, Berlins political activity in the European Union also should be noted, which when complied makes this country the EUs locomotive. Existing disagreements among the EU members also force Germany to play a more active role in this organization, and all of this is reflected in the countrys foreign policy and its relations with other countries, he added. Prior to that, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Omer Celik said that, Turkey doesnt see the grounds for preserving the migration agreement with the EU. According to the minister, Turkey has fulfilled all obligations under the agreement, while EU hasnt fulfilled any promises so far. Turkey can change the migration agreement at any time and in any format, noted Celik. I am sure that the time has come to revise the agreement, and I dont think that there are reasons to uphold it, he added. The heads of states and governments of the EU member countries had agreed on a joint plan to battle the migration crisis with Turkey in mid-March 2016. It envisages, in particular, the return of illegal migrants arrived in Greece from Turkeys territory back to the latter and accommodation of legal migrants-Syrians entered from Turkey by EU on a one-for-one basis. As part of these arrangements, in May 2016, the European Commission offered the European Parliament and the EU Council to lift visa restrictions for Turkish citizens if Ankara would fulfill the remaining conditions for the abolition of visas by the end of June. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in turn, threatened EU with an exit from the migration agreement, if the European Union doesnt provide citizens of his country with a visa-free regime. Bahrains Family Courts Centre building, located in Hunainiya, will soon be handed over to the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments (the owner of the project) following the completion of the project, said Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Engineer Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf. The minister, who toured the project on August 8, said the project reflects the leaderships care for provision of family and legal services to the Bahraini citizens. The project cost BD633,000 ($1,678,377) to build. The minister was accompanied by strategic projects director Sheikh Mishal Mohammed Al Khalifa and a number of engineers from the ministry. The project was implemented by the ministrys Strategic Projects Directorate. The project consultant is Diya Tawfeeqi Office, while the contractor is Dar Al Khaleej Trade & Contracting and the quantity surveyors are the ministrys Materials Engineering Directorate. The minister added that the centre covers an area of approximately 8,000 sq m and comprises three floors with 14 halls. TradeArabia News Service A total of 250,589 patients visited DHA specialized clinics at Dubai, Latifa, Rashid and Hatta hospital in the first six months of 2017, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said. Dubai Hospitals specialized clinics were visited by 115,993 patients, 55,563 patients visited specialized clinics at Rashid Hospital, 46,728 visited specialized clinics at Hatta Hospital and 32,305 visited specialized clinics at Latifa Hospital. The DHA also revealed that 79,053 patients visited DHA emergency Department in the first 6 months of 2017, out of which 21,884 visited the DHA emergency department in Rashid Hospital, 39,014 in Dubai hospital, 16,379 in Latifa Hospital and 1,776 in Hatta Hospital. Meanwhile, 78,986 patients visited DHA outpatient clinics in DHA hospitals in the first 6 months of 2017, 37,404 patients visited outpatient clinics in Rashid Hospital, 17,357 patients visited outpatients clinics in Latifa Hospital, 15,533 in Dubai Hospital and 8,692 in Hatta Hospital. A total of 38,042 patients were admitted to DHA hospitals in the first 6 months of 2017, out of which 14,962 were admitted to Dubai Hospital, 13,560 were admitted in Latifa hospital, 7,914 were admitted in Rashid Hospital and 1,606 were admitted to Hatta Hospital. All DHA hospitals have a high occupancy rate and this reflects the quality of services and the trust that we have built with our patients. At the DHA, the utmost priority is patient centric-care and the authority is continuing to expand its series as well as provide specialized and super-specialized care. DHA will continue to expand its health services to keep up with population growth. The projects will enhance geographical access to healthcare. As per the DHAs Health Strategy, the authority will focus on preventive care as well as specialized care. TradeArabia News Service Dubai Customs processed 4.5 million transactions in the first half of 2017, posting a growth rate of 4.5 per cent compared to the 4.3 million transactions scored in the same period last year, said DP World Group chairman. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, also the CEO and chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, added that Dubais stature as a global trade hub and its sophisticated customs and border services propelled the increase in the number of transactions delivered by Dubai Customs, according to a report in Wam, the Emirates official news agency. The positive growth in transactions came despite the general slowdown in world trade which definitely is a strong sign of Dubais resilient and healthier economy, he said. Figures released by Dubai Customs show that Submit Customs Declaration service had the biggest share of total transactions at 80.6 per cent with 3.6 million transactions processed. Submit Claim service accounted for 458,000 transactions at 10.2 per cent while Book Inspection Appointment service contributed 139,000 transactions at 3.11 per cent and Register Business 53,400 transactions at 1.1 per cent. Transactions delivered by Dubai Customs covered 19 main services provided through 23 inland, sea and air customs centres across Dubai. The services were catered to customers through six main channels including Dubai Trade, B2G electronic channel, website, and mobile applications. Sultan Bin Sulayem pointed out that the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) has contributed a great deal to positioning the UAE at the top of global competitiveness in terms of the efficiency of customs authorities and trade facilitation indices. Speeding up the delivery of customs services and easing the flow of legitimate trade, Dubai Customs was able to process nine million transactions annually. If we add this figure to the number of transactions delivered by other PCFC entities the overall would reach up to 18 million transactions a year that is 1.5 million transactions a month, 50,000 transactions a day. We could not have handled such a huge sum of transactions hadnt we invested in service innovation, technology and smart transformations to double our efficiencies in all aspects of the trade supply chain, added Bin Sulayem. Our objective is to continue developing trade and customs services through qualitative initiatives that will ensure Dubai is 10 years ahead of the world in line with its ambitious 10X vision. Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, director of Dubai Customs said: Dubai Customs attaches great attention to promoting synergy and partnership with our clients to ensure them real added value from trading through Dubai. The growth achieved in the number of customs transactions is the fruit of our commitment to providing first-class facilities to traders in order to attract more trade and business into Dubai. We have been keen to develop our capacities in terms of human capital, inspection and scanning technologies, clearance processes and systems and adopting global best practices and standards to step up our readiness levels for the coming Expo 2020 and materialize the UAE vision 2021, he added. TradeArabia News Service The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) has signed a contract with XD-EGEMAC, worth EGP289 million ($16.24 million), to supply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the power stations in Huragda and Sharm El Sheikh, said a report. The project will be implemented on a turnkey system basis, Gaber Disouky, chairperson of EETC, was quoted as saying in a Daily News Egypt report. The work that will be implemented by XD-EGEMAC at the Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh stations includes design, manufacture, supply, installation, training, and testing of a GIS building of 220 kV and the GIS building facility of 66 kV. It will also supply a 125 MVA transformer substation with a voltage of 220/66/11 KV, supply a 10 MVA substation with a voltage of 66/11 kV, and supply a 1 MVA 1 / 0.4 kV substation. Disouky also said that the contract includes the supply of an 11 kV earthing facility transformer, the supply of fire extinguishing systems, protection systems, and communications, as well as all necessary electrical and civil works. The contract value of the Hurghada transformer station (220/66/11 kV) is $42.886 million and the contract value of the Sharm El Sheikh transformer station (220/66/11 KV) is $3.659 million, financed from the sources of the EETC, added the report. Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, promoted recently Haitham Al Saegh as manager Reduction Maintenance and Services. Al Saegh joined Alba in 2001 as an electrical apprentice in Maintenance Carbon 1 & 2. In 2014, he was appointed as superintendent Maintenance Reduction Lines and Services following which he was promoted to manager Reduction Maintenance and Services. Albas chief executive officer Tim Murray said: Alba believes in developing and promoting Bahraini nationals to take-up leadership positions within the company. We are pleased with the progress demonstrated by Haitham and I am confident that he will continue to raise the bar and deliver strong results in his new role. Al Saegh holds an associate diploma in Electronic Engineering and a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Bahrain. Currently, he is pursuing his MBA from the French Arabian Business School (FABS). TradeArabia News Service Careem, a leading ride-hailing and internet platform in Mena, has partnered with China-based Didi Chuxing, a global mobile transportation platform. As part of the partnership, Didi made an investment in Careem to strengthen its leading market position and further enhance its reliable transportation offerings across the region. Together, the two parties will share knowledge in intelligent transportation technology, product development, and operations. Didi Chuxing brings leading edge AI capabilities, insight and expertise to our organization as we enter our next phase of growth said Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and co-founder, Careem. This evolution in our long relationship will enable Careem to more effectively pursue growth opportunities through continued innovation and sustainability. DiDis investment is yet another endorsement of the significant regional opportunity to leap-frog traditional infrastructure and improve the lives of people in our communities. Powered by big data-driven AI technologies, DiDi offers Taxi, Private Car, and other mobility options to over 400 million users in 400 cities with a daily ride volume surpassing 20 million. DiDi looks to build an open and sustainable global mobility ecosystem to advance transportation innovations. The companys global framework of collaboration now extends to over 60 per cent of the worlds population across 1,000 cities in North America, Southeast Asia, South Asia and South America. DiDis partnership with Careem marks the companys first collaboration in the Middle East and North Africa and further aids DiDis mission to transform transportation at a global scale. Growing urban populations and economic and social diversity in the MENA region present enormous opportunities for the ride-hailing economy, said Cheng Wei, founder and CEO of Didi Chuxing. Careem is the regions technology and market leader. Through technology exchange and co-development, we look to support continued growth and transformation of the regions transportation industry, tap into the significant potential of the local internet economy and foster more innovative services for a broader network of communities around the world. Founded in Dubai in July 2012, Careem provides reliable, safe and affordable transportation to its more than 12 million customers. Careem supports a wide range of languages, including English, Arabic, French, Urdu and Turkish, and offers a variety of mobility services. TradeArabia News Service UAE-based Epica Electronics will launch India's first celebrity edition in consumer electronics segment (TV, Mobile, Tablet equipped with high end features and sophisticated applications) at a major film-based in the country. Indywood Film Carnival-2017 will be held from December 1 to 4 at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. "Initially we are targeting India and Middle East markets where we have solid marketing network. We will expand our operations to Africa and Sri Lanka by April 2018, by that time we will also be ready with 3D recording enabled devices, said the CEO of Epica Electronics Sohan Roy and the chairman of Aries Group of companies. Epica Electronics, a pioneer in 2D/3D animation and visual effects, will be introducing 3D products in the electronics market in collaboration with leading technology companies based in Europe & US. In a significant move, Epica has roped in KPMG, a major provider of advisory services, for framing the strategies in India. The USP of Epica products is 3D visuals, movies etc can be watched without glasses. 3D mobile phones promise accurate, secured and user-friendly authentication said top official of Epica Electronics. The size of the Television ranges from 55 to 60 inch. Tablets will come with 7 to 10 inch. "Regarding tablets, we have partnered with two national-level educational institutions for promoting glasses-free 3D based visual education modules. Many educational institutions have expressed their interest to collaborate and to promote 3D education. Discussions with various educational institutions across the country are progressing," said Satish Chandran, director, Epica Electronics. Epica Electronics has tied up with leading content providers across the globe for providing quality contents. The celebrity edition of TV's Tablets and Mobile Phones will offer Luxury look and highly advanced applications which a celebrity looks for. Customization of luxury looks will be offered and order in advance will be taken via website. The normal edition of consumer electronics will be sold via leading e-commerce websites in India, Africa, Sri Lanka and Middle East. Epica Electronics LLC is a part of Dubai-based Aries Group, a multinational conglomerate with 45 companies and presence in 15 countries across the world. TradeArabia News Service Oman National Transport Company (Mwasalat) and the National Ferries Company (NFC) are launching a new land-sea route between Muscat and Khasab, starting from August 24. The new Muscat-Shinas-Khasab route provides a unique experience through using Mwasalat buses by land, and then moving to ferries. There will be four weekly round trips at various times. The trip duration does not exceed the length of the current ferry journey from Muscat to Khasab, said a statement. Besides, this route will provide the flexibility to start or end the trip in other cities in the sultanate without incurring costs or additional means of transport. There will be two trips on Muscat-Shinas-Khasab route on Sundays and Thursdays. The trip will start on these days at the same time from Muscat at 12:15 pm. The ferry will leave Shanas at 4:30 pm and arrive at Khasab at 7:30 pm. There will be two trips on Khasab-Shinas-Muscat route on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The ferry will depart on these days at the same time from Khasab at 1:00 pm and the bus will leave Shanas at 4:50 pm and arrive in Muscat at 8:20 pm. Tickets will be available through the channels of the two companies during the coming period with a promotional offer for this service. "The new route is an important step to facilitate access to Musandam Governorate by connecting land and sea services of the two companies," said Mehdi bin Mohammed Al-Abdoudani, CEO of National Ferries Company. Ahmed Bin Ali Al Balushi, chief executive officer of Mwasalat said: "The new route is a continuation of the company's efforts to provide and facilitate service to its customers." - TradeArabia News Service The Abu Dhabi International Airport has maintained its strong growth curve, welcoming a total of 11.92 million travellers during the first half of 2017, up 0.7 per cent from 11.84 million in the corresponding period in 2016, a report said. A total of 1.76 million passed through the airport during June, added the report from Wam, the Emirates official news agency. Ahmed Al Shamsi, acting chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi International Airport, stated that London, Mumbai, Delhi and Manila were the top destinations for travellers through the airport in June, with the air traffic to London increasing 6 per cent, and Delhi-bound travellers up by 11 per cent against the same month last year. He added that Abu Dhabi International Airport terminals welcomed 75.3 per cent of the total number of passengers in June, 81 per cent of whom were aboard Etihad Airways. Ibtm events, part of Reed Travel Exhibitions, today announced that it is integrating ibtm latin america and ibtm america to create ibtm americas. The event will take place in Mexico City from September 5-6,2018. The decision enables ibtm americas to capitalise on the growing success of ibtm latin america and the rapid development of the market in that region, while allowing for growth in the North America market. Kerry Prince, portfolio director, ibtm events, said: Its no secret that the potential for growth in Latin America is huge and that the region is increasingly being recognised as a major player in the industry. We believe that our event in Mexico, already highly successful, has real scope to further support the market to become a prime date in the global events industry calendar, therefore combining the event to incorporate the North American market to create ibtm americas feels like a very natural evolution of the portfolio. Herve Sedky, president, Reed Exhibitions Americas continued: We are looking forward to combining the experience of our Mexico team, our ibtm america team and the wider Reed Travel Exhibitions team and bring that to ibtm americas. Ultimately by merging the two events we can offer bigger opportunities and a richer experience to our exhibitors, Hosted Buyers and visitors. Ibtm latin america has been growing exponentially year on year; in 2016 the event saw a significant increase in international exhibitors up 100 per cent, with the event set to grow by over 40 per cent in 2017. The expanded ibtm americas will also see an increase in Hosted Buyers from North America of 800 per cent, as well as continuing to attract senior level decision makers from latin, central and south America. Currently ibtm latin america attracts 12 per cent of its exhibiting companies from North America and this will continue to increase as the new show expands and develops. David Hidalgo, show director, ibtm americas said: We have developed an excellent working relationship with our partners in Mexico City and we are looking forward to continuing to build on that as we work together to deliver what I am confident will be an incredibly successful event with real longevity. Our customers mean everything to us, there really is nothing more important than them and I firmly believe the changes we are making will ensure were delivering the very best value and opportunities to them for the long term. The wider portfolio remains unchanged following the merger. Flagship show ibtm world continues to be held annually in Barcelona, with the landmark 30th edition of the event taking place this year from 28-30 November. Ibtm china 2017 takes place from August 23-24, in Beijing; ibtm arabia will take place February 5-7, 2018 in Abu Dhabi and ibtm africa from April 19-20, 2018 in Cape Town. Ibtm events will produce its final edition of AIME 2018, from February 20-21, in conjunction with Melbourne Convention Bureau. - TradeArabia News Service Mantra Group today has entered into an agreement with the Deague Group to acquire the Australian-owned Art Series Hotel Group for approximately $52.5 million (excluding transaction costs), subject to customary completion conditions. The acquisition will see seven luxury hotels (representing more than 1,000 guest rooms and including a number of conference and event facilities, restaurants and luxury hotel-style amenities) added to Mantra Group's ever-expanding portfolio of 128 properties and more than 21,500 rooms in properties under management across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Hawaii. The seven hotels are: - The Cullen, Prahran, Melbourne VIC - The Larwill Studio, North Melbourne VIC - The Olsen, South Yarra, Melbourne VIC - The Blackman, St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC - The Chen, Box Hill, Melbourne VIC (set to open in November) - The Johnson, Spring Hill, Brisbane QLD - The Watson, Walkerville, Adelaide SA Each hotel is inspired and dedicated to Australian contemporary artists, infusing the namesake artist's works and personality throughout the hotel to create unique art-inspired experiences. Recognising the strength of the brand in the market, each business will continue to operate under the Art Series brand. These boutique properties are well suited to both leisure and corporate travellers and are located in some of Australia's hottest art and cultural hubs, most of which Mantra Group already has a long-standing and high performing presence. Mantra Group chief executive officer Bob East said the deal represents a sizeable addition to Mantra Group's already expansive Australian portfolio. "This acquisition enhances our existing portfolio and presents a unique opportunity for Mantra Group to increase its footprint across three key locations (Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide) in a single transaction." said East. "This is a rare opportunity to acquire a collection of exceptional hotels and one which is expected to make a significant contribution to Mantra Group's business." "These hotels have been operated to the highest standards by a passionate and dedicated team, and we are delighted to welcome such iconic and favoured properties to our growing network of hotels and resorts." "We look forward to working with the owners, team members and guests to ensure a smooth transition." Settlement of the Art Series Acquisition is expected to be completed in late 2017, subject to closing conditions customary for an acquisition of this nature. - TradeArabia News Service The TransGriot is available for speaking engagements, college lectures, panel discussions, media interviews, conferences or Trans 101 education efforts for your school, business or professional organizations. For local Houston area, Texas or national events, you can e-mail me at transgriot@yahoo.com For events outside the Houston metro area, I ask that my travel and lodging expenses be covered. This is separate from my speaking fee. If you are interested in having me appear as a speaker or panelist, you can e-mail me with the date and details of your proposed event. Please book as early as possible because my speaking and event calendar slots during the year rapidly fill up. Have an event, trend or general energy happening youd like to see in the Energy Journal newsletter? Send it to Star-Tribune energy reporter Heather Richards at heather.richards@trib.com. Sign up for the newsletter at www.trib.com/energyjournal. This week in numbers Friday oil prices: West Texas Intermediate (WTI) $49.52, Brent (ICE) $52.38 Natural gas weekly averages: Henry Hub $2.82, Wyoming Pool $2.56, Opal $2.61 Baker Hughes rig count: U.S. 954, Wyoming 26 Coal plan deemed deficient The first proposed coal mine in decades will not receive a permit until the company, and state regulators, have improved the mine plan, an independent panel ruled Tuesday. The Brook Mine has run up against a number of hurdles in the last few years. The most recent challenge has been getting a mine plan approved. Though state regulators deemed Ramaco Carbon's plan technically adequate, pushback from landowners in the area outside Ranchester brought the matter before the Environmental Quality Council. The panel ruled that there were concerns with the plan and remanded it to the Department of Environmental Quality for further review. Storm Cat deal moves forward A bankruptcy court in Denver approved the sale of nearly 700 idle coal bed methane wells from bankrupt Storm Cat Energy to Summit Gas Resources. The approval is one of a list of requirements that the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission says must be met as part of an unusual deal struck between the firms and the state. Wyoming is owed $10.8 million in idle well bonds from Storm Cat, but it won't get that money. Instead of taking what money it does have and commencing reclamation, it agreed to a compromise. If Summit brings a portion of the idle wells back online, a difficult and costly endeavor, the state will get about $2 million. Storm Cat's story is a chapter in a broader saga, that of the coal bed methane boom and bust in northern Wyoming. Many smaller companies bought out wells for a bargain when the price of gas tanked. Unfortunately, many of those companies also went bankrupt, leaving orphaned wells scattered across Campbell, Sheridan and other northern counties. The deal could bring nearly 700 wells back to production, and it would increase reclamation coverage by about $1.3 million. But there are a few more benchmarks that Storm Cat and Summit must reach. The commission has given staff the authority to seize those wells, pits and associated infrastructure for reclamation if the requirements aren't met. Changing plans Wyoming's sage grouse management plans paved the way for other states, and federal agencies. Now the Department of the Interior is considering updates to the federal plans. Some are dismayed, others willing, to see changes to the sage grouse conservation strategy in the west. A report on suggested updates or revisions was due to the Interior Secretary Friday. Cloud Peak stumbles again in Q2 The second quarter isn't usually great for coal. Spring months mean lower demand for electricity. This year, with higher natural gas prices and a post-bust spending discipline, was at least better than the last. Still Cloud Peak, which operates the Antelope and Cordero Rojo mines, was in the red for the quarter. Contura to launch Contura Energy, which formed around the crown jewel assets of the bankrupt Alpha Natural Resources last year, announced a proposed initial public offering last week of 6 million shares of its common stock. The company expects to trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol CTRA. Quote of the week Doing business in Wyoming requires you to be a good neighbor. -- EQC member Nick Agopian urging the Ramaco coal company's to interact with the local community. Gov. Matt Mead criticized on Monday a key aspect of the federal governments new plan for managing the imperiled sage grouse, arguing that it ignores the scientific consensus on protecting the bird. Mead made the comments hours after the Department of Interior announced a change in approach for sage grouse conservation, which is critical in states like Wyoming because the birds share habitat with oil and gas development. In June, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke ordered a 60-day review of sage grouse management on federal lands, citing Western anger at how the Obama-era plans were designed to the detriment of energy development. The review led to a number of suggested changes to the plans that cover the entirety of the sage grouse habitat, over 11 Western states. The federal plan considers setting population targets for the states to hit. It also clarifies rules for ranchers and companies, allows for possible adjustments to key habitat boundaries and calls for further investigation into breeding the grouse in captivity. Many in Wyoming welcome what they see as improvements to the plans and believe Zinkes promise of enhanced state control will be good for the bird and energy industries. Others are alarmed that federal agencies will now place the interests of oil, gas and mining above conservation. But it is Zinkes repeated mention of population targets that has triggered the broadest pushback, from conservationists to the governor of Wyoming. Weve got to have good science lead the way, and that trumps politics, Mead said. Lets look at what the states have done, and what biologists, folks who know this, are telling us. Up until now, the underlying strategy for sage grouse conservation in the West has been to preserve crucial habitat. The bird is a sagebrush-obligate species, and biologists argue that preserving the space where it lives is the only way to keep the bird from slowly disappearing from the West. Zinke and others endorse a more varied approach that could also use captive breeding programs to boost grouse numbers. However, most scientists doubt that strategy will work. Wyomings role The Cowboy State is home to the majority of the sage grouse population, nearly 40 percent, and has been a leader in the birds conservation for nearly a decade. It was state and federal plans to protect the birds sage-brush habitat that staved off an endangered species listing in late 2015, a designation that could have been crippling for extractive industries. Wyoming is an energy-dependent state, counting on mineral taxes for about three-fourths of its income. With all these considerations in mind, the governor said he questions the idea of a numbers game for the grouse. We are in a very good spot right now, not having the sage grouse listing. We have to remember that is not something we can take for granted, Mead said. A lot of work has been done in a collaborative process. Whenever there are changes, weve got to be careful that we are headed in the right direction. Simply put, population targets are not the way to go, he said. Its a point hes made publicly multiple times, and one he raised personally in a meeting with the Interior secretary last month, he said. Sage grouse populations ebb and flow on a multi-year cycle. They also are sensitive to changes in their environment. A year with little rain or too many brush fires can drive down the population dramatically, the governor said. But conserving the bird based purely on numbers also raises questions of accountability if populations do go down, the governor said. If one state manages to population and they dont maintain the population, are all states going to be listed then? the governor asked. I still dont know how the population aspect is going to work. We still strongly believe that management for habitat, based upon what science tells us, is the best way to do it. The governor was not critical of the departments entire review and said the federal team going over the sage grouse plans had been earnest in their attempt to listen to state leaders. Environmental response Others were more wary of the federal interventions and less appreciative of the results. Joy Bannon, field director for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation and a member of the states Sage Grouse Implementation Team, said the work of decades was now up in the air. The administration has thrown open conservation plans developed with input from a lot of diverse interests. In contrast, this review has taken place largely behind closed doors with little or no input from the general public, she said in a statement Monday. This reworking of the plans could lead us to the very outcome we were trying to avoid sage grouse on the endangered species list. A population-based approach is doomed to fail, said Brian Rutledge, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Region Audubon Society. That (would be) the end of sage grouse, he said. I am counting on the governors to not let this happen. Rutledge has been a key figure in sage grouse conservation in Wyoming, working hand in hand with industry groups to develop the state management plans, much of which became the federal approach. Im encouraged by the fact that the plans were held together in large part, Rutledge said, nodding to the good old-timers in places like the Bureau of Land Management that likely fought for the plans. However, he was concerned that the changes employ an energy-first mentality that will not coincide with sage grouse protection. Its a concern thats been growing in recent months. Rutledge has noted that the energy-first approach is already affecting how BLM approaches large oil and gas developments in sage grouse habitat. When we say oil and gas comes first, weve seen it before and it doesnt work, he said. Industry support One of Rutledges main partners in Wyoming has been Paul Ulrich, director of government affairs for Jonah Energy and a fellow member of the states sage grouse management team. Jonah is developing a large-scale project in western Wyoming designed to reduce the impact to a crucial winter sage grouse habitat in the region, its proponents say. Ulrich disagreed with the conservationists concern that Zinkes updates would be catastrophic for the grouse. What I read throughout the entire document, let alone Zinkes memo, is more cooperation and deferment to state plans, he said. There are also improvements in the plans that are necessary, he said. Over the last 10 years extensive efforts to save the grouse have placed considerations to oil and gas development on the back burner, he said. A common complaint from companies is the time it takes to get projects approved and permitted. These updates are a step toward addressing those setbacks for companies, he said. I think we are going to see more of a balance and more consideration for allowing development where we should have been focusing for the last 10 years anyway, Ulrich said. The oil and gas man said he did not believe the conflict brought by this sage grouse review would harm Wyomings unified approach to sage grouse management. Were too strong of a group. We simply are, he said. In Wyoming, weve led this effort nationwide for over a decade and I fully expect will continue to do so. The governor said he agreed that streamlining the processes that allow for oil and gas development needs to be a priority for the federal agency. Clearly, weve got to have robust oil and gas development, not only in Wyoming but in the West, the governor said. I dont think the report as we read it now is as transformative as some suggest. I just dont sense that. The sticking point for the governor, like some in the conservation field, is population over habitat. As for controversial ideas like boosting numbers through captive breeding, a concept that the Wyoming Legislature recently allowed on a trial basis, the governor is unpersuaded. Somebodys got to convince me of the benefit of going down that road, he said. Three exhibits open Aug. 12 at the UW Art Musuem. Medicine Men and Builders: The Great Human Race by John L. Doyle interprets architecture and facets of medicine men. The exhibition closes Dec. 16. Changing Faces: Traditional and Contemporary Mexican Masks presents contemporary Mexican masks on loan from a private collection through Nov. 18. Following the Manito Trail documents the Hispanic New Mexican, or Manito, migration from New Mexico through the U.S. in the last century. The exhibit through Nov. 18 features oral histories, photographs and artifacts that for the first time document Manitos contributions on the western U.S., including Wyoming. Tuesday support meetings Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 1124 Elma, Imitate the Image Church; 5:30 p.m., 328 E. A; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, closed; 7 p.m., 520 CY; 8 p.m., 328-1/2 E. A; 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688. Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 7 p.m., 15th and Melrose, at the church. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org. Healing through art Art 321 announces a new collaboration with the Natrona County Suicide Prevention Task force and a large number of local mental health care providers, which will span August and September. Every Tuesday morning during August, Art 321 will host a wide variety of free arts activities from 10 a.m. to noon. All materials will be provided and instructors and arts mentors will be present to answer questions and direct largely unstructured opportunities for people to work with clay, paints, pastels, colored pencils and crayons. These sessions will be open to all community members who have been affected by suicide, but children must be accompanied by an adult. If people wish, their artwork will be displayed in the Art 321 gallery during the month of September, coinciding with an open call for artwork inspired by suicide, depression and other mental health issues. Coinciding with many other community-wide suicide awareness initiatives, Art 321 extends an open call for artwork fitting the general themes of suicide prevention and mental health. This September gallery show aims to showcase the healing powers of art as well as its ability to express inner struggles. Up to three pieces per artist may be registered online. Please make sure each work is labeled on the back with name, contact info, title, media and price and is ready to hang. Submission deadline is Aug. 29 and art should be picked up on Sept. 29 when the show closes. Lego contest at Toy Town Toy Town is holding its 30th annual Lego contest through Friday, with judging on Saturday. Contestants need to construct a model from Legos (only) at home and bring it to Toy Towns location, 130 S. Wolcott St., downtown Casper. Models will be taken during regular business hours, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Models should not exceed 3- by 3-feet at the base. The age groups are 6 and under, 7-9, 10-12, and 13- and older. First, second and third prizes will be given out for each age group. An overall Best of Show will be given out. There are certificates and goodies for each entrant. Entries are judged on creativity, stability, color, unique use of bricks and more. For more information, contact Toy Town, 235-0550. Twenty-one days of prayer Each night through Aug. 26, gather at First Baptist Church, 514 S. Beech, for 21 Days of Prayer. We will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturdays. There will also be special prayer activities for the children each evening. Questions? Call the church office at 234-6946. Yoga on the circle Weekly yoga classes have returned to the Bart Rea Learning Circle in Amoco Park. All except the SolAbration on Aug. 21 are free, although nonperishable food items for Wyoming Food for Thought and donations to cover program costs are always welcome. Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Yoga on the Labyrinth; 6:30 p.m., Drum Circle. Parkinsons support Rocky Mountain Therapy is offering a Parkinsons support group on the second Tuesday of each month at Rocky Mountain Therapy, 2546 E. Second Street, Building #500, at 5:30 p.m. This support group is open to anyone with Parkinsons or caring for someone with Parkinsons. The guest speaker for the Aug. 8 meeting is Chad Henry, who will be discussing driving issues. To RSVP, call 577-5204 and ask for Jerri or Shannon. Bring your questions for Mr. Henry and join us at 5:30 p.m. Corvette Cruise and Dine every Tuesday Cruise and Dines sponsored by the Central Wyoming Corvettes (a nonprofit organization) are every Tuesday night through Nov. 7. Bring your Corvette and meet at Whites Chevrolet at 6 p.m. and take a short cruise with several other Vettes to a local restaurant for dinner. Guests or new members are always welcome. See us on Facebook or visit our website. An estimated 35,000 tourists are expected to descend on Casper to view the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, but theres no reason for local residents to panic because officials are prepared. That was the message conveyed by emergency and law personnel at an event for the media Thursday afternoon at the Public Safety Communication Center. We feel comfortable that were as ready as we can be for this eclipse, said John Hatcher, a detective with the Casper Police Department. Hatcher said residents have expressed concerns that police will be too busy responding to visitors calls to look out for local residents, but the detective said that wont be the case. On a typical day in Casper, about 10 police officers are patrolling the streets, and the same number will be standing by during the eclipse to handle routine matters, according to Hatcher. Additional officers will be on hand to handle festival-related incidents, explained Hatcher. The detective said he could not reveal the exact number of additional officers due to security reasons. The Natrona County Detention Center has stocked up on extra cots to prepare for potential overcrowding, but Hatcher said law enforcement officers will make every effort to safely solve conflicts without making arrests. Hatcher also advised residents to stock up on groceries and fill up on gasoline prior to the festival to avoid long lines, and said everyone should be prepared for unreliable cellphone service, as the influx of people will likely strain the system. Paul Fritzler, the district manager of the Department of Family Services, urged families who plan on partaking in the festivities to designate a family meeting place in case children get separated from their parents and cell phones are down. As authorities seek to avoid overcrowding at the jail, health officials are trying to avoid a similar situation at emergency rooms. Anyone who needs medical attention but does not require emergency care should use clinics in order to keep the emergency rooms free for those in life-threatening situations, said Audrey Gray, the public health preparedness manager for the Casper-Natrona County Health Department. Those who require basic medical care can also seek help from any of the nine first aid stations that the health department will have operating throughout Casper, said Gray. She advised visitors to be wary of altitude sickness or heat exhaustion, and advised everyone to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen. Representatives from the Casper Fire Department and the Wyoming Department of Transportation both confirmed that their departments will have extra staff working at all times during the festival. Although its necessary to be prepared for negative situations, Hatcher said theres no reason to think the eclipse festival will be anything other than an exciting, memorable event in Casper and encouraged everyone to responsibly enjoy themselves and to be kind to visitors. This is a very positive thing, he remarked. Federal prosecutors are seeking multiple life sentences for a Wyoming man convicted of murdering a Montana couple and injuring their daughter after the family stopped to help him along the side of the road in 2015. Jesus Yeizon Deniz Mendoza, 20, of Worland is set to be sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Billings. Mendozas defense attorney is recommending Mendoza be sentenced to the mandatory 60 years, plus four days for the lesser assault charges, saying that would be a fair and just sentence. Mendoza pleaded guilty in March to two counts of second-degree murder and other crimes for the July 29, 2015, killing of Jason Shane, 52, and his wife, Tana Shane, 50, and wounding their daughter, Jorah Shane, 24. In addition to the murder counts, Mendoza pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and three counts of using a firearm during crimes of violence. The gun counts carry mandatory consecutive prison sentences totaling 60 years. Mendoza, who was 18 at the time, shot and killed the couple and wounded their daughter after they had stopped outside Pryor, Montana, on the Crow Indian Reservation to give him roadside assistance. He then left the scene in the Shanes car, returned and shot at three other people who had tried to help the family. A plea agreement calls for first-degree murder charges to be dismissed at sentencing if U.S. District Judge Susan Watters approves the deal. The prosecution had said earlier it would seek life sentences on the murder counts and maximum sentences on the other crimes. Last year, the U.S. attorney general decided, after an extensive review process, not to seek the death penalty in the Mendoza case. In deciding whether to seek the death penalty in a particular case, the attorney general considers the recommendations of the U.S. attorney, a capital case review committee and others within the U.S. Department of Justice. Those internal recommendations are confidential. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek said in a sentencing memo that a life sentence is the only sentence that provides just punishment for the crimes in which two people died and others were seriously injured, both physically and mentally. Mendoza is dangerous, Suek said, because he is severely mentally ill and abuses substances. Some spark on the morning of the shootings set off the deadly combination of his substance abuse and mental illness, igniting a killing spree, Suek said. Two years before, Mendoza also tried to murder a camper near Worland in 2013, she said. The forecast here is clear Deniz Mendoza will kill again if he is released from prison, Suek said. Mendozas criminal background and history, the prosecutor said, could be summed up into one unavoidable conclusion: Mental illness coupled with substance abuse led to inexplicable, unimaginable violence. Mendozas records show he has suffered from severe mental illness since he was 13, and while he got treatment as a teen, he was also abusing drugs, including alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates, LSD and the synthetic narcotic known as spice. The ten hours before he committed these offenses, he was smoking significant amounts of spice, the prosecutor said. Born in Mexico, Mendoza suffered physical and sexual abuse as a young child, which led to him and his mother coming to the United States. He was raised by his adoptive parents in Wyoming, attended school in Worland and got his GED in 2014 while incarcerated at the Wyoming Boys School. Assistant Federal Defender David Merchant countered in court records that a life sentence gives up on Mendoza. A life sentence provides no hope, he said. Merchant said earlier that Mendoza is a naturalized citizen. The defense unsuccessfully tried to have Mendoza declared mentally incompetent and said it would use an insanity defense if the case went to trial. Mendoza ultimately pleaded guilty to crimes as part of a plea deal. The defense recommendation of the mandatory consecutive 60 years, honors the memory of the victims, Merchant said. The sentence would protect society and send a clear message that if you commit murder, you will be punished harshly, Merchant said. The term would give Mendoza an opportunity to be released from prison toward the end of his life and hope for rehabilitation, he continued. In addition, the sentence considers the enormous amount of time mandated by gun convictions, Merchant said. Jesus knows he needs to be punished for the damage he had caused, but that punishment should not be life in prison, Merchant said. Education officials will meet in four towns in the next nine days to discuss state lawmakers review of Wyomings school finance system. In June, legislative leadership hired Denver-based consultants Augenblick, Palaich and Associates to undertake the examination of the school funding model, a process known as recalibration. As part of their review, the consultants have said they will meet with the states educators to get on-the-ground input on school finance. The pledge was an important one: Lawmakers have said the firms desire for local voices was a key reason it was selected. From Aug. 14 to 18, APA will hold two meetings in four cities, according to a Legislative Service Office press release: One session will be to discuss the impact of the states educational program and a second session will address the current funding model. The meetings are open to any educator practitioner, according to the release. They will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at: Rock Springs Junior High School auditorium and cafeteria on Aug. 14; Cody High School cafeteria and band room on Aug. 15; Buffalo High School on Aug. 16; The Laramie County School Districts board room and Storey Gymnasium on Aug. 17 Comments can also be submitted via an online survey that will open Aug. 14 and will close Aug. 25. The Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration which is leading the review process will meet again on Oct. 12 and 13 in Casper. A University of Wyoming professor who was stripped of her position for alleged retaliation has accused school officials of misconduct and burying a report that exonerated her. Donna Leigh Bliss, an associate professor and the former director of the social work division at UW, alleges that two employees filed a retaliation claim against her after she began to address what she described as a dysfunctional department. She was cleared in a report filed in May 2015, but she claims that university officials suppressed the initial findings and told the investigator to try again. A second investigation found her guilty in July of retaliation of both employees, but that, too, was suppressed, for unclear reasons, according to the complaint. A third and final report was released in August 2015 that determined Bliss retaliated against one of the employees. Eventually, an attorney for Bliss had the decision overturned, Bliss said. She remains an associate professor at the school but is no longer director of the social work division in the College of Health Sciences. In her claim, she names Tara Evans, then-deputy general counsel; David Jones, then-vice president for academic affairs; Tami Benham-Deal, interim associate vice president for academic personnel and budgets; and her boss, Joseph Steiner, the dean of the College of Health Sciences. Bliss told the Star-Tribune on Monday that the two health science faculty members who filed the retaliation claim against her had been described as bullies and had undermined previous directors. She received complaints against them in February 2015 and began working with Steiner to address the concerns, according to a claim she filed with the university. Following Steiners advice, Bliss said, she planned to tackle the allegations against the staff members through an annual review process. Before that was completed, the two staffers accused Bliss of retaliation, alleging she initiated the review because they wanted to pursue faculty conciliation, a process in which opposing parties meet to reconcile differences. The charge sparked an investigation by the university. Bliss denies that she retaliated against the faculty members and maintains that she had started her own review before the two faculty requested the faculty conciliation meeting. The timeline doesnt support that, she said. You cant retaliate for something that hasnt happened yet. Chad Baldwin, a spokesman for the university, declined to comment other than to say that UW disagrees with her assertions. A message left for Bliss attorney was not returned Monday. In the claim she filed with the university, Bliss wrote that she met with her dean, Steiner, to work on the annual review content as he expressed the likelihood the two problematic faculty members would retaliate against me for holding them accountable as per his directives. An investigation performed by Suzanne Young, an associate dean of the College of Education, came back clean in early May. Bliss said she was unaware of the results but said she had talked with Young and was cooperating in the conciliation process with the two employees. Well, around May 20 or so, Suzanne Young came back and started asking me these questions, Bliss said. Something seemed wrong, because Id already explained that I didnt retaliate. Young was conducting a redo of the investigation, Bliss said, at the alleged behest of Benham-Deal and Evans and without objection from Steiner, who Bliss said had directed her actions. She added that Steiner betrayed her trust. I was bewildered, she said. She said she can only speculate why the officials would allegedly ignore her timeline and instead pressure Young to conduct further investigations, which Bliss said were flawed. After the August report which, unlike the previous two, was released to her she hired an attorney. On Nov. 16, 2015, Bliss said she told Steiner she was going to file a grievance with the university. On Nov. 20, she was removed as director. Bliss says that only the universitys board of trustees could remove her from her position. After unsuccessful meetings with the employees and university officials, Bliss eventually hired another attorney. They filed a claim with the university in March and are evaluating whether to take it to court. In her claim, she alleges she lost out on her directors salary and future employment opportunities and the pay raises that would have come with them at the university, including the chance to be college president. I just wanted to be repaired to the extent possible reputationally and financially. ... I wasnt asking for extra money. Its about righting a wrong, she said. If I didnt have the funds to pay for an attorney, I would have on my record, signed off by David Jones, that I retaliated, she added later. Thats devastating. LARAMIE A southeastern Wyoming mother is charged with misdemeanor child endangering for the death of her 4-month-old baby, who was left in a car seat for about 10 hours while the mother was at work. Albany County officials said an investigation determined 38-year-old Kristie Dixon of Laramie forgot to drop her baby off at daycare before going to work on the morning of July 27. She found the baby in the car just before 6 p.m. Investigators found no evidence of foul play. An autopsy determined the baby died of extreme dehydration and heat stroke. Undersheriff Josh DeBree said Monday that the charge was filed in Circuit Court. Dixon has not yet appeared in court and court officials have no record of an attorney in her case. NEW YORK A safe haven where drug users inject themselves with heroin and other drugs has been quietly operating in the United States for the past three years, a report reveals. None were known to exist in the U.S. until the disclosure in a medical journal, although several states and cities are pushing to establish these so-called supervised injection sites where users can shoot up under the care of trained staff who can treat an overdose if necessary. In the report released Tuesday, two researchers said theyve been evaluating an underground safe place that opened in 2014. As a condition of their research, they didnt disclose the location of the facility which is unsanctioned and potentially illegal or the social service agency running it. The researchers offered little data, and their main finding was that no one died while injecting at the safe place. There were two overdoses on site, which were reversed by staff members using the overdose medication naloxone. Advocates and some politicians in recent years have called for government-sanctioned injection sites as the U.S. grapples with the opioid epidemic. More than 52,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2015 fueled by soaring abuse of heroin and prescription painkillers. Government statistics for the first nine months of last year, also released Tuesday, show overdose death rates continuing to spiral. Some say the new report could have an impact on efforts to establish safe injection sites around the U.S. Such sites have been backed by lawmakers in New York, California and other states, along with officials in cities like Seattle, San Francisco and Ithaca, New York. It shows people that its possible to operate one of these in the U.S., said Lindsay LaSalle, an attorney with Drug Policy Alliance who has helped draft safe haven legislative proposals in six states. Injection sites are legal in countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland where medical professionals monitor drug users. They also provide clean needles to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like HIV or hepatitis C. Ideally, they also steer users into treatment. Some experts say new approaches are needed to fight the opioid epidemic, including safe havens. But theyve faced legal and political hurdles. Critics have argued these places may undermine prevention and treatment, and seem to fly in the face of laws aimed at stopping use of deadly illicit drugs. Who would have thought that pizza and barbecue under one roof was a good idea? Jay Healy, owner of the east side cowboy bar Cow Pony, thats who. Healy last week opened Fire N Smoke in a 2,300-square-foot space at 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road next to the bar. Theres an imported wood-burning brick pizza oven in the front of the restaurant, a giant smoker in the back. It makes sense if you look at the Tucson restaurant market. So far this year, weve welcomed several pizzerias, including Barros Pizza in Marana that is set to open in mid-August; and weve embraced a couple of barbecue-centered food trucks and restaurants, including two with Ken in the name Kens BBQ, 1830 S. Park Ave.; and Kens Hardwood Barbecue at 5250 E. 22nd St. that opened within weeks of each other in the spring. Healy went to New York City and learned how to make New York-style pizza fast-baked in a flaming wood-fired oven. And he spent time in Kansas City and Texas, learning the tasty nuances of smoking ribs, chicken and pork until the sweet aroma perfumes the neighborhood. Then he put them on one menu, with some salads, pastas and sandwiches, and has sat back for the past week watching diners scratch their heads in happy amusement. In the first four days after opening late last week, Healy said business has been pretty equally split between the pizza and barbecue. Its kind of crazy. Even at the same table were seeing 50-50, he said. Pizzas run about $16 for a large build-your-own; specialty pies can run as high as $23.49 Barbecue plates (chicken, pork and tri-tip) run $11.99 to $13.99, ribs are $14.99 a half slab, $23.99 for a full slab. Classical music in Tucson doesnt really take a vacation. Throughout the summer, weve had a handful of pretty terrific concerts as well as classical music happenings to tide us over until the fall season kicks in in late September. This weekend is another opportunity with the Endicott Players of Boston and Tucson performing a concert of American works beginning a 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at Grace St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. Its one of three concerts the ensemble mezzo-soprano Pamela Dellal and Roy Sansom on recorder are from Boston; pianist Michael Manning lives and teaches in Tucson will perform. They also were taking the performance to the Boston Conservatory at Berklee in Boston and The Forte House in San Francisco. In addition to works by Theodore Chanler, Samuel Barber, William Bolcom and Leonard Bernstein, the Players will perform the world premiere of Cantor Songs by Texas composer Robert Gross set to six poems by Jeremy Cantor. The piece was composed for the Endicott Players. Admission is free. Details: pameladellal.com/Endicott Meanwhile on Sunday, Aug. 13, Reveille Mens Chorus is kicking off its 23rd year with a meet-and-greet at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., beginning at 6 p.m. Admission is free and its a chance to meet the chorus and its new artistic director Brayton Bollenbacher. Details: reveillemenschorus.org Here are a few other classical music events that have kept us busy this summer: Arizona Friends of Chamber Music launched a three-concert summertime recital series in the intimacy of Sea of Glass, 330 E. Seventh St. The finale featuring violinist Tim Kantor and a few friends/University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music colleagues, is Sept. 13. Tickets ($25)/details: arizonachambermusic.org Maestro Linus Lerner and his Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra colleagues released a CD on the internationally acclaimed classical label Naxos in mid-July of premieres of two concertos written for violist Brett Deubner. The CD, which is being distributed nationwide, is anchored by Amanda Harbergs Concerto for Viola and Orchestra and also includes her Elegy. Max Wolperts Viola Concerto No. 1 Giants rounds out the disc and is described in the Naxos liner notes as a work drawing on ancient traditions of storytelling. The CD, funded in large part with a gift from Dorothy Dyer Vanek, was born from a meeting between Lerner and Deubner several years ago at which Lerner gave the New Jersey-based violist a copy of the SASOs first CD Celebration! SASO and Deubner performed the two concertos on the new recording at the 2016 Gramado in Concert International Music Festival in Brazil, where Lerner also conducts, and then recorded it at Catalina Foothills High School. Meawhile, in July, Lerner, with support from SASO patrons Vanek, Larry Leung, Bill Faris, Tim Secomb and the estate of the late Irving Olson, returned to Opera Festival of San Luis in Mexico. The orchestra performed in three operas Mozarts Le Nozze di Figaro, Strauss Die Fledermaus and Rossinis early opera La Cambiale di Matrimonio (The Marriage Contract). The festival, which continues through Sunday, Aug. 13, included a vocal competition; winners will be featured with SASO in its annual Mexican Independence Day concert at Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., at 8 p.m. Sept. 15. Admission is free; sasomusic.org for details. St. Andrews Bach Society has been filling Grace St. Pauls Episcopal Church beyond capacity this summer for its hugely popular concert series, but for the first time in as long as we can recall the organization had to post a sold-out notice on its website last week when it brought back two beloved Tucson musicians violinist Steven Moeckel and oboist Lindabeth Binkley for the first time together in nearly a decade. The audience crammed into the pews and filled the balcony; two dozen or more fans landed rock-star seats on the stage, getting a birds-eye view of the two former Tucson Symphony Orchestra musicians, accompanied by recently retired TSO pianist Paula Fan. Watching the pair perform Bachs Adagio from Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor and the Erbarme dich, Mein Gott movement from the composers stunning St. Matthew Passion was worth the neck ache from craning to see around the tall man sitting in front of us and the guy with the bushy hair sitting in front of him. Its not surprising that Moeckel and Binkley performed beautifully, but the thrill was seeing how despite the separation of time and miles, they maintained the intuitive nuance of friends who never left one-anothers side. Ditto for the musical camaraderie between Fan and Moeckel, with whom she has long collaborated in concert and in the recording studio, and Binkley, with whom Fan was a colleague for more than a decade before Binkley left to teach in her native Michigan. From the first note of Saint-Saenss Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor Moeckel, sporting a super-hip stubble on his head and a subtle five-oclock shadow, reminded us how much we miss hearing the warmth he coaxes from his well-traveled violin. In the concerts second half, Binkley took the spotlight for Saint-Saens Oboe Sonata in D major. The piece is playful and bright, and Binkley, possibly out of nerves from standing before hundreds of appreciative hometown fans or just the nature of her laid-back personality, giggled a couple times. She brought out all the colorful harmonies and delicate humor of the piece. Caterpillar Proving Ground employees are holding a car show to raise funds for the United Way. The event is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Caterpillar Tucson Proving Ground, 6000 W. Caterpillar Trail, off of West Duval Mine Road in Green Valley. General admission to the show is $5 per car. In addition to a judged car show, there will be food and beverage carts, Caterpillar machines on display and raffle prizes. All proceeds go to the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. The Caterpillar Foundation matches employee contributions dollar for dollar. For information about registering a vehicle for the car show, contact Shawn Roberts at Roberts_Christopher_S@cat.com The city of Tucson might be on the verge of locking horns with the University of Arizona over a planned 1,000-bed, multi-story dorm just north of campus. The proposed honors dorm complex is again on the executive session agenda for the Tucson City Councils meeting Tuesday, Aug. 8, nearly three months after the council warned the university that the project needed to follow city zoning regulations or face legal action. The university, as a state-run entity, may not be legally obligated to follow the citys zoning rules . Multiple city officials confirmed the university has never formally responded to the letter written by City Attorney Mike Rankin. Expected to be at the heart of the closed-door council discussion is whether the university and its private partner, American Campus Communities, have made any changes in the last few months that could have an impact on the citys legal position. In May, Rankin wrote the city had legal standing to challenge the university over the proposed dorm. The university and the ACC-backed project would span a city block between East Drachman and Mabel streets and North Fremont and Santa Rita avenues, north of East Speedway. The UA owns only a portion of the proposed development, with ACC owning the rest of the property. Chris Sigurdson, a university spokesman, said the UA is continuing to work with the neighborhood association and with homeowners in the project area. Additionally, he said the UA has hired local land-use attorney Keri Silvyn, a partner in the law firm of Lazarus, Silvyn & Bangs, to work on the dorm project. Sigurdson declined to discuss the councils executive session agenda item. In a previous interview, Sigurdson said the UA would follow all applicable laws, although it may not be legally obligated to follow the citys zoning rules. Councilman Steve Kozachik blames former UA President Ann Hart for not putting the brakes on the project, what he calls an end run by ACC, before leaving office. The ACC attempted to go through the regular zoning process four years ago, showing a nearly identical proposal to area residents in 2013. It faced stiff resistance for a six-story dorm and several other buildings. Ill be looking to the city attorney to bring us an honest assessment as to whether we have grounds to challenge this deal from a legal perspective, Kozachik said. Given that a county-built space-balloon manufacturing facility and launch pad have long since been completed and occupied by the company World View, Pima County was hoping a Superior Court judge would rule in its favor on two counts alleging improper awarding of contracts in an ongoing lawsuit over the deal. On Monday, Judge Catherine Woods did not oblige, declining to dismiss the two allegations against the county that are part of a larger lawsuit brought in 2016 by the conservative Goldwater Institute. In an earlier ruling, Woods invalidated the lease deal between the county and World View, which has a facility near the Tucson airport. The $15 million facilities were substantially complete in December and the company moved in shortly thereafter, according to memos from County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. Now that the work is substantially done, any challenge to the procurement of the contractors who did the work is moot, documents filed by the county in April read. There is really nothing meaningful that this court can do in terms of granting relief to the plaintiffs on those claims, Deputy County Attorney Andrew Flagg argued to Woods before her ruling Monday. The county cant go out and competitively solicit services, to design and build a facility that has been completed. However, in her ruling Woods noted that, The defendants (Pima County) by their own concession acknowledge that all of the work has not been completed, nor have those service providers been fully paid for their services. But even if they had been, Woods said the concerns raised by plaintiff Richard Rodgers, who is being represented by the Goldwater Institute, present issues of great public importance and/or issues that are capable of repetition. Citing the need to complete the facility by November 2016, Huckelberry said the county selected the architecture firm Swaim Associates and Barker Morrissey Contracting as the builder without the competitive steps normally required by state and county law, which is allowed in certain cases by an emergency-procurement statute, according to a January 2016 memo summarizing the deal for the Board of Supervisors before its ultimate approval. State law and county code allow for exceptions to competitive bidding when a threat to the public health, welfare or safety exists or if a situation exists that makes compliance with this title impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest. Had the county not used the emergency-procurement clause thats in the law, World View would be located in Florida, Huckelberry told the Star Monday. Thats a fact, and that justifies the emergency procurement. Earlier in the hearing, Flagg argued that the mere fact the deal dealt with competitive bidding is not enough to establish significant importance, and that the unique circumstances of the World View project in which it was setting the construction schedule are not likely to be repeated anytime soon. Goldwater attorney Jim Manley, however, pointed out that the county often uses the emergency-procurement statute. Here we have a county policy of avoiding competitive solicitations in situations where it is inconvenient, or where it inconveniences a private party like World View, he said. Those are issues of public importance. In her ruling, Woods seemed open to that argument. The court finds that the contracts at issue in this case raise a legitimate factual question of whether the county truly believed that the emergency exception ... truly applied or whether invoking the words public interest and impractical were a mere pretext for avoiding the standard qualification-based solicitation process. Huckelberry disagreed that there was any pretext at play in the World View deal, adding that, The county read the law, and used the law in order to execute the contract in order to meet a bona fide emergency. Thats clearly supported by facts and testimony. Huckelberry said he was confident that if those facts are presented at trial, which he hopes is where the case goes from here, the county will prevail. In February, Woods invalidated the deal when she ruled in Goldwaters favor on a count alleging that the lease granted World View violated statutory requirements that leases of government property be worth at least 90 percent of the propertys appraised value. The county appealed that decision. A fourth count, alleging that the deal violated the state constitutions gift clause, is on hold, attorneys for the county said. PHOENIX A Maricopa County Superior Court judge said Monday he has the legal right to decide whether Bob Burns has the unilateral power to subpoena utility executives, even in the face of opposition of the other four members of the Arizona Corporation Commission. In an extensive ruling, Judge Daniel Kiley rejected arguments by Arizona Public Service that he is legally powerless to intercede in what the company contends is a dispute among commissioners. APS attorney Mary OGrady said that, at the very least, Burns should have to wait until the commission rules on its pending rate-increase request. But Kiley said this isnt a simple internal dispute among commissioners. Instead, he pointed out, Burns wants a clear ruling on the scope of his constitutional and statutory authority as an elected member of the panel to compel the production of evidence and examine witnesses. Resolving such disputes is clearly within the province of the judiciary, the judge wrote. Moreover, Arizona courts have long recognized that declaratory judgment relief is an appropriate vehicle for resolving controversies as to the legality of acts of public officials. Kiley also rebuffed an argument by Chairman Tom Forese that the dispute between Burns and the other commissioners is really a political question beyond the scope of the judge to resolve. This case presents issue of constitutional interpretation and statutory construction that are squarely within the scope of judicial authority, the judge said. Kileys ruling came as the commission voted Monday to pay to hire separate attorneys for the other four commissioners to defend themselves in the lawsuit. Thats because Burns has expanded his legal claims beyond just the issue of his individual rights as a commissioner to questions about whether the other four may be disqualified from voting on the APS rate hike because the company provided or is believed to have provided money to help get them elected. But the panel refused to pay for Bill Richards, Burns own attorney, who the commissioner said has been working for free. Burns said he was told the policy is for taxpayer-financed legal help only when commissioners are defending their actions. Im on offense, theyre on defense, he said. But Burns said he hopes that Kiley eventually orders the commission to pick up the bill for his lawyer, too. More immediate is the question of how much power does Burns or any other commissioner have to issue subpoenas and demand testimony from witnesses over the objections of his or her colleagues. Burns wants documents from APS and parent company Pinnacle West Capital Corp. showing what they spent to influence the 2014 election. Two outside groups spent $3.2 million to elect Forese and Doug Little, but have refused to disclose where they got the money. He also wants information on the companys spending on lobbyists and charities. And he wants to question CEO Don Brandt and others. APS initially challenged his actions as premature. Kiley agreed, telling Burns to seek permission from his colleagues. But when he did that, the other four voted to reject his request. Kiley, in Mondays ruling, said that puts the question of Burns legal rights squarely before him. And there are legitimate questions. The Arizona Constitution spells out that the commission and the several members thereof have the power to inspect and investigate the property, books, papers, business methods, and affairs of any corporation whose stock shall be offered for sale to the public. Pinnacle West is a publicly traded corporation. And it specifically spells out the right to demand documents for regulated public service corporations like APS. Kiley said it is now up to him, as the judge in the case, to decide whether the constitution and parallel statutes give Burns the independent powers he claims he has. PHOENIX Foes of expanded school vouchers are turning in the signatures Tuesday, Aug. 8, to force a public vote on the plan unless lawmakers move to undermine the referendum. Members of Save Our Schools said Monday they have more than 100,000 signatures on petitions to block the new law from taking effect as scheduled Wednesday. If the Secretary of States Office finds 75,321 of these are valid, the changes remain on hold until the 2018 general election, when voters would decide whether to ratify or veto what the Republican-controlled Legislature approved. It might not get that far. Voucher supporters already are weighting litigation to keep the measure off the ballot. But the more serious threat could come from the Legislature itself. The petitions seek to refer SB 1431 to the ballot. That law scraps the requirement that students seeking a voucher of taxpayer money to attend private or parochial schools must meet certain requirements, like having a disability, being a foster child, living on a reservation or attending a school rated D or F. Instead, it would allow any student to qualify, though the measure has a cap of 30,000 students. But the Legislature is free to repeal SB 1431 and immediately re-enact it, perhaps with only some minor changes, making the petition drive legally moot. And foes of vouchers, formally known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, would have to start over again from scratch to demand a public vote on the new version. Lawmakers have done exactly that before. In 2013, opponents of HB 2305 gathered more than 144,000 signatures to force a referendum on a series of changes in election laws that opponents said were designed to depress voter turnout and place roadblocks in the path of those who want to propose their own laws, like limiting who can take someones early ballot to a polling place and imposing stricter requirements on citizen groups who are sponsoring initiatives. More than 110,000 were declared valid, far more than legally required, to force the issue to the ballot. The next year legislators repealed the law, quashing the initiative. But that was not the end of it. Since that time, lawmakers have re-enacted virtually all of the same provisions, breaking them into separate bills in a way to make it difficult to refer all of them to the ballot. A repeat performance is clearly on the minds of voucher supporters, starting with Sen. Debbie Lesko, R-Peoria, who has been the prime proponent. All options are on the table, she told Capitol Media Services during the signature-gathering process when asked about a repeal-and-replace scenario. And Kim Martinez, spokeswoman for the American Federation for Children that has pushed for vouchers here and elsewhere, also will not take off the table the option of getting lawmakers to undermine the referendum campaign. Were not at a point where we want to talk strategy, she said Monday. House Majority Leader John Allen acknowledged that tweaking the law to kill the referendum is an option. But the Scottsdale Republican doesnt think its a good idea politically. We would be spending political capital on a circumstance on which we can win straight out, he said. Allen, who voted for the voucher expansion, acknowledged the 2014 vote to quash that initiative. But he said the risk is that voters may get fed up with lawmakers doing end-runs around voter proposals and could take away that right. In fact, he noted, thats exactly what happened after lawmakers repealed the states first medical marijuana act approved at the ballot in 1996. The result was the 1998 approval of the Voter Protection Act which constitutionally bars the Legislature from repealing or sharply altering anything that voters have enacted. Allen said the path to killing the referendum is the right kind of public relations campaign. The opposition (to voucher expansion) is called Save Our Schools, he noted. Its not Educate Our Kids, Allen continued. This is about the status quo educational system versus the things were going to have to do in the future to get quality education. Martinez, however, said her group is hoping the issue never gets to a campaign even if it has to go to court to do that. The first question is whether the secretary of state determines there are enough valid signatures. Martinez noted that Save Our Schools relied largely on volunteers who, unlike paid circulators, may have gathered names of people who are not registered to vote or filled out the forms improperly. It is not unusual for these kinds of petition drives to have an invalidity rate of 25 percent or more. Martinez said that even with voucher foes claiming to have more than 100,000 signatures, the petition drive could still come up short after the review process by the secretary of state. And what signatures election officials do not invalidate, her organization is preparing to go to court to eliminate. They have likely made a lot of mistakes along the way, Martinez said. And we have many examples of signatures that theyve gathered improperly. The TUSD Governing Board will select at least two finalists to compete for the job of superintendent Tuesday, but the public may have to wait to find out who the contenders are. Consultant Nic Clement, who is leading the superintendent search for the Tucson Unified School District, has recommended that the board withhold the names of the finalists as a professional courtesy, giving them time to notify their existing employers. The finalists would be referred to by alpha-identifiers until Thursday, when names and resumes would be released. But thats not in the best interest of the state nor the interest of people who are evaluating TUSD, says attorney Dan Barr of the First Amendment Coalition. As soon as they were interviewed and the decision is reached that they are finalists, their names and resumes should become public, Barr said. The reason is not only to see who these people are but also to evaluate the selection process by the Tucson Unified School District. The recommendation by Clement is also contrary to an Arizona Supreme Court ruling from the early 1990s that all serious candidates for public positions must be identified and have no right to expect their names to be kept secret, Barr said. In that case, the Arizona Board of Regents was compelled to release similar materials in its search for the president of Arizona State University. More recently, Barr represented the Arizona Daily Star in a 2013 lawsuit in which TUSD withheld the names of then-superintendent finalists. The district unsuccessfully argued that the candidates were promised secrecy, and a Pima County Superior Court judge ordered the names and resumes released. While Clement said he is aware of Arizona law, he said the procedure is used in other searches and that the recommendation was presented to TUSDs legal counsel. Clement said he would make the TUSD Governing Board aware of the concerns raised by the Arizona Daily Star prior to the meeting, but the decision ultimately belongs to the five board members. I dont direct the board, I give recommendations and the board determines how theyre going to proceed, Clement said. In addition to selecting superintendent finalists Tuesday night, the Governing Board is expected to discuss and possibly approve a schedule for the candidates to meet with employee groups, the transportation and maintenance departments, to visit schools and to take part in a community question-and-answer session as early as next week. Clement is also proposing that the finalists be narrowed down to one by Aug. 22, at which time the board would enter into contract negotiations. The identity of that sole finalist would also be concealed. Assuming negotiations are successful, the superintendent would be appointed at a later meeting. A 64-year-old Sierra Vista man is jailed after police say he stabbed his roommate several times during an alcohol-fueled argument. Rick Pastika, 64, was taken into custody about 7:30 Saturday night after officers were called to a house in the 300 block of Peterson Street, said Corporal Tim Wachtel, of the Sierra Vista Police Department in a news release. Kurt Freeman, 57, was found stabbed multiple times in his abdomen, Wachtel said. He was listed in stable condition at a Tucson hospital. I am still waiting to hear Congresswoman McSally's stand on the White House's proposed ban on transgender people in the military. She is usually so vocal about supporting our troops. Right in her wheelhouse, as they say. What has struck her dumb now? In the event of her further lack of comment, I will assume that her silence indicates complicity with Mr Trump's bald-faced appeal to his most closed-minded supporters, and that any further palaver she offers about support for our US troops (soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard) will come with an asterisk. [* SOME of our troops.] Vietnams Ministry of Construction has said it will not extend permits granted to dredging companies to export saline sand when their papers expire in September. The move is an effort to combat overexploitation of the natural resource by companies that take advantage of loose regulations. According to a law signed in 2013, businesses tasked with conducting dredging projects at localcoastlines or rivers are allowed to export saline sand collected from the activity in order to recoup their investment. Many companies have taken advantage of the regulation to obtain dredging licenses and then sold the project to other companies, which in turn enjoyed the rights to export saline sand and earn big profits. The sand exporters would declare unusually low export prices to avoid taxes. According to Pham Van Bac, director of the Department of Construction Materials under the Ministry of Construction, the ministry has no intention of either extending the export permits or issuing new ones when the last of them expire in September. As of right now there are only two valid permits left that allow the export of saline sand, and they will expire in September, Bac said. From then on, Vietnam will no longer export saline sand and will instead use the material to supply only domestic construction projects. The Ministry of Construction has also tasked the Department of Construction Materials with conducting the necessary research to introduce a set of standards and guidelines on using saline sand in construction in place of regular sand. The natural resource is expected to be used in concrete constructions that do not require reinforced steel, which could be subject to corrosion, such as on coastal embankments or breakwaters. A number of studies have already been done by Vietnamese scientists into the development of construction concrete that can be mixed from saline sand and water sourced from the ocean, Bac said. The successful invention of such a construction material would be of significance to the building of Vietnamese structures at sea, he added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss today, August 8: Politics -- The Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City and the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations on Monday held a meeting to mark the 52nd anniversary of Singapores Independence Day (August 9). -- Vietnam hopes to continue receiving support from the UN Environment Programme to review, revise and complete laws and policies related to the environment, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said as he received the programs Director Erik Solheim in Hanoi on Monday. Society -- Trinh Xuan Thanh, an ex-oil chief who turned himself in to the police last week after hiding overseas for nearly a year to evade an arrest warrant, has been taken into custody on charges of intentionally violating state regulations on economic management that caused severe consequences. -- Pham Le Hoang Uyen, a reporter who works for the Huong Nghiep Va Hoa Nhap (Orientation and Integration) magazine, was caught red handed on Monday receiving VND280 million ($12,330) in cash from a local business in the southern city of Can Tho in an apparent extortion case. -- Animal crossing is posing extreme danger for drivers passing the Da Nang - Quang Nam expressway, which was opened to traffic earlier this month. -- Doan Ngoc Hai, deputy chairman of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, led a fresh crackdown in his signature sidewalk clearing campaign after a four-month hiatus on Monday night. -- Floods have killed 26 people and washed away hundreds of homes in northern Vietnam over the past week, causing damage estimated at more than VND940 billion ($41 million), the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said on Monday. -- Police in the north-central province of Nghe An said on Monday they had rescued two girls, aged nine and 14, from being sold across the border to China and arrested two children trafficking suspects. -- Vietnams National Wage Council voted in favor of a proposal on a 6.5 percent increase for the region-based minimum wage during its third meeting on the issue on Monday. The proposal, which will send the minimum wages for employees to VND2.58 million ($114) - VND3.98 million ($175) depending on regions, will be submitted to the government for consideration. Business -- Vietjet will offer 200,000 super-promotional air tickets priced from zero dong from August 9 to 13, the budget carrier announced on Monday. -- Low-cost Jetstar Pacific Airlines will launch its inaugural flight connecting Dong Hoi, the capital of the north-central Vietnamese province of Quang Binh, and the Thai province of Chiang Mai this Friday, the former's provincial tourism department said on Monday. Lifestyle -- The Trinh Cong Son Street, lying adjacent to the Ho Tay (West Lake) in Hanoi, will be turned into a walking street on August 19. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vehicle drivers taking the recently opened expressway connecting Da Nang City and Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam have reported seeing dogs and goats wandering on the high-speed road. A section of the Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway was opened to vehicles last Wednesday after four years of construction. The expressway, which will be nearly 140 kilometers upon its completion, had a 65km section between Da Nang and Tam Ky City in Quang Nam Province opened to help facilitate traffic between the two central cities. Less than a week after its opening, the expressway has been flooded with complaints and reports about animals entering the roadway and threatening the safety of vehicles traveling at high speed. I was driving at over 100 kilometers per hour on Sunday when I saw a pair of dogs in the middle of the road, recalled La Van Thang, who has frequented the expressway since its opening. It was sheer luck that I was able to pass the animals without hurting myself or other drivers. When vehicles travel at such a high speed, even a small obstacle could spell disaster. As of Monday, iron grilles meant to protect the expressway from intruders are only installed along a few kilometers of the expressway in Da Nang, while the rest of the 65km road is unprotected. This has allowed stray animals and unattended cattle to easily cross the road to graze on either side of the expressway. At some locations, the barriers are so low that large animals can easily leap onto the road without any issue. According to Bui To Hoai, deputy director of the Department of Road Transport Management III under the General Department of Vietnam Roads, the responsibility of maintaining safety on the expressway lies on the shoulder of the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC). VEC chief of office Do Chi Chung told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that some parts of the expressway were not complete as it had only recently been put into use. We are working at full speed to finish installing iron grilles on either side of the expressway, Chung said. Chung avoided responding to Tuoi Tres request for a comment on the safety of current traffic on the expressway. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Can Tho City, located in Vietnams Mekong Delta, have arrested a reporter for receiving bribes in return for the removal of published articles which she claimed to be written by her. Pham Le Hoang Uyen, 41, a correspondent from the Hanoi-based Huong Nghiep va Hoa Nhap Magazine, was caught red-handed accepting approximately VND280 million (US$12,269) from two businesses on Sunday, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Duong, chief of staff of the Can Tho Department of Police, affirmed on Monday. An investigation revealed that the Ho Chi Minh City-based Womens Newspaper had published three articles between July 31 and August 4, revealing violations by several companies in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang. Claiming that the reports were written by her, Uyen told directors of the relevant businesses to pay her VND700 million ($30,673) in return for their removal. The reporter said she was about to release another article if the companies refused to cooperate, stressing that the removal fee would then increase to VND1 billion ($43,819). After reaching a deal, Uyen traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho to receive the money at a local cafe and was there arrested by police officers. Uyens initial statement said that she had not worked alone, Colonel Tran Ngoc Hanh, director of the Can Tho police department, said, adding that the agency is expanding the case to identify other potential accomplices. The money Uyen received is kept at the police station. Photo: Tuoi Tre Meanwhile, Le Huyen Ai My, editor-in-chief of the Womens Newspaper, asserted that Uyen does not work for the publisher and is not involved in the series of articles mentioned. Uyen taking advantage of the stories published by our newspaper to extort businesses breaches our code of ethics. We hope that the authorities will bring her and any other accomplices to justice to defend the reputation of journalism in this country, My remarked. In a similar story, Nguyen The Thang, 41, a journalist from a branch of Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) in the Central Highlands, has also been arrested for extortion. Local resident Hoang Van Thanh, 35, was charged for his involvement. According to initial information, Thanh had caught several gamblers on camera and gave the footage to Thang. The pair asked the people appearing in the video clip to pay them some money in exchange for not publicizing it. They were also caught red-handed during their transaction at a coffee shop. Leaders of the VOV branch are yet to give any comment on the case. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Help India! New Delhi, (IANS): Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir on Tuesday said that 149 of the total 1,401 jails in the country had an overcrowding rate of more than 200 per cent as on December 2015 as per the data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau. In the Model Prison Manual 2016, the minimum accommodation space per prisoner in Sleeping Barracks suggested is 3.71 sq mt and 8.92 sq mt of ground area in Cells. No Central statistics are available on the actual space available to a prison inmate in different jails, Ahir said in a statement in response to a question raised by Sushil Kumar Singh, who represents Aurangabad (Bihar) in the Lok Sabha. Support TwoCircles Prisons is a state subject. However, a central scheme for modernisation of prisons, with a financial outlay of Rs 1,800 crores, was launched in 2002. Under this scheme, 125 new jails were constructed and 1,579 barracks were added to existing prisons. Ahir said the government had introduced the concept of plea bargaining to address the problem of overcrowding in prisons. Help India! New Delhi, (IANS): The Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board on Tuesday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying a mosque can be built in a Muslim-dominated area maintaining a reasonable distance from Lord Rams birth place in Ayodhya. Filing an affidavit, the Shia Waqf Board said closeness of places of worship should be avoided in as much as both denominations using loudspeakers tend to disturb religious performance of each other, often leading to conflicts and acrimony in the two factions. Support TwoCircles To bring a quietus to the issue, Masjid can be located in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram, it added. The Shia Waqf Board contended that the Sunni Waqf Board has no stake in the case since the mosque was a Shia property. Since Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf, only Shia Central Waqf board, Uttar Pradesh, is entitled to negotiate and arrive at a peaceful settlement with other remaining stakeholders, the affidavit stated. The Shia Board also suggested that a panel headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and all stakeholders should find an amicable solution to the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute. The committee should also include nominees from the Prime Ministers Office and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers Office, and make suggestions and proposals for amicable settlement, affidavit said. The Supreme Court has constituted a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case from August 11. The bench, whose other members are Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Abdul Nazeer, would adjudicate the dispute over ownership of Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid land. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court in 2010 had said the land should be partitioned equally among three parties the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Help India! Lucknow, (IANS): A 17-year-old girl, on way to her school, was stabbed to death by four youths in a village in Uttar Pradeshs Ballia district on Tuesday after she resisted their attempts to molest her, police said. Class 12 student Ragini Dubey was rushed to a nearby hospital in Ballia but had succumbed to her excessive blood loss. Support TwoCircles The four assailants escaped after the incident even as onlookers stood dazed by the turn of events. The girl belonged to Bajaha village and was studying at a private school. Passersby later told police that she was intercepted by four boys, including the son of the village head, near the Kali temple in Shankarpur village. When she resisted their attempts to molest her, the boys kicked her cycle and she fell. They then attacked her with a knife many times and fled. Additional Superintendent of Police Vijay Pal Singh said a team has been set up to nab the culprits, while the girls body of the girl has been sent for post-mortem. Help India! By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net Having faced a humiliating loss in this years UP state elections, the Samajwadi Party is will sound its bugle against BJP with its Desh Bachao -Desh Banao rally from Ayodhya on Wednesday. August 9 is observed as Kranti Diwas and Akhilesh Yadav have already termed the event as Akhilesh ki Kranti. August 9 is celebrated to remember the Quit India Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. The whole campaign is based on the partys allegation that Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is suppressing the voice of discontent, and the campaign is set to address the communal politics of the state government. The upcoming campaign is one of the first major political events by Samajwadis against the BJP government in the state. Moreover, Akhilesh Yadav is also looking forward to partys national convention to be held in coming September and the campaign is being seen as the pretext of the same. The campaign will focus on the rising communal hatred, corruption, and rising crime graph in the state. On August 9, Akhilesh Yadav will address the rally in Madna, a small town situated along Lucknow-Bahraich road, about 15 kilometres from Faizabad. While addressing a press meeting in Lucknow on Monday, Akhilesh Yadav said, BJP promised big things in its election manifesto, but they are failing to deliver them all. They are yet to tell that how will they double the farmers earnings. He also said, With demonetisation and GST, BJP government collected a big amount of money. Now they should give Rs 5 lakh each for the marriage of Muslim girls. Samajwadi Party will reveal the anti-social activities of the government through Desh Bachao, Desh Banao campaign. RSS and BJP, who are breaking the country, will be exposed to the public in this campaign, added Yadav. However, some party leaders suggest the current campaign is aimed to re-organise the party before 2019 general elections. As Akhilesh Yadav took party president post on January 1 this year following an urgent national convention of the party, his formal election as national president of SP will be held in Septembers convention. As per the new rules of the party, the party president shall hold the post for up to five years. SP spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhary told TwoCircles.net, Indeed it is a preparation for 2019 election, and this all an internal party affair. No other political group is supporting it. He also said, We are mobilising workers, ground cadre and supporters of Samajwadi Party before the national convention to be held in September. Our main aim is to make the public aware of the anti-social activities of the government in the centre. BJP has completed more than three years in the centre, but the public is yet to see a harmonious society. However, Chowdhary denied that present campaign has any relation with the one that Mulayam Singh Yadav held in 2013. He said, Yes, we can say that slogans of both the campaigns are similar, but there is no relation between them. Brexit is still ongoing despite the summer holidays and some news has emerged from this, firstly, Spain have said they wont seek to recover Gibraltar in Brexit talks. Secondly, UK judges need clarity, thirdly, a senior minister has revealed a goodwill gesture of 10 billion to EU as Brexit bill. Finally, relocation of EU medicines regulator will hit the UK hard. With a long way to go in negotiations and time is quickly getting away from the government, how these will play out is going to be interesting. Brexit has already hit the economy, the pound has slumped and applications to universities, vital public service jobs and other vital areas have dropped significantly. Universities are being hit hard and collaboration is already becoming increasingly difficult. Gibraltar and UK judges In March, the EU published their Brexit negotiations guidelines and caused tension between the UK and Spain after saying the latter would get a veto on whether the Brexit deal could be applied to Gibraltar. Former Conservative leader, Michael Howard, said that may would be prepared to go to war to protect the UK territory, much like Margaret Thatcher did in 1982 over the Falklands. However, Spanish foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, told Spanish conservative daily ABC, I wont make a deal between the EU and the UK conditional on recovering sovereignty over Gibraltar. The UKs most senior judge, Lord Neuberger, has said that the government needs to provide more clarity on how UK law will be developed post-Brexit. Currently, UK law is subject to rulings made by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Lord Neuberger has said that the government need to clear over how to interpret decisions made by the ECJ because UK judges will continue to interpret the ECJ even after Brexit. Lord Neuberger said "If [the government] doesn't express clearly what the judges should do about decisions of the ECJ after Brexit, or indeed any other topic after Brexit, then the judges will simply have to do their best." Brexit bill and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) The Brexit bill has been estimated to be around 100 billion-plus, the Financial Times previously broke down where those costs come from, with 36.2 billion coming from projects that have already been committed to in the last 10 years but not paid for yet. 9.6 billion on pension contributions, other legal commitments that are initiated post-Brexit, annual running costs in 2019 and 2020 which amount to 27.4 billion, most of which would be for farmers and an up-front lump sum of liabilities against future EU loans and guarantees. But Conservative backbenchers are threatening revolt over any fee but the government are suggesting a measly 10 billion as a goodwill gesture to appease hardened Brexiteers and the EU, some sources have suggested the fee is closest to 36 billion. A cabinet minister said: We could cope with paying about 10billion as a goodwill gesture to smooth things over." But there are a lot of already planned obligations and whilst the EU would be up for negotiating, the Conservatives are more concerned with appeasing their party rather than doing what is best for the UK. The EMA could leave the UK and if Amsterdam were successful in luring them away, two of the UKs foremost research organisations are at risk of losing much of their business. The UK Medicines Health and Regulatory Agency (MHRA) currently enjoys a lucrative relationship with the EMA. The application from Amsterdam says, Brexit will not only result in the relocation of EMA to another EU member state, but also very likely in a dramatic reduction, or withdrawal, of the work of the MHRA and the Veterinary Medicines Department [VMD] in the assessment of medicinal products for human and veterinary use. Last week the boat Iuventa, belonging to German NGO (A non-governmental organisation) Jugend Rettet was confiscated by an Italian judge as it is charged with helping the smugglers to carry the refugees from North Africa to Italy. The measure was ordered following a warning by the company IMI Security Service, a group of contractors led by Mr Cristian Ricci, that contacted the Italian Foreign Secret Service (Aise) to inform them of the boat's strange movements. Defend Europe According to the Italian Catholic weekly publication Famiglia Cristiana, there is a relation between the company IMI Security Service and the right-wing European organisation Defend Europe. This association has rented the C- Star, one of the boats owned by the English company Maritime Global Service, to enforce the rules in the Mediterranean sea. Indeed, while other NGOs want to help the refugees in Search and Rescue operations, carrying them to the nearest port after saving their lives, Defend Europe want to find the migrants and take them back to Lybia. The purpose is related to a protectionistic political vision. In the opening of the association's website, it is explained the reason for their venture: illegal migrants "are endangering the security and the future of our continent.......but we are no longer looking away. We will do something against it". The Italian regulation To bring order into the sea, Italian Ministry of Interior promoted in the last days a regulation consisting of some points which all the NGOs have to respect. Among the duties, the NGOs must accept on board armed Italian policemen. Not all the organisations are ready to allow it, therefore some of them didn't sign the regulation. At the same time, Italian authorities could begin to help Lybian authorities to stop the smugglers. Asylum seeker or economic migrants? The heart of the matter is that not all the migrants are escaping from war. A lot of them are only looking for a better life. But according to the Italian law, only the people that don't have "democratic freedom" in their country could be accepted. It's the same distinction made a few weeks ago by the French President Emmanuel Macron, who explained that only asylum seekers could be helped, not all the economic migrants. However, in Africa, the economic problems have eventuated into wars. This distinction is not so clear, above all in the middle of the sea, where the life of all the people is in danger. Even after over six months in office, Donald Trump still can't shake the growing Russian scandal that has plagued his presidency. As the pressure continues to mount on a daily basis, Trump is doing his best to deflect attention and blame those in the media as well as members of the Democratic Party. Trump on Twitter During the early days of the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump was forced to defend himself from allegations of being in cahoots with Russia. From his defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to several of his past and present advisers and associates being linked back to the Kremlin, the story surrounding Trump and Russia is only expanding. In the aftermath of his upset election win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton last November, the former host of "The Apprentice" has faced increased pressure regarding the issue at hand. Whether it's been his son-in-law Jared Kushner being accused of trying to set up a back channel to Russia while in the White House, to former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's alleged shady talks with those in the Kremlin, or even the president's handling of his firing of former FBI Director James Comey, Trump has left many questions unanswered. As seen during a series of tweets on August 7, the president is now turning his attention to the recent criticism of a Democratic senator. Interesting to watch Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam con artist! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 Taking to Twitter on Monday morning was Donald Trump who decided that he was going to go on the attack against Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. "Interesting to watch Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam Con Artist!" Trump tweeted out. Never in U.S.history has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal. He told stories about his Vietnam battles and.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 In a follow-up tweet, the billionaire real estate mogul doubled down on his social media attack. "Never in U.S.history has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal.....it was all a lie," Trump tweeted out about Richard Blumenthal. "He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child," Trump continued, before rhetorically asking, "Now he judges collusion?" Trump's attack on Blumenthal continues his theme of defending his stance and agenda, while hitting back against those who dare criticize him. Blumenthal has been a constant critic of the administration, with Trump firing back a various times over the last few months. ...conquests, how brave he was, and it was all a lie. He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child. Now he judges collusion? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 Moving forward While Donald Trump and the White House do their best to deflect from the Russian controversy and scandal, the pressure has had a negative impact on the president's standing with the American people. After not even seven months in office, the latest round of polling shows Trump with an approval rating of just 35 percent, which doesn't look to be improving anytime soon. Three US Marines who died following the ditching into waters off the Australian east coast by a U.S. military aircraft on Saturday have been identified by the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Butler, from the Okinawa base camp, said the three deceased officers are Captain Nathaniel Ordway, 21, 1st Lieutenant Benjamin Cross, 26, and Pfc. Velasco Reuben, 19. Lt. Christina Metzler, spokeswoman for the Marine Expeditionary Unit said the three officers were confirmed dead after a thorough search and rescue operation at the site of the crash, approximately 18 miles off the coast of Bay Area in Queensland, Australia. Condolences for the dead Marines The Commanding officer of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Colonel Tye Wallace told reporters that the loss of any Marine is deeply felt throughout the Marine Corps as a family. Wallace said the dead Marines left a legacy to the entire Marine Corps Family, and the world at large. He added that they will forever in the memory of every Marine. Before they were identified, the Australian Navy had reported that the US MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft that crashed and went missing off the coast of Queensland, and this was confirmed in a statement from the Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne. The Corp stated that 23 out of the 26 personnel that were on the aircraft were successfully rescued. Search and rescue efforts The U.S. military said the aircraft and boats searched thoroughly in the waters off the coast of Australia without success for the three Marines who were missing. After a fruitless effort, the search operation off the east coast of Australia was called off early on Sunday. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in collaboration with Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Group deployed small aircraft and boats and carried out the search, the US Marine Corps stated. The US military said the families of the deceased Marines have been informed. However, family members told reporters that their loss was irreparable and disheartening. Cross graduated from the Virginia Military Institute on a scholarship sponsored by the Naval ROTC. He was a pilot of V-22 class from Bethel, Marine, the statement said. The military operations were a follow-up to combine training between Australian and American troops that ended last week. The Australian Defense Ministry said the joint military operation was conducted in Shoalwater Bay and about 30,000 Australian and American military personnel were involved in the exercise. NASA currently has an opening for a Planetary Protection officer, which requires an advanced science or math degree and a minimum one years experience as a government employee. While nine-year-old Jack Davis has neither on his resume, he knew he was perfect for the job. Kid applies for a job as planetary protection officer Jack Davis has seen all the SciFi and alien movies and is a whiz at video games, so he knew he could definitely do the job NASA was offering. Part of the job involves preventing alien contamination on space craft during missions and that sounded pretty easy to young Jack. He totally ignored the need for the relevant degree and government experience and went ahead, sending a handwritten letter to NASA to apply for the job. As noted by Fox News, in his letter, Jack wrote that he may only be nine, but he thinks hes the perfect fit. Part of his reasoning was that his sister believes he is an alien, but he also added he has seen all the alien and space movies out there. Jack also mentioned in his letter that he is young enough to learn to think like an alien. In his closing he said he was a Guardian of the Galaxy, currently in the fourth grade. 9-year-old applies for a job with NASA as Planetary Protection Officer pic.twitter.com/nLk0zb2W6D Anne King (@inthemedia1) August 6, 2017 NASA responds to nine-year-old's job application While he obviously doesnt have much hope of success in his mission, NASA was nice enough to respond after receiving Jacks application with both a letter and a phone call. Jonathan Rall, the Planetary Research Director with NASA called to congratulate the nine-year-old on his interest in working for NASA and encouraging him to do his best at school. Jim Green, another Planetary Science Director, responded by letter, saying he had heard Jack was a Guardian of the Galaxy and that he was interested in becoming a Planetary Protection Officer with NASA. Green said he thought that was great, but went on to explain that in real life, the position might not be quite what the title makes it sound to be. He said while the job does play a vital role in preventing microbial contamination of both our planet and others, and does promote the responsible exploration of the solar system, it isnt really like something Jack had seen in the movies. 9-year-old kid applies for a job at @NASA and how the US Space Agency replied will blow your min.. https://t.co/bLrjh1MKf3 via @indiatvnews Divya Saxena (@Divsbabs) August 6, 2017 NASA job opening is still available The Sacramento Bee reports that anyone out there with the right qualifications can still apply for the job through August 14. Reportedly the position carries a six-figure salary and there are opportunities to travel, but maybe not to outer space. The Washington Post obtained and published the transcripts of the first phone calls President Donald Trump made to Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto and Australia's Prime Minister malcolm turnbull. The calls took place on January 27 and 28, with much of the conversation revolving around the U.S.-Mexico border wall and immigration. Trump urged public defiance of border wall to end During his conversation with Enrique Pena Nieto, Donald Trump talked about how his promise to make Mexico pay for the border wall was a growing political issue for him that was negatively affecting him. It makes me look so bad and I have only been here for a week," was one of the many statements the president made. To this end, he tried to pressure the Mexican President to stop publicly stating that the Mexican government would never pay for it. Trump told Nieto that he realized funding for the wall would have to come from other sources. However, Trump threatened to end all contact if he kept making uncooperative statements regarding the wall. He specifically said, then I do not want to meet with you guys anymore because I cannot live with that. Trump's sour call with Turnbull on immigration Donald Trump's call with Malcolm Turnbull the next day ended up becoming very bitter. Toward the end of their conversation, Trump stated: I have had it and This is ridiculous. They discussed an agreement that former President Barack Obama made with Australia to take in 1,250 refugees. This, of course, would only be after they underwent strict security screenings by both the Australians and Americans. One thing Trump said that went viral on social media regarding the immigrants was that: They are not going to be wonderful people who go on to work for the local mil people. The White House's response The documents were produced by note-takers at the White House and showed an unfiltered glimpse of how President Trump conducts diplomacy with other world leaders. The White House declined to comment on the report, saying that the transcripts have not yet been declassified. An official familiar with Trump's conversation stated off the record that The president is a tough negotiator. That official also stated that Trump has since met with both leaders in person and had constructive conversations. The Washington Post, however, said that the documents showed that the notes were reviewed and classified by Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg Jr., the chief of staff for the National Security Council. White House officials, told media, that Miller might get elevated, to a communications role, in addition to his present capacity as an adviser. The chief strategist of White House, Steve Bannon, favors the reorganizing, however, he suggested that Miller might not get the title of communications director. Why is Trump considering Stephen Miller for the role? Miller is the West Wing hero, after he condemned Acosta, for his seasoned views on immigration. In fact, Miller's colleagues high-fived him after he finished that press briefing, Sebastian Gorka, a national-security aide told media. President loves Miller's over-the-top TV performance, however, seems uninterested in the planning responsibilities, of a communications director. Miller was effectively an adjunct of the editorial team in Sessions office, where he worked closely with Julia Hahn, then Breitbart's reporter. Also, Miller claimed that he had a direct line to Matt Drudge, resulting in a joke, that Sessions office had acquired a permanent lease on the prized Drudge links. Miller also has a history of bothering reporters at wee hours, to pitch his stories. John Kelly wants to bring in David Lapan for this role In the intervening period, CNN reported, that, the new staff chief, John Kelly, wants to bring in, his former Security spokesperson, David Lapan, for the role. Kelly is reported to have expelled Anthony Scaramucci, who officially held the role of communications for five consecutive days. CNN received information from 2 high-level administration sources, who confirmed, that Lapan, is at the top of the list, to serve the White House's communications and messaging department. Scaramucci was contrived to quit his responsibilities as the communications director, after Kelly was sworn in, as the Chief Of Staff. Kelly relinquished the news to Scaramucci, in his office, with two additional people being aware of the unexpected turn of events. In fact, Kelly's first official act, as the chief of staff, was to terminate Scaramucci's services. Kelly is a former Marine general, known for his punctilious character. Kelly said, Scaramucci was not disciplined enough and had lost his credibility, post he delivered the New Yorker magazine interview. Scaramucci had no plans to resign; a person confirmed after he spoke to Scaramucci on Monday morning. Likewise, White House officials confirmed, that Kelly, wanted Scaramucci fired from his new role as the communications director. The endeavor to find a successor, for the communications role is still in the crucial process, and sources reveal, that, Miller might not be the top contender after all. The Osprey also called a fish eagle or sea hawk is a fish-eating bird of prey. Keeping the characteristics of the bird in mind, the manufacturers named their aircraft the Osprey. The plane has been in service for nearly two decades and has distinguished itself as a technical-savvy machine. Despite its long service with the military, questions about the air safety record of the aircraft have emerged. This followed the latest crash when an Okinawa based Osprey crashed into the sea while coming in for a landing on the aircraft carrier USS Reagan, resulting in the death of three Marines. Previously, an Osprey crashed in Arizona in 2000 killing 16 marines. The three marines killed during the course of the crash have been identified as 26-year-old 1st Lt. Benjamin R. Cross, from Maine; 21-year-old Cpl Nathaniel F. Ordway, from Kansas; and 19-year-old Plc. Ruben P. Velasco, from Los Angeles. A US defense official has said that the marine technical team is carrying out a Technical Review of the plane which could lead to all the Ospreys being grounded reported Militarynews.com The Osprey The Osprey is a unique plane and the only aircraft in the world to have two rotors on the extremities of its wings. These rotors impart lift capability to the plane and it can execute a vertical take-off and landing like a helicopter. The plane can transport a platoon of 26 soldiers and overall is a versatile machine and much faster than a conventional helicopter. The machine raised concerns in Japan when an Osprey coming in for a beach landing during an exercise crashed and broke up into a number of pieces but thankfully there were no causalities. After the incident Itsunori Onodera, the Japanese Defence Minister asked the US military to temporarily stop flying the aircraft until a proper technical review was carried out. The American military agreed with this. Technical evaluation After the Arizona crash, a technical evaluation was carried out and all the snags removed. This crash, leading to loss of precious lives is a pointer that the plane may still have some inherent defects. Marines who have used the plane invariably praise the plane which is an important part of military action. It was used by the commandos in Yemen when a raid by Navy Seals was conducted on mountain hideout but one of the Ospreys made a hard landing and three commandos were injured, while the plane had to be destroyed by the Seals. . china has issued an invitation to North Korea for talks after their cautious vote with the UN to impose sanctions on their neighbor. China is the largest trade partner North Korea has and insists the only reason they voted for the motion was to try and force them into peaceful and progressive dialogue. China's Foreign Minister hopes for dialogue Wang Yi is cautioning North Korea to scale back their nuclear program and requested that they think very carefully about the provocative stance they have taken against the United States and South Korea, according to The Guardian. Has China allied itself with South Korea through this vote? China continues to insist this is the only path to further talks with their neighbor South Korea has welcomed the move, hoping that it may open up a path to greater dialogue. None of the UN members want nuclear war and South Korea has taken a brave stance, considering the range of missiles stockpiling just over their common border. According to Al Jazeera, those missiles have a range of 300 to +10,000 kilometers. That is too far reaching for comfort for USA, Japan, China and certainly for South Korea. North Korea is already threatening revenge according to CBS and there is no reason to doubt that they are serious Good, bad or otherwise, North Korea must be concerned that China, their biggest trade partner, with the longest neighboring border, has raised their hand against them, albeit cautiously, to uphold the new sanctions imposed by the UN. USA pressure on Chinese banks and businessmen, dealing with North Korea may also have influenced China's recent vote. Whilst North Korea has never yet displayed any sense of rationality, it seems China is hoping that common sense, coupled with incoming sanctions pressure, will at least motivate their neighbor's leader to consider talks about talks. Wang Yi met with North Korea's Foreign Minister yesterday in the Philippines but no information about those discussions has been forthcoming as yet. The question has been asked; if China can have nuclear power, why can't North Korea? Immediate gut reaction to that proposal must surely be that China is a super power. It is a major global partner in trade and commerce and is led by a government concerned about her people and their upliftment. They are not seeking to provoke a nuclear war. Can the same be said of their neighbor? Interesting to note is that Hong Kong appears somewhat nonchalant about these developments. Their English newspaper, the South China Post did not even feature it on the front page of their online version yesterday. Indeed it would appear that Hong Kong is more engaged by the story of a dating scam than the threat of imminent nuclear fallout. As far as nuclear fallout goes, according to ancient 1960's legends, the two safest places to live are Perth, Australia, giving a whole new meaning to the 'Packing for Perth' saying, and Harare, Zimbabwe. Could North Korea's nuclear capability finally renew Harare's value on the world scale? It looks like Rihanna has made it home for Crop Over Festival and brings along a lot of surprises: a new hairdo and colorful shorts. She is set to join the festivities and has tried to give herself a more beautiful and attractive look than before. RiRi is widely famous for her adorable hair and stunning outfits, so choosing to go for this green hue is quite jarring. It compliments Rihannas caramel skin and shining eyes. She will enjoy the Crop Over Festival in Barbados where she Rihanna may flaunt her fabulous curves in sexy bedazzled bikini costumes. Is she attending the festival with her new boyfriend? Unfortunately, Rihanna is in Barbados while Hassan Jameel is in Europe. So, there is no chance for the two to see each other for at least two weeks. An insider told People that Rihanna did not invite Hassan because she did not want the pressure of having to look out for him. Instead, Rihanna wants to let her hair down and relax with a few close friends. Attending the Crop Over Festival is very important to her, Rihanna is proud of her roots and loves to give back by bringing publicity to her homeland. In February 2009, reports surfaced that Chris Brown had physically assaulted Rihanna. He was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats. She dated Matt Kemp for almost eleven months. In a January 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Rihanna announced that she had rekindled her relationship with Chris Brown. All this is enough to prove that Hassan Jameel is the not the first man of her life. While Hassan is undeniably wealthy, Rihanna is hardly broke her net worth is estimated to be $230 million. Both successful entrepreneurs in their own right, Rihanna and Hassan are a well-matched couple. Still, it looks like she is not interested in entertaining him at the festival. Crop Over Crop Over is an annual harvest festival, featuring various singing and dancing competitions. The most enjoyable activities include climbing a greased pole, drinking wines, and dancing with your friends. Let me here tell you that Rihanna is not the only celebrity who is in Barbados to attend this festival. A report by the Daily Mail reveals that Chloe Green and Jeremy Meeks are currently in Barbados for their vacations. In their recent Instagram photos, Chloe Green and Jeremy Meeks can be seen hugging and kissing each other. While Jeremy Meeks is in Barbados with his girlfriend, we wonder Rihanna should also invite Hassan Jameel to the festival. What do you say? According to a report from the Candian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News), the city of Montreal has opened their Olympic Stadium to serve as a temporary refugee welcoming center. The second-largest city in Canada has done so in order to house a wave of Asylum Seekers coming into the country from the United States of America. Why are these asylum seekers coming to Canada? The CBC reported that just in July over 1,100 asylum seekers illegally crossed into the Canadian province of Quebec, where Montreal is located. Quebec shares a border with New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. With the opening of the Olympic Stadium between 100 and 450 cots have been set up inside to house those coming over the border. A spokeswoman for the Regional Program for the Settlement and Integration of Asylum Seekers (PRAIDA), Francine Dupuis said: We've never seen this before. CBC News reports that a lot of those crossing the border into Canada from America are Haitians. This influx of people has swamped PRAIDA and strained their resources. This has led to the opening of the stadium, as well as several other new centers. Usually, the organization works with the Montreal YMCA to help asylum seekers find housing. Why are some many Haitians going to Canada? The reasons that so many Haitians are illegally crossing over into Canada from the United States is because of a threat made by the Trump Administration. This threat was to end the protected status of Haitians granted during the Obama Administration who came to America seeking refuge in the aftermath of the devasting 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti. In May, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended the benefit to Haitians by six months. However, DHS also warned the protected status of these Haitians would end soon. They added that those enrolled in the Temporary Protected Status program should get their affairs in order soon. Once the six months extension ends, up to 58,000 Haitians could be deported. Since this announcement, Canada has seen a large influx of Haitian migrants into the country. Staying in Canada Montreal has a large Haitian community, as the French speaking region of Canada and Haiti share the same language, which is why so many are coming to the city. The Maison d'Haiti, a community hub for the city's Haitian population, has already started helping asylum seekers fill out paperwork to stay in the country. The city's mayor also welcomed the asylum seekers in a tweet. However, it is still unclear if all of them will be able to stay in Canada. If their applications for refugee status are denied they could be deported to Haiti since Canadian authorities deem it a safe country. NASA wants to hire a "planetary protection officer" to protect Earth from alien contamination, according to The Independent. The person appointed will have a six-figure salary. The job involves frequent travel, and only American citizens can apply for this job. Planetary Protection Officer The full-time position offered by NASA is called "Planetary Protection Officer." The person hired will have to make sure that people in space will not contaminate the planets and their natural satellites, but also that alien matter will not infect the Earth. The salary is $ 187,000 per year plus other benefits. The employment announcement says that planetary protection is related to the avoidance of biological contamination and organic components contamination in space missions with a human or robotic crew. The quoted text says NASA has planetary protection policies applicable to all space missions because these space missions could transport terrestrial organisms and organic components to other planets of our Solar System deliberately or not. They also say any space mission could return to Earth with samples of extraterrestrial exploration. The second job of this kind There is only one similar full-time job in the world. Catharine Conley is a planetary protection officer at NASA since 2014. Conley explained that under the 1967 international treaty, any space mission must have less than a chance at 10,000 to contaminate an alien world. For this reason, they must make sure that a robot or a probe that flies over a planet or makes photos of that planet does not affect harmful. NASA's planetary protection officer says this happens at a moderate level. Potential dangers from Mars NASA's new employee will also strive to protect the Earth from potential contamination from planets like Mars which scientists say it has been covered with waters and it has a life-sustaining atmosphere. The job requirements Candidates will have to travel a lot and like any other job they will have to respond to emails, suggestions and other information. Candidates must have at least one year of experience as a senior civilian government employee and a diploma in physics, engineering or mathematics. The person also needs to have advanced knowledge of planetary protection. The job also requires "demonstrable skills in diplomacy that led to winning solutions for all parties during extremely difficult multilateral discussions." The person who will get this job will also receive a security access with the rating "secret." ASEAN joint communique 'generally positive' about relations with Beijing Sources tell China Daily that it was Vietnam that pushed for inserting "concerns" over land reclamation into a communique issued on Sunday by all 10 Southeast Asian countries. The sources, who are close to the matter and requested not to be named, noted that Vietnam is like a thief crying "stop thief" as it has been working on land reclamation in the South China Sea in recent years and boosting its military deployment there. Aside from concerns by some ASEAN countries about land reclamation, the communique released at the 50th annual Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is "generally positive about the cooperation between China and ASEAN", the sources said. Speaking about the discussions taking place at the meeting, one of the sources said ASEAN countries gave sufficient endorsement to the achievements of China-ASEAN ties. Regarding the South China Sea issue, the countries also spoke positively at the meeting of the joint efforts by China and ASEAN in the past year in stabilizing the South China Sea situation, the source added. The second source told China Daily that the contents involving China within the meeting's joint communique are "mostly positive". Articles 118 to 123 of the communique give a sufficient account of the development of China-ASEAN ties, the source added. Article 118 says: "We acknowledged China's growing role in the region and highlighted that China's economic growth continues to benefit the region.... We looked forward to more high-level dialogues and exchanges between ASEAN and China." The part regarding the South China Sea takes a smaller portion in this year's document than in those of past years, and its tone is generally more positive, the source said. The source noted that there are differences within ASEAN about reclamation as the communique mentioned concerns expressed by "some ministers" on the land reclamation, and the document did not use the term "serious concerns". "It was a stand-alone country, not the entire ASEAN, that has concerns over this. The country is Vietnam," the source said. Since 2007, Vietnam has accelerated its land reclamation on 21 illegally occupied islands and reefs, and has built military facilities, including helicopter pads. "Undoubtedly, what Vietnam has done is the trick of a thief crying 'stop thief'," the source added. Unable to persuade North Korea to halt its nuclear programs, the UN Security Council has decided to exert more pressure on the regime of Kim Jong Un in the form of fresh sanctions. Pyongyang was not deterred by the earlier range of sanctions and had gone ahead with its programs to build its nuclear weapons in total defiance of the worlds sentiments. The new sanctions are believed to be a retaliatory action for its controversial nuclear programs that has kept the United States on the edge because of Kims threat of launching an ICBM that could target the mainland of America. Aim of the new measures Sky News reports that the main object of the new measures would be to ban export of specific products from North Korea. This is expected to have a major impact on its economy because it could deprive the country of revenue to the extent of around $1bn which is believed to be approximately one third of its export earnings. The products that would come under the purview of the sanctions are coal, iron and iron ore, lead and lead ore, fish and seafood. Apart from these, it would not be able to send across more number of workers overseas. This, in turn, will be a matter of concern for Pyongyang because those North Koreans who work in other countries have to remit a major portion of their earnings back home to fill the coffers of the regime. This is another source of revenue for it to finance its nuclear programs. In addition to the above, the axe will fall on joint ventures it will prohibit starting of new joint ventures and also ban fresh investment in existing joint ventures. Moreover, some officials and the country's main foreign exchange bank have been added to the blacklist, but oil deliveries have been spared. Will the fresh sanctions deliver the goods? North Korea has got used to bans and, in spite of six rounds of sanctions already imposed on it over the years by the UN Security Council, has carried on with its nuclear programs. It has tested its missiles at regular intervals and have claimed gradual improvement in their performances. It has also announced that its ICBM could strike the United States. Obviously it has mastered the art of just how to circumvent the sanctions and pursue its agenda. US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has termed the sanctions as penalties against the regime, while UK ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, has cautioned that the nuclear ambitions of Kim Jong Un could be "catastrophic for the world". President Donald Trump had wanted China to play a more proactive role to convince Kim Jong Un to shelve his nuclear ambitions. His logic was that China has huge business dealings with North Korea, and Chinese President Xi Jinping could use that leverage to reduce tension in the Korea peninsula. There is no indication of whether that is likely to happen and the effectiveness of the new measures will depend largely on the strategies of China. By HE WEI and XU JUNQIAN in Shanghai | China Daily | Updated: 2017-08-08 07:52 Two men chat beside a logo of Alibaba at its headquarters on the outskirts of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Agencies] Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, China's e-commerce behemoth, and Marriott International, the world's largest hotel company, on Monday announced a new joint venture to streamline and upgrade the travel experience for hundreds of millions of Chinese tourists. Leveraging the e-commerce titan's knowledge of Chinese consumer preference in the digital space, the new venture will deliver VIP travel packages, exclusive benefits to each company's membership clubs, as well as personalized trip-planning services, the companies said at a joint news conference in Shanghai. "Together, we are elevating and redefining the travel experience for Chinese consumers to be more seamless and personalized as they embark on adventures to discover the world," said Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba. Under the agreement, Marriott properties in destinations that are popular among Chinese will accept Alipay, the payment tool owned by Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial Services Group. The JV will also manage Marriott's storefront on Fliggy, Alibaba's travel service platform, as well as the hotel chain's Chinese-language digital channels including Marriott.com, Starwoodhotels.com and corresponding mobile apps. As a result, consumers will be able to plan, book, pay and manage a trip, as well as shop, eat and sightsee at their destinations, all by using the digital platforms of Alibaba and Marriott. Marriott International President and CEO Arne Sorenson said the joint venture would allow the company to tap the continuing surge in Chinese tourism both in China and internationally. "With the growing number of Chinese consumers exploring new destinations, this venture will introduce our hotels worldwide to this new and growing traveling class," Sorenson said. With over 6,100 properties worldwide, Marriott is planning to double its presence in China by the end of this year. "I hope it will help us grow faster in China, and make our brands more familiar to Chinese," he said. At the end of the day, the duo wants to create a joint loyalty program that includes benefits such as status-tier matching and the ability to exchange and redeem points between the two programs for travel planning and retail purchasing. Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory message on Friday to Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill on his reelection as head of government of the South Pacific country. O'Neill, who visited Beijing in July last year and was received by the premier, was reelected on Aug 2 for another five-year term. In the congratulatory message, Li said China-Papua New Guinea relations have accomplished significant developments since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1976. The two countries have shown politically mutual respect, seen mutually beneficial economic cooperation, and supported each other in multilateral affairs, he said. The development of China-Papua New Guinea ties has created tangible interests to both peoples, and has also promoted the stability and prosperity of the region of Pacific island nations, Li said. Li also said he is looking forward to working with O'Neill to deepen China-Papua New Guinea exchanges and cooperation in various fields and further the development of the strategic partnership between the two countries, which will better serve the interest of both peoples. A string of recent incidents has put Chinese overseas travelers on notice. The incidents range from the embarrassing - getting arrested for breaching local laws - to the tragic - people losing their lives camping or hiking. All serve to re-emphasize the importance of travel safety. On Saturday, two Chinese men, aged 36 and 49, were arrested in Berlin, Germany, for making Heil Hitler gestures while posing for cell phone pictures in front of Germany's parliament. Nabbed by police officers patrolling nearby, the two were later charged under Germany's post-1945 laws that prohibit hate speech and symbols associated with Hitler and his Nazi followers. Given the steady increase in disposable income in China and the younger generation's strong affinity to the Western lifestyle, the travel industry has been gaining strong momentum over the past two decades. According to the China National Tourism Administration, approximately 122 million Chinese, or less than 10 percent of the country's total population, toured foreign countries in 2016 and spent around $110 billion abroad. While it's widely accepted in Germany, Austria and other European countries that laws (and common decency) forbid any invocation of Nazism through symbols or gestures, it's not clear that the flood of Chinese visitors to these places have any idea of the restrictions. They should be informed. On the US West Coast, two tragedies involving Chinese visitors losing their lives have made headlines. On July 25, search and rescue teams found the body of missing 18-year-old Wang Bin, a Chinese high school student, in a 30-foot-deep cove at Camp Firwood in Whatcom County, Washington, where he had been visiting with a camp group from Seattle. From Hefei, Wang had flown to the US to attend a two-week summer camp that cost his parents around $7,200 and was filled with outdoor activities. The sailboat capsizing drill that Wang participated in and that caused his death was one of the mandatory exercises. Fellow campers told investigators that Wang did not know how to swim or communicate very well in English. Wang's parents landed in America on Aug 5. "This is so sudden that we are stunned," said Wang Youqing, the father. And on July 31, authorities at Yosemite National Park in California confirmed a woman found dead was 27-year-old Wang Chaocui, a Chinese citizen born in Chongqing. Her body was found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Covering an area of 3,000 square kilometers, Yosemite stretches across the western slopes of the rugged Sierra Nevada mountain range. The Chinese consulate in San Francisco told media that information provided by the park suggested the cause of Wang's death was drowning. "California has seen a record winter snowfall in the Sierra Nevadas and the rivers this summer are swift and treacherous," said Wang Hongwei, a veteran hiker familiar with Yosemite. "Not for any reason should an amateur hiker like Wang have set off on an expedition on her own. It's no different from committing suicide." While the two men who thought nothing of making Nazi salutes were eventually released on around $600 bail each, the family members of Wang Bin and Wang Chaocui return home with the heaviest of hearts, their lives changed forever. Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com. Lee Jae-yong, vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, arrives for his trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Monday. AHN YOUNG-JOON/REUTERS SEOULSouth Korean prosecutors recommended imprisoning the billionaire heir of the Samsung business empire for 12 years on Monday, urging a court to convict him of bribery and other crimes in a national corruption scandal. The prosecutors' recommendation ends a four-monthlong trial into allegations against Samsung's 49-year-old vice chairman, Lee Jae-yong. Lee was arrested earlier this year as the corruption scandal prompted months of massive public protests that culminated in the ouster of president Park Geun-hye. In his closing remarks, special prosecutor Park Youngsoo said Samsung's alleged bribing of the president was typical of the corrupt and cozy ties between the government and big businesses. Such dealings once helped fuel the country's rapid industrialization but now increasingly are being scrutinized as illegal and unfair. Park accused Samsung officials of lying in their testimonies to protect Lee. Lee was indicted in February on charges that included offering $38 million in bribes to four entities controlled by a friend of then-president Park. Prosecutors believed that the bribery was offered in exchange for government help with a merger that strengthened Lee's control over Samsung at a crucial time for organizing a smooth leadership transition after his father fell ill. Prosecutors allege the money was paid to a company in Germany to bankroll equestrian training for the daughter of a friend of Park. Park was removed from office in March and is being tried separately. Her friend Choi Soon-sil also is on trial. Lee has denied all charges. He has said he did not know of Choi or her daughter before the scandal grabbed national headlines and said the succession situation at Samsung was not discussed during three meetings he held with the former president. Samsung's lawyers do not contest having donated a large sum of money to entities controlled by Choi. They disagreed with the prosecutors regarding the nature of the fund and insisted that at the time the donations were made Samsung was unaware that Choi controlled them. Prosecutors also are seeking heavy penalties for four other former Samsung executives who had belonged to a once-powerful corporate strategy office that handled such activities. Prosecutors asked the court to imprison Lee's mentor Choi Gee-sung, a former vice-chairman at Samsung Electronics, for 10 years. They are seeking seven to 10 year prison terms for three other former Samsung executives. AP - AFP - XINHUA Japan should play a constructive role in the region's peace and stability rather than following other countries' leads in making a fuss and troubles, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Monday. The remarks came as Kono held his first meeting with Wang since assuming office on Thursday. Both senior diplomats met on the sidelines of a series of foreign ministers meetings among the 10 Southeast Asian nations. Earlier on Monday, top diplomats of the United States, Japan and Australia said in a joint statement that they "voiced their strong opposition to coercive unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions" in the South China Sea. Japan was urged to note that the overall situation in the South China Sea continues to improve, and Japan should respect the efforts made by China and ASEAN countries, Wang said. Kono said Japan attaches importance to China, and the two countries could make important contributions in revitalizing Asia and promoting world peace by working hand-in-hand. Wang said China hopes Japan matches its words with actions and translates its positive stance about improving the ties with China into tangible policies and actions. Tokyo should not always claim its readiness to improve the ties and then make trouble for China soon after, Wang added. Kono assumed his new role as top Japanese diplomat after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his Cabinet on Thursday. His new post attracted observers' optimism about the future of the fragile China-Japan ties partly because his father, former lower house speaker Yohei Kono, is known for supporting friendship with China. The elder Kono issued the landmark Kono Statement in 1993 in the capacity of chief cabinet secretary to admit that the Imperial Japanese Army forcibly recruiting "comfort women"a euphemism for sexual slavesduring World War II. Wang told Kono his father is a politician with historical conscience and independent personality, and the father has dedicated great effort over many years promoting China-Japan friendship. Wang said it is hoped the new foreign minister brings with him the correct perceptions of his father and makes efforts to realize real improvements of the ties during his tenure. French President Emmanuel Macron and hiw wife Brigitte Macron are seen July 7, 2017 at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. [Photo/VCG] PARIS - More than 220,000 people have signed a petition against French President Emmanuel Macron's plans to create a formal First Lady role for his wife Brigitte. Unlike the US First Lady, the wife of the French president does not have a formal role, although they are often informal champions for charitable causes. Past presidential wives have had small teams working for them at the Elysee presidential palace. During his election campaign, Macron said he wanted to create a formal role for the French First Lady, with her own office and staff. He has made clear the First Lady should not receive a public salary, but many French people say they see his plan as an "Americanisation" of their politics. The issue comes as the French parliament, dominated by Macron's party, pushes through reforms that would make it illegal for members to provide paid jobs for their relatives. One of Macron's main rivals in the presidential election, conservative challenger Francois Fillon, saw his campaign derailed by allegations he paid his wife public money for fictitious work as a parliamentary assistant. "They are asking members of parliament and senators not to employ their spouses but they make an exception for the wife of Emmanuel Macron. That is contradictory," Thierry Paul Valette, who launched the petition against First Lady status for Brigitte Macron on change.org, told Reuters. According to a Yougov poll published by the Huffington Post in May, 68 percent of French people were against the creation of a formal First Lady post. An Elysee spokesman said the First Lady's position would be defined in a charter which is being drafted. Brigitte Macron, who receives about 200 letters per day, already has a staff of four. Reuters US experts are raising their eyebrows at news reports that the Trump administration will announce the initiation of a Section 301 probe against China. US news media reported last week that the Trump administration might announce on Aug 4 a broad inquiry into China's trade policies, especially on intellectual property rights. Later reports suggested that it was postponed for another date. Wayne Morrison, a specialist in Asian trade and finance at the Congressional Research Service, said that if the US Trade Representative began a Section 301 case against China, and then initiated a WTO dispute settlement case against it, that would not be a big deal, because that is the right of every WTO member. "However, if the United States did not use the WTO dispute settlement process, and at some point imposed sanctions against China, that might generate concerns that the US was undermining the very process it fought to create when the WTO was established," he told China Daily on Monday. "China could also challenge the US use of unilateral sanctions in the WTO or might respond with its own sanctions against the United States, which could threaten to cause a trade war," he added. Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, described the possible action by the Trump administration as dusting off an outdated US trade law that allows the US president to unilaterally impose tariffs on another country. Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 was used most by the Reagan administration, when the current USTR Robert Lighthizer served as deputy USTR. Bown said Trump's proposed solution may only make matters worse. He believes the use of an unadvised and obsolete US trade law is likely to shift attention away from China's actions toward Trump's own policies. The US government has conducted 122 such Section 301 investigations between 1974 and today, but only one new one since 2001. Bown noted that US trading partners have become increasingly unhappy with such an "aggressively unilateral" US approach, with the US government acting as police force, prosecutor, jury and judge. Bown also believes a decision to trigger a Section 301 today is problematic because it would provide additional fuel to the already simmering argument that the Trump administration is undoing the American commitment to rules-based trade and decades of work to establish international cooperation. He said a Trump decision to operate outside of the rules will spur China to follow suit. "The fallout from Trump's rogue use of yet another outdated US trade law would be considerable," Bown wrote in an article posted on Peterson's website. David Dollar, a senior fellow at the John L. Thornton China Center of the Brookings Institution, pointed out the volatility of US President Donald Trump's attitude toward China. "This volatility gives new meaning to 'ping-pong diplomacy'," he told China Daily on Monday. "The attitude of the US administration is likely to ping-pong back and forth between hostility and friendship." In an article posted on the Brookings website on Aug 3, Dollar and his colleague Ryan Hass pointed out that the Trump strategy appears to rest on two assumptions about US leverage over China. The Trump administration assumes that China is highly dependent on the US export market to sustain its economic expansion. But in reality, China's exports to the US account for less than 5 percent of China's GDP, and roughly 3 percent when only value added is measured, according to the article. They also believe that while the Trump administration assumes that the Chinese need stability in the US-China relationship, it seems that there are limits to the price China is willing to pay for the appearance of stable US-China relations, and the limits appear to be below Washington's expectations. Dollar and Hass, both of whom served in the Obama administration, also stressed that a protectionist policy would hurt the US economy as much as China's. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com 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. HCM CITY Foreign investment is needed to address the capital shortage in the production of textile and garment materials in Viet Nam. In fact, to meet the demand for clothes and ancillary materials for outsourcing enterprises by 2025, Viet Nam needs some US$22 billion invested in textile and dyeing, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Textile and garment is Viet Nams third largest export sector, with turnover reaching $28 billion last year. However, the country has not been proactive in obtaining raw material. As a result, to reach its export turnover, the textile and garment sector consumed 8.9 billion sq.m. of cloth, of which domestic factories were able to produce only 2.8 billion sq.m., while six billion sq.m. of cloth was imported, worth $17 billion. According to Nguyen Van Tuan, chairman of the Viet Nam Cotton and Spinning Association (VCOSA), apart from financial potential, foreign textile corporations also have a lot of experience in developing a synchronous production chain of textile, fiber, weaving, dyeing and design. This would be an opportunity for Vietnamese garment enterprises to access and learn technologies and strategies for long-term development, he told VNA. Pham Xuan Hong, chairman of the HCM City Association of Garment Textile Embroidery-Knitting (Agtek), said the countrys participation in free trade agreements (FTAs) had contributed to the development of both the commercial value and internal strength of the Vietnamese textile and garment industry. In terms of foreign investors, VNA quoted Sunny Huang, executive director of New Wide Group, as saying Viet Nam has a lot of potential to attract textile and garment investment. Besides an abundant labour force and low cost of living, Viet Nam also has infrastructure and transport network advantages, and the electricity and water supplies are better than in some other countries in the region, he added. However, many argue that in the long run, Viet Nams textile and garment industry should not just attract foreign investors. but should also focus on high quality human resource training for the industrys development. According to Nguyen Hong Giang, director of Sao Viet Consulting JSC, associations, enterprises and training institutions should work closely for the development of professional criteria and skills for the textile and garment industry in general, and for weaving and dyeing in particular. In addition, businesses should invest in the construction of training facilities and enable students to practice at factories so that they can meet the employers requirements immediately after graduation, Giang said. VNS HA NOI Quang Nam Province has put into operation the Chu Lai Port as a key logistics hub for the central and Central Highlands region after a one-year upgrade and expansion. The project carried out by the Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO) included the expansion of the berth upstream, the expansion and upgrading of the warehouse system and the completion of infrastructure, Tran Huu Hoang, Director of THACO Logistics Co., Ltd and Director of Chu Lai Port told Viet Nam News. The project cost VN120 billion (US$5.2 million), raising the level of investment to build Chu Lai Port from 2010 to the present to nearly VN800 billion, he said. The port hosted 150 cargo ships with a total 600,000 tonnes of cargo including 23,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the first six months this year, said Hoang. Extended by 171 metres upstream, the Chu Lai berth measures nearly 500 metres, with a depth alongside berth of -9.5 metres capable of receiving three vessels of 20,000 tonnes at the same time. These include general cargo ships and liquid cargo ships. Before the upgrade the berth could only receive two 20,000- tonne vessels. The warehouse and workshop system has been expanded from 71,040 square metres (2016) to 91,200, including bonded warehouses (57,600 square metres), warehouses (13,440 square metres), unpackaged cargo inspection workshops (20,160 square metres), among which the unpackaged cargo inspection workshop is an entirely new facility put into operation in early 2017. Chu Lai Port is divided into three separate functional areas for different types of cargo, including containers, bulk and liquid cargo to meet the needs of ships arriving to load, unload and deliver freight. New equipment Chu Lai Port also invested in loading and unloading equipment, such as Liebherr cranes, tire cranes, container reach stackers, Folk Lift with modern and complete loading and unloading equipment, with tugboats and more than 20 high-capacity tractors to ensure optimum port performance. Besides serving the transportation of finished products, materials, spare parts for automotive production and assembly and supporting industries of THACO in Chu Lai, the port also provides a variety of useful services for external businesses and customers, including ship towing and rescue services; cargo loading, unloading, tallying, and warehousing; domestic inland shipping, freight forwarding and shipping agents; bridge and berth services, and related shipping services. Hoang said that among the total volume of cargo through the port, 15 per cent belong to more than 50 external enterprises, consisting mainly of food, agricultural products, plastic pieces, tires, paints, chemicals, batteries and consumer goods. In addition to domestic shipping routes, the port has launched direct sea routes to Incheon Port in South Korea, and Fangcheng Port in China, and planned to open new routes to other ports in China, Korea and Japan. It also plans to provide further logistics service for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) businesses in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone. According to Hoang, in order to build Chu Lai Port into a logistics hub of the key economic region, Chu Lai Port has proposed that Quang Nam Province support the dredging of the channel to a depth of -10.7 metres to accommodate 30,000-tonne vessels by 2019, and further to a depth of -12 metres to accommodate 40,000-tonne vessels after 2020. Chu Lai Port was built in 2010 and put into operation in May 2012. It is the second biggest port in Quang Nam Province after Ky Ha Port and was designed with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of bulk cargo and 150,000 TEUs per year. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has demanded that all corresponding government departments, agencies and institutions to adjust policies as part of an action-minded government, to unburden Vietnamese firms of unnecessary business regulations, namely redundant business permits and categorisation. In the past month, the PM has requested the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) to conduct research on business conditions in Viet Nam, with emphasis on legislation and procedures that may be deemed obstructive to business development. Findings from this research must be submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) by August 10. Officials from the two ministries will then compile a list of legal documents on business conditions that the VCCI and CIEM consider excessive, and work together with the Government Office so that the PM can receive a full report with detailed solutions for a better business environment by August 25. The move is considered necessary for a government of action and integrity that nurtures development and better serves the people, according to PM Phuc. Got permits? A key issue that calls for the PMs attention is that out of the current roster of 243 business branches and sectors that require legal permissions from government authorities, 16 business branches do not in fact need such permits, said au Anh Tuan, Director General of the Legal Department of the VCCI. For example, the logistics sector already consists of numerous sub sectors with their own business permits, and yet still requires its own permit. Such overlaps are both time consuming and hard to manage. This also applies to other businesses in the import export sector that require a permit for every part of the production chain. This was further emphasised by PM Phuc at the Governments regular meeting last July, where he commented that these permits are proliferating to the point that businesses complain to no end, and they are the cause for further, more serious administrative problems. The VCCI found that there are currently a total 5,719 business conditions, commonly referred to as permits, with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) coming in first place, issuing 1,220 permits for 27 business branches under management and the Ministry of Construction (MoC) in last place with 106 permits for 17 business branches. Tuan said that out of the three main business sectors of trade, transportation and technology, the VCCI also found many other requirements that are obstructing market growth and business expansion. He gave an example of regulations requiring transportation companies to have a detailed business plan approved by the corresponding authority, or for marine shipping companies to have an established legal office in order to be given official business permission. Tran Huu Huynh, Chair of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), said in an interview with the Governments online newspaper that even though the Government and other departments have been making tremendous efforts in constructing the list of business permits in the 2014 Law on Investment, there are still deficiencies and a lack of practicality. "This is no longer the work of government administrative officials, but simply a matter of firms self management, which can be adjusted through market forces that do not require any governmental interference," Huynh concluded. Action minded, action carried Tuan went on to say that he was deeply impressed with the PMs urging of government bodies in charge of business rules and permits to lessen the burden for Vietnamese firms. He did not consider the PMs direction stemming from any previous agenda, such as Resolution 19 or Resolution 35, but rather from his own ideas, sense of action and leadership. "I am certain the PM and the Governments Office are gearing up for practical and effective action to clear the path to business development," said Tuan. Nonetheless, Huynh felt that at present, there is still much to be done. He said the VCCI and CIEMs research is limited to a number of ministries and business branches, roughly 25 per cent of total business permits. Huynh urged that there must be a comprehensive and thorough survey across all business sectors. Huynh also suggested there are hidden permits and legal loopholes that can cause difficulties for firms, which must be promptly discovered and dealt with to prevent future problems. Tuan added that there should be open discussions involving firms, economic experts and government administrators, in order to achieve complete and satisfactory solutions. At the Vietnam Private Sector Forum held on July 31, 2017, up to 65 per cent of firms answered that an action-minded government is their ideal, with 24 per cent choosing a government with integrity at the top of their list and 11 per cent opting for a constructive government instead. VNS HA NOI Low-cost Jetstar Pacific Airlines will launch the first flight from ong Hoi City in the central province of Quang Binh, to Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, on Friday. This was stated by the provincial Tourism Department on Monday. The service will operate two weekly flights on Monday and Friday using the Airbus A320 with 180 seats and last one hour and 40 minutes. On July 20, Jetstar Pacific began selling tickets on its website www.jetstar.com and through ticket agents. Each ticket costs at least VN410,000 (US$18) one-way, exclusive of taxes, fees and promotions. ang ong Ha, deputy director of the provincial Tourism Department, said it is the first international flight for ong Hoi City and the only flight from Viet Nam to Chiang Mai. According to Ha, Chiang Mai is the largest province in the north and the second largest tourism hub in Thailand, attracting 10 million visitors in 2016. It is also a transit point for other ASEAN member states. Quang Binh is well-known for the world natural heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park; limestone caves such as Phong Nha, Thien uong and Son oong; beautiful beaches and the film shooting of blockbuster Kong: Skull Island. The province is expected to be a film shoot location for Hollywood blockbusters in the near future. It is also home to relic and cultural sites and is the last resting place of the legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap. Once launched, the route is expected to fuel economic and tourism development of Quang Binh in particular and the two countries in general. VNS HA NOI Japanese companies are focused on the Vietnamese market and seek wider, deeper co-operation with Vietnamese firms, Eiichi Tani from SME Support Japan said in Ha Noi on Monday. Speaking at a meeting between a delegation of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Vinafco Joint Stock Corporation - a logistics service provider, Tani said Japanese businesses have now shifted their attention from the Chinese to the Vietnamese market. The meeting was a part of the SME Support Japans support programme for small- and medium-sized Japanese enterprises looking at international markets. The event was to help both sides exchange information on Viet Nams transport market in general, and both countries transport situation in particular, Tani said. It also touched upon necessary customs procedures to bring Japanese goods into Viet Nam. Tokuhiro Imamura, chairman of Imamura Joint Stock Company, which specialises in interiors, said his company is looking to expand its market. It plans to build a plant in Viet Nam in the future, Imamura said, adding that the company would export some products to Viet Nam to explore and understand the market. Imamura JSC has some basic information from Japanese logistics firms operating in Viet Nam, but it wants to build further contacts with Vietnamese businesses as local firms have advantages in their own market. At the meeting, a Vinafco representative shared information related to administrative procedures, time and costs for import-export customs clearance from Hai Phong Seaport to various plants. She said it is not tough to import Imamuras products into Viet Nam, and that Vinafco is willing to support the company. The Japanese delegation said they chose Vinafco for the meeting as there are similarities between Vinafco and Imamura. Vinafco has 30 years experience in the logistics sector and in multi-purpose transport in Viet Nam. VNS Mai Xa is a small village, about 20km from ong Ha city of Quang Tri Province, with a landscape typical of a rural village with a tranquil temple and peaceful river habour. The village, well-known for wartime-heroism, is also home to bun chat chat, also known as bun hen (noodle soup with tiny mussels), recognised as one of the top 100 original dishes of Viet Nam by the Viet Nam Record Association. Chat chat belongs to the mussel family but is much smaller. Bun chat chat comprises of rice noodles served with broth made by boiling mussels and fresh herbs. They are either mixed or served separately according to the diners wishes. There is no official documents showing when this dish was first made but it has been about for more than four hundred years according to locals, said the 58-year-old culture officer of Mai Xa Village, Truong Quang Thanh. That was around the time when people first settled down here, things were hard and it was the mussel that helped feed them, Thanh added. Grinding: In the afternoon, local people gather in the Hieu river bank to clean their mussels. People found these mussels tasty and a good source of food for domestic use and for sale. Bun chat chat is almost the staple of locals here. The Hieu River is an abundant source for mussels, said Thanh. Currently, there are about 20 households in Mai Xa Village that catch tiny mussels to earn their living. They leave home at 6am and return after 1pm. Chat chat is available all year round. This job is easy, not requiring any skill. Even children or old people can do, said Vo Thi Lan, 41, a native of Mai Xa Village. Lan and her husband catch tiny mussels almost everyday. They normally fill three to five buckets of mussels a day, weighing up to 300kg, with 20kg of mussel meat. I started doing this job when I was 22 years old, Lan added, saying she earns about VN400,000 (US$18) a day. Typically, Lan and other locals who catch mussels begin their day at 6am, heading for the Hieu River, only few hundreds metres from their village. Unpretentious fare: Bui Thi Huongs humble eatery, which has been open for nearly 20 years, offers both noodles with mussels and rice with mussels. Locals row boats around the river, catch mussels and then return to the river bank to clean them. They would place the mussels in baskets with small holes inside and swirling them around so sand and dust is removed. In the afternoon, locals boil the mussels and sell them to restaurants. Boiling mussels may sound easy but it requires skills. One needs to use an adequate amount of water, just slightly above the mussels, otherwise they will not open and we wont be able to take out the meat, said Lan. After receiving the broth and mussels from the catchers, restaurants prepare them for the next morning so their customers can enjoy a fresh meal. The more mussels, the better the noodles are and the smaller the mussels, the better they are, said Bui Thi Huong, 58, who opened a restaurant serving noodle soup with tiny mussels in 1999. Huongs humble eatery offers both mussel noodles and rice with mussels. On a busy day, she can sell 100 bowls a day, each costing only VN10,000 (about 40 cents). The demand is higher in summer rather than in winter, as this dish is especially suitable for hot weather, said Huong. Time-honoured: Bun chat chat (noodles with tiny mussel) is native to Mai Xa village, Quang Tri province. The dish was first made hundreds of years ago. VNS Photos Hong Van A bowl of bun chat chat may look like simple rice noodles with mussels and coriander, yet it is the quality that counts. The broth is sweet and has the distinct, rich flavour of mussels. A mixture of salt, fresh ginger and chilli goes splendidly with the dish. An important philosophy of Vietnamese eating is the balance of hot and cold foods, as in the hot and cold elements and energy of the food, not the temperature. Mussles (and other seafood and fish, shrimp and crab) is in the cold category; therefore it should be accompanied by hot elements like chilli and ginger for balance, making the dish especially popular during the long, hot summer. Besides noodles, locals also enjoy water spinach broth with mussels. The dish would be much better if the water spinach was cut into small slices, said Thanh. In the old days, when locals could not afford rice for the whole family, they had this dish and roasted corn instead of rice. Now this has become our local speciality, added Thanh. VNS Vietnamese and Lao female law makers met yesterday in the central city of a Nang to discuss the role of women in law making. VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc A NANG Vietnamese and Lao female law makers met yesterday in the central city of a Nang to discuss the role of women in law making. In her opening remark, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Poliburo member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and Chairwoman of the Viet Nam National Assembly (NA), said the workshop was a good opportunity for Vietnamese and Lao lawmakers to share their experiences. In the current 14th NA legislature, we have 132 female deputies, accounting for 26.7 per cent of the deputies an increase of 2.3 per cent compared to the previous legislature, Ngan said. In her opinion, that number reflects the increasing prestige and important role played by female deputies. The workshop today is an occasion for Vietnamese and Laos female lawmakers to share their experiences, particularly in developing laws on women and children and gender equality, Ngan said. Ngan spoke highly of the role played by Laos women lawmakers in term of the number and their contributions. She said in the current 8th legislature, 41 out of 149 law makers were female, accounting for 27.5 per cent. Whats more important, many of them hold high positions in the Laos National Assembly. In her speech, Pany Yathotou, Lao National Assembly Chairwoman cum politburo member of the Communist Party Central Committee, said the workshop was an event of great significance as the two countries would soon celebrate the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. This workshop has special significance in improving the effectiveness of activities by the two nations, particularly the process of institutionalising all issues relating to gender equality and protecting womens and childrens rights," Pany Yathotou said. She expressed her hope that the workshop would contribute to tightening the special Laos-Viet Nam relationship in general, and ties between female deputies of the two nations. Vietnamese and Laos female deputies will share their experiences and seek effective legal measures to solve all issues that their countries are facing in the course of their socio- economic development, Pany Yathotou added. The presented at the one-day workshop focused on three topics: the role of female law makers; their experiences in law making; and their experiences in the supervision of laws implementation. VNS Viet Nam is committed, along with other member countries, to build a united and self-reliant ASEAN Community, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat HA NOI Viet Nam is committed, along with other member countries, to build a united and self-reliant ASEAN Community, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today. Delivering a speech yesterday, which also marks the 22nd year of Viet Nams entry into the group, the PM added that "Viet Nam and member countries would accelerate internal trade and investment, develop infrastructre, and narrow development gaps; effectively co-operate to serve the people, improve peoples living standards, ensure social welfare, and promote the pride of the Community; build an ASEAN Community based on law, especially fundamental principles of international relationships; and improve the efficiency of partnerships, maintain a central role in the region, and uphold common viewpoints on regional and international issues." PM Phuc said the 21st century had posed opportunities and challenges for ASEAN in realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 which calls for a law-based ASEAN Community, serving the people and considering the people as central. ASEAN is implementing renewals and adjusting the bloc in a more flexible and efficient manner, and more importantly the association continues to maintain the solidarity built up over the past half century, he said. Becoming an official member of ASEAN in 1995, Viet Nam is proud to have contributed to ASEAN. In that time, Viet Nams achievements have grown along the growth of the group, he said. The ten-member ASEAN has become more and more strong politically, and has enjoyed steady economic development, with institutions increasingly complete and relations closely linked, PM Phuc said. Through historical upheavals, ASEAN has turned Southeast Asia from confrontation to dialogue, from suspicion to co-operation, from division to solidarity with the highlight the establishment of the ASEAN Community, the PM said. A peaceful, secured, stable and developed Southeast Asia is a highlight on a world map with many instabilities. The ASEAN Community is ranked the sixth in the world with GDP reaching nearly US$3,000 billion annually. Also, ASEAN is a combination of diverse cultures, rich in identity and has solidarity among peoples living in peace, with secured social welfare and improved living standards. In its external affairs, including with world powers, ASEAN is proactive in dialogue and co-operation, and is a force leading other regional mechanisms and fora. ASEAN always takes the lead and works with other partners in all issues from climate change, terrorism fighting to peace and stability in the East Sea, among others, which helps raise the international status of the whole association and each member country, the PM said. Today, ASEAN people will celebrate the anniversary of the first five members founding the association fifty years ago. On the occasion of the ASEAN golden anniversary, the PM wished all member countries and ASEAN citizens would build a united community, developing for peace and prosperity. VNS Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung meets Director of the UN Environment Programme Erik Solheim Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung met Director of the UN Environment Programme Erik Solheim Ha Noi yesterday, during which he proposed the UN programme continue supporting Viet Nam in reviewing, revising and completing laws and policies on environmental issues. At the meeting, Deputy PM Dung lauded the co-operation and support the UN programme has given to Viet Nam over the past years, especially in techniques, experience, policy-making and personnel training, which has significantly contributed to protecting the environment in Viet Nam. He detailed the Governments use of socio-economic policies and legal administration to preserve the environment, along with the development of renewable energy and science and technology, the improvement of human resources and awareness in the field. Viet Nam is aiming for green and environmentally-friendly growth with science and technology playing a core role, and the private sector acting as a pioneer in waste treatment and minimising green house emission. Solheim said that the UN Environment Programme will continue working with countries, including Viet Nam, in promoting co-operation and support in protecting the environment. During his visit to Viet Nam, Solheim also visited the Cuc Phuong National Park and recognised Viet Nams efforts in preserving rare animals. VNS Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (first from right)) has highlighted that ensuring peace and stability, including maritime security, is a shared interest of all states in and outside of Southeast Asia. VNA/Kyodo Photo MANILA Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has highlighted that ensuring peace and stability, including maritime security, is a shared interest of all states in and outside of Southeast Asia. Addressing the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, the Philippines, yesterday, the Deputy PM underlined concerns about construction and militarisation activities at sea. He proposed maintaining the existing principles and stances on the East Sea stated in ASEAN documents and between the association its partners, especially those related to the settlement of disputes through peaceful methods without using or threatening to use force, and respect for international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as diplomatic and legal processes. He called on partners and the international community to continue the supporting efforts of ASEAN and China in negotiating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. He also suggested reinforcing and expanding dialogue and trust-building measures and forming a common perspective in implementing preventive diplomacy. At the forum, the ministers agreed on the need to promote the role of the ARF as the leading forum on dialogue and security co-operation and the building of trust and preventive diplomacy, contributing to ensuring peace, stability and stability in Asia-Pacific. They decided to continue implementing the Hanoi Plan of Action and the ARF Vision Statement and partnership in areas such as combating terrorism and trans-national crimes, as well as maritime security, natural disaster relief, weapon non-proliferation, disarmament and peacekeeping. They committed to measures to build trust, while developing preventive diplomatic measures and maintaining the fundamental principles of the forum. They also approved activities for 2017-18, with Viet Nam chairing two conferences on co-operation among law enforcement agencies at sea and capacity building for peacekeeping forces. At the same time, the ministers agreed to establish the ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Information and Communication Technologies to meet the increasing requirements of the region in the field. They also adopted two ARF Foreign Ministers declarations on illegal fishing and drug prevention. The 24th ARF meeting is part of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting from August 2-8 in Manila, the Philippines, with the participation of 10 ASEAN members and 17 partners. VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a flag-hoisting ceremony in Ha Noi Tuesday to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and 22 years of Viet Nams membership in the bloc. Addressing the ceremony, Deputy FM Bui Thanh Son emphasised that the founding of the ASEAN Community in 2015 was a historic milestone in the connectivity process of the regional bloc, having special significance for the region and each member nation. He said that with a population of 630 million, a GDP of almost US$3 trillion and a growth rate of 4.7 per cent in 2016, ASEAN was the driving force of the regional economy. He also said that as a prestigious organisation in the Asia-Pacific region, ASEAN operations were based on its charter, uniform values and principles. The ASEAN way was built on foundations of Eastern culture, attaching importance to solidarity and common prosperity, tolerance and harmonious interests, factors that have helped the bloc achieve successes over the past five decades, he added. Son said ASEAN co-operation was one of the top foreign policy priorities for Viet Nam. The country was proud of its active, proactive participation and considerable contributions to the co-operation process and building of the ASEAN Community. Viet Nam has been involved in the drafting of major orientations for the blocs development. The country has also put forth many suggestions on maintaining a secure and stable environment for co-operation in the region, he noted. The deputy minister expressed his belief that ASEAN would build on past achievements and grow strongly in the future. He said in a changing world situation, ASEANs achievements of co-operation in general and of economic-trade co-operation in particular prove that the bloc has made the right choice in its guidelines and policies, he added. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse chaired a ceremony in Ha Noi today to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and 22 years of Viet Nams accession to the bloc. The PM highlighted the achievements of the 10-nation bloc over the past half century that have made it a strong and united community with rules-based operations and extensive connectivity, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. ASEAN has an increasing role and position in the region and beyond, he said, adding that the association is also playing a crucial role in the evolving regional architecture. With a population of over 630 million and total gross domestic product (GDP) of nearly US$2.6 trillion per year, ranking sixth in the world, along with a peaceful and stable environment, ASEAN is a showcase of economic cooperation in the AsiaPacific region and the world at large. The achievements that ASEAN has gained over the past 50 years are huge, creating a firm foundation for the development of the ASEAN Community and the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, he said. Phuc also thanked the blocs partners, international organisations and friends for their cooperation and support for ASEAN member states, and expressed his hope that the ambassadors and officials of the international organisations would continue acting as an effective bridge for their countries and organisations with Viet Nam and ASEAN. Addressing the ceremony, Philippine Ambassador to Viet Nam Noel Servigon stressed that one of ASEANs big achievements over the past five decades was its development from a five-nation grouping into a strong bloc, acknowledged and respected globally. He praised Viet Nams organisation of numerous activities to mark ASEANs 50th founding anniversary and informed participants about the successful outcomes of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Manila. He also congratulated Viet Nam on its 22 years of membership in the bloc. VNS HA NOI Twenty six people were killed and five others were missing as floods occurred in the northern region of the country. Damage was estimated at more than VN940 billion ($41 million). Damage to roads from floods and landslides caused great difficulties in search efforts, according to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. Floods swept away more than 25,000cu.m of highways and 118,000cu.m of roads in provinces and districts. Some 231 houses were either washed away or totally collapsed, while 425 others were affected by landslides. Nearly 400 families were forced to evacuate. Some 338ha of rice fields were inundated, a report by the committee said. According to the Water Resources Directorates Department of Project Management and Dam Safety, 809 small reservoirs in the northern region currently have full water level. Large and medium reservoirs have reached 65-75 per cent of their designed capacity. Some 588 small reservoirs in the north central region have reached their full level, meanwhile medium and large reservoirs in the north central coastal provinces reached 70-75 per cent of designed capacity. The department said all the reservoirs are being watched closely round the clock and there are not reports on risks from these reservoirs. Vice Chairman of the National Assembly o Ba Ty visited the affected areas in Son La Province and urged the northern mountainous province to focus its resources on addressing the consequences of floods. The province has provided financial and food aid for families with dead, injured or missing members, and evacuated families, worth more than VN3.1 billion (US$136,000). The Vietnam Red Cross presented 200 gifts to the victims. So far, Muong La District has received more than VN7.5 billion ($330,000) in aid. VNS The regional minimum wage for 2018 is expected to increase by 6.5 per cent, equal to VN180,000-230,000 (US$8-10) a month, believed to be the lowest increase ever. VNA/VNS Photo HA NOI The regional minimum wage for 2018 is expected to increase by 6.5 per cent, equal to VN180,000-230,000 (US$8-10) a month, believed to be the lowest increase ever. The increase was announced on Monday after the National Wage Council concluded its third discussion on the regional minimum wage for 2018, with a consensus reached between employer and labour representatives. The proposed rate will be submitted to the Government for final approval. Minimum wage in Viet Nam is determined regionally and on a per month basis, with the four regions ranked according to their socio-economic development. Region I covers the urban parts of Ha Noi and HCM City. Region II applys to rural areas of Ha Noi and HCM City, along with the urban regions of Can Tho City, a Nang City and Hai Phong City. Region III comprises provincial cities and the districts of Bac Ninh Province, Bac Giang Province, Hai Duong Province and Vinh Phuc Province, while region IV consists of the remaining localities. The 2018 regional minimum wage will increase from the current VN3.75 million ($165) to VN3.98 million ($175) for region I, from VN3.32 million ($146) to VN3.53 million ($155) for region II, from VN2.9 million ($127) to VN3.09 million ($136) for region III and VN2.58 million ($113) to VN2.76 million ($121) for the region IV. Doan Mau Diep, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs cum Chairman of the National Wage Council, said the council proposed two options for the councils members to vote on. The first was an increase of 7 per cent, and the second was 6.5 per cent, with eight of the 14 members voting for the second option, he said. Responses Although the third discussion closed with an agreement for the 6.5 per cent increase, some council members werent pleased. Mai uc Chinh, vice chairman of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) a representative of labourers, said I feel unsatisfied with the increase rate. With this increase, the roadmap to raise the minimum wage to serve the minimum standard of living by 2020 would fall behind schedule, Chinh said. Hoang Quang Phong, vice chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) a representative of employers, also lambasted the increase. Phong said the minimum wage should balance the improvement of labourers living standards and companies development. The increase rate could go beyond companies ability to pay, as they need money to boost their development, he said. According to Phong, there were more than 73,000 new companies established in the first seven months of this year while 50,000 others shut down. This means that for every three new companies that are established, two old companies closed their door, he added. We do not want to let this situation continue, he said. Additionally, living standards depend on many factors, not only the regional minimum wage, he said. Labourers should improve their skills so they can earn bonuses from employers to improve their living standards instead of waiting for the yearly increase of minimum wage, he said. In response to comments from the two representatives, Diep, chairman of the national wage council said with the increase of 6.5 per cent, the minimum wage was set to serve 92-96 per cent of the minimum standard of living for labourers. Diep said the gap between the minimum wage and the minimum standard of living was a common issue in many countries, including the Americas, not only in Viet Nam. Previously, at the first discussion on the 2018 regional minimum wage, in June 27, the VGCL representative submitted an increase of 13.3 per cent and the VCCIs representative proposed no increase. The two sides could not reach a deal in the first discussion due to a wide gap. In the second meeting, held on July 28, although the gap was reduced, the discussion still closed without a consensus. The VGCL proposed an increase of 8 per cent and the VCCI wanted 5 per cent. The regional minimum wage is increased yearly by the Government to meet the minimum standard of living for domestic labourers. VNS About 80 professors, scientists and researchers from 17 countries gathered at a conference themed Star formation in different environments that opened at the International Centre of Interdisciplinary Science Education in Quy Nhon City, the central province of Binh inh, yesterday. Photo ICISE Conference Center BINH INH About 80 professors, scientists and researchers from 17 countries gathered at a conference themed Star formation in different environments that opened at the International Centre of Interdisciplinary Science Education in Quy Nhon City, the central province of Binh inh, yesterday. As part of the 13th Rencontres du Vietnam (Meet Vietnam) science programme, the event also featured 30 science-loving Vietnamese students from universities nationwide. The conference, to last until August 12, is held by the Meet Vietnam Association, the Ministry of Science and Technology and Binh inh Province Peoples Committee. The conference will highlight recent advances in wide-field and high resolution surveys and detail numerical simulations of star formation in different environments, from individual stars to galaxy systems. The idea is to search for a universal picture of star formation across all scales and to identify the characteristics of each individual scale. The conference aims to share the different views from different research communities by balancing contributions from different categories and encouraging collaboration between researchers. Prof. Tran Thanh Van, head of the conferences organisation board and chairman of the Meet Vietnam Association, said the event allows domestic and international scientists to meet. In his opening remarks, Vice Chairman of the Binh inh Province Peoples Committee Tran Chau said the 13th Meet Vietnam programme is expected to promote research, innovation, exploration and invention in Viet Nam. He added that the ongoing science space complex project promises to be an attractive rendezvous for science lovers. VNS A NANG A taxi driver in a Nang has been fired after a tourist reported being overcharged for a short trip in the city last week. Director of Hai Van Taxi firm, oan Trung Lam, said the company decided to fire the driver for his unprofessional behaviour towards a foreign passenger on August 4. The driver was also forced to pay the company VN2 million (US$88.4) for the negative impact his actions had on the companys reputation. Lam said the driver took a Korean tourist from a Nang International Airport to a hotel on An Thuong 26 Street in Ngu Hanh Son District. The 6km route should have cost VN50,000 ($2.2) plus a VN10,000 (44 cents) airport fee. However, the driver charged the tourist a total of VN700,000 ($31). The passenger complained to the hotel receptionist, and a report was sent to the director of the citys transport department. A representative from the taxi firm apologised to the tourist at the hotel and offered her a free tour around the city as way of compensation. During a meeting on Monday, chairman of the citys Taxi Association, Vo Thanh Nhan, said incidents of overcharging were rare in the city, and the driver received a heavy fine for his actions. There are six taxi firms with more than 1,100 cabs operating in the city. The central city plans to establish a tourism police force as a pilot project to boost security for tourists and the tourism environment, especially foreign tourists. a Nang has hosted 3.2 million tourists, of which 1.22 million were foreigners, in the first half of this year. The city also launched a Facebook page to manage tourism information and respond quickly to any messages or complaints made by travellers and tourists. Last year, a British national complained of poor service and hospitality at a guest house in the city via the Facebook page and an inspection team was called out to solve the problem the following day. VNS HA NOI Only around 10 per cent of patients infected with hepatitis C can afford treatment costs because the medications are expensive and not covered by medical insurance, according to a recent survey by the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Currently, around one million people in the country suffer from chronic hepatitis C, a disease often neglected in Viet Nam despite its potentially serious consequences. Treating hepatitis C is critical for several reasons: reducing the risks of developing liver cancer and cirrhosis at a later stage, shrinking the number of those infected by the virus and containing its spread in the community, Dr Nguyen Van Kinh, director of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases said. According to experts, Viet Nam has many policies and guidelines on testing, treatment and prevention of hepatitis. However, a shortage of resources and funds for implementation, screening and prevention is a challenge, while there is limited coordination. As of now, 90 per cent of hepatitis C patients can be cured completely, thanks to the new directly acting antivirals (DAAs). However, treatment cost is very high at around VN45 million (USS$2,000) for three months. An infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the infection primarily affects the liver. During the initial stage of infection, most people have mild or no symptoms. Occasionally, there is fever, abdominal pain, passing of dark urine and jaundice. However, the virus persists in the liver among 75-85 per cent of those who get infected. Again, early on a chronic infection typically has no symptoms. Over many years, it often leads to liver disease and cirrhosis. In some cases, those with cirrhosis develop complications such as liver failure, liver cancer, or dilated blood vessels in the oesophagus and stomach. Nine out of every 100 Vietnamese people have contracted hepatitis B and between one and four people have been infected with hepatitis C. However, no estimate of the impact of the diseases has been done so far, a conference heard last month. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said hepatitis B and C were known as the silent killers. The diseases had caused the deaths of 1.34 million people globally, higher than the number of HIV/AIDS-related deaths. In Viet Nam, more than 7.8 million people had contracted hepatitis B while nearly one million were infected with hepatitis C this year. The number of newly-infected patients is expected to increase in the coming years. VNS HA NOI The Peoples Court of My uc District, Ha Noi, today opened the first instance trial on law violations regarding land management in the districts ong Tam Commune. Among the defendants at the trial, 10 faced the charge of abusing position and power while on duty in pursuant to Article 281 of the Penal Code. They included three former chairmen of the ong Tam Commune Peoples Committee who are Nguyen Van Son, Le inh Thuan and Nguyen Van Bot. A former secretary of the communes Party Committee - Nguyen Tien Trien, and a former commune official in charge of land registration - Nguyen Xuan Truong - are also among the group. Meanwhile, four others were charged with irresponsibility causing serious consequences in line with Article 285 of the Penal Code. They are Pham Huu Sach, former head of My uc Districts Environment and Natural Resources Division; inh Van Dung, former director of My uc Districts Land Registration Office; Bach Van ong, former deputy director of the districts Land Registration Office; and Tran Trung Tan, an official of the district Land Registration Office. According to the indictment, between 2002 and 2013, Bot, Son, Thuan, and other key officials of ong Tam Commune illegally allocated and granted land to some local households, or legalised land that some households occupied illegally. The four indicted district officials did not fulfil their responsibility for verifying the origin of the land, resulting in the unlawful granting of land-use certificates. ong Tam Communes Peoples Committee got approval from the Peoples Committee of former Ha Tay Province to allocate 5,425sq.m of land managed by the commune Peoples Committee to 49 local households for housing. Bot, as chairman of the ong Tam Commune Peoples Committee, and Truong as official in charge of land registration, handed over 4,095sq.m of land to only 39 out of the 49 eligible households. When Son took over the post of Chairman of the ong Tam Commune in 2002, he agreed to grant the remaining 1,300sq.m of land to ten key officials of the commune, who had to pay only VN100,000 per sq.m. Between 2011-13, ong Tam Peoples Committee officials also helped with the legalisation of applications for land-use certificates of 12 households for a total area of 1,834sq.m which were wrongly allocated or illegally occupied during 2002-03. Truong, as the local land registration official, gave his confirmation in the applications that the land of the households was granted before October 15, 1993 and there was no dispute concerning the land. Thuan, as the then chairman of the commune Peoples Committee, approved the applications to be submitted to the districts administration. Authorised district officials approved the applications without conducting required verification. The violations of the officials were detected and investigated following complaints from residents. The trial will last two days. ong Tam Commune made headlines in local media for a land scandal in late March and mid-April when 38 civil servants and some police personnel were held hostage by the communes residents. The residents were protesting what they considered was unjustified revoking of land where theyd built homes and lived for many years. As tensions escalated in March, police opened an investigation against the residents for "disturbing social order." Matters came to a head on April 15, when police arrested four people. Local villagers retaliated by surrounding and seizing 38 officials, including police officers. VNS TOKYO Japan faces an increasing threat from North Koreas development of longer-range ballistic missiles and feels more concern about Chinas expanding military activities at sea and in the air, according to its annual defence report released on Tuesday. North Koreas nuclear and missile programmes have reached "a new level of threat" to Japan and the international community, the defence white paper said. Last years white paper said they posed "serious and imminent threats." As sources of the growing threat, the report cited North Koreas attempt to extend the range of its missiles, as seen in its recent intercontinental ballistic missile tests, as well as its efforts to improve its ability to conduct a surprise attack, using solid-fuel missiles that can be readied faster than liquid-fueled ones. "The risk that North Korea will deploy nuclear-tipped missiles covering Japanese territory will grow as time passes," the report said, noting that Pyongyang is also believed to be "making considerable progress" in its nuclear programme. North Korea said on July 4 that it successfully test-fired an ICBM for the first time, making progress in its goal to acquire the ability to attack US mainland with a nuclear-tipped ICBM. Pyongyang went ahead with a second ICBM test on July 28. The Defence Ministry report said that the July 4 missile, which was launched on a highly "lofted" trajectory, would have had a range of at least 5,500 kilometers when fired at a normal trajectory. This means the US state of Alaska may be within reach. The report, however, was unclear on whether North Korea has actually mastered the atmospheric re-entry technology for the warhead that is essential for an ICBM to become operational. If North Korea makes further advances in its missile and nuclear programmes and becomes "overly confident" that it has acquired deterrence power to counter the US, the country could step up militarily provocative actions in the Asia-Pacific region, which is a situation Japan should "be highly concerned about," the report added. On US security policies under President Donald Trump, the report said the US is "strengthening its military presence toward North Korea" such as through the Trump administrations assertion that all options, including military action, are "on the table" in ensuring the denuclearisation of North Korea. With Japan portrayed as a free-rider on the bilateral alliance by Trump during his presidential campaign, the report said US forces are stationed in Japan not just for the benefit of Japan but also for the US, such as by enabling a more rapid US response to contingencies in the Asia-Pacific region. KYODO MADRID Spain will call for a eurozone budget and finance minister to oversee it at an August 28 summit with France, Germany and Italy, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Monday. "We are going to continue to work to deepen economic and monetary union," conservative Rajoy said after meeting King Felipe on Mallorca. "Spain is backing a European finance minister and a European budget which will progressively bring closer together living standards and the wealth of all European countries," said Rajoy, who will attend the summit in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, a fellow backer of the policies. "Spain is going to bet on the existence of eurobonds, a European treasury emitting eurobonds," said Rajoy, adding that would bolster eurozone market credibility. Spanish Finance Minister Luis de Guindos in June urged deep reform of the eurozone to include the creation of a "European monetary fund" and decide on "a certain percentage of national budgets. De Guindos told the Financial Times that Brexit and the Trump presidency were both factors pushing Europe and the single currency zone towards greater integration, although the proposed reforms would require amending existing treaties. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has indicated she would support the proposals although there is strong public resistence in Germany and she is up for re-election in September. AFP MANILA A grand ceremony took place at the Philippine International Convention Centre in Manila yesterday to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The event was attended by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh, and Foreign Ministers from 10 member states and the blocs partner and dialogue countries. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. With the theme Under one light, we are one ASEAN, the ceremony included a series of performances praising the friendship and solidarity of the 10 member states. Participants also paid tribute to the founders of ASEAN and honoured ASEAN citizens who had made great contributions to its socio-economic development. Speaking at the ceremony, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano emphasised that after 50 years, ASEAN had risen to be a prestigious regional association and a trusted partner of many countries. It had led its member states to overcome a lot of challenges, in which solidarity and consensus are the key factors to help the bloc maintain peace and stability and develop a prosperous and people-centred community, he added. In his message delivered at the ceremony, Duterte reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN over the past five decades, hoping the community would continue growing sustainably. In the period, the role and position of ASEAN had been asserted firmly, which was reflected through the strength of the ASEAN Community, the close connectivity in politics, economics and culture among the members, and development in relations between ASEAN and its partners as well as countries support for ASEANs central role in regional processes. He also stressed the need for ASEAN to promote its activeness and connectivity in order to better adapt to new developments in the region and the world. VNS WATERLOO Capture the Heart of America is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the the 2017 photo contest focusing on agriculture. Two new categories will premiere this year: Modern Agriculture in Iowa and Agriculture in America. Also new to the competition is the Visitor Guide Photo Feature Award. The winning photo, selected by Silos & Smokestacks staff from the Partner Site Category, will receive a $250 cash prize and will be featured in 2018-19 Silos & Smokestacks Visitor Guide. Photos submitted in the contest must be agriculturally related. Photos must be submitted by the individual who took the photograph. Contest entries are due by Sept. 29. For all the categories and an application, go to www.silosandsmokestacks.org/photo-contest for online entry form and complete contest rules/guidelines. For more information, email photocontest@silosandsmokestacks.org or call 234-4567. LANSING The public is welcome to celebrate the opening of the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 1944 Columbus Road. People can tour the property and view the interpretive and dimensional displays housed at the center, covering topics such as geology, limnology (rivers/streams), archeology, wildlife studies, river town industries and economies, American Indian cultures and more. Originally the site of the village of Columbus and the county courthouse, the Allamakee County Conservation Board has owned the parcel of land, just south of downtown Lansing, for many years. A house and several cabins existed on the property until about 10 years ago. In 2012, the center received its initial funding from a grant from the National Scenic By-Ways Program. Additional grants were received from the Vision Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism Program, the R.J. McElroy Trust, Allamakee County banks and the Iowa Road Use Fund, along with donations from many Northeast Iowans. The first floor of the building is dedicated to the unique features of the 24,000-square-mile portion of the upper Midwest known as the Driftless Area. The second floor of the center is devoted to the living history of the area. CEDAR RAPIDS -- A Marble Rock man has been indicted in federal court for selling a number of weapons to a convicted felon living in Mason City. Jonathan Ralph Duncomb, 41, is accused of selling Levi J. Andersen a Taurus 738 TCP .380 caliber pistol, Walther P22 .22 caliber pistol, Ruger SR22 .22 caliber pistol, Glock 42 .380 pistol, Glock 17 9 mm pistol, a Mossberg 715 .22 caliber pistol and a Ruger 10/22 .22 caliber rifle, according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court. Duncomb is accused of selling the weapons between May 2015 and October 2015, the indictment says, and had "reasonable cause" to believe Andersen had been convicted of a crime. Andersen was arrested during a high-profile, multi-agency raid at Gracious Estates in December 2015 that involved the Iowa Narcotics Task Force Special Operations Group. Andersen was charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession of firearms by a felon. He pleaded guilty to the first two charges, and the third was dismissed. In July 2016, Andersen was sentenced to 12 years and four months in federal prison. Duncomb has not entered a plea to the charges. WATERLOO A Waterloo man was arrested on drug and other charges over the weekend after leading police on a chase Sunday evening. Michael David Dawson, 31, of 619 Linden Ave., was arrested for felony eluding, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and driving while barred after officers found him hiding behind a wood pile a block from his home. His bond was set at $37,000. An Evansdale officer began following Dawson after suspecting he was looking at his cell phone while driving on Lafayette Road at about 7:20 p.m. Sunday. The officer attempted to stop him after he allegedly ran a stop sign at Lafayette and Evans Road, and Dawsons vehicle reached speeds of up to 90 mph in the chase the followed, according to court records. The pursuit headed into Waterloo on Dubuque Road, and Dawsons vehicle almost hit a motorcyclist before he exited in an alley in the 700 block of Fowler Street and started running on foot. Police found a bag with more than 5 grams of crystal meth in a yard near the scene. CEDAR FALLS The City Council on Monday night voted 4-2 to ban the discharge of fireworks inside the city limits. One member was absent. The council acted during a committee of the whole work session. Members must still approve an ordinance formally enacting the ban. City Attorney Kevin Rogers indicated that ordinance likely will be ready in September. It will require council approval on three readings at successive meetings for final adoption. The ban does not prohibit the sale or possession of fireworks in the city, only their discharge. The ordinance would allow permits from the city for commercial fireworks displays. Council members supporting the ban said they received numerous complaints during the weeks fireworks were permitted after the Legislature approved their sale and discharge, unless proscribed by city ordinance, for the first time in about 80 years. Council member Dave Wieland said his phone rang off the hook. This is a highly emotional issue for people in Cedar Falls, Wieland said, for people with pets or veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. He said half of the residents he spoke with wanted fireworks discharge banned or the time period drastically constrained. But theyre looking for action from us now, Wieland said. Ive gotten more calls on this than Ive gotten on University Avenue, said council member Mark Miller, referring to the controversial University reconstruction project. Im more than cognizant of everybodys peace of mind in their homes, number one. But number two, its litter. I dont know under what other scenario its all right for you to put something on somebody elses yard. Because a bottle rocket isnt going to land on your (own) property 90 percent of the time. To me a ban makes more sense than anything, Miller said. It takes the variables out for our police department. Im really concerned about the veterans, council member John Runchey said. I think some of them suffer and are probably reluctant to come forward. I would have no problem banning these from Cedar Falls. Public Safety Director Jeff Olson made no recommendation but offered options. He said it is his understanding other cities in Black Hawk County, such Waterloo and Evansdale, were considering uniform ordinances limiting the days and times for fireworks. Council members Tom Blanford and Susan deBuhr voted against a ban. Blanford said he felt a ban was unenforceable and would place an undue burden on police. He, like deBuhr, favored severely limiting fireworks discharge, possible to July 4 or New Years Eve only. Council member Nick Taiber was absent. The Iowa Legislature legalized the sale and use of consumer fireworks this year, allowing them to be shot off on private property from June 1 through July 8 and again from Dec. 10 through Jan. 3. Waterloo councilmen voted 6-1 in May to only allow fireworks use from June 30 through July 4, while some cities like Cedar Falls allowed the full state time frame and others banned them entirely. WATERLOO Supporters packed City Hall and cheered Monday as council members voted to award incentives for a new supermarket in the Walnut Neighborhood. Waterloo councilmen voted unanimously to approve $1.3 million in grants, property tax breaks and land donations for the estimated $8.5 million, 26,000-square-foot All In Grocers to be developed by entrepreneur Rodney Anderson and architect Dan Levi near the CVS Pharmacy at U.S. Highway 63 and Franklin Street. Anderson, who developed a strip mall near the store location, said the project was his way to bring up to 80 jobs and fill a need in the heart of a city suffering from a jelly doughnut effect. Everybody was moving out to the north to the south and to the west, he said. Levi said the project has been planned more than a year with help from UpLift Solutions, a nonprofit company that works to put grocery stores in under served neighborhoods and has done a feasibility study and business plan for the project. We want to be a partner, Levi said. We will not be successful unless the community is a partner with us. Many of those packing the council chambers supporting the store reminisced about years past when the citys east and north side had retail groceries that disappeared. Others were thrilled to see an African-American entrepreneur building in the community. Mr. Anderson and his group are building hope, said resident Mickye Johnson. In our community, were lacking that. The Rev. Mary Robinson joined several residents in talking about a lack of healthy food choices in that area of the city. We should not have to drive out to San Marnan, or drive to the Crossroads, or drive to Ansborough, or drive to Cedar Falls to get the kind of healthy products (we need), she said. Willie Campbell said Anderson will inspire others in the citys African-American community to start businesses, which he hopes will bring back entrepreneurship on the citys north side. We have an opportunity to revitalize the history and also to be an inspiration for someone else, for our generation, he said. The only bone of contention voiced on the project involved the House of Hope building at 222 Walnut St., which the city is buying for $354,000 so it can be torn down to make way for the store. Walnut resident Ivan Valtchev said he was absolutely 100 percent behind the grocery store but suggested turning it and moving it closer to Franklin Street to avoid demolishing the 95-year-old house. But Eric Johnson, an attorney for the developers, said CVS Pharmacy wont sell the land to the store if the building was going to block its sight lines on Franklin Street. House of Hope is planning to use money from the sale and raise additional revenue for a $1 million renovation of a building on West Fourth Street to double the size of its transitional housing for woman and children. The House of Hope is not a building; we are a support system, said Executive Director Karin Rowe. We are so grateful that Rodney is bringing this into the Walnut neighborhood. The store, which will include a restaurant, community room and possibly a bank branch, still needs zoning and site plan approval. The developers hope to break ground in November and have the store open in the fall of 2018. WATERLOO The city will begin using cameras to fine those who speed and run red lights. Waterloo City Council members voted 6-1 Monday to approve an ordinance allowing automated traffic enforcement cameras to issue citations when they capture vehicles violating traffic laws. Council members also voted to approve a three-year contract with Gatso USA, of Beverly, Mass., to install and operate the cameras, expected to be in place at intersections in two to three months. Waterloo joins a number of cities in Iowa and across the country that have already installed the controversial cameras proponents say improve traffic safety and opponents decry as unconstitutional revenue generators. If you dont want to pay the fine, dont do the crime, said Councilman Ron Welper, voting with the majority. Its that simple. Councilman Tom Powers added, Safety is a main concern for me, not revenues. Councilman Bruce Jacobs cast the only vote against the cameras after learning about other cities having trouble collecting the fines and hearing from someone who said it would discourage people from shopping in the city. Its a facade; its a ruse, Jacobs said. Its something thats just anti-consumer that we really dont have a way to collect. Police Chief Dan Trelka wants to install six to 13 red light cameras at intersections with high crash rates and use a mobile speed trailer and handheld devices to catch speeders. He estimated the cameras would generate $300,000 to $700,000 annually. The tickets would go to the registered owner of a vehicle and would be mailed after a police officer reviewed video of the violation. The owner can assign the citation to the person who was driving the vehicle or can appeal the citation to the city and, if desired, to the courts. While resident Don Share noted the citations cant affect driving records or credits scores, Trelka and a Gatso USA representive said there are ways to encourage payment. Not paying one of these tickets is a testament to your character or lack thereof, said Trelka, noting the unpaid citations will be a matter of public record for potential employers and can influence whether an officer writes a ticket during a traffic stop of someone with unpaid fines. Dorian Grubaugh, regional sales manager for Gatso USA, said collection agencies can go through the state of Iowa to hold tax refunds and other state payments to persons owning unpaid fines. Grubaugh said information will be provided before the cameras are activated, and the company is recommending a 30-day period where violators just get mailed warnings. Gatso USAs contract makes the company responsible for providing and installing the cameras at its cost in return for $36 on each paid citation. The fine schedule for violations will be $75 for running a red light, $100 for second offense and $125 for each subsequent violation. Speeding citations will be $50 for six to 10 mph over the posted limit; $75 for 11 to 15 mph over; $100 for 16 to 20 mph over; and $200 for those going more than 20 mph over the posted limit. WATERLOO Two area men died in separate tragedies in Waterloo on Monday. A man died Monday morning after being caught in a grain bin. Crews were called to the East Central Iowa Co-Op elevator at 1750 Broadway St. around 11:30 a.m. for a worker who was trapped in soybeans. The mans identity hasnt been released. Firefighters cut several holes in the bin, and co-op employees used a vacuum to drain the bin while rescue workers entered the structure in an attempt to reach the man. Authorities said the man was later declared dead. This was the second grain container death in Northeast Iowa this year. In May, 74-year-old James Schweitzer died of suffocation after being engulfed in a grain wagon at Viafield in Winthrop. A short time later, police and rescue crews were called to Brinker Lake in the George Wyth State Park area where a man was found dead in a fishing boat. The mans identity hasnt been released, and the cause of death wasnt immediately known. A passerby called 911 around noon Monday after noticing a motorboat circling the lake on the portion west of the U.S. Highway 218 bridge, said Fire Chief Pat Treloar. Waterloo firefighters launched their own boat and found the motorboat had come to a stop against the shore, he said. Inside the boat, they found the mans body. Firefighters towed the boat to the docks. Advertisement By Bill Hughes Aug. 07, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY By Bill Hughes Aug. 07, 2017 | 02:48 PM | PADUCAH, KY Former Ballard County Judge-Executive Vickie Viniard will learn her sentence for fraud and other charges in a few months. Viniard, who is 61, appeared before Judge Thomas B. Russell in Paducah's Federal Courtroom on Monday with her attorney, Butch Bradley. She pleaded guilty to bank fraud, wire fraud, and two counts of making false statements on loan applications. In court, Viniard admitted that she took out five loans on behalf of the county without the permission of the Ballard County Fiscal Court, and lied to bank officials in order to get the loans approved. The loans totaled around $450,000. Viniard was indicted in November, along with former Ballard County Treasurer Belinda Foster, who pleaded guilty in December. The borrowed money was concealed from County Magistrates by Foster, who put it back into the budget as payroll tax receipts. In court, Judge Russell made it clear that Viniard took none of the money for herself. The maximum sentence for Viniard's charges is 110 years in jail, $1,250,000 in fines, and 5 years' supervised release. Combined, both women will have to pay at least $21,000 in restitution. Foster's sentencing had been postponed until after Viniard's trial, but with the plea agreement, Judge Russell announced that Viniard will be sentenced on November 16 at 11 am. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nute Bonner, who represented the government in the case, said it's possible that both women will now be sentenced at the same time. While leaving the courthouse Viniard was asked if she was glad the ordeal was over. She nodded her head but did not speak as she and her husband walked over to friends who were waiting on the sidewalk. Viniard was elected Ballard County Judge-Executive in November 2006 and served until she retired in June 2017. 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used here are copyright Doug Stowe. Photos of our students at work are published solely for the promotion of the Wisdom of the Hands program and Other uses are strictly prohibited and copyright will be enforced. Questions about Wisdom of the Hands can be addressed to 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. A startup needs to test an idea quickly. For this, an MVP is created. MVP, Minimal Viable Product a test version of a product or service with a minimum set of functions (up to one or two), which allows you to see the product's value for consumers and the market. MVP is created to test hypotheses and check the viability of the intended product: is it worth developing the project further, what changes should be made? The sooner a startup brings its MVP to market and tests the idea, the better. This article will look at how no-code technology can help founders achieve their business goals. This article will try to cover everything that a founder needs to know about no-code at the initial stage of creating a startup. What is no-code? No-code, zero-code platform is a tool for creating websites, applications, chatbots, and other programs without the need for direct code writing by programmers. No-code is a valuable alternative to traditional development. No-code is confused with low-code, but there is a difference in these terms. Low-code includes no-code and the ability to "finish code", add parts of code and the functionality. A user of a no-code platform usually does not need to know layout, programming languages, or hire a team of programmers. The user of the no-code tool creates an application using a visual block constructor, which he fills with the necessary content and functions, and the no-code platform itself does the processing of requests, compiling the application and other "magic." It generates code using AI and/or contains blocks of code pre-written by programmers. No-code allows the startup founder to create an MVP himself, entrust it to his employee with basic technical literacy and understanding of the project, or hire a no-code developer. Even in the case of hiring a no-code developer, the cost of creating an MVP will be significantly lower than with classical development with programmers. For example, you can read the interview of a startup and no-code developer on our website, who initially worked as a Product Manager and was able to master no-code for his project himself. Benefits of no-code for a startup founder There are the following key advantages for a startup founder in using no-code technology: a large selection of no-code tools, platforms, and their integrations at the moment already in 2022, there are many tools and platforms for creating an MVP, a larger project, or even a finished product on no-code, but few people still know about them, and others are far from all startups and founders use their potential; cost no-code development saves the money by speeding up the development process, not hiring professional programmers or no need to maintain a developer department, monitoring functions and quick bug fixes, avoiding or reducing the growth of technical debt; speed is the main advantage over classical development no-code allows you to build a simple application in a weekend, and a more complex one can be built in a month. In this way, you can test an MVP and even several versions of an MVP very quickly; low entry threshold to master a no-code platform, you often do not need technical education at all, but only an understanding of a company's business processes or product from the inside. In the case of pro-level no-code platforms, technical education is required, but you can get used to it hundreds of times faster than with any programming language. This makes no-code available to almost everyone who wants to work with technology; ease of use no need to write hundreds of code lines just move the blocks and assign links between them. Work on a project can be entrusted to your employee without communicating with a team of third-party developers. You can speak "in your language" without the need to understand the "inner kitchen" of developers; flexibility with the help of no-code, it is easy for a startup founder to add new functionality and new features right during a project or a MVP testing without a significant increase in development costs. Possible disadvantages of no-code for a startup founder As often, any property can be, under certain conditions, both a disadvantage and an advantage. In no-code, many of the benefits with the wrong choice of tool can turn into disadvantages: no-code is not always a budget solution for a project. Sometimes in a no-code development package, you get unnecessary functions and additions (on AppMaster.io you can separately connect the frontend and pay only for the backend or only for those functions that you are using); if you do not understand the needs of your project, then you can make a mistake with the choice of a no-code tool and not be able to implement the necessary functions on it, or it will be too difficult to implement them; often, no-code tools fail to ensure proper data security and contribute to data leakage (but AppMaster.io allows you to host a finished application on any server); no-code tools often do not provide the ability to upload source code or provide uploading in an inconvenient format, which makes it difficult to move to another tool or to your development. You have to choose a no-code tool "once and forever immediately" (AppMaster. io gives you the ability to download the source code. Also, we generate human-readable code and you will not have any difficulties with its transportation); most no-code tools on the market are not suitable for creating a finished product, and there are significant difficulties with scaling the project if the MVP is successful (AppMaster.io is a professional no-code platform and our capabilities allow us to implement and support the finished product and scale it in the future). Forewarned is forearmed. Choose your no-code tool wisely and take full advantage of your choice. Types of no-code platforms Conventionally, all no-code tools can be divided into several types: no-code devices with a low entry threshold (you can create frontend and not very powerful backend on them), integrators that help connect applications and services, and professional no-code platforms (they strive to replace the code completely, provide the ability to create a robust backend and high bandwidth). The basic principle of operation of your MVP and the choice of a no-code platform depend on such a conditional division into types. For example, if you make a simple application like a diary, you can limit yourself to a no-code tool with a low entry threshold and a beautiful design. If your application has powerful potential, high bandwidth, multi-user interface, and works with large amounts of data or real-time data, it is better to choose a professional no-code platform like AppMaster.io or Direcual. If you use several services at once, link them on integrators like Integromat and Zapier. Adalo An easy-to-learn designer with a relatively user-friendly interface. The free version is helpful for learning. The free version contains Adalo watermarks and does not allow you to upload your applications to GooglePlayMarket and AppStore. Beginners often choose this no-code platform to create their first applications with simple logic. Bubble It will take more time to learn Bubble , but the platform allows you to work with the backend, databases, business processes, and layout. There are many plugins. The free plan allows you to master the tool, and you can start developing at the middle rate. The price increase is due to the rise in the number of users. Integromat It is an integrator. Experts talk about it as a simple and affordable platform for linking applications and services. Scenarios can be created personally, or you can use templates. If you need to connect an application with a service not from the Integromat database, fill out the form and connect to its API via HTTP. Zapier This is an integrator for linking applications with each other or with other external services. You can transfer data between thousands of applications. There is a script constructor (one event starts a chain of necessary actions). Directual The no-code platform positions itself for creating MVP applications (Minimal Viable Product, minimum viable product) and full-fledged applications of finished products. Scenarios are the backbone of the platform. Using scripts, you can automate the backend logic of the application, create and combine workflows. The Directual catalog includes out-of-the-box connectors, HTTP requests, webhooks, database listeners, and integration with popular services. AppMaster.io No-code next-generation platform for creating native and web applications on a real backend. Visual drag-and-drop designer, user-friendly business process designer, one-click app publishing to AppMaster Cloud, or integration with any cloud platform. Push notifications, authorization using social networks. Networks, email, and more. Connect applications to hundreds of services or programmatically access them using APIs. The ability to upload source code and documentation in a human-readable format and transfer it to your servers. Documentation auto-generation. Modern and fast language GoLang at the core. No-code perspectives for startups No-code development is gradually gaining popularity around the world. There are already more than 500 no-code tools for creating websites and various types of applications. According to the forecasts of IT world experts, no-code will develop more and more actively and capture parts of the market responsible for medicine, small online business, small business, and all niches where it is possibly necessary to optimize and automate development processes. The mass shift of businesses and their customers online and to gadgets has increased the demand for the fast and inexpensive creation of mobile applications that would work according to a single quality standard and have a simple, understandable, user-friendly interface. Conclusion No-code is visual programming in the form of a constructor without directly writing code. Usually, basic knowledge in development is enough to build applications on no-code. The logic of no-code constructors is intuitive: the application interface is assembled from blocks, icons, buttons, and text which are connected to the database. Usually, you can choose a suitable template or do everything from scratch. Speed and economy are the main advantages of no-code tools. No-code is suitable for creating an MVP, testing an idea or new features in a product, saving time for solving standard tasks. PRO level no-code platforms can provide you with a finished product, an application. If you don't have an account on AppMaster.io yet, join us. After registration, you will be given a free trial period for 14 days, in which all the basic functionality of the platform is available. It will allow you to learn the intricacies of working with a professional-level no-code platform and understand its potential. A poll of likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire finds that Ohio Governor John Kasich would beat either President Trump or Vice-President Pence. Kasich saw 52% support to Trump's 40%, while Kasich led Pence 41% to 27%. About 1/3 of those responding were undecided in the case of Kasich vs. Pence. Beyond the many obvious reasons why a poll 900 days before an election is of limited predictive value, we wanted to highlight the note at the bottom of the poll's report: "This is only the second time since the New Hampshire Poll began in 1976 that potential challengers of the same party were tested against an incumbent president. The first time was in the September 1978 New Hampshire Poll when Jerry Brown and Edward Kennedy were included in a ballot question with Jimmy Carter. In that poll among likely Democratic primary voters, Kennedy took the lead with 40%, followed by Carter at 25%, Brown at 13%, and with 22% undecided." As in today's poll, the incumbent president -- then Jimmy Carter -- trailed by double digits. However, Carter would go on to win the 1980 New Hampshire primary by nearly 10% and would be renominated for a 2nd term. Carter would eventually be defeated in the 1980 presidential election. Aug 8, 2017 | By Benedict The FBI and the National Parks Service have used 3D scanning to digitally preserve the infamous dummy heads used by a trio of inmates to escape Alcatraz prison in 1962. The inmates, who left the heads in their beds as decoys, were never found. The FBI and National Parks Service are preserving these infamous dummy heads using 3D scanning (Image: FBI) Of all the maximum security prisons in the United States, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was, during its lifetime, considered perhaps the most inescapable. Situated on an island 1.25 miles off the coast of San Francisco, the prison housed some of the countrys most ruthless criminals, the idea being that 1.25 miles of water would be a sufficient obstacle for any plucky fugitive looking to make their escape. The escapees would have had to cross 1.25 miles of water to get off the island of Alcatraz (Image: History) Yet that most unlikely of occurrences did indeed happenonce. On June 11, 1962, inmates Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin devised an intricate plan to escape via an unguarded utility corridor behind their cells. They chipped away at their rotting cell walls over a long period of time, covering up the damage with fake walls, and eventually escaped through a fan vent. (A fourth inmate, Allen West, was also part of the plan but couldn't get out of his cell at the crucial moment. He remained in prison.) A key part of the escape plan involved convincing passing guards that the escaped inmates were still lying asleep in their beds. To do this, the inmates used papier-mache heads, fitted with real human hair from the barber shop! Nobody ever discovered whether the inmates survived their journey across the freezing waters, a journey they attempted to make using an improvised raft made of raincoats. Most assume that the trio drowned, but someincluding members of the Anglin familyclaim that the inmates fled to Brazil. Either way, the incredible escape will never be forgotten: the Alcatraz site is now a museum, theres a hit movie about the events that stars Clint Eastwood, and much of the equipment used by the fugitives survives to this day. The dummy heads were made using papier-mache and contained real human hair (Images: Alcatraz, FBI) Some of those historical items, however, are looking a bit worse for wear. The dummy heads, still considered evidence by the FBI, are reportedly deteriorating after 55 years of storage. That has led the bureau to attempt 3D scanning the infamous models in order to keep them on file in a digital format. This would mean that the image of the audacious heads is never lost, and also ensures the FBI retains all necessary information should it have to carry out further investigation into the case. The scanned heads could also be turned into 3D printed models (Image: FBI) Scanning of the papier-mache creations took around 30 minutes per head, and the process will also allow staff to recreate the heads with a 3D printer. The FBI realizes the historical significance of the escape from Alcatraz, said FBI spokesperson Prentice Danner. And we'd hate for something to happen and that tangible, physical part of history to be lost. Posted in 3D Scanning Maybe you also like: Aug 8, 2017 | By Benedict Biomedical engineers at North Carolinas Duke University have used 3D printing to create a diagnostic tool that can detect signs of disease from a single drop of blood. The D4 assay consists of an inket-printed array of antibodies and a 3D printed smartphone attachment. Although there are many ways to test for diseases, the presence of certain antigens in our blood can be one of the clearest signs that something is amiss with the body. Thats why biomedical engineers at Duke have made an easy-to-use lab on a chip that can be used to detect low levels of antigens, even in settings that lack standard laboratory testing equipment. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers explain how the D4 assay allows clinicians to avoid the slowness of other devices without sacrificing sensitivity or accuracy. The device can identify a disease biomarker in just 15 minutes, though longer incubation times can be used if further sensitivity is needed. Importantly, the information collected by the device can be easily read using a tabletop scanner or a 3D printed smartphone attachment that improves a phones onboard camera. This smartphone feature is especially useful for deploying the D4 assay in point-of-care settings. "The D4 assay enables us to conduct high-performance diagnostic testing with minimal resources, making it a promising platform for increasing access to sensitive and quantitative diagnostic tools," said Angus Hucknall, co-author of the paper. The D4 assay follows the lead of existing tools in using a matched pair of antibodies to detect and capture a target protein in a blood sample. The array contains both immobilized capture antibodies and soluble detection antibodies, which are tagged with a fluorescent marker to allow the researchers to identify how much of the antigen is present. Adding a drop of blood to the slide causes the detection antibodies to dissolve, separate from the array, and bind to the targeted proteins in the blood. These antibody-protein pairs, illuminated by the fluorescent marker, then attach to the capture antibodies that remain on the slide. Existing diagnostic tests like the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which is used to detect diseases like Zika and HIV, have proven themselves effective in many ways, and the D4 assay is similar to the ELISA in that it uses a pair of matched antibodies. Unlike the ELISA, however, the D4 assay's antibody array is printed on a novel polymer brush coating which works like Teflon to prevent unwanted proteins from attaching to the slide. By stopping unwanted proteins from sticking to the assay, it becomes easier to detect the targeted ones. The real significance of the assay is the polymer brush coating," said Ashutosh Chilkoti, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at Duke and senior author on the paper. The polymer brush allowed us to store all of the tools we need on the chip while maintaining a simple design. The Duke biomedical engineers conducted a clinical trial to assess the performance of the D4 assay, measuring the serum leptin levels in patients at Duke University Medical Center and comparing them to those observed with the clinical ELISA platform. They found that the results from the D4 assay were on par with those from the ELISA test. But the D4 assay purportedly offers a number of advantages over assays like the ELISA. For one, the slide simply needs to be washed in a buffer to remove extraneous particlestheres no need for a more complicated process. Its also highly portable, because the dry slides don't need to be refrigerated during transport. The researchers involved in the study estimate that D4 chips will cost less than one dollar each, with the 3D printed mobile phone attachment less than $30 when produced in bulk. The next stage of the project will involve taking the D4 assay to Liberia to test its efficiency in the field. The team will try to figure out how the D4 assay can be used to monitor and plan treatment strategies for malnutrition. The study, titled Inkjet-printed point-of-care immunoassay on a nanoscale polymer brush enables subpicomolar detection of analytes in blood, was authored by Daniel Y. Joh, Angus M. Hucknall, Qingshan Wei, Kelly A. Mason, Margaret L. Lund, Cassio M. Fontes, Ryan T. Hill, Rebecca Blair, Zackary Zimmers, Rohan K. Achar, Derek Tseng, Raluca Gordan, Michael Freemark, Aydogan Ozcan, and Ashutosh Chilkoti. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Aug 8, 2017 | By David At the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation back in December 2015, the Chinese delegation presented a 3D printed tripod sculpture to the African members of the forum. This impressive sculpture took just 20 days to produce, from initial design to 3D printed mold to the final wax casting, and Xian Chizi Digital Technology was behind it all. The companys work is an innovative combination of traditional Chinese culture and modern technology that really stands out in the 3D printing marketplace. 3D printed tripod sculpture At university, company founder Xi Xin became particularly interested in sculpture after seeing his professor Chen Yunchang's creation, "The mighty river flows eastward". The sculpture, which won an award at the National Art Exhibition, was touchable and the viewer could look at the sculpture from many different angles. This expressed the artists emotions perfectly, and Xin says that he wanted to find other ways to emulate this experience, to share the soul of the sculpture with the viewer. In 2005, Xi Xin graduated from the Xian Academy of Fine Arts. He went to Shanghai to work at IDMT Global Digital, before later joining PDE game development company. During these 10 years, he was able to accumulate valuable 3D data production ability. Around 2012, when 3D printing started to capture peoples imagination in a major way, Xi Xin became very interested. He discovered a digital sculpture method - scanning a clay figurine, and fixing the 3D model in the computer. Using next generation game technology, he could produce a virtual 360-degree 3D display of a sculpture. Xi Xin eventually founded Xian Chizi Digital Technology in May 2014, as a wave of 3D printing technology was sweeping the country. Chizi Digital Technology doesnt limit itself to being a single service 3D printing company, instead aiming for cross-industry integrated services. Members of the company include sculpture art experts, 2D and 3D data design experts, 3D printing and scanning experts, and more besides. Xi Xin believes that this multi-disciplinary and multi-technology approach is where the company's core competitiveness comes from. Working from a single set of data, each aspect in the industry chain can influence the others, which produces extra value for clients and customers. According to Xi Xin, "The company's business can form a five-pointed star, and in the middle is the 3D data. Compared to traditional sculpture, 3D printing... (is) faster and it is quicker and more accurate. The final result, can be large and small: with data, you can get a variety of sizes. Compared to traditional production, it has been regarded as a magic version of "unlimited Russian dolls", and the working environment is also more clean. " Xi Xin believes that the biggest difference between 3D printing and traditional milling machines (CNC) is that CNC subtraction manufacturing is determined by how the blade moves, which makes some complex manifold cavity integration difficult to process. The new 3D printing manufacturing processes can perfectly solve his problem. Providing data, which can then be optimized by the computer before being sent to the 3D printer, is all that is required. Customers for cultural and creative products have high expectations regarding the final size of their object, and particularly the details. So instead of an ordinary desktop 3D printer, Xian Chizi Digital Technology has chosen the RS6000 SLA light curing 3D printer, by Alliance 3D Printing Technology Development (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. This has serious advantages in terms of printing accuracy and speed, producing items with smooth surface finishes. It can achieve complex and intricate shapes, has a large build volume and is also highly cost-effective. When it comes to choosing a 3D printer, Xi Xin is most concerned about the level of accuracy. He believes that there are three factors that affect the accuracy of industrial 3D printers- Z-axis movement accuracy, liquid level control accuracy, and coating system stability. The level of fine art skills and expertise, the amount of industry experience, and the quality of the 3D printing equipment are the main factors that make Xi Xin's company stand out from the crowd. The different pieces Chizi Digital Technology produces often have a distinctive Chinese style, and they have been used in a number of tourist attractions in Xian. Xi Xin's customers are primarily from the cultural and creative industries, including one particularly important crowd - sculpture artists. Xian has a long history as an ancient city of culture, and Xian Academy of Fine Arts has been ranked one of the top eight Academies in China. Many of the colleges and universities in the area have opened a sculpture department, and Shaanxi Provinces annual share of the sculpture market reached 100 million RMB, according to estimates. Xi Xin understands very well the shortcomings of traditional sculpture processes- the clay sculpture production process, when compared to the precision and efficiency of digital methods, is very far behind. In clay molding, work lines and seams, gypsum bubbles, unknown deformations and many other factors can spoil the final prototype. This will force the artist to rework his sculpture for the perfect result, and this process can be very stressful for the artist. Not only this, redoing the same work several times can lead to cracks and broken pieces, or the sculpture drying out or even collapsing. "Many sculptors have created a lot of sculptures throughout their lives, but they have invested in the original work, the manuscripts, and one piece can not be perfectly and reliably preserved," Xi Xin said. "We can 3D scan their works of clay, and then fix the model in the computer, (which) can be preserved as data and (carried) around. A smaller version of their work can then be printed as a small batch production, to give to others as a souvenir. This form is very popular among the artists. " Xi Xins professional sculpting background allows him to communicate very well with sculptors, as he understands their craft and the dedication it takes. In his view, traditional modes of sculpture production will always exist, but they are in need of improvement. 3D printing can help the transformation of traditional industries, rather than simply replacing them. The development of digital modeling production could be the future of this cultural field. In addition, traditional processing and 3D printing also have their own strengths. For example, the volume of conventional products requires the use of both 3D printing and CNC technology. "Touch Your Dream! is the company's slogan. Xi Xin believes that the 3D printing process is a a beautiful thing, giving anyone the power to be a creator, and to provide pleasure and happiness. This kind of process is like having a God's hand, he says. Xi Xin is now a minor celebrity in the Chinese 3D printing industry, attracting some serious attention to his company from venture capital. In 2017, Chizi Digital Technology officially entered Xian University's Creative Innovation Area. In this family, Xi Xin met many more partners who share the same interests. The team also was awarded some 200,000 RMB in support funds. The company has set up an integrated 3D printing service platform with the university, providing 3D scanning and 3D printing integration services, building a 3D printing products display platform, and establishing a 3D printing talent base. Looking to the future, the Chizi Digital Technology team intends to break down the barriers of traditional cultural practices as well as digital manufacturing, with the use of new technical ideas. It hopes to enhance and accelerate the transformation of established culture, helping it to optimize its production processes, so that traditional art and modern technology will work in perfect harmony. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Introducing a ride-sharing option is an opportunity for some new services, including Liberty, a start-up company launched in 2016 that connects rural riders to drivers. Liberty provides service in three states and plans to expand to seven states by the end of the year. You can read more about Liberty and the transportation challenges faced by rural residents on AARPs Livable Communities blog. The Kurdish Independence Poll is a KRG Elite Power Grab The upcoming Kurdish referendum on independence is being projected by many as the next step of a widely persecuted people in their pursuit of self-determination and security. But a closer examination shows an increasingly vicious debate that is sewing the seeds of future divisions, not unity. In a recent interview with Foreign Policy, Iraqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani stated: "We [the Kurds] would prefer to die of starvation than to live under the oppression and occupation of others." But, as Kamal Chomani, a Kurdish journalist, points out: "He never starves, it's the people who starve." This echoes a growing sentiment among particularly young Kurds, who feel this referendum is more about shoring up Barzani's position and personal leverage with Baghdad. The referendum is "about the future of the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) and Barzani, not the Kurdish people", adds Chomani. Following several years of financial crisis and economic mismanagement, Erbil has racked up $30bn of debt, and the meagre salaries of public sector workers are routinely paid late. But the crunch has not been felt by all - cronyism is rife in the fiefdom, and the Barzani family have used their monopoly on power to amass a fortune while ruling over the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Barzani's son-in-law, Sirwan, is the managing director of one of Iraq's largest telecom providers, Korek, a company worth more than $2bn. His son Masrour heads the region's security council, while his other nephew, Nechirvan, currently serves as the KRG's prime minister. 'A fascist state' The government hardly resembles the "citadel of democracy and pluralism" that Barzani has promised to establish and is often portrayed in the media. In fact, the only thing it can be said to resemble is the Gulf monarchies. Chomani insists: "Barzani has never really accepted the calls for democracy, and liberalisation ... an independent Kurdistan under him would be a fascist state." An effort to galvanise Kurds behind Barzani's version of a Kurdish state has failed as the ramifications of corruption and financial crisis has left many reeling. Barzani's presidency is now entering its 12th year, and though presidential elections are scheduled for November of this year, some are sceptical he will ever leave office. Though KRG regulations stipulate his presidency should have ended in 2013, he has twice extended it by two years, once in 2013 and again in 2015. So grave are these concerns that one member of Kurdistan's Independent High Electoral Commission, the body charged with overseeing the referendum, resigned in late July claiming there was "no serious intent" to hold the scheduled elections. Many believe he intends to claim a need to personally oversee the independence process to lengthen his term further still. Divisions between those staunchly in favour of Barzani's vision and the rest are increasingly being made public, despite the announcement of the independence referendum being barely a few weeks old. Senior members of the KDP and KRG government have taken to social media declaring anyone against the independence movement a "traitor" and on the payroll of foreign governments. Though these sentiments and accusations are not limited to the KDP, Sheikh Jaffar, a member of the political bureau of the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan), suggested just this week that those opposing independence were worse than Islamic State. 'An excuse to remain in power' This reaction goes well beyond verbal jostling on social media. Chomani, who is one of a growing number of Kurds publicly positioning themselves against September's referendum - something that would have been unthinkable barely a few years ago - is regularly threatened both online and in the street. "People call me a traitor, they say I should be killed, all because I'm against Barzani's referendum - that's the reality of Kurdistan," he said. The 'No' campaign was further boosted last week after Kurdish businessman and owner of NRT, one of the region's most prominent Kurdish TV stations, Shaswar Abdulwahid, announced a campaign against independence in the referendum, labelling it "an excuse by Kurdish leaders to remain in power". Again, he was immediately met with accusations that he was funded by Iran and close to former Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki. If senior figures within the KRG are unable to accept opposition to the independence movement as a position of integrity, it is hard to see how an independent Kurdistan may function as the liberal democracy it so desperately tries to portray itself as. The battle against IS has also seen new tensions develop in disputed areas the Kurds have opportunistically taken control of such as Kirkuk. These areas are home to Arabs and minorities with no natural affinity to a Kurdish state, and a recovering Iraqi government is demanding their return as Iraqi sovereign territory. Only this week a speech by the KRG representative to Washington at the United States Institute of Peace was disrupted by Assyrian protesters with signs claiming "No free speech in KRG" and "KRG is not a democracy". The emotional case for an independent Kurdistan is undeniably compelling, but independence can be an extremely traumatic process, as has been observed in South Sudan. That the upcoming referendum is more about President Barzani and the KRG's elites ensuring their hold on power undermines the aspirations of some of the world's most discriminated against people. A growing number, particularly the young, are waking up to the fact that one family is hijacking their aspirations of becoming an independent nation, for personal gain. Kienholz does it all to lead Pierre to sixth-straight 11AA title Pierre quarterback Lincoln Kienholz had an interception and scored the game-winning touchdown on consecutive drives to seal Pierre's sixth-straight 11AA title. Letter to Shareholders re Rights Offer Perth, Aug 8, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - White Cliff Minerals Limited ( ASX:WCN ) ("White Cliff" or the "Company"), advises that the attached letters (see the link below) have today been sent to WCN Shareholders. Non-renounceable pro rata offer On 3 August 2017, White Cliff Minerals Limited (Company) announced a proposed partially underwritten one (1) for two (2) non-renounceable pro rata entitlement offer at an issue price of A$0.002 per share to raise up to approximately A$1,879,477 (before expenses) (Offer). A prospectus for the Offer was lodged with ASIC and ASX on 4 August 2017 and is available on the ASX website and the Company's website. To view the Rights Issue Prospectus, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/D071655K The purpose of this letter is to provide you with key information about the Offer before the prospectus for the Offer is sent to eligible shareholders in accordance with the requirements of the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Key information Key information in connection with the Offer and important dates are set out below for your reference: (a) The Offer is a non-renounceable pro-rata offer and is being undertaken on the basis of one (1) new fully paid ordinary share (New Share) for every two (2) fully paid ordinary shares held by eligible shareholders at $0,002 cents per New Share. (b) Eligible shareholders include those shareholders whose registered address is within Australia or New Zealand as at the Record Date (Eligible Shareholders). (c) The record date for Eligible Shareholders is 5.00pm (WST) on Wednesday, 9 August 2017 (Record Date). (d) A maximum of 939,738,862 New Shares will be issued under the Offer. This number excludes shares which may be issued in the event that an option holder elects to exercise their right to convert their securities to ordinary shares prior to the Record Date. This number is also subject to a final reconciliation and rounding of entitlements. (e) After completion of the Offer, the Company will have up to 2,819,216,586 ordinary shares on issue, all of which will be quoted on the ASX. The Company will also have 384,172,274 options on issue. (f) As a non-renounceable entitlement offer, no rights are tradeable on ASX and they are not transferable. Eligible Shareholders who elect not to take up their entitlement will have their right to participate in the offer lapse. (g) New Shares will rank equally with the Company's existing fully paid ordinary shares. (h) Shareholder approval of the Offer is not required. (i) The Offer will be undertaken with a prospectus in accordance with section 713 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Q) The Offer is partially underwritten by Gleneagle Securities Nominees Pty Ltd (Underwriter) up to $1,000,000 for an underwriting fee paid by way of the issue of options as set out in Appendix A and B of the Prospectus. (k) The Company has also appointed Gleneagle Securities Nominees Pty Ltd as lead manager to the Offer (Lead Manager) to place any shortfall with new investors to the Company. (I) The Company does not have a dividend policy. Payment of future dividends will depend upon future profitability and the financial position of the Company. Use of the proceeds The funds raised under the Offer are intended to be applied as follows: (a) to fund the on-going exploration programme of the Chanach copper-gold project; (b) to fund selected drilling of the Company's Western Australia located gold targets; (c) general working capital; and (d) the expenses of the Offer. Key dates Full details of the Offer are contained in the prospectus lodged with ASIC. A copy of the prospectus will be dispatched to each Eligible Shareholder together with personalised entitlement and acceptance forms, on or about Friday, 11 August 2017. The anticipated timetable for the Offer is as follows: Event: Announcement of Offer Date: 3 August 2017 Event: Prospectus lodged with ASIC and ASX Date: 4 August 2017 Event: Notice of Offer sent to Shareholders Date: 7 August 2017 Event: Ex-date (date from which Shares begin trading without the entitlement to participate in the Offer) Date: 8 August 2017 Event: Record Date (to identify Shareholders entitled to participate in the Offer) Date: 9 August 2017 Event: Prospectus and Entitlement and Acceptance Forms sent to Eligible Shareholders Date: 11 August 2017 Event: Last day to extend the Closing Date Date: 22 August 2017 Event: Offer closes (Closing Date) Date: 25 August 2017 Event: New Shares quoted on a deferred settlement basis Date: 28 August 2017 Event: Notice to ASX of Shortfall Date: 30 August 2017 Event: New Shares issued Date: 1 September 2017 Event: Dispatch of Holding Statements Date: 3 September 2017 Event: Normal trading of New Shares on ASX commences Date: 4 September 2017 Further information For further information on the Offer, please see the Company's announcements available on the ASX website or the Company's website. Alternatively, please contact Computershare Investor Services Pty Ltd on +61-8-9415-4000 or the Company on +61-8-9321-2233 from 9.00am to 5.00pm Perth time, Monday to Friday. To view the full release, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/R3Q7U7Z8 About White Cliff Minerals Ltd White Cliff Minerals Ltd is a Gold, Copper, Cobalt, Nickel resources and mining company listed in Australia (ASX:WCN). The Company is focused on developing low cost high value mineral deposits that have near term cash flow potential. Major projects include the Aucu gold deposit that contains 484,000 ounces of gold (3mt at 5.1 g/t) starting at surface and Chanach copper deposit that contains 64,000 tonnes of copper (17.2Mt at 0.37% copper). Both projects have substantial blue sky potential with drilling covering only 5% of the known structures. In Australia the company is developing the Coronation Dam cobaltnickel deposit where a maiden resource will be announced in the late 2018. JCT Healthcare Wins $649,000 Tender Melbourne, Aug 8, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Xped Limited ( ASX:XPE ) ("Xped" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that their subsidiary JCT Healthcare ("JCT") has been successful in winning a $649,000 tender with Renewal SA. The tender is for the supply, installation, and support of assistive technology services to approximately 30 properties to be constructed by Renewal SA. JCTs smart support technology solution will be utilised by people living with a disability. The technology implemented will include monitoring and control of lights, door locks, air conditioning, shutters, blinds, power switches, cupboards, temperature sensors and smoke detectors. The solution will be integrated with front door cameras and intercom solution to allow for remote viewing and 2-way voice communication. Some of the JCT Smart health technologies being implemented include activity and agitation detection, fall detection, and wireless panic buttons. JCTs cloud based NuCams software and next generation mobile App are also part of the solution and their integration with the smart device technologies was critical in winning the tender. JCT expects to complete delivery of this project in 1st half 2018. JCT is continuing to pursue other tender opportunities across Australia with these similar technology solutions. The JCT smart support technology solution offers a professional smart health solution that can be implemented in both new build sites as well as retrofitted to existing dwellings. The solution provides independence to the tenant and their family, while still allowing the support worker to provide the support required. Xped has invested significantly in the development of these JCT technologies over the past 12 months. The Board is pleased with this result and believes this market segment is a terrific opportunity for revenue growth. ABOUT JCT JCT Healthcare is a 100% owned subsidiary of Xped. Established in 2002, JCT Healthcare is a quality provider of assistive technology solutions and nurse call systems to the Healthcare sector with products tailored for Hospitals, Aged Care, Independent Living and Disability Care. About XPED Ltd XPED Ltd (ASX:XPE) is an Australian Internet of Things (IoT) technology business. Xped has developed revolutionary and patent-protected technology that allows any consumer, regardless of their technical capability, to connect, monitor and control devices and appliances found in our everyday environment. Xped provides technology solutions for Smart Home, Smart Building, and Healthcare. At Xped, were Making Technology Easy Again(TM) Binjour Bauxite Project - Government Application Lodged Sydney, Aug 8, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Emerging bauxite producer, Australian Bauxite Limited ( ASX:ABX ) (ABx) is pleased to announce that it has made an application in conjunction with its marketing partner, Rawmin for a Regional Jobs and Investment grant for the commencement of the Binjour Bauxite Project in the Wide Bay Burnett region of central Queensland for the following purposes: Project title and description: Binjour Bauxite Mining Project & export from Bundaberg State Development Area ("SDA"), involving production of beneficiated metallurgical-grade and cement-grade bauxite from Binjour for export from Bundaberg Port in the Wide Bay Burnett Region of central Queensland. Activities and outcomes: Mining, crushing, screening, washing (optional) and production of beneficiated metallurgical-grade and cementgrade bauxite. The export grade bauxite will be transported by high efficiency trucks to an export facility at Bundaberg Port SDA for export to end-users worldwide. Milestone 1: Collection and Preparation of Marketing Samples Start October 2017: Bulk sampling of 500 to 2,000 tonnes of bauxite and preparation of marketing samples for the preferred customer to expedite the execution of an offtake sale-purchase agreement for the project. Milestone 2: Selection of Processing Technology - Trialling of mining equipment - Trialling of crushing equipment - Trialling of dry-screening and wet screening methods - Analysis of products produced by different methods - Selecting optimum process flow-sheet Milestone 3: Simulating large-tonnage shipping from Port of Bundaberg to increase port capacity. End 30 June 2018: Ship simulations to determine the maximum ship size that could operate at the Port of Bundaberg using loading techniques currently used in similar ports overseas. Bulk shipping costs are critical for the economic viability of this project. ABx CEO, Ian Levy commented: "Binjour is ABx's largest and highest grade bauxite project with 28 million tonnes of high grade trihydrate gibbsite bauxite at Binjour and Toondoon (see Note below). This project needs long-term sales contracts with reliable customers to underpin its economic viability. Marketing partner, Rawmin, has commenced negotiations with potential customers in several countries on our behalf. The synergies with Rawmin's own mines in India are substantial because Binjour can supply bauxite during the QLD dry season which is the wet season in India when Indian ports are closed. Working with Rawmin with regards sales strategy and finance for the project may deliver the Binjour Bauxite Project earlier than expected. Assistance from the Federal Government's Regional Jobs and Investment Package scheme would allow us to get started promptly. The assistance of governments and Rawmin are greatly appreciated." Note: See Resource Statement in the link below To view tables and figures, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/0Q16WPAB About Australian Bauxite Ltd Australian Bauxite Limited (ABx) (ASX:ABX) has its first bauxite mine in Tasmania & controls the Eastern Australian Bauxite Province. ABx's 11 bauxite tenements in Queensland, New South Wales & Tasmania totalling 662 km2 are all 100% owned, unencumbered & free of third-party royalties. ABx's bauxite is gibbsite trihydrate (THA) bauxite that can be processed into alumina at low temperature. ABx has committed a large proportion of its expenditure into Research and Development to find ways to capitalise on the main strengths of its bauxite type which is very clean, free of all deleterious elements and partitioned into layers, nodules, particles and grains of different qualities that can be separated into different product streams using physical, chemical and geophysical methods. ABx has declared large Mineral Resources in northern NSW, southern NSW, Binjour in central QLD & in northern Tasmania. ABx's first mine commenced at Bald Hill near Campbell Town, Tasmania in December 2014 - the first new Australian bauxite mine for more than 35 years. ABx aspires to identify large bauxite resources in the Eastern Australian Bauxite Province and has created significant bauxite development projects in 3 states, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. Its bauxite deposits are favourably located for direct shipping of bauxite to both local and export customers. ABx endorses best practices on agricultural land, strives to leave land and environment better than we find it. We only operate where welcomed. ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Five mediators from Upchurch Watson White & Max have formed unique teams to present cutting-edge programming for the 25th annual conference of the Florida Dispute Resolution Center this week at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes Orlando. Firm principals Rodney A. Max and Lawrence M. "Larry" Watson Jr. will discuss "Mediation in Public Policy" with state Sen. Gary Farmer of Fort Lauderdale in two 75-minute sessions on Friday. "Mediation in the last quarter of a century has proven itself as an effective process for resolving cases within the judicial branch of our government at the federal state, and local levels." The presentation makes the case for extending the benefit of mediation effective and efficient decision-making to the legislative and executive branches as well, conference organizers explain. A third UWWM principal, Kimberly Sands, and ADR counsel Howard R. Marsee plan to make attendees a big part of both of their 75-minute sessions. As food for thought, Ms. Sands and Mr. Marsee are prepared to share a dozen scenarios, sparking open discussion of "the perplexing, serious, not-so-serious, and sometimes bizarre problems that vex, test and entertain the busy mediator." Their topic, "How Do You Deal with This? Ethical Dilemmas and Practical Quandaries During Mediation," invites proposed solutions and further questions. For a 75-minute session early Friday afternoon, "De-escalating Potentially Dangerous Mediation Proceedings," UWWM mediator Brandon Peters has invited veteran hostage negotiator Rick Salcedo to join him in discussing ways to enhance mediator awareness and maximize participant safety during highly emotional mediations. The team will focus on "actual scenarios including discussing Detective Salcedo's role in directing communications with barricaded hostages during the tragic Pulse nightclub massacre in 2016." This year's conference theme is "Passion, Purpose & Peacemaking." Although some of its 47 sessions are full, registrations are still being accepted; for full details, click here. It is possible to earn 13.2 hours of Continuing Mediator Education (CME) by attending. Additionally, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit is available as follows: 13.0 General hours 3.0 Bias Elimination 6.0 Ethics 13.0 Civil Trial Certification Credit 13.0 Marital and Family Law Certification Credit All sessions featuring UWWM panelists are scheduled for Friday, as follows: 10:30-11:45 a.m. and 1-2:15 p.m. : "How Do You Deal with This? Ethical Dilemmas and Practical Quandaries During Mediation," offering 1.5 credits of Ethics CME. and : "How Do You Deal with This? Ethical Dilemmas and Practical Quandaries During Mediation," offering 1.5 credits of Ethics CME. 10:30-11:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. : "Mediation in Public Policy," offering 1.5 credits of Circuit CME. and : "Mediation in Public Policy," offering 1.5 credits of Circuit CME. 1-2:15 p.m. : "De-escalating Potentially Dangerous Mediation Proceedings," offering 1.5 credits of Interpersonal Violence CME. About Upchurch Watson White & Max A nationally leading mediation specialty firm, Upchurch Watson White & Max is known for facilitating reasonable agreements to resolve complex issues. From eight offices in Florida and Alabama, Supreme Court certified attorney mediators with wide-ranging specialties serve as court-appointed and privately employed mediators, arbitrators and third-party neutral case managers, implementing innovative methods of alternative dispute resolution across the country. On the Web: uww-adr.com Media Contact: Catherine Klasne (386) 253-1560 cklasne@uww-adr.com Related Files Mediation in Public Policy (003) Final.pdf Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg image3.jpg image4.jpg View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-mediators-present-continuing-mediator-education-cme-at-florida-dispute-resolution-conference-300501311.html SOURCE Upchurch Watson White & Max Get AfricaFocus Bulletin by e-mail! Format for print or mobile Africa: Bridge to Education, or to Nowhere? AfricaFocus Bulletin August 8, 2017 (170808) (Reposted from sources cited below) Editor's Note "When Liberia's Minister of Education, George Werner, announced last spring that he was inviting foreign education companies and non-profits to run our public schools, our country came under the international spotlight, both in Western media and for education activists. ... Quickly, Liberia was turned into a battlefield between those who see for-profit 'charter' schools as the solution to the problems that plague public education across the world, and those of us who point to underinvestment and poor management as the true culprits." - Mary Mulbah, president, National Teachers' Association of Liberia In the United States, recent controversy over for-profit education has prominently intersected with national politics, with the spectacle of "Trump University" and the installation of billionaire privatization zealot Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education in the Trump administration. Internationally, the U.S.-based for-profit company Bridge International Academies (BIA), operating in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Liberia, and India, has won praise from prominent international "philanthropists," but has met with intense criticism and skepticism from educators. Last week, 174 organizations from 50 different countries called on investors and donors "to fully discharge their legal due diligence obligations and cease support for BIA. We would welcome an opportunity to explore alternatives with donors and investors to identify more effective ways to invest sustainably in providing quality education for all children, including those living in poverty." This AfricaFocus contains excerpts from that statement, as well as several short background articles and links to resources on the controversy around BIA and Liberia in particular. For the perspective of Bridge International Academies and its responses to criticism, see http://www.bridgeinternationalacademies.com/ For previous AfricaFocus Bulletins on education, culture, and the media, visit http://www.africafocus.org/cultexp.php For previous AfricaFocus Bulletins on Liberia, visit http://www.africafocus.org/country/liberia.php Additional references "'May' Days in March: Bridge Asked to Account by UK Parliament," by Susan L. Robertson, Unite for Quality Education blog, April 5, 2017, http://tinyurl.com/l4be27k Education International on Privatisation https://ei-ie.org/en/detail_page/4654/privatisation Two recent books are interesting for background on this issue in the United States: Samuel E. Adams, director of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, has written a new book, "Education and the Commercial Mindset" (http://amzn.to/2vAOQJZ) that details how and why market forces have come to rise in public education and become important in corporate school reform. It is reviewed in "Why the movement to privatize public education is a very bad idea," by Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, July 14, 2016 http://tinyurl.com/y9mffc8e Nancy MacLean's "Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America" (http://amzn.to/2fqbI8G) has been the subject of intense controversy and of calls from right-wing critics for her to be fired from her post at Duke University. Its thesis is that the right-wing campaign against public education and other attacks on the role of government fueled by the Koch brothers have their roots in academic theories closed linked to opposition to desegregation of schools in Virginia in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the rise of "white academies" around the South in that period. ++++++++++++++++++++++end editor's note+++++++++++++++++ Civil society call on investors to cease support to Bridge International Academies August 1, 2017 [Excerpts only: full 20-page statement, with detailed documentation, available at http://bit.ly/biainvestors] Introduction In May 2015, 116 civil society organisations published a statement raising concerns about the costs, impact and quality of Bridge International Academies (BIA), and responding to misleading information about its approach. Since then, evidence from various sources, including the United Nations (UN), a United Kingdom (UK) parliamentary enquiry, independent research reports, and independent media reports, has confirmed these concerns and raised the alarm about the serious gap between the promises of BIA and the reality of their practice, and pointed to other serious challenges. Cartoon credit: Education International Key evidence: Independent research shows BIA's fees and practices exclude the poor and marginalised; Documents from the Ministries of Education in Kenya and Uganda demonstrate that BIA has repeatedly failed to respect the rule of law, including minimum educational standards, over several years; Documents from BIA show poor labour conditions; Media reports cite concerns about freedom of expression and lack of transparency; The United Kingdom (UK) Parliament has raised serious questions about BIA's relationships with governments, transparency, and sustainability, as well as the absence of valid evidence of BIA's positive impact; UN and African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights statements raise concerns about negative impacts on education quality, equity and social segregation and stratification. We recognise that most investors in BIA have positive intentions in wanting to improve the education of children living in poverty. There is an urgent need for education reform to improve access, equity, and quality for all so that education can fulfil its potential to play a transformative role in personal, community, and national development. However, evidence demonstrates that investing in BIA is not an appropriate or effective means to meet these objectives. In light of these findings, the 174 undersigned organisations from 50 different countries are calling on investors and donors to fully discharge their legal due diligence obligations and cease support for BIA. We would welcome an opportunity to explore alternatives with donors and investors to identify more effective ways to invest sustainably in providing quality education for all children, including those living in poverty. What is Bridge International Academies? BIA is a large-scale network of private pre-primary and primary schools claiming to deliver "quality affordable education to underserved families and children". It operates over 500 schools in India, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Uganda, with ambitions to reach 10 million pupils by 2025. It has received investments from major international investors including the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, the Omidyar Network, the United Kingdom, the United States, the World Bank, Pearson, and Bill Gates, for a total amount estimated to be over 100 million US dollars. It uses what it calls a "school in a box" model, employing a highly-standardised approach to education. At BIA, every school looks the same, the material used is the same in each classroom, and most importantly, the lessons are the same across all the academies of the same country. BIA uses a system of scripted lessons, and its teachers who are mostly secondary school leavers without formal teaching qualifications receive lesson plans on an e-tablet, which they have to follow word by word. "UK urged to stop funding 'ineffective and unsustainable' Bridge schools Civil society groups call on foreign donors not to fund Bridge International Academies, citing high fees, low pay and poor teaching methods" Rebecca Ratclifee and Afua Hirsch The Guardian, August 3, 2017 http://tinyurl.com/y85g4qkg A coalition of 174 civil society organisations has called on international donors, including the UK government, to drop support for a private school company operating in Africa. Bridge International Academies (BIA) provides technology-driven education in more than 500 primary and nursery schools in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Liberia and India. Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are among the high-profile philanthropists from whom the American startup has received funding. In a statement, campaign groups said the firm charges prohibitively high fees and that teachers are poorly paid, receive little training, and are given inflexible, scripted lessons to read from tablets. The organisations also accused BIA of intimidating its critics, a claim the company has denied. The statement, signed by organisations from 50 different countries including Global Justice Now and Amnesty International, cited research suggesting that the poorest students cannot afford to attend Bridge schools. "BIA's model is neither effective for the poorest children nor sustainable against the educational challenges found in developing countries," said the campaigners, who alluded to "mounting institutional and independent evidence that raises serious concerns about BIA" and warned of "significant legal and ethical risks associated with investments" in the company. In Kenya, sending three children to a Bridge school is estimated to represent almost a third of the monthly income of families living on $1.25 (94p) a day, according to a joint study by Kenya National Union of Teachers and Education International, a federation representing 32 million teachers and support staff. The researchers noted that teachers are required to work between 59 and 65 hours a week for a monthly salary of $100. Uganda's high court ordered the closure of 63 Bridge schools last year, ruling that they provided unsanitary learning conditions, used unqualified teachers and were not properly licensed. No schools have been closed and Bridge is in dialogue with the government. In April, following an inquiry into UK aid spending on education, the chairman of the UK parliament's international development committee questioned whether grant funding should have been provided to Bridge. "The evidence received during this inquiry raises serious questions about Bridge's relationships with governments, transparency and sustainability," Stephen Twigg wrote in a letter to the international development secretary, Priti Patel. Bridge's model, under which teachers are given electronic tablets containing lesson plans, is seen by some as an answer to improving access to education in low-income countries. In Liberia, BIA is the main partner in a government pilot scheme, Partnership Schools for Liberia (PSL), that involves state-funded private operators running state primary schools. Students at the schools are not charged fees. The scheme was set up to address the country's dire education outcomes. "For the sake of these kids, we had to do something," said Liberia's deputy minister for education, Romelle Horton. "Quality has to improve." One-third of the country's 15- to 24-year-olds are illiterate and, in 2013, none of Liberia's 25,000 school-leavers passed the university entrance exam. Franklin C Jah, the vice-principal for instruction at Martha Tubman public school in Nimba county, one of the Liberian schools that has partnered with BIA, said standards have risen. "Last year, at this school, the students would just copy from the board," he said. "The teachers would not even explain the notes. But now a computer tells us what to do." Initial government assessments suggest Bridge schools in Liberia are generally outperforming their state counterparts. The percentage of pupils scoring zero in reading comprehension in Bridge schools fell by 14% among year 1 pupils, while it increased 2% in government schools. However, pupil attendance was higher in government-run schools: 70%, compared with 60% in Bridge schools by the fourth school term. But Mary Mulbah, president of the National Teachers' Association of Liberia, has criticised the government for pushing ahead with plans to expand the scheme before receiving results from a larger study. "We don't agree that student test scores alone should be used to decide whether to dismantle our public education system," she wrote in a public letter. Responding to the criticism from civil society groups, BIA said it provides highquality education to marginalised and remote communities across Africa. The company pointed out that it costs an average of just under $7 (5) a month to send a child to Bridge, and that 10% of students are on scholarships. BIA added that teachers work about 54 hours a week and are given high-quality training before and during their careers, with salaries between $95 and $116 a month in Kenya higher than in other non-formal schools. "Our pupils are outperforming their peers in national exams over consecutive years. Our model means that we're able to attract new investment towards solving one of the world's most pressing problems: hundreds of millions of children who are not learning," the Bridge statement said. "Public schools and Bridge schools can and do operate side by side to serve communities in countries where there are major shortages of nurseries and primary schools. We help governments quickly address the gap between how many schools they have and how many they need." The UK Department for International Development said: "We have supported over 11 million children in primary and lower-secondary education from 2011-15, including over 5.3 million girls. "Many of the world's poorest countries rely on privately run schools to provide an education where state provision is failing. Without privately-run schools, millions of children would be denied an education. What's bad for America's children deemed good for others: Riposte to Nick Kristof August 1, 2017 Fred van Leeuwen [Fred van Leeuwen is General Secretary of Education International ( https://www.ei-ie.org/), a global union federation consisting of 401 member organisations in 172 countries and territories that represents over 30 million education personnel.] http://africasacountry.com/ - Direct URL: http://tinyurl.com/yad4ebwb Writing in The New York Times [http://tinyurl.com/y8vb5rgt] about the growth of privately run for-profit schools in Liberia, the paper's columnist Nicholas Kristof praises the turnover of a significant number of public schools in Liberia to Bridge International Academies, a US-based for-profit education company. That same company that has been ordered to close its schools in Uganda and Kenya for its neglect and disregard of national educational standards. Kristof claims that those who oppose the commercialization of education in Liberia and elsewhere, including Education International, are driven by ideological motives rather than the interests of children. This is incorrect. Around the world, the teaching profession is the most outspoken advocate of children's right to quality schooling. That right is to be realized by governments. And where public authorities fail to make their public schools work, they need to be held accountable and pressured to do better rather than permitted to wheel in the marketeers to do the job they were elected to do in the first place. Kristof believes that Americans are grown up enough to handle their own education system, but without a shred of evidence he offers that the "solution" for Liberia is to turn their schools over to a foreign, US based corporation. Liberia experienced two civil wars, the first from 1989 to 1997 and the second from 1999 to 2003, followed by a transition to democracy and elections in 2005. The destruction of those wars left the population vulnerable to the Ebola virus in 2014 and 2015. That catastrophe inflicted serious damage on the economy and education. Education is a public service that enables people to listen, sows the seeds of tolerance, heals wounds and develops critical thinking. It is a building process that contributes to development, good governance and decent societies. On the other hand, education that limits such progress, restricts discussion, and focuses exclusively on a few narrow skills fails children and society. Bringing in private education operators, particularly in relative obscurity, is not an example of good governance. Handing over Liberia's primary and pre-primary education system to a foreign for-profit company like Bridge is as bad for Liberian education as it is for the country's democracy. It is of deep concern that deals between the government of Liberia and the education privateers have been so opaque and that independent research and evaluation have been dismissed. Despite the promise that any significant expansion of the privatization project would depend on some rigorous evaluation six months into the trial, the Ministry of Education decided to double the number of schools in the project's second year. This earned the Minister a public rebuke from the government appointed evaluation team and the criticism of the international academic community. Suppressing independent research and evaluation and precipitous action are linked. Both have the effect of limiting governance by chilling or blocking informed, public discussion. The current situation in Liberia is best summed up by Mary Mulbah, the President of the National Teachers' Association of Liberia (NTAL), who wrote on Africa is a Country last week: Ultimately the key question is this: why is our own government so incapable of managing this critical public service that it must give the keys to our children's future over to foreign companies and charities who often seem to have little to no understanding of our country and culture? As teachers, we have a profound interest in seeing a well-financed, responsibly managed, modern school system that grants all of our students the best chance to succeed in difficult circumstances. But we believe this is best achieved through robust public investment, better administrative management, and stronger accountability for teachers as well as the ministry officials that supervise them. Noting "successive studies," Kristof himself acknowledges that for-profit schools "hurt children" in the US. Yet, without missing a beat, he proclaims that they are good for Liberian children. In the US, as in Liberia, support for the privatization of education systems is not based on objective information, evidence or informed debate. It is, rather, driven by ideology; by the dogma that private must be better than public. It is only recently that much of the American public has realized that they have been victims of exaggeration, empty promises and deception. Liberians should not be guinea pigs in an experiment to transform the noble mission of public education into a market opportunity for foreign capital. So, a plea to Nicholas Kristof: let's not wish upon other people's children that which we would not accept for our own. * This text was first submitted to the New York Times as an oped response to Kristof. The newspaper informed Education International that it does not "run response pieces as op-eds." Why is Liberia's Government rushing to sell its public schools to U.S. for-profits? July 19, 2017 by Mary Mulbah http://africasacountry.com Direct URL: http://tinyurl.com/yd6kz73s When Liberia's Minister of Education, George Werner, announced last spring that he was inviting foreign education companies and non-profits to run our public schools, our country came under the international spotlight, both in Western media and for education activists. The Minister and the supporters of the government's plan excitedly championed the notion that clever thinking and technology could turn around our troubled school system. However, the broader education community warned that the consequences of turning an impoverished country's school system into an "experiment" would be grave, and could lead to lasting damage to Liberia's ability to run its own public services and provide free education. Quickly, Liberia was turned into a battlefield between those who see for-profit "charter" schools as the solution to the problems that plague public education across the world, and those of us who point to underinvestment and poor management as the true culprits. At first, Minister Werner wanted to outsource all of our public schools to one company US-based Bridge International Academies, which has come under sustained criticism in Kenya and Uganda for operating substandard schools and flouting government oversight. Pushback against this plan which violated our national anti-corruption laws resulted in the government inviting other companies and providers to take place in what was described as a pilot, which was to be judged independently at the end of the first year. In all, 93 schools were taken over by foreign providers, with Bridge remaining the largest beneficiary of the pilot, managing 25 of our schools. Now, the first year has concluded. But instead of waiting for the results of the Randomized Control Trial presently being conducted by the Washington D.C.-based Center for Global Development, the Liberian government is pressing forward with another expansion. In fall 2017, we are told, an additional 107 public schools will be incorporated into the pilot. Contrary to assurance by the minister that there would not be any significant scale-up in the absence of evidence, that represents more than doubling the so-called pilot. As the national representative body of Liberia's teachers, we don't agree that student test scores alone should be used to decide whether to dismantle our public education system. But the fact that the Liberian government is planning to expand the pilot before it receives the results of a study it commissioned is a clear sign that it is not interested in thoughtfully weighing the consequences and impact of its radical plans. In fact, while high-profile delegations of celebrity visitors and expensive symposiums have been used to trumpet the "successful" outsourcing of our schools, the story on the ground is much more concerning, and does not align with the rosy picture being painted by the Liberian government, Bridge, and other providers. Investigative reporting has shown evidence that parents in some towns where outsourced schools are located are furious that their children were left without access to education due to limits on class sizes in pilot schools, which were hastily implemented without a plan to assist students who were left out. Parents were also promised that extended school hours would be supported by the implementation of school lunch programs that have failed to materialize, leading to large numbers of dropouts in some schools. These and other harmful impacts of the pilot are easy to find. One simply needs to go to the towns where the schools are located and speak with parents and teachers. Any objective observer will almost certainly discover that there are serious problems that must be addressed before an expansion is even considered. But far from being serious about methodically and responsibly measuring the effects of the pilot, our Ministry of Education seems determined to increase its scope. In recent weeks, our global federation, Education International, was informed by the Ministry that a team of American academic researchers hired to provide a critical analysis of the pilot would not be allowed access to any of the schools or the administrators who supervise them. This begs the question: what do they have to hide? Simultaneously, senior leaders of our teachers' union have been fired by the government for speaking out against the pilot, and teachers working for Bridge have been told there would be consequences if they spoke to their union representatives or journalists about their concerns. Our union has come under attack not just by the government, but also by those who see us as an impediment to the effort to bring our school system under outside management and control. Ultimately the key question is this: why is our own government so incapable of managing this critical public service that it must give the keys to our children's future over to foreign companies and charities who often seem to have little to no understanding of our country and culture? As teachers, we have a profound interest in seeing a well-financed, responsibly managed, modern school system that grants all of our students the best chance to succeed in difficult circumstances. But we believe this is best achieved through robust public investment, better administrative management, and stronger accountability for teachers as well as the ministry officials that supervise them. The government's reluctance to honestly assess the effects of the first year of this radical initiative should give pause to anyone who thinks that it represents the best hope for Liberian children. Take this pair of leggings with the autism ribbon, Nike'esque swoosh (I can't imagine Nike sanctioned this use) and ad campaign inspired "Just accept it." Meaning autism. Here again is the message hammered into us by the Neurodiversity movemement. Guess what? Autism is really not acceptable. People with autism (oh, like my three girls) are indeed acceptable, lovable, adorable ad nauaseam. How about a "Just accept it" Alzheimer's shirt? Breast cancer? Bipolar? Schizophrenia? Do you really think autism is some unicorn diagnosis that isn't serious, life threatening, family ripping, economy strapping and yes, heart breaking? Good grief! We shouldn't have to proclaim our love for our kids, and yet campaigns like this force us to say things like: NO! I do not accept autism. I do not accept that my son can not speak. I do not accept that my daughter can not tend to her monthly feminine hygiene needs. I do not accept that my son puts his hand through glass windows. There is a pair of leggings making the rounds on Facebook and other social media from a quick print company called SunFrog . SunFrog does not create the designs - they just print them for the person who is the seller. Their business seems perfectly lovely and they have a strict infringement policy in terms of copyright. We'll get to that later. I do not accept that my daughter wanders away from home and has no idea how to cross a street.I do not accept that my high school age son has no friends and sits alone every day in every class and at lunch.I do not accept that my daughter has never had a sleep over.I do not accept that college is out of reach for my very smart son because he can not function alone.I do not accept that my daughter can not get her driver's license despite her intelligence.I do not accept that a group home is my son's future.I do not accept that my child is at risk every day of his or her life because of autism.These leggings are also an infringement on Nike's brand. You don't have to be "Bo" to know that. In order to make submitting an infringement claim as easy as possible, we have prepared a "Report and Infringement" portal. The portal has places for you to supply all of the information required to submit a complete DMCA claim. The portal can be found at the following link: www.sunfrog.com/Legal/report.cfm. Completing this form and submitting through this portal will ensure that none of the information required to submit a proper DMCA claim is accidentally omitted. Additionally, it usually results in a quicker response time to the submission of a claim and allows us to not only track what designs are being infringed upon, but also helps us track what user uploaded the design. Once we receive the claim we will act quickly to remove any infringing designs and take the appropriate action against the user who has violated not only SunFrogas terms of use, but also IP law in general. It is our goal for the SunFrog platform to be free from any and all infringing designs. By submitting the information required under the DMCA you are greatly assisting us in reaching this goal. We thank you for taking the time to let us know about any violations! We repeat this mantra every time we discuss neurodiversity. WE LOVE OUR KIDS. We don't want them to disappear. We wish their autism did not hobble them in so many ways - large and small. For more about the ND movement and how it has been propagated, I invite you to read Mark Blaxill and Dan Olmsted's latest book from Skyhorse Publishing titled Denial How Refusing to Face the Facts about Our Autism Epidemic Hurts Children, Families, and Our Future. A motion to dismiss has been filed in the involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy case in the Scuttle's Island involuntary bankruptcy case. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 42F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 42F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. 'We Must Defend Ourselves': Assyrian Militias on Warpath in Raqqa Matay Hanna, an MFS fighter, looks at a map of Raqqa, specifically the churches destroyed by IS. ( Wladimir van Wilgenburg/MEE) RAQQA, Syria - On the front line against the Islamic State group in its Syrian capital Raqqa, a battalion of crucifix-wearing fighters is preparing to unseat the militants in a fight for the survival of their co-religionists. The Syriac Military Council (MFS) was first established in 2013 to protect the Christian Syriac (also known as Assyrian) community and fight against IS. According to a spokesperson, the MFS has around 200 fighters in the Raqqa operation including 50 inside the city. They are part of the US-backed coalition of Arab and Kurdish fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Matay Hanna, 22 years old, has fought with MFS for about five years. "We conduct our own special training sessions, and we receive training from the Americans and other forces," he told MEE. Brett McGurk, the anti-IS coalition envoy, specifically mentioned the Christian Syriac community in a media briefing last Friday, describing them as an integral part of the SDF, created in October 2015. "So therefore we had to have an umbrella that would bring in as many people as possible -- Kurds, Arabs, Christians, Syriacs, all these guys -- working together as a cohesive force, not working together as different units, which is not militarily effective," he said. "They're full of Sunni Arabs, they're full of Christians, they're full of people from these areas who want to liberate their towns," he stated. Before IS came, there were hundreds of Christians living in Raqqa city, and there were two churches. "But now 95 per cent of them are living safe in Qamishli," Hanna told MEE, a city in Hasakah province on the northeastern border with Turkey. A fighter from the Syriac Military Council (SMC), a small minority of Christian fighters supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces in the combat against the Islamic State (IS) group, walks in the suburb of al-Rumaniya on the western outskirts of Raqqa. ( AFP) Some Kurds and Christians have openly wondered why Kurdish or Christian fighters would go to a majority Arab city, but for Hanna -- who is originally from the northern town of Qamishli - "Syria is Syria". "The terrorists are our enemies. It's dangerous for Arabs, Kurds and Christians. Maybe the city is 98 per cent Arab, but we are fighting together, we are like brothers," he said. "All of us are humans, but Daesh is a danger to our Christian people. They hurt us in Iraq, Egypt, and also in Syria. People run away from their houses, such as in Tal Tamr and Hasakah," Hanna said, referring to February 2015 when IS overran two Christian villages and took over 100 civilians hostage in Hasakah province. IS has destroyed churches and Christian shrines in Syria, and demanded that Christians living under its rule pay a tax known as jizya. While back in 2015 IS was still on the offensive in northern Syria, kidnapping Kurds and Christians, now the SDF forces are attacking the group's de facto capital in Syria. The group was also recently routed from its Iraqi capital in Mosul. "Of course MFS places an emphasis on fighting for what they regard as their own areas, but it is not just a local self-defence group," said Carl Drott, a doctoral student in sociology at the University of Oxford, who is researching Christians in the Middle East. "Ultimately they are fighting for political goals. Fighting IS is a way to prove themselves in the eyes of their allies, their own people, and other communities. They want to show that Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs [Christians] are doing their share of the fighting, and in this way earn their rights as a community," he said. "It should also be mentioned that there were some Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syriacs as well as Kurds living in Raqqa before IS took over. A town or city does not just belong to its majority population," he added. The Christians in the Middle East have been subject to extreme violence long before IS came along - most notably during the genocide of Armenians, Chaldeans, Syriacs and Greeks during the First World War in Turkey between 1915 and 1917. Despite this, church leaders have largely urged their followers to remain peaceful, rather than fight. "Although there is an old warrior tradition among Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, as well as a heritage of oppositional politics, the traditional approach of church leaders has been to ensure the survival of their community by keeping their heads low, rather than fight back," Drott said. But the MFS fighters say Christians have now stopped turning the other cheek to IS. "Some say we are Christians and we must love everyone," Hanna said. "But if we do that there will be no Christians left in the Middle East. We are Christians and should defend our people," he said. "We don't need another genocide against us, it's enough. We used to be poor before, but now we are like a volcano," he added. "We had a genocide in Turkey against us in 1915, we must make this a red line for us." "We must defend ourselves." Foreign volunteers The oppression of Christians in the region has also encouraged Western volunteers join the MFS, they say. "When I learned about their cause, I had to come to them, I had to be here," Kevin Howard, 28, from San Francisco, told MEE. "They are very unique people [Syriac Christians], almost none of them are left. IS did what they could to completely eradicate them," he said, using another name for the group. The former US Marine has been in Raqqa for over two months. "I have been here since they took the first building, I am very tired," he said. And even for a former professional soldier, the fight is not an easy one. "Raqqa was an IS base for years, we are fighting here against two cities: one underground, and one on the street level," Hanna said, referring to the many tunnels that IS has dug under the city. "We are moving slowly, because IS are using civilians to defend themselves, and we are moving carefully to save civilians," he said. "The main target is to save civilians, the second is to finish IS." "We control all sides of Raqqa, and IS is inside. We give them time to get out, many IS gave up and came to us, others stayed in Raqqa and say they will destroy Raqqa like they did Kobani," Hanna added. However, he said the US-backed local forces do not want to destroy Raqqa. "Our target is not to destroy - we need all the buildings. We want Raqqa's people to come back after the operation, and return to a normal, safe life, with human rights," he said. He said there are roughly 1,000 to 1,500 IS fighters left in Raqqa. "Maybe more, but we don't have any problem, if they are one or 10,000," he said, confidently. Hanna, on a Samsung tablet, scrolled over a map of Raqqa city normally used to pinpoint IS targets. It showed one completely destroyed church, and another still intact. "IS is using it [as a bank] to take away money from Syriacs and locals, one was destroyed, one is used by IS," he said. The MFS fighters hope that Christians can soon return to Raqqa. "We will fix the church, or build a new church," Hanna concluded. "We will finish this mission, and let the people go back to their homes." August 8, 2017 CAIRO While Egypts tourism industry faces troubled times, one lawmaker is thinking of innovative ways to bring in revenue to some of the countrys top destinations. Parliamentarian Mohamed al-Massoud announced July 26 that he had completed a monumental and wide-reaching study on the establishment of a free trade zone in Sharm el-Sheikh. The study, he said, was conducted in accordance with the new law on foreign and local investments, which was issued June 1. Massoud, a member of parliament's tourism committee, said he would submit his study to the government and Minister of Investment Sahar Nasr, who decides whether cities can become free trade zones. Sharm el-Sheikh is among the most beautiful tourist attractions in the world, located along the Red Sea, at the point where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba. It was ranked the fourth-most beautiful city in the world in 2005 by the BBC and further won the UNESCO Cities for Peace Prize for 2000-2001, along with four other cities. Massouds proposition to make the city a free trade zone sparked different reactions among Egyptians. Supporters believe that Sharm el-Sheikh has the potential to become a key global free trade zone. Opponents believe that other Egyptian cities along the Red Sea could be established as free trade zones, without interfering with Sharm el-Sheikh's tourist industry. Massoud told Al-Monitor that his choice of Sharm el-Sheikh was based on a scientific study that took into consideration its unique location, international airport, top-notch road network and potential to accommodate a port. The nature of Sharm el-Sheikh as a coastline surrounded by mountains helps guard against smuggling goods into the local market without customs supervision, which, eventually, helps national industries, Massoud said. Massoud further added that a free trade zone would attract substantial capital to Egypt that would help secure hard currency and create over a million jobs, directly and indirectly. The zone would reduce unemployment and even indigenize technology without causing any damage to tourism. The free trade zone "will start from Sharm el-Sheikhs el-Nour district up to el-Tor in the northwest, which is a 110-kilometer [68-mile] unpopulated coastline," Massoud said. "The loading and unloading docks will be established in this area, far from tourist attractions. The area will enjoy complete independence, as special laws that encourage investment would be applied. This will help eliminate the bureaucracy, which has discouraged potential investors in Egypt for too long. Massoud called opponents of the free trade zone enemies of success, and he finds it strange that tourism is being used as a pretext to oppose the measure. Dubai has achieved tourism growth despite the hot weather all year long, while Sharm el-Sheikh enjoys a moderate climate in all seasons of the year. Cant they see that? Massoud said. Amro al-Gohary, the undersecretary of parliament's economic affairs committee, told Al-Monitor, Sharm el-Sheikh was established as a city to be a global tourist attraction. Establishing a free trade zone in Sharm el-Sheikh would cause grave harm to it. For instance, you cannot establish a free trade zone without a port with loading and unloading docks, and constructing a port there means destroying beaches and coral reefs. This would mean undermining the citys most important pillars, which are beach tourism and diving. According to Gohary, industrial zones pollute the environment, and shipping vehicles and trucks roaming the city would cause further noise pollution. Such pollution would undermine the city's fundamentally private and quiet nature. Egypt could stand to lose billions of dollars invested in the tourism sector if a free trade zone were established. There are several cities on the Red Sea shores that could serve the same purpose," Gohary said. "For instance, Hurghada is bound by the Port of Safaga to the south and the Port of Ain Sokhna to the north, with a population of nearly 90,000 people and the residential units all over the city, unlike Sharm el-Sheikh, which is full of hotels and spas but lacks housing units. Pending finance by the World Bank, a high-speed train would be established between Cairo and Hurghada and between Hurghada and Luxor [according to a decree issued in 2014 by former Minister of Transport Ibrahim El Demiry]. The train is expected to facilitate transportation of raw material and workforce. The Egyptian government approved in January a project to establish a free trade zone in the Golden Triangle. This eastern desert area stretches over a surface of 2.2 million feddan (385 million square meters). The project would include industrial, mining, touristic, agricultural and commercial zones. Gohary said he is a patron of free trade zones and that he submitted a proposal for establishing a seaport and a free trade zone in Halayeb and Shalateen three years ago to attract investors and help establish the area as a window to Africa. But he has yet to receive a response regarding the project. Compared to Dubai, Egypt is distinguished in everything its geographic location, employment and weather but it lacks components that Dubai has," Gohary said. "These include the legislative structure, advanced logistics, infrastructure and advanced government services such as the activated e-government and m-government, as well as customs and tax exemptions, not to mention foreigners ability to own some projects outside the free zones and to transfer 100% of the profits. Gen. Hassan el-Sayyed, a member of parliaments economic committee, told Al-Monitor, [Former] President Hosni Mubarak had often refused the idea of constructing a bridge connecting Tabuk in Saudi Arabia to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt so as to preserve the city and the independence it enjoys. The presence of trucks full of goods and vehicles carrying passengers would intimidate the privacy of the city and make it even harder to secure, not to mention a free trade zone and other industrial zones. Ammary Abdul Azeem, the former head of Egypts Federation of Tourism Chambers, told Al-Monitor, A free trade zone on the outskirts of Sharm el-Sheikh would help develop the city and attract more visitors. The city was negatively affected since the January 25 Revolution and the bombing of the Russian plane in 2015, which cost the city dearly to the extent that some restaurants and cafes have left Sharm el-Sheikh indefinitely after they incurred great losses. Abdul Azeem said that having shopping centers in Sharm el-Sheikh would attract foreign investors who are interested in tourism. This would economically benefit the whole city and help it regain its position as a key attraction on the world tourist map. August 7, 2017 Iran and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have become entangled in a war of words as the referendum on Iraqi Kurdistans independence nears. Both sides are now making veiled threats, which if they materialize could have serious consequences on stability in the region. The Iranians, whether under the shah or the Islamic Republic, have worked hand in glove with the Kurds to undermine the Iraqi central governments authority and thus should not be expected to be adamant about preserving the authority of the state at any cost. Yet, according to Nazim Dabagh, the KRG representative in Iran, the situation right now is tense. Dabagh, who accompanied a delegation from his party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), in meetings July 17 with Iranian officials, told Al-Monitor, The Iranians say, 'We are for the territorial integrity of Iraq and we will do everything to preserve it.'" Dabagh is well-versed in Iranian politics, having served as a Kurdish representative in Tehran for most of the last four decades. "I personally think that holding the referendum without the approval of Baghdad and the neighboring countries, without a doubt, will cause problems." When pushed on what kind of problems Iran could cause, Dabagh who was speaking via telephone from Tehran did not elaborate. Another source familiar with the content of the PUK meetings in Tehran who does not want to be identified told Al-Monitor that the Iranians were angry about the referendum and reminded the Kurds about their deep mutual ties and how Iran had assisted the Kurds at critical junctures since 1975, and in recent years, having been the first country to shore up their defenses against the Islamic State in August 2014. As long as you halt the referendum, we will do everything for you within Iraq; well help you implement Article 140 [of the Iraqi Constitution on disputed territories and Kirkuk] and press Baghdad to reinstate your share of the [Iraqi central governments] budget," said a top Iranian official according to the source familiar with the meetings. "However, if you go ahead with the referendum, we will do whatever necessary to stop it things that you cannot even imagine," warned the Iranian official, reportedly dressing down the PUK delegation. Iranian officials in Tehran were more measured in their public statements but to the point nonetheless. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, warned the same day he met with the PUK delegation that a referendum for independence is a plot of some countries to sow division in Iraq. "The referendum will isolate and increase pressure on the Kurds of Iraq, and it undermines Kurdistan and eventually the whole of Iraq." The same day, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, said, "This subject [Kurdistan referendum] is not acceptable to Iraqs neighbors at all; preserving the independence and territorial integrity of Iraq is in the interest of all ethnic [and] religious groups. However, in its meetings in Tehran, the PUK delegation maintained that the decision to hold the referendum was collective and made by Kurdish parties, but assured the Iranians that they will relay Tehrans message to other parties. On July 30, during the second meeting of the Kurdistan referendum committee, the PUK delivered the message of opposition from Tehran. The response from the main party driving the vote, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), was clear. "We will not delay it [the referendum] by one minute or bring it forward by one hour; at 8 a.m. Sept. 25, people will cast their votes," KDP leader and de facto KRG President Massoud Barzani told the committee members. It appears that Barzani, whose term as president of Iraqi Kurdistan expired two years ago, is trying hard to resolve the internal Kurdish disputes while simultaneously sending strong messages to the countries that appear opposed to the referendum. In the July 30 meeting, Barzani dropped his opposition to the reactivation of the parliament and even agreed to discuss the controversial issue of the presidency, which has been at the center of the dispute between his party and the Change Movement (Gorran), whose ministers the KDP-led government fired in October 2015. It is not clear if Barzani will succeed in convincing the Change Movement to back the referendum given the deep animosity that exists between the two parties. Iran may be counting on the PUK, with which it shares strong and longstanding ties. But If the Change Movement agrees to back the referendum, this will put the PUK in a difficult position. To avoid political suicide, such a scenario will leave it with no choice but to back the process. Indeed, KDP-affiliated media outlets are already labeling whoever opposes the vote a traitor. It appears unlikely that Tehran would be unaware of this dynamic and the impact it could have on its closest ally in Iraqi Kurdistan. In the meantime, with the referendum drawing near and a delay unlikely to materialize, tensions are expected to mount. This is our right and we will defend this right. When Kurdistan becomes independent, if there were to be an attack we would give our blood to defend it. We hope these [neighbouring] countries do not oppose the wishes of the Kurdish people, Adham Barzani a senior figure within the KDP and a cousin of Massoud Barzani told Kurdistan24 on July 23. Nonetheless, Iran should be expected to continue its unrelenting pressure on the Kurds to halt the referendum, partly worried about the impact an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq would have on its own 8-million-strong Kurdish community, which fought a bloody battle for independence in the 1980s. In this vein, a delegation from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force arrived in Iraqi Kurdistan secretly July 30 and met with all parties over three days, including Massoud Barzani, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and top PUK officials. One source who is intimately aware of the content of one of the meetings told Al-Monitor that the Iranian delegation once again expressed opposition to the referendum. However, the source added that the Iranians also insisted that in the case of cancellation or postponement of the vote, Massoud Barzani should not lose face. August 7, 2017 Hayrettin Karaman, one of the most prominent voices of Islamic conservatism in Turkey, probably did not expect to ignite a nationwide controversy with an article on women smoking in public. But his recent piece in the pro-Islamic and pro-government daily Yeni Safak, headlined Smoking with headscarf, sparked a conflagration. Reiterating views that Muslims should not smoke, the Islamic scholar asserted Aug. 3 that cigarettes were much worse for women than men, as smoking sends signals about their morals. Karaman wrote, When I see a woman who wears a headscarf but also smokes in public, I get the impression that she's saying: Dont mind the fact that I am covering my head. Dont give up on me, I have a lot more to share with you.' To Turkish speakers, his phrasing can be taken as a message of sexual availability, although Karaman denied intending that meaning in his next column. It never occurred to me that the expression would be interpreted in a way that alluded to loose morality, he wrote. But by the time Karaman published the clarification, many women and men as well were fuming. Karamans first column trended on Twitter in Turkey, and hundreds of social media users condemned him for passing judgment on women and depicting women who smoke as morally loose or promiscuous. The backlash was strongest among the very headscarf-wearing women he "mansplained." Unsurprisingly, columnists in secularist dailies such as Cumhuriyet's Mine Sogut accused Karaman of having a sick mentality that saw sexual promise in a lit cigarette. But the reaction from many conservative columnists was just as strong, including some from Karamans own circles. Fadime Ozkan, a columnist for the daily Star, wrote that Karaman should be ashamed of himself and apologize to women. Nihal Bengisu Karaca, a sharp-tongued columnist who wears a headscarf herself, penned a scathing rebuke headlined If possible, let us not meet even in heaven charging Karaman with both misogyny and banality. Pity that after all that studying, one can still write as though composing [cheesy] song lyrics, she said, adding that the column was impertinent and libel against women who smoke. Karaca accused Karaman of acting like many conservative Islamist men, citing numerous examples of their frequent condescending preaching to veiled women about their behavior. Karamans words found some limited support among conservative men. Hayrettin Karaman is speaking the truth, one of them admonished veiled women in a tweet, You are carrying [Gods] verse on your head; you will behave accordingly. While most conservative male writers steered clear of the controversy, the pro-government and pro-Islamist Mehmet Metiner, a writer for Star and deputy for the ruling Justice and Development Party, admitted that his own daughter was one of the veiled smokers Karaman took to task. In his commentary, You did no good with what you said, my teacher, Metiner expressed his respect for Karaman, who is a professor emeritus of Islamic jurisprudence (my teacher is common title of respect for scholars in Turkish) but added that he was saddened by Karamans remarks on the chastity of female smokers. The controversial column, some columnists pointed out, was only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the conservative male outlook toward women. Karaman and his supporters not only accused female smokers of frivolity and loose morals, they also upheld a patriarchal hierarchy. While arguing that women should not smoke cigarettes in public, Karaman underlined societal rules: In our tradition younger men also do not smoke next to the elderly; students do not smoke next to their teachers. Karaman was factually correct. In Turkish traditional culture, people do not typically smoke in the presence of people they consider their elders or superiors. The son-father hierarchy is a typical example: Sons will not smoke near their fathers, or will at least ask for permission first. Karaman took this tradition and extended it to women as inherently subordinate: Women should not smoke, he argued, when there are men around. Men, in other words, are their superiors and they must behave accordingly. This attitude is not limited to Karaman and has a broad appeal among Turkish men especially conservatives. Ayse Bohurler, a female writer who wears the Islamic headscarf as a sign of piety, outlined the problem in her column in Yeni Safak, the same newspaper that hosts Hayrettin Karaman. The men of our [conservative] community have changed in various ways, she observed, but their evolution on womens issues has been very limited. While Karaman should apologize to women for his judgmental, dictating attitude and bad jargon, she noted, the broader Muslim male mentality needs to be questioned. Karaca promoted the same idea and cautioned that if this attitude does not change, it will lead the new generation to question traditional values and create a division among conservatives. The debate and the angry words exchanged demonstrate that Turkeys religious conservatives, who now feel empowered after a century of exclusion by secularists, are far from a homogenous group. The more traditional, patriarchal, authoritarian line, represented by figures like Karaman, can carelessly ignite opposition from others who seek an Islamic model that is more modern, egalitarian and less judgmental. The difference can flare up at any moment. August 8, 2017 "This is a demonstration of the left its anti-constitutional and anti-democratic. They say it explicitly, 'We want to influence decision-makers,'" chairman of the coalition David Bitan was heard saying at the Likud Partys demonstration on the evening of Aug. 5, next to the home of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in Petach Tikva. His words reflect a dangerous confusion of basic terms of democratic rule. Bitan, alongside Minister of Communications Ayoob Kara, Deputy Minister Yaron Mazuz and Knesset members Amir Ohana and Nava Boker of the Likud, headed several hundred Likud members who gathered as part of a counterprotest to the demonstrations that have been taking place at Mandelblits home for 37 weeks in a row. These protests began at the end of 2016, even before the investigations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Case 1000 (gifts from businessmen) and Case 2000 (conversations with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes over a deal for positive coverage of Netanyahu) became public. These protests were organized by left-wing activists to pressure Mandelblit to quickly advance investigations of the prime minister, since they feared he is delaying them in order to allow Netanyahu to evade them. With the significant developments in these cases, an element of protest against corruption was added to these weekly demonstrations, which grew from a few dozen protesters to several thousands. Many of the demonstrators feel that even if the investigation process has not been finalized yet, Netanyahu is guilty and should resign from office and the attorney general is protecting him and his wife. They call Mandelblit the family lawyer. One could argue that as time passes the investigations of Netanyahu uncover more issues, and it seems that the law enforcement system has indeed worked this whole time. The prosecution even signed two state witness agreements with key figures Ari Harow and Miki Ganor in cases that involve Netanyahu. The protesters argue that any advancement in the investigations is a result of the pressure of the protests. We can only hope that this is not the case, and that the attorney general is acting independently and is not influenced by the de-legitimization campaign against him. The attempt to play down the political motives of the demonstrators is unnecessary. The vast majority were not among Netanyahu supporters or the right even before the investigations began. This is all the more true for Labor Party activist Eldad Yaniv, who is the driving force behind promoting the demonstrations on the social networks. He had already come to the conclusion a year ago that Mandelblit is corrupt and is covering for the prime minister. The political motivation behind the demonstrations is legitimate and understandable, and is a sign of a healthy democracy. But the decision by Knesset members from the left, and now also from the right, to participate in the protests next to the home of the attorney general shows a lack of understanding of their role in the democratic system of checks and balances and the principle of the separation of powers. Bitan, like left-wing Knesset members and heads of parties who have attended the demonstrations, should keep away. Representatives of the legislative authority should not participate in putting political and public pressure on an attorney general who is overseeing complicated and sensitive investigations of a sitting prime minister who was democratically elected. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened on Aug. 5 at Goren Square in Petach Tikva. When the chairman of Meretz, Zehava Gal-On, regularly attends demonstrations where signs are held that border on character assassination of the attorney general, she misapplies her role. Gal-On like Michal Rozin, Ilan Gilon and other Knesset members who maintain a regular presence next to Mandelblits home has many ways to express her opinion on the progress of investigations in the framework of the parliamentary debate. The moment they arrive in the neighborhood where Mandelblit lives with his family and demand the attorney general issue an indictment and even convict Netanyahu before the investigation ends, they are party to the cheapening of the discourse and damage to the rule of law the importance of which they love to talk about. They ignore the fact that in March the High Court rejected the petitions that claimed that the attorney general is unduly delaying the investigations of the submarine and ship episodes. The judges wrote then, One should not enable the de-legitimization of the law enforcement system, which is professional and has a history of many years of unbiased activity we do not believe that improper and unconsidered decisions could easily be made that would 'sneak under the radar' both the professional and public." Thus, when Chairman of the Zionist Camp Avi Gabbay who wishes to be elected prime minister came to the protest in Petach Tikva on July 15, a few days after his win in the Labor primaries, he provided a tailwind to this de-legitimization campaign and at the same time damaged the High Court. Gabbay declared at the demonstration, There are facts about which there are no disagreements, among which are gifts worth hundreds of thousands of shekels and the deep involvement of the cousin [Netanyahus relative, attorney David Shomron] in the ship deals [in reference to the submarine scandal] this corrupt public behavior is enough for the heads of coalition parties to show public courage, dissolve the government and go to an election. His words are a legitimate critique, but they should not have been spoken near the home of the attorney general, next to signs saying, wealth-government-underworld. Mandelblit is a respected jurist with much experience and as far as is known professional integrity. He was investigated under warning in the Harpaz case that rattled the top of the security establishment, but in 2015 the case against him closed. He is not indifferent to the de-legitimization campaign against him, and every once in a while he publicly mentions the Netanyahu investigations and emphasizes that they are happening and progressing. On July 5, at the accountants conference in Eilat, he said, Since the investigation is still in progress, I will say only that the investigation is progressing energetically, but more importantly that the investigation is progressing and will continue to progress professionally. The demonstrations next to Mandelblits home, from the left and the right, are expected to continue to gain momentum next Saturday night, Aug. 12. As important as they are to democratic discourse in Israel, it is as important that members of the Knesset stay away from them. August 7, 2017 Hamas and Fatah are closer than ever to a compromise that will lead to reconciliation after more than a decade of fighting, Al-Monitor has learned from senior officials in the Palestinian Authority. On Aug. 1, a group of Hamas officials paid a visit to the office of President Mahmoud Abbas at the PA headquarters in Ramallah. Heading the delegation was Nasser al-Din al-Shaer, former deputy to Ismail Haniyeh, who was Hamas' prime minister in the Gaza Strip from 2006 to 2013 and now heads its political bureau. Shaer is considered the most pragmatic member of the movement in the Gaza Strip, while Fatah considers him a worthwhile negotiation partner. Unlike other Hamas members, he considers Palestinian national interests more important than the narrow interests of the movement. The official explanation provided by Abbas office for this surprising meeting is that the Hamas delegation wanted to congratulate the Palestinian president on defending Al-Aqsa Mosque. The bloody conflict between the rival Palestinian groups began with the violent Hamas coup in 2007. Since then, all efforts to bring about reconciliation have failed. Last week's meeting took place in the shadow of one of the biggest crises between Fatah and Hamas of the past few years. Three months ago, Abbas decided to separate Gaza from the West Bank. The impetus was a decision by Yahya Sinwar, who was elected in February as leader of Hamas in Gaza, to establish a Supreme Civil Council to handle municipal and administrative affairs there. Abbas considered the creation of this new council, which consists entirely of Hamas representatives, a challenge to the Palestinian national unity government that still governs Gaza, at least officially, and to his own position as president. In response to its formation, he halted payments for fuel used to run the Gaza power station and suspended the salaries of PA staff living in Gaza and funds for local health facilities. Abbas had hoped that these measures would pressure Hamas to renege on the creation of the independent council. Instead, his bitter rival, former senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, burst onto the scene to fill the vacuum. Why would Abbas' office allow such a meeting to take place as the crisis between Fatah and Hamas reached a climax? One source close to Dahlan who agreed to speak to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said it was Abbas' reaction to learning that Dahlan was advancing a similar reconciliation initiative without involving him. As part of Dahlan's initiative, the two parties even exchanged documents containing an outline for national reconciliation between people torn between their leaders. While it is not at all clear whether Dahlan's efforts will pay off, Abbas fear of his political rival is stronger than all the other pressures on him over the past few years. That is why he was prepared to make such a dramatic move in favor of Hamas. One senior Palestinian source told Al-Monitor that the delegation headed by Shaer was coordinated with Haniyeh and Sinwar. After the greetings and congratulations over his victorious defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Shaer informed Abbas that Hamas was prepared to discuss an equal division of seats on Gaza's new civil council. He suggested that half the representatives be Hamas members, and the other half Fatah representatives living in Gaza. The source said that Abbas did not reject the idea of cooperation on the council, even though it would make Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah's national unity government redundant. On the other hand, Abbas is concerned that most Fatah members in Gaza identify with Dahlan and said that if the compromise goes forward, he would personally select Fatah's representatives, who would not necessarily be Fatah people living in the Strip. Furthermore, if the proposal is accepted, Abbas is expected to request that the council be made subordinate to the national unity government. Should this cooperation work out, it will be the first step toward true reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. It will differ from the national unity government, composed of people with no official organizational affiliation. The council will be the first time that senior members of both organizations sit together in a single governing body. In that same meeting, Shaer proposed that Abbas pay his first visit to Gaza, 10 years after the coup. Such a visit would benefit both parties. For Abbas, it would be the first time feeling like he is still the Palestinian president who rules over all the territories that make up Palestine. For Hamas, it would ensure PA support, which would prevent its collapse and an ensuing humanitarian crisis. During this visit, there might even be a meeting between Abbas and Haniyeh. As head of Hamas' political bureau, Haniyeh leads the faction willing to forgo the movement's holdings in Gaza for the sake of Palestinian unity. Abbas has not yet responded to this proposal. While the reconciliation effort would result in the official return of Fatah to Gaza, it also implies PA recognition of Hamas' military and its role as the security force in Gaza. After 10 years, the Palestinian president must decide whether he is finally ready to put an end to this internecine Palestinian conflict. Two recent developments could compel him to respond positively. The first is Dahlan, who is breathing down his neck within Fatah, and the second is Abbas' rumored decision to retire at the end of 2017. Senior Fatah members who spoke with Al-Monitor claim that on Jan. 1, 2018, he will hand over the reins of power. Abbas would rather not leave to his successor a divided Palestine, and he hopes with all his being that that heir wont be Dahlan. August 7, 2017 On Aug. 4, the investigations into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned from dark clouds hovering over his head to the perfect storm. Netanyahus twice former chief of staff Ari Harow, the person who served as Netanyahus ultimate confidante, with access to all of his most intimate chambers, signed an agreement with the State Attorney's Office. Harow agreed to be a state witness against Netanyahu. It is hard to imagine Netanyahu receiving any more of a resounding blow. Harow gave detailed testimony against the prime minister, giving a major boost to Case 1000 (the gifts allegedly received by Netanyahu from businesspeople in exchange for favors) and Case 2000 (Netanyahu's conversations with the publisher of Yedioth Ahronot Arnon Mozes for a positive coverage deal). It is also conceivable that Harow will provide information on other cases involving Netanyahu, such as the submarine affair or the far-reaching investigation into Bezeq phone company and the Ministry of Communications. Once Harow signed the agreement with the State Attorney's Office, the question whether the prime minister will eventually be indicted suddenly became irrelevant. Unless something completely unexpected happens, all that is left to be asked is when he will be indicted. While Israeli law states that a prime minister can continue in office until he is convicted, Netanyahu's situation is desperate. Poll results released by Channel 10 on Aug. 6 show that some 51% of Israelis do not believe the prime minister's version of events, as compared to 27% who do. When asked whether Netanyahu will have to resign if and when he is indicted, 66% of respondents answered "yes." This is very bad news for Netanyahu, but there is more. The polls now show that if Netanyahu resigns and is replaced as leader of the Likud, the number of seats the party stands to win rises from 27 to 31. While Netanyahu should find these numbers disconcerting, what really keeps him up at night are the ongoing investigations. Harow was born in Beverly Hills, California, 44 years ago to a religious Jewish family with deep Zionist roots. He was the director general of Friends of the Likud in America, and it is suspected that he broke the law by using this position to help fund various activities by Netanyahu and his family. But this kind of help was just the beginning of the romance between Harow and Netanyahu. Over time, Harow became one of the people closest to the prime minister. He was responsible for the entire fundraising campaign and for relations with dozens of foreign billionaires who maintained relationships with Netanyahu. It was in this capacity that he is suspected of helping Netanyahu raise money for political purposes, not always in accordance with the law. Harow was later appointed chief of staff in the Prime Minister's Office, a position he held on two separate occasions. Between his two terms, he formed a strategic consulting firm, exploiting his ties with the highest levels of the Israeli leadership for personal gain. This was Harow's failing. He came under suspicion of receiving bribes and of other criminal behavior. In an effort to extract himself from a prison sentence, he agreed to tell police investigators just about everything he knew about Netanyahu's activities, and he signed an agreement to become a state witness. According to this agreement, Harow will be sentenced to half a year of community service and a fine. Harow is intimately familiar with Netanyahu's ties to his donors, down to the very finest details. He was responsible for the flow of money and managed the fundraising efforts. In other words, he knew everything, saw everything and did everything. At Netanyahu's request, Harow also recorded the series of secret meetings between the prime minister and Mozes. His testimony about this is especially critical. Only Harow can say whether Netanyahu also took action after plotting with Mozes to weaken the influence of Israel Hayom, the free daily newspaper controlled by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, in exchange for more friendly coverage by Yedioth Ahronoth. If Netanyahu acted as a result of these talks, he will be indicted for bribery. It is worth noting that Adelson himself testified twice about this incident. According to Israeli publications, he confirmed that during this period, Netanyahu sent out feelers to him, asking whether Adelson would agree to cancel distribution of the free daily on Fridays, the most important day for the Israeli print press industry. Harow is also expected to provide Case 1000 (the gifts) with the material it needs for the most serious indictment: receiving a bribe. He will confirm existing evidence in the case and help investigators prove that the gifts were given to Netanyahu in exchange for specific demands rather than as some natural exchange of gifts between friends. Harow is also expected to provide police investigators with the names of many additional donors and more details on how the system worked. This should put an end to any reservations that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit still has about the gifts. Harow is very bad news for Netanyahu and his family. The only nightmare scenario worse than Harow giving evidence would be if Netanyahu's personal lawyers David Shimron and Isaac Molcho, who also happen to be family members, turned against him. Harow surely remembers details about Netanyahu's financial activity over the past 15 years, which even Netanyahu forgot. Netanyahu spent most of his efforts this weekend applying pressure to Likud ministers and Knesset members to speak out in his defense. Some of them may have responded, but they were not too happy about it. As long as the investigations and the ensuing leaks from the investigations continue, it will get harder for Netanyahu to organize real support. Within the Likud, a bloody war of succession is taking place behind his back. Almost everyone involved in politics is preparing for the day after, even if they continue to sit right in front of him and declare their unswerving support. Among those competing to take over from Netanyahu is Yisrael Beitenu head Avigdor Liberman, who now serves as minister of defense. He will try to return to the Likud or to exploit the fall of Netanyahu the same way that late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon exploited it the last time around (1999-2000). Also competing to take over from Netanyahu will be several senior Likud members, such as former Minister Gideon Saar and Ministers Yisrael Katz and Gilad Erdan. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who quit the Likud to form the Kulanu Party, will also consider a return to the Likud. Similarly, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who also left the Likud because of Netanyahu, will try to use Netanyahu's fall to build himself up. The long knives have already been drawn, but their time has not yet come. Netanyahu has no plans to give up without a fight, and in cases like this, there is no more determined fighter than him. It's not over yet, though the grand finale is already starting to poke out on the horizon. August 8, 2017 RAMALLAH, West Bank When Al-Aqsa Mosque was closed from July 14 until July 27 amid protests against Israel installing metal detectors and security cameras at the Lions Gate and several entrances, one group emerged to lead the demonstrations and organize prayers in nearby streets and squares. Israel tightened security measures at Al-Aqsa following an armed clash inside the mosque on July 14 between three Palestinian youths and Israeli police, resulting in the death of all three along with two Israeli policemen. The organizing circle includes the head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Akrama Sabri; the grand mufti of Jerusalem, Muhammad Hussein; the director of the Islamic Waqf Council, Azim Salhab; and Judge Wasif al-Bakri, all of whom are religious leaders who enjoy the respect and trust of Jerusalemites. The group called on the Mourabitoun, the holy site's self-appointed monitors and defenders, to refuse to pass through the metal detectors before entering Al-Aqsa, and the Mourabitoun complied. The leadership also formed a technical committee to assess the situation inside and outside Al-Aqsa Mosque and identify any changes made by the Israeli authorities there in a report to the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, which is responsible for the administration of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Mohammed Abdel Latif, 50, from the Old City of Jerusalem, joined the Mourabitoun on July 14. He told Al-Monitor, The Jerusalem street was completely dependent on the religious leadership as its guide, which played its role perfectly and made decisions in accordance with the peoples demands. We felt the religious leadership was a strong support system for us and gave us the strength to carry on. The role of the religious leadership overshadowed that of political forces. The religious leadership did not have any political orientation and we found comfort in this. We were initially afraid political factions would take charge of the battle with the Israeli authorities because no matter which faction had ended up taking the lead, it would have only been doing it to stand out and serve its own interests, Abdel Latif said. Political factions were absent when the events first erupted. After a few days, the factions found themselves unable to reach the public and influence the street, so they did their best to catch up, Abdel Latif went on, adding, The religious leadership should continue to work on meeting Al-Aqsas need for a supreme leadership. The religious leadership has our absolute support. Although the metal detectors were removed and the protests stopped, the role of the religious leadership continues. In a statement issued Aug. 1, the leadership warned against escalating the situation again and dragging the entire region into unbearable crises, should the occupation insist on interfering in the affairs of Al-Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Sabri told Al-Monitor, The religious institutions in Jerusalem were united in their decision due to the grave Israeli measures inside Al-Aqsa, inspiring the public to stand beside them. He went on, We have not presented ourselves as an alternative to anyone, and the field of action is open to all. Those who wish to contribute will be free to do so, but politicians failed to run the popular uprising against the occupation, and we needed a quick intervention. The religious leadership was spontaneously formed to keep up with events, fill the vacuum in the street and lead the people during the crisis. Sabri noted, We need to continue our work because the battle is yet to end. Israel did not stop its project and measures at Al-Aqsa and it will attempt to change the situation there again. We need to keep following up on the events, fill Al-Aqsa with worshipers and be able to mobilize the public if need be. Our sole mission is to defend Al-Aqsa. The Palestinian Authority was late on the scene and is trying to keep up. On July 17, President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in China but decided to cut the visit short on July 19 and return to the Palestinian territories. As soon as he reached the West Bank, Abbas held a meeting for the Palestinian leadership on July 21, one week after the confrontations broke out and the mosque was closed. At the meeting, Abbas announced a freeze of all contacts with Israel until it removed the metal detectors, and the provision of $25 million to residents, businesses and institutions in East Jerusalem in support. The Palestinian political leadership seems to have realized the influence of the religious leadership on the scene in Jerusalem and rushed to support it. At a July 27 meeting held by the Palestinian leadership and attended by the grand mufti, the president called on the Mourabitoun to enter Al-Aqsa for prayer as soon as Israel removed the metal detectors. The rise of the religious leadership is due to its role in this religious issue at Al-Aqsa. This is why the decisions it made were strongly supported by the people, Jerusalem writer and political analyst Rasem Obeidat told Al-Monitor. The Jerusalem street has lost confidence in the Palestinian political forces and the PA, he added. Obeidat continued, If political parties or the PA had called on Jerusalemites to protest, they would not have attended or interacted with them as they did with the religious leadership that succeeded in bringing everyone together. After heading the events at Al-Aqsa, the religious leadership still carries a great responsibility and faces further challenges as it works with Jerusalem's youth to form and prepare a local Jerusalemite leadership to take on new developments in the city. August 4, 2017 ERBIL, Iraq Objections to the Iraqi Kurdistans referendum scheduled for Sept. 25 have gone beyond the political arena. Mosques are now involved, and religion is being inserted into the equation of supporting or opposing the calls for an independent state. Religious authority Mohammad Taqi al-Madrasi reiterated his previously stated opposition to independence in a July 28 sermon and advised the Kurds to limit their demands to the confines of sense and reason and to the constitution. Mohammad Mahdi al-Khalsi, the religious authority in al-Kazimiya, called on all Iraqis July 7 to stand up against divisive projects and asked to put a nail in the coffin of this "suspicious" project. He also warned the Islamic world against forming a new Zionist entity that is Kurdistan. Ammar al-Hakim, who heads the Shiite alliance, the largest political Shiite coalition in Iraq, said on TV in Egypt April 19, I personally do not know any country that might recognize a Kurdish state if announced other than Israel. The Arab countries have Iraqs unity at heart. Remarkably, linking Israel to a Kurdish state goes as far back as the Baathists, when the Kurdish movement was described as Israels spy. Another cleric defending the secularism of the state, Iyad Jamal al-Din, attacked Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani during an interview on Kurdish NRT television June 26. He said that there will not be a Kurdish state because there are vetoes against it from Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria and the world and that Barzani is building castles in the sand to cover up the constitutional void and instability in the Kurdistan Region. Jamal al-Din said, There will not be a Kurdish state, not now, and not in 1,000 years. Sadrist movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr was the first to object to Kurdish independence and said, I wish they wouldnt implement this independence. The Kurds are our partners in this country. He said in a statement released by his media office July 4, I ask Barzani to postpone the separation as a first step to completely eliminating it in the future, because we are on the verge of liberating Mosul. Ayatollah Qasim al-Tai said in a statement on Jan. 25, 2015, that he firmly refuses the independence project. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most influential religious figure in Iraq, has remained silent on the topic. Arab Sunni clerics also had a say. Sheikh Ahmad al-Kubeisi who is well-known in Iraq reiterated that he supports Kurdish stances in a post published July 19. He said, Iraq will be divided. The strong Sunni area will be Kurdistan, and it will not be restricted to the Kurds, but all Arab Sunnis are insistent on joining it. Arab Sunnis, especially in disputed areas, support the referendum and want to join the Kurdish region. Kurdish clerics are also voicing their support for the referendum. The Ministry of Endowment will give instructions to preachers in mosques, according to Nabez Ismail, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs. Ismail said July 8, Clerics will participate in the referendum by voting 'yes' with all their power. They believe this is a national duty. In an indirect response to the Shiite statements, the Central Council for the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union noted July 12 that it supports the referendum in the Kurdistan Region and the areas disputed between Baghdad and Erbil. The Kurdish Islamic body called on Kurdish forces to unite, declare national reconciliation and overcome their differences to make the referendum successful. Ihsan al-Rikani, the head of the Dahuk branch for the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Clerics made a fiery speech on July 4 and said, Anyone objecting to the referendum is a traitor and must leave the country. Abdul Latif Salafi, a Salafist preacher in Iraqi Kurdistan, said, I fully support the referendum. Anyone opposing it is not a true Kurd. Fateh Sharestini, a well-known Kurdish preacher in Erbil, said June 18, As Muslims, we should support Iraqi Kurdistans independence to the end. When we get the chance and the international stage is set God willing and according to Sharia we should be independent. If a person does not have an independent government and if their flag does not flutter above other countries flags, God will not accept their prayers. Al-Monitor contacted Abdullah al-Waissi, the head of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Scholars, and asked him about the reasons behind the firm refusal of some Shiite clerics and the support or silence of the Sunni clerics. He said, Most Sunnis have realized that coexistence among Iraqi components is long gone, unlike their Shiite counterparts who believe dividing Iraq would undermine its influence and strength in the region. For this reason, Shiites oppose the referendum. Historian and expert on Iraqi affairs Jabbar Qader told Al-Monitor that Shiite clerics are getting involved in this dangerous issue for specific reasons. He said, Shiite ruling circles want to impose their control on a large stretch of Iraq because the gains they made have seduced them into holding on to Iraqs unity. They appealed against the referendum and accused the Kurds of trying to divide the country, with Israels cheering. With the nearing referendum, Iraq might witness tenser religious interventions in addition to fatwas and different religious stances. Meanwhile, there are no tangible guarantees that armed militias will not dive right into the conflict. August 7, 2017 ERBIL, Iraq Dynamics affecting armed opposition groups from Syrias easternmost region, the Islamic State-held Deir ez-Zor, have shifted significantly in recent months. Though some of the groups deployed north and south of the region are helping Kurdish fighters retake Raqqa, most are strongly against involvement by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in their home region. The importance of using local forces in the fight to retake Syrias easternmost region has long been seen as key to preventing backlash from the local Sunni Arab population, ethnic-based violations and land grabs. In the southern desert, Jaish Usud al-Sharqiya (Lions of the East Army) made vast gains in the first few months of the year but lost territory after being cut off by the regime and allied foreign, Iranian-backed, Shiite militias and prevented from further advancing into IS-held areas. The group, made up mostly of fighters and commanders from Deir ez-Zor, has struggled to advance in recent weeks but has managed to advance in some areas such as Bir Mahroutha in the south, where it reportedly seized a tank and weapons from the regime and allied forces Aug. 1 with the help of a local opposition group, the Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo. Jaish Usud al-Sharqiya receives support from the Amman-based Military Operations Center and has in recent months focused on fighting regime-allied forces after long concentrating on the battle against the Islamic State (IS). The group has forces near al-Tanf military base, where US special forces are stationed alongside British and Norwegian ones acting as military trainers for fighters from Maghawir al-Thawra (Revolutionary Commandos Army, or MaT), another group from the Deir ez-Zor region. MaT fights exclusively against IS unless it comes under attack from other groups as part of its agreement with the Pentagon in exchange for the support MaT receives. A former member of the MaT communications team told Al-Monitor at a meeting in Turkey on condition of anonymity that a more powerful Pentagon and a weaker CIA as wanted by the Trump administration since it came into office in January has led to greater support for MaT from the United States and lesser for Jaish Usud al-Sharqiya, despite the latter's holding more territory, and that this trend seems likely to continue. Jaish Usud al-Sharqiya spokesman Badreddin al-Salama agreed, telling Al-Monitor in an interview in southern Turkey in late July that relations between his group and MaT are in relation to those between the CIA and the Pentagon. We have fought against IS a few times in collaboration with MaT, but that is all, he added, noting that we could do so much more if we had air support. Salama said, We could send thousands more men originally from eastern Syria to join the fight in southern Syria if they could get the necessary permission from the Turkish and Jordanian authorities. The only way to get the men to Jordan and then through the border into Syria is to enable them to cross into Turkey from northern Syria and then fly them to Amman; otherwise, it would require crossing IS or regime territory, he said. A small part of Jaish Usud al-Sharqiya has also been stranded in a besieged area of Qalamoun near the Lebanese border for several months. There are about 100 fighters there, Salama said, adding that a reconciliation deal has been proposed by the Russians that is likely to be accepted but has not yet been. Meanwhile, the Syrian Elite Forces, a group based in the northern area under Kurdish control whose leaders and core are also Arabs from the Deir ez-Zor region, withdrew from fighting alongside the SDF on the front lines of Raqqa in July. In December 2016, Col. John Dorrian described the group as a notable force when he was spokesman for the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve. The fighters' commander, Abu Saleh, told Al-Monitor in an interview in Erbil in early August that the decision to withdraw from the battle for Raqqa was made after the SDF continually put pressure on us to come under their direct control and prevented necessary supplies from reaching us. He said the SDF had also repeatedly partially withdrawn during battles, leaving some of his fighters exposed. Abu Saleh is from the Shaitat tribe, which rose up against IS in the oil-rich area in the eastern part of the country and suffered a major massacre at IS hands at least 1,000 mostly young men were killed in only a few days in August 2014. Prior to this, he was also the head of a local armed group fighting against the regime. Now, he says, the over 1,000 men he commands have withdrawn to the south of Hasakah. They are not trying to advance and will not do so until they get direct support from the international coalition not channeled through the SDF, he said, adding that this is unlikely to occur until after Raqqa has been retaken, if at all. The leaders of the groups working in the north and south are in contact with each other at a personal level, they all say. Plans to gather all groups whose cores and command structures are from Deir ez-Zor under one umbrella group have been frequently discussed for years, but nothing has come of it yet. Abu Saleh has lost the optimism he had even a few months back, he told Al-Monitor, adding that he believes the only option for opposition forces to regain Deir ez-Zor would be from the north, given the heavy presence of Iranian-backed militias in the Syrian desert to the south. The regime is also advancing toward Deir ez-Zor from the north. Several members of various groups from Deir ez-Zor and locals who recently escaped IS-held territory told Al-Monitor they reject out of hand the idea of Kurds being involved in the fight to retake the region, with some saying they would fight on the side of IS before letting Kurds into the territory. Though he feels this attitude is counterproductive, Abu Saleh agrees that the Kurds should not be allowed to take part in the battle. Advancing from the north would necessarily require using Kurdish-held land at least as a staging ground for the operation. Though some analysts say the Russian-backed Syrian regime and Iranian-backed militias are likely to retake Deir ez-Zor, all of the armed groups Al-Monitor spoke to originally from the region oppose the idea. The United States and others in the international anti-IS coalition would also be averse to the oft-predicted direct supply line from Iran through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea that would result. Supporting local opposition groups such as Jaish Usud al-Sharqiya, MaT and the SEF may be the only real way to prevent this. August 7, 2017 The takeover July 23 of the northern Syrian city of Idlib and several other nearby regions by former al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) exposes the northern governorate to possible military operations by both Russia and the international community. The organization, which recently cracked down on its rival Ahrar al-Sham, will have to maintain a careful balancing act in northern Syria, as more radical moves could pressure the groups internal cohesion, trigger a popular backlash and pit it against the international community, which considers it a terrorist organization. Yet the groups aggressive behavior reflects the organizations priority to expand its territory and consolidate its power, which would make it a de facto interlocutor in the cease-fire deals ongoing in Syria. A string of de-escalation zones have been created in Syria with the implementation of cease-fire deals between rebels and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad the latest enforced Aug. 3 in Homs. The plan envisions a similar deal for the region of Idlib in northern Syria. However, the recent takeover by HTS of the region may expose the governorate to possible retaliation if not by Russia, by the international community. The Idlib region witnessed in July fierce clashes between HTS and Ahrar al-Sham. HTS is the political spawn of the former al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, while Ahrar al-Sham was once considered one of the strongest Salafist organizations in Syria. The clashes ended with the withdrawal of Ahrar al-Sham from strategic locations in Idlib and near the border with Turkey followed by a cease-fire, which both factions have since broken intermittently. The situation in Idlib is being followed closely and the threat of HTS taken seriously. There is a possibility of action by the international community at a later stage, but it is unclear who will do it. For now, it is the war on the Islamic State that remains the priority, Syria expert Samuel Heller from the Century Foundation told Al-Monitor. The next move in Idlib by HTS could determine the groups future survival. The organization is the strongest faction there, Syria expert Sinan Hatahet from the Omran Center for Strategic Studies told Al-Monitor. However, the organization has failed to monopolize the popular vote. According to activist Brahim Idilbi, people in northern Syria have adopted a wait-and-see approach since the clashes. He told Al-Monitor, There were protests against the group in Marat Naaman and Saraqeb as well as other regions. People are afraid Idlib will follow the destructive path of Raqqa or Mosul. They are asking for the dissolution of HTS or for the organization to direct its weapons against Assad instead of local rebel factions." The group may face challenges within its own ranks. An Islamist Syrian source who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity admitted that some within HTS are unhappy with the organizations crackdown on Ahrar al-Sham and its issuance of fatwas legitimizing the killing of other rebels. The Aug. 2 statement by the US administration advised rebel factions to stay away from HTS military commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Meanwhile, HTS has adopted a plan to expand and consolidate its power in northern Syria. According to an article on the news site Al-Modon, besides its growing control over Idlib governorate, HTS extended its territorial control in the southern, western and northern regions of Aleppo at the end of July. HTS now not only controls the center of Idlib governorate, but also the border with Turkey. The region under its control stretches from Darat Izza in rural western Aleppo, crossing through Turmanin, Bab al-Hawa, Salkin to Darkoush and Khirbat Jawz in the west and Sirmaniyah to the south. HTS expansion in this territory also contributes to consolidating its power by increasing its economic clout while controlling supplies that could be sent to its rivals. Thus, border areas hold both economic and strategic importance for HTS. They allow the group to secure a continuous revenue stream [through taxes imposed on transit] and it provides it with control over the supply routes that are used by its rivals and so with significant influence over them, Idilbi said. Another consolidation approach used by the organization is via mergers, tactical alliances, the creation of a local administration and the issuance of fatwas. Among the prominent brigades that declared allegiance to HTS in the wake of the clashes is the Ibn Taymiyyah Mujahedeen Brigades, which controls various mountainous areas in the northwestern Aleppo countryside near the city of Darat Izza, strategically located close to the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units in Afrin. According to Al-Modon, one of the most important sites in which Ibn Taymiyyah Mujahedeen Brigades is located is Jabal al-Sheikh Barakat, which has a large network of civilian and military communication towers serving the opposition areas in the north. In addition, the organization has been able to count on local tactical alliances. For instance, the Turkistan Islamic Party fought alongside HTS in the takeover of the town of Jisr al-Shughour. Despite splitting from HTS in the wake of the clashes, the Nureddin Zengi Brigade still applauded the radical group's move to create a civil administration that would govern over the region. HTS is working on establishing a unified civil administration, but what remains unclear is how this new administration will interact with the local councils, Heller noted. HTS has also extended its dominance over the regions political scene using fatwas. On May 11, HTS stated its intention to oversee Idlibs informal money transfer offices. By taking over the informal banking sector, HTS would have leverage over local and international charities and thus the refugee population. The organization posted on its Telegram channel another fatwa that banned the merger of groups following the defection of its ally, the Nureddin Zengi Brigade. By taking control of Idlib and by resorting to the humanitarian argument, HTS appears to be positioning itself as an unavoidable player in northern Syria, according to Hatahet. The organization's aim is to be removed from the terror list," he concluded. August 7, 2017 Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's trip to China on Aug. 3-4 ended with a major fracture in Turkeys East Turkistan and Uighur policies when Turkey promised to do its utmost to eradicate anti-China forces in Turkey. Unhindered passage of Uighurs affiliated with the East Turkistan Islamic Movement which China considers to be a terror organization to join the war in Syria via Turkey had caused tensions in Ankaras ties with Beijing. While China blamed Turkey for allowing Uighurs to reach Syria, some of the Uighurs escaping from China were apprehended with fake Turkish passports. These Uighurs eventually angered Ankara by joining the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, dominated locally by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra). In his joint press conference with Cavusoglu, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, Minister Cavusoglu told us Chinas security is also Turkeys security and they would not permit any anti-China activities in his country. Moreover, he said Turkey had included East Turkish Islamic Movement on the terror list. China appreciates this stand of Turkey. The Turkish minister told the same press conference, We dont allow any anti-Chinese activity in Turkey and also in our region. Cavusoglu also said they will try to put an end to anti-China publications in the Turkish media. International news agencies paid particular attention to Turkeys decision to declare the East Turkistan Islamic Movement a terror organization. Turkeys policy of keeping its borders open to those joining the war in Syria was particularly attractive for the fighters of Turkic origin coming from Asia. These fighters from East Turkistan, with their renowned courage and fighting skills, boosted the strength of jihadi groups and in time became sizable communities with their families who had traveled with them. Naturally, this reflected adversely on Ankara-Beijing relations. In 2009, during the incidents in the Sincan autonomous region of East Turkistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had accused the Beijing government of genocide. It hasnt been easy to overcome the tension created by Erdogans words, as a growing number of Uighurs traveling to Syria via Turkey retriggered the cold war between China and Turkey. Turkeys offering of refuge to Uighurs who fled China to Thailand in 2015 seriously disturbed Beijing, and China arrested 10 Turks accused of arranging the escape of Uighurs with fake Turkish passports. Eventually, Erdogan sought to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization when Turkeys relations with the United States and the European Union soured; Ankaras excited involvement with the "One Belt One Road" project of China, along with Turkeys inclination to modify its Syria policy in coordination with Russia, led to improved ties with China that even declared 2018 "Turkey Tourism Year." Turkey hopes to make up for its loss of tourists from Europe with an expected 3 million Chinese visitors. But Turkeys commitment not to allow anti-China activities has worried about 300,000 Uighur migrants in Turkey. They fear that Turkey may terminate its support to Uighurs suffering under Chinas oppression. Campaigns were launched on social media calling on the Ankara government to rectify its stand. One social media message said Turkey had betrayed Turkistan by identifying the East Turkistan Islamic Movement as a terror organization. Turkeys public, politicians and media which are extremely allergic to autonomy when it comes to Kurds are fully supportive of autonomy for East Turkistan. Nevertheless, although the Justice and Development Party rule is sympathetic to Islamist Uighurs, Rabia Kadir the president of the World Uighur Congress, which is recognized as the global representative on the Uighur issue is not allowed into Turkey. Uighurs affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Taliban are freely allowed to use crossings into Turkey. The East Turkistan Islamic Movement is free to run its media and publishing operations in Turkey. Clearly, looking at past practices, Ankaras commitment to put East Turkistan on the terror list and promise to end anti-China media activities doesnt necessarily mean that's how it will be. Al-Qaeda is also on Turkeys terror organization list, but books of key al-Qaeda leaders and thinkers such as Abdullah Azzam, Abu Muhammed al-Makdissi, Abu Musab al-Suri, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Ayman al-Zawahri are freely printed and sold in Turkey. It has to be noted, however, that inclusion of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement on the terror list is not really an independent decision by Turkey. When the United Nations adds an organization to its terror list, Turkey has no choice but to update its own list accordingly. The UN had included the East Turkistan Islamic Movement on the terror list in 2002 because of its links with al-Qaeda and the Taliban. What is to be observed here is that the Uighurs have set up their own jihadi commune in Idlib that is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. There are groups of Uighurs at Eriha and Jabal al-Zawiya in northern Syria, but they are concentrated at Jisr al-Shughur, attached to Idlib. That is the new address for Uighurs. Some 300,000 Uighurs who have settled in Turkey are known to have moved to Syria, but their exact numbers are not known. There are reports that after the capture of Idlib in March 2015 by Jabhat al-Nusra (now known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham) and Ahrar al-Sham, Uighur militants occupied the dwellings abandoned by Alawites and other minorities who fled. According to statements of those fighting in Jaish al-Fatah to capture Idlib, Uighurs with their fighting prowess have contributed significantly to the capture of Idlib. Uighurs who have settled around Idlib with their families have even organized jihadi training camps for their children. There are scenes of religious and combat training in the photos and videos of these camps. From these visual materials, it was understood that Uighurs had participated in combat at al-Gab west of Hama and Bab al-Ahmar of Latakia. The divergences between Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State (IS) have affected the Uighur fighters as well. Some have declared loyalty to IS, but most stayed with Jabhat al-Nusra. Experts say Uighurs preference for Jabhat al-Nusra has its roots in their earlier affiliation with the Taliban and their relations with al-Qaeda from their days in Afghanistan. The numbers of Uighurs fighting in Syria vary. Syrias ambassador in Beijing, Iyad Mustafa, had said that there are about 4,500-5,000 Uighurs fighting against the Syrian army. Independent sources say there are between 300 and 1,000 East Turkistan Islamic Movement militants active in Syria. About 100 of them are said to have joined IS. With Turkeys cooperation with Russia in the Astana process and the growing rift between Ahrar al-Sham and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib, Uighurs find themselves in the camp opposing Turkey. If the Uighurs had instead joined Ahrar al-Sham and taken part in Turkeys Operation Euphrates Shield, the situation would have been radically beneficial for them. August 8, 2017 Mustafa Akaydin, a member of parliament with the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), allegedly said Aug. 7 that the failed putsch of July 2016 was theatrics and that the state [actually] killed the 250 martyrs who were resisting the takeover. Akaydin reportedly questioned how the Turkish air forces highly trained F-16 pilots, who played a prominent role in the plot, could bomb the parliament building but not cause significant damage. He repeated CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglus claim from earlier this year that the coup was controlled meaning the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government knew about the plan in advance and allowed it to take place for political gain. Per news reports, Akaydin also added that the commemoration ceremonies for those who died fighting the coup are meant to replace the memory of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the national struggle he led from 1919 to 1922 that culminated in the founding of Turkey as a republic in 1923. Through these public displays of patriotism, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to replace Ataturk as the pre-eminent leader of modern Turkey. Although the pro-government daily newspaper Sabah released a video in which Akaydin says he stands behind every word [he] said, the footage is clearly edited and it is not clear exactly what he said in his original statement or subsequent clarification. As can be expected, high-ranking officials of the ruling AKP and their supporters in the media had a field day with Akaydins words. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim condemned the remarks and exclaimed, What sort of person are you? How dare you utter words that hurt the souls of our martyrs? Yildirim proceeded to attack Kilicdaroglu for calling upon German tourists not to visit Turkey because it was unsafe. The CHP leader denied he said anything to that effect in a recent interview with the German magazine Focus. On the surface, it is mind-boggling to see the AKP and the CHP fight over the coup when they largely agree that the Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and his followers (which most Turks derogatively refer to as the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization or FETO) organized the putsch. The AKP and the CHP are attacking each other over the coup for several reasons. For the ruling party, Akaydin is a great target. An academic and medical doctor by training and former mayor of the city of Antalya, he threatens the AKPs hold on the popular city. The Turkish Court of Accounts recently fined Akaydin 10 million liras ($2.83 million) for causing a budget shortfall during his tenure as mayor (2009-2014). Antalya is Turkeys leading tourist metropole and has been heavily contested between the AKP and the CHP in the local elections. Should he run against the incumbent, who is an AKP member, Akaydin could win back the coveted mayorship of one of Turkeys most important cities. Not surprisingly, he refuted the accusations regarding the budget shortfall and argued that the court has become a political institution. As for Kilicdaroglu, he has unnerved the AKP with his 25-day Justice March in which the 69-year-old CHP leader walked from Ankara to Istanbul. Carrying only a placard that read justice, Kilicdaroglus protest procession brought together hundreds of thousands of Turkish citizens from diverse political backgrounds. Should Kilicdaroglus appeal widen, it could threaten Erdogan and the AKP in the 2019 elections. The allegations over the coup plot and the FETO connection play a key role here. For the AKP, painting the CHP as a surrogate of FETO allows the ruling party to marginalize its detractors. One who opposes the AKP must be a FETO stooge. For the CHP, insisting that the AKP knew of the plot in advance would bolster the main opposition partys stance that after being manipulated by Gulen for years to increase his hold on the state and society in Turkey, now Erdogans party is using FETO to control Turkey and turn it into a dictatorship. One who supports the AKP must be the unwitting partner of FETO. Until and unless both sides stop using the coup attempt and its tragic memory for their own gains, polarization and disunity will remain part and parcel of Turkish politics for the foreseeable future. August 8, 2017 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans latest public statements indicate that an operation by Turkey may be imminent against Kurds in northern Syria, who operate under the banner of the People's Protection Units (YPG). At least this is the widespread impression he is giving. The reinforcement of Turkish forces along the Syrian border appears to confirm this as well. It seems more of a question of when, not if, this operation, which press reports say will be codenamed Euphrates Sword, will begin. We are determined to push deeper the dagger we drove into the heart of the terrorist formations project in Syria with new advances, Erdogan said in an address to a large crowd of supporters in the eastern Turkish city of Malatya on Aug. 5. The dagger he referred to is Operation Euphrates Shield, which Turkey mounted in August 2016 and ended in March this year. Indicating that Ankara would take important steps very soon, Erdogan said, It is patently clear that the issue in Syria has long surpassed the limits of combating a terrorist organization. Deniz Zeyrek, a prominent journalist known to hold the pulse of Ankara well, decrypted Erdogans remark. When the president says that the issue in Syria has long surpassed the limits of combating a terrorist organization, he is referring to Russian and US plans for the future of Syria, Zeyrek wrote in his column in the daily Hurriyet. These two countries open a new base in Syria every day. They foresee autonomous regions for Kurds in their draft constitutions for Syria, Zeyrek added, also pointing to the YPGs efforts to alter the demography of the territories it has captured. These are red lines for Ankara, which has watched angrily as the United States provides provisions to the YPG. Like Moscow, Washington refuses to list the YPG as a terrorist organization. A recent Turkish news report, based on a leak by government sources, even claimed that Washington had provided the group with tanks. The US Embassy in Ankara later denied this claim. The only thing that appears to be staying Ankaras hand presently, although this is not expected to last long, is its awareness that a new incursion into Syria that targets the YPG is likely to be frowned upon by the United States and Russia. Washington and Moscow have officially expressed their displeasure in the past when the Turkish military mounted strikes against the YPG. Turkish shelling of YPG targets in April, for instance, elicited reprimands from both superpowers. Russia also rushed to protect the YPG earlier this year in the Kurdish-held city of Afrin, near the Turkish border, when Ankara signaled that it was preparing to move on that city. Washington also opposed such a move by Turkey on the grounds that it would undermine the planned onslaught against the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Raqqa an effort that was to be spearheaded by YPG fighters on the ground. Regardless of tensions with Washington and Moscow over the YPG, Turkey remains part of the US-led coalition against IS and is also cooperating with Russia and Iran in the "Astana process," which aims to alleviate the Syrian crisis. There are also reports of a possible trade-off between Ankara and Moscow regarding Kurdish-held Afrin and the city of Idlib, where radical Islamist groups that have Turkish backing are poised against each other. Turkish, Russian and Iranian officials are meeting in Tehran this week to discuss de-escalation zones in Syria. They are also expected to discuss the situation in Afrin and Idlib. If successful, this could ease tensions in northern Syria and delay a Turkish incursion. The risk for Ankara is that a Turkish operation that does not have US and Russian blessings could further weaken its hand in the Syrian talks. Erdogan nevertheless appears keen on this operation. A source close to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, said, Turkeys moves in Syria will be based on its threat perceptions, not on what others say. News reports that Euphrates Sword was in the making first broke in June, showing that this operation has been in the works for months. Turkey is concerned that Washington and Moscow are preparing the groundwork for an autonomous and contiguous Kurdish region in Syria along Turkeys border. Erdogan says Ankara is determined to prevent this. Ankara is also vilifying Brett McGurk, Washingtons envoy overseeing the fight against IS. To Ankara, McGurk is a latter-day Lawrence of Arabia. Pro-government media outlets in Turkey are rife with articles accusing McGurk of trying to carve out a Kurdish entity in Syria at Turkeys expense. Erdogan says the new operation in Syria will build on Operation Euphrates Shield, which was ostensibly against IS. Ankara, however, made it clear that all terrorist organizations would be targeted, which for Turkey includes the YPG. Achieving the aims of Operation Euphrates Shield proved to be more complicated than expected and took longer to complete than planned. The Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army finally managed to capture 2,000 square kilometers (770 square miles) from IS. As far as Ankara is concerned, Operation Euphrates Shield also put a halt to Kurdish plans to capture a large swath of territory between the cities of Kobani in the east and Afrin in the west. Both cities are held by the YPG. The territory in between them, stretching from the Turkish border in the north to al-Bab in the south, is controlled by Turkey and the Free Syrian Army. Erdogans Malatya speech came immediately after a major reshuffle in the Turkish Armed Forces. Zeyrek said the first task of the new land, air and navy commanders will be the Syrian operation. Retired Brig. Gen. Naim Baburoglu believes the aim of Turkeys next operation will be limited to establishing a security zone along Turkeys border and not have bigger aims such as capturing Afrin from the YPG. Turkey will still have to fight the YPG as it tries to establish this zone, which will include the city of Tel Rifaat, as well as the region between Afrin and Idlib, Baburoglu told Al-Monitor. As long as Turkey stays away from Afrin itself, Russia and the US will accept Turkeys new operation. As for Erdogans Malatya speech, Baburoglu believes that was intended to please a domestic audience rather than provide a signal that a major Turkish incursion into Syria is about to be unleashed. Baburoglu said a major incursion could leave Turkey embroiled with very high casualties in places like Afrin and Idlib, and was therefore unlikely to happen. Officials in Ankara are more than aware that executing Operation Euphrates Shield proved to be much more difficult than expected. It was successful in the end because Turkey was fighting IS and enjoyed support from Washington and Moscow. That support evaporated as soon as Turkey turned on the YPG. Euphrates Sword could prove to be equally if not more difficult as long as the YPG continues to enjoy support from the United States and Russia. August 7, 2017 MOSCOW In recent weeks, ever since the US House of Representatives first passed new sanctions on Russia which were later passed by the Senate and ultimately signed by President Donald Trump (though seemingly reluctantly) Moscow has been agitated. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his US counterpart Rex Tillerson had two phone conversations over seven days one following Russias decision to expel American diplomats and suspend the use of two US Embassy properties in Moscow, the other two days before the pair met face to face on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial meeting in Manila, Philippines. In the latter, the North Korea issue dominated the conversation as the two parties shifted focus from bilateral problems to burning international challenges. Lavrov and Tillersons Aug. 6 meeting in Manila, which lasted about an hour, kicked off, according to Lavrov, with Tillerson's being interested in details of the decision [on the expulsion of American diplomats] that we took in retaliation to the anti-Russian sanctions law. We waited for a long time, expecting that the US would not take the confrontational course. But unfortunately the Russophobic bias of members of Congress prevailed. Remarkably, Lavrov reiterated Russias commitment, despite the sanctions, to the Putin-Trump Hamburg agreements to get the cooperation started on cybersecurity and a joint effort against cybercrimes and the prevention of them. Russias Foreign Ministry also hopes for contacts with the State Department on the North Korea problem, saying such communications would be useful. Moscow is also expecting Kurt Volker, the US envoy on Ukraine, to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladislav Surkov very soon. Similarly, Russian diplomacy has seemingly special hopes for the Ryabkov-Shannon mechanism as a main (crisis) communication channel for bilateral relations, where US Undersecretary Thomas Shannon has contact with Russian counterpart Sergei Ryabkov. A big part of the Tillerson-Lavrov conversation was devoted to three issues affecting Middle East security: the situation in Afghanistan, the intra-Gulf spat and the state of affairs in Syria. Lavrov emphasized that the contacts between Russians and Americans will continue to build on the agreements reached between Russia, the US and Jordan on the creation of the southern de-escalation zone in Syria. We expect our contacts with the US to continue on other aspects of the Syrian settlement both military and political ones. Essentially these contacts have never ceased. The issue of the de-escalation zones was also discussed by Lavrov in his ASEAN meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The two exchanged views on the progress on implementation of the Astana agreements and the upcoming meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian representatives in Tehran scheduled for Aug. 8-9. The agenda of the meeting is believed to be focused on consolidation of the de-escalation zones in Syria. Now that the three such zones are in place in the southwest of Syria, in Eastern Ghouta and in northern Homs, the parties are working on the fourth one in Idlib, which is the biggest and most complex, Lavrov said. Asked if Moscow was disturbed that the militants who refused to sign the cease-fire had left for Idlib, Lavrov said of the fourth de-escalation zone: This is indeed the most difficult zone to establish of all those agreed upon by Russia, Turkey and Iran. We are coming to the belief that the 'troika,' as well as other players, including possibly the US, have influence in the aggregate over all militant and armed groupings, excluding terrorists who will never be a part of such agreements. If Russia, Turkey and Iran as well as the US-led coalition simultaneously use their influence over concrete actors that are fighting each other on the ground, then some compromise-based proposals can be found that would aid cease-fires and create conditions for the political process. A key takeaway for Moscow from these meetings and especially the one with Tillerson was what Lavrov called readiness of our American colleagues to continue with the dialogue. There is simply no alternative to it. After the two weeks of heated rhetoric and public demarches it was important for Russians as well as probably Americans to see how far the other party is going to go in its countermeasures mode. What the Russians left with was that the existing contacts, specifically those on Syria, will likely continue. The modus operandi where Russia and the United States intentionally leave outside the equation the systemic disagreements that both know are not going to be reconciled anytime soon while continuing with the exasperating infowar spats but also with mutually beneficial contacts on Syria may eventually bear more fruit. It should at least provide a greater return than aspirations for a grand fix of the relationship, let alone a big deal between Moscow and Washington. In Russia, virtually all the policymaking community has come to realize that such a deal is simply not possible, both because of the spiraling frenzy in Washington as one Kremlin adviser put it and because of the elite mood vis-a-vis Russia both among Democrats and Republicans. The fact that there are no more expectations in Moscow for Trump to deliver something big if there ever were such expectations in the Kremlin may ironically open more space for a targeted cooperation on a handful of international security issues that concern both Russia and America. For Russians, it would be an embodiment of the cooperation with the United States they have been seeking. For the Trump administration, it may be an opportunity to turn the US relationship with Russia into a form of a more targeted, two-man-channel format working on specific issues (such as the Ryabkov-Shannon mechanism or the Volker-Surkov contact group) or more confidential work such as what Russians and Americans are doing in Amman, Jordan. With all the Russia scandal in Washington, none of these formats have been suspected of being part of any collusion at least until now which is healthy for the sake of the successful settlement of the conflicts these formats are designed to help deliver. But as Al-Monitor colleague Laura Rozen writes, the new sanctions tie the administration's hands on cooperation with Russia. This is something people in Moscow should be and are aware of. This also means that any contact or an attempt to have a joint initiative with Russians will be under the watchful eye of those distrusting Trump, with potential press leaks also being an issue. Yet should the two countries break the deadlock in regional conflicts amid bilateral strain, with virtually all previous options having fallen flat, this approach would be seen as a valid one for the Kremlin and the White House to have pursued. Both must take into account, however, that when it comes to assessing prospects for progress in this approach under the current circumstances, being a pessimist is a better than being an optimist. There was some memory loss, so the first theory was that she may have fainted. It had happened a couple of times at school. Now Molly Welch thinks that the crippling head-on collision with a pick-up truck on I-85 a mile outside Auburn on Feb. 2008, a year before she planned to graduate from Auburn University, was because of the tape recorder. She was a journalism major. She'd just gotten a job with the Auburn Plainsman. She wanted to listen to her interviews. She looked down. The people in the pick-up were fine. Welch almost didn't make it. For a while, it was 50/50. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, which led to spinal damage. Chances were slim she'd even walk again. In 2011, after years of physical therapy, she walked across the stage at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum to receive her Auburn journalism degree. For the past nine years, Welch's has been a heartwarming story of triumph in the face of tragedy. And now she's trying to make sure there's never another one like it. "These past 9 years have not been my idea of a good time," the Alpharetta, Georgia native wrote in the first Facebook message posted by the non-profit organization, A Second Later, she started earlier this year to discourage distracted driving. "So please y'all drive safe!" In addition to motivational speaking, Welch has partnered with the State of Georgia's Governor's Office of Highway Safety to produce a distracted driving PSA. It June, it was nominated for an Emmy. A Second Later is also warning of the dangers of texting behind the wheel via digital billboards across Georgia. "If I can save just one life, it'll be ll worth it," Welch told Atlanta's Fox 5 last week. "It's not that important to risk everything. You can lose everything a second." Police are searching for two gunmen who robbed a Leeds restaurant early Tuesday. Chief Ron Reaves said officers were dispatched just after 12:30 a.m. to Taco Bell at 1801 Ashville Road on a report of an armed robbery. When officers arrived, employees told them two black males - both armed with handguns - entered the restaurant and demanded cash. They fled with an undisclosed amount of money before police arrived. The employees were not injured, Reaves said. The chief said police expect to release more information later today. A child sex abuse investigation that started in Alabama Monday night led to the arrests of a Florida couple early Tuesday, one of whom is a former law enforcement dispatcher. Tyler Bush-Conn, 28, of South Daytona, and his wife Talisha Bush-Conn, 27, of Deltona, were arrested early Tuesday morning by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant said the office's Child Exploitation Unit was contacted about 8 p.m. Monday by Alabama investigators. Gant said the 7-year-old victim told her grandmother in northern Alabama what had been happening to her. The grandmother called the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation, which in turn reached out to Volusia County investigators. Detectives determined the reported abuse took place on several occasions at the Bush-Conns' previous home on Wade Street in DeLand and at the victim's home in Deltona. The victim told detectives Tyler Bush-Conn had sex with her on multiple occasions and took pictures of her while she was naked. Through their investigation, detectives also determined that Talisha Bush-Conn participated in at least one sexual encounter with the victim as well. Detectives worked through the night and, around 2:30 a.m., carried out a search warrant at Tyler Bush-Conn's current home in South Daytona. Detectives also contacted Talisha Bush-Conn at her Deltona home. Tyler Bush-Conn was arrested at 3:52 a.m., and Talisha Bush-Conn was arrested at 6:55 a.m. The exact time frame of the abuse is unconfirmed, but the incidents described by the victim are believed to have started in 2016. ALEA Cpl. Jesse Thornton said the agency's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, along with SBI Major Crimes, worked with the North Florida ICAC Task Force to help make the arrests and get the children to safety. Tyler Bush-Conn is charged with sexual battery on a victim under the age of 12 and lewd or lascivious molestation. Talisha Bush-Conn is charged with being a principal to sexual battery on a victim under the age of 12, lewd or lascivious exhibition, child abuse and child neglect. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending. Both remain in Volusia County Jail, held without bond. Sheriff's officials said the Bush-Conns are separated. Tyler Bush-Conn was hired by the sheriff's office on March 17, 2014, and was fired on Oct. 28, 2016. Talisha Bush-Conn is employed by the County of Volusia in EVAC Emergency Medical Services. Detectives contacted the Department of Children and Families to take custody of the Bush-Conns' two children. Congressman Mo Brooks of Huntsville told a small but enthusiastic gathering at a campaign rally in Pike Road today that he is in a strong position to make the runoff in next week's Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. "The polling data shows that despite a massive onslaught of attack ads, we're still standing," Brooks said during the event at the Sweet Creek Farm Market. "Luther Strange has not knocked us out. In fact, we're closing the gap, and on August the 15th, with just a little nudge, we're going to be in that runoff with Roy Moore, and I very much look forward to that." Brooks stuck with the theme he has followed for weeks, hitting back against negative ads sponsored by the Senate leadership super PAC that supports Strange. "We've got too many people in Washington D.C. who don't care about truthfulness, they don't care about honor, they only care about winning and losing and they'll do anything they can with the millions of dollars they're getting from special interest groups to ensure that they win regardless of the damage they do to the reputations of the good people of the state of Alabama," Brooks said. Brooks faces Strange, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, state Sen. Trip Pittman of Baldwin County, Montgomery physician Randy Brinson and three others in the primary to fill the seat Jeff Sessions vacated to become attorney general. Moore, Strange and Brooks have ranked as the top three in publicly released polls. If no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two will square off in a runoff Sept. 26. Judy Holder of Montgomery attended the Brooks rally and said she believes Brooks can make the runoff if the turnout is strong. She said Brooks needs to continue what he's doing during the final week of campaigning. "I think he's being very visible," Holder said. "He's on a lot of the talk radio shows. He's out doing these kind of things, and that's what it's going to take, and then just getting the word out." Asked why she supports Brooks, Holder said, "I like his honesty. I like the fact that he doesn't back down from what he says. He doesn't go back on his word. And that he's for finding money for the wall. And I'm hoping he can organize people, those Republicans that are going against each other." Joel Meank of Clanton said the attack ads against Brooks made him want to hear from the Congressman. Meank said he attended a forum last week in Wetumpka as well as today's event in Pike Road. "This is the second one I've attended and so far, I'm very impressed," Meank said. "Like last week in Wetumpka he brought up the national deficit as a major problem. He is concerned about it. His attitude toward repeal of the Obamacare. And just his overall attitude toward in everything in general. He's more down to earth." A 33-year-old Montgomery man was arrested Tuesday morning on child sex charges. Deggie Young Hardwick was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals, said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. State prosecutors presented evidence to a Montgomery County grand jury on July 28, which issued a three-count indictment against the suspect. The indictment charges Hardwick with electronic solicitation of a child, second-degree sexual abuse and production of obscene matter. All three charges involve the same victim, who is between the ages of 12 and 16. Hardwick is being held in the Montgomery County Detention Facility on $60,000 bond, jail records show. If convicted, Hardwick faces maximum penalties of 10 years to life imprisonment for production of obscene material, a Class A felony; two to 20 years for electronic solicitation of a child, a Class B felony; and up to one year for second-degree sexual abuse, a Class A misdemeanor Civil rights icon and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, with whom President Trump feuded earlier this year, has endorsed former U.S. attorney Doug Jones of Birmingham in the Democratic Senate primary. The Jones campaign announced the endorsement on Monday night. "Today, I am proud to support Doug Jones for U.S. Senate in Alabama's special election," Lewis said in the endorsement statement. "I have seen Doug's dedication to civil rights and social justice. From his time as U.S. Attorney prosecuting the 16th Street Baptist Church bombers to his private life as an advocate for social justice and economic empowerment, Doug Jones is a proven leader in which we can place our trust. "I am particularly enthused to see Doug's commitments to prioritize the reform of the Voting Rights Act - to reverse voter suppression, his commitment to quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans, and his stand to raise the wages of low income families to a level that make the American Dream available for millions more." Lewis, a congressman from Georgia who grew up in Pike County, Ala., received criticism from Trump days before the inauguration in January. After Lewis questioned the legitimacy of Trump's election and vowed to boycott the swearing in, the then-president-elect blistered Lewis on Twitter, accusing Lewis of being "All talk, talk, talk - no action or results." Lewis was among the leaders of the civil rights movement and suffered a skull fracture in 1965 during the famed march in Selma when marchers were attacked by Alabama State Troopers. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, the nation's highest civilian honor, was once described by U.S. Sen. John McCain as "one of the most respected men in America" and last year the Navy announced it would name a ship after him, making Lewis one of just a few non-presidents to receive that honor. The Democratic and Republican primaries are Aug. 15. Click here for more coverage of the Democratic and Republican Senate races. An Alabama woman is suing two Tennessee police agencies and the state's Division of Children's Services in a federal lawsuit that alleges civil rights violations and injuries to her child. Tracy Marie Garth, a 34-year-old Decatur woman, claims she was denied the right to make a phone call while she was jailed for two weeks in Williamson County. Garth was jailed following her 2016 arrest for traffic violations in Franklin, Tennessee, according to the lawsuit. Garth was driving with her two children to Nashville after midnight on April 25, 2016, planning to go shopping the next day. She was approached by police when she stopped at a Shell gas station just off Interstate 65, according to the lawsuit. A Franklin officer got warrants for Garth's arrest after accusing her of speeding, passing a dump truck, hitting a traffic cone and fleeing police. According to court documents, the arresting officer observed both children were not properly restrained in the vehicle, the Tennessean newspaper reported. The officer got warrants for three counts of felony reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon -- the vehicle, two counts of evading arrest with a motor vehicle, driving on closed roads, speeding, improper passing, failing to stop at a red light and two counts of child restraint violations. Garth was arrested and taken to the Williamson County Jail. Her two children -- an 8-month-old and 25-month-old -- were taken by Franklin police officers until a Child Services worker could come get them. When the worker got to the police department, she found the 25-month-old had "suffered disfiguring burns to his mouth, chin and chest," the lawsuit states. The burns purportedly were caused by hot water, the suit claims. In a federal lawsuit, Decatur woman Tracy Garth claims her 25-month-old child sustained these burns while in the custody of Tennessee police. Garth claims at the time her civil rights were being violated in the Williamson County Jail following her arrest. (Federal court records) The child was taken by police officers to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, but the Child Service's worker failed to investigate how the burns happened, Garth claims in the lawsuit. Garth also claims she wasn't notified about the child's injuries until more than two weeks later. Milissa Reierson, a City of Franklin spokeswoman, told the Tennesseean that Garth's child was burned by hot water after pushing a button on a dispenser in the police department break room. "Though our legal counsel has advised us not to discuss the particulars of this case outside of the courtroom, we hope that the public recognizes that there are two sides to every story," Reierson told the newspaper via email. "In the meantime, we hope that the people whom we serve know how earnestly we care for their rights, their safety, and especially their children." Garth claims she lost her children and her job as a result of the arrest and civil rights violations, according to the lawsuit. Garth couldn't post bail in a timely manner because she wasn't allowed to bring her purse with money and debit cards to jail, according to the lawsuit. Garth alleges she lost her job because she wasn't allowed to call a friend to post her bail until 14 days after the arrest, the lawsuit states. The document alleges a child services investigator filed a petition containing false information to put the children in foster care. Garth is suing for $2.5 million. The lawsuit lists nearly 30 defendants, including Child Services workers, the City of Franklin, Williamson County, several Franklin police officers and many sheriff's deputies. With exception of the City of Franklin, the named agencies declined to comment on litigation, the Associated Press reported. A fired engineer at a now-aborted Mississippi Power Co. plant sued the utility's parent company Tuesday, saying an order to reinstate him is being ignored. Brett Wingo of Homewood filed the whistleblower retaliation case in federal court in Birmingham. Wingo says in the suit that he tried to tell executives with Atlanta-based Southern Co. that construction at the Kemper County power plant wouldn't meet deadlines promised to investors. Wingo says he raised concerns with executives as high as CEO Tom Fanning before he was fired, and describes that firing as retaliation. Spokespersons for Southern didn't immediately return phone calls and emails seeking comment. The suit says Wingo sought to report safety concerns and unrealistic construction schedules internally, but was ignored and then was warned that he was "digging a hole" for his career. Wingo complained to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which ruled in January that Southern should rehire Wingo and pay back wages and benefits, but Southern has yet to act on that order. Wingo's suit demands double back pay, plus additional damages. The $7.5 billion Kemper plant was designed to gasify soft lignite coal, strip out much of the carbon dioxide and other pollutants and burn the gas to generate power. But the plant ended up more than $4.5 billion over budget and three years behind schedule, with many of the delays Wingo foretold. "The Kemper project stands as a monument to the consequences of concealment of the truth, and what too often happens to those who step forward to reveal the truth: they are retaliated against, rather than embraced and protected," Wingo's lawyers wrote. The Mississippi Public Service Commission in June ordered the utility and regulatory staff to negotiate a settlement aimed at running the plant only on natural gas and shielding customers from paying for the gasifier. A regulatory staff attorney said Tuesday that those talks continue. Southern wrote off $2.8 billion worth of gasifier investment when it announced quarterly earnings last week, adding to $3.1 billion it had earlier lost on the project. Wingo's suit said he warned supervisors as early as summer 2012 that the company couldn't complete Kemper before the then-promised deadline of May 2014, and later began telling executives they would illegally mislead shareholders by promising that date. The company was trying to complete the plant during 2014 to claim federal tax credits. After the initial deadline slipped, Wingo said managers manipulated the schedule to "fraudulently" to claim 2014 completion was still possible. Wingo also said he was concerned that piping was poorly installed, with suit saying he feared pressure could lead to "shortcuts on important safety standards." Wingo said he reported his concerns to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in October 2014, claiming the company defrauded investors by misrepresenting the construction schedule. An SEC inquiry continues. Wingo was fired in February 2016, after a long period on administrative leave when the company paid him for no work. Later that year, he provided documents and recordings to The New York Times for an article highly critical of the plant. The company faces other Kemper-related lawsuits. Shareholders are suing in federal court in Atlanta, while a company that was supposed to receive carbon dioxide from the plant is suing in Georgia state court. A case involving Mississippi Power ratepayers was dismissed by a Mississippi state court judge in June, but is being appealed. This week, Israel announced a plan to ban the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network, shut down its offices and revoke the press credentials of its Arabic and English journalists working in Jerusalem, claiming the network was inciting violence. The move has spurred criticism and condemnation from rights groups and press freedom advocates, who have called the plan an attack on free speech and expression. Al Jazeera denounces this decision made by a state that claims to be the only democratic state in the Middle East, the network responded in a statement, adding that Israels justification for the move was odd and biased. Al Jazeera spoke with foreign, Israeli and Palestinian journalists about their experiences reporting in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Derk Walters, Dutch journalist I was stationed in Israel and Palestine starting from September 2014 as a full-time correspondent. In the first year, I never experienced any trouble with the authorities; I was doing my job like in any other regular democracy, I would say. But after the first year, when I wanted to renew my press card, I started experiencing problems. There was an article in which I wrote about Hebron. In the article, I just wrote about the situation in Hebron, about the 600 Jewish settlers in the centre of a Palestinian city basically everything going on there. But then at the Government Press Office, they said that my article was anti-Semitic, and for that reason they said they didnt want to give me the press card initially. So of course, I didnt agree with them. I went to the Dutch embassy and the ambassador spoke to the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs. They agreed to give me a press card, but from then on, they were keeping an eye out on everything that I wrote, and they were assisted by a couple of Dutch people to read everything that I wrote to be translated and sent back to the Israeli authorities within half a day. READ MORE: Amnesty Israels ban on Al Jazeera a brazen attack They would then summon me over anything that I wrote. For example, I wrote analytically about the BDS [boycott, divestment and sanctions] movement; they said to me that this means that you are a BDS supporter. They were just trying to frame me in a certain way, so they kept harassing me over the content of my work. When I had to renew my press card again at the end of 2016, they came up with a new trick, and then they said, Unfortunately, your newspaper is not a newspaper any more, according to our regulations. I said, What do you mean? It has credentials from before the Six-Day War, from before the occupation, so what do you mean not a newspaper? They said, Our regulations revealed that your editor-in-chief is also on the board of the newspaper, which means that there is a conflict of interest, so we cannot be sure that the way you write about Israel is not influenced by the business interests of your editor-in-chief. They revoked my press card and gave me two months to figure my situation out. Eventually, I moved back to Holland. As far as I know, Im on sort of a blacklist. It felt very uncomfortable being watched in different kinds of ways certainly uncomfortable when fellow countrymen from Holland are translating everything you do for the Israeli authorities to enable them to harass me. But what made me feel especially uncomfortable was when I wasnt really sure if I could stay in the country for another month, or another three months, or another half a year. They were always giving a lot of stress to their version of the story, which is something that every government will try to do to a certain extent. They wanted to frame me as a certain anti-Israeli journalist, but I was just doing my job you cannot go to Israel as a correspondent and not write about the occupation. Whenever the word anti-Semitism is being used against you thats a very nasty, mean thing to hear. Its something Israel and its supporters do quite often. Oren Ziv, Israeli journalist While covering protests, clashes and other events in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, there have not been many times in which the Israeli police or army were present and they did not limit the right for free media coverage. Not in every single event are journalists beaten or detained, but our rights are violated on a regular basis. It can be small things that most of us get so used to, we dont bother to complain about them such as throwing stun grenades and tear gas directly at a group of photographers, limiting access to different areas, or pushing us violently to force us to leave. READ MORE: Crackdown aims to silence Palestinian journalists This is why many times we go around in groups, to protect each other, and to document the attacks against us. In the recent events around al-Aqsa, when Palestinians were protesting against new security measures, the police behaviour reached a new low. There was more than the usual harassment. Journalists, even ones holding the Israeli government press cards, were not allowed into Jerusalems Old City, while tourists and Israelis were allowed to go in freely. Many times, we feel its better to be a passerby with a cellphone than a journalist. We dont expect to have more rights than anyone else, but we to expect to have the possibility to work and move freely. In this sense, it is not a choice of a specific police officer, but a clear policy. The Jerusalem police chief, Yoram Halevi, said last week during a news conference that he believes its OK that they prevent the press from moving freely, as the media provokes the events. This is the same tone we hear from Israeli right-wing politicians, who blame and incite against the media, NGOs and left-wing groups. They prefer to blame the ones who expose the situation, rather than dealing with the fact that they have no answers to give to their public. In the current situation, only solidarity from fellow journalists locally and from around the world, both from alternative and mainstream media can pass a clear message to the Israeli government. Faiz Abu Rmeleh, Palestinian journalist I have been a photographer for seven years. I am from the Old City of Jerusalem, where I live. On July 25, I was covering the events at Bab al-Asbat in the Old City, at 10pm. The Israeli forces attacked the protesters and the worshippers. I moved from there to cover the second sit-in demonstration. While I was standing there with all the other journalists in one corner, filming the Israeli forces attacking the sit-in demonstration with sound bombs, Palestinians were throwing rocks. While we were doing our work, an Israeli soldier, the head of the border police unit that was present, was injured in his hand. So they went hysterical in the way they were dealing with people. They came to us [journalists] from behind; they began beating us with their rifles, and they were pushing us in a very violent way, telling us to leave. I refused and told them, You cant deal with us in this way. We are journalists doing our jobs. They attacked me and took me by the neck and started beating me. They handcuffed me and put in the military Jeep. They took me to a detention centre and started asking me discriminatory questions such as What is your religion? They took my ID. There were personal questions, which I refused to answer. They started threatening me and telling me that if you refuse to answer our questions, we will beat you in the face. They started telling me that I was a transexual because I have long hair. It was horrible. They accused me of hindering the work of the police and beating a soldier, which I rejected. I told them I had videos to prove that this didnt happen. I got out on the condition that I was banned from the Old City for 15 days. I proceeded to get an Israeli lawyer who managed to eliminate all the conditions they placed on me. In general, as a photojournalist, I see that in any place around the world that bans filming, or refuses to allow the emergence of a narrative different from the systems, there is a serious problem with the system. This increases my will to be present in these areas to expose the reality. If they were doing things in a legal way, they wouldnt have a problem with people filming. EB, French journalist I faced many issues with the Israeli authorities working as a freelance photojournalist. It was very difficult to obtain a press card. Several media outlets I was collaborating with are not recognised by the government press office, even though they meet the standards required by the GPO. In January 2014, I was blacklisted by the Israeli military while I was covering the Ein Hijleh tent-village launched by Palestinian activists to protest against land confiscation in Area C [of the West Bank]. As I was accessing the site with three other journalists, we were stopped at a flying checkpoint and asked for our ID documents by Israeli soldiers. We showed our passports and press cards, and we were released without any comment from the soldiers after our passports were scanned. However, following this incident, I was questioned by Israeli security each time I crossed borders, and they hinted that I was more of an activist than a photojournalist. READ MORE: Israeli measures at al-Aqsa will increase resistance In January 2015, I was almost deported from Ben Gurion airport, but I managed to negotiate a two-week visa. It took more than six months, and I had to hire a lawyer to be granted a work visa as a photojournalist, granted on August 27. After the GPO approved my long-term press card application and provided me with the letter of intention for a B1 visa, I still had to write a letter to the ministry of interior to justify why I covered the Ein Hijleh campaign. I was told that my situation was now sorted out and that everything should be fine. Nevertheless, I was still questioned every single time I crossed borders, and I was told once by an officer of the ministry of interior at Ben Gurion airport that I still could be deported even though I had a work visa, due to a military order that gave me a five-year ban, starting from January 2014. This means that the ministry of interior did not take into consideration the letter of my lawyer, and they have not removed the ban as they said they would do. I left the country in November 2016, and I am not sure if I will be able to enter again. I will most probably have to hire a lawyer. I was prevented on several occasions from accessing sites, by both Israeli police and army, although I had a press card. I was also subjected to violence by the Israeli military while covering events, and I have witnessed Israeli soldiers targeting journalists directly during protests and clashes. Many of my friends were severely injured or had their equipment broken. The tragedy of the Grenfell Tower block fire in London, which claimed an estimated 80 lives, sent shockwaves that resonated far beyond the British capital. High-rise apartment blocks packed with people feature in many city skylines. Growing populations, a shift towards urbanisation, and limited land mean that in building terms often the only way is up. But standards vary wildly and all too often we see it is the poorest and most marginalised that end up in substandard accommodations, sometimes with terrible consequences. Exactly a month after Grenfell, three people were killed in another tower block fire in Honolulu, Hawaii. Here in Johannesburg we witnessed our own fatal tower block disaster. Seven people perished following a fire that broke out at Cape York Building in early July. Many others were injured. According to reports, one person died after jumping out of the building trying to escape the fire. Johannesburgs mayor, Herman Mashaba, has offered his condolences as if this was some kind of unforeseeable accident. It wasnt. Like the case of Grenfell Towers, the risks were known. People are dead because they were poor and now with the building set to be sealed, others currently living in Cape York will be forced to move and so become further casualties of the fire. While the city has announced that it will offer support to the displaced, there is a shortage of alternative accommodation, making it unclear where people will be relocated. Cape York didnt receive the same media attention as Grenfell Towers, most likely because the death count was not as high and the residents had been squatters, many having occupied the downtown building since the late 1990s. But it shouldnt take anyones needless death to force us to focus on the social issues underlying both tragedies. Across the worlds cities, many residents live in substandard conditions, mostly out of desperation. For too long local governments across many cities have allowed only market forces to dictate the kind of development that is taking place. All too often that is at the expense of low-income residents who are either pushed out of the city or forced to live in unsafe conditions. City authorities are failing to prioritise safe, affordable accommodation. Research (pdf) into the supply of and demand for low-income accommodation in Johannesburgs inner city found that both availability and affordability were major problems for almost half of these residents, who earn less than $245 per month. The Socio-Economic Rights Institute found a household would have to earn about $440 per month to afford the cheapest formal rental available from the private sector. OPINION: The connection between Grenfell and Finsbury Park Its been about ten years since, for the first time, the majority of the worlds population was to be found living in cities. This urban shift is going to continue, with a projection (pdf) that up to 60 percent of the worlds population will live in cities by 2030. This means the demand for affordable housing will grow. Dumping the poorest members of society into substandard accommodation is not a solution. China learned this the hard way. After encouraging cities to sell land to private property developers and abandoning social housing (housing provided by government, and in some countries NGOs, for low-income residents), political leaders were forced into an uncharacteristic backtrack when it became clear that a growing number of residents in its major cities were ending up in squalid buildings. According to reports, seven of the worlds ten most expensive cities for residential property are in China. Prices are up to 40 times the average household annual income. Shanghai, for example, is one of the five most expensive cities in the world in which to buy a house, putting home ownership beyond the reach of most people. More could also be done to compel private developers to ensure that a certain portion of their developments are reserved for low income households. by In an effort to confront the issue, in 2011 Shanghai rolled out an affordable housing programme. The programme offered alternative accommodation for people living in dilapidated buildings. It also offered a public rental housing system, low-rent accommodation and shared ownership homes. But the success of the programme was limited primarily because these interventions were not paired with a fundamental disruption of market forces through strong state regulation. So the social housing project quickly became a money-making scheme. Shanghais latest five-year plan (2016-2020) aims to do more to address property speculation and to increase current housing targets by 60 percent, making available 1.7 million new housing units by 2020. Of these, 1.25 million will be for the low-income market. The provision of safe, affordable housing requires different approaches supported by well-crafted policy, strong implementation, and a variety of actors working together. One way for cities to address this would be to place a moratorium on all new developments, as well as the sale of prime land. State resources should be invested into securing some of these buildings and the land being sold off to use for a public rental accommodation programme; to provide alternative accommodation for those who need it and as sites for social housing programmes. More could also be done to compel private developers to ensure that a certain portion of their developments are reserved for low-income households. But this should only be done in clearly defined circumstances, to ensure that city authorities dont simply hand over their responsibilities to private developers. There is another benefit of this approach. Beyond ensuring access to decent accommodation for low-income households, these strategies would also enable people of different classes to live side by side rather than in the class segregation we see in most cities today. READ MORE: Out in the cold The UKs social housing emergency In addition, all low-cost accommodation must adhere to rigorous safety standards. Like in Toronto, Canada, where earlier this year a by-law was passed that will see landlords who face punishment for non-compliance. Property management companies and building owners must be held to account. City authorities must stand up for their residents whose best interests they are meant to uphold. Municipal budgets will have to be re-ordered to support more social housing and affordable accommodation. They will also have to get tough on building owners, using legal tools, including expropriation, that are increasingly available to them. The benefits of changing how we approach urban housing will be seen in better lives, safe buildings and settled communities. That has to be worth striving towards. As we have seen in London and Johannesburg in recent weeks, the consequences of doing nothing can be deadly. Koketso Moeti has a long background in civic activism and has over the years worked at the intersection of governance, communication and citizen action. She is a 2017 Aspen New Voices Fellow. Follow her on Twitter at @Kmoeti The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. To be an Indian patriot its not enough to just love your country any more. Recently, the vice chancellor of Indias most prominent educational institution, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) announced plans to set up a war memorial and install a decommissioned tank on campus. In his view, these measures would constantly remind students about [] the great sacrifices and valour of the Indian Army and show our strong and close association with defence institutes of the country. JNUs Vice Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (aka BattleTank Kumar) is the latest proponent of Project Patriotism and by far is not a pioneer in this quixotic quest. A self-conscious fragility has marked the Indian national integration dream since the birth of this nation, and it is a fragility that is sought to be offset by aggressive military posturing and a conspicuous brand of patriotism. Last year, in November 2016, the Supreme Court observed that people should feel that they live in a nation and show respect to the national anthem and the national flag, ruling that the national anthem had to be played before any film screening in India. Cinema doors are to be locked and cinemagoers are to stand while the anthem is played. In the southern state of Kerala, at least a dozen people were arrested in December for not standing up while the national anthem was played during screenings at an international film festival. Those who published a cartoon on this issue were reproved for being anti-national by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Last week, the High Court of Madras ruled that singing Vande Mataram (an Indian national song) must be made compulsory in schools and offices in Tamil Nadu state to instil a sense of patriotism in each and every citizen. Far from being an organisational mutual back-scratching exercise in which different arms of the state machinery look out for each other, the bogey of patriotism has provided a convenient platform to right-wing Hindutva organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP. After all, such spirited cheerleading of war brings us closer to becoming a Hindu nation: imagine the battle tank on a university campus that will be garlanded with marigolds, Sanskrit prayers being chanted around it to mark the occasion of Ayudha Pooja (a traditional Hindu festival, part of the festival of triumph). Weapons worship is not a new entry to Hinduism, and fits in very well with the hypermasculine, aggressive Hindu image that the RSS wants for this nation. Unsurprisingly, JNUs Vice Chancellor Kumar has had links with the RSS. OPINION: Umbrella politics of Hindutva In India, to be a patriot is to not merely to love ones land of birth. Under the present political climate, it means being sucked into the grotesque military industrial complex. It means borders and wars, it means enemies and loyalties, it means dismissing any criticism of the nation-state or its political representatives as anti-national. Dalit students at the University of Hyderabad who spoke out against the death penalty were labelled anti-national and were expelled from their hostels and that ostracising and administrative hounding led to the suicide of Rohith Vemula. In the JNU, students like Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya faced sedition charges and imprisonment for allegedly raising anti-India slogans on the university campus. It later turned out that the videos used to implicate them were doctored. In the light of what has come to pass and the battleground that the university has become in the last year, students and faculty have protested against the idea of having a tank on campus and the glorification of the armed forces. But the JNU administration seems to be in no mood to backtrack from its mission of forcing patriotism down their throats. News reports indicate that an invitation has been extended to former Inspector General of Police SRP Kalluri to grace the Independence Day celebrations at JNU on August 15. It must be recalled that Kalluri has been accused of organising fake encounter killings and fake surrenders in the fight against Maoists and launching a witch-hunt against the journalists who exposed the sexual abuse of women and civilian killings during his reign of terror in Bastar. OPINION: A new India where fringe is the mainstream Handing over an opportunity of addressing thousands of students to a man notorious not just for his human rights abuses but also for his deliberate propaganda war against the Adivasi resistance is a shameless attempt to brainwash young, impressionable minds and transform them into glossy, unquestioning flag-wavers. We must also seize this moment to question: Where will this military incursion stop? Are we inching closer to a day where the armed forces will take over the task of teaching? In neighbouring Sri Lanka, university entrants are forced to undergo weeks-long residential training programmes in army/navy/police/air force bases conducted by the Defence Ministry under the guise of leadership and positive thinking. Is there any guarantee that all this chest-thumping about the valour of Indias security forces will not result in a similar outsourcing of education into the hands of the Indian army? Will our universities, that have now been reduced to assembly-line factories producing skilled workers for global capitalism, also branch out into providing cannon fodder for our army? It would befit the student groups in JNU, who displayed unprecedented courage and spunk during last years crackdown, to organise atrocity exhibitions to educate everyone on the terror and horror of Indias security forces. Just as the vice chancellor of JNU wanted constant reminders of the armys sacrifices and valour, let us make it a point to remind everyone that the same army has been responsible for rape (in Jaffna, Tamil Eelam, 1987-1990; in Kunan and Poshpora, Kashmir, 1991; in Manipur, 2004), fake encounters (1528 instances of fake encounter killings in the last 20 years in Manipur alone), mass blinding (Kashmir, 2016) and killings of civilians in in conflict-ridden Kashmir and central India. While educational authorities seem to be eager to convert classrooms into garrisons, perhaps such a counter-narrative would help take some of that sacrifice and valour gloss-and-glitter away and it will help us reflect on real issues: the political motives behind hard-selling patriotism, the militarisation of our every day, the poverty draft that forms the basis of recruitment and conscription to the armed forces, and the countless human rights abuses that have been committed by these men in uniform. Meena Kandasamy is a poet, fiction writer, translator and activist who lives in Chennai and London. She has published two collections of poetry, Touch and Ms Militancy, and the critically acclaimed novels, The Gypsy Goddess and When I Hit You, Or, The Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife (Atlantic Books, May 2017). The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Director of Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center says good people outnumber one bad guy after attack during morning prayers. The director of the Minnesota mosque that was bombed earlier this week has thanked the community for an outpouring of support the centre received following the attack. The Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington was bombed early on Saturday while worshippers gathered inside for morning prayers. No was was injured, but the imams office where someone threw an improvised explosive device was damaged, according to police. Mohamed Omar, the mosques director, said his community was grateful for those who have sent money and messages and visited the centre after the attack. While the bombing was horrific and tragic, Omar told the Associated Press, on the other hand, good people came out, and they outnumber that one bad guy, and we are so pleased and so happy to see this community coming together in our support. A GoFundMe page had raised more than $67,900, while another crowdfunding page on the site LaunchGood had raised more than $16,600. Many online said they stood with the members of the community and called for justice. I stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters of Dar Al Farooq mosque. Christian brothers and sisters, we can't be silent. #DarAlFarooq K. M. Roberts (@AuthorKentR) August 7, 2017 Sending prayers for healing and justice for all who were affected by the bombing of the Dar Al Farooq Mosque! LadyJ (@JLovesReading) August 7, 2017 https://twitter.com/1001leiIa/status/894729430966255618 Visitors also continued to drop off flowers and donations to the site on Monday, according to Omar. Following the attack, many also voiced frustration over President Donald Trumps silence regarding the bombing, highlighting what they called a double standard. Act of terrorism Minnesota state Governor Mark Dayton called the bombing a criminal act of terrorism while visiting the site on Sunday. The Minneapolis FBI is currently investigating the incident and determining whether it was a hate crime. The agency has not announced any arrests or said whether it is has identified any suspects. In a statement on Monday, Rick Thornton, the special agent in charge, said the investigation was the agencys top priority, with his office adding on Twitter that all hands [are] on deck. READ MORE: How US groups spread hate via the Islamophobia industry Omar, the centres director, also said that mosque did not have security cameras that could have captured the attack. He said the community, which is mostly made up of Somali immigrants, cannot afford the cameras. The latest attack comes amid rising Islamophobic sentiment. According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, there were 2,213 anti-Islam bias incidents in 2016, a 57 percent increase from 2015. The number of anti-Muslim hate groups in the US has nearly tripled since Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The march is expected to bring hundreds of far-right activists, including neo-Nazis and white supremacists. Airbnb is cancelling accounts of far-right activists who appear to have booked reservations in the US state of Virginia before a rally that neo-Nazis and white supremacists are expected to attend. The march, which is set to take place in Charlottesville on Saturday, has been dubbed Unite the Right by organisers and was called to support a local statue of Robert E Lee, the Confederacys foremost military leader during the US Civil War. Among those slated to speak are far-right figures such as Jason Kessler who claims to be an organiser of the march and Richard Spencer, a leader in the alt-right movement. Hundreds are expected to attend the highly publicised rally In a statement provided to the local NBC29 news station, the holiday rental company Airbnb said its rules require that members of the Airbnb community accept people regardless of their race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or age. The statement added that when patrons violate the terms of service, Airbnb seeks to take appropriate action including, as in this case, removing them from the platform. Kessler, a former journalist and well-known far-right activist, took to Twitter to decry Airbnbs decision, saying: Its time for the alt-right to flex its muscles and boycott the company. He also said potential legal action against Airbnb should be considered. https://twitter.com/TheMadDimension/status/894628030580236290 But other social media users mocked the far rightists and balked at the assertion that Airbnb ought to be obliged to provide a service for the attendees. LOL. White nationalist Jason Kessler wants to force @AirBnB users to open their homes to Nazis, KKK etc? Typical white boy entitlement. #A12 https://t.co/k811NzENDt Lacy MacAuley (@lacymacauley) August 7, 2017 Nazis are whining that Airbnb won't rent to them for a rally. Boo f-ing hoo. https://t.co/i5V7GxfChd pic.twitter.com/RmSOAFAoX2 someecards (@someecards) August 7, 2017 The rally will be the third of its kind in Charlottesville in the past four months. In May, Richard Spencer led a rally of dozens of torch-wielding protesters. They were outnumbered by hundreds of counter-protesters. Last month, dozens of members of the Ku Klux Klan, the white supremacist group with a history of violent attacks on African Americans, rallied at Charlottesvilles Confederate monument. READ MORE: Debate over US Confederate monuments intensifies Among the groups expected to be present at Saturdays rally are the Traditionalist Worker Party, the National Socialist Movement, the ultra-nationalist Proud Boys and members of the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer blog. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a watchdog organisation that monitors hate groups, said in a statement that the gathering is likely to be a site of violence between attendees and counter-protesters. Local community members, anti-fascists and supporters of the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement, among others, have planned a counter-protest. The event may well become a seminal point for the alt-right and the extremist hate fringe: Its a bold move beyond the anonymity of websites, message boards, pseudonyms and social media a move to take the hardcore, racist, white nationalist message to the public square, the SPLC said in the statement. The city is expected to deploy police, sheriffs deputies and riot-equipped officers from the Virginia State police. Israels decision to shut down Al Jazeeras operations in Jerusalem sends a chilling message that Israeli authorities will not tolerate critical coverage, Amnesty International has said. This is a brazen attack on media freedom in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Magdalena Mughrabi, Amnestys deputy Middle East and North Africa director, said in a statement on Monday. The sharp criticism came a day after Ayoub Kara, Israels communications minister, proposed closing Al Jazeeras office in Jerusalem, revoking press credentials of the networks Arabic and English journalists there and shutting down Al Jazeeras cable and satellite transmissions. Al Jazeera denounces this decision made by a state that claims to be the only democratic state in the Middle East, the network said in a statement, adding that Karas reasons used to justify such a move were odd and biased. READ MORE: Odd and biased Al Jazeera replies to Israels threat Amnesty said Israel joins a host of other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, which have demanded the channels closure in the wake of a dispute between Gulf countries and Qatar. The crisis in the Gulf began on June 5 when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar has vehemently rejected the allegations as baseless. On June 22, the Saudi-led group issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of Al Jazeera. Qatar has dismissed the list and rights groups have called the demand to close Al Jazeera an unacceptable attack. Amnesty called on Israel to halt any attempt to silence critical media. All journalists should be free to carry out their work without facing harassment or intimidation, the rights group said, adding that Israels move was a repressive clampdown on freedom of expression. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly called for Al Jazeeras closure. Amnestys criticism follows condemnation by the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. Censoring Al Jazeera or closing its offices will not bring stability to the region, but it would put Israel firmly in the camp of some of the regions worst enemies of press freedom, CPJs Middle East and North Africa programme coordinator, Sherif Mansour, said in a statement on Monday. Following the Israeli ministers announcement on Sunday, it remains unclear what the next steps will entail. OPINION: What is behind Israels attempt to ban Al Jazeera? The director of Israels government press office, which issues press credentials to journalists, said it would not distribute press cards if it believed that would endanger state security. The blocking of the Al Jazeera network from broadcasting through cable and satellite companies requires special legislation. The closure of Al Jazeeras offices has recently been a contentious subject between Kara and Gilad Erdan, the Israeli public security minister, who deflected the issue to police. Police reportedly advised Erdan back to the communications ministry. Court gives Cedric Herrou suspended jail sentence but defendant says he has no regrets over assisting asylum seekers. A French activist farmer has been convicted of helping refugees cross the border from Italy. The appeal court of Aix-en-Provence, in southern France, on Tuesday gave Cedric Herrou a suspended four-month prison sentence. Authorities said Herrou assisted some 200 migrants over the past year, housing some in his farm in the Roya valley in the Alps, near the Italian border. He also helped them travel in France, using his own vehicle. A 2012 French law provides legal immunity to people helping migrants with humanitarian and disinterested actions but the prosecutor had argued Herrou was subverting the law. Herrou told BFM television he has no regrets and will not stop helping migrants, calling it his citizens duty. Another justice investigation has been opened after he was arrested again last month. At an earlier trial in January, Herrou had said: I picked up kids who tried to cross the border 12 times. There were four deaths on the highway. My inaction and my silence would make me an accomplice. I do not want to be an accomplice. The probe into loss of billions of dollars by central bank in 1990s could lead to prosecution of Mahathir Mohamad. Malaysia on Tuesday opened an inquiry into huge losses by the central bank more than two decades ago, a move the opposition says is aimed at derailing former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamads efforts to overthrow the government. A five-member panel will look into the alleged multi-billion dollar losses incurred by Bank Negara Malaysia through foreign exchange trading in the early 1990s, during Mahathirs tenure as prime minister. The government-appointed Royal Commission of Inquiry will start its 10-day hearing on August 21 and have the power to recommend actions against anyone found to be involved in causing the losses. Mahathir, 92, led the country for 22 years before stepping down in 2003. He has been spearheading calls for Najib Razak, the current prime minister, to resign over a multi-billion dollar financial scandal in indebted state fund 1MDB. The fund is being investigated in several countries for money laundering. Najib has denied the allegations. The former prime minister now leads an opposition coalition aimed at removing Najib in general elections due in mid-2018. READ MORE: Yousef al-Otaiba linked to Malaysia 1MBD scandal: WSJ Mahathirs supporters have criticised the inquiry as a ruse to remove a political opponent as the country looks towards looming elections. It is a political vendetta launched against Mahathir by Najib in order to create a diversion from the scandal-hit state investment fund 1MDB, veteran opposition legislator Lim Kit Siang told AFP news agency. I think they are trying to punish, penalise and prosecute Mahathir in time for the next general elections. Mahathir has said the inquiry is a desperate effort by Najib to silence his detractors. He and other opposition leaders have urged the government to also set up a formal inquiry into losses at 1MDB. Malaysias government has said it found no criminal wrongdoing at 1MDB. But the fund has been at the centre of investigations in the United States and several other countries amid allegations of a global embezzlement and money-laundering scheme. Najib started the fund shortly after taking office in 2009 to promote economic development projects, but it accumulated billions of dollars in debts. READ MORE: US moves to seize another $540m of Malaysias 1MDB fund Few details have emerged of the scale or nature of the alleged forex losses, but reports in local media have suggested that the central bank lost around $10bn. The inquiry panel can make recommendations on action to be taken against those found guilty, but it is up to the attorney general to prosecute. Counting begins after voting ends in tightly contested elections that will decide the fate of incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta. Nairobi, Kenya Polls have closed in Kenya and vote counting has begun in a tight election to pick a president and a new parliament. Voting centres closed at 5pm (14:00 GMT) local time on Tuesday. Results are not expected before Wednesday, and the electoral body has seven days to declare a winner. But Al Jazeeras Catherine Soi, reporting from the capital Nairobi, said the winner was expected to be announced within 48 hours because with every delay to the results, there is going to be a lot of tension. Once the counting is done in all of about 41,000 polling stations, the results are transmitted to the regional tallying centres. The regional results will then be sent to the national tallying centre, she said. The last stage is very sensitive because once the regional results reach the national centre, it cannot be changed. The countrys electoral body said on Tuesday that heavy rains disrupted voting in parts of the country, but election materials and polling officials were airlifted to the locations. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said it would extend voting hours in the affected areas. Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller, reporting from the port city of Mombasa, said there had been a curfew in some parts of Lamu county for security reasons, which affected the voting. People who were still voting at 6pm local time in many cases would have to stay the night at that polling station and only leave in the morning once that curfew was lifted, she said. More than 19 million Kenyans were eligible to vote with 51 percent of those under the age of 31. The election pitted President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is seeking a final five-year term in office, and 72-year-old long-term rival and veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Kenyatta, 55, said he was confident of winning and called for unity. I feel good. I feel positive because we have run a positive campaign, he said. Kenyatta, the son of the countrys founding father, then called on his competitors to accept the outcome of the election. In the event that they lose, let us accept the will of the people. Im myself willing to accept the will of the people, so let them too, he told reporters gathered outside a polling station in the small town of Gatundu outside Nairobi, where he cast his vote. OPINION: What will young Kenyans vote for? Odinga, who lost to Kenyatta in the last election and is competing in his fourth presidential election, voted in Nairobis Kibera slum and left without speaking to reporters. Early on Tuesday, Odinga accused the electoral body of frustrating his partys agent. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Friday, Odinga accused the government of a plot to tamper with the election results. There are attempts to manipulate the results, Odinga said. The only way [Kenyattas party] can win this election is by rigging. Kenya descended into violence in 2007 after the opposition, led by Odinga, claimed the election results were rigged in favour of then incumbent Mwai Kibaki. More than 1,000 people were killed in post-election violence, and some 600,000 were displaced. Meanwhile, international observers have commended for a strong early turnout. Im impressed by the turnout. There are long queues here. It shows the enthusiasm people have to exercise their democratic right, John Mahama, former Ghanaian president and chief Commonwealth election observer, said. Theres been no incident so far. Voting seems to be going smoothly. It is a good sign for Kenyan democracy, he added. To win the election outright, either presidential candidate must garner at least 50 percent of the votes, plus one. The winning candidate must also receive at least 25 percent of the votes in half of Kenyas 47 counties to prevent a second round of voting. If no candidate receives that, the election will go to a runoff, which would be a first in Kenyas history. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 14 out of 29 killed by US-led air raids were members of the same family. US-led coalition raids on Raqqa in northern Syria have killed 29 civilians over the past 24 hours as American-backed forces battle the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, a monitor said on Tuesday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine women and 14 children had been killed in coalition air raids on Raqqa city since Monday evening. It said 14 of the dead were members of one family, who had fled to Raqqa from Palmyra. The death toll could rise because of the number of critically wounded, it added. READ MORE: UN struggles to deliver humanitarian aid in Syria A US-backed Arab-Kurdish alliance is battling to overthrow ISIL, also known as ISIS, from Raqqa, its main Syrian stronghold, and has taken around 45 percent of the city. A spokesman for the US-led coalition could not immediately be reached for comment. The coalition has previously said it strenuously tries to avoid civilian casualties and investigates all reports that its attacks have killed civilians. The coalition said in July that its attacks had killed at least 600 civilians in both Iraq and Syria since it began operations in 2014, a figure that is far lower than those given by independent monitors. Meanwhile, Syrian activists say pro-government forces have intensified their bombardment of the capitals rebel-held Eastern Ghouta suburbs, one day after rebels frustrated a government attempt to advance. The opposition-affiliated Ghouta Media Centre said one civilian was killed and several others injured in government shelling and aerial bombardment. Rebels and other witnesses said shelling and air raids increased on Monday and the bombardment was at its heaviest in a two-month Syrian army campaign. People had retreated to shelters, one resident said, noting that at least five buildings had collapsed under the shelling in two days. Many locals have left the area over recent weeks because of the bombardment and, even under military assaults, they will still be able to do so, the resident said. This isnt Aleppo, where people were surrounded. Ghouta is a bigger space and the towns are more open to each other. No town is surrounded. However, there was little movement between Eastern Ghouta towns because of fighting over territory between rival rebel groups who control that area. From Guptagate to a rape acquittal, a list of political scandals that have tarnished the presidents career. A vote of no confidence on South African President Jacob Zuma will be held by secret ballot on Tuesday. The move could encourage some ruling party MPs to oust him. The president, who came to power in 2009, has been implicated in multiple corruption scandals, while the countrys economy has fallen into recession and unemployment has risen to record levels. Here are some of the corruption scandals he managed to escape: Rape acquittal Before taking office, Zuma was acquitted in 2006 of charges of raping a much younger HIV-positive woman, based on his testimony that the sex was consensual. He shocked the nation by saying he had taken a shower after sex to avoid contracting the virus. The president has also sparked criticism with his polygamous lifestyle he currently has four wives and has reportedly sired children out of wedlock. Clearing the way for 2009 win A court challenge is currently under way to reinstate 783 corruption charges against Zuma that were dropped shortly before he won the 2009 elections. The charges are related to a multimillion-dollar arms deal signed in 1999 when Zuma was deputy president. The charges had been dropped by prosecutors arguing that the case was politically motivated, a move which critics see as having cleared the way for Zuma to win the elections. Home Improvements The corruption scandal perhaps most damaging for Zuma was related to his rural homestead in Nkandla. An anti-graft ombudsman ruled in 2014 that he had unduly used taxpayers money for upgrades to the homestead. Zuma defeated impeachment proceedings over the scandal in April 2016, but was ordered by the Constitutional Court and the Treasury to repay the government 7.8m rand ($587,800). Guptagate Zuma has also come under fire over alleged influence-peddling involving the Gupta business family, which reportedly secured government tenders and even influenced ministerial appointments. Last year, former anti-graft ombudsman Thuli Madonsela released a report calling for a judicial investigation into the allegations. In May, thousands of emails leaked to the press reportedly exposed the close relations between Zuma, his allies and the three Gupta brothers, suggesting that they hosted cabinet ministers and directors of state-owned companies on luxury trips to their home in Dubai. Zuma denied reports that the Guptas had been preparing to set up a second home for him in Dubai. Finance minister who? In December 2015, Zuma suddenly fired popular finance minister Nhlanhla Nene, replacing him with an unknown legislator. The appointment sparked an outcry which forced Zuma to replace the parliamentarian with former finance minister Pravin Gordhan within a few days. In March, Zuma sacked Gordhan, further undermining investor confidence and prompting two ratings agencies to downgrade South Africas credit rating to junk. Trouble with the ICC In March 2016, the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld a judgment that Zumas government had acted illegally when failing to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, when he was attending an African Union summit in Johannesburg in 2015. The blow to South Africas reputation is believed to have contributed to its decision to leave the ICC in October 2016. In July, the ICC ruled that South Africa had violated its rules when failing to arrest al-Bashir. President celebrates with supporters in Cape Town as no-confidence motion against him fails in parliament. The South African parliament has narrowly voted to keep President Jacob Zuma in office in a secret no-confidence motion against the scandal-plagued leader. Members of the 400-seat parliament voted, 198 to 177 with nine abstentions, on Tuesday against the proposal to remove the president. The opposition needed at least 50 votes from the ruling African National Congress members to overthrow Zuma. OPINION: Even if Zuma goes, South Africa will remain divided ANC members erupted in cheers as the result of the voting was announced. Reacting to the vote, Zuma told supporters gathered outside the parliament in Cape Town: Its difficult to defeat the ANC. They always try. The vote has become a test of ANC unity as senior party figures have increasingly become critical of their leader. Al Jazeeras Haru Mutasa, reporting from Cape Town, said that the tight result indicated that some of Zumas party mates voted for him to go. Zuma knows that the vote would be tight. It means he is not as popular as he used to be. There are people within his party who are frustrated about the way he is running the country, our correspondent said. Toxic mix of corruption, nepotism Mmusi Maimane, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party said, praised the brave ANC politicians who voted against Zuma. Todays motion of no confidence result is closer than anyone expected, he said. Jacob Zuma is the manifestation of what the ANC has become a toxic mix of corruption, cronyism and nepotism. Before the voting, Maimane made an impassioned case for Zumas removal. I plead with you, let us put the people of South Africa first and vote to remove Jacob Zuma today, Mmusi Maimane said. Speaking on behalf of the ruling ANC, deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude said the motion against Zuma amounted to a power grab by the opposition. The ANC rejects this motion with the contempt it deserves, she said. The president, who came to power in 2009, has been implicated in multiple corruption scandals, while the countrys economy has fallen into recession and unemployment has risen to record levels. The 75-year-old is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president before the 2019 general election. On Monday, Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete announced that the no-confidence motion against Zuma would be voted on through a secret ballot. The Speakers decision has been subject to a long legal battle waged by opposition parties, with the Constitutional Court ruling that a secret ballot was permissible. HRW says Israels revocation of residency of nearly 15,000 Palestinians in Jerusalem illustrates a two-tiered system. Israel is pushing Jerusalems Palestinian residents to leave their homes through a policy of systematic transfer that violates international law, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said. Israel claims to treat Jerusalem as a unified city, but the reality is effectively one set of rules for Jews and another for Palestinians, Sarah Leah Whitson, HRWs Middle East director, said in a report released on Tuesday. Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day-War in a move never recognised by the international community. The more than 300,000 Palestinians there have permanent residency status but are not Israeli nationals. READ MORE: Sheikh Jarrah family faces eviction to benefit settlers While residents of occupied East Jerusalem are allowed to apply for citizenship, most do not as they view it as recognition of Israeli sovereignty. Since 1967, 14,595 Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem have had their residence status revoked, effectively barring them from remaining in the city of their birth, the HRW report said, citing interior ministry figures. This constitutes forcible transfers when causing displacement to other parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and deportations when displacement takes place outside the country, the report said. Deportation or forced transfers of any part of the population of an occupied territory could amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The majority of these revocations were due to spending periods of time out of the city, with Israel arguing their centre of life was not in Jerusalem. READ MORE: Can Israel transfer its Palestinian population? The Israeli interior ministry spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment. The report comes two days after an Israeli court decided to strip Alla Zayoud, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, of his citizenship after he carried out an attack. It was the first ruling of its kind, according to Israel-based Arab rights group Adalah. Zayoud, a 22-year-old from Umm al-Fahm, was convicted on four counts of attempted murder after he allegedly drove a car into Israeli soldiers in October 2015. He was sentenced to 25 years in jail in June 2016. READ MORE: Israel minimising Palestinian presence in Jerusalem Omar Shakir, HRWs director for Israel and the Palestinian territories, told AFP news agency that the decision to revoke Zayouds nationality would render him stateless, in violation of Israels obligations under international human rights law. Adalah and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel in a joint statement condemned the move, saying it sets a dangerous precedent. The court ruling allows the revocation of Alaa Zayouds citizenship [and] sets a most dangerous precedent. It is no coincidence that the concerned individual is an Arab citizen, the statement said. There has never been a request to revoke the citizenship of a Jewish citizen, even when Jewish citizens were involved in serious or grave crimes. Ankara official says Turkish presence in Qatar creates a balance in the region as two armies carry out drills. Turkish and Qatari navies have carried out a joint exercise in the Gulf Arab country, in a sign of growing military ties between the two nations. Hundreds of troops from both sides participated in the exercise, dubbed Iron Shield, on Monday. The Qatari military said the exercise was aimed at exchanging information, training senior military officials, and improving coordination between the two forces to boost security. In addition to the naval drill, Qatari and Turkish infantry and artillery forces took part in a ground training exercise. Turkeys parliament on June 5 fast-tracked the approval of a bill that allows troops to be deployed to a Turkish military base in Qatar. It also endorsed an agreement that allows the Turkish military to train Qatari security forces. READ MORE: Moves against Qatar violate human rights The Turkish move came days after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Qatar, accusing it with financing and supporting terrorism allegations Doha denies. The blockading countries closed their airspace to commercial flights from Qatar as Saudi Arabia shut down the countrys only land border. Turkey and Qatar are close allies on foreign policy issues, such as Palestine, Syria and Egypt. The first Turkish troop deployment to Qatar was in 2015. Base prevents mistakes Yasin Aktay, a senior member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), told Al Jazeera that Turkeys military presence in Qatar creates a balance in the region that prevents potential clashes. Turkey is protecting its own interests through the base in Qatar, rather than taking sides between the parties at odds. And Ankaras interests require stability in the region. Therefore Turkey would be against an attack on Saudi Arabia as much as Qatar, Aktay told Al Jazeera. There would always be forces to fill the vacuum when there are unbalanced situations like [developments in the Gulf region]. And Turkeys interests require it not to leave a power vacuum there. Turkeys existence there prevents potential mistakes. Turkey and Saudi Arabia are both in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group. Saudi Arabian fighter jets join anti-ISIL operations through Turkeys Incirlik airbase. Riyadh and its allies have called for the closure of Turkeys military base in Qatar as part of their demands to resolve the GCC crisis. RELATED: New batch of Turkish troops arrives in Qatar Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said that the demands were against international law and rejected closing down the base. Ankara had offered to form a military base in Saudi Arabia but was denied by government sources, according to Saudi state media. Battalions of infantry and artillery from both sides also took part in a two-day ground forces component of the training exercise. Follow Umut Uras on Twitter: @Um_Uras Qatar calls it a great success as planes registered in the country gain some access after over two months of blockade. Qatar Airways can now access a new route over international waters in the Gulf controlled by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the world aviation agency announced. The Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has been working with various Middle Eastern states to ensure equitable access to airspace for Qatar-registered aircraft since sanctions were announced on June 5, ICAO spokesman Anthony Philbin said on Tuesday. Some existing air route availability has been assured, and some new temporary or contingency routes have also been developed, including through Bahrain and UAE airspace, he told AFP news agency. Qatar had asked the ICAO to approve new routes after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt banned Qatar Airways from their airspace as part of the economic and diplomatic boycott. The air traffic restrictions have caused headaches for the 2.4 million residents of Qatar, 90 percent of whom are foreigners, as flights were forced to take longer routes, for example, to Southeast Asia. The ICAO and the states involved are continuously monitoring related air route suitability and ATM (air traffic management) measures, which may still be subject to further modification if necessary, by mutual agreement, Philbin said. Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at the aviation consultancy Strategic Aero Research, said the new corridor, though temporary, bodes well for a longer-term solution that may provide much-needed breathing space for Qatar Airways. Ahmad told Al Jazeera that while he does not see any resumption of pre-June 2017 normalcy in terms of flights to and from Doha, it will enable Qatar Airways to fly a little more efficiently, particularly when it could not previously fly over UAE airspace. However, on Wednesday, Bahrain state media denied opening its airspace to Qatar Airways, calling the reports as false and contrary to reality. The UAEs Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority Saif Al Suwaidi in a statement released on Wednesday that what has been decided was allowing Qatari-registered aircraft to use the airspace located above international waters that is administered by the UAE. The UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorism, an allegation Doha vehemently denies. As part of the blockade, the countries restricted airspace for all Qatari-registered aircraft. INTERACTIVE: Qatari flight paths rerouted by Gulf crisis ICAOs announcement on Tuesday followed a closed-door meeting last week between delegates and UN aviation agencys governing council in Montreal. Those at the meeting discussed contingency routes that had been planned as part of a preliminary agreement reached earlier this month, but not yet opened to Qatar-registered flights. Doha had asked ICAO to intervene after its national carrier was denied access to the Saudi-led groups airspace. Qatars Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that the new route was a great success for Qatar, given its ability to convince the International Civil Aviation Organization of the importance of compliance by the siege countries to the Chicago Convention. Strategic Aero Researchs Ahmad said that while the ICAO meeting may have prompted conversations, there was no indication that the ICAO directly influence the decision of the blockading countries. He warned the new corridor could be rescinded in minutes if the UAE or Bahrain decide to do so. From Syria, to Mexico and Sudan, we tell the story of those who risk their lives to cover conflict. Son of War Freelance photojournalist Ahmed Deeb has been travelling to Syria for years. He is one of the few journalists still actively documenting the conflict. While his images of fighters and everyday Syrians alike travel the globe, his work is poorly paid and highly dangerous. The Deadliest Beat It's not necessary to carry a gun to fight, a camera ... is also a weapon. by Ahmed Khatir, journalist in Sudan The daily headlines in the Mexican media are often filled with stories of death and violence. The crimes often remain unsolved but journalists at the weekly newspaper Riodece risking their lives to report the grim truth about Mexicos violent drug war. The journalists tackle the complex politics behind the war on drugs, chasing stories that point to collusion and corruption in high places. Eyes of Nuba For Ahmed Khatir, when war broke out between Sudans government and Nuban rebels in June 2011, he watched, powerless, as Sudanese soldiers burned his familys home. But instead of taking up arms to join the rebels he decided to join a group of citizen journalists who are determined to make the world take notice as another African conflict unfolds. August 6, 2017 TEHRAN, Iran When Hassan Rouhani first became president in 2013, he had a mentor: two-time President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. At the time, Rouhani's rivals hinted that the real president would be Rafsanjani, despite the fact that Rouhani had an unrivaled experience in diplomacy and security affairs, alongside his extensive experience in the parliament and his standing as a senior cleric. Now that Rouhani is starting his second term, and Rafsanjani has died, Rouhani seems ready to start a new chapter that could differ from the previous one, given the achievements, failures and changes that took place in his first term, including reaching a nuclear deal with world powers and the emergence of US President Donald Trump, who has expressed his dismay over the deal. This time, Rouhani seems to be very capable of absorbing differences under the umbrella of the Islamic Republics establishment, and some of what he said during the election campaign that stirred controversy he did not mention in his Aug. 3 speech at the supreme leaders residence or on Aug. 5 in the parliament, were he was sworn in as president for his second term. In the grand plenary chamber of the Iranian parliament, dignitaries from all over the world watched Rouhani take the oath. Representatives of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Jihad sat with delegations from the European Union, the United Kingdom, France and other Western states. Gulf state representation from Qatar, Kuwait and Oman boosted the Iranian goal of the gathering, which clearly showed that the Islamic Republic despite all the attempts by rival states is neither isolated nor on bad terms with most of the world. The Iranian show of diplomatic power saw around 10 heads of state and a similar number of foreign ministers, with a special appearance from EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who seemed to be the special guest. On Aug. 5, Mogherini met with Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the supreme leaders foreign policy adviser Ali Akbar Velayati and Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Irans Strategic Council on Foreign Relations; upon her arrival in the parliament the media and even Iranian officials took pictures of her. Rouhanis speech in the parliament was in effect the second part of his speech two days before at the supreme leaders residence, where the endorsement ceremony was conducted. Given its content and the words the president used, it is fair to say the inauguration speech was carefully crafted, very moderate and did not intimidate his rivals nor gave high expectations to his allies. Rouhani walked between mines, offered a hand for peace and raised other issues including a strong response to any violation of the nuclear deal. On behalf of the Iranian people and authorities, I explicitly announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not start violating the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] but will not remain quiet against the United States' continuing to wriggle out of its commitments, said Rouhani, who addressed Trump without naming him. We have no business with novice politicians, but we announce to those more experienced that the process of the JCPOA can be used as a model for relations and international law. Rouhani explained that his government is a peace-seeking administration in domestic and foreign affairs and prefers peace over war and reform over the status quo. He said, We stretch a hand of friendship to our neighboring countries. While three of the six Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] countries were present at the ceremony the aforementioned Kuwait, Oman and Qatar the remaining three GCC members mainly Saudi Arabia were nonetheless indirectly present in Rouhanis speech. When Rouhani noted that foreign powers intensify instability and chaos in the region by selling billions of dollars of weapons, he implied that there are no real problems among the regions states and all that is happening is because of foreign hands. It was significant that Rouhani preserved a moderate rhetoric in tackling regional issues; even when he spoke of Syria and Yemen, he clearly indicated that the war on terror should continue, yet the best tool to combat terrorism is democratic governance a message that could have several meanings. He also stressed that intra-Syrian dialogue and similarly dialogue between the parties in Yemen are the only way out of those crises. Rouhanis mentioning of the armed forces and support of defensive capabilities for the second time in just a few days could be read as an attempt by the president to cool down his row with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and might be the result of the July 24 meeting that brought together IRGC commander Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, and others at the presidents office. Rouhani was accused during his election campaign of aiming at the powerful revolutionary forces on various occasions, which sparked several rows, including one over who ordered the launching of a missile attack on the Islamic State in Deir ez-Zor in Syria. Rouhanis second term is his chance to officially inherit the political legacy of his late mentor Rafsanjani and be seen as even more of a main player whose voice is heard. To accomplish this, he will have to master the equilibrium game and gain more confidence from other leaders without giving up his red lines. In addition, he must reinvigorate the diplomatic skills that made him the countrys top negotiator while letting go of issues that might stir unnecessary confrontations that could block his ultimate goals. It seems Rouhani is doing well on this for now. The deal authorizes Crowley to charter space to King Ocean in the trade from the U.S. East Coast to Trinidad, and authorizes King Ocean to charter space to Crowley in the trade from the U.S. East Coast to St. Lucia and Barbados. Two long-time customers at Port Everglades in Broward County, Fla., have entered into a vessel sharing agreement they say will expand their reach into the ports top trade market, Central America. In announcing the agreement on Aug. 7, ocean carriers Crowley Caribbean Services and King Ocean Services said the deal authorizes Crowley to charter space to King Ocean in the trade from the U.S. East Coast to Trinidad, and authorizes King Ocean to charter space to Crowley in the trade from the U.S. East Coast to St. Lucia and Barbados. It also authorizes the two carriers to charter space to each other on an as needed/as available basis for the northbound movement of empty containers. King Ocean will operate its own ship from Port Everglades to Costa Rica for the first time, alternating ships with Crowley on the route each week. This new agreement saves our customers time, at least by one full day, because we now have direct service to Port Everglades from Costa Rica and Panama instead of stopping in Miami first, King Ocean spokesman Franco da Costa Gomez said. According to figures from Port Everglades, Central America accounts for 37 percent of all international trade through the port, with refrigerated cargoes like pineapples and melons among the top import commodities. We are pleased that Crowley and King Ocean found a mutually beneficial way to provide expanded services to their customers, Port Everglades Business Development Director Jim Pyburn said in a statement. The appointment of Robert Mueller III as special counsel is simply a desperate move by The Swamp to pre-empt action from Congress and the administration "to get to the bottom: of" -- surveillance-gate; leak-gate; unmasking-gate; dossier-gate. Why don't we just put these elements that constitute a major part of the Nullify the November 8 Election Movement under this term: Swamp-gate. Occam's Razor further instructs that when the Obama administration unleashed surveillance of the Trump presidential campaign, the perpetrators were confident that Hillary Clinton would be our next president and their infamous deeds would remain buried, known only to the colluding media who would never disclose their nefarious sources. Trump-Russia collusion was the story they fashioned to cover-up their own plot, the rigging of the 2016 presidential election. Lo and behold, Trump got elected, and that Trump-Russia collusion story was immediately transformed into a strained explanation for Clinton's loss. The dismissal of FBI director James B. Comey, who apparently colluded with the team that cobbled the false Trump-Russia collusion claim, was seized upon by the denizens of The Swamp into getting another former FBI director, Robert Mueller III, named special counsel to serve the Nullify November 8 cause. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans discern a huge hole in the All-the-Anti-Trump-News-All-the-time Media. The hole is where reports should be about the real scandals, including the illegal surveillance of American citizens and their unmasking, the source of funding for the phony anti-Trump dossier arranged by the shadowy Fusion GPS, and the huge national security scandal surrounding the IT staff from Pakistan given access to classified information via the House of Representatives computer network, including the House Intelligence Committee. It likely is no coincidence the Mueller was reported to have convened a grand jury just when the machinations of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Ben Rhodes, and Samantha Power are beginning to unravel: This Daily Caller report on the curious behavior of Ms. Wasserman-Schultz apparently is inconsistent with The Swamp's anti-Trump aims -- hence the refusal of the leftist media to focus on the Florida congressperson. The Nullify November 8 media also refuses, thus far, to take notice of developments concerning top Obama aide Ben Rhodes and former UN ambassador Samantha Power concerning illegal surveillance and unmasking of U.S. citizens. The truth about Swamp-gate will continue to be buried by a media that is using the First Amendment as weapon to mortally wound our democratic institutions. (At The New York Times, for example, freedom of the press does not include appearance of any pro-Trump columns, or letters to the editor; and news reports are overwhelmingly hostile and insulting to the president.) For the Swamp's denizens, the purpose of American democracy is to serve those seeking, quoting Madison in Federalist No. 57, the "ambitious sacrifice of the many to the aggrandizement of the few." Mueller's grand jury proceedings are, essentially, a disinformation effort for the convenience of the Nullify November 8 media. The disinformation campaign has already raised, falsely, the cry that the rule of law must be protected from Trump. The democracy-hating left has no more use for "the rule of law" than it does for constitutional government. The aggrandizing forces behind surveillance-gate, leak-gate, unmasking-gate, and Russia-gate have no respect for the rule of law. For them, the law is what they say it is. The most glaring example of The Swamp's disdain for the rule of law, of course, is its contempt for our immigration law -- and its brazen use of "sanctuary cities" to defy Congress -- that is to say, the will of the people -- on immigration. As the left rejects immigration law, it rejects the election of President Trump. Madison, in Federalist 41, offered another sage observation. "A bad cause seldom fails to betray itself." Swamp-gate is a very bad cause, indeed. It represents a campaign by desperate people to destroy once and for all the American spirit of liberty. Hamilton in Federalist No. 1 pointed out that history shows that liberty-loving republics are usually overthrown when politicians first pander to the people, starting out as demagogues, ending up as tyrants. The Democrats are doing their part to affirm Hamilton's insight that demagogues are tyrants-in-the-making. Sadly, when a Republican senator, North Carolina's Thom Tillis, appeared on ABC's "This Week," August 6, with a Democrat colleague, Chris Coons, in support of legislation to elevate Special Counsel Mueller above reasonable accountability, we have bipartisan collusion to make The Swamp, not America, great again. An awful ruling for pet owners has come from a federal court, in a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge George Caram Steeh. But the threat is not just to Fido and Fluffy, because, as anyone familiar with how precedent becomes corrupted knows, the ruling will be cited and abused far beyond its original, flawed bases. C.J. Ciaramella writes about this ruling at Reason Magazine, in Federal Judge Rules Unlicensed Dogs Aren't Protected By Fourth Amendment. In deciding an unlicensed dog is contraband not protected by the Fourth Amendment, the ruling confuses government licenses with title, i.e., private ownership and possession. The ruling will eventually be cited in cases involving property other than dogs and other unlicensed activity in our overly license-happy statist society. The crocodile tears shed by the judge for dog owners, however, will be particularly disdained. Quoting the judges written opinion Ciaramella writes: "The Court is aware that this conclusion may not sit well with dog owners and animal lovers in general," the judge wrote. "The reason for any unease stems from the fact that while pet owners consider their pets to be family members, the law considers pets to be property." "The requirements of the Michigan Dog Law and the Detroit City Code, including that all dogs be current with their rabies vaccines, exist to safeguard the public from dangerous animals," he continued. "When a person owns a dog that is unlicensed, in the eyes of the law it is no different than owning any other type of illegal property or contraband. Without any legitimate possessory interest in the dogs, there can be no violation of the Fourth Amendment. Yes, dogs and other pets are loved by adults and their children often far more than other property. And, there are systems for adjudicating fines for unlicensed pets. But for the state to assert lesser constitutional protections for owned but unlicensed property as contraband is dangerous from a Fourth Amendment perspective. The Writs of Assistance targeting contraband helped foment the American Revolution. The Fourth Amendment was written after our colonial experience with such violations of individual liberty and property rights even when contraband was the express target of the searches. But this judge is clueless about the fear and rage he is creating among pet owners and the concomitant danger for police. Pet owners, fearful of what police may do to their property that affectionately welcomes them home each day after work as if their owners had just won the Super Bowl and a Nobel Peace Prize, or cuddle and even sleep beside them, may become more aggressive about protecting their pets. This judge therefore has made life for police more dangerous in addition to his flawed constitutional analysis with potentially larger implications. He sits protected in his court by armed security and metal detectors while contributing to animus directed at police who work on the front lines. There is a healthy and sensible balance when we cut through unconstitutional law and order versus the excessive political correctness or just-plain hatred for the police. The Anglo-American system of law and order we inherited from the common law was designed to protect the security of the community while safeguarding individual liberties. Like any human institution, it has flaws in its execution, but its emphasis on protection of individual liberty provides safeguards against most abuses. The safety of the community and the police would be enhanced if more political leaders and judges articulated the old rules. When police ask or tell you to do something, do it. If the officer is intentionally in the wrong, the judicial system should punish him or her. The good cops deserve this because they are the ones dealing with murderers, thieves, and other miscreants on our behalf. Enter the not-politically correct President Donald Trump, who was lambasted for ethnic and other insensitivity in his comments about how police treat murder suspects being put into paddy wagons. Jack Dunphy (a pseudonym of a police officer in Southern California according to PJ Media), in his wonderful, must-read explanation of The Real Reason Why America's Cops Cheered President Trump's Brentwood Speech notes: For years, Americas police officers watched as the racial grievance industry, aided by credulous reporters and pandering politicians Mr. Obama most of all did their best to persuade the country that the police were responsible for all that ails Americas cities, and that all would be just fine if only the cops could tame their implicit biases and be a little nicer. Officer Dunphy writes about the old rules as: ...an unwritten code that governed behavior on both sides of the law: When the cops caught you dirty, you went to jail like a gentleman and didnt fight, run, or make a fuss about it. The other side of this bargain dictated that police officers not abuse, either physically or verbally, anyone who observed the code. This was a code that benefitted all involved parties. For the lawbreaker, it meant a trouble-free transition into the justice system, without the injuries and added charges that would arise from resisting arrest. And it made for fewer injuries among the cops as well, not to mention fewer torn uniforms and less paperwork for their sergeants. (Sergeants loathe paperwork, and they treat accordingly any subordinate who generates more than his share.) American police are under dangerous and disgraceful assault by radical leftwing anarchy forces. Police assassins and lawsuits have created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation about doing police work in communities. This is not only dangerous for the police who risks their lives on a daily basis to protect us, it weakens our safety; it is contemptuous of their families. Unfortunately, too many American judges, prosecutors, and politicians are contributing to the problem. Even good and well-intentioned officials such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions hurt police in their support for policies such as civil asset forfeiture. These policies give fodder to the anti-police radicals, but they also make sane, pro-law enforcement constitutional conservatives concerned about position[ing] police as part of lawbreaking, thieving government instead of friends to the security of our communities. America may have the worst ruling class in its history, and Donald Trump knows that. Our police need support, and not judicial decisions or political policies that raise the temperature among ordinary citizens. Remember when people used to say, Its a free country? The phrase was used primarily in response to someone with a differing opinion as a way to end debate without insult or trauma. You think the way you want, and I will think the way I want. Its been years since I have heard anyone proudly predicate that we live in a free country. Today, the phrase has effectively fallen out of fashion. In any case, with every passing day, America as a free country no longer seems to be true. We live in a different world than the one I grew up in -- dont get me wrong, thats predominantly a good thing. I would never argue against progress. Yet, the premise that America is still free and the correlation that as citizens we are also free to think and believe what we want is debatable in this era of progressive intolerance and thuggery. Tolerance is now defined as allowing others the opportunity to think and believe what they are told to think and believe. Today, should anyone ever feel he has license to disagree with these new arbiters of all that is right and good, that person is no longer merely someone with a different opinion. That person is evil and should be banished from polite society, his career ruined, perhaps even have his children taken away. No punishment is too severe for those who disagree. Lena Dunham @lenadunham Not gonna call out the airline who delayed cuz shit happens BUT I did just overhear 2 @AmericanAir attendants having a transphobic talk. 2:51 AM - Aug 3, 2017 Note the audacity of that dope Dunham, a rich girl, slithering her way through an airport terminal in search of some non-rich girls private conversation so she can virtue signal to the world how pure her own thoughts are. She didnt like what she heard (with some, what is heard is not necessarily what is said). Hence, she simply had to put it in a tweet and beat a path to their employers ear because shouldnt a life be ruined for impure thought? Lena Dunham @lenadunham At this moment in history we should be teaching our employees about love and inclusivity @AmericanAir. That was worst part of this night. 2:52 AM - Aug 3, 2017 The substantive content of the overheard conversation is immaterial, it made her hurt in her safe space and without any Play-Doh or crayons, she simply had to threaten their employment not only to punish them but as a lesson to all those who dare to think they have a right to their own opinion. Later in a prolongation of her cry for attention, Dunham sent this message to American Airlines: I think it reflects badly on uniformed employees of your company to have that kind of dialogue going on. What if a trans teen was walking behind them? Awareness starts at home but jobs can set standards of practice. Shouldnt it be a poor little rich girls purview to review all thought and her responsibility to destroy anyone with unsanctioned ideas? If transgressors (funny word to use in the context of the overheard conversation) are subsequently fired from their jobs as punishment for their baseborn bias, then all the better. She doesnt have to worry about their familys bad habits, which include rent, lunch, and dinner. Let them eat tweets! Remember, Sticks and stone can break my bones but words will never harm me? Apparently now, should you disagree, your words not only harm they are an act of violence best answered with sticks and stones. When Milo Yiannopoulos was invited to speak at Berkeley College there were riots by masked agitators. The invitation was rescinded. Ann Coulters speech at Berkeley was canceled out of fear for her safety. Protesters, some wearing masks, physically confronted Charles Murray when he tried to speak at Vermonts Middlebury College -- when Allison Stanger, a liberal Middlebury professor, tried to come to his aid, protesters assaulted her, gracing her with the gift of a trip to the emergency room. In Olympia, Washington, students patrolled the campus at Evergreen State College with bats, batons, and tasers when Professor Bret Weinstein refused to participate in the no-whites allowed Day of Absence. Eric Clanton, an Antifa activist and professor of philosophy and ethics while hiding behind a mask used a metal bicycle lock to assault Trump supporters at a Patriot Day rally, sending one man to the hospital. You see, today, we live in a world where thought is violence and actual violence in reaction to thought is merely a measured response. In fact, violence is now an acceptable antiphon for anything that offends the right thinkers -- yet it is only tolerable on their side of the line. In this new reality, people are no longer allowed to have opinions not preapproved by the progressive thinkers who control the media the schools and the conversation. Disagree with the LGBTUVWXYZ (sooner or later, theyre going to run out of letters) crowd or the climate change cabal or the BLM movement or the you didnt build that believers or the tax and spend disciples or whatever is the latest fashionable progressive precept and you are an evil bastard prosecuting violence on the weak. We are no longer allowed to think because someone is always watching. There is a slimy Dunham in every progressive just waiting to grab his fifteen minutes on the back of anything said that they find unacceptable. Make no mistake, thought is now violence and impure thought will be met with actual violence. Its for our own good. Forty-three years ago tomorrow, on August 9th, 1974 Richard Nixon resigned as the 37th President of the United States, becoming the only President in American history to quit while in office. His resignation was ostensibly due to his personal role in the lawful (as President), albeit unseemly, cover-up of the January 1972 Watergate break-in of the Democratic National Committee Office (of which he was unaware at the time). The reality is that Nixons demise was the culmination of the loathing by and determination of the media-Democratic Party cabal to find or fabricate anything to force him out of office and a feckless Republican Party who willingly and without a whimper abandoned him. August 9, 1973, Richard Nixon leaves the White House after resigning the presidency This unexpected, exhilarating and addictive success by the media-Democratic Party cabal has cast a long dark shadow over the political landscape during the past 43 years, as this strategy has been utilized by this same alliance in order to attempt to compel the resignations or at a minimum grossly undermine the Presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Yet when the opposition used this template against one of their own, Bill Clinton, someone who was unequivocally guilty of malfeasance, the cabal protected him to the end. With the election of Donald Trump, who is more loathed than Nixon, the process began almost immediately after Election Day and, in many ways, has gone far beyond the tactics previously employed against his Republican predecessors. Ronald Reagan, based on his two electoral landslides, was the most popular president of the 20th Century and by far the most successful Republican. Something had to be found to destroy not only his presidency but the man on a personal level. That something was Iran-Contra-- the sale of arms to the rebels in Nicaragua in supposed contravention of the Boland Amendment as attached to various Appropriation Bills. While the spineless Republicans controlled the Senate, they were woefully outnumbered in the House (272-163). Hearings were immediately convened and both Parties agreed to the necessity of appointing of an Special Independent Counsel. A three-judge panel of the D.C. Court of Appeals appointed Lawrence Walsh. The anticipation of another Watergate triumph filled the hearts of the media and the Democrats. However, Reagan, and many of his subordinates, would not go quietly into the night and, relying on his popularity with the American people as well as the justice and validity of his administrations actions, he aggressively withstood the onslaught and maintained his standing with the citizenry. Nonetheless, Lawrence Walsh successfully indicted and obtained convictions on evergreen obstruction of justice violations against a number of administration officials. However, many were later overturned by the courts and pardons issued by President George H. W. Bush. In their collusion with the media, Walsh and the Democrats in Congress overall attempt to destroy Reagan and his legacy encompassed 7 years (1986-1992) and cost the taxpayers in excess of $57.1 million ($107.6 million today). While George H. W. Bush was not subject to a similar assault by the media-Democratic Party cabal, he was, through the medias allusions, innuendos and fabrications, falsely implicated and hamstrung by the Iran-Contra ordeal, which was kept alive until the end of his term. In 1994, the media-Democratic Party cabal was hoisted on their own petard as Kenneth Starr was appointed Independent Counsel by the Court (pursuant to the Democrat passed Ethics in Government Act of 1978) to investigate Bill Clintons activities regarding Whitewater, and later expanded by Attorney General Janet Reno to include the Monica Lewinsky affair. The media and the Democrats immediately assumed the role of Clinton protector, justifying any behavior or falsehood uttered by Clinton. They attacked Starr portraying him as the deviant, megalomaniacal Torquemada persecuting an innocent man for minor personal indiscretions. That there was not only irrefutable evidence of perjury in sworn and notarized testimony but physical evidence in the matter of a blue dress was immaterial. While the House of Representatives (under Republican control) was able to impeach Clinton, his Party in the Senate stood by him and refused to vote for a conviction and thus eviction from office. Unlike Nixon, Clinton, who had the unquestioned support of his party and the media behind him, had no intention of doing the honorable thing and resign. Not unexpectedly, the statute delineating the Court appointment of Independent Counsels was allowed to expire in June of 1999 and was replaced by another statute allowing the appointment of Special Counsels, when necessary, by the Attorney General as he or she may see fit. In 2004, the pathologically civil George W. Bush succumbed to the incessant caterwauling of the media and the Democrats and at the behest of James Comey, who was the acting Attorney General, consented to the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate the specious and irrelevant Valarie Plame affair. A CIA employee whom the media claimed had been deliberately exposed by the White House as a covert agent. She was not a covert agent and the Special Counsel knew almost immediately who had leaked her name. Regardless, the investigation went on for two years with one minor conviction for alleged perjury. However, the media-Democrat cabal accomplished its goal, as the investigation helped cast a further pall over the administration, abetting an erosion of confidence with the American people thus opening the door for the election of Barack Obama. Unsurprisingly, despite numerous scandals (e.g. Fast and Furious, the IRS, Benghazi and Hillary Clinton Emails) there were no Special Counsels convened during the Obama years to investigate any of these matters and no outcry from the media to do so. Today, another Republican is in the White House and the nation is again subject to the daily and relentless onslaught of the Nixonian undermining and/or removal strategy. In the cross hairs is Donald Trump. Through the dubious machinations of James Comey, the incessant drumbeat of the media and the Democrats forcing recusals in the Department of Justice, another Special Counsel is standing astride the political world. Unlike previous occasions, where there was at least the fig leaf of criminal activity to justify a special prosecutor or counsel, there was no criminal activity alleged in the brief given to Robert Mueller as Special Counsel other than to investigate the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election -- in essence a national security matter and not one for a special counsel who by statute is only supposed to investigate criminal matters. The fig leaf or justification to go after Nixon in Watergate was a criminal break-in, perjury and obstruction; in Iran-Contra, the violation of the Boland Amendment; with Bill Clinton, it was a fraudulent real estate scheme and perjury; and in the Plame affair, the outing of a CIA agent. But more importantly, these prosecutors had a mandate to investigate a specific criminal matter. With the powers conveyed to Mueller, this is a criminal investigation looking for a justification. In that sense, it is worse than the investigative abuses of Watergate or Iran-Contra. Never in American history has a prosecutor with unlimited resources and manpower been turned loose on a President and his election campaign to function as a police detective and investigate anything he can claim is remotely tangential or marginally related to his apparent unconstrained mandate. The voluminous amount of information that will be gathered by the Special Counsel in this setting will be unimaginable. Considering the media and Washington Establishments animosity toward Trump, and in todays world of leaks and innuendos, how is this massive volume of information going to kept confidential? There is little doubt that this information will be leaked and exploited by the opposition party and the media to undermine and destroy the Administration even if there is no criminal activity uncovered by Mueller. This entire process may well end up being the ultimate opposition research for the Democratic Party or in the future when the shoe is on the other foot, perhaps the Republican Party. What is to prevent an unscrupulous attorney general, in league with a president, from appointing a special counsel to investigate a political opponent on specious but marginally valid grounds? With the Mueller precedent, nothing -- unless Congress on a veto proof basis invalidates the current law. It matters not whether one is rabidly pro-Trump, aggressively anti-Trump or passionately never-Trump, the precedent this entire process has set is alarming. Rod Rosenstein, the Deputy Attorney General should shut down the Special Counsel investigation or be absolutely certain that Robert Mueller, based on an investigation limited to just Russian interference and collusion, can, with evidence akin to that of the Bill Clinton inquiry, prove the Trump campaign colluded with Russia and include in any indictment the illicit activities of the Democratic Party in their undertakings with the Russians. Anything short of or beyond that narrow corridor will trigger animosity, anger and resentment among the body politic that may well eventuate into national chaos. The moment of decision for Mr. Mueller and Mr. Rosenstein is rapidly approaching. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. This is a plain enough statement, if you take it for what it actually says rather than as a broad, overarching statement of unlimited religious liberty. Since most contemporary leftists cannot tell the difference between law and poetry, a bit of historical context and rational analysis may be necessary to bring us back to earth. It is very likely that the framers of the First Amendment were trying to avoid a specific problem by including the establishment clause. At the time the document was written, England and the Europe had endured over a century of religious wars that were still fresh in the publics imagination. These wars between different denominations of Christians had left their scars. Since most of the original thirteen American colonies had strong leanings toward one denomination or another, forbidding Congress from establishing a state religion was a reassurance to most Americans. The amendment simply meant that the Federal legislature could neither establish the most powerful domination as a national religion, nor persecute any of the weaker ones then existing or anticipated. There is little reason to believe the framers wished to create an unconditional haven for any religion whatsoever. Likewise, there is no indication in the text that the framers wished to strip state governments of every vestige of Christian influence. The First Amendment itself did not, and still doesnt, prevent the state legislature of Virginia from opening their proceedings with a Baptist prayer, the legislature of Massachusetts with a Congregationalist prayer, or the legislature of Pennsylvania with a Quaker moment of silence. Rather, it prevents the Federal government from making that decision for them. It is nonsense to suppose the framers wished to allow, for all time, the free exercise of any religion whatsoever. Most of the framers were educated and knowledgeable men. They would have been aware of the barbaric excesses of the pre-Christian religions of Europe, as well as the elaborate but horrific religions the Spanish had encountered in Mesoamerica. It isnt plausible that Thomas Jefferson and his associates were prepared to tolerate anything like the religion of the Aztecs, for example, which called for human sacrifice as a central feature of its doctrine. Even the tolerant Quakers would have balked at having the beating heart of a family member ripped out from time to time -- all to appease the odd beliefs of their neighbors. Similarly, there is no reason to believe the framers would have welcomed a colony of Muslims from the Barbary Coast -- yearning not to breathe free, but to extend their religiously-endorsed Islamic conquest to our fledgling republic. The framers were not such naive idealists as to put religious tolerance above the more pressing considerations of our safety and our own national sovereignty. The popular notion that the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution is the free exercise of any religion whatsoever is not the creation of our colonial forefathers -- but of much more modern, much more atheistic minds. The belief that all religions are compatible is a consequence of the belief that all religious are more-or-less alike. Atheists typically presuppose that the purpose of all religions is to provide a comforting promise of an afterlife to a gullible public, and since they believe all religions share this function it follows, in the atheists worldview, that all religious disagreement is superficial. Thus, it isnt hard for an atheist to believe that a Muslim is just a Mennonite with a different hat preference. Quaint and backward perhaps, but essentially harmless. In the rare instances when members of the secular left are forced to admit that Muslims and Christians are actually quite different, they tend to assume that our modern decadent culture will erode Islams rough edges if given time making yesterdays jihadis into a bearded breed of Islamo-unitarians. People who believe in killing the infidel wherever they find them -- but asking the infidels permission first, then killing them with kindness. In short, the leftist atheist culture has done such an effective job destroying the real substance of Western Christianity that they themselves can no longer understand what a deeply held religious conviction even is. Teaching them could be very costly for the whole of Western civilization. The establishment clause wasnt subverted in a single act, but has been remade gradually through a broad interpretation of the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment was passed after the Civil War to prevent the states of the former Confederacy from achieving through state law what they had failed to achieve through open warfare. It declared that what the Federal government could not do, no state should be allowed to do either -- and that what the Federal government guaranteed, no state should be allowed to deny. Yet again, a short-term solution gave birth to unintended consequences. Whereas the original U.S. Constitution protected the states from a potentially dominating Federal government, the 14th amendment reversed the original Constitutions intent by making Federal law trump state law. While it is perhaps not such a bad idea to forbid individual states from curtailing free speech, it is less obvious that the overwhelming Christianity of a state shouldnt be a good enough reason to enshrine the Ten Commandments on its courthouses. Moreover, since unbelief isnt generally seen to constitute a religion (Torcaso v. Watkins notwithstanding) the functional establishment of atheism as a state creed has not been interfered with by the establishment clause. While it would create a furor to have a Christian witness sworn in by placing his hand on a copy of Richard Dawkins The God Delusion, it wouldnt raise the same Constitutional issues as swearing in a Hindu on the KJV. The word religion has, paradoxically, given unbelief a legally advantageous status. When founding constitutions are interpreted to essentially reverse their original intentions, the law becomes a farce. What, exactly, is the difference between having a living constitution and having no constitution at all? What was once a declaration to avoid domestic religious tyranny is now being used to shield a far worse religious tyranny imported from the Middle East. And Islamists, unfortunately, do not give a damn about either our history or the cynical cleverness of progressive judges. Apparently, the "resistance" to Donald Trump by Democrats includes backing away from long held support for the same immigration plan the president has proposed. Washington Times: Democrats who several years ago voted to end the government's green-card giveaways and to institute a point system for selecting some new immigrants are quickly backing away now that President Trump has embraced the idea. Once a source of consensus for a legal immigration system that all sides agree is broken, the idea of American officials becoming more selective in admittances has become contentious. Democrats say they fear how Mr. Trump would employ stricter selection criteria. One Democratic leader called it "anti-immigrant," and another called it a betrayal of the principles of the Statue of Liberty. The crux of the bill, sponsored by Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia and embraced last week at the White House by Mr. Trump, would trim the broad range of family relationships that qualify for immigration and inject a government screen for needed skills and English proficiency into employer immigration. The bill also would nix the diversity visa lottery that annually doles out some 55,000 green cards signaling legal permanent immigration based purely on chance. All three proposals were staples of the 2007 immigration bill and were again reflected in the 2013 bill backed by Democrats from President Obama down. "Many people forget that reforming the nation's broken immigration system to focus on high-skilled labor used to be a non-controversial position," the White House said in a memo last week. "With Democrats struggling to connect with working-class voters who've struggled from stagnating wages for decades, maybe they should take a page from themselves." The president cast his hard line against illegal immigration as a matter of public safety, while his push for stricter limits to legal immigration he says is a way to protect American workers from competition. Mr. Trump's backing for the bill, after his divisive presidential campaign, has helped spur a feverish backlash among congressional Democrats and immigrant rights activists, who vow to resist the proposed changes. There's no hiding from Google! The author of the samizdat memo that "went viral" within Google late last week, and was leaked to the public over the weekend, has been identified and fired. George Orwell would immediately recognize the problem. What we have here is doubleplusungood thoughtcrime. Were he still alive, I speculate that Orwell would offer a new corporate slogan to replace "Don't be evil." How about "Diversity means uniformity"? Mark Bergen and Ellen Huet write at Bloomberg: Alphabet Inc.'s Google has fired an employee who wrote an internal memo blasting the web company's diversity policies, creating a firestorm across Silicon Valley. James Damore, the Google engineer who wrote the note, confirmed his dismissal in an email, saying that he had been fired for "perpetuating gender stereotypes." He said he's "currently exploring all possible legal remedies." I just bet he is. If he starts a legal defense fund, I will contribute to it. I would love to see Google executives defending themselves in court, testifying before a Silicon Valley jury made up of the racial mix that characterizes the area. There are lots of Asian-Americans, who ware way, way overrepresented in the workforce and may have to make way for people with the right race and gender makeup. Keep in mind that the Sessions Justice Department is looking into the admissions standards at Harvard that require Asian-Americans to score hundreds of points higher on SATs than whites, blacks, or Hispanics. As this potential case makes its way through the wheels of justice, expect lots of conversations about affirmative action and Asian-Americans. Here is the defense that Google is now indicating it will take: Earlier on Monday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a note to employees that said portions of the memo "violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." But he didn't say if the company was taking action against the employee. A Google representative, asked about the dismissal, referred to Pichai's memo. ... After the controversy swelled, Danielle Brown, Google's new vice president for diversity, integrity and governance, sent a statement to staff condemning Damore's views and reaffirmed the company's stance on diversity. In internal discussion boards, multiple employees said they supported firing the author, and some said they would not choose to work with him, according to postings viewed by Bloomberg News. "We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company," Brown said in the statement. "We'll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul." There is a problem with this line of thought: The subject of Google's ideological bent came up at the most recent shareholder meeting, in June. A shareholder asked executives whether conservatives would feel welcome at the company. Executives disagreed with the idea that anyone wouldn't. "The company was founded under the principles of freedom of expression, diversity, inclusiveness and science-based thinking," Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt said at the time. "You'll also find that all of the other companies in our industry agree with us." Going back to basics, political correctness aside, Google requires the best talent in the world to maintain its commanding position and needs to recruit talented people away from rivals and then keep them motivated to work their butts off. That's why they provide those free gourmet meals and massages. But telling the males of that talent pool they must think only one way, and that there are too many of them already anyway, is not doubleplusgood, as Orwell would put it. Engineers, after all, are people who are required to think clearly and logically. There is every reason for the top management of Google and its parent Alphabet to assume that they can have their way selling self-contradictory Orwellian nonsense to the public, the global I.T. talent pool, and even federal and state courts. After all, they control what comes up when people, including especially journalists, perform internet searches. They can afford the best P.R. pros and the best lawyers in the world. Visionaries who succeed on a spectacular scale tend to develop a bit of hubris. They have been so right so often that it's the inevitable human temptation. My heart hopes that Mr. Damore is able to make a case against Google and pursue a lawsuit. I do not know enough about employment law to express an opinion on the potential for success. Of course, Google could short-circuit the controversy by settling with Damore for far less than the legal expense of fighting him. Thanks to Judicial Watch (donate here, please!), we have another 417-page look into the mind of Loretta Lynch, particularly in the wake of the unexpected media revelation of her tarmac meeting with Bill Clinton while the DoJ was investigating his wife. That was supposed to be secret, after all. And there was panic, and help from the MSM, in trying to tamp it down. John Daniel Davidson of The Federalist sums up the meaning of the media collaboration: The documents reveal what many conservative observers noted throughout the Obama administration: the media's reluctance to cover anything that might damage the president or the Democratic Party, to the point of ignoring what would have been considered major scandals in a Republican administration. In this case, the DOJ documents show that reporters for The Washington Post, The New York Times, and ABC News didn't want to cover the meeting on the tarmac between Lynch and Clinton, although it happened when Hillary Clinton was under a legal cloud. One reporter for the Times emailed a DOJ official to say he was "pressed into service to write about the questions being raised" by the meeting. A reporter for the Post emailed that although his editors "are still pretty interested" in the story, he wanted to "put it to rest." Emails Reveal Reporters' Shocking Lack Of Curiosity Can you imagine these reporters wanting to put such a story to rest if had been about Donald Trump or any other GOP leader? Me neither. Recall that at the time the Lynch-Clinton meeting took place, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was under federal investigation for her use of a private email server while serving as Obama's secretary of State. The excuse that the MSM will use for not covering the treasure trove is that Lynch violated no laws. She is a lawyer, after all. The real reason, of course, is that they are revealed to be in the bag as the propaganda arm of the Obama administration. Lynch maintained and used an email account with a pseudonym, "Elizabeth Carlisle" (the name of her grandmother). She joins a list of Obama officials, including her predecessor Eric Holder (Lew Alcindor), EPA administrator Lisa Jackson (Richard Windsor), and Lois Lerner (Toby Miles). She didn't attempt to conceal these emails from a FOIA search, which would have been illegal, as the Daily Caller reported: Lynch's attorney, Robert Raben, confirmed to TheDC on Monday that Lynch emailed under that pseudonym. He pointed to an article published in The Hill last February in which the Justice Department acknowledged that Lynch was using an email handle that was not her given name. "That address was and is known to the individuals who process [Freedom of Information Act] requests; the practice, similar to using initials or numbers in an email, helps guard against security risks and prevent inundation of mailboxes," Raben said. Lynch's potential problems with obstruction of justice depend in part on what can be established as her state of mind at the time of the acts. That speaks to intent. The use of an alias to discuss those acts and the enlistment of outside help to conceal those acts, before and after the event, speak to mindset. A nine-year-old who wrote a letter of support to President Trump that was read by Sarah Huckabee Sanders at a press briefing last month said his mother had to bake him a MAGA hat cake herself because she couldn't find a baker who would do it. Washington Times: At the July 26 White House press briefing, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders read a letter from a boy named Dylan who said Mr. Trump was his favorite president. When she later released the letter publicly, the boy's last name was blacked out. The only identifying clue was that everyone called him "Pickle." The media scrambled to verify the letter's authenticity, and the next day, The Washington Post confirmed it was sent by 9-year-old Dylan Harbin of California. The Post reported that, when Dylan asked for a "Donald Trump cake" for his birthday, his mother "made him one herself, because she couldn't find a bakery willing and able to do it." An example of freedom of speech exercised by the bakers? There certainly aren't any national organizations fighting for Dylan's right to have a cake honoring his political hero. This is unlike several bakers who have been sued by LGBT activists for refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding. Michael P. Farris is president, CEO and general counsel of the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Christian legal group defending Jack Phillips, a Colorado baker who was sued by a gay couple for declining to make their same-sex wedding cake. Mr. Farris wondered why bakers are allowed to decline to make birthday cakes supporting Mr. Trump, but not wedding cakes supporting same-sex marriage. "Similarly here, cake shops declined Pickle's order for conscience reasons," Mr. Farris wrote in a blog post on Thursday. "Yet, no one on the Left is calling for legal action against the cake shops. And neither should anyone on the Right." "The fact is that these cake shops have freedom of speech," he continued. "They have the right to decline to use their artistic talents to celebrate events or promote messages that violate their beliefs, even if it offends a nice little kid." The owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, Mr. Phillips declines to make cakes that go against his Christian beliefs, including those for bachelor's parties or Halloween. For refusing to make the same-sex wedding cake, he was ordered by the state's Civil Rights Commission to undergo "re-education" training, change his store policies and file quarterly "compliance" reports for two years. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Mr. Phillips' case in June, and oral argument will likely be held in the term beginning this fall. About the only difference between political objections to baking Trump cakes and a religious objection to baking cakes for same-sex ceremonies is the Civil Rights Act. And it isn't so much the act itself; it's how the law is being interpreted and the declining importance in the eyes of the American legal system of religious freedom. "Civil rights" have now become pre-eminent over freedom of religion. That cornerstone freedom has been eroded by the belief that "social justice" is being denied protected groups because Christians object to the gay lifestyle. To the legal system, it's not a question of "conscience" as much as it's a matter of wrong-headed beliefs. There is no religious element to objecting to gay marriage, they believe. It's simple bigotry. That's why the bakers can get away with refusing to bake a pro-Trump cake. There is an element of "conscience" to the anti-Trump bakers' decision that courts recognize, unlike any religious exemption that courts have been eroding over the last few years. It makes the makeup of the Supreme Court that much more important. Once upon a time, Hollywood and rockers used to sing about dead demonstrators, such as the case of Kent State, popularized by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, We're finally on our own. This summer I hear the drumming, Four dead in Ohio. Kent State 1970 was obviously a terrible event. It sparked a lot of protests, songs, and speeches. At the same time, Kent State was a total aberration, and there is no history of U.S. soldiers shooting at protesters. Where are Michael Moore, Oliver Stone, Sean Penn, and all of the others who danced the Chavez shuffle over the last years? This is a report about what is happening in the streets of Venezuela. We are witnessing a rebellion against communism, socialism, and leftism: The legitimacy of Sunday's election to overhaul Venezuela's Constitution was under threat as many voters avoided the ballot box, nations across the region rejected the predetermined result and the streets erupted in the deadliest day of unrest in three months. President Nicolas Maduro had ordered a rewriting of the Constitution. The election on Sunday was simply to pick the members of the constituent assembly that will carry it out; there was no option to reject the process. By evening, electoral officials announced the winners of the vote, a list of leftist stalwarts including Diosdado Cabello, a powerful politician who once participated in a failed coup attempt, and Cilia Flores, Mr. Maduro's wife. The result effectively liquidates the Venezuelan political opposition and leaves the left with complete control over a country that remains deeply divided. "I said rain, thunder or lightning, the 30th of July was going to come," the president said in a shaky video made from his vehicle after he cast his ballot. He remained sanguine throughout the day, saying the vote would soon bring peace to a country where about 120 people have died during protests this year against his rule. By any comparison, 120 people killed, and the number is likely to grow, is one of the most deadly events in recent Latin American history. Where is Hollywood's outrage? Where are the speeches at the awards ceremonies blasting the government of Venezuela for shooting at young people who want to be free? Didn't we used to hear about Chile and Pinochet years ago? My guess is that there are a couple of things going on. First, the left does not know how to admit that this Chavezism thing was a big fraud, and they are the fools who fell for it. Second, many of them actually support the socialist republic of Venezuela. None of these artists invests his money in Venezuela or Cuba, but all of them sure love any revolution that expropriates U.S. companies and alleges to provide free health care. In the meantime, more brave people stand up to a dictator in Venezuela, but Hollywood is busy with another Al Gore movie. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Much has been written about Robert Mueller and his escalating witch hunt, his apparent intention to find some crime with which he can charge Donald Trump or one or more of those close to him. Lavrentiy Beria is often quoted: "Show me the man and I'll find you the crime." That is what Patrick Fitzgerald did to Scooter Libby, even though he knew full well that Libby was not guilty of revealing the name of Valerie Plame, who was not even a covert officer. It was all a set-up, an effort to bring down Bush by any means necessary. It was an egregious violation of the law as meant to be adjudicated. Mueller never should have been appointed as special counsel by Rod Rosenstein, the deputy A.G., to investigate any Trump campaign "collusion" with Russia. Rosenstein knew very well that Mueller was close to James Comey and put virtually no restrictions on the scope of the investigation, despite what he said on Fox News Sunday. This fact alone should make Rosenstein's judgment questionable. Mueller, long-time best pal of Comey, should never have accepted the job as Special Counsel in this case. He and Comey have a long history of working in concert for their own ends. But Mueller did accept the job. This fact alone tells us he is not an honest broker. Then Mueller goes on to hire seventeen known leftist lawyers, Clinton and Obama donors all, to work on the "case." He is proud to insult the intelligence of all the Americans who voted for Trump all those people who knew how corrupt and radical Hillary Clinton is. A fair and honest man would have seen to it that his legal team be bipartisan. Mueller apparently feels so confident in his absolute power that he is not ashamed to be blatantly partisan. He does not care about fair. He cares not a bit that if he and his henchmen find some crime to prosecute, millions of Americans will not find it credible. He is a certified member of the D.C. swamp establishment. He thinks no one will question his authority, his honesty, or his credibility. But of course, millions of Americans will not find any such judgment credible. They already know that this whole Russia collusion conspiracy is a put-up job, a sham invented by the Clintons, the real Russia colluders. So unless Mueller has hired all those liberal lawyers at taxpayer expense in order to vindicate Trump and prove the numerous facts of Clinton-Obama collusion with Russia, his legacy is one of cheating, lies, fakery, leaks, and being a part of the Deep State coup to take down our democratically elected president. It is hard to grasp why a man of Mueller's history would agree to sully his life's work and legacy by being a tool of the anti-constitutional left. Are these denizens of the D.C. swamp so saturated with belief in their own moral superiority that they have lost all sense of what it means to be a Constitutional Republic? The Democrat left, since the election, has operated as a single-minded gang of thugs. They are seemingly proud to let Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and the late-night comics be the face of their resistance! How embarrassing is that? How revealing is that? Judas sold his soul for thirty pieces of silver. Mueller, it would seem, has sold his for...what? The untold millions he and his pals will rake in at taxpayer expense? The chance to take down an anti-establishment president no one expected to win? Does a man with Mueller's past service risk his legacy to achieve glory among those who inhabit his insulated bubble? Apparently so. Recently, an engineer at Google distributed a ten-page memorandum calling for greater ideological diversity at Google and a fresh look into Google's current policies on diversity and inclusion. The memorandum drew a quick reply from Danielle Brown, Google's new V.P. of diversity, integrity, and governance. I have spent seven years in Cambridge, Mass.; studied for a semester in the Soviet Union; and lived for seven years in the Bay Area. Please therefore allow me to translate Brown's email into plain English. I'm Danielle, Google's brand new VP of Diversity, Integrity & Governance. I started just a couple of weeks ago, and I had hoped to take another week or so to get the lay of the land before introducing myself to you all. But given the heated debate we've seen over the past few days, I feel compelled to say a few words. (I am the new grand inquisitor and head of the Ministry of Truth. Someone has already tried to screw with me. This is the only warning you are all going to get.) Many of you have read an internal document shared by someone in our engineering organization, expressing views on the natural abilities and characteristics of different genders, as well as whether one can speak freely of these things at Google. And like many of you, I found that it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender. I'm not going to link to it here as it's not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages. (Some dissident had the audacity to speak his mind and contradict the party line. I can't disprove what he actually wrote, so I will simply label his arguments false and declare his heretical doctrine unfit for distribution or debate. You therefore distribute and discuss at your peril.) Diversity and inclusion are a fundamental part of our values and the culture we continue to cultivate. We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and we'll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul. As Ari Balogh said in his internal G+ post, "Building an open, inclusive environment is core to who we are, and the right thing to do. 'Nuff said." (We are tolerant and inclusive because we declare ourselves to be so. Ari Balogh has input into my performance review and compensation.) Google has taken a strong stand on this issue, by releasing its demographic data and creating a company-wide OKR on diversity and inclusion. Strong stands elicit strong reactions. Changing a culture is hard, and it's often uncomfortable. But I firmly believe Google is doing the right thing, and that's why I took this job. (Senior-most management backs me. I will not hesitate to crack heads and make your lives a living hell, so if you don't like it, suffer in silence, because my job is to enforce the party line.) Part of building an open, inclusive environment means fostering a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions. But that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies, and anti-discrimination laws. (We tolerate only views that fall within the party line. If you express views that cross that line, you will get fired and possibly sued.) I've been in the industry for a long time, and I can tell you that I've never worked at a company that has so many platforms for employees to express themselves TGIF, Memegen, internal G+, thousands of discussion groups. I know this conversation doesn't end with my email today. I look forward to continuing to hear your thoughts as I settle in and meet with Googlers across the company. (I have gotten more people fired than I can remember. We are monitoring all internal communications. If we cross paths, you'd better cheer like I'm Kim Jong-un and you're a North Korean peasant at a rally.) Thanks, (Watch your asses.) Danielle (I'm so high up, I need to use only my first name.) The thugs running Venezuela have been having a bad time ever since a group of unknown masked raiders scaled an elite military fortification in the city of Valencia on Sunday and made off with a large number of weapons. In fact, the guardians of the newly emptied Venezuelan arsenals are now revealing just how stupid and incompetent they are in the face of a real military challenge. The government claims to have captured seven of the rebels and says all is well, but experts dispute that, as I wrote yesterday. The Twitter photo of the seven sad sacks the Chavistas trotted out hardly suggests the significant military-level skill required for the operation. Do these guys look like people who could pull off a dangerous raid on a highly fortified elite military installation? I see an old man with a pot belly, two others with pot bellies, and cripes a scrawny apparent teenager in a hot pink wife-beater. My correspondent writes: This article states than VenGov agents (civilian and not military) have been trying to no avail to find the weapons that the rebels captured. They also have not been able to find those responsible, something that contradicts the government's claim of having captured 7 rebels. The group conducting the search is from the Comando Nacional Antiextorsion y Secuestro (CONAS) - National Command against Extorsion and Kidnapping (a civilian unit). Also SEBIN (the political police) is searching areas in and near Valencia. Overhead are helicopters belonging to the CICPC (an FBI-like agency less politicized than the SEBIN). That's just the preview of how stupid and inept the Chavistas are showing themselves to be in a crisis, something that certainly must encourage the freedom fighters watching the specter from their hideout. The details signal that it's worse than that, though. My correspondent writes: Why are civilian, rather than military, units doing the work when it was a MILITARY uprising? It likely signals that they don't trust the military. Apparently, the Cubans aren't quite as in control as people may have thought. It gets worse: Anyway these bozos charged into a female student residence run by some 80 year-old nuns at midnight looking for weapons and rebels. They also raided a gun club that runs a shooting range and a family hacienda. So far, they have found nothing! BTW, these nuns are planing to move to Peru because it is impossible to continue with their good work in Venezuela. So they raided a girl's school, a convent full of elderly nuns, a family farm, and a legal gun club? Sounds like this is the only level they are capable of fighting at. One thing for sure is that they don't have good intelligence even as Venezuela is a place where no one keeps a secret. What we are looking at is idiocy, lunacy, and Chavista chaos. This should serve as a signal to the rebels that the Chavista thugcraft operation is a house of cards. One good kick, and it might be over sooner than anyone would have imagined. Lots of socialist hellholes go down that way: very quickly. (ANSA) - Rome, August 8 - Ghassan Salame', the United Nations special envoy for Libya, on Tuesday praised the Italian naval mission to support the Libyan coast guard's efforts against human traffickers. "I know there were rows in Libya, but I think that cooperation and transparency between Italy and Libya is the most constructive way (to get results)," Salame' told a press conference with Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano after a meeting in Rome. "We are in the right road in this sector to address a challenge that involves everyone". Alfano, meanwhile, said a single negotiation process on Libya led by the United Nations was necessary as too many talks so far had led to zero final results. "Negotiation formats in Libya must be reduced to one, the UN needs to take the leadership", Alfano said during a joint press conference with the UN special envoy for the country, Ghassan Salame', at the foreign ministry in Rome. "Up until today there have been too many negotiations, too many negotiators and zero final results. "Political instability in Libya is not a second-tier match, it is an absolute priority", stressed the minister. (ANSA) - Rome, August 8 - Ghassan Salame', the United Nations special envoy for Libya, on Tuesday praised the Italian naval mission to support the Libyan coast guard's efforts against human traffickers. "I know there were rows in Libya, but I think that cooperation and transparency between Italy and Libya is the most constructive way (to get results)," Salame' told a press conference with Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano after a meeting in Rome. "We are in the right road in this sector to address a challenge that involves everyone". Alfano, meanwhile, said a single negotiation process on Libya led by the United Nations was necessary as too many talks so far had led to zero final results. "Negotiation formats in Libya must be reduced to one, the UN needs to take the leadership", Alfano said during a joint press conference with the UN special envoy for the country, Ghassan Salame', at the foreign ministry in Rome. "Up until today there have been too many negotiations, too many negotiators and zero final results. "Political instability in Libya is not a second-tier match, it is an absolute priority", stressed the minister. Premier Paolo Gentiloni called on the United Nations to up its efforts to support stability in Libya during his meeting with Salame, sources said Tuesday. "Italy has been working for Libya's stabilization for some time," Gentiloni said during the meeting at the premier's office in Rome, according to the sources. "I hope that the United Nations will give this process a decisive push". Gentiloni also stressed that strengthening Libya will help solve the Mediterranean migrant crisis. "Stronger Libyan authorities will make the common effort against traffickers in human beings more effective," he said, according to the sources. ROME - Transport Minister Graziano Delrio told Rome daily La Repubblica in an interview published Tuesday that an NGO vessel close to migrants that need to be rescued cannot be excluded even if it hasn't signed a code of conduct promoted by the interior ministry. ''The right over the past few days has described me as a Catholic who champions the third world and opposes 'law and order','' Delrio told the newspaper. ''I am working to crack down on the odious illegal migrant trafficking, in our war against smugglers. But if there is an NGO vessel close to people who need to be rescued, I can't exclude it. And even if it has not signed the self-regulation code, I have to use it to save human lives''. The interview first appeared overnight in the online edition of the paper and was quoted by ANSA. Delrio explained that he is not against the code of conduct. ''This code comes from an initiative of the transport ministry at the request of organizations. The interior ministry then added further elements regarding security'', he said. He added that he is not in disagreement with Interior Minister Marco Minniti and that he has no ''points of contrast'' with him. ''We are talking about rescue operations at sea - regulated by international laws - not of controlling flows or integration policies. This rescue cannot be derogated, nor is it discretional'', stressed Delrio. ''I have instructed the coast guard to mainly use NGOs that show an attitude to cooperate. But I certainly cannot violate a rule of international law or our Constitution. Before everything else, this is a matter of hierarchy of sources. Or someone thinks that it is possible to ban the transfer of migrants aboard a ship, leaving it outside ports to sail in the Mediterranean for 15 days?''. NGOs ''must cooperate on everything'', said Delrio. ''I understand their point of view, when they say: 'I am an NGO, not the State'. But I am the State and I want to crack down on this shameful human trafficking. We are at war with smugglers - a true war, not one on televised debates'', he concluded. Delrio's statements came on the day that the NGO code nearly led to a government crisis, with Interior Minister Marco Minniti not attending the Council of ministers and Premier Paolo Gentiloni attempting to ease tension. President Sergio Mattarella stepped in to stress the ''value of the code of conduct for NGOs''. The line of the interior ministry and Minniti is clear: those who did not sign the code are out of 'official' rescue operations and cannot therefore bring migrants to Italian ports. The line is disregarded if, as occurred last Saturday with MSF, the coast guard asks for the intervention of vessels operated by organizations that have not signed the code and then takes rescued migrants onboard. This led to the problem with Delrio. The ministry of transport and infrastructure, which is in charge of the coast guard, stressed that international laws were always observed and that the code also provides for the possibility of a transfer if it is requested by the coordination center of the coast guard. Several well-informed sources who have spoken with the minister said Minniti asked and obtained a clear political stance of the executive following the statements in order to pursue a coherent policy on immigration after years of chaos. The policy appears to be leading to the first results with the Libyan coast guard that started to take back vessels leaving from Zawia, Zuhara, Sabratha and Garabulli and the number of landings that continues to drop after a week: as of today, 96,438 migrants have arrived, down 3.3% on the 99,727 who landed over the same period in 2016. Meanwhile Sos Mediterranee, one of the NGOs that has not signed the code of conduct yet, asked for a meeting Thursday to ''clarify its position'' on the code ''ahead of a possible signing". PARIS - A court of appeals in Aix-en-Provence has sentenced Cedric Herrou, a farmer, to four months in jail for favoring illegal immigration because he helped migrants cross the Italian-French border. The court suspended the jail sentence. Back in February, a court of first instance ordered Herrou to pay a fine of 3,000 euros. Prosecutors had sought a suspended eight-month jail term. Together with the association Roya Citoyenne, the 37-year-old farmer over the past few months has provided aid and support to about 1,000 people coming from Italy. In March he was arrested for the sixth time at the station of Cannes with 156 migrants travelling to Marseille to present an asylum request in France. (By Paul Virgo). ROME - Ghassan Salame', the United Nations special envoy for Libya, on Tuesday praised the Italian naval mission to support the Libyan coast guard's efforts against human traffickers. "I know there were rows in Libya, but I think that cooperation and transparency between Italy and Libya is the most constructive way (to get results)," Salame' told a press conference with Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano after a meeting in Rome. "We are in the right road in this sector to address a challenge that involves everyone". General Khalifa Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) is linked to a Tobruk-based government in the east of the country, has vowed to repel Italian vessels. There has also been dissent about the agreement to authorize the mission with the UN-recognized administration Premier Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli. Alfano, meanwhile, said a single negotiation process on Libya led by the United Nations was necessary as too many talks so far had led to zero final results. "Negotiation formats in Libya must be reduced to one, the UN needs to take the leadership", Alfano said during a joint press conference with the UN special envoy for the country, Ghassan Salame', at the foreign ministry in Rome. "Up until today there have been too many negotiations, too many negotiators and zero final results. "Political instability in Libya is not a second-tier match, it is an absolute priority", stressed the minister. Premier Paolo Gentiloni called on the United Nations to up its efforts to support stability in Libya during his meeting with Salame, sources said Tuesday. "Italy has been working for Libya's stabilization for some time," Gentiloni said during the meeting at the premier's office in Rome, according to the sources. "I hope that the United Nations will give this process a decisive push". Gentiloni also stressed that strengthening Libya will help solve the Mediterranean migrant crisis. "Stronger Libyan authorities will make the common effort against traffickers in human beings more effective," he said, according to the sources. Egyptian tourism minister and FIAVET on relaunching tourism Confidence returning, 100,000 Italians in Egypt in six months (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, AUGUST 8 - Egyptian Tourism Minister Mohamed Yehia Rashed met in Cairo with the president and vice president of the Italian Federation of Associations for Travel and Tourism Businesses (FIAVET), Jacopo De Ria and Ivana Jelenic, to encourage an increase in Italian tourism to the country and strengthen collaboration with travel agents. Italian tourism to Egypt has grown 70% in the first six months of 2017 compared to the same period last year, with 100,000 visitors. However, numbers still remain far from their peak in 2010, just prior to the revolution there, with safety still the main issue. "Egypt is a safe destination," Rashed said, adding that the fight against terrorism won't stop "until we manage to uproot it on a global level". Despite the fact that many Egyptian destinations are still listed as "not recommended" on the Italian Foreign Ministry's "Safe Travel" website, initial 2017 results are promising. In terms of European visitors, Egypt hosted more than 503,000 German tourists in the first six months of the year, followed by the UK (147,174), Italy (over 100,000), and France (over 62,000). The United States also had positive numbers, with more than 104,000 tourists - a sign that confidence is coming back. FIVET President De Ria said Tuesday's meeting was an important one, "marking roads for new opportunities". One possibility is that of working with the Egyptian Tourism Board in Italy to start a communications campaign with Italian travel agents to keep them continually updated, he said. De Ria said what's needed is to "change the mentality of travel agents, with a new generation of agents". Another proposal on the table is that of incentivising the use of social media to promote tourism. "For example, allowing clients of travel agents who sell packages to Egypt to receive SIM cards with an hour of Internet access, allowing them to share photos on social media in real time from the main destinations they visit," he said. Yet another sign of confidence given by FIAVET, which has 2,000 members, is that of organising one of its upcoming national council meetings in Egypt, in either Aswan or Sharm El Sheikh, next autumn, De Ria said.(ANSAmed). Energy: TuNur solar energy project from Tunisia to Europe Request presented. Underwater cables to Malta, Italy, France (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, AUGUST 8 - British Company TuNur Limited, a leader in the renewable energy sector, has said that it has asked the Tunisian ministry for energy, mining and renewable energy to construct a large solar power plant in the Tunisian desert TuNur. The innovative concentrated solar power system will be built in the area of Rjim Maatoug, in the governorate of Kebili, and should supply Malta, Italy and France through underwater cables. The energy would then be redistributed to Britain, Germany and Switzerland. The project will be carried out by a consortium of companies formed by Nuur Energy with 50% and some investment companies from Tunisia and Malta. According to the first studies, the complex's electricity production, estimated at some 4.5 gigawatts, will be sufficient to supply at least five million homes in Europe. Kevin Sara, the executive director of TuNur, told the media that the first part of the project worth approximately 1.6 billion dollars could be operational by 2020 with an underwater pipe reaching Malta. Italy and Tunisia are working on the Elmed project to build an underwater electrical cable to connect Tunisia and Sicily. The TuNur project follows a major German initiative, Desertec, which intended to produce solar energy on a large scale in North Africa, sufficient to supply 15% of the European Union's energy by 2050. The project was worth 400 billion euros but did not get the required funding. (ANSAmed). BEIRUT/AMMAN - An increasing number of Syrian girls living in refugee camps in Jordan after fleeing their war-torn country are forced to get married at a young age for ''protection'', according to a joint report drafted by UN and Jordanian observers. Refugee camps have turned into ''markets'' where underage brides are married off in exchange for money and ''protection'', the report said. The report noted that many exiled Syrian parents decide to marry off their daughters even if they are very young to save money and because they believe that a husband will better protect their ''honor''. ''When we fled Syria - said the mother of an underage bride - everybody advised us and pushed for an 'early' marriage as a form of protection for young girls. People changed. If we had remained in Syria, I would not have allowed my daughter to get married so young''. Data showed an increase in Syrian brides aged 13 to 17 who are living in Jordan: their number has risen from 13% in 2010 to 44% in 2015. The pre-war figure in 2010 represents the situation before a crackdown on the uprising in 2011 and the gradual start of war in Syria in 2012. Robert Jenkins, the Unicef representative for Jordan, spoke about a ''very worrisome'' trend. ''We have gone from the 16% of two years ago to almost 35% of marriages with a Syrian 'child-bride' today''. The report stressed a crucial aspect: Syrian refugees in Jordan, who are 650,000 according to the UN, don't appear to have a prospect of going back home. Moreover the report noted that early marriage contributes to an increase in poverty and automatically prevents girls from getting an education. ''The decision I took was wrong. I still don't know how I could take this decision at such a young age'', said a girl who was forced to marry young. ''I don't advise any girl to get married in the same way''. EU project to reduce Syrian children drop out from schools (ANSAmed) - AMMAN, AUGUST 8 - The EU has teamed up with a local NGO in Jordan to improve education of Syrian refugees and improve integration of children into the local community. The Jordan River Foundation (JRF) signed the agreement with the European Union (EU) on hope of decreasing the drop-out rates among Syrian children, according to an official statement. About 100 schools will benefit from the project, including schools in the Zaatari Refugee Camp. The need for improving the quality of education for host communities and refugees has arisen from challenges faced with the integration of Syrian refugee students, garnering a sense of community, building social cohesion and the quality of education for students enrolled in double-shift schools, the statement read. The project was designed in a way that tackles the problem at the parental and community levels, to ensure all children are receiving education and their learning environments are improved, the statement added. (ANSAmed). ROME - Ghassan Salame', the United Nations special envoy for Libya, on Tuesday praised the Italian naval mission to support the Libyan coast guard's efforts against human traffickers. "I know there were rows in Libya, but I think that cooperation and transparency between Italy and Libya is the most constructive way (to get results)," Salame' told a press conference with Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano after a meeting in Rome. "We are in the right road in this sector to address a challenge that involves everyone". Alfano, meanwhile, said a single negotiation process on Libya led by the United Nations was necessary as too many talks so far had led to zero final results. "Negotiation formats in Libya must be reduced to one, the UN needs to take the leadership", Alfano said. "Up until today there have been too many negotiations, too many negotiators and zero final results. "Political instability in Libya is not a second-tier match, it is an absolute priority", stressed the minister. Premier Paolo Gentiloni called on the United Nations to up its efforts to support stability in Libya during his meeting with Salame, sources said Tuesday. "Italy has been working for Libya's stabilization for some time," Gentiloni said during the meeting at the premier's office in Rome, according to the sources. "I hope that the United Nations will give this process a decisive push". Gentiloni also stressed that strengthening Libya will help solve the Mediterranean migrant crisis. "Stronger Libyan authorities will make the common effort against traffickers in human beings more effective," he said, according to the sources. ROME - Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano on Tuesday said one negotiation on Libya led by the UN was necessary as too many talks so far had led to zero final results, addressing a joint press conference with the UN special envoy for the country, Ghassan Salame', at the foreign ministry in Rome. ''Negotiation formats in Libya must be reduced to one, the UN needs to take the leadership'', Alfano said. ''Up until today there have been too many negotiations, too many negotiators and zero final results''. ''Political instability in Libya is not a second-league match, it is an absolute priority'', stressed the minister. Migrants: Delrio, closest vessel to save human lives Transport minister not against code for NGOs but rights first (ANSAmed) - ROME, AUGUST 8 - Transport Minister Graziano Delrio told Rome daily La Repubblica in an interview published Tuesday that an NGO vessel close to migrants that need to be rescued cannot be excluded even if it hasn't signed a code of conduct promoted by the interior ministry. ''The right over the past few days has described me as a Catholic who champions the third world and opposes 'law and order','' Delrio told the newspaper. ''I am working to crack down on the odious illegal migrant trafficking, in our war against smugglers. But if there is an NGO vessel close to people who need to be rescued, I can't exclude it. And even if it has not signed the self-regulation code, I have to use it to save human lives''. The interview first appeared overnight in the online edition of the paper and was quoted by ANSA. Delrio explained that he is not against the code of conduct. ''This code comes from an initiative of the transport ministry at the request of organizations. The interior ministry then added further elements regarding security'', he said. He added that he is not in disagreement with Interior Minister Marco Minniti and that he has no ''points of contrast'' with him. ''We are talking about rescue operations at sea - regulated by international laws - not of controlling flows or integration policies. This rescue cannot be derogated, nor is it discretional'', stressed Delrio. ''I have instructed the coast guard to mainly use NGOs that show an attitude to cooperate. But I certainly cannot violate a rule of international law or our Constitution. Before everything else, this is a matter of hierarchy of sources. Or someone thinks that it is possible to ban the transfer of migrants aboard a ship, leaving it outside ports to sail in the Mediterranean for 15 days?''. NGOs ''must cooperate on everything'', said Delrio. ''I understand their point of view, when they say: 'I am an NGO, not the State'. But I am the State and I want to crack down on this shameful human trafficking. We are at war with smugglers - a true war, not one on televised debates'', he concluded. (ANSAmed). UN backs Italian naval mission in Libya Gentiloni calls for United Nations to give 'decisive push' (By Paul Virgo). (ANSAmed) - ROME, AUGUST 8 - Ghassan Salame', the United Nations special envoy for Libya, on Tuesday praised the Italian naval mission to support the Libyan coast guard's efforts against human traffickers. "I know there were rows in Libya, but I think that cooperation and transparency between Italy and Libya is the most constructive way (to get results)," Salame' told a press conference with Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano after a meeting in Rome. "We are in the right road in this sector to address a challenge that involves everyone". General Khalifa Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) is linked to a Tobruk-based government in the east of the country, has vowed to repel Italian vessels. There has also been dissent about the agreement to authorize the mission with the UN-recognized administration Premier Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli. Alfano, meanwhile, said a single negotiation process on Libya led by the United Nations was necessary as too many talks so far had led to zero final results. "Negotiation formats in Libya must be reduced to one, the UN needs to take the leadership", Alfano said during a joint press conference with the UN special envoy for the country, Ghassan Salame', at the foreign ministry in Rome. "Up until today there have been too many negotiations, too many negotiators and zero final results. "Political instability in Libya is not a second-tier match, it is an absolute priority", stressed the minister. Premier Paolo Gentiloni called on the United Nations to up its efforts to support stability in Libya during his meeting with Salame, sources said Tuesday. "Italy has been working for Libya's stabilization for some time," Gentiloni said during the meeting at the premier's office in Rome, according to the sources. "I hope that the United Nations will give this process a decisive push". Gentiloni also stressed that strengthening Libya will help solve the Mediterranean migrant crisis. "Stronger Libyan authorities will make the common effort against traffickers in human beings more effective," he said, according to the sources. (ANSAmed). One of the main reasons for the growth of independence support in Catalonia at the start of this decade was the Constitutional Courts ruling against the 2010 Catalan Statute. A restrictive interpretation of some of the Statutes articles on Catalan self-rule, plus an obvious regression on some issues such as the status of the Catalan language eventually altered the spirit of the law which had been voted favourably by the Catalan people in a referendum. Therefore, the Spanish Constitutional Court is one of the main actors in the face-off between Catalonia and Spain. The Court's interpretation of the Constitution is key to understanding the current conflict and it is fair to ask ourselves what might have happened if a more open-minded view had prevailed, one that might have been more consistent with the spirit that inspired those who penned the Spanish Charter in the first place, particularly Miquel Roca and Jordi Sole Tura (two Catalans) as well as Miguel Herrero de Minon. Things might be different today but, unfortunately, reflecting on that is not on Madrids agenda. As a matter of fact, parallel to growing Catalan demands, the Constitutional Court has shut down every avenue, closed off every path, and what used to be a largely impartial arbiter is now the PP governments enforcer. For instance, one only needs to examine how the Courts doctrine has evolved over time on the matter of the right to decide and the possibility of holding regional consultations. In 2008, prompted by the Ibarretxe plan (which sought further powers for the Basque Country), the Constitutional Court ruled that consulting the people was lawful, except on the subject of sovereignty. In 2013 it struck down the Catalan parliaments declaration of sovereignty but admitted that arguing for the right to decide was within the Constitution and advised the political leaders to use dialogue in order to resolve the conflict. However, in 2017 the Court has suspended the law on consultations approved several years earlier by Catalonias tripartite coalition (which required the permission of the Spanish government) thus setting a new general doctrine for Spain's regional governments: asking is not allowed. So this is how the 1978 Constitution, which most Catalans were initially hopeful about, has become a shackle for Catalonias national aspirations thanks to the efforts of a conservative, centralist tribunal. Nowadays, Spains Constitutional Court has got the power to depose the president of Catalonia and put an end to Catalan home rule. Could things have turned out differently? We shall never know, but this is the reality as it stands today. Launched on 1 August this year, the two hour 50 minutes flight departs Muscat at 22.40 hrs and arrives in Mumbai at 03.00hrs. The return flight leaves Mumbai at 04.05 hrs and reaches Muscat at 05.15 hrs. The new time slot is expected to prove popular especially with business travellers who can now take an evening flight and reach their destination early the next morning. Many convenient connections are also on offer for GCC travellers. Abdulrahman Al-Busaidy, Deputy CEO & Chief Commercial Officer of Oman Air, said: We are extremely happy to announce this new service between Muscat and Mumbai. The addition of this flight is part of our wider commitment to the Indian market. India is a key destination for Oman Air and the demand for all 11 of our Indian destinations has always been high. Increased frequencies offer yet more choice and convenience to our guests, who will now be able to leave Muscat in the evening and arrive in Mumbai the following morning. We are sure this new service will prove just as popular as our other Indian routes. The 10 single-engine DA40 NG aircraft and four DA42-VI twin-engine aircraft along with the simulators will be based with QAC in Doha. The contract was signed in the presence of Qatars Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti and the CEO of QAC Sheik Jabor bin Hamad Al-Thani. The state-of-the-art, easy to fly planes powered by highly efficient jet-fuel engines AE300 from Austro Engine, were intensively tested in hot weather operations in the area of Qatar. They proved to be the best choice for preparing QACs flight students for flying most modern airliners around the globe. The project was supported by Diamond Aircrafts Sales Partner, Mr. Khalid Al-Khater who also provided demonstrator planes for the flight testing phase in Qatar. The agreement comes in line with QACs effort to upgrade its programs, training courses and academic syllabuses and linking them to practical training for all departments for this advanced industry in the world. Sheik Jabor said: The College is proud to sign an agreement with Diamond Aircraft for the purchase of a fleet of 14 aircraft and two simulators as these aircraft have proved their efficiency and endurance to air turbulence in the Qatari environment and hot weather conditions. Amila Spiegel, Sales Director Civil Aircraft Sales, Diamond Aircraft Industries said: We are proud to be part of the new success story of Qatar Aeronautical College. This project shows that there is a demand for safe, maintenance-friendly and fuel-efficient aircraft in the Middle East region. We are convinced that Qatar Aeronautical College will benefit not only by the huge fuel savings but also due to a high standardization level of the fleet and simulators. Adding the most modern fleet of Diamond aircraft to QACs existing fleet will work towards enhancing training efficiency, readiness and smooth running of the Pilot Training Division as well as to the increase in the number of graduates in this promising division in the near future. The first aircraft will be delivered to Doha International Airport at the end of November 2017. L-R: Dr. Salem R Al- Azbeh Al-Marri (Director of Joint Services, QAC), Willy KEMPEL (Austrian Ambassador in Qatar), Amila Spiegel (Sales Director Civil Aircraft DAI), Jurgen Heinrich (Managing Director Austro Engine/DAI), HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, Sheik Jabor bin Hamad Al-Thani (CEO of QAC), Khalid Al Khater (DAI Sales Partner in Qatar) Rebecca Rutstein uses a high desert inspired palette while capturing seismic events that occur deep in the Earths crust. Runs through 8/12. When your painting studio is set adrift on the open sea, things can get a little messy. Philadelphia-based painter Rebecca Rutstein spent her last three artist residencies in close quarters with oceanographic cartographers, examining never-before-seen images of the ocean floor and translating what she learned into undulating, semi-abstract paintings. She grew accustomed to the constant motion of the boat and its unpredictable effect on her brushstrokes. In Fault Lines, her first-ever solo exhibition in New Mexico, Rutstein returns to dry land. Using the sunburnt palette of the high desert, the artist turns her attention to seismic events that occur deep in the Earths crustand employs some tricks she learned at sea to imbue her compositions with dynamic motion. Fault Lines opens at form & concept on Friday, June 30, 5-7 pm. This body of work comes full circle, from the artist residencies that Ive just completed at sea to the other geologic themes Ive been exploring for much of my career, says Rutstein. The artist grew up in Philadelphia, PA and got her BFA in painting at Cornell University. In her time at Cornell, she took a geology class for non-science majors and explored the Finger Lakes region of New York State. The Finger Lakes offered this incredible view of geology at work, says Rutstein. The class had a big impact on me, because it was a method of learning by visually analyzing these massive formations. Several years later, after Rutstein completed her MFA at University of Pennsylvania, she flipped open one of her old geology textbooks and something clicked. Shed been creating process-oriented, abstract paintings, and the diagrams of seismic events in the book struck her as its own nonrepresentational language. All of a sudden my paintings had meaning for me beyond self-expressive mark making, Rutstein says. I started overlaying these plate tectonic diagrams on top of my abstract marks. Tectonic forces became metaphors for the shifts in her personal relationships, and she mounted solo exhibitions with titles such as Love and Subduction, Ebb & Flow and Deep Rift. At artist residencies in Hawaii and Canadian Rockies, Rutstein continued her studies of geology and found new ways to translate scientific concepts into her work. She became fascinated with the work of Marie Tharp, a pioneering oceanographic cartographer who died in 2006. Rutsteins studies of Tharps work, and her own artistic explorations of underwater terrain, inspired her to apply for an artist at sea residency. She sailed from the Galapagos Islands to San Diego as a Science Communication Fellow for the Ocean Exploration Trust in 2015, and embarked on two voyages with the Schmidt Institute in 2016. At first, I would try to tightly control my pigments, fighting the movement of the ship, says Rutstein. Then I started pouring the paints, and allowing the rocking movements of the ship to disperse it. It was a breakthrough, and revived Rutsteins interest in fractal geometry. Ive always had this interest in juxtaposition: micro and macro, graphic and atmospheric, organic and geometric, the artist says. These contrasting ideas really lend themselves to fractal geometry in nature, and how patterns repeat themselves on infinite scales. In her work, Rutstein emphasizes this ambiguity of scale. Her forms could represent clouds, continental plates, mountain ranges, rocks, pebbles or grains of sand. For her solo exhibition at form & concept, Rutstein has moved away from her studies of the ocean floor in a return to broader geologic explorations. However, shes still incorporating paint pours into her work, and rocking her canvases back and forth as though she were at sea. Theyre very process-oriented, and then Im going back in and working with more intentional and purposeful graphic forms, she says. I want those opposing forces to coexist on the same canvas. Rutstein will appear at the June 30 opening reception, and will conduct an artist talk at form & concept on Saturday, July 1 from 2-3 pm. Fault Lines runs through August 12, 2017. An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2022 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in ... Mumbai: The government will soon float a request for proposal (RFP) for selection of transaction advisor, legal advisor as well as asset valuer for the proposed disinvestment of national carrier Air India. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the apex body for formulation of government's economic policies, had on June 28 granted its in-principle approval for considering strategic disinvestment of Air India and five of its subsidiaries, which include Air India Express as well as engineering and ground handling units. "The announcement of RFP for appointment of a transaction advisor, a legal advisor and asset valuer is expected to be made soon for disinvestment of Air India," an airline source said. Though the government has not yet set any timeline for disinvesting its stake in the loss-making flag carrier, the whole process is expected to be completed in 12 months to 18 months time. "The announcement of the RFP will set in motion the stake sale process," the source said. A group of ministers, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, has been mandated to decide on the treatment of unsustainable debt of Air India, hiving off certain assets to a shell company, spinning off and selling stakes in three profit-making subsidiaries, the quantum of disinvestment, and the eligibility criteria for the bidders. Launched by JRD Tata as Tata Airlines in 1932, its name was changed to the Air India in 1946. The government decided to take it over in 1953. Air India, which has a debt burden of more than Rs 52,000 crore, is staying afloat on taxpayers money. The previous UPA government had extended bailout package worth little over Rs 30,000 crore to the national carrier for a ten-year period starting from 2012. Air India's net loss after tax narrowed to Rs 3,643 crore and operating profit rose to Rs 300 crore in the last financial year, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha had informed Parliament last month. The airline's total debt stood at Rs 48,876.81 crore (provisional figures) at the end of March 2017 and the out go on account of servicing the debt stands at around Rs 6,000 crore. The employees' unions at Air India are opposed to the privatisation of the two government-run entities. Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU), which is a grouping of Air India's non-technical staff and comprises nearly 8,000 of the total 21,137 employees, has termed the decision as 'arbitrary'. Retirement fund body has further simplified entire PF withdrawal exercise as the task has been tedious. Mumbai: Retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has introduced over the years a slew of measures to further simplify online redressal of provident fund claims. For employees, applying for their provident fund corpus has been a tedious task, as the exercise requires filling up of at least six forms. Duly filled forms are first scrutinised thoroughly by the employer for any mismatch or discrepancy in their personal records, then the 'correct' forms are sent to the EPFO office concerned for submission of PF claims. The whole process starting right from downloading PF forms from EPFO website to filling it and then submitting it to the employer is not an easy task. On top of that, an application that seeks PF withdrawal is processed in 20 days. It means an employee gets their PF money back in 20 days from the time of submission of form with the PF office. With an aim to reduce number of days taken for redressal of PF withdrawal application, EPFO reduced the time from 20 days to just 3 days. Now an employee can get his PF withdrawal redressed in just 3 days. EPFO mobile app shows a very simple way to activate UAN. EPFO had a few years back introduced a Universal Account Number system for all the members of retirement fund body. Under this scheme, employees were instructed to receive their UANs from their respective employers. This UAN makes PF withdrawal a much more easier process. Now read how to apply for and receive your PF money in simple steps: First activate UAN A UAN is a 10-digit number that an employer gives to its employee. UAN is used to check balance, see e-passbook. It also helps members to monitor their PF account either through mobile app or through internet. To activate your UAN, you either need to either log on to the EPFO website or download EPFO mobile app from Google Play Store. The EPFO mobile app has a very simple facade and look. It follows a very simple procedure to unlock your PF balance, as your PF balance is locked until or unless you untie it by activating your UAN. The mobile app asks for your employer's establishment code, extension code, your employee ID, 10-digit UAN, registered mobile number. Once you fill all these details correctly, you are ready to go as your UAN activation is only a touch away. After activation of UAN, an employee is free to use online PF facility as and when they require it. It offers a number of facilities. Members can also check their e-passbook that gives them details of last six monthly deposits into your account on a single page in mobile app. New Delhi: Sebi and exchanges have given a conditional go-ahead to the USD 23 billion merger deal between Idea Cellular and Vodafone India, which would be subject to the outcome of an ongoing probe by the regulator and approvals from public shareholders and NCLT. The multi-layered deal was announced in March and recently got clearance from the fair trade regulator CCI. In their 'no-objection' letters on "draft composite scheme of amalgamation and arrangement among Vodafone Mobile Services, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular and their respective shareholders and creditors", BSE and NSE said that all the conditions put forth by the regulator need to be placed before the NCLT while seeking its approval. The "no-objection" as per Sebi's regulations will enable the companies to file the draft scheme with the National Company Law Tribunal. In its detailed comments on the draft scheme, Sebi said it had received a complaint alleging that one of the promoters of Idea Cellular had purchased 0.23 per cent shares of the company before the announcement of the draft scheme of amalgamation and these transactions by the purchasers were in violation of securities laws. "The said allegations are being examined by Sebi," the regulator said. In this respect, the purchasers have submitted a voluntary undertaking not to dispose of these shares till further directions of Sebi and any liability eventually held to be valid against the purchasers shall be borne by them. Idea has also submitted a voluntary undertaking stating that it will comply with the directions of Sebi in respect of the ongoing examination. It has also undertaken that any liability eventually held to be valid against it shall be borne by Idea. Sebi has also received complaint about alleged violation of takeover norms as the shareholding of Idea would increase from about 21 per cent to about 26 per cent pursuant to the scheme. "The acquisition pursuant to draft scheme of arrangement is exempt from the obligation to make an open offer...if the acquisition is pursuant to a scheme of arrangement, inter- alia, including amalgamation, merger or demerger, pursuant to an order of a court or a competent authority under any law or regulation, Indian or foreign. Thus, the said exemption is applicable only if NCLT approves the draft scheme," Sebi said. The regulator further said an 'abridged prospectus' about the deal will need to contain a risk factor (at number 1) detailing the risks associated with the outcome of the examination by Sebi of the allegations in the complaint. The company will need to ensure that the scheme clearly provides for voting by public shareholders and that the scheme of arrangement is acted upon only if the votes cast by the public shareholders in favour of the proposal are more than the number of votes cast against it. The explanatory statement to the notice to shareholders need to disclose prominently that Sebi is examining the allegations with regard to transactions done by the purchasers in the shares of Idea before the announcement of the scheme. "All the above facts shall be brought to the notice of NCLT," Sebi said. It also asked the company to ensure that additional information, if any, submitted after filing the scheme with the stock exchanges, are displayed from the date of receipt of this letter on the website of the listed company. The regulator asked Idea to incorporate the observations of Sebi and exchanges in the petition to be filed before NCLT and the company is obliged to bring the observations to the notice of NCLT. In March, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular announced the merger of their operations to create the country's largest mobile phone operator worth more than USD 23 billion with a 35 per cent market share. As part of the proposal, Vodafone India will initially hold 50 per cent stake in the merged entity. Later, the British firm will own 45.1 per cent of the combined entity while the Aditya Birla group, Idea's parent company, will hold 26 per cent after paying Rs 3,874 crore for a 4.9 per cent stake. The remaining 28.9 per cent will be held by other shareholders. BSE and NSE said they reserve rights to raise objections at any stage if the information submitted to them is found to be incomplete, incorrect, misleading, false or for any contravention of rules and regulations. "The validity of this "observation letter" shall be six months from August 4, 2017, within which the scheme shall be submitted to the NCLT," the exchanges said in similar-worded letters. Further, Idea would have to submit a copy of scheme as approved by the NCLT to the exchanges; result of voting by shareholders for approving the scheme; statement explaining changes, if any, and reasons for such changes carried out in the approved scheme from the draft scheme; and status of compliance with the observation letter of the bourses. The special edition debit card will be available to customers who open an 811 account from August 8, 2017 to September 15, 2017. Kotak Mahindra Bank on Tuesday said it will offer debit card at a special price of Rs 99 for the first year for customers who will open account under its zero balance account scheme till September 15. New Delhi: Private sector Kotak Mahindra Bank on Tuesday said it will offer debit card at a special price of Rs 99 for the first year for customers who will open account under its zero balance account scheme till September 15. The usual annual fee for debit card procured by 811 account holders (zero balance) is Rs 299. The name 811, inspired by November 8, 2016 decision of demonetisation, allows customers to open a zero balance account using the bank's mobile application. To mark the 70th anniversary of country's independence, the special edition debit card will be available to customers who open an 811 account from August 8, 2017 to September 15, 2017, the bank said in a statement. The actor will be honoured for making a "transformative and positive" difference for the future of Asia and the world. Washington: Indian-origin actor Dev Patel is among nine individuals to be honoured by a leading educational organisation for making a "transformative and positive" difference for the future of Asia and the world. London-born Patel, who became popular with his debut film 'Slumdog Millionaire', will be felicitated with the Asia Society 2017 Asia Game Changers Award at a ceremony to be held at the United Nations, New York, in November. The organisation said that Patel, in less than a decade, has emerged as a full-blown movie star, delivering acclaimed performances in an impressive range of films and television shows. "His work has done more than just entertain. It has also built bridges of understanding between India, a country so frequently reduced to stereotype, and audiences in the West," Patel's profile by Asia Society said. He was recently seen in Garth Davis' 'Lion', which earned him an Academy Award nomination for the best actor in a supporting role. Patel will next be seen in 'Hotel Mumbai', a drama centered around the 26/11 terror attacks. Asia Society noted that Patel has turned his attention and star power to philanthropy. His "#lionheart" campaign raised over USD 2,50,000 in support of India's millions of homeless children. Patel, who refers to himself as just a "guy from London", has established lasting ties with his ancestral homeland. "They feel a strong ownership over me, which is more than welcome in a big way," Patel said, referring to the people of India. Asia Society President Josette Sheeran said this year's honorees have each made a significant difference through a unique vision, perseverance and courage. "In a world of challenges, it is important to honour the dreamers and leaders, those who take action and those who inspire us to build a better world," Sheeran said in a statement. The Asia Game Changer lifetime achievement award will be given to Aga Khan, Founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, for using philanthropy to lift millions of Asia's most vulnerable. Other honorees include Afghan rapper and activist Sonita Alizadeh, Chinese ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing President Jean Liu, Cambodian Environmental activist Leng Ouch, nonprofit organization Sesame Workshop, Chinese musician and composer Wu Tong and Japanese casual wear retailer UNIQLO founder Tadashi Yanai. Letters Rogatory or judicial requests, were recently sent to France, the United States, Mauritius and Singapore, CBI sources said. New Delhi: The CBI has sent judicial requests to four countries in connection with its probe into alleged corruption in the Antrix-Devas deal. The agency wanted details of Devas Multimedia and its parent company, financial facts and alleged investments routed through Singapore and Mauritius, among other information, CBI sources said. Letters Rogatory, which are judicial requests, were recently sent to France, the United States, Mauritius and Singapore, they said. An investment in Devas Multimedia Pvt Limited from four companies- one based in Singapore and three based in Mauritius- amounting to USD 130 million is under the scanner of the CBI, the sources said. The case relates to the leasing of the S-Band, restricted wavelength of INSAT satellites for delivering videos, multimedia and information services to mobile receivers to a private company, Devas Multimedia, by Antrix, the commercial arm of the government's space body, ISRO. It was alleged in an FIR that the lease was given in violation of rules, causing an undue gain of Rs 578 crore to Devas Multimedia and a corresponding loss to the exchequer. The CBI filed its charge sheet in the case in 2016. Letters Rogatory are issued by courts on the request of an investigation agency when it wants information from another country. Once a court issues such a request, it is delivered to the competent court through diplomatic channels in the country from where the agency needs information. The court in that country may direct its investigation agency to gather and furnish the information sought. One jawan of the Indian Army was injured in the sniper firing and later he succumbed to his injuries, they added. There was a ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army on a forward post along the LoC in Mankote-Balnoie sector of the district, army sources said. (File photo) Jammu: An Indian Army jawan was killed in Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. There was a ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army on a forward post along the LoC in Mankote-Balnoie sector of the district, army sources said. One jawan of the Indian Army was injured in the sniper firing and later he succumbed to his injuries, they added. On Monday, an Army jawan was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. On August 7, the Pakistani Army had violated the ceasefire by firing at Indian posts along the LoC in Baba Khori belt of Naushera sector of Rajouri district. Till August 1, there had been 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures of the Indian Army. The Board also told the apex court in an affidavit that the Babri Masjid site was its property and only it was entitled to hold talks. The Waqf Board has sought time from the top court for setting up of a committee for exploring an amicable resolution of the vexatious issue. (Photo: File) New Delhi: In a fresh turn of events, the Shia Central Waqf Board of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that a mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the disputed site in Ayodhya. The Board also told the apex court in an affidavit that the Babri Masjid site was its property and only it was entitled to hold negotiations for an amicable settlement of the dispute. The 30-page affidavit assumes significance as it has been filed within few days of the apex court agreeing to fast track the hearing on a batch of appeals challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict on the land dispute in the case. The Waqf Board has sought time from the top court for setting up of a committee for exploring an amicable resolution of the vexatious issue. Assailing the stand of the Sunni Central Waqf Board, it said, "...since Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf Board property, Shia Central Waqf Board UP alone is entitled to negotiate and arrive at a peaceful settlement with other remaining stakeholders." "Answering respondent (Shia Board) is also of the view that, to bring quietus, masjid can be located in a Muslim- dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Maryada Purshottam Sri Ram," the affidavit said. The Shia Board is one of the parties in the pending appeals in the apex court. Recently, a three-judge bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer has been constituted by Chief Justice J S Khehar to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case from August 11. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had in 2010 ruled a three-way division of the disputed 2.77 acres area at the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri masjid site in Ayodhya. The three-judge bench of the high court, by a 2:1 majority, had said the land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. On July 21, a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar had said that it would soon take a decision to list the matter for early hearing. The court's remark had come on a plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who sought urgent listing and hearing of the matter. Swamy had said the main appeals against the Allahabad High Court order are pending for the last seven years in the apex court and these required urgent hearing. He had also said that a separate petition had earlier been filed by him seeking enforcement of his right to worship without much hassle at the site. The BJP leader had told the court that he has been allowed by the apex court to intervene in the matter and is seeking expeditious disposal of the cases. The Congress also released three videos of the DSPs statement and the woman narrating the incident. 29-year-old Varnika Kundu has accused Haryana BJP chief Subhash Baralas son Vikas of stalking and chasing her while she was driving home alone. (Photo: Screengrab) New Delhi: The Congress on Monday hit out at the ruling BJP for conspiring to hush up the investigation in the stalking of a girl in Chandigarh. The case pertains to a girl who was allegedly stalked and chased by the son of the Haryana state BJP president. Speaking to reporters, Congress spokesperson and Haryana MLA Randeep Singh Surjewala said, The Union home ministry, which directly controls UT administration and UT police of Chandigarh, is conspiring to hush up the entire matter, so as to protect the Haryana state BJP president and his son. Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah answer to the nation as to why the BJP state president and his children are being protected in this fashion. Mr. Surjewala also accused the DSP of Chandigarh police Mr Satish Kumar who is probing the case, of changing his statement under pressure from the central government. The Congress also released three videos of the DSPs statement and the woman narrating the incident. Former Union minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari asked that how was it possible that the CCTV footage of the cameras in the area were unavailable. Mr. Tewari said, Isnt it convenient that the CCTV cameras in that same area were not working? We would like to know whether the said CCTV cameras issued any traffic chalans during that time. The issue has now taken a political turn with the Congress accusing the BJP of having double standards when it comes to its own leaders. Mr Surjewala said, Why double standards are being adopted by the BJP is a question that the country wants the Prime Minister, BJP president and others to answer. The BJP has said that the doings of the son could not be blamed on the father. Haryana chief minister ML Khattar said that the guilty would not be spared. He added Barala the BJP President has nothing to do with this. Guilty will not be spared As per the current strength of the Gujarat Assembly, each candidate requires a minimum of 44 votes to win. New Delhi: A day ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, both the Congress and the BJP on Tuesday claimed to have the requisite numbers to win the third seat in which Ahmed Patel is pitted against the BJPs Balwantsinh Rajput. But there was uncertainty about whether the numbers add up for the Congress. Mr Patel, political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, said that apart from MLAs of his own party, he has the support of the NCP and JD(U). While reports suggest that the lone JD(U) legislator will be extending support to Mr Patel, there were mixed signals on which way the NCPs two MLAs will vote. Mr Patel, speaking to reporters in Anand, Gujarat, said, I am confident of winning the Rajya Sabha seat. All the MLAs are with me despite the BJP trying to break the MLAs... I have just got word that two NCP MLAs will also be voting for me. However, one NCP MLA, Kandhal Jadeja, said that the NCP has asked its MLAs to vote for the BJPs candidate. We will vote for BJP candidate Balvantsinh Rajput in the election. That is what the party has asked us to do, Mr Jadeja said. NCP leader Praful Patel had on Sunday said his party had not yet decided about extending support to any party for the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, while adding that his party would definitely not enter into an alliance with the BJP. But the NCPs double-talk means that the Congress is treading on thin ice. The two votes of NCP are crucial in case there is cross-voting or some Congress MLAs, especially those close to Shankersinh Vaghela who quit the Congress last month, exercise the Nota (None of the Above) option. The voting for Rajya Sabha members is through the secret ballot. Six Congress MLAs resigned after Mr Vaghela, along with his son, quit the party. Three of the six MLAs joined the BJP. Of the Congress remaining 49 MLAs, two have expressed the desire to join the BJP. There are three Rajya Sabha vacancies from Gujarat but there are four candidates in the fray three from the BJP and one from the Congress. As per the current strength of the Gujarat Assembly, each candidate requires a minimum of 44 votes to win. With the BJP having a mammoth 121 seats out of the 182 seats, its two candidates Amit Shah and Smriti Irani will win smoothly. Its the contest between Mr Patel and Mr Rajput that is making both the parties anxious. The BJPs Balwantsinh Rajput too quit the Congress recently and is standing against Mr Patel who is seeking a fifth term. The Congress had transported its 44 MLAs to Karnataka fearing defections. They are now back in Gujarat and staying at a resort in Anand. Hitting at the Congress, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani said, BJP will win all the three seats and Ahmed Patel will definitely lose. BJP president Amit Shah is currently in Gujarat. Since Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in Gujarat at the end of the year, disqualification is not a real fear for MLAs. In the recently-concluded presidential elections, about 11 Congress MLAs had voted in favour of Ram Nath Kovind, the NDAs candidate. The CRS are considered to have immense potential to bring about a very significant positive social change at the community level. It is understood that the government wants to increase the number of community radio stations as it feels that these are the cheapest and the most effective means of reaching out to the grassroots even in inaccessible areas. New Delhi: Soon, the strategically important border areas of India may see a growth in community radio stations. The Narendra Modi government hopes to improve the reach of CRS in border areas by proposing to provide the entire cost of setting up infrastructure as grants to them. Sources said that at present, the Central government provides grants of upto Rs 7.5 lakh for purchase of equipment and infrastructure for setting up of CRS. The government has proposed to increase this grant to Rs 10 lakh for CRS in bordering districts of the country. This effectively means that the entire cost of setting up a CRS in these areas would be borne by the grants, sources added. The move is expected to increase the number of CRS in bordering districts of the country. Currently, there are approximately 200 CRS operational in various parts of the country. The CRS are considered to have immense potential to bring about a very significant positive social change at the community level. They cater to the information needs of the people in local languages and in community decided formats, and also facilitate development within the community members on relevant local issues. It is understood that the government wants to increase the number of community radio stations as it feels that these are the cheapest and the most effective means of reaching out to the grassroots even in inaccessible areas. It is also felt that community radio stations will be the most effective mechanism in reaching out to population of areas affected by natural disasters. The government has also proposed to create awareness about issues among the masses through grassroots level programmes to be planned by the government. It was Sushil Kumar Modi who had earlier raised a string of corruption charges against Lalu Yadavs family. Patna: Stepping up his attack on RJD chief Lalu Yadav, Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Monday claimed that his family had close links with people associated with the mining mafia in Bihar. Mr Modi said that the director of the three companies dealing with illegal sand mining was closely associated with Mr Yadavs family and had been investing in their properties. Talking to reporters in Patna, he said that three companies Broadson, Bansidhar, and Mor Mukut were given tender of mining worth `237 crore. He said that Subhash Prasad Yadav, the director of all three companies, was the right-hand man of Lalu Yadav and was given sand mining contracts in six districts of Bihar. Documents presented by the deputy chief minister also showed that Subhash Prasad Yadav had bought three flats from Lalu Yadavs wife and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi on June 13, 2017, at the cost of `1 crore and 72 lakh. Buying three flats in a day raises doubts. I will be sending all the documents to the Income Tax department, seeking an investigation into the payments made to Lalu Yadav and his family. The attack on Mr Yadavs family comes days after Mr Modi claimed he would prove that the sand mining mafias were involved in funding the RJD. Mr Modi earlier told this newspaper that the NDA government was reviewing files to find irregularities when the RJD was part of the government. Nitish Kumar had resigned as Chief Minister of the Grand Secular Alliance government in Bihar last month after Lalu Yadavs younger son Tejashwi Yadav repeatedly refused to give explanations about corruption charges he has been facing. Within 24 hours of his resignation, Mr. Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister of the NDA government along with BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi who took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. It was Sushil Kumar Modi who had earlier raised a string of corruption charges against Lalu Yadavs family. He had accused the family of laundering money through various shell companies to purchase properties in Patna and Delhis high profile locations at a throwaway price. Lalu Yadav must come out with the truth about their links with sand mining mafia and selling three flats in a single day to Subhash Prasad Yadav , Mr. Modi said. Patkar, however, said she would continue her fast till her demand was granted by the state government. Bhopal: Social activist Medha Patkar, who launched indefinite fast on July 27 demanding proper rehabilitation of people affected by Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) project, was forcibly evicted from the demonstration site at Chikalda in Madhya Pradeshs Dhar district late on Monday evening. The police also took her into custody. She along with 11 others who had joined her in her hungerstrike were taken away in an ambulance after the police took over the site where they had been on hungerstrike for 12 days, a senior district police officer told this newspaper. Her health condition was deteriorating. A medical team which visited her on Sunday had cautioned that her condition might worsen if she did not end her fast immediately. Hence, she was taken in an ambulance to Indore for treatment along with 11 others who also were on hungerstrike along with her, the police officer said, unwilling to be quoted. Earlier, high drama prevailed in the area leading to eviction of Ms Patkar from the demonstration site with social activists and villagers facing displacement by the dam, preventing the police from breaking her fast. Tension prevailed in the area. We have deployed police force, the police officer said. Ms Patkar, however, said she would continue her fast till her demand was granted by the state government. Earlier, an official delegation led by Dhar district collector had met her, appealing her to end her fast. She, however, spurned his request. While the state government said rehabilitation of people in 178 villages facing submergence by the dam has been completed, Ms Patkar said 40,000 people facing displacement by the project were yet to be rehabilitated. NIA trying to turn hawala operators as approvers against separatists. New Delhi: In an attempt to make the case of terror funding against separatist leaders fool-proof, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is trying to turn some hawala operators in the case as approvers. Sources said due to security considerations, the identity of these people is being protected, but once the case comes up for trial in court, the NIA will ensure that some of these suspects turn approvers against the separatist leaders and get their statements recorded during an in camera trial. Sources said the NIA will ask for an in-camera proceeding in order to maintain secrecy of those who turn approvers. In wake of the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, we will try for an in camera proceeding so that the identity of these men can be protected. The in-camera trial will ensure that the proceedings are not open to public. The other option is that the we can request the concerned judge to record the statements of these approvers directly in the chamber, an investigating official said. The NIA had carried out nationwide raids in May targeting some hawala operators and separatist leaders and had recovered Rs 2 crore of unaccounted cash, including some foreign currency, incriminating documents, pen drives and hard disks of some computers. The investigating agency is also trying to make some of these hawala dealers who were raided turn approvers in the case. So far, the NIA has arrested seven separatist leaders in connection with the case, including Altaf Ahmed, son-in-law of hardline separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The NIA has also summoned Geelanis two sons in connection with the same case and they are likely to be questioned on Tuesday, sources added. This is the first time that any Central agency has launched such a major crackdown against separatist leaders in the Valley to check flow of money for subversive activities. Considering the sensitive nature of the case we are moving with extreme caution and trying to get concrete evidence to secure conviction of the accused persons. Getting some of the suspects turn approvers is also part of the same plan, the official added. The NIA in its FIR in the terror funding case has named Hafiz Saeed, chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa which also acts as a front for terror group Lashkar-e-Tayyaba along with organisations like Hurriyat Conference, Hizbul Mujahideen and Dukhtaran-e-Millat. Activists from Bajrang Dal and other organisations launched a protest after they came to know about the post, police said. Raza Khan was picked from Pathan mohalla in Bisauli police station area on Sunday, the SP (Rural) said. Badaun: Police have slapped sedition charge against a 25-year-old man and arrested him for uploading his photo on Facebook with a tagline "I support Pakistan". Superintendent of Police (Rural) Surendra Pratap Singh said the man, identified as Babloo alias Raza Khan, runs a glass shop in Bisauli and posted the picture on his Facebook account, that he runs in the name of Raja Khan, on July 22. Activists from Bajrang Dal and other organisations launched a protest after they came to know about the post, the SP (Rural) said. Based on their complaint, an FIR was lodged against Khan under section 124 A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 66 IT Act, the SP said. Section 66 of the Information Technology Act provides punishment for sending offensive messages through communication services. Babloo was picked from Pathan mohalla in Bisauli police station area on Sunday, the SP (Rural) said. The family members, however, said since Babloo leaves his mobile phone behind at his shop, someone has "tried to frame him" by uploading such material. The victim was harassed and stalked by Vikas Barala, Haryana BJP chief's son in Chandigarh. 29-year-old Varnika Kundu has accused Haryana BJP chief Subhash Baralas son Vikas of stalking and chasing her while she was driving home alone. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: After being mute for over three days, Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Subhash Barala on Tuesday addressed the media calling the Chandigarh stalking victim his daughter. "Investigation is being done in the case. Whatever action is required it will be taken against Vikas in this case. BJP bats for daughter's freedom and Varnika Kundu is like my daughter. Neither I nor BJP is pressuring anyone in this matter," he told ANI exclusively. The state BJP chief's son and his friend are accused for stalking 29-year-old Varnika Kundu in the early hours on Saturday. The Chandigarh police on Monday said it retrieved CCTV footage of Kundu being chased. Kundu had also alleged that Vikas tried to open her car door. The police had earlier faced criticism, when they said the CCTVs along the route were not working. The Chandigarh Police have retrieved footage of five CCTV cameras on the route, capturing the chase of victims vehicle by the alleged vehicle of the accused, a Chandigarh Police officer said. The footage showed the victim's car being followed by a white SUV, he added. Meanwhile, the Centre on Tuesday asked for a report on the incident. Read: Why was she out late at night: Haryana BJP leader on stalking case Vikas Barala was arrested on Saturday on charges of stalking and harassing Varnilka in Chandigarh. He was however, granted bail on the same day. Barala's address to the media comes days after the issue became a global concern with people condemning the incident over social media. The Shia Board said the apex court may give directions to this committee to hold talks and submit its report. The high court, by a 2:1 majority, had said the land be partitioned equally among three parties the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Appeals against this verdict are pending. (Photo: File) New Delhi: In a surprise development, the Shia Central Waqf Board on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that a mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. It also sought the constitution of a committee of all stakeholders, including a retired apex court judge, to find an amicable solution to end the decades-old dispute. Ahead of the crucial hearing on August 11 over appeals against the Allahabad high courts decision relating to the title dispute in Ayodhya, the Shia board, in an affidavit, has taken a contrary stand to that of the Sunni Waqf Board, which favoured construction of mosque at the disputed site, as it claimed that the land belonged to it. Zafaryab Jilani, the Sunni Waqf Board counsel and convener of the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee, reacting sharply to the Shia boards move, said that it was too late in the day to stake claim over the mosque and the land. The case has been going on for decades and now suddenly the Shia board decides that it wants to be a party in the case. The high court has already clarified who the parties in the case are, he said in Lucknow. The high court, by a 2:1 majority, had said the land be partitioned equally among three parties the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Appeals against this verdict are pending. While the Sunni Board is one of the appellants, Shia Board is cited as one of the parties but not the main appellant to the title dispute. In its affidavit, the Shia Board asserted that the Babri Masjids site was its property and only it was entitled to hold negotiations for an amicable settlement of the dispute. The Shia Board said that the Sunni Board is under the control of Sunni hardliners, fanatics and non-believers, who have absolutely no stake in the present case. The Shia Board said it is of the view that proximity of places of worship, i.e. mosque and temple of the two litigating denominations, should be avoided as use of loudspeakers tends to disturb the religious performances of each other, often leading to conflicts. The Shia Board said that to bring quietus, the masjid could be located in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram. Pointing out that the matter was pending adjudication for seven years, the Shia Board said it respected the sentiments of Hindus and was ready to conclude a peaceful settlement of dispute. It said that it would be in the larger public interest that the apex court set up a committee comprising a retired Supreme Court judge, two retired judges of Allahabad high court, a nominee of the Prime Ministers Office, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister or his nominee, a representative of Nirmohi Akhara and Hindu sect to make suggestions and proposals for an amicable settlement. The Shia Board said the apex court may give directions to this committee to hold talks and submit its report. It said the Shias were receiving threats from hardliners, which has been brought to the notice of the state government. Justice Misra, who hails from Odisha, is known for his impeccable honesty, integrity, simplicity, frank and forthright views and comments. Justice Misra (63) was elevated as a Supreme Court judge in 2011 and during the last six years has rendered several landmark judgments. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Dipak Misra, who gave the controversial judgment on national anthem last year, has been appointed the 45th Chief Justice of India. He succeeds the present CJI J.S. Khehar, who retires on August 27. Justice Misra (63) was elevated as a Supreme Court judge in 2011 and during the last six years has rendered several landmark judgments. He will have tenure of over 14 months as he is due to retire in October 2018. Justice Misra, who hails from Odisha, is known for his impeccable honesty, integrity, simplicity, frank and forthright views and comments. A scholar and erudite judge, he is proficient in ancient history and literature and this is reflected in his anecdotes as an interlude during the hearing of sensitive cases. A relief oriented judge, he treats seniors and juniors alike and lawyers come out of his court with the impression that he renders justice to every litigant. Justice Misra was among the three judges who heard the plea of terrorist Yakub Memon, a convict in the Mumbai blast case, in a last-minute attempt to stay his execution. It was Justice Misra who announced the courts decision at 5 am: Stay of death warrant would be a travesty of justice. The plea is dismissed. Memon was hanged two hours later. Justice Misra shot into limelight in November 2016 when he ordered all cinema halls across the country to play the national anthem before the screening of films and that all present must stand up in respect till the anthem ended. The order said the practice would instil a feeling within one a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism. It is time people expressed their love for the motherland, Justice Misra said. During the hearing of a bunch of petitions to allow entry of women in the age group of 10 and 50 into Sabarimala temple in Kerala, Justice Misra asked, If you go by the concept of dominion and cult, can the cult culture make discrimination between a man and woman? Cult culture is a core group culture, whereas, religion in the sense of religion does not have core cult. Particularly as per Santana dharma, men and women are treated equally. If you understand Vedas and Upanishads, I dont think there is any discrimination. Discrimination between man and woman has only cropped up historically. Justice Misra upheld the constitutional validity of IPC Sections 499 and 500 relating to criminal defamation and rejected the charge that the law had a chilling effect on the right to freedom of speech and expression in a democracy. He held that the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression is subject to reasonable restrictions and cannot be misused to tarnish or sully the reputation of another individual. In the Nirbhaya gang rape case, he confirmed death penalty to four convicts, describing their actions as barbaric and added that no sympathy or leniency was called for. The incident sparked a public outrage forcing the Madhya Pradesh government to order a probe into it on Tuesday. Bhopal: Two minors a child and a girl were stamped entry seals on their faces by the prison staff at the Bhopal Central jail here when they went to meet an undertrial, a close relation, and celebrate Raksha Bandhan with him, on Monday. The incident sparked a public outrage forcing the Madhya Pradesh government to order a probe into it on Tuesday. We have ordered a probe into the stamping-on-face incident. I condemn the incident. The officials responsible for the incident will be taken to task, state minister for jail Kusum Mehedele. It is a horrible thing to happen. The prison staff that stamped the entry seals on the two minors faces were oblivious of the fact that this would leave a deep impact on their minds the rest of their lives, he said. We have sought a report from the jail authorities in connection with the incident. We may begin a probe into the incident, if the report submitted by the jail authorities is found unsatisfactory, Dr Raghavendra, chairman of MP state commission for children, said. The jail authorities, however, described the stamping-seal-on-face as an unintentional goof-up and said it might have been done inadvertently in the wake of a surge in visitors to the jail on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. The seal might have been put mistakenly on the face of a couple of children as over 8,500 people, mostly women and children, visited the jail premises on Raksha Bandhan day. However, we have ordered a probe into the incident, jail superintendent Dinesh Nargave said. According to him, there is a practice of putting an entry seal on every visitors hand in order to distinguish them from jail inmates. The additional director general (ADG) (jail) G.R. Meena, however, said that the jail manuals did not provide for putting entry seals on visitors bodies. But, such a practice has continued. The Congress claimed never before has the credibility of the currency in circulation been challenged like this as today. New Delhi: Waving Rs 500 currency notes allegedly having different sizes, designs and features, the Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP-led NDA government of printing two different notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 post-demonetisation, one for the government and the other for the ruling party, and termed it the biggest scam of the century. The issue rocked Parliament as the Rajya Sabha witnessed six adjournments, with Congress members shouting slogans like farzi noton ki sarkar nahin chalegi, before the House was adjourned for the day. Interestingly, the JD(U)s Sharad Yadav, whose party is now with the NDA, also joined the Congress in demanding an explanation from the government on the issue while Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Narendra Modi government had no right to remain in power for even five minutes. The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamul Congress also joined the Congress members in raising the issue. The Samajwadi Party staged a walkout in support, while the Congress vowed it would keep flagging the issue in Parliament until the government comes out with an explanation. We have discovered why this government took a decision on demonetisation (of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November last year) ... these (waving a photocopy of Rs 500 notes) have different sizes, different designs and different features ... this is misuse of power ... the Prime Minister should explain in Parliament how it happened, said the Congress Kapil Sibal, who raised the issue on a point of order. Congress members were then seen passing each other the Rs 500 notes. Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien said even if there were two types of notes, it could not be raised as a point of order. You raise the issue in a different form, he said. The Congress claimed never before has the credibility of the currency in circulation been challenged like this as today. Leader of the House and finance minister Arun Jaitley hit back at the Opposition party, saying it had been raising frivolous issues every day in Zero Hour without giving notice so that they cant be verified. Mr Jaitley said: There are rules under which you give notice. You start raising issues with regard to the currency of the country in this manner, and such irresponsible statements are made... There is a misuse of Zero Hour going on and it should not be permitted at all. The Chair also ruled that the issue raised was not a point of order, and said if the members want to raise it they needed to submit a notice. Law minister Ravishankar Prasad said the Opposition members should explain from where have they had got the currency notes. MoS parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Congress members were creating confusion as demonetisation had hit corrupt people hard, and said any attempt to protect corrupt people would not succeed. TMC MP Derek OBrien also offered to submit the notes to Mr Jaitley for scrutiny and walked up to him to show him the differences in the notes, but did not leave them with the finance minister. Mr Jaitley said there was no provision in the rules that anyone could flash any paper and say it was a point of order. Later, addressing the media outside Parliament, the Congress alleged two different kinds of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes were printed after the demonetisation which jeopardises the credibility of Indian currency. Mr Sibal alleged the demonetisation move had failed to achieve its stated objectives of combating black money, corruption, counterfeit currency and terrorism. Security sources said that both the countries had allowed delegation level visits on various other issues. It is significant that Doklam is a tri-junction between India, Bhutan and China. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) Guwahati: The Doklam standoff between India and China is not going to escalate into a war and Indian authorities dealing with China is of view that the ongoing standoff will be resolved through talks. Pointing out that talks were taking place at various levels and all the channels had been kept open, security sources dealing with China affairs told this newspaper that India had also involved Bhutan in the ongoing dialogue with China. Informing that neither India nor China had taken any decision on reviewing its trade and diplomatic relationship, security sources said that China would be the biggest loser if India was forced to review its trade relationship with China. Security sources said that both the countries had allowed delegation level visits on various other issues. Clarifying there was no problem between the two countries over the 40,000-km international boundary, security sources said that they were confident to end the standoff through talks. Saying that China reacted similarly on the visit of Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, security sources said that despite all threats and opposition, it went off peacefully. Security sources said that they did not see the Doklam standoff escalating into a war between the two countries but in case of any eventuality, India was prepared to face it. It is significant that Doklam is a tri-junction between India, Bhutan and China. The Doklam standoff began in mid-June when India accused China of constructing a road in the disputed territory towards Doklam, an objection that the Royal Bhutanese Army also raised. India intervened in the crisis, supporting Bhutans stand and forced China to halt its construction work. China claimed Doklam as its territory and soon there was a standoff between the Indian and Chinese troops, with both of them sending reinforcements at the border area. Admitting that following the standoff the pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar was cancelled, security sources however said that in case of India reviewing its trade relationship, it would affect the economy of China adversely. Security sources also referred that in past there has been more such standoff between the two countries, which took more than a year in resolving. As part of the celebrations, consulates and missions abroad have been asked to organise cultural events. While Doordarshan will be telecasting programmes on nationalistic theme, movies promoting patriotism, similar programmes will also be held in educational institutions. (Representational image) New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has asked all higher educational institutions to take students to memorials of freedom fighters and residences of martyrs in the run-up to the 70th Independence day celebrations next week. Students at various universities and educational institutions across the country will also take a pledge on Wednesday at 9.30 am along with teachers and non-teaching staff to make the country a terrorism-free, caste-free, corruption-free, uncleanness-free and poverty-free society. Faculty should be requested to conduct guided tour of students to memorials of freedom fighters and places/houses of any martyr from military, para-military and police, to acquaint the students about contribution of the freedom fighters, UGC secretary J.S. Sandhu said in a communication to vice-chancellors of all universities. Prime ministers endeavour to have a terrorism-free, caste-free, corruption-free, uncleanness-free and poverty-free society would only actualise with the help of the society and make his vision a reality. Accordingly you are requested to kindly organise pledge-taking ceremony on August 9 at 9.30 am, he added. A quiz competition to sensitise students about the contribution of freedom fighters and the events as they unfolded during the freedom struggle, besides talks by eminent educationists, debates and declamation contests, are among the activities listed by UGC for commemoration of the 75th year of Quit India Movement and 70th year of Indias Independence. As part of the celebrations, consulates and missions abroad have been asked to organise cultural events and reach out to expatriate and local population of their respective posted country. While Doordarshan will be telecasting programmes on nationalistic theme, movies promoting patriotism, similar programmes will also be held in educational institutions. The BJP said there were no substance in Congress' allegations and urged the EC to start the counting of votes and declare the result. New Delhi/Ahmedabad: The cross-voting in the favour of BJP during the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday has resulted in a battle between the saffron party and the Congress, which have taken the fight to the Election Commission (EC). While Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and RPN Singh approached the EC, demanding quashing of votes of two grand old party's MLAs, BJP leaders said there was no substance in Congress allegations. A delegation of Union ministers MA Naqvi, Piyush Goyal, Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar, Nirmala Sitharaman and Dharmendra Pradhan, also met EC officials and asked the poll panel to start the counting at the earliest. The two MLAs showed their ballot papers to BJP party president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani instead of showing it to the authorised Congress agent, thus violating the provisions of Rule 39 of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. While talking to the media, Surjewala said, "The INC today went to ECI as two legislators Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav ji Bhai Patel had shown their votes not to the authorised person but to the BJP national president Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and to the independent candidate Balwant Singh Rajput. The vote is liable to be rejected as per the verdict of the Supreme Court and under the Section 39 of the Conduct of Election Rules." The Congress also produced a video of the poll proceedings to the commission. "We have requested the ECI to exercise its constitutional obligation duty that is imposed upon the EC by the constitution to uphold the constitution and to ensure that these people who have disclosed their votes to non-authorised persons their votes should not be counted and should be rejected," he added. Meanwhile, BJP leaders have urged the EC to start the counting of votes and declare the result. "The decision of presiding officers is final. If neither they (Congress) nor election observers object to it when votes were cast, then the votes cannot be questioned now, Piyush Goyal said after meeting the EC officials. Goyal added that, "the counting of votes should be done immediately and results declared". Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress was reacting out of fear of losing the poll, in which its senior leader Ahmed Patel is locked in a tight fight with a Congress rebel fielded by the BJP. Tough battle for Ahmed Patel? Amit Shah and colleague Irani are through to the Rajya Sabha, but Congress senior leader Ahmed Patel was kept on tenterhooks till the very end for the third seat from the Gujarat Assembly. The Congress chances were dimmed with cross-voting, infighting and resignations as Ahmed Patel struggles to be re-elected for the fifth time in what has snowballed into a prestige battle between the BJP and the Congress. Each candidate needs 45 votes to go through. With 121 MLAs in the Assembly, the BJP's first choices were Amit Shah and Smriti Irani, leaving their third candidate Balwantsinh Rajput with 31 spare MLAs. Until recently, Rajput was Congress' chief whip in the House before defecting to the BJP. He depended on rebels and smaller parties to make up for the deficit. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's political advisor Ahmed Patel had the clear support of 44 MLAs, discounting senior leader Shankersinh Vaghela. "As Ahmed Patel is going to lose, I have not given my vote to him," Vaghela said after casting his vote. But two other Congress leaders -- Raghavji Patel and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja --also voted for the BJP, it is learnt. This left Patel with 42 votes from his own party. Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party has two MLAs, one of whom Kandhal Jadeja -- has said he will not vote for Ahmed Patel. It was not clear how the other NCP leader, Jayant Patel, voted. The lone JD(U) MLA, Chhotubhai Vasava, said he voted for Ahmed Patel as the ruling BJP has done little for tribal people and the poor. He said the decision to vote for the Congress nominee was solely his own and not necessarily that of the party which he represents. Party boss and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has recently defected to the NDA. "Nitish Kumar did not contact me over voting, and there was nothing like a whip issued by the party in this regard. The decision to vote for Patel was my own," he said. Whereas, JD(U) General Secretary KC Tyagi said that Chhotubhai had voted for BJP after getting instructions from Nitish Kumar. A fight for a seat is taking place for Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat after a gap of two decades. The voting would be held from 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesday; the counting will be held from 5 pm, an hour after the end of polling. Ahmedabad: Former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela on Tuesday asserted that he did not vote for the saffron party Rajya Sabha candidate Ahmed Patel, adding that there was no point for the grand old party as they are never going to win the elections. "The entire nation will face the impact and effect of this election. I tried to explain a lot to the Congress party before the elections, they didn't listen, following which I left the party. Now when the Congress Party is not going to win the elections, there was no point giving my votes to it," Vaghela told the reporters after casting his vote. Expressing sorrow for not voting for Patel, Vaghela further said the Congress party shouldn't have put the reputation of the former on stake, when the party knew that their MLAs were resigning. "It is not even sure that all the 44 MLAs of the Congress will vote for the same person, they may also do cross voting. That's why there is no chance of the Congress Party winning this seat. So, I have not given my vote to Ahmed Patel," he said. However, Vaghela did not confirm whether he voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate or opted for NOTA (none of the above). Meanwhile, two Congress MLA Dharmendra Jadeja and Raghavji Patel have voted for the BJP. "There are only two parties in Gujarat - Congress and BJP. If I'm not with Congress, you know where will I be," Congress MLA Raghavji Patel said after casting his vote for BJP. Congress MLA Dharmendra Jadeja asserted that the Congress party hasn't been listening to their leaders for a year and hence he voted for BJP. In a political battle between the two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition Congress, Gujarat is witnessing one of the most awaited Rajya Sabha election. There are three Rajya Sabha vacancies from Gujarat but there are four candidates in the fray three from the BJP and one from the Congress. BJP President Amit Shah, one of the four contestants for the three vacant seats will stand against Ahmed Patel from Congress. From the BJP, partys national president Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and former Congress MLA turned-BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput are in the race while political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, is the Congress candidate seeking a fifth term. As per the current strength of the Gujarat Assembly each candidate requires a minimum of 45 votes to win. With the BJP having 121 seats out of the 182 seats its two candidates Shah and Irani will win smoothly. But it is going to be a contest between Patel and Rajput. The Congress had transported its 44 MLAs to the party-ruled Karnataka fearing defections. Eight of the 57 MLAs of the Congress have resigned from the party; this includes former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela and his son. Presently the MLAs are back in Gujarat and are in a resort in Anand. Congress candidate Ahmed Patel speaking to reporters in Anand said, I am confident of winning the Rajya Sabha seat. All the MLAs are with me despite the BJP trying to break the MLAs. He also added that I have just got word that two NCP MLAs will also be voting for me. Reports further suggest that the lone JD(U) legislator will be extending support to Patel. Hitting back at the Congress, the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, BJP will win all the three seats and Ahmed Patel will definitely lose. The voting would be held from 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesday. The counting will be held from 5 pm, an hour after the end of polling. The election has been necessitated following the completion of the tenures of three existing members - Union minister Smriti Irani, Dilip Pandya of BJP and Ahmed Patel of Congress. Congress needs the support of 45 MLAs for victory of Patel who is contesting for his fifth term for the Upper House. In 182 member assembly, BJP has 122 seats including dissident Nalin Kotadiya. While, Congress has 51 MLAs along with 7 of Shankarinh Vaghela's camp. NCP has 2 and JD U has 1 MLA in the house. RJD spokeman Shakti Singh Yadav dismissed the allegation as 'a bundle of lies.' Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Monday alleged a nexus existed between Lalu Prasad's family and sand mafia, who purchased three flats from the RJD chief's wife Rabri Devi. RJD spokeman Shakti Singh Yadav dismissed the allegation as "a bundle of lies". Talking to media, Modi claimed that Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, owned 18 flats in a housing complex, and to avoid Income Tax and other agencies, sold three to a member of a sand mafia in June 17, 2017. Modi distributed copies of purported sale deeds of the three flats to the media, purchased by the three companies engaged in sand mining. He claimed the director of all three companies was SP Yadav the "right hand man" of Lalu Prasad. He alleged that with the help of the RJD president the sand mafia had acquired mining lease of sand in six districts - Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Jehanabad and Arwal - for Rs 237 crore. "Why the sand mafia purchased three flats from Rabri Devi on a single day at a cost of Rs 1.62 crore," he asked and said it showed his close nexus with Lalu Prasad's family. Sushil Modi said he would write to Income Tax and Registrar of Companies to probe sale and purchase of the three flats and take necessary action. He said he would also intimate Chief Minister Nitish Kumar about this and request him to order a probe by state agencies. Modi asked Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and their son and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to make pubic details of such "dubious" sale and purchase of flats in the next 3-4 days, failing which he said he would keep "exposing" such deals. The BJP leader alleged that the sand mafia was funding the RJD. Immediately after coming to power, the new government in Bihar has launched a major crackdown against sand mafia, seizing machines used for illegal mining and a large number of sand laden trucks. Meanwhile, RJD spokeman Shakti Singh Yadav dismissed the allegation as "a bundle of lies." "The lease was given to the person when Sushil Kumar Modi was the mines and minerals minister in the previous NDA government," he claimed. This is an attempt to "disturb" the RJD's August 27 rally, he said. Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of luring Opposition party MLCs as part of a political conspiracy. Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that those who wanted to leave the party, were free to do so but they should not make any baseless excuses for their actions. This will give me a chance to see who all stand by me during these tough times, he said, speaking to party workers. Mr Yadav said that the excuses made by three MLCs, Yashwant Singh, Bhukkal Nawab and Sarojini Agarwal, who recently left the party were ridiculous and baseless. Some people are saying they were feeling suffocated as the atmosphere of the party was bad. This should not be an excuse for leaving the party and they should find a better excuse. Those who want to go can just leave, at least, that will help us realize who are standing by us in bad times, he said. Mr Yadav, while referring to Bhukkal Nawab who had quit the party, said, I had paid him a visit on Eid and had distributed sweets at his house. He never expressed any displeasure. We have now learned that there was some land dispute due to which he was pressurised to join the BJP. Taking a dig at Mr Nawab, Mr Yadav said, They (BJP) are doing good work. It is ironic that when a person is not in the BJP, he is labelled as a land mafia and when he joins the party, he becomes honest, upright and a gentleman. Referring to Ms Sarojini Agarwal, the SP chief said that she ran a medical college in Meerut in the name of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. There could be a land issue behind it, as well, though I am not aware of the exact matter, he added. Mr Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of luring Opposition party MLCs as part of a political conspiracy. The Gujarat Assembly will elect three MPs to the Rajya Sabha, with each candidate requiring 45 votes to win. Patel suffered a blow when former Congress stalwart Shankersinh Vaghela, after casting his vote, told reporters he was against him. (Photo: PTI/File) Gandhinagar: BJP's Amit Shah and Smriti Irani are set to be elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat following the elections on Tuesday, which has become a high-stake battle for Congress party's Ahmed Patel, thanks to infighting and resignations. Patel suffered a blow when former Congress stalwart Shankersinh Vaghela, after casting his vote, told reporters he was against him. "As Ahmed Patel is going to lose, I have not given my vote to him," Vaghela said. The Gujarat Assembly will elect three MPs to the Rajya Sabha, with each candidate requiring 45 votes to win. Since the BJP has 121 seats in the Assembly, the election of Shah and Irani is a foregone conclusion. The third seat has become a virtual head to head fight against BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput. Patel is short of the required 45 votes to sail through his fifth Rajya Sabha election. The Congress has a clear support of 44 MLAs, but some MLAs of his group like Raghavji Patel and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja have also come out and said that they have voted for the BJP. Read: Gujarat RS polls: I'll definitely win, have NCP's support, says Ahmed Patel After accounting for 90 votes to get Shah and Irani elected, the BJP will be left with 31 surplus votes for Rajput, who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. Until recently, Rajput was Congress' chief whip in the House before defecting to BJP. It is after a gap of about two decades that a contest is taking place in Rajya Sabha poll in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties used to get elected unopposed. According to Election Commission officials, a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes. The MLAs have to give their preferential votes indicating first choice, second, third, fourth (as per number of candidates) or they can choose NOTA, they said. From Europe to Southeast Asia, we list places that are known as destinations for sex tourism. It turns out that while planning for a vacation, there are people who actually are looking for places where they can have uninhibited sex not necessarily with their partners. Some people look at sexual encounters while travelling as a way of enhancing their travel experience. And to top it all, the sex tourism industry is worth billions with millions of sex workers, both legal and illegal scattered around the globe. Here are 10 of the biggest sex tourism destinations around the world: Germany: Prostitution and even street prostitution is wide spread and organised sector in Germany and it is completely legal. The country has a long history of sexual tourism with organised prostitution in the country dating back to the 1200s AD. Interestingly, people join the flesh trade in Germany willingly and there are advertisements, and job offers through HR companies. Frauenhauser ("women's houses") have always been a common part of German history and were looked upon as places which helped curb greater crimes by offering their services. The practice carries on till date. Dominican Republic: Travellers to the Dominican Republic will see legal brothels, marriage parlours and prostitutes openly roaming around in many of the downtown areas of Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata. The Dominican Republic ranks fourth highest in the world among countries exporting large numbers of sex workers. Spain: Party destinations in Spain that include Madrid, Ibiza and Barcelona which are known for their riveting club and bar scene have also become popular sex tourism destinations. Street that is known as the red light area. Malaysia: While prostitution is illegal in Malaysia, it is still rampantly practiced and services are widely available. The demand is particularly high in places like Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh. Most of the sex workers are trafficked from neighbouring countries like China. Kenya: While it is one of the countries in Africa which is relatively easier to visit, it also has one of the largest sex tourism industries on the continent. The country does not discourage the practice despite the high level of STDs and HIV prevalent. Interestingly, Kenya is a popular destination among older white women who want to 'buy' some time with a man. Children are lured into prostitution by tourists willing to pay handsomely for sex in secret locations. The Netherlands: Often considered to be one of the most popular sex tourism destinations in the world. Prostitution is legal and regulated while Amsterdams, De Wallen, is the largest and most famous red-light district in the city and a famous destination for international sex tourism. The Philippines: The country has a huge industry domestically with an estimated 800,000 men, women and children working in the trade. It is believed that the countrys international image as a sex destination was formed due to the girlie bars that were prevalent during World War II. Brazil: Another place where prostitution is legal, Brazil however says it is illegal to operate a brothel or to employ sex workers in any other way. Still, dozens of brothels fill the cities, where prostitutes engage in sexual activities. Colombia: Colombian women are often considered to be one of the most beautiful women in the world, and perhaps this is one factor that has led to sex tourism flourishing in the country. While sex trade is completely legal here, the government is taking efforts to curb areas that re illegal, like child prostitution. Thailand: The industry apparently started in the country during the Vietnam, war and is a legal profession here with over three million sex workers earning a livelihood in the country. The peon of Seth Juggilal Poddar Academy in Malad has been sent to police custody till August 11. The Mumbai police arrested a peon of the Seth Juggilal Poddar Academy in Malad for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl. (Representational Image) Mumbai: A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a peon inside a renowned ICSE Board school in suburban Malad following which the accused was arrested, police said on Tuesday. The peon allegedly sexually assaulted the girl inside a washroom of the school between August 1 and 4, Senior police Inspector of Dindoshi police station, Rajaram Vhanmane said. Her mother filed a complaint on August 5. A case on the charge of rape and under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered, said the officer. "We subsequently identified and apprehended the accused yesterday," Vhanmane said, adding the accused was produced in a local court which remanded him in police custody till August 11. On Tuesday morning, parents of other students gathered outside the school and staged a protest. "The parents want assurance of safety of their children," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-12) Vinay Rathod said. A total of 3,500 persons have been diagnosed with swine flu so far this year. Mumbai: There has been a steep hike in the number of deaths caused by the H1N1 virus (swine flu) in the state in comparison to last year. Since January 2017 till August 7, there have been 384 deaths in the state due to swine flu, though only 25 deaths were reported in 2016. Experts have said the huge toll could be because of a mutation of the virus that is making it flourish in the current environmental conditions. A total of 3,500 persons have been diagnosed with swine flu so far this year, while 22 people are on ventilator support in hospitals across the state. The state health department said that the highest number of deaths has been recorded in Nashik, followed by Pune. Mumbai is third in the list along with Aurangabad, followed by Thane, it said. Dr Om Shrivastava, director of department of infectious diseases at Jaslok Hospital, said, The H1N1 virus thrives in air. A person suffering from any kind of influenza should avoid travelling in public as that would lead to the transmission and thriving of virus. The virus is mostly affecting people in the high risk group, such as pregnant women, the elderly, HIV-infected people and small children. If the fatalities are affecting those with better immune system, then it is a possibility that the virus is different. A different plan of action is needed to tackle the spread, he said. On the changing pattern of the virus and its spread, Dr Pradeep Awate, head of the state epidemiology department, said, The behaviour of the virus is cannot be predicted. The only solution is awareness about the virus, and people should stop taking self medication. They should rush to doctors following signs of flu and it should not be neglected. A team of experts from the National Communicable Disease Centre (NCDC) from Delhi visited Mumbai, Thane and Pune in the last week of June. The team confirmed that the patterns were changing and recommended the formation of a committee to probe all swine flu deaths. Descendants of Battle of Panipat captives back agitation. Mumbai: A massive Maratha protest that is scheduled in the city for Wednesday, received support from an unexpected quarters on Tuesday neighbouring Pakistan. The Maratha Qaumi Ittehad, which represents a section of Maratha community staying in Pakistan as descendants of the Maratha army men who were captured after being defeated in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), has extended support to the protest. Chief Maratha Qaumi Itehad fully supports this protest. In India, the community is facing injustice. I condemn it strictly. Reservation in government jobs and education should be given to the Maratha community, which is its national right. Disfavour with the community will not be tolerated. We are with it in every protest, Wadera Din Muhammad, chief of Maratha Qaumi Ittehad, Pakistan said in a post on the organisations Facebook page. Mr Muhammad said Marathas rights were being respected in Pakistan and questioned why it was not the case in India. The Maratha community in Pakistan condemns it strictly, he said. Bhaiyya Patil, who is in charge of the social media wing for the Maratha Kranti Morcha, said that after the earlier protests, Maratha communities from across the world have supported their cause. Not only Marathas in Pakistan but also in Afghanistan and across the globe have supported us. The protest marches so far have become a big story all over the media. The issue has brought awareness among the people and hence they are supporting us. Even Mumbais Muslim community has given us a letter of support today, Mr Patil said. The Maratha Kranti Morcha has conducted 56 rallies from last year across Maharashtra. The rallies started as a response to the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Maratha girl in Kopardi in western Maharashtras Ahmednagar district in July 2016. All the protests were silent and without any prominent leadership. In its last rally at Nagpur in December, during the winter session of the state legislature, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met a delegation of agitators and promised to look into their demands. However, the Maratha Kranti Morcha claimed that the demands were not fulfilled. The Mumbai morcha is considered important, as the strategy of the morcha is likely to change after the protest. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed on the Pune-Mumbai expressway as well. A group of people who have come from Kolhapur for the rally, posing near the CST station. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav) Mumbai: To avoid traffic congestion across the city, heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter Mumbai on Wednesday due to the Maratha Kranti Muk Morcha to be held for twelve straight hours starting 7am the same day. Highway police has issued a notification banning heavy vehicles, including motor trailers, trucks, tempos, water tankers, oil tankers, generator vans, cement mixers and container vehicles, from entering the city on August 9. All heavy vehicles entering Mumbai from all five national highways will be stopped at respective toll plazas near the city. Vijay Patil, superintendent, highway police, said, Lakhs of people from across the state are expected to come to the city in private and public vehicles for this march to be held from Jijamata Udyan, Byculla, to Azad Maidan, on August 9. Wednesday being a working day for Mumbaikars, they have to travel as usual. Hence, there is possibility of heavy traffic jams across the city. Hence, we have issued a notification to avoid congestion. We dont want common citizens to suffer due to traffic. Heavy vehicles entering Mumbai via the Pune-Mumbai expressway will have to stop at Urse toll plaza. Those plying on the old Pune-Mumbai highway (NH-4) will have to stop at Kusgaon toll plaza. Vehicles entering the city from NH-3 will be stopped at Ghoti toll plaza, while those travelling along NH-66 will wait at Chakan Phata till 7pm. Vehicles along NH-8 will be intercepted at Khaniwade toll plaza. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed on the Pune-Mumbai expressway as well. Emergency service vehicles, fire brigade vehicles, ambulances and government vehicles are not bound by the notification. Party leaders belonging to Congress, BJP, Shiv Sangram are supporting the cause. All the party leaders extended their support to the protest and said that the demand for reservation should be fulfilled. Mumbai: A day prior to the massive Maratha protest scheduled for Wednesday, Maratha leaders of all the parties seem to have come together for the cause. Congress leader Narayan Rane, his son and MLA Nitesh Rane, BJP leader Prasad Lad, Shiv Sangram leader Vinayak Mete were seen addressing a press conference regarding the protest, together. Also, schools and colleges in south Mumbai have declared Wednesday to be a holiday to avoid inconvenience for the students and staff members who would travel by train and buses. All the party leaders extended their support to the protest and said that the demand for reservation should be fulfilled. Maratha protest would start from Byculla zoo and pass through J.J. flyover to Azad Maidan. This will be a silent protest and no speeches would be given. A delegation would meet the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with a charter of demands. The chief minister is expected speak to them about giving reservation to the community. There is an enthusiasm in the community about the protest. Many have already reached the city, Rane said People have already started pouring in the city from Satara, Sangli, Pune and Marathwada region since Tuesday afternoon. The community groups and volunteers have made arrangements for their food and stay at various schools, halls and college premises. The community groups at various locations in Mumbai have made arrangements for the people who are coming from outside Mumbai. We have got about 15,000 to 20,000 volunteers who would be stationed at various railway stations and roads to guide the agitators and general public for the routes they can take. Many of them will be coming by trains to join the protest, said Bhaiyya Patil, social media expert, Maratha Kranti Morcha. Optimism about social change is more about coldness than naivety. Karachi: There is no mention of the colour blue in ancient texts. Not in early Greek literature, not in Hindu Vedic hymns, not in the original Hebrew Bible, not in ancient Chinese stories or Icelandic sagas. William Gladstone, the first to notice this through Homers Odyssey wondered if the Greeks were colour-blind. But philologist Gieger found a consistent pattern across different cultures: Every language first developed a word for black and white, the next colour to come into existence was red, and after yellow and green, blue was always the last to show up, at times centuries later. People in ancient times could see it of course, but they couldnt recognise it. The Himba tribe in Namibia still doesnt have a word for it and still cannot identify it in a colour palette. How far does language shape our worlds? Can we register something, understand it and grapple with it if we dont have a word for it? The lack of a word ensures we cannot discuss it, but since words also structure thoughts, does that mean we cannot think about or perceive it? This article is about rape. But in shifting the perception lag from colours to humans, lets start with an easier example. Historically, children became adults without teens as a transition category. So while people have been 14, 15, 16 years old throughout history, they were adults. Adolescence is a modern social construction. Questions of whether teenagers should labour and toil or not, fight in wars or not, or be married off or not would have made no sense to anyone before the 19th century. They still make no sense to those outside the ambit of modernity. Issues of adolescence could emerge only after adolescence was recognised, even though it was already present as an age cohort. Now lets shift this further, to a problem that has frustrated women activists for decades. There is no local word for rape. Part of my first full-time job was to interview distraught women survivors of violence to prepare case briefs for lawyers at a legal aid centre. And I didnt have the vocabulary to inquire about rape. When they tried to tell me themselves, Id spend 20 minutes telling them they were wrong, that no one had looted their izzat and hurmat (dignity and respect) because those were innate. Zyaadati spanned everything, from withheld promotions to unfair accusations. Zabardasti could range from forced marriage to forced work to forced confinement at home. We had no way of framing and jointly understanding what had happened to her. At times, Id look at the women and simply ask, Did he? And they would simply nod. There was also the legal term zina bil jabr, translating to forced adultery, which is first a term no one knows; second, is a contradiction in terms and third, its ludicrous. These roundabout terms further reinforce the stigma attached to rape, that it should not be directly acknowledged. Naari Tehreek coined a new word, zabarjinsi. Women writers have also tried, though the terms still havent taken hold. So the question remains, can we understand the experience of sexualised subjugation when we have no conceptual architecture to even recognise it? The viciousness against women following public accusations of rape and harassment illustrates as much cluelessness as misogyny. Once you see blue, you cannot un-see it. But there is a difference between seeing something involuntarily, like turning towards a window and seeing a tree, and looking at something, which requires intention and attention. We can and do see womens suffering without actually looking at it. Optimism about social change is more about coldness than naivety. It requires an insensitivity that social activists shouldnt even have, of stepping away from the horrendous daily violence, its broken or brittle survivors, the apathy of officials and societys indifference, to a distance where each case becomes merely a plot point on a graph of changing trends. Yet its the activists and engaged citizens who need to see change most, otherwise outrage congeals into cataracts of bitterness. So heres the uplift. Recognition can be forced. And language can be co-opted. Postscript: I heard Punjabi being sung before I ever heard it being spoken. Every wedding, women would sing the folksong Jugni to the beat of the dhol, relishing the idea of a liberated female travelling to places from Multan to Calcutta, observing quirky customs and sampling cuisines along the way. The song is actually about the torch commemorating 50 years of Queen Victorias reign, her golden jubilee. Like the Olympic flame, the torch was carried across the British Empire. Jugni is the vernacular distortion of jubli which itself is a distortion of jubilee. Imperial pomp and the roaming torch co-opted to reflect womens longings to take flight. By arrangement with Dawn In a series of laboratory experiments reported in the journal Nature, the Oregon researchers tried a different approach. In this microscope photo provided by Oregon Health & Science University human embryos grow in a laboratory for a few days after researchers used gene editing technology to successfully repair a heart disease-causing genetic mutation. (Photo: AP) Washington: Altering human heredity? In a first, researchers safely repaired a disease-causing gene in human embryos, targeting a heart defect best known for killing young athletes a big step toward one day preventing a list of inherited diseases. In a surprising discovery, a research team led by Oregon Health and & Science University reported Wednesday that embryos can help fix themselves if scientists jump-start the process early enough. Its laboratory research only, nowhere near ready to be tried in a pregnancy. But it suggests that scientists might alter DNA in a way that protects not just one baby from a disease that runs in the family, but his or her offspring as well. And that raises ethical questions. I for one believe, and this paper supports the view, that ultimately gene editing of human embryos can be made safe. Then the question truly becomes, if we can do it, should we do it? said Dr. George Daley, a stem cell scientist and dean of Harvard Medical School. He wasnt involved in the new research and praised it as quite remarkable. This is definitely a leap forward, agreed developmental geneticist Robin Lovell-Badge of Britains Francis Crick Institute. Today, couples seeking to avoid passing on a bad gene sometimes have embryos created in fertility clinics so they can discard those that inherit the disease and attempt pregnancy only with healthy ones, if there are any. Gene editing in theory could rescue diseased embryos. But so-called germline changes altering sperm, eggs or embryos are controversial because they would be permanent, passed down to future generations. Critics worry about attempts at designer babies instead of just preventing disease, and a few previous attempts at learning to edit embryos, in China, didnt work well and, more importantly, raised safety concerns. In a series of laboratory experiments reported in the journal Nature, the Oregon researchers tried a different approach. They targeted a gene mutation that causes a heart-weakening disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, that affects about 1 in 500 people. Inheriting just one copy of the bad gene can cause it. The team programmed a gene-editing tool, named CRISPR-Cas9, that acts like a pair of molecular scissors to find that mutation a missing piece of genetic material. Then came the test. Researchers injected sperm from a patient with the heart condition along with those molecular scissors into healthy donated eggs at the same time. The scissors cut the defective DNA in the sperm. Normally cells will repair a CRISPR-induced cut in DNA by essentially gluing the ends back together. Or scientists can try delivering the missing DNA in a repair package, like a computers cut-and-paste program. Instead, the newly forming embryos made their own perfect fix without that outside help, reported Oregon Health & Science University senior researcher Shoukhrat Mitalipov. We all inherit two copies of each gene, one from dad and one from mom and those embryos just copied the healthy one from the donated egg. The embryos are really looking for the blueprint, Mitalipov, who directs OHSUs Centre for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, said in an interview. Were finding embryos will repair themselves if you have another healthy copy. It worked 72 percent of the time, in 42 out of 58 embryos. Normally a sick parent has a 50-50 chance of passing on the mutation. Previous embryo-editing attempts in China found not every cell was repaired, a safety concern called mosaicism. Beginning the process before fertilization avoided that problem: Until now, everybody was injecting too late, Mitalipov said. Nor did intense testing uncover any off-target errors, cuts to DNA in the wrong places, reported the team, which also included researchers from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California and South Koreas Institute for Basic Science. The embryos werent allowed to develop beyond eight cells, a standard for laboratory research. The experiments were privately funded; U.S. tax dollars arent allowed for embryo research. Genetics and ethics experts not involved in the work say its a critical first step but just one step toward eventually testing the process in pregnancy, something currently prohibited by U.S. policy. This is very elegant lab work, but its moving so fast that society needs to catch up and debate how far it should go, said Johns Hopkins University bioethicist Jeffrey Kahn. And lots more research is needed to tell if its really safe, added Britains Lovell-Badge. He and Kahn were part of a National Academy of Sciences report earlier this year that said if germline editing ever were allowed, it should be only for serious diseases with no good alternatives and done with strict oversight. What we do not want is for rogue clinicians to start offering treatments that are unproven, as has happened with some other experimental technologies, he stressed. Among key questions: Would the technique work if mom, not dad, harbored the mutation? Is repair even possible if both parents pass on a bad gene? Mitalipov is pushing a frontier, but its responsible basic research thats critical for understanding embryos and disease inheritance, noted University of Pittsburgh professor Kyle Orwig. In fact, Mitalipov said the research should offer critics some reassurance: If embryos prefer self-repair, it would be extremely hard to add traits for designer babies rather than just eliminate disease. All we did is un-modify the already mutated gene. Haley praised both Russia and China for the UN Security Council vote on North Korean sanctions. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said that despite threats, the US and the international community would not be scared of North Korea. (Photo: File/ AP) Washington: The US and the international community is "not going to run scared from North Korea", US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said after Pyongyang refused to roll back its nuclear weapons programme. "All of us should be concerned about what's happening right now. But I think the signs that we're seeing from North Korea, they're concerned back. Now they see the international community is standing with one voice. China didn't pull off. Russia didn't pull off. And all of the Security Council and the international community said that's enough. You've got to stop it," Haley told Fox News in an interview. "It's reckless. It's irresponsible. And the international community really laid down the groundwork of saying we're not going to watch you do this anymore. Read: North Korea asks US not to play with fire Now, North Korea has to respond. And yes, they're going to threaten, they're going to do all these things. But we're not going to run scared from them," the top Indian-American diplomat said. Haley praised both Russia and China for the UN Security Council vote on North Korean sanctions. "Ninety per cent of the trade that North Korea has is with China. So that's why they were so important to this resolution. And what we saw was the fact that China did step up these are hard- hitting sanctions that we're doing. Over a billion dollars out of their USD 3 billion export," she said. "What was more important was China stepped up and said, we will follow through on these sanctions. We will make sure that we follow. Read: Nikki Haley hints at North Korea strike And they encouraged the international community to follow it. China feels this. I mean when I talk to the Chinese ambassador, when that missile test took off, they they felt it in China. It was so close to their border that the ground shook," she said. "The people of China now feel it. They're disturbed enough to say that they now have to do their part. And now we have to just stay on them to make sure they do that," Haley said. In recent years the gay community has started using the festival to call attention to its demands for equal rights. Last month a transgender woman and her husband were issued a marriage certificate by a district office, a first in Nepal.(Photo: AFP) Kathmandu: Hundreds of members of Nepal's gay community marched through Kathmandu Tuesday, many wearing vibrant costumes and carrying rainbow flags and balloons, in an annual pride parade. The march is timed to coincide with the Hindu festival of Gai Jatra, which brings hundreds onto the streets to pay respects to those who have died in the past year. Historically Gai Jatra, which dates back to when Nepal was under royal rule, was also a chance for people to criticise the government -- with many people in colourful costumes satirising politicians. In recent years the gay community has started using the festival to call attention to its demands for equal rights. Around 1,500 people took part in the parade, paying tribute to members of LGBTI community who had died in 2017, including American artist Gilbert Baker who designed the rainbow flag that has become an emblem of the gay community. "Every year we celebrate a pride festival to show that we want to be recognised in this society with our different identity, that we are a part of this society," said Pinky Gurung, president of the Blue Diamond Society, a gay rights organisation in Nepal. Nepal has some of South Asia's most progressive laws on homosexuality and transgender rights, but activists said members of the community continue to face discrimination and live in the shadows of society. "The government has recognised us but should do more. People of third gender like us should be able to come out in the open, society should accept us," said Kirti Gurung, a 21-year-old transgender woman. Last month a transgender woman and her husband were issued a marriage certificate by a district office, a first in Nepal. But the country's laws are silent on same-sex or transgender marriages and the legality of the union are unclear. The daily extended its advised to Indian government and said not to be as naive as the Nehru government. India and China have been locked in a prolonged standoff in the area in the Sikkim sector since June 16 after Chinese troops began constructing a road near the Bhutan trijunction. (Photo: Representational/PTI) Beijing: Urging Modi government to not to make the same mistake that Nehru government did by assuming China wont strike a war during 1962, Chinese media on Tuesday warned India that keep ignoring Chinas warnings, war is inevitable. In 1962, India had made constant provocations at the China-India border and then, the Nehru government believed Beijing wont strike a war as it was already undergoing domestic turmoil and natural disasters, a Chinese state-run media, Global Times said in an editorial. The daily extended its advised to Indian government and said, "Not to be as naive as the Nehru government which underestimated the Chinese government to safeguard China's territorial integrity despite the country being occupied with other issues." Read: Sikkim standoff: Chinese experts say Beijing may expel Indian troops in 2 weeks Global times, which is known for its hoarse stance on India and its policies, also reasoned that 1962, had also seen cold war between US and Russia, however, in this regard, "Beijing and Washington were engaged in hostility and China's relations with the Soviet Union had begun to chill. The daily said, if India is still reluctant to withdraw its troops from the alleged Chinese territory then the outcome of the standoff between Chinese and Indian troops in the Doklam area is fixed, adding that China has not resorted to a war because it hopes New Delhi can make a rational choice rather than daring. Chinese daily also said, As the risk of war is rising, Indian public opinion has become clear that Indian troops cannot defeat the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army . However, while addressing the Parliament, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said, "War is never the solution to a dispute. Wisdom is to resolve issues diplomatically. We're not only negotiating over Doklam, but discussing bilateral relations with China as well. This is the only solution. Read: Sikkim standoff: Our restraint has 'bottom line', China tells India The editorial reiterates that Of course China doesn't want to risk a war and hopes that peace could return along China-India border. But if Indian troops continue to linger on Chinese soil, it will be quite another matter. The daily said, If Indians think China may not strike a war due to strategic concerns and US will take Indias side, which may exert psychological pressure on China, then they are wrong as New Delhi must understand the nature of the Sino-US rivalry and the meaning of strategic containment. The editorial on Global Times also pointed out that China wont be deterred, 'if India thinks Washington can influence the situation along the China-India border simply by issuing a pro-India statement or sending warships to the Indian Ocean'. As the Sikkim standoff has entered in its third month in August, the daily said, If Modi government continues to ignore the warning coming from a situation spiraling out of control, countermeasures from China will be unavoidable. Read: Amid Sikkim standoff, China holds advance military exercise near Arunachal Pradesh It further added that If New Delhi really keeps faith that China will not take military action under any circumstances, and then its analysis is not based on the principles of international politics and military science. The end for the Sikkim standoff is not seen on cards as China is in complete denial for dialogue over the border issues unless India withdraws troop from the region which Beijing claims to be its territory. The spat worsened when China tried to build a road at the strategically important Chickens Neck area, also called as Doklam, which interestingly falls under disputed tri-junction land between India-Bhutan-China. Nepal will face dire consequences in case a war between India and China breaks out, halting the trade and supplies from India. Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara (L) on Monday called for a peaceful resolution between India and China over the border standoff. (Photo: AFP) Kathmandu: Nepal has asked India and China to show restraint over the continuing border standoff between the two sides and called for a peaceful diplomatic dialogue to solve the issue. Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Monday called for a peaceful resolution between India and China over the border standoff. "Nepal has a clear policy. The dispute which is being seen in the border side in Doklam, we wish for peaceful, diplomatic and dialogue to resolve the issue. This is Nepal's policy, this is Nepali perspective. Nepal is not in favour of war and never expects a solution from the war," Mahara said during a press briefing. Read: Need dialogue, not war: Sushma Swaraj tells Oppn on Sikkim standoff Nepal will face dire consequences in case a war between India and China breaks out, halting the trade and supplies from India with whom Nepal shares an open border and commonality. The trade between Nepal and China is not frequent in comparison with India as there has always been a problem with the transportation from the Northern side. Mahara, in his briefing, also talked about the upcoming visit of Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's to India. Read: Sikkim standoff: US expresses concern over India-China border dispute "We are preparing for the Prime Minister's visit to India. The most potential date for his visit to India would be from 23rd to 27th August," Mahara said. Prime Minister Deuba's five-day visit to India is expected to focus on implementing the previous agreements and engagement with the senior Indian politicos. Indian and Chinese troops continue to be locked in a standoff in Doklam and both sides have moved additional troops, ammunition and military equipment to the area. The stand-off emerged after the Chinese troops were stopped by the Indian Army from constructing roads along the Doklam border. Read: Sikkim standoff: Our restraint has 'bottom line', China tells India India claims Sikkim border as part of its territory, while China has said that the area falls on their side as per the 1890 treaty signed between British and China. Consequently, China suspended the annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and conceded that the decision to suspend the pilgrimage was due to the border scuffle. It also alleged that the Indian troops had crossed the Sikkim sector of the Indo-China border. Beijing has accused New Delhi of violating a convention signed in 1890 between Britain and China relating to Sikkim and Tibet. There are reports that Sharif's younger brother Shehbaz Sharif might be appointed as new president of PML-N. Islamabad: Pakistans Election Commission today issued a notice to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) asking it to appoint a new leader to replace former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as its chief. Sharif stepped down on July 28 after the Supreme Court disqualified him for not disclosing his assets. After the verdict, he ceased to be a member of parliament. He, however, continued as the president of PML-N. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) through the notice told the PML-N that Sharif cannot lead the party after disqualification under the Political Parties Order 2002. The ECP also referred to the constitution of PML-N which mandates that the party would appoint its new chief within one week. It asked the PML-N to elect a new president and inform the election commission. The PML-N was already holding consultation to appoint new party chief. There are reports that Sharifs younger brother Shehbaz Sharif might be appointed as new president of PML-N. There are also chances that former first lady Kulsoom Nawaz may be given the role to lead the party. President Ghani and PM Abbasi agreed to work together to improve the economic condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Prime Minister Shahid Abbasi said that Pakistan would work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan will work together to defeat terrorism and ensure security and stability in the region, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Abbasi on Monday congratulated him on his election as the premier. The Prime Minister Office in a statement said Abbasi thanked the president and said that terrorism is a common threat for both the countries and both countries need to fight it together. "We will work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region," Abbasi said, adding that terrorism was a common enemy and "we will work together to eliminate this menace from the region". The two leaders also agreed to work together to address the challenge of energy in the region and improve the economic condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan leader expressed satisfaction over the smooth transition and said that it was good for democracy of Pakistan, the statement said. It was first high level call between the two leaders since Abbasi took office. The last known contact between top leadership was made when former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Ghani met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana about two months ago. The programme has been implemented in all 21 cities, towns, and districts in Nghe An province. The initiative was launched nationwide on 28 September 2016. The goal is to meet 90-95 per cent of the energy need of children and increase the height of boys and girls by 1.5 and 2 centimetres respectively. Critics view the provincial governments claim of success as mere propaganda. In 2016, Nghe An was one of the four coastal provinces in Central Vietnam affected by the country's worst environmental disaster. Nghe An (AsiaNews/Agencies) A school milk programme in the central province of Nghe An has helped cut malnutrition among children, especially those under five years-old, this according to the provincial Peoples Committee. Thanks to the programme, malnutrition rates among pre-school children and primary pupils were cut by 2.85 per cent and 2.78 per cent, respectively, compared to 2010. The school milk programme has been implemented in all 21 cities, towns and districts in the province. With support from the State budget, businesses and local authorities, kids receive five bottles of milk per week. To date, almost 312,000 children have registered for milk at kindergartens and primary schools, 69 per cent of all local students. The programme has, however, been hampered by poor infrastructure at kindergartens, with inadequate milk storage facilities and a shortage of human resources and money. With the aim of 70 per cent of children benefitting from the programme by 2020, the province plans to better coordinate action among relevant authorities and prioritises supports for disabled children. The school milk programme was launched nationwide on 28September 2016. It targets providing all pre-school children and elementary pupils in poor districts with milk by 2020, meeting 90-95 per cent of their energy needs and increasing the heights of school boys and girls by 1.5 and 2 centimetres respectively. For critics, the provincial governments claim of success is mere propaganda. They see the celebration of the programme as an attempt by the authorities to restore a positive image with the public. Nghe An is one of the four coastal provinces in Central Vietnam (along with Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue) affected by the countrys worst environmental disaster. In April 2016, about 12,000 cubic metres of toxic chemical waste was released into the sea every day from a steel plant owned by Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Group. The spill killed more than 115 tonnes of fish, negatively impacting the lives of 200,000 people. It left 41,000 fishermen without a job with dire consequences for the local economy. Formosa Plastics paid US$ 500 million in clean-up costs and compensation to victims, but the slow and irregular payment by the Vietnamese government sparked protests that continue more than a year after the disaster. At present, hundreds of thousands of people in the central provinces are unemployed. Many families live in extreme poverty. Children are unable to go to school. More than 200 km of coastline are still polluted. Tourism, business activities and fishing are still on hold. Government critics claim that children's malnutrition in Nghe An province would be better dealt with by policies revitalising the local economy and helping families who have lost everything and have not received the compensation to which they are entitled. An interfaith ceremony held in Seongju marked the 64th anniversary of the end of the war and the proclamation of the truce, which is still in force. The president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea reiterates the Church's opposition to THAAD. Seoul (AsiaNews) An appeal for "true peace" between the two Koreas was made at an interfaith ceremony held in Seongju on the 64th anniversary of the end of the war and the proclamation of the truce, which is still in force. On 3 August, Catholics, Protestants, and Buddhists remembered 27 July 1953, which marked the end of the conflict, but not the start of peace. "If peace does not finally come to the Korean Peninsula, it will collapse in the whole of North-East Asia," said Mgr Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK). The Korean Peninsula is a powder keg ready to explode and cause another war." "We need a peace treaty and not just a truce, he added. Bishop Kim Hee-Joong then reiterated the bishops opposition to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), the anti-missile defense system deployed by the United States against possible North Korean attacks. "It is illusory to impose peace with weapons. THAAD can not bring peace to Korea," he said. The archbishop Kwangju went on to say that the deployment of THAAD "was done without the consent of the people, so it should be reconsidered. For peace, we should work together to draft a treaty." About 400 people from various religious backgrounds in South Korea attended the ceremony. The estimate comes from a French security official but there is no consensus over the total figure, which could be tens or hundreds of millions. This trade has grown to offset losses in petroleum revenues. Meanwhile, Iraq and UNESCO have begun to restore ancient Nimrud. Baghdad (AsiaNews) The Islamic State group makes as much as 0 million annually by trafficking looted antiquities out of Iraq and Syria and selling them on the black market, an unnamed French security official said. Although other witnesses and experts believe that trade may vary from tens to a few hundred million dollars, the Wall Street Journal reported that it was not possible to put a precise figure on the amount of revenue trafficking generated for the Islamic State. The trade in items stolen from Iraq and Syria's historical sites has become important to the militant group, as its territory, and by extension its ability to count on oil revenues, dwindles. "The Islamic State is increasing pressure on this line of trafficking to compensate for the loss of petroleum revenue," the French security official was quoted as saying. For many Syrian traders and smugglers deprived by the country's six-year civil war, selling the antiquities has become a necessity. The importance Islamic State places on the trade of antiquities is reflected in the group's use of foreign jihadis to manage its operations. International fighters are considered more loyal than their local counterparts. IS gave the latter licenses to dig for antiquities, initially for free, but now the group charges 20 per cent of the value of each object evacuated. One Syrian middleman, Muhammad Hajj Al-Hassan, said that he had recently sold two antique Bibles for ,800 to a Russian buyer in a city in southern Turkey. The Bibles from eastern Syria were then smuggled out of Turkey, hidden in a truck filled with vegetables. In the summer of 2015 UNESCO, the UNS education and culture agency, sounded the alarm as Jihadis set about to destroy Iraqs and Syrias historical and cultural heritage. Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako made an appeal in December to protect artefacts, artwork and books, calling them a universal heritage worth more than petroleum. For the Islamic State, the sale of archaeological artefacts is as important as petroleum sales. The main international organisations, including UNESCO, want to safeguard and protect this heritage with targeted actions. In fact, Iraqi authorities announced last month that UNESCO launched the first stage of restoration of the ancient city of Nimrud, which is located on the banks of the Tigris River, just over 30 kilometres south of Mosul. The city, which was liberated from the Islamic State in November 2016, is the cradle of the Assyrian civilisation founded in the 13th century BC. In 2015, the militant group wreaked havoc on archaeological sites in the city, using bulldozers and explosives to destroy monumental landmarks, whilst filming all these acts of vandalism and destruction. According to a press statement by Qais Rashid, the undersecretary of Iraqs Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, after Nimrud's liberation 70 per cent of the city's antiquities were found destroyed. Iraqi army Maj Gen Diyaa Kazem al-Saidi, who took part in the liberation of the city, said that 200 ancient paintings were stolen from Nimrud. (DS) By Christofer Clemente, Lecturer in Animal Ecophysiology, University of the Sunshine Coast Flickr/rjan Hoyd Vllestad, CC BY We know that dinosaurs ruled the Earth many millions ago, but how they walked has been a mystery. Our new research shows that the movement of some dinosaurs has a lot in common with some of todays ground-dwelling birds. We looked at theropod dinosaurs, which were typically bipedal (two-legged), walking on their hind legs like Tyrannosaurus rex. In our study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, we took measurements of 211-million-year-old theropod footprints from a quarry at Culpeper in Virginia, in the United States, and compared them to similar measurements for locomotion in humans and 11 species of ground-dwelling bird such as the quail, emu and Australian bush turkey. Read more: Book review: Flying Dinosaurs How fearsome reptiles became birds This is the first time that locomotion in the three groups of bipeds has been compared on a level playing field. In particular, we focused on a parameter called step width, which measures how widely spaced the left and right feet are during locomotion. Christofer Clemente and Peter Bishop, Author provided We compared measurements of step width against the speed of the animal, measured directly for the modern species, or by using stride length as a proxy for the extinct theropods. From walking to running In all three groups, step width decreased with increasing speed. In other words, as the animal moved faster, the left and right feet were placed closer towards the body midline, and at the fastest speeds of locomotion, the feet could even cross over the midline. So this told us that the extinct theropods that made the footprints were at least following the same general principle seen in modern bipeds. Interestingly, however, the way in which step width decreased with increasing speed was different between the three groups. Christofer Clemente and Peter Bishop, Author provided In humans, step width shows an abrupt, precipitous decrease at the transition from walking to running. In other words, as soon as we start running we suddenly bring our feet much closer towards the body midline. But in both the modern birds and the extinct theropods, no such abrupt change was observed. Instead, the step width decreased gradually with increasing speed. This pattern of similarity and contrast suggests that the extinct theropods were moving more like modern birds than humans. Furthermore, a gradual or continuous change with speed has been previously observed for many other measurements of locomotion in birds, such as stride length and step frequency. Birds therefore have what is called a continuous locomotor repertoire that is, walking and running are not distinct gaits (as they are in humans), but instead they transition seamlessly from one to the other. The extinct theropods that made the footprints were probably also using a similarly continuous locomotor behaviour. Mediawiki/Footwarrior, CC BY-SA A better understanding This research changes our thinking about theropod movement, in three main ways. First, using a continuous locomotor behaviour could have been beneficial to theropods by allowing them to run just that bit faster while maintaining stability, thus reducing bone and muscle stresses. Second, the unique locomotor behaviour that characterises modern birds today may actually have been inherited in part from their theropod ancestors, showing more similarities between birds and dinosaurs than previously recognised. And third, this study helps to paint a better picture of what extinct theropods were like as living animals. We now know that side-to-side limb movements were important for theropod dinosaur locomotion to increase stability while walking, and that theropods did not simply use human-like walking and running gaits. Read more: Meet Savannasaurus, Australias newest titanosaur This locomotory gait found in dinosaurs and birds may also be important for improving visual acuity by increasing head stability, particularly in the vertical direction. This is important if we wish to create biomechanical models of theropod locomotion, such as one of T. rex, to address questions such as maximum speed capabilities or endurance. Its also important if we want to make sure that these types of dinosaurs are portrayed accurately in film, animation, computer simulations and other forms of popular culture. Christofer Clemente receives funding from an ARC DECRA Fellowship (DE120101503) Peter Bishop received funding from the Australian Government (Research Training Stipend) and the International Society of Biomechanics (Matching Dissertation Grant). Originally published in The Conversation. (Daviles/Bigstock.com) (Daviles/Bigstock.com) The new super Home Ministry announced by the Australia Government could see visa programmes given less priority and have an overall negative effect on processing, prices and timescales, it is claimed.Critics are concerned that it is going to be more focussed on security, terrorism and border control and as a result the visa system for ordinary applicants, including students, backpackers, skilled workers and visitors could suffer.In particular, the overseas student industry might be affected, according to the International Education Association of Australia. Phil Honeywood believes that with the new ministry being openly talked about as similar to the Home Office in the UK, he is concerned that student visa approvals will fall as they have done in Britain.'There may be a genuine need to co-ordinate national security issues in a more effective manner. However, the record of the border control office in the UK has been to create a just say no culture when it comes to student visa approvals,' he said.'Concerns have been raised that border control has effectively taken over rather than merged with immigration. My concern is that hopeful students from certain countries or certain areas would be targeted for more visa refusals,' he explained.'Up until recently, student visas have been assessed through the lens of professional immigration department officers who understand the rationale behind overseas students wanting a study experience in a country such as Australia. But if visa applications are viewed through the lens of border control then we are likely to see unnecessary and adverse visa refusals,' he added.He thinks that overseas students are often regarded as illegal immigrants in the UK and he does not want that to happen in Australia. He said that while there needs to be a national security filter applied to any student coming from any country, some from certain countries are already having their visas delayed because they were being viewed as a potential threat.The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), is also concerned, suggesting that there could be a potential downgrading of Australia's core immigration and settlement functions. CPSU secretary Nadine Flood explained that the merger of the Department of Immigration and Customs, which resulted in the creation of Border Force, is still not fully bedded down after more than two years.'We are concerned that making the Immigration Department the base of a Home Affairs portfolio could mean a potential downgrading of Australia's core immigration and settlement functions, particularly when it's considered in light of the Government's proposal to privatise visa processing,' Flood said.Refugee Council chief executive Paul Power believes that immigration and citizenship functions should be separate. 'It would be far better if a senior minister was able to focus on the Government's role in immigration as a separate portfolio. It actually requires a different focus of Government. Refugee resettlement is actually much more about foreign affairs as well as nation building than it is about security,' he said. (l. to r.) Thierry Bollore, member of Groupe Renault executive committee and chief competitive officer; Mansour Moazzami, deputy minister and head of IDRO; Kourosh Morshed Solouk, managing director of NH Group. Renault Group has signed a new joint venture agreement to boost its growth in Iran, bolstering an initial joint venture struck last year. The French carmaker has expanded the joint venture agreement it signed with Industrial Development & Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) to include Parto Negin Naseh, an importer of Renault products in Iran, according to the Renault Group. Renault will be the majority shareholder. The new joint venture company will push for the development of a plant with an initial production capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year, supplementing the automakers existing capacity of 200,000 vehicles a year in the country, according to the Renault Group. The new venture also includes the development of an engineering and purchasing center to support the development of local suppliers. The manufacturing facilities will be in Saveh, a city in Iran. They will be owned and operated by the joint venture company. In a rapidly expanding Iranian market, it was vital to implement plants, engineering and purchasing center. This joint venture will enable an acceleration of our growth in this country" said Thierry Bollore, Member of Groupe Renault Executive Committee and Chief Competitive Officer. Finalization of the transaction remains subject to a number of conditions precedents, including regulatory approvals, formation of the new company and preparation of the industrial assets for the project, according to the automaker. The parties expect completion to take place on or around Oct. 30, 2017. The signing of this new joint venture reinforces the strategic choices we have made in Iran and will open new perspectives in a 2 million vehicle market projected in 2020, said Stefan Mueller, Member of Groupe Renault Executive Committee and Chief Performance Officer. In the first-half of 2017, Groupe Renault sales in the country increased 100.3% year on year, for a total 68,365 vehicles and a 9.7% share of the market. Toyota Motor North America's headquarters in Plano, Texas. Photo courtesy of Toyota. Monday, Aug. 7, marked the end of Toyotas three-year period of oversight by an independent monitor a key requirement of the automakers $1.2 billion settlement with the federal government arising from allegations that the company misled the public about unintended acceleration problems in 2009 and 2010. The U.S. Justice Department responded on Aug. 8 by filing a request in federal court to dismiss a criminal charge against Toyota, Reuters reported. This development likely signals an end to Toyotas legal issues tied to the unintended-acceleration scandal and the resulting deferred-prosecution agreement with the federal government. As part of the deferred-prosecution agreement made in 2014, Toyota admitted that it misled U.S. consumers by concealing and making deceptive statements about two safety related issues affecting its vehicles, each of which caused a type of unintended acceleration. Photo via Wikimedia Avis Budget Group has reported revenue of $2.2 billion for its second quarter 2017, unchanged compared to Q2 2016. This is primarily due to an increase in overall rental days being offset by a decrease in pricing. In the second quarter, Avis Budget reported adjusted earnings of $140 million compared to $204 million in the prior year and an adjusted net income of $25 million, according to the company. For the Americas (North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean), revenue was 2% lower primarily due to a 4% reduction in time and mileage revenue per day, according to the company. Rental days increased 2% during the quarter while there was almost a 10% increase in per-unit fleet costs. Adjusted earnings decreased 41% to $96 million year-over-year. "Our recently announced partnerships with both Waymo and RocketSpace are providing opportunities to pilot scalable new business models as we start to execute on our strategy to leverage our fleet management and logistics capabilities in the rapidly developing mobility space," said Larry De Shon, CEO of Avis Budget Group. "I'm also excited about all of the innovative growth initiatives we've announced this year, including enabling Avis customers to transact with us through Amazon Alexa and Google Home." For the full-year 2017, Avis Budget expects that full-year revenue will increase $8.8 billion to $8.95 billion. Adjusted earnings are predicted to be $725 million to $775 million, according to the company. Photo courtesy of Taxify and Didi Chuxing Taxify, a ride-hailing service in Europe and Africa, has announced a partnership with Didi Chuxings mobile transportation platform. Under the partnership, Didi will invest and collaborate with Taxify to help support its growth and innovation, according to the company. Launched in Estonia in 2013, Taxify operates its ride-hailing service in Europe and Africa across 18 countries, including Hungary, Romania, the Baltic States, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Powered by AI technologies, Didi offers a range of mobility services, including Taxi, Premier, Express, Luxe, and Hitch, to over 400 million users in more than 400 cities. "Taxify will utilize this partnership to solidify our position in core markets in Europe and Africa, said Markus Villig, founder and CEO of Taxify. We believe DiDi is the best partner to help us become the most popular and efficient transport option in Europe and Africa." "Taxify provides innovative, high-quality mobility services across many diverse markets, said Will Cheng Wei, founder and CEO of Didi Chuxing. We share a strong commitment to harnessing the power of mobile technology to satisfying rapidly evolving consumer demands and revitalizing traditional transportation industry. I believe this partnership will contribute to cross-regional smart transportation linkages between Asian, European, and African markets." 'We threw everything at it.' Calgary Fire burned nine Wofford Heights homes, but could have been much worse 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. 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!) Two Hernando County high schools are offering new programs this fall. BN9 Back to School 2017 Hernando County Schools New programs introduced at 2 Hernando schools Weeki Wachee and Brooksville Central high schools are bringing new curriculums to their campuses in an attempt to engage more students in new disciplines. The programs are part of the school system's push to meet areas of need in the area workforce. At Weeki Wachee High, about 25 students have already signed up for its new teaching academy. Principal Troy Labarbara said students will get an in-depth look into teaching through in-class lectures and in-person internships. They also will have a chance to earn college credits. "I want to capture those people who want this as a career," Labarbara said. "(Students) who say this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. "They want to make the experiences that they had positive - sometimes they might have negative experiences. To turn that around in the future and make things great for students. To pay it forward." The program is designed as a four-year program but it is currently opened for freshman as well as other high school students. At Central, the Naval ROTC Department is offering a new Aerospace Technology program. Student will have a chance to acquire dual enrollment cerdit and get certified to fly drones and other unmanned aircraft. The school will have one class this year and add more in the future. "The number one goal for Hernando County is to get students post-secondary ready," said Central Principal Kelly Slusser, whose school has added a new program each of the last three years. "We do know that not all students are college bound and so we provide them other opportunities to learn different trades so they have options when they leave high school." While this year's students for the aerospace technology program have already been selected, Weeki Wachee High School is still accepting applications for the teaching academy. Franklin is stronger again as it moves over the Bay of Campeche. Franklin is not a threat to Florida Several inches of rain possible across Yucatan Peninsula Track the Tropics At 11 p.m., the storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. It was located 250 miles north northeast of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico and 325 miles east-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico. A Hurricane Warning has been issued for Mexico from Puerto de Veracruz to Tuxpan. The storm is expected to move westward over the Bay of Campeche overnight, and is set to cross the coast of Veracruz Wednesday night or early Thursday. What exactly are the spaghetti plots? Information You Need | Supply Checklist Remember that the spaghetti model plot does not indicate the strength of a system or even development at all. It only predicts where this broad area of low pressure is expected to go. A vigil was held Sunday night to remember the three young people that were killed earlier in the day in a stolen Ford Explorer. Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri expresses frustrations with teens and car thefts Three teens killed early Sunday morning after crashing stolen vehicle Keontae Brown, 16, Dejarae Thomas, 16, and Jimmie Goshey, 14 died. Another is in hospital. Three juveniles speeding in stolen vehicle killed in crash Family and friends gathered in Clearwater Sunday night to remember Keontae Brown, 16, Dejarae Thomas, 16, and Jimmie Goshey, 14. The teenagers were killed early Sunday in a crash at 4 a.m. at the intersection of Tampa Road and US Hwy 19. Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said six juvenile males were speeding down Tampa Rd. in two stolen vehicles before one of the vehicles crashed. The two vehicles, a Chrysler Sebring and Ford Explorer, were stolen on Aug. 3 from Platinum Plus Autos in Clearwater. The end result: Three teens dead, one still hospitalized and two in custody. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the teens were "prolific" offenders and were being monitored by the Home Unit - a program for habitual offenders. "He had his problems, you know, he did stuff that he wasn't supposed to do," said Keontae Brown's father Adonati Brown. "But like I said he's still a kid." Deputies said moments after the teens were spotted in the stolen car, the Ford Explorer was seen racing down Tampa Road at more than 100 mph. The SUV hit another vehicle, flew through the air, smashed through a used car lot and caught fire before coming to rest in the street on its roof. The teens died at the scene. Another teen in the vehicle remains at All Children's Hospital. "I do love them and I cared for them but there's nothing I can change," said Keontae Brown's grandfather Sylvester Brown. "I can't change what happened. I just got to pray." The teens in the second stolen vehicle are facing grand theft and resisting arrest charges. Gualtieri said the incident is the latest in a epidemic in Pinellas County: Kids stealing cars. According to arrest records in Pinellas County during the last three years, the number of juveniles jailed for car thefts has spiked. The overwhelming majority of those thefts are committed by teen boys. Car theft arrests involving juveniles approached 500 in 2015. Efforts are in place in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, where the city's intervention program leads volunteers trying to teach at-risk young people to make better decisions. "We have a violent crimes task force that's focused on stolen cars," Gualtieri said. "We have the habitual offender monitoring enforcement program, which every law enforcement agency in the county is participating in. "We started with case managers and navigators to try and reach the families of these kids to engage them in services, but there comes a point where there's only so much you can do." Employees in at least five local districts and dozens more statewide were left vulnerable to identity theft when the Texas Association of School Boards accidentally made names and Social Security numbers publicly available on its website. TASB sent letters to affected employees throughout this summer, saying that information was "exposed to the internet." "Your employer submits data on its employees to TASB for required reporting to the Texas Workforce Commission," as part of a group unemployment compensation program administered by TASB for districts. That information "at some point inadvertently became visible on the internet," the letter said. Beaumont ISD, Bridge City ISD, Port Arthur ISD, Kountze ISD and West Orange-Cove CISD confirmed that they were affected. The association, which claims all 1,030 Texas school districts as members, declined to say how many districts and employees were affected. TASB Executive Director James Crow wrote in the letter that the website application where the information was available was shut down, and the issue was investigated. TASB is offering affected employees a year of free credit and fraud monitoring. Under state law, a business that becomes aware of a security breach of their data is required to notify anyone involved "as quickly as possible." They're required to "implement and maintain reasonable procedures, including taking any appropriate corrective action, to protect from unlawful use or disclosure any sensitive personal information." TASB did not say how long the Social Security numbers had been public. In a statement dated June 21, they said they were "recently notified" about the issue. LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.comTwitter.com/LizTeitz North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, crossing a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power, U.S. intelligence officials have concluded in a confidential assessment. The new analysis completed last month by the Defense Intelligence Agency comes on the heels of another intelligence assessment that sharply raises the official estimate for the total number of bombs in the communist country's atomic arsenal. The U.S. calculated last month that up to 60 nuclear weapons are now controlled by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Some independent experts believe the number of bombs is much smaller. The findings are likely to deepen concerns about an evolving North Korean military threat that appears to be advancing far more rapidly than many experts had predicted. U.S. officials last month concluded that Pyongyang is also outpacing expectations in its effort to build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking cities on the American mainland. Now Playing: If North Korea decides to attack their neighbor to the South, the majority of Americans say the U.S. military should send troops. Veuer's Nick Cardona (@nickcardona93) has that story. Video: Brandpoint While more than a decade has passed since North Korea's first nuclear detonation, many analysts believed it would be years before the country's weapons scientists could design a compact warhead that could be delivered by missile to distant targets. But the new assessment, a summary document dated July 28, concludes that this critical milestone has already been reached. "The IC [intelligence community] assesses North Korea has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, to include delivery by ICBM-class missiles," the assessment states, in an excerpt read to The Washington Post. The assessment's broad conclusions were verified by two U.S. officials familiar with the document. It is not yet known whether the reclusive regime has successfully tested the smaller design, although North Korea officially last year claimed to have done so. The DIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. An assessment this week by the Japanese Ministry of Defense also concludes there is evidence to suggest that North Korea has achieved miniaturization. President Donald Trump, speaking at an event at his Bedminster, New Jersey, gold course, said North Korea will face a devastating response if its threats continue. "They will be met with the fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before," Trump said. Earlier Tuesday, North Korea described a new round of United Nations sanctions as an attempt "to strangle a nation" and warned that in response "physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilization of all its national strength." Kim Jong Un is becoming increasingly confident in the reliability of his nuclear arsenal, analysts have concluded, explaining perhaps the dictator's willingness to engage in defiant behavior, including missile tests that have drawn criticism even from North Korea's closest ally, China. On Saturday, both China and Russia joined other members of the U.N. Security Council in approving punishing new economic sanctions, including a ban on exports that supply up to a third of North Korea's annual $3 billion earnings. The nuclear progress further raises the stakes for Trump, who has vowed that North Korea will never be allowed to threaten the United States with nuclear weapons. In an interview broadcast Saturday on MSNBC's Hugh Hewitt Show, national security adviser H.R. McMaster said the prospect of a North Korea armed with nuclear-tipped ICBMs would be "intolerable, from the president's perspective." "We have to provide all options . . . and that includes a military option," he said. But McMaster said the administration would do everything short of war to "pressure Kim Jong Un and those around him, such that they conclude it is in their interest to denuclearize." The options said to be under discussion ranged from new multilateral negotiations to reintroducing U.S. battlefield nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, officials familiar with internal discussions said. Determining the precise makeup of North Korea's nuclear arsenal has long been a difficult challenge for intelligence professionals because of the regime's culture of extreme secrecy and insularity. The country's weapons scientists have conducted five nuclear tests since 2006, the latest being a 20- to 30-kiloton detonation on Sept. 9, 2016, that produced a blast estimated to be up to twice that of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. But producing a compact nuclear warhead that can fit inside a missile is a technically demanding feat, one that many analysts believed was still beyond North Korea's grasp. Last year, state-run media in Pyongyang displayed a spherical device that government spokesmen described as a miniaturized nuclear warhead, but whether it was a real bomb remained unclear. North Korean officials described the September detonation as a successful test of a small warhead designed to fit on a missile, though many experts were skeptical of the claim. Kim has repeatedly proclaimed his intention to field a fleet of nuclear-tipped ICBMs as a guarantor of his regime's survival. His regime took a major step toward that goal last month with the first successful tests of a missile with intercontinental range. Video analysis of the latest test led some analysts to conclude that the missile caught fire and disintegrated as it plunged back toward Earth's surface, suggesting North Korea's engineers might not yet be capable of building a reentry vehicle that can carry the warhead safely through the upper atmosphere. But U.S. analysts and many independent experts believe that this hurdle will be overcome by late next year. "What initially looked like a slow-motion Cuban missile crisis is now looking more like the Manhattan Project, just barreling along," said Robert Litwak, a nonproliferation expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and author of "Preventing North Korea's Nuclear Breakout," published by the center this year. "There's a sense of urgency behind the program that is new to the Kim Jong Un era." While few discount North Korea's progress, some prominent U.S. experts warned against the danger of overestimating the threat. Siegfried Hecker, director emeritus of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the last known U.S. official to personally inspect North Korea's nuclear facilities, has calculated the size of North Korea's arsenal at no more than 20 to 25 bombs. Hecker warned of potential risks that can come from making Kim into a bigger menace than he actually is. "Overselling is particularly dangerous," said Hecker, who visited North Korea seven times between 2004 and 2010 and met with key leaders of the country's weapons programs. "Some like to depict Kim as being crazy - a madman - and that makes the public believe that the guy is undeterrable. He's not crazy and he's not suicidal. And he's not even unpredictable." "The real threat," Hecker said, "is we're going to stumble into a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula." In the past, U.S. intelligence agencies have occasionally overestimated the North Korean threat. In the early 2000s, the George W. Bush administration assessed that Pyongyang was close to developing an ICBM that could strike the U.S. mainland - a prediction that missed the mark by more than a decade. More recently, however, analysts and policymakers have been taken repeatedly by surprise as North Korea achieved key milestones months or years ahead of schedule, noted Jeffrey Lewis, director of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies' East Asia Nonproliferation Program. There was similar skepticism about China's capabilities in the early 1960s, said Lewis, who has studied that country's pathway to a successful nuclear test in 1964. "There is no reason to think that the North Koreans aren't making the same progress after so many successful nuclear explosions," Lewis said. "The big question is why do we hold the North Koreans to a different standard than we held [Joseph] Stalin's Soviet Union or Mao Zedong's China? North Korea is testing underground, so we're always going to lack a lot of details. But it seems to me a lot of people are insisting on impossible levels of proof because they simply don't want to accept what should be pretty obvious." --- Fifield reported from Krabi, Thailand. Yuki Oda in Tokyo contributed to this report. Dayton (Ohio) Children's opened an outpatient surgery center in Springboro, Ohio. Here's what you should know: 1. The surgery center will perform several shorter procedures for "otherwise healthy children." Some procedures include tonsil removal or hernia repairs. Complex surgeries will take place on the hospital's main campus. 2. The center has eight preoperative rooms, two induction rooms, four operating rooms, a post anesthesia care unit and eight postoperative rooms. 3. In an innovative feature, children will "fly" to the operating room in small remote controlled airplanes cars. 4. President and CEO Deborah Feldman elaborated on the planes in a release, "This is just one of the ways that we make care different at Dayton Children's. Everything we do is focused on what makes the best overall experience for children and their parents. Whether it be a fun way to get to the operating room or having doctors and nurses who are specially trained in caring for kids, parents can know that when they come to Dayton Childrens, their child is our top priority." Miami-based Gastro Health has been able to expand over the past 11 years due to its willingness to adapt, especially as new legislation continually comes into the mix. Founded in 2006, Gastro Health is Florida's largest gastroenterology provider, with a network of more than 90 physicians staffing 27 Florida locations. James Leavitt, MD, president of Gastro Health, shared his thoughts on the evolving legislative environment and the companys rapid expansion, through acquisitions, recruitment of talented physicians, organic growth and new business development deals. Already taxed by the demands of their caseloads, small practices may struggle to compete in the move toward value-based reimbursement. The enormous amount of legwork and resources required to meet the many reporting requirements at play is the biggest challenge in small gastroenterology practices face, according to Dr. Leavitt. "How can groups of five or less gastroenterologists, afford the resources, time and professional management needed to meet all those [reporting] requirements?" says Dr. Leavitt. Value-based care reporting requirements are going to be a part of the healthcare landscape for the near future. And, to "survive and thrive in this regulatory environment," Dr. Leavitt believes the market needs to go through a consolidation period. GI groups act as if they are in competition with each other. However, in general, Dr. Leavitt said practices are all so busy that if the competing group disappeared, the remaining group would not have the resources to take over the new patient load without hiring a similar number of care providers. Therefore, he says practices have to understand who the real competition is and band together through consolidation thus combining a number of groups into a single more effective coherent whole. A large part of Gastro Health's business model is tied to acquisitions, partly because of Gastro Health's private equity firm partner. However, a strategy focused on acquisition is also a way to adapt to the market. Gastro Health purchases and takes over management of gastroenterology practices and provides the necessary infrastructure to survive in the value based healthcare environment of the future. This strategy increases Gastro Health's negotiating influence with health insurance companies and maintains reasonable reimbursement rates. It also allows practices to continue serving their patients without making additional costly investments into infrastructure, thus keeping the cost of care delivery in check. Before Gastro Health associated with its private equity partner, the company was growing, doubling its profile after five years. After Gastro Health brought in the private equity partner, Gastro Health doubled its portfolio again within the first year and is still expanding through both acquisitions and organic growth. "With the backing of an equity partner, we are able to merge practices under the Gastro Health name," Dr. Leavitt says. "They don't have to spend money to join us. We buy them. [then] we use the increased revenue created by the acquisition to fund the growth of the company and provide better overall patient care." With the revenue, Gastro Health can add more physicians and make necessary infrastructure investments to handle the growth. Gastro Health acquired its most recent location in August 2017, and Dr. Leavitt says it's not stopping there. Private equity investors have been following the consolidation trend for years and are recognizing an opportunity to affect consolidation and deliver many of the benefits of scale to the independent physician market. The administrative resources of a large group could become a valuable asset with ability to attract outside investment and participate in capital markets. For many high quality physician groups today, that arm of the business simply represents a necessary expense. Management service organizations take the administrative capabilities and turn them into a highly valuable company. By affiliating with a management service organization, in addition to an ongoing earnings stream, a partner physician can receive a multiple of the practices future earnings upfront at the time the relationship is formed. In this way, physicians can treat their practices as more than just an ATM. They can be part of a structure that creates real value and equity above and beyond the revenue they withdraw as salary from the practice. Gastro Health has been so successful because it's been able to narrow the market. Instead of creating partnerships, Gastro Health's private equity partner gives Dr. Leavitt the power to purchase practices, supplement the practices with needed infrastructure and together they both flourish. J. Paul Jones Hospital in Camden, Ala., is set to become the sixth rural hospital in the state to close since 2010. Hospital Board Chairman George Alford said high operating costs and dwindling reimbursement rates make it nearly impossible for the facility to survive as it currently operates. He said the hospital is struggling to meet financial obligations, according to The Wilcox Progressive Era. Mr. Alford said the goal is to preserve medical services in the community by transitioning the facility into an urgent care center. "We are attempting to provide the best and most appropriate level of healthcare as possible for the citizens of Wilcox County, with the resources available to us," he said, according to The Wilcox Progressive Era. J. Paul Jones Hospital serves Wilcox County, which has a declining population, a poverty rate of about 40 percent and an unemployment rate of approximately 13 percent. More articles on healthcare finance: CHS extends divestiture plan as losses mount 5 hospitals with strong finances 6 California urgent care centers file for bankruptcy Long Beach, Calif.-based Molina Healthcare will lay off 120 employees with the closure of Midwest Medical Center in Dearborn, Mich., according to the Detroit Free Press. A Molina Healthcare representative would not specify the reason for the clinic's closure on Monday, according to the Detroit Free Press. However, the announcement comes as the company aims to cut 1,400 jobs to shore up finances. Molina recorded a net loss of $230 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017, compared to net income of $33 million in the same period last year. "We regret the impact this will have on affected employees and we will be providing outplacement assistance and severance to ease the transition," Leigh Woodward, a Molina spokesperson told the Detroit Free Press. "We are working with network providers to ensure that our patients continue to receive the care they need and deserve through our trusted partners." Midwest Medical Center is run by Molina Healthcare's subsidiary Molina Medical Management and offers urgent care, primary care and physical therapy, among other services. More articles on healthcare finance Regional One Health, Camden Coalition to analyze 'super users' to save costs Lee Health accuses travel insurer of using 'random methodology' to underpay on medical bills Illinois AG: State lacks funds to increase disabled care funding The University of New Mexico Hospital, an academic medical center in Albuquerque, has a new policy requiring patients to pay half the cost of their nonemergency surgery prior to the procedure, according to a KRQE report. Hospital officials said that doesn't mean the hospital would deny a patient nonemergency surgery that is medically needed. If a nonemergency surgery is considered "medically urgent" by physicians, then the 50 percent upfront payment is deferred under a separate existing policy, the report states. Hospital officials also noted all of these decisions are made after consulting with the patient. More articles on healthcare finance: CHS extends divestiture plan as losses mount 5 hospitals with strong finances 6 California urgent care centers file for bankruptcy A male software engineer at Google has been fired after he wrote an internal memo claiming women were underrepresented in the technology industry because of biological differences, rather than discrimination. The memo was first reported by Motherboard and published in full by Gizmodo Aug. 5. Here are seven things to know. 1. James Damore, the author of the memo, was a software engineer at Mountain View, Calif.-based Google. He has since been fired, but is "currently exploring all possible legal remedies" for his termination, which was the result of "perpetuating gender stereotypes," according an email he sent to Bloomberg. 2. The memo, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," called into question the company's as well as the tech industry's diversity efforts, arguing the lack of female representation is a result of biological and psychological differences, not discrimination. "Differences in distributions of traits between men and women may in part explain why we don't have 50 percent representation of women in tech and leadership. Discrimination to reach equal representation is unfair, divisive and bad for business," Mr. Damore wrote, later adding, "we need to stop assuming that gender gaps imply sexism." 3. As an example of biological differences, Mr. Damore wrote women have more neuroticism "higher anxiety, lower stress tolerance." "On average, men and women biologically differ in many ways. These differences aren't just socially constructed because: They're universal across human cultures They often have clear biological causes and links to prenatal testosterone Biological males that were castrated at birth and raised as females often still identify and act like males" 4. The 10-page memo alleged Google leans far too left and silences conservative opinions. "When it comes to diversity and inclusion, Googles left bias has created a politically correct monoculture that maintains its hold by shaming dissenters into silence," he wrote. 5. In a companywide email, Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, said portions of the memo violated the company's code of conduct, reports the New York Times. Mr. Pichai wrote, "Our co-workers shouldn't have to worry that each time they open their mouths to speak in a meeting, they have to prove that they are not like the memo states, being 'agreeable' rather than 'assertive,' showing a 'lower stress tolerance,' or being "neurotic.'" 6. Google's Vice President of Diversity, Integrity & Governance Danielle Brown, who started her position just a few weeks ago, issued a statement in response to Mr. Damore's memo, which was also published by Gizmodo. She indicated neither she nor the company "endorses, promotes or encourages" the manifesto. "Diversity and inclusion are a fundamental part of our values and the culture we continue to cultivate. We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and we'll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul," she wrote. Ms. Brown added Google will continue to promote "a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions," so long as viewpoints are non-discriminatory and abide by company policy. 7. Mr. Damore said he submitted a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board, alleging Google's upper management was "misrepresenting and shaming [him] in order to silence [his] complaints," reports the New York Times. More articles on health IT: How the WannaCry attackers are laundering their bitcoin Judy Faulkner, Joe Biden reportedly clash over patient access to EHRs Virtelligence: 6 tips for a successful EHR go-live In a leaked hour-long address to Congressional interns Monday, White House Adviser Jared Kushner said the deal with Cerner is "one of the great successes we've had so far" in reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to an audio recording obtained by Wired. In March, VA Secretary David J. Shulkin, MD, said he planned to decide whether the VA would move its EHR to a commercial platform in July. However, in a move ahead of schedule, Dr. Shulkin announced the VA would implement Cerner as its systemwide EHR during a June 5 news briefing. In his recent remarks, Mr. Kushner detailed how the decision came about. Mr. Kushner said he, Dr. Shulkin and Secretary of Defense James Mattis were discussing the VA's EHR, the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter reports. Together, they convened top EHR experts from each department. "We said, guys, we want a solution to get us on one system," Mr. Kushner said, as reported by the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter. He added they gave the EHR experts a deadline of two weeks to solve the VA's EHR issue, which the group accomplished. In comparison, Mr. Kushner said the VA had "been holding Congressional hearings since 2000. Sixteen years and nothing's happened." Epic reaffirmed its commitment to patients' right to access their medical records, despite recent reports of a tense conversation between the company's CEO Judy Faulkner and former Vice President Joe Biden. Ms. Faulkner reportedly asked Mr. Biden, "Why do you want your medical records? They're a thousand pages of which you understand 10," during a private meeting for Cancer Moonshot, one of the National Cancer Institute's programs, in January. Greg Simon, president of the Biden Cancer Initiative, discussed the meeting at a MedCity conference in Philadelphia Aug. 1, according to the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter. In response to Ms. Faulkner's question, Mr. Biden reportedly responded, "None of your business If I need to, I'll find someone to explain them to me and, by the way, I will understand a lot more than you think I do." Mr. Simon went on to say the conversation "went downhill from there." However, in an emailed statement to Becker's Hospital Review, an Epic spokesperson said Mr. Simon's recollection of the portion of the meeting he described was "inaccurate and misleading." "Epic supports patients' rights to access their entire record, something they have been able to do for decades," according to the spokesperson. The spokesperson added that, in the conversation with Mr. Biden, Ms. Faulkner raised an issue related to a specific section of the 21st Century Cures Act. "In the meeting, Judy raised an issue regarding the 21st Century Cures Act that would potentially require a patient's EHR information be transmitted in a way that was 'easy to understand,'" according to the Epic statement. "She said that a requirement to translate EHR medical terminology into patient-friendly language could be a barrier to getting the medical record out to patients. Vice President Biden agreed, saying 'That's actionable,' and requested that one of his staff get the requirement fixed." Medtronic, a Dublin, Ireland-based medical device manufacturer, plans to lay off 185 employees when it closes its distribution center in Joliet, Ill., according to the Chicago Tribune. Medtronic will close the Joliet distribution center by December, as the company seeks to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its operations, Medtronic spokesman Fernando Vivanco told the Chicago Tribune. Employees affected by the closure are being offered severance and benefits, and Medtronic is assisting them in finding other jobs. The layoffs at Medtronic are among nearly 1,500 job cuts reported by Illinois employers to the state in July, according to the report. More articles on leadership and management: Minnesota senator accuses Mayo of misleading lawmakers How to support effective care team communication for better outcomes 3 tips to help CEOs improve motivational speaking Following the death of 11-month-old Charlie Gard July 28, an anonymous physician at the London-based Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children wrote an op-ed in The Guardian Aug. 4 describing the effect of the case on Charlie's physicians and their families. The physician wrote they were part of the 200-person team of nurses, physicians and consultants who cared for Charlie during his time at GOSHC. The physician notes a practitioner's "whole reason for being" is to keep all children who come through the hospital alive and "give them back to their parents with as great a quality of life as [they] possibly can." "My colleagues and I worked our hardest, tried everything, fought so hard for this family but there was nowhere else to go. It was obvious to all those people who treated him. We gave him drugs and fluids, we did everything that we could, even though we thought he should be allowed to slip away in his parents' arms, peacefully, loved," the physician wrote. The physician continues, stating those not directly involved in Charlie's care should know their negative comments are hurtful and contribute to the ongoing pain Charlie's parents and his physicians feel following the infant's death. "You will forget about Charlie [But] his parents will live with this forever. They will go over and over [about] whether they made the right choices for their beautiful baby, whether they were strong enough to make those choices amid the fury of you watching a drama unfold from behind your screen," the individual wrote. "The parents' pain will be unimaginable, their loss immeasurable and incomparable. But we [physicians] will live with this forever, too." Arkansas Children's Northwest, a 24-bed hospital under construction in Springdale, will hire 250 employees by the time the facility opens in January, according to a KFSM report. Arkansas Children's website states the new hospital has nonclinical and clinical openings, such as interpreter services, administrative positions, IT and materials management, lab, diagnostic imaging, nursing and surgical services. Overall, Arkansas Children's plans to invest $16.4 million in staffing the new Northwest campus in the first half year of operation, Trisha Montague, senior vice president and chief of regional services for the new facility, told Talk Business & Politics. "Arkansas Children's has a reputation that goes well beyond the state's borders. And this is a very exciting opportunity to serve Northwest Arkansas. We're hoping to augment the outstanding pediatric care that is already in that region," Robert Williams, MD, who was named CMO of Arkansas Children's Northwest in June, told the publication. In addition to opening the new hospital, Arkansas Children's is also relocating the outpatient clinic in Lowell, Ark., to the Springdale campus. The total cost of the Northwest campus project is estimated at $70 million, according to Talk Business & Politics. A picket Monday outside Baystate Health's corporate headquarters in Springfield, Mass., drew approximately 50 nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association and supporters, according to a report on MassLive.com. The Massachusetts nurses, from Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield and Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield, and their supporters protested over contract disputes at the hospitals. Baystate Franklin nurse Donna Stern, who also serves as senior chairwoman for the hospital's bargaining unit, said in the report nurses decided to picket at the Baystate Health corporate headquarters to ensure they were heard where the system makes decisions. "We're here to send a message to them that we're unified, that we're together, we're here for safe patient care and it's time for them to negotiate and bargain in good faith, which up to now they have not been doing," Ms. Stern said. Paul Dubin, a nurse with Baystate Noble and co-chair with the union bargaining committee, echoed Ms. Stern in the report, saying nurses "have a voice because we stand together as a union." "We are the voice of our patients and our colleagues when they cannot speak," he added. "By trying to silence MNA nurses, Baystate is going after the communities it is supposed to serve." Baystate Health sent out a statement Monday, expressing disappointment in the unionized nurses' picket action. "The Massachusetts Nurses Association continues to attack and take divisive actions against our commonwealth's healthcare systems and hospitals ...We are disappointed by the MNA's ongoing use of a public pressure campaign and extreme tactics during its ongoing contract negotiations with our hospitals in Greenfield and Westfield," Jane Albert, senior vice president of marketing, communications and external relations said. Ms. Albert also noted the union's recent actions at multiple hospitals in the state, such as a June strike at Baystate Franklin and a July strike at Boston-based Tufts Medical Center. She said MNA strikes cost nonprofit hospitals "tens of millions of dollars," which, according to Ms. Albert, would be better spent caring for "patients and reinvesting into our hospitals and healthcare workers who dedicate their lives to taking care of people during their greatest time of need." MNA nurses at Baystate Franklin and Baystate Noble have been in contract negotiations since November 2016 and February 2016, respectively. Ben Craft, senior director of government and public affairs at Baystate Health, has said the health system presented its "last, best final offer" to the respective MNA bargaining committees June 21. Baystate Franklin believes the terms of that offer "are fair, balanced and competitive for our community hospitals' 351 nurses," he said. The union has said nurses "have been bargaining in good faith the entire time, trying to reach an agreement that ensures safe patient care and quality RN working conditions. Nurses are also seeking quality affordable health insurance, but Baystate has refused to bargain in good faith over these core issues." On Monday, Baystate Health encouraged unionized nurses to ratify the system's offers at Baystate Franklin and Baystate Noble "so we can move forward and continue to provide the best care for our patients and their families." A 24-year-old Massachusetts man accused of stabbing a nurse 11 times at Southbridge-based Harrington Hospital was deemed unfit to stand trial, reports MassLive. Conor O'Regan attended a court arraignment Monday, where he pled not guilty to charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and aggravated assault. Mr. O'Regan allegedly stabbed emergency department nurse Elise Wilson on June 14 because he was unhappy with care he received at Harrington Hospital three weeks prior for a wrist injury, according to the report. A court physician in June confirmed Mr. O'Regan had paranoid schizophrenia and believed TVs and radios were sending him messages. Upon reviewing the medical evaluation, Judge Daniel Wrenn ruled Mr. O'Regan not competent for trial. Mr. O'Regan is being held without bond and will return to Bridgewater (Mass.) State Hospital for further evaluations. He is set to appear in court again next month. Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla., treated about 30 patients after an early-morning tornado Sunday, according to a KOTV report, which cites information from the Associated Press. Hospital spokesperson Lauren Landwerlin told the Associated Press the patients received treatment at Saint Francis' trauma center, with three admitted in "non-critical condition." The report does not offer details regarding people treated at other hospitals in the area. However, it notes there were not any reported deaths. Physicians educated at top medical schools prescribe fewer opioids than those educated at lower-ranked medical schools, according to a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. To assess the influence of medical education on opioid prescribing practices, economics professors at Princeton (N.J.) University examined data on all opioid prescriptions written between 2006 and 2014. The researchers also used a composite ranking of medical schools based on several years of U.S. News and World Report rankings. A comprehensive assessment of both datasets indicated the propensity to prescribe opioids was higher among physicians educated at lower-tier medical schools when compared to physicians educated at top medical schools. This association persisted across regions and medical specialties. Among physicians across specialties who attended Boston-based Harvard Medical School, on average, wrote fewer than 100 opioid prescriptions per year. Physicians across all specialties educated at the lowest-ranked schools averaged about 300 opioid prescriptions annually. Among general practitioners, the average Harvard-grad wrote 180.2 opioid prescriptions each year, while graduates from lower-ranked schools wrote an average of 550. "Taken together, our findings suggest that a doctor's initial training has a large impact on their attitudes towards opioid prescribing, especially for [general practitioners]," concluded the study's authors. "Since variations in opioid prescribing have contributed to deaths due to the current opioid epidemic, training aimed at reducing prescribing rates among the most liberal prescribers who disproportionately come from the lowest ranked medical schools could possibly have large public health benefits. Physician education therefore likely has a role to play in addressing the opioid epidemic." More articles on opioids: Insys Therapeutics may settle Illinois opioid lawsuit for up to $4.5M: 5 things to know Kentucky imposes 3-day limit on opioid prescriptions: 3 things to know DEA proposes 20% cut in opioid manufacturing Washington D.C.-based United Medical Center was ordered to shut down its obstetrics ward for 90 days by district regulators, according to the Washington Post. In a statement issued Wednesday, the hospital attributed the shutdown to three separate cases involving deficiencies in screening, clinical assessment and delivery protocols. United Medical Center spokeswoman Jennifer Devlin said that HIPAA regulations do not allow the hospital to disclose specific details; however, "UMC is taking immediate action to address these deficiencies." The District Health Department is restricting the license that allows UMC to perform obstetrics and nursery care until a plan is implemented to improve those services. If the hospital passes inspections prior to the 90-day mark, the restrictions could be lifted. Other services at the hospital are not impacted by the order. At this time, any baby admitted at UMC will be transferred to another hospital. UMC physicians can still provide childbirth services in emergency situations; however, the medical center is urging patients to use other facilities in Washington, D.C. "UMC had already initiated the process of transitioning from a Level III neonatal intensive care center, and we will be working to ensure that all physicians and nursing staff have appropriate training in policy and procedures," Ms. Devlin told Becker's Hospital Review. "Until that process is complete, UMC will coordinate alternative services through Emergency Medical Services and local hospital partners to care for our current obstetric patients." UMC serves some of the poorest residents in Washington, D.C. Ward 7 council member Vincent Gray deemed the closure a "health equity" issue. "I am incredibly concerned that residents on the East End of the District no longer have the option to have their babies delivered at an East End hospital," Mr. Gray, said in a statement, according to the Washington Post. "The continued struggles of United Medical Center highlight the unacceptable chasm in health equity that is currently a way of life for residents on the East End of the District of Columbia." Editor's note: This story was updated Aug. 10 to include United Medical Center's statement. In addition to its 2017-18 honor roll hospital rankings released Aug. 8, U.S. News and World Report ranked the top hospitals across 16 specialties. To determine the best hospitals across the 16 adult specialties, U.S. News analyzed data from roughly 5,000 hospitals and survey responses from more than 30,000 physicians. The publication also studied specific factors such as survival rates, patient safety, specialized staff and hospital reputation, among others. Here are the top hospitals across five of the 16 specialties for 2017-18, including ties. Diabetes and endocrinology 1. Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.) 2. Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston) 3. Cleveland Clinic 3. The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore) 5. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (New York City) Gynecology 1. Mayo Clinic 2. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York City) 3. Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor) 4. Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston) 5. Cleveland Clinic Neurology and neurosurgery 1. Mayo Clinic 2. The Johns Hopkins Hospital 3. Massachusetts General Hospital 4. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital 5. UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco) Pulmonology 1. National Jewish Health (Denver) 2. Mayo Clinic 3. Cleveland Clinic 4. Massachusetts General Hospital 5. UPMC Shadyside (Pittsburgh) Urology 1. Cleveland Clinic 2. Mayo Clinic 3. The Johns Hopkins Hospital 4. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles) 5. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center To view the top hospitals for cancer, cardiology and heart surgery and orthopedics, click here. To view the full rankings across all 16 specialties, click here. Jon Linkous plans to step down as CEO of the American Telemedicine Association, a role he has held for 24 years. The organization said it will immediately begin a search to fill the CEO position. Officials said ATA COO Sabrina Smith, DHA, will serve as interim CEO. Dr. Smith joined ATA as COO in January. She holds a Doctorate of Health Administration from Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina. She also holds a Master of Health Administration and a Bachelor of Economics from Denver-based University of Colorado. "The Board is pleased that Sabrina has agreed to serve in the role of interim CEO to help us through this transitional period," said Peter Yellowlees, MD, board president of ATA. "We thank Jon for his many years of service and his significant contributions to ATA and the industry he helped create." In recent years, experts have suggested using TV "white spaces," or unused broadcasting frequencies on TV networks, to address geographic disparities in broadband access. Here are six things to know about how the recommendation may improve telehealth. 1. White spaces, the unused spectrum between TV stations, arise when not all available TV channels are used, according to the Federal Communications Commission. In 2010, the FCC opted to allow unlicensed radio transmitters to operate in these white spaces, which opened formerly unused spectrum for services like Wi-Fi. Today, the FCC notes white spaces represent "a valuable opportunity for our changing wireless mobile landscape." 2. The use of white spaces to expand broadband capacity is particularly noteworthy, since 34 million people, or 10 percent of all Americans, lack access to broadband meeting the FCC's speed benchmark, according to the agency's "2016 Broadband Progress Report." This disparity is pronounced among rural Americans, as 39 percent of residents don't have broadband meeting the FCC benchmark. 3. Personal computers don't come equipped to connect to the broadband spectrum, and would need to use a separate device to link to TV white space, according to TechRepublic. However, some corporations are experimenting with this technology. Microsoft, for example, deployed 20 TV white space projects worldwide, serving 185,000 users, according to a July report. 4. In Microsoft's July report, titled "A Rural Broadband Strategy," the company stated the U.S. should pledge to eliminate the rural broadband gap by 2022. It laid out a three-step plan to reach this goal, a major part of which comprised developing a nationwide technology model using TV white spaces, fixed wireless and satellite coverage. 5. TV white spaces have captured attention from various stakeholders, even outside of the tech industry. In a July 31 letter, a bipartisan coalition of 43 House Representatives asked FCC officials to prioritize using TV white space to promote rural broadband access, specifying the agency should "preserve at least three, 6 MHz television white spaces channels in every media market across the United States." 6. These stakeholders also commented on the potential for broadband expansion to influence the healthcare space. The App Association an advocacy organization representing more than 5,000 app companies and IT firms wrote a recent blog post detailing how TV white spaces will improve rural patients' access to telehealth. Similarly, in its report, Microsoft noted broadband is playing a growing role in managing healthcare delivery, as hospitals turn to telehealth to address physician shortages in rural areas. House Representatives, by contrast, emphasized how "doctors in rural health clinics would be able to access life-saving information through broadband connected networks with urban medical centers." Here are nine device company mergers, acquisitions and agreements that took place in July. K2M signed a long term exclusive distribution agreement with Japan Medicalnext for the distribution of K2M's spinal technologies. Dallas-based CTL Medical signed a partnership agreement with G-21 to market G-21's bone cement, kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty technology. Olympic sprinter James Ellington partnered with Invibio Biomaterial Solutions and CarboFix Orthopedics to support patients recovering from traumatic injuries. Tissue Regenix reported a proposed acquisition of CellRight Technologies. The medical device accelerator ZeroTo510 partnered with Smith & Nephew. LongueVue Capital acquired Zavation Medical Products, a designer and manufacturer of spinal implants, instruments and biologics. Globus Medical acquired KB Medical, a robotic developer based in Lausanne, Switzerland. K2M acquired the exclusive license to an expandable spine implants product portfolio, including 17 interbody technology patents. DePuy Synthes entered an exclusive agreement with Medical Enterprises Distribution. After exploring internal concerns of spine and neurosurgeon caseloads in February, Seattle-based Swedish Health is largely prohibiting physicians from performing overlapping surgeries, The Seattle Times reports. Here are five things to know: 1. The new policy comes after collecting input from physicians, nurses, experts and patients. 2. The internal data collected in February, showed surgeons regularly ran multiple operating rooms for hours at a time. 3. Under the new policy surgeons must be present for the substantial majority of each surgical procedure. However, surgeons are not required to be present for the very end of the case. 4. Staff will now be responsible for documenting the times surgeons enter and exit the operating room. 5. Federal guidelines allow the practice of overlapping surgery, although Medicare requires surgeons to be present for the critical portion of the case. Physicians are unimpressed with the information pharma reps offer during meetings, according to a new DRG Digital's Manhattan Research study. The study surveyed 1,814 U.S. practice physicians across 25 specialties. Here are seven things to know: 1. Of those physicians who interact with sales reps, 51 percent said reps offer information the physicians already know. 2. This "stale detail" phenomenon is especially apparent in the oncology and dermatology fields. Sixty-eight percent of oncologists hear old information and 62 percent of dermatologists report similar experiences. 3. Today, physicians are researching information themselves, so reps who spend too much meeting time on basic product or promotional information will likely not impress physicians. Specifically, 74 percent of physicians leverage search engines weekly and 52 percent utilize pharma digital resources on a regular basis. 4. To shift the course, 63 percent of physicians believe meetings with reps are more valuable when they don't focus on product-related resources. 5. Fewer reps are using tablets 67 percent compared to 74 percent in 2013. This trend may not be smart though, as data points toward tablets improving the rep detail experience. Thirty-five percent of physicians reported they were "very satisfied" with rep meetings involving tablets. 6. While 36 percent of physicians said they want to email their reps, only 12 percent said they had in the past six months. 7. Of physician respondents, 64 percent said they had met with sales reps in person over the past six months. "There's a disconnect between the sales force, which is very focused on script volumes and meeting their numbers, and digital marketers, who are focused on physician engagement and building long-term relationships with HCPs [healthcare providers]," said Jeff Wray, DRG digital analyst. "Sales and marketing teams need to get on the same page with regards to digital pull-through, so that they're providing a deeper level of support to physicians beyond product promotion and maximizing their investment." To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Renting is popular with those who are waiting to get on the property ladder Northern Ireland average monthly rents grew at the fastest rate of any UK region during July to reach 625, according to new figures. And Brexit may be among the factors encouraging more and more people to rent their homes rather than buy, according to one estate agent. The HomeLet Index for July said average monthly rents for homes in Northern Ireland were now 625, up 5.7% year on year from 589. And there was growth of 2.4% on average rents in June of 610. The next highest yearly rental increase was in Scotland, where rents were up 3.6% year on year to 630 a month. And the UK average increase year on year was 1.1%, to reach 925. Despite having the strongest percentage increase, Northern Ireland was among the five cheapest regions out of 12 in which to rent a house. It tied for fifth-lowest with Yorkshire & Humber, while the north-east of England had the lowest rents at 526. Only two regions experienced a fall in average rental values over the year - the south-east of England, where rents fell by 0.9% to 1,025, while the north-east of England experienced a decline of 1.7%. Estate agent Richard McCulloch of McCulloch Estates, which deals in lettings and sales from offices in Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, said rent increases were being experienced across Northern Ireland. "It's basically down to supply and demand, as supply is very low but demand is high. We're seeing examples of typical first-time buyers choosing to rent instead of buying and will probably hold off buying until they see what happens post-Brexit and what the economy does. "Renting gives the flexibility to move at short notice and continue to save for a deposit, so it's a preferred option for many people these days. "I expect the rent rises to continue for the next year in the same way as this year for these reasons. "Rents vary depending on the size of town and city and proximity to jobs and top schools, just like house prices do." And while Northern Ireland's average is given as 625, prices vary dramatically in different parts of the province. Propertynews.com lists 500 rent for a three-bed house in Bessbrook outside Newry, and 475 for a three-bed home in Robert Street in Derry. HomeLet chief executive Martin Totty said rents often strengthened over the summer as it marked the anniversary of many tenancies. Belfast takeaway Miroosh has been hit with a fine of 300 for food hygiene offences. A Belfast takeaway has been hit with a 300 fine for food hygiene offences. Belfast City Council took a case against Aissa Necighi, owner of kebab shop Miroosh on 81 Dublin Road, Belfast, after serious breaches of food hygiene legislation were found during a routine inspection. Follow-up inspections have found improved conditions at the business. Necighi appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court in relation to five separate food hygiene offences. These included failing to ensure that there was hot water available at the wash-hand basins, failing to make sure that kitchen utensils that came into contact with food were effectively cleaned and disinfected, and failing to ensure that the food production areas were kept clean. The breaches were identified between 21 March 2016 and 4 May 2016. The takeaway has since been given a rating of three in relation to the Food Standards Agency's National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, which means that standards at the restaurant are generally satisfactory. Ratings for any food premises in Belfast can be viewed on the council's website. Tough times: Laurene Harte in hospital during one of her treatments for endometriosis Alliance Party leader Naomi Long is taking time off from politics to undergo treatment for endometriosis. Here, author Claire Allan and Bangor woman Laurene Harte talk about their own battles with the condition. Author Claire Allan (41) lives in Londonderry with her husband Neil and their two children, Joseph (13) and Cara (8). She says: I'm one of the lucky ones - I have no doubt about that. I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2012 - less than a year after symptoms took me to the GP for the first time. The average wait for diagnosis is in excess of seven years because it's quite difficult to diagnose (requiring laparoscopic surgery) and also because it seems to be accepted among women - and even among some medical professionals - that periods are supposed to hurt. And while we all know a little cramping is normal, in too many cases extreme pain (and I'm talking rolling on floor, crying out as your abdomen locks into spasm after spasm) is written off as 'just period pain'. It's not normal. It's not just period pain. Having been lucky enough to carry and give birth to two children (many women with endometriosis find themselves struggling to conceive or robbed of their fertility altogether), the pain of endo when it is at its worst is, ironically and cruelly, akin to childbirth. In hindsight I had symptoms going back years - certainly since I had my son in 2004. I experienced exceptionally heavy bleeding (or flooding), severe cramping, and also extreme discomfort mid-cycle (around the time of ovulation). But it was in 2012 that the pain seemed to latch on and not let go - regardless of what time of the month. My pain scale moved between uncomfortable, to sore, to agony; there was never a time when I was pain-free. Expand Close Hard decision: author Claire Allan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hard decision: author Claire Allan It meant I couldn't do the things I wanted to. I'd often spend evenings or weekends on the sofa, heavy medication on board, hot water bottle to my stomach. I couldn't make plans with my children in case the spasms started. Eventually I was offered a laparoscopy and in December 2012, as I lay out of it from the general anaesthetic a doctor walked into my room and told me I had endometriosis and promptly left again. I was given no advice. No further treatment would be offered. I was left to go home and recover. When I went back to my GP, dazed and confused, she confirmed the diagnosis and also that I was no longer on the gynae list. I was considered treated. When the pain returned three months after surgery, I went back to the start of the waiting list. Endometriosis affects one in 10 women of childbearing age. It is a condition where tissue similar to that in the womb grows elsewhere in the body. It is thought it reacts to the hormonal changes in a woman's body - so it causes internal bleeding, scarring, cysts. It can attach itself to other organs. The kicker is that the amount of endometriosis a woman has does not necessarily correlate to the pain she is in. Some women have stage 4 endo - and do not experience much pain. Others, like me, had stage 1 and are barely able to stand up straight or walk. Following further tests - including a chemically induced menopause - my diagnosis was confirmed again. By this stage the spasms were so bad that I was scared to drive - if the pain hit while I was in my car there was no way I could safely control the vehicle. I opted to undergo a hysterectomy - knowing that it wouldn't cure endo (as the tissue grows outside of the womb) but that it might help. It seemed better than nothing - even if it meant permanently depriving myself of my fertility. I had my surgery in November 2014 - my uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes were removed. Due to my age, my ovaries were left in situ. While this surgery led to an immediate, drastic improvement in symptoms, the fact that I still have ovaries means I still have a monthly cycle and my body still reacts to hormonal changes. Pain, especially around ovulation, is still something I deal with - but not on the scale I used to. On an emotional level, endometriosis is cruel. It strikes at your very notion of womanhood. I still, somewhat irrationally, get upset when people say 'no womb, no opinion' - as if my surgery has left me less of a woman. I still get the odd pang of broodiness - but I've come to terms with the fact I won't ever carry another baby. I had to make the right decision for me and my family as they are now - and my children needed me to be well. Despite the relatively common nature of endometriosis it is much misunderstood and still quite taboo. Until it is talked about more openly, and until the medical profession look at it more closely, it will continue to be so and it will continue to devastate the lives of hundreds of women. Having someone so high profile like Naomi Long speak honestly and openly about her struggles with endo will make a massive difference to other suffers." Laurene Harte (27) a pharmaceutical regulator from Bangor, lived for 12 years with endometriosis before being diagnosed at the age of 22. She has had five surgeries and last year was put on medication to bring on early menopause, all of which she says could have been avoided had her condition been picked up early. Laurenes partner is Chris Agnew (27), a financial consultant. She says: Expand Close Tough times: Laurene Harte in hospital during one of her treatments for endometriosis / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tough times: Laurene Harte in hospital during one of her treatments for endometriosis Ive had problems since I had my first period at the age of 13. I had really painful periods which were so bad I had to take time off school and even painkillers didnt help. I was basically told thats what happens with periods and learn to deal with it. I was also put on the pill at 13 which is a common treatment. At 16, I collapsed at home and my mum, who never accepted that what I was going through was normal, insisted that the hospital investigate. I had keyhole surgery and the consultant went in and had a quick look around and again told me there was nothing wrong. At this stage I was still taking time off school and was in a lot of pain. Between the ages of 16 and 22 I went to numerous gynaecologists who all basically told me it was in my head and I had to deal with it. I was even referred to a psychologist because they thought it was all in my mind. Then one night when I was 22, I woke up in agony and was in so much pain I thought I was going to die. It really scared me and the next day I went to my GP surgery and saw a new doctor who said straight away I could have endo and referred me to a specialist in Belfast. Even then, though, the specialist didnt think it was too bad. However, I had another surgery in July 2014 and was told my pelvic cavity was destroyed as it was covered with endo. The consultant said there was too much damage to work on and closed me up and I was referred for more surgery in December. This time it took six hours to remove all of the disease from my body. Even after these procedures I was still going to A&E with pain and was told it was in my head, despite the diagnosis. In July 2016, I got a second opinion and was told I still had extreme endo. I had another operation in December that year followed by a course of injections to medically induce the menopause. The surgeries have left me with nerve pain. The thing about endo is that it needs to be picked up early. Had I been diagnosed earlier then I would not have had as much damage and wouldnt have needed so many surgeries. It is something which puts your whole life into chaos. I would like to have a family so Ive stopped the menopause injections and will now need fertility treatment. You cant plan anything; your future gets planned for you. Ive also been told I need a hysterectomy in my early 30s. You are told something like that and there is no support, you are just left to deal with it. I think it is brilliant that Naomi Long is talking about it as I really believe there needs to be more awareness and women need to be educated and told about their reproductive health. Naomi should be proud of the role model she has been for all women, not just for women with endo. Expand Close Laurene with partner Chris Agnew / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Laurene with partner Chris Agnew Symptoms of endometriosis Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. Each month these cells react in the same way to those in the womb, building up and then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape. It is a chronic and debilitating condition that causes painful or heavy periods. It may also lead to infertility, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems. Around 1.5 million women in the UK are currently living with the condition and it can affect all women and girls of a childbearing age. Endometriosis can have a significant impact on a womans life in a number of ways, including: Battery-powered cyclists need to have the proper insurance and licence. Cyclists using electric bikes have to undergo testing, have insurance and a motorcycle licence - but only in Northern Ireland, it's been revealed. The Northern Ireland Executive never got around to changing legislation when battery-powered bikes became popular, meaning they are classified as motor vehicles in the eyes of the law and those behind the handlebars must have the proper credentials before hitting the road. They also need to wear a motorbike helmet, protective clothing like leathers and pass both a theory and practical test. Read More Police have said those caught using them without the proper licence or insurance face being hit with six penalty points or a 1,000 fine. In the rest of the UK anyone over 14 can ride one without a licence, tax or insurance. Electric-powered cycles have become more popular as they offer the chance for people to get on a bike and improve their fitness while also offering a little assistance. Staff at retailer Halfords have said the difference in the law between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK was causing "bedlam" with people buying the road vehicles thinking they needed nothing more than a bit of puff to get up a hill. They have since "temporarily suspended" the sale of e-bikes in Northern Ireland. A spokesman said: Legislation in Northern Ireland currently states that electric bikes need to be licensed and insured in order to be ridden on public roads. However, at this stage, the DVLA do not have a working system in place which allows e-bike owners to do this. "Although it's not illegal to sell e-bikes, we believe the current status is confusing for our customers and therefore we have temporarily suspended the sale of e-bikes in Northern Ireland until this matter has been fully resolved. "We are also happy to offer existing customers who have bought an e-bike from Halfords in Northern Ireland a refund. The difference in the law was exposed by Stephen Nolan on his BBC Radio Ulster mid-morning show. The presenter said he was intent on buying an electric bike to help him get back in the saddle but was put off when he learned of the trouble they pose for people legally. Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle said a "massive error" had been made by the Executive. He said police and Secretary of State James Brokenshire should move quickly to remedy situation. Green Party leader Steven Agnew described it as "incredible" which could be resolved "quickly" with a working Executive. Work on changing the legislation started in 2016, but the collapse of the political institutions mean the vital sign-off for a minister never happened and is unlikely to in the near future. A police spokeswoman said: "Northern Ireland does not yet have the necessary regulations in place to define electric cycles and give them their place in the legislative framework. The Primary legislation is already but the regulations referred to are not yet made. "Police understand that the Department for Infrastructure is in the process of remedying this situation but, in the meantime, have advised us that until defined in law, an electric cycle should be regarded as a motor vehicle and hence requires insurance, tax, etc." The Department of Infrastructure and Halfords have been asked for a comment. The law on electric bikes can be found here. A London-based student allegedly committed rape after arranging on social media to meet three young women in Northern Ireland, a court heard Tuesday. A London-based student allegedly committed rape after arranging on social media to meet three young women in Northern Ireland, a court heard Tuesday. Police also suspect Daryl Concepcion secretly filmed a sexual encounter with one of them, aged 17, and shared footage online, the judge was told. The 18-year-old defendant appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court accused of committing offences during a three-day trip last week. Concepcion, a Filipino national of Lovell Place in London, currently only faces charges of raping and sexually assaulting one of the females between August 4-5. He was granted bail but banned from contacting any of the women or having any recording devices. A detective constable told the court he is under investigation for alleged sexual contact with all three females. Meetings with the trio - one from Co Antrim and two from Birmingham - were said to have taken place at locations in Belfast and on the north coast. Images and videos recovered from Concepcion's mobile phone are being examined, the court heard. Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna stressed that only two of the women have made statements to police. He said the third female has described any sex with Concepcion as consensual, adding that his client was invited by them to Northern Ireland. But the detective replied: "It's believed there was a video taken of this sexual interaction, the lady in question was 17 and she had no knowledge of it being taken. "Police believe these videos were then shared on a group chat via Facebook." She confirmed the accused hadn't physically known any of the females before travelling from London, but had been in social media contact with one of them for a year. Concepcion, who is due to start a tourism course after completing his A Levels, was granted bail on condition that he puts up a 5,000 cash surety. Deputy District Judge Laura Ievers also prohibited him from any internet access. He is due back in court next month. Eva Martin, the first female UDR soldier to be murdered by the IRA A trauma expert who helped victims of the Omagh and Enniskillen massacres has claimed that over 200,000 people in Northern Ireland are living with mental problems caused by the Troubles. And David Bolton has called on politicians to tackle the legacies of the past to stop them becoming major issues for future generations. Sixty-one-year-old Mr Bolton, who is a former health care trust official, has outlined the extent of the mental health crisis created by the Troubles in a new book called Conflict, Peace and Mental Health. The statistics from Mr Bolton, who was a pioneer in the setting up of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation which operated for nine years between 2002 and 2011, are stark. He says that as well as the 3,700 people who died in the conflict, it's estimated that another 50,000 were injured, though there are no definitive records on file. He also says that research on behalf of the Commission for Victims and Survivors has shown that half a million of the province's 1.8m population had direct experiences of the Troubles. He also quotes from a 2008 survey which found that 34,000 people are suffering from conflict related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). On top of all that, Mr Bolton says the Troubles have also had an impact on thousands of people who have developed depression, stress and anxiety issues as well as addictions to drugs or alcohol. Thousands more still have to cope with the loss of their loved ones during the conflict, he says. Mr Bolton says the impact from the Troubles was profound and he cites a personal experience from his own teenage years when one of his teachers became a victim. She was Eva Martin (28) from Lisbellaw who was the first female soldier from the UDR to be murdered by the IRA. She died in a concerted rocket, mortar and gun attack on a UDR base in Clogher, Co Tyrone by an estimated 40-strong gang in 1974.Double agent Sean O'Callaghan later confessed to the murder. Mr Bolton says that the killing was devastating not only for Eva Martin's family and colleagues in the UDR but also for the staff and pupils in Fivemiletown High School where she was head of the modern languages department. Mr Bolton says the memory of the Greenfinch's death is still with him, 43 years on from her murder. "It was like a thunderbolt which went right through the school community," he says. "It was a dreadful experience and it shows these events have devastating consequences way beyond the immediate families. "I left school within a year of her death, but it remained like a pall of gloom and sadness." In the aftermath of Omagh, Mr Bolton co-ordinated the health and social services' response to the attack in which 29 people were killed along with unborn twins. For two years after the 1998 atrocity, Mr Bolton and his colleagues worked with over 600 people who had been impacted by their experiences of the bombing including men and women who had provided help on the ground. In the book Mr Bolton draws on the work he undertook after Omagh to show what lessons were learnt in the provision of services, training and education to help communities affected by the tragedy and how the measures were rolled out to assist the wider population in Northern Ireland. Mr Bolton says it was the war in Syria which inspired him to write his new book which he hopes will be of use to anyone dealing with the traumas of conflict anywhere in the world. He says: "I had the idea for the book after I was in touch with a psychiatrist in the Jordanian desert who was dealing with refugees coming across the border from Syria. "The book was an attempt to crystallise for the benefit of others what we learnt from Omagh and also to reflect on the wider Troubles here, not only from research that had been done but also from my own observations on the mental health burden left behind by the conflict." Copies of Mr Bolton's book have already been sent to the authorities in England who are responding to recent terrorist attacks including the Manchester Arena suicide bombing and the outrages in London. And it's been suggested that what Mr Bolton says could be of use to mental health professionals coping with trauma in the wake of the Grenfell fire disaster. Nearer home, Mr Bolton's book also references reports which he helped to compile in partnership with the Ulster University which showed that Northern Ireland has the world's highest rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - ahead of war-torn regions like Israel, South Africa and Lebanon. One of the reports, which was part of a World Mental Health Survey initiative, said that the cost to the public purse in Northern Ireland ran into tens of millions of pounds every year. Researchers, taking 2008 as a sample year, estimated the combined direct and indirect costs of PTSD here to be a staggering 172.8m. The study also estimated that nearly four in 10 people here had had a conflict-related traumatic experience and it predicted that costs would soar over the years as people whose mental health was linked to traumatic incidents grew older. Speaking on a visit to the Flemish parliament in Flanders, Belgium, Mr Bolton said that on average it took 22 years for some people with trauma disorders linked to the Troubles to come forward to seek help. Mr Bolton says while that might come as a surprise to some people, it's a reality for many others like doctors and workers in the voluntary sector. He adds: "Hardly a day goes past without someone turning up on a health professional's doorstep and saying that 20 or 30 years ago they were caught up in an incident but they hadn't looked for help until that visit. The impact of the Troubles has a long reach." The author says he has tried but not always succeeded in staying detached in his work with and on behalf of victims. He adds: "That was especially true in Enniskillen where I knew many of the people who were killed and injured. You need to be a wee bit detached, but at the same time I didn't want to be detached because these people meant a lot to me. "I couldn't deny their significance in my own life, but nonetheless there are times when you have to steel yourself." In his book Mr Bolton also deals with the way in which the emergency services, medical staff, undertakers and the media have had to cope with terrorist attacks during the Troubles. He says: "Many of them, particularly the health staff, were front line witnesses to what happened and the Troubles had a very powerful impact on them." And looking to the future, Mr Bolton says in his book that if politicians here or in Britain don't tackle mental health issues the implications of their inaction could be extremely serious. "It's something that we should be able to do quickly and easily. I'm not saying that nothing has been done, but we need to bring forward more services to deal with the past and to help the victims who mustn't be abandoned." Mr Bolton says that many controversial differences like the very definition of what is or isn't a victim must be resolved between politicians. But in the meantime he says other countries around the world are also plagued by questions about how to emerge from a conflicted past. Mr Bolton says: "I remember speaking to the national security adviser for Iraq, maybe 20 years ago. "It was around the time the civil war was still raging and he asked me, knowing what I knew about Northern Ireland, if I could give him any advice. "I told him he should start preparing for peace and the mental health impact that was going to come in the wake of the ending of conflict. "And that is the message from the book - that our peacemakers and peacebuilders should be factoring mental health and well-being in at the start of any humanitarian, political, nation-building response to the impact of war or civil conflict." David Bolton's book Conflict, Peace and Mental Health is published by Manchester University Press. Paperback copies will be available soon, priced 14.99 Northern Ireland Water has surprised members of the public by unveiling its new bottled brand that offers a cheap alternative to the competition. Shoppers in a busy Northern Ireland supermarket were asked to try Mourne Water which was described as: Locally sourced from the Green Hills of the Mourne Mountains. But unknown to those sampling the refreshing drink, the new must have bottled water brand was nothing but plain old Northern Ireland tap water. The glowing reactions were filmed and released in a video on NI Waters Facebook page. One man described it as: Cool, refreshing and nice to look at. Its lovely. Another woman said: Id say it definitely has a different taste than the ones from the bottle Im used to drinking. And definitely the one from the tap. Asked how Mourne Water compared to other bottled water bought in the shops another customer said: Just as good, if not better. Others were asked to close their eyes and describe where they imagined drinking Mourne Water. Sitting on a nice beach, sipping a nice water after a hot day, said one man. When shoppers asked where it was from, the sales representative assured them it was 100% sourced from the Mourne Mountains. The video went on to say that Northern Ireland tap water scores 99.8% in purity tests and that 560 million litres of clean fresh water are delivered every day to homes and businesses enough to fill 224 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Asked where the refreshing Mourne Water was available to buy, the taste testers were shocked to find out it was tap water all along. Despite the quality of the water, the bottled variety continues to flourish. The drinks menu at the luxury Merchant Hotel in Belfast raised eyebrows in 2015 when a deluxe water- tasting menu was launched. It offered water sourced from 10 countries and with prices ranging from 4.95 to an eye-watering 26.45 per bottle. The hotel also appointed two new water butlers to help customers choose the right one for their particular palate. Another car has been set alight in Belfast as localised disorder erupted for a second night. Several vehicles and a disused building were targeted by arsonists on Monday and police officers were attacked. Police have stepped up patrols and vowed to bring to justice those responsible. The removal of wood from a bonfire site in the nationalist Markets area near the city centre by Belfast City Council-hired contractors triggered the violent scenes. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable George Hamilton said: "These were largely young people involved in causing destruction and mayhem in their own communities. "There is absolutely no excuse, no justification for the burning of cars and the causing of destruction in people's own communities - it just doesn't make sense at any level." On Tuesday evening a car was set alight in North Belfast, near a bonfire beside the New Lodge flats. Bonfires were lit in some nationalist areas on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the introduction of the controversial state policy of internment without trial. Mainstream republicans have distanced themselves from the practice, blaming anti-social elements for trouble. Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill has denied her party's drive within the council to take action against dangerous bonfires - a proposal to allow the seizure of material was cleared last week - had stirred tensions among the young people who build them. Following the removal of wood on Monday, a derelict credit union building and cars belonging to commuters into the city were set alight and officers were targeted by a petrol bomb, bricks and bottles. Mr Hamilton insisted arrests would follow. He said children as young as 12 were involved. "People engaged in this are responsible for their actions but parents have a responsibility too in all of this." Mrs O'Neill condemned those involved in disorder. "The community don't want to see that action and it is the action of a small number of people," she said. "It is not something the community want to be involved with, it is not something that is a wider problem. "I believe that it is time for strong political leadership. Sinn Fein have not been found wanting in that regard, particularly in the last number of days. "Tackling these issues is a policing issue on one hand, but it is also a political problem on the other hand." Detectives from Serious Crime Branch have launched a murder investigation following the death of a 45 year old man at a property in the Victoria Street area of Lurgan. Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye Sunday 6 August 2017 Detectives have been given more time to question the man they arrested after the body of a 45-year-old man was discovered in a Lurgan apartment block on Sunday afternoon. Police were called to the scene on Victoria Street, where officers discovered the victim, who is believed to have been Lithuanian. Another 45-year-old man, also believed to be a Lithuanian national, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. He is understood to be the victims twin brother. Dolores Kelly, SDLP MLA for the area, told the BBC: Its absolutely horrific news. Whats making it even more horrific is that the person arrested on suspicion of murder is actually the twin brother of the deceased and my heart goes out to their family. Pacemaker Press Belfast: 8 August 2017 : A Sinn Fein delegation including leader in the North Michelle O'Neill MLA, Gerry Kelly MLA, Linda Dillon MLA and Sean Crowe TD pictured at Stormont Castle in Belfast following today's (Tuesday 8th August) meeting with PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton. Picture by: Arthur Allison: Pacemaker Press. Northern Ireland's police chief has expressed frustration at a political stalemate over introducing new mechanisms to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. George Hamilton said he aired his feelings during a meeting with Sinn Fein at Stormont. During the exchanges the republican party challenged the chief constable on his efforts to clamp down on the violence and criminality of the UDA, and also on the PSNI's failure to complete a probe into the historic activities of the UVF's notorious Glenanne gang. After the meeting, Mr Hamilton stressed a new independent Historical Investigations Unit, as outlined in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, has still not be created due to the wider political impasse at Stormont. He said: "I was able to share my concern and indeed my frustration at the political stalemate that means that we haven't got the Stormont House institutions up and running. "I want to see the Historical Investigations Unit established, I've been a long time advocate and supporter of that. Whatever help we can bring to the table around professional policing advice to that we will do that. "We recognise the need for independence around these legacy investigations and whatever we can do to assist with that then we are happy to work with Sinn Fein and the other political parties to that end." During the discussions inside Stormont Castle, Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill highlighted the recent court judgment that criticised the PSNI for a failure to conduct an overarching examination of the extent of alleged state collusion with the Glenanne gang. The gang was a unit of the UVF that counted renegade police and Army personnel among its members. It was responsible for around 130 murders in the 1970s and 1980s. Outside Stormont Castle, Mrs O'Neill said: "We need to see action from the PSNI because clearly the fact that over 130 people lost their lives at the hands of the Glenanne gang means the PSNI need to do their job in terms of bringing together all the evidence that's there, not just in individual cases but looking at it in terms of the whole picture." Sinn Fein called for the meeting in the wake of the UDA murder of Colin Horner in Bangor in May. Mr Horner, 35, was shot dead by a lone gunman moments after he had put his three-year-old son in the back of his car. The murder has been linked to a feud among loyalist rivals. He was a friend of fellow loyalist George Gilmore, who was shot dead in Carrickfergus in March. Mrs O'Neill said more action against the terror group was needed, adding: "They are holding communities to ransom, particularly around racketeering, drugs and extortion." Mr Hamilton said he provided Sinn Fein assurances over the level of resources it was committing to combating the UDA. Sinn Fein also raised concerns about hate crime incidents around loyalist 'Eleventh night' bonfires in July, where effigies and posters of the party's politicians, including a coffin with a picture of the late Martin McGuinness's face, were attached to the fires. Mr Hamilton described the incidents as "disgraceful and despicable" but said officers faced challenges in identifying those responsible. Spectators jumped out of the way to avoid being hit by a drink driver following a Twelfth of July parade, a court heard today. Spectators jumped out of the way to avoid being hit by a drink driver following a Twelfth of July parade, a court heard on Tuesday. Crowds then surrounded Christopher Gorman's car to remonstrate with him during the incident in east Belfast last month. The 27-year-old, of Severn Street in the city, was given an 18-month ban after admitting dangerous driving and drink driving. He was also fined 500 for offences his lawyer stressed involved no sinister intention towards pedestrians. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard the defendant had been drinking while in the city centre to watch the annual Orange Order parade. He then went back to collect and remove his Vauxhall Vectra as a large number of spectators were dispersing at the junction between the Ballymacarrett Newtownards Roads. Police spotted the car travelling at speed in the direction of an oncoming crowd of people. According to a PSNI report of the incident several people took evasive action by jumping out of the way to avoid being struck. The vehicle then stopped, with a crowd gathering round to complain at the driver. Gorman was slurring his speech and slow to respond when police got to him. Defence solicitor Pat Kelly described his client's actions as "stupid and ridiculous". But Mr Kelly insisted: "There was no sinister overtones to this. He comes from that community and was returning to east Belfast." Imposing the disqualification and fines, Deputy District Judge Laura Ievers accepted Gorman had not been deliberately driving towards any spectators. The Belfast councillor who spoke at a far-right demonstration involving Britain First has ruled herself out of becoming the first candidate to stand for the party after it vowed to fight elections here. Independent unionist Jolene Bunting caused anger after inviting members of the staunchly anti-Muslim and anti-immigration grouping to speak at the so-called Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally at Belfast City Hall on Sunday. Speaking after the event, Britain First leader Paul Golding revealed it was now registered as a political party in Northern Ireland and that it would be standing candidates in future elections. But Ms Bunting, a former TUV councillor, ruled herself out of running for the extreme right-wing party. She said she would "absolutely not" be putting herself forward as a candidate. Mr Golding said the party would be putting out the call for potential candidates soon and that he was hopeful of good results due to the public being alienated with politics here. He stated: "We will be open to people from both sides of the divide as long as they wish to put our own people first and are willing to take on the corrupt establishment in Northern Ireland. "I think people are sick to death of the old traditional politics in Northern Ireland." Mr Golding refused to be drawn on where Britain First would base itself in the province, saying he would not divulge the location due to "security reasons". Karen with best friend Margaret Semple, who passed away The most personal and probing interviews: Karen Mullan, Foyle SF MLA, on 'irreplaceable' Martin McGuinness... and heartbreak of losing her closest friend to cancer. Q. You're 40 and married to community worker Charles (51), with whom you have Conan (16) and Niamh (12). You've also got a stepdaughter Gemma (27), who's mum to four-month-old Clara. How did you meet your husband? A. He was caretaker at a community centre when I started working there. We chatted but nothing had developed until he walked me home one night after the Gasyard Feile. I was 19, he was 30. I didn't realise the age gap was so big. I'm very much a daddy's girl so I thought he'd go mad, and of course he did. But shortly afterwards they loved him. Q. What about your parents and siblings? A. My mum Marion (60) is a retired cleaner and my father Hugo (67) was a factory worker. I have two brothers - Gavin (35), a builder, and factory worker Adrian (33) - and a sister Rachel (30), who is a community worker. Q. What was your childhood like? A. Very happy. Our family all live close by. My mummy only has two sisters and I was very close to my cousins in particular. There were 10 of us all together. We all looked out for one and other. I was very close to both my grandmothers. Rose Irvine died two years ago aged 96. She was feeling unwell, went to bed, said her prayers and died in her sleep, just the way she wanted to go. My other grandmother Dorothy Mullan, who died three months before granny Irvine, was 92. My grandfathers died when I was younger. My grandad John Irvine was from Belfast. He died suddenly in his 60s from a heart attack. He liked his fries and whiskey, his good life caught up with him. He probably died the way he wanted to - quickly. My other granda, Tom Mullan, died the same way. He was 57. Q. You were co-opted to replace Elisha McCallion as Foyle MLA. Why politics? A. I've been a member of Sinn Fein since 2010 but I had been a political activist locally since the 1990s after watching events at Garvaghy Road (the Drumcree Orange parade dispute which has been ongoing since 1995 and reached its lowest point when the three Quinn children were burnt to death in 1998). It was a bad time. My mother and father aren't republican. My husband's family are. When I was approached after Martin McGuinness's death it was a great honour and privilege. It was about finishing the work that he started. I feel very passionate about that. Opportunities normally don't come along twice so I decided to go for it. Q. Did you know Martin well? A. His mother and my granny were cousins and I grew up with Martin's daughters Grainne, who's a year older than me, and Finnoula, who's the same age. When I was 13 I went on holidays with the McGuinness family to Donegal. They're lovely. We didn't get away a lot so it was a great time and as teenage girls the craic was good. Q. Was Martin a big influence on you? A. I only live a couple of hundred yards away from his house. Martin and Gerry Adams have been big influences. Martin was very kind and supportive. Q. Do you think Martin was perceived in public as having his finger more on the pulse than Gerry? A. People might think that because Martin was in the Assembly but it's not true. It was definitely a joint leadership. Q. Do you think anybody can replace Martin? Can Michelle O'Neill? A. Michelle has her own path and she'll have her own leadership. I'm bowled over by her passion and her support. She's hard-working and dedicated. Everybody's different. I don't think anyone can replace Martin. Q. Do you believe in God? Do you have a strong faith? A. I believe in God but don't have a strong faith. I don't go to Mass and I sent my children to a secular primary school. They made their First Holy Communication and Confirmation because there is a strong faith within the family and they (the children) wanted to. It was an Irish speaking school, so they're fluent. Q. Why that particular school (Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir)? A. I liked the ethos of the school. Small numbers, the education was excellent and it was child-centred. It was all about building a child's confidence. My daughter has really bad dyslexia but she's flying. She came out of that school brimming with confidence and there's nothing that Niamh feels that she can't do. I put that down to the Gaelscoil. Q. Do you speak Irish? A. No, and neither does my husband. When the children were younger they spoke Irish with their cousins so we couldn't understand what they were saying. Q. Why do you think a lot of Catholics are turning away from Mass? A. It hasn't moved with the times. We don't have female priests. Q. Who's your best Protestant friend? A. I'm not religious so I don't define anybody by religion. Q. You've never actually served as an MLA due to the Stormont impasse. Does that feel strange? A. I've done the induction and training and now I want to get stuck in, hopefully in September. Q. Does it annoy you when people still link Sinn Fein with the IRA? A. We've moved on. I don't hear it too much. You're always going to get that with people here. Some people have their reasons and obviously people have been hurt and it's difficult. We recognise that. Q. Is it a disadvantage being a woman on the Hill? A. If you look at our party's four new MLAs, three are women and I'm the oldest. Our party is making tremendous strides but there's still a lot to be done here, in the Dail and in Britain. I hope that's changing. In Derry I'm the only female MLA. We're lucky here - we have myself as an MLA, Elisha as MP and Martina Anderson as MEP. Q. Do you think Michelle O'Neill and Arlene Foster - as leaders of Northern Ireland's biggest parties - are to be admired in the political sphere? A. Yes, but I have to say I'm disappointed with Arlene. I thought it was a great move by the DUP to appoint her as leader but she has fallen into that old rhetoric of her male colleagues in name-calling and using derogatory terms. So, while it's great that parties other than Sinn Fein are pushing women forward, I'm not sure she's been a good leader in that sense. Q. Are you talking specifically about the 'crocodile' comment? A. Yes, and how she described Michelle at the time about the lipstick. It let me down because I had a lot of respect for her. People don't like to see that type of behaviour. As much as we have different politics, we have to be working for the one goal. Q. You were a director of Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership which was found guilty of discriminating against a job applicant based on political opinion. The tribunal said your evidence lacked credibility. What was that about? A. I stepped down in June. We were told to provide a statement on our involvement but when we were asked to give evidence they asked other questions - and then asked why it wasn't in the statement. I got bad advice. If I had known I was expected to give a lot more information I would have provided what was required. Q. You volunteer with Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group, which played a key role in the delivery of the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin. Tell me about that. A. I'm one of the founders and it's one of my big passions. When we formed 12 years ago there was a local girl who was at school with me who had breast cancer at 26. We organised an information evening and 18 people who had experience of breast cancer turned up so we formed the Pink Ladies. We then formed the Pink Panthers male support group six years ago. I was up at Stormont a number of times lobbying politicians on their behalf and now I'm on the other side. Q. Does death frighten you? A. No. Losing loved ones frightens me. Q. Have you ever lost anyone close to you? A. I lost my very close friend Margaret Semple. She was 50. She had breast cancer but ultimately died from leukaemia. She was a brilliant woman and a fighter right up until the end. She was my confidante and it was such a big loss. She left behind a daughter and two sons. Grainne, the youngest, was only 20 and very close to her mother. It breaks my heart every time I see her. Grainne sings in the Pink Ladies choir. Q. What's the most important piece of advice someone has ever given you? A. It's not my job to fix people; it's to support them to be the best they can be. Q. How do you relax outside politics? A. I love walking in Brooke Park with my shih tzu Bella. Q. If you were in trouble, who would you turn to? A. My husband. He's a fixer. If he can't fix it he knows someone who can. Q. Tell us about the best day of your life so far. A. The birth of my children, then becoming an MLA. Q. And the worst day? A. My granny Mullan died on December 15 and six days later my father-in-law John Lamberton passed away. It was very traumatic. John was 76. Within a short period the children lost two grannies, their granda, and our dog Holly died as well. It was a lot of tragedy for them within four months. That Christmas was really difficult. For my husband and his siblings it was like losing their mother and father over again because John had played both roles for all those years. My husband's mother Mary was only 40 when she died from cancer. John left his job to look after the children. My husband was 16 and he was the eldest. The youngest was five. Q. You attended Nazareth House Primary School and St Cecilia's Secondary. What about further education? A. I went to the local regional college and completed a medical secretary's diploma. Then, six years ago, I went to Ulster University in Jordanstown to study community development. Q. You were a community worker at Hillcrest Trust before you gave it up to become an MLA. Give us a brief resume of your career. A. My first job was maternity cover at the Transport and General Workers Union. From 1996 I worked at Pilots Row Community Centre in the Bogside for seven years before going to the Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum as a financial administrator. I was programme manager when I left after 10 years in 2013 to manage Hillcrest Trust in the Waterside. Q. What's your favourite place in the whole world and in Northern Ireland? A. I love Krakow in Poland and Derry. Q. What is your greatest achievement to date? A. The Pink Ladies. The DUP has said it has "no issue" with the wording used by Emma Little-Pengelly in a tweet that she posted ahead of Saturday's Pride march in Belfast. The south Belfast MP tweeted: "Best wishes to all my friends & constituents celebrating today - all should be able to live a proud life free from hate, abuse or persecution" Her post - retweeted 63 times with 276 likes - did not explicitly refer to the Pride celebrations, or include the Pride hashtag, but it sparked a furore among her 6,500 followers and other social media users, with many seeing it as a break from her party's hardline stance on gay rights and same-sex marriage. When we asked Ms Little-Pengelly about the tweet yesterday - specifically to confirm that she was talking about the march - the former MLA declined to comment. Referring to the latter part of her statement, however, a DUP spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph that the party had "no issue with those sentiments". "If we're talking about people living life free from hate, abuse and persecution, no-one could have any issue with that," he added. Ms Little-Pengelly's words - taken by many to mean that she backs Belfast's Pride parade and its participants - appear to be at odds with her party colleague, the veteran DUP politician Jim Wells. The South Down MLA said he would no longer be leaving money to the National Trust in his will after it demonstrated its support for gay rights by appearing in the weekend march. Indeed, Mr Wells said the that trust would be "very wise to keep out of controversial social issues which have little if anything to do with its main objectives". In a contrasting tweet to Ms Little-Pengelly's, he posted: "I worked for the National Trust for a decade and have been a member for 19 years. I have resigned and will now support other charities." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Members of the PSNI and the Garda join thousands of people as they take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Christian protestors outside Belfast City Hall as thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Christian protestors outside Belfast City Hall as thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Members of the PSNI and the Garda join thousands of people as they take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Members of the PSNI and the Garda join thousands of people as they take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Members of the PSNI and the Garda join thousands of people as they take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Christian protestors outside Belfast City Hall as thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 ITV's Frank Mitchell and Julian Simmons join thousands of people in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 ITV's Frank Mitchell and Julian Simmons join thousands of people in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 ITV's Marc Mallett joins thousands of people in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Members of the PSNI and the Garda join thousands of people as they take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Raymond Sewell as Cruella De Vil pictured at the start of the parade. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Raymond Sewell as Cruella De Vil pictured at the start of the parade. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Belfast Azlans rugby team pictured at the start of the parade. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pictured at the beginning of the parade. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pictured at the beginning of the parade. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, rounds off his visit to Northern Ireland by attending the Pride breakfast in Belfast by meeting PSNI and Garda officers. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 5th August 2017 Thousands of people take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Members of the PSNI and the Garda join thousands of people as they take part in the annual Belfast Pride event in Belfast city centre celebrating Northern Ireland's LGBT community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. The apparent divisions in the DUP emerged as one of the biggest-ever Pride parades was staged in Belfast with thousands of people taking to the streets. Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is banned. Shortly after Ms Little-Pengelly's controversial Twitter post, local comedian Jake O'Kane said: "Instead of Tweeting how about having a chat with your fellow party members? Maybe a good start would be Jim Wells", while victims campaigner Anne Travers welcomed the tweet saying: "Well said Emma". Many comments were supportive of her, but others suggested she was "playing to the gallery" and questioned the DUP's stance on LGBT rights, accusing her of "empty sentiments". DUP leader Arlene Foster has previously insisted her party is not anti-gay, but supports the traditional view that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. The Labour Party in Northern Ireland has been plunged into chaos following the resignation of all its leading officers. The officers, which include chairperson Anna McAleavy, vice chair Damien Harris and secretary Kathryn Johnston, have blamed irreconcilable difficulties with a small minority of members who they say have joined the party since the election of leader Jeremy Corbyn. In a statement issued on Monday night the ruling Executive said their resignations are a heavy decision which has weighed on us for several months. They have claimed that there have been diverse and inimical political parties secretly organising within the Labour Party Northern Ireland (LPNI) contrary to Chapter 2 of Labour Party Rulebook 2017. The officers are LPNI Chair Anna McAleavy, Vice Chair Damien Harris, Vice Chair Membership Peter Dynes, Secretary Kathryn Johnston, Disability Officer Keith Gray and Womens Officer Mary Sheen. They have termed those they were referring to as a small minority among our committed and hardworking activists, members and supporters, but they blasted them as a vocal and troublesome element. This has presented us with irreconcilable difficulties, they said in the statement. It has unfortunately become necessary for us to resign so that there may be a period of calm and reflection before UK Labour National Executive Committee begin their review of LPNI right to stand. We will be meeting the NEC panel to discuss our recommendations, which include a complete restructuring of the NI membership as a regional structure, much like Scotland and Wales, and the subsequent establishment of local branches. We will still be attending national conference, we will continue campaigning in our local areas and around our particular responsibilities, and will still be active within our trades unions and community and tenants organisations. The local resignations come after it emerged in March of this year that 26,000 members of Labour have quit the party since Jeremy Corbyns reelection as leader. The leaked data reported by The Times showed total Labour membership at 528,180, down from a peak of 554,000 in July, but still far above the 200,000 members it reportedly had in May 2015. The Labour Party does not stand election candidates in Northern Ireland because it has a pact with the SDLP. It has been a bone of contention between the party locally and its GB headquarters. Last month Matt Beeching, secretary of the Upper Bann Branch of the LPNI, staged a six day hunger strike in protest at the policy. British tourist Eloise Dixon is being treated in hospital in Brazil after she was reportedly shot while her family were looking for water (AP) A British tourist is being treated in hospital in Brazil after she was reportedly shot while her family were looking for water. Eloise Dixon and her family were travelling in Angra dos Reis, a popular coastal holiday destination about 90 miles from Rio de Janeiro, on Sunday when they strayed into a rough neighbourhood, according to local reports. They said a bullet missed all of her major vessels and organs and she is recovering well. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are assisting the family of a British woman who has been hospitalised in Angra dos Reis, Brazil. Our staff remain in contact with the local authorities. It is believed that a language mix-up saw the family, which also included Ms Dixons partner and their three children, directed to the Agua Santa neighbourhood, which translates to Holy Water, local press said. Authorities said a group approached the car at a favela and apparently told the family to get out and then opened fire. A police statement said the woman was hit in the abdomen and was being treated in hospital. London officers want to speak to this jogger (Met Police/PA) Police have launched a hunt for a jogger who knocked a woman pedestrian into the path of a bus. CCTV footage shows the man barging into the 33-year-old woman, who was was lucky to escape serious injury after the bus driver swerved to avoid her on Putney Bridge in south west London. Investigating officer Sergeant Mat Knowles said: The victim was put in extreme danger when she was knocked into the road. It was only due to the superb quick reactions of the bus driver that she was not hit by the vehicle. The Metropolitan Police said the bus stopped and passengers tended to the woman who received minor injuries following the incident on Friday, May 5 at about 7.40am. Officers said the jogger ran the other way across the bridge around 15 minutes later and the victim attempted to speak to him, but he did not acknowledge her. 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 An appeal has been launched for witnesses or anyone who recognises the jogger in the CCTV. He is described as white in his early to mid-30s, with brown eyes and short brown hair. He was wearing a light grey T-shirt and dark blue shorts. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Marcus Hutchins was branded a hero for slowing down the WannaCry global cyberattack (Frank Augstein/AP The British cyber security expert accused of creating and selling malware that steals banking passwords has been released from a US prison, the jail has said. Marcus Hutchins, the 23-year-old previously hailed a hero for derailing a global computer attack that wreaked havoc in the NHS, was held in Nevada Southern Detention Centre over the weekend. Prison spokeswoman Kayla Gieni said he was no longer at our facility on Monday but was unable to say whether he had been released on bail as a judge had ordered on Friday. Hutchins, of Ilfracombe, Devon, is due to appear in court in Milwaukee on Tuesday, charged with six counts of creating and selling a malware known as Kronos. His lawyer, Adrian Lobo, said they would fight the case and Hutchins would enter not guilty pleas to all the counts, which date between July 2014 and July 2015. A prosecutor has said that Hutchins admitted to investigators after his arrest in Las Vegas last week that he wrote the code and hinted he sold it. Strict bail conditions were set for Hutchins, who works for Los Angeles computer security firm Kryptos Logic, that include him having no access to the internet, surrendering his passport and being monitored by GPS. Expand Close Hutchins was previously praised for for finding a "kill-switch"to the WannaCry ransomware (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hutchins was previously praised for for finding a "kill-switch"to the WannaCry ransomware (AP) Family, friends and cyber security colleagues had been trying to raise enough money to meet the 30,000-dollar (23,000) bond to allow his release. Hutchins was previously praised for for finding a kill-switch that curbed the WannaCry ransomware that infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries in May. The malicious software demanded a ransom from users so they could regain control of their machines. A French activist farmer has been convicted of helping migrants illegally cross the border from Italy. The appeal court of Aix-en-Provence, in southern France, on Tuesday gave Cedric Herrou a suspended four-month prison sentence. Authorities said Herrou assisted some 200 migrants over the past year, housing some in his farm in the Roya valley in the Alps, near the Italian border. He also helped them travel in France, using his own vehicle. A 2012 French law provides legal immunity to people helping migrants with "humanitarian and disinterested actions", but the prosecutor had argued Herrou was subverting the law. Herrou told BFM television he "has no regrets" and will not stop helping migrants, calling it his citizen's duty. Another justice investigation has been opened after he was arrested again last month. AP Australian Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton, left, presents Australian Conservatives party leader Cory Bernardi with a 55,000-signature petition demanding a public vote on whether Australia should allow gay marriage (AP) Australia's parliament could legalise gay marriage this year if the government is allowed to let the public vote in a referendum, a senior minister has said. The conservative Liberal Party-led coalition was narrowly re-elected in July 2016 with a promise to let people decide whether Australia should recognise same-sex marriage through a popular vote. But in November that year, the senate blocked the move, which would have cost nearly 98 million, sparking a divisive public debate. The Liberal Party, which held a crisis meeting on Monday night in a bid to resolve the in-fighting, rejected a push to allow politicians to decide the issue now. The party will ask the senate this week to reconsider allowing the referendum. Voting on the plebiscite would be compulsory and failure to vote would be punishable by a fine. The result would not be legally binding and some politicians have already declared it would not sway their vote on gay marriage legislation. If the senate again blocks the plebiscite, the party proposes a voluntary postal referendum in which voters send in their opinions instead of using ballot boxes - a cheaper option that would not need the senate to approve the expense. Responses would be voluntary and therefore less indicative of public opinion. But opponents argue that the postal plebiscite would also need senate approval and have threatened a court challenge if it proceeds. Finance minister Mathias Cormann, the government's deputy senate leader and an opponent of same-sex marriage, said on Tuesday that some type of plebiscite was essential if parliament was to decide the marriage equality question. Parliament would decide the issue only if the vote found most Australians supported gay marriage. "The truth is that there is a diversity of strongly and sincerely held views on both sides of the argument in our community and that is reflected in our party room," Mr Cormann said. "The government has a timetable that would facilitate resolution of this issue by the end of the year, but ultimately there are some factors that are outside of the government's control," he added, referring to the hostile senate. Senator Nick Xenophon, whose minor party opposed the plebiscite in the November vote, said gay marriage would become an election issue if the plebiscite was blocked by the senate or the courts. "This is something that ought not to be put to a plebiscite, this is something that parliamentarians are paid for to decide and our position hasn't changed," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Anti-gay marriage advocates support the referendum, despite opinion polls showing that most Australians agree with marriage equality. But gay rights advocates are concerned that referendums rarely change the status quo in Australia. Lyle Shelton, managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby, said his advocacy group had collected 55,000 signatures on a petition demanding a referendum. Mr Shelton handed the petition to Senator Cory Bernardi, leader of the minor Australian Conservatives party, to present to the upper house. Mr Bernardi has said he would vote against gay marriage, regardless of a plebiscite result. Mr Shelton was concerned that renegade Liberal senator Dean Smith had proposed a bill this week that allowed people who did not identify as either a man or woman to marry. He said that furthered a gay agenda "queer theory" that gender was fluid. Marriage equality would also cast doubt on whether religious schools could teach children that marriage was exclusively between a man and a woman, Mr Shelton said. "This is not just about loving couples, if that was all that it was about, well, probably none of us would have too much concern," he said. AP The government has largely targeted areas held by rebel factions not party to a ceasefire agreement (AP) Pro-government forces have intensified their assault on rebel-held suburbs of the Syrian capital, activists said, a day after the rebels beat back an attempted government advance, killing several soldiers. The fighting in Damascus threw into sharp relief the fragility of a ceasefire that was supposed to bring calm to the besieged enclave inhabited by 400,000 people. Opposition media activist Anas al-Dimashqi said government air raids and artillery fire have reached a rate of 60 to 70 strikes per day on areas held by the Faylaq al-Rahman rebel faction, which was not party to the ceasefire brokered by Egypt and Russia and signed in Cairo on July 22. Air strikes on Ein Terma and Zamalka in Ghouta blasted debris hundreds of feet into the air, as seen in footage posted by the Ghouta Media Centre on social media. The opposition-affiliated centre said one civilian was killed and several wounded. But mortars also fell on Douma, al-Rayhan and Housh al-Douahira, towns and villages held by the Islam Army faction, which is party to the ceasefire, according to Mr al-Dimashqi and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. The Observatory said rebels killed nine soldiers and captured at least one fighting for the Syrian army's vaunted 4th Division, in battle on Monday. It said the bombardment continued on Tuesday. "What kind of ceasefire is this?" said Observatory director Rami Abdurrahman. "I don't consider this a ceasefire." Faylaq al-Rahman said it came under attack by the Islam Army over the weekend. It said in separate statement published on Sunday that it would agree to a ceasefire that does not "compromise the principles of the revolution", but said it was not consulted for the Cairo agreement. Ein Terma, once home to 40,000 residents, has been largely vacated, according to Mohammad al-Boush, another media activist in Ghouta. He said civilians across the Ghouta region are in dire need of food and fuel, particularly after government forces seized the Qaboun and Barzeh neighbourhoods in north-east Damascus in May. The two neighbourhoods were hubs for smuggling supplies into the Ghouta region. Meanwhile, a powerful Iraqi Shiite militia said at least 40 of its fighters were killed in an attack the previous day on its positions across the border in Syria. The militia blamed the US-led coalition for the assault but the Islamic State group claimed its fighters targeted the militiamen. The deputy head of the militia, known as Kattaib Sayeed al-Shuhadaa, accused US forces of carrying out the assault. The Baghdad-based spokesman of the US-led coalition, Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, dismissed the allegation, saying on Twitter that no coalition air strikes took place in the area at the time. According to the militia's deputy, Ahmed al-Maksousi, they were hit by artillery fire in Syria's Jamouna area, about seven miles from the Iraqi border. He said the attack was launched from around the Iraqi city of Mosul, recently recaptured by Iraqi forces from Islamic State, and was followed by a ground assault by IS militants. Along with 40 killed, at least 30 militiamen were wounded, Mr al-Maksousi added. The militia vowed "this act will not pass without punishment". In an online statement, IS said it staged a three-pronged attack that included a suicide bombing, followed by fighters storming the militia positions. The group added that one IS fighter was captured. Several Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias have been fighting in Syria alongside government troops. AP Young people sing at the closing of a Cyberspace Peace Envoy training in Malang, Indonesia, July 27, 2017. Young people are helping Indonesias National Counterterrorism Agency battle violent extremism online by uploading content that embraces pluralism and peace. About 60 Cyberspace Peace Envoys gathered in Malang, East Java recently to discuss anti-radicalism campaigns they have launched and the need for such efforts. We found 17,000 messages containing hate speech everyday, while positive contents were only 1,500. Its really concerning, said M. Yasin Arief, a participant. He and some friends create images and short stories featuring the words of figures such as former Indonesian President Andurrahman Wahid, South Africas anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement. Their Instagram account Sabda Perubahan (The Sound of Change) has 154,000 followers. Viki Maulana also attended a Cyberspace Peace Envoy training held by the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) in Malang from July 23-27. He said his group was responsible for delivering messages on social media every week that strengthen national unity and humanity. The messages can be memes, graphics, videos, comics or texts. But his preferred medium is cartoons. Visual arts like comics are the best, because its easy for people to understand. We try not to be patronizing, because who are we, anyway? he said. The BNPT training is being held in seven Indonesian cities this year. Bloggers, programmers and visual artists are among those taking part. Launching another training in West Sumatra this week, the nations top counter-terror official said that no region was immune from the threat of violent extremism. There is no region, province, city or regency free from terrorism or radical ideology, BNPT chief Suhardi Alius said in Padang, the provincial capital, late Monday. Sujatmiko, a BNPT official heading the counter-messaging efforts, said young people are needed to balance terrorist ideology online, which is spreading at an alarming rate. Why young people? Because the target of the brainwashing is young people, he said. So young people should be armed, not only with knowledge but with ideology and religion. With these peace envoys we are creating a young generationg to help BNPT carry out counter-messaging in cyberspace with positive, peaceful content, he said. In July, National Police Chief Tito Karnavian said police had arrested 336 terrorism suspects from 2015 through June 2017. In June, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that 430 Indonesians had been deported from Turkey after trying to cross over into Syria during that same time period. The flow of foreign nationals to an Islamic State caliphate in Iraq and Syria has slowed considerably as its territory has shrunk. But the seizure of the southern Philippine city of Marawi by Islamic State-linked militants in May has re-energized IS supporters in the region, analysts say. Philippine government forces have been battling the gunmen ever since, with a death toll close to 600 people, most of them militants, according to officials. The dead include foreign fighters from six countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Chechnya, Saudi Arabia and Yemen one year after IS leaders urged followers who could not reach Syria to travel to the southern Philippines instead. BNPT chief Suhardi Alius addresses reporters after opening a counter-messaging training in Padang, West Sumatra, August 7, 2017. (M. Sulthan Azzam/BenarNews) Journalism students take part in a rally in Manila to protest the killings of 57 people, including 34 journalists who were covering a political campaign in November 2009 in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, Nov. 23, 2010. Unidentified gunmen have killed two journalists in the southern Philippines during the past few days, police said, as press monitors and a lawmaker called on authorities to investigate the deaths immediately and do more to shield local reporters from attacks. If work-related, the murders of Rudy Alicaway and Leonardo Diaz by gunmen on motorcycles in separate incidents would have brought to 177 the number of Filipino reporters killed in the line of duty since 1986, according to a statement from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemns the murder of two journalists in as many days in Zamboanga del Sur and Sultan Kudarat provinces, the union said in a statement posted Monday on Facebook. The killings happened in the two provinces of Mindanao even as the whole region is under Martial Law, the NUJP said, adding, This again highlights the culture of impunity in the attacks against and killings of Filipino journalists that have remained unabated despite an international outcry. Late last month, the Philippine Congress voted to extend President Rodrigo Dutertes order placing Mindanao island under military rule, for the remainder of 2017 in order to quell a siege by Islamic State-linked militants in the southern city of Marawi. The incidents bring to fore the violence and culture of impunity in the attacks against Filipino journalists, Sen. Grace Poe said Tuesday in a statement reacting to the killings of the two reporters. They should be able to report stories and issues relevant to the Filipinos, and we know that journalists have risen to the occasion despite the odds. According to local reports that cited police, two men aboard a motorcycle gunned down Rudy Alicaway, a 46-year-old who worked as an anchor at DXPB 106.9, a state-run radio station, while he was heading home Sunday near the town of Molave, in Zamboanga del Sur. Alicaway did not immediately die from initial shots, but the gunmen finished him off as he tried to crawl away, police said. The motive for the attack has not yet been established, but police noted that Alicaway was also an elected village councilman. The following day, gunmen shot and killed Radio Mindanao Network reporter Leonardo Diaz, who also wrote a column for a local tabloid, in Sultan Kudarat province. Police said the assailants shot him from a motorbike in a mid-morning attack. Two companions who were with him were injured, and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, police said. Until President Rodrigo Duterte shows he is serious about protecting journalists, these types of brazen killings will continue in an unbroken cycle of impunity, Shawn Crispin, the Southeast Asia representative for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said in a statement issued on Monday. Last month, an unknown assailant shot and critically wounded another radio commentator, Julito Orlillandea, in the town of Marihatag, also in Mindanao, CPJ noted. The Philippines is ranked fourth on the CPJs latest impunity index, a measure of countries around the world where journalists are wantonly killed. Eight years ago, 57 people were killed 34 of them media workers in the southern province of Maguindanao in what is still considered the single deadliest day for journalists in the Philippines. The newsmen were part of a convoy that followed supporters of a politician to the province of Maguindanao, but were stopped at a checkpoint and shot dead allegedly by gunmen supporting a rival politician. Almost 100 people have been jailed and charged with murder, but none so far has been convicted, in a trial that one politician said in the past could stretch for dozens of years. Jeoffrey Maitem in Marawi, Philippines contributed to this report. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is greeted upon arriving at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang, near Kuala Lumpur, following a brief stop in Bangkok, Aug. 8, 2017. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Thailand and Malaysia on Tuesday as Washington sought to persuade Southeast Asian allies to help impede North Koreas nuclear ambitions. Tillerson travelled to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur after attending an annual summit of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila that also focused heavily on North Koreas latest missile tests last month. The diplomatic push comes after the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on Saturday imposing new sanctions that could slash North Koreas annual exports, worth US$2.8 billion. The sanctions were levied in response to North Koreas two missile tests last month. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Tillerson that bilateral trade between Bangkok and Pyongyang had plummeted as a result of Thailands compliance with various U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea. As a result of our strict compliance, our trade with North Korea declined by 94 percent after U.N. sanctions took place, when comparing the first half of last year and this year, he said. Trade between Thailand and North Korea was worth U.S. $900,000 in January to June 2017 versus $16.4 million in the same period of 2016, according to Thailands Foreign Ministry. Bilateral trade peaked at U.S. $126.3 million in 2014, Thai officials said. Thailand sent home appliances, computers, chemical, rubber and plastic products to Pyongyang and imported iron, steel and chemicals from the reclusive nation. Beside its focus on cutting funding streams for North Korea, Washington also believes that North Korean front companies are actively operating in Thailand, and U.S. officials are urging Bangkok to shut them down, Susan Thornton, assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told reporters travelling with the American diplomats. She said Washington was also encouraging Bangkok to accept more North Korean refugees, as the kingdom has long been a transit route for defectors who journey through China, then enter Laos, Cambodia or Thailand, and often seek political asylum at the South Korean Embassy. Thailand is among Southeast Asian nations including Indonesia and Malaysia that host a North Korean Embassy. Criticisms from human rights groups Tillerson, the highest U.S. official to visit Thailand since a military coup toppled a civilian government in 2014, was welcomed to Government House in Bangkok by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha. In remarks at the U.S. ambassadors residence, Tillerson emphasized that Washington would mark its 200 years of relations with Thailand, its oldest ally in Asia, next year. I think that's significant because elections are scheduled here in Thailand next year, as well, to return the country to civilian control. We certainly hope those elections proceed as scheduled, Tillerson said, according to a transcript of his speech obtained by BenarNews. And I think it'll be meaningful that we're celebrating 200 years at a time when the country is returning to civilian control, he said. Human rights groups criticized Tillersons visit as an attempt to rebuild relations with the Thai junta despite its crackdown on government critics. It would be a practical mistake for Tillerson to not condition positive diplomatic relations on improvements in the protection of human rights, Matthew Smith, of the Fortify Rights group, told Reuters news agency. Nothing was discussed about human rights, the Associated Press quoted the Thai foreign minister as telling reporters. Tillerson flew to Malaysia later Tuesday, the last scheduled stop of his Southeast Asian trip. He was expected to hold meetings with Prime Minister Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi before departing Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Kuala Lumpurs ties with Pyongyang have not fully recovered from the shocking assassination of the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a Malaysian airport in February. Malaysia, South Korea and the United States believe North Korean agents were behind the hit, allegedly carried out by two young Southeast Asian women who smeared a banned nerve agent on Kim Jong Nams face. Several North Korean suspects fled Malaysia shortly afterward. Malaysia resisted North Koreas demands for the body for weeks, sparking a diplomatic row in which diplomats were expelled and Malaysian citizens briefly barred from leaving North Korea. Hadi Azmi in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report. 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. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. Nicht personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung werden u. a. von Inhalten, die Sie sich gerade ansehen, und Ihrem Standort beeinflusst (welche Werbung Sie sehen, basiert auf Ihrem ungefahren Standort). Personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung konnen auch Videoempfehlungen, eine individuelle YouTube-Startseite und individuelle Werbung enthalten, die auf fruheren Aktivitaten wie auf YouTube angesehenen Videos und Suchanfragen auf YouTube beruhen. 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. By Marie Dunn-Harris '95 July 2017 was the end of an era at WEWS-TV, Channel 5 in Cleveland. News anchors Leon Bibb and Lee Jordan signed off for the very last time after a combined 52 years at the television news station. Both credit much of their success to their studies at Bowling Green State University. We are both high-flying Falcons of Bowling Green, having found not only education at the University but also careers in television news, Bibb said in a recent Facebook post to Bowling Green State University Alumni Association. Jordan, a 1976 alumna who majored in journalism, transferred to BGSU from the University of Cincinnati her sophomore year. At the time, BGSU had the only accredited journalism school in the state, and I heard very positive things about the University from friends who went there which really made my decision for me, she said. While working on her degree, Jordan also spent a lot of time working for the on-campus radio station, WFAL. I spent two and a half years there and I loved it, she said. I learned so much about the business and did everything from on-air work to sales, but mainly promotions and marketing. That experience at the radio station contributed to her success after graduation. All of my classes were great and I had a great relationship with my professors. In fact, one of them helped me get my first job at WTOL in Toledo, she said. Jordan spent more than a year at WTOL-TV, Channel 11 as a promotions assistant. After that, she moved on to WNCI-FM in Columbus where she spent three years as the Director of Promotions and Marketing. While she enjoyed working behind the scenes, she still had an interest in being on-air. When a position opened up at WCMH-TV, Channel 4 in Columbus, she jumped at the chance to audition. I was trying to satisfy my curiosity about something, and it was a bit of a risk at the time, but I thought that Id regret it if I didnt, she said. Jordan was hired as co-anchor of PM Magazine in 1981, which was the start of her 41-year career in TV news. I look back on that now and it was the fork in the road that was the right fork to take, she said. It set me on a path to exactly what I was supposed to be doing. We are both high-flying Falcons of Bowling Green, having found not only education at the University but also careers in television news, Jordan spent 10 years in Columbus before landing her next job at WEWS in Cleveland, where shes been for the past 30 years. When asked what it feels like to be called a legend in Cleveland, Jordan said she couldnt have had such a successful career without her peers. I feel like I have worked for a legendary TV station, she said. It really is because of my work with, and for, really amazing journalists and news managers that I have been able to be successful here and to have the kind of tenure I have. Bibb, Jordans co-worker of 22 years, and a 1966 graduate of BGSU, is also retiring. Like Jordan, Bibb also worked at WTOL and WCMH before landing a job in Cleveland. He said he owes much to BGSU and recalled working for the student radio station his freshman year. On my desk at WEWS News5 in Cleveland is a photograph of me at the microphone of WBGU-FM, he said. In the photo, I am 19 and I have been on the air in some form or fashion ever since. Bibbs career was briefly put on hold while he served in Vietnam. But when he returned, he came back to Bowling Green and worked for WBGU-TV, producing a daily newscast. From there, commercial television came calling, he said. Toledo, Columbus and two stations in Cleveland became the roadmap I would follow for more than 40 years. Bibbs last day at WEWS was August 1, and Lees last day was July 28. WEWS producers took some time in their newscasts to celebrate the careers of Bibb and Jordan and viewers sent in their well wishes on the news5cleveland.com website. by John D. Barry, CEO of Jesus Economy Our world is more interconnected than ever before. We could legitimately provide every last person on our planet with access to the gospel in our lifetimes. Heres why I believe that. THE TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE TO US TO CHANGE THE WORLD We have better technology at our disposal than ever before. And we can leverage this to bring the gospel to the unreached. Today, I can video chat with a church planter in the developing world from Washington state. Google Hangouts and Skype gave us all that ability. Potentially, I could on a video call answer a biblical question of a church planter in the fieldin a remote village, because pretty soon, 3G and 4G is going to be everywhere. Thats at least the plan of big tech companieswith their efforts empowered by a space company who can now send reusable rockets to space to launch satellites. This is the age we live in, one where any person on the planet can potentially connect to any other person in seconds. All the sudden, the issue of training and empowering church planters is far simpler than it has ever been. And the interconnection between those who sponsor church planters and the church planters themselves is greater than it has ever been. Imagine the potential for global discipleship in this world. I first realized this when I was sitting next to a church planter in Bihar, India and he showed me the screen of his Motorola flip phone. On the screen was my bio on JesusEconomy.org. He said, this is you, right? I was first surprised by how good our website looked on his phoneleave it to me to notice that first. But my second thought is what changed my life: If this guy can look up my bio on his phone, right here while were talking, what if I put a study Bible in his hand? What if I gave him a full Bible dictionary and a Bible translation? What if I gave him Bible studies in his native language? And, of course, we can do this. We could even send him video courses on SD cards. We could put any piece of information in his hand. This is our world. It is more interconnected than ever before. And it means completely rethinking missions. HOW WE CAN BRING THE GOSPEL TO THE UNREACHED If our churches thought long and hard about their budgets, we couldlike the churches of Pauls daypool our resources to bring the gospel to the unreached corners of our world (see Romans 15:2629). If we sponsored indigenous church planters, its surprisingly cost-effective to fund missions. The church should be innovating in this space. And in the process, we should be thinking holistically about how we approach poverty and reaching the unreachedthinking about how we care for a persons soul, mind, and body. We should be leveraging every opportunity possible to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The fact that the gospel has not reached every people group on our planet is an injustice. And its an injustice we can correct. Likewise, its an injustice that the people of our planet do not have clean water. And with technology we can do something about. Its an injustice that everyone on the planet does not have access to economic opportunities. And in this world, in this time, we can do something about. JUSTICE IS THE BIBLES CRY AND ONE WE SHOULD ANSWER Justice is a central cry of the Bible. The works of the prophets are full of calls to create a more just world (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 1:16; Jeremiah 22:3; Amos 5:2324). Isaiah put it this way: Learn to do good! Seek justice! Rescue the oppressed! Defend the orphan! Plead for the widow! (Isaiah 1:16 LEB). Jesus himself told us that he will distinguish between those who truly know him and those who do not by what they do for the marginalized, outsider, prisoner, and impoverished (Matthew 25:3740). And we know from James that true religion is loving the hurting and the poorthe widow and the orphan (James 1:2627). Indeed, it is unjust when a child has to go without clean water, healthcare, or education. It is unjust when a parent doesnt have access to a fair paying job that can lift their family out of poverty. It is unjust that there are millions of people who have never heard the name of Jesus. Lets do something about it. Lets innovate the bring about a future of missions where every last person has heard the name of Jesus and experienced his love. John D. Barry is the CEO of Jesus Economy, an innovative non-profit creating jobs and churches in the developing world. At JesusEconomy.org, people can shop fair trade and give directly to a cause theyre passionate about, such as bringing the gospel to unreached people groups. John is also the general editor of Faithlife Study Bible and the author or editor of 30 books. Bread brand Blue Ribbon has launched the Mmmm Yum Kidz Tuckshop, an entrepreneurship programme to teach learners the practical fundamentals of business practice. nattapol sritongcom via 123RF For eight weeks, handpicked schools in the Western Cape region will become a bustling business hub, as the pupils run fully functional sandwich businesses. Pupils will set up their own fully stocked pop-up tuckshop at their school. From the grassroots level of establishing business objectives, handling staff, implementing marketing strategies to calculating turnovers, the students will gain first-hand experience in the world of service trading. Launching in Cape Town, junior schools from Paarl, Kraaifontein, Phillipi, Kuyasa, Heideveld, Retreat and Strand have been selected to roll out the first of its kind initiative. Mentorship To facilitate all of this, Blue Ribbon sought the expertise of personal wealth guru, financial commentator and CEO of TNC Wealth Partners Samke Mhlongo. The self-professed frugal kugel is an advocate of financial literacy and was responsible for compiling the workbook from which the students will base their curriculum over the 8-week period. We are thrilled to be launching such an initiative at such a pivotal time in the country. It is imperative that we teach the leaders of tomorrow the skills that will serve them, the nation and our economy as a whole. Cape Town has a rich legacy of birthing talents that have soared as entrepreneurs and business people and we are honoured to have some of the best working with us to mentor these students, commented Blue Ribbons marketing executive bakeries Noleen Ballard-Tremeer. Joining the campaign are some of Cape Towns own born, bread and buttered personalities including Ready D, radio DJs Kyeezi, TK, Kia Johnson, dancer and entertainer Blake Williams and hip hop first lady Patty Monroe. The mentors, who represent a specific school, will assist the students in the 8-week life skills competition that will culminate in the winning school announcement and prize giving at the end of October. The roadshow begins on 22 August, officially launching the Kidz Tuckshop. Steam, an economic policy and not a methodology Open Design Cape Town Festival is hosting a Steam Symposium that will join art and design together with subjects: maths, science and technology to inspire innovation, and will take place at the Cape Town City Hall next Monday, 14 August. Kristof Fenyvesi One of the speakers that will be featured at the event is Kristof Fenyvesi, an education researcher at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland and vice-president of the worlds largest maths and arts community, the Bridges Organisation. According to Fenyvesi his research focuses on finding connections between maths, arts and design in education. I try to support teachers of mathematics, arts and design to work together with teachers of other subjects and to involve their students in the process of selecting the topic and designing their learning process, he says. Africa's first Steam Symposium adds art to Stem 27 Jul 2017 Below Fenyvesi elaborates on why the integration of art and design to traditional Stem subjects (maths, science and technology) is so important. He also shares why South African youth can benefit from the symposium and his vision for the future of 'Steam education'. Please tell us how you became involved with the Open Design Cape Town Festival's Steam Symposium. Please tell us how you became involved with the Open Design Cape Town Festival's Steam Symposium. We do a lot of workshops all around the world and when we met at a conference with Dr Celia Booyse, a prominent curriculum researcher from South Africa, she connected us with Open Design Cape Town Festival's programme director, Sune Stassen. As I know from our discussions with Stassen and Booyse, and also learned from my recent visit to Nelson Mandela University, South African society and education is on the one hand facing big challenges, but on the other hand, holding huge, still unexplored potential. Fenyvesi with some of his students. Many disadvantages can be turned into advantages by developing integrative awareness and restablishing learning on creative and collaborative problem-solving, which has the capacity to engage students to actively embrace each other's culture, especially through art and design, as part of their own personal learning process. We have decided to give the floor to these ideas at this year's Festival, by promoting Open Design's impact on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics Steam education. Together with my Steam-expert colleague, Ho Gul Park from Seoul, Korea, where Steam education is one of the most successful among the innovative learning practices, we are very glad to come to Cape Town and contribute to the festival and to the current educational discussions in South Africa. Practice creativity with confidence By Juanita Pienaar 7 Aug 2017 Steam adds the creativity and vision of art and design thinking to the traditional Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects. Why is this integration necessary? Steam adds the creativity and vision of art and design thinking to the traditional Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects. Why is this integration necessary? There is a growing gap between the increasingly technological, networked social systems and the people, who have real access to the opportunities provided by these. Getting more access through learning and diminishing the gap is not mainly about becoming able to enjoy more benefits provided by civilisation, but rather to gain individual and social capability and confidence to develop and radically change cultural practices. Real learning is shaping culture by sharing tools and related knowledge. Learning art and design that goes hand-in-hand with sciences can recognise the personal, social and cultural potentials of your studies, to maintain the link between information and imagination. It encourages self-expression, develops criticism and makes you prepared to break new paths, and to experiment by taking higher risks. Currently, we are living in a result-oriented world, although a big part of our results has contributed to our problems. It would be better to watch the process. Restablishing Stem integration on the arts and design can also help us to rediscover the hidden values in the process-aspect of learning and living. Please tell us more about the Experience Workshop that you founded. Please tell us more about the Experience Workshop that you founded. About 10 years ago, we have started the Experience Workshop international mathematics and art movement with my colleagues from all over the globe to break down traditional subject silos. Our goal is to support students and teachers in exploring the complexity of real life problems from several different perspectives as part of collaborative problem-solving activities. Any future plans in the pipeline for these workshops? Any future plans in the pipeline for these workshops? We have just returned from Canada, where Experience Workshop has coordinated Bridges 2017 conference's public day and our colleagues gave several workshops, exhibited artworks and presented various papers. Within some weeks after the Open Design Festival in Cape Town, we are contributing to the Ars Electronica Festival in Austria, then to the Helsinki Design Week in Finland, and in October we will support an international mathematics and creativity challenge for children and youth in Korea. Meanwhile we will also have a lot of smaller events in Central and Northern Europe. In addition to these events, our main goal is now to develop the implementation of our experiences in teacher education, professional development and research. How do you think South African youth, in particular, can benefit from the Steam Symposium? How do you think South African youth, in particular, can benefit from the Steam Symposium? I hope that the process of learning by doing, the playful character of our activities, the engaged and motivated atmosphere of collaborative problem-solving will be a cozy, empowering and important experience for the participants of our workshops. I trust that everyone will find something, either in the content or in the social experience, what will be worth to remember. I also hope that our collaborations with South African colleagues in the open design movement, at Umalusi, at Nelson Mandela University and other institutions will have a small part in the transformative development of the South African education culture. What is your vision for the future of Steam education? What is your vision for the future of Steam education? Steam is currently a useful acronym to easily summarise and to 'brand' our complex goals related to cross-, multi- and transdisciplinary learning. But just like Stem, it is rather an economic policy and not a methodology. It might be a tool for politicians to invest into something good, but only until teachers and students can guarantee that the critical potentials in art and design won't get corrupted. What inspires you? What inspires you? To see my children happy and becoming smarter than me. Want to know more? Connect with Kristof Fenyvesi on the following platforms: Website | Facebook | Twitter. The warm glow of market sentiment usually reserved for highly profitable cigarette giant British American Tobacco (BAT) has been unceremoniously stubbed out. BAT's shares on the JSE shed more than 9% in the two days after the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) proposed drastically reducing the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to "nonaddictive levels". FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said 480,000 Americans die every year due to their addiction to cigarettes - "the only legal consumer product that, when used as intended, will kill half of all long-term users". But the stock slide was severe for the company, which, with a market capitalisation of R2.03trillion, is the second-largest on the JSE after AB InBev (R2.69trillion) - especially as BAT has been typecast as a defensive stock since it listed in 2008, and thus supposedly immune to such swings. At the time of writing, BAT's share price had shown only a modest recovery, as analysts struggled to get a sense of what Gottlieb's rules would mean for the company's value. New York-based brokerage Cowen cut its one-year price target for BAT by 10% to R801.36/share - lower than the stock's current level of R842/share. Top-ranked SBG Securities analyst Rey Wium cut his price target to R986/share, which is still far above the current price. This reflects the concern that traditional tobacco companies such as BAT are locked in a losing battle with governments eager to clip their wings. For BAT, which finalised its acquisition of the last parts of US tobacco company RJ Reynolds in recent days, it's a serious knock. But it should push the company to fast-track its move to e-cigarettes and vapour products. The big question for local investors is whether BAT still offers smouldering value. Lentus Asset Management chief investment officer Nic Norman-Smith believes BAT is a great example of why investors need a margin of safety built into valuations. "The risks to BAT are not new risks. Governments have been pushing against smoking for a long time... but BAT has been trading at an earnings multiple of over 20 times. A defensive company is only defensive at the right price," says Norman-Smith. In a note to clients, boutique investment firm Vestact says there will still need to be much talking and discussion with the public and the industry around the FDA's proposed rules. The FDA said it plans to begin a public dialogue about lowering nicotine levels. "The agency intends to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to seek input on the potential public health benefits and any possible adverse effects of lowering nicotine in cigarettes." Vestact points out that the plan for tobacco companies is to have e-cigarettes replace traditional cigarettes. "But if the nicotine levels are much lower, will that switch still take place?" Vestact says smoking numbers have dropped in the developed world for more than two decades, yet the share prices of tobacco companies have not reflected this. "There is only so much merger and acquisition activity that can be done and price increases to offset lower sales," said Vestact. Though smoking is on the decline worldwide and cigarette volumes are gradually dwindling, BAT has immense operational leverage through pricing power on an addictive product sold in a highly regulated market. But just as investors were beginning to get to grips with the new FDA proposals, investor sentiment got smoked again - this time as the Serious Fraud Office in the UK confirmed it has opened a formal probe into BAT. The allegations, which date back years, relate to bribery and misconduct at its African operations, including in SA. In 2015, former BAT employee Paul Hopkins detailed how he paid bribes to officials in East Africa, which were used to pay government officials in Burundi, Rwanda and the Comores Islands. Last year, a whistleblower who worked for BAT SA's former security company, FSS, claimed the tobacco company had also paid bribes to police and SA Revenue Service officials. Source: Financial Mail Despite all the progress in equality and women's rights, the gender pay gap is still a very big issue. A global report conducted by Accenture in 2016 found that for every $100 a South African woman earns, her male counterpart earns $191 (compared to the global $140). However, the real people who can make a difference in addressing this wage discrimination are the ones at the top because they hold the power to make decisions about salary spend - but it certainly seems like they are simply not doing it. Christelle Colman, CEO of Europe Assistance South Africa In my years as a CEO, both of a local business and now of the local arm of a global organisation, I have noticed how most women in senior positions shy away from having the gender discussion. In the boardroom and workplace, they feel like they need to be more like men, almost genderless, so that they fit in. They do not acknowledge that as women we are different, many of us are working mothers and by its very nature we have different needs. And most importantly, it is our responsibility to continue the discussion about gender equality and to not only drive the change, but to be the change, we would like to see. A recent report by PwC revealed that of the top 40 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed companies, only one had a female chief executive. While in Africa, only 5% of women hold this position, according to the 2016 Women Matter Africa report by McKinsey & Company. This is a mans world One of the major reasons why there are so few women in leadership positions is because the business world is simply not designed to fulfil the needs of women throughout their different life stages. All things considered, it really is a mans world. There is a strong argument that this is a primary reason why so many women drop out of the workplace after becoming mothers, as it becomes almost impossible to balance a full-time career and family, both mentally and physically. Co-founders of US start up, Werk, Anna Auerbach and Annie Dean, say more than 30% of the most talented women leave the workforce entirely after having children, but 70% would have kept working if they had flexibility. Hence why they started the company, which connects women who are looking for career-building opportunities, but require more flexibility in terms of working arrangements. Contracts are pre-negotiated according to the needs of the employee and employer. A real paradigm shift still needs to happen in South Africa if the gender pay gap is to be addressed. Local businesses need to be more open to negotiating flexible working hours and remuneration contracts for mothers. Society expects mothers to fulfil certain duties, but they do not adapt the workplace for them. Stand up and own up In addition to closing the pay gap, it is proven that gender diverse companies are 15% more likely to outperform their peers, according to McKinsey & Companys Why Diversity Matters, published in 2015. It simply makes good business sense to become more adaptable. I agree with Sheryl Sandbergs (chief operating officer of Facebook) recent message that women need to stand up and own up. They need to be the change that they want to see. Senior women represented in South Africas boardrooms are in the perfect position to fight inequality in the workplace - particularly those occupying senior leadership roles. I want to encourage every woman in a senior role to step up and help make the changes required to improve gender equality in the work place. In the inspirational words of Marianne Williamson: As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. The practice of cultivating grasses such as wheat, nearly 10,000 years ago, laid the foundations of today's large urbanised communities. And strangely enough, traditional farming practices as we know today have not changed that much during this age. unserekleinemaus via pixabay It is only in the past century that we have seen significant leaps in agriculture, as the challenge of feeding a global population confronted producers. Machinery, irrigation, road and rail infrastructure, markets, and seed modification are just some examples of technology that have revolutionised crop output in this time. Water scarcity In the last two decades, South Africa has lost close to 30% of its farmlands due to water scarcity. Recently, the Western Cape has seen the worst drought to hit the region in the last century. Deciduous fruit growers in the province feel increased pressure to conserve water as rainfall becomes less predictable and other industries demand a greater share of piped water. This means that farmers face the challenge of producing more fruit, while reducing the impact they have of the provinces water supply. The Western Cape Agricultural Department has decided to fund the development of an open web portal, called FruitLook. This application grants farmers access to satellite-based information catered to their location, crop, water usage, and a multitude of other factors. The software also provides detailed weekly updates on actual evapotranspiration, biomass production and leaf nitrogen content. Statistics released by SA Wine Industry and Systems, showed that 300,000 jobs relied on the wine industry in South Africa, and contributed R36bn to the nations GDP in 2016. However, factors such as water scarcity and competitive global markets has had its affects, whittling away 900 producers in the past decade. The Department has now made FruitLook free-to-use for farmers in the region, meaning meteorological data, satellite imagery and available local data that provide near real-time information on crop health, give farmers greater security and control of their businesses. Stress areas such as water, soil and disease, can then be investigated further to determine what solutions farmers can implement to mitigate production loss. Technology disruption Mobile technology is aiding in far more than physical data. Farmers in rural areas on the continent are increasingly using mobile solutions to source buyers, other traders that allow for better leveraging, and the best prices possible for their produce, using platforms such as Agrista, of which Absa is a partner. Simple changes in practices can result in better efficiencies, reduced impact on the environment, and farmland less prone to climatic changes, all of which have a positive influence on production yields. There is much room for development to harness the potential of agriculture in young peoples lives, by improving financial literacy, building technology and innovation skills and creating a new breed of policymakers in order to see the implementation of better policies. The South African wine industry and agricultural sector as a whole, has shifted towards a more intensified production system. This shift from the traditional sense of farming has included increased irrigation, fuel, mechanisation, use of genetically modified seed and fertiliser inputs. In coping with increasing populations, and our fragile ecosystem experiencing more frequent droughts, modern technologies will continue to impact on farming methods we have traditionally come to know. The handover of eNatis - the electronic national administration traffic information system - to the Road Traffic Management Corporation has not been smooth. Photo by Nabeel Syed via Unsplash The corporation, under the Department of Transport, took over system operation from Tasima in March. But a number Tasima service providers - cleaners, and courier and telephone companies - had not been paid in months. Corporation spokesman Simon Zwane said Tasima signed the contracts later than November, when the Constitutional Court ruled that Tasima had to hand over to the corporation. Tasima ran the system from its inception in 2002 and the contract was extended by five years in 2010. Tasima had wanted an indefinite extension. The court ruled that the contract expired on 23 June 2015. Zwane said the corporation had told Tasima in December that any third-party debt it incurred after that date would be for its own account. He said the corporation had concluded agreements with some Tasima suppliers from 5 April and had told them that it would not pay for services they rendered to Tasima subsequent to the date on which the court ordered the handover. He said most of the creditors agreed and were claiming from Tasima. Image Two Couriers, Rohland Made, and Approach Air were collectively demanding R732,306. The eNatis system runs driver and vehicle licence applications and other traffic-related notifications to vehicle owners. Tasima was not available for comment. Source: The Times The Durban International Blues Festival, now in its twelfth year, takes place on Friday, 1 September and Saturday, 2 September 2017 at The Plant, Station Drive Precinct, Durban. Born in the 1860s in the Mississippi Delta, the blues transverses a spectrum of emotions and musical styles, and while it can express feelin blue, it can also be a base to raucous dance music and a celebration of success and pleasure. When the festival was staged for the first time in 2005 at Wilsons Wharf, the intention was to create an event, synonymous with Durban alone and to make Durban the Blues Capital of South Africa - hopefully, the continent of Africa eventually. The intention was and still is, to educate music lovers and to encourage their support of this easy listening style and we think that we have achieved this with a steady growth of fans and growing attendance every year, says Themi Venturas, the festival director. A blend of quality and quantity The 2017 programme is shorter than in previous years as coordinators strive to find the perfect blend of quality and quantity, which will also suit the festival goers pocket. Blues is not like a regular musical performance, and much like its cousin Jazz, it is best suited to smaller, casual and more intimate venues where the audience can interact quite personally with the performers on stage. For this reason,The Plant remains a good choice and looks to be the home for this event for quite some time into the future. With secure parking around the precinct, food vendors such as Renegade Kitchen and The Roast Co amongst others on site, as well as the opportunity to book for dinner before the event at one of the precinct restaurants, a cash bar facility for beers and soft drinks and a few select other drinks, the evening is suitable for family too. This years line-up includes firm favourites as well as international guest artists, Charlie Love and Dan Patlansky and his band. The programme Friday, 1 September 2017, 7.30pm, R150 The Smoke and Liquid Band Johannesburg Black Cat Bone Johannesburg Charlie Love USA Saturday, 2 September 2017, 7pm, R150 Cinnamon Blue Durban Rusty Red Trio Durban Gerald Clarke Cape Town Dan Patlansky SA/ International Saturday 2, September Afternoon at 2pm to 5pm (Free) Glenwood Village Music will again host the ever popular and well attended Fender Concert which sees a picking of Durbans finest blues musicians. Add to this, the excellent musicianship of Callie Housdon Thompson on keys, Andy Turrell on drums and Llewellyn Chetty on bass as they back Charlie Love on Friday night. Dont want to drink and drive - the Uber Shuttle service is available to and from the venue - Book your ride Merchandise table on site will carry select tee shirts and artists CDs bring a few extra sheckles. A cash bar with a selection of SAB beers and ciders, and other choices and food vendors on site R100 buys you a raffle ticket for a R15,000 Lewitt Custom Designed and built bass guitar For more information and updates visit the Durban Blues Festival website. DOHA, Qatar: Qatar Airways announced on Wednesday it has dropped plans to buy a 10% stake in American Airlines, as Doha remains embroiled in a diplomatic row with its neighbours. A review of the planned move "demonstrated that the investment no longer meets our objectives," the company said in a statement, without elaborating. The Qatari airline's surprise plan to buy at least $808 million in American Airlines shares was disclosed by the US carrier in a securities filing 23 June 2017. The Qatari carrier said it would "continue to investigate alternative investment opportunities in the United States of America and elsewhere that do meet our objectives." The announcement comes as Qatar remains embroiled in the worst regional crisis in years. On 5 June 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of backing extremist groups and being too close to Riyadh's arch-rival Iran. Qatar, a key US ally, denies the allegations and accuses the Saudi-led bloc of imposing a "siege" on the tiny emirate. On 13 July 2017, American Airlines announced its decision to no longer share flights with Qatar Airways as part of its push against government subsidies of Middle East carriers. American Airlines - along with fellow US carriers Delta Air Lines and United Airlines - has called for the White House to crack down on an alleged $50-billion in state subsidies to carriers in the Middle East. The Texas-based US airline said the Qatari decision left American's immediate plans unchanged. "We respect Qatar Airways' decision not to proceed with its proposed investment in American Airlines," the company said. "This in no way changes the course for American." Source: AFP Women are from Venus and men are from Mars, or so say the tired tropes. Yet, at a time where gender roles are in flux, brands should be designing to gender differences. Femininity: its definition, role and perceived value within society is rapidly changing. In the wake of such change, the route to equality is being redefined. No longer is equality simply about obtaining the same status as a man (and likely having to fit into a world designed by and for men to do so), women can now aspire to a world designed to suit both genders. One where feminine needs and traits are valued as much as traditionally masculine ones. Equal is the goal. The pathway does not need to be the same. Brands should take note: as the world evolves to design itself around the needs of both genders, it will take the worlds of advertising, product design and customer experience with it. The design of our present world is biased towards men. In market research we continue to hear women lament that they feel ignored by financial services products which dont meet their needs, or that sales staff continue to patronise them in car dealerships. Does this problem run deeper? In traditionally male dominated categories, are women genuinely less interested or simply not catered to? Are brands missing out on revenue opportunities by not catering for womens needs? This bias isnt just inconvenient, it can be downright deadly. Did you know that the design of seatbelts in cars is less safe for women than men because car makers primarily test with male crash test dummies? However, this gap also creates an opportunity: Unilevers recent work with Kantar Millward Brown showed that advertising featuring more progressive female characters led to a 12% increase in impact. Whilst CEO of the ANA, Bob Liodice, is quoted as saying: "The right advertising environment for women can improve ad effectiveness by as much as 30 percent. Brands ignore this at their peril. A recent Pew research study of 30-44 year-old women showed that the more money women earn, the more spending they control. Women influence anywhere from 64%-85% of buying decisions and once male dominated categories are fast becoming female dominated ones. Women are accountable for an estimated $US20tn in spending globally. Despite the powerful economic influence of women today, there are areas where women are disproportionately influential but inadequately served: where they feel products are not designed for them, communication does not speak to them and customer service does not understand them. No wonder a recent study discovered that some 40% of women do not identify with the images of them portrayed in ads, and 30% think they show a male view of women. This is compounded by convergence of traditional gender roles: the percentage of men who identify as the primary household grocery shopper and the primary child carer has doubled in the past 20 years. As old concepts of masculine and feminine change, new opportunities arise. Yet many brands are scared to act fearful of public backlash, or alienating their current audience. Still more fail to recognise the commercial opportunity, seeing only prospects for goodwill or moral gains. Many are doing well, however. In June 2016, Unilever initiated a business wide re-evaluation of how they depict women in their advertising and committed to presenting a more progressive vision of female identity in their communications. When such a big advertisers acts, the industry listens. Despite $3bn in annual sales, Knorrs advertising, like many other popular Unilever brands, featured some outdated female stereotypes. Unilevers #Unstereotype initiative decided to shake that up. Knorrs #LoveAtFirstTaste interactive film, sees UK singles on blind dates, being matched by their love of certain flavours. Why? Because Knorr found three in four people across 12 countries are attracted to people who like similar flavours. Knorr #LoveAtFirstTaste So, what can we do about it? The key lies in recognising, interrogating and leveraging the difference between the type of relationship men and women want with brands across all touchpoints. 1. Understand your biases To better market to men and women, brands need to understand the unconscious biases which might be skewing their perspective. A few years back, Sprint, a U.S. telecommunications firm, realised that although women make up over half of their in-store traffic and influence 80% of purchases, their consumer interfaces continued to revolve around technology and devices, served with a heavy dose of industry-specific terminology. With the help of global innovation design firm Continuum, Sprint overhauled everything from their retail design to their customer service interactions to better address the needs of female customers. Communications were modified to include a more lifestyle-focused narrative and were adjusted to be more consumer focused, avoiding jargon and instead focusing more on consumer benefits and relevance. The in-store environment was redesigned to acknowledge females and mirror back a respectful image to her. These changes were inspired by the slightly different needs of one gender, but ended up making things better for everyone. Only then will they be able to develop effective campaigns and design intuitive products and services which either speak well to everyones needs or that target one gender or the other intentionally from the outset, without the blindness of unconscious bias. 2. Design to the edges There is a principle from human-centred design called designing to the edges. Instead of products being designed for the average person or lowest common denominator, they are designed for the extremes, meaning they are flexible, versatile and suited to as many people as possible. Women and men (in general), desire different things from brands and products. For example, men tend to be more object oriented, whilst women prefer to connect with people, a trait that can be observed from infancy. Men tend to lend more weight to logic, control and explicit messaging and design, whilst women prefer solutions which offer meaning, connection and the implicit1. Embedding an understanding of gender differences within your design process can help iron out these biases before they become ingrained. Designing to the edges is not about gender neutrality. It is about taking inspiration from one gender in order to make things better for everyone. The Hey! VINA app was created when founder, Olivia June Poole first moved to San Francisco, and started using OKCupid to make friends. She and co-developer Jen Aprahamian created the friend-finding app which is like Tinder but for same sex friendships and matches women based on similar interests. With a greater need for connection, its no surprise that the app was developed by women for women. While Hey! VINA is new and still rolling out city to city, it seems likely that a Hey! VINA mens version wont be far behind - because no one should have to go for a beer alone. 3. Dont assume it means femvertising One of the biggest misnomers found in our market research was that appealing to women meant overt femvertising. Although campaigns such as Always #likeagirl were successful, such overt purpose orientated messaging is not right for every brand and lazy pink it and shrink it approaches to product design should be avoided. On a gender spectrum where masculine and feminine perspectives sit on opposite ends, gender washing only serves to pull from one edge toward the middle, resulting in campaigns that are off-putting to both men and women. Instead, think about appealing to genders authentically. Businesses that are able to confidently navigate the gender conversation in marketing, in part, to be able to do so because they have moved beyond the issue. It is acknowledged, addressed and then becomes part of a larger conversation about people, including, gender, psychographics and needs. But were not there just yet. Brands like Apple, IKEA and Uniqlo communicate to the genders effectively (to the edges) by acknowledging differences, whilst avoiding stereotypes, femvertising or being genderless. There are countless opportunities for brands who lead with gender intelligent design, which meets the genuine needs and sentiments of both men and women. Today, businesses increasingly realise that they have the opportunity and, perhaps, the responsibility to have a positive impact on society. By re-examining how they serve the two biggest segments of consumers men and women brands can better understand areas for improvement and make a genuine change for the better, whilst positively impacting their bottom line. 1Jane Cunningham and Philippa Roberts of PrettyLittleHeads About the author Amy Fridlund Insights Curator, Brand and Communications APAC, Kantar TNS As Insights Curator, Amy is the voice of APAC Brand and Shoppers thought leadership and publishes regularly on branding, advertising and retail. She is responsible for fostering knowledge internally and showcasing expertise with clients, as well as sharing case studies of the regions best work. Live Mag, an online magazine created for young people by young people, is looking for 12 young South Africans between the age of 18 - 25 years to train into multimedia content producers. Training includes: writing (journalist and copy writing for brands) video production graphic designing audio editing social media listening and analytics The training also equips them to be workplace ready by offering basic soft skills such as how to write a CV and how to present and pitch. After the training, the company tries to place trainees in newsrooms or agencies. It has had an 80% success rate in placing trainees after the programme. The programme is a Monday to Friday, 9- 5 hustle with workshops on writing, photography, video production and social media tools for content creators and marketers. Trainees will be trained in writing for Search Engine Optimisation and using Google Analytics. They will also boost their portfolio and profile by creating content for Livity Africa platforms, including Live Mag. Requirements You are a blogger or influencer who knows how to break the internet but missing the professional skills and tools to be go-pro with your platform. You are a recent graduate in journalism, communications, graphic design, photography or videography or online media. You are not a graduate but have a body of work that demonstrates your love and passion for digital content creation like a trending blog, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter Send your CV, a portfolio of your work and pitch four story ideas that you believe are well-suited for Live Mag, and tell us why you believe this to be the case. Profile: someone young and fresh Identity piece A photo series or video General news story that fits in with Live Mag Deadline for applications is Wednesday, 16 August 2017 and the programme starts on Friday, 1 September 2017. Email Sanelisiwe@livityafrica.com for more or call +27 (0) 11 028 7487. This week, some 40 African finance and trade ministers, along with a large contingent of senior US government officials will descend upon the coastal city of Lome, Togo for the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum. Prasit Rodphan via 123RF There will be more eyes on this years Forum. Aside from Secretary Ross brief address at the Corporate Council on Africas Annual Summit earlier in the summer, this will be the first opportunity to hear the Trump Administration substantively outline their approach to economic and trade relations with the continent. Leading the US delegation to the forum will be US Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, and he will be joined by representatives from the State Department, Treasury Department, USAID, Department of Agriculture, among other agencies. Economic growth AGOA, first approved in May 2000 and subsequently reauthorised, provides duty-free access for more than 6,000 items exported from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. The program is intended to stimulate economic growth through a market based approach that will help Africa integrate into the global economy. Uniquely, the administration is mandated by the legislation to organise the forum annually, for the purpose of discuss[ing] expanding trade and investment relations between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa and encouraging joint ventures between small and large businesses. By all accounts, the AGOA Forum continues to be the primary mechanism, and opportunity, for discussing policy matters that impact the commercial relationship between the US and Africa. Since the private sector and civil society are integral to these discussions they also have a seat at the table at the forum. AGOA, first approved in May 2000, provides duty-free access for more than 6,000 items exported from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. It is expected that the American delegation will emphasise the importance of adhering to the eligibility criteria of AGOA, particularly on issues related to the elimination of barriers to United States trade and investment. AGOA and its cyclical (and off-cycle) review process gives the administration a significant, and flexible, tool to push African governments on their priority issue ensuring American companies can fairly compete on the world stage. AGOA concerns A recent example is the successful March 2017 petition for an off-cycle review by the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) claiming that the East African Communitys recent decision to ban imports of used clothing and footwear is a violation of the AGOA eligibility criteria. Last month, the Trade Policy Staff Subcommittee of USTR held an open hearing on the matter and is currently reviewing public comment and testimony with a decision expected by the end of the year. At stake is the full or partial duty free benefits of Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Africans are rightly concerned about the future of AGOA and its associated benefits. Some expect it will be difficult to continue justifying the one-way trade preference when AGOA expires in eight years. Discussions should be begin now on what the US Africa trade relationship will consist of in a post-AGOA world. After AGOA As private industry begins making strategic and commercial decisions like future supply chains routes, it would give them some confidence to know that both sides are thinking about next steps. The US Congress, specifically the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is considering ways to improve and strengthen AGOA. Last week, chairman Ed Royce and a group of bipartisan committee leaders introduced the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act (H.R. 3445). This legislation encourages policies that promote trade and cooperation, while providing much-needed technical assistance to help eligible partners fully utilise AGOA. Given the recent economic trends of embracing regional trade, this legislation also importantly grants the Millennium Challenge Corporation increased flexibility to support regional integration by allowing up to two simultaneous compacts with an eligible country. With the attention and manpower that the Trump Administration is dedicating to the AGOA forum and sustained congressional interest in promoting US Africa trade, there appears to be an understanding across the US government that sub-Saharan Africa remains an important market for US businesses and the global economy. It is clear that technology is changing the landscape of financial services in rural Africa, writes Howard Miller, an associate consultant at Nathan Associates, and Grace Njoroge, a financial inclusion advisor at KPMG. rawpixel via 123RF From the largest banks to the smallest fintechs, financial service providers are gearing up for a world in which finance is digital first and in which anyone with access to a mobile phone can also derive benefits from formal financial services. The rapid uptake of mobile money in many countries has sowed the seed for a thousand new innovations that could further extend inclusive financial services. An outcome of this success has been that everybody in digital finance is looking for the new M-Pesa, in the same way that elsewhere, entrepreneurs want to be the Uber of An underlying assumption here is that change is generally linear until a special company comes along with an idea that creates non-linear change, which we often call disruption. But when you map this idea onto the landscape of unbundling that financial services are currently going through, it is not so clear that disruption is whats needed. It used to be that a bank, or a microfinance institution, or an insurance company, would aim to provide a vertically integrated service to the customer, from initial acquisition to all aspects of relationship management and back end services. This is changing. Technology, and in particular the ability for different platforms to link with each other, opens up new opportunities for collaboration. Not everyone needs to develop the next big product or service there may be much more value and impact for a fintech company to build a business-to-business solution that works at a specific pain point for a financial institution. For example, the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Rural Prosperity is supporting a partnership between Juhudi Kilimo, an asset financing company, and the Entrepreneurial Finance Lab to develop a psychometric credit scoring tool for smallholder farmer borrowers with no or limited verifiable credit information. This is a tech-enabled solution for a specific challenge how to estimate likelihood of repayment in a data-light environment that could reduce costs and improve efficiency of Juhudi Kilimos credit processes. Innovation can be highly effective without being disruptive. A similar partnership in the fund portfolio is between First Access, a fintech company, and Esoko, an agricultural information and communications company. The two will develop a rural agricultural credit-scoring platform for lending institutions from disparate data sets, from soil and weather data to mobile phone usage and farmer profiles. The solution has the potential to impact a large number of farmers who do not have traditionally accepted banking histories. These are great innovations, that could have a real impact on micro and small business finance, but they probably wont be putting other lenders out of business. And thats fine. Innovation can be highly effective without being disruptive. Theres nothing wrong with ambition, and there is certainly scope for massive changes in Africas rural finance markets. But if you focus too hard on the next disruption you can lose sight of the great ideas that represent an evolution, not necessarily a revolution. At the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Rural Prosperity, we love big ideas. But the most important aspect of the big idea is the impact it has on the livelihoods of rural communities in Africa, not necessarily on how it disrupts the structure of the financial system. So if you want to apply for support from the fund, were not so fussed about if youre the next big disruption to African financial markets. We want a credible plan that overcomes some of the many challenges of financing rural populations, and can have a real impact on the lives of people living in or close to poverty. We want ideas that work from the bottom up, which solve real problems. Maybe youll be disruptive. If youre not, thats fine too. To commemorate the August 8, 1988 pro-democracy uprising, a Rakhine organization donated robes and food for monks in Sittwe. The 88 Rakhine Generation Social Development Organization offered mohinga and Waso robes to 11 monks at the Gyit Phat Monastery. After the donation ceremony, they held a prayer for those who lost their lives in the 88 uprising. The 88 uprising was a historic public movement aimed at taking down the one-party dictatorship and establishing democracy. Many lives were lost on this day. Many people also sacrificed their lives in prison while they were striving for Myanmar democracy. The aim is to ensure we do not forget them, said U Aung Thein, chair of the RGSDO. The RGSDO also issued a statement urging the government to reform the 2008 Constitution, to strive for all-inclusive peace and to put an end to violence in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung townships. A new network of activists and civil society groups has been warning Kayin (Karen) State residents of the dangers of coal through environmental awareness trainings held from July 20 to August 5. The Kayin State government greenlit a 1280-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Hpa-An township to be built by joint Thai-Japanese company Toyo-Thai Corporation. The power plant would sit between Wut Gyi, Htone Taung, and Thone Ein villages. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) was carried out in June, according to local residents, who added that they had little knowledge of what was being surveyed. The local residents didnt understand when [the surveyors] came in abruptly and did the measurements. The measurements were made on some local residents farms. The local residents lack information [about the project] and they have big concerns, said Saw Sar Htoo, a resident of Htone Taung Village. In response to news of the controversial coal plant and the perceived information deficit, environmental activists and members of local civil society organizations joined forced to create the Karen State Coal Working Group in June. We made contact with respective villages and taught them the pros and cons of [coal plants] as well as issues with the environment and laws. We have also taught them about FPIC [free, prior and informed consent], which is the rights of the indigenous people, said working group trainer Saw Thar Boe. News of the coal plant, and of Myanmars plan to increase reliance on coal, has sparked a backlash. In June, around three dozen Karen CSOs released a statement denouncing the use of coal and demanding the government look to renewable energy options in order to meet the surging electricity demand. More than 100 groups around the country signed the statement in a show of support. According to estimates by the Asian Development Bank, Myanmars electricity demand grows by 13% each year, with a projected need for 13,410 MW by 2030. The government hopes to meet much of that demand through clean coal plants. However, environmental groups fear ash and other emissions spit out from coal-fired power plants will lead to air and water pollution, and dramatically increase Myanmars carbon emissions. Soldiers from the New Mon State Party marched in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Mon Revolution Day on August 7. (Photo Facebook) In a statement marking the 70th anniversary of the Mon revolution, the New Mon State Party said on August 7 that peace cannot be achieved until negotiations include all ethnic armed organizations. Currently, the ethnic armed groups can only join the political dialogue after signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), a pact which includes just eight signatories. The NMSP said that the government and the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an alliance of non-signatories, need to find a way to bring all groups into conversation, whether through convincing all groups to sign the NCA, or through forging another path. The NMSP has indicated its own willingness to sign the NCA, contingent on two preconditions. The NCA will be signed when we agree on two points. The first point is the inclusion of international [observers] in the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC). The second point is related to military issues, said Nai Aung Ma Nge, a member of the NMSP and the deputy leader of the UNFCs Delegation for Political Negotiation. The governments Peace Commission and the DPN will meet for the sixth time in Yangon on August 10. Representatives of the UNFC member organizations the NMSP, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), the Arakan National Council (ANC) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) are expected to attend the meeting. The NMSP commemorated the 70th anniversary of Mon Revolution Day with military parades in five areas under its control. Around 700 Mon youth marched with a band and placed wreaths on the tombs of Mon national leaders. Ahead of the ceremony, the Tatmadaw had reportedly attempted to pressure the NMSP not to hold military parades outside the partys headquarters. Nai Aung Ma Nge said such requests can fuel mistrust. The Mon Revolution Day commemorates a revolt against the government on the full moon day of Wagaung in 1948. About 30 Mon leaders stole guns from a Yangon police stations and formed a resistance movement to fight for the right to self-determination. The NMSP signed a ceasefire agreement with former President U Thein Seins government in 2012. It has not signed the NCA. The Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, has commended An Garda Siochana for the arrest of two men on Monday night who were travelling through Dublin with a loaded gun. Mr Flanagan said the gardai operation, in the Ballyfermot area of the city, had undoubtedly prevented further loss of life. The Justice Minister is being asked to intervene to stop "extreme anti-social behaviour" at Dublin's Forty Foot. Local residents have complained about drinking and couples having have sex in public at the popular bathing spot. by Rob McNamara Proposals by Cork County Council which vastly scale back on recommendations in the MacKinnon report for a city boundary extension have been described by city politicians and business leaders as farcical and a sticky plaster solution. Cork County Council believe that their extension proposal and the potential for major growth within the existing city through regeneration of the Docklands, Mahon, Blackpool, Tramore Road, Kinsale Road and Tivoli would provide for population growth up to 283,000 and could create 50,000 jobs. However, high rates bases such as Ballincollig, Little Island, Carrigtwohill and Cork Airport are controversially excluded from their plan. Under the new proposals, 16m from commercial rates and property tax would immediately be transferred to the city, while its population would increase by 32,000 with a geographical landscape increase of 85%. County Council has been criticised for announcing the new proposals just weeks before both councils meet the implementation committee appointed by Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, whose Department is overseeing the extension. Cork Business Association (CBA) CEO Lawrence Owens said the alternative County Council plans are tokenistic and not in the long-term interests of the region. What I didn't want to see was a piecemeal or sticky plaster submission. What we want is a solution that is best for everybody. This is not the answer, he said. It's probably better than nothing but it's not what the objective is. The MacKinnon report is there and, as far as I'm concerned with the CBA, that is the template that we want to work on. We want to end up with a capacity of 520,000 as the second city in the State to drive the southern region and the whole of Cork, he added. Drawing battle lines is not productive and not in the interests of the people of Cork, according to CBA President Pat O'Connell. We're years waiting for the extension so we have to get it right so it's a big enough size to support the city and drive the whole region. I don't think it's up to County Council and the fun and games should stop now really at this stage and people should sit down and do what they need to do and get on with it in the interests of the city, he said. However, several County councillors have defended the plans. Kanturk-Mallow representative John Paul O'Shea said it was a fair proposal that should be given consideration, while Fianna Fail party leader at County Hall Seamus McGrath called the plans sensible and sound. Fine Gael's Kevin Murphy said County Council's offer was generous and should be accepted by their city counterparts. Responding to the announcement of the proposals by Cork County Council Former Lord Mayor of Cork city Des Cahill said the proposals were daft and should be ignored. It's not a solution. It's really that simple. Some of the language used was unnecessary and bordering on childish. They've taken a long time to come up with a solution. They've never once shown a map in four years and what their extension would be, so to come with this now is daft, he said. It's no compromise and a short-term option that is not even worth considering. In the Ireland 2040 documents, it already assumes we have a population of 200,000. That is the road map for the country for the next 20 years so they are already wrong. Their figure for population growth only comes up to 160,000. It's farcical, he added. This article first appeared in the Evening Echo A man has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into the possession of fraudulent documents. A number of Dublin properties were searched by gardai from the Special Detective Unit along with the London Metropolitan police today. Michael D Higgins may run for a second term as President, despite claiming he would only serve one term. The President has refused to rule out the possibility of a second run for the Aras, and An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has backed him for a second term. Gardai have raised concerns that a Dublin man accused of murdering his first cousin may seek sanctuary in a Muslim country. Stephen Tynan of Knockmore Park in Tallaght is charged with the murder of Andrew Guerrine, who was stabbed to death over two years ago. The substitute for Fianna Fail MEP Brian Crowley, Kieran Hartley, has expressed disappointment at his party leader, whom he says has refused to address his calls for Mr Crowley to step down if he is unable to return to the European Parliament. Brian Crowley was elected as MEP for the Ireland South constituency in 2014, but has been absent from parliament for the last three years due to illness. TDs will soon have to heed Leo Varadkar's call to get up early in the morning. Deputies will face an earlier start time for debates on Government legislation when it returns in September. A German man believed to have provided logistical support to the Hamburg-based September 11 hijackers has died, according to a newly released audio message from the leader of al-Qaida. The announcement by Ayman al-Zawahri (pictured) came in an audio message posted online in which he says a man he identifies as Zuhair al-Maghribi - who worked for As-Sahab, the terror network's media arm - is a "martyr". He says al-Maghribi is one of several who "sacrificed their lives" but does not provide details of when or how they died. Al-Maghribi is a known alias of Said Bahaji, who authorities have said worked for As-Sahab. He had been wanted on an international arrest warrant issued by Germany shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Germany-born Bahaji, who is of Moroccan descent, is believed to have helped suicide hijackers Mohamad Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi and Ziad Jarrah when they were in Hamburg, and to have fled shortly before the September 11 attacks. In an operation in 2009, the Pakistani military battled their way into a Taliban stronghold on the Afghan border and found Bahaji's German passport, among others. It included a tourist visa for Pakistan and a stamp indicating he had arrived in the southern city of Karachi on September 4 2001. The authenticity of the al-Zawahri recording could not be independently confirmed but it resembled previous messages released by the al Qaida leader. SITE Intelligence Group, a US organisation that monitors militant messaging, reported on the recording, noting that in it, al-Zawahri also "revealed that Khalid Sheikh Muhammad", a senior al Qaida leader in US custody, founded As-Sahab. Bahaji was long suspected of having died, but al Qaida never publicly acknowledged his death until al-Zawahri's audio recording. In a list published by the United Nations Security Council of people and entities against whom there are sanctions, Bahaji is said to be "reportedly deceased in September 2013 in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border area". - AP Canberra's Labor MPs are leading community consultations on ways to better address gender inequality in Australia, in a bid to close the entrenched gender pay gap and improve female community participation. As part of the federal opposition's policy development process, MPs Gai Brodtmann and Andrew Leigh have met academics, experts and local women's organisations to discuss strategies - including calls for a Parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, a boosted voice for Indigenous and trans women and better representation of migrant women in the community. The consultation meetings are considering gender quotas, the need for improved data on social and medical issues including post-natal depression, the role of women in countering violent extremism and access to affordable housing for single mothers and domestic violence victims. Last month, a federal government agency told Parliament the pay gap was expected to remain in Australian workplaces until at least 2067. Chief Minister Andrew Barr discouraged federal investment in a new convention centre by failing to endorse a funding push by the Canberra Business Chamber, chief executive Robyn Hendry said. During a hearing of an inquiry into the proposal to build a new convention centre, Ms Hendry said Mr Barr had "proactively, in a soft way, advocated against" a business chamber submission to the Liberal party about it in the lead up to last year's federal election. The Australia Forum convention centre reference design from Massimiliano Fuksas and Guida Moseley Brown, viewed from Vernon Circle. The chamber had been invited to put the case for new infrastructure projects to the party in February 2016. They asked for $250 million investment from the federal government, less than half of the expected $600-740 million build. Commonwealth Bank's move to scrap bonuses worth millions of dollars has not dampened investor calls for further action to hold responsible executives to account over an alleged money-laundering scandal. With the bank expected to deliver a $9.8 billion profit on Wednesday, chairman Catherine Livingstone said it would not pay any short-term bonuses to the top executives for the financial year just ended, and would cut fees paid to board directors by a fifth. The pay cuts came as Treasurer Scott Morrison revealed he met Ms Livingstone on Tuesday to discuss the "very, very serious" allegations by the government's financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, that CBA repeatedly breached anti-money laundering laws. For decades now, the Commonwealth Bank has been required like all the other banks to notify regulators of any suspicious transactions that might be related to money laundering or terrorism financing. You would expect the bank that describes itself as "Australia's leading bank" with 16 million customers, 50,000 employees and profits of $9.4 billion last year to have a sizeable internal apparatus to ensure it complies with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006. You would think all that mind-boggling computer power, which means you scarcely need a human to do your banking these days, would be set up to ensure suspicious transactions are reported to regulator Austrac as required by law. You would think the humans responsible would also make sure the bank's own practices and systems work properly so as not to facilitate illegal financial activity, again as required by law. . CBA chief executive Ian Narev, whose bank stands accused of breaching the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Funding Act 55,700 times. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen You would think. That's why the statement of claim lodged against the Commonwealth Bank by Austrac alleging "serious and systemic non-compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006" makes such incredible reading. In a nutshell: in mid-2012 the Commonwealth Bank installed a new type of cash machine, known as an IDM or Intelligent Deposit Machine, which allowed people to anonymously deposit cash. About $8.91 billion was deposited before the bank took any steps to assess the risk that they might be used for money laundering or financing terrorism, according to Austrac's statement of claim. There are clear procedures to be followed, some of which include a general sitting of both houses of Parliament, a vote in the lower house or a double dissolution much cheaper and more immediate options ... So what happens after the plebiscite and how does it become law? We haven't heard much on that score. Once again, as during the Great Depression, it is the extreme right of politics in Australia which is most likely to flout convention and break the rules to suit itself. Vanessa Tennent Oatley The Liberal party room has chosen poltergeist over zeitgeist. The "vibe" in the electorate is for the government to get things done. However, the seance otherwise known as the Liberal party room has decided to re-conjure the plebiscite as its means of communication with the electorate. Its further suggestion of resorting to a postal vote, using the democratic equivalent of a ouija board, is just as likely to invite darker apparitions. Immediate legislation of marriage equality in Parliament could help dispel the poll ghosts of inaction. Instead, destructive spirits of governments past are set to possess the Liberals and haunt the federal house. The next election may resemble an exorcism. Christopher Hill Kensington Congratulations to this go-ahead Australian government for firmly grasping the nettle and doing nothing about the issue of marriage equality. Inspiring work. Now they can really get their noses to the grindstone and crack on with doing nothing about energy prices, climate change, rental and housing prices, youth unemployment, flat earnings growth You know, if I close my eyes it feels like it's early 1972, and there's a nation with a pent-up desire for better government and real change. It's time, Malcolm. You're just lucky that Bill is no Gough. Bruce Guthrie Mandurama On hold this week, marriage equality and first peoples referendum, to add to an already long list of inaction, including energy, climate change, and Snowy 2 review; well, anything that actually smells of innovation. Enough to call game over Mr Turnbull, your Liberal Party is a lost cause. Only a fool would put up with this retrograde nonsense and claim to be delivering good government. Is that you, PM? Rod Milliken Greenwell Point What a useless federal government we have. They can make a decision to send troops to anywhere the US asks them but are unable to grant equal rights to the gay community. Bring on the election asap. John Nickel Noosa Heads The decision on marriage equality by the spineless Liberal Party is disgusting. If the government were a business the board would be sacked, and that's exactly what should happen with this bunch of inept bastards. I have never ever looked as forward to an election as I am to the next one. It will be a pleasure to see this mob back in opposition, though even that is more than they deserve. Victor Marshall Erskineville Congratulations to MP Rob Stokes for his call for the federal government to develop a clear population growth policy (PGP) and for an end to "planning cities in the dark". ("States left in the dark on planning for future", August 4). Why is this topic never discussed? Is it a blind ideology of "jobs and growth" driven by immigration or is it a dereliction of responsibility to look more than one year ahead or is it a fear that some undesirable outcomes may be exposed? Other nations are able to get their heads around this policy so why do we fail? We are told we can't have a PGP because things economic are constantly changing and we don't know what we will want in five years' time. Surely this is the very reason to have a policy which provides a framework to work within. Mr Stokes has been the most qualified and dedicated Planning Minister that NSW has seen and we need to respect and to act on his call and not brush it aside as too hard. Peter Mayman Avalon Beach Treeless wasteland The draft Forestry bill is a result of the NSW government's frustration with the EPA (NSW EPA blasts conflicts of interest, August 8). This body was apparently set up as a public relations exercise, to produce glossy brochures, occasionally prosecute minor players and convince us that government policy protects the environment. Instead, the EPA has the temerity to interfere with business, even issue major corporations with small fines. This legislation will sideline them and allow the forestry industry to do what it does best, making money while turning NSW into a treeless wasteland. Mike Fullerton Croydon Sounding an oink for a snout in the trough Australia plays games dishonestly asking what it can do about house affordability for ordinary Australians just wanting a house to raise a family in, when it already knowsthe answer is to remove the investor-speculator being assisted by government the negative gearer from the property market ("Untrusting voters demand tangible action", August 8). By their removal competition and demand will reduce as will prices as more property becomes available. Unfortunately the greed and selfishness of investor politicians are working against ordinary Australian families. Let speculators buy high-rise flats and leave houses to families. I'm going to introduce the "Oink" award for a politician with one negatively geared property and for two, two oinks etc. How many oinks does your local politician get? John Dobinson Herston, Qld In 1956 we bought our first house, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for $10,200 and I (as the only earner at the time) was making $5000 per year. In 1983 we bought a house in Melbourne for $150,000 and I was earning (the only earner at the time) making $50,000 per year. So, in 27 years house prices increased from double annual earnings to triple (my) annual earnings. The average earnings in Australia is between $70,000 and $80,000 and the average house price in Sydney is over $1,000,000. What chance does an average earner have to buy a house? Ron Fellows Kensington Building construction in Sydney has become so powerful and bullysome that when my Bay Street apartment ceiling developed cracks, the next door site manager said, "Sue me, you won't win." This was despite his crane and wrecking ball vibrating the froth off our coffees for weeks. Bayside Council concurred with his assessment. I had to call in a painter to fill in and paint over the damage. That's life in the Emerald City. Ashley Berry Brighton Le Sands Policy irredeemable After all the very recent hype about the Trump/Turnbull phone call transcript, only the forlorn page 15 Cathy Wilcox cartoon in yesterday's Herald reminds us of the unchanged plight of the Manus Island detainees. What started out in 2013 as a return to offshore processing of people who would then be resettled within one year has now become four years' detention with no hope in sight. Even Donald Trump cannot understand it. "Why haven't you let them out? Why have you not let them into your society?" The Americans will never take anyone from Manus Island and Nauru. Nor should they. Nothing justifies keeping innocent people in "prison" for more than four years, and without trial. Not saving lives lost at sea, not border security, not fear of the impact of policy backflips, not political advantage: nothing. We should now find a way to both admit these people to Australia and to contain the people smugglers. David Hind Neutral Bay Computer devours homework The recent revelations of money laundering via the Commonwealth Bank are just the latest scandal under the watchful eye of CEO Ian Narev ("Pressure mounts on executives", August 8). And who can blame him for refusing to step down? If you were being paid $230,000 a week (yes, each week) you'd cling on for as long as you could, too. Unless perhaps you accepted that in your role as CEO your duty of care and oversight meant the buck stopped with you. How long before a royal commission? Robert Beattie Queanbeyan Excuse me, but are they joking? A bank facilitates crime and terrorism; is given specific warnings that it is doing so and ignores same, and the result is that the millionaire executives don't get their short-term bonus? These people are complicit. It's about time they were treated that way. Gary Stowe Springwood I can find at least 12.3 million reasons why Mr Narev should have made it his business to know exactly what was happening. Whether it is a computer software malfunction or the charging for financial advice that never was; the dog-ate-my-homework excuse is just unbelievable and untenable. Bernadette Scadden Earlwood It seems that CBA's so-called Intelligent Deposit Machines haven't been all that intelligent after all. I used to be a computer programmer and even way back then I knew how to program the computer to stop counting after $10,000. But, no doubt, Mr Narev will blame the computer, which is completely ridiculous: computers do exactly what they're told to do. Brian Pymont Frenchs Forest That's the spirit Many Australians, myself included, have long felt that something has been lacking in our society ("The great mixer with a clear taste of Australia", August 7). Some have identified growing economic inequality and social exclusion as the sources of this void. I am grateful, therefore, to Good Food for the information, albeit via an advertising feature, that Australia now has its own clear spirit, a captivating blend of lemon myrtle, Tasmanian mountain pepper and a hint of mandarin oil. Finally those who can't afford a roof over their heads or who can't marry whomever they choose can follow the Australian tradition of drinking yourself into oblivion with a genuinely local ingredient. Look out, world, Australia has arrived. I feel much better. Cliff Jahnsen Bowral Location, location I wonder if our lord mayor would react differently if "tent city" was located alongside the City Hall instead of opposite Parliament House? ("Deal gives homeless safe space but where?", August 8). Ron Osborn Waverton Politicians are allowing market forces to turn Sydney into a playground of the asset-rich, tax-avoiding wealthy. The poor will increasingly be relegated to the outer suburbs or regions. Peter Hull Hat Head New airport won't help So lack of sleep is costing us $66 billion, a huge cost in terms of health, personal well-being and productivity ("Lack of sleep costing economy", August 8). What shall we do? Let's build a new 24-hour airport, with flight paths across large parts of western Sydney. Just what the doctor ordered. Doug Walker Baulkham Hills Evidence blows stronger Another fine example of global warming, ("Thredbo records strongest wind gusts in a year during weekend blizzard", smh.com.au, August 8). David Sayers Gwandalan Economists in crosshairs The cost-benefit analysis of moving the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to Barnaby Joyce's electorate of New England has some fundamental flaws. The relocation has been championed by Deputy Prime Minister and Senator Fiona Nash. It could potentially see 175 public servants and their families moving with the agency out of Canberra. Former APVMA boss Kareena Arthy and Barnaby Joyce outside the temporary Armidale office. Credit:Madeline Link While the study, by Ernst & Young for the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, rightly takes a conservative approach, it is more of a budgetary analysis than a true social cost-benefit analysis. As such, the report contains a number of serious problems. The EY study has focused on the financial costs to the APVMA organisation itself. Economic costs and benefits to be borne by its employees were not addressed. Christine Forster, a Liberal Party councillor and sister of former prime minister Tony Abbott, has questioned whether her party "could actually ever see fit to do the right thing" on same-sex marriage policy. Ms Forster, who sits on the City of Sydney council and wants to marry her long-term partner Virginia Edwards, said the outcome of a special party room meeting on Monday afternoon was "deeply disappointing". "I don't think that anyone could argue that the government doesn't have a mandate to seek passage of the plebiscite. After all, that was the policy that was taken to the election and we won. But the political reality is that Bill Shorten won't pass the legislation and the crossbench is also opposed," Ms Forster told Fairfax Media. She said same-sex marriage advocates would mount a legal challenge against the Coalition's plan to hold a postal plebiscite and declared that a free vote in Parliament had always been the best way to deal with the issue. Following months of public division over same-sex marriage, the Turnbull government has decided to send its plan for a compulsory plebiscite back to the Senate and, when that likely fails, it will bypass the legislature with a voluntary postal plebiscite to decide if MPs get a free vote. Here's how it works. What is the plan? After the compulsory attendance plebiscite is rejected by the Senate, as is all but certain, the government will move to hold a postal plebiscite through the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Ballots would be sent to the homes of all people enrolled to vote. If the plebiscite results in a majority 'Yes' vote, Coalition MPs will be allowed a free vote in Parliament on a bill to legalise same-sex marriage. They will not be bound to vote in line with the result of the public ballot. If the plebiscite returns a majority 'No' result, the government will not allow a free vote, meaning MPs will remain bound to change, even if in opposition. Okay - end of the day for me. What happened? Australians will have some kind of vote on same-sex marriage by the end of the year; by the end of the year; the government wants this to take place through a compulsory plebiscite ; ; this legislation - which has already been knocked back once - will be reintroduced to the Parliament tomorrow; tomorrow; if it is knocked back again the government will ask the Australian Bureau of Statistics to run a postal ballot ; ; this is despite a possible legal challenge to the process; to the process; but if that comes to nothing and Australians vote 'yes' to a change to the definition of marriage, same-sex marriage could be legal by the end of the year. My thanks to Alex Ellinghausen and Andrew Meares for their work and to you for reading and commenting. You can follow me on Facebook. Andrew, Alex and I will be back in the morning. We hope to see you then. Until we do, good night. A small band of "rebel" Liberal MPs has shelved the option of crossing the floor to force a parliamentary debate on same-sex marriage this year after the party strongly re-affirmed its support for a plebiscite. Liberal MPs on Monday overwhelmingly supported the Coalition's election commitment to hold a plebiscite - preferably through a compulsory vote at the ballot box or, if that is rejected by the Senate, through a voluntary postal plebiscite. Four Liberal MPs - Warren Entsch, Tim Wilson, Trevor Evans and Trent Zimmerman - helped force Monday's party room meeting by leaving open the possibility of suspending standing orders in the House of Representatives to force a vote on same-sex marriage if they were denied a conscience vote. Senator Dean Smith would then move their private member's bill in the Senate. The Turnbull government will hold a people's vote on same-sex marriage by November, almost certainly in the form of a $122 million postal vote, with a view to resolving the issue by the end of the year. The government will ask the Senate to approve a compulsory plebiscite on November 25, but in the likely event that is rejected, it will hold a postal vote with a November deadline. The ballot would be voluntary, and conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics between September 12 and November, with a result to be declared by November 15. If Australians return a majority "Yes" vote, the government will facilitate debate on a bill to legalise same-sex marriage before the end of the year, but MPs will not be bound to respect the will of the people. The Prime Minister swept in as you might imagine a barrister would, especially one trying mightily to persuade himself and anyone willing to listen that his was a righteous case, whether he believed it or not. He gripped the witness stand with one white-knuckled hand and threw out his free arm to the gathered jurors, which is to say a roomful of media representatives and a TV audience of voters, trying to take them with him. "At the last election we made a very clear promise to the Australian people." he began, urging his facial muscles to beam with conviction. "...That we would not facilitate the introduction of a bill to legalise same-sex marriage until the Australian people had had their say. Property owners in Parramatta would pay an annual $110 levy for almost 30 years to help plug a $1 billion funding gap for the western Sydney light rail under a proposal transport minister Andrew Constance pushed to keep secret. The levy is part of a Parramatta council-commissioned report by consultant AECOM outlining a $1.6 billion "value sharing" model to exploit increases in property values from the arrival of stage one of the $3.4 billion light rail. It also includes an additional "special levy" of $110 a year on residential and commercial development within 800 metres of rail stops and a 3 per cent land tax on the value of properties in the same areas. The model also proposes hypothecation of part of the anticipated increased stamp duty receipts from the light rail, sale of extra height to developers of nearby land and reservation of a third of council car park revenue. Two brothers of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim, Michael Ibrahim and Fadi Ibrahim, have been arrested in Dubai as police smash an alleged long-running organised crime syndicate. The pair are among 14 people arrested, including John's son, Daniel Ibrahim, and underworld figures Mustapha Dib, who was also arrested in Dubai, and Rock Ahmad, who was taken into custody at his Bankstown home. The arrests relate to long-running syndicates that have been allegedly smuggling drugs and tobacco into Sydney for decades. More than 25 homes are also being raided, including the Dover Heights house belonging to John Ibrahim. The unions involvement and demands in the EBA negotiations The Services Union Members of the Services Union work in administration, technical, and supervisory roles in the council such as the network co-ordination centre, call centres and library staff. Services Union secretary Neil Henderson said staff went on strike for four hours last week and also have ban on email activity and responding to any correspondence from local councillors. "Our expectation is there will be limited impact on ratepayers ... our industrial action is inward designed. It's designed to attract the council's attention rather than disadvantage of impact on ratepayers," he said. Mr Henderson said Service Union members wanted the new EBA to deliver a pay increase, guarantee career paths for staff, a guarantee no staff member would be left in a library on their own and flexible weekend rostering. Electrical Trades Union The council jobs covered by ETU members include electricians and telecommunications workers. These members were involved in industrial action last Wednesday in regards to the EBA. Organiser Brenton Muller said the ETU, along with the CFMEU and Australian Manufacturers Working Union, had requested a separate agreement to cover outdoor and trade workers. "This agreement would cover the needs of workers who spend most of their working day away from council facilities, working in the elements," Mr Muller said. "We believe council have ignored many workers during negotiations and the needs of outdoor workers have not be met. "Our scope application to have a separate agreement with council will be before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission in late August." Professionals Australia Professionals Australia covers council employed engineers and project managers. The union does not currently have any industrial action planned, but members attended a rally during their lunch break on Wednesday. A Professionals Australia spokesman said the council had rejected outright its claim to have contract professional members in the scope of the EBA. "We were willing to negotiate under what terms they would be included, but council would not offer any counter proposals," he said. "Due to their obstinacy we have notified council we will seek to bargain a separate agreement for contract professionals." The spokesman said PA's wishlist for the EBA included permanent jobs for professionals and transparency and respect. Australian Workers Union The Australian Workers Union has coverage of all workers in local government, except bus operators. The union mainly has coverage in blue-collar areas including civil construction, park maintenance, road maintenance, parking inspectors and city cleansing. An AWU spokeswoman said members were involved in the work stoppage on Wednesday, and also commenced bans for an indefinite period on July 29. This included bans on administrative paperwork, bans on cleaning public toilets and barbecues and bans on responding to messages or email. "The AWU has tried to progress claims on behalf of members through industrial action which has minimal impact on the broader Brisbane community," the spokeswoman said. The AWU wants a 3.5 per cent pay increase and job security for its members in the new EBA. Rail, Tram and Bus Union The RTBU represents bus drivers as well bus assistants who do general maintenance on the buses. RTBU secretary Tom Brown said not accepting fares on Wednesday and Thursday was part of the union's escalated strike action. "Nobody wants to stop work, nobody ever wants to go on strike," he said. Mr Brown said RTBU members wanted a pay increase, safer buses with increased security and better rostering. Transport Workers Union The Transport Workers Union represents asphalt drivers, street sweepers and general transport (such as water tankers) for the council. TWU Queensland branch secretary Peter Biagini said members had banned two-way radio communications and mobile phone use (unless for safety reasons) and participated in a four-hour work stoppage on Wednesday. The Cooktown community has been "conducting their own inquiries" into the killing of local mother Donna Louise Steele, whose body was found in a creek on Sunday. Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh renewed the appeal for witnesses who may have seen Ms Steele or her ute on August 2, the day of her disappearance, to come forward. Donna Steele has been described as "an exceptional mother" by Cooktown locals, who are rallying together to work out what happened to her. Credit:Queensland Police Service He also revealed more residents had been coming to police with information, after being shocked by the mother-of-two's death. Inspector Marsh said that by all accounts Ms Steele, 42, was an "exceptional mother". Glow-in-the-dark pathways are coming to Brisbane as the city explores new ways to light up darkened paths at night. At Tuesday's Public and Active Transport Committee it was revealed the council would install Moon Deck a glow-in-the-dark resin on a pathway at Obrist Place, Rochedale, as part of a 12-month trial. A Moon Deck glow path trial will be installed in Brisbane in 2017. Credit:Brisbane City Council Council officer Coby Grosert told the committee the product could be used on existing as well as new pathways and was designed to benefit people walking and riding. "It's highly slip-resistant, so during the day it essentially looks like a fine-grade concrete path and at night it luminesces this soft green colour," she said. A truck driver has been charged over the alleged abduction and assault of a Brisbane woman. Police allege the 22-year-old was taken from her Darra home about 5pm on Monday and held against her will for 17 hours. A 50-year-old man is expected to be extradited after the alleged abduction of a Darra woman. Credit:Twitter/Nine News It's alleged she was sexually assaulted and threatened with further violence, before she was driven to a number of nearby locations including truck stops and an industrial estate at Rocklea and assaulted. The woman was released on Tuesday, found police and was then taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Embattled former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale has missed his first court date on fresh charges and been ordered to show up next month. The former councillor is accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by influencing a witness to provide false and misleading evidence, on top of one count of extortion and two other charges. Mr Pisasale had been scheduled to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning. Credit:Tammy Law The court heard the 65-year-old remained in a mental health facility and was not in a fit state to be questioned by authorities. Mr Pisasale had been scheduled to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning but was represented by his lawyer instead. Queensland's chief scientist has been hit with a fresh charge as she fronted court for the first time accused of fraud. Queensland Museum chief executive Suzanne Miller, 52, was charged with fraud last month for allegedly wrongfully claiming health insurance through her job. It is understood prosecutors will allege Ms Miller wrongly represented herself to be eligible for health insurance because of a special purpose visa. Credit:Karleen Minney She appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for the first time on the charge on Tuesday, where the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions added a fresh charge of uttering a forged document. Prosecutors alleged the Scottish-born professor wrongfully claimed health insurance worth $45,500 through her contract at the museum. A Dorothy Dixer is a pre-planned question asked of a government minister by a backbencher from their own party. Mr Pearce took aim at so-called "Dorothy Dixers" and the topic of questions asked during the 2017 estimates sessions. Member for Mirani Jim Pearce said he considered some aspects of the process "just simply a waste of time". A Queensland Labor government MP has slammed parts of the budget estimates process as an embarrassment. Labor member for Mirani Jim Pearce has slammed aspects of the budget estimates process. Credit:Facebook "In fact, for Queenslanders watching the process I think that as an elected member we should all be embarrassed in the way some of these hearings went," Mr Pearce said. "Estimates hearings are about an opportunity to hold the government to account for its spending of Queensland taxpayers' dollars. "A hearing allows for the opposition to proceed with the examination of public expenditure where they would not normally get the opportunity to do so. "I am of the view that some of the opposition shadow ministers have dudded taxpayers who want to hear where and how state revenue is being expended - if the expenditure is justified, if there has been fair and reasonable dispersal of funds." Jade Hunia was 19 when he stabbed Senior Constable Daniel Yeoman in the face. Credit:Instagram He spoke calmly as he tried to reason with Hunia until the teen rammed the knife into the policemen's forehead, just above the eyebrow line and between the eyes. Hunia then demanded the keys again and stole the family's $25,000 Hyundai minivan, which they'd bought only days earlier. He was captured on camera speeding through nearby suburbs before he crashed into a wall and was capsicum-sprayed by police. The couple's son witnessed part of the confrontation. Senior Constable Yeoman suffered a fractured eye socket, facial scarring and nerve damage, although he considered himself lucky not to have been blinded or killed. "I didn't think he would stab me. I was foolish to think that," he said. And he said he felt shame at not trying harder to protect his family, and felt he and his wife were "different people" now, less tolerant and trusting. "I really just want to go back to where we were before it all happened," he said. Mrs Yeoman has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has trouble sleeping and being at home when her husband is at work. "It was the scariest night of my life mainly because I thought I was going to lose my husband but also because my private and safe place was violated," she said, her body shaking. The Yeomans were to hold a birthday party for their son the next day. "Instead he was woken up by me screaming and us trying to reason with the intruder ... something no 11-year-old should have to deal with," Mrs Yeoman said. Defence counsel Amelia Beech argued Hunia, now 20, should have his jail term lessened because of the mental-health troubles he suffered since he witnessed his sister's suicide, 11 months before the home invasion. The best way to protect people, she said, was helping him reform. But judge Mark Dean said his main focus had to be protecting the community amid a surge in Victoria in violent home invasions. "The community has to be sent an unequivocal message that offending of this type attracts a significant term of imprisonment," Judge Dean said. "The first responsibility of the court is to protect the community. "Look at the effect it's had on the Yeomans. They are hard-working people living in Australia who are terrified by this man. "It's shocking. It's a shocking set of circumstances that's had a terrible effect on them. "The community needs to have faith that the court will protect people from your client, Ms Beech." Hunia did stints in youth detention and adult jail before the attack, prosecutor John Livitsanos said, and was on bail for other offences. He was previously charged with offending while on bail, the court heard. Mr Livitsanos said Hunia told police he went to a party in Glen Waverley the night before and was "seven out of 10 drunk" when he broke into the Yeomans' home. Ms Beech said there was a link between the escalation in Hunia's offending and his sister's death, although he could not remember the attack. "At the time this happened he didn't care about himself any more and he didn't care about anything," Ms Beech said. The former mayor of a Ballarat suburb will spend at least two years and 10 months behind bars for "wanton, callous" child sex offences. In the County Court on Tuesday Judge James Montgomery sentenced Graham Bruce Collins, 77, the former mayor of Sebastopol Borough to a total of four years imprisonment for four offences. Graham Collins, 77, was mayor of Sebastopol three times. These included one count of sexual penetration of a child and three counts of indecent acts with a child under 16. The court heard during sentencing that Collins was known to the victim before the abuse started. New White House Chief of Staff John Kelly Credit:AP Trump's tweet storms of the last several days, for instance, have followed intense speculation that his new chief of staff, John Kelly, might try to exert greater control over the president's account. The message? That's probably not going to happen. During his six-month tenure, Trump's former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, was unable to do much to rein in Trump's social-media rants. Lawyers have tried and failed to impress upon the president the risks of discussing the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion of his campaign associates. Kelly faces much the same challenge. According to people who have spoken with him, he does not believe that he will be able to change Trump's social-media behaviour and believes that being seen as attempting to do so could pose risks, including damaging his relationship with the president. On Monday morning, marking Kelly's second week on the job, Trump blasted out nine tweets, including several renewing attacks on Senator Richard Blumenthal, the "fake news" media, "phony fake news polling," and the "Fake News Russian collusion story" While Trump continues to discredit the Russia investigation, bipartisan former national security officials and researchers say that the coordinated, state-backed efforts to spread disinformation during the 2016 campaign were very real. "Nineteen to 20 per cent of the messages in the month before the election were originated by bots," said Emilio Ferrara, a researcher at the University of Southern California, who conducted research on the impact of bots on the 2016 election. "About 400,000 accounts that posted tweets related to the political conversation we believe were bots." If anything, these accounts have found an even greater foothold since the election among Trump's most ardent supporters online. In the last week, a virtual army of accounts identified as having ties to a Russia-backed disinformation campaigns targeting the US political system zeroed in on efforts among Trump's supporters to attack his national security adviser H.R. McMaster over the firing of two Trump loyalists from the National Security Council. A tool created by a bipartisan group of national security experts and researchers to track Russian-backed propaganda accounts found that the "#fireMcMaster" hashtag became popular among these misinformation accounts at the same time that several influential, pro-Trump users on Twitter adopted the anti-McMaster position. By Friday, the clamouring against McMaster had become so loud that Trump issued a public statement defending him. "As a Republican it raises questions for some on the right who obviously have a difference of opinion on someone like General McMaster, but the reality is there is a foreign power here trying to push an agenda," said Jamie Fly, a former adviser to Senator Marco Rubio, Florida, who helped create the Hamilton 68 project to track the influence of Russian-backed propaganda online. Researchers say the fake accounts sometimes disseminate content from well-known Russian-backed sources including Sputnik or RT, which are then picked up by US conservatives. Or they might amplify content created by far-right media outlets known for misinformation as well, including Gateway Pundit or Infowars. Fly said Trump's liberal use of Twitter has only increased the return on investment for a foreign power such as Russia seeking to sow division within the US political system. Accounts can use Trump's low bar for retweets to their advantage by creating large volumes of content in the hope that he might be drawn to some of it. "His use of Twitter has elevated the platform," Fly said. "It's created a situation where it's probably even more useful for a foreign power like Russia to try to influence the debate on Twitter." In the case of the account that was the recipient of an emphatic "Thank you Nicole!" from Trump on Saturday, Twitter will not say exactly why it was suspended. Online sleuths have posted evidence that the account has changed names several times, including as recently as this weekend. Experts say accounts such as this one often disappear quickly once they are exposed or achieve their objective. No one named Nicole Mincey has stepped forward to say the account is hers. "We do not comment on individual accounts, for privacy and security reasons," said a Twitter spokesperson in response to an inquiry about why the account was suspended. At one point, the account boasted as many at 150,000 followers, and, according to other Twitter users, was connected to similar accounts, which experts say suggests a network created to disseminate propaganda. These accounts are often set up as one-stop shops for pro-Trump, anti-Democratic Party memes. The accounts often use stock images doctored to display pro-Trump memorabilia. The Trump administration has appeared resistant to addressing the growing problem of Russian online propaganda, which lawmakers and national security experts warn is a continuation of the tactics seen during the 2016 campaign. Congress has appropriated $US80 million to combat Islamic State propaganda and Russian disinformation online, but the State Department has not yet used the money, prompting bipartisan condemnation from Senator Rob Portman, Ohio, and Senator Chris Murphy, Connecticut, the lawmakers who wrote the legislation establishing the fund. Mortgage broker Loan Market is growing its footprint and setting up a rural loan broking business which it hopes will break the blind loyalty regional borrowers have for banks.The firm, which is owned by real estate giant Ray White, has 500 brokers across the country. It settled $8.4bn of loans during the 2017 financial year.Martin Pentecost has been appointed to head up the rural expansion.Farmers' loyalty is costing them, Pentecost told the Australian Financial Review. We want to upset the status quo where some farmers are borrowing at over 6% when they shouldnt be.Typically, farmers rely on a private banker with many families using the same bank for generations. This can cost tens of thousands of dollars annually in interest, he said.It is blind loyalty.Loan Market will initially target areas such as Bathurst, Yass and Tamworth in NSW and Emerald and Rockhampton in Queensland where locals have experienced certain issues with the banks.Many banks are closing branches and really the banks' level of service has been dropping in the regional areas, Pentecost said.With the rate of deals being done, the new rural broking arm could bring in more than $200m in loans by the end of 2017, he added.Peter Camphin, Queensland state director for Loan Market, told Australian Broker that the move was made following the lead of Ray White Rural.One of our ultimate aims is that every Ray White Rural and Livestock agent has access to a rural finance broker to satisfy customer needs.The company will also be seeking new brokers experienced in the rural lending space to join Loan Markets growing team across Australia, he said. RE/MAX Australia has announced the rebranding of its financial arm, which it now owns in full, and a new partnership with a leading aggregator.Formerly known as Australian Property Finance, the new broking arm will be called Pivotal Finance, and will leverage the real estate companys national network as well as a new relationship with Connective Matthew Andrews, the recently appointed general manager of Pivotal Financial, said that the firm will offer RE/MAX customers a full suite of financial offerings with the value add of enjoying the same ownership as RE/MAX Australia, he said.Pivotal Financial is a dynamic, agile and solution-based team of brokers who will continue to assist Australians at a crucial point in realising their financial goals and dreams, he said.Together with RE/MAX, we are creating a selling/buying experience within the real estate industry that is an all-inclusive experience. Accountability is driving our business forward, and agents, brokers and real estate consumers will share the positive outcomes.Despite the rebrand, how Pivotal works with RE/MAX will stay relatively the same, Andrews told Australian Broker. However, he added that the firm was now entering into a period of recruitment and was seeking more brokers.Were looking to expand the Pivotal team to up to 15 brokers in the near to middle term future, he said.Andrews continued, saying that Pivotal was also excited to grow and develop its new relationship with Connective as its aggregator.Connective is a dynamic and relatively young aggregator that leads industry competitors in innovation, technology and diversification, and a good pairing with Pivotal Financial where we are embracing technology to drive growth and performance.He said that the firm was looking to capitalise on what Connective offered to markets to the business as a whole as well as to individual brokers.This includes productivity, quality, conversion, training, education and technology via their Mercury platform, he said.Its just leveraging efficiencies and productivity for our brokers through Connective.Andrews took up the role in June this year and will lead Pivotal by drawing on more than 20 years of financial services experience. Prior to joining the firm, he was state general manager of broker distribution for St George bank within Queensland.The RE/MAX network includes over 70 franchises and nearly 500 agents across the country. While Pivotal is currently focusing on the Queensland market, it will look at broader national expansion in the future. A recent legal case has clarified when banks are liable for mortgage fraud in a decision that may see the victim worse off in certain scenarios.The decision will also remove liability from the bank in certain fraudulent transactions even if the proper loan processing procedures were not followed.The case, Spiliotopoulos v National Australia Bank Limited and Ors, saw the borrower allege that the individual who witnessed their signature on the mortgage did not in fact meet them and that their signature was forged, Louise Massey, partner at Dentons, told Australian Broker.The ruling by the Supreme Court of NSW found an individuals claim to be a registered proprietor at Land and Property Information (LPI) can be challenged in the event that a bank had knowledge of or participated in the fraud in the first place, Massey explained.Spiliotopoulos, the borrower, said that the bank had been aware of the alleged fraud; a claim which the court dismissed due to lack of evidence.When the bank looked at the mortgage, it seemed to have followed all the proper procedures. There was nothing in the document that would have put the bank on notice. The bank wasnt a participant in the fraud, so it couldnt be attributable to the bank in any way, Massey said.The decision means that even if a bank did not completely follow proper procedures stated by its internal policies, it still would not be responsible for fraud in this particular type of case as they had no notice of fraud and therefore could not be liable, she added.The failure from banks to follow their own policies and procedures might trigger some other legal actions against the bank, but that wasnt the case here.From the lenders point of view, this was a very good decision as it provided protection against fraud allegations, Massey said.However if the banks werent going to be held liable in these cases, this may mean that fraudsters had more scope to get away with it, she added.In a lot of cases like this, the fraudster is liable. The difficulty you have is sometimes fraudsters are people who operate in very sophisticated setups. Its often very difficult to attempt to actually find them and charge them. Often they go missing in action.When something like this occurs and the banks not responsible, who gets caught with the liability? Where does the liability or the loss fall? It doesnt fall with the bank. If you cant find and charge the fraudster then the loss is ultimately borne by the innocent party. Sometimes, thats just the way it plays out.Massey also pointed to the move towards digital mortgages as an area to watch.The Spiliotopoulos case was before anything was electronic and so the mortgage was all done in hard copy. Now there are a lot of conveyancing transactions which are going ahead online. The electronic landscape might give more scope for fraudulent conduct to actually occur. Over 1,200 mail-in votes added to Montco totals; Bucks still in limbo Two of Montgomery County's three commissioners said they did not support disenfranchising more than 1,200 voters because of a handful of rule breakers Research News Tonawanda Coke study kicks off with soil sampling Citizen scientists will conduct about 300 soil samples from sites near the Tonawanda Coke plant. The samples will be tested using a state Department of Health-certified laboratory and cutting-edge soil-analysis techniques at UB and SUNY Fredonia to determine the impact that emissions from Tonawanda Coke have had on the surrounding environment. By CORY NEALON The investigation into how air pollution emissions from the Tonawanda Coke plant may have affected nearby soil kicked into gear today with a gathering of elected officials, community organizers and scientists from UB and SUNY Fredonia. The event at the River Road Volunteer Fire Co. in Tonawanda included citizen scientists taking the first of about 300 soil samples from sites in the town and city of Tonawanda, the village of Kenmore, Grand Island and the city of Buffalo that surround the plant. The situation surrounding Tonawanda Coke speaks to the importance of the Environmental Protection Agency and the critical difference residents can make in fighting for their community, said Rep. Brian Higgins. The soil study, a collaboration between various levels of government, the community, local businesses and the University at Buffalo, will provide further clues about the lasting impact of the companys negligent actions and give us insight to make informed decisions moving forward. Joseph Gardella Jr., SUNY Distinguished Professor and John and Frances Larkin Professor of Chemistry at UB, who is leading the study, said UB and collaborators from SUNY Fredonia and Citizen Science Community Resources (CSCR) will implement citizen science-based soil sampling in the city and town of Tonwawanda, parts of Riverside, Black Rock and North Buffalo, and parts of Grand Island. The soil samples will be tested using a state Department of Health-certified laboratory and cutting-edge soil-analysis techniques at UB and SUNY Fredonia to determine the impact that emissions from Tonawanda Coke have had on the surrounding environment, Gardella said. Jackie James-Creedon, executive director of CSCR, credited community activists with prompting local authorities to examine Tonawanda Coke. If it wasnt for a small group of people believing that they could make a difference and actually getting off their couches, going outside and doing something about it none of this would have happened, James-Creedon said. The $711,000 study officially known as Determining the Environmental Impact of Coke Oven Emissions Originating from Tonawanda Coke Corp. on Surrounding Residential Community is a collaboration between members of UBs Department of Chemistry, SUNY Fredonias Department of Chemistry and CSCR. The soil study, along with a separate $11.4 million effort also led by UB researchers, was ordered by a federal judge after Tonawanda Coke Corp. was found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The health study aims to determine how Tonawanda Coke emissions may have affected the health of nearby residents and employees. Coke oven gas contains a number of toxic chemicals that are potentially hazardous to health, including benzene, a known carcinogen. Democrats largely prevail in SJ, but reversals loom in two townships Democratic incumbents held on to many seats, but GOP challengers made inroads in two large townships American Green Inc., a US-based marijuana company has purchased the deserted town of Nipton, California with a view to turning it into a cannabis-friendly hospitality destination According to CNN the same marijuana-making company that recently unveiled the American Green Machine (a vending machine you can buy weed from) purchased the entire 48 hectare town of Nipton in California for around $5 million USD. Not a bad price to pay for an entire town considering in Sydney over the weekend a small three bedroom, one bathroom unrenovated house in 'original' condition sold for that exact same dollar amount. CNN reports that American Green Inc. has an 18-month, $2.5 million development plan, "...to make Nipton the country's first energy-independent, cannabis-friendly hospitality destination." And the company will, "...initially focus on bottling cannabis-infused water in the town. The production of marijuana edibles and the cultivation of cannabis won't be far behind." The sparsely populated town of Nipton is on the borders of California and Nevada in the Mojave National Preserve and if American Green Inc.'s plans turn out, the ghost town will soon be a must-visit on the travelling pot-lovers road trip. The company's plans for the town also include mineral baths, places to stay, marijuana shops and, "A first-of-its-kind eco-tourism experience for conscious cannabis consumers." The company is clearly taking full advantage of California's recent legalization of recreational marijuana, with next-door neighbour Nevada not likely to complain about any strong 'aromas' coming from Nipton, since they also recently legalized recreational marijuana. Aurobindo Pharma, one of the countrys leading drug makers, plans to develop more than 58 drugs in the oncology space, besides eight hormone products, and could start regulatory filings for them later this year. Manufacturing of these drugs would commence from 2018-19, the company said in its annual report for 2016-17. Indias largest engineering and manufacturing company Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) made no effort to innovate or strategise its business leading to heavy losses, the Comptroller & Auditor General of India said in its audit report on the company. The Defence ministry is on the verge of granting conditional approval for development of the Subarnarekha port off the coast of north Odisha. The nod is expected to overcome a major hurdle for that has announced to acquire a majority stake in the port project. The steel maker has signed a definitive agreement with Chennai-based Creative Port Development Ltd (CDPL) to pick up 51 per cent equity in the port project from the original promoters. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has reserved its order in Era Infrastructure's insolvency case over jurisdictional issues. Lawyers associated with the case say that the NCLT will take a call on whether the matter has to be transferred to the high court as there are a number of winding-up petitions against the corporate debtor. Indias largest watchmaker will tap into e-commerce giant Amazons global selling programme to begin shipping its products to customers in the US, even as it reinvents its product range locally to boost sagging sales. In a stunning-but unsubstantiated-claim, a senior Chinese official on Tuesday said Bhutan had acknowledged that the Doklam area where the Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a standoff does not belong to it. Chinas top diplomat on the boundary issue, Wang Wenli, told a visiting Indian media delegation that Bhutan has conveyed to Beijing through the diplomatic channels that the area of the standoff is not its territory. She provided no evidence for the claim, which is at the complete variance with Bhutans stated position and actions. Bhutan had protested to the Chinese government, accusing it of violating a bilateral pact after its troops tried to construct a road in the Doklam area on June 16. After the incident, the Bhutanese made it very clear to us that the place where the trespassing happened is not Bhutans territory, said Wang, who is the deputy director-general of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. She went on to say that Bhutanese find it very strange that the Indian border troops are on the Chinese soil, and implied that her views have been gleaned from Bhutanese state media and legal blogs which have more convincing information. A statement issued by Indias external affairs ministry on June 30 said, On June 16, a PLA (peoples liberation army) construction party entered the Doklam area and attempted to construct a road. It is our understanding that a Royal Bhutan Army patrol attempted to dissuade them from this unilateral activity. India had also cited the Bhutanese foreign ministry as emphasising that the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between these two countries. They have urged a return to the status quo as before June 16, 2017. India also conveyed to the Chinese government that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for it. India says both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place. Wang said Bhutan is observing the actions being taken by both Indian and Chinese troops from its territory. Bhutan has no direct diplomatic relations with China and maintains contacts with Beijing through its diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Bhutan and China have held 24 rounds of talks to resolve boundary dispute while India and China have completed 19 rounds of talks. Wang said India and Bhutan are two countries out of the 14 countries China is yet to sort out boundary disputes. China has settled boundary dispute approximately of 20,000 km with 12 countries out of the 22,000 km and is yet to settle about 2,000 km of boundary involving India and Bhutan. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday demanded strict action against the people accused of stalking an IAS officer's daughter in Chandigarh, saying that if the government failed to do so, "people will lose faith in the system". "Those stalking Varnika (Kundu) should get harsh punishment irrespective of how powerful they are. Otherwise, people will lose faith in the law system," he tweeted. Haryana BJP Chief Subhash Barala's son, Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar were arrested for allegedly stalking the woman but were, however, released later on bail. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also accused the BJP of "misusing" the government machinery to "protect" Haryana BJP President's son. "AAP strongly condemns the stalking of the girl by Haryana BJP President's son and his friend. We demand strict action against the culprits. Justice need to be served," AAP leader Alka Lamba said. With Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left parties deciding against aligning with other secular forces, the Congress and Trinamool Congress on Tuesday took a step further towards an alliance in West Bengal for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Congress president on Tuesday said that "self-appointed vigilantes" were a threat to liberty and enemies of pluralism and expressed her anguish at the "assault on freedom". Addressing a special Congress Working Committee meeting here on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, Gandhi said the party must always defend liberty and freedom of individuals and institutions. "I am anguished by the assault on freedom. Self-appointed vigilantes are a threat to liberty and an enemy of pluralism and diversity," she said. In his remarks, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed deep concern about India's youth and farmers and said multiple problems continue to persist after demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was not present at the meeting. The meeting is being attended by senior leaders of the party. India should not think that China will avoid military action and the risk of war "under any circumstances", Chinese daily Global Times warned New Delhi amid the ongoing . A Gurgaon-based educational start-up will provide scholarships worth Rs 11 crore to school students in Delhi and the NCR through a quiz contest, the organisers said. Students from Classes 5 to 10 of 200 schools can participate in the 'Your Champion Quotient' quiz contest to be held until the month of October this year. The initiative by MindHour, a growing 'EduTech' start-up, is partnering with the schools in the Delhi and NCR regions, reaching out to more than 100,000 students. "We aim at educating parents and children about the 4Qs - IQ (Intelligent Quotient), EQ (Emotional Quotient), CQ (Creative Quotient) and FQ (Fitness Quotient) - and their importance in the holistic development of students," Sumit Marda, co-founder and CEO of MindHour, told PTI. The 30-minute long quiz will be in the written format and held in schools on selected days. Participation in the quiz is free of cost. Prizes will be provided as scholarships worth up to Rs 15,000 each to meritorious students. MindHour is a digital education platform that currently reaches out to more than five lakh users through three education formats - online, offline and classes for students from Classes 6 to 10. The police handling of the incident of stalking and alleged attempt to kidnap the daughter of a bureaucrat snowballed into a major controversy with the opposition on Monday accusing the BJP government in Haryana of shielding the state unit chief and his son, an accused, while the police said it has an open mind and could add further charges in the case. The government headed by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar continued to draw flak for the pressure that was allegedly brought on the Chandigarh Police to dilute the case against Vikas Barala, son of Subhash Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar, who allegedly stalked and intimidated a 29-year-old woman last week. Under criticism from various quarters over its flip-flop in the incident involving the daughter of a senior Haryana IAS officer, Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Eish Singhal said: "We are investigating the case with an open mind. If any section has to be added at a later stage, we will do it." Singhal tried to evade direct questions on the role of the police in trying to shield the main accused, Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar. However, he did not answer questions on reports that video footage of seven of the nine CCTVs had gone missing. "We have reconstructed the scene of the crime. We are trying to get the CCTV footage. We will get the technical analysis of this done. We have been investigating it only for three days," he said. "We are not doing anything under pressure. We are a professional investigating agency and we are doing our job," Singhal said. He accused the media of conducting a "media trial" in the matter. Defending the police action in this matter, Singhal said that the police officials immediately booked the accused and arrested them though they were later released on bail. Chandigarh Police on Saturday booked and arrested Vikas Barala and his friend, both of whom were drunk, on charges of stalking the young woman after chasing her car in their SUV. The victim alleged that the youth tried to intimidate her and abduct her. Earlier, police said there was no CCTV footage of the incident. Deputy Superintendent of Police Satish Kumar told the media that they tried to get CCTV footage from nine CCTV cameras along the route, from Sector 7 to Housing Board traffic light point, but all were found to be "non-functional". The route along which the two accused stalked Varnika Kundu, daughter of Haryana Additional Chief Secretary V.S. Kundu, passes through some prominent and busy parts of Chandigarh including the Sector 26 Police Lines. "It is strange that the CCTV cameras of such high-profile areas were not working. This seems to be a cover-up," a junior police officer told IANS. The victim and her family have said they will fight the case to its "logical conclusion". The Congress on Monday accused the Union Home Ministry of trying to protect the son of Haryana BJP President Subhash Barala. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Chandigarh Police, which comes under the Home Ministry, diluted the charges and booked Vikas Barala under bailable offences. Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah should say why the BJP leader's son was being protected and sought the Haryana BJP President's resignation. "He (Vikas) followed the woman for seven kilometres, tried to stop the car. They even tried to open the door and enter the car. Is it not a case of attempted kidnapping and abduction? Is it not a case of molestation and outraging the modesty of a woman? If it is so, why were these charges not pressed against the accused?" asked Surjewala. "The Home Ministry and the police is conspiring to hush up the entire matter to protect the Haryana BJP president and his son," he added. He said the police initially said it was a case of abduction and outraging the modesty of a woman, both of which are non-bailable offences. However, the police booked the FIR under different sections which were bailable offences. "The police changed its statement. They said we have only enforced the offence of stalking, not even that of outraging the modesty. They said it was forceful restraint but omitted abduction... She said there was an attempt to abduct her, why was it not written in FIR? This is dereliction of duty." "Does it not prove that between 2.30 p.m. and 5 p.m., the message from the Home Ministry and the Centre reached the Chandigarh Police? Why are they going out of the way to hush up the matter instead of punishing the guilty?" He accused Modi and Amit Shah of trying to save the BJP leader's son. "Five CCTV footages from five different cameras out of seven have gone missing. How is it that suddenly all those CCTV cameras have stopped functioning and have gone missing," asked Surjewala. Accusing the BJP of adopting double standards, he said a few years ago a Haryana Congress leader was made to resign after an incident involving his son. "When a similar incident had happened involving the son of a senior minister in the Haryana government a few years ago the BJP had demanded the minister's resignation holding him accountable." Chandigarh's Deputy Superintendent of Police Satish Kumar said Barala and a friend were booked under Section 354D (stalking a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. Section 341 (wrongful restraint) was later added in the FIR. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In India, there is tremendous shortfall in emergency medical services (EMS) in urban and rural areas. In rural and remote areas critical patients risk their lives due to the lack of affordable ambulance services. This article tells the story of how a video report by VideoVolunteers community correspondent Bikash Barman depicting the problem made it possible to produce an ambulance at a nearby facility. The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday filed an application in Delhi's Patiala House Court seeking production of former INX media chairman Indrani Mukherjea in connection with the . Earlier in May, an FIR was lodged against former Union minister P. Chidambaram's son Karti, Indrani Mukherjea, unknown officers of FIPB Unit of Ministry of Finance and others over alleged financial misappropriation over Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to Peter Mukherjea and Indrani's media company INX Media in 2008. INX Media operated channels like NewsX, 9X and 9X Music. The charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, taking gratification in order by corrupt or illegal means to influence public servant and criminal misconduct. The case was registered under section 120-B r/w, section 420, section 8 and section 13(2) r/w and 13 (1) (d) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). It is alleged that while the clearance was only for Rs. 4 crore, the actual foreign investment was much higher, and this was allowed because Karti allegedly facilitated the deal. The CBI is also investigating a money trail and the bribe allegedly given to Karti. According to reports, in 2008, Karti's Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL) allegedly received Rs 35 Lakhs from INX Media, on the same day another Rs 60 lakh was allegedly paid from INX Media to Northstar Software Solutions Pvt Ltd. On September 24, 2008, another tranche of 20,000 Dollars were allegedly paid to ASCPL's Singapore subsidiary by INX Media. The involvement of P. Chidambaram is also being investigated since he was a Union Minister then. Indrani, accused in her daughter Sheena Bora's murder case, is currently lodged in the Byculla prison. In wake of the gunfight, authorities blocked the internet services in Pulwama as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the district. The Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday arrested 48 from Tamil Nadu after firing in the air, official sources said. 12 mechanised boats of the fishermen were also seized by the navy, Fisheries Assistant Director Shivakumar told PTI. The fishermen, belonging to Pudukottai and Jagadapattinam districts, were taken to Kangesanthurai by the navy personnel, he said. The navy men allegedly rammed their boats against the mechanised vessels and under its impact four fishermen fell into the sea and were rescued by the naval personnel immediately. Later they fired a couple of shots in the air and asked the fishermen to surrender, which they did. The fishermen were later taken to Kangesanthurai. Rajiv Kumar, the economist who will be replacing Arvind Panagariya as Niti Aayog vice-chairman wrote in his column in Hindi newspaper, Dainik Jagran that rumours floating in the capital, often also called Lutyen's Delhi, suggest that more resignations will follow Panagariya's. 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. Full-service airline on Monday said it will offer all-inclusive fares at Rs 799 for economy class and Rs 2,099 for premium economy in its two-day "freedom to fly" sale starting August 8. According to the airline, the bookings under the sale will be available on August 8-9 for the travel period between August 23, 2017, and April 19, 2018. "Minimum 15 days advance purchase is required," the airline said in a statement. The airline said the offer will include discounted fares for destinations like Goa, Port Blair, Leh (Ladakh), Jammu, Srinagar, Kochi, Guwahati, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, as well as metro cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. "The lowest fare under this sale is available on the Srinagar-Jammu route, while other routes are also available at highly discounted fares," the statement added. Currently, the airline operates to 19 destinations with over 625 weekly flights operated by a fleet of 15 Airbus A320 aircraft. As a planet, we have some serious climate targets to meet in the coming years. The Paris Agreement , signed by 192 countries, set an aspirational goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degree celcius. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals , set to be achieved by 2030, commit the world to take urgent action on . All this will require ridding our economies of carbon. If were to do so, we need to completely rethink our cities. The Shia Central Waqf Board on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the could be built at a distance from the disputed site in Ayodhya. Just how the Doklam crisis plays out is still a matter of speculation. Nearly two months into the stand-off, the Chinese verbal bombardment has not abated. The Bhutanese and Indian responses have remained low key after their respective press releases of June 29 and 30. A month after goods and services tax (GST) roll-out, a sudden deluge of gold imports from free trade partner South Korea has alarmed New Delhi. Swinging into action, the government is examining several options, including levy of safeguard duty on gold imports from South Korea to plug the route. Officials brainstormed on the matter through Tuesday, it is learnt. Among others, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia met Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia to assess the situation. Under Narendra Modi, foreign influence on Indian policy making is fading away, writes Rajiv Kumar, who has been selected to replace Arvind Panagariya as the new vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog. In a column published by Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, while referring to Panagariya's exit earlier this month and Raghuram Rajan's decision last year to return to academia after completing his three-year stint as the RBI governor, Kumar writes that if "rumours in Lutyens Delhi" are to be believed, more such resignations may occur. A war of words over foreign influence on Indian policymaking broke out on Tuesday after NITI Aayog vice-chairman-designate Rajiv Kumar suggested in a newspaper column that Indian-American economists were fading away as part of the ongoing policy transformation in the government. The Union Public Service Commission is inviting applications for the post of Marketing Officer (GroupI) (Survey, Training Quality Control) hired by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI). Candidates willing to take up the post can apply for the same till August 10. There are total 28 vacancies for Unreserved Category (18), OBC (4), SC (3), ST (3) and PH (2). The qualified candidates would be offered the salary as per Level 7 in Pay Matrix with entry pay Rs. 44,900/-. The DMI an attached Office of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare implements the agricultural marketing policies and programs for the integrated development of marketing of agricultural and other allied produce in the country. It aims to safeguard the interests of farmers as well as the consumers. It maintains a close liaison between the Central and the State Governments. A number of research / studies on medicinal values of plants are being carried out by various government as well as private universities / research institutions/ organizations in India. . . Presently, research projects on various aspects (viz. literary research, survey, identification, documentation, micropropagation, agrotechnology, drug standardization, pharmacological and clinical research etc.) of medicinal plants are being supported by different Ministries/Departments of Government of India (viz. Ministry of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Ministry of Agriculture & Family Welfare, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology etc.) under their concerned schemes / programmes. . . Under the Ministry of AYUSH, different Research Councils viz. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) are engaged in research & development activities on medicinal plants used in concerned system of medicine. In addition, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, under its Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants" is also supporting research & development projects on various aspects on medicinal plants to number of government as well as private universities / research institutions/ organizations across the country. At present more than 140 research projects, supported under NMPBs Central Sector Scheme on various aspects of medicinal plants, are ongoing in various universities/ research organizations in different states of the country. . . Some of the premier research institutions/organizations doing research on medicinal value of plants are: Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP)- Lucknow, Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI)- Lucknow, Indian Institute for Integrative Medicines (IIIM)- Jammu, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT)- Palampur, National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI)- Lucknow, North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST)- Jorhat under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR)- Anand, Gujarat under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Indian Council of Forestry and Education (ICFRE)- Dehradun, and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). . . This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri ShripadYesso Naik in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. . . Developing Military-Industrial Complex Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), an R&D wing of Ministry of Defence (MoD), is mandate to design and develop strategic, complex and security sensitive systems in the fields of missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, radars, electronic warfare systems, sonars combat vehicles, combat aircraft, sensors, etc. for the Armed Forces as per their specific Qualitative Requirements for enhancing the national security of the country. Over the past five decades, DRDO has developed / upgraded a number of systems / products /technologies, a large number of which have already been productionised. Value of systems / products / technologies developed / upgraded by DRDO and inducted into the Services or in the process of induction stands over Rs.2.56 lakh Crore. This figure does not include Strategic Systems. DRDO has always been acting dedicatedly towards indigenisation of weapons & defence equipments. However, achieving self-reliance in the field of defence is the joint responsibility of Ministry of Defence, DRDO, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) & Ordnance Factory Boards (OFBs). Also production of these products & Technologies is done by OFBs, DPSUs and private industries. Government has always supported DRDO in terms to allocation of funds. This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley in a written reply to Shrimati Vandana Chavan in Rajya Sabha today. Nampi/Rajib/Ranjan To achieve the targets mentioned in the National Forest Policy to maintain 33% forest and tree cover in the country the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is implementing two major afforestation/tree plantation schemes i.e. National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme and National Mission for a Green India (GIM). . . While NAP is being implemented for afforestation of degraded forest lands, GIM aims at improving the quality of forest/increase in forest cover, besides cross-sectoral activities on landscape basis. An area of about 21 lakh ha has been approved for new afforestation with an investment of around Rs. 3700 crore under NAP since inception in 2000, till 2016-17. Under GIM an amount of Rs.174 crore has been released since 2011-12 to 2016-17 for preparatory and perspective plan. . . The fund under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), interalia, is also used in plantation activity including compensatory afforestation to give a massive thrust to afforestation activity in the country. . . Afforestation/Tree plantation targets in the country under Item No.51 (a) (Area Covered under Public and Forest Lands) and 51 (b) (No. of Seedlings Planted) of Twenty Point Programme (TPP) is fixed by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) annually to States/UTs in consultation with them. An area of 1.46 lakh ha. under Item 51(a) and 9460.49 lakh seedlings to be planted under 51(b) have been fixed as total targets for the year 2017-18. . . Tree Plantation/afforestation activities are taken up cross-sectorally by various departments, NGOs, civil society, corporate etc. under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes and also under different State Plan/Non Plan Schemes including externally aided projects involving large-scale participation of people and other social organizations." . . This information was given by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. . . A Parliamentary Delegation from Mexico led by Ms Guadalupa Murguia Gutierres, President, Chamber of Deputies, Congress of Mexico, called on President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind today (August 8, 2017) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. . . Welcoming the delegation, the President said India and Mexico are important political and economic partners and share deep democratic traditions. He congratulated the delegation on the centenary of the adoption of the Mexican Constitution. He thanked Mexico for its support for Indias candidature to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. He also said there was scope for further bilateral cooperation in areas such as solar energy and space technology. . . The President pointed out that Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had concluded a successful visit to Mexico in 2016. He added that India looked forward to the visit of HE Enrique Pe?a Nieto, the President of Mexico. He wished the delegation a fruitful stay in India. . . Preparatory Meeting of the First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017 begins The two-day Preparatory Meeting of the First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017 began here today. Lt Gen (Retired) N C Marwah, Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session. This marks the first phase of the First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017, being organized by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Delivering the Inaugural Address at the Preparatory Meeting, Lt. Gen. Marwah said the Disaster Management Exercise of BIMSTEC bloc will help in the augmentation of capacities, especially response capacity, besides promoting cooperation and coordination in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Regional and International Cooperation in DRR is critical to Disaster Management, he added. Lt. Gen. Marwah said India has been at the forefront of DRR efforts by hosting the South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SAADMEx) and the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR). India has also offered its expertise and capabilities in DRR such as the South Asia satellite, GSAT-9, and the Tsunami Early Warning Centre to other countries, he added. Lt. Gen. Marwah said the impact of natural disasters is increasing due to growing population and urbanization. Sharing of Best Practices in DRR including Prevention, Mitigation and Resilience are critical to Disaster Management, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Director General, NDRF, Shri Sanjay Kumar said the modalities and requirements of the First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017 would be worked during the course of the two-day Preparatory Meeting. Shri Prashant Agarwal, Joint Secretary (BIMSTEC & SAARC), MEA said the Disaster Management was one of the important Agenda items the BIMSTEC leaders deliberated upon during the Goa BRICS Summit in October last year where BIMSTEC leaders were the Special Invitees. Senior officers from MHA, MEA, NDMA, NDRF and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), besides representatives from all seven BIMSTEC nations, - namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, are participating in the Preparatory Meeting. The Government of India has entrusted the responsibility of organizing the First BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017 to the NDRF. This Exercise will provide a platform to share the Best Practices on comprehensive aspects of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), strengthening regional response and coordination for Disaster Management among the BIMSTEC nations. The Exercise shall be conducted in two phase in Delhi and NCR. The first phase scheduled for August 8-9, 2017 comprises a Preparatory Meeting and field visit of site selected for Field Training Exercise (FTX) during the main exercise. The main exercise will comprise of Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercise (FTX) and After Action Review (AAR) which is scheduled for October 10-13, 2017. The Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that the government is committed to creating the right environment for promoting cruise tourism in the country. Speaking at Dawn of Cruise Tourism in India - an international conference organized by the Shipping Ministry at Mumbai Port today, he said that India has a huge potential of hosting nearly 40 lakh cruise tourists. Given the right impetus, the number of tourist ships visiting India can go up from the present 158 to about 955 per year. . . The Union Minister expressed confidence that the cruise tourism sector would be a game-changer for domestic as well as international travellers. The sector is estimated to have a revenue potential close to Rs. 35,000 crore, and is expected to create over 2,50,000 jobs .Shri Gadkari also released three reports - Road Map for Sea Cruise Tourism", Mumbai Port SOP for Cruise Operations" and Cruise Terminals in India" These are aimed at bringing uniformity in procedural formalities to revolutionize the cruise tourism in India. . . Shri Gadkari informed that the Ministry of Shipping has already embarked upon reforms to boost cruise tourism . Absence of world class infrastructure and lack of defined procedures for various government departments/agencies for dealing with cruise vessels and tourists have been identified as major hurdles in the growth of cruise tourism. To address this, a task force comprising all relevant agencies like port, immigration, customs, port health authorities and security agencies was formed to study the present environment and procedures. A global consultant was hired to bring about a holistic approach and suggest the way forward. . . The key items that the studies have identified for success of cruise tourism include creating and developing the right market atmosphere, easy immigration process , security procedures that do not impede movement, taxation regime that allows for a platform for growth, Customs & Duties procedures that do not tie the industry, internationally comparable tariffs, port and tourism infrastructure that meets the needs of the cruise lines and visitors today and tomorrow. . . To achieve this the studies have recommended single window system for all pre cruise requirements for cruise operators to save time , separate dedicated approach road and entrance to the cruise terminals, uniform and consistent security procedures by CISF at all ports, coordination between immigration and CISF, training all departments dealing with cruise tourism with Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for better handling of passengers, use of technology in clearances, providing passenger manifest to CISF , implementation of green lane/red lane at existing terminals with random custom checking as is done in the airport, declaration of only limited items of inventory of the cruise ships in place of the existing requirement of having the complete inventory for all the stocks in the ship. . . Various steps have already been taken for growth of cruise tourism. These include finalization of SoPs for handling cruise vessels and passengers, allowing foreign flag vessels carrying passengers to call at Indian ports without obtaining license from DG (Shipping), Constitution of Port-level Committees to address manpower, coordination and logistics issues . A discount of 40% is being given at Major Ports in Port charges. Additional rebate of 25% for home port cruise vessels in addition to 40% rebate for coastal cruise transportation. E-Visa facility and e- Landing card has been extended to five major ports. Uniformity in port charges for cruise vessels at all Major Ports- About Rs. 1,600 per person as against earlier practice of charging per tonnage of ship . The charges are now comparable to Singapore and other global ports for cruise tourism. . . New infrastructure is being created at Mumbai at a cost of Rs. 300 crore. Tender has been awarded for civil construction of terminal building. There are plans to develop more port destinations other than the 5 ports of Mumbai, Goa, New Mangalore, Cochin and Chennai.. . Mr. David Dingle, Chairman, Carnival, UK the biggest cruise line in the world, which has started home port operations from Mumbai Port, presented the Carnivals plans for India. Shri Ravi Kant, Secretary to GoI, Ministry of Shipping highlighted Indias development initiatives for Cruise Tourism. Smt. Rashmi Verma, Secretary to GoI, Ministry of Tourism spoke on the growth and future of India as an international tourism hub. Shri. J. Rawal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra; Shri Arvind Sawant, Member of Parliament, Shri. Sumit Mullick, Chief Secretary to Government of Maharashtra and other senior officials were also present at the event.. . More than 6,000 guns have been surrendered in Australia's most populous state in just one month, police said today, after fears of terrorism and an influx of illegal firearms sparked a national amnesty. The government said in June it believed there were as many as 260,000 illicit weapons on the streets, and with the threat of extremist attacks and a spate of gangland shootings, it wanted to minimise the danger. Among the weapons handed over in New South Wales were four SKS assault rifles, a 9mm homemade sub-machine gun, a Colt AR-15 rifle, M1 carbine and a .44 calibre magnum revolver, state police said. In total, some 1,700 rifles, 460 shotguns and nearly 200 handguns were surrendered to police and dealers, while thousands of were handed in for registration. "We've also received more than 110 prohibited weapons including samurai swords, knives, and other edged weapons," Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Hoffman said. No official figures have been announced yet for other states and territories. The amnesty runs from July 1 until September 30, allowing people to hand in unregistered or unwanted firearms with no questions asked. Outside that period people face fines of up to USD 222,000 or 14 years' jail. Gun control measures continue to have strong public support in Australia. The national firearms amnesty is the first since the 1996 Port Arthur mass shooting that claimed 35 lives. More than 600,000 weapons were destroyed in the aftermath of that attack, during a gun buy-back in which compensation was offered. Then-prime minister John Howard also enacted tougher gun laws, including bans on certain weapons such as rapid-fire rifles and shotguns, a minimum ownership age and licences. All guns in Australia must be registered, but many arrive illegally from overseas through organised syndicates. Australian officials have grown increasingly concerned over the threat of extremist attacks and have prevented 13 on home soil since September 2014. Several terror attacks have taken place in Australia in recent years, including a Sydney cafe siege in 2014 which saw two hostages killed. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When the United Kingdom decided through a referendum on June 23, 2016, that it would leave the European Union, it was a given that EU agencies in the City of London would be relocated to other ideal European capitals. Like in every other area of work, there is presence of people of Asian origin in European Banking Authority (EBA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) headquartered in London. The French carmaker signed a multimillion-dollar deal in Tehran on Monday, agreeing to raise vehicle production in Iran just days after President Trump signed into law new sanctions against the country. The Trump administration has hailed the latest United Nations sanctions against nuclear-armed North Korea as the most severe yet, and the Norths fury over the penalties suggested they carried some sting. When he was elected president of the Philippines in July 2016, President Rodridgo Duterte promised to negotiate peace agreements with the major insurgent groups that have destabilised much of the country for decades. His government announced it would commence peace talks with the representatives of the National Democratic Front, the umbrella organisation that represents both the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New Peoples Army. Duterte also committed himself to a peace agreement with the Philippines largest insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Donald J Trump promised Americans that they would be exhausted from winning on trade under his presidency. But nearly seven months after Mr Trump took office, the industries he vowed to protect have become tired of something else: waiting. Donald J Trump promised Americans that they would be exhausted from winning on trade under his presidency. But nearly seven months after Trump took office, the industries he vowed to protect have become tired of something else: waiting. Last week, the government announced Bharat 22, an exchange traded fund of 22 large cap shares. While the composition includes mostly profit-making, dividend paying public sector companies, the government is also including some shares of blue chip companies like ITC, Larsen & Toubro and Axis Bank held under the Special Undertaking of Unit Trust of India or SUUTI. Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard. has gained 7% to Rs 245, also its 52-week high on BSE in early morning trade, after its overseas subsidiary, Novelis Inc reported a four-fold jump in net income at $101 million for the first quarter of FY18 (Q1FY18). The company had posted net income of $24 million in the corresponding period of previous year. Shares of real estate companies were under pressure with Nifty Realty index down by nearly 5% on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in late noon deals. Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), Indiabulls Real Estate, DLF and Unitech from Nifty Realty index were down more than 5% each. It is quite possible that the public issue of GIC Re will raise the cost of insurance cover in India. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday cornered Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for not taking security along during his foreign visits and thereby violating security protocol. The Home Minister's remark comes on the heels of recent attack on Congress vice president convoy during his Gujarat visit. Taking to Twitter, Singh said, "Shri Rahul Gandhi undertook 121 tours in the last 2 years, out of which there were 100 security protocol violations of not using BR Car." Singh further said that Rahul, who is a SPG protectee, went abroad without taking SPG cover which is a violation of the SPG Act. "SPG protectee get security cover under an Act of Parliament reflecting the will and wisdom of Parliament for providing security. Going abroad without taking SPG cover is not only a violation of the SPG Act, but also a negligence towards one's own security," Singh said in a series of tweets. He further said that Rahul was away from India on six occasions for 72 days without taking any SPG security along, posing grave threat to himself. "We want to know why didn't Shri Rahul Gandhi take SPG cover on several foreign trips? What is he trying to hide?," Singh asked. Responding to the stone pelting on Rahul's convoy in Gujarat, Singh said adequate security arrangement were made for the Congress vice president but he did not pay heed to it. "Shri Rahul Gandhi, MP visited Dhanera and Thara, District Banaskantha, Gujarat on 4th August, 2017. As Shri Rahul Gandhi is a SPG Protectee, the Advance Security Liaising (ASL) in respect of the scheduled visit of Shri Gandhi was done. Two Bullet Resistance cars were provided for Shri Rahul Gandhi at Dhanera but he sat in a Non BR car while travelling," he tweeted. Mentioning that Rahul had avoided the security advice in past as well, Singh said, "It is worth mentioning that in the past, there have been many instances of Rahul ignoring the security adviceIn his earlier visit to Gujarat on 21.07.2017, Shri Gandhi preferred to use a non-BR car in disregard of advice given by SPG to use BR Car." On August 4, stone were pelted at Rahul's convoy while he was returning after taking stock of the flood affected areas in Gujarat's Dhanera. The Congress party had blamed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 'goons' for the attack following which the police arrested BJP worker, Jayesh Darji. Rahul had also slammed the Centre and said, "Narendra Modi ji's slogans, black flags and stones will not stop us.... We will put in all our might into the service of people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With multidisciplinary robotic surgery proving its worth in India over the past six years, Odisha remains one of the few Indian States that doesn't have a single surgical robot. With a view to familiarize surgeons and hospital administrators on how computer-assisted surgeries can treat various forms of cancers, particularly in the medical disciplines of Urology, Gynaecology, Thoracic, Gastro-intestinal and Head and Neck Vattikuti Technologies is taking da Vinci Surgical roving robot to hospitals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar this week. A da Vinci surgical robot brings in human wrist-like movement with its instruments and offers a 10 times enlarged three dimensional view. And that is exactly what a tour of a da Vinci surgical robot across India is trying to demonstrate. Surgeons in the twin cities will get a first-hand look at how a surgical robotic works and understand the situations in which its benefits unfold. The roving robot that simulates an operating room setting will be available to surgeons of Cuttack at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack (on Aug 9-10) and AIIMS Hospital, Bhubaneswar (on August 11-12) to acquaint themselves of its immense capabilities. Vattikuti Technologies, distributor of da Vinci Surgical Robots and Vattikuti Foundation, evangelist for robotic surgery, are focused on spreading the use of robotic surgery in India. Vattikuti Technologies has partnered with dozens of hospitals in India since 2011 to install a robotic program and bring about the training of surgeons so that patients and doctors have the choice of robotic surgery when it is applicable and beneficial. "The four armed 'Roving Robot' will help surgeons in non-metro locations experience the capabilities of a da Vinci surgical robot in removing cancerous tissue while retaining healthy tissue," said Gopal Chakravarthy, CEO, Vattikuti Technologies. HOW IT WORKS The da Vinci robot does not, contrary to misconception, go ahead and operate on a patient all on its own. A specially trained surgeon sits at a Surgeon's console nearby looking into a magnified 3D view of the area to be operated. From here, the fine instruments mounted on the four arms of the surgical robot are guided via tiny incisions into the body to remove and repair damaged or affected tissue. The work is precise and tidy. Da Vinci Surgical Robot works best for soft tissue surgeries, especially with cancerous malignancies. "Eminent robotic surgeon Dr Imran Hamzawala of Saifee Hospital Mumbai will highlight the benefits of robotic surgery in an interactive session with surgeons from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar on August 11. Surgeons maintain that robotic surgery causes less trauma as they are in full control of the entire procedure," said Chakravarthy. Vattikuti Technologies and surgical robot maker Intuitive Surgical Inc., USA will offer hospitals the da Vinci robot along with instruments required for the next three years at a special price point. WHY GO ROBOTIC? With enough skilled surgeons in the world, why would it be at all necessary to use robots for something as meticulous as surgery? Contrary to myths, robotic surgery still needs skilled surgeons, specially trained in the use of the robot which doesn't operate alone. Experts allude to Robotic Surgery as Computer Assisted Surgery. The da Vinci Robot is controlled at a special console by the surgeon who has a magnified 3D view of the area to be operated and it is from here that robotic arms are guided to do the job. The advantages, involving soft tissue for cancer patients, are unmatchable: No cut and open: Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive technique. There is no need to make a long cut to open the body and then stitch it back up. Small incisions allow the robotic arms access without damage. This means little blood loss, no significant pain, reduced chance of infection, and a speedy recovery time. Even post-op care is significantly reduced so that a patient can get out of hospital and back to life and work in a much shorter period of time. It is cosmetically better, especially for head and neck surgeries as it leaves no visible scars. Unmatched precision: The precise movements of a robotic arm allow instruments to access difficult to reach areas with ease. Much finer than human hands and fingers -- and more infallible -- the robot's arms can do their work very precisely. Magnified view: The view that a surgeon gets at the console is ten times magnified and three dimensional allowing the doctor to see so much more clearly. This prevents collateral damage and reduces the chances of errors. BY THE NUMBERS So far, the number of da Vinci Surgical robots in India stands at 51 installations, manned by 275 trained robotic surgeons in 47 hospitals in 20 cities. Intuitive Surgical, makers of the da Vinci robot, say that there have been over three million da Vinci patients so far, treated by 33,000 plus da Vinci trained surgeons using 4000 plus surgical robots installed over six continents in 64 countries. In fact, every 60 seconds a surgeon somewhere starts a da Vinci procedure. SPREAD OF CANCER IN INDIA The spread of robotic surgery is a crying need as the spread of cancer continues relentlessly across India. According to the National Cancer Registry, there are 15 lakh new cancer cases every year, a prevalence of over 30 lakh cancer cases at any point of time and over 680,000 deaths a year. To address the scarcity of trained surgeons and the cost of computer assisted procedures and equipment Vattikuti Technologies and Intuitive Surgical Inc. USA and Vattikuti Foundation will showcase the technology by mounting the surgical robot on a mobile vehicle to simulate an operation theatre setting as it shares with doctors, surgeons and hospital administrators of the immense benefits. WHO DOESN'T DREAD THE VERY THOUGHT OF SURGERY? Performed by skilled surgeons it is necessary and effective, but significant cuts to gain access inside the body lead to a lot of pain and slow healing. Conventional surgery means long hospital stays and long recovery times. Blood loss necessitates blood transfusions and is even cosmetically poor as one is left with scars. About 15 to 20 percent of the patients do face problems related to the wound and not the actual surgery. Open surgery with long cuts was the only treatment until Laparoscopy was introduced in the early 1990s when surgeons made small cuts, inserted a tube to reach in with small instruments and operated on the affected organs. Instead of seeing the organs with the naked eye, the images of organs were displayed on a TV monitor captured by a miniature telescope-mounted camera inserted in the body. The patients were able to recover faster than with regular surgery. Laparoscopy, even though a major surgical advancement, has disadvantages such as a mere 2-dimensional view, lack of touch sensation and inability of the instruments to provide fine movement. Suturing is difficult and the surgeons have a steep learning curve to become adept at it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday appreciated the order of the Election Commission to declare votes of two Congress MLAs in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls invalid. Patel, who is seeking RS seat from Gujarat, said, "I appreciate the order of the Election Commission. I salute my MLAs; rank and file of the Congress Party". The EC on late Tuesday night declared votes of two Congress MLAs- Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel- invalid. The decision was taken on a complaint of the Congress. The Congress had complained to the EC that the MLAs had shown their votes to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani and independent candidate Balwantsinh Rajput instead of representative of Congress candidate Ahmed Patel. The voting for three RS seats from Gujarat was held on Tuesday. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the Election Commission by declaring votes of two Congress MLAs invalid has taught the BJP lesson of its life. "The BJP used all power it had; it deployed all its union ministers but the truth won. It is a victory of truth. We thank the EC, for upholding the law and holding the two unwarranted votes. There cannot be a better lesson for the BJP," said Surjewala. Gujarat Congress President Bharatsinh Solanki said that the acts of defection, disorder and malpractices of the BJP have been exposed and assured that grand old party Rajya Sabha candidate Ahmed Patel will win with big margin in election. Meanwhile, he also targeted BJP Party president Amit Shah and said, "Everyone thought Amit Shah is always successful in unlawful, negative things but Gujarat proved this kind of authority won't work." Congress has fielded its senior leader Ahmed Patel, while the BJP has fielded Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput for the three RS seats from Gujarat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajmummar Rao, who is all set to play the role Pritam Vidrohi in forthcoming film 'Bareilly Ki Barfi', feels that the variations this character has is very unique. When asked how much he enjoyed playing a character like this, Rajkummar Rao, who was spotted at the music launch of the movie, said, "As an actor, I try and do different thing in every film. Otherwise, it gets really boring. When Nitesh sir narrated me the script and when Ashwini told me about the story, I was damn excited. I felt that this character is quite special and unique. To show these two personality traits in one film, it was something I did not think of doing earlier." With variety of performances in films like Raabta, Behen Hogi Teri, Aligarh and Trapped, Rajkummar has proved that he can readily take on any challenge thrown at him. The actor also shared that he just wants to establish himself as an actor first anything like dancing comes after that. The story of 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' revolves around three persons, Chirag, Pritam and Bitti, played by Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar and Kriti Sanon respectively. Directed by 'Nil Battey Sannata' fame Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, the film is scheduled for August 18 release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aiming to strengthen its core leadership, Indifi Technologies on Tuesday announced the appointment of Rana Vikram Anand as its President, thus embarking on its next phase of growth and evolution. In the given role, Rana will be responsible for scaling up of the and operations, strengthening and growing the existing segments, partnerships and alliances, identifying, assessing and establishing new sectoral opportunities, and capturing new avenues in product and customer segments. Prior to this, Rana was heading segments and products, branch and banking at RBL Bank. "I am thrilled with this association which affords me the very exciting opportunity of using my experience to both challenge the status quo and to solve for the needs of large underserved and unserved segments. I look forward to contributing as a catalyst in bridging the SME segment financing gap in India through collaboration with large businesses, supply chain aggregators, banks and NBFCs," said Vikram Anand, President, Indifi. "We are excited to have Rana on board to help drive our vision forward. Through his significant experience in leading businesses to capture market niches and deliver market firsts, he has earned a reputation of creating and leading a high performance culture, inspiring people and energizing teams into building profitable and sustainable businesses," added Alok Mittal, CEO and co-founder, Indifi. Prior to joining Indifi, Rana held a host of leadership positions in ANZ Grindlays Bank, ABN AMRO Bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland and RBL Bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against four accused for their involvement in conspiracy to plant a bomb in Bhopal-Ujjain Train. On March 27, a court in Bhopal placed three of the accused responsible for the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train blast in judicial custody till April 10. The Bhopal Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) handed over the case diary and other related documents to the NIA in March 15. The police have not yet been able to establish any connection of the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train blast with the ISIS. "No connections have yet been established with the ISIS," Bhopal Inspector General (Law and Order) Makrand Devaskar said. Earlier, Daljeet Chaudhary, the UP Additional Director General (ADG) of Police also said they had no evidence of any ISIS link, regarding the Lucknow terror stand-off, in which security forces gunned down a terrorist in an operation that lasted for nearly 10 hours in the thickly-populated Thakurganj area of Lucknow. Devaskar also said they cannot establish a linkage between the two incidents as far as the current probe is concerned; however, two of the accused of the train blast were residents of Uttar Pradesh. At least nine people were injured after the explosion took place in the train. The police arrested the three terrorists named mastermind Atif Muzaffar and Md. Danish - both residents of Kanpur, UP - and Syed Meer Hussain. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday assured strict investigation over the issue of stalking and harassing case of IAS's daughter in Chandigarh and called on the police to launch a probe as to why CCTV cameras were not working on that particular day. "A strict investigation will be done as to why the CCTV cameras were not working on that particular day when the incident of stalking and harassing of woman took place," Singh told ANI. He further asserted that the guilty would be punished irrespective of whosoever he may be. "Strict action will be taken against the guilty even if he is the son of some minister of a state," Singh said. Singh came down heavily over the comment of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader saying the victim should not have been out at such a late hour and said, "We are living in a modern world where women are self dependant and have to work late nights." He further said this was clearly a case of abduction and it has nothing to do with women working or moving out in the late hours at night. Earlier today, the Congress asserted that all the investigation agencies are under the saffron party's thumb. Opposing accused Vikas Barala's bail in the case, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said it should not be considered as a bailable offence. Congress MP Kumari Selja gave a zero hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the stalking incident. The Congress Party accused the BJP of pressurizing Chandigarh administration and hatching a conspiracy to protect Haryana BJP chief's son. Resonating similar views, Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee questioned the BJP as to why a case of abduction and assault to the modesty of the women hasn't been filed. On Aug 5, Vikas Barala, son of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Haryana unit President Subhash Barala, was arrested on the charges of stalking and harassing the IAS officer's daughter in Chandigarh. He was, however, granted bail on the same day. A case was registered by the Chandigarh Police against Vikas and other youth under Section 354 D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 185 (Motor Vehicle Act) of the CRPC on the basis of complaint filed by Varnika. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress MP Kumari Selja on Tuesday gave a zero hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the Chandigarh stalking incident. Vikas Barala, son of Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Subhash Barala, was arrested and then bailed out on August 5 on the charges of stalking and harassing an IAS officer's daughter in Chandigarh. A case was registered by the Chandigarh Police against Vikas and other youth under under Section 354 D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 185 (Motor Vehicle Act) of the CRPC on the basis of complaint filed by the woman. The incident invited a huge outrage with Opposition parties demanding stern action against the minister's son. The Congress Party accused the BJP of pressurizing Chandigarh administration and hatching a conspiracy to protect Haryana BJP chief's son. Chandigarh Police said that they are doing investigation with an open mind. Speaking to the media on the matter, Eish Sehgal, SSP Chandigarh Police, said that the police are not aiding the minister in the investigation and are doing their best to solve the matter. He said, "We are looking into the matter from all the perspectives. We don't want to investigate the matter under any pressure." Meanwhile, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the case, possibly seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China acknowledged that it is Beijing that will sacrifice its own economic interests to enforce economic sanctions on Pyongyang so as to force the reclusive country to curb its nuclear weapons programme. "If we consider traditional economic relations between China and North Korea, it is China that will have to pay most of the price for implementation of the latest resolution," Russia Today quoted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as saying at the ASEAN Forum in Manila. Wang said China is prepared to go against its own economic interests "for the sake of supporting international system of nuclear non-proliferation and to maintain peace and stability in the region." However, both Russia and China has urged all parties involved to resume the six-party talks to resolve the crisis after the tensions escalated with North Korea test-launching two suspected ICBMs in July. The six-party talks comprising South Korea, Japan, China, the US, Russia, and North Korea ended in 2009 when North Korea walked out and officially notified the International Atomic Energy Agency that it would resume its nuclear program. Speaking at the ASEAN ministerial security forum on Monday, U S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson apparently stated one precondition for direct talks between the US and North Korea, saying that "stopping missile launches" would be "the best signal that North Korea can give us that they are prepared to talk." Favouring for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated "I believe that with a sensible approach from all the players, including the US, South Korea, Japan, we will be able to find a solution that would work for all parties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Few Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers have been blamed for allegedly molesting school girls in Palnar. This incident took place in Dantewada during Raksha Bandhan function. When the programme concluded , few school girls were allegedly molested in toilet of an ashram in Palnar, 25 km away from the district headquarters of Dantewada. FIR in this case has been registered by Chhattisgarh Police today and investigation is underway. The CRPF has also been investigating the matter. Sundarraj P , Deputy Inspector General of Police, Baster, told ANI that the accused CRPF jawans are being interrogated. "Strong action will be taken against those who will be found guilty, further investigation is underway." said Sundarraj. Healso said the issue is serious and guilty will be punished. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the newly-introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) is crucial for promoting transparency and a corruption-free environment in the country. Addressing a session 'GST-The Indian Economy and the Way Ahead' organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), Goyal highlighted that the new tax regime aims to bring the informal sector under the ambit of formal economy. "The GST framework captures every transaction from end to end, recording them from source to final destination, leaving no room for uncertainty," said Goyal. Alluding to the advantages of bringing sectors under a formal regime, Goyal said GST would enhance the tax base which will eventually lead to reduction in tax rates. The increased revenue from taxes would enable targeted spending towards betterment of poor, old, children and women and other deprived sections of the society. Besides, the government would be able to develop better infrastructure. "The GST would create a level playing field by removing discrepancies from the system with the help of technology. Earlier, with multiple taxes in place, it was easier to evade taxes but the GST framework makes it necessary for businessmen to record each transaction," he said. Referring to different tax slabs under the GST, Goyal said by implementing a single tax for the entire range of goods and services, an imbalance would be created in the economy by making common goods expensive. Therefore, with different tax rates, the government attempted to keep the tax on common goods lower or equal to earlier regime wherever possible to maintain affordability. Apart from being a session to deliberate upon the GST, it was also aimed at empowering women and enhancing their knowledge on the subject. "FLO believes that the resources and strengths of women need to be channelised, to help their full potential. It acts as a catalyst for the social and economic advancement of women and society at large. Educational and vocational training programmes, talks, seminars, panel discussions and workshops on a vast range of subjects especially concerning women and are a part of this process," said Vasvi Bharat Ram, President, FLO. "While we are happy that goods such as' bindi, sindoor, kajal', bangles, which are specifically used by women, come under no tax slot. But, sanitary products, that are useful to every woman but is not accessible as widely has been made tougher to access because of its hiked up tax rate. This is something that we would request the government to look into as sanitary pads are not a luxury, it is a necessity for women," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The voting for the crucial Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections for three seats begun on Tuesday with many political leaders reaching the assembly to cast their vote. The voting will continue till 4 p.m. while the counting will be held from 5 p.m. Political leaders including former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela, Congress' Ahmed Patel arrived for voting at Gujarat assembly. Adding to Ahmed Patel's misery, Vaghela said that he did not cast his vote for Patel. "When we know that Congress will not win then there is no use of voting in favour of them. I didn't cast my vote for Ahmed Patel," Vaghela said. Meanwhile Patel expressed confidence and said, "I am confident, party is confident we are going to win. Wait for the result to come." Gujarat Assembly Secretary D. M. Patel, who is also the returning officer for the Rajya Sabha election said that after the resignation of six Congress MLAs, there are total 176 MLAs eligible to vote. The election has been necessitated following the completion of the tenures of three existing members Union Minister Smriti Irani and Dilip Pandya of BJP and Ahmed Patel of Congress. Meanwhile, the win of two of the three BJP candidates party president Amit Shah and Smriti Irani was almost certain, while the fate of the third party candidate Balwantsinh Rajput who joined BJP after resigning from Congress was hanging in balance along with the sole Congress candidate Ahmed Patel. Congress needs the support of 45 MLAs for victory of Patel who is contesting for his fifth term for the upper house. In 182 member assembly, BJP has 122 seats including dissident Nalin Kotadiya. While, Congress has 51 MLAs along with seven of Shankarinh Vaghela's camp. NCP has two and JD(U) has one MLA in the house. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader P Chidambaram has said that there is enough evidence to their stand that irregularities happened in the Rajya Sabha polls which took place in Ahmedabad on Tuesday Chidambaram said, "There is enough evidence that the ballot paper were seen by people other than those authorised." "EC must reject these ballot papers as it did in Haryana in June 2016," he added. At the same time, another party leader Anand Sharma said, "One of our MLAs had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana and his vote was rejected, same was done in Gujarat, so it should be rejected." The Congress has accused that two of its MLAs showed their votes to "unauthorised persons". These MLAs allegedly showed their votes to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani. While talking to the media, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, "The INC today went to ECI as two legislators Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav ji Bhai Patel had shown their votes not to the authorised person but to BJP president Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and to the independent candidate Balwant Singh Rajput. The vote is liable to be rejected as per the verdict of the Supreme Court and under the Section 39 of the Conduct of Election Rules." He further said that the party has requested the Election Commission to ensure their votes should not be counted and should be rejected, while adding that the ECI has assured that they will examine the entire matter. However, Congress candidate Ahmed Patel has asserted that his party had filed their concerned with the returning officer but their plea was shunned. "Complaint was filed immediately but returning officer didn't do anything," said Patel. However Patel said that despite of all the tactics played against him, he is still confidant of winning. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Angamali magisterial court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of actor Dileep till August 22, in connection with assault and abduction of a Malayalam actress. On July 14, Dileep was produced before the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court where his police custody was extended. Dileep on July 11 was expelled from the primary membership of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) after being arrested. He was also sent to 14-day judicial custody. Dileep was slapped with conspiracy charges owing to the abduction and assault of a popular Malayalam actress earlier in February. Later that day, he was arrested by evening. Earlier, the two main accused in the case, Sunil Kumar and Vigeesh, were brought to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for evidence collection. The incident reportedly took place when the actress was returning from a shoot. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mumbai police on Tuesday arrested a peon of the Seth Juggilal Poddar Academy (SJ Academy) in Malad for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl. The peon's identity has not been revealed and the school authorities are yet to comment on the allegation. The peon has been sent to police custody till August 11. A case has been registered and further investigations are underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Beyontec, a leading insurance information and technology firm specialising in providing configurable solutions to the P & C Insurance industry announced that Muscat Insurance Company (MIC), one of the leading insurance companies in Oman selected Beyontec as their preferred technology partner. Beyontec will implement their award-winning insurance solution, Beyontec Suite, for MIC. After evaluating various available solutions, MIC concluded that the Beyontec Suite, a core solution suite that supports the complete policy lifecycle across wide variety of products, would help MIC achieve their goals to obtain market leadership. Beyontec's proven delivery proposition will also provide MIC with the ability to introduce new products to market quickly. "After a comprehensive evaluation and selection process that included tender and detailed demonstration of Beyontec Suite, MIC chose Beyontec Suite in order to achieve our vision of becoming Oman's leading Insurance Company. As our Industry is in the process of consolidation, we have set certain ambitious growth plans for our group. It was important for us to select a right technology partner with an established delivery record and industry expertise to help us achieve our objectives," said Philip K Philip, Group CEO at MIC. "Our workflow-driven Beyontec software, with its fully integrated modules crossing all activities in insurance transactions, will enable Muscat Insurance Company to quickly and completely respond to their Customers. It was a pleasure to meet people as committed to customer care as we are at Beyontec. We warmly welcome Muscat Insurance Company to the Beyontec family and we're looking forward to long-term relationship," added Vivek Sethia, Cofounder at Beyontec Solutions DMCC. Beyontec Suite supports all lines of insurance such as general, life and medical, enabling carriers to explore new product offerings and hybrid designs. Beyontec and Muscat Insurance Company signed a strategic agreement to implement the Beyontec Suite on June 21, 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After Home Minister Rajnath Singh questioned Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over not taking Special Protection Guard (SPG) cover along on foreign trips, Conference (NC) working president Omar Abdullah accused the Centre of using the protection force for 'spying'. Taking to Twitter, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said that SPG is a protection force not an agency mandated to spy on protectees at the behest of the union government. Noting that the government should use Intelligence agencies to spy on the leaders, he added, "If you want to know what he is up to I'm sure there are better ways than trying to use his bodyguards as spies." "This is why protectees become weary of their close protection teams - governments of the day use them to spy on people," he added. Home Minister Rajnath earlier in the day cornered Rahul for not taking security along during his foreign visits and thereby violating security protocol. The Home Minister's remark comes on the heels of recent attack on Congress vice president convoy during his Gujarat visit. Taking to Twitter, Singh said, "Shri Rahul Gandhi undertook 121 tours in the last 2 years, out of which there were 100 security protocol violations of not using BR Car." Singh further said that Rahul, who is a SPG protectee, went abroad without taking SPG cover which is a violation of the SPG Act. "SPG protectee get security cover under an Act of Parliament reflecting the will and wisdom of Parliament for providing security. Going abroad without taking SPG cover is not only a violation of the SPG Act, but also a negligence towards one's own security," Singh said in a series of tweets. He further said that Rahul was away from India on six occasions for 72 days without taking any SPG security along, posing grave threat to himself. "We want to know why didn't Shri Rahul Gandhi take SPG cover on several foreign trips? What is he trying to hide?," Singh asked. The Home Minister's remark comes on the heels of recent attack on Congress vice president convoy during his Gujarat visit. On August 4, stone were pelted at Rahul's convoy while he was returning after taking stock of the flood affected areas in Gujarat's Dhanera. The Congress party had blamed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 'goons' for the attack following which the police arrested BJP worker, Jayesh Darji. Rahul had also slammed the Centre and said, "Narendra Modi ji's slogans, black flags and stones will not stop us.... We will put in all our might into the service of people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Hindu member of Pakistan's National Assembly (MNA) Lal Chand Malhi is being targeted in the country for his stance against forced conversions of minorities. Pir Ayub Jan Sarhandi, a Sindhi cleric, who is allegedly involved in forced religious conversions in Pakistan, has accused Malhi of being an agent of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's foreign intelligence agency. Shumaila H. Shahani, founder of All Pakistan Feminists' Association, has said that these accusations against Pakistan's religious minority are a common tool of harassment and blackmailing. "Whenever a Hindu speaks out against injustices these extremists try to shut them up by accusing them of anti-nationalism, blasphemy. Allegations of being a RAW agent is/should be considered hate speech," she said in a series of tweets Lal Chand Malhi is being targeted for his stance against forced conversions. https://t.co/qKxbTgENUl Shumaila H. Shahani (@ShahaniSays) August 7, 2017 Whenever a hindu speaks out against injustices these extremists try to shut them up by accusing them of anti-nationalism, blasphemy. https://t.co/7MRprQ1rky Shumaila H. Shahani (@ShahaniSays) August 7, 2017 These accusations against Pakistan's religious minority are common tool of harassment and blackmailing. https://t.co/527lJwIuTe Shumaila H. Shahani (@ShahaniSays) August 7, 2017 Peer Jaan Sarhandi, notorious for forced conversions, accused (Hindu) MNA Lal Chand Malhi of being a RAW agent.https://t.co/tAQii8wON9 Shumaila H. Shahani (@ShahaniSays) August 7, 2017 Pakistan's National Assembly had last year adopted a resolution, urging the government to take necessary steps to stop forced religious conversions and marriages of women belonging to minorities. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's MNA Lal Chand Malhi had tabled the resolution and stated that the issue was more serious in Sindh. Hindus and Christians are insecure in Pakistan, as unfortunately religious minorities are worst victims of religious extremists in Pakistan as the government has so far proved unable to protect their religious minorities. Malhi has worked as a Journalist with different media organizations since 1996 before being nominated on Reserved Seat for Non-Muslim in National Assembly by the PTI in 2013. He has also been working as a member of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, also incumbent Chairman of Sami Foundation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued a notice to the PML-N calling for removing Nawaz Sharif as party leader and appointing a new one. The ECP in the notice stated that under the Political Parties Order 2002, a disqualified lawmaker cannot hold any office in a political party, the Dawn reported. The notification also referred to the Supreme Court order on the Panama Papers case, in which Nawaz Sharif was formally asked to step down as prime minister. The ECP also observed that Article 15 of the PML-N's own party constitution says that if the seat of party president is vacant, it is to be filled within one week's time The ECP asked the PML-N to elect a new party leader and then inform the body. The notice assumes much significance as it comes a day before Nawaz Sharif is set to hod a two-days road show from Islamabad to his hometown of Lahore to garner much-needed political mileage in the face of the challenges its government is facing. His rival, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has urged the PML-N to distance itself from the ousted premier, warning that it would "ruin itself" if it did not do so. Khan described Sharif's plan to travel to Lahore with a cavalcade on GT Road a "deliberate attempt to undermine the Supreme Court" by calling into question its verdict in the Panama Papers case. Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court on 28 July for not disclosing the salary he did not receive from his son's company. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said that Shia Waqf Board's affidavit in the Supreme Court about Ram Temple in Ayodhya is "god sent". The Shia Waqf Board earlier today told the Supreme Court that mosque can be built near the birth place of Lord Ram (Ram Janmabhoomi) in Ayodhya. While averring that the Shia's have always vouched for peace in the matter, Swamy said that Shia's affidavit is god sent which will give his case a positive push. "That has been the original Shia stand; I have been to Iran also. I have checked up there and the Iranians are also of the view that we don't need to fight over the issue," said Swamy. "The mosque belonged to the Shias. This notice has boosted my confidence. The probability of constructing a ram temple has increased. This intervention of Shia's has been in my opinion is god sent," he added. In a major development, the Shia Waqf Board filed an affidavit before the apex court in which it stated that a mosque can be constructed at a place near birth place of Lord Ram. "Since, the Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf, we are alone entitled to negotiate and arrive at peaceful settlement with other stakeholders," Shia Waqf Board said in its statement. Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri dispute is very old issue between Hindus and Muslims. The Hindus claim that it is the birthplace of Lord Rama where a mosque was built in 1528-29 CE (935 AH) by Mir Baqi. Since the mosque was built on orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, it was named Babri Masjid. The mosque was demolished by Hindu Karsevaks on December 6, 1992 in Ayodhya. The country witnessed massive riots in which over 2000 people were killed. The first documented violence over the disputed site was reported in 1853 when the Nirmohi Akhara had forcefully occupied the Babri Masjid saying it was Ram Janmabhoomi. The communal riots had broken out after that which lasted for almost two years. In the year 1961, the Sunni Central Waqf Board also filed a lawsuit, demanding possession of the site and removal of idols from the mosque premises, which were placed in 1949. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shia Waqf Board on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that mosque can be built near Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In a major development, the Shia Waqf Board on Tuesday filed an affidavit before the apex court in which it stated that a mosque can be constructed at a place near birth place of Lord Ram. "Since, the Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf, we are alone entitled to negotiate and arrive at peaceful settlement with other stakeholders," Shia Waqf Board said in its statement. However, in the year 1961 the Sunni Central Waqf Board also filed a lawsuit, demanding possession of the site and removal of idols from the mosque premises. Reportedly, the board had earlier decided to become a party in ongoing litigations in relation to the Ramjanmabhoomi - Babri Masjid dispute. The mosque was demolished by Hindu Karsevaks on December 6, 1992 in Ayodhya. The country witnessed massive riots in which over 2000 people were killed. The Hindus claim that it is the birthplace of Lord Rama where a mosque was built in 1528-29 CE (935 AH) by Mir Baqi. Since the mosque was built on orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, it was named Babri Masjid. Before it was demolished in 1992, the Nirmohi Akhara had forcefully occupied the Babri Masjid in 1853 saying it was Ram Janmabhoomi (Birth place of Lord Rama). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prominent cleric and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri returned to Pakistan from Oslo on Tuesday morning to spearhead a campaign against the incumbent government and seek justice for martyrs of 2014 Model Town tragedy. In June 2014, seven people, including members of the PAT, were killed and 80 others injured during a clash between PAT protesters and policemen in Lahore. Upon arrival,Qadri addressed the media at Lahore airport, Qadri said that he had not expected the Supreme Court's verdict in the Panamagate case that disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif under Article 62 of the Constitution, the Dawn reported. Cleric will be travelling to Nasir Bagh ground to address party workers and supporters upon his return to the country. Qadri had spent a few weeks in Pakistan in June and left the country on July 1 to visit Egypt, UK and Norway.An Anti-Terrorism Court on July 14 in Islamabad moved to seize properties belonging to Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after the two repeatedly failed to appear in hearings of the Asmatullah Junejo case in which a policeman was attacked during the 2014 sit-in in Islamabad. He said that Nawaz had been disqualified for "lying and looting" and in order to rid the nation of corruption Articles 62 and 63 will have to be enforced. Qadri said he hoped that after Panamagate verdict, getting justice for the victims of the 2014 incident form the Supreme Court appeared to be a possibility. Meanwhile,former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will hold two-days road show from Islamabad to Lahore via GT Road on Wednesday. Qadri questioned the logical behind Sharif's GT Road show and said, "Who is Nawaz Sharif protesting against on GT Road?" Qadri has even warned Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he would be held accountable for the murder of 14 innocent people killed in the Model Town Massacre in June 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mawlawi Ahmadshah, Taliban's shadow governor for Faizabad district of northern Jawzjan province has been killed by security forces when they retaliated to dozens of Taliban insurgents who attacked the village. Sayra Shekib Sadat, provincial governor of Jawzjan confirmed that,"Mawlawi Ahmadshah, Taliban shadow district governor for Faizabad district of northern Jawzjan province and four other insurgents were killed in the clashes." The clashes took place in Muradyan village of the Faizabad district of the province after dozens of Taliban insurgents attacked the village and clashed with security forces, Tolo news quoted Sadat as saying. "Taliban suffered heavy casualties in the clashes which started on Sunday and continued till Monday late night," Sadat said. The Taliban have not yet commented over the attack. A number of villages in Jawzjan have fallen to Taliban insurgents in the past few days and government officials were concerned about an increasing security threats in parts of the northern province. Member of Jawzjan Provincial Council, Sher Mohammad Noor, said the Bala Mardiyan village in Faizabad district in the province was fallen to the Taliban on Friday evening. Governor Sadat has warned that "the center of Jawzjan's Mardiyan district was under Taliban siege and that it will fall to the militants, if military operation is not conducted in the area." A provincial council member said, roads to Mardiyan district are closed to traffic due to an increasing threat by militants. Meanwhile, Jawzjan governor's office said the Taliban has suffered losses in recent clashes with government forces in parts of the province. Mohamamd Reza Ghafoori, spokesman for Jawzjan governor, said they are not aware about the collapse of the village to militants. However, he said that a local people outpost in Jangal Aregh in Mardiyan district and two other check posts in Kala Shakh village in Aqcha district have fallen to the Taliban recently. The spokesman said that Obaidullah, designated district governor of Taliban for Qarqeen district in Jawzjan was killed during a clash with Afghan forces. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Continuing his tirade against the media outlets, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the 'fake news media' ignored the latest unanimous vote by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in favour of sanctions on North Korea. "The Fake News Media will not talk about the importance of the United Nations Security Council's 15-0 vote in favor of sanctions on N. Korea!" Trump tweeted. However, almost every major news outlet in the U.S. reported about the UNSC's unanimously passed resolution imposing new sanctions on North Korea. While Trump's tweet claims the "fake news media" did not cover the vote, almost every major news outlet reported at least one story on the North Korea decision. In response to the launches of ballistic missiles of possible intercontinental range by North Korea, the United Nations Security Council on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution which will slap new sanctions on Pyongyang. The 15-member body strongly condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches on 3 July and 28 July, which the country has stated were of "intercontinental" range. The Council moved to significantly strengthen the sanctions on North Korea, imposing a full ban on the export of coal, iron and iron ore from Pyongyang. Previously these items could be exported for livelihood purposes, for a limited amount. The Council also prohibited countries from increasing the total number of work authorizations for North Korea nationals. It banned new joint ventures or cooperative entities with North Korean entities or individuals as well as additional investments in existing joint ventures. Trump once again attacked The New York Times and questioned as how much long will the newspaper's remain in business with its "big losses and massive unfunded liability." "How much longer will the failing nytimes, with its big losses and massive unfunded liability (and non-existent sources), remain in business?" Trump tweeted. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States President Donald Trump has suggested Senator Richard Blumenthal to take a "nice long vacation in Vietnam" after the Connecticut Democrat accused him of trying to politicise the Justice Department. "I think Senator Blumenthal should take a nice long vacation in Vietnam, where he lied about his service, so he can at least say he was there," Trump tweeted. I think Senator Blumenthal should take a nice long vacation in Vietnam, where he lied about his service, so he can at least say he was there Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 Blumenthal had earlier said that reviewing the Justice Department's policies was part of Trump's attempts to "politicize" the agency. Earlier in a series of tweets, Trump had said that Blumenthal's past misstatements about his military service should bar him from commenting on the ongoing Russia investigations. "Interesting to watch Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam con artist!" Trump tweeted. "Never in U.S. history has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal. He told stories about his Vietnam battles and conquests, how brave he was, and it was all a lie. He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child. Now he judges collusion?" Trump said in a series of tweets. Blumenthal reacted to Trump's tweets saying that the president's bullying hasn't worked before and it won't work now as no one is above the law. Mr. President: Your bullying hasn't worked before and it won't work now. No one is above the law. Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) August 7, 2017 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said that he is in the process of filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Chandigarh stalking case, as the state police is not doing justice to the case and has succumbed to political pressure. "The reason I have to file the PIL is because the police had already done the somersault in the FIR. They have listed only bailable offences. The police succumbed to some pressure. In the court monitor I will seek CBI inquiry, if necessary, with the SIT so that justice is done," Swamy told ANI. He further said that women should get the feeling that state machinery works in their support and against those who try to tease them in uncivilized and uncouth ways. The senior BJP leader on Monday said that he would file the PIL in the case of IAS officer's daughter being stalked by the son of Haryana BJP Chief Subhash Barala. Taking to Twitter, Swamy stated that he along with his associate lawyer A.P. Jagga, will file a PIL in Chandigarh over the attempted abduction of a IAS officer's daughter by two "drunk goons". Vikas Barala, son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala, was arrested August 5 on the charges of stalking and harassing an IAS officer's daughter in Chandigarh. Chandigarh Police, however, refuted claims that they are not willing to lodge complaints against Vikas and said that they are doing investigation with an open mind. Speaking to the media on the matter, Eish Sehgal, SSP Chandigarh Police, said that the police aren't aiding the minister in the investigation and are doing their best to solve the matter. He said, "We are looking into the matter from all the perspectives. We don't want to investigate the matter under any pressure." The Congress cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the incident and accused the BJP of pressurizing Chandigarh administration to protect the son Barala. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy to shield the Haryana BJP chief's son, who harassed and stalked the IAS officer's daughter in an alleged inebriated state in Chandigarh. Vikas Barala was arrested on August 5 on the charges of stalking and harassing the IAS officer's daughter in Chandigarh. He was, however, granted bail on the same day. A case was registered by the Chandigarh Police against Vikas and other youth under under Section 354 D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 185 (Motor Vehicle Act) of the CRPC on the basis of complaint filed by the woman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Autoline Industries slumped 7.45% to Rs 82 at 11:43 IST on BSE, with the stock sliding on profit booking after recent sharp rally. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 157.80 points or 0.49% at 32,115.87. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index fell 111.29 points or 0.69% at 15,997.92. On the BSE, 2.08 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 30,687 shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 91.50 so far during the day, which is a 52-week high. The stock hit a low of Rs 79.75 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 44 on 22 November 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 7 August 2017, advancing 60.22% compared with the Sensex's 2.91% rise. The stock had also outperformed the market over the past one quarter, gaining 48.78% as against the Sensex's 8.09% rise. The scrip had also outperformed the market over the past one year, advancing 73.9% as against the Sensex's 14.94% rise. The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 16.03 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. Shares of Autoline Industries had spurted 44.53% in the preceding six trading sessions to settle at Rs 88.60 yesterday, 7 August 2017, from its closing of Rs 61.30 on 28 July 2017. Lion's portion of the rally materialized when the stock zoomed by the maximum permissible level of 20% in a single trading session yesterday, 7 August 2017, after the company said after market hours on Friday, 4 August 2017 that it has entered into an agreement to sell its manufacturing unit in Pimpri, Pune. Autoline Industries said it will utilise the sale proceeds to settle the debt that has a charge on the Pimpri land holding and reduce overall debt exposure of the company. The activities of the company's Pimpri unit will now shift to its Chakan facility in Pune, it said. The company believes that the consolidation of facilities will accrue substantial operational efficiency, cost savings, and smoothening of supply chain management by utilizing the available resources in Chakan Unit. On a consolidated basis, Autoline Industries reported net loss of Rs 2.64 crore in Q4 March 2017 as against net loss of Rs 1.24 crore in Q4 March 2016. Net sales rose 26.1% to Rs 109.22 crore in Q4 March 2017 over Q4 March 2016. Autoline Industries is an engineering and auto ancillary company, manufacturing sheet metal components, sub-assemblies and assemblies, foot control modules, parking brakes, hinges, cab stay and cab tilt, exhaust systems, tubular structures, fabrications, etc. for large original equipment manufacturers in the automobile industry. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharti Infratel fell 3.62% to Rs 383.50 at 12:05 IST on BSE after Bharti Airtel announced successful completion of secondary share sale in Bharti Infratel. Bharti Airtel made the announcement during trading hours today, 8 August 2017. Shares of Bharti Airtel were up 0.07% at Rs 418. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 182.95 points, or 0.57% to 32,090.72. On the BSE, 8.53 crore Bharti Infratel shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 1.35 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 389 and a low of Rs 378.50 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 439 on 19 July 2017. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 283.10 on 31 January 2017. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 7 August 2017, falling 1.50% compared with 2.91% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 8.88% as against Sensex's 7.82% rise. The scrip had underperformed the market in past one year, rising 4.39% as against Sensex's 14.52% rise. The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 1849.61 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. Bharti Airtel via its wholly owned subsidiary, Nettle Infrastructure Investments (Nettle), today, 8 August 2017, announced the successful divestment of 6.75 crore shares of its subsidiary Bharti Infratel through a secondary share sale in the stock market (NSE, BSE). The sale was for a total consideration of over Rs 2570 crore (over $400 million) and was executed at a price of Rs 380.60 per share, representing a discount of 4.35% to Bharti Infratel's previous day's closing price of Rs 397.90. Bharti Airtel said it will primarily use the proceeds from this sale to reduce its debt. Following the closure of this transaction, Bharti Airtel and its wholly owned subsidiaries together have an equity holding of 58% in Bharti Infratel, compared with 61.65% held earlier (as on 30 June 2017). The allocation was done to global tower company investors, fund managers and long only funds, including many repeat investors. UBS and J.P. Morgan were joint placement agents for the transaction. On a consolidated basis, net profit of Bharti Infratel declined 12.21% to Rs 663.90 crore on 9.66% rise in net sales to Rs 1593.40 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016. Bharti Infratel is a provider of tower and related infrastructure sharing services. 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 meeting held on 08 August 2017 The Board of SRF at its meeting held on 08 August 2017 has approved the shifting of Registered Office of the Company from C-8, Commercial Complex, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi - 110016 to 'The Galleria, DLF Mayur Vihar, Unit No. 236 & 237, Second Floor, Mayur Place, Noida Link Road, Mayur Vihar Phase I Extn, Delhi - 110091 (within same city limits) with effect from 08 August 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.) Sales decline 18.70% to Rs 11.48 crore Net profit of Panasonic Carbon India Company declined 31.93% to Rs 3.07 crore in the quarter ended June 2017 as against Rs 4.51 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2016. Sales declined 18.70% to Rs 11.48 crore in the quarter ended June 2017 as against Rs 14.12 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2016.11.4814.1232.7539.165.127.024.766.933.074.51 Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sales rise 41.70% to Rs 12835.63 crore Net profit of Tata Steel declined 11.99% to Rs 506.45 crore in the quarter ended June 2017 as against Rs 575.43 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2016. Sales rose 41.70% to Rs 12835.63 crore in the quarter ended June 2017 as against Rs 9058.24 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2016.12835.639058.2423.1124.522378.281797.671411.871094.70506.45575.43 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 one person was killed and 45 others were injured when an explosives-laden fruit truck exploded here in Pakistan, police said on Tuesday. The body of Amanat Ali, 45, was recovered after the parked truck exploded in Outfall Road in Lahore, the Punjab province capital, on Monday night, a couple of days ahead of the arrival of disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here, The News International reported. The roof of a nearby school collapsed under the impact of the powerful explosion that damaged, partially or heavily, more than 100 vehicles. A baby girl trapped under the debris was rescued by officials. Doctors said most of the injured persons were out of danger as they received minor injuries. According to sources, the blast damaged the 132-KV Sagian grid, resulting in total blackout in the area. Locals told the media that the truck was parked in the same area for the last three days. The police were informed, but nobody responded. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz activists believed the truck might have been arranged to target Sharif, who was earlier scheduled to arrive here on Sunday from Islamabad. His rally would have passed by the point as per the earlier plan. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz, Nawaz Sharif's younger brother, Sharif has sought a detailed report about the incident. --IANS py/ksk/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Baghdad, Aug 8 (IANS/AKI) The Central Criminal Court of Iraq on Tuesday sentenced 27 people to death for their role in a massacre of up to 1,700 soldiers in northern Iraq by militants from the Islamic State jihadist group, said a local media report. The condemned men can appeal the sentences issued by the High Judicial Council for the June 2014 massacre at Camp Speicher, northwest of Tikrit, the Iraqinews.com website cited a court spokesman as saying. When it overran the city of Tikrit in June 2014, IS executed an unknown number of Iraqi army recruits at the Camp after they surrendered, threw dozens of the bodies in the Tigris River and buried hundreds in mass graves, from which 89 corpses have since been discovered. IS said at the time of the massacre that it had executed 1,700 Shia soldiers who had surrendered while 800 Sunni troops had been "pardoned". Photos and videos published by IS at the time showed soldiers being lined up and shot at various locations and dumped out of trucks into shallow graves. Tuesday's death sentences were the latest batch passed in connection with the Camp Speicher killings. 36 men were hanged a year ago for their part in the massacre after the government put then on a fast-track to capital punishment - a move strongly criticised by the United Nations and rights groups. IS's capture of Tikrit was part of a wider assault that saw the group capture swathes of Iraq and Syria and declare the northern Iraqi city of Mosul the capital of its self-styled caliphate in June 2014. The group still holds a few areas of Iraq, in Anbar, Salahuddin, Diyala and Kirkuk, according to Iraqinews.com. The Iraqi government said in July it had concluded a more than nine-month-long military campaign to liberate Mosul from IS. --IANS/AKI vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in their first telephonic contact have agreed to jointly fight terrorism, a menace that has plagued the region. Ghani on Monday congratulated Abbasi on his election as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Dawn online cited a Prime Minister's Office statement as saying. The last contact between the leaders of the two nations was made about two months ago when former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Ghani met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan. Both sides at the Astana meeting had agreed to use the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) mechanism and bilateral channels to take actions against terrorist groups and evolve a mechanism to monitor such actions. However, relationship between the two neighbouring countries remains cold as the two blame each other for terrorism in their respective nations. The Afghan leader in his phone conversation expressed satisfaction over the smooth transition of power in Pakistan. The brief statement, however, did not mention anything else from the Afghan side, the Dawn said. Abbasi thanked the President and said terrorism was a common threat for both the countries. "We will work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region," the Prime Minister told Ghani. He said terrorism was a common enemy and Afghanistan and Pakistan would work together to eliminate this menace from the region. "It was agreed to work together to address the challenge of energy and improve the economic condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan," the statement said. --IANS py/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After repeated disruptions since morning over the currency note row, the Rajya Sabha was on Tuesday finally adjourned for the day without transacting any of its scheduled business. As the House met at 2 p.m. after the lunch break, Congress member Kapil Sibal again raised the issue of two different sizes and designs of Rs 500 notes and his party members came near the Chairman's podium raising slogans against the government. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien subsequently adjourned the House till 2.30 p.m. But as soon as the House reconvened, slogan-shouting Congress members again trooped towards the podium. Some of the BJP members too came into the aisle and shouted back slogans. Amid the pandemonium, Kurien adjourned the House for the day. Earlier, as soon as the House met in the morning, Sibal claimed that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was printing two types of Rs 500 currency notes. "RBI prints two types of currency notes. These are of different size and different design... How is it possible?" he said, displaying images of two Rs 500 denomination notes pasted on a placard. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the demonetisation was the "biggest scam of this century". Other opposition leaders including Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien, Janata Dal-United's Sharad Yadav and Samajwadi Party's Naresh Agrawal also sided with the Congress. BJP Ministers protested against raising the issue citing technical grounds. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also the Leader of the House, accused the opposition of raising "frivolous" issues day after day. "There is no such provision that you can flash any paper any time and say this is Point of Order. There are rules under which you give notice. You can't raise issues with regard to the currency of the nation and make such irresponsible statements.You have been raisng frivolous issues everyday during the Zero Hour," he said. As the opposition members created a ruckus and the treasury benches members shouted back, the Chair adjourned the House for 10 minutes. After the break, the Congress members again trooped to the Chairman's podium, raising slogans against the government. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that if the members want a discussion, they can give a notice. "You will get the answer," he said. But the opposition kept shouting slogans, forcing the Chair to adjourn the House till 12 noon. The scene was no different when the Question Hour took place at noon. Frustrated Chairman Hamid Ansari first adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes and, then, when there was no improvement in the situation, until 1 p.m. --IANS mak/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National carrier Air India will be saving around Rs 8-10 crore annually through its decision to discontinue non-vegetarian meals in the economy class on domestic flights, parliament was told on Tuesday. "Non-vegetarian meal has been discontinued only in economy class of domestic sector flights of Air India. This was started to save costs, reduce wastage, improve service and also to avoid any chances of mix-up of meals," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply. Various measures like change in menu, meal schedules, rationalisation of dry stores and ancillary items as per current trends have been taken for cost cutting which will save Air India around Rs 20 crore annually, he added. --IANS mak/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) June 19, 2019, Wednesday All private universities in Uttar Pradesh will now have to give an undertaking to the government, saying that their campuses will ... An attempt to murder case was on Tuesday slapped against ruling Peoples Democratic Party legislator Qamar Hussain in Rajouri district of Jammu region, police said. An FIR in the case was filed after Ayaz Ahmad, resident of Dassal village, complained that the lawmaker and three of his personal security officers (PSOs) threatened and attacked him. According to the complaint, the legislator on Monday threatened Ayaz Ahmad that he would get him killed by his armed guards. Ayaz Ahmad said Hussain's security officers attacked him on Monday. The legislator, however, has denied the allegations, saying it was part of a conspiracy to malign him. --IANS sq/py/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Bangladesh court on Tuesday sentenced 14 militants of the banned Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to 20 years imprisonment for their roles in a series of deadly coordinated bomb attacks in 2005. The Islamist militant group on August 17, 2005 triggered serial blasts at over 600 locations in 63 districts in Bangladesh soon after the government banned the outfit, bdnews24.com reported. Simultanously, explosions rocked three locations in Tangail town, including a court premises. At least two people were killed and hundreds wounded in the bombings. Along with 20-year jail term for all 14 accused, the court in the central district of Tangail also imposed on them a fine of 30,000 Taka ($371), the report said. Failing to pay the fine will make them stay in jail for another three years. The Bangladeshi government has blamed the JMB for a series of attacks in recent years on foreigners, bloggers, human rights activists and minorities. The JMB's offshoot, Neo-JMB, was behind last year's deadly attack on a Dhaka cafe in July, authorities said. Five gunmen stormed the cafe in Gulshan, an upscale Dhaka neighbourhood, killing 22 people. --IANS soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after six axed Trinamool Congress legislators joined the Bharatiya Janata party, its leader on Tuesday said the party will urge Tripura assembly Speaker to recognise the legislators as its party members. "I will soon write to the state assembly Speaker to recognise the six MLAs as BJP members. The entire process on our side will be completed within one or two weeks," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tripura unit President Biplab Kumar Deb told IANS. "There is a big rally to be held here tomorrow (Wednesday). After that I will write to the Speaker to recognise the legislators as BJP members." Tripura Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath said the state BJP President and all the six legislators either individually or collectively will have to write letters to him. "After getting all the letters, I will start the process and talk to the MLAs individually before deciding on their recognition," Debnath told IANS. Led by Sudip Roy Barman, five lawmakers -- Ashish Kumar Saha, Diba Chandra Hrangkhawl, Biswa Bandhu Sen, Pranjit Singh Roy and Dilip Sarkar -- accompanied by hundreds of former Trinamool Congress leaders and workers on Monday joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and a host of BJP leaders. The six legislators, according to the Speaker, are still recognised as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC's legislators. Veteran tribal leader Diba Chandra Hrangkhawl, who was the leader of the TMC legislature group, said the BJP should choose a new legislature party leader. "The entire process will depend on the party (BJP). The state BJP President will initiate the process according to his convenience," said Hrangkhaw, a former Tripura Congress President. After the recognition of all six legislators as BJP members, the Tripura assembly will get its first saffron party members since the northeastern state got a legislative body -- 32-member Territorial council 60 years ago in 1957. After the princely ruled Tripura merged with the Indian Union on October 15, 1949, Tripura, the "C" category state under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, along with Manipur and Meghalaya on January 21, 1972, became full-fledged state with 60-member assembly. The six TMC legislators led by Barman had earlier in June last year resigned from the Congress and joined the Trinamool to protest the Congress' electoral alliance with the Left for the 2016 West Bengal assembly elections. They along with rebel Congress legislator Ratanlal Nath voted for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's nominee Ram Nath Kovind in the Presidential election on July 17. A BJP leader said Sarma, a former Congress minister who joined the BJP before Assam elections and is now convener of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance, facilitated these TMC legislators' entry into the party. "Ratanlal Nath will also join the BJP soon," he added. The Congress has already served a show-cause notice to Nath for anti-party activities and meeting BJP leaders, and according to party sources, he may be expelled soon. However, Nath has been evading queries about joining the BJP though he has met its leaders, including Amit Shah, in the past several months. In the 60-member assembly, the Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Front has 51 members with CPI-M alone 50 and the Congress has only three members. The Left-ruled state goes to polls in February next year. --IANS sc/py/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defending the acquisition of Corus Steel in Britain, Tata Steel Chairman N. Chandrasekaran on Tuesday said all allegations were "incorrect" as this decision was part of the long-term strategies to grow through international acquisitions. "During this period, certain specific issues relating to acquisition of Corus were raised. It is now evident that such allegations were incorrect," he said addressing the 110th Annual General Meeting. He said the company had faced challenges in the second-half of the last financial year, due to leadership change at Tata Sons. Tata Sons's sacked Chairman Cyrus Mistry had raised issues regarding acquisition of Corus. Chandrasekaran said the international growth strategy comprised focus on accessing new markets, sourcing raw materials, enhancing the technology capability and developing high-end premium products. --IANS bdc/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A team of researchers and experts have launched an expedition seeking to carry out climate change studies on the snow-covered Mount Huascaran, Peru's highest mountain. A spokesman from Peru's Inaigem mountain ecosystems institute told Efe news on Monday that the aim of the expedition is to "make new explorations and get to know this glacier better, in the context of the climate phenomenon affecting the Andes mountain range". The expedition will remain in the area for eight days, after departing on Sunday from the town of Musho in northern Yungay province en route to one of the high-altitude camps on Huascaran, which rises 6,768 metres above sea level. According to the ospokesman, the team - for the first time - will use advanced technological equipment, including GPS, given that to date measurements were made by field expeditions and with the help of satellites, without actually traveling to the mountain peaks themselves. Inaigem executive president Benjamin Morales added in a statement that climate change is affecting in a growing and dramatic way the world's mountain ranges, especially Peru's 18 mountainous zones possessing glaciers. He said that scientists recently have observed a reduction in glacier size and volume. Morales said that experts hope to obtain answers to many questions, including how the snowy peaks are being affected by climate change, what temperatures are on the highest peaks in the tropics and how much the glaciers have shrunk in the Huascaran Chopicalqui system between 1962 and 2017. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of three sanitation employees who died while cleaning a gutter here. He also promised a government job to one family member each. The three sanitation workers died on Sunday after inhaling toxic gases while cleaning a gutter in Lajpat Nagar. The Chief Minister met the family members of the deceased and announced the compensation. "A financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh will be granted to the affected families. One family member of each victim will be given a government job," he told the media. "I have ordered a probe. The guilty will not be spared and punished under the law." He said that a high-powered committee would examine why such incidents were happening, and accordingly, the required action would be taken. Kejriwal also directed Delhi Jal Board CEO Keshav Chandra to "fix responsibility" of the officials and also identify the circmustances which led to this incident. Later Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Assembly said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was very much serious about the sanitation workers and there were "standing instructions" that sewer drains should not be cleaned manually. "We are investigating into that incident and anyone -- whether contractor or official -- who violated the rules will not be spared," Sisodia told the House. The monsoon session of the assembly is underway. One person each from the families of deceased sanitation workers would be given a job in Civil Defence. Water Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, while summing up a small discussion on the topic, said the government was formulating new parameters (to clean sewer) to check recurrence of such incidents and fix the responsibility of officers and contractors concerned. "We will ensure that there is no manual cleaning of sewer in the city, but if there is requirement of manual cleaning, junior engineer will be on the spot," the minister said. Meanwhile, former Delhi Minister Sandeep Kumar demanded that the families of the deceased be given Rs 1 crore as compensation and a "permanent government job", since a job in Civil Defence was not permanent. --IANS am/nir/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A high powered Congress delegation on Tuesday night urged the Election Commission to reject the votes of two party MLAs, who showed their ballots in the Rajya Sabha election to BJP leaders on the precedent set by it in Haryana and Rajasthan. Briefing the media after the delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner, the second in an hour, former minister P. Chidambaram said there was videographic evidence of the ballot papers of the two Congress MLAs being shown to persons other those authorised to see it. "This is violation of conduct of election rules read with election circulars and instructions sent by the elction commission in the past. There is precedent of a ballot paper of a Congress MLA being rejected on June 11, 2016 in Haryana because because it was seen by persons other than authorised," he said. Chidambaram also cited a similar case in Rajasthan on an earlier occasion. In Gujarat, Chidambaram said that there is ample evidence to show that the two votes were seen by two or three persons other than authorised persons obviously because the votes were in their (BJP) favour. "The Election Commission cannot follow any precedent other than those set in 2016. Our information is that the Returning Officer is rightly awaiting the Election Commission's instructions. The only constitutional authority in this matter is Election Commission which has the right of conduct and superintendence of the elections under the Constitution. The Returning Officer is only an officer. "We have told the commission that it must take a decision as it did in Haryana and treject the two votes accordingly," he said. Asked why the Congress was raking up the issue late and had not done it in the morning, Chidambaram shot back, "This is completely irrelevant. One assumes that the Returning Officer will consider our request at the time of counting but when they refused to go by the circulars and rules and reject the votes we had to approach the elelction commission and bring the matter to the commission. The question is the two votes should be rejected." --IANS bns/vsc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lok Sabha on Tuesday was disrupted and finally adjourned for the day after the Congress raised the issue of attack on Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh countered it saying the Congress Vice President had violated security rules putting himself at risk. Singh, while condemning the stone-pelting attack last week, accused Gandhi of overlooking his own security by not travelling in a bullet-proof car but using an ordinary vehicle for his tour. He also said that Gandhi never took Special Protection Group (SPG) with him on foreign tours undermining his own security, and questioned what he was hiding. The attack, which took place during Gandhi's visit to flood-hit Banaskantha, was raised in the House by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge soon after it met. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who usually does not allow members to raise other issues during Question Hour, permitted Kharge but added that it should not be taken as a precedence. She also made it clear she was not allowing any Adjournment Motion. Mentioning the stone pelting on Gandhi's car in Banaskantha district of Gujarat, Kharge said: "He was visiting the flood affected area... It was a life threatening attack. He escaped luckily." "The government says in Kashmir stone pelting is done by terrorists. What type of terrorists attacked Rahul Gandhi's car? Were they from Kashmir? Have BJP workers in Gujarat turned into terrorists?" Kharge questioned, leading to a huge uproar from the treasury benches, which was countered by Congress members. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said it was wrong to compare BJP workers with terrorists and asked Mahajan to expunge the remarks. Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of following the ideology of violence. "He is a martyr's son... We are not going to be afraid of anyone," he said. "Our fight is non-violent. You talk about violence. We follow Gandhi, you follow (Nathuram) Godse..." he said. "Gandhiji said the democracy of his dreams is that of non-violence, which has no place for hatred. Your message is hatred, stone pelting and violence." Rajnath Singh, however, questioned why Rahul Gandhi did not use the bullet-proof car provided to him by the SPG. "There is no difference of opinion that Rahul Gandhi is a national leader..." the Home Minister said. He said after landing for his programme in Banaskantha, the Congress Vice President was walking up to the bullet-proof car, but was advised by his secretary to take another car. "He did not listen to the police, he took his PS' advise," the Minister said. Congress members raised the pitch in protest, but the Minister continued. Singh said there were black flags shown to the leader at his rally, and while he was supposed to be there for 15-20 minutes, he left in 7.5 minutes and headed for the helipad, and was attacked on the way. "Someone from the crowd threw a stone. He was not hurt, but a security personnel was injured. Probe is on, one person has been detained and is in judicial custody," Singh said. Singh added that for the next lap of his tour in Gujarat as well, Rahul Gandhi chose a normal car and not a bullet-proof one, adding that he has done that on several occasions, "almost 100 times in last two years". "This has been brought to the notice of the office of the Congress President (Sonia Gandhi), his office and the Congress party," Singh said. He said during his foreign tours, the Congress leader informs the SPG only a few hours before leaving, and hence they cannot accompany him as they should. "The country would want to know where he went - that he did not want to take SPG cover," said Singh. Singh also took a dig at the opposition party and said they needed to introspect why Gandhi was attacked while Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who also visited the area, did not face any protest. "There was no sloganeering against the Chief Minister, Congress should introspect why such situation arose that people were protesting against Rahul Gandhi," he said. Congress members, dissatisfied with the Minister's response, trooped near the Speaker's podium shouting slogans. The Speaker then adjourned the house till 12 noon. But it was soon adjourned for the day after it resumed. --IANS ao/in/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CWC on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning the attack on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's car in Gujarat, saying "forces of violence unleashed by the BJP and its associates have no place in civilized political discourse". Gandhi, however, was not present in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting as he was down with viral fever. Expressing grave concern over the planned and systemic assaults on the foundational values of the country and constitutional rights of the citizens, the meeting also passed another resolution commemorating the Quit India Movement on its 75th anniversary and resolved "to fight back and defeat the forces which seek to destroy our precious heritage". In the resolution, the party re-dedicated itself to uphold and defend the idea of India as envisioned by the leaders of the freedom movement. "The CWC took note of the attack on Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat and condemned it in unequivocal terms. In a resolution to that affect, the Congress has made it clear that the forces of violence unleashed by the BJP and its associates have no place in civilized political discourse and in a democracy," said senior Congress leader Anand Sharma while briefing the reporters. "The Congress, therefore, is determined to fight back and confront and defeat the forces of violence, and we are through the resolution making it clear that Congress voice and truth cannot be silenced by violence and such attacks," he added. Remembering the Quit India Movement, the resolution said: "The movement was remarkable for the unprecedented, spontaneous, mass participation of all sections of the Indian people -- students, women, workers, peasants, government officials and even industrialists -- showing enormous courage despite the severe repression by the British government." "This chapter of the glorious struggle of Indian People is worth recounting as the CWC meets today (Tuesday) to commemorate the epic struggle." It further said: "It is worth remembering that after the arrest of all national and provincial leaders of the Congress, who were kept in jail for almost three years, the people of India rose as one, defied police firings and launched a mass Satyagraha and a defiance campaign that shook the foundations of the British Raj." It also said the party had striven relentlessly in the 75 years since it asked the British to Quit India and to realise the dreams of those who fought for our freedom. "Many of the ideals have indeed been realised, even if not in full measure: a secular and democratic Constitution which guarantees Fundamental rights, Freedom of Speech and Expression, economic growth with equity and rule of law," it said. "However, much remains to be done for the socio economic emancipation of the disadvantaged, deprived and marginalised sections of our people," it added. --IANS sid/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea seeking direction that the control of the Assam Rifles, the country's oldest paramilitary force, be given to either the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Ministry of Defence. A division bench of Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Navin Chawla admitted the plea and said it would be heard on October 30. The plea filed by a former government employee, Kiran Pal Singh, said Assam Rifles functions under the administrative control of the Home Ministry but is headed by Army personnel who come under the Ministry of Defence, adding that force be given to one of the ministries as the dual leadership was causing administrative problems which could not be addressed. The plea, filed through advocate Abhishek Kumar Choudhary, said: "The Home Ministry has always found it difficult to exercise control over the force as it comprised officers and personnel from the Army, which comes under the Ministry of Defence." The petition claimed the Defence Ministry's policies were "so discriminatory that the jawan or soldier has to wait for 13 years to become eligible to apply for the departmental officer's post but in other paramilitary forces, a jawan or soldier is eligible to fill for the officer cadre departmental post after merely 3 years of continuous service". "After retirement, a jawan or soldier of Assam Rifles are not recognized under 'Ex-Servicemen' status whereas such status is given to the personnel of Army, Air Force and Navy only," the plea added. --IANS gt/pgh/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Allahabad High Court is to hear on Thursday the case of a student's death in GD Goenka Public School Indirapuram. After issuance of notice from the High Court on Tuesday, the parents of Armaan Sehgal, a Class 4 student, lifted their dharna from outside the school which they started on Tuesday morning. The 10-year-old student died in the school premises on August 1 after he slipped in the corridor of the school. The police registered a criminal case against the principal and the management of the school for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and destroying evidence under sections 304 and 201 of IPC. But the school filed a petition in Allahabad High Court for quashing the FIR and to grant stay on the arrest in the case. The court issued notice to both parties after the parents filed a caveat in the court in which the parents prayed that they be heard before making any decision. So the court issued notice. The BSP leader Satyapal Chaudhary, said "On August 10, 2017, the entire opposition including BSP, Congress, SP and RLD would meet the DM and SSP to press the demand for the immediate arrest of the culprits." Swati Sehgal, mother of Armaan, had confronted SSP H.N. Singh last Friday when the police chief sought a time till Monday. She asked the reason for delay to arrest the culprits since the student died inside the school premises and the parents were not allowed to visit the crime scene, which she said was heavily dressed up. The SSP insisted that the culprits would be arrested if evidence was found against them. At this, the mother alleged that the school has tampered with all evidences. She asked when all the CCTVs were found operational, why were the two CCTVs not found operational which covered the corridor where Armaan slipped and died. The parents submitted an application to the SSP in which they alleged that the school owner Ankur Malhotra, Smita Malhotra, Kavita Sharma, Meenakshi Dhingra, Shilpa Babbar and Sumit Anand have threatened them with being killed. She alleged that she never demanded a magisterial inquiry but it was ordered to grant them time to approach the High Court. The incident occurred on August 1 inside GD Goenka school situated in Niti Khand (IIIrd) Indirapuram, Ghaziabad when Armaan Sehgal came to appear in the internal unit test of the school. He was going to the classroom situated on IInd floor. As he was walking through the corridor he slipped. As he collapsed, the school management rushed him to a nearby Shanti Gopal Hospital where doctors declared him dead. The boy's father Gulshan Sehgal, a resident of Vaishali, alleged that it was the fault of the school that the corridor was not safe to walk. Armaan's clothes were found wet which suggested that there was water on the floor so he slipped due to water logging in the corridor. The father said legal action should be initiated against the erring institute. --IANS sps/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA on Tuesday questioned hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons, Naeem and Naseem, and took their wealth details as part of its probe into a money trail to expose how Pakistan sent cash to separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley. National Investigation Agency officials said the Geelani brothers arrived at the NIA Headquarters here around 9.30 a.m. after evading the counter-terror agency's earlier summons. "When they arrived at NIA headquarters, they were given slips to fill in their property details before their questioning began. They were also asked to bring documents of the properties that they own" an NIA official told IANS. The official said the agency has found that most of the wealth that the senior Geelani has accumulated over the years is in the name of his two sons. The property details the Geelanis gave will be corroborated with the NIA's findings in its ongoing probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there, the official said. It is for the first time in the last three decades of Kashmir militancy that Geelani's sons were questioned over the links with the separatist campaign in the state. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a surgeon who was once based in Pakistan, on July 27 and August 1. The doctor, who is seen as Geelani's natural heir apparent, failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. Geelani's younger son Naseem, who works at an agricultural university in Srinagar, was summoned to appear before the NIA on August 2. He also did not come saying the notice should be served through the Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology so that he was permitted to take leave. Naseem was earlier this year made life-long patron of Unique Educational Institute, spread over a sprawling nearly 4-acre plot donated by people of Geelani's hometown of Sopore. The institute is run by the Falah-e-Millat Educational Society that was formed by Geelani more than a decade ago. Intelligence officials said the Geelani brothers were playing a key role in the Hurriyat's decision making and running its financial affairs. The NIA has arrested eight separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there. The arrested separatists include Geelani's son-in-law Altaf Shah and Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan, Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar Khandey, Peer Saifullah, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate. They have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. The NIA alleges that separatist leaders were receiving money from militant leaders in Pakistan including Hafiz Saeed, who heads the Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa and banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. --IANS aks-sar/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An icon and legend in his life time, Khushwant Singh was arguably India's most popular writer. Claiming himself to be an agnostic, the author who was frequently seen visiting Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in the national capital often drew criticism and raised questions on his religious ideology. A latest book explores more of him. "Khushwant was often asked about his visits to gurudwaras because he was loud in saying that he believed neither in religion nor in God. Yet, one of his first literary works was an English translation of the Japji Sahib verses from the Sikh scriptures. He retained his turban and Sikh identity all his life, lived the Punjabi and Sikh culture and spoke the Punjabi language," the book says. "His answer to the question about visits to gurudwaras was a simple admission. 'A contradiction', he would say, 'and leave it at that'," the book mentions. The book titled "Khushwant Singh In Wisdom and In Jest" written by Vijay Narain Shankar and Onkar Singh published by Vitasta (Rs 350, pp 266) was launched during an event organised at the Press Club of India here on Monday. The event saw eminent personalities like Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, former Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, jurist and former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee along with the authors who discussed about Khushwant Singh's agnostic approach. "He was a fascinating character and never cared about what others said about him. The agnostic approach of his which has also been mentioned in the book but I don't think that's quite correct. The way he has translated the works of Japji Sahib verses and the shloks from Guru Granth Sahib, which are about praising God, says the other thing," Amarinder Singh said. "There is a kind of religiosity and a kind of spiritual search in him. He believed in religion but didn't follow the rituals," Amarinder Singh further added. "To say that he was not an agnostic is dangerous. I suspect Khushwant Singh had his own sense of whatever his religiosity was. He was an extraordinary person. He was very fond of his Sikh language, scholar of Sikh religion and at the same time cracked joke. I don't think he was an atheist," Ahluwalia commented. --IANS som/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday demanded that the Chandigarh police should be given a free hand to probe the Varnika Kundu stalking case, with no attempt to pressurise them. He also dismissed the demand for the resignation of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on moral grounds over the stalking case as "absurd". Talking to mediapersons outside Parliament House, the Punjab Chief Minister said: "Police should be allowed to investigate the high-profile case freely and independently." "No attempt should be made to dilute the charges against the accused. No political interference should be brooked in the case and police should have complete authority to probe the matter in a neutral manner, as per the due process of law," added Singh. On the demand for Rajnath Singh's resignation, the Punjab Chief Minister said: "How can Rajnath be held responsible for the incident, or for that matter for any such irresponsible behaviour involving individuals or party leaders or their kin in any part of the country, be it even Punjab." "Action needs to be taken against the accused to ensure justice for the girl and also to send out a strong signal that misuse of political power to undermine any institution, including police, was not acceptable," Singh added. --IANS sid/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hardik Patel, who grabbed headlines nation-wide when he led a huge agitation to demand reservations for Gujarat's Patidar community, has narrated the experience in a new book, "Who Took My Job: Why the Indian Reservation System Needs to Change", to be published by Juggernaut Books. In the book, Patel, 24, shares his ideologies with senior journalist Darshan Desai who has written the book that explores Patel's political philosophy, the reservation movement he spearheads, and his journey so far. The book will be simultaneously published in Hindi and English. "There should be 100 per cent reservation for all, according to population. Agriculture is in bad shape, employment opportunities are dwindling and there is no point of good education when you don't get admissions or even government jobs. I am not saying existing reservations should be stopped but meritorious persons should not be denied opportunities just to accommodate others," Patel said in a statement. "For a journalist who has been covering for long, the Hardik Patel phenomenon was an eye opener not only because a boy in his early twenties shook an invincible Narendra Modi mountain, but also because he made a new national voice of sorts. My attempt here is not just a book talking to Hardik Patel, but trying to figure out this new generation, which, curiously is not against reservations for many disadvantaged classes but wants its own space," Desai said of his reason for writing the book. Chiki Sarkar, Publisher, Juggernaut Books added: "At Juggernaut, we are committed to provide a platform to a new generation of voices, young leaders who are changing the landscape of Indian . This book promises to provide an insight into the aspirations of millions of young Indians". --IANS som/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of people from LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual) communities from across Nepal participated in the annual Pride Parade here on Tuesday. As every year, members of this marginalised community marched on the streets with fanfare on the occasion of Gaijatra or cow festival, Xinhua news agency reported. Nepali Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Asha Koirala inaugurated the event by releasing colourful balloons in Thamel, a major tourist hub here. This is the only day when the LGBTI members from across the country come out in the public sphere with their real sexual identities. Sexual minorities from various districts of Nepal were seen marching in colourful attires, make up and vibrant accessories. The Pride Parade has been initiated by a non-governmental organisation Blue Diamond Society to encourage the third gender people to recognise and celebrate their identity. Manisha Dhakal, Executive Director at the society, said: "Through this parade, the LGBTI members are being organised and as part of advocacy, we want to show our existence to this society and nation. "Our family members, friends and representatives from the government are also with us today (Tuesday), which is a positive aspect of this parade." Singing and dancing, the LGBTI members were seen carrying placards and chanting slogans. They raised their voices demanding employment opportunities, harmonious behaviour from society and implementation of laws and policies. "Neither our family nor society support us. We want to show our strength that we are also capable of doing things even without the support," Aniee Lama, Miss Pink Nepal 2016, told Xinhua amid the rally. Though the constitution of Nepal that was promulgated in September 2016 has guaranteed explicit laws and protection to the LGBTI community, the members are doubtful over its implementation. The Supreme Court had directed the government authorities in 2007 to amend laws to end discrimination against LGBTI citizens. As per this, the government has been issuing citizenship and passport for third genders under "Other" category. --IANS py/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While India as a digital economy has performed well in terms of building software applications and services, it lags in terms of infrastructure, the telecom regulator said here on Tuesday. Stating the three parts of the vision area of "Digital India" as infrastructure, software and services on demand, and digital empowerment of people, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman R.S. Sharma said infrastructure is the area it is working on. "From a broad point of view, we have done very well in the middle layer, of creating applications and services. However, we have not done so well in the first layer of creating infrastructure, especially the hardware one," Sharma said while addressing a forum 'Create4India' organised by Digital India Foundation (DIF). "We have 300 million internet subscribers, but in broadband, which should mean 2 mbps plus (in speed) the numbers have drastically reduced. I think that is one area that we are working on," he added. He also suggested that the inherent problems in infrastructure can be coped with by using alternate means like digital television or incentivising the use of 'Bharat Net'. "In the developed world, the average global fixed piped wired-line penetration is 46 per cent, while in India, it is just about 7 per cent. We get 93 per cent of our data from mobile and 7 per cent from the fixed line," said Sharma. "The world on an average gets 46 per cent from fixed line and 54 per cent from mobile. That is a problem. We cannot immediately build those fixed lines. Therefore, what we have suggested is that why don't we use some other infrastructure which are built up," he added. The DIF, which aims at fostering digital inclusion and adoption, hosted the inaugural edition of 'Create4India', a forum where industry leaders and policy makers exchanged views on necessitating an ecosystem approach towards supporting the growth of India's creative economy, backed by policies based on respect for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Copyright. Sharma brought the regulator's perspective to the discussion, sharing his belief in a transparent mechanism of open consultation with the industry and the stakeholders, with accountability to the people at large. Contributing to the discussion, a report on 'Promoting the Creative Economy: India's USD 100 Billion Imperative' was released by Koan Advisory, a research-driven advisory firm, combining legal, economic and investment expertise. --IANS ppg/rn/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On August 31, 1942, Lord Linlithgow wrote to Winston Churchill: "I am engaged here in meeting by far the most serious rebellion since that of 1857, the gravity and extent of which we have so far concealed from the world for reasons of military security." It wasn't until the beginning of the following year that the British were able to quell the uprising caused by the Congress's call on August 9 to the British to quit India, but not before the colonial rulers had had to use 57 battalions against the rebels and the administration had broken down in large parts of Bihar and what is now eastern UP. The British blamed the Congress for the violence, but one probable reason for the attacks on railways stations and the cutting of telegraph wires was the incarceration of virtually the entire Congress leadership which left no one in the field to control and guide the mobs. Some historians have pointed out, however, that this wasn't the first instance of the Congress's absence from the battlefield which enabled its arch-opponent, the Muslim League, to gain ground. Moreover, the timing of the Quit India movement, which aimed at extracting a promise from the British to leave India at the end of World War II, has been questioned since it took place when the Allies were involved in a life-and-death struggle with the Axis powers. As such, it was unrealistic to expect an immediate assurance from the British, especially when a diehard imperialist like Churchill was the prime minister. Had the Congress been the only player in the tussle with the colonial rulers, its tactics might have succeeded. But this wasn't the case since the Muslim League had been able by then to successfully exploit the fears which the Congress ministries, which ruled between 1937 and 1939, had aroused among sections of the Muslims about the imposition of a Hindu raj via the singing of Vande Mataram, among other things. As a result, the Congress's attempt to force the pace, as it were, in the advance towards independence only enabled the Muslim League to cozy up to the British with its offer of support for the war effort. But the League might not have made any headway if the Congress had not made several mistakes, as the colonial era bureaucrat, Penderel Moon, said in his book, "Divide and Quit". One of them was to decline "to form coalition governments with the League in those provinces in which they had a majority" in 1937. Then, when the war broke out, the Congress "could have retraced their steps and sought to join with the League in coalitions both in the provinces and at the centre". At a time when, according to Moon, "moderate men were still in control of the Muslim masses both in Bengal and the Punjab, the forces of disruption could have been checked" by a "working partnership" between the Congress and the League. But fate decreed otherwise. A relook at the events at the time of the Quit India movement suggests that partition might have been avoided if the Congress had not been driven by the belief that there were only two forces in India at the time -- the British and the Congress -- and that there were no third parties such as the Muslim League. Besides, Jawaharlal Nehru had dismissed communalism as a "side issue". Yet, arguably, much of the country's ills stem from the partition. Domestically, the Hindu-Muslim problem hasn't been solved. And, externally, India has acquired an inveterate enemy in Pakistan, whose publicly declared aim is to bleed India with a thousand cuts. India was fortunate in the 1930s and 1940s with having an array of leaders of stature like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Subhas Bose and Rajagopalachari on the side of the Congress, and Mohammed Ali Jinnah of the Muslim League on the other side along with Sir Sikander Hayat Khan of the Unionist Party and Fazlur Huq, formerly of the Krishak Praja Party, who moved the so-called Pakistan resolution in Lahore in 1940 -- although Pakistan was not named in it. Even then, the country moved inexorably towards partition with the "mistakes" in the 1937-42 period playing a key role. It is undeniable that ego clashes between Nehru and Jinnah came in the way of finding a meeting ground with the former delivering the death blow to the possibility of an agreement by virtually rejecting the British Cabinet Mission's plan for avoiding partition even after the Muslim League had accepted it. What history tells us, therefore, is the need for treading with caution in dealing with India's complexity. Any attempt to project a party as the only hope for the country, as the Congress did 75 years ago, is fraught with fateful consequences. The Congress did succeed in getting rid of the British though at the cost of the country's unity. But any attempt to evict the Congress from the country via a Congress-mukt Bharat agenda can make the party's opponents fall prey to the malady of hubris. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) --IANS amulya/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nuoro (Italy), Aug 8 (IANS/AKI) A 69-year-old Alzheimer's sufferer was on Tuesday under armed guard at a hospital in central Sardinia, after he allegedly knifed to death his 87-year-old mother-in-law and stabbed his wife in the head and throat. Antonio Fanni was also injured during the lunchtime attack on Monday at the apartment he shared with his mother-in-law Anna Melis and his 67-year-old wife Maria Melis in the village of Baunei near the city of Nuoro. His wife is not critical and is expected to stay in hospital in the nearby town of Lanusei for two weeks, while Fanni will be discharged from the hospital in 10 days' time. Police recovered a knife with a 16-centimetre-long blade from a patch of weeds outside his apartment building which they believe he used to attack Melis and her mother during an argument. A judge was due to decide if Fanni can be held criminally responsible given his dementia diagnosis. An autopsy was expected to be performed on the murder victim. Fanni and Melis have five children. --IANS/AKI vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Jennifer Lawrence has been blamed on social media for actor Chris Pratt's split from actress Anna Faris after eight years of marriage. As the couple confirmed their separation on Facebook on Sunday, fans took to social media to blame Lawrence, who starred in "Passengers" with Prattin 2016, for the split, reports dailymail.co.uk. "I can't believe Chris Pratt and Anna Faris are splitting up, this is all Jennifer Lawrence's fault," one fan wrote on Twitter. Despite there being no suggestion that Lawrence had any involvement in the split, another wrote: "Jennifer Lawrence broke up Chris Pratt's marriage." "Watch Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence be a thing," another said. Some fans were quick to recall the awkward exchange that Faris and Lawrence shared when embracing at the premiere of "Passengers" in December 2016. Though the two hugged in front of photographers, Faris appeared to have a pained expression while Lawrence kept her hands claw-like instead of fully touching her co-star's wife. --IANS sas/rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jharkhand assembly began its monsoon session here on Tuesday and is scheduled to take up two important bills -- the anti-conversion law and an amendment to the land acquisition act. The state cabinet last week gave its approval to the Jharkhand Land Amendment Act, 2017, which is related to the right for compensation and transparency under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Once the amendment is passed by the assembly, it will be sent to the President for his approval. According to the proposed legislation, land can be acquired without social impact assessment for projects related to the welfare of the people. Such projects are identified as construction of schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, panchayat buildings, anganwadi kendras, waterways, electrification and irrigation, and drinking water pipelines. The decision to bring the legislation in the assembly was taken after the state government's move to amend two land acts -- the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act -- saw wide protests, leading to withdrawal of the proposal. According to the anti-conversion bill, which forbids conversion through allurement or coercion, anyone forcing religious conversion will be liable to imprisonment of three to four years and a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The opposition parties are set to oppose both the bills. "The Religious Independence Bill, 2017, is against the Constitution. The state government should make it clear what is the need of the for anti-conversion bill. The issue will be raised in the state assembly," said Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi. --IANS ns/him/vt/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra's opposition Congress-Nationalist Congress Party combine on Tuesday levelled allegations of corruption against Industries Minister Subhash Desai in denotifying lands acquired by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and demanded he quit. The opposition parties disrupted the proceedings in the legislature and also squatted on the stairs of the Vidhan Bhavan demanding resignation of Desai, who is from the Shiv Sena, and Housing Minister Prakash Mehta of the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, Desai dismissed all the charges and said that the process of denotifying the lands had been initiated during the erstwhile Congress-NCP government and he had merely "clubbed individual cases to formulate a policy". Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said that Desai had denotified a staggering 31,000 acres of industrial lands at the picturesque Igatpuri in Nashik to favour builders and developers without following proper procedures. Claiming corruption of over Rs 50,000 crore in this, he sought a probe by Enforcement Directorate, and resignations of Desai and Mehta. The Congress leader said the denotification of the lands near Nashik was done to favour private parties despite the opposition of MIDC to the proposal. "The Maharashtra government has denotified over 12,429 hectares land acquired by the MIDC between January 2015-March 2017. The denotification order was issues saying that the farmers have opposed acquisition. This is a new form of corruption in which land is acquired and denotified after underhand deals," he added. In the case of Igatpuri lands, the proposal was rejected by the previous Congress-NCP government on January 16, 2012. "The present minister (Desai) allowed it to be handed over to one Swastik Property Ltd, which is having many realty projects in Mumbai. How can a construction company from Mumbai claim to represent farmers opposing the land acquisition?" asked Vikhe-Patil. Leader of Opposition in Council Dhananjay Munde said that till the two ministers were removed and probe ordered into their dealings, the opposition would not allow the house to function. Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar demanded forming a Special Investigation Team to probe the entire matter and removal of Desai till the (probe) report was completed. On his part, Desai justified the denotification on grounds that during the previous regime, it was done on a case by case basis, while he formulated a policy for the same, and cited examples of such denotification carried out by the Congress-NCP government between 2010-2014. He explained that several plots of land are scattered and fragmented in such a manner that industries are not interested in buying them, necessitating the policy to denotify such pieces of land. --IANS qn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an unexpected move, Jammu and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday called on opposition National Conference president Farooq Abdullah to discuss the prevailing political situation in the state. Mehbooba Mufti drove to the high-security Gupkar Road residence of Abdullah in the evening for the meeting, which was described as "cordial". Posting a comment on the meeting, Abdullah's son and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on his widely followed Twitter handle: "Mehbooba Mufti called on JKNC President this evening to discuss the prevailing political situation in the state. It was a cordial meeting." "With an aim to create a wider consensus amongst like minded parties in this battle to prevent Art 35A being struck down in the Supreme Court," he said in another tweet. The debate surrounding the Constitution's Article 35A is gradually heating up in the state following a petition in the Supreme Court that has sought abrogation of the article giving powers to the J&K legislature to define permanent residents of the state and their privileges. On Monday, the elder Abdullah had chaired a meeting of opposition leaders of the state at his residence where issues related to Article 35A were discussed and later told the media that its abrogation would cause an uprising the government might not be able to handle. --IANS sq/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Militants in Manipur, as part of their declaration to punish sex offenders, have struck again - grievously wounding a man accused of raping a girl in 2013. Three suspected militants armed with hand guns shot and wounded S. Bhogen of Lamsang on Tuesday afternoon in Imphal. He was rushed to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal. Hospital sources said that Bhogen sustained bullet injuries in the left hand and belly and is in a "critical condition". He was accused of raping a girl in 2013 and has been appearing in the court in this connection. Police said that three suspected militants intercepted Bhogen at Takyel under Lamphel police station in Imphal west district and opened fire while he was returning home from the court. Police sources fear that militants might have tried to bump him off for the alleged rape. On July 28, the United National Liberation Front had shot and killed one alleged rapist in Imphal. During a press conference the accused had confessed to his crime. The United National Liberation Front announced recently that it would start punishing sex offenders. --IANS il/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA on Tuesday questioned hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons, Naeem and Naseem, as part of its probe into a money trail to expose how Pakistan sent cash to separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley. National Investigation Agency officials said the Geelani brothers arrived at the NIA headquarters here around 11 a.m. after evading the counter-terror agency's earlier summons. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a doctor who was once based in Pakistan, on July 27 and August 1. He failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. Geelani's younger son Naseem, who works at an agricultural university in Srinagar, was summoned to appear before NIA on August 2. He also did not come saying the notice should be served through Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Agriculture Science so that he was permitted to take leave. The NIA has arrested eight separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there. The arrested separatists include Shabir Shah and Altaf Ahmad Shah, who is Geelani's son-in-law. They have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. --IANS aks-sar/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said four self-radicalised Islamic State sympathisers were behind a March train blast in Madhya Pradesh that left at least 10 people injured. The NIA made the allegations in a chargesheet naming the four Uttar Pradesh men who had taken an oath of allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The four -- Atif Muzzafar, Mohammad Danish, Syed Mir Hussain and Ghaus Mohammad Khan -- plotted to carry out attacks in India after forming an Islamic State-influenced terror module in February 2016. The four were arrested by the NIA. The NIA named another person, Saiffullah Khan, who was killed in a shootout with Lucknow ATS days after the train blast. The chargesheet was filed against the four accused for their involvement in the conspiracy to plant a bomb in the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train, near Jabari Railway Station of Madhya Pradesh on March 7. "They took 'bayath' (oath of allegiance) to ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) and also attempted migrating (to Syria or Iraq) several times through Kashmir, Amritsar, Mumbai and other places," NIA spokesperson Inspector General Alok Mittal said in a statement. Mittal said after the suspects failed to migrate to the Islamic State held areas, they conspired to cause "subversive activities threatening the sovereignty of India and the safety and security of the nation". He said they shifted to a hideout in Lucknow and collected arms and fabricated IEDs there. They conducted trial blasts and also killed a teacher at Kanpur in November 2016 using the arms they had procured, said Mittal. "The investigation conducted by the NIA disclosed that Atif had formed a terrorist gang with several members. They got radicalized after watching the online publications of the ISIS including but not limited to its Dabiq and Inspire magazines." The agency said it had found "sufficient oral, documentary, technical, forensic and material evidence...which establishes the criminal conspiracy and the terror act committed by these accused". --IANS sar/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Out of 445 rivers monitored by the Centre, 275 have polluted stretches with Maharashtra topping the chart with the maximum number, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Tuesday. It said that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) made an assessment in 2015 and identified 302 polluted river stretches on 275 rivers. "CPCB monitors water quality of 445 rivers across the country and has made long term assessment of water quality of rivers with respect to Biochemical oxygen demand the indicator of organic pollution," Harsh Vardhan told the Lok Sabha in a written answer. The polluted stretches include 49 in Maharashtra, 28 in Assam, 21 in Madhya Pradesh, 20 in Gujarat, 17 in West Bengal, 15 in Karnataka, 13 each in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, 12 each in Manipur and Odisha, 10 in Meghalaya, nine in Jammu and Kashmir, eight each in Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan, seven each in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, six in Andhra Pradesh, five in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, three in Nagaland and two each in Haryana, Punjab and Tripura. Delhi and Daman and Diu each have one polluted stretch of river. The Minister also stated that pollution abatement of rivers is a continuous and ongoing process. He stated that his Ministry has been supplementing the efforts of the state governments in abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), which has covered polluted stretches of 31 rivers (excluding Ganga and its tributaries) in 75 towns spread over 14 States, including Kerala at a sanctioned cost of Rs 4,517.82 crore. "So far, Central share of Rs 2,066.98 crore has been released to the state governments for implementation of various pollution abatement schemes and sewage treatment capacity of 2,455.43 million litres per day has been created under the NRCP," the Minister stated. --IANS kd/him/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Okinawa Deputy Governor Moritake Tomikawa on Tuesday lodged a protest with the US for flying an Osprey in the Japanese prefecture just days after one of the accident-prone planes crashed off Australia. Tomikawa's protest followed the Japanese government asking the US to stop flying Ospreys in Japan, but the US in response flew the controversial tilt-rotor plane from the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported. The plane flew from the same base as the MV-22 Osprey that crashed off Australia on Saturday, killing three US Marines. Tomikawa met the top commander of the US forces in Okinawa to lodge a protest and expressed the residents' growing concern over the planes' increasingly checkered safety record. The Deputy Governor's concerns were dismissed by the top commander of the US forces in Okinawa, Lt. General Lawrence Nicholson, who said: "Ospreys are flying around the world. It is the (US) military's policy." Tomikawa said the ambivalent attitude of the US military was angering. "From the viewpoint of Okinawa, it is unbearable and I cannot help but get angry. I was not able to get any convincing answers," Tomikawa said. The US Naval Safety Centre categorised the Osprey's crash off Australia as "Class A". Exasperation at the US military's continued use of Ospreys in Japan hit a fever pitch following an Osprey making an emergency landing in the prefecture in June, with residents still in fear after the crash landing of one of the planes in waters off Nago near the US Marine Corps' Camp Schwab last December. The incident, which saw five crew members airlifted to safety and then subsequently treated for injuries, involved an MV-22 Osprey making a "shallow landing", according to US military accounts. The crash marked the first major accident involving an Osprey since its deployment in Japan in 2012 and had Okinawan officials vehemently call for the planes to be withdrawn from Japan. Prior to these accidents, Ospreys have been involved in multiple crashes around the world leading to numerous fatalities, dating back to the plane's developmental phase in 2000. --IANS py/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) fall into the category of e-commerce operators and can deduct 1 per cent tax collected at source (TCS) under the GST, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said on Tuesday. " providing services through digital or electronic platform will fall under the category of e-commerce operators (ECO) liable to deduct TCS under Section 52 of the CGST Act, 2017," CBEC said here in a fresh set of frequently asked questions (FAQs). The e-commerce operator is required to collect an amount at the rate of one per cent (0.5 per cent Central GST plus 0.5 per cent State GST) of the net value of taxable supplies made through it. The amount so collected is called as TCS. The benefit of threshold exemption of Rs 20 lakh turnover is not available to e-commerce operators and they are liable to be registered irrespective of the value of supply made by them. "Threshold exemption is not available to e-commerce operators who are required to pay tax on notified services supplied through them," it said. "Section 52(1) of the CGST Act, 2017 mandates that TCS is to be collected on the net taxable value of such supplies in respect of which the ECO collects the consideration," the CBEC said. CBEC said that TCS is to be collected on the "net value of taxable supplies" made through an ECO and if the supply itself is not taxable, the question of TCS does not arise. The net value of taxable supplies means the aggregate value of taxable supplies of goods or services or both, other than the services on which entire tax is payable by the e-commerce operator, made during any month by all registered persons through such operator reduced by the aggregate value of taxable supplies returned to the suppliers during the said month. In cases where someone is selling their own products through a website, there is no requirement to collect tax at source. The e-commerce operator needs to make the collection during the month in which the consideration amount is collected from the recipient. The amount collected by the operator is to be paid to the government within 10 days after the end of the month in which amount was so collected. The details of supplies furnished by every operator in his statement for the month will be matched with the corresponding details of outward supplies furnished by the supplier concerned in his valid return for the same month or any preceding month. Where the details of outward supplies declared by the operator in his statement do not match with the corresponding details declared by the supplier, the discrepancy shall be communicated to both persons. The supplier in whose out tax liability any amount has been added, shall be liable to pay the tax payable in respect of such supply along with interest on the amount so added from the date such tax was due till the date of its payment. A parliamentary panel on Tuesday questioned stakeholders over disinvestment in Air India and Pawan Hans, and raised concerns over job security of the employees. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on Tuesday met officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey, Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani and Pawan Hans CMD B.P. Sharma were among those who were questioned by the panel headed by Trinamool Congress MP Mukul Roy. A member of the panel told IANS the members questioned the officials about the need for disinvestment in the national carrier and possible job losses which may occur. "We were told that the disinvestment is being carried out as per NITI Aayog recommendations," the member said. The member however added "NITI Aayog has said the government has no business of running business. By that logic government should not even run Doordarshan." On the job cut aspect, the members were assured that government would ensure settlements. According to another member, the panel was told that the debts of Air India will be settled before disinvestment. The members were also informed that the process for disinvestment in both Air India and Pawan Hans have already started. The Aviation Secretary also informed the panel about the CBI investigation that is on in the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines. A ministerial group has been formed to look into the modalities of national passenger carrier Air India's divestment. The decision was based on NITI Aayog's recent report to the Civil Aviation Ministry recommending strategic disinvestment in the loss-making national career. The airline in 2015-16 had posted an operating profit of Rs 105 crore. For the last fiscal (2016-17), the company is expected to report an improved operating profit margin. The flag carrier had got a new lease of life on April 12, 2012, when the then UPA government had approved a Rs 30,000 crore turnaround (TAP) and financial restructuring plans (FRP) package spanning up to the year 2021. After the cabinet's in-principle approval for Air India's divestment, budget passenger airline IndiGo expressed its interest in participating in the stake sale. On July 18, Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani, in a letter to the airline employees, said the government's decision to consider AI's divestment stemmed from the fact that the airline is unable to service its "huge accumulated debt of over Rs 50,000 crore". The government has already decided to sell its entire 51 per cent stake in Pawan Hans Ltd (PHL), in which the rest 49 per cent holding is with ONGC. --IANS ao/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google CEO Sunder Pichai has reportedly cut his vacation short to deal with the crisis over an anti-diversity "manifesto" that went viral inside the company and infuriated thousands of employees. The tech giant has also reportedly fired the engineer who wrote the 10-page memo, which claimed that "the representation gap between men and women in software engineering persists because of biological differences between the two sexes". According to a report in CNNMoney on Tuesday, Pichai condemned portions of the controversial memo that argued that women are not "biologically fit" for tech roles. Pichai said parts of the 3,300-word 'manifesto' crossed the line by "advancing harmful gender stereotypes" in the workplace. "Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives," he wrote in an email. "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK. Clearly there's a lot more to discuss as a group, including how we create a more inclusive environment for all," Pichai added. The Google CEO also said that there are employees who are questioning whether they can safely express their opinions, especially ones that might fall into a minority. "They too feel under threat and that's not OK. People must feel free to express dissent," he wrote. Meanwhile, media reported on Tuesday that the engineer, identified as James Damore who wrote the manifesto, has been fired. According to the Guardian, a Google spokesperson declined to comment on these reports. On Saturday, online news website Motherboard reported that an anti-diversity manifesto, written by a Google engineer, suggested that the company should halt initiatives aimed at increasing gender and racial diversity within the company and instead focus on "ideological diversity". It also said Google should not offer programmes for under-represented racial or gender minorities. Danielle Brown, Google's new Vice President of Diversity, Integrity and Governance, later issued a statement to Google employees in response to the viral memo. "I value diversity and inclusion, am not denying that sexism exists, and don't endorse using stereotypes. When addressing the gap in representation in the population, we need to look at population level differences in distributions," she said. "If we can't have an honest discussion about this, then we can never truly solve the problem. Psychological safety is built on mutual respect and acceptance, but unfortunately our culture of shaming and misrepresentation is disrespectful and unaccepting of anyone outside its echo chamber," Brown added. Brown thanked her fellow Googlers for bringing up the issue and vouched for a need to change. Last month, Google emerged victorious in its fight with the US Department of Labour over supplying pay gap data. The department alleged that the tech giant tried to restrict media coverage of the gender discrimination case. Google was accused of systematically underpaying women. --IANS sku/na/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking offence at a press statement of BJP legislator Vijender Gupta, in which he urged the LG to scrap "unconstitutional House committees", the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution to send the issue to its Privileges Committee. Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta had on August 2 issued a press statement in which he termed certain committees of the assembly as "unconstitutional" and through a letter urged Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal to dissolve such committees. Summing up a discussion on the issue, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that questioning the existence of the committees of the Delhi Assembly was not fair and such statements should not be tolerated. He said that he himself was an executive (like Gupta) but had not problem with the existence of the committee, then why Gupta was so much worried about their existence and functioning. "The Assembly Committees play a pivotal role in strengthening the democracy in Delhi and he (Vijender Gupta) does not believe in democracy. These committees target the people who indulge in wrongdoing and it seems Gupta certainly has some connections with such people," Sisodia said. He added these Committees had tremendous power to oversee the works of the government which helped a lot in bringing transparency and improving the quality of the work. "Assembly sits three to four times in a year to oversee the progress of the works done by the government, but these committees are the bodies which can continuously take an account of the development works and related issues," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said. Gupta had also accused these committees of summoning officers in order to pressurise or threaten them. Attacking Gupta and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sisodia alleged that Gupta came from a background (political) where "people from his party are not even ashamed of stalking a girl". "These (BJP and RSS) are the people who are not even ashamed of killing (Mahatma) Gandhi. They were even against the Quit India Movement," Sisodia alleged. The AAP MLAs, who participated in the discussion, sought an apology from the Leader of Opposition over the matter. AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said according to the Constitution, the Delhi Assembly and its committees enjoyed same powers as the Lok Sabha and its committees. "This House has all the powers to constitute committees. The Leader of Opposition should apologise for calling the assembly committees unconstitutional," Bharadwaj said. Another AAP legislator Alka Lamba also demanded an apology from Gupta and said that his comments about the assembly committees were "unacceptable". "These committees have started probing the matters to which the BJP leaders are probably linked, so they are raising questions. They want a backdoor compromise with the committees which is not going to happen," Lamba said. AAP MLAs Somnath Bharti, Adarsh Shashtri, Nitin Tyagi, Rajesh Gupta, Rituraj, Madanlal and Vishesh Ravi also participated in the discussion. --IANS am/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had violated the security protocol during his visit to Gujarat last week when he was attacked with a stone, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that Gujarat Police was informed about Gandhi's visit two days before he travelled to the state. "Rahul Gandhi is under SPG protection. The state police had made adequate arrangement for the visit. He was even provided a bullet-proof car. But he opted for a non-bullet proof vehicle. He should have listened to the advice of security personnel. But he did not," he said. The minister said some unknown person threw a stone at Gandhi's car and the incident would not have occurred had the Congress leader used the vehicle the police had provided. The matter came up in the Lok Sabha after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the "potentially fatal" attack on Gandhi in Gujarat on August 4. Kharge said the government was saying terrorists were throwing stones in Kashmir and asked "which terrorist threw stones in Gujarat". Congress members shouted slogans even as the Minister said the accused had been arrested and further probe was on. The din forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for half hour at 11.30 am. --IANS sar/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Tuesday kicked up a major storm in the Rajya Sabha, complaining about the RBI printing two types of Rs 500 currency notes and alleging that demonetisation was the biggest scam of the century. This led to frayed tempers and repeated adjournments of the house, without any business being conducted. The issue created such an uproar, during which the two sides traded heated exchanges, that the house was adjourned six times before the final adjournment for the day. Trouble began from the word go soon after the house met for the day when Congress member Kapil Sibal raked up the issue, claiming that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was printing two types of Rs 500 currency notes. "The RBI prints two types of currency notes. These are of different size and different design... How is it possible?" he said, displaying images of two Rs 500 denomination notes pasted on a placard. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the demonetisation was the "biggest scam of this century". Other opposition leaders, including Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien, Janata Dal-United's Sharad Yadav and Samajwadi Party's Naresh Agrawal, also sided with the Congress. BJP ministers protested against raising the issue, citing technical grounds. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also Leader of the House, accused the opposition of raising "frivolous" issues day after day. "There is no such provision that you can flash any paper any time and say this is Point of Order. There are rules under which you give notice. You can't raise issues with regard to the currency and make such irresponsible statements. You have been raisng frivolous issues everyday during the Zero Hour," Jaitley said. As the opposition members continued their protest and the treasury benches members shouted back, the Chair adjourned the house for 10 minutes. As the house met at 2 p.m. after the lunch break, Sibal again raised the issue of two different sizes and designs of Rs 500 notes and his party members came near the Chairman's podium, raising slogans against the government. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien subsequently adjourned the house till 2.30 p.m. But as soon as the house reconvened, slogan-shouting Congress members again trooped towards the podium. Some of the BJP members too came into the aisle and shouted slogans. Amid the pandemonium, Kurien adjourned the house for the day. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said if the members wanted a discussion, they could have given a notice. "You will get the answer," he said. Outside Parliament, Congress said variations in the sizes, designs and features in same series of new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes "jeopardize the credibility of the currencies" and confuse citizens about their authenticity. The party also demanded a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why there were variations in features and sizes in the same series of notes. Indicating "criminal negligence and criminal culpability" on the part of the government, Sibal said Modi's objectives behind demonetisation were yet to be achieved. "We have been trying to figure out the real motive behind the sudden and secret move of the government to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes," Sibal told the media here. "The objectives mentioned by the Prime Minister have clearly not been achieved," he asserted. "Different sizes of (same) currency notes jeopardize the credibility of India's currency and has huge global ramifications. Citizens will be confused about their authenticity." Sibal mentioned that the standard size of the new currency notes as indicated on the official website of the Reserve Bank of India was 66 mm X 150 mm for Rs 500 and 66 mm X 156 mm for Rs 2,000 notes. "Where were notes of significantly different sizes printed? Nowhere in the world are currency notes of whatever denomination of different sizes," Sibal maintained. --IANS mak-bns/vsc/sar/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of Rs 354 crore in the agriculture sector between April and May this year, Minister of State for Agriculture S.S.Ahluwalia told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply, Ahluwalia said the FDI in 2014-15 was Rs 365 crore while it was Rs 553 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 515 crore in 2016-17. --IANS spk/him/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A South Korean court on Tuesday ordered Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay damages to the country's victims of forced labour during World War II. The Gwangju city court ruled that Mitsubishi should pay 120 million won ($107,000) in compensation to Kim Young-ok, 85, a surviving victim of the forced labour, and 3,256,684 won to a relative of deceased victim Choe Jeong-rye. The damages for the relative were based on the inheritance share of the plaintiff. The plaintiffs originally demanded Mitsubishi pay 150 million won in damages to the surviving victim and 30 million won to the in-law of the late victim. The two victims were duped in 1944, when they were elementary and middle school students, into toiling without pay at an aircraft manufacturing plant in Nagoya of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Some of the surviving forced labour victims and the bereaved families have filed a total of 14 cases against Mitsubishi and other Japanese firms, which committed war crimes against humanity during the Pacific War. Hundreds of thousands of Koreans were forced or deceived into labour and sexual slavery before and during the devastating war. The Korean Peninsula was colonised by Imperial Japan from 1910 to 1945. Japan has claimed all colonial-era issues were resolved through the 1965 treaty that normalised diplomatic relations between Seoul and Tokyo. The South Korean court, however, said it would be difficult to see the 1965 treaty include individual rights to damages, ordering the Japanese company to pay war crime compensation to the victims. (1 South Korean won $0.00089). --IANS py/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian soldier was injured in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, a Defence Ministry official said on Tuesday. The Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing at Indian positions in the Uri sector on Monday evening. "Indian positions effectively and strongly retaliated. The injured soldier was shifted to an Army base hospital in Srinagar," the official added. --IANS sq/ksk (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, saying that many sections were living in fear and that liberty of the individual was being daily trampled upon by anti-social elements and self-appointed vigilantes. Addressing a special Congress Working Committee meeting here on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, Gandhi highlighted the party's role in the freedom struggle and took a swipe at the BJP on the issue of nationalism. "Today many sections live in fear, none more than the minorities, the Dalits, the tribals and women. Not a day passes without an incident where the liberty of the individual has not been trampled upon by anti-social elements or self-appointed vigilantes," she said. Gandhi accused the government of encouraging vigilantes and said there was threat to the country's pluralism. "Far from curbing their onslaught, the government of the day encourages and empowers them to flout the rule of law and unleash oppression. All this taken together is the biggest threat to liberty, and is the enemy of pluralism and diversity." She said the Quit India movement was a reminder for the party that "brute force" can and must be resisted in the name of freedom and called upon party workers to persevere at time when the party is facing multi-faceted challenges. "Even when the odds appear to be against us, and the adversary appears all-powerful, we can succeed if we persevere in fighting for the India we believe in and cherish," she said. Gandhi said Congress must never bow before those "who assault the liberty of the individual and of society" and must always remain on the frontline in defence of liberty and numerous values associated with liberty, and the institutions that go with it. "This is the task history enjoined upon us, to fight every inch of the way until we prevail and re-establish the values on which free India was founded and built since 1947," she said. Attacking the BJP, Gandhi said political descendants of those who had collaborated with the colonial government were holding high office. "While we salute the patriots, we must not forget that there were organizations and individuals who opposed the 1942 movement and actually collaborated with the colonial government. Their political descendants are the very people who today hold high office and have arrogated to themselves the role of torch bearers of our freedom," she said. Gandhi said liberty is the lifeline of democracy and takes within its sweep, freedom of speech, freedom to dissent, freedom of choice, freedom of worship, the rule of law; equality and social justice. "If any of these values is impaired, liberty itself will be diminished and curtailed," she said. Gandhi said the country has travelled a great distance since 1942 but added that the party was deeply anguished "by the assault on the freedoms that our people have enjoyed since". She said the day was special in the history of India as also for the Congress as Mahatma Gandhi gave the call to launch the final and decisive phase of the struggle for independence 75 years back. She said his call, "Do or Die", was a clarion to the party and to the freedom fighters and the entire leadership of the Indian National Congress was arrested and imprisoned shortly after August 8, 1942. She recalled struggles of those who had been jailed and those who sustained the movement from underground in spite of brutal repression inflicted on them by the British authorities. In his remarks, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed deep concern about India's youth and farmers and said multiple problems continue to persist after demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was not present at the meeting of the CWC, which is the highest decision-making body of the Congress. The meeting was attended by party's senior leaders. --IANS ps-sid/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Representatives from Iran, Russia and Turkey here on Tuesday started a meeting to set the agenda of imminent Syrian peace talks in Astana, media report said. During the two-day meeting, the participants will exchange views about the ongoing ceasefire and the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria, Xinhua reported. The upcoming Astana talks will be held with the participation of representatives from Iran, Russia and Turkey and delegations from the Syrian government, Syrian opposition forces, and observers from the UN in the end of August. Russia, Turkey and Iran on July 6 agreed to form a joint working group on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria during the talks in Astana. The three countries signed a memorandum of understanding on creating four de-escalation zones in Syria, aiming to ease tensions for at least six months in Syria where the war is in the seventh year. According to the memorandum, the government and opposition forces will halt fighting in four zones, including Idlib and Homs province, the eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus, and areas in the Daraa and Qunaitera provinces. --IANS py/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Average broadband speed in the UK is slower than in most European countries including Germany, Spain and Sweden, while Singapore has the best service, a report revealed on Tuesday. The report has found that across the UK the average broadband download speed is 16.5Mbps, at which it takes about an hour to download a lengthy Hollywood film such as the "Lord of the Rings", reports the Guardian. The report, which examined global data from 63m speed tests over the course of a year, was put together by open internet measurement firm M-Lab, a consortium of partners, including New America's Open Technology Institute, Google Open Source Research and Princeton University's Planet Lab. The average speed in the UK is less than a third of Singapore's, which tops the global league table measuring broadband in 189 countries, where it takes an average of 18 minutes to download a 7.5Gb film. The UK falls well short of the average speeds enjoyed by European countries including Germany (18.8Mbps), Spain (19.6Mbps), Sweden (40Mbps) and Hungary (23Mbps). Outside Europe, the UK is bettered by nations including the US (20Mbps), Canada (18Mbps) and New Zealand (16.6Mbps), the report said. Overall, the UK lags behind 19 European countries, 17 of them in the European Union, the Guardian quoted the report as saying. Major European countries that fared worse than the UK include France, which ranked 37th, and Italy at 46th. Twenty of the top 30 fastest-performing countries are in Europe, and 17 of the slowest-performing 30 countries are located in Africa. --IANS ksk/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has directed its officials to avoid using the term "climate change" in their work, and refer to "weather extremes" instead. According to the Guardian, a series of emails between officials of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a USDA unit that oversees farmers' land conservation, show the Trump administration had in February listed "climate change" in the "avoid" category. The term was replaced by "weather extremes". An official statement from Bianca Moebius-Clune, director of soil health, instructed employees to use "resilience to weather extremes", instead of "climate change adaption". The term "sequester carbon" is also ruled out and replaced by "build soil organic matter", the daily reported on Tuesday. In an email to staff, Moebius-Clune said: "We won't change the modelling, just how we talk about it -- there are a lot of benefits to putting carbon back in the sail [sic], climate mitigation is just one of them." In a separate email to senior employees, just days after Trump's inauguration, Jimmy Bramblett, deputy chief for programmes at the NRCS, said: "It has become clear one of the previous administration's priority is not consistent with that of the incoming administration. Namely, that priority is climate change. Please visit with your staff and make them aware of this shift in perspective within the executive branch." Other emails show the often agonised discussions between staff unsure of what is forbidden. Tim Hafner, a staff, wrote to Bramblett: "I would like to know correct terms I should use instead of climate changes and anything to do with carbon ... I want to ensure to incorporate correct terminology that the agency has approved to use." Suzanne Baker, a New York-based NRCS employee, On April 5 emailed a query as to whether officials were "allowed to publish work from outside the USDA that use 'climate change'." Some staff said they would "prefer to keep the language as is" and stressed the need to maintain the "scientific integrity of the work". A USDA statement on January 23 said it had issued "interim operating procedures outlining procedures to ensure the new policy team has an opportunity to review policy-related statements, legislation, budgets and regulations prior to issuance". US President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned the veracity of climate change research, infamously suggesting that it is part of an elaborate Chinese hoax. The President has started the process of withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to scrap regulations aimed at cutting greenhouse gases, and has moved to open up more public land and waters to fossil fuel activity. The mentions of the dangers of climate change have been removed from the websites of the White House and the Department of the Interior, while the EPA scrapped its entire online climate section in April. "These records reveal Trump's active censorship of science in the name of his political agenda," said Meg Townsend, open government attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. "To think that federal agency staff who report about the air, water and soil that sustains the health of our nation must conform their reporting with the Trump administration's anti-science rhetoric is appalling and dangerous for America and the greater global community." The Center for Biological Diversity is currently suing several government agencies, including the EPA and the State Department, to force them to release information on the "censoring" of climate change verbiage. The emails within the USDA indicate that staff have been instructed to steer clear of acknowledging climate change or its myriad consequences. US agriculture is a major source of heat-trapping gases, with 15 per cent of the country's emissions deriving from farming practices. A USDA plan to address the "far reaching" impacts of climate change is still online. However, Sam Clovis, Trump's nomination to be the USDA's chief scientist, has labelled climate research "junk science". (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Tuesday said variations in the sizes, designs and features in same series of new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes "jeopardize the credibility of the currencies" and confuse citizens about their authenticity. The party also demanded a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why there were variations in features and sizes in the same series of notes. Indicating "criminal negligence and criminal culpability" on the part of the government, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said Modi's objectives behind demonetisation were yet to be achieved. "We have been trying to figure out the real motive behind the sudden and secret move of the government to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes," Sibal told the media here. "The objectives mentioned by the Prime Minister have clearly not been achieved," he asserted. Sibal said: "Different sizes of currency notes jeopardize the credibility of India's currency and has huge global ramifications. Citizens will be confused about their authenticity." He mentioned that the standard size of the new currency notes as indicated on the official website of the Reserve Bank of India was 66 mm X 150 mm for Rs 500 and 66 mm X 156 mm for Rs 2,000 notes. "Where were notes of significantly different sizes printed? Nowhere in the world are currency notes of whatever denomination of different sizes," Sibal maintained. --IANS sid-mg/in/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Since August 3, Chinas top leaders have been meeting in the seaside town of Beidaihe to clear the decks for the important 19th Congress of the ruling Communist Party, which may be convened in November this year. The annual Beidaihe meetings are not formal gatherings like the party plenum nor are their proceedings publicly acknowledged or announced. The current leaders are usually joined by veterans who may no longer be in office but still retain significant influence due to their seniority and experience. Their presence lends support to their proteges, who may be jockeying for high office. These gatherings are both about personnel as well as policies. A leader accumulates power and authority through the patronage network that he commands within the Party. This leads to endemic factionalism within the Party which may sometimes turn vicious and even brutal. As the US and European political leaders fret about the future of quality jobs, they would do well to look at the far bigger problems faced by developing Asia problems that threaten to place massive downward pressure on global wages. In India, where per capita income is roughly a 10th that of the US, more than 10 million people per year are leaving the countryside and pouring into urban areas, and they often cannot find work even as chaiwalas, much less as computer programmers. The same angst that Americans and Europeans have about the future of jobs is an order of magnitude higher in Asia. Should India aim to follow the traditional manufacturing export model that Japan pioneered and that so many others, including China, have followed? Where would that lead if, over the next couple of decades, automation is going to make most such jobs obsolete? There is, of course, the service sector, where 80 per cent of the population in advanced economies works, and where Indias outsourcing sector still tops the world. Unfortunately, there, too, the path ahead is anything but smooth. Automated calling systems already have supplanted a substantial part of the global phone centre business, and many routine programming jobs are also losing ground to computers. Chinas economic progress may have been the big story of the last 30 years, but it struggles with similar challenges. While China is far more urbanised than India, it, too, is still trying to bring 10 million people a year into its cities. Between jobs lost to automation and to lower-wage competitors such as Vietnam and Sri Lanka, integrating new workers is becoming increasingly difficult. Recently, the rise in has made this difficult situation worse, as epitomised by the decision of Foxconn (a major supplier to Apple) to invest $10 billion in a new factory in Wisconsin. Admittedly, the 13,000 new jobs in the United States is a drop in the bucket compared to the 20 million (or more) that India and China must create each year, or even compared to the two million that the US needs. Where will the jobs come from? In India, where per capita income is roughly a 10th of US, more than 10 mn/year are leaving countryside and pouring into urban areas, and they often can't find work even as chaiwalas, much less as computer programmers At the margin, the US and Europe might have some scope to make trade fairer, as Trump says he will do. For example, many Chinese steel plants have state-of-the-art pollution controls, but these can be switched off to save costs. When the result is that excess output is dumped at cheap prices into world markets, Western countries are fully justified in taking countermeasures. Unfortunately, the long history of trade protectionism is that it rarely takes the form of a surgical strike. Far more often, the main beneficiaries are the rich and politically connected, while the losers are consumers who pay higher prices. Countries that go too far in closing themselves off to foreign competition eventually lose their edge, with innovation, jobs, and growth suffering. Brazil and India, for example, have historically suffered from inward-looking trade policies, though both have become more open in recent years. Another problem is that most Western economies have long since become deeply intertwined in global supply chains. Even the Trump administration had to reconsider its plan to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement when it finally realised that a lot of US imports from Mexico have substantial US content. Erecting high tariff barriers might cost as many US jobs as Mexican jobs. And, of course, if the US were to raise its import tariffs sharply, a large part of the costs would be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Trade will surely increasingly permeate the service sector, too. Amazons Mechanical Turk (named after the eighteenth-century chess-playing machine which actually had a person cleverly hidden inside) is an example of a new platform that allows buyers to contract very small specific tasks (for example, programming or data transcription) at third-world wage rates. Amazons clever slogan is artificial artificial intelligence. Even if protectionists could shut down outsourcing of tasks, what would the cost be? To be sure, online service platforms do need to be regulated, as early experience with Uber has demonstrated. But, given the massive number of new jobs that India and China need to create every year, and with the internet remaining highly permeable, it is folly to think advanced economies can clamp down tightly on service exports. So how should countries deal with the relentless advance of technology and trade? For the foreseeable future, improving infrastructure and education can achieve a great deal. While the rest of the world floundered in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, China continued to extend its vast logistical and supply chains. In a world where people are likely to have to change jobs frequently and sometimes radically, wholesale changes in adult education are needed, mainly effected through online learning. Last but not least, countries need to institute stronger redistribution though taxes and transfers. Traditional populist trade policies, like those that Mr Trump has espoused, have not worked well in the past, and are likely to perform even worse now. The writer, a former chief economist of the IMF, is professor of economics and public policy at Harvard University. Project Syndicate, 2017 Members of Parliament are set to spend the remainder of the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament attending farewell lunches and dinners and making farewell and welcome speeches. Thursday is the last day of Vice-president M Hamid Ansaris 10-year tenure. The vice-president is also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha. House members will mark the day with farewell speeches for Ansari. The next day would be marked by the oath-taking ceremony of Ansaris successor, M Venkaiah Naidu, who after being sworn in this Friday would be welcomed to the Rajya Sabha as its new chairman. Members would also say their goodbyes to Communist Party of India (Marxist) chief Sitaram Yechury and Trinamool Congress (TMC) member D Bandyopadhyay, both of whom end their terms in this session that ends on Friday. TMC members also plan to host a lunch in Bandyopadhyays honour. Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadia on Tuesday expressed confidence of winning the Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat and said the party candidate Ahmed Patel has got more votes than required to win. "We had 44 votes, till now 43 votes have been caste and all the votes have gone to Ahmed Patel. One of our MLAs is going to vote now and that too will go to the Congress party," Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadia told ANI. Modhwadia further stressed that their candidate will win the seat of Upper House entirely on the votes of the Congress party leaders. "The leaders of the other two parties also promised to vote for us. Even the BJP leaders will do cross voting and will support Ahmed Patel. We have got more vote than it was required to win the seat," he said. Earlier, former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela did not vote for Patel and said there was no point voting for the grand old party as they are never going to win the elections. "The entire nation will face the impact and effect of this election. I tried to explain a lot to the Congress party before the elections, they didn't listen, following which I left the party. Now when the Congress Party is not going to win the elections, there was no point giving my votes to it," Vaghela told the reporters after casting his vote. Expressing sorrow for not voting for Patel, Vaghela further said the Congress party shouldn't have put the reputation of the former on stake, when the party knew that their MLAs were resigning. "It is not even sure that all the 44 MLAs of the Congress will vote for the same person, they may also do cross voting. That's why there is no chance of the Congress Party winning this seat. So, I have not given my vote to Ahmed Patel," he said. However, Vaghela did not confirm whether he voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate or opted for NOTA (none of the above). Meanwhile, two Congress MLA Dharmendra Jadeja and Raghavji Patel have voted for the BJP. "There are only two parties in Gujarat - Congress and BJP. If I'm not with Congress, you know where will I be," Congress MLA Raghavji Patel said after casting his vote for BJP. Congress MLA Dharmendra Jadeja asserted that the Congress party hasn't been listening to their leaders for a year and hence he voted for BJP. The voting for the crucial Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections for three seats began at 9 a.m. The voting will continue till 4 pm while the counting will be held from 5 pm. Gujarat Assembly Secretary D. M. Patel, who is also the returning officer for the Rajya Sabha election said that after the resignation of six Congress MLAs, there are total 176 MLAs eligible to vote. The election has been necessitated following the completion of the tenures of three existing members Union Minister Smriti Irani and Dilip Pandya of BJP and Ahmed Patel of Congress. Meanwhile, the win of two of the three BJP candidates party president Amit Shah and Smriti Irani was almost certain, while the fate of the third party candidate Balwantsinh Rajput who joined BJP after resigning from Congress was hanging in balance along with the sole Congress candidate Ahmed Patel. Congress needs the support of 45 MLAs for victory of Patel who is contesting for his fifth term for the upper house. In 182 member assembly, BJP has 122 seats including dissident Nalin Kotadiya. While, Congress has 51 MLAs along with seven of Shankarinh Vaghela's camp. NCP has two and JD(U) has one MLA in the house. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were "isolated" in the state with no support from the people. "The BJP and RSS is an isolated system in Kerala. They are trying to become a major political party but people (have) rejected them. That is a reality in Kerala," Vijayan told NDTV. A war of words has been going on between the BJP and the CPI-M, with the two blaming each other for the violence involving cadres of both the parties in the state. Congress MLAs on Monday disrupted the proceedings of the state assembly over rising political violence involving the ruling CPI-M as well as the BJP and RSS. Vijayan accused the "BJP-RSS people" of propagating lies and said the government has appealed to all political parties "including BJP and CPI-M" to cooperate with the government's measures to maintain peace in the state. "People of Kerala are aware this is a malicious campaign... This is not a campaign against LDF (Left Democratic Front), this is against Kerala, the most peaceful state... The Congress is joining them for political gains," he said. "We have also appealed to all political parties to take utmost vigil to ensure that their followers are not indulging in violence. There may be criminal elements who have cut into all political parties," he said. Earlier, Vijayan told the assembly that violence had taken place in Kerala in the past also but this time "lies are being spread... with a purpose. "What must be noted is that the police have acted swiftly. They have taken into custody all the perpetrators involved in the attacks -- both at the state BJP office and those behind the killing of the RSS worker," he said. On radicalisation of Muslim youth in the state, Vijayan said the police with the help of central agencies was "closely watching the developments" and that religious fundamentalism would be defeated with the strength of secularism. "There are a few cases of young people absconding from their places and landing up in Afghanistan or some other countries. The police are taking stringent measures to prevent it with the support of central agencies including the NIA. "Police are closely watching the developments. In fact religious fundamentalism has misled these youngsters and trapped them. People should be vigilant about such tendencies... Because of the strength of secularism in Kerala we can face this and defeat them." Vijayan also defended his government's decision to ease the liquor licence norms in the state, saying a total ban was not in the interest of the state or the country. "There was no total ban on liquor in our state when we came to power. The UDF government limited bar licence only to five star hotels. We have decided to give licences to to foreign five star hotels too. "The Left parties in the LDF are not for total prohibition. Because nowhere in the country or the world it was successful. It will promote illicit liquor and drugs. The restriction will affect our tourism as well as hospitality in our state. We have eased norms," he said. Amid high political drama, the Rajya Sabha (RS) polls in Gujarat ended with Ahmed Patel, political advisor to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, retaining his seat from the state. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani also won their RS seats, while Congress turncoat and BJP nominee, Balwantsinh Rajput, lost the race. Despite cross-voting by at least two members of the legislative assembly (MLAs), Patel bagged the requisite 44 first preference votes, while both Shah and Irani managed to receive 46 votes each. Patel was banking on 44 of its 51 MLAs to support him, with the other seven being seen as supporters of the rebel Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela. "This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery. BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror. People of Gujarat will give them a befitting reply in this year's election," Patel tweeted on the micro-blogging site Twitter. Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) 8 August 2017 This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) 8 August 2017 Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who was part of a Congress delegation that met the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday seeking the rejection of votes of two Congress rebels, said: "Money, muscle and manipulation could not win in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections." Congress, as well as the BJP, took turns to stall counting, resulting in a delay in the declaration of the RS polls result on Tuesday. Counting for the crucial Gujarat RS polls, which concluded at post-midnight on Wednesday, was delayed after Congress sought the cancellation of the two votes that were cast by party MLAs Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavjibhai Patel from the state EC (SEC), thereby, stalling the counting process. Disqualifying the two votes, the EC ordered for counting late Tuesday night. Later, the BJP tried to stall the counting further while demanding the EC to make the video footage of Gohil and Patel's voting public. As against an earlier requisite 45 first preference votes, the disqualification of two votes led to Patel requiring only 44 votes, which he managed to gain at the end of the political drama. Congress had alleged that the two MLAs had violated voting procedure under provisions of Rule 39 of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, by showing their ballot papers to persons other than the authorised Congress agent while casting their votes. From a total of 182 MLAs, the Gujarat state assembly was recently reduced to 176 after six Congress MLAs resigned following Vaghela's announcement to quit the party during his birthday celebrations on July 21. BJP has 122 MLAs in the state assembly. This resulted in Vaghela and Congress MLA Karamsinh Patel, among others engaging in cross-voting to the BJP. Congress' allegations not only delayed counting, but it also resulted in a high-voltage drama being played out as several heavyweights from both the Congress and the BJP, including P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad, took turns to visit the EC in Delhi. While Congress had pressed for cancellation of the two votes, the BJP had challenged the same by maintaining that the opposition party was late in filing a complaint. Congress had, however, rebutted the same by stating that it had brought the matter to the returning officer's notice on Tuesday morning, but did not elicit any response from the latter. Video footage of the two MLAs' votes was shown to the EC, following which their votes were disqualified. Congress party leaders even alleged that the ruling party BJP had been asserting pressure on EC in delaying action against the two MLAs who violated voting procedure. However, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday denied such allegations levelled against the ruling party. Patel, who has been winning the RS seat from Gujarat for quite some time now, saw a close fight for arguably the first time. Close to the Gandhi family and one of the key figure behind Congress' Lok Sabha poll wins in 2004 and 2009, Patel's retention of an RS seat was crucial not just for the senior party leader but also for its president- Sonia Gandhi. Polling for the Rajya Sabha elections had begun on Tuesday morning at the Swarnim Sankul, the state Secretariat, in Gandhinagar. Earlier in a bid to prevent the BJP from "poaching" rest of its legislators, the Congress had flown 44 of its MLAs to Bengaluru and lodged them there for nine days, before bringing them back to Gujarat on Monday. Lodged at a resort in Anand, the MLAs were escorted under heavy police protection to Gandhinagar on Tuesday for the crucial RS voting in Gujarat. Stating that an "undeclared bandh" in Darjeeling hills has affected many lives, West Bengal Chief Minister on Tuesday urged the hill parties to shun violence and come to the discussion table. She told the state assembly that there had been a loss of Rs 550 crore and that the state administration had shown restraint. Schools, offices and tourism had come to a halt due to the bandh, she maintained while speaking on the current impasse in the Darjeeling hills. The indefinite shutdown in the hills called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and other hill parties demanding a separate Gorkhaland entered its 55th day today. Banerjee said Darjeeling had been a part of West Bengal and she would not allow its division. She said such kind of agitation in the hills had become common in a 10-15 year interval, adding that the time has come for election to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration as its five-year-term comes to an end. The TMC supremo praised the Congress for not politicising the issue while hitting out at the CPI(M) for trying to fish in troubled waters. CPI(M) member and Siliguri mayor Ashok Bhattacharya alleged that the situation in the hills had become worse than before. He blamed the chief minister for raising the language issue in the hills which "was not well taken and resulted in the current stalemate". Bhattacharya's statement drew flak from the ruling party members who tried to hoot him down. Congress MLA Shankar Malakar said it was not the time for pointing fingers against each other as the situation had gone beyond anybody's control, and that the time had come for all political parties and the Centre to arrive at a solution. Banerjee said constructive suggestion by the Congress was welcome. She also hit back at the CPI(M) for misleading the House, asserting that the state government had not issued any notification on any language. Her statement irked the Left members who staged a walk- out from the assembly. Speaker Biman Banerjee said that by staging a walk-out, the CPI(M) and other Left members failed to show political courtesy. After weeks of dramatic political developments, Gujarat looks set for an on the edge of seat contest in the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday, which will decide among others the fate of Ahmed Patel, the influential political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. It is after a gap of about two decades that a contest is happening in Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties used to get elected unopposed after the BJP fielded a Congress rebel against Patel, who is seeking a fifth term. The ruling BJP has fielded party chief Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani, and Balwantsinh Rajput, who till recently was Congress' chief whip in the House, for the three RS seats. While its first two candidates will sail through, the BJP will have to manage extra votes to enable Rajput beat Patel. Ahmed Patel, who met Congress MLAs after they returned from their Bengaluru sojourn, said he was confident of his victory. "This poll is not at all about anyone's prestige. I have full faith in my MLAs. Apart from these 44 (Congress) legislators, two of NCP, one of the JD-U would vote for me," Patel told reporters. These MLAs have now been hosted at a resort in Anand district. The Congress, which has been out of power in the state for over a decade-and-a-half now, was rattled by the surprise exit of party stalwart Shankarsinha Vaghela recently. It was jolted further when its six MLAs, including Rajput, a relative of Vaghela resigned from the Assembly. Three of them later joined BJP, setting off alarm bells for the party in Gujarat where Assembly elections are due later this year. The beleaguered Congress flew its 44 MLAs to Bengaluru to ward off any threat of "poaching" by the BJP. However, six of the 51 MLAs still in the Congress, apart from Vaghela, have not put their cards on the table. They were not among the MLAs packed off to Bengaluru. Vaghela, who resigned from the party and as the leader of the opposition, has not quit the House yet, giving the Congress a major cause for worry. The Congress had faced a major embarrassment in the presidential election when joint opposition candidate Meira Kumar could manage 49 votes when the party's strength then was 57. A candidate will require 45 votes for a straight win in the poll, and the BJP with 121 MLAs can secure easy victories for Shah and Irani. The party will be left with 31 surplus votes for Rajput, who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. For now, Ahmed Patel looks like having the clear backing of 44 Congress MLAs, but even if none of them cross-votes or uses NOTA (None of the Above) option, the Congress candidate will require one additional vote for his victory. The Congress is also banking on the support of two NCP MLAs, and one each of JD(U) and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP). However, NCP leader Praful Patel on Sunday said his party had not yet made up its mind on whom to support. The NCP and JD(U) MLAs had accompanied Patel when he filed his nomination. JD(U) MLA Chotubhai Vasava has been saying he will only support those who will give something to his constituency. Keeping his cards close to chest, Vaghela on Monday chose to maintain silence on his choice of candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, but said Congress nominee Ahmed Patel remained a "friend." "Each and every voter is the owner of his vote. The vote is the personal property of an MLA (for the RS polls). Therefore, I do not want to reveal whom I will vote for," Vaghela told reporters. The 77-year-old veteran said he was no longer in touch with the Congress and dismissed the talk that he was in contact with the BJP. According to Election Commission officials, a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes. The MLAs have to give their preferential votes indicating first choice, second, third, fourth (as per number of candidates) or they can choose NOTA, they said. Meanwhile, Amit Shah, who has helmed the party to spectacular victories in several elections since 2014, is camping in Gujarat strategising on how to get all three BJP nominees win. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday announced it will support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat. This has come as a major blow to Congress, which had announced having the support of the NCP. NCP leader Kandhal Jadeja said that his party has decided to support the saffron outfit. "Our party has asked us to support BJP in tomorrow's RS elections," Jadeja said. However, Congress' candidate Ahmed Patel earlier in the day said that the NCP is extending its support to him. "The NCP has said that it will support Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat," Patel said. The Gujarat Rajya Sabha election is slated to be held Tuesday for three seats. The BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah, Union Minister Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput. ALSO READ: Edge of the seat Rajya Sabha contest likely in Gujarat today The state has been witnessing political upheaval in the recent past. The political temperature in the state had risen when six Congress MLAs joined BJP. The Congress accused BJP of horse-trading and sent its 44 MLAs from Gujarat to Bengaluru since on July 29 to prevent their possible poaching by the ruling BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. The Income Tax department raided Bengaluru's Eagleton Resort, which belonged to Karnataka's Energy Minister DK Shivakumar. The Congress alleged resort was raided because its 44 MLAs were staying there. All the Gujarat Congress MLAs returned back to the state earlier in the day. In a blow to the Congress in Gujarat and a further setback for Ahmed Patel's attempt to enter the Rajya Sabha for the fifth term, an NCP MLA said he and his party colleague have been asked to vote for the BJP. Nationalist Congress Party MLA Kandhal Jadeja told local TV that they had been asked by senior party leaders to vote for BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election. The latest development muddies the situation for Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with the BJP all out to stymie his efforts in the biennial elections. Earlier, the 44 Congress MLAs, who were flown to Bengaluru to prevent "poaching" by the BJP, returned to the state on Monday. They were moved to the Nijanand Resort near Anand. Their family members visited the resort for the Raksha Bandhan festival. Of the 57 party legislators in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, six quit the party on July 26 and three of them joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on July 28. Of the remaining 51 MLAs, seven, including Shankersinh Vaghela, did not join those who were flown to Bengaluru. Patel, who needs 45 first preference votes in a House with an effective strength of 176 MLAs, expressed confidence that he will win the election with the support of 44 party MLAs, and the backing of two NCP and a lone JD-U member. "I have spoken to (NCP chief) Sharad Pawarji and he has promised all help to the Congress. They have even issued a whip. As for Vaghela, he has himself promised that he will vote for me and I believe he will keep his word," he said. Asked about allegations of surveillance on him and Congress MLAs by the ruling BJP, he said: "I don't know why I am targeted like this. This is an example of a banana republic. "I have full confidence in my victory tomorrow despite the BJP's attempts and the numbers will surprise everyone," Patel said at the private resort near Anand where the 44 MLAs are lodged. On Tuesday, the legislators will directly go to state capital Gandhinagar to vote for Ahmed Patel. BJP chief Amit Shah and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani are contesting the other two seats, which the BJP is sure to win. The party fielded Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput as the third candidate in its bid to defeat Patel. "As all of us are united. The BJP cannot threaten any of our MLAs. Horse trading is not possible with those who are with us," party's lawmaker Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters earlier. In New Delhi, the Congress expressed confidence of Ahmed Patel's win, despite the BJP's attempts to lure MLAs through money, power and threats. "BJP, by adopting cheap methods, is conspiring to turn minority votes into majority in Gujarat," the Congress said. "They can make all attempts to insult the people's mandate... But we are confident that Ahmed Patel is going to be victorious...," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala while briefing reporters. "People have rejected them. It will be proven in the assembly elections. BJP is worried about the loss in Gujarat, therefore they are trying their best to further lower the level of . "However much they (BJP) try to conspire, Congress will walk the path of truth and will win," he added. Gujarat has seldom experienced political suspense since 1995 when the first BJP government came to power, and after Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has fortified the state like a fiefdom. All the 26 Lok Sabha candidates in the state are from Modi's party. Problems started when Congress veteran, the maverick 77-year-old Vaghela, called it quits at a public show of strength on his July 21 birthday over not being made the chief ministerial candidate for the 2017 assembly elections and not being handed over the complete reins of the campaign. On Monday, Vaghela said he was not in touch with Congress MLAs. He also said his relations with Congress leader Ahmed Patel were "very cordial". Vaghela, who resigned from the Congress in July, told NDTV in an interview that there was no question of getting any offer from the BJP. Asked about his vote, Vaghela said voting was the "property of a MLA". I don't want to expose it." Asked about speculation that he had been offered the post of Governor by the BJP, Vaghela said there were no talks between him and the Bharatiya Janata Party. "There is no question of any offer," he said and added that BJP leaders were not in touch with him. Earlier, the NCP had extended its support to Patel. Lone JD-U MLA Chhotubhai Vasava has also extended his support to Patel's candidature. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Polling for the crucial Rajya Sabha elections here in Gujarat began on Tuesday that will decide the fate of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel and that of BJP chief Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani. While Patel is seeking a fifth term with his back to the wall, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidates are all set for an easy run. As many as 176 legislators are expected to exercise their franchise for four contestants battling it out for three seats. The ruling BJP's third candidate is Congress turncoat Balwantsinh Rajput. With 122 MLAs in the House of 182, two BJP candidates will easily sail through, but Patel with 44 Congress MLAs, appears to be falling short by one to win his seat. The Congress had 57 legislators. But after six of them resigned in July, it was reduced to 51. Seven from them are led by rebel leader Shankersinh Vaghela. In a blow to the Congress and a further setback for Ahmed Patel's attempt to enter the Rajya Sabha for the fifth term, an NCP MLA said he and his party colleague have been asked to vote for the BJP. Nationalist Congress Party MLA Kandhal Jadeja told local TV that they had been asked by senior party leaders to vote for BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election. The latest development muddies the situation for Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with the BJP all out to stymie his efforts in the biennial elections. Earlier, the 44 Congress MLAs, who were flown to Bengaluru to prevent "poaching" by the BJP, returned to the state on Monday. They were moved to the Nijanand Resort near Anand. Their family members visited the resort for the Raksha Bandhan festival. Of the 57 party legislators in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, six quit the party on July 26 and three of them joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on July 28. Of the remaining 51 MLAs, seven, including Shankersinh Vaghela, did not join those who were flown to Bengaluru. Patel, who needs 45 first preference votes in a House with an effective strength of 176 MLAs, expressed confidence that he will win the election with the support of 44 party MLAs, and the backing of two NCP and a lone JD-U member. "I have spoken to (NCP chief) Sharad Pawarji and he has promised all help to the Congress. They have even issued a whip. As for Vaghela, he has himself promised that he will vote for me and I believe he will keep his word," he said. Earlier, the NCP had extended its support to Patel. Lone JD-U MLA Chhotubhai Vasava has also extended his support to Patel's candidature. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons have been arrested for posing as staffers of Udyog Bhawan and allegedly duping people on the pretext of getting them government jobs, the police said today. Rakesh Kashyap (37) and Salauddin (32) were arrested on August 4 from Udyog Bhawan here, they said. The duo has cheated about 16 persons till now. On July 28, Sunil Kumar Golti complained to police that he and his two cousins were cheated by a group of men. Golti told the police that the accused claimed to be working as lower division and upper division clerks respectively. They assured the victims of arranging government jobs on a payment of Rs four lakh per candidate, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) B K Singh said. The trio first met one Rajbir, who introduced them to Shri Kant (Kashyap impersonated as him) and Ajay Kumar, impersonating as employees at Udyog Bhawan. The victims were called thrice to Udyog Bhawan on the pretext of filling up application forms, interviews, written exams. The trio even underwent a medical examination at the GTB Hospital here. They paid Rs 50,000 each at every step. The accused even showed the trio their results on a "fake SSC site," the officer said. However, after the trio could not find their result on Staff Selection Commission's original website, they sensed something was amiss and lodged a police complaint. The CISF staff posted at Udyog Bhawan was apprised of the case and the photographs of the accused were shared with them. On August 1, the CISF staff shared information with the local police about the presence of suspects. By the time, the police reached Udyog Bhawan, the suspects had already left. Kashyap and Salauddin were nabbed on August 4 at Udyog Bhawan while they were carrying out a "job interview" of a potential victim, said the officer. Their accomplices -- Noor Hasan alias Rajbir and Shan Mohammad alias Sonu are yet to be nabbed. The mobile phones of the accused were seized through which the fake 'SSC webite' was shown to the complainants. The arrested accused also revealed that they have used similar modus operandi by conducting interviews for job aspirants at other government buildings including Shastri Bhawan, the DCP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three wild elephants, which strayed into human settlements on the border villages of Thrissur-Palakkad districts since the past two days are giving sleepless nights to the people, even as forest and police officials are trying to chase them back into the forest. The jumbos, including a tusker and a calf, were spotted in various areas in Thrissur-Palakkad districts. According to local people, the animals were first spotted in Mundur and Parali areas of Palakkad yesterday and later found in Thiruvilwamala and adjacent places in Thrissur. The elephants strayed into the densely populated areas after crossing the National Highway, Bharathapuzha river and railway lines in many parts, they said. Wildlife officials have been deployed in large numbers in the areas where the animals had been spotted. Alerts have been issued to the public to confine themselves in their homes and not to assemble in large numbers near the elephants and provoke them. The forest department also sought the help of trained persons to drive the pachyderms back to the forest. Animal rights campaigner V K Venkatachalam said the forest officials should have driven the elephants back to the same forest where they came from. "The elephants might have come out of forest in search of food and water and they might have lost their way back to forest. Though three elephants were spotted earlier, the calf among them is said to be missing now," he told PTI. He also said the increasing presence of settlers in forest fringe areas act as a blockade for wild elephants to go back to forest. "This incident highlights the urgent need to educate the forest department officials to use proper and scientific means of redirecting the path of movement of wild elephants, entering into human inhabited areas to their original path towards forest elephant corridors," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani security officials today killed four Taliban militants in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province. The Counter Terrorism Department and the Punjab police shot dead the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants in an hours-long encounter. The CTD said in a statement that the militants were planning to attack police personnel in Lahore. Kalashnikov rifles, explosives and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 7.0-magnitude earthquake tonight rattled Jiuzhaigou County in China's southwestern Sichuan Province, killing at least five people and injuring 63 others. Citing a statement issued by the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the state-run Xinhua agency reported that the quake occurred around 9.19 PM (local time) and struck at a depth of 20-km. State-run television confirmed that five people were killed and 63 others injured in the quake while officials say the toll could be much higher. The dead were all tourists, it said. The condition of 30 injured was serious. At least 106 aftershocks were recorded as of 11 PM (local time), according to CENC. A total of 610 fire officers and soldiers, and eight sniffer dogs were dispatched to the scene after the quake, Xinhua reported. The China Earthquake Administration has activated level-I emergency response procedures following the earthquake. China has a four-level earthquake emergency response system, with level-I being the top. Work teams have been sent to the affected area to carry out emergency operations, the local administration said. An employee at the Jiuzhaigou National Park said homes had collapsed in one of the valleys, and buildings were being evacuated, according to a report. The park said it had 38,799 visitors today. Photos posted on social media showed shattered windows, damaged walls and people standing in the street. Sangey, a staff worker with the popular Jiuzhaigou tourist site, told Xinhua over telephone that some houses in the scenic spot collapsed and authorities are organising young people to help evacuate residents. Li Changyong, head of the Jiuzhaigou county health and family planning bureau, said the quake was strongly felt in the county seat, 35 km from the epicentre, and many residents rushed outside their buildings. Yu Qian, a local taxation bureau official, said she felt strong tremor in her home on the fifth floor. Yu said the power was cut off in her neighbourhood and quake disrupted telephone service linking the scenic area where some of her colleagues worked and lived. The quake was also strongly felt in the provincial capital Chengdu, about 300 km south of the epicentre. Jiuzhaigou, or Jiuzhai Valley, is a national park known for spectacular waterfalls and karst formations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Assembly had a noisy start to the monsoon session today with the ruling AAP targeting the BJP over the Chandigarh stalking case while the opposition BJP raised the issue of death of sanitation workers in the national capital. As the House met, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel mentioned the Chandigarh stalking case in which the Haryana BJP president's son is allegedly involved. Leader of the opposition Vijender Gupta objected to it and demanded a discussion on the recent death of four workers who were cleaning a sewer line in Lajpat Nagar in south-east Delhi. Gupta was joined by his two party colleagues. Goel asked them to sit down and also charged Gupta with "disrespecting" the women of the country "by opposing condemnation" of the stalking incident. As Gupta and the other three BJP MLAs came in the Well of the House, the ruling AAP legislators followed suit and shouted slogans. They were wearing badges in support of the woman who resisted her alleged stalkers in Chandigarh. The 29-year-old woman was chased through the streets of Chandigarh on her way home late on Friday night, allegedly by the BJP leader's son and one more person. In the continuing din, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tried to reply to Gupta over the death of workers but he could not continue as the House was adjourned for 15 minutes. When the House met again, Sisodia said that there is a standing instruction that sewage should be cleaned mechanically, but the contractor allowed manual cleaning of the sewers. "The government has announced Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of sanitation workers who had died while cleaning sewer. The investigation is going in this case. If anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken," Sisodia said. AAP and BJP MLAs continued to indulge in shouting slogans against each other over stalking case and death of sanitation workers. The House was adjourned again for half an hour as the legislators stayed in the well despite the Speaker asking them to go back to their seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AAP MLAs today criticised Leader of Opposition (LOP) Vijender Gupta's appeal to Lt Governor Anil Baijal to dismantle house committees of the Delhi Assembly and moved a resolution to send the matter to the Privilege Committee. Hitting out at Gupta over the issue on the first day of the Monsoon Session, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia suspected "mala fide" intention behind the demand of the LOP. "Being part of the executive, I do not have any objection over the functioning of house committees. I am not able to understand as to why the BJP is making such a baseless demand. It indicates there's something wrong," Sisodia said. It is "strange" to know that an MLA, who is a member of the House, is demanding to "curtail the power" of its committees, the deputy chief minister said. "There are several Lok Sabha committees which fix responsibility of executives on various issues. Like the Lok Sabha, the Delhi Assembly has similar committees whose members step out to check desilting of drains, availability of medicines at hospitals and others. "The BJP does not believe in democracy and that's why Gupta is demanding the dismantling of assembly committees," Sisodia alleged. AAP MLA Sourabh Bhardwaj, who is the chairperson of the Petitions Committee, which had recently slammed the PWD Secretary over desilting of drains, moved a resolution seeking to send Gupta's demand to the House Privilege Committee. He said the Lt Governor, who reportedly sought the Additional Solicitor General's opinion over the functioning of such committees, "is not above the House". The AAP MLA said there are several cases, including those relating to desilting of drains, preparedness of chikungunya and dengue, being heard by various courts, but house committees are separately looking after these issues which is not against the laid down rules. The resolution was adopted by a voice vote in the absence of Gupta and the two other BJP legislators -- Jagdish Pradhan and Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Other AAP MLAs Adharsh Shastri, ALka Lamba, Rituraj Jha, Somnath Bharti, Madan Lal were among those who demanded action against Gupta. In a press note last week, Gupta, an MLA from Rohini, had said, he "will expose how the government formed unconstitutional house committees in the Delhi Assembly such as special inquiry committees and the department-related standing committees". "These committees are taking over the executive, judicial, investigative functioning of the government. The fact is that these committees have been constituted primarily to settle score with senior IAS, DANICS, allied services and other officers," he had alleged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Afghan government has dispatched special forces to a remote village over fears that Taliban and Islamic State insurgents have taken several families hostage after massacring dozens of civilians, officials said today. Fighters from the two groups killed around 50 men, women and children in Sayad district of northern Sar-e Pul province on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials. Spokesmen from both the central and provincial governments said they believed the insurgents were holding a number of residents of Mirzawalang village hostage. "An unknown number of people have been taken hostage," defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP. "Commando forces have been deployed to the area, air strikes are being carried out as we speak, and commanders on the ground are busy planning the recapture of the valley. "The operation to retake the valley will happen soon, and the terrorists will pay for their crimes," he added. Waziri put the death toll from Saturday's atrocity at 34 but Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor in Sar-e Pul, said 50 people had been killed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications is difficult, and AFP was not able to access the village. "Since the villages is cut off, we can't confirm any new killings by the terrorists," Amani told AFP. "But as many as 150 families are being kept hostage there," he added. Amani has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) on Saturday before massacring civilians, he claimed. Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghan government, told AFP it was difficult to know numbers of civilians being held but said "President Ashraf Ghani has instructed everyone to do everything to safeguard those people". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting out at the opposition for its stand on Article 35-A and accusing former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah of "misleading" the people on the issue, BJP today said "Article 35-A is an unconstitutional provision of law". State BJP spokesperson Arun Kumar Gupta said that "it is in operation without being passed in Parliament". "It is a great paradox that some article is being discussed in public domain without an understanding of its legal position," he claimed. "Article 35-A is an unconstitutional provision of law and finds no place in Indian Constitution," he said while talking to reporters here. BJP believes that Article 35-A has done a great harm to all the three regions of J&K, he said. "This provision has done a greatharm by not allowing any body from the other parts of India to come and settle here," he said. This resulted in "total isolation" and no growth of institutions required to generate employment, revenue, resources and for the overall economy of the state," he said. He hit out at the opposition parties and particularly Farooq Abdullah, for raking up the issue to "mislead" the people of J&K. "BJP cannot influence court and NGOs which are in legal dispensation. We would suggest NC and other parties including Congress file applications in Supreme court, argue there, rather than misleading people of J & K for their own political gains," he said. "Any discussion or statement on this amounts to contempt of the highest court of the country where the case is under consideration," said Gupta. Referring to all-party meeting to form a united front for protecting Article 35-A, he said that the time had come to expose the "double speak" of the parties. "On one hand, Congress and NC encouraged Rohiangyas and others to settle illegally in Jammu during their tenure, for reasons known, and on other hand, if for the growth of our institutions, legalmigration of intellectuals is required, it is being opposed in the garb of Article 35-A," said Gupta. "If the migration of people from other states could destroy the basic culture of J&K, states like Gujarat, Himachal and Punjab would have perished by now," the BJP leader claimed. Misleading people on various issues including the one under discussion (Article 35-A), has become the routine of parties like NC, Congress and others, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The war of words between the Congress-led Puducherry government and Lt Governor Kiran Bedi refuse to die down as Chief Minister V Narayanswamy today accused Bedi of obstructing implementation of various state projects. "Kiran Bedi has been coming out with charges of corruption and irregularities against the elected ministry and legislators through social media without any proof. She has not contributed anything towards development. On the other hand, she is putting obstacles in implementation of various projects," the chief minister told reporters. Narayanswamy alleged that Bedi has caused disrespect to the post of Lt Governor by levelling baseless charges and often transgressing her statutory rights and privileges. He said her action of taking to the social media and carrying all communication she was having with the ministry was a "clear case of violation of oath of secrecy". He sought to know if there was any other Lt Governor in the country who resorted to social media as much as she (Bedi) did. Narayanasamy, who had returned from New Delhi yesterday after meeting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and others, also claimed his government had proof of her "bungling" in the administration. He said the territorial government, however, did not want to do so as it had already represented to the Prime Minister and Home Minister about Bedi's style of functioning. Alleging that the Lt Governor was joining hands with some NGOs and trying to prevent the port development project here, the chief minister said its development as a satellite port of Chennai Port Trust (CPT) was taken up after an agreement was inked with CPT in New Delhi some months ago. He said though Bedi had been charging that there were several irregularities in the project and was trying to scuttle the scheme, a big chunk of work had already been completed and would go on stream as scheduled. Narayanasamy said he had been maintaining silence for nearly two weeks on the issue, but now his government "would no longer tolerate this". The Congress leader alleged that Bedi had beenpushing Puducherry backwards without any justification and functioning like a police officer and not as an administrator of Puducherry. He questioned Bedi's "arbitrary" decisions on many matters and charged her with awarding contract to Dredging Corporation of India without adopting tender procedure to desilt sand in the estuary in the vicinity of the harbour. Asked if he had sought ouster of Bedi, he said, "it is for the Centre to decide. In response to a question, he said the government was keen on restoring flight services from here for boosting tourism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBFC regional office here has referred Bengali feature film 'Dhananjoy', named after Dhananjoy Chatterjee, hanged after found guilty of rape and murder, to CBFC Chairman's office in Mumbai. "I was expecting an 'A' rating with few cuts but the CBFC Kolkata office has informed me the film will now be sent to the CBFC Chairman Pahlaj Nihalani's office. I was not told about the reason," the film's director Arindam Sil told PTI today. Contacted, CBFC Kolkata official Ajoy Mhamia said, "No consensus could be reached among committee members who saw the film and it was recommended to CBFC Chairman as per usual norms." Sil had earlier said, "We have made the film based on writings from a research work on the events leading to his hanging in 2004 and there after, it is a work of fiction." Dhananjoy was hanged to death on August 14, 2004. The film is slated to release on August 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Infosys co-founder and former UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani today swore by big data, saying it will address issues of economic growth and jobs and help small businesses avail of loans that have eluded them so far. "The fact that we are talking of using big data is not just some technical mumbo-jumbo, it is actually creating a cycle of investment and growth for India's small businesses, which will lead to economic growth and jobs," he told reporters at an event organised by CII here. Big data refers to huge complex number sets that are not easily dealt with by traditional processing application software. It faces challenges like capturing data, storage and data analysis. Nilekani was asked to assess the state of the Indian economy, especially in terms of jobs and overall economic growth, as the country is close to celebrating its 70th Independence. "With companies becoming data rich due to availability ofdigital footprints through GST, some eight million small businesses in GST will start getting loans. When they start getting loans, they will grow and when they grow, it will create jobs," he added. Small businesses were not getting loans due to lack of business data on performance, Nilekani reasoned. On NPAs, he said the Reserve Bank of India is doing its best to address the issue under RBI Governor Urjit Patel. To another query, Nilekani said it is a necessity to put in place privacy infrastructure to secure big data as more and more people are using it through mobile phones. On the issue of having a regulator for data security, Nilekani said India is waiting for the report of the DataProtection Committee headed by former Supreme Court judge B N Srikrishna, which is looking into issues of data security, privacy and sovereignty. He, however, is not sure what type of regulator India would have -- horizontal or category or sector-wise. "We are not sure whether we need a general or category regulatory. For example, in some sense, the RBI regulates datain banking world. Tomorrow, you will have a health regulator. It is not clear whether we will have one horizontal regulator or will it be sector wise," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parsvnath Developers, SQS India, J Kumar Infra and Prakash Industries figure among 331 "suspected shell companies", referred to market regulator Sebi by the government and facing probe for alleged tax evasion and other frauds, even as they denied any wrongdoing on their part. The regulator has asked the exchanges to restrict trading in shares of 331 such companies, some of which have investments by several well-known domestic and foreign investors and the move spooked overall market sentiments on fears about possible action against more such firms. The benchmark Sensex slumped 260 points while the Nifty cracked below the crucial 10,000-mark. While trading has already been restricted to just once a month (on first Monday of the month) in shares of 162 companies from the list, others may soon face similar or even stricter curbs, the regulatory and market officials said. In addition to the curbs imposed by the capital market regulator and the stock exchanges, these companies may face further action depending on the outcome of the probes by the income tax department and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), among other agencies. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said 37,000 shell companies indulging in tax evasion had been detected and more than three lakh firms were under the scanner for suspicious dealings, post demonetisation announced in November last year. West Bengal (127) accounts for the largest number of companies on the list of 331 suspected shell firms, referred by the corporate affairs ministry to Sebi. Besides, Gujarat and Delhi also account for a large number of such firms, against which the capital market regulator Sebi has recommended trading restrictions by the stock exchanges. While at least 124 companies are believed to be under scanner for alleged tax evasion, further 175 firms were being investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). Reacting to Sebi's action, realty firm Parsvnath Developers and SQS India BFSI Ltd expressed shock on finding their names in the list of suspected shell companies. Some other companies from the list also issued statements to deny any wrongdoing. "We are shocked to find our company's name amongst the list of suspected shell companies as a result of which, our equity shares...Are being shifted to GSM VI on the stock exchanges. "As a result, our company's securities may be traded only once in a month on a trade to trade basis and Sebi has envisaged a "financial audit" thereby implicitly castigating us and tarnishing our reputation," Parsvnath Developers said in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. Parsvnath said that it is not a shell company by any "stretch of imagination". J Kumar Infraprojects said it is not a shell company and suspicion of the regulator is uncalled for. "Our company's compliance track record both with the exchanges and Registrar of Companies have been impeccable". The company said that majority of its clients consist of government authorities and listed out Delhi Metro, Mumbai Metro and JNPT Port connectivity as some of the projects underway. Prakash Industries said that directions issued by Sebi are "totally devoid of merit and uncalled for. Besides, there has never been a occasion when our company has indulged in any kind of malpractices in stock market". SQS India BFSI Ltd has expressed shock that it has been placed under the surveillance list even as it has been complying with all the norms under Companies Act and Sebi regulations. "... We would provide all the necessary details and extend all assistance to cooperate with the authorities and get the matter resolved quickly," the company said. Pincoin Spirit, also identified under suspected list, categorically stated that the company has been following all the rules and regulations stipulated under Companies Act and Sebi norms. "We are ready to provide all the necessary information and extend all cooperation to the regulator to resolve the issue so that the name of the company is excluded from the shell companies list at the earliest on merit basis," it said. As part of efforts to curb the black money menace, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has already cancelled the registration of more than 1.62 lakh companies that have not been carrying out business activities for long. The ministry is implementing the Companies Act and firms are required to be registered under this law. While the term 'shell company' is not defined under the Companies Act, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley, last month, told the Lok Sabha that many such entities have been found to be indulging in large scale tax violations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Foreign Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad will arrive in Delhi tomorrow on a two-day visit during which he is expected to discuss bilateral and foreign policy issues, the British High Commission said today. Ahmad will hold a meeting with M J Akbar, the Minister of State for External Affairs, during his visit. "The visit will set out how the two powers can work together to renew and revitalise relationships within the Commonwealth, setting out a new vision and liberalising the global trading environment," according to a statement by the British High Commission. He will also meet British and Indian businesses, launch the latest round of Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships and speak to Indian partners working on gender equality issues. "I will be taking forward discussions with Indian partners on making a success of next year's Commonwealth Summit in London. India has a crucial role to play in ensuring this family of democracies is fit to take advantage, and face the challenges posed by the 21st century," the statement said quoting Ahmad. The Commonwealth Summit will be held in April 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expressing confidence that Chabahar Port in Iran will be ready for operations by 2018, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said India is considering sending wheat to Afghanistan via the strategically located port. "Government of India is going to send one lakh tons of wheat to Afghanistan, and we are trying to send that via Chabahar," the minister said at an event here, days after his visit to Iran. He said the civil construction of the port project, being developed by India, is complete, and the government is in a position to place orders worth Rs 400 crore for mechanised equipment and cranes. "I feel we will commence the operations by 2018," he said. During his visit, Gadkari said, he met Iran President Hasan Rouhani, and construction of a railway line liking the port with Russia was discussed. "Now, we are building a railway line in Iran. From Chabhar, we can go to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Russia," he said. An official statement had said yesterday that India and Iran had expressed commitment for early completion and operationalisation of Chabahar Port. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The AIADMK camp led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami continues to keep its doors open for the rebel leader O Panneerselvam-led faction to facilitate a rapprochement. The former chief minister-led camp is, however, firm in opposing the government even as sidelined deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran continues to strengthen his support base within the AIADMK by meeting party functionaries. "It is my humble request that we (AIADMK factions) should be united and not give room for others to mock or criticise Amma's (J Jayalalithaa's) government led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami," Finance Minister and senior Amma faction leader D Jayakumar said today. Disagreeing with his view, senior Panneerselvam faction leader K P Munusamy said the incumbent regime was not Amma's government. "Had it been the real Amma's government there would not have been a split or announcement for a protest," he told reporters here. The Panneerselvam-led faction had announced a protest demonstration on August 10 here on various issues faced by the people. However, it has now been deferred to a later date, tentatively August 18. Munusamy, who was a minister in late Jayalalithaa's 2011-16 regime, said opposition parties "should not mock at this government which was ushered in by Amma and people should not weep... That is why we have announced a protest." The Panneerselvam camp has been maintaining that a patch-up was not possible. Panneerselvam had on June 11 disbanded a seven-member party (AIADMK-Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) to facilitate a merger with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) faction. AIADMK comprises factions led by chief minister Palaniswami, rebel leader Panneeerselvam and party deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran. Meanwhile, several functionaries who were days ago appointed by Dhinakaran continued to call on him at his residence here, reassuring him of their support. When Dhinakaran made the appointments on August 4, the Palaniswami camp had questioned the move and the Panneerselvam faction had kept aloof, saying "Dhinakaran is an outsider" and hence it did not matter. Dhinakaran loyalist and sitting MLA Thanga Tamilselvan, to a question, said those who opposed (minister Jayakumar and others) the present appointments were themselves appointed by party general secretary V K Sasikala. He demanded to know why they have not come forward to quit such party posts. He said according to the plan, Dhinakaran would begin his state-wide tour from Madurai District on August 14. On August 7, Palaniswami had said he expected to see the much-anticipated but delayed merger of the factions "soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CPI(M) Bengal committee today recommended punishment for party MP Ritabrata Banerjee, who was suspended for leading a lavish lifestyle, saying he needs "rectification". "We feel he needs to rectify himself and therefore he should be punished after considering all aspects," CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra said. Banerjee, a Rajya Sabha MP, was suspended from the CPI(M) on June 2 for three months over allegations of leading a lavish lifestyle and a three-member internal inquiry committee was set up by the party to look into these. The inquiry panel was scheduled to submit its report to the CPI(M) state committee by August. It submitted its report yesterday. "We have accepted the report of the inquiry committee. We feel that Ritabrata Banerjee needs rectification. He is a young activist of our party and after considering his contributions both in and outside the Parliament, we have sent our recommendations to the party's central committee to take the final call," Mishra said. Asked about the recommendations on Banerjee's punishment, he said "These are internal matters of the party and I cannot disclose it. The final decision will be taken by the central committee." Banerjee was not available for comment. This is not the first time that Banerjee has landed himself in trouble. In February, a party member had questioned his use of costly gadgets like Apple watch and Mont Blanc pen. Banerjee using his position as an MP had reportedly written to the employer of a party member complaining against him. The CPI(M) state committee had then publicly criticised Banerjee's behaviour and cautioned him. Meanwhile, the two day CPI(M) state committee meet, which ended during the day, decided to launch a "massive agitation" against the policies of the central government and the "misrule'" of the TMC government in the state. Refuting reports about an inner party debate over the political-tactical line of CPI(M), Mishra said, "In every party congress we adopt a political-tactical line and we have to follow that line. We are a disciplined party and all of us need to follow the line that was adopted in the last party congress. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) High profile British Indian actor Dev Patel has been selected for the prestigious Asia Game Changer award in recognition of him using celebrity to place a spotlight on India's poor. The awards, now in their fourth year, recognize those making a transformative and positive difference for the future of Asia and the world. This year's eight honorees include young woman Sonita Alizadeh using rap music to fight a trauma in Afghanistan; Jean Liu, a trailblazing CEO changing urban life in China, an environmentalist Leng Ouch from Cambodia. Aga Khan, spiritual leader to the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims, will receive the Asia Game Changer Lifetime Achievement Award, a media release said Tuesday. "In a world of challenges, it is important to honor the dreamers and leaders, those who take action and those who inspire us to build a better world," said Asia Society president Josette Sheeran. Sheeran added. Among other recipient of this year's award are Aisholpan Nurgaiv from Mongolia, nonprofit organization Sesame Workshop and musician Wu Tong from China. The awardees would be honored at the United Nations on November 1. In less than a decade, the 26-year-old Patel has emerged as a full-blown movie star, delivering acclaimed performances in an impressive range of films and television shows, said the Asia Society in a media release. "But his work has done more than just entertain. It has also built bridges of understanding between India, a country so frequently reduced to stereotype, and audiences in the West," it said. In Lion, based on a remarkable true story, Patel's Saroo is a carefree young man who becomes consumed with finding his birth mother in India, from whom he had accidentally separated as a child before being adopted by an Australian family. The performance - which garnered Patel acting nominations from the Academy Awards and Golden Globes - was his most noteworthy since his star turn as Jamal Malik, a skinny teenager from the Mumbai slums on the cusp of striking it rich on a televised game show in 2008's sensational Slumdog Millionaire. Both roles challenge audiences to view India's poor not as teeming, desperate masses but as individuals imbued with hopes, dreams, and opportunities, the media release said. "I want the world to embrace stories from India," the British-born Patel has said. Indians, he has also noted, "are appreciative that we're spreading stories from their culture to an international audience." According to Asia Society, Patel has also turned his attention and star power to philanthropy. His #lionheart campaign has raised over USD250,000 in support of India's millions of homeless children. And so an actor who refers to himself as just a "guy from London" has established lasting ties with his ancestral homeland, Asia Society said. "They feel a strong ownership over me," Patel said, referring to the people of India. "Which is more than welcome in a big way." Previous honorees include Pratham CEO Madhav Chavan, actor Aasif Mandvi, ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar, Impact Investment Exchange Asia CEO Durreen Shanaz, as well as Alibaba CEO Jack Ma and education activist Malala Yousafzai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A retired government school principal and his wife were today killed in their house here by a gang of suspected robbers, police said. Police said retried principal Subash Arora and his wife Kamlesh Arora, a retired government school teacher, used to live in the house in the densely-populated Islamabad area as their two sons were settled abroad. They were killed with sharp-edged weapons, police said. Police said that the accused trespassed into the house with the intention of robbery. Police said that so far no arrest has been made. Police are trying to identify the accused with the help of footage of CCTV cameras installed outside the house. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Union's executive arm said today that Belgian authorities took around a month to notify it about the discovery of eggs contaminated with low levels of an insecticide, although EU member states are required to do so "immediately." Dozens of poultry farms in Belgium and the Netherlands have been investigated amid the hunt for eggs containing Fipronil, which is dangerous to human health, and several other EU countries are now on the lookout for tainted eggs. Millions of eggs have been pulled from stores in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Britain, France, Sweden and Switzerland have been warned that contaminated eggs might be on their territories. European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said that "no information about this contamination incident was provided" until July 20. Tainted eggs were found in Belgium in June. She said EU states "have a legal obligation" to notify the Commission immediately if they have information about a threat to human health. Andreeva declined to say more given that a legal probe is underway in Belgium and the Netherlands to establish who knew what and when. Belgian food safety authorities say that of 86 farms checked, 21 were found to have traces of Fipronil, which is banned in products for animals like chickens that are part of the human food chain. The levels detected are seven times below the European limit for what is considered dangerous. It's believed that Fipronil got into the food chain when it was illegally added to a product used to treat poultry for lice and ticks. Belgian Agriculture Minister Denis Ducarme has vowed to shed light on the contamination, but says that consumers are not at risk. "There is no danger today to public health," Ducarme told state broadcaster RTBF Monday. "It's important that consumers understand this, all the eggs that could have been contaminated have been blocked" from reaching shop shelves. He underlined that the only Fipronil levels found are "well below the European limit." No egg shortages have been signaled at Belgian supermarkets. In the Netherlands, Marieke van der Molen of the National Public Prosecutor's office for serious fraud, environmental crime and asset confiscation said the office is investigating the company suspected of using Fipronil and it supplier. She declined to name either company. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following are the top stories of the northern region at 2200 hrs: DES14 UP-RAHUL-MISSING POSTERS Amethi (UP): Posters declaring Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as "missing" have appeared in his Lok Sabha constituency here, with the party terming it as a "handiwork" of the BJP and the RSS. DES43 CH-STALKING-OPPOSITION Chandigarh: Terming as "shameful" the alleged stalking of a young woman by the state BJP chief's son and his friend, opposition parties in Haryana stage protests and demand a probe by the CBI or by a sitting judge of the high court. DES30 UP-ADITYANATH-TOUR Lucknow: To gauge the impact of his government's schemes, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will begin a tour of various districts of the state from tomorrow, starting from Gorakhpur. DES7 LSQ-BORDER New Delhi: The government is planning to install a 24X7 seamless virtual fence with sensors along the India-Pakistan border to curb infiltration bid by the neighbouring nation, the Lok Sabha has been informed. DES39 BOOK- THAROOR New Delhi: Swami Vivekananda's disciple Sister Nivedita was deeply steeped in the idea of Hindu nationalism, but in an all-inclusive sense unlike what is practiced today, according to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. DES50 LSQ-SECURITY New Delhi: There are 288 people who are being given threat-based security cover by the Centre, apart from the VVIPs, Cabinet and other Ministers, Lok Sabha has been informed. DEL55 JK-LD CEASEFIRE Jammu: An Indian Army jawan has been killed in Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. DES35 LSQ-STALKING New Delhi: More than 18,000 cases of stalking were registered in last three years in the country, the Lok Sabha has been informed. DES47 DOCUMENTS-DECLASSIFIED New Delhi: Declassified documents pertaining to the Quit India Movement and the Azad Hind Fauj will be on public display for the first time at the National Archives of India (NAI) from tomorrow. DES56 DL-ASSEMBLY-LD SESSION New Delhi: The Delhi Assembly has a noisy start to the monsoon session with the ruling AAP targeting the BJP over the Chandigarh stalking case while the opposition BJP raises the issue of death of sanitation workers in the national capital. DES10 LSQ-FOREIGNERS New Delhi: More than 5,700 foreigners have been convicted under the Foreigners Act in the last three years, the Lok Sabha has been informed. DES1 JK-OMAR-OPPOSITION Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah hints at the BJP returning to power in 2019 general elections, saying the "myth" of opposition unity was just a "chimera". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Various foreign companies, including those from Russia, China and UAE, have evinced interest in setting up business units in Punjab, a spokesman of the government claimed today. The companies have shown interest in diverse areas like defence and metro railway, he said. A Sberbank representative, on behalf of Energo Group Company LLC, met Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh with a proposal for waste-to-energy projects in the state, offering turnkey solutions for renewable energy projects, a statement claimed. Its head of corporate banking, Vigen Sogomonyan, said the Russian company Energo had done extensive research in Punjab and seeing the state's agriculture potential, would like to explore opportunities for setting up a waste-to-energy technological plant in Punjab within the 'Make in India' framework. The plant, according to the company, would create energy from raw material such as animal dung, agriculture waste etc. Sberbank conveyed to the Chief Minister that a Russian helicopter manufacturing company was interested in setting up a facility in India. The chief minister said his government was willing to offer the necessary land and suggested that the company make a formal presentation to the state government in this regard, said the spokesperson. Several other companies were also interested in establishing defence manufacturing units in Punjab, Sogomonyan claimed. Kartik Chopra, managing director of the Great Eagle Group, also attended the meeting and told the chief minister of Beijing's interest in launching a metro project in Ludhiana. Amarinder said he was willing to explore the possibility after going through the details and asked the delegation to put the company officials in touch with his government. Chopra also proposed food processing units for exports to the UAE, to which the chief minister responded positively, according to the spokesperson. Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and other senior officials of the finance department were present in the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid the Sino-Indian border stand- off, an organisation founded by former RSS ideologue K N Govindacharya has called for boycotting Chinese goods and using products manufactured in the country. The outfit, Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan, will be launching a nationwide campaign, 'Say no to China - Be Bhartiya buy Bhartiya' from tomorrow, an office-bearer said here today. Addressing a press conference, the organisation's convener, Pawan Shrivastav, said the campaign calling on people to boycott Chinese goods will be launched in the city by Govindacharya, a former BJP general secretary. He said the campaign will be conducted in more than 50 cities in the country from August 9 to September 6 and conclude in New Delhi. Shrivastav said this movement will strengthen national self-respect and also self-reliance. The campaign is being launched at a time when Chinese and Indian soldiers have been locked in a face-off in Dokalam in the southernmost part of Tibet in an area also claimed by Bhutan. The stand-off started in mid-June when Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the disputed area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Steelers ended Gujarat Fortunegiants' unbeaten run with a 32-20 win in the Pro Kabaddi league here today. Vikas Khandola was one of the stars for Gujarat. He led the way with some wonderful raids which included a moment of brilliance when he was caught by the rival defenders but managed to touch the line with his legs. Gujarat fought back strongly after a moderate first half but the Steelers' impressive play kept them ahead. They never allowed Gujarat any leeway and ran away to a convincing win. With seven minutes to go, Haryana led 18-11 and the best efforts of the Fortungiants raider yielded nothing positive. It was a rather slow first half-match in the encounter between the strong Steelers and Fortunegiants. Surjeet Singh set the ball rolling for the Steelers after Sukesh Hegde won the toss for Fortunesupergiants and opted for the left hand side of the court. Surjeet got two points for Haryana with his first raid as the men in blue looked to be front runners. It took five minutes for the Gujrat franchise to get on the board as Vikas Khandola came up with an unsuccessful raid. Haryana, buoyed by the good work of Kandola, kept accumulating the points before the opponent managed to fight back. After 18 minutes of play, the two teams were level on points as Gujarat's defence rose to the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana has been ranked first in the country in terms of access to and usage of toilets, with 99 per cent of households in rural areas covered and usage of 100 per cent, a state government release said today. This is higher than the national figures of 62.45 per cent households covered and usage of 91.29 per cent, the release said here. The findings were a part of a survey report of the Swachh Bharat Mission that was released in Delhi today, it said. The survey was conducted by the Quality Council of India across 1.40 lakh households in 4,626 villages in the country in May and June, 2017, to assess the impact of behaviour change under Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, the release said. Among the open defecation-free states, Haryana occupies the top rank, followed by Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court today extended till August 18 the interim bail granted to a former Congress councillor, serving life term in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, to enable him to arrange funds to pay his lawyers. A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra granted the relief to Balwan Khokhar who has sought extension of bail till October to finalise the sale of his properties. The court while extending the bail till August 18 asked the CBI to verify Khokhar's claims that he has received a consideration of Rs four lakh and sale would be finalised by October. His application for extension was moved as the 14-day bail granted to him by the court on July 20 had expired. Congress leader Sajjan Kumar had been acquitted in this riots case by the trial court but Khokhar was convicted along with four others. Khokhar, retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and two others were held guilty in a case relating to the murder of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment on November 1, 1984, after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. They had challenged their conviction and the award of life sentence by the trial court in May 2013. The trial court had acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar but awarded life term to Khokhar, Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal and three-year jail term to two others - former MLA Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar. The convicts have filed appeals before the High Court while CBI too has filed an appeal alleging that they were engaged in "a planned communal riot" and "religious cleansing". The agency has also appealed against acquittal of Kumar. The high court had on March 29 issued show cause notices to 11 accused including Khokhar and Yadav in five 1984 anti- Sikh riots cases. The accused, who were acquitted of the charges, were asked why should the court not order reinvestigation and retrial against them as they faced allegations of "horrifying crimes against humanity". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kolkata based handset maker Mobiles on Tuesday said it has commenced production of 4G mobile phone from its West Bengal plant. The company will soon launch two sub Rs 5,000 models of 4G handsets supporting VoLTE and ViLTE. Mobiles has imported 4G LTE Communication Factory Test Set machinery from StarPoint Company Limited, Beijing enabling us to begin 4G handsets production, Hi-tech Mobiles Managing Director, Mohammed Gyasuddin said. is only mobile assembly plant in eastern India. There are some 42 total assembly units in India. The company said demonetisation had affected its sales by over 50 per cent for a few months and then Goods and Services Tax has also created sales hurdles. Most of our dealers are small traders and they took the time to settle and understand the new taxation but now things are getting normal, Gyasuddin said. The Hi-tech plant here is spread over 80,000 sq ft producing some 1.5 lakh units a month in both feature and smart phones. The unit had provided employment opportunities to more than 500 people and most of them are women. The total amount of investment is around Rs 15 crore so far. The number of cases of trafficking of Indians to China and subsequent duping on the pretext of good salary and jobs has seen an increase this year, the government on Tuesday informed Parliament. Citing information received from the Ministry of External Affairs, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj G Ahir told the Lok Sabha, "In so far as China is concerned, it has been reported that some Indians in China were brought with the promise of good salary and jobs. They were reportedly duped and abandoned by the travel agencies." The (Indian) mission in China arranged for their return to India, he said in a written reply. The data provided by Ahir on " cases reported in China" said while 33 cases have been reported this year, it was 23 the last year. The minister added there had also been some cases where "unscrupulous agents had brought Indian workers to Iraq without valid visa". He said the MEA had also "issued a standard operating procedure in May 2016 to be followed by the states on receipt of complaints regarding cheating by illegal agents on the pretext of providing overseas jobs. An Indian-American entrepreneur has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to fix prices for customised promotional products sold online to customers in the US, according to the justice department. Azim Makanojiya, 29, a Mumbai-born computer-engineering graduate of the University of Houston, founded the e-commerce company Wrist-Band.Com and emerged as the largest online seller of silicon wrist band in the US. He is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of USD 1 million for individuals. Zaappaaz Inc.(d/b/a WB Promotions Inc., Wrist-Band.Com and Customlanyard.Net) and its president Makanojiya agreed to plead guilty to a one-count criminal violation of the Sherman Act, the justice department said. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine. Acting US Attorney Abe Martinez, Acting Assistant Attorney General Andrew Finch of the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and Special Agent in Charge Perrye K Turner of the FBI's Houston Field Division made the announcement. According to the felony charges filed yesterday in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston, the conspirators attended meetings and communicated in person and online. The investigation has revealed that the conspirators used social media platforms and encrypted messaging applications, such as Facebook, Skype and WhatsApp, to reach and implement their illegal agreements. Specifically, the defendants and their co-conspirators agreed, from as early as 2014 until June 2016, to fix the prices of customised promotional products sold online, including wristbands and lanyards. In addition to agreeing to plead guilty, Zaappaaz has agreed to pay a USD 1.9 million criminal fine. "As today's charges show, criminals cannot evade detection by conspiring online and using encrypted messaging. "In addition, today's charges are a clear sign of the Division's commitment to uncovering and prosecuting collusion that affects internet sales. American consumers have the right to a marketplace free of unlawful collusion, whether they are shopping at retail stores or online," said Finch. "Schemes like the defendants' cause financial harm to consumers who purchase goods and services and to businesses who sell goods and services in compliance with the laws of the United States. The United States will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals and businesses who seek to gain an illegal unfair advantage," said Martinez. Turner said the FBI stands ready to protect consumers from unscrupulous business practices. "Antitrust laws help protect the competitive process for the benefit of all consumers," Turner said. Makanojiya has agreed to cooperate with the Antitrust Division's ongoing investigation. The plea agreements are subject to court approval. Makanojiya founded Wrist-Band.Com as a project at the age of 19 while attending the University of Houston pursuing computer engineering major. Starting the operation in his garage, Makanojiya was also supporting his family financially at the time. After just one year in business, Wrist-Band.Com generated over USD 6.9 million. In 2011, the company was ranked 31st on the Inc 500 list of fastest growing companies and was also included as one of the fastest growing technology companies in Houston. The company began as a two-man operation taking orders over the phone. Since then, it has approximately 30 call centre representatives and 40 manufacturing employees working in the Wrist-band.Com factory in China. The company operates an e-commerce website that retails silicone wristbands in various colours that can be customised with specific words or phrases. It also has wristbands with QR codes or RFID chips. It has worked with companies such as Coca-Cola and with events such as the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli prosecutors have charged a former deputy minister and nine others in a corruption sting centered on Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman's party. The Justice Ministry announced today that 10 suspects in the high-profile case, including former lawmaker Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirschenbaum, were indicted on charges ranging from bribery to tax evasion. The charges are the culmination of a prolonged investigation by Israeli police into suspected corruption by members of the hard-line nationalist party. Last year, the Justice Ministry said it had evidence against 16 members of the Yisrael Beiteinu party. Tuesday's announcement didn't include charges against Stas Misezhnikov, a former tourism minister suspected of bribery, breach of trust and drug use. Lieberman was cleared of charges in a separate corruption case in 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Breakfast cereal brand Kellogg India today said it has appointed Mohit Anand as Managing Director for its India and South Asia business. He succeeds Sangeeta Pendurkar who resigned after a six year stint at Kellogg India. Mohit will also be a member of the Kellogg Asia Pacific leadership team. Anand joins Kellogg from Unilever where he was the Global Vice President heading the water purification category for the company based out of London. He was also associated with Procter & Gamble for 15 years in a variety of assignments including marketing for Asia Pacific with stints in India, Philippines and Singapore. ------------------------------------------------------------- Indifi appoints banking veteran Rana Vikram Anand as President Indifi Technologies announces appointment of former RBL Bank executive Rana Vikram Anand as its president. Anand was previously heading segments and products, branch and business banking at RBL Bank. Prior to joining Indifi, Rana has held a host of leadership positions in ANZ Grindlays Bank, ABN AMRO Bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland and RBL Bank. ---------------------------------------------------------- Rubique appoints two new directors Rubique, the online marketplace providing technology-enabled end-to-end solutions to financing needs of individuals and SMEs has announced the appointment of two directors, Suresh Sethi, EX-CEO and Managing Director of Vodafone M-Pesa and Alexia Yannopoulos Director at Apis Partners. "Their crucial insights would offer excellent leadership guidance for Rubique as we work towards bringing more efficiency in the entire loan ecosystem so that we can establish ourselves as one of the few fintech players changing the landscape of the Indian financial services space," said Manav Jeet, MD and CEO, Rubique. -------------------------------------------------------- Indian Angel Network signs MOU with biotech body BIRAC Indian Angel Network, today announced the signing of an MOU with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and intends to invest more in biotechnology startups. This partnership brings the bio technology startups closer to angel investors who apart from money will provide invaluable mentoring and global market access. BIRAC is a public sector undertaking of department of biotechnology (DBT) and enables enterprises and startups to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kenyans flocked to vote today in elections headlined by a knife-edge battle between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga that has sent tensions soaring in east Africa's richest economy. From first-time voters to those bent with age, from urbanites to ethnic Samburu warriors draped in colourful beads and carrying spears, thousands descended upon polling stations long before dawn to cast their ballots. "I really hope for a change of leadership, I really hope for a change in the way we do politics. I want corruption out of the country", said Mary Wangu, 42, at a Nairobi polling station. However after over six hours of queuing she said she was "fed up" at the slow voting process. Electoral commission (IEBC) chief Wafula Chebukati said "voting was going smoothly" despite minor delays, technical hiccups and heavy rain slowing the process at some of the 41,000 polling stations. All eyes are on the biometric voter identification and tallying system which suffered severe glitches in 2013 polls. The system is seen as crucial to a smooth election amid opposition accusations of a plot to rig the vote. Kenyans are no strangers to violent polls, and tensions have soared over fraud claims and the murder of an official in charge of the electronic voting system in the final days of campaigning. Tuesday's elections are taking place a decade after a shambolic 2007 vote -- which foreign observers agreed was riddled with irregularities -- sparked violence which left more than 1,100 people dead and 600,000 displaced. The IEBC moved quickly to deal with complaints Tuesday, removing clerks in a polling station where ballot papers were pre-marked as "rejected". In the port city of Mombasa a clerk was arrested for issuing double ballot papers to certan voters, local police said. "I voted Raila, because he will be so much better to us. But if he does not win, it's ok. It's a democracy after all. Really, there's no need for violence," said Tom Mboya, 43, who works in construction and voted in the capital's largest slum Kibera. The election is set to be the final showdown of a dynastic rivalry that has lasted more than half a century since the presidential candidates' fathers Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga went from allies in the struggle for independence to bitter rivals. The men belong to two of Kenya's main ethnic groups, Kenyatta from the Kikuyu, the largest, and Odinga from the Luo. Both have secured formidable alliances with other influential communities in a country where voting takes place largely along tribal lines. Odinga, 72, the flagbearer for the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, is taking his fourth and likely final stab at the presidency. He claims elections in 2007 and 2013 were stolen from him. "In the unlikely event that I lose I don't need a speech, I will just speak from my heart," Odinga said shortly before voting. "To my competitors, in the event that they lose they should be able to accept the will of the people. I also want to say that if I lose, I will accept the will of the people," said Kenyatta. Kenyatta, 55, is seeking re-election after a first term in which he oversaw a massive infrastructure drive and steady economic growth of more than five percent. "Kenyatta has done a tremendous job, he has improved communications, built roads and other infrastructure, he has to keep the job," said Sashikat Bhaga, 68, in the Nairobi suburb of Parklands, home to many Kenyans of Indian or Pakistani origin. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Kerala shifting into high gear with a new and assorted fare of tourism products, the state expects a sharp increase in domestic and international arrivals at 9% and 11%, up from 5.67 and 6.25% in 2016, a tourism official of that state said today. International tourist arrivals stood at 10.38 lakh and domestic tourists at 1.32 crore during 2016, generating revenue of Rs 7,749.51 crore and Rs 29,658.56 crore, Information Officer K S Shine told reporters here. "With the State shifting into high gear with a new and assorted fare of tourism products, the arrivals are expected to increase considerably," Shine said. He said the mainstay for international tourists are leisure trips and Ayurveda and added that with the upcoming Greenfield Airport at Kannur, intends to establish Malabar, sharing the boundaries of Coimbatore, Coorg and Mysore, as the new tourism gateways to Kerala. To reach out to the domestic market, a string of road shows will be held this year in Mysore, Gurugram, Amritsar, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bhopal, Vadodara, Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Nagpur, he said. He replied in the affirmative when asked if frequent hartals in Kerala were affecting tourism, but said the tourism ministry has requested all political parties not to give calls for bandhs, considering the tourism arrivals. To another question on the impact of prohibition on tourism, he said it has had an adverse impact and that was why the Kerala government had lifted the ban. However, political murders have not affected the arrival of tourists, particularly from abroad, Shine said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to backpedal on the issue of creating an official First Lady position for his wife in the face of attacks from left-wing opponents and a petition against the move, officials and reports said. The newly-elected 39-year-old president had promised in March on the campaign trail to create "a real status" for his wife Brigitte, who is his former schoolteacher. The issue has become a new political headache for Macron after an online petition against creating the role garnered around 270,000 signatures and an opinion poll showed a majority of French people were also opposed. The presidency will clarify Brigitte Macron's position in the coming days, a source told AFP late on Monday, adding that there were would be no change to the constitution to create a First Lady position. Instead, the presidency will make clear the resources at Brigitte Macron's disposal and the cost to the public purse. "The idea is for the French people to know how much this role costs," Aurore Berge, a senior lawmaker from Macron's Republic on the Move party, told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday. The new status would have seen France copy the American tradition of a prominent public role for the First Lady. Neither country has ever had a female head of state. The wife of the French president has historically always played a public role at official functions, welcoming heads of state or other VIPs at meetings or dinners. She has a small security and secretarial staff paid for by the presidential budget, but she has no formal job title -- like the partners of the British prime minister or German chancellor. The staff of Valerie Trierweiler, the former partner of ex-president Francois Hollande, cost 400,000 euros (470,000 dollars) in 2013, according to public figures. The focus on the First Lady proposition comes at a bad time for Macron as opinion polls show his popularity slipping badly only three months after the young centrist clinched a sensational victory in May. One survey published last week showed just 36 percent of respondents held a positive view of him. As well as pushing through cuts to public spending, parliament is also preparing to vote for a new ethics law this week which will prevent MPs from employing their partners or family members as assistants after a series of scandals. "But I see that sometimes one can create a role for one's partner," opposition MP Ugo Bernalicis from the far-left France Unbowed party said sarcastically during a debate in late July. He criticised the idea of according resources to Brigitte Macron "even though she has never been elected". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today granted bail to an accused in a case relating to planting of a pipe bomb under the car parked in front of former Union minister V Narayanasamy's residence in Puducherry in 2014. A division bench of justices A Selvam and Pon Kalaiyarasan granted bail to Thangaraj, a suspected member of the banned Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA) and one of the six accused in the case, on the appeal filed by him. The bench in its order said, "In this case also the appellant moved an application for statutory bail after completion of 90 days and the same was returned. Thus immediately after completion of 90 days and before filing the charge sheet, the appellant exercised his right to grant of statutory bail." "The custody without an order of the special judge beyond 90 days cannot be validated retrospectively. This ground alone is sufficed to enlarge the appellant on bail," he observed. The appeal was filed challenging the orders passed on March 29 by the special court for National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases in Puducherry. Thangaraj was arrested for offences under various sections of the Explosive Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and under Sec. 120-B of the IPC (criminal conspiracy) in January 2014. The bench allowed the appeal and set aside the March 29 order of the special judge for NIA cases, Puducherry. "The appellant may be released on bail on his executing a bond for Rs 10,000 with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the special court judge," the bench said. "He should appear before the trial court for every hearing as directed by it and surrender his passport," it added. The incident took place when the security personnel on duty at the residence of the former minister had found a suspicious object suspected to be an explosive material below the car. On his complaint, a case was registered and the bomb was defused by the bomb disposal team. TNLA is a small group which came into existence after India had sent its forces to Sri Lanka. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal's immigration officials are colluding with human traffickers at the international airport in Kathmandu to illegally send workers, including women, to the Gulf, a parliamentary report said today. The report found that 60 per cent of illegal migrant workers travel to the Gulf countries via TIA and the remaining 40 per cent vis India, Sri Lanka and China. The parliamentary committee has sought punishment to the guilty officials at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), according to sources. Led by Prabhu Sah, the committee prepared the report after visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE for 10 days in March. The committee had suggested the government to ban Nepali people from travelling to the Gulf countries as domestic workers in April after the field visits. "It has been found that 60 per cent of the Nepali workers taken to the Gulf countries as domestic helps had travelled through the TIA on visit visa or in collusion with the officials at the immigration office, security personals, airline staffers and agents," said a member of the probe committee citing the report. "We have suggested identification of those involved in the illegal work and punish them immediately," he said. The parliamentary panel in its report has also suggested mandatory labour agreement with destination countries and renewal of existing agreements. The report has also suggested that service charge to the human resource companies should be paid through the banking channel to trace if any manpower company has been charging extra amount. The panel has also suggested appointing a lawyer at Nepali embassies in the Gulf countries for fighting cases involving Nepali migrant workers. It has blamed the concerned government agencies for their apathy towards the rampant human trafficking. Organised human trafficking and smuggling, indifference of the state authorities in controlling trafficking and smuggling, deception of human resource agencies, exploitation through double work permit, sponsorship system, lack of adequate accommodation and food, ineffective diplomatic mission among others have been identified as major problems. The decision of the government to send Nepali migrant workers with minimum expense has been a complete failure, the report said. Nepali workers have complained that they had to pay amounts between Rs 50,000 to Rs 900,000 for jobs in various Gulf countries, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 32-year-old labourer from Nepal was crushed to death under a big boulder following a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir, police said today. Dev Raj Thakur, a resident of Kalali district of Nepal, was hit by the landslide while returning home from work near village Thard Kheri yesterday, a police spokesman said. He said his body was found trapped under a huge boulder by a police party this morning. The body was retrieved from the scene and handed over to his relatives for last rites after completion of necessary formalities, the spokesman said. There was no other damage in the landslide, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have identified a new type of barred snakes, taking the number of European grass snakes species to four. The grass snake is among the most common and widespread snakes in Europe - yet relatively little is known to date about the genetic identity of these non-toxic reptiles, which can reach a length of up to one metre. "We studied two areas where different genetic lineages of the grass snake come into contact. We discovered that the barred grass snake, previously considered a subspecies, is in fact a distinct species (Natrix helvetica)," said Uwe Fritz, Director of the Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Germany. "The barred grass snake is widely distributed throughout Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy and France, and also occurs in the western part of Germany. Thus, the number of European snake species has increased by one," Fritz added. Researchers examined the genetic identity of more than 1,600 grass snakes - many of them scientific museum specimens. "This showed once again how valuable these - in part very old - collections can be. Modern methods such as genetics make it possible to gain entirely new insights from the collection specimens," Fritz said. Two "contact zones" of grass snakes were examined closely. One of the zones is located in the Rhine region, the other extends from Central Germany down to the southern Balkans. In these zones, different genetic lineages of the grass snake meet, which in part had previously been thought to represent different subspecies. Such contact zones are viewed as natural laboratories for evolution, since they allow the study of hybridisation and speciation, researchers said. The two contact zones examined in this study represent different stages in the speciation process: The eastern contact zone reveals a complete mixing of the involved genetic lineages over hundreds of kilometres (km), they said. Researchers found that in the Rhine region, on the other hand, the hybrid zone is less than 50 km wide, and the admixture is very limited and unidirectional, primarily with barred grass snakes cross-breeding with Eastern Grass Snakes, but rarely the other way around. "This indicates the presence of reproductive barriers. They arise during the speciation process to prevent mismatched pairings among different species. These reproductive barriers and the narrow hybrid zone show that the barred grass snake constitutes a distinct species" said Fritz. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NIA on Tuesday questioned the sons of pro-Pakistan separatist leader in connection with a terror funding probe allegedly involving Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, official sources said. While Geelani's elder son Nayeem is a surgeon by profession, the younger one, Naseem, is an employee of the Jammu and Kashmir government. Nayeem is being tipped as the natural successor to lead the Tehrek-e-Hurriyat, a separatist conglomerate comprising pro-Pakistan hardline groups, after his father. The brothers are being questioned here in connection with a terror funding case which has named Saeed, leader of the Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa and banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, as an accused, sources said. NIA registered the case on May 30, accusing separatist and secessionist leaders of being in cahoots with terrorist groups. The case was registered over raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including through hawala channels, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in the state. The case also included causing disruption in the Valley by pelting security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India. The probe agency had conducted searches in several places in the state besides Haryana and the capital. Electronic devices and valuables worth crores of rupees were impounded. It was the first time since the rise of militancy in the early 1990s that a central probe agency conducted raids in connection with the funding of terrorist and separatist groups. Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa today met newly-elected Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and discussed matters pertaining to the army. During the meeting, Abbasi lauded armed forces for its fight against militants. "Professional matters pertaining to Pakistan Army were discussed in the meeting," said a statement issued by the PM House after the meeting. This was Gen Bajwa's first formal meeting with the prime minister since the latter assumed office earlier this month after disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court. The powerful army, which enjoys considerable influence over policy decisions in Pakistan, has ruled the country for much of its life since it gained independence 70 years ago. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner here over alleged "ceasefire violations" by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC). Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces, Pakistan Foreign Office said. It claimed that a 35-year-old woman was killed in the Karela sector and another woman was injured in Khuiratta Sector in alleged firing by Indian forces yesterday. "The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," the Foreign Office said. The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace along the LoC. He also called on the Indian side to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Altogether 17 states and Union territories have imposed complete ban on manufacture, sale and use of plastic carrybags, the Lok Sabha was informed today. "In the country, 17 states and UTs have imposed complete ban on manufacture, stock, sale and use of plastic carrybags, through directions or notifications and executive orders," Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said in a written reply. He was asked whether some states have strictly banned the use of polythene bags. The minister said use of plastic carry bags has been partially banned in some pilgrimage centres, tourist and historical places located in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. "There is no proposal to impose ban on the use of polythene bags completely throughout the country," he said when asked whether there is a possibility of banning the use of polythene bags throughout the country to protect the environment. The government has notified the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, which regulate manufacture, sale, distribution and use of plastic carry bags including those of compostable plastic, and plastic sheets for packaging or wrapping applications, he said. The use of carry bags made from conventional plastic with thickness less than 50 micron is prohibited while the use of plastic for packaging gutkha, tobacco and pan masala is also prohibited, the minister added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brussels police have opened fire on a car after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver has told officers there are explosives inside the vehicle. Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch told The Associated Press today that police fired once at the car, which was involved in two collisions during the chase. Van Wymersch said: "When they got the person out, he immediately claimed that there were explosives inside." She said the man was alone and no one has been injured. Army bomb disposal experts have been called in and police have sealed off the area, locking a number of people in nearby shops as a precaution, Van Wymersch said. Brussels police spokeswoman Dorothee Cattrysse said 400 to 500 people were being kept in the stores. Brussels has been on high alert since 32 people were killed in 2016 suicide attacks. Many suspects linked to those attacks and the November 2015 massacre in Paris lived in or transited through Molenbeek. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least a dozen employees of information technology and telecom firms here who lost their jobs have moved the labour commissioner's office seeking justice. "We have received 12 complaints against managements of IT and telecom companies from the employees who were sacked," said Harish Puri, Government Labour Officer. "Since the complaints were genuine, we tried the reconciliation route, but after reconciliation talks with the managements failed, we are in the process of referring these cases to the Labour Court under the Industrial Disputes Act," Puri said. The complainants have come together under the aegis of Pune Chapter of Forum For Information Technology Employees (FITE). FITE office bearers claimed that over 100 such complaints have been filed with labour commissioners all over the country, including IT hubs such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Noida and Bengaluru. Elavasaran Raja, Pune and Mumbai coordinator for FITE, said that managements of IT firms are blatantly violating the labour laws by sacking their employees. "We are putting up a collective fight against lay-offs," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Assembly had a noisy start to the monsoon session today with the ruling AAP targeting the BJP over the Chandigarh stalking case while the opposition BJP raised the issue of death of sanitation workers in the national capital. The ruckus affected the Assembly proceedings for an hour, and led to adjournments of the House twice. As the House met today, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel mentioned the Chandigarh stalking case in which the Haryana BJP president's son is allegedly involved. Leader of the opposition Vijender Gupta objected to it and demanded a discussion on the death of sanitation workers in Delhi. Three men had died allegedly after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a sewer pipe in southeast Delhi's Lajpat Nagar on Sunday, while last month, four sanitation workers died due to asphyxiation when they had entered a septic tank to clean it in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj. Gupta was joined by his two party colleagues. Goel asked them to sit down and also accused Gupta of "disrespecting" the women of the country "by opposing condemnation" of the stalking incident. As Gupta and the other BJP MLAs came in the Well of the House, the ruling AAP legislators followed suit shouting slogans. They were wearing badges in support of the woman who resisted her alleged stalkers in Chandigarh. The 29-year-old woman was chased through the streets of Chandigarh on her way home late on Friday night, allegedly by the BJP leader's son and one more person. In the continuing din, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tried to reply to Gupta over the death of workers but he could not continue as the House was adjourned for 15 minutes. When the House met again, Sisodia said there is a standing instruction that sewage should be cleaned mechanically, but the contractor allowed manual cleaning of the sewers. "The government has announced Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of sanitation workers who had died while cleaning sewer. The investigation is going on in this case. If anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken," Sisodia said. Meanwhile, Water Minister Rajender Pal Gautam told the House the government was framing new parameters so that there is no such incident in future. "Under new parameters (to clean sewer), the responsibility of officers concerned, contractors will be fixed," Gautam said. Thereafter, AAP and BJP MLAs continued to shout slogans against each other over stalking case and death of sanitation workers respectively. The House was adjourned again for half an hour as the legislators stayed in the well despite the Speaker asking them to go back to their seat. Gupta and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa were marshalled out of the House when they remained in the well despite the Speaker's warning, demanding discussion on the death of four sanitation workers. Later in a press note, Gupta said the issue of stalking in Chandigarh was "listed today in the revised List of Business at the end of the last item under the title short duration discussion." "But the Speaker suddenly reversed the order and introduced the last subject first in order to divert attention from the adjournment motion on sewer deaths to be introduced by the Leader of Opposition. This denies the rights not only Dalits but also the opposition," he alleged. Gupta, an MLA from Rohini, also alleged the way the AAP government treated the death of sewer workers in the Assembly today establishes beyond doubt that it is not only a "dalit- virodhi" but also "opposition-repressive" dispensation. The BJP legislator alleged, "The AAP government wants to stifle the voice of opposition even if it is for the poor and the downtrodden. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 49 fishermen from Tamil Nadu after firing in the air, prompting Chief Minister K Palaniswami to shoot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stating that the action was "totally unacceptable". In the letter to Modi, Palaniswami alleged that in a series of incidents that occurred yesterday, "the Sri Lankan Navy terrorised Tamil Nadu fishermen by ramming the boats with armoured naval vessels and arrested 49 fishermen in 12 fishing boats". The arrested fishermen, belonging to Pudukottai and Jagadapattinam districts, were taken to Kangesanthurai by the navy personnel, Fisheries Assistant Director Shivakumar told PTI. The Sri Lankan Navy's completely unwarranted display of military might against poor, innocent fishermen ramming their flimsy boats with naval vessels and endangering lives of non- combatant is "totally unacceptable", he said. The apprehension of fishermen "en masse" has come as a "rude shock" at a time when the process of conversion of trawling boats to long-liners was kick-started at Rameswaram recently, Palaniswami said. The attack and apprehensions clearly point to the scant regard on the Sri Lankan side for the efforts by the governments of India and Tamil Nadu in resolving the fishing issue "peacefully", he said. Recalling his earlier request that a "strong diplomatic offensive" should be launched to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, Palaniswami urged Modi to take up the matter personally with the highest authorities in the Island Nation. "I also request you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to secure the immediate release of 113 fishermen along with 137 boats from the Sri Lankan Navy along with the latest fishermen who were apprehended," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A son of a head constable was shot dead by a group of assailants in Solan town, triggering protests by locals, police said today. The assailants, who were in a car bearing a Haryana registration number, fired three shots at Lucky who was riding a motorcycle. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Solan Deputy Commissioner, Rakesh Kanwar said the culprits have been tracked. The incident triggered protest in the town and a mob gathered at the hospital where the victim was rushed to. Additional District Magistrates (ADM), Sandeep Negi said a doctor on duty had sought police protection for the staff in view of the protests. A case has been registered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Women from South Asian backgrounds are hiding their cancer due to the stigma attached with the disease in their communities, according to a new research released today. Experts fear a number of patients, including those of Indian-origin, are choosing to suffer in secret and avoid cancer screenings which could help save their lives, the BBC study found. "Some women went to the extent of not even having treatment because, if they went, people would know as they'd lose their hair,"said Pooja Saini, the lead researcher at CLAHRC North-West Coast, a research arm of the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) that looks into health inequalities in the country's medical system. "Others feared it might affect their children because no-one would want to marry them," she said. Saini added that her review suggests the influence of men in South Asian families and elders in the wider community may also be a contributing to the issue as the women would go only if they were given permission. The study found that it was difficult to say how widespread the problem was because little information has been collected on ethnicity and mortality. But in 2014, research from Bridgewater NHS found Asian women between 15 and 64 years old had a significantly reduced survival rate for breast cancer for years, reflecting a wider issue. Pravina Patel, who grew up in a strict British Indian community, told the BBC that when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she decided to hide it. "I just thought if people hear the fact that I've got cancer, they're going to think it's a death sentence. I was going through chemo sessions on my own... I had some very dark days," said Patel, who is now in remission from the disease. The UK's national screening statistics also show that people from ethnic minority communities do not go for screening as much as their white counterparts. Madhu Agarwal, an Indian-origin cancer support manager who has worked in the field of cancer for more than 30 years, fears this is leading to South Asian women dying unnecessarily. "Because of the ignorance of not presenting early, not examining the breasts... The disease has already spread (when they do seek help) and it's very difficult to manage it with treatment," she said. "Then the mortality is high, so there is a stigma attached - that when you get cancer you're going to die." Saini is now calling for more data on screening uptake by ethnicity to be recorded, so findings can be used to provide more tailored support to communities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Western Army Commander Lt. Gen. Cherish Mathson today called on Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhar Raje, an official release said. It was his first courtesy meeting with the chief minister after having taken over the Jaipur-based south western command recently, it said. The meeting took place at the chief minister's official residence here, a release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Resting on a hospital bed after a session of chemotherapy, Sudanese banker Mohamed Hasan vividly recalls the day when doctors told him he had blood cancer. It is a shock in any country but in Sudan, where access to drugs and treatment is impaired by 20-year-old US sanctions, it can be more life-threatening. "It was the first week of my honeymoon when I fell sick and was admitted to hospital," Hasan, 30, told AFP as a nurse prepared him for a sponge bath. "I never imagined it would be cancer ... It was a real tragedy." For a year now, Hasan has been receiving treatment at the Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum, the biggest state-run cancer hospital in Sudan. Life-saving drugs and medical equipment supplied to Sudan are theoretically exempt from Washington's complex set of trade embargoes. But restrictions on banking transactions, exchange of technology and spare parts, and other cumbersome trade regulations have hampered treatment of patients. The Khartoum cancer hospital is no exception. Two of its four radiation therapy machines have been broken for months and repairing them has become a nightmare, general manager Khatir Al-Alla said. "Their spare parts have to be brought from America or Europe," Alla told AFP. "But because of diplomatic issues we are facing problems." Importing equipment or components directly from manufacturers is cumbersome given the restrictions on transferring funds overseas. Washington imposed sanctions on Khartoum in 1997 for its alleged support of Islamist militant groups. Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden lived in Khartoum between 1992 and 1996. Over the years, successive US administrations have tightened the sanctions, accusing Khartoum of human rights violations, particularly in the 14-year-old conflict with ethnic minority rebels in the western region of Darfur. "The waiting period is between three to four weeks... which is too long for cancer patients," Alla said. Frustrated with the long waiting period, Hasan now plans to seek further treatment in India. The situation is no different at the Khartoum Breast Care Centre (KBCC), the only specialised facility in Sudan to treat breast cancer. The clinic's mammography machine has been broken for weeks, said British-trained radiologist Dr Hania Fadl, the founder of the not-for-profit hospital. "The problem is with the service... We don't have proper agents to service the equipment," Fadl said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UP ATS today produced a suspected Bangladeshi terrorist, arrested from Muzaffarnagar on Sunday, before a local court here which sent him to five days of police custody. Abdullah was brought to Lucknow on a transit remand and produced before a court which sent him to five days police custody, an ATS spokesman said. Abdullah who was arrested from Kutesara locality in Charthawal area of Muzaffarnagar. He is said to be associated with Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and was allegedly involved in preparing fake identity proofs of terrorists, especially from Bangladesh and help them find safe hideouts in India. ABT is an Al-Qaeda inspired Islamic extremist group, according to officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sweden said today it was working to assist a Swedish-Turkish journalist detained in Spain after Ankara issued an international arrest warrant, as alarm over press freedom in Turkey grows. Hamza Yalcin was arrested on August 3 at Barcelona's El Prat airport and is being held while a court decides whether to extradite him or not, Spanish police told AFP. According to media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Turkey accuses him of "terrorism." "The foreign ministry has asked to be allowed to visit the Swedish national detained in Barcelona, Spain," said Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom. "The foreign ministry has made sure that he has a lawyer and is working to clarify the charges." According to RSF, the arrest warrant is an attempt "to try to silence criticism of the Turkish regime," which activists accuse of detaining dozens of journalists under the state of emergency imposed after last year's coup attempt. The group says that since 1984, Yalcin has lived in exile in Sweden, where he has written for Odak Dergisi, an online magazine critical of Ankara. Jonathan Lundqvist, head of RSF Sweden, criticised the arrest as an attempt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "to extend his power beyond the country's borders." "He wants to show that he can get at critics even if they are not in the country. This is an abuse of international police cooperation, which risks having major consequences," he said in a statement. The arrest comes as alarm grows over press freedom in Turkey under Erdogan, with foreign reporters also being caught up in the crackdown. Turkey ranks 155 on the latest RSF world press freedom index, below Belarus and the Democratic Republic of Congo, after dropping four places from its 2016 ranking. According to the P24 press freedom website, there are 162 journalists behind bars in Turkey, most of whom were detained after the July 2016 coup bid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Telangana government today urged neighbouring Karnataka to release 15 TMC of water from Almatti-Narayanpur reservoir for the drinking water needs of Hyderabad and Nalgonda districts. Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao made the request in a letter to his Karnataka counterpart M B Patil. "Drinking water is being supplied to these places through Puttamgandi (irrigation project) under the Nagarjunasagar (reservoir). Against the minimum draw-down level of 510 feet, the current level is 500.50 feet, and we would be barely able to sustain the supply without any inflows to Nagarjunasagar," Rao said in the letter, as per an official statement here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain's Foreign Office minister Lord Tariq Ahmad will be on a two-day visit to New Delhi from tomorrow to discuss bilateral and foreign policy issues, including the Commonwealth. During his visit, Ahmad will meet Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar and explore deeper India-UK ties. He will also meet British and Indian businesses and will launch the latest round of Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships and speak to Indian partners working on gender equality issues, the UK Foreign Office said today. "I am delighted to be returning to India for the first time in my role as a Foreign Office minister. The UK and India's relationship is going from strength-to-strength.As well as being global strategic partners, we benefit from a unique living bridge where thousands of diaspora, family, education, cultural, trade, science and research ties enrich our day-to-day lives," Ahmad said in a pre-visit statement. "I will be taking forward discussions with Indian partners on making a success of next year's Commonwealth Summit in London. India has a crucial role to play in ensuring this family of democracies is fit to take advantage, and face the challenges posed by the 21st century," he said. The Foreign Office said the minister's visit is aimed at exploring how India and the UK can work together to "renew and revitalise" relationships within the Commonwealth, setting out a new vision and liberalising the global trading environment. The next Commonwealth Summit will be hosted during the week of April 16, 2018, immediately following the closing of the Commonwealth Games in Queensland, Australia, with venues including St James's Palace, Lancaster House, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in London. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been ruled out of Sri Lanka's third Test against India owing to back pain. With Sri Lanka already losing the series and a hectic Test season ahead, the team management decided on resting the veteran spinner. Herath was injured in the first Test while fielding but recovered sufficiently to play in the second Test. Herath joins the list of other Sri Lankan players like all-rounder Asela Gunaratne, pacers Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep, who have all been ruled out of the series. In the 39-year-old's absence, left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara will be leading the spin challenge, a role he has been prepared for as and when Herath retires. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US is sending dozens more Marines to Afghanistan to beef up internal security in the Helmand province, according to a media report. The US Central Command has agreed to send an additional marines of less than 100, who would join the existing more than 300 marines assigned to Task Force Southwest, the NBC reported. This is not ties with the ongoing review of the Afghanistan policy of the Trump Administration. It fulfils a request from the commander on the ground, Marine Brigadier General Roger Turner. It was approved by General Joseph Votel at Central Command. The report, which was based on unnamed sources, was not confirmed by the Pentagon. "The repositioning and movement of forces in the CENTCOM (area of responsibility), to include presently deployed Marines, happen at the discretion of the CENTCOM Commander," a spokesperson for Marine Corps Forces Central Command said. "At this time there are no plans to deploy CONUS based Marines into Afghanistan," the spokesman said using the acronym for Continental United States. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Various organisations today demanded the release of activist Medha Patkar, currently kept at a hospital in Indore, as they organised a demonstration in the national capital against the "use of police force" to end the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader's indefinite fast. Police yesterday removed Patkar, who was on indefinite fast since July 27 seeking proper rehabilitation of Sardar Sarovar Project-oustees, from Chikhalda in Dhar district, and shifted her to Bombay Hospital in Indore, citing her worsening condition. "Patkar who has been taken to a hospital in Indore is not allowed to meet her colleagues. Only restricted access to one person has been allowed," said Madhuresh, a leader of National Alliance of People's Movement that organised the demonstration at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan here. The demonstrators tried to reach the Madhya Pradesh Bhawan to submit a memorandum to the resident commissioner of the state but were stopped by police at a barricade. Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said that in a democratic system, people's voice need to be heard by the rulers but the MP government was "denying" that to them. "At least the government should listen to the affected families and try to resolve the rehabilitation issues faced by them," he said. Later, a delegation including Yadav and senior CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah submitted the memorandum at MP Bhawan. The memorandum submitted by the demonstrators demanded the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to "release" Patkar and allow her to meet and discuss the future course of action with her associates. It also demanded "action" against the local police and administrative officers for "high handedness" at Chikhalada, and solving the problems of "40,000 families" affected by Sardar Sarovar dam project. Thousands of families along the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani, Dhar, Alirajpur and Khargone districts are at risk of getting displaced with the closing of gates of Sardar Sarovar Dam in neighboring Gujarat and resultant rise in the water level in its catchment area. The Centre recently gave its nod for closing the gates. The dam is likely to be filled to its capacity by August-end. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dozens of Venezuelan websites, many of them for state bodies, were hit by a cyberattack by hackers lending support to an armed rebel group that staged a weekend raid on an army base. The hackers' collective, calling itself The Binary Guardians, targeted the portals for the government, the supreme court and the legislature, among others. The sites for private companies were also affected, including subscription TV service DirecTV and telephone provider Digital. The online operation came a day after three military officers -- a dismissed captain and two lieutenants -- led around 20 men in uniform on a raid of an army base in the city of Valencia. They made off with an unspecified arsenal of weapons, though half their number, including one of the lieutenants, was captured and two were killed. Several of the hacked sites were offline late yesterday. Those for President Nicolas Maduro's office and for the electoral council were eventually back to normal. The Binary Guardians showed on Twitter the screen they had inserted on the portals' home pages: a tract supporting the rebel group's "Operation David" on the army base, next to an excerpt from Charlie Chaplin's movie "The Great Dictator." "Our struggle is digital," the hacker group said. "You close the streets, we do so to networks." It urged anti-government protesters to demonstrate "and support our valiant soldiers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Municipal Corporation Gurugram today signed an MoU with the India Photo Archive Foundation to set up Haryana's first vintage camera museum at Chakkarpur here. The Additional Municipal Commissioner, Y S Gupta, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the corporation and Aditya Arya on behalf of the Foundation, an official spokesman said. It was signed in the presence of Municipal Commissioner V Umashankar and Additional Commissioner Narhari Bangar. The museum to be set up in Chakkarpur would be developed by Municipal Corporation Gurugram under the Haryana Swarna Jayanti Project, Umashankar said. The corporation would spend Rs 4.22 crore on infrastructure development of the project and the Foundation would be responsible for its maintenance and upkeep, he said. A committee, comprising representatives of the MCG and India Photo Archive Foundation, would be constituted under the chairmanship of the additional commissioner to finalise the entry fee for the museum, Umashankar said. Four per cent of total revenue of the museum would be deposited into the corporation's fund, he said, adding the MCG would have its ownership right. The MoU has been signed for 11 years, the commissioner said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moderate rain activity was witnessed in parts of the country today even as weathermen warned of "extremely heavy" showers in the northeastern region and "heavy" precipitation in the north tomorrow. Light to moderate rainfall was recorded in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar. The wet spell is likely to intensify tomorrow, with the MeT office predicting "extremely heavy" rains in Assam, where around 84 people have so far been killed in 29 flood-hit districts, and Meghalaya. It said "heavy to very heavy rains" are expected over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and east Rajasthan. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the country is expected to receive normal rainfall in the second half of the monsoon season. According to it, rainfall over the country during the remaining two months of the monsoon season (August and September) is likely to be 100 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of plus or minus 8 per cent. Rainfall between 94-104 per cent of the LPA is considered "normal", it said. August is expected to witness 99 per cent of the LPA, the weatherman said. The MET, however, recorded an overall deficiency of minus 3 per cent from June 1 to August 7 following which several parts of the country are witnessing drought-like conditions, especially in the southern peninsula. On the other hand, states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and several parts of the northeast have witnessed floods. Rains lashed a few parts of Haryana and Punjab. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, also recorded light showers. The Ranjit Sagar Dam area gauged 190 mm of rains, Balachaur 70 mm, Anandpur Sahib and Mukerian 50 mm each, Nawanshahr 20 mm and Ropar 30 mm. A local MeT office report from West Bengal said southern districts of the state will continue to receive light to moderate rain till August 11. Heavy precipitation is likely from August 12. Heavy rains lashed several places in the mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh, which has been battling with monsoon-induced landslides. Nainadevi recorded 140 mm of rain, Bangana 104 mm, Sujanpur Tira 98 mm, Nagrotasurian 95 mm, Nadaun 85 mm, Dehragopipur 84 mm, Guler 78 mm, Mehre 74 mm, Berthin 66 mm, Una 62 mm, Kheri 57 mm, Bharari 56 mm, Bijahi and Ghumarwin 54 mm, Pandoh 51 mm and Gohar 45 mm. Moderate rainfall activity was reported in Bihar. Patna received 5.9 mm of rain, Gaya 7.7 mm, Bhagalpur and Purnea 0.7 mm and 2.9 mm of precipitation. Muggy weather conditions prevailed in the national capital for most part of the day though the weather turned pleasant towards the evening as light rains provided relief to Delhiites. The city received 29.6 mm of rainfall till 8.30 am. The humidity levels oscillated between 98 and 63 per cent. Meanwhile, the Odisha government has set up an expert committee to ascertain the reason for high incidence of lightning in the state. At least 257 people have been killed in lightning strikes in the state so far this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telecom regulator Trai has accused iPhone maker being "anti-consumer" in India. To tighten the noose on telemarketers, Trai, in 2016, had launched a mobile application for telecom subscribers to register their complaints against pesky calls and SMSes. Amazon.com, Inc. is set to kick-start online food retail in India during the Diwali season this year. The e-commerce giant might also launch a private label in near future to market local produce and packaged food products from third parties. ALSO READ: Flipkart, Amazon sales start tomorrow: Who's giving better discounts? According to a report by The Economic Times, Amazon is planning to invest $500 million (Rs 3,181 crores) during the next five years in food retailing through its subsidiary Amazon Retail India Pvt Ltd. The subsequent launch of a private label will be on lines of the similar enterprise the e-commerce firm had undertaken in the United States. Amazon recently received the green flag from government authorities to stock and retail food and grocery items through brick and mortar stores, on both online and offline platforms. The government is intent though, on making Amazon set up brick and mortar stores. The company, however, has refused to make any comments on taking the offline route with its retail ventures. ALSO READ: Axis Bank cuts interest rate on savings bank account to 3.5% As of now, the US-based online shopping giant sells grocery items through Amazon Pantry in certain cities from, sourcing inventory from third-party sellers. It also provides same day grocery delivery services through its Amazon Now application which works in collaboration with retail stores like Big Bazaar and Hypercity. Venturing into the online food retail segment, it will now sell directly to customers. Even if Amazon goes on to open brick-and-mortar stores for retailing grocery items in future, it will have to face challenge from already existing retail chains like Big Bazaar, and such. With FDI proposals for Groffers and BigBasket also being approved alongside Amazon's, the company will face challenges in the online retail sector too. ALSO READ: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's next venture: Patanjali 'swadeshi' clothes to hit stores in April 2018 Online food retailing has seen a growth in recent years with easier availability of smartphones and better internet penetration, same reasons which drove online shopping and e-commerce as a whole. Also watch: It's been over a month and a half since India and China have been locked in a face off over Doklam region in Sikkim sector. Even as India is ready for diplomatic talks on the crisis, China refuses to engage with New Delhi unless its conditions are met on the border. While both the countries are yet to reach on some kind of understanding, state-run Global Times has issued several warnings to India, asking it to withdraw from the region or be kicked out. In an editorial commentary, the Chinese daily said that India's analysis on Doklam issue was unrealistic. It said: "If New Delhi really keeps the faith that China will not take military action under any circumstances, then its analysis is not based on the principles of international politics and military science." Here are some of the repeated threats that state-guided Global Times has issued through its daily editorial. Military Threat: The Global Times carried an article on August 4 in which it said: "China will not allow the military standoff between China and India in Doklam to last for too long, and there may be a small-scale military operation to expel Indian troops within two weeks." READ ALSO: History proves threats don't work: Why India-China should focus on trade not tirade It wasn't the first incident of open military threat. Almost two weeks ago on July 21, it had published a similar threat saying, "If Indian troops continue trespassing into China's territory, what Beijing may do next is to get prepared for a military confrontation and resolve the conflict through non-diplomatic means." It further wrote: "That the later India withdraws troops, the greater the risk that it will face from a military counteraction and the more clout it will lose politically. China's military pressure on India will increase every day and India will end up losing face and be totally disgraced." Remember 1962: Ever since the latest stand-off broke out, the Chinese press has in multiple editorial pieces referred to 1962 war saying India hasn't learn any lesson from it. However, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has reminded Beijing that India of 2017 is different from that of 1962. READ ALSO: Don't bank on US and Japan, you'll lose: Chinese daily warns India over Doklam standoff In an article published on August 7, Global Times said: "If New Delhi thinks that China will not take military action under any circumstances, then its analysis is not based on the principles of international politics and military science." It further said that even former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru back in 1962 believed China would not strike back. "However, the Nehru government underestimated the determination of the Chinese government to safeguard China's territorial integrity," it said adding that fifty-five years have passed, but the Indian government is as naive as it ever was. The lessons of the 1962 war didn't last for half a century, Global Times said. Playing trade as a tool: Global Times recently claimed that Myanmar is unlikely to support India's stand on the tensions in the border area, as that would risk cutting its economic ties with China. It was an indirect threat to Myanmar that if it goes with India, China could retaliate economically. Not only Myanmar, China is also considering taking other South Asian countries along to circle India. READ ALSO: Ban Chinese goods: Can India do to China what China does to other countries? The Chinese mouthpiece elaborated what it wants from the South Asian neighbours. It said: "China should keep a close eye on economic cooperation with some South Asian countries like Bangladesh to promote economic integration. This could promote the formation of a string of active economic development zones surrounding India, which would not be a bad thing if it could place pressure on New Delhi to deepen its economic cooperation with neighbouring countries." In another editorial, it had also claimed that India has more in common with China than with the United States. Explaining the argument, it said: "India is thirsty for manufacturing - especially after PM Modi's 'Make in India initiative' - investment. However, with Trump's efforts to bring manufacturing back to the US, China is one of India's few options for ideal investment sources." Be wary of international support: State-guided Global Times has termed international support to India's position on current stand-off as 'illusory'. The editorial targeted Indian External Minister Sushma Swaraj who had assured the Parliament that other major countries were in support of India. It said: "India should by no means count on support from the US and Japan because their support is illusory. If India fancies the idea that it has a strategic card to play in the Indian Ocean, it could not be even more naive. China does hold a lot of cards and can hit India's Achilles heel, but India has no leverage at all to have a strategic showdown with China." The government wants to increase the number of cruise tourists to 40 lakh in five years from last year's 1.80 lakh, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said today Given the right impetus, the number of tourist ships visiting India can go up from the present 158 to about 955 per year, the ports and shipping minister said at a special event on cruise tourism here. Gadkari said the revenue benefit will shoot up to Rs 35,500 crore in 2022 from the over Rs 700 crore last year. Speaking on the occasion, David Dingle, the chairman of Carnival UK, that controls 42 per cent of the global cruise tourism market, flagged a slew of concerns on taxation and port charges, which he said are higher by 50 per cent when compared to the developed world. "Anything to do with cruising in this country must not attract any GST whatsoever. Not only it is about money, (but) in principle, the cruise industry would not come to a part of the world where it has to pay GST on the ticket price and on the sales made onboard. That does not happen," Dingle said. "We need to think about it as an industry operating in international waters. The place of consumption is really important. The place of consumption is almost entirely on the high seas. And for that reason alone, GST should not apply," he said. Calling for a withdrawal of the GST, Dingle said, "We would not bring our ships here in any significant numbers if cruising attracts any GST." Speaking after Dingle, Gadkari said the ministry had not thought about GST, but assured that it will represent the case to the Ministry of Finance along with the Tourism Ministry. It can be noted that the Shipping Ministry has already moved the GST Council, the highest decision making body under the recently introduced indirect tax regime, to exempt the cruise tourism sector from GST at par with other nations. At present, cruise tourism is not taxed and the Shipping Ministry wants to keep it out of the GST regime in order to boost the industry. "Major cruising nations like the UK, the US and Germany have zero rate domestic cruises. India should also have zero rating for cruise tourism as it is in nascent stage in the country and such steps will provide it a much-needed boost," it said in a proposal sent to the GST Council. Dingle also flagged issues with income tax. "We have to have the right to repatriate our profits through double tax treaties. And that means that domestic profits have to be repatriated to our fiscal bases through double tax treaties," he said, underlining that India is not yet so big a destination to host its own companies. Dingle also said that while Mumbai Port Trust has reduced its tariffs, the transit charges are very high. Docking at a smaller port like Goa results in charges of up to Euro 50,000 as against Euro 15,000 for developed ports in the Mediterranean Sea, he said, adding, "port costs must reduce by 50 per cent to be competitive." "The opportunity is enormous, you are doing a fabulous job, ports are on side. But let us also encourage your Finance Ministry here also to recognise the enormous economic benefits cruise industry can bring to this country and help us with those tax issues so we bring many ships to India," Dingle said. Earlier, citing estimates presented by an international consultant which seem to have been used to fix the targets, Mumbai Port Trust Chairman Sanjay Bhatia had said the number of ships will go up to 955 from the present 158 ships. The size of the vessels which call will also increase, with a single ship expected to carry 4,200 passengers as against the present 1,250. Gadkari said 80 per cent of the traffic will be concentrated in Mumbai and announced that construction of a Rs 300-crore dedicated terminal will begin in 15 days. Each of the tourist will spend USD 100 per day while the ship is anchored in a city like Mumbai, Gadkari said, adding there will be enormous benefit to downstream sectors like hospitality, car rentals, and food and beverages. The WEF will host its India economic forum under the theme 'Creating Indian Narratives on Global Challenges' from October 4-6 in the national capital. More than 600 participants from public and private sector as well as civil society are expected to participate in the India forum that would be hosted along with industry body CII. Mastercard President and CEO Ajay S Banga, Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal, Dharma Productions Head Karan Johar and Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal would be the co- chairs, according to the WEF. "India's growth has been instrumental in ensuring that South Asia is the fastest-growing region in the world. "However, challenges ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, including issues of inclusion and gender parity, still need to be overcome," Philipp Rosler, Head of Regional and Government Engagement of the World Economic Forum (WEF), said in a release today. The forum would focus on five broader topics -- leaving no one behind; oiling India's growth engines: agriculture and manufacturing; fixing India's nuts and bolts: infrastructure and energy; leveraging technology and innovation for the fourth industrial revolution: entrepreneurship and digital; unleashing India's untapped potential: jobs and skills. A memo written by a male engineer at Google about gender differences sparked a quick rebuttal from Google after it circulated widely online. Google CEO Sundar Pichai denounced the memo in an email on Monday for "advancing harmful gender stereotypes" and said he was cutting short a vacation to hold a town hall with staff on Thursday. The engineer, James Damore, was fired, according to Bloomberg, which cited an email from him. An email sent to an address believed to be used by Damore was not immediately returned; Google declined to comment. The engineer's widely shared memo, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," criticized Google for pushing mentoring and diversity programs and for "alienating conservatives." Google's just-hired head of diversity, Danielle Brown, responded earlier with her own memo, saying that Google is "unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success." She said change is hard and "often uncomfortable." The battling messages come as Silicon Valley grapples with accusations of sexism and discrimination. Google is also in the midst of a Department of Labor investigation into whether it pays women less than men, while Uber's CEO recently lost his job amid accusations of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. Leading tech companies, including Google, Facebook and Uber, have said they are trying to improve hiring and working conditions for women. But diversity numbers are barely changing . The Google employee memo, which gained attention online over the weekend, begins by saying that only honest discussion will address a lack of equity. But it also asserts that women "prefer jobs in social and artistic areas" while more men "may like coding because it requires systemizing." The memo, which was shared on the tech blog Gizmodo, attributes biological differences between men and women to the reason why "we don't have 50% representation of women in tech and leadership." While the engineer's views were broadly and publicly criticized online, they echo the 2005 statements by then-Harvard President Lawrence Summers, who said the reason there are fewer female scientists at top universities is in part due to "innate" gender differences. Brande Stellings, senior vice president of advisory services for Catalyst, a nonprofit advocacy group for women in the workplace, said the engineer's viewpoints show "how ingrained, entrenched and harmful gender-based stereotypes truly are." "It's much easier for some to point to 'innate biological differences' than to confront the unconscious biases and obstacles that get in the way of a level playing field," Stellings wrote in an email. Google, like other tech companies, has far fewer women than men in technology and leadership positions. Fifty-six percent of its workers are white and 35 percent are Asian, while Hispanic and Black employees make up 4 percent and 2 percent of its workforce, respectively, according to the company's latest diversity report . Tech companies say they are trying, by reaching out to and interviewing a broader range of job candidates, by offering coding classes, internships and mentorship programs and by holding mandatory "unconscious bias" training sessions for existing employees. But, as the employee memo shows, not everyone at Google is happy with this. Two passengers, including a woman, who were to fly to Dubai, were apprehended at the Pune airport for allegedly trying to smuggle out foreign currency worth Rs 1.29 crore by concealing them in hotboxes containing 'upma'. A senior official involved in airport security said two separate incidents occurred on Sunday at the airport in the west Indian state of Maharashtra when an immigration officer found the documents of a man, identified as Nishant Y, suspicious. He said the immigration officer alerted the Customs authorities at the airport who ordered a repeat check of the man's check-in luggage. He was booked on a flight to Dubai. "The bag contained a hot case with 'upma' inside. But, the weight of the eatable was more than usual and hence it was checked, only to reveal a black polythene having USD 86,600 and Euro 15,000 inside," the official said. The immigration authorities, after some time, similarly alerted Customs officials about another doubtful passenger, identified as H Ranglani, travelling to Dubai on the same flight on which the man was booked. Her baggage was checked by CISF security personnel which led them to a hot case kept in her bag. "This hotcase, containing upma, was opened and foreign currency of USD 86,200 and Euro 15,000 was found concealed in it," he said. The Customs officials are probing if the two cases are related, the official said. The national reinsurer, GIC Re, filed draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for public listing with the capital markets regulator Sebi in Mumbai, a senior official from the company said. It forms part of the government's plans to list four state-owned non-life insurers and the national reinsurer. New India Assurance has already started the process for its forthcoming IPO, whereas National Insurance Company has hinted that it will come up with its IPO by the fiscal-end. "We have filed DHRP for the company's forthcoming IPO with Sebi today," an official of the company told reporters. "The issue size of the forthcoming IPO of GIC Re is likely to be at around USD 1 billion," he added. The government will be selling 107.5 million shares, whereas GIC Re itself is likely to sell 17.2 million shares through the IPO. Thus a total of 124.7 million shares of the reinsurer would be sold through the share sale offer, constituting 14.22 per cent of the company's post issue share capital, as per the filing of the company. Axis Capital, Citi, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Kotak are the merchant bankers for the IPO. GIC Re is expected to hit the market by mid-October. The company registered a profit after tax of Rs 3,127 crore in fiscal 2017, an increase of 9.8 per cent over the previous year. The net worth of the company stood at Rs 47,983 crore. "I would like to say that IPO is a welcome step and it shows the commitment of government to reforms. Having said that, we have kick-started the process of IPO and have appointed merchant bankers and legal counsels. Apart from that, I can't offer any more comments on the issues as we are in process of IPO," Alice Vaidyan, chairman and managing director at GIC Re had said earlier. "We are waiting for clearance from the government as to what will be the initial tranche, but it will be disinvestment of 25 per cent over three years," Vaidyan had added. Bank employee unions have called for a nation-wide strike on August 22 to protest against privatisation and merger of public sector banks, among other demands, a union leader said on Monday. The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), which represents nine bank unions and employees of public and private sector banks, has called for a nation-wide strike on August 22 to press for various demands, its general secretary C H Venkatachalam said. Nearly 10 lakh employees would participate in the strike to protest plans to privatise public sector banks, merger and consolidation of banks and other demands including not to write-off non-performing assets (NPAs) in banks, Venkatachalam said in a statement. Some of the other demands put forth by the unions include declaring wilful default of bank loans as criminal offence, implementation of the recommendations of Parliamentary Committee on recovery of NPAs. Giving some financials, Venkatachalam claimed that bad loans that were written off by State Bank of India group in the last five years stood at Rs 93,041 crore. While bad loans by the country's largest public sector lender State Bank of India as of 2016-17 was Rs 20,339 crore, for SBI Group as a whole it was Rs 27,574 crore. Stating that people should not be penalised for corporate default, he said after the proposed stir on August 22, a massive rally would be conducted on September 15. Some time in October or November, continuous strike for two days would be conducted, he said. Telecom regulator Trai today shot off a letter to anti-trust watchdog CCI asserting its power and expertise to deal with matters relating to competition and predatory pricing in telecom tariffs. Countering Competition Commission of Indias contention over jurisdiction on market dominance and predatory pricing, Trai emphasised that it has the wherewithal to examine all matters, even competition issues, falling within its tariff-related powers, an official said. Trai is reviewing rules of tariff assessment, which among other issues, deals with promotional offers and predatory pricing. The consultation paper in this regard is being widely seen as a flashpoint between the two regulators. In the 2-page letter to CCI Chairman Devender K Sikri, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said that as telecom regulator, its core responsibility is to look at tariffs. While Trai has adopted the principle of forbearance, there are reporting requirements involved and the regulator has to ensure competitive behaviour is maintained by the all telecom operators in the interest of consumers, Trai has argued. The provisions of the Trai Act too require it to facilitate competition and promote efficiency, the official said citing the correspondence. Trai has stressed that it has experience and capability to examine all matters, even competitive issues, falling within the purview of tariffs. The telecom watchdog held that it had earlier in 2006 too initiated a consultation on tariff plans with lifetime validity that had dealt with predatory pricing issues. "Trai has in the past and will continue to deal with such issues in a careful and nuanced manner," Trai said in the letter today. The telecom regulator outlined the dynamic nature of the sector and pointed out that special expertise is required to examine complex tariffs, including bundled promotional offers. In February this year, Trai had floated a consultation paper on Regulatory Principles of Tariff Assessment. The issues being debated include new measures that need to be prescribed to ensure transparency in tariff offers of telecom operators and strengthening the definition relating to "non- discrimination". Trai is also debating which tariff offers should qualify as "promotional offers" and the need to limit the number of such offers that can be launched by an operator in a year, one after another, or concurrently. As part of the paper, Trai is reviewing the definition and criteria for "dominance" in relevant telecom markets. Trai, in its letter to CCI, has now said: "Reliance on definition and provisions of the CCI Act in the consultation paper is evidence of Trais efforts to interpret the Trai Act and the CCI Act harmoniously to avoid uncoordinated regulatory intervention." Trai has also proposed a meeting between the two regulators to deliberate on the matter, if need be. Issues such as predatory pricing, market dominance and extension of promotional offers have led to some high-decibel public spats between new-comer Reliance Jio and established operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. The incumbent operators have squarely blamed the aggressive offerings of Jio for their shrinking profitability and revenue squeeze. Tramadol N. Melo Medics warn against wrong intake of Tramadol in the North West. Tramadol is a pharmaceutical drug that has gained popularity in recent times especially among youths of the North West Region with most of them using it as a mood enhancing drug. The Tramadol drug of different miligrams and bullet drink is being imported from Nigeria through Ekok to the North West Region of Cameroon. According to Dr. Joel Kuate, a pharmacist, the drug is a second class painkiller meant to be taken in cases of severe pain especially when paracetamol is not effective enough. Dr Joel Kuate went on to emphasise that Tramadol, just like every other medicine, should be taken only following a doctors prescription because of its side effects which could be sometimes deadly. He added that wrong intake could cause the consumer to lose control and be violent towards others. The once hardworking youths now claim that tramadol allows them to work harder and for lengthy period as they argue that sipping a mixture of it energizes the body and enhances atitude and mood of work. Some have also resorted to mixing tramadol with alcohol whenever they want to engage in a manual or hard labour. They now see tramadol as a 'drug' and an 'intoxicant' to engage them in any serious remunerating activity Amstrong Mundi, a 31 year-old mechanic in Ndop said, mixing tramadol with Bullet alcoholic drink helps him resist work. I can no longer work without Trmadol and sometimes bullet, when am so charged with work, it works in my blood like cocaine, I really have no choice now.Its like am married to Bullet and tramadol. I cant even sleep well when I have not taken it. I can not really advice any youth to take this combination, I feel good but at the same time trapped The problem among the youths in the North West is that, many dont realize that they have an addiction problem, again there is no stigma of drug abuse or risk of addiction. Sadly, that leads numerous negligent youths to continue using the substance. Cameroon has suffered nearly 4 billion CFA francs of losses due to financial scam on the Internet ("Scamming"), according to Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Minette Libom Li Likeng. Speaking just a few days ago in Yaounde, she said that in the same line, some 3.7 billion CFA francs of losses were attributed to bank card fraud. Similarly, several billions of CFA francs deficits are attributed to the "Simbox" fraud, an electronic box used to charged the international telephone traffic at the price of the national tariff (by redirecting and manipulating the international traffic on the Internet). The same financial damage was caused by intrusions into the information systems of some companies, when 12,800 vulnerabilities were detected on government websites, more than 200 cases of usurpation of Facebook profiles and cyber-bulletins were recorded and 28 attacks "Web defacement" detected on the sites of the public administrations. While "51% of the national Internet traffic volume is tied to illegal downloads," the country has faced millions of misinformation circulated in bulk on the Internet ("Hoax"), notably through social networks, not to mention thousands Spoofing, and countless malicious computer programs, viruses, worms, and more. ( "Malware"). In terms of national solutions to these different threats, Minette Libom Likeng cited the establishment of two cybersecurity laboratories, the establishment of cyber surveillance and surveillance networks within the public security administrations. Similarly, a campaign to identify subscribers of telephone networks, begun in 2016, will soon be strengthened by the establishment of a digital platform for subscribers identification and monitoring of electronic communications traffic. | BY Ricki Green | Mastercard together with McCann Sydney, has launched a campaign aiming to change behaviour of New Zealanders from a card inserting, pin punching nation, to a country of proficient tappers. Quite simply, theyre asking New Zealanders to tap as their preferred payment method for the chance of their home town taking on Richie McCaw and his touch rugby team. The town with the most number of taps per capita will host the ultimate game of touch rugby at their local park broadcast to the nation. Says Marcus Tesoriero, creative director, McCann Sydney: In New Zealand, rugby is religion and Richie McCaw is a god. The chance to play against him, putting one small town on the map for a day is going to be priceless. The campaign, Tap for your town to play Richie, seeks to evoke a sense of home pride for New Zealanders, making tapping a town duty as locals tap it out for a chance to see and play their hero, Richie McCaw. Says Sarah Pike, head of marketing and communicatons Australasia, Mastercard: Were excited to give the whole of New Zealand an opportunity to take part in this. All they have to do is tap, for the chance to play Richie in the ultimate game of touch. Itll be a David versus Goliath battle. The first phase of the campaign is supported via TV, outdoor and point of sale, along with digital and targeted social executions. Taps will be counted from 19th June 27th August before the winning town is announced and anticipation builds in the lead up to game day. Client: Mastercard Head of Marketing & Communications, Australasia: Sarah Pike Director Consumer Marketing: Anthony Dumont Senior Analyst Marketing: Lauren Skinner Agency: McCann Sydney Eexcutive Creative Director: Jerker Fagerstorm Creative Director: Marcus Tesoriero Copy Writer: Jonathon Shannon Art Director: Long Truong Group Account Director: Loryn Garnsey Account Manager: Caroline Drury Senior Producer: Colin Tuohy Junior Producer: Sam Harris Planning Director: Ian MacDonald Production: Waitemata Films Ltd Director: Gary John Executive Producer: Julie Easton Producer: Phil Liefting Sound: Franklin Rd New Zealand Engineer: Ryan Dickinson Producer: Tess Dixon Media Agency: Carat NZ Senior Business Director: Nick Dykes Strategy: Jolene DSouza PR: Acumen Account Director: Chloe Hood Account Manager: Emma Ward Event Execution: Octagon Agency Director: Andrew Clarke Senior Acccount Director: Kirsty Jones | BY Ricki Green | Myer has launched a new exhibition at Myer Melbourne. The exhibition is the centerpiece of Myers Australia Lives Here campaign via Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne and profiles 100 items sold by Myer between 1900 and 2000. The items have been selected for the roles they have played in Australian lives and the many memories and stories that are associated with them some examples include the Sony Walkman, the Ronson Escort strap-on hairdryer, a first-edition Prue Acton dress and a classic 80s shell-suit along with a pair of Reebok Pumps. 30 items on the exhibition list are missing and Myer is calling on people who have these items to submit their story at australialiveshere.myer.com.au. If you have one of the original items, you could be in with a chance to win its 2017 equivalent. Over the weekend, Myer announced the first competition winner, Carmel Young. Young, who is 100 years old, recently moved into a nursing home. Her Great-Nephew, Anthony OToole has hung onto her 1956 AWA TV, one of the first models of TV ever sold in Australia. Remarkably, its still in perfect working order and were it not for the analog signal being switched off a few years ago you could still get a picture on it. Young has many happy memories watching her TV set with her family but also, tragically, one very sad one. Her husband Charlie was killed in an industrial accident in 1969 and Young saw news of it on the TV before she was officially informed by the Police at the time. Says Michael Scott, EGM brand, marketing and loyalty, Myer: Carmels story perfectly demonstrates how Myer products are so much more than just things people buy, they play integral roles in peoples lives and form part of the memories and moments that people cherish. Our Department of Stories brand positioning is built from that truth and its great to see it come to life via this campaign. Myer has also released two additional campaign films and will release a series of social films in the coming weeks featuring competition winners and their stories. | BY Lynchy | McCann Worldgroup Malaysia and Hong Kong have worked together with Cathay Pacific and the recently launched in Malaysia, Cathay Dragon, to create an innovative music piece, the sounds of travelling well in their latest campaign, which runs this month. Cathay Pacific believes that travelling well is an important part of living well. When we travel well, the world unfolds, not only before our eyes, but all of our senses. Through sound, memories and feelings can be just as strongly evoked. Travel ads tend to communicate using strong, colourful and exciting visuals come see the wonderful sights and shiny bright lights of this or that city. We travel with our eyes. But what if we said you could travel with your ears to the same place, and have a totally different experience?, said Sean Sim, CEO of McCann Worldgroup Malaysia. We felt there was an opportunity to give our travellers an interesting perspective, via sounds instead. The Sounds of Travelling Well was composed entirely from thousands of sounds recorded when travelling around the Asia-Pacific region. These are audio moments that travellers would normally hear and encounter on a journey. From buckling up at the Kuala Lumpur International airport, ordering street food in Osaka, to crossing a busy street in downtown Hong Kong, and attending a bamboo cutting ceremony in Kyoto. All these were recorded and re-mixed at the music studio into one unique song. Anna Choi, Country Manager Malaysia and Brunei of Cathay Pacific added, We went on an international journey to record thousands of audio moments and then crafted these sounds into one harmonious blend of rhythm and melody. We hope this will inspire our travellers to discover the beauty of travelling well from a whole new perspective. The campaign runs online from end of July to end of August in Malaysia. To complement the campaign, Cathay Pacific is also running a contest on their microsite for four weeks and the winners of the contest will take home a pair of tickets to a destination in Asia. Credits Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (Hong Kong) Julianna Ng Marketing Manager International Fiona Tang Marketing Officer Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (Malaysia) Anna Choi Country Manager Malaysia and Brunei Loo Maylin Assistant Marketing Communications Manager McCann Kuala Lumpur Sean Sim Chief Executive Officer Ng Heok Seong Chief Creative Officer Yow Kuan Wai Associate Creative Director Zachary Yeoh Copywriter Thomas Chiew Designer Audio-Visual Production Pauline Moreira Head of AV Digital Team Yuinny Soong Digital Project Manager Jason Chia Digital Tech Lead Hanafi Digital Designer Planning and Business Management Nura Yusof Head of Strategic Planning Jeannette Laws Business Director Carmen Lim Brand Manager Amber Gan Brand Executive McCann Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Central Team Martin Lever Executive Creative Director Rick Kwan Creative Director Agnes Lee Associate Creative Director Fanny Lau Associate Creative Director Dan Jacques Senior Writer Daniel Cheong Senior Art Director Business Planning and Management Brandon Cheung Managing Partner Karen Chan Planning Director Victor Lam Group Account Director Eva Cheung Senior Account Director Patricia Chung Senior Outport Manager Fuse Adventures in Audio Jimmy Tan Producer Chawirat Tan Producer Onn-Jian Lim Sound Engineer Kimberly Chin Music Composer Passion Pictures Darrel Tan Hyon-Le Film Director Zureen Zulkifli Executive Producer Felicia Choi Producer Kenz Koh Director of Photography Alex Thong Sound Recordist Despite an audit of the PROMIS database showing the officers involved accessed the database to look at the tipoff, the redacted report does not clarify why investigators were unable to link them to the breach. There might be frost about in some areas this morning, but thankfully it'll be another mostly sunny day, with a maximum of 16 degrees expected. You've got to love the Canberra winter sunshine. "There's not much we can do: we have the gates that are locked, we have everything chained down, we have security cameras." "We kind of have to rely on people not being awful." The Ginninderra Falls Association said it was especially concerned about the little eagle pair, which flew from the nesting site to a foraging area near the Molonglo River and into NSW. The building would inevitably discourage the birds from the route, and given that a future stage of housing was planned for the nesting tree itself, development would drive it out altogether. Little eagle numbers had already fallen 70 per cent in Canberra over 20 years because of loss of habitat. Independent analysis referenced in the Change the Course report said the sector-wide data was "derived from a sample of the target population who were motivated to respond, and who made an autonomous decision to do so", adding it may not have been representative of the whole student population. "TEQSA will want to be satisfied that the approaches taken by the provider do indeed relate to the needs of the student cohorts involved, and appear to be fit for their intended purpose and sufficiently resourced. 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. When you imagine the inside of a luxury automobile, youre probably picturing leather right? Well that may have been the case until now, but thats beginning to change. The latest upscale automaker to offer an alternative to animal leather is Land Rover, which is offering a luxurious fabric upholstery option on the new Range Rover Velar. Described as a premium alternative to leather, the option is priced above the standard leather on the Velar R-Dynamic SE, but below the top Windsor leather option. Aussie website Drive reports that the wool blend fabrics are sourced from Australia and New Zealand and prepared by Danish supplier Kvdrat, while the suedecloth is made from recycled plastic. The attitude towards animal by-products is changing, Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern told Drive. That whole world of luxury is becoming more sophisticated and people are looking for ways to reconcile the way we use the world to create these products, things like fabrics that are more sustainable and have a better sustainable footprint. Personally, Id be quite happy to move away from leather tomorrow. I dont like that we have to slaughter all those cows to create leather, added McGovern. More importantly I think that fabric gives the opportunity to create a different look and feel. Land Rover isnt the first. You know that luxurious and sporty Alcantara offered on so many supercars? Yeah, thats not actually suede. Its mostly polyester, with a little polyurethane mixed in for good measure (and that grippy nape). More specifically, Tesla recently announced it was moving away from leather in its EVs, Maserati offers fabric and silk trim from Ermenegildo Zegna, and as US website The Drive points out, Bentley is evaluating similar options after meeting with customers in California. Photo Gallery Bentley and Rolls-Royce occasionally engage in some friendly competition but it appears the pleasantries are over as Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos has dismissed the Bentley Bentagya as a poser. Speaking to Automotive News Europe, Muller-Otvos said We are not using mass-manufactured body shells. That limits what you can do on the design side and it undermines exclusivity massively. The executive then went for the jugular by saying You dont want a camouflaged [Audi] Q7 in that segment. You want to have a true Rolls-Royce. According to Muller-Otvos, the fact that the Cullinan rides on a Rolls-Royce specific platform makes it far more prestigious than the Bentagya which is underpinned by the MLB Evo architecture that is shared with the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and Lamborghini Urus. Muller-Otvos declined to elaborate on the companys first crossover but it will likely be powered by a twin-turbo 6.75-liter V12 engine that produces 563 hp (420 kW) and 663 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. The crossover could also come equipped with laserlight headlights and a self-leveling air suspension that makes millions of calculations every second and reacts to steering, acceleration, and camera inputs. Photo Gallery Photo: Mel Flesher/Facebook Thieves returned a dirt bike, better off than when they stole it, after finding out it belonged to a child. Two people from Mission, B.C. returned the yellow Yamaha bike with a new lock, an oil change and a topped off tank of gas. On July 29, Mel Flesher posted to Facebook to bemoan the theft of her boyfriends childs 80cc dirt bike from their apartment complex. We recently got this bike and fixed it up so they could learn how to ride, she wrote. Please keep you(r) eyes out for it. The post was shared many times and the thieves must have spotted it on Facebook, because the next morning, Flesher found the bike exactly where it had been taken from. Not only was the bike given back but there was a note left from the thieves saying they had purchased a new, more secure lock, topped off the gas and even changed the bikes oil. Dear rightful owners, the note, which was attached to the bike stated. Although not an excuse, me and my friend figured it would belong to some teenager who has outgrown it. When we read your Facebook post we immediately knew we had to take it back. The post that Flesher shared to Facebook also contained some useful advice: For the future take the keys inside with you. Ride on little man, you deserve it! the note ends before being signed, Regretful teenagers who learned their lesson via restorative justice. As for Flesher, she said that there are no hard feelings. Thank you for doing the right thing!!! she wrote on Facebook on July 30. We forgive you and hope this taught you a lesson. with files from CTV Vancouver Alanna Kelly A West Kelowna family is speaking out after a naked woman broke into their home and attacked them, Sunday. Danielle Ball and Collin Crabbe say they've had enough of issues with migrant workers in their Scharf Road neighbourhood and claim a handful of businesses are putting their lives at risk. Ball was at home with their two children, while Crabbe ran to the store with their third child. It was just after noon when a naked woman came onto their porch, started screaming and was "raging" at her dogs. Ball quickly locked her children in one room and called 911 as the woman broke through the front door. I heard banging on the door and then the door starts cracking. I drop the phone, flung myself at the door, pushing as hard as I can, she said. The woman broke the door frame, poked her head into their home and Ball screamed for her to leave. Balls mothering instincts took over as she fought to stop the woman from entering her home. It was a three-minute fight on my porch of her trying to get in to my house with my kids, she said. All I kept saying was 'this isn't happening today, this isnt happening, whatever you are here for it isnt happening.' She was able to get the intruder to the ground and told her that if she needed help she would try and help, but that she needed to leave first. I said: 'You need to leave. Walk up that driveway and go now,' she recalled. When Ball let go of her, the woman ran to the back of the property and barricaded herself inside a shed until police removed her. The Brazilian woman is an employee at Westbank Harvest farm. The family said they support the local farming practices but are concerned with the condition that workers are being forced to live in. These people shouldnt have been here. There are all these migrant workers who are illegally staying in all these dwellings around us, in tents around us, said Ball. Police have not provided any information on the incident. Westbank Harvest said it has a zero drug and alcohol policy. Owner Brante Farrell said they do preliminary interviews and have a community honour system. Anyone acting irregularly or intoxicated is reported to management through the tenants and employees network, said Farrell. The family is demanding the situation be cleaned up and that workplace standards be enforced. We are sick of it falling on deaf ears and nothing happens, Ball said. Things need to change. Castanet will be investigating further into the situation and have reached out to Bylaw Enforcement in West Kelowna for a response. Photo: The Canadian Press Wildfires are continuing to tear through British Columbia one month after the provincial government declared a state of emergency. Chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said the province has seen 904 fires since April 1 and most of the major blazes wreaking havoc are ones that prompted the state of emergency declaration July 7. "We have a lot of people out there doing everything they can to contain fires, to keep people out of harm's way," he said. "This is a natural disaster and unfortunately it's going to be natural factors that are going to decide when a lot of these fires start to really calm down." Dry conditions are forecast in the coming days, but Skrepnek said inflow winds from the ocean should finally clear smoky air from the south coast ahead of next weekend. Among the month-long lasting fires includes the massive 1,100-square-kilometre Elephant Hill blaze near Ashcroft, B.C., which is believed to be human caused and remains under investigation. Lands destroyed by a secondary fire that was accidentally ignited by crews responding to that blaze last week prompted ranchers in the region to demand compensation in a public statement. The statement issued Sunday by local ranchers said one of them remains uncertain how many of his 100 cows were killed in the blaze near Clinton, B.C., which was started by embers blown over a highway from a controlled burn. "I'm numb, I just can't get my head around it," Greg Nyman said in the statement. "Most of my cows are either burnt up or going to die from their injuries." Ranchers and rural residents say they want to see an apology from government officials for the failed controlled burn and compensation for any livestock killed and rural property damaged as a result of fires. Skrepnek has previously said wildfires of such large scale can't be fought with just water and retardants, and planned ignitions are necessary to get rid of fuels that allow fires to spread. On Monday, Skrepnek said the BC Wildfire Service has been in touch with the ranchers and there is a mechanism within the Wildfire Act to entitles people to compensation. Photo: Contributed The Cariboo Regional District has issued an expanded evacuation order for areas in the West Chilcotin which reflects the addition of Satah Mountain and the P-Road Area. This order replaces the order issued on July 28, 2017 for the area North of Highway 20 to South of Tzenzaicut Lake. Due to immediate danger, members of the RCMP or other groups will be expediting this action. The evacuation route is along Highway 20 to Williams Lake. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: You must leave the area immediately. Register at the ESS table in the Resiliency Centre in Williams Lake at Boitanio Mall (850 Oliver St.) Those requiring group lodging will be required to continue on to the ESS Reception Centre in Prince George at the College of New Caledonia (3330 22 Ave.) Close all windows and doors. Shut off all gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers. Close gates (latch) but do not lock. Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help. Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet and keys) only if they are immediately available. Take pets in pet kennels or on leash. Do not use more vehicles then you have to. Do not use the telephone unless you need emergency service. View a map of the affected areas here. Further information will be issued as it becomes available. Please visit the CRD Emergency Operations Facebook page on Facebook. As well as the CRD website. For more information contact the CRDs public information line at 1-866-759-4977. Residents are strongly encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders here. Photo: Contributed A wildfire broke out near Osoyoos Monday night. A wildfire has broken out on Anarchist Mountain in Osoyoos, Monday night. Residents living nearby said the fire is spreading really fast down the hill. The fire appears to have started halfway up to the viewpoint, about 11 p.m. DriveBC said it hadn't received a call from police or firefighters on a fire, but had "asked our maintenance contractor to investigate." There is no word on what caused the fire, but residents said there is a hay field right where the fire started. William and Lydia Bean are celebrated as the first permanent settlers in the section that became Tennessee, and their son, Russell Bean,was the first white child born within the confines of the state. As the descendants of William Bean spread out from the vicinity of the Watauga River, some of them made their way to Hamilton County. William Hamilton Bean, grandson of Russell Bean, was a major in the Union Army and was elected county tax collector and then sheriff. The William Bean who ventured into frontier Tennessee was born in 1721, and is believed to be the son of another William Bean, of Northumberland County, Va. The younger William Bean made his way to Augusta County, Va.,and he married Lydia Russell. He began going out on hunting parties with Daniel Boone and others into the untracked wilderness. Despite the presence of hostile Indians, Bean decided in early 1769 to set down roots at the Watauga River where he had camped while hunting with Boone. The Beans were soon joined by some of their Virginia neighbors and kin, including John and George Russell, brothers of Lydia Russell Bean. It was Lydia Russell Bean who was rescued by the Cherokee "Beloved Woman'' Nancy Ward, according to early accounts. In 1776, Mrs. Bean had been captured by the Indians during a siege at the Watauga while William Bean was away on a hunting trip. When she refused to provide information about conditions at the settlers' fort,she was tied to a stake in preparation for being burned. It is said that after Nancy Ward put out the flames that Mrs. Bean taught her many domestic arts that were then passed on to the tribe. Most of the Bean children had been born by the time they arrived in the future Tennessee.The older children were William Jr., Robert, George, Jesse, John, Edmund, Jane and Sarah. Jane was killed by Indians at Grainger County when she was 32. Sarah, who was born in 1768 just before the move to the wilderness, married John Bowen and they lived in Grainger County. Some of the Beans married into the family of William Ellis, who purchased land next to the Beans on Boone's Creek in 1784. Edmund Bean married Martha Ellis. Her brother, John Ellis, married Elizabeth Bean, daughter of Robert Bean and Rhoda Lane and granddaughter of William Bean and Lydia Russell. William Jr., who was born in 1745, had joined his father on the Watauga by 1778. His first wife is listed as Rachel Ball, and his second wife was the widow Elizabeth Shaw. William Bean Jr.fought under John Sevier at King's Mountain. He also lived in Grainger County, and he died there in 1798. William Bean Jr.'s children included Ahab (by the first wife), Peter Ellis, William, Fetna who married John Valentine Bull, Robert, Edmund, Elizabeth Ann, Jesse, Lydia and Jemima. Robert Bean married Christine Miller, and Edmund Bean married Margaret Tappen. Some of these children moved on to Hamilton County in the 1830s and 1840s. One of these was William, son of William Bean Jr. Another was Lydia, who married Goodman Scott in 1818 in Grainger County. At the time of the 1850 census, Lydia Bean Scott was living in Hamilton County with her son, Robert Scott. Orlena Scott, daughter of Goodman and Lydia Bean Scott, married Absalom Selcer and they settled at Falling Water. Russell Bean grew into "a handsome youth with curly black hair and a fine physique. He was the most perfect specimen of manhood in the whole country.'' But he had "a violent temper and a cruel nature, which was responsible for his getting into trouble and being brought into court on many occasions.'' One story is told of Russell Bean terrorizing local officials and of a sheriff who went out to arrest him but could not bring him in. The sheriff is said to have told Judge Andrew Jackson that Bean was at the edge of town and refusing to give up. Jackson strode straight to the site, and Bean meekly submitted. Asked later why he had given up so easily, he said, "I saw the fire in the old general's eye, and I knew I had better surrender.'' On another occasion, Russell Bean was ordered to be branded in the hand with a hot iron and put in the stocks and whipped. They said this "wild and lawless character bit out the burned piece of flesh from his hand in the presence of those who were administering the penalty.'' After the death of William Bean in 1782, Russell Bean inherited his grist mill on Boone's Creek. He received 400 acres upon the death of his mother. Russell Bean was a gunsmith and metalworker. Most of his sons followed that profession. He married Rosamond Robertson, daughter of Charles Robertson and niece of pioneer Middle Tennessee settler James Robertson. But Russell Bean was a wandering man, and she sued for divorce in March of 1802. It is said that Andrew Jackson found out about the split up and was able to reunite the couple. Rosamond Robertson Bean was feisty herself. She, her sister-in-law, Jane Bean, and Jemima Scroggins were indicted for some sort of trouble in 1798. But the warrant for the three women was returned unserved and was marked "will not be taken, kept off by force and arms.'' Russell Bean on one occasion was said to have returned from a long sojourn and found his wife had borne a child that was not his own. He cut off or clipped the ears of this child "so that it would not get mixed up with his children.'' Bean was said to have been convicted and jailed for this action, and while he was serving time in Jonesboro a fire broke out on March 15, 1803. He escaped from the jail and was heroic in risking his life to extinguish the blaze. It is said that, in reward, Gov. John Sevier pardoned him from his jail sentence. At other times, Russell Bean was on the other side of the law, serving as a sheriff's deputy under his father-in-law and in Memphis. He died at Washington County, Tenn., in 1826. Rosamond Robertson Bean lived until the 1850s. The children of Russell Bean are listed as Baxter, Charles, James M., Joseph, Robert, Camilla who married a Garland, Rose Ann and Nancy. James M. Bean made his way to Rhea County, where he married Minerva Payne in 1821.The James M. Beans moved on to Hamilton County, and he served as a deputy sheriff. James M. Bean died about 1845 when he was 48. His children included Louise, William Hamilton, Easter, Minerva, Martha who married Daniel Jackson in 1860, and James M. Jr. William Hamilton Bean, who was born in 1833, married Martha Stout, daughter of Samuel and Mary Stout. The Stouts were originally from North Carolina. The William H. Beans lived in the vicinity of Daisy. He served as a constable prior to the war. Both William H. Bean and his younger brother, James M. Bean Jr., joined the Sixth Mounted Infantry of the Federal Army in 1864. William Bean rose to the major rank before being mustered out at Nashville. James M. Bean Jr. became a corporal, but he was reduced to captain after he was missing without leave. After the war, most public offices were reserved for Union loyalists. William H. Bean became the county tax collector in 1870. He won election as sheriff in August of 1872. However, his election was challenged in court by the County Court that was led by Judge A.G.W. Puckett. The challenge was based on an assertion that Bean had not settled all his accounts as tax collector. The case went to the Tennessee Supreme Court,where it was decided that Bean's election was invalid. The County Court put James C. Conner into office in his stead. The sheriff previously in office, A.B. Conner, filed suit as well, saying he should have retained the post. But James C. Conner was allowed to stay in office. William H. Bean lived on at Daisy until his death in 1909 when he was 76. Martha Stout Bean lived until 1920. They had one daughter and one son. The daughter, Sarah Louise, married John Hill Poe, a son of Samuel Poe and grandson of the pioneer settler Hasten Poe. The son, James A. Bean, was born in 1856 near Daisy. He was active in politics and in real estate, accumulating a considerable amount of property. James A. Bean moved to the promising suburb of Alton Park in 1896, and he served as its postmaster from 1901 to 1906. The Beans lived on Highland Avenue. He was chairman of the executive committee of the Republican Party for the Fourth District and "a liberal supporter of various churches and charities.'' He and his wife, Kate, had a daughter, Maxie, who died in 1892 when she was eight. James A. Bean died in 1910. James M. Bean Jr., brother of William H. Bean, married Amanda Gann in 1870. Their children include John W. who married Louise Gann, Belle who married Albert Penny, Nola who married John Penny, Hallie who married Mode Clift, and Timothy who married Clem Penny and then Mrs. Ann Gibson Hutcheson, who was first married to John Dale Hutcheson. James M. Bean Jr. died as the result of a leg wound that he had suffered in the Civil War. He was buried at the McGill Cemetery. After his death, Amanda married John Gann. She died in 1934 and was buried at the Soddy Presbyterian Cemetery. Some of the Beans changed the spelling of the name to Beene. William Gann, a great-grandson of William H. Bean, owned the major's saber that he used during the war. Chattanooga City Court Judge Russell Bean is named for Tennessee's first white child. He is a descendant of James Madison Bean, who was born in Virginia in 1802 and married Hollie Virginia Swearingen. James Madison Bean was sent to Jackson County, Tn., as a small boy. He married Hollie Virginia Swearingen, and they had 14 children. One of the daughters, Priscilla, died in a fire that destroyed their home. Afterward, James Madison Bean moved his family to Jackson County, Ala. One of the sons was Crawford Carlton Bean, who was born in 1836. Judge Russell Bean had brothers attorney Martin Bean, Crawford Bean Jr. and David Bean. They are sons of Crawford Bean, who was a Chattanooga attorney. Crawford Bean was a son of John Crawford Bean and grandson of Crawford Carlton Bean, who fought along with his six brothers for the Confederacy. Crawford Carlton Bean married Martha Alice Sanders. Crawford Carlton Bean was living at Stevenson, Ala., when he died in 1914. John Crawford Bean was born just after the Civil War. He married Jeston Elizabeth Sanders. Attorney Crawford Bean married Eloise Elizabeth Nash, who died in 2011 when she was 100. Originally from LaFayette, Ga., she met her husband while she was working for TVA in Chattanooga. The Crawford Beans raised their sons on a farm at Mountain Creek. Telemarketers have a new trick to get you to answer the phone and it's hitting close to home. Caller ID spoofing, a technique to fake the number a call is coming from, makes detecting pesky robocalls more difficult. One increasingly popular way telemarketers are getting people to answer the phone is by mimicking the user's number copying the recipient's area code and sometimes even the first few digits of their number. Advertisement Not even the head of the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates phone lines and telemarketers, is immune. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told NPR he's been targeted by telemarketers using the tactic. "(The call will) seem to be coming from the 202 area code, which is here in Washington, and then our prefix for these BlackBerries," Pai told NPR. "And I know for a fact that, you know, it's probably not someone calling from the office." Advertisement Joel Whalen, a professor of marketing and business communications at DePaul University, says caller ID spoofing can make consumers more comfortable answering a call. "A person will answer the telephone and begin to engage in conversation, and that overcomes the first hurdle a telemarketer faces getting someone to answer the phone so they can start the pitch," Whalen said. The widespread utilization of caller ID spoofing by telemarketers and scammers is made easy by the availability of internet-based calling and third-party caller ID spoofing services. The practice in itself is not illegal: According to the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009, spoofing and caller ID manipulation is prohibited only if the caller's intent is to "defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value." Spoofing can be used for good intentions. It can be used by domestic violence shelters that don't want their phone number publicly available or easily detectable by abusers. Law enforcement may use it to collect information. Doctors may respond to a patient's call with their personal phone and use a spoofing service to make the call appear to come from his or her office. Weeding out the illegitimate users requires consumers' attention and caution. One tedious solution to unwanted phone calls is to check with your phone service provider on how you can block particular numbers from calling you. However, this method can be futile as telemarketers, through spoofing, have the ability to create a nearly endless combination of different numbers. Putting yourself on the Federal Trade Commission's "Do Not Call" registry is another easy way to combat telemarketing calls, but again, the method isn't foolproof. The FCC also has a page on their website with other ways that you can combat harassing or fraudulent calls. After the recent influx of complaints, the FCC has taken extra measures against illegal spoofing. In March, the FCC gave an early OK to new rules that combat the practice, including allowing phone companies to block calls from spoofed numbers completely. The new rule, which is being finalized, would make an exception to a call neutrality policy that says phone companies must connect calls without discrimination. Carriers would be allowed to block invalid numbers, valid numbers that are not allocated to a voice service provider, and valid numbers that are allocated but not assigned to a subscriber. Advertisement The FCC is also tracking down and fining illegal spoofers. On Aug. 3, the FCC proposed an $82 million fine against a health insurance telemarketer who used spoofed phone numbers. In July, the FCC issued a $2.88 million fine against a New Mexico-based company, Dialing Services, for facilitating robocalls. In April, the ringleader of a telemarketing scheme settled a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission and agreed to pay a fine of at least $65,000 and up to $2.2 million. agorden@tronc.com Twitter @AudreyGorden Google fired an engineer with suburban Chicago roots after he wrote a missive arguing that biological differences play a role in the shortage of women in tech and leadership positions, but legal experts say his threats to sue may not get far in court. James Damore wrote the 10-page essay that circulated widely inside the company and led to a public furor over the weekend. Damore is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and formerly lived in Romeoville, according to public records, LinkedIn and an online resume. Advertisement The University of Illinois' public affairs department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. But Lenny Pitt, associate head of the computer science department at the school, disowned the content of the memo. "People are entitled to their opinions, but it certainly doesn't reflect, I think, what we know about women in IT and the advantages that come from a more inclusive work environment," Pitt said. "When someone starts talking about things like IQ as a measure of anything, I think there are some problems." Advertisement Although Damore was an engineer at Google, his LinkedIn and online resume say he majored in molecular and cellular biology at U. of I. Damore said Monday he was "exploring all possible legal remedies" after the internet giant terminated him over his 3,000-word manifesto blasting Google's "left bias" for creating a "politically correct monoculture" that ignores differences between the sexes. But unlike government employees, who have some free speech protections, private employees in the U.S. have little legal recourse if companies choose to retaliate for things they say at work or at home. In fact, most non-union private sector employees can be fired for almost any reason or no reason at all. "Any claim that [Damore] brings will have only a negligible chance at success," said law professor Paul Secunda, who directs the labor and employment law program at Marquette University. What's more, firing Damore may have kept Google on the right side of the law, if the company or its employees felt that the memo had created a work environment that was hostile to women. Adam Galinsky, chair of management at Columbia Business School, said companies may have a legitimate reason for firing someone for expressing views that disrupt the professional environment. "I think that the firing was the appropriate response here," Galinsky said. "I think if they didn't fire the employee it would have created a lot of internal unrest among the women who work at Google." In his defense, Damore could claim under the Civil Rights Act that he was fired for being male or for speaking out against anti-male discrimination, but Google could counter that it actually fired him for the attitudes he expressed about women, which aren't protected. "He would have to show that if a woman had made similar comments about women's superiority for jobs, that woman in a similar situation would not have been terminated," , said Shannon Farmer, a partner at Ballard Spahr who represents employers. "That's probably a hard thing to prove." Advertisement On Monday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a note to employees that said portions of Damore's memo "violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." He didn't say if the company was taking action against the employee. A Google representative, asked about the dismissal, referred to Pichai's memo. The memo and surrounding debate comes as Google fends off a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Labor alleging the company systemically discriminates against women. Google has denied the charges. It argues that it doesn't have a gender gap in pay but has declined to share full salary information with the government. According to the company's most recent demographic report, 69 percent of its workforce and 80 percent of its technical staff are male. Damore's best bet probably would be to bring a claim under the National Labor Relations Act accusing the company of violating the legal protection for collective action in the workplace, said Wilma Liebman, who chaired the National Labor Relations Board under President Obama. To prevail, he would have to show that his letter was related to workplace conditions, that it was designed to instigate collective action among his co-workers, and that it wasn't so defamatory or offensive as to forfeit legal protection. "I think it's an open question," said Liebman. "It's not a slam dunk either way." Blue Sky freelancer Robert Holly contributed. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office charged Jamal Hussein, 46, of Plainfield, in 2015 with defrauding the state sales tax revenue from Burning Leaf Cigars. Hussein pleaded guilty Monday. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) A southwest suburban cigar store owner pleaded guilty to tax fraud Monday for not reporting more than $4.2 million in sales over nearly five years. Jamal Hussein, 46, of Plainfield, who failed to file a state sales tax return for Burning Leaf Cigars from January 2011 to September 2015, was sentenced to 2 years in prison and ordered to pay $465,000 in restitution by a Will County judge. Advertisement The scheme went up in smoke in 2015, when Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan brought charges against Hussein for defrauding the state. "Individuals who operate businesses in Illinois are required to pay sales taxes, and this case clearly demonstrates that there are consequences for business owners who illegally shirk their tax obligations," Madigan said in a news release. Advertisement Burning Leaf Cigars operates retail locations in Plainfield, Aurora and Geneva, according to the state. The investigation was conducted by the Illinois Department of Revenue's Criminal Investigations Division. Neither Hussein nor an attorney representing him could be reached for comment. rchannick@chicagotribune.com Twitter @RobertChannick A lawsuit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court alleges Walgreens has charged the county's sweetened beverage tax on unsweetened beverages. (Bob Bong/Daily Southtown ) A Schaumburg man is suing Walgreens for allegedly wrongly charging Cook County's new sweetened beverage tax on unsweetened sparkling water. The lawsuit, filed Friday by Vincent De Leon, comes days after the county's penny-per-ounce tax took effect. Advertisement The tax went into effect Wednesday and applies to nonalcoholic beverages that are either sugar- or artificially sweetened, including fountain drinks as well as bottled and canned beverages. LaCroix and similar flavored bubbly waters, such as Perrier and Soleil, aren't supposed to be taxed because they're not sweetened. Advertisement But some retailers experienced snafus in implementing the tax. Walgreens, for example, said last week that it "inadvertently coded" some products incorrectly, but that it was "working to resolve this complex issue as soon as possible." De Leon is seeking a jury trial and class-action status for his lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court. "Even the architect of the tax, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, recently tweeted that unsweetened beverages are not subject to the pop tax," says the lawsuit, which includes a screen grab of her tweet. "Walgreens has publicly admitted it is wrongly charging the pop tax on unsweetened beverages and yet it continues to do so without informing customers that they are being wrongly charged," the lawsuit says. "Despite knowing that it has improperly coded its products, Walgreens has not taken any steps to provide corrections at the cash register." De Leon's lawsuit says he bought Dasani Tropical Pineapple Sparkling Water, labeled as unsweetened, from a Walgreens store in Hoffman Estates on Friday and was charged the sweetened beverage tax. The lawsuit also says a Walgreens store in Western Springs charged the tax on a case of Dasani Black Cherry Sparkling Water that was labeled as unsweetened. The lawsuit included photos of the water and the receipt. The drugstore chain also charged the sweetened beverage tax on Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened Green Tea, the lawsuit says. Walgreens spokesman Phil Caruso declined to comment on the lawsuit. Meanwhile, a state appeals court on Monday denied a request from a group of retailers to put the controversial tax on hold once again. Advertisement The Illinois Retail Merchants Association sued the county in June, alleging the tax is unconstitutional and too vague to implement. The legal battle delayed the tax for a month. Cook County Circuit Judge Daniel Kubasiak dismissed the suit July 28 and dissolved a temporary restraining order that blocked implementation of the tax. But the merchants group is appealing the ruling and asked the appeals court to reinstate the court order blocking the tax. Preckwinkle spokesman Frank Shuftan said county officials "applaud the appellate court's decision." "We believe this was the appropriate action by the court, and we appreciate the quick action by the justices," Shuftan said. byerak@chicagotribune.com Twitter @beckyyerak A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the conviction of former futures trader Michael Coscia, seen Nov. 3, 2015, who was the first person sentenced to prison for the illegal trading practice known as spoofing. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the conviction of a New Jersey futures trader who was the first person sentenced to prison for the illegal trading practice known as spoofing. Michael Coscia was the first defendant in the country to stand trial under anti-spoofing rules included in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. He was sentenced in July 2016 to three years in prison and two years of supervised release for spoofing and commodities fraud. Advertisement Spoofing involves using a computer algorithm to rig markets in fractions of a second. The computer program Coscia used placed small and large orders simultaneously on either sides of the market, inducing artificial market movement, according to court documents. Coscia appealed his conviction, arguing that the anti-spoofing statute is vague and the evidence did not support the conviction on those counts. He also argued the evidence was insufficient on the commodities fraud violations. Advertisement The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals didn't agree in its long-awaited opinion. "The anti-spoofing provision provides clear notice and does not allow for arbitrary enforcement," the court stated. "Consequently, it is not unconstitutionally vague." Attorneys for Coscia couldn't be reached Monday for comment. Prosecutors said during the trial that Coscia made $1.4 million in about two months. When he manipulated futures contracts prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, he scammed traders including those at Citadel, the Chicago firm helmed by billionaire Ken Griffin, prosecutors said. amarotti@chicagotribune.com Twitter @AllyMarotti Gov. Rick Snyder is optimistic that Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group will open a facility in Michigan, but said what exactly it is has not been determined and it could be a few months before any potential deal takes shape. In a phone interview from Shanghai, where he was concluding a nine-day trade trip in China, Snyder said Monday night there is a "strong possibility" for Foxconn to still locate in the state after the company in recent weeks picked neighboring Wisconsin for a $10 billion display panel plant with 3,000 employees that could grow to 13,000. Snyder told The Associated Press that Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou invited him for dinner, meetings and a tour of the company's sprawling factory in Shenzhen near Hong Kong that employs some 200,000 workers. Lansing, Mich. They discussed the autonomous vehicle industry and advanced manufacturing, Snyder said. The company, he said, is highly advanced in tooling, machinery and robotics similarly to Michigan but does not yet have much of a U.S. presence in those sectors. "We had very healthy, very good discussions about Michigan's strengths and how it could be very good for Foxconn to be present in Michigan in some fashion. What it is has yet to be determined," he said. Chinese media outlets, quoting Gou, reported over the weekend that Foxconn plans to open a research and development center related to self-driving vehicles in Michigan, where General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler are based. The company has not confirmed the plans, instead repeating that Michigan is one of the states under consideration for some sort of investment. Snyder also declined to confirm that Foxconn is eyeing an autonomous vehicle facility but said "that would be one of the natural things that they could well be looking at." Foxconn said last month that its Wisconsin announcement was just the first of several unspecified investments the company will be making in the U.S. "It's going really well," Snyder said of the courtship. "But we're still getting to know each other, we're still working through that. They can make their own business decisions. But we're going to continue to present them good opportunities of what we can do in Michigan." Advertisement Little known to consumers, the maker of iPhones and other gadgets is a giant in the electronics industry thanks to its dominant position in the global manufacturing supply chain. Working conditions at Foxconn's factories in China have come under scrutiny in the past due to labor practices and suicides. Snyder and state lawmakers last month enacted job-creation tax incentives, including one tailored to companies such as Foxconn that add at least 3,000 jobs that pay the average regional wage. But Wisconsin offered what Snyder called a "gigantic" $3 billion incentive package to land the factory that will construct liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors used in televisions and computers. Snyder said Foxconn has other projects on its radar that "would be better suited for Michigan." He said it is too early to say how many jobs could come with a Foxconn facility in Michigan. He is hopeful that talks continue in the next few months and "things start solidifying." The trip was the Snyder administration's seventh mission to China. Snyder said one theme throughout the trip was China's increased interest in autonomous mobility, and he wants Michigan to capitalize on potential business opportunities in the emerging sector. Presence Health, the state's largest Catholic hospital system, plans to sell two of its downstate hospitals to Peoria-based OSF HealthCare. The two hospital systems announced Tuesday that they've signed a letter of intent for OSF to take ownership of Presence Covenant Medical Center in Urbana and Presence United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville. The sale is expected to close during the first quarter of 2018, pending approval by regulators and the Roman Catholic Church. Advertisement OSF spokeswoman Shelli Dankoff declined to disclose how much money was changing hands, saying in an email that the "agreement is being finalized." A Presence spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for more details Tuesday. Presence has been working on a turnaround after facing a number of challenges in recent years. It reported operating losses of about $40 million for last year. Advertisement "For Presence Health, this opportunity allows us to focus on delivering high-quality patient care in northern Illinois, while supporting our long-term sustainability to continue our mission," Presence President and CEO Mike Englehart said in a news release. The deal will leave Presence with 10 hospitals in the greater Chicago area. Dankoff said OSF does not plan to reduce services or positions at either of the hospitals it's buying. OSF is also a Catholic health system, with 10 hospitals in Illinois and one in Michigan operated by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. lschencker@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lschencker A 23-year-old Chicago woman has been released from the noncompete agreement over which she sued Nordstrom's Trunk Club last month, but her lawyer who's also her father said the lawsuit will continue as he seeks to represent other workers of the personal styling business in what could become a class-action case. Cook County Circuit Judge Michael Mullen on Monday signed an order preventing Trunk Club from enforcing the noncompete provision in its employment agreement with Chicago resident Molly Dowell. The judge noted that Trunk Club has said it wouldn't enforce a provision in the agreement prohibiting her from working for any Trunk Club or Nordstrom competitor for a year. Advertisement "The case will continue, as Molly seeks class certification for all Trunk Club at-will employees," as well as damages and attorney fees, said Anthony Dowell, her father and a Chicago lawyer. The number of class members is believed to be in the hundreds, the lawsuit says. Advertisement Molly Dowell started working in June 2016 as a personal stylist at Trunk Club, which sells high-end men's and women's clothing. It was her first job after graduating from Purdue University with a retail management degree, court records show. Dowell left the company in January, concerned about its future, she says in her July 21 lawsuit. Dowell sought a job with Mac & Mia, which sells children's clothing with help from personal stylists. According to the lawsuit, Mac & Mia was interested in possibly hiring Dowell but was concerned about her noncompete agreement and the threat of potential litigation from Trunk Club. Believing that Mac & Mia wasn't a rival, Dowell asked Trunk Club whether she could pursue the job. Her lawsuit alleges she was told Trunk Club considers Mac & Mia a competitor and that the company wouldn't grant an exception to the noncompete restrictions. Trunk Club had no immediate comment Tuesday on the judge's order, but a July 27 court filing by the company says Dowell already had been released from the noncompete clause. byerak@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @beckyyerak Chicagos Water Tower Place is getting a new take on the pop-up shop called IRL internet shorthand for in real life. The shop, which opens Aug. 22 with a soft launch, will host rotating collections of brands organized around a theme that will change every few months, starting with the home. ( GGP rendering ) Chicago's Water Tower Place is getting a new take on the pop-up shop. Called IRL internet shorthand for "in real life" and a nod to the fact that most participating brands live largely online the shop will be moving into the former Bebe store on Water Tower Place's third floor, opening Aug. 22 with a soft launch. Advertisement A collaboration between Chicago-based mall operator GGP and retail pop-up consultant The Lion'esque Group, IRL will host rotating collections of brands organized around a theme that will change every few months, starting with "the home." "It allows consumers to explore a dozen brands in one space in a way they're not able to achieve anywhere else," said Melinda Holland, GGP's senior vice president of business development. Advertisement Products will be displayed together as if decorating an actual home, with digital displays where customers can learn more about specific companies and items, said Melissa Gonzalez, founder of The Lion'esque Group. Chicagos Water Tower Place is getting a new take on the pop-up shop called IRL internet shorthand for in real life. The shop, which opens Aug. 22 with a soft launch, will host rotating collections of brands organized around a theme that will change every few months, starting with the home. ( GGP rendering ) A bedroom will have wall art from online art seller UGallery and a mattress from Leesa Sleep, where shoppers can lie down and don virtual reality headsets to watch a "dream sequence" featuring Michael Phelps. Other rooms will have furniture from sofa- and chair-maker Maiden Home, glassware from Chicago-based Swoon Living and a Killerspin pingpong table, with food service from Chicago's Da Lobsta. IRL won't stock products, but customers will be able to place orders for home delivery or text themselves a link to a product later if they're not ready to buy on the spot. The home goods sector is growing, and products tend to be natural candidates for display in a showroom, Gonzalez said. Some shoppers are reluctant to buy items like mattresses and sofas without trying them first, but they also don't expect to walk out of a store with their purchase in hand. The home-themed version of IRL will remain in place through the holidays. A new mix of wellness-focused brands will replace it just in time for New Year's, she said. As traditional mall-based apparel retailers' ability to pull in shoppers has weakened, GGP has sought tenants that give consumers a compelling experience, such as the chance to check out a new collection of brands and products. GGP has twice assembled groups of local designers and retailers to sell their wares out of stores in two malls: one in Florida and another in California, where the shop has since closed. Chicagos Water Tower Place is getting a new take on the pop-up shop called IRL internet shorthand for in real life. The shop, which opens Aug. 22 with a soft launch, will host rotating collections of brands organized around a theme that will change every few months, starting with the home. ( GGP rendering ) The mall operator picked Water Tower Place for the latest group concept shop because it draws considerable numbers of both tourists and locals, giving GGP "a little more flexibility" to bring a big group of retailers together to test the idea, Holland said. Advertisement It might sound like more work to run than a traditional multiyear lease to a single retailer, but "our job is to curate the shopping experience to what the customer wants," she said. It's also appealing to new largely online brands that want to experiment with bricks-and-mortar retail but are hesitant to take on the expense of leasing a high-profile space alone, Holland said. Participating brands pay a member fee while The Lion'esque Group handles all store operations except shipping inventory. The Lion'esque Group and GGP will continue to work together to select the tenants. The brands must appeal to the same kind of customer but can't be competitors, and there needs to be a rationale behind the grouping, Gonzalez said. "A lot of times you see collectives put together, and the driving factor is economics," she said. "Sharing space is more affordable, but you can't lose sight of the consumer and what their journey is going to be." IRL is expected to remain open for at least a year, but it could see an extended run at Water Tower Place or be added at other GGP properties if shoppers and brands respond well, Holland said. Advertisement lzumbach@chicagotribune.com Twitter @laurenzumbach Mexican authorities arrested Damaso Lopez Nunez, a senior lieutenant of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, on May 2, 2017, in Mexico City. Lopez's son, Damaso Lopez Serrano, was indicted in San Diego Federal Court on Monday. (Getty Images) A 29-year-old man believed to be the godson of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was indicted on drug smuggling charges in San Diego federal court Monday. Damaso Lopez Serrano, who turned himself in to U.S. authorities amid a bloody power struggle over the Sinaloa cartel, and five close associates are accused of doling out drugs to smugglers and smuggling drugs into the United States themselves from about May 2005 to August 2016. Advertisement Court documents don't specify the exact amount of drugs they are accused of funneling into the country, but state it was more than a pound of methamphetamine, more than two pounds of heroin and more than 11 pounds of cocaine. They are also are suspected of laundering money into the United States "with the intent to promote the distribution of controlled substances," court records said. Advertisement Lopez Serrano, also known as "Mini Lic," pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin intended for importation, conspiracy to import meth, cocaine and heroin, and conspiracy to launder money. The five associates, including 29-year-old Nahum Abraham Sicairos Montalvo, who goes by "Kinceanero," face those same charges. The indictment is just one piece of a massive five-year investigation that has resulted in charges against more than 125 people and has had a significant impact on one of the world's most "prolific, violent and powerful drug cartels, said Kelly Thornton, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office. "Today marks another important step in the dismantling of the Sinaloa cartel and is a reflection of law enforcement's focused efforts these last several years to put an end to this most powerful drug trafficking organization," Acting U.S. Attorney Alana Robinson in a statement. Lopez Serrano was also charged with drug smuggling charges in a separate case being handled in Virginia, Thornton said. His father, Damaso Lopez Nunez, who was arrested in Mexico earlier this year, was also named in the indictment. Lopez Serrano surrendered to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on July 27 at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing in Calexico, officials said. Mexican authorities had been looking for Lopez Serrano in nearby Mexicali, according to the Mexican news wire service EFE. He is thought to be the highest-ranking Mexican cartel leader to self-surrender in the United States. Lopez Serrano is the son of and got his nickname from Damaso Lopez Nunez, who goes by "El Licenciado" or the graduate. The father was reputed to be one of Guzman's top leaders in the Sinaloa cartel. The younger man has a playboy reputation and often posted images of his lavish lifestyle on social media. His Instagram is littered with pictures of scantily clad women, men with guns, gold-plated weapons and exotic pets including a tiger. Advertisement After Guzman was arrested in Sinaloa in January 2016, Lopez Nunez allegedly launched an effort to wrest control of the cartel, especially from the drug lord's two sons, who go by "Los Chapitos," according to news reports. The friendly relationship Lopez Serrano and Guzman's sons once shared apparently deteriorated as the struggle for power escalated. In May, Lopez Nunez was arrested by Mexican authorities at a high-rise tower in Mexico City. His son's surrender to U.S. authorities soon followed. Other high-level targets close to Guzman's empire have often been nabbed along this stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. Last month, Guzman's alleged mistress and a former Mexican legislator, Lucero Guadalupe Sanchez Lopez, was taken into custody while trying to enter San Diego at the Cross Border Xpress airport terminal. She has been indicted on a conspiracy charge of helping the cartel launder money and will be tried in Washington, D.C. Advertisement lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com @LAWinkley If you're vacationing at a cabin, there's (probably) not a corner store at the ready for you to grab the ingredients you forgot. That's why it's best to keep recipes simple, such as this faux stir-fry below, made in a skillet instead of a wok, and without the usual spices. Just don't forget the most important part of a stay in the woods: the wine. Sommelier Nate Redner, of Lincoln Park restaurant Oyster Bah, recommends a few bottles to pair; grab them before you leave civilization. MAKE THIS Advertisement Cabin stir-fry Whisk together 3 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Place 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, cut in 1-inch pieces in a bowl. Pour marinade over. Heat a skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon canola oil. Stir-fry 2 thinly sliced carrots until crisp-tender. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with 3 bell peppers, in 3/4-inch pieces, and 1 large onion, in 1-inch chunks. Drain chicken, reserving the marinade. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet. Stir-fry chicken, until cooked through, 8 minutes. Return vegetables to the skillet. Pour in reserved marinade. Heat to a boil; cook, 1 minute. Serve over rice garnished with chopped green onions. Makes: 4 servings Advertisement Recipe by Joe Gray DRINK THIS Pairings by sommelier Nate Redner of Oyster Bah, as told to Michael Austin: 2015 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon: Pinot blanc is a varietal that is versatile with Asian dishes, due to its high aromatic character and lifted acidity. In addition to those qualities, this wine shows ginger, pineapple and lemongrass, which will complement the stir-fry nicely. 2015 Weingut Emmerich Knoll Loibner Federspiel Gruner Veltliner, Wachau, Austria: Weingut Knoll's wines generally possess beautiful weighty texture without any residual sweetness. That will serve us well here. This particular wine shows notes of white pepper, green beans and lime zest, all of which will play nicely with the barely cooked vegetables and the sweetness coming from the bell peppers. 2014 Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada: The soy sauce in the dish will amplify the earthy, mushroomy flavors in this cool-climate pinot noir. With cool-climate wines, you can bank on vibrant acidity and balanced fruit character, and that is certainly the case here. With this one, expect bright notes of red raspberry and tart cherries upfront, with hints of plum and black pepper that follow. food@chicagotribune.com Twitter @pour_man It's been nearly 40 years since the final episode of "The Bob Newhart Show" aired, yet some Chicagoans are still mad about the Chicago-set sitcom's opening credits, Newhart told Conan O'Brien Monday on "Conan." On "The Bob Newhart Show," which aired from 1972-78, Newhart plays a psychologist who works on Michigan Avenue and appears to get off the train in Evanston yet goes to his home in Chicago's Edgewater area. Advertisement "I get on what in Chicago was the Ravenswood 'L,' and I'm taking that, I'm going home from the office. And I get off, the little station I get off at, that's on the ground -- the 'L' at some point goes on the ground -- which is about 55 blocks from our apartment. I do this every day. I miss my stop and walk back 55 blocks to our apartment," said the 87-year-old Newhart, who was born in Oak Park and raised in the city. "Now, would you want a therapist who missed his stop every day?" "Conan" airs at 10 p.m. weeknights on TBS. Advertisement RELATED STORIES: Hot Property | Bob Newhart's former estate How the Cubs informed Bob Newhart's philosophy on life Bob Newhart to return to 'The Big Bang Theory' Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Chance the Rapper hasn't been shy about championing youth empowerment (see his comments to the audience at Lollapalooza last weekend) or taking up the cause of Chicago schoolchildren (he took on Gov. Bruce Rauner and donated $1 million to CPS earlier this year). So when he steps out as the grand marshal of Saturday's Bud Billiken Parade in Bronzeville, historically a back-to-school celebration, he's got the perfect platform. Issues don't always take center stage as dance troupes and marching bands wind their way through the streets, says Kristal Davis, a spokeswoman at Chicago Defender Charities, which oversees the parade. "But I'm sure Chance won't be censored, so when he does make remarks, when he's interviewed, I believe he will speak from the heart and stand up for the kids." Advertisement Davis confirms Chance has something big planned for the parade: "There's going to be a U-Haul coming down King Drive with backpacks in it and they are going to be giving those backpacks to people along the parade route. But we just met with his people and he's got another big surprise that won't be revealed until Saturday morning." The growing excitement around the historic parade is thrilling, she says. "He's a pretty hot commodity right now, so to have him plan something special in addition to being the grand marshal, that's amazing." And, she points out that it's not only a boost for the event ("we had a rough year last year") but for the kids of the South Side: "So often, our kids get showcased for shootings or becoming victims of violence, and they never get a chance to just let their hair down and show what they can do. This is the one day that they get to really strut their stuff." She added only one hint about Chance and his plans: Keep watching the Bud Billiken Facebook page and Chance's social media. The 88-year-old parade is one of Chicago's most historic events and has hosted everyone from Barack Obama to Oprah Winfrey to Muhammad Ali to Harry Truman. And this year, it coincides with the brewing controversy over school funding. Wanna hear what Chance has to say about it? Might be time to grab some lawn chairs and stake out a spot on the parade route. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement 'Come at me, Rahm': Music takes supporting role for Chance, Lollapalooza 2017 Chance's afterparty a Lolla victory lap Edward Parks performs as Steve Jobs in the Santa Fe Opera's world premiere of Mason Bates and Mark Campbell's opera, "The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs," in Santa Fe, N.M. (Ken Howard / Santa Fe Opera) SANTA FE, N.M. There is something about experiencing opera in an amphitheater perched atop a mesa in the high desert country of northern New Mexico, with red sunsets peeking through the open back wall of the stage, that can make true believers out of the most opera-resistant listeners. That much is as true today as it was 60 years ago, when a stubborn visionary named John Crosby founded the Santa Fe Opera. It seems appropriate that a new opera about a more recent stubborn visionary the microcomputer innovator and tech visionary Steve Jobs should add another notch to the company's impressive bedpost of world and American premieres (15 of the former, 43 of the latter). Advertisement "The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs," the first opera by former Chicago Symphony Orchestra resident composer Mason Bates, with text by the veteran librettist Mark Campbell, is receiving seven performances as part of a season consisting of two company premieres Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Golden Cockerel" and Handel's "Alcina" and two works from the standard repertory, Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" and Johann Strauss Jr.'s "Die Fledermaus." "A lean and clean machine" is how the operatic Steve Jobs talks up his latest computerized gizmo to an engineer at the unnamed corporation he heads in Silicon Valley, early in the single-act, 90-minute work. He could just as well have been describing the piece itself. Advertisement The action takes as its structural signposts key events in Jobs' rise from hippie iconoclast to revolutionary electronics mogul, treating his rise and fall and rise as neither biopic nor hagiography but fact-based music theater. Bates' percolating music, Campbell's minimalist text, Kevin Newbury's fluid staging and a high-tech scenic design seal the operatic Jobs in a case as sleek and airtight as an iPhone. That's both the work's strength and its weakness. Bates and Campbell assume we already know the biographical basics about the iconic wizard of Apple. Rather, their nonlinear narrative focuses on the demons that drive Jobs and make the iconic genius such a failure as a human being. Apple Inc. is never mentioned (neither the electronics giant nor the Jobs estate nor family authorized the opera), nor is the pancreatic cancer that killed the real-life Jobs in 2011, at 56. Insensitive to everyone and everything but his work, this egocentric control freak bullies friends and co-workers and estranges his lovers and family members. "When will you let in the truth?" sings Jobs' forgiving wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, (the mesmerizing mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke), pleading with her husband to reconnect with his flawed humanity and save their marriage. Which brings us to the central problem. The opera's 20 scenes, some quite brief, jump around so much in time and place that it's hard to trace a coherent dramatic arc that would make Jobs' spiritual "rebirth" believable. Baritone Edward Parks, dressed in Jobs' trademark black turtleneck, Levis 510 jeans and sneakers, is onstage the entire time and does what he can to make us sympathize with a basically unsympathetic character. But the charisma isn't there, and, without that, the operatic Jobs is only a shadow of his real-life alter ego. Bates' music is some of his most inventive and alluring to date, smoothly interfacing with the pixelated dramaturgy as seamlessly paced by director Newbury. The score's pounding, popping, buzzing orchestral groove, overlaid with electronica at key moments, effectively represents the restless mind of Jobs, forever operating at warp speed. Bates' hard-driving rhythmic pulsations are set off by calmer, atmospheric stretches of music tailored to the central characters twangy acoustic guitar riffs for Jobs, shimmering prayer bowls and gongs for Kobun, his Buddhist spiritual adviser, performed with quiet dignity and self-deprecating humor by bass Wei Mu. The vocal writing discreetly amplified that sits atop this kaleidoscopic orchestral carpet is one-size-fits-all lyricism, singable but unmemorable. Tenor Garrett Sorenson as Jobs' corporate co-founder Steve "Woz" Wozniak pours out his rage over his former pal's turning into "one of the people we hated" just another heartless corporate Goliath. Soprano Jessica E. Jones scales the coloratura heights in her sympathetic portrayal of Chrisann Brennan, the pregnant girlfriend whom Jobs cruelly abandons. Conductor Michael Christie draws precise playing and firm rhythmic drive from the orchestra, modulating the intensity for the moodier confrontations. The sleek, high-tech production designs of Victoria "Vita" Tzykun (sets), Paul Carey (costumes) and Japhy Weideman (lighting), with projections by 59 Productions, deploy an ever-shifting array of modular screens (think giant, moving iPhones). Advertisement "The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs" is a co-commission with the Seattle and San Francisco operas, co-produced with those companies and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Those listeners who are unable to catch the work in Santa Fe or elsewhere should note that Pentatone plans to release a CD based on the live performances. 'The Golden Cockerel' Reviving forgotten operas by major composers is one of the reasons why festivals like Santa Fe exist. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Golden Cockerel" is one such neglected work and, in an inventive production directed by Paul Curran and conducted by Emmanuel Villaume, the audience was treated to a worthy exhumation of a flawed work. The anti-czarist satire at the heart of Rimsky's 15th and final opera an adaptation of a Pushkin fairy tale that itself was an adaptation of a fable by American author Washington Irving delayed the world premiere from taking place until 1909, a year after the composer's death, in Moscow. The work reached the Metropolitan Opera in 1918 and Chicago in 1933 but has enjoyed few revivals in the West since then. The opera's confused dramaturgy by turns fantastical, silly and serious no doubt accounts for its neglect beyond the Russian-speaking world. But there is much worthy music to recommend "Golden Cockerel" to enterprising opera companies.The orchestral palette is suffused with colorful Russian and Asian exoticism, and the entire second act amounts to a bravura scena for the work's femme fatale, the Queen of Shemakha. The central figure of this dark fairy tale is Dodon, an incompetent Russian ruler on whom a mysterious astrologer bestows a gift of a magical golden cockerel to alert him when vengeful armies threaten his realm. He eventually is seduced by the queen, takes her as his czarina and is literally henpecked. The audience is told at the end that only the queen and astrologer were real. Advertisement Curran choreographs the action with witty assurance, aided by a giant metallic grid on which an artful array of projections (Driscoll Otto is the designer) plays out, including clashing soldiers and the golden cockerel herself (chirped from offstage by Kasia Borowiec). Gary McCann's lavish costumes adhere to period style save for the end when Dodon and his queen suddenly sport contemporary togs that make them resemble Donald and Melania Trump. As nimble when belly dancing as she is dancing in the the vocal stratosphere, soprano Venera Gimadieva exudes seductive charm in a role Beverly Sills once sang. It is hard to imagine the high tenor role of the astrologer more strongly projected than Barry Banks does here. Tim Mix sings solidly and waddles endearingly as the oafish old czar, done up in a hilarious red fat-suit. Meredith Arwady unleashes her huge contralto as the comic babushka Amelfa. The orchestra gives Villaume the sumptuous sonorities and ripe instrumental nuances he asks for. This "Golden Cockerel" is a show Lyric Opera really should investigate. 'Alcina' Lyric need not bother with the silly travesty that is Santa Fe's "Alcina." There is nothing whatsoever to fault in the youthful, attractive cast or the crisp Handelian sounds principal conductor Harry Bicket elicits from the orchestra. Alas, their worthy labors are sabotaged by David Alden's tasteless, unbearably busy production. The stage director, who appears to enjoy amassing critical brickbats the way others collect trophies, turns Handel's masterpiece into the sorceress Alcina's private theater of seduction in which her sister Morgana and her general Oronte serve as ushers. Distraction is heaped on distraction. Nonhilarity ensues. Heading a dream (if wasted) cast is the vibrant South African soprano Elza van den Heever in the vocally taxing title role an Alcina towering in her avenging fury, poignantly touching when she finds her magical powers draining away. Anna Christy brings oodles of charm to Morgana; her "Tornami a vagheggiar" is radiantly poised despite the soprano's having to execute this delectable aria while being hoisted on the shoulders of acrobatic vaudevillians. The arresting mezzo Daniela Mack, as the faithful Bradamante, gets plenty of ornate coloratura singing of her own, which she manages with great expressive aplomb. Another capable mezzo, Paula Murrihy, plays the hopelessly conflicted Ruggiero, Bradamante's betrothed, who finds Alcina's theater of delights preferable to 1950s suburban reality at the end. Alek Shrader maintains his tenoral cool while having to lope around the stage as half-man, half-gorilla. Christian Van Horn booms imposingly as Melisso, Bradamante's tutor. Advertisement The Santa Fe Opera season runs through Aug. 26; 800-280-4654; www.santafeopera.org John von Rhein is a Tribune critic. jvonrhein@chicagotribune.com Twitter @jvonrhein [ RELATED: Muti closes season with Bates' magical, musical bestiary ] [ 'Steve Jobs' review: Backstage with a beleaguered genius ] [ A generic 'Cold Mountain' and marvelous Mozart mark Santa Fe Opera season ] Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP) Idina Menzel mooed as the performance artist Maureen in the original production of "Rent" in 1996 and, ever since, Broadway audiences have mooed back. Over the past decades, Menzel has won over everyone from musical theater nerds to Tony voters to princess wannabes, as Maureen with her audience-participation bit about cows, defying gravity as the green-girl Elphaba in the Broadway musical "Wicked" and solidifying the empowerment anthem "Let It Go" as a smash hit as the voice of snow queen Elsa in Disney's 2013 movie "Frozen." She has appeared on Fox's "Glee" and went back to Broadway in the Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey musical "If/Then," garnering another Tony nomination. Outside of her stage and screen reign, Menzel has released five studios albums. She sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl and in front of Barack and Michelle Obama at the White House. She survived "Adele Dazeem." Advertisement So, what's next? And what's left to do? There's a new memoir authored by Menzel's younger sister, Cara Mentzel, coming out this fall ("Voice Lessons: A Sisters Story," St. Martin's Press) and "Frozen 2" set for 2019. And Saturday, the diva will bring her global tour, her band and her son, Walker, to Chicago, for a show aimed to please the countless fans Menzel's picked up along the way everyone from aging Rentheads to toddlers in tiaras. Advertisement The Tribune talked to Menzel about her ongoing success and remaining aspirations before her Chicago Theatre concert. The following interview is edited and condensed. Q: What can fans expect from the concert? Will it be a mix of songs from your albums and Broadway hits? A: Yep, you said it. I like to say it's an eclectic set list. Definitely songs people would expect. I like to stay fresh and do some new arrangements of them, although I'm sensitive to not overdoing that. But there's a few new arrangements I really like. And there's some music from the new album. And some surprise covers. Q: And there will be "Frozen," I imagine. Do you ever get tired of singing "Let It Go"? A: I love to sing it. I don't, honestly. Because I involve the kids when I do it, so every night it's different. And every night I am reminded of how it's reached and connected and resonated with young people and how important it is. And that makes me really proud that I have that in my career, that I have a song and a character and a movie that is so powerful and really changes people. Q: Does your son like the song? Or "Frozen?" A: (Laughs.) My son's got a love-hate relationship with it, I think. If you'd ask him, he'd say he's not a fan. I've done some analysis, and I think anything related to "Frozen" is "mom's work." And it has given thousands of people permission to say they know his mom, and I think that bothers him; I'm his mom, and he wants me to himself. But he's starting to come out and watch. I think he secretly enjoys the songs. He just won't tell me. Q: How do you navigate audiences filled with everyone from kids to longtime fans? Advertisement A: That's my biggest challenge these days. Just trying to be true to myself with the understanding that I have a vast demographic. And I think I'm doing a really good job of navigating that. I'm a woman in her 40s. I have to be myself. But I don't want to offend anybody. Q: What's your favorite song in the set list? Or a moment you really look forward to? A: Those moments change every night, to be honest with you, depending on how I'm feeling and what's going on in my life. That's what I love about music. Songs reflect how you feel and your association with them that can change depending on how you're feeling that particular day. So that's hard to answer. I have an acoustic little miniset that I really like where I do something from "Wicked" on guitar. Q: Outside of tour news, it was recently announced that your sister wrote a book about your relationship. How involved were you in that? A: I was super involved. It was my idea. She's always been a great writer. And I was asked to write a book, a memoir, and I really had no interest at all in writing about myself. So she had often written about the two of us and about our lives and our childhood and our sisterhood, and we felt like there was a lot more story there, a bigger story that we can tell, with that angle. So I'm excited. She wrote a beautiful, funny, poignant book from the perspective of a little sister trying to find her voice with a sister who had a huge voice and probably overshadowed her. It uses milestones in our lives to sort of explore how similar and different we were at the time and how we learned from each other through those experiences. Q: Is there any role that could get you back to Broadway? Advertisement A: I'm interested in doing new work. I go back every couple months and do workshops for new writers and read their work aloud so they can develop it. And that's where my heart is, developing a new piece and being a part of it. And helping young writers and composers do their thing and make original work. Q: Whose work are you into right now? I recently worked with Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. I'm a huge fan of theirs. Jason Robert Brown. I've never gotten to work with him, but he's awesome. I'd love to work with him. There's so many. A: What else do you want to accomplish? I'm pretty content. I feel good about where things are. I'm just going to keep trying to be part of new material and writing my music. And I would love to get more film work or TV work where I can really be on the set with some great accomplished actors so I can really learn from them. Q: Who would you want to work with? Advertisement A: For me, it's legends like Meryl Streep or Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet. Q: Anything else you want to fit in during your time in Chicago? A: I like to do my yoga. I probably would just love to take my son to a big park. Maybe some hoops for him. I'm excited to come back to Chicago. We had a great time two years ago. The fans were incredible. We'll try to satisfy everyone's requests. 8 p.m. Saturday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets $39.50-$129.50 at 800-745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com mgreene@chicagotribune.com Twitter @morgreene [ RELATED: 'Frozen 2' is 'in the works,' Idina Menzel says ] [ Talking to Taylor Mac about 'Hir' and how to watch it ] Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Three years ago, I graduated from college, and after years of occasional all-nighters, skipped meals and serious stress over exams, I was looking forward to a new, calmer life. College in Denton, Texas, had been the time of my life, a place where I evolved from an apathetic, underachieving student to a social-activism-minded honor student. I felt immense pride when I walked across the graduation stage and began the hour-long drive home to Dallas. And that first week at home felt great. By Week 3, though, something changed. I had a pervasive feeling of loss and, with a knot in my stomach, I stopped eating regularly. Within two months, I was so depressed, I had trouble getting out of bed in the morning. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't believe anyone would understand. What I also didn't know was that my post-graduation emotional distress was not uncommon. Advertisement "If a student's college experience is mostly positive, college provides a cocoon of sorts: a community of friends, teachers and mentors who are mostly readily available to offer support or advice. Graduating symbolizes a leap into 'adult' life, which is a huge transition," said Juli Fraga, a psychologist based in San Francisco. Although it's not an official diagnosis, "post-graduation depression" is commonly used to describe the extreme sadness and impaired functioning that recent grads report after they leave behind the world they created in college. Advertisement Post-graduation depression, therapists say, is understudied and probably underreported."Young adulthood isn't a population that is well studied at all. From a research perspective, it's hard to categorize them," said Sheryl Ziegler, a Colorado psychologist and licensed professional counselor who has many young clients. According to therapists and postings in internet chat rooms by recent graduates, symptoms of post-graduation depression include an abnormally negative perspective, decreased motivation to get out of bed, a general sense of hopelessness and, occasionally, substance abuse. "They often have . . . trouble motivating themselves to get a job," Ziegler said. "They are often lonely due to a lack of connection with friends. While young adults are in college, they may have been in an environment that was more accepting of alcohol and recreational drug use, and while depressed it's possible this is being used as a coping mechanism." "Post-grad depression is underreported because graduation is like motherhood: Culturally seen as a seemingly joyful time, which makes it even more shameful for someone to admit that it's not," says Fraga who counseled students during a fellowship at the University of California at Berkeley who now treats young adults in her practice. While studies about post-graduation depression are hard to find - researchers tend to look at a variety of causes of depression in the 18-to-25 age group, not just leaving college - the internet is full of personal accounts of the stomach-clenching blues that descend weeks after diplomas are handed out. "I realized I was dealing with post-college depression specifically, because my depression was directly linked to things I had in college that I no longer had: Namely, the experience of being a part of a tightknit community," said Alaina Leary of Quincy, Massachusetts. "Even though my partner and I are extremely close, I felt suddenly very lonely. I had co-workers, but not the kinds of relationships I had in college," Leary continued. Recent research suggests that millennials have the highest rates of depression and anxiety of any generation, with job concerns high on their list of worries. A study by the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences found an association between high rates of depression and high rates of social media use: People who reported being depressed tended to be active on many social media platforms. "They are following their friends on social media and have this out-of-proportion sense that everyone else has figured it out and is getting jobs," Ziegler said. "They have a sense that everyone has it together but them, which causes them to further isolate themselves." According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, 75 percent of mental-health conditions begin by age 24, which means that both the college years and the abrupt transition when it's over can be a particularly challenging time emotionally. Advertisement I had had some depression issues in my past, so I was vulnerable. But the biggest contributor to my post-graduation depression was having to adjust to a life that no longer aligned with my passions. In college, I had the freedom to shape my life based on my interests. It wasn't long before I discovered that the real world didn't work that way. The activist identity and experience I'd developed in college - staying on top of current events and attending local interest groups - came to a crashing end when I found myself working long days as an insurance claims adjuster, a job I jumped at when it was offered because I was worried I might find nothing else. I'd hoped to find a position at a nonprofit that would allow me to make a difference, but there was a shortage of public service jobs in my area. I had applied for county and state positions such as child advocate, but it can take months to have your application acknowledged. So I found myself alone in a cubicle completing menial tasks such as informing insurance beneficiaries that we had received their claims and enforcing what I found to be some ethically questionable procedures. I was so emotionally exhausted at the end of each day that my ride home was filled with tears. I often just went to sleep without eating. And to be honest, I was lonely. At my university, my friends were just a few doors down the corridor. We knew each other's schedules and would spend countless hours in one another's rooms. But now they weren't around. Most of my friends hadn't graduated; they were in class during my lunch break, and they were in a different city an hour away. I tried to keep up with them, but sometimes weeks passed with only minimal contact. It was a challenge, and many of my friendships didn't survive. Having no one to talk to made it harder to process my feelings. But my friendships weren't the only relationships to change. My family had become accustomed to life without me around, and I often felt forgotten. Moving back home during early adulthood can lead to conflicts about rights, responsibilities, behavior. I was 22 years old, but living at home made me feel a lot like a child. Several months after graduation, my longtime boyfriend and I got married, and we arranged to move in with one of my grandparents. (Even as a couple we didn't make enough money to make it on our own.) But my depression prevented me from enjoying newlywed bliss. My husband, a low-ranking airman, and I worked opposing schedules. Soon I was sleeping more than 11 hours a day, and I hardly spoke to my new husband. I was angry and moody. My distance began to hurt him. After less than two months of marriage, we were considering divorce. Advertisement I felt immense pressure to find a job that was somehow related to the psychology degree I'd gotten in college; I wanted to take a first step in my career and start my life. But it turns out that a bachelor's degree in psychology wasn't going to get me in any doors. I graduated with around $30,000 in debt. How would I ever pay it off if I couldn't find a good job? And more important, why had I spent four years in college if I wouldn't be able to use my degree? I was stuck with the insurance adjuster job. After three months, I knew that to shake my feelings of sadness, I had to make some significant life decisions. I got a puppy for extra companionship. I made a bigger effort to connect with my best friend back at college. And, with much trepidation, I quit my insurance job with no backup plan. Our living costs were low, but I was nervous. I started a master's program in social work that I hoped would give me the credential to get a job I actually wanted. I also hoped that being back at school would help my mental health. Maybe all of these steps would have improved things for me on their own, but, oddly, what finally broke my post-graduation depression came from an unexpected source: The military decided to relocate my husband to the Midwest. This meant that I had to start from scratch creating a life for myself. But this time we had our own place, thanks to my husband's position, and I took the opportunity to return to the sorts of things that had made college particularly gratifying: I got involved in my new community, and I met people through nonprofit groups and a church that we joined. And then, almost exactly a year after graduation, I was pregnant, and I didn't have time to focus on me and college days of the past. I was moving on, and impending motherhood gave new meaning to my life. It's been nearly three years since I graduated from college. I still feel a touch of sadness that that time is over. But I have found ways to transform my campus involvement into community involvement. The best part of college was having a mission - being involved in mentorship and leadership organizations, and feeling that I was making a difference. I do that now by being a freelance writer who spreads information on the mental health of marginalized groups and by being a mother. In the summer of 2014, I couldn't imagine life feeling good again - but it does. Advertisement Looking back, I believe that colleges and universities that value the mental health of their students should offer some sort of transition course. College can be similar to a utopian society: Its inhabitants are not really aware of the struggles that may await when that utopian world vanishes the day after graduation. We aren't told that the mix of emotions that this transition triggers can have negative consequences on our mental health. But when I speak with recent grads, I tell them my story. Perhaps by talking about post-graduation mental health, I am using my degree after all. RELATED STORIES: How college students feel about consent How to maximize a gap year and where to go if you want to travel 3 things I wish I'd known before my freshman year of college Chicago and Cook County are among some 300 jurisdictons in the U.S. that have declared themselves sanctuary cities for immigrants in the country illegally. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Chicago's lawsuit against Donald Trump 's Justice Department isn't just about protecting our decision to be a sanctuary city. It sends a strong message to the president that we will not be bullied. The threat to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from cities that won't force their police officers to help federal officials round up people living in this country illegally is nothing more than a ploy to whip hardheaded towns like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles into line behind Trump's untenable anti-immigration policies. On Monday, Chicago took the lead in a rebellion. Advertisement Filing a lawsuit is our way of telling the Trump administration in no uncertain terms that we will not be part of its despicable plan to snag people from their homes, tear loving families apart and promote an environment of fear. If Trump insists on leading our country into a state of paranoia against immigrants, he'll have to proceed without us. Trump wants those who have committed even minor offenses removed from the country. Without the help of local law enforcement officials, that would be difficult to carry out. In Chicago, we refuse to be his informants. Advertisement Chicago is among some 300 jurisdictions across the country that have declared themselves sanctuary cities, meaning local law enforcement will provide little, if any, assistance to federal officials seeking to identify those in the country illegally. In Chicago, that includes those in the Cook County Jail. In April, Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent a letter to Chicago and Cook County ordering them to comply. Specifically, the administration plans to eliminate money from the Justice Department's State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which distributes reimbursements to state and local jails. Chicago's lawsuit claims that is unconstitutional. The Justice Department responded Monday with an petty email suggesting that Chicago should be more concerned about its "staggering" homicide rate than protecting "criminal aliens." What is our government's proposed solution to the violence? To give police officers unbridled authority to rummage through our neighborhoods and haul people off to jail. That might make Trump feel like he has accomplished something, but it won't solve Chicago's problems. The violence in our communities has very little if anything to do with the people living in the U.S. illegally who are here seeking the American Dream. The rage we're seeing is from U.S. citizens who have lost all hope in the American Dream. What does Trump plan to do about that? Most of those here illegally go to great lengths to stay out of the spotlight and that's why this lawsuit is so important. It is as much about keeping Chicagoans safe as it is about being a welcoming city. In 46 pages filed in U.S. District Court, Chicago laid out a compelling case for why we cannot comply with the Trump administration's directive. Though the lawsuit does not state it specifically, turning our cops into community snitches would be devastating in a city that already is struggling to restore community trust in the Police Department. The job of police officers is to enforce local laws. In a city torn by violence, our cops have enough on their hands trying to keep residents safe. We can't afford to divert our limited resources to investigating someone's immigration status. Advertisement We're lucky in Chicago to have had a directive in place since the 1980s now called the Welcoming City Ordinance that encourages people to assist in criminal investigations without fear of reprisal. The ordinance ensures that no resident or visitor in our city is afraid to report a crime or testify in court for fear their immigration status will be investigated. Long after Trump is gone from office and the culture of civility is restored, cities like Chicago would be left to deal with the atmosphere of terror and mistrust created by a president whose only motive was to fulfill a bigoted campaign promise. The courts might end up forcing us to help Trump succeed, but at least in Chicago, we'll be kicking and screaming. dglanton@chicagotribune.com Twitter @dahleeng Chicago firefighters rescued a cat whose head got stuck in a metal garage door at 93rd Street and Baltimore Avenue on Aug. 6, 2017. (Jose Martinez Bello) (Jose Martinez Bello) A cat found itself in need of a fire rescue crew's assistance Sunday morning. At 10:30 a.m., a brown and black striped cat in a South Chicago neighborhood got its head stuck in a metal garage door at 93rd Street and Baltimore Avenue, said Larry Langford, a spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department. Advertisement As the cat wiggled franticly, about six firefighters used tools to chip away at the concrete and pry the metal door so the cat could get out. Once there was enough room, the cat bolted down the street and rounded the corner. A 20-year-old man has been arrested in Minnesota, a year after an arrest warrant was issued for a fatal shooting on the South Side, according to the FBI. Shaqir Mustapha, 20, was arrested by FBI agents and Hennepin County sheriff's deputies on Aug. 1 in Brooklyn Park north of Minneapolis, the FBI said in a statement Tuesday. Mustapha is wanted in the murder of Jeremy Ray, 27, on June 10 last year. Ray was in the 8900 block of South Brandon Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood when two people got out of a car and fired, hitting him several times, according to police. Ray, of the first block of West 112th Place, was taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital and pronounced dead at 10:27 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. He was among 19 people shot in Chicago over 17 hours. One person was injured in a fire in Chicago's Garfield Ridge neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. One person was taken via ambulance to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn following the Southwest Side fire in the 5900 block of West 55th Street, according to a Chicago Fire Department spokesman. The person's condition wasn't immediately known, but the ambulance was using basic life support systems, not its advanced life support systems used for more serious trauma patiens. Advertisement The fire was under control by about 1:25 p.m. A three-story brick apartment building is at the address of the fire. Advertisement Check back for updates. A student whose family sued seeking to overturn his expulsion for trying to hack into Glenbrook North High's School grading system has reached a settlement with the school district. The lawsuit was dismissed Monday after Glenbrook High School District 225 resolved the issues with the student, said John Murphy, an attorney for the district. He would not say if or when the student will return to school or otherwise details the terms of the settlement. Advertisement The student, who was not named in court records, was granted an injunction by a Cook County judge in May allowing him to return to classes, pending a full hearing on the case. He was a 15-year-old sophomore at the time and is now due to enter junior year, which starts Aug. 23. According to court records, he had been expelled for the remainder of the last school year and all of the 2017-18 school year. The scheme to hack into the school's web-based PowerSchool grading system was cooked up by another student, who sent emails to teachers directing them to an impostor website, and got two of them to provide their log-in passwords, enabling him to change grades, according to a hearing officer's report submitted to the courts. Advertisement The student whose family filed the lawsuit claimed he had a minor role in the scheme, in that he tried but to use a stolen password to sign into the system but was unsuccessful. The student also admitted in the suit that he sent emails to two teachers with a link to the fraudulent website. School officials first suspended the student for 10 days and then expelled him in April after a hearing. Officials did not disclose what happened to the other student involved. The lawsuit argued that the student's conduct was wrong but not "egregious," and that state law requires officials to consider lesser punishment before expulsion. The lawsuit contends that the student hadn't had a history of disciplinary problems at school and that his actions caused no disruption to school operations. But according to the hearing officer's report: "If (the student) is allowed to return to school after serving a suspension, then other students could certainly decide that attempting to access a teacher's account to change grades is worth the risk." Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > The student's attorney could not be reached. A school district spokeswoman said she could not share details beyond what's included in court records. But the district's disciplinary committee previously recommended that administrators consider reducing the length of the student's expulsion if he met certain conditions, such as completing an ethics or digital citizenship course, and attending a private alternative school with home tutoring provided by the district. Numerous school districts in the Chicago area use the PowerSchool system, which claims online that 13,000 districts and 32 million students use it nationwide. Videos by students online purport to show how to reveal hidden passwords, delete missed assignments and change grades on the PowerSchool system. Advertisement This type of school system hacking, as depicted in the 1983 film "War Games," is not an isolated case. Earlier this year, a student at the University of Central Florida was charged with hacking into his school's grading system. In 2015, three 17-year-old boys from Long Island were charged criminally after gaining access to their school's grading system, using a device called a keylogger to download a teacher's password, according to published reports. rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com Twitter @RobertMcCoppin An armed officer stands on the 130th Street ramp near the I-94 Bishop Ford Expressway on Monday Aug. 8, 2017. (Warren Skalski / Chicago Tribune) A 17-year-old boy pointed a gun at a Dolton police officer and was fatally shot after the officer pursued him and another man to the Bishop Ford Freeway following a carjacking in Hazel Crest, police said. The shooting took place near 130th Street on Interstate 94 just before 2:20 p.m., according to a news release from state police. The teen, Darreon J. Neal, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and was pronounced dead at 5:59 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Neal died from a gunshot wound to the back, the office determined following an autopsy Wednesday. Advertisement A vehicle shown in photos from the scene to be a Lexus SUV was reported stolen in a carjacking by two armed suspects in Hazel Crest, and Hazel Crest police broadcast information about the robbery over a state police radio band, according to Dolton Police Chief Robert Collins Jr. A Dolton officer heard the broadcast and spotted the stolen vehicle near Sibley Boulevard and Greenwood Avenue and got behind them, he said. Advertisement The driver of the SUV appeared to notice the officer following in a squad car and "took off" at high speed, getting on Interstate 94 heading north from Sibley which is at 15000 South, Collins said. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Near 130th Street, the SUV collided with a semi truck, causing front-end damage and stopping the vehicle. The two people in the SUV got out, and the 17-year-old took out a gun and the officer fired at him, hitting the boy, Collins said. The other man "darted" into nearby weeds, and was found about an hour later, about 300 yards from the scene of the crash. Two guns were found at the scene and taken into evidence. Hazel Crest police were able to confirm that the SUV the Dolton officer chased and that crashed on the Bishop Ford was the one stolen in the carjacking, Collins said. The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force was investigating the police shooting, according to Collins and State Police Master Sgt. Don Orseno. Lanes were closed on the expressway near 130th Street because of the crime scene, according to state police. At the scene before dark, several police surrounded the SUV believed to be involved in the incident, a gold Lexus SUV. About 20 police officers walked along the highway examining the area. Check back for updates. Daily Southtown freelance reporter Gerald Porter contributed. A decade after Alicia Stephenson left the 30,000-square-foot home she shared with her multimillionaire husband on a 180-acre northwest suburban estate, a divorce judge soon could decide whether she is entitled to $400,000 a month in living expenses. Stephenson has argued she needs that much money to live the privileged lifestyle to which she had become accustomed during her marriage to Richard Stephenson, founder of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Advertisement Alicia Stephenson, who argues she was an integral part of her husband's business success, also is seeking millions of dollars from various trusts and entities established during the marriage. And she wants to reclaim a Porsche she received as a wedding present and other luxury items. A divorce between the two became final last year. Now, closing arguments have been submitted in writing to McHenry County Judge James Cowlin, wrapping up months in the portion of the case that will determine financial support, known as maintenance. Advertisement A court date is set for Wednesday where Cowlin could decide what Stephenson deserves, bringing the lengthy divorce proceedings to a close. She currently receives $65,800 a month in temporary maintenance. Cowlin has patiently sat through dozens of oftentimes laborious and acrimonious hearings where bickering lawyers hurled objections and sifted through a web of financial documents and where witnesses described the opulent lifestyle Stephenson enjoyed during the marriage. She and her husband met when she was just 19 and he was in his 40s and married to his first wife. A few years later, in 1991, Alicia Stephenson married the "man of her dreams" in a three-day "romantic fairy tale" wedding event on Richard Stephenson's Tudor Oaks estate in Barrington Hills, wrote her lawyer, Elizabeth Felt Wakeman, in her closing arguments. Though neither side will say why the marriage failed, Alicia Stephenson left their marital home in 2007 and filed for divorce in 2009. But before things soured, Alicia Stephenson, who grew up in Gurnee, "lived a life that few could ever imagine," Wakeman wrote. She enjoyed multiple finely appointed homes around the country and in the Virgin Islands with a full staff at each location. She wore the finest clothes and donned exquisite jewels. In court, she and witnesses spoke of the Stephensons hosting lavish parties with celebrity entertainers, traveling on their multiple private jets, cruising on yachts and driving fine cars and motorcycles. The couple treated friends and business associates to fine dinners, sporting events and concerts in private suites and spoiled them with gifts and vacations. This is the type of lifestyle Alicia Stephenson said she hopes to enjoy once again. Advertisement But today, at age 52, she claims to be in deep credit card debt and unable to land a job. She said that although she was his partner and helped her husband, now 77, build his empire during their marriage by sitting on various hospital boards, participating in business meetings, helping make investment decisions and raising millions of dollars for cancer research, she lacks the formal education or degrees to land a job. Stephenson, who has an associate's degree in fashion, said in court that it was her husband who did not want her to pursue work outside the family business or pursue an education, an allegation he has denied. Richard Stephenson's lawyers have sought to downplay Alicia Stephenson's role in her husband's business affairs and presented a prenuptial agreement in court showing that she was expected to pursue higher education and a career. Richard wanted his young wife to grow and learn so she could one day become self-sufficient, his lawyers have said. Richard Stephenson's lawyer, David Grund, has said Alicia Stephenson was less a partner in her husband's business and more of a wife who was fortunate to enjoy the fruits of her husband's hard work. Once Grund went so far as to say she "was along for the ride." The couple have one adult daughter. Richard Stephenson has since remarried. Along with the monthly maintenance, and the millions of dollars she says she is owed from various entities and trusts, Alicia Stephenson also wants "repayment" of money he has spent since their separation that she says came out of marital funds. That, according to Wakeman's closing argument, included $4 million spent on his union ceremony in 2014 to his new wife and millions of dollars spent building a home in Arizona. Advertisement In the closing argument, Wakeman accuses Richard Stephenson and his team of lawyers, often about six in the courtroom, of "incessant bullying and obstruction." Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > She repeatedly accuses them of "fraud" and "deception" and claims the team has repeatedly ignored the rules of the court in refusing to provide pertinent discovery and financial documents. She accuses Richard Stephenson of moving money and assets around to various entities so it is unclear how much money he is worth or how much Alicia Stephenson is entitled to. Alicia Stephenson is "consistently on an uneven playing field," Wakeman wrote. The McHenry County court clerk's office said the written closing argument for Richard Stephenson unlike that for Alicia Stephenson is impounded and not available for public examination. However, a representative of Richard Stephenson issued a statement Thursday in response to Wakeman's claims. Advertisement "Ms. Wakeman has been sanctioned by the court for her disregard of court rules and her claims against Mr. Stephenson and his lawyers are, at best, disingenuous," the statement reads. "Her claims are completely meritless and it appears that she is attempting to try this case in the court of public opinion rather than based on the facts and evidence presented to the judge. While Ms. Wakeman continues her spurious efforts to derail this trial, we have made good faith efforts to bring this case to a close so that both parties can put this matter behind them and move forward with their lives." Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter. A Green Bay, Wis., man shot over the weekend in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood died a day later and a suspect was being questioned, authorities said Tuesday. Steven Gaines, 51, was pronounced dead at 9:54 p.m. Sunday at Stroger Hospital after being injured in the 3300 block of West Washington Boulevard, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Gaines, a former resident of Uptown, lived in the 2200 block of Crary Street in Green Bay. Advertisement Gaines was in critical condition after he was shot in the head about 11 a.m. Saturday in front of a church in the 3300 block of West Washington. Police were conducting a homicide investigation, and an autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday. Witnesses told police the man had been in a dispute with a group of people near a vehicle and someone in the group opened fire, hitting him in the head. Police did not disclose what the dispute might have been about, but they said Tuesday that a suspect was in custody and charges were pending. Advertisement Gaines had previously lived at several addresses in the Uptown neighborhood. He had an extensive criminal record in the 1980s and 1990s, and he was sentenced to five years in prison for two drug-related cases, one also including armed violence, in 1996, according to court records. Wisconsin court records show he has lived in Green Bay since at least 2003, and while he has been arrested a number of times since then, the arrests were on driving offenses and misdemeanor charges. Chicago police are searching for a 15-year-old girl who disappeared over the weekend from the West Side. Tashay Richards was last seen Saturday in the 3500 block of West 13th Place in the Lawndale neighborhood. Police said Tashay is known to spend time in the 5200 block of West Augusta Boulevard in the Austin neighborhood. Advertisement Tashay is black, with a medium skin complexion, stands 5-foot-8 and weighs about 135 pounds. She was last seen wearing a white tank top and black leggings. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Tuesday that a "preliminary" review of changes to a school funding bill was "consistent" with his goals, but his comments came more than an hour after the State Board of Education was told the data contained a "significant error." That error means a delay in the set of numbers that school officials, lawmakers and advocates have all been waiting for. A district-by-district financial scorecard could show how schools would fare under the governor's veto of the Democratic education bill. The data haven't been released publicly even as the Illinois Senate is planning to return to Springfield on Sunday, when it could consider overriding Rauner. Advertisement The State Board of Education says it gave Rauner's office its numbers Monday afternoon. The board also said it was notified at 9:27 a.m. Tuesday that the Department of Revenue had found "a significant error" in data it had supplied involving the assessed property value of districts that also have tax-increment financing districts. Rauner took questions from reporters more than an hour later, at 10:44 a.m., at an unrelated bill signing ceremony at the University of Chicago. There, he praised the quick work of the State Board of Education and said he told his staff to disseminate the figures to the public quickly. Advertisement "The numbers got sent to our staff late (Monday), which is terrific. Our staff's reviewing them," Rauner said. "You know, it's very complicated analysis, and what I've told our staff is, "Let's get 'em reviewed so we all understand and let's get it on to the public ASAP." Rauner said he had not seen the Board of Education's initial breakdowns that were submitted to his office Monday and later deemed erroneous, but he said he had talked to his staff about them. "The very, very early preliminary comments I heard (Monday) night were consistent with what I've always believed all districts do at least as well, low-income districts do dramatically better and nobody gets worse, which is what the goal of mine was. That's the very preliminary comment," he said. "But it's very complicated and there's what, 800 and some districts that have to be all reviewed? So I've encouraged them to go as fast as possible." State Board of Education officials said that after the state Department of Revenue submits corrected data, it will rerun the numbers on the state's about 850 school districts and provide them to Rauner, who can then choose how and when to release them to the public. At issue is the fate of general state funding for schools, with the first checks to local districts unlikely to arrive as scheduled on Thursday. Under the state budget package enacted over Rauner's veto, a new funding formula must be approved before money can go out to schools. Democrats approved a new formula at the end of May but waited until July 31 to send it to Rauner. The governor used his amendatory veto power to rewrite the measure. State Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, sponsor of the original education bill, said the uncertainty surrounding the analysis was "more delay from the Rauner administration." "Someone still needs to answer the question: Why was this work not complete when the governor vetoed the bill a week ago?" he said. "The governor had two months to prepare himself for his veto, and here he is a week later, again completely unprepared for the task." Advertisement Manar said both he and the House sponsor of the bill, Democratic state Rep. Will Davis of Homewood, have requested the board of education's analysis. Manar noted that he has yet to file a motion to override the governor's veto in the hopes that talks can produce an agreement to overhaul the funding formula and release dollars to local districts. Democrats who control the General Assembly are unlikely to accept Rauner's changes, which include state cuts for Chicago Public Schools. It's also questionable whether Democrats could attract the Republican support that would be needed to override the governor's veto. For now, that leaves schools opening soon without knowing how much state assistance they will receive this year or when it will come. Some school districts more dependent on state aid have warned they don't have the cash on hand to operate for long after opening in the fall. House Democrats have scheduled a hearing on Rauner's plan for Wednesday but won't vote on it. Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, said the hearing is designed to allow various groups to weigh in on the governor's changes, saying there's particular concern about schools losing funding a few years down the road. Currie said the board of education was invited to testify, but it's now unclear if they will attend following the data error. However, she said detailed information from the administration was unlikely to sway her opposition to Rauner's changes. "Personally, I think it's pretty clear this is not a good thing that the governor did," Currie said. "I don't need more information from the State Board of Education to tell me it was a mistake to take the minimum funding level out of the bill." Advertisement The erroneous information supplied to the State Board of Education by the Revenue Department involving TIF districts is an important factor in calculating how much money schools would get. Under both the Democratic-passed bill and the Republican governor's version, the amount of state money schools receive would depend in part on the assessed value of property in the district. The less available property wealth in a district, the more state money it could receive. But unlike in the Democratic bill, Rauner's version would count the assessed property value that includes TIF districts and in areas that have mandated property-tax caps. School districts can't tax the growth of property value in those areas but still would receive less state money. Under TIFs, any growth in property taxes goes to local cities to help stir more economic development, not to local school districts. Rauner has consistently chided the Chicago Public Schools for what he calls decades of financial "mismanagement," and his veto removes a block grant of about $200 million in state funds the district has received for more than 20 years for categorical programs, such as special education. Rauner's rewriting of the formula affecting TIFs also would impact state dollars to CPS, which has 145 TIF districts. It also would affect school districts across the state where cities have used TIFs to spur economic development. Advertisement Unlike Chicago, where Mayor Rahm Emanuel controls and appoints the school board, all other school districts in the state are elected and separate from local governments, which create TIF districts and collect the growth in revenue. rap30@aol.com mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com Twitter @rap30 Twitter @moniquegarcia Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here. Topspin Set to celebrate the 50th anniversary Tuesday of Picasso's initially reviled, now largely embraced steel enigma in Daley Plaza, Mayor Rahm Emanuel weighed in recently on the eternal debate about what exactly the Spanish artist bestowed on Chicago. Advertisement The mayor was initially cagey when WLS-AM 890 reporter Bill Cameron asked him during an interview last week to identify what the towering sculpture depicts. "What is it? Well, what do you think it is?" Emanuel said. But when Cameron said he thinks it's a horse, the ever-combative mayor couldn't pass up a chance to shoot down that theory. "Oh, no. It's a female bird," Emanuel said. Advertisement Pressed by Cameron to explain why it looks like a female bird, the mayor offered this definitive critique: "You know, I just because when you look at it, that's what, you know first of all, what makes it great is that people have projected their own narrative and own image on it. And it's interesting why they would, what, like you and I. It's been here 50 years and we still are having a discussion and a debate. What is it?" The mayor then pivoted to the less controversial topic of lauding the Picasso as a work that helped launch a much wider emphasis on public art in Chicago. Later in the interview, Emanuel returned to the question of what it is (other than the world's most artistically significant slide for little kids). "If you go from the northwest side of it and look at it, people think you can see a woman," he said. "It's just 50 years later, that's what makes great art, man. Still debating it." A re-enactment of its unveiling is set for noon Tuesday. (John Byrne) What's on tap *Mayor Emanuel appear at the Jane Addams Center for a One Summer Chicago event and speak at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Picasso sculpture at noon. *Gov. Bruce Rauner will sign House Bill 1805, allowing Illinoisans to join the organ donor registry at age 16, at a morning ceremony at the University of Chicago. *The Chicago City Council's Finance Committee meets. Advertisement From the notebook Numbers coming soon? The Illinois State Board of Education has completed an analysis of Gov. Bruce Rauner's amendatory veto of an education funding bill, but the administration said it won't release the results until a review is completed, a spokeswoman for the governor said. Rauner spokeswoman Laurel Patrick said the education board delivered its analysis to the governor's office late Monday afternoon . That analysis is expected to show how his changes affect school districts across the state. "Given the complexity of the education funding formula and the fact that this type of analysis requires cross-collaboration between multiple state agencies and departments, the governors office has requested a meeting with ISBE Tuesday morning to review the analysis. We will release the numbers once the review is complete," Patrick said. Rauner has predicted the analysis will show that what he is doing is "right and just and fair" and that his plan will "carry the day" even as independent government watchdogs have found that his changes could mean school districts across the state gradually lose money in future years. ( Monique Garcia *Kennedy uses Pritzker's self-donation to fundraise: Chris Kennedy used a fundraising email to criticize fellow businessman J.B. Pritzker for putting an additional $7 million into Pritzker's campaign bank account for the Democratic nomination for governor. "J.B. Pritzker is spending more than $100,000 a day. And he just gave himself another $7 million for his campaign. So far, Pritzker has self-funded his campaign with over $21 million," said the email from Hanah Jubeh, Kennedy's senior adviser. "Last month, he spent over $8 million on a television and direct mail blitz, while Chris spent zero dollars on paid communications," Jubeh said, noting polling that shows the iconic Massachusetts political family name of Kennedy still has some resonance. "Let me be clear: Pritzker might have billions to self-fund his campaign, but what he doesn't have is an organic groundswell of support from the people of Illinois," Jubeh said. Not mentioning Kennedy's own personal wealth, Jubeh went on to cast Pritzker and Republican Gov. Rauner, a former equity investor, as "our opponents" who have "money and plenty of it." (Rick Pearson) *Rauner takes break for first lady's birthday: Gov. Rauner on Monday chided lawmakers for not quickly acting on state school funding legislation, but he defended a weekend out-of-state family trip for wife Diana's birthday by saying he was busy working the phones back home. Advertisement "I went with my family for my wife's birthday as we have done for 30 years with our children for the weekend. I was out of town for two days," Rauner said. "I didn't see much of my kids because I was on the phone most of the weekend with legislators and education experts," he said. "But I was out of town. I would do it again and I will not apologize for it if anybody wants me to." (Rick Pearson) *Another Illinois House Republican lawmaker won't run: Republican State Rep. Mike Fortner won't run for re-election in 2018, joining a growing list of lawmakers who have made the same call. Fortner is a physicist who first joined the House in 2007 after a stint as mayor of West Chicago. He was among the GOP lawmakers who voted to approve a state budget and tax hike last month. Previously, House Republicans in particular have been planning exits at the end of their terms, including Reps. Patti Bellock, Bill Mitchell, Chad Hays, Barbara Wheeler and Robert Pritchard. "We will all miss his professorial intellect, wit and ability to work in a bipartisan fashion to improve the lives of Illinois families," House Republican leader Jim Durkin said in a statement. "I wish Mike all the best in his future endeavors." Advertisement *But a former House Republican lawmaker joins Rauner: Gov. Rauner on Monday announced that former state Rep. Darlene Senger of Naperville will serve as his deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs. Senger was in the Illinois House from 2009 to 2015, leaving after an unsuccessful 2014 bid for Congress against Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster. After that defeat, she joined the Illinois Policy Institute, the conservative think tank that has provided many of the new hires in Rauner's recent staff shake-up. Most recently, Senger worked as chief financial officer of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. "I previously served with Darlene for nearly six years in the Legislature and consider her a friend," Durkin said in a statement. "Her previous experience as a state and local official will be extremely helpful in her new role working with the General Assembly." What we're writing *Emanuel sues Trump's Justice Department over sanctuary city policy. Advertisement *CPS announces layoffs, says it will delay budget proposal to give state more time to act on funding. *Rauner shouldn't delay borrowing money to pay Illinois' bills, comptroller says. *High manganese levels lead EPA to crack down on Southeast Side polluter. *Walgreens sued over allegedly collecting soda pop tax on unsweetened drinks. *Ben Carson visits East Chicago. *Paper or plastic? Chicago bag tax is encouraging shoppers to say 'neither.' Advertisement *End of the line coming for No. 11 Lincoln bus. What we're reading *Feds urge training improvements after firefighter's fatal fall at warehouse. *Remembering Don Baylor, whose hiring by Cubs accidentally leaked on the internet. *Striking mechanics return to bargaining table with Chicago-area dealerships. Follow the money Advertisement *Gov. Rauner's campaign reported $17,100 in contributions Monday. *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *Trump's hotel in D.C. as White House annex. *North Korea threatens retaliation over sanctions. *Bipartisan group urges next steps in health care effort. *Some New York subway trains don't run at all. Washington The New York Times kicked a hornet's nest with a story suggesting that Vice President Mike Pence is cultivating his own base of support, with an eye toward a 2020 run if President Donald Trump doesn't seek a second term (or is irreparably weakened.) Knowing that the wrath of the narcissist in chief would be coming, Pence rushed to deny that he was anything but a loyal VP. He put out an unusual statement insisting, "Today's article in The New York Times is disgraceful and offensive to me, my family, and our entire team. The allegations in this article are categorically false and are just the latest attempt by the media to divide this Administration." The problem, however, is that Pence HAS been meeting with donors, HAS been creating an independent power base (as the Times reported), HAS hired a politically combatant chief of staff and HAS been the main channel of communication between Trump and Republicans on the Hill. The only real question is whether he is doing these things on behalf of Trump or his own political ambition. (Very likely, it is some combination of the two.) It's impossible to say definitively what Pence's motives are, which only fuels Trump's well-known paranoia and hatred of being upstaged. Moreover, it doesn't help reassure the president if, as was reported, Pence's aides are whispering about being ready if Trump doesn't make it to 2020. (Trump's Monday attacks on the Times most likely reflected his annoyance with seeing his VP's profile rise.) Advertisement Several aspects of the situation deserve scrutiny. First, Trump was the one who chose a younger VP (Pence is a vigorous 58, Trump an indolent 71), a well-liked political figure with possible presidential aspirations of his own. He could instead have decided on the model used by presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. They picked vice presidents who played the role of seasoned veteran and counselor but who wouldn't be tempted to plot their own presidential runs. In failing to imagine that his VP might become a rival, more popular and reassuring than he, Trump set himself up for this very situation. Advertisement Second, in point of fact, if Trump is removed, has to leave office or is unable to run in 2020 because of his failed first term, Pence won't be in a great position either. Look at the experience of Hubert Humphrey in 1968, who bore the criticism of his boss after Lyndon Johnson decided not to run again. Pence, having endorsed and fawned over Trump, won't be able to escape responsibility if Trump's presidency goes down in flames. At the very least, Pence would be guilty of making a huge misjudgment about Trump's ability and character. The best-case scenario is that Trump's presidency makes a stunning rebound but Trump decides not to run in 2020. (How likely is the first half of that, let alone both?) Finally, for his sake and that of the country, the best thing Pence could do would be to stay far away from anything having to do with the special counsel or the Russia scandal. (Having vouched for the phony explanation for Michael Flynn's firing as national security adviser, he's in an awkward enough position.) I share entirely the view of the Lawfare blog's legal gurus, who recently warned Pence in an open letter: "Your boss is completely out of control. You know this, probably better than we do. You know that he is incapable of controlling his behavior and could lash out at any moment in a fashion that could be ruinous. You know that's true even if there's nothing to all those Russia allegations. And you know that all those denials - including the ones to your face - have proved false. You know, in other words, that it could happen. And if it does, you will face the monumental task of leading a fractured country forward out of the wreckage. The time to begin preparing for that moment is now." In other words, Pence would be wise to be less overtly political, entirely silent on Trump's legal problems and focused on preparing himself in the event that he must step into the presidency before 2020. Come to think of it, that might be the only way Pence gets to be president. Washington Post Jennifer Rubin is a Washington Post columnist. What to read next: A President Mike Pence is looking better every day Advertisement Is Mike Pence betting it will all come crashing down on Trump? Why shirtless Vladimir Putin is having the last laugh August will be a dangerous month for President Trump Mayor Rahm Emanuel took Chicago's legitimate defense of the sanctuary city concept to court Monday, challenging the Trump administration's effort to compel Chicago cops to cooperate with the feds on immigration investigations. This fight has been building since President Donald Trump took office, issuing intemperate warnings of "bad hombres" and drawing excitable connections that do not exist between immigrant populations and crime problems in Chicago and elsewhere. Advertisement We'd like to think that the sooner the sanctuary city sideshow is cast aside by the courts, the sooner Congress might take up the substantive issue of immigration reform, which would bring millions of people out of the shadows. But we're not in the business of handicapping the courts, or Congress. All we can do is hope logic prevails, and the Trump administration is forced to abandon this immigration stunt because it's not a recipe for making Chicago safer. The city's lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago, challenges the Justice Department's attempt to, in effect, deputize the Chicago Police Department as part-time U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wants police to identify and hold onto anyone they come across who appears to be in the country without permission, until ICE can investigate. When we say Sessions "wants" Chicago's help, actually he'd be requiring cooperation in exchange for financial assistance. Unless the city agrees, the Justice Department says it will withhold federal grant money that can be used for a broad array of local crime prevention programs. Advertisement That money comes from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, a longstanding federal initiative created by Congress to support law enforcement. Chicago has used annual Byrne money for things like new police vehicles and community policing outreach. This year the city plans to apply for $3.2 million, but the Trump administration has changed the rules. To get the money, the Justice Department will now require the city to share information on the immigration status of arrestees and hold those people for 48 hours to give immigration officials a chance to intervene. As part of the new arrangement, the feds would be given unlimited access to local police stations and other law enforcement facilities for interrogation. Those demands imagine policing practices that do not exist in Chicago and elsewhere because local cops and mayors want to fight crime, not enforce immigration statutes. And with good reason: First, police forces have their hands full. Second, if police become involved in immigration enforcement, it will make immigrants less likely to report a crime or help as witnesses. This will make the city less safe. The idea of separating local law and immigration enforcement is key to what's known as the sanctuary city, or welcoming city, movement. In Chicago, police and other officials don't ask about or arrest individuals over their immigration status. Local crimefighters don't work hand in hand with the agents who enforce immigration laws. The Trump administration asserts that Chicago has its priorities wrong, suggesting that sanctuary city practices contribute to rising crime. But no such evidence exists: Studies show that people in the U.S. without permission are less likely to commit crimes than citizens. In its lawsuit, Chicago's legal defense of sanctuary city rests on both the specifics of the Byrne program and broader constitutional grounds. The city maintains that Congress created this program without providing any wiggle room for the attorney general to impose additional obligations. Constitutionally, state and local authorities have spheres of responsibility the federal government can't override. The Supreme Court has found, for example, that local police and sheriffs could not be compelled to help with federal background checks on gun buyers, and that states couldn't be deprived of all federal Medicaid funds for refusing to expand Medicaid as part of Obamacare. "The executive branch cannot use its grant-making power to commandeer local law enforcement functions to carry out what is a civil immigration function of the federal government," city Corporation Counsel Ed Siskel told us. We'll find out if his arguments hold up. This court case reflects an important public safety issue. But it's not the one that Trump and Sessions think it is. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. Advertisement Become a subscriber today to support editorial writing like this. Start getting full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Which executive of the Justice Department should we believe? Do we trust Attorney General Jeff Sessions when he testily announces that he is reviewing the rules that restrict when federal investigators can issue subpoenas to the news media? Or do we trust Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein when he blithely says, two days later, that "... we're after the leakers, not the journalists." For now, we'll withhold our trust. Given the fury of a White House frantic to silence reporting on topics that embarrass the Trump administration, Americans who rely on a free press should be angry that Justice's top two officials are playing bad cop-good cop with crucial First Amendment principles. President Donald Trump fulminates bitterly against every story that puts him in an unwanted light. He has denounced the "fake news media" as "the enemy of the people." Senior White House adviser Stephen Bannon has said, "The media should keep its mouth shut." Advertisement Fortunately, the First Amendment says otherwise, and under this administration, the news media have done what they did under previous ones: Journalists have tried to find out as much as they can about what government officials are doing and make sense of it for the public. If Trump hoped to intimidate reporters and their editors, he has failed. But there are solid grounds for worry about the administration's intentions. In February, Trump said he had told Sessions to focus on leaks an example of the sort of direct involvement in prosecutorial matters that presidents generally avoid. Trump has raged against the embarrassing disclosures and disparaged Sessions as "very weak" in pursuing leakers. Advertisement On Friday, Sessions appeared to respond to Trump's pressure by announcing that under his leadership, Justice has tripled the number of leak investigations, compared with the pace of Barack Obama's Justice Department. "I strongly agree with the president and condemn in the strongest terms the staggering number of leaks undermining the ability of our government to protect our country," Sessions said. More disturbing was Sessions' announcement that he has initiated the review of his department's rules on subpoenaing reporters in such probes. Journalists, he declared, "cannot place lives at risk with impunity." He gave no examples, though, of actual news organizations endangering lives. Maybe this is all for show Sessions trying to appease his ill-tempered boss by echoing his complaints. Sessions' deputy, Rosenstein, struck his calmer note Sunday when he said the department isn't going after reporters in its leak investigations. "We don't prosecute journalists for doing their jobs," he said. "The attorney general has been very clear that we're after the leakers, not the journalists." Wrong. If the attorney general has been clear about anything, it's that he may try to muzzle journalists who tell American citizens what their government is up to. The federal government legitimately classifies a lot of material, much of it having to do with law enforcement, defense, foreign policy and other matters that require some secrecy. As Rosenstein said in announcing charges in one case, "People who are trusted with classified information and pledge to protect it must be held accountable when they violate that obligation." Some federal employees are willing to take that risk when they turn over information that exposes corruption, abuses or maladministration. The news media report on such leaks when journalists see some public interest in doing so. But while leakers may be breaking the law to reveal classified material, journalists are generally within their legal rights to report such revelations. "The government has never charged a reporter for publishing restricted information," The New York Times reports. Those who detest leaks may hope to deter such reporting, though, by subpoenaing reporters to divulge the identity of confidential sources. Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia have laws granting journalists some protection against being required to testify in such instances, but the federal government doesn't. Barack Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder, alarmed journalists by getting phone records from Associated Press reporters and emails from a Fox News reporter. But after a blowback from Congress and the news media Holder tightened his department's own rules on such subpoenas, essentially making them a last resort. Sessions has no reason to loosen those restrictions and drag journalists into court. The job of preventing leaks belongs to the federal government, which has plenty of existing tools to do so. If the Trump administration can't keep its own secrets, it shouldn't expect the news media to do that job. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. Advertisement Become a subscriber today to support editorial writing like this. Start getting full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Venezuela claims to have more oil than Saudi Arabia, yet its citizens are hungry. An astonishing 93 percent of them say they cannot afford the food they need, and three-quarters have lost weight in the past year. The regime that caused this preventable tragedy professes great love for the poor. Yet its officials have embezzled billions, making Venezuela the most corrupt country in Latin America, as well as the most ineptly governed. It is a textbook example of why democracy matters: People with bad governments should be able to throw the bums out. That is perhaps why President Nicolas Maduro is so eager to smother what little is left of democracy in Venezuela. Some left-wingers, such as Britain's Jeremy Corbyn, imagine that Venezuela's "Bolivarian revolution" is a promising experiment in social justice. Tell that to the tens of thousands of Venezuelans who have fled to neighboring countries. As the crisis worsens, their number will rise. That makes Venezuela's government a threat to the region as well as its own people. Advertisement The Economist Lawmakers in Seoul are reportedly mulling the idea that South Korea should develop its own nuclear weapons. This is partly a response to apparent advances in North Korea's missile technology, and it is partly a response to signs that the United States may want to take less responsibility for the region's security. And it could well be a good thing. Advertisement It is popularly believed that nuclear proliferation increases both the risk of conflict and the potential damage of those conflicts. But this may be a misconception. The most prominent example of nuclear proliferation in the post-Cold War era is on the Indian subcontinent. India and Pakistan fought several wars with each other after they won independence, but since 1998, when both came out as nuclear powers, the two countries have not had any major military conflicts. Ed Krayewski, Reason Wolves had nearly disappeared from the Great Lakes region when they were designated as endangered in the 1970s. They now total about 3,800. Above is a gray wolf. (Gary Kramer / AP) Here's a question to ponder: Are there too many wolves in America or not enough? For most of our history since Europeans arrived on this continent, the question was rarely asked. Most people thought wolves were a vicious menace to humans and livestock, and ought to be wiped out. The wolf's enemies nearly succeeded. At one time, some 2 million wolves roamed across North America, including almost the entire territory of what is now the continental United States. But thanks to a relentless extermination campaign, the beasts nearly disappeared. By 1960 there were only about 300 in the lower 48 states, confined to remote reaches of northern Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Advertisement Thanks in large part to the federal Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and its successor, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, wolves were saved from extinction in this country, and they began a difficult, painstaking recovery. In the following half-century, the number of gray wolves gradually rose to some 4,500. They are now also found in Wisconsin, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. In all, they are present in just 5 percent of their original habitat. By historical standards, it's small progress. But there are still people who think we have more than enough wolves. And they have managed to persuade the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove some of the protection the animals have depended on. But the agency has had only limited success in that endeavor. On Aug. 1 the wolves in our part of the country got a reprieve thanks to a federal appeals court. But a bill advancing through the U.S. Senate could prove devastating. The back story: Advertisement The Fish and Wildlife Service has tried repeatedly to "de-list" the gray wolf in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, which would free those states to allow hunting and trapping of these animals, as they have made clear they intend to. But the courts have intervened on behalf of Midwestern wolves. In the latest ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said that in stripping the wolves of their protected status, the agency "turned its back on the implications of historical range loss" and ignored the effect this change would have on wolves outside the western Great Lakes region. This effort to "circumvent the Endangered Species Act's explicit de-listing standards," wrote Judge Patricia Millett, was "the essence of arbitrary-and-capricious and ill-reasoned agency action." For now, the Great Lakes wolves will be shielded from humans who want to shoot or trap them for fun or out of misplaced fear. There is no actual need for hunting. If we have learned anything from the return of these awe-inspiring creatures to the Upper Midwest, it's that they are very good at coexisting with people. In the lower 48 states, there are no known cases of humans being killed by wolves, and attacks on humans are virtually unheard of. Wolves occasionally prey on livestock, but far less often than ranchers suggest, and the owners are paid compensation for those rare losses. None of which deters Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who wants not only to again remove protections but to block courts from reversing that removal. Defenders of Wildlife and other respected environmental voices condemn Barrasso's diabolical "HELP Act" for Hunting Heritage and Environmental Legacy Protection. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., citing unrelated provisions, voted for the bill when it cleared a committee vote two weeks ago. We hope she and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., vote no if the measure comes to a floor vote. If you think there are too many wolves, lifting the protections that have facilitated their comeback makes sense to you. If you find pleasure in killing these animals for sport even though no one eats wolf meat you will want to have that right. But we'd bet that most people in the Upper Midwest, as well as the rest of the country, think America would be a better place if wolves were able to expand their numbers and territory. Sens. Duckworth and Durbin, let the court's word be the final word. Twice a month, I return to my hometown, Clinton, Iowa. There is a Hy-Vee supermarket at the foot of the Mississippi River bridge. On Sunday I bought two liter bottles of Hy-Vees house-brand pop for 50 cents. No pop tax. Lower sales tax. The cashier even put the bottles in a bag for free! Iowa does have a 5-cent deposit on bottles and cans. But that state is so much cleaner than Illinois. An extra treat is taking a drive along U.S. Route 30 through beautiful northwest Illinois. Steven J. Bahnsen, Chicago We see that the ore walls at the U.S. Steel South Works are yet again threatened by speculative development. At 87th Street and the lake, Chicagoans have walls equal to those found in Egypt, China, the fortified cities of Europe. We must not squander the opportunity to turn them into a civic asset. We should retain and embrace the ore walls and the spaces they define rather than demolish or obscure them with already dated, privatized architectures. Recent plans and renderings for this site are yet again disheartening and underambitious. It is time that the mayor, the citys Department of Planning and Development and the Chicago Park District, along with community leaders, recognize the significance of, take stewardship of, and protect this historic site by making it the heart of the new communities to come. It is understood that development is inevitable. That said, the ore walls at South Works should remain public, open space that every large-scale community development must commit to. The cost for strategic, initial interventions to provide access to the true core of an expanded Steelworkers Park a public American park with no equal would be modest. The return on this investment for the community, the South Side, and the city would be immense and, if done with care, remain sublime. Dan Wheeler, principal, Wheeler Kearns Architects, and professor of architecture, University of Illinois at Chicago President Donald Trump has repeatedly shown he doesnt understand foreign policy, as in his January phone call with Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. (Alex Brandon/AP ) After reading the leaked transcripts of President Donald Trump's January phone calls with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, I have a good book to recommend to our nation's president. It's called "Trump: The Art of the Deal." Advertisement Yes, that's the 1987 best-seller that is credited to Trump and his ghostwriter, journalist Tony Schwartz. I always have figured that Schwartz did the writing, but after examining Trump's phone calls, I am wondering whether Schwartz also did all of the reading. "Maximize your options," is one of Trump's main "elements of the deal" that he offers potential dealmakers. Do thorough research, says Trump, "keep a lot of balls in the air, because most deals fall out," and even after the deal is done, have a half-dozen approaches to making it work. Advertisement But in discussing refugee policy with Prime Minister Turnbull, Trump sounds flummoxed and angry, mainly that he has to abide by an agreement to take in 1,250 refugees that the Obama administration made. As Trump repeatedly questions the refugee deal, Turnbull repeatedly has to explain the difference between illegal immigrants, who are not vetted, and refugees seeking asylum, who are. "I look like a dope," says Trump. "The only way that I can do this is to say that my predecessor made a deal and I have no option then to honor the deal. I hate having to do it, but I am still going to vet them very closely." Yes, vetting is what you do with refugees. Australia has vetted them and the United States is vetting them too. Trump effectually sounds impressed by Australia's border protection measures, but ends the call abruptly and calls it his "most unpleasant call of the day." "Use your leverage" is another Trump rule. "The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it," he says in the book. "That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you're dead." Yet desperation ripples throughout Trump's phone call with Mexico's Pena Nieto over Trump's signature campaign promise "to build a wall along the Mexican border and make Mexico pay for it." Again, Trump tries with mixed success to conceal his shallow understanding of the issues in question despite having campaigned on them for the past two years. Worse, he bemoans his own predicament, having promised his political base that Mexico will pay for the wall, despite the symbolic national insult it presents to many Mexicans and the inability of that country to pay for such a project. Advertisement All that Trump seems to be concerned with is the corner his rhetoric has painted himself into. "The fact is we are both in a little bit of a political bind because I have to have Mexico pay for the wall I have to," Trump says to Peno Nieto. "I have been talking about it for a two-year period, and the reason I say they are going to pay for the wall is because Mexico has made a fortune out of the stupidity of U.S. trade representatives." Since Pena Nieto has plenty of domestic political problems of his own, I do not know why Trump would think that spilling his own self-inflicted political woes would help his case. Eventually the two leaders agree to a classic political dodge: They'll simply stop talking about who's going to pay for the wall. "They are going to say, 'Who is going to pay for the wall, Mr. President?' to both of us, and we should both say, 'We will work it out,'" Trump says. "It will work out in the formula somehow. As opposed to you saying, 'We will not pay' and me saying, 'We will not pay.'" How long can Trump kick that can down the road? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, Pena Nieto agrees to "look for a creative way to solve this issue" that serves both countries' interests. Meanwhile, we await how well Trump adheres to another of his book's nuggets of advice: "Deliver the goods." Include the proposed wall withthe tax code overhaul, the infrastructure repair and the Obamacare repeal-and-replacement proposal among the major campaign promises that Trump and the Republican majority in Congress have yet to enact. Advertisement Welcome to the world of governance, Mr. Trump. Delivering the goods in the world of politics and government is very different from the world of business. I read that in a book somewhere. Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/pagespage. cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime The building at 83 S. LaSalle St. is being remodeled into an English tearoom with hopes of opening in October. In the lower corner of the photograph is an old photo of the building when it was built in 1892 as the Pierpont Grocery Store. (Steve Lord/The Beacon-News ) The developer of a traditional English tearoom in a historic building on South LaSalle Street said Monday she hopes to have it open by mid-October. Tonya Barkdoll said a lot has to happen first, but some work has already begun on the inside of the building at 83 S. LaSalle St., which was built in 1892 as a corner grocery store. Advertisement "I like historic Aurora, the idea of growing Aurora and bringing it back," said Barkdoll, who grew up on the city's far West Side. "I really liked the building, the history of the spot." It has been many things since that first grocery operation, including a pet store and an Army surplus store. About six years ago, there was a fire in the building, and it has been vacant since. Advertisement Barkdoll and an investor are looking to renovate the entire building. On the second floor, there would be a one-bedroom apartment and a two-bedroom apartment, and in the basement level, a gift shop. That level has its own access along Benton Street. On the first floor, Barkdoll would operate the tearoom, which she said would serve a traditional, three-tier English tea, patterned after the Harrod's Department Store tea in London, as well as homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts. It would be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. only, strictly for lunch. And while there will be a coffee pot on the premises, Barkdoll said, "it's really not a coffee shop." "It will be all tea," she said. "We have a very expansive tea list." Barkdoll is the owner and operator of The Calla Lily Salon and Day Spa at Wolsfelt's Bridal Store in Montgomery. For a few years, she ran a tearoom in conjunction with the spa but ran out of room for everything at the present location. So, the salon and spa will stay in Montgomery, and the tearoom is moving and expanding to the downtown Aurora site. The site might be familiar to some as the location of a proposed city-sponsored mural on the wall facing Benton Street. Last week, the Aurora Public Art Commission said it would decide between the proposal to paint window boxes along the side of the 83 S. LaSalle St. building or another proposal for an Auto Row-based, abstract mural on the side of a building at the other end of the block from the tearoom building. That decision will come in a couple of weeks. Advertisement slord@tribpub.com Retired Aurora Fire Lt. Joe Bartholomew, who struggled with PTSD after almost losing his life in a house fire, has begun to heal in the peace and tranquility of the northern Wisconsin woods, says his wife Liz. (Bartholomew family) After decades of fighting fires and another half dozen years battling post-traumatic stress disorder, former Aurora Fire Lt. Joe Bartholomew finally found peace again. He reached that point in his life where the nightmares ceased and the depression lifted at a lake cabin in far northern Wisconsin, where he retired with wife Liz in 2012, not long after he allowed me to tell his compelling but not necessarily uncommon story. Advertisement That column I wrote five years ago detailed how Bartholomew's impressive career began unraveling in August of 2004 after he became trapped in the basement of a deadly house fire on Palace Street in Aurora that nearly cost him his life. Bartholomew found himself in peril not only because of the fire's unruly nature but because of a snafu with the fire department's communication system, he said. Advertisement "God, take care of my wife and kids," Bartholomew prayed, thinking of Liz and his two daughters, both in their early 20s. "Please let me die before I burn." Bartholomew, who had managed to reach the landing of the stairs, was pulled out of the inferno by his colleagues. He knew how lucky he was to be alive. Yet the real struggle began after he was pulled out of that inferno. Bartholomew began experiencing isolation, anxiety, despair, numbness and other classic symptoms of PTSD that led to years of therapy and legal battles with the city over his pension and duty disability. While the story focused on Bartholomew's struggles with his illness, management and deeply-entrenched macho attitudes within the first responder profession about never showing signs of weakness, the column also focused on the mission his wife Liz had taken on because of her husband's experience. She began meeting with hundreds of firefighters across the Fox Valley, telling Joe's story and encouraging them to not only recognize the signs of PTSD in themselves, but also their fellow firefighters. Today, five years later, Liz Bartholomew is on a similar but even more daunting quest. To raise over $1 million for a Responders Retreat, a camp-like resort in the woods of northern Wisconsin where first responders police, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers and even nurses can get away for a week to not only swim, fish, boat or just relax in the serenity of nature, but receive guidance from trained volunteer counselors and mentors, along with support and friendship from other PTSD victims who have walked in those same shoes. "No one else knows what they are going through," said retired Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez, who sits on the board of the foundation for the retreat. "The biggest thing is, if you can get them together, they are not going to feel so isolated." Bartholomew first thought about tackling this dream on her own, but because winning the lottery was likely not going to happen, she reached out to others and quickly realized how much support there was for such an endeavor. In June, Responders Retreat became a nonprofit corporation with a board of directors that, in addition to Bartholomew and Perez, also includes retired Fox River Valley Fire Chief Greg Benson and retired Aurora paramedic Pete Hoffman. "PTSD left untreated has crucial ramifications for first responders," said Perez. "With what we know now about it, we would be foolish not to pursue this retreat. There are a lot of hurting people out there." Advertisement Bartholomew and her board put together a Facebook page that goes into more detail about the efforts. Those who are interested can also make donations through the crowd-funding website, YouCaring, by typing in "Responders Retreat." The board already has an eye on the perfect location for the camp, an old but beautifully-maintained resort outside Minocqua, Wisconsin, that includes seven cabins, a private lake, boat piers and watercraft. In addition to the million-plus price tag for the resort itself, Perez pointed out that fundraising efforts must also include an endowment "to keep it going." All of which is possible, said the former sheriff who is now a law enforcement consultant, not only with the help of small donations from individuals but by tapping into the many fire and police associations state- and nationwide. The profession, added Perez, more than ever is realizing "how critical" it is to address PTSD among its employees. "Joe was a top of the line professional, involved in everything from fire investigations to hazardous materials to scuba diving," Benson told me five years ago when I talked with him about Bartholomew. "If this can happen to him, it can happen to anyone." After watching what her husband went through, "Liz just wants to help others," noted Perez. "And she has put her heart and soul into this" retreat. "I saw my husband change so much when he was able to surround himself with such quiet and calm," she said. "He finally started healing and I know others can too." Advertisement Dcrosby@tribpub.com Twitter @dencrosby A 45-year-old Batavia man died early Monday when his motorcycle went off a Geneva road and struck a light pole and two trees, police said. According to a news release from the Geneva Police Department, John Akin was driving a 2015 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard east in the 1300 block of State Street just after midnight when he left the road. Advertisement Police initially were dispatched for a report of suspicious noise. After searching the area, they discovered Akin. Geneva paramedics responded and gave medical aid, but Akin was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. No other vehicles were involved. Akin was not wearing a helmet, police said. Advertisement The crash remains under investigation by police. An autopsy was planned by the Kane County coroner's office. Hinsdale High School District 86 will spend up to $52,000 to have a public opinion research firm gather input from the community on how to solve the enrollment imbalance between Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South high schools. "This is one of the most serious, if not the most serious, issue facing our district," said board member Nancy Pollak. "We really need to get this right." Advertisement Pollak and Jennifer Planson were the board members who joined district administrators in selecting a research firm that could help the district learn what the entire community thinks about students exceeding the recommended capacity at Central, while South is under capacity. The district requested proposals from seven different firms, and four companies responded. Two of those firms were brought in for interviews, including Public Opinion Strategies, which is the one district officials recommend hiring. Advertisement Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, Public Opinion Strategies specializes in public affairs and political election research. It's the firm District 86 used last year to conduct a phone survey on facility improvements, as preparation for a referendum on funding those improvements. The fact that Public Opinion already was familiar with the district worked in its favor, Planson said. The format of the survey, whether it would be by phone, mail or other means, has not been determined yet. Board expressed concerns Monday about what questions would be asked and how they are phrased. "What do we want answers to?" board member Keith Chval asked. "What do we want to find out from the community?" Asking how to balance school enrollment is a "much more amorphous question," than the survey last summer that asked people whether the district should build a new swimming pool or add classrooms, for example, and how much money should be spent, board member Kathleen Hirsman said. The board already has heard valid concerns from people in both communities that came from all different directions, Hirsman said. Board President Bill Carpenter said it's important the questions are not phrased in a way that leans toward certain answers. Planson said the research consultants guard against that by asking open-ended questions. Advertisement First, however, the district will send out factual information to residents about the enrollment at each school and how it fits the facilities. The school board is scheduled to vote on a contract with Public Opinion Strategies for up to $52,000 at its meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 21 at Hinsdale South, 7401 S. Clarendon Hills Road, Darien. If approved, the survey process could start at the beginning of the school year, district superintendent Bruce Law said. Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale (Pioneer Press) kfornek@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @kfDoings First Lt. Phillip Lee of Frankfort Square greets his mother, Angie Lee, last week at a surprise welcome home celebration. Lee was deployed to Afghanistan for nine months. (Ginger Brashinger) First Lt. Phillip Lee, 33, wasn't expecting a large crowd to welcome him home last week, but the Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient said he couldn't have been happier to see so many well-wishers. "It (was) an absolute surprise," Lee said later. "It's wonderful. I got ambushed. That's the first time it's happened." Advertisement Lee was greeted by about 200 people in the parking lot of the Home Depot in Frankfort. He was returning home from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he was sent for "reintegration training" after his mid-July return stateside from a nine-month Army deployment to Afghanistan. Beneath the hovering black helicopter of a local news channel, members and alumnae of the Summit Hill Junior High band, directed by Kim Coughlin, played patriotic music as a flag line of members of Soldiers Guardian Angels and other veteran support groups, friends and family gave the young veteran a rousing "welcome home." Advertisement Lee was thanked for his service by State Sen. Mike Hastings (D-Tinley Park), as well as people who said they do not know Lee but were there to honor a veteran. "How could you not?" said a woman who was just coming off a long, hot day at work giving horseback riding lessons but wanted to honor a soldier. Back home, Frankfort Square resident and veteran Max Heumann said although he does not know the Lee family, he came out "to support our soldiers." He waited with about 100 others to welcome Lee back to the neighborhood as an escort of veteran support groups on motorcycles, Chapter 252 Military Order of the Purple Hearts, the Veterans Garage and emergency services vehicles from Mokena, Manhattan and New Lenox wound along St. Francis Road and onto Pine Hill Road, sirens and horns blasting. Cheers, applause and confetti bombs erupted as the procession turned towards the Lee home on Wintergreen, passing under an arch of extended ladders of Frankfort Fire Department vehicles, American flags flying. As patriotic music filled a perfect summer evening, the crowd gathered around Lee as several organizations and individuals presented him with certificates of appreciation and memorabilia in honor of his service. Lee said he served a term of service prior to earning a law degree in 2012 and a master's degree in communication theory in 2013. He began practicing law, but in 2015, he was called back to service. Lee said he knew he could decline to return, despite an eight-year reserve clause in the original commitment to the military. But because Lee follows in the footsteps of his deceased father, Daniel Lee, also a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient from the Vietnam War era, and because giving his word is "something I hold very sacred," he said, he signed on for another term of service. Advertisement "I decided that not going back would be a betrayal of the word that I gave to my country," he said. His only stipulation was that he return to serve in the infantry and, if at all possible, be deployed to Afghanistan. "If I was going back, I wasn't going to sit around stateside," he said. Lee was deployed to Afghanistan in November, 2016, and during a mission fighting the Taliban in Helmand Province in 2017, a 120mm mortar round landed within five meters of his position, wounding Lee and three others in his platoon. Lee was awarded the Bronze Star for his service and the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "The hearing loss, the shock, the immediate concussive effects were pretty jarring, and it was unlike anything I've felt before," he said. Advertisement Lee said it was "just grit" and the teamwork of his men that allowed him to continue as platoon leader until they could be safely evacuated. Now almost completely recovered and eager for some downtime, Lee plans to spend time with his 7-month-old son Phillip Daniel Lee II, who was born while Lee was on in Afghanistan. "It's what I'm going to try to do most while I'm home," he said. Angie Lee also has some plans for her son's time at home. Visiting family for a few days in her home state of Wisconsin, where Lee can reunite with his 88-year-old grandmother Emilie Schmitz and do some fishing, are definitely on the agenda, she said. Angie Lee can relax a bit, too, knowing her son is no longer in harm's way. Ginger Brashinger is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Elgin Fire Chief Dave Schmidt looks over documents related to a proposed purchase of equipment that would be used to perform CRP chest compressions. (Mike Danahey/The Courier-News) The Elgin Fire Department intends to use a $72,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to purchase state-of-the-art equipment to be used when performing CPR. The City Council Wednesday night is set to move along for final approval the purchase from Michigan-based Stryker for $79,400, with $7,200 of the money coming from the Fire Department's capital budget. Stryker is the owner of Washington-based Physio-Control, which makes the system. Advertisement "We will be getting five of the systems, one for every frontline ambulance," Fire Chief Dave Schmidt said Tuesday. "It's great tool to have in the community," said Dr. Mohammad Zaman, Medical Director, CEP America, Presence St. Joseph Hospital Elgin. Advertisement The systems are designed to provide consistent, high-quality mechanical chest compressions that meet the American Heart Association standards for rate, depth and speed, Schmidt said. He noted that part of the apparatus goes under a person's back, while the other part wraps over a person's chest and holds a device which applies the compressions, which can be adjusted to the size of the person. The Lucas Chest Compression System the department plans to buy allows firefighters to keep CPR going while a patient is on a stretcher and while the patient is being moved, even up or down stairs, Schmidt said. The machines also take away lapses in applying CPR thus lessening health-related issues for patients and keep the compressions consistent, taking away the fatigue factor when a paramedic is applying the compressions, Schmidt said. Current protocol calls for CPR to be applied for 30 minutes before terminating resuscitation efforts. Schmidt said the systems also mean more safety for paramedics while in ambulances, who now can wear a seat belt while chest compressions are being applied by the battery-operated machine. The systems are Bluetooth enabled so that they can transmit the data they collect to the department's computer system and to the hospital to which a patient is being taken, Schmidt said. The idea for purchasing the systems came from a recommendation from the department's internal EMS committee on which he serves, Firefighter-Paramedic Anthony McMeel said. With his job, McMeel said he keeps up on emergent technology and noted research showing CPR and early defibrillation are keys to increasing the survival of someone in cardiac arrest. "These systems give the patient the best possible chance," McMeel said. Advertisement Fire Department members tested two different units prior to deciding on the Lucas model. The Lucas was tested from late January through March, the other from late March through late May, Schmidt said. McMeel said that all Elgin firefighters were trained on both models, with both also used in the field. The Lucas System was picked because of its simple design and ease of use, McMeel said. According to Schmidt, statistics show that each year in the United States, more than 300,000 individuals suffer non-traumatic, out-of-hospital, sudden cardiac arrest, which has been the leading cause of death in adults over 40. The Elgin Fire Department responds to about 56 cardiac arrest incidents annually, he said. During a four-month trial of the two mechanical CPR systems, the Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) percentage rate in cardiac arrest victims rose from 36 percent to almost 58 percent, Schmidt said. Upon completion of the trial, the rate returned to 36, or about 10 percent higher than the national ROSC average, Schmidt said. Carpentersville Fire Chief John-Paul Schilling said that village's Fire Department has been using Lucas Systems it purchased with federal grant money about a year ago. He attributed the machine to saving a life. "It does perfect CPR," Schilling said. "It increases the chances for survival and frees up a medic for other tasks." Advertisement Schmidt thanked FEMA for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant and Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth who provided letters of support that were included with the application. Along with McMeel, Firefighter-paramedic Patrick Rasmussen, Lieutenants Chris Kennedy and Mike Oine and Elgin Senior Management Analyst Aaron Cosentino played roles in getting the purchased moved forward, Schmidt said. Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty, second from left, and police Chief Richard Eddington, second from right, were among the city officials who participated in the citys National Night Out event Aug. 1, 2017. (Evanston Police Department / ) A group of police officers with flashlights walking down a darkened street is usually a cause for concern. But that was not the case in Evanston week as dozens of officers and residents took to the streets as part of the nationwide National Night Out community-building campaign. The Evanston National Night Out on Aug. 1 included various events around the city, including a walk on a section of Howard Street, barbecues, a movie shown a Wicks Park and events at the Evanston Public Library, just to name a few. Advertisement "It was great," said Evanston police Commander Joe Dugan. "We had a lot of participation." City officials, including Mayor Steve Hagerty, police Chief Richard Eddington and aldermen were out and about in the city, interacting with residents. Advertisement National Night Out was created by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to "the development and promotion of various crime prevention programs including neighborhood watch groups, law enforcement agencies, state and regional crime prevention associations, businesses, civic groups and individuals devoted to safer communities," according to information NATW distributes announcing the night out. The event is held annually in municipalities across the country on the first Tuesday in August as a way to "promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live," according to the organization's website. "The high point is just being able to go out and get together with the police and community members and show some unity against crime, spent time in a positive atmosphere with everybody," said Dugan. That's a big motivating factor behind the event, according to NATW on the National Night Out website. "National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances," the website states. Dugan said the latter is a plus for police departments. "Anytime we can get out and engage the public in a non-law enforcement scenario is good for improving community relations, building bridges and getting to know each other," Dugan said. "Each year it gets better. We get more people coming out." In Morton Grove, organizers said about 750 people participated in National Night Out in the village. Advertisement They took part in various events including a climbing wall, pony rides, inflatable bounce houses, face painting, martial arts demonstrations and more, said Morton Grove police Commander Paul Yaras. He said residents were also given free hotdogs, pizza, ice cream and tacos donated by local businesses. "It's just amazing the amount of support we got not only from our residents but also our businesses," said Yaras. NATW reports that National Night Out now involves over 37.8 million people and 16,124 communities from all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. "We are getting truly a grouping of people from our community. We get to see them and they get to see us. It's very laid back. It gives people a nice thing to do on a weekday night. It gets them out. It gets their kids out. It's a nice activity for everybody," said Yaras. Other nearby towns that participated in the event includes Skokie and Niles. Advertisement "The way it impacts our community is it definitely brings people closer to the officers," said Niles police Commander Robert Tornabene. National Night Out in Niles featured events like a water balloon toss, free food, a chance to meet the department's police dog and see him in action, a distracted and impaired driving course and a dunk tank, as well as other events, the commander noted. He said the initiative gives people a chance to interact with police in relaxed and fun environment. "They can talk to them (police officers) one-on-one in a non-criminal situation. It's more just people talking to people and developing those relationships," Tornabene said. Brian L. Cox is a freelancer. Pioneer Press reporter Mike Isaacs contributed to this report. A Lucky Day Lotto ticket worth $350,000 was sold in Schiller Park. A ticket purchased at a convenience store in the village matched all five numbers in the evening drawing for Aug. 7, according to a news release from Illinois Lottery. The ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven, at 3932 N. 25th Ave. The winning numbers were 7-24-35-43-45. According to the release, the retailer will receive a 1 percent bonus of $3,500 for selling the winning ticket. Advertisement According to the release, the winner should sign the back of the ticket and visit one of five prize centers in Illinois, which are in Des Plaines, Chicago, Rockford, Springfield and Fairview Heights. Winners have one year from the drawing date to claim the prize. For information, visit www.illinoislottery.com. Pianist Kimberly Han, 16, of Lake Forest will perform with seven other Lang Lang scholars in Highwood and Millennium Park. (Bonnie Robinson) Quick! Name the young Chinese pianist whose electrifying performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival in 1999 catapulted him to instant stardom. If your answer is Lang Lang, you are correct. Perhaps you are also aware that this phenomenal musician established an international foundation in 2008 to encourage fledgling pianists ages 10 to 16. But do you know that one of those outstanding young pianists is Kimberly Han of Lake Forest? Advertisement Han, who in September will be a junior at Lake Forest High School, is one of eight Lang Lang scholars who will perform at 4 p.m. Aug. 20 in Millennium Park in a free concert with the orchestra of Highwood-based Midwest Young Artists Conservatory. "Lang Lang was our honoree at our benefit in 2010," said Allan Dennis, founder and director of the Midwest Young Artists, who will conduct the program. Advertisement Dennis kept in touch with Lang Lang and since the summer of 2012, Midwest Young Artists has collaborated with the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. Lang Lang Young Scholars are appointed for two years and Kimberly Han won that distinction in 2016. She began studying piano when she was 5 years old and for the past nine years has been a private student of Brenda Huang. The Lang Lang honor is not the first distinction that the young pianist has received. Her laurels include prizes in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Audition in March 2015, and the CSO "Carnival of the Animals" audition in January 2015. In addition to mastering the piano, Han plays violin in the MYAC Orchestra. From its beginnings 25 years ago, the mission of Midwest Young Artists has been to give musical children the chance to play chamber music with their peers in trios, quartets, quintets, and other groups. Han relishes the collaboration she has found at the conservatory, including her chamber ensemble Trio Fiammata. "The piano is a lonely instrument," she said. "Ever since I was 8 years old, I wanted to play music with my friends. It is very satisfying." Han regards her Lang Lang affiliation as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." And she is all in for the musical weekend of Aug. 19 and 20 with seven other outstanding young pianists. In addition to Han, pianists are Amir Siraj of Boston, Chelsea Guo of Connecticut, Eden Chen and Elizabeth Zietz, both of California, Jenny Kong and Peter Leung, both of Hong Kong, and Raymond Feng of Rochester, N.Y. Advertisement Anyone who would like to hear these eight exceptional young musicians is invited to a free recital of chamber music at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 performed with MYAC students at the MYAC center, 878 Lyster Road, Highwood. At 4 p.m. Aug. 20 the young scholars will play movements from piano concertos accompanied by the MYAC Orchestra in the Pritzker Pavillion in Chicago's Millennium Park. Ryan C. Yarber is charged with four counts of first-degree murder. (McHenry County Sheriffs Office) A Crystal Lake man accused of killing his wife and a 15-year-old girl appeared in court Tuesday, while attempts were being made online to provide support for the couple's two young sons. Relatives looked on as Ryan Yarber, 31, who is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, appeared in a McHenry County courtroom wearing orange jailed-issued clothing. He is being held in the McHenry County jail on $5 million bail that was set Saturday. Advertisement Yarber is charged in last week's shooting deaths of Allania Yarber, 31, and the teenager, whom authorities have not identified. The Yarbers moved to Crystal Lake from Oregon last October after Allania received a promotion, according to a neighbor. Advertisement No new details about the case emerged in court. Judge Sharon Prather set Sept. 1 for Yarber's arraignment and granted him a contact visit with his parents. Neither the prosecutor nor the public defender representing Yarber would comment. Outside the courthouse, Allania Yarber's relatives also declined to comment. Crystal Lake police, responding to a 911 call, found Allania Yarber and the girl shot multiple times just after 8 p.m. Thursday. Life-saving attempts were made but both were pronounced dead at the scene. Police took Ryan Yarber into custody and recovered a handgun at the home. In his written request for a public defender, Ryan Yarber said he has been employed at a Crystal Lake business for about a month and makes $410 a week, according to court documents. He wrote that his credit cards are "maxed out" and he receives financial help from his parents. According to the gofundme.com fundraising site the couple have two sons, ages 6 and 9. A sister of Allania Yarber asked for donations to support the boys. "I'm reaching out to the kind people who are still left in this world to help my family and I raise these boys without struggle," the woman wrote. "My sister Allania was such an amazing mother and I want to be able to give her boys the life that she always wanted them to have." As of Tuesday afternoon the fund, which has a goal of $20,000, was just over $2,000. The site is at www.gofundme.com/raising-money-for-my-2-nephews. Authorities investigate where two people were found shot to death Aug. 3, 2017, in Crystal Lake. (Network Video Productions) (Network Video Productions) Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter. Dick Locher, an editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune and longtime writer and illustrator of the Dick Tracy comic strip, died Sunday. In this 2010 photo, Locher works in his studio at his Naperville home. ( Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune ) Richard "Dick" Locher, a Pulitzer prize-winning editorial cartoonist and the man behind the Dick Tracy comic strip for decades, left his mark not only on Naperville residents but on Naperville public art . Locher, a Naperville resident, died Sunday at the age of 88 from complications from Parkinson's disease. Advertisement "Up and down he was an extremely talented artist in all mediums watercolors, sculpture, of course, political cartoons," said Brand Bobosky, president of Century Walk Corp. and longtime friend of Locher's. The City of Naperville paid homage to Locher and the comic strip sleuth which Locher drew from 1983 to 2011 with a 9-foot-tall statue of Dick Tracy that stands on the Naperville Riverwalk between the DuPage River and the Naperville Township building. Locher's design and concept served as the basis for the bronze sculpture. Advertisement A bronze sculpture of Naperville's founder, Joe Naper, was also designed by Locher. The statue is at Naper Homestead, on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Mill Street. "That was a big deal for him, and he got to develop some new friends through those projects" said Steve Locher, Dick Locher's son. "He was always fascinated with cartooning. Cartooning was really in his soul and so was entertaining people. To have his home town celebrate him and Dick Tracy with the statue, it meant a lot." More recently, Locher worked with artist Marianne Lisson Kuhn on a Dick Tracy painting that hangs in downtown Naperville's Hotel Indigo. Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said it's a "sad day to lose one of Naperville's greatest." "I have had the opportunity to meet Dick and (his wife) Mary throughout many different circumstances of life," Chirico said. "In all of them, he was a stand-up guy, no doubt. Locher also worked with Naperville Mayor Emeritus George Pradel years ago to incorporate the Dick Tracy character into promotional materials created by the Naperville Police Department, Steve Locher said. "He got very involved with crime stoppers," said Locher, who grew up in Naperville. "He linked with the Naperville Police Department and really brought Dick Tracy to our police department." Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 (Dick Locher, Chicago Tribune) In 1994, the FBI National Academy Associates of Illinois named Locher an Outstanding Citizen of the Year for his help in crime-fighting efforts. Locher donated the start-up funds for the John Locher Art Gallery at Naperville North High School, which was dedicated in memory of their son, John, who died in 1986, said Mary Locher, Dick Locher's wife. He also donated a lot of his art to local charities, she said. "He donated so much of his art and time," Mary Locher said. "He always enjoyed every bit of it. He loved being with people." Additionally, Locher was involved with the Naperville Community Radio Watch and Naperville Crime Stoppers, and volunteered to work with art students at College of DuPage before there was an official art program, Mary Locher said. Locher began his career as an editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune in 1973 and won a Pulitzer prize for his work in 1983. Prior to taking the Tribune job, Locher assisted cartoonist Chester Gould on the strip for several years. Locher was born June 4, 1929, in Dubuque, Iowa. He spent two years as a test pilot with the U.S. Air Force and another 18 years in the Air Force Reserves. Locher moved to Naperville in 1969. Advertisement The longtime cartoonist made an impression on the people with whom he worked. He was an "extraordinary guy," Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis said. "When I first met him, he was a towering figure in the profession. We became friends right away and have been ever since," Stantis said. "You look up to him because he was so nice, so kind, so generous with his time. He was always encouraging you, and there's not a lot of people out there who do that." With his optimism and kindness, Locher set the standard for living life and remains a role model today, Stantis said. And his talent as a cartoonist was obvious, he said. "Especially in his heyday, his line was so confident," Stantis said. "If he drew something, you knew what the hell it was, you always knew what he meant by his cartoons." Locher's generosity with his time and encouragement didn't fade, Bobosky said. About three weeks ago, Bobosky said he brought his young grandsons, who are interested in comics, to visit Locher. Advertisement "He sat with those kids and drew cartoons," Bobosky said. "He took that time and spent an hour with them, just one-on-one. He was a great man." In addition to his wife and son, Locher is survived by his daughter, Jana Evans, five grandchildren, and one great-grandson. A visitation is scheduled from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St. in Naperville. A funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, 36 N. Ellsworth St. in Naperville. ehegarty@tribpub.com Naperville Boy Scout Troop 507 members Kevin Phares, right, and Matt Kaszuba scuba dive in the Bahamas. The Scouts earned scuba certification last summer so they could take a week-long trip this summer. ( Kevin Phares ) Kevin Phares almost gave up on scouting. After spending a week in the Bahamas with Troop 507, the Naperville North High School student is glad he didn't. Advertisement The 16-year-old Naperville student said he had fun in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, but had second thoughts in junior high as to whether he wanted to continue in scouting in his teenage years. His mind was changed when he heard his troop could visit Boy Scouts of America's Florida Sea Base, which offers trips to the Florida Keys, U.S. Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. Advertisement "I was into marine life so I decided to stay in Boy Scouts specifically for that trip," said Phares, his troop's high school student scout leader. Eleven scouts from his troop, which meets at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Naperville, and several parents spent six days aboard a 65-foot sailboat, learning about ocean life in the Atlantic above and below the water line around the islands of Exuma and Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The boys went scuba diving more than a dozen times, both during the day and night, all the while learning to identify the various sea creatures. "It was more than I could have imagined," Phares said. Their adventures in diving began in summer 2016 when the scouts earned their dive certification at Haigh Quarry in Kankakee after taking lessons with Dive Right in Scuba in Plainfield. Instead of going through the Boy Scouts' Sea Base, parents opted to charter a boat and crew through Blackbeard's Cruises, which also specializes in helping scouts earn their scuba merit badge. Phares said he was amazed how clear the ocean was compared to the quarry in Kankakee. At the quarry, visibility was 10 to 25 feet. (In the Bahamas) we had 70 to 80 feet visibility," the teen said. Advertisement One of his favorite dives was when the Blackbeard's crew placed "chumsicles" frozen blocks of fish carcasses in the water to attract fish, particularly sharks. "It's unbelievable to see," Phares said. "It was so cool. I wasn't afraid at all." To protect the diving neophyte during the feeding frenzy, the dive masters had strict rules about reaching or moving past a special guard rail. As a result of the trip, Phares can identify different types of sharks, such as Caribbean, black tip and reef sharks, as well as other varieties of fish and coral. The boys slept and ate three meals a day prepared by an onboard chef. If someone didn't like meal of the day, Phares said alternatives such as bagels and peanut butter always were available. When they docked, the adults purchased conch fritters for the boys to sample. Advertisement "I'd never tried them before. I didn't really like them. I'm pretty picky," Phares said. The Scout likened the Bahamas adventure to an expanded field trip. "It's learning, but it didn't feel like it. This was so much fun," he said. Phares, who will be a junior in the fall, already has a love of water; he's a member of Naperville North's varsity diving team and water polo team. As a result of the trip, Phares said he gained a new respect for marine biology. "After seeing wildlife up close, I think I could raise attention about protecting it," he said. Advertisement "Who knows? Maybe I'll get my certification for a dive instructor and get paid to scuba dive." subaker@tribpub.com Twitter @SBakerSun1 Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, which is part of Naperville District 203, is the top ranked middle school/junior high in Illinois and 38th best in America, according to Niche.com. (Naperville School District 203/HANDOUT) Naperville District 203 and Indian Prairie District 204 rank among the top school districts in Illinois, according to a new study published this week. In the battle for school district bragging rights, Naperville District 203 bested Indian Prairie District 204 in the 2018 Niche rankings for Best School Districts in Illinois. Advertisement Each year Niche.com ranks the top K-12 schools and school districts across America based on data from U.S. Department of Education and its own proprietary data collected from more than 60 million K-12 school reviews and survey responses. Analysis factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality and public school district ratings. Advertisement Among the 406 school districts Niche assessed in the state, Naperville District 203 ranked No. 3 behind No. 1 New Trier Township High School District 203 and No. 2 Community High School District 128, which includes Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School. Superintendent Dan Bridges said District 203 didn't earn that status alone. "An exemplary school district is the result of a collective partnership of students, staff, parents and community," Bridges said. "Naperville 203's rankings come as direct result of the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. It also comes from our mutual commitment to ensuring every Naperville 203 student receives the best possible academic and social-emotional experience." Indian Prairie District 204 came in at No. 6. Superintendent Karen Sullivan commends Indian Prairie educators and students for the high marks. "It's an honor to receive such a high state and national ranking. It reflects the hard work of our teachers and students," Sullivan said. Naperville District 203 also was third in the state, according to Niche, in the categories of Districts with the Best Teachers in Illinois and Safest School Districts in Illinois. On a national scale, District 203 ranked 38 in the 2018 Best School Districts in America, out of 10,574 school districts. Advertisement In the 2018 Districts with the Best Teachers in America, Naperville District 203 came in at 31 out of 10,541. Naperville District 203 was most dominant at the elementary and middle school level. Among the 2018 Best Public Elementary Schools in Illinois, District 203 took all top five spots with Meadow Glens at No. 1 out of 2,235 elementary schools followed in order by Highlands, Ranch View, River Woods and Naper. Rounding out schools in the top 10 were Scott Elementary at seven and Mill Street at 10. Compared to 49,776 elementary schools across America, Niche ranked Meadow Glens 24. Indian Prairie's best elementary was Clow, ranked 22 in the state. Advertisement Five of District 203's junior high schools also cracked the top 10 of the Best Public Middle Schools in Illinois. Kennedy Junior High landed the No. 1 spot followed by Madison Junior High at No. 2, Jefferson Junior High at 5, Washington Junior High at 7, and Lincoln Junior High at 9. Nationally, Kennedy was positioned at 35 out of 23,000 middle school/junior high schools. Among Indian Prairie's middle schools, Scullen, Gregory and Granger ranked 13, 14 and 19, respectively, in Illinois. In Niche's 2018 Best Public High Schools in Illinois category, Naperville Central ranked 15, followed by Neuqua Valley at 17, Naperville North at 19, Metea Valley at 22 and Waubonsie Valley at 28. Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago is Niche's top rated Illinois high school of 2018. Advertisement When it comes to parochial schools, Benet Academy ranks 10 of 124 schools in the list of Best Private High Schools in Illinois. Benet also ranks 3 of 67 among the Best Catholic High Schools in Illinois and 33 of 172 among the Best High Schools for STEM in Illinois. For a complete list of rankings, visit https://www.niche.com/k12/rankings/. subaker@tribpub.com Twitter @SBakerSun1 Some preparatory work has begun for the big Community Build on Saturday of a new playground for Leigh School, 8151 W. Lawrence Ave., in Norridge. (Pioneer Press) When community members gather for the building of a new playground in front of Leigh School this Saturday, it will represent months of effort by some school parents to foster unity in the Norridge School District 80 community. The Community Build is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Saturday at the school, 8151 W. Lawrence Ave. Advertisement Parents Athena Kalaras, president of the Leigh School PTA, and Gina Rapatas, vice president, spearheaded the effort, which began after it was announced that the district's schools Leigh and Giles were to be separated into grade-level buildings, with Leigh housing those from kindergarten through fourth grade and Giles serving fifth- through eighth-graders. Previously, both served students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The two jointly answered some questions about the upcoming event. Advertisement Q. Tell us a little about your school involvement, Gina and Athena? Did this grow out of the PTA? A. This project was started from the PTA. Leigh becoming a K-4 building would increase the number of kids under 10, and there is only one playground currently at the school. With over 600 little ones in the building, a new playground is very much needed. Q. How did the idea come about? A. We decided on the Community Build to keep cost down. Installation of a playground would cost a little over $10,000. The Community Build will also help bring the families from the two schools together, our community, and celebrate the new direction of District 80. Q. What role did the $25,000 grant from Norwood Township play in making possible the event? A. Once we started looking into playgrounds, we quickly realized how expensive they are. We reached out to Norwood Township for assistance. The $25,000 grant from the Norwood Township taxpayers helps us get a nice playground for the students at Leigh. Q. What about volunteers do you have enough, what will be their role on build day? A. We are overwhelmed by the outpour of support from the District 80 families, Ridgewood High School, and our community. We anticipate a huge turnout. The day of the build, there will be a contractor from the playground company facilitating the build and directing the volunteers. Advertisement Q. This is the first year kids from the Giles and Leigh communities will be grouped together according to grade centers. How does this event figure in the transition? A. This event will help bring the two schools together and give an opportunity for families to meet. We are excited and view this build as a celebration. Northbrooks Robert Hogan had a lot to be happy about at Northbrook Days Friday. It was also the weekend of his 40th high school reunion, and he has come to like Glenbrook North High School reunions a lot. ( Irv Leavitt/Pioneer Press ) A cool breeze was blowing through Village Green Park just before Mr. Blotto ascended the Northbrook Days main stage, and the people gathered around the nearby beer tent waited patiently, just as cool. Robert Hogan had a grin that wouldn't stop, as he kept running into other people celebrating the 40th reunion of the Glenbrook North High School Class of 1977. Advertisement He still lives in Northbrook, and he has a lot of memories. Some involve Erin Mater, a girl he met at Shabonee School. "I used to ride my bike past her house when we were in 7th grade," he said. He had a thing for her, but nothing came of it, probably because her parents thought he was a little too much of a bad boy for her daughter, he remembered. Advertisement They both grew up and found other people. As time went by, they would see each other at the reunions. Their other romantic relationships ended. "We went to the 10-year reunion, and that was fine, and then there was the 20-year reunion, and that was nice," he said. "And then there was the 30-year reunion. And we just hit it off." Hogan and Mater were married in 2011. Invited to talk about whatever they wanted, almost everybody waiting for the night's big musical act reflected the feeling that this decades-old festival was the place to be if you were from Northbrook. "I love being here," said Larry Rosenthal, known as Unique Larry. "Isn't this the greatest thing? And it's all for charity." It was tough to miss Rosenthal, who wore, as usual, a shiny Unique Upholstery, Carpet and Rug Cleaning uniform jersey with his name on it. Heather Kenny seemed just as devoted to her business, but she wasn't working the crowd. The interior designer was bent over some paperwork at one of the beer tent tables. "I'm working on a church project in Barrington, which will provide activities for troubled teens. It's for Youth for Christ," an international, unaffiliated Protestant organization. The Elgin native said she was very devoted to her Christian faith, and "the work is really cool" on the Campus Life Barrington Center. Advertisement She was just killing time until the park would close at 10:30 p.m. "My boyfriend is working here right now," she said, adding she was waiting for him to finish that night's tasks for his temporary Northbrook Park District job helping with the festival. "He's going to be a youth pastor," she said. Almost everybody else had at least one person to talk with, and many had more than they could handle. Sunset Foods' Ron Bernardi, holding court alongside the Northbrook Days bocce court for the 22nd year, fielded a stream of players and well-wishers. Veteran Wescott School first-grade teacher Sharon Latek excitedly talked about all the former students she had met that night, including some in college. Customers at the beer tent, often as not, called two of the volunteers there, Northfield Township Road Superintendent Pete Amarantos and Northbrook Farmers Market Manager Dale Duda, by name. It seemed so old-fashioned that Robert Guzzo was reminded of growing up on Chicago's Taylor Street decades ago. He remembered the relics in the basement of Our Lady of Pompeii, the iceman filling the icebox, and living upstairs of an old Italian restaurant. "It always smelled like pizza up there," he said. Advertisement As all this was going on, Nalleli Gomez was perched on some bleachers alongside the busy bocce courts. All the seats were empty except for the ones where the Glenview nursing assistant sat alone with her two young children, who were finishing their snacks. "I am blessed," she said. "For my kids, my job, my husband, and our health." She smiled, looked around, and shrugged. She saw Northbrook Days, and Northbrook, from a perspective different from that of most of the other fest-goers. "I am disappointed that I don't see many Hispanic people." ileavitt@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @IrvLeavitt The village of Oak Park approved a new 10-cent per-single-use shopping bag tax that will begin in 2018. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune ) Shoppers who use shopping bags from Oak Park's larger retailers will be paying a fee beginning next year that will be similar to the City of Chicago's bag tax. The Oak Park Village Board approved a single-use bag tax pilot program earlier this year, but voted again Aug. 7 to make the 10-cent per-bag fee mandatory for retailers 5,000 square feet and larger beginning Jan. 1, 2018. Advertisement Oak Park trustees approved the mandatory bag tax ordinance by a 7-0 vote. "What we're really trying to do is change habits," Trustee Bob Tucker said. "It's a bad habit that I've formed and I think a lot of people have formed. The way it works in Chicago right now, I find myself buying a couple items at a store, and you're asked the question and I say 'I don't need a bag.' " Advertisement According to the ordinance, any retailer 5,000 square feet in size and larger must issue a 10-cent-per-bag charge on each single-use bag requested by a customer. The ordinance includes paper and plastic bags. Each retailer would keep 5 cents of each fee, while the other 5 cents would be remitted to the village's sustainability fund, officials said. According to Village Manager Cara Pavlicek, the village would use its share of the funds to promote the program and provide reusable shopping bags to low-income residents. "I think it's the right and responsible thing to do, but it's also our responsibility to be aware of people's budgets," Trustee Andrea Button said. "We have to look out for our brothers and sisters in Chicago who come to Oak Park to shop. If we can use some of that money to provide free bags for people, I think that would be the right thing to do." Trustee Deno Andrews asked village staff to work with retailers to educate people about the impending tax in order to reduce the shock some shoppers may feel next year. "People are going to show up at these stores and be surprised by this," Andrews said. "Sometimes, you can walk out of that grocery store with [several] bags. As little as this tax is, it's still a significant amount for some people." The tax is similar to one that has been levied upon Chicago shoppers since February, in which retailers charge 7 cents per bag. When Chicago shoppers pay for a bag, 5 cents will go to the city and 2 cents to the retailer. Chicago has collected nearly $3 million from its bag tax as of July 25, but is on pace to come in well below the $9.2 million the tax was expected to generate for the city. Advertisement Those numbers led resident Chris Donovan to caution the village about relying too heavily on potential revenues from the tax. "There might be a budget hit on this somewhere along the line," Donovan said. According to the ordinance, any retail establishment that violates any provision of the ordinance shall be subject to a fine of not less than $150 for each offense. Should a business fail to pay the village portion of the tax, a penalty at a rate of 2 percent per month on the amount of tax that remains unpaid shall be due, in addition to other penalties. Chicago Tribune reporter Lauren Zumbach contributed to this story. sschering@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @steveschering The Oak Park District 97 school board is expected to approve the appointments of interim co-principals for Whittier School at its Aug. 15 meeting. (Steve Schering/Pioneer Press) The Oak Park School District 97 Board of Education is expected to appoint a pair of interim principals for Whittier Elementary School for the upcoming school year. According to a district release, Superintendent Carol Kelley is expected to recommend the appointment of Jim Doyle and Scott Kasik as interim co-principals of Whittier School for 2017-18. The position has been vacant since former principal Keshia Warner resigned last month. Advertisement Last year, Doyle and Kasik served as the interim co-principals for Jackson Middle School in District 45 in Villa Park following their retirements in 2016 after a combined 77 years in education. "In terms of hiring a permanent replacement for this position, we anticipate those efforts will begin after the first of the year, and will be carried out with the help of the school community," Kelley said in a statement. "Our shared goal will be to find an individual who has the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to not only build upon Whittier's history of success, but also help our students learn, grow and achieve." Advertisement Prior to his work in District 45, Doyle was the principal of several schools in Community Consolidated School District 93 over a period of 27 years, including Stratford Middle School, Western Trails Elementary School, Jay Stream Middle School and Carol Stream Elementary School. Doyle also served as an assistant principal at Jay Stream Middle School for CCSD 93, and taught at Immaculate Conception School in Chicago for seven years. Kasik has administrative experience over the course of 24 years, which includes serving as principal of Downers Grove North High School, associate principal of Barrington High School, assistant principal of Glenbard North High School, principal of Lake Zurich High School, assistant principal of Highland Park High School and dean of students at Deerfield High School. Kasik also served as the guidance department chair and reaching out programs coordinator for District 113, and taught special education for seven years at Morton West High School and the West Suburban Association for Special Education. Doyle holds a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and a master's degree from Concordia University. Kasik has a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University and master's degrees from Northeastern Illinois University. Per state law, retired public school employees are permitted to work only 100 days per year. As they did with District 45, Doyle and Kasik are expected to alternate days of the week they work in the building on a weekly basis. Both will collaborate with each other and the school's student support specialist Chasity McComb-Williams on the planning and execution of all day-to-day instructional activities and operational responsibilities. Both Dayle and Kasik are expected to attend all major school events, meetings and functions. The Oak Park 97 school board is expected to approve the appointments at its Aug. 15 meeting. sschering@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @steveschering A 23-year-old man awaiting trial for a 2015 shooting death has died while out on bond, his attorney said. Tavontae Allen, of East Chicago, had pleaded not guilty to a murder charge filed in the 2015 shooting of Shanton Carprue Jr., 23. Advertisement "He went to play paint ball on a hot day with a bunch of friends. It was super-hot, like 95 degrees," his attorney, John Cantrell said. Allen arrived home overheated and tried to cool off in front of an air conditioner, but he suffered an asthma attack, Cantrell said. His family called an ambulance for Allen, who was without oxygen for 12 minutes and lapsed into a coma, Cantrell said. Allen died Aug. 1. At a status hearing on July 25, Cantrell told Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell that Allen was in a coma at Methodist Hospital's Northlake Campus in Gary. Advertisement On Sept. 29, 2015, the day Carprue was killed, his mother told police she called to warn her son that she'd noticed a dark-colored car with tinted windows and a missing piece of chrome near the family home. The woman told police she recognized that car as one that had been driven by someone her son was having problems with, court records state. That afternoon, East Chicago police received several 911 calls regarding shots fired near 141st and Grace streets in East Chicago. Carprue was found in the front seat of a dark-colored, four-door vehicle at the scene, according to reports. He had been shot multiple times. Carprue was pronounced dead at the scene. One caller, who saw a dark blue Buick speeding away from the scene, told police the driver's side window was down, and the driver was wearing a red, black and gray mask, documents said. Another witness also saw a dark-colored car with tinted windows leave the area, court records state. During the bail hearings, Cantrell challenged Allen's identification as the shooter. After posting the cash bond, Allen was released from jail on May 26, 2016. Prior to the murder case, Allen also was charged with criminal recklessness and carrying a handgun without a license stemming from a June 2015 shooting at a McDonald's in the 4700 block of Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago. Ruth Ann Krause is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Science teachers use their eclipse shades to look at the sun in Twin Falls, Idaho. (Pat Sutphin/AP ) It's called the "Great American Eclipse" and it's coming to a location near you soon, if you're willing to do a little traveling. I'm talking about the total solar eclipse that's expected to take place Aug. 21, darkening a 71-mile "path of totality" across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Sounds ominous, doesn't it? Advertisement No need, however, to fear this cosmic event as our ancestors may have done centuries ago. Like most things that our species doesn't initially understand, we immediately fear them. A solar eclipse must have felt like the end of the world to primitive mankind. Then again, in many ways we should continue to be called a primitive species, fearing too many things we still don't understand. For example, presidential Tweets and a national health care plan. Advertisement Hopefully, this upcoming total solar eclipse will give us a sunny reprieve from such dark issues that loom over us every day. Gary resident Norm Hairston poses for a photo in his home on. (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune ) "There are several interesting things about eclipses," said Norman Hairston, 59, of Gary, who graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Events such as an eclipse rekindles everyone's interest in astronomy and what is going on with the sky." Too often, Earthlings stare into the sky only when we fear something a wicked storm coming our way, or loud noises from aircraft overhead. It's more uncommon for us Chicken Littles to stop staring into our handheld electronic devices long enough to gaze at the awe-inspiring grandeur of the cosmos. The sky hasn't fallen despite primordial fears that continue to surge through our veins. "Until recent times, eclipses always arrived unexpectedly and were taken as omens for one thing or another," said Hairston, a Gary West Side High School graduate. "Often they caused people to take actions they otherwise would not have. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy that eclipses portended chaos." Chaos, I should note, can be interpreted as the polar opposite of the word cosmos, according to Greek mythology's attempts to define the creation of our universe. Chaos was feared as a dark void of emptiness before the creation of the godly cosmos. Here we are in 2017 still fearing the emptiness of chaos on earth while staring above at a godly cosmos of true order and possibly perfection. "Occasionally, there are genuinely new things in the sky, such as a comet, that no one has seen before. But most changes in the sky are completely predictable," said Hairston, who also earned a MBA from Stanford University. "For instance, there will be a blood moon next summer as the moon passes in the shadow of the earth." Advertisement The Bible, in the English standard version of Acts 2:20, states, "The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day." Does this mean Jesus is returning Aug. 22? I don't see it in the stars. Maybe you do. "Many ancient civilizations had some form of an observatory to study the sky," Hairston said. "The main purpose was to tell farmers when to plant. It also told people when to celebrate various holidays." On Jan. 22, 1879, 1,700 British soldiers were killed in a surprise attack by Zulu warriors during South Africa's Zulu War. The tribesmen either knew about a solar eclipse expected on that day, or they quickly took advantage of it, depending of which version you believe. In any case, that battle was later named by the Zulu warriors as "the day of the dead moon." It sounds so aboriginal until you compare it with our modern day attempts to explain what we don't understand. For example, it was an eclipse that provided the first evidence that Einstein's Theory of Relativity was indeed correct, Hairston said. Advertisement "When stars close to the sun were seen in the day with the moon blocking the sun's light the star's location in the sky was moved exactly as Einstein had predicted," he said. "This is termed gravitational lensing." More currently, the latest total solar eclipse visible in this country took place in 1979. I don't recall it, though I was likely told all about it by my high school science teacher. "Look, up in the sky!" he probably told me, echoing that iconic line from "Superman." I have no idea if I actually did. I will, however, look up in the sky Aug. 21 to see if any darkness drapes across our corner of the state. The eclipse will last only 2 minutes at any spot along its path of totality, reaching across roughly 2,800 miles of America over 90 minutes. While Lake and Porter counties won't get the total eclipse, it will see about 89 percent coverage, experts predict. According to https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/gary, the eclipse will start at 11:54 a.m.. By about 1:20 p.m., only a sliver of the sun will be visible. By 2:43 p.m., the event will be over, the website shows. Advertisement Several Northwest Indiana residents, including Hairston, have plans to travel south that day to experience the eclipse's true beauty. "I'm trying to talk the family into driving to Kentucky for the day," Hairston said. Post Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Chris Heath of Valparaiso plans to drive to South Carolina with his girlfriend, and possibly her son who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is in a wheelchair. "He requires 24/7 care and we are trying to raise money to cover the travel costs to pull this off for him," said Heath, who created a GoFundMe page for the adventure. A sign showcases a upcoming solar eclipse in Hopkinsville, Ky. (Alex Sanz/AP ) An estimated 12 million Americans live in the predicted path of the eclipse, but possibly millions more are making similar arrangements to travel to its path. The town of Hopkinsville, Ky., where I used to spend summer vacations with my relatives, has been labeled as the best viewing site in the country. Of course, the town has done its best to take financial advantage of this cosmic gift. Then again, so has our country by labeling this remarkable celestial alignment nothing less than, ahem, the Great American Eclipse. Advertisement jdavich@post-trib.com Twitter@jdavich Eclipse video available For more information about the Aug. 21 eclipse, visit www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov or watch this video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIUMcCH0pug. Kevin Murphy, an astronomy teacher at Lyons Township High School, and students traveled to New Mexico in 2012 to view another solar eclipse. (Lyons Township High School) Students from Lyons Township High School will travel south later this month in search of a total eclipse of the sun. Astronomy teacher Kevin Murphy is leading the group of about 40 students to the Carobondale area for the one-day trip on Aug. 21 to view the moon crossing the sun. Advertisement "It will be like night at day. You'll be able to see some brighter stars and planets. Temperatures will drop and animals will go crazy," said Murphy about what to expect when darkness descends in the daylight hours. The students will be accompanied by Bill Allan, supervisor of television services at the school, who, along with a couple of students, will livestream the eclipse, film a timelapse of it and create a short documentary about students' experiences. Advertisement The television crew is bringing five cameras including one with a special sun filter and a motorized telescope. "It's going to be a big production," Allan said. Allan and Murphy started to plan the trip in May. In the week leading up to the eclipse Murphy will be keeping an eye on weather reports to decide precisely the place where they will watch the eclipse. He has already contacted several places, including a McDonald's parking lot, where the students may view the eclipse. Allan said they want to see the eclipse in a more rural rather than urban area. They also want to have access to bathrooms and food throughout the day. "We want to avoid the crowds and any potential obstructions," Allan said. Sean Robinson, a senior from La Grange, is one of the students who will document the eclipse. "I seems like a great, once in a lifetime experience. I am honored to be part of it," Robinson said. Advertisement He has been involved in planning the trip and already has learned a lot. "I've learned about how to shoot the sun without breaking your camera and about tracking the sun," he said. Assuming that conditions will be good for the students to create a livestream of the eclipse, Allan said it will be posted on the school's television station and at youtube.com/user/LTTVonline. St. John of the Cross While LT students are watching the eclipse down south, students and parents at St. John of the Cross school will gather in outside the school in Western Springs. The school, which has about 650 students, has already ordered 800 special glasses. Advertisement Rosemary Fornaro, a sixth-grade science teacher, said she and students first talked about the eclipse last school year. "We talked about how we wished we could be together to watch it," she said. The event will also include music chosen from a play list of songs with themes involving the sun and the moon, treats and glow-in-the-dark bracelets. Students who make art projects about the eclipse prior to the event can bring them to school for an art display, said Jennifer Miller, director of advancement. The school also is asking all the students and parents that attend to wear yellow. The event is not open to the public. Although the eclipse will not be as total in Western Springs as it will be in southern Illinois, Fornaro expects it will still be an awe-inspiring event. Advertisement Like Murphy, Fornaro said the darkness will bring a temperature drop and may rattle some animals, insects and birds. "It could be that some really cool things will happen," she said. Even though classes at St. John's do not resume until Aug. 22, Fornaro said viewing an eclipse is an educational opportunity that she doesn't want students to miss. "It didn't feel right just letting it go by (without a viewing event)," she said. La Grange Library The La Grange Library will host a Solar Eclipse Viewing Party form noon to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the library, 10 W. Cossitt Ave. Advertisement The library will air a livestream of the eclipse as it is being seen in southern Illinois. The event will include snacks and a craft. The library will distribute eclipse glasses to those in attendance. Participants will also be able to have a photo taken with the eclipse on the library's green screen in Studio West. Thomas Ford Library The Thomas Ford Memorial Library in Western Springs will have an outdoor tent from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 21 in the field at McClure Junior High, 4225 Wolf Road. They will have eclipse viewing glasses to handout and will teach how to make a pinhole projector to safely watch the eclipse. Westchester Library Advertisement An eclipse viewing party will be held from 1-2 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Westchester Library 10700 Canterbury St., Westchester. It will include a guided viewing of the partial eclipse that includes a story circle referencing historical myths, legends and the science. The library will provide eclipse viewing glasses and the opportunity to make your own sundial. Forest preserve The Cook County Forest Preserve District will have telescopes set up for viewing from noon to 2:45 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, 9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Springs. amannion@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @triblocalam Pueblo East, Pueblo West football teams knocked out of playoffs Both Pueblo West and Pueblo East high schools had their faced stiff competition Friday night on the road. By Zolzaya Erdenebileg While Hong Kongs startup ecosystem is relatively young, it has grown quickly in recent years. Many entrepreneurs are attracted by the citys high rate of internet penetration, which has allowed for greater adoption of tech innovations. Additionally, the Hong Kong government has been aggressively promoting initiatives to expand entrepreneurship in the face of increased competition from southeast China. However, Hong Kongs proximity to Shenzhen, one of the key tech start-up hubs within mainland China, has added dynamic considerations to the Hong Kong startup environment, and this has multiple effects for multinationals and foreign investors. In this article, we explore the rise of Hong Kongs startup scene, and the multitude of factors that have contributed to its emergence. We also analyze what it augurs for the Mainland-Hong Kong relationship and how this will affect multinational companies. The evolution of Hong Kongs startup scene According to the 2016 survey released by InvestHK, the investment promotion arm of Hong Kong, the number of startups in the city rose from 1,558 in 2015 to 1,926 in 2016, an increase of 24 percent. The main business fields for the surveyed startups are described immediately below. Entrepreneurs are particularly interested in Fintech, which is associated with the citys well-developed financial infrastructure and expertise, and the Internet of Things (IoT). A survey by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) found that most Hong Kong startups tend to be at later stages of development 37 percent surveyed responded that they were at the market launch stage, and 28 percent said they were at the growth or expansion stage. Only 12 percent and 20 percent replied that they were at the concept development state and prototype or testing stage, respectively. Additionally, the majority of Hong Kong startups, about 52 percent, focus on both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) activities simultaneously. Their main market focus is Hong Kong 87 percent listed the city as their major current market. However, Asia and North America topped startups ambitions, with 56 percent listing the Chinese mainland, 49 percent listing Taiwan, 41 percent listing the Americas and Canada, followed by a close processions of Japan, Hong Kong, and ASEAN. RELATED: Pilot Tax Policies for Venture Capital Enterprises and Individual Investors in China Government initiatives To galvanize the startup community, and attract attention, the government has released a series of initiatives focused on increasing available funding through venture capital funds, as well as funding for universities aimed at encouraging technology startups. During the 2017 Policy Address, the government laid out their plans to continue support into startups, totaling six individual items that address startup applicability. From the Address, the government laid out its initial plans to transform Hong Kong into a smart city, dedicating HK$500 million towards technology to improve public services and promoting the establishment of a Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) to share geospatial data for public and private sector cooperation on different smart city applications. Last year in 2016, the government expanded their scope and depth through a HK$2 billion Innovation and Technology Venture Fund. The Fund seeks to invest in local innovation with private venture capital matches. Prior to this in 2014, the government-established Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) rolled out the Technology Startup Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU), which provided six universities HK$4 million (US$515,000) each in annual funding to support tech startups. Integration into the Pearl River Delta Another major announcement during the 2017 Policy Address was the Hong Kong and Shenzhen deal to jointly develop the Lok Ma Chau Loop into the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, a controversial decision amongst both parties. The Park settles a land ownership dispute between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, but also raises questions regarding the integration of the two cities, the two rules of law and ecological concerns. If successful, the Park will be a milestone for Hong Kong entrepreneurship; it will be the largest innovation and technology center in the city. Additionally, it signals a willingness on the part of Hong Kong to cooperate closer with the mainland and play to its advantage of closer access to the billions of mainland Chinese consumers. Thus far, the relationship between the two cities has been more cooperative than competitive, with Hong Kong specializing in international access and talent, and Shenzhen specializing in manufacturing capabilities. According to John Artman, Editor-in-Chief of Technode, Shenzhenhas recently seen an explosion of startups, many based around hardware or cross border e-commerce, sales, localization. Shenzhen is well placed to take advantage of the proximity to Hong Kong for financing and imported goods while the citys recent history as a manufacturing hub means that startups have access to a lot of expertise and equipment in this area. RELATED: Corporate Establishment Services from Dezan Shira & Associates Implications for foreign investors The emergence of a vibrant startup culture and greater cooperation with mainland China are trends that has already had a major impact on Hong Kongs economy and will continue to do so. This has a number of implications for foreign investors both multinationals and SMEs alike. The Hong Kong government provides startups with a number of support and fund initiatives, which should ensure their ability to flourish in the future, and to drive its plans to turn Hong Kong into a smart city. By the very nature of it, startup culture will continue to disrupt traditional business models. Already, the hotel, taxi and automobile renting and bike industries have seen major changes (through AirBnB, Didi and Uber, and Mobike and Ofo, respectively). There is no reason to think that other traditional industries, such as banking, logistics and manufacturing will lay dormant for long. Thankfully, traditional business models and startups can synergize well in each of the areas where they perform poorly. For example, multinationals and SMEs can benefit from the new technologies or resources developed at startups, as well as the talent groomed there. Likewise, startups can make the most of an orderly corporate structure and knowledge base developed at multinationals and SMEs to chart a steady path to growth. We are at a super interesting time for tech right now because more and more corporations realize that they need to either protect themselves from disruption or need to make sure they continue to grow, Artman said. Theres a lot of room for large corporates to take advantage of these trends either in finding innovative business models or just new services and products. About Us China Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Asia, including ASEAN, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Silk Road, and Vietnam. For editorial matters please contact us here, and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here. Dezan Shira & Associates is a full service practice in China, providing business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax, IT, HR, payroll, and advisory services throughout the China and Asian region. For assistance with China business issues or investments into China, please contact us at china@dezshira.com or visit us at www.dezshira.com Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide. An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017 This Dezan Shira & Associates 2017 China guide provides a comprehensive background and details of all aspects of setting up and operating an American business in China, including due diligence and compliance issues, IP protection, corporate establishment options, calculating tax liabilities, as well as discussing on-going operational issues such as managing bookkeeping, accounts, banking, HR, Payroll, annual license renewals, audit, FCPA compliance and consolidation with US standards and Head Office reporting. Internal Control in China In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we provide foreign investors with best practices for implementing internal controls in China. We explain what makes Chinas internal control environment distinct, and why China-based operations need to prioritize internal control. We then outline how to execute an internal control review to gauge organizational resiliency and identify gaps in control points, and introduce practical internal controls for day-to-day operations. Finally, we explore why ERP systems are becoming increasingly integral to companies internal control regimes. Dezan Shira & Associates China will support the country's booming car-sharing industry and standardize its development, according to official guidelines released Tuesday. Unlike traditional car-rental services, car-sharing services take advantage of new technologies such as global-positioning and mobile Internet. Such services improve user experience and offer an alternative for urban commuting, easing growing demand for private cars and parking space, according to guidelines released jointly by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Car-sharing firms should improve their services by checking the identity of users carefully and optimizing the supply of cars by using big data analysis, according to the guidelines. They should also ensure the safety condition of the cars, and protect private information and user deposits. Companies are encouraged to use a credit-based model to evaluate the reliability of users instead of requiring them to pay guarantee deposits. In terms of parking, public parking lots in shopping centers and large residential areas are encouraged to offer space for shared-cars, while incentives will also likely be given to such cars for on-street parking. Companies are also encouraged to use new energy vehicles (NEVs) as shared-cars, with support given for charging facilities of NEVs. The guidelines followed the release of similar rules on bike-sharing services last week, which aim to help development of the industry. China's sharing economy has been rising rapidly recently, with bike-sharing companies such as ofo and Mobike attracting overseas investments. The country's sharing economy witnessed a total transaction volume of 3.45 trillion yuan (about 514 billion U.S. dollars) last year, more than doubling that of 2015, according to a report released by the State Information Center in March. The Central Military Commission (CMC) on Monday told the armed forces to study the speeches made by President Xi Jinping around the Army Day and strengthen their sense of loyalty and responsibility, according to an official circular. Study of Xi's speeches is of great significance to inspire the military to unite more closely around the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, according to the circular issued by the general office of the CMC. The speeches were delivered by Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CMC, at a military parade and a rally marking the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army. Xi lauded the contributions made by the PLA in its 90 years' history to the country and the people, calling for better combativeness of the army in his speech at the Zhurihe military parade on July 30. In his speech at the rally on Aug. 1, Xi reaffirmed the importance of military reform and the CPC's absolute leadership over the army. China must step up transforming its armed forces into a world-class military that is ready to fight and win wars as the country will never compromise on its sovereignty, he said. The study is important for the CPC to achieve its goal of building a strong army in current circumstances and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, according to the circular. The CMC circular called on the armed forces to improve combat-oriented training and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. China will never allow any people, organization or political party to split any part of Chinese territory from the country at any time, in any form, the circular said. The circular also ordered the military to act in accordance with the instructions of Xi and the CMC, bear in mind its duties, and boost national defense and military modernization. Beijing is currently building a network of regional senior care centers. Today, there are 208 senior care centers throughout the capital city, as well as 259 community senior service dispatch stations. By the end of 2017, each of Beijings districts will complete construction on its senior care guidance center, which will direct operations in the senior care network. Wang Xiaoe, deputy director of the Office of Beijing Municipal Working Committee on Aging, said in a speech at the 6th China International Senior Service Expo that Beijing has set a budget of 1.28 billion yuan (US$190.55 million) for senior care in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 17.7 percent. The city also plans to invest 400 million yuan to establish a senior care fund with 1.6 billion yuan in initial equity in order to build its senior care network. Each districts senior care guidance center will serve as the command hub for its local network, overseeing senior care centers that will provide long-term clinical care, and dispatch stations that will deliver services straight to the homes of senior citizens. Of the 350 senior care dispatch stations constructed in Beijing in the last two years, 259 are currently operating. The city plans to increase the number to 1,000 by 2020. A part of the infrastructure for the regional senior care network is provided by the city as donation, and its operation is entrusted to private service providers. In addition, Beijing is mulling over new policies to support the growth of the senior service industry. Officials said they have learned through surveys that there are 4,104 locations throughout the city that could be turned into senior care centers. Meanwhile, the city will also reclaim vacant factory buildings and schools and transform them into senior care facilities. The management committee of Xiongan New Area has announced that a special company has been established to fund construction of the area. Photo taken on April 21, 2017 shows the scenery of the county seat of Rongcheng, north China's Hebei Province. China announced the plan for Xiongan New Area, an economic zone about 100 kilometers south of Beijing, on April 1, 2017. The new area will span Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties in Hebei Province, eventually covering 2,000 square kilometers. Hebei announced recently it would call for international bids to plan and design Xiongan New Area. Global companies are welcomed to bid with their ideas for a 30-square-km area at initial stage. [Photo/Xinhua] With registered capital of 10 billion yuan (about 1.47 billion U.S. dollars), China Xiongan Construction & Investment Group is a state-owned company. The Hebei provincial government approved its founding in July. The company will raise fund to build houses and apartments, develop the Baiyangdian water area, and to build transport links, energy infrastructure and public facilities in Xiongan. China announced plans in April to establish the Xiongan New Area, a new economic zone about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. It covers Hebei's Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties. Quantum cryptography [File photo] For years, encryption of messages sent over the internet relied on ever longer and more sophisticated numerical decryption keys -- passwords or "handshakes" between distant computers. With increasing computing power came the need for longer keys, without which increased the risk of messages being intercepted by competitors with access to cutting-edge equipment. Current encryption methods have a finite shelf life. Visionary scientists already saw the unsustainability of this solution more than a decade ago. Yet, Western governments and research funders have long dithered when it came to making meaningful investments in alternative and practical cybersecurity fixes. In recent months, Chinese scientists have come out of the shadows to claim a clear lead in practical applications to the cybersecurity threat. They managed to put in practice physical principles that go back to Albert Einstein's century-old, brilliant insights. The idea, known as quantum communication or quantum entanglement, is based on information stored in light particles, or photons. That information is sent over long distances using laser beams, either through fiber-optic cables or via satellites in space. If anyone were to intercept the message, the photons would be disturbed, which the receiver would notice immediately. In fact, by simply reading the message, no matter from how far away, the nature of the photons would be altered irrevocably. This prompted Einstein to call the effect "spooky action at a distance." Last June, Chinese scientists wrote in the prestigious journal Science that they had sent identical pairs of photons from the country's first quantum communications satellite, Micius, to two ground stations, in Delingha (Qinghai) and Lijiang (Yunnan). They reportedly measured more than one thousand photon pairs at the same time at both stations. A major problem hampering the use of photons as information carriers is that they degrade quickly, both in fibers and in the air -- but not in the near-vacuum conditions of outer space. Quantum repeaters would therefore be required to retain signal strength. This technology is, however, not yet mature. The experiment involving the Micius satellite shattered any previous attempts at quantum communications by a long way. But breaking distance records was not the scientists' ultimate goal. While their Western counterparts were limited to small-scale experiments and explorations of the basic physics involved, the Chinese government's decision to fund development of practical applications gave Chinese teams the edge internationally. Satellite-based quantum communication is still in its infancy, however. China's National Space Science Center is poised to launch additional quantum communications satellites in the next five years, equipped with stronger and cleaner laser beams. This will allow the scientists to test their techniques more rigorously; they even hope to communicate with their collaborators in Austria. Meanwhile, however, Chinese applications in quantum cryptography have become practically useful on Earth. A pioneering quantum communications network was recently established in Jinan (Shandong). The new network will allow some 200 users at military, financial, government, and electricity stations to communicate safely, assured that no one else has read their messages. With no competition to speak of, China has now become the global leader in quantum communications applications. Its homegrown cryptography approach may soon be commercialized for adoption around the world to reduce the Internet's current vulnerabilities. The Jinan network is not the first quantum cryptography network in the world, but European and U.S. quantum communications networks have mostly been constructed for research purposes only. These networks are very expensive to build. And unsurprisingly, that is an important reason why commercial or government backers have been rather reluctant to invest in the technology. However, the Chinese network has clear commercial applications. "We have to admit that when China invests into something, they have the financial power and manpower that is beyond probably anything else in the world, except the U.S. military," said Valerio Scarani at the National University of Singapore's Centre for Quantum Technologies, quoted by the BBC. Similar links are already operational between Beijing and Shanghai, so that anyone with access to the network can be certain that their communications cannot be hacked by outsiders -- or at least they would be able to tell immediately if that were the case. Although it is, as yet, up in the air as to whether or not quantum cryptography will replace traditional encryption for secure communications, most pundits are happy to bet on it as a viable option -- and China is leading the world in its applications. Chinese science has come a long way. It has been poised to become world-leading for some time already. It is increasingly likely that our colleagues in the field of quantum cryptography applications will be the first to break through the proverbial glass ceiling and dominate global scientific and practical developments in their field. This should act as an incentive for other Chinese scientists to follow suit! Richard de Grijs is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/RicharddeGrijs.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. There is much common ground for China and the European Union to take a hand in solving many Middle East political issues. [File photo] I was in Brussels on a short academic visit with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung office from June 21 through July 8, and was able to meet a number of EU officials thanks to my host's thoughtful arrangements. These fruitful contacts convinced me that China and EU can cooperate on a wide variety of Middle East issues since there is much common ground in political thinking. China and EU firstly share concerns about Middle East security. The U.S. and Russia are competing fiercely for geopolitical influence in the region, while China and EU regard the Middle East as closely related to substantial common security and economic interests. The EU is deeply concerned about the terrorist threat and refugee crisis as the war-affected area in the Middle East is geographically connected with Europe. China also believes the terrorist threat to its northwestern territory of Xinjiang originated from the Middle East. China and the EU also regard the Middle East as a shared economic partner. They both depend heavily on a stable flow of oil from the Arab world, and they both take the region as a major consumer of their products. These shared interests provide a solid foundation for cooperation. They also hold similar positions on major Middle East issues. The EU wants to promote the peace process between Palestine and Israel, and even intends to pressure Israel into compliance on settlement issues. Unfortunately, Israel turns a deaf ear to the EU pleas. The EU does take measures such as labeling agriculture products from those Israeli settlements considered unlawful, to remind potential buyers about "immoral consumption;" however, these measures have had little effect. The EU's position and awkwardness in this regard are very similar with those of China. It believes the legitimate rights of Palestinian nationhood must be respected, and that the international community should work together to promote a solution fair to the interests of Israel and the Palestinians. On the Syrian crisis, EU interlocutors unequivocally support the Syrian opposition. They believe that, without strong opposition, there will be no fair solution of the longstanding crisis. However, the EU shares China's perception that an early political solution will reduce the pain and the grievances of Syrian people. The EU particularly believes the impact on Europe from the Syrian crisis will be greatly reduced as a result of an early political solution and a fresh start. China and the EU also share the same attitude toward the Iran nuclear issue. They adhere to the commitments of the JCPOA while President Trump said during his campaign last year that he would tear up the deal, and is currently trying to sabotage it by provoking Iran with sanctions. The EU used to strongly push Western-style democracy and humanitarian concepts, and continues to do so in regard to the preconditions for Turkey's admission to the club, and decides its policy on Iran based on an evaluation of its human rights records. However, there are signs of change. Many EU officials and scholars seek an increase of pragmatism instead of principles, some saying the EU's Middle East policy has been hijacked by security concerns. Chinese scholars welcome this as it comes closer to their own country's approach. Ever since the reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, China's Middle East policy has been characterized by pragmatism. Or, to put that another way, China does not attach ideology to its Middle East policy. China and Europe can cooperate on Middle East issues because of the cooperation that has been achieved previously. Both China and the EU regard the Iran nuclear deal, in which they played a major role, as a success not only for Iran, but also for the international community. European officials believe that the successful experience can be duplicated in cooperation in mediating other regional conflicts, to the benefit of not only the immediate region, but the world at large. All in all, the foundations for cooperation between China and Europe have never been so good as they are today, since the two sides share very similar concerns, perceptions, positions and approaches dealing with Middle East issues. European officials believe China can increase its security resources patrolling waters in the Red Sea to combat piracy since the worsening regional security situation will lead to more piracy threatening sea lanes. China and the EU can also jointly protect the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal by diplomatic means. The two can also jointly mediate for a political solution of the Syrian crisis, and jointly promote the Palestine-Israel peace process as well. Dr. Jin Liangxiang is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/jinliangxiang.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday urged Japan "walk the talk" and put its positive expression of improving ties with China into action. As close neighbors, the long stalemate between China and Japan is not in the interest of either side, nor would it benefit regional peace and stability, Wang said while meeting with Taro Kono, who has recently taken over as Japanese foreign minister. Wang also explained China's position on the South China Sea issue, urging Japan to respect the fact that the situation in the South China Sea has stabilized and respect the efforts made by China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in this regard. He called on Japan to play a more constructive role in regional peace and stability, instead of following other countries' lead to stir up troubles. Wang noted that the difficulties in the China-Japan ties in recent years originated from whether Japan is sincerely willing to see China as a cooperation partner and to accept China's development and growth. The Chinese foreign minister said he hopes Japan to walk the talk, putting its positive expression to improve ties with China into concrete policies and actions, instead of making troubles for China after expressing readiness for better relations. Wang showed respect to Taro Kono's father Yohei Kono. He described Yohei Kono as a statesman with conscience in history and independent personality who devoted himself wholeheartedly to promoting friendship between China and Japan for years. Wang said he hopes Taro Kono could inherit the correct ideology of his father and make endeavors to truly improve the China-Japan ties in his tenure in office as Japan's foreign minister. For his part, Kono said Japan attaches importance to China. Shoulder to shoulder, Japan and China could make significance contributions to Asia's rejuvenation and world peace, Kono said. As this year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, Kono said he hopes the two countries could increase exchanges, resume dialogue, boost mutual understanding and constantly improve relations, and he is willing to make sincere efforts toward this end. Flash Sources tell China Daily that it was Vietnam that pushed for inserting "concerns" over land reclamation into a communique issued on Sunday by all 10 Southeast Asian countries. The sources, who are close to the matter and requested not to be named, noted that Vietnam is like a thief crying "stop thief" as it has been working on land reclamation in the South China Sea in recent years and boosting its military deployment there. Aside from concerns by some ASEAN countries about land reclamation, the communique released at the 50th annual Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is "generally positive about the cooperation between China and ASEAN", the sources said. Speaking about the discussions taking place at the meeting, one of the sources said ASEAN countries gave sufficient endorsement to the achievements of China-ASEAN ties. Regarding the South China Sea issue, the countries also spoke positively at the meeting of the joint efforts by China and ASEAN in the past year in stabilizing the South China Sea situation, the source added. The second source told China Daily that the contents involving China within the meeting's joint communique are "mostly positive". Articles 118 to 123 of the communique give a sufficient account of the development of China-ASEAN ties, the source added. Article 118 says: "We acknowledged China's growing role in the region and highlighted that China's economic growth continues to benefit the region.... We looked forward to more high-level dialogues and exchanges between ASEAN and China." The part regarding the South China Sea takes a smaller portion in this year's document than in those of past years, and its tone is generally more positive, the source said. The source noted that there are differences within ASEAN about reclamation as the communique mentioned concerns expressed by "some ministers" on the land reclamation, and the document did not use the term "serious concerns". "It was a stand-alone country, not the entire ASEAN, that has concerns over this. The country is Vietnam," the source said. Since 2007, Vietnam has accelerated its land reclamation on 21 illegally occupied islands and reefs, and has built military facilities, including helicopter pads. "Undoubtedly, what Vietnam has done is the trick of a thief crying 'stop thief'," the source added. Flash South Korean prosecutors recommended imprisoning the billionaire heir of the Samsung business empire for 12 years on Monday, urging a court to convict him of bribery and other crimes in a national corruption scandal. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (R) arrives for a trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, on Aug. 7, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] The prosecutors' recommendation ends a four-monthlong trial into allegations against Samsung's 49-year-old vice chairman, Lee Jae-yong. Lee was arrested earlier this year as the corruption scandal prompted months of massive public protests that culminated in the ouster of president Park Geun-hye. In his closing remarks, special prosecutor Park Youngsoo said Samsung's alleged bribing of the president was typical of the corrupt and cozy ties between the government and big businesses. Such dealings once helped fuel the country's rapid industrialization but now increasingly are being scrutinized as illegal and unfair. Park accused Samsung officials of lying in their testimonies to protect Lee. Lee was indicted in February on charges that included offering $38 million in bribes to four entities controlled by a friend of then-president Park. Prosecutors believed that the bribery was offered in exchange for government help with a merger that strengthened Lee's control over Samsung at a crucial time for organizing a smooth leadership transition after his father fell ill. Prosecutors allege the money was paid to a company in Germany to bankroll equestrian training for the daughter of a friend of Park. Park was removed from office in March and is being tried separately. Her friend Choi Soon-sil also is on trial. Lee has denied all charges. He has said he did not know of Choi or her daughter before the scandal grabbed national headlines and said the succession situation at Samsung was not discussed during three meetings he held with the former president. Samsung's lawyers do not contest having donated a large sum of money to entities controlled by Choi. They disagreed with the prosecutors regarding the nature of the fund and insisted that at the time the donations were made Samsung was unaware that Choi controlled them. Prosecutors also are seeking heavy penalties for four other former Samsung executives who had belonged to a once-powerful corporate strategy office that handled such activities. Prosecutors asked the court to imprison Lee's mentor Choi Gee-sung, a former vice-chairman at Samsung Electronics, for 10 years. They are seeking seven to 10 year prison terms for three other former Samsung executives. Flash A pair of panda twins, born last year at Schoenbrunn zoo, celebrated their first birthday on Monday with a big party. Photo taken on Aug. 7, 2017 shows the panda twins at Schoenbrunn zoo. [Photo/Xinhua] Being treated with their favorite foods, the panda twins lied leisurely in their pen to receive their guests, including visitors and media workers. The birth of panda twins, Fu Ban and Fu Feng, in last August pushed the number of giant panda cubs naturally bred in Vienna to a new high of five. Three of them were sent back to China when they were big enough to leave their mother. The birth of the panda twins also proved the successful adaption to the new life in Austria of their parents, Yang Yang and Long Hui. The panda couple arrived in Austria in 2003. So far, no other European zoo has successfully managed to breed five giant pandas naturally. In Europe, most pandas are bred through artificial insemination. Even in Vienna, how the panda pair was able to complete their historic task without human intervention remains mystery, and a hot topic for local media. But some attributed it to Vienna's livable environment. Naming the cubs has been a big issue for the zoo, which followed Chinese tradition to give the first three male cubs names of Fu Long, Fu Hu and Fu Bao, which mean lucky Dragon, Tiger, and Leopard respectively. But when it came to the twins, the zoo turned to the public to solicit name suggestions through an internet vote. The giant panda's keeper Renate Haider told Xinhua that Yang Yang was doing very well in taking care of the twins, leaving less work for the keepers team. She said it was not easy to identify the twins, but she managed to find ways to recognize them by different behaviors. Fu Ban is brave but sleepy, and Fu Feng sometimes likes to hide, Haider said. Fortunately, their mother treats them equally. In December, the cubs' father, 16-year-old Long Hui, died during an emergency examination. According to the zoo, there was a tumor measuring 10cm in his abdomen. The zoo currently has no plan to find a stepfather for the cubs, as they are still young. Giant pandas have helped raise the reputation of the Schoenbrunn zoo. In 2009 and 2010, it was voted Europe's best zoo. Flash The two Chinese tourists gesturing Hitler salutes in Berlin have left Germany without further criminal punishment, the Chinese Embassy said Monday, urging tourists to respect history and learn basic laws of their travel destinations. The two tourists, two men aged 36 and 49, respectively, were caught by Berlin officers on a routine on Saturday, when they were snapping mobile phone pictures of each other and posing Hitler salute gestures outside the historic landmark Reichstag parliament complex in the center of Berlin. Zhou Anping, counselor of the Consulate Division of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, told Xinhua that each of the two tourists have been fined for 500 euros and were released by the police. Zhou added that the 500-euro fine was not bail and no further criminal punishment would be given. They might have already arrived in Italy on Monday. The Berlin police told Xinhua that they are not banned from visiting Germany again in the future. Germany has strict laws on hate speeches and symbols linked to Adolf Hitler, a notorious figure in the Second World War, and his Nazi Party. It is not the first time that Chinese tourists were caught for posing Hitler-linked gestures. In 2013, a Chinese tourist was arrested for making Hitler salutes in Austria. Zhou urged Chinese visitors to respect history and learn basic laws of their destinations to avoid such offenses. The two Chinese tourists were widely mocked and criticized in China. Many accused the two of lacking basic knowledge of history about the Nazis and Hitler. "They deserved punishment!" A person with an account named "2sxiong" said on Twitter-like Chinese social media Weibo. "Shame on them!" said another Weibo user "renzidaoguolainianya." Flash Joint efforts by China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have greatly improved the situation in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday, pointing out that China and ASEAN have the ability and the wisdom to negotiate the Code of Conduct (COC). Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 7th East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers' meeting in Manila, the Philippines, Aug. 7, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] From China's point of view, the most substantial progress made at the ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings and related meetings was that with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has been stabilized, Wang told reporters after attending the meetings. "We have carried out effective cooperations and have brought it back to the track to resolve disputes through direct dialogue and negotiation by the parties directly concerned," he said. China and ASEAN countries have successfully drawn up and adopted the framework of the COC in the South China Sea, announcing that they would initiate the substantive consultations on the text of the COC at a proper time within the year after preparation is completed, the minister said. Speaking at the earlier 7th East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers' meeting, Wang said the momentum of improvement on the situation in the South China Sea is obvious compared with last year. "We should fully appreciate these important improvements and cherish the achievement made with our joint efforts," Wang said. At the China-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting on Sunday, Wang said that ASEAN foreign ministers highly evaluated the stabilizing situation in the South China Sea and the COC framework adopted at the meeting. "This is the current mainstream view of the countries in the region," Wang said. Wang said that China will always take a responsible attitude in dealing with the South China Sea issue and that China will, on the basis of respect for historical facts and in accordance with relevant international law, solve disputes through dialogue and consultation with all parties concerned. The positive change in the South China Sea was also reflected in the joint communique issued by ASEAN foreign ministers, said Wang. He pointed out that the joint communique was a comprehensive document which fully demonstrated the key progresses in the China-ASEAN relations and various parties' confidence in the prospect of China-ASEAN relations. As to the paragraphs on the South China Sea, Wang noted that the section was present in the joint communique every year, but was significantly shortened in this year's document. Meanwhile, all ASEAN members fully acknowledged achievements in cooperating with China and the improving situation in the South China Sea, fully recognized the COC framework which they jointly drew up and adopted with China, and affirmed positive attitude on the initiation of the substantive consultations. However, the minister said, some outside countries preferred to stay in the past, turned a blind eye to the positive change of the situation, not willing to recognized the achievement by the joint efforts by China and ASEAN, and even released negative information. "We have to ask whether some countries are not willing to see the stabilization of the South China Sea. Is the further stabilization of the South China Sea is not in the interest of these countries?" he said. Wang told the EAS meeting that China and ASEAN countries have the ability and wisdom to negotiate the COC. "We don't want any non-regional countries to keep telling us what to do, and even try to play teaching chess games for us," he said. He added that China and ASEAN will continue to press ahead with the negotiations of the COC with full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), in the hope of establishing commonly recognized regional rules. "We have the same aspirations: the finally reached COC with be the upgraded version of the DOC," Wang said. "We hope non-regional countries will take notice of the positive changes in the South China Sea in the past year and respect the efforts that China and ASEAN have paid to achieve the result," Wang said. The Washington Post By Josh Rogin July 30 at 7:11 pm Quietly but persistently, the Trump administration has been pressing the Chinese government to allow Liu Xia, widow of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, to leave China, where she is being held against her will. Senior U.S. officials regard Chinas ongoing mistreatment of Liu and her family as human rights abuses that simply cant be ignored. Liu Xia, center, holds a portrait of her deceased husband, Liu Xiaobo, at a funeral parlor in Shenyang, China, on July 15. (Handout/AFP/Getty Images) The regime of Xi Jinping, meanwhile, is obsessed with the possibility that Congress will pass legislation renaming the street in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington Liu Xiaobo Plaza. Chinese officials have demanded in recent senior-level interactions that the Trump administration bury the bill, to no avail. The issue now threatens to become a major irritant in the U.S.-Chinese relationship. Neither side wants it to escalate to that level, but unless the Chinese government responds to U.S. and international calls to free Liu, theres little to stop Congress from moving forward. The White House stepped up its advocacy on behalf of Liu Xiaobo earlier this year, as the poet and human rights activist died slowly from liver cancer while in Chinese government custody. Top White House officials raised his case with Chinese counterparts during President Trumps trip to Hamburg this month, a senior administration official said. Liu had been imprisoned since 2009. After Lius death the following week, White House officials repeatedly raised the case of Liu Xias well-being, pressing Chinese authorities to allow her to travel abroad. The strategy has been to keep the advocacy quiet rather than publicly shame the Chinese government, according to the official. Liu Xia has been under house arrest without charge or trial since 2010, although the Chinese government denies that her freedom is restricted. In 2013, she was allowed to witness the trial of her brother Liu Hui, after which she shouted to reporters, I am not free. If they tell you Im free, tell them Im not free. Meanwhile, this month top Chinese officials have repeatedly pressed top Trump officials to prevent Congress from passing the Liu Xiaobo Plaza legislation, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). In a July 17 phone call, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi raised the issue with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, according to internal notes of the call I obtained. Yang urged the Trump administration to influence key members of Congress and publicly promise a presidential veto. Yang told Tillerson this was a critical moment in U.S.-Chinese relations and renaming the plaza would seriously affect Chinese cooperation on major issues. Tillerson told Yang the Chinese government should engage with Washington on Lius case. In an interview, Cruz rejected Beijings objections and said he is in discussions with Senate leadership to move the bill forward. Im glad to hear its got their attention, he said. Ill be even more glad when they change their conduct and stop being gross human-rights abusers. The bill is modeled on a Cold War example, when in 1984 Congress actedto rename the street in front of the Russian Embassy for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. Sakharov was arrested and condemned to internal exile from 1980 until 1986. For the Chinese leadership, international recognition of Liu Xiaobos life or achievements is seen as interference in Chinas internal affairs and a direct challenge to the Chinese Communist Partys rule. Liu was the co-author and first signer of Charter 08, a manifesto signed by hundreds of Chinese activists and intellectuals calling for freedom, equality, human rights, democracy and constitutional government in China. Based on that, he was arrested for inciting subversion of state power. Anything that would carry his name would be seen as a constant, daily, in-your-face challenge to China and to Xi Jinping, said Bonnie Glaser, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. There is no tolerance in China under Xi Jinping for this kind of dissent. That is what Liu Xiaobo represented. The Chinese government went so far as to cremate Lius body and scatter his ashes in the ocean so there would be no gravesite to memorialize him. Chinese government censors work to erase references to him on Chinas Internet. Xi cant be seen as giving in to U.S. pressure on issues related to Chinese Communist Party rule, Glaser said. Still, there is precedent for China to show some flexibility on Liu Xias case. In 2012, Beijing allowed human-rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng to come to the United States with his family, after intense negotiations with the Obama administration. Liu is not a dissident, just the widow of one, making her persecution even more egregious. If the Trump administration keeps up its pressure, a negotiation could ensue. But as long as Liu remains a prisoner of the Chinese state, international calls for her release and actions to honor her husbands legacy will only increase. ChinaAid Media Team Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 Email: [email protected] For more information, click here KAYUNGA, Uganda - As River Nile, the longest in the world, snakes through central Uganda, Chinese engineers and their local counterparts are constructing a multi-million US dollar power plant on its bank in the remote Kayunga district. Concrete works have already been finished, according to the engineers, and they are working to ensure that the $568 million power plant produces electricity during the second half of next year. The plant dubbed Isimba Power Plant Project, is one of the flagship investments that signifies China's efforts to power Uganda. Uganda accessed the fund to construct the 183 megawatt plant from Export Import Bank of China. Construction commenced in April 2015 and conclusion is expected in August next year. "After one year we will hand over a high quality project to Uganda and contributes efforts towards building the relation between Uganda and China," Wang Yongtian, head of the construction project told Xinhua in a recent interview. Experts argue that inadequate, inconsistent and expensive power is one of the major bottlenecks hindering Uganda's fast economic development. Ugandan manufacturers and other big businesses have complained of the high cost of electricity in the country, which they say makes their products uncompetitive in the region. According to official figures, it is estimated that 1,131mW will be required to meet the national electricity demand by 2020. Currently installed capacity is 822mW. The Ugandan government over the last decade has been at the forefront of pushing for rapid infrastructural development with emphasis on energy and transport. To access low interest loans with no strings attached, Uganda looked at China as its financier. China is financing the construction of another hydro power plant along River Nile in northern Uganda. The $1.4 billion Karuma Power Plant, is the first underground power plant in the east African region. When completed, the plant will provide over 600mW of electricity. A World Bank report issued in April this year showed that Uganda was among the countries that are showing progress towards universal access to electricity. The report, Global Tracking Framework 2017 - Progress Toward Sustainable Energy, said energy is the cornerstone of economic growth. With access to modern, reliable and affordable energy, a child can study at night, small businesses can thrive, women can walk home under the safety of working streetlights and hospitals can function efficiently and save lives. Uganda now faces the task of bringing down the high cost of electricity. In 2007, the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a $110 million loan to finance, build and operate a 250mW power plant on the River Nile near Jinja. This project pushed up the cost of power. Akinwumi Adesina, the AfDB president early this year assured Uganda that it is working to ensure that the electricity tariffs would go down. Uganda wants to pull down the cost of electricity to five cents from the current 11 cents. BEIJING - The China-Africa Renewable Energy Cooperation and Innovation Alliance (CARECIA) was established in Beijing on Monday to boost cooperation between China and Africa on clean energy. Members of the alliance include finance institutions, smart grid providers and core manufacturers in renewable energy. According to a sustainable development plan, CARECIA will help to establish power supplies and transmission systems in Africa through public-private partnership (PPP) projects. The alliance will promote renewable energy, said Ding Yuxian of the China Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration Association. Wider application of Chinese standards in Africa will boost renewable energy in both China and Africa, she said. "We need to combine resources and investment, and the alliance is a good platform for that," said Simon Pierre Adovelande, Benin ambassador to China. He suggested that the alliance start with a few pilot projects, before expanding its influence across Africa. "For any country to be industrialized, energy is important," commented Vincent E. Omuse, commercial counsellor from the embassy of Kenya in China. According to Omuse, Kenya is focusing on solar, thermal, hydro and wind energy. It will welcome Chinese investors into key sectors. The alliance will focus on the most practical, clean energy sources and on financing solutions. A technician checks a facility of Shenhua Group in Tianjin Port. JIA CHENGLONG / FOR CHINA DAILY China's largest coal miner Shenhua Group and energy producer China Guodian Corp, which are mulling a merger, have extended suspension of trading in their shares for the fifth time. The latest suspension was till Friday. But, as the merger discussions are still on, the two State-owned enterprises made a joint statement on Friday that they have requested the Shanghai Stock Exchange to extend the suspension by one more month till Sept 4. The merger discussions have already sorted out key issues like power production and post-merger operations. Other issues like reorganization of assets and transaction modes are under discussion, the companies said in the statement. The planned merger will likely create an energy giant with combined assets estimated to be in the range of 1.73 trillion yuan ($254 billion) to more than 1.8 trillion yuan. According to online news outlet Jiemian.com, which quoted Guan Weizhu, Guodian's safety production director last week, the merger plan has been reported to the State Council, China's Cabinet. The merged entity, which will be temporarily named National Energy Investment Corp, will likely have a debt ratio of more than 60 percent, Guan was quoted as saying at the 11th China New Energy International Forum last week. Analysts believe the planned energy merger could well herald a new round of mergers among SOEs across industries. Zhou Dadi, a senior researcher at the China Energy Research Society, said the merger of the energy giants would see the creation of a bigger and more competitive SOE in the global market. According to the National Development and Reform Commission, substantial reforms will ensue in industries like electricity, oil, natural gas, railway, civil aviation, telecommunications and defense. Integration of each other's strengths and resources will benefit the two companies, said Wu Lixin, deputy director of the strategic planning research department at the China Coal Research Institute. Shenhua can improve its coal-dominated energy mix by advancing into clean energy segments such as renewable energy and nuclear energy, while Guodian can benefit from a powerful ally in the coal sector, to fend off risks to supplies and prices, he said. On June 2 when Shenhua Group was last traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, its shares closed at 19.32 yuan, up 0.53 percent. On the same day, shares in Guodian Corp closed at 3.49 yuan, up 0.53 percent. Listed subsidiaries of the two energy giants also halted trading in shares on June 5, after being informed by their respective parent companies about "a significant matter containing substantial uncertainty that is subject to the approval of the relevant authorities". As part of the government plan to deepen reform of SOEs to make them leaner and healthier, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission has planned to reduce the number of central SOEs to under 100. The State Council has already approved the merger of China National Machinery Industry Corp and textile giant China Hi-Tech Group Corp in June, reducing the number of central SOEs to 101. MasterCard's contactless bankcard allows cardholders to simply tap their card on the pay terminal to make secure payments. [Photo provided to China Daily] Foreign debit and credit card companies face a long fight with local electronic payment market leader UnionPay as industry supervision is still evolving and customer needs are diverse, experts said. US card network Visa has applied for a license from China's central bank to operate in the Chinese market, it said in an email on Friday. MasterCard, another US-based card company, is also preparing to apply for a license, it said in an email. If they receive the licenses, Visa and Mastercard are expected to take a share of the Chinese yuan-denominated bank card payment market, which is currently dominated by the State-backed company that was set up in 2002. Their license applications follow the central bank's updated guidelines for foreign card companies seeking to operate in China, which were announced during the China-US dialogue in June. The People's Bank of China updated the guidelines by the end of June, according to an industry insider who is familiar with the matter. China agreed to open the card market to foreign companies in 2015. The strategic research firm RBR said in the news release in July that UnionPay is likely to face more competition from foreign competitors as it strives to maintain its high market share. Any entry by foreign card giants would, however, have only a minor impact in the short run, experts said. "Submitting application is only the first step. It may take long to get the final approval," said Dong Ximiao, a senior analyst at Renmin University of China. "Once they enter, foreign companies need to adapt to Chinese supervision and need to be prepared to meet the requirements of banking regulators." Foreign card companies are expected to come under stringent oversight in the local market, according to Dong. Echoing his remarks, Zhao Yao, vice director-general of the Financial Innovation Research Center, which is part of the China University of Political Science and Law, said it is hard to shake the dominance of UnionPay, in terms of domestic bank card clearing service. The expected entry of foreign players would provide more business opportunities and expand their cooperation with Chinese banks, according to Zhao. He said Chinese customers' strong appetite for co-branded cards has the potential to generate profits for foreign companies in future. In fact, some companies have already started working with Chinese banks. For instance, MasterCard has issued single-branded EMV debit card in China with Bank of China, and a World card with ICBC, targeted at their affluent customers, according to MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga. Li Aijun, a law professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, said as more foreign companies enter, the major beneficiary will be Chinese customers, with more card options to choose from. Zhuang Qiange contributed to the story. A crewman onboard the Atlanta, a container ship of Orient Overseas Container Line, a subsidiary of OOIL, on the main deck at the Modern Terminals area of the container port in Hong Kong. BLOOMBERG New owner COSCO to operate shippers as two brands under one group Hong Kong's No 1 container carrier Orient Overseas (International) Limited will retain its listing status and Hong Kong headquarters as it joins a two-brands-under-one group model following its acquisition by COSCO Shipping Holdings, the company announced on Monday. COSCO, the biggest shipping company on the Chinese mainland, announced a month ago it was offering HK$49 billion ($6.27 billion) to buy OOIL, which was founded by former special administrative region chief executive Tung Cheehwa's family in 1969. The purchase will create the world's third-largest shipping line with more than 2.9 million standard containers and 400 vessels, surpassing French container, transport and shipping company CMA CGM Group. Alan Tung Lieh-Sing, chief financial officer at Orient Overseas, said the acquisition was a careful and reasonable business decision for shareholders and the company, and details of the dealincluding operational arrangements and whether and how the Tung family would continue serving in management positionswere still under negotiation. The deal needed at least six more months to be completed. State-owned COSCO offered HK$78.67 for each Orient Overseas share, a premium of 37.8 percent over the closing share price of HK$57.10 on July 9. After completion of the deal, COSCO shipping will hold 90.1 percent of Orient Overseas while Shanghai International Port Holding will hold the remaining 9.9 percent. COSCO shipping will be in talks with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on the offer, according to Tung. The shipping industry has been recovering profits and improving performance but has faced significant industrial consolidation amid changes in the demand and capital environment worldwide in the past three years, according to Tung. He believes the cost of shipping transport and volumes will increase in the future and is positive about development of the industry, which he believes has gone through a trough. But he concedes the industry will find it hard to restore the buoyant performance seen in 2000. Orient Overseas reported net profit of HK$418 million in the first half of this year following a HK$442 million loss in the same period last year. Revenue increased 13.2 percent year-on-year to HK$22.6 billion and operating profit amounted to HK$197.3 million. Interim dividend was 16.7 Hong Kong cents. Dickie Wong, executive director of research at Kingston Financial Group, said the acquisition is a good result for both the companies and the shipping industry, and believes the integration of the two companies will stimulate the group's profitability, though he thinks it may take time for the two companies to develop synergies. An employee counts yuan banknotes at a branch of China Everbright Bank in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Feb 21, 2017. [Photo/VCG] China Everbright Bank will relocate its European business to Luxembourg after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, which could be as early as 2019. The bank announced last week it had received approval from regulators in the tiny grand duchy to set up an office as it puts together contingency plans in the wake of Brexit. Last year, in a referendum, the UK electorate voted narrowly to withdraw from the EU after more than 40 years inside the trading bloc. "The decision by China Everbright Bank's (to) move to Luxembourg fits into the trend of Chinese banks trying to expand into European markets to negate potential Brexitrelated risks," said Li Chengrong, a partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm in London. The UK currently enjoys "passporting" rights, which allows the city of London and the rest of the financial industry in the country, to conduct business in the other 27 EU nations. But when the UK leaves the trading bloc, it is likely to lose its "passporting" rights. "Uncertainties with that have prompted many Chinese banks to consider opening or expanding offices inside EU countries, so they can continue to sell their products. "Luxembourg, Dublin, Frankfurt and Paris are all viable choices," Li added. China Everbright Bank is following six other Chinese lenders that have moved to Luxembourg. They are Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Construction Bank, China Merchants Bank, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Apart from China Everbright, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank has also made an application to open a subsidiary in Luxembourg. Its application is still awaiting approval from Chinese and Luxembourg regulators. Customers fill out forms at a branch of China Merchants Bank in Haikou, Hainan province. [Photo by Zhang Mao/China Daily] Chinese banks' asset quality will likely improve as a profitable first half of the year will likely encourage corporate borrowers to repay loans, experts said. Industrial companies' profit increased by 19.1 percent year-on-year in the January-June period, compared to single-digit growth in 2016 and a decline in 2015. Banks' asset quality will improve also because of regulators' firm efforts to address the problem of overleveraged companies, according to a Moody's report. Ratings agency Moody's Investors Service revised its outlook for China's banking system to "stable" from "negative" in late July, the first such upgrade since 2015. Moody's said the revision reflects analysts' expectations that the ratio of non-performing loans of banks will be relatively stable, compared to a more rapid deterioration of asset quality in the past two years. The average NPL-to-gross credit ratio declined to 1.74 percent in the first quarter from 1.76 percent in 2016 as the economy grew better than expected by 6.9 percent in the first quarter (as well as the second quarter) this year, according to China Banking Regulatory Commission data. "An improved economy helps stabilize the overall delinquencies as companies' profit continued to recover in the first half," said Su Jian, an economics professor at Peking University. Data from the Bank of International Settlements showed that China's corporate sector credit as a percentage of GDP increased only by 4 percentage points at the end of 2016 from a year ago. That was a smaller increase compared to the 12 percentage-point growth in 2015. But, at its mid-year meeting last weekend, the CBRC warned of a potential rise in the pressure of bad debts. "The overall delinquencies will stabilize, but banks will still face relatively elevated asset risks due to high corporate leverage and delinquencies of some highly leveraged and loss-making borrowers," said Yulia Wan, an analyst with Moody's. Some troubled borrowers might find it harder to repay loans due to tight liquidity as the People's Bank of China has changed its policy stance to prudent and neutral from prudent, according to Xu Chengyuan, chief analyst with Golden Oriental Credit Rating Company. "There is no quick solution to the debt problem," said Xu. "Banks need to improve efficiency in dealing with bad assets, and consider debt-to-equity swaps and repackaging of debts." To avoid risks piling up, banks should limit credit to sectors with overcapacity, while increasing financial support to emerging high-tech industries, said Zhao Qingming, chief economist at the research institute of the China Financial Futures Exchange. As the economy continues to stabilize, bad debts will grow at slower pace, according to Zhao. A report by China Orient Asset Management in July predicted the turning point for continued increase in bad debts will come in five years. Bad debts fall in high-growth regions Banks' bad debts ratio declined in the economically affluent regions that witnessed rapid growth in the past few years, while debt problems swelled in northeastern rust belt regions, according to statistics. In the January-June period, bad loans over gross credit in Zhejiang province, which is regarded as the eastern business zone, dropped to 1.98 percent, down by 0.48 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from the provincial banking regulatory bureau. The ratio started to decline in 2016 from the high level of 2012. In 2012, bankruptcies of a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises in Wenzhou, one of China's richest economic hubs, led to billions of yuan in bad debts for banks. Starting from 2016, the China Banking Regulatory Commission rolled out measures to improve credit management and regulate enterprises' errant financial behavior. The province's total amount of outstanding debts might continue to rise given SMEs' strong appetite for financing. But Zhejiang is on track to see a further decline in its bad debts ratio, according to a report by China Orient Asset Management in July. Meanwhile, bad debt risks continue to increase in northeastern provinces, with many debt-laden traditional manufacturing enterprises grappling with restructuring. By the end of June, the bad debt ratio in Heilongjiang province was 3.38 percent, and that of Liaoning province stood at 2.96 percent by the end of first quarter, latest data showed. Data from China's 10 listed banks showed that by the end of 2016, outstanding non-performing loans of the manufacturing sector reached 300 billion yuan ($44.6 billion), topping the sectoral list that included retail. Banks have to improve efficiency through measures such as credit rollovers in less developed regions, at a time when firms remain under intense credit pressure, said Jiang Yueming, a manager with China Orient Asset Management. JAKARTA - Indonesia's budget airlines of Lion Air has opened a new flight service to China's city of Sanya in southern Hainan province from capital Jakarta, adding dozens of routes linking cities in the two nations the airlines has operated so far. Lion Air Group Spokesperson Andy M. Saladin said that the new flight service has commenced on Saturday, departing from Jakarta to Sanya. In the following days Sanya-bound flights would be served from Jakarta on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Meanwhile the Jakarta-bound flights from Sanya would be conducted on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, he added. Andy said the Jakarta-Sanya flight service resulted from a charter flight cooperation between Lion Air Group with Hainan United Airlines Travel Group Co. Ltd., expected to transport some 50,000 visitors from Sanya to Indonesia. He added that besides Jakarta, the flight service would eventually open a new route linking Bali capital of Denpasar with Sanya. The latest flight service to Sanya has added Lion Air's charter flight services connecting Indonesian cities of Denpasar, Manado, Balikpapan, Batam and Jakarta to Chinese cities of Changsa, Nanchang, Wuhan, Xiaoshan, Guangzhou, Luogang, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Jiangbei among others. "This is part of our commitments to help the development of Indonesian tourism sector," Andy said. Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya hailed the opening of Jakarta-Sanya charter flight, saying that it fits with his ministry's three main programs to develop tourism, consisting of air connectivity development, digital marketplace and homestay villages. "We have urged national airlines to be more aggressive in opening new flight routes to destinations across the country in addressing air connectivity," the minister said. According to the minister air connectivity is essential to boost arrival of foreign visitors as 80 percent of their arrivals are conducted via air transport. China is an ultimate tourism market to Indonesia as visitors from the nation have dominated arrivals of foreign visitors to Indonesia in the past several months. KUALA LUMPUR - The importance of the Belt and Road Initiative for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries is evident as infrastructure is a key to boost the competitiveness of the region, said an economist. "ASEAN developing countries need to invest heavily in infrastructure development in order to boost their competitiveness, so the Belt and Road Initiative helps to provide additional infrastructure financing to accelerate economic development," IHS Markit's Asia-Pacific Chief Economist Rajiv Biswas told Xinhua in an email interview. Biswas believes it has many positive benefits for the long-term development of ASEAN countries, as the weak infrastructure is a key economic development hurdle for many ASEAN countries. A recent report by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development showed that ASEAN would need infrastructure investment of 60 billion to $146 billion per annum up until 2025. China is providing assistance in rail infrastructure projects to many ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Laos. These include Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail link, Malaysia's East Coast Rail, China-Thai high speed railway, and China-Laos railway. As China has become a world leader in infrastructure development such as for railways and ports, the infrastructure projects being built with Chinese support will have advanced technological standards, Biswas noted. Meanwhile, improved transport links between ASEAN and China will also help ASEAN manufacturing industry become more closely integrated into the Chinese manufacturing supply chain. "The rapid growth of China's economy has been a major growth driver for ASEAN over the past two decades as bilateral trade and investment relations have boomed," Biswas said. This is because the Belt and Road Initiative will improve connectivity and modernize transport links, bringing more exporting ASEAN products to the fast-growing Chinese consumer market. Biswas said an important factor for the long-term success of the Belt and Road Initiative in ASEAN will be that projects are inclusive of local construction companies, to help build the domestic capacity and technological capabilities of local companies as a win-win partnership. He cited the new project consortium between Chinese and Indonesian companies to build the Jakarta-Bandung high speed rail as a good example of such a joint partnership. He opined that it should be the government of the particular ASEAN country to ensure its fiscal responsibility for cooperation and projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. GENEVA - If the recent warning by the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the "clear risk" of a trade war sparked by protectionist policies materializes, it would threaten poor and developing countries the most, says economist Martin Khor on Monday. Khor, executive director of the Geneva-based South Center agreed with WTO director general Roberto Azevedo Azevedo's recent statement that should a trade war break out, countries "will in the end be worse off than when the dispute begins." Khor said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua that "the developing countries especially the poorer ones would be the most affected victims of a trade war as they have no means to defend themselves." The fears have been stoked with statements from President Donald Trump US Administration that it is examining its trade practices with China and suggesting measures will be taken against its perceived distorted trade balance. Azevedo said Aug 2 at a forum in Panama that the global community must be attentive because "the risk of a trade war is very clear." The WTO chief warned that whichever country applies unilateral measures, other countries would respond, triggering a domino effect. Khor said he viewed a trade war as "a real possibility", noting that some leaders of the US Republican Party that controls both houses of the Congress would like to introduce a trade adjustment tax equivalent to a 20 percent duty on all imports entering the US, as part of their tax reform plan. "This would be really against WTO rules and will fuel outrage among US trade partners who would retaliate," said Khor. He said the US could also use antidumping and anti-subsidy measures "especially against China" to prevent steel and other products from entering, estimating that it would trigger retaliatory measures against the US. "The whole trade scene can quickly turn chaotic with a major trade war being unleashed which will not benefit anyone," he cautioned. The South Centre director agreed with Azevedo's call for more dialogue, when he noted the potential influence that digital technologies can have on world trade. "The cooler and wiser persons in the US administration and Congress and opinion makers should take concerted efforts to try to prevent the president from going down this disastrous route" of protectionism, asserted Khor. SHIJIAZHUANG - The management committee of Xiongan New Area has announced that a special company has been established to fund construction of the area. With registered capital of 10 billion yuan ($1.47 billion), China Xiongan Construction & Investment Group is a state-owned company. The Hebei provincial government approved its founding in July. The company will raise fund to build houses and apartments, develop the Baiyangdian water area, and to build transport links, energy infrastructure and public facilities in Xiongan. China announced plans in April to establish the Xiongan New Area, a new economic zone about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. It covers Hebei's Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties. BEIJING - China's machinery sector reported better-than-expected performance in the first half of 2017 although high costs and financing difficulties continue to weigh on profits. Profits of machinery manufacturers amounted to 857.6 billion yuan (about $127.6 billion) during January-June, up 14.69 percent year on year, according to the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF). The main business revenue came in at 12.51 trillion yuan, rising 11.6 percent from the same period last year, with that in agricultural machinery, combustion engines, construction machinery and instruments all seeing double-digit growth. Chen Bin, deputy head of CMIF, attributed the improvement to business innovation and transformation, as well as a low comparison base last year. But high labor and logistics costs, and financing difficulties were still a trouble for the industry, Chen added. He predicted both business revenue and profits in the sector to expand 8 percent, with exports in 2017 to end two years of negative growth. The sector's recovery came as China's economy has gained a steadier footing in recent months, with growth expanding 6.9 percent for the first half of 2017, better than market expectations. China's artificial intelligence-focused startups received record financing of 19.3 billion yuan ($2.87 billion) in the first half of 2017, with mid-and late-stage deals dominating across the period, according to a recent report. The same report predicted that the industry is very likely to "enter an adjustment period" in the next half year. According to a report conducted by itjuzi.com, a Chinese website dedicated to tech-investment data, the number of deals in AI-enabled startups in the country reached 96 in the first six months. Top verticals include healthcare, automobile, security, finance, logistics and warehousing. The nationwide dealmaking spree echoed China's ambitions for core AI industries. In July, the central government outlined a national plan aiming to grow the industry to 150 billion yuan by 2020, 400 billion yuan by 2025, and 1 trillion yuan by 2030. Yang Lei, managing director of Northern Light Venture Capital, said the company has been paying close attention to AI startups with domain expertise at a basic level. "Underlying technological innovations often provide high barriers of entry, and could compete with tech heavyweights," Yang said. "In this sense, any breakthrough would count for much." Also, the venture firm, which oversees 10 billion yuan, is eyeing opportunities on the application layer. "Self-driving technology is a trillion-dollar industry In this category, startups adept interdisciplinary connection and vertical integration can stand out," Yang said. He cited Drive.ai, which is creating artificial intelligence software for autonomous vehicles using deep learning. According to itjuzi.com, AI in intelligent robotics is the leading category for deals in 2017 so far, accounting for nearly one-third of total deals. Companies leveraging natural language processing, a subset of AI, received the most capital. Part of the reason behind the forecast of an "adjustment period" lies in the imbalance in cash flows between the well-funded and early-stage companies, the report said, citing latest figures. Almost 60 percent of the capital went to the top five companies in terms of funding. By contrast, only 21 percent flowed to AI-related startups in series-A round and earlier, which are still relatively nascent and account for 77 percent of total deals. Some businesses in computer vision and image, cloud computing equipment, natural language processing and aided driving are poised for growth. Those focusing their efforts on sensor components, laser radar, and technological platform are still at early stage. There are two bottlenecks, according to Yang Lei, that slow the commercialization of advanced AI technologies. "The existing computer architecture, the theory behind the design of a computer, is not specially built for AI applications. The other one is the lack of talent (among people who are) knowledgeable about both technology and industry development," Yang said. A patient is transported at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Monday in Hong Kong. The smaller poster lists recommended precautions during the flu season. ROY LIU/CHINA DAILY Concern has risen in Hong Kong over the outbreak of seasonal influenza, but officials said that reports comparing it to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003 are misleading. In Hong Kong, 324 summer flu-related deaths were recorded from May 5 to Aug 6, according to the Centre for Health Protection under the special administrative region's Department of Health. The number of deaths during winter flu season reached 442 in 2015 and 171 in 2016, according to CHP records. Some news reports last weekend said that the summer flu in Hong Kong had killed more people than the SARS epidemic did in 2003. But Guan Yi, director of State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Center of Influenza Research at the University of Hong Kong, said the two numbers are not comparable, and added that such coverage "exaggerated the situation" and would create unnecessary public fear. Guan said the deaths caused by summer flu often involve senior citizens, a high-risk demographic, many of whom have chronic diseases and a weak immune system. Summer flu can trigger other complications that can cause death, he added. During the SARS epidemic, however, the virus was much more potent and killed people of all ages, Guan noted. In 2003, SARS claimed 299 lives from March 10 to June 23 in Hong Kong, killing 17 percent of those who got sick, official data show. The CHP estimated that the death rate for summer flu this year would be less than 2.1 percent, given that most patients would recover in two to seven days. The death rate in past flu seasons has ranged from 1.9 percent to 3.3 percent, according to the CHP. The summer flu season is expected to continue for the next few weeks, CHP officials said. In Shenzhen, meanwhile, the disease control and prevention department issued its highest-level alert for the past three weeks for seasonal flu, and it warned that the situation bears watching this week since the number of infections is still expected to increase at a high rate. However, Song Tie, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the situation this year is similar to that of previous years, except that the peak has come later. Seasonal influenza usually breaks out between May and July in southern Guangdong province, but the peak may come earlier or later depending on the particular strain of the virus, said Kong Dongfeng, associate senior physician of the communicable disease control and prevention division of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The most prevalent influenza virus this year is the H3N2 virus, accounting for 75 percent of the cases in Guangdong, with children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic diseases being the most vulnerable groups, officials said. No statistics on deaths were released. Last month, 1,468 influenza cases were detected at Shenzhen ports of entry, compared with 848 cases in June, both representing significant growth compared with a year earlier, according to the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. Influenza-like illnesses represented 4.64 percent of all the outpatient cases in the city from July 26 to Aug 1, according to official statistics. The figure for the previous week was 4.98 percent. Guan, from Hong Kong, suggested that people take Tamiflu, an antiviral medication used to treat and prevent influenza A and influenza B, once they experience such symptoms as runny nose, coughing, fever and other flu symptoms. Wu Peishan (right), a beekeeper in Yichun, Heilongjiang province, checks the status of the bees and honey on her farm last month. Wu returned to her hometown from Beijing to start the beekeeping business in 2014. [Photo by Cai Cheng/For China Daily] Having worked and lived in Beijing for years, Wu Peishan decided to change direction and dedicate herself to the simple life - beekeeping in her hometown of Yichun, Heilongjiang province. In the process, she dramatically lifted her income and that of others. "My hometown is known as the 'forest capital' and has high quality honey because of the vast forest, but few people know that, and many prefer to pay a lot of money to buy imported honey," said Wu, 35. "That's unfortunate." Forests cover 84.4 percent of Yichun's 33,000 square kilometers, making it one of the greenest cities in China. Wu worked with beekeepers to produce sealed mature honey, which contains no additives, and then sell it for 1,000 yuan ($149) per kilogram. They are able to ask a high price because of the pollution-free environment from which it comes. The beekeepers' earnings have at least doubled since they started working with Wu. "Many people go far away to dig for gold, but they ignore the treasure in front of their door," she said. "In Yichun, there is a huge potential for development." She said she and others plan to build a special town with a honey theme, where visitors can enjoy the green forest and experience the honey-making process and other activities. The city's population has shrunk from more than 1.3 million before 2000 to 1.21 million, mainly because of a declining logging industry. "But we have confidence that many will come back as we boost our economy," said Han Ku, the city's mayor. Many other skilled young workers plan to start new companies. In July, the city government invited many Yichun-born entrepreneurs to return and found many to be enthusiastic. Others have returned to find jobs at new plants. Gao Chunlei returned after 11 years to make sculptures in a factory - "because I earn more and have more benefits". Zhou Liyong, owner of the plant where Gao works, said he gives workers better welfare benefits to keep them with the company. "We need them during our expansion," Zhou said. City in Northeast China returns to GDP growth as it changes strategy When Yichun, a border city in Heilongjiang province, banned logging in 2013, it lost a strong economic engine. But it forged ahead with green growth, ecotourism and better use of the byproducts of its forests. "We've changed our minds and are utilizing our natural resources," said Han Ku, the city's mayor. "Our green resources and beautiful nature - the forests, mountains and rivers - have become the drivers of sustainable growth." Since 1958, when the city was established, Yichun has provided China with about 10 percent of the timber used in construction, 270 million cubic meters in all, making a significant contribution to the nation's growth, according to the city government. Yet the excessive deforestation that occurred over the decades dragged the economy down in the 1990s. "We were in a severe crisis, and many people had to leave the city for work," Han said. The population fell from around 1.3 million at the time to 1.21 million today. In 2010, the city banned the cutting of a protected species commonly known as Korean pine. In 2013 it banned the commercial use of any timber obtained from natural forests, two years ahead of the rest in China. The moves gave the forests time to recover, with the coverage growing slightly from 83.9 percent of the city's area in 2013 to 84.4 percent last year. Yet it also cut economic growth, which was fueled by timber sales. "That pushed us to find a sustainable solution," the mayor said. Since then, Yichun has explored other avenues related to forestry, such as developing tourism based on its beautiful scenery, forest foods like pine nuts and blueberries, as well as the planting and processing of traditional medicinal herbs. In addition, the industries the city developed are also environment friendly, Han said. "No polluting companies are allowed to produce, and the existing companies - including mines - meet the standards for waste discharge." After working in this direction for years, the city has finally seen tourism boom in the first half of this year. More than 4.45 million tourists came to the forestry city and spent more than 357 million yuan ($53 million), an increase of 30.4 percent year-on-year, according to the Heilongjiang Bureau of Statistics. GDP from the service sector now accounts for about 40 percent of the economy, becoming the major pillar of Yichun's economy. The city saw its GDP begin to recover in 2016 after years of shrinking. In 2014, GDP growth plummeted 9.4 percent from the previous year. The slide continued in 2015, to 2.7 percent. But in 2016, GDP grew by 1 percent, and then strengthened. In the first quarter of this year, it grew by 4.8 percent, followed by 6.2 percent growth in the second quarter. "The recovery proves that the path we chose is working, and we plan to do more. In one to two years, we will become the new engine of Heilongjiang," Han said. In China, many cities with rich forest resources thrived in the lumber industry but then slid back due to environmental deterioration. "Among their economic restructuring options, it's a common practice to develop tourism, as Yichun has, to sustain economic growth and protect the environment - a good choice," said Wang Cheng, a researcher at the Forestry Research Institute. But to sustain tourism over a long period, cities need to develop their own unique features and diversify their forestry services, he said. zhengjingran@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily 08/08/2017 page5) Beijing has unveiled its first batch of 682 civilian firefighters, recruited from the ranks of former soldiers and local youth. Fire and rescue services in China are permanently staffed by soldiers of the Armed Police Force and fall under the Ministry of Public Security. However, in April, the Beijing city government approved a plan to recruit civilians as firefighters under contracts. Former soldiers under 38 years old who previously served in fire brigades account for 20 percent of the new recruits, while civilians under 30 from Beijing represent 80 percent. "It's necessary to recruit these firefighters because the officers and firefighters in active service are too few," said Liu Wuliang, director of the civilian-staffed fire brigade. "The number of fire protection sites increased after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and we need more firefighters on duty." The firefighters passed a strict three-month selection process, including interviews, health checks, fitness tests and psychological tests. The enrolled firefighters joined a monthlong intensive training program in July, during which they went through enhanced physical training, including pushups, situps and running. Basic skills required for firefighters were also practiced, such as wearing breathing apparatus, connecting fire hoses and using personal rescue ropes. The firefighters were also required to walk into high-temperature rooms and find and rescue people in dense smoke in a simulated environment. "The training in July was the first phase of our training plan. They will receive the second phase of training after they are assigned to different fire squadrons," Liu said. The firefighters work under contract for three years, and will be assigned to fire squadrons around Beijing, he said. They will work four days on duty and two days off, and are on call 24 hours a day when at work. The income of the firefighters is around 100,000 yuan ($14,900) per year before taxes. Cheng Si contributed to this story. The political advisory body in Shanxi province confirmed media reports on Sunday about an official who took money through social media platform WeChat. Xing Yanjun, who works for the Shanxi Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was found to have received 500 yuan ($74) through WeChat, the committee said in a statement. "The personnel department and the disciplinary department of the committee have asked Xing to return the money and make a thorough self-criticism. The disciplinary department is still looking into the matter and will make a decision in line with relevant regulations and discipline," the statement said. Xing, who held a position equivalent to a township-level government official in the administrative body of the committee, had also taken a part-time job at a private tutoring organization for public servant examinations, it said. A preliminary investigation by the committee found that Xing received 58 red envelopes with cash from a WeChat group to celebrate his birthday on June 23. A report by Beijing News cited screenshots of a WeChat group called "Public Servant Xing Yanjun", which has 460 members - students from the tutoring organization. The report said a member named "Xing Yanjun" asked anybody who had failed to send congratulations on his birthday - along with a so-called red envelope, or money - to quit the chat group. Jiang Ming'an, a law professor of government administration at Peking University, said public servants are strictly prohibited from benefiting from jobs outside the organizations they work for. According to the Public Servant Law, public servants are prohibited from holding positions in any organization that is for profit, and they are not allowed to take part in any outside activity that is for profit. Jiang said staff members who work for the committee are public servants who must abide by the law. He said the law does not apply to members of the CPPCC (the political advisory body) because they are not employees of the administrative body of the CPPCC. An astronomer in Shanghai has voiced his concerns over an exercise in a science textbook that requires primary school students to document their observations of the moon. In Summer Vacation Life, published by Shanghai Educational Publishing House, first-grade students are required to observe the shape of the moon between 7 pm and 9 pm for 28 consecutive nights. But Tang Haiming, secretary-general of the Shanghai Astronomical Society, said the task is misleading because the moon rises at a different time every day. For example, people living in Shanghai were able to see the moon rise at 9:04 pm on July 12 and set at 7:32 am the next day. On July 13, it rose at 9:42 pm and set at 8:32 am the next morning. Students were also asked to leave the space empty if rain or clouds prevented them from seeing the moon. They were required to guess the shape of the moon later based on their observations during the 28 nights. Tang said this may mislead the students, who might think the reason they could not find the moon between 7 pm and 9 pm was bad weather, instead of the fact that the moon actually rose after 9 pm. "It's a shame that the editors do not have enough knowledge about science, and that such a mistake was made in a science book," said Tang, adding that the mistake was due to the education system that doesn't focus on detailed scientific knowledge. The publishing house could not be reached for comment by publication time. Tang said that a representative from the publishing house has contacted him, telling him that it was organizing a group of experts to re-examine all science-related subjects in the book, and was studying how to improve students' interest in science. Some parents in Shanghai said even many adults would not have noticed the moon mistake. "I helped my child observe the moon every day, but I didn't realize that the moon can't be seen on some nights during the specific time slot because it rose at a different time," said Wang Shanshan, a mother of a first-grade girl in the city's Xuhui district. "I was ashamed because I thought it was due to the weather conditions." Wang suggested that the school organize a one-day field trip to an observatory in Shanghai to increase students' interest in astronomy. He Qi contributed to this story. Housekeepers and nannies line up at a domestic service job fair in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, in February.[Photo provided to China Daily] Domestic workers in China's financial capital are now subject to a code of conduct, as Zhou Wenting reports from Shanghai. Last month, for the first time in the local industry's history, the Shanghai Changning District Homemaking Service Association released a 50-item code of conduct for housekeepers and nannies. The code was introduced five days after a housekeeper in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, was arrested for allegedly starting a fire in an apartment that killed a mother and three children ages 11, 8 and 6. Breaches of the code range from having a criminal record to providing employers with false information, such as on resumes, health records or fake ID cards. Those who attempt to break a contract to secure a pay rise or ask to borrow money from employers will also be blacklisted. New employees registered with any of the more than 300 agencies for domestic workers represented by the association will need to provide proof of a clean criminal record via documents issued by the police department of their home region. "The standards will be promoted citywide soon," said Zhang Baoxia, secretary-general of the Shanghai Home Service Industry Association. The domestic worker in Hangzhou, surnamed Mo, was charged with arson and theft. Although she told police she was addicted to online gambling, her motive for allegedly starting the blaze remains unknown. The incident caused a sensation because housekeepers are initially strangers to the families that employ them, but they usually have direct contact with all the members. In time, many become accepted as part of the family, Zhang said. According to a poll conducted by the Family Development Research Center at Fudan University in Shanghai and published in December, about one in five families in Shanghai employ or plan to employ domestic workers or nannies. That's mainly because a growing number of couples are planning to have a second child, and also because China's population is aging rapidly and more people require care. Complaints, constraints Zhang said: "The fire prompted widespread discussion about the frustration of trying to find an ideal nanny who is always on time, is honest and can cook and clean professionally. We drew up the code of conduct to set more constraints on housekeepers, and raise service standards in the industry." Most of the complaints agencies receive from clients are about housekeepers who fail to arrive on time, but leave before the end of their arranged working hours, and some of them "tend to dilly dally", he added. Last year, when she became her elderly mother's full-time carer, Shanghai resident Chen Yan hired a housekeeper to clean for two hours a day. The housekeeper, who was in her 30s, was slow and unhelpful. "She spent the second hour mopping the floors of my apartment, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. That was fine, but she was very slow and it seemed as though she needed a short rest after every single movement," said Chen, 57, a retired accountant. "Moreover, she looked at the clock on the wall every five minutes to ensure she left at the exact minute the two hours expired." Chen ended the woman's contract after a month. Zhang said the number of complaints about other incidents, such as stealing, is relatively low. Xia Jun, president of the Shanghai Changning District Homemaking Service Association, said the organization receives at least one such report from clients per month. For four years, Zhong Ling, who lives with her husband and two children in Shanghai, hired a housekeeper to clean her home every day. The arrangement worked well for a long time, but in May last year, Zhong realized that two of her dresses were missing. She didn't pay much attention until two more went missing three months later. After that, the thefts didn't stop. Instead, they became more frequent. In November, Zhong couldn't find a necklace she had bought, but had never worn. She had placed it in a jewelry box in a drawer. "I asked the nanny if she had seen the necklace. She suddenly became very angry. She shouted, "You cannot doubt me. My job is not of high rank, but you must not insult me," said Zhong, a 46-year-old homemaker. However, a week later, the housekeeper asked whether the diamond on the necklace was real. "That was illogical because I don't think she had seen the necklace, so she wouldn't have known there was a diamond on it," said Zhong, who admitted that she doesn't like to find fault with others. As she didn't have hard evidence that the clothes and the necklace had been stolen by the domestic worker, she was prepared to let the matter ride. "But the maid's attitude toward us quickly deteriorated, and she didn't take the job as seriously as before. I thought it was her way of manufacturing an excuse so we could fire her. As a result, I ended her contract," she said. Range of harmful products will be banned under new green comprehensive guidelines China has been among the world top exporters and importers for years. But standards remain high and the country has recently come out with a document that announces the banning of certain types of imports. "Foreign garbage", environmentally hazardous solid waste, will be entirely banned from entering China by the end of next year along with stricter management on solid waste imports. Imports of environmentally hazardous solid waste to China, divided into 24 main categories, will end by the end of 2017, and imports of solid waste that can be replaced by domestic resources will end by 2019, the State Council, China's Cabinet, announced on July 27. The banned categories include waste paper, plastics as well as raw textile materials. "There has been related regulation and legislation on the banning of solid waste already, but this time the guideline is a much more comprehensive one which will see more regulations," said Liu Hua, director of the pollution prevention program at Greenpeace's Beijing office. China started to import solid waste from 1980, when the country was still running as a planned economy and there was a lack of a variety of productive resources. As the country gradually developed its market economy and robust growth became the norm, along with reform and opening-up, China has become self-dependent in many sectors of resources, and the government has been improving the regulatory system in defining the exact types of solid waste that can be imported to China due to environmental concerns. Imported waste still exists in some major industries, such as paper making. And the main reason is due to comparatively lower prices, Liu said. Zhou Hongchun, a researcher on social development at the Development and Research Center under the State Council, said during an interview with China Economic News that there are still a large number of private companies illegally importing solid waste. He said that the imported solid waste, in most cases, often mingles with other waste, and this can pose a severe threat to the environment. Figures from the Ministry of Environmental Protection show that last year the amount of solid waste that China imported accounted for about 56 percent of the total amount of solid waste produced globally. Most of this waste was from developed countries. Statistics also show that more than 90 percent of solid waste produced around the globe is sold to developing countries. According to the new plan, by the end of 2019, the country will phase out imports of solid waste that can be replaced by domestic resources. At the same time, international cooperation on returning the garbage will be enhanced. "Imports of solid waste that can be hazardous are now imported into China both legally and illegally, and both channels will more or less harm people's health and the environment," Liu, from Greenpeace in Beijing, said. "If these wastes are imported in legal channels that means it will go through a series of processes when imported, and will harm people's health during the process. And if this waste is imported illegally, that means it does not even go through the necessary processing." The release of the new guideline came after China notified the World Trade Organization on July 18 that it will ban imports of solid waste, including waste plastics, unsorted scrap paper, discarded textiles and vanadium slag by the end of 2017. Border controls on "foreign garbage" will be intensified, and severe punishments will be imposed on the reselling and illegal processing of imported waste. There is still some illegal smuggling of "foreign garbage" into China for profit, especially in certain industries. "This is mainly because imported waste is still at a lower price compared to domestic raw materials," Liu said. He suggested the adoption of a more effective approach to improve the garbage classification status in China. Figures from the Ministry of Environmental Protection show that in 2015, a total of 185.6 million metric tons of household garbage was produced from large and medium-sized cities in China. "Most of this garbage is not well classified and was not reused. If garbage classification can be improved, the amount of waste that can be reused will greatly increase," Liu said. The State Council, China's cabinet, released the results on Friday of a nationwide review on government websites, which was conducted in the second quarter of this year. The results showed that 36,916 government websites were in operation, with 2,133 affiliated to State Council departments and 32 portal websites for provincial-level governments, as of June 1. A random review of 524 websites, conducted by the State Council's general office, indicated that 94 percent were qualified, 3 percentage points higher than the first quarter. Disqualified websites found in the first quarter's check were rectified, the notice stated. A guideline for government website development has been implemented and all departments' websites have opened a channel for internet users to report mistakes found on these sites. The past quarter also saw 96 percent of government websites above county level and for ministerial departments under the State Council had a highlight section to release the State Council's major policies, up by 6 percentage points from the first quarter. Of these, 89 percent posted major policies within 24 hours of the initial release. In the second quarter, 8,618 valid messages were sent to report mistakes and 97 percent had been corrected. Meanwhile, more than 150 officials have been punished or warned for running disqualified websites. The notice also published other problems in some websites, including lack of updates right after the review, shutdowns without approval, and posting commercial advertisements. Governmental departments running these websites were asked to impose stricter regulations and rectify problems found in the review, the notice said. Environmental regulations The State Council released on Tuesday an amended regulation on environmental protection for construction projects, which will take effect on Oct 1. The decision on the amendment was approved at a State Council executive meeting, which was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on June 21. Some articles were revised, deleted, combined or added with new provisions based on the old regulation. The amendment requires construction companies to submit environmental impact reports, and governmental departments involved in environmental protection should adopt high-tech measures to evaluate these reports at any cost. For any changes to nature, scale, location and manufacturing process of construction projects or measures used for preventing pollution and ecological damage, the construction industry should re-submit the reports. If construction begins five years or later from the approval date, relevant governmental departments should recheck the evaluation and levy no extra charges, according to the new regulation. The document said environmental protection facilities built for the construction projects, which cannot be put into operation without approval, should also be inspected, an added article said. It also required construction companies to disclose the reviewed reports, except those required to remain confidential because of national concerns. A ceremony is held for the opening of the world's first Xiongnu museum in Hohhot, capital city of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on August 5. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The first museum on Xiongnu, otherwise known as the Hun tribes, opened in Hohhot, capital city of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on August 5. The Xiongnu, an alliance of nomadic tribes, emerged at the end of the third century BC, and had a huge impact on the history of China and the world. The Xiongnu Museum, built inside the famous Zhaojun Museum tourism area, is located on the outskirts of Hohhot. Wang Zhaojun, who also went by the name Wang Qiang, was a concubine to Emperor Yuandi during a time of hostility between the Hans and Xiongnu in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC AD 24). She volunteered to serve as an ambassador for peace, leaving the imperial court for the frontier to marry the Chanyu, chieftain of the Xiongnu in ancient China. Wang has since been a symbol of harmony among the different ethnic groups in China. A large number of Xiongnu cultural relics are being exhibited at the Xiongnu Museum. The building of the museum also marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, highlighting the nation's ethnic harmony and unity. BEIJING China will support the country's booming car-sharing industry and standardize its development, according to official guidelines released Tuesday. Unlike traditional car-rental services, car-sharing services take advantage of new technologies such as global-positioning and mobile Internet. Such services improve user experience and offer an alternative for urban commuting, easing growing demand for private cars and parking space, according to guidelines released jointly by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Car-sharing firms should improve their services by checking the identity of users carefully and optimizing the supply of cars by using big data analysis, according to the guidelines. They should also ensure the safety condition of the cars, and protect private information and user deposits. Companies are encouraged to use a credit-based model to evaluate the reliability of users instead of requiring them to pay guarantee deposits. In terms of parking, public parking lots in shopping centers and large residential areas are encouraged to offer space for shared-cars, while incentives will also likely be given to such cars for on-street parking. Companies are also encouraged to use new energy vehicles (NEVs) as shared-cars, with support given for charging facilities of NEVs. The guidelines followed the release of similar rules on bike-sharing services last week, which aim to help development of the industry. China's sharing economy has been rising rapidly recently, with bike-sharing companies such as ofo and Mobike attracting overseas investments. The country's sharing economy witnessed a total transaction volume of 3.45 trillion yuan (about $514 billion) last year, more than doubling that of 2015, according to a report released by the State Information Center in March. BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines which is the rotating chair of the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (ASEAN), on the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN. "On this occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN, I would like to, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people and in my own name, express warm congratulations to you, and through you, to the governments and peoples of the member states of ASEAN," Xi said in the message. Since its establishment half a century ago, ASEAN has kept developing and enlarging itself, building itself into a community. It has played an important role in maintaining regional peace and stability, and has become a representative force for multipolarity development of the world, Xi said. China wishes ASEAN to achieve new greater development in its construction as a community, make greater contribution to promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity, and bring more benefits to the peoples of all ASEAN member states, according to the Chinese president. Since the relationship of dialogue was established between them in 1991, China and ASEAN have adhered to the theme of cooperation and development, with mutual political trust keeping strengthening, and pragmatic cooperation yielding fruitful results, Xi said. The China-ASEAN relationship has become the most dynamic and most profound one among ASEAN's relationships with dialogue partners, he added. China is willing to continue sticking to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and take the 15th anniversary in 2018 of the establishment of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership as an opportunity to build a closer community of common destiny together with ASEAN on the basis of what has been achieved so far, and with the focus on the future, in order that it will become a paradigm of communities of common destiny in Asia, Xi said. Related story: Xi congratulates Rwandan president on success in reelection BEIJING -- China's central government has pledged to promote traditional opera in schools. Primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities will give students the opportunity to watch traditional opera free of charge in 2017, according to a guideline jointly issued by the publicity department of the Communist Party of China and the ministries of culture, education and finance. By 2018, students in all schools and colleges nationwide can watch an opera free of charge every year. The campaign for traditional opera to reach students will be common in all schools by 2020, according to the guideline. The guideline also urges schools to strengthen the creation of opera interest groups. It called on the joint effort of the government, education, society and individuals to support the campaign. The guideline also encourages investment from enterprises, social organizations and individuals. There are hundreds of forms of local opera in China, with Peking Opera the most famous. Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera are listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. BOGOTA, Colombia - It is not yet dark, but the two girls sitting at a table in a Bogota bar flick on the lamp on their wooden table. It is the signal to the bartender that they want a drink, in Colombia's first-ever bar for the deaf. The Sin Palabras Cafe Sordo - No Words Deaf Cafe - is the first of its kind in the country, said Maria Fernanda Vanegas, one of its three owners. By Zhang Yu and Yuan Hui in Alxa, Inner Mongolia | China Daily | Updated: 2017-08-08 08:22 A major Chinese chemical company will increase production of indigo dye to cope with rising demand as it expands its export base. Taixing Taifeng Chemical Co Ltd is the world's leading producer of indigo, a deep blue dye used in the production of denim jeans for brands such as Levi Strauss & Co and Lee. With a manufacturing center in Alxa in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the company's annual output is more than 30,000 metric tons of indigo products. That translates into 60 percent of the global market. World Baijiu Day will be held on Aug 9. [Photo provided to China Daily] World Baijiu Day, now an annual event on Aug 9, will have its most international flavor ever this week, with a venue in South America joining in the festivities for the first time. "We do our fair share of Asian fusion cocktails," says Nicolas Constantin, head bartender at 430 Ramen & Drinks in Buenos Aires, "including with baijiu, shochu, awamori and Korean sojou as well as traditional Asian liquors." The tasting at the 430 Asian fusion restaurant and bar will include Luzhou Laojiao, ByeJoe and Hong Xing baijius as well as some "small qu" and rose-infused baijius from South China. "We are trying to increase our baijiu portfolio as much as possible," he tells Beijing-based event organizer Jim Boyce. Boyce launched the global celebration of baijiu three years ago, with participants hoping to raise the profile of the world's most-consumed spirit. Despite its popularity in raw numbers, the liquor is mostly consumed in China and the Chinese diaspora and is little-known in drinking cultures beyond, such as the US, Europe and Australia. Due to renovations slated for Wednesday, Compass Bar in Shenzhen kicked off World Baijiu Day early, and offered a lineup of baijiu-based cocktails through Monday. Events on the day itself include a pop-up baijiu bar from 10 pm at Beer's Nest 1 by Chengdu Food Tours. There will be range of baijiu and infusions, made with everything from peaches and cherries to mint and peppercorns. There will also be a guided tasting that evening at Yi Jia Cafe. For a city-by-city listing of events around the world, see www.worldbaijiuday.com. Many bars have challenged each other to think "beyond ganbei", with the Chinese white spirit finding its way into cocktails, infusions and liqueurs, pizza, beer and chocolate. Many venues will offer flights to introduce new baijiu drinkers to the different varieties of the alcohol, which is usually but not always sorghum-based. North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon, Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Brunei Darrussalam's Foreign Minister Lim Jock Seng, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi link arms during the Gala Dinner of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings in Manila, Philippines, August 6, 2017.[Photo/Agencies] At their meeting in Manila on Sunday, the foreign ministers of China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations spoke highly of the achievements made in China-ASEAN ties over the past 15 years and agreed to push their cooperation to an even higher level. They also expressed satisfaction over the framework for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and agreed to make joint efforts so that their negotiations on a code of behavior in the waters can be started within the year. As a hard-won result achieved through the joint efforts of the two sides to reach an agreement, the document mirrors the shared commitment to build peace and stability in the waters demonstrated by China and the ASEAN countries recently. It seems, however, that Vietnam almost put a spanner in the works by attempting to push its own agenda during the meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers. According to media reports, Hanoi struck a less harmonious note by hypocritically trying to insert tough language criticizing China's island building in the South China Sea, something Vietnam did first, resulting in a delay to the issuing of their joint statement on Saturday. But with none of the other ASEAN members being like-minded, Vietnam's proposed phrases were not included in the communique released on Sunday. As one of the 10 members, Vietnam should well know that it is by emphasizing consensus that ASEAN has become a major force in promoting integration and maintaining peace and stability in the region. Vietnam's attempt to sow seeds of discord does a disservice to itself, the other members and the region. Since last year, tensions in the South China Sea have been ratcheted down due to the dedicated efforts of China and ASEAN to resolve their differences through dialogue, and both sides have been seeking to expand and deepen their cooperation. With the situation in the South China Sea having "stabilized remarkably", as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted on Sunday, Vietnam should look to the future and focus on the bigger picture. By readjusting its approach and attitude, and sincerely joining hands with the other ASEAN members to consolidate the positive progress made in ASEAN-China ties over the past year, Vietnam can help raise China-ASEAN relations to a new level. China and ASEAN celebrate the 15th anniversary of their strategic partnership next year. By strengthening the synergy of their development plans and focusing on the Asian values of reciprocity, solidarity and good neighborliness, they can lead the process of regional integration and fully demonstrate its value. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012, China has adopted an active approach to diplomacy both globally and domestically. While President Xi Jinping has left his mark and voice in almost every corner of the world thanks to his many foreign visits in the past five years, China has hosted close to 10 signature events of global or regional importance, with consistent focus on China-related and multilateral issues, since 2014. The concept of "host diplomacy" was put forward by Foreign Minister Wang Yi in early 2014 while talking about China hosting the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building in Asia (CICA) summit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in the same year. Host diplomacy can be defined as diplomatic events hosted or initiated by a country that has the ability to set and execute agendas, which other participants find attractive and are willing to support. China's host diplomacy began with the hosting of the fourth CICA summit in Shanghai on May 20-21, 2014, which focused on security. On Nov 10-12 the same year, Beijing hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting with a focus on Asian economy. China's host diplomacy intensified in 2015 when it hosted four international events-China-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit, which focused on deepening Sino-Latin American cooperation; Boao Forum for Asia, where Xi articulated the concept of "a community of shared destiny"; the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45); and the Fourth China-Central-Eastern Europe Leadership Summit (16+1) with a focus on the Belt and Road Initiative. By the time the G20 Leaders Meeting was held in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, in September last year, China's host diplomacy had matured. Many consider the Hangzhou meeting to be the most significant event the People's Republic of China has hosted. And China's active approach to host diplomacy enabled it to successfully hold the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May this year. These events provided China with platforms to propound its approach to world affairs. The platforms also helped Beijing develop and strengthen an international mechanism for deepening cooperation between China and other countries, especially its strategic partners. Beijing's approach to host diplomacy is infused with Xi's concepts of the Chinese Dream and a "community of shared destiny" which China is determined to realize. For example, to realize the Asia-Pacific "community of shared destiny" Xi presented a new framework for Asian security at the 2014 CICA summit, which comprises "common security, comprehensive security, cooperation security and sustainable security". Xi's ideas on global governance, such as common security, peace, cooperation, and a community of shared destiny, and his concept about the new engines of globalization such as peace and collaboration, openness and inclusion, mutual trust and mutual benefit, and interconnected innovation for sustainable development, are all aimed at erasing "the deficit of peace, the deficit of development, and the deficit of governance" in the world. By making efforts to remove such deficits, China has taken the first step toward building a world of peace, prosperity and openness, promoting interconnected innovation, and charting new courses to global civilization, which Xi said will signal a new era for humanity. Beijing's host diplomacy is global diplomacy at its best. It will help China to not only achieve its two centennial goals of building a moderately well-off society and accelerating socialist modernization, but also to realize the rejuvenation of Chinese nation and a world community of shared destiny. Perhaps, after the 19th CPC National Congress, China's host diplomacy will play an even greater role in building a more prosperous China and a more prosperous world. The author is an adjunct professor at the School of Journalism and Communication and a fellow at the National Academy for Development and Strategy, Renmin University of China. By Long Guoqiang, DRC The support of Asian countries is crucial to China reshaping the Asia-Pacific regional order, which has been dominated by the United States. Despite the many political and strategic differences between Beijing and Washington, China has developed into a global power based on its growing economic, political and military strength, and its rise will help improve the regional and global order. But China's national strength is yet to be proportionally translated into its global influence. Most Asian countries have welcomed China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, because it is expected to boost their respective economies. Still, many of them are cautious about regional security because of China's increasing national strength and engagement in regional and global affairs. The changed attitudes of the Philippines and some other countries that have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea can hardly be interpreted as Beijing having the capability of setting the security agenda for the Asia-Pacific region. Instead, those countries' changed attitudes can be seen as a prudent move to safeguard their own national interests in order to bargain with the US. Thanks to China's unprecedented economic growth over the past more than three decades, its diplomacy has focused more on trade and economic relations, and less on political and strategic leverage. As a result, despite being the biggest trade partner of most Asian countries, China is far from being their first choice when it comes to political and military cooperation, which reflects the "dualistic pattern" of Asian countries when it comes to economic and political relations. The imbalance in China's national strength and its impact on international and regional relations is also affecting the development of the Asian economy, as Washington consolidated its alliances by excluding China from US-dominated regional cooperation mechanisms, such as the Lower Mekong Initiative, or has been trying to dilute Beijing's influence in regional arrangements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, by enlarging regional cooperation mechanisms with its allies. The Belt and Road Initiative, which highlights Asian countries' strategic position and is aimed at intensifying regional economic integration, also symbolizes the change in China's promotion of its national strength and soft power. To expand its influence, China has to compete with the most powerful country, the US, which has been upgrading its defenses in the Asia-Pacific region thanks to its military superiority and a far greater say in international relations. The Asian countries, if they support China's peaceful policies, and the strategic resources China has invested in international relations can narrow the strategic gap between Beijing and Washington. Chinese culture, which is being appreciated across the world, especially in East Asia, can play a significant role in expanding China's influence through the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Besides, convincing Asian countries of the need to help China spread its win-win cooperation strategy can work better than defense policies and deterrence mechanisms, because it can convince even small and medium-sized states that they have considerable power to enhance or damage the major nations' strategic policies. But the key reason for China occupying the center stage in Asia in the long run is to bridge the gap with the US in terms of political and military influence, as well as to maintain an edge in economic development. The author is a researcher on Asian economic studies at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. SINCE THE BEGINNING of July, Xi'an-based newspaper Chinese Business View has published a series of reports about local communities and revealing quite a number of them lack proper fire prevention arrangements. The newspaper comments: Fire prevention is of the utmost importance. That's why the law requires the fire prevention facilities and arrangements in residential communities to be checked regularly. However, the situation is rather bad in certain communities in Xi'an. Some have their fire exits blocked, the fire hydrants of some need repairing, and the property management staff of some have not received training about what to do if there is a fire. It should be noted that the failure of one community in fire prevention may threaten others. If a fire breaks out in one community and the community fails to extinguish it, the fire might spread to neighboring communities. Reports show that there are two main problems. First, some communities have never passed the fire prevention tests, yet they still allow people to reside in the buildings. That practice is against the Fire Prevention Law. Second, some communities have passed fire prevention tests, but have failed to maintain their fire hydrants, sprinkler systems and other firefighting systems. As a result, even though they get an "OK" in the fire prevention tests, if a fire does break out it cannot be extinguished. In both cases people think they are being protected when actually they are not. It is time to correct these wrongs. The local law enforcers must be stricter with communities that fail fire prevention tests, and hold more frequent inspections, so as to ensure that fire prevention arrangements of residential communities are effective. A performance takes place during the opening service of the German protestant church congress Kirchentag in front of the Reichstag building, the seat of the lower house of parliament in Berlin, Germany, in this file photos. [Photo/Agencies] TWO CHINESE MEN, aged 36 and 49, were arrested by local police for taking photos of each other making a Nazi salute outside the Reichstag, seat of the lower house of Parliament, in Berlinan illegal act under German laws. Beijing News commented on Monday: The consequences following the two men's illegal behavior in the front of a German historic building came as a shock to some Chinese netizens, who argued a little tolerance should have been exercised in the handling of the incident. However, what the two men did was more than taking cellphone pictures of each other. They will know what salute they were making, even if, as they claim, they were unaware of the German laws prohibiting the use of certain symbols and gestures. Germany has strict laws on hate speech and symbols linked to Hitler and the Nazis. Using Nazi symbols, slogans and gestures violates the post-1945 laws of the country, as does promoting Nazi ideology and beautifying war criminals. Those denying, publicizing, or playing down the Holocaust, can be charged with sedition and put behind bars for five years. The Berlin police did their job by holding the two accountable for their Nazi salutes. Since the end of World War II Germany has not just reflected upon its war crimes but also gone to great lengths to eradicate its Nazi "legacy". The country's zero tolerance toward any attempt to resurrect Nazi culture shows it is serious about breaking with that part of its past. That is why Germany has been accepted by the international community as a normal state again. The two Chinese tourists are now free on bail, which was set at 500($590) per person, according to reports. They could face a fine or a prison sentence of up to three years for "using symbols of illegal organizations", according to the German police. But it is not a case of Germany being intolerant, rather it is upholding laws that everyone must adhere to so that the specter of the past is not given a new form. SEOUL - South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks over the phone on the Korean Peninsula issues, Moon's office said Monday. The two leaders held the telephone conversation for 23 minutes from 4 pm local time (0700 GMT), according to the presidential Blue House. Before the talks, Moon had a separate telephone dialogue with his US counterpart Donald Trump earlier in the day. During the talks with Abe, Moon said the Korean Peninsula issues should eventually be resolved through negotiations in a peaceful, diplomatic way, reiterating his stance shown in his previous dialogue with Trump. Moon said South Korea, Japan and the United States should discuss strategic measures to encourage the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to come to a dialogue table for the complete dismantlement of its nuclear program. Abe said in response that finally having dialogue would be natural to resolve the issues, but he noted that it would currently be necessary to put pressure on the DPRK to make it positively respond to the dialogue. Moon and Abe shared views that strengthening pressure and sanctions on Pyongyang would be needed under the current situations. Around midnight on July 28, the DPRK test-launched what it called an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which flew about 1,000 km and was lofted as high as over 3,700 km. It was an advanced version of what Pyongyang dubbed Hwasong-14 that traveled 933 km at a maximum altitude of 2,802 km at the July 4 test-launch. On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted new sanctions on the DPRK for its recent ballistic missile test-launches. It bans the exports of seafood and minerals such as coal, iron, iron ore, lead and lead ore. WASHINGTON A federal climate report says the United States is already feeling the effects of climate change, with temperatures rising dramatically over the last four decades. That's according to The New York Times, which acquired a draft copy of the report by scientists from 13 federal agencies. The report says extreme heat waves have become more common and extreme cold waves have less common since the 1980s. It says emissions of greenhouse gases will affect the degree to which global temperatures continue to rise a claim President Donald Trump and some members of his cabinet have disputed. One scientist cited anonymously by the Times says he and other researchers are worried that the Trump administration, which must approve the report's release, will suppress it. AP Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday that "China plays a very positive role" in the region, and the Philippines is proud of its relationship with China. Cayetano made the comment when asked about China's ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a press conference Tuesday afternoon in Manila. "China has shown economic strength .... in the last decades, its economy has also fueled our growth in ASEAN, tourism from China, manufacturing, the infrastructure projects," he said. Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN's founding. The Philippines takes the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN this year. In regard to the South China Sea situation, Cayetano said "all the positive sides China has given to the relationship with ASEAN will not be disturbed" because of the disputes there. "We do not allow this to disturb our good relationships," he said. On China-Philippines ties, he said, "There is no shame having good relations with any state, even if there are disagreements". "So we are proud of our relationship with China," he added. Is China the Answer? Nine Years On. Sometimes, the answer will be yes, sometimes it will be no, and sometimes it will be something in between. For those for whom the answer is yes, the China they encounter (or continue to encounter) is one that is much changed from that of 2013. But many of the fundamentals remain the same. Keeping your nose clean is no guarantee of a smooth ride, but not keeping your nose clean is pretty much a guarantee of trouble. An article from CBCNews, B.C. winery owners facing life in Chinese prison for smuggling, shows how risky it can be to get on the wrong side of Chinas customs service. The article is on a Canadian couple facing a long jail term in China for allegedly underreporting the value of the British Columbia wine they were importing into China: A B.C. husband and wife are facing 10 years to life imprisonment in China for allegedly under-reporting the value of wine they export to that country. And the Canadian government is under fire for not doing more to help them. Chinese customs officials in Shanghai have charged John Chang, 62, and his wife Allison Lu with smuggling. Their trial is scheduled to begin May Both have been under arrest since March 2016. Chang has been in jail since then. Lu was held until January, but was forced to surrender her passport and is barred from leaving China. This case is becoming a bit of a cause celebre in Canada, as lawyers and politicians lining up behind the couple describe their detention as outrageous, excessive and a gross violation of personal liberty and security. The couple own Lulu Island Winery, which before the couples arrest claimed its exports accounted for almost 20 per cent of all Canadian wine exported to China. The allegations are that a certain brand of ice wine in Canada had been declared at around 10 Yuan a bottle (under $2 Cdn), when it was worth many times that amount. Many in Canada see this case as a political one and calls are going out to get Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to intervene. One Canadian politician is quoted as saying the Trudeau Liberals are mishandling the case by treating it as a consular issue, instead of a serious trade dispute. The Canadian lawyers for the couple have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the Canadian government for not holding China customs to account. The lawyers also submitted a briefing paper to the Canadian government that hints the couple became a target of Chinese wrath because they maintained their innocence and further stating that many other foreign winerieswere similarly charged but released shortly after admitting to the underreporting and payingfines.' We used to write fairly often about foreigners getting caught for China customs violations, but we mostly stopped when the number of such cases began to decline. But since Trumps election as President, we have seen a rapid uptick in China customs problems at least for U.S. companies. But in terms of how to avoid China customs problems, what we wrote in a 2013 post, entitled, China Customs Problem? Keep Your Mouth Shut! still holds true today: The point is that no matter how warm and fuzzy you want to get with China customs, it has zero desire to get all warm and fuzzy with you. Their goal is to fine you as much as they can and then maybe just toss you in jail for good measure. Their goal is to make their quotas and you are their quota. If China customs comes gunning for you, seek help and fast. So what can you do to avoid a major China customs problem? The following is the bare minimum: 1. Do not underreport or in any other way lie to China customs. China customs is really good at discovering the truth and they like pretty much everyone else do not like those who try to dupe them. What always shocks me is not that the companies that come to our China lawyers after having been caught by China customs were caught by China customs, but their shock at having been caught. If your website says you sell your widgets for USD$1850 and you declare their value with China customs at USD$450, you will get caught. If you have a valid basis for pricing your product differently for China (maybe the product just looks the same as the one on your website, but it isnt) you may be able to avoid a customs problem. But if you dont, you are in trouble and saying that everyone else does it or that your Chinese general manager told you to do it is not a defense. 2. If China customs seems to be coming after you, it almost certainly is coming after you and the odds are good they are thinking about criminally prosecuting you. In other words, if China customs questions something you did, they are likely gathering up evidence to proceed against you criminally. And at this point, there two things you should do: shut your mouth and get a good lawyer. 3. And if you did violate China customs laws, it often makes sense not to claim innocence because China goes much easier on those who confess. The article above hints at this But before you admit anything, get a lawyer because there are right and wrong ways to admit to things. Be careful out there. A majority of pastors dont believe volunteering at church can take the place of tithing, according to a recent study. But most of all Christians dont seem to share the same view. The Barna Group study released on August 1 explored differences between pastors and Christians in general when it comes to giving. It found that while 67 percent of pastors strongly disagree with the idea that it is okay for members to volunteer for their church instead of giving financially, the general Christian population was more nuanced in their responses. Only 10 percent of Christians strongly disagreed with the idea, and 11 percent somewhat disagreed. The largest proportion (31 percent) neither agreed nor disagreed. More than a quarter (29 percent) somewhat agreed that volunteering can substitute for financial giving, and 18 percent strongly agreed. Barna pointed to the fact that more pastors speak about volunteering than about tithing at the pulpit, and that that may be one factor for the gap. Only 39 percent of pastors say they or other leaders speak from the pulpit about tithing or giving to the church at least once a month (17% once per month, 22% multiple times per month), the study states. But more than six in 10 say they or other leaders speak from the pulpit at least once a month on the topic of volunteering (35% once, 27% multiple times). So, by their own estimates, pastors talk about volunteering much more often than they talk about financial giving. Thus, its no surprise that at least some of their congregants believe serving is an acceptable substitute for tithing, it added. The study was also quick to note that those who were more generous financially to the church were also more likely to be generous with their time and energy in volunteering. For instance, 45 percent of those who give more $2,500 or more annually to the church said they volunteered within the past week. Only about one in five (21 percent) of those who give less than $50 to the church annually said the same. Meanwhile, numerous other aspects regarding giving was explored in the study. For instance, when asked what generosity always is, Christians were more likely to say that their giving is always a spur-of-the-moment action (11 percent, compared with 2 percent of pastors), and driven by compassion (40 percent, compared with 30 percent of pastors). The largest proportion of both pastors and Christians said that generosity is always a response to Christs love (66 percent and 47 percent, respectively). Ive reached that stage in my ministry when it feels like I have more time behind me than in front. I know this isnt really true. I realize I am wending my way toward eternity where I will serve God perfectly and without distraction. But for now I seem to be running out of road, and I wonder why I was in such a hurry to get here in the first place. Like most leaders, my interests and aspirations have skewed toward the future. I have prayed for it, planned for it, and expended most of my ministry effort trying to put it into effect. In the process, I have learned an important lesson: the future never really arrives. The days marked on the calendar eventually arrive. The plans I make come to fruition (or else fail). Yet as far as my experience goes, I remain firmly rooted in the present. What is the future but the now we have not yet come to know? Likewise the past is merely a succession of presents we have left behind. I have been scattered in times I do not understand, ... You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe to Christianity Today magazine. Subscribers have full digital access to CT Pastors articles. 1 home World Cambodia orders closure of Christian anti-trafficking group following CNN report on sexual slavery The Cambodian government ordered the closure of a Christian anti-trafficking charity last week after it was featured in a recent CNN report that highlighted the plight of young girls being sold into sexual slavery by their own mothers. The country's authoritarian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for the closure of Agape International Missions (AIM), which was featured prominently in the recent CNN report that highlighted the situation of three girls who were reportedly sold into sex slavery by their impoverished family members. The report, which was initially headlined "The Cambodian girls sold for sex by their mothers," sparked outrage on social media because one of the victims spoke Vietnamese. The word "Cambodian" was later removed from the headline, according to Phnom Penh Post. "This is a serious insult," Hun Sen said, ordering the interior and foreign ministries to launch an investigation. "In many countries, for only drawing cartoons their magazine must be shut down, but in our country, we are insulted [to the point of] saying that mothers sold children to become prostitutes. We cannot accept this big insult, and we are going to close the NGO involved," the prime minister went on to say. AIM, which is based in California, was launched in Cambodia in 2005 by American Pastor Don Brewster in an effort to fight child trafficking in the country. Brewster said that the organization, which is mostly focused in the Svay Pak area near the capital city, has so far rescued more than 700 people. He asserted that Svay Pak was once the "epicenter" when it comes to child sex trafficking. "We would say when we came [to Svay Pak] it was 100% -- if you were a girl born here, you were going to be trafficked. We would say today it's significantly below 50%," he said. The pastor said that the trafficking is no longer taking place in brothels, but he warned that it is now being conducted in hotels, where it is harder to detect and to prevent. The CNN report, published on Aug. 1, featured a girl named Sephak, who said that she was only 13-years-old when she was sold for sex by her mother. Ann, the girl's mother, said that she sold Sephak for $800 because she saw no alternative as she has debts to pay. Ann said that she pressured her daughter to work in a brothel, but said that she later regretted her decision. Sephak, now a woman, has since joined AIM to help other survivors earn money by making bracelets and clothing. AIM has reportedly worked alongside local anti-trafficking police in raids to free victims. The organization claimed that it has rescued 600 people last year, and has received multiple letters from the government thanking the charity. Brewster was unable to comment on the prime minister's order, but two AIM workers, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they would be disappointed if the charity were to close. "I would be afraid to lose this NGO. I would be very sad if I lost my job. This is very important for the community," one worker said. "For children who have a lack of warmth from their family, we teach them," said another. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Sending your teenager to a Houston-area high school can be a battle, quite literally. More than 70 percent of the top 30 worst-behaved high schools in 2016 belonged to the Houston and Aldine Independent School Districts, according to an analysis conducted by Chron.com using data obtained from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The data provided by TEA included the total number and type of suspensions at Houston area high schools and provides a breakdown of offenses students committed. For most schools, students were disciplined for violating its code of conduct. Drug and fighting-related offenses were next on the list. Now Playing: The Hearing by members of the Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Security began with a moment of silence. Video: Fox7 Aldine had the most schools make the list with 12 followed by Houston with 10. Aldine had the second worst behaved school with 56 percent of MacArthur Ninth Grade School's 1,118 students getting in trouble in 2016. A large majority of the total number of infractions were for violating the school's code of conduct (2,442) followed by incidents involving a controlled substance (16) and fighting (12). THE BEST: Ranking the Houston high schools with the best teachers The 623 students who were disciplined at MacArthur Ninth Grade in 2016 committed 3,052 infractions. A request for comment was placed with Aldine ISD's administration. Houston ISD's press secretary Tracy Clemons' provided the following statement Wednesday morning. "The TEA Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) data report associated with student behavior lags one year for all school districts in Texas," Clemons said. "Current TEA reporting for student behavior does not include data from the most recent school year in which HISD implemented a suspension ban for its youngest students, the Social and Emotional Learning department and revisions to the code of student conduct." CHANGES SOUGHT: Santa Fe ISD parents demand more communication, security upgrades At the top of the list was Clear Creek Independent School District's Clear View, which is a school that only admits at-risk students, principal Michael Houston told Chron.com. The school conducts interviews with all students who are admitted, which often includes men and women who are overage, pregnant or have a child, on probation or on parole, homeless, failed two or more classes during a previous semester or year and student with behavioral issues. Clear Creek questioned the accuracy of the data TEA provided to Chron.com. "Clear View High School is an exceptional school for students who have perhaps not been successful in a traditional high school setting," the district said in a statement. "The school operates under great leaders with high expectations for students. One such expectation is that all students arrive to school on time, every day. After eight instances, students are assigned to In School Suspension (ISS). This may be why Clear View High School's ISS rate may stand out from others. The actual cases of discipline matters are commensurate with schools in Clear Creek ISD." Houston ISD's worst behaved school in 2016 was Yates with 49 percent of its student body (1,075) getting in trouble. The largest high school to make the top 30 was Alief Independent School District's Elsik High School. The school has 39 percent of its 4,667 students get in trouble in 2016. See the slideshow above for breakdown of the 30 other Houston-area high schools that made the list. If you thought hospitals in Houston were exempt from visits by the city health inspectors, think again. Chron.com has searched through the last seven months of routine reports prepared by the Houston Health Department, and found that slimy ice, food not safe for human consumption, and bad hygienic practices have occurred even in healthcare environments. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Through God's love and its parishioners on a mission, Conroe's Sacred Heart Catholic Church is expanding to meet the future needs of the congregation and the entire community. "Most people don't realize that Sacred Heart has about 7,800 families - which is about 20,000 people - who go to church here," said Eileen Borski, pastoral associate at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The church campus also hosts approximately 9,000 meetings a year and conducts community outreach projects like English as a Second Language classes, immunizations and much more. To meet the needs of the growing congregation and the growing community, the church is in the midst of a multi-phased master plan to expand the campus. The first phase, "Hearts Like His" included the construction of a new St. Vincent de Paul Society building to better serve the needs of those in need, the auditorium at the school was renovated and a security fence was added around the school and St. Joseph's Workshop opened to provide ongoing care and maintenance of the parish. This phase has been completed. Phase II, "God's Love, Our Mission" included relocating church offices to the former Lone Star Clinic Building on FM 2854 and creating a Parish Life Center there. This has taken place opening up many possibilities for meeting spaces. Also, a major project in Phase II is the construction of a new 1,500 seat sanctuary that will be located at the corner of FM 2854 and Frazier Street on the current church campus. However, church leaders and parishioners are moving forward while reflecting on the early souls who established the parish. Early formation of Sacred Heart The parish of Sacred Heart was originally named St. Mary of the Woods for the Blessed Mother and in reference to the original setting in Conroe, a small town in the pines. The church began as a mission to two neighboring parishes, St. Mary's in Plantersville and then St. Joseph's in New Waverly, dependent on priests from these parishes to visit and celebrate sacraments with Catholics living in the Conroe area. Both of those churches still flourish today. Father Joseph Kline from St. Mary's rode on horseback from Plantersville in 1898 to celebrate the Anointing of the Sick for Nellie Madeley, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Madeley, who was dying. Some of the first church gatherings were held in the Madeley home. Sacred Heart officially became a parish in 1916 and the first pastor, Father Wilhelm, was appointed to care for the growing parish. He accepted the assignment that included the building of a new church to seat around 200 people at the present location on Frazier, moving from the first location on the northwest corner of Main and Avenue G. A new brick church was built in 1934 and continues to serve the church for music ministry and as a gift shop. The land and site for the present church location was donated by the McDade family, according to a passage in the Montgomery County History Book published in 1981 by the Montgomery County Genealogy Society. Bishop C.E. Burne dedicated the church and consecrated the alter on Nov. 9, 1935. Oil developer George Strake made a substantial gift to the church as did Mrs. Blance Bender who donated the main alter in memory of her husband. The first permanent pastor of Sacred Heart was appointed on March 19, 1943 when Fr. Thomas M Cemon was assigned to Conroe. Development of Sacred Heart School In January 1951, Rev. Timothy Cronin was appointed the second pastor and served there for 17 years. It is reported the church grew both spiritually and physically during his tenure. Father Cronin, aware of the need of Christian education, encouraged his longtime friend Mrs. Blanche Bender to build a school which was completed in 1959. In September 1959, Sr. William Mary was the first principal. In September 2008, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese, lead a Mass of Thanksgiving in celebration of the school's 50th anniversary. The school today serves children in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade at the campus on the church grounds. Deb Brown is the principal of the school. A Mother's Day Out program also provides care for children 18 months to 4 years old. Continued growth Over the next 40 years, the parish saw significant growth and they recognized their mission to build a third church, the existing church, in 1972. They built a church to hold 750 people. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. This current church remains the main sanctuary today and the explosive growth of this area has brought about a need for a larger sanctuary which is now under construction. It's a master plan that has been in the works since Monsignor Dave Kennedy and Father Hubert Kealy lead the church. It's a vision now continued by Pastor Philip Wilhite who has been at Sacred Heart for six years. "As a mission we were 25 souls and have now grown to be 7,800 families from Conroe, Montgomery, Willis and Cut-n-Shoot," Wilhite said. "We are called to lovingly sacrifice to care for our needs and for the future of our parish family. With our faith firmly in God and our trust completely in His grace, we say: YES, God's love is our mission." The 1,500 seat sanctuary is being built at FM 2854 and Frazier Street. In addition, a daily Mass Chapel will be adjacent to the new sanctuary and it will be a replica of the first 1916 church. It will seat 150 and can be used for daily mass, weddings and funerals. According to Borski, everything will be of the 1916 period inside the chapel. "We always want to point back to the community that was a foundation for our faith today. It was those 25 souls who started this parish," Borski said. "Their love allowed it to grow to 7,800 families today and we're grateful and we want to remember that." The new sanctuary and chapel are scheduled for completion in July 2018. Following the completion of the new church, the current church will become a Fellowship Hall. Visit www.shconroe.org for more about Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A rapper who reportedly bragged about getting shot 10 times and surviving each time was fatally shot while picking up pizza. News station WSB-TV reports the rapper known as Yung Mazi, real name Jabril Abdur-Rahman, 31, was shot to death before 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, across from an Atlanta police precinct. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Coldspring/San Jacinto County Chamber of Commerce welcomes the Subway restaurant located in Coldspring with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 3. Subway restaurants are the product of a 17-year old entrepreneur's dream to pursue his dream of becoming a medical doctor. Fred Deluca opened the first restaurant with his partner, Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. The restaurants specialize in creating subway sandwiches, providing a variety of breads, meats, cheeses, vegetables and toppings to make a customer's ideal sandwich. Subway also makes salads with much of the same variety a customer can find in their sandwiches. The Coldspring restaurant is partnered with Midway, which is a chain of convenience stores owned by the Singh and Mittal families. "Currently we have 28 locations," said owner Hartej Singh. "We've been in business for 25 years. The company acts as acts as a one-stop shopping experience. The Coldspring location is partnered with Subway and Zipps Liquor to provide this experience and often serves as a gas station to its customers. "Our whole goal is to have at least two stop points for each customer," said Singh. The Coldspring Subway restaurant is located at 14901 SH 150 Coldspring, Texas, 77331, and is managed by Maria Santoyo. For more information, call 936-653-8610. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Five teenagers have recently been arrested in Friendswood in three cases - robbery, burglary and road rage. Robbery On Aug. 4, three male suspects tried to rob the AT&T store at 101 W. Parkwood. The three entered the store and grabbed display merchandise. As the three ran for the door, they collided with each other and dropped the merchandise. Two suspects got away and fled in a black SUV, but a store employee was able to detain the third, a 15-year-old Houston boy who is now charged with robbery. More Information See More Collapse CAUGHT IN THE PARK: 5 Friendswood suspects get creative during foot chase The 15-year-old suspect also bit the store employee while he was being detained, police said. He was already on probation in Harris County for theft and vehicle theft, and is believed to be part of an organized theft ring in the area. The teen was sent to Galveston County Juvenile Detention. Burglary On Aug. 5, a 14-year-old Friendswood boy was charged with burglary after he and a 14-year-old Pasadena boy allegedly broke into the Friendswood Little League board room and concession stand at Renwick Park, 205 Stadium Lane, on Aug. 3. The teens allegedly stole five laptop computers and candy, and sprayed fire extinguishers inside the building. They were caught when the Friendswood teen's father found Facebook Messenger messages about the crime, including a message that one of the laptops had been sold. Four laptops were recovered at the Friendswood boy's house. The Pasadena teen admitted to selling the fifth laptop and will also face charges, police said. Road rage, aggravated assault Jose Miguel Pena, 19, of Beasley, was charged with theft of a firearm and a 16-year-old Webster teen was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm after the two reportedly pointed a gun at another driver after cutting the victim off on a Webster roadway. Two handguns found in the suspects' vehicle on July 27 were found to be stolen, police said. A police officer had stopped the vehicle, a red truck, when the officer saw the vehicle driving recklessly in the 3700 block of FM 528. The gun-pointing incident was reported to police at the scene of the traffic stop by the victim, a Friendswood medic who saw the stopped truck and pulled over to talk to the police officer. The medic reported seeing a red laser light from a gun on his chest during the road rage incident. The same 16-year-old juvenile was listed as a suspect in another road rage incident where a gun was fired at another motorist on July 24 at approximately 8 p.m. in the 3700 block of W. Bay Area Blvd. During this incident, the victim told police that he was exiting Grissom Road, turning onto W. Bay Area Blvd when a silver older model four-door Toyota Corolla was driving erratically, ran a stop sign and turned east onto W. Bay Area Blvd. A passenger in the victim vehicle said that he saw a male lean out of the suspect vehicle with a black gun that had a laser under the barrel. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Change has rocked the staff at KPFT 90.1 FM for three solid weeks and on Monday morning, the financially troubled radio station's listeners will hear some of those changes. The mostly volunteer-run station currently leans heavily on progressive talk, with programs devoted to the drug war, vegan lifestyles and the LGBT community. But KPFT's music programming gets better ratings and more listener support. Starting Monday, music will occupy more of the station's prime daytime hours. Weekdays on KPFT, said Larry Winters, KPFT's interim general manager, will become "a little more listenable, a little less helter-skelter." Story continues below... Winters, who's been manager for three weeks, said he will cancel, move or shorten programs that aren't successful, give better time slots to programs that are, and add popular syndicated programs. One of the biggest changes in store: Roark Smith will return to host "Wide Open Spaces," an Americana/roots music program that has three times earned him best disc jockey honors at the Texas Music Awards. Smith quit his popular show and left KPFT in disgust last fall. "I was just frustrated," he said, watching the station sink at least $200,000 in debt while the board was hobbled by infighting. "I said, 'Look. If you guys can get on a decent path, I'd love to come back, but things are just really chaotic right now." Now, with Winters at the helm, he believes KPFT is on the right track. "I was just happy to see change." But the chaos Smith cited hasn't disappeared. If anything, it's more visible. The turmoil started July 14, when KPFT's interim general manager, Obidike Kamau, was fired after just three months on the job. Bill Crosier, the interim executive director of KPFT's parent company, the Pacifica Foundation, said Kamau was hired to come up with a plan to get the station out of debt, and he hadn't done so quickly enough. Crosier appointed Winters to take Kamau's place. THE TURMOIL AT KPFT: What we know, what we don't Station employees, listeners and volunteers immediately staged a protest, demanding that Kamau be reinstated. When Crosier let go of three more staffers the following week, police were called to settle a disagreement at the station's Montrose headquarters. Kamau's supporters, including board chairman Ted Weisgal, didn't want Winters to be general manager. And they oppose the changes he's making to the station's programming. The station's bylaws say the local board of directors should be involved in "making sure the programming meets the geographic and demographic needs of the community," Weisgal said. "So now we have this new person who has not gone through any of the vetting process to become the general manager," Weisgal said. "He's coming in and he thinks he has the magic Midas touch. I don't know what his plan is going to be, but whatever it is, it has not been brought to the board." The KPFT local board plans to meet Wednesday night to discuss the station's future. But Winters, a longtime KPFT deejay before his sudden promotion, said that he couldn't wait until then to start turning the station around. KPFT is now "debt neutral" thanks to the firings in July and a reduction of some staffers' hours, he said. Now it's time to design a station that can attract more listeners and earn their financial support. KPFT needs to focus on "broadcasting than narrowcasting," Winters said. Over the years, the station has given air time to so many people that the programming has started to serve "real small, narrow agendas," he said. "We want to be something for everybody," he said. "We want to be accessible to the community. But we can't be everything for everybody." CHICAGO (AP) Chicago officials say 29 people were arrested and 234 were taken to hospitals during this year's Lollapalooza music festival. Melissa Stratton is spokeswoman for the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications. She said Monday the arrests were for theft, battery and drug possession. Another 29 people were issued citations, most for jumping the fence around the festival and trespassing. Harris County officials on Tuesday pushed back sharply against complaints from county peace officers that they are underpaid, saying the pay raises requested would cost more than $62 million a year. The Harris County Deputies Organization which represents 1,700 jailers and deputies first raised the issue in late July, when the organization's leadership sent a pay study to commissioners showing deputies and jailers make significantly less than peace officers working in comparable departments, making it hard to attract top talent and damaging public safety. But in a letter to Commissioner Jack Cagle Tuesday responding to his questions about the peace officers' concerns, county budget officials said the deputies were telling a one-sided story. "A key takeaway is that the salary comparison shown by the HCDO provides an incomplete and misleading picture of the county's law enforcement compensation," according to the memo. Some county commissioners, however, said they would consider bumping the pay for starting deputies for an estimated $2 million per year. The HCDO analysis showed that deputies and jailers make on average 18 to 24 percent less than their peers in large, urban departments, and leaders called for increases across the pay scales to bring local salaries in line. The deputies argued that because of the county's vast size, population, complexity, and high call volume, they should be compared to other large Texas cities. County officials, however, said Tuesday that a truer comparison would be to other nearby sheriff's offices. The budget office is still reviewing records to produce a comprehensive report. HCDO President David Cuevas said Tuesday he had not yet seen the letter but would be reviewing it. The memo acknowledges that a deputy's first year pay of $44,866 lags other nearby jurisdictions though it rises to $49,338 in deputies' second year of work. Raising the low pay of first-year deputies would cost the county approximately $2 million annually. Fixing wages across all pay grades would exceed $62 million annually. County officials also challenged other data in the pay study. Although HCDO officials argued that low pay is driving away peace officers and making it hard to attract top talent, the memo points out that the sheriff's office and constables offices have increased their ranks by more than 1,000 employees in the past five years. During the same period, peace officer pay has risen between 19 percent and 30 percent during that same period of time, and employees have seen a 10 percent across-the-board pay increase along with step increases, raises due to promotions and increased longevity pay. In the past year, the sheriff's office has lot only 1 percent of its employees to resignations, the memo said. The average length of service to the county from its deputies runs approximately 16 years. "I wanted something that was more of an apples-to-apples comparison," said William Jackson, the county's chief budget officer. He said the deputies' pay study did not include incentives specific to Harris County, such as step increases and other pay raises or note other steps the county has taken to respond to employee concerns, including new parking, absorbing rising health costs, and stepping up court security. County officials said a massive, system-wide pay increase would not be feasible. "I believe it's a very bold move by the HCDO to propose at this time a plan to ask commissioners court to approve a $62 million pay raise," Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack said. "And I can say with some certainty, we can't afford [that] with all the other demands we have." Jackson said he would propose increasing starting deputy pay. "If we can bump up on the front end, if that's a major concern $2 million out of a budget of half a billion dollars, I think that's a good way to invest some money and help out those starting people," he said. Radack likewise said he would vote to raise starting deputies base pay. "That looks like something we certainly need to address and as we get more information on it, I would personally vote to approve those funds for that," he said. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said deputies at a minimum need a sustainable salary that allows them to live in Harris County. "The hardworking folks who dedicate their careers to maintaining our county should receive a competitive living wage for their work," he said. St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com. As state lawmakers debate controversial "bathroom bill" legislation, a statewide interfaith coalition is weighing in against the proposal with online public service announcements that include one featuring a Pearland mother. A Senate bill that has been at the center of the legislative summer session, SB3, would require transgender people who are in government buildings, including schools, to only use bathroom facilities designated by the sexual identity listed on their birth certificates. One PSA segment, "Protect My Daughter," from the Texas Impact coalition features Kimberly Shappley of Pearland, who became a strong voice in the debate in 2016 when her then-4-year-old transgender daughter was preparing to attend Pearland ISD, where students are required to use bathrooms designated by their biological sex. Shappley said she hopes the Texas Impact campaign "opens hearts and minds" within the faith community on the issue of transgender politics as it pertains to the use of bathrooms in public schools. "It appears that the far right has been trying to make this an issue of, 'If you are a believer then you're on our side, if you're not on our side, then you're not a believer,' " she said. "They're trying to make it a test of your faith depending on where you fall." ALL BUT DEAD: Bill's supporters scramble for alternatives Texas Impact represents congregations within the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths who are speaking out against the bill. The nonpartisan group, which works to change public policies that it believes have the potential to negatively impact social justice, has called the SB3 discriminatory. In a YouTube video, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has said the bill would protect public safety and not discriminate, arguing, "It's simply common sense, common decency and public safety to protect the women of the state of Texas. BUSINESS OPPOSITION: Texas restaurant group joins fight against bathroom bill Texas Impact represents congregations within the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths who are speaking out against the bill. The nonpartisan group, which works to change public policies that it believes have the potential to negatively impact social justice, has called the SB3 discriminatory. In a YouTube video, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has said the bill would protect public safety and not discriminate, arguing, "It's simply common sense, common decency and public safety to protect the women of the state of Texas. "Adult women don't want men following them into the ladies room, nor do they want their little girls or their granddaughters being followed into a bathroom by a man," he said. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, has said there are no penalties spelled out in the legislation for individuals, but that it instead would require school districts to simply set policies to abide by the new rules. Shappley said that she strongly identifies as a conservative Christian and a Republican and argued that not all religious conservatives adhere to an intolerant view on LBGT issues. "People who have been hurt by the extremist right Christians are seeing a lot of Christ through these videos, and it's becoming impactful in that way," she said. She said of the PSAs, "It's showing them that there is another side to this, the side of love and compassion and Christ-like character toward the marginalized." To the Rev. Jim Bankston, another Pearland resident featured in the PSA series, the Texas Impact campaign isn't simply a political statement on public policy, but a call for the religious community to consider a more accepting and inclusive response to often-marginalized individuals and populations. "I think we spend way too much time making life harder for people in matters over which they have no choice - whether it's race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity," said Bankston, a retired Methodist minister. "Our tendency is to be afraid of that which we don't understand. I know it's a difficult issue, but I think our example in Jesus is to overcome those fears that cause us to lash out against those who are different in some way." When those prejudices result in laws, Bankston said, society is set back. "I grew up in Texas when we told some people where they could go to the bathroom and where they could get a drink of water, and I don't think we ought to go back to that," he said. Bunker Hill Village On 07/29/ 2017 at 3:00 am, an Officer responded to the 400 block of Tealmeadow Ct., in regards to an assault. The victim reported that a known person assaulted him but he did not desire to pursue criminal charges. The victim was transported to Memorial Herman Memorial City Hospital and a report was completed. On 07/30/17 at 1:55 pm, an Officer took a report of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, in the 11900 block of Cobblestone. The victim reported unknown persons, driving an older model minivan, broke into his vehicle, stealing lawn equipment. Detectives are investigating. Piney Point Village On 08/01/2017 at 9:54 pm, an Officer stopped a vehicle in the 200 block of Blalock, for a traffic violation. A records check conducted on the driver and passenger revealed the passenger to have an open warrant out of the Alvin Police Department. The passenger was arrested and transferred to the Alvin Police Department where they were released to the custody of one of their Officers. On 07/30/17 at 12:38 pm, an Officer responded to the 400 block of Green Point, in regards to a city ordinance violation. It was reported that an electrician was working on an electrical box, in violation of the city's ordinance. Officer made contact with the employee who immediately stopped working. Hunters Creek Village On 07/30/2017 at 12:15 am, an Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for defective equipment. While speaking with the driver, the Officer observed him to be a minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage. An intoxication investigation was completed on the minor showing no indication the minor was consuming the alcoholic beverage found in his possession. The alcoholic beverage was destroyed by the minor and he was released with citations. On 08/01/17 at 10:00 am, an Officer took a Criminal Mischief report in the 10900 block of Wickline. The victim reported that an unknown person knocked down his mailbox, causing visible damage. Detectives are investigating. Investigations MVPD Detectives assisted the Allen Police Department by interviewing two persons connected to a Harassment case they are investigating. MVPD Detectives investigating an Identity Theft case, reviewed bank records and obtained Harris County Grand Jury subpoenas for account information to identify a suspect. Effective Aug. 23, Miami-based ocean carrier Seaboard Marine will begin offering two weekly sailings to Costa Rica, with the first providing three-day transit to Puerto Limon, departing from PortMiami each Wednesday with cargo availability Monday mornings. Miami-based container carrier Seaboard Marine is enhancing its Miami South Central America loop later this month by offering service to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, the company has announced. Effective Aug. 23, Seaboard Marine will begin offering two weekly sailings to Costa Rica, with the first providing three-day transit to Puerto Limon, departing from PortMiami each Wednesday with cargo availability Monday mornings. Additionally, Seaboard Marine will continue to offer a second weekly sailing with three-day transit, departing PortMiami each Friday with cargo availability Tuesday mornings in Puerto Limon. Seaboard Marine will now have the fastest transit times in the region with the most frequent sailings, company Vice President of Central America Jose Concepcion said in a statement. The expansion of this service provides our valued customers in Costa Rica additional opportunities to improve their supply chain performance. Further, as an added plus, our northbound transit from Manzanillo, Panama has been reduced to a fast three day transit to PortMiami. News of the new Costa Rica sailing comes just weeks after Seaboard Marine announced that it was launching a new service between PortMiami, Ecuador, and two cities in Peru beginning Aug. 11. The new weekly service is supported by three dedicated vessels providing direct service through the Panama Canal to and from Ecuador and Peru. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate August is here and that means kids and parents are preparing to go back to school. You may need to buy your kid or a whole new wardrobe or maybe just want to get a good deal on electronics. Either way, back-to-school deals are all anyone can talk about right now. TAX-FREE: Here are the best deals at Houston stores for tax-free weekend Some of the top retailers are featuring big discounts on popular products and we have a list of the best ones above. Clothing retailer Old Navy is featuring sales on apparel and accessories for all ages, which is rare when it comes to back-to-school deals that are usually targeted at kids and parents. Other retailers like Best Buy and Apple are featuring discounts that are tailored only for students and require students to provide a form of ID to get of the deals. See a list of the top retailers and their back-to-school sales. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate High-powered opioids have Houston city officials worried. The influx of the drugs into Houston has forced law enforcement agencies to abandon roadside drug testing, reconsider how they handle drugs during vehicle stops and elsewhere, and retool their litmus for probable cause when asking prosecutors to accept charges on drug arrests. "Fentanyl was a game changer for us," HPD Capt. Paul Follis told council members Tuesday morning. He stressed the need to equip Houston patrol officers with protective equipment. The briefing comes as fatal fentanyl-related overdoses have more than doubled across the country in recent years - to more than 2,000 deaths in 2014 and 2015. A presidential commission recently told President Donald J. Trump to declare the opioid epidemic a "national emergency," and that "America is enduring a death toll equal to September 11th every three weeks." Houston Forensic Science Center President Peter Stout said the extreme potency of Fentanyl and Carfentanil was especially concerning. "You could breathe in enough and it would be a lethal dose... you could get [enough] on your fingers, and touch your tongue, or rub your eye to absorb through the mucous membrane, and you're in trouble," he said. "This stuff is really, really scary," he said. The lab has seen one case involving carfentanil and 23 other fentanyl cases with 7 different types of the substance. The city council's public safety and homeland security committee asked for an update from the Houston Police Department about the drug's spread into Houston and the department's recent decision to end roadside drug tests. "We need to protect our police officers from accidental exposure to such drugs," said Brenda Stardig, chair of the committee, promising to speak with her colleagues and the mayor to find funding for the protective gear. "I think they need all the tools and resources to protect them and the public," she said. In May, Pasadena police seized eight kilograms of the drug, prompting that department to immediately halt roadside drug testing. In July, Houston police officers seized 11 additional kilograms of the substance -- from dealers who thought they were actually peddling or transporting heroin, he said. Records from the police department show 26 people died from Fentanyl in 2016. Law enforcement agencies around the nation have become much more cautious about handling the substances after reports that officers were sickened by accidental exposure to the drugs. The recent influx of drug so alarmed local law enforcement that the Houston Police Department and other agencies announced they would halt roadside drug testing. Fears about the potent opioids also prompted the Harris County Sheriff's Office to equip its deputies with Narcan. Read HPD's full presentation to the council below: St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com. A violent carjacker who shot a man repeatedly when he targeted a family in an attempted 2016 Houston heist was hit Monday with a 14-year prison sentence. A federal judge ordered Adarrion Christie to prison for a total of 171 months - 51 months for the carjacking attempt and 10 years for aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during a crime. In the foiled March 2016 robbery the 21-year-old and his accomplice - co-defendent Derek Harper - tried stealing a 1997 Infinity Q-45, according to court documents. Christie tussled with the driver, who refused to hand over his keys because his wife and 2-year-old daughter were also in the car, prosecutors said. When the man refused to comply with the carjackers' orders, Christie shot him repeatedly at close range with a .45-caliber semiautomatic. Harper didn't have a weapon on him, but had been ordering the victim's wife and baby out of the vehicle. After the shooting, Christie and Harper fled without the car. They were later found and taken into custody. They've been locked up ever since. In addition to his prison time, Christie was slapped with five years of supervised release and an order to pay $25,000 in restitution, according to a press release. Harper has already pleaded guilty as well and is set for sentencing in September. During Monday's court appearance, one of the victim's relatives spoke about the family's pain and suffering, and U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes admonished the carjacker while doling out a hefty sentence. "You did what you wanted to do regardless of the consequences," Hughes told Christie. A Houston woman is accused of using a Taser, a belt and slapping her 6-year-old son because he disrespected her, according to court documents. Whitney White was charged Thursday with felony injury to a child for the July "whooping," though she also admitted to police that she'd Tased her son last winter. "My anger management class told me not to Tase him but we didn't go into what else to do," the 27-year-old told police, according to court documents. When police interviewed the boy, he had a bruised face, welts on his arms, and a laceration caused by a belt. He told police his mom had hit him at home in late July. And in November, he said, his mom had Tasered him when he got in trouble at school. "From zero to 10, it hurt 10," he told police. White didn't deny her son's charges, and even expounded upon them. The latest outburst of violence came as the two were studying in preparation for the boy's first-grade year in the fall. The out-of-control mom admitted to police that during the study session she'd hit her son - but only because he'd disrespected her and refused to study. "First I smacked him with my hand and that's how he got the bruise on his face," she told police, according to court documents. "The mark on his arm that broke the skin was caused by a belt." The mom admitted to "whooping" the boy, hitting him once with her hand and five times with the belt. "It must have been too forceful because it broke the skin," she said. "It was because he told me no and that is a sign of disrespect. I am just trying to help him learn." The earlier Taser incident came after the boy got in trouble at school. "When I tried to talk with him about it, he didn't want to discuss it, and he was running away from me," White allegedly site. "I picked it up and Tased him with it." Child Protective Services now has temporary custody of the boy and his sibling, a 2-week-old baby. Both children are staying with a relative, a CPS spokeswoman confirmed Monday. "This is a CPS issue, not a criminal law issue," White's attorney Brian Warren said Monday. "It's discipline that went a little too far." His client has been taking parenting classes and attempting to comply with CPS requirements, he said. "I think she'll learn from this and she'll be a fine mother," he continued. "I do expect this case to be dismissed after Ms. White completes both anger management and parenting classes as prescribed by CPS." White was picked up by police last week and later released on $5,000 bond. She's due back in Harris County court in September. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Harris County Sheriff's Office has charged nine people in a scheme that involved stealing cars in Houston and reselling them online. According to the sheriff's office, the group - eight of whom have been arrested - would steal cars from dealership lots in Houston by making keys. The vehicles were then sold on Craigslist and OfferUp with doctored documents. NO MORE MARKERS: Houston police put an end to the use of Whataburger tents as crime scene markers Police said they've recovered 29 vehicles so far, all of them GM models. Silverados, Yukons, Tahoes and Escalades ranging from 2009 to 2014 models were among the stolen vehicles. They were mostly resold in Houston, but some went to Dallas and San Antonio. In addition to stealing the vehicles, police said the suspects were able to falsify titles. The sheriff's office said the total loss in retail value to dealers was $787,294. Buyers of the vehicles lost $229,000. Victims of the scheme include 25 dealers and 27 buyers. The accused criminals targeted recent immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries. Police said the thieves targeted immigrants, believing they wouldn't report stolen vehicles. During the investigation, the sheriff's office said the seized $8,600 in cash from the suspects. Four guns were also seized, including two AR-15s. SCHEME: Houston-based gang members ran five-state scam targeting rental cars, indictment says Police believe there are more stolen vehicles from Houston in similar illegal schemes. Investigators said they will continue to recover them. A sheriff's office representative said that it's not illegal to buy a stolen vehicle, but once the vehicle is identified as stolen, the purchaser cannot keep it. Money spent on the vehicle often times cannot be recovered since it was unknowingly given to a criminal. Police said eight of the suspects have been charged with felony theft. Some of the suspects face felony charges of money laundering. One person faces a felony charge of reporting false credit. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office Twitter account, suspect Joshua Azpiazu remains at large. He is identified as playing a role in the stolen car scheme. To avoid buying a potentially stolen vehicle, police suggest checking the vehicle's VIN number. They also suggest traveling with the seller to the Harris County Tax Office, where clerks can verify the vehicle's ownership documents. Police suggest not buying vehicles from websites and to get a copy of proper identification from the seller. Anyone with information about Azpiazu's whereabouts or the location of the vehicles is encouraged to call the sheriff's office at 281-446-4399. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Four concrete lads from Liverpool are currently standing in the backyard of one of Houston's most popular breweries. This week 8th Wonder Brewery took custody, albeit temporarily, of renowned artist David Adickes' famous Beatles statues that once stood outside his SculpturWorx workshop off Taylor and I-10. PREVIOUS: David Adickes' famous Beatles statues relocating The statues of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are currently for sale but 8th Wonder's Ryan Soroka says that the quartet are under contract to be on display in the WonderWorld event space behind the brewery. Sculptor David Adickes said on Tuesday he is selling the set for $350,000. They are about 36 feet tall and weigh four tons each. Ringo on the drums is slightly shorter and weighs a bit more. The 90-year-old who once used to pal around with Picasso created the Beatles statues out of concrete and wire about 10 years ago. They were finally removed from his old workshop space in 2015 and became somewhat of a local attraction until then. They were co-stars in plenty of engagement photos and selfies along the way. Story continues below... They have not been available for public viewing since, but now Houstonians can sip cold craft brew and stand in their shadows at least for the next year. Adickes' workshop on Nance Street is currently being condemned, he said, due to eminent domain issues related to the restructuring of I-45. RELATED: David Adickes adds "ART" to the Silos at Sawyer Yards The famous statues of president heads on that site could end up either in his hometown of Huntsville or in Fort Bend County. He would like them to stay in Houston and at Memorial Park but plans are still murky. His Charlie Chaplin statue will need to be moved as well, and he said its likely finding a home on Houston's east end. He hasn't made a Donald Trump head to go with the rest of the president heads. "I haven't found enough orange concrete yet," he joked on Tuesday. On Friday night the 8th Wonder Brewery will host a party next to the statues with Adickes as the guest of honor. He will have some of his smaller pieces of art on display and will be mingling with guests. Some Houston commuters had to forgo their kolache's early this morning and the wet weather is to blame. Kolache Shoppe owner Randy Hines, 38, woke up to a message from his baker early Tuesday morning with a iPhone Live photo of his car stranded and taking on water. Concerned for the safety of his six other employees, who all come in about 3 a.m. to start making the pastries, Hines decided to close the shop for the day. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The bloody fingerprint on the safe was perhaps the first sign that Sandra Melgar might be telling the truth about her innocence in the death of her husband of nearly 32 years. The print - spotted by crime scene investigators near the body of Jaime Melgar - was never tested as a latent print or for DNA, and the evidence later disappeared. But the missing evidence joined a string of allegations raised in court documents as Sandra Melgar braces for trial this week on a charge that she killed her husband, then tied herself up to stage a home invasion. The accusations add another dimension to one of the more bizarre murder cases in Houston in recent years. "The defendant has vigorously asserted her innocence, denied having any involvement in her husband's death, is herself a victim of a home invasion, and has demanded a jury trial," according to a discovery motion from the defense filed earlier this year. "Many items were never tested or adequately examined and/or whatever testing or examination which was conducted was itself, incomplete or inadequate." Melgar, now 57, is charged with murder in the death of her husband, 52, in their northwest Harris County home on Dec. 22, 2012, one day before their 32nd wedding anniversary. She was charged a year after the killing. Defense attorney Mac Secrest did not return calls for comment Monday, but court filings accuse investigators of failing to test the bloody print and "many" other pieces of evidence from the crime scene, despite repeated pleas. The court documents suggest the defense will argue that the Harris County Sheriff's Office misplaced evidence instead of testing it after settling on a theory that Sandra Melgar staged the home invasion. Assistant District Attorney Colleen Barnett declined to comment Monday on the case. Questions about evidence The omission of tests on the fingerprint is one of several problems with evidence stemming from the work of former homicide investigator Shawn Carrizal, who lost his job for backdating search warrants, court records show. "What appears to be bloody finger or thumb print was observed by (Crime Scene United) investigators and homicide detectives during the investigation of the handle of a safe that was located in the master bedroom closet where the body of the deceased was found," according to the defense motion. "Inexplicably, no examination was conducted for latent prints or the presence of DNA despite the fact that fingerprint ridges and grooves are easily observed on photographic evidence of the handle." In court filings, lawyers for Melgar say the print was repeatedly brought to the attention of homicide investigators early in the case. In other examples, the defense said evidence gathered by crime scene investigators was found in a filing cabinet two years after Carrizal lost his job. "This evidence had not been properly processed, catalogued and maintained," the defense argued in court records. Carrizal was a veteran of the sheriff's office who left to become an investigator at the Harris County District Attorney's Office. He was forced to resign after backdated search warrants were discovered, court records show. He was rehired by the sheriff's office, but lost his job when officials found out why he had resigned from the DA's office. The Harris County Sheriff's Civil Service Commission sustained his termination, according to court records filed by Melgar's defense counsel. Carrizal did not respond to a request for comment Monday. National spotlight on case On Tuesday, jury selection is scheduled to continue in the murder trial in state District Judge Kelli Johnson's court. Jury selection began Monday, but too many potential jurors out of a panel of 60 people were excluded to seat a jury of 12. Opening statements are scheduled for Wednesday morning. Prosecutors have accused Melgar of trying to cover up the fatal stabbing of her husband by tying herself up in a closet so they could be discovered by friends arriving for a party the next day. Friends arriving to celebrate the anniversary at the home in the 9500 block of Kelsey Meadows Court found the garage door open about 4:30 p.m. Inside, they found Jaime Melgar, tied up, stabbed, and stuffed into a closet. Sandra Melgar was bound in another closet. She told investigators she had been in the bathroom with her husband around 1 a.m., then blacked out. Her arrest more than a year after the slaying, and the allegation that she tied herself up to stage an armed robbery, made national news. The nationally televised news magazine "Dateline" is expected to cover the trial. After the arrest, Jaime Melgar's 89-year-old mother was incredulous. "How could anyone do this?" the elderly woman said in 2014. Ines Melgar said she brought Jaime and his two older brothers to the Texas area from Guatemala when he was just 3 years old. She said Jaime and Sandra were high school sweethearts who raised a daughter together. She said the couple had lived in the house about six years. The couple had a good relationship, Ines Melgar said after Sandra's arrest. The trial could last as long as two weeks. If convicted of murder, Melgar faces the possibility of life in prison. She is free on $50,000 bail. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate On Tuesday, pro-government forces intensified their assault on the rebel-held suburbs of Syria's capital, activists report. This comes a day after rebels beat back an attempted government advance, killing several soldiers. LATEST FROM SYRIA: War crimes expert quits UN panel in frustration Children in the Syrian war zone have had to see more violence in the past 6 months than most people would see in a lifetime. They are children of civilians and rebel forces that are caught in the crossfire between the rebels and the pro-government forces. The images aboves give a heartbreaking face to the conflict that can sometimes feel far away. Many of the photos show children being treated for injuries from bombs and airstrikes by the Assad government that targeted civilians and rebels. Many children have been seriously injured or have died in the attacks. CHILD BRIDES: More Syrian child brides in Jordan amid poverty, uncertainty Other images from the region show living conditions in the UNESCO border refugee camps where many civilians have fled. See the graphic photos of what Syrian children have to endure growing up in the war zones or as refugees in camps. Houston firefighters may be stymied in their push to achieve a voter-approved pay raise this November in part by a competing referendum petition that even its organizers no longer view as crucial. The fire union again accused Mayor Sylvester Turner in a Monday press conference of failing to ensure a petition they submitted last month seeking "parity" in pay with police officers of corresponding rank is certified in time to appear on the ballot this fall. Specifically, they say he has not approved funding for staff overtime that could get both measures counted by the Aug. 21 deadline to adjust the November ballot, and has not directed the city attorney to inform the city secretary whose task it is to verify the firefighters' petition that she can stop counting another petition they view as irrelevant. Turner rejects any such notion, saying City Secretary Anna Russell Houston's longest-tenured employee, with 65 years of service will pursue her duties without any input from his office. Russell says she long has counted petitions in the order they are submitted, and plans to make no exception this year; state law sets no deadline by which petitions to change the city charter must be validated. The petition that has delayed Russell's staff from starting work on the firefighters' petition calls for all city employees hired beginning next year to be given pensions similar to 401(k)s rather than traditional "defined benefit" pensions. The firefighters view the pension petition as irrelevant, because a pension reform bill Turner pushed through the Legislature this year supersedes it. "What if a charter amendment petition was filed stating that the city shall require that the Dallas Cowboys move to Houston? Would anybody suggest that charter amendment petition would have to be counted?" asked David Feldman, the firefighters' attorney. "No, because the city has absolutely no control over that." The city disagrees with that legal reading, saying the courts have suggested petitions must be verified, placed on the ballot, and then have their validity litigated only if voters adopt them. Still, an added wrinkle is that conservative activist Windi Grimes, an organizer of the pension petition effort, has said her group will not mount a campaign behind the petition even if it appears on the November ballot. That's because her group feels sufficient fiscal safeguards were added to the mayor's pension reform bill during negotiations in the Legislature, after the petition was submitted in April. Grimes' group declined to comment last week on the petition count. Despite the pension activists' position, however, Turner's spokesman Alan Bernstein said city attorneys are aware of no means by which Grimes' group or the voters who signed their petition can withdraw the document or rescind their support now that it has been filed with Russell's office. Union chief no longer under investigation The firefighters supported Turner in his mayoral bid, but the pension reform push quickly soured that relationship, and failed contract talks followed by the "parity" campaign haven't helped. One allegation left pending from last week, however, was resolved Monday. Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341 president Marty Lancton had offered to have the union cover whatever overtime costs were needed in Russell's office to count his group's petition, an offer Turner's office had interpreted as a possible "improper attempt to influence a public official." Feldman called the allegation "absurd on its face." Councilman Dwight Boykins, speaking in support of the firefighters at Monday press conference, called it "disheartening," and Lancton last week had labeled the accusation a "lie." On Monday, Bernstein said the legal department has determined it will not recommend any action against Lancton, and Turner has accepted that recommendation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate More than 1,000 heat-sensitive prison inmates will begin transferring before dawn Wednesday to air-conditioned facilities across the state following a federal judge's order to shield them from dangerously hot conditions at the Wallace Pack Unit northwest of Houston. Air-conditioned buses will shuttle the inmates starting about 4 a.m. from the Navasota facility to 11 other prisons with air-conditioning, prison officials said. All transfers must be completed within three weeks, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ruled Tuesday. Lawyers for the inmates urged Ellison to expedite the transfers given the extreme weather conditions, but the judge said the Texas Department of Criminal Justice deserved some leeway in bringing about the complex resettlement operation. "This is a massive move of humanity we're talking about," Ellison said Tuesday in Houston federal court. The minimum-security Pack facility which houses more than 1,400 inmates, many of whom are elderly, mobility impaired or have health problems was abuzz late Tuesday about the impending transfers, said Shanda Carter, whose 39-year-old husband is at the facility. Many inmates had not been told whether they were staying or going, but all had been told to pack their things and move to the air-conditioned gymnasium, she said. Inmates displaced by the transfers will move to state prisons that are not air-conditioned, officials said. But the transfers are temporary the state plans to return the Pack inmates to the Navasota site once the hot weather subsides. Breaking down heat deaths in Texas prisons Twenty-two people have died in Texas prisons from hyperthermia, or elevated body temperature, from heat exposure since 1998. Source: Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Created by Data Journalist Rachael Gleason | Houston Chronicle "The court's assumption that there are significant safety, security and health issues is a good one," said Craig Warner, one of the lawyers representing TDCJ. "It's not a process that can be accomplished in a couple of days but it can start immediately ... The court has determined that all of those people have vulnerabilities that have to be addressed." A group of Pack inmates filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in 2014, accusing the state of violating their constitutional rights against cruel and unusual punishment and the Americans with Disabilities Act after a series of heat-related deaths at prison facilities across the state. In July, Ellison issued a temporary injunction ordering the state find cooler living quarters for hundreds of inmates at the Pack Unit who take medication or have health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes that make them vulnerable to heat. The judge found the state impeded remedies and showed "deliberate indifference" to the dangers inmates faced. The suit has drawn national attention and is being closely watched by prison advocates. More than 30,000 inmates in Texas have been designated as sensitive to "extreme temperature" because of age, health conditions or medicines they take, according to state documents obtained by the Chronicle through the state open records law. Some of the inmates are already at air-conditioned facilities, officials said. In federal court Tuesday, TDCJ officials outlined for Ellison their plans for the transfers and adjustments to the heat wave policy. Officials agreed to continue talks with the inmates' lawyers to fine tune their plan to address weather emergencies, including awareness training for inmates and improved 24-hour access to respite areas during heat waves. Jeff Edwards, an attorney for the inmates, said the struggle is just beginning against TDCJ policies. "This case is not over and our case does not only concern the most vulnerable in TDCJ it also concerns everyone in TDCJ because at some point it's our hope that the agency will join the 21st century," he said. "It's not only the inmates who are at risk. The officers are at significant risk." Warner, the TDCJ attorney, said officials had been working around the clock to prepare for the transfers to prisons and jails around the state. As of Tuesday, the plan called for transferring 562 inmates to the Travis State Jail in Austin, 291 to the Diboll Correctional Center near Lufkin and 122 to the Mark W. Stiles Unit in Beaumont, which can accommodate CPAP machines and other specialized medical devices. Seven inmates who will be moved to Rufus H. Duncan Geriatric Facility and one inmate will be moved to the Estelle Unit for cancer treatment, officials said. Arrangements have also been made for a few dozen inmates in wheelchairs to be taken to facilities that can accommodate their needs, including 23 who will be moved to the Holliday Transfer Facility in Huntsville, 10 to Richard P. LeBlanc Unit in Beaumont, eight to the UTMB Hospital in Galveston, six to the John Montford Unit in Lubbock, four to the French Robertson Unit in Abilene and three to William P. Clements Unit in Amarillo. To make room for the Pack inmates, the state will transfer hundreds of inmates out of the air-conditioned facilities to the Connally Unit near Victoria, Dalhart Unit north of Amarillo and the Smith Unit south of Lubbock, according to court documents. The judge gave the attorneys 10 days to work out the details of the respite, training and heat wave program. TDCJ stated in court filings that 23 inmates have died from heat stroke since 1998, although Ellison noted in his July ruling that heat deaths are often under-reported. The Pack inmates' lawsuit is among 10 federal complaints filed in Ellison's court by attorneys from Edwards Law in Austin and the Texas Civil Rights Project. Eight families of inmates who died of heatstroke are pursuing wrongful death suits, and another inmate who survived a heat stroke has also sued TDCJ. Statewide, 17 lawsuits have been filed against TDCJ officials in various federal jurisdictions regarding heat conditions, according to documents provided by TDCJ. The family of a 36-year-old inmate, who died after an asthma attack during a heat wave, sued in Houston last week. Gabrielle Banks covers federal courts for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter @GabMoBanks or send tips to gabrielle.banks@chron.com. Tom Reel AUSTIN -- Texas State Sen. Larry Taylor pushed the House to take up his plan to study the state's beleaguered school finance formula over the interim, arguing the lower chamber's plan is too costly and doesn't go far enough. In a press conference Tuesday, the Friendswood Republican said it's time for the Legislature to begin making movement to reform the school funding system. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus met one-on-one for the first time in more than six months Monday, amid growing political tension between the two chambers as they barrel toward the end of this summer's special session. "They had a good meeting about House priorities and Senate priorities," confirmed Jason Embry, Straus' spokesman. Embry declined to detail what the two Republicans talked about. Patrick briefed his members about the meeting with Straus during a closed-door Senate Caucus meeting Monday afternoon. "The Speaker and I had a substantive meeting today where we discussed a lot of issues. We are still talking," Patrick said late Monday in an email statement. The two high-ranking Republican leaders met in Patrick's office. It marks their first meeting in months. The relationship between the two has quickly dissolved and the House and Senate have been at odds on most of the 20 items Gov. Greg Abbott wants them to take up during the 30 day special session. Texas House Monday failed to advance one of those bills Monday after it got shot down in a procedural move jeopardizing its future as the clock on the special session continued to wind down. The bill would have given residents veto power over a city's move to annex their community. Senate Bill 6 was sent back to a legislative committee for revisions with less than 10 days to go before the session comes to a close. Lawmakers are running short on time to pass bills they want made into law this special session, which ends no later than Aug. 16. Of the 20 mostly conservative issues Abbott summoned them back to Austin to tackle during the 30-day overtime, lawmakers have sent none to his desk. Among the governor's priorities is the annexation bill, which would curb power of local governments to scoop up land outside their growing city without resident's consent, allowing voters to defeat the proposed annexation through a referendum. Fans of the bill say the legislation gives people the power to decide whether they want to join the city, would which include paying into its tax base. Opponents argue the legislation impedes planning and growth for the state's growing cities. The issue has vexed the Legislature this year after Sen. Jose Menendez, Democrat from San Antonio, filibustered the proposal to death during the regular session. "Citizens have rights, the cities don't," said Rep. Dan Huberty, a Republican from Humble who sponsored the bill in the House. Houston has had a long history of annexations that later developed into growing pains for the city, which is now the fourth largest in the country. The city has doubled in size several times from annexations over the last 100 years. In the House, lawmakers attempted to carve out certain communities, but the bill was sent back to the Land and Resource Management Committee on a procedural move questioning the bill's constitutionality. The bill is one of several spearheaded by the governor to loosen cities' control. The governor also wants lawmakers to allow voters to reject certain property tax increase, stop transactions between cities and affiliates of abortion providers, chop away at tree-cutting regulations and set government spending limits. Although the annexation bill stalled, the House gave final approval a trio of education bills to the Senate Monday, including an $1.8 billion plan to revise how the state funds education and pouring $20 million into a program to help children with autism. The House's school funding bill "looks like tinkering around the edges,"said Education ChairmanLarry Taylor, a Friendswood Republican who serves in the Senate. He said his chamber wants a "ground up restructuring of how we do school finance" and instead wants to create a task force to study school funding over the interim. Asked if the Senate would adopt the House plan, he said, "I don't think we are." The Senate hijacked the House's last school funding bill, House Bill 21, during the regular session by adding a school voucher plan. The House refused to accept the Senate's version, leading the two chambers in a standoff over school finance and proving school choice. In the end, both proposals died. Mike Ward and Jeremy Wallace contributed to this report. Andrea Zelinski covers politics and education for the Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips and andrea.zelinski@chron.com. Wearing Muslim clothing that completely covers the face in public places will be banned in Latvia. August 8, 2017, 10:20 Latvia to ban Muslim clothing that covers face in public places STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 8, ARTSAKHPRESS: The respective bill, which the countrys ministry of justice has developed, has been submitted for consideration by the government, reported TASS news agency of Russia. These limitations will apply to any form of covering the face. The ministry notes that the face of a person is considered covered if it is impossible to identify his or her identity. These restrictions, however, will not apply to hats or headgears which cover only the hair In addition, being in public places with a covered face will be permitted in some special cases. 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. On August 9, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, the OSCE Mission will conduct a planned monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, in the direction of the Askeran region, on the Akna-Hindarkh road section, press service of the Artsakh foreign ministry stated. August 8, 2017, 10:47 OSCE to conduct monitoring in direction of Askeran region STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 8, ARTSAKHPRESS: From the positions of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh, the monitoring will be conducted by Field Assistants to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (CiO) Ghenadie Petrica (Moldova) and Ognjen Jovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), as well as staff member of the Office of the CiO Personal Representative Martin Schuster (Germany). From the opposite side of the Line of Contact, the monitoring will be conducted by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk and his Field Assistant Mihail Olaru (Moldova). The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have expressed their readiness to assist in conducting the monitoring and to ensure the security of the OSCE Mission members. 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. Los Angeles, Aug 8 : Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett has been roped in to play comedy icon Lucille Ball in an upcoming film, to be directed by Aaron Sorkin.The film will focus on Ball's incredible life, reports express.co.uk.Ball starred on the TV sitcoms "I Love Lucy", "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour", "The Lucy Show" and "Life With Lucy". She received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979.She was married to actor Desi Arnaz from 1940 to 1960. Actor Javier Bardem is eyed to play Arnaz in the film.Ball and Arnaz's children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr, will produce the film with Amazon securing the rights to release it. Firefighters and national chemical safety groups said they hope the nation follows Maines lead in passing a tough flame retardants law that the chemical industry lobbied against. Lawmakers on Wednesday overrode Republican Gov. Paul LePages veto of a law supporters say will reduce firefighters exposure to carcinogens. Starting in 2019, Maine will prohibit the sale of new upholstered furniture made with materials that contain more than 1 percent of a flame-retardant chemical. The restrictions dont apply to furniture used in schools, jails and hospitals; it instead goes through safety tests. The law uses about $165,000 from the states medical marijuana fund to hire an environmental specialist for two years to monitor furniture sales. A decade ago, Maine banned some flame retardants, but some firefighters say that law was insufficient to protect them from newer substitutes. Household furniture can meet safety standards without such chemicals, and smoke detectors and sprinklers not fire retardants save lives, said Portland Fire Capt. Mike Nixon. He said fire gear companies are beginning to roll out suits that keep retardants from coming into contact with skin, but added, theres still nothing perfect out there. Nixon said he was diagnosed with late stage melanoma in 2012 when he was 41 and later received two surgeries and 11 months of chemotherapy. He cant say exactly what led to his diagnosis, though a 2006 Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine review of 32 studies suggested a possible increased likelihood of skin cancer for firefighters. Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center and Prevent Harm, called Maines law the toughest in the nation at a time when cancer has become the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for professional firefighters. The Maine ban tells the chemical industry to give up its futile attempt to weaken national protections, Belliveau said. A dozen states regulate flame retardants in consumer products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Maines bill received plenty of pushback at a February hearing, where a state Department of Environmental Protection representative said the ban could endanger residents and burden regulators. Bryan Goodman, a spokesman for the American Chemistry Councils North American Flame Retardant Alliance, said the group is disappointed in a vote that could remove a critical layer of fire protection and could increase the vulnerability of Mainers when fires occur. We will continue to work with the legislature to try to effect change that will result in Mainers having access to the best available protection when fires occur, Goodman said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A Cornell University program offering college courses to inmates at four central New York prisons will receive funding through a joint effort spearheaded by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. The Cornell Prison Education Program is one of seven initiatives at 17 state prisons that will share $7.3 million over five years. Cornell administers college courses at Auburn Correctional Facility and Cayuga Correctional Facility in Cayuga County and Five Points Correctional Facility in Seneca County. The program is aiming to begin offering classes at Elmira Correctional Facility this fall. Rob Scott, executive director of the Cornell Prison Education Program, said the additional funding announced by Cuomo and Vance will allow the initiative to expand by about 50 students. "We need programs like this just to keep the doors open," Scott said of the grant. He noted that it pales in comparison to the billions invested in the broader prison system. There are already close to 75 students in the program at Auburn Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison, and approximately 55 students at Cayuga Correctional Facility, a medium security prison in Moravia. Scott said the Cayuga prison is probably most relevant to the Cuomo-led initiative because it seeks to boost successful reentry opportunities and reduce recidivism. The program at Five Points is new, but there are about 50 students enrolled in classes, Scott said. Cayuga Community College, as it is at Auburn and Cayuga prisons, is Cornell's partner at Five Points. Scott said they hope to have a graduation ceremony for the Five Points group in 2018. Cuomo has long advocated for college-in-prison programs. In 2014, he unveiled a plan to provide college courses at 10 New York prisons. He viewed it as a way to reduce recidivism and increase opportunities for inmates once they leave prison. But the proposal was met with criticism, especially from Republicans in the state Legislature who believed that state funds shouldn't be used to support college programs for inmates. Even as Cuomo's plan fell through, he looked for alternatives to backing Cornell's program and similar initiatives. The new College-In-Prison Reentry Program he announced Monday will be funded by bank settlements. "This program not only strengthens the futures of incarcerated individuals and their communities alike, but it will save taxpayer dollars in the long run," Cuomo said in a statement. Southwest Florida law enforcement agencies are checking Ford SUVs in their vehicle fleets to keep officers safe from carbon monoxide leaks. So far, no complaints of sickness have been submitted sheriffs offices in Southwest Florida, but law enforcement is checking to make sure their Ford Explorer Police Interceptor SUVs are functioning correctly. Problems with the vehicles have arisen at other law enforcement agencies, including the Austin Police Department, where 400 SUVs were taken out of service after officers began to feel sick. The problems have been reported in vehicles from 2011 to 2017. Ford has promised to work with departments. The News-Press reports Lee County Sheriffs Office has 100 of the models in use. In Massachusetts, one police department reported a crash after an officer was exposed to the gas. Police there say Ford has resolved the issue of elevated levels of carbon monoxide in its cruisers after an officer exposed to the gas passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle and crashed. The Auburn Police Department said Saturday on its Facebook page that Ford engineers and Auburn mechanics have corrected the problem. The department says it anticipates that three remaining vehicles were to be modified by Monday. Police said Wednesday three officers were hospitalized for high carbon monoxide levels, including one who passed out in a cruiser and rear-ended another vehicle. He wasnt badly hurt. Multiple Ford Explorer SUVs were pulled out of service. A Ford spokesperson says engineers found some unsealed holes from modifications made to install police equipment. Ford believes thats what caused exhaust to enter. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Contractors acting as public adjusters illegally could face class action lawsuits, according to a new decision by a Texas appeals court. The finding could result in a pool of 3000 affected customers of A-1 Roofing. The decision stems from an underlying case involving damage to the plaintiffs roof due to a May 2011 hailstorm. The plaintiffs notified their insurance carrier and signed a contract with A-1 (also known as Lon Smith Roofing and Construction) for roof replacement in the amount of $33,769.50. The plaintiffs received $18,926.69 from their homeowners insurer and paid that amount to A-1. To collect the balance owed, A-1 filed suit against the plaintiffs, obtaining a default judgment. The plaintiffs challenged the default judgment and obtained a judgment voiding it. A-1 appealed. The plaintiffs then filed a declaratory judgment against the roofer, indicating the contract was null and void since it wasnt licensed to act as a public adjuster. They also alleged violations under Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and requested class certification for both claims. According to the court, all class actions must satisfy four threshold requirements contained in the Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a): (1) numerosity (the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable); (2) commonality (there are questions of law or fact common to the class); (3) typicality (the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class); and (4) adequacy of representation (the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class) According to the court, Class-action treatment is particularly useful in this situation because it will determine the propriety of the behavior of the party opposing the class in a single action. The decision should cause roofers and other contractors to reconsider their solicitation tactics. Steve Badger, a partner with Zelle LLPs Dallas office, said the primary reason for the dramatic increase in the number of hail claims in Texas are contractors that inject themselves into the claims process. He said they solicit homeowners using door hangers, call centers, and other means to aggressively market to homeowners with the promises of a free roof. Badger said the homeowner then signs an agreement giving the contractor the right to negotiate the insurance claim and install the roof for the amount of the insurance proceeds. These types of contracts are a favorite among storm chaser contractors who travel city-to-city looking for work after hail events, said Badger. There are even seminars and entire conferences that teach contractors how to market to homeowners using these contracts. Badger brought attention to the issue of mounting hail claims in a 2015 article published by Claims Journal, The Emerging Hail Risk: What the Hail is Going On? The problem is that this entire business model is flat-out illegal, said Badger, who noted that Texas law has been very clear that roofing contractors are not allowed to negotiate insurance claims. The public adjuster licensing statute in was enacted in 2005 to curtail the unauthorized practice of public adjusting (UPPA) among contractors. The problem is so bad that a second statute was passed in 2013 stating the very same thing, Badger said. Both statutes contain criminal penalties for violators. Despite the two laws, there is little enforcement against the practice. Literally, every day I receive calls about contractors engaged in UPPA, both from insurance companies and homeowners. I routinely report contractors to the Texas Department of Insurance. The TDI will send a letter telling the contractor to stop. But thats all that happens. There is no criminal enforcement. For every contractor I turn in, there are 25 others out there violating the law with no repercussions, Badger said. Insurers are under no obligation to negotiate with contractors and Badger often advises insurers to simply ignore them. The sad calls I receive are the ones from homeowners who have unwittingly signed-up with these contractors and only later realize their contractors are hucksters, Badger said. These homeowners believe they are stuck in the contract, as the contracts typically contain a penalty provision requiring the homeowner to pay 20-40 percent of the insurance proceeds to the contractor if the contract is canceled. Badger, who has been a vocal advocate against the rampant fraud he sees surrounding hail claims, said he could easily employ a team of lawyers that do nothing else but respond to calls related to contractor schemes. I have a dozen pro bono cases in the office right now where we are helping homeowners get out of these contracts, he said. But the toughest calls are from homeowners who have had their insurance proceeds ripped off after signing up with storm chaser contractors who never came back to put on their roofs. There is very little we can do to help these homeowners. Keys is an important decision, he said. Finally, the contractor is at risk. With this decision, there is now a strong body of case law in Texas helping consumers fight back, Badger said. The homeowner is no longer stuck in the contract. The homeowner can now argue that the contract is void, illegal and unenforceable and simply walk away from it. Badger is hopeful that the threat of lawsuits and class actions will cause contractors to think twice before engaging in UPPA. This opinion is a game changer. Under this decision, Lon Smith has to return all payments it has received from every single one of its homeowner clients who signed one of these illegal contracts. Every single dollar paid must be returned. That will be millions of dollars, Badger said. Now, every contractor in Texas who has employed this illegal scheme is at risk of similar lawsuits. Even if this decision deters contractors from engaging in this of type illegal conduct, Badger said storm chasers and scammers will continue to operate under the radar and perpetuate the scheme. Well continue to knock these off one at a time, said Badger. But only when the Texas legislature finally realizes that we must have roofing contractor licensing and regulation, will Texas homeowners finally be protected from these crooks and frauds. The Court of Appeals case is Lon Smith & Associates, Inc. and A-1 Systems, Inc., DBA Lon Smith Roofing and Construction v. Joe Key and Stacci Key. BEACHWOOD, Ohio - The bustling business hub of Beachwood last year spent nearly $1 million more than it took it. Even bigger deficits are projected in the future. But the city's finance director says there's no cause for alarm -- or any tax increases. Beachwood brought in nearly $45 million in 2016 and had deficit of about $922,000, according to an Ohio state audit. While there were gains in most categories - general government funds saw a $2.9 million increase, for example - the main reason for the deficit was a $4 million increase in capital improvements spending. Beachwood finance director Larry Heiser said Monday that this is not a bad thing, especially after the city began major projects this past year. "We put money into our capital improvements fund to spend on big ticket items," Heiser said. Heiser said the deficit was mostly due to money spent on "a bunch of road projects." A cash flow projection chart, which also shows capital improvement spending totals from the past four years, shows that the city spent about $4.5 million on "road/sewer projects," plus $1 million for the city's new fire station. The suburb's spending has been scrutinized for years. Mayor Merle Gorden is one of the highest-paid state officials - in 2013 he made more money than Gov. John Kasich - and City Council is now considering legislation to lower the current $175,000 mayoral salary to $155,000 in 2018. The city of 12,000 is home 3,000 businesses and 25,000 workers. In March, Beachwood City Council approved legislation to spend $9.7 million on a new fire station on Richmond Road at Park East Drive. The city is projected to spend about $4.9 million on the project in 2017. Heiser says the deficit projections are just that - projections. "I don't get too worried about projections because we would be changing our spending in such a way to not allow [a large deficit increase] to occur," Heiser said. The last time the city increased its income tax -- to 2 percent -- was 2011. That was meant to recoup money lost after the state repealed the estate tax in 2010. Beachwood City Council President Martin Horwitz declined to give a formal comment on the situation Tuesday morning. BEREA, Ohio - A Berea animal shelter reported approximately $22,000 in adoption fees missing from its accounts, according to a police report. The money was taken from Berea Animal Rescue Friends, a non-profit shelter, sometime between Jan. 1, 2016 and Oct. 1, 2016, according to a complaint filed last month at the Berea Police Department. The shelter's treasurer discovered the money was missing last year while performing an informal audit. The shelter's board of directors hired an independent forensic investigator, who confirmed the money was missing, according to the police report. The report does not identify any suspects. A Berea police spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the status of the investigation. The shelter changed its policies and procedures after it discovered the theft to protect its assets, the president of the board of directors said in a written statement included in the police report. The shelter also reported the missing money to the Ohio Attorney General's Office, she said in the written statement. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Monday's crime and courts comments section. BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - An email poll of City Council members - meant to determine whether they would approve additional costs for the city's fire station renovation - violated state Sunshine Laws. That's according to Catherine Turcer, policy analyst for Common Cause Ohio, a nonpartisan group that advocates good government. She said the email exchange was an illegal meeting of city council. "Public-meetings law cannot be violated by using technology, like text messages," Turcer told cleveland.com. "You can't do a poll using email. You can't even tweet to circumvent open-meeting requirements. City Law Director David Matty and Mayor Jerry Hruby did not return emails Monday night and Tuesday. Council President Greg Skaljac could not be reached Tuesday for comment. It was on July 24 that the city administration, through Clerk of Council Tammy Tabor's office, sent the email poll to council members. The email asked council to approve a change order, or extra expenses, for the city's fire station renovation. The $47,197 change order would pay for additional plywood needed for roof repairs. Six council members - Gerald Broski, Louis Carouse Jr., Nora Murphy, Laura Redinger, Skaljac and Kim Veras - replied yes to the change order request. Most used the word "approved" in their emails. Councilman Michael Harwood did not respond. The problem is that the Ohio Open Meetings Act requires council to "take official action, conduct deliberations and discuss the public business in an open meeting, unless the subject matter is specifically exempted by law," according to Ohio Sunshine Laws 2017: An Open Government Resource Manual. The consideration of change orders is not exempted. Council eventually approved the change order publicly at an Aug. 1 meeting. Also, council never tried to hide the July 24 email poll. An Aug. 1 agenda item stated, "This (change order) is for the additional plywood that was required to complete the roof replacement, and was approved by city council vie e-poll on 7/24/17." Nevertheless, council's after-the-fact public approval is a problem, Turcer said. "The real vote actually took place online, and that's in violation of open-meetings law," Turcer said. In May 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that a private, prearranged discussion of public business by a majority of a public body - whether the discussion is in person or by phone, email, text or tweet - violates the state's Open Meetings Act, according to a May 3, 2016 article in Court News Ohio. "Nothing in the plain language of (state code) expressly mandates that a 'meeting' occur face-to-face," Justice Terrence O'Donnell wrote in his opinion. "To the contrary, it provides that any prearranged discussion can qualify as a meeting." O'Donnell said a discussion that takes place through a series of e-mails still must adhere to the Open Meetings Act. The Sunshine Laws manual says a gathering is a public meeting if it meets three requirements: it must include a majority of a public body; it must be prearranged; and the body must discuss public business. Further, courts have ruled that back-to-back, prearranged discussions among a majority of council members - even if the discussions are divided into several meetings, each including a minority of council - constitute an official meeting, if each of the smaller meetings cover the same topic. "The 'prearranged' element does not require the parties to participate at the same time, and a series of emails exchanged among a majority of board members can constitute a 'prearranged gathering,' even when the emails started with one board member sending an unsolicited email to other board members," the manual states. The Sunshine Laws manual says that if a gathering meets all three requirements of meeting, a court will consider it a meeting, "regardless of whether the public body initiated the gathering itself or whether it was initiated by another entity," which in Brecksville's case was the city administration. BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - The cost of renovating the city's only fire station - on Brecksville Road just south of Ohio 82 - has risen by 18 percent since bids were approved earlier this year. Classical Construction LLC's original price, which City Council approved in April, was $352,745. Since then, the cost has increased by $64,744, to a new total of $417,489. The extra money will pay for additional plywood needed to repair the roof and gravel to help support the station's floor. Rebecca Riser, Brecksville's director of purchasing, said city officials initially calculated that they would need 500 square feet of plywood for the roof. However, they were unable to determine the exact amount of new plywood until the renovation started and the roof uncovered. "Our inspectors and architect confirmed all bad plywood areas and measurements prior to (council's) approval of the change order," Riser said in an email to cleveland.com. The change order for the roof alone was $47,197. Meanwhile, city officials believed that a "standard base of gravel" was beneath the station's concrete floor, Riser said. However, once workers removed the floor as part of the renovation, they found only dirt. "Per our architect, it was recommended that we do not use what was there, and instead lay 6 inches of gravel down," Riser said. "This recommendation was accepted, and the ($17,547) change order approved." Classical Construction, of Apple Creek, was one of four firms that submitted bids earlier this year for the fire station renovation, which includes replacing the station's roof, concrete slab floor, underground plumbing and overhead and walk-in doors. Workers will also repair the hose tower. Originally, the city awarded the project to two bidders. Classical Construction was assigned to replace the roof, floor and plumbing for $98,425. Apex Construction & Management Co. Inc. in Bedford Heights - which had submitted the lowest bids to replace the doors and repair the tower - would handle those jobs for $90,300. The total was $312,725. However, Apex backed out, saying it was not interested in doing just part of the work. The city then turned the entire renovation over to Classical Construction. Since Classical did not submit the lowest bids for the doors and tower, the total renovation cost rose to $352,745. The other two bidders for the fire station renovation were Sona Construction LLC in Independence and Dunlop & Johnston Inc. in Valley City. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lev Gonick, CEO and co-founder of DigitalC, will step down effective Nov. 1, according to a press release sent from the nonprofit group. Gonick has accepted the position of chief information officer and an academic appointment as professor of practice at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. "I am one very lucky technology guy. Over the past 16 years, I have had an opportunity to partner with many of you and others in the community to create a national model of a community-led technology for our region. DigitalC has been an amazing organization of which I am extremely proud and enormously grateful," Gonick said in a written statement. DigitalC is a $2 million-per-year nonprofit trying to help Cleveland connect and compute with a mission to catalyze technology for community impact. Gonick became CEO in 2013, but he came to Cleveland in 2001 when recruited by Case Western Reserve University. Read more about Gonick's career in Cleveland. "The board extends its sincerest appreciation to Lev for his exceptional efforts to foster innovation and to use technology to solve community problems throughout Northeast Ohio, and wishes him great success in his new role at Arizona State University. DigitalC's future is bright, as is Cleveland's, and we will continue to grow and pursue opportunities to bring technology to this vibrant community," said Sari Feldman, DigitalC board chair. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Suarez Corporation Industries, the direct-marketing firm headed by North Canton multimillionaire and felon Ben Suarez, filed for bankruptcy Monday. The company, based in Jackson Township in Stark County, owes between $10 million in $50 million and has between $500,000 and $1 million in assets, according to the petition it filed in a bankruptcy court in Canton. A separate court filing blames the company's money woes on the Great Recession and Suarez's stint in a federal prison, where he served time for a federal witness tampering conviction following a lengthy investigation into his company. Suarez and former SCI chief information officer Michael Giorgio were convicted of federal charges following an investigation into a plot to secretly provide $200,000 in campaign contributions in 2011 and 2012 to Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Renacci and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who was running for U.S. Senate. They were seeking the politicians' clout to help in Suarez's battle against a consumer fraud lawsuit the company was waging in California, prosecutors said. While a jury found Suarez guilty of a witness tampering charge, it cleared him of charges of violating campaign-finance laws, causing false statements, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. Suarez, 75, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and was released from custody in February 2016. Giorgio pleaded guilty to seven campaign finance and obstruction of justice charges. He was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison. "Stated plainly, SCI, already 'wounded' by the nationwide economic downturn in 2008-2009, simply has not been able to financially recover from the significant expense and major distraction of the above-mentioned federal investigation and indictments, compounded by Mr. Suarez's lengthy absence from the business during his incarceration, unfortunately leaving it and its related entities insolvent and with no option other than bankruptcy to preserve its business and assets," a court filing in the bankruptcy case says. Suarez did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment. Founded in 1968, SCI grew into one of Stark County's largest employers. The company has marketed hundreds of products such as Cubic Zirconia and other jewelry, collectible coins, and home products such as the Perfect Storm sweeper, the Joe Namath Grill, EdenPure space heaters, and Endless Youth and Life wellness products that promote a healthy and youthful lifestyle. The bankruptcy petition states that SCI owes money to between 100 and 199 creditors, including property companies, technology companies and financial institutions. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city of Cleveland will pay $50,000 to five protesters and a legal observer arrested during demonstrations following the 2015 acquittal of police officer Michael Brelo in a fatal car chase and shooting, according to a news release from an attorney representing the plaintiffs. The settlement, brokered by U.S. District Judge Dan Polster and agreed to on Tuesday, releases the city from any liability in a lawsuit the group filed in May. Seven people initially filed suit, though one of the protesters was unavailable to participate in Tuesday's mediation and his claims were dropped. The six others, including an observer for the National Lawyers Guild, will split the rest of the money, with some going to attorneys' fees. "These protesters were victims of police retaliation. They dared to speak out about police violence against the community, and the Cleveland Division of Police committed egregious violations of constitutional rights in response," said Jacqueline Greene, an attorney who represents the protesters. A city spokesman said he did not have information on the settlement and did not immediately provide a comment. The septet was among the 71 arrested following a decision by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John O'Donnell to acquit Brelo of manslaughter charges in the November 2012 police shooting of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. Brelo and 12 other officers fired a combined 137 shots into Russell's car following a 22-mile high-speed chase that ended in East Cleveland. Investigators found no evidence the couple was armed. The protests were held on a Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend 2015. They were largely nonviolent but became increasingly disruptive as they continued. Officers made the arrests after blocking in a large group of protesters in an alley in the Warehouse District. The group of seven who filed the lawsuit said they committed no crime and that police used unconstitutional crowd-control tactics that stifled their First Amendment right to demonstrate. The lawsuit also said police intentionally held the demonstrators longer than necessary in jail to keep them from returning to the streets to protest and that the "filthy conditions" at the jail included contaminated drinking water and bed bugs. All were charged with failure to disperse, but prosecutors dropped the charge months after the arrests, according to a news release from Greene. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio also sued in 2015 on behalf of four other protesters who were arrested. The city settled that lawsuit, agreeing to pay $5,000 to one of the protesters. It also agreed to a new policy on issuing dispersal orders that was put in place before the 2016 Republican National Convention. Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association Steve Loomis issued a statement Tuesday evening that he was displeased with the city's settlement. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio - We've added many events to our weekly wine calendar, from a Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern event featuring Bonny Doon wines to Gervasi Vineyard news and much more. Deadline to submit events is Thursday. Email mbona@cleveland.com: AUGUST Through Sunday, Sept. 3: The Capital Grille is holding its ninth annual The Generous Pour Wine Event, which will feature seven benchmark offerings rated 90 points or higher. Cost is $28 with dinner to try the wines. The Capital Grille is at 25389 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst. Wines and critics' ratings: * Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012 - 92. * Arrowood Sonoma Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 - 90. * Siduri Pinot Noir, 2015 - 90. * Edmeades Zinfandel, 2013 - 91. * Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc, 2016 - 92. * Cambria Clone 4 Chardonnay, 2015 - 91. * Willakenzie Pinot Gris, 2016 - 90. Saturday, Aug. 5: Gervasi Vineyard offers complimentary winery tours every Saturday at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. at The Crush House Wine Bar & Eatery. Tours last about 30 minutes; no registration is needed. Gervasi is at 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. Wednesday, Aug. 9: The Wine Spot is teaming with Cain Park for a tasting of Earthy Blends. It's 6:30-7:45 p.m. Call 216-371-3000 or 216-342-3623. Cain Park is on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. Thursday, Aug. 10: Heinen's will feature Spain: A Rich History of Wine and Food - cheeses, olives, meats and wines - 6:30-8 p.m. Cost is $15. It's at 20 Shopping Center Dr., Chagrin Falls. Friday, Aug. 11: The Olde Wine Cellar will feature wines from Burgundy and Beaujolais regions of France at 5 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes six samples, tasting notes and cheese. The Olde Wine Cellar is at 7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls. Call 440-427-1222. Saturday, Aug. 11: Heinen's will cool wines for hot summer nights 6:30-8 p.m. A dozen wines will be poured. Registration is required. Call 330-562-5297. Cost is $10. It's at 115 N. Chillicothe Road, Aurora. Saturday, Aug. 12: The Wine Spot will hold its Terroir Tasting Series No. 3: Sauvignon Blanc from around the world. It's 4-7 p.m. Cost TBA. The Wine Spot is at 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Call 216-342-3623. Saturday, Aug. 12: The Olde Wine Cellar will feature wines from Burgundy and Beaujolais regions of France at 11 a.m. Cost is $15 and includes six samples, tasting notes and cheese. The Olde Wine Cellar is at 7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls. Call 440-427-1222. Saturday, Aug. 12: Western Reserve Wines' regular Saturday tasting will feature hot summer wines at cool prices 2-5 p.m. Certified Wine Educator Gary Twining will host. Cost is $10 and includes cheese and crackers. Western Reserve Wines is at 28300 Miles Road, Solon. Saturday, Aug. 12: Gervasi Vineyard offers complimentary winery tours every Saturday at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. at The Crush House Wine Bar & Eatery. Tours last about 30 minutes; no registration is needed. Gervasi is at 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. Thursday, Aug. 17: Rosewood Grill will hold Yes Way, Rose! 6-8 p.m. Cost is $35, inclusive. It's at 2033 Crocker Road, Westlake. Thursday, Aug. 17: Heinen's will feature beyond Pinot Grigio: Whites Wines of Italy 6:30-8 p.m. Cost is $15. It's at 20 Shopping Center Dr., Chagrin Falls. Thursday, Aug. 17: The North Coast Wine Club will hold a barrel tasting at 6 p.m. taste last year's wines right before bottling. Cheese and meats will be served. The Club meets in Solon. For details, email info@northcoastwineclub.net. Friday, Aug. 18: The Olde Wine Cellar will feature wines from Bordeaux, France, at 5 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes six samples, tasting notes and cheese. The Olde Wine Cellar is at 7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls. Call 440-427-1222. Friday, Aug. 18: Red Restaurant Group's sommelier Stephanie Pack has crafted a "Did Someone Say Rose?" tasting event. The six-pour flight will be paired with light appetizers and costs $35. It's at 6 p.m. at the Moxie patio, 3355 Richmond Road, Beachwood. Call to reserve a spot, 216-831-5599. Friday, Aug. 18: Fleming's Steakhouse has scheduled a second four-course Summer of Love dinner with three new wines at 6:30 p.m. Fleming's is at 4000 Medina Road, Akron, and 28869 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere. Wines to be served: Pertinace, Dolcetto d'Alba, Italy; Cambria, Clone 4 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley, California; Conn Creek, Anthology Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California. Friday, Aug. 18: West Point Market will hold a "Thrill of the Grill" tasting 7-9 p.m. It's $40. West Point is at 33 Shiawassee Ave., Fairlawn. Saturday, Aug. 19: The Wine Spot is teaming with Cain Park for a tasting of craft wines. It's 6:30-7:45 p.m. Call 216-371-3000 or 216-342-3623. Cain Park is on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. Saturday, Aug. 19: Heinen's will hold Around the World in 20 Sips! Wines from several countries will be featured 2-4 p.m. Cost is $20. It's at 900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Saturday, Aug. 19: The Olde Wine Cellar will feature wines from Bordeaux, France, at 11 a.m. Cost is $15 and includes six samples, tasting notes and cheese. The Olde Wine Cellar is at 7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls. Call 440-427-1222. Saturday, Aug. 19: Gervasi Vineyard offers complimentary winery tours every Saturday at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. at The Crush House Wine Bar & Eatery. Tours last about 30 minutes; no registration is needed. Gervasi is at 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. Saturday, Aug. 19: Western Reserve Wines' regular Saturday tasting will be themed "Stock Up for Back to School Relief." Mike Harvey from D&E Fine Wine Group will host. It's 2-5 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes cheese and crackers. Western Reserve Wines is at 28300 Miles Road, Solon. Thursday, Aug. 24: Rosewood Grill will hold Champagne and Oysters Under the Stars 6-9 p.m. Sparkling wine and Champagne cocktails are $6. Oysters are $1. It will be held each Thursday through fall. It's at 16740 Royalton Road, Strongsville. Thursday, Aug. 24: Red Restaurant Group's sommelier Stephanie Pack has crafted a "Did Someone Say Rose?" tasting event. The six-pour flight will be paired with light appetizers and costs $35. It's at 6 p.m. at the downtown restaurant's rooftop, 417 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. Call to reserve a spot, 216-664-0941. Friday, Aug. 25: The Olde Wine Cellar will feature wines from Rhone, Provence and Languedoc regions of France at 5 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes six samples, tasting notes and cheese. The Olde Wine Cellar is at 7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls. Call 440-427-1222. Friday, Aug. 25: Heinen's will feature Bubbles Because. Six sparklers will be poured 6-8 p.m. Cost is $20. It's at 900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Friday, Aug. 25: Western Reserve Wines will hold a walk-about meet and greet with Carl Ehrhard 5-7:30 p.m. Ehrhard and his family tend 22 acres of Riesling and Pinot Noir over six vineyards in Germany's Rheingau region. Cost is $15 (cash or check). Western Reserve Wines is at 28300 Miles Road, Solon. Saturday, Aug. 26: The Olde Wine Cellar will feature wines from Rhone, Provence and Languedoc regions of France at 11 a.m. Cost is $15 and includes six samples, tasting notes and cheese. The Olde Wine Cellar is at 7932 Main St., Olmsted Falls. Call 440-427-1222. Saturday, Aug. 26: The North Coast Wine Club is bottling Syrah, Merlot and Sangiovese. The Club meets in Solon 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For details, email info@northcoastwineclub.net. Saturday, Aug. 26: Gervasi Vineyard offers complimentary winery tours every Saturday at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. at The Crush House Wine Bar & Eatery. Tours last about 30 minutes; no registration is needed. Gervasi is at 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. Saturday, Aug. 26: Western Reserve Wines' regular Saturday tasting will feature wines from Vanguard, a direct importer of European vino. Whitney DeJohn will host. It's 2-5 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes cheese and crackers. Western Reserve Wines is at 28300 Miles Road, Solon. Monday, Aug. 28: Heinen's will hold a Sake tasting 6:30-8 p.m. Cost is $15. It's at 20 Shopping Center Dr., Chagrin Falls. Wednesday, Aug. 30: Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern will hold a four-course wine dinner featuring Bonny Doon wines at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $60. Blue Canyon is at 8960 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg at Ohio 82 and Interstate 480. Wines to be served: * Vin Gris De Cigare Rose 2016 * Le Cigare Blanc 2014 * Clos de Gilroy Grenache 2015 * Syrah Le Pousseur 2013 * Le Cigare Volant Red Wine Of the Earth 2012 Thursday, Aug. 31: Rosewood Grill will hold Champagne and Oysters Under the Stars 6-9 p.m. Sparkling wine and Champagne cocktails are $6. Oysters are $1. It will be held each Thursday through fall. It's at 16740 Royalton Road, Strongsville. SEPTEMBER Friday, Sept. 1: Heinen's will hold a fall wine fest 6-8 p.m. Thirty wines will be poured. Cost is $20. It's at 900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Saturday, Sept. 2: 750ml's Wine 101 class will be New World Overview, covering wines primarily made in regions outside of the traditional wine-growing areas - Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the United States. Class is at noon. Master Sommelier Larry O'Brien is the instructor. Cost is $49 ($39 for club 750ml members). Includes wine and palate cleansers. RSVP, 440-526-8100. It's at 8903 Brecksville Road, Brecksville. Saturday, Sept. 2: The North Coast Wine Club is bottling three wines including Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The Club meets in Solon 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For details, email info@northcoastwineclub.net. Thursday, Sept. 7: Rosewood Grill will hold Champagne and Oysters Under the Stars 6-9 p.m. Sparkling wine and Champagne cocktails are $6. Oysters are $1. It will be held each Thursday through fall. It's at 16740 Royalton Road, Strongsville. Friday, Sept. 8: Heinen's will feature three Proseccos 6-8 p.m. Cost is $10. It's at 900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Friday, Sept. 8: Heinen's will feature wines from near and far 6-8 p.m. Cost is $20. Registration is required, 440-740-0535. It's at 8383 Chippewa Road,, Brecksville. Saturday, Sept. 9: Heinen's will hold an 'around the world' wine closeout sale 1-3 p.m. Cost is $5. Reservations required. Call 440-937-7660. It's at 35980 Detroit Road, Avon. Thursday, Sept. 14: Rosewood Grill will hold Champagne and Oysters Under the Stars 6-9 p.m. Sparkling wine and Champagne cocktails are $6. Oysters are $1. It will be held each Thursday through fall. It's at 16740 Royalton Road, Strongsville. Friday, Sept. 15: Heinen's will hold Zinful Friday 6-8 p.m. Six Zins will be poured. Cost is $15. It's at 900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Sept. 15-16: Crocker Park Wine Festival will be 4-10 p.m. Friday and 2-10 p.m. Saturday. The fest benefits area health-related charities. Ticket prices vary. The fest is along South Main Street in Crocker Park, Westlake. (For GPS purposes use 228 Market Street, Westlake, 44145.) Wednesday, Sept. 20: Bar Cento will hold a dinner with wines from Swartland, South Africa, served with Braai (barbecue) at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $30. To be served: Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Rose, Pinotage, Shiraz and a Ruby Port are on the menu. Bar Cento is at 1948 W. 25th St., Cleveland. Thursday, Sept. 21: Rosewood Grill will hold Bubbles and Bites 6-8 p.m. Sparkling wines will be paired with nibbles. Cost is $35, inclusive. It's at 2033 Crocker Road, Westlake. Thursday, Sept. 21: Rosewood Grill will hold Champagne and Oysters Under the Stars 6-9 p.m. Sparkling wine and Champagne cocktails are $6. Oysters are $1. It will be held each Thursday through fall. It's at 16740 Royalton Road, Strongsville. Thursday, Sept. 28: Rosewood Grill will hold Champagne and Oysters Under the Stars 6-9 p.m. Sparkling wine and Champagne cocktails are $6. Oysters are $1. It will be held each Thursday through fall. It's at 16740 Royalton Road, Strongsville. Friday, Sept. 29: A Frog's Leap wine dinner (four course, six wines) with guest host Jonah Beer will be 6:30 p.m. at Delmonico's Steakhouse. Cost is $95. Delmonico's is at 6001 Quarry Lane, Independence. Call for availability, 216-573-1991. Sunday, Sept. 30: The Ohio Wine Producers Association is promoting A Taste of Legacy, a wine tasting at Legacy Village, noon-5 p.m. Details to be announced. Legacy Village is at 25001 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst. OCTOBER Saturday, Oct. 14: The Wine Spot will hold its Terroir Tasting Series No. 4: Surprise varietal. It's 4-7 p.m. Cost TBA. The Wine Spot is at 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Call 216-342-3623. Saturday, Oct. 14: 750ml's Wine 101 class will cover favorites of Master Sommelier Larry O'Brien. Class is at noon. Cost is $49 ($39 for club 750ml members). Includes wine and palate cleansers. RSVP, 440-526-8100. It's at 8903 Brecksville Road, Brecksville. Thursday, Oct. 19: Rosewood Grill will feature wines from Spain and tacos. Cost is $35, inclusive. It's at 2033 Crocker Road, Westlake. NOVEMBER Thursday, Nov. 16: Rosewood Grill will feature Ohio Love, Cocktails and Grub. Cost is $35, inclusive. It's at 2033 Crocker Road, Westlake. Saturday, Nov. 25: 750ml's Wine 101 class will cover holiday bubbles. Instructor is Master Sommelier Larry O'Brien. Class is at noon. Cost is $49 ($39 for club 750ml members). Includes wine and palate cleansers. RSVP, 440-526-8100. It's at 8903 Brecksville Road, Brecksville. COLUMBUS, Ohio - A Cleveland resident who argues Councilman Jeff Johnson cannot legally run for mayor has again asked the Ohio Supreme Court to throw him off the Sept. 12 primary ballot. Ed Davila contends Johnson is ineligible to hold public office or run for mayor because of his criminal convictions in 1998. Davilla argued that the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections got it wrong when the board rejected his challenge to Johnson's candidacy in May. His lawsuit asks the court to order the elections board to disqualify Johnson. You can read Davila's court filing below. Mobile users click here. This is the second time Davila has filed with the Supreme Court. His previous challenge, filed July 13, was dismissed July 31 for technical reasons. Davila, in an email to cleveland.com, said there was confusion over when he was supposed to file a brief with the court, but that he has remedied that problem. Johnson is one of eight people on the primary ballot challenging incumbent Frank Jackson. Two other write-in candidates also are challenging Jackson. in 1998, Johnson was convicted of three federal counts of Hobbs Act extortion. The charges accused him of demanding campaign contributions from Arab-American grocers in Cleveland. He served nine months in prison and then two months each in halfway houses in Columbus and then Cleveland. As a convicted felon, Johnson was barred by state law from holding a position of public trust - including a seat on City Council or mayor of Cleveland. But in 2007, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy McDonnell granted an expungement that cleared the way for him to hold office. Although the conviction remains in place in the federal court records, the judge's decision effectively removes his conviction from the eyes of the state. Cases involving bribery carry an additional stipulation in the state law that forever forbids someone convicted of that crime from holding office. Davila argued to the elections board that Johnson's conviction under federal statutes essentially amounted to bribery and that the expungement therefore did not restore his ability to hold office. In May, the elections board voted 4-0 vote to reject Davila's challenge after hearing testimony from both sides. The board's decision was in line with a legal opinion prepared for board members by Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, who was acting as special counsel for the board. Follow me on Facebook. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Four men are charged in connection with a nearly two-year investigation into a violent street gang accused of involvement in high-speed car chases, gun possession, shootings and drug dealing. Steven Cooperwood, 19, Devonta Evans, 19, Delante Wright, 24, and Anthony Davis, 22, are charged with participating in a criminal gang, a second-degree felony. They are accused of being part of the 9300 gang, which works out of the East 93rd Street and Empire Avenue neighborhood, according to court records. Cooperwood and Wright were arrested Friday and were released after posting $5,000 bond at their first court appearance on Monday. Evans and Davis are still at-large. The Cleveland police department began its investigation into the gang in December 2015, according to court records. The four men are accused of committing several crimes between August 2016 and July of this year, court records say. Some of the charges accuse the group gun possession despite their existing criminal records. Cooperwood is also accused of leading the State Highway Patrol troopers on a high-speed chase in April. Troopers said Cooperwood drove a 2006 Honda Pilot SUV through a stop sign and cut off other cars on East 124th Street near St. Clair Avenue. Troopers tried to stop him and he sped off. The chase reached speeds up to 75 mph in a 35 mph zone, court records say. He eventually crashed his car in a city park and tried to run from officers, who caught him with the help of a K-9 officer, court records say. Cooperwood was sentenced to six months time served in the county jail in January after pleading guilty to aggravated rioting. Cooperwood was one of several people who attacked a man in November 2015 with an ax, sticks and a large rock. He was also convicted of heroin and cocaine possession after his arrest in January 2016. Davis is accused of tossing a loaded gun under a car in the parking lot of an abandoned school building on Empire Avenue, according to court records. He previously spent three years in prison for breaking into a home in November 2012 in the 3700 block of Sherwood Avenue in South Euclid and stealing jewelry, $1,350 cash and computers. He was also sentenced in that case for carrying a gun despite a felony record as a juvenile. Wright was sentenced to three years on probation in 2015 for selling heroin to undercover officers in Lyndhurst. A suspected 9300 block member, Julius Claxton, died in a Jan. 25 shootout outside the Harvard Wine and Grill. Investigators said the shootout stemmed from a dispute between the 9300 gang and the Loyal Always gang. A suspected Loyal Always member, Jesus Bey, is charged with aggravated murder in the shootout and has denied the accusations. Claxton pulled up near the bar in a stolen SUV and fired several shots at Bey, who returned fire, according to police. Claxton was found dead with gunshot wounds to his head and body, records say. Another man, Darien Hayes was found dead on the sidewalk near the Nissan wearing a black ski mask. Rifle ammunition was found next to his body, police said. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section. STOW, Ohio -- A Garfield Heights man raped seven girls between the ages 10 to 15, police say. United States Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force agents arrested Scott R. Brundage, 49, Tuesday morning at his Granger Road home on a warrant, Stow police said. Brundage is charged with four counts of rape, nine counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of sexual imposition and one count of corrupting another with drugs, police said. Police began investigating Brundage in January after the youngest girl told her mother that he took advantage of her, police said. The victim was known to Brundage. Brundage also assaulted the girl's female siblings, according to the release. Another parent told police in March that Brundage raped her daughters who were acquaintances of the girl who made the initial allegation, police said. Brundage made one of the victims ingest illegal substances, although a statement from Stow police does not specify what substance. A Summit County grand jury handed up an indictment Wednesday after the investigation and testimony from a Stow police detective, according to the release. He is being held in Summit County Jail pending his arraignment. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland school board will have its first public discussion tonight of the multi-million dollar tax deal sought by developer Robert Stark to build the 54-story nuCLEus tower downtown. It's still not clear, however, how binding the board's vote on the project later this month will be. City Council has the final say under state law and council members have declined to commit to following the board's decision. The $540 million development planned north of Quicken Loans Arena in downtown's Gateway District would replace a parking lot and a few older buildings with hundreds of apartments and, possibly, some condos, plus offices, shops, restaurants, a hotel and structured parking. The nuanced deal with the schools would essentially have the district forego $121 million in taxes from the tower over the next 30 years in return for $18 million in cash now - dollars that could leverage an additional $38 million from the state for school construction. Stark Enterprises would then use the savings from the Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) plan to pay off his debt on construction. Though the school board has not discussed the deal publicly, district CEO Eric Gordon said that members would reject the deal if they were not able to collect the extra money from the state. Gordon and board members have declined to comment on the plan, telling residents at eight community meetings they held to gather feedback that they first wanted to hear what residents think. "We're not telling you this is a good thing," Gordon told residents at one meeting. The board tonight will see feedback forms residents filled out, along with online survey results. The board will not allow public comment tonight, but will at its Aug. 22 meeting, when it will vote on the deal. The district reported late Monday that 58 percent of the 207 people who responded to the online survey support the TIF, with 39.6 percent opposed and 2.4 percent undecided. Click here to review survey forms filled out at the meetings. Some meetings on the plan had a few dozen attendees, others just a handful. Response was mixed, though usually guarded. Some said it was a deal the district should leap at, while others said the money is not enough and the district should demand more before allowing Stark to make millions off the tower. Gordon told residents that the $18 million, along with additional money if residents pass new taxes or if the tower is valued higher than expected, came only after long negotiations. He said Stark originally offered $2.7 million now, plus $180,000 per year and a $100,000 scholarship program, before the district insisted on more. The Cleveland Teachers Union opposes the plan. In a letter to Gordon, CTU President David Quolke said the district will end up with less money from the deal. "The CTU believes that the Stark Enterprises TIF proposal, in its current form, would not hold schools harmless and would erode the trust and partnerships we have developed with parents. the community, and elected leaders in supporting future school levies and ultimately our kids and our schools," Quolke wrote. He asked the board to "revisit" the proposal so that there are no losses. See the full letter below. Even after the school board votes in two weeks, the project and the tax cut still go to City Council, which has the final decision. Council could approve the deal even if the school board decides that it's not good enough. If the board votes no, council could pass the TIF without the $18 million going to the schools if it wanted. The Plain Dealer asked council members if they would commit to following the school board's wishes if the board votes "no." None did, other than Ward 10 councilman and mayoral candidate Jeff Johnson who says he will vote against the deal even if the school board votes "yes." "The limited financial benefit to the citizens of Cleveland from the $18 million lump sum is clear to me," Johnson said. "This is another example of public resources being diverted for private gain." The rest all kept their options open, or did not respond, offering varying degrees of promises to make sure the schools get fair compensation. Most, like Brian Kazy, Phyllis Cleveland and Martin Keane, said they won't commit to anything until after hearing details of the plan at council's Aug. 16 meeting. Others reserved comment until after attending some of the district's hearings. Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensek said he never commits to following another board. "I am not automatic on anything," Polensek said. "I would consider voting against the School Board's decision if I felt that was the right thing to do for the good of the city and my community. When did the appointed school board ever ask for my opinion? I will not vote one way or the other just because that was how the School Board voted." Others, like Blaine Griffin and Matt Zone, said the school board's vote will be a major factor in their position on the plan and that they want to be sure the schools are compensated. Councilman Kerry McCormack said a "no" vote from the school board should trigger new negotiations. "Anything's a possibility, but I would not support anything that has no compensation to the school district," McCormack said. CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Cleveland Heights detectives are searching for someone who shot a Shaker Heights man Monday outside a gas station. The 24-year-old man was shot in the abdomen just before 9:30 p.m. at a Shell gas station on Lee Road at Essex Road, according to a police report. Cleveland Heights Fire Department paramedics took the man to University Hospitals for treatment. The man's condition was not immediately available Tuesday afternoon. No arrests have been reported in the ongoing investigation, police said. The man could not identify the person who shot him when officers found him on the ground near the edge of the gas station's parking lot. Investigators have not released any additional information about the shooting. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section. State lawmakers cut the safety net. Never-Trumpers don't like Gov. John Kasich? And how to battle an annoying fish. All this in the Ohio Politics roundup from Seth Richardson. Holes in the safety net: As cleveland.com's Jackie Borchardt reports, Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich and state lawmakers ended a program that provided cash to around 6,000 disabled Ohioans with little or no income. The state stopped accepting applications for the program, and those currently getting the $115 monthly allowance will be phased out by the end of the year. "The Kasich administration says the program was intended to help people while they waited to receive federal disability benefits, and Medicaid managed care health plans can help expedite that process so monthly cash assistance isn't necessary," Borchardt writes. "But advocates for the poor say most Ohioans in the program will never meet the high bar for federal benefits but have disabilities that keep them from working." The reluctant candidate: Democrat Keith Mundy, who was trounced by U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci last year, says he's going to run again next year in Ohio's 16th Congressional district. The thing is, though, Mundy doesn't really want to run again. "Personally, I would rather see someone else run who's younger who might be smarter and have more money," Mundy, a 67-year-old legal research and delivery service owner from Parma, told cleveland.com's Jeremy Pelzer. "But right now, I don't see anyone else stepping up to run in the 16th District." Political novice Aaron Godfrey, a physicist from North Olmsted, is the only Democrat to formally enter the race so far. Mundy said he's worried Godfrey would be "eaten alive" in a general election. Even if a viable Democrat does enter the race, Mundy said, he would continue running with the idea that a Democratic primary would bring more media attention to that candidate. Mundy, who got involved in politics through Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign last year, said he has little chance of winning the heavily Republican district. With Renacci running for governor in 2018, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Patton and state Rep. Christina Hagan are squaring off in the GOP primary. (h/t Jeremy Pelzer) Quick take: Not a great sign if Democrats can't find candidates to run for these seats. Especially with all the grassroots activism they've been touting. The Thing That Wouldn't Leave: Everywhere Kasich goes, he seems to get some love nowadays. Democrats like him for bucking Republican President Donald Trump and Never-Trumpers like him for, well, bucking Trump. That's not the case with Jim Geraghty of National Review, who likens Kasich to the classic Saturday Night Live sketch "The Thing That Wouldn't Leave." "Color me supremely skeptical of the notion that many Republicans of any stripe will be eager to support a John Kasich presidential bid in 2020," Geraghty writes. Geraghty argues there's some revisionist history about Kasich's 2016 campaign and his stand against Trump. "The Ohio governor turned out to be more of an obstacle than an ally to the #NeverTrump crowd, because he kept dividing the non-Trump vote in the wildly unrealistic belief that his amazing comeback was always just around the corner," he writes. Knocking Brown: An email blast from the Ohio Republican Party is highlighting this piece from The Daily Beast about the Democratic Socialist Party for its mentioning of Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. The party attacked Brown for his "socialist ideals" after the DSA endorsed him. Knocking Portman: Meanwhile, the Huffington Post took a shot at Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman for "laughing" at a woman trying to voice her concerns about the Regulatory Accountability Act. Except the laugh was more of a chuckle and the woman approached him with somebody else filming. A spokesman brushed the woman off as a "professional protester." Republicans vs. Cordray: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray has been under a lot of fire in recent weeks. Between Corey Lewandowski calling for his firing to a Texas congressman pursuing a Hatch Act violation against him, Cordray's getting knocked from nearly all sides. Most of that is over his potential run for governor, but a fight is coming to a head between congressional Republicans and Cordray over people's ability to file class action lawsuits against banks. As the Columbus Dispatch's Jessica Wehrman reports, the fight stems from a CFPB rule that prevents banks from putting language in fine print that prevents customers from filing class action suits. "Currently, consumers with beefs are forced into arbitration -- a process that involves a third party who negotiates an agreement between the company and the aggrieved," Wehrman writes. "Supporters of the new rule say few customers are willing to enter arbitration over a bank that erroneously charges, say, $20 and won't refund the money. But if a bank is doing it systematically, a class-action lawsuit can stop them from doing so to thousands of consumers, they say." What's important for Ohioans, politically speaking, is whether Cordray will be there for this fight next month. He's widely rumored to be mulling a run for governor. More accurately, do Democrats like U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts want Cordray to stay in place for this fight (and more like them) or do they want him to go back to Ohio and try to win the governor's mansion? Foreign workers: Trump has promised to curtail illegal immigration and recently released a plan that would cut legal immigration by around 50 percent. But as Danae King of the Columbus Dispatch reports, temporary worker visas are actually up. "The H-2B visa program brings 66,000 people from 62 countries each year to work temporarily for seasonal businesses such as landscaping, hospitality and food service," King writes. "The administration of President Donald Trump just expanded the program to add 15,000 more workers in July, after businesses lobbied lawmakers for changes to the program." That's created a bit of a political fight. Certain industries like hotels and landscaping are pleased with the rule, especially since they require foreign workers to operate. Drug deaths spike: Police and emergency services experienced a surge of drug overdoses over the weekend, including 22 on Saturday alone, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer's Terry DeMio. The problem was so swift that Hamilton County officials issued an alert to the community. "The heroin coalition alert states that it's unclear what drove the recent overdose surge, but adds that similar overdose outbreaks have occurred when there's a change in the composition of street drugs, such as an addition of synthetic opiates, including fentanyl and carfentanil," DeMio writes. Fighting fish: Asian carp are objectively the worst fish to become a household name since "Jabberjaw." They're basically the virus of the fish world. The problem is they spread like wildfire and are nearly impossible to remove from waterways once they take over. So, as cleveland.com's Sabrina Eaton reports, the Army Corps of Engineers is has a $275 million proposal on how to block fish from migrating from the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes. "It calls for building an underwater noise-making system to deter fish from entering the waterway," Eaton reports. "It suggests constructing an electric dispersal barrier to repel and stun fish that get through the other barrier. Boats that pass through it would be shot with water jets to remove small and stunned fish that might hitchhike on boat bottoms. It also suggests using fish killing chemicals to prevent their passage." Too many GOPers: WVXU Cincinnati's Howard Wilkinson said Monday during an interview that the competitive race shaping up in the Republican primary for governor could end up hurting the party overall. Right now, four candidates are in the race and each of them raised much more money than the Democrats, paving the way for a bruising, costly matchup. But that competitive primary could be bad news for Republicans, Wilkinson said. "I think it could hurt them just in the fact that the Republican Party is fairly divided in Ohio these days between the people who are kind of the Kasich-loyalists - the Kasich voters - and the Trump voters, who are a very sizable section of the Republican vote in Ohio, obviously, because Trump," Wilkinson said. There's going to be that tension between those two camps all during the general election next year. Endorsements: Former state representative and gubernatorial candidate Connie Pillich picked up an endorsement Monday from the Cincinnati Building Trades. That's keeping in line with the rest of the regional trade councils backing their hometown Democrats. Get Battleground Briefing, our FREE politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox: Sign up here. Tips or links? Send here. Follow along on Twitter: @SethARichardson Lurking in the background of the ongoing national health care debate is an idea that just won't go away: creating a "European-style" single-payer health care system in the U.S. During the recent GOP attempt to agree on what to do with Obamacare, conservative commentators warned that failure to repeal the program could lead to a political opening for Democrats to set up a more expansive government health care program. The issue often was framed around how many fewer people would have insurance under the Republican proposal. "The terms of [the health care] debate are entirely on the grounds of the liberal argument that everybody ought to [have insurance]. Once that happens, you're going to end up with a single-payer," Charles Krauthammer said in May on Fox News's "Special Report with Bret Baier." "Republicans are not arguing the free market anymore," he said. "They have sort of accepted the any commodity. It's not like purchasing a steak or a car. It is something people now have a sense that government ought to guarantee. "I would predict that in less than seven years we'll be in a single-payer system. I think that's the great irony of this." And, Democrats, led by Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, increasingly pushing for "Medicare for All." A recent such proposal by Michigan Rep. John Coyners gained support from 111 of his Democratic colleagues, or a majority of the caucus. Sanders' campaign proposal called for hiking taxes on the rich to pay for it. There also are some smaller around-the-edges proposals. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown this week proposed expanding lowering the Medicare-eligible age from 65 to 55. Republican Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval in June nixed a "Medicaid for All" public option that cleared the state legislature -- but his veto message praised the bill's "creativity," and left open the possibility that he may support a similar proposal in the future. Much of the Republican debate had surrounded possibly raising the age for Medicare, saying that cuts in the program were needed to keep it financially sustainable. But that's not the direction the debate has taken recently, even though the GOP now controls both houses of Congress and the presidency. Do you think a trudge toward an expansion of government-funded health care coverage is inevitable? Or do you think the idea will lose support? Either way, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Join us from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss whether an American single-payer health care is likely to happen in the near future. Comments on this topic will be reviewed by a moderator before they are published. In our Talk it Out pre-curated conversation, comments are published after they are reviewed -- promptly -- to ensure they adhere to our community rules, which prohibit indecent, hateful, abusive or harassing comments, personal attacks, vulgar nicknames, personal information including telephone numbers and addresses, email addresses belonging to others, anything inciting criminal behavior and copyrighted material for which you do not own the rights. Comments that are not on the topic of this discussion will not be published. Criticism is fine, as long as it is respectful. We seek a robust and courteous discussion. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The city has received a $50,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support cultural activities in its Moreland neighborhood. Shaker Heights was one of 89 awards though the NEA's Our Town program, as well as the only one in the state -- although Ohio was second only to California in total NEA awards this year. The city's total project budget is $110,000 with a $25,000 local cash match and another $35,000 worth of in-kind support, providing space, staff and marketing. The grant will support public art and events, cultural planning, and design of public places for the Moreland neighborhood, the city's hardest-hit during the mortgage crisis and recession a decade ago. "The project includes a series of community conversations around re-imagining the neighborhood, the professional design of Moreland gateways and historic markers to help distinguish the area, as well as summer arts-related events celebrating the community's assets," said City Neighborhood Revitalization Director Kamla Lewis. Mayor Earl Leiken noted that the city is also partnering with Ingenuity Cleveland to rebuild some of the infrastructure and improve housing for the roughly 1,760 residents of the Moreland neighborhood. "The NEA award enables Shaker Heights to invest significantly in a neighborhood identity based in the arts and responsive to the community-driven 'Moreland Rising' initiative," Leiken said. And a Moreland history project is already under way as a precursor to the NEA grant, with assistance from the Cleveland Restoration Society, the Shaker Historical Society and the Shaker Library, among others. "We will be also be partnering shortly with Cleveland State University's Center for Public History + Digital Humanities to train our residents to conduct oral histories and make those available through the Cleveland Historical app," Lewis said. The Cleveland Restoration Society will be training community volunteers to carry out an architectural survey of the neighborhood in the fall, with an Architectural Guide approaching completion. The Shaker Library is working on a web portal to all of the Moreland history information and a series of photo panels that tell the neighborhood's story visually. Lewis cited further assistance on the project from key residents such as Sonia Jordan, LaVera Wingfield, former City Councilman Al Foster and NASA historian Crystal Montgomery. Prior to the "Our Town" grant application to the NEA last year, the Rising Phoenix neighborhood group and the Moreland Community Players put on a theater production of the Thornton Wilder play of the same name, featuring recently-retired Channel 5 news anchor Leon Bibb, and hosted in the Shaker Heights High School Auditorium. The initiative's activities have been chronicled regularly online at a Moreland Rising website on sway.com as well. "We are proud to support the vision, energy and talent of America's artists and organizations such as those in the Moreland district of Shaker Heights, to cultivate vitality in their community through the arts," a said NEA Chairwoman Jane Chu. STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - The city will ask voters to renew two tax levies - one for the Fire Department, the other for storm-sewer and drainage-ditch improvements - on the November ballot. The 1.5-mill fire department levy, first approved in 1984, is the only source of wages for firefighters, and helps pay for operations at the Albion Road-Priem Road fire station. The .4-mill sewer levy - first approved in 1976 as a .5-mill tax - covers a significant percentage of annual sewer-improvement costs. Both are five-year levies. The fire levy generates about $2.1 million a year, and costs the owner of a $200,000 home $89.35 a year, according to Strongsville Finance Director Joseph Dubovec. The sewer levy generates about $573,000 a year and costs the owner of a $200,000 home $23.83 a year. The two levies together cost $113.18 a year for the owner of a $200,000 home. That won't change if voters approve the two levy renewals, which would not increase taxes. Other communities along Ohio 82 in Cuyahoga County will have tax issues on the November ballot. North Royalton wants voters to hike property taxes that pay for emergency medical services and firefighters' salaries. Broadview Heights is seeking a property tax increase to cover expenses at its expanded recreation center. Dubovec said 89 percent, or about $1.9 million, of the fire department levy goes toward firefighters' salaries. The remaining 11 percent, about $236,272, helps pay for operations at the Albion-Priem station. Meanwhile, the $573,000 generated annually through sewer levy covered 52 percent of the city's $1.1 million in storm-sewer-improvements costs in 2016. It was in 2012 that the city reduced the sewer levy from .5 mills to .4 mills. Although the millage was reduced, residents saw their annual property taxes increase by about $6.57 for each $100,000 of valuation. That's because property assessments for the original levy were done in 1976. Dubovec said voters have never rejected the fire department and sewer levies. City Sheena M. Houston, 28, 53 Arterial West St. Apt. 3, Auburn, was charged Aug. 5 with petit larceny. Brian Morris Jr., 29, 202 East Belding Ave., Syracuse, was charged Aug. 6 with endangering the welfare of a child. Kevin L. Montone, 47, 66 Clark St., Auburn, was charged Aug. 4 with endangering the welfare of a child. Jennifer R. Paige, 32, 38 Parker St., Auburn, was charged Aug. 5 with endangering the welfare of a child. Robin A. Mott, 55, 136 Olympia Terrace, Auburn, was charged Aug. 4 with petit larceny. Margeurite C. Willis, 25, 104 Olympia Terrace, Auburn, was charged Aug. 4 with endangering the welfare of a child. Andrew M. Rainess, 22, 189 State St. Apt. 1, Auburn, was charged Aug. 4 with petit larceny. Joshua D. Taro, 39, 7 Spring St., Auburn, was charged Aug. 4 with fourth-degree criminal mischief. Michael A. French, 30, 65 Grant Ave., Auburn, was charged Aug. 5 with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Joseph P. Silke, 30, 32 Elm St., Auburn, was charged Aug. 5 with felony driving while intoxicated. Dominic G. Muscolino, 22, 327 Sunset Dr. Apt. East, E. Syracuse, was charged Aug. 6 with second-degree criminal contempt and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Valerie J. Smart, 58, 8314 Centerport Road, Port Byron, was charged Aug. 5 with four counts of petit larceny. Curtis E. Pryor, 37, 101 Quill Ave. Apt. J58, Auburn, was charged Aug. 6 with second-degree criminal trespass. Shauna A. Lee, 20, 10326 Aldrich Rd., Port Byron, was charged Aug. 6 with petit larceny. Tiffany S. Harrell, 34, 9 Genesee Pl., Auburn, was charged Aug. 6 with fourth-degree criminal mischief. Austin R. Deal, 29, 10 Morris St., Auburn, was charged Aug. 7 with second-degree criminal contempt. Zacandra R. Flynn, 26, 12 Steel St. Apt. A, Auburn, was picked up Aug. 7 on a bench warrant. Patrick D. Enge, 31, 19 Cross St. Apt. 2, Auburn, was picked up Aug. 7 on a bench warrant. Jonathan T. Scott, 28, 14 Frazee St., Auburn, was picked up Aug. 7 on a bench warrant. Drew S. L. Strong, 26, 101 Quill Ave. Apt. H43, Auburn, was charged Aug. 7 with second-degree criminal contempt. Sandra I. Caban, 52, 259 Genesee St. Apt. 2, Auburn, was charged Aug. 7 with petit larceny. Alicia A. McLeod, 62, 83 Elizabeth St., Auburn, was charged Aug. 7 with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Nicholas P. Barner, 34, 11 Paul St., Auburn, was charged Aug. 7 with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Jane M. Cross, 34, 79 Cottage St. Apt. 1, Auburn, was picked up Aug. 7 on a bench warrant. Adam L. Delaney, 28, 26 N. Fulton St. Apt. 1, Auburn, was charged Aug. 7 with resisting arrest. State John E. Juhl, 28, Throop, was charged Aug. 6 with criminal mischief. Walter O. Orozco, 22, Union Springs, was charged Aug. 4 with driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of at least .08 of 1 percent. Nadene M. Thomas, 36, Homer, was charged Aug. 5 with criminal impersonation and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Cruzceleste Franco, 38, New York, was charged Aug. 5 with second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree promoting prison contraband, first-degree promoting prison contraband and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. Randall Stockweather, 66, Skaneateles, was charged Aug. 5 with driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of at least .08 of 1 percent. Challenges, Adventure Empower Agarwal August 08, 2017 Aditya Agarwal is a leader in Silicon Valley. In December, the Carnegie Mellon University alumnus one of the earliest employees at Facebook was named chief technology officer for Dropbox, where he supervises hundreds of engineers creating innovations for the online storage company. Growing up, Agarwal was always the new student in school. His father, a chemical engineer, moved the family from their home base in India to Cameroon, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. That globe-trotting, which culminated in the familys immigration to the United States, helped Agarwal develop an outgoing personality and a sense of adventure important assets in the startup world. My dad loved pursuing new adventures. My desire to be at startups is in no small part from what I learned from him in my childhood, Agarwal said. Agarwal said studying at Carnegie Mellon gave him the problem-solving skills to thrive. CMU teaches you that computer science is not a rote, mechanical field but a profession deeply rooted in creativity, Agarwal said. The best people in the profession are closer to artists than engineers. Teaching professor Mark Stehlik, assistant dean for outreach at CMU's School of Computer Science, remembered Agarwal as strong from the get-go. After completing his undergraduate computer science degree in three years, Agarwal was one of five students to complete the fifth-year masters degree program, which included Ph.D. classes. He also spent four semesters in a row working as a teaching assistant. He came here on a mission, Stehlik said. He is a poster child for the kind of student we attract here, the kind of student we make better here and the kind of student who is a leader in our industry. Agarwal also found love at CMU Ruchi Sanghvi. Like her husband, Sanghvi is a software engineer, entrepreneur and investor. She previously was vice president of operations at Dropbox and is now involved in South Park Commons. The most important thing you can do is to marry someone smarter than you so they can challenge you, Agarwal said of Sanghvi, who was the first female engineer at Facebook. Im extremely grateful that I met her at CMU. In 2005, the two engineers headed west for jobs at Facebook. On his third day in the office, Mark Zuckerberg walked up to Agarwal, then a 23-year-old software engineer, and said, You should build a Facebook search engine. Agarwal said the challenge empowered him. We place these somewhat artificial constraints on what we can do until we look at someone like Mark Zuckerberg, who is fearless, Agarwal said. The stars were aligned for me to have an opportunity at a generational company like Facebook. It was like getting strapped into a rocketship. That gave me experiences that allowed me to have a big impact at places like Dropbox. At Dropbox, he has helped the company celebrate several record-breaking financial achievements. Dropbox has 500 million users worldwide and teams in over half of the Fortune 500 companies. Agarwal and his team have made project collaboration easier through a tool called Paper, which allows users to comment, add video and sound clips to a project and update changes in real time. If you could cut down on the amount of time you waste at work reading emails, managing your calendar, keeping in sync with people we believe we can unleash an immense amount of productivity from the most brilliant people, he said. Agarwal recently announced via Facebook that he was leaving Dropbox to join Sanghvi at South Park Commons. I am very excited by the ever-increasing scope of technology to fundamentally improve peoples lives around the world, he said in the post. I have been fortunate to be part of seminal companies like Facebook and Dropbox so the next act has a lot to live up to. This story has been updated to reflect Agarwal's recent move to South Park Commons. In April this year two volunteers from Flagstaff, Shannon Anderson and Alice Carter were part of team to deliver gift boxes to children in Togo, Africa, with Samaritans Purse. The shoebox gifts are a project of Operation Christmas Child. The boxes are filled by volunteers in several countries with hygiene items, school supplies and toys. The boxes are delivered year-round to 150 countries. This 1861 gold $20 coin was privately issued by Clark, Gruber & Co. in Denver. The pioneer gold coin was struck during a gold rush in the region, when private companies took gold dust and nuggets and turned them into privately issued coins. A privately minted 1861 gold $20 coin produced by Clark, Gruber & Co. in Denver, graded EF-40, sold for $43,700 on July 21 at Scotsman Auctions. Scotsman Auction Co. hosted its Midwest Summer Sale on July 21 as part of the Missouri Numismatic Societys 57th Annual Coin Festival at the Saint Charles Convention Center in metropolitan Saint Louis. Rare gold coins were standouts in the auction, which realized more than $1.6 million across 1,096 lots. Among the more interesting offerings was an 1873 Proof set with 14 coins from the Indian Head cent to the Trade dollar, each graded by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. ranging from Proof 60 Cleaned to Proof 65, that sold for $12,075. Here's one of three gold coin standouts that sold at the recent Scotsman Auction: The Coin: 1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. pioneer gold $20 coin, EF-40 The Price: $43,700 The Story: Clark, Gruber & Co. was a prominent Denver private minting firm that struck a range of gold issues dated 1860 and 1861. Its largest denomination was a $20 piece dated 1861 that closely approximated the contemporary circulating Coronet double eagle. The fallout from the Enhanced Uncirculated Coin set release: Another column in the August 21 weekly issue of Coin World reveals that while forms of numismatic literature like fixed-price lists were meant to be fleeting, they can actually be quite useful. Libertys coronet says PIKES PEAK rather than LIBERTY and the reverse legend around the eagle identifies the firm, but otherwise it might pass as a contemporary gold $20 coin to the casual observer. Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Gold miners could visit the firms facility in Denver and trade their gold dust and nuggets into a usable currency, like the subject coin. The coin is graded Extremely Fine 40 by Professional Coin Grading Service. As Scotsman notes in its description, Clark, Gruber & Co. coins serve as representatives of the relatively brief periods of optimism when miners set out toward the west to strike it rich. The privately issued gold coin, collected under the category of pioneer gold (also called private and territorial gold) and described as having brassy luster and smooth and slightly glossy fields, realized $43,700. The following editorial appeared in Newsday on Tuesday, Aug. 1: Any health care plan that satisfies only one of our major political parties is never going to satisfy enough of our nations people. Democrats proved this with the Affordable Care Act. The party passed the plan without a Republican vote in the House or the Senate, and seven years later its clear that the law largely cost Democrats control of both chambers of Congress. Now its Republicans turn to call the plays and to leave Democrats out of the huddle. But even while holding majorities smaller than the Democrats had in 2009, and with less-than-unanimous support in its own fold, the GOP has been unable to pass health care reform. The party has, though, managed to craft its own deeply unpopular legislation. Its time to understand history, rather than doom ourselves to repeat it. Its time the parties worked together to craft a plan that can satisfy more Americans and, more important, provide for their needs. And maybe this is the beginning. In his inspiring return to the Senate floor last week, cancer-stricken GOP Sen. John McCain, known for his bipartisanship, said each side must give a little to get a little. Then he personally drove the last nail into the coffin of the GOPs current plan. On Monday, a collection of 44 House members called the Problem Solvers Caucus, half Democrats and half Republicans, released its own starting point for a plan. It includes stabilizing the individual insurance market, repealing the 2.3 percent tax on medical devices, moving the mandated size at which companies must provide insurance from 50 workers to 500 and creating groups of states in which insurance could be sold across state lines. Other groups are also working on consensus ideas, from making premiums for people who buy their own coverage tax deductible to letting states have more options. Rep. Thomas Suozzi, the New York Democrat who is vice chairman of the Problem Solvers, said, Whats more important than the specific proposals is that were working together, because thats what people want. This is serious stuff. People are scared. Americans are caught in the middle of GOP extremists who claim they can improve care by taking away peoples coverage and Democrats who demand single-payer universal coverage. Its going to take a solution from the middle to set the nation free. Some White House leaks are very much worth investigating The following editorial appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune on Saturday, Aug. 5: On Friday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that a major crackdown on federal government leaking is under way and underscored his seriousness by standing alongside Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. Sessions said the Justice Department has more than tripled the number of leak investigations that the Obama administration had open. Obamas administration, of course, was far more aggressive than all others in targeting leaks it saw as harming national security. Sessions response to what he called a staggering number of leaks needs to be considered thoughtfully, not reflexively trashed or defended. A day earlier, The Washington Post had published transcripts of President Trumps phone calls in January with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. In May, The Intercept posted a transcript of an April call between Trump and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. Such leaks have no precedent, and the White House is right to find them alarming. But given that Trump seems furious over all leaks, there are reasons to worry that hell urge Sessions to subpoena reporters over stories with leaks that are merely embarrassing to the White House. That would be an abuse of power not just an attempt to find leakers but to intimidate journalists. With his Russian probe recusal, Sessions has to some degree shown spine in his dealings with Trump. He may need to show more going forward. Keep up the cancer fight The following editorial appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday, Aug. 4: In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared war on cancer, announcing plans to pour more than $100 million into finding a cure for the disease. The ensuing National Cancer Act of 1971 has not been able to defeat cancer, but it laid the groundwork for research that has put a major dent in mortality rates. Cancer deaths fell more than 25 percent between 1990 and 2014. Researchers were rightfully alarmed when President Donald Trumps proposed budget included a $5.8 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health, which funds much of the nations cancer research. Cuts of that magnitude could set researchers back years. Both Congress and the public are likely to object. During his 2016 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama announced the creation of the Cancer Moonshot Task Force, headed by then-Vice President Joe Biden, who said he was not declaring his own war on cancer but trying to finish the war Nixon started more than 45 years ago. Biden has continued his commitment to the goal since leaving office. In June, he and his wife, Jill Biden, launched the Biden Cancer Initiative. Their venture is promoting collaboration between leading researchers and also building an open-access cancer database, which includes genomic and clinical data for cancer patients. The data aid researchers in looking for a cure, but also patients researching available treatments. More than anything, Mr. and Mrs. Biden are adding a sense of urgency to the cancer war. Their son, Beau Biden, died of a glioblastoma in May 2015. Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy died of the same type of brain tumor in 2009. And recently, it was announced that Republican Sen. John McCain also has a glioblastoma, an aggressive tumor that typically kills within 15 months of diagnosis. Cancer knows no party affiliation. In these days of partisan bickering, efforts to eradicate the disease should receive bipartisan support, and researchers should receive any help they need. Mr. and Mrs. Biden have energized the efforts, and now McCains diagnosis makes the disease even more personal for members of Congress. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1.7 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. We must persevere. We cannot go wobbly in this fight. Crisis in Venezuela needs a rapid response The following editorial appeared in the Star Tribune on Friday, Aug. 4: Venezuelas descent into dictatorship accelerated this week with a bogus vote to create a Constituent Assembly that would be tasked with rewriting the countrys constitution. This comes on top of other assaults on democratic institutions like the judiciary and the news media, as Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro cements his ruinous rule. While efforts to resist and reverse the repressive regime have not and will not be easy, Venezuelan citizens and Western Hemisphere governments, including and especially the United States, need to keep up the pressure. The July 30 vote to pack the new body with regime loyalists was boycotted by the opposition, and there are allegations that even the preordained outcome was tainted by fraud. The real reason the Constituent Assembly was convened is to take away any remaining power that exists in a democracy, Jason Marczak, a director at the Atlantic Councils Latin American Center, told an editorial writer. The democratic checks that exist in the country will most likely be erased so were headed into a really extremely volatile situation. That situation has been building since the despotic drift under Hugo Chavez, Maduros presidential predecessor, who died in 2013. Maduro lacks Chavezs charisma but also did not inherit his era of high oil prices, which at least temporarily paid for the socialist governments reckless disregard for market forces. Now, despite having among the worlds largest oil reserves, Venezuela is on pace to be among the poorest countries in the hemisphere. The repression intensified on Tuesday, when two prominent opposition mayors were hustled from house arrest to detention. But outside pressure has ratcheted up, too, including the imposition of new U.S. sanctions on key government officials, including Maduro himself. The Venezuelan governments push for total control despite evidence of a vast majority of people who are opposed to the government, despite the terrible economic conditions and scarcities which are being suffered means that some international response is essential, Ivan Briscoe, program director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Crisis Group, told an editorial writer. Briscoe added that despite the worthy objective, any additional sanctions must not exacerbate citizens misery but must be targeted at regime figures. Thats true, but clearly more must be done to save Venezuela and the region from Maduros chaotic and cruel rule. It's never OK to joke about roughing up suspects The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday, Aug. 3: The commander in chiefs authority does not extend to Americas police forces. And thats a very good thing, because President Donald Trump seems to think its OK to punch out political dissidents and for police to abuse suspects in their custody. Speaking to law enforcers in New York on Friday, Trump suggested that they perhaps are a little too kind to the people they arrest for serious crimes. He suggested that sometimes a little roughing-up might be in order. He mimicked the way police officers typically cover the head of handcuffed suspects before putting them in the back seat of a squad car. And when you see these towns and when you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon you just see them thrown in, rough I said, please dont be too nice, Trump said, apparently diverting from his written text. Like when you guys put somebody in the car and youre protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over? Like, dont hit their head and theyve just killed somebody dont hit their head. I said, you can take the hand away. OK? No, not OK. Not anywhere close to OK. The White House claimed Monday that Trump was joking. If so, it wasnt funny. And given the current heightened tension over police abuse, Trump had no business making fun of the crucially important topic of civil rights. The acting chief of the Drug Enforcement Administration took the comments so seriously, he publicly disavowed them as wrong. Any president or other official who would make such remarks clearly doesnt understand the fundamentals of American jurisprudence. All suspects, whether arrested for jaywalking or murder, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The burden rests entirely on the prosecution to prove a suspects guilt. The suspect does not have to prove his or her innocence. Police officers have no explicit or implied permission to rough-up suspects or administer street justice just because theyre convinced of a suspects guilt. Giving them such permission would unleash a cascade of abuses unlike anything weve experienced in the years since videos began surfacing of police officers kicking, beating, abusing or shooting the suspects in their custody. We can think of no quicker way to undermine public faith in the law enforcement system than for the president to be seen advocating deliberately rough treatment of those in police custody. He could not be more wrong or more un-funny. At what point will this president begin to understand that his words influence others actions and can lead to severe consequences? Trump is utterly incapable of apologizing, we know. But this is one instance where he should retract his own impromptu remarks and learn to stick to his script. John Kelly must quell the White House chaos The following editorial appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday, Aug. 2: The installation of John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, as White House chief of staff is the best personnel move that President Donald Trump could make. Kelly proved immediately that he does not suffer fools gladly or in any other mood, forcing out Anthony Scaramucci as communications director. In his 11 indelible days of service, Scaramucci may have demonstrated affection and loyalty to the president, but the voluble financier served only to encourage the worst tendencies of Trump. The task ahead of Kelly is enforcing discipline in the fractious West Wing staff which includes the occupant of the Oval Office. Trump adviser Newt Gingrich told The Wall Street Journal that Kelly will be given more power than his predecessor, Reince Priebus, a Republican Party fixture who never gained traction. Gingrich, the former House speaker who often speaks frankly about the president, remarked that Trump, of course, reserves the right to cause chaos himself, but qualified the quip by noting that the president likes an orderly system. Indeed, Trump is drawn to things military and is fond of heeding the counsel of my generals. Its not a stretch to cite the presidents high school years at the New York Military Academy as a formative experience. Sent to the private school by his hard-driving father in order to get his rambunctiousness under control, the young D.T. thrived in the rigorous atmosphere (while pushing social rules to their limits). Kelly is a four-star general who served in Iraq and later oversaw the U.S. Southern Command. He could well remind Trump of his youthful experience another round of military school. Yet Kelly, 67, brings more than martial discipline to the White House. Over the course of his career, he was legislative assistant to the commandant of the Marine Corps, followed by stints as senior military adviser to defense secretaries during the Obama administration. Both of those roles required him to comprehend the byways of Washington, where not everyone snaps to attention upon mere command. That experience was a prelude to becoming secretary of homeland security, where he demonstrated the prized characteristic of public loyalty to Trump but never to the point of obsequiousness. A military professional to the core, Kelly has always pledged loyalty to the country, not a political party. The rise of Kelly reflects Trumps acknowledgement that he needs to be disciplined or the White House chaos will only get worse. If the former Marine commander can enforce parameters on presidential Twitter use, all the better. Proposed rail link design would disturb city skyline: Sultan of Johor The proposed design of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) rail track connecting Singapore and Johor Baru in Malaysia has earned the ire of the Sultan of Johor as he has expressed reservations about the issue. A view of the Johor Baru causeway connecting Singapore and Malaysia. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia Talking to a Singapore-based media group New Straits Times, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar said that while he welcomed the project he disagreed with the overall curve-shaped design of the track as well the plan to build an elevated bridge as high as 30m above water in the middle section. He told the newspaper that the bridge, linking Woodlands in Singapore and Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru, would disrupt the city skyline along the Johor Straits. The Sultan said, We are talking about a permanent fixture here. Go back to the drawing board and review the overall plan. He also said that the parties involved would have to consult him - Whatever (new plan) is presented to me, it will have to be logical, economical and sustainable for the benefit of not only Johoreans but all Malaysians and Singaporeans. According to the NST, Sultan Ibrahim criticised both the proposed curved design of the rail link and the elevated bridge as impractical, unsustainable and potentially costly. The Sultan questioned, Why do we have to have a curved design when we can have a more practical design that is straighter and closer to the Causeway? Why do they need an elevated bridge with up to 30m air draft (clearance height from water to a vessel's height) unless there are plans to remove the Causeway? He suggested that the new design could be the same height as the Causeway or be slightly elevated. The Sultan also apprised that he would bring up his concerns over the design in a meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong next month, before bringing up points from the meeting with the Malaysian government and the media. The RTS Link was first announced in 2010, and is expected to begin passenger service by the end of December 2024. Singapore has confirmed that its RTS terminus will be located at Woodlands North station, along the Thomson-East Coast MRT line, while Malaysia has chosen Bukit Chagar as its main terminal for the RTS. When the link will be ready, it will be able to carry up to 10,000 passengers in each direction every hour providing much relief to the people commuting between Singapore and Malaysia daily. When a modern island charms an ancient subcontinent: Desis raise toast to Lionville They were not born in this land, but they call Singapore their home and love it dearly. They have been living in the "bright and beautiful red dot" as Shilpi Sharma, Senior Director, Strategic Alliances & Partner, Marketing at Aspect Software, describes Singapore, for various lengths of time. Some have returned to Singapore after living in other parts of the world. Often seem prouder of Singapore than some Singaporeans. On Singapore's 52nd birthday, Connected to India spoke to some NRIs on what does Singapore mean to them. This is what they had to say. Paras Sharma, Senior Vice President & General Manager (SEA) and Head of Digital Media (Asia) MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Paramount Channel & BET at Viacom International Media Networks Paras Sharma, Senior Vice President & General Manager (SEA) and Head of Digital Media (Asia) Viacom International Media Networks; with his wife Shilpi Sharma and son Yashvardhan Sharma Photo courtesy: Paras Sharma Paras Sharma has been living in Singapore for past 11 years. "Singapore to me means multiple things a nation driven by values of meritocracy and innovation, a society built upon tenets of inclusiveness, a culture that is always evolving by seamlessly and harmoniously merging varied beliefs. It is made up of a wide and varied group of people working together to always better the present for future," he said. "What I admire most, is its ability to continue to be at the forefront in various fields despite being such a small nation state; be it business, innovation, safety and security." Prantik Mazumdar, Managing Partner at Happy Marketer Prantik Mazumdar, Managing Partner at Happy Marketer with his wife Dipti Kamaz and son Ayaan. Photo courtesy: Prantik Mazumdar Alumnus of the National University of Singapore (NUS), Prantik Mazumdar has been living here for 16 years. "Singapore is where I earned my tertiary degree, built my career in and where I started my family its a core part of my life. It is Singapore's meritocracy that makes it special; its ability to lead and plan for the future and its pragmatism. These are what always attracted me to the city state." Bhavana Bahl Malhota, reigning Mrs India Bhavana Bahl Maholtra, winner of Mrs India 2017, with her husband Vineet Malhotra. Photo courtesy: Bhavana Bahl Maholtra Bhavana Bahl Malhotra, who won the crown to Mrs India earlier this year, moved to Singapore from Melbourne two years ago. Born in India and brought up in Kuwait, she describes Singapore as a home away from home. "I love the Multiculturalism and safety of women in this country. The feeling of walking around without any fear is what I dig the most about Singapore," she said. Jagannath Narendran, Senior Vice President, Asia & Middle East at Aspect Software Jagannath Narendran with his wife Hasika and daughter Aarna. Photo courtesy: Jagannath Narendran "Singapore is home where else in the world would you find a globally, socially inclusive people and government focused on breaking down walls rather than building ones?" says, Jagannath Narendran. He lives in the beautiful neighbourhood of Tanjong Rhu with his wife and daughter. "Singapore has been the boon in our lives," he added. "Here, an entire country demonstrates and imbibes the value system you want for your family and everyone around you." "Majulah Singapore!" he adds with pride. (Malay for "Onward Singapore") Nawal Roy, CEO of a healthcare tech start-up Holmusk Nawal Roy, CEO, Holmusk. Photo: Connected to India Tech entrepreneur Nawal Roy has been living in Singapore since august 2016. Prior to coming to this sunny island, he was in the States for 16 years. To him, "Singapore means "what is possible" - ultimate "can do" attitude in principle and practice. It represents fully functional global city with continuous aspiration to improve." His favourite item is the nature reserve at Upper Bukit Timah. Tripta Singh, Senior Vice President International Business, Zee TV APAC Tripta Singh doing Kathak with her daughter Kyrah Deo. Photo courtesy: Tripta Singh Tripta Singh first came to Singapore in 2004. She was here for 3 years before moving to Hong Kong from 2007-2009, after which she moved back to this equatorial country and been here ever since. Tripta Singh, Executive Vice President at Zee TV APAC in her Suntec office Photo courtesy: Tripta Singh To her, Singapore can be summed up in one word, "HOME." As she said, "Singapore is home and has been so for many years now. Its diversity, attention to detail, security, vibrancy and comfort of welcoming all are what make Singapore stand out. The added benefit is its proximity to India which is the land I grew up in!" Singh also said that her favourite thing about this place, is "the freedom and security it gives to women. Women are treated with respect, dignity and are given equal opportunities. Singapores ability to embrace everyone and stay ahead of the times." Punam Sharrma, Director MediaGuru Singapore Punam Sharrma with her husband Mohit Singh and daughter Jia. Photo courtesy: Punam Sharrma Punam Sharrma, Director of MediaGuru Singapore, had been in and out of Singapore for last 17 years. "I first came here in 2000, went back to India for a year, and then came back again in 2004. Then I moved back to India in 2007 and then came back in 2013, Phew!!!" On what Singapore means to her, it's definitely home, she said. "Its been a place I always come back to so, I think I might have some past life connection to this place." The safety that is enjoyed here is defintely her favourite thing about Singapore. "I have an 8-year-old daughter and I dont think I would have chosen any other city in the world for her," Sharrma added. Anuradha Alex reigning Mrs. Earth International Singapore Anuradha Alex, Mrs Earth International 2017/2018 Singapore. Photo courtesy: Anuradha Alex Chennai-born Anuradha Alex, who is the Mrs. Earth International, has been in Singapore with her family for more than 10 years. "I am a peoples person, I love to explore and learn about different cultures. I feel there is no better place in the world than Singapore to experience this wonderful diverse culture. It is definitely a blessing for us to live here in a safe, clean and healthy environment," she enthused. "One of the greatest achievements of my life is when I got the proud chance to represent Singapore at Mrs Earth Peagent in Las Vegas and I won the winning title of `Mrs Earth International 2017/2018 Singapore. This is my home now and I am proud to do my part to spread the sparkle of Singapore around the Earth." Rajul Mehta, entrepreneur, artist, fashion designer and Founder and CEO of Queenmark Rajul Mehta, CEO of Queenmark, with her family. Photo Courtesy: Rajul Mehta The artist, successful entrepreneur and businesswoman has been living in Singapore for eight years. "Singapore represents home and comfort in my mind. I'm someone who travels a lot and when I return back to Singapore the feeling of 'welcome home' comes to my head," she said. She found it hard to pick just one favourite about Singapore. "I think there are many things that are my favourite here. To start with, meritocracy, racial harmony but if I have to choose one, my favourite thing about Singapore is the way the country is run in terms of safety and the systems in place that allow it to become so convenient. I have full confidence in the Singaporean leadership and systems in the coming future," she said. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Our weekend morning emails feature the very best news and exclusive content from our team of reporters Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is to visit Cornwall on Thursday. Corbyn will be at Heartlands in Pool from 1pm on Thursday afternoon for a rally to save the NHS. He will be joined by Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth and staff from the NHS. Early indications are that tickets are selling well with many expected to turn out to greet Corbyn who has become somewhat of a cult figure since an impressive showing in the last General Election. He was chosen as party leader two years ago but struggled to win favour with fellow MPs and supporters. But that all changed on the 2017 General Election campaign trail and the result of the election, despite being a defeat at the polls, was seen by many as something of a rebirth for Corbyn. Immediately after the 2017 election, a Survation poll put Labour on 45% with the Conservatives on 39%, the first poll to show Labour ahead with Corbyn as leader. Corbyn then announced that the party was being placed on "permanent campaign mode" expecting another general election to be called soon. Jayne Kirkham, the Labour candidate who finished second to Sarah Newton in the Truro and Falmouth constituency in the last General Election, said: After our amazing performance in Cornwall, when four out of six seats in Cornwall had Labour running second, the Labour Party has made two Cornish constituencies key target seats for the next election, she said. Truro and Falmouth and Camborne, Redruth and Hayle are in the top 60 most marginal seats that the party has targeted to get them over the line whenever the election may be. Probably soon looking at the performance of Theresa Mays cobbled-together government. With Tory majorities slashed to only 1,600 in Camborne, Redruth and Hayle and 3,700 in Truro and Falmouth the Lib Dems trailing thousands behind, we have a really strong chance of turning at least two Cornish seats red next time, she said. The leadership has seen our massive swing in Cornwall and Jeremy Corbyn and Jonathan Ashworth are coming in recognition of that. We are very much looking forward to having them here. The rally was described on ticketing system Eventbrite as part of "a positive message" of new campaigning. "At June's General Election here in the South West we significantly increased our vote," it said. "This summer the party is campaigning across the UK taking our positive message to those seats we have to win to form the next government. "On the afternoon of Thursday 10th August we will be holding a large rally in Cornwall where Jeremy Corbyn will be speaking. "He will be joined by our Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth and staff from the NHS. "Please arrive at the event from 1pm. Rally will begin at approx 2pm. Tickets are free but you need to register for them. "There will be a Labour Party stall selling Labour Party merchandise. "Parking is available at the site on a first come, first served basis - please follow the stewards who will guide you where to park. There is allocated Disabled parking and disabled facilites on site. "If you have any questions regarding this event please contact Hayley on hayley_jackson@labour.org.uk " It's not his first visit to Cornwall - last year he became the first Labour Party leader in a generation to visit the county on official business . PHOENIX A Maricopa County Superior Court judge said he has the legal right to decide whether Bob Burns has the unilateral power to subpoena utility executives, even in the face of opposition of the other four members of the Arizona Corporation Commission. In an extensive ruling Monday, Judge Daniel Kiley rejected arguments by Arizona Public Service that he is legally powerless to intercede in what the company contends is a dispute among commissioners. APS attorney Mary O'Grady said that, at the very least, Burns should have to wait until the commission rules on its pending rate increase request. But Kiley said this isn't a simple internal dispute among commissioners. Instead, he pointed out, Burns wants a clear ruling on the scope of his constitutional and statutory authority as an elected member of the panel to compel the production of evidence and examine witnesses. Resolving such disputes is clearly within the province of the judiciary, the judge wrote. Moreover, Arizona courts have long recognized that declaratory judgment relief is an appropriate vehicle for resolving controversies as to the legality of acts of public officials. Kiley also rebuffed an argument by Chairman Tom Forese that the dispute between Burns and the other commissioners is really a political question beyond the scope of the judge to resolve. This case presents issue of constitutional interpretation and statutory construction that are squarely within the scope of judicial authority, the judge said. Kiley's ruling came as the commission voted Monday to pay to hire separate attorneys for the other four commissioners to defend themselves in the lawsuit. That's because Burns has expanded his legal claims beyond just the issue of his individual rights as a commissioner to questions about whether the other four may be disqualified from voting on the APS rate hike because the company provided or is believed to have provided cash to help get them elected. But the panel refused to pay for Bill Richards, Burns' own attorney, who the commissioner said has been working for free. Burns said he was told the policy is for taxpayer-financed legal help only when commissioners are defending their actions. I'm on offense, they're on defense, he said. But Burns said he hopes that Kiley eventually orders the commission to pick up the bill for his lawyer, too. More immediate is the question of how much power does Burns or any other commissioner have to issue subpoenas and demand testimony from witnesses over the objections of his or her colleagues. Burns wants documents from APS and parent company Pinnacle West Capital Corp. showing what they spent not only to influence the 2014 election. Two outside groups spent $3.2 million to elect Forese and Doug Little but have refused to disclose their donors. He also wants information on the company's spending on lobbyists and charities. And he wants to question CEO Don Brandt and others. APS initially challenged his actions as premature. Kiley agreed, telling Burns to seek permission from his colleagues. But when he did that, the other four voted to reject his request. Kiley, in Monday's ruling, said that puts the question of Burns' legal rights squarely before him. And there are legitimate questions. The Arizona Constitution spells out that the commission and the several members thereof have the power to inspect and investigate the property, books, papers, business methods, and affairs of any corporation whose stock shall be offered for sale to the public. Pinnacle West is a publicly traded corporation. And it specifically spells out the right to demand documents over regulated public service corporations like APS. It also says that individual commissioners have the same power as a court to enforce the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence by subpoena. Kiley said it is now up to him, as the judge in the case, to decide whether the constitution and parallel statutes give Burns the independent powers he claims he has. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. You only have to see the comments on Cornwall Lives story about the sad and sudden death of Noel Krishnan yesterday to realise he was one of the countys biggest characters and one who will be sadly missed for years to come. The name Noel Krishnan may not mean much to you, but as Sunny the nickname everyone knew him by for the past 33 years in Cornwall he was a hugely respected and much-loved figure in Mid Cornwall. Its sadly fitting that Sunny should have breathed his last in the bar of St Austells Nepalese Gurkha (it is thought he suffered a heart attack) for restaurant life was his be all and end all and he excelled in the trade. Originally from Kerala in India and a former social worker, Sunny, 64, had lived in St Austell for the past three decades with his three sons attending local schools. He ran restaurants in Truro, Fowey and St Austell but was so much more than a front-of-house manager. Sunny, who was the founding chairman of the Council For Racial Equality in Cornwall, saw his dream come true in May when he was elected as a Conservative councillor for St Austell Town Council. That shows the measure of the man he always wanted to help others. A tireless supporter of Cornish and national charities, he constantly staged special fundraising nights in his restaurants. He may have been a mover and shaker he certainly knew how to talk the talk but he cared deeply about people and its such a shame his work for the folk of St Austell, a town he loved, has now been curtailed so cruelly. He told The West Briton: "I am proud to be running as the first black person for the Conservative Party in Cornwall. They haven't had any black people, so why not?" I knew the man for decades. Like a lot of people in Cornwall, my first tentative steps into the world of curry were guided by Sunny, first at Truros famed Ganges then at the Kathmandu Palace. He was so proud when a national newspaper named the Nepalese restaurant among the best curry houses in the UK. He later opened his own business, the first restaurant in Cornwall specialising in southern Indian cuisine, Sunny Spice in Old Bridge Street, Truro, before moving to the Nepalese Gurkha in the heart of his spiritual home, St Austell. A night at any of these restaurants was never just about the food when Sunny was on duty. Not only would he guide you to the best items on the menu, Sunny would often take a seat and join you, regaling you with his adventures, putting the world to rights he had strong views on all subjects and making you feel like the centre of his universe. The warm, double-fisted hand shake, the hugs, the twinkle in the eye, the stylish and dapper demeanour, even the lifts home all these things will never be forgotten by his friends and fans. Ill miss him asking after my dear family. A review of any of his venues was always destined to be a good one, not just because the food was always of a high standard but because Sunny added that special ingredient missing from so many restaurants. Hom Raj Sedhai, the St Austell restaurant's business development manager, told me: I was in London and came all the way back as soon as I heard. I really miss him. He was a very good man with a very big heart. Raj is now planning to celebrate Sunnys life with a special night supporting some of the charities he held dear. He is in the process of consulting with Sunnys wife and the Mayor of St Austell to ensure it is a more-than-fitting tribute. Tributes are coming in thick and fast already with more than 100 people commenting on our story on Facebook. Robert and Lesley Taylor said: I remember when Sunny first came to Cornwall and lived in Lostwithiel, he was such a kind, thoughtful gentleman and always had that sunny smile. Condolences to his family at this very sad time. Colin Carter added: From his time as the genial host at the Indian restaurant in Grampound Road over 25 years ago, to Kathmandhu Palace and then Sunny Spice, he was always upbeat no matter what else was going on, with a hug and 'alright my beauty'. RIP Sunny, you'll be really missed by so many. Such a lovely kind man, known him since I was a child growing up the next road over, he would always come and check on us at the park while we were playing to make sure all was ok, said Lynne Jones. Tom Last summed up the feelings of many: A local legend and a good guy. St Austell will be a much poorer place without him. A 14ft man-eating snake named Satan caused a block of flats to be evacuated amid widespread panic when she escaped into the vents. A major hunt for the giant African Rock Python - dubbed the 'man eater' - was launched at just before midnight on Friday. The Exeter flats, run by Devon Community Homes, were evacuated - with one man even fleeing to sleep in his car - after the snake, which had not eaten for a month, escaped. The reptile was eventually found by owner Samuel Maule, 20, 48 hours later with the help of special cameras and experts. But after researching the snake's volatile make-up, some residents feel they have had a very lucky escape. The breed is Africa's largest and can reach lengths of up to seven metres and up to 90kg in weight. The size of this particular python means it can easily take on large prey, such as monkeys, antelopes, crocodiles and warthogs. Although it is non venomous, it uses its curved teeth on its victims to anchor itself, before coiling around, suffocating and swallowing it whole. The African Rock Python has been known to attack humans and even killed a boy in 2002. Samuel, who has had a passion for reptiles since he was a child, said it escaped after he left it unattended for a matter of minutes. He told Devon Live : "She was found by myself and couple of friends and we worked through the night. "She was just soaking in the bath and I left her for two or three minutes. She managed to get out went through a gap in the wall that shouldn't have been there. "The snake has been in a deep shed so I was looking after her as any responsible owner would. "It's the first time this has ever happened to me. "I found her in the ceiling, she had moved to where it is warm, dry and dark." Samuel said he and his friends have dubbed her 'Satan' because of the "heavy response" it received in the media and the level of training required to keep one. He added: "They are not the horrible creatures they are made out to be and are in fact very inquisitive." Samuel also looks after other snakes, including Burmese Pythons, Corn Snakes and a Boa Constrictor. They are mostly rescues or purchased from friends and family. One petrified resident at the flats, Karen Turner, described how she was woken by Samuel banging on her door shortly after midnight. She added: "The lad who owns it said he had the snake in the bath because it had recently shed its skin. He told me he had taken his eye off it for five minutes and when he returned it had went behind the loo and into the building. "I have just had four teeth out and I was on anesthetic, so it was almost like I couldn't panic - instead, I grabbed my quilt and went and slept in my car, there was no way I was staying in there. "I stupidly sat there and Googled the snake, it's rare but they have been known to hunt humans and its known as an aggressive snake which is hard to handle." Residents were told they could evacuate and stay at a nearby Premier Inn by Devon and Cornwall Housing - but many opted to stay put. Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "The snake was found at 10pm (on Sunday) and had got itself inside a wall cavity after finding its way into the loft of the building. "The reptile is now in a box, and reptile experts were in attendance. Crews used a snake-eye camera to help in the search and removed sections of plasterboard." Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Our weekend morning emails feature the very best news and exclusive content from our team of reporters A date has been set for when the new supersized Lidl supermarket will open in Penzance. The German discounter has been building a new store to replace its ageing site in Western Promenade Road. The new, much larger, store will replace the now defunct Jewsons builders' merchants store also along Western Promenade Road and the current site will go on sale. The company said the new store will create 20 additional jobs. A spokesman for Lidl said: "It will be a sustainable 1690sqm store, will create up to 20 new jobs, state-of-the-art facilities including in-store bakery, longer-style tills with dual packing, customer toilets, baby changing and ample parking for both cars and bicycles. "Fully glass fronted facade maximising natural daylight entering the building. Electrical lighting system made up of LED fittings which, compared with a traditional lighting system, which is over 50% more energy efficient." The new store has been largely welcome by residents in Penzance, with many saying it won't take shoppers away from the town's high street any more than the current Lidl does. James Luke Tresidder posted on Facebook: "Isn't really a new outlet as it's going to simply replace the Lidl we have now. "Word has it that this is going to be a fairly great store compared to the current Lidl. "The site needed developing badly, this seems like a good use." He added: "Penzance has perhaps now reached the sensible limit for supermarkets though." Rachael Roach added: "Additional Job creation and choice of where to shop. "We cannot simply force people down the high street. Changing times and Penzance needs to catch up. I'm intrigued as to what will be built on the old Lidl site?" Fellow resident Claudine Rawlins added: "With more and more people discovering just how excellent value for money Lidl is, this bigger store is well needed. "As sad as I sound, I can't wait for it to open." The existing store has definitely outgrown itself." However not everyone welcomed the news, with many critics saying greater focus should go into encouraging more independent shops to open on the high street and more should be done to promote the town so shoppers stay away from out of town supermarkets. Michael Rabbitte said: "I think the greater focus should be on what the old site will be used for. "Now that the idea of a lorry park has been buried, hopefully some sensible proposals for its use can be discussed. " At present no taker has come forward to purchase the current Lidl site, but a rumour in Penzance is running that it could be turned into a family pub with soft play area. Moira Swanson said: "We really need to get a push to have some kind of indoor activities. There is a severe lack of that sort of thing for families. "Maybe the powers that be can persuade someone like one of those trampoline places to take it over." The new Lidl will open at 8am on September 14. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Our weekend morning emails feature the very best news and exclusive content from our team of reporters It has now been exactly four weeks since Finnian Layland-Stratfield went missing and people are still searching for the 17-year-old. Finn, from Tintagel, was last seen near the town's youth hostel by a walker on Saturday, July 8, between 6pm and 6.30pm.He was also spotted on a local pub's CCTV footage. The following day at 5.30pm a rucksack containing some of his personal belongings were located on cliffs above Hole Beach in Tintagel and, on the Monday, police issued an appeal for witnesses saying that they were 'extremely concerned' for Finn's welfare. His mum, Rebecca Stratfield, said police had a few unsuccessful leads last week. "There were a few more sightings," she said. "But nothing conclusive as the police didn't follow them up with me. "We are still looking here and posts are everywhere on social media." Rebecca said that what she feels now is a feeling between desperation and determination. "I'm obviously exhausted," she said. "But I need to be thinking positive. We're just going to carry on. "We love him so much. Can you imagine not talking to your kid for a month? It's just horrible." Finn is described as 5ft 9ins tall with a slim build. Finn has dark brown medium length scruffy hair with a long fringe, he is clean shaven but has some fluffy facial hair. He has a black ear stretcher in his left ear, a tattoo 'NOAH 2005' on his left forearm and a tattoo of a salamander on the rear of his right shoulder. He was believed to be wearing a blue Superdry hoodie, grey/black jeans with holes in the knees and black army style boots and was carrying the rucksack which was khaki green in colour around 2ft in length with pockets. Anyone with information is urged to come forward and contact the police quoting case number 844090716 of 09/07/2017. A man who allegedly killed his landlord during a rent dispute on July 25 said he did so in self-defense, according to police reports. James Womble was arrested for second-degree murder after stabbing his landlord Peter Gillespie in the chest with a pair of scissors. Womble called 911 after the incident, stating that he was the one who stabbed Gillespie; however, the Coconino County Attorneys Office has not charged Womble with a crime because the case is pending results from the coroners toxicology report as well as forensic analysis from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Womble is currently released from jail because police can hold a suspect for only 48 hours without a formal charge. The police report describes how an argument over past-due rent escalated into Gillespies death. According to Womble, Gillespie paid a visit to the house Womble rented in the 200 block of South Agassiz Street, where Womble said Gillespie was being sharp with him about the rent. The argument then escalated into the two men yelling and cussing at each other, according to Womble's housemate, Owen Sexton, who heard the yelling but did not see the incident become physical. Womble said that the incident became violent after Gillespie bumped him and threw him to the ground, causing his shoulder to go out of socket. However, Womble also stated that his shoulder pops out of place often, stemming from a past injury. Womble then claimed he grabbed a pair of scissors in self-defense, yelling at Gillespie to get away from me. I am going to stab you. I have a bad shoulder and I cant do anything else but stab, so please get away from me. According to Womble, Gillespie then began to choke him, causing Womble to stab Gillespie multiple times. Wombles other housemate, Tyler Coker, said he saw Gillespie throw a chair at Womble, but did not see the stabbing or who started the fight. Continue Reading Below Advertisement A strange driverless car was spotted in Arlington, Virginia. But it turns out it was just a man in a car seat costume. The fake driverless car almost got away with it, if it weren't for those meddling kids-err, a reporter who shot film through the window revealing the "car seat" had legs and arms coming out of it. The intrepid reporter demanded of the phony, "Brother, who are you? What are you doing? I'm with the news, dude." The "driverless" car sped off mysteriously. It turns out the motives behind the stunt weren't sinister (although this would probably be the setup to the perfect murder). Virginia Tech was doing some kind of study on autonomous cars, probably measuring drivers' reactions to them. But what if this was a complex psychological study on the effects of living as a car seat? An exploration of what separates man from car seat, and how much the human psyche can tolerate being a car seat before it breaks? Continue Reading Below Advertisement This poor research-assistant-turned-car-seat may be participating in the sacred name of science, but what havoc is this wreaking on his life? Does he sit at home, steadfastly in his costume, a drink in what he now calls his "cupholder" (hand)? Does his wife try in vain to get him to eat, only for him to answer coldly, "Car seats have no need for sustenance." "Come to bed, Dennis, for god's sake. The study has been over for weeks!" his wife exclaims. "Car seats do not require sleep. But you may recline me to the level of your choosing by pulling on-" "Oh, Dennis, what have they done to you?!" cries the wife, tears spilling onto her cheeks as she runs from the room. 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 IBM Sues To Stop Former CIO From Taking Leadership Position At AWS Joseph Tsidulko Share this IBM has filed a lawsuit trying to stop its former CIO from starting a new job with Amazon Web Services. In a complaint filed last week in a New York federal court, Big Blue argues that Jeff Smith knows highly sensitive information about the next-generation of cloud computing technologies that IBM is currently developing, and will share them with AWS if allowed to work for the cloud rival. IBM believes a non-compete agreement should prevent Smith's employment with any rival until May. The case was first reported by Westfair Online, a New York business news publication. [Related: CRN Exclusive: IBM Channel Chief Marc Dupaquier Leaving IBM To Work With Startups] Smith "resigned to compete against IBM" and had knowledge of "IBM's most closely guarded product development plans," the lawsuit states. Those plans allegedly involve new cloud offerings Big Blue intends to launch in the next year. They "will combine new hardware and software to provide Cloud Computing services to large enterprises that are faster, more secure and less expensive than before," the document states. Such technological innovations will enable IBM to reduce prices on cloud infrastructure, pressuring AWS, perceived as a cost leader, IBM claims in seeking to enjoin Smith's employment. "Mr. Smith possesses a wide range of highly confidential information on upcoming technological advances in IBMs cloud design that would be extremely valuable to IBM competitors such as AWS," an IBM spokesperson told CRN. "Mr. Smith, while employed by IBM in a senior technical position, engaged in repeated contacts with a senior executive at AWS and then wiped his mobile devices of data after informing IBM that he planned to violate his non-compete to go to work for the CEO of AWS. The company will vigorously protect its intellectual property," the spokesperson said. AWS did not respond to a request for comment on the case. IBM said that Smith was hired to serve as a vice president at AWS in a senior leadership role managing overall strategy and operations. He would report directly to AWS CEO Andy Jassy. IBM also accused Smith in the court filings of already sharing corporate secrets with Jassy "while he was a trusted IBM executive." Smith "wiped" his IBM-issued phone and tablet to prevent IBM from discovering secret communications with the AWS CEO, the lawsuit alleges. Smith was one of roughly 300 members of IBM's Growth & Transformation Team. IBM claims he was among the dozen highest-ranking IBM execs involved in important strategic discussions. Smith left IBM in May. In addition to preventing him from working with a competitor for the next nine months, IBM said the breach of their non-compete agreement allows equity in the company earned over the last year to be rescinded. That amounts to roughly $1.7 million dollars in stock bonuses. The judge hearing the case initially barred Smith from taking the job until the case could progress in court, but later modified a restraining order to allow him to show up for work at Amazon just to receive training. On his LinkedIn page, Smith said he started as chief information officer at IBM in August of 2014. Before coming to IBM, Smith worked as CIO of SunCorp, an Australian finance institution. He has held a similar position at many other large companies. IBM's lawsuit cited a Forbes report that IBM beat AWS to achieving $15 billion in total cloud revenue. Less than two months ago, Smith's would-be new employer, AWS, briefly pursued a similar case against a former employee. Amazon sued former vice president for enterprise applications, Gene Farrell, who was hired as head of product at Smartsheet, a Bellevue, Wash.-based software vendor that was once known as a prominent AWS customer. AWS argued in a state court that Farrell took a position in which he could share Amazon's cloud secrets with a rival, many of which he helped formulate. A week after filing, Amazon dropped the case, and a judge lifted the restraining order preventing Farrell from working at Smartsheet. Networking News Sandra Glaser Cheek Out As Brocade's Channel Chief Mark Haranas Share this After running the channel charge at Brocade Communications and Ruckus Wireless, Sandra Glaser Cheek is no longer with the company, Brocade confirmed to CRN. "Sandra Glaser Cheek has been a dynamic leader for the global channel and partner programs at Brocade and we wish her well in her new venture," said Ian Whiting, chief commercial officer for Ruckus, in a statement to CRN. Glaser Cheek, a 20-year channel veteran and winner of CRN's 2016 Channel Madness Tournament Of Chiefs, was appointed vice president of worldwide channels for Brocade in January. She was previously vice president of worldwide channels at Ruckus Wireless before it was acquired by Brocade last year for $1.2 billion. She also has held top channel executive positions at Extreme Networks, VMware and Adobe Systems. [Related: Brocade Continues To Shed Assets And Staff, Sells Virtual Packet Core Business To Mavenir] Glaser Cheek did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Brocade-Ruckus is set to be acquired by Broadcom this fall for $5.9 billion; Broadcom plans to then sell Ruckus and its IP networking business to Arris International immediately. One source familiar with the matter said there wasn't a global partner or marketing position available for Glaser Cheek at Arris. "When they merged into Arris, there really wasn't a global marketing position, which is interesting," said the source, who did not wish to be named. "I think Sandra was in the right position and didn't have enough time to develop it. She didn't have a chance to demonstrate a global position and a global role, because if you're told that your company is morphing and changing, but you havent been told what it's going to look like, it's [difficult] to be able to develop good messaging." Arris did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Raelyn Kritzer will take over Glaser Cheek's responsibility and lead Ruckus' global channel strategies, according to Brocade's Whiting. Kritzer is currently senior director for worldwide partner programs and enablement at Brocade. She's been with Brocade for 16 years in various partner marketing executive roles. "Ruckus continues to be committed to its worldwide partners and looks forward to engaging with its existing and new channel partners," said Whiting. Brocade reorganized in May to ensure a smooth transition following its sale. At the time, Glaser Cheek pledged that the company was focused on resolving partner and sales engagement issues. In an interview with CRN in February, Arris CEO Bruce McClelland said the future company "will look more like it did as Ruckus." "We understand how important channel relationships are in this business and that we have to invest in it, we have to nurture it, and we have to make it an extension of our business," McClelland said at the time. One executive from a solution provider who is a longtime Ruckus partner said he was disappointed that Glaser Cheek won't be making the move to Arris. "She's definitely going to be missed on the channel side of things and I think it's a mistake not to have her on the [Arris] team," said the executive, who did not wish to be named. "She was always very transparent on what Ruckus-Brocade were doing and planning, and it's unfortunate she's not going to be working with us anymore." As Broadcom nears the final stages of its acquisition of Brocade, the vendor has unveiled deals to sell numerous business operations and assets to various vendors. Last week, Brocade sold its Virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) product family to Mavenir Systems. In June, Brocade sold its Vyatta Software Platform to AT&T as well as its virtual application delivery controller business to Pulse Secure. Ruckus' longtime CEO, Selina Lo, left Brocade at the end of May. The company is also planning to sell its network edge portfolio, which includes the Ruckus Wireless and ICX Switch product families, for $800 million to Arris International. It also agreed to sell its data center networking business to Extreme Networks for $55 million. However, Broadcom's acquisition of Brocade was delayed in July when the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) said it would be reviewing the deal. Following the CFIUS review, the deal is tentatively expected to close some time in September or October. Samsung's IoT Strategy: Problem Solving, Not Products As more vendors begin to invest in the Internet of Things, Samsung is powering ahead to stay at the forefront of the market. The company in 2015 announced a new platform for managing and maintaining devices connected to the Internet of Things Artik and in 2016 said that it would dish out $1.2 billion in four years for IoT-related research and start-ups. But behind Samsung's sweeping IoT announcements, the company has been hard at work growing a channel that is equipped to bring IoT solutions to vertical markets. And the number one priority behind these solutions, Samsung Vice President of IoT Enterprise Ed Abrams told CRN, is not the actual technology itself but problem-solving. Following are excerpts of CRN's conversation with Abrams. Years ago when Google, Bing, Yahoo, Facebook, Amazon, and hundreds of other organizations began harvesting and monetizing user data, the public outcry resulted in a multitude of internet privacy protection products and services. And with our government deciding to allow internet service providers (ISPs) to engage in that same abuse, users have more options for privacy protection products and services than ever before. There are, literally, hundreds of options available. These are the top five internet privacy solutions, in our view, plus the five "runners up" (below). Onion routing & combo technologies 1. TOR, the Onion Router, is an open source product/service (which means it's free) that's been around since the mid 1990s. It was originally developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to protect U.S. intelligence communications online. It became the largest, most popular onion routing product/servicecalled the TOR Project in 2006and includes the TOR Browser and TOR software. According to Joshua Gay, TOR Communications Director, TOR protects users against a common form of internet surveillance known as traffic analysis, which is used to infer who is talking to whom over a public network. Knowing the source and destination of your internet traffic allows others to track your behavior and interests. TOR is for web browsers, instant messaging clients, and more. The TOR Browser is a cross-platform, free browser that connects to the TOR network without additional software. "The TOR software protects you by bouncing your communications around a distributed network of relays run by volunteers all around the world," says Gay. "It prevents everybody from watching your internet connection (including your ISP), from learning what sites you visit, and prevents those sites that you visit from learning your physical location and your actual IP address." 2. I2P, founded in 2003, is a free, open source, worldwide privacy network for secure communications, which travel through tunnels identified by I2P addresses (created by both sender and recipient). Like HTTPS and other privacy programs, I2P uses end-to-end encryption to hide the content of your communications from ISPs. It also uses layered encryption over several hops in each tunnel (aka, onion routing) to hide the metadata. Other applications can be layered on top that provide additional metadata defense, such as the email-like messaging apps, according to Jack Grigg, one of the current developers. "A key feature of I2P is that the end-to-end nature is built-in," explains Grigg. "Proxies, VPNs, and TOR exit nodes all require you to trust the egress point (the point where your data leaves their network to traverse the regular internet). These points act like remote ISPs; that is, they can see as much of your content and metadata as your ISP could before andin the case of proxies and VPNscan trivially link this information to your IP address (which is why it's important that VPNs dont keep their logs). I2P is not designed as a proxy and, therefore, doesnt have these trusted points. The only computer that can see your content and metadata is the one you are intentionally sending it to. The downside is that regular websites are not instantly accessible because services need to create an I2P address for their website. The upside is that, usually, this is very easy to do, so ask them!" Virtual private networks (VPNs) 3. Private Tunnel is a consumer and small business VPN product of OpenVPN Technologies. CEO and co-Founder, Francis Dinha, explains that it masks users' public IP addresses, so they can surf the web anonymously, and shield their networks against cyber-attacks and stalkers. Private Tunnel is integrated with OpenDNS and other anti-malware technologies that enhance the web browsing experience and help users avoid accessing malicious web pages. There are four pricing levels: From Basic service, which is free, to Unlimited service, which is $29.99 a year. "We literally prevent ISPs from having access to your private information," says Dinha. "All they see, if you're connected to one of our worldwide servers, is an encrypted, jumbled mess. And there's nothing they can do to crack that code. You're essentially locking them out, while you surf the net in total privacy." "Finding the right VPN can be a challenge because there are so many options," adds Dinha. "Our clients use Private Tunnel to circumvent geo restricted content and to add an additional layer of privacy, protection, and security when using the internet. And, because it does not log browsing activity transmitted through VPN tunnels, users are protected." 4. NordVPN is a tool used to ensure that all information shared over the internet is encrypted and private. It encrypts user data through a secure tunnel before accessing the internet, which protects sensitive information about ones location by hiding his/her IP address. The only information visible to the ISP is the user's connection to a VPN server, and nothing else. All other information is encrypted by the VPNs security protocol. There are three pricing levels: $69.00 for a one year commitment ($5.75 a month); $42.00 for a six-month commitment ($7.00 a month); or $11.95 a month for a month-to-month commitment. According to CMO, Marty P. Kamden, NordVPN is determined to hide and secure users data with features such as double data encryption and a strict no logs policy. "From the moment a user turns on NordVPN, his/her internet data becomes encrypted, so it's invisible to governments, ISPs, third party snoopers, and even NordVPN," says Kamden. "We will continue to safeguard internet user privacy and provide assistance and consultations on internet privacy to all our clients. During these times of increasing attacks on internet privacy, VPNs and NordVPN are now playing a major part in user protection. Proxy services 5. SSLPrivateProxy.com provides high speed, anonymous proxies and secure VPNs. Its infrastructure provides access to more than 100 locations worldwide. Users get dedicated IP addresses, speeds of 1000 Mbps, 300 plus subnets, and it provides a fully automated, user-friendly control panel for easy management. There are multiple pricing levels that work on sliding scales based on number and type of proxies; e.g., for one private Instagram proxy, it's $4.50 a month for a one-year commitment; $4.83 a month for a six-month commitment; $5.17 a month for a three-month commitment; and $5.50 a month for a month-to-month commitment. Additional pricing levels include Private Proxies, Pokemon Go Proxies, and Classified Ads Proxies. "For regular, private proxies you pay $15 a month and you get five different, dedicated proxies (i.e., IPs and ports). Dedicated means that during the time when that proxy is allocated to your account, it is only allocated to you and you are the only person who can use it. You can use the five proxies at any time for as much internet traffic as you want and bandwidth is unlimited," says a spokesperson for SSLPrivateProxy.com. And the runners up are: ExpressVPN VPN is $8.32 to $12.65 a month; Unlimited Bandwidth CyberGhost VPN Web Proxy is free; VPN is $5.83 to $9.16 a month; Unlimited Bandwidth Hide My Ass! Web Proxy is free; VPN is $11.52 a month; Unlimited Bandwidth Squid Proxies 10 proxies for $24 a month; Unlimited Bandwidth My Private Proxy 10 proxies for $23.70 a month; Unlimited Bandwidth How we got to this point with internet privacy The Senate Joint Resolution 34 (S.J.Res. 34) became public law on April 3, 2017. This resolution invalidates the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rules regarding the protection of user privacy for internet customers. The rule titled "Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services" was published on December 2, 2016. In a nutshell, S.J.Res. 34 strips the protections that previously forced your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to get your permission before it could track and collect your web browsing history, app usage, and other internet activities, then sell that data to the highest bidders. According to Altimeter Group analyst Brian Solis, the argument in favor of repealing the FCCs privacy regulations applying to ISPs is flawed and misleading. Lobbyists maintained that giving ISPs the ability to gather and monetize user data would allow them to fairly compete with organizations such as Google and Facebook, which, they say, would introduce consistency across the internet to protect customer privacy and security. "But there is no one standard that applies to the internet," explains Solis, "And, if anything, Trumps order further dilutes any constancy. Giving ISPs the ability to sell website history data to advertisers goes against the common understanding of privacy. ISPs charge consumers for access to the internet and thats the agreement in which there is a mutual understanding. If users are paying for internet access and presume data privacy, then there must be a quid pro quo if their website history is to also be sold." While there are certainly technical approaches to protecting ones privacy while browsing the internet, Gartner research director and risk/security analyst, Matt Stamper, reasons that this effectively confuses the fundamental issue. As a society, he insists that we have to determine if privacy is a rightan expectation of how we live our digital lives. "What the recent ruling has done is effectively change privacy from a right to a commodity that is brokered. Privacy principles emphasize choice and consent; that is, we choose to 'opt in' and share our information at our discretion. That is now absent," Stamper says. Privacy protecting solutions Solis warns that ISPs will lose big time if they compete against one another based on user privacy. "Comcast Corp, Verizon, and AT&T have already said they would not sell customers individual internet browsing information," Solis says. "Thats a start but, now more than ever, its up to consumers to manage their own privacy strategies." The obvious solution is to find an external product that will block the ISPs and search engines (such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo, etc.) from harvesting your data. Think of these invaders like viruses or malware that infect your system with garbage intended to harm or exploit you. In that case, you would install a virus protection program to block the intruders. And so, in this case, you would install a program that blocks the harvesters. How harvester blocking works The current technologies available for blocking harvesters from stealing your data are: virtual private networks (VPNs), proxy services, and onion routers. Basically, these technologies are fairly similar. Customers use an application or they directly access a website on the internet, which then connects themthrough a series of encrypted network relays, hubs, or virtual tunnelsto a bunch of external computers/servers that are scattered throughout the world for the purpose of hiding users' actual IP addresses. Some services bounce the connection across several servers at random, so the IP address is always different. Some have a limited range of IP addresses that change each time you login, some just hide or mask the IP address completely, and some use a combination of technologies to ensure your anonymity while online. The options defined Virtual private networks (VPNs) create a secure connection through an encrypted virtual tunnel from your location to another (such as France or Italy, for example), and hides your IP address. Proxy services are intermediary applications or gateways to a proxy website, which then routes the user's connection through an anonymous proxy server, effectively masking the IP address (which can only be masked for one application at a time). The Onion Router (TOR) is a service that connects users anonymously to the internet through a network of randomly selected nodes or relays, which are encrypted at each node. Because the route is never entirely visible, the trail is always masked. Many companies offer combination services; for example, Onion Routing and VPN, or VPN and Proxy. Advantages / disadvantages The advantages are privacy protection, the disadvantages are minimal. For example, your browser may slow down, so it takes longer to navigate; some VPNs are susceptible to government inspection; some proxies are difficult to configure and may not work with all applications; and frequent usage may tag you as a suspicious 'person of interest,' which could result in constant monitoring. But these are minor issues compared to having your entire life splattered across the internet for all to see (and judge). For example, how many times have you researched something for your parents, a friend, or a neighbor, and then discover later that your mailbox (both online and outside your house) is stuffed with advertisements for some embarrassing product like Rogaine or Preparation H? It's time to fight back! "We have effectively required consumers to invest in technologies to protect their online behavior. If the expectation is that privacy requires consumers to purchase, configure, and maintain their own VPNs and other such services, my concern is that privacy is fundamentally endangered. Do we really think that our parents will know how to deploy TOR or these other privacy solutions? If privacy is contingent upon my mom configuring TOR, were doomed, concludes Stamper. The 2017 Wilber Czech Festival took place over the weekend from Aug. 4-6 and featured a wide range of events and exhibits. This year marked the 56th annual festival and drew crowds from across the United States. Nearly 40 residents from Prague, Okla. traveled to Wilber for the festival according to Megan Hecker. Hecker came to support her sister who competed in the Miss Czech Slovak pageant. "My mom's 100 percent Czech, so I'm half," she said. "We are very involved in our local festival." The weekend celebration included several events including three parades, mini lessons in Czech, a "Chat with a Czech" program and a Czech heritage demonstration. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate What happens when two Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates and a cosmetic chemist launch a business together? Apparently, it results in a beauty brand that aims to upend the industry by offering bespoke shampoo and conditioner with 12 billion concoctions. New York City-based Function of Beauty, which operated from Stamford before heading to startup accelerator Y Combinator last year, has raised millions from investors such as Bessemer Venture Partners, GGV Capital and, most recently, Bullish, which has offices in Greenwich and was co-founded by Riverside resident Michael Duda. The opportunity to invest, Duda said, was a competitive affair since Function of Beauty graduated from Y Combinators winter 2016 class and quickly raised more than $9 million. They had so many different investors jockeying for the opportunity, Duda said. Ultimately, the founders agreed to work with Bullish because of how Dudas firm, which is both a venture capital and advertising agency, can help them build the brand, Duda said. For the size of their team to be doing what they are doing now is amazing. Its going to be a successful global brand. Function of Beauty slots nicely into Bullishs portfolio of investments that encompasses the likes of Birchbox, Casper, Harrys, Matchabar and Warby Parker, Duda said, adding Bullish plans to work with Function on its branding and marketing. Bullish primarily considers three elements when it reviews investment opportunities, he said, outlining them as companies that are built from the consumers needs out, sectors with little innovation and paying consumer-business models. Function of Beauty checks all those boxes, and theyre ultimately great founders who have ambition and drive, Duda said. The beauty brand thats causing a stir among investor circles directs customers to take an online quiz that asks questions about their hair type and hair goals and allows them to choose the color of their shampoo and conditioner as well as a type and strength of fragrance. The equation results in a blend specific to that person who gets to pick the name that will appear on their bottles. Beyond how the brand gives customers the unique ability to craft their function, the beauty company has received a lot of positive feedback for its elimination of sulfates and parabens, Functions head of marketing Adrienne Gaines said in an interview. The concept for Function of Beauty was prompted by co-founder Zahir Dossas graduate studies at MIT and experience running another beauty brand, Gaines said. Dossa studied supply chain optimization and found beauty was one of the worst-value industries, she said. Additionally, his experience in the beauty industry exposed him to conflicting feedback from consumers. He decided to establish a new company that would be individually formulated for each person, where they can select how they want to build it to fit them, Gaines said. According to a June Business Insider report, Function of Beauty, which has more than 38,000 Instagram followers, is already generating revenue, though Dossa declined to disclose specifics. The companys business model is bound to make it a successful brand, according to Duda, but Dossas personality contributes heavily to Dudas confidence in Function, Duda said. I love the founders fire and drive, he said. Were betting on the leadership and that theyll figure things out. Contact the writer at mbennett@greenwichtime.com; Twitter @Macaela_ This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3 When Greenwich business owner and longtime Riverside resident Paul Horowitz drove past Stamfords summer concert series Alive@Five last month, it inspired him to launch his own musical venture. I had this idea that I should do that for seniors, Horowitz said, who founded Greenwich Home Care last year. Senior citizens cant travel much, so well take the band to them. Stacey Wescott / McClatchy-Tribune News Service Norwalk-based Avara Pharmaceutical Services acquired a Pfizer sterile drug manufacturing facility in Italy, with the companies not providing financial details of the transaction. Avara offers drug manufacturing services on an outsourced basis to other companies, bringing on about 250 employees in the Pfizer transaction. Avara has other facilities in Norman, Okla., Puerto Rico, Ireland and the United Kingdom. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT - If you see Mayor Joseph Ganim around Josephs Steakhouse downtown, he could be grabbing a bite to eat. Or he might be checking up on how the fundraising for his gubernatorial campaign is going. Ganims 2018 exploratory committee quietly opened up a headquarters on the third floor of the small, rare-meat red brick building Josephs has called home since 2000, the tail end of Ganims first stint running Bridgeport. The Fairfield Avenue structure, just a few blocks walk from the mayors offices in the government center, is owned by prominent downtown developer Forstone Capital, LLC. There is nothing no signage, not even a name on a list of tenants posted by door buzzers indicating Joe Ganim 2018 (he is simultaneously also seeking re-election for mayor, but that is two years away) has set up shop. A Hearst Connecticut Media reporter buzzed enough offices Tuesday that another tenant unlocked the front door along Fairfield Avenue. Ganims campaign occupies suite 300. Three or four sparsely furnished rooms, lots of natural light and, at least on this day, a bare bones operation, the sole occupant being a young man who commutes from New London to help the mayor raise cash. There is plenty of symbolism in Ganim plotting his statewide run from the Josephs building, presumably his third favorite restaurant after Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testas catering hall and Testas pizzeria, both in the North End. The steakhouse represents the successes and excesses of the returned mayors first administration. Ganim had a taste for quality steaks, and he persuaded restaurateur Joseph Kustra to import the skills Kustra honed at Peter Lugers in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Ye Old Tollgate Steakhouse in Mamaroneck, N.Y. to Bridgeport. It was that same love for the luxuries of life that lead to Ganims downfall. He was convicted in 2003 of running a pay-to-play operation out of City Hall and served seven years in federal prison. In 2015, after Ganims hard-fought and shocking defeat of incumbent Bill Finch in that Septembers Democratic mayoral primary, Kustra a few days later threw his friend a party that included plenty of sliced pork, bacon and other mouthwatering meats. I knew people loved him and Im glad hes back, Kustra, who is out of town and unavailable for comment for this story, said at that time. Technically Ganim was not back yet. His actual general election victory was a few months away in November. And now, with over two years left in his second chance mayoral term, Ganim wants to be governor. He is part of a crowded field of Democrats and Republicans hoping to succeed Democrat Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who is not seeking a third term. Unlike his competition, however, Ganim cannot participate in the states so-called clean elections program which rewards candidates with grants in exchange for their agreeing to contribution and spending limits aimed at curtailing the influence of big money. A 2013 amendment to that law disqualifies candidates convicted of a felony related to their public office. The mayor, having unsuccessfully appealed to state elections watchdogs to exempt him from that ban, last week filed a lawsuit to overturn it. In the meantime Ganim is trying to follow the spirit of the clean elections initiative and asking for small campaign contributions from $5 to $100. Before parting with that maximum amount, consider that it will buy a steak for two at Josephs ($88). Not the steak for three, though ($134). Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, and the younger generation is more eager than ever to join the ranks of successful entrepreneurs. In fact, 72 percent of high school students and 64 percent of college undergraduates surveyed by Millennial Branding said they had dreams of someday starting their own businesses. Related: How You Can Identify and Optimize Nonprofit Partnerships Still, when it comes to starting a business, the classroom isnt a perfect substitute for real-world experience. Thats why its more important than ever for established companies to insert themselves into the startup ecosystem in ways that can help them achieve their own objectives while developing the next generation of business leaders. Generation Z (those born after 1995) wants more than just the opportunity to run a company; these aspiring entrepreneurs want to change the world. Sixty percent of those polled in a survey reported by Marketo said they wanted a job that would impact the world, and 76 percent were worried about humanitys impact on our planet. So, if brands want to help young entrepreneurs succeed, they should start by helping them help others. Growth with a purpose Many companies today are helping to foster entrepreneurial growth by creating partnerships with a variety of nonprofit organizations, including ones related to their core business. For example, Meltwater, a global media-intelligence company headquartered in San Francisco, established the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) in Ghana in 2008 as a Pan-African training program, seed fund and incubator for aspiring tech entrepreneurs. Every year, the nonprofit arm of the company selects high-performing graduates from across the African continent to participate in a fully sponsored entrepreneurial education program that lasts two years. The company has developed its nonprofit organization with the goal of creating opportunity, rather than simply providing charity. Like a growing number of companies, Meltwater is investing in its own long-term success by fostering the growth of tomorrows leaders. Prudent business leaders will recognize the explosion of interest in entrepreneurship as an opportunity to do the same. For CEOs and founders looking to tap into the possibilities of the booming startup ecosystem, here are five strategies to consider: Related: How Your Business Can Build Lasting Partnerships With Nonprofits 1. Start a mentorship program. Research shows that mentorship can go a long way toward improving the odds of an entrepreneurs success. While half of entrepreneurs fail without a mentor, 88 percent of founders in a survey (reported by the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Summit) who said they had access to one or more mentors went on to start a company that survived. Many Fortune 500 companies, including major financial institutions such as American Express and the Bank of America, are turning to mentorship programs like Year Up when searching for new talent. The nonprofit organization helps young adults from low-income families learn the skills they need to launch successful careers at top companies. By starting a mentorship program, youre creating more than just an outlet for corporate social responsibility. Youre equipping future leaders to take advantage of a lifetime of opportunities. 2. Create a scholarship. One of the most effective corporate scholarship programs today was created by Coca-Cola more than 25 years ago. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards an achievement-based scholarship to high school seniors who show a special capacity for learning and service to their communities. Since its inception, the Foundation program has awarded more than $63 million in educational assistance, selecting 150 scholars each year. Not only does this type of program demonstrate the companys commitment to giving back, but it provides ongoing opportunities for people who otherwise wouldnt have them. 3. Promote innovation through education. The University of Missouri has taken entrepreneurial education to a new level with its Entrepreneurship Alliance. The program places an emphasis on teaching not only the technical skills offered in traditional college entrepreneurship courses, but also the less tangible essentials, like risk tolerance, passion, self-confidence and vision. Business leaders may therefore contribute by funding student-led business initiatives, like MEST, or providing direct education and guidance to students dreaming of becoming entrepreneurs. Either way, they can cultivate innovative thinking within their own organizations while equipping future founders with the tools they need to succeed in the real world. 4. Provide networking opportunities. The University of Missouris Entrepreneurship Alliance offers students plenty of chances to connect with forward-thinking companies, and other schools are following suit. The University of Florida Career Resource Center, for instance, has been ranked among the best in America by BestColleges.com. Recruiters surveyed by the Wall Street Journal have said they love the fact that the school offers several annual career fairs, in addition to an online resource that helps students figure out how to turn their interests into careers. Networking is a critical part of achieving success as a startup founder, and, like schools, companies can play a big role in opening doors for young entrepreneurs. Companies can leverage existing business relationships to introduce young people to different types of work and different industries. Even if your company isnt hiring, helping qualified candidates make meaningful connections within your network can pay off down the road. 5. Equip schools with teaching materials. Samsung, the worlds largest electronics company, works to advance education with its global citizenship program, Hope for Children. Through Hope for Children, the company partners with a variety of nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for kids around the world. While a global impact is impressive, if youre just starting to develop your own opportunity-building program, consider supporting the educational institutions close to you. Donating materials is a great way to build a relationship with a school or teaching program. Eventually, you can expand your involvement to provide more hands-on services and direct engagement with entrepreneurial students. Related: Why 'Gen Z' May Be More Entrepreneurial Than 'Gen Y' The time to act is now: The sooner you become involved in cultivating entrepreneurial talent, the sooner that involvement will have a positive impact on your own company and the lives of others. Many companies make it a point to tell the world about their charity efforts and corporate philanthropy. But when you provide future leaders with opportunity rather than just charity, chances are you won't have to tell the world. They'll do it for you. Related: H h 2 Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com Sexism and sexual harassment have long been a problem in tech, especially in Silicon Valley. Fortunately, that tide is beginning to turn. Within the past year, several investors and executives have lost their jobs because of inappropriate conduct toward women, as detailed in a report by Quartz. Some notable names include executives at Uber and prominent members of large VC funds such as Binary Capital. Whistleblowers are getting better at revealing the elite men who abuse their powers. According to the Washington Post, one prominent firm in Silicon Valley is creating a blacklist of influencers who use their money and industry clout to intimidate women and make unwanted advances. As the voices against sexism in tech grow louder, male entrepreneurs and investors must denounce the status quo and take deliberate action to create more inclusive work environments. Related: The Role of Gender in Entrepreneurship Today (Infographic) Large-scale sexism is not new. As higher valuations become more common, participants in the tech sector must understand that allegations of shocking behavior are not new -- just more visible. These firms have known the people they were backing all along. They knew the behavior of some of the young, wealthy men involved in tech was unacceptable, but until now, the ramifications have been few. Thanks to the growing intolerance of this behavior, influencers in tech must now account for factors such as a history of sexual misconduct. Tech used to exist in a bubble, but with today's 24-hour news cycle, that private world is now open to the public. Companies must champion fair treatment for women -- not only because its the right thing to do, but also because doing otherwise would be PR suicide. Related: Why Gender Diversity in Tech Matters Pulling up the roots. These issues have no place in the future of technology. Correcting the culture will take time, but with a deliberate approach, tech entrepreneurs and investors can start building a better work environment for everyone. 1. Institute a zero-tolerance policy. Companies must not tolerate any sexual misconduct, especially for those on boards and in C-suite offices. Investors of all sizes must recognize that a lack of action implies tolerance, harming their investments in the long term and damaging that companys chances of success. Blake Irving, CEO of GoDaddy since 2013, is working to change the image of a company that once relied on sex appeal to sell domains. In an interview with The New York Times, he discussed the importance of women in technology and his personal drive to eliminate sexist business practices. "We have published not only our diversity numbers, but also whatever the pay equality is between the two," Irving stated. "Weve done an analysis of how many women actually matriculate into more senior engineering roles." 2. Ensure equal pay and recognition. Woman are equal contributors in life and in technology. Companies must provide the same pay and recognition at all levels of responsibility to women as they do men. This begins in schools, encouraging female participation in coding classes and business plan competitions, and expands into equal encouragement of new startups -- regardless of the founder's gender. Several major companies, including Facebook and Apple, committed last year to ensuring equal pay between men and women, per Huffington Post. These policies empower employees and create stronger internal structures. 3. Set consistent hiring standards and job expectations. Consider both male and female employees for all open positions. For any key hire, outline the responsibilities and compensation before the interview, and do not waver from those parameters based on the gender of the candidate. In my new venture, one of our first and most important hires will hopefully be a particular woman with vast experience in the domain name space. To have her on board for our early phases and key decisions would be a tremendous asset for our company. Businesses that tolerate sexism often overlook the best candidates, unwittingly sending them to their more forward-thinking competitors. Related: To Increase Gender Diversity, We Need to Go Back to School 4. Write a public policy with a system to address concerns. Employees must be allowed to share anonymous concerns of workplace sexism and harassment. Do not leave things for HR to interpret on a case-by-case basis. Set detailed processes that take complaints seriously and follow through with investigations, both for the good of the employees and the business. Company culture begins on day one at the top. The initial hires, the roles the individuals play, how strong their voices are and how they are compensated create the backbone for success. Follow these strategies to build an inclusive culture that will last beyond the today's sexism purge in the technology sector and extend into the future. Related: Sexism in Tech Is Dying: Are You Still Part of the Problem? 7 Ways Silicon Valley Could Transform Its Toxic Culture 4 Struggles of the Mompreneur Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com On Aug. 21, the moon will pass between the sun and the earth and blanket Beatrice in midday darkness. Officials estimate that the eclipse will bring in thousands of visitors. For the Beatrice and Gage County emergency crews, the large number of incoming tourists can make planning difficult. First responders will aim to be overly-prepared during the eclipse, according to Beatrice Fire and Rescue chief Brian Daake and Beatrice Police Department chief Bruce Lang, who spoke at the Beatrice City Council meeting on Monday. We've been preplanning this for about 18 years it seems like, Daake said. It's probably closer to 16 months. This has probably been one of the most difficult things I think we've ever had to plan for because we just don't know what we don't know. The Nebraska Emergency Management Association estimates that there could be between 100,000 and 500,000 coming to Nebraska to witness the eclipse. Its hard to know how many of those visitors will be heading to Beatrice, Daake said. The biggest challenge is probably going to be traffic gridlock, he said. The roads in town arent set up to receive what could double or triple the current population, he said. Daake also said people should be prepared for cell phone service to be weaker than usual, thanks to oversaturation. Emergency services have been in contact with the Department of Homeland Security, he said, to work out priority call options. Due to the fact that the population size of Beatrice will be increasing temporarily, Daake said, theyre expecting the likelihood of service calls to increase as well. Fire and rescue will be operating out of a couple different locations over the weekend before the eclipse, and on the day of the eclipse, theyll have a medic unit stationed at Southeast Community College. Off-duty personnel for fire and rescue, dispatch and the police department will be brought in as well, he said. A command post will be set up in a conference room next to the dispatch center. Basically, what we have done is we've over-prepared because it's easier to stand down than it is to ramp things up, trying to get people in who are off-duty and so forth, Daake said. Being prepared is great, Lang said, but with so many out-of-towners, first impressions count. We'll have lots of people available to handle whatever comes our way, Lang said. But, more importantly, we really want to focus on making a good image and presentation to the people that come here." Uniformed emergency personnel will help people who are looking for places to camp and, if they see someone parking where they shouldnt be, theyll point out places where its legal to do so, Lang said. First responders will be serving a dual-role, he said. They will be giving help when its needed and presenting the best possible face for the city. We think we're ready, Lang said. But, like Brian said, for us to truly be ready, we'd have to know what we're ready for and we're not really sure what that is because we don't know what our numbers are. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate President Donald Trump used his harshest language yet to warn North Korea on Tuesday that it will be "met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before," if it does not stop threatening the United States. "North Korea best not make any more threats," Trump told reporters at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club, where he is vacationing. Saying that the threats had gone "beyond a normal state," he twice repeated the "fire and fury" warning. It was not immediately clear what Trump was responding to. A North Korean military spokesman said Tuesday that Pyongyang was considering a plan to fire missiles at Guam and that it would carry out a preemptive strike if there were any signs of U.S. provocation, Reuters reported, quoting state media. Earlier in the day, North Korea said it would "ruthlessly take strategic measures involving physical actions," in the wake of new economic sanctions approved Saturday by the U.N. Security Council. On Monday, Pyongyang threatened retaliation against the United States "thousands of times." Trump's statement also followed a report in The Washington Post that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its ballistic missiles, crossing a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power. The report quoted a confidential assessment by U.S. intelligence officials. The unanimous U.N. sanctions vote, banning key North Korean exports, came after two tests last month of long-range missiles capable of reaching the United States. Trump's comments drew criticism from senior lawmakers. "The great leaders I've seen don't threaten unless they're ready to act, and I'm not sure President Trump is ready to act," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, told a Phoenix radio station. Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., said the remarks were "not helpful and once again show that he lacks the temperament and judgment" to deal with a serious crisis. "We should not be engaging in the same kind of blustery and provocative statements as North Korea about nuclear war." The escalated rhetoric and talk of war came as the administration is trying to push North Korea toward direct talks that, despite its earlier pushes for such a dialogue, Pyongyang now shows no sign of wanting. "The strategy has been pretty clear, " said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal policymaking, "to increase economic pressure and diplomatic isolation, with the goal of getting the North Koreans to come to their senses and begin reducing the threat, so that we can have a meaningful dialogue." "Right now, there is nothing that North Korea is doing that suggests to us that they are willing to have a serious dialogue with us," the official said. Even if Pyongyang expressed interest, the administration has been intentionally ambiguous about what it would consider a sufficient change by North Korea. In comments at a weekend security conference in Manila, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that at a minimum, North Korea must stop its ballistic missile tests. "That would be the first and strongest signal," Tillerson said. "We have not had extended periods of time where they were not taking some type of provocative action by launching ballistic missiles." The administration has made clear that it is no longer adhering to the policy of previous administrations requiring North Korea to commit to giving up its nuclear weapons before talks can begin. While denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the ultimate goal, it is no longer a U.S. prerequisite for talks. Repeating comments he made in the spring, Tillerson last week said the United States is not seeking regime change in North Korea. If Tillerson's remarks were the carrot, Trump's are clearly the stick. The White House has said it is "keeping all options on the table" regarding North Korea, including the use of military force. Short of war, the administration is already drawing up plans for additional sanctions, including on North Korean oil imports. "We're still far short of the kind of pressure that we brought to bear against Iran, or even Iraq" under Saddam Hussein, the senior official said. It remains unclear whether China, which agreed to vote for Saturday's sanctions resolution after lengthy negotiations with the United States, would agree. Up to 90 percent of North Korea's economic activity is conducted with China. For now, officials said, the administration is concentrating on making sure other countries comply with the newly enacted measures. Victor Cha, director of Asian studies at Georgetown University and former president George W. Bush's top adviser on North Korea, said he took Trump's harsh statement "not to be a sign that the United States is going to attack, but [to warn that] if North Korea actually did anything behind all their bluster, they would be met with immediate and overwhelming response. That is actually good for deterrence." But at the same time, Cha said, it was unclear whether Trump's outburst was coordinated with Tillerson's outreach. In any case, he said, the situation is "definitely going to heat up" in the next several weeks as the United States and South Korea begin regularly scheduled military exercises in August. "I expect we'll see a bunch of fireworks during that period," he said. Trump's late-afternoon statement Tuesday came after he took to Twitter in the morning to amplify a Fox News report, based on anonymous sources, that U.S. spy satellites had detected North Korea loading two cruise missiles on a patrol boat on the country's coast in recent days. Without adding any comment of his own, Trump, who regularly decries leaks to the media, retweeted to his more than 35 million followers a link to the day-old story, which was featured Tuesday morning on "Fox & Friends," a program on Fox News. A White House spokesman did not respond to a question about whether Trump's retweet amounted to a confirmation of the story, which was attributed to unnamed "U.S. officials with knowledge of the latest intelligence in the region." One intelligence official who was asked about the report said it was insignificant and not a sign that North Korea was preparing to test a ballistic missile or make any other provocation. But the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, expressed chagrin that Trump would retweet a report about "something unimportant" that nonetheless "reveals something about our surveillance capabilities." Trump, who receives daily intelligence briefings, including while on his current 17-day stay in New Jersey, would presumably be in a position to know whether U.S. intelligence believes that the North Koreans did, in fact, load cruise missiles onto a patrol boat recently, and its significance. Asked about the report Tuesday morning on Fox, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said she could not comment. "I can't talk about anything that's classified, and if it's in the newspaper, that's a shame," Haley said. "It's incredibly dangerous when things go out to the press like that." --- The Washington Post's Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report. A man was arrested in Beatrice on Aug. 2 after allegedly stealing a car key and slashing four tires on the car following an argument. Jedidiah J. Riekenberg, 38, was arrested by Beatrice Police for obstructing police, criminal mischief and theft by receiving on Wednesday, Aug. 2. On August 1, police were called to 11th and High streets in Beatrice after the report of a disturbance. A woman told police that Riekenberg had taken her phone and broken it before leaving with her car keys. The woman told police that she did not want to press charges for damages to the phone. Officers found Riekenberg about six blocks away and questioned him about the key. Riekenberg allowed police to search him and his belongings, but the key was not located. The key was not found when the woman allowed police to search her vehicle, a blue 2006 Ford Taurus. According to the police report, the cables to the starter plugs had been removed from the vehicle but the tires were still inflated at that time. The woman was transported to the Beatrice Police Department to wait for her mother to pick her up at 11:30 p.m. on August 1 and returned to her vehicle just after midnight on August 2. The woman allegedly called police to report that the tires on her vehicle had been slashed and that Riekenberg was in the area again. Police returned to the vehicle at 12:35 a.m. and observed Riekenberg inside the car, leaning into the driver seat, the report said. When he saw the police car, Riekenberg allegedly exited the vehicle and attempted to walk away from police while being directed to stop. According to the police report, the responding officer stopped Riekenberg and heard the sound of metal hitting the ground. The officer then saw a Ford key on the ground near Riekenbergs feet, the report said. Riekenberg was placed in hand cuffs and requested that police search his pockets, the report said. Police officers found a phone charging cable and a packet of Swisher Sweets. Witnesses at the scene said they were told by Riekenberg that he slashed the tires near the edge to prevent the tires from being patched. Riekenberg also allegedly told witnesses that he removed the cables from the starter plugs as well. According to the report, witnesses told police that during the time officers were previously there, trying to find the key, Riekenberg had inserted the key into his anus to prevent the key from being found. The report said that after being arrested for possessing stolen property and damaging the vehicle, Riekenberg told police he had received the key just before the police arrived. He allegedly received the key from another person who had a spare and was taking drugs from inside the car. Riekenberg told police he did not damage the car, but said that he heard other people on location talking about slashing the tires, the report said Riekenberg told police he did not place the key in his anus to prevent officers from finding it. On Aug. 3, Riekenberg appeared in court and was released upon his own recognizance and was ordered to have no contact with the woman. He is scheduled to appear again in court on Aug. 22. Beatrice police responded to an attempted abduction Sunday morning under the bridge between Chautauqua Park and Veterans Memorial Park in Beatrice. Police are looking for a suspect after a 36-year-old woman told police she was grabbed by a man near the park. The woman was running north of Veterans Memorial Park when she noticed a man standing near the trail. She continued along the trail, then saw him again on her return. The man then allegedly moved toward her and got close enough to grab her arms. The suspect then allegedly spun the woman around and shoved her into the south fence on the trail. According to Beatrice Police Captain Gerald Lamkin, the woman screamed and scratched the man, then was able to break free of his grasp and run out toward Highway 77 to flag down a car. The driver of a car pulled into Veterans Memorial Park and called 911. The unidentified suspect was described by police as a white male with facial hair and was wearing an orange cap, a white shirt and blue jeans. The suspect allegedly left the area, heading west on Perry Street, driving a 2014 or 2015 blue or gray Chrysler or Dodge minivan. The police are taking the incident very seriously, Lamkin said. According to police, the woman was visibly shaken when officers arrived but was able to provide solid information. I've been in law enforcement for 39 years and this is, I think, one of the first that I can recall. Just out of the blue, something like this, Lamkin said. It shook me. Lamkin recommended not changing routines, but urged people who may run in secluded locations to use caution. You just have to be aware of your surroundings, he said. This female noticed this individual, so she was aware, and then, when she turned around and was coming back, saw him again. I think her sense of awareness was heightened. Whether or not she knew, she was prepared, and I think she did an amazing job to be able to break free of this individual. Lamkin said he advised his own daughter that bringing the dog when she went for a run would be a good idea, as would running with a friend. Bringing items like pepper spray could be a good idea too, he said, but it's important to remember that self-defense items could end up being used against you. The Beatrice Policed sent out a teletype around the state for other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the suspect, but invited the publics help as well. "If they see something strange, call us," he said. "We'd just as soon respond to 40 calls that don't amount to anything than not get called from something that could have been huge in breaking any case." Great Allegheny Passage improvements coming The bids were opened Nov. 1 and Adam Eidemiller's was the lower of two bids received. The project will take two weeks starting within the next week. Storylines Trust chair, Dr Libby Limbrick, says that the two literary agents five-day visit to New Zealand is being supported byinternational delegates programme.They will attend the 2 day Storylines hui in Auckland, later meeting others from publishing and bookselling agencies. Storylines is delighted to be able to offer the Hui participants, who include many leading and promising New Zealand authors, the chance to meet two experienced agents, and learn more about the role of literary agents in the international literary scene, and how agents help to create and maintain a literary career. Pippa Masson is one of five agents working in Sydney with the leading international literary agency Curtis Brown, the oldest and largest literary agency in Australia. Their clients include Nick Earls, Libby Gleeson, Markus Zusak, Tom Kennelly, Andy Griffiths and several Kiwi authors. Pippa has worked in publishing, principally at Curtis Brown, for more than ten years. She has appeared at many writers festivals in Australia, talking about the role and benefits of agents in publishing. This summer month, originally named after Caesar Augustus, is now known as National Breastfeeding Month. Breast milk has been under much scrutiny and research, and being fully equipped with the resolve of the scientific community, we can confidently say that breast milk provides the perfect nutrition for the quickly growing infant. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding, along with appropriate complementary foods, up to two years of age or beyond. Why then, is breastfeeding-shaming so common in our society? Unfortunately, headlines across the nation imply that breastfeeding is somehow disgusting, distracting or sexual. It is important that breastfeeding mothers everywhere feel safe and confident to do so. Regrettably, this is not always the case. It is my hope that the information herein will provide sufficient clarification for universal support for mothers and their babies in this regard. In the state of Montana, breastfeeding in public and in private is fully protected by law, irrespective of whether or not the mothers breast is covered during or incidental to the breastfeeding. The benefits of breastfeeding include: Bonding. Colostrum the perfect nutrition and immune support for the infant. No added cost involved (compared to formula feeding). Healthy gut flora of infant, with an increased variety of healthy bacteria. Reduced risk of chronic disease and obesity for the infant. Reduced rate of allergies for the infant. Mothers lose extra pounds more quickly. Reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer in the mother. With these many important benefits to both mother and child, doesnt it make sense to support mothers who choose to breastfeed their children? This support is vital for women to experience from family, friends and co-workers and also from health care providers. There are specific reasons that a woman may be unable to breastfeed, including: Currently taking opioid pain medications. Using any illicit drug or illegal substance. Recent alcohol consumption (otherwise known as pumping-and-dumping). Current cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation to the breast. Infections such as HIV or hepatitis B. Lack of adequate milk production or improper latch. Common breastfeeding concerns include incorrect latch or a lack of milk production. Increased milk production may be able to be promoted naturally and common galactogogues, or milk-promoting agents, are abundant in nature and include: fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus), goats rue (Galega officinalis), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), nettles (Urtica dioica) and hops (humulus opulus). Remember, breastfeeding versus formula feeding is ultimately the mothers decision and there are many factors to consider. Concerns about milk production, latching and other challenges in breastfeeding can be addressed by contacting a lactation consultant or a La Leche League counselor. Breastfeeding may not be right for every mother or child, but it is the right of each and every woman to choose and to feel safe doing so. Advertisement They say that diamonds are a girls best friend and Diana was no exception, though very few of the sparklers she wore were her own. On her wedding day she donned the priceless Spencer Tiara, an elegant floral headpiece that had been in her family since Victorian times and she continued to wear it throughout her time as Princess. Fussy with headpieces she is said not to have liked how they flattened her hair and dug in to her temples she fixed them in place with ordinary elastic from John Lewis, according to her hairstylist Sam McKnight. A girl's best friend: Diana draped herself in diamonds at every opportunity, from family heirlooms to pieces borrowed from the Spencers favourite jeweller Collingwood. She is pictured in Hong Kong wearing a pearl and diamond tiara that was a wedding gift from the Queen Necklaces and earrings, however, were a different matter. Diana draped herself in diamonds at every opportunity, from family heirlooms to pieces borrowed from the Spencers favourite jeweller Collingwood, ensuring a dazzling appearance that captivated everyone in the room. Today, for the first time, we chart the sparkling stones she so adored. Raiding her mother's gems Diana wore this piece from her mothers collection to the charity event at Goldsmiths Hall in March 1981 the first royal black tie event of her young life. Diana paired this elegant diamond necklace from her mother's collection with her wedding earrings as she attended the first royal black tie event of her young life in 1981 Paired with her wedding earrings, this elegant diamond necklace featured a single strand of glittering stones fused together at the front to make an asymmetric vertical drop. Paradoxically, Diana later learned the importance of not wearing jewellery with her many low-cut and strapless gowns. These dresses had necklines which seemed to beg for diamond chokers or pendants, but she soon came to realise the power of a bare decolletage. A generous loan from the Queen Resplendent in a sky blue Bruce Oldfield dress at a dinner in Australia, Diana accessorised with a necklace borrowed from the Queen. This was the King Faisal of Saudi Arabia necklace, a fringe design with drop diamonds set with additional slender baguette and rhombus-shaped brilliant diamonds. The King Faisal of Saudi Arabia necklace was chosen by Diana for an event in Australia in 1983. It was loaned to her by Her Majesty for the tour and is a fringe design with drop diamonds set with additional slender baguette and rhombus-shaped brilliant diamonds Made by American jeweller to the stars Harry Winston, it was given to the Queen as a gift by the Arab monarch during his visit to Britain in 1967. Aware that Diana had few suitable pieces in her still-fledgling collection, the Queen, who adored the necklace, lent the piece for the royal couples tour Down Under in 1983. Something borrowed... family heirloom that saved the day On her wedding day in July 1981, Diana had relatively few pieces of jewellery from which to choose. The one saving grace was the Spencer Tiara, a dazzling floral headpiece which had been in her family in various guises for more than 60 years. Said to date back to the 18th century, it was given to Dianas grandmother, Cynthia, Viscountess Althorp, by a distant relative called Lady Sarah Spencer as a wedding gift in 1919. The Spencer family tiara was Diana's favourite and she wore it on her wedding day. It features large gold scrolling foliage adorned with tulips, stars and a central heart, each decorated with diamonds and set in silver. A similar headpiece was recently sold by the family for 185,000 The tiara was remounted and sections were added in the Thirties, with the oldest pieces said to be at either end. It features large gold scrolling foliage adorned with tulips, stars and a central heart, each decorated with diamonds and set in silver. Its curved shape and whimsical design make it different to the more formal style of royal headpieces. Reportedly Dianas favourite, it was worn by her older sisters, Jane and Sarah, on their wedding days (in 1978 and 1980 respectively). Diana, as bridesmaid to both, had longed for the day she might wear the sparkling headpiece as a bride, and on her wedding day it served as a fitting something borrowed. The tiaras value is unknown, but earlier this year the Spencer family sold another headpiece, set with more than 800 diamonds, for 185,000 to a mystery bidder at auction. The diamonds that she couldn't accept as a gift Collingwood, founded in 1817, had been the Spencer family jewellers since Diana was a girl, so when it came to choosing a shimmering suite of diamonds for her official engagement portraits, taken by Lord Snowdon in February 1981, there was no better place to turn. Lady Diana selected an antique diamond necklace and matching girandole earrings for the sitting at Highgrove House. Diana selected this antique diamond necklace and matching girandole earrings for engagement portraits taken by Lord Snowdon. Jewellers Collingwood wanted to present it to her as a wedding present but Buckingham Palace officials said the valuable gift was inappropriate Collingwood wanted to present her with the diamond set as a wedding gift, but Palace officials declared such a valuable present inappropriate. Instead, the jeweller gave the Princess a pair of diamond and pearl earrings. However Diana continued to borrow the set, wearing the necklace for King Khalid of Saudi Arabias visit to London in June 1981. The Collingwood diamond suite was subsequently offered for sale by an Iranian jeweller, who claimed they were Spencer heirlooms sold to pay for the wedding. He had bought them from an unscrupulous dealer, who had offered the Snowdon portrait as proof they belonged to Dianas family. Thankfully the fraud was uncovered before the sale could be made. The weighty Windsor tiara that gave her headaches The most magnificent heirloom worn by Diana or any of the younger royals to date the Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara (sometimes known as the Queen Mary Lovers Knot) is thought to be worth around half a million pounds. It came into her possession via the Queen, who gave the diamond and pearl-drop headpiece to her new daughter-in-law as a rather generous wedding present. The tiaras history can be traced back to 1818, when it was given as a wedding present to the German bride of the Duke of Cambridge, King George IIIs seventh son. Passed down several generations, the tiara eventually caught the eye of Queen Mary, wife of George V, who had her own copy made by the royal jeweller Garrard. Heirloom: from left, the Queen in the tiara in 1958; Princess Diana in 1991; and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2016. The Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara (sometimes known as the Queen Mary Lovers Knot) is thought to be worth around 500,000 The tiara comprises diamonds and pearls from Queen Marys personal collection, set in silver and arranged in 19 arches capped with bows (or lovers knots), resting on a circular band of diamonds. On Marys death in 1953, it passed to her granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II. A spokesman for Garrard says Diana wore the tiara an awful lot, mostly for presidential banquets, gala dinners and formal portraits. She felt it lent her a suitably regal air, but in private complained of its weight and said it gave her headaches if worn for too long. After her divorce from Charles in 1996, the tiara returned to the Windsor vault. In December 2015, royal watchers were delighted to see the Duchess of Cambridge dust it off for the Queens annual diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace. Then again in 2016. Sparklers fit for a star Diana pulled out all the stops for this encounter with actress Elizabeth Taylor in 1982. Wearing a white fur coat, the Princess looked indistinguishable from a young, successful starlet, completing her look with a glittering diamond flower cluster necklace. Diana pulled out all the stops for this encounter with actress Elizabeth Taylor in 1982. She chose a glittering diamond flower cluster necklace featuring graduated floral diamond patterns The necklace, featuring graduated floral diamond patterns, was mid-way between a pendant and a choker, meaning it was particularly flattering on Diana. Although she generally preferred shorter necklaces as they showed off her long neck and elegant shoulders. Timeless watch the Queen loved This delicate diamond and platinum watch was presented to Her Majesty the Queen in 1947 as a wedding gift from the Swiss Federal Republic. Made at Vacheron Constantin, the worlds oldest watch factory, founded in Geneva in 1755, the diamond- encircled round watch face is joined to a strap with loops of diamonds, making it one of the most ostentatious timepieces ever seen. The diamond- encircled round watch face is joined to a strap with loops of diamonds and was a wedding gift to the Queen in 1947 from Switzerland. She then bestowed it upon Diana for her wedding. She is seen wearing it hear attending a gala dinner in Washington during 1985 The Queen wore the watch often in her youth, once showing it off over a pair of black satin gloves. It was among the many wedding presents the Queen bestowed upon Diana in 1981. Here she wears it to a gala dinner in Washington in 1985. The tiny gleaming stones mirror the crystals on the shoulder of her white silk gown. Brooch that showed off her very playful sense of style Looking particularly stylish at an Americas Cup Ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel in 1986, Diana, by then hitting her fashion stride, decided to pin a diamond brooch to a velvet choker and wear it as a necklace. Little is known about this eye-catching arrow shaped brooch featuring diamonds and sapphires that Diana fashioned into a necklace for an Americas Cup Ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel in 1986 Little is known about the brooch, an arrow shape featuring diamonds and sapphires. Yet the remainder of her look was certainly eye-catching. Her flamenco-style dress was by Murray Arbeid, her earrings were faux onyx stones from her favourite costume jeweller, Butler and Wilson, and she wore mismatched gloves (one black and another red), setting the tone for her most fashion-forward years. The cherished reminder of friend who died from Aids Not usually a fan of brooches, this diamond flower held sentimental significance for Diana. It was left to her by her friend Adrian Ward-Jackson, an art dealer, who died from Aids in August 1991, aged just 41. This diamond flower featuring a central stone and 18 diamond petals was passed to Diana following the death of her friend Adrian Ward-Jackson from Aids at the age of just 41. She wore it to his memorial Diana was patron of the National Aids Trust and had a close bond with Adrian, whose illness worsened while she was on a family holiday at Balmoral. She left Charles and the boys and rushed to London, holding an eight-hour bedside vigil on his final night. With a central stone and 18 diamond petals, it passed to Diana on Adrians death and she wore it to his memorial. Striking gift from the Sultan of Oman NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has opened up about dating and the choices she has made in life in a candid interview with Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew. In a piece, published by Whimn, the 46-year-old politician said she cannot help but reflect on the choices she has made along the way. 'I reflect all the time. Everyone in life has those critical moments in their life when they know that something they did or didnt do would affect their future,' she said. NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) has opened up about dating and the choices she has made in life in a candid interview with Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew 'No matter what your situation is in life you think what if this and what if that? It's not bad to reflect but you also need to be comfortable with those decisions.' Revealing that she struggles to ever completely 'switch off', Ms Berejiklian also said that working hard is in her 'DNA' and that her family worries about her health. 'I'm careful what I say publicly about what Ive eaten that day and how Im taking care of myself. Those closest to you worry the most,' she said. During the interview, Bartholomew also probed Ms Berejiklian on love - asking: 'I imagine it's very difficult to go on a date as Premier of New South Wales'. 'You do get quite guarded,' Ms Berejiklian responded. 'I even wonder how a coffee with a good friend will be interpreted.' The Premier (pictured) previously said that 20 years ago, she never would have imagined her life turning out as it has, but added she has 'just taken every opportunity that's come my way' But she added: 'I don't worry about that too much. I've been in public life for long enough that I know you just have to live your life normally.' It's not the first time the Manly-born politician has opened up for a candid interview. In February, she spoke out about being childless in an interview with Australian Women's Weekly. 'I've never made a conscious decision to choose work over other considerations,' the politician said at the time. 'It's just the way it's happened in my life and I'm very happy with where I am.' The Premier admitted that 20 years ago, she 'never would have imagined life would turn out this way' but added that she has 'just taken every opportunity that's come my way'. Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) was appointed as NSW's first Liberal Premier in January, after she was elected unopposed by the Liberal Party Gladys Berejiklian was appointed as NSW's first Liberal Premier in January, after she was elected unopposed by the Liberal Party. Within minutes of being appointed, Ms Berejiklian was asked by an unidentified female journalist whether being single and childless would affect her ability to do her job. 'The obvious question is do you think this is a disadvantage politically because people have kids and they have families and people identify with that like they did with Morris Iemma,' the female reporter asked. The following day, Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage threw her support behind the Premier saying the question was 'bloody ridiculous'. A shopping centre is offering weary mothers free personal nannies - so someone can look after their kids while they hit the shops. Rhodes Waterside, in NSW, launched its Shopping Nanny service on 3 August - spruiking it on Facebook with the caption 'YES we're serious! Drop off the kids and we'll do the rest'. 'Whether you need to shop, get your hair done or simply enjoy a cup of coffee, Rhodes Watersides complimentary nanny service is here to help,' the post continued. Rhodes Waterside launched its Shopping Nanny service on 3 August - spruiking it on Facebook with the caption 'YES we're serious! Drop off the kids and we'll do the rest' (stock image) 'Enjoy some 'me' time and our professional, fully qualified nannies will entertain your kids in a fun and safe environment.' The centre's website goes on to say that the Shopping Nanny service is available from Monday to Friday, from 10am to 3pm. There is, however, a prerequisite in that the mum concerned must be a member of Mums & Co - a local community for parents, grandparents and carers who 'look after little people'. They must also complete a registration form and show photographic identification on arrival. 'Enjoy some 'me' time and our professional, fully qualified nannies will entertain your kids in a fun and safe environment,' the centre wrote on Facebook (pictured) The website also states that the nannies involved are 'proudly supplied by Lullaby Nanny Share, Sydney's leading nanny agency'. They will mind kids for a maximum of two hours at a time. Lullaby Nanny Share co-owner Nikita Cosgrave told the Sunshine Coast Daily that there had been some initial feedback from parents who were hesitant to leave their children with a stranger. As a result, the service had expanded to allow the nanny to tag along during the shopping. Response to the service on social media appeared to be largely positive, with one parent saying 'how cool is this?' (stock image) 'A lot of mums are on maternity leave and don't have a support network or help,' she said. 'They loved it. Going around a shopping centre with a child can be very full on. 'The nanny can wheel the pram and mind the baby - even if the parent needs to go to the toilet or grab a coffee, even if it's just one hour.' Response to the service on social media appeared to be largely positive, with one parent saying 'how cool is this?' 'Nanny Claire and Nanny Jenny were great with my 8mth old today! Thanks for the great service,' one happy customer wrote on Facebook. Many women, given the option, would change something or other about their face or body. But what if the thing you wanted to change was pretty much everything? Meet Trish Hammond. The 53-year-old from Byron Bay, New South Wales, has had a nose job, two tummy tucks, a lapband, a lapband removal, liposuction and a breast reduction over the past 20 years - spending an impressive AUD $50,000 in the process. Here, Ms Hammond shares her quest to tweak her body with FEMAIL - and explains why she doesn't regret a single thing. Trish Hammond (pictured), 53, from Byron Bay, NSW, has spent $50,000 on surgeries - including tummy tucks, breast reduction, a nose job and lapband surgery and removal Ms Hammond (pictured before) shared her quest to tweak her body with FEMAIL - and explains why she doesn't regret a single thing Ms Hammond told FEMAIL that none of her surgeries have been based on a 'shallow obsession with beauty', but rather a reaction to her physical body resulting in improvements to her 'emotional and psychological wellbeing' (pictured before and after) According to Ms Hammond, none of her surgeries have been based on a 'shallow obsession with beauty', but rather a reaction to changes to her physical body resulting in improvements to her 'emotional and psychological wellbeing'. She had her first round of plastic surgery in 1997, when she had rhinoplasty to deal with a nose that had troubled her since childhood: WHAT TRISH HAMMOND HAD DONE AND ROUGH COSTS * Rhinoplasty - $10,000 * Tummy tuck x 2 - $15,000 * Lapband surgery - $5,000 * Removal of lapband - $5,000 * Liposuction - $10,000 * Breast reduction surgery - $10,000 Advertisement 'I was always being teased about how big it was and for it having a "Roman" look,' she told Daily Mail Australia - writing on her website that when she was a teenager she would 'lie on my bed and push my nose upwards and hold it there for 2-3 hours'. 'Then I'd go to the mirror and take my finger off my nose and I'd be absolutely overjoyed because I'd achieved the upturned tip "Aussie nose" that I wanted so badly,' she wrote. The rhinoplasty was 'simple and subtle': 'No one could quite tell what had changed, yet everyone said I looked good,' she explained. And before she knew it, the Byron Bay native was hooked. After having rhinoplasty in 1997, Ms Hammond's next move was to have lapband surgery - which she later had removed; she has also had liposuction and breast reduction (pictured before and after) The breast reduction was the biggest thing for Ms Hammond, who said her breast reduction was 'the best thing I've done' Deciding that she would tackle her body next - at this point Ms Hammond was classified as 'morbidly obese' and tipped the scales at 119 kilograms - she embarked on a quest to lose weight and eat healthily. 'I wanted to get to a stage where I felt comfortable going out into the world and shopping, without having to reach to the back of the clothes racks,' she told FEMAIL. 'I quickly dropped 40 kilograms naturally, but then injured myself practising yoga and so had lapband surgery.' The 53-year-old later had the lapband removed after five years when it caused her a few problems. She has since managed to keep the weight off. 'I hated carrying around those extra kilos every single day, and tucking the excess skin into my bras,' Ms Hammond told FEMAIL When Ms Hammond had abdominoplasty performed for the first time, she said she 'sobbed with happiness' (pictured before) In her time, Ms Hammond has also had two tummy tucks - firstly, after the birth of her second child, when she'd put on 20 kilograms, and more recently, a year ago - to top up what she's already had. 'I was repulsed by the look of my stomach [before the tummy tuck] and extremely stressed about it,' Ms Hammond wrote. She explained that after she had the abomdinoplasty performed the first time, she 'sobbed with happiness'. 'It wasnt just body-changing, it was life-changing,' she added. These days, the 53-year-old feels much more confident in her skin Pictured: Ms Hammond's breasts following surgery While at this point, Ms Hammond knew that in many ways she had her dream body, she also knew that in order to feel complete that there was one huge obstacle in her way. Her breasts. Pictured: Ms Hammond's breasts following surgery 'I hated carrying around those extra kilos every single day, and tucking the excess skin into my bras,' she told FEMAIL. 'Weight loss made little difference. I was popping out of a 14DD bra, but it was all skin and my nipples actually reached my belly button. They'd turned into what is commonly known as "pendulum" breasts.' And so, she booked herself in for a boob job. After saving up for the procedure for four years, and consulting with a surgeon over that period, Ms Hammond explained that she went from a 14DD cup to a svelte D - where she stands today: 'My breast reduction was the best thing I've ever done - even though I had a horrible aftermath and it took about six months to recover, I have no regrets about it. 'I've never been happier or more confident,' she explained. 'When you're not happy with how you look, you're not happy with yourself. I've still got a "boob jar" where I chuck all of my old coins for savings. They really add up!,' she said Since her breast reduction, Ms Hammond has re-visited and topped up her tummy tuck procedure. And while she said she's happy for now, she also added that she wouldn't write off the prospect of a face lift in ten or fifteen years: 'There is so much at our fingertips these days, we're so lucky. Before I had all of this done, I didn't like to look at myself in the mirror - but these days I'm a different person. 'When you're not happy with how you look, you're not happy with yourself. I've still got a "boob jar" where I chuck all of my old coins for savings. They really add up!'. Lastly, the 53-year-old and CEO behind Plastic Surgery Hub revealed what her advice is for people considering surgery: 'Do your research, choose your surgeon wisely and make sure you have aftercare in place. 'Also, don't take it lightly - it's not a small deal. Things can go wrong - it's worth thinking about. But don't not do it if you want it. My life is totally changed.' Trish Hammond is the editor and CEO behind Plastic Surgery Hub, a general information site to connect people who are pre, during and post surgery. For more information about the site, click here. When Samantha Brand, 40, was just 27 she went to the doctor complaining of pain in her stomach. What she didn't know, however, was that the pain was a symptom of late stage three ovarian cancer. Sam, who was told at the time that the cancer was terminal, underwent intensive treatments for almost 12 months with the hope of beating the disease and while it worked, she was tragically left infertile. But with the help of her two younger sisters, Sam and her husband Ben, from Sydney, welcomed their baby girl, Starla, into the world in October, 2017. Scroll down for video Samantha Brand (second from right) welcomed baby girl Starla with her husband Ben with the help of sisters Rachel, 36, (left) and Nikkita, 24, (right) The doting mother was left infertile after a battle with ovarian cancer in her twenties Rachel (pictured with her three children while pregnant with Sam and Ben's baby), offered to be a surrogate for the pair after their IVF attempts were unsuccessful 'My prognosis wasn't great. Doctors said I had a 40 per cent chance of making it to five years and a less than 10 per cent chance of surviving the cancer,' Sam told Daily Mail Australia. 'It was terrifying because as a midwife I knew what that meant but the only thing I could do was move forward and fight through it. 'I had to go through a lot of treatment as the cancer was very stubborn and after having two surgeries and chemotherapy I had a radical treatment called total abdominal radiotherapy which was quite controversial. 'I had it and that's what saved me but doctors think that's what caused the damage to my uterus as well.' Nikkita (left) donated one of her eggs while Rachel (right) carried the baby Once Rachel was pregnant, Sam and Ben slowly started to see their dreams of having a child become a reality 'We were cautiously optimistic because as a midwife I knew what could happen and what each milestone meant but at 23 weeks I started to get really excited,' Sam said Sam fully recovered and five years into her remission, she and Ben decided they were ready to move forward and start a family. The pair tried surrogacy for a long time and also had 12 attempts at IVF - each of them unsuccessful. 'I wanted to be a mum and I was doing everything I possibly could but nothing was working - plus all the drugs made me feel like I was doing chemotherapy again,' she said. 'It was just revolting, I felt awful.' That's when Sam's sisters Rachel, 36 and Nikkita, 24, stepped in and offered to help their big sister. Sam and Nikkita are pictured shortly after the birth of Starla, who is now 10 months old Sam described the birth as 'absolutely beautiful' 'They were concerned about the medication and the treatment and they said they had the solution to the problem. They were very pragmatic and Rachel said "we have the solution, Nikkita will give you an egg and I will carry it for you",' Sam said. Speaking on Nine's This Time Next Year on Monday night, Rachel said she was more than happy to be a surrogate for Sam. 'Sam and Ben tried surrogacy for a very long time and they had 12 attempts at IVF and it was unsuccessful so we offered to help them,' she explained. 'It was quite an easy decision for me. I have three kids of my own and physically pregnancy wise its always been fairly easy. 'My two amazing sisters had given us this amazing gift and when Starla was born I just fell in love with her instantly - I felt like she was mine straight away, it was amazing,' she said 'They are her special aunties. They are great role models... Starla is lucky to have them and so am I,' she said 'When Sam and Ben decided that thats [surrogacy] the road they were going to go down I felt like I needed to be the one that did that. Having Nikkita being the person who donated the egg was just amazing, it was just this team effort.' After deciding to go ahead with it, the group went through the long and challenging process of getting everything approved and meeting all of the criteria. 'It certainly wasn't as easy as some may think - Nikkita also needed special consideration because she was too young to donate according to the law,' Sam explained. Once Rachel was pregnant, Sam and Ben slowly started to see their dreams of having a child become a reality. 'We were cautiously optimistic because as a midwife I knew what could happen and what each milestone meant but at 23 weeks I started to get really excited,' Sam said. After sharing her story on TV, Sam said the response has been overwhelmingly positive 'I hope we can inspire others and show them that nothing is too hard. If you have support, anything can happen,' Sam said Sam described the birth as 'absolutely beautiful'. 'My two amazing sisters had given us this amazing gift and when Starla was born I just fell in love with her instantly - I felt like she was mine straight away, it was amazing,' she said. 'They are her special aunties. They are great role models... Starla is lucky to have them and so am I. 'We do still squabble though, we are normal sisters just like everyone else. 'I am settling into motherhood very well and Rachel is actually pregnant with another baby which is really exciting for her!' After sharing her story on TV, Sam said the response has been overwhelmingly positive. 'You expect negativity surrounding surrogacy and all that but everyone has just embraced our story and everyone has been so sympathetic and positive,' Sam said. 'I hope we can inspire others and show them that nothing is too hard. If you have support, anything can happen.' Loose women star Saira Khan revealed how she is embracing her body 'and all its flaws' in a confident bikini picture. The 47-year-old stripped down to a black and pink striped two piece as she posed for a photo while on a family holiday in Lake Garda, Italy. Sharing the snap on Instagram, the mother-of-two explained how she now appreciates her 'stretch marks, psoriasis and wobbly bits' and no longer feels the need to compare herself to 'other women with long legs, flat tummies and perfect skin', adding: 'It does make for a happier holiday'. Body beautiful: Loose Women star Saira Khan stripped down to her bikini while on holiday with her family in Italy and shared the snap on Instagram alongside a body positive message Peace of mind: The mother-of-two said she no longer compares herself to other women Earlier this year the television presenter joined her fellow Loose Women panellists in stripping off for a candid and frank look at their un-airbrushed figures as part of a campaign to help promote body confidence. The shoot, which was captured by superstar photographer Bryan Adams, who has previously snapped Kate Moss and the Queen, was accompanied by a chat in which the stars frankly revealed their biggest hang-ups. Taking a stand: Earlier this year Saira, right, stripped off alongside her fellow Loose Women panelists, left, for an un retouched photo shoot promoting body confidence Taking to Instagram, Saira said that taking part in the body confidence campaign had given her the boost she needed to love herself. The image was met with dozens of supportive comments from her 15,000 Instagram followers who praised her 'amazing' figure and confidence. One wrote: 'What flaws! You look amazing'. Another posted: 'The thing about body flaws is only YOU see them. You look stunning.' Baring all: The Loose Women stars were praised for their empowering shoot, above The positive reaction sits in stark contrast to the response Saira received to her original Loose Women shoot, when she was forced to hit back at Muslim man who criticised her for showing off her 'precious body parts'. Social media user Bilal Ali said that as a Muslim he was 'disgraced' to see the image. In a lengthy post, he told her she was not a role model and it was his 'duty as a brother' to tell her. Saira, a Muslim, posted his comment in full with a very heated response, telling the man to 'go and do one' and dubbing him a 'narrow minded, misogynistic, brainwashed, backward idiot'. Lara Trump is nearly nine months pregnant, but that isn't stopping the expectant mom from getting her workout in. The 34-year-old wife of Eric Trump, who is due to give birth in September, took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to share a video of herself working out with her New York City trainer while 35 weeks pregnant. 'Baby workout! @teammaloney #FiveWeeksToGo,' she captioned the footage, tagging celebrity trainer Michael Maloney who also works with her husband. Scroll down for video Feel the burn: Lara Trump took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a video of herself working out with her trainer while nearly nine months pregnant Double duty: The The 34-year-old wife of Eric Trump was filmed doing lunges while moving a medicine ball from side to side Working up a sweat: The expectant mom showed off her baby bump in a black workout tank and navy blue capri leggings The mom-to-be has her long blonde hair in a top knot, and she is wearing navy blue capri leggings, a black workout that hugs her growing baby bump, and a pair of seafoam green Nike sneakers. The video stars with Lara doing lunges while moving a medicine ball from side to side with her hands without letting her baby bump get in the way. 'Thirty-five weeks pregnant,' Michael says in the background. 'Almost there. Nice and looking good.' Toto's song 'Africa' starts playing in the background, and after finishing her lunges, Lara moves on to doing step up side kicks on a workout bench. Aside from her growing stomach, Lara looks as trim and toned as ever, making it hard to believe she is over eight months pregnant. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Online, Lara revealed that she has been 'blessed with an incredibly easy pregnancy' that has allowed her to remain fit and active throughout, admitting that she was 'worried' about the prospect of not being able to workout. 'I was always a little worried, because I had heard different things from different people about their pregnancies; some people have to stay in bed for months... you never know what you're going to get,' she said. 'I knew I needed to workout for my sanity, and I try and make it a daily habit if I can, so I count myself very lucky that I have been able to keep doing that while pregnant.' Lara also admitted that she had heard staying fit and active can make delivering a baby easier - and helps to ensure that the recovery time after birth is as speedy as possible. Almost there: Lara revealed in the post that she is just five weeks away from her due date 'I know it can make the delivery easier, which would be great,' Lara said of her efforts to stay fit and healthy. 'And it means that the recovery time after birth is often shorter.' Certainly, Lara looks to be in top form - and her trainer Michael thinks so too, sharing the same workout video on his own page and commenting: 'Baby training with my client @laraleatrump 35 weeks in and looks amazing.' The trainer went on to say that the first move she did is 'great for shoulders, glutes, hamstrings, and quads'. But being able to stay active isn't the only thing that has helped Lara throughout her pregnancy; the expectant mother admitted that she has had a great deal of support from husband Eric, and both of their families, as she prepares to welcome her first child. 'The nursery is coming along nicely, we're nearly there with it, which is a huge weight off [mine and Eric's] shoulders,' she explained. 'Eric actually built the crib himself, he's very handy! 'We have a rocking chair for the nursery that was too wide to fit through the door, so he just took the door off the hinges. I was very impressed.' And as for ensuring she feels fully prepared for every eventuality, Lara says that her two sisters-in-law with children, Ivanka and Vanessa, have been on-hand throughout her pregnancy to offer help and advice whenever she has needed it. 'The great thing about both of my sisters-in-law is that I've been able to watch them being great moms,' she said, before adding: 'They have both been so great with me, they have answered all my questions and are always there to tell me what I should do, which is great; I'm a brand new mom so I don't know the difference between car seats and strollers. 'Having them there has been wonderful.' Complicated moves: Lara was also filmed doing step up side kicks on a workout bench at the gym Fit mom: Aside from her growing baby bump, Lara looks as trim and toned as ever And with the help of her in-laws, and husband Eric, Lara says her main focus now is just taking care of the final preparations, including buying a stroller, and diapers, and getting her hospital bag ready. 'I spent most of the weekend in our laundry room washing, drying, and folding baby clothes,' she admitted, revealing that she and Eric have been given plenty of gifts for their newborn by friends and family. 'We'll probably get the stroller this weekend, and then we're pretty much ready,' she then added, explaining that she will be splitting her time between New York and Westchester in the coming weeks as her doctor has advised that last weekend was the last time she could travel before the birth - when she took the chance to attend a rally with her father-in-law, President Trump, in West Virginia. 'Doctors told me that my last chance to travel had to be last week, so I attended a rally in West Virginia with my father-in-law which was amazing,' she said of the event, which saw her take to the stage to make a speech in support of the President. Over the weekend, Lara also showed off her growing baby bump during her last visit to the White House before before her due date. The soon-to-be mother cradled her belly as she stood in the historic building and asked her sister-in-law Ivanka Trump to snap the black and white photo on Saturday. 'Last trip to the #WhiteHouse before this bump can see it for himself,' she captioned the image, crediting her sister-in-law for capturing the sweet moment. Lara and her husband Eric announced in March that they were expecting their first child together, after keeping it under wrap since January. Although her due date is next month, it hasn't stopped her from taking on a new role for her father-in-law, President Donald Trump. Lara hosted the first episode of Trump's 'real news' program, which provided viewers with a recap of his 'wins' for the week. Final days: Over the weekend. Lara's sister-in-law Ivanka Trump took a photo of the mom-to-be cradling her baby bump during her last visit to the White House before she is set to give birth All smiles: Ivanka took to Instagram to wish the women in her family a Happy National Sisters Day on Sunday. Lara, Tiffany Trump, Vanessa Trump, and Ivanka are pictured from left to right Look of love: Lara and her husband Eric announced in March that they were expecting their first child together. The new baby will be Trump's ninth grandchild She signed off at the end of the video: 'Thanks for joining us everybody, and that is the real news.' Lara is the latest member of the Trump family to find a place within the White House, after Jared Kushner and Ivanka became advisers to the president. Eric said he found out that Lara was pregnant on his 33rd birthday on January 6, which was 'pretty cool'. However, the expectant parents admitted that their secret was by no means an easy one to keep particularly after they shared the happy news with Trump. Their impending arrival will be Trump's ninth grandchild, and the couple said they had trouble coming up with a name. New gig: Lara is now hosting a 'real news' video series that uncritically promotes Donald Trump's weekly actions and positive developments for the American economy Keeping busy: Lara has become increasingly more active in Trump's circle before her due date Growing family: Lara and Eric, who are pictured in July, are thrilled to be expecting their first child together Lara has become increasingly more active in Trump's circle, spotted at rallies and even taking hold of the microphone at events. In July she took the stage in Youngstown, Ohio, to speak to Trump supporters. She attempted to dismiss the Russia investigation into her family, telling the audience they had to 'keep something in mind' when they hear the country's name in the press. The former Inside Edition producer said: 'The same people touting this crazy Russia story are the ones who gave us the fake polls throughout the election, remember those?' Lara once again decried the Russia investigation at a Make America Great Again rally in West Virginia, on Thursday. She said of the 'crazy story about Russia,': 'It's so crazy, you have no idea.' She has been spotted sunning herself on the beach on a string of jet-set holidays but it seems Michaella McCollum is finally ready to go back to work. The 24-year-old ex-convict, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, was seen outside HMP Liverpool today, where she was reportedly filming a documentary. Known for showing off her tan in swimwear and skimpy shorts, McCollum, one half of the infamous 'Peru Two', donned a rather more formal look of a blouse and pinstripe trousers as she spoke into the camera. Camera ready: 'Peru two' drugs mule Michaella McCollum was seen speaking into a microphone outside HMP Liverpool today. Reports suggest she is filming a documentary Professional: The former convict donned a blouse and pinstripe trousers for the occasion On location: The 24-year-old prepares to take her mark outside the prison in Walton Wearing her long hair down in a sleek style, McCollum looked focused as she took her mark outside the prison and spoke into a microphone. The jet-setter, who was jailed in Peru alongside Melissa Reid in 2013 for trying to smuggle 1.5million's worth of cocaine into Europe, has enjoyed a string of beach holidays in the months since her release from prison. In spring, McCollum was spotted living it up in the party centres of Ibiza and Marbella enjoying sun, sea and cocktails. She was most recently seen taking in the sights of Brighton Pride with a male companion over the weekend, partying alongside some 30,000 other revellers on the streets of the seaside city. No script: The jet-set former convict was seen speaking into a large microphone at the prison Small crew: The documentary appeared to be a rather low-budget project Shady lady: McCollum put on a pair of dark sunglasses as she made her way to the shoot How the former drugs smuggler has funded her holidays is unclear. Earlier this year she was seen signing on at her local Jobcentre, however she has also been linked to a number of potentially lucrative opportunities. It has been reported that she has been offered a 250,000 tell all book deal detailing her criminal exploits and time behind bars in Lima. She and Reid - dubbed the 'Peru Two' had each been sentenced to six years and eight months in jail after admitting to trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. Back to business: After a recent string of holidays, McCollum appeared ready to work Behind-the-scenes: McCollum adjusted her hair as the camera man prepared the shot Sleek: The former drugs smuggler wore her long blonde hair down around her shoulders The pair, who initially protested their innocence, were found in possession of 11kg of cocaine hidden inside food packets in their luggage as they prepared to board a flight from Lima to Madrid. McCollum was released on parole in March 2016 after serving less than half of her sentence but was initially required to stay in Peru, where she carried out voluntary work. Reid was released from prison in June last year, flying back to Scotland shortly afterwards. MailOnline has contacted a representative for Miss McCollum for comment. They pride themselves on being the most happily divorced couple around. So much so that the Duchess of York joined Prince Andrew and their daughter Princess Eugenie as they arrived in Scotland yesterday to holiday with the Queen at Balmoral. But despite there being regular flights to Aberdeen for as little as 62, the group flew in on a private jet. Prince Andrew drove the Duchess of York at the airport with daughter, Princess Eugenie, when they arrived in Scotland Prince Andrew arriving at Aberdeen airport in a private jet as they prepare to holiday with the queen in Balmoral The Queens son, known as Airmiles Andy because of his fondness for overseas travel, walked off the plane first and instructed royal household staff to move luggage from the charter plane into a waiting Range Rover. He then headed back inside the jet, reappearing with one of his Norfolk Terrier dogs and then taking the driving seat. Sarah Ferguson, wearing a blue jacket and emerald green scarf, came out next and sat in the passenger seat. Princess Eugenie, 27, finally appeared in a stylish fitted black jacket and white dress, followed by another of the familys dogs being helped off the plane, before Andrew drove them off. The queen's son told waiting royal staff to unload their bags before the hopped into the car Princess Eugenie, 27, finally appeared in a stylish fitted black jacket and white dress, followed by another of the familys dogs being helped off the plane Fergie, 57, was seen smiling for the cameras. The plane, paid for privately, was a Cessna 680A. It appears to be owned by Netjets Europe, which allows users the advantages of owning a private jet without having to pay for it. Customers are guaranteed access to a plane at ten hours notice and they only pay for the hours they fly. It was not clear whether the prince was a member of the service or whether he was loaned the aircraft. The only person missing from the happy family group was their eldest daughter, Beatrice, who turned 29 yesterday. She is understood to be on holiday not entirely surprising given she once squeezed in at least 17 foreign jaunts in less than a year. Sarah Ferguson, known as Fergie, smiled for the cameras after the family's plane landed in Aberdeen Last year she was said to be starting her own business consultancy firm after going through four jobs in five years. She is expected to join them later this month. Andrew and his daughters plan to spend several weeks at Balmoral enjoying time with the lady they call Super Gran. The royals tend to enjoy long walks and shooting as well as barbecues and rides out. Although they have been divorced for more than 20 years, Andrew and Sarah say they are the best of friends. They still live together at the princes home in Windsor and co-own a chalet in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier. Prince Andrew has been given the nickname Airmiles Andy, because of his fondness for travelling abroad, but the jet was paid for privately The pair remained good friends after their divorce although the duchess was a royal outcast for several years They have both spoken extensively of the importance of co-parenting when it comes to their daughters. The duchess endured years of being a royal outcast following her divorce from Andrew and the embarrassment of suffering severe financial difficulties not once but twice, as well as being caught up in a tabloid newspaper sting. She was finally invited back to join the Queen at Balmoral a few years ago but always arrives and departs before the Duke of Edinburgh, who apparently insists he wont have her in house while he is there. Philip, 96, is currently enjoying the start of his well-deserved retirement at Sandringham, the Queens Norfolk estate, with a group of friends. The duke will join his wife, who has been at Craigowan Lodge for a fortnight before moving into Balmoral on Monday, next week. The couple will remain in Scotland until early October, visited at various times of the summer by family and friends. Many medical professionals have pointed to the lack of mental health resources in the state as one driver for the increase in community violence. Breakfast cereal firms are hiding the levels of sugar in their products by shunning traffic light labels, campaigners have said. Dorset Cereals, Rude Health and Eat Natural have no nutrition labels on the front of their packs. And while Kelloggs, Nestle and Jordans do use labels, they are not colour coded as recommended by the Department of Health. Poor labelling leads us to eat more sugar than is healthy, fuelling dangerous levels of obesity, campaign group Action on Sugar argues. It added many cereal brands, often targeted at children, would have red labels for sugar if they were to use the traffic light system. It says all products should use the same traffic light labels red, amber and green on the front of packs to identify high, medium or low levels of sugar, fat and salt. The system is endorsed by the Department of Health because it helps shoppers identify healthy products at a glance. Action on Sugar says we could cut 45 teaspoons of sugar per month (182g) by changing cereal brand and slightly reducing portion size. This can be done by swapping Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Honey & Nut Clusters, with three teaspoons of sugar (12g) per 45g serving, for Tesco Flakes & Clusters, with 1.5 teaspoons of sugar (6g) per 40g serving. Action on Sugar say we could cut 45 teaspoons of sugar per month by changing brand. This can be done by swapping Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Honey & Nut Clusters, with three teaspoons of sugar per serving, for Tesco Flakes & Clusters, with 1.5 teaspoons of sugar per serving Action on Sugar said: Some granola cereals have no front of pack labelling at all. For example, Natures Path Pumpkin Granola contains 8g of sugar per serving, which is two teaspoons and would be a red traffic light. The NHS recommends adults have no more than 30g of added sugar per day. Katharine Jenner, campaign director of Action on Sugar, said: Its scandalous that certain food manufacturers are still refusing to be transparent when it comes to front of pack nutrition labelling. If there is no front of pack label with one brand, shoppers should assume they are hiding something so buy another brand instead. The Food & Drink Federation, which speaks for manufacturers, said firms are legally required to provide nutrition data, adding: Far from hiding information, the vast majority of companies go beyond this legal obligation, to voluntarily provide clear, simple nutrition information front of pack. GPs are divided over whether to close their surgery lists and stop taking on any new patients (file image) GPs are divided over whether to close their surgery lists and stop taking on any new patients. Family doctors across England are currently taking part in a major vote which could see them collectively suspending all registrations. The mass closure would be a form of industrial action over what they claim is a lack of Government funding for surgeries. Doctors have until Thursday to cast their vote but an early poll suggests the result will be on a knife-edge. According to a survey of 360 family doctors by GP Online, 51 per cent are planning to vote in favour and 49 per cent against. The findings are a shock as the majority of GPs were thought to be strongly opposed to such a drastic form of action. But of those doctors planning to vote in favour, a quarter said they would support closing their lists indefinitely. The remainder backed a temporary suspension of new registrations. Either way, the measures would have a severe impact and any patients moving home would find themselves unable to register with a new GP. They would also affect patients whose surgery closes down completely after their GP retires. The ballot is being overseen by the British Medical Association, the main doctors union, and up to 23,000 of the most senior partner GPs are taking part. If they vote in favour, the BMA will then carry out a second ballot involving all family doctors. GPs are angry about a lack of funding, rising workload, a recruitment crisis of doctors and the fact they are being expected to open their doors at weekends. Surgeries across England are overwhelmed and struggling to provide appointments for the rising and ageing population. Last April, NHS bosses promised to alleviate the pressures by promising more money, an extra 5,000 GPs and a set of proposals to help ease workload. But many doctors believe the health service is failing to deliver these pledges and is effectively turning its back on the crisis. Dr Richard Vautrey, the chair of the BMAs GP Committee, said last month that he was prepared to lead the profession into industrial action. We will do what practices want us to do, he said. If we did get a strong message back from practices that this is what they wanted to do, then we would then go through the necessary processes, bound by trade union law, to ask practices formally about industrial action. The threat of industrial action comes despite GPs still benefiting from lucrative contracts handed to them by Labour more than a decade ago The measures would have a severe impact and any patients moving home would find themselves unable to register with a new GP (file image) Under terms negotiated in 2004, they could opt out of being responsible for their patients at evenings and weekends with their pay still increasing to more than 100,000 a year. The threat of industrial action comes a little over a year after junior doctors staged a wave of destructive strikes over their new contract. More than 100,000 operations and outpatients appointments were cancelled between January and August last year and many patients waited months to be rescheduled. GPs in England last staged industrial action in 2012 in what proved to be a hugely unpopular strike over pensions. They refused to do all but urgent care for a period of 24 hours although many doctors crossed the picket lines believing the action was unethical. Treatment for an enlarged prostate can involve major surgery. Keith Painter, 56, an aerospace engineer from Gloucestershire, underwent a new, less invasive procedure, as he tells OONA MASHTA . THE PATIENT On the mend: Keith Painter About eight years ago, I started needing the loo frequently at night. I put up with it at first, but it gradually got worse at one point I needed to go five or six times a night. My GP told me to avoid alcohol and caffeine as these irritate the bladder, but this didnt make a great difference and my symptoms continued to worsen. By last year, I was getting up for the loo in the night so often it left me feeling tired during the day. My GP suspected I had an enlarged prostate so referred me to a urologist. A few weeks later, I underwent various tests, including one where a machine measures the speed of your urine flow. Sure enough, all the tests confirmed I had an enlarged prostate. It was pressing on my urethra, blocking the flow of urine and preventing the bladder from emptying properly which was why I needed the loo so often. I was prescribed two drugs to shrink it, but while these worked initially, after about 18 months they were no longer effective and I was back to getting up frequently at night. When I saw the urologist again he told me I needed an operation called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), where part of the prostate is removed with a hot wire. It sounded invasive and there was a risk Id be left impotent and incontinent due to nerve damage, but there seemed to be no alternative. But then earlier this year, while I was waiting for an op appointment, my friend told me he had been treated with a far less invasive procedure called prostate artery embolisation (PAE), in which tiny plastic particles are used to block the blood supply to the prostate and shrink it. I was keen to avoid the possible side-effects of TURP, so went to see the surgeon trialling PAE at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. He explained that the procedure involved accessing the main arteries in the groin via a small incision. Sadly, my scans revealed that my arteries were too complex, but fortunately he was trialling another technique where a tube is fed through a blood vessel in the wrist down the arteries to the prostate. It could be better than going through the groin as Id be up and about immediately afterwards, rather than bedbound for hours as the groin recovered. It sounded amazing so I agreed to try it. In July, I had the two-hour surgery under local anaesthetic. I was awake throughout but didnt feel a thing. I wore a special device on my wrist for an hour afterwards to prevent blood loss, but I could walk normally straight away and returned to work within a couple of days. 'About eight years ago, I started needing the loo frequently at night. I put up with it at first, but it gradually got worse' (stock image) There is still some bruising and discomfort in my wrist, so returning to manual work may take a little longer. Now, I dont need the loo as often, but Im told it will take some time for the night-time trips to stop completely. Im so relieved I have had the procedure and Im looking forward to being normal again after so long. THE SPECIALIST Dr Charles Tapping is an interventional radiologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Churchill Hospital. An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, affects 50 per cent of men aged 51 to 60 and 80 per cent of those over 80. The walnut-sized prostate lies under the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine passes out of the body. As it grows, it can apply pressure to the urethra and bladder and lead to difficulties urinating or fully emptying the bladder, resulting in a constant urge to go to the loo. Lifestyle changes and medication can help, but the gold-standard fix is a surgery called TURP, which involves removing part of the prostate with a hot wire or laser. However, it takes up to three months for a patient to recover and there is a risk of damage to the nerves or muscles surrounding the bladder which can lead to short-term urinary incontinence or impotence. There is now a new, less invasive technique being trialled, called prostate artery embolisation (PAE). It involves injecting hundreds of grain-sized plastic particles into two to four of the arteries that supply blood to the prostate. Without this blood, the overgrown part shrinks. Normally, we do this through a 1mm incision in the groin, but thats not suitable for all patients. Sometimes, the structure of the arteries makes it difficult to gain access to those that supply the prostate. Also, older patients arteries can be furred and rigid, so theres a risk that bits of plaque (fat and calcium that clog the arteries) will break off when we feed the tube down. A new wrist technique makes PAE available to more patients its known as transradial PAE. It can even be preferable to going through the groin as patients can walk immediately afterwards, whereas with traditional PAE it can take four hours for a patient to walk and it can be painful. What are the risks? In 10 per cent of cases symptoms recur, so the procedure may need to be repeated. The plastic particles used to block the arteries are safe but may move over time, so the op may need to be repeated. It is not a cure and may not be suitable for everyone. Shrinking the prostate by blocking the arteries is a relatively new technique which has shown some promising early results, says Tev Aho, a consultant urological surgeon at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. The potential advantages are that it can be done using local anaesthesia with a short recovery period, and it seems to have few adverse effects. But we need to find out more about the complication rates and longer-term results. Advertisement After anaesthetising the wrist, we inject a drug which dilates the arteries and insert a flexible guidewire with a hollow plastic sheath on top into the radial artery. A tiny tube is fed into this sheath and the guidewire is removed. We then push the tube through the artery in the arm, up to the chest, and then down through the blood vessels in the abdomen to those that supply the prostate guided by an X-ray. Then an even smaller tube with the beads inside is pushed down. We identify how many arteries we need to block and release the tiny beads into the right places. Part of the enlarged prostate then dies because there is a lack of oxygenated blood reaching it. Patients wear a device that looks a bit like a bracelet to apply pressure to the incision site for an hour to stop blood loss, but they can walk immediately afterwards and lie on their side comfortably. With PAE through the groin, patients must lie flat on their backs for up to four hours to help control the bleeding. Theres also a greater risk to nerves in the groin area so there may be nothing to lose in trying the wrist technique first in most cases, as we dont go near the nerves. As with regular PAE, patients go home within a few hours and can take painkillers and anti-inflammatories for any swelling or pain. Most men see a reduction in night-time frequency within a few weeks, and the greatest improvement is seen after three months. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is going to review the PAE procedure following a study in 17 UK centres with more than 120 patients. Other UK trials, such as one in Oxford (called STREAM), will also publish results to allow regulatory bodies to review funding for the technique. It is hoped that it will soon become more widely available. PAE costs the NHS 2,000 to 3,000 and 4,000 privately. The Trump administration is cutting regulations that would require sleep apnea screening for truck drivers and train engineers. The decision, according to safety experts, could put millions of lives at risk. The fatigue-inducing disorder, which affects roughly one in five Americans, has been blamed for deadly rail crashes in New York City and New Jersey and several highway crashes. However, late last week the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said they are no longer pursuing the regulation that would require testing for it. The Trump administration is cutting regulations that would require sleep apnea screening for truck driver and train engineers. Pictured is the destruction caused by the Metro North derailment at the Spuyten Duyvil station in December 2013. In that case the driver had sleep apnea Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. It occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax during sleep, which blocks the airways. The resulting lack of oxygen in the brain causes sufferers to wake regularly through the night, causing sleepiness, difficulty concentrating and memory or learning problems. The agencies argue it should be up to railroads and trucking companies to decide whether to test employees. One railroad that does test, Metro-North in the New York City suburbs, found that 11.6 percent of its engineers have sleep apnea. The decision to kill the sleep apnea regulation is the latest step in the president's campaign to drastically slash federal regulations. The administration has withdrawn or delayed hundreds of proposed regulations since he took office in January - moves the president has said will help bolster economic growth. Late last year, the FRA issued a safety advisory urging railroads to begin sleep apnea testing while the law requiring it made its way through the legislative process. Without a regulation mandating testing - which would have needed approval from Congress - trucking companies or railroads couldn't be issued citations if a truck or train crashed because the operator fell asleep at the helm. Sleep apnea is especially troubling for the transportation industry because sufferers are repeatedly awakened and robbed of rest as their airway closes and their breathing stops, leading to dangerous daytime drowsiness. Treatments include wearing a pressurized breathing mask, oral appliances or nasal strips to force the airway open while sleeping. Some severe cases require surgery. 'It's very hard to argue that people aren't being put at risk,' said Sarah Feinberg, the former administrator of the FRA, who had issued the safety advisory in December. 'We cannot have someone who is in that condition operating either a train going 70 mph or operating a multi-ton truck traveling down the interstate. It's just not an appropriate level of risk to be exposing passengers and the traveling public to.' WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA? Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in the US, impacting roughly one in five American adults. It occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax during sleep, which blocks the airways. The resulting lack of oxygen in the brain causes sufferers to wake regularly through the night. Common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping and grunting during sleep. Another common sign is fighting sleepiness during the day, at work, or while driving. It can also cause difficulty concentrating and memory or learning problems. Sleep Spnea often goes undiagnosed because it isn't tested for in routine visits. Although snoring is a symptom of the condition, not all those that snore have the disorder. The condition has serious physical health consequences, including an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Most sufferers manage their symptoms by wearing an oxygen mask at night or an oral device to keep the airways open. Advertisement The National Transportation Safety Board said it was disappointed the agencies decided to scrap the 'much-needed rulemaking.' 'Obstructive sleep apnea has been in the probable cause of 10 highway and rail accidents investigated by the NTSB in the past 17 years and obstructive sleep apnea is an issue being examined in several, ongoing, NTSB rail and highway investigations,' NTSB spokesman Christopher O'Neil said. The NTSB has long recommended the testing for engineers, and Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road started requiring it after a severe crash in 2013. In that case the engineer of a Metro-North train had fallen asleep at the controls because he had severe undiagnosed sleep apnea. The engineer, William Rockefeller, told investigators he felt strangely 'dazed' right before the crash, which occurred as he sped through a 30 mph curve going 82 mph. And last Steptember the engineer of the New Jersey Transit train that killed a woman when it slammed into a station in Hoboken also suffered from undiagnosed sleep apnea, according to his lawyer. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will push the federal agencies to reconsider withdrawing the proposed regulation. 'There are some regulations that go too far but this is not one of them,' Schumer told The Associated Press. 'Repealing it will risk lives.' When asked about the government's contention that businesses could enact their own testing policies, he said: 'Tell that to the families of the people who died in Spuyten Duyvil,' referring to the neighborhood where the Metro-North train crashed in 2013, killing four people. Train engineers are currently required to undergo vision and hearing testing at least every three years. Some railroads also require annual physicals, but there are no federal standards for comprehensive medical exams. Many of the largest passenger railroads, including Amtrak, require engineers to undergo sleep apnea screening. The Association of American Railroads, an industry group, said railroads are continuing to take steps to combat worker fatigue, including confidential sleep disorder screening and treatment. Marc Willis, a spokesman for the FRA, said the agency sought information from the public about sleep apnea and 'believes that current railroad and FRA safety programs sufficiently address this risk.' Feinberg said that isn't sufficient and the government shouldn't rely on industries regulating themselves. A notice posted in the Federal Register said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would consider updating a 2015 bulletin to medical examiners about the physical qualifications standard and respiratory dysfunction. Duane DeBruyne, a spokesman for the agency, declined to answer questions about the NTSB's concerns. A number of South-Asian women in the UK are hiding their cancer diagnosis because of the social 'stigma'. Some see having the disease as a punishment from God or believe by having a smear test they are 'no longer pure'. In one case, a woman only sought treatment when her breast became 'rotten' and later died because the cancer had spread, reports the BBC. And while historically, South Asian women had a very low risk of breast cancer compared with white women, the attitudes are now fuelling a fall in survival rates. Scroll down for video She says enduring chemotherapy on her own made her feel 'extremely lonely' 'I had some very dark days' Pravina Patel found a lump in her breast when she was 36, she told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. Growing up in a strict Indian community where even talking about the disease was considered shameful, she hid her diagnosis from family and friends. 'I just thought if people hear the fact that I've got cancer, they're going to think it's a death sentence,' she said. She said people would judge her and believe she had lived a 'bad life' and that God was punishing her for it. As a result, she chose to suffer in secret through her chemotherapy treatment for fear of her family's reaction, which she said made her feel 'extremely lonely'. Pravina Patel hid her cancer diagnosis from family and friends out of fear they would judge 'I had some very dark days,' she explained. Ms Patel revealed that in her experience, there is a reluctance for women to go for a smear test because they fear they will be considered 'no longer pure'. She has now in remission after finishing her chemotherapy. During her treatment, she got divorced from her husband - something she says was partly because of cultural expectations about how a wife should be. Reduced survival rates Some South Asian women in the UK see having cancer as shameful (file photo) Pooja Saini, from CLAHRC North-West Coast, a research arm of the NHS that examines health inequalities, said she discovered some women do not have treatment because losing their hair would reveal their diagnosis. She explained some 'feared it might affect their children because no-one would want to marry them'. The BBC points out that it is difficult to say how widespread the issue is, because little information has been collected on ethnicity and mortality. But research from Bridgewater NHS in 2014 found Asian women between 15 and 64 years old had a significantly reduced survival rate for breast cancer. Ms Saini said the influence of men in the family and elders in the wider community may be adding to the problem. 'If they didn't think women should go for screening, then they didn't go,' she said. The Victoria Derbyshire programme airs on weekdays between 9am and 11am on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel. A scandal-hit hospital trust where treating people in A&E corridors has become 'institutionalised' is still failing on patient safety. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust hasn't addressed deep concerns that were flagged by regulators who issued a formal warning just six months ago. But 'no tangible improvement' has been made by senior bosses at the trust, originally placed in special measures two years ago. Inspectors found efforts to cut 'over-crowding' in the emergency departments at both the trust's main hospitals 'were not effective'. Worcestershire Royal Hospital's A&E has been so busy patients have described the hallways as three beds deep and staff in tears In the CQC's April visit to Worcestershire Royal and the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, they noted no proper system to assess and manage patient risk. Emergency staff were also observed often not washing their hands both before and after making contact with a patient. Detailing the problems, chief inspector Professor Sir Mike Richards said there were still 'insufficient numbers' of A&E consultants at both hospitals. The findings, published in a report today, said staff were also not using privacy screens for A&E patients being treated in corridors. What did inspectors find? It wrote: 'Patients were given meals in their hands by the staff, but there was nowhere to rest plates and cups so they could eat their food with dignity. 'Routine nursing observations, conversations about care and eating of meals were undertaken in a public space with other patients and relatives passing by.' The number of patients waiting more than four hours to be admitted or discharged was also 'consistently higher than the national average'. Warning notice LEFT IN 'MELTDOWN' Worcestershire Royal Hospital, ran by the trust, was described as being 'in meltdown' during one of the busiest winters ever recorded for the NHS. Two patients died in its over-crowded corridors, one after waiting 35 hours for a bed. A third was killed after accidentally choking on their drip feed cord. The deaths, which all happened between New Years Day and Tuesday January 3, followed a week of enormous pressure on the A&E department. Nurses were reportedly left in tears as a result of the surge in demand, and patients were stored on trolleys 'three deep' in the corridor. The deaths followed a string of scandals to hit the trust over the last two years. In 2012, the trust paid out more than 400,000 in compensation and issued dozens of apologies over an 'appalling' catalogue of neglect. In one of the worst ever cases of multiple NHS failings, patients were left begging for water or left hungry after trays of food were dumped too far from their reach. In April 2015 a specialist doctor - normally deployed to disaster zones across the world - was despatched to Worcestshire Royal after medics struggled to treat patients. Advertisement These failures come despite the trust being issued a separate warning notice, known as a Section 29a, in November last year. The latest inspection focused on adult care, emergency departments, medical care, surgery, maternity and gynaecology, and children and young people. Although some improvements have been seen, the trust is still rated inadequate overall. Care remains compromised Sir Mike said: 'There was no tangible improvement in performance, caring for patients in the corridors in the emergency departments had become institutionalised and we found patient's privacy, dignity and effective care remained compromised. 'The trust senior leaders were not effectively addressing these risks through a whole hospital approach.' He added: 'Due to level of concerns found across a number of services and because the quality of health care provided required significant improvement, we served the trust with a new warning notice.' The trust remains in special measures and has until next month to show improvement. Disappointed but accepting Michelle McKay, chief executive of the trust, said: 'We are disappointed with, but fully accept, the shortfalls the Care Quality Commission has identified in their focused inspection in April. 'I am sorry the Trust did not make all the necessary improvements in that period and have continued to let down our patients, their families and carers by not meeting the quality standards they rightly expect. 'We want all our patients to get the best care possible and regret that this isn't always happening but were determined to put things right. 'We are determined to move forward with pace and focus, so we can consistently deliver high quality standards for patients across all our services all of the time.' Loneliness is as great a health risk as obesity, new research reveals. Social connections reduce the risk of dying early by 50 percent, a study review found. Being isolated or living alone significantly increase the chance of dying prematurely - at a rate equal to, or greater than, obesity, the research adds. Previous research has linked loneliness with a reduced quality of life and therefore shorter life expectancy. Study author Julianne Holt-Lunstad from Brigham Young University, said: 'There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators.' Approximately 42.6million adults over 45 in the US are lonely. One-quarter of the population also lives alone. In the UK, 3.9million people say the television is their main source of company. Loneliness is as great a health risk as obesity, new research reveals (stock) ARE YOU LONELY? MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF BRITISH MEN FEEL THE SAME Millions of men across the UK are hiding feelings of loneliness, research revealed back in May. As many as 35 per cent of men in Britain feel lonely at least once a week, while 11 per cent admit to suffering with the emotion every day, according to a study by the Commission by Royal Voluntary Service. Moving away from family and friends is the main driver of loneliness, causing 18 per cent of cases, the research adds. Going through a break up, being unemployed and the death of a family member are the causes in 17 per cent of sufferers, the study found Over 25 per cent of men aged 65 to 69 blame retirement for their loneliness, the research adds. David McCullough, chief executive of older peoples charity Royal Voluntary Service, said: 'These are stark findings, but given the stigma attached to loneliness its likely there are many more men who are yet to voice their feelings. 'Whether its learning a new skill, practicing an old one or just keeping fit and talking, there are activities and groups run across the country to suit all tastes and which offer a great way for older men to build their social networks. 'Unfortunately, for some, the prospect of joining a new group may be daunting and wed encourage those with older male friends and relatives to help them overcome these fears perhaps by offering to take them or even joining in with them the first few times.' Advertisement How the study was carried out Two study reviews were conducted. The first had 148 studies of more than 300,000 participants. The second involved 70 trials of more than 3.4million people from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Social connections prevent an early death by 50% Results of the first study review reveal social connections reduce the risk of an early death by 50 percent. The second analysis found that social isolation, loneliness and living alone have a significant and equal effect on the chance of dying prematurely. This risk was found to be equal to, or greater than, the effect of obesity on early death. Although the researchers did not speculate on why there is a link between loneliness and passing away prematurely, previous research has identified an association between quality of life and life expectancy. Loneliness has also previously been found to dampen a person's immune system. 'Being connected to others is a fundamental human need' Dr Holt-Lunstad said: 'Being connected to others socially is widely considered a fundamental human need crucial to both wellbeing and survival. 'Extreme examples show infants in custodial care who lack human contact fail to thrive and often die, and indeed, social or solitary confinement has been used as a form of punishment. 'There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators. 'With an increasing aging population, the effect on public health is only anticipated to increase. Indeed, many nations around the world now suggest we are facing a "loneliness epidemic".' The researchers recommend social skills be taught at school, as well as doctors inquiring as to patients' connections to friends and family. People of a retirement age should make social arrangements, while public planners should ensure there are spaces for people to get together, such as recreation centers, the researchers add. The findings were presented at the 125th annual American Psychological Association congress in Washington DC. The Food and Drug Administration has announced plans for an education campaign to discourage young people from using electronic cigarettes. The plan comes hot on the heels of the agency's proposal last month to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes. E-cigarettes have been hailed as a safer product that may discourage children from smoking tobacco products, which carry a host of health risks including cancer. However, many public health advocates warn the vaping devices could be a 'slippery slope', attracting young people to nicotine with tasty flavors. Meanwhile, e-cigarette companies have been lobbying for a lighter regulatory hand. The new policy announced on Tuesday, along with looser regulations for e-cigarette firms, is a bid to satisfy all parties. E-cigarettes have been hailed as a safer product that may discourage children from smoking tobacco products, which carry a host of health risks. But some fear it is a 'gateway' (file image) TEENS ARE HACKING E-CIGARETTES FOR A STRONGER HIT Teenagers are hacking e-cigarettes to get a more potent dose of vapors, a study revealed earlier this year. Experts warn the dangerous new fad, known as 'dripping', drastically increases one's risk of being exposed to toxins and nicotine, which is normally limited by the device. 'Dripping' involves dripping e-liquids directly onto heating coils, instead of inhaling from the e-cigarette mouthpiece. Yale researchers found one in four high schoolers who use electronic cigarettes have tried 'dripping'. Applying the liquid directly to the battery-powered coil heats it at a higher temperature than inhaling from a cartridge or tank. It produces thicker clouds of vapor, a stronger hit in the back of the throat when inhaled, and a more pleasurable taste, according to the study published today. But it also increases exposure to harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein in the vapors, according to other existing research. The Yale study, the first to look at dripping rates among teens, recommends that more analysis be done on the toxicity of hot vapors produced by dripping, and that regulators consider imposing restrictions so e-cigarettes cannot be modified for uses like dripping. Advertisement The agency plans to extend by four years the date by which e-cigarette manufacturers will be required to apply for authorization to sell their products. The extension means e-cigarette makers can sell their products for four more years before having to apply for permission to sell them. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said he aims 'to strike a careful balance between the regulation of all tobacco products, and the opportunity to encourage development of innovative tobacco products that may be less dangerous than combustible cigarettes.' More than 2 million middle- and high-school students were current users of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices in 2016. Meanwhile half of all middle and high school students who used a tobacco product of some sort used two or more. The education campaign will be part of the agency's The Real Cost campaign to discourage cigarette use and begin this fall. A full-scale campaign will be launched in 2018. Teen vaping, which has been skyrocketing, fell dramatically last year in the United States, figures revealed in June. A government survey showed the number of high school and middle school students using electronic cigarettes fell to 2.2 million last year, from 3 million the year before. Health officials have worried about the booming popularity of vaping products among kids and the potential impact on adult smoking rates in the future. It was the first decline CDC has reported in teen vaping since the agency began tracking it in 2011. Experts credited a growing push to ban sale of e-cigarettes to minors, including a federal regulation that took effect in August. Another may be the influence of ad campaigns by the government and other organizations to discourage kids from smoking, the CDC said. 'It certainly is a public health win,' said Brian King, an expert on smoking and health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIGH RISK COUNTRIES FOR HEPATITIS B Hepatitis B is found throughout the world, but is particularly common in: Sub-Saharan Africa East and southeast Asia Ehe Pacific Islands Parts of South America Southern parts of eastern and central Europe The Middle East The Indian subcontinent Most new cases of hepatitis B in the UK occur in people who caught the infection in one of these areas before moving to the UK. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Health officials have announced emergency measures to put a temporary restriction on who can have a hepatitis B vaccination because stocks are running low. It means that UK travellers may not be able to get the jab before they leave for higher-risk countries. The move could see many at risk of a contracting the infection - that is spread through infected blood or bodily fluids and is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV. The virus typically passes in a few months without treatment for most people but for some can cause serious liver problems. Public Health England have taken the action is in response to a global shortage of the jab caused by manufacturing problems. UK travellers may not be able to get it before they leave for higher-risk countries (stock photo) It means that only the most vulnerable will receive it while others will have to wait - a situation expected to continue until into next year. But babies and high-risk groups will be prioritised, it was confirmed. A new vaccine offering additional protection to the routine childhood immunisation programme at two, three and four months was recently announced and is said to still be going ahead. A PHE spokeswoman told The Guardian: 'The manufacturers are getting more stock in but there has been an issue for a while so that's why we have put this prioritisation guidance into place. 'We know that the Hepatitis B vaccine takes a long time and is quite difficult to manufacture. 'We will make sure those who really need the vaccine will get it, and those who are less at risk should get it at a later date. It's important to note that we are a very low risk country for hepatitis B, and the most at risk group are babies.' High risk groups Hepatitis B often doesn't cause any obvious symptoms in adults. But in children it often persists for years and may eventually cause serious liver damage. The most common route of transmission is when a baby is born to a mother who has it - which is why the paediatric vaccine will not be affected. Other high risk groups include the sexual partners of infected individuals, men who have sex with men, healthcare workers and intravenous drug users. Individuals can reduce their risk of contracting hepatitis B by avoiding unprotected sex and injecting drugs, by not sharing needles when injecting. They should also avoid having tattoos, piercings or acupuncture when overseas and medical or dental care in high-prevalence countries. A new 3D imaging technique has been developed that reveals the internal structure of embryos in a groundbreaking move that could change the future of in vitro fertilization. Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new imaging technique that can produce images of living thick multicellular samples. Before this that was not possible either because the imaging technology was not strong enough or because it could be toxic to living tissue. The new technique called gradient light interference microscopy (GLIM) will eventually allow physicians to select the embryos that are the most likely to lead to successful pregnancy during in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertliziation is one way for infertile adults to become pregnant, but for a steep price of $20,000 per attempt. A new 3D imaging technique could work to determine embryo health and viability for families who rely on in vitro fertilization to have a child. Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that the new technique works for looking at cow embryos (pictured) In most forms of traditional biomedical microscopy a light is shone through very thin slices of tissue to produce an image. This did not work on thicker slices because the light could not cut deep enough into the samples. Some other methods use chemical or physical markers to allow the operator to find the specific object they are looking for in a thick sample. But those markers can be toxic to living tissue according to Dr Gabriel Popescu, an electrical and computer engineering professor at the Beckman Institute for Advance Science and Technology. 'When looking at thick samples with other methods, your image becomes washed out due to the light bouncing off all surfaces in the example,' Mikhail, a graduate student and co-author of the study said, according to Phys.org. 'It is like looking into a cloud.' The new method cuts deep into thick samples by controlling the length of the path by which light is traveling through the specimen. HOW DOES IVF WORK? The menstrual cycle is first suppressed with medication before other drugs are used to encourage the ovaries to produce more eggs than usual. An ultrasound scan is carried out to check the development of the eggs, and medication is used to help them mature. The eggs are then collected by a needle inserted into the ovaries, via the vagina, before the eggs are fertilized with sperm. Finally the fertilized embryo is transferred into the womb to grow and develop. Advertisement It allows the operator to produce images from multiple deaths that are composited into a single 3D image. Dr Popescu and Dr Matthew Wheeler, an animal sciences professor at the university, joined forces to test the method on cow embryos. 'One of the holy grails of embryology is finding a way to determine which embryos are most viable,' Dr Wheeler said to Phys.org. 'Having a noninvasive way to correlate to embryo viability is key; before GLIM, we were taking more of an educated guess.' Those educated guesses are generally made by looking at things like color of fluids in the embryonic cells and timing of development. There is no universal marker for determining embryo health, Wheeler explained. Another study author, Tan Nguyen, explained that the method provides the 'whole picture, like a three-dimensional model of the entire embryo at one time.' The team is hoping to apply the new technology to human fertility research and treatment. They also hope to apply it to other types of tissue research. Bighorn sheep and mountain goat augmentation and the implementation of an elk shoulder season near Bozeman are a couple of the topics the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will address at its monthly meeting on Thursday, Aug. 10, at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Headquarters in Helena. The meeting will begin with a work session on the Habitat Montana program at 8:30 a.m. The work session will cover a discussion of current projects, funding authority and the process for identifying and prioritizing projects. No public comment will be taken during the work session. The official commission meeting will be called to order at 10:15 a.m. The commission plans on making a final decision on the following issues, as well as others: selection of organizations to auction 2018 moose, sheep, goat, mule deer and elk licenses; furbearer and trapping regulations, seasons and quotas; middle Madison Valley trumpeter swan reintroduction; and the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program strategic plan amendment. The commission will also hear proposals on the 2018 annual elk brucellosis work plan and an informational presentation and update on the 2016 elk shoulder seasons. The work session and meeting will be streamed live via video conference at all FWP regional offices and audio streamed live online at fwp.mt.gov. For the full agenda and background on the scheduled topics, go to the FWP website and under Quick Links click "Commission. More than 100 Americans have now been sickened by salmonella from a papaya imported from Mexico, the CDC reveals. One person in New York City died and 35 were sick enough to be hospitalized by the fruit in the last two weeks. The outbreak, first reported two weeks ago, was traced to the Carica de Campeche farm in Campeche, which sits between the Gulf and Guatemala. The FDA is now actively monitoring all imports from the region, and is working with Mexican food safety authorities to conduct inspections and follow ups. Dangerous: CDC officials have warned the public to avoid all Maradol papayas, a variety with yellow skin and salmon-colored flesh grown in Mexico Maradol papayas are a large, oval fruit that weighs three or more pounds, with green skins that turn yellow when the fruit is ripe. The flesh inside the fruit is salmon-colored and its seeds are dark brown or black. Papayas from the Carica de Campeche farm tested positive for five different strains of salmonella bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and fever. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are the most likely to have severe infections. Cases in New York nearly tripled to 36 since the last report on July 21 and New Jersey cases have more than doubled to 26. Virginia has had 11 cases, Pennsylvania seven and Maryland has had six. Connecticut and Minnesota each have four cases, and Massachusetts has had three. Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina and Oklahoma have reported two cases and Delaware, Louisiana Michigan and Wisconsin have had one each. The company did not immediately respond to an email and phones went unanswered on Tuesday. This could be due to a storm warning posted for the area as Tropical Storm Franklin makes its way across the Yucatan Peninsula. The Campeche farm has been added to an import alert which allows FDA field personnel to stop fresh produce from entering the U.S. from the farm until it's proven to have resolved issues that caused the bacterial contamination. Last week: Previously, there were 12 states with confirmed cases of the outbreak (pictured). Now, there are 16 affected states, with a total of more than 100 salmonella infections It was not immediately clear how the papaya was contaminated, an FDA spokesman said. 'The investigation is continuing and we'll post more information when it's available,' said Peter Cassell. The CDC said laboratory evidence using genetic testing has connected some of the illnesses to papaya from the farm. So far the Caribena, Cavi and Valery brands of maradol papayas have been recalled but the CDC now recommends that consumers not eat, restaurants not serve, and retailers not sell maradol papayas from Mexico. Indian police have confirmed that a Pakistan-based Islamist militant group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks was responsible for last month's killing of eight Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir. Police said an investigation had concluded that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Kashmiri accomplices were behind the July 10 attack that saw militants open fire on a bus carrying Hindus on the annual Amarnath pilgrimage. 'Lashkar was involved and the accused have been identified,' Inspector General of Police Muneer Ahmed Khan told reporters in Anantnag district in Indian-administered Kashmir. Indian paramilitary troopers stand guard near the scene of the July 10 attack Eight Hindu pilgrims were killed while travelling to the Amarnath shrine (file pic) 'Once the investigation was started it was revealed that... a Pakistani militant of Lashkar along with two other militants and one local Kashmiri Lashkar militant carried out the attack.' Three others who provided logistical support to the militants, including hiding places and vehicles, had been arrested. The July shooting was the worst such attack in the divided Himalayan region since 2000, when gunmen fired on a group of Hindu pilgrims and killed 32 people including two police officers. Khan said the militants had carefully plotted to attack any police or tourist vehicle that crossed their path on the evening of the assault. 'They had kept separate code words for tourist and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) vehicles... It was purely an act of terrorism carried out with an aim to spread fear,' he said. LeT has been blamed for a string of deadly attacks inside India, most notably the Mumbai carnage in November 2008 when heavily armed gunmen battled commandos on the streets of the financial capital. It took the authorities three days to regain full control of the city and New Delhi has long said there is evidence that 'official agencies' in Pakistan were involved in plotting the attack. Intelligence officials claim LeT leader Amir Hamza (left) was seen recently in Lahore The shrine is important to Hinduism, and is considered one of its holiest Police said Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and local Kashmiris were behind the attack Islamabad denies the charge. Rebel groups, including LeT, have for decades fought Indian troops and police deployed in Kashmir, demanding independence or a merger of the former Himalayan kingdom with Pakistan. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947, but both claim the territory in full. Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has insisted that his removal from office does not mean his future in politics is over, as he plans to go head with a rally this week and fight a legal battle to reverse his disqualification. 'I don't want reinstatement for myself. I am struggling to ensure the rule of law in Pakistan,' he said in a meeting with journalists in Islamabad. Sharif said his legal experts will soon file a review petition against the July 28 Supreme Court order that ousted him from power for concealing assets - specifically, that his son's Dubai-based company listed a monthly salary for him. Pakistani workers install a huge billboard of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the planned route of his rally at a highway in Islamabad Former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif (right) gestures as he speaks during a press conference with his brother Shahbaz Sharif Sharif has repeatedly said he never received any of that money. He said that he was determined to travel the following day to his powerbase, the eastern of city of Lahore, despite a deadly bombing there Monday which killed one person and wounded 30 more. 'I am going to my home. Do I not have a right to go to my home?' asked Sharif. According to Malik Mohammad, a spokesman in Punjab where Lahore is the provincial capital, security arrangements for Sharif's rally have finalised. Sharif plans to spend at least two nights in as many cities along the Grand Trunk Road while leading the rally from Islamabad. Ahmed said police were still investigating who was behind the Monday bombing. Sharif said he wants a debate, in parliament and public, to discuss why no elected prime minister has complete their full term in Pakistan, which has been ruled by army generals for more than half of its 70-year history. When asked whether the army had influenced the judiciary against him, Sharif said 'let's leave this question for later.' Sharif wants a debate on why no elected PM has completed a full term in office Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan gestures during a news conference regarding the dismissal of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in Islamabad Sharif has a history of rocky relations with the military, and he was cautious about commenting on the sensitive issue of civil-military relations. He insisted he was a victim of a conspiracy, but he avoided a direct answer when asked who conspired against him. 'You will know the answers to these questions soon,' he said. Sharif's removal plunged Pakistan into political turmoil but parliament in less than a week elected senior lawmaker Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as the country's new prime minister. Sharif's party initially wanted Abbasi to serve as an interim premier for 45 days until Sharif's younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab, secures a national assembly seat in a by-election. On Tuesday, Sharif said his party won't replace Abbasi with his brother, but that decision has yet to be finalized. Sharif did not say who will now lead his ruling Pakistan Muslim League party as last month's court decision also barred him from participating in politics. He said he was first removed by a president in 1993, then military dictator Pervez Musharraf toppled his government in 1999 and 'now the judiciary has sent me home.' 'Does Pakistan's elected prime minister deserve to be removed in such an insulting manner?' he asked. He reiterated that neither he and nor any of his family members were involved in corruption. Sharif criticized the investigators in the probe against him and his family, saying 'our worst opponents were part of the JIT (Joint Investigation Team)' which was appointed by the Supreme Court earlier this year. Sharif is determined to travel the following day to his powerbase, the eastern of city of Lahore Pakistani armed force soldiers march during a military parade to mark Pakistan's National Day in Islamabad Sharif insisted that a larger panel in the court should hear his review petition. He vowed to launch a mass campaign to apprise his countrymen of the work he did to put the country 'back on path of progress and prosperity,' 'God willing, I will remain active. I will keep guiding my party,' he said. Meanwhile, in another challenge to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party, firebrand opposition cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri returned home after mostly living abroad amid pending court-cases against him in Pakistan. He has vowed to get justice for eight of his supporters killed in anti-government rallies in 2014. Qadri, the fiery cleric, said Tuesday that he will launch a new anti-government campaign and praised the Supreme Court for disqualifying Sharif. 'Nawaz Sharif lost power because of the curses of those who lost their dear ones' in the 2014 shootouts with police, the cleric said. Sebi chief Ajay Tyagi The Government has given a list of 331 suspected shell companies to capital markets regulator Sebi as part of a crackdown on illegal offshore transfers of money and tax evasion. The suspect list includes the names of real estate major Parsvnath Developers, SQS India, Prakash Industries, J Kumar Infraprojects and Pincoin Spirits and Sebi has asked the stock exchanges to restrict trading in the shares of 162 of these companies. Sebi chairman Ajay Tyagi is soon expected to also issue orders for similar restrictions on the trading of other companies followed by an audit into their share market transactions. The restrictions include limiting trading in the affected companies to once a month and curbs in the trading of shares held by the promoters and directors of the companies. Some of the companies on the blacklist have investments by prominent domestic and foreign investors and the surprise move rattled market sentiments on Tuesday. The Nifty plummeted below the key 10,000-mark and the BSE 30-share benchmark Sensex crashed 260 points at the end of the days trading. In addition to the curbs imposed by the capital market regulator and the stock exchanges, these companies may face further action depending on the outcome of the probes by the income tax department and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). West Bengal accounts for the largest number of companies with 127 companies on the list of 331 suspected shell firms, referred by the corporate affairs ministry to Sebi. Gujarat and Delhi also account for a large number of such firms, against which Sebi has recommended trading restrictions. While at least 124 companies are believed to be under scanner for alleged tax evasion another 175 firms were being investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). However, reacting to the Sebi action, Parsvnath Developers, SQS India BFSI Ltd and Pincoin Spirit denied any wrongdoing. India wants to crackdown on illegal offshore transfers of money and tax evasion 'We are shocked to find our company's name amongst the list of suspected shell companies as a result of which, our equity shares are being shifted to GSM VI on the stock exchanges. 'As a result, our company's securities may be traded only once in a month on a trade to trade basis and Sebi has envisaged a financial audit thereby implicitly castigating us and tarnishing our reputation, Parsvnath Developers said in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. J Kumar Infraprojects said it is not a shell company and suspicion of the regulator is uncalled for. The company said that majority of its clients consist of government authorities and mentioned Delhi Metro, Mumbai Metro and JNPT Port connectivity as some of the projects underway. Prakash Industries also said that directions issued by Sebi are totally devoid of merit and uncalled for. Besides, there has never been a occasion when our company has indulged in any kind of malpractices in stock market. Similarly SQS India BFSI Ltd has expressed shock that it has been placed under the surveillance list even as it has been complying with all the norms under Companies Act and Sebi regulations. Pincoin Spirit also stated that it has been following all the rules and regulations stipulated under Companies Act and Sebi norms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said last month that 37,000 shell companies indulging in tax evasion had been detected and more than three lakh firms were under the scanner for suspicious dealings, post demonetisation announced in November last year. As part of efforts to curb the black money menace, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has already cancelled the registration of more than 1.62 lakh firms. The Ayodhya case took a sudden twist on Tuesday with the Shia Waqf Board saying that a Ram temple can be built at the disputed site if a mosque is also constructed at a reasonable distance and in a Muslim-dominated area. The development came three days before a crucial hearing in the Supreme Court on the case that has been a flashpoint between Hindus and Muslims since 1992. Significantly, the Shias on Tuesday even called the disputed site as 'most revered place of birth of maryada puroshottam Ram'. In 1992 a large 'group' of Hindus demolished the 16th century Babri Mosque in the UP city of Ayodhya after a political rally at the site turned violent L.K. Advani addresses a rally on the day of demolition in 1992 But knives are already out within the Muslim community over this stand. In the affidavit filed before the apex court, the Shia Central Waqf Board said ever since it made its stand on the contentious issue clear, it has been receiving threats from Sunni hardliners. The Ayodhya-Babri Masjid dispute In 1992 a large 'group' of Hindus demolished the 16th century Babri Mosque in the UP city of Ayodhya after a political rally at the site turned violent. The city is believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu god Rama and the mosque is believed to be built on Ram Janmabhoomi, the actual birthplace of the deity. On December 6 1992 the VHP and BJP organised a rally at the mosque and the 150,000-strong crowd overwhelmed security forces before tearing down the mosque. This came in a climate of inter-communal rioting between Hindus and Muslims that left at least 2,000 dead. A subsequent inquiry found that 68 people were responsible for the demolition, including leaders of the two political parties. The current Ayodhya dispute is a political and socio-religious debate in India concerning which religious group ought to possess the land. A 2010 landmark decision split the 2.77 hectare site equally between three parties - one Hindu, one Muslim, and one organisation trusted with maintaining the site. Advertisement It said Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath government has been informed about the threat and steps were being taken to grant them protection. Communal riots swept parts of India and Bangladesh, killing thousands of people in response to the destruction of the Babri mosque on December 6, 1992 by rampaging right-wing activists in Ayodhya. According to Hindu campaigners, Lord Ram, one of the faith's most revered deities, was born on the site, and an 11th century temple stood there until it was destroyed by troops loyal to Babur, the Muslim conqueror and India's first Mughal emperor. Taking the case out of a seven-year cold storage, the SC last Friday said it will be heard by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra on August 11. 'Shia Central Waqf Board is of the view that closeness of place of worships that is masjid and mandir should be avoided as both denominations, using loudspeakers tend to disturb the religious performances of each other often leading to conflicts and acrimony. 'We are of the view that for a calming effect, the masjid can be located in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of maryada puroshottam Ram,' said the affidavit. The Shias also argue that the Sunni Board has no stake in the case before the SC as the Allahabad HC had clearly come to the conclusion that Babri Masjid was a Shia property. The Babri Masjid mosque was destroyed in 1992 by militant Hindu nationalist groups. The incident triggered riots all over India leading to over 2,000 deaths. 'The High Court in its judgment on September 30, 2010 had held that 'Muslims' should get not less than 1/3rd of the disputed area. By saying 'Muslims', the High Court obviously meant 'Shias' since the High Court rejected the claim of Sunni Board that Babri Masjid was a Sunni Waqf,' said the affidavit. Reminding them that the HC had (while ruling for a three-way division of the disputed 2.77 acres area at the site between Muslims, Nirmohi Akhara and the party representing 'Ram Lalla') advised that the litigating parties must amicably settle the issue, the Shia Board said it was ready for the compromise talks. 'In response to the opinion expressed by the court and considering the Muslim tenets of living in peace and harmony and respecting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community, we are ready and willing to initiate steps for a peaceful settlement of the case,' it said. It urged the SC to appoint a committee headed by a retired judge of the top court, comprising two retired judges of the Allahabad HC and the UP CM or his nominee before whom all the parties will 'make suggestions and proposals for an amicable settlement'. A three-judge Lucknow bench of the Allahabad HC had in September 2010 given a unanimous decision that Lord Ram was born under the central dome of the makeshift temple and Hindus have the right to worship there. On an appeal by Muslim bodies, SC had stayed the implementation of the HC decision soon after. The case has remained in limbo ever since. The appeals filed by the Sunni, Shia Waqf Boards and other parties five years ago challenge the September 30, 2010 verdict of the HC Lucknow bench. The SC will next hear the matter on August 11. Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel - fighting the poll battle of his life - received a boost from the Election Commission (EC) late on Tuesday night when the votes of two rebel MLAs from the party were scratched. He was within an inch of a victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning as agency reports declared him the winner. The EC accepted the Congress's demand to nullify votes by the two rebels, lowering the ask for Patel's re-election. Ahmed Patel: 'The most difficult election of my life' Following the resignation of six Congress MLAs, the 182-member Gujarat assembly stood at a combined strength of 176. With two polled votes having been declared invalid, the winning candidates had to draw one-fourth of 174, bringing down the erstwhile cut-off from 45 to 44 votes. After the counting process was held up for several hours, running into late Tuesday night, the EC announced its decision to invalidate the two votes after examining the video footage of the voting. Patel said: 'The people of Gujarat are fed up with the BJP government, with the way they have run the state. Money had changed hands and the BJP made all efforts to buy our MLAs.' Congress leaders P Chidambaram, Ashok Gehlot, Ghulam Nabi Azad and others outside Electoral Commission's office on Tuesday He also accepted that this was his most difficult election and claimed that he had been hounded by agencies such as the IB. On the other hand, Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel announced that the saffron outfit differed with the EC's decision. Nitin Patel asked the poll panel to release the video for the entire country and that the EC's decision was a sad one. 'If the CD is made public, not just us, the nation will say that EC's decision was wrong.' 'If required we will take legal action,' he said. Ahmed Patel's re-election to the Upper House turned into a dramatic fight, with the BJP going all out to try and defeat him, turning the election into a big prestige battle. Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also approached the Electoral Commission The Congress was trying to prevent a possible defeat, as it would be seen as a loss of face for party chief Sonia Gandhi. 'Truth has emerged victorious in spite of BJP using all the power. Ahmed Patel will win,' said Congress' Ranjeet Singh Surjewala. BJP chief Amit Shah: Congress alleged that two of its defectors had shown their ballot papers to him 'Big win for democracy; will boost morale of Congress workers. Ahmed Patel will win with big margin,' said Bharatsinh Solanki, Gujarat Congress president. Noted Constitution expert Subhash Kashyap saw nothing but political drama in the entire episode. 'Not legal issue; political drama. If there was objection, should've been raised during polling,' Kashyap said. Hours after polling, Congress met the Returning Officer, crying foul and alleging that two of its defectors had showed their ballot papers to BJP chief Amit Shah. The party rushed two teams of senior leaders to the Election Commission in the Capital to invalidate votes cast by Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavjibhai Patel. As the high-pitched political drama played out all evening, the Congress approached the EC thrice insisting that it was on the 'EC to protect democracy'. The party's senior leadership led by former Union minister and lawyer P Chidambaram, Randeep Surjewala, Anand Sharma, Ashok Gehlot and RPN Singh made a representation before the EC, alleging foul play. The drama that ensued put the counting process on hold till late Tuesday night. An impatient BJP too rushed a battery of senior ministers, including Arun Jaitley, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan to the EC to counter the Congress allegations. Revenge: Gideon Roseman tracked down the fraudsters who stole his 20,000 A banking scam victim has won a stunning victory against fraudsters to recover 20,000 he thought was lost for ever. In the first case of its kind, Gideon Roseman managed to track down his stolen money after it been sent to a crook's account and get every penny back. Gideon was conned when fraudsters posed as the builder he had hired to extend his home. They hacked into the builder's email account and sent the 39-year-old barrister a message asking him to make a lump sum payment before the work could begin. This is an increasingly common type of scam, where crooks also pose as solicitors, builders, telecoms firms and even bank staff to trick victims into making payments. Banks cover most fraud, but routinely refuse to repay losses if the customer has authorised the transfer. And in yesterday's Mail, Ross McEwan, boss of RBS-NatWest, said customers had only themselves to blame. Typically, banks claim the money cannot be traced because fraudsters have moved the cash into other accounts in the UK and abroad. However, in a display of tenacity, Gideon used his expert legal knowledge to get the courts to stop all payments in and out of the fraudster's accounts so he could claw back his savings. Currently, if you push the button to send a payment to an unknown account that later turns out to be fraudulent, banks hold you fully responsible and refuse to cover the losses His success offers hope to other fraud victims because it shows banks and customers can recover stolen cash after it has left a victim's account if they act fast enough. The father-of-two, practising from Ten Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, in London, transferred 20,400 on January 2 after exchanging a series of emails with the imposter posing as his builder. HOW TO BATTLE THE BANKS ON FRAUD If you think you have been the victim of bank fraudsters who have convinced you to send money to another account it is vital that you act quickly. Gideon has written a six-point plan for those who have fallen victim, a brief summary of which is below: 1. Immediately phone your bank 2. Contact a solicitor 3. Get a court order 4. Obtain fraudster's bank details 5. Return to court (if needed) 6. Analyse fraudster's statements The next day he received a distressing call from his wife Esther, 39, as he dropped his four-year-old daughter at school. The builder had checked his emails and found messages to a number of customers demanding payment to a bank account he did not recognise. He said he hadn't sent the emails and wanted to warn clients he'd been hacked. Gideon immediately called his bank, Barclays, which said it would send a so-called indemnity to Santander, the fraudster's bank. An indemnity is when your bank tells the bank that's received your money that you have been a victim of transfer fraud and asks it to return any money it still has. 'As soon as my wife started talking about the builder, I knew what had happened and a horrible, cold feeling came over my body,' says Gideon. 'At that moment, your mind is racing, trying to work out what to do. 'I wasn't filled with optimism when I spoke to my bank, so I felt as though the only way I would get my money back is to take things into my own hands.' He got on the next train from Haywards Heath, West Sussex, to London to go to the High Court to apply for the fraudster's bank account to be frozen. Ross McEwan, boss of RBS-NatWest, said customers had only themselves to blame if they were victims of fraud This stops money transfers in and out of an account and can be applied for at more than 40 High Court offices around the country. You just turn up and fill in an N244 form. These are complicated, so you may need legal help. Gideon took identification, copies of emails from the fraudster and the crook's bank account number and sort code. It also helps to take evidence from a third-party caught up in the fraud the builder in Gideon's case. The judge agreed it appeared he had been the victim of fraud and granted the order. Gideon then contacted Santander's court orders department which anyone can do by calling a bank's customer service line and it froze the account after he sent in the document by email. When Gideon arrived home, he found another email from the fraudster asking for more money to 'cover the VAT' on the work. He played along and managed to obtain the sort codes and details of another two accounts one at Barclays and another at Santander. He then returned to the High Court to get these accounts frozen. Again, the judge approved his application. Gideon was conned when fraudsters posed as the builder he had hired to extend his home. They hacked into the builder's email account asking him to make a lump sum payment Then on January 6, four days after the fraud took place, Gideon went back to court and asked the judge to order Barclays and Santander to release all contact details and bank statements for the frozen accounts, arguing that they would be necessary if he was to recover his stolen cash. The judge agreed and Gideon sent the documents to Santander's court orders team, which faxed over the fraudster's bank statements, postal addresses, email addresses and phone numbers. Using these, Gideon tracked down 5,655 in several Santander accounts connected to the fraudster and the bank agreed to return the money. He also noticed the scammer had transferred around 5,000 to a haulage firm. Gideon contacted the company to explain what had happened. The firm repaid his money. The bank accounts also revealed that 9,150 was transferred out of the fraudster's account more than 24 hours after Gideon first reported the incident to Barclays. That suggested his bank had been slow in contacting Santander to try to retrieve his money. Barclays denied that there was any delay, but later agreed to pay Gideon the remaining 9,150. It added 200 compensation. This left 395 outstanding, which the builder took off his bill. A Barclays spokesman says: 'We acknowledge there was a delay in responding to our customer's alert. However, we've recognised this and returned those funds that could have been captured. 'Last year, Barclays prevented more than 831 million of fraud. We would encourage customers to verbally confirm any new payment instructions they receive via email or alternatively to send a small sum and to wait confirmation it has been received before sending the remaining funds.' Santander says: 'As soon as we are alerted to fraudulent activity, we place a block on the account and secure any remaining funds.' Gideon says: 'Hopefully, I've shown that despite what the banks might say, it is possible to track down cash after it's disappeared and get the money back. 'My advice to scam victims is to act immediately. Call your bank, gather evidence and instruct a solicitor to get to court as quickly as you can to freeze the accounts.' For the second time in a matter of minutes, the private equity entrepreneur who runs Britain's most valuable financial technology group, Worldpay, explodes with rage. Philip Jansen is furious at any suggestion the takeover of his firm by an American rival is anything to do with money. The 50-year-old could make as much as 34million from the deal with Vantiv, which is set to be confirmed this week. Worldpay boss Philip Jansen is furious at any suggestion the takeover of his firm by an American rival is anything to do with money In an instant, his calm demeanour disappears, his voice rises in pitch. 'The money is not important to me. Honestly, I find it amazing that you take that view. 'I own a lot of shares in the company. I've taken out 32million so far, but I have been in private equity for a long time. The financials are not an issue for me. There is no grabbing the money. Who grabs the money? All the managers have made a fortune tens of millions. They're not doing it for the money.' As someone who has often worked behind the scenes in private equity, the bespectacled and besuited Worldpay chief seems unused to public challenge. Despite his protest, the speed with which Worldpay which processes billions of card payments for retailers and banks has accepted that it has little choice but to accept a 9billion offer from Vantiv represents a retreat at the first smell of Brexit cordite. PHILIP JANSEN, 50 Job title: Chief executive, Worldpay Education: BSc in economics, Cardiff University. Career: Started out his business career at American consumer giant Procter & Gamble and held a number of senior roles at French catering and outsourcing firm Sodexo. Between 2011 and 2013 he was chief executive of food services group Brakes. He was parachuted into the top post at Worldpay in 2013 by private equity investor Bain Capital. Family: Lives in west London. Has a wife and five children. 'They are superb. My wife and I run a great little unit.' Out of office: He plays lots of sport, including cycling, golf and cricket. Goes to the gym whenever he can. His son is a 'massive' Chelsea supporter. 'We sit right behind the manager. Watching the managers Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho has been absolutely fascinating.' Daily routine: 'I don't think that's relevant.' There is no doubting the enormous skill which Jansen and his team have shown in taking a ramshackle mixture of technology platforms, bought out of Royal Bank of Scotland, and turned them into a world-beater. I first met Jansen over morning coffee when Worldpay was being floated on the stock market in 2015, after it had been rehabilitated by private equity firm Bain Capital, and he was all sweetness and light, wallowing in data about the new investments made, the great software it was building and a transformed enterprise. Worldpay has become a technological triumph. And Jansen has been well rewarded. He made an estimated 50million from the initial float, and is in line for a 9million pay deal. Jansen says: 'Worldpay had a series of technology platforms that weren't necessarily connected. Bain Capital had to put together a new company. It built an HR function. A legal function from scratch. It had the benefit of all the RBS corporate activity but really it was a customer list with some salespeople.' Critically, the Worldpay bought from RBS had two huge Silicon Valley customers in Google and Apple. Since escaping RBS in 2013, investors have ploughed 1.5billion into the enterprise, creating a global leader in payments processing which operates in 146 countries and 126 currencies. It has a customer list to die for, providing the payment technology for Tesco, Google, Airbnb, Visa, Mastercard as well as the local hairdressing salons. For this stellar growth, Jansen has become a man used to justifiable praise for his accomplishments So why, as Britain heads for Brexit and the nation's horizons become more global, is Worldpay selling up? Why isn't he trying to build a business in the US? He says: 'Everyone knows we lack scale in the US. We are the market leader outside the US for what we do. We're the biggest in online payment execution. What this deal allows us to do is deliver for well-known digital clients in the US.' Over the decades, British companies from tobacco giant BAT to oil major BP, and BA on Atlantic routes have a tremendous history of doing well in the US. Yet Jansen seems to find it inconceivable that Worldpay as a standalone firm could crack the US even though some 27 per cent of turnover already comes from across the pond. It's at this suggestion that his outer calmness vanishes for the first time, to be replaced with petulance. 'Do you really think we would spend whatever amounts of money and suddenly compete with them on a level playing field, when they are ten, 15, 20 times bigger, and scale matters? We'll never get to the scale to have the cost line that they do,' he argues. His view is that bringing the firms together gives it a unique global strength. But as with so many takeovers, the locus of operations is likely to move from the UK to the US. 'But it doesn't mean that would be negative impact for the UK,' he protests. So would this be detrimental for London as the heart of the fintech industry? Jansen interrupts before I can finish my sentence: 'It matters to you. Does it matter to shareholders and does it matter to customers and does it matter to employees?' However, he also indicates that, when the takeover prospectus is published, he expects Vantiv will be prepared to make commitments about the future of Worldpay operations in the UK. These pledges could include development centres in Cambridge and London as well as maintaining some kind of HQ in London. It's a similar deal that Japan's Softbank made when it took over Britain's ARM Holdings last year. A challenge lurks for Worldpay, as big tech customers such as Apple, Google and Amazon are likely to put their own engineers to work to create their own copycat technologies. 'These massive companies are in very strong market positions. So even with us bulking up and being larger, it becomes harder,' says Jansen By selling at an opportune time, Jansen and his boardroom cohorts may more easily navigate the big challenges which lie ahead. A former British tech star crushed by Apple is about to fall into foreign hands after a major shareholder withdrew its objections to a takeover. Monitise now looks set to be taken over by Fiserv, which yesterday said its final offer for the AIM-listed firm was 75million. The Soho-based company was at expected to be a major player in mobile payments but saw its fortunes tumble after Apple revealed it was muscling in on the market in 2014. Monitise looks set to be taken over by Fiserv, which yesterday said its final offer for the AIM-listed firm was 75m A revelation that Google was also launching its own payments system and several profit warnings have since helped to hammer Monitise's shares by more than 96 per cent, or about 78p. Fiserv's new proposed deal values Monitise at 3.1p per share, up from 2.9p previously. It was described as 'pretty awful' by Cavendish Asset Management fund manager Paul Mumford, whose firm is the second-largest shareholder with 4.4 per cent of stocks. But with no alternative suitors, falling revenues and Fiserv's refusal to make more concessions, Mumford said his fund would no longer oppose the takeover. He said: 'They [Monitise] have quite a substantial payments system, so it is quite disappointing management have not been able to get what I think is the company's full worth. 'If Monitise could secure a bank contract it would be transformative but it has said before that banks do not want to deal with a relatively small AIM company ... with the backing of Fiserv it might be possible for them to do those deals. 'It's just a shame that another British tech company will now fall into overseas ownership.' Fiserv's offer yesterday was up from its initial offering of 70million, with the company adding: 'The financial terms of the increases offer are final and will not be increased.' It pointed to a bleak trading update last month which showed revenues were falling, uncertainty around tax losses, a depleting cash pile and an apparent lack of other suitors. Monitise said the board was supportive of the bid. A UN war crimes prosecutor probing human rights abuses in Syria has quit saying 'we are powerless' and 'everyone in Syria is on the bad side'. Carla Del Ponte said she was quitting the three-member commission investigating war crimes in the war-torn region because it 'does absolutely nothing'. The 70-year-old Swiss, who had previously worked to uncover war crimes in Rwanda and Yugoslavia, had been working on the commission since September 2012. Prosecutor Carla del Ponte, pictured in 2015, quit a UN commission probing war crimes in Syria in protest at the lack of followup action from the UN Security Council to a dozen reports Established by the UN Human Rights Council, the commission is tasked with reporting on serious rights violations and war crimes in Syria, where more than 330,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict in March 2011. It has published about a dozen reports on its progress but has been hampered by its inability to gain access in Syria itself, forcing it to rely on forensics, interviews, photos and medical records. The commission has also repeatedly urged the Security Council to ask the International Criminal Court to open an investigation for war crimes in Syria. However that has been blocked by China, as well as Russia, an ally of President Assad. Del Ponte accused members of the Security Council 'of not wanting to establish justice.' She said she had never seen such crimes committed elsewhere, neither in Rwanda or Yugoslavia. A huge explosion sends clouds into the air after Assad's forces carried out air and ground strikes over the de-conflict zone, Ein Tarma district in the Eastern Ghouta region of Damascus An injured Syrian child receives treatment at a makeshift hospital in Jobar She told a panel discussion at the Locarno Film Festival: 'I am quitting this commission, which is not backed by any political will. I have no power as long as the security council does nothing. We are powerless, there is no justice for Syria.' She added: 'I cannot remain on this commission that does absolutely nothing.' The 70-year-old said: 'At first there was good and bad - the opposition on the side of good and the government in the bad role. 'Today everyone in Syria is on the bad side. The (Bashar al) Assad government has perpetrated horrible crimes against humanity and used chemical weapons. And the opposition is now made up of extremists and terrorists.' UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the commission would continue its work despite Del Ponte's resignation. He said he regretted her decision to resign but stressed the 'importance of accountability for crimes against civilians during the conflict,' UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. 'He supports the continued work of the commission as an important and integral part of the accountability process,' he added. Catherine Marchi-Uhel, a French judge who has tried international cases in Kosovo, Cambodia and the former Yugoslavia, started work as the head of the new panel in Geneva on Tuesday. Federal prosecutors are seeking life sentences plus a mandatory 60 years on gun crimes for a Wyoming man convicted of murdering a Pryor couple who had stopped to help him and assaulting their daughter along the road in 2015. Jesus Yeizon Deniz Mendoza, 20, of Worland, Wyoming, is set to be sentenced on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Billings. Mendozas defense attorney is recommending Mendoza be sentenced to four days for the assaults plus the mandatory 60 years saying that would be a fair and just sentence. Mendoza pleaded guilty in March to two counts of second-degree murder and other crimes for the July 29, 2015, killing of Jason Shane, 52, and his wife, Tana Shane, 50, and wounding their daughter, Jorah Shane, 24. In addition to the murder counts, Mendoza pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and three counts of using a firearm during crimes of violence. The gun counts carry mandatory consecutive prison sentences totaling 60 years. Mendoza, who was 18 at the time, shot and killed the couple and wounded their daughter after they had stopped outside Pryor on the Crow Indian Reservation to give him roadside assistance. He then left the scene in the Shanes' car, returned and shot at three other people who had tried to help the family. A plea agreement calls for first-degree murder charges to be dismissed at sentencing if U.S. District Judge Susan Watters approves the deal. The prosecution had said earlier it would seek life sentences on the murder counts and maximum sentences on the other crimes. The life recommendation exceeds a sentencing guideline range of about 19 years to 24 years for the murder and assaults. A life term is the maximum prison penalty for second degree murder. Last year, the U.S. attorney general decided, after an extensive review process, not to seek the death penalty in the Mendoza case. In deciding whether to seek the death penalty in a particular case, the attorney general considers the recommendations of the U.S. attorney, a capital case review committee and others within the U.S. Department of Justice. Those internal recommendations are confidential. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek said in a sentencing memo that a life sentence is the only sentence that provides just punishment for the crimes in which two people died and others were seriously injured, both physically and mentally. Mendoza is dangerous, Suek said, because he is severely mentally ill and abuses substances. Some spark on the morning of the shootings set off the deadly combination of his substance abuse and mental illness, igniting a killing spree, Suek said. Two years before, Mendoza also tried to murder a camper near Worland in 2013, she said. The forecast here is clear Deniz Mendoza will kill again if he is released from prison, Suek said. Mendozas criminal background and history, the prosecutor said, could be summed up into one unavoidable conclusion: Mental illness coupled with substance abuse led to inexplicable, unimaginable violence. Mendozas records show he has suffered from severe mental illness since he was 13, and while he got treatment as a teen, he was also abusing substances, including alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates, LSD and spice, which is a synthetic drug, Suek said. The ten hours before he committed these offenses, he was smoking significant amounts of spice, the prosecutor said. Born in Mexico, Mendoza suffered physical and sexual abuse as a young child, which led to him and his mother coming to the United States. He was raised by his adoptive parents in Wyoming, attended school in Worland, got his GED in 2014 while incarcerated at the Wyoming Boys School and has a minimal work history. Assistant Federal Defender David Merchant countered in court records that a life sentence gives up on Mendoza. A life sentence provides no hope, he said. Merchant said earlier that Mendoza is a naturalized citizen. The defense unsuccessfully tried to have Mendoza declared mentally incompetent and said it would use an insanity defense if the case went to trial. Mendoza ultimately pleaded guilty to crimes as part of a plea deal. The defense recommendation of four days plus a mandatory consecutive 60 years, honors the memory of the victims, Merchant said. The sentence would protect society and send a clear message that if you commit murder, you will be punished harshly, Merchant said. The term would give Mendoza an opportunity to be released from prison toward the end of his life and hope for rehabilitation, he continued. In addition, the sentence considers the enormous amount of time mandated by gun convictions, Merchant said. Jesus knows he needs to be punished for the damage he had caused, but that punishment should not be life in prison, Merchant said. Advertisement The multi-million dollar mansion of Kings Cross nightclub identity John Ibrahim has been raided by police after the arrest of his brothers Fadi and Michael in Dubai over an alleged drug syndicate importing MDMA into Australia. Middle Eastern Crime Squad and Australian Federal Police officers conducted dawn raids on 32 homes scattered across Sydney, arresting 14 people - five of whom were in the United Arab Emirates - and issuing 52 warrants. The Ibrahim brothers were swooped on by AFP officers on the street after dinner with two other known associates while holidaying in Dubai. Underworld figure Mustapha Dib was also arrested in Dubai alongside the Ibrahim brothers, while Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad, the brother of slain hitman Wally Ahmad, was arrested at his Bankstown home. John Ibrahim's 25-year-old son Daniel, who served in the Australian army, has also reportedly been arrested after his home was raided. John flew in to Sydney late on Monday night after holidaying in Los Angeles for a week. It's believed he was at his home when officers executed the early morning search warrant. Police say the arrests relate to three separate police operations, code-named Kindra, Veyda and Astantine, which were simultaneously carried out to arrest all suspects at once, the Daily Telegraph reports. Veyda was created months ago to target an international MDMA ring importing the drug into Australian. Police are reportedly investigating whether the Ibrahim brothers and Dib are involved in the alleged drug racket. Kindra was dedicated to nabbing criminals behind an alleged $50 million haul of illegal tobacco, while Astantine involved a separate crime syndicate responsible for the alleged importation of 200kg of ice into Australia. Scroll down for video Police have raided Kings Cross figure John Ibrahim's (right) Sydney mansion, after arresting his brothers Mick (centre) and Fadi (not pictured) over alleged drug importation charges in Dubai. Pictured left is oldest brother Hassan 'Sam' Ibrahim, an ex-bikie boss who has no reported involvement in Tuesday's raids and arrests Police raided John Ibrahim's (pictured) Dover Heights mansion, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Tuesday morning. They have made 14 arrests and issued 50 warrants Officers are seen searching the pool area of John's multi-million dollar mansion in Sydney's eastern suburbs. It's believed he was at home when police issued the search warrant A police officer is seen scouring dense bushyard beneath John's property with a sniffer dog in search of evidence Officers are seen using a ladder to inspect the roof of John Ibrahim's home. He has not been arrested and there is no suggestion he has any connection to the alleged drug importation charges his brothers reportedly face John's 25-year-old son Daniel (right), who served in the Australian army, has also been arrested after his home was raided Tuesday morning's raids, carried out by federal and state authorities, mark the biggest police operation on organised crime in the last ten years. The police operation across several suburbs is part of a planned operation involving NSW Joint Organised Crime Group, Australian Federal Police and NSW Police. Detectives were seen combing John Ibrahim's home on Tuesday morning. Officers with gloves took apart an immaculate black hatchback Audi parked in his driveway, inspecting the glovebox and boot as a skateboard sat on the back seat. Inside the home more officers were seen examining John's back porch, with another standing on a ladder carefully examining the roof gutters. More officers with sniffer dogs were photographed combing through the back yard searching for evidence. John was not arrested during the search. Telopea Street in Punchbowl, once considered to be at the centre of Sydney's drug trade and criminal activity, has been closed off, 9 News reports. Specialist officers are also conducting raids at homes at Vaucluse, Bellevue Hill, Bankstown, Punchbowl, Arncliff and Dover Heights. There is no suggestion John Ibrahim has any connection to the alleged drug importation charges his brothers reportedly face. Charged: Underworld figure Mustapha Dib (right) was arrested in Dubai, while Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad, the brother of slain hitman Wally Ahmad (left), was arrested at his Bankstown home Police continued to search the bushland surrounding John Ibrahim's house well after midday on Tuesday, scouring shrubbery Fadi Ibrahim has been arrested with brother Mick while eating dinner in Dubai over alleged drug importation charges. He is pictured with wife Shayda. The pair were both shot by a masked gunman while sitting in a Lamborghini outside their luxury Sydney home in 2009 Officers with gloves took apart a black hatchback Audi parked in John Ibrahim's driveway An officer was seen inspecting the glovebox and car boot as a skateboard sat on the back seat A plain clothes officer is seen wearing a body vest as he walks towards a car parked in John's driveway John Ibrahim, a colourful Sydney nightlife figure, has owned or controlled more than 40 licensed venues between 1988 and 2014. The family has had the 'dubious and unwanted honour' of watching their lives play out on the front pages of newspapers, he wrote in a recently released autobiography 'Last King of the X'. The brothers have also been tied up in shootings and other attacks over the years. Michael Ibrahim was hit in the shoulder by one of a number of bullets fired at him on his way home in Sydney's CBD in January 2015. Fadi, John's second-youngest brother, also survived a near-fatal shooting outside a home in Sydney's north in June 2009. Dib walked free from jail in February 2016 after his conviction for the murder of a young woman was quashed. He was handed a sentence of at least 30 years in 2012 for the execution-style killing, but three judges found there was reasonable doubt he was responsible. Ahmad is the brother of slain gangland kingpin Wally Ahmad, who was gunned down on the rooftop car park of Bankstown Central shopping centre in April 2016, one of a string of bloody executions that rocked the city over the past 16 months. Police officers searched the family home of Mustapha Dib in Punchbow, taking two large bags of evidence with them just before midday. Dib, who was acquitted of murder this year, was arrested in Dubai Police also executed a search warrant at Fadi Ibrahim's enormous Dover Heights home, pictured with a bull statue and Range Rover out front A man outside Rock Ahmad's Bankstown home can be seen sporting a 'Brothers 4 Life' tattoo, paying homage to a once-feared gang that was led by Farhad Qaumi. Quami is now serving out a 60-year jail sentence for a string of violent crimes Telopea Street in Punchbowl, once considered to be at the centre of Sydney's drug trade and criminal activity, has reportedly been closed off by police (pictured) A Melbourne cab driver has been caught out after automatically adding an extra 3.5 per cent to a passenger's fare, raising questions about the tipping system. Alyssa Allen, a 3AW radio producer, travelled home from Melbourne Airport in a cab after a holiday in Europe and noticed the final price was a little high. She broke down the costs outlined on the receipt and was surprised to find her driver had included the gratuity add-on without her permission. A Melbourne cab driver has been caught out after automatically adding an extra 3.5 per cent (pictured) to a passenger's fare She told 3AW host Tom Elliott she then questioned the driver about it, asking him: 'I don't remember you asking me if you wanted a tip?' The producer said she would have preferred if the choice was up to her. 'I don't mind paying for a tip if he asked, but I thought it's quite sneaky adding it on and assuming that a customer wants to pay that, especially when the fare's quite big.' She wondered how many other people are being caught out and not realising. Alyssa Allen was surprised to find the tip had been added to her taxi fare without her permission Elliott suggested that with the introduction of new methods like PayWave and Apple Pay tipping is on the way out and a new measure companies take is to add in the bonus themselves. They cited the importance of checking through receipts in taxis. Daily Mail Australia have approached the cab company for comment. Almost half of maternity units are turning away women in labour because they have no spare beds, figures reveal today. Units were forced to temporarily close their doors on at least 382 occasions last year. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the rising number of births and the increasingly complex labours among older and obese women. Understaffing is compounding the issue, with the NHS currently lacking about 3,500 full-time midwives. Almost half of maternity units are turning away women in labour because they have no spare beds When maternity units are extremely busy, they impose a 'temporary divert' which means women in labour are sent to neighbouring hospitals. This is meant to be used only as a last resort and is imposed for up to 24 hours. But it can be distressing for women in labour who suddenly have to travel to an unfamiliar hospital much further afield. When a maternity unit imposes a divert, staff contact women in labour and tell them to go to another hospital. In some cases this can be 50 miles away an hour's drive if the nearest maternity units are also very busy. Figures obtained by the Labour Party show the number of temporary diverts has increased by 70 per cent in two years. A total of 42 out of 96 hospitals said they imposed the rule at least once during 2016. There were at least 382 diverts in 2016, 375 in 2015 and 225 in 2014. But the true number is likely to be higher as 42 hospital trusts failed to respond to the request. The Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and the University Hospitals of Southampton closed their maternity units on 35 occasions each the highest of any hospitals. St Helens and Knowsley Hospital shut its maternity unit for 30 hours in February 2016 due to 'high activity' and a lack of beds. Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour's health spokesman, said: 'It is staggering that almost half of maternity units in England had to close to new mothers at some point in 2016. The uncertainty for so many women just when they need the NHS most is unthinkable. It's shameful that pregnant women are being turned away due to staff shortages, and shortages of beds and cots in maternity units.' St Helens and Knowsley Hospital shut its maternity unit for 30 hours in February 2016 due to 'high activity' and a lack of beds Elizabeth Duff, from parenting charity the National Childbirth Trust, said: 'It's appalling that a shortage of midwives and equipment means so many units have been closed so that pregnant women are pushed from pillar to post in the throes of labour. 'When a maternity unit closes at short notice women in advanced labour may be told to travel miles to another hospital, leaving them frightened about having their baby in a car or by the road.' The number of births is increasing year-on-year, partly due to migration of would-be mums. On top of this, many women are delaying having babies until later in life when they are more at risk of complex labours. Rising levels of obesity are further adding to the problems as this also increases the risk of problematic births. Professor Mary-Ann Lumsden, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: 'The UK is a safe place to give birth, however, the pressures on maternity services are growing which could compromise the experience for women and their families.' A Department of Health spokesman said: 'We want the NHS to be one of the safest places in the world to have a baby and patients should be reassured we continue to have enough midwives in the NHS.' The Returned Service League of New South Wales has suspended all fundraising activities after discovering its practices don't comply with standards. Cake stalls, raffles and barbecues will cease after an internal inquiry found the organisation's 'technical procedures' breached those for charitable fundraising. The suspension of fundraising efforts is set to affect all 634 sub-branches, including women's auxiliaries and youth groups, with no news when it may be rectified. The Returned Service League of New South Wales (whose state branch office is pictured) has suspended all fundraising after an internal review found its 'technical procedures' breached those for charitable fundraising RSL NSW President James Brown released a statement about the investigation on Monday, claiming that they would cease all fundraising in the short term following their review. 'Until further notice all sub branches and auxiliaries are to immediately cease, without exception, any fundraising and appeals being conducted now, or that might soon be conducted,' he said. 'We have been particularly conscious of the need to review our operations with regard to the raising of funds from the public.' 'RSL NSW is treating this matter very seriously.' The issue is believed to be related to funds from the sale of Remembrance Day poppy's and Anzac Day badges, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The November Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal is among those events that will be affected in coming months. Fundraising activities by sub-branches including 'raffles, BBQs, cake stalls (stock photo), guessing competitions, chocolate sales (and) bucket collections,' all fall under the suspension RSL NSW President James Brown (pictured) released a statement about the investigation stating they are treating the matter 'very seriously' and were working to rectify it 'urgently' Other fundraising activities affected by the suspension also include 'raffles, BBQs, cake stalls, guessing competitions, chocolate sales (and) bucket collections,' according to the statement. The only exception to the rule are events where money is raised solely by RSL members and not from the public. Mr Brown said RSL NSW were working on a way to ensure they could move forward while following through with their legal obligations. 'We are working on a strategy to rectify this situation urgently, with a view to recommencing fundraising in a fully compliant way,' he said. 'RSL NSW is committed and, indeed, compelled to exercise the power and authority vested in it to ensure our League is fully complying with all legal obligations.' The November Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal (stock photo) is among those events that will be affected, with the issue said to be related to prior sale of poppy's and ANZAC day badges, according to The Sydney Morning Herald RSL NSW are currently under investigation by former Federal Court Judge Patricia Bergin, as well as the Australia Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Their independent inquiries will look at allegations of financial misconduct and fraud, however the statement assured the fundraising suspension was unrelated. 'This suspension is happening because RSL NSW has determined its technical fundraising procedures are not compliant with the required standards,' it read. Former President John Haines was asked to stand down in May following the allegations, with Mr Brown, who is Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's son-in-law, elected as successor 138 votes to 102. At the time of his election Mr Brown told ABC's Lateline that rectifying the organisation's issues was a top priority. 'I'm going to be spending a bit of time in the coming months getting up to speed on what the organisation's been doing and the extent of our problems,' he said. He has steadfastly refused to accept the decision to leave the EU. So it is perhaps no surprise that Tony Blair even appears to be using his holidays to try and thwart Brexit. Sporting a deep tan, the former prime minister and his wife Cherie posed with the Maltese PM, who has threatened to 'bash' Britain in Brexit talks. Joseph Muscat, the leader of the tiny island nation who was joined by his wife Michelle for the meeting in Valletta, tweeted: 'It was a pleasure hosting Tony and Cherie Blair and sharing so many insights with them.' Last night a spokesman for Mr Blair refused to divulge details of their discussions, but both men have claimed that Brexit can be stopped in recent weeks. Sporting a deep tan, the former prime minister and his wife Cherie posed with the Maltese PM, who has threatened to 'bash' Britain in Brexit talks A fortnight ago, Mr Muscat said he is starting to believe Britain will never actually leave the EU. He told a Dutch newspaper: 'The will of the people can have disastrous consequences, history teaches us. 'I could name some examples, but they're so horrendous they'd raise the wrath of my British friends. 'For the first time, I'm starting to believe that Brexit will not happen. I am seeing hopeful signs that indicate things will change. 'I see encouraging signs that the tide is turning. I'm not saying the Brits have made a mistake, but the mood is changing.' His comments mirrored those made by Mr Blair when he last month claimed it is 'possible now that Brexit doesn't happen' as 'public opinion is moving'. The ex-PM said it was 'absolutely necessary that it doesn't happen' because of the economic and political 'damage' it is causing. Last November Mr Muscat warned that Britain could not expect an easy ride in Brexit negotiations. He said: 'We want a fair deal for the UK but that kind of fair deal can't translate itself into a superior deal. 'I know that there is absolutely no bluffing from the European side, saying 'we will start in this position and then we will soften up'. No, this is really and truly our position and I don't see it changing.' He added: 'In the UK it's fair game to bash Brussels and then you don't need to be surprised if in Brussels they bash you back.' Last November Mr Muscat warned that Britain could not expect an easy ride in Brexit negotiations According to newspaper Malta Today, ahead of his meeting with the Maltese PM, Mr Blair and his wife 'strolled casually' around the streets of the former British colony, with Mr Blair's 'tan jacket held casually over his shoulder'. The couple and a 'bevy of security guys in black suits' were later spotted in Mdina walking atop the bastions and attending mass at the cathedral. Mr Blair told Malta's state broadcaster: 'I wanted to come here to see Malta again and to meet the Prime Minister. It was not too difficult to come here since we were in Italy.' Mr Muscat received a negative backlash to his tweet about Mr Blair's visit. One user replied: 'He should be in jail not Malta', while another posted: 'Nice photo. Like the tans. Can't get one in prison.' The messages appeared to be opposition to his role in the Iraq War. An ABC television presenter has revealed a friend of her teenage daughter was kicked out of home when he told his parents he was gay. Lateline's Emma Alberici opened her interview with senior cabinet minister Mathias Cormann by linking that boy's story with divisions in the Liberal Party over gay marriage. 'A friend of my daughter's, a 15-year-old boy, came out as gay last week to his parents and was kicked out of home,' she said. Scroll down for video Lateline presenter Emma Alberici told cabinet minister Mathias Cormann about a gay teenager 'Now whilst you and your colleagues are bickering in your party room, aren't you concerned about the message you send to young, vulnerable gay and lesbian Australians that they don't deserve the same treatment as other Australians?' Senator Cormann, who is Acting Special Minister of State, answered by reciting the Liberal Party's election promise of a plebiscite on gay marriage. 'Emma, this is an issue in which there is a diversity of sincerely-held, strong views on both sides of the argument,' he said on Monday night. 'And that is precisely why the government, at the last election, made a promise to the Australian people that they would have a say on whether or not the definition of marriage, the Marriage Act, should be changed.' Acting Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann stuck to the government's plebiscite policy Gay marriage supporters march in support of change in Sydney ahead of a Liberal meeting The ABC's Emma Alberici asked how Liberal Party divisions were helping young gay people Alberici claimed gay and lesbians Australians were opposed to a plebiscite, even though gay Liberal MP Tim Wilson has said he backed the plebiscite when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced his support for it in 2015. She also asked Senator Cormann if the plebiscite was a political fix to broker a compromise between moderate Liberal politicians who want a conscience vote on gay marriage and their conservative colleagues who oppose change. However, the minister pointed out how the Australian parliament had previously rejected gay marriage. Homosexual Liberal senator Dean Smith prepared a private member's bill on gay marriage Liberal Party politicians met in Canberra on Monday night and voted to keep their plebiscite policy, amid threats by gay politicians Dean Smith, Trevor Evans, Tim Wilson and Trent Zimmerman to cross the floor and support a conscience vote. They were backed by former far north Queensland crocodile farmer Warren Entsch. Following that emergency meeting, the Turnbull government will resubmit its plebiscite plan to parliament this week. If the bill fails a second time - which appears certain unless key crossbenchers change their positions - a voluntary postal ballot will be conducted. If the postal ballot comes back with a majority 'yes', a private member's bill will go to parliament, with Liberal members exercising a free vote on it. Two-week holidays are being ditched as millions opt for short trips abroad. The annual fortnight away is in danger of becoming obsolete thanks to budget airlines and the internet, an official analysis found. And the booze cruise across the Channel has all but died out, according to an Office for National Statistics report. The number of foreign breaks taken by UK citizens that last for just three days has more than trebled over the past 20 years, and the number of week-long holidays abroad has doubled, the figures show. End of the two week break: The number of foreign holidays lasting 14 nights has fallen to 3.75m from 5.25 in 1996. In the same time breaks taken by UK citizens that last for just three days have more than trebled Two-week foreign holidays are down from more than 5.25million in 1996 to just over 3.75million now. The market in one-day leisure trips abroad mostly ferry trips to France, with drink and tobacco shopping has collapsed to less than a fifth of the number taken two decades ago, the report said. Overall, Britons took more than 45million foreign holidays last year, compared with fewer than 27million in 1996 almost back at the all-time peak reached in 2008 just before the recession. The ONS also tracked changes in locations. Spain has eclipsed France as the most popular destination for UK tourists, with twice as many visits last year. The market in one-day leisure trips abroad mostly ferry trips to France, for drink and tobacco shopping has collapsed to less than a fifth of the number taken two decades ago The rise of budget airlines has meant millions who would once have ferried their car to France now prefer Spain, the report said. Destinations that would have been unthinkable 20 years ago have seen a rise in popularity. In 1996 Croatia was emerging from war and only 12,000 British tourists travelled there. In 2016 the figure was just short of 400,000. Dubai and Iceland also saw increases, while Turkey, Egypt, Kenya and Tunisia declined. The ONS said: One of the biggest changes we have seen over the past 20 years is the marked decline in the popularity of two-week holidays and the rise of short breaks. The week-long break is a lot more popular than before, and theres also been an increase in the number of holidays lasting ten nights. In the 1990s cheap flights were available mainly on charter airlines serving package tours, or via bucket shops dealing in unsold seats offloaded by expensive scheduled airlines. The internet was in its infancy, and the most used electronic aid to holiday booking was teletext. Hotel comparison websites have transformed costs and booking methods. Budget airlines have made getting abroad much cheaper and electronic banking means money is more easily available to UK travellers. The ONS report said that 20 years ago, once you arrived at your destination you were pretty incommunicado, unless you found a phone box. Popular: Croatia is one destination that has seen a surge in visitors from the UK with more than 400,000 visiting during 2016. Pictured is the Dalmatia Coast It added: One of the most likely explanations for UK residents going on more, shorter, holidays is the growth of the budget airlines. From 1996 to 2015, the number of passengers using UK airports went up by 85 per cent. The fall in two-week holidays is also linked to changes in working life that require more flexibility, rather than the fixed annual time off common for much of the 20th century. The report, using the International Passenger Survey and other ONS data, noted the decline of the one-day booze cruise follows the scrapping of the duty-free system in 1999. France also began to raise the price of cigarettes after 2000, and the pound no longer enjoys a major advantage in value over the euro. Airlines, electricity firms and broadband providers could face multi-million pound fines if they fail to take measures to prevent cyber attacks that result in major disruption to services, under a government plan to be announced today. Companies will be hit with financial penalties of up to 17million or four per cent of global turnover if they cannot show they adequately assessed the risk of threats to their computer systems, including cyber hacking or even power failures. Ministers said the fines, which will be set out as part of a consultation today, would only be used as a 'last resort' and affect electricity, transport, water, transport, health and digital infrastructure providers. Airlines (like British Airways), electricity firms and broadband providers could face multi-million pound fines if they fail to take measures to prevent cyber attacks The move comes after the NHS became the highest profile victim of a global ransomware attack, which resulted in operations being cancelled, ambulances being diverted and patient records being made unavailable. The co-ordinated attack that infected a large number of computers across the health service was linked to Wannacry malicious software. The issue was raised again after a major IT failure for British Airways left 75,000 passengers stranded and cost the airline 80m - although the company cited a power supply issue rather than a cyber-attack. Digital minister Matt Hancock, said: 'We want the UK to be the safest place in the world to live and be online, with our essential services and infrastructure prepared for the increasing risk of cyber attack and more resilient against other threats such as power failures and environmental hazards.' Operators will be required to develop a strategy and policies to manage risk, and show how they are working to prevent attacks or system failures. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said they also wanted to see action to detect attacks, develop security monitoring and raise staff awareness, as well as ensuring incidents were reported immediately and that systems were in place for recovery. Workshops will be held with operators to allow them to offer feedback. The consultation proposes similar penalties for flaws in network and information systems as those due to be in force for data protection lapses by May 2018. Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says if he had his time again he would not meet with an alleged mafia boss for a lobster dinner. Mr Guy met with alleged mafia identity Tony Madafferi and other Liberal party figures at the Lobster Cave in Beaumaris in May. He said he spoke to fruit and vegetable seller Mr Madafferi as part of a group discussion on Melbourne markets. Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy (pictured) says if he had his time again he would not meet with an alleged mafia boss for a lobster dinner 'They didn't want anything, they just wanted to talk to me about the operation,' Mr Guy told reporters on Tuesday. When asked if he should have left after he realised Mr Madafferri was there, Mr Guy said: 'once you're there you're there'. Mr Guy said it wasn't a secret dinner and he was invited by long time Liberal party donor Frank Lamattina - but if he had his time again he wouldn't go. Mr Guy met with alleged mafia identity Tony Madafferi (pictured) and other Liberal party figures at the Lobster Cave in Beaumaris in May 'Frank said to me he would bring his cousins ... the Lamattina family is big,' he said. 'I went there, I met someone associated with the party for 50 years.' Deputy Premier James Merlino said Mr Guy needed to explain himself. 'What dirty deals has he done with organised crime figures in Victoria? It's not Matthew Guy, it's Mafia Guy,' Deputy Premier James Merlino told 3AW on Tuesday. The moment a whole city was demolished in a matter of 20 seconds has been caught on film. The city of Zhengzhou the capital city of China's Henan Province falls to the ground in attention-grabbing footage, after being destroyed with more than 2.5 tonnes of dynamite. Formerly the largest 'urban village' in Zengzhou, the video which is filmed from a balcony shows more than 36 tower blocks and sky-scrapers tumble onto the ground as it is covered in peach coloured dust. The video uploaded to YouTube by New China, continues with the message 'There were once over 800 buildings in Chenzai, which covers 0.89 sq km' It starts with the right side of city falling in a slow domino-like sequence. The city of Zhengzhou the capital city of China's Henan Province falls to the ground in attention-grabbing footage, after being destroyed with more than 2.5 tonnes of dynamite Slowly, the whole city is covered as dust coats the rubble on the ground. The demolition -the largest of its kinds in China- is hoped to breathe new life into the area. Formerly the largest 'urban village' in Zengzhou, the video which is filmed from a balcony show more than 36 tower blocks and sky-scrapers tumble onto the ground One man died in a wreck on Interstate 90 east of Billings early Tuesday morning, after his westbound Chevy pickup truck apparently crossed the median and rolled. Authorities have not yet released the man's name and did not provide his age or place of residence, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Michael O'Connor said Tuesday morning. There were no other injuries, he said, although it was still unclear whether any other vehicles were involved. Traffic was still backed up for miles in the eastbound lane more than two hours after the crash, which occurred at about 5:10 a.m. near mile marker 467. The eastbound lane had been reopened to traffic as of 10:17 a.m., according to the Montana Department of Transportation. As of Tuesday morning, it was unknown whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the wreck, or why the driver lost control, O'Connor said. The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office and American Medical Response also responded to the incident. The US Department of Agriculture is advising employees to avoid using the term 'climate change' in their work and refer to it as 'weather extremes' instead. In emails sent in February, a director is said to have asked staffers to change the wording of certain phrases, reportedly sparked by the Trump administration taking office. Bianca Moebius-Clune, director of soil health, wrote in messages obtained by The Guardian: 'We wont change the modeling, just how we talk about it.' She then went on to create a list of words to avoid and offered substitutes instead, including replacing 'climate change' with 'weather extremes', according to reports. The alleged suggestions, dated February 16, came less than a month after Trump was sworn into the White House, as further agency emails reveal senior employees were told a policy change may be on the horizon. The US Department of Agriculture is advising staffers to avoid using the term 'climate change' in their work and refer to it as 'weather extremes' instead, it was revealed on Monday Moebius-Clune works at the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is an arm of the Department of Agriculture that oversees farmers land conservation. According to the Guardian, Moebius-Clune wrote: 'There are a lot of benefits to putting carbon back in the sail [sic], climate mitigation is just one of them.' The director also added that a colleague in the agency's public affairs department recommended to 'stamp down on discretionary messaging right now'. Also included in the substituted terms were 'climate change adaptation', 'reduce greenhouse gases' and 'sequester carbon', all coming with alternate phrasing. Further emails show that Jimmy Bramblett, the Natural Resources Conservation Service's deputy chief for programs, sent out an email to a number of officials that hinted there may be a change in policy because of President Trump. Bramblett wrote in an email dated January 24: 'It has become clear one of the previous administrations priorities is not consistent with that of the incoming administration. Namely, that priority is climate change.' DON'T SAY THIS... Climate change Climate change adaptation Reduce greenhouse gases Sequester carbon Source: The USDA's advice to staff on climate change language, according to the Guardian Advertisement ...SAY THIS INSTEAD Weather extremes Resilience to weather extremes, resilience to intense weather events: drought, heavy rain, spring ponding Build soil organic matter and increase nutrient use efficiency Build soil organic matter Advertisement Bramblett's prediction was correct. Trump's top officials have gone to battle against climate change, with EPA chief Scott Pruitt challenging the notion and wanting scientists to debate climate on TV, it was revealed in July. Pruitt, one of the most controversial figures in the Trump administration, has repeatedly expressed doubts about climate change - one of the main points of contention in his narrow confirmation by the Senate. While acknowledging the planet is warming, Pruitt says he questions the gravity of the problem and the need for regulations that require companies to take costly measures to reduce their carbon footprint. Trump's top officials have gone to battle against climate change with EPA chief Scott Pruitt challenging the notion and wanting scientists to debate climate, it was revealed in July This came after Trump pulled the US out of the Paris accord on climate change in June, claiming it was bad for American jobs and environment. In a speech Trump said: 'We don't want other leaders and other countries laughing at us any more. And they won't be. They won't be. 'I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.' The leaders of France, Germany and Italy said the decision was 'regrettable' and that the deal was 'non-negotiable'. Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire, said he was quitting advising the White House, tweeting: 'Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.' A mysterious 'driverless' van spotted roaming the streets of Virginia is actually being driven by a human disguised as a car seat. Residents were shocked last week to see the silver Ford Transit driving along main roads in Arlington without anyone behind the wheel. Some had speculated that the vehicle was part of autonomous driving tests that are currently being carried out in Virginia. Scroll down for video A mysterious 'driver-less' silver Ford Transit spotted roaming the streets of Arlington, Virginia is actually being driven by a human disguised as a car seat (above) But when NBC reporter Adam Tuss spotted the driverless vehicle on Monday, he jumped at the chance to get to the bottom of the saga. He approached the vehicle and was stunned to see that the driver had been disguised as a car seat. The man sitting in the driver's seat was wearing a beige and black costume that covered his body. His hands were the only thing visible and could be seen at the bottom of the steering wheel. Residents were shocked last week to see the silver Ford Transit driving along main roads in Arlington without anyone behind the wheel Virginia Tech has since claimed responsibility for the 'driverless' car. It is part of a study on how best to design automated vehicles The reporter filmed himself approaching the vehicle, saying: 'Brother, who are you? What are you doing? I'm with the news, dude.' Virginia Tech has since claimed responsibility for the 'driverless' car and Arlington County Police Department tweeted out news of the automated vehicle testing late on Monday. They said the study was one of many being conducted to determine how best to design automated vehicles. It was specifically look at the potential need for additional exterior signals on automated vehicles. Virginia Tech said the driver's seating area was configured to make the driver less visible within the vehicle, while still allowing him or her to safely monitor and respond to surroundings. A mother of two desperately acted to save her two young children moments before her SUV exploded in her garage, destroying her home. Tanya Oliver is calling for Nissan to recall their Murano SUVs after hers burst into flames while parked in her garage at Morayfield on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Mrs Oliver had parked the car at home just after 9am on Friday when she smelt electrical smoke, she told the Courier Mail. Her two young children, Yvette, five, and Kai, six, were locked in the backseat of the car when Mrs Oliver noticed vapour coming from the vehicle. Tanya Oliver's house and garage were destroyed after her Nissan SUV exploded into flames She quickly grabbed her children and ran from the house moments before two explosions set the garage and house ablaze. Her husband Joel was at work at the time. 'We have absolutely nothing left. Thankfully, I acted quickly and evacuated my two kids, aged five and six, the instant I smelt smoke,' she said. The fire took hold of gas lines, and four fire trucks were unable to stop the inferno from gutting the house. Mrs Oliver acted quickly to save her two young children while her husband Joel was at work Mrs Oliver said Nissan needs to recall the Murano before a tragedy occurs. 'The car was stationary, with the engine off. It took seven minutes for the car to explode, from the first sign of smoke.' Mrs Oliver said the fire forensic investigator identified the cause of the fire as a 'known issue' with the Nissan Murano. She took to social media to to say she was grateful for messages of support and concern. 'Update when we have a new permanent address and a timeline for the rebuild. Appreciate all the love x PS don't ever buy a Nissan Murano. Have one? Get rid of it. Immediately,' she wrote. In a message to Nissan on Facebook, Mrs Oliver said the car manufacturer must take responsibility for the near-tragedy. Mrs Oliver sent Nissan a message on Facebook saying they were '100 per cent liable' 'I feel sick that this could happen to another unsuspecting family. 'I will be taking this further. Nissan you are 100 per cent liable for this. All of it.' The Olivers are now looking for a rental property, and have been told not to take their children to the house for fear of disturbing them. Mrs Oliver posted on social media that her children were spending time with their grandparents on an 'impromptu holiday' at Redcliffe. In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, Nissan said the fire was a 'complex incident', and was waiting for the fire investigation to take place. 'We are relieved that Ms Oliver and her family are safe. We will seek to work with the local fire, and other, authorities to investigate the details of this complex incident. Once their investigations are complete we will be able to comment further.' A Nissan spokesman said Mrs Oliver confirmed her vehicle is a Nissan Murano Ti built in 2011, but 'the only Australian recall for this vehicle is for build dates November 2013 to February 2015'. Japan has held its first air-raid drills since World War Two amid fears of a nuclear strike by North Korea. People on the country's north-west coast practiced running for cover following Kim Jong-un's latest ballistic missile tests. A report filmed by the BBC saw adults and children sprinting indoors or sheltering behind walls as sirens wailed. People on Japan's north-west coast practiced running for cover following Kim Jong-un's latest ballistic missile tests A report filmed by the BBC saw adults and children sprinting indoors or sheltering behind walls as sirens wailed A statement released by the state news agency called the latest test of the Hwasong-14 ICBM 'a stern warning' to America, saying it 'will not hesitate to use any last resort' if threatened A voice over a loudspeaker could be heard saying: 'A missile has been launched and is heading in this direction. Take cover in a concrete building.' It comes as North Korea has lashed out at the latest round of UN sanctions calling them 'a rampant violation of our sovereignty and a frontal challenge to our republic.' Jong-un will take revenge 'thousand-fold' on the US and unleash 'decisive justice' on the US, the statement said, vowing 'will never step back from strengthening our nuclear might.' The dictator will also never negotiate over nukes 'as long as the anti-DPRK administration of the United States and its nuclear threat continue', it said. The hermit-state issued the statement on Monday in response to the latest round of UN sanctions, which imposed a $1billion trade embargo on North Korean exports. It also comes after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson suggested the US would be open to talks with Kim provided he halted his missile program. The statement laid the blame for the latest round of sanctions squarely at the door of the United States, despite the fact that the UN resolution was jointly drafted with China - the North's closest trading partner and reluctant ally. Fresh sanctions are 'a product of the atrocities of the United States', it said, accusing the Trump administration of 'making extreme anti-hostility policies and nuclear threats.' It called the latest test of the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile 'a stern warning' to the US, saying it is time America learns to 'coexist with us'. Instead, America is 'becoming more and more pernicious, and it is trying to drag the situation of the Korean peninsula back to nuclear battles.' By imposing sanctions America will only 'hasten self-destruction', the statement says, adding that North Korea will 'will not hesitate to use to any last resort.' Kim Jong-un's regime has threatened 'decisive justice' against western 'provocations' after the UN passed a resolution hitting North Korea with $1billion worth of new sanctions It comes after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi (second right) met with North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho (second left) to warn him not to conduct any more missile tests The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to approve fresh sanctions on North Korea, with Russia and China both backing the move However, the statement, which was published by state news agency KCNA, insisted that its mission to develop nuclear missiles is only designed as a defensive measure The statement came after a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his North Korea counterpart Ri Yong Ho over the sanctions. China urged North Korea to stop conducting missile and nuclear tests because it provokes the 'international community's goodwill'. The United Nations Security Council at the weekend passed a new set of sanctions against Pyongyang over its weapons programmes, including bans on the export of coal, iron and iron ore, lead and lead ore as well as fish and seafood from the impoverished state. The measures were approved unanimously - including by China, the North's sole major ally and economic lifeline, and Russia. North Korea also said it will not negotiate over ending its nuclear program after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson suggests he would be open to talks if the missile tests stop Kim Jong-un has long held the ambition to develop a nuclear weapon capable of ranging the mainland United States, and the most recent ICBM test shows he now has a missile capable of doing so. However, it is not clear whether the North has yet developed a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted to the missile. It is also unclear whether the country has the technology to bring the warhead down successfully without it disintegrating. But many weapons-control experts now believe the North will develop these capabilities some time in the next few years, a move that President Trump has warned 'will not happen.' That ultimatum has raised the prospect of fresh conflict on the Korean Peninsula, if the US decides to stop Kim's nuclear program by force. Gather the luggage, lock the house, check passports, tickets, tranquillisers and prayer book. Climb into the car as if travelling to Tyburn for ones own hanging. It is time to set forth for the summer hols, starting with flights that most of us regard as enthusiastically as becoming guests of the Spanish Inquisition. The modern shaggy dog tale is the airport horror story, which lasts longer than Samuel Taylor Coleridges The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, and every human being who has ever flown boasts a full repertoire. I have been to lots of wars, and am not much afraid of dragons. Like everybody else over 25, however, I collapse into a figurative heap when I enter an airport. This is not from fear of crashing or being blown up by terrorists, but about facing the normal routines of flight as experienced this month by so many British people. Palma airport in Majorca is one of the worst hit airports after the EU increased border checks Last weekend, I only travelled to Edinburgh, and not thank goodness to one of those Mediterranean resorts suffering the current Lucifer heatwave and where EU mandarin Jean-Claude Juncker takes personal charge of passport controls for British visitors. We thought we had been clever pre- booking the car park, but at the barrier, its computer was down. We summoned human aid. (Inevitably, my wife Penny, was suspicious usually rightly that I had bungled the booking.) Eventually we got in. Are you hopeless at squeezing into spaces in multi-storeys? This time I got away without scraping the car, but only by inches. Then came the unflagging humiliations of the security channel. Most of us are instinctively law-abiding, and thus haunted by guilt when we do things wrong. Security regulations seem to change almost every day from airport to airport about shoes, belts, watches, removing laptops from bags, quantities of liquids. I panic about them all. Several passengers wait in a queue in front of security checkpoints, during workers partial strike at the Barcelona-El Prat airtport, in Barcelona This time around, Penny forgot to put her toiletries in a plastic bag, so faced a serious going-over and lost some expensive face cleanser. The searcher at Southampton airport, which, since we live in Berkshire, we use whenever we can rather than a London airport, was a decent and friendly bloke, which assuaged her grief. Most of the mob at Heathrow, by contrast, do their training at a charm school run by the Borgias. They specialise in giving you the full treatment or rather, holding you on ice for the full treatment ten minutes before the gate closes. After security, one runs the gauntlet of all those shops reeking of cheap scent or expensive whisky. Seeing how steep is their mark-up over the local Tesco one needs to be Chinese to afford duty-free so it is maybe 20 years since we bought anything beyond soap. Waiting for our call, Penny and I discussed flying. We know the security checks are essential, because the terrorist threat is very real: with millions of people passing through airports, this is bound to be an industrial process. We are lucky, because we are still reasonably hale and hearty, and not convoying children. But the old and those with young go through hell in queues and jostling through the teeming throngs, especially at Heathrow or Gatwick, and little is done to prioritise them. We know the security checks are essential, because the terrorist threat is very real: with millions of people passing through airports, this is bound to be an industrial process When Mary Soames was in her late 80s, she once told me she was flying alone to America the next day and felt nervous. I got her flight number, rang BA and asked if someone could look after her. Who is Mary Soames?, asked the woman in the press office dubiously. Winston Churchills only surviving child, I said, and a wonderful person in her own right.They would not lift a finger, of course, though I bet they would have done it for Adele. And so back to our experience at the weekend. The airline shows a ridiculous safety video, in which a kindly hostess in uniform picks up some childs teddy and returns it. In reality, BA stopped being nice to customers about the time its old and great chairman, Lord King, died. Most airports both here and abroad invite passengers to perform route-marches to the departure gates that Mo Farah would think pacey for a training session, and he would not be lumbered with a suit-carrier and wheelie-case. The travelators are often either broken or moving the wrong way, and if you are hurrying, there will be a stationary group in front, with luggage spread across the band. Then there are delays. In my own worst-ever, a BA flight to New York kept us in our seats in the plane on the stand for four hours while they fixed a technical glitch; then announced that the crew was out of time; put us in a Heathrow hotel overnight; then crammed us into another plane without even a hint of a subsequent email apology that would have taken 30 seconds to despatch, if they had cared sixpence-halfpenny about what they had put us through. In my own worst-ever, a BA flight to New York kept us in our seats in the plane on the stand for four hours while they fixed a technical glitch (file image) Have you ever got satisfaction from a complaint to an airline or airport? If so, you have done better than me. Having arrived at Edinburgh, we were confronted with what we were told was a 90-minute queue at the Avis desk to collect our reserved car, which would make us hopelessly late for our date in the city. We decided to get wheels from another firm with no queue. Back at the airport later, I tried in vain for either a refund or an apology. There are bound to be delays at peak times, said the stony-faced Avis manager. I said: I shall never hire as much a toothbrush from Avis again. It was water off a ducks back, of course: hard words from cross old fools mean nothing to her kind or her company. We saw scenes last weekend, especially in the Edinburgh terminal, that would have touched the flintiest hearts. Written on so many faces were bewilderment and apprehension. Only the young take such treatment in their stride, because they are fit and adaptable; this is what they expect. But I saw a mother struggling in vain to persuade a check-in desk woman the self-check-in machines were broken to accept suitcases that were apparently the wrong shape, while two small children wailed and cavorted around her, and an elderly relative hung behind. Hardly any of us complains about anything that happens once we are safely in the sky, and I include the odd screaming infant across the aisle. Our weekend Flybe flights were punctual, the cabin service crews helpful. Nothing that befell us was unusual, or unreasonable, or reflected sub-standard behaviour by anybody except Avis. Most of the mob at Heathrow (Terminal 5 pictured), by contrast, do their training at a charm school run by the Borgias We MERELY experienced what flying is like for everybody much worse for millions heading to the Mediterranean, or anywhere further afield than Bognor Regis. Especially for the elderly, travelling on ships is incomparably less stressful than planes, as I can testify after doing a lot of boating in recent years. The same goes for trains, outside rush hours. We moan about them a lot, but Eurostar and the domestic lines are usually a far better option than flights. Chronic congestion in August reflects a witches brew of school holidays, overcrowded roads, airline cost-cutting practices and anti-terrorist security. Beyond these things, however, most airports and especially the London ones are deplorably managed, lack an ounce of human sympathy, and deserve to be punished for it. For a start, they could be charged with causing unnecessary suffering to helpless animals. For us livestock, the only answer I can see is for us to forget about abroad altogether, and stick with dear old home. Sunset cocktails, fine dining and quad-biking up a Lebanese mountain - Nabil Gazal is living the high life a world away from his former flame Roxy Jacenko. Daily Mail Australia has obtained pictures of the millionaire Sydney property developer kicking back with a glamorous fashionista and mates in Lebanon. Gazal Jr. left the shores of Sydney for an overseas holiday in the weeks after Ms Jacenko's insider trader husband Oliver Curtis was released from prison. Scroll down for video 'Sunset drinks': Wealthy Sydney property developer Nabil Gazal kicked back at a bar with friends including fashionista Mirna C and Australian businessman Zaki Ameer Party pash: Roxy Jacenko and Gazal were pictured kissing at his apartment in April. It's understood their relationship ended shortly afterwards Gazal left Australia in the weeks after Oliver Curtis was released from minimum security prison. He is pictured here on a solitary seaside stroll shortly after Curtis' release In pictures posted to social media by friend Zaki Ameer, a relaxed Gazal is seen smiling at a bar with a local boutique operator known as 'Mirna C'. During the trip, the pair were seen enjoying edamame and conversation with Mr Ameer, a wealthy Australian property investor, and two other friends. The crew were also rode quad bikes up a mountain path near the village of Faraya, about 50 minutes drive north-east of the nation's capital, Beirut. It's understood Gazal claims it was he who broke off the relationship with the PR maven, Ms Jacenko, after the pair were pictured kissing together earlier this year. A report this week claimed he had been spending time in London after the split and it's unclear when he arrived in Lebanon. Meantime, back at home, Curtis and Jacenko are now planning a second wedding - with Jacenko opening up about a rocky time in their relationship. Company: A fashion designer known as Mirna C (pictured) joined Nabil Gazal Jr on his holiday High on a mountaintop... holidaying Gazal and friend 'Mirna C' enjoy the summer sun atop a mountain in Faraya, about 50 minutes drive north-east of Lebanon's capital Beirut Crew photo: Nabil, Mirna, Zaki and friends pose for a picture after quad-biking up the Faraya mountain 'The reality is I didn't know whether we'd stay together, that's the truth. I really didn't think we would,' Jacenko said. 'I didn't think there was any hope.' Meantime, the Sweaty Betty owner-operator said her husband had learned much from his experience behind bars at Cooma Correction Centre. Back together: Oliver Curtis and Roxy Jacenko are pictured together following the insider trader's release from prison Curtis was jailed for a year after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to commit insider trading last year. 'He's probably more grounded now,' Jacenko said. 'He is from a very privileged upbringing so being in that environment, you sort of take stock of what you've got and how lucky you are and you don't take anything for granted.' Gazal and Mirna were contacted for comment on Tuesday. A distraught five-year-old girl was ripped from her home by police officers because her mother was two days late returning the child to her father. The little girl was lifted into the air kicking and screaming by one officer and passed off to another who carried her through the living room and out the door. The terrified child tried to hide behind a couch and was chased by an officer around the entire length of the furniture before she was caught and lifted up. A distraught five-year-old girl was ripped from her home by police officers because her mother was two days late returning the child to her father In the footage filmed by the mother, her grandfather pleads with police not to hurt her while the girl cries that she wants to vomit - only for officer to call him an 'idiot'. The child was taken unannounced in the middle of the night under a 'without notice' order from New Zealand's family court, according to Newsroom NZ. 'Uplifts' - with 'reasonable force' allowed - are not just used to remove children from dangerous situations, but for small breaches of parenting orders like in this case. The five-year-old's father was granted full custody earlier this year and her mother getting weekend visits. After one visit in June the child was so unwilling to return to her father, who lives a seven-hour drive away, that Air New Zealand refused to let her on the plane. The mother, trying to comply with the order as best she could, waiting with her daughter to hear from child services officers, but received no word until police arrived. In another case, a 14-year-old boy was pulled off a couch by two officers while he cried and pleaded with police to let him stay She has not seen her daughter for 56 days and was not even able to talk to her on her sixth birthday. In another case, a 14-year-old boy was pulled off a couch by two officers while he cried and pleaded with police to let him stay. He had just been on an overseas holiday with his father in January and refused to return to his mother, who had primary custody. 'I would have had to physically drag him kicking and screaming into the car, and honestly, I challenge any parent faced with the same situation to have done otherwise - more so with the worry of him possibly attempting to jump from a moving vehicle,' the father told Newsroom. Police showed up at 8pm and after almost three hours physically dragged him to a car outside where his mother was waiting. Professor Mark Henaghan, dean of the faculty of law at the University of Otago, said it showed child welfare was no longer a priority for the system Father and son have not seen each other since and his access was changed from unsupervised to supervised as he breached the parenting order. Experts were shocked by the footage, calling the uplifting practice 'barbaric', traumatising for the children, and 'state-sponsored abuse'. NZ Police told Daily Mail Australia welfare considerations were determined by the Family Court, under the Care of Children Act, and police had to enforce them. 'The video is challenging and distressing to watch, and the welfare of the child is always the number one priority,' Inspector Fleur De Bes said. 'Police are not in a position to ignore the enforcement options which may be required arising from a court order. 'Police give careful consideration to when the warrant is executed to ensure that the child is removed without increasing separation trauma. Deborah Mackenzie, co-founder of violence against women survivors group Backbone Collective, called the practice 'state-sanctioned abuse' 'Police work with the parent who has current custody of the child in an attempt to reduce the distress for all involved. 'We understand some parents may have concerns about specific parenting orders. The Family Court has channels where these can be raised appropriately which also allows for the childs advocate to hear the childs voice.' NZ Justice Ministry said it did not issue warrants to enforce parenting orders lightly and they must meet high standards. 'It must serve the welfare and best interests of the child, and the breach must either be of a serious nature, or the person has a history of breaching parenting orders,' it said. More than 600 warrants for breaches of parenting orders were issued in New Zealand last year, more than 11 every week, out of 19,000 applications. Senator Joe Manchin has revealed he won't vote with the Democrats and said he 'doesn't give a s**t' if it costs him the election. Manchin, of West Virginia, launched into the profanity-laden rant after calls for him to resign from GOP senatorial candidate Patrick Morrisey after the Democrat broke party ranks and refused to sign onto a letter proposing his party's policy points on tax reform. 'I don't give a s**t, you understand? I just don't give a s**t,' Sen Manchin told the Charleston Gazette-Mail in response on Sunday. Senator Joe Manchin (pictured) has revealed he won't vote with the Democrats and said he 'doesn't give a s**t' if it costs him the election 'Don't care if I get elected, don't care if I get defeated, how about that. If they think because I'm up for election, that I can be wrangled into voting for s**t that I don't like and can't explain, they're all crazy,' he continued. 'I'm not scared of an election, let's put it that way. Elections do not bother me or scare me,' he said. 'I'm going to continue to do the same thing I've always done, extremely independent.' The senator explained he had refused to sign the letter establishing the Democrats' three main policy points on tax reform, along with two others in the party, because that while he agreed with the party platform, he wanted leaders to get the Republicans on board. All three Democrats are up for re-election in states whose electorates voted for President Donald Trump by wide margins. Manchin refused to sign onto a letter, signed by the majority of Democratic senators, with his party's policy points on tax reform The letter, signed by the remaining Democratic senators, was sent to Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and GOP Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch. It focused on three main tax policy points: that tax tax reform shouldn't unfairly target the middle class or cut taxes for the rich, it should go through proper Senator procedure rather than the budget's fast track and shouldn't increase the federal deficit. But Manchin fears that signing the letter could mean that the proposed legislation could not be amended to appeal for Republican senators' votes. 'I want to be able to reach out to my friends on the other side and say, 'Guys, you like anything here, can we do something different, any changes, what would make you comfortable to sign on?' he said. The home of Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has become the target of a second activist attack after it was paint-bombed early Monday morning. Street Artists for Doyle Collective claimed responsibility for the incident, which they stated was to 'beautify the facade of [the] million-dollar home'. The South Melbourne property was targeted about 1.30am as Cr Doyle, 64, his wife Emma and their three-year-old son slept inside. Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle's (pictured) home has become the target of a second activist attack, after it was paint-bombed early Monday morning The South Melbourne property (pictured) was targeted with multi-colour paint bombs around 1.30am as Cr Doyle, his wife Emma and their three-year-old son slept inside Speaking about the attack on Tuesday, Cr Doyle called it an 'intrusion and invasion', and said he and his family would now consider moving. 'It's always family first, always, despite any inconveniences' he told 3AW. 'You don't like to back down to these sorts of cowardly attacks but that's something I will talk to Emma about.' Police are investigating the incident, with a spokesperson confirming a number of items containing paint had been thrown against the property's front wall. Port Phillip detective will now review CCTV footage for evidence. Cr Doyle told 3AW the family did not hear the attack when it took place, but said 'the whole front [of the house] was covered in multi-coloured splodges'. Cr Doyle called the attack an 'intrusion and invasion' and said he and his family would now consider moving Port Phillip detectives are investigating the incident, with a police spokesperson confirming a number of items containing paint had been thrown against the property's front wall (pictured) Street Artists for Doyle Collective claimed responsibility for the incident in a lengthy Facebook post, where they stated they wanted to 'beautify the facade of (the) million dollar home' The group claiming responsibility posted a lengthy message on Facebook, calling Cr Doyle a 'bloated, well-fed, shameless self-promoting, inherently conservative, human maggot'. The post went on to threaten Cr Doyle and his 'wealthy politico-scum colleagues'. 'Our intention was to send a message... that we have the ability to identify their homes and make their lives uncomfortable anytime we choose,' the statement read. They also described a letter left after the attack, condemning Cr Doyle for cleaning up street artists work on cement bollards in central Melbourne, put up to prevent terrorism. 'We genuinely hope that you will forever enjoy your own priceless piece of street art,' it read. 'We presume our contribution will result in an increase of your property value, which after your sad demise your bride and tender-aged offspring will capitalise upon.' The post went on to threaten Cr Doyle and his 'wealthy politico-scum colleagues,' claiming they could 'identify their homes (pictured) and make their lives uncomfortable anytime we choose' It marks the second attack on the home, after Cr Doyle was forced to call police when it was targeted by activists carrying large banners back in February It marks the second attack on the home, after Cr Doyle was forced to call police when it was targeted by activists back in February. Protesters had gathered in front of the inner-city home holding large banners, condemning the council's removal of makeshift homeless camps on Flinders Street. Melbourne City Councillors agreed on February 7 to pass a local law banning camping in public places. Cr Doyle claimed he had been doing more for those people than the protesters, stating that he had launched a Salvation Army pop-up shop on Monday to raise funds for homeless services. The Australian public will be able to formally voice their support for same-sex marriage after the announcement a plebiscite will be held on November 25 this year. Coalition MPs declared the compulsory vote would be held in late November, if they accrue support for a traditional plebiscite in the Senate later this week. A postal plebiscite could happen as early as September 12, and would be returned as early as November 7. 'We will hold a postal vote on this issue asking the same question, in which all Australians will have their say. They will get the opportunity to express their view, fulfilling the commitment we made at the election,' Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in a press conference on Tuesday. Turnbull said both the Liberal and National Party 'overwhelmingly support' the postal vote and the commitment to the outcome. If a majority vote 'yes' same-sex marriage could be legalised as early as next year. The Prime Minister said he and his wife will be voting 'yes'. Scroll down for video The Australian public will be able to formally voice their support for same-sex marriage after the announcement a plebiscite will be held on November 25 this year Turnbull said both the Liberal and National Party 'overwhelmingly support' the postal vote and the commitment to the outcome Coalition MPs declared the postal vote will be held in late November, unless they accrue support for a traditional plebiscite in the Senate later this week What happens next? Coalition will put issue back on notice paper today and Senate will vote on issue later this week Senate expected to reject compulsory plebiscite for the second time If majority vote 'yes' a private member's bill to change the Marriage Act will be brought before Parliament All MPs would vote on the bill If necessary, postal plebiscite could be held as early as September 12 Traditional plebiscite would be held on November 25 If plebiscite returns majority 'no' vote the Coalition will not seek an amendment bill Labor have promised to legislate same-sex marriage should they win the next election Advertisement 'The government believes that we have a constitutional and legal right to keep faith with our commitment to the Australian people to let them have their say on whether or not the definition of marriage should be changed,' Senate Deputy Leader Mathias Cormann said. The Finance Minister said he will appropriate $295 million towards the plebiscite, which he says is 'more than enough' to fund the postal vote. Turnbull turned the blame on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten for the plebiscite not already being held. 'You heard me again say again and again that every Australian will have a say on this issue. Now, we have sought to have a compulsory attendance plebiscite,' the prime minister said. The only reason it has not been held is because of Bill Shorten's opposition. If he had not opposed it it would have been held in February and in my view it would have been carried, in which case same-sex marriage by now would have been legal for some time.' If a majority vote 'yes' same-sex marriage could be legalised as early as next year. The Prime Minister said he and his wife will be voting 'yes' Turnbull said both the Liberal and National Party 'overwhelmingly support' the postal vote and the commitment to the outcome If a majority vote 'yes' same-sex marriage could be legalised as early as next year The Labor Party are questioning the legality of a postal vote with the Coalition needing to use Commonwealth money to fund the plebiscite. 'The Commonwealth can't spend money without legislation in the Parliament authorising the expenditure of that money, unless it's part of the ordinary activities of a department,' Shadow Attorney General Mark Dreyfus told Sky News today. 'On no view could the conduct of a national voluntary postal vote be seen as part of the ordinary activities of any of the commonwealth departments.' Liberal members attending a special meeting in Canberra on Monday stood by the policy taken to the 2016 election for a national vote on changing marriage laws. If the postal ballot comes back with a majority 'yes', a private member's bill will go to parliament, with Liberal members exercising a free vote on it. Crossbencher Derryn Hinch has already vowed to block the revived plebiscite push, saying the issue should be resolved through a conscience vote. Firefighters were working to hold a fast-moving fire east of Eureka that already had forced evacuations of nearby cabins and homes. Lightning sparked four separate fires on the west side of Mount Gibraltar at about 8 p.m. Monday that grew quickly, according to Derek Deshazer of the Kootenai National Forests Eureka District. The fire was estimated to be about 800 acres at noon. It is burning through some mixed fuels, including some heavy timber, on the Gibraltar Ridge, which is about 10 miles east of Eureka on the boundary of the national forest. Firefighters were attempting to make a stand on the Foothills Road in the early afternoon. Deshazer said the fire was spotting in some places below the road. There are a fair number of structures as you get lower down the hill, Deshazer said. Were trying to keep it as high up on the mountain as possible. Areas under evacuation orders include Sherman Creek, Griffith Creek, Therriault Creek Road and Stevens Creek. Residences in Graves Creek are on standby alert for potential evacuation. A Type II incident management team is on its way to Eureka to take over the management of the fire from the local district. We are in the process of getting there right now, said Hailey Graf, the teams public information officer. Throughout today and tomorrow, youll see additional resources showing up at the fire. On Tuesday afternoon, there were 20 Forest Service firefighters on the scene. They were getting help from both volunteer firefighters from Eureka and Trego, as well as an airplane making retardant drops and a helicopter dumping water on hot spots. They have seen some very active fire behavior, including some torching and some spotting, Graf said. As far as we know now, there have not been any structures lost. A Red Cross shelter has been set up for evacuees at the Church of God, 1295 2nd Ave. East in Eureka. The county fairgrounds is accepting livestock and smaller animals can be taken to the Tobacco Valley Animal Shelter. Sunrise fire: The Sunrise fire had surpassed 14,000 acres Tuesday and was at 20 percent containment as the fire edged over Verde Ridge and Eagle Rock Saddle, closing Trout Creek Road. Lighter winds are expected to help firefighters over the next few days, and the fire is moving downslope, which will ease the effects of wind according to public information officer Ted Pettis. Pettis said that the Sunrise fire is currently not a threat to I-90 or the Clark Fork, as the long-range spotting that was sending embers a mile forward earlier in the fires life has calmed down. But changing winds over the next few days are an unknown risk factor Pettis says. Doug Turmans Type I Team is currently dealing with the Sunrise Fire, and while its complexity is really a low-grade Type I, as Pettis calls it, if it jumps the freeway then it would be a full-blown Type I fire. Liberty fire: The Liberty fire is up to 90 percent containment as heavy fuels burn out and the fire continues to smolder and creep. The fire is causing morning smoke impacts in Arlee, according to the August 8 wildfire air quality update from the Missoula City-County Health Department. The current firefighting strategy has been changed over the last few days from full suppression to 0 percent confine, 20 percent monitor, and 10 percent full suppression, according to the Inciweb Incident Management System. Elevated risk for personnel constructing direct line in most areas of the fire, low probability of success in direct line containment, and fire stalling at natural barriers all played into the strategy shift. Rice Ridge fire: The Rice Ridge fire is still being affected by the vast amounts of smoke in and around Seeley Lake, where the air quality Tuesday morning was again considered hazardous. Public information officer Mark DeGregorio said that the fire teams are expecting pretty active fire to pick up in the Blind Canyon area, which began to show more activity Monday. Heavy equipment and aircraft will be used on the south and southeast portions of the Blind Canyon Area, according to the Rice Ridge Fire Update for August 8 on Inciweb, and the hotter and drier weather means the fires activity has the potential to become critical. Sapphire Complex: The Sapphire Complex is still burning with over 25,000 acres lost. The fires are currently at 29 percent containment as firefighters continue to work the perimeter. The Little Hogback fire is at 17,139 acres burned and is still at 0 percent containment while firefighters conduct firing operations in order to remove unburned fuel between the line and the fire according to Inciweb. Smoke is affecting aerial support, and structure protection crews have been pulled from the Goat Creek Fire to help with protection efforts around the Little Hogback. The Goat Creek fire is at 75 percent containment and is just under 8,000 acres. Hotshot crews are conducting burning operations along the eastern flank of the fire as they attempt to remove unburned islands of fuel. Engines are cooling heat pockets, and other resources have halted potential flareups along Rock Creek and Brewster Creek Roads. The Sliderock fire is up to 30 percent containment and is at 842 acres burned. Indirect line is being improved and a crew was holding the fire line on the south and southeast flanks Tuesday. Lolo Peak fire: See related story. One of the men arrested in Tuesdays police raids left jail just last year after his conviction for murdering the wife of a man giving evidence against him in an earlier homicide case was quashed. Mustapha 'Fairy' Dib is among 14 people arrested in raids on 25 properties which police will allege have smashed organised crime syndicates smuggling drugs into Australia for years. Another of those in custody, Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad, who was arrested at his Bankstown home in Sydney's south-west, is the brother of slain gangland kingpin Walid 'Wally' Ahmad. Scroll down for video Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad is the brother of slain underworld figure Walid 'Wally' Ahmad, pictured Mustapha Dib, pictured, was acquitted last year of the 2000 murder of 20-year-old Anita Vrzina Mustapha Dib was arrested in Dubai with Fadi Ibrahim, pictured, and Michael Ibrahim Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad has been arrested in Dubai with Mustapha Dib and Michael and Fadi Ibrahim Wally Ahmad was gunned down on the rooftop car park of Bankstown Central shopping centre in April last year, one of a string of bloody executions that has rocked Sydney over the past 16 months. Dib, who was reportedly arrested in Dubai with Fadi and Michael Ibrahim - brothers of former night club king John - was released from jail in February 2016 after a 30-year-old minimum sentence for murder was quashed. The 34-year-old had been convicted of murdering pregnant Anita Vrzina, 20, and the wounding of her husband Ahmed Banat, a former schoolmate of Dib's. The Crown case had been that Dib shot the pair inside their car on November 23, 2000, because he believed Banat was a police informant who would give evidence against him over the fatal 1998 stabbing of 14-year-old schoolboy Edward Lee. Dib had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Lee in Telopea Street, Punchbowl, and was sentenced to five years jail. He was paroled in August 2009 but back behind bars in 2011 to face trial for Vrzinas murder. He was eventually sentenced to a minimum 30 years for murder but that conviction was quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal. Police raid the Dib family home at Punchbowl in one of Australia's largest anti-organised crime operations Police outside the Dib family home at Punchbowl which was raided early Tuesday morning Schoolboy Edward Lee, 14, was stabbed to death in Telopea Street, Punchbowl, in 1998 Banat, who initially told police from his hospital bed that Dib had shot him, later retracted that statement and told Dibs trial he did not know who the gunman was because he wore a balaclava. Dib lodged an appeal on grounds including that the trial judge had erred in allowing evidence of Banats identification of him as the shooter. The Court of Criminal Appeal found the jury should not have concluded Dib was guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Within three hours of that decision, Dib walked from Goulburn Correctional Centre. Police have raided 32 properties across Sydney, arrested at least 14 people and issued 52 warrants in what is one of the biggest operations on organised crime in Australia. John Ibrahim's brothers Michael and Fadi as well as his son Daniel are among those arrested. Three men who gang raped a drunk 16-year-old girl at a Sydney house party and filmed it on a GoPro have been found guilty. Kurt Stevenson, 26, Andrew Waters, 24, and Tristan Carlyle-Watson, 26, were convicted by a jury at the NSW District Court on Tuesday. They all pleaded not guilty to multiple offences including aggravated sexual assault in company and inflicting actual bodily harm over the May 2015 rape. Kurt Stevenson, 26, Andrew Waters, 24, and Tristan Carlyle-Watson, 26, were convicted of raping a drunk 16-year-old girl at a Sydney house party which they filmed on a GoPro The jury had to witness the disturbing footage and took a full week to deliberate before handing down its verdict. Carlyle-Watson cried and dropped his head straight between his legs when the guilty verdict was read out. The young victim, who can't be identified, didn't know she was raped until police found the footage by chance when the GoPro was seized in a vandalism case. The trio claimed the girl was an active participant in group sex but the Crown argued she was too drunk to consent - the jury siding with the prosecution. The court earlier heard the girl had 'slow movements', 'floppy limbs' and appeared to be sleeping in the 17-minute-long video taken at the party in St Clair. The footage was only played to the jury in a sealed room, not even the victim has seen it, but Crown Prosecutor Sharon Harris described in open court what happened. She described how they raped the victim 'sometimes... simultaneously, sometimes taking turns.' The men in the video could be heard saying: 'one by one we will all get a f**k', 'are you ready for the next one?', 'next, next, next', 'put it in you s**t c**t' and 'just bend her over the bed',' she said. Carlyle-Watson (pictured) cried and dropped his head straight between his legs when the guilty verdict was read out He pleaded not guilty to multiple offences including aggravated sexual assault in company and inflicting actual bodily harm over the May 2015 rape At one stage Stevenson could be seen having sex with the girl while Waters stood nearby naked with an erect penis 'waiting his turn'. '[The victim] is not spoken to nor is she speaking, she is spoken about, her wishes throughout the entirety of the footage are ignored,' Ms Harris said in her closing address. 'Kurt Stevenson has to direct her to take her clothes off or to move or sit up,' she said. 'They don't speak to her other than Kurt Stevenson who seems to be, you might think, pacifying her.' The teen told police in July she 'blacked out' for a few hours, 'woke up naked' and was 'bleeding from her vagina and her anus'. Under examination from Ms Harris, Senior Constable Katie Sinclair said the girl told officers she was invited to a party by one of the accused on Facebook. The girl told police she had 'two cones of cannabis' and was 'made a drink'. 'I didn't want to drink it but I did,' the constable recalled the girl saying. The jury who had to witness the disturbing footage took a full week to deliberate before handing down its verdict at the NSW District Court (pictured) on Tuesday She told the court when she refused a drink two men grabbed her hair while another poured it down her throat. The next thing she remembered was waking up on a bare mattress in a dark room in the now-empty house. 'I didn't know where my clothes were,' she said. The girl told Constable Sinclair and police she was picked up and taken to the party by a 'fat' girl with 'bright eyes' and 'brown hair'. Under cross-examination, the constable told Carlyle-Watson's lawyer Paul Glissan while she initially described the girl with the word 'shocked', it was 'probably the wrong word to use'. 'She was crying, she was distressed.' Stevenson, Waters, and Carlyle-Watson will be sentenced in October. Several other men and a minor pleaded guilty to their parts in the rape before the trial. The family of an Australian man who died while holidaying in the United States are waiting to hear what happened to their 'much beloved son and brother'. Haimish Mawson died on Sunday in Chicago, the 21-year-old's stepfather Darryl Remnant confirmed on social media. 'It is with great sadness to inform all our friends and family on Facebook that our much beloved son and brother, Haimish Mawson, has died this morning while on holiday in LA and Chicago in the USA,' he wrote on Sunday. Haimish Mawson, 21, who was holidaying in the United States, has been found dead in Chicago Mr Mawson had reportedly been attending a music festival in the US and was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday 'While we don't know the full story yet, we have been in contact with the Medical Examiner in Chicago, and will post an update regarding when we can go collect Haimish and bring him home, and funeral arrangements.' Mr Mawson had been attending a music festival in the US and was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday, according to Shepperton News. Heartbroken friends and family have taken to social media to pay tribute to a 'lovely soul' and an 'amazing friend' who was taken too soon. 'Such sad news... devastating and shocking. The world will miss that beautiful smile,' one wrote. Mr Mawson's mother Jennie said: 'I couldn't have asked for a more loving son.' A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who died in Chicago, but could not comment further due to privacy issues. Heartbroken friends and family have taken to social media to pay tribute to a 'lovely soul' and an 'amazing friend' who was taken too soon Robert F. Kennedy's granddaughter has married her long-time Marine veteran partner at the Kennedy family's iconic summer home. Meaghan Kennedy Townsend, 39, and David Birdzell, who have two children together, tied the knot at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts on July 30. Guests included Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his wife actress Cheryl Hines, Rory Kennedy and comedy actor Keegan-Michael Key. Meaghan Kennedy Townsend, 39, married her long-time Marine veteran partner David Birdzell last month (pictured) Townsend then posted pictures of her wedding day, including one Instagram post, of herself, Birdzell and the couple's twins with the caption: 'Married' They tied the knot at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts on July 30 The newlyweds met when Birdzell took a yoga class led by Meaghan in LA - and just a few days before the wedding, the bride posted photos of a pre-wedding yoga class. Townsend then posted pictures of her wedding day, including one Instagram post, of herself, Birdzell and the couple's twins with the caption: 'Married'. The couple have two children together, twins Arabella and David, born last August. The adorable pair were dressed in matching white outfits for their parents' wedding day, while Townsend looked stunning in a lace white dress, and Birdzell looked dashing in a suit. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. also shared a picture of his family and comedy actor Keegan-Michael Key, before the pre-wedding brunch at the Cape Cod Kennedy compound (Left to right: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Keegan-Michael Key, Taylor Swift's ex Conor Kennedy, Aidan Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy) Birdzell also shared a photo of them walking down the aisle during the outdoor ceremony. Townsend, a yoga instructor, is the daughter of former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and David Townsend. Former Marine Birdzell, served overseas in Iraq, Mali, and Kenya, before working as assistant director of corporate and foundation relations at the NRA after leaving the service. He now works 'advising new companies on how to build their brand and hosting a range of programming which includes Brother on SnapChat, GunTV, RecoilTV and YouTube,' according to his website. Jackie and John F. Kennedy once lived in the beach property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, as well as a number of other houses throughout the years including several townhouses in Georgetown and an estate in McLean, Virginia. Cheryl Hines and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also chose the Kennedy Compound for their wedding day in 2014. The newlyweds met when Birdzell took a yoga class led by Meaghan in LA - and just a few days before the wedding, the bride posted photos of a pre-wedding yoga class (Cheryl Hines, pictured at top right of the class) A bear broke in to an SUV and took it for a short ride before crashing into a mailbox. The bizarre incident occurred early Friday in Durango, Colorado, rousing resident Ron Cornelius from his bed to discover his neighbor's Subaru crashed and abandoned on his front lawn. 'Usually, I don't get up at 5am unless there is a bear driving a car down the street,' Cornelius told the Durango Herald. Pictures of the vehicle's interior show the steering wheel hanging from the column, the car radio ripped out and damage to the dashboard after a bear broke inside it The bizarre incident occurred early Friday in Durango, Colorado, rousing resident Ron Cornelius from his bed The bear fled the scene before police arrived, but left a calling card in the form of feces inside the trashed SUV. Pictures of the vehicle's interior show the steering wheel hanging from the column, the car radio ripped out and damage to the dashboard. It is believed that the bear released the car's parking break, and the car rolled until it struck the mailbox. It is believed that the bear released the car's parking break, and the car rolled away Police say they do not know what inside the car attracted the bear. Colorado has an estimated 20,000 bears living across the state, and wildlife officials say that dry conditions have sparked an increase in bear activity. In Durango, four bears were killed recently - two by a landowner after they attacked livestock, and two by officials after close human contact. 'Black bears in particular are naturally very shy creatures,' Lauren Truitt, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told KDVR last month. 'They don't like to be around people,' she continued. 'What we find is when they've become conditioned, when they have a habitat that has formed that humans provide an easy source as food that's when a bear really becomes a problem. When they lose their fear of people.' British author and Islam critic Salman Rushdie will have Australian Federal Police protection when he addresses a global atheist convention in Melbourne. The Indian-born writer, who Islamist extremists have wanted to kill since 1989, has agreed to be the headline act for the Global Atheist Convention after fellow ex-Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali pulled out for personal reasons. Atheist Foundation of Australia president Kylie Sturgess said the Australian Federal Police were helping with security arrangements for the February 2018 event. 'In staging the convention, called Reason to Hope, we are consulting with local and Federal police, and all appropriate security experts, to take the necessary precautions,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. Scroll down for video Ex-Muslim author Salman Rushdie is coming to Melbourne for the Global Atheists Convention Islam critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali pulled out of the Melbourne Global Atheist Convention back in May 'We have experience in this - we've staged two previous conventions so we know the importance of careful planning.' Rushdie has lived under constant security protection since 1989, when Iran's then supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa on him. The 70-year-old author of The Satanic Verses has lived with bodyguards since then, and is expected to have extra security when he visits Melbourne in February for his first global atheist convention in Australia. The Atheist Foundation of Australia told Daily Mail Australia about Rushdie's extra security detail as they announced new guests. Rushie won't be the only ex-Muslim on stage, with Pakistani-born stand-up comedian and author Sami Shah joining him. Their appearance comes despite the danger ex-Muslims often face from Islamist extremists, who regard leaving Islam as a capital punishment for the crime of apostasy. Former Muslim Sami Shah became an atheist after moving from Pakistan to Australia Sami Shah (right) and his wife Ishma Alvi (left) renounced Islam after moving from Pakistan Islamist extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir remains legal in Australia even though one of its leaders Uthman Badar declared in March ex-Muslims deserved to be killed. 'The ruling for apostates as such in Islam is clear, that apostates attract capital punishment and we don't shy away from that,' Badar said in the presence of children in Sydney's west. Shah and his wife Ishma Alvi have both renounced Islam. The couple, who became Australian citizens in January, said extremism, sexism and misogyny were key reasons why they left the religion they had grown up with. Shah has written a book, The Islamic Republic of Australia, explaining how the 'maddening' text of the Koran had turned him from a Muslim into an atheist. Controversial left-wing feminist Clementine Ford and Iranian-born campaigner against Sharia law, Maryam Namazie will also be at the convention event. Salman Rushdie will be keynote speaker at his first ever Australian atheist conference in 2018 Software engineer James Damore was sacked on Monday for violating the company's code of conduct after he wrote an internal memo that subsequently went viral The male Google employee who was fired after penning a controversial 10-page internal memo claiming that women were 'biologically' less likely to succeed in the realm of technology is now exploring legal options. Software engineer James Damore was terminated by the company on Monday for violating the company's code of conduct. In a statement, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said: 'portions of the memo violate our code of conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace.' Pichai said he was cutting his family vacation short in order to return to Google headquarters and deal with the aftermath of Damore's essay on gender. In a note emailed to Google employees on Monday, Pichai said employees have a right to express themselves but 'to suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK.' Damore, who had worked at the tech company since 2013, confirmed to both Reuters and Bloomberg via emails that he had been fired. Damore later told Reuters he was exploring all possible legal remedies and that before being fired he had submitted a charge to the US National Labor Relations Board accusing Google upper management of trying to shame him into silence. 'It's illegal to retaliate against an NLRB charge,' he wrote in the email. CEO Sundar Pichai said the engineer had violated Google's code of conduct by 'advancing harmful gender stereotypes' GOOGLE CEO SUNDAR PICHAI'S NOTE TO EMPLOYEES This has been a very difficult time. I wanted to provide an update on the memo that was circulated over this past week. First, let me say that we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it. However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK. It is contrary to our basic values and our Code of Conduct, which expects each Googler to do their utmost to create a workplace culture that is free of harassment, intimidation, bias and unlawful discrimination. The memo has clearly impacted our co-workers, some of whom are hurting and feel judged based on their gender. Our co-workers shouldnt have to worry that each time they open their mouths to speak in a meeting, they have to prove that they are not like the memo states, being agreeable rather than assertive, showing a lower stress tolerance, or being neurotic. At the same time, there are co-workers who are questioning whether they can safely express their views in the workplace (especially those with a minority viewpoint). They too feel under threat, and that is also not OK. People must feel free to express dissent. So to be clear again, many points raised in the memosuch as the portions criticizing Googles trainings, questioning the role of ideology in the workplace, and debating whether programs for women and underserved groups are sufficiently open to allare important topics. The author had a right to express their views on those topicswe encourage an environment in which people can do this and it remains our policy to not take action against anyone for prompting these discussions. The past few days have been very difficult for many at the company, and we need to find a way to debate issues on which we might disagreewhile doing so in line with our Code of Conduct. Id encourage each of you to make an effort over the coming days to reach out to those who might have different perspectives from your own. I will be doing the same. I have been on work related travel in Africa and Europe the past couple of weeks and had just started my family vacation here this week. I have decided to return tomorrow as clearly theres a lot more to discuss as a groupincluding how we create a more inclusive environment for all. Advertisement It was not immediately clear what legal authority Damore could try to invoke. Nonunion or 'at will' employees, such as most tech workers, can be fired in the US for a wide variety of reasons that have nothing to do with performance. The US National Labor Relations Act guarantees workers, whether they are in a union or not, the right to engage in 'concerted activities' for their 'mutual aid or protection.' Damore's controversial 3,300-word manifesto - which was first published by technology news site Motherboard on Saturday - has divided opinion since it went viral on social media. Damore, who graduated from Harvard in 2013 with a doctoral degree in systems biology, had noted that women could not get ahead at Google because of biological differences. It prompted backlash from Google's new head of diversity, Danielle Brown, who denounced the memo in her own note to staff. She said the memo 'advanced incorrect assumptions about gender' and did not display a viewpoint 'that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages'. Many have argued that the engineer's memo was proof of the sexist, male-driven structures that Silicon Valley has become known for in recent months. Others said Damore's concern that the company was too left-leaning was legitimate. Some also claim he is the voice of many conservative employees who are too scared to speak out against Google's politically correct policies because they fear they will lose their jobs. Damore caused outrage at the weekend after writing an internal memo that claimed women were 'biologically' less likely to succeed at Google Brown was hired in June to help steer the company as it tried to improve gender representation across its departments after falling under heavy scrutiny. In her statement on Monday, she did not address whether Damore - who had not been named at that point - would face any disciplinary action as a result of his memo. News of his termination emerged late Monday night. Brown said Google fostered an open environment where all views are welcomed so long as they align with the company's Code of Conduct and anti-discrimination laws. Damore, who graduated from Harvard in 2013, had noted that women could not get ahead at Google because of biological differences. 'Part of building an open, inclusive environment means fostering a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions. 'But that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies, and anti-discrimination laws,' she wrote. In his 10-page document, the Damore explained his belief that the company is blind to inevitable differences between men and women and says that staff are trained to think a that lack of diversity is down to discrimination when sometimes there are other factors to consider. 'At Google, we're regularly told that implicit (unconscious) and explicit biases are holding women back in tech and leadership,' he wrote. 'Of course, men and women experience bias, tech, and the workplace differently and we should be cognizant of this, but it's far from the whole story. 'On average, men and women biologically differ in many ways.' Among the perceived differences is that women are have 'a stronger interest in people rather than things' which he said explains 'why women prefer jobs in social or artistic areas.' Men, he said, are more prone to jobs like coding 'because it requires systemizing'. Damore wrote that women were generally 'more prone to neuroticism' and that this is why there aren't so many females in high-stress jobs. The software engineer has not been identified. Danielle Brown, Google's new head of diversity, issued her own memo on Monday to denounce another that was circulated by the male engineer 'DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN' ACCORDING TO JAMES DAMORE'S MEMO The following is an extract from engineer James Damore's lengthy memo Women, on average, have more: Openness directed towards feelings and aesthetics rather than ideas. Women generally also have a stronger interest in people rather than things, relative to men (also interpreted as empathizing vs. systemizing). These two differences in part explain why women relatively prefer jobs in social or artistic areas. More men may like coding because it requires systemizing and even within SWEs, comparatively more women work on front end, which deals with both people and aesthetics. Extraversion expressed as gregariousness rather than assertiveness. Also, higher agreeableness. This leads to women generally having a harder time negotiating salary, asking for raises, speaking up, and leading. Note that these are just average differences and there's overlap between men and women, but this is seen solely as a women's issue. This leads to exclusory programs like Stretch and swaths of men without support. Neuroticism (higher anxiety, lower stress tolerance). This may contribute to the higher levels of anxiety women report on Googlegeist and to the lower number of women in high stress jobs. Note that contrary to what a social constructionist would argue, research suggests that 'greater nation-level gender equality leads to psychological dissimilarity in men's and women's personality traits.' Because as 'society becomes more prosperous and more egalitarian, innate dispositional differences between men and women have more space to develop and the gap that exists between men and women in their personality becomes wider.' We need to stop assuming that gender gaps imply sexism. Men's higher drive for status We always ask why we don't see women in top leadership positions, but we never ask why we see so many men in these jobs. These positions often require long, stressful hours that may not be worth it if you want a balanced and fulfilling life. Status is the primary metric that men are judged on[4], pushing many men into these higher paying, less satisfying jobs for the status that they entail. Note, the same forces that lead men into high pay/high stress jobs in tech and leadership cause men to take undesirable and dangerous jobs like coal mining, garbage collection, and firefighting, and suffer 93% of work-related deaths. Advertisement 'We always ask why we don't see women in top leadership positions, but we never ask why we see so many men in these jobs. These positions often require long, stressful hours that may not be worth it if you want a balanced and fulfilling life.' Among the biggest problems, he said, was that staff who do not agree with the company's approach to the issue are told keep their ideas 'in the closet'. 'Google's left bias has created a politically correct monoculture that maintains its hold by shaming dissenters into silence. This silence removes any checks against encroaching extremist and authoritarian policies,' he said. Later he added that conservatives were an increasingly marginalized minority. 'Conservatives are a minority that feel like they need to stay in the closet to avoid open hostility. We should empower those with different ideologies to be able to express themselves. 'At Google, we talk so much about unconscious bias as it applies to race and gender, but we rarely discuss our moral biases. Political orientation is actually a result of deep moral preferences and thus biases. 'Considering that the overwhelming majority of the social sciences, media, and Google lean left, we should critically examine these prejudices,' he said. At the end of his memo, Damore suggested 'non-discriminatory ways' to reduce inequality, writing: 'Women on average are more prone to anxiety. 'Make tech and leadership less stressful. Google already partly does this with its many stress reduction courses and benefits.' He suggested that the company should do away with programs which cater to a specific minority in order to stamp out discrimination. The engineer faced a barrage of outraged complaints on Twitter after his memo was published online. Much of the outrage came from Google employees who disagreed with his stance. Other critics said the man deserved to be fired for his opinion. But there were also messages of support for the engineer who some hailed as the voice of many within the company. Others, whether they agreed with his opinion or did not, said his arguments were proven right by the company bosses' admonishment of what he said. Prior to him being identified publicly, Damore told Gizmodo: 'I value diversity and inclusion, am not denying that sexism exists, and don't endorse using stereotypes. 'When addressing the gap in representation in the population, we need to look at population level differences in distributions. 'If we can't have an honest discussion about this, then we can never truly solve the problem. Psychological safety is built on mutual respect and acceptance, but unfortunately our culture of shaming and misrepresentation is disrespectful and unaccepting of anyone outside its echo chamber. 'Despite what the public response seems to have been, I've gotten many personal messages from fellow Googlers expressing their gratitude for bringing up these very important issues which they agree with but would never have the courage to say or defend because of our shaming culture and the possibility of being fired. 'This needs to change.' On Monday, Ari Balogh, Google's VP of Engineering, commended the engineer for speaking out but said the company 'cannot allow stereotyping'. 'Questioning our assumptions and sharing different perspectives is an important part of our culture, and we want to continue fostering an environment where it's safe to engage in challenging conversations in a thoughtful way. 'But, in the process of doing that, we cannot allow stereotyping and harmful assumptions to play any part. One of the aspects of the post that troubled me deeply was the bias inherent in suggesting that most women, or men, feel or act a certain way. That is stereotyping, and it is harmful. 'Building an open, inclusive environment is core to who we are, and the right thing to do. 'Nuff said,' he wrote. Eric and Lara Trump have claimed that the 'thick swamp' and 'corrupt Washington' are to blame for the president's spectacular failure to repeal and replace Obamacare. Monday marked Donald Trump's 200th day in office but as yet, the former real estate mogul turned leader of the free world has been unable to fulfill one of his biggest election pledges - to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Despite years of promises by the GOP, the plan collapsed last month. Now the president's son and daughter-in-law are blaming toothless Republicans and what they claim is corruption in Washington for Donald's failure. 'They let him down,' Eric Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News on Monday. 'He had it done, he had it finished. It was on the one yard line and they let him down. Eric (left) and Lara Trump (right) have claimed that the 'thick swamp' and 'corrupt Washington' are to blame for the president's failure to repeal and replace Obamacare Hannity (pictured) ranted he was furious that the Republicans were not able to get 'over the finish line in the Senate' after years of promises to replace Obamacare 'Do I think Washington a lot more corrupt than most Americans think? Absolutely.' 'The swamp is very thick in Washington,' added his wife Lara. 'You have those lingering people who don't want to see the president succeed and were never on board.' She said that while she and her husband felt 'very good about the RNC as a whole', she said you 'always have a couple of holdouts.' Hannity ranted he was furious that the Republicans were not able to get 'over the finish line in the Senate' after years of promises to replace Obamacare. Eric replied that he remained confident 'repeal and replace will get done'. Now the president's son and daughter-in-law are blaming toothless Republicans and what they claim is corruption in Washington for the president's failure 'The swamp is very thick in Washington,' said Lara Trump, who is due to give birth in five weeks 'They let him down,' Eric Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News on Monday 'I think it has to get done, there is no question about it,' he said, adding that it was time the Republicans 'finally stepped up.' 'They better,' he warned. 'They are going to get done, they are all going to get done. My father cares deeply about repealing Obama care, because it's a disaster. He talks about it every night.' His wife, who will give birth to their first child in five weeks, added that nothing would stand in Donald's way once he wanted something. 'I say it all the time, they can work as hard as they want to stop Donald Trump, but I have never seen anyone out-work my father-in-law. He will keep fighting for the American people to the bitter end.' Eric added that he believed the criticism laid against the Trump administration, it's alleged ties with Russia - including backlash over his brother's email appearing to welcome information from a Russian source offering information to damage Clintons campaign - as a 'personal' attack against his father. Healthcare isn't the only issue Trump has yet to deliver on in his first 200 days 'It really speaks to the corruption,' he added, while Lara told the Fox News host: 'When you see them attacking him, he is doing something right. They are very very scared.' Healthcare isn't the only issue Trump has yet to deliver on. Hannity said that House Speaker Paul Ryan had promised a long list of the Donald's election pledges would be complete, which also included finding funding for his wall, and pass two budgets - none of which have been completed in the past 200 days. 'It's all going to get done,' Eric insisted, adding that his father had already achieved a lot during his first 200 days. 'Look at what he's done though. 'He has done so much, he's doing so incredibly well.' A hungry raccoon was filmed in a sticky situation when it got its head stuck in an empty peanut butter jar, panicked and then ran around in circles. Police received an unusual call from a family who reported that the pesky critter had somehow gotten a plastic jar jammed on its head and needed assistance. The raccoon was seemingly confused on how to escape the clear container and ran laps around the family's backyard in Long Island, New York, on Sunday. Luckily, two licensed wild life rehabilitators helped the animal out by pouring cooking oil on its head and slipping the raccoon out. Scroll down for video A raccoon was filmed running around a yard with a peanut butter jar on its head in Long Island, New York on Sunday (pictured) The incident happened in the neighborhood of Farmingdale and it's believed the nocturnal animal was in this state for several hours, reported ABC 7. Bobby Horvath and Cathy St. Pierre, of Wildlife In Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation, were sent to the scene in order to release the animal back into the wild. Using a snare, the two were able to capture the raccoon from behind a bush. They then used a towel to position the animal so that St. Pierre could douse it in cooking oil, in hopes that the slipperiness would help the raccoon glide out. She then tugged on the jar for a few seconds before the raccoon's face popped out of the container. The raccoon quickly darted off after it was freed, seemingly unhurt by the incident. Luckily, two licensed wild life rehabilitators helped the animal out by pouring cooking oil on its head and slipping the raccoon out Horvath explained that it most likely got trapped when searching for food in garbage bins, and that situations like this happen quite often, he told Newsday. Horvath said: 'Animals will do that. If they smell something appetizing theyll put their heads in there to get the snack and wont have the dexterity to get themselves out. 'The best advice is when throwing out a jar, make sure to put the cover back on.' In fact, this is at least the second time a raccoon got trapped inside a peanut butter jar in Long Island. In March 2011, a hungry raccoon balanced on a utility pole with a peanut butter jar caught on its head. For eight hours the wild critter sat perched 30ft in the air to the delight of children and their parents in Ronkonkoma, Long Island. And if some phone calls are to be believed, the animal may have been stuck in the jar for weeks. Residents had phoned in reports of a raccoon with a jar on its head for a month. A 30-year-old woman has had a seven centimetre orthodontic wire removed from her stomach that could have been in her bowels for up to 10 years. The woman entered the emergency department in a Perth hospital with pain in her stomach for two days and after a CT scan a metallic wire-shaped object was shown in her abdomen. Following the CT scan the woman underwent an immediate surgery to remove the object, which turned out to be a seven centimetre piece of orthodontic wire, according to BMJ Case Reports. WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES The seven centimetre orthodontic wire (pictured) in the stomach of the woman The surgeon removed the metal wire from braces the woman had 10 years ago The doctors originally thought the woman had accidentally swallowed a fish bone or something of similar size. 'We saw that in the middle quite a large loop of dilated, unhappy bowel with this foreign body that could possibly have been a fish bone, because that is what we see more commonly,' General surgery registrar Dr Talia Shepherd told ABC Radio. 'She was so unwell that we had to take her to theatre straight away to extract whatever it was, and it turned out to be a seven-centimetre piece of orthodontic wire from braces she had 10 years earlier,' 'When we extracted it we could still see the actual indent of the braces on the wire.' The woman said she wore orthodontic braces more than 10 years ago, but never recalls ingesting the wire or braces going missing. The wire has not done any long-term damage, according to Dr Shepherd. As the solar eclipse excitement reaches fever pitch, astronomy educator Larry Sessions will visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West to share insights about the eclipse and how to safely view it. The free talk, titled Chasing the Moons Shadow: The Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017, takes place in the centers Coe Auditorium on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 5:15 p.m. Direct observation of even the partial phase is dangerous to the eyes. Sessions shares some simple, inexpensive, and safe ways to view the partial eclipse for those who arent following the masses along the moving Zone of Darkness. Sessions discusses the specifics of this wondrous natural event, including the path across Wyoming, suggested observation sites and options for viewing this event whether as a partial or total eclipse. Sessions is an astronomy educator and adjunct professor of physics at Metropolitan State University of Denver, as well as at the Community College of Aurora, Colorado. On Sunday, Aug. 20, the center hosts four retired NASA scientists to offer observations on the following days historic event. That talk takes place at 5 p.m. in the Coe Auditorium, followed by a cocktail reception with cash bar at 6:15. Wrapping up the series on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 5:15 p.m., Mack Frost takes the podium with photos of his experiences in the path of the eclipse a few days before in central Wyoming. Both events are also free to the public. A restaurant is developing a reputation for firing back against negative online reviews with sassy comebacks of its own. Alexis Young visited Kajoku Korean and Japanese restaurant in Toowoomba, Queensland with her husband Karl expecting a romantic dinner for two - but her experience quickly turned sour. She left a scathing review on the restaurant's Facebook page, saying although the 'food was good, customer service was horrific'. Alexis Young visited Kajoku restaurant in Toowoomba with her husband Karl 'Tried to charge us for dishes my husband and I didn't order, and argued with us until they were blue in the face. Left paying for the dishes we did order and won't be going back,' the review reads, accompanied by one star. In response, Kajoku replied to the review on Facebook saying they had a 'little scepticism' about Ms Young's claims. 'We have three senior staff members who take payments, none of whom are aware of any such issue having taken place, and if you had refused to pay part of your bill, we would have called the police in, something we haven't had to do for quite some time.' Reaction to the fiery exchange on social media was mixed, with some commenters backing the complainant and others the restaurant. 'Wow you can tell how terrible the customer service is just by the reply,' posted one person on social media. Another commenter posted that they did not 'see a problem with the restaurant's response'. 'As a business owner myself, reviews can ruin you! So why can't we question the customer? 'If the staff don't remember someone disputing a bill and someone complains on a Facebook page about such a thing of course the business is going to question it!' Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia, Ms Young said her husband is a pilot and goes to Japan 'all the time' and is 'very familiar with Japanese food'. Ms Young was unhappy with the service she received at Kajoku and took to Facebook She asked for Wagyu beef but was told the restaurant didn't have that cut of meat, before they offered to bring out some steak and cut it with scissors. 'They were very rude. We went up to pay and they tried to charge us for Wagyu we didn't want and had cancelled,' Ms Young said. 'They were extremely rude, and threatened to contact the police.' Ms Young said the owner of the restaurant Jeff Brady sent her a private message on Facebook and was 'extremely rude'. She said the reaction to her comment from the restaurant was 'laughable, quite comical'. Ms Young said staff were 'extremely rude' to her, and said the restaurant should be shut down 'I think they should be shut down,' she said. Brady told Daily Mail Australia that the brouhaha around the negative review was 'all a bit silly'. 'Just someone miffed at not getting the fawning response they believed they deserved, attempting to get revenge by sharing the exchange. 'It did lead to some interesting conversations about online communication though, the role of reviews and the behaviour of reviewers. 'I don't have a lot of time for online reviews myself as a consumer they are next to worthless, as those with the loudest voices generally have the least to say, and some small people out there like to use the system to make themselves feel bigger. 'It's not a big deal for us as we're more of a word-of-mouth locals' venue, but I do feel for those operators whose businesses live or die due to a very flawed system.' Kajoku responded with a sassy comeback of their own, questioning Ms Young's claims Kajoku is gathering a reputation for its sense of humour and comebacks to negative reviews, having a section of its menu for people with no friends and a three-litre Trump Tower, inspired by US President Donald Trump which it claims 'won't turn you into an obnoxious orange parasite but it will make your hands appear freakishly small'. A customer in April complained on Facebook about the restaurant's chicken curry, which prompted a tongue-in-cheek response. 'Just ordered a chicken curry from the lunch menu. Worst Japanese curry I have ever tasted. Very greasy and chunks of fatty, grisly chicken thigh meat. I paid nearly $13 for this - very disappointing,' the review read. Ms Young said the owner of the restaurant contacted her via private message on Facebook Kajoku responded in their own typically unique way. 'I tested our chicken curry dish after reading this, as I do with anything we receive complaints (next time, please complain about the stewed beef ribs - they're also delicious and I haven't had the chance to eat them for a while). Without a hint of bias, I can say that I enjoyed this dish thoroughly. 'Sorry if it wasn't to your taste but we simply disagree - I found it delicious and neither grisly nor gristly (which I assume is what you meant). 'Yes indeed, we use chicken thigh and leg meat in the dish - it is the tastiest part of the bird. And yes indeed are price are quite inexpensive, thanks for noticing.' The fired Northwestern University professor who is accused alongside an Oxford employee of stabbing a hairstylist to death has appeared in court for the first time. Wearing red inmate clothes with his hands shackled, microbiologist Wyndham Lathem, 42, smiled at his supporters as he appeared in an Alameda County, California court on Monday. He responded 'Yes' when asked if he understood that he was charged with murder, and a judge set a deadline of September 6 for his extradition to Chicago. Lathem and fellow suspect Andrew Warren, a 56-year-old Oxford finance worker, were arrested on Friday in California, nine days after hair stylist Trenton Cornell-Duranleau was found stabbed to death in Lathem's Chicago apartment, where the victim may also have lived. Northwestern announced on Monday that Lathem had been fired, effective on the date of his arrest. Suspects: Wyndham Latham (left) and Andrew Warren (right) are accused of killing a male hair stylist in Latham's Chicago apartment. Latham appeared in court for the first time Monday Victim: Cornell-Duranleau was found dead in a luxury Chicago apartment block about 8.30pm on July 27 after police received a mysterious call from an unidentified man telling them 'there may have been a crime committed in Room 1004' of the Near North Side high-rise His fellow suspect Warren is set to appear in court on Friday, but was seen in a mugshot released on Monday wearing a green anti-suicide garment, which cannot be fashioned into a noose. Following the drip of details of the gruesome case over the weekend, including reports of genital mutilation, a bizarre donation made in the victim's name at a Wisconsin library and a videotaped confession sent to friends, Lathem's attorneys tried to paint a different picture. 'What he is accused of is totally contrary to the way he has lived his entire life,' California attorney Kenneth Wine said, calling Lathem 'a kind, intelligent and gentle soul'. Wine said Lathem plans to plead not guilty and urged the public to withhold judgment until all of the facts of the case emerge. 'There are a wide variety of scenarios that are possibly consistent with innocence,' Lathem's Chicago attorney Adam Sheppard told the Chicago Sun-Times. 'As the facts unfold, I would keep an open mind.' Sheppard said he would seek to have Lathem released on bail pending the murder trial. Authorities have not discussed the relationship of the suspects to the victim or a possible motive in the case. Northwestern University professor Wyndham Lathem, 42, (left) and finance worker at Oxford University Andrew Warren, 56, (right) were taken into custody in California late on Friday Reports claim two knives were found in the apartment on the 10th floor of the Grand Plaza Apartments, where Lathem resides. One was near the sink, and another with a broken handle was in a trashcan Cornell-Duranleau was found dead in a luxury Chicago apartment block about 8.30pm on July 27 after police received a mysterious call from an unidentified man telling them 'there may have been a crime committed in Room 1004' of the Near North Side high-rise. Officers got into the apartment using a master key. Once inside, they followed a trail of blood into the bathroom where the 26-year-old was lying face down, with stab wounds to his back. Police found a knife with a broken blade in the trash can and another knife near the sink. A source told the Chicago Sun Times: 'The victim was savagely killed. The crime scene was covered in blood. Andrew Warren is a British national who had once worked as a bus driver and cashier - he is on his first trip to the United States 'The body was mutilated. His genitals were cut, mutilated. It was so savage it broke the knife found at the crime scene.' Police believe Cornell-Duranleau was killed in Lathem's apartment in the 500 block of North State Street around 5am. But officers were not alerted until an anonymous caller reached the front desk of the building around 8.30pm, more than 15 hours later, the Tribune reported. Chicago police on Friday revealed that Lathem sent a 'video message' apologizing to his loved ones and describing the killing as 'the biggest mistake of my life.' Investigators say they have spoken to several people who have received the video from Lathem in the wake of the murder. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi would not go into the specific contents of the video, only saying that Lathem apologized in the video for his involvement in the slaying and called it 'the biggest mistake of my life.' It also emerged on Friday that the two suspects drove to Wisconsin after the killing and made a $1,000 donation to a library in the dead man's name before his body was found inside Lathem's apartment. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, police Lt. Ed Grittzner says a person handed a library worker $1,000 in cash. Cornell-Duranleau, a native of Michigan, worked as a hair stylist and loved video games, cars and cartoons, according to his obituary shared on Facebook by his mother Warren, a former bus driver and train buff who works in payroll at Oxford's Somerville College in the UK, is believed to have been just days into his first trip to the US when the murder took place. Lathem is an associate professor of microbiology at Northwestern, where he is an expert in immunizing against bubonic plague. Cornell-Duranleau, a native of Michigan, worked as a hair stylist and loved video games, cars and cartoons, according to his obituary shared on Facebook by his mother. Cornell-Duranleau and Lathem were friends on Facebook, although it's not clear when and how the two had first crossed paths. His mother, Charlotte Cornell, released a statement on Wednesday morning the family does not know Warren or Lathem. Cornell's statement said: 'Our Family is deeply saddened by the death of our son. It is our hope that the person or persons responsible for his death are brought to justice. 'We are asking that you allow our family to process and grieve this tragedy privately.' Lathem and Warren were apprehended more than 2,000 miles away from the lavish Windy City apartment where they allegedly stabbed and mutilated Cornell-Duranleau. Chief Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said they were taken into custody 'without incident'. 'Both individuals will be held accountable for their actions and we hope today's arrest brings some comfort for the victim's family,' Guglielmi said in a statement. 'We are also thankful that this did not end in further tragedy.' A NSW man accused of murdering his wife later uncovered her body in a shallow grave so he could access the pension, a jury has been told. Steve Frank Fesus could not get a pension while his wife was missing but was approved for one after her body was found, crown prosecutor Greg Smith SC said in the NSW Supreme Court. Fesus, 46, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jodie Fesus, 18, between 9pm on August 11 and 5 am on August 12, 1997 at their Shellharbour home, on the NSW south coast, before burying her body in a shallow grave at Seven Mile Beach, near Gerroa. The Crown alleges their relationship had deteriorated, Fesus was unhappy and resentful, and strangled her during an argument. Continuing his opening address to the jury on Tuesday, Mr Smith said Fesus was seen in the Gerroa area on the September 12 weekend. 'The Crown says the accused attended the beach to uncover the body so it would be discovered,' he said. Steve Frank Fesus (pictured) could not get a pension while his wife was missing but was approved for one after her body was found, crown prosecutor Greg Smith SC said in the NSW Supreme Court Steve Fesus (right) has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jodie Fesus (left) between 9pm on August 11 and 5 am on August 12, 1997 at their Shellharbour home About 6pm on September 14, an anonymous male rang police from a public phone giving directions to locate human remains at Gerroa. Police found a shallow grave that had been partially uncovered and the body was exhumed on September 15. On that day Fesus went to the Shellharbour social security office saying his missing wife had been found dead, which led to him being approved for a pension, Mr Smith said. 'At the time he attended and said his wife was deceased, the body was still being exhumed and had not been examined or formally identified.' Fesus asked his neighbour if there would be fingerprints on a strangled person and 'if I rolled over in my sleep and placed my hands on Jodie's neck would there be fingerprints?'. Mr Smith said Fesus made admisisons to an undercover police officer in August 2013 that he had killed his wife and buried her body Mr Smith said Fesus made admisisons to an undercover police officer in August 2013 that he had killed his wife and buried her body. But the defence says this was a 'false confession' and Fesus told police this immediately after his arrest, his barrister Keith Chapple SC told the jury. 'Steve Fesus did not kill his wife, that is his case,' he said. 'He did not bury her and he did not expose her body.' On occasions, Fesus had argued with his wife and been given ultimatums. 'But as at August 11, 1997, in his mind the marriage was not fractured, the marriage was not broken,' Mr Chapple said. The trial continues. A dog out for a walk with his owner has suffered injuries to his paw after getting it trapped in a metal trap, before breaking five teeth trying to chew himself free. Jett the dog was strolling off-lead at Warwick Open Space, north of Perth, when his paw became stuck in a sharp trap on Monday afternoon. He was off the main path when his foot became caught, but miraculously the pooch did not break any bones in the accident. Jett had his paw caught in a trap while being walked and shattered five teeth trying to get free Warwick Veterinary Hospital took to Facebook to warn residents about the mystery trap In desperation to try and remove the trap Jett shattered five of his teeth, which had to be extracted at Warwick Veterinary Hospital. The vet took to Facebook to issue a warning to residents about the 'very distressing scene'. 'We were able to free Jett and we are now caring for him. Rangers were also in attendance and the trap has been removed. 'Please be careful. We don't have any information as to what the trap was doing there, who set it or if there are any more in the area,' the post read. Advertisement Police have seized 1.8 tonnes of ecstasy, 136kg of cocaine and $5.45m in cash as hundreds of officers conducted raids on organised crime figures in Sydney and arrested two brothers of night club king John Ibrahim in Dubai. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said investigators had arrested 17 people in three countries - nine men and one woman in Sydney, five men in Dubai and two men in The Netherlands. 'This is a great day for Australian law enforcement,' Mr Gaughan said. Mr Gaughan said the raids had broken up two inter-related syndicates involved in high volume importation of drugs and millions of dollars in money laundering causing a 'huge blow to their ongoing criminality'. The drugs, which also included 15kg of methamphetamines, had been stopped from entering Australia by authorities in The Netherlands. They have an estimated street value of $810 million. Up to 570 AFP officers were involved in Tuesday's raids, which were aided by NSW Police and investigators in the United Arab Emirates and The Netherlands. Extradition proceedings for the five arrested in Dubai are underway. Scroll down for video Police have raided Kings Cross figure John Ibrahim's (right) Sydney mansion, after arresting his brothers Mick (centre) and Fadi (not pictured) over alleged drug importation charges in Dubai. Pictured left is oldest brother Hassan 'Sam' Ibrahim, an ex-bikie boss who has no reported involvement in Tuesday's raids and arrests Police raided John Ibrahim's (pictured) Dover Heights mansion, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Tuesday morning. They have made 14 arrests and issued 50 warrants Officers are seen searching the pool area of John's multi-million dollar mansion in Sydney's eastern suburbs. It's believed he was at home when police issued the search warrant A police officer is seen scouring dense bushyard beneath John's property with a sniffer dog in search of evidence The multi-million dollar mansion of Kings Cross nightclub identity John Ibrahim was raided by police after the arrest of his brothers Fadi and Michael in Dubai over the alleged drug syndicate importing ecstasy (MDMA) into Australia. Middle Eastern Crime Squad and Australian Federal Police officers conducted dawn raids on 32 homes scattered across Sydney, issuing 52 warrants. The Ibrahim brothers were swooped on by AFP officers on the street after dinner with two other known associates while holidaying in Dubai. Underworld figure Mustapha Dib was also arrested in Dubai alongside the brothers, as well as Sydney underworld figure Steven Fawaz Elmir, while Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad, the brother of slain hitman Wally Ahmad, was arrested at his Bankstown home. John Ibrahim's 25-year-old son Daniel, who served in the Australian army, has also reportedly been arrested after his home was raided. John flew in to Sydney late on Monday night after holidaying in Los Angeles for a week. It's believed he was at his home when officers executed the early morning search warrant. Police say the arrests relate to three separate police operations, code-named Kindra, Veyda and Astantine, which were simultaneously carried out to arrest all suspects at once. Veyda was created months ago to target an international MDMA ring importing the drug into Australian. The Ibrahim brothers and Dib are targets of that investigation. Kindra was dedicated to nabbing criminals behind an alleged $50 million haul of illegal tobacco, while Astantine involved a separate crime syndicate responsible for the alleged importation of 200kg of ice into Australia. Australian Federal Police have disrupted two inter-related crime syndicates that were allegedly transporting large amounts of ecstasy (MDMA), cocaine and ice between Australia, Dubai and the Netherlands Seventeen people across three countries were arrested under Operation Vader, AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters Officers are seen using a ladder to inspect the roof of John Ibrahim's home. He has not been arrested and there is no suggestion he has any connection to the alleged drug importation charges his brothers reportedly face John's 25-year-old son Daniel (right), who served in the Australian army, has also been arrested after his home was raided Tuesday morning's raids mark the biggest police operation on organised crime in the last ten years. Detectives were seen combing John Ibrahim's home on Tuesday morning. Officers with gloves took apart an immaculate black hatchback Audi parked in his driveway, inspecting the glovebox and boot as a skateboard sat on the back seat. Inside the home more officers were seen examining John's back porch, with another standing on a ladder carefully examining the roof gutters. More officers with sniffer dogs were photographed combing through the back yard searching for evidence. John was not arrested during the search. Telopea Street in Punchbowl, once considered to be at the centre of Sydney's drug trade and criminal activity, has been closed off, 9 News reports. Specialist officers are also conducting raids at homes at Vaucluse, Bellevue Hill, Bankstown, Punchbowl, Arncliff and Dover Heights. There is no suggestion John Ibrahim has any connection to the alleged drug importation charges his brothers reportedly face. Charged: Underworld figure Mustapha Dib (right) was arrested in Dubai, while Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad, the brother of slain hitman Wally Ahmad (left), was arrested at his Bankstown home Police continued to search the bushland surrounding John Ibrahim's house well after midday on Tuesday, scouring shrubbery Fadi Ibrahim has been arrested with brother Mick while eating dinner in Dubai over alleged drug importation charges. He is pictured with wife Shayda. The pair were both shot by a masked gunman while sitting in a Lamborghini outside their luxury Sydney home in 2009 Officers with gloves took apart a black hatchback Audi parked in John Ibrahim's driveway An officer was seen inspecting the glovebox and car boot as a skateboard sat on the back seat A plain clothes officer is seen wearing a body vest as he walks towards a car parked in John's driveway John Ibrahim, a colourful Sydney nightlife figure, has owned or controlled more than 40 licensed venues between 1988 and 2014. The family has had the 'dubious and unwanted honour' of watching their lives play out on the front pages of newspapers, he wrote in a recently released autobiography 'Last King of the X'. The brothers have also been tied up in shootings and other attacks over the years. Michael Ibrahim was hit in the shoulder by one of a number of bullets fired at him on his way home in Sydney's CBD in January 2015. Fadi, John's second-youngest brother, also survived a near-fatal shooting outside a home in Sydney's north in June 2009. Dib walked free from jail in February 2016 after his conviction for the murder of a young woman was quashed. He was handed a sentence of at least 30 years in 2012 for the execution-style killing, but three judges found there was reasonable doubt he was responsible. Ahmad is the brother of slain gangland kingpin Wally Ahmad, who was gunned down on the rooftop car park of Bankstown Central shopping centre in April 2016, one of a string of bloody executions that rocked the city over the past 16 months. Police officers searched the family home of Mustapha Dib in Punchbow, taking two large bags of evidence with them just before midday. Dib, who was acquitted of murder this year, was arrested in Dubai Police also executed a search warrant at Fadi Ibrahim's enormous Dover Heights home, pictured with a bull statue and Range Rover out front A man outside Rock Ahmad's Bankstown home can be seen sporting a 'Brothers 4 Life' tattoo, paying homage to a once-feared gang that was led by Farhad Qaumi. Quami is now serving out a 60-year jail sentence for a string of violent crimes Telopea Street in Punchbowl, once considered to be at the centre of Sydney's drug trade and criminal activity, has reportedly been closed off by police (pictured) The British computer expert who saved the NHS from a global cyber attack in May has been released from a US prison. Marcus Hutchins, 23, was held in Nevada Southern Detention Centre over the weekend accused of creating and selling a virus that steals banking passwords. A prison spokeswoman today said he was 'no longer at our facility' after a judge ordered him to be released on bail on Friday. Released: Marcus Hutchins, 23, was held in Nevada Southern Detention Centre over the weekend accused of creating and selling malware that steals banking passwords Hutchins, of Ilfracombe, Devon, is due to appear in court in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 14, charged with six counts of creating and selling a malware known as Kronos. Civil liberties group the Courage Foundation said he had been bailed after the bond of 30,000 US dollars (23,000) was raised. Courage's Naomi Colvin said: 'It's a testament to the effectiveness of Marcus' friends and family that they've managed to get him released on bail, which is unusual for a UK citizen in this situation. 'I share their sense of relief that Marcus is no longer in a US prison and able to communicate with legal counsel, friends and family.' Supporters are due to meet at Newspeak House in Shoreditch, east London on Wednesday to discuss how to support Hutchins, who is also known as MalwareTech. What is the Kronos virus Marcus Hutchins is accused of creating in his bedroom? Kronos infects web browsers, then captures usernames and passwords when an unsuspecting user visits a bank or other trusted location, enabling cybertheft. Kronos first appeared for sale on a Russian cybercrime forum in 2014 for a $7,000. For that money you get the software and a developer to help you update and improve it. The malware appears on a victim's desktop as a harmless programme while grabbing sensitive details including usernames, passwords and other details from banking websites. Advertisement His lawyer, Adrian Lobo, said they would fight the case and Hutchins would enter not guilty pleas to all the counts, which date between July 2014 and July 2015. A prosecutor has said that Hutchins admitted to investigators after his arrest in Las Vegas last week that he wrote the code and hinted he sold it. Strict bail conditions were set for Hutchins, who works for Los Angeles computer security firm Kryptos Logic, that include him having no access to the internet, surrendering his passport and being monitored by GPS. Family, friends and cyber security colleagues had been trying to raise enough money to meet the 30,000-dollar (23,000) bond to allow his release. Hutchins was previously praised for for finding a 'kill-switch' that curbed the WannaCry ransomware that infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries in May. The malicious software demanded a ransom from users so they could regain control of their machines. Hutchins discovered a 'kill-switch' for the virus after it paralysed thousands of NHS computers and claimed hundreds of thousands of victims around the world - including US courier service FedEx and German rail company Deutsche Bahn. According to tech website Motherboard, which broke the news of the arrest, an eight-page federal complaint was filed against Mr Hutchins on July 12 in a US District Court in Wisconsin. Prison: This is the Nevada Southern Detention Centre where Hutchins was held Hutchins had been 'partying' before his arrest in Las Vegas airport and was staying at a 1,950-a-night mansion rented with seven friends with Vegas' largest private pool During his time in the US Mr Hutchins Tweeted that he rented this bright orange Lamborghini worth 200,000 It accuses him of being responsible for creating the Kronos banking Trojan, which was then sold online by an unnamed co-defendant. The software is a malicious program that infects a computer if the user inadvertently clicks on an email attachment. It then sits on the computer to monitor for banking passwords and personal information, which it sends to the hackers. Mr Hutchins' mother Janet said after his arrest she was trying to find out what had happened to her son. She said: 'I think I'm going to be rather busy tonight.' Her son's supporters said on social media that his activities could have been 'white hat' hacking in which hackers expose security flaws for good ends. Britain's IT hero arrested for hacking in the US could face 40 years in American jail Marcus Hutchins now faces months battling the American courts and could be jailed for 40 years if found guilty of taking part in a hacking conspiracy to steal bank details. The Devon-born computer expert, who lives with his mum and dad, was held as he tried to leave the US on a first class Virgin Atlantic flight two days ago. Federal agents took him into custody and he appeared in the Las Vegas court on Thursday. Hutchins was previously praised for for finding a 'kill-switch' to the WannaCry ransomware An indictment was issued by a grand jury impanelled by the US Attorney in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Gregory Haanstad. The federal prosecutor in Nevada is likely to ask federal judge Nancy Koppe to have Hutchins extradited to Milwaukee to be arraigned. He faces six hacking charges that each carry a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence meaning he could face decades in a US jail if convicted. Mr Hutchins is likely to have to pay a huge bail to be released and will not be able to leave America. His friends and supporters say that he has been set up. They have found tweets where he asks for samples of the malware he is accused of creating. Some have said that the way he killed off the WannaCry 'ransomware' that swept across the globe embarrassed America's own security services. NSA security researchers initially developed the tool to hack into the computers of suspected terrorists and spies, but it was taken on by criminals who then used it to take over computers and extort cash from victims if they wanted control back. Advertisement Mr Hutchins' friend Andrew Mabbit said said on Twitter that he refused to believe the charges. 'He spent his career stopping malware, not writing it,' said Mr Mabbit. Another friend, who also works in the cyber security industry, was attending the Def Con event in the Nevada city with Hutchins. He said: 'He checked into his flight and I think he was sitting in the Virgin upper class lounge. 'He was escorted out of the airport and never made his flight.' The cyber community expressed their concern over his arrest with Naomi Colvin, from civil liberties campaign group Courage, praising him for his earlier work. She said: 'In May this year, WannaCry malware closed hospitals in the UK, becoming the first ransomware attack to represent an actual threat to life. 'In halting the spread of WannaCry before the US woke up, MalwareTech did the world an enormous service - and to American businesses in particular.' The New South Wales Premier will introduce legislation to provide permission for police to dismantle a homeless camp in Sydney's CBD. The move comes after a plan agreed to by Sydney City Council and the tent dwellers to leave the campsite in Martin Place in the heart of Sydney overnight fell through. 'This is a course of action I wish I didn't have to take,' Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday. She said she will table a bill on Tuesday allowing the government to order police to move people on from Crown Land. She told a press conference she expects it to pass by Thursday. New South Wales Gladys Berejeklian said the Government will pass a legislation to give police more power to act on tent city in Martin Place Lanz Priestley, known as the 'Mayor of Martin Place', has backed out on deals to help relocate a tent city for homeless people from the heart of Sydney's business district Under existing laws the state government would need to issue a warrant against the homeless residents, which she was reluctant to do. Lanz Priestley, dubbed 'King of the Homeless' and 'the Mayor of Martin Place', says he has no intention to help relocate a notorious tent city from the heart of Sydney's business district. Sydney Mayor Clover Moore told reporters on Monday night the tent city, which has been housing the homeless on-and-off for years, would be packed up on Tuesday. She said the council had committed $100,000 to go towards a safe space similar to the one currently run by Mr Priestley, but without provisions for sleeping. But on Tuesday morning the tent city remained defiant, with volunteers cooking up bacon and eggs for the 59-plus homeless people using the 24-hour kitchen on site. Mr Priestley, a father of 12, said the group would stay in Martin Place for 'months if necessary', demanding more concrete details of the new accommodation. New South Wales Minister for Social Housing Pru Goward at a media conference Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore (pictured) told reporters the Council would put $100,000 towards a permanent safe space for the homeless, with the State Government expected to also put money towards the project But on Tuesday morning the tent city remained defiant, saying they would stay in Martin Place for 'months if necessary' until a better deal was brokered Volunteers were seen cooking up bacon and eggs for the 59-plus homeless people using the 24-hour kitchen on site on Tuesday Late on Monday night, Mr Priestley called in council trucks to collect some of the excess material in the camp, including three tents. 'We got rid of three tents vacated by people who we had either housed or who got jobs,' he told Daily Mail Australia. But the 72-year-old said he had no intention of vacating Martin Place in the next 24 hours, as the Council were yet to provide accommodation to all the residents of the tent city. 'They've said they will organise a temporary building for us to move to, with the idea being we transition to a permanent place,' he said. Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the council had committed $100,000 to go towards a safe space similar to the one currently run by Mr Priestley The new space the council had committed to would not have provisions for sleeping Ms Moore said that 'The camp will be packed up as soon as our council trucks can go down and help [tent city residents] with [their infrastructure and belongings] and to store it,' with police seen there Tuesday morning Lanz Priestley demanded more concrete plans for the people in the area, concerned that those living in the business district would not have anywhere to go Mr Priestley said he was not previously aware that the Council-sponsored area would not include areas for sleeping, and was concerned those living in the business district would not have anywhere to go. 'My understanding is that we have somewhere to transition the people to,' he said. 'If we don't have somewhere for them to sleep we will have the same problem. 'If, in the Lord Mayor's mind, we're talking about a different concept, I think we need to have another discussion.' The tent city in Sydney's Martin Place was meant to be demolished as early as Tuesday morning following Council negotiations The Council were yet to provide accommodation to all the residents of the tent city People at the tent city were still served breakfast Tuesday morning, with the site yet to be removed New South Wales Family and Community Services had set up an information post near the homeless camp Ms Moore told reporters on Monday she has become 'increasingly concerned about the tough talk on the situation,' which she says has left residents of the area 'scared'. 'The camp will be packed up as soon as our council trucks can go down and help [tent city residents] with [their infrastructure and belongings] and to store it,' she said. Ms Moore said the City of Sydney Council were committed to establishing a permanent safe space around the city. 'What the homeless people really wanted was to know there would be a safe place where they could meet and get support. 'The city will put up $100,000 to go towards that safe space, and the Government is going to co-sponsor that. 'In the meantime, a communal safe space will be found - somewhere where they can go immediately.' Pictures taken in Martin Place on Monday night show excess material from the tent city being loaded on to a council truck The material included three tents which had been vacated by previous residents Despite calling in a truck to collect excess material, Lanz Priestley said he would not be vacating the area on Tuesday as Council had hoped Ms Moore claimed that temporary and permanent accommodation had been offered to those currently staying in the area As there will no longer be a safe public area for Sydney's homeless to sleep in, Ms Moore said temporary and permanent accommodation had been offered to those currently staying in the area. She said a throwaway comment by a NSW Police officer about 'throwing people in the back of trucks', had left the homeless in the area feeling afraid, which motivated her to get the problem fixed as soon as possible. Following Ms Moore's press conference, those sleeping rough in Martin Place met to discuss the implications of the decision. On Monday morning, Mr Priestley told Daily Mail Australia he 'really hopes [the safe space] works', but was conscious of the fact that there was still a better and more permanent solution. People remained in the area, which was still strewn with tents and furniture Those sleeping rough in Martin Place met to discuss the implications of the decision following Ms Moore's press conference Mr Priestley said 59 people were sleeping in the tents erected in Martin Place on Sunday night 'There were discussions from the Department to put up another one of these [24-hour safe space and kitchen], a more permanent version of this, but I think they're blindsiding the public to the fact that there could be [less homeless people] tomorrow if they just opened up the houses in Millers Point,' he said. It is estimated 240 homes in the waterfront area are currently vacant, having historically been built for public service workers in the area. Mr Priestley said 59 people were sleeping in the tents erected in Martin Place on Sunday night. Police told Daily Mail Australia on Monday morning that four men had been arrested overnight following a protest in High Street, Millers Point, over public housing that had been left empty. Ms Moore said the new area would serve as a 24/7 safe space, with food and support available, but no accommodation Following the press conference, 'residents' of the tent city met to discuss the implications of the decision Lanz Priestley (seen standing right), who set up the area, said he supported the idea but was concerned there were not provisions for those who needed somewhere to sleep Mr Priestley has been negotiating with Ms Moore as to a sustainable replacement for the tent city, which Premier Gladys Berejiklian recently demanded be taken down Activists allegedly broke in to one of the homes, and riot police were called to the area to remove them from the property. A spokesperson from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services told Daily Mail Australia the homes in Millers Point were being sold to 'fund more social housing'. 'On average, proceeds from the sale of a Millers Point property enables four to five new social housing dwellings to be built,' they said. The Department claims the sale of 197 properties at Millers Point has raised $417.8 million, which has funded 1,077 new fit for purpose social housing dwellings. Of these, the spokesperson says 617 homes are completed and 460 homes are under construction. Mr Priestley recently told Daily Mail Australia those sleeping rough should be put up in what he believed were up to 240 empty homes in nearby Millers Point On Sunday night, four men were arrested following a protest over what is believed to be 67 empty homes on High Street in Millers Point (pictured) You could walk hundreds of kilometres through the Simpson Desert and see nothing but sand and a few camels. But one traveller defied impossible odds to stumble upon a jewelled ring lost in the 176,500 square kilometre Queensland desert - and was honest enough to hand it in. Officers at Birdsville Police Station are now trying to reunite silver ring with a red gem set in the middle surrounded by dozens of other littering stones. A traveller stumbled upon a silver ring with a red gem surrounded by dozens of other littering stones The distinctive jewellery was discovered in June when a woman was walking across a sand dune when they looked down at exactly the right time. Senior Sergeant Robin Taylor-Ward said the ring was in good condition so likely was not there very long, though it was impossible to tell. 'You've lost it in the desert - you'd never thought that you were ever going to see it again, so they're in for a great surprise,' she told the ABC. 'It will be a bit like Christmas morning... You'd probably have a greater chance of winning the lotto.' It was lost in the 176,500 square kilometre Simpson Desert in southwest Queensland Sergeant Taylor-Ward urged whoever lost it to get in contact and provide some details of the ring only the owner would know. Simpson is Australia's fourth-biggest desert and the largest sand due desert in the world. A former New Zealand news presenter has lost his job after he was sentenced for assaulting his ex-partner with intent to injure. Craig David Storey was a presenter for New Zealand's The South Today bulletin, before he was sentenced to four months' community detention and community work for assaulting his partner, Stuff reported. The Dunedin District Court heard Storey had pushed his 69-year-old former partner into an armchair and grasped her neck for up to 30 seconds in September last year. He then hit her twice, causing her to fall to the ground. Scroll down for video Standing outside court, Craig Storey said he 'had the best job in the whole world' before his fall from grace Speaking to reporters outside the court, Storey appeared most upset about ruining his career prospects. 'For a very brief period, I had the best job in the whole wide world,' he said. 'I truly loved it - I feel I was doing well.' He described his fall from grace as a 'crashed and burned situation'. Video has also emerged of Storey presenting the news on the same day he was charged over the violence. Craig Storey was seen presenting the news on the same day he was charged by police The man vibrantly and joyfully announced the annual 24-hour book sale at the Regent Theatre, and a local councillor crowdfunding to save 'part of Cadbury's'. He signed off by encouraging his viewers to 'please, be good to each other'. During the hearing, Storey's lawyer Andrew More said the 51-year-old had 'lost everything' - including jobs in theatre, film and radio. Mr More also stated Storey's actions were 'completely out of character', but Judge John Macdonald said the woman was left 'deeply hurt' over the incident. In addition to his community detention and community work, Storey was ordered to pay his ex-partner $1500 in compensation. A British toddler has been rushed to hospital after falling into his family's swimming pool in Spain. The 14-month-old child had to be revived at the poolside by local police in Javea near Benidorm before being transferred to a specialist hospital intensive care unit. The youngster's condition was described in local reports today as 'critical.' The near-tragedy occurred around 11.40am on Monday at a villa in a private complex in the holiday Costa Blanca resort. Investigators have signalled the child may have fallen into the water after a pool security device failed. A British toddler has been rushed to hospital after falling into his family's swimming pool in Spain (file picture) The 14-month-old child had to be revived at the poolside by local police in Javea near Benidorm before being transferred to a specialist hospital intensive care unit The boy's parents are understood to have alerted emergency services after recovering him unconscious from the water and trying unsuccessfully to revive him when they discovered he had no pulse as they waited for help to arrive. The child was stabilised at the scene by local police with the help of Civil Guard officers and paramedics before being taken to a hospital in the nearby resort of Denia and later transferred to Valencia's Hospital Clinico which has a paediatric intensive care unit. It is not clear if the unnamed British family were on holiday at the time or live in the area. In May, a three-year-old British boy died in the hospital where the toddler is now being cared for after falling into a pool in Denia. He lost his fight for life nearly a week after being rushed to the hospital following the drama at his family villa. The near-tragedy occurred around 11.40am on Monday at a villa in a private complex in the holiday Costa Blanca resort. Investigators have signalled the child may have fallen into the water after a pool security device failed (file picture shows Javea port) He reportedly failed to overcome brain damage suffered while he was underwater. The youngster's parents raised the alarm on May 17 at a villa in a residential area of Denia called Montgo. In a near-repeat of yesterday's drama, his father also tried to save him before local police reached the scene and managed to get his heart beating using a defibrillator. The youngster's mother was treated for a panic attack after the incident. The complex where the latest swimming pool accident involving a British youngster happened - called Urbanizacion Toscal - is near to Javea's main Arenal beach. The three-bed houses on the private estate sell for around 400,000. A University of Wyoming professor who was stripped of her position for alleged retaliation has accused school officials of misconduct and burying a report that exonerated her. Donna Leigh Bliss, an associate professor and the former director of the social work division at UW, alleges that two employees filed a retaliation claim against her after she began to address what she described as a "dysfunctional" department. She was cleared in a report filed in May 2015, but she claims that university officials suppressed the initial findings and told the investigator to try again. A second investigation found her guilty in July of retaliation of both employees, but that, too, was suppressed, for unclear reasons, according to the complaint. A third and final report was released in August 2015 that determined Bliss retaliated against one of the employees. Eventually, an attorney for Bliss had the decision overturned, Bliss said. She remains an associate professor at the school but is no longer director of the social work division in the College of Health Sciences. In her claim, she names Tara Evans, then-deputy general counsel; David Jones, then-vice president for academic affairs; Tami Benham-Deal, interim associate vice president for academic personnel and budgets; and her boss, Joseph Steiner, the dean of the College of Health Sciences. Bliss told the Star-Tribune on Monday that the two health science faculty members who filed the retaliation claim against her had been described as bullies and had undermined previous directors. She received complaints against them in February 2015 and began working with Steiner to address the concerns, according to a claim she filed with the university. Following Steiner's advice, Bliss said, she planned to tackle the allegations against the staff members through an annual review process. Before that was completed, the two staffers accused Bliss of retaliation, alleging she initiated the review because they wanted to pursue faculty conciliation, a process in which opposing parties meet to reconcile differences. The charge sparked an investigation by the university. Bliss denies that she retaliated against the faculty members and maintains that she had started her own review before the two faculty requested the faculty conciliation meeting. "The timeline doesnt support that," she said. "You can't retaliate for something that hasnt happened yet." Chad Baldwin, a spokesman for the university, declined to comment other than to say that "UW disagrees with her assertions." A message left for Bliss' attorney was not returned Monday. In the claim she filed with the university, Bliss wrote that she met with her dean, Steiner, "to work on the annual review content as he expressed the likelihood the two problematic faculty members would retaliate against me for holding them accountable as per his directives." An investigation performed by Suzanne Young, an associate dean of the College of Education, came back clean in early May. Bliss said she was unaware of the results but said she had talked with Young and was cooperating in the conciliation process with the two employees. "Well, around May 20 or so, Suzanne Young came back and started asking me these questions," Bliss said. "Something seemed wrong, because Id already explained that I didnt retaliate." Young was conducting a redo of the investigation, Bliss said, at the alleged behest of Benham-Deal and Evans and without objection from Steiner, who Bliss said had directed her actions. She added that Steiner betrayed her trust. "I was bewildered," she said. She said she can only speculate why the officials would allegedly ignore her timeline and instead pressure Young to conduct further investigations, which Bliss said were flawed. After the August report -- which, unlike the previous two, was released to her -- she hired an attorney. On Nov. 16, 2015, Bliss said she told Steiner she was going to file a grievance with the university. On Nov. 20, she was removed as director. Bliss says that only the university's board of trustees could remove her from her position. After unsuccessful meetings with the employees and university officials, Bliss eventually hired another attorney. They filed a claim with the university in March and are evaluating whether to take it to court. In her claim, she alleges she lost out on her director's salary and future employment opportunities -- and the pay raises that would have come with them -- at the university, including the chance to be college president. "I just wanted to be repaired to the extent possible reputationally and financially. ... I wasn't asking for extra money. It's about righting a wrong," she said. "If I didnt have the funds to pay for an attorney, I would have on my record, signed off by David Jones, that I retaliated," she added later. "Thats devastating." A One Nation senator who maintains he was never a U.K. citizen travelled on a British passport when he was 19, new documents show. Queensland senator Malcolm Roberts last year denied ever being a British citizen, several months after he was elected on preferences with just 77 primary votes. However, new documents obtained by BuzzFeed show that he applied to be an Australian citizen on May 8, 1974 when he was a 19-year-old student. The papers show he had filled in his citizenship as 'British and colonies'. Senator Roberts, who was born in India in 1955 and arrived in Australia in 1962, wrote on Twitter in October 2016 he had 'never held any citizenship other than Australian'. New documents have revealed that Malcolm Roberts (pictured) travelled on a British passport when he was 19, despite previously claiming he was never a UK or Indian citizen The One Nation senator (pictured with Pauline Hanson) last year denied ever being a British citizen, several months after he was elected on preferences with just 77 primary votes 'When I travelled to UK & India I require a visa,' he wrote. In another October tweet he wrote: 'I don't have, and never have had, Indian citizenship.' The Indian-born senator, who has a Welsh father, wrote to British officials in May 2016 asking if he was a British citizen. However, when he didn't receive a response five week later, he wrote to them again on June 6 last year - three days before nominations closed - saying that if he had British citizenship, he fully renounced it. 'I've taken all steps that I reasonably believe necessary,' Senator Roberts told Sky News in July. Senator Roberts was elected in July last year as the second name on One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's Senate ticket for Queensland. However, British High Commission only confirmed Senator Roberts had renounced his citizenship on December 5, six months after he nominated as a Senate candidate. 'I persisted and persisted and persistent, just badgered, both me and my wife, and then we got a formal registration of my renunciation,' Senator Roberts said. Greens Senator Larissa Waters (pictured) was last month forced to resign from parliament for holding dual Australian-Canadian citizenship The Greens on Tuesday lodged a notice of motion to refer Senator Roberts to the High Court (Larissa Waters pictured announcing her resignatin in July) Senator Roberts showed the documents supporting his claims to Sky News presenter Paul Murray, but they were not displayed on screen. It was still unclear at what point British officials revoked his UK citizenship. In the wake of the release of the documents, the Greens on Tuesday lodged a notice of motion to refer Senator Roberts to the High Court. It is expected Mr Roberts' citizenship will be dealt within the Senate on Wednesday. Larissa Waters' resignation stood down just weeks after her Greens colleague Scott Ludlam (pictured) also revealed he held New Zealand citizenship The new documents add another twist to the story of Senator Roberts' citizenship. However, last month he was confident he could withstand any High Court challenge to his eligibility to sit in parliament, following the resignations this month of Greens senators Larissa Waters and Scott Ludlam for being dual citizens of Canada and New Zealand, respectively. 'Very confident and Ive received advice legally to the same effect. Very pleased with that advice,' he told Sky News presenter Paul Murray. Glenval Fox, 64, was found guilty of unlawful wounding A homeowner who was confronted by a powerfully built attacker at his house has received a criminal conviction after defending himself with a knife. Glenval Fox, 64, was found guilty of unlawful wounding after he stabbed the 'aggressive' man in the leg during a confrontation. Fox was handed a suspended prison sentence for the charge after a jury at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court found him not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. At his sentencing hearing, the court heard Fox and his disabled wife were at their home in Hanley, Staffordshire, when they were confronted by a man and a woman. At some point Fox went into the kitchen and picked up a large knife. The confrontation 'ebbed and flowed for several minutes', inside and outside the house. The injury to the victim's leg was caused outside, when he kicked out towards Fox while backed up against a car. The court heard neither man initially realised that the stabbing had happened. The victim was left with a 3cm wound which was sutured, although he initially declined medical assistance. Joanne Wallbanks, representing Fox in court, said: 'We are dealing with an older man who was in his own home and has been confronted by a larger male. He was panicking. 'Mr Fox didn't know the injury had happened, he just wanted him gone.' The court heard Fox had no criminal convictions since 1971. Given the circumstances of the offence, Recorder Andrew Easteal decided to suspend Fox's 12-month prison sentence for two years. A 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement was attached to the sentence. Recorder Easteal told Fox: 'You were confronted in your own home by the complainant, a man who was powerfully built, clearly angry and aggressive. At his sentencing hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, the court heard Fox and his disabled wife were at their home in Hanley, Staffordshire, when they were confronted by a man and a woman 'You and your partner had every reason to be frightened and intimidated. 'The confrontation ebbed and flowed for several minutes, inside and outside. You could have just shut the door, but by the time all this had taken place you were angry and frightened and determined to keep him backing off. 'His behaviour was wrong, yours broke the law. You picked up a knife and that could have led to catastrophe. 'I'm satisfied you would not ordinarily have behaved in the way you did. It was out of character.' Kenya's leader has begged for peace amid fears the country's 'too-close-to-call' general election will end in violence. More than 150,000 security personnel - including wildlife, prison and forestry officers - have been deployed as voters go to the polls today. Long lines of voters snaked outside of polling stations around the country, many of them camping out from before midnight, under heavy security, for an election headlined by a battle between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga. In a bid to ease tensions Kenyatta addressed the nation last night, urging citizens to vote 'in peace'. Kenya's leader has begged for peace amid fears the country's 'too-close-to-call' general election will end in violence. A Kenyan Samburu warrior leaves a polling station in Nkirish after voting this morning More than 150,000 security forces - including wildlife, prison and forestry officers - have been deployed as voters go to the polls today. A police officer watches over a polling station at Olympic Primary School in Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa Long lines of voters snaked outside of polling stations around the country, many of them camping out from before midnight, under heavy security, for an election headlined by a battle between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga Voting got underway shortly after 6am and all eyes are on an electronic voter identification and tallying system whose success is seen as crucial to a smooth election. First results are not expected before Wednesday, but a very close race might mean as long as three days before a winner emerges. Officially, election authorities have up to a week to declare the outcome. In Nairobi's largest slum Kibera, an opposition stronghold, angry shouts rang out due to a 15 minute delay, but calm swiftly returned as polling stations opened. 'I voted Raila, because he will be so much better to us. But if he does not win, it's ok. It's a democracy after all. Really, there's no need for violence,' said Tom Mboya, 43, who works in construction. Tensions soared in the last days of the campaign with the murder of a top election official and opposition claims that one of its vote tallying centres was raided by police, heightening a feverish atmosphere of conspiracy and suspicion. Voting got underway shortly after 6am and all eyes are on an electronic voter identification and tallying system whose success is seen as crucial to a smooth election. This was the scene as voters lined up before casting their votes at Ndururuno polling station in Nairobi People gather to vote at Olympic Primary School in Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa The polls are seen as a litmus test of Kenya's progress since a disputed 2007 election sparked violence which left more than 1,100 dead and 600,000 displaced. Odinga, 72, flagbearer of the NASA coalition, is taking his fourth and likely final stab at the presidency. He claims elections in 2007 and 2013 were stolen from him and right up until the eve of the vote, insisted that Kenyatta's Jubilee Party planned to rig Tuesday's presidential election. Elections in 2013 were marred by the widespread failure of the electronic system, forcing officials to revert to manual counting of the vote. However Odinga took his grievances to the courts instead of the streets, where he lost. 'It seems almost inevitable that whoever loses will question the result. The question is not whether or not they will accept the result but what they will do when they don't accept it,' said Nic Cheeseman, professor of African politics at Birmingham University in England. THE CANDIDATES FIGHTING FOR POWER Kenyans are voting in a close presidential election between President Uhuru Kenyatta, who seeks a second term, and Raila Odinga, who lost the last two contests. The East African high-tech and commercial hub of 44 million people is often described as one of the continent's most politically stable countries, but the torture and killing of a top election official has many recalling the disputed 2007 election between the same candidates that left more than 1,000 people dead. A look at the issues around the vote: THE CANDIDATES Kenyatta and Odinga are from political families. Kenyatta is the son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, and Odinga is the son of Jaramogi Odinga Odinga, the country's first vice president. In Tuesday's balloting, which includes other minor candidates, one must win more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff election. President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) is seeking a second term by beating rival Raila Odinga (right) After losing the past two elections, this could be the last chance for the 72-year-old Raila Odinga to claim the seat that eluded his father. Odinga says he wants to restore a strong government, stamp out corruption and improve the lives of the poorest Kenyans. The 55-year-old Kenyatta wants to avoid becoming the first Kenyan president not to win re-election. He won in 2013 with 50.03 percent of the vote, triggering an unsuccessful legal challenge by Odinga. Kenyatta at the time faced criminal charges at the International Criminal Court over his alleged role in the 2007 election violence. Those charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, with the ICC prosecutor blaming unprecedented witness interference and bribery. This time, Kenyatta has appeared more confident while campaigning, pointing to major infrastructure projects, many backed by China, and claiming strong economic growth. THE CALL OF TRIBE Most political organising in Kenya is tied to ethnicity. Many voters see Kenyatta as the candidate of the Kikuyu people, the country's largest ethnic group, and Odinga representing the Luo. That the Luo have never produced a head of state adds drama to the election. A Kenyan man casts his ballot at a polling station in Gatundu, Kiambu county, during the general election 'Many middle-class Kenyans will, in an instant, go from speaking of globalization and borderless innovation while sipping on their cafe macchiatos to offering blind support to a well-known thug who happens to be from their tribes,' journalist Daniel Kalinaki wrote in a recent column for the Daily Monitor newspaper. Kenyatta's running mate under the Jubilee coalition, Deputy President William Ruto, is expected to marshal the votes of his Kalenjin people. Odinga leads the National Super Alliance, which includes political leaders of the Kamba and Luhya ethnic groups. But Kenya's political landscape is noted for shifting alliances. Kenyatta's running mate Ruto was an ally of Odinga in 2007. Ruto is now being challenged at home by an influential governor who supports Odinga, which could split the Kalenjin vote that was crucial in Kenyatta's 2013 win. CORRUPTION, POVERTY AND LAND Severe drought conditions in half of Kenya's 47 counties have worsened tensions over land as farmers face invasions from semi-nomadic herders seeking room to graze their cattle. In Laikipia county, more than 30 people have died. Some farmers say politicians have incited the herders with the aim of shifting demographics in their favour and winning elections. Some farmers say politicians have incited the herders with the aim of shifting demographics in their favor and winning elections. People are pictured checking names on a voter registration list at the Olympic Primary School in Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa Despite Kenya's expanding middle class and economic growth of 5.6 percent in 2016, according to national figures, poverty remains widespread. More than 40 percent of people live on less than $2 a day. Official corruption also feeds tensions. LIKELIHOOD OF VIOLENCE The al-Shabab extremist group, based in neighboring Somalia, already has threatened Kenya's elections with a series of deadly attacks in border areas. That strains Kenya's security forces as they seek to keep the vote free of violence. The torture and killing in late July of Christopher Msando, an official in charge of Kenya's electronic voting system, has fueled concerns that the balloting could be rigged. The biometric system malfunctioned in the 2013 election, leading to opposition claims of vote-tampering. As election observers, including former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, prepare for the vote, Kenyan officials have said it is 'unlikely' they will shut down the internet - but they might shut down some social media if 'necessary' to calm hate speech and incitement. Despite the concerns, the International Crisis Group has said Kenya is better prepared to handle any violence. 'There have been major efforts by security forces, civil society and the business community to try to forestall a crisis,' its assessment says. 'In short, unless there is large-scale failure of electoral equipment on election day or if the defeated candidate refuses to concede, a crisis on the scale of what happened in 2007 is unlikely.' Advertisement Former US president Barack Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, led a chorus of international calls on the eve of the vote for a peaceful election. 'I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people,' Obama said in a statement. At Moi Avenue Primary School, the largest polling station in the city, voter Calvin Otieno, 27, joined the queue shortly after midnight. 'Everyone has a right to vote and we should all be ready to accept the results. There is no need to fight because of elections. We are all Kenyans irrespective of tribe. If we fight, will any of the candidates come to bring us food in our houses?' he said. In Kenyatta's home town Gatundu, north of Nairobi, a voter who identified herself only as Gathoni arrived early to 'vote for my favourite president', who will himself cast his ballot at the polling station later in the morning. There are more than 19 million registered voters in the nation of 48 million. Half are aged under 35. More than 150,000 security forces - including wildlife, prison and forestry officers - have been deployed for the vote, which ends at 5pm. A Kenyan Samburu warrior casts his ballot at a polling station in Nkirish, in the Eastern Province There was tight security at a polling station in Gatundu, the traditional home of President Uhuru Kenyatta, some 45 miles north of the capital Nairobi There are more than 19 million registered voters in the nation of 48 million. Half are aged under 35 Kenyans will vote in six different elections, choosing governors, lawmakers, senators, county officials and women's representatives in local races also rife with tension. However all eyes are on what is set to be the last showdown of a dynastic rivalry that has lasted more than half a century since the presidential candidates' fathers Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga went from allies in the struggle for independence to bitter rivals. The men belong to two of the country's main ethnic groups, Kenyatta from the Kikuyu, the largest, and Odinga from the Luo. Both have secured formidable alliances with other influential communities in a country where voting takes place largely along tribal lines. Kenyatta, 55, is seeking re-election after a first term in which he oversaw a massive infrastructure drive and steady economic growth of more than five percent. However he is also criticised for soaring food prices - with prices jumping 20 percent year-on-year in May - and massive corruption scandals on his watch. Robert Hannigan (pictured) said it was the national duty of parents to ensure youngsters enjoyed more screen time Britain's former spy chief has should children should spend more time on computers during the summer to master their cyber skills and potentially 'save the country'. Robert Hannigan said it was the national duty of parents to ensure youngsters enjoyed more screen time as opposed to letting them 'mooch around on the streets'. The father-of-two said the UK risked falling behind, warning that Britain was already struggling to keep up with rivals due to a lack of engineers and computer scientists. Mr Hannigan's suggestion is at odds with the advice of many health professionals, who argue that too much screen time can prove detrimental to a child's social skills. Last week, the Children's Commissioner said youngsters are already too attached to devices, and are overusing social media and consuming time online 'like junk food'. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Hannigan argued skepticism of the web is borne from parents' fear of an online world where they know less than their children. He added: 'If you are spending a disproportionate amount of your holiday unsuccessfully attempting to separate your children from Wi-Fi or their digital devices, do not despair. 'Your poor parenting may be helping them and saving the country. The assumption that time online or in front of a screen is life wasted needs challenging. It is driven by fear.' Mr Hannigan stepped down from his role as director of the UK Government Communications Headquarters (based in Cheltenham, pictured) in January, citing 'personal reasons' 'Parental guilt is also driven by a failure to appreciate that life online and "real" life are not separate: they are all part of the same experience. Millennials understand this. 'Gaming and social media can be as sociable as mooching around the streets with a group of friends was once.' Mr Hannigan stepped down from his role as director of the UK Government Communications Headquarters in January, citing 'personal reasons'. His tenure at the Cheltenham-based agency started in November 2014, following a period of intense scrutiny of its work sparked by revelations by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. Husband and wife police officers from India have been sacked after falsely claiming to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod were fired from their jobs at the Maharashtra Police Department on Monday after they 'brought disrepute' on the force and 'shared misleading information', the BBC reports. The pair claimed to have made the summit of Everest on May 23 last year, sharing what appeared to be a photo of Tarakeshwari standing at the top in a yellow jacket holding an Indian flag. Scroll down for video Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod claimed to be the first Indian couple to summit Mount Everest in March last year by posting this image, purporting to be Tarakeshwari at the top But fellow climber Satyarup Siddhanta soon poured water on the claim, saying the photo actually showed him at the summit but had been digitally altered Makalu Adventure, the climbing company which organised their trip, told reporters that the ascent was genuine and the Nepalese authorities even issued certificates to the Rathods. But another climber, Satyarup Siddhanta, quickly identified the photo as one of his own, posting the original version online. It shows an identical figure in the same location and wearing the same clothes, but with a difference face and without the flag. He wrote: 'This is so so so amazing!!!!!!!! They took my pics and Photoshopped their image of summit... And got certificates too... Where is mountaineering going????? Shame on you officers!' Siddhanta, 33, from Bangalore, who summited Everest on May 21, told MailOnline: 'I don't know whether the family summited or not. I was not there to see that. All I want is those pictures of mine should not be misused. Those pictures mean a lot to me. This photo purporting to be Dinesh and Tarkeshwari was posted online by Makalu Adventure mountaineering firm. The pair have been fired from their jobs as police after their claim was debunked as false Siddanta uploaded an identical photo to his own Facebook page, and subsequently shared a video proving this was him The Rathods also uploaded an image of themselves on the final ascent wearing completely different jackets. Climbers told MailOnline that it would be 'inconceivable' that any climber would change their outfit halfway through an ascent 'That summit picture is not just a summit picture. It has stains of the death of three close friends. It has stains of debt, it has stains of trauma caused by the death of a Sherpa in front of our eyes, it has stains of unparalleled risk.' Other climbers who had been on the mountain around the same time also cast doubt on the couple's claims. Anjali Kulkarni said she had met the Rathods at base camp on May 10 and that they hadn't started training or acclimatising at that point. She told Buzzfeed: 'If a team has not started acclimatisation until May 10, it is close to impossible to reach the summit on May 23.' The Rathods were slapped with a 10-year mountaineering ban by Nepalese authorities last year after their claims were shown to be faked, and had official certificates withdrawn The Rathods also appear in another picture on the face of Everest, on the icefall, wearing completely different jackets, boots and gloves to the picture they claimed showed them at the summit. Gavin Bate, 50, a climber who's made six expeditions to Everest told MailOnline that it's 'inconceivable' that a climber would change their jackets and boots on the summit day of an Everest climb because it's simply too cold and tiring to do so. Nepalese authorities slapped the couple with a 10-year mountaineering ban last year after also concluding their claim was a fake. A Turkish tourist resort has been hit by another earthquake two weeks after a powerful tremor triggered a tsunami in the area. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 shook the southwestern Turkish town of Bodrum this morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was not immediately clear whether there were any injuries. The quake struck some about 9 miles southeast of the Aegean coastal town of Bodrum, the USGS said. Turkish tourist resort, Bodrum, has been hit by another earthquake two weeks after a powerful tremor triggered a tsunami in the area Bodrum is a popular resort packed with Turks and foreigners on holidays during the summer months. 'We shook throughout the night, again very heavily this morning,' one witness told Reuters via telephone. 'I put on my shoes and went into another room and it was shaking the entire time, it lasted a long time.' The earthquake is the latest to rock the Aegean region this summer. Last month, a powerful quake killed two people on the Greek holiday island of Kos, sending tourists fleeing into the streets and causing disruption in Bodrum as well. In July, Bodrum's four-star Jasmin Beach Resort was flooded by tsunami waves that spread tens of miles from the epicentre up the Aegean coast The minaret from Kos's most prominent mosque - the Defterdar Mosque in Eleftherias' square - lies smashed on the square below after an earthquake in late July The epicentre of the magnitude-6.7 quake was off Bodrum, southwest Turkey, with the country's Aegean coast and Greek holiday islands including Kos and Rhodes worst affected. Holidaymakers fled hotels in terror and some even jumped from balconies as the quake hit before running for their lives to higher ground as tsunami waves surged through beachfront resorts moments later, flooding bars and restaurants, carrying away cars and depositing boats in town streets. On the island of Kos, where a state of emergency was declared, two male tourists - a 20-year-old from Sweden and a 39-year-old from Turkey - were killed under a collapsed ceiling at the packed White Corner Club bar. In June, a powerful 6.3 magnitude quake struck Turkey's western coast and the Greek island of Lesbos, killing one person and rattling buildings from the Turkish province of Izmir to the Greek capital of Athens. Ministers must provide greater clarity over how British law will work after Brexit, the country's top judge warned today. Lord Neuberger said parliament had to 'spell out' the status of the European Court of Justice after we formally cut ties with the EU. Ministers have insisted that the ECJ's jurisdiction will end after the UK leaves the European Union. Supreme Court president Lord Neuberger (pictured front) said parliament had to 'spell out' the status of the European Court of Justice after we formally cut ties with the EU But they have also said that UK judges can continue to take account of the rulings by the court on issues such as workers' rights. Lord Neuberger, who stands down as Supreme Court president next month, told the BBC: 'If (the Government) doesn't express clearly what the judges should do about decisions of the ECJ after Brexit, or indeed any other topic after Brexit, then the judges will simply have to do their best. 'But to blame the judges for making the law when parliament has failed to do so would be unfair,' he added. The Government's Repeal Bill says no UK court will need to have regard to decisions of the ECJ post-Brexit, but may do so if it considers it appropriate. Lord Neuberger said all judges 'would hope and expect Parliament to spell out how the judges would approach that sort of issue after Brexit, and to spell it out in a statute'. He said he was more concerned about rulings the ECJ made after Brexit, adding: 'If the UK Parliament says we should take into account decisions of the ECJ then we will do so. 'If it says we shouldn't then we won't. Basically we will do what the statute says.' A government spokesman said: 'We have been clear that as we leave the EU, the direct jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK must come to an end. 'However, we want to provide maximum certainty so the Repeal Bill will ensure that for future cases, UK courts continue to interpret EU-derived law using the Court of Justice of the European Union's case law, as it exists on the day we leave the EU.' A British model who was allegedly kidnapped was given underwear and chocolates by her abductor says her lawyer, as he dismissed claims she was part of the plot. Italian police said Chloe Ayling was snatched last month by Lukasz Herba to sell on the dark web for 270,000 through a group calling itself Black Death. She was allegedly drugged and transported in a bag to an isolated village near Turin, where she was held for six days as her captors tried to auction her online. The 20-year-old was told people were watching her and she would be killed if she tried to flee, meaning she complied with what her captor asked her to do, her lawyer Francesco Pesce said, as he dismissed claims she was somehow involved in the plot as 'evil'. Today, a close friend revealed the model is trying to 'get back to normal' and is taking part in a topless shoot this afternoon. Ms Ayling left her house this morning, wearing black leggings and a gold-coloured jacket Mr Pesce told Radio 4's Today programme: 'She was told that she was going to be sold to somebody in the Middle East for sex. 'She was told that people were there watching her and ready to kill her if she tried anything. 'So she thought that the best idea was to go along with it and to be nice in a way to her captor because he told her that he wanted to release her somehow and sometime and she thought that the best thing to do was not to go in conflict with him. 'So she abided to his request, 'let's go and buy groceries' and 'you need shoes, let's go buy shoes' and she didn't try to flee. Miss Ayling (pictured) prepares to get on a 'motorbike taxi' in Coulsdon, south London, today Model Chloe Ayling leaving her home in Coulsden after she was picked up by taxi bike 'But I believe she was terrified at the moment and even if she could've asked for help she didn't because she was subjugated to this person, or people as she was given to understand.' Mr Pesce dismissed suggestions Ms Ayling may have somehow been in on the kidnap, describing it as 'evil'. Ms Ayling left her house this morning, wearing black leggings and a gold-coloured jacket. Pulling on a white helmet and black coat, she climbed on to the pillion seat of a motorbike before it set off in the direction of Purley, south London. When quizzed about the alleged kidnapping, Ms Ayling's mother would not answer any questions and simply said: 'You need to ask Chloe.' Carla Belluci, a friend of Chloe's, revealed the model is trying to 'get back to normal' and is taking part in a topless shoot this afternoon Today, a close friend revealed the model is trying to 'get back to normal' and is taking part in a topless shoot this afternoon. Carla Belluci, a model and agent said: 'She said it was horrendous. She is trying to be strong. I think stuff is coming back to her. She did say she was drugged and I think now memories are coming to her, slowly.' Ms Belluci said Chloe 'isn't the wisest of girls' and can be 'naive' because she is young 'I wouldnt say she is the wisest of girls, she can be a little bit naive, she is young. But she has had a few weeks to get used to this. 'I would say she is naive, to get yourself in that position. The person she has dealt with, I would listen to other girls. 'I would never travel to a foreign country alone. Until you know everything is established and real. Girls are desperate for fame, they believe anything. When I used to model I'd take someone with me. 'For me as a woman I'd feel uncomfortable going alone to meet a male photographer. for me, that's just not my comfort zone.' When asked about claims the story is 'fishy', she said: 'Chloe is a good girl, a little bit naive, could she be misled? I just don't want to say to be honest. 'If anything happened like that, i would say she was misled. 'She's always wanted to be a glamour model. I remember at 15 she said "I want to be a glamour model. But obviously she had to wait until she was 18. It was always what she wanted to do, it was always her goal. Carla said she spoke to her on Sunday and Chloe told her she is doing a shoot for Page Three today. British model Chloe Ayling (pictured) said she was kidnapped, drugged and stuffed into a suitcase in Milan Lukasz Herba (pictured) allegedly tried to sell the British model on the dark web for 270,000 She said she was handcuffed to a chest of drawers and that he slept next to her in a double bed in a property close to the French border. Miss Ayling told Italian police in her official statement that he did not sexually assault her but instead gave her gifts of chocolate and underwear. The mother-of-one told officers: 'From the second night he took the cuffs from my feet, assuring me that sooner or later I'd be freed so I had no need to escape. 'From that moment I always slept in his room, sharing the bed. To be clear, he didn't molest me sexually or ask for sexual favours. 'He never sexually molested me or asked for sexual favours because Black Death prohibited or severely punished members who touched kidnapped girls. The model (pictured when she was pregnant, left) spoke about her ordeal outside her home (right) 'He held me prisoner for entire time of my kidnapping, guarded me, stopped me from going out or escaping, threatening me that 'they' would kill me if I did so. I never went outside because he prohibited it.' She only drank from sealed bottles because she was scared about getting poisoned but later developed a 'trusting relationship' with him. Miss Ayling told the newspaper: 'Even now I fear for my life.' But questions were growing over apparent inconsistencies in the story behind the kidnapping of the British model. Paolo Storati, deputy prosecutor, described Herba as 'a person affected by mythomania' an abnormal or pathological tendency to exaggerate or tell lies. It also emerged the alleged kidnapper tried to sell a story to a tabloid newspaper while holding Miss Ayling captive. Herba emailed the Daily Mirror two days into the abduction under the heading 'British model kidnapped by Russian mafia' offering to sell the story with photos of her. He told Italian police he had falsely claimed the Russian mafia were involved in order to 'attract attention', the Daily Telegraph reported. When asked if she knew that Herba had tried to contact a newspaper, Miss Ayling said: 'I know nothing about that at all.' Questions have been raised over the official account of the kidnap amid claims 'many details do not add up'. Last night, an Italian police source revealed they were looking into the possibility that Miss Ayling and Herba may have been collaborating, but as of yet they have been unable to prove this theory. 'During the first two days of questioning, neither Miss Ayling or Herba co-operated with the police,' the source said. 'The pair may have been seen together on other occasions. We also cannot find any trace of the agency that allegedly lured her to the country for the photoshoot.' Police are now looking into the possibility Miss Ayling (pictured) and Herba were collaborating Miss Ayling's alleged abductor took the mother of one on a trip to buy shoes in Milan (pictured) This is the house where the 20-year-old model was held and she has now revealed her captor slept next to her in a double bed This is one of the bedrooms inside the home where Miss Ayling was allegedly held hostage A British police source said: 'Investigators are trying to get to the bottom of the validity of the claims. It is down to the Italian police to do this. It is currently being investigated as a real kidnapping, but some of the claims which have come out could be in the realm of fantasy.' It comes as Herba's girlfriend revealed the 'fantasist' was sending her text messages the day Miss Ayling was taken in Milan. Natalia, from Poland and living in Birmingham, said: 'It was really believable, the way he was talking and describing what he was doing, that he was travelling all the time. 'I did not have a reason to think he was lying.' While detectives believe that the kidnapping did take place, they are baffled by a series of apparent inconsistencies, according to Italian media. Many of the questions relate to Miss Ayling's dealings with Herba. Yesterday it emerged that the Page Three girl was taken shoe shopping by Herba, 30, during her time in captivity. When she was interviewed following her release, she is said to have cried after a police officer asked her: 'But don't you think it is strange to go and buy shoes with your kidnapper?' Six days after Miss Ayling was taken from the photoshoot, Herba allegedly decided to take her to the British Consulate in Milan because he felt it was wrong to kidnap the mother of a two-year-old boy. Detectives remain baffled as to why Herba walked into the consulate, facilitating his arrest. Investigators are also examining his previous contact with Miss Ayling, whom he apparently met in Paris when he booked her for a previous photoshoot. Detectives have identified two suspects, including Herba. But they are struggling to work out the identities of the other three kidnappers whom Miss Ayling says were part of the gang. Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported yesterday: 'That the kidnapping was real or that she was doped with ketamine is not put into question by the investigators. But it is also tremendously true that many details do not add up.' Other Italian media have questioned parts of her story. A source close to the model said: 'She did know the man who kidnapped her. She met him in April on a photoshoot she had been on in Paris. He then called her agency and booked her for the photo shoot in Milan. He specifically asked for her. He seemed genuine. He sent previous examples of his work and paid in advance.' It is thought that she was bundled into a car and taken to an abandoned industrial unit, where her kidnapper attempted to sell her on the dark web An image supposedly uploaded to the dark web by Black Death to go with the advert selling Miss Ayling as a sex slave to the highest bidder. The picture is believed to be a scene from a pornographic film Leading national newspaper La Repubblica claimed Miss Ayling burst into tears when police investigators asked her about the shoe-shop trip The Italian press has questioned why alleged kidnapper Herba would accompany Miss Ayling into the British consulate in Milan The source added: 'During the kidnapping Chloe lost her shoes. He took her to buy some new ones during her ordeal.' Herba, who lives in the West Midlands, appeared in a Milan court last Friday on suspicion of kidnap. He had apparently claimed to be in a shadowy online network called Black Death and allegedly threatened to sell the model for sex to the highest bidder on the so-called Dark Web if his demands were not met. Miss Ayling said that after being drugged, her kidnappers stripped her, handcuffed her wrists and ankles and taped her mouth. She was driven 120 miles to a farmhouse near Turin, where she was shackled to a chest of drawers. After her release, the model spent more than two weeks helping the Italian police with their investigation before returning to her family home in Coulsdon, south London, on Sunday. Herba was said to have 'booked' Miss Ayling through a firm called Supermodel Agency, which is run by an agent called Phil Green. But celebrity agent Mark Cowne, who represents stars including Cher and Sir Richard Branson, said she would no longer be working with Mr Green. 'It is completely down to the fact [Mr Green] sent her to an event he hadn't checked out.' Mr Green said the suggestion he was no longer Miss Ayling's agent is 'the first I have heard of it', adding: 'As a former lawyer, I exercise due diligence on all new clients to check every required detail. 'I received full details of the proposed shoot [I] spoke to the photographer there was nothing which anyone would have flagged up as suspicious, non-conventional or non professional.' Bizarre life of fantasist who sent his lover texts as he held model hostage: Mercedes driving 'kidnapper' told girlfriend he was a successful businessman who was on a trip to the US while in Italy By Claire Duffin and Rebecca Camber for the Daily Mail The Polish man at the centre of the Dark Web kidnap plot sent text messages to his girlfriend while allegedly holding a Page Three model hostage. Lukasz Herba had told partner Natalia he was a successful businessman who was travelling to America to meet new clients for his chicken feed firm. But the 'fantasist' was in Italy where it is alleged he drugged model Chloe Ayling, before holding her hostage for six days. Herba, 30, who was arrested in Italy last month, claimed to be part of a 'Black Death' kidnap group who planned to auction her on the internet. Lukasz Herba (left) told his partner, Natalia - who lives in Birmingham - that he was a hugely successful businessman who was travelling to America But his story began to unravel yesterday as Natalia painted a picture of a Walter Mitty-type character who tried to impress her with details of his success while living in a West Midlands council flat. Herba told Natalia he ran an international firm making synthetic chicken feed, and turned up at her home driving a Mercedes and wearing a pinstripe suit. He also told her he owned land in Scotland, was a crack shot who owned a sniper rifle, and was involved in the gold trade. He even joked about spiking her drink with drugs and then continued to text her while he was allegedly holding Miss Ayling in a remote farmhouse near Turin. In a message sent on July 11 the day Miss Ayling was taken he said to Natalia: 'Long routes now I have and barely have time between recharging and meetings. Then I am so knackered that I do not want anything and shower and sleep.' In another sent three days later he said: 'At hotels but it is literally just sleeping because of the mega tight schedule right now. Just terrible I'm tired all the time.' Natalia, from Poland and living in Birmingham, said: 'It was really believable, the way he was talking and describing what he was doing, that he was travelling all the time. I did not have a reason to think he was lying.' Herba's girlfriend (pictured) has said that her boyfriend Lukasz Herba sent her text messages from Italy She said she realised it was all rubbish when a friend sent her a link to a news story about the kidnap and she recognised his picture. Natalia added: 'It was him, the same name and everything. Now I am scared. I could not believe it. I live by myself and he was at my house, he might have shared my details with someone. 'He seemed different to other guys, like he had class, but that is just the image he was trying to create.' Natalia said Herba first got in contact via Facebook on June 1. They had two mutual friends on the site and he sent her a message saying he would like to get to know her. She said they exchanged messages for a few days before meeting for the first time on June 4. 'Straightaway he was asking me if I wanted to have a family,' Natalia said. 'He said he wanted a family and he was looking for someone to settle down with.' On Facebook he claimed to be the boss of a firm called Karmerg which purports to be a 'global leader in technology trade, servicing independent labs and scientists and delivering to prosperous clients'. Office clerk Natalia said: 'I was very impressed by him he'd told me he had finished three types of business studies, had a big imagination and big plans for his business We were seeing each other every day after we first met, he was coming to my house. He told me he was going to Los Angeles for six weeks to find new contractors, we stayed in touch after he left and he even sent me some photos. He left on the 13th of June and said he was going to Szczecin in Poland for one day. It is thought that the model was bundled into a car and taken to an abandoned industrial unit 'On the 14th he said he is catching a flight to LA for all the time during that week, when he kidnapped that girl, he was texting me saying he was in Mexico, or in Texas, calling me telling me what contractors he had met.' On July 10, the day Miss Ayling arrived in Milan, he text Natalia saying: 'I think about you all the time.' The following day, she asked him where he was, to which he replied: 'Texas further east. The flights are rubbish here. I'm running off to sleep because even the hotel WiFi is so-so. When I get up I'll call.' In another message, Herba told her he owned a Steyr HS .50 rifle, saying: 'This is a big precision rifle, not for short distances.' When she joked 'You're a sniper?' he replied, 'A very good one', with a smiley face. He also sent her pictures of bullets and a target from a shooting range. Later, he sent her a picture of what he claimed were homes in Hollywood but was of a building which looked very similar to the farmhouse where Miss Ayling was held. She said the last message was on July 16, adding: 'I thought he had met someone else or just did not want to speak to me.' The Italian press has questioned why alleged kidnapper Herba would accompany Miss Ayling (pictured) into the British consulate in Milan Miss Ayling was released on July 17 and Herba was arrested in Italy the following day. News of the kidnapping broke over the weekend, when Herba was identified as a suspect. 'My friend sent me a photo of him from the news and the name and I saw it was him,' Natalia said. 'When I looked for him on the internet I could not find any trace of him.' Far from the picture he painted to Natalia, Herba was living with his brother in a council flat in Tividale, near Dudley, where neighbours described him as a strange loner who drove a battered red Toyota. They said he appeared to leave for work each morning in a suit, but returned repeatedly throughout the day, sometimes with a pet rat on his shoulder. Yesterday, it emerged that Herba had once given out a business card to someone in Birmingham with the image of the Grim Reaper alongside the words 'Permanent Solution'. On the back it said to contact via the Dark Web and gave an address for 'MD'. In Italy, Miss Ayling had told police she too was given a business card and told to address him as MD. Paolo Storati, deputy prosecutor, said of Herba: 'He presented himself as a professional killer. He was interested in chemical and poisons.' Natalia, who was too scared to give her real name, said: 'I liked him But later the way that he was talking was a bit selfish, always about himself, narcissistic I thought that it all could be a bit too good to be true and it turns out I was right.' Advertisement John Ibrahim's model girlfriend Sarah Budge is facing up to five years in prison after being charged with a firearms offence. Sarah Budge, 27, has been charged with possession of a firearm, one of five that were seized during raids across Sydney on Tuesday. Police found the loaded Glock pistol when they entered her home on Tuesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. It is understood Ms Budge, who was first linked to the 46-year-old Kings Cross nightclub identity in 2015 when pictures emerged of the pair enjoying an Ibiza holiday, will not be charged with anything else in connection to the raids. Earlier, Ibrahim's lawyer confirmed that police raided the Kings Cross nightclub identity's house, but said his client has not been charged. Three men, including the brother of slain gangland kingpin Wally Ahmad, have been refused bail on drug-smuggling charges. They were arrested on Tuesday along with seven other people when police carried out dawn raids in Sydney after investigating two inter-related organised crime syndicates. Five people were also arrested in Dubai and two others in The Hague, reportedly including Ibrahim's brothers Michael and Fadi. Brett Galloway, John Ibrahim's lawyer of 20 years, said his client is not involved with the case and is a 'changed man,' the Daily Telegraph reports. Scroll down for video Police raided John Ibrahim's (pictured right) Dover Heights mansion, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Tuesday morning. Ibrahim has not been charged with any offences, but his model girlfriend Sarah Budge (left) is facing up to five years in prison after being charged with a firearms offence Sarah Budge and John Ibrahim (pictured together in an image posted on Ms Budge's Instagram page) were first linked in 2015 Sarah Budge (centre, with Ibrahim) has been charged with possession of a firearm, one of five that were seized during raids across Sydney on Tuesday Police allegedly found the loaded Glock pistol when they entered the 27-year-old model's home on Tuesday John Ibrahim is pictured returning to his Dover Heights mansion on Tuesday evening after it was raided by police officers Police have raided Kings Cross figure John Ibrahim's (right) Sydney mansion, after arresting his brothers Mick (centre) and Fadi (not pictured) over alleged drug importation charges in Dubai. Pictured left is oldest brother Hassan 'Sam' Ibrahim, an ex-bikie boss who has no reported involvement in Tuesday's raids and arrests 'Police were here for reasons unrelated to John, it was something that they had to do and he co-operated with,' Mr Galloway said outside Ibrahim's Dover Heights home. 'He's a changed man. Whatever he might have been 30 years ago, he's a changed man today.' Mr Galloway added that Ibrahim has not been charged with any offences and added that 'nothing of any interest was found.' Meanwhile, Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad, 39, covered his face with his hands and a hooded jumper when he appeared via audiovisual link at Central Local Court on Tuesday. Ahmad is the brother of slain gangland kingpin Wally Ahmad, who was gunned down on the rooftop car park of Bankstown Central shopping centre in April 2016, one of a string of bloody executions that rocked the city over the past 16 months. His co-accused Jehad Jodeh, 29, also appeared via AVL charged with importing 800kg of methamphetamine in Sydney between November 10, 2016 and August 8, 2017. Ahmad is accused of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of the same drug between the same dates. They were both formally refused bail by magistrate Clare Farnan and are due to face court again on November 1. Officers are seen searching the pool area of John's multi-million dollar mansion in Sydney's eastern suburbs. It's believed he was at home when police issued the search warrant A police officer is seen scouring dense bushyard beneath John Ibrahim's property with a sniffer dog in search of evidence Australian Federal Police have disrupted two inter-related crime syndicates that were allegedly transporting large amounts of ecstasy (MDMA), cocaine and ice between Australia, Dubai and the Netherlands Seventeen people across three countries were arrested under Operation Vader, AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters Officers are seen using a ladder to inspect the roof of John Ibrahim's home. He has not been arrested and there is no suggestion he has any connection to the alleged drug importation charges his brothers reportedly face John's 25-year-old son Daniel (right), who served in the Australian army, has also been arrested after his home was raided A number of other accused are expected to face the same court on Wednesday. It came after police seized 1.8 tonnes of ecstasy, 136kg of cocaine and $5.45m in cash as hundreds of officers conducted raids on organised crime figures in Sydney and Dubai. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said investigators had arrested 17 people in three countries - nine men and one woman in Sydney, five men in Dubai and two men in The Netherlands. 'This is a great day for Australian law enforcement,' Mr Gaughan said. Mr Gaughan said the raids had broken up two inter-related syndicates involved in high volume importation of drugs and millions of dollars in money laundering causing a 'huge blow to their ongoing criminality'. The drugs, which also included 15kg of methamphetamines, had been stopped from entering Australia by authorities in The Netherlands. They have an estimated street value of $810 million. Up to 570 AFP officers were involved in Tuesday's raids, which were aided by NSW Police and investigators in the United Arab Emirates and The Netherlands. Extradition proceedings for the five arrested in Dubai are underway. Charged: Underworld figure Mustapha Dib (right) was arrested in Dubai, while Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad, the brother of slain hitman Wally Ahmad (left), was arrested at his Bankstown home Police continued to search the bushland surrounding John Ibrahim's house well after midday on Tuesday, scouring shrubbery Fadi Ibrahim has been arrested with brother Mick while eating dinner in Dubai over alleged drug importation charges. He is pictured with wife Shayda. The pair were both shot by a masked gunman while sitting in a Lamborghini outside their luxury Sydney home in 2009 Ibrahim's multi-million dollar mansion was raided by police after the arrest of his brothers in Dubai over the alleged drug syndicate importing ecstasy (MDMA) into Australia. Middle Eastern Crime Squad and Australian Federal Police officers conducted dawn raids on 32 homes scattered across Sydney, issuing 52 warrants. Michael and Fadi Ibrahim were swooped on by AFP officers on the street after dinner with two other known associates while holidaying in Dubai. Underworld figure Mustapha Dib was also arrested in Dubai alongside the brothers, as well as Sydney underworld figure Steven Fawaz Elmir, while Ahmad 'Rock' Ahmad, the brother of slain hitman Wally Ahmad, was arrested at his Bankstown home. Ibrahim's 25-year-old son Daniel, who served in the Australian army, has also reportedly been arrested after his home was raided. Ibrahim flew in to Sydney late on Monday night after holidaying in Los Angeles for a week. It's believed he was at his home when officers executed the early morning search warrant. Police say the arrests relate to three separate police operations, code-named Kindra, Veyda and Astantine, which were simultaneously carried out to arrest all suspects at once. Officers with gloves took apart a black hatchback Audi parked in John Ibrahim's driveway An officer was seen inspecting the glovebox and car boot as a skateboard sat on the back seat A plain clothes officer is seen wearing a body vest as he walks towards a car parked in John Ibrahim's driveway Veyda was created months ago to target an international MDMA ring importing the drug into Australian. The Ibrahim brothers and Dib are targets of that investigation. Kindra was dedicated to nabbing criminals behind an alleged $50 million haul of illegal tobacco, while Astantine involved a separate crime syndicate responsible for the alleged importation of 200kg of ice into Australia. Tuesday morning's raids mark the biggest police operation on organised crime in the last ten years. Detectives were seen combing Ibrahim's home on Tuesday morning while officers with gloves took apart an immaculate black hatchback Audi parked in his driveway, inspecting the glovebox and boot as a skateboard sat on the back seat. Inside the home, more officers were seen examining his back porch, with another standing on a ladder carefully examining the roof gutters. More officers with sniffer dogs were photographed combing through the back yard searching for evidence. John Ibrahim was not arrested during the search. Telopea Street in Punchbowl, once considered to be at the centre of Sydney's drug trade and criminal activity, has been closed off, 9 News reports. Specialist officers are also conducting raids at homes at Vaucluse, Bellevue Hill, Bankstown, Punchbowl, Arncliff and Dover Heights. Police officers searched the family home of Mustapha Dib in Punchbow, taking two large bags of evidence with them just before midday. Dib, who was acquitted of murder this year, was arrested in Dubai Police also executed a search warrant at Fadi Ibrahim's enormous Dover Heights home, pictured with a bull statue and Range Rover out front A man outside Rock Ahmad's Bankstown home can be seen sporting a 'Brothers 4 Life' tattoo, paying homage to a once-feared gang that was led by Farhad Qaumi. Quami is now serving out a 60-year jail sentence for a string of violent crimes Ibrahim, a colourful Sydney nightlife figure, has owned or controlled more than 40 licensed venues between 1988 and 2014. The family has had the 'dubious and unwanted honour' of watching their lives play out on the front pages of newspapers, he wrote in a recently released autobiography 'Last King of the X'. The brothers have also been tied up in shootings and other attacks over the years. Michael Ibrahim was hit in the shoulder by one of a number of bullets fired at him on his way home in Sydney's CBD in January 2015. Fadi, Ibrahim's second-youngest brother, also survived a near-fatal shooting outside a home in Sydney's north in June 2009. Dib walked free from jail in February 2016 after his conviction for the murder of a young woman was quashed. He was handed a sentence of at least 30 years in 2012 for the execution-style killing, but three judges found there was reasonable doubt he was responsible. Telopea Street in Punchbowl, once considered to be at the centre of Sydney's drug trade and criminal activity, has reportedly been closed off by police (pictured) Federal authorities seized a $3 million haul of heroin and fentanyl which they claim had enough potency 'to kill half the population of New York City' after they stopped an Uber cab on the Upper West Side. The stash was seized during an operation in the lavish neighborhood on Friday and was believed to have belonged to a gang that used popular brands such as Uber, McDonalds and Animal Planet to market the drugs. Drug Enforcement Agency agents recovered approximately 20 pounds of suspected fentanyl and heroin from the building in the vicinity of 448 Central Park West and 105th Street. Federal agents recovered more than 20lbs of suspected fentanyl and heroin worth at least $3 million from an Uber cab and apartment complex on the Upper West Side Federal agents warned the drugs could possibly kill half the population of New York City Four men were arrested and charged in connection with the bust. According to Bridget G Brennan, New York City's special narcotics prosecutor, members of the DEA strike force and other agencies were conducting a surveillance operation in the area. The undercover squad observed suspect David Rodriguez carrying two boxes inside a large white shopping bag from the building and into a black Honda Accord which was being driven by Uber driver Richard Rodriguez. Agents stopped the car on the corner of 121st Street and Amsterdam Avenue. One of the boxes was open and agents could see a 'clear plastic bag containing a tan powdery substance'. Officers opened the second box which contained cylindrical package wrapped in tape along with a clear plastic bag containing suspected fentanyl and heroin. Federal Agents raided an apartment in Central Park West, pictured, where they recovered $30,000 in cash, 20lbs of fentanyl and heroin as well as a loaded .22 caliber Beretta firearm Both men were arrested at the scene while a team of agents continued their surveillance of the Central Park West apartment complex. Around 5pm on Saturday, agents spotted Jesus Perez-Cabral and Johnny Beltrez leaving the building. Perez-Cabral was identified as a suspected member of a major criminal gang. After he was arrested, Perez-Cabral told officers he had a gun and drugs inside his apartment, 6D. Agents raided the apartment where they recovered two ziplock bags containing almost seven pounds of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl from a closet. Agents found this .25 caliber Beretta pistol wedged between two cushions in the apartment Officers also recovered more than 1,100 individual 'glassine envelopes' filled with powder and stamped with the brand Uber following last weekend's operation in New York They also found 1,100 individual 'glassine envelopes' filled with powder and stamped with the brand 'UBER'. They also found a loaded .25 caliber Beretta pistol wedged between two cushions on a couch and $30,000 in cash. Agents also found ledgers, multiple cell phones, several identification cards for other people and 'paraphernalia consistent with a heroin/fentanyl packaging mill. This included a heat sealing device for the bags; gloves, masks, and empty bags stamped with brands such as 'Panda', 'Black Friday' and Wild Card'. 'Fentanyl is the deadliest street drug to ever hit this country. This seizure alone contains enough potency to kill half of the population of New York City DEA Special Agent James J. Hunt The NY Department of Health and Mental Hygiene warned fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is 50-times more potent than heroin and is responsible for a spike in fatal overdoses. During 2016, 1,374 people died from the drug - a 46 per cent increase over the 2015 figure. The DEA is currently analyzing the haul, which is thought to have a street value of around $3 million - but it could be considerably higher depending on the amount of fentanyl in the mixture. All four men were remanded in custody by Manhattan Criminal Court with bail set between $200,000 for David Rodriguez; $100,000 for Perez-Cabral; $10,000 for Beltrez and $1,000 for Uber driver Richard Rodriguez. Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said: 'The volume of heroin and highly potent fentanyl entering New York City is staggering, but so is the amount being removed from the streets as a result of successful collaborations between law enforcement partners. In this case millions of dollars in suspected heroin and fentanyl was seized just steps from Central Park, a top destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike. 'By reducing the supply of these dangerous drugs, we are saving lives and sending a clear message that those who seek to profit by peddling poison will be put out of business and brought to justice.' DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said: 'Fentanyl is the deadliest street drug to ever hit this country. This seizure alone contains enough potency to kill half of the population of New York City, if laboratory analysis proves it is all fentanyl. 'Fentanyl is manufactured death that drug dealers are mixing with heroin. I commend the brave men and women in law enforcement who are risking their lives tracking down this toxin before it contributes to more fatal overdoses.' NYPD Police Commissioner James P O'Neill said: 'The individuals arrested in this case engaged in the trafficking and distribution of heroin and fentanyl, a deadly combination of opioids. We will continue to work with our partners to aggressively target persons who peddle these lethal poisons in our communities.' Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., said: 'Fentanyl is so deadly that there were more overdose deaths than homicides in New York last year. The availability of the drugwhich may be combined with other drugs, often unbeknownst to usershas exponentially increased the lifethreatening risks of abusing narcotic substances, leading to an extreme public safety crisis that necessitates a swift and committed reaction from law enforcement and health officials.' Long lines formed across Kenya on Tuesday as voters waited to cast their ballots in a hotly contested election that pits incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta against former prime minister Raila Odinga. Latest developments Kenyatta and long-time rival Odinga polling neck and neck Minor technical issues have been reported and are being addressed - officials Polls closed at 5 p.m. (10 a.m. ET) but those already in line, or in an area affected by delays, will be allowed to vote Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's founding president and the country's youngest leader at 55, is seeking a second five-year term. If he loses, he'll make history as the only incumbent president not to win re-election. Odinga, who's running for president for the fourth time, served as prime minister between 2008 and 2013 and is the incumbent's main challenger. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) spokesman Andrew Limo said turnout looked "huge" as Kenyans cast ballots at more than 40,000 polling stations on Tuesday. Limo acknowledged claims of malfunctioning voting machines, which have circulated online, saying there have been "three or four cases of malfunction where the system needed restarting" but added that for the most part things have "gone well." The IEBC said in a statement that extra ICT support staff have been brought into service to resolve minor technical issues. Videos circulated on social media of skirmishes and tear gas allegedly being used in some parts of the country, but CNN has not witnessed any evidence of violence thus far. The atmosphere at several polling stations in Nairobi was relaxed as eager voters queued in orderly lines to vote. Local "boda boda" (motorbike taxi) drivers told CNN they have been ferrying people to their local stations for free. Voters shared photographs on social media of their fingers marked with purple dye, which is being used by election officials to ensure people only vote once. One of those first in line to vote was 102-year-old Lydia Gathoni, who said a quick prayer before casting her ballot, Reuters reported. "Let God prevail. Let God govern the country," she said. Kenya's Elections Observation Group (ELOG) said over 8,000 representatives had been deployed to all 47 counties and 290 constituencies in an effort to ensure a fair democratic process. ELOG said some of its observers had been denied access to polling stations while others had their phones confiscated upon arrival. It said that authorities were working speedily to resolve issues but nine observers are still unable to enter their assigned stations. The group also noted delays at voting stations due to the late arrival of polling materials and officials. Fears of violence Kenya's last election in 2013 was mainly peaceful, but a decade ago, the country plunged into widespread violence in the aftermath of the 2007 vote. More than 1,000 people were killed in months of bloodshed following the 2007 election after Odinga -- defeated by then-President Mwai Kibaki -- claimed the vote was rigged. Odinga, 72, has accused Kenyatta of attempting to rig this year's election. Kenyatta in turn has said Odinga is attempting to divide the country. The killing of a senior election official days before the election sparked tensions last week. Chris Msando was head of information technology for Kenya's Integrated Electoral Management System. While his department was responsible for voter identification and result transmission technology for the elections, it's unclear whether his killing was related to the election. Leading up to the poll, wary residents stocked up on food and water amid fears of a return to violence. A razor-thin margin Results are not expected until Wednesday at the earliest, but with the predicted margin between the two leading presidential candidates razor thin, it could be several days before a winner can be declared. Heavy rain overnight hampered transport in some parts of the country, causing delays at polling stations. The IEBC extended voting hours in the affected areas and deployed helicopters to ferry materials and polling officials to the stations. More than 11,000 polling stations -- around a quarter of the total -- are without decent cell phone coverage, meaning returning officers have to use satellite phones and other means to transmit results. Officially, the electoral commission has up to a week to announce the outcome. Almost 20 million people are registered to cast their votes for a new president as well as members of parliament, senators, governors and local councilors. The youth vote is highly coveted -- young people between the ages of 18 and 35 make up 51% of the country's registered voters. CNN's Farai Sevenzo, Briana Duggan and Dominique van Heerden contributed to this report from Nairobi, and Faith Karimi and Lauren Said-Moorhouse wrote from London. James Griffiths and James Masters also contributed to this report. A disabled benefits cheat who falsely claimed almost 77,000 will miss his wedding in five weeks' time after being jailed for 16 months. Barry Firmager, 47, will also lose out on the Caribbean honeymoon he booked for September after fraudulently claiming disability living allowance and other benefits, despite taking part in a 100-mile charity walk. His lawyer told Maidstone Crown Court that Firmager, who suffers from a degenerative bone disease, didn't finish the walk for Kidney Cancer UK because it worsened his arthritis. But the fraudster was jailed after it emerged that he'd failed to report a change in circumstance that made him ineligible for benefits he was previously entitled to. Firmager's father paid for the honeymoon, despite the benefits cheat owing him 40,000, but his wedding to Maida Watts (pictured) has been put on hold Firmager was awarded 200,000 in compensation in 2006 after a traffic accident. But the 47-year-old, who walks with a stick, failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions and Medway Council in Kent of the change to his financial circumstances. Instead, he used the money to buy a UK property, which he rented out to tenants, and a house in Florida. This meant for six years he was fraudulently claiming income support, employment and support allowance, disability living allowance and council tax benefit. When he was exposed, he blamed the pain and distress of his 2002 traffic accident for not revealing his payout. Firmager's fraudulent claims were deemed too serious for a suspended sentence, despite him booking a wedding and Caribbean honeymoon and being a carer for his father He even turned on his ex-wife, who filled in the claims forms for him, blaming her for his failure to report the compensation. Firmager, formerly from Rochester in Kent but now living in Williton, near Taunton in Somerset, pleaded guilty to four offences of failing to notify a change in circumstances after fraudulently claiming 76,743 in benefits. Judge Heather Baucher told him his fraud was so serious he couldn't be spared jail, after the father took part in a 100-mile cancer charity walk in memory of his late mother and was seen visiting a gym while fraudulently claiming. Barry Firmager didn't report a 200,000 compensation payout to the DWP She said she couldn't impose a suspended sentence, even though it meant derailing his wedding and alternative care being found for Firmager's father, who was previously looked after by the defendant. Firmager was told he should have given the court proceedings priority over his wedding plans. 'You were interviewed in 2014 about these matters and although your committal for sentence by magistrates post-dates the wedding booking, you should have had these matters at the forefront of your mind before you set about making your wedding plans.' The court heard the honeymoon had been paid for by Firmagers father despite the benefits cheat already owing him 40,000. Other debts Firmager racked up include 45,000 on credit cards and 2,000 in relation to child tax credit. Mary Jacobson, defending, said the US property has since been repossessed and the UK house was sold four years ago. She said his gym visits were made on medical advice to assist recovery from knee replacement surgery. Miss Jacobson added that his health had since continued to deteriorate and he currently needs help to wash, dress and use the toilet, for which his fiancee receives carers allowance. A confiscation hearing will be held at a later date. A New Jersey woman accused of shooting and killing her wife during a domestic altercation made her first court appearance via video conference on Monday. Laura Bluestein, 28, was arrested on Sunday for shooting her partner, Felicia Dormans, 29, in the face at their home in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Bluestein appeared in court to hear the charges she faced. Laura Bluestein, 28, was arrested on Sunday for shooting her partner, Felicia Dormans, 29, in the face at their home in Mount Holly, New Jersey Police were called to the married couple's Mount Holly, New Jersey home around 5:20pm and found Dormans (right) dead from a gunshot wound to the face Burlington County Sheriff's deputies were called to the couples home after receiving a call from one of Bluestein's relatives, saying there had been an assault at the residence She has been charged with murder, weapons possession and tampering with evidence and was booked into the Burlington County Jail. Burlington County Sheriff's deputies were called to the couples home after receiving a call from one of Bluestein's relatives, saying there had been an assault at the residence. When police showed up at the house, they found Dormans dead from a gunshot wound to the face, WPVI reported. Police are still trying to ascertain what caused Bluestein to shoot her wife. Both of their Facebook accounts are filled with pictures of them together smiling and kissing in happier times The couple had been married for a year before Sunday's violence and were new to the neighborhood they lived in According to Dorman's Facebook, the couple had been married for a year. Both of their Facebook accounts are filled with pictures of them together smiling and kissing in happier times. Photos showed that they had recently taken a vacation to the beach. Bluestein, who has a criminal record including convictions for drug possession in 2012 and 2014, is being held without bail. She will next appear in court on Friday for a detention hearing. This is the dramatic moment a policeman breaks his leg in a last-ditch attempt to stop desperate migrants from reaching Spain. The guard was left with his right foot facing the wrong way after suffering a double fracture while attempting to kick a migrant to the ground. CCTV captured the stomach-turning injury at the border crossing between Morocco and Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta in the early hours of Monday. More than 300 mostly sub-Saharan migrants stormed a border checkpoint between Morocco and Spain on Monday morning, with at least 180 making it across A border guard was filmed breaking his leg in two places while trying to trip up one of the fleeing migrants and falling More than 180 migrants, largely from sub-Saharan Africa, managed to reach Spanish soil after breaking through the border gate and rushing past guards. The footage show the guards' efforts to stop the men, including tripping them and striking out with a baton, but it proved in vain. The migrants were later photographed rejoicing as they ran through the streets and kneeling with their arms outstretched for joy at making it to Europe. Four migrants had to be taken to hospital for treatment after the rush, along with the policeman, who has not been named. The dramatic border incident occurred at the Tarajal crossing around 5am local time. The man fractured his lower right leg in two places during the fall which left his foot facing in the opposite direction The migrants were pictured celebrating as they made their way on to Spanish soil where they will now be handed to immigration agency CETI It is expected that the men will be transferred to the Spanish mainland while their immigration cases are decided An estimated 300 migrants stormed the border, with around 187 men making it across according to initial Red Cross figures. Migrants often attempt mass crossings of the perimeter fence between Spanish soil and the Moroccan mainland, but storming official border posts is rare. Two years ago a Moroccan teenager was stopped by police on the same Tarajal border crossing with an eight-year-old boy inside a suitcase in images which went round the word. An hour and a half later his dad was arrested trying to cross at the same spot. Police have described the latest incident, which comes a fortnight after an officer was stabbed by a Moroccan man shouting 'Allah is Great', as 'very rare.' An investigation is now underway to determine why so many migrants managed to breach the Ceuta border, with the central government's spokesman for the area attributing it to a 'security failure.' The African migrants were later found hiding away inside fairground ride equipment that was about to be shipped to the Spanish mainland Police using thermal imaging equipment and sniffer dogs tracked down at least 19 men who had made it across the border hiding on amusement trucks The men will be handed over to immigration agency CETI and may be taken to the mainland while their status is determined Police officers search a truck belonging to a funfair for stowaway migrants as it waits to board a ferry to mainland Spain Footage shows the officers, who appear to number around half a dozen, reacting just seconds before the army of migrants storm a glass door protecting the passport control area. One of the officers looks on helpless as the men sprint by before two colleagues - one with the baton and the other who resorts to trying to trip up the men - get involved as the last of the migrants race across the border. The wounded officer is left glued to the spot where he breaks his leg, before shocked colleagues sit him down in a chair and put his damaged right leg on another while they wait for an ambulance to arrive. The immigrants who made it across the border will be held in a temporary migrant holding centre known as a CETI but are expected to be transferred to the Spanish mainland in the coming weeks and months while their futures are decided. A British tradesman is suing the Victorian Government after he was attacked by a police dog at a McDonald's drive thru late last year. Christopher Gibney says that he was attacked by a German Shepherd police dog while in the presence of its handler. He is also suing for assault and unlawful imprisonment. Mr Gibney was with his partner between 9.30pm and 10pm on August 7 last year when they were stopped at the Peninsula Link McDonald's drive thru for a drink moments before the alleged incident unfolded, the Herald Sun reports. British tradesman says he was attacked by a police dog and personnel late last year (stock image) Mr Gibney said the car he was travelling in was earlier reported as stolen but had been recovered by the time police approached him at the fast food restaurant. Mr Gibney, who was in the passenger seat, said he noticed the dog along with his handler before being asked to step out from the vehicle. The 27-year-old painter and decorator later claimed that he was pulled out of the car and that the police officer then released the dog, which attacked him - leaving him with bites and bruises on his body. He claimed that other police officers had also assaulted him by jumping on him from behind, while the dog was attacking him. Mr Gibney was arrested by police had for possessing a small amount of cannabis but was later released without charge. The tradesman who lives in Rye, 80km south of Melbourne, had lodged a case against the State Government at the County Court citing police abuse. He claims the police dog attack led him to spending two days and a night at the Frankston Hospital for 'operations, plastic surgery, tetanus jabs and other antibiotic drips'. He also claims that the attack had caused him 'psychiatric damage, including nightmares, pain, shock, bruising and scarring'. Victoria Police declined to comment. Advertisement An incredible picture archive that charts the rise of Hitler believed to have been meticulously documented by a fan of the Fuhrer has emerged for sale. The collection of propaganda photographs show Adolf Hitler on a charm offensive in the 1920s and 30s - before the despot started the Second World War and exterminated six million Jews during the Holocaust. Some of the images try to show a rose-tinted version of the Nazi leader, with him feeding a small deer and accepting a bouquet from a young girl. Others show the hype that surrounded him - rows of people performing the Nazi salute, a young boy beaming as Hitler signs an autograph for him and a group of girls giggling as they chat to the party leader. The 400 pictures are accompanied by a handwritten notebook documenting what each picture shows. One page says: 'This tells you what the leader has done for his folk, from 1920 to 1936'. Young members of the Hitler Youth (top left) and the League of German Girls (top right) show their support for the Nazi leader, who is also pictured inspecting troops in the SS (shown bottom left) and soldiers of the SA, a paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party which played a significant role in Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s The collection was collated by a fan of Hitler, as suggested by the fact that some of the images try to show a rose-tinted version of the Nazi leader. Among the images are those that show him feeding a small deer (pictured left) and accepting a bouquet from young girls (pictured middle and right) The 400 pictures are accompanied by a handwritten notebook in English documenting what each picture shows. One page has 'Adolf Hitler' written in a fancy scrawl at the top with a drawing of the eagle atop the swastika and the initials for the Nazi Party, NSDAP, written underneath (shown) Some of the captions mention dates and places while others are poetic and obscure such as 'Our flag flutters in our front' and 'Captured by the words the leader speaks'. The owner of the unusually large collection is a mystery, but it is believed to have been compiled by a fan of the dictator. One page has 'Adolf Hitler' written in a fancy scrawl at the top with a drawing of the eagle atop the swastika and the initials for the Nazi Party, NSDAP, written underneath. Hitler became involved with the fledgling Nazi Party after the First World War and set the violent tone of the movement early by forming the Sturmabteilung (SA) paramilitary. This collection shows pictures of SA parades and marches. He became chief of propaganda for the party in early 1920, engineered the name change to the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party) and designed the party's banner of a swastika in a white circle on a red background - visible on flags and armbands in many of these photos. After Hitler took control of the party in 1921, he named Heinrich Hoffman as his official photographer and his photos were a significant part of Hitler's propaganda campaign. The collection features pictures of the German army (top and bottom right), who were required to swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler personally, and also mass rallies involving troops from the Sturmabteilung (SA) paramilitary, which were regularly attended by tens of thousands of spectators One picture included in the amazing collection is a picture by future Nazi photographer Heinrich Hoffman took in Munich's Odeonsplatz in August 1914 which appeared to show a young Hitler cheering among the crowd at the outbreak of the First World War and was used in Nazi propaganda Among the revealing photographs are those that show the hype and hysteria that surrounded him - rows of people performing the Nazi salute, a young boy beaming as Hitler signs an autograph for him (top right) and a group of girls giggling as they chat to the party leader (bottom) One controversial picture included in this collection is a photo Hoffman took in Munich's Odeonsplatz in August 1914 which appeared to show a young Hitler cheering among the crowd at the outbreak of the First World War and was used in Nazi propaganda. Hoffman claimed he discovered Hitler in the photo in 1929 after the Nazi leader visited his studio and told Hoffman he had been there. Hoffman then searched the negative until he found Hitler. But historians believe the photo was doctored as other images of the rally do not show Hitler in the place Hoffman's photograph placed him and his moustache in this picture is not the same style that can be seen in photos of Hitler while he was serving in the German Army. Hitler became the NSDAP's main speaker and between 1928 and 1933 he gathered enough electoral support to see the Nazis become the largest political party in the Reichstag. Throughout, Hitler strictly controlled his public image in all respects. He would be photographed in any new suit before he would wear it in public and ordered in 1933 that all images of himself wearing lederhosen be withdrawn from circulation. Another photograph shows the Nuremberg Rally in 1935, where you can see Hitler standing on a platform addressing thousands of people. The 400 pictures are accompanied by a handwritten notebook documenting what each picture shows. One page says: 'This tells you what the leader has done for his folk, from 1920 to 1936' (shown left). Some of the captions mention dates and places while others are poetic and obscure such as 'Our flag flutters in our front' and 'Captured by the words the leader speaks' Another photograph shows the infamous Nuremberg Rally in 1935, where you can see Hitler standing on a platform addressing thousands of people (pictured right). On the left, Hitler can be seen assessing work at a car factory, as the Nazi Party committed itself to drastically improving the German economy following the First World War The controversial collection of photos and notebook, most probably compiled by an English-speaking fan of the Nazi dictator, are being sold by Chalkwell Auctions, based in Southend-on-sea, Essex. The pictures, which have an estimate of 150, will be sold on Wednesday Hitler (pictured left with Reich Minister of Propaganda Josep Goebbels, on his right) earned his start in politics with the NSDAP in early 1920, later designing the party's banner of a swastika in a white circle on a red background - visible on flags and armbands in many of these photos (shown right) The Nazi Party held annual rallies at Nuremberg from 1923 to 1938. This one was called the Rally of Freedom and it was here the Nazis introduced the antisemitic Nuremberg Laws. The collection of photos and notebook are being sold by Chalkwell Auctions, based in Southend-on-sea, Essex. Trevor Cornforth from the auctioneers said: 'The photographs in this collection may well have been available commercially and to the public. 'This is a particularly large collection and the unusual thing about it is that it comes with this little handwritten book describing them. 'Unfortunately we don't know anything about the person who wrote the notebook, the seller bought them from an estate clearance and doesn't know anything about the previous owner. 'I don't think the notebook was kept contemporaneously but possibly was someone who was a Hitler fan. They chart the rise but not the fall. 'There's hundreds of pictures and they all appear to be pre-war, so it documents his political rise rather than the war. I have never seen the like of it, it's a fascinating collection of photos.' The pictures, which have an estimate of 150, will be sold on Wednesday. Kelly Green, 32, (left with her husband Shane Green) moved from Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the UK to Tristan da Cunha (pictured), one of a remote group of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, in July 2013. The whole island descends from just seven families and has a population of just 138 inhabitants. It is only accessible by boat from Cape Town, South Africa, and the journey can take anywhere from a week to 15 days - depending on the weather. After going through a tough break up, Kelly travelled to the island to visit her parents in 2010 as her dad was a diplomat posted there. Kelly said she 'fell in love' with the island and it was there that she met her now husband Shane Green, 33. Shane, a carpenter who has lived on the island for his entire life, had helped Kelly carry her luggage off the raft and they soon became besotted with each other. Kelly made the move to Tristan da Cunha permanently in July 2013 and the couple now have two children together - Savannah, eight, and Seren, who is 16-months-old. Lanz Priestley, dubbed 'the Mayor of Martin Place', says if 'tent city' was shut down by the NSW Government and a woman was forced onto the streets and raped, Premier Gladys Berejiklian would be to blame. Mr Priestley, 72, has said he was not happy with the NSW premier's threats to take action against the Martin Place site, which has become a refuge for the homeless. 'If they act on it today, it's a clear demonstration by the Berejiklian government, in the middle of Homelessness Week, what the attitudes are to homeless people,' he said. Mr Priestley, 72, has said he was not happy with the NSW premier's threats to take action against the Martin Place site, which has become a refuge for the homeless Premier Gladys Berejiklian (right) said the legislation would be introduced to the parliament on Tuesday, and is expected to pass by Thursday NSW Parliament will give police tough new powers to tear down Sydney's tent city in Martin Place 'Is it the intention that those people are out there free for anyone to give a kicking, to be robbed, to be raped'. Mr Priestley said the camp was originally set up to accommodate a woman who was raped on the streets. But the NSW Government is set to introduce urgent legislation to allow police to remove the homeless tent city in Sydney's CBD. NSW Parliament will give police tough new powers to tear down Sydney's tent city in Martin Place. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the legislation would be introduced to the parliament on Tuesday, and is expected to pass by Thursday. The move comes after a plan agreed to by Sydney City Council and the homeless tent dwellers to vacate the Martin Place campsite failed to eventuate. 'This is a course of action I wish I didn't have to take,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday. But the NSW Government is set to introduce urgent legislation to allow police to remove the homeless tent city in Sydney's CBD Sydney Mayor Clover Moore says the homeless tent city in Martin Place will be torn down 'It's a course of action we have to take because, to date, the City of Sydney has not done what it had within its power to do and what it should have done. 'There was nothing in existing laws that we could do that would resolve this issue amicably over and above what the City of Sydney could do.' The premier said the changes will give the government the power to order police to remove people from Crown land, including Martin Place, if the Lands Minister deems there is a 'public safety issue'. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said on Monday she had reached an agreement with a representative of the tent city that would see the camp packed up. She said council would help pack up the camp and transfer about 70 homeless people to a 'communal safe space' until temporary or permanent accommodation was found. NSW Parliament will give police tough new powers to tear down Sydney's tent city in Martin Place Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said on Monday she had reached an agreement with a representative of the tent city that would see the camp packed up But with no designated 'safe place' finalised, the tent city remained pegged down on Tuesday morning, prompting the government to act. Ms Berejiklian blamed the council's inaction as the catalyst for intervention. 'We said that we would give the council until last night to deal with this matter and if they didn't we would take appropriate action,' she said. However, the so-called Mayor of Martin Place, Lanz Priestley, says the premier has other options within a $12 billion budget. Social Housing Minister Pru Goward was critical of the council's handling of the tent city. 'I think council has completely missed the point on homelessness,' she said. Ms Goward said she believed there was an element of political protest at the Martin Place campsite and later took aim at Ms Moore in question time. 'Its clear that the Lord Mayor of Sydney is far too busy trying to score political points and not doing her job,' Ms Goward said. But Ms Moore said the government's new legislation ran the risk of inciting conflict between police and Sydney's homeless. 'The premier is moving to change the law, potentially setting up the risk of violent conflicts between police and vulnerable homeless people as we saw in Melbourne,' Ms Moore said in a statement. Under existing laws the NSW Government would need to issue a warrant against the homeless residents, which the premier was reluctant to do. Security staff at a bus station in China were shocked to find a man carrying two severed arms in his bag last week. The traveller, surnamed Zheng, was caught as he went through the security check at the Duyun bus station in Guizhou Province The 50-year-old man claimed he was bringing his elder brother's limbs back home for them to be buried in the future. A 50-year-old passenger carried a blue bag through a security checkpoint in Duyun, China Security officer asked the man to open the bag as they spotted two human arms under X-ray Footage uploaded by Pear Video shows Mr Zheng entering the security checkpoint with a blue bag at around 4pm on July 31. The officer checking the X-ray stopped Mr Zheng after spotting unusual items resembling human parts in his bag. 'He told me there were two arms when I asked him what was in the bag,' the officer, named Zheng Senyuan, told Pear Video. According to Chongqing Morning Post, the officers called the police, who soon arrived to inspect Mr Zheng's bag. Apparently, the police found two rotting arms stacked one on top of the other in Mr Zheng's bag and both severed arms were wrapped in layers of plastic bags. Zheng said according to local custom, he had to bring his brother's arms back home to bury Zheng was detained by the police for questioning, but he showed them a medical statement Mr Zheng explained to the police his elder brother had had his arms amputated after an electrical shock accident. He said in his village the dead people would need to be buried with all their body parts, so he decided to bring his brother's arms back home for them to be buried when his elder brother passes away. Zheng's brother is still receiving treatment at a hospital, said the report. According to China's regulation on road transport, passengers can carry any human body parts if they have a medical statement, proof from the police department and proof from the health department. The report said Mr Zheng produced a medical statement to the police, so the officers let him go. However, he was asked to take other forms of transport out of consideration for other bus passengers, according to the station staff. Noye, now 70, was convicted of murder in April 2000 Road-rage killer Kenneth Noye is to be transferred to an open prison despite protests from his victim's family. Noye, now 70, was convicted of murder in April 2000 after stabbing 21-year-old electrician Stephen Cameron to death in a road-rage attack on the M25 in Kent in 1996. He then went on the run and was arrested in Spain two years later. After a trial, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years. But now he is set to be transferred from the closed HMP Wayland in Norfolk to open conditions and even allowed out on day release. Last month, Stephen's family condemned the decision to allow the killer one step closer to freedom. His father Ken Cameron told the Daily Mail: 'I don't believe for a minute he has changed his ways. 'He'll always be a dangerous man. Noye should never be allowed out of prison. People will say anything when they are up for parole.' In September 2015 the Parole Board declined to order his release, but recommended he be transferred to open conditions. But the board's recommendation was rejected by the then justice secretary Michael Gove. He stabbed electrician Stephen Cameron to death in a road-rage attack on the M25 in Kent in 1996 The victim's father Ken Cameron, pictured above with his wife Toni, told the Daily Mail last month: 'I don't believe for a minute he has changed his ways' However in February this year High Court judge Mr Justice Lavender was asked to rule on whether the rejection decision was 'unlawful and irrational'. He said: 'It will be for the current Secretary of State to take a fresh decision whether or not to transfer the claimant to an open prison'. Edward Fitzgerald QC, for Noye, told the judge at a hearing in London that the tariff period had now been served, and the 'sole issue is the issue of risk'. He argued 'the Secretary of State has failed to give proper or adequate weight to the recommendation of the Parole Board and is therefore unreasonable and contrary to law'. The QC said the Parole Board panel 'concluded that the benefits of a move to open conditions outweighed the risk of such a move, and they found that the claimant's risk had significantly reduced' since the killing of Mr Cameron. The murder of Stephen in May 1996 shocked the nation and sparked an international manhunt after Noye went on the run. In 2000, Noye, pictured left and right, admitted at trial that he had stabbed Mr Cameron to death - but he insisted it was self-defence Police are pictured searching the grounds of Kenneth Noye's home after he killed DC John Fordham in 1985 Danielle Cable, who was just 17, watched in horror as Noye pulled out a knife and fatally stabbed her boyfriend Stephen when they stopped at traffic lights. Noye, a career criminal once jailed for conspiring to handle gold from the 1983 26million Brink's Mat heist at Heathrow Airport, was prime suspect for the frenzied attack. Police discovered he had fled the country in a helicopter, but he was tracked down in Spain and Miss Cable identified him as he sat in a restaurant. She has since changed her identity amid fears that Noye has put a 1million bounty on her head. The advice was passed to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for the final decision, and the department confirmed today that Justice Secretary David Lidington had accepted the recommendation. An MoJ spokesman said: 'Public protection is our top priority and transfers to open conditions are made after a thorough, expert risk assessment carried out by the independent Parole Board.' Prince Laurent of Belgium has caused a royal scandal after revealing he attended celebrations to mark the founding of the Chinese army. The prince, who is the younger brother of King Philippe, posted photos of himself attending the event online despite being banned by Prime Minister Charles Michel. Mr Michel issued a decree last December barring Prince Laurent from attending any talks with senior foreign officials without informing the government after a series of controversial meetings, including with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Prince Laurent of Belgium will be fined by the government after he attended a celebration to mark the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army that the country's embassy in Brussels despite being banned from doing so The prince was banned from attending talks with foreign officials without informing parliament last year after a series of controversial meetings. Ministers only discovered he went to the Chinese event after he posted pictures of it on Twitter The Prime Minister warned Prince Laurent at the time that his 308,000-per-year (280,000) salary was at risk, and is now thought to be mulling a fine of up to 30,000 (28,000). The celebration marking the founding of the People's Liberation Army was held at the Chinese embassy in Brussels on 19th July, but it was not known at the time that the prince had attended. Controversy began this week after the prince, who is married to British-born Princess Claire, a former surveyor, a posted images of the event on Twitter. Belgian PM Charles Michel reportedly called King Philippe yesterday to announce that he would cut Prince Laurent's stipend. King Philippe did not argue against the unusual measure by Mr Michel, who told King Philippe he was 'irritated' by Prince Laurent's behaviour, reports said. Prince Laurent said he was there on 'a personal invitation'' which 'is of nobody's business.' This is hardly the first time the prince has stirred controversy, after telling a journalist who questioned the finances of his renewable energy ventures that he was 'starting to p*** me off'. Prince Laurent has been at the centre of multiple royal scandals down the years and was asked to repay 16,000 last year after it was found he spent the money on a ski holiday, school bills for his children, local media reports 'If certain politicians would get off my back, if my family would get off my back, I could show you that these accounts are positive,' he said. He was also asked to repay 16,000 last year after it was found he spent the money on a ski holiday, school bills for his children, and supermarket shopping, De Standaard reports. Belgian MPs pressed Michel to cut Prince Laurent's stipend, though no official announcement has yet been made. MP Peter Buysrogge of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party said: 'It cannot be that Laurent is receiving tax money and still completely does whatever he wants like a loose cannon.' Not only are politicians increasingly worried by the maverick prince's behaviour, but King Philippe himself is worried that Prince Laurent's actions have tarnished the reputation of the royal family, reports said. Last year he decided that Prince Laurent's children were not allowed to carry the suffix 'van Belgie', meaning 'of Belgium'. Prince Laurent's involvement in animal welfare and environmental issues, as well as him ignoring protocol, have earned Laurent the nickname of 'ecolo-gaffeur' ('the eco-blunderer'). The prince was also named in a corruption scandal and is known for his love of speed, having racked up several speeding tickets. So much for going after "bad hombres." The Trump Administration, via ICE, is attempting to deport Orozco-Ramirez when his only "bad" action was crossing into the U.S. from Mexico without proper papers 20 years ago, a civil offense. Since then, he has never committed a crime, raised eight children, worked hard and paid taxes, including Social Security (which he will never be able to redeem). Ruth Davidson has defied Theresa May by criticising the target to get immigration down to the tens of thousands. The Scottish Tory leader questioned if the target 'continues to be the right one' and called for students to be removed from it. Her intervention is a direct challenge to the Prime Minister who during the election campaign recommitted the party to getting next migration down to below 100,000. Ms Davidson admitted that many voters are fed up at spiralling rates of immigration, which has placed a massive burden on public services such as hospitals and schools. Ruth Davidson, pictured outside Edinburgh Castle in May, has hit out at tens of thousands immigration target and called for the Tories to draw up a fresh approach on immigration But in an article published today about the immigration target, she pointed out that successive governments have missed it and questioned if it makes economic sense for it to be kept. Writing in The Telegraph she said: 'By 2010, pollsters reported that immigration was consistently a top concern of voters. PHILIP HAMMOND'S POPULARITY PLUMMETS The Chancellor's approval ratings among Tory Party members has plummeted according to a new poll Philip Hammonds popularity has plummeted while Theresa May is slowly regaining support following the election disaster, a new poll has found. In a major blow for the Chancellor, his popularity has tanked following his push for a 'soft' Brexit. His popularity has nosedived from an approval rating of 32.4 just before the election to -25.4, according to a survey of Tory Party members by the ConservativeHome website. Meanwhile, the PM is slowly recovering her position among the party faithful. Last month her popularity rating was languishing down in the dumps on -26.1, whereas this month it is on -1.6, according to the poll. But it is still far behind Brexit Secretary David Davis who is the most popular Cabinet minister on a 72.5 approval rating. He is followed by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on 61.4 and Environment Secretary Michael Gove on 52.4. The most popular Tory figure overall is the Scottish leader Ruth Davidson on 81.9. Both Mr Davis and Ms Davidson have been tipped as possible future Tory party leaders. Advertisement 'Since then, of course, the British government has failed to hit its self-imposed 'tens of thousands' target in any year. 'Brexit is a big reset button and should in theory make that much easier to do so. But we have to ask whether the target continues to be the right one?' She said that Britain is at near full employment, and the country's ageing population needs a flow of labour to pay for their pension pots. She also called for international students to be taken out of the target altogether. Ms Davidson said that just a quarter of Brits consider students from other countries to be immigrants. She said: 'If people dont think that students should be included in the net migration numbers, lets take them out.' And she suggested that strict visa rules restricting what jobs international students can stay on in Britain and work in should also be loosened. Ms Davidson warned that the Tory Party's election flop was partly down to a failure to win over young voters and those living in cities. She pinned some of the blame for this on the party's immigration policy and called for a fresh approach. The government should focus on trying to properly educate and train British workers so they will not be squeezed out of jobs by cheaper, foreign workers, Ms Davidson said. But her comments are likely to infuriate Mrs May, who has consistently resisted calls to scrap the target and drop students from it. While many voters who are fed up with high rates of immigration will also be wary of scrapping the target. Meanwhile, a poll of Tory Party members has found that Ms Davidson is the most popular figure in the party. She has an approval rating of 81.9 - higher than any figure in the Cabinet. Mrs May is lagging far behind her Scottish deputy in the popularity stakes, with an approval rating of -1.6, according to the poll for the ConservativeHome website. Houston police believe two cousins used a gay dating app to rob and murder their victims. Police have recovered the body of one man, Glenser Soliman, 45, who was found on February 25. The second victim, An Vinh Nguyen, a 26-year-old University of Houston student vanished on March 31. His car was recovered several days later. Police have charged Brandon Lyons, 18, with the capital murder of Soliman. His cousin, Jerrett Jamal Allen, 26, has been charged in his absence with credit and debit card fraud. Brandon Lyons, left, has been charged with the capital murder of Glenser Soliman, who was lured to his death after using a gay hook-up app. Police are searching for Lyons's cousin Jerrett Allen, right, who has been charged in his absence with credit and debit card fraud Officers recovered the body of Glenser Soliman, left, on February 25, less than a month before the second suspected victim An Vinh Nguyen vanished without a trace from Houston, Texas Officers believe Allen used Nguyen's credit card in El Paso, Texas in early to mid-April. Harris County lead homicide investigator Mike Ritchie told a news conference on Monday: 'On February 25 I was assigned a case where a body was recovered which was later identified as our first complainant Glenser Soliman . He was reported missing by his family on February 18. Several days later after he was reported missing we found his vehicle. 'Through our investigation, and through a few weeks we were able to develop a suspect who was identified as Brandon Lyons, who was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. 'Through our investigation and several months of work, along with the DA's office, we were able to file a capital murder charge on Brandon Lyons for the death of Glenser Soliman. 'During our investigation of this case, in early April, I was made aware of another missing male by the name of An Vinh Nguyen. Through our investigation and through things that we have discovered we realized that these cases were most likely linked. Harris County Sheriff's Office lead homicide detective Mike Ritchie, pictured, said despite not recovering a body it is presumed that An Vinh Nguyen is dead as he was very close to his family and was in constant contact with them. His car was recovered several days after he vanished 'By investigating certain aspects of the case, where he was last seen, we were also able to develop a suspect Jerrett Allen. Jerrett Allen was today charged with credit and debit card abuse and through our investigation we were able to link Brandon Lyons and Jerrett Allen together. 'They are cousins and they were living together at the time that both men disappeared. 'So again, Jerrett Allen, his whereabouts are unknown. His last known location was in El Paso, Texas in early to mid-April. Since then we don't know where he is.' Ritchie said An Vinh Nguyen was reported missing by his family on April 1. He was last seen on March 31 in the Spring area. His car was recovered on April 6. He confirmed neither of the victims knew each other, but but used gay social media chat sites. Detectives have not determined a motive for either crime and have not ruled out whether they were targeted due to their sexuality. He said they could possibly be dealing with serial killers. According to the FBI, serial killers will have murdered at least three people with a 'cooling down' period between each crime. The two suspects may have been using gay chat sites to target their victims, both of whom were Asian males. Officers have not recovered An Vinh Nguyen's body although he is presumed dead. He was due to attend a job interview in Florida days after he went missing. Ritchie warned people using online hookup sites or apps to exercise caution when meeting strangers as they 'may not want to meet up for the same reason as you'. He said bring a friend along, meet in public and never arrange to meet someone in either your or their home. A new book shedding light on the top-secret life of an Army intelligence soldier in the US military is being turned into a film financed by Hollywood director Michael Bay. Drone Warrior: An Elite Soldier's Inside Account of the Hunt for America's Most Dangerous Enemies is a book following the nearly decade-long career of Brett Velicovich, a former special operations intelligence soldier with America's most elite military unit, Delta Force. Co-written by Pulitzer Prize winning former Wall Street Journal author Christopher S Stewart, the book charts Velicovich's career as he traveled across the world hunting down some of the United States' most wanted terrorists. Brett Velicovich, a former special operations intelligence soldier with America's most elite military unit, Delta Force, has released a book detailing his time with the force Co-written by Pulitzer Prize winning former Wall Street Journal author Christopher S Stewart, the book charts Velicovich's career The book tells stories of Velicovich's time traveling the world and hunting down some of the United States' most wanted terrorists. He's pictured above with Burundis troops in Somalia Featuring missions in Somalia, Burundi, Afghanistan and more, Drone Warrior pulls no punches in its portrayal of modern-day warfare, with Velicovich being particularly candid in his assessment of US military operations. The book, according to the US government, contains more classified drone operations cleared for public release than any other account ever published. 'My speciality was high-level capture or kill missions,' he writes. 'My weapon was mainly Predator MQ-1 drones, equipped with two laser-guided AGM-114P Hellfire missiles. 'My job was to hunt down the most dangerous terrorists in the world. If I was chasing you, you never saw me. I was a shadow. Featuring missions in Somalia, Burundi, Afghanistan and more, Velicovich (pictured abobe in the mountains of Afghanistan) is candid in his assessment of US military operations Velicovich's book, according to the US government, contains more classified drone operations cleared for public release than any other account ever published Velicovich, pictured above left, said his main weapon was a Predator MQ-1 drone, equipped with two laser-guided AGM-114P Hellfire missiles Drone Warrior: An Elite Soldier's Inside Account of the Hunt for America's Most Dangerous Enemies was released earlier this year. Velicovich's story will be adapted into a film financed by Michael Bay later this year 'My highly skilled team was called when a terrorist needed to be located. I have no doubt that we could find anyone in the world, no matter how hidden they are. 'I prided myself on tracking down the senior leaders who others considered ghosts. 'I was only 25 years old, with enormous responsibility and people's lives in my hands. I felt a lot of pressure resting on my shoulders.' Drone Warrior is set to be adapted for the big screen later this year. Michael Bay's production company, Bay Films, has already bought the rights to the film, and plan to put it into production along with Paramount. Screenwriter Andy Bellin, who penned the script for 2013 film Lovelace and the 2010 film Trust, has already been signed up to adapt the book for the big screen, though no director has been announced yet. The young boy who was found dead inside a van outside a Florida daycare has been identified. Myles Hill, 3, spent more than 11 hours in the van outside the Little Miracles Academy before he was discovered Monday night, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said Tuesday. He was found just weeks after the school was cited for not keeping track of children during transport. Orlando Police received a call about a child being left in the van on Monday around 8.30pm. The boy's family had called police after noticing he hadn't returned home from the daycare more than two hours after he was expected home. Myles would have turned four on August 22. Myles Hill, 3, (pictured) spent more than 11 hours in the van outside the Little Miracles Academy before he was discovered Monday night, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said Tuesday The boy's family had called police after noticing he hadn't returned home from the daycare more than two hours after he was expected home A boy believed to be around three years old was found after Orlando Police received a call about a child being left in a van outside Little Miracles Academy on Monday around 8.30pm When police arrived at the school, they found the young boy unresponsive in a van. They later determined that the boy was dead, an officer said during a press conference. The boy's family said that they had dropped him off at the daycare earlier in the day and he is usually returned home around 6pm. When he hadn't returned home by 8pm, the family called police. The boy's aunt, Barbara Livingston, said that when she asked daycare workers where her nephew was, they said he was 'gone'. '(We) said, 'Gone where?' And she pointed at the van,' Livingston told News 6. 'I'm numb. I don't know how to feel.' When police arrived at the school, they found the young boy unresponsive in a van Police determined that the boy was dead after finding him in the vehicl, an officer said during a press conference Sgt Eduardo Bernal said on Monday night that the force does not yet know how long the child had been in the van. School employees were talking to investigators late into the night but authorities said no one had yet been taken into custody. An Florida Department of Children and Families inspection report from last month showed that the academy had been cited for not keeping track of children being transported. "The facility's log for children transported did not include the following required elements: [destination time, arrival time, destination location and departure location.]. (Section 6.2, number 3) [SR]," the DCF report said. An investigation into the boy's death is ongoing. 'This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the family of this little boy,' police said in a statement. 'Detectives are working hard to determine what happened.' A 33-year-old man has been charged with killing a woman he was dating at a Las Vegas apartment. Makayla Leilani Rhiner's body was found next to her car in an open garage on Thursday night. The 22-year-old had suffered multiple stab and incise wounds. The body of Makayla Leilani Rhiner (left) was found next to her car in an open garage on Thursday night. Her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Hanson (right) has been arrested on suspicion of murder Brandon Hanson was identified as a suspect the following day, and has now been booked into the Clark County Detention Center charged with murder. Police said there may have been a struggle in the build-up to the killing, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Cops hinted that she may have been attacked from behind before she was stabbed to death. Investigators say she also suffered head trauma, suggesting she was viciously beaten. Paying tribute to Rhiner, friend Krissy Tayam told KTNV: 'It just didn't make sense to me and it still doesn't make sense to me. She was a very ambitious, but simple girl.' She also wrote on Facebook: 'You were one of the sweetest and most kindhearted girls with a funny sense of humor ever. Stay beautiful Makayla' The body was found at around 7.30pm at an apartment complex, and police described the victim as a 'completely innocent person' who had no history of criminal behavior. Police said there may have been a struggle in the build-up to the killing. Rhiner is pictured above A design company has been slammed for creating a Nazi symbol fashion range featuring a rainbow swastika 'representing peace and love'. European firm KA Design said it hoped to 'share the beauty of this symbol detached from the hatred associated with it' by printing it on T-shirts and hoodies and jumpers. But the idea received widespread criticism online with Twitter users blasting the fashion campaign as 'offensive' and 'disgusting'. In a video posted on Facebook by the firm 'introducing the new swastika', the company said: 'The swastika is coming back, together with peace, together with love, together with respect, together with Freedom.' A design company has been slammed for creating a Nazi symbol fashion range featuring a rainbow swastika 'representing peace and love' The US firm KA Design said it hoped to 'share the beauty of this symbol detached from the hatred associated with it' by printing it on T-shirts and hoodies and jumpers Backlash: The idea received widespread criticism online with Twitter users blasting the fashion campaign as 'offensive' and 'disgusting' After a backlash the firm performed a u-turn and the rainbow designs were replaced with a new 'anti-swastika' range It said the Nazis 'took the swastika, rotated it by 45 degrees, and turned it into hatred, and turned it into fear, and turned it into war, and turned it into racism'. But after a backlash the firm performed a u-turn and the rainbow designs were replaced with a new 'anti-swastika' range. The swastika design was first used thousands of years ago as a symbol of good fortune in almost every culture in the world and in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, the word means 'well-being'. But it was adopted by Adolf Hitler and became a symbol of hate for its association with the murderous Third Reich. It was banned in Germany after the Second World War. The Israeli Jewish Congress slammed the fashion campaign, calling it 'obscene and disgusting'. In a statement on its Facebook page, KA Design said yesterday: 'Hatred and Nazism have won. We brought out the worst in people. We believe in a world of infinite forgiveness. We forgive everyone. And we hope to be forgiven. Let Love Prevail' In a video posted on Facebook by the firm 'introducing the new swastika', the company said: 'The swastika is coming back, together with peace, together with love, together with respect, together with Freedom' Arsen Ostrovsky, from the IJC, added: 'What next, using ISIS symbol to promote gender equality?' It is not yet clear where exactly KA Design is based. The BBC says it is a US firm while Dazed magazine, which printed an interview with the company, said it is based 'somewhere in Europe'. When asked for further comment, KA Design declined to say where it was based, but told MailOnline: The aim of this project is to make people think. What is true Peace? What is true Love? What is true Freedom? 'Our project wants to express the victory of true Love against Hatred and Nazism in particular. 'The Swastika, stolen by Nazism and covered by negative and frightening values, is conquered by the colours of Peace and Freedom. Nazism is finally dead, and our shirts are the manifestation of the victory of humanity. 'We are not neo-Nazis in any possible way. We are human beings. And as human beings we refuse Hatred. 'However, our campaign seems to have brought up the worst in people. We understand and accept this kind of response, and we feel truly sorry about it. We believe in a world of infinite forgiveness. We forgive everyone. And we hope to be forgiven. 'We understand and accept every criticism. However, we didn't expect so much hate from people. Our project goes strictly against Nazi values and doesn't in any way support them. But a large number of people called us Nazi. We ask forgiveness to those people. We want to evoke Love with our project, not Hatred. 'We don't want people to do the same mistake the Nazis did. We don't want people to hate and discriminate someone or something without even fully knowing or uderstanding. We want Love to Prevail. But Love was rarely seen during our campaign. We are truly sorry about that: we forgive and ask forgiveness. 'Our campaign has been disabled by the platform Teespring, which by the way had nothing to do with this project and was unfairly addressed.' Advertisement These images, once in black and white, show everyday life in South Africa more than one hundred years ago. The coloured photographs from the nineteenth and early twentieth century include images of the tribes of what is now the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and young Afrikaans settlers. The sensational pictures bring to life Zulu tribesmen and women, the scenic landscape view of the Devil's Peak in Wynberg, modern-day Cape Town, as well as the dwellings built during the Dutch colonisation of the country. Back in the day: A photo taken at the turn of the century depicts a Zulu man and and his five wives Contrast: A young white couple dressed in early 20th century clothing sit in a rickshaw pulled by a young black man These images, including this of a tribe's medicine man, show everyday life in South Africa more than one hundred years ago A young white couple can be seen sat in a rickshaw pulled by a black man, contrasted with images of Zulu villagers and members of a family from a nomadic African tribe, claimed to be the Besharin. Another image depicts the grave stones of British soldiers who fought in the Battlefield of Majuba Hill, the final and decisive battle of the First Boer War and took place in Volksrust on February 27, 1881. The First Boer War which means 'First Freedom War' in Afrikaans, also known as the First Anglo-Boer War, lasted from December 16, 1880, until March 23, 1881 between Great Britain and the South African Republic. This photograph has been named 'The Three Graces' and depicts young Zulu girls at the turn of the century This home is built in Dutch style and located in Cape Colony - was a British colony in what is now South Africa and Namibia Village life: This photo is captioned 'The Beauty of The Kraal', kraal being an Afrikaans word used by the Dutch settlers to describe several huts built in a circle Natural beauty: This image depicts the waterfalls on the Tugela River near Colenso, Natal Works of art: The images, which have been coloured, now almost look like paintings This image is said to depict a family from the Bischarin tribe - part of the nomadic Beja people, which are an ethnic group hailing from northeast Sudan Country road: A road in Waterloo Green, Wynberg, part of modern-day Cape Town, the second-largest city in South Africa Escaped rape suspect Brandon Lee Powell, 32 (pictured), shot himself dead at his parents' home in Antwerp, Ohio after being cornered by police Monday evening Authorities say a rape suspect who overpowered an Ohio sheriff's deputy to escape a transport van has killed himself during a police standoff, ending a three-day manhunt. Paulding County authorities say 32-year-old Branden Lee Powell shot himself Monday night at his parents' home near Antwerp, about 70 miles southwest of Toledo. Authorities say Powell was in a crawl space and shot himself as officers were trying to persuade him to surrender, around 9:30pm. 'While this is not the outcome law enforcement had hoped for, law enforcement hopes the community can rest knowing this armed and dangerous individual is no longer a danger to the community,' Paulding County Sheriff Jason Landers said. Powell was jailed July 8 and subsequently indicted on rape, attempted rape and sexual battery charges for an alleged assault in the Paulding County village of Antwerp. Powell is pictured above just before his break out on Friday, as he was being led out of the psychiatric hospital in restraints Powell overpowered a guard in a transport van and stole his weapon as he was traveling back to jail from the Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital in Toledo (pictured) on Friday The 32-year-old's escape started a nationwide manhunt on Friday. Above, the Paulding County Jail After being jailed, Powell slit his throat in a suicide attempt and underwent surgery at a hospital, Landers said. He was sent to Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital on July 13. Doctors at the psychiatric facility 'obviously concluded he was fit for incarceration in our facility,' Landers said. He was being transported back to the jail from the psychiatric hospital on Friday, August 4 when he overpowered a deputy and stole his gun. Powell jumped over a seat wearing leg shackles and handcuffs and put the deputy in a headlock, causing the van to crash. Authorities say Powell forced the deputy to remove the restraints. Powell then handcuffed the deputy to the steering wheel and disabled the van's police radio and engine before fleeing with the deputy's wallet, cellphone, gun and 30 rounds of ammunition, Landers said. The deputy suffered minor injuries. 'He fought as long as he could, and as well as he could,' Landers said. There was no mesh or other barriers separating the front and back of the van. They will be added, Landers said. Sheriff Landers says he's going to make sure another break out like Powell's doesn't happen again. 'I'm angry with myself. I take accountability for my office and the actions of my office. There's a couple of things that I know could have prevented this issue from happening that are changes that we'll put in place immediately, administratively,' Sheriff Landers said. For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here A teenager who left another pupil scarred for life after a wicked acid attack has been locked up for nearly two years. Emily Bowen poured drain cleaner containing sulphuric acid into a viola case owned by Molly Young. As she took the instrument from a shelf, acid poured from the case and the talented musician was left screaming in agony with severe burns on her legs. Molly Young, above, grabbed her viola case from a shelf, which contained sulphuric acid, and it then poured onto her legs, leaving her with horrific burns The incident took place at Knox Academy in Haddington, East Lothian, last year Bowen, now 18, previously admitted carrying out the attack at Knox Academy in Haddington, East Lothian, on September 29 last year. She returned to Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing with the judge describing the attack as utterly wicked. Sheriff Michael OGrady QC said: In the period leading up to these events you actually researched this topic. You have left a young woman to suffer a terrifying ordeal and she will be physically and mentally scarred for the rest of her life. Sheriff OGrady said that he had no option but for Bowen to be detained for 21 months. He also banned her from contacting Miss Young after making her the subject of a five-year non-harassment order. The court had previously heard that both girls were acquaintances and members of the schools orchestra before the incident. But the talented musicians fell out when Miss Young began seeing Bowens former boyfriend. In a planned revenge attack, Bowen bought a bottle of drain cleaner online and hid it in her locker. Acid attack first aid advice From St John Ambulance Chemical burns 1. Make sure that the area around the casualty is safe. Wear gloves to prevent you coming into contact with the chemical. If the chemical is in powder form, it can be brushed off of the skin. 2. Flood the burn with water for at least 20 minutes to disperse the chemical and stop the burning. Ensure that the water does not collect underneath the casualty. 3. Gently remove any contaminated clothing while flooding the injury. 4. Arrange to send the casualty to hospital. Monitor vital signs, such as breathing, pulse and level of response. Caution Never attempt to neutralise acid or alkali burns unless you are trained to do so Do not delay starting treatment by searching for an antidote Chemical burn to the eye 1. Hold the casualtys affected eye under gently running cold water for at least ten minutes. Irrigate the eyelid thoroughly both inside and out. 2. Make sure that contaminated water does not splash the uninjured eye 3. Ask the casualty to hold a clean, non-fluffy pad over the injured eye. 4. Arrange to send the casualty to hospital. Caution Do not allow the casualty to touch the injured eye Do not forcibly remove a contact lens Advertisement She sneaked into the schools music room where instruments are stored and poured the drain cleaner into the instrument case. Prosecutor Aidan Higgins told the court: When the victim went into the strings room she was aware of an eggy smell. She then took down her case and she was immediately aware of red liquid spilling from the bottom of the case and landing on her right leg. She looked down and saw her tights were disintegrating and she was aware of an intense burning on her leg. The victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and later transferred to St Johns Hospital in Livingston, West Lothian, for plastic surgery. The court heard the girl suffers psychological problems and has nerve damage as a result of the attack. Bowen was identified as the culprit after a schoolboy spotted her crouching down inside the deserted music room ten minutes before the incident occurred. Yesterday, defence solicitor Jim Stephenson told the court that Bowen had recently been diagnosed with autism and was also suffering depression. He added his young client struggles to deal with things but has a supportive family and asked for a community order to be imposed so she can be monitored. But Sheriff OGrady told Bowen: You should understand there is currently a very real public concern and fear about the emergence of this awful substance. It must be plain to anyone who resorts to acid for whatever purpose the courts will not tolerate its possession or use for any criminal act. It is with considerable regret that I have come to the conclusion that nothing but a custodial sentence is appropriate. Eric Wrobleski has been accused of groping two young girls at a Walmart store A 25-year-old man has been arrested after being accused of groping two girls, aged eight and 11, at a Walmart store in Florida. Eric Wrobleski allegedly grabbed his first victim's buttocks as she shopped with her mother. The 11-year-old's mom contacted the Collier County Sheriff's Office, NBC2 reports. After his arrest, police became aware of a further allegation. It is alleged that an eight-year-old girl said a man had touched her buttocks while she was at the Walmart store. Surveillance footage is claimed to show Wrobleski walking around the school supply section of the store eight times. He has been charged with two counts of lewd conduct on a minor. I believe that our president should never deliberately lie to the people of the United States. What he says to people of other nations is a separate issue. I propose that a law be passed to make such lies misdemeanors. How can any senator or congressman not support its passage? On what grounds? Can the President justify vetoing the passage of such a law? Can we get our senators and congressman to propose and sponsor this idea? Sid Neff Billings Two buses and a car have been targeted in a violent attack by vandals who used rocks and bricks to smash the windows of their vehicles. All three incidents occurred on Monday evening at Nelson Road, in Para Vista, a northern suburb of Adelaide in South Australia within a 24-hour period. The incident has left locals fuming with some labeling the vandals as 'stupid', 'idiots' and advising them to 'grow up' and 'get a job,' Nine News reports. Scroll down for video Two buses and a motorist's car were struck with rocks and bricks by vandals on Monday night One of the buses that was struck by the vandals on Monday night had its side door damaged The first incident occurred just after 6.30pm on Monday, when a front side window of a southbound bus was struck by an object on Nelson Road, police say. No one was injured, and the bus continued on its route. A second bus was hit travelling northbound on the same street just before 10.30pm, however, fortunately no damage occurred. The vandals also targeted a car, damaging its window while the driver escaped unhurt. Transport Workers Union official Colin Fenney has labelled the incidents as 'serious,' he said. '...The bus can veer off the road... it is really serious,' he said in reference to the rocks and bricks. Transport Workers Union official Colin Fenney (pictured) has labelled the incidents as 'serious' Some of the bricks and rocks used by vandals and thrown at buses and a car travelling along Nelson Road in Para Vista on Monday night 'If they get caught, they will be locked up, that's what we have pushed for,' he added. A South Australian police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that investigations on the matter were still on going. Police have searched the area but did not locate any suspects. China's navy and air force flexed their muscles in live-fire drills close to North Korea amid escalating tension over Kim Jong-un's nuclear test. The drill included the firing of missiles and according to the ministry aimed to hone the military's abilities to conduct coastal assaults. It comes as China announced it was prepared to face the consequences of backing a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea. Military exercises: Destroyer Taizhou fires missile during a drill on August 7, 2017 in China Video footage shows the drill taking place in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf Both the navy and army conducted exercises which involved the firing of dozens of missiles The live drills were held on August 7 just off China's east coast in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf, adjacent to the Korean Peninsula. Both the navy and army conducted exercises which involved the firing of dozens of missiles. Footage from CCTV News shows sections of the drill taking place. Four missile frigates fire missiles during a drill on August 7 in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea China's Ministry of Defence claim that the drills were aimed at testing weapons Chinese government announced that it was prepared to face the consequences of sanctioning North Korea Dozens of ships and 10 aircraft took part in the drills. China's Ministry of Defence claim that the drills were aimed at testing weapons and honing the military's abilities in conducting coastal assaults along with intercepting air targets. The drill comes just days after China backed new sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear weapons pursuits. Earlier today, the Chinese government announced that it was prepared to face the consequences of sanctioning North Korea despite being one of its biggest traders. North Korea has since vowed that the sanctions would not stop it from developing its nuclear arsenal. Preparing? Dozens of ships and around 10 aircraft took part in the drills Screened in China: Video footage of the drill was shown on Chinese state television North Korea said it is 'carefully examining' a plan to strike the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam with missiles, just hours after President Donald Trump told the country that any threat to the U.S. would be met with 'fire and fury.' A spokesman for the Korean People's Army, in a statement carried by the North's state-run KCNA news agency, said Wednesday the strike plan will be 'put into practice in a multi-current and consecutive way any moment' once leader Kim Jong Un makes a decision. Guam, which is roughly 2,128 miles from North Korea, is home to both Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam housing thousands of American service members and their families. Roughly 28 percent of the island is occupied by the U.S. military. The base houses bomber assurance and deterrence missions, including six B-52s which the air force says provide 'strategic global strike capability [to] deter potential adversaries and provide reassurance to allies' and that they are ready to go. In another statement citing a different military spokesman, North Korea also said it could carry out a pre-emptive operation if the U.S. showed signs of provocation. Earlier Pyongyang said it was ready to give Washington a 'severe lesson' with its strategic nuclear force in response to any U.S. military action. The statement from the North comes after Trump told the country's leader Tuesday that additional threats of violence against the U.S. 'will be met with fire and the fury like the world has never seen.' Scroll down for video North Korea said it is 'carefully examining' a plan to strike the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam with missiles. The strike plan will be 'put into practice in a multi-current and consecutive way any moment' once leader Kim Jong Un (file above) makes a decision This comes hours after President Donald Trump (above on Tuesday) delivered his fiercest warning yet to North Korea Tuesday afternoon Guam, which is known as the 'Tip of the Spear', is home to thousands of American service members and their families at both Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam 'He has been very threatening beyond a normal state, and as I said they will be met with the fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before,' Trump added in remarks at the top of an unrelated meeting. U.S. MILITARY BASES ON GUAM Guam, which is roughly 2,128 miles from North Korea, is home to both Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam. The two U.S. military bases house nuclear bombers and other key assets; they both fall under Joint Region Marianas. Andersen Air Force Base is located on the north end of Guam, approximately 15 miles from the capital Agana. It is in the village of Yigo. The base houses bomber assurance and deterrence missions, including six B-52s which the air force says provide 'strategic global strike capability [to] deter potential adversaries and provide reassurance to allies'. Naval Base Guam is located on the southwest side of the island and has four fast-attack nuclear submarines and an expeditionary helicopter squadron. Roughly 28 percent of the island is occupied by the U.S. military. At least 6,000 U.S. troops are stationed there. Advertisement He stopped just short of a firm promise to declare war on Kim's government if the dictatorship continues to talk about 'physical action' to the U.S. 'North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,' Trump cautioned after a reporter asked him about the nuclear standoff. Trump told the world Tuesday morning that it must be vigilant against North Korea in the face of new threats from the country's young dictator. Kim had warned the United States that it would pay 'pay dearly' for the United Nations sanctions regime it successfully imposed over the weekend and hinted at military action as tensions continued to escalate. 'Physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilization of all its national strength,' North Korea's state-run news agency said Tuesday. The 33-year-old Kim was lashing out at a U.S. push to drain him of the hard currency he needs to develop his nuclear program that Russia and China reluctantly signed on to last weekend. The sanctions put a hard stop to a third of North Korea's export revenue - a deafening blow to the country's economy. Trump celebrated the universal participation of Security Council countries in the sanctions with a tweet this morning that said, 'After many years of failure,countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!' A Washington Post report on Tuesday suggested that North Korea had invented a miniaturized warhead that it has the capability of attaching to the intercontinental ballistic missiles its been testing. Trump told the country's leader that additional threats of violence against the U.S. 'will be met with the fire and the fury like the world has never seen' Comments from Trump came during a briefing on the opioid crisis on Tuesday at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster The development brings the country dangerously close to its goal of creating of a nuclear weapon that can hit targets in the U.S. Alaska, Hawaii and California would be at an especially high risk if Kim's scientists finish the weapons and North Korea decides to use them. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said on Tuesday that he is seriously worried about a possible North Korean missile strike on his state as well as the rest of the United States. 'There's concern, but there's also pride,' Sullivan said on Fox News's 'The Story' Tuesday. 'Alaska is the cornerstone of our nation's missile defense.' He added that Alaska's missile defense battalion 'is literally protecting the country.' 'The Alaska guard unit there calls themselves the 300, protecting the 300 million,' Sullivan said. 'So that's what they're doing now, protecting us.' According to the report, US officials estimate that Kim now has 60 nuclear weapons in his possession. By comparison, the US is estimated to have more than 6,800 in its stockpile, and Russia is thought to have 7,000. Shortly after Trump's morning message, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley appeared on Fox & Friends to deliver tough talk to North Korea and take a victory lap on sanctions. 'The United States will respond accordingly, and I think the international community will respond accordingly,' she said of the dangerous actions that Kim could take in response to the punishing actions. A Washington Post report earlier in the day on Tuesday suggested that North Korea had invented a miniaturized warhead that it has the capability of attaching to the intercontinental ballistic missiles its been testing. Trump stopped just short of a firm promise to declare war on Kim's government if the dictatorship continues to talk about 'physical action' to the U.S. during the meeting in New Jersey with Kellyanne Conway (left), HHS Secretary Tom Price, (second left), Melania Trump (second right) and the National Drug Control Policy Center's Richard Baum (right) Former President Barack Obama's aide Dan Pfeiffer went after Trump's warning to North Korea on Tuesday. Pfeiffer tweeted, 'Don't gloss over the fact that Trump threatened what can only be interpreted as a nuclear attack on North Korea if Kim Jong Un taunts him.' It's up to North Korean leader to decide whether his response is, 'OK the international community is telling me to stop or he is going to have, you know, a temper tantrum,' she'd said. Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy worried that Kim is rejecting the international mandate. 'It sounds like, we are getting closer to a shootin' war,' he told Haley. 'But we don't run scared,' Haley asserted. 'This had to happen, we had to go after his hard currency, we had to stop it.' 'How he responds? He's now going to have to think what's the end game? Is he really going to come after the United States knowing what the United States can do back? He's gotta make that calculation,' the high-ranking U.S. diplomat assessed. Former President Barack Obama's aide Dan Pfeiffer went after Trump's warning to North Korea on Tuesday. Pfeiffer tweeted, 'Don't gloss over the fact that Trump threatened what can only be interpreted as a nuclear attack on North Korea if Kim Jong Un taunts him.' On Monday, North Korea promised to 'teach the US a severe lesson' if it puts its military might to the test on the Korean Peninsula. 'We will, under no circumstances, put the nukes and ballistic rockets on the negotiating table,' North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said, effectively declining to engage in talks about the nuclear program. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, 33, first warned that the United States would 'pay dearly' for the United Nations sanctions regime it successfully imposed over the weekend and hinted at 'physical action' as tensions continued to escalate Shortly after the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley appeared on Fox & Friends to deliver to more tough talk to North Korea State-run KCNA news agency meanwhile claimed that North Korea 'will make the US pay dearly for all the heinous crimes it commits against the state and people of this country.' KCNA cautioned the U.S. against 'believing that its land is safe across the ocean' in what it described as a 'stern warning to the US.' Tuesday it slapped the U.S. again, saying in a statement that appeared in the New York Times: 'Packs of wolves are coming in attack to strangle a nation...They should be mindful that the D.P.R.K.'s strategic steps accompanied by physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilization of all its national strength.' Kim is fuming over a United Nations Security Council resolution that will cut a billion out of his $3 billion economy annually. The resolution bans North Korea exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood and blocks off other cash-rich avenues, including joint ventures. Naval Base Guam (file above) is located on the west side of the island. There is an estimated 6,300 active duty Navy members and 6,900 family members living on Guam as well as a significant population of retired military personnel The U.S. pushed the resolution through the Security Council on Saturday with the aid of Russia and China, North Korea's largest trading partner. 'Yes, China and Russia were not the easiest, but at the end of the day they came through, and that's all that matters,' Haley said this morning on Fox & Friends of the vote to put heavy penalties on North Korea over its continued nuclear tests. China favors deconfliction with North Korea and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula but not the displacement of Kim. Beijing is concerned that a coup would put the country's stockpile of weapons in nefarious hands. It joined the U.S. and 13 other nations that sit on the Security Council in approving new sanctions on North Korea, a nation with whom it shares a border, after Washington threatened to restrict access to its financial institutions last week. North Korea's ramped up missile tests since Trump took office has the United States pursuing aggressive measures in the region, including Chinese sanctions. Military action remains on the table, as well, sparking fears internationally that the conflict will result in war. The Trump administration's attempts to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear and missile ambitions have so far gained little traction. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned of an 'effective and overwhelming' response against North Korea if it chose to use nuclear weapons but has said any military solution would be 'tragic on an unbelievable scale.' The United States has 28,500 troops in South Korea to guard against the North Korean threat. Japan hosts around 54,000 U.S. military personnel, the U.S. Department of Defense says, and tens of thousands of Americans work in both countries. Seoul is home to a population of roughly 10 million, within range of massed pre-targeted North Korean rockets and artillery, which would be impossible to destroy in a first U.S. strike. A rising number of Republicans - 48 percent - want Trump to go that route. That's a jump from 37 percent in an April CBS News poll. A majority of Americans are fearful that Trump is not equipped to go to battle with Kim, though. In the CBS survey, 61 percent of voters expressed doubts. Most do not think North Korea will actually try to strike the U.S. with one of the intercontinental ballistic missiles it's been testing, however. Nearly seven in 10 Americans think Kim is using the nuclear program to gain power and influence. An elderly dog walker found dead in woods could have been stabbed to death by drug gangs using the area as a meeting point, concerned residents claimed today. The 83-year-old man died after he was repeatedly stabbed in the head and neck while in a popular area of woods bordering heathland near East Harling, Norfolk. Today, members of the community queued at the police cordon to tell officers about sightings of suspected drug deals in the quaint woodland beauty spot. Scenes of crime officers hunt for clues in the area where the dogwalker's body was found It is understood that the pensioner had gone to walk his dogs alone between 9am and 11am The 83-year-old man died after he was repeatedly stabbed in the head and neck in Norfolk Forensic teams and police dog units continued to investigate the crime scene today after the married father-of-two was found dead on Sunday morning. Terry Ransom, 73, said he and his wife walked where the body was found nearly every day and the elderly victim could have stumbled upon a drug deal. After speaking to police officers guarding the crime scene, Mr Ransom said: 'I only came down here because it could have been me. I feel a bit gutted really. 'I've got to think of that old chap, he's come up here in the morning, he's gone and done his normal walk and someone has stabbed him to death. 'I would suggest that this area is a well-known drugs exchange area. I cannot see why a random attacker would attack an 83-year-old unless it's for drugs. 'It's a shock to me that he's only just got up and he's just taken his dogs walking. It is known in the area, people are in and out here all the time. The man had been in a popular area of woods bordering heathland near East Harling, Norfolk Police have admitted the motive for the killing of the married father-of-two remains unclear 'My wife sees what goes on a lot. They were in there at the end of June, one was about 20 and one was about 35. 'She has seen a lot of strange cars up that bit and you normally look to see if they have got a dog but they sit in their cars and then they are gone. 'I always carry a stick with me when it's dark and I'm walking just in case someone did come out.' A forensics team, police sergeant, officers and PCSOs were at the crime scene today where several police cars and vans were parked by the sealed off area. Mr Ransom said the area had been popular with dog walkers for years but he and his wife had started spotting suspicious activity in the woods at the end of June. Mr Ransom, who lives in Attleborough but takes his Lurcher dog to the site, said: 'It's the one place around here you can really let the dogs off. The man who died in Norfolk was said to have been a 'well liked member of the community' The man was found by another dog walker on Saturday, who also found his two pets unharmed 'There were two people hiding things in the wood up there about a month ago, they looked like Roma gypsies. 'One was keeping watch and the other one was in and out in and out and them they swapped around and they were in there for 40 minutes with their car door open. 'Two days later on the Sunday afternoon I was just coming back on the pathway and there a young boy and he pulled up on his mountain bike, did a wheelie, flung his bike down and he was feeling about, picked up a package, smelt it and put it in his jacket. 'Once there was a chap in there, he was about 22 or 23 and he was just staring at me, what he was in there for I don't know but we do see a lot of people in there.' A Norfolk Police spokesman said the force was investigating all lines of enquiry. Yesterday, officers admitted that the motive for the killing of the father-of-two, who was a 'well liked member of the community', remains unclear. The murder has rocked the small community and residents have been left concerned The body was spotted beside a path through the woods around 100 yards from a lay by The man was found by another dog walker on Saturday, who also found his two pets unharmed near to his body. The murder has rocked the small community and residents have been left concerned for the welfare of their families as the suspect remains at large. It is understood that the pensioner had gone to walk his dogs alone that morning between 9am and 11am, but police are unsure whether he had met up with another dog walker. Michael Moore, 50, the manager of nearby Lodge Farm, said it was a popular spot with families. 'Normally we only see dog walkers and some families out for a walk up here,' he said. 'There are paths in the woods and there is also a little area which is a wildlife reserve. 'It is a bit frightening when something like this happens on your doorstep.' The man died as a result of 'multiple stab wounds to his head and neck', a post mortem found The man was 'a local, married man who was a well-liked member of the community', police said Elizabeth Mould, the vice chairman of Harling Parish Council, said parents were concerned to let their children out into the street to play. 'Everyone is appalled and shocked as you would expect in a small rural community,' she said. 'A lot of us walk our dogs down in the woods so we are worried. One assumes the killer is still out there 'Families with young children are worried and wondering if it is safe to let their children out to play. There is shock and concern for the family of the victim. 'East Harling is normally a very quiet place with only a little bit of anti-social behaviour.' The man's body was found beside a path through woodland around 300ft (91m) from a country lane lay-by close to East Harling. The woodland in Norfolk is managed by the Forestry Commission and borders a field of pigs The area which borders a field full of pigs was cordoned off by police as officers stood guard A post mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist on Sunday established that the man had died as a result of 'multiple stab wounds to his head and neck'. Yesterday, police officers had cordoned off a large area of the woodland which is managed by the Forestry Commission and borders a field of pigs and had erected a white forensics tent. Detectives hunting the knifeman said the public held 'vital clues' as to the killer's identity. Norfolk county's police commander, Chief Superintendent Mike Fawcett said 50 police officers were working on Operation Graduit and added: "I'm not in a position to identify the victim at this time. "I would characterise this as a brutal murder on a 83-year-old male who has been out walking his dogs in the morning on the Norfolk countryside who has been attacked with a knife and stabbed in the neck and the head. Officers talking at the scene in East Harling as they carry out their investigations "We don't know the motive of the attack. "We that the public could hold the key to this murder investigation and we are appealing to the members of the public. "We remain in early stages of the investigation and whilst carrying out extensive inquiries we believe that a member of the public may hold a vital clue." Mike Fawcett, Norfolk's county policing commander chief superintendent, said: 'Residents will be shocked and concerned that a murder with this level of brutality can happen to an elderly man going about his daily business in our county. 'The motive remains unclear and we are appealing for people who have noticed any unusual activity in the area recently. 'He had gone out walking his dogs in the morning, is a local man, and my assumption is that he would have walked his dogs locally. 'The dogs were found in a very calm state at the scene and they were fit and well. They went away willingly with the police who attended. 'The information is that the man went out alone. Whether he was walking alone or not, I cannot say. 'It was a brutal knife attack and we do not know why it took place. At this time, no weapon has been recovered. 'The information that I have got is that the victim was a local, married man who was a well-liked member of the community'. An incredible video showing protests during the early days of the Black Panther Party movement has emerged. Footage shows protesters marching in Hutton Memorial Park in Alameda County, California, while a voiceover by Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale outlines the party's ten-point programme for reform in America. The video also shows student protesters marching outside the Alameda County Courthouse to protest the arrest of Huey P. Newton, who had co-founded the party in 1966 along with Seale. The incredible footage shows the Black Panthers campaigning for the release of party co-founder Huey Newton who had been jailed for killing a police officer in Oakland, California Newton was jailed in late 1967 having been found guilty of the voluntary manslaughter of an Oakland police officer during a traffic stop - although he was later freed on appeal The Black Panther movement was founded in October 1966 as a militant civil rights group Newton was imprisoned in late 1967 after being found guilty of the voluntary manslaughter of an Oakland police officer during a traffic stop, though he was later freed on appeal. Founded on October 15, 1966, the original purpose of the Black Panther movement was to organise armed patrols to challenge police brutality towards the black community on the streets of Oakland, California. However, with growing support from the Afro-American community the group grew rapidly. Starting with just six members, by 1970 the group boasted chapters in 68 cities across the United States, with additional chapters in the U.K. and Algeria. They soon set out a ten-point programme, voiced by Bobby Seale in the video. 'One, we want freedom. We want the power to determine and destine our own black communities. Two, we want full employment for our people. Three, we want decent housing fit for the shelter of human beings. As part of this demonstration, leader Bobby Seale outlined the demands of the black community to equal rights, jobs, decent housing and access to a quality education 'Four, we want an end to the robbery of the black community by the white racist businessman. Five, we want decent education to teach us about the true nature of this racist decadent system Six, we want all black brothers to be exempt from military service. 'Seven, we want an immediate end to police brutality and the murder of black people. Eight, we want all black brothers and sisters held in federal, county, state and city jails to be released because they have not had a fair trial. Nine, we just want the courts to make sure that we have peers on the jury of people from the black community, as defined by the jive constitution of the so called United States. Bobby Seale, left and Huey Newton, right, were leading members of the Black Panthers Eldridge Cleaver, left, and Stokely Carmichael were both inloved in the civil rights movement Black Panther leader Fred Hampton was killed during a police raid on December 4, 1969 'And ten, a summary, with the major political objectives. That is, we want land, bread, housing, clothing, education, and justice. We want peace, a black plebiscite where black colonial subjects can participate dealing with, analysing, objecting upon this racist atrocity that has embittered black people in this nation.' Huey Newton was released at the height of the Black Panther movement in 1970, and in the ensuing years the group attempted to build on its popularity. However, in 1974 Newton was forced into exile in Cuba, and the group began a steady decline under its new leader, Elaine Brown. The United States government was carrying out a strong counter-intelligence operation against the Panthers, which caused much in-fighting amongst the leadership and led to many high-profile departures from the group, despite Bobby Seale running for Oakland town council in 1975. Their decline continued throughout the 1970s, with allegations of drug-dealing and extortion rife, and by 1980 the Panthers had just 27 members. Huey P. Newton was killed in Oakland in August 1989, while Seale is now 80-years-old. A 26-year-old Georgia woman will now have to give birth behind bars, and spend the first years away from her child, after she was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday. Kayla Medckie pleaded guilty in April to a child cruelty charge, in connection to the 2013 death of her three-year-old daughter Ella Camp. Ella died after being beaten by Medckie's then boyfriend, David Zachary Gresham, who is currently serving a life in prison sentence. It's unclear who the father of her unborn baby is. On Monday, a Georgia judge decided to give Medckie a 10-year sentence, four years to be served behind bars and six on probation. Ten years is the maximum sentence for the charge. Kayla Medckie, 26 (left), was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty in April to second-degree child cruelty in the 2013 death of her three-year-old daughter Ella Camp (right) She had been on house arrest ever since her November 2013 arrest, and was only allowed to leave to go to and from work. While she officially pleaded guilty to the charges against her, in court she continued to feign innocence in her daughter's death. During the trial, it was revealed that before the fatal beating, Ella had complained to her grandmother that Gresham had been touching her inappropriately. Ella was beat to death in September 2013 by her mother's boyfriend, David Zachary Gresham (pictured) The grandmother appears to have informed Medckie about her daughter's claims, as she confronted her boyfriend about the issue the night before her daughter died. But on September 17, 2013, Medckie nonetheless left her daughter alone with her boyfriend when they stopped to get gas at a gas station. While Medckie was inside paying, video captured Gresham beating Ella in the back seat so hard that it caused the car to shake. 'The gas station video shows Gresham striking Ella Camp no less than eight times, Staats said. He struck the child so hard that you could see the car shaking with the impact,' Assistant District Attorney Natalee Staats said, according to the Rome News-Tribune. The video also shows Medckie returning to the car and checking in on her daughter in the back seat, who was by then crying. But she says she didn't know at the time that her daughter was crying because she had been battered 'I asked her why she was crying and she said "I dont know,"' Medckie testified. 'Zack said "Shes always crying," so I closed the door and pumped the gas.' Gresham was arrested after Camp's death in September. He is currently serving a life in prison sentence without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty last year to murder, cruelty to children and assault charges. Before the judge handed down his sentence on Monday, her mother asked for mercy since her daughter was pregnant. 'God gave her this baby and I ask you, please, dont take this babys mother away from him,' Medckies mother, Joy Martin, said. During the sentencing phase, prosecutors claimed that Medckie got pregnant to avoid incarceration. The judge denied that allegation in his sentencing. 'Its unfortunate. Its somewhat indicative of bad decision-making, but Im not going to hold that against you,' he said. In addition to four years behind bars, Medckie has been ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and perform community service. Michael Kellar, 56, was arrested on July 31 after a passenger on his flight from Washington to California allegedly spotted him plotting via text message to drug and rape a pair of young children Newly unsealed federal documents have revealed the sick messages that police say were sent between two people who planned to drug and rape a pair of young children. Michael Kellar, 56, of Tacoma, was arrested in San Jose, California on July 31, after a woman behind him on a flight from Seattle snapped images of the disturbing messages and alerted Southwest Airlines staff. Those texts were then found to have been sent to Kellar's associate, Gail Burnworth, 50, who was also arrested. Now those messages have been revealed for the first time - and they make for chilling reading. The messages, which police say they obtained Burnworth's phone, appear to show the couple planning a campaign of child abuse against a pair of siblings aged five and seven. Both of those kids - and a third - live with Burnworth, her ex-husband and her ex-husband's wife, and Burnworth had been acting as their babysitter, police said. The conversations featured in the court documents have been replicated in full at the bottom of this article, but certain sections have been redacted as DailyMail.com considers them too distressing to reprint. The extracts begin with Kellar texting Burnworth on July 28 - a Friday - to 'get some pics' even though 'the mother is home'. 'Pics baby???' he allegedly said. 'Maybe some panty shots??? If so wrestling with her and pulling them to the side?' According to the documents, Burnworth then said 'No not right now sorry' but added that she would be alone with the children on Sunday, and that he would get pictures 'and a lot of the videos as well'. You'll have to give them lots of Benadryl ... Do you think I could f**k them? Michael Kellar to Gail Burnworth about the children, 5 and 7, she's babysitting, according to court documents The documents show him asking her to describe what he will see, at which point she graphically describes how she intends to orally and anally abuse both children. 'you can do this or are you just saying this???' Kellar then replied, according to the documents. She then allegedly said: 'No I think I can do it if I dont have parents over my shoulder or worried about who's going to walk in on me. 'And then on Sunday I will have the kids no parents just kids.' He then advises that she will 'have to give them lots of Benadryl' and asks 'Do you think I could f**k them?' Burnworth appears to misunderstand and think he is asking her to have sex with them, at which point she says she's only prepared to perform oral sex on the two children. Police said Gail Burnworth, 50, was the recipient and was babysitting the two kids. She admitted to sending the texts, which included conversations about bestiality Kellar then explains what he meant and asks if she will watch him as he has sex with the children 'if you can get them knocked out with Benadryl.' 'Yes I will,' she says, explaining 'I know that this is something you would really like to do - and I would love to do with you.' 'Would you really?' he asks. 'Sometimes I think you do this just for me!' The second block of texts comes from July 31, the following Monday, when Kellar was on the plane to San Jose. They start with Kellar allegedly asking if Burnworth is 'still with the kids' and if he can have 'all the videos today'. Burnworth apparently replies the mother is there, but 'after she leaves I can start doing videos for you.' According to the documents, he then asks her to make videos of 'the kids in their underwear,' which she agrees to do 'today' and 'tonight.' He also asks if she had Benadryl, which she says she does, the transcript shows. In-between the enthusiastic talk of child abuse, there are passages that suggest Burnworth filmed herself eating dog feces for Kellar's benefit. In one text sent on July 28, he allegedly said: 'BTW I love watching you eat s**t baby! It really turns me on! Thank you so much!!!' On July 31, she apparently agrees to make further feces-eating videos after he requests 'Dog s**t eating videos Dog sucking videos Kids videos.' He then apparently specifies: 'Maybe you can take the dogs outside when she leaves and video then [sic] s***ting. Then bring it in the house and make the dog s**t eating videos?' I know this is something you would really like to do - and I would love to do with you Burnworth to Kellar, about his child-rape fantasies, according to court documents The pair were caught out after a schoolteacher behind Kellar photographed the texts - which were in an unusually large font - and passed them on to plane staff. The heroic woman - who does not wish to be named - then pointed out Kellar to police, who arrested him at San Jose. Burnworth was taken in after California police collaborated with officers in the pair's home town of Tacoma, Seattle. Athorities said it appeared that two children, aged 5 and 7, were also in the home, and were being sexually abused. Seattle and San Jose police declined to discuss the children's relationship to Kellar and Burnworth, or how the two suspects knew each other. However, authorities said that, as a babysitter, Burnworth had access to children and that Kellar was getting to the victims through her. Under interrogation by police, Burnworth and Kellar both admitted to being aroused by children, prosecutors said. Kellar initially said that he was just describing fantasies that he had previously discussed with Burnworth, the unsealed documents claim. But police say she told them she 'probably' would have committed the sickening crimes described in the texts. She also admitted already making 20 videos of the children and sending them to Kellar, according to the documents. Both were charged on Monday with attempted enticement of a minor, including rape of a child and conspiracy to produce child pornography. Kellar is in custody in Northern California, awaiting extradition to Washington. Kellar was arrested at Mineta San Jose International Airport (pictured) after a schoolteacher behind him spotted the texts and notified staff. California police then liaised with colleagues in Washington to find and take in Burnworth The woman who spotted the alleged horrifying messages was a pre-school teacher on her way to a vacation, it emerged on Monday. The eagle-eyed passenger took photos of Kellar's texts before contacting staff aboard the plane. 'One minute she is on her way to visit family on her vacation, the next thing you know her actions saved two children from continuous molestation,' said San Jose police Sgt Brian Spears. 'I feel she is absolutely a hero and was paramount to this investigation.' BTW I love watching you eat s**t baby! It really turns me on! Thank you so much!!!' Kellar to Burnworth in a text message, according to court documents Spears, who who heads Silicon Valleys Internet Crimes Against Children task force, said that he had met with the woman the day after the pair were arrested. 'I felt that she needed to be told in person she is our hero. I was blessed to meet her, gave her a big hug and said thank you,' Spears said. 'She was emotional. She said "I just knew something was wrong" and she felt it in her heart.' But the woman rejected the label 'hero,' telling The Mercury News 'I don't need a bunch of attention. I'm just so thankful the kids are safe.' She said that she noticed Kellar 'obsessively' poring over texts, then saw - in an unusually large text font - the sentence that chilled her to the core: 'Child in their underwear.' 'I thought, "What did I just see?" My heart started racing,' she said. 'Then I could see more texts coming in. Before I knew it, I was reading messages from the the other person saying, "I'm going to do these things."' The passenger said her instinct told her to snap some discreet photos of the messages but she became increasingly nervous to how she was going to report it without Kellar noticing - particularly as the plane was about to land. Thankfully, a flight attendant noticed her concern and asked what was wrong. 'She asked if I was OK, and I told her what I saw, very quietly,' the passenger said. 'She said, "Hold on," and told me I was going to talk with somebody.' The police were swiftly alerted and San Jose police officers at Mineta San Jose International Airport met the passenger near the gate, along with ICAC and FBI agents. Meanwhile, Kellar was delayed from deboarding to allow the authorities a chance to view the photos of his messages. He, and later Burnworth, were arrested. Meanwhile, the passenger who reported them left the airport and carried on with her vacation. This transcript, taken from unsealed court documents, purports to show the conversation between 'M' (Kellar) and 'G' (Burnworth) on Friday July 28 and, later, Monday July 30 In the documents Burnworth appears to promise Kellar that she will sent him photos and videos of her abusing the children on Sunday; the pair were arrested the next day Some portions of the transcripts are too graphic and too distressing for DailyMail.com to reprint; they have been pixelated in this sample and others In the extracts Burnworth appears to tell Kellar she will abuse the children with him 'Because this is something that you would really like to do - and I would love to do with you' In later texts, from July 31, Kellar apparently encourages Burnworth to film herself eating dog feces as well as asking her to sent him 'Dog sucking videos Kids videos' A two-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself at his Kansas City, Missouri, home on Sunday. Police were called to the apartment complex at 1.13am on Sunday by the boy's parents. He was at home with his parents and a younger sibling when the incident occurred. The toddler, who was almost two, died in hospital. His identity has not yet been released by police. A two-year-old boy shot and killed himself at his home in this Kansas City, Missouri, apartment complex in the early hours of Sunday morning Kansas City Police Department has not revealed whether the gun was legally owned. On Monday, spokesman for the force Darrin Snap told KTLA the weapon had to have been left out in the open for the toddler to be able to get a hold of it. 'This child was very, very small and was able to get a gun and shoot himself. 'That gun had to have been in the open somewhere, very easily accessible to a child under three.' Neighbor Allyn Alama said he often saw the boy playing outside with his doting parents. Neighbors say the child often played outside in the courtyard and was 'full of life'. His parents and another sibling were home at the time of the tragedy Neighbor Allyn Alama (pictured) heard the boy's parents screaming 'my baby' after the shooting 'You could tell they loved him. 'You could see them riding his little jeep in the courtyard there every weekend. 'Laughing, smiling, like a happy little boy,' he told KCTV. He saw the family in the frantic aftermath of the tragedy. 'They were screaming and saying "my baby,"" he said. On Facebook, Alama, 53, said the child was 'full of joy, laughter and life'. No arrests have been made but Kansas City Police Department's investigation is ongoing. Officers have urged gun owners to take advantage of the free gun locks that are at all of the force's stations. Shocking footage has caught the moment a Chinese father slaps a female nurse for failing to fit an Intravenous Catheter (IV) needle into his baby. The nurse was hit so hard across the face on August 6 that her cap can be seen falling off and hitting the ground. The parents told the nurse to stop trying as they claimed the nurse was 'using their baby as experiment'. CCTV footage shows a nurse trying to inject an IV to a two-year-old toddler in southern China The father suddenly slapped the nurse as she had several failed attempted in finding the baby's vein (left). The mother yelled at the nurse while she stopped the bleeding (right) CCTV footage captures the moment the father furiously slaps the nurse's face while holding his two-year-old baby in his arms. The incident took place in Zhaoqing, southern China's Guangdong Province, on August 6. The couple, surnamed Qin, took their children to Zhaoqing Duanzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital at around 10 am for vaccinations. The nurse, surnamed Wang, was on duty to insert an IV needle. According to Kankanews, Wang failed to find the vein after inserting the needle under the skin, she decided to pull it out and try again. But the father got angry and slapped her in the face. The father accused the nurse not being a professional to inject an IV after few failed attempts The nurse, surnamed Wang, was found to have slight tinnitus and dizziness after inspection 'If you are not qualified to be a professional, then don't do it. I have told you many times before,' said Mr Qin. Mr Qin said in the video that Wang insisted on trying and treated his baby as experiment. Mrs Qin then yelled at the nurse: 'I have told you many times, and you always make the same mistake!' As the parents scolded her, Ms Wang continued her work to stop bleeding on the children's foot by putting pressure on the spot. Reports said Ms Wang had worked in the hospital for a few years and is considered an experienced medical worker. Wang was confirmed to have suffered minor injuries such as slight tinnitus and dizziness after an inspection at the hospital. She is now taking sick leave at home. The hospital had reported the case to local policemen. However, Wang considered the parent's circumstances and decided not to follow up the liability anymore. The producer of anti-vaccination film Vaxxed has been banned from Australia after entering the country to secretly tour the movie around the nation. Polly Tommey revealed she had been banned in two separate Facebook videos after arriving in New Zealand with the rest of the team. She claimed her phone had been confiscated by immigration officials, who had taken photographs of her emails, and she had been told she would not be welcome back for three years. Polly Tommey (right) claims she was detained at the airport for 'a long time' on Sunday as she tried to leave Australia for New Zealand 'Australia to me is literally the worst country I've visited,' she said during an interview with some New Zealand parents. 'I had my phone taken away as I left. They confiscated my phone and took photos of all my emails and texts. 'They also told me I was banned from Australia for three years.' Later, she took to Facebook again to explain the situation further, where she revealed immigration officials were particularly interested in her correspondence with Meryl Dorey. Ms Dorey runs the Australian Vaccination-Skeptics Network, Australia's most controversial anti-vaccination group. Ms Tommey revealed in a Facebook Live video immigration officials confiscated her phone and took particular interest in her emails to the AVN 'I got pulled over, and I'm held in there for a long time,' Ms Tommey explained to viewers. 'They took my phone, they took photographs of everything in my phone. 'I could have kicked up a fuss and called a lawyer and the British Embassy, but I didn't want to miss my flight to New Zealand. 'After lots of questions, and questions about how dangerous 'Vaxxed' is ,and taking photos of any correspondence between me and the Australian Vaccination Network, they told me I was banned from Australia for three years.' Ms Tommey said she was not given a reason for her ban, simply told her anti-vaccination film was dangerous. Ms Tommey (left) produced the film Vaxxed, which aims to prove there is a link between childhood autism and the MMR vaccine 'They didn't give me a reason, they couldn't give me a reason. They just said if they'd known I was coming in beforehand, they wouldn't have let me in,' she said. The Vaxxed team's tour through Australia was conducted under a thick sheath of secrecy. Ticket holders to the film screenings were not given an exact location for the screening until two hours beforehand, and in at least one case were made to meet about 500 metres from the actual venue, then walk in a pack to get there. Many of the venues themselves revealed they were unaware of what the screenings were really for, with one public school claiming they were told the group would be learning about organic vegetables. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Immigration for comment. A man and woman were arrested on the evening of July 29 after allegedly allowing children to live in a trailer with scant electricity and dirty conditions. Ashley Anderson, 27, and Dale Torsell, 30, are charged with neglecting and recklessly endangering three children, ages 6, 7, and 10, living in their care. A Mandan Police affidavit in support of the charges alleges that Anderson and Torsell lived with the kids in a trailer in Mandan on the 700 block of Sixth Avenue Southeast. The mobile home allegedly smelled of cat urine and was very cluttered. It allegedly had no electricity except for some lights powered by a neighbor's power. That meant the house was very warm and there was no hot water, the affidavit said. An officer responded to the house after a neighbor reported that the kids were wandering around asking for food. The kids were allegedly only partially dressed and one had scrapes to the head and arms. The adults told police that the children did not live with them, but the person with whom they were allegedly dwelling did not support those assertions. Anderson and Torsell were arrested, and the kids were turned over to a social worker. A disgruntled former employee of an aerospace and technology giant hacked into the firm's satellite tracking system and tried to sell information on DEA movements to a Mexican cartel, newly released FBI documents claim. Satellite expert Robert Miller - who DailyMail.com has learned was fired from Honeywell Aerospace in February this year - hoped to bag $2 million from the black market sale of secret access codes for the firm's high-tech location-tracking system, the documents state. But instead the 45-year-old was duped into meeting an undercover FBI agent posing as a member of a well-funded Mexican cartel and was swiftly arrested. Former employee of Honeywell Robert Miller hacked into the firm's satellite tracking system and tried to sell information on DEA movements to a Mexican cartel for $2m The satellite tracking system (STS) operated by Honeywell is used by several government and military agencies, including the DEA, to track their air and marine craft. In the hands of a cartel the system could be used to closely monitor the movements of DEA helicopters, planes or boats allowing drug runners to evade capture when trafficking narcotics into the US. According to the statement filed by FBI Special Agent Steven Garbett, Miller was a Senior Project Management Specialist in charge of administering the aerospace company's proprietary STS. But Miller, who was based in their Phoenix, Arizona office, was terminated by Honeywell Aerospace on February 22, a company spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com, deferring all further comment to the FBI. While Honeywell had deactivated Miller's access when he was fired, he apparently kept a tech support login that let him into the system without the company's knowledge. He also had the ability to create other unique user ids. The FBI investigation began when a man calling himself 'John Patriot' tipped off the company on July 23, saying he found out Miller planned to sell logins to the STS on the black market. That man was later identified as Brandon Harris. 'According to Harris, the man told Harris that he had worked at the Victim Company and was "pissed that he didn't get a raise and wanted to screw over the company,'" according to court paperwork. In the probable cause document, Harris eventually identified Miller and showed 'screen shots via text message of what Harris claimed to be the STS (satellite tracking system) to show that he had unauthorized access to the computer network.' Honeywell Aerospace Phoenix office, where Miller was 'pissed that he didn't get a raise and wanted to screw over the company' Miller was arrested in an FBI stong operation at the Talking Stick Resort & Casino in Scottsdale Agents worked with Harris to contact Miller and posing as potential buyers, undercover FBI agents met with Miller to get a demonstration of what he allegedly had to offer. 'During the meeting, Miller stated that he had created a separate login ID and password to the STS while he was employed at the Victim Company,' Garbett wrote. 'Miller stated that he had created the separate login account to maintain access to the STS in the event that he was fired. In front of the agents, Miller used the account to log into the STS. While logged into the STS, Miller accessed location data and demonstrated to the agents how to locate different aircraft and other vehicles.' DailyMail.com has learned that Miller was arrested at the Talking Stick Resort & Casino in Scottsdale on Friday night. Two undercover agents met him in a public area at the luxury Four-Diamond resort before, according to the paperwork, the meeting moved to a private room where Miller demonstrated the tracking system on his laptop. Miller was observed logging into the Honeywell system before showing the agents how to locate different aircraft and vehicles. According to the legal filing he was then arrested without incident. Garbett said Miller agreed to be interviewed immediately after his arrest and claimed his intentions had been innocent. The FBI investigation began when a man calling himself 'John Patriot' tipped off the company on July 23, saying he found out Miller planned to sell logins to the STS on the black market 'Miller claimed that his intention in meeting with the individuals whom he thought represented the Mexican cartel was to gather and share information with law enforcement,' according to the court paperwork. 'Miller stated that he had researched how to become a DEA informant and was planned to talk to a DEA agent friend of Miller's brother.' Miller is now facing two counts of computer fraud. According to records Miller is a trained pilot and his LinkedIn profile says he was a captain with the Mercy Regional EMS in Paducah, Kentucky, from 2001 - 2004. The profile states his last role at Honeywell was Customer Support Program Manager and he was with the company for nine years having joined in March 2008. 'Miller claimed that his intention in meeting with the individuals whom he thought represented the Mexican cartel was to gather and share information with law enforcement,' according to the court documents He says of himself: 'Hard-working and driven, while highly-experienced in all aspects of customer support operations, and is proven in ensuring that all organizational, client, and project goals are met. 'Well-versed in serving as primary point-of-contact with for internal and external customers, and is adept in the successful resolution of a myriad of issues. Records indicate that in March Miller took legal action against Honeywell over his termination. Honeywell Aerospace is a subsidiary of Fortune 500 company Honeywell International Inc, a multi-national conglomerate that produces a variety of commercial and consumer products, engineering services and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments. It has five facilities in Arizona. Miller, who lives in a smart two bedroom $320,000 apartment in Phoenix's historic district, is originally from Kentucky and attended Bristol University where he obtained a degree in Business Administration and Management in 1992. Other than LinkedIn he doesn't appear to have any social media presence. Alexander Downer said there was too much 'gloom' about the prospects of Britain and the EU striking a deal Britain should be more positive about life outside the European Union, Australia's high commissioner to the UK said today. Alexander Downer said there was too much 'gloom' about the prospects of striking a deal and Britain could be 'cautiously optimistic'. Mr Downer pointed to Australia's policies when Commonwealth preferential trade agreements were ended as a template for how the UK could thrive. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think you are a bit gloomy. 'Of course this is a big transition that you're going through and there's much contention about the negotiations, which are negotiations. 'But our experience of major changes like this, and we had such a major change as the Commonwealth preference system was phased out and eventually Britain joined the European Union in 1973, that you are going to succeed depending on what policies you pursue subsequently.' He said it was possible for the UK to conclude a successful negotiation with the EU. 'You have a motive to conclude a successful negotiation, so does the EU, so prima facie you have some basis for being cautiously optimistic that an agreement ultimately can be reached,' Mr Downer said. 'It'll involve compromises though, so both sides won't get exactly what they want.' The high commissioner also said Australia's experience showed it was possible to do new trade deals without accepting free of movement of people. He added: 'As outsiders we're very anxious that both the EU and you do reach an agreement. 'Not just the UK of course, the onus is on the EU as well to make sure you don't erect barriers. George Osborne, pictured enjoying a post of tennis at Wimbledon last month, was accused of being too pessimistic about Brexit by his former chief of staff Rupert Harrison, george osborne's former chief of staff, said the former Chancellor is being too gloomy over Brexit 'But secondly, it seems to us from our own experience that if you in addition, not instead of, but in addition, to that go out and negotiate trade arrangements with other parts of the world, you can make your approach more global and less regional than it might otherwise be.' The comments came after George Osborne came under fire from a former senior aide for his pessimism about Brexit. Rupert Harrison - who was nicknamed the real Chancellor during his five years in the Treasury - dismissed the fashionable view that the government had displayed a lack of strategy. He warned the main uncertainty about the success of Brexit was not talks with Brussels but MPs and angry peers in Parliament. Mr Harrison also said it was a non-starter for the UK to leave the EU but try to stay in the single market a key demand of ardent remainers. More than three tons of cocaine, worth an estimated $85million, has been seized by the US Coast Guard. The huge haul was unloaded at Port Everglades yesterday after it was seized in international waters. Two US Coast Guard cutters, the Escanaba and the Decisive, intercepted the drugs, which were destined to be sold in the United States. The huge haul was unloaded at Port Everglades yesterday after it was seized in international waters A statement from Cmdr Michael Turdo, commanding officer of the Escanaba, said: 'Stopping the illicit flow of drugs to our shores not only keeps them off our street but also keeps money from getting to these criminal organizations.' There is an increased Coast Guard presence in and around the Caribbean Basin, authorities have revealed. This is because the area is a renowned transit zone for Central and South America. More than 3,000 travellers have taken over a Cotswold field for an annual gypsy Christian festival with landowners claiming they were misled over the booking. Aerial photographs show the huge scale of the event at Thame Showground in Oxfordshire with the number of attendees set to double over the coming days. The convention has been organised by the evangelical Light and Life Gypsy Church, which has an estimated 20,000 followers across 33 churches in Britain. Aerial photographs show the huge scale of the event at Thame Showground in Oxfordshire with the number of attendees set to double to 6,000 over the coming days But neighbourhood and police community support officers from Thames Valley Police have been patrolling the area of the showground to deal with any incidents. And Thame and Oxfordshire County Agricultural Association, which hires out the field, claimed it had been misled after the group booked under a different name. A spokesman said a booking was taken from 'Darlington Christian Fellowship' six months ago as 'a religious group that was having its annual get-together'. He said 'lawyers and police' were now involved, but the church insisted it had legitimately booked the field and everything was organised 'above board'. Among the critics on social media was local resident James Brown, who said: 'Our lovely peaceful town has been taken over and we have this for a week. The convention in Oxfordshire has been organised by the evangelical Light and Life Gypsy Church, which has an estimated 20,000 followers across 33 churches in Britain 'Well done to whoever was involved from Thame in allowing this to happen, you must be very proud of yourselves.' But the church has also been defended by some residents online, who say the travellers should be allowed to hold their convention in peace and be welcomed. Sarah-Jane Rigg posted: 'I think everyone needs to just calm down - there are good and bad in every community and these people were judged pretty quickly from the moment people knew who they were. 'Wouldn't it be amazing if different cultures and faiths and communities could live side by side without any anger, damage, racial abuse, arguments etc? 'I think this is the travellers' opportunity to show the people of Thame that they can live side by side without locals gathering pitchforks at dawn.' Neighbourhood and police community support officers from Thames Valley Police have been patrolling the area of the showground to deal with any incidents A pastor at Darlington Christian Fellowship said it is based in the same town as the Light and Life Gypsy Church in County Durham, but is not linked. Jackie Boyd, an executive minister at the church, said: 'Whether we are gypsies or not, it doesn't matter: we are human beings. Everybody deserves a chance. 'People are saying we have overrun the town and it's despicable, but they have never even seen any of us. I'm 57 years old and I've come to expect this.' The grandfather added that he has 'learned to live' with the criticism, and that there will likely be 'bad eggs' among 3,000 people, but that is the same in all communities. A post on the Spotted: Thame posted by someone claiming to be involved with the convention said up to 6,000 people were due to be arriving over the coming days. 'Light and Life are a Christian organisation that reaches out to gypsies and travellers with the good news of Jesus,' the person wrote. The church has also been defended by some residents online, who say the travellers should be allowed to hold their convention in peace and be welcomed to the Oxfordshire showground 'The biggest majority of people on here aren't practising Christians. We have paid for the field. We will be cleaning the field and main roads and paying for any damage. 'A gathering of 5-6,000 people of any race will cause disruption, as we have. We are open to anyone who wants to come up to see what's happening. We will give you tea and cake and sandwiches. 'There is a gospel meeting on every evening at 7pm. If you come down don't be intimidated - we are loud and in your face, but we will show you hospitality.' A Thame Town Council spokesman said: 'We share the concerns of many in the community with regard to a current event at Thame Showground. 'As always it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. Opinions expressed range from outright support to outright indignation. The church has been defended by some residents online, who say the travellers should be allowed to hold their convention in peace and be welcomed 'We have been assured by the police that they are doing all they can to monitor and control the current situation, based on the factual knowledge they have. 'They are the right organisation to deal with anything that is reported Our advice to residents and agreed with the police is to always call 999 in an emergency.' A spokesman for Thames Valley Police added: 'We were made aware of a private event taking place from Friday, August 4, which was due to be ongoing until Thursday, August 10 at Thame Showground. 'As with any large event, officers have provided a proportionate response. 'Neighbourhood and Police Community Support Officers have been patrolling the area to provide local reassurance and to deal with any reported incidents or traffic issues.' The gipsy community in Britain has experienced an evangelical revival in recent years, with thousands of people attending the Light and Life tent conventions. Woman scorned: Vera Wooten, 40, of Kentucky, has been charged with first-degree assault for allegedly pouring gasoline on her husband and setting him on fire A fiery argument between a married couple in Kentucky resulted in the wife allegedly dousing her husband with gasoline and setting him ablaze because she has suspected him of infidelity. Officials with the Laurel County Sheriff's Office say 40-year-old Vera Wooten, of Corbin, drove her severely burned husband to the hospital for treatment after the Monday night incident. Deputies were dispatched to the couples home near Woodland Court shortly after 8pm on Monday after getting a report about a domestic incident. An investigation has revealed that earlier that evening, Vera Wooten had caught her husband in a car with another woman, reported WKYT. The scorned wife yanked the man out of the car and began pummeling him, according to a report. She then allegedly poured gasoline on him and set him alight. Meanwhile, Wootens suspected romantic rival drove off, but not before dialing 911 and seeing Wootens husband engulfed in flames. Love triangle? It's been reported Wooten became enraged after seeing her husband in a car with another woman near their home in Corbin (pictured) The 40-year-old wife then bundled her injured spouse into a car and raced to St Joseph Hospital London. He was later flown by a helicopter to a burn center in Cincinnati. The victim suffered burns to 50 per cent of his body and was listed in critical condition. Wooten was arrested by deputies at 9.35pm and charged with first-degree assault. She was lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center. The lure of British jobs has enticed over 150,000 French people to move to the UK, new figures have today revealed. In stark contrast, Brits selling up to decamp across the Channel are usually making the move to retire, the figures suggest. Britain's booming economy has long been a magnet for French workers, with many working in the City and living in and around west London. Newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron has launched an audacious attempt to turn the tables and woo British workers and firms across the border after Brexit. According to Eurostat figures released today, a similar number of French citizens live in the UK as vice versa, but they are drawn to the countries for radically different reasons. French President Emmanuel Macron, pictured with Theresa May at a football match in Paris in June, has vowed to try to lure British workers to France after Brexit The figures show that an estimated 155,000 French citizens were living in the UK as of the end of 2015. The overwhelming majority of them were of working age and either have jobs or are studying. The numbers show that 121,900 are estimated to be between 16 and 64 years-old, and that 94,000 of them were working. Of those working in Britain, 27,300 (29 per cent) worked in the banking and finance sector, while a quarter worked in the public administration, education and health sectors. According the statistics, 8,500 were students, 9,800 were economically inactive and 7,700 were unemployed. Meanwhile, an estimated 148,800 British citizens were living in France in 2016, but only around half of them were working. Full details of what British people in France are doing with their time are sketchier than the details available for those living in the UK. But the most recent set of numbers, which were collected in 2011, show that nearly 60,000 Brits aged 50 and living in France were not working or looking for a job - suggesting they were studying or enjoying their retirement. New figures suggest that Brits tend to move to France to retire, whereas French people move to Britain when they are younger to find work Emma Rourke is director for public policy analysis at the Office for National Statistics, which looked at the figures. She said: 'This series of reports on migration between the UK and other EU countries shows how there is more to the data than the simple headline figures. 'Today's analysis shows that while overall numbers of UK and French citizens migrating between the two countries are similar, the reasons and experiences of the different groups within these migrant populations could be quite different.' Mr Macron made his brazen pitch to lure talented Brits over to France while on a trip to the UK in France, shortly before he won the election. Speaking to the press outside no 10, where he had just met with Theresa May, he said: 'I will have a series of initiatives to get talented people in research and lots of fields working here to come to France. 'I want banks, talents, researchers, academics and so on. 'I think that France and the European Union are a very attractive space now so in my programme I will do everything I can to make it attractive and successful.' This is the shocking moment a would-be bomber calmly wheeled hand luggage containing an explosive hidden in a pipe into Manchester Airport. Nadeem Muhammad, 43, was attempting to board a flight to Bergamo, Italy, on January 30 when security officers found the device, made from batteries, tape, a marker pen and pins. When the object was swabbed there was no trace of explosive on the outside and officers did not believe it was a viable device. It was only after further forensic examination weeks later that it was found to be dangerous and Muhammad was charged with a bomb plot. CCTV shows Muhammad, wearing a dark parka coat and jeans, stroll between crowds of other passengers as he gets off a shuttle and walks through the airport's entrance. Muhammad was found guilty of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life at Manchester Crown Court. Today a jury reached a majority verdict of 10 to two on the charge following 15 hours and 45 minutes of deliberations. During the trial it was revealed Muhammad was released shortly after being questioned by counter terrorism officers when the bomb was first found. He was then allowed to board another flight to Bergamo, near Milan, five days later. Nadeem Muhammad, 43, has been found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or property after a pipe bomb was found in his hand luggage The court also heard Muhammad, who was born in Pakistan but had an Italian passport, was planning to detonate the bomb once on board the Boeing 737. The 'crude improvised explosive device' was discovered by airport security when his hand luggage went through scanners. But when airport security swabbed the bomb, there was no trace of explosives on the outside and officers did not believe it was a viable device. It was initially kept in the pocket of Deborah Jeffrey, the security manager at terminal three, before being handed to police. Muhammad from Bury, Greater Manchester, was questioned by officers from the counter terrorism unit but released. He returned to the airport the following day to collect his mobile phone, which had been taken by police, and then again on February 5 when he boarded another flight to Italy. It was only on February 8 when the device was examined by forensics officers that suspicions were raised and the bomb squad was called. CCTV captured Muhammad walking through the airport with the pipe bomb in his luggage The explosive was then sent for examination by expert Lorna Philp, who found it was a 'crude but potentially viable improvised explosive device'. The device contained double base smokeless propellant, normally found in firearms ammunition, which was made up of nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose. Italian police raided Muhammad's home and workplace on February 9 and took him to a police station. But he was released again after a couple of hours and on February 12 boarded another flight back to the UK. He was arrested when he arrived back at Manchester Airport. Muhammad had told the trial he was surprised to see the bomb when it was found in his bag and it had nothing 'at all' to do with him. He told the court: 'I had never seen it before.' Muhammad, whose wife was in court throughout the trial, cried loudly as he was remanded in custody by Judge Patrick Field QC. He is due to be sentenced on August 23. An air passenger has been found guilty of trying to smuggle a pipe bomb onto a Ryanair flight, from Manchester to Bergamo, in his hand luggage Following the sentencing, Sue Hemming, head of the special crime and counter terrorism division in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: 'Despite extensive investigation, Nadeem Muhammad's motive for attempting to take this device onto a plane remains unknown. 'However it is clear that the consequences, had he been successful, could have been disastrous.' A Manchester Airport spokesman said: 'We take security seriously at Manchester Airport, and we continue to work closely with the police and other agencies to provide passengers with a safe and secure environment. 'We are proud of the work that our teams do to ensure the safety and security of passengers. In this instance, the actions of our security team led to the detection of a suspicious device. 'Following its detection our team handed the passenger and the device over to the police to investigate further. These actions prevented a potentially dangerous item from being taken on board an aircraft.' A Utah father has been charged with abusing and killing his girlfriend's toddler daughter, more than a year after claiming she died of a seizure and four months after marrying the girl's mother. Jake Jensen, 29, was charged on Monday in Salt Lake City, Utah, with beating and killing his wife Stephanie's daughter Sophia in January 2016. At the time of the toddler's death, Jensen told police she suffered a seizure when he was looking after her while her mother was at work and said this was what caused her death. In March this year, Jake and Stephanie, 23, married and the couple welcomed their first child together, another girl, in June. On Monday, a day after their new daughter's christening, prosecutors filed charges against Jensen in light of a final autopsy report into Sophia's death which was completed in January. It found Sophia had been murdered, that she had broken legs when she died and 'very severe' facial and head injuries. Jensen has been charged with child abuse homicide and child abuse and is in Salt Lake County jail on a $500,000 bond. Jake Jensen, 29, has been charged with murdering his wife Stephanie's one-year-old daughter Sophia in 2016 (right). He said the girl, who suffered cerebral palsy, died of a seizure but a new autopsy report found in January that she was murdered Since Sophia's death in 2016, the pair have married and had a baby girl, their first together. Jensen also has an older son from a previous relationship On January 2, 2016, Jensen was looking after the girl while her mother was at work. Social media suggests that the couple had been together for around four months. In the early hours of the morning, police were called to the home by her worried mother who said she was having a seizure. When police arrived, Sophia's vital signs appeared normal and emergency responders left. Her mother decided not to take her to hospital but promised to take her to a doctor, charging documents that were obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune reveal. Two days later on January 4, Stephanie left her daughter in her boyfriend's care to go to work again but 'had a feeling she should come home early' so did. When she arrived, Sophia was having another seizure, she later told police. They took her to the hospital but the toddler never regained consciousness and they turned her life support off a day later. On January 4, 2016, Stephanie left Sophia with Jensen when she went to work. He told police he found her having a seizure in her crib Stephanie said she returned home early because she 'had a feeling' she should. She told police she found Sophia having a seizure at home. The one-year-old died a day later in hospital Two different GoFundMe campaigns were launched to pay for Sophia's funeral costs and medical bills More than a month after her daughter's death, Stephanie set up a second page to ask friends to help her pay for Sophia's medical bills TIMELINE OF FACTS January 2, 2016: Sophia suffers a 'seizure' at home and police are called but she appears to return to 'her normal self' January 4, 2016: She suffers another 'seizure' while her mother is at work and is taken to hospital January 5, 2016: Sophia dies in hospital August 2016: Stephanie and Jake Jensen become engaged March 2017: They get married June 2017: They welcome their first daughter August 7, 2017: Jake is charged over Sophia's death in light of new medical examiner's report Advertisement At the time, Jensen raised suspicion by giving police conflicting statements. In one, he said he found Sophia already having the seizure in her crib. In another, he said she went 'stiff' when he gave her a bottle. No charges were brought against either parent. Stephanie, an avid and enthusiastic Facebook user, immediately began sharing links to a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs. In the weeks that followed, she asked for more money to help pay Sophia's medical bills. In March this year, the pair married. As part of their registry they asked for household items from Bed Bath & Beyond and asked guests to contribute towards a Bora Bora honeymoon, sharing links to $125 snorkelling expeditions and asking them for cash to go shopping with. Jake and Stephanie got married in March this year, three months before the birth of their daughter The couple are still collecting donations for a honeymoon to Bora Bora online In July, the woman said she 'never thought' the couple would survive the tragedy of her daughter's death but said it made them 'stronger' In June, Stephanie gave birth to another baby girl. She was christened on Sunday (right), a day before her father's arrest The are still collecting donations for the trip. In June this year, the pair welcomed their first daughter together. A medical examiner found that Sophia (above with her mother) had broken legs and head injuries when she died that appeared to be the result of child abuse. The girl's mother has not been charged On Sunday, a day before his arrest, they celebrated the baby's blessing. Stephanie proudly told friends on social media that she wore a dress which had been made for Sophia for the occasion. The woman did not respond to DailyMail.com's questions regarding her husband's arrest on Tuesday morning. The charging documents explain that Jensen was charged because experts could find no other explanation for the no explanation for the subdural hemorrhages which Sophia suffered in the days before her death in 2016 other than that she had been beaten. They said she had suffered 'very severe injury to her brain'. Sophia was born with cerebral palsy as a result of being born prematurely. The daughter of a Manhattan ballet power couple has been arrested for theft after she was caught on surveillance camera, wearing all black, with an accomplice near the site of one of a string of burglaries in an affluent Maine town. Talicia Martins, 21, and conspirator Jacob Flanagan, 20, are accused of breaking into three local businesses in Camden, Maine, between July 30 and 31, stealing more than $1,000. Martins is the daughter of former New York City Ballet principal dancer Darci Kistler and the company's current ballet Master-in-Chief Peter Martins. She was arrested Thursday and charged with burglary and felony theft after authorities reviewed surveillance footage from the street near one of the burglaries, which revealed Martins and Flanagan - both dressed in dark clothes - walking nearby. The two were caught on surveillance camera on the second night of the burglaries, on July 31 Authorities say they stole more than $1,000 from three local businesses Talicia Martins, 21 (pictured), was arrested on Thursday for a string of burglaries in the tony Maine summer town of Camden Martins and Flanagan, who both live in Manhattan, stole from Smoothie Shack, Francine Bistro and Camden Cone. Camden Police Department Detective Curt Andrick said drugs and alcohol were a factor in the burglaries but would not elaborate. In June, Martins was arrested at an apartment on West End Avenue in Manhattan after she was caught with crack cocaine, heroin and a hypodermic needle. Camden Cone cashier Nick Greer was the first employee in after the robbery. 'I saw that the window was taken apart, and that looked odd, so I called the owner and asked if that was normal, and she said no,' Greer told the New York Post. 'Then I opened the front door, and I saw that the register was not there, and I had to call the owner again. She was not happy.' Martins (right) is the daughter of New York City Ballet Master-in-Chief Peter Martins (center) and former NYCB principal dancer Darci Kistler(left). The family pictured above in 2012 Greer says that Flanagan 'summered in Camden for his whole life' but that he had never seen Martins before. 'Its kind of funny because it doesnt sound like she needs to be stealing anything,' he said. Investigators caught Martins and Flanagan after receiving an anonymous tip and reviewing surveillance footage which shows them walking down the street in dark clothing near one of the businesses on the second night of the burglaries. Martins was arrested for the burglaries along with 20-year-old Jacob Flanagan, who is also from Manhattan Detectives brought the two in for questioning on Thursday, and they were arrested shortly after. Martins was charged with burglary and felony theft and was released later that day after posting $1,500 bail. Flanagan was charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of felony theft and criminal trespassing. He was bailed out Friday afternoon after posting $1,500 bail. According to the criminal complaint in her June arrest, officers were called to the apartment around 8pm for a possible overdose. Inside they found needles on the bathroom floor, bathroom sink, kitchen counter and living room floor. They also found glass vials containing crack-cocaine residue and two packages of rolling papers containing heroin residue near the bathroom sink. Martins is pictured earlier this months with a male friend. She is reportedly a student at Bard College In June, Martins was arrested for crack-cocaine and heroin possession. Above, a picture of Martins with a male friend from July 2014 Martins pictured above in July 2016 in Irvington, New York - a wealthy suburb just north of the city, where her family owns a home Martins pictured meeting actress Natalie Portman back in 2012. Portman's husband is a ballet dancer Officers also took two small square packages containing heroin from Martins' pockets. Martins' mother is seen above dancing in 1994. She was a principal ballerina for the New York City Ballet for nearly three decades before retiring in 2010 She was charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a controlled substance and another misdemeanor count of possession of a hypodermic instrument. Those charges could land her in jail for up to a year and on probation for up to three years, in addition to up to a $1,000 fine. Two other men were arrested as well and hit with the same charges: 25-year-old Robert O'Toole and 18-year-old Jesie Pineda. It's unclear if anyone in the apartment had actually overdosed. On Tuesday, New York Post reporters tried to talk to Martins' father outside the family's Irvington, New York home. When asked if his daughter is trying to get help through counseling or rehab, Mr Martins responded 'She's fine.' 'I have nothing else to say,' he added. Most of the money was stolen from Camden Cone, a local ice cream joint Martins and Flanagan also allegedly broke into the Smoothie Shack (left) and Francine Bistro (right) Martins' mother was a principal dancer for the New York City ballet for nearly three decades before she retired in 2010. Her father, a famous Danish choreographer, has been ballet master in chief of the NYCB for 35 years. In 2013, Martins was featured in a Vanity Fair spread with other debutantes that were being presented to society at the annual Crillon Ball in Paris that year. She also wrote an article for Teen Vogue in 2015 about her decision to take a gap year before starting college. The story was titled: 'How I Took a Year off before Starting College, and Why You Should Too'. Martins is reportedly a student at Bard College. Whitney White, 27, was arrested and charged with injury to a child after her five-year-old son told police that she tasered him A Texas woman was arrested after her five-year-old son told police that she tasered him in November 2016 for 'getting in trouble at school'. Whitney White was charged on Monday with injury to a child. The 27-year-old was initially being investigated after her now six-year-old son was seen with bruises on his face, welts on his body and a cut on his arm. White told Houston police that his bruises were caused by a slap to the face. She also said she hit him 'too forceful' with a belt, according toKPRC. Court documents indicate White said she became frustrated with her son because he refused to study his school work. She reportedly told investigators that the smack to the face came after he told her 'no', which White said was a 'sign of disrespect'. But while police were investigating the July incident, her son told officers that his mom used a Taser on him last November. 'I was five years old when the defendant tased me on my arm because I got in trouble at school. From zero to 10, it hurt 10,' the child said, according to court documents. White reportedly told investigators that her 'anger management class told me not to tase him but we didn't go into what else to do'. But while police were investigating the July incident, her son told officers that his mom used a Taser on him last November. The child said that White (pictured in court) tasered him because he 'got in trouble at school' White (pictured in court) allegedly confirmed the child's story, but said she was frustrated because he hadn't achieved the learning outcomes she wanted for the child White allegedly confirmed the child's story, but said she was frustrated because he hadn't achieved the learning outcomes she wanted for him. 'When I tried to talk with him about it, he didn't want to discuss it, and he was running away from me,' White said, according to ABC 13. 'I picked it up and tased him with it.' The child, along with his two-week-old sibling are currently in the temporary custody of Child Protective Services. They will be cared for by a relative. White is allowed supervised contact with her infant because she is still breast-feeding. Bismarck Interfaith hosts an outdoor potluck and school supply drive from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Sertoma Park Shelter #6, Riverside Park Road in Bismarck. The program will include a Muslim-Christian conversation between local faith leaders, and everyone is welcome. In case of rain, the potluck will move to the Bismarck Muslim Community Center, 214 W. Bowen Ave. in Bismarck. A married Utah gynecologist is back behind bars after he was charged with 11 counts of sexually abusing children. Nathan Clark Ward, 55, was arrested just weeks ago for allegedly possessing child pornography and was charged with six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He has now also been charged with sodomy on a child, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, forcible sodomy, and forcible sex abuse. Married Utah gynecologist Nathan Clark Ward, 55, has been charged with 11 counts of sexually abusing children, as well as possessing child pornography Ward, of Bountiful, allegedly abused a 13-year-old in 2012, according to charging documents obtained by Desert News. He allegedly touched the genitals of the girl and put his genitals in her mouth, court documents state. Ward has also been charged with sexually abusing a girl only described as a 'minor female' on several occasions between 2012 to 2015. He allegedly did the same to the minor female as the 13-year-old girl on one occasion and touched her breast on another occasion. Ward 'occupied a position of special trust to this minor female' but do not specify whether she was one of his patients. The Utah OB-GYN allegedly abused a 13-year-old girl in 2012 and shared at least six images of child porn The Davis County Attorney's Office would not clarify whether Ward is being accused of abusing one or multiple teen girls. Ward was first arrested on July 20 following an eight-month investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children task force into child pornography. He is being charged with sharing at least six images of child porn between January and September 2016. The investigation began November 2016. The ICAC had received a CyperTip from Yahoo Messenger regarding 'apparently child sexually exploitative images' being uploaded by the account 'clark_bueno'. Photos from the account had been uploaded from two IP addresses traced to Lakeview Hospital and St Mark's Hospital, according to The Standard-Examiner. Ward, who has been a practicing OB-GYN for more than 25 years, was working at both the Saint Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City and Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful. An ICAC detective first met with Ward in February 2017, but the doctor denied knowing anything about the clark_bueno account or the photos. But in May police discovered that the account, created in 2002, was opened at the same address where Ward was living at the time and had the same date of birth. Carli Denning, who has been Ward's patient for 10 years, said she was shocked by the allegations faced by the man who delivered her two sons Six IP addresses from Lakeview and St. Mark's Hospital, as well as Ward's current residence, were also connected to the account, police revealed. Seven of the 37 photos provided by Yahoo were of sexually exploited children, while others included 'voyeuristic photos of underage females'. The investigation also unearthed 'several' conversations conducted on instant messenger, email, and Craigslist that were 'explicit in nature', police said. In one conversation Ward allegedly disclosed he 'raped a 15-year-old drunk on vodka after her father 'set it up', according to the probable cause report. The report states that Ward also disclosed he 'raped a 13-year-old' and described 'desires to rape females and minors'. Ward was first arrested right after operating on one of his patients at Lakeview Hospital. Ward was first arrested on July 20 following an eight-month investigation after child pron was uploaded at Lakeview Hospital (pictured) in Bountiful, Utah The accusations have completely shocked his patients, including Carli Denning - who has known Ward for 10 years. 'It's so disheartening because he gave me two beautiful boys and how could a man like that do that,' she told Fox 13 Now. 'This all shocks me, I can't believe this is the same man. It's like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.' Ward was out on a $10,000 bond when he was arrested on August 4. He is now being held in the Davis County Jail on no bail. The doctor, who previously worked as a staff physician for 13 years in the Air Force, was suspended from Lakeview Hospital following his first arrested. Ward is due to next appear in court on August 11. He could face up to life in prison if convicted. Authorities hold grave fears for a Queensland mother and son who haven't been seen for ten days. Queensland Police said a mother, 40, and her son, 7, were last seen in Stafford, north Brisbane. The mother-son duo were last seen in a white Suzuki hatchback with registration plates CI71VZ. Queensland Police said a mother, 40, (pictured) and her son, seven, not seen for ten days They were last seen in a white Suzuki hatchback (similar to pictured) in north Brisbane Police said the disappearance is out of character. The woman is described as being Caucasian in appearance, 175cm tall with black hair and a dyed red fringe. Police said information suggests they may still be in the north Brisbane area. Anyone with information should call Policelink on 131 444. An obsessive man let himself into his ex-girlfriend's home despite being banned from going near her and moved her thumb ring on to her wedding finger as she slept. Harry Pullar, 21, wore a pair of surgical gloves as he carried out the frightening invasion at the home of Nicole McKay, 18, in a bid to avoid leaving fingerprints at the scene. Pullar, an apprentice mechanic, also threw Miss McKay's phone out of a window at the house in Crieff, Perthshire, and forced himself upon her and tried to kiss her. Harry Pullar, 21, wore a pair of surgical gloves when he carried out the frightening incident at the home of Nicole McKay, 18, in Crieff, Perthshire. Perth Sheriff Court heard Ms McKay, who had dumped Pullar for cheating on her, was left 'terrified' by the incident. The Scottish Sun reports that Pullar also spied on her from a roof and hid in a cupboard as he repeatedly broke into her home. Ms McKay said: 'Harry had been hiding in the neighbour's porch and came into the house. 'He had blue plastic gloves on. He said it was in case of DNA or fingerprints. I was terrified. 'I must have been sleeping and he took my ring off me then.' He even defied a condition of his bail which ordered him to stay away from her, claiming she had invited him. He admitted the breach at Perth Sheriff Court. Sheriff John Rafferty said: 'Being on the roof isn't consistent with being invited,' before adjourning the case. A New York tech executive is suing his ex for the $48,000 engagement ring he gave her before their relationship fell apart. Joe DiTomaso, 42, had dated Jamie Cohen, 36, since 2011 before becoming engaged and making her his fiancee two years later. Believing she was the one, he splashed out on an expensive diamond ring to show her his love and bought $12,000 in pricey furniture for the couple's apartment and a new pet dog. But the pair split before tying the knot and Cohen took the lot including the dog, Blu, the fancy furniture and she kept the bling too. Now DiTomaso is suing her in an attempt to get everything back along with $65,000 in damages. Joseph DiTomaso, 42, (left) is suing his ex Jamie Cohen, 36, (right) for the return of a $48,000 engagement ring and the pet dog that she took when the pair broke up DiTomaso, who is CEO of a hotel search engine, All the Rooms, met Cohen when she came to work for the company. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court and seen by the Daily News, after the couple separated, DiTomaso only saw the dog one more time in 2015. He is now suing his former beau and demanding she return the $48,300 ring - along with the dog and damages of $65,000. The lawsuit alleges that after the couple broke up, Cohen took all the furniture from their condo while he was out. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, DiTomaso (left and right), alleges that his former flame, Jamie Cohen took $12,000 of furniture, their pet dog, Blu, and refuses to return the ring The tech mogul states in papers that he has only seen his dog, Blu, once since the breakup DiTomasso is suing to get his dog, the pricey furniture, the $48k ring and $65k in damages 'To date, none of DiTomaso's furniture, furnishings and possessions have been returned,' the suit reads. 'DiTomaso owned his dog named Blu prior to defendant moving in with him,' the court papers read. 'DiTomaso is entitled to immediate return of his dog.' Neither DiTomaso nor Cohen have commented on the pending litigation. North Korea has released a new set of stamps to commemorate the first successful test of their new intercontinental missile. The hermit state issued several stamps showing the missile preparing to be fired and soaring off into the sky, along with a two more showing Kim Jong-un signing the order to launch, and celebrating afterward. Another stamp shows the missile, which could be used to carry nuclear weapons, mid-flight alongside a message boasting about how far it flew. North Korea has released a set of stamps to commemorate the country's first successful launch of a Hwasong-14 ICBM, including this one which shows Kim Jong-un signing the order to launch, along with a copy of the order (left) The launch of the missile, which experts believe can range virtually the entire United States, marked a huge step forward in the country's nuclear programme. Pictured left, a stamp boasting about the test, and right with Kim celebrating The missile launch has been celebrated in North Korea while being condemned everywhere else. Kim threw a huge pop concert after the first launch, on July 8, and has held several banquets. Pictured is the missile in various stages of launch A statement published by the state-run news agency KCNA said: 'All those stamps represent the success in the test-fire of ICBM Hwasong-14, a breakthrough into the final stage of rounding off the national nuclear force. 'It is a great victory won by NorthKorea in the anti-imperialist, anti-US showdown.' Kim has made it his country's top priority to develop a nuclear weapon capable of ranging the mainland United States, and the launch of the Hwasong-14 missile marks one of the final steps in that process. North Korea has so far carried out two successful tests of the rocket, the first on July 4 and the second on July 28. Based on data from the second launch, analysts now believe the dictator could range almost the entirety of the United States with the weapon. It remains unclear whether the North has a nuclear device small enough to fit on to the missile, and whether it can bring the device back to earth intact and on target. It is unclear whether North Korea has the technology to mount a nuclear weapon on the missile, and whether it can bring it back down intact and on target Kim has made it the top priority of his government to develop the weapon, which he claims is simply to defend the country against American interventionism President Trump has repeatedly stated that the North will not be allowed to develop such a weapon and says the situation 'will be handled' Even so, the tests have been cause for huge celebration in the North, with Kim hosting a lavish pop concert and several state banquets. The rocket engineer responsible for the Hwasong programme has also been promoted, sitting beside the Supreme Leader at many of the events. Meanwhile the world has scrambled to respond to the sudden acceleration in the North's weapons development. The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously last week to impose fresh sanctions worth an estimated $1billion on Kim's regime in retaliation. Meanwhile President Trump has promised that the North will 'never' be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the US, assuring people the situation would be 'handled' during a press conference. On Tuesday morning he tweeted, saying: 'After many years of failure, countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!' The 97,000-tonne and 1,092ft Nimitz class USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier was seen off Scotland on Sunday in the latest phase of the war game, ahead of the UK's carrier strike group setting up on the Queen Elizabeth in the coming months. Exercise Saxon Warrior Commodore Andrew Betton, commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, is embarked with his team for the Exercise Saxon Warrior 2017. The joint maritime exercise will focus how the US and the UK work together during a number of challenging scenarios around the UK coastline. Cmdr Betton said: 'Exercise Saxon Warrior is a large, multinational joint exercise which involves fifteen warships from five different nations, submarines, over 100 aircraft and about 9,000 personnel.' It forms part of the training for those who will take on the HMS Queen Elizabeth when it comes into service. Cmdr Eric Retz, US Navy Carrier Strike Group 2s operations officer, added: 'Saxon Warrior will test every aspect of our war-fighting capabilities-from air wing strikes to the self-defence of the carrier. 'The beauty of operating with coalition partners is that we practice with them, learn their strengths, and then blend those strengths together to make the most potent coalition force possible.' Advertisement And HMS Iron Duke is known for being the ship Prince William served aboard when it played a key role in the Royal Navy's 40million cocaine bust in the Caribbean in 2008 when they seized 45 bales of the drug weighing a total of 1,980lb. Yesterday, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon confirmed the Royal Navy's future flagship is expected to arrive in her new home port within weeks. The HMS Queen Elizabeth will sail into Portsmouth following extensive preparations at the naval base to accommodate the largest ship in the fleet. Weather conditions mean the exact date of the carrier's arrival is yet to be confirmed. The window for entry will open on August 17 and the vessel is expected to dock no later than August 22. The 280-metre (919ft), 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier has been undergoing sea trials since setting sail from Rosyth dockyard in June. The carrier currently has no planes but flying trials are due to begin next year, with 10 F-35 Lightning II jets and 120 aircrew preparing for the task in the US. Sir Michael said: 'In just two weeks' time, the most powerful warship ever built for Britain's famous Royal Navy is set to sail into her proud new home in Portsmouth. 'HMS Queen Elizabeth will be the Royal Navy's flagship for the next 50 years, keeping us safe by deploying across the seven seas, using her strike power to deter our enemies.' Preparations for the warship's arrival saw more than 20,000 items ranging from a human skull to sea mines dredged up from Portsmouth Harbour. A total of 3.2 million cubic metres of sediment - the equivalent of 12,800 Olympic swimming pools - were removed during the dredging operation carried out to deepen the harbour mouth to enable the Queen Elizabeth to reach Portsmouth Naval Base. And Cmdr Betton, commander of the Royal Navy's carrier strike group, said the two new carriers marked a huge step for UK defence that would 'usher in a new era of carrier strike activity'. Speaking aboard USS George HW Bush, he added: 'Carrier enabled power projection, which is the formal term for this capability, offers strategic choice to Her Majesty's Government. 'The ability to scale from humanitarian assistance, response to natural disasters, through to a poise to try and deter a potential conflict and if necessary to engage as a serious tier one partner in the international coalition to take our place at the top table. Ismael Watson, formerly known as Jack, sent an undercover police officer this picture of himself with his hair gelled down, which he hoped would make him look 'like a refugee' so he could get across the Syrian border and join ISIS A would-be jihadi gelled his hair to 'look Syrian' during a failed bid to fight for ISIS, a court has heard. Muslim convert Ismael Watson set off to Turkey from his home in Walsall hoping to sign up for the terror group and listed his skills as 'speech writing', 'website design' and 'audio technology', the Old Bailey was told. But the 27-year-old was stopped after sending messages to an undercover security services agent who he believed could help him get across the Syrian border. While trying to get in Syria, Watson told a friend he looked 'pretty English', but said he was trying to buy some 'refugee kinda clothes' to blend in, the court heard. He said he had been told to 'wet [his] hair, make it look gelled' but added: 'Can only change face so much,' the jury were told. After sending three pictures to an undercover officer, Watson added: 'Last one is attempt to look Syrian for ID,' prosecutors said. He was picked up and sent back to Britain and now denies preparation of terrorist acts. He has opted to represent himself but refused to attend his trial. Opening the case today, prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC told jurors how Watson had made preparations to join ISIS between January last year and February 23 this year. Mr Glasgow said: 'He travelled to Turkey and then made contact with people on the internet who he believed could assist him in crossing the border into Syria. 'Little did he realise that two of the people with whom he discussed his plans were in fact agents working for the security services and that everything he said was being recorded. 'When eventually he tried to cross the border, he was intercepted by Turkish authorities, detained by them and then deported back to the UK where he was arrested by the British police on arrival.' The court heard Watson told an undercover officer: 'As much as I crave to see the flags, and weep, have a pious wife and lots of kids to grow up pure, at the end of it all I crave to be back with Allah and can't stand these filthy lands no more.' An undercover security service agent was in regular contact with him and Watson described wanting to reach the city of Raqqa in Syria, the court heard He told the officer: 'My wife snitched on me and left me while pregnant, told them everything.' When asked what he thought he could offer ISIS, Watson sent a list that included 'speech writing' and 'proof reading,' the court heard. He said he had done a first aid course on an 'kids' RAF camp' and listed his skills as: 'filmmaking, editing, production; website design, Photoshop, audio technology, proof reading, speech writing, cooking,' the jury heard. He allegedly added: 'Can do noting for long periods of time, then, bam, uphill walking through Welsh mountain for two hours.' In another message he added to the list: 'ICT n business, cashier, stock room in shop, warehouse, cooking.' Watson, formerly known as Jack, claimed to speak a few words of Arabic, French, Turkish and Japanese. The prosecutor told jurors the facts were not at issue but the defendant disputes that his actions amounted to a criminal offence and he does not recognise the court. Jurors heard that none of Watson's family are Muslims. He was described by his mother as 'meek, mild and easily influenced' and converted to Islam at a mosque on Granby Road in Liverpool, in 2015. Watson then joined the Pure Matrimony dating website in July 15, through which he met Sharmina Begum and they were married at Green Lane Mosque in Small Heath, Birmingham in September that year. The pair moved to Walsall where they rented a room in a shared house and Watson started to watch ISIS videos, listen to lectures about jihad and to refer to non-Muslims as 'kuffars' [infidels]. 'During an early stage of the marriage I became suspicious of his views,' she said in a statement. 'I now believe he was radicalised when he converted.' Begum became pregnant in October but the couple split up soon afterwards and last saw each other in January 2016, a week before he allegedly left for Syria. Watson is said to have gone via Marrakesh, Tangiers, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey. She first contacted police in November 2015, when he spoke about going to Turkey on an aid convoy. 'I just wanted a normal life and a normal husband,' she told police later. 'I feel awful about this because I think he had all this planned and did not tell me. 'We talked about marriage counseling at the Green Lane Mosque. I wanted him to change his ways and become a normal Muslim. He agreed but later went back on his word so we separated.' Messages sent between Watson and the undercover officer were shown to the jury in court She last saw him in January when they had a row, and she sent him a scan of their baby on January 30. 'I never received a reply which surprised me,' she said. 'Ismael is definitely a strange character. He knows the marriage is over. He married me to get me pregnant. 'If he died he would be happy that he had a child. He believes leaving a child behind on this earth would benefit him in the afterlife.' Watson's mother, Denise, said he saw little of his father after she separated from him but Watson had a good relationship with his brother until he converted to Islam in March 2015. In Liverpool he worked briefly for the World Museum and for Oxfam. His mother told police: 'I would describe him as meek and mild and possibly easily influenced. He is very trusting. 'He has always had an interest in religion - before he became a Muslim he had an interest in Pagan culture.' Growing up he would play psychedelic music and sing about the troubles he was having and the 'troubles around the world,' he later told police. Watson travelled to the Turkish border town of Sanliurfa before he was arrested by authorities He was sectioned at Broad Green Hospital, for four months between July and November 2014 and said it was due to 'excessive cannabis misuse' which gave him paranoid delusions. After he converted, he wrote poetry, which he sent to the undercover officer, Abu Hafs, with titles including 'In The Little Green Garden,' 'Of Blessed Little Birds and Big Iron Bars' and 'Reflections of the man with no name.' In November 2015 he got a job at an Amazon warehouse in Rugeley, Staffordshire, but he only worked one shift before resigning. Instead he signed on for Job Seekers' Allowance and made some money on the side, distributing leaflets for a charity called Albyan which sent aid to Syria. He told police he believed he had been 'brainwashed' and added that he felt he could 'be himself if he lived within IS,' the court heard. 'He said that the videos he watched made him feel like it was permissible in Islam to go to kill yourself. 'He thought that if he went he would eventually get shot or hit by a missile. He never wanted to undertake a suicide mission,' Mr Glasgow said. Watson, of no fixed address but last living in the West Midlands, denies preparing to commit acts of terrorism between 1 January 2016 and 23 February this year contrary to Section 5 Terrorism Act 2006. The trial continues. A six-week-old baby girl has tragically died after being found 'unresponsive' in a north London flat this morning. London Ambulance Service rushed to the flat in Finchley Road, north London, with the first paramedic arriving in under a minute to find the unresponsive infant. She was rushed to hospital but declared dead less than an hour later. A six-week-old baby has been found unresponsive in a flat and was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital Police attended in three marked patrol cars but are yet to arrest anybody over the death in Hampstead, an area with an average property price of 1,583,075 - more than double the London average of 594,202. An urgent investigation into the unexplained death has been launched. A Met Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to reports of an unresponsive baby at an address on Finchley Road, Camden, at 8.22hrs on Tuesday, August 8. 'The child - a six-week-old baby girl - was taken to a north London hospital where she was pronounced dead at 0900hrs. 'A post-mortem will be arranged in due course. 'Enquiries continue.' Anyone with any information about the tragedy should contact police immediately on 101. Rebecca Miller, 39, pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Clive Mauger A motorist is accused of killing someone by dangerous driving after a mattress fell from her car on to a busy dual carriageway. Rebecca Miller, 39, pleaded not guilty to causing the death of retired security guard Clive Mauger by dangerous driving on Blue Bell Hill between Chatham and Maidstone in Kent on January 30. Mr Mauger, 69, was at the wheel of a Peugeot 206 when he was believed to have swerved to avoid the mattress, careered off the Maidstone-bound carriageway of the A229 and hit trees at the side of the road. The father of four, who also had two grandchildren and lived in Chatham, was on his way to visit a friend when the incident occurred just after 4.30pm. Miller, of Aylesford, near Maidstone, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent today. Millers trial was fixed by Judge Jeremy Carey to start on February 5. It is estimated to last three days. She was released on bail until that date. An inquest into Mr Maugers death has been opened and adjourned. Miller, of Aylesford, near Maidstone, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent today The incident happened near the Shell petrol station just after 4.30pm and police appealed for witnesses. The road was closed until 11.20pm to allow officers from the serious collision investigation unit to carry out inquiries. A married mother-of-two from Michigan has been sentenced to up to 15 years prison for having sex with two teenage boys after luring them with naked photos on social media last summer. Brooke Lajiness, 38, of Lima Township, learned her fate on Monday in a Washtenaw County courtroom, a little over a month after she pleaded guilty to two counts of having intercourse with a 14-year-old and one for having oral sex with a 15-year-old. As part of the plea deal, Lajiness also admitted to one count each of accosting a child for immoral purposes and furnishing obscenity to children by sending nude photographs of herself to a minor. Mom sentenced: Brooke Lajiness, 38, pictured left in court in on Monday, has been sentenced to up to 15 years prison for having sex with two teenage boys Admission of guilty: Lajiness, pictured left in court in March, pleaded guilty in June to two counts of having intercourse with a 14-year-old and one for having oral sex with a 15-year-old Remorseful: When given a chance to speak before her sentencing, Lajiness called what happened the biggest regret of my life' In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss 10 other charges against the beauty salon worker, who will spend a minimum of four years and nine months behind bars, and up to 15 years, according to Ann Arbor News. When given a chance to speak before her sentencing, an emotional Lajiness read from a statement, calling what happened the biggest regret of my life. She also said she caused her family great pain and was tormented by the thought that she will not be able to provide for her children while serving her sentence. 'I fear the toll this will take on my family in my absence,' Lajiness stated, according to reporting by Fox 2 Detroit. 'These last few months have been excruciating to watch the emotional affects this had on everyone around me.' The court also heard from the mother of the younger teen, who wrote in her victim impact statement that was read aloud on her behalf that her son is currently in therapy after suffering emotional and psychological damage as a result of Lajiness' conduct. Your actions will affect my son and his relationships with others for the rest of his life, she said. Prosecutors asked the judge to hand Lajiness the harshest punishment available under the state sentencing guidelines, calling her a 'predator.' Assistant County Prosecutor John Vella said Lajiness' husband of 16 years, David, had written a letter to the judge suggesting that his wife's insomnia was to blame for her actions. Brooke Lajiness (pictured with husband David), 38, had faced up 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to intercourse and oral sex with two underage boys Lajiness (left on her wedding day and her mugshot, right) was accused of 13 counts of sexual conduct against a 14 and 15-year-old boy in Lima Township, Michigan Nobody's putting the blame on where it deserves, which it was this defendant's actions that brought her here. It's this defendant that chose to have sex with minors, Vella said. David Lajiness appeared in the courtroom to support his spouse during her sentencing on Monday. Lajiness defense attorney told the judge that his client has been struggling with mental health problems, but an expert has found that she was not a sexual predator and if she receives help, she is unlikely to re-offend in the future. Instead of the stiffer sentence of 98 months to 15 years requested by the prosecution, the judge decided to hand down the more lenient prison term of 57 months to 15 years, citing her psychological problems and lack of past criminal record. An investigation has revealed that the majority of Lajiness' sex sessions with the teenagers had taken place in the back seat of her car, which was parked in a driveway. Lajiness reportedly seduced the younger boy, whom she admitted to having sex with as many as 15 times, by sending him nude selfies. She was arrested after his mother complained that she was sleeping with her underage son. Lajiness has confessed to to two counts of having intercourse with the 14-year-old and one of having oral sex with the 15-year-old The majority of her sessions with the teenagers are said to have taken place in the back seat of her car, which was parked in a driveway In a Facebook post in May, Lajiness proclaimed her love for her husband David, saying: 'In life, nothing is guaranteed,' 'So finding someone who knows all of your flaws, weaknesses and mistakes and still thinks you're amazing is something to hold onto and never take for granted!' Her affair with the younger boy allegedly began last summer, as he was graduating from middle school on to high school. Michigan State Police Trooper Donald Pasternak testified that most of the sexual encounters happened in the back of Lajiness' car in a Lima Township driveway. At her arraignment on March 3, Pasternak testified that he started investigating Lajiness a few weeks before, when the victim's mother walked into a police station and complained that Lajiness was having sex with her son. Lajiness reportedly confessed later on to having sex with the teen and exchanging the nude pictures. Police found that she started exchanging photos with the teen while he was still in middle school. She was facing an additional charge in relation to the photos. Lajiness was taken into custody at the conclusion of Monday's sentencing hearing. she had been free on $500,000 bail. A sergeant from the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department caught a Louisiana woman suspected of second-degree murder during a traffic stop around 2 a.m. Tuesday. Lt. Tracy Nelson said the officer stopped Cynthia Westcott, 53, for speeding at 71 mph in the 45-mph construction zone on Interstate 94 in Bismarck. Sgt. Nathan McLeish ran Westcott's driver's license and checked for warrants, as is standard procedure. He uncovered that the woman was wanted for murder and drug possession in Hammond, La. Hammond Police Chief James Stewart said in an interview that Westcott is accused of supplying drugs that caused a fatal opoioid overdose of a woman on Sept. 23. He said that a co-defendant already has been arrested. Nelson said Westcott was driving alone in a rental car with Florida plates. The warrants were issued in November and December. Major out-of-state warrant arrests usually come after tips from law enforcement agencies, so this discovery was unusual, according to Nelson, who oversees the warrants division. "This is a good find. It doesn't happen very often on a traffic stop," he said. This is the dramatic moment an Albanian immigrant who travelled to Britain illegally is pinned to the ground by paedophile hunters after trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex. Edwuart Matranxhi, 22, believed he was speaking to a pair of schoolgirls called Laura and Louise when he arranged to meet them in Sunderland on June 30. But he didn't realise he had actually been talking to Guardians of the North - a vigilante group set up to expose child sex offenders. Edwuart Matranxhi, 22, believed he was speaking to a pair of schoolgirls called Laura and Louise when he arranged to meet them in Sunderland on June 30 The 22-year-old messaged the adults, posing as children, asking if they wanted to have sex, adding: 'You are 14, I could go to jail for this.' Guardians of the North tracked where the messages were coming from and turned up at the B&B Matranxhi was staying in, in Percy Main, North Tyneside. They detained him and held him to the floor until police arrived and arrested him - finding two condoms in his pockets. Prosecutor David Lamb said: 'The messages began in an innocent fashion with the defendant saying 'hi'. 'The girl asked the defendant how old he was and he said he was 22. He said: 'The fake girl replied saying she was 14. The conversation quickly turned to sex with him asking if she was a virgin. 'She replied yes. He asked if she would like to have sex with someone.' The court heard how the defendant, who needed a translator in court, pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Defence barrister Mr Vic Laffey said: 'He is here illegally and he was told upon arrest that he is to be deported. 'He came to this county on the back of a lorry. He came here to work. He came a number of months ago. He lived in Albania with his family - his parents and siblings. Jailed: Matranxhi has been sentenced to one year in prison and has been ordered to sign onto the Sex Offenders' register 'He had no work so he came here illegally to find work. Initially he worked at a car wash in London and found his way up here. 'He was staying in a B&B paying with the money he earned. He was unable to find work in the area. 'He is very keen to go back to his family because he had been made aware that his mother is ill. He came here out of desperation.' Jailing him for 12 months, Recorder Eric Elliott QC said: 'Unbeknownst to you, this girl did not exist and the girls were the creation of the group Guardians of the North who set up false profiles with a view to entrapping people such as you. 'You fell fully into their trap. The Guardians of the North tracked you down on the June 30 and you were detained and subsequently arrested by police. 'I am told that you will be deported after serving your sentence, but that is not a matter for the court.' Matranxhi, of no fixed address, must sign the sex offenders register for the next 10 years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely. A truck driver jailed for killing a young teacher in a horror head-on smash has penned an emotional letter to her family and friends. Melissa Bond, 25, was driving home from school when the refrigeration truck collided with her car at Appin, south west of Sydney just after 5.30pm on March 21 last year. Christopher Childs, 46, was on Tuesday sentenced to at least six months in jail after Judge David Arnott found his 'momentary inattention and failure to maintain proper control of his vehicle' had caused the crash. Ms Bond, a physical education teacher at John Therry Catholic High School in Rosemeadow, died at the scene A truck driver jailed for killing a young teacher in a horror head-on smash has penned an emotional letter to her family and friends Ms Bond, a physical education teacher at John Therry Catholic High School in Rosemeadow, died at the scene. 'I am so sorry for your loss, I'm so sorry for what happened to Melissa,' Mr Childs wrote in a letter seen by The Mercury. 'My actions have taken a beautiful human being and soul from you all, all too soon. 'Melissa had her whole life ahead of her with all you and now she is no longer able to walk amongst you or be there for you or touch you. I'm so sorry for what I have taken from you all.' The letter was part of a number of documents given to Campbelltown District Court during sentencing proceedings. Mr Childs had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death. He was also disqualified form holding a drivers licence for three years. The fourth man to be held in custody following terror raids on five properties in Sydney last month has said his arrest was 'sad' and 'embarrassing'. Khaled Merhi told The Daily Telegraph he was clueless as to the terror plot to build an explosive and detonate it on an Etihad flight, and to a second plot to release poisonous gas on public transport. 'It's just embarrassing, all this s*** mate,' he said. 'Zilch mate, nothing, I had no idea.' Merhi spent eight days behind bars following raids in Lakemba, Punchbowl, Surry Hills, Bankstown and Wiley Park on July 29. Khaled Merhi (pictured), the fourth man arrested over the alleged plot to blow up an Etihad flight, says his arrest was 'embarrassing' and that he had 'no clue' what was going on His brother Abdul Merhi and two men he was related to by marriage, Mahmoud and and Khaled Khayat, were also arrested. Merhi was released on Sunday, charged with possessing a prohibited weapon - a homemade taser, and will face Downing Centre Court on August 24. The 39-year-old spray-painter says he was born in Australia and would 'fight' against anyone who sought to destroy the nation he was so proud of. 'I was born here, I was born in Crown St I bought my first car here, I played footy here, I went to school here. This is my country mate,' he told the newspaper. 'I'd die for this country, I love this country. That's all I got to say mate, honestly.' Merhi was driven out of Australian Federal Police headquarters on Sunday by officers, and was seen crouching down in the back seat. Mehri is driven by Australian Federal Police out of police headquarters in Surry Hills, Sydney, on Sunday afternoon Abdul Merhi, 50, who was arrested under special anti-terror laws, was released without charge last Tuesday. Khaled Khayat and Mahmoud Khayat have each been charged with two counts of acting in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act. The men, who were refused bail ahead of another hearing on November 14, face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. It comes as more details about the alleged terror plot involving the planned downing of an Etihad flight were revealed by a source to Daily Mail Australia. Accused terrorists Khaled and Mahmoud Khayat allegedly planned to sacrifice their own brother by planting a bomb disguised as a meat mincer in his luggage on July 15. After the plan was thwarted, a Daily Mail Australia source claims the brothers (pictured is Khaled Khayat) allegedly began plotting to set off a bomb inside the Sydney airport at the same time a second bomb detonated on public transport Khaled Khayat (pictured) and Mahmoud Khayat allegedly hatched a second plot to carry out a gas attack on Sydney's public transport network Khaled, 49, accompanied his unwitting brother to Sydney airport ahead of his flight to Abu Dhabi, but the luggage never made it onto the plane and Khayat took it from the airport, police said. After the plan was thwarted, a Daily Mail Australia source claims the brothers allegedly began plotting to set off a bomb inside the Sydney airport at the same time a second bomb was detonated on public transport. A Daily Mail Australia source has claimed it was just 'a fluke' the Khayat brothers were caught before the alleged second attempt which was 'very close' - even just days or hours from happening. The pair were charged with terror offences after police foiled their alleged plot, which officers described as sophisticated, and raided their homes on July 29. Merhi said he had only just returned home from the pub when the raids began, and claimed he had 'no idea what was going on'. James Brown Jr, 46, was charged with a DWI while at a Taco Bell drive-through in New York One New York man's taco fix has landed him into trouble after he was arrested while asleep at the wheel in a Taco Bell drive-through. James Brown Jr, 46, was charged with driving while intoxicated at a Taco Bell in Malta at 10.39pm. A passerby saw Brown asleep inside a black Volkswagen in the drive-through lane and called 911. Troopers arrived at the scene and strongly suspected Brown had been drinking, according to New York State Police. After several sobriety tests, Brown was arrested and charged with a DWI. Brown was found to have a 0.16 percent blood alcohol concentration, which is double the legal driving limit. He was alone in the car at the time, Saratoga Springs Police Department Sgt Douglas Wildermuth told Daily Mail Online. A passerby saw Brown asleep inside a black Volkswagen in the drive-through lane at a Taco Bell in Malta at 10.39pm and called 911 Wildermuth said it was not known if Brown had ordered before his arrest. Brown is an assistant controller at a brewing company, according to his Facebook. A new partnership between Taco Bell and Lyft may lead to less munchie-fueled arrests in the near future. The fast food company partnered with the ride-sharing app to allow passengers to request rides that include a stop at a Taco Bell drive-through between 9pm to 2am. The option, dubbed 'Taco Mode', has been rolled out in Newport Beach, California and is scheduled to be expanded nationally by next year. Katy Bethel, 28, from Gillingham, pictured, was found guilty of trying to smuggle 12 Vietnamese people into the UK A mother-of-four has been found guilty of trying to smuggle 12 Vietnamese people, including children, through the Eurotunnel hidden inside stacked tyres in the rear of a van. Katy Bethel was six months pregnant with her youngest daughter when the five women, four men and three youngsters under the age of 12 were discovered by border control officials concealed in the Mercedes Sprinter. The 28-year-old was a front passenger while her boyfriend and father of two of her children, Aaron Harris, was driving. The illegal entrants were spotted when an officer at the UK control zone in Coquelles, France, saw a pair of jean-clad legs sticking out of the piled-high tyres. But Bethel told a court she had no idea the illicit 'cargo' was concealed just feet from where she was sitting. She said she had simply gone with Harris, also 28, on what she believed to be a day at the beach in France and to stock up on alcohol to celebrate the pending birth of her fourth child. But when questioned during her trial at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent as to why no alcohol was found in the vehicle, she said they never bought any because they 'kept getting lost'. Asked whether she had tried to smuggle the illegals into the UK to 'make some money' for the birth of her child, she replied: 'I have never had any money. I always get by on what I can.' Bethel, from Gillingham in Kent, denied assisting unlawful immigration on July 4, 2015 but was convicted by a majority of 11 to one. The sole carer for her four daughters, who are aged between seven years and 18 months, cried in the dock as the judge warned her of her likely fate in prison. The jury of 10 women and two men deliberated for longer than it took to hear all the trial evidence. Harris, also from Gillingham, admitted the same charge ahead of Bethel's trial and is in custody awaiting sentencing. Judge Philip Statman will sentence the pair together. He told Bethel that although he was 'mindful' of her having four young children, she was likely to go to prison for 'some considerable time'. He added there was no humanitarian motive and it was a very serious offence. According to his Facebook page, he once worked as an assembly line worker for Channel Tunnel Rail. The court heard the couple were stopped at about 9pm as they headed home from Calais via Folkestone. Bethel and boyfriend Aaron Harris tried to smuggle the Vietnamese group, including children, in a Mercedes Sprinter by hiding them in tyres The migrants were found when border officers at the Eurotunnel UK control zone in France ordered Harris to open the back doors Harris told officials everything in the vehicle belonged to him except the tyres. The illicit concealment was discovered when Harris was then asked to open the rear doors. Prosecutor Michael Morris said: 'Upon opening the doors the officer saw what appeared to be jeans or jeaned-legs within the tyres. 'He asked "What's that then?" and Aaron Harris replied "How did he get in?" 'There were 12 Vietnamese nationals concealed in that load of tyres. All were illegal entrants trying to get into the UK.' Mr Morris said the prosecution case was that Bethel 'knew or had reasonable cause for believing' she and Harris were carrying out a breach of immigration law. Bethel claimed she did not know what her boyfriend was up to and cried in the dock as she was found guilty of her part in the tyre scam To be guilty of the charge she did not need to know the nationality, age or any other detail about those being smuggled into the UK Almost 70 calls and texts were made between their phones and an unknown number during the four-hour trip but Bethel said she did not pay attention to what her boyfriend was doing or saying. 'I felt sick, I was tired and obviously pregnant. When I'm tired I don't take much notice of what is going on around me,' she explained. Bethel also told the court that she and Harris went for a 90 minute-walk to a strawberry field, but she did not know Harris left the van key behind with the vehicle. She denied her account of what happened was 'nonsense' or that she was trying to 'wriggle out' of any blame. The judge released the mother on bail to allow for her to make arrangements for her children to be looked after. The court heard Bethel's mother was expected to care for them but has recently broken her leg. The illegal immigrants were discovered when a UK border force official spotted a pair of jean-clad legs sticking out of a tyre stacked in the rear of the Mercedes Sprinter van (stock image) Also adjourning for a report by the probation service, Judge Statman said: 'I need to ensure that proper arrangements have been made for the children. That is best done by giving some time.' Bethel and Harris will be sentenced on September 11. Her conditions of bail are residence, surrendering of passport and not applying for international travel documents. Assistant Director David Fairclough, from Immigration Enforcement's Criminal and Financial Investigation team, said: 'Harris and Bethel initially claimed to be having a day at the beach, but in reality their visit to France had a much more sinister purpose. 'The pair gave little or no thought to the safety of their human cargo. Crammed into a tight space, had the vehicle been involved in any kind of accident the consequences could have been tragic. 'People smuggling is a crime which puts vulnerable people into dangerous situations in the name of profit. This case shows my officers will not hesitate to bring those involved before the courts.' Media personality Mia Freedman has apologised after she was criticised on social media for calling on women to post pictures of their wedding rings in support of marriage equality. Freedman, the founder of women's website Mamamia, penned an article on Tuesday calling on 'straight and married' couples to stand in support of same-sex marriage. But the 45-year-old's call for women to 'take a photo pointing to your wedding ring and post it with the hashtag #married4marriageequality' proved largely unpopular. Freedman later explained that 'as a passionate advocate' for marriage equality, she believes it's vital for straight couples to stand alongside the LGTBQI community. 'Marriage equality is a human rights issue & is supported by the vast vast majority of straight, married people,' she wrote on Twitter. Media personality Mia Freedman has apologised after she was criticised on social media for calling on women to post pictures of their wedding rings in support of marriage equality The founder of women's website Mamamia penned an article about same-sex marriage which included a selfie showing her flaunting her wedding ring and including a call to arms hashtag: '#married4marriageequality' Freedman, a mother-of-three who married husband Jason Lavigne in 1998, began her article by attacking many of the reasons given for voting against same-sex marriage Mia Freedman Twitter apology As a passionate advocate for #marriageequality I believe it's vital for the straight community and those of us who are legally able to marry to stand alongside our LGTBQI brothers & sisters, sons and daughters, mothers & fathers, workmates & colleagues & fight for their rights. Marriage equality is a human rights issue & is supported by the vast vast majority of straight, married people. If I inadvertently offended anyone by calling for legally married women to raise their voices in support of those who can't legally married, I unequivocally apologise. I was using my public profile to support #marriageequaility as I always have. I'm mortified if that's been a distraction in any way. Mamamia & I have worked closely with @AMEquality Marriage Equality for several years & will continue to do so until all Australians can marry. Advertisement 'If I inadvertently offended anyone by calling for legally married women to raise their voices in support of those who can't legally married, I unequivocally apologise. 'I was using my public profile to support #marriageequaility as I always have. I'm mortified if that's been a distraction in any way.' Within just hours of her article being published, Freedman was the top trending topic in Australia. The mother-of-three, who married husband Jason Lavigne in 1998, began her passionate plea for marriage equality by attacking many of the reasons given for voting against same-sex marriage. Dismissing the belief that it will 'diminish' more traditional unions, she referenced her own marriage to Mr Lavigne and how it 'unequivocally' couldn't be affected by it. But it was a selfie showing Freedman smiling and showing her wedding ring, partnered by the #married4marriageequality call to arms, that led to some on social media criticising her. Freedman responded on Twitter to 'unequivocally apologise' for her comments and said she will continue to support marriage equality until it is legalised Within just hours of the article being published Freedman was the top trending topic in Australia, as outraged social media users labelled her everything from 'clueless' to 'privileged' 'All together now: ''You're so vain & white-feminist-centric I bet you think #MarriageEquality is about you, don't you @MiaFreedman,'' one Twitter user wrote. 'Mia Freedman has GOT to be kidding with this. Like, this is next level trolling right?' another wrote. 'Thought marriage equality was about LGBTQI people?? GUESS AGAIN,' said another. Others told Freedman she was an 'ally' of the same-sex marriage cause and said there was no need for her apology. 'No distraction... Necessary action. Thank you,' one wrote. 'Mia, you have nothing to apologise for! In a democracy, we by definition need straight allies. Everyone has a stake in creating a just society,' another said. Executive Director of The Equality Campaign, Tiernan Brady, was another to voice his support for the 45-year-old. 'Mia is a phenomenal advocate for mothers who back marriage equality and we are so grateful to have her support,' he said. 'Mothers like Mia support marriage equality because they want all their children to have the same opportunities in life for commitment and happiness.' Others told Freedman she was an 'ally' of the same-sex marriage cause and said there was no need for her apology Media personality and outspoken feminist Mia Freedman has caused a social media uproar after writing an article in support of legalising same-sex marriage Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured left) with Mia Freedman (pictured right) While Freedman was widely ridiculed for her article, a handful of social media users defended her as an 'ally' to the same sex marriage cause A married drama teacher took a pupil to a production of Matilda before having sex in a hotel, an education standards panel has heard A drama teacher has been banned from the classroom indefinitely after taking a female pupil to the West End to watch Matilda before having sex with her in a hotel. Sarah Barton, 37, admitted to having sex with the girl in a hotel after arranging a trip to the theatre in London to watch the beloved Roald Dahl play. The Essex teacher, 37, has been told she will never teach again after admitting 12 allegations of misconduct at a teacher disciplinary panel. The panel heard that Barton had struck up a friendship with the girl in the academic year 2015/2016. Soon the pair were regularly meeting in private and Barton told friends of a liaison she had with the pupil in her car and in fields. Mark Tweedle, chair of the misconduct panel, said: '[A witness] states that you told her you had sex in your car with [the pupil] and it is a natural inference that this happened after you had [her] picked up in your car. He concluded: 'On balance, we find this allegation proved.' Despite being warned by friends, Barton then took the youngster to the theatre last June and spent the night in a hotel. He added: 'Regardless of who actually organised this trip to Matilda, it took place in June 2016 when your relationship with [the pupil] had been developing for some time. This was clearly inappropriate.' Mr Tweedle added: '[The witness] states that you had told her that you had had sex with [the pupil] in your car and in fields.' The misconduct emerged at a hearing at a National College for Teaching and Leadership Barton admitted that she had failed to maintain boundaries and abused her position of trust by having an inappropriate relationship with the pupil by contacted her by telephone, meeting her at school and kissing. She admitted to taking the pupil to see the musical Matilda in London during half term, booking a hotel and having sex with the her. Barton worked as a drama teacher at the Essex school from 2007 to 2016 before becoming head of department for drama and dance, the panel heard. Mr Tweedle concluded: 'Whilst there was no evidence that Mrs Barton's actions began in any deliberate manner, in light of the length of time that the relationship developed and the emotional benefit gained by Mrs Barton, the panel had to conclude there was planning by her to some degree. 'There were numerous opportunities for the relationship to be terminated by her. This was a sexually motivated relationship that continued despite warnings from her colleagues. It was not a one-off spontaneous event.' Alan Meyrick, who decides on teacher misconduct cases on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, said: 'In my view a five year review period is proportionate and in the public interest. 'I am therefore taking the decision to impose a prohibition order with a provision for an application to be made to set the order aside after a minimum of five years. 'This means that Mrs Sarah Barton is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England.' An off-duty New York Police Department detective was arrested for drunk driving after flipping her SUV over a sand dune in Long Island while her eight-year-old son and pet dog were in the car. Raquel Warburton, 40, drove over a sand dune at Robert Moses State Park around 9.30pm on Friday, causing the vehicle to flip on its side, teetering over the Great South Bay. Warburton, who is an NYPD detective assigned to the Missing Persons squad, and her son were trapped in the vehicle and West Islip Fire crews had to free them. Off-duty NYPD detective Raquel Warburton, 40, was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing her vehicle in Long Island, New York, on Friday night Warburton, who is an NYPD detective assigned to the Missing Persons squad, and her son were trapped in the vehicle following the crash and had to be rescued by a fire crew The mother and son from West Babylon, New York, who were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, were taken to hospital for evaluation but were not severely injured. Warburton, an 11-year NYPD vet, was charged with driving while intoxicated and endangering the welfare of a child, and the police force suspended her without pay. The incident happened after Warburton lost control of her car at a u-turn on the Robert Moses causeway. The mother and son from West Babylon, New York, were wearing seatbelts during the incident, which left Warburton's car teetering over the Great South Bay Warburton suffered a split lip in the incident, while her son was left uninjured. Their pet Labrador, Remy, ran from the car following the crash and has not been since since, News 12 reported. Warburton pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Saturday before a judge at First District Court in Central Islip. She was released on a bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond and ordered to return to court on September 18. Advertisement Many men will be familiar with the feeling of getting mauled by their better half after coming home late - but unlike this lion, most will not have to go through the experience quite so literally. This is the moment a male lion was attacked by the females of his pride after he returned to them following a long period away. It was captured on camera back in July by Ona Basimane, a guide for Wilderness Safaris Explorations Camp in Gomoti in Botswana. This is the moment a male lion was attacked by his own pride in Botswana who began biting and scratching him when he appeared again after spending a long time away from them Ona Basimane, a guide for Wilderness Safaris Explorations Camp in Gomoti, Botswana, said the male had been welcomed by the pride before, but they were in no mood to see him on this occasion As soon as the females saw his mane appearing through the undergrowth they got up and charged at him, with one lioness tacking him in mid-air as this photograph shows Eventually the male was thrown to the floor and forced to retreat for fear of being savaged again. Mr Basimane said: 'The females were definitely happy with the punishment they dished out' He said: 'We recently witnessed a rather unusual brawl between members of the resident pride at Gomoti. What started as a tranquil sighting of females and their young turned into a brawl when the dominant male showed up. 'He had always been welcome but on this occasion, it was clear he was not going to get a hug and a kiss after a long disappearance. 'As soon as the females caught sight of his mane coming through the brush it was tooth and nail. We watched as the females charged at him and bowled him over with slaps. The roars added to the intensity of the atmosphere. 'He eventually got up and ran for his life and the females were definitely happy with the punishment they dished out. One of the females even ended up with some lacerations on her ear. 'It was an incredible experience to witness, especially as it took place very close to our vehicle. Did he have some lipstick on his collar, maybe?' One of the females suffered cuts to her ear and was seen with blood in her fur after the clash, showing the big cats were not just playing when they locked claws Lions exist in a strict hierarchical system, with the dominant male at the top and the females under his control. The dominant male has to maintain this position by force - not just from attacks from the outside, but also by his females David Letterman, who said goodbye to his long-running talk show two years ago, will say hello to TV again with a new show for Netflix. Netflix announced Tuesday that the six-episode series has 70-year-old Letterman combining two primary interests: in-depth conversations, and in-the-field segments sparked by his curiosity and humor. In each hour-long episode, Letterman will conduct a long-form conversation with a single guest, and explore topics of his own outside the studio. The as-yet-untitled series is set to premiere in 2018. David Letterman, who said goodbye to his long-running talk show two years ago, will say hello to TV again with a new in-depth talk show for Netflix. He is pictured in May In each hour-long episode, Letterman will conduct a long-form conversation with a single guest, and explore topics of his own outside the studio. He is pictured at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in April 'I feel excited and lucky to be working on this project for Netflix,' Letterman said. 'Here's what I have learned, if you retire to spend more time with your family, check with your family first. Thanks for watching, drive safely.' In 33 years on late-night television, Letterman hosted 6,028 episodes of NBC's 'Late Night' and CBS' 'Late Show,' and is the longest-running late-night broadcaster in American history. Over the course of his career as a writer, producer and performer, Letterman has earned more than 50 award nominations and more than 10 wins. He won two Peabody Awards and in October he will receive the Mark Twain Prize. He stepped down from 'Late Show' in May 2015 and was succeeded by Stephen Colbert. Since his retirement, Letterman has retreated to his home in Montana and only appeared back on television a few times. Last year he was on the National Geographic Channel's 'Years of Living Dangerously', a climate-change documentary, where he traveled to India. Letterman is the longest-running late-night broadcaster in American history. He stepped down from 'Late Show' in May 2015 (pictured) In 33 years on late-night television, Letterman hosted 6,028 episodes of NBC's 'Late Night' and CBS' 'Late Show,' which was in the Ed Sullivan Theater (pictured) The new Netflix series will be produced by RadicalMedia and Letterman's Worldwide Pants banner. Production on the show will start in the fall and some of the interviews may be filmed in front of a live audience. 'Just meeting David Letterman was a thrill; imagine how exciting it is for me to announce that we will be working together,' Netflix's Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in a statement. 'David Letterman is a true television icon, and I cant wait to see him out in the wild, out from behind the desk and interviewing the people he finds most interesting. Well have to see if he keeps the beard.' Letterman's Netflix show will join ranks with Chelsea Handler's as the entertainment site's second original talk show. The U.S. Department of Education has given feedback on North Dakota's plan to comply with a new federal education law, known as the Every Student Succeeds Act. State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said she spoke Monday with Education Department officials via a telephone conference call, one which she called "positive, substantive and cordial." Education Department officials have requested additional information on several parts of the state's plan, and the department's evaluation of the plan and notes from the expert peer reviewers who examined it will be made public this week, according to Baesler. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction will meet with a statewide ESSA planning committee on Monday to provide an overview of the feedback and gather members' responses to the changes, Baesler said. DPI is required to submit a response to the Education Department by Aug. 21. North Dakota is one of 16 states and the District of Columbia that have submitted their ESSA state plans, with more states planning to do so next month. ESSA replaced No Child Left Behind in 2015. The new law diminishes the federal government's role in education and bolsters the state's involvement. "We look forward to continuing our good working relationship with the Department of Education as this process goes forward," Baesler said. "All of us are keeping in mind that the purpose of this process is to improve the education of our students and to make our education system more accountable to the students, parents and taxpayers that it serves." A restaurant in China has been found offering discounts to women depending on the size of their breasts. The seafood restaurant in Hangzhou offers a whopping 65 percent off for those with G breasts. According to the restaurant, the offer began on August 1 and lasted a week. The shrimp chain in Hangzhou has several outlets, all offering the same deal to women According to the restaurant, the offer began on August 1 and lasted a week The shrimp chain in Hangzhou has several outlets, all offering the same deal to women. According to Lan Shenggang, one of the branch managers, the deal was aimed at young people and in order to bring these people to the restaurant, they needed to get creative. He told reporters at Qianjiang Evening Post: 'Of course we also hear some negative comments. It is normal. Some of the older men and women feel that this is not appropriate and there are some of course that have made some malicious comments.' One passerby named Ms Zhu told reporters: 'This content is vulgar advertising. In addition, I think it is discriminatory against women.' She says she called the mayor's hotline to ask for it to be removed as soon as possible. At one branch of the restaurant chain, the posters were removed however the discount continued to run. Lan Shenggang told reporters that many guests had visited the restaurant. The company Chief Executive Mr Lu has since apologised for any offence caused by the promotion and has now cancelled it. He says a new program will be launched. This isn't the first time a restaurant in China has come up with a crazy promotion. In 2015, one establishment in Jinan offered discounts for the shortest skirts. Those wearing skirts three inches above the knee were offered a 20 percent discount. British model Chloe Ayling's kidnapper sent a email threatening to sell her as a sex slave to the Russian mafia unless a ransom was paid for her safe return, MailOnline can reveal. The 20-year-old glamour model's former agent Phil Green revealed 'Black Death' kidnapper Lukasz Herba said he had five days to pay the money or she would be auctioned to the highest bidder. The model boss claimed Herba, 30, posed as Italian photographer called Andre Lazio and paid 900 up front to lure Chloe to a fake photo shoot at his bogus Bessis Mafique Studio in Milan. Speaking to MailOnline, former lawyer Mr Green said: 'Chloe had gone to Milan for the photoshoot on the Tuesday. 'The man checked out and it all seemed fine, I didn't suspect anything was wrong. 'But then I didn't hear from her on Tuesday and by Wednesday morning I still hadn't spoken to her. British model Chloe Ayling's kidnapper sent a email threatening to auction her as a sex slave to the Russian mafia unless a ransom was paid for her safe return, MailOnline can reveal Chloe's former agent Phil Green revealed 'Black Death' kidnapper Lukasz Herba said he had five days to pay the money or the 20-year-old beauty would be sold the highest bidder British model Chloe Ayling (pictured) said she was kidnapped, drugged and stuffed into a suitcase in Milan Former lawyer Phil Green, pictured, who runs Supermodel Agency received the ransom email from Ms Ayling's kidnapper 'Then at 10am on Wednesday morning this email landed in my inbox. 'It read, "We've got Chloe Ayling. We are Black Death group. It is of supreme interest that you raise money. You should contact [three names] or she will be sold at auction on Sunday and handed to the Russian mafia".' It went on: 'We require you to come up with an offer by Sunday or she will be placed for auction.' Mr Green, who runs Supermodel Agency, said he was 'absolutely terrified'. 'I didn't know what to believe. I spent five days thinking she was dead. Talk about sleep deprivation. I hardly slept for a week. It was a difficult time.' He added: 'It has not got any easier since she has got back. We didn't expect for this to go global and get press from around the world.' Herba, who is Polish and lives in Oldbury, West Midlands with his brother Michal, first booked her for a photoshoot draped over a motorbike in Paris in April. He paid 900 in advance and in the French capital she was met at the airport by chauffeur-driven car and stayed in a hotel off the Champs-Elysees. But that night Paris was hit by a terror attack and a police officer was killed and two more were wounded close to her hotel. Herba cancelled at the last minute, claiming his studio had been ransacked. He met Chloe the next day to pay her 90 expenses. 'She found him straightforward and professional,' added Mr Green. 'We felt sorry for him because he'd paid all that money and the shoot was cancelled. Lukasz Herba, 30, pictured, allegedly posed as an Italian photographer called Andre Lazio and lured Miss Ayling to motorbike themed photo shoots in Milan and Paris. Once in Italy, it is claimed he drugged her with ketamin and held her for six days at a remote farmhouse Model: Ms Ayling, a 20-year-old mother of one from Caulsdon, south London, met her alleged kidnapper in Paris for a motorbike themed photo shoot, which was cancelled when a terror attack broke out Miss Ayling's agency was paid around 900 for the Paris photo shoot in April. The topless model then agreed to fly to Milan for another photo shoot where she was allegedly kidnapped Weeks later he told her agency he had moved to a studio in Milan and booked her again for July 11, when she was kidnapped. He paid the agency a total of 1,800, even though the first booking was cancelled. 'He said to me, 'Paris is dangerous. I'm going to move home to Italy where it is safer and we will do the shoot there. 'And true to his word, he got back in contact in June to reschedule for Milan.' When Herba, who is in custody in Milan, got in contact to book Miss Ayling for a second shoot in Milan for which she arrived on July 10, he again paid 900 in advance, said Mr Green. The model boss said he did all the necessary checks on Herba, but that nothing about him raised suspicion. Herba, who has been described by an ex-girlfriend as a Walter-Mitty style fantasist, set up a fake website under the company name Bessis Mafique Studio, and provided details of previous models he had worked with, said her former agent. He added: 'We ask lots of questions of new clients. Who are you, what do you want the shoot for, what is Chloe required to do, have you got a website and examples of your previous work? There was nothing we thought suspicious at all.' Mr Green said he was disappointed that, following their ordeal, Miss Ayling had sacked him and moved to another agency. He said he paid for her hotel and flight home after she was returned. The US government has been accused of refusing to hand over evidence which could clear an elderly British man sentenced to death in Florida more than three decades ago. Kris Maharaj, 78, was sentenced to death in 1987 over the murders of father of son, Derrick and Duan Moo Young in a Miami hotel room. Prosecutors managed to secure the death penalty, although in 2002, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Krishna Maharaj, pictured in August 2007, has spent the past 30 years in prison for the double murder of a father and son in a Miami hotel room which his lawyer said he did not commit Krishna Maharaj, pictured with his wife Marita on their wedding day, left and in prison, right. Clive Stafford Smith, pictured with Mr Maharaj's wife Marita, right, said federal authorities are holding evidence which he believes will exonerate his client and allow him to return to Britain Mr Maharaj was initially sentenced to death, but this was commuted to life in 2002 although he will not be eligible for parole until he reaches 101 years of age. His legal team said he is in poor health and it is feared that he may die in prison Maharaj's lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith - who is the founder of Reprieve - said his client is not guilty of the double killing. Mr Stafford Smith said Colombian drug cartels were active in Miami at the time of the murders. Under the current arrangement, Maharaj will be eligible for parole once he reaches 101. However, his legal team - who have represented for more than 20 years pro-bono - say his conviction is unsafe and should be quashed. An appeals court in Atlanta agreed the 78-year-old businessman should receive a new hearing, although the case will have to return to a federal court in Miami to proceed further. A single judge will consider new evidence collated by his legal team and Reprieve. Mr Stafford Smith said federal authorities are holding records which could help exonerate his client, although there is no obligation for them to release the information - even if petitioned by a state court. Speaking to the BBC this morning, Mr Maharaj said: 'It is blatantly obvious that I was framed [] Believe you me; I will be vindicated.' Mr Stafford Smith said: 'For years, the US government has held evidence that could help free an innocent man. Kris and his wife Marita have been through a nightmarish ordeal since 1986 all they want now is for justice to be done. It is high time the US authorities gave us the information we need to prove Kris innocence once and for all.' According to Reprieve, federal authorities were aware at the time of the original trial, the victims were laundering cash for notorious drugs cartel leader Pablo Escobar. A 24-year-old mother has been charged with the felony murder in connection with the death of her three-year-old son. Jamie Lee Camacho of Reidsville was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation following an investigation into the death of her son Jakob Eli Camacho. The three-year-old boy was reported missing from his home on River Road, Reidsville at 7.13pm on July 28. Jamie Lee Camacho, left, has been charged with the felony murder of her three-year-old son Jakob, who was found in a locked car outside her home in Reidsville, Georgia Officers from Tattnall County Sheriff's Office found the youngster locked inside a car at the residence. According to GBI: 'Aid was rendered and EMS responded for medical treatment, but the child was pronounced dead on-scene. An autopsy was performed at the GBI Crime Lab in Savannah, results pending.' The GBI are continuing their investigation into the cause of the youngster's death. Camacho, who is being held inside Tattnall County Jail, has also been charged with second degree child cruelty. Malia Obama gained a lot of attention with her wild dance moves at Chicago's Lollapalooza music festival - but lost her phone in the process. The 19-year-old was filmed thrashing around on the ground during The Killers' set at the festival on Friday night. Unfortunately, that resulted in her misplacing her iPhone - requiring a visit to an Apple store accompanied by watchful Secret Service agents, Page Six reported. Scroll down for video Malia Obama lost her iPhone while dancing up a storm at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago on Friday. She was apparently enraptured by The Killers, who were on the stage Malia (sen in March with her iPhone) wasn't able to get help from the Apple Store later because she didn't have her Apple ID - because it had been set up by the White House 'Malia came into the Apple Store to get her iPhone replaced, but things didn't go exactly [as planned],' a source told the site. 'The Apple Store couldn't immediately help her because she didn't have the Apple ID or the password for the missing phone, since the White House set it up.' Phone calls are likely occurring all over Washington as the Obamas try to obtain the correct details, Page Six speculated. Malia, whose classes at Harvard start up again in just a few short weeks, was seen in video obtained by TMZ dancing wildly with a gal pal on Friday as the Las Vegas rock band played its hits. In early footage Malia's friend throws herself to the ground while Obama's daughter jokingly pretends to play the drums, matching her moves with the music. She then helps her friend up before they turn to watch the rest of the show, but the party was far from over. Footage later captured Malia taking her turn to writhe and roll on the grass, thrashing around before headbanging and pounding the ground during a guitar riff. Malia and her friends reportedly spent most of their time backstage during The Killers set, before going to the grassy area to dance. Footage later captured Malia writhing and rolling on the grass as she danced to the music Malia was seen rocking out during a guitar and drum session during The Killers' headlining set Social media users have been been quick to defend the teenager for letting loose and having fun with her friends. Twitter user @Blvck_Picvsso wrote: 'Malia Obama is doing what you supposed to do at an concert: HAVE FUN.' Another said: 'This Malia Obama thing is being taken way out of context. She's dancing to The KILLERS! I would still be rolling on that floor...' Some called for people to stop secretly filming the former first daughter in order to profit off of her. @JassyBravo tweeted: 'Malia Obama having a great time like normal people but the problem is she will always be recorded but who is her friends tho ?' Another user added: 'Malia Obama is living her best life. people need to stop recording & making money off her and let that girl live.' Social media was quick to defend the teenager for letting loose and having fun with her friends This isn't the first time Malia's moves at Lollapalooza have landed her in the headlines. Last year a video popped up of Malia twerking with friends during a performance at the festival. The high school graduate was criticized for skipping Hillary Clinton's historic speech at the Democratic National Convention to attend the event in her hometown. Another video allegedly showed Obama's eldest puffing on a suspicious cigarette during the festival. The brief clip, published by Radar, shows the teenager mingling with crowds as she takes a drag. An eyewitness insisted she was smoking marijuana, the tabloid site reported. Chilling photographs show a young blonde woman, believed to be model Chloe Ayling, lying helplessly on a floor after allegedly being drugged and kidnapped. The shocking images were emailed to a number of British newspapers and publications and appear to show the 20-year-old from Coulsdon, South London, on her back. She was wearing a pink leotard-type garment at the property near Turin where she was allegedly held hostage for up to six days. In one of the pictures, the woman had a sick and twisted Dark Web advert pinned to her stomach which asked bidders to start their offers at $300,000. These shocking images show a young blonde woman, believed to be Chloe Ayling, lying on her back. The photographs were sent in an email to a number of British newspapers Chloe Ayling (pictured) told police in Italy she was kidnapped and that her captor slept next to her in a double bed The model (pictured leaving her home in Coulsdon) told officers in Italy she was drugged and kidnapped The email read: 'Did you know chloe ayling has been kidnapped in italy and is now for sale by russian mafia ??? see attachament.' It was sent along with the two images and the auction note which informed readers that 'collection can be arranged' or that 'girls can be transported globally'. The note named her as 'Chloe, born in UK, abducted in Italy and held in Italy' and also described her as being a 'beginner model'. In the email, it stated that 'all our girls are set for auctions only' and 'are being held in Europe' and also gave her measurements. It also reminded buyers to 'always make sure you are on a genuine Black Death Group website' and said there are a lot of 'fake copies' online. The message indicated that auctions typically take place on a Sunday and doctors test the women to make sure they do not have any STDs, reports The Sun. The National Crime Agency has said it is aware of the email and is leading the investigation. Miss Ayling told police she had been lured to a fake photoshoot in Milan where was drugged, stripped and handcuffed before being bundled into a suitcase in a car. Her lawyer, Francesco Pesce, said she was given chocolates and underwear as presents by her abductors and she told officers her captor had slept next to her in a double bed. Miss Ayling's captors allegedly tried to sell her and police have been holding their prime suspect Polish man Lukasz Herba, who moved to the UK several years ago. Today, her close friend Carla Belluci, a fellow model and agent, revealed Miss Ayling is trying to 'get back to normal' and is taking part in a topless shoot this afternoon. Police are holding Polish man Lukasz Herba (left) for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Miss Ayling (right) The model (pictured) arrived in Milan for a photoshoot but was drugged and put into the boot of a car The mother-of-one was given chocolates and underwear as gifts and slept next to her captor A friend of Miss Ayling today said that she is taking part in a topless modelling shoot to 'get back to normal' Mr Pesce told Radio 4's Today programme: 'She was told that she was going to be sold to somebody in the Middle East for sex. 'She was told that people were there watching her and ready to kill her if she tried anything. 'So she thought that the best idea was to go along with it and to be nice in a way to her captor because he told her that he wanted to release her somehow and sometime and she thought that the best thing to do was not to go in conflict with him. 'So she abided to his request, 'let's go and buy groceries' and 'you need shoes, let's go buy shoes' and she didn't try to flee. 'But I believe she was terrified at the moment and even if she could've asked for help she didn't because she was subjugated to this person, or people as she was given to understand.' Mr Pesce dismissed suggestions Miss Ayling may have somehow been in on the kidnap, describing it as 'evil'. More than 17,000 attempts have been made by migrants to sneak into the UK on trucks and trains in Calais this year, official figures reveal. Information released by the French Interior Ministry show that thousands of people are attempting to enter the UK illegally. It follows the closure of the Jungle refugee camp in October last year, a move which backers claimed would reduce the number of attempts. French authorities believe there are around 350 migrants in the Calais area, but organisations distributing aid believe this figure is really around 1,000 On Thursday an Eritrean man died after falling from a lorry, reportedly having jumped off when he realised it was bound for Belgium and not the UK. French authorities believe there are around 350 migrants in the Calais area, but organisations distributing aid believe this figure is really around 1,000, RT reports. Sky News correspondent Mark Stone, who has been in Calais this week, wrote: 'The sole objective of the authorities here in Calais is to prevent a new camp from taking hold. And so, almost every night, they disrupt the migrants; sweeps of the woods are common.' Human Rights Watch has accused riot police of using brutal methods to disrupt groups of refugees in Calais. The pressure group released a report claiming adults and children were being pepper sprayed 'while they sleep' and pose no threat. Human Rights Watch has accused riot police of using brutal methods to disrupt groups of refugees in Calais One man who has twice been deported from the UK told Mr Stone: 'Why not in UK? We like it there. We can speak English, we can live our life better. So why not UK? I guarantee after one month, or two months, I will be there. If they kick me out, I will try again. I don't care.' Last October the 'Jungle' refugee camp was razed to the ground having become a home for thousands of people risking their lives to cross the border. They were mostly resettled in other areas, but there have been recent reports that people are returning to the site. Last month, French authorities announced plans to dismantle a migrant camp built by humanitarian group MSF 30 miles north in Dunkirk, less than six months after clearing the camp at Calais. Speaking at a French senate hearing, Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said security forces would close the Grande-Synthe facility near the port of Dunkirk 'as soon as possible' after a series of violent clashes there. The former jungle in Calais, which was bulldozed in October 2016, with thousands of refugees forced to move to hostels Its wooden cabins, home to about 1,500 migrants and refugees, most of them Kurds, were opened in March 2016 by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) over the objections of the central government. For more than a decade, France's northern coast has been a magnet for refugees and migrants trying to reach Britain, with French authorities repeatedly tearing down shantytowns in the area. After fleeing war or poverty, men, women and children gather near ports where they seek to break into trucks heading to Britain or pay smugglers to help them get across the Channel. The issue is a constant source of friction between Britain and France and an embarrassment for the French government, which has been criticised by the United Nations refugee agency for failing to provide adequate accommodation. A second site set up by Medecins Sans Frontiere will be closed as well, police have said. Above, a migrant from Zambia warms up with a friend by a fire Calais has had many problems as a key port for people trying to get over to the UK, and the area has been the subject of disputes between France and the UK The government believes camps encourage people to travel there, causing a major security problem, and urges migrants instead to register asylum applications in France and seek shelter in facilities elsewhere. Repeated break-ins around ports have caused delays to travellers and truck drivers, while local residents also complain about disruption and damage done to the image of their area. The Socialist government, which is determined to try to stop another camp from springing up in Calais, has criticised Britain for reneging on a deal to resettle hundreds of underage migrants from the camp. Officials have hit out against the 'unsafe and unprofessional' pilot of an Iranian drone after it came close to striking a US jet in the Gulf. The US Navy F/A-18E was in a holding pattern as it prepared to land on the USS Nimitz when the drone flew just 100 feet away, an official said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that despite repeated radio calls to stay clear of the US plane, the Iranian drone 'executed unsafe and unprofessional altitude changes' in the incident. Scroll down for video A US Navy F/A-18E (file photo) came close to striking an Iranian drone after the drone's pilot pulled an 'unsafe and unprofessional' maneuver, said an official who did not want to be named The drone's make was not specified but may have been similar to this Iranian Shahed-129, seen last year. The one involved in this incident was not armed, the official said Such encounters between the United States and Iran are not uncommon. In fact, this was the 13th unsafe and unprofessional interaction between the United States and Iranian maritime forces in 2017, the official said. But this appears to be the first time an Iranian drone has come dangerously close to a US fighter plane in the Gulf. The drone was not armed, the officials said. Years of mutual animosity had eased when the Obama administration lifted sanctions on Tehran last year as part of a deal to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. But serious differences remain over Iran's ballistic missile program and conflicts in Syria and Iraq. The Trump administration, which has struck a hard line on Iran, recently declared that the country was complying with its nuclear agreement with world powers. However, it also warned that Tehran was not following the spirit of the accord and that Washington would look for ways to strengthen it. The US has a number of military bases in the region, including in Qatar and Kuwait, across the Gulf from Iran. The US Fifth Fleet is also based in nearby Bahrain. Earlier this year, a senior commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned the United States that if it designated the group a terrorist organization, its action could be perilous for US forces in the region. A Texas man has captured incredible footage of lightning hitting the house across his street. Chris Alderete was about to head out the door when he decided to film the incredible thunderstorm. He was just adjusting his phone when he caught the amazing footage from a window. Chris Alderete was about to head out the door when he decided to film the incredible thunderstorm happening in San Antonio, Texas on Monday Then the sound of thunder filled the air as a bolt of lightning shot down and hit the house right in front of him 'Wait which way are you supposed to record, like this?' he asked. Then the sound of thunder filled the air as a bolt of lightning shot down and hit the house right in front of him. Alderete's screen completely turned white as the lightning struck and filled the sky. 'Oh f***k, did I get that?' he yelled out loud. Alderete posted the video on Facebook on Monday, joking 'guess ima (sic) be late'. Oh f***k, did I get that?' Alderete yelled out loud as he captured the incredible footage Alderete's phone screen filled with a burst of yellow as the lightning reached the ground The incredible clip has since been viewed nearly 3,000 times on social media. It was a record-breaking day of rainfall for the city, with parts of San Antonio getting nearly 5 inches of rain, according to KWTX. Streets were flooded throughout the city, power was knocked out for thousands in West Texas, and at least one neighborhood had to be evacuated. San Antonio firefighters have to rescue a number of drivers who got stranded in the high water. A Florida mayor has accused her estranged former sheriff's deputy husband of raping her three times while she was unconscious during their marriage. Millissa Holland, 46, claims David O'Brien raped her three times in 2013 while she was taking Tramadol to treat a knee injury, a year after their wedding. She said she went to sleep fully clothed after mixing the painkillers with wine but woke up undressed and 'feeling strange' with vague memories that her husband had assaulted her. The pair separated at the time but she declined to press charges and did not file for divorce because she was still reliant on her husband's healthcare insurance to pay for her sick daughter's medical bills. Palm Coast Mayor Millissa Holland has accused her estranged husband David O'Brien of raping her three times in 2013. The pair are pictured before they separated in March that year She was unemployed until being elected the Mayor of Palm Coast in November 2016. In April this year, after the four-year statute of limitations which would allow him to be prosecuted or sued for the rape, O'Brien, 53, filed for divorce. He is demanding a 2007 SAAB as part of their divorce and asks that his wife pay his legal fees. Holland is seeking $5,000-a-month from him in alimony. The couple married in 2012. He had worked for Flagler County Sheriff's Office for more than two decades and had risen to the rank of undersheriff when they tied the knot. In February 2013, Holland, a former county commissioner, was prescribed 50 mg Tramadol pills to treat a knee injury. She was told to take the pills for four days. On the first day of the course of treatment, she drank wine with her husband while they had dinner and drank some more afterwards. She claims to have gone to bed fully-clothed but said she woke up naked and 'feeling strange'. The same thing happened for the next three nights. After the treatment, she confronted her husband and he allegedly admitted 'taking advantage' of her while she was unconscious. Holland later said she believed the assault went on 'for hours' and that she vaguely remembered being dragged by her husband to the end of the bed so that he could perform oral sex on her. Holland, 46, was taking Tramadol for a knee injury when she says she passed out after mixing the painkiller with wine. She claims O'Brien, 53, stripped her and raped her. They are both pictured at court on Monday The alleged assaults took place at the three-bedroom home the couple shared in Palm Coast. Afterwards, O'Brien moved out A month after the assault, he contacted Jeff Stuart, a friend at the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, and asked to meet him in the parking lot of a bank at 2am where he confessed that his wife was planning to accuse him of rape. Stuart allegedly went to Holland's home to speak with her afterwards. The Sheriff's office later contacted prosecutors who asked Holland if she wished to press charges but she declined. In 2015, prosecutors asked her if she wished to restart the investigation after being shown an email in which O'Brien allegedly admitted to raping his wife. It read: 'I take full responsibility for all my actions and for raping (redacted) and causing her so much emotional and physical pain and abuse,' according to The Dayton News Journal. Holland stayed married to the man in order to use his health insurance to pay her adult daughter Tori's medical bills,. Tori has a chronic auto immune condition They asked her to call her husband and record the conversation, during which she asked: 'How do you live with yourself knowing that you raped your wife?' He replied: 'I dont, I dont, I dont live with myself. OK. I dont at all.' Holland was elected Mayor of Palm Coast in November She declined again, saying that she still relied on his health insurance to pay for her adult daughter's healthcare. The woman has a chronic auto-immune condition which her mother's insurance did not cover at the time. In April this year, O'Brien filed for divorce at Flagley County Courthouse. His estranged wife's lawyers say his timing is down to the four-year statute of limitations which was in place at the time of the alleged assault. Florida has since extended the statute of limitations for reporting rape cases to six years but any incidents which occurred before the change in law are still bound to the old limit. O'Brien resigned from the police force in March 2013 to avoid being fired after being given a bad review. He has never publicly commented on the rape allegations. Two weeks in a row, local law enforcement officers have been on the hunt for serious criminal suspects. On July 28, Mandan Police tracked down a man accused of armed bank robbery. Early Sunday, Bismarck Police found a man suspected of murder. But neither suspect was wanted for a crime in Bismarck. Rather, local law enforcement was helping agencies halfway across the country find people allegedly on the run. "We dont want those people running around our community any more than anybody else does," said Mandan Police Lt. Pat Haug. Though relatively infrequent, major cases such as these come up when far-off departments need help serving warrants. Information about suspect locations comes from the agencies themselves or from people calling an anonymous tip line, according to Bismarck Police Sgt. Mark Buschena. In order to merit a stakeout, the crime must be a sufficiently serious felony for which someone can be extradited to another state. Late Saturday night, Bismarck Police got a tip that a 24-year-old man wanted for an Oklahoma murder was staying at a house on the 100 block of West London Avenue in south Bismarck. Bismarck Police Lt. Gary Malo said he believed the information came in anonymously and independent of Tulsa authorities, who want Maurice Sanders for the murder of 32-year-old Charles Walker and shooting with intent to kill another man, according to local news reports. Bismarck officers believed Sanders was staying with a woman, who had children. A dozen officers, including a detective, came to the residential area and surrounded the home, police said. Sanders came out on his own, but then started running in the parking lot, according to police, who deployed a Taser to stop him. Sanders appeared in court on Monday afternoon and waived his right to an extradition hearing, meaning he will be transported south as soon as representatives from Oklahoma come to pick him up. On July 28, Mandan Police successfully sought out a 24-year-old man wanted for carjacking and armed bank robbery in Nebraska, who was staying in a local house. In that case, Haug said he worked closely with Nebraska authorities, who had the initial information that Tyree Carney was in this area. First, officers staked out a Mandan home and determined he was likely inside. Then, Haug managed to get a phone number and called him. "Usually they dont come out, but he did," Haug said. Haug said there is rarely any kind of exchange of fees for mutual assistance, but it may well pay off later. "If I do something good for Nebraska, there may be a day down the road when I need help on something," he said. One of the more famous cases of assistance in this area was in 2012 when Bismarck Police arrested 57-year-old Mitchell Walk, accused of kidnapping a woman at gunpoint in Idaho, hiding under a pine tree near the Oasis Truck Stop. Local authorities also have been the beneficiaries of the same aid, with far-off police finding suspects. In 1992, Sarasota, Fla., police helped the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department arrest Michael Neugebauer, accused of killing his family in Menoken. He had run away to a hotel there with his girlfriend. Just last year, Mandan Police partnered with authorities in California, FBI and Mexico to recover a woman, who allegedly fled the country with two kids in violation of a custody order. Brussels police opened fire on a car packed with explosives after a high-speed chase through the suburb of Molenbeek. Shots were fired at the vehicle after it became stuck in traffic and the driver reversed into a police car. Police cordoned off the area and told residents to remain indoors while military units checked for explosives. Brussels police spokeswoman Dorothee Cattrysse said 400 to 500 people were being kept in the stores. Armed forces personnel in the Molenbeek suburb of Brussels following the high-speed chase A bomb disposal squad is deployed after Belgian police shot at a vehicle in the Molenbeek district Bomb disposal experts were called to check the vehicle but there was no immediate confirmation that explosives had been found Police cordoned off the area following the high-speed chase through the suburb of Molenbeek Police spokeswoman Ine van Wymersch told Reuters: 'The man was driving suspiciously and failed to stop at a traffic light. 'When the police arrested him, he claimed to have explosives so not to take any risk, the army has been called in to check.' She said 'mentally unstable' suspect was from Rwanda and was not known to have a police record. The vehicle was reportedly registered in Germany. It was understood the man was alone. No-one was injured. Molenbeek, a poor district of the capital with a large Moroccan Muslim population, has been dubbed the 'jihadi capital of Europe'. It gained notoriety after an ISIS cell based there mounted suicide attacks on Paris in November 2015 that killed 130 people. Associates of that group then attacked Brussels itself four months later, killing 32 people. A police helicopter flies over the Molenbeek suburb tonight after the police chase Shots were fired at the vehicle after it became stuck in traffic and the driver reversed into a police car North Korea has produced a miniaturized warhead for its intercontinental missile, bringing it closer to achieving its goal of developing nuclear weapons to hit the US with. Officials were uncertain if Kim Jong Un had been able to accomplish building the warhead but a July 28 report from the Defense Intelligence Agency suggests that he has. It will fit in to one of the missiles he has test launched in recent months and can carry dozens of nuclear bombs to be dropped on its target. According to the report, officials now estimate Jong Un has 60 nuclear weapons in his arsenal. By comparison, the US is estimated to have more than 6,800 and Russia is thought to have 7,000. Kim Jong Un has reported produced 60 of the weapons which will fit inside the deadly missiles he has been testing in recent months On Tuesday, The Washington Post published details from the confidential report which details how the dictator is stepping up his threat against the West. 'The IC [intelligence community] assesses North Korea has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, to include delivery by ICBM-class missiles,' it read. One of the bombs has a blast that is twice as powerful as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Since 2006, North Korea has tested five nuclear tests. It is not clear whether the missile warhead has been tested or not but experts say he is in a hurry to speed up weapons development in light of his increasingly precarous position on the global stage. It follows the successful launch of an ICBM last month that, if fired on a flat trajectory, has the capacity to reach American shores. The US's missile defense systems in Alaska would be tasked with firing the missile, named Hwasong-14, down. Jong-Un made a direct threat to the US this weekend after a set of crippling economic sanctions were approved by the UN Security Council on Saturday. The sanctions cut off a third of the country's exports, taking $1billion away a year from its $3billion economy. They were approved by the U.N. Security Council on Saturday and threaten to cripple Jong Un's economy. A test launch of the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile in North Korea on July 28. Experts say the missile has the capacity to reach US cities if launched in a flat trajectory President Trump vowed to remain 'tough and decisive' in his fight against North Korea on Monday On Saturday, the UN Security Council imposed a strict set of sanctions which will block a third of North Korea's export revenue. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nicky Haley is seen (right) next to the UK's ambassador Matthew Rycroft Jong Un vowed to exact revenge on the US for advocating the sanctions. On Monday, state run news agency KCNA said the US would 'pay dearly' for spearheading it. On Tuesday, it issued a statement which contained another threat. 'Packs of wolves are coming in attack to strangle a nation...They should be mindful that the D.P.R.K.s strategic steps accompanied by physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilization of all its national strength,' the statement, which appeared in The New York Times, read. Trump was not rattled by the threat. 'After many years of failure,countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!' he tweeted on Monday. China fired dozens of its own missiles on Monday in a show of alliance with the West. The drill included the firing of missiles and according to the ministry aimed to hone the military's abilities to conduct coastal assaults. Last week, two US B-1 bombers flew over the Korean peninsula. They were escorted by fighter jets from the Japanese and South Korean Air Forces. A fisherman whose boat capsized after hitting a bigger vessel has told of the horrifying moment his three friends went silent as he swam for four hours before being rescued. Elvis Cojocariu, 45 struggled desperately towards the shore in the early hours of the morning with a buoy under one arm after the boat he and his three friends were using was hit by a larger vessel. Mr Cojocariu said all four of them were suddenly hurled into the water and he simply focused on 'not dying' as he tried to swim the ten miles to shore while currents pushed him parallel to the coast. Four hours after entering the water, just before 6am, he was finally rescued clinging to the buoy he had managed to take from the fishing boat. Elvis Cojocariu is the only man so far to have been rescued after the fishing boat he and three friends were on collided with a bigger vessel The body of one man was recovered from the sea and brought ashore by the coastguard helicopter at around 8.15am on Sunday morning The body of one man was recovered from the sea and brought ashore by the coastguard helicopter at around 8.15am on Sunday, August 6. Following an unsuccessful eight-hour search, father-of-four Mitch Ilie, the owner of a bike repair shop in Brighton, East Sussex, and his brother-in-law and father-of-three Irinez Popovici, are presumed dead. Mr Cojocariu, from London, added: 'It all happened in about two minutes. There was no time to call for help. 'We just had to swim towards the lights, swim towards the shore. 'Mitch was screaming for help and me and Irinez started swimming to the shore but he started panicking because he couldn't swim and after 25 minutes I couldn't hear him anymore. 'I just kept thinking about not dying. I was trying to swim to the shore but the current was pushing me parallel to the coast.' The group of four had been night fishing for mackerel close to the Rampion offshore wind farm, around ten miles off the Sussex coast. The 16ft-long boat they were in left Shoreham Harbour, in West Sussex, shortly after midnight on Sunday for the pleasure fishing trip. MAP: The crash is thought to have happened around two miles west of Shoreham Harbour They headed out in the direction of the wind farm where they then stopped the boat but did not put down anchor. Around two hours later, Mr Cojocariu said it was struck by a much larger ship. Mr Cojocariu said no one from the party caught any fish for the first hour until around 1am when they began reeling in mackerel for around 30 minutes. At 1.30am, the four friends spotted a large commercial vessel, standing around ten metres high out of the water, heading straight for them. Despite frantic efforts to attract the ship's crew with the lights from their boat and two head torches, the ship continued on the course straight for them. They turned on their boat's engine and tried to make a drastic u-turn to avoid a collision. But the larger vessel clipped the very back of their boat. It started taking on water and listing precariously. The men could see the boat was sinking and prepared themselves to enter the water. One emptied a jerry can to use as a buoyancy aid while two buoys were cut from the boat at the very last minute. The RLNI said two boats were understood to have collided around two miles off the coast of Shoreham causing one to sink (above, the scene during the search on Sunday) One man was rescued at 05.50am by a fishing vessel but two others remain at sea Sadly Mr Ilie entered the water with nothing. About 2km (1.2 miles) away from the shore, Mr Cojocariu said he saw a boat in the distance and began screaming for help. He was pulled from the sea and brought onboard the professional fishing boat using ropes just before 6am and immediately raised the alarm for the search to begin for his three friends. Once brought back to shore he was so exhausted he collapsed and only regained consciousness in Worthing Hospital, West Sussex. He said: 'I'm happy to survive but really sorry about my friends.' A major search was launched by HM Coastguard, supported by Sussex Police, for Mr Cojocariu's three friends. Mr Ilie, who is missing presumed dead, is a regular fisherman, going out weekly, and frequently fished from the quiet spot near the wind farm. His boat had been out of action for three months for maintenance and was said to be in good working order. Mr Popovici is father to a 17, 15, and five-year-old, and Mr Ilie has four children aged between 19 and two - five of the men's children were on holiday in Romania at the time of the tragedy. Mr Ilie moved to Brighton from London six years ago, drawn by his love of the sea. He has run Mitch and Grandad's Bike Shop, in Brighton, since 2015. Elvis Cojocariu's son Alfred Cojocariu, 21, said: 'I've known Mitch since I was 13, he gave me my first ever job. 'He always treated me as an equal despite the age difference. 'There's nothing bad you could say about him, he was just a really good guy.. He was like a big brother to me.' Marain Vechiu, a friend, said: 'He moved to Brighton because he loved the sea and he loved the people here. He felt like this was his home. 'At the bike store, if somebody couldn't pay, he would just say pay me next time. He was always thinking about others.' Relatives are now urging the captain and crew involved in the collision to come forward and help with a police investigation into the incident. Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Carr said: 'Sussex Police are undertaking a joint investigation with the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch. 'We are now trying to establish the circumstances and to identify the other vessel involved. 'An earlier appeal for information prompted a significant number of calls and I would like to thank people for their prompt responses, which enabled us to quickly identify who had been involved. 'Our thoughts are with the families and friends of all those who have been involved in this tragic incident.' Wildfire has torn through parts of forest near a popular British tourist resort in Ibiza. Flames licked through trees near San Antonio, a hot nightlife spot on the west coast of the Balearic island, sending heavy columns of smoke into the sky. Videos posted online show helicopters and planes shuttling water and dropping it on the conflagration, which was said to be under control by 7.30 pm. Temperatures soared past 30C on Tuesday, with the blaze starting around 4pm according to witnesses, and grew quickly. There are no reports of injures. A huge forest fire has erupted in Ibiza sparking an emergency response involving planes and helicopters Holidaymakers in the Spanish islands of Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca have faced the hottest summer since records began in the 1950s Spanish helicopter douses a forest fire that destroyed some 100 hectares of pine trees in the Cala Llonga area of Ibiza Recent graduate Jenna Scott, 21, who is in nearby Ocean Beach, said the emergency response was 'pretty quick', adding: 'We saw the fire through the trees which was very worrying... it looked like it spread very, very quickly. 'As scary as it is, the helicopter team seem to be slowly but surely putting the blaze out. It looks like it has completely died out now.' Roads were cordoned off and access around the popular nightlife hub was restricted as authorities worked to make it safe. Student Emily Hood, 19, said: 'When we came out of our hotel, there was quite a bit of smoke and we could see around two actual fires but around an hour or so later it had definitely spread. 'The emergency services have been really, really good.' At least one hotel was evacuated, with guest Alison Cope posting on Twitter: 'Big fire close by. Not allowed back into hotel just yet. We are safe and everything is okay'. The tweet contained an image of a white hotel shrouded by dark smoke against a plain blue sky. Holidaymakers in the Spanish islands of Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca have faced the hottest summer since records began in the 1950s, with night-time temperatures reaching a stifling 27C (80F). A series of forest fires have burned through parts of European countries like France, Italy and Portugal in recent weeks amid high temperatures and dry conditions. Elsewhere firefighters battled a blaze in Tabua in Portugal. More than 348 firemen, 86 land vehicles and 10 helicopters and airplanes are currently battling the fire. Firefighters battled a blaze in Tabua in Portugal as wildfire continued to spread through Europe More than 348 firemen, 86 land vehicles and 10 helicopters and airplanes are currently battling the fire in Tabua Firefighters are battling a blaze in Tabua as fires continued to spread in Europe Google's Ideological Echo Chamber How bias clouds our thinking about diversity and inclusion go/pc-considered-harmful James Damore - damore@ July 2017 Feel free to comment (they aren't disabled, the doc may just be overloaded). For longer form discussions see g/pc-harmful-discuss Reply to public response and misrepresentation: 1 TL;DR: 2 Background: 2 Google's biases: 2 Possible non bias causes of the gender gap in tech: 3 Personality differences: 4 Men's higher drive for status: 5 Non discriminatory ways to reduce the gender gap: 5 The harm of Google's biases: 6 Why we're blind: 7 Suggestions: 8 Reply to public response and misrepresentation I value diversity and inclusion, am not denying that sexism exists, and don't endorse using stereotypes. When addressing the gap in representation in the population, we need to look at population level differences in distributions. If we can't have an honest discussion about this, then we can never truly solve the problem. Psychological safety is built on mutual respect and acceptance, but unfortunately our culture of shaming and misrepresentation is disrespectful and unaccepting of anyone outside its echo chamber. Despite what the public response seems to have been, I've gotten manypersonal messages from fellow Googlers expressing their gratitude for bringing up these very important issues which they agree with but would never have the courage to say or defend because of our shaming culture and the possibility of being fired. This needs to change. TL;DR Google's political bias has equated the freedom from offense with psychological safety, but shaming into silence is the antithesis of psychological safety. This silencing has created an ideological echo chamber where some ideas are too sacred to be honestly discussed. The lack of discussion fosters the most extreme and authoritarian elements of this ideology. Extreme: all disparities in representation are due to oppression Authoritarian: we should discriminate to correct for this oppression Differences in distributions of traits between men and women may in part explain why we don't have 50% representation of women in tech and leadership. Discrimination to reach equal representation is unfair, divisive, and bad for business. Background (1) People generally have good intentions, but we all have biases which are invisible to us. Thankfully, open and honest discussion with those who disagree can highlight our blind spots and help us grow, which is why I wrote this document (2). Google has several biases and honest discussion about these biases is being silenced by the dominant ideology. What follows is by no means the complete story, but it's a perspective that desperately needs to be told at Google. Google's biases At Google, we talk so much about unconscious bias as it applies to race and gender, but we rarely discuss our moral biases. Political orientation is actually a result of deep moral preferences and thus biases. Considering that the overwhelming majority of the social sciences, media, and Google lean left, we should critically examine these prejudices: Left biases Right biases Compassion for the weak Disparities are due to injustices Humans are inherently cooperative Change is good (instable) Open Idealist Respect for the strong/authority Disparities are natural and just Humans are inherently competitive Change is dangerous (stable) Closed Pragmatic Footnotes: 1. This document is mostly written from the perspective of Google's Mountain View campus, I can't speak about other offices or countries. 2. Of course, I may be biased and only see evidence that supports my viewpoint. In terms of political biases, I consider myself a classical liberal and strongly value individualism and reason. I'd be very happy to discuss any of the document further and provide more citations. Neither side is 100% correct and both viewpoints are necessary for a functioning society or, in this case, company. A company too far to the right may be slow to react, overly hierarchical, and untrusting of others. In contrast, a company too far to the left will constantly be changing (deprecating much loved services), over diversify its interests (ignoring or being ashamed of its core business), and overly trust its employees and competitors. Only facts and reason can shed light on these biases, but when it comes to diversity and inclusion, Google's left bias has created a politically correct monoculture that maintains its hold by shaming dissenters into silence. This silence removes any checks against encroaching extremist and authoritarian policies. For the rest of this document, I'll concentrate on the extreme stance that all differences in outcome are due to differential treatment and the authoritarian element that's required to actually discriminate to create equal representation. Possible non-bias causes of the gender gap in tech (3) At Google, we're regularly told that implicit (unconscious) and explicit biases are holding women back in tech and leadership. Of course, men and women experience bias, tech, and the workplace differently and we should be cognizant of this, but it's far from the whole story. On average, men and women biologically differ in many ways. These differences aren't just socially constructed because: They're universal across human cultures They often have clear biological causes and links to prenatal testosterone Biological males that were castrated at birth and raised as females often still identify and act like males The underlying traits are highly heritable They're exactly what we would predict from an evolutionary psychology perspective Note, I'm not saying that all men differ from all women in the following ways or that these differences are 'just.' I'm simply stating that the distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these differences may explain why we don't see equal representation of women in tech and leadership. Many of these differences are small and there's significant overlap between men and women, so you can't say anything about an individual given these population level distributions. 3: Throughout the document, by 'tech', I mostly mean software engineering. Personality differences Women, on average, have more: Openness directed towards feelings and aesthetics rather than ideas. Women generally also have a stronger interest in people rather than things, relative to men (also interpreted as empathizing vs. systemizing). These two differences in part explain why women relatively prefer jobs in social or artistic areas. More men may like coding because it requires systemizing and even within SWEs, comparatively more women work on front end, which deals with both people and aesthetics. Extraversion expressed as gregariousness rather than assertiveness. Also, higher agreeableness. This leads to women generally having a harder time negotiating salary, asking for raises, speaking up, and leading. Note that these are just average differences and there's overlap between men and women, but this is seen solely as a women's issue. This leads to exclusory programs like Stretch and swaths of men without support. Neuroticism (higher anxiety, lower stress tolerance). This may contribute to the higher levels of anxiety women report on Googlegeist and to the lower number of women in high stress jobs. Note that contrary to what a social constructionist would argue, research suggests that 'greater nation-level gender equality leads to psychological dissimilarity in men's and women's personality traits.' Because as 'society becomes more prosperous and more egalitarian, innate dispositional differences between men and women have more space to develop and the gap that exists between men and women in their personality traits becomes wider.' We need to stop assuming that gender gaps imply sexism. Men's higher drive for status We always ask why we don't see women in top leadership positions, but we never ask why we see so many men in these jobs. These positions often require long, stressful hours that may not be worth it if you want a balanced and fulfilling life. Status is the primary metric that men are judged on4, pushing many men into these higher paying, less satisfying jobs for the status that they entail. Note, the same forces that lead men into high pay/high stress jobs in tech and leadership cause men to take undesirable and dangerous jobs like coal mining, garbage collection, and firefighting, and suffer 93% of work-related deaths. Non-discriminatory ways to reduce the gender gap Below I'll go over some of the differences in distribution of traits between men and women that I outlined in the previous section and suggest ways to address them to increase women's representation in tech without resorting to discrimination. Google is already making strides in many of these areas, but I think it's still instructive to list them: Women on average show a higher interest in people and men in things We can make software engineering more people-oriented with pair programming and more collaboration. Unfortunately, there may be limits to how people-oriented certain roles at Google can be and we shouldn't deceive ourselves or students into thinking otherwise (some of our programs to get female students into coding might be doing this). Women on average are more cooperative Allow those exhibiting cooperative behavior to thrive. Recent updates to Perf may be doing this to an extent, but maybe there's more we can do. This doesn't mean that we should remove all competitiveness from Google. Competitiveness and self reliance can be valuable traits and we shouldn't necessarily disadvantage those that have them, like what's been done in education. Women on average are more prone to anxiety 4: For heterosexual romantic relationships, men are more strongly judged by status and women by beauty. Again, this has biological origins and is culturally universal. Make tech and leadership less stressful. Google already partly does this with its many stress reduction courses and benefits. Women on average look for more work-life balance while men have a higher drive for status on average Unfortunately, as long as tech and leadership remain high status, lucrative careers, men may disproportionately want to be in them. Allowing and truly endorsing (as part of our culture) part time work though can keep more women in tech. The male gender role is currently inflexible Feminism has made great progress in freeing women from the female gender role, but men are still very much tied to the male gender role. If we, as a society, allow men to be more 'feminine,' then the gender gap will shrink, although probably because men will leave tech and leadership for traditionally 'feminine' roles. Philosophically, I don't think we should do arbitrary social engineering of tech just to make it appealing to equal portions of both men and women. For each of these changes, we need principled reasons for why it helps Google; that is, we should be optimizing for Googlewith Google's diversity being a component of that. For example, currently those willing to work extra hours or take extra stress will inevitably get ahead and if we try to change that too much, it may have disastrous consequences. Also, when considering the costs and benefits, we should keep in mind that Google's funding is finite so its allocation is more zero-sum than is generally acknowledged. The harm of Google's biases I strongly believe in gender and racial diversity, and I think we should strive for more. However, to achieve a more equal gender and race representation, Google has created several discriminatory practices: Programs, mentoring, and classes only for people with a certain gender or race (5) A high priority queue and special treatment for 'diversity' candidates Hiring practices which can effectively lower the bar for 'diversity' candidates by decreasing the false negative rate Reconsidering any set of people if it's not 'diverse' enough, but not showing that same scrutiny in the reverse direction (clear confirmation bias) Setting org level OKRs for increased representation which can incentivize illegal discrimination (6) 5 Stretch, BOLD, CSSI, Engineering Practicum (to an extent), and several other Google funded internal and external programs are for people with a certain gender or race. 6 Instead set Googlegeist OKRs, potentially for certain demographics. We can increase representation at an org level by either making it a better environment for certain groups (which would be seen in survey scores) or discriminating based on a protected status (which is illegal and I've seen it done). Increased representation OKRs can incentivize the latter and create zero-sum struggles between orgs. These practices are based on false assumptions generated by our biases and can actually increase race and gender tensions. We're told by senior leadership that what we're doing is both the morally and economically correct thing to do, but without evidence this is just veiled left ideology (7) that can irreparably harm Google. Why we're blind We all have biases and use motivated reasoning to dismiss ideas that run counter to our internal values. Just as some on the Right deny science that runs counter to the 'God > humans > environment' hierarchy (e.g., evolution and climate change), the Left tends to deny science concerning biological differences between people (e.g., IQ (8) and sex differences). Thankfully, climate scientists and evolutionary biologists generally aren't on the right. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of humanities and social sciences lean left (about 95%), which creates enormous confirmation bias, changes what's being studied, and maintains myths like social constructionism and the gender wage gap (9) . Google's left leaning makes us blind to this bias and uncritical of its results, which we're using to justify highly politicized programs. In addition to the Left's affinity for those it sees as weak, humans are generally biased towards protecting females. As mentioned before, this likely evolved because males are biologically disposable and because women are generally more cooperative and agreeable than men. We have extensive government and Google programs, fields of study, and legal and social norms to protect women, but when a man complains about a gender issue issue affecting men, he's labelled as a misogynist and a whiner (10). Nearly every difference between men and women is interpreted as a form of women's oppression. As with many things in life, gender differences are often a case of 'grass being greener on the other side'; unfortunately, taxpayer and Google money is being spent to water only one side of the lawn. 7: Communism promised to be both morally and economically superior to capitalism, but every attempt became morally corrupt and an economic failure. As it became clear that the working class of the liberal democracies wasn't going to overthrow their 'capitalist oppressors,' the Marxist intellectuals transitioned from class warfare to gender and race politics. The core oppressor-oppressed dynamics remained, but now the oppressor is the 'white, straight, cis-gendered patriarchy.' 8: Ironically, IQ tests were initially championed by the Left when meritocracy meant helping the victims of aristocracy. 9: Yes, in a national aggregate, women have lower salaries than men for a variety of reasons. For the same work though, women get paid just as much as men. Considering women spend more money than men and that salary represents how much the employee sacrifices (e.g. more hours, stress, and danger), we really need to rethink our stereotypes around power. 10: 'The traditionalist system of gender does not deal well with the idea of men needing support. Men are expected to be strong, to not complain, and to deal with problems on their own. Men's problems are more often seen as personal failings rather than victimhood, due to our gendered idea of agency. This discourages men from bringing attention to their issues (whether individual or group-wide issues), for fear of being seen as whiners, complainers, or weak.' This same compassion for those seen as weak creates political correctness11, which constrains discourse and is complacent to the extremely sensitive PC-authoritarians that use violence and shaming to advance their cause. While Google hasn't harbored the violent leftist protests that we're seeing at universities, the frequent shaming in TGIF and in our culture has created the same silent, psychologically unsafe environment. Suggestions I hope it's clear that I'm not saying that diversity is bad, that Google or society is 100% fair, that we shouldn't try to correct for existing biases, or that minorities have the same experience of those in the majority. My larger point is that we have an intolerance for ideas and evidence that don't fit a certain ideology. I'm also not saying that we should restrict people to certain gender roles; I'm advocating for quite the opposite: treat people as individuals, not as just another member of their group (tribalism). My concrete suggestions are to: De-moralize diversity. As soon as we start to moralize an issue, we stop thinking about it in terms of costs and benefits, dismiss anyone that disagrees as immoral, and harshly punish those we see as villains to protect the 'victims.' Stop alienating conservatives. Viewpoint diversity is arguably the most important type of diversity and political orientation is one of the most fundamental and significant ways in which people view things differently. In highly progressive environments, conservatives are a minority that feel like they need to stay in the closet to avoid open hostility. We should empower those with different ideologies to be able to express themselves. Alienating conservatives is both non-inclusive and generally bad business because conservatives tend to be higher in conscientiousness, which is required for much of the drudgery and maintenance work characteristic of a mature company. Confront Google's biases. I've mostly concentrated on how our biases cloud our thinking about diversity and inclusion, but our moral biases are farther reaching than that. I would start by breaking down Googlegeist scores by political orientation and personality to give a fuller picture into how our biases are affecting our culture. Stop restricting programs and classes to certain genders or races. These discriminatory practices are both unfair and divisive. Instead focus on some of the non-discriminatory practices I outlined. 11: Political correctness is defined as the avoidance of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against, which makes it clear why its a phenomenon of the Left and a tool of authoritarians. Have an open and honest discussion about the costs and benefits of our diversity programs. Discriminating just to increase the representation of women in tech is as misguided and biased as mandating increases for womens representation in the homeless, work-related and violent deaths, prisons, and school dropouts. Theres currently very little transparency into the extent of our diversity programs which keeps it immune to criticism from those outside its ideological echo chamber. These programs are highly politicized which further alienates non-progressives. I realize that some of our programs may be precautions against government accusations of discrimination, but that can easily backfire since they incentivize illegal discrimination. Focus on psychological safety, not just race/gender diversity. We should focus on psychological safety, which has shown positive effects and should (hopefully) not lead to unfair discrimination. We need psychological safety and shared values to gain the benefits of diversity. Having representative viewpoints is important for those designing and testing our products, but the benefits are less clear for those more removed from UX. De-emphasize empathy. Ive heard several calls for increased empathy on diversity issues. While Istrongly support trying to understand how and why people think the way they do, relying on affective empathyfeeling anothers paincauses us to focus on anecdotes, favor individuals similar to us, and harbor other irrational and dangerous biases. Being emotionally unengaged helps us better reason about the facts. Prioritize intention. Our focus on microaggressions and other unintentional transgressions increases our sensitivity, which is not universally positive: sensitivity increases both our tendency to take offence and our self censorship, leading to authoritarian policies. Speaking up without the fear of being harshly judged is central to psychological safety, but these practices can remove that safety by judging unintentional transgressions. Microaggression training incorrectly and dangerously equates speech with violence and isnt backed by evidence. Be open about the science of human nature. Once we acknowledge that not all differences are socially constructed or due to discrimination, we open our eyes to a more accurate view of the human condition which is necessary if we actually want to solve problems. Reconsider making Unconscious Bias training mandatory for promo committees. We havent been able to measure any effect of our Unconscious Bias training and it has the potential for overcorrecting or backlash, especially if made mandatory. Some of the suggested methods of the current training (v2.3) are likely useful, but the political bias of the presentation is clear from the factual inaccuracies and the examples shown. Spend more time on the many other types of biases besides stereotypes. Stereotypes are much more accurate and responsive to new information than the training suggests (Im not advocating for using stereotypes, I just pointing out the factual inaccuracy of whats said in the training). The Kayabukiya Tavern looks like any other traditional-style Japanese 'sake-house' restaurant. However, once you walk into the modest premises in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture it quickly becomes apparent that human waiters have been replaced by Macaque monkeys. Seventeen-year-old Fuku-chan was ushered into the role after she delivered a napkin to a table unprompted, mimicking Yat-chan, the original Macaque waiter. Fuku-chan, dressed in a chequered waiter's shirt and skirt, bringing a table a beer The monkey also passed on a napkin to diners at the table Restaurant owner, Kaoru Otsuka, then decided to pair her with Yat-chan. People come from all four corners of the world to be served by the simian and now video footage has caught her in action, showing a typical day at work. Viewers can see Fuku-chan, dressed in a chequered waiter's shirt and skirt, bringing guests a beer and fetching napkins for diners. But the veteran waitress is prone to mistakes, she was captured spilling a bowl full of peas as she runs to a table. If Fuku-chan and her younger companions do a good job patrons of the restaurant are encouraged to leave a tip of soya beans while their owner feeds them bananas as payment. Otsuka, who sort the monkeys after seeing them in their natural habitat of the Nikko mountains, said: 'They are closer than my family. I hold them all day and sleep with them. Once I started taking care of them I couldn't let go. 'They are just way too cute.' Monkeys have been working at the bar for some 29 years, reports 28 Lab. The veteran waitress is prone to mistakes, she was captured spilling a bowl full of peas as she runs to a table This machete was seized by police following the raid this morning A man has been arrested in connection with five terrifying machete raids on Greggs across Birmingham. The 40-year-old was detained on suspicion of robbery after swooping on a house in the Sparkbrook area of the city. He's being questioned in connection with five attacks on the bakery chain between February and July. Detective Constable Laura Halpin from Force CID in Stechford, said: 'We've linked at least five robberies at Greggs shops where an offender has struck at opening time and threatened staff with a machete wrapped in a plastic bag before making off with cash. 'No-one was hurt but clearly these were traumatic incidents for the staff who were faced with an armed man and threatened with violence. 'Our enquiries led us to the home address of our suspect in Sparkbrook and officers moved in at around 8am to make an arrest. As part of our enquiries we have also recovered a machete.' The Greggs shops targeted were: The Fox & Goose Shopping Centre, Ward End, on 28 February Weoley Castle Road on March 21 Alcester Road, Druids Heath on 11 April Olton Boulevard East, Acocks Green on 23 May Kingsbury Road, Erdington on 4 July The White House is countering what it considers 'fake news' by sending out daily doses of positive coverage but the emails got blocked for weeks by an internal security system. Beginning around May, the White House began circulating positive news to a long list of media members to try to shape coverage and counter what the White House considers unfair bias in the news business. The sources range from Israeli media to the Wall Street Journal's editorial page to friendly TV commentators. But the staffer sending out the missives didn't realize that the White House IT system blocked the PR because it went out to too wide a list, Politico reported. GOOD NEWS! The White House sends out daily dispatches of positive reporting to the press when it can get around a White House IT firewall. The president also gets two batches of positive reporting per day, according to a report 'All of his emails were being blocked by a firewall and reaching an audience of zero readers,' according to the report. The problem has since been corrected. The emails get generated by White House aide Andrew Hemming, who according to the report draws an $89,000 annual salary. They reveal that the White House doesn't consider all media to be fake, promoting favorable material to a list of about 1,000 people. Tuesday's email cited a Washington Examiner story about reductions in regulations under Trump. A 'Hypocrisy Alert' from Monday references a Washington Times story about how past immigration bills not just the current one favored by Trump used a points system for prospective immigrants. A report in Vice News Tuesday claimed that Trump gets two packets of information presented to him each day, and most of it is positive. The only feedback from the White House communications shop, according to the article, was: 'It needs to be more f****** positive, according to a White House official. The staff-compiled good news includes shots of TV chyrons, articles, transcripts, and tweets. The death of a Texas baby boy who was found suffocated in his car seat inside a closet on Monday has been ruled an accident. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office has concluded that nine-month-old John Norris died as a result of car seat belt strangulation. Baby John's mother, Megan Norris, of Weatherford, was at work at the time of her son's death, which occurred at the home of his caretaker in Fort Worth where there were 10 or 11 other children. Police were called to the home in the 600 block of Woodpecker Lane just after 10pm on Monday for a report of an unconscious person. When they arrived, they found the infant strapped in his portable car seat in the closet. He had apparently been there for two hours, his airway cut off by the safety belt of the carrier, police said. He was pronounced dead just after 10.15pm at the scene. Sgt. Wade Walls, supervisor of the crimes against children unit, said the baby had been put in the carrier inside a walk-in closet of the home so he could sleep. When his baby sitter went to check up on John two hours later, she found him dead inside the closet. As of Wednesday morning, the caretaker has not been arrested or charged with any crime. Police have concluded that John suffocated to death in his sleep after sliding down in the car seat, where the bottom strap was not properly connected. The body of nine-month-old John Norris was found dead in a closet at a Forth Worth, Texas, home (pictured). The baby was strapped into a carrier seat and police said it appears his airway was cut off the by the belt Police said the baby's neck got caught between the chest buckle that was fastened, and he was strangled by the buckle and strap mechanism. Detectives do not believe any foul play was involved, but they are investigating the circumstances surrounding of the boy's death to determine if his baby sitter has been running an illegal child care operation. Child Protective Services and Child Care Licensing are also looking into this case. The residence where John died was not licensed as a day care center, but the home has a history with CPS, according to an agency spokeswoman who declined to go into details, citing privacy laws. A family attorney and friend of Megan Norris' said the mother is devastated by her son's death. The family did not have a history with CPS. President Donald Trump took more swipes at major media outlets Tuesday, claiming publications were 'reluctant' to cover an infamous Loretta Lynch tarmac meeting and pushing 'suppression' polls. Trump's claim came after several new polls showed his approval rating at historic lows, and experiencing some erosion even among his treasured base of supporters. His comment about former Attorney General Loretta relates to her meeting with former President Bill Clinton at a Phoenix airport tarmac during the campaign which came at a time of intense interest in the federal investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails. His attack on her closely follows his attacks on his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions, for recusing himself from the Russia investigation. Hand forced: Lynch had to give up oversight of the Clinton investigation and left James Comey, the FBI director, decide on charging the Democratic candidate for the presidency over her secret email system 'E-mails show that the AmazonWashingtonPost and the FailingNewYorkTimes were reluctant to cover the Clinton/Lynch secret meeting in plane,' Trump wrote. The Post is owned by Amazon.com owner Jeff Bezos. 'After 200 days, rarely has any Administration achieved what we have achieved..not even close! Don't believe the Fake News Suppression Polls!' Trump wrote in another tweet. His comment about Lynch follows the release of Justice Department email traffic by the American Center for Law and Justice. Among the emails was one from a Washington Post reporter apparently relying on the well-worn method of blaming his editors for having to ask an uncomfortable question. 'Any chance one of you could give me a call for another, hopefully quick, conversation on this AG-Clinton meeting? My editors are still pretty interested in it and Im hoping to put it to rest by answering just a few more questions about how the meeting came about-who approached who, how did they realize they were in the same place,' the reporter asked, the Daily Caller reported. A New York Times reporter used a similar tack, writing in a June 30 email he was being 'pressed into service to write about the questions being raised' about the tarmac meeting. A Phoenix ABC affiliate broke the story on a tip. President Donald Trump tweeted that the New York Times and Washington Post were 'reluctant' to cover an infamous airport tarmac meeting President Donald Trump called out what he called 'Fake News Suppression Polls' that had his approval rating at historic lows Stepping into a crisis: Loretta Lynch's decision to let Bill Clinton meet her on her own government jet has battered her reputation and led to a secret email account being revealed President Donald Trump tore into 'suppression polls' that he implied keep his numbers down An aerial view of the Southwest Airlines gates as seen from the window of a departing plane at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (L) and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson (R) listen as U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks at a press conference on January 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Lynch called the press conference to announce the release of a report which cited widespread abuses by officers in the Chicago police department following a 13-month investigation Former President Bill Clinton met with Lynch after learning both of their planes were on the same tarmac. Both denied the conversation had anything to do with the investigation of Hillary Clinton's emails Trump also went after the broader media Monday, amid additional bad news polls, despite strong economic figures. 'Hard to believe that with 24/7 News on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYTIMES & WAPO, the Trump base is getting stronger!' Trump wrote. His approval rating remains stagnant at 36 percent in a CBS tracking poll that dropped on Tuesday. A 46-45 split of respondents said they approved of Trump's handling of the economy, even though confidence in their financials went up five points to 69 percent. President Trump tweeted that he is hard at work at his Bedminister golf course, but also got photographed on the links President Trump tweeted that he is hard at work at his Bedminister golf course, but also got photographed on the links Trump's attack on Lynch follows attacks on his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions The Fake News Media will not talk about the importance of the United Nations Security Council's 15-0 vote in favor of sanctions on N. Korea! 'The Trump base is far bigger & stronger than ever before (despite some phony Fake News polling),' Trump tweeted on Monday. The tarmac meeting drew wide national attention because it raised the possibility of what could at least appear like an influence an FBI investigation underway of Hillary Clinton at that time. Lynch said after the meeting got revealed that the two only spoke about grandchildren and personal matters. Fired FBI Director James Comey testified in June that the meeting convinced him to make public remarks himself about the investigation when it ended in July in order to protect the credibility of the agency. Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee: 'At one point, the attorney general had directed me not to call it an investigation but instead to call it a matter, which confused me and concerned me." "That was one of the bricks in the load that led me to conclude I have to step away from the department if we're to close this case credibly," he added. Music in Harmony Park, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Centers annual community event, celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Centers establishment. After being stormed out in July, the free event has been rescheduled for Friday. Performers include the McMahon Brothers, Jeremiah James & The Prairie Drifters, and Cotton Wood. The music will begin at 6 p.m. in Harmony Park adjacent to the Center. Listeners are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and coolers. Exhibits on display include The Northern Plains National Heritage Area Suite, which features works by Walter Piehl and commemorates the history and culture of the Northern Plains. Also on display is Hometown Retrospective: Washburn Art through the Years, featuring paintings, sculptures and photography from Washburns artistic heritage, including Tom Neary and Henry Lorentzen. Finally, a farmers market runs from 4 to 7 p.m. There will be free admission the day of the event. Visitors can explore the Center exhibits for extended hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Guided tours of Fort Mandan will be available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 701-462-8535. James J. Hamula was removed from a mid-level leadership council as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints A Mormon church leader has been removed from his post and kicked out of the religion for the first time in nearly three decades. James J. Hamula, 59, was removed Tuesday from a mid-level leadership council for undisclosed reasons based on disciplinary action by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' highest leaders, according to church spokesman Eric Hawkins. Hamula had been serving as the executive director of the church's Correlation Department and had been a member of the Quorum of the Seventy for nine years, since his call in April 2008. Prior to that position, he served as the church's Pacific Area president. Hawkins didn't provide any details, but the church said it wasn't for apostasy. That refers to teaching inaccurate doctrine or publicly defying guidance from church leaders. Efforts to reach Hamula at listed phone numbers weren't successful. Scroll down for video Hamula had been serving as the executive director of the church's Correlation Department and had been a member of the Quorum of the Seventy for nine years, since his call in April 2008. A representative for LDS did not reveal why he was removed, but said not for apostasy The last leader to be removed within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the late George P. Lee. Lee, an American Indian, was excommunicated for apostasy and 'other conduct unbecoming a member of the church' in 1989 after calling Mormon leaders racist. His excommunication had been the first in 46 years. It's rare for the LDS to excommunicate members, but when it happens a disciplinary council for a senior LDS leader is made of members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. 'All church discipline is carried out in complete confidence,' according to an article on the church's official Mormon Newsroom website. 'Church leaders have a solemn responsibility to keep confidential all information they receive in confessions and interviews. Excommunicated members can rejoin LDS through rebaptism, but only if they show sincere repentance. Pictured above is Temple Square of the Salt Lake Temple for LDS 'To protect that confidence, the church will not discuss the proceedings of a disciplinary council. 'In rare cases, the decision of a disciplinary council may be shared publicly to prevent others from being harmed through misinformation.' Mormons view excommunication as a way for offenders to get right with God and the church, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Excommunicated members can rejoin LDS through rebaptism, but only if they show sincere repentance. Hamula earned a bachelors degree in 1981 in political science and philosophy from church-owned Brigham Young University in Provo, where he graduated magna cum laude, according to a biography on the LDS Churchs website. Four years later, he received a masters in political philosophy and a law degree from BYU. His biography states that he worked as an attorney until his assignment to full-time church service. A New Hampshire judge on Monday heard audio recordings on which an 83-year-old woman accused in a murder-for-hire plot could be heard laughing and saying she wants her son's ex-wife dead. Prosecutors played phone calls between Pauline Chase and a hit man. The octogenarian mother and her son, 63-year-old Maurice Temple, both of Plainfield, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder and attempt to commit murder. Temple and Chase were arrested in late July after the prospective assassin, Mark Horne, went to the police, helped set up a sting operation and ultimately thwarted the alleged plot. Mother-son duo: Pauline Chase, 83, left, and her son Maurice Temple, 63, have been charged in a foiled murder-for-hire plot targeting Temple's ex-wife Targeted: Chase and her son allegedly wanted Jean Temple (pictured) dead because she has been fighting with him over their divorce settlement On one call played during Monday's probable cause hearing, which was attended by the would-be victim, the man asks Chase if she's sure she wants the woman dead. Chase responds, laughing, 'Yes, that's right,' reported the station WMUR. Chase is also heard on a recording saying of her son's ex-wife, Jean Temple: 'She is money hungry. I want to be rid of her and so do you.' At another point, the elderly woman accuses Jean of making her son 'miserable' during the years the couple had spent together, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. Horne asks Chase several times if she is certain she wants to go through with the plan. 'Were talking dead dead. Shes going to be gone,' the hit man-turned-informant tells Chase. On one recording, a mirthful Chase is heard talking about ways to dispose of Jean Temple's body after the killing and inquires of Horne, 'Got a meat grinder?' She then asks several times if her former daughter-in-law would be dumped in the ocean. Maurice Temple's lawyer argued in court that his client was not part of his mother's plan until the hit man persuaded him to get on board. In one taped conversation, a wary Temple asks Horne if he is wearing a wire, which the latter denies, and expresses concern that if anything happens to Jean, the suspicion would fall on him. 'This could be a set up,' Maurice tells his mother and Horne, according to Valley News. 'I dont want to go to prison.' The hearing was continued to Thursday. No arguments have been heard yet for Chase. Both the mother and son are being held on a $1million bail and are prohibited from having any contact with each other. According to court documents obtained by Valley News, Maurice and his mother had 'multiple conversations' with Horne about killing Jean. Authorities said that Maurice was in the room when Chase gave the man about $5,000 cash as a 'down payment' for killing Jean, who was later identified as being Chase's former daughter-in-law. Chase is seen in court on Monday at a probable cause hearing, during which prosecutors played phone calls between her and the hit man Maurice Temple's lawyer argued in court that his client, pictured in an orange shirt, was not part of his mother's plan and had to be talked into it The mother-and-son duo also offered Horne additional incentives, including property, to carry out Jean's murder, and Maurice repeatedly checked Horne to make sure he wasn't recording their discussions, according to the Boston Globe. WMUR reports that Maurice and Jean have been fighting over an $18,000 debt he owes her, stemming from their divorce. In early July, Maurice was arrested after he failed to make court-ordered payments to Jean. Maurice runs an excavation and snowplow business. His ex-wife works as the postmaster of Plainfield. The murder-for-hire discussions allegedly took place between June 20 and July 27, and the mother and son were arrested that Thursday. During their arraignment the next day, prosecutors said that Horne himself tipped them off about the failed murder plot. Sullivan County Attorney Marc Hathaway told WMUR that prosecutors don't expect to charge anybody besides Chase and her son in the murder-for-hire plot, noting Horne's cooperation. A tornado shaped cloud has been spotted over Kent as Britain is braced for two days of thundery downpours. The formation was captured hovering over Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey this afternoon. Witness footage shows a dark cone at the centre of ominous grey clouds as a thunderstorm rages over the south east of England. This funnel cloud was spotted over the town of Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent However, while filmmaker called it a 'tornado', the storm is in fact a funnel cloud. Heavy rain, hail and thunder often follow funnel clouds - but they are not tornados because they do not reach the surface. FUNNEL CLOUDS Funnel clouds are formed when a rotating column of wind draws in cloud droplets, making a region of intense low pressure visible. A funnel cloud does not reach the earth's surface, at the point it reaches land it becomes a tornado, or if it reaches a body of water it becomes a waterspout. Source: Met Office Advertisement Funnel clouds are relatively common with around 30-35 spotted in the UK each year. The clip comes as the Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for rain covering the East Midlands, East Anglia, London and the South East coast. It said some parts of the country could get 40mm of rain in four hours, with the warnings lasting into Wednesday. 'An area of rain with possible thundery downpours is expected to develop along a zone from central southern England through the South and East Midlands to Lincolnshire and possibly affecting some northern and western parts of East Anglia during Tuesday morning,' the Met Office said. 'Heavy showers will then develop during Tuesday. Where these occur they are likely to be slow moving and perhaps thundery. Footage shows the twister at the centre of ominous grey clouds as a thunderstorm rages over the south east of England 'Some areas may miss the showers entirely whilst others could see two to three hours of heavy rain. 'Where this occurs some disruption is possible such as localised flooding of roads.' The warning comes three weeks after heavy rain lashed the country and led to flash flooding in the coastal village of Coverack. Fifty properties were affected and several people had to be rescued from their homes from the village in Cornwall. Glamour model Chloe Ayling fended off sexual advances from one of her kidnappers by promising to have sex with him when her ordeal was over, she told police. The 20-year-old said Lukasz Herba told her he was being driven crazy with lust as he watched her shower. She said oddball Herba, 30, slept next to her in a double bed, he bought her underwear and chocolates during her six-day ordeal. Miss Ayling was taken to a remote Italian farmhouse after being kidnapped, drugged with ketamin and stuffed in a suitcase when she arrived in Italy for a fake photo shoot. In an extraordinary 3,500 word statement made to Italian Police and obtained by MailOnline, Miss Ayling said: 'MD (Herba) tried various sexual advances with me but I always stopped it by putting it off to the future are more intimate knowledge of each other. 'In effect I was leading him to believe that we would have become more intimate friends when this kidnapping was over. Ordeal: Glamour model Chloe Ayling fended off sexual advancers from one of her kidnappers by promising to have sex with him when her ordeal was over, she told police Statement: In an extraordinary 3,500 word statement made to Italian Police, inset, seen by by MailOnline, Miss Ayling said: 'MD (Herba) tried various sexual advances with me but I always stopped it' Kidnapped: The 20-year-old Ms Ayling said Lukasz Herba told her he was being driven crazy with lust as he watched her shower Fantasist: Chloe said said oddball Herba, 30, slept next to her in a double bed, he bought her underwear and chocolates during her six-day ordeal 'On one occasion I remember that I was in the shower and he was watching me and he told me to stay in the shower and said that he couldn't take it any more and carried out a sex act.' Last night, it emerged the mother of one has signed up to top international celebrity agency Kruger Crowne, which represents stars including Cher and Bob Geldolf. The move suggests she has ditched glamour modelling after her old agent said he had to 'cancel' a photo shoot on Tuesday, according to The Mirror. Meanwhile, Herba said he did not knowingly take part in any crime and his involvement stems from wanting to raise money to treat his leukaemia. The young mother, from Coulsdon in Surrey, also explained in the statement why she did not make a run when she was taken shopping for shoes in Milan the day before her release. She was asked by a detective: 'Doesn't it seem strange to you to go and purchase shoes with your kidnapper? She responded: 'I realise that but for me Herba or better yet, MD, was the one that could save me and thanks to him I could gain my freedom. 'This is the reason why I didn't rebel and I did not ask help from the lady that was selling shoes. The topless model also said in her statement how one of the captors climbed into the boot of the car where she was bound and gagged and lay alongside her as they were driven to the hideout. It is thought that she was bundled into a car and taken to an abandoned industrial unit, where her kidnapper attempted to sell her on the dark web Two pairs of handcuffs were among the evidence which was seized by police following the discovery of the kidnapped model Fake shoot: Chloe was lured here to this warehouse in Milan, pictured, for a fake motorbike themed photoshoot Lukasz Herba, 30, pictured, allegedly posed as an Italian photographer called Andre Lazio to get her to shoots in Milan and Paris. Once in Italy, it is claimed he drugged her with ketamin and held her for six days at a remote farmhouse Isolated: She was allegedly taken to this farmhouse in Borgial, a hamlet near Turin where she was kept shackled to a wooden chest of drawers at the farmhouse She told police five men were involved in her abduction but she only saw the faces of two of them. Herba, from Poland, who lives in Oldbury, West Midlands, is the only one of the five that has so far been arrested. She was lured to Milan after Herba allegedly posed as a photographer called Andre Lazio and booked her from her agency, paying 900 in advance. He reportedly said he wanted her for a motorbike themed shoot and paid for her hotel in advance. But when she arrived on July 11 she was ambushed, which was the beginning of her six-day ordeal. Describing the moment she arrived at the house where she was held captive, she said: 'After 30 minutes the car stopped definitively. They put the handcuffs back on my and taped my mouth shut with adhesive tape and keeping me inside the bag, two men pulled me out of the trunk and carried me to the entrance of this two-floored building. 'Here they pulled me out of the bag, loosened the cuffs that I had on my feet and led me to the inside of an apartment that I reached by climbing stairs to the second floor. ' She said: 'From the second night he took the cuffs from my feet, assuring me that sooner or later I'd be freed so I had no need to escape. These shocking images show a young blonde woman, believed to be Chloe Ayling, lying on her back. The photographs were sent in an email to a number of British newspapers In a list of terms and conditions, the advert states: 'Girls can be transported globally, we have contractors for that, for a price ... EU delivery is free, might take time dependant on current location and drop-off point.' It notes the British model's details as 'Born in UK; Abducted in Italy; Held in Germany; 19 year old; Caucasian; 34DD-25-35; Beginner model; Starting bid $300,000. Auction takes place 16.7.2017' When officers arrested him he was found in possession of a pamphlet on Black Death which offers the sexual services of women for auction 'From that moment I always slept in his room, sharing the bed. To be clear, he didn't molest me sexually or ask for sexual favours.' Police revealed that Chloe went shopping for shoes with Herba in Milan after he agreed to set her free because she is a mum, La Repubblica reported. The kidnappers said they had a bizarre code of conduct that stopped them from abducting mothers or pregnant women. She told police how one of the kidnappers sat down with to explain she was being set free. She said: 'After a few minutes the man without a mask came back up to the bedroom and sat down beside me on the ground and he told me in English that they had spoke in the meantime on the phone with their boss who was furious in as much as they had taken the wrong person. 'They explained to me that the boss after the events of Paris had written an email saying that I wasn't supposed to be taken and that they had erroneously interpreted that and instead though that I was supposed to be taken anyway. British model Chloe Ayling (pictured) said she was kidnapped, drugged and stuffed into a suitcase in Milan Model: Ms Ayling, a 20-year-old mother of one from Caulsdon, south London, met her alleged kidnapper in Paris for a motorbike themed photo shoot, which was cancelled when a terror attack broke out Her lawyer, Francesco Pesce (pictured), said his client had been threatened with death throughout the ordeal 'I wasn't supposed to be taken because the boss had seen my Instagram profile and saw my full name and some photos which clearly showed that I was a mother with a small baby and this was against the rules of the organisation.' Her ordeal came to an end when Herba took her to the British consulate on July 15 where she was set free and he was arrested. Her lawyer, Francesco Pesce, said his client had been threatened with death throughout the ordeal and decided it was better to cooperate with Herba. He said: 'She did testify that she went with her captor to buy shoes and buy groceries, and this does appear to be strange. 'I understand this and I will continue to respond to this. She was told by this man that there were many people of this 'Black Death' organisation around her, and even if she tried to flee, she was going to die.' Mr Pesce said the reported ordeal had left Ayling traumatized and that she is cooperating fully with police 'not only for her case', but to help if the group has other victims. He added: 'She understands that there is a bigger picture.' A century-old time capsule discovered inside a Confederate statue in an Orlando park has been opened up, unveiling a trove of preserved treasures. A $50 Confederate bill, a newspaper article about chicken and waffles, and a letter from February 15, 1911 were among the items found in the rusty metal box. Also found inside were miniature rebel flags, minutes from a 1910 statewide United Daughters of the Confederacy conference, and multiple newspaper clippings. Scroll down for video This century-old time capsule discovered inside a Confederate statue in an Orlando park has been opened up, unveiling a trove of preserved treasures A $50 Confederate bill, a newspaper article about chicken and waffles, and a letter from 1911 were among the items found in the rusty metal box Issues of the South Florida Sentinel, Daily Reporter-Star and Orange County Citizen, all dating from 1911, were tucked inside the capsule A February 9, 1911 edition of the South Florida Sentinel was tucked inside, advertising a 'dinner-dance' with a chicken and waffle meal that - it noted - would be served 'WITH PLENTY OF GRAVY' at $1 per plate. There were also February 14, 1911 editions of the Daily Reporter-Star and Orange County Citizen, seeming to confirm historians' belief the capsule was buried in 1911. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said he expected to find a 'box full of dust' when the capsule was opened at City Hall on Tuesday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. 'I'm surprised there's so much intact here,' he said during the unveiling. The capsule was opened by the city locksmiths Richard Grabe and Brain Haines, who drilled a series of holes into the box to keep the 'damage minimal'. They were unable to use a key because the box's lock mechanism had deteriorated too severely. There were also miniature rebel flags and Confederate flag pins inside the historical box Both a $50 and $10 Confederate bill were among the capsule's treasures found in Florida This letter, tucked away in a protective plastic envelope, was also discovered on Tuesday Also found were minutes from a 1910 statewide United Daughters of the Confederacy conference Then Orlando's Historic Preservation Officer Richard Forbes carefully removed each item from the box one at a time. Forbes said it is likely the items in the box were in danger of being ruined due to a hole in the capsule that had opened from the rust. 'I think if we had not opened it this year, in the coming years...the conditions would've worsened quite quickly,' he told Fox 35. The capsule was discovered when city workers were moving a controversial Confederate statue known as 'Johnny Reb' from Lake Eola Park in June. Residents and officials argued the statue, which has stood in the park since 1917, was a monument to racism. It is being moved and will be reassembled at Greenwood Cemetery on a plot for Confederate soldiers. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said he expected to find a 'box full of dust' when the capsule was opened at City Hall on Tuesday and was shocked to find the preserved items safely inside A series of drills were made to open the box, due to the fact that its lock had deteriorated, and then the items were carefully taken out one at a time Orlando's chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy were demanding the capsule's return at the time of the opening, arguing it rightfully belonged to them. The Annie Coleman Chapter commissioned the statue in 1911 and in June a member of the group filed a suit in small-claims court against the city. 'We believe the city should have waited until the courts decided who owns the time capsule,' UDC attorney Justin Waters told the Sentinel. 'Essentially, I see it as stealing from elderly women,' he said, adding he believed the city had done 'irreparable damage' by opening the capsule. Meanwhile, city officials said an archived program from the statue's unveiling ceremony in 1911 proves it was presented to the city and that Orlando had accepted the 'care and custody' of it. A pre-trial conference is set for September and Dyer said the city has not yet been served with the lawsuit. Orlando will donated the capsule's items, which are being processed and preserved, to the Orange County Regional History Center. The capsule was discovered when city workers were moving a controversial Confederate statue known as 'Johnny Reb' from Lake Eola Park in June (pictured) Alexander Garces, 22, has been charged with sexual battery and false imprisonment for allegedly raping a guest at his fraternity A University of Central Florida student has been accused of raping a person during a party at his fraternity. Alexander Garces, 22, has been charged with sexual battery and false imprisonment for allegedly attacking a guest at the Alpha Tau Omega 'New Years in July' party. The victim's gender and name have not been revealed in the police report. Garces allegedly approached the victim during the July 22 party at the fraternity's on-campus house when they were alone and asked them to come upstairs with him and another man. The victim told UCF police they were friends with Garces and did not feel uncomfortable going upstairs with him. They did not know the other man. When the victim went into a room with the pair, the man closed and locked the door and Garces began to play music on his cellphone, according to WKMG Orlando. The man is a former UCF student and a former member of the ATO fraternity, UCF Police public information officer Courtney Gilmartin told Daily Mail Online. His name is currently not being released because it is considered an active investigation. A warrant is out for his arrest. The victim told police they sat on the couch and then Garces grabbed them by the legs and pulled so they would be forced onto their back. Garces allegedly approached the victim during the July 22 party at the fraternity's on-campus house when they were alone and asked them to come upstairs with him and another man He then allegedly began to touch the victim sexually, grabbing their hair and forcing them to the ground when the victim tried to stop him, the report reads. The victim said Garces removed their shirt and forced them to perform oral sex on him, according to WFTV. Police said the other man then removed the victim's underwear. The victim punched Garces in the ribs during the attack. They said he then asked: 'I've never seen you like this before, what's going on?' That's when the victim told Garces they had been 'raped before' and were 'not about to be in a situation like this', the report reads. The victim, who later told police they tried to keep their friends nearby because they didn't want to be put in a 'bad situation', then told him 'don't do this to me'. The guest, whose name and gender have not been released, told police they were friends with Garces and did not feel unsafe going upstairs with him Garces then grabbed his cellphone and left the room, leaving the victim alone with his former fraternity brother, police said. The victim told police the man then raped them and put his hands around their throat and mouth to stop them for screaming. When he suddenly stopped and left the room, the victim fled the party. Surveillance footage shows the victim crying outside the fraternity house while several men try to comfort them. Garces was arrested on Monday night at the ATO house. He remains behind bars. Alpha Tau Omega fraternity said it 'immediately suspended' Garces after learning of the police investigation on Saturday. 'ATO is conducting an internal investigation and will assist local authorities and university officials as requested,' the statement reads. 'The alleged assault reportedly occurred during a July 22nd party at the chapter house. The party was approved by UCF and held in accordance to strict university guidelines.' The father of the young man murdered by gangster Kenneth Noye last night said the decision to move the killer to an open prison and one step closer to freedom - was a a real kick in the teeth. Noye was jailed for life in 2000 for the murder of 21-year-old Stephen Cameron in a road rage attack four years earlier. He used a 9in knife he kept in his car to stab Mr Cameron on a slip road of the M25 near Swanley in Kent in front of the victims horrified fiancee, Danielle Cable. Kenneth Noye (left) was jailed for life in 2000 for the murder of 21-year-old Stephen Cameron (right) in a road rage attack four years earlier Now 70, Noye was recommended for release by the Parole Board after 17 years behind bars a decision which was rubber stamped by Justice Secretary, David Lidington. If he behaves himself, Noye who is one of Britains most notorious killers - could be out on the streets in just two years time. Once he is in open conditions - a move which is expected to happen within weeks - he will be eligible for day release and work placements in an attempt to reintegrate him into society. Last night Stephens father Ken Cameron, 71 warned Noye will disappear from an open jail and should be behind bars for the rest of his days. Im furious, he said. Life should mean life. Its a real kick in the teeth. I feel totally let down by the Government over this. We are the victims in this and we are having to serve as life sentence of our own. Stephens father Ken Cameron, 71 warned Noye will disappear from an open jail and should be behind bars for the rest of his days. Pictured, Mr Cameron with his late wife Toni, in 2000 He has completely pulled the wool over everyones eyes. He has made out he is a model prisoner all these years but if he is moved to an open jail he will disappear. Hes got the connections and know how. Before you know it hell be off and sitting on a sun lounger sipping a cold beer abroad somewhere. Im gutted by this. I suppose they just have to find him a space in an open prison somewhere and then hell be off. Hell be allowed out on shopping trips and so on. Mr Camerons wife Toni died after a short illness in April last year. He said she would have been heartbroken, adding: She always said she only ever wanted Noye to come out of jail in a wooden box. We never wanted revenge - only justice for Stephen. He never got a chance at life. He was only 21 when he was murdered by Noye Ken Cameron He never got a chance at life. He was only 21 when he was murdered by Noye. Noyes pride got the better of him that day. He did not need to go back and get that knife. He couldve just got in his car and driven off. But he didnt. He got that knife and stabbed Stephen. And what about poor Danielle Cable? She was Stephens fiancee. She saw Stephen die and then had to go on the witness protection scheme. Id dread to think how shes feeling about this. Miss Cables evidence helped to convict Noye of Mr Camerons murder - but she was forced into witness protection out of fear of a revenge attack. Mr Cameron said his 21-year-old son (pictured on holiday) 'never got a chance at life' Now married with a daughter of her own, she has only been able to see her parents twice a year since she was given a new identity. Her mother, Mandy Cable, 60, from Orpington, Kent, said last night: We knew this day would come. We know that in this country life doesnt mean life, so I knew at some point he was going to get out. As long as my daughters safe thats all that matters to me. She warned Noye the finger would be pointed straight at him if anything were to happen to her daughter on his release. At the end of the day if he would want revenge on the people who put him there [prison], he would be a very silly man if he did anything, she said. Yesterdays announcement follows a legal battle by Noye to move out of ordinary jail conditions into a low security prison. The Parole Board recommended Noye be moved to an open jail in September 2015, but this was blocked by then-justice secretary Michael Gove. Justice officials said Noye has been well behaved, accepts his guilt and completed programmes in jail The court was told that a report into Noyes psychopathy pointed to his criminal versatility... superficial charm, grandiose sense of self, lack of remorse, manipulative behaviour, failure to accept responsibility and poor behaviour controls. Mr Gove pointed to Noyes extreme and unpredictable use of violence, anti-social behaviour and risk of absconding. He argued that the risks of the move to open conditions outweighed the benefits. But earlier this year Noye won a High Court challenge against that decision after his lawyers argued it was unlawful and irrational. In 1985, Noye stabbed to death an undercover police officer, Detective Constable John Fordham, in the grounds of his 20-acre mansion in West Kingsdown, Kent. He was cleared of murder after claiming he had acted in self-defence. The following year he was jailed for 14 years for handling gold bullion stolen in the infamous 1983 Brinks-Mat robbery, after a court heard he melted it down and recast it for sale. Twice refused parole during that sentence, he was released in 1994, just two years before the M25 attack. Following the brutal attack, Noye fled, arranged for the Land Rover he was driving to be disposed of, then fled to France by helicopter and then to Spain by private jet. He lived there under a false identity until his arrest in 1998. Justice officials said Noye has been well behaved, accepts his guilt and completed programmes in jail. It left Mr Lidington with no choice but to approve his move to open conditions, sources said. Noye will be assessed again by the Parole Board before he can be released. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: Public protection is our top priority and transfers to open conditions are made after a thorough, expert risk assessment carried out by the independent Parole Board. j.doyle@dailymail.co.uk Christian Tomsey a former high school teacher who was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student was found dead Monday from an apparent suicide A former Wisconsin high school teacher who was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student was found dead on Monday from an apparent suicide, police said. Christian Tomsey, who was an English teacher at Dominican High School, was arrested last week, Whitefish Bay Police Chief Michael Young said on Tuesday. The 39-year-old was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail on potential charges of sexual assault of a student by school staff and possession of child pornography, according to the Journal Sentinel. Authorities said a graduate of the high school recently alleged that an inappropriate relationship took place with Tomsey in 2009. The high school sent out a letter to parents on Monday after learning of the alleged sexual relationship. 'Upon learning of the allegation, our administration immediately conducted a thorough investigation into the situation, which resulted in the termination of Mr. Tomsey's employment,' officials said in the letter, according to the Sentinel. School officials also confirmed that they learned of Tomsey's death on Monday. Milwaukee police said investigators were called to a 'sudden death' and are investigating it as a suicide. Christian Tomsey, who was an English teacher at Dominican High School, was arrested last week. The 39-year-old was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail on potential charges of sexual assault of a student by school staff and possession of child pornography Authorities did not provide any more information about Tomsey's death and said the investigation is ongoing. Pictured is the Dominican High School 'Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by this tragic situation,' the letter stated. According to Tomsey's Fictionaut website, he had been teaching English Literature for almost ten years. He also co-wrote a web comic called Obsideri Divina. Authorities did not provide any more information about Tomsey's death and said the investigation is ongoing. An autopsy was set for Tuesday. Scott Peterson (pictured on the day he was found guilty in 2005) said he was 'staggered' by the verdict Scott Peterson has revealed he was 'staggered' to have been found guilty of murdering his wife Laci and their unborn son Conner, 12 years after being sentenced to death for killing them. In a June phone call with his sister-in-law Janey - Laci's sister - from San Quentin Prison in California, Peterson, 44, said he had 'no idea' what the jury had in store for him when they returned their verdict at the end of his highly publicized murder trial. The phone call was obtained by A&E for its new documentary series The Murder of Laci Peterson and was published by People on Tuesday. Laci was reported missing on Christmas Eve, 2002, when she was eight months pregnant. Her husband led the search for her for months but was arrested for murder after her badly decomposing body and the body of their unborn son washed up on a San Francisco Shoreline in April 2003. Scott, who had been having an affair with a masseuse before his wife's disappearance and who carried it on afterwards, was found guilty of killing them in 2004 and was sentenced to death the following year. He remains on death row and is appealing his conviction. In his phone call with Janey, Scott recalled ct in Stanislaus Superior Court on November 12 2004. 'It was just like this amazing, horrible, physical reaction that I had,' he said. 'I couldnt feel my feet on the floor. I couldnt feel the chair I was sitting in. My vision was even a little blurry. Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Laci who disappeared from their California home in 2002 Laci was eight-months-pregnant when she disappeared. The fetus of her baby boy washed up next to her decapitated body in April 2003 This is the most recent photograph of Peterson. He is shown to the left, talking with another inmate, inside San Quentin in December 2015 'And I just had this weird sensation that I was falling forward and forward and down and there was going to be no end to this falling forward and down, like there was no floor to land on. 'I, I was staggered by it. I had no idea it was coming.' The interview is part of a documentary series into the case surrounding Laci and Conner's deaths titled The Murder of Laci Peterson. Peterson was having an affair with masseuse Amber Frey when his wife vanished Scott's relatives and supporters took part in the documentary. They believe he was wrongly convicted and that police ignored other potential evidence in order to find their scapegoat. Among their central arguments is that they saw Laci walking the couple's dog after Scott had left for a fishing trip on the day she disappeared. They also pointed to a burglary which took place at their neighbor's house across the street, suggesting that those criminals may have been who took the pretty 27-year-old. Peterson is one of hundreds of men awaiting execution on California's death row. The backlog is so drastic that he is more likely to die of natural causes than be given the lethal injection, as ordered by a judge in 2005. Frey was the prosecution's star witness. She told the court how Peterson told her she was single and then later said he was widowed In 2004, he filed an appeal asking for his conviction to be overturned. His appeal is still pending. Laci's family is satisfied that he killed her as are prosecutors who said he was 'among the worst'. The prosecution's arguments hinged on his multiple extra-marital affairs. Amber Frey, the masseuse he was having an affair with when Laci died, became the prosecution's star witness. She told jurors that Scott told her once he was single and later that he was widowed. By the spring of 1945, the SAS was an established covert force, charting successes in every theatre of war, from deserts to freezing wastelands. In the concluding part of our electrifying serialisation, official historian BEN MACINTYRE reveals the unimaginable horror that members of the regiment encountered in the last days of the war... Roy Farran was the sort of individual for whom the SAS might have been invented. Ruthless, inspiring and unconventional, he much preferred to fight a dirty war inside enemy territory than take part in any ordinary battle. He was a renegade who combined a conviction in his own decision-making with a refusal to take orders from others with whom he disagreed. Starving internees at Belsen concentration camp waiting at the cook house gate for their rations of potato soup In March 1945, he was put in charge of Operation Tombola, the grand and savage finale to the SAS campaign in northern Italy, which he was ordered to mastermind himself but safely from Army headquarters in Florence. Instead, he flew with his men as they prepared to parachute into the heart of enemy-occupied country and, as he claimed, fell out of the aeroplane by mistake. It would take more than a mere order from on high to prevent Farran from leading his troops into battle. Once on the ground, he and his 40 troopers set about fashioning a guerrilla unit out of the 140-odd Italians and 100 Russians whod escaped from PoW camps. They were a rum lot, clad in a bewildering variety of uniforms, with bushy beards, bandanas and non- military hats. In the secret SAS War Diary whose contents I have been privileged to see and draw on more than 70 years later Farron noted: Many had only one eye. Several lacked shoes and all were armed to the teeth with knives, pistols, tommy guns and rifles. There were also 15 women partisans, led by a tall, raven-haired girl with blue eyes, as brave and dangerous as a tigress and completely devoted to the British company. In camp, she wore a red beret, a battledress blouse and a skirt sewn out of an Army blanket with a pistol tucked into the waistband. Farran was not scared by much, but he was a little afraid of her, and more than slightly smitten. To induce team spirit, he sent a message back to base requesting a consignment of SAS berets and a Scottish bagpiper to lead them into battle. A somewhat more practical 75mm howitzer was dropped at the same time. Concentration camp survivors waiting for relocation from Belsen Camp after liberation His objective was to destroy the German HQ in the town of Albinea a target his superiors had vetoed. Farran ignored the command, and later wrote, with ringing insincerity: Unfortunately, I had already left when the cancellation was received on my wireless set in the mountains. A few minutes after 2am, there was an explosion of gunfire, mixed with the eerie wail of bagpipes as the piper added his own, surreal element to the assault with a loud rendition of Highland Laddie. The sentries died before they knew they were being attacked, and the raiders stormed in, firing wildly and hurling grenades. A frantic battle took place in the hall of the first building, bullets screaming off the marble walls until the ground floor was taken. But the Germans resisted fiercely from the upper floors, firing and throwing grenades down a spiral staircase. An attempt to charge the stairs was repulsed; a second attack was also beaten back, leaving two SAS men dead one officer and an NCO. The surviving Germans tried to fight their way out: six were gunned down on the stairs. Two surrendered. The Italian partisans dealt with them: Farrans code for summary execution. The battle for a second building was just as intense. The raiders blew out the front door with a bazooka, tossed in a handful of grenades and crashed inside. After several minutes of furious fighting, the Germans again withdrew up a spiral staircase to the upper floor, leaving eight dead. From the lawn, the raiders poured in a torrent of Bren-gun fire. John Randall in 1943 in the uniform of the Royal Artillery Farran was in his element: Bullets were flying everywhere, and over it all, the defiant skirl of the pipes. As the raiders withdrew, the building was burning furiously. Carrying their wounded on stretchers, fuelled by Benzedrine (amphetamine) tablets, pummelled by driving rain, the party made its way across country buzzing with Germans and back into the hills. When an old leg wound flared up, Farron, to his embarrassment, had to ride home on the back of a pony. Back at base camp, they threw a party, with fried eggs, bread and vino by the gallon and eightsome reels to the sound of the pipes, a spectacle which Farran described as one of the greatest moments of the campaign. Farran calculated that at least 60 Germans had been killed and the command centre destroyed. But it was the effect on German morale that was so crushing. A joint force of British parachutists and partisans had successfully attacked a German base far behind the lines, one that had seemed, to its occupants, so heavily guarded as to be invulnerable. Here was the SAS doing what it did best the impossible. That same month, March 1945, two other SAS squadrons numbering about 300 men in all crossed the Rhine at the tip of an Allied army invading Germany itself. For three-and-a-half years, the regiment had fought Germans, Italians, French and Russians, against uniformed troops, collaborators, spies and irregulars. But as World War II entered its final bloody chapter, it found itself fighting against people staunchly and desperately defending their own land. It would be no picnic. They were mounted in 75 Jeeps, each carrying twin Vickers machine-guns and 12 drums of ammunition, with a bazooka and Bren gun in the rear. Every third Jeep was armed with a .50-calibre Browning plus a mounted searchlight. This extensive armoury was essential as they came up against an enemy fighting for every inch of home from the fanatical SS implicated in the crimes of Nazism to old men of the home guard and even children. Commandment of Belsen horror camp, Joseph Kramer, now under guard and in ankle chains after his arrest Some of the poor little blighters were only 13 or 14 years old, one trooper recalled. They were crawling out of holes everywhere. The Germans put schoolboys in uniform and forced them to fight, when their chances of survival were minimal. It was inhumane. The reactions of civilians to this army of occupation varied widely: some were cowed, most were petrified, some rushed to surrender and some remained defiant. One moment the SAS troops would be sharing their rations with half-starved German women and children; the next, a teenage boy would emerge from behind a wall and take aim with an anti-tank warhead, an act of self-destructive bravery so naive only an adolescent could be persuaded to do it. Often these child-soldiers had no other weapons. The SAS had not signed up to kill teenagers. For many, this last ghastly episode of the war was the worst. They were at risk, too, from Hitlers order to kill Commandos on sight. As a defence, they wore ordinary black berets and all references to the SAS were excised from their pay books. They were fighting under cover, camouflaged as ordinary soldiers. The disguise was apt since by then they were a far cry from the hit-and-run teams operating behind far behind enemy lines in North Africa that their founder David Stirling had envisaged. Instead, as they made their way though Europe, their principal job was as forward reconnaissance and assault troops, weeding out resistance, drawing enemy fire, clearing the roads and keeping the main Allied force of tanks and ground troops rolling forward. It was in this capacity that, on April 15, 1945, Lieutenant John Randall and his driver were motoring through forests of pine and silver birch in northern Germany when a terrible smell hit them, a cloying stench of rot and excrement that seemed to hang in the air like a plague miasma. The reek of pure evil, it grew stronger as they advanced. They came to a pair of impressive iron gates, standing open at the entrance to a sandy track. They drove in and, after half a mile, reached a barbed-wire fence. A handful of SS guards stood idly by and stared listlessly at them. Machine-gunners in watchtowers looked down but made no move. Randall was struck by the neatly tended flower beds on either side of the gate, and the gleaming whitewashed kerbstones. One hundred yards further on, they were in hell itself. In a clearing, beside rows of huts, shuffled an aimless army of ghosts: withered semi-skeletons with sunken eyes and parchment skin, some clad in black-and-white striped prison garb, but many almost naked. The prisoners converged on the Jeep, plucking at the mens uniforms, pleading for food, help, protection. There were hundreds of them and an over-powering stench, said Randall. A little further on was what Randall initially took to be a potato patch, which some of the starving, half-naked figures seemed to be picking over, as if in search of sustenance. On drawing closer, he saw it was a pile of dead bodies. The living were pulling off the ragged garments of the dead to clothe themselves. Emaciated allied prisoners of war released from Stalag 11B, near Fallingbostel Belsen after SAS moved in on the camp Some 50 yards beyond was a spectacle that made Randall retch: a vast pit, 50ft square, containing a contorted mass of bodies, a charnel pit filled to overflowing with the dead, and the main source of the appalling smell. He and his driver were the first Allied soldiers to enter Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Some 60,000 prisoners were still packed into an area designed to accommodate 10,000. A few minutes later Randall was joined by others from the troop. We stood aghast, one recalled. We simply could not comprehend that human beings could treat their fellow men in such a brutal and heinous way. The remaining prison guards, either oblivious to the arrival of Allied soldiers or unconcerned by it, were carrying on the business of murder as usual. A woman prisoner thrust her hand under the barbed wire to grab a rotten turnip, and a guard casually shot her dead. At that moment there appeared a smiling figure in SS uniform who introduced himself as Josef Kramer, the commandant. He offered the visitors a tour of the camp, declaring absurdly that he was not responsible for the condition of the inmates. Blinded by continuous beatings and long suffering at Belsen, this man drinks water from a rusty tin Ushered into the nearest hut, a horrified Randall recalled: Emaciated figures peered out at us, in fear and surprise, from the rows of bunks. Lying among them, on the same bunks, were dead bodies. The SAS mens instinct was to obliterate every one of the guards in a burst of gunfire, but somehow they managed to control their fury. They locked the commandant in the guardroom and set about distributing whatever rations they had to the prisoners. An officer explained to the inmates that they were now free, but few could take it in. Their faces were dull, exhausted, emotionless, not capable of expressing joy and excitement. Their minds would be distorted for years to come perhaps for ever. The SAS soldiers who stumbled on the camp recalled that day as the worst in their lives. Randall could not get the smell of death out of his hair or the lingering stench from his clothing. He could never expunge it from his memory. The smells and sights of these dead bodies haunted me. AND SO, in unimaginable horror, the SASs part in World War II came to an end. A few days later the SASs founder, Colonel David Stirling captured in the desert in 1943 was freed from Colditz, where hed been a PoW. In London, he went on a bender, had my first roger for years, then bearded Churchill in Downing Street. He got permission to begin planning a new SAS mission in China, aimed at severing Japanese supply lines to Malaya. But in August the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan surrendered. Britain began dismantling its vast war machine with bleak bureaucratic efficiency. Shortly after, a crisp, unemotional memo from the War Office decreed: It has been decided to disband the Special Air Service regiment. Private W Buchanan of Glasgow who is suffering from malnutrition, with some of his comrades at Stalag 11 after the liberation of Belsen On October 1, 1945, the SAS paraded for the last time at the regiments HQ in Essex, and the men returned to their ordinary regiments or entered civilian life. Stirlings experiment was over. Except it wasnt. Not totally. One small fragment of the regiment endured secretly, unofficially and quite possibly illegally. Questions were being asked about the fate of SAS men who had fallen into German hands. There were reports that a number had been murdered in captivity. When 37 bodies were found in a mass grave, Major Bill Barkworth, the regiments chief intelligence officer, was sent to investigate. He and five other SAS men established themselves as a War Crimes Investigation Team (WCIT). This was, in effect, the last wartime mission of the SAS unauthorised, unconventional and therefore, in a way, entirely apt. For the next three years, Barkworth and his rogue unit travelled around Europe interviewing witnesses, compiling dossiers, combing prison camps, taking statements, finding unmarked graves, locating suspects. They operated as if on official war crimes business, with no authority to do so. They continued to wear uniform with SAS insignia, even though the regiment had ceased to exist. They were protected by a former Russian prince, Yuri Galitzine, who worked in the British War Office and was determined to expose Nazi atrocities. They worked on until 1948, when they, too, were finally disbanded. A dying woman in the hospital of the camp who was found as the Allied troops moved in to liberate it By that time, however, the SAS itself had come back to life. British military commitments were changing in a post-war world, and the authorities belatedly realised that such a unit would be not only useful, but essential. The 21st SAS Regiment (so called because it amalgamated 2 and 1 SAS) came into being in January 1947, as part of the Territorial Army. The idea swiftly spread, with many other nations forming their own versions of the SAS. Today, U.S. and British special forces still follow the principles pioneered by David Stirling in the desert more than 70 years ago: attacking the most valuable strategic targets without warning and then melting away, forcing the enemy to remain on constant, debilitating alert. The SAS changed the face of warfare for ever, by pioneering techniques of long-term, deep penetration that are more important now than ever. Adapted from SAS: Rogue Heroes The Authorised Wartime History by Ben Macintyre, published by Viking at 8.99. Ben Macintyre 2017. To buy a copy for 7.19 (offer valid until August 14) call 0844 571 0640 or visit mailbookshop.co.uk. P&P is free on orders over 15. North Dakota lawmakers may consider increased reporting requirements for ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft when they reconvene in two years, a Republican legislator said Friday. Under state law, transportation network companies must report the number of crashes its drivers were involved in while a passenger was on board to the state Department of Transportation. But in almost all cases, those biannual reports dont detail the severity of those incidents. State DOT documents show 17 accidents were reported to Uber in the two years after it began operating here in May 2015. The reports only describe one of those incidents: a rider opened a car door into a fire hydrant sometime in the second half of 2015. Lyft, which only recently began operating in North Dakota, hasnt reported any accidents. State law also requires companies to disclose the number of traffic violations reported to them, but neither company reported one to the DOT. Rep. George Keiser, R-Bismarck, the primary sponsor of a 2015 bill regulating ride-hailing companies, said it makes sense for legislators to look at that law again. You may only have one accident, but if three people died, thats a pretty important accident, he said. It might be appropriate for a simple amendment to say wed also like measures of severity and the number of drivers so we have some kind of baseline to use in terms of comparing it to other driver populations. Keiser said the reporting requirements were intended to help policymakers understand the risks associated with the new industry. Uber first entered North Dakota when it began operating in Fargo shortly after Keisers bill became law. It expanded to Grand Forks and Bismarck this year, when its competitor Lyft entered all three cities. Uber and Lyft officials didnt return messages seeking comment by noon Monday. Differing regulations have often been a source of friction between the relatively new ride-hailing industry and traditional cab companies, which arent required to report information to the North Dakota DOT. State law doesnt allow municipalities to impose their own taxes or licensing requirements on ride-hailing companies, said Gregg Schildberger, a spokesman for the city of Fargo. Fargo ordinances dont require ride-hailing or taxicab companies to complete the semi-annual reporting thats requested by the state, but the city requires taxicab companies to be licensed and its owners to undergo background checks during the application process, Schildberger said. Grand Forks Republican Sen. Lonnie Laffen, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he would be cautious about over-regulating ride-hailing companies. But if theres a problem, lets deal with it, he said. Im not sure theres a problem yet. A 21-year-old man is dead after 'a number of shots' were fired on a suburban Melbourne street. Police said a group of men were gathered in Roxburgh Park in the city's north shortly before the shooting at 12.35am on Wednesday. An altercation between the group is thought to have taken place before multiple shots were fired. A 21-year-old man is dead after 'a number of shots' were fired on a suburban Melbourne street. Members of the media are seen attempting to speak to friends or family at the scene Victoria Police at the scene of a shooting at a home in Roxburgh Park, north of Melbourne An investigator is pictured at the crime scene on Wednesday morning following the shooting A man believed to be a relative of the victim arrived at the crime scene at around 6am. He was seen talking to police before running in panic yelling 'my cousin, my cousin,' according to Nine News. Other distressed family members and friends were seen speaking with detectives throughout the morning. The victim, who hasn't been identified, died at the scene. No arrests have been made. Victoria Police officers are seen talking to family or friends at the scene of the shooting A distraught woman is pictured after learning the news a man had been shot dead The homicide squad is investigating and anyone who witnessed the incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers. In a separate incident, a man was rushed to hospital after he was shot in the leg in Reservoir, also in the city's north, at about 9.00pm on Tuesday. More to come. The victim, who hasn't been identified, died at the scene. No arrests have been made. Officers are pictured at the scene The man died after 'a number of shots' were fired on a suburban Melbourne street A man believed to be a relative of the victim arrived at the crime scene at around 6am A student painting of a hijab-wearing Statue of Liberty that is currently hanging in a Democratic congressman's office is being slammed as unpatriotic by conservative groups. The painting was pinned up in Rep. Lou Correa's district office in California last month along with the other finalists from the congressman's annual student art competition. Activist group We the People Rising, which protests undocumented immigrants, has demanded several times that Correa tear down the painting, the Orange County Register reports. The painting of Lady Liberty wearing a hijab is currently hanging in Rep. Lou Correa's district office in California. It has drawn criticism from activists who say it should be removed They claim it is 'disrespectful' and violates the separation of church and state. Correa has refused saying the young woman who painted the artwork earned the spot on his office wall. 'The Statue of Liberty stands for inclusion, acceptance, and freedom. The young woman who painted this is trying very hard to show people that she is an American,' Correa wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday. 'If I took down her painting, I'd be telling the world her experiences don't matter and she did something wrong. This is her country too, and she earned that spot on my wall.' The activists are now planning to protest outside the congressman's office on September 11. 'It's a bad example for our congressman,' activist Mike McGertrick said. The painting is hanging along with the other finalists from the congressman's annual student art competition Correa has refused to remove the painting saying the young woman who painted the artwork earned the spot on his office wall Correa said he saw nothing controversial about the painting and that taking it down would send the wrong message 'He shouldn't have anything religious in his office... I would like to see our Congress people be right-down-the-line patriotic. Former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was among those to weigh in on the so-called controversy. She shared a story that read: 'Statue of Liberty Painting Found In Congressman's Office, Then America Spots Something Unusual.' Correa said he saw nothing controversial about the painting. It comes at a time when President Donald Trump is being criticized for treatment of Muslims. 'You take it in the context of a lady, probably a Muslim American - with all that's going on, she's a proud American,' Correa said. 'That's what it says to me. 'This is an art competition for our high school students. I want out students to express themselves through art. To take it down would signal that this is not welcome and that would send the wrong message. The family name Ibrahim is synonymous with power and wealth in Sydney, but a police commissioner says the times are changing. 'For decades this group has flaunted their wealth, telling the community they were untouchable,' AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said on Tuesday. Over 570 officers worked simultaneously to disrupt two crime syndicates that were allegedly transporting huge amounts of ecstasy (MDMA), cocaine and ice between Australia, Dubai and the Netherlands. The drug sting worth almost one billion dollars resulted in the arrests of Fadi and Michael Ibrahim in Dubai. Their older brother John, whose multi-million dollar Dover Heights mansion was the subject of a thorough raid that lasted all day, was not arrested or charged. John's 'secret son' Daniel Ibrahim, 27, was arrested, as was his model girlfriend Sarah Budge, who faces five years in prison after being charged with a firearm offence. Fadi Ibrahim (right, with wife Shayda), has been arrested in Dubai over his alleged involvement in an international drug syndicate Fadi's mansion in Dover Heights, in Sydney's ultra-elite eastern suburbs, was raided by police on Tuesday. An enormous bull statue sits beside the driveway and a luxury Range Rover Police spent all day conducting a thorough raid on John Ibrahim's cliffside mansion, just 500 metres down the road from brother Fadi It came after police seized 1.8 tonnes of ecstasy, 136kg of cocaine and $5.45m in cash after a number of raids on organised crime figures in Sydney and Dubai. Mr Gaughan said investigators had arrested 17 people in three countries - nine men and one woman in Sydney, five men in Dubai and two men in The Netherlands. 'This is a great day for Australian law enforcement,' Mr Gaughan said. 'The people we allege are part of this syndicate are Middle Eastern organised crime figures that are well-known to law enforcement, and for decades this group has flaunted their wealth and activities, telling the community they were untouchable. 'Today, it should be obvious that they are not.' John Ibrahim, a Kings Cross nightclub and property owner, was not charged or arrested John's model girlfriend Sarah Budge, 27, faces five years in prison after being charged with a firearm offence. Police allegedly found the loaded Glock pistol when they entered her home on Tuesday Police said Middle Eastern crime figures had 'flaunted their wealth' for decades, 'telling the community they were untouchable' (pictured is an Audi parked at John Ibrahim's house) Mr Gaughan said the raids had broken up two inter-related syndicates involved in high volume importation of drugs and millions of dollars in money laundering causing a 'huge blow to their ongoing criminality'. The drugs, which also included 15kg of methamphetamines, had been stopped from entering Australia by authorities in The Netherlands. They have an estimated street value of $810 million. 'I think there is a perception by Australian criminal syndicates that they can operate in certain countries and be out of the reach of Australian law enforcement,' Mr Gaughan said, reported Fairfax Media. 'This is a very clear message that places like Dubai and the UAE more broadly are working with law enforcement to bring these people to justice. This is another example of Australian law enforcement working across cultures.' Extradition proceedings for the five arrested in Dubai are underway. Australian Federal Police disrupted two inter-related crime syndicates that were allegedly transporting large amounts of ecstasy (MDMA), cocaine and ice between Australia, Dubai and the Netherlands Philip Hammond (pictured) personal approval rating has dropped to a record low of -25.4 per cent Philip Hammonds support among Conservative members has plummeted following his push for a softer Brexit deal. The Chancellors personal approval rating has dropped to a record low of -25.4 per cent after his proposals for a three-year transition period after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019. Immediately before the general election he was at 32.4, about halfway up the table of Cabinet ministers approval ratings compiled by the website Conservative Home, based on a survey of grassroots Tories. But his popularity has fallen among those who favour a harder Brexit and cutting all ties with Brussels, and he is now one from bottom with only Tory party chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin below him. The survey was conducted last month when Mr Hammond set out his vision for Brexit. He said interim arrangements would likely restrict the UK from signing any new trade deals until after 2022. Britains existing migration system would effectively remain in place and the UK would maintain access to the single market during the transition. Brexit Secretary David Davis remains at the top of the Cabinet league table, highlighting the importance of making a clean break from the EU for Conservative members. Home Secretary Amber Rudd, another advocate of a softer Brexit, has also fallen from favour. Having previously been fifth from the top of the table, she is now eighth from the bottom of 28 Cabinet ministers and her approval ratings have halved. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon takes second place while Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary and one of the architects of Brexit, is third. Theresa May is now only just in negative territory, which suggests her position is very slowly recovering. Brexit Secretary David Davis, left, remains at the top of the Cabinet league table while Defence Secretary Michael Fallon takes second place A separate survey by the website published on Monday showed that the Prime Ministers reputation among members is improving. Last month, 15 per cent said she should announce her resignation as party leader. This has dropped to 11 per cent, while 36 per cent said she should not, up from 27 per cent. Despite his high approval rating in the Cabinet league table, Mr Davis was not the most popular Tory politician. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson took the top spot with an approval rating of 81.9. A pilot who went on the run for two months after allegedly shooting dead his wife, his mistress and her daughter when he was caught cheating, has been charged with murder. Gerald 'Mike' Bullinger is charged with three counts of first degree murder over the deaths of Cheryl Baker, Nadja Medley, 48, and 14-year-old Payton Medley on June 6. Their bodies were discovered hidden inside a shed at Bullinger's Caldwell, Idaho home. But Bullinger, a 57-year-old pilot and outfitter, has been missing ever since the shooting. His car was found on July 12 abandoned by a campground near Moran, Wyoming. Tragic love affair: School teacher Cheryl Baker, 57, was found dead in a wooden shed outside the new farmhouse she bought with her pilot husband Gerald 'Mike' Bullinger, 60 - after she had shown up to their new place on a surprise visit and discovered him with his mistress Nadja Medley (left) and her daughter Payton are pictured with Bullinger (center) in a photo the mom posted online in August 2016. He is accused of murdering both of them and going on the run Police have described him as armed and dangerous. The shooting took place in June after Bullinger's wife Cheryl drove to the farmhouse he was doing up, as a 'happy surprise' for her husband, DailyMail.com has learned. Baker, who had retired from her teacher job at Greenwood Charter School on June 6, decided to make the five-hour drive to Caldwell, Idaho weeks earlier than planned, rather than stay in Ogden, Utah to sell the family home. Little did she know that Bullinger who told his wife he was living in a trailer alone while fixing up the rundown property ready for her to move in was actually playing happy family with his mistress of two years Nadja Medley and her teenage daughter Payton at the house. The trio were seen in a series of photos and videos on the property posted on Medley's Facebook page, including one in which she wrote: 'My new place', with two 'love-struck' emojis next to a video showing beautiful open fields with the farm buildings in the background. What happened next isn't clear but the dead bodies of Baker, 57, Medley, 47, and 14-year-old Payton were all found lined up and covered with plastic in a shed on the property on June 19. Police are now searching for Bullinger, 60, who is considered a 'person of interest' in the deaths. Baker's brother Byron Baker, a contractor who lives in Lincoln Park, Michigan, told DailyMail.com that a friend of his sister had told him about the surprise visit. 'The friend said Cheryl decided to surprise Mike and drop in on him at the farm,' he said. 'She was supposed to stay behind and sell their house while Mike did plumbing work, minor repairs and painted some rooms, but having left her job at the school she must have thought it would be a nice surprise to go to see him. A chilling Facebook video posted by Bullinger's mistress Nadja Medley, who was unaware her partner was married, shows the wooden shed where the three decomposing bodies covered in plastic were found Nadja showed off the new Caldwell, Idaho home and can be heard saying: 'Well folks here's my new backyard, kind of liking this just a little bit, still a little bit of fence to build here, actually a lot' 'We can't know for sure what her thinking was, but I remember she was supposed to go to Albuquerque (New Mexico) for something, I can't remember what, but ended up in Idaho instead, so it makes sense.' Mr Baker, 62, said his sister, who he described as a vegetarian into spirituality and meditation, had no clue her husband was cheating on her. He said Bullinger is a corporate jet contract pilot who regularly lived out of state or traveled for weeks at a time the perfect cover for an affair. Mr Baker said: 'They had bought a trailer around a year ago and Mike would often stay in that if he was away. 'But they'd always see each other on weekends or in between his jobs, or often enough for Cheryl to believe they were still married. Cheryl is pretty laid back and she accepted that lifestyle, they never rowed about it.' Baker has his theories as to what might have happened and around the events that led to his sister's death, but he is still mystified as to what Bullinger's 'plan' was when it came to dealing with both his women. Love triangle: Bullinger had told his wife he was fixing up the property for her to move in - but was actually living a secret double life with Medley (pictured) in the new home 'What was the plan, none of it makes sense. I've met him a few times and he was a normal, nice guy, very relaxed,' he said. 'The closest theory I can come up with is he wanted Cheryl to sell the house in Ogden, which was in her name, so he could cash in on the money before leaving her for his mistress. But that's just a guess. But why organize for both women to come to the new house in Idaho?' He added: 'They always seemed to struggle for money considering he was a pilot, but then again he was living two lives.' Mr Baker said his sister's marriage, on the face of it, was perfect. 'They seemed perfectly matched, they had the same thoughts, the same likes and dislikes,' he said. 'They'd go off to the back country together, hiking, river rafting, they were very active. In March 2016, the mom took to Facebook to share the news she would be moving in with Bullinger and her daughter 'once his new job is stable and he's settled in a bit' Friends of Medley say she had been in a relationship with Bullinger for two years without knowing he was married, and they believe two of the three bodies are the mother and her 14-year-old daughter, Payton (right) 'They owned mules up on the mountain near Ogden which they used to ride and I remember she once planned a week-long rafting trip through the Grand Canyon that they went on.' He added that his sister, who didn't have any children, was a 'quiet, well-educated, homebody' who was 'really into the children she taught'. 'She was into crafts and made all kinds of things and would knit scarves and mittens and clothing that she would sell,' he said. 'She was a very loving person, everybody liked her, she was warm and fuzzy with everybody and soft-spoken and quiet.' Tragically, DailyMail.com has learned that Baker had been very excited about the move to Idaho and had spoken glowingly to colleagues at Greenwood Charter School in Harrisville about spending her retirement in the countryside. The art teacher even mentioned the large shed on the farm, the place where police made the gruesome discovery of the three bodies, saying she hoped to turn the building into an art studio once her and her husband were settled. Baker, who had recently retired from her job, decided to make the five-hour drive to Caldwell, Idaho weeks earlier than planned, rather than stay in Ogden, Utah to sell the family home (pictured) Teacher Jaime Drake told DailyMail.com: 'Cheryl bought the farm with her husband Mike and they planned to go there to retire. 'She thought her husband was living in a trailer on the farm fixing the place up by himself. She didn't know this other woman and her daughter was with him. 'She had no clue he was having an affair, not one suspicion. They seemed happily married, she never spoke bad of him, yes he was away all the time with his work, but that's something she accepted.' Colleague Julie Grose said they last saw Baker who was a veteran teacher with 30 years experience - at the school on June 6 for her last day. 'We had a meeting to say goodbye and Cheryl was talking about her retirement and the farm. She told us about a shed on the property that she planned to convert into an art studio, she was passionate about art. 'She seemed so happy talking about it, it is very sad. Why would she have said that if she knew about this other woman, she was never phony, she never said anything to upset people.' Horseplay: Nadja Medley posted pictures of her alleged murderer play wrestling with her daughter - who he is accused of murdering Another video from August 2016 shows the 60-year-old teaching Medley's daughter, who called him 'dad,' how to shoot a gun Drake added: 'She was a wonderful teacher and gave so much, she will be missed.' It is alleged Bullinger lined up the dead bodies of his victims in a shed on the farm property in Idaho, covering them in plastic before fleeing the scene. The killer had shot each victim once. Idaho police are searching for the pilot after the badly decomposing corpses were discovered on Monday, June 19. They are believed to have been there for around ten days. Bullinger is a suspect in the three murders and has been charged with failing to report the deaths after the bodies were found on the farm he purchased with Baker last month. As well as the three dead bodies police found several dead birds and dogs and other living animals including a snake, rat and some rabbits, which were removed during the subsequent investigation. Police are now actively seeking Bullinger, believed to be driving a white 2007 Ford Focus with Utah license plates numbered 129UMP. Bullinger was a pilot with Classic Aviations Service in Utah before taking on contract work in Idaho. He was last seen in Ogden, Utah, on June 12. Conor Keyes described Chloe Ayling (pictured outside her mother's home) as being '100 per cent focused on her modelling career The ex-boyfriend of the British model who was kidnapped in Italy has said she 'just loves the camera' after she posed within hours of her safe return to the UK. Conor Keyes said he did not know what to make of claims Chloe Ayling was nearly auctioned as a sex slave. Mr Keyes, who is also the father of Miss Ayling's 21-month-old son, appeared to be surprised that the model posed in a skimpy top and hot pants outside her mother's home in south London on her return. 'Apparently she got put into a suitcase, jabbed with ketamine all this craziness,' Mr Keyes, 21, told the Mail. 'If that happened to me I wouldn't be outside smiling, I wouldn't want to talk to people. But that's just the sort of person she is maybe. She just loves the camera.' Speaking at his home in Hackney, east London, he added: 'I don't know what to make of it. 'It's a weird situation. People on my side are saying it's mad, but other people are saying it could be true.' Mr Keyes described her as being '100 per cent focused on her modelling career' and said their son Ashton spends much of the time with him because Miss Ayling is often abroad on photoshoots. Last night it emerged that the 20-year-old was lured to Italy by an assignment worth 1,200. She received the fee after alleged kidnapper Lukasz Herba paid her agency 2,000 for two photoshoots. Herba, 30, first booked her for a photoshoot draped over a motorbike in Paris in April. But he cancelled at the last minute, claiming his studio had been ransacked. Weeks later he told her agency he had moved to a studio in Milan and booked her again for July 11, when she was kidnapped. He paid the agency a total of 2,000, even though the first booking was cancelled. Miss Ayling flew back into Britain on Sunday after telling police she had been lured to a fake photoshoot in Milan where she was drugged, stripped and handcuffed. She said she was bundled into a suitcase in the boot of a car and held hostage for six days at a remote farmhouse by the human trafficking group Black Death, who demanded a 270,000 ransom for her release. Her ex-boyfriend appeared to be surprised Miss Ayling (pictured) posed in a skimpy top outside her mother's home in south London The mother-of-one said she was given chocolates and underwear as gifts and slept next to her captor The model said she shared a bed with Herba during her captivity and he made 'various sexual advances' towards her which she rebuffed 'by putting it off to the future'. Yesterday her alleged captor implied that he became involved with Black Death because he needed money for cancer treatment. Herba, in an interview with Italian police, said: 'I would like to say that around March 2017 I was diagnosed with a grave form of leukaemia. 'I was desperate and I was in a quest for money to get cured, also with methods alternative to traditional medicine.' Among those he asked for money were Romanians from Birmingham, he said. Herba, who is Polish and based in Britain, said he 'was so desperate that I didn't ask myself too many questions' and later found out they were planning to kidnap a girl for ransom. CAPTOR'S SICK AD TO SELL HER Chilling images emerged last night which appeared to show Miss Ayling semi-clothed in what was described as an advert placed by her kidnappers. A young blonde woman, whose face is obscured or cropped out of the images, wears a pink bodice and mint green socks while lying on a tiled floor. A printed advert for the so-called 'Black Death' crime group is laid on her stomach. The photographs of the prostrate woman were attached to an email which was purportedly sent to clients who would be interested in bidding for her in an auction. The disturbing flier seen in the photo is said to include details of the woman's age, measurements, where she was being held and even the date the auction was due to take place. A young blonde woman, whose face is obscured or cropped out of the images, wears a pink bodice and mint green socks while lying on a tiled floor Advertisement Miss Ayling (pictured) told police in Italy she was kidnapped and that her captor slept next to her in a double bed The model (pictured) arrived in Milan for a photoshoot but was drugged and put into the boot of a car Questions over apparent inconsistencies in the accounts of Miss Ayling's kidnapping have gathered momentum. Detectives are understood to be baffled by how she ended up shopping for shoes with her alleged captor during her ordeal. Investigators are also sceptical about Herba's alleged claims that he was working for Black Death, which is said to operate on the so-called Dark Web. The model's Italian lawyer Francesco Pesce leapt to her defence yesterday, insisting she did not collude with her kidnappers. 'There was no cooperation, no kind of involvement with Chloe and her captors whatsoever,' he said. Mr Pesce admitted it was strange for Herba to take Miss Ayling inside the British consulate in Milan at the end of her ordeal, thereby allowing himself to be arrested. 'Why this person drove her back to the consulate to let her go I have no idea,' he said. 'He was not able to explain this properly. Some things do not match and it's strange. Why would one throw himself into the arms of the police and bring the hostage inside the British consulate?' Mr Pesce added: 'It does appear to be incredible but it's actually true.' An Australian criminal who broke out of a notorious Bali prison has celebrated 50 days on the run with a series of fake 'wanted' posters. Shaun Edward Davidson, 33, asked his followers for a 'round of applause' this week to celebrate having avoided the authorities since mid-June. Davidson and three other inmates infamously tunnelled their way under the walls of Kerobokan jail. The Perth-born crook hasn't been seen since. WANTED: In a series of fake posters, Shaun Davidson described himself as a 'ladies man, hustler and hide and seek champion' Prison escapee Shaun Edward Davidson said their was a 'huge reward' for those with information The Bali prison escapee has been on run for more than 50 days after tunnelling under the jail walls Davidson, 33, (pictured) climbed through sewage tunnel mid June to break out of the prison Since escaping, Davidson has been seen messaging police, cheekily asking them if they're close to finding him yet (pictured) One wanted poster has a black and white photo of a shirtless Davidson and advertises a 'huge reward'. Another describes him as a 'gangster' and a 'hustler'. One possible location is listed as 'not sure but we're close' - a reference to what Balinese authorities told media earlier this month. In the weeks since breaking out of jail, Davidson also messaged Interpol, the world's largest police organisation, asking them if they were close to catching him. 'Hey hows [sic] it going just wondering when you say close how close are you really?' Davidson sent to Interpol. He regularly takes to social media to mark milestones in his freedom. 'I've left fans amazed police and governments dazed who wouldv thought I'd be ontop with my cheeky smarta** ways,' Davidson posted a fortnight ago. Davidson, and three other men, escaped Kerobokan Prison through a tunnel (pictured) Two of the men were caught days later after escaping through the tunnel (pictured) but Davidson remains on the run Escapee (pictured) posted on Facebook a week ago saying he was a 'free man' for '30 full days' The criminal used Facebook to check in to different locations, teasing police (pictured) Since escaping Kerobokan Prison (pictured) the escapee said wants to make light of his messy situation The criminal said he wasn't taunting police and was instead 'having some fun and a laugh' with his life. 'I'm living my life just trying to make the best out of a bad situation,' Davidson posted. Davidson fled 'Hotel K' - the same jail where Schapelle Corby spent nine years - through a 15 metre sewage tunnel which ended just outside the jail walls. 'I'm living my life just trying to make the best out of a bad situation,' Davidson posted Facebook Davidson (pictured) spent four hours digging his way out of jail in the pouring rain in Bali Davidson (top left, pictured with the three other escapees) had two months and 15 days left to serve of his sentence for immigration offences after using another man's passport The escapees spent four hours in heavy rain using a bucket to scoop water out of the tunnel before crawling out. Two of the former prisoners were caught days later at a resort in East Timor. But Davidson remains a free man. He had just two months and 15 days left to serve of his sentence for immigration offences after he was arrested in April 2016 for using another man's passport. A woman drove for two days with her dead 11-year-old daughter in her truck before hitting a guard rail in West Virginia. Witnesses driving along the same road say they saw the driver, 37-year-old Erica Newsome of Jacksonville, Florida, dragging her daughter's body into the woods. Newsome drove some 700 miles with her daughter's body in the car, and planned to drive all the way to Buffalo, New York where the girl's father lives. Kaye-lea Plummer, 11, (left) was killed by her mother Erica Newsome (right) Police at Newsome's home in Jacksonville, Florida. Police say they believe 11-year-old Kaye-lea Plummer was killed at her home in Florida before her mother put her body in the truck Police say they believe 11-year-old Kaye-lea Plummer was killed at her home in Florida before her mother put her body in the truck. Newsome told police she had picked her daughter up from bed and put her in the truck on Friday and that the girl didn't move, eat, speak, drink or use the restroom in two days, which is the amount of time it took to drive to West Virginia. Newsome told police she had killed her daughter and was abusive to her according to the Pocahontas Times. State Police Sgt. Herby Barlow told the newspaper that it was obvious the girl did not die from injuries in the accident. Barlow said a couple traveling on the same highway reported seeing Newsome remove a body from her vehicle and drag it over a hill. They were found on an old logging road about 150 feet beyond an embankment. The mother was jailed on $50,000 bail on the charges of concealing a body, while investigators search for evidence in Florida according to Action News. 'At this time, foul play is suspected in the child's death and we believe the death occurred in Jacksonville, Florida,' the sheriff's office there said. Kaye-lea Plummer, left and right with her father Donath Plummer. Kaye-lea was killed by her mother who put her body in her truck to drive her to her father's in Buffalo The girl's father, Donath Plummer, said Newsome texted him Saturday morning, saying she was bringing their daughter to Buffalo. He said they married in 2007 and separated two years later. He said he hadn't seen them since Newsome moved with Kaye-lea to Jacksonville in 2014, but he would check on his daughter regularly by phone. 'We didn't always agree on everything, but she was a great mother. I don't know how this could have happened,' Plummer said. 'Something is very, very wrong. She needs help. She really needs help,' he said told WJXT4 A federal inmate managed to escape an Oklahoma prison by crawling through the gym's ventilation system. Aaron Victory Sr., 38, fled the Choctaw County jail in Hugo, south-east of Oklahoma City, on Monday at 9.40pm. The inmate was being held at the prison before his preliminary hearing in a US District Court on Thursday. Aaron Victory Sr., 38, fled the Choctaw County jail in Hugo, south-east of Oklahoma City, on Monday at 9.40pm He is facing charges of being in possession of a stolen firearm and ammunition. Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park announced news of Victory's escape on Facebook. 'Inmate Aaron Victory Sr. is on the run,' Sheriff Park said. 'Inmate victory is a federal inmate we were holding for a preliminary hearing coming up. 'People he went out a vent in the gym roof area.' The federal inmate managed to escape custody by crawling through the prison gym's ventilation system Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park announced news of Victory's escape on Facebook Victory has several convictions to his name in Oklahoma that date back to 2003. His convictions include possession of stolen property, false impersonation, second-degree burglary and eluding a police officer. Victory's online criminal records indicate he was on a 25-year probation for a 2005 burglary conviction. Records show he is a 6ft American Indian weighing roughly 195 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. MINOT -- A 53-year-old Minot man has pleaded guilty to biting off another man's ear during a fight at Minot Lumber on Sept. 2, 2015, but he claimed it was self-defense.. Gary Eiland was sentenced Monday in district court in Minot to time served of two days and three years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay $2,955.73 in restitution and $1,100 in court costs. According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Eiland and the other man, David Shoats, were fighting over where to place store merchandise and Eiland bit off 80 percent of the other man's ear. Though the detached ear was found, doctors were not able to reattach the body part. No charge was filed against Eiland until a year after the incident took place. Eiland told Judge Richard Hagar that he accepts responsibility for the crime but he was acting in self defense. "I was assaulted by David Shoats," he explained, saying that he did not start the altercation with his former friend and co-worker. "He's younger, faster, stronger ... he won the altercation in a couple of punches." Eiland said Shoats continued the fight and Eiland was afraid that his head would be banged on the concrete and he would lose consciousness. "I just acted on instinct, out of fear for my safety," said Eiland, when he bit Shoats' ear. Eiland also disputes that Shoats lost 80 percent of his ear. Eiland said he saw photographs and it looks like Shoats lost about 30 percent of his ear in the fight. "I understand the seriousness of the injury I caused," said Eiland, who did not dispute that he is guilty of aggravated assault. Eiland said he is a U.S. Air Force veteran who has lived in the community for 29 years and has children and grandchildren. He said he has no prior record of violence and only wants to live peacefully. Shoats was not present in the courtroom. Ward County Assistant State's Attorney Marie Miller said Shoats has been kept informed of what has happened with the case. Hagar thanked Eiland for wearing a suit to the hearing. He said he wishes he could get the lawyers who appear in his court to dress that well all the time. Hagar then said he understood how the incident could have happened and wished Eiland luck. Eiland is barred from contact with Shoats during the three years he will be on probation. A young woman has allegedly been kidnapped and sexually assaulted in a sickening 17-hour ordeal across two states. The 22-year-old Brisbane woman says she was abducted from her home on Monday night. She was then allegedly taken against her will across the Queensland border to a house in Grafton where she claims she was sexually assaulted. A man in his 50s has been arrested and is expected to be extradited to Queensland on Wednesday to face court. A young woman has allegedly been kidnapped and sexually assaulted in a sickening 17-hour ordeal across two states The 22-year-old Brisbane woman says she was abducted from her home on Monday night. She was then allegedly taken against her will across the Queensland border to a house in Grafton where she claims she was sexually assaulted The incident occurred at around 8pm on Monday night at the woman's property on Cardiff Street in the Brisbane suburb of Darra. Police were alerted after the 22-year-old's boyfriend received a voicemail from the woman sounding extremely distressed. A man's voice could be heard in the background of the recording. The woman was allegedly driven to several different areas throughout the 17-hour ordeal before she was released at 1:30pm on Tuesday. She returned to her family home with injuries to her neck and was immediately taken to hospital She returned to her family home with injuries to her neck and was immediately taken to hospital. A man was arrested in Grafton shortly after and charged with with one count each of kidnapping, common assault, enter premises to commit indictable offence deprivation of liberty other offences. He is expected to be extradited to Queensland and will face Brisbane Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The images you put up on Instagram could be used to diagnose if you're depressed. Psychologists say they can contain several red flags. They are darker, more likely to be black and white, and feature fewer people, as sufferers retreat from social contact. A 'sadness selfie' may even exist, highlighting that someone is struggling. Researchers have now created a computer to detect depression in photos uploaded to social media - and they say it can correctly pick up on clues 70 per cent of the time. An AI breakthrough that allows a computer to detect depression in photos uploaded to social media could lead to a new mental health app. Researchers found that images posted to Instagram by people with depression tend to feature darker shades (pictured) DEPRESSION RED FLAGS IN PHOTOS Photos put up on Instagram by people suffering depression often have several common markers: - They are bluer, darker, and greyer - Photos more likely to be black and white. Inkwell is the most popular filter - They feature fewer people, as sufferers retreat from social contact. - A 'sadness selfie' may even exist, highlighting that someone is struggling - Depressed people are more likely than healthy people to post a photo with people's faces. - But these photos have fewer faces on average than the healthy people's Instagram feeds - Photographs by people struggling with depression get fewer 'likes' from online followers Advertisement Scientists from Harvard University and the University of Vermont asked volunteers, recruited from Amazon's Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform, to share their Instagram feed as well as their mental health history. They gathered 43,950 photos provided by 166 people with 71, just under half, reporting experiences of clinical depression in the previous three years. They then analysed these photos, using insights from previous psychological research about people's preferences for brightness, colour, and shading. Their work revealed that people who were depressed tended to post photos that were bluer, darker, and greyer than those posted by people who were not depressed. This latter group preferred filters like Valencia, that gave their photos a warmer brighter tone. The most popular filter among depressed people was Inkwell, which makes a photo black and white. Their system was able to pick up on these clues 70 per cent of the time. This compares to the 42 per cent success rate of general-practice doctors diagnosing depression in person, according to previous research. Dr Christopher Danforth, study co-author from the University of Vermont, said: 'With an increasing share of our social interactions happening online, the potential for algorithmic identification of early-warning signs for a host of mental and physical illnesses is enormous. 'Imagine an app you can install on your phone that pings your doctor for a check-up when your behaviour changes for the worse, potentially before you even realise there is a problem.' Faces in photos also turned out to provide signals about depression. Researchers gathered 43,950 photos provided by 166 people with 71, just under half, reporting experiences of clinical depression in the previous three years. People who were not depressed tended to favour brighter colours and scenes (pictured) This latter group preferred filters like Valencia, that gave their photos a warmer brighter tone (right). The most popular filter among depressed people was Inkwell, which makes a photo black and white (middle) The researchers found that depressed people were more likely than healthy people to post a photo with people's faces. But these photos had fewer faces on average than the healthy people's Instagram feeds. They believe fewer faces may be an indication that depressed social media users interact in smaller group settings. This corresponds with other research linking depression to reduced social interaction. They said depressed people may also take many more self-portraits, but added: 'This 'sad- selfie' hypothesis remains untested.' Photos put up on Instagram by people suffering depression often have several common markers. Grey and dark photos, such as this, are a red flag for depression People who are not depressed preferred filters that make their images brighter and lighter Photographs by people struggling with depression get fewer 'likes' from online followers, which suggests other people are good at spotting the condition. However the authors found people asked to judge Instagram pictures on whether they were 'happy' or 'sad' did less well than the computer programme. Lead author Dr Andrew Reece, from Harvard University said: 'Although we had a relatively small sample size, we were able to reliably observe differences in features of social media posts between depressed and non-depressed individuals. Photos of people who are depressed more likely to be black and white, and feature fewer people 'Importantly, we also demonstrate that the markers of depression can be observed in posts made prior to the person receiving a clinical diagnosis of depression.' The study concludes that social media could be used to diagnose people with mental health problems earlier. Dr Danforth said: 'This study is not yet a diagnostic test, not by a long shot. But it is a proof of concept of a new way to help people.' The full results of the research were published in the open access journal EPJ Data Science. The birthplace of the men Christians believe were some of the first followers of Jesus have been found in Israel, a team of archaeologists has claimed. Researchers say they may have discovered what they say is the home town of Peter, Philip and Peter's brother Andrew, near the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. Experts have long sought to locate the lost Roman city of Julias, believed to have been built on the ruins of Bethsaida, a Jewish fishing village. Scroll down for video The birthplace of the men Christians believe were some of the first followers of Jesus have been found in Israel, a team of archaeologists has claimed. The excavations were conducted by the Institute for Galilean Archaeology at Kinneret College in Israel and Nyack College SAINT PETER Saint Peter the Apostle, originally named Simeon, or Simon, was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He died in around 64 AD in Rome and was recognised in the early Christian church as the leader of the disciples. The Roman Catholic church venerates St Peter a the first of its unbroken succession of popes. Peter, a fisherman, was called to be a disciple of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry according to Christian tradition. He received from Jesus the name Cephas or the rock, hence Peter, from the Latin petra. Advertisement Israeli and American archaeologists say they have likely uncovered Julias near the banks of the Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias. First century Roman historian Flavius Josephus wrote that Julias was built around 30 AD on the ruins of Bethsaida, where the Gospel of John says Peter was born. Christians recognise Saint Peter, originally a fisherman, as one of the first followers of Jesus and the leader of the early Church. Experts have focused their search for the city on three different sites. The excavations were conducted by the Institute for Galilean Archaeology at Kinneret College in Israel and directed by Dr Mordechai Aviam together with Dr R Steven Notley from Nyack College, New York, who is the excavation's academic director Dr Aviam told AFP that one of the sites, the only one so far excavated, was believed to be the correct site. He said: 'We have uncovered fragments of pottery, coins, and the remains of a public bath, which tends to prove that it was not a small village, but a town which may correspond to Julias. Experts have uncovered fragments of pottery (pictured) and coins at the site Researchers have long sought to locate the lost Roman city of Julias, believed to have been built on the ruins of Bethsaida. They have uncovered the remains of a public bath (pictured) First century Roman historian Flavius Josephus wrote that Julias was built around 30 AD on the ruins of Bethsaida, where Peter was born according to the Gospel of John Experts have focused their search on three different sites. One of the project's leaders told AFP that the only site excavated so far (pictured), was believed to be the correct site 'Based on these findings, we believe this site is likely to be located at the site of Bethsaida.' The site, not far from the Jordan River, is a few hundred metres from Lake Tiberias. Water levels would have been far higher during the first century. Work is also being carried out on another site a few miles away, Aviam added. He said he hoped further excavations would reveal evidence from pre-Roman times, including ancient Jewish remains, which could help verify whether the site is Bethsaida. The site is near the land where Luke's gospel reports the miracle of Jesus feeding five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. The site is not far from the Jordan River, a few hundred metres from Lake Tiberias. This image shows a man walking next to the site on Sunday Two other apostles, Philip and Peter's brother Andrew, are also believed to have been born or lived in Bethsaida The location in Northern Israel is believed to be the location of a biblical village that was home to Saint Peter It is hoped further excavations will reveal evidence from pre-Roman times, including ancient Jewish remains, which could help verify whether the site is Bethsaida The site will not immediately be opened to the public. This image shows an aerial view of the excavations taking place The site will not immediately be opened to the public, he said. Saint Peter the Apostle, originally named Simeon, or Simon, was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He died in around 64 AD in Rome and was recognised in the early Christian church as the leader of the disciples. The Roman Catholic church venerates St Peter as the first of its unbroken succession of popes. The site is near the land where Luke's gospel reports the miracle of Jesus feeding five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Work is also being carried out on another site a few miles (km) away Dr Mordechai Aviam directed the dig together with Dr R Steven Notley who is the excavation's academic director They believe the site could be the birthplace of three of Jesus apostles, Peter, Andrew and Philip, all saints in the Christian church Peter, a fisherman, was called to be a disciple of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry according to Christian tradition Peter, a fisherman, was called to be a disciple of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry according to Christian tradition. He received from Jesus the name Cephas or the rock, hence Peter, from the Latin petra. Saint Andrew is believed to have died around 60 or 70 AD in Patras, Greece. Like his brother Peter, Andrew was a fisherman. Early church legends say he undertook missionary activity in the area around the Black Sea. A fourth-century account reports his death by crucifixion and late medieval tales state the cross was X-shaped. Saint Peter the Apostle was recognised in the early Christian church as the leader of the disciples. This painting by Rubens entitled 'Saint Peter as Pope' depicts Peter the Apostle wearing the pallium religious robes of the Catholic church and holding the keys of heaven Saint Andrew is believed to have died around 60 or 70 AD in Patras, Greece. Early church legends say he undertook missionary activity in the area around the Black Sea. This painting by Artus Wolffort entitled 'Saint Andrew the Apostle' shows St Peter's brother This gives the flag of Scotland, of which Andrew is the patron Saint, its characteristic shape. Saint Philip, who is believed to have died in the first century AD, makes frequent appearances in the Gospel According to John. He is said to have answered Jesus call to 'Follow me' and brought Saint Nathanael to Jesus. With Saint Andrew, he is also written to have brought word to Jesus that certain Greeks had asked to see him. Saint Philip, who is believed to have died in the first century AD, makes frequent appearances in the Gospel According to John. This painting by Rubens is simple entitled 'St. Philip' and is part of his Twelve Apostles series We've all chosen complicated and difficult-to-remember passwords in the hope of boosting security. But the man who came up with the rules on these 'safe' passwords more than a decade ago has admitted that his advice was wrong. Bill Burr's 'bible' on password security was written in 2003 while he worked for the US Government. His guidance was to change passwords often, use numbers, include non-alphabetic symbols and try capital letters . He says he now 'regrets' his advice as passwords that use these guidelines are often easier to hack. Scroll down for video When people change their passwords they do predictable things like add an exclamation mark at the end or an extra number which makes them predictable and easier to hack (stock image) GOOD PASSWORDS Experts now believe long passwords that contain perhaps four words are much harder to break than shorter ones with a mix of letters, characters and numbers. Long pass phrases work better because they are really long and still easy to remember. Although people might think their choice of password is original people usually end up using the same combinations time and again - things like Pa$w0rd or Monkey1!. The reason changing a password frequently does not help is because when most people change their password they make minor tweaks such as replacing the number 1 with a number 2. These small changes are called 'transformations' and hackers are very aware of them and build them into their scripts. The new advice is to use long but easy-to-remember 'passphrases', that do not need to feature special characters or numbers. Advertisement Mr Burr, author of 'NIST Special Publication 800-63. Appendix A', told Wall Street Journal that much of his advice in the book was incorrect. 'Much of what I did I now regret,' said Mr Burr, who advised people to change their password every 90 days and use obscure characters. 'It just drives people bananas and they don't pick good passwords no matter what you do,' he said. His advice is responsible for bizarre password combinations such as su55ess1 and d0lla3s. But rather than improving security, the combinations made computers less secure, since users would end up using the same password repeatedly, or writing them down on notes to remember. The reason changing a password frequently does not help is because when most people make minor tweaks such as replacing the number 1 with a number 2. These are called 'transformations' and hackers are very aware of them and build them into their scripts. The use of random numbers in the middle of passwords also doesn't help. Hackers can also use 'brute force' cyber attacks in which a computer cycles through every possible combination of characters to guess a password Experts now believe long passwords that contain perhaps four words are much harder to break than shorter ones with a mix of letters, characters and numbers. Cartoonist Randall Munroe found it would take 550 years to crack 'correcthorsebatterystaple' where as the password 'Tr0ub4dor&3' - which was previously considered strong by Mr Burr's calculations - could be hacked in three days. 'Through 20 years of effort, we've successfully trained everyone to use passwords that are hard for humans to remember, but easy for computers to guess', he wrote on his website. Changing a password frequently does not help is because when most people make minor tweaks such as replacing the number 1 with a number 2 (stock image) Paul Grassi, an NIST standards-and-technology adviser has re-written the rules guidelines on how to create a safe password. 'We ended up starting from scratch,' Mr. Grassi said, after finding that most of the previous rules 'actually had a negative impact on usability'. He now advises that people use long but easy-to-remember 'passphrases', that do not need to feature special characters or numbers MOST COMMON PASSWORDS OF 2017 123456 123456789 qwerty 12345678 111111 1234567890 1234567 password 123123 987654321 Advertisement Issues surrounding password strength are becoming increasingly pressing with the growth of hacking activity and large data breaches. Yesterday more than 306 million previously hacked passwords were released by a data expert in an attempt to help people ramp up their online security. Anyone can check to see if their personal information could have been compromised using the new 'Have I Been Pwned' website. Pwned is a play on the word 'owned', which is informally used to refer to making a fool out of someone, or taking advantage of them. Security expert Troy Hunt, who is based in the Gold Coast in Australia, released the tool for searching if your password is among those hacked passwords that need changing. The full list can be read in a 5.3GB download - or users can test our their passwords on this link. Mr Hunt compiled the list from dozens of data breaches. 'My hope is that an easily accessible online service like this also partially addresses the age-old request I've had to provide email address and password pairs', he wrote in his blog. 'If the password alone comes back with a hit on this service, that's a very good reason to no longer use it regardless of whose account it originally appeared against'. 'As well people checking passwords they themselves may have used, I'm envisaging more tech-savvy people using this service to demonstrate a point to friends, relatives and co-workers: 'you see, this password has been breached before, don't use it!' Advertisement In early July, a huge crack in Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf caused a trillion ton iceberg - the third biggest ever recorded - to break off from the icy southern continent. The huge chunk of ice, dubbed iceberg A-68, measures 5,800 square kilometres (2,240 square miles), making it around the size of Delaware, or four times the area covered by Greater London. New pictures captured via satellite imagery show iceberg A-68 in stunning detail as it drifts from Antarctica, where it could remain in the open sea for years. Scroll down for video In early July, a huge crack in Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf caused a trillion ton iceberg to break off from the icy continent. New satellite images show the iceberg in stunning detail, including this zoomed-in view of iceberg A-68 (bottom left corner), Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf (top and righthand segments), taken in late July by the Deimos 2 satellite WAS CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSIBLE FOR A68 Reporting this week in the Nature journal Climate Change, Dr Anna Hogg and Dr Hilmar Gudmundsson examine the events leading up to this dramatic natural phenomenon. They also discuss how calving of huge icebergs affects the stability of Antarctic ice shelves. Their article argues that a calving event is not necessarily due to changes in environmental conditions. Instead, it may simply reflect the natural growth and decay cycle of an ice shelf. Advertisement Despite the iceberg breaking off some time between July 10-12, scientists have struggled to take images of A-68 because Antarctica is currently going through its winter season. Since the split, researchers have relied on polar satellites like Sentinel-1, which uses radar to peer through thick cloud cover. But a few clear days in late July gave Spanish satellite firm Deimos Imaging a visible-light view using Deimos-1 and Deimos-2 - a pair of satellites that work as a tag-team. 'These images are striking - easily the best I have seen since calving,' Adrian Luckman, a glaciologist at Swansea University and a member of the Antarctic research program Project Midas, told Business Insider. The team's Deimos-1 satellite captures wider-angle, medium-resolution images while Deimos-2 takes zoomed-in, very-high-resolution pictures. When combined the images can capture both vast, wide angle views of the scale of the Larsen C crack, as well as detailed up-close views of individual details. The team's Deimos-1 satellite captures wider-angle, medium-resolution images (main image) while Deimos-2 takes zoomed-in, very-high-resolution images (insets) The huge chunk of ice, dubbed iceberg A-68 by scientists, measures 5,800 square kilometres (2,240 square miles), making it around the size of Delaware or four times the area covered by Greater London. This wide-angle view shows iceberg A-68 (central shape) and Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf (rest of image) and was taken by the Deimos-1 satellite in late July The new images follow the news last week that cracks are spreading where the A-68 iceberg broke free from the Larsen C ice shelf. Scientists released satellite footage of the moment the Antarctic Peninsula lost 10 per cent of its area earlier this month. Since that time, experts have been following the fate of the huge iceberg as a rift has grown between the mainland and the mass of frozen water. They have found that cracks are still growing on the ice shelf, and if they continue to grow, it's possible that the ice shelf could collapse. If all of Larsen C collapses, the ice it holds back might add another 4 inches (10 cm) to global sea levels over the years. A few clear days in July gave Spanish satellite firm Deimos Imaging a visible-light using Deimos-1 and Deimos-2 - a pair of satellites that work as a tag-team. This image shows Larsen C (left of crack) and iceberg A-68 (right of crack), taken by Deimos-2 in late July WHAT IS ITS IMPACT? Icebergs calve from Antarctica all the time, but because this one is particularly large its path across the ocean needs to be monitored as it could pose a hazard to maritime traffic. The massive ice cube will float in water and by itself will not add to sea levels when it melts. But the real danger is from inland glaciers. Ice shelves float on the sea, extending from the coast, and are fed by slow-flowing glaciers from the land. They act as giant brakes, preventing glaciers from flowing directly into the ocean. If the glaciers held in check by Larsen C now split into the Antarctic Ocean, it could lift the global water mark by about 10 centimetres (four inches), researchers have said. Advertisement Dr Anna Hogg, from the University of Leeds and Dr Hilmar Gudmundsson, from the British Antarctic Survey, have continued to track the iceberg, known as A68, since the July 12 breakaway. Using the European Space Agency's (ESA) Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, they have found that, since the calving event, the berg has started to drift away from the Larsen-C. Open ocean is now clearly visible in the approximately five kilometre gap between the berg and the ice-shelf. A cluster of over 11 'smaller' icebergs have also now formed, the largest of which is over eight miles (13km) long. Dr Anna Hogg, from the University of Leeds and Dr Hilmar Gudmundsson, from the British Antarctic Survey, have continued to track the iceberg, known as A68, since the July 12 breakaway. This Sentinel-1 data shows network of cracks grow on the Larsen-C Ice-Shelf, before and after the colossal iceberg broke free The iceberg, dubbed 'A68', is one of the 10 largest icebergs ever recorded. A graphic shows how the iceberg compares in size These 'bergy bits', as the experts are describing them, have broken off both the giant iceberg and the remaining ice-shelf. Dr Hogg, an ESA research fellow in the centre for polar observation and modelling at Leeds, said: 'The satellite images reveal a lot of continuing action on Larsen-C Ice Shelf. 'We can see that the remaining cracks continue to grow towards a feature called Bawden Ice Rise, which provides important structural support for the remaining ice shelf. 'If an ice shelf loses contact with the ice rise, either through sustained thinning or a large iceberg calving event, it can prompt a significant acceleration in ice speed, and possibly further destabilisation. 'It looks like the Larsen-C story might not be over yet.' This image shows the view of the A68 iceberg from a European Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite image acquired on July 30 Last week, scientists released satellite footage of the aftermath of the Antarctic Peninsula losing 10 per cent of its area earlier this month. This Sentinel-1 image shows the colossal iceberg (shown in blue) after it had broken free and the 'bergy bits' described by the experts began to break off If you are looking for a flash of inspiration, it might be at the bottom of a pint of beer. A study has found a drink can help us think more creatively, by freeing up the brain to think in a different way. It does not require industrial strength quantities, such as those enjoyed by the great poet Dylan Thomas or novelist Marguerite Duras. But the equivalent of a pint of beer or a small glass of wine was found by Austrian scientists to help people unleash their creative side. Scroll down for video The equivalent of a pint of beer or a small glass of wine was found by Austrian scientists to help people unleash their creative side (stock image) WHAT DID THEY DO? The researchers gave 70 people a drink of either beer or non-alcohol beer, which they were unable to distinguish between. They were then asked to do a word association task, such as determining the word linking the three words Swiss, blue and cake. The answer is cheese and those who had drunk alcohol before being tested were more likely to get it right. They also did slightly better in a creative thinking task, where an answer to what a tyre could be used for was creative if it was a lampshade but graded as less creative if someone said a swing. Advertisement Lead author Dr Mathias Benedek, from the University of Graz in Austria, said: We wanted to do this study because alcohol is so linked with creativity, and great writers like Ernest Hemingway. Previous research has found almost half of the great writers had a history of drinking. We found that a small drink can indeed help with certain aspects of creativity, although it may make hard, focused work more difficult. 'So it might well work for someone who is sitting down to do creative writing or brainstorming ideas in a boardroom. The researchers gave 70 people a drink of either beer or non-alcohol beer, which they were unable to distinguish between. They were then asked to do a word association task, such as determining the word linking the three words Swiss, blue and cake. The answer is cheese and those who had drunk alcohol before being tested were more likely to get it right. They also did slightly better in a creative thinking task, where an answer to what a tyre could be used for was creative if it was a lampshade but graded as less creative if someone said a swing. However the authors stressed the finding for the second task was not statistically significant. Dylan Thomas is regarded as one of the most influential poets of the 21st century - and was also an alcoholic - although researchers believe that excessive consumption does not help creativity The study found that people had less cognitive control and focus in a third test, asking them to follow a list of letters. This was the case even with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.03 per cent, which is the equivalent of slightly less than a pint of beer or a small glass of wine for men and half that amount for women. However the pay-off was the boost in creative thinking, according to the study published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition. It does not require industrial strength quantities, such as those enjoyed by the great poet Dylan Thomas or novelist Marguerite Duras (pictured) Dr Benedek said: There are two theories for how this works, the first being that when you are really focusing on solving a problem, you can become fixated so that your mind gets stuck on one way of addressing it. Alcohol makes it more difficult to keep all the parameters of the task in mind, but that can also help you come at it from another direction. The second theory is that alcohol, which is distracting from the central task, allows you to tap into your unconscious mind and find alternative solutions. The new findings follow a study which found last month that drinking alcohol after revising could help to remember the facts. The University of Exeter said alcohol may block the brain from learning new things, leaving it free to store the recently learned information in the long-term memory. It is the perfect learning shortcut, to play a language tape or revision recording at night while you are asleep. But those desperately hoping the information will go in as they snooze may be disappointed. Scientists have found that the brain does take in what it hears during REM sleep the time spent mostly dreaming, usually in the morning before we wake up. But leaving a tape running overnight is probably counter-productive as information gained in deep sleep can be completely lost. Those desperately hoping the information will go in as they snooze may be disappointed. Scientists have found that the brain does take in what it hears during REM sleep the time spent mostly dreaming, usually in the morning before we wake up THE BEST TIME TO LEARN DURING SLEEP When we are asleep we go from light non-REM sleep, move to deep non-REM sleep and conclude with REM sleep in 90 minute cycles. The best time to sleep-revise is during light non-REM sleep and dream-filled REM sleep, which makes up more of the cycle in the morning than at night. That is believed to be the time in which we bank memories and can learn new ones. Deep sleep, however, which makes up 30 per cent of the night, may be the time when memories are trashed to get rid of unnecessary ones which would otherwise build up day by day. It means any sounds heard during this time may also be lost. The next day, when someone hears information played during deep sleep again, the part of the brain needed to recall it is weakened, experts believe. It means it is harder to learn the information again than if hearing it for the first time. Advertisement French researchers found that sound played during certain parts of deep sleep may make information harder to learn when you wake up than if you had never heard it before. That is thought to be because the brain is busy erasing memories at this time, and the new knowledge is dumped along with them. Dr Thomas Andrillon, lead author of the study on sleep learning, from PSL Research University in Paris, said: If someone is learning a language or revising using an audio tape, they may need to listen to this material at specific sleep stages. If they hear it at the wrong time of the night, it could have the reverse effect and the material you want to learn could be harder to retain when you wake. What you need is a device which records your brain activity and plays the information accordingly, which should be available in the near future. The researchers tested sleep learning by playing 20 participants white noise, which contained patterns of sound. The sounds heard during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep were remembered by these people when they woke up. They found it easier to identify the white noise which had repeated sounds in it because they had heard it while asleep. But the noise played while people were in deep sleep, which makes up almost a third of our slumbers, was forgotten. The problem for people under exam pressure who want to revise while asleep is that they do not have brain scanners, like the scientists, to judge the perfect sleep stage for learning. Pictured is a participant of a sleep experiment equipped with an electroencephalogram. The electroencephalogram records brain's electrical activity and allows to determine in real time whether a person is awake or asleep When we are asleep we go from light non-REM sleep, move to deep non-REM sleep and conclude with REM sleep in 90 minute cycles. The best time to sleep-revise is during light non-REM sleep and dream-filled REM sleep, which makes up more of the cycle in the morning than at night. THE SLEEP CYCLE There are five main stages of sleep. Stages 1,2,3, and 4, are categorised as 'non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep', and the fifth stage, is REM sleep. Stage 1 is the lightest stage of sleep. Brain activity is slightly slower than during wake time, and there is muscle tone present in the skeletal muscles. Breathing occurs at a regular rate. Stage 2 usually follow Stage 1 and represents deeper sleep. During Stage 2 sleep, the sleeper is less able to be awakened. Stage 3 and Stage 4 sleep are progressively deeper stages of sleep, and a sleeper would be difficult to wake at this point. Stage 5, or REM sleep, is the stage of sleep associated with dreaming. Brain activity resembles wake time, but skeletal muscles are without movement. The breathing is more erratic and irregular. The heart rate often increases. Advertisement That is believed to be the time in which we bank memories and can learn new ones. Deep sleep, however, which makes up 30 per cent of the night, may be the time when memories are trashed to get rid of unnecessary ones which would otherwise build up day by day. It means any sounds heard during this time may also be lost. The next day, when someone hears information played during deep sleep again, the part of the brain needed to recall it is weakened, experts believe. It means it is harder to learn the information again than if hearing it for the first time. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, answers questions raised by previous research some of which found it is possible to learn at night, while others suggested it was not. However Dr Andrillon said we might be better off not even trying, as disrupting sleep and making ourselves more tired is not advised. He said: It is unclear whether the advantages of learning during sleep offset the disadvantages, such as a poor nights sleep. While we show that learning is possible during sleep, it could prove quite impractical in our daily lives. Sleep is a fragile phenomenon that is central to many brain and physiological functions and people should be cautious. Advertisement The helicopter that will become the new Marine One in 2020 has taken its first flight. The Sikorsky VH-92A, which will become Marine One when the President travels on it, was selected in 2014 as part of a $1.24 billion contract to overhaul the Presidential fleet. Based on the firm's S-92 helicopter, it will be upgraded with 'government-defined missions systems and an executive interior' to serve as Presidential transport. Scroll down for video An artist's impression of the new Marine One at the White House. Based on the firm's S-92 helicopter, it will be upgraded with 'government-defined missions systems and an executive interior' to serve as Presidential transport THE NEW MARINE ONE Dual-piloted, twin-engine helicopter Based on the Sikorsky S-92A Air-transportable to remote locations via Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft Has specially developed military communications system Advertisement The secretive July 28 flight signals the start of the 250 hour flight test program, which will take place at Lockheed Martin facilities in Owego, New York. The aircraft achieved its first flight, and later that same day completed a second flight at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Connecticut. However, no images or video of the flight have been revealed. Total flight time for the two sorties was one hour and included hover control checks, low speed flight, and a pass of the airfield. The VH-92A aircraft will replace the current Marine Corps fleet of VH-3D and VH-60N helicopters flown by Marine Helicopter Squadron One, and will be a dual-piloted, twin-engine helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-92A. It will be able to operate worldwide in day, night, or adverse weather conditions, and the VH-92A will be air-transportable to remote locations via Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft. It will be able to operate worldwide in day, night, or adverse weather conditions, and will The VH-92A will be air-transportable to remote locations via Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft. Inside the S-92: Although it is unknown what configuration the new Marine One will use, Sikorsky offers a range of options It will feature a specially developed military communications system allowing simultaneous short- and long-range secure and non-secure voice and data communications. It can also exchange situational awareness information with outside agencies, organizations, and supporting aircraft. 'This first flight of the VH-92A configured test aircraft is an important milestone for the program,' said Spencer Elani, director VH-92A program at Sikorsky. 'Having independently tested the aircraft's components and subsystems, we are now moving forward to begin full aircraft system qualification via the flight test program.' As the flight test program proceeds, this test aircraft (Engineering Development Model 1, or EDM-1) will be joined by an additional test aircraft (EDM-2) over the course of the 12-month flight test program. EDM-2 is on track for its first flight later this year. The contract will produce a total of six aircraft: two test aircraft and four production aircraft. OLD RUSSIAN 747'S COULD BECOME AIR FORCE ONE Current state: Members of the White House press corps board Air Force One before the arrival of President Donald Trump at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland in April Two jumbo jets which were built for a Russian airline could become part of the Air Force One fleet, it was confirmed earlier this month. The Air Force, which has been looking for ways to lower the cost of new planes for Air Force One, is in talks with Boeing about buying two 747s that were ordered but never delivered to a now-defunct Russian airline. President Donald Trump has previously complained about the high cost of new Air Force One planes, even threatening at one point to cancel the order. The Air Force and Boeing confirmed that they are working on a deal involving Boeing 747s but declined to disclose further details. Two people close to the matter said that the discussions are centered on planes that were ordered by a Russian carrier. They spoke anonymously because the deal is not final and has not been publicly announced. Advertisement The production options for the remaining 17 aircraft will be finalized in FY19. The VH-92A will enter into service in 2020. President Donald Trump walks to the current Marine One before departing from the White House on August 4, 2017 in Washington to travel to Bedminster, N.J. for his summer break. The VH-92A will transport the president and vice president of the United States and other officials. The VH-92A aircraft is based on Sikorsky's successful and FAA-certified S-92A commercial aircraft, which recently surpassed one million flight hours. The S-92A aircraft, assembled in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, is being modified to include integration of government-defined missions systems and an executive interior. The new Marine One is based on Sikorsky's existing S-92 craft 'With this successful first flight on the books, we look forward to completion of Sikorsky's flight test program, operational testing and production of this aircraft to support the Office of the President of the United States,' said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert Pridgen, program manager for the Naval Air System Command's Presidential Helicopter's Program Office. The U.S. Navy awarded a $1.24 billion fixed-price incentive Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract with production options to Sikorsky on May 7, 2014. He's one of Australia's highest-paid radio personalities who lives a life of luxury on a sprawling Sydney property dubbed 'the White House'. And on Tuesday morning, Kyle Sandilands offered a solution to the stalemate in moving the homeless tent city in Martin Place - 'bring them to my place'. Speaking to tent city resident Scott, Kyle generously declared: Im going to offer everyone thats living in Martin Place to come and live at my farm for free.' Im going to offer everyone thats living in Martin Place to come and live at my farm for free: Kyle Sandilands offers Sydneys homeless residents shelter For the past fortnight, City of Sydney and the NSW government have been locked in negotiations on how to move on the nearly 60 homeless people taking up residence in tents in Martin Place. While a deal for a 24 hour alternative 'safe space' was reached on Monday night, the homeless are still refusing to move until more concrete information is released. Meanwhile Kyle rents a $5.5 million hobby farm in Terrey Hills, located in Sydney's Northern Beaches. Issue: City of Sydney and the NSW government have been locked in negotiations on how to move on the nearly 60 homeless people taking up residence in tents in Martin Place Want somewhere to sleep: Homeless residents are still refusing to move until more concrete information is released Talking on KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show, Martin Place tent city resident Scott asked the shock jock to offer a place for them to stay. While at first taken aback at first by the suggestion, Kyle appeared to warm to the idea. 'Im going to offer everyone thats living in Martin Place to come and live at my farm for free,' he said. But his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson pointed out one obvious obstacle: 'You rent, so I dont think you can do that.' Lavish lifestyle: Kyle rents a $5.5 million hobby farm in Terrey Hills, located in Sydney's Northern Beaches 'You rent, so I dont think you can do that': Co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson pointed out one obvious obstacle 'Give a s**t, hes just stockpiling land until a shopping centres built there, who cares,' Kyle responded. It isn't the first time Kyle has spoken out on the issue of sleeping rough, dedicating his 2012 memoir Scandalands to Australia's homeless. The shock jock has also previously revealed he was left homeless for a brief period aged 15 after he was kicked out of home. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Kyle's representatives for comment. The hosts of Channel Seven breakfast show Sunrise have dubbed UK model Chloe Ayling's kidnapping story 'fishy' after it emerged the 20-year-old was taken to buy shoes by her abductor who friends have said she knew beforehand. Speaking about the model's ordeal on Tuesday with Europe correspondent Hugh Whitfeld, hosts David Koch and Samantha Armytage cast doubt on some aspects of Chloe's story, hinting that there could be more to the alleged kidnapping. 'You don't want to be cynical but you kind of go 'what's happened here,' Sam said to which David replied: 'It smells a bit fishy, doesn't it.' 'It smells fishy: Sunrises Sam Armytage and David Koch question story of British model, 20, who was kidnapped and auctioned on the Dark Web The British model was allegedly lured to an abandoned shop in Milan, Italy on July 11 with the promise of a photo shoot. She was then allegedly drugged, stuffed in a bag, driven 120 miles to a farmhouse in Turin where she was kept for six days to be auctioned off by a man claiming to be a member of an online criminal group known as Black Death, as a sex slave on the Dark Web. She was reportedly set free and taken to the British consulate in Milan after it was discovered that she was the mother of a two year old boy. Stunt? 'You don't want to be cynical but you kind of go 'what's happened here,' Sam Armytage said to which David Koch replied: 'It smells a bit fishy, doesn't it.' Speaking to media outside her mother's home in South London, Chloe revealed that she feared for her life during the six-day ordeal. 'I've been through a terrifying experience,' she said in a prepared statement. 'I feared for my life second by second, minute by minute hour by hour, I am incredibly grateful to the Italian and UK authorities for all they have done to secure my safe release.' It has since been claimed by friends of Chloe that she knew her captor, 30-year-old Polish national Lukasz Pawel Herba, who she allegedly met during a business trip to Paris, earlier this year. Ordeal: The British model was allegedly lured to an abandoned shop in Milan, Italy on July 11 with the promise of a photoshoot Reporting on latest developments, Hugh revealed that Italian police had charged Lukasz, but doubted the claims he belonged to Black Death or even the existence of the online group. 'They're saying today in Milan that he's a known fantasist, that he may live in some fantasy land,' he said. They've cast some doubt on this gang that he claims to belong to, Black Death. They don't know if it exists.' Further questions have been raised about the model's story after it was revealed that she was taken from the remote farmhouse to buy shoes. Prior knowledge: It has since been claimed by friends of Chloe that she knew her captor, 30-year-old Polish national Lukasz Pawel Herba 'Now Chloe's lawyer has been forced to admit that, during the ordeal, she was actually taken away from that rural village and taken shoe shopping, but that all happened under duress because he feared for her life if she made a scene,' Hugh reported. The correspondent also noted that the publicity Chloes ordeal has received may be helpful for her modelling career, saying that her Instagram account had seen a large boost in followers in the days following her release. 'She's got about 180,000 Instagram followers now, at the start of the day, when I checked, she had about 160,000,' he said. ' Doubt: 'Now Chloe's lawyer has been forced to admit that, during the ordeal, she was actually taken away from that rural village and taken shoe shopping 'There's some PR being generated out of all of this. Her agent is taking phone calls and media organisations here in the UK are offering her money for her story.' 'I dont think weve heard the end of it but its not as probably clean cut as when we first started reporting on this on the weekend,' Hugh added Daily Mail Australia has contacted Chloe Ayling's representatives for comment. Next week's ballot offers some intrigue for North Dakotans from late congressional entries by independent candidates to term limits and marijuana legalization. Voters will decide whether to endorse changing the state constitution to limit the terms of the governor and state legislators. Another citizen-led initiative also will put the question of marijuana legalization before voters, who rejected the idea four years ago. Ninety-eight of the Legislatures 141 seats are on the ballot. All but one Democrat is up for reelection this year. Contests for secretary of state, attorney general and other state offices Also will appear on the ballot. She failed to find love on The Bachelor last year, starring Richie Strahan. And on Tuesday, Sasha Zhuravlyova slammed the ropes access technician, 32, in an interview with Daily Mail Australia. The Russian beauty, 31, said would have preferred to be in Matty J's season this year instead, calling Richie 'a ginger motherf**ker'. Scroll down for video 'He's a ginger motherf**ker': The Bachelor's Sasha Zhuravlyova (pictured) has slammed Richie Strahan following reports he 'split with Alex Nation six months ago' 'Why, why is life so unfair?' Sasha chuckled. 'Why the hell did I end up on Richie's season? They call him strawberry blonde but bloody hell, he's a ginger motherf**ker and I had to make myself fall in love with him. 'I could not, I just could not,' Sasha added. Unlucky! Sasha failed to find love on The Bachelor last year, starring Richie Strahan (centre) More her type! The Russian beauty, 31, said would have preferred to be in Matthew Johnson's (pictured) season this year instead Sasha called marketing manager Matthew Johnson, 30, 'the hottest guy alive,' and said the pair would have got along well. 'I can guarantee that I would do so much better this season, 100 per cent, so much better,' she continued. Sasha also admitted she is enjoying watching the latest season and is 'impressed with the amount of crazy b***hes.' Regarding Richie and Alex's 'split', Sasha claimed she did not know for sure but nonetheless wished them both well. 'They've been flying low': Regarding Richie and Alex's (pictured) 'split', Sasha claimed she did not know for sure but nonetheless wished them both well 'I've heard nothing about it, I have no idea what's been happening. They've been flying low and under the radar at this stage, I don't know whether they are keeping it to themselves,' she added. 'I really wish them nothing but the best, other than that it's really none of my business.' Earlier this week, Woman's Day reported the couple split six months ago but chose not to confirm the news due to the damage it would cause their public profiles. Rumours: Earlier this week, Woman's Day reported the couple split six months ago but chose not to confirm the news due to the damage it would cause their public profiles 'They were worried if they announced it their profiles would come falling down, so they decided to say nothing,' a source allegedly told the publication. The pair have stubbornly refused to comment on their relationship status, leaving many fans frustrated and feeling betrayed. One fan commented on Instagram: 'Is it such a big deal if you @alexandranation & richie_strahan have split up?! Can you's not just confirm or deny? 'I understand that you are normal people & have feelings etc but when you sign up to a show to fall "in love" on national TV for people to watch then you're going to get questions & people who are interested & curious. 'I personally don't think it matters, some relationships last & some don't, that's life! But if I split with someone I would want people to stop asking & would want it out there so I could move the eff on. Whatever the outcome I wish you guys both happiness! [sic]' As Jeremy Clarkson continues to recover in a Majorca hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia, he's showing that his sense of humour shows no sign of waning. In a new interview with The Sun, TV personality, 57, host joked that he's running out of underwear, after being rushed to a local hospital on the Balearic island. Revealing to the newspaper that he spent five days in bed during his Spanish holiday before a doctor sent him for an X-ray, he said: 'I was admitted immediately. Im running low on pants now.' Scroll down for video Pants! Jeremy Clarkson has joked that he's running out of underwear, after being rushed to a Majorca hospital amid his pneumonia diagnosis recently. Pictured in November The former Top Gear host was then asked if there was anything that could be given to him to help him on his road to recovery, to which he responded: 'A new lung.' Jeremy is expecting to spend a week in hospital, though he's looking at a total additional recovery time that could take as much as eight weeks. The star recently said that he expected to be 'out of action for quite some time' after his diagnosis, which he received while enjoying a summer holiday. Hospital: The TV personality, pictured drinking on holiday in July, was rushed to hospital with severe pneumonia while on holiday with family in Majorca He posted a message on Drive Tribe on Sunday which said: 'Thanks for all the good wishes. 'And to keep you up to date, I'll be out of action for quite some time apparently. It's really really annoying because I've never had one day off work since I started in 1978.' Clarkson's co-presenter Richard Hammond tweeted a link to the message and joked: 'Wow. I didn't know he had a job.' In a separate message to his friend Jemima Goldsmith on Twitter, he said he was currently 'in a wheelchair, connected up to tubes, in a hospital'. On Saturday, Jeremy posted an image on Instagram showing his arm with a drip attached and covered in hospital identity tags, writing: 'Not the sort of bangles I usually choose on holiday.' Ever the comedian: Replying to a message from his friend Jemima Goldsmith on Twitter, he said he was currently 'in a wheelchair, connected up to tubes, in a hospital' He was on a break with his family after shooting his Amazon Prime show with co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, when he fell ill. He had planned to return to work after his holiday. The television host's daughter Emily wrote his weekly newspaper column, published on Saturday. An insider said: 'He's told friends not to expect to hear too much from him over the next few weeks which is very unlike him, and obviously his family are concerned,' according to The Sun. The source added: 'Inevitably people close to him are saying it's time to think about the way he looks after himself cutting back on the booze and fags but he's never been one to take that sort of guidance on board.' New message: Jeremy's message on Drive Tribe posted on Sunday, a day after he announced his health scare A spokeswoman for The Grand Tour said: 'Jeremy Clarkson was admitted to hospital on Friday morning during a family holiday in Spain, and is being treated for pneumonia.' This is not Clarkson's first health scare. In 2015, two days before assaulting a BBC producer, he was told by a doctor that he might have cancer. Speaking in detail about the incident that resulted in his sacking from the Top Gear show, Clarkson said being given the warning was one of the most stressful experiences of his life. In an attempt to explain his state of mind at the time of the attack, he said: 'Two days before the 'fracas', I had been told, sternly, by my doctor that the lump on my tongue was probably cancer and that I must get it checked out immediately. But I couldn't do that. Drip: He posted an image on Instagram over the weekend showing his arm with a drip attached and covered in hospital wrist bands 'We were in the middle of a Top Gear series. And Top Gear always came first.' Clarkson said he had now been given the all-clear, but wrote in his column in The Sunday Times: 'That was the most stressful day I have ever had in 27 years at the BBC. WHAT IS PNEUMONIA? Pneumonia is an infection which causes the normal air-containing spaces within the lungs (called the alveoli) and the smaller bronchial tubes to become inflamed and fill with fluid. Special white blood cells then travel to the lungs to fight off the infection. This all leads to impairment of the lungs' main function, which is to get oxygen from the air into the bloodstream and then around the whole body. Pneumonia can sometimes be a complication that arises from repeated or prolonged bouts of flu, so it's important to be aware of its symptoms, particularly at this time of year. It can be a very serious health condition and can lead to death if not treated promptly. Advertisement 'It was beyond-belief stressful, everything was gong wrong, and then you know... there you go. But everyone has stressful days, and they manage to cope better than I had.' Clarkson was sacked by the Corporation after an 'unprovoked physical and verbal' attack in Hawes, North Yorkshire that left his victim, Oisin Tymon, 36, in need of hospital treatment. The presenter said the show about cars had come to dominate his life after his divorce from wife Frances and the death of his mother Shirley, and he worried about all parts of the programme. His latest health scare comes two months after co-host Hammond was airlifted to hospital when his car crashed while filming The Grand Tour. Hammond, 47, was driving an electric super car in Switzerland when it crashed and burst into flames. He escaped the crash, which left the vehicle scorched and on its roof, with no serious injuries. The NHS website describes pneumonia as 'swelling (inflammation) of the tissue in one or both lungs', which is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Other types include viral pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia, fungal pneumonia and hospital-acquired pneumonia. The condition affects around eight in 1,000 adults in the UK each year and it is more widespread in autumn and winter. MailOnline has contacted Clarkson's representatives for further comment. She's been embroiled in a war of words with her ex Jonny Mitchell following their bitter split. But Chyna Ellis was brushing off the drama to party with her gal pal Tyne-Lexy Clarson on Monday night, stepping out together in Puerto Banus, Marbella together. The Love Island beauties were making the most of their newfound fame following their time in the villa, turning heads as they strutted along the street. Scroll down for video Partying in style: Chyna Ellis was brushing off the drama to party with her gal pal Tyne-Lexy Clarson on Monday night, stepping out together in Puerto Banus, Marbella together Chyna showed off her svelte figure in a black satin crop top, worn tied at the bust to highlight her slim stomach. She opted for a casual, baby blue miniskirt and coordinating black heels to round of the look. The platinum blonde bombshell accessorised with a choker necklace and showcased her plump pout with a slick of mauve gloss. Tyne-Lexy was decidedly more covered up than her pal, sporting a halterneck graphic print top. Svelte: Chyna showed off her svelte figure in a black satin crop top, worn tied at the bust to highlight her slim stomach Leggy lady: She opted for a casual, baby blue miniskirt and coordinating black heels to round of the look Demure: Tyne-Lexy was decidedly more covered up than her pal, sporting a halterneck graphic print top She donned a long, floaty skirt and pulled her look together with a pair of nude heels and a smart handbag. Meanwhile, Jonny was spotted partying at El Pirata in London, cutting a nonchalant figure as he left the venue. Chyna's short-lived romance with co-star Jonny came crashing down when he dumped her on live TV before claiming she cheated on him. The Essex native has had her say in a very public Twitter spat with her former flame, venting her anger on social media on Saturday. Courting attention: The Love Island beauties were making the most of their newfound fame following their time in the villa, turning heads as they strutted along the street Night out: Tyne-Lexy donned a long, floaty skirt and pulled her look together with a pair of nude heels and a smart handbag Living it up: Meanwhile, Chyna's ex Jonny was spotted partying at El Pirata in London Casual: The reality star was cutting a nonchalant figure as he left the venue Texting: Jonny appeared to be checking his social media as he headed home Declaring her innocence, the beauty revealed she was 'actually disgusted' by his behaviour and implied he was a snake by using four of the reptile emojis in a scathing tweet. Chyna wrote: 'So apparently I'm seeing 4 different guys at once and now I am a monster what is wrong with this guy actually disgusted!' (sic) Earlier in the week, she wrote: 'Some people really have zero loyalties it makes me sad :(.' (sic) But Jonny, 26, wouldn't let sleeping dogs lie as he responded a number of hours later, hitting back at his scorned lover in an explosive tweet. 'Actually disgusted': On Saturday, Chyna branded her ex Jonny Mitchell a 'disgusting' snake in a scathing tweet after explosive claims she cheated on him No Love (Island) lost here: The pair have been at each other's throats in a public Twitter spat He wrote: 'Pretty random selection of names If I was lying though. #justsaying.' There is no love lost between the pair after Chyna branded him a 'pr**k' for brutally dumping her during the live reunion show on Sunday night. Jonny claimed Chyna 'completely f**ked' him by sleeping with Ex On The Beach star Adam Oukhellou behind his back. He also claimed the Essex beauty was texting Calum Best and TOWIE star Jon Clarke - and alleged that she admitted to only dating him to 'piggyback on the fame'. Explosive claims: Jonny has claimed Chyna 'completely f**ked' him by sleeping with Ex On The Beach star Adam Oukhellou behind his back Jonny, who whisked Chyna away for a romantic holiday to Budapest, left viewers shocked after he was aloof about their status and said they were 'keeping it open', on the Love Island reunion show. He claimed he acted coldly as just a day or two earlier, he had found out that Chyna had slept with Adam - and allegedly saw a message from him on her phone that basically read 'when am I seeing you again'. 'Obviously I was really taken aback and I was a bit pissed off,' he told The Sun. He claimed that when he confronted Chyna about the text, she was 'very honest' and admitted to 'sleeping with' Adam. Rumour has it: The 26-year-old also claimed she was texting Calum Best and TOWIE star Jon Clarke - and alleged that she admitted to only dating Jonny to 'piggyback on the fame' Oh dear: Jonny, who whisked Chyna away for a romantic holiday to Budapest, left viewers shocked after he was aloof about their status and said they were 'keeping it open', on the Love Island reunion show She also reportedly confessed to texting Calum Best and Jon Clark - who Love Island star Chloe Crowhurst just recently split with after rekindling things when she left the villa. Jonny, a director in his dad's company, also alleged that Chyna got 'very drunk' after the reunion show, and told him she was only with him to boost her profile. 'She said to me that she was only with me to the piggyback on the fame anyway. She actually said that,' he said. 'She was like: screw you, I was only in it for the fame anyway, you've done me a favour.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jonny and Chyna for comment. Allegations: He claimed he acted coldly as just a day or two earlier, he had found out that Chyna had slept with Adam (pictured)- and allegedly saw a message from him on her phone that basically read 'when am I seeing you again' Having fun? Jonny has been keeping busy since brutally dumping Chyna on the reunion show, and was pictured hanging out with a mystery woman on Wednesday night He's certainly moved on! The woman he was pictured flirting with on his Instagram story is thought to be a Russian model Jonny has been keeping busy since brutally dumping Chyna on the reunion show, and was pictured hanging out with a mystery woman thought to be Russian model on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Chyna was pictured posing cosily with Love Island star Theo Campbell, who Jonny famously came to blows with several times - and even branded a 'massive b***end'. It comes as the couple found themselves at loggerheads over their relationship live on air during the Love Island reunion show that aired on Sunday night on ITV2. Show host Caroline Flack quizzed the duo over the nature of their romance and when Jonny suggested the pair were 'keeping things open', his flame Chyna was left open-mouthed after what seemed like an on-air dumping. 'What the hell?' Chyna Ellis was left open-mouthed during Love Island's live reunion show on Sunday night as Jonny Mitchell claimed their romance was being 'left open' much to her shock Oops: The dark-haired hunk appeared to land himself in it as he played down his and Chyna's relationship status While the couple hadn't struck up a romance onscreen, sparks appeared to fly away from the cameras and Jonny and Chyna caused a stir on social media, after photos emerged of the duo kissing. Jonny had insisted on his exit that he would be 'waiting' for Tyla Carr on the outside, but appeared quick to go back on his word as he put on a flirty display with fellow islander Chyna instead. And things seemed to be heating up between them, as Jonny had whisked Chyna off to Budapest, where she claimed she'd had the 'best weekend'. Hitting back: Chyna was quick to question her beau and pointed out that he had whisked her off to Budapest for the weekend Much to her surprise, however, Jonny was keen to play down their relationship and when quizzed over his relationship status, he told Caroline: 'We're keeping it open.' A visibly shocked Chyna was quick to repsond: 'Keeping it open? What the hell?' An awkward Jonny then stuttered in response: 'We're just very good friends... we're having a bit of fun.' Chyna then pointed out that Jonny's idea of having a 'bit of fun' involved taking her overseas, prompting Jonny's Love Island nemesis Theo Campbell to remark: 'Can I be a good friend?' With tensions clearly rising between Jonny and Chyna, Caroline was quick to move on from the showdown, quipping that things had suddenly got very 'awkward' in the studio. 'We're just very good friends': Jonny tried to reason, prompting host Caroline Flack to brand the exchange 'awkward' and just move on Ouch: Tensions were clearly rising between the duo, with Jonny's nemesis Theo joking that he too wanted to be a 'good friend' of Chyna's But it seems Chyna wasn't willing to let Jonny's slip up lie and took to Snapchat branding her beau a 'pr**k'. Adding three gun emojis across a photo of Jonny, she added in a second snap: 'Can't deal.' During the reunion show, that saw all 32 islanders come together to mark the end of the series, fans got to hear what the stars of Love Island's third series had been getting up to since their exits from the villa. Montana Brown and Alex Beattie yet again denied recent rumours that they have 'secretly split' and insisted the claims were 'definitely not true'. Alex hit back: 'We're just [living] at opposite ends of the country, but we're making it work.' Not happy: Chyna had hit out at Jonny via Snapchat during the show branding him a 'pr**k' He and Montana had made their romance official while starring on the dating show, but Alex was left red-faced when he had told his girlfriend he loved her and she hadn't reciprocated his feelings. Asked if Montana had dropped the L-word yet, a frustrated Alex quickly replied: 'No not yet,' through gritted teeth before bowing his head. Tyla and Mike Thalassitis confirmed that their brief romance has come to a complete halt, with Mike focusing on enjoying himself and 'doing bits' instead and Tyla insisting she was after a man that, like her, wants to actually settle down. The final four couples, meanwhile, revealed how their relationship were faring now they were back on home soil. She made headlines when she posted an Instagram photo of herself and husband David, apparently after a 'shag'. And on Channel Seven's The Morning Show on Tuesday, Lisa Oldfield explained why she later chose to delete the image. The Real Housewives Of Sydney star and mother-of-two explained: 'Some of the mums from school got a bit weird about it!' Scroll down for video 'Some of the mums from school got a bit weird about it!' Lisa Oldfield has revealed why she deleted THAT post-sex selfie with husband David Former politician David joked: 'And I don't understand that, because they were out of frame.' The One Nation co-founded clarified he had no idea his wife had posted the intimate photo to her 30,000 followers. 'I don't know these photos go up, I saw that photo, I didn't even know it existed, I saw it for the very first time in the press and I thought it was a picture of her with my dad!' he continued. Getting people talking! She made headlines when she posted the snap to her Instagram page Lisa said she decided to post the photo because people think it is 'abnormal' that she and David don't have sex very often. 'I thought I'd just shut the punters up, a picture says a thousand words!' she said cheerfully. In March, David revealed he and Lisa hadn't been intimate January 2016 - but it is unclear if he was joking. Shocked: David clarified he had no idea Lisa posted the intimate post-coital photo On Sunday, Lisa posted the bizarre selfie, which showed herself and David cuddling up in bed. 'Gave the old bloke a sympathy shag,' Lisa wrote in the caption. 'We all know my show was better than his,' she added, suggesting Real Housewives Of Sydney is more entertaining than Hell's Kitchen. No boundaries! On Sunday, Lisa posted the selfie, showing her and David cuddling up in bed She later joked: 'To be fair, I haven't eaten in a week... and just wanted something warm inside me.' The controversial Real Housewives personality appears to be feeling confident following her recent weight loss. On Saturday, Lisa claimed to have lost 6kg in a week thanks to a traditional Chinese detox. Despite being worth more than 30 million, ex-pop star Geri Halliwell is keen to show she is not above the menial task of food shopping. Arriving in France for a family holiday, the 45-year-old former Spice Girl, who has a seven-month-old son with her husband, F1 boss Christian Horner, 43, made a pit stop at a supermarket wearing denim hot pants and scarlet shoes. As shown in this picture she posted online, her trolley was packed with water, vegetables, Stella Artois beer and toys. Only popped out for a pint of milk, she joked. Despite being worth more than 30 million, ex-pop star Geri Halliwell is keen to show she is not above the menial task of food shopping The BBC has exacerbated its gender gap with Quacks, a medical comedy set in the Victorian era, in which the leads are all male. The Tony Award-nominated actress Lydia Leonard, who has the only substantial female role, complains: Very unfortunately, it doesnt feel particularly unusual to be surrounded by men at work. The BBC2 sausage-fest stars Rupert Everett and Rory Kinnear. Lets hope Lydia got paid the same rate as her male co-stars. Incognito Kate pops to the shops Princess Diana could not go shopping without attracting attention, but yesterday morning the day after Channel 4s controversial programme about her the Duchess of Cambridge was calmly browsing in Peter Jones in Londons Sloane Square. I was in the bra department and suddenly Kate was standing next to me, says a fellow shopper. Like me she was interested in the Calvin Klein collection but couldnt find the right size. But Kate did not leave empty handed. Her people carrier and security vehicle were parked close to the collection desk at the back of the store while one of her entourage popped in to pick up her purchases. Jagger Junior's a beach boy Sir Mick Jaggers ballerina girlfriend Melanie Hamrick, 31, has no qualms about sharing pictures of their nine-month-old love child online. Sir Mick Jaggers ballerina girlfriend Melanie Hamrick, 31, has no qualms about sharing pictures of their nine-month-old love child online She posted this picture of herself smiling on a beach next to Deveraux Octavian Basil, the eighth child of 74-year-old great-grand-father Sir Mick, and captions it: Summer lovin But it seems she has found a happy medium in her attempts to protect his privacy by showing the back of his head rather than his face full on. She posted this picture of herself smiling on a beach next to Deveraux Octavian Basil, the eighth child of 74-year-old great-grand-father Sir Mick, and captions it: Summer lovin. Sophie Wessex and a 'revolting' Savile Prince Charles was such a pal of Sir Jimmy Savile that he even turned to him for marriage guidance and to check his speeches. Charless sister-in-law, the Countess of Wessex, was not so easily taken in. Savile was recruited to radio station Capital Gold when Sophie was a press officer. For Saviles welcoming photo call, it was decided to get an attractive young woman to greet him with a glass of champagne, reveals DJ David Hamilton in his book, The Golden Days Of Radio 1. Sophie led the welcoming party on a windy day. The more the wind blew up Sophies skirt, the more amorous Jimmy became, showering her arms with kisses. Before long, she could stand it no more, storming back to the press office saying to colleagues: I refuse to have any more pictures taken with that revolting man.' They've spent time together in recent weeks, sparking romance rumours. And on Monday, former Bachelorette star David Witko and The Bachelor's Leah Costa continued to fuel rumours when they went hiking together. Taking to Instagram, model David shared snaps of the pair from their adventure, where they walked the 1,000 steps Kokoda Walk in Ringwood, Victoria. Scroll down for video Sure you're just 'friends'? The Bachelorette's David Witko and The Bachelor's Leah Costa continue to fuel romance rumours as they go hiking together In the snaps, David holds the camera and poses with Leah behind him. He looked stylish wearing a black puffer jacket and a white T-shirt and cap, while Leah was dressed casually in a grey jacket and her long hair out and over her shoulders. David captioned the shot, saying he and Leah 'smashed' the track. Posing up: Taking to Instagram, model David shared snaps of the pair from their adventure, where they walked the 1,000 steps Kokoda Walk in Ringwood, Victoria. '#1000steps with @leahpcosta #smashedit #lovethehills,' David wrote. In recent weeks, they have also spent time together, despite Leah currently looking for love with Matty J on the current season of The Bachelor. Last month, David shared a shot of himself online, cosying up to Leah at Bond Nightclub in Melbourne writing: 'So great bumping into my very happy friend.' They also made an appearance together at a recent Poker With The Stars event sponsored by Pure Scot Whiskey. Close: In recent weeks, the pair have spent time together despite Leah currently looking for love with Matty J on the current season of The Bachelor Heading out: They also made an appearance together at a recent Poker With The Stars event sponsored by Pure Scot Whiskey David told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, that the pair have been friends for 'years.' 'We are good friends and get along super well, I guess we kind of have a mutual understanding, and it's nice to be her shoulder to lean on after all the negative press she has been getting,' David said. 'We basically got the same edit and because we both had months of psychological testing prior to the show I guess in a way it means we are of similar personality? And it's important for me to be there for her as she is actually a very smart, beautiful and kind person.' Her love history: Leah, 25, meanwhile, revealed this week that she's been engaged three times to three former partners Leah, 25, meanwhile, revealed this week that she's been proposed to three times by three former partners. According to Woman's Day, the former topless waiter 'sort of accepted one' of the proposals that took place in her early twenties. 'I've been proposed to by three guys,' Leah told the publication. 'I was 20, 21 and 22 years old at the time, and sort of accepted one of them.' She's the RedBalloon founder known for being a tough investor on Network Ten's Shark Tank. And in Tuesday's episode, Naomi Simson clashed with two pitchers who refused to seal the deal with her. When owners of greeting card company Cardly ask Naomi for financial support, they didn't budge over the seven per cent of business they were willing to give up. 'It's just rude!' RedBalloon founder Naomi Simson (pictured) snapped at two stubborn pitchers who refused to budge on Tuesday's episode of Shark Tank The 53-year-old reminded founders Patrick Gaskin and Tom Clift that the deal could be the perfect match. 'I hate your valuation,' she said, according to News.com.au. 'Seven per cent? That says to me, "We weren't really looking for an investor here today". 'I don't think they're here to do a deal, and I'm really pissy.' Not good enough: 'Seven per cent? That says to me, "We weren't really looking for an investor here today",' said Naomi Last chance! When the boys refused to budge, the entrepreneur sternly made one final offer 'I have 500,000 customers every year,' she continued. 'I also have a business-to-business gifting business, and that also has hundreds of thousands of possibilities of sending these cards.' When the boys refused to budge, the entrepreneur sternly made one final offer. Glamorous: Naomi is pictured at last year's Logie Awards in Melbourne 'So, if I do what I say I'm going to do, I want 15 per cent now but I want 25 per cent in six months time after I've delivered you those customers. 'I don't see why I should give you 15 years of my experience and my customers so that I can sit on the side for 10 per cent,' she raged. 'It's just... it's rude!' Shark Tank will also see a pitch become a surprise marriage proposal on Tuesday. She was named as the Style Ambassador for the Accessories Council's ACE Awards. And on Monday, Eva Longoria looked amazing as she attended the annual event, held at Cipriani in New York City. The 42-year-old was the epitome of glamour in a fitted, off-the-shoulder dress with a satin neckline. Gorgeous: On Monday, Eva Longoria, 42, looked amazing as she attended the annual event, held at Cipriani in New York City The Corpus Christi, Texas native tied her brunette locks up in a high ponytail. For make-up, the former Desperate Housewives star chose a dramatic, purple smokey eye and soft pink lip. Eva accessorized with black earrings, rings and a red bracelet. Style star: The 42-year-old was the epitome of glamour in a fitted, off-the-shoulder dress with a satin neckline For make-up, the former Desperate Housewives star chose a dramatic, purple smokey eye and soft pink lip Pals: On the carpet, Eva was joined by TV host Robert Verdi, 48 The evening honored some of the biggest names in accessories. Jewelry designer Kendra Scott took home the Breakthrough Award, while shoe line Loeffler Randall was named Brand of the Year. Fashion designer Betsey Johnson received the Style Icon Award, while Shopbop was named retailer of the year, according to the Accessories Council website. Easy updo: The Corpus Christi, Texas native tied her brunette locks up in a high ponytail Her biggest fan: Husband Jose Baston, 49, supported his wife at the event. He is pictured behind the star For her special evening, the actress was joined by husband Jose Baston, 49. The TV executive celebrated his one year anniversary to the star in May. The couple became engaged in December 2015 before marrying in Mexico just five months later. The legalisation of gay marriage in Australia has come down to a voluntary and non-binding postal vote. And on Tuesday, Channel Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys penned a heartfelt message for 9Honey, revealing her disappointment over the turn of events. Referring to her own wedding with Karl Stefanovic's younger brother Peter in April this year, the 31-year-old journalist wrote: 'Our love is equal to theirs and their commitment deserves equal celebration and respect.' 'Their love deserves equal celebration': Sylvia Jeffreys (far left), 31, reflected on her wedding to Peter Stefanovic, in a post for 9Honey on Tuesday, as she shared disappointment in Australia's stance on same-sex marriage Vocalising her disappointment, Sylvia began her emotional post: 'It's sadly and frustratingly official. Australia is in reverse and drifting further and further from the right side of history.' Commenting on parliament's decision for a voluntary and non-binding postal vote, Sylvia added: 'One of the most defining social issues of this generation will be determined by snail mail and by those who can be bothered dealing in envelopes and stamps.' Referring back to her own wedding with Channel Nine colleague Peter Stefanovic, that saw gay friends and family present, she continued: 'Our love is equal to theirs and their commitment deserves equal celebration and respect.' Heartfelt: Referring back to her own wedding with Channel Nine colleague Peter Stefanovic (pictured), that saw gay friends and family present, she wrote: 'Our love is equal to theirs and their commitment deserves equal celebration and respect' Nuptials: Sylvia wed journalist Peter in an intimate ceremony in Kangaroo Valley this past April Sylvia is not the first media personality to have shared their disappointment over Australia's stance on legalising same-sex marriage. Former Bachelor star Megan Marx, 28, took to her blog on Sunday, voicing her frustration. Pleading her case that a policy change isn't just about a legal union, the reality star began: 'So, as embarrassing as it is to say - Australia is now the only English-speaking democracy that hasn't legislated gay marriage.' Insisting that a policy change is not just about marriage, Megan went on to say: 'The legalisation of gay marriage isn't just about marriage, and this slow-roast of policy change doesn't reflect or appreciate that. Vocal: Sylvia is not the first media personality to have shared their disappointment over Australia's stance on legalising same-sex marriage. Former Bachelor star Megan Marx (pictured), 28, took to her blog on Sunday, voicing her frustration 'Gay marriage says a lot about mental health too. It says that being a sexual minority is okay, that it is not something to be ashamed of. 'It says not (to) be scared to hold your partner's hand in public or tell others your sexual preference without fear of persecution,' the Perth-native went on to say. The heartfelt posts from both Sylvia and Megan comes as Australian Parliament failed to come to a resolution on Monday, regarding same-sex marriage. Despite Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull supporting same-sex marriage, there is a stand-off within the Liberal Party. A voluntary and non-binding postal vote is scheduled to take place later this year. Joanna Krupa cut a stylish figure in a colorful strapless dress when she turned up to the celebrity flypaper restaurant Craig's on Monday night. The 38-year-old former Real Housewife Of Miami showed off quite a bit of cleavage in the ensemble, which featured layered and curved hemlines. Ambling along with her was her raffishly handsome rumored beau Nico Santucci, who'd worn a silver blazer over a black V-neck and matching black trousers. Scroll down for video Swank: Joanna Krupa cut a stylish figure in a colorful strapless dress when she turned up to the celebrity flypaper restaurant Craig's on Monday with her rumored beau Nico Santucci The onetime Dancing With The Stars contender had married Romain Zago in 2013, but E! News reported on May 8 that the pair of them separated this past December. By July 10, a report ran on TMZ claiming Joanna had filed for divorce from Romain and had referred to the union as 'irretrievably broken' in purported court documents. A report US Weekly ran this May 17 alleged she'd got a burgeoning romance with businessman Nico, and the magazine have quoted a source who's gossiped that 'Joanna and Nico are feeling it out and like each other. Theyve been hanging out.' Looking fabulous: The 38-year-old former Real Housewife Of Miami showed off quite a bit of cleavage in the ensemble, which featured layered and curved hemlines Quoth another source of Nico and Joanna: 'They've been inseparable and enjoying their time together, and they spent Mother's Day together.' In an interview Express.co.uk ran this past December, Joanna brushed off Internet sniping about her penchant for showing off her body on Instagram or in magazines. Said she: 'I'm very proud of my body, I work really hard, I workout and try to stay in shape and eat healthy. I'm super proud of it and I believe if you have it you flaunt it! No matter what shape or size you are you should feel confident.' Duo: A report US Weekly ran this May 17 alleged Joanna - who per E! News split from husband Romain Zago in December - had got a burgeoning romance with businessman Nico She's trumpeted that 'You should feel like a beautiful woman, no matter what and what I do on my Instagram is my business,' pointing out that 'It's my personal Instagram, if somebody feels like they shouldn't be looking at the photos that I'm posting then they shouldn't be following me.' Moreover, 'I'm a model, that's my background, if you look at the biggest top models in the world they've all posed super sexy and naked and in lingerie, so I just think it's part of the industry we are in.' She's conceded that 'In the past I used to get a little bit upset about certain comments from people, but I just realized these are pathetic people that sit behind a hidden desk,' the Warsaw native said defiantly. Joanna's pointed out that 'A lot of the time they don't even show their real photo on social media and they find the balls to comment on your behalf.' Lisa Vanderpump is denying an accusation that her husband Ken Todd manhandled a woman over a dispute linked to her nonprofit organization, the Vanderpump Dog Foundation. An organization named Spot Rescue, according to TMZ, said in court docs that Todd, 71, physically lashed out at a female executive. The incident is said to have occurred when the woman told the celebrity couple that Spot Rescue's policies prohibited her from providing dogs to a gala Vanderpump's foundation was putting on. Dog days: Ken Todd and Lisa Vanderpump, 56, seen here in NYC last December, are named in a lawsuit by a female executive who claimed in court docs that Todd manhandled her and stiffed her organization out of money over a fundraising gala, according to TMZ Todd pushed the woman toward a wall and threatened her, 'Do you know who I am? I will ruin your life,' Spot Rescue said in court docs, according to the outlet. Spot Rescue said in court docs it eventually came through with bringing canines to the gala, but suffered further indignity when Todd refused to cough up any of the $64,000 the gala brought in. Todd tried to leverage a payment to the organization under the condition that no legal actions were taken in connection with the alleged assault, said Spot Rescue, which has named Vanderpump's foundation in its suit, as well. The 56-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills beauty denied all wrongdoings she and her spouse are accused of in the lawsuit. Passionate about the cause: The duo was snapped at a World Dog Day event in LA last June The reality star told the outlet her spouse never put a hand on anyone. Vanderpump told the outlet that the gala was 'a beautiful event with friends who donated to the charity,' adding that Spot Rescue only asked for part of the proceeds after noticing the large amount of donations that were collected. The celebrity couple last year founded their nonprofit aiming to 'create a better world for dogs globally,' according to the foundation's website. Vanderpump and Todd have been particularly outspoken in their opposition of the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China, in which dogs are butchered and consumed. They said they're 'trying to stop the barbaric torture practices in Yulin and end the dog meat trade in Asia.' Fans got their first full look at Josh Brolin's Deadpool 2 character on Instagram Monday. And just hours later the action man was seen for the first time on set. The 49-year-old actor was pictured on the Vancouver, Canada set of Deadpool 2 on Monday. Man of action: Josh Brolin was pictured on the Vancouver, Canada set of Deadpool 2 on Monday He looked absolutely ripped while in his superhero garb for the exciting day of filming as Cable AKA Nathan Summers. Josh was not the only one wearing the costume of the mutant member of the X-Men as his stunt double was also pictured on set. A stuntwoman for co-star Zazie Beetz was also seen rocking her post-apocalyptic clothing as the character Domino. Buff: The 49-year-old actor looked absolutely ripped while in his superhero garb for the exciting day of filming as Cable AKA Nathan Summers Man of action: He rocked silver locks as he had military garb on Covered up: In between takes Josh kept warm in a robe Earlier in the day the Marvel film's leading man Ryan Reynolds got the honor of revealing the cantankerous Cable, 'a time travelling soldier' with a glowing eye and scar strewn face. The husband of Blake Lively captioned the shot of his on-screen antagonist with Wade Wilson's typical snark, writing 'We all have that one, grumpy, heavily armed Uncle from the future,' and the cheeky tags '#PremiumCable #MaximumA**hole.' Bang bang: Josh was not the only one wearing the costume of the mutant member of the X-Men as his stunt double was also pictured on set playing with a gun Action: A stuntwoman for co-star Zazie Beetz was also seen rocking her post-apocalyptic clothing as the character Domino Vroom vroom: She was also seen riding a motorbike Coming soon: It appeared to be an action-packed day on set 'The camera really does add 10 pounds': Ryan Reynolds shared a snap of the star showing off his muscles on the set of the movie on Tuesday Brolin, 50, looks nearly unrecognizable in his crime fighting get-up, showing lean-as-can-be face while shushing audiences with a single finger. Another shot posted by the actor himself showed a fully armed Cable resting a hearty firearm over his shoulder while flaunting a bionic arm and chest strapped with artillery. Curiously, the tough-as-nails character also keeps a teddy bear at his side. Vroom vroom: Ryan's stunt double was seen whizzing around the set in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday as the guys got to work once again Maximum bleep! Earlier in the day fans got their first look at Cable, with the film's leading man Ryan Reynolds calling the cantankerous time travelling soldier a 'Maximum A**hole' in his Instagram caption Soft side? Another shot showed a fully armed Cable while flaunting a bionic arm and chest strapped with artillery while the tough-as-nails character also linked a teddy bear to his side Buff Brolin! The W actor already exposed the public to his buff makeover, baring nearly all of his marble-carved figure in a black and white selfie from a few weeks back The Academy Award nominee's caption served up just as much sass as Ryan's, reading 'Now offering 25 percent off your next autopsy. #youremine #deadpool.' Brolin already exposed the public to the major physical transformation he made for the highly anticipated action film in a nearly NSFW selfie posted weeks back. Clearly proud of all of his sweat-drenched hours in the gym, the over 50 gent nearly bared all of his marble-carved figure in a black and white selfie where he seemed to be au naturale. A Marvel of acting! The W. actor (above in March) signed a four film contract as the X-Men adjacent character and will also continue playing supervillain Thanos in The Avengers films The W. actor, who is married to his former assistant Kathryn Boyd, has a four film contract as the X-Men adjacent character. Brolin is already a member of the Marvel family, playing digitally animated supervillian Thanos in The Avengers series, while also making a cameo in Guardians Of The Galaxy. Deadpool 2 is currently shooting in Toronto, Canada and is set for release June 1 2018. She and her NRL star husband George Burgess have been busy doting on baby Boston since welcoming him into the world in April. And Joanna Burgess flaunted her motherhood skills again this week, taking a 'sooky' Boston for some fresh air at Sydney's Centennial Park. The 27-year-old posted a selfie to her Instagram story on Tuesday that showed Joanna cuddling a clearly tuckered-out little boy. Parenting goals! Joanna Burgess flaunted her motherhood skills again this week, taking a 'sooky' Boston for some fresh air at Sydney's Centennial Park Wearing a flowing white sleeveless dress, and with her flaxen locks framing her face, Joanna calmly held her son who was wearing grey pyjamas and wrapped in a blanket. George rested his head angelically on his mother's chest as his body nestled comfortably into the crook of her arm. 'We have a very sooky boy today,' Joanna captioned the photo. Vitamin D: She shared a photo that showed the mother-and-daughter duo taking a stroll around Centennial Park. The fresh air seemed to perk Boston up a bit as he surveyed the scene while Joanna gently cradled his head Mr Giggles: Boston seemed in a much more chipper mood on Sunday when mum and bub spent the day on the town She then shared a second photo that showed the mother-and-daughter duo taking a stroll around Centennial Park. Joanna was wearing the same dress in the second photo, augmenting the ensemble with a pair of white Converse sneakers a and a pair of dark sunglasses. The fresh air seemed to perk Boston up a bit as he surveyed the scene while Joanna gently cradled his head. Happy as Larry: The bub smiled cheekily as he sat perched in his mother's arms as Joanna snuggled close to her progeny 'A little taste of summer today,' Joanna captioned the post. 'Took all the babies for a spin around Centennial.' Boston seemed in a much more chipper mood on Sunday when mum and bub spent the day on the town. The bub smiled cheekily as he sat perched in his mother's arms as Joanna snuggled close to her progeny. 'George junior and his constant giggles,' she captioned the sweet photo which was met with the likes of: 'what a little dude,' and: 'heart melts, look at that little smile.' Game Of Thrones was torture, as it so often is, but a new kind of torment. Weve become used to excruciating ordeals like the suffering Cersei inflicted on Ellaria (last week) or what Ramsay Bolton did to Theon (for several months). This time though it was the viewers turn. Scroll down for video Danys dragons CAN be killed, Jaime Lannister couldnt be dead, and chaos is a ladder. 8 things we learnt or didnt from Game Of Thrones Fans were given the GoT equivalent of Sophies Choice as a breathtakingly beautiful, brutal, battle saw the writers pit Jaime Lannister and his wry sidekick Bronn against the heroine Daenerys Targaryen and her dragon Drogon. It meant four of the shows most popular characters were head-to-head, in do-or-die combat. (Well so it seemed at the time.) It even also had Tyrion Lannister watching on as his new Queen and his brother waged war against each other. Talking about conflictedAnd Tyrion wasnt much better. As the four protagonists were moved around like chess pieces, each threatening an adversary or being placed in serious jeopardy of exiting the series, the swings in their fortunes (and our loyalties) became exhausting. It was exhilarating but arguably annoying too. Fans were given the GoT equivalent of Sophies Choice as a breathtakingly beautiful, brutal, battle saw the writers pit Jaime Lannister and his wry sidekick Bronn against the heroine Daenerys Targaryen and her dragon Drogon Ultimately, little was resolved, even in the grand finale. Jaime Lannister sank inexorably down into the lake but the internet still hummed about whether he had met a watery grave or would somehow live to fight another day. The weight of his armour should, logically, have made his demise inevitable. Equally, fans reasoned, a warrior as important as Jaime would surely have died by Drogon rather than by drowning. In the good old days the brilliantly clinical bloodletting bad old days of the early series - even our most loved or loathed heroines and villains were killed off regularly. Here even feeble Theon Greyjoy cheated death for the second week running when Jon Snow held a sword to his throat but didnt slit it. Overall The Spoils of War was an amazing, epic, piece of television. But if Jaime, Bronn, Dany, and her beloved beast HAVE all survived, the whole showdown was ultimately rather futile and another disappointing cop-out. Equally, fans reasoned, a warrior as important as Jaime would surely have died by Drogon rather than by drowning Here are 8 of the main lessons we learnt or didnt from the last episode. 1. Jaime Lannister couldnt be dead (probably) Was it really likely that Jaime would narrowly escape certain death from the dragons fire only to immediately perish in the lake that he had (conveniently) been pushed into? Having also (miraculously) survived the battle and plunged into the water, Bronn will surely save him. 2. The way Drogon plummeted from the sky proved Danys dragons could be killed by Qyburns scorpion spear-launcher (at least in theory) The battle of wits (and force) between Bronn and Daenerys was a case of GoT saying read it and weep Dunkirk' The battle of wits (and force) between Bronn and Daenerys was a case of GoT saying read it and weep Dunkirk. Qyburns monster spear-launcher The Scorpion knocked Drogon from the sky but the beast pulled up before (crash) landing and mustered a blast at Jaime Lannister suggesting its wounds were not fatal after all. Qyburn could claim a moral victory though. 3. Tyrion is still a Lannister at heart (occasionally) Tyrions place as Daenerys chief strategist was on shaky ground. She was not amused to hear that Tyrion had been out-manoeuvred by Cersei and Jamie. Qyburns monster spear-launcher The Scorpion knocked Drogon from the sky but the beast pulled up before (crash) landing and mustered a blast at Jaime Lannister suggesting its wounds were not fatal after all I under-estimated our enemies, Tyrion conceded. Our enemies ? Your family you mean! Enough of your clever plans! We saw where his loyalties really lay when Tyrion saw Dany swooping on her dragon towards the battleground whether Jaime was standing, and muttered: flee you idiot. If blood runs thicker than water even for him, their alliance surely cannot last. 4. Daenerys seemed more interested in Jon Snows knee than the rest of him (for now) Things between Jon Snow and Daenerys looked promising when Ser Davos asked him: What do you think of her? She has a good heart, Jon Snow offered. I under-estimated our enemies, Tyrion conceded Yes I noticed you staring at her good heart Davos quipped. On the plus side, she then asked Jon Snow whether he thought she should utilise her dragons. She didnt care much for his answer though. There was a definite frisson as he led her into the cavern full of dragonglass. There is something else I want to show you your grace, he told her. Yes. We all know what that is, we thought. Disappointingly it was the ancient cave paintings by The Children Of The Forest depicting their ancestors fighting together against the White Walkers. She seemed to beam at him as she strode towards him and purred: I will fight for you. I will fight for the North before adding the killer blow of when you bend the knee. Was it really likely that Jaime would narrowly escape certain death from the dragons fire only to immediately perish in the lake that he had (conveniently) been pushed into? Having also (miraculously) survived the battle and plunged into the water, Bronn will surely save him Unfortunately this was not a metaphor and he refused, leaving those of us who wanted to see them get together screaming: JUST BEND IT! 5. Littlefinger was up to something (although neither we nor the Starks have any idea what) Sansa was immediately alarmed when Bran told her Littlefinger had given him the cut-throat knife made of Valyrian steel once used to try and kill Bran. Why would he give you a dagger? He wouldnt give you anything unless he wanted something back, she mooted. Whether it was in the hope that Bran would murder Sansa with it, or vice versa, or someone else, was impossible to say. Bran didnt want it anyway. ILL HAVE IT! yelled Arya inevitably. The Starks were a laugh a minute (in between being miserable) 6. The Starks were losing their identity (but the significance of this is uncertain) Im not Lord Stark, Bran corrected Littlefinger, later telling Arya: Im not really Bran. Not anymore. When Arya had arrived at Winterfell and told the guards Im Arya Stark they refused to take her word for it. Ser Davos wondered how they should address Jon Stark, observing that King Jon didnt sound right. It doesnt matter, shrugged Snow, still regarding himself mainly as a bastard. 7. The Starks were a laugh a minute (in between being miserable). Do I have to call you Lady Stark now? Arya asked her sister when they were reunited. Here even feeble Theon Greyjoy cheated death for the second week running when Jon Snow held a sword to his throat but didnt slit it Yes! Sansa commanded dryly before smiling to show she had in fact and I hope youre sitting down been JOKING. Sansa then asked about her skills as a knife-wielding Ninja: who taught you how to do that? Noone, Arya answered, knowingly referring to her tutor Jaqens mantra (a man is no one). Yes, the Stark sisters were turning into The Chuckle Brothers. Bran though was way ahead of them, even when it came to comedy. I saw you at the crossroads, he told Arya enigmatically. When Arya had arrived at Winterfell and told the guards Im Arya Stark they refused to take her word for it You saw me? Arya puzzled, prompting the mumbled response from the boy who last week revealed he was the three-eyed raven and could see everything that had ever happened to everyone: I see quite a lot now Very drole! 8. Chaos is a ladder It takes something special to make Littlefinger speechless but Bran managed it. I imagine youve seen things most men wouldnt believe, Littlefinger suggested. Chaos is a ladder, the moody teenager replied simply. Discuss. She previously hinted that they had gone their separate ways, claiming they were happy 'doing their own thing'. And now Love Island's Montana Brown, 21, has confirmed she's split from hunky Alex Beattie, 22, just two weeks after exiting the Hidden Hills villa. But the reality star didn't seem to be wallowing in her relationship woes, as she was pictured in high spirits on Tuesday, stepping out for the first time following her break up announcement. Scroll down for video Brushing off her heartbreak: Montana Brown, 21, appeared in high spirits while pictured for the first time since announcing her split from her Love Island beau Alex Beattie, 22 Taking to Twitter prior to her outing, Montana announced that she and her onscreen beau had broken-up, writing: 'Alex and I have decided to split. 'Making our relationship work on the outside has been hard. He hasn't been the same since coming out of the villa. Adding: 'Despite this we are still close and I will always support him.' Alex, meanwhile, had revealed that the pair had met in person to discuss their future as a couple, deciding that it would be best for them to instead part ways. All over: The brunette beauty had confirmed their split via Twitter on Tuesday, telling fans that it has been 'hard' trying to make their relationship work And appearing to brush off her heartbreak, Montana was seen with a smile on her face, as she went about her day just 24 hours later. She cut a casually chic figure for her outing and teamed together black skinny jeans - that emphasised her slender frame - with a denim blue shirt tucked into her waistband. Montana covered up in a suede grey biker jacket and added a pair of Converse to her feet, while toting her day's essentials in a large leather stone-hued bag. Her brunette tresses fell past her shoulders in a sleek and straight style and Montana accentuated her natural beauty by opting for a subtle make-up look. Moving on: Instead of wallowing in her relationship woes, Montana was seen flashing a smile as she stepped out shortly after taking to Twitter with her sad news Fashion forward: The reality star teamed together black skinny jeans - that emphasised her slender frame - with a denim blue shirt tucked into her waistband. Stunning: Her brunette tresses fell past her shoulders in a sleek and straight style and Montana accentuated her natural beauty by opting for a subtle make-up look While the London beauty alluded that hunky Geordie Alex was at fault, while discussing their break up, he had shared his own emotional statement about the split, in which he promised to remain supportive to Montana. He shared on his Instagram story: 'Me and Montana met yesterday and have decided that it's best to call it a day with relationship with each other. 'It's been very hard on the outside to make us work how we desired. I still have strong feelings towards her and will be remaining close friends and supporting her throughout everything.' Finishing touches: Montana covered up in a suede grey biker jacket and added a pair of Converse to her feet, while toting her day's essentials in a large leather stone-hued bag Rise to fame: Montana had shot to stardom on the third series of Love Island Coming to an end: Montana appeared to blame Alex for the breakdown of their romance, sa she said: 'He hasn't been the same since coming out of the villa' Statement: Alex shared his own emotional statement about the split, in which he promised to remain supportive to Montana Coming to her aid, fans rushed Montana's Twitter to send their well wishes and urged her that 'there's plenty more fish in the sea'. One fan began: 'Awwwwh nooo!!! Well you too were both lovely in the villa hopefully you do find your man Mon There's plenty more fish in the sea.' 'So sad to hear this Mon I thought he seemed different as well when you both came out,' another chimed in. 'Just hope you're happy and keep doing you!' Before a user shared: 'Aw Montana, I'm really sorry to hear that. I loved you guys! Ignore the criticism and stay strong girl! You're beautiful inside & out'. No Love (Island) here! Explosive claims have now emerged that Montana Brown faked her feelings for Alex Beattie in the Love Island villa as part of a game plan to scoop the 50,000 Support: But coming to her aid, fans rushed Montana's Twitter to send their well wishes and urged her that 'there's plenty more fish in the sea' It was previously claimed have now emerged that Montana faked her feelings in the villa as part of a game plan to scoop the 50,000 prize fund. The couple were said to be at odds when the brunette beauty refused to post a picture of them together on social media, according to The Sun. A source told the publication: 'Montana had everyone fooled. She played a game in the villa and Alex is only beginning to realise that now. 'He watched all the other couples happily post on Instagram and begged Montana to do the same so he knew her heart was in the right place but she refused.' Alex had flooded his Instagram page with pictures of them together... up until seven days ago. Annoucement: Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Montana announced that they had broken-up, writing: 'Alex and I have decided to split Love Island, meanwhile, has kick started lucrative modelling careers for the duo. Montana is preparing to fly out to America as part of her new role as a brand ambassador for online retailer PrettyLittleThing. Following suit, Alex bagged himself a six-figure deal modelling with Boohoo. Discussing their relationship, Montana told The Sun: We are doing our thing at the moment. I dont know if we will have time or be able to do any joint shoots in the future.' Awkward: The couple were said to be at odds when the brunette beauty refused to post a picture of them together on social media, according to The Sun A source alleged: 'She played a game in the villa and Alex is only beginning to realise that now' Im really proud of him with his new modelling contract', she shared. 'Modelling something important to him and hes always had a passion for it, it just comes really naturally to him. Alex's recent personal woes come after photographers and bouncers previously claimed he was demanding 'something to keep him going' from bystanders at the reunion afterparty in London earlier this month. The reality star was reportedly desperate to get hold of 'Viagra', asking up to 10 times, while Montana was pictured leaving separately with castmate Simon Searles. 'Alex came out of Libertine by himself and started asking the snappers if they had any Viagra, he kept saying he needed something to keep himself going,' a source told The Sun on Monday. Low profile: The reality star was reportedly desperate to get hold of 'Viagra', asking up to 10 times, while Montana was pictured leaving separately with castmate Simon Searles 'He was in good spirits and just seemed like he was being a bit of a lad. No one had any so he went off to ask the bouncers And then he disappeared after that.' A video, taken by photographers, also shows onlookers joking with him, saying: 'This guy just wants to get his d**g sucked mate' An unimpressed Alex responds: 'I'll get that anyway mate but I need something to power through with'. The bystander simply suggests that he 'relax and focus', when he snaps: 'F*** off mate! Focus? You can't say that s**t.' Wandering off he mumbles: 'I'll ask the bouncers, I'll probably get f*****g chinned if i ask the bouncers but I might ask them anyway. Long time apart: During Love Island's reunion special, Montana and Alex sat down for an interview with their castmates, and denied that their romance had come to a premature end During Love Island's reunion special, Montana and Alex sat down for an interview with their castmates, and denied that their romance had come to a premature end. Speaking with host Caroline Flack, Hertfordshire-based Montana insisted that the sole factor getting in the way of them spending more time together was the distance between her Home Counties residence and Alex's Newcastle home. While Geordie lad Alex insisted that he and his girlfriend are very much together, Montana told fans she had chosen to sleep in her man's T-shirt while battling with the newfound distance between them since touching back down in the UK. According to reports, before the group interview, the duo had not seen each other since leaving Love Island in early July. Lucrative deal: Montana is preparing to fly out to America as part of her new role as a brand ambassador for online retailer PrettyLittleThing Over so soon? Alex flooded his Instagram page with pictures of them together... up until seven days ago Meanwhile in late July, the Love Island couple made a united appearance on This Morning. Alex poured his heart out to Montana on live television and claimed their relationship was really strong. He confessed: 'In my eyes, I do love the girl. The whole island thing was intense but out relationship was really strong.' But when asked by Ruth Langsford if she felt the same way about the hunk, Montana candidly revealed: 'I dont love Alex yet, no.' Two of a kind: Love Island's Tyne-Lexy Clarson and Chyna Ellis were also out and about on Tuesday as they enjoyed their girls' getaway in Marbella Looking good: Tyne-Lexy looked incredible in a white bardot crop top and a maxi skirt with a thigh high split that showed off her tanned and toned pins Two's company: The pair seemed in great spirits as they headed out on the town Chris Pratt, 38, and Anna Faris, 40, reportedly split as they couldn't have more children due to the actor's hectic work schedule. The couple announced their separation on Sunday evening following eight years of marriage, with TMZ claiming that their different family values were to blame. A source told the site that Anna wanted to have more children, but Chris 'can't juggle a growing family with his career', which sees him shoot movies all over the world, leaving home for months at a time. Scroll down for video It's over: Chris Pratt, 38, and Anna Faris, 40, reportedly split due to the actor's hectic work schedule. The couple announced their separation on Sunday amid claims that their different family values were to blame The couple share four-year-old son Jack, and were keen to stress in their split statement that they 'love him very much'. The website reports that as well as Chris not wanting to have more children in the foreseeable future there are 'other personal reasons for the split, but the way they see family in the long-term was a big factor in their decision.' MailOnline have contacted Chris and Anna's representatives for comment. Stuck in the middle: Following the shock announcement Jennifer Lawrence found herself in the middle of reports, as fans accused her of accusing the split Following the shock announcement Jennifer Lawrence found herself in the middle of reports. As the couple confirmed their separation, fans flocked to social media to bizarrely blame the actress, 26 - who starred in Passengers with Chris in 2016 - for the split. Taking to Twitter, one wrote: 'I can't believe Chris Pratt and Anna Faris are splitting up this is all Jennifer Lawrence's fault.' Proud parents: The couple share four-year-old son Jack, and were keen to stress in their split statement that they 'love him very much' Despite there being no suggestion Jennifer had any involvement in the split, another wrote: 'Jennifer Lawrence broke up Chris Pratt's marriage lol.' 'Watch chris pratt and jennifer lawrence be a thing,' another Twitter user speculated. Other fans were quick to recall the seemingly awkward exchange that Anna and Jennifer shared when embracing at the premiere of Passengers in December 2016. Though the ladies hugged it out in front of photographers, Anna appeared to have a pained expression while Lawrence kept her hands claw-like instead of fully touching her co-star's wife. Co-stars: Jennifer and Chris starred together in the 2016 sci-fi flick Passengers Awkward? Fans were quick to recall the seemingly awkward exchange that Faris, 40, and Lawrence shared when embracing at the premiere of Passengers in December 2016 Rumors swirled in 2016 that Chris and Jennifer had hooked up while filming their sci-fi disappointment Passengers. Though the claims were strongly denied by all parties involved, Anna opened up about how the rumors affected her in an interview in December 2016. 'It made me feel incredibly insecure,' she told Isla Fisher on her own podcast, Anna Faris Is Unqualified. 'Chris and I, we talk about this a lot,' she admitted. 'We grapple with a lot of the ideas of being a public couple.' 'I just remember feeling so hurt in a way that bothered me, because I didn't want to think of myself as somebody who could be affected by tabloid s***.' Saw it coming? Despite there being no suggestion Jennifer had any involvement in the split, fans flocked to social media in their droves Chris and Anna met on the set of 2007's Take Me Home Tonight, when the actor was practically unknown. They married on the island of Bali two years later in July 2009, and share a four-year-old son, Jack. 'I take pride in how great my relationship is with Chris,' Anna continued. 'But having said that, of course, in this crazy world where he's off doing movies and I'm in LA raising our child, of course I'm going to feel vulnerable, like any normal human would.' Watch this space? Fans put together the bizarre theory that Jennifer was involved in the split Embrace: Though the ladies hugged it out in front of photographers, Anna appeared to have a pained expression while Lawrence kept her hands claw-like instead of fully touching Pratt is now one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood, with leading roles in Guardians Of The Galaxy, Jurassic World, The Lego Movie and The Magnificent Seven. When asked how she deals with the rumors, Anna said 'I think it is to never respond; but she did admit 'My knee-jerk reaction was to be like 'f*ck you'. The couple announced their split in a Facebook post on Sunday night, with Chris writing: 'Anna and I are sad to announce we are legally separating. We tried hard for a long time, and were really disappointed. 'Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward. 'We still have love for each other, will always cherish our time together and continue to have the deepest respect for one another.' Claw-like: Jennifer kept her hands in an awkward position as she hugged her co-star's wife The last time Pratt featured his wife on Instagram was in May when he gushed about the actress on Mother's Day. Alongside a photo of Faris and their son, Pratt wrote: 'A big Mother's Day kiss and hug across the pond to my darling wife @annafaris and our sweet boy. I miss you both so much. I love you.' Speaking back in late April at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony, Pratt affirmed how solid his and Faris' marriage appeared to be: 'I want to thank my wife Anna, I love you. 'You've given me so much. You gave me the greatest star in the galaxy in my little boy, I love him and I love you. 'We have bonded to make this molecule that is more important to me than air or water, and without it none of this means anything to me. With every challenge, with every day, week, month, decade, we become more bonded. Passengers: Jennifer and Chris' 2016 sci-fi flick under performed given both stars' A-list standing in Hollywood (pictured December 2016) It's been suggested that the split is partially down to the couple's hectic work schedules, with Faris busy with her sitcom and various other projects and Pratt taking on huge blockbuster movies. He has spent most of this summer away in the UK and Hawaii shooting Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom; and although Faris and Jack visited him on location, Pratt's schedule would have been taxing on the family. The promotion for the major films Pratt takes on also takes him around the world for weeks at a time, with Faris needing to stay in LA to shoot her sitcom, which records at Warner Brothers studios in Burbank. 'You make me laugh like nobody else. You're very caring, and thank you for your trust and your sacrifice - and for your dedication and your heart. 'I will do my best to protect it, and in return I will give you all of those things as well. You have my heart, my dedication, my trust.' It's over: The couple (pictured on April 24) confirmed their shock marital split on Sunday Due to separate career trajectories, Pratt has openly admitted they've struggled with his increasingly demanding work schedule over the last several years. 'It doesn't hurt that I'm with somebody who's been, for longer than me, super recognizable and famous and working nonstop,' Chris told BuzzFeed in December. 'It's a lot to ask somebody to understand, or expect somebody to understand, why you have to be away for so long. But shes, like, "Dude, I get it, of course you have to go."' And back in 2015, the Guardians of the Galaxy heartthrob defended that the globetrotting working streak would ultimately lead to 'the gravy years.' 'The way we work it out is we just take at least one moment every day to be present with one another,' Chris gushed to ET with Anna by his side. 'Whether or not we're in the same room, or the same state, or even the same country, we check in, you know?' Jennifer has been dating director Darren Aronofsky, 48, for almost one year. Heartbreaking: Pratt, 38, shared the news on his Facebook and Twitter accounts on Sunday Back in 2015 rumors were sparked by tabloid claims Anna was worried Pratt might cheat on her with Lawrence, his co-star in the film Passengers. 'This has been blindsiding to us. We have an incredible relationship. It has been weirdly stinging,' she told Us Weekly at the time. The happily married actress, who stars in the CBS comedy Mom, said the experience has given her a fresh perspective of what it's like living in the glare of fame. 'I had always kind of believed that part of the rumors of celebrity couples were sort of true because they had never been part of my life. I was like, 'Oh, maybe there's a kernel of truth to that,'' Faris said. 'It's been a little devastating because for us, it's like, 'What the heck?'' she explained. Roxy Jacenko may live a lavish lifestyle but when it comes to feeding her family, it looks like meals can sometimes be more simple affairs. Posting to her son Hunter Curtis' Instagram account on Tuesday, Roxy, 37, revealed she had served the three-year-old porridge for dinner. In the adorable video, the youngster can be seen happily munching down on the traditionally-breakfast offering. 'Yum, yum': Taking to three-year-old Hunter Curtis' (pictured) Instagram account on Tuesday, Roxy Jacenko revealed she had served her son porridge for dinner 'It's porridge, it's oats!' the youngster exclaimed, before adding: 'Yum, yum' Roxy appeared to have added a caption alongside the footage, acting in her son's voice. 'Yep. This is what she's dished up for dinner. Best I say yum yum or she'll drop her bundle. Someone offer cooking classes PLEASE.' the caption read. 'Someone offer cooking classes PLEASE': Roxy appeared to joke in the caption that she needs help in the kitchen The PR queen suffered a horror year in 2016 as she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her husband Oliver Curtis was sent to jail for insider trading. Since the convicted criminal's release in June, Roxy has appeared more loved-up than ever as she enjoys numerous outings with her family - which also includes five-year-old daughter Pixie. Earlier this week, the blonde publicist shared a snap of herself giving her partner a smooch on the cheek. And it seemed to be a family affair, with Pixie and Hunter joining mum and dad for the cafe meal. Pucker up! The PR queen shared a snap of herself giving husband Oliver (pictured) a kiss on the cheek earlier this week The Sweaty Betty founder previously admitted to Daily Mail Australia that her children's well being will always be her top priority - even if her marriage to Oliver is rocky. 'Even if things weren't great between he and I, my duty is to make sure they're happy, she explained. 'I've said it since I had Pixie: no matter how hard things get as a parent you have to forgo your own happiness in a sense to make sure your children are happy.' After finally going public with their relationship, they had enjoyed a romantic break in Portugal together at the beginning of August. And as Kate Wright shared a sizzling bikini throwback from her time overseas with her former footballer beau, her pal Chloe Sims has revealed that she is totally smitten with Rio. The TOWIE star took to her column with Star magazine to update fans on Kate's romance, penning: 'It's nice to see her in love.' Scroll down for video 'It's so nice to see her in love': Chloe Sims has revealed that her former TOWIE co-star Kate Wright, 26, is smitten with her former footballer beau Rio Ferdinand Chloe informed readers that she had spoke to Kate - who chose to quit The Only Way Is Essex earlier this year - prior to her jetting off with Rio and received an update on the duo's blossoming romance. The mother-of-one revealed: 'I caught up with Kate Wright over FaceTime before she went on holiday with Rio Ferdinand and she seems really happy and positive.' Wishing them 'luck' as their relationship goes from strength to strength, Chloe added: 'They look so loved-up, don't they?' Blossoming: After months of speculation, the blonde beauty and Rio have finally gone public with their romance and jetted to Portugal together at the start of August for their first romantic break 'She's really happy': Taking to her column with Star magazine, Chloe revealed: 'I caught up with Kate Wright over FaceTime before she went on holiday with Rio Ferdinand and she seems really happy and positive' Chloe's comments come as Kate appeared to be pining after her break with her man. The reality star took to Instagram on Tuesday with a sizzling snap of her in a leopard print bikini, flaunting her incredible figure. She displayed her enviable curves in the daring design and highlighted her ample assets in the risque two-piece, with purple strap detailing nestling around her chest. Kate shared the shot with her 670,000 followers and continued to wow her fans as she teamed her skimpy ensemble with a pair of matching bikini bottoms - which were worn high over her slender hips. Going for gold: Kate Wright, 26, continued to make her social media followers envious of her incredible curves as she shared another sizzling bikini snap on her Instagram on Wednesday Displaying her lean limbs in the idyllic snap, Kate made sure she drew attention to her taut stomach in the photo captioned: 'Missing the sun'. The throwback snap comes after she posed up a storm during her European break with Rio, documenting her endless array of saucy swimwear on the photo-sharing site. In one particular snap, she exhibited her jaw-dropping toned waist in a sultry gold bikini while kneeling on a poolside cabana. Her candid social media appearance comes after her beau Rio took to Instagram during their trip to hit back at those who had criticised his parenting, after pictures emerged of the couple holidaying with his children. He shared a text snapshot on the photo-sharing app, reading: 'There are no perfect parents, and there are no perfect children, but there are plenty of perfect moments along the way.' Red hot! Kate was sure to let her incredible physique command attention as she slipped into a vibrant red bikini for a sizzling selfie on Instagram on Monday Every day is bikini day: Kate has been showcases her striking curves over recent days in an array of swimwear during the breakaway Hitting back: Rio took to Instagram last week to hit back at critics of his parenting, after snapshots emerged of the couple holidaying together Doting dad Rio captioned the image: 'I just wish happiness for my kids from now... the last couple of years they have seen too much pain. Creating great memories for them going forward is the aim.' The pair have been linked since January but have largely remained tight-lipped over their relationship, before confirming their romance with a sweet day out with his daughter Tia earlier this month. Now it seems the romance is heating up, as Rio cosied up to the blonde beauty in a snap as they hit the town where Kate looked a vision earlier in the week. Sensational: Kate flashed her incredibly toned physique in a scanty selfie that teased a slither of underboob during the romantic break Hitting the town: Now it seems the romance is heating up, as Rio cosied up to the blonde beauty in a snap as they hit the town where Kate looked a vision earlier in the week At the beginning of the month, Kate - who was previously in a romance with TOWIE's Dan Edgar - was seen on a rare date night with her boyfriend at the upscale sushi restaurant Roka in Canary Wharf. A source told The Sun: 'They looked very comfortable, like a couple whove known each other a while. Rio looked quite pensive, and very conscious of looking after his daughter and Kate was helping. Rio is currently mourning following the shock death of his mother to cancer - who had helped him through the death of his wife Rebecca, also from cancer in 2015. The TOWIE star also raced in the 5km Race for Life in London's Hyde Park alongside her other half's sibling while wearing pink vests which featured a picture of Janice. New love: A source told The Sun: 'They looked very comfortable, like a couple whove known each other a while. Rio looked quite pensive, and very conscious of looking after his daughter and Kate was helping' Documenting the charitable cause on Instagram, Sian shared a short clip of her and the reality starlet walking while holding onto a purple flower as they helped raise vital funds for the worthwhile cause. Rio's younger sister Sian opened up on her Instagram and revealed her mother's tragic passing was her inspiration for signing up to take part in the race - which fund raises money towards beating all 200 types of cancer affecting both men and women. She wrote: 'As I write this message a tear drops down, mummy the hardest thing Ive ever done in my 24years of living is having to say goodnight to you.. holding your hand kissing your cheek as you took your last breath was a heartache Ill never forget, but to know your not in any pain or suffering will be the biggest relief.' Advertisement They have switched their usual haunts of Essex for the sunnier climes of Marbella in order to kick-start filming for the new series of the ITVBe reality series. And leading the glamour among the TOWIE girls on Tuesday, Chloe Sims looked sensational in a pillar box red swimsuit that drew attention to her very buxom bust. The blonde beauty was joined by show newcomer Ruby Lacey who dazzled in a daring emerald green design, while Georgia Kousoulou showcased her phenomenal pins in a Barbie-inspired all-in-one. Scroll down for video 'Blondes do have more fun': Chloe Sims looked sensational in a busty pillar box red swimsuit while show newcomer Ruby Lacey dazzled in a daring emerald green design and Georgia Kousoulou showcased her phenomenal pins out in Marbella on Tuesday Mother-of-one Chloe ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out in her show-stopping beach attire that included a statement pink and red striped hat that boasted an eye-popping over-sized rim. She appeared to be channeling her inner Pamela Anderson in her daring red swimsuit - that was fit for a scene in Baywatch - and gave onlookers a good glimpse at her plentiful cleavage, thanks to its perilously low-cut neckline. Chloe donned a funky paired of printed shorts atop her swimsuit and added a dramatic stone grey kimono to her outfit. It reached down to the floor, hiding the white flip flops she had been sporting on her feet, and featured ruched floaty sleeves that gave her ensemble an ethereal frame. Show-stopped: Mother-of-one Chloe ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out in her show-stopping beach attire that included a statement pink and red striped hat that boasted an eye-popping over-sized rim Buxom: She appeared to be channeling her inner Pamela Anderson in her daring red swimsuit - that was fit for a scene in Baywatch - and gave onlookers a good glimpse at her plentiful bust Stunning: The reality star's swimsuit made for a very sultry display thanks to its high-rise cut sides and perilously plunging neckine Covering up: Chloe donned a floor-length stone grey dramatic kimono, along with a pair of funky printed shorts atop her swimsuit Chloe wore her peroxide blonde locks down in a sleek and straight style and wasn't without her usual war paint, as she sported an alluring make-up look for her jaunt in the sunshine overseas. Like Chloe, TOWIE newcomer Ruby Lacey made sure to command attention for her first time filming, as she stepped out wearing an emerald green swimsuit that came complete with a sultry lace-up design. Her addition to The Only Way Is Essex had been confirmed by a spokesperson for ITV prior to Ruby touching down in Marbella. The hair extensions professional is best pals with Georgia Kousoulou and joining her co-stars in the Spanish party resort, Ruby definitely seemed like she was already fitting in. Her gorgeous pool getup flashed a hint of sideboob, thanks to its low-cut sides, and stole a look at her ample assets through its lattice front. Catching the eye: Newbie Ruby stunned in a revealing emerald green lace-up swimsuit All eyes on her: She made sure to command attention for her first time filming as she emerged poolside in towering studded heels Beautiful: The hair extensions professional is best pals with Georgia Kousoulou and joining her co-stars in the Spanish party resort, Ruby definitely seemed like she was already fitting in with her perfectly coiffed locks and Essex glam Clearly oozing body confidence, Ruby wasn't afraid to don the daringly cut swimsuit with pride - even though its high-rise sides almost left a little too much on display. She covered up with an over-sized sheer kimono in a matching shade to her swimsuit and added some height to her ensemble with a pair of studded heels. Ruby left her golden tresses to fall past her shoulders in tousled curls and finished off her outfit with large gold hoop earrings and a slick of nude pink lipgloss. She won't be the only new face on set of TOWIE this time round, with her and Georgia's close pal Maddie Hooper also set to make an appearance. Making their debut: She was joined by fellow newcomer Maddie Hooper who cut a demure figure in a white lacy design Smile! Maddie - who seemed in high spirits while filming - looked sensational in a demure white swimsuit that featured a sheer lace skirt that sheathed her legs fro the waist down Maddie - who seemed in high spirits while filming - looked sensational in a demure white swimsuit that featured a sheer lace skirt that sheathed her legs fro the waist down. A source close to Ruby and Maddie told The Sun: 'Georgia has become one of the most popular Towie girls ever - she is well-loved with Towie fans and bosses wanted to bring her some mates onto the show. 'Viewers can look forward to seeing a lot more of Georgia and her friends this series.' Out in Marbella, Georgia certainly appeared to be taking centre stage as she turned heads poolside. Best pals: The girls are said to be close friends with Georgia, with their addition to the show being confirmed prior to the cast flying to Marbella Turning heads: Georgia made sure she was centre of attention with her fun-loving poolside attire that she teamed with pink tinted aviator shades Casually chic: The blonde beauty shunned her usually provocative beach ensembles for a fun-loving Barbie inspired swimsuit that had the slogan, 'Blondes do have more fun' emblazoned across it in white lettering Missing her beau? Georgia's co-star boyfriend Tommy Mallet didn't appear to be joining for her pool day, despite currently filming out in Marbella Wow factor: It still, however, stole a look at her ample assets, but it was Georgia's bronzed and lengthy legs that garnered attention The blonde beauty shunned her usually provocative beach ensembles for a fun-loving Barbie inspired swimsuit that had the slogan, 'Blondes do have more fun' emblazoned across it in white lettering. It still, however, stole a look at her ample assets, but it was Georgia's bronzed and lengthy legs that garnered attention, as she strutted over to her reality star pals in her metallic silver sliders. Sporting pink tinted aviators over her flawlessly made up face, Georgia wore her locks in a half-up, half-down style and toted her essentials in a holiday-inspired straw clutch. Girls only: Close behind Georgia was another of her besties, Amber Dowding, who appeared to be flying solo for her pool day with the girls and without her onscreen beau Chris Clark Gorgeous: She dazzled in a purple and pink printed swimsuit that boasted a flattering cut-in neckline and dainty cross-over strap detailing at the back Bronzed: Amber already appeared to be sporting an impressive golden glow as she struck a sultry pose while clutching onto her chic large shades Peachy: Her swimsuit flashed a look at the inking she has tattooed onto her side just above her hips, along with her pert derriere Ditching her heels: Opting to leave her skyscrapers at her home for her pool jaunt, Amber sported a casual pair of black flip flops Close behind Georgia was another of her besties, Amber Dowding, who appeared to be flying solo for her pool day with the girls and without her onscreen beau Chris Clark. She dazzled in a purple and pink printed swimsuit that boasted a flattering cut-in neckline and dainty cross-over strap detailing at the back. Ditching her skyscrapers for black flip flops instead, Amber showcased her already impressive golden glow in her swimwear, that flashed a look at the inking she has tattooed onto her side just above her hips, along with her pert derriere. Pink lady: Yazmin Oukhellou, meanwhile, ditched the trend for a one piece and opted for a pastel pink bikini that was embellished with jewelled detailing Strike a pose: She was seen parading her enviable frame and killer abs in the scanty two-piece Confident: Yazmin stepped out flaunting the results of her latest nose job, after undergoing the knife for rhinoplasty surgery following breaking her nose Overlooked: Although her surgery results seemed to be overshadowed by Yazmin's overtly revealing bikini top that included a sultry large cut-out around the bust Here come the girls! Bringing the Essex glamour to Marbella, the female stars of TOWIE were pulling out all the stops when it came to their holiday wardrobes Yazmin Oukhellou, meanwhile, ditched the trend for a one piece and opted for a pastel pink bikini that was embellished with jewelled detailing. Its bikini top included a sultry large cut-out around the bust, while its matching bottoms tied together in bows at the reality beauty's hips. Parading her incredibly toned stomach, along with her slender legs, Yazmin - who is dating Danielle Armstrong's ex-beau James Lock - showcased the results of her recent nose job, having gone under the knife to correct her nose following a previous breakage. She wasn't the only one to buck the trend, as Lauren Pope chose to forgo her swimwear altogether and step out in a well put-together outfit instead. Double trouble: Aspiring country singer Megan McKenna, 24, showcased her tanned legs in a flirty floral minidress as she joined newbie Amber, also 24 Chic: Megan looked uncharacteristically demure, rocking a cornflower-blue wrap dress with a ruffled hemline Roar! Lauren Pope, meanwhile, appeared to buck the swimwear trend and stepped out in a black minuscule crop top and jazzy leopard print trousers Saucy: Despite forgoing her bikini, Lauren still managed to steal a look at her incredibly gym-honed physique Ab-tastic: Her crop top tied in a knot just underneath her bust, leaving the DJ's washboard stomach on display Back at it: Lauren has re-joined TOWIE after first quitting in 2015, after having a 'drunken meeting' with best pal Chloe and producers Scarlet siren: Megan's best friend Amber Turner was hot on her heels, upstaging the reality star in a coral lace playsuit with a plunging neckline Lovely in lace: The Only Way Is Essex new girl looked summery in the feminine one-piece, which she teamed with metallic towering espadrille wedges While she may have favoured clothing, Lauren still made sure to flaunt her svelte gym-honed physique, teaming together a minuscule black crop top and jazzy leopard print palazzo trousers. As she reunite with her pal Chloe in the sunshine, all eyes were undoubtedly on the DJ's killer abs that had been left firmly on view. Lauren appeared in good spirits as she set about making her return to The Only Way Is Essex, after quitting the show back in 2015. Now, Lauren has found herself against the cast once more and has Chloe to thank for her re-addition. Sun-seekers: The cast are currently filming for the show's 21st series, with it kicking off with their annual trip to Marbs Relaxed: And the girls seemed to be loving their new surroundings, having escaped the confines of Essex, as the cameras started rolling Taking a break: Georgia was seen re-adjusting her swimsuit as she and her co-stars took a moment to themselves during filming the latest scenes Day trip: Chloe was seen clambering into a safari jeep as she joined her co-stars on a safari in Malaga Off we go! Chloe had been joined by Lauren, Gemma Collins, Bobby Norris and Dan Edgar Ready to go: As Chloe prepared to get herself settled into the gym, Gemma was seen touching up her make-up with a compact mirror in the background Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, she revealed: 'I had a drunken night out and I bumped into Chloe Sims and she was with a couple of TOWIE producers. 'Our meeting was basically drinking cocktails all day and in my tipsy state I agreed to go back!' The girls had been caught frolicking in the desirable temperatures around the pool, before some of the group headed out on a safari trip overseas. Chloe was seen climbing into a safari truck, with the cameras capturing every moment along the way during the group activity. Joining Chloe had been Lauren, along with Gemma Collins who was clad in a yellow closed kimono that featured an elasticated waist framed by a jewelled buckle, before billowing out into a leopard print skirt around her legs. Glammed up! Gemma Collins who was clad in a yellow closed kimono that featured an elasticated waist framed by a jewelled buckle, before billowing out into a leopard print skirt around her legs for the safari Beaming: She appeared to be in high spirits ahead of the group activity in the sunshine Looking good: Yazmin later rocked a second outfit, slipping into a black bikini with sexy mesh insets teamed with towering studded wedges Pucker up: She looked smitten as she shared a cheeky kiss with boyfriend James Lock Double trouble: The pair seemed to only have eyes for each other, as they wrapped their arms around each other while strolling along She was clad in a yellow closed kimono that featured an elasticated waist framed by a jewelled buckle, before billowing out into a leopard print skirt around her legs. Meanwhile, the boys put on a dapper show with Bobby Norris cutting a stylish figure in a satin tiger-printed two-piece. He was joined by a suave-looking Dan Edgar who headed out sporting a khaki green polo top and stone-hued tailored shorts, along with tortoiseshell framed sunglasses. Say it in stripes! Courtney Green looked sweet and summery in a pink and white two-piece and headscarf Come here, you! She seemed to be in a playful mood as she wrapped her arms around boyfriend Miles Here come the boys! Bobby Norris and Dan Edgar headed out in suave ensembles, while Mike Hassini seized the opportunity to parade his muscular physique as he ditched the trip to head poolside Stylish scenes: Bobby Norris cut a chic figure in a satin tiger-printed two-piece, while Dan opted for a cool and casual getup that he teamed with beige trainers Here come the boys: Mike Hassini, Pete Wicks, James Lock made quite the entrance as they sauntered through the pool party Mike Hassini, meanwhile, appeared shirtless showing off that tattoo he has etched across his chest, along with his muscular body. The Essex lad donned a teeny pair of polka dot shorts and shades as he made an appearance in Marbella, after rejoining the TOWIE cast following a suspension. His re-addition had been confirmed last month, after Mike had been taking an extended break from the show, as he was arrested for drink driving and cocaine possession. The reality star pleaded guilty to the charges in court and had vowed to change his ways, prompting show bosses to reinstate him on The Only Way Is Essex, according to The Sun. He's back: Mike's re-addition had been confirmed last month, after Mike had been taking an extended break from the show, as he was arrested for drink driving and cocaine possession Changed man: The reality star pleaded guilty to the charges in court and had vowed to change his ways, prompting show bosses to reinstate him on The Only Way Is Essex, according to The Sun Beach stud: Clearly enjoying being back in the throes of filming, Mike was seen putting on a smouldering display as he took a dip in the ocean, before showering off the salt water in a pair of lemon yellow swimming shorts Cooling off: Mike was pictured taking a dip to escape the climbing temperatures in Spain A source told the paper: 'The show is happy to have him back and hopes he can continue to prove hes a changed man.' Clearly enjoying being back in the throes of filming, Mike was seen putting on a smouldering display as he took a dip in the ocean, before showering off the salt water in a pair of lemon yellow swimming shorts. Meanwhile, the cast 's day out in the desirable Spanish temperatures came after they had showcased their stunning Marbella wardrobes for their first night out in their favourite holiday destination. The pirate's back! Pete Wicks showed off his trademark unruly locks and tattooed chest as he made his way to the party Cutting a suave figure: The hunk rocked a printed short-sleeved shirt and woven leather black sandals Having a whale of a time: Amber seemed to be in great spirits as she larked around in a pair of tiny hotpants But first, let me take a selfie: The blonde beauty beamed as she posed with her camera And pulling out all the stops had been Yazmin who led the style stakes in a skintight white ribbed dress as she stepped out for dinner with her fellow castmates. The stunner teased at her bust with the plunging neckline of the dress, while ensuring her toned pins were also on display with its skimpy thigh-skimming length. She carried her belongings in a dazzling metallic threaded cream handbag, and added height to her petite frame with a pair of perspex block heels. She allowed her brunette tresses to fall over her shoulders in a sleek style, and kept the focus fully on her newly enhanced visage with minimal make up. Kicking off another series! Meanwhile, the girls day of frolicking in the desirable temperatures came after they had showcased their stunning Marbella wardrobes for their first night out in their favourite holiday destination Work it: Brimming with confidence, Yazmin didn't go unnoticed as she clad her slender frame in a skintight white ribbed dress as she stepped out for dinner with her fellow castmates New look: The beauty applied highlighter over her cheeks, drawing attention to her new nose, and applied false lashes to make her peepers flutter Before and after: The Essex native explained she decided to have a nose job (R) after she broke her nose (L) The beauty applied highlighter over her cheeks, drawing attention to her new nose, and applied false lashes to make her peepers flutter. Famed for her sizzling gym-honed posterior, Yazmin turned to display her rear in all its glory in the revealing white frock. Earlier in the week, the beautiful brunette sent pulses racing in a glittering ivory and gold bondage-style bikini which showcased her ample and pert assets thanks to the garment's racy cage top. Pert posterior: Famed for her sizzling gym-honed posterior, Yazmin turned to display her rear in all its glory in the revealing white frock New look: Yazmin looked the picture of confidence as she showed off her new nose while filming for the reality show's new series in Marbella on Monday Revealing an envy inducing midriff and abs, the reality star also drew attention to her deeply tanned and shapely pins in the matching snakeskin effect bikini bottoms which hugged her curves and flashed her perfectly peachy posterior. Clearly content with her nose job, the swimwear brand owner struck a series of smouldering poses in her vertiginous wedge sandals, pouting with aplomb as she swept her bouncy brunette locks over her shoulders. Bringing a touch of Essex glamour to the grassy knoll the star accentuated her peepers with metallic eyeshadow, lashings of liner and false lashes with coral lipgloss on her full pout. Cheeky: Revealing an envy inducing midriff and abs, the reality star also drew attention to her deeply tanned and shapely pins in the matching snakeskin effect bikini bottoms which hugged her curves and flashed her perfectly peachy posterior Confident: Clearly content with her nose job, the swimwear brand owner struck a series of smouldering poses in her vertiginous wedge sandals, pouting with aplomb as she swept her bouncy brunette locks over her shoulders Keeping her accessories minimal, she wore a pearl bracelet and a glittering gold watch. In recent weeks, Yazmin was pictured leaving a clinic in Turkey covered in bandages following her cosmetic surgery. And last week she put the results of her recent nose job on display in a candid Instagram post. The star posed up a storm after she peeled off the wraps for the first time to debut her new look on social media. 'So the cat is finally out of the bag,' Yazmin captioned the shot. I can confirm that I had a rhinoplasty... It has only been 2 weeks and I can already see the results are going to be amazing.' Wow factor: Bringing a touch of Essex glamour to the grassy knoll the star accentuated her peepers with metallic eyeshadow, lashings of liner and false lashes with coral lipgloss on her full pout The Essex native enthused about how 'amazing' the results of her rhinoplasty were going to be after decided to get the plastic surgery following an accident which left her with a broken nose. She added: 'I had a previous broken nose and deviated septum so surgery was the only option for me. I am so glad I did it as I was nervous at first but so happy that I can now breathe properly and that the small bump has gone.' But James Lock's girlfriend explained she wasn't encouraging people to have surgery 'As I have stated before in previous posts I am NOT telling people to run out and have cosmetic surgery due to vanity,' she wrote. 'I am saying that if you want to get surgery, have been thinking about it for a long time and like me I had no other option then people should feel comfortable to and feel they won't be judged. Leggy: The star also sported a metallic gold leaf design down the side of her visage New kid on the block: Yazmin posed up with Essex newbie Ruby Lacey who looked glamorous in a glittering gold cover up 'This is the reason I have decided to be so open about it and not lie like others have as it's my body and my choice and people need to stop judging others choices, shaming body's and appearances and just get on doing you.' Yazmin has been dating co-star James, 30, for nine months, prior to which he was previously in a long-term romance with fellow TOWIE star Danielle Armstrong. Yazmin has joined the rest of the cast as filming on the show's eagerly awaited new series begins. The cast will see the addition of Georgia Kousoulou's pals Ruby Lacey and Maddie Hooper along with the return of favourites Mario Falcone, Lauren Pope and James 'Arg' Argent. Surgery: But James Lock's girlfriend explained she wasn't encouraging people to have surgery 'As I have stated before in previous posts I am NOT telling people to run out and have cosmetic surgery due to vanity,' she wrote Elon Musk, 46, has confirmed his split from Amber Heard, 31, but hasn't ruled out reuniting. The Tesla CEO made the announcement on his ex-girlfriend's Instagram page on Monday, but hinted a future romance could be on the cards. Writing under a picture Amber posted on her Instagram page, he shared: 'Btw, just to clear up some of the press storm this weekend, although Amber and I did break up, we are still friends, remain close and love one another.' Scroll down for video Reconciling? Elon Musk, 46, has confirmed his split from Amber Heard, 31, but hasn't ruled out reuniting. The Tesla CEO made the announcement on his ex-girlfriend's Instagram page on Monday, but hinted a future romance could be on the cards He continued: 'Long distance relationship when both partners have intense work obligations are always difficult, but who knows what the future holds.' The snap, which saw Amber emulate The Little Mermaid by running a fork through her hair in place of a comb, also warranted a 'V cute' comment from the billionaire. Amber was said to be is devastated after the tech tycoon Elon Musk ended their year-long romance. Single lady: Amber - whose divorce from Johnny was finalised in January 2017 - is now believed to be single again following her split from Elon Cute: Elon commented on Amber's snap emulating The Little Mermaid by running a fork through her hair in place of a comb A source told The Mail on Sunday: Its all over between Amber and Elon and shes devastated. It was his decision. He ended it a week ago. Hed heard certain things about her behaviour that didnt sit well with him. 'Amber can be very manipulative and selfish. Elons back in LA while shes licking her wounds in Australia.' Speaking out: Writing under a picture Amber posted on her Instagram page, Elon explained there were no hard feelings between the pair Elon, worth a reported 12 billion, made his first fortune as co-founder of online service PayPal. The creator of electric car giant Tesla and private space company SpaceX, he was spotted with Heard in Australia in April where she is filming the 100 million superhero movie Aquaman and was said to have put his private jet at her disposal. Their romance began shortly after South African-born Elon divorced British actress Talulah Riley for a second time last year. Cute couple: Amber and Elon dated for a year. Their romance began shortly after South African-born Musk divorced British actress Talulah Riley for a second time last year As their relationship struck up, Amber was still recovering from what she called a toxic split with Johnny Depp. Her lawyers accused the actor of hitting her and subjecting her to repeated abuse throughout their 15-month marriage, claims he denied. Amber received 5.3 million from the divorce which she vowed to give to charity. A spokesman for Elon, who has five sons from his first marriage to Canadian writer Justine Musk, declined to comment. On Tuesday's episode of Yummy Mummies, Lorinska Merrington faced her 'worst nightmare,' breastfeeding in public. As she enjoyed a coffee date with Rachel Watts her baby began to cry from hunger. 'Oh, god. I don't have the milk. She's on the boob. What do I do?' Lorinska cried out, to which Rachel suggested she simply breastfeed in public. SCared! On Tuesday's episode of Yummy Mummies, Lorinska Merrington faced her 'worst nightmare,' breastfeeding in public Feeding time: 'Oh, god. I don't have the milk. She's on the boob. What do I do?' Lorinska cried out, to which Rachel suggested she simply breastfeed in public 'No way! Look, everyone's staring. This cafe is in the middle of a shopping mall. It's not, like, hidden. It's, like, open. Open for everyone to see,' she said. Lorinska then revealed she had never breastfed in public before. 'I need to breastfeed in public. My worst fear ever. Well, I wouldn't know where to begin,' she complained. Feed her!'I need to breastfeed in public. My worst fear ever. Well, I wouldn't know where to begin,' she complained Hiding under a sheath, the blonde finally managed to do the deed and was proud of her achievement. Later in the episode, Lorinska told Margherita Di Geronimo about her breastfeeding experience. 'I can't believe Lorinska's been breastfeeding in public. I really thought Lorinska had more class,' she said. Confession: Lorinska then revealed she had never breastfed in public before She did it! Hiding under a sheath, the blonde finally managed to do the deed and was proud of her achievement Later, Maria decided to piece the ears of her baby Valentina, because she 'won't remember the pain anyway'. Maria's mum Margherita threw a party for her 60th birthday, during which she dressed up as Marilyn Monroe, and mimed the classic song Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend. 'The show-stopper begins with a Hollywood parade. Us DiGeronimos, we don't do anything by halves. We do it all over the top or nothing. So we're giving you the best,' she said. Her husband Joe then surprised her with a brand new Mercedes Benz car which has a license plate that her features her initials. Performing! Maria's mum Margherita threw a party for her 60th birthday, during which she dressed up as Marilyn Monroe, and mimed the classic song Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend Big do: 'The show-stopper begins with a Hollywood parade. Us DiGeronimos, we don't do anything by halves. We do it all over the top or nothing. So we're giving you the best,' she said He also gave her a stunning diamond ring, to which the grandmother said: 'Thirty years later, I get my push present'. During the party, Maria's boyfriend Carlos asked her father Joe for his blessing to propose, and he quickly agreed. 'Carlos wants to marry Maria. Oh, my gosh. Finally. Oh, that's lovely, Carlos!' Margherita said when she found out. Read to wed: During the party, Maria's boyfriend Carlos asked her father Joe for his blessing to propose, and he quickly agreed Good news: 'Carlos wants to marry Maria. Oh, my gosh. Finally. Oh, that's lovely, Carlos!' Margherita said when she found out Maria went ahead with her plan to pierce Valentina's ears even though the baby screamed in pain. 'That little girl of mine is gonna sparkle and shine,' Maria proclaimed, before Carlos also decided to get both his ears pierced. Marian then went on a mission to find diamond earrings for Valentina and after not finding a pair that are 'big enough' she selects a $3500 pair from Louis Vuitton. Pain: Maria went ahead with her plan to pierce Valentina's ears even though the baby screamed in pain. Joining in: 'That little girl of mine is gonna sparkle and shine,' Maria proclaimed, before Carlos also decided to get both his ears pierced Fancy: Marian then went on a mission to find diamond earrings for Valentina and after not finding a pair that are 'big enough' she selects a $3500 pair from Louis Vuitton Lorinska and Rachel took their babies to a baby modelling casting and Harvey threw up on a blanket. Maria and Margherita crashed the casting much to the upset of Lorinska and Rachel. Jane Scandizzo goes into labour and once at the hospital, she complained that she had not yet had her regrowth dyed. 'I can't believe I did this naturally last time. As soon as you stand up, you get pain again,' she said. She added: 'Oh my god. The pain is so intense. The baby's head is down there and it is hurting so much. Ow. I've got back pain, arm pain, leg pain, screw it. My whole body is in pain.' Fat stab: During a ladies lunch, Maria and Lorinska have a spat when Maria suggested perhaps she didn't need any carbs Jane gave birth to a son two weeks early and struggled to choose a name. During a ladies lunch, Maria and Lorinska have a spat when Maria suggested perhaps she didn't need any carbs. 'Are you taking a stab at my weight?' she asked and Maria replied, 'I am'. 'Who in their right minds takes a stab at someone's weight, after having a baby four months ago. Like, what kind of woman does that?' Lorinska asks. During the lunch Rachel got a call and found out her baby Harvey won a modelling gig. Winner! During the lunch Rachel got a call They had to overcome an obstacle in their relationship when he discovered she was the mother of Kylie's killer, Clayton Hibbs. And David Platt and Shona Ramsey's reunion appears to go further in the latest episode of Coronation Street - as he leaps to her defence to protect her from her evil ex boyfriend. David - who is played by actor Jack P Shepherd in the ITV soap - can be seen leaping to Shona's (Julia Goulding) defence as her ex, Dane Hibbs, tries to blackmail her. Scroll down for video Knight in shining armour: David - who is played by actor Jack P Shepherd in the ITV soap - can be seen leaping to Shona's defence as her ex Dane tries to blackmail her, in scenes which will be aired on Tuesday night Dane is the father of Clayton, who brutally killed David's wife Kylie after she tried to break up a fight he started. Dane abused Shona over the course of their relationship, causing her to run away and spend her life trying to keep Clayton away from him. However, Dane eventually found them, and convinced Clayton to live with him, turning him into the thug who knifed Kylie to death. Evil: Dane is the father of Clayton Hibbs, who brutally killed David's wife Kylie after she tried to break up a fight he started Brute: Dane abused Shona over the course of their relationship, causing her to run away and spend her life trying to keep Clayton away from him In an unexpected turn of events, David is now seen to help protect Shona from her abusive ex. The hairdresser is seen to raise his fists to brutish Dane, and shove him against the brick wall. Shona looks anguished as she screams and attempts to pull David off Dane, as things appear to get nasty between the pair. Getting close: David Platt and Shona Ramsey's reunion appears to go further in the latest episode of Coronation Street - as he leaps to her defence to protect her from her evil ex boyfriend Unexpected: In an unexpected turn of events, David is now seen to help protect Shona from her abusive ex Larking around: When the cameras weren't rolling, Jack was seen to pull funny faces as he messed around onset It comes after it was revealed Bethany Platt will turn into an impromptu matchmaker to take her mind of the upcoming sex gang trial. The scene comes after viewers were left worried about the fate of Rita Sullivan following Monday night's episode. The Cobbles favourite (Barbara Knox) forgot that she had purchased a mug for her colleague Gemma (Dolly-Rose Campbell) - causing fans to predict a heartbreaking dementia story line. Having a laugh: Julia Goulding, who plays Shona, couldn't contain her giggles as she filmed the dramatic scenes Fun and games: The actors appeared to have a wonderful time filming, as they fell about in hysterics on set Looks tense: Jack and Julia looked to be deep in concentration as they prepared to film the intense scenes Something funny? Jack showed the others something amusing on his phone Viewers flocked to Twitter to admit they would be 'unable to handle' the 'worrying' sequence of events for Rita - with others hinting at the possibility of tears if she was diagnosed with the disorder. The scene saw Rita, who is the owner of The Kabin, forgetting that she had bought Gemma a Little Miss Trouble mug as she asked her where she got it from. 'You did!' Gemma replied, to which Rita remarked: 'Oh yes of course I did, silly me.' Ouch: Jack appeared to injure his finger after filming the dramatic fight scenes Whoops: He sported a bandage on his finger, which taped together his injured digits Off guard: Julia was caught off guard as she chatted away to the others Laidback: Her character wore a relaxed look of jeans and scuffed trainers She kept her fans guessing over the status of her relationship with Jemma Lucy after the duo put on an affectionate display, before claiming they 'faked' a romance for money and publicity. And what a difference a few months makes, as Chantelle Connelly, 27, blasted her 'ex-girlfriend', 29, in a foul-mouthed rant, branding her a 's**tbag with no loyalties' and also claimed that they haven't spoken in months. The Geordie Shore star, who frequently packed on the PDA with the Ex On The Beach during their wild nights out, also claimed in the interview with Star magazine that she lied about bedding rapper Kanye West and footie hunk Ashley Cole. Scroll down for video 'S**tbag': Chantelle Connelly, 27, blasted her 'ex-girlfriend', 29, in a foul-mouthed rant, branding her a 's**tbag with no loyalties' and also claimed that they haven't spoken in months Chantelle was Jemma was previously attached at the hip - enjoying nights out where they held hands and engaged in saucy smooches. But it looked like the tide had turned, as Chantelle revealed in the no holds barred interview: 'We haven't spoken for months and she's a s**tbag. I wouldn't trust her as far as I'd throw her!' Addressing the inked star's claims that she had slept with Kanye and Ashley, Chantelle stated: 'She's been saying loads of s**t to get in there. She said she's been with Kanye West and Ashley Cole. I was like, "God, she'll say anything". I think she's made it all up.' The bitter brunette didn't stop there as she claimed: 'She's obsessed with herself, she's all about fame. She wouldn't think twice about sh***ing on you to get where she wanted to be.' MailOnline have contacted Jemma Lucy's rep for comment. Hitting out: Jemma's (pictured above) ex claimed in the interview with Star magazine that she lied about bedding rapper Kanye West and footie hunk Ashley Cole Chantelle's rant isn't the first time she's hit out at her former flame, after she recently took aim at her on Twitter as Jemma entered the CBB compound last week. She wrote on the micro-blogging site: 'If a dog can win Britain's Got Talent then MAYBE Jemma Lucy has a chance of winning Big Brother. Her fiery response online comes months after they were pictured in a series of hot and heavy PDAs earlier this year, fuelling speculation of a romance. H: Chantelle's rant isn't the first time she's hit out at her former flame, after she recently took aim at her on Twitter as Jemma entered the CBB compound last week Fiery: Her fiery response online comes months after they were pictured in a series of hot and heavy PDAs earlier this year, fuelling speculation of a romance However, Chantelle later denied any romantic relationship between them insisting: 'We had the last laugh. I ain't a lesbian.' Before heading into the Borehamwood bungalow last week, Jemma opened up to Closer magazine about her addiction to plastic surgery. No stranger to going under the knife, the MTV bad girl recently splashed out 15,000 after travelling to Turkey to undergo a Brazilian butt lift earlier this summer and has previously had a breast enlargement, taking her from a DD to a G-cup. Frank: No stranger to going under the knife, the MTV bad girl recently splashed out 15,000 after travelling to Turkey to undergo a Brazilian butt lift earlier this summer and has previously had a breast enlargement, taking her from a DD to a G-cup Following her multiple surgeries, the size-8 star revealed that her obsession to look perfect has led her to develop body dysmorphia and craving more procedures Following her multiple surgeries, the size-8 star revealed that her obsession to look perfect has led her to develop body dysmorphia and craving more procedures. 'I get a buzz for the fact that you lie on a bed, fall asleep and wake up with a body you want,' she began. 'It's so addictive; the moment I walked out of the hospital after my bum lift, I was ready to go back and have something else done. 'I love the adrenalin rush it gives me. I know it's not healthy to be caught up on the way you look and I do have body dysmorphia. I get Tweets from trolls saying I need a nose job, which can hurt, but I try not to let it get to me. 'If I'm feeling down, I look at old pictures of myself to remind me that I look at old pictures of myself to remind me that I look 10 times better now. I feel sick when I see what I used to look like...' She famously lost a whopping 12 stone after having a gastric band. And having spent 50,000 on cosmetic surgery following her jaw-dropping weight loss, Tina Malone was sure to flaunt her figure as she attended a fancy dress quiz night at Ma Eggertons pub in Liverpool on Monday. The Shameless star, 54, slipped into a revealing ensemble, not afraid to show off her body. Scroll down for video Turning heads! Tina Malone was sure to flaunt her post-surgery figure as she attended a fancy dress quiz night at Ma Eggertons pub in Liverpool on Monday Opting for a white halter neck bikini top with pretty lace detail, she flaunted the expanse of her tanned stomach, wearing a pair of neon green hot pants slung low on the hips. Despite the distinct lack of sunshine, Tina remained in good spirits, wearing a pair of oversized shades and a sun hat, along with holiday-inspired leopard print sandals. Shielding herself against the cold summer's night, she completed the look with a sleeveless fur-lined waistcoat. Wild thing! The Shameless star, 54, slipped into a revealing ensemble, not afraid to show off her body Tina soared to fame playing Mo McGee in Channel 4 soap Brookside before making her name in 2005 starring in Shameless until its conclusion in 2013. The former CBB star lost 11st 4lb (72 kg) in 16 months when she had a gastric band fitted five years ago, reaching a size 8 and slimming down to 8st 2lb (51kg). Left with a huge amount of excess of skin, she decided to have an extensive makeover at the hands of a cosmetic surgeon totally 50,000, and documented it on TLC show Tina Malone: My New Body. Not coy: Opting for a white halter neck bikini top with pretty lace detail, she flaunted the expanse of her tanned stomach, wearing a pair of neon green hot pants slung low on the hips The actress had breast implants, a facelift, eye-lift and the handfuls of sagging skin caused by losing 11 stone following a gastric band were removed as well as surgery to fix an 'exploded' implant. Although her acting career has been on the back burner of late, she has transformed her life with her incredible weight loss and most recently planning baby number two with her partner. Tina is already a mother-of-two - including her three-year-old daughter Flame with husband Paul - and recently became a grandmother after her eldest gave birth to a daughter Dorothy. Covering up: Shielding herself against the cold summer's night, she completed the look with a sleeveless fur-lined waistcoat She was recently blasted by critics after she revealed plans for baby number three and is keen for a son, four years after she travelled to Cyprus to conceive daughter Flame, three. She said: 'When I had Flame, I was working six days a week beforehand and jumped into the shower straight after giving birth to Flame the Midwife was like what are you doing? I will still be rocking and rolling at 75. My mother is 78 and is still running rings around my daughter.' The doting mum also said that there would be no stopping her having multiple children, declaring: 'Id have another three. I love kids. Taking control: Although her acting career has been on the back burner of late, she has transformed her life with her incredible weight loss 'If I was sitting here and I was Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart or Simon Cowell youd all be slapping me on the back and saying well done. 'Im not being funny, women - no disrespect - I love a man, but at the end of the day I can be on the phone, run an empire, bring a baby up, walk the dogs, clean the house. She continued: 'Im that working class I clean for my cleaner, I do everything and still have energy to go to bed with my husband. Living in the world we live in at the moment people need to think positive. Brave: Left with a huge amount of excess of skin, she decided to have an extensive makeover at the hands of a cosmetic surgeon totally 50,000, and documented it on TLC show Tina Malone: My New Body Former Bachelor star Sam Frost started work on hit Channel Seven soap, Home And Away, this week, after controversy erupted over her casting. The 28-year-old was seen filming scenes alongside longtime star Ada Nicodemou, and Ada has come out swinging in the reality star's defense. Ada told The Daily Telegraph that Sam can not only act naturally, but that Home And Away is a great place to hone her craft. Woman at work: Former Bachelor star Sam Frost started work on hit Channel Seven soap, Home And Away, this week, after controversy erupted over her casting 'I believe you can either act or you can't. Most of us who started on Home And Away didn't go to acting school before. Including me,' she told the paper. She added: 'Home And Away is a great place to develop your craft. Plus, it's a rigorous audition process to get through and she wouldn't have made it if she couldn't act.' Ada also joked that during her first scenes with Sam, it was not the former Bachelorette making mistakes. On her side: The 28-year-old was seen filming scenes alongside longtime star Ada Nicodemou, and Ada has come out swinging in the reality star's defense Learner: Ada told The Daily Telegraph that Sam can not only act naturally, but that Home and Away is a great place to hone her craft She said: 'I was the one stuffing up my lines in the scenes.' Sam was pictured on set on Tuesday, and despite being new to the series, the Hell's Kitchen star looked comfortable and clearly ready for hard work. The former reality star recently hit back at naysayers, saying she doesn't know why people are 'so quick to judge.' Good job: 'I believe you can either act or you can't. Most of us who started on Home and Away didn't go to acting school before. Including me,' Ada told the paper Speaking to TV Week, the beauty said she had been working hard for her upcoming role, adding that people take many different paths to get to where they want to be. 'I've been putting in months of hard work,' the former radio presenter told the publication. She added: 'Home and Away is a great place to develop your craft. Plus, it's a rigorous audition process to get through and she wouldn't have made it if she couldn't act' 'It's like any industry or career - some people have different ways of getting there. I don't know why people are so quick to judge a person's path to get where they are.' Despite the detractors, Sam said she 'couldn't wait' to put down roots in Summer Bay and has been a fan of the long running show since childhood. After the events of the last week, it appears it will now be easier to see Sasha Mielczarek at the pub than on TV. After slamming claims he'd return to The Bachelorette as an 'intruder' on Sophie Monk's season, he's now had to defend his split was Sam Frost. When asked by The Daily Telegraph on whether he did anything 'sinister' to cause his split with the former radio star, he gave a terse response. 'It's absolutely ridiculous': 'The Bachelorette's Sasha Mielczarek appeared to come frustrated when asked if he did anything 'sinister' to trigger his split with Sam Frost in December 'I'm not going to waste my time or energy entertaining this,' he replied, appearing to take objection to the implication he was disloyal to Sam during their relationship. 'It's absolutely ridiculous,' the 32-year-old continued. His frustration may have stemmed from the fact the joint statement the pair released following their split in December clearly addressed the topic. 'It is important to stress that there is no bitterness or scandal, they have just come to the realisation that the best way forward is to separate,' a spokesperson said. No time for it! 'I'm not going to waste my time or energy entertaining this,' the 32-year-old replied, clearly taking objection to the implication he was The couple cited difference in lifestyle, and the long-distance factor as the reasons for ending their 18-month relationship. Meanwhile, the star made more concrete assertions about his availability for Sophie Monk's season of The Bachelorette. 'I think my days on reality dating shows are done and dusted. Like a normal bloke I might just try my luck at the 'Rubbery Dub' (pub),' he said. 'It is important to stress that there is no bitterness or scandal': His frustration may have been due to the fact the pair clealry addressed the topic in December He insisted he had no idea how these stories came about, and joked the only way he'd pair-up with Sophie, is on a show like The Block. Sam Frost is now in a loved-up relationship with longtime friend Dave Bashford, while Sasha remains a single man. The former flames have both confirmed they are no longer speaking, and last week, Sam also confirmed she'd never return to The Bachelor franchise. From Mexico to Italy to Ibiza and back to the States, Gerard Butler has never been too far from the ocean throughout his epic summer vacation. The actor, 47, looked great as he hit the beach in Malibu on Monday, going shirtless to showcase his buff body as he emerged onto the sand after a swim. With the Pacific Ocean crashing in the background, the screen hunk enjoyed spending time with a male friend as the sun began to set over the coast. Scroll down for video Butler and the beach: Gerard Butler looked great as he hit the beach in Malibu on Monday, going shirtless to showcase his buff body as he emerged onto the sand after a swim The 300 star stripped down to long black swim trunks, which clung to his burly frame as he emerged from the water. Without sunglasses or a hat for protection from the sun, the P.S. I Love You actor squinted as the Californian sun hit his eyes. Gerard was far from clean-cut, displaying a growing auburn beard to match a scruffy, mustache. The actor talked shop with a friend for a while before they both cooled off from the summer sun. Beach buddies: With the Pacific Ocean crashing in the background, the actor, 47, enjoyed spending time with a male friend as the sun began to set over the coast Known for his love of surfing, tides were too low for Gerard to paddle out and catch any waves on a surfboard. The star recently returned from a trip with friends to the 2017 Ischia Global Film & Music Festival in Italy. Currently filming action-crime drama Den of Thieves with O'Shea Jackson Jr., Gerard is gearing up for a busy year in 2018. Working alongside legendary actors Ed Harris and Andy Garcia, the actor recently completed filming a sci-fi thriller, Geostorm. A jet-set summer: The star recently returned from a trip with friends to the 2017 Ischia Global Film & Music Festival in Italy He will also star in two additional thrillers before the year's through, and has already signed on to two films in 2018. Butler was recently spotted enjoying the ocean in Mexico with on/off girlfriend Morgan Brown. Gerard and Morgan had been dating on and off since 2014 and were said to be broken up for good in 2016, before being spotted together again earlier this year. Morgan, an interior designer and former model, was spotted out on a coffee date with actor Liev Schreiber in May. She was also spotted jetting into Baltimore, Maryland with Gerard on June 15, a little over a month after her coffee date with Liev. Home sweet home: The Scottish-born actor regularly returns to his home and has shared his interest in buying a Scottish castle earlier this summer Taking a break from work obligations, Lena Dunham brought out a heavy hitter on a beach walk in Malibu. The 31-year-old actress took a stroll wearing one of her favorite sweatshirts emblazoned with the name 'Cindy Crawford', an homage to the Malibu-based supermodel. Chatting on her cellphone as she walked in the sand, Lena seemed to be enjoying her West Coast vacation. Model behavior: Lena Dunham chatted on her cellphone on the beach in Malibu on Monday wearing her favorite sweatshirt emblazoned with the name 'Cindy Crawford' Dressed for comfort on the beach, the Girls star sported the grey crew neck sweatshirt, which is clearly a favorite of hers. She paired her favorite sweatshirt with cozy cream sweat pants and walked barefoot in the sand. Lena's shaggy brown hair finished her comfortable beach look. Dog's life: The 31-year-old actress watched her poodles Susan and Karen run on the beach as she chatted on her cell phone Dunham brought along her one-year-old poodles Susan and Karen for a morning beach walk. The director was first spotted wearing the Cindy sweatshirt in New York as she jetted out of a meeting and off the the airport. With her short hair tied up on top of her hair, Lena walked to a nearby vehicle wearing grey pants and brightly hued shoes. The infamous sweatshirt reappeared once again as Lena filmed scenes for Girls in Brooklyn late last year. Fan favorite: The director was first spotted wearing the Cindy sweatshirt in New York as she jetted out of a meeting and off the the airport Girls: Lena sported her favorite sweatshirt on the set of Girls in 2016 Once Dunham's Malibu vacation is over, she's set to return to television with a role on the seventh season of FX's American Horror Story: Cult. Showrunner Ryan Murphy tweeted the news, adding he was 'thrilled' to have his 'talented friend' make an appearance. With a release date yet to be set, Dunham sold her half-hour 60's feminism and comedy show 'Max' to HBO in early 2016. It was also recently announced that Lena will join her writing partner Jenni Konner to pen the English-language screenplay to a readapted version of German film, 'Toni Erdmann'. Hoping to bump into her? Cindy lives with her family in Malibu Hey day: The supermodel pictured in a 2002 campaign Acting like a local: Lena posted a photo of herself enjoying the local fare at the Malibu Farmers Market on Sunday They jetted to Italy last week for their first ever holiday with their newborn twins Ella and Alexander - who they welcomed in June. But George and Amal Clooney took a night off their parenting duties on Tuesday, to instead enjoy dinner in Lake Como with Amal's mother Baria. The barrister 39, looked truly radiant in a silk striped jumpsuit as she arrived at the swanky Gatto Nero restaurant hand-in-hand with her man, 56 - who cut an incredibly fatigued figure in comparison, as a new dad. Scroll down for video That's amore! Amal and George Clooney took a night off their parenting duties on Tuesday, to instead enjoy dinner in Lake Como, Italy Parenthood taking its toll? Glamorous Amal, 39, looked truly radiant in a silk striped jumpsuit, while George cut an incredibly fatigued figure in comparison, as a new dad (L) New mother Amal looked truly stunning as she headed for dinner with her husband and mother in a slinky striped jumpsuit. Pulling into a chic strapless neckline and cinching in at her waist, the one-piece served to accentuate her impressively slender frame just one month after giving birth. Maintaining her glamorous appearance from head to toe, the Lebanese beauty styled her hair into big, bouncy waves, and accessorised with striking fringed earrings. Radiant: New mother Amal looked truly stunning as she headed for dinner in a slinky striped jumpsuit, paired with glamorous fringe drop earrings and a purple lip Meanwhile the handsome Hollywood actor kept things more casual in a simple yellow shirt and jeans as he led his wife home from dinner by the hand. However, the Ocean's Eleven star cut an exhausted figure as he swiftly returned to his home in the resort - showcasing signs of strain as a new dad in his 50s. Spending a night away from their twins, born in June, the pair were also accompanied by Amal's mother Baria - who proved style runs in their family in chic floral trousers and a lace blouse. Having enjoyed a meal at the eatery, which is thought to be one of George's favourites, the group seemed keen to reunite with little Ella and Alexander as they swiftly got into their car. Tired? However, the Ocean's Eleven star cut an exhausted figure as he swiftly returned to his home in the stunning Italian resort We are family: The pair were joined by Amal's mother Baria, as they spent a night out away from their two-month old twins Ella and Alexander Amal and George landed in the stunning Italian hotspot last week with their newborn twins, who were born on June 6. The trip marks their first ever family holiday, and the group have been spotted enjoying a number of dinners by the water. Amal's mother also joined them for the getaway - having recently gushed of her newborn grandchildren to People magazine. Reflecting on the birth, she said excitedly: 'Seeing these two angels, these stunningly beautiful babies cuddled together... Good genes: Baria (above) proved style runs in their family in chic floral trousers and a lace blouse 'And seeing the joy on Amal and Georges faces, its one of those deeply felt beautiful feelings you cant express in words.' However the family trip to Lake Como, where George has owned a home for several years, comes as it's been reported that the family may be moving out of their stunning 20 million property in Sonning-On-Thames, Berkshire. Following the birth of their children, the star has been increasingly worried about the level of security in their homes, according to Life&Style. A source told the publication that George had received threats in the past, whilst he was concerned that his wife's work as an international human rights lawyer could make her a target. Expanding their brood: Amal and George welcomed twins, Ella and Alexander, on June 6 - and jetted to Italy for their first family holiday last week (pictured during pregnancy in February) 'He doesnt feel like Amal and the twins are safe living in the English countryside,' the insider explained. 'As soon as Amal found out she was pregnant, he hired former Secret Service agents to assess all his properties and make recommendations for improvement.' They claimed the star's mansion in Studio City, California was the most secure, as they added: 'Hes waited so long for this family, hell do whatever it takes to keep them safe.' George wed Amal in 2014, and bought their sprawling 7.5 million home in the English countryside later that year. Shes preparing for a return to British television in the eagerly anticipated second series of BBC drama Doctor Foster. And Suranne Jones inevitably took centre stage as she attended a photo call on behalf of the forthcoming show in London on Tuesday. Sporting a stylish blue trouser-suit, the former Coronation Street star, 38, commanded attention as she joined her co-stars at the capitals Mayfair Hotel. Scroll down for video Looking good: Suranne Jones inevitably took centre stage as she attended a photo call on behalf of the second series of Doctor Foster in London on Tuesday Suranne added to her tastefully understated ensemble with a simple blue vest top, while strappy heel rounded things off as she posed for photos alongside screen husband Bertie Carvel. The actor, 39, looked appropriately dapper in a smart two-piece suit and blue dress shirt while promoting the show. In equally good company, Suranne was also accompanied by her real-life husband, magazine editor Laurence Akers. Side by side: Suranne posed for photos alongside screen husband Bertie Carvel during the event at Mayfair Hotel Close: In equally good company, Suranne was also accompanied by her real-life husband, magazine editor Laurence Akers Tasteful: The former Coronation Street star accentuated her naturally pretty features with deft touches of make-up The new season - which takes place two years after GP Gemma Foster, played by Suranne, exposes her husband's affair - was shot over the course of 2016. The cast and crew reunited at the end of the summer to kick off shooting the second instalment - which drew in over 10 million views for its final episode, establishing the show as the biggest new BBC drama of 2015. Following the announcement of a second series, Suranne said: I am thrilled to announce we will all be reunited to tell Gemma's next chapter, and I can't wait for the audience who invested in these characters to find out the explosive twists and turns Mike [Bartlett, the creator] has in store. Debonair: Bertie looked appropriately dapper in a smart two-piece suit and blue dress shirt while promoting the show Now we can look into what happens to a woman after divorce, deceit and revenge has taken its toll. What a gift of a part and a dream to work with Mike Bartlett again! Bartlett, added that he was looking forward to returning to work on betrayed Gemma's life and heartbreak. I've been astounded by the response to Doctor Foster, he said in a statement. I'm thrilled that alongside Drama Republic and the phenomenal Suranne Jones, we're now going to tell the next chapter in Gemma's story. Colleagues: (L-R) Mike Bartlett, Suranne Jones, Bertie Carvel and Tom Taylor Her life in Parminster may look better on the surface, but as she will discover to her cost, every action has its consequences eventually. No one comes through hell unscathed. Suranne scooped the Leading Actress Award in the 2016 BAFTAs for her spell-binding performance on the show in 2016. Doctor Foster will launch on BBC1 later this year. Jim Carrey turned to art after a bitter breakup with Jenny McCarthy. While the split occurred over six years ago in 2010, the comedian, 55, is only now opening up about the toll it took on him. In a new documentary titled Jim Carrey: I Needed Color, the star admits that he began painting after a challenging breakup to heal himself. Scroll down for video... Life after Jenny McCarthy: In a new documentary titled Jim Carrey: I Needed Color, the star admits that he began painting after a challenging breakup to heal himself The six minute documentary sees Carrey talk about his love of sculpture, painting, and mixed media. He talks about how six years ago he began making art to 'heal a broken heart'. The time frame he gives confirms it was Jenny who inspired his foray into working on canvas and with clay. He says the breakup coincided with a bitter winter in New York and he desperately needed some color. Only now opening up about it: While the split occurred over six years ago in 2010, the comedian, 55, is only now opening up about the toll it took on him (seen here right before their split) How it all began: He says the breakup coincided with a bitter winter in New York and he desperately needed some color Startling portrait: The star, who is mired in a wrongful death suit, has taken refuge in art Portrait of the artist: The six minute documentary sees Carrey talk about his love of sculpture, painting, and mixed media Heal thyself: He talks about how six years ago he began making art to 'heal a broken heart'. The time frame he gives confirms it was Jenny who inspired his foray into working on canvas and with clay 'When I first started to paint they (the paintings) were everywhere. They became part of the furniture. I ate off them.' His obsession he says was something he 'needed' at the difficult time in his life. Of heartbreak, he went on to add philosophically: 'When you're falling in love, you're floating, weightless. Obsession: 'When I first started to paint they (the paintings) were everywhere. They became part of the furniture. I ate off them.' Of heartbreak, he went on to add philosophically: 'When you're falling in love, you're floating, weightless. But when you lose that love, you have to reenter the atmosphere and it can get pretty rough.' Ancient faces: Carrey clearly loves bright colors, which he says helped brighten up a dark time in his life Picture of Jesus: The Mask star obsessively paints portraits of Jesus despite claiming to not be religious Heart in torment: One segment of the documentary shows the artist painting a picture of a heart descending from the sky in flames Expressive: The former In Living Color comedic actor shows some strong talent in working with clay 'But when you lose that love, you have to reenter the atmosphere and it can get pretty rough, because you're just bouncing off one molecule and onto the next, rippin' through them at such a pace that they just ignite and explode, until you find another heart that's doing the same thing, has landed and cooled, and then you start to float again.' Meanwhile, Carrey is demanding LAPD hand over photos and other items taken at the scene of his late girlfriend's suicide - despite her mother's attempt to block him from accessing the material. The actor, who has been embroiled in a wrongful death lawsuit after the death of Cathriona White in 2015, served subpoenas to doctors, police, and investigators, requesting records and evidence from the incident that could help his defense. Hi there! The funnyman still managed to elicit a few laughs in the serious video Colorful! The star showed an inside look at his process with painting Carrey admitted how deep his obsession went: 'When I first started to paint they (the paintings) were everywhere. They became part of the furniture. I ate off them.' White's mother, Brigid Sweetman, and estranged husband Mark Burton, have accused the Hollywood star of being responsible for her death, alleging he gave her multiple STDs and provided her with the drugs with which she took her own life. Carrey has maintained that his ex-girlfriend had a history of depression and denied all allegations he gave White any prescription pills and alleges she took them without his knowledge. Sweetman claimed Carrey gave her daughter three STDs and provided her with prescription drugs that ultimately contributed to her death. Contemplating his work: The self-styled artist waxed poetic about creativity Taking a break: Carrey was also seen rolling around on his bike to blow off some steam White, an Irish native who began dating the star in 2012, had confronted him about the venereal diseases but Carrey shamed her by calling her a 'w***e' and threatened her with the help of 'fixers' who worked to silence her. According to the documents, the 30-year-old contracted both herpes and chlamydia back in 2013. Carrey reportedly dismissed claims that he transmitted them to her and said she had contracted them from someone else. Following the confrontation, the pair broke up, with Carrey sending her a text message saying 'You have become too much drama.' Gorgeous studio: The movie has spared no expense in pursuing his passion Getting his hands dirty: Carrey utilizes various techniques to achieve his unique vision White was found dead of a prescription drug overdose in her California residence September 2015. In a note to Carrey, White described herself as 'damaged goods' and claimed he called her a 'w***e' and an 'opportunist' when she confronted him. Under California law, willfully exposing someone to a STD can constitute a cause of legal action for intentional infliction of emotional distress, a factor which can be relevant in determining a cause of suicide. Sweetman filed the lawsuit demanding general damages, economic damages, funeral and burial expenses, punitive damages and attorney fees. She said the 'fixers' worked and her daughter stayed silent, ultimately causing her to struggle emotionally before her overdose on Ambien, Percocet and Propranolol, which she accuses Carrey of providing her with. The actor, who has opened up about his struggles with depression in the past, allegedly obtained the prescriptions under the name Arthur King. But Carrey claims White's mother and her estranged husband were not close to her at the time of her death and are trying to capitalize on the tragedy. He argued Cathriona left her home at 15-years-old due to her broken relationship with her mom, and days before her suicide she cut off all contract due to a demoralizing phone call they had. She's seven months pregnant with her first child with husband Spencer Pratt. And Heidi Montag showcased her beautiful baby bump in all its glory as she indulged her cravings with a frozen treat while vacationing in Hawaii on Tuesday. The reality star, 30, looked radiant as she put her changing shape on display in an aqua and orange palm-print bikini top and blue and white checked shorts. Bumping along: Heidi Montag showcased her beautiful baby bump in all its glory as she indulged her cravings with a frozen treat while vacationing in Hawaii on Tuesday Enjoying a delicious snack from Wailua Shave Ice, the former The Hills star looked happy and relaxed as she larked around with her shirtless husband, 33. Heidi wore her platinum blonde locks in a loose braid and accentuated her cosmetically-enhanced features with natural make-up. Spencer kept things casual for his vacation look, going shirtless in patterned board shorts, flip flops and a sideways cap. Looking more in love than ever, the couple fed each other ice cones as they soaked up the Hawaiian sunshine. Fun in the sun: The reality star, 30, looked radiant as she put her changing shape on display in an aqua and orange palm-print bikini top and blue and white checked shorts Oh baby! Enjoying a delicious snack from Wailua Shave Ice, the former The Hills star looked happy and relaxed as she larked around with her shirtless husband, 33 Evidently enjoying her pregnancy, Heidi has been posting a series of snaps of her baby bump as she makes the most of her last vacation before welcoming her little bundle of joy. Heidi and Spencer announced they were expecting their first child in April, before confirming they were having a boy one month later. 'It was in my heart to have a boy', Heidi told US Weekly magazine. 'I thought Spencer really used to want a boy, and then a few months ago we had a conversation where he said, Lets just make sure its healthy. Boy or girl, I dont care". 'I hope to have a little girl one day, but for my first child, I really wanted a son. Mommy-to-be: Heidi wore her platinum blonde locks in a loose braid and accentuated her cosmetically-enhanced features with natural make-up Pretty in pink: Heidi has been posting a series of snaps of her baby bump as she makes the most of her last vacation before welcoming her little bundle of joy Proud parents to be: Heidi and Spencer announced they were expecting their first child in April, before confirming they were having a boy one month later 'Im hoping to God that we dont just have one, but if we do, I wanted a son. I thought itd be a more natural bond for Spencer since he and his dad are so close.' But Heidi admitted she was struggling to come up with a suitable name for their little bundle of joy. 'Were having a seriously challenging time,' she told Refinery 29. 'A lot of the names I like are taken.' Heidi has been paying close attention to her weight and nutrition during her pregnancy. Last month, she took her Snapchat followers on a visit to the doctor's office, where she said that she's 'already gained 25 pounds' and is expected to pack on about 15 more. She joked: 'I think I over ate.' Heidi and Pratt, who have been married more than eight years, have been given an October 19 due date. Heidi has been pregnant at the same time as her former The Hills co-stars Lauren Conrad, 31, and Whitney Port, 32. Lauren and lawyer husband William Tell welcomed baby son Liam on July 5, while Whitney and her husband, The City producer Tim Rosenman, announced the birth of son Sonny on July 27. Jillian Michaels soaked up the sun during a luxurious Italian getaway with her daughter Lukensia on Monday. The outing comes just days after she revealed she chartered a pricey yacht to cruise around the Italian coast for 12 days, only to be 'held hostage' for more money. All of that seemed to be out of mind for Jillian, 43, as she swam around the water alongside her seven-year-old daughter. Scroll down for video Fun in the sun: Jillian Michaels soaked up the sun during a luxurious Italian getaway with her daughter Lukensia on Monday The fitness trainer, 43, looked relaxed as she stepped out into the water in a long-sleeved bikini top and black jean shorts. Jillian swam in the crystal clear blue water as her daughter clung to her back. The girls had some fun as Jillian played around with her eldest child, who she adopted form Haiti in 2012. Jillian shares Lukensia and five-year-old son Phoenix with partner Heidi Rhoades, who was not pictured during the beach day. Aww: Jillian swam in the crystal blue water as her daughter clung to her back Splish splash: The girls had some fun as Jillian played around with her eldest child, who she adopted form Haiti in 2012 Heidi, who has been engaged to Jillian since 2016, was celebrating her mother's birthday with Phoenix, according to a representative. Jillain's luxurious outing comes just days after her vacation went wrong. Michaels said she feared for her safety after chartering a pricey yacht to cruise around the Italian coast for 12 days, only to be 'held hostage' for more money. Wrong turn: Jillain's luxurious outing comes just days after her vacation went wrong The health and wellness star said she booked a luxury boat online but later came to learn that the boat was filthy, had no hot water or wi-fi and had electrical problems. The trainer said the crew then demanded extra money for fuel on the third day of the trip because the gas cash had been drained by mobsters in Capri. In footage sent to the DailyMail.com, Michaels is seen arguing with a crew member as she insists for the interaction to be filmed and claims she is being scammed and held hostage. In a tense argument, Michaels was filmed holding her ground with a yacht crew who demanded more money, despite already paying them $60,000 to sail the Amalfi Coast. Michaels' team claims that the broker told them the money for fuel had been depleted because of the 'mafia in Capri' The wellness expert said she booked the Never One yacht (pictured) through a company called CharterWorld LLP online, but later came to learn that the boat was filthy, had no hot water or wi-fi and had electrical problems Brilliante, the yacht broker, said in an email (pictured) that 'Capri is like mafia in particular', adding a winking face. Michaels' team also claims that Brilliante later explained that the money for was gone because of 'mafia in Capri' Michaels added in a separate clip: 'You are essentially holding us hostage on the boat. You won't let us down, you won't let us go to dinner. 'I'm asking you for the 50th time, what do you need the money for?' Michaels left for the trip on Tuesday, got off the boat on Saturday and is currently spending the rest of her time in a hotel. The trainer took the vacation with friends, family members and her daughter, after finding pictures of the boat online and booking it through an online company. Speaking to the DailyMail.com, Michaels said in an email: 'We are doing ok. Feeling really grateful to have our loved ones and health. 'I havent left the country yet and I am truly unclear of how far these individuals will go as I was physically intimidated and threatened in emails.' She later added: 'Im focusing on what matters today: family, friends and good health. That said, I want my situation to be a warning to others and help them internet scams and extortion schemes like I was by Luxury Yacht Services, CharterWorld LLP, and their broker Amanda Brilliante. 'These scams are becoming extremely prevalent and theyre scary, particularly when youre with your family in another country, so be especially careful when you are dealing with rentals of any kind. 'Make sure to investigate as much as possible beforehand and should anything happen, do what we did - contact the US Embassy American Citizen Services. They have been enormously helpful in protecting my family and helping us with this whole ordeal.' Michaels said: 'We are doing ok. Feeling really grateful to have our loved ones and health.' Pictured: Michaels in Italy with her friends and family on Sunday The trainer, 43, said the crew demanded more money because the 'Mafia in Capri' had depleted the fuel fund Michaels left for the trip on Tuesday, got off the boat on Saturday. She is currently spending the rest of her time in a hotel. Pictured: Michaels' friends and family left on the dock after the harrowing incident Despite the horror incident, Michaels' friends and family still trying to have fun on the trip. Pictured: Austin Rhodes and Michaels' daughter Lukensia sipping on tropical drinks on Friday Michaels said she booked the Never One yacht through a company called CharterWorld LLP and was aided by a broker named Amanda Brilliante. The fitness guru said by the third day of the trip, she was being asked to fork over 6,000 euros to continue on, after paying nearly $60,000 up front for the yacht. The crew refused to take them to shore unless she paid the extra money, claiming they needed the money for fuel, according to Michaels. She added: 'The boat was shown in pictures as pristine. It was not only filthy, but it had no hot water, no air con when not docked, no wifi, partial electricity, it was clearly in total disrepair.' Pictured: Photos of the 'pristine' Never One yacht Noted hair colorist Justin Anderson was also on the trip and posted this photo on Saturday Brilliante, the yacht broker, said in an email that 'Capri is like mafia in particular', adding a winking face. Michaels' team also claims that Brilliante later explained that the money for was gone because of 'mafia in Capri'. Michaels said the crew told her they had burned through more than half of the fuel by the third day of the 12-day trip and by Saturday, the whole tank was empty. She said they went no more than 70 nautical miles and docked for four nights. Michaels posted photos of what she claims to be of the disgusting boat online (pictured). She said she paid $60k for the yacht for 12 days The Biggest Loser star said the craft had no hot water or wi-fi and had electrical problems. Pictured: What appears to be an exposed electrical outlet The money demand was the second incident of Michaels' yacht trip, beginning with the boat looking nothing like the photos that she saw online. Michaels also shared details of the harrowing experience on her Facebook page and wrote: 'Things became so escalated we literally feared for our safety.' She added: 'The boat was shown in pictures as pristine. It was not only filthy, but it had no hot water, no air con when not docked, no wifi, partial electricity, it was clearly in total disrepair.' Pictured: Holes in wooded surfaces said to be on the yacht that Michaels rented She continued: 'By the third day of our charter we were being extorted for money and things became so escalated we literally feared for our safety. 'Bottom line - this stuff is no joke. You could lose a lot of money and that sucks, but in some instances there is real danger. Be so so careful when dealing with rentals.' When she initially complained about the condition of the boat, she was credited 6,700 euros, according to TMZ. Michaels used her harrowing experience to warn her followers to be wary of booking things online and said this was the third time she was 'scammed'. The fitness guru uploaded several photos of what she said her luxury yacht looked like when she arrived. Photos appear to show rusted walls, blackened substances at the bottom of a fridge, loose electrical wires and holes in wooden surfaces. DailyMail.com has reached out to the charter company for comment. Michaels took the vacation with friends, family members and her daughter, after finding booking the yacht through an online company. Pictured: What appears to be dirtied panels of the said yacht Photos appear to show rusted walls, blackened substances at the bottom of a fridge, loose electrical wires and holes in wood surfaces They've been good mates for years, often pictured partying together and enjoying luxury holidays. And Kyle Sandilands fears his social life may now be over in the wake of multiple drug arrests, including two brothers of his best mate Kings Cross nightclub identity 'Teflon' John Ibrahim. On Wednesday's edition of the Kyle and Jackie O show, the radio shock jock explained it feels like: 'all [my] friends have died.' Scroll down for video No social life: Kyle Sandilands (L) fears his social life may now be over in the wake of multiple drug arrests, including two brothers of his best mate Kings Cross nightclub identity 'Teflon' John Ibrahim (2-R). Kyle is pictured on holiday in Ibiza in 2015, also with convicted drug dealer Simon Main (2-L) Close friends: John Ibrahim (R), Kyle Sandilands (2-R) and girlfriend Imogen Anthony (M) are pictured partying on a luxury boat while holidaying in Spain in 2015 Better times: John Ibrahim (L), Kyle's manager Andrew Hawkins (M) and convicted drug dealer Simon Main (R) laugh at Kyle Sandilands while he floats in the water using a propulsion device Model : John Ibrahim is pictured holding onto girlfriend Sarah Budge, who was charged with a firearm offence on Tuesday after police found a loaded Glock in her Sydney home 'I'm gonna sit [in the cafe] today like a 90-year-old man who all his friends have died,' Kyle said in a sombre tone. He went on to explain that while John himself wasn't arrested, the Sydney businessman has gone MIA a day after police raided his multi-million dollar Sydney mansion. 'You reckon I can find him? [It goes] immediately to message bank, I went round to his place - all locked up like Fort Knox... bit of police tape flapping in the wind,' he said. Social life over? 'I'm gonna sit [in the cafe] today like a 90-year-old man who all his friends have died,' Kyle said on Wednesday's edition of The Kyle and Jackie O show Long history: Kyle and his girlfriend Imogen Anthony are pictured partying with 'Teflon' John 'I went round to his place - all locked up like Fort Knox' : Kyle said Ibrahim's house (pictured during Tuesday raid) appeared to be empty on Wednesday 'John's girlfriend [Sarah Budge] got arrested couldn't even ring her to find out where he was.' Kyle's comments come after Sydney police arrested John's brothers Fadi and Michael in Dubai this week, on charges relating to an alleged international drug syndicate. John's 26-year-old 'secret son' Daniel, who served in the Australian army, was also arrested and charged in Sydney. Model Sarah Budge, the 27-year-old girlfriend of John, was charged with possession of a loaded gun after police raided her Sydney home. Drug raids: Kyle's comments come after police arrested John's brothers Mick (centre) and Fadi (not pictured) over alleged drug importation charges in Dubai. Pictured left is oldest brother Hassan 'Sam' Ibrahim, an ex-bikie boss who has no reported involvement in Tuesday's raids and arrests Arrested: John's 25-year-old son Daniel (R), who served in the Australian army, was arrested and charged on Tuesday Over 570 specialist police officers carried out raids on 32 homes scattered across Sydney on Tuesday to disrupt two long-running syndicates allegedly transporting drugs between Australia, Dubai and the Netherlands. Police seized 1.8 tonnes of ecstasy, 136kg of cocaine, 15kg of methamphetamines and $5.45m in cash - with an estimated street value of close to one billion dollars. The operation targeting Middle Eastern organised crime figures saw 17 people arrested in three continents - nine men and one woman in Sydney, five men in Dubai and two men in The Netherlands. South African President and ANC leader Jacob Zuma has been accused of corruption amid public anger at alleged cronyism in his government South Africa will learn Monday if a parliamentary vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma will be by secret ballot, a move that could encourage ANC lawmakers to oust him. Tuesday's vote has become a test of African National Congress (ANC) unity as senior party figures have been increasingly critical of their leader, but it is unlikely to succeed in toppling Zuma. The president, who came to power in 2009, has been implicated in multiple corruption scandals, while the country's economy has fallen into recession and unemployment has risen to record levels. The 75-year-old is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president before the 2019 general election -- lessening pressure for his party to seek imminent change. Parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete is due to announce on Monday at 3:30pm (1330 GMT) whether the vote will be held in secret as requested by opposition parties. The ruling has been subject to a long legal battle, and the vote on Tuesday evening could still be delayed by further court appeals. Protests by pro- and anti-Zuma groups are planned in Cape Town, home of the South African parliament, on Monday and Tuesday. The main opposition Democratic Alliance party said the vote was "an opportunity for us all to stand up to corruption and get rid of President Zuma and his cabinet." A group of ANC veterans from the anti-apartheid struggle also called for lawmakers to vote against Zuma, who was himself imprisoned with Nelson Mandela on Robben Island under white-minority rule. South Africa is "witness to larceny on a grand scale, leaving the country not only impoverished, but also increasingly in the hands of criminalised and compromised governance," the veterans said in a statement ahead of the vote. The ANC has fought back, saying it expects its lawmakers to back the president. Party chief whip Jackson Mthembu said ousting Zuma would "have disastrous consequences that can only have a negative impact on the people of South Africa". But he acknowledged recent criticism of the ANC, and the impact of a cabinet reshuffle in March when respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan was replaced with a Zuma loyalist. Gordhan's sacking led to a string of downgrades to South Africa's credit rating as well as causing the rand currency to tumble. Public support for the ANC, which swept to power under Mandela in the first non-racial elections in 1994, slipped to 55 percent in last year's local polls -- its worst-ever election result. But Zuma has easily survived several previous parliamentary votes attempting to oust him, due to the ANC holding 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament. Boko Haram has killed 31 fishermen a week after authorities lifted a two-year ban on fishing in Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad At least 31 fishermen have been killed by Boko Haram jihadists in two separate attacks on islands in Lake Chad in northeastern Nigeria, fishermen and vigilantes fighting the Islamists told AFP late Monday. Armed jihadists stormed the fishing islands of Duguri and Dabar Wanzam in the freshwater lake Saturday, attacking fishermen working in the area and shooting and hacking their victims. "Boko Haram attacked Duguri and Dabar Wanzam islands and killed 31 people," a member of a local militia fighting the jihadists in Maiduguri, Babakura Kolo told AFP. "They (Boko Haram) killed 14 in Duguri and another 17 in Dabar Wanzam," Kolo said. The fishermen had returned to the fishing hub of Baga on the lake's shores days earlier and had paddled out to the two islands in wooden canoes on Friday, looking for fish, said another militia Musa Ari, who gave similar account. News of the attacks was slow to emerge with communication in the area difficult as Boko Haram has destroyed telecom masts in the region in attacks over the last few years. The Boko Haram jihadists first attacked Duguri island where they killed 12 fishermen and injured two others who later died, said fisherman Sallau Inuwa. "The attackers split into two groups. While the first attacked Duguri the second went to nearby Dabar Wanzam where they laid in wait for those who fled the attack in Duguri. They killed 17 in Dabar Wanzam," Inuwa told AFP. The attackers spared one fisherman in Duguri and loaded the 12 bodies of the men they killed in a canoe and ordered him to take them to Baga as a warning that no one should fish in the lake, said another fisherman Dauda Tukur. "They told the man they spared to inform the troops in Baga that they were waiting for them on the islands," he said. The military and Nigerian officials have not yet commented on the attacks. The attacks happened a week after military authorities lifted a two-year ban on fishing in the freshwater lake that straddles Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Nigerian military banned fishing on the Nigerian side of the lake following accusations that Boko Haram was using proceeds from fishing to fund its armed campaign. The ban left thousands of displaced residents impoverished, forcing them to rely on food handouts from government and aid agencies. The lifting of the ban drew many fisherman back to the area. Although the military reclaimed Baga from Boko Haram in February 2015 allowing some residents to move back, jihadists continued to launch sporadic attacks from their hideouts on several islands dotting the lake, where dense vegetation provides cover against military attacks. In November 2014 Boko Haram killed 48 fishermen near Baga who were on their way to neighbouring Chad to buy fish, in one of the deadliest attacks against fishermen by the jihadists in the area. Supporters of Kenyan opposition presidential candidate Raila Odinga protest the election results in Nairobi's Mathare slum A jittery Kenya awaits final poll results Thursday, with President Uhuru Kenyatta holding a strong lead after a vote marred by opposition claims of rigging and the death of four people in election-related violence. The east African nation, keenly aware of post-poll violence a decade ago that left 1,100 dead, was on a knife-edge after a day of isolated protests in opposition strongholds. The unrest broke out after opposition leader Raila Odinga claimed massive fraud as Kenyatta surged ahead in provisional results, with 54 percent compared to his 44.7 percent. Results from over 96 percent of polling stations were in. Two protesters were shot dead in the flashpoint slum of Mathare in Nairobi, where police also fired tear gas at crowds who burned tyres and blocked roads throughout the day. An AFP photographer saw one of the victims, a young man with a massive gunshot wound to the head. Nairobi police chief Japheth Koome said the two who were killed had tried to "attack our officers with pangas (machetes) and that's when the officers opened fire on them." The mother of a man allegedly shot in the head by police in Nairobi's Mathare slum In the southeastern Tana River region, police said five men armed with knives had attacked a vote tallying station and stabbed one person. "Our officers killed two of them and we are looking for others who escaped," said regional police chief Larry Kieng. "We have not established the motive yet, we don't know if it is political or if it's a criminal incident but we are investigating and action will be taken." The region is prone to attacks by Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab militants. - Hacking attack denied - Decrying a "sham" tallying process, Odinga detailed accusations of a major attack on the electronic voting system, saying hackers had gained entry using the identity of top IT official Chris Msando, who was found tortured and murdered late last month. "This is an attack on our democracy. The 2017 general election was a fraud," said Odinga, claiming detailed evidence of the hackers' movements. The 72-year-old, who is making his fourth bid for the presidency as the flagbearer for the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, accused his rivals of stealing victory from him through rigging in 2007 and in 2013. "You can only cheat a people for so long," he said. Election commission (IEBC) chief Ezra Chiloba denied that the crucial electronic system -- seen as key to avoiding fraud -- had been compromised. "Our election management system is secure. There was no external or internal interference to the system at any point before, during or after the voting," he told a press conference. Odinga's claims led to isolated protests in his stronghold in the western city of Kisumu as well as in slums in Nairobi. Responding to the tensions, former US secretary of state John Kerry, an observer with the Carter Centre, expressed confidence in the electronic voting system and urged Kenyans "not to jump to conclusions". "It is also going to be critical to the leaders of Kenya to step up and lead in the next days to give people confidence that this process is being worked carefully, thoughtfully and respectfully." - Calls for calm - Aside from the alleged hacking, the opposition's main complaint was that results streaming in electronically had yet to be backed up by a scanned copy of the results from constituencies. Supporters of Kenya's opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) run during clashes with security forces in the western town of Kisumu Chiloba assured that these forms were coming in and that candidates' teams were being given access to them. The IEBC has insisted the results on its public website should not be considered final until they have been cross-checked. Raphael Tuju, secretary-general of Kenyatta's Jubilee party, urged the opposition to "look at the figures soberly" and accept the results. Odinga urged his supporters to "remain calm as we look deep into this matter". But he added: "I don't control the people." The heads of nine international observer missions released a joint statement calling on parties and their supporters to remain calm, and turn to the courts with their grievances. "We appeal to all citizens of Kenya to remain committed to peace and the integrity of the electoral process," read the statement. - Dynastic rivalry - The contest between Odinga and Kenyatta was seen by pollsters as too close to call ahead of the vote. It is the second time the two men have faced off in a presidential election, a dynastic rivalry that has lasted more than half a century since their fathers Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga went from allies in the struggle for independence to bitter rivals. Kenyatta, 55, is credited with overseeing steady economic growth of more than five percent. But food prices have soared under his watch, and several major corruption scandals broke out in his first term. South African President Jacob Zuma needs 201 votes to win a motion of no confidence against him, and his African National Congress holds 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence, with enough ANC lawmakers sticking by their leader despite divisions and fierce criticism of his rule. The motion brought by the opposition needed to secure 201 of the 400 votes in parliament to succeed, but fell short with 177 votes, national assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete announced. If Zuma had lost, he would have been forced to resign along with his entire cabinet. Criticism of Zuma from within the African National Congress (ANC) has grown amid multiple corruption scandals and South Africa's mounting economic woes, while the celebrated party of Nelson Mandela has declined sharply at the polls. But ANC officials and analysts had predicted the president would survive the vote given the party's large parliamentary majority. Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela (C) cheers after the failure of a no-confidence vote against South African president Jacob Zuma "The party will spin this as a win, but it's a weak victory," independent analyst Daniel Silke told AFP, after at least 30 of the 249 ANC lawmakers voted to oust the president. "There are marked signs of a rebellion within the ANC. It will perpetuate the factional infighting after a relatively close vote. There was a relatively substantial mutiny," Silke said. The ANC parliamentary party celebrated victory over what it described as an attempted "soft coup". "It has been the publicly stated intention of the opposition... to sow seeds of chaos in society to ultimately grab power," it said in a statement. Several opposition parties led thousands of anti-Zuma protesters outside the national assembly before the vote, while supporters of the president held a rival march. A voting booth is brought into the South African parliament to allow Members of Parliament to vote for or against the motion of no-confidence against South African president Jacob Zuma Zuma, who has built up a network of loyalists in the ANC since coming to power in 2009, has survived several previous parliamentary votes but these had been held without secret balloting. "Today's motion of no confidence result is closer than anyone expected," Mmusi Maimane, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party said, hailing "brave" ANC lawmakers who voted against Zuma. "Jacob Zuma is the manifestation of what the ANC has become -- a toxic mix of corruption, cronyism and nepotism." - ANC loses its lustre - Opposition parties led thousands of anti-Zuma protesters outside the national assembly before the vote Mbete, the speaker of parliament, made a surprise decision Monday to hold the ballot in secret after a campaign by the opposition who hoped to encourage ANC members to vote against their leader without fear of intimidation. Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president before the 2019 general election -- lessening pressure for his party to trigger imminent change. The ANC has acknowledged recent criticism of the party, including the impact of a cabinet reshuffle in March when respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan was replaced with a close Zuma ally. Gordhan's sacking led to a string of downgrades to South Africa's credit rating as well as causing the rand currency to tumble. Public support for the ANC, which swept to power under Mandela in the first non-racial elections in 1994, slipped to 55 percent in last year's local polls -- its worst-ever result. A handful of MPs, including Gordhan, have publicly joined calls from anti-apartheid veterans and trade unions for Zuma to resign, as South Africa endures record unemployment and a recession. Zuma has been engulfed by corruption allegations while in office. A court last year found him guilty of violating the constitution after he refused to repay taxpayers' money used to refurbish his private rural house. He has been accused of being in the sway of the Gupta business family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments, contracts and state-owned businesses. He is also fighting a court order that could reinstate almost 800 corruption charges against him over a multi-billion dollar arms deal in the 1990s. Zuma is seen as favouring his ex-wife, former African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to succeed him ahead of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Hoffman of the New South Wales Police speaks to the media about firearms surrendered under a national amnesty More than 6,000 guns have been surrendered in Australia's most populous state in just one month, police said Tuesday, after fears of terrorism and an influx of illegal firearms sparked a national amnesty. The government said in June it believed there were as many as 260,000 illicit weapons on the streets, and with the threat of extremist attacks and a spate of gangland shootings, it wanted to minimise the danger. Among the weapons handed over in New South Wales were four SKS assault rifles, a 9mm homemade sub-machine gun, a Colt AR-15 rifle, M1 carbine and a .44 calibre magnum revolver, state police said. In total, some 1,700 rifles, 460 shotguns and nearly 200 handguns were surrendered to police and dealers, while thousands of others were handed in for registration. "We've also received more than 110 prohibited weapons including samurai swords, knives, and other edged weapons," Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Hoffman said. No official figures have been announced yet for other states and territories. The amnesty runs from July 1 until September 30, allowing people to hand in unregistered or unwanted firearms with no questions asked. Outside that period people face fines of up to Aus$280,000 (US$222,000) or 14 years' jail. Gun control measures continue to have strong public support in Australia. The national firearms amnesty is the first since the 1996 Port Arthur mass shooting that claimed 35 lives. More than 600,000 weapons were destroyed in the aftermath of that attack, during a gun buy-back in which compensation was offered. Then-prime minister John Howard also enacted tougher gun laws, including bans on certain weapons such as rapid-fire rifles and shotguns, a minimum ownership age and licences. All guns in Australia must be registered, but many arrive illegally from overseas through organised syndicates. Australian officials have grown increasingly concerned over the threat of extremist attacks and have prevented 13 on home soil since September 2014. Several terror attacks have taken place in Australia in recent years, including a Sydney cafe siege in 2014 which saw two hostages killed. Voters queue as they wait for a polling station to open in Kibera, one the largest slums in Africa, in Nairobi on August 8 Kenyans began voting on Tuesday in general elections, with a tight, bad-tempered race between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his longtime rival Raila Odinga sparking fears of violence. Polls opened with varying delays after the official start at 6am (0300 GMT) in strongholds of both candidates around the country, according to AFP reporters. A 15 minute delay led to shouts of anger in Nairobi's largest slum Kibera, an opposition stronghold, where thousands waited outside a primary school to cast their ballots, many draped in a red Maasai blanket to ward off the chilly morning air. However voting soon got underway. Dynastic rivalry: The political battle between the families of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Raila Odinga go back more than half a century "We must choose wise leaders, because the previous ones have kept all the wealth for them, they did nothing against corruption," said 20-year-old Benson Kamano, who is unemployed. "I am all for Odinga, he will change things." Tensions have soared in east Africa's richest economy as the campaign ended with the murder of a top election official, and Odinga has repeated claims the vote will be rigged. "If the election is fair, there will be no violence," said Kamano. At Moi Avenue Primary School, the largest polling station in the city, voter Calvin Otieno, 27, joined the queue shortly after midnight. "Everyone has a right to vote and we should all be ready to accept the results. There is no need to fight because of elections. We are all Kenyans irrespective of tribe. If we fight, will any of the candidates come to bring us food in our houses?" he said. An official counts the ballot boxes to be sent to regional polling stations in Wamba on the eve of voting In Kenyatta's home town Gatundu, north of Nairobi, a voter who identified herself only as Gathoni also arrived early to "vote for my favourite president", who will himself cast his ballot at the polling station later in the morning. Kenyans will vote in six different elections, choosing governors, lawmakers, senators, county officials and women's representatives in local races also rife with tension. Each ballot paper was a different colour, with a corresponding ballot box. Security was tight at the polling station and around the city, with at least 150,000 officers deployed. Odinga has warned this may intimidate voters. On the eve of the vote US President Barack Obama led international calls for peace in the country seen as a bastion of stability in east Africa, and a key partner in the fight against the Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab group in Somalia. "I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people," Obama said in a statement. Huang Jing, a US citizen of Chinese descent who worked at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, had his Singapore permanent residence status revoked by authorities last week A prominent scholar of Chinese studies said Tuesday he had appealed against a decision to expel him from Singapore for allegedly working as "an agent of influence" for a foreign state. Huang Jing, a US citizen of Chinese descent who worked at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, had his permanent residence status revoked by authorities last week. His wife Shirley Yang Xiuping, whom the ministry said knew he was acting for a foreign government, was also permanently banned from Singapore. Authorities did not say which government he was accused of working for but he has written extensively on China and regularly contributed to state-run media. The Ministry of Home Affairs said he was "an agent of influence of a foreign country" who had used his position to try to influence Singapore's foreign policy. Huang, who is still in the city-state, confirmed to AFP that he had appealed against the decision to ban him and his wife from Singapore and refused to comment further. Anyone who has their permanent residence status cancelled has the right to appeal. The Ministry of Home Affairs declined to comment Tuesday. After news broke last week of the government's decision, the professor told Hong Kong's South China Morning Post the allegations against him were "nonsense". Huang's case comes at a time Singapore and China's historically warm ties are being tested. There were tensions earlier this year when the southern Chinese city of Hong Kong seized nine Singapore armoured troop carriers as they returned to the city-state after conducting military exercises in Taiwan. Beijing considers self-ruling Taiwan a renegade province awaiting reunification. Cyber criminals targeting victims in China have increasingly exploited technological advances to operate from countries such as Fiji in a bid to evade authorities Fiji has deported 77 Chinese nationals accused of running a phone and online scam targeting victims in mainland China, the latest in a series of overseas crackdowns orchestrated by Beijing. The mass arrest and expulsion was part of a month-long operation involving both Fijian and Chinese law enforcement agencies, and echoes similar joint operations carried out in Indonesia and Cambodia last week. Cyber criminals targeting victims in China have increasingly exploited technological advances to operate from abroad in a bid to evade authorities. The Fiji-based ring is suspected of involvement in more than 50 telecom and online fraud cases, and cost victims in China more than six million yuan (US$892,000), Fijian police said Tuesday, without giving precise details of the scams. "These 77 Chinese nationals have been sent back to China from Fiji on August 4, 2017," the Fiji police and Chinese embassy in Suva said in a joint statement. The accused were flown to Changchun in northeast China's Jilin Province. China's official Xinhua news agency said the scam came to light after one of the victims was swindled out of 1.3 million yuan and committed suicide, triggering a large-scale investigation. The probe exposed an illegal online gambling and lottery gang involving more than 200 suspects based in China, Indonesia and Fiji who had illegally taken nearly 100 million yuan. A team of Chinese police were sent to Fiji four weeks ago and on July 18 they arrested the 77 suspects and confiscated equipment, including mobile phones, computers and bank cards. Another 83 people were arrested in China. Beijing has become increasingly assertive in extraditing overseas fraud suspects. Last week, Indonesia deported 143 people, including 22 Taiwanese, to China over fraud cases, days after police said they had busted a sprawling US$450 million cyber fraud ring targeting wealthy businessmen and politicians in China. The deportations drew a strong protest from Taiwan, which said the Taiwanese suspects should have been returned to the island. Taiwan's representative office in Suva said it had been assured by Fiji police that the 77 deported from the South Pacific nation were all nationals of the People's Republic of China. Also last week, Cambodia arrested more than 200 Chinese men and women suspected of running an online scam that persuaded victims to send nude photographs and then extorted them for cash, after a tip-off from Chinese authorities. A South Korean court ruled Tuesday that Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries should pay compensation to former wartime slave workers A South Korean court ruled Tuesday that Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries should pay compensation to former wartime slave workers. The district court in the southern city of Gwangju ruled that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries should pay 120 million won ($106,700) in compensation to Kim Young-Ok, 85, and 3.25 million won to a relative of late victim Choe Jeong-Rye, activists and reports said. Mitsubishi said it would appeal. It is the second such ruling in four years. The Korean peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910-45, when Koreans were banned from using their own language in schools and forced to adopt Japanese names. Hundreds of thousands of Koreans were forcibly recruited as frontline troops, slave workers and wartime sex slaves known as comfort women. Issues of history still divide the neighbours, which are both US allies, and complicate their relationship even as they both face threats from nuclear-armed North Korea. "We welcome this ruling. This is another court victory for the victims and their relatives," Lee Kuk-Un, who leads a group of activists working for former slave workers, told AFP. The victims, both in their teens at the time, worked without pay at a Mitsubishi aircraft manufacturing plant in Nagoya in 1944 after being falsely promised they would be able to make money and study in Japan. Mitsubishi said in a statement it had not yet seen the ruling but would appeal. "As soon as we obtain the verdict and confirm the details, we want to swiftly go ahead with procedures to appeal the court decision," the company said. The case is one of 14 involving more than 1,000 South Korean victims that have been filed against Mitsubishi and several other Japanese firms seeking compensation for wartime slave labour. The first such ruling came in 2013, when the Gwangju district court ruled in favour of five victims, ordering Mitsubishi to pay each of them sums ranging up to 150 million won. An appeals court upheld the ruling but Mitsubishi has since taken the case to South Korea's Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on it. Japan says colonial-era disputes were settled in 1965, when diplomatic ties were normalised and Tokyo gave Seoul some $800 million in loans and economic aid. The money helped fund South Korea's dramatic industrialisation drive. The one-day drop-in comes as Washington reboots its relationship with Thailand under President Donald Trump, whose administration has enraged rights groups by cosying up to strongmen around the globe US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson landed in Bangkok on Tuesday for talks with junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, the highest-level American diplomatic visit since the Thai army grabbed power in a 2014 coup. The one-day drop-in comes as Washington reboots its relationship with Thailand under President Donald Trump, whose administration has enraged rights groups by cosying up to strongmen around the globe. The Thai army's 2014 toppling of the civilian government pinched ties with Washington, who distanced itself from its oldest ally in Asia and trimmed back military aid. But relations are on a better footing under Trump, with the US president extending an invitation to junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha. The thaw also comes amid Washington's growing concerns of rival superpower China's clout in the region. Beijing entices its smaller neighbours by offering massive investment decoupled from human rights concerns, which appeals to leaders weary of US pressure. Thailand is a lynchpin country in China's massive trade and infrastructure 'One Belt, One Road' strategy. A US Embassy spokesperson said Tillerson would discuss regional flashpoints such as North Korea's nuclear missile program and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. It was not immediately clear how firmly the former oilman would push the junta government on its crackdown on political rights. The US wants Thailand to "emerge as a strengthened democracy that respects and guarantees human rights and fundamental freedoms," said embassy spokesperson Steve Castonguay. Earlier in the week Susan Thornton, acting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs, defended America's reach out to the military regime, as pragmatism appears to outweigh principle in Trump's foreign affairs agenda. "They have a road map by which they're going to work towards a restoration of constitutional government, democratic elections," she said. "It's time to go back and encourage them." Tillerson's visit comes on the heels of a regional forum in Manila, where the former ExxonMobil CEO hailed a UN measure to pass tough new sanctions on North Korea over its growing nuclear arsenal. Trump has tried to browbeat Beijing -- North Korea's ally and biggest trade partner -- into reining in the hermit state's ballistic missile programme. The US has also turned to Southeast Asian nations to help isolate Pyongyang, though it failed to persuade the regional bloc to bar North Korea's top envoy from last week's forum. Tillerson is also slated to pay respects to Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has been lying in state at the Grand Palace since his death in October 2016. Later he will travel to the Malaysian capital. Refugees and asylum-seekers hold a vigil for an asylum-seeker who was found dead at a processing facility on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island on August 7, 2017, in an image released by the Refugee Action Coalition on August 8, 2017 The UN warned of a deepening crisis Tuesday after another asylum-seeker was found dead at a Pacific island detention camp, urging Australia to ensure protection for vulnerable refugees as closure of the facility nears. Canberra sends anyone who tries to enter the country by boat without a visa to remote processing facilities in Nauru and on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, with no hope of being settled in Australia. A PNG court ruled last year that holding people on Manus was unconstitutional, and the camp is set to shut in October, with tensions rising. The death on Manus Monday of a 28-year-old Iranian refugee, who was found hanging from a tree by children near their school, "highlights the precarious situation for vulnerable people" there, the UN Refugee Agency said in a statement. It added that it was "gravely concerned" by the deteriorating conditions and warned of an "escalating crisis". About 800 men are held on Manus and the UN says they have been told to relocate elsewhere in PNG or return to their country of origin. Medical and security services are due to cease in October. "The announcement of the closure of the centre, in the absence of appropriate alternatives, is causing acute distress among refugees and asylum-seekers," the UN Refugee Agency said in a statement. Australia immigration detention "Many fear for their safety outside the centre, particularly in the wake of several violent incidents in recent years." There have been allegations of assault and threats against refugees by local residents, with the Manus camp being targeted in the past. Refugees have been offered a transfer to impoverished Cambodia or to be assessed for entry to the United States, although it remains unclear how many Washington will accept with President Donald Trump reluctant to resettle any. Conditions in the camp, and the other one on Nauru, have been criticised by refugee advocates and medical professionals, with reports of widespread abuse, self-harm and mental health problems. Rights groups said the Iranian was the fifth held on Manus to die since Canberra's offshore regime began in July 2013. PNG police have ruled out foul play but refugee support groups have raised doubts over the declaration. Canberra has long held that even those attempting to arrive by boat subsequently found to be genuine refugees would never be allowed to settle in Australia. The UN last month accused the Australian government of backing out of a commitment to relax its strong stance and resettle some refugees held offshore with family ties in Australia. It again renewed its call Monday for Canberra "to urgently find viable, humane solutions outside of Papua New Guinea and Nauru for those remaining under offshore processing arrangements". Supporters of same-sex marriage march in Sydney Australia will hold a voluntary postal vote on whether to legalise gay marriage if parliament rejects plans for a plebiscite on the contentious issue, the prime minister said Tuesday. Parliament's upper house, the Senate, last November rebuffed plans for a national plebiscite involving 15 million people, with the Labor opposition, Greens and crossbench MPs arguing it would be expensive and spark divisive debate. Several gay senators made impassioned pleas against the plan at the time, saying it would lead to denigration of their families and subject them to hate speech. Many gay rights campaigners agree and instead favour a free vote among MPs in parliament, with politicians not restricted to party policy. But Malcolm Turnbull's government made an election pledge to hold a plebiscite and he plans to send the legislation back to the Senate as early as this week. The ruling Liberals do not have an majority in the upper house, meaning it faces almost certain defeat again. If this happens, Turnbull has committed Aus$122 million (US$97 million) to a postal vote, run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with ballot papers sent out on September 12 and due back by November 7. He said that if there was a majority "yes" the government would bring to parliament's lower house a private bill, on which Liberals could cast a free vote. If the vote was "no", nothing more would happen. "Strong leaders carry out their promises. Weak leaders break them," Turnbull said, rejecting suggestions that a postal ballot would break his promise to hold a plebiscite. Voting in elections is compulsory in Australia and would also be so in any plebiscite. "I'm a strong leader. I made that promise again and again ... on the campaign trail. You heard me say again and again that every Australian will have a say on this issue," added Turnbull. "Now, we have sought to have a compulsory attendance plebiscite. The only reason it has not been held is because of (Labor leader) Bill Shorten's opposition." Debate on gay marriage has lasted more than a decade in Australia. Despite strong popular support for marriage equality, the country is seen as lagging behind nations that allow homosexual couples the right to wed. Same-sex couples can have civil unions or register their relationships in most states across Australia, but the government does not consider them married under national law. The Australian Marriage Equality organisation made it clear it still wants to see a free vote in parliament. "The plebiscite is a policy that failed last year. It is a policy that will fail again," it tweeted. "A conscience vote is the only respectful way forward." Tillerson is the highest level American diplomat to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup strained ties between the longtime friends and saw China court Bangkok with massive arms sales and infrastructure deals US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made a pit-stop in Bangkok on Tuesday with a plea to the kingdom to curb business ties with North Korea, as Washington rounds up allies for its bid to halt Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. Tillerson is the highest level American diplomat to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup strained ties between the longtime friends and saw China court Bangkok with massive arms sales and infrastructure deals. Thailand is one of several Southeast Asian countries to host a North Korean embassy and enjoys valuable bilateral trade with the reclusive regime. In 2014 the two countries shared trade worth $126 million, according to Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a near three-fold increase since 2009. But America wants Thailand to crack down on North Korean firms that use the capital as a trading hub through front businesses, according to acting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Susan Thornton. Tillerson will also lean on the kingdom to tighten visa requirements for North Koreans entering Thailand and squeeze its diplomatic mission, Thornton added. Thai junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha beamed as he welcomed the US envoy to Government House. After their meeting a Thai government spokesman said the kingdom was ready to "co-operate and give its support" to solve the crisis on the Korean peninsula, adding the kingdom "is complying with" beefed-up UN sanctions targeting Pyongyang. Those sanctions could cost North Korea $1 billion a year. Tillerson's one-day visit follows a regional forum in Manila, where the former ExxonMobil CEO hailed the new sanctions regime on North Korea over its growing nuclear arsenal. They were levied -- with the agreement of North Korean lifeline China -- in response to the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missile tests last month. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that North Korea has produced a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles ,a major development sure to further inflame tensions. Shortly after the report was published President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang that if it continues to threaten the United States, it will be struck with "fire and fury". - 'Ups and downs' - The US is also urging Thailand to take in more North Korean refugees, Thornton said ahead of the visit. The kingdom has long been a transit route for defectors who make the arduous journey through China, then into Laos or Cambodia and Thailand, where they seek sanctuary at the South Korean Embassy. But it does not officially recognise them as refugees. Analysts say Thailand is unlikely to significantly redraw its North Korean ties. The kingdom has a history of "tiptoeing (between) various states that have problems," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a foreign policy expert at Chulalongkorn University, told AFP. Tillerson told US embassy staff he wanted to "grow" the relationship between America and its oldest Asian ally, "even in its ups and downs". It was not immediately clear how firmly the former oilman would push the junta government on its crackdown on political rights. Trump's administration re-set ties with Thailand after relations hit the buffers following the 2014 coup. The US condemned the army takeover and edged away from the regime, trimming back military aid. But Trump, who has enraged rights groups by cosying up to strongmen around the globe, has reached out to the junta chief directly and extended a White House invite. The thaw also comes amid Washington's growing concerns over rival superpower China's clout in the region. Beijing entices its smaller neighbours by offering massive investment decoupled from human rights concerns, which appeals to leaders weary of US pressure. Thailand is a lynchpin country in China's massive trade and infrastructure 'One Belt, One Road' strategy. China wants to build a high-speed railway through Thailand to its southern ports. Tillerson was due to pay respects to Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has been lying in state at the Grand Palace since his death in October 2016. The Secretary of State arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday evening and headed to parliament where he held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. IMDB says it's been given more time to make a $600 million repayment Malaysia's crisis-hit state investment fund 1MDB has been given an extension until the end of August to pay over $600 million to Abu Dhabi to settle debts, the emirate's sovereign wealth fund said Tuesday. About half must be paid by August 12 with the rest due by August 31, said the fund, the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), after 1MDB missed another deadline to pay. 1MDB and its founder, Prime Minister Najib Razak, are battling allegations that billions were looted from the fund in complex overseas deals that are being investigated by authorities in several countries. Both the fund and Najib have vehemently denied wrongdoing. 1MDB agreed in April to pay IPIC about $1.2 billion to settle debts, with half due to be paid at the end of July and the rest by the end of the year. 1MDB missed the first deadline last week and was given five more days to make the payment or face additional obligations, but it was also unable to meet the second deadline. IPIC said in a filing to the London Stock Exchange that it had granted 1MDB "until 31 August 2017 to complete the performance of the payment obligations", with at least $310 million to be paid by August 12. Irwan Serigar Abdullah, chairman of 1MDB's board of directors and Malaysia's treasury secretary-general, confirmed the controversial fund had been given an extension. When it missed the first deadline, 1MBD said it was awaiting fresh funds and pledged to make the payment in August. 1MDB and the Abu Dhabi fund had been involved in a dispute that extended to repayments on two sets of bonds issued by the Malaysian fund. In April 2016 1MDB defaulted on $1.75 billion in bonds after missing an interest payment of $50 million. In June that year Abu Dhabi announced it was seeking $6.5 billion from the Malaysian fund through international arbitration. The actor who originally played Japan's iconic Godzilla, a giant monster awakened by a hydrogen bomb test, has died aged 88 Haruo Nakajima, the actor who played Japan's iconic city-wrecking monster Godzilla in the original 1954 movie, has died, film studio Toho said Tuesday. He was 88. Nakajima, who went on to appear as the iconic creature a dozen times, died of pneumonia on Monday, said a spokesman for the studio that produced the Godzilla films. Originally a stuntman, Nakajima at the age of 25 first took on the role of the giant monster awakened by a hydrogen bomb test to rise out of a roiling sea and swim to Japan where it crushes Tokyo. Godzilla, a walking, radiation-breathing analogy for nuclear disaster resonated in Japan. Just nine years earlier the country had suffered the world's first, and still only, atomic bomb attacks at the hands of the United States in the closing days of World War II. The US also carried out a hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific in 1954, exposing a Japanese fishing boat to nuclear fallout, sickening the 23 crew and eventually killing the captain. Nakajima prepared to play the imaginary creature by visiting a Tokyo zoo for a week to analyse the moves of elephants, bears and gorillas, according to the Toho website. He said that the suit for the original film was too heavy and he could barely walk for 10 metres (33 feet). The suit weighed around 100 kilogrammes (220 pounds), Toho said. Haruo Nakajima, who played Godzilla in 12 films, has died at the age of 88 Nakajima also said he "felt a sense of isolation" in the beginning because of the thickness of the rubber used in the suit that he could not remove without help. "But I started to enjoy playing Godzilla," he said. The franchise has produced 29 films in Japan, according to Toho. The original movie "Gojira" -- a Japanese portmanteau of "gorilla" and "kujira" (whale) -- was a mega hit, drawing 9.6 million viewers to cinemas. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani delivers a speech after his inauguration on August 5, 2017 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani put forward a new cabinet line-up on Tuesday that again included no women, despite criticism of their absence from his reformist allies. There were no major changes to Rouhani's government, which is expected to continue his push for greater foreign investment and a technocratic approach to reviving the country's stagnant economy. He did replace the defence minister, Major General Hossein Dehghan, with his deputy, General Amir Hatami -- the first time in more than two decades that the post has been filled by someone from the regular army rather than the elite Revolutionary Guards. The deputy economy minister, Masoud Karbasian, also replaced his boss, Ali Tayebnia. Key names in Iran's efforts to rebuild ties with the West -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh -- retained their positions. All 18 cabinet members must be approved by parliament over the coming week. Rouhani's reformist allies have already criticised the president after news leaked that he would again fail to appoint any women to the cabinet -- seen as a capitulation to religious leaders. "The lack of women ministers shows we are treading water," Shahindokht Mowlaverdi, Rouhani's outgoing vice president for women's affairs, told the reformist Etemad daily on Monday. During his first term, she was one of three women among his large cohort of vice presidents, who do not require parliamentary approval. The 68-year-old president is a moderate cleric, who won a sizeable election victory over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi in May, thanks largely to the support of reformists, who have felt ignored in the selection process for the new government. Ironically, the sole female minister since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution came under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rouhani's hardline predecessor, whose health minister Marzieh Dastjerdi served between 2009 and 2013. With no official parties in parliament, Rouhani must coordinate among a shifting pattern of political factions, none of which holds a definitive majority of the 290 seats. He is known to have coordinated closely on his appointments with other power-brokers, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary. A patient undergoes radiotherapy at Sudan's largest state-run cancer hospital, the Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum, on July 25, 2017 Resting on a hospital bed after a session of chemotherapy, Sudanese banker Mohamed Hasan vividly recalls the day when doctors told him he had blood cancer. It is a shock in any country but in Sudan, where access to drugs and treatment is impaired by 20-year-old US sanctions, it can be more life-threatening. "It was the first week of my honeymoon when I fell sick and was admitted to hospital," Hasan, 30, told AFP as a nurse prepared him for a sponge bath. "I never imagined it would be cancer ... it was a real tragedy." For a year now, Hasan has been receiving treatment at the Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum, the biggest state-run cancer hospital in Sudan. Life-saving drugs and medical equipment supplied to Sudan are theoretically exempt from Washington's complex set of trade embargoes. But restrictions on banking transactions, exchange of technology and spare parts, and other cumbersome trade regulations have hampered treatment of patients. The Khartoum cancer hospital is no exception. Two of its four radiation therapy machines have been broken for months and repairing them has become a nightmare, general manager Khatir Al-Alla said. "Their spare parts have to be brought from America or Europe," Alla told AFP. Patients wait for treatment at Sudan's largest state-run cancer hospital, the Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum, on July 25, 2017 "But because of diplomatic issues we are facing problems." Importing equipment or components directly from manufacturers is cumbersome given the restrictions on transferring funds overseas. - Long waiting lists - Washington imposed sanctions on Khartoum in 1997 for its alleged support of Islamist militant groups. Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden lived in Khartoum between 1992 and 1996. Over the years, successive US administrations have tightened the sanctions, accusing Khartoum of human rights violations, particularly in the 14-year-old conflict with ethnic minority rebels in the western region of Darfur. Relations between Washington and Khartoum have improved in recent months, officials say, and on October 12 President Donald Trump is to decide whether to lift the sanctions permanently. But doctors say the situation remains difficult. The Khartoum cancer hospital receives about 1,000 new patients a month, and another 500 visit daily for follow-ups. "The waiting period is between three to four weeks... which is too long for cancer patients," Alla said. Frustrated with the long waiting period, Hasan now plans to seek further treatment in India. Cancer patient Ghada Mohammed Ali awaits treatment at the Khartoum Breast Care Centre on July 27, 2017 The situation is no different at the Khartoum Breast Care Centre (KBCC), the only specialised facility in Sudan to treat breast cancer. The clinic's mammography machine has been broken for weeks, said British-trained radiologist Dr Hania Fadl, the founder of the not-for-profit hospital. "The problem is with the service... we dont have proper agents to service the equipment," Fadl said. The technicians have to come from Egypt or Kenya to fix the mammography machine, the main equipment in detecting breast cancer. It becomes a major concern when a new patient comes to the clinic. She might have an easily detectable lump in one breast, Fadl said, but in the absence of a mammography machine, it becomes difficult to detect if she has a small lump in the other. "You have to have a mammogram done on the other breast ... it is mandatory," Fadl said. "If we go blindly and do the surgery, maybe after two or three months we might find she got another one." If the sanctions are fully lifted, repairing the machines will take less time, she said. "If anything goes wrong ... the engineer will come and they will have spare parts locally." Fadl's patient Ghada Mohammed Ali, 47, who underwent surgery for breast cancer, said it was a big concern. "When we come for check-ups we find the machine broken," she said. "I am worried because the cancer might have spread." Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is accused of acquiring an apartment complex on Lagos' ultra-chic Banana Island with stolen government cash and is implicated in a slew of legal cases at home and abroad A Nigerian court has confiscated the $37 million luxury apartment complex of a former oil minister accused of fraud and money laundering as well as rental proceeds from the properties. Lagos high court judge Chuka Obiozor on Monday also ordered ex-minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to handover more than $2.7 million (2.3 million euros) that she made leasing the apartments. Since leaving office in 2015, Alison-Madueke has been implicated in bribery, fraud, misuse of public funds, and money laundering cases in Nigeria, Britain, Italy and the United States. The first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC -- who was one of Africa's most prominent female politicians -- has always denied the allegations, which involve billions of dollars syphoned from oil deals and state accounts. The ruling followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that followed an uncontested temporary forfeiture order issued last month. The anti-graft agency had accused Alison-Madueke of acquiring the apartment complex on Lagos' ultra-chic Banana Island with stolen government cash. Banana Island is a gated community which is home to business tycoons, top politicians and celebrities. Alison-Madueke was appointed the country's first female oil minister by former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2010. She is currently on police bail in London after being arrested in connection with a British probe into international corruption and money laundering. Her name has also featured in a bribery complaint in the United States and a corruption investigation in Italy over a $1.3 billion oil deal between ENI and Shell. President Muhammadu Buhari, elected in 2015 on an anti-corruption platform, is seeking to stamp-out Nigeria's widespread graft. The 74-year-old retired general said after taking office that "mind-boggling" sums had been stolen from the public purse over the years. Investigators have arrested several high-ranking officials from Jonathan's administration on corruption charges, but few have been convicted. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta hails from the elite but has a reputation for the common touch Uhuru Kenyatta, who hopes to win a second and final term in Tuesday's elections, is the son of Kenya's founding president and a man who epitomises the country's elite. The 55-year-old US-educated multi-millionaire, whose family owns an array of businesses, properties and land, followed in his father's footsteps when he defeated his rival Raila Odinga to become president in 2013. Kenyatta won that poll despite being indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) along with his running mate, William Ruto, for alleged roles in orchestrating violence that left over 1,100 people dead after the previous election in 2007. Foreign powers, including Britain and the US, warned at the time that Kenya under an ICC-indicted president would be a pariah, but the threats proved empty. In 2014 the ICC dropped charges against Kenyatta -- and later Ruto -- citing the disappearance of witnesses and lack of evidence. Since then Kenya has welcomed then US president Barack Obama, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Pope Francis and hosted a string of international gatherings. - Privilege and wealth - Kenyatta's first term has been defined by big spending on eye-catching infrastructure and impressive economic growth in a tough climate. But this has gone hand-in-hand with spiralling debt and widening inequality. Terrorism has also been a consistent threat, with Kenyatta being forced to address the nation in doleful terms on numerous occasions, notably after the deadly 2013 Westgate mall siege and the 2015 Garissa university attack. Kenyan presidents: from father to son The former finance minister and deputy prime minister was born in 1961, shortly after his father Jomo Kenyatta was released from nearly a decade in British jails and before becoming Kenya's first president in 1964. His first name means "freedom" in Kiswahili. Educated at a private school in Nairobi and at Amherst College in the United State, Kenyatta is regarded as a leader of the Kikuyu people, the country's single largest ethnic group. He is married with three children and regularly attends Catholic church. In 2011 Forbes magazine estimated Kenyatta's wealth at $500 million (423 million euros). Despite his elite background Kenyatta has a common touch. He easily mixes it up with ordinary Kenyans, eagerly gets down on the dance floor and joshes in the local youth slang and, in his younger years, earned a persistent reputation for partying hard. A leaked 2009 US diplomatic cable described him as "bright and charming, even charismatic" but warned that "Kenyatta's liabilities are at least as important as his strengths. He drinks too much and is not a hard worker." - Dynastic politics - Kenyatta's political career is a case study in pragmatism. In the 1990s, he joined with the sons of other independence heroes to call for democratic reforms but then became a close ally of autocratic former president Daniel arap Moi who had him nominated as the ruling party's candidate for the presidency in 2002. Kenyatta lost to fellow Kikuyu politician Mwai Kibaki but then backed Kibaki's successful re-election bid in 2007, against Odinga who at the time was allied with Ruto. The violent fallout from the disputed result led to a power-sharing government in which Kibaki was president, Odinga prime minister and Kenyatta one of his deputies. In 2013 the two ICC indictees, Kenyatta and Ruto, joined forces to defeat Odinga in a close and controversial election. Kenyatta won in the first round with a wafer-thin margin of 50.03 percent -- a result Odinga disputed, unsuccessfully but peacefully this time, in court. No caption Tuesday's vote is a re-run of 2013 except that this time the opposition has united behind Odinga posing a serious challenge to Kenyatta's ruling Jubilee Party. Opinion polls put the two neck and neck. The election will most likely be the final act in a multi-generational political rivalry stretching back half a century to when Jomo Kenyatta and Odinga's father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, vied for control of the nation. If he wins, Kenyatta must stand down after one more term and, at 72, Odinga is regarded as too old to make another bid for the presidency in five years time. Both men's children are still inexperienced in politics. Raila Odinga says he has been robbed of victory in two previous presidential elections Raila Odinga, Kenya's veteran opposition leader and one-time prime minister, is hoping to go one better than his father in Tuesday's presidential election. The 72-year-old has been a mainstay of Kenyan politics since the 1980s, but has yet to win the top job. So far then, his career has resembled that of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who led the opposition for three decades but never the country. This time round, Odinga leads a coalition called the National Super Alliance (NASA), which hopes to overcome traditional opposition divisions to defeat incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, 55, and his ruling Jubilee Party. The Kenyatta vs. Odinga battle should be the closing chapter in a dynastic political rivalry between the two families. A generation ago, Jaramogi Odinga lost out to Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first post-independence leader. This time around, Uhuru Kenyatta is only allowed to serve one more term, and Odinga is seen as too old to make a fresh bid for the presidency in five years' time. - Lifelong presidential ambition - Born into political royalty, a member of Kenya's western Luo tribe, Odinga entered parliament in 1992 during the rule of president Daniel arap Moi. He had spent much of the previous decade in prison or in exile during the struggle for democracy. He ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1997, 2007 and 2013, claiming to have been cheated of victory in the last two votes. And many observers agree with Odinga's view that the 2007 election was stolen from him. That result triggered widespread politically motivated tribal violence that left more than 1,100 dead. To stop the killings, international mediators forced a deal that saw the incumbent, Mwai Kibaki, continue as president, while Odinga took the specially created position of prime minister in a power-sharing government. He held the post until 2013 when he ran for president, losing to Kenyatta by a very narrow margin -- and losing his court challenge of the result. A decade on, the violence of 2007 still casts a shadow over Kenya's political landscape and tribal resentment endures. Odinga's backers among the Luos believe they are being denied political power by a cabal of Kikuyu elites currently led by Kenyatta. In rallies and public statements Odinga has said he is "poised for an outright win". He has accused Kenyatta of seeking to rig the election and called on his supporters to "protect our vote" -- a barely veiled threat to take to the streets if they don't like the result. - A polarising politician - While his supporters consider Odinga a much-needed social reformer, for his detractors he is a rabble-rousing populist unafraid to play the tribal card. He is renowned as a firebrand speaker capable of galvanising a crowd with his oratory. But Odinga also has a reputation for being described as stubborn and sometimes short-tempered. For some observers, he has lost some of his crowd-pleasing skills, which some attribute to ill health and advancing years. Orange power: Odinga has a passionate following among supporters of the National Super Alliance (NASA) party With his speech notes in hand he often stumbles and labours over his words -- especially in English. Speaking off-the-cuff in his native Swahili however, he still has the ability to inspire. Raised an Anglican, he later converted to evangelicalism. In 2009, he was baptised in a Nairobi swimming pool by a self-proclaimed prophet. He studied engineering in communist former East Germany and named his eldest son Fidel, who died in 2015, after the Cuban revolutionary. However observers say the "socialist" and "communist" labels he was given were more an attempt to discredit him by the Moi regime than an accurate reflection of his leanings. After returning to Kenya in 1970 Odinga set up as a businessman before following his father into politics. Nowadays he describes himself as a social democrat who wants to fight inequality. Married, Odinga has three surviving children: Rosemary, Raila Junior and Winnie. Volunteers braved sweltering heat and humidity to comb one of the worst-affected beaches, filling black bin bags with the lumps of oil Residents in Hong Kong desperately tried to clear the coastline of greasy lumps of palm oil Tuesday as it continues to wash ashore after a huge spillage at sea. Their efforts came as the government said around 1,000 tonnes of the solidified oil had spilled from a cargo ship after a collision with another vessel near the Pearl River estuary in southern China Thursday. It was the first time authorities had confirmed how much had been spilled. Around 200 tonnes is likely to reach Hong Kong's shores, deputy environment chief Tse Chin-wan told reporters. Thirteen of the city's most popular swimming spots are closed after white clumps of the oil started appearing Sunday. Official cleaning teams have been sent to clear it from beaches and surrounding waters. But criticism of the government's response is mounting. Hong Kong beach pollution On Wednesday afternoon a team of local volunteers from Lamma Island in the south of Hong Kong braved sweltering heat and humidity to comb one of the worst-affected beaches, filling black bin bags with the lumps of oil. A sour stench hung over the area and small numbers of dead fish were washing in. The surrounding pathways were slippery with oil that had melted as temperatures hit 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit). "The government should put in more effort to clean up. I'm here because no one else is doing it," Tony Mok, 31, told AFP. "Every morning it looks like it has snowed in Hong Kong, and every afternoon it's all melted back down under the sand," said Lamma resident Robert Lockyer, who was leading the two dozen volunteers working to remove the oily white clumps. Aleli Pena, 38, described the clean-up effort as "hard, hot and disgusting". "We're all volunteers -- where are you government?" she asked. - Too little, too late? - Contract cleanup crew for the Hong Kong Marine Department use nets to scoop up lumps of solidified palm oil from the water in Hong Kong's Lamma Island Others said government cleaners had been working hard, but questioned why more had not been done to intercept the oil before it reached the beaches. Environment campaigner Gary Stokes said the government should have installed pollution booms -- a kind of floating barrier -- to stop the oil reaching the beaches. Stokes, Asia Director for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has written to the marine department asking them to install the booms to guard against more oil washing in. Tse had said earlier that he would not rule out the oil spreading to other areas. The government has repeatedly described the palm oil as non-toxic and "harmless" to humans. "You will see that many instant noodles have palm oil in them," Tse said Wednesday, although he acknowledged a large amount would affect the environment. Stokes said the oil was hazardous to wildlife because it attracts bacteria and had left a greasy film on the water which would reduce the supply of oxygen. Thirteen of the city's most popular swimming spots are closed after white clumps of the oil started appearing Sunday After examining the waters by boat himself, he told AFP the fish were "going crazy" for the lumps of oil and eating it, with unknown consequences. The government has been questioned over why it was not notified by mainland authorities until Saturday of the Thursday spill. Tse said it was only then that Chinese authorities realised it would spread to "other regions". The marine department then dispatched ships to try to recover some of the oil, he said. So far 50 tonnes had been gathered in Hong Kong and 38 tonnes in Guangdong, Tse added. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad aims to topple Malaysia's government at the next election Malaysia on Tuesday opened an inquiry into huge losses by the central bank more than two decades ago, a move the opposition says is aimed at derailing ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad's efforts to oust the government. A five-member panel will look into the alleged multi-billion-dollar losses incurred by Bank Negara Malaysia through foreign exchange trading in the early 1990s, during Mahathir's tenure as prime minister. The government-appointed Royal Commission of Inquiry will start its 10-day hearing on August 21 and have the power to recommend actions against anyone found to be involved in causing the losses. The 92-year-old former premier now leads the opposition coalition and is a strident critic of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is himself battling allegations that billions of dollars were looted from Malaysia's crisis-hit state investment fund 1MDB. Mahathir's supporters have slammed the inquiry as a ruse to remove a political foe as the country looks towards looming elections. "It is a political vendetta launched against Mahathir by Najib in order to create a diversion from the scandal-hit state investment fund 1MDB," veteran opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang told AFP. "I think they are trying to punish, penalise and prosecute Mahathir in time for the next general elections." Few details have emerged of the scale or nature of the alleged forex losses a quarter-century ago, but reports in local media have suggested that the central bank lost around US$10 billion. The inquiry was set up after the government said a preliminary probe found enough evidence to merit in-depth investigations. In April Mahathir, who was premier from 1981-2003, said he was ready to be a witness in the investigation. Mahathir has come out of retirement to form his own party and joined forces with his old foe Anwar Ibrahim in an opposition alliance that aims to unseat Najib in elections, due by 2018. He has excoriated Najib over 1MDB, saying that Malaysia is "controlled by thieves". Najib and 1MDB deny wrongdoing. Lim questioned why there was no inquiry into 1MDB. "How can we blissfully ignore the 1MDB scandal?" he said, adding that the forex losses probe was an attempt to silence Najib's critics. The task force is expected to submit a report to the king by October 13. But legal experts said only the attorney-general has the power to investigate the findings and prosecute. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani delivers a speech after his inauguration on August 5, 2017 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani put forward a new cabinet line-up on Tuesday that was immediately criticised by reformists for its lack of women or young people. The ministerial line-up, which must still be approved by parliament, also lacked minorities and actually increased the average age compared to Rouhani's first term. "The lack of women ministers shows we are treading water," Shahindokht Mowlaverdi, Rouhani's outgoing vice president for women's affairs, told the Etamad daily after news of the line-up was leaked. Many on social media said Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric who whipped up reformist support to secure re-election in May, was failing to keep his campaign promises of greater diversity. "The people's message in the last two elections has had little reflection in the proposed cabinet," tweeted Mohammad Karroubi, son of jailed opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi. "How can you speak of equality of the entire nation and ignore women and religious minorities?" he asked. The head of the reformist camp in parliament, Mohammed Reza Aref, also voiced his disappointment: "We expected at least one woman to be nominated," he said. Aref noted, according to Iranian media, most of the members of the delegation that accompanied EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to Iran Saturday for Rouhani's inauguration in parliament were women -- saying this was very meaningful. First vice-president Eshagh Jahanguiri echoed him in a tweet saying: "We should increase the number of women, minorities and youths in positions of responsibility." There were few major changes in the cabinet, with the key figures in Iran's efforts to rebuild ties with the West -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh -- retaining their positions. - Average age of 58 - The one surprise was the appointment of Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, a 35-year-old engineer and by far the youngest addition, who is set to become telecommunications minister. But even with his appointment, which puts an opponent of censorship at the heart of government, the average age of the cabinet remains at 58. Sunnis, who make up around 10 percent of the Shiite-majority nation, were also left out of the new government. Rouhani did replace the defence minister, Major General Hossein Dehghan, with his deputy, General Amir Hatami -- the first time in more than two decades that the post has been filled by someone from the regular army rather than the elite Revolutionary Guards. And the deputy economy minister, Masoud Karbasian, also replaced his boss, Ali Tayebnia. Analysts say Rouhani will stick with his general push to increase foreign investment and improve the management of the stagnant economy. An Iranian woman queues to vote in the presidential election on May 19, 2017 Over the past week, the expected lack of women has been a focus of criticism by reformists, who say Rouhani is probably bowing to pressure from the religious establishment. In his first term, Rouhani did have three women among his large cohort of vice presidents, who do not require parliamentary approval. Ironically, the sole female minister since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution came under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rouhani's hardline predecessor, whose health minister Marzieh Dastjerdi served between 2009 and 2013. Rouhani sailed to victory in May over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi with the backing of reformists after vowing to improve civil liberties and rebuild ties with the West. With no official parties in parliament, he must negotiate among a shifting pattern of political factions, none of which holds a definitive majority of the 290 seats. He is known to have coordinated closely with other power-brokers, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary. More than 60 percent of Nepali domestic workers who end up illegally in the Gulf travelled through the main airport in the capital Kathmandu, the report said Immigration officials at Nepal's international airport are colluding with traffickers to illegally send Nepali women to the Gulf where they are often exploited and abused, said a parliamentary report released Tuesday. The parliamentary committee tasked with international relations and labour rights said the government had failed to protect Nepalis working overseas and turned a blind eye to allegations of trafficking. More than 60 percent of Nepali domestic workers who end up illegally in the Gulf travelled through the main airport in the capital Kathmandu, the report said. "(They) travel on tourist visas via Tribhuvan International Airport in direct collusion with immigration officials, airline company staff, security officials and the traffickers." "The rest travel via different cities in India, Sri Lanka, China and various African countries," the report said. The women are lured to Gulf countries on promises of well-paid jobs in department stores or hotels. Instead, they are sent to work in private homes where their passports are usually confiscated. Rights activists in Nepal have long demanded the government do more to protect the four million Nepalis who work overseas -- mostly in the Gulf and Malaysia. With remittances from migrant workers accounting for nearly a third of Nepal's GDP according to government figures, activists suspect the authorities are reluctant to put pressure on host nations. "The government has been closing its eyes to the problem of human trafficking," Mohna Ansari, spokeswoman for the Nepal's Human Rights Commission, told AFP. Lawmakers on the parliamentary committee met with women who had escaped from abusive homes in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Many had suffered physical, mental and sexual violence, the report said. "Some women who have escaped and reached an embassy office have made reports about the human traffickers, but Foreign Affairs Ministry has failed to request the Home Ministry to take action against the culprits," it added. The number of migrants leaving Nepal for work has surged in recent years with nearly half a million leaving in 2015, up from 200,000 in 2008, according to the latest available government figures. The vast majority are men working in construction, but around 20,000 women leave each year. Nepal has previously attempted to ban women from working as maids in private homes in the Gulf over allegations that they are often overworked for low wages and treated poorly, but enforcement has been patchy. Bangladeshi police fire tear gas at Islamist activists during a clash in Dhaka in 2013 A Bangladeshi court on Tuesday jailed 14 Islamist extremists for their roles in a deadly series of coordinated bomb attacks in 2005. At least two people were killed and hundreds wounded in the blasts orchestrated by the Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), an outlawed Islamist group also blamed by authorities for last year's deadly attack on a Dhaka cafe. The court in the central district of Tangail sentenced all 14 accused to 20 years in jail, although only 10 were present, court inspector Anwarul Islam told AFP. The other four are still on the run. The JMB set off over 400 bombs across the country in 2005 to press for the introduction of Sharia law in the Muslim-majority but officially secular country. It later bombed a series of cultural and political venues, including courts, killing around 30 people including several judges. That led to a massive crackdown by the security forces in which JMB leaders were arrested. Many have since been tried and executed for their crimes. The Bangladesh government blames the JMB for a series of attacks in recent years on foreigners, atheist bloggers, rights activists and religious minorities. In the deadliest of these attacks, five gunmen stormed an upscale Dhaka cafe in July 2016, killing 22 people including 18 foreigners. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, but police and the government blamed JMB for the carnage, discounting suggestions that IS had a foothold in Bangladesh. Forces loyal to the Yemeni government are battling Al-Qaeda fighters who have exploited years of conflict to expand their presence in the impoverished country An Al-Qaeda suicide bomber killed five Yemeni soldiers and wounded 20 others in an attack on an army position in the country's south on Tuesday, military officials and medics said. The assailant used an explosives-rigged car to target the troops loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who had recently set up the position in the town of Loder in Abyan province to fight the jihadists, the military officials said. Earlier reports put the number of dead at three, with nine wounded, but hospital officials revised the toll upwards. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), seen by the United States as the global terror network's most dangerous branch, has exploited years of conflict between the government and Iran-backed Huthi rebels to expand its presence in Yemen. An AQAP statement published by the SITE Intelligence Group named the suicide bomber as Abu Salih, and said Al-Qaeda members had mortared the same position two days previously. The AQAP statement did not give an estimate of casualties in the attack. Al-Qaeda's jihadist rival, the Islamic State group, has also strengthened its control of parts of the impoverished country on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemeni special forces, trained by the United Arab Emirates and backed by the United States, on Wednesday launched a major operation against the Al-Qaeda fighters, driving them out of the oil-rich Shabwa province. The jihadists are thought to have moved further south into neighbouring Abyan province. More than 8,000 people have been killed in Yemen since a Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to support the government against the Huthi Shiite rebels, who had seized the capital and swathes of the country's north. There are around 12,000 troops operating under the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan The head of South Sudan's UN mission announced on Tuesday the long-awaited arrival of troops from a regional force meant to patrol roads and quell violence in the war-ravaged country. The UN Security Council decided a year ago to deploy a 4,000-strong regional force, two months after fighting in the capital Juba killed hundreds of people and led to the collapse of a peace agreement between President Salva Kiir's government and rebels loyal to his former deputy Riek Machar. However the plan has been bogged down in delays and bureaucratic hurdles David Shearer, head of the UN mission UNMISS, told a press conference about 150 troops from Rwanda arrived at the weekend for the regional protection force (RPF). A team of Nepalese soldiers and an engineering company from Bangladesh who will join east African troops for technical support have also arrived. "It will enable us to put more patrols along insecure roads where there have been attacks on civilian convoys," Shearer said of the RPF. "It will enable us, as I said before, to help protect civilians and build a durable peace in South Sudan." More troops from Rwanda along with a contingent from Ethiopia are also expected to arrive, Shearer added. Thousands of people have been killed or maimed in fighting between South Sudanese government and opposition forces that first erupted in 2013 There are already around 12,000 troops operating under UNMISS in South Sudan, but the Security Council authorised the deployment of the RPF after the July 2016 violence amid complaints that UN forces failed to respond to attacks on civilians. The Security Council mandate allows the RPF to secure Juba's airport and "promptly and effectively engage any actor that is credibly found to be preparing attacks or engages in attacks". Shearer blamed "bureaucratic hurdles" for the 11-month delay in deploying the troops. "We have liked it to have been quicker," he said. South Sudan descended into a vicious civil war in 2013 after Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. Machar is now in exile in South Africa. Thousands of people been killed and millions displaced by the violence, which briefly plunged part of the country into famine earlier this year. Two psychologists who helped design the CIA's post-9/11 detainee interrogation program will stand trial in September for promoting the use of torture methods like water-boarding, starvation and chaining prisoners in extreme stress positions. Federal judges in Washington state late Monday ordered a lawsuit on behalf of three former detainees - one of whom died in a CIA prison following harsh interrogation - to go to a jury trial, rejecting efforts to force a settlement and prevent a full hearing of the case. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the ex-detainees, will be the first involving the torture program to go to trial. Psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen have been ordered to stand trial in September in a civil case brought about by three former CIA detainees The government has headed off previous efforts, citing what is said is a need to protect sensitive intelligence. The case targets psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, who were recruited by the CIA in 2002 to design and help conduct interrogations of war-on-terror suspects captured in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The two were paid $80million for their work, which included helping interrogate Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks by Al-Qaeda, and Abu Zubaydah, another top Qaeda official. The detainees (including Suleiman Abdullah Salim, left; and Mohamed Ahmed Ben Soud, right) are suing the psychologists for developing the CIA's interrogation program, which they say amounts to illegal torture Two of the detainees were released after years of imprisonment, but one of the detainees in the lawsuit, Afghani Gul Rahman (pictured) died in a CIA prison after two weeks of 'brutal torture' The ACLU suit alleges that Jessen and Mitchell were responsible for, and profited financially from, the illegal torture of Tanzanian Suleiman Abdullah Salim, Libyan Mohamed Ahmed Ben Soud, and Afghani Gul Rahman. The first two were later freed after years of imprisonment, while Rahman died of hypothermia in a CIA prison cell in November 2002, after what the ACLU says was two weeks of 'brutal torture'. 'This is a historic day for our clients and all who seek accountability for torture,' said ACLU attorney Dror Ladin in a statement. 'The court's ruling means that for the first time, individuals responsible for the brutal and unlawful CIA torture program will face meaningful legal accountability for what they did. Our clients have waited a long time for justice.' The court rejected the psychologists' arguments that they were not responsible for all of the CIA's interrogation activities and had nothing to do with the interrogations of two of the men. The ACLU suit alleges that Jessen and Mitchell were responsible for, and profited financially from, the illegal torture of the three men. Above, a picture of detainee Ali Shallal al-Qaisi being tortured at Abu Ghraib prison in 2003. Al-Qaisi is not a part of the lawsuit, but he was interrogated by the CIA during his stay at the prison They also claimed they were not responsible for specific decisions to use so-called 'enhanced interrogation techniques' in the specific cases of the three, but only broadly supplied the CIA with a list of methods to choose from. Defending that act as legal, they cited a post-World War II war trial which cleared a technician involved in supplying poison Zyklon B gas to Nazi concentration camps of culpability in mass murder. They also claimed that the decision to use such techniques was made by the CIA and approved by the Department of Justice, and that they cannot therefore be held responsible. Demonstrators clash with Moroccan security forces on July 20, 2017, in the northern restive city of Al-Hoceima A protester in a coma after being struck on the head last month in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in northern Morocco died Tuesday of his injuries, officials said. The neglected northern Rif region of Morocco has been shaken by weeks of protests and violence with demonstrators demanding jobs, development and an end to corruption. On July 20, Imad Atabi was hit in the head in clashes in the main Rif city of Al-Hoceima, and taken to a military hospital in Rabat after falling into a coma. At the time the official MAP news agency, quoting the authorities, said Atabi had been wounded by "stone throwing". The Al-Hoceima prosecutor said he died on Tuesday, and said an investigation was still under way to determine the circumstances that led to his death and who was responsible for it. The Rif protests erupted last October after a fishmonger was crushed to death in a rubbish truck as he tried to retrieve swordfish confiscated for being caught out of season. Demands for justice later snowballed into a wider social movement named Al-Hirak al-Shaabi, calling for jobs, development and an end to graft. Leaders of the grassroots movement were arrested at the end of May and the July 20 demonstration was called by Hirak supporters t9o demand their release. At the end of July, King Mohammed VI pardoned more than 1,000 detainees, including 40 people arrested for taking part in the Rif protests. However, more than 150 Rif activists, including protest leader Nasser Zefzafi, remain behind bars. A Philippine Marine in July 2017 observed Islamic militant positions on the frontline in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao. The US is weighing sending additional support to help the fight against IS The United States is weighing additional support to the Philippine military as it fights an Islamist insurgency in the south, a US defense official said Tuesday. Discussions are "pretty advanced" and would see the US provide increased surveillance drone capabilities and training for local forces, the official told AFP on condition on anonymity. The drones could hypothetically be used to conduct strikes, the official added, although that would only be for self-defense reasons to protect US or partner forces, and would not signal another front in America's drone wars. "It's not necessarily what those (drones) are there for. Those are there for ISR and support," the official said, using an abbreviation for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The Philippines' Department of National Defense said there had been no discussions regarding the use of US drones to strike IS-inspired "terrorist groups." Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Chris Logan said all military assistance in the Philippines is conducted at the request of the government. "We respect the sovereignty of the Philippines, and we are not pursuing unilateral action in the Philippines," he said. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has asked lawmakers to approve the recruiting of 20,000 more soldiers to tackle increased security threats following a bloody urban siege in the south. Almost 700 people have been killed, according to the official count, in over two months of fighting in the southern city of Marawi against Islamist militants who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. The militants, waving the black IS flag, have occupied parts of Marawi since May 23, prompting Duterte to declare martial law in the entire southern region of Mindanao. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday called the crisis in Marawi a "tragic situation" and said US forces were providing surveillance aircraft and important advice for the Philippines forces in the battle there. The US has for years provided intel to the Philippines and has between 300 and 500 special operations and regular forces stationed in the country. Google's firing of an engineer who questioned the company's diversity efforts has sparked a fresh row in Silicon Valley The dismissal of a Google engineer over a memo defending the Silicon Valley gender gap has fanned the flames of a simmering debate in the tech sector over sexism, free expression and political correctness. The "manifesto" published as an internal memo by James Damore, which claimed "biological differences" were a key factor in the low percentage of women in technology jobs sparked outcry from those claiming it perpetuated stereotypes and discrimination. Then Damore was fired -- according to media reports and his own email to the far-right news website Breitbart -- which sparked a new backlash from those claiming Google was stifling free speech. The fresh controversy comes with Silicon Valley struggling in the face of accusations of rampant sexual harassment and discrimination affecting startups like Uber and venture capital firms investing in the sector. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, without commenting on Damore, said employees have a right to express themselves but that the memo appeared to "cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK," Pichai said in his email to employees. But Damore's firing fueled a wave of criticism from those arguing Google was suppressing a dissenting viewpoint. "Very sad about #JamesDamore being fired by @Google for basically popularising behavioural science. Scandalous and immoral," one Twitter user wrote. "Google went from: 'Don't be evil' to 'Speak no evil about political correctness,'" another tweet said. Damore's firing made him a hero to the far right and those claiming political correctness has gone too far. Breitbart published the first of what it said was a series of interviews with "rebels of Google" who claim the company is stifling dissent. "Witch hunts are a well-known cultural problem at Google," one employee identified only as "Hal" said. "A lot of social justice activists essentially spend all day fighting the culture war, and get nothing done." Damore's 10-page memo, which was leaked on the website Gizmodo and later on Motherboard, argued that Google has silenced anyone seeking to differ with official policy, leading to "an ideological echo chamber." - Gender woes in Valley - Google CEO Sundar Pichai says a memo questioning the company's diversity efforts was offensive Currently some 69 percent of Google's employees are men, according to the company's latest figures, a proportion that rises to 80 percent when it comes to technology jobs. In 2016 at Facebook just 27 percent of senior executives were women. At Apple, around 30 percent of total employees are women. Roger Kay, who heads the tech consultancy Endpoint Technologies Associates, said the Damore case is not about free speech, and that Google has a right to keep employees who support the company's values. "They're not putting him in jail, it's not a criminal indictment," Kay said. "His speech (memo) was odious, and they're absolutely allowed to fire him for it if it promotes the greater good." Some analysts say there is no easy answer for tech firm which are seeking to promote a diverse workforce while dealing with competing factions. "Though theres been plenty of outrage over the (Damore) post among Google employees and others in the tech industry, there are also significant numbers who have welcomed it," said Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research in a blog post. "Despite the broad official push for diversity from tech companies, there's still a big chunk of the employee base that holds such views and wishes they could air them more freely." Giant panda Xing Ya celebrated his fourth birthday with an ice cake in Ouwehands Dierenpark zoo. Xing Ya and Wu Wen are on loan from China and will stay in the Dutch Zoo for the next 15 years Two multi-layered "cakes" made from ice, vegetable juice and fruit greeted a pair of giant pandas at a Dutch zoo Tuesday for their first birthday party since arriving from China. Female Wu Wen (Beautiful Powerful Cloud) and her male companion Xing Ya (Elegant Star) both turn four this month and officials at the Ouwehands Dierenpark in the central town of Rheenen decided to throw a joint party. "At first they both approached the cakes with caution, with the male panda giving his an exploratory lick," said animal biologist Jose Kok. "Then they became curious and realised 'hang on, this is something nice in my enclosure' and not long after that, the cake's layers were separated," Kok told AFP with a laugh. It took a week to prepare the icy treats, which where also layered with the pandas' favourite food: bamboo shoots. The two panda "superstars" arrived in The Netherlands in mid-April after an 8,000 kilometre (5,000 mile) journey from China, following years of negotiations in what has been dubbed "panda diplomacy". Male panda Xing Ya turned four on August 5, while Wu Wen was born on August 11. Officials decided to hold their birthday on August 8, the eighth day of the eighth month, figures which according to Chinese culture means good luck, Kok said. Dozens of delighted visitors were also treated to a real birthday cake in the form of a giant panda. Officials decided to hold their birthday on August 8, the eighth day of the eighth month, figures which according to Chinese culture means good luck The two pandas will be housed at the zoo for the next 15 years and for now are being kept in two separate enclosures, specially built for them at a price of seven million euros ($8 million). But Kok said it is hoped that the two bears would mate within the next year to help replenish global panda numbers. Some 1,864 pandas remain in the wild in China, an increase from around 1,000 in the late 1970s, according to the environmental group WWF. And just over 400 pandas live in zoos around the world, in conservation projects set up with Beijing. jhe/mt Israeli soldier Elor Azaria (C), pictured in court in 2016, is expected to begin his sentence in the Tzrifin prison in central Israel An Israeli soldier who shot dead a prone Palestinian attacker will begin an 18-month prison sentence Wednesday, a military court ruled, after his request for a postponement was rejected. Elor Azaria's appeal for a postponement "was rejected and he must report to the prison to serve his sentence", a military court ruling seen by AFP said. Azaria had requested that the sentence be postponed until Chief of Staff General Gadi Eisenkot examined a request that his sentence be reduced or changed to community service. Azaria is expected to begin his sentence in the Tzrifin prison in central Israel early on Wednesday. On July 30, a military court rejected Azaria's appeal against his conviction for manslaughter and upheld the prison term. The March 2016 shooting in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron was caught on video by a rights group and spread widely online. It showed Abdul Fatah al-Sharif, 21, lying wounded on the ground, shot along with another Palestinian after stabbing and wounding a soldier, according to the army. Azaria then shot him in the head without any apparent provocation. He said he feared Sharif was wearing an explosive belt and could blow himself up, a claim judges rejected. A number of Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have spoken out in favour of Azaria being pardoned. An F/A-18E Super Hornet prepares for takeoff from the flight deck of the USS Nimitz in 2013 An Iranian drone flew within 100 feet (30 meters) of a US Naval jet Tuesday as the American plane was trying to land on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf, the Navy said. The encounter unfolded in international air space as the F/A-18E Super Hornet was preparing to land on the USS Nimitz, US Naval Forces Central Command spokesman Commander Bill Urban said. He said that despite repeated radio calls to stay clear of flight operations near the Nimitz, the Iranian drone executed "unsafe and unprofessional" altitude changes near the F/A 18. The US jet had to maneuver to avoid collision, with the drone passing just 100 feet away at its closest point. "The dangerous maneuver by the QOM-1 in the known vicinity of fixed-wing flight operations and at coincident altitude with operating aircraft created a collision hazard and is not in keeping with international maritime customs and laws," Urban said. He added this was the 13th "unsafe and/or unprofessional" interaction between US and Iranian maritime forces this year. In July, a US Navy patrol ship fired warning shots at an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps boat in the Gulf as it closed in on the American vessel. One of the world's poorest nations, CAR was pitched into a war between Muslim and Christian militias in 2013 Witness reports of killings in the Central African Republic, some targeting aid workers, piled up Tuesday as the UN said it saw "early signs of a genocide" in the conflict-wracked nation. At least 60 people have been killed in recent weeks in fighting between armed groups in Ngaoundaye and Batangafo in the north, Kaga-Bandoro in the centre and Alindao and Gambo to the south, witnesses have told AFP. The fighting is largely between groups on opposing sides of the brutal conflict between Muslim and Christian militias that broke out in CAR in 2013 after President Francois Bozize was overthrown by a coalition of Muslim-majority rebel groups called the Seleka. Groups on both sides are now fighting for control of natural resources -- including gold and diamonds -- and regional influence after a conflict that saw half a million people flee the country of 4.5 million. At least three aid workers from the local branch of the Red Cross were among "several dozen" slaughtered at a health centre in Gambo in recent days, the humanitarian group's chief Antoine Mbao Bogo told AFP. "Normally it's the Red Cross that gives the toll, because we bury the dead. But when you kill the Red Cross people, there's no one left to do it," he said. The circumstances of the attack were still unclear, and it is difficult to confirm the nature of the casualties in a country where the state and army are virtually absent outside the capital Bangui. Several sources said there had been clashes in Gambo between "self-defence" militias and the UPC, an armed Seleka faction. Gambo lies 70 kilometres from the town of Bangassou, where nine peacekeepers have been killed since early May. Twenty-four people including 14 civilians have meanwhile died in northwestern Batangafo in clashes from July 29 to August 2, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. Residences used by humanitarian organisations in Batangafo were plundered after the fighting, medical charity Doctors without Borders (MSF) told AFP. The other deaths occurred in a southern village near Alindao where fighting on August 4 claimed about 10 lives and left seven others wounded, OCHA said. Fighting in Ngaoundaye, near the borders with Cameroon and Chad, killed at least 10 others and forced around 7,000 people to flee the area, several sources told AFP. - Genocide warning - Alexandre Sarr, head of the UN refugees agency UNHCR in Meiganga across the border in Cameroon, said more than 6,800 people had arrived from CAR since July 10. "Many are in poor health and many are malnourished children," he told AFP. At a UN meeting in New York on Monday, OCHA chief Stephen O'Brien urged immediate action to contain the crisis in CAR before it's too late. "The early warning signs of a genocide are there. We must act now, not pare down the UN's effort and pray we don't live to regret it," he said. "It is all too clear to those on the ground: it is time to authorise an increase in troops and police personnel to enable MINUSCA to deliver on its critical protection mandate," he added, referring to the UN's peacekeeping force. UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix last week said he was considering sending a request to the UN Security Council for more troops for MINUSCA, currently some 12,500 strong. The Seleka were ousted following their overthrow of the president by a military intervention led by former colonial ruler France. Those events sparked some of the bloodiest sectarian violence in the country's history as mainly Christian vigilante groups sought revenge. The government of President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who was elected last year, remains in control of Bangui but its authority is weak outside the capital, where deadly clashes continue between former Seleka rebels and Christian fighters. View of the border fence with Israel on the eastern outskirts of Gaza City Israel will allow Palestinian business executives from Jerusalem to visit the Gaza Strip for the first time in years, a defence ministry body said Tuesday. COGAT, the Israeli agency that oversees civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, said it would allow in small numbers of businesspeople from annexed east Jerusalem looking to invest in the coastal territory. Israel controls most access into and out of the Gaza Strip and has imposed a blockade on the Palestinian enclave for a decade. But in an Arabic-language Facebook post late Monday, COGAT said it would allow in "businessmen and others who want to improve and strengthen the economy, infrastructure and humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip". It said up to 150 people would be permitted to enter at a time. Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs Gaza, have fought three wars since 2008. Israel argues its blockade is necessary to control Hamas, but the United Nations and others warn the blockade amounts to collective punishment of the strip's two million residents. Egypt also has a border with Gaza which it has largely closed off in recent years. A pastoral letter recently read in Catholic pulpits across Poland highlights the real and pressing problem of alcoholism. In it, the bishop called for the complete suppression of alcohol advertising and for a significant price increase to reduce consumption. But there are strong reasons to believe its proposed policies could make matters worse, writes Marcin Rzegocki, who lives in Poland, in his most recent essay for Religion & Liberty Transatlantic. The great responsibility of the state is not only to make wise and precise law but also effective and ruthless enforcement, wrote Bishop Tadeusz Bronakowski. You must completely ban the advertising of alcohol and limit its physical and economic availability. Both alcoholism and the call for a sin tax blanket Europe. A recent report from United European Gastroenterology warns that European drinking patterns elevate their risk for colorectal and esophageal cancer. It has sparked additional calls for a heavier tariff on its consumers. But is a sin tax the right answer? asks Rzegocki in his new essay. He carefully traces the extent of the problem alcoholism presents to Europe, and Poland, before highlighting the unintended consequences of government intervention. This includes the smuggling of low-quality alcohol by nefarious elements in other parts of the Schengen Area something all-too-familiar to his readers on the U.S. side of the transatlantic sphere. Aside from this and the other practical issues that he expertly describes, Rzegocki notes that sin taxes pose a moral conundrum: This gives rise to the paradox that the state profits from a higher consumption of alcohol. In 2014, the excise tax on alcohol added 10 billion zlotys ($2.8 billion U.S.) to the Polish budget, not including the income from the VAT tax on alcohol sales. It becomes obvious that the governments budget relies on the taxation of these products. Why would it then be interested in diminishing sales? Has the state ever been interested in reducing its own budget? As a true pastor of his people, though, Bishop Bronakowski does not leave the solution to the mechanisms of the State. His pastoral letter (which is linked here) begins with the responsibilities of families and churches. Rzegocki outlines the matchless help that can be provided by individuals, family members, church pastors, and private organizations (such as the American invention, Alcoholics Anonymous, which has since spread to Europe). Rzegockis essay recalls the second and third of AAs 12 steps, calling on addicts to seek the assistance of a Higher Power: Jesus said that, when it comes to certain kinds of evils, they are not cast out but by prayer and fasting (St. Matthew 17:18-21, Douay-Rheims). These spiritual weapons, in the hands of loving families and strong intermediary institutions, will doubtlessly prove more powerful than relying on state limitations, monopoly enterprises, and economic interventionism. You can read his full essay here. For a fuller exposition of the issue, please see Fr. Robert A. Siricos The Sin Tax: Economic and Moral Considerations. (Photo credit: Jak Sie Masz. This photo has been cropped. CC BY-SA 2.0.) Map of Afghanistan locating Sayad district The Taliban released 235 hostages from a remote village in northern Afghanistan where it allegedly massacred around 50 civilians along with Islamic State insurgents but others were still feared held, officials said Tuesday. "This evening 235 people including women and children were released from Mirzawalang as a result of mediation by the local elders and provincial officials," Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. "They have been safely evacuated to Sar-e Pul city, but there are still an unknown number of people being kept hostage there," he added. An Afghan security source said he thought there were still around 100 people being held hostage in Mirzawalang, situated in the Sayad district of Sar-e Pul province, after insurgents captured it at the weekend. Taliban and IS fighters killed around 50 men, women and children in the mainly Shiite village on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials, who also said they took a number of residents captive. "Despite the efforts of elders the bodies of the victims have not been recovered," Mohammad Zaher Wahdat, the provincial governor, told Tolo News, an Afghanistan television news channel. "Two hundred and thirty-five hostages have been released. They are so shocked they can't even speak to tell us about anymore other hostages," he added. Amani, the provincial spokesman, has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) after a 48-hour battle before massacring civilians, he claimed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Most were shot or beheaded, he said. - Special forces - Afghan defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP that 34 civilians were known to have been killed. The discrepancy highlights the difficulty of verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications. AFP was not able to access the village. Before confirmation of the release of hostages Amani said that 150 families were being held while Waziri said "an unknown number of people" had been taken hostage. "Since the villages is cut off, we can't confirm any new killings by the terrorists," Amani told AFP. The Taliban confirmed capturing Mirzawalang but said it did so alone. It has also denied allegations it had killed civilians. Taliban and IS fighters have regularly clashed in Afghanistan over the past two years but security sources say they have teamed up in the past to strike Afghan forces in certain areas. "Commando forces have been deployed to the area, air strikes are being carried out as we speak, and commanders on the ground are busy planning the recapture of the valley," said Waziri, the defence spokesman. "The operation to retake the valley will happen soon, and the terrorists will pay for their crimes," he added. Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghan government, told AFP it was difficult to know numbers of civilians concerned but said "President Ashraf Ghani has instructed everyone to do everything to safeguard those people". South African President Jacob Zuma, 75, has survived by building a network of fiercely loyal African National Congress (ANC) lawmakers and officials South Africa's jovial leader Jacob Zuma is a former herdboy who fought in the anti-apartheid struggle and has held onto the presidency for eight turbulent years despite a plethora of scandals. Zuma, 75, has survived by building a network of fiercely loyal African National Congress (ANC) lawmakers and officials, as well as trading on the party's legacy as the organisation that ended white-minority rule. Among the major stains on his presidency have been allegedly fostering a culture of government corruption, and leading the country into a quagmire of low economic growth and record unemployment. On Tuesday he survived another attempt by opposition parties to oust him via a no-confidence vote in parliament. As leader of the late Nelson Mandela's party, which has won every election since South Africa became a democracy in 1994, Zuma was an easy victor when securing a second five-year term in 2014. The son of a domestic worker, he has "a very strong appeal" to the working class and the poor, says Sdumo Dlamini, head of the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), an ANC ally. "He is a people's person and he has grown through the ranks of the working class. He knows the suffering of the ordinary folk." - Grassroots support - Born on April 12, 1942, in the rural outpost of Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province, Zuma had a meteoric rise in politics. Popularly referred to as "JZ", he enjoys loyalty from millions of ANC grassroots supporters awed by his journey from uneducated cattle herder to president, with a 10-year stint as an apartheid-era political prisoner on Robben Island along the way. When he took the reins of the ANC in 2007 in a putsch against ex-president Thabo Mbeki, Zuma inherited a party riddled with divisions. Tensions have only deepened further as poverty and racial inequality continue to blight the country more than 20 years after the end of apartheid, and the ANC has been accused of losing its moral compass. As criticism of his reign mounted, Zuma has maintained a cheerful public facade, often giggling and laughing as the allegations against him built up. But he has been significantly weakened as increasingly senior ANC figures have criticised him in public. He was forced into a humiliating climbdown in 2015 after firing a minister of finance and appointing a man widely seen as a stooge. As the local rand currency went into freefall, Zuma bowed to pressure and re-appointed Pravin Gordhan, an admired former finance minister, to the key post. In a tussle that symbolised his tenacious grip over the ANC, Zuma finally got the finance minister of his choice in March this year when Gordhan was ousted in a midnight reshuffle. In 2016, Zuma agreed to pay back some of the public money spent on his private residence at Nkandla -- backing down in the face of a stinging Constitutional Court rebuke. - Zulu warrior gear - Zuma's private life is as colourful as his political career. A proud traditionalist, he often swaps his suits for full leopard-pelt Zulu warrior gear, engaging in energetic ground-stomping tribal dances during ceremonies in his village. At ANC rallies, he is the first to break into tuneful song. In the past, he loved leading supporters in the rousing anti-apartheid struggle song "Umshini Wami" (Bring Me My Machine Gun), which became his signature tune. The teetotaller and non-smoker has four wives and at least 20 children. He joined the ANC as a teenager, becoming the strategic and ruthless head of intelligence of the underground organisation. Before taking office, Zuma dismayed the nation during his 2006 rape trial when he told the court he had showered after having sex with his young HIV-positive accuser to avoid contracting the virus. He was head of the country's national AIDS council at the time. Zuma was acquitted of rape but is often mocked in newspaper cartoons and depicted with a shower nozzle sprouting from his bald head. At Mandela's memorial service he was loudly booed by ordinary South Africans in front of world leaders. During Zuma's time in power, South Africa has also been rocked by increasing social unrest over the failure to provide housing and basic services such as electricity and water to end the deprivations of apartheid. Zuma is still fighting a court order that could reinstate almost 800 corruption charges against him over a multi-billion dollar arms deal in the 1990s. Despite the stalling economy and the many calls for him to stand down, Zuma may well see off his critics and stay in office until his term ends in 2019. OPEC states and other oil producers agreed in November to cut output until March 2018, limiting a supply glut in a bid to raise prices following a collapse in 2014 Global oil producers said Tuesday they remained committed to cutting output and stemming the collapse in oil prices, OPEC said. A technical panel including members of the Saudi-led cartel and other oil producers made the statement after a two-day session in Abu Dhabi. OPEC states and other oil producers agreed in November to cut output until March 2018, limiting a supply glut in a bid to raise prices following a collapse in 2014. After an initial rebound following the deal, oil prices have slid below $50 a barrel. Some exporters have produced more oil than agreed under the November deal, raising doubts about OPEC's ability to enforce it. But the cartel said Tuesday that countries at the Abu Dhabi meeting "remain steadfast in their commitment to fulfil" the November deal. Decisions at the meeting, attended by Russia and top producer Saudi Arabia, will "help facilitate full conformity" with production cuts, it said. Last month, OPEC said there was "room for improvement" in implementing the deal and called on countries that signed the deal to "promptly reach full conformity". The cartel's ministerial committee called the Abu Dhabi meeting with the aim of "further improving" adherence to the supply cuts, OPEC said Tuesday. It called the meeting "fruitful". It said the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kazakhstan and Malaysia had expressed "full support for the existing monitoring mechanism" of the November deal. Oil prices fell slightly ahead of the meeting's conclusion, falling short of the symbolic $50 per barrel threshold. Destroyed buildings are pictured amid rubble in Raqa in July 2017 US-led coalition raids on Raqa in northern Syria have killed 29 civilians over the past 24 hours as American-backed forces battle the Islamic State group, a monitor said Tuesday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine women and 14 children had been killed in coalition air raids on Raqa city since Monday evening. It said 14 of the dead were members of one family. The toll could rise because of the number of critically wounded, it added. The American-led coalition battling IS in Syria and Iraq on Tuesday entered its fourth year of operations. It began on August 8, 2014 in Iraq, moving later to battle the jihadists in neighbouring Syria. The United States is backing an Arab-Kurdish alliance that is fighting to oust IS from Raqa, its main Syrian stronghold, and the province of the same name. The Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria for its information, has regularly reported civilians killed by coalition strikes. It says it determines what aircraft carried out raids according to their type, location, flight patterns and the munitions involved. The United States has admitted that its strikes caused the deaths of 624 civilians since 2014. Rights organisations say the number is far higher. United Nations war crimes investigators in June expressed alarm at the rise in civilian deaths in the fight for Raqa. Intensified air strikes had caused "staggering loss of civilian life" and led to 160,000 civilians fleeing their homes, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, head of the UN Commission of Inquiry, told reporters. Captured by the jihadists in 2014, Raqa became a symbol of atrocities by IS in its self-declared "caliphate". The Syrian Democratic Forces alliance began a campaign to capture the city last year, slowly encircling the city before breaking into it for the first time in June. They have since advanced in a pincer-like motion and taken around 45 percent of the city. The jihadist group has responded with a barrage of car bombs, suicide bombers, weaponised drones and snipers. Progress inside Raqa has been hampered by IS mines, which have slowed advancing SDF fighters and also had devastating consequences for civilians trying to flee. To the southeast, Syrian government forces backed by their Russian allies are fighting IS in the oil-rich province of Deir Ezzor. More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011. Frustrated with US media coverage of his White House, President Donald Trump has launched a broadcast on his Facebook page offering what is being billed as the "real news" Hardly a week goes by without US President Donald Trump venting his frustration at the media's coverage of his White House. "The Fake News refuses to report the success of the first 6 months," Trump tweeted Sunday in one of his latest broadsides. To fight against what it considers "Fake News" generated by the mainstream media, Team Trump is now producing what it is billing as the "Real News." The first "Real News" video appeared a little over a week ago on Trump's Facebook page and featured the president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who is married to his son Eric. Shot against a blue backdrop advertising DonaldJTrump.com and the 2016 Trump-Pence ticket, the video, filmed at Trump Tower in New York, mimics the format of a television newscast. "Hey everybody, Lara Trump here," she begins breezily. "I bet you haven't heard about all the accomplishments the president had this week because there's so much fake news out there." Lara Trump goes on to note that her billionaire father-in-law has donated his presidential salary to the National Park Service and the Department of Education. "This is a president who is putting America before himself," she says, before praising his economic achievements. "The economy is booming ladies and gentlemen," the 34-year-old notes in the broadcast, reportedly paid for by Trump's presidential campaign committee. She signs off the two-minute video, which has drawn over 2.3 million views on Facebook, by saying: "Thanks for joining us everybody. I'm Lara Trump and that is the real news." The video was followed by another over the weekend from Kayleigh McEnany, a conservative television pundit and Trump supporter. McEnany, 29, who was named spokeswoman for the Republican Party on Monday, lauds the number of jobs created since Trump took office in January and the record stock market highs. "President Trump has clearly steered the economy back in the right direction," McEnany says. "I'm Kayleigh McEnany and that is the real news," she says in her signoff for the 90-second video which has drawn over 1.5 million views. - 'State-sponsored propaganda' - The promotional video broadcasts, dubbed "Trump TV" by some critics, have become the target of mockery from late night comedy shows. "Now that looks like state-sponsored propaganda," Late Show host Stephen Colbert said after the appearance of the first broadcast featuring Lara Trump. And it was not only comedians making the comparison. "Wow. Feels eerily like so many state-owned channels I've watched in other countries," Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia who served on the National Security Council under president Barack Obama, said on Twitter. While detractors attacked the "Real News" broadcasts, others noted that Obama and others before him used the White House's media machinery to promote their accomplishments. "These critics failed to raise the red flag of propaganda when Trump's predecessor used American tax dollars to present himself with well-produced (and pretty expensive) videos that come a lot closer to bona fide propaganda than the Trump/Pence re-election videos they're complaining about," conservative radio host Larry O'Connor in an opinion piece on mediaite.com. A number of news outlets compared "Trump TV" with a slick weekly wrap-up of Obama achievements called "West Wing Week" that was produced by the White House. Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, 60, is scheduled to go on trial next April, accused of running the Sinaloa cartel, one of the world's biggest drug empires. He was extradited to New York on January 19, and is being held in solitary confinement Drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman wants to dump his US public defenders for a quartet of top-flight criminal defense lawyers, including attorneys who got an infamous New York mafia boss out of prison. Guzman, one of the world's most notorious criminals who twice escaped prison in his native Mexico, has moved to hire Jeffrey Lichtman, Marc Fernich, Eduardo Balarezo and William Purpura, three of the lawyers confirmed to AFP. But there is a sticking point: the quartet want a guarantee that US prosecutors will not seize their legal fees as part of the $14 billion forfeiture they are seeking of Guzman's alleged drug profits. That issue will be discussed at the next court hearing scheduled August 14, which Fernich said the private lawyers would attend only as observers. "I'll represent him along with the other three provided this fee issue is resolved. I expect that to happen," Fernich told AFP. "We are confident we see him vindicated provided all these preliminary wrangling works out, we'll fight the case very hard," he said. Fernich worked with Lichtman to successfully defend John "Junior" Gotti, son of the so-called "Dapper Don" John Gotti Senior at trial in 2005. Gotti escaped conviction in no less than four racketeering trials. The offices of Purpura, who represented Baltimore drug kingpin Richard Anthony Wilford, and Lichtman also confirmed Guzman's intention to hire the four. Balarezo represented one of Guzman's rival Mexican traffickers, The New York Times reported. Guzman, 60, is scheduled to go on trial next April, accused of running the Sinaloa cartel, one of the world's biggest drug empires. He was extradited to New York on January 19, and is being held in solitary confinement. His publicly funded defenders have worked vigorously on his case for months, challenging the legality of his extradition, demanding the judge drop the case and repeatedly challenging the harsh conditions of his custody. "We still represent Mr Guzman and we'll still represent him until private lawyers file a notice of appearance," assistant federal defender Michael Schneider said. Guzman faces a litany of firearms, drug trafficking and conspiracy charges. If convicted, he will likely spend the rest of his life behind US bars. Timeline of nuclear and major missile tests in North Korea since January 2016 US intelligence believes North Korea has now built a nuclear weapon small enough to fit onto a ballistic missile, making it a potent threat against neighbors and possibly the United States, the Washington Post reported Tuesday. The country's nuclear advances have proceeded much more quickly than expected, but experts say North Korea still needs significant technological gains in order to become a full-fledged nuclear threat. - Where does the North Korean nuclear capability stand? - Pyongyang has conducted five nuclear bomb tests, with the last one, on September 9, 2016, roughly the size of the nuclear bomb the United States dropped on Nagasaki in 1945: 20-30 kilotons. That device, North Korea said, was going to be miniaturized and "standardized" for use on its ballistic missiles. This year it demonstrated an ability to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in two tests. The most recent of them, on July 28, showed a missile with a theoretical range of 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles), meaning it could hit much of the United States and Europe, including population centers like New York and Paris. - Is that enough to constitute an immediate threat? - Besides reliable missiles with accurate targeting technology, Pyongyang needs to make sure its bombs would survive a 16,000 mile per hour (25,800 kilometer per hour) reentry from high in the atmosphere on an ICBM. It is possible their warheads are currently robust enough to survive the slower speeds of a shorter range missile that could strike Japan, but unlikely with an ICBM. According to Michael Elleman, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the re-entry vehicle on the July 28 test likely broke into pieces and disintegrated. Siegfried Hecker, a Stanford University nuclear expert, said it could be another five years before North Korea has an adequately robust reentry vehicle. "I don't believe they have sufficient missile or nuclear test experience to field a nuclear warhead that is sufficiently small, light and robust to survive an ICBM delivery," Hecker told AFP. - What other technical hurdles does NK face?- Hecker, who has visited North Korea several times to view its nuclear activities, said its weapons program is deeply constrained by its small supply of uranium and plutonium, especially plutonium, which is preferrable in an ICBM-mounted weapon. Combined, he said, its uranium and plutonium supplies are likely enough for 20-25 nuclear weapons. But according to the Washington Post report, the US Defense Intelligence Agency believes the country already has up to 60 nuclear weapons in its stockpile. NEW YORK (AP) - The mayor of New York City wants to tax the wealthiest 1 percent to fund repairs and improvements to the beleaguered subway system. The proposal comes as Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both Democrats, continue to squabble over responsibility for paying for repairs to the nation's largest transit system that has seen growing delays, mechanical failures, power outages and even derailments. Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joseph Lhota recently unveiled an emergency plan to stabilize the system. The governor offered to split the cost of the plan with the city, but the mayor refused to commit money to support it. FILE - In this June 21, 2017 file photo, a subway train approaches the platform at Brooklyn's Smith Street above-ground subway station, in New York. Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to tax the wealthiest 1 percent of New Yorkers to fund repairs and improvements to the beleaguered subway system. The proposal comes as the mayor and Gov. Andrew Cuomo continue to squabble over who is responsible for paying for repairs to the nation's largest system. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File) The mayor's tax plan is meant as a long-term solution, not a quick fix, he said. It aims to generate nearly $800 million annually with the bulk of the money going toward capital upgrades to subways and buses, and must be approved by state lawmakers. A formal announcement was expected Monday. "Instead of searching for a quick-fix that doesn't exist, or simply forking over more and more of our tax dollars every year, we have come up with a fair way to finance immediate and long-term transit improvement," de Blasio said in a statement Sunday. The tax would increase the top income tax rate from about 3.9 percent to 4.4 percent for married couples who make more than $1 million and individuals making more than $500,000, city officials said. It would affect about 32,000 of New Yorkers filing taxes in the city, or just less than 1 percent, officials said. "Rather than sending the bill to working families and subway and bus riders already feeling the pressure of rising fares and bad service, we are asking the wealthiest in our city to chip in a little extra," de Blasio said. New Yorkers already contribute to the agency through other taxes and fees. De Blasio's plan also includes funding to offer half-price fare cards for low-income riders. The Rider's Alliance said the push to help low-income riders "has never been so urgent." "It's time to end a system where low-income New Yorkers have to skip meals, beg for swipes or even jump turnstiles in order to get to work or school," executive director John Raskin said in a statement. The current five-year transit system capital plan, which covers upkeep for the subways, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, plus other pieces of the transit system, is about $29 billion. The city has pledged $2.5 billion and the state $8.3 billion, plus Cuomo recently pledged an additional $1 billion. But that doesn't include money for immediate repairs. Lhota, who proposed an $836 million emergency plan, said in a statement Sunday that the agency needs additional short-term funding now. "There's no question we need a long-term funding stream, but emergency train repairs can't wait on what the state legislature may or may not do next year," Lhota said. Cuomo echoed the sentiment, calling on the mayor to fund the emergency plan. "Riders suffer every day and delaying repairs for at least a year is neither responsible nor responsive to the immediate problem, or riders' pain," he said in a statement. The number of subway delays has tripled in the past five years, to 70,000 per month, and rush hour cancellations and delays on the Long Island Rail Road were at the highest level in 10 years, according to a June report. About 5.7 million people ride the subway on an average weekday. The finger-pointing by city and state officials is due in part to the transit agency's messy ownership structure. According to Lhota, 1981 law was meant to help the city during a major financial crisis, when it could not pay capital costs and the subways were in much worse shape than they are now. The state picked up the tab, but it was never meant to be permanent, he said. LAND O'LAKES, Fla. (AP) - Florida officials have condemned a seventh home due to a massive sinkhole. Authorities in Pasco County, a suburban area north of Tampa, said in a news release Monday that the additional home was being condemned. This follows two on Sunday and two on Friday, and two other homes destroyed when the sinkhole opened. The sinkhole opened July 14. It now stretches about 260 feet (79 meters) at its widest point. Contractors have been working to clean debris from the sinkhole. Work temporarily halted on Friday after large chunks of its edge crumbled inward. JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's Supreme Court rules Benjamin Netanyahu must reveal phone call logs with U.S. casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, and a former editor of his free newspaper in Israel, as police press ahead with investigations into corruption cases involving the prime minister. The decision Monday came after an appeal by investigative journalist Raviv Drucker of Channel 10 TV. Netanyahu backer Adelson owns the pro-government daily Israel Hayom. Police are investigating Netanyahu in two cases. One reportedly concerns Netanyahu's alleged attempts to strike a deal with the publisher of the Yediot Ahronot newspaper group to weaken Israel Hayom - Yediot's main competitor - in exchange for more favorable coverage of Netanyahu by Yediot. Israeli police revealed last week that Netanyahu is suspected of crimes involving fraud, breach of trust and bribes. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Growing up on the east side of Michigan, I still remember the jingle for the law offices of Sam Bernstein. How could I not? The commercials were everywhere and so were the faces of him and, later on, his children who joined the law firm. Turn on the TV or radio and you will quickly encounter a similar sort of commercial for a law firm in your area. Search the web and you will find dozens of local firms. The competition is fierce: law firms must find ways to set themselves apart, whether through creative marketing, or more importantly, through the services they provide. But while law firms are more typically known for high costs and the long processes of working through a lawsuit, one firm in Grand Rapids, Mich., is seizing the opportunity to distinguish themselves, offering a leaner and more competitive solution. As Shandra Martinez explains, Plachta, Murphy & Associates discovered that there are often familial or community-member issues that can be solved outside the courtroom and outside the state, saving time, money, and relationships. Martinez shares the story of a family that has taken advantage of this new approach. At first, the family was at odds over the treatment their mother should be receiving. Yet instead of going to court, they realized the disagreements could be solved more efficiently by having a moderator learn their story and facilitate discussion within the family. This is what PM&A provides. The firm now has two full-time social workers on staff to work with clients to help settle disputes in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. With the help of the firms social worker, the family was able to work through their dispute over a half dozen meetings at Russ restaurant. Before the firm added these social workers, the family would have had two options: either not address the issue formally or spend a lot of time and money by going through the legal system, which may not be needed in this scenario. This is market innovation and subsidiarity at its finest. PM&A saw that the need for lower-level, formal problem-solving, which was not yet being met by either the public or private spheres, and they acted. Because of a competitive economy and their desire to set themselves apart and meet the needs of their clients, they were able to develop a new way to address the problem. It is easy to see from this example that even within an entrenched legal system, a free-market economy is still able to help solve for a range of inefficiencies. The needs and demands of the consumers are easily seen and a relatively simple solution can be offered within the market. BOSTON (AP) - The families of two doctors killed in their luxury Boston condominium have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the building's owners, management and security providers, including the company that once employed the suspect. Police found the bodies of 38-year-old Dr. Lina Bolanos and 49-year-old Dr. Richard Field on May 5. The Boston Globe (http://bit.ly/2veVTFv ) reports the suit filed Monday alleges that the high-end building provided just a "veneer" of security, and that a security guard working the front desk the day of the killings took about 20 minutes to call 911 after receiving a call about a gunman in the engaged doctors' penthouse. The suit seeks a jury trial and "all damages available." The suspect, Bampumim (BAM'-puh-mihm) Teixeira, was shot by police at the scene. He has pleaded not guilty. ___ Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.bostonglobe.com THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) - Researchers recently documented a rare case of a cougar from the Santa Monica Mountains successfully crossing U.S. Highway 101 and moving into a range less hemmed in by Southern California sprawl, the National Park Service said Monday. The sub-adult male dubbed P-55 crossed the 101 early on July 30 along the steep Conjeo Grade about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles and also crossed State Routes 23 and 118 to reach the Santa Susana Mountains, a park service statement said. It is only the fourth known successful crossing of the 101 in the 15 years that researchers have been studying the big cats in the Santa Monica Mountains, a population dealing with inbreeding and lack of genetic diversity because the mountain range is hemmed in by Los Angeles, its western suburbs and the Pacific Ocean. In this April 4, 2017, photo released by the National Park Service shows P-55, a young male Mountain lion that roams the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains in Calif. He was caught and outfitted with a GPS tracking device in April 2017, a few days before P-56 in the same spot. DNA analysis is underway, but they are suspected of being siblings. Biologists documented a rare case of P-55, a cougar from a mountain range hemmed in by metropolitan Los Angeles sprawl, that successfully crossing heavily traveled U.S. 101 and taking up residence in another range, the National Park Service said Monday, Aug. 7, 2017. It's only the fourth documented successful crossing of the 101 by a Santa Monica Mountains lion in 15 years of study. (National Park Service via AP) Male mountain lions need vast individual territories. But the fragmented wilderness of the Santa Monica Mountains and the massive barrier of the 101 - three or more lanes in each direction - is a significant hindrance to dispersal. The freeway and other roads are life-threatening to the region's lions - 17 documented road kills since 2002. "The overwhelming pattern we've observed through GPS tracking is lions coming up to the edge of a freeway and turning around," said Seth Riley, a wildlife ecologist at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which sprawls over 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline. Male mountain lions usually leave their mothers at about 1 years of age to find their own territories. While a male can live with many females in its territory, it will face potentially fatal battles with other males if it can't disperse. So far in the study, it's rare for a male mountain lion in the Santa Monicas to survive past age 2, according to the park service. P-55 had recently been fitted with a tracking collar and was seen on video in the backyard of Newbury Park home the same weekend he crossed the 101. One proposal to help mountains lions more easily move between the Santa Monica range and the less-confined natural areas to the north would involve building a bridge for wildlife to cross the 101 at Liberty Canyon, which has open space on each side of the highway and is under permanent protection. ANAHEIM, California (AP) - Mike Trout got his 1,000th career hit and also homered on his 26th birthday, but Manny Machado hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the seventh inning of the Baltimore Orioles' 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. Trout doubled down the left-field line in the fourth inning to become the 11th player with 1,000 hits in an Angels uniform. The two-time AL MVP also tied it in the sixth by homering on his birthday for the fourth time in his six-year career, sending his 23rd of the season high off the left-field pole. Machado connected moments later against J.C. Ramirez (10-10) for his fifth career grand slam. Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout points to the crowd after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Dylan Bundy (11-8) recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts while pitching seven innings of five-hit ball for the Orioles. Baltimore won the opener of a three-game series between two teams on the fringe of the AL wild-card race. The Orioles have won eight of 10, while Los Angeles has followed up a 6-1 stretch with three straight losses. NATIONALS 3, MARLINS 2 WASHINGTON (AP) - Max Scherzer pitched seven sharp innings for Washington in his first start since he was sidelined by neck spasms. Bryce Harper homered for Washington, and pinch hitter Adam Lind singled in the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning. The Nationals expanded their lead in the NL East over second-place Miami to 14 games. Brandon Kintzler (4-2) worked the eighth and Sean Doolittle got three outs to earn his sixth save. Giancarlo Stanton hit his major league-leading 37th homer for the Marlins, matching his previous career high. Jarlin Garcia (0-2) got the loss. Scherzer struck out nine and gave up two runs. The right-hander was coming off an abbreviated start against the Marlins six days earlier, when he was pulled after one inning with neck spasms. CUBS 5, GIANTS 3 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Javier Baez hit an inside-the-park homer to back Jake Arrieta's 11th win in the champion Cubs' first visit to AT&T Park since eliminating San Francisco in Game 4 of the NL Division Series last October. Baez's 16th homer took a tricky bounce off the low wall in right-center and deflected past oncoming right fielder Carlos Moncrief nearly 100 feet back in the direction of the corner in right. The NL Central leaders moved 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Milwaukee, which lost 5-4 at Minnesota. San Francisco rookie Ryder Jones hit his first career home run with a two-run shot in the sixth off Arrieta (11-8). Wade Davis got three outs for his 24th save in 24 tries. San Francisco left-hander Matt Moore (3-12) was charged with five runs and eight hits in six innings. CARDINALS 11, ROYALS 3 KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) - Matt Carpenter hit a three-run homer in St. Louis' six-run fourth inning, helping the Cardinals earn their third consecutive victory. Paul DeJong and Kolten Wong also connected for the Cardinals, who returned to .500 at 56-56. Carlos Martinez (8-9) pitched eight innings of two-run ball for just his second win in his last nine starts. Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy (4-8) was charged with seven runs, six earned, and six hits in six innings. He is winless in 14 consecutive starts at Kauffman Stadium since beating Minnesota on Aug. 20, 2016. Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Brandon Moss homered for Kansas City, which has dropped six of eight. TWINS 5, BREWERS 4 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Eddie Rosario doubled home the tying run in the seventh inning and scored the winning run for Minnesota on a balk. After Eduardo Escobar drew a leadoff walk, Rosario hit a smash to right field that fooled Domingo Santana, who took two steps in before watching the ball sail over his head. Escobar scored to tie the game at 4. Rosario was still at third with two out when the Brewers employed a dramatic shift on left-handed hitting Jason Castro. With no fielder near third base to hold him on, Rosario danced halfway down the baseline, causing Oliver Drake (3-4) to step off the rubber. When Drake stepped back on the rubber, Rosario made another break for home. This time Drake flinched and plate umpire Bill Welke called a balk, sending Rosario home. Buddy Boshers (1-0) retired one batter in the seventh to earn the victory. Matt Belisle worked the ninth for his second save. PIRATES 3, TIGERS 0 PITTSBURGH (AP) - Trevor Williams pitched seven crisp innings, leading Pittsburgh to the win. Williams (5-4) struck out five and walked two, giving up only a leadoff single to James McCann in the third. Williams threw a career-high 107 pitches and never allowed a runner to third base. Juan Nicasio got three outs for his second save, completing Pittsburgh's one-hitter. The Pirates have won three straight and four of five. Francisco Cervelli put the Pirates in front with an RBI double off Jordan Zimmermann (7-9) in the second. John Jaso provided some late insurance with a pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh. Zimmermann struck out three and walked two in seven innings. The Tigers have dropped three straight following a four-game winning streak. REDS 11, PADRES 3 CINCINNATI (AP) - Joey Votto homered for the third straight game and pulled into a tie with Ted Kluszewski on the Reds' career list. The Reds homered four times in all, with Patrick Kivlehan hitting his first career grand slam. Adam Duvall and Zack Cozart also connected. Votto's 251st career homer off Jhoulys Chacin (11-8) moved him into a tie for fifth place with Big Klu, the first baseman who cut the sleeves off his uniform to free his big upper arms. Votto's 136th homer at Great American bumped him ahead of Jay Bruce for the ballpark record. Jose Pirela drove in all of San Diego's runs with his first career multihomer game. The first was a two-run shot off Tim Adleman, who went only 4 2/3 innings. Adleman hasn't won since June 27, going 0-5 in seven starts with a 6.88 ERA. Blake Wood (1-4) replaced Adleman in the fifth and pitched out of a two-on threat. Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado celebrates his grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - From the Indian Ocean coast to Rift Valley towns to Nairobi's slums, Kenyans turned out in large numbers to vote Tuesday in an election pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta against challenger Raila Odinga in this East African economic hub known for its long-term stability and ethnic allegiances that shadow its democracy. Vote counting began Tuesday evening after many polling stations closed on schedule, though some sites remained open to process voters still waiting to cast ballots. Kenya is an African leader, making its election a closely watched event across the continent and beyond. Kenya's diversity, symbolized by the gulf between its so-called Silicon Savannah ambitions for a booming tech industry and the poverty and lack of services found in shantytowns or remote rural areas, as well as its complex ethnic patchwork, mirror the potential for advancement, and the obstacles to it, across the wider region. Party observers and election volunteers gather to count the ballots in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans went to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Many Kenyan polling stations closed on schedule at 5 p.m. local time (1400GMT), though some sites remained open to process voters still waiting to cast ballots. Voters formed long lines at many polling stations before dawn, waiting to cast ballots in the tightly contested race for the presidency as well as for more than 1,800 elected positions, including governors, legislative representatives and county officials. A key concern is whether Kenya will echo its 2013 election, a mostly peaceful affair despite opposition allegations of vote-tampering, or the 2007 election, which led to violence fueled by ethnic divisions that killed more than 1,000 people. "If the elections are not fair, if there was rigging, people will definitely go to the streets," said Sophia Ajwang, a 29-year-old student in Kisumu city. However, Moses Otieno, a 33-year-old businessman, said that Kenyans desperately want to avoid another bout of election unrest. "We've learned a lot in the past, so we don't want such repetition in this election," Otieno said. "That's why we will accept whatever outcome it is." Three polling stations in the Laikipia area were "affected by insecurity," but security forces restored order and polling resumed, Kenya's election commission said. Farms and homes in Laikipia County have been under siege for more than a year from herders who say they are desperate for grazing land for their animals; some farmers believe the land invasions are politically motivated. Kenyatta, the 55-year-old son of Kenya's first president after independence from British colonial rule, campaigned on a record of major infrastructure projects, many backed by China, and claimed strong economic growth. Odinga, 72, also the son of a leader of the independence struggle, has cast himself as a champion of the poor and a harsh critic of endemic corruption. However, many voters are expected to vote along ethnic lines. Kenyatta is widely seen as the candidate of the Kikuyu people, the country's largest ethnic group. Odinga is associated with the Luo voting bloc, which has never produced a head of state. There are six other presidential candidates, though they lack the wide support of the top two. "I feel positive because we ran a positive campaign," Kenyatta, who seeks a second term, said after voting in his birthplace of Gatundu, north of Nairobi. Odinga voted in the poor area of Kibera, an opposition stronghold in the capital, Nairobi. "Uhuru must go," chanted his supporters, referring to the president by his first name. More than 300 people, including ethnic Maasai draped in traditional red blankets, waited for hours in the dark before a polling station opened in the Rift Valley town of Il Bissil. Kenyan television also showed long lines of voters in the port city of Mombasa. In some locations, inmates in striped prison garb cast ballots under the watch of guards. Reaction to the result could partly depend on the performance of Kenya's electoral commission, which will collect vote counts from more than 40,000 polling stations. Fears of violence were increased by the murder of an electoral official in charge of technology days ahead of the election. By law, election officials have up to a week to announce results, though many analysts believe the outcome of the presidential race will be declared far sooner, possibly within one or two days. The winner of the presidential race must get more than 50 percent of the votes as well as one-quarter or more votes in at least 24 of Kenya's 47 counties, according to officials. If the front-runner falls short of those benchmarks, the two top contenders will contest a run-off vote. President Kenyatta and challenger Odinga also faced off in the 2013 election. Kenyatta won by a thin margin, with just over 50 percent of the vote; Odinga alleged voting irregularities and took his case to Kenya's highest court, which ruled in Kenyatta's favor by validating the results. Kenya has nearly 20 million registered voters out of a population of more than 40 million. ___ Associated Press journalists Tom Odula in Nairobi and Jerome Delay in Il Bissil contributed to this report. An electoral counting officer, center, counts votes while others hold the piles of ballots counted for each candidate, at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) An electoral counting officer holds up votes counted so all in the room can see, as police providing security look in through the window, at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Joseph Njoroge Kimani, 3, stands with his father James Kimani Njoroge, left, and mother Esther Wanjiru Njoroge, right, all wearing suits made in the colors of the Kenyan flag, as they queue to cast their votes in Gatundu, north of Nairobi, in Kenya Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Kenyans line up to vote in Bissil, 120 kms. (75 miles) south of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) A woman casts her vote just after dawn at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) A polling official marks a voter's finger after casting his vote at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/ Sayyid Abdul Azim) Kenyans line up to vote in Bissil, 120 kms. (75 miles) south of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta casts his ballot, accompanied by his wife Margaret, center-left, in Gatundu, north of Nairobi, in Kenya Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Lydia Gathoni Kiingati, 102, casts her vote just after dawn at a polling station in Gatundu, north of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Maasai women wait in line to cast their vote in Eseki, 140 kms (85miles) south of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans on Tuesday voted in an election that pits President Uhuru Kenyatta against challenger Raila Odinga in an East African economic hub known for its relative, long-term stability as well as the ethnic allegiances that shadow its democracy. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Kenyans line up in the cold early morning at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, to cast their vote. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/ Sayyid Abdul Azim) A policeman assisst a woman cast her vote at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/ Sayyid Abdul Azim) Lydia Gathoni Kiingati, 102, reacts after having her finger inked, after casting her vote just after dawn at a polling station in Gatundu, north of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Kenyan Opposition leader Raila Odinga, second left, with election official , left, prepare to casts his vote in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans on Tuesday voted in an election that pits President Uhuru Kenyatta against challenger Raila Odinga in an East African economic hub known for its relative, long-term stability as well as the ethnic allegiances that shadow its democracy. (AP Photo/ Brian Inganga) Maasai men line up before the opening of the polling stations in Bissil, 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) south of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Kenyan Opposition leader Raila Odinga, centre, arrives in the Kibera slum to cast his vote in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug.8, 2017. Kenyans on Tuesday voted in an election that pits President Uhuru Kenyatta against challenger Raila Odinga in an East African economic hub known for its relative, long-term stability as well as the ethnic allegiances that shadow its democracy. (AP Photo/ Brian Inganga) A Maasai lines up to vote in Bissil, 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) A woman with crutches stops to talk with a friend queuing, after casting her vote in Gatundu, north of Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) A polling official stamps a ballot paper at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/ Sayyid Abdul Azim) A Maasai woman waits for assistance in casting her vote at a polling station in Bissil, 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Kenyans line up in the cold early morning to cast their votes at a polling station in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/ Sayyid Abdul Azim) Main opposition leader Raila Odinga acknowledges his supporters after casting his vote in Kibera Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans on Tuesday voted in an election that pits President Uhuru Kenyatta against challenger Raila Odinga in an East African economic hub known for its relative, long-term stability as well as the ethnic allegiances that shadow its democracy. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi) US scientists contradict Trump's climate claims WASHINGTON (AP) - As President Donald Trump touts new oil pipelines and pledges to revive the nation's struggling coal mines, federal scientists are warning that burning fossil fuels is already driving a steep increase in the United States of heat waves, droughts and floods. It is the latest example of collisions between Trump's environmental policies and the facts presented by his government's experts. Contradicting Trump's claims that climate change is a "hoax," the draft report representing the consensus of 13 federal agencies concludes that the evidence global warming is being driven by human activities is "unambiguous." That directly undercuts statements by Trump and his Cabinet casting doubt on whether the warming observed around the globe is being primarily driven by man-made carbon pollution. "There are no alternative explanations, and no natural cycles are found in the observational record that can explain the observed changes in climate," says the report, citing thousands of peer-reviewed studies. "Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans." Faced with reams of evidence compiled by federal scientists that conflicts with their policy positions, Trump and his advisers frequently cite the work of industry-funded think tanks. Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have championed the formation of a "red-team, blue-team" exercise where climate-change skeptics would publicly debate mainstream climate scientists. ___ Trump warns NKorea of 'fire and fury' as nuke threat worsens BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) - President Donald Trump threatened North Korea "with fire and fury like the world has never seen" on Tuesday after suggestions the communist country has mastered one of the final hurdles to being able to strike the United States with a nuclear missile. North Korea said it was examining its operational plans for attacking Guam - a U.S. territory about 2,100 miles (3,400 kilometers) away - in order to contain U.S. military activity there. The North Korean army said in a statement distributed Wednesday by the state-run news agency that it is studying a plan to create an "enveloping fire" in areas around Guam with medium- to long-range ballistic missiles. Guam is home to Andersen Air Force Base. The competing threats escalated tensions between the foes even further. Although it wasn't clear if Trump and the Koreans were responding directly to each other, the heightened rhetoric added to the potential for a miscalculation that might bring the nuclear-armed nations into conflict. Trump's stern words to the camera at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, came hours after reports indicating North Korea can now wed nuclear warheads with its missiles, including those that may be able to hit the American mainland. The isolated and impoverished dictatorship has strived for decades to have the ability to strike the U.S. and its Asian allies, and the pace of its breakthroughs is already having far-reaching consequences for stability in the Pacific and beyond. The nuclear advances were detailed in an official Japanese assessment and a Washington Post story that cited U.S. intelligence officials and a confidential Defense Intelligence Agency report. The U.S. now puts the North Korean arsenal at up to 60 nuclear weapons, more than double most assessments by independent experts, according to the Post's reporting. ___ New Venezuela assembly declares itself superior govt branch CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's new constitutional assembly took over the halls of the endangered, opposition-controlled congress Tuesday and decreed itself superior to all other branches of government while prominently displaying images of the late President Hugo Chavez. The order bars anti-government lawmakers in congress from taking any action that would interfere with the laws passed by the newly installed assembly, Delcy Rodriguez, the super-body's leader, declared to unanimous approval. "We are not threatening anyone," said Aristobulo Isturiz, the constitutional assembly's first vice president. "We are looking for ways to coexist." Embattled President Nicolas Maduro convoked the constitutional assembly in what he contends is an attempt to resolve the nation's political standoff, but opposition leaders insist it is a power grab. Since its installation Friday, the assembly has already ousted the nation's outspoken chief prosecutor, established a "truth commission" expected to target Maduro's foes and passed decrees pledging "support and solidarity" with the unpopular president. Opposition lawmakers said they were barred from entering the gold-domed legislative palace after security forces led by Rodriguez broke into congress late Monday. ___ DJ in groping case says he may have touched Swift's ribs DENVER (AP) - A former radio disc jockey accused of groping Taylor Swift before a concert testified Tuesday that he may have touched the pop superstar's ribs with a closed hand as he tried to jump into a photo with her but insisted he did not touch her backside as she claims. David Mueller told jurors at the civil trial on dueling lawsuits filed by Mueller and Swift that he and the singer-songwriter were trying to reach around one another and "our hands touched and our arms touched" during a photo opportunity he estimated lasted no more than 40 seconds. Under questioning by his attorney, Mueller said he may have touched Swift's "rib cage, or rib, or ribs." The 2013 photo of Swift, Mueller and Mueller's girlfriend taken at the pre-concert event in Denver is a key piece of evidence in Mueller's suit claiming he was fired after being falsely accused by Swift. He is seeking at least $3 million. The photo shows Mueller with his hand behind Swift, just below her waist. Both are smiling. ___ Vote count begins in Kenya's fiercely contested election NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Polls closed across Kenya after millions voted peacefully Tuesday in a fiercely contested election pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta against challenger Raila Odinga in the East African country known for its stability but also its divided ethnic allegiances. Long lines formed at many of Kenya's 40,000 polling stations before dawn, but the Kenyan election commission tweeted in the evening that the balloting concluded "with minimal hitches." Some sites remained open to process those people still waiting to cast their votes. In preliminary results, Kenyatta was ahead with 55.4 percent while Odinga had 43.9 percent after votes from nearly one-quarter of 40,883 polling stations had been counted, according to the Kenyan election commission. Authorities hope to avoid the post-election violence a decade ago when ethnic divisions fueled unrest that killed more than 1,000 people. A 2013 vote was mostly peaceful despite opposition allegations of vote-tampering. Reaction to the result could partly depend on the performance of Kenya's electoral commission, which will collect and count the ballots in the coming days. In addition to the bitterly contested presidential race, more than 1,800 elected positions were at stake, including governors, legislative representatives and county officials. ___ South Africa's president survives no-confidence motion again JOHANNESBURG (AP) - President Jacob Zuma survived a no-confidence vote Tuesday in the seventh and most serious attempt to unseat him after months of growing anger in South Africa over alleged corruption and a sinking economy. But his African National Congress party, which has ruled since the end of apartheid, continued to fracture. The latest vote to try to dislodge Zuma was the first held by secret ballot after parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete made the surprise decision to allow it. Opposition parties hoped it would encourage ANC legislators to vote against Zuma without fear of retaliation. Instead, ANC members in the chamber began singing shortly before the results were announced, while supporters outside started to dance. A jubilant Zuma, who would have had to resign with his Cabinet if the motion had succeeded, promised the ANC would win the next election in 2019 "in a big number once again." He dismissed "propaganda" that said his party no longer has the people's support. Then he broke into song. "We will never endorse or vote in favor of any motion that seeks to cripple our country," the ANC said, calling the vote an attempt to remove the party from power. ___ Glen Campbell, 'Rhinestone Cowboy' singer, dies at age 81 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Glen Campbell, the affable superstar singer of "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Wichita Lineman" whose appeal spanned country, pop, television and movies, died Tuesday, his family said. He was 81. Campbell's family said the singer died Tuesday morning in Nashville and publicist Sandy Brokaw confirmed the news. No cause was immediately given. Campbell announced in June 2011 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and that it was in its early stages at that time. "Glen is one of the greatest voices there ever was in the business and he was one of the greatest musicians," said Dolly Parton in a video statement. "He was a wonderful session musician as well. A lot of people don't realize that. But he could play anything and he could play it really well." Tributes poured in on social media. "Thank you Glen Campbell for sharing your talent with us for so many years May you rest in peace my friend You will never be forgotten," wrote Charlie Daniels. One of Campbell's daughters, Ashley, said she was heartbroken. "I owe him everything I am, and everything I ever will be. He will be remembered so well and with so much love," she wrote on Twitter. "You were a shining light in so many ways," Brad Paisley tweeted. ___ Reaction to the death of superstar entertainer Glen Campbell NEW YORK (AP) - Reaction to the death of superstar entertainer Glen Campbell: "I'm very broken up to hear about my friend Glen Campbell. An incredible musician and an even better person. I'm at a loss. Love & Mercy." - Brian Wilson, via Twitter "RIP Glen Campbell - a great singer and musician who wrote and chose to cover great songs." - Carole King, via Twitter "Thank you Glen Campbell for sharing your talent with us for so many years. May you rest in peace my friend. You will never be forgotten." - Charlie Daniels, via Twitter "Heartbroken. I owe him everything I am, and everything I ever will be. He will be remembered so well and with so much love." - Daughter Ashley Campbell, via Twitter ___ Experts: Lives at risk if no sleep tests for train engineers U.S. officials are abandoning plans to require sleep apnea screening for truck drivers and train engineers, a decision that safety experts say puts millions of lives at risk. The Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said late last week that they are no longer pursuing the regulation that would require testing for the fatigue-inducing disorder that has been blamed for deadly rail crashes in New York City and New Jersey and several highway crashes. The agencies argue that it should be up to railroads and trucking companies to decide whether to test employees. One railroad that does test, Metro-North in the New York City suburbs, found that 11.6 percent of its engineers have sleep apnea. The decision to kill the sleep apnea regulation is the latest step in President Donald Trump's campaign to drastically slash federal regulations. The Trump administration has withdrawn or delayed hundreds of proposed regulations since he took office in January - moves the Republican president has said will help bolster economic growth. Late last year, the FRA issued a safety advisory that was meant as a stopgap measure urging railroads to begin sleep apnea testing while the rules made their way through the regulatory process. Without a regulation mandating testing, which would have needed approval from Congress, regulators couldn't cite trucking companies or railroads if a truck or train crashed because the operator fell asleep at the helm. ___ 102-year-old Kenyan voter wouldn't dream of missing election GATUNDU, Kenya (AP) - Stooped but determined, a 102-year-old woman believed to be one of Kenya's oldest citizens cast her ballot in national elections on Tuesday. "I have come here to vote because good leadership comes from God," Lydia Gathoni Kiingati said. "I want to vote because I believe God has kept me alive for so many years." Kiingati, who wore a wool cap and walked with a cane to the ballot box, smiled broadly when an election official marked her finger with indelible ink after she voted. The procedure is a safeguard that prevents anyone from trying to vote more than once. The veteran voter did her civic duty at a polling station set up in a primary school in Gatundu, north of Nairobi. The area is the birthplace of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who voted at the same place, urging Kenyans to return home and peacefully await the results. Kiingati said she voted for Kenyatta, who seeks a second term and faces a fierce challenge from opposition leader Raila Odinga. The woman also referred with respect to Jomo Kenyatta, the president's father who was Kenya's first leader after independence from British colonial rule in 1963. WASHINGTON (AP) - The direction of President Donald Trump's foreign policy is at the center of a battle between two of his top aides. Conservative groups are targeting national security adviser H.R. McMaster. They argue that he's insufficiently supportive of Israel and not tough enough on Iran. Those critics along with a website tied to Trump adviser Steve Bannon are pushing for McMaster to be ousted. McMaster is one of several powerful generals in Trump's orbit who hail from the Republican foreign policy establishment. But Trump is equally sympathetic to the views of firebrands like Bannon, who are trying to push the party in a new, isolationist direction embodied by his "America First" doctrine. FILE - In this July 31, 2017, file photo, national security adviser H.R. McMaster listens during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington. A long-simmering dispute between two top White House aides has boiled into a public battle over the direction President Donald Trump's foreign policy, as a cadre of conservatives groups are pushing for the ouster of McMaster.(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) Administration officials and outside advisers tell The Associated Pres that McMaster and Bannon have clashed over Afghanistan war strategy. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia's government on Tuesday launched an inquiry into massive foreign exchange losses by the central bank more than two decades ago, in a probe that could lead to criminal prosecution for former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Opposition leaders slammed the inquiry as a political ploy to discredit Mahathir just months after he set up a new political party. He now leads an opposition coalition aimed at ousting Prime Minister Najib Razak in general elections due in mid-2018. Mahathir, 92, led the country for 22 years before stepping down in 2003. He has been spearheading calls for Najib to resign over a multibillion-dollar financial scandal in indebted state fund 1MDB. The fund is being investigated in several countries for money laundering. Najib has denied any wrongdoing. FILE - In this March 27, 2016 file photo, Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad prays with opposition leaders as they attend the "People's Congress 2016" event in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Malaysia's government on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 launched an inquiry into massive foreign exchange losses by the central bank more than two decades ago, in a probe that could lead to criminal prosecution for Mahathir. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File) A five-member Royal Commission of Inquiry, meeting for the first time Tuesday, said it will investigate how much the central bank lost in currency trading in the 1990s and determine if there was a cover-up. The inquiry was set up after the government said a preliminary investigation found that the extent of losses was larger than what was reported to the Cabinet and Parliament. The inquiry panel said a hearing will begin Aug. 21 and that it will aim to submit a report to the king by Oct. 13. The panel can make recommendations on action to be taken against those found guilty, but it is up to the attorney-general to prosecute. Mahathir has said the inquiry is a "desperate effort by Najib to silence his detractors." He and other opposition leaders have urged the government to also set up a formal inquiry into losses at 1MDB. Malaysia's government has said it found no criminal wrongdoing at 1MDB. But the fund has been at the center of investigations in the U.S. and several countries amid allegations of a global embezzlement and money-laundering scheme. Najib started the fund shortly after taking office in 2009 to promote economic development projects, but it accumulated billions of dollars in debts. The U.S. Justice Department says at least $4.5 billion has been stolen from 1MDB by people close to Najib and has initiated action to seize $1.3 billion it says was taken from the fund to buy assets in the U.S. The government complaints also say that more than $700 million has landed in the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1." They did not name the official, but appear to be referring to Najib. Najib has resisted calls to resign, has clamped down on critics and continues to enjoy the unwavering support of most ruling-party members, but his real test will come in next year's elections. Najib's ruling coalition won the last elections in 2013 despite losing the popular vote to an opposition coalition. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Royal Commission of Inquiry has five members, not six. PARIS (AP) - A French activist farmer has been convicted of helping migrants illegally cross the border from Italy. The appeal court of Aix-en-Provence, in southern France, on Tuesday gave Cedric Herrou a suspended four-month prison sentence. Authorities said Herrou assisted some 200 migrants over the past year, housing some in his farm in the Roya valley in the Alps, near the Italian border. He also helped them travel in France, using his own vehicle. A 2012 French law provides legal immunity to people helping migrants with "humanitarian and disinterested actions," but the prosecutor had argued Herrou was subverting the law. Herrou told BFM television he "has no regrets" and won't stop helping migrants, calling it his citizen's duty. Another justice investigation has been opened after he was arrested again last month. KUWAIT CITY (AP) - Two U.S. envoys have arrived in Kuwait at the start of a tour of Mideast states aimed at resolving a diplomatic rift between Qatar and four Arab countries. The official Kuwait News Agency reported late Monday that retired U.S. Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Timothy Lenderking met with Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah and reiterated Washington's support for Kuwait's efforts to mediate the crisis. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and transportation links with Qatar in early June, alleging it supports extremists. Qatar denies the charge. The State Department says the envoys will also meet with leaders in all five countries over the coming days. BAGHDAD (AP) - A powerful Iraqi Shiite militia said Tuesday that at least 40 of its militiamen were killed in an attack the previous day on its positions across the border in Syria. The militia blamed the U.S.-led coalition for the assault but the Islamic State group claimed its fighters had targeted the militiamen. The deputy head of the militia, known as Kattaib Sayeed al-Shuhadaa, accused U.S. forces of carrying out the early Monday assault. The Baghdad-based spokesman of the U.S.-led coalition, Army Col. Ryan Dillon, dismissed the allegation, saying on Twitter that no coalition airstrikes took place in the area at the time. According to the militia's deputy, Ahmed al-Maksousi, they were hit by artillery fire in Syria's Jamouna area, about 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) from the Iraqi border. He said the attack was launched from around Iraq's city of Mosul, recently recaptured by Iraqi forces from the Islamic State group, and was followed by an on-the-ground assault by S militants. Along with 40 killed, at least 30 militiamen were wounded, al-Maksousi added. The militia vowed "this act will not pass without punishment." In an online statement, IS said it staged a three-pronged attack that included a suicide bombing, followed by fighters storming the militiamen's positions. The group added that one IS fighter was captured. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, speaking at a press conference Tuesday, said he spoke with the militia's leadership and that reports of the incident were still being confirmed. Several Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias have been fighting in Syria alongside Syrian government troops. ___ Associated Press writers Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad and Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report. It was with great interest that I have been following exchanges related to the now well-discussed article that appeared in the Vatican associated journal La Civilta` Cattolica several weeks ago. Written by Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ and Rev. Marcel Figueroa, a Presbyterian minister, the former being the editor of La Civilta` Cattolica while the latter is the editor of the Argentine edition of the Holy Sees official newspaper, LOsservatore Romano. In their essay, they outline in vigorous terms their concern that a certain ecumenism of hate is being fostered in the United States via an unholy alliance between conservative Catholics (or what they call Catholic Integralists) and Evangelical fundamentalists. They express concern at what they argue amounts to a combined retrofitting of apocalypticism, Prosperity Gospel themes and the advocacy of a theocratic type of state under a banner of conservative Catholicism. This provocative piece is clearly designed to create a debate. But thus far, no real debate has ensued. In light of the lack of an open and respectful debate, as well as Fr. Spadaros call to dialogue, encounter and conversation, I have personally invited Fr. Spadaro and Rev. Figueroa to participate in a respectful forum at Acton University. My invitation includes the following description of the event: Acton University is somewhat similar to the type of summer university which is very common in Europe. Each year, Acton University brings together over 1000 participants from around the world and from many Christian confessions (as well as some non-Christians) to hear lectures and participate in discussions which address theological, philosophical, political, economic, social, and diplomatic themes. It is one of the worlds largest meetings and sustained conversations of Catholics, Evangelicals, Eastern Orthodox Christians and members of other faiths on the intersection of theology, politics, and economics. See the entire letter, in English, Italian and Spanish. If these gentlemen want a fruitful engagement of their ideas, this would be it. When they both declined, due to busy schedules, I modified the invitation in effect to say, any time, any place, at our expense. They declined again. The arguments these gentlemen pose have encountered substantive and serious critiques, including here, here, here, and even one from a fellow Jesuit, here. Among other things, it has been argued that their view of the role and history of religion and politics in America is incorrect. It has also been argued that they misrepresent Evangelical Christianity in America, and misrepresent the present-day relationship between Evangelical Christians and Catholics in America, by using charged language such as ecumenism of hate. An adequate defense of Fr. Spadaro and Rev. Figueroas position requires a response to these critiques. As yet, they have not responded to these very serious critiques critiques which, if left substantially unanswered, would suggest that the positions defended in their article lack veracity. The invitation still stands. Fr. Spadaro? Rev. Figueroa? Featured Image: Juan Rubiano, Vatican angle 0, CC BY 2.0 MOSCOW (AP) - A Russian opposition activist has been released from prison after serving his term. Sergei Udaltsov's release was announced Tuesday by his wife Anastasia, who said on Facebook that he's "full of optimism and positive emotions." Udaltsov has served 4 years on charges related to his role in staging a May 2012 protest rally against President Vladimir Putin that ended in clashes with police. Udaltsov was among key organizers of a series of massive street protests in Moscow in 2011-2012 against Putin's return to the presidency. Following Putin's inauguration, the Kremlin has cracked down on its foes with a slew of laws that put tight restrictions on holding demonstrations and curbed the activity of non-governmental organizations. The largest wildfire on record has been captured in new satellite images across western Greenland. The images show a 'sizeable fire' about 90 miles (150 km) northeast of the town of Sisimiut. The wildfire is estimated to stretch between 1.9 to 5.8 square miles (5 and 15 square km), with smoke reaching up to 1.2 miles (2 km) high. Wildfires are unusual on the island, where temperatures rarely reach 10C (50F) in the height of summer, and 80 per cent of the land is covered by thick ice. But Greenland has seen an 'exceptional' number this year, with as many as 40 fires reported so far - more than double the previous record of 19 set in 2015. Experts have now linked two of these fires to peat that may have dried out as temperatures have risen. Scroll down for video The largest wildfire on record (pictured) has been captured in new satellite images across western Greenland. The images show a 'sizeable fire' about 90 miles (150 km) northeast of the town of Sisimiut WHAT IS CAUSING THE FIRES? Scientists claim that instead of exposed vegetation or shrubbery, the likely source of the fires is peaty soil. Peat is made up of partially decayed vegetation that burns like a fuel when dry. Experts say that the wildfires are 'smouldering' rather than blazing, indicating ground-level fuel, or carbon organic matter, rather than raised vegetation as seen in forest fires. Melting permafrost due to rising temperatures is the likely cause of the outbreak. As the ice melts it exposes peaty soil, leaving large areas susceptible to fires. Advertisement Global warming has meant that across Greenland there is now less surface water than in the past. This creates peaty soil and makes vegetation more susceptible to fire. Satellite images have revealed a number of smoke plumes, forcing officials to warn hikers and tourists to stay away from the remote region. Local police say billowing smoke from a blaze on the uninhabited island of Nassuttooq, covering an area of up to 6 square miles (15 square km) - the largest wildfire recorded - 'could result in people losing their bearings.' 'Usually when a wildfire is smouldering like that it's because there's a lot of ground-level fuel, carbon organic matter; that's why I assume that it's peat,' wildfire expert Professor Jessica McCarty, from Miami University, told BBC News. The Greenland fire evolution since July 29 as captured by @ESA_EO 's #sentinel2 pic.twitter.com/Iuk9blyui9 Stef Lhermitte (@StefLhermitte) August 9, 2017 The Greenland fire evolution since July 29 as captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel 2 satellite (credit: ESA / Stef Lhermitte) The wildfire is estimated to stretch between 1.9 to 5.8 square miles (5 and 15 square km), with smoke reaching up to 1.2 miles (2 km) high. This satellite image shows a zoomed in view of the huge blaze ARE THE WILDFIRES CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE? Whether Greenland's fires are the result of climate change is still up for debate, and scientists will have to wait until the blazes have burned out to confirm the theory. 'This peat is less than 70km (44 miles) from the ice sheet,' said wildfire expert Professor McCarthy. 'It's a little difficult to believe that it would be degraded already without increasing melting and higher temperatures. 'But as a scientist we can't say it's definitely climate change until we've done the analysis after the fire.' Advertisement 'The fire line is not moving, the fire is not progressing like we'd see in a forest fire, so that means it's burning whatever fuel is on the ground.' Melting permafrost due to rising temperatures is the likely cause of this outbreak, Professor McCarthy added. Previous research around the town of Sisimiut shows that permafrost is degrading at a rapid rate in the region. Locals say they have seen a number of 'soil fires' before, especially in the last 20-30 years. Researchers are now studying satellite image records to look for evidence of previous outbreaks. 'The only record I found is the MODIS active fire record,' said Dr Stef Lhermitte from Delft University in the Netherlands. Wildfires are unusual on the island, where temperatures rarely reach 10C (50F) in the height of summer and 80 per cent of the land is covered by thick ice. This satellite image, taken this week, shows the large wildfire in western Greenland Scientists now say burning peat is responsible for at least two fires, which may have dried out as a result of global warming. This modified satellite image shows where the wildfire has spread so far in western Greenland 'It's a satellite that measures the temperature of the surface and can locate hotspots from fire. 'I think that fires have been there before but what's different is that this fire is big, in Greenlandic terms; that is unusual. 'It's the biggest one we have in the satellite record.' More fires have been detected in 2017 in Greenland than in the previous 15 years combined, Dr Lhermitte said. Climate change has contributed to the melting of Greenland's vast ice sheet in recent decades. More parts of the island are expected to become free of ice as rising temperatures free previously frozen regions, exposing areas of peat that are susceptible to fires Greenland has seen an 'exceptional' number of wildfires this year, with as many as 40 reported so far - more than double the previous record of 19 set in 2015 Whether the fires are the result of climate change is still up for debate, and scientists will have to wait until the blazes have burned out to confirm the theory. 'This peat is less than 70km (44 miles) from the ice sheet,' said Professor McCarthy. 'It's a little difficult to believe that it would be degraded already without increasing melting and higher temperatures. 'But as a scientist we can't say it's definitely climate change until we've done the analysis after the fire.' This satellite image taken last week shows the wildfire in western Greenland causing by exposed peat soil. Melting permafrost due to rising temperatures is the likely cause of the outbreak This modified images shows the spread of the wildfire and its smoke in western Greenland. Researchers are now studying satellite image records to look for evidence of previous outbreaks This graphic shows all of the active fires in Greenland since 2000, including the August 2017 fires. More fires have been detected in 2017 in Greenland than in the previous 15 years combined GENEVA (AP) - The U.N.'s humanitarian aid coordinator for Iraq says aid providers are bracing for the possible evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians as Iraqi forces prepare for the "imminent" start of three operations against Islamic State holdouts. Lise Grande says teams are moving to areas near the expected operations in Tal Afar near Mosul; Hawija in Kirkuk province to the southeast and the western Anbar province. She says they were briefed in recent days about military "mustering points" and planned evacuation routes. Grande told reporters on Tuesday in Geneva that while the fighting is over in Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, "the humanitarian crisis in Mosul is not" over. She says some 3.3 million people remain displaced from their homes across Iraq, including 700,000 people from Mosul alone. MOUNT STERLING, Ky. (AP) - Police are searching for a man accused of pepper-spraying an 80-year-old Walmart employee in Kentucky. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Mount Sterling police said in a Facebook post that a man shoplifted several items from the store and pepper-sprayed the woman when she tried to stop him on Saturday. The Facebook post includes photos of the man and a woman accused of being an accomplice and providing the pepper spray before they entered the store. Police say the two suspects left in a maroon minivan with Oklahoma plates. Walmart is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. ___ Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com Turkey has begun construction of a 90-mile wall along its frontier with Iran as part of moves to bolster the country's security, it has emerged. Pictures show huge concrete blocks being moved in to position along the border in Agri province in a bid to halt the infiltration of Kurdish militants and illegal smugglers. The construction project will also eventually see a wall along parts of the Iraq border and comes as Turkey continues work on its 566-mile barrier along its frontier with Syria. Turkey has begun construction of a 90-mile wall along its frontier with Iran as part of moves to bolster the country's security, it has emerged The construction project will also eventually see a wall along parts of the Iraq border and comes as Turkey continues work on its 566-mile barrier along its frontier with Syria The private Dogan news agency said the governor of Agri province, Suleyman Elban, inspected the construction of the security wall on Tuesday. The Turkish authorities are constructing the 6ft wide and 9ft high barrier with portable seven-ton blocks, the report said. Hurriyet said the first stage should be complete by October with a 'security road' for security workers to patrol the border. The wall will stretch across the far North Eastern section of the border and will feature 15 doors with bulletproof glass. Pictures show huge concrete blocks being moved in to position along the border in Agri province in a bid to halt the infiltration of Kurdish militants and illegal smugglers President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced in January plans to build a wall along its borders with Iraq and Iran, similar to the one currently being erected along the 911-kilometer (566-mile) frontier with Syria. Erdogan said Turkey aims to build along its entire border with Syria. He added at the time: 'We'll do the same along the Iraqi border and in appropriate places along the Iranian border.' STOCKHOLM (AP) - Police in Sweden say a car has rammed into people outside a health center in southern Stockholm, injuring three seriously, in what seems to be an accident. In a statement, police said Tuesday the driver - described by Swedish media as a woman in her 80s - mistook the gas pedal for the brake and crashed into people outside the the Vardcentral Hogdalen. The car reportedly crashed into the entrance of the health center, smashing glass windows. One of the victims was taken to a hospital by helicopter. The accident raised fears after the driver of stolen truck killed five pedestrians and injured 14 in central Stockholm on April 7. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - A man has been charged with murder after two children were fatally stabbed in a South Carolina apartment. North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor told news outlets that officers went to the apartment complex Monday afternoon when someone reported children were trapped inside with a man. The suspect fled when officers arrived. The coroner's office says 8-year-old Avery Martin died at the scene, and his brother, 2-year-old Aiyden Martin, died at a local hospital. Hours later, officers arrested 26-year-old Raashid Jaamal White, charging him with two counts of murder and possessing a knife during a violent crime. Authorities haven't said whether White is related to the victims or whether he has an attorney. Court officials told The Post and Courier that White waived his right to a bond hearing Tuesday. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A group of 16 southeast Alaska tribes has hired a coordinator to express their concerns about a series of large Canadian mining projects that the tribes fear could hurt salmon habitat. The Juneau Empire reported (http://bit.ly/2vKWEcy ) Monday that Tis Peterman is the United Tribal Transboundary Mining Work Group's first full-time employee. Working out of Wrangell, she will draft a document outlining the tribes' positions that they plan to present to officials from Alaska and British Columbia when they hold meetings about the mining projects. One of Peterman's goals is to develop relationships with tribes in Bristol Bay and on the Yukon river that oppose mining projects they believe could harm salmon habitat. "We want to be sitting at the table when these issues arise," Peterman said. "Something has got to change." The tribes deserve input on how watersheds will be treated when mines are built because their livelihood is linked to salmon, Peterman said. "We have come a long way as an organization," said John Morris, Sr. of the Douglas Indian Association and the work group's secretary. "Our Coordinator will help us to grow and keep looking out for our people." ___ Information from: Juneau (Alaska) Empire, http://www.juneauempire.com Ian McCarthy, 39, (pictured) has been charged with murder over the death of Clinton Missouri Police Officer Gary Michael A man accused of killing a Missouri cop during a traffic stop before going on the run, has been charged with first-degree murder. Clinton police Officer Gary Michael, 37, was shot dead after he stopped Ian McCarthy, 39, at around 10.45pm on Sunday evening for registration violation. Police reports state that Michael, who had only been on the force for one year, was approaching McCarthy's Dodge Nitro at an intersection on Missouri 13 in Clinton, Missouri, when the suspect got out of the vehicle and started shooting. McCarthy fled in his car, crashing just three blocks away, but was able to flee the wreckage on foot. Michael was taken to hospital where he later died of his injuries. Following a three-day manhunt, which involved around a hundred local, county and state law enforcement officers, police confirmed McCarthy had been arrested and had been charged with first-degree murder. McCarthy is also wanted in New Hampshire, where a warrant was issued in 2013 when he failed to show up for sentencing on a disorderly conduct charge, according to court records in that state. He served about four years in prison there for first-degree assault and a parole violation. He also is wanted on a warrant out of Johnson County, Missouri, in 2015 for unlawful possession of a firearm. Clinton police Officer Gary Michael, 37, (left and right) was shot dead after he stopped McCarthy, 39, at around 10.45pm on Sunday evening for registration violation Officer Michael had only been on the force for a year and leaves behind his wife Cresinda and stepsons Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said McCarthy may have shot Michael to avoid arrest on his outstanding warrants. He also could have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or not in his right mind for some reason, but 'it's hard to say unless we have him here to ask,' Lowe said Tuesday afternoon. Moments before Michael was shot, McCarthy was reportedly seen on surveillance video entering a Clinton convenience store and buying cigar wrappers, according to a probable cause affidavit by Sgt. Greg Martin, an investigator with the highway patrol. The footage later shows McCarthy driving away in a Dodge Nitro before a Clinton officer in an SUV activated his lights to pull over McCarthy, Martin wrote. Michael approached McCarthy at the intersection of North 2nd Street and East Green Street in Clinton, Missouri, on Sunday at 10.45pm for a registration violation. Police say McCarthy opened fire then fled The shooting took place in Clinton, a town which is around 75 miles south east of Kansas City Michael managed to give a dispatcher a description of the Nitro - registered to McCarthy - before he was shot, Martin wrote. Michael, who had been on the force less than a year, was the first police officer killed in the line of duty in Clinton. He was a military police officer overseas for about five years before returning to the Kansas City area. He decided in his 30s to become a police officer and served in Appleton City for a short time before joining the force in Clinton. Michael married his wife Cresinda in 2015, becoming a stepfather to her two sons. He is survived by Cresinda, children and a grandchild. His brother, Chris Michael, told area media that Gary had always wanted to serve. 'My brother was a light to the world,' Chris Michael said. 'One man's bad decision took that light from the world. He was a husband, he was a father, he was a brother and he did all of them pretty darn good.' Michael (pictured with wife Cresinda, left and right) who had been on the force less than a year, was the first police officer killed in the line of duty in Clinton Authorities paid tribute to Michael who they said had died a hero. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said the officer's death was 'devastating'. 'In a small community, the police department is very tight-knit, so it's obviously devastating for the family and also for the police department. '(Michael) was heroic right to the end. He was protecting his community,' he said. On Monday, authorities lamented that even the most unassuming of scenarios, such as a traffic stop, puts police officers in danger. 'Every traffic stop is different. Every traffic stop yields its own issues sometimes. 'We know as police officers that those traffic stops are always dangerous because we don't know the individual that is driving. We don't know the individuals in the car,' Lowe said. MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Latest on the arrest of a British cybersecurity researcher accused of creating a malware program (all times local): 12:50 p.m. British cybersecurity figure Marcus Hutchins may be at a federal halfway house in Las Vegas while he awaits transfer to Milwaukee to face charges in a computer fraud and malware case. FILE - In this Monday, May 15, 2017, file photo, British IT expert Marcus Hutchins speaks during an interview in Ilfracombe, England. Hutchins, a young British researcher credited with derailing a global cyberattack in May, has been arrested for allegedly creating and distributing banking malware, U.S. authorities say. Hutchins was detained in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017, while flying back to Britain from Defcon, an annual gathering of hackers of IT security gurus. A grand jury indictment charges Hutchins with "creating and distributing" malware known as the Kronos banking Trojan. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File) Attorneys for the 23-year-old Hutchins aren't responding to messages. But jail and federal officials say he was released Monday, after a judge on Friday ordered that he be held at a halfway house - or that he secure a place to stay on home detention with an ankle monitoring bracelet. Javier Jimenez, chief assistant deputy marshal in Las Vegas, says Hutchins is no longer in U.S. Marshals Service custody. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe on Friday also restricted Hutchins' travel to Nevada's Clark County and, for court purposes, to Milwaukee. That's where charges were filed and Hutchins' arraignment is now set for Aug. 14. ___ 11 a.m. A jail official in Nevada says British cybersecurity researcher Marcus Hutchins is no longer at the detention facility where he spent the weekend in U.S. federal custody. Prison spokeswoman Kayla Gieni (DJEE'-nee) said Tuesday that jailers at the Nevada Southern Detention Center outside Las Vegas don't know Hutchins' current location. Hutchins' attorney in Las Vegas, Adrian Lobo, and lawyers with the Electronic Frontier Federation who had been involved in Hutchins' case didn't immediately respond to Associated Press messages seeking comment. Hutchins won praise for helping to stop a worldwide ransomware attack last May, before he was arrested last week in Las Vegas on federal charges. He is accused of creating and distributing a malware program in 2014 and 2015 to obtain banking passwords. His arraignment was postponed from Tuesday to Aug. 14 in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, where the charges are filed. ____ 8:30 a.m. The U.S. Attorney's Office says a Milwaukee court appearance for a British cybersecurity researcher accused of creating and distributing malware has been rescheduled. Office spokeswoman Elizabeth Makowski says Marcus Hutchins is now scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 14 in federal court in Milwaukee. The arraignment was initially set for Tuesday. Hutchins was arrested last week in Las Vegas. The charges against Hutchins claim that years before he was praised for helping to stop a worldwide ransomware attack last May he created and distributed a malware program to pilfer banking passwords from unsuspecting computer users. Hutchins faces six counts, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud in 2014 and 2015. ___ This item has been corrected to say Hutchins' arraignment has been rescheduled for Aug. 14, not Aug. 15. ___ 2:50 a.m. A Tuesday court date looms in Wisconsin for a British cybersecurity researcher arrested last week in Las Vegas, where he was still being held in federal custody on Monday. Marcus Hutchins faces charges saying that years before he won acclaim for helping to stop a worldwide ransomware attack last May he created and distributed a malware program to pilfer banking passwords from unsuspecting computer users. He was arrested last week at McCarran International Airport following the Def Con convention for computer security professionals in Las Vegas. Electronic Frontier Foundation general counsel Kurt Opsahl says he's awaiting word that $30,000 bail was posted and Hutchins had been released in Nevada. Hutchins is due Tuesday in federal court in Milwaukee on six charges, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud in 2014 and 2015. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - A Boston suburb has passed one of the nation's most extensive restrictions on the retail sale of animals. The ordinance passed Monday in Cambridge bars the sale of commercially bred dogs and cats and other animals including birds, amphibians, reptiles and rodents. The city will only allow the sale of animals from shelters or rescue organizations. Hundreds of U.S. cities have banned some animal sales. But Laura Hagen of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals tells The Boston Globe (http://bit.ly/2vAIIRS ) that Cambridge's law is "a landmark ordinance" because it goes further. Only two national chains sell animals in Cambridge, which is home to Harvard University. The president of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council says the ordinance damages the stores' bottom line and penalizes retailers committed to animal welfare. ___ Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.bostonglobe.com GATUNDU, Kenya (AP) - Stooped but determined, a 102-year-old woman believed to be one of Kenya's oldest citizens cast her ballot in national elections on Tuesday. "I have come here to vote because good leadership comes from God," Lydia Gathoni Kiingati said. "I want to vote because I believe God has kept me alive for so many years." Kiingati, who wore a wool cap and walked with a cane to the ballot box, smiled broadly when an election official marked her finger with indelible ink after she voted. The procedure is a safeguard that prevents anyone from trying to vote more than once. Lydia Gathoni Kiingati, 102, casts her vote just after dawn at a polling station in Gatundu, north of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) The veteran voter did her civic duty at a polling station set up in a primary school in Gatundu, north of Nairobi. The area is the birthplace of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who voted at the same place, urging Kenyans to return home and peacefully await the results. Kiingati said she voted for Kenyatta, who seeks a second term and faces a fierce challenge from opposition leader Raila Odinga. The woman also referred with respect to Jomo Kenyatta, the president's father who was Kenya's first leader after independence from British colonial rule in 1963. Scola Wambui, Kiingati's daughter, said her mother was delighted to vote. "She always votes and it's not the first time she is doing it and she told us that since the day has come, we have to bring her here to vote because she is a proud Kenyan," Wambui said. Lydia Gathoni Kiingati, 102, walks to cast her vote just after dawn at a polling station in Gatundu, north of Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyans are going to the polls to vote in a general election after a tightly-fought presidential race between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and main opposition leader Raila Odinga. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) CLAREMONT, N.H. (AP) - An 83-year-old New Hampshire woman accused in a murder-for-hire plot involving her son's ex-wife is heard on recordings laughing and saying she wants her former daughter-in-law dead. During a hearing Monday, prosecutors played phone calls between Pauline Chase and a hit man. Chase and her son, 63-year-old Maurice Temple, both of Plainfield, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder and attempt to commit murder. Prosecutors say the hit man went to police. FILE - Thes July, 27, 2017 file photos, provided by Plainfield Police Department show Pauline Chase, 83, left, and her son Maurice Temple, 63, both from Plainfield, N.H. During a hearing Monday, Aug. 8, 2017, prosecutors played phone calls between Chase and a hit man. Chase and Temple have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder and attempt to commit murder. Prosecutors say the hit man went to police. (Plainfield Police Department via AP) In one call, the man asks Chase if she's sure she wants the woman dead. Chase responds, laughing, "Yes, that's right." Temple's lawyer says Temple wasn't part of the plan until the hit man persuaded him to be. The hearing was continued to Thursday. No arguments have been heard yet for Chase. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Democrats haven't won Texas' governor's race for decades, but a booming Hispanic population and the party's dominance of the state's largest cities have made them willing to keep trying. After high-profile candidates lost decisively in the last two elections, though, the party now finds itself in unprecedented territory for the 2018 election: with no major candidate to run. Democratic leaders haven't yet lined up a substantial name to represent the party and its message despite months of efforts to do so. Some of the party's brightest stars don't want to challenge Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, and there appear to be few other good options. Any continued faith in a Democratic turnaround in Texas is now colliding with pessimism that it'll happen anytime soon. NEW YORK (AP) - Films by Greta Gerwig, Sean Baker and Agnes Varda are headed to the 55th New York Film Festival. The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced the selections of 25 films for its main slate on Tuesday, including eight directed by women. The festival, held annually at Lincoln Center, is one of the most prestigious of the fall season. Among the films selected are Baker's acclaimed Cannes entry "The Florida Project," the 89-year-old Varda's "Faces Places" and Gerwig's directorial debut "Lady Bird." Gerwig's frequent collaborator and romantic partner Noah Baumbach will also return to the festival with his Netflix release "The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)." Many of the selections, as usual, include previous festival standouts. Luca Guadagnino's "Call Me by Your Name" and Dee Rees' "Mudbound" will come to the festival after lauded debuts at Sundance. Other Cannes hits include Ruben Ostlund's Palme d'Or winning comedy "The Square" and Robin Campillo's AIDS activist drama "BPM (Beats Per Minute)." This combination photo shows film directors Sean Baker, from left, Greta Gerwig and Agnes Varda who will be featured at the 55th New York Film Festival taking place Sept.28 - Oct.15, 2017 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York. (AP Photo/File) The festival previously announced its three galas, all of which happen to be Amazon Studios releases. Richard Linklater's "Last Flag Flying," a kind of sequel to Hal Ashby's "The Last Detail," will open the festival. Todd Haynes' Brian Selznick adaptation "Wonderstruck" is the centerpiece, and Woody Allen's 1950s Coney Island tale "Wonder Wheel" will close. The New York Film Festival runs Sept. 28 to Oct. 15. BRUSSELS (AP) - Belgian prosecutors said Tuesday that no explosives were found in a car stopped by police fire after a high-speed chase in the flash-point Brussels suburb of Molenbeek. "Nothing suspicious was found in the vehicle," said Ine Van Wymersch, spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor's office. The car was chased by police after running a red light and involved in two collisions until it was finally brought to a halt, she said. A witness, Mohamed Al Mossawi, told The Associated Press that the car's tires were shot out by police. Van Wymersch said only one shot was fired. A police vehicle blocks a road in front of a bomb disposal robot in the Molenbeek suburb of Brussels, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Brussels police say that they opened fire on a vehicle after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver told officers there are explosives inside. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) "When the person got out, he immediately claimed that there were explosives inside," Van Wymersch said. She declined to identify the suspect, but said he was a Rwandan national born in 1981 who was not previously known to police. A few hundred people were kept in nearby shops as a precaution while heavily protected army bomb disposal experts were called in to assess the situation. Unprotected police and forensic experts were later at the scene, taking objects from the car and examining them. The all-clear was given just over three hours after the car was stopped. No one was injured. Brussels has been on high alert since suicide bombers killed 32 people in attacks on the city's airport and subway on March 22, 2016. Many suspects linked to those attacks and the November 2015 massacre in Paris lived in or transited through Molenbeek. A police helicopter flies over the Molenbeek suburb of Brussels, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Brussels police say that they opened fire on a vehicle after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver told officers there are explosives inside. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) Police officers await developments in the Molenbeek suburb of Brussels, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Brussels police say that they opened fire on a vehicle after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver told officers there are explosives inside. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) A police officer speaks to members of the armed forces in the Molenbeek suburb of Brussels, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Brussels police say that they opened fire on a vehicle after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver told officers there are explosives inside. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) A police officer speaks to members of the armed forces in the Molenbeek suburb of Brussels, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Brussels police say that they opened fire on a vehicle after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver told officers there are explosives inside. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) A police vehicle blocks a road in front of an explosives robot, left, in the Molenbeek suburb of Brussels, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Brussels police say that they opened fire on a vehicle after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver told officers there are explosives inside. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - A woman drove for two days with her dead 11-year-old daughter in her truck before hitting a guard rail in West Virginia, where authorities say witnesses saw her dragging the body into the woods. The driver, 37-year-old Erica Newsome, has been jailed on charges of concealing the body of her daughter, Kaye-lea Plummer. The Pocahontas Times reports that Newsome told authorities after Sunday's crash that they left Jacksonville on Friday to drive to the home of the girl's father in Buffalo, New York. This Aug. 7, 2017 photo made available by the West Virginia Regional Jail & Correctional Facility Authority, shows Erica Newsome under arrest. Newsome was charged with concealing the body of her 11-year-old daughter in her car as she was driving towards Buffalo, NY. Authorities say the Florida girl was already dead before the mother was involved in a car crash in West Virginia. (West Virginia Regional Jail & Correctional Facility Authority via AP) State Police Sgt. Herby Barlow told the newspaper that it was obvious the girl did not die from injuries in the accident. Barlow said a couple traveling on the same highway reported seeing Newsome remove a body from her vehicle and drag it over a hill. They were found on an old logging road about 150 feet beyond an embankment, he said. The mother was jailed on $50,000 bail while investigators search for evidence in Florida. "At this time, foul play is suspected in the child's death and we believe the death occurred in Jacksonville, Florida," the sheriff's office there said. The girl's father, Donath Plummer, told WJXT4 television in Jacksonville that Newsome texted him Saturday morning, saying she was bringing their daughter to Buffalo. He said they married in 2007 and separated two years later. He said he hadn't seen them since Newsome moved with Kaye-lea to Jacksonville in 2014, but he would check on his daughter regularly by phone. "We didn't always agree on everything, but she was a great mother. I don't know how this could have happened," Plummer said. "Something is very, very wrong. She needs help. She really needs help." CAMDEN, Maine (AP) - The socialite daughter of two world-famous New York ballet dancers is charged in Maine with breaking into several stores. Police say 21-year-old Talicia Martins and a friend broke into The Smoothie Shack, Francine Bistro and Camden Cone, taking more than $1,000. She is the daughter of Darci Kistler, former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, and Peter Martins, current chief of the New York City Ballet. Martins and 20-year-old Jacob Flanagan were charged late last week with burglary and theft, and both were freed on bail. They're due in court on Sept. 25 in Rockland. Court paperwork didn't indicate if they had hired lawyers. Phone numbers for the pair couldn't be located, and the phone rang unanswered at the home of Martins' parents. ATLANTA (AP) - The final home of Flannery O'Connor is under new management but officials at the Georgia university taking over the middle Georgia dairy farm known as Andalusia plan to keep the property open for public visits. O'Connor, a Savannah native, spent the last 13 years of her life on the Baldwin County farm where she raised dozens of peacocks and completed some of her best-known works, including the short story collection "A Good Man Is Hard To Find." Since it opened to the public in 2003, O'Connor fans and scholars made trips to the 500-acre farm and the home where O'Connor lived with her mother, Regina, until the author's death in 1964. This 1962 photo shows author Flannery O'Connor in the driveway at Andalusia in Georgia. . The final home of O'Connor is being given to Georgia College after a small foundation struggled to keep up the historic property. The Savannah-born author spent the last 13 years of her life on the middle Georgia dairy farm known as Andalusia. O'Connor completed her best-known works there, including the short story collection "A Good Man Is Hard To Find." (Joe McTyre /Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) But the Flannery O'Connor Andalusia Foundation, which depends entirely on donations, struggled to afford upkeep of the large property and didn't have the money to make other upgrades, such as a visitors' center separate from the house, said Donna Barwick, who leads the foundation's board. So board members decided to gift the property to the foundation of Georgia College, which O'Connor attended when it was known as the Georgia State College for Women. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Georgia College President Steve Dorman said details of public tours and other programs still are being planned but said there's no doubt that the school will preserve public access. "Flannery is a Georgia treasure and she's an American treasure," Dorman said. "To be able to share that with the public is really important." The farm is a vivid example of O'Connor's skill at giving readers a "sense of place" in her Southern Gothic works, said Barwick, who's been a fan of the author since college. "When you drive into that driveway from U.S. Highway 441 it's like you go back a century," she said. "You look around and realize that's the barn or the field where her stories took place. More so than any other writer I know about, the place is so important to interpretation of her work." The school's foundation already oversees Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion on its Milledgeville campus, where students act as docents and lead tourists on tours of the High Greek Revival building used by governors until after the Civil War. Dorman said college officials hope to use a similar approach at O'Connor's home. JERUSALEM (AP) - The Israeli military says a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck an open area outside the coastal city of Ashkelon, causing no injuries or damage. Moments earlier on Tuesday air raid sirens sounded in areas of southern Israel bordering the Palestinian enclave. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket launch. Israel has seen occasional rocket fire from the Gaza Strip in the three years since its last war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Most have been claimed by Salafist groups in the territory. WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans face a problem as they try to defend a slim majority in the Senate and win races elsewhere: Insurgent primary candidates are trying to lay claim to President Donald Trump's mantle, and knock out the establishment's choices. The latest case is in Nevada, where endangered GOP incumbent Sen. Dean Heller drew a challenge Tuesday from businessman and repeat failed candidate Danny Tarkanian, who announced his bid in an early morning Fox News Channel appearance seemingly aimed at an audience of one: the president himself. "We're never going to make America great again unless we have senators in office that fully support President Trump and his America-first agenda," Tarkanian said, criticizing Heller as "one of the first never-Trumpers in Nevada" and arguing he had obstructed Trump's agenda in Congress. FILE - In this June 8, 2010 filephoto, Danny Tarkanian speaks in Las Vegas. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev. will face a challenge in the 2018 GOP primary by a conservative who is aligning himself with President Donald Trump. The bid by Tarkanian, a 55-year-old Las Vegas businessman, makes good on conservatives' threats to challenge incumbents who they blame for hurting the years-long quest to dismantle the Obama-era health care law. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, File) Heller opposed early versions of Trump-backed health care legislation in the Senate before voting for a final version that failed anyway. His campaign spokesman, Tommy Ferraro, dismissed Tarkanian as a "perennial candidate." The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the official Senate GOP campaign arm, quickly announced its support for Heller, and a super PAC backed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., committed to spending what it takes to support him and other GOP incumbents. The dynamic mirrors longstanding clashes between the GOP's establishment and activist wings, which played out disastrously in 2010 and 2012 when hard-core conservatives won Senate primaries but went on to lose to Democrats. McConnell and his allies vowed never to let that happen again and have subsequently intervened in primaries when necessary to produce candidates who could win. The X factor now is the appeal Trump may hold to Republican primary voters - and what Trump himself will do. The president offered one clue Tuesday night, backing the establishment candidate in next week's GOP Senate special election primary in Alabama, hours after an Associated Press story noted the absence so far of a presidential endorsement in the race. "Senator Luther Strange has done a great job representing the people of the Great State of Alabama. He has my complete and total endorsement!" the president wrote, bypassing a firebrand House conservative, Mo Brooks, and an evangelical former state chief justice, Roy Moore, in favor of the appointed senator strongly backed by McConnell. The candidates are fighting over the seat previously held by now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. But whether Heller will get the presidential seal of approval in his primary is far less clear, and he is not alone. Next door in Arizona, GOP incumbent Sen. Jeff Flake, another Trump skeptic during last year's campaign, faces at least one challenge from the right in conservative Kelli Ward, who repeatedly denounces Flake while praising Trump. In each case, to their annoyance, establishment-aligned Republicans face the prospect of spending millions to protect an incumbent from a challenger who might have a tough time getting out of the general election. Republicans hold a 52-48 Senate majority and are playing offense against Democratic incumbents in 10 states Trump won. "It's a critical time to make sure that Republican members know, when they're casting tough votes, that we'll have their backs," said Steven Law, a former McConnell chief of staff who heads the Senate Leadership Fund, in describing the decision to come in with millions to back Strange in Alabama. Until Trump weighed in with his endorsement late Tuesday, the Alabama race had underscored questions about the role the president would play in Senate primaries. A former GOP Senate campaign official with knowledge of the situation said the NRSC has sought help from the Trump White House on Senate races but those requests went unanswered under the leadership of recently ousted Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, leading to widespread frustration. The former campaign official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal party matters. While Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have said they want to increase the Republican majorities in the House and Senate, the White House's approach to contentious primaries isn't clear yet. And Trump has already worked against McConnell's goals, ignoring his pleas not to appoint former Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, a likely Senate candidate, as Interior secretary, while boosting endangered Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia by hosting them at Trump Tower. As for Heller, he is already walking the Trump tightrope. Heller's initial denunciation of a Senate plan to repeal and replace Obamacare drew the ire of a political nonprofit promoting Trump's agenda. America First Policies tied Heller to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in a social media push and threatened to spend more than $1 million trashing him on television and radio on his home turf. McConnell called the group's attacks "beyond stupid." In addition to the health care episode, Heller in 2015 said he was donating Trump's previous campaign contributions to charity - a move he announced after Trump came under fire for characterizing some illegal immigrants from Mexico as rapists. For a president with a famously long memory for slights, Heller may have little hope of getting back into his good graces. ___ Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico's governor has signed a flurry of new laws aimed at boosting economic development on an island entering its 11th year of recession. Ricardo Rossello said Tuesday that some of the laws would help speed up the process of opening a new business in Puerto Rico and require new business owners to hire a certain number of local workers. He also announced the creation of a group tasked with pushing officials in Washington D.C. for permission to implement federal programs or initiatives that might help the U.S. territory's economy. Rossello also said his administration will host a two-day summit in September to help attract hundreds of potential investors to the island. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Actress Cynthia Nixon has plenty of criticism for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, though she's not saying whether she'll run against him next year. Appearing on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday, the "Sex and the City" star wouldn't answer when asked whether she plans to mount a campaign, but said she has heard "rumors" about her potential challenge to Cuomo in next year's Democratic primary. "I think there are a lot of people who would like me to run, and I think for a variety of reasons," she said. "But I think the No. 1 is education. We've got a real problem on our hands in New York state." Cynthia Nixon attends "The Only Living Boy in New York" premiere at the Museum of Modern Art on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) She went on to criticize Cuomo's handling of public education, saying the gap between rich and poor schools has never been greater. Cuomo has been mentioned as a possible White House candidate in 2020, though he says he's planning to seek a third term in 2018. Rich Azzopardi, the governor's spokesman, noted that state funding for schools is at an all-time high under Cuomo and that 70 percent of it goes to "high-needs" schools. He extended an open invitation to Nixon to meet with Cuomo. "The more people talking about issues that make New York state stronger, the better," he said. "We know Ms. Nixon is a passionate advocate for education, and we would be happy to sit down with her anytime to talk about it." Nixon has been active in New York City politics, particularly in education advocacy, and has supported Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio. Her name emerged as a potential candidate for governor last week after liberal activists said she would make a good candidate. She noted on "Today" that she has three children who have attended New York public schools. SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazilian President Michel Temer's defense team accused the attorney general of bias in a petition Tuesday that asked the country's highest court to remove him from an investigation involving the president. A justice with the Supreme Federal Tribunal was reviewing the petition. There is no timeline for a decision. The petition asks that another prosecutor take Attorney General Rodrigo Janot's place, but that point might be moot: Janot's post ends Sept. 17, when the new chief prosecutor takes over the post. Brazil's President Michel Temer attends a ceremony to announce the creation of a new park and museum at the City Hall, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Tension between Temer and Janot has been rising in recent weeks. Janot filed an indictment in June accusing Temer of corruption, but lawmakers decided last week that the president would not stand trial on the bribery charge while in office. Janot could bring more charges against Temer before he steps down, setting up another showdown in Congress. Tuesday's petition presented a laundry list of complaints about Janot's statements and actions and accused him of breaching the constitutional limits of his post. "The motivation, it seems, is personal," the petition read. "We are witnessing obsessive, persecutory conduct." Temer's lawyers noted that Janot said recently he had strong evidence to support a possible obstruction of justice charge but that he has yet to present any specific proof. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Antonio Guterres will make his first visit as U.N. secretary-general to Israel and the Palestinian territories later this month for a firsthand look at a conflict that has been on the front burner of the United Nations for 70 years. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, said Tuesday that the trip "comes at a critical time in which there are attacks against the two-state solution," which would see an independent Palestinian state existing side-by-side with Israel in peace. The secretary-general "is adamant in emphasizing that there is no Plan B to the two-state solution," Mansour told The Associated Press. "So to emphasize the importance of the two-state solution, and abiding by it and respecting the global consensus around it, is something that I think the Israeli leadership needs to listen to." Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said the trip "will provide an excellent opportunity for him to see firsthand both the challenges and the opportunities that we face in our region, including Hezbollah's activities in Lebanon in violations of Security Council resolutions." Guterres' first stop will be Israel on Aug. 28 followed by a visit to Palestinian leaders including President Mahmoud Abbas on Aug. 29 in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Mansour said. The secretary-general will then travel to Gaza on Aug. 30 where he is expected to visit some projects of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Danon first mentioned the trip last month. It has not been officially announced by the U.N. Israeli-Palestinian tensions escalated recently over the holiest site in Jerusalem when Israel installed metal detectors after Arab gunmen killed two Israeli policemen there in mid-July. Muslims protested and Israel removed the devices after intervention from the United States, Jordan and others. Israel and the United States, the country's closest ally, have sharply accused the United Nations of anti-Israel bias. "We welcome the secretary-general's statements speaking out against anti-Semitism and in favor of treating Israel as a fully equal U.N. member-state," Danon said Tuesday in a statement to AP. "During his meetings with the prime minister, president and minister of defense, the secretary-general will also hear about the importance Israel places on being treated fairly at the United Nations." Mansour said Guterres must "push as much as he can" to stop Israeli settlement activities, which are illegal under international law and are on land Palestinians want for their state. He said the secretary-general also needs to press Israel to lift its "illegal blockade" in Gaza. The body of a man who was reported missing a month ago has been found at his house. Police Scotland confirmed that the body of Arnold Mouat, 64, was found in his family home in Boness on Saturday. He was reported missing on July 7 having been last seen by his family the previous day in his house in Panbrae Road. A large-scale search was held in a bid to find him, involving divers, mountain rescue and police dogs. After the body was found, Police Scotland said it had referred its handling of the case to the watchdog the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. Mr Mouats death is being treated as unexplained but the circumstances are not thought to be suspicious and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal. Arnold Mouat Superintendent Martin Fotheringham, of Forth Valley Division, said: This is a tragic set of circumstances and our thoughts and sympathies are with the Mouat family as they come to terms with their loss. Following a review of our response to this incident, Police Scotland has referred this matter to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. We will provide them with all the necessary assistance and support they require during their investigation. I would like to thank those members of the public and media who responded to our appeal for information, in particular those who assisted with searching for Mr Mouat. We are continuing to support Mr Mouats family with dedicated family liaison officers and will continue to offer any assistance we can throughout this difficult time. The UN human rights office says it has unearthed widespread and systematic use of excessive force, arbitrary detention and other rights violations against demonstrators and detainees in Venezuela. Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said preliminary findings suggest there are no signs that the situation is improving. The teams analysis found security forces were allegedly responsible for at least 46 deaths, and pro-government armed groups were allegedly responsible for 27 among 124 deaths being investigated in connection with demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduros government. Masked anti-government demonstrators walk next to burning barricade during a protest against the installation of a constitutional assembly in Caracas (Wil Riera/AP) It said it was unclear who the perpetrators of the other deaths were. The rights office said violations included house raids, torture and ill-treatment of those detained in connection with the protests. A full report on the teams findings is expected later this month The report came as Venezuelas supreme court ordered the removal and arrest of a Caracas-area mayor at the heart of anti-government protests, and Mr Maduros all-powerful constitutional assembly forges ahead on promises to punish the embattled leaders foes. The government-packed high court sentenced Ramon Muchacho to 15 months in prison for not following an order to remove barricades set up in the leafy Chacao district of eastern Caracas where the Emory University MBA graduate has been mayor since 2013. He is the fourth opposition mayor whose arrest the high court has sought in the past two weeks. The court also ordered an investigation into another prominent Caracas-area mayor, David Smolansky, for the same alleged crimes. Mr Muchachos whereabouts were not immediately known, but he denounced the ruling on Twitter, saying that all of the weight of the revolutionary injustice has fallen on my shoulders for doing his job to guarantee the constitutional right to protest. Chacao was previously governed by Leopoldo Lopez, the most prominent activist jailed by the Maduro government Chacao was previously governed by Leopoldo Lopez, the most prominent activist jailed by the Maduro government, and is the main gathering point for protests. The crackdown on the opposition is likely to dominate a meeting in Peru where foreign ministers from more than a dozen Latin American governments are discussing how to force Mr Maduro to back down. Perus president has been vocal in rejecting the new Venezuelan assembly, but the region has had trouble agreeing on collective actions. Venezuela is facing mounting pressure and threats of deepening sanctions from trade partners. It was recently suspended from South Americas Mercosur trade bloc and the Trump administration sanctioned several top officials including Mr Maduro. He has remained firm in pressing the constitutional assembly forward in executing his priorities. As a counter to the Peru meeting, he was hosting a meeting of foreign ministers from the Bolivarian Alliance, a leftist coalition of 11 Latin American nations. The new constitutional assembly voted to replace chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz with a government loyalist The new constitutional assembly has signalled it will act swiftly in following through with Mr Maduros commands. It voted on Saturday to replace chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz with a government loyalist and create a truth commission that will wield unusual power to prosecute and levy sentences. Opposition leaders vowed to remain in their posts in their only government foothold - the countrys single-chamber congress - despite threats from the constitutional assembly to strip them of any authority and lock up key leaders. Legislators voted unanimously on Monday not to recognise any of the new super bodys decrees. They also are vowing to remain on the streets, beginning with a call for supporters to blockade streets and bring the nation to a standstill. Manchester United were outclassed at times as Real Madrid won the UEFA Super Cup, giving Jose Mourinho food for thought at the start of his second season in the hotseat. FT: Real Madrid 2 #MUFC 1. A valiant second-half effort but a narrow #SuperCup defeat in Skopje. pic.twitter.com/MOSsoRBsmg Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 8, 2017 Sweltering Skopje bore witness to an entertaining meeting of these European giants in the annual clash of the Champions League and Europa League winners. Casemiro and Isco put Real Madrid on course for back-to-back Super Cup triumphs, running out 2-1 victors despite Romelu Lukakus first competitive goal for United bringing the Macedonia encounter to a tense finale. What they said Jose Mourinho There was a goal that was offside. If not, we would be talking about 0-0 at half-time and a different game. But the domination is the consequence of quality of a team that is superior, that has great quality players in midfield that control the game, that hold the ball, that keep possession. They touch the ball well, they pass it very well. It is a consequence of that. You cannot play and play beautiful football at the same level for 90 minutes. We played at a high quality, we suffered, yes, but we controlled the game. If Gareth Bale scores the third its over. But we were against an opponent who wanted to cause us problems and its normal if we suffered a bit. Tweet of the match He might miss a few, but Lukaku will score a lot for @ManUtd Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 8, 2017 Star man Isco Isco: Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea challenged his compatriot for the man-of-the-match prize, pulling off a string of fine saves in the Macedonian capital. But it was Isco that made the most telling impact, scoring a superb goal to cap an outstanding overall performance. Moment of the match GOLAZO! @isco_alarcon played a delightful one-two with @GarethBale11 before calmly slotting the ball beyond De Gea! GET IN!#RMSuperCup Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) August 8, 2017 United were without a string of defenders for the Super Cup through either suspension or injury it showed when Isco played a lovely one-two with Gareth Bale and all too easily got behind the United backline to slot home. Stats of the match Having become the first side in the Champions League era to retain the European Cup, Real Madrid became the first side win successive Super Cups since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990. Spain have now triumphed in eight of the last nine Super Cups, while Uniteds wait to add to their 1991 triumph continues. Player ratings Keylor Navas 5, Dani Carvajal 7, Sergio Ramos 7, Raphael Varane 7, Marcelo 7, Casemiro 8, Toni Kroos 7, Luka Modric 8, Gareth Bale 7, Isco 8, Karim Benzema 7.Lucas Vasquez (for Isco, 74) 6, Marco Asensio (for Bale, 74) 7, Cristiano Ronaldo (for Benzema, 82) 6. David De Gea 8, Antonio Valencia 7, Victor Lindelof 5, Chris Smalling 6, Matteo Darmian 5, Nemanja Matic 7, Ander Herrera 6, Paul Pogba 6, Henrikh Mkhitaryan 6, Jesse Lingard 5, Romelu Lukaku 6.Marcus Rashford (for Lingard, 45) 7, Marouane Fellaini (for Herrera, 56) 6. Next up Manchester United take on West Ham Manchester United v West Ham (Premier League, Sunday 13 August) Barcelona v Real Madrid (Spanish Super Cup, Sunday 13 August) GENEVA, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Chinese-owned oil firm Addax Petroleum is shutting its offices in Geneva, Houston and Aberdeen, it said on Monday, a month after it agreed to pay 31 million Swiss francs ($31.85 million)to settle charges of suspected bribery of foreign officials. Confirming a report in the Tribune de Geneve newspaper, Addax said its parent firm Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (SIPC) would integrate the three offices into a new technical centre in Beijing. SIPC was streamlining its business model in response to low oil prices, the Addax statement said. "This rationalisation, designed to reduce management duplication, improve efficiency and secure long-term business sustainability, will see Addax Petroleums Geneva office integrated with SIPCs headquarters in Beijing, and the Geneva office closed by the end of this year." Addax's operating companies will start reporting directly to SIPC headquarters from August 9, and Addax will run a consultation process for its 174 affected staff in Geneva to mitigate the impact of the organisation change, it said. The newspaper said Geneva-based staff were informed of the closure on Monday afternoon. Addax says on its website that it has more than 1,000 employees, and operations in Nigeria, Gabon and Cameroon, as well as joint ventures with Genel in Iraqi Kurdistan and with Repsol in the British North Sea. Prosecutors for the Swiss canton of Geneva had investigated the company, whose chief executive officer and legal director were also charged, over several tens of millions of dollars in payments to a company and several lawyers in Nigeria. A four-month investigation found the payments were not sufficiently documented and doubts remained on their legality, but no criminal intent was established, the prosecutor's office said. With that settlement, cases against the CEO and legal director were also closed, a spokesman for the prosecutor said at the time. ($1 = 0.9734 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Tom Miles. Editing by Jane Merriman) Aug 7 (Reuters) - A scheduled meeting between the foreign ministers of China and Vietnam was cancelled on the sidelines of a regional gathering, Chinese embassy officials said, amid growing tension between the two countries over the South China Sea. Vietnam had held out for language that noted concern about island-building and criticised militarisation in South China Sea in the communique on Sunday from foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Chinese embassy officials gave no reason for the cancellation of the meeting scheduled for Monday in Manila between China's Wang Yi and Vietnam's Pham Binh Minh. A Chinese foreign ministry official said they had "already met". Vietnam's foreign ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Although the language in the ASEAN communique reflected that in previous years, some countries pursuing deeper business ties with Beijing, such as Cambodia and the Philippines, had argued for dropping it. Beijing is sensitive to even a veiled reference by ASEAN to its reclamation of seven reefs and its military installations in the South China Sea, which it claims in almost its entirety despite the competing claims of five other countries. Vietnam has emerged as the most vocal opponent of China's claims in the waterway, where more than $3 trillion in cargo pass every year. Tension has risen since June, when Vietnam infuriated China by drilling for oil and gas in an offshore block that Beijing disputes. The exploration was suspended after diplomatic protests from China. After the ASEAN meeting, China's foreign minister had called out "some countries" who voiced concern over island reclamation. Wang said that China had not carried out reclamation for two years. "At this time, if you ask who is carrying out reclamation, it is definitely not China - perhaps it is the country that brings up the issue that is doing it," he added. Satellite images have shown that Vietnam has carried out reclamation work in two sites in the disputed seas in recent years. (Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Michael Perry) BEIJING, Aug 8 (Reuters) - China's coal imports in July fell to their lowest in five months as Beijing's efforts to combat pollution curbed utilities' ability to buy cheaper foreign fuel and caused backlogs in ports, customs data showed on Tuesday. Arrivals of China's favourite fuel totaled 19.46 million tonnes in July, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. That's down nearly 10 percent from June and 8.3 percent lower than July last year, according to Reuters calculations. Customs does not provide percentage changes for the monthly data. The drop in shipments and intensifying crackdown on imports will raise concerns among major exporters like Australia, Indonesia and Russia. Still, for the year to date, imports were up 18.2 percent at 152.71 million tonnes, reflecting stronger buying earlier in the year when domestic mine capacity was lower. In recent months though, power companies in the world's top coal buyer have struggled with a flurry of government measures aimed at curbing imports as they seek to secure sufficient supplies for the hot summer months when demand for airconditioners surges. These include a ban on coal shipments at small ports from July 1, more random checks on coal cargoes and a more thorough inspection process before clearing shipments. "There are worries that coal prices will continue to rally until winter and utilities cannot secure enough supply as a result of the crackdown on domestic coal mines," said Zhang Xiaojin, coal analyst with China Everbright Futures. Xiaojin said it can take up to 40 days to get coal cleared through customs, leading to a build-up at ports. Short-term supply issues will continue to support strong import demand for thermal coal in China, Daniel Hayes of ANZ Research said in a note. In a recent sign that Beijing is worrying about supplies, a senior economic official said China may adjust its policy on coal capacity cuts. Adding to the concerns, China's biggest producer Shenhua suspended operations at two large open-pit coal mines on August 3. Power producer Huadian Energy estimated in a company filing that Shenhua's production cut would leave Huadian with a 3 million tonnes shortfall. For tables and data of China's coal imports including lignite, please click on, for coal imports excluding lignite, please click on (Reporting by Meng Meng and Josephine Mason; Editing by Richard Pullin) By Amy Sawitta Lefevre BANGKOK, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Thailand on Tuesday in the highest level visit by a U.S. official since a military coup in 2014 soured relations with the United States and brought the ruling junta closer to China. Tillerson's visit follows his attendance at a regional security forum in Manila at the weekend. One of Tillerson's top priorities has been urging Southeast Asian countries to do more to help cut funding streams for North Korea, with which he has held open the door for dialogue if it halts its recent series of missile tests. But Thailand's own politics and human rights record will also be in focus, as Washington strengthens relations with its oldest ally in the region after they were downgraded following the coup. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks highlighted the importance of the visit for Thailand. She told Reuters there were "many issues which we will cover, including the tight relationship and friendship". U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken to the leader of Thailand's military junta, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, and invited him to the White House, but no date has been set yet. Human rights groups have voiced concern about the re-establishment of normal relations between the United States and Thailand while the junta continues to crack down on critics of the monarchy and the military. "It would be a practical mistake for Tillerson to not condition positive diplomatic relations on improvements in the protection of human rights," Matthew Smith, of the Fortify Rights group, told Reuters. Thailand's military seized power in May 2014 after months of street protests with a promise to eventually restore democracy, but elections will not happen before next year and a new constitution retains a powerful political say for the army. Since the coup, Thailand has since aligned itself more closely with Beijing. Thailand this year has approved Chinese submarines, tank and helicopter purchases worth more than $500 million as well as construction of a new rail link. Another source of friction with the Trump administration is Thailand's trade surplus over the United States. It was the 11th largest last year at nearly $19 billion, although Thai officials expect a sharp rise in U.S. imports to reduce it. (Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Clarence Fernandez) ANKARA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Here are news, reports and events that may affect Turkish financial markets on Tuesday. The lira stood at 3.5290 against the U.S. dollar at 0507 GMT, compared to 3.5263 at Monday's close. The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond was at 10.66 percent in spot trade at Monday's close. The main BIST 100 share index rose 1.1 percent to 109,781.13 on Monday. GLOBAL MARKETS Asian shares went flat on Tuesday as disappointing Chinese trade data clouded the otherwise upbeat outlook on global growth, leaving currencies and commodities becalmed in summer doldrums. TENSIONS WITH GERMANY Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany on Monday of assisting terrorists by not responding to thousands of files sent to Berlin or handing over suspects wanted by Turkish authorities. PM YILDIRIM Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will meet Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov in Ankara (0900 GMT), and later attend a ceremony for the ground-breaking of a road (1230 GMT). BANKS ASSOCIATION The Banks Association of Turkey (TBB) will hold a news conference at 9:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION The Turkish Statistics Institute will announce industrial output data for June (0700 GMT). For other related news, double click on: Turkish politics Turkish equities Turkish money Turkish debt Turkish hot stocks Forex news All emerging market news All Turkish news For real-time quotes, double click on: Istanbul National-100 stock index, interbank lira trading, lira bond trading (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu) SOFIA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. -- Number of foreign tourists in Bulgaria has increased by 8 percent to 3.3 million on an annual basis in the first half of 2017, Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova said. She added that 340,000 foreign tourists visited the Bulgarian Black Sea coast ahead of the summer season - from January to May. Tourism at the Black Sea accounts for 70 percent of the total tourism revenue in Bulgaria (Monitor, Trud) -- Bulgarian municipalities have overdue liabilities of over 160 million levs ($96.60 million), the finance ministry said. The ministry recommended that municipalities adopt and implement rehabilitation plans (Standart, Trud, 24 Chasa) -- Consumer confidence among Bulgarians was 1.6 percentage points higher in July 2017 than in April, a regular three-monthly survey by the national statistical institute showed. The consumer confidence indicator in July 2017 was 3.9 percentage points higher than in July 2016 (Standart, Trud) -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev awarded the Stara Planina order to the German Ambassador to Sofia, Detlef Lingemann, for his contributions to strengthening the Bulgarian-German relations (Standart, Trud, 24 Chasa, Monitor) ($1 = 1.6564 leva) By Christoph Steitz FRANKFURT, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Power plant and energy trading group Uniper has raised its dividend and profit outlook for 2017, possibly increasing the appeal of a 47 percent stake in the company which parent E.ON plans to sell. Shares in Uniper rose more than 3 percent in early trade to a record high, giving the group which made its market debut last September a value of some 6.8 billion euros ($8.15 billion). Plagued by years of falling wholesale power prices and subsequent writedowns in the value of its assets, E.ON last year spun off Uniper, which operates roughly 40 gigawatts of power plants in Europe and Russia. Yet wholesale prices have picked up markedly from record lows set last year, with Germany's benchmark contract for delivery in 2018 up more than a fifth over the past 12 months, partly driven by the closure of excess capacity across Europe. Uniper said on Tuesday first-half operating profit at its European generation unit more than doubled to 284 million euros, driven by cost cuts and higher output in Sweden, where one of its nuclear reactors came back into operation. Uniper now expects adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of between 1.0 billion euros and 1.2 billion, up from a previous forecast of between 0.9 billion and 1.2 billion. It also expects its dividend to rise by a quarter, which translates into a payout of 0.69 euros per share for 2017, against a previous forecast of a 15 percent increase. E.ON Chief Executive Johannes Teyssen said in May the group planned to sell its remaining stake in Uniper soon, with options including a market placing or a sale to a third party. Sources told Reuters that Finland's Fortum would be interested in some, but not all, of Uniper's assets, which include hydroelectric, coal- and gas-fired plants, storage assets and trading floors, as well as stakes in gas pipelines, LNG terminals and nuclear plants across Europe. ($1 = 0.8469 euros) (Editing by Maria Sheahan and David Holmes) NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE, Aug 8 (Reuters) - India's oil imports from Iraq rose 31.5 percent in July from a month ago, shipping data showed, allowing the Middle Eastern country to retain the top supplier spot for the fourth consecutive month amid declines from sellers like the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Iran. India took 954,400 barrels per day (bpd) of Iraqi oil in July compared with 725,800 bpd in June, according to ship tracking data obtained from sources and data compiled by Thomson Reuters Oil Research & Forecasts. India's July imports from Iraq are also nearly 50 percent higher than volumes imported in the same month last year, the data showed. The spike in Iraqi imports comes amid a slump in Venezuelan crude shipments, which fell 31.1 percent from June to 337,100 bpd in July. Venezuelan crude exports have declined as it struggles to secure the light oil needed to dilute its heavy crude grades for export. India is also diversifying its crude purchases as it plans to order about a quarter less Iranian crude in the fiscal year to March 31, 2018, due to what it perceives as a snub over the development of Iran's Farzad B gas field. India's imports of Iranian crude fell 16.3 percent on the month to 414,900 bpd, and are down 20.7 percent from a year ago. Last month Reliance for the first time bought oil produced from Iran's South Pars field, the data also showed. Loadings of Iranian oil for India are likely drop to 310,000 bpd this month, the lowest since February 2016, sources told Reuters last week. To make up for the shortfall from Iran, Indian refiners have turned to the spot market and picked up sour crude from Iraq and Russia among others to meet their demand. India's Russian crude imports in July more than tripled to 148,600 bpd from a year ago. Region/Count July June %chg July20 %chg Jan-July Jan-July %Chg ry 2017 2017 mth/mth 16 yr/yr 2017 2016 yr/yr Latam Brazil 92.9 169.0 -45.0 0.0 -- 105.2 50.2 109.4 Colombia 0.0 0.0 -- 0.0 -- 0.0 9.9 -100 Ecuador 67.7 0.0 -- 0.0 -- 23.9 0.0 -- Mexico 0 72.1 -100 142.6 -100 114.1 91.1 25.3 Venezuela 337.1 488.9 -31.1 687.6 -51 404.9 514.3 -21.3 TOTAL 497.6 729.9 -31.8 830.2 -40.1 648.1 665.5 -2.6 Asia Brunei 17.5 18.4 -4.7 0.0 -- 33.8 18.9 79.4 Malaysia 79.3 81.2 -2.4 118 -32.8 72.5 94.6 -23.3 Indonesia 0.0 0.0 -- 21.0 -100 0.0 15.7 -100 Australia 0.0 0.0 -- 0.0 -- 0.0 5.5 -100 TOTAL 96.8 99.6 -2.8 139 -30.4 106.3 134.6 -21 Middle East Oman 29.3 16.8 74.3 0.0 -- 9.1 18.9 -52.1 Iran 414.9 495.9 -16.3 523.1 -20.7 521.3 368.3 41.5 Iraq 954.4 725.8 31.5 637.1 49.8 862.9 814.2 6 Qatar 30.8 93.2 -67 229.8 -86.6 68.3 118 -42.2 Kuwait 244.8 148.1 65.3 139.2 75.8 197.3 232.2 -15 S. Arabia 888.4 662.6 34.1 933.5 -4.8 778 843.8 -7.8 U.A.E. 234.7 416.7 -43.7 264.3 -11.2 301.1 326.5 -7.8 Dubai 0.0 0.0 -- 0.0 -- 7.0 2.4 195.2 TOTAL 2797.3 2559.1 9.3 2727.1 2.6 2744.8 2724.7 0.7 C.I.S. Azerbaijan 83.5 33.0 152.5 0 -- 36.1 45.9 -21.4 Kazakhstan 64.1 65.8 -2.5 0 -- 42.1 3.2 1235.2 Russia 148.6 102.1 45.6 31.6 369.9 71.8 9.4 662.5 TOTAL 296.2 200.9 47.5 31.6 836.7 150.1 58.5 156.6 Africa Nigeria 471 345.5 36.3 264.2 78.3 409.9 405.9 1 Angola 160.9 258.7 -37.8 134 20 133.3 119.8 11.2 Cameroon 0 0 -- 30.3 -100 0 27.7 -100 Congo 20.5 19.2 6.6 17.8 14.8 5.7 7.0 -19.0 Chad 31.9 0 -- 32.2 -0.9 14 4.7 199.9 Egypt 51.3 55.7 -7.9 53.9 -4.8 41.6 36.7 13.4 Gabon 0 0 -- 0 -- 0 3.2 -100 Sudan 39 43.1 -9.5 0 -- 25.9 3 766.4 Eq Guinea 0 0 -- 52.6 -100 4.9 44.9 -89.1 Algeria 71.5 31.1 130.1 0 -- 47.4 7.7 513.6 TOTAL 846.1 753.3 12.3 585.2 44.6 682.7 660.6 3.3 CANADA 0 34.3 -100 0 -- 9.7 0 -- TOTAL ALL 4534 4377.1 3.6 4244.8 6.8 4341.8 4234 2.5 NOTE: The total may not tally as numbers in tonnes have been rounded off after converting them into barrels using a conversion factor of 7.3 barrels per tonne and dividing by the number of days. Numbers for the previous months may have been revised. The data includes some oil tankers that arrived in June but discharged in July. It also include some parcels that arrived in July and discharged in August. (Reporting by Nidhi Verma in NEW DELHI and Mark Tay in SINGAPORE; Editing by Tom Hogue) DUESSELDORF/FRANKFURT, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Frank Asbeck, founder and former CEO of SolarWorld, has teamed up with Qatar to buy two of the insolvent panel maker's factories, sources familiar with the matter said. Qatar was a shareholder in SolarWorld with a stake of 29 percent before its collapse, while Asbeck held 21 percent. The plants, located in the German states of Saxony and Thuringia, will be taken over by a new investment vehicle called SolarWorld Industries GmbH, which counts Asbeck and the Qatar Foundation as its owners, the sources told Reuters on Tuesday. SolarWorld's insolvency administrator Horst Piepenburg confirmed that Asbeck was one of the entity's shareholders, but declined to give more details about other parties, saying that the planned purchase would save 475 of the group's 1,800 jobs. Piepenburg is also still looking for buyers for SolarWorld's solar parks as well as the group's assets in the United States. Once Europe's biggest solar power equipment group, SolarWorld was overwhelmed by Chinese rivals who had long been a thorn in the side of Asbeck, once known as "the Sun King". The company filed for insolvency in May. At 1306 GMT, shares in SolarWorld were down 8.6 percent at 1.13 euros per share. (Reporting by Anneli Palmen and Alexander Huebner; writing by Christoph Steitz; editing by Alexander Smith) By Ricardo Brito BRASILIA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Lawyers defending Brazilian President Michel Temer against corruption allegations asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to remove the prosecutor general from the investigation, arguing he is no longer fit to lead it. In a filing to the top court, Temer's lawyers said Brazil's top federal prosecutor Rodrigo Janot, who has charged the president with taking bribes and has said more charges are imminent, was acting "beyond his constitutional limits." "We are not, it has become clear, confronting mere institutional action," Temer's lawyers wrote in the document seen by Reuters. "Everything indicates that the motivation is personal." Janot's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The request will be decided by Supreme Court Justice Luiz Edson Fachin, the judge in charge of a massive investigation into political kickbacks. Legal experts said it was unlikely he would agree to remove Janot in the middle of the biggest corruption investigation in Brazilian history. Temer, the first sitting Brazilian president to face formal corruption charges, got some relief last week when the lower house of Congress voted to block a bribery charge filed by Janot. But Temer's opponents hope a second or even third charge from Janot could be based on more solid evidence of Temer's links to political bribes. That could push lawmakers to vote against protecting Temer from a trial as they worry about voters turning on them in next year's elections. Under Brazil's constitution, any criminal charges leveled against a president must be approved by two-thirds of the lower house, and only then can the Supreme Court decide whether to put a leader on trial. Temer was charged in June in connection with a graft scheme involving the world's largest meatpacker, JBS SA. Executives said in plea-bargain testimony the president took bribes for resolving tax disputes, freeing up loans from state-run banks and other matters. Janot alleged that Temer arranged to eventually receive a total of 38 million reais ($12.14 million) from JBS in the coming nine months. The prosecutor has said on several occasions that he is likely to soon file obstruction of justice and racketeering charges against Temer. The case against the president is part of an unprecedented anti-corruption push that Brazil's federal police, prosecutors and some judges have pursuing for over three years. Investigators have uncovered stunning levels of graft engulfing Brazil's politicial and business elites. Much of it centers on companies paying billions of dollars in bribes to politicians and executives at state-run enterprises in return for lucrative contracts. Temer and one-third of his cabinet, as well as four former presidents and dozens of lawmakers, are under investigation or already charged. More than 100 people have been convicted, including former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is free pending appeal. ($1 = 3.1290 reais) (Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Additional reporting by Brad Brooks and Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Writing by Brad Brooks; Editing by Brad Haynes, Andrew Hay and David Gregorio) By Brian Ellsworth and Stephanie Nebehay CARACAS/GENEVA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - The United Nations slammed Venezuela on Tuesday for the use of excessive force against anti-government protesters and said security forces and pro-government groups were believed responsible for the deaths of at least 73 demonstrators since April. Abuses of protesters, including torture, were part of "the breakdown of the rule of law" in the South American OPEC member country," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said in a statement. "The responsibility for the human rights violations we are recording lies at the highest levels of the Government," he said. There was no immediate reaction from Venezuela's leftist government to the scathing criticism from the U.N., which said preliminary findings from an investigation conducted in June and July "paint a picture of widespread and systematic use of excessive force and arbitrary detentions against demonstrators in Venezuela." But the government has increasingly turned a blind eye to critics overseas as it steps up a crackdown on street protests against President Nicolas Maduro and seeks to consolidate his leftist rule. As part of that effort, the nation's pro-government Supreme Court sentenced an opposition mayor to 15 months in jail on Tuesday, saying he had defied an order to ensure that protests in his district of the capital Caracas did not disrupt transit through the area. In addition to ordering the immediate arrest of Ramon Muchacho of Chacao, a wealthy district that has been the epicenter of four months of protests, the court said he had been fired. "We are being condemned for doing our job, for guaranteeing the legitimate right to peaceful protest and the right of all Venezuelans to exercise their civil and political rights," Muchacho said in an email message on Tuesday to his supporters. "The coming hours will be difficult for me." Muchacho had not attended court hearings related to his case and location was unknown as of Tuesday afternoon. The order to jail him came just days after the installation of Venezuela's new constituent assembly, an all-powerful legislative body run by Maduro's Socialist Party loyalists. On Saturday the assembly removed dissident chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega from office and ordered her to stand trial. Socialist Party leaders have said Ortega failed to help control opposition protests, which have left more than 125 people dead. The Supreme Court has issued injunctions against nearly a dozen mayors of opposition municipalities ordering them to prevent protesters from erecting barricades blocking streets and to remove them if they were put in place. Critics say such cases are a violation of due process rights carried out by a Supreme Court that has ruled almost universally in favor of the Socialist Party. The court is hearing a similar case against the mayor of another Caracas district, David Smolansky of El Hatillo. Intelligence agents last month arrested Alfredo Ramos, the mayor of the city of Barquisimeto, on accusations that he violated the same order. Maduro has promised the assembly will bring peace to the country, and help end an acute economic crisis marked by shortages of food and other basic goods, but the opposition says it is aimed at consolidating a dictatorship. The U.N. said a full report on its finding about Venezuela would be issued at the end of this month. But according to the preliminary findings, Venezuela's security forces were allegedly responsible for the deaths of at least 46 protesters between April and July 31 while pro-government armed groups known as "colectivos" were linked to 27. "It is unclear who the perpetrators in the remaining deaths may be," it said. "While no official data is available on the number of detentions, reliable estimates suggest that between April 1, when the mass demonstrations began, and 31 July, more than 5,051 people have been arbitrarily detained. More than 1,000 reportedly remain in detention," the U.N. statement said. (Editing by W Simon and Tom Brown) Chamika Wimalasiri, Business Manager - SGS Lanka (third from left), handing over the OHSAS certificate to Praneeth Gunawardena, Director - Advantis Bunkering (second from left), in the presence of Ruwan Waidyaratne, Managing Director - Hayleys Advantis (extreme left) and Shano Sabar, Group Director - Hayleys Advantis (extreme right) Advantis Bunkering was recently awarded the International Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series certification or OHSAS 18001:2007 by Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), the worlds leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. The certification covers all three legal entities of the business; Moceti International (Pvt) Limited, Lanka Bunkering Services (Pvt) Limited and Lanka Maritime Services Limited. The OHSAS 18001:2007 certification was awarded following a stringent evaluation process of the health and safety standards maintained by the company. It ensures that all employees are trained to carry out all operational activities without incident and in the event of an incident are able to minimize and mitigate further adversities. Furthermore, the OHSAS uses a management approach tool called the PDCA (Plan, DO, Check, Act) cycle, which is an ongoing process that enables an organization to establish, implement and maintain its health and safety policy based on top management leadership and commitment to the safety management system. The safety of our employees is of paramount importance to us. Providing them with a safe working environment isa responsibility we take very seriously. This drives us to minimize risks associated with health and safety within the workplace. This dedication has allowed us to maintain an impressive safety track record and this latest certification is further validation of our commitment to the highest safety standards, said Praneeth Gunawardena, Director - Advantis Bunkering. Advantis Bunkering is a fully owned subsidiary of Hayley Advantis Limited, the transportation and logistics arm of Hayleys PLC. Established in 2008 Advantis Bunkering is built on a combination of strengths of Moceti International (Pvt) Limited, Lanka Bunkering Services (Pvt) Limited and Lanka Maritime Services Limited. The company has established itself as a reliable bunker supplier at all ports in Sri Lanka, and went on to expand its services to the Maldives in 2016. OHSAS 18001 is an Occupation Health and Safety Assessment Series for health and safety management systems and is intended to help organizations mitigate occupational health and safety risks. It was developed in response to the widespread demand for a recognized standard against which to be assessed and certified. Aitken Spence Travels was named as Sri Lankas leading destination management company at the 24th annual World Travel Awards held in the Maldives recently. Aitken Spence Travels is Sri Lankas leading inbound tourism company which marked its 40th anniversary recently. The company, a joint venture between conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC and TUI, the worlds number one integrated tourism company, served 153,000 visitors to Sri Lanka, during its last financial year. In addition to winning the Sri Lankas Leading Travel Agency 2017 category at the awards, overcoming other key local competitors, Aitken Spence Travels was also nominated for Asias Leading Destination Management Company in 2017. We are extremely pleased to share this global recognition with our staff and value chain partners whose shared passion for excellence has helped Aitken Spence Travels to chart its path over four decades. We will continue to work with our partners in making Sri Lanka a sought-after destination in Asia. As the leading DMC in Sri Lanka we will actively engage in a comprehensive destination marketing activity across traditional and emerging markets to achieve this objective, said Aitken Spence Travels Managing Director Nalin Jayasundera. Odissi, referred to as Orissi in older literature, is an ancient Indian classical dance that originated in Hindu temples of Odisha an eastern coastal state of India the talent of Sri Lankan born Nritta Ganeshi Manoharan, and daughter of a leading proponent and teacher of the Bharatanatyam dance form, Shangitha Namasivayam and two senior exponents of the Odissi dance form,Leena Mohanty and Daisy GaraniVijayakumaran. 31 July 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka Anugamana, (the ongoing journey) presented by the Indian Cultural Centre at the Russian Cultural Centre recently, was an offering of Odissi dance showcasingthe talent of Sri Lankan born Nritta Ganeshi Manoharan, and daughter of a leading proponent and teacher of the Bharatanatyam dance form, Shangitha Namasivayam and two senior exponents of the Odissi dance form,Leena Mohanty and Daisy GaraniVijayakumaran. This debut performance in Sri Lanka, comprised five items choreographed by Leena Mohanty, with music composed by Sri Dheeraj Kumar Mohapatra, and was especially momentous for Nritta as it was her first in her motherland.The event was graced by the presence of R Sambandan, Leader of the Opposition and the Acting Head of the Indian High Commission, Arindam Bagchi. In addition to members of the public, well-wishers, friends, doyens of Sri Lankan dance Khema and Upekha, Haridevi Jauasundara, Vasuki Jagathesswaran and Nirmala Benedict were in the audience. The Performance The evening opened with Mangalacharan, a salutation to Goddess Saraswati, who can take any form, and bestower of all boons. Mangalacharan was performed by Nritta and Daisy. Nritta has that rare quality in dance that transcends the exposition of technique, capturing her audience. Her fluidity of movement and grace were in deep contrast to Daisys technically perfect and precise expression. The second item, Pallavi, was performed by Leena and Nritta. This elaboration of a melodic-rhythmic theme built gradually into complex patterns and variations, capturing the mood of the monsoon with Leena Mohantys choreography. Leena and Nritta were in delightful harmony as they performed the duet. Leenas choreography brought to life the Gita Govinda, a work composed by the 12th-century Indian poet, Jayadeva, which describes the relationship between Krishna and the gopis (female cow herders) of Vrindavana, and in particular one gopi named Radha. The item performed by all three dancers to the music of Guru Rama Hari Dasand was a compelling demonstration of the strengths of each performer . A star is born, said Swami Shantanand Saraswati when he saw Nritta perform at the age of 5 and expectations were high when she stepped onstage alone. Nrittas solo performance of Chamunda Stutee was a revelation of the breadth and depth of the talent of this young dancer. Gone was the graceful, genial beauty and in its place, was a compelling and credible Chamunda. Chamunda, one of the chief yoginis and the slayer of the demons Chanda and Munda. In Nrittas dance one could envisage the garland of severed heads or skulls, a drum, trident, sword held in her hands, snake, skull-mace, thunderbolt, drinking vessel or skull-cup filled with blood. The dancers strong, sharp movements made believable that she stood on the corpse of a thwarted demon or man. Her facial expressions complemented her movements and this was the most enthralling performance of the evening. It dazzled. The evening ended with Jaaga Maheshwara danced by Leena and Daisy, evoking Lord Shiva as Nataraja worshiped as the king among dancers He is described as the greatest yogi who wears the sky as his garments, balancing on a solitary foot, totally poised. A well-executed finale to a grand evening of Odissi dance. Anugamana was indeed a fitting title as this is but one performance in these dancers ongoing journey in their search of the sublime and perfection of execution of Odissi dance. The evenings Odissi was in the style of Guru Deba Prasad Das, which is known for its pristine qualities and immaculate compositions, and his fascination for exploring and deriving inspiration from tribal dance movements. The Artistes Nrittas name translates to pure dance, and she has chosen to express her natural gift for dance through Odissi since her early childhood, blazing her own trail around the world as one of the youngest and most promising stars of the dance form. She has delivered outstanding performances which have prompted invitations from India and Orissa, home of Odissi. Nritta was selected by Singapore as one of six Wonder kids of Asia for her academic performance and her excellence in Odissi. She has also been named as one of the top ten young Odissi talents in India. Nritta is currently pursuing a degree in Engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia whilst continuing to seek perfection in dance under the tutelage of great teachers such as Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and Leena Mohanty. She is currently also in her final year of a Masters programme in Odissi with the Pracheen Kalakendra in india. Leena Mohanty is one of the leading exponents of Odissi dance and is a senior dancer with wide national and international experience.She was the recipient of the first Ustad Bismillah Khan Youth Award in 2006 from Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi and has been awarded the coveted and prestigious Mahari award. She is the artistic director of Bansi Bilas, an institution devoted to training young and upcoming dancers of Guru Deba Prasad Das School of Odissi, and of the Trinayan Dance Theater, New York City, USA. She also heads the Odissi Department of the Kalpana Dance Theatre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Daisy GaraniVijayakumaran has been involved in Bharatanatyam and Odissi dances for the past 30 years. A senior dancer with wide performing experience, she has trained for many years with the artistic director of the Kalpana Dance Theater, Shangita Namasivayam, Daisy combines perfect technique. Ever the student, she is intensely desirous of exploration within the inspiring realm of classical dance. She has been awarded the title Singaramani by Sursingar, Mumbai, India. Odissi Dance Odissi, also referred to as Orissi in older literature, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Odisha an eastern coastal state of India. Odissi, in its history, was performed predominantly by women, and expressed religious stories and spiritual ideas, particularly of Vaishnavism, but performances have also expressed ideas of other traditions such as those related to Hindu gods Shiva and Surya, as well as Hindu goddesses. Odissi is traditionally a dance-drama genre of performance art, where the artistes and musicians play out a mythical story, a spiritual message or devotional poem from the Hindu texts, using symbolic costumes, body movement, abhinaya (expressions) and mudras (gestures and sign language) set out in ancient Sanskrit literature. An Odissi performance repertoire includes invocation, nritta (pure dance), nritya (expressive dance), natya (dance drama), and moksha (dance climax connoting freedom of the soul and spiritual release). Odissi dancers are colorfully dressed with makeup and jewellery. The sari worn by Odissi dancers are brightly coloured and usually of local silk (pattasari) made up with pleats, to allow maximum flexibility during the footwork. The jewellery includes silver pieces, and the hair is tied up, and typically drawn into an elaborate bun resembling a Hindu temple spire, and decorated with Seenthi, and a moon shaped crest of white flowers. The dancers forehead is marked with tikka, and the eyes are ringed with kajal, whi;e the ankles are decorated with a leather piece on top of which are bells (ghungroo). The dancers palms and soles may be painted with red coloured dye called alta. Ven. Buddangala Ananda Thera (Retired Major General Ananda Weerasekera) today paid a visit to Jaffna and met High Court Judge M. Ilanchelian. The Thera expressed his gratitude to the Judge over his concern about the family of late Sub Inspector Sarath Hemachandra who was shot at while protecting the Judge. The Thera also handed over a letter to the judge. REUTERS, 07th AUGUST, 2017- Days after a reshuffle of Turkeys top military commanders, President Tayyip Erdogan has revived warnings of military action against Kurdish fighters in Syria that could set back the U.S.-led battle against Islamic State. Kurdish militia are spearheading an assault against the hardline militants in their Syrian stronghold Raqqa, from where Islamic State has planned attacks around the world for the past three years. But U.S. backing for the Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria has infuriated Turkey, which views their growing battlefield strength as a security threat due to a decades-old insurgency by the Kurdish PKK within in its borders. There have been regular exchanges of rocket and artillery fire in recent weeks between Turkish forces and YPG fighters who control part of Syrias northwestern border. The GMOA today demanded the resignation of Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne if he failed to gazette the minimum standards for health education by August 14. It said the minister had assured the people he would do so by August but no steps have been taken so far to issue such a gazette notice. GMOA Secretary Haritha Aluthge said six months had passed after the Courts directed the minister to prepare the minimum standards for health education but the minister continues to ignore this directive. Therefore he urged the minister to step down because he had neglected to perform his duties as the minister of health. Meanwhile, quoting a recent media statement made by the minister, GMOA Assistant Secretary Naveen De Zoysa said they never measured the size of the corruption. Though the Health Minister describes Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayakas Penthouse rental as a minor incident, for the GMOA what matters is not the size but whether an act was right or wrong, he said. (Thilanka Kanakarathna) Video by Buddhi In the face of a no-confidence motion against Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, the government is reported to be urging him to step down rather than face defeat in a vote. After the motion was handed over by the joint opposition, government members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) decided to vote in favour of the motion seeking to unseat the minister while a section of the United National Party (UNP) had also decided not to support him if it came to a vote. Against this backdrop, government leaders believe that it would be humiliating to the entire government if the minister was unseated through a parliamentary process. Informed sources said both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had asked the minister to resign. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has called for a party leaders meeting today to discuss future business of the House. JO parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardane said he would seek a date at todays meeting to debate the no-confidence motion against Minister Karunanayake. However, according to reports the government is determined to push the minister to resign without leaving room for a vote on the motion. (Kelum Bandara) A leading politico had requested the Viharadhipati of a historic Buddhist temple that holds a colourful annual perahera pageant that he be appointed the President of the temples Dayaka Sabha. However, the prelate had turned down the request saying that he was not prepared to violate the proper procedure observed in regard to making this appointment. Taking offense at the prelates refusal, the politico had declined to make the usual subscription for the annual perahera that was held recently. Later he had told all and sundry that he could have held the perahera much more impressively if he were appointed the President of the Dayaka Sabha. (Compiled from Hindustan Times), Aug 06, 2017 - Indias Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has submitted bad news and significantly disturbing findings to Indias parliament about the Indian army. Despite all its bravery, the army is battling with a drastic shortfall of necessary ammunition. The report is a follow-up to the conclusions of May 2015. Its objective was to evaluate the progress that has been made over the last three years. The CAG report on ammunition management revealed the situation in September 2016 had not changed very much since March 2013. The reason? Indian ordnance factories have not improved their output or quality and the procurement process continues to run on the old pattern. The wishlist of weaponry that the army headquarters wanted to acquire which was on the governments files had not been fulfilled even till January 2017. The CAG report also says that of the 170 kinds of ammunition in 2013, just 27% was ready for 20 days of intense fighting, while in September 2016, 80% ammunition was below the required levels. The situation has improved only marginally in the months that followed. MOSS POINT, Miss. -- An initiative, now Mayor Mario King started as a high school student in 2006 has come full circle for the City of Moss Point as it has been named the state's healthiest city. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi bestowed the distinction, "Mississippi's Healthiest Hometown" for 2017 upon the city on last week. Runner-ups were Meridian, Hernando, and Mantachie. They were awarded $25,000. The city will be awarded $50,000 to use on one of its initiatives and according to King, Sue Ellen Gym is his top priority for this money to be utilized. "This money will be used as seed money to really make Moss Point health in so many other areas," King said. "One of the huge goals is to take Sue Ellen to another level. We want to really rejuvenate that area and $50,000 is something the community will look at and get excited about." King credited Jerry St. Pe and others who brought the idea of fixing Sue Ellen to the forefront and said that the community will benefit greatly from the upgrades. "We want to make Sue Ellen an amazing place our community can be proud and a part of," King said. As a senior at Moss Point High School in 2006, King and a group of his classmates organized a sit-in at Barnhill's, a local restaurant in the area. As a youth, King battled asthma and he always strove to be healthy. The sit-in took place in the smoking section of the restaurant in an effort to keep patrons from sitting in that particular section. Because of the attention garnered from their protest, King and a group of students wrote a grant for $5000 in conjunction with Partnership for a Health Mississippi -- which helped them to form an organization called 'frontline.' Frontline's partnership with the state helped to create a citywide ban on smoking as well as making Barnhill's a smoke-free restaurant. King said the city is beefing up its fines on littering as an emphasis on keeping the River City clean. "People throwing out cigarettes or ashtrays, those things will now be a $500 fine," King said. "We are going to enforce our fines and codes we have in place. When our environment is healthy, our people are healthy." "I want people to understand that in Moss Point, Jackson County we have so many people dying from health issues and we want to be able to provide healthy options to our residents," King said. "There are different ways we intend to take to transition our community into an even more healthier community." Need to go somewhere? Book a PickMe. Hungry? Why not order from quickee.lk? Need a job? everjobs.lk is your friend. And the list goes on. Sri Lanka is increasingly shaped by online start-ups, who are changing the business landscape by disrupting the traditional ways of doing everyday tasks and getting people used to smoother, easier and cheaper methods for basic activities. Internet coverage has risen tremendously over the last years and will certainly not stop at around 30 percent, where it is at the moment. This provides an increasingly attractive field for tech-savvy entrepreneurs, who dive into conservative markets and change the playing field. As explained by everjobs.lk Managing Director Rushabh Sheth, Gone are the days where you send your CV via post to apply for a job and wait for weeks to get a reply, if you get one at all. Now thousands of jobs are accessible on everjobs.lk and all that a job seeker has to do is apply to as many as he or she wants with just one click. The Sri Lankan Internet start-ups receive a lot of external support from organisations like the Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA), a government-owned agency that aims to foster the economy through ICT. It runs several initiatives, such as its Spiralation Seed funding programme, which provides seed funding of US $ 5,000 per start-up along with training by industry experts. The Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) is another organisation that strongly promotes entrepreneurship in the IT space. With its annual Infotel, an exhibition at the BMICH, it helps companies in the IT space to showcase their services and products, a good way for Internet businesses to gain publicity. The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) launched Start-up Sri Lanka, an initiative, and plans to launch 1000 Sri Lankan start-ups by the year 2020. The SLASSCOM ran a survey in 2015 among 215 aspiring or existing local entrepreneurs and analysed their demographics, as well as the barriers for growth for start-ups. Lack of affordable workspace, missing online payment solutions, poor access to capital - most of the start-ups are internally funded - and unreliable and expensive Internet access represent the biggest obstacles. Numerous banks are currently working or introducing payment solutions, which will take away one of the worries. It is inevitable for Sri Lanka to support the start-up industry, given that eight out of 10 jobs come from the private sector. And while cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Beijing or Ho Chi Minh City are regulars in lists for attractiveness for start-ups, Colombo is nowhere to be found. However, as the SLASSCOMs survey pointed out, this is certainly not due to lack of talent in the country. More than 50 percent of the respondents had no issue at all with finding technically proficient talent. It is therefore evident that Sri Lanka has some structural, financial and legal obstacles ahead that need to be tackled in order to be mentioned with the likes of Singapore and Hong Kong. (Omar Hmaoui is Head of Business Development at everjobs.lk) Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka this July fell 1.8 percent to 205,482 tourists compared to July 2016, as the Chinese tourist boom, which pushed up the market growth during the last off-season, petered out, bringing to question whether even the revised 2.2 million tourist arrival projection for this year will be met. Sri Lankas largest regional market in Western Europe expanded 3.9 percent year-on-year (YoY) to 80,896 tourists, despite the two traditionally largest markets, the UK and Germany, both fell 1.6 percent and 1.2 percent YoY, attracting 23,553 and 10,835 tourists, respectively. French arrivals grew 4 percent YoY to 11,390 visitors, while Dutch arrivals grew 22.9 percent YoY to 11,990 tourists. East Asian arrivals fell 3.8 percent YoY to 41,264 tourists, weighed down by Chinese arrivals that fell 7.1 percent YoY to 28,445 tourists. The Japanese market grew 10.8 percent YoY to 4,025 tourists. Arrivals from South Asia meanwhile fell 4.2 percent YoY to 40,769 tourists, due to a fall in arrivals from the Maldives, Bangladesh and other neighbours, in spite of arrivals from India increasing 4.8 percent YoY to 29,006 tourists. The Middle East market contracted 13.1 percent YoY to 16,163 tourists, while arrivals from North America increased 6.1 percent YoY to 10,875 tourists and arrivals from Australasia fell 2.4 percent YoY to 7,958 tourists. Inbound visitors from Eastern Europe fell 18 percent YoY to 6,127 tourists. For the first seven months of 2017, arrivals to the island grew by 3.6 percent YoY to 1.22 million tourists. For the remaining five months, arrivals would have to grow by nearly 12 percent YoY to reach the 2.2 million arrivals target of the government. The state had until a fortnight ago held on to a 2.5 million tourist arrivals projection for the year, despite the lack of any large-scale tourism promotional efforts. Many stakeholders are now blaming the widespread prevalence of dengue as the cause for the decline, despite the government until this June insisting that dengue played no role in visitor levels this year. For the first seven months, arrivals from Western Europe increased 8 percent YoY to 411,230 tourists, while South Asian arrivals fell 3.8 percent YoY to 272,853 tourists and East Asian arrivals fell 4.6 percent YoY to 261,561 tourists. Dengue: No cause for alarm, ministry tells tourists Since the dengue epidemic has been successfully brought under control, the tourists visiting Sri Lanka need not be alarmed or distressed over the situation, a Tourism and Christian Religious Affairs Ministry statement said. Though the Western Province area was affected with the disease, it is under control now with the efforts of creating dengue eradication and awareness programmes and Colombo is now being cleared of garbage and the cleaning of drainage systems is also taking place, the statement said. The number of dengue cases has decreased sharply by 40 percent since mid-July due to planned and systematic efforts by the respective state authorities in the recent weeks, it added. The ministry therefore urged the travellers to resort to correct sources of information to find out the latest updates on the disease, such as the Health Ministry website and all Sri Lanka missions abroad. Sri Lanka Tourism will continue to update the progress and is confident that there is no cause for alarm, the statement said. The most luxurious global vacation brand, Club Med, has been gifting its clients the core emotion of happiness during their stay at its 80 exclusive properties around in some of the most beautiful natural settings in the world. The opening of a Club Med vacation village in a location instantly shines the spotlight on the locale and the nation. In recent months, Club Mediterranee SA, commonly known as Club Med, a French company, has accelerated its strategy of growth and international expansion - and the newest location to come under the Club Med brand umbrella is LOLC groups Riverina Resort in Beruwela. Sri Lankas natural beauty and the strategic location of the Riverina property reflect the exclusivity that Club Med looks for in its new locations. Scheduled for completion in 2019, Sri Lankas First Club Med will be the first Club Med in South Asia, giving it a unique positioning in the region. Representatives from Club Med SAS and LOLC signed Management and Sales and Marketing agreements to brand, market, manage and operate Riverina Resort as the First Club Med Resort in Sri Lanka. The signatories to the agreements were Club Med SAS East and South Asia and Pacific (ESAP) CEO Xavier Desaulles and LOLC group Managing Director/CEO and Riverina Resorts (Pvt.) Ltd Director Kapila Jayawardena. Also present on the momentous occasion were LOLC Director and Riverina Resorts (Pvt.) Ltd Director Kalsha Amarasinghe; LOLC CFO Sunjeevani Kotakadeniya; South East Asia and Pacific Human Resources VP Thierry Ricard; Club Med SAS Regional Development Manager Marc de Jouffroy; and other officials. LOLC has forged strategic partnerships across its business sectors and this collaboration with yet another international brand reflects the strong investment potential of the group. Club Med intends to transform the Riverina Resort property positioned along the Golden Mile of Beruwela to the most sought-after family holiday resort in the Indian Ocean. Once completed, the 367-key Riverina Resort which is scheduled to open in 2019 will be a jewel in the crown of beach resorts in the region and the largest resort in Sri Lanka. LOLC group was looking for a reputed global leisure brand with a difference to infuse excitement and a new experience in Sri Lankas tourism sector. Club Med will bring a new and interesting flavor which will stand out as a unique club concept. As the worlds premier club resort operator, Club Med is patronized by affluent clients and the establishment of Club Med in a new location automatically elevates the profile of the destination. Bali, Cancun, Punta Cana, the Maldives and Phuket are perfect examples of destinations launched into the list of world-class destinations after Club Meds first resort was established in those locations. Sri Lanka, with its combination of culture, history, nature and people has many delightful experiences on offer and will benefit from the global marketing reach that Club Med possesses to transform the Sri Lankan property into a hot favourite with its upscale clientele. Club Med delivers a great interactive, social experience with special events and excursions, and the warmth and passion that Club Med staff exhibits is legendary. Malaysia a country with bustling cities, colonial architecture, picturesque islands giving unparalleled adventures for tourists around the globe. Being an affordable tourist destination Sri Lankans also make this a prime destination in their travel dairies. Malayisan embassy states that there are closer 60,000 Sri Lankans visit Malaysia every year making it one of the most popular and affordable tourist destinations for Sri Lankans. Daily Mirror spoke with the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Sri Lanka, H.E. Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, where he spoke about tourist attractions in Malaysia and the visa procedures. High Commissioner also highlighted on the education and business opportunities available for Sri Lankans at present. WATCH THE VIDEO Video by : Dushyantha Ratnayake Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) held its 10th International Research Conference at the university premises on August 3 and 4 on the theme Changing Dynamics in the Global Environment: Challenges and Opportunities. The symposium featured an interesting yet disquieting presentation by Col. L.C.R. Jayasuriya of the Sri Lanka Army on a topic entitled The Influence of Global Islam Radicalisation to Sri Lanka. The message in Col. Jayasuriyas presentation is a rather dangerous one. It is one that has been regularly tossed out by terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratne, who has made numerous unsubstantiated and sensationalist claims on political violence. Gunaratne was even convicted for defamation and ordered to pay US$ 53,000 by a Canadian court in 2014 for linking a Toronto-based Tamil organisation to the LTTE. The message, in short, is that Islamic radicalisation / militant Islamism is on the rise in Sri Lanka, and it needs to be stemmed. Having listened to the entirety of Col. Jayasuriyas presentation, I was not at all surprised when he quoted Gunaratne towards the latter part of his speech! The parallels in their proposition are hard to miss; essentially, the simplistic, reductionist and misguided notion that Islamic terrorism is driven by radical theology and religious fervour. Whereas there is ample of evidence to show that the conflicts in the Middle-East and elsewhere allegedly driven by so-called Islamic fundamentalism are actually not about religion but about political power. In talking incessantly about Islamic fundamentalism, radicalism and militant Islamism, factors such as demands for foreign forces to leave the territories of others are deliberately overlooked or conveniently ignored. The message in Col. Jayasuriyas presentation is a rather dangerous one. It is one that has been regularly tossed out by terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratne, who has made numerous unsubstantiated and sensationalist claims on political violence. Gunaratne was even convicted for defamation and ordered to pay US$ 53,000 by a Canadian court in 2014 for linking a Toronto-based Tamil organisation to the LTTE. I wonder if the KDU had given any opportunity for someone to make a presentation from a Muslim perspective at any of their events. Details of the programme such as the agenda are unfortunately not available on the KDU website and I did ask for a copy of the programme via email the very next day (05th August) to which I have not yet received a response. It would have certainly been appropriate for them to have given a platform for at least one from a Muslim perspective on what Col. Jayasuriya himself acknowledged is a sensitive subject. Recently, journalist Kusal Perera pointed out how it has become very fashionable to project an ISIS bogey and Islam as a potentially dreadful enemy of humanity. With the end of the war and the LTTE, attempts are now being made to create an enemy locally to justify a greater role for the armed forces, in line with similar international attempts to justify the entry of foreign forces into otherwise peaceful countries. The new bogey is Islamic fundamentalism though there is no consensus on what it means. A recent study for the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism revealed that foreign fighters in Syria lack even a basic understanding of Islam A recent study for the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism revealed that foreign fighters in Syria lack even a basic understanding of Islam. The timely report which was based on interviews with 43 people from 12 countries found that the returned fighters were novices in their religion and some did not even know how to pray. Religious belief seems to have played a minimal role in the motivation of this sample, the report found, pointing out that economic factors had become more important as terrorist groups promised wages, homes and even wives. The UN report also warned of significant policy implications arising from perceived injustice and discrimination. Similarly, political scientist Prof. Robert A. Papes solid, myth-busting research on terrorism has convincingly shown that the causes of terrorism are secular, not religious and that terrorism is a reaction to military intervention and occupation. Prof. Pape, as founder of the Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism at the University of Chicago, together with his colleagues put together a complete database on all suicide attacks from 1974 to June 2016 - a total of 5,430 attacks in over 40 countries. According to Prof. Papes research: What 95% of all suicide attacks have in common, since 1980, is not religion, but a specific strategic motivation to respond to a military intervention, often specifically a military occupation, of territory that the terrorists view as their homeland or prize greatly. From Lebanon and the West Bank in the 80s and 90s, to Iraq and Afghanistan, and up through the Paris suicide attacks weve just experienced in the last days, military interventionand specifically when the military intervention is occupying territory thats what prompts suicide and terrorism more than anything else. The real beneficiaries of these conflicts are only the weapons manufacturers and their agents who work behind the scenes to put forward these grossly misleading ideas Britains Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn said as recently as May 2017, UKs involvement in military actions abroad has fuelled the risk of terrorism at home. He said further Many experts, including professionals in our intelligence and security services, have pointed to the connections between wars our govt has supported or fought in other countries such as Libya, and terrorism at home. But they need an enemy to keep their arms factories busy! Back at home, Col. Jayasuriya makes the pitch that the growing influence of Islamic radicalisation and the potential involvement of Sri Lankan Muslims in terrorist activity is a legitimate concern for Sri Lanka. He supports Gunaratnes view that If ideological extremism is neglected and ignored by any govt, it would lead to terrorism in the future. Col. Jayasuriyas presentation, replete with references to Sunni-Shia differences, glosses over the real issues recently highlighted by a UN expert; specifically that freedom of religious belief and practice has been endangered and that religious minorities have been heavily victimised by members of the majority community in post-war Sri Lanka. It only adds to the anti-Muslim sentiment that is widely prevalent, the Aluthgama mayhem of 2014 being the clearest example yet of violence predicated on prejudice. That a minority community with a history of over a 1000 years in this island and continues to remain at under 10% of the countrys population will precipitously overtake the majority of over 70% is a claim that is absurd. A 2014 report by Statistician Delano Uduman noted that the Buddhist lead of 1,500,300 in 1881 had grown to 12,255,617 in real terms by 2012 The demographic issue Col. Jayasuriya has tried to give credence to baseless fears of a Muslim take-over; that Sri Lanka will have a predominantly Muslim population in the future. He states that the Muslim population has increased from 1981 to 2012 more than that of the Buddhist population, while the Hindu and Christian populations have dwindled. This claim of a Muslim demographic take-over is one that has been flatly refuted by the Department of Census and Statistics. While it is true that there has been a percentage increase for both the Sinhala and Muslim communities, this is mainly attributable to 2.8% of Tamils, comprising mainly Hindus and Tamil Christians migrating to other countries due to the war and other related factors. It does not take a rocket scientist or a statistician to figure out that the 2.8% drop in the countrys Tamil population would result in a population increase in percentage terms for the other communities respectively. Yet why do some people continue to raise this as an issue knowing well that is it absolutely baseless? Spreading such myths at an official level is a threat to national reconciliation and will serve to promote hatred, division and conflict between the Sinhalese and Muslims. The real beneficiaries of these conflicts are only the weapons manufacturers and their agents who work behind the scenes to put forward these grossly misleading ideas which justify the wholly unnecessary purchase of security equipment, arms and ammunition. It is tremendously fascinating that in many narratives about radicalisation such as Col. Jayasuriyas, the role of the global arms industry and its interest in fuelling conflicts throughout the world hardly ever gets mentioned. If we are to earnestly examine the real roots of radicalisation, then we cannot turn a blind eye to its covert role in creating frictions within and between communities by giving oxygen to false propaganda. If we are to earnestly examine the real roots of radicalisation, then we cannot turn a blind eye to its covert role in creating frictions within and among communities by giving oxygen to false propaganda That a minority community with a history of over a 1000 years in this island and continues to remain at under 10% of the countrys population will precipitously overtake the majority of over 70% is a claim that is absurd. A 2014 report by Statistician Delano Uduman noted that the Buddhist lead of 1,500,300 in 1881 had grown to 12,255,617 in real terms by 2012. Each successive census has shown that the lead-gap, in real terms, between the Buddhist and Muslim population has been widening with the Buddhist lead increasing. So it is implausible to claim that the Muslims will come anywhere close to catching up with the Buddhists numerically! It would damage the high reputation of Sri Lankas armed forces and its intelligence services to allow persons within the forces to put out such absurd claims which will negatively impact on the credentials of our forces under critical examination in the UN Human Rights Council. Concept of homeland security This was the other disturbing aspect of Col. Jayasuriyas presentation, but I should perhaps not have been altogether surprised because the proposition was one being made by a military officer. Col. Jayasuriya waxes eloquent about the necessity for a homeland security concept to deal with issues of Islamic radicalisation and calls for new laws to enable Sri Lanka to face the challenge of global Islamic radicalisation. In the entirety of his presentation, there is no evidence to back this claim of growing Islamic radicalisation. He makes reference to some sectarian issues which are by no means exclusive to the Islamic faith, and doesnt even remotely point to militant Islamism in Sri Lanka! It is well known that the threat of terrorism is often used as a ploy to justify more repressive laws. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has been used, according to UN experts, by successive governments to harass Tamils in this country and now the proposed Counter Terrorism Act (CTA), it is feared would be used to target the Muslims and Buddhist extremists. Sri Lanka is not in need of a bloated, black-hole type of concept such as homeland security. The existing criminal laws are more than sufficient to deal with terrorism-related issues. The challenge for Sri Lanka is not from so-called radicalisation but from religious intolerance. The problem has to be first identified correctly before solutions are prescribed. Endless allusions to Islamic terrorism / radicalisation / fundamentalism where it doesnt exist, only adds to the prejudices that are already prevalent against the Muslim minority in Sri Lanka. Public policy responses to the question of terrorism should be driven by facts and not personal prejudices. It should be tempered by a genuine desire to promote and protect fundamental rights and the liberties of citizens. It is imperative to act responsibly and refrain from further inciting religious-based hatred. There are plenty of zealots, some of them tragically in saffron robes to champion bigotry here in our beloved island. We dont need men in uniform openly following suit. A response to the Subcommittee on Higher Education of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee: On August 1, concerned academics and activists gathered at Speaker Karu Jayasuriyas office at the parliament complex and handed over their response to the report on SAITM made by a sub-committee of the Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources. Copies of the report to be given to all the members of the Oversight Committee, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Government Whip, Opposition Whip and the Minister of Higher Education and Highways were also handed over to the Speaker. In 2015, Colombo District had 182.3 doctors per 100,000 population (employed by the Ministry of Health) compared with 37 doctors per 100,000 population in Nuwara Eliya District (Vallipuranathan 2017). That same year, Colombo District recorded the highest number of medical officers (5344), while the lowest number was recorded in Mullaitheevu District EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT: SAITM: An ill-conceived response to the question of health and education in Sri Lanka. The government appears ill prepared to address the unravelling situation around SAITM. Its current actions are mired in violence, bombastic rhetoric and unrealistic projections of great economic advances to be made in the business of education and health. The policy paper of the Subcommittee on Higher Education of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee, Expansion of Medical Education in Sri Lanka with the Participation of the Private Sector: Adopting the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) as a Model is a justification of SAITM as an educational institution, offering it as a panacea for the supposed ills dogging the heels of the two sectors. SAITM is a poorly planned programme that barely addresses the problems that exist in the areas of health and education and creates new ones. SAITM: Is it numbers? Regarding Health, the paper says that SAITM will address the lacunae in the system presented by the inadequate number of doctors in the country. In other words, SAITM will be able to add to the number of doctors in the country. But, the problems besetting the health sector are an integral part of the structure of health care provision, namely distribution and specialization. As medical professionals and researchers will tell you: SAITM is very clearly a ruse, an ill-conceived ruse maybe, to bring in privatization in education not ONLY in the form of a private university, but through the seemingly innocuous a) The inadequate number of medical professionals lies in the areas of distribution of doctors across the country. In 2015, Colombo District had 182.3 doctors per 100,000 population (employed by the Ministry of Health) compared with 37 doctors per 100,000 population in Nuwara Eliya District (Vallipuranathan 2017). That same year, Colombo District recorded the highest number of medical officers (5344), while the lowest number was recorded in Mullaitheevu District (Health Information Unit, Ministry of Health 2015). b) Doctors on completing their internship are posted to peripheral areas, but can leave those stations before they are eligible for transfer if they pass a screening exam for a course of specialization. There is no mechanism in place to retain non-specialist doctors in such areas, resulting in a large number of cadre positions remaining vacant. The students of public medical universities seem to be a dispensable commodity and accommodated within the system only on sufferance. c) To make matters worse, the Ministry of Health promotes specialization over strengthening primary care. But this drive for specialization has not been combined with greater provision of facilities in the regions. Specialists, owing to frustration with the meagre and inadequate facilities and other factors like lack of good schools for their children, tend to turn towards urban centres, in many of which there is a glut of health care professionals, including doctors. d) As healthcare professionals go, a severe dearth of caregivers exists in the nursing and midwifery sector, compounded by issues of distribution. Nursing and midwifery are an integral part of the provision of health care and this thriving sector needs to be nurtured. In 2015, there were 7436 nurses in the Colombo District compared with 44 in Mullaitheevu. That same year there were 853 midwives in the Kurunegala District versus 51 in Mullaitheevu. There is also a dearth of ancillary healthcare providers, including radiographers, lab technicians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, etc., particularly in the peripheries (Health Information Unit, Ministry of Health 2015). The over emphasis on having a large number of doctors belies the situation on the ground. on what ground does the government assume that graduates of SAITM who have been educated with private funds and belong to a class of relative affluence will be willing to serve in peripheral areas in the country e) Figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) are often bandied about by the pro-SAITM lobby to argue for more doctors. WHO does not recommend a gold standard for its member states in terms of physicians per population, the 2006 World Health Report estimated that a health system needed at least 2.5 doctors, nurses and midwives per 1000 population (or 250 per 100, 000) to function. According to the 2014 Annual Health Bulletin published by the Ministry of Health, in 2014, 85 medical officers and 185 nurses (totalling 270) per 100,000 population were employed by the Ministry of Health (Health Information Unit, Ministry of Health 2015). f) The same WHO Report highlights migration of doctors and resulting in global and within country inequalities as a major issue. Sri Lanka too must address redistribution and implement measures to retain doctors in the public health sector. The focus on doctor-numbers is terribly misplaced. Even so, on what ground does the government assume that graduates of SAITM who have been educated with private funds and belong to a class of relative affluence will be willing to serve in peripheral areas in the country, where one finds the largest need for more doctors? Higher Education: The new site of struggle The shift to privatisation rears its ugly head in the section on higher education that looks to formulate policy for the future. The report quite rightly laments the fact that 82% of students who qualify to enter the state university system are unable to secure places owing to the systems inability to accommodate them all (pg. 7). This of course is a very grave concern and should be tackled with the seriousness and integrity it demands; but does the government have an informed solution? SAITM is very clearly a ruse, an ill-conceived ruse maybe, to bring in privatization in education not ONLY in the form of a private university, but through the seemingly innocuous, but deadly mode of PPP: Private Public Partnership. Item 2 which deals with the SAITM STATE interface is captioned, Proposal to enhance the clinical exposure of SAITM medical students through Public-Private partnership (8).In the details that follow, Private Public Partnership (PPP) is given as a facility that is designed to ease SAITMs path to procuring and delivering a standardized education to its students and gaining a reputation on par with that of state universities. Under this scheme, public universities and public hospitals will be endowed with the task of bestowing academic respectability on SAITM. Why? Why should the public support private education? What foolishness is this? PPP: The spectre of privatization The section on private medical establishment and PPP is fairly detailed in the document. PPP is understood as a partnership between public universities and private ones, particularly in the field of medicine. The universities of Peradeniya and Colombo are supposed to take the lead here. We are of the view that such thinking has real life and momentum for, in a recent announcement, the government gave voice to ideas of making the Universities of Peradeniya and Colombo transit to self-funding entities (The Island, 22nd July, 2017). Under section 5 captioned Establishment of Private Medical Education, the report lays out the fundamental principle on which private medical education is formulated: Private medical education with government involvement (p.14). One is compelled to ask, why government involvement, and what does that involvement entail? As it turns out, the involvement of the government here means the establishment of units of private medical education within and affiliated to state universities, beginning with Colombo and Peradeniya, with other state universities to follow suit. State universities come in with massive investment in knowledge production at multiple levels, the training of its staff from kindergarten to the PhD or its equivalent and further, heavy investments in infrastructure, development of sites of research - laboratories, libraries and archives, development of territory and a supporting community, and finally the political programme of social upliftment. Why should the state fund private education for the affluent? Spend on the larger mass of the people, please! Private medical establishments in collaboration with public universities will actually be parasitic upon the resources of public universities, for they will bring little into the collaboration financially. There will be a greater brain drain of doctors and professionals from the state sector to the private sector than what exists today with out-of-country migration, taking with it all that was deemed valuable and worth investing in. PPP here would mean the state financing and sponsoring private medical education. In turn, state investment in public institutions will be considered unviable, undesirable and untenable and the call for Let private enterprises do the job of investing in education, will prevail. One of the obvious instances of this parasitic existence lies in the realm of staff and the sharing of trained personnel across the two streams. Pay attention to the laughable and yet sinister attempt to lease out the staff of public medical faculties to private enterprises: Reduce the burden for the government for the salary increase of professors and lecturers in state universities who are at the moment disgusted about their salaries, this is the very reason why it is difficult to recruit medical teachers to the universities as the government medical officers salary with other allowances - such as overtime etc - is double that of a senior lecturer in a state medical faculty. They would be able to be visiting lecturers to these private medical schools. (p.15) While one is slightly nonplussed as to where the extra hours for teaching in the private medical universities are going to come from, the policy makers abject indifference to the education at public universities and education as a social good is apparent. The teachers in the public university system will be teaching in private medical educational enterprises, severely undermining both the quality of education in the public sector and creating an unfair non level playing field, in which public education will be the loser. The students of public medical universities seem to be a dispensable commodity and accommodated within the system only on sufferance. Conclusion The governments argument on SAITM can be summarised as follows: The government does not have money for itself, but it has money to give the private sector. How much more illogical can it get? This convoluted argument gives the lie to any idea that the government is here to serve the people. What one can infer from the report is that SAITM like many other recent moves in education and health, are a part of the neo-liberal agenda pursued by successive governments. Globally, there have been waves of resistance to aggressive privatization of public entities, particularly in the area of education. It is foolhardy for our government to push on without much forethought on these emerging trends and resistances. We need a visionary policy on education and higher education, not ad hoc measures that will lead to the destruction of much that has been fundamental to the welfare of the people. The take-over of the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital might indeed be a great leap from the frying pan and into the fire as the government makes headway with its plans to establish PPPs in education! We hope we can begin an informed dialogue on SAITM, private universities in general, and the future of Free Education. Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan - University of Peradeniya Dr. Harini Amarasuriya - Open University of Sri Lanka (University Teachers for Free Education) Dr. Ramya Kumar - University of Jaffna (University Teachers for Free Education) A. Karunatileke- University of Kelaniya Dr. Athula Samarakoon - Open University of Sri Lanka (University Academics for Social Equity) Upul Wickramasinghe, Waradas Thiyagarajah -Education Renaissance Programme, University of Colombo Chinthaka Rajapakse, Shamila Ratnasuriya- Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) Amali Wedegedera, Niyanthini Kadirgamar - Alliance for Economic Democracy S.Thanujan, M.Mayuran - Mass Movement for Social Justice Sylvester Jayakody - General Secretary, Ceylon Industrial, Mercantile and General Workers Union The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) may well be the only seat of higher educational learning in Sri Lanka with two significant milestones in its 50 year existence. First, that it has not had to shut down a single day due to student unrest and secondly, that every individual who has passed out has found employment with the unemployment rate remaining frozen at zero. This was revealed by SLITHM Chairman Sunil Dissanayake during the 38th graduation ceremony of the institution which was held at the BMICH recently. A total of 77 students passed out as full-fledged graduates at the ceremony which was held under the patronage of Chief Guest, Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga and other dignitaries. Dissanayake speaking during the event said he was happy to note that all of the 77 new graduates had already found employment. Inaugurated in 1966 as the Ceylon Hotel School, SLITHM is the pioneer education institute in the field of tourism and hospitality training in the country. The graduation is the culmination of the three and four year management courses and it is a much anticipated event by the hospitality industry which is growing at a rapid pace with hundreds of new openings for hospitality professionals. Speaking during the event Amaratunga reminded the new graduates about their responsibilities. The new graduates have a big responsibility to ensure that they protect the good name of SLITHM as well as that of the country as their services will more often be directed towards foreigners. As such, they will be the countrys tourism ambassadors and their actions, talents, knowledge and skills acquired through training at SLITHM will define the success of the industry in the years to come. Amaratunga made a passionate appeal to the new graduates to serve their motherland first. I request all of the 77 graduates to first serve their motherland before seeking overseas exposure as Sri Lanka needs their services at this defining moment in its tourism industry, he said. He also drew attention to the power of social media. Sri Lanka is well known the world over as a very hospitable nation with a very hospitable people who are always smiling. However in the recent past we have seen some adverse reports in the media where tourists have been exploited. Today social media is a very powerful tool and one bad experience can instantly influence thousands of others, Amaratunga cautioned. The SLITHM main campus in Colombo is South Asias first purpose designed training facility offering students a holistic education experience in the different aspects of tourism and hospitality. SLITHM has developed an extensive network of satellite schools across the country in order to attract and train youth in the fine art of hospitality. In addition to the existing satellite schools in Kandy, Anuradhapura, Koggala, Bandarawela, Ratnapura and Kurunegala, new schools have opened in Hambantota, Passikuda, Polonnaruwa and Negombo in the recent past. Rather than waiting for students to come to us, we are going to their doorstep, explained Amaratunga who has taken a personal interest in raising Sri Lankas service standards. With dozens of new hotels coming up across the country, the industry requires thousands of new workers. In order to cater to the demand SLITHM has doubled its output of trained students from 3000 per year to nearly 7000 per year. Today we have a serious issue with regard to manpower in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The demand is more than the supply. This is because of the continuing expansion of the hotel sector while the youth continue to focus on the more traditional career paths. The result is that many lucrative job opportunities go a begging, said Amaratunga. He noted that females still hesitated to join the industry due to ill-conceived notions. There is a misconception among our youth especially the females that the hospitality trade is not suitable for them. This is a baseless, ill-informed and outdated theory. Today an entry level job in the hotel industry pays twice as much as any other field as a hotel employee is entitled to two monthly payments, namely the basic salary and service charge. When these two are combined and factored with other benefits such as free meals, accommodation, medical benefits and more, the income is much higher than other fields, said Amaratunga. In his address, SLITHM Chairman Sunil Dissanayake reminisced about the rich history of the institution. SLITHM has a history of innovation, growth and change. Inaugurated in 1966, today we have earned local and global recognition as the premier institute for hospitality and tourism management education in Sri Lanka and the region. We have been the backbone of the hospitality industry of Sri Lanka from its infancy, producing the required professional human resources for the hospitality industry, he said. With the industry estimating nearly 150,000 new direct employees by 2020 to serve Sri Lankas growing visitor base, last year alone 5300 students passed out of SLITHM, of whom 88 were graduates. This year the planned output is 6,900. As a primary goal we aim to provide high quality, affordable and practically relevant education for the industry and in doing so we aim to achieve degree awarding status for an academic (Hons.) Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management whilst focusing on achieving National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) levels for our professional courses. With the facilitation of Chartered Management Accountants (CMA) finance for hotel accounting courses were introduced, primarily catering to finance professionals in the hotel and catering industry and those aspiring for a career in hotel finance, said Dissanayake, adding that SLITHM is in the process of reviewing and amending its curricula to align it with current industry requirements by seeking the views and closely working with the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka. DPA, 07th AUGUST, 2017- Government forces have retaken control of Islamic States last bastion in Syrias central province of Homs in the latest setback to the extremist militia, a monitoring group and military sources said on Sunday. The recapture of the strategically important town of al-Sukhna in Homs late Saturday followed intense bombardment by regime and allied Russian warplanes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Retaking al-Sukhna allows government forces to advance on the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, which is mostly controlled by Islamic State militants. Syrian forces, backed by Russian air power, on Sunday intensely shelled militants on a road linking al-Sukhna to Deir al-Zour, the Observatory reported. Governnment troops and allied paramilitaries were meanwhile conducting a mopping-up operation inside al-Sukhna, the Britain-based watchdog added. Government forces entered the town of al-Sukhna following fierce clashes with Daesh gunmen, of whom hundreds were forced to flee towards Deir al-Zour, a pro-government military commander said earlier, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. President Donald Trump has asked his advisers tough questions about American strategy in Afghanistan and is not willing to continue on as before, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Monday. The White House has launched a review of the US plan for Afghanistan after 16 years of war; reports suggest Trumps national security team is divided on whether to send more troops or to pull out. Speaking in Manila on the sidelines of a regional security forum, Tillerson said Trump would not be content with continuing the fight as before. The president is not willing to accept that, so he is asking some tough questions, Tillerson told reporters. Tillerson said the presidents National Security Council has met three times on the issue and that Vice President Mike Pence has joined Trump in taking a close interest in the strategy review. Trumps generals have called the Afghan conflict a stalemate and even after years of intensive help from the US and other NATO nations, Afghanistans security forces are still struggling to hold back an emboldened Taliban. In an early move to address the situation, Trump gave his Pentagon chief, former general Jim Mattis, broad powers to set troop numbers. But several months later the level remains stuck at about 8,400 US and about 5,000 NATO troops. Mattis wants to wait until the White House has come up with a coherent strategy for not just Afghanistan but the broader region, notably Pakistan and how it deals with terror groups, before he commits to adjustments. MANILA AFP Aug 7, 2017 Oops....! We couldn't find that... 404 error Unfortunately the page you were looking for could not be found. It may be temporarily unavailable, moved or no longer exist. Check the URL you entered for any mistakes and try again. Alternatively, search for whatever is missing or take a look around the rest of our site. PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The Rotary Club of Pascagoula announced the presentation of 40 scholarships to local high school and college students. The students were honored at the July 12 meeting of the Rotary Club of Pascagoula where a collective total of $24,750 was awarded. In 2017, rotary has amassed $21,250 in scholarships, $3,000 given through Bacot McCarty Foundation and $500 given by Joe and Kay Martin in memory of their son, Joseph. "We were able to award 12 new scholarships to graduating seniors from Pascagoula High School and Resurrection High School, and we were able to renew 28 scholarships to previous recipients," said Jessica McNeel, Scholarship Chair. "In addition, we were able to present our inaugural Heart of Rotary Scholarship, which was made possible, in equal parts, by Bacot McCarty Foundation and the Rotary Club of Pascagoula," McNeel said. The goal of the Rotary Scholarship program is to help qualified, deserving students continue their education by granting scholarships on a reasonable balance of merit and need. The program is an annual focus of the Rotary Club of Pascagoula. Scholarships winners include: As the stand-off between the Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam in Bhutan continues, the clamour to boycott Chinese goods in India is rising. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has organised a 15-day "Boycott Chinese Products" campaign. The RSS mouthpiece, Organiser, says the nationwide campaign is to raise awareness against using Chinese goods. The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), an RSS-affiliate, claims that the campaign has received huge support. A rally has been planned on October 29 at Delhis Ramlila Maidan to conclude the campaign. For some, boycotting Chinese goods is now the ultimate way of proving his or her credentials as a nationalist. And nationalism, with its twisted definition today in India, has come to good use for this government. Be that as it may, boycott of Chinese goods comes at our own peril; it will cost Indian jobs, cost the Indian industry immensely, and as a result, cost the Indian economy, which increasingly appears to be in the sick bay. But, to those who lead the boycott for profit or otherwise and to those who believe in the boycott, a caveat is the need here. Boycott of goods in India has special historical significance we remember the Swadeshi Movement against British goods led by Mahatma Gandhi. It is suffice to say in defence of the Mahatma that a colonial economy is structured differently, is extractive in nature and prevents industrialisation; the economic interactions and transactions of a free country are vastly different. As a nation, we will divert resources, capital and manpower to produce things that we could have bought at cheaper price from China. Nikita Khrushchev buries 'the world' and then Soviet Union itself Forty two years ago on October 13, Nikita Khrushchev the then premier of the Soviet Union when addressing the UN is reported to have famously banged his shoe on the podium and told the world, ...we will bury you. Khrushchevs threat wasnt a military one but an economic one. Economic figures of the Soviet Union were indeed spooking Washington and the free world. It was allegedly growing twice as fast as the western world, and almost three times faster than the United States. For economists, this wasnt outlandish. Wassily Leontief, in his article, "The Decline and Rise of the Soviet Economy", published in Foreign Affairs (January 1960), said "a collectivist, authoritarian state" that "directed resources "with determined ruthless skill" would grow faster than any other state. Yet just 20 years later, it all collapsed for the Soviet Union. How is the collapse of Soviet Russia relevant to boycott of Chinese goods? Of the many reasons attributed to the collapse of Soviet Russia, Paul Krugmans has the most logical and apt explanation. Krugman, in his article, "The Myth of Asias Miracle" published in Foreign Affairs (1944) says every country has a finite amount of resources, such as iron ore, capital, technical knowhow and skill sets that it can garner and marshal. The once spectacular growth of Soviet Russia was "based on expansion of inputs" and not because of "growth in output per unit of input", and therefore "inevitably subject to diminishing returns". Explaining the same in simpler terms, Krugman says, 'A man with a bulldozer can dig a ditch faster than one with only a shovel, but he is not more efficient: he just has more capital to work with." Chinese goods are cheaper because the average Chinese worker is more productive than say the Indian worker or one in the United States. Boycotting Chinese goods would mean that when we produce the same set of goods, we use more resources, such as manpower, capital and raw materials. To cite another example, some days ago a newspaper report stated that despite worsening relations with a neighbour, Indian suppliers of surgical equipment eagerly await the next consignments of surgical instruments from across the border. The reports also states, Indian artisans sought to compete with their Pakistani counterparts but eventually gave up. Setting up an industry having this technique will entail substantial cost. Boycotting Chinese goods will hurt China, but we should realise that we will hurt equally bad. Microchips, not potato chips This inevitably leads to the "Microchips, not potato chips" debate of the 1990s. Faced with a growing trade imbalance, the clamour to devise federal programmes that would lead to production of high-value items like microchips as against lower value items such as potato chips found favour in the United States. It is best captured in the exchanges between Lester C Thurow and Paul Krugman. Thurow predicted doomsday unless the United Stated became more competitive. Kurgman rubbished such fears. Nations, Krugman said, dont compete like firms. Rather, their economic well-being is determined by how productively they engage capital, that is, how much they produce using a certain amount of capital. Nearly three decades have passed since these debates and the US and Japan continue to trade with each other and others quite happily. The ghost of David Ricardo Finally, consider this: till the time we are not marooned on an island like Robinson Crusoe, we find it easier and more rewarding to buy our shirts from the tailor and our shoes from the cobbler. The point being that we dont make everything we need or use. We trade our skill set and labour to the entrepreneur to produce something, and we get money in return to buy what we need. A little after Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations, David Ricardo another classical economist explained why England and Portugal found it profitable to trade wine for cloth although both countries could make equally good cloth and wine. What nations sell and buy is determined by comparative advantage. Despite the worlds progress, the ghost of David Ricardos comparative advantage continues to haunt us and every other nation. The tragedy of economics Every man is supposed to be rational, making rational choices. From the Tulip Mania in the 1600s to the 2008 Subprime crisis the long history of boom and bust has shown the hypothesis of a rational man to be incorrect. Man is emotional and easy to mislead. Often those who mislead do so for profit. For the other half, there is nothing but doom. For instance, boycott of Chinese goods in India will lead to higher sale of either less effective or more expensive electronic items. During the protectionist regime in India (1960s-90s) when the tariff barriers were exceptionally high (recall the era of Ambassador cars), we paid for sub-standard products while the manufacturers laughed all the way to the bank. John Maynard Keynes famously said "the ideas of economist and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly supposed". Boycott of Chinese goods or any anybody elses products, for that matter will only hurt us. As a nation, we will divert resources, capital and manpower to produce things that we could have bought at cheaper price from China. As a nation, much like Soviet Russia, we will have lesser resources to develop and will eventually ignore our core area of competence and industry. In effect, it will be like cutting our nose to spite our face. China gets a level of international esteem that it does not deserve. The explanation lies in the Wests long standing fascination for China that overlooks or tolerates Chinas frequent misconduct. Despite its bullying and intimidatory tactics in dealing with others, its assertion of territorial claims contrary to international law, its open rejection of democracy and western values, its curbs on the internet, its enormous internal security apparatus, its intolerance of internal dissent, its suppression of the rights of the Tibetans and the Uighurs, the expansive military doctrines it is adopting, the hegemonic ambitions in Asia that the Belt and Road Initiative represents, western opinion at large is not only unwilling to actively deplore this reality, there is a tendency to find reasons why China behaves as such, show a degree of comprehension for its conduct and even sympathise with it as a victim of historical violation of its rights by outside powers. Muscle-flexing The ASEAN countries are surprisingly timid towards China, even though their collective strength is not negligible and Chinas divisive tactics can be foiled if they acted with greater unity. If ASEAN was initially built as a bulwark against communist China, it can fulfil its purpose in the changed context of a hegemony seeking, national power obsessed, mercantilist China. The West has manoeuvred itself into a weak position vis a vis China by fuelling its economic rise and forging deep trade and financial links with it that now inhibit any really strong response to Chinese muscle-flexing. Whether it was the romantic notion that as China develops economically and becomes more prosperous, the political aspirations of its growing middle class will make it more democratic and the country will become more wedded to the existing world order. Or whether it was the business interests of western multinational corporations that in driving the agenda of economic globalisation focused on China as an untapped market of vast proportions for their products and technology, can be debated. The ASEAN countries are surprisingly timid towards China. The US does not as yet feel seriously threatened by China as the military gap between the two remains vast and China is for the time being pushing against US power in its periphery and is not endangering US national security by dominating the Pacific. For the US the challenge is to preserve its alliance system in the region by retaining the confidence of its allies in the security cover it provides, keep China bottled up in the Western Pacific, and to the extent China tries to escape these constraints, expands its naval power and extend its presence to the Indian Ocean, to work together with countries like India and Japan to limit this. Given its huge investments and other links with China far more than with India Japan too is careful in handling China and would want to avoid any serious showdown with it. Europe is too far away geographically, has no significant military involvement in the western Pacific, and is therefore focused on its economic ties with China in the hope to expand mutual trade and benefit from Chinese investments. Australian opinion is divided on policy towards China, torn between its security links with the US and its economic links with China as its biggest trade partner. Ugly face With Russia now willing to play second fiddle to China on the economic front, and US/EU sanctions pushing it further into the arms of China and weakening its position vis-a-vis the latter even more, Chinas tail is up. All this has given China considerable room to conduct itself in its extensive neighbourhood with a sense of impunity. It is baring the ugly face of its diplomacy more and more, using unbecoming language, adopting condescending postures, crowing about the disparity in power between it and others and unashamedly acting as a bully where it thinks it can. The churning created by rapid transformation of China from poverty to enormous wealth seems to have thrown up towards the top the many base elements in its society that have known how to profit most from the change. This might explain the boorishness and lack of refinement in its diplomatic conduct. Low-level polemics The statements coming from the Chinese Foreign Office and the Peoples Liberation Army spokespersons on the Doklam stand-off are illustrative of the coarseness of Chinese diplomacy. Summoning India to withdraw humbly and unconditionally from the plateau before China teaches it a lesson worse than in 1962, warning that its patience is running out and that Indian forces will be evicted by force, brandishing its military might as a tool of intimidation, shows that the Chinese have lost all sense of proportion. Chinas diplomatic loutishness has reached a point that its number two diplomat in Delhi in a show of professional incompetence has the temerity to threaten India from Indian soil with consequences if India does not withdraw from Doklam. In normal circumstances, he should be recalled or expelled, but the government has decided, not wrongly, to avoid escalation, abjure low-level polemics, state our position firmly but leave the door open for diplomacy, discreetly warn China of the economic costs it will bear if it is reckless. The absence of a matching Indian response to Chinas fulminations conveys a sense of quite confidence on our part which no doubt unhinges the northern bully even more. The minority characters of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Millia Islamia have been a matter of debate for a long time in our country. Both the institutions established long before Independence have played an outstanding role in Indias freedom struggle. The recent call of the central government to withdraw its support to Jamia Millia Islamias minority character has given a fresh twist to the political folly. Distortions and misinterpretations of historical facts are not recently added practices, but educational institutions have been larger victims of vote bank politics. Dating back to history, Jamia Millia Islamia was born out in 1920 with the concerted efforts of Muslim leaders involved in the freedom struggle. The very idea of establishing this institution was to heed Mahatma Gandhis call to boycott the British control of educational intuitions. Since its inception, Jamia Millia Islamia has striven successfully to live up to the ideals it was established for. It is continuously contributing to the nation building in every sphere. The institution was established to train the Muslim youth with definite ideas of their rights and duties as Indian citizens and to coordinate Islamic thought and behaviour with Hindu line of thought. The general aim was to create a harmonious nationhood without Muslims losing their Islamic identity. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian Constitution and a staunch advocate of social justice, strongly voiced for minority rights. If the legal system is to be observed minutely, the concept of "minority institution" was itself incorporated once the Constitution was adopted in 1950. The Constitution, under Article 30 (1), confers on all minorities, whether based on religion or language, the right to establish and administer educational institutions "of their choice". The minority institutions can reserve 50 per cent seats for their own communities. The law under Article 30 (2) also guarantees that governments will not discriminate in granting aid to educational institutions on the ground that it is under the management of a minority, whether based on religion or language. Under the constitutional mandate, the quasi-judicial body, National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), set up in November 2004 declared Jamia Millia Islamia to be a minority institution. The commission, while examining historical facts, noted that Jamia Millia Islamia was established and managed by the Muslim community and hence fulfilled the basic criteria of being a minority educational institution under Article 30(1) of the Constitution. The commission also observed that the institution was founded by Muslims for the benefit of Muslims and it has never lost its identity as a Muslim minority educational institution. Therefore, minority status was given to Jamia Millia Islamia for maintaining the secular credentials of the nation and for securing minority rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian Constitution and a staunch advocate of social justice, strongly voiced for minority rights. According to him, minority rights should be absolute. They should not be subject to any consideration as to what other parties may like to do to minorities within their jurisdiction. Thus, the democratically-elected government at the Centre is expected to preserve the multiculturalism and pluralism of the nation as has been the hallmark of India. The historical identities of our institutions be it academic or non-academic ought to be safeguarded rather than distorted and manipulated. Ensuring equal treatment, safeguarding the fundamental rights of every citizen of the country and making special provisions in favour of the weaker sections of the society are few of the tenets of this democratic setup. So, what are we commemorating this August - the 70th anniversary of India's Independence or the bloody cleaving of the subcontinent? What imagery on domestic and international air will encapsulate what unfolded seven centuries ago in this part of the world? Of course, it will be Jawaharlal Nehru's feel good "tryst with destiny", his present successor's address from Old Delhi's Red Fort, shots of border guards at Wagah stamping, high-kicking in elaborate turbans, waxed moustaches and black boots. Movie channels will also compete, beaming films with a colonial or "desh bhakti" theme. A couple of days before, poor children would swarm traffic signals to sell small plastic tricolours. An evening before, drinkers would crowd at liquor stores to stock up beer and spirit for the big, national holiday the next day. It will be an occasion of festivities on both sides of the border in Punjab dismembered in 1947. On August 15, skies over Delhi would turn into an aerial battlefield between kites dancing, soaring, looping, tricking and cutting one another. Scenes would be similar in Pakistan ahead of their Independence Day on August 14. Overall, it will be an occasion of festivities on both sides of the border in Punjab dismembered in 1947. As always, these state celebrations would gloss over the killing of more than a million people and the displacement of another million-and-a-half that coincided with freedom from the British. My father, who passed in 2000, was born in Dera Ismail Khan in the late 1920s. My mother, who left us last year, came from the same region in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). A family of Sikh refugees from Lahore. Photo: Life magazine Horrors of the Partition never dominated our family conversations. But my parents, as also my uncles and aunts, never dissociated themselves from their pre-Partition past either. They would recall almost everything they had before 1947 - their big houses, big families, influence, hard work and education in British India. In matchmaking, for example, elders would always inquire about the origin of potential parents-in-law of their children. Rawalpindi, for instance, was rated the best for a matrimonial alliance, followed by Gujranwala and so forth. In west, north and parts of south and south-west Delhi, remnants of little, united Punjabs still exist. In my neighbourhood, for instance, my immediate neighbours are Multanis. In front of my home is a brotherhood that proudly calls itself Attock Biradari. A family that we always had a great bonding with has its roots in Peshawar. After India's tryst with destiny. An entire colony in Delhi is named Derawal Nagar after Dera Ismail Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan. Another is called Gujranwala Town. Still, no one officially commemorates the tragic histories linked to these replicas of what the Partition generation left behind after Independence. The world tries to move on. No one wants Punjab and Bengal to be thought of as places of mass destruction and exodus. Survivors of the 1947 catastrophe are vanishing rapidly. In some years, we'll be left with no first-hand tellers of the Partition story. But our children do need to know the price their forefathers paid for India's "Brexit" moment. Euphoria over Independence from the yolk of imperial rule can camouflage one of the worst man-made calamities in human history, but it cannot push back the causes out of existence. Today, Pakistan is a state besieged from within - a state built on the graveyard of countless cross-border migrants is struggling to survive. Religious nationalism eventually backfired badly on Islamabad. The Partition of the subcontinent needs to be taught more than ever before in global educational institutions, let alone Indian or Pakistani. Religious nationalism doesn't necessarily have to be Islamic only. It can be Hindu, Sikh, Christian or Jew. A news portal had reported in July that a panel formed by the central government-funded agency has reiterated what has become common knowledge now: The educationally most disadvantaged community among minorities in India are the Muslims. The 11-member panel of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), formed in December last year, had recommended to establish 211 central schools on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas one in each minority-concentrated block and pocket in cities besides, community colleges and central institutions to be established through Acts of Parliament. In the report that has mysteriously gone missing, although its cached version is still available, minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, was quoted as saying that the recommendations are in line with the government campaign to empower the minorities educationally. He had also said, We are currently studying the report. We will figure out the components which can be easily implemented. We will try to implement the 'doables' from the next academic year. As someone who follows Muslim politics closely and writes regularly on the subject, for once, I really felt positive about the current governments initiative hoping this can go a long way in empowering the community. I was hence shocked to read the news about the Ministry of Human Resource Development's (HRD) decision to revise its affidavit in the Delhi High Court, withdrawing its support to minority status for the central university of Jamia Millia Islamia, though almost everyone connected with this university as also with the Aligarh Muslim University - saw it coming since 2014 when the BJP-led government came to power. Although a university with minority character since its inception, Jamia was accorded the status of minority university in 2011 by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), which allows them to reserve up to 50 per cent of the seats for the minority community (in this case Muslims). The consistent stand of BJP leaders and their government has been that universities like Jamia or AMU were established by Acts of Parliament and are funded by the central government and hence it cannot have reservations for one particular community. They see such actions as purported appeasement of the Muslim community. Legalists like professor Faizan Mustafa have written on how AMU and Jamia should indeed be treated as minority institutions, adding that it will undermine the institution of Parliament and will shake the confidence of the minorities. My question, however, is more political. Almost all government-funded universities and colleges and in jobs - have at least 50 per cent seats reserved (in some states even more) for different communities, most importantly SC/ST, OBC and others. This is rightly justified in the name of social justice. Lucknow-based Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University is a central university that has 50 per cent reservation for Dalit students alone thus no reservation for ST and OBC. However, the moment the question of reservation for Muslim comes, everyone starts shouting about appeasement, as if Muslims are not citizens of this country, and they should have no right on the resources of this country. While some sections within the Muslim community do get reservation under OBC, they are not recognised as SC (along with Christians). In fact, a recent report suggested that some institutions denies OBC Muslims reservation benefits even in a state like West Bengal. Article 30(1) gives linguistic and religious minorities rights to establish and administer their own institutions. From Jains to Sikhs and Christians and several other communities have their own minority institutions, and many of them do get some sort of grant or financial support from several government bodies. Still, half-baked arguments on public-funded universities are pushed despite the fact that not one but several government-appointed committees including the Sachar Committee Report, Kundu Committee Report, Ranganath Misra Report - have acknowledged the abysmally poor conditions of Muslims, and recommended some sort of affirmative action - most recently the report of the MAFE, I quoted above. It is a fact that blocks with Muslim concentration are less likely to have schools, colleges and universities. For example, a 2016 survey, "Living Reality of Muslims in West Bengal", noted that districts with Muslim concentration have less number of government-run primary schools or private schools per 10,000 students. Unlike JNU, Jamia has been more than willing to comply with all government directions from performing yoga to hoisting the national flag and creating 'wall of heroes' without much fuss. According to one survey, although the rate of Muslim enrolment in higher education has almost trebled from 5.2 per cent to 13.8 per cent in a decade at the end of 2010, they still remain far behind the national average of 23 per cent. Scheduled Castes (due to reservation policies) now stand at 18.5 per cent while scheduled tribe lag behind Muslims by just 0.5 per cent. In fact, the percentage of Muslim students in most elite institutions is practically negligible. And if universities like Jamia or AMU also restrict their opportunities, the number of educated Muslims may further come down in years to come. With the BJP government at the Centre, the Jamia fraternity had realised that it will face the constant scrutiny of the government, and perhaps as a means to reach out to the government, it had invited the then HRD minister Smriti Irani for the convocation way back in 2014, established a skill development centre in the name of Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, and from the current academic session started the new Sanskrit department. Unlike the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia has been more than willing to comply with all government directions from performing yoga (even during Ramzan fast) to hoisting the national flag and creating "wall of heroes" (Mig16 was installed at Jamia years back) without much fuss. Recently, the RSS-supported Muslim Rashtriya Manch held its grand iftar party on the campus that was attended by senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar. But, the BJP government, it seems, will not sit back unless the few opportunities left for the deprived minority students are also blocked. The MAEF had kindled hope that the present government may do course-correction and would indeed work for the promised goal of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas". But its unflinching stand on AMU and Jamia is contrary to what the latest report had recommended and Naqvi had echoed. UPDATED A few months after Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a major expansion of the states most ambitious private school choice program into law, the program is on the verge of being blocked. A group that aims to halt the expansion says it has collected enough signatures for a petition to stop the new law from taking effect. Save Our Schools Arizona says it has more than 100,000 signaturesenough to put the expansion on hold so that voters can directly weigh in on the law at the ballot box next year. The Associated Press reports thats 25 percent more signatures than required. Arizona lawmakers passed a bill expanding the states education savings accounts program this spring. The program allows parents to pull their children out of public school and use the per-pupil funding the state allocates to each student on approved education expenses instead, such as private school tuition, tutoring services, or even text books for home schooling. The bill had the backing of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, and Ducey signed it into law in early April. Originally the program was limited to a few select groups of students, such as those with disabilities or from low-performing schools. Now all of Arizonas 1.1 million public school students are eligible for the program. Only one other state has attempted to open up a private school choice program to all of its public school students, and that was Nevada. But that program has been put on hold indefinitely after the states Supreme Court ruled last year that the way it was funded was unconstitutional . A bill to change the funding stream failed in the state legislature, in large part because control of the statehouse switched from Republican to Democrat in the 2016 elections. Arizonas move to expand its education savings accounts program was welcome news to school choice advocates after their failure to revive Nevadas program. Education savings accountswhich are the latest evolution in school voucher policyhave been on a slow but steady march across the country. They were created first in Arizona in 2011. Florida jumped on board with its own program in 2014, although it is strictly limited to students with special needs. Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina have since created their own ESA programs for students with special needs, with North Carolina joining the club just this spring. Education savings accounts are an attractive alternative to traditional school vouchers, a policy that provides state money to parents to use on private school tuition. Because parents can opt to spend their state funds on education services beyond private schools, ESAs are less likely to run afoul of state constitutional language prohibiting public money from going to religious institutions. Save Our Schools Arizona turned in the signatures it collected to the secretary of states office on Tuesday , just before the expansion was scheduled to go into effect on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. State officials will work to verify whether the signatures on the petition are valid over the next week. Related stories: Photo: Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey talks with 11-year-old Lourdes Garza, a 6th grader who attends a charter school in Phoenix, during a school choice rally at the state Capitol in Phoenix in January. Bob Christie/AP-File A few years after lawmakers created stricter rules for charter schools in Texas, student academic performance there is climbing. Thats the big takeaway from a new report from Stanford Universitys Center for Research on Education Outcomes , or CREDO. Researchers found that, on average, Texas charter school students gained the equivalent of an extra 17 days in reading over the course of one school year compared to their peers in traditional district schools. Student gains in math were about the same for both sectors. By themselves, those gains may seem like nothing to write home about, but they are a far cry from CREDOs findings in its first study of Texas charter sector, released in 2013. At that time, Texas charter school students were losing 17 days in reading and 23 days in math a year when compared to their counterparts in district schools. This is the third study CREDO has done on Texas charters. Most of the growth in reading comes from charter schools serving the elementary grades. Hispanic students in the states urban charter schools performed particularly well in reading and math when compared to their peers in traditional public schools. Nearly 60 percent of Texas charter school students are Hispanic, while about 20 percent are black. Performance among black students was roughly the same in both sectors, which marks an improvement from CREDOs last analysis when researchers found black students in charters were not keeping pace with their district school counterparts. While charter school students showed stronger growth over time, they get off to a slow start. The study found that charter school students lag significantly behind their district school counterparts the first year they are enrolled in a charter. But their academic performance ticks up considerably in their second and third years. Texas Charter School Reforms Although charter schools have been allowed in Texas since 1995, the state legislature sought to rein in the sectorwhich some observers have felt was under-regulated and underperformingin 2014. Among the new rules it enacted: The state department of education is required to yank the charter of any school that fails to meet academic or financial accountability standards for three years in a row. The number of schools that closed in the 2014-15 school year was nearly triple that of earlier years, according to the CREDO report. Fewer new schools are opening as well. Charter supporters welcomed the results of this latest Texas study. Texas was once the Wild West of #charterschools with a real quality-control problem. No more. https://t.co/TloZChgYgh @TexasAspires Michael Petrilli (@MichaelPetrilli) August 4, 2017 New @CREDOatStanford study on TX charters - thanks to @TCSAnews , the charter movement looks a lot better! https://t.co/Qnv5ZfjM9I ... Nina Rees (@Ninacharters) August 3, 2017 Although CREDO has its detractors, its research is widely considered some of the most rigorous on charter school performance. Taken together, CREDOs studies have shown charter school performance to be a mixed bag, and as a result, are regularly cited by both charter supporters and opponents, depending upon the outcome of a particular study. CREDOs findings may add more fodder to the debate over whether government should play a bigger role in regulating and shuttering charter schools. Its a debate which has gained more attention since President Trump appointed Betsy DeVos, who supports a lighter regulatory touch , to be U.S. secretary of education. Finally, although CREDOs findings were positive, it remains unclear whether academic advancements at the early-grades level translate into greater success later in life. A working paper published by two economists about this time last year found that attending a charter school in Texas had a negative effect on students future earnings . Even among Texas charter schools that posted the highest test scores, the future earnings of their alumni remained in line with those who graduated from district schools. For more on CREDOs findingsincluding a separate analysis based on grade level and management structureread the full report here . Related stories: Graph from CREDOs Charter School Performance in Texas. With 12 percent of all U.S. public school educators in their first or second year of teaching , support for new teachers has never been more necessary. Thats why Boston public school teacher Ali Stewart decided to create the New Teachers Retreat an annual professional development program catered to those in their first five years of teaching. Recent research has shown that anywhere from 17 percent to 46 percent of new teachers leave their jobs within five years . But despite the fact that retention and student achievement rates increase significantly when new teachers receive mentorship and professional development, educators say that resources for support are scarce in many districts. Instead, new recruits often have to tackle unruly classrooms and unfamiliar lesson plans on their ownor turn to online communities and email chains for support. Stewart, a high school English teacher now entering her fifth year of teaching, recognized the need to provide new teachers with both professional development and strong support systems. Working with a team of five other East Coast teachers and specialists, she founded the New Teachers Retreat in 2016 with the goal of helping teachers develop long-term careers. This year, 16 new educators from across the country applied and were accepted to the inaugural New Teachers Retreat. The weekend-long program was funded by participant fees$350 per person to cover lodging, food, and instructionand held at Keene State College in New Hampshire. Over the course of three days, the teachers earned continuing education units and graduate credit while participating in instructional sessions led by the leadership team and a group of outside instructors. The program was shaped by the personal experiences of the founding board membersmost of whom are within their first 10 years of teachingas well as from participants responses to the online application form. A lot of what [applicants] said they wanted really jived with our own experiences and what we felt was necessary, Stewart said in an interview with Education Week Teacher. It was really a two-way process. The sessions covered common challenges faced by new teachersclassroom management, project-based assessment, and parent engagementas well as self-care practices and strategies for work-life balance. Participants began each day with yoga and meditation lessons , and bonded through extracurricular activities like bowling, nature walks, and a cooking demonstration. Stewart noted that throughout the weekend, teachers discussed spending late nights, early mornings, and countless hours preparing for their school days. You cant run at your first-year level for your whole careerotherwise, youd have a really short career, Stewart said. We spent a lot of time talking about how to be mindful and intentional, and how to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Carla Fahie, a second-year elementary school teacher from Boston who participated in the retreat, told Education Week Teacher that she appreciated the opportunity to share common challenges with and learn from other new teachers. I came back feeling like I have somewhere to go and not worrya judgment-free zone, Fahie said. In her first year as a K-8 STEM teacher, Fahie struggled to create classroom management strategies for multiple grade levels while planning lessons without a district-provided curriculum. Even though I had a good teacher prep program, there are some things that youre never prepared for until youre in the classroom, Fahie said. Having a place to draw from for lesson-planning, classroom managementthose big areas that the district always focuses onwas phenomenal. One of the main goals of the New Teachers Retreat was to create a strong network of support for participantsand in a post-retreat survey, 100 percent of the teachers strongly agreed that they felt as though they could reach out to their mentors. In the future, Stewart hopes to maintain the close connections between mentors and new teachers, while increasing the number of participants and encouraging alumni to take on leadership positions. We want to be really mindful in our growth, so that we dont lose sight of the teachers that were serving, Stewart said. Photos provided by Ali Stewart America's Toughest (Former) Sheriff Guilty of Contempt Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has seen his fair share of lawsuits. The self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" was sued by the Department of Justice for civil rights violations, and found to have routinely engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing. He was sued by a newspaper for arresting its owners following some unfavorable coverage. He was sued again for discrimination and was found guilty of racially profiling Latinos on immigration patrols. Most recently, he was charged with contempt for disobeying a court order barring those immigration enforcement patrols. (Arpaio also lost his bid for reelection last year, ostensibly losing his favored moniker as well.) Last week, the former sheriff was found guilty of contempt for violating that court order and could be facing serious jail time. Willful Violations U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled last Monday that Arpaio "willfully violated" the terms of a 2011 court order prohibiting him and his staff from racial profiling. Though it took four weeks to issue the ruling after the conclusion of a five-day trial, Bolton found that the evidence at trial proved "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Arpaio disobeyed a clear order barring the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office from stopping and detaining Latino motorists without reasonable suspicion, solely on suspicion that they were in the country illegally. The order was issued following an ACLU lawsuit in 2011, but federal prosecutors allege the racial profiling of Latino drivers continued unabated for a year and a half after the injunction was issued, with 170 more people wrongfully detained, according to Reuters. "Joe Arpaio learned his lesson the hard way," the ACLU said after the latest verdict, "no one, not even America's so-called toughest sheriff, is above the law." Joe in Jail Arpaio, now facing six months in jail and a fine, told Reuters he is "disappointed with [Bolton's] decision, but the case will be appealed." At trial, Arpaio argued the order wasn't clear, and admitted to inadvertently disobeying the injunction, but claimed the prosecution was politically motivated and aimed to undermine his re-election bid. Arpaio will be sentenced October 5. Related Resources: Around 2,000 people participated in a traditional Karen wrist tying ceremony in Kawkareik township on August 7. This white thread tying ceremony [wrist tying ceremony] is as much a part of the Karen national character as our language, literature, customs and culture. We are holding [the ceremony] this year as a way of preserving the tradition. We will continue to hold it in the future, said Saw Eh Ga Ma Lal Laung Seik, chair of the ceremony preparatory committee. The Kawkareik ceremony involved members of the Karen National Union, government officials, village community elders and local residents from 26 villages. Kayin (Karen) State Deputy Hluttaw Speaker Nang Thuzar Khin also attended. Villages in Kawkareik township have been coming together to hold the annual wrist tying ceremony for more than 50 years. The custom is also increasingly practiced in other areas of Kayin State, Mon State, Yangon Region and Ayeyarwaddy Region, according to the ceremony preparatory committee. Thousands of Kayin migrant workers held their own wrist tying ceremony at a monastery in the outskirts of Mae Sot on August 6. The Kayin wrist tying ceremony is held during the month of Wagaung, or August, every year. The wrist tie is meant to protect children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from harm and evil spirits. The annual traditional typically involves seven ingredients: a bowl of cold water, white threads, rice balls, triangles of sticky rice, bananas, branches of flowers and pieces of sugar cane. The wrist tying ceremony has been held even before the Karen people started practicing religion. This ceremony should be preserved as it concerns all Karen people and it does not discriminate between religions, said Mahn Shwe Hnin, a member of the ceremony preparatory group. This Saturday, members of the so-called alt-right will descend on Charlottesville to bring attention to their vision of white nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and supposed cultural superiority. Though there has been inflammatory rhetoric on social media, few know exactly how many will actually appear or how they plan to behave. But one thing is clear the nation will be watching us, and our responsibility to speak truth and love to their messages of hate and division is stronger than ever before. That means so many things. It means nonviolence if confronted with violence or efforts to incite violence. It means respect for police, who are just trying to do their jobs and protect citizens exercising their rights. It means unity in the face of division. It means confronting, in a pastoral way, those whose views differ from ours and who would impose their values and worldview on us. And it means joining and supporting our friends and neighbors in a disciplined, respectful, nonviolent response. These far-right groups would like nothing more than for us to show disunity, disrespect, and violence; it feeds their narrative that the United States has lost its way, that they are the victims, and we need to return to old and outmoded ways of doing things. Our power lies in our ability to control our own actions as we engage in large numbers. For those who plan to attend the rally, it is important to obtain training on how to conduct ourselves. This is serious business, and we should prepare so that we will be ready, just like the nonviolent warriors of decades past, to control the situation and the narrative for the benefit not just of the city we love, but the principles we embrace love, diversity, respect. I urge citizens to engage in the events leading up to Aug. 12, and to make a commitment to expand your involvement after that day. For those who are uncomfortable participating in rallies on the 12th, remember that you can canvass for the fall election and make a powerful statement in that way as well. Whatever the form of your engagement on Aug. 12 and beyond, we have a chance to show the nation and world what we are all about in this great city of Charlottesville. Del. David Toscano represents the 57th District, which includes Charlottesville and part of Albemarle County, in Virginias General Assembly. This commentary first appeared in an email newsletter on Aug. 8. This summer, two of the west coast's largest metropolitan areasSeattle and Californiatook major steps to curtail secret, unilateral surveillance by local police. These victories for transparency and community control lend momentum toward sweeping reforms pending across California, as well as congressional efforts to curtail unchecked surveillance by federal authorities. On July 31, the Seattle City Council adopted an ordinance requiring public participation when local police departments acquire surveillance technologies. Days before, a Los Angeles County oversight body rejected a proposed use policy governing the sheriff's department's use of surveillance drones. In LA, deputies have been told they may not use drones at all. These measures are the frontrunners for others pending before municipal and county bodies across the country, as well as at the state level in California, America's most populous and prosperous state. S.B. 21a bill poised to transform police oversight across Californiahas already passed the California State Senate and two State Assembly committees. Seattle Adopts a New Transparency Ordinance Monday's vote in Seattle reflected a unanimous City Council agreement: the public must be involved in decisions about local police and other municipal surveillance. The ordinance was long overdue. In 2013, the Seattle Police Department deactivated a federally funded surveillance mesh network after The Stranger reported that the invasive system was approved without meaningful scrutiny. SPD conceded that its process was insufficient, agreeing to suspend the program "until [the] city council approves a draft policy and until there's an opportunity for vigorous public debate." Seattle's oversight ordinance requires the Council to hear from the public before a law enforcement (or any other municipal) agency may acquire surveillance equipment. The law is "device neutral," subjecting acquisition of any surveillance equipment to the process. According to Councilmember M. Lorena Gonzalez, "this new law [will enable the] Council [to] be a check and balance on surveillance technology acquisitions because the public deserves to know how such data will be managed and for what purpose it is being collected." Unfortunately, Seattle's ordinance has crucial gaps that limit its effectiveness. For example, the law's enforcement mechanism relies on private litigants, but unnecessarily limits their access to justice. In addition, broad exemptions carving out police body cameras and various sources of video surveillance exclude some of the most visible forms of surveillance from the ordinance's protections. That said, the law still covers covert police spying tools like cell-site simulators, and Shotspotter audio listening devices that cities across America are already abandoning due to concerns about their effectiveness. Despite its gaps, Seattle's new surveillance transparency law puts important limits on local police surveillance through public process, as opposed to legislatively specifying substantive limits on the use of a particular device. Ultimately, process and substance are interwoven in any reform addressing police procedure, and regulations in either dimension are strongest when coupled. For instance, the new law does not require that surveillance technology be used narrowly for the "purposes of a criminal investigation supported by reasonable suspicion." It does, however, require agencies seeking technology to specify their policies for each device platform, including how they will collect, retain, and share data obtained through them. In particular, the ordinance requires law enforcement seeking any surveillance technology to develop "a clear use and data management policy," addressing "factors that will be used to determine where, when, and how the technology is deployedwhether [it] will be operated continuously or used only under specific circumstances," and also specifies "what processes will be required prior to each useincludingwhat legal standardmust be met before [it] is used." By providing transparency and community control at the point of acquisition, the new ordinance enables future policymakers and activists to seek more demanding limits on these parameters, not only through future legislation, but also through the process now required before each proposed technology acquisition. LA County Commissioners Reject Proposed Drone Policy In response to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department acquisition of an unmanned aerial vehicle, concerned community members mobilized to challenge the normalization of drone surveillance. Hamid Khan from the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition argued that the sheriff's operation of a surveillance drone "representsthe rapid escalation and militarization of police." Others objected that the sheriff had previously hired a private company to conduct manned aerial surveillance of Compton in 2012 without securing permission from local policymakers. Yet others noted predictable "mission creep" and, according to the LA Times, "voiced concerns that the aircraft could someday be armed, as in North Dakota." Prompted in part by those concerns, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted in January to subject the sheriff's surveillance drone operations to civilian oversight. On July 27, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission voted to reject the sheriff's proposed use policy, with a majority of commissioners preferring for the sheriff not to use the device at all. According to the LA Times: The four members voting against the recommendationssaid at the meeting and afterward that they oppose the department's use of drones altogether.A fifth commissionerwas not at the meeting but wrote a report issued Thursday explaining her support for grounding the drone. Despite the commissioners' opposition to sheriff's plans, the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition spokesperson noted that their decision "leaves things in limbo" since it lets the Sheriff's Department continue deploying its drone. Transforming Police Surveillance Across California: S.B. 21 The measure adopted in Seattle is similar to a statewide bill pending in California that could prevent the spy-first-ask-questions-later situations we saw in Seattle, Baltimore, and also in Los Angeles, by requiring new surveillance technologies to be approved by local policymakersinformed by public commentbefore law enforcement agencies gain access to them. S.B. 21, introduced by California State Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), has already been approved by the state Senate, as well as two committees of the state Assembly. It is currently pending before the Assembly's Appropriations Committee, which it must pass in order to receive a vote from the full Assembly. Should S.B. 21 pass the Assembly and be signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, it would subject hundreds of law enforcement agencies at once to transparency and community control through requirements along the lines ofbut even broader thanthose adopted in Seattle this week. Neither transparency nor public participation are partisan ideals. Rather, they are principles of democratic governance long embraced across the American political spectrum. The alternative to S.B. 21 is continued secrecy and executive fiat, which always contradict our nation's founding valuesbut never so much as when they infect local policymaking. Today, when the federal executive branch appears to have less concern than ever for the rule of law, state and local checks on executive power grow even more crucial. Take Action Tell the California Assembly to pass S.B. 21. In addition to supporting S.B. 21 by contacting their members of the state Assembly, we also encourage Californians who support digital rights to write social media posts and op-eds explaining in their own words why transparency and community control matter so much. For those who live elsewhere, bringing together neighbors to learn about these reforms presents the opportunity to champion them in other areas. Grassroots groups active in the Electronic Frontier Alliance have been integral to the policymaking process underlying S.B. 21, and if the Alliance has not yet included a group in your area, the local policing reforms embodied in S.B. 21 present a chance to raise the flag wherever in the U.S. you live. Transforming Surveillance Policy in Congress: FISA 702 These opportunities at the local and state level are especially crucial this year, since Congress will consider mass surveillance by federal agencies before the end of the year, forced by the scheduled expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Congress passed FISA 702 in 2009, attempting to legalize the NSA's unconstitutional Internet surveillance programs (including PRISM and Upstream collection, among others) over vehement objections. EFF was fighting in federal court to stop mass spying even before the passage of 702, and while those cases continue to proceed, the only congressional action on mass Internet surveillance has been to extend a previous deadline for the statute's expiration. Before considering any further extension of the NSA's expiring authorities, however, Congress must first do the hard work of uncovering secret facts, as oversight bodies in Seattle, Los Angeles, and the rest of the State of California are finally doing at the local level. Shahid Buttar is a constitutional lawyer and musician who works at the Electronic Frontier Foundation as the organization's Director of Grassroots Advocacy. "The (Federal Constitution) does not mention atheists. It goes against the Constitution and human rights," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim told the Malaysian Parliament today. "I suggest that we hunt them down vehemently and we ask for help to identify these groups." From Yahoo News: A photo of the gathering by the Kuala Lumpur chapter of Atheist Republic, or "consulate", has caused uproar from some in the Muslim community recently after it was highlighted by pro-Islamist blogs, leading to violent and death threats on social media. Deputy minister in charge of Islamic affairs Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said yesterday Putrajaya [the federal administrative centre of Malaysia] will investigate the local group, even roping in the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, as it allegedly involved the faith of Muslims in the country. Security researcher Sarah Jamie Lewis wanted to demonstrate that the horrific stories of insecure networked sex-toys (and other Internet of Things devices) was the result of manufacturers' negligence, not the intrinsic limitations of information security. So she bough a We-Vibe Nova sex toy and hacked it so that it could take commands over the cryptographically secured Tor anonymity/privacy network, using the Ricochet chat protocol to create an extra layer of security. The demo shows that the security problems with the IoT have more to do with the manufacturers' desire to spy on their customers than the difficulty of getting security right. The online things that are possible to log are the commands being sent, and the onion address of the person sending them Sarah Jamie Lewis (@SarahJamieLewis) August 6, 2017 Lewis's approach uses Ricochet, a messaging program which creates a Tor hidden service for each user. Ricochet doesn't just protect the content of users' communications, but also obfuscates their metadata, making it harder for anyone snooping on the connection to see who is talking to whom. Lewis reverse-engineered her dildo, a Nova from Canadian company We-Vibe, so she could communicate with it over bluetooth. When combined, these elements allow anyone who knows the dildo's Ricochet address to send commands, such as "/max," to make the device vibrate. Lewis has uploaded the code to Github so others can try the experiment. Motherboard started a 'chat' session with Lewis' vibe, and sent a series of simple commands. Lewis then sent a video of the dildo vibrating. We Anonymously Controlled a Dildo Through the Tor Network [Joseph Cox/Motherboard] Five years ago, a patent troll called "Personal Audio" started demanding money from podcasters, claiming that their patent on mailing cassette tapes of people reading magazines (a ridiculous patent on its face) also covered podcasting. The Electronic Frontier Foundation crowdfunded tens of thousands of dollars from podcasting fans to challenge the patent, and the patent troll retaliated by filing privacy-invading motions to draw out the litigation, funding their war-chest by racking up million-plus awards from big companies found to have violated their ridiculous patent. In 2015, the US Patent and Trademark Office invalidated the Personal Audio patent's key claims. Naturally, the troll appealed and yesterday, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the USPTO's ruling that the patent was invalid, driving a final stake through the heart of the shakedown operation. Personal Audio challenged the Patent Office decision, but the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed with us that the patent did not represent an invention, and podcasting was known before Personal Audio's patent was applied for. "We're pleased that the Federal Circuit agreed that the podcasting patent is invalid," said Daniel Nazer, Staff Attorney at EFF and the Mark Cuban Chair to Eliminate Stupid Patents. "We appreciate all the support the podcasting community gave in fighting this bad patent." "Although we're happy that this patent is still invalid, Personal Audio could seek review at the Supreme Court," said Vera Ranieri, Staff Attorney at EFF. "We'll be there if they do." EFF Wins Court Ruling Upholding Invalidation of Bad Patent That Threatened Podcasters [EFF] Paytm rolled out 'Paytm Postcards', that allows you to send gift money to dear ones. Photo: Paytm's blog. Mumbai: With Rakhi marking the beginning of year-long festivities, Paytm seems to have tapped into the celebratory mood, with its 'Paytm Postcards', that allows people to send shagun or gift money to dear ones in a matter of seconds! The Alibaba backed company rolled out these gift cards on Monday, in tune with the Rakshabandhan celebrations all over the country. Given that millions living away from family and friends use our instant money transfer facility to send money to their loved ones during festivals, we wanted to enhance this experience by enabling them to add a personal touch to their gift money, said Paytm in a blogpost. Similar to the experience of receiving the tiny, decorated envelops of shagun, Paytm Postcards can also be decorated in various designs and sent as small tokens of the love we have for our close ones. This digital version of shagun can be sent in the following way: While sending an envelope of gift money may cost you time, labour and money, Paytm Postcards can be sent without incurring any cost. It also comes with a series of themes like Classic, Rakhi, Birthday, Best Wishes, Thank You and Lucky You. Indian instant messaging platform Hike had in June, launched Blue Packets, similar to WeChats Red Packets, that allows people to send gift money to contacts. Digital payments have seen a surge in India since, especially since demonetisation in 2016. According to reports, digital payments providers like Paytm, have rapidly increased their share in the market. Predictions suggest, these shares will jump nearly 10 times to USD 500 billion by 2020. Trai is reviewing rules of tariff assessment, which among other issues, deals with promotional offers and predatory pricing. New Delhi: Telecom regulator Trai on Monday shot off a letter to anti-trust watchdog CCI asserting its power and expertise to deal with matters relaating to competition and predatory pricing in telecom tariffs. Countering Competition Commission of India's contention over jurisdiction on market dominance and predatory pricing, Trai emphasised that it has the wherewithal to examine all matters -- even competition issues -- falling within its tariff-related powers, an official said. Trai is reviewing rules of tariff assessment, which among other issues, deals with promotional offers and predatory pricing. The consultation paper in this regard is being widely seen as a flashpoint between the two regulators. In the 2-page letter to CCI Chairman Devender K Sikri, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said that as telecom regulator, its core responsibility is to look at tariffs. While Trai has adopted the principle of forbearance, there are reporting requirements involved and the regulator has to ensure competitive behaviour is maintained by the all telecom operators in the interest of consumers, Trai has argued. The provisions of the Trai Act too require it to facilitate competition and promote efficiency, the official said citing the correspondence. Trai has stressed that it has experience and capability to examine all matters, even competitive issues, falling within the purview of tariffs. The telecom watchdog held that it had earlier in 2006 too initiated a consultation on tariff plans with lifetime validity that had dealt with predatory pricing issues. "Trai has in the past and will continue to deal with such issues in a careful and nuanced manner," Trai said in the letter on MOnday. The telecom regulator outlined the dynamic nature of the sector and pointed out that special expertise is required to examine complex tariffs, including bundled promotional offers. In February this year, Trai had floated a consultation paper on 'Regulatory Principles of Tariff Assessment'. The issues being debated include new measures that need to be prescribed to ensure transparency in tariff offers of telecom operators and strengthening the definition relating to "non- discrimination". Trai is also debating which tariff offers should qualify as "promotional offers" and the need to limit the number of such offers that can be launched by an operator in a year, one after another, or concurrently. As part of the paper, Trai is reviewing the definition and criteria for "dominance" in relevant telecom markets. Trai, in its letter to CCI, has now said: "Reliance on definition and provisions of the CCI Act in the consultation paper is evidence of Trai's efforts to interpret the Trai Act and the CCI Act harmoniously to avoid uncoordinated regulatory intervention." Trai has also proposed a meeting between the two regulators to deliberate on the matter, if need be. Issues such as predatory pricing, market dominance and extension of promotional offers have led to some high-decibel public spats between new-comer Reliance Jio and established operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. The incumbent operators have squarely blamed the aggressive offerings of Jio for their shrinking profitability and revenue squeeze. Bharti Airtel has claimed through TV ads that its 4G service is fastest in country. Mumbai: A Mumbai court has turned down the petition filed by Reliance Jio against Bharti Airtel that has been claiming to be fastest 4G network in India through television advertisement. In the TV ad, Bharti Airtel has claimed that global internet speed tester Ookla has certified Airtel as India's fastest 4G network which did not go down well with Reliance Jio that also stakes claim on the title. Reliance Jio is new entrant to country's telecom market that has been disrupted by Jio's aggressive pricing strategy. Reliance Jio had made Ookla a party to the case and had appealed to the court that both Bharti Airtel and Ookla should be tried for running 'defamatory' advertisement, as according to Jio the ad has damaged its reputation. Last week telecom regulator TRAI had crowned Reliance Jio as India's fastest 4G network with a downloading speed of 18 mega bit per second. The report was for the month of July in which Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone were also rated based on their respective 4G internet speed. TRAI has given Bharti Airtel number 4 rank in terms of fastest 4G. Reliance Jio claims it is India's fastest 4G provider. (Photo: PTI) Jio had further alleged in the complaint before metropolitan court that Bharti Airtel fastest network ad has caused the company huge monetary losses and it amounts to defamation, conspiracy or breach of trust. However, in July the court had rejected all these claims. According to a report in The Economic Times, Jio had alleged that internet speed testing company Ookla was trying to sell fastest 4G network certificate for $120,000. Interestingly, Jio turned down the offer as it thought the methodology involved in arriving at the result was flawed. Bharti Airtel spokesperson said, We are grateful to the Honble court for dismissing the frivolous allegations made against us. Bharti Airtel takes great pride in maintaining the highest standards of ethics and compliance. The Lok Sabha on Tuesday adopted a statutory resolution on increase in basic Customs duty (BCD) to 10 per cent on import of mobile phones, printers and ink cartridges. New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday adopted a statutory resolution on increase in basic Customs duty (BCD) to 10 per cent on import of mobile phones, printers and ink cartridges. The government through a notification dated June 30 had increased the basic Customs duty from 'nil' to 10 per cent on various kinds of printers, facsimile machines, certain types of ink cartridges, telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, base stations, and other items. The increased duty became applicable from July 1. The resolution was moved in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Looking at the world through the eyes of the Web Punjab National Bank (PNB) has put nine of its large stressed accounts for resolution under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. New Delhi: State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) has put nine of its large stressed accounts for resolution under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC). The stressed assets, including restructured and gross non-performing assets (GNPAs), declined to Rs 68,772 crore as on June 30, 2017 from Rs 75,564 crore as on June-end in 2016. "For resolution of large ticket advances, 9 large stressed accounts are under IBC Resolution," PNB said in an investor presentation. The lender said there is a trend of declining stress on its balance sheet. The standard restructured advances of PNB at the end of the first quarter this fiscal stood at Rs 11,051 crore, which was at a high of Rs 18,909 crore by June 30, 2016. Sector wise, the highest amount of restructuring was done for infrastructure at Rs 5,226 crore (47.29 per cent) in June quarter, followed by power at Rs 2,912 crore (26.35 per cent), road and port Rs 2,068 crore (18.71 per cent), agriculture Rs 1,457 crore (13.18 per cent), sugar Rs 1,335 crore (12.08 per cent), iron and steel Rs 1,331 crore (12.04 per cent) and telecom Rs 246 crore (2.23 per cent). Among others, construction, cement, textiles, hotel, services, IT park are the sectors where restructuring has been done in the range of 1.13-2.99 per cent. The Reserve Bank earlier in June had asked banks to finalise a resolution plan within six month to resolve bad loans. "In cases where a viable resolution plan is not agreed upon within six months, banks should be required to file for insolvency proceedings under the IBC," the RBI had said. PNB said there were fresh slippages on its sheet of Rs 6,018 crore during the first quarter of 2017-18, of which Rs 765 crore were from restructured accounts. The fresh slippages are down from year ago's Rs 7,533 crore (Rs 1,524 crore from restructured accounts). To improve its asset quality, the bank said it has widened the scope of the war room it has created. PNB has split the existing war room to create separate war room for monitoring of irregular and weak loan accounts. Besides, the bank has been launching a special one time settlement schemes for doubtful and loss category small and medium size NPAs. Mumbai: on Wednesday, Iron lady of cinema,Kangana Ranaut, who was recently in news for her tragic accident on the sets of 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi',where she sustained a major cut on her forehead while shooting a fight scene, finally addressed the burning issue of writing credits fued she has been embroiled in with Apurva Asrani. The actress was here to launch the trailer of her upcoming film 'Simran' by Hansal Mehta. She defines it as a "coming-of-age, light-hearted take on people who dare to dream big" kind of film. While interacting with the media, questions of the infamous feud of writer Apurva Asrani with Kangana Ranaut, over crediting her as the co-writer of the film was popped up, and the 'Queen' actress sportingly answered it. Kangana spoke about it once and for all. She clarified saying, "There are a lot of misconceptions about it. There are no dues pending." She went on to further add that it was Apurva, who suggested that she takes the co-writer credit. "We have done the way he wanted it. He suggested that I take co-writing credit," added Kangana. We worked on the schedule together." Kagana thinks that Apurva took advantage of her low phase and attacked her to gain his 'two-minutes of fame.' "After many months of working together, he decided to write this post. After Rangoon flopped and two-three people attacked me. He wrote it in a very bad taste, he planned of writing this letter and was very deliberate," concluded the 'Tanu Weds Manu' actress. For the uninitiated, Apurva Asrani, had accused the makers of 'Simran' for not giving him his due as a writer. He had taken the Facebook route to share his disagreement on this matter. Here is the post written by Apurva: Dileep's business deals and his alleged marriage before tying the knot to ex-wife Manju Warrier are also being reportedly investigated. New Delhi: Kerala Angamali magisterial court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of actor Dileep till August 22, in connection with the assault and abduction of a Malayalam actress. On July 14, Dileep was produced before the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court where his police custody was extended. Dileep on July 11 was expelled from the primary membership of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) after being arrested. He was also sent to 14-day judicial custody. Dileep was slapped with conspiracy charges owing to the abduction and assault of a popular Malayalam actress earlier in February. Later that day, he was arrested by evening. Earlier, the two main accused in the case, Sunil Kumar and Vigeesh, were brought to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for evidence collection. The incident reportedly took place when the actress was returning from a shoot. Bengaluru: Rakshabandhan, a festival to celebrates the bond of love between brother and sister, was celebrated with traditional fervour on Monday with youngsters taking the lead to tie the rakhi on their dear ones. The festival has its roots in the Puranas and what sets it apart is the fact that it is more personal rather than ceremonial. Students and office going youngsters performed the ritual as they do every year with colourful rachis adorning the wrists of most people who celebrate the festival. "My elder sister tied a rakhi on me, I am going to meet three others who are not my relatives but who are eager to celebrate Rakshabandhan with me. I don't believe that the special ties between a brother and sister should be restricted to this day, in fact it should be celebrated every day. But then, it is no doubt a special occasion, so they tied the thread and I bought them chocolates," said Nitin, who recently completed his post-graduation. Ask him what it means to him and he says," It is just an unsaid, indescribable feeling for someone who you feel is your sister. It could be your sibling or a friend in college. You feel the need to look after them and they feel they need to take care of you." Bengaloreans despite the Monday blues, heavy traffic and their hectic work style, took time out to tie the symbolic thread and exchange gifts with their siblings. " From the time we were kids, Rakshabandhan was an important occasion for me and my brother. Even when we were in different cities, I would send rakhis by post. The festival is not about gifts, nor about a brother protecting his sister. It is a way of showing that we are there for each other, " said Jyotsna, a techie. Commercial Street, Jayanagar shopping complex and every other corner of the city had vendors displaying thousands of rakhis. Jyotsna is one of the few who feels buying one takes away the charm of Rakshabandhan and takes the pain to make one with a lot of care for her brother every year. Sushma Swaraj has come across as one of the most tech savvy politicians in India who has been doing her job efficiently and maintaining active communication with the people on social media. While the external affairs minister has helped out many tweeting her for visas or assistance in a foreign land, she has also had some strange requests. Shah Rukh Khans latest outing with Imtiaz Ali has turned out to be a disaster and is being slammed by critics and audiences alike. But one gentleman from Pune was so traumatised by the film that he reached out to Sushma Swaraj on Twitter asking her to rescue him from watching Jab Harry Met Sejal. @SushmaSwaraj mam, I'm watching #JabHarryMetSejal at Xion cinema Hinjewadi, Pune. Please rescue me as soon as possible.. Vishal Surywanshi (@vsurywanshi87) August 5, 2017 The tweet generated quite a buzz on the social media as the SRK film is being trolled ever since it hit the screens. In the past, Sushma Swaraj won the internet with her witty replies to strange requests like one man asking for food as he was stuck on Mars and another asking for assistance with his refrigerator. Two men had knocked on the victim a beauticians door at 3 am in the pretext of availing her services for a wedding urgently. Chennai: A 35-year-old woman, a beautician, was allegedly raped at knifepoint in her residence in Adambakkam on Sunday. Hailing from Manipur, she has been living in the state for the past 11 years and was employed as a beautician at a parlour in Pallavaram for the last 18 months, police said. On Sunday morning, around 3 am, two men knocked on the doors of the womans house after which she was raped, police sources said. The duo had approached her in the pretext of availing her services for a wedding. Since it was in the wee hours of the day, the woman didnt open the doors and had questioned the men on the urgency and necessity to turn up so early in the day through the window. The men had told her that the beautician booked for the function cancelled and needed someone soon, a police officer said. After the woman let the men in, one of the men allegedly held her at knifepoint and raped her while the other stood guard near the door, police sources said. They gagged her to prevent her from making noises and fled the house before daybreak to avoid being noticed by neighbours. Later in the day, the woman approached the Adambakkam police after which a case was registered. She has been admitted to the Chengelpet Medical College Hospital for treatment and further tests, police sources said. Based on the descriptions provided by the woman, police have launched a hunt for the suspects. On June 5, 2016, they went public with their claim that they were the first Indian couple to reach the Mount Everest summit. (Photo: Facebook) Pune: Suspended Pune police constable couple Dinesh Rathod and Tarkeshwari Rathod, who lied about climbing the Mount Everest and circulated morphed photos of their 'mountaineering feat' in May 2016, has been dismissed from the force, a senior official said on Monday. The couple was suspended in November 2016, after a probe panel formed by the police called out their lie. "The couple faked about the Everest ascent, morphed the photographs, shared misleading information and while doing this, brought disrepute to the Maharashtra Police department and did not report to duty," said Sahebrao Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration). "Based on the inquiry, we dismissed the couple from the department and an order to this effect was issued on Saturday," Mr Patil said. Three months ago, the couple was asked to explain why they should not be dismissed from the force. The couple was posted at the police headquarters in Pune's Shivajinagar. On June 5, 2016, they went public with their claim that they were the first Indian couple to reach the Mount Everest summit. However, a group of local mountaineers later said the couple was never at the summit and they faked their expedition by morphing photographs to show they were standing on the peak of the world's highest mountain. In August 2016, the Nepal government reportedly banned the couple from entering the country for 10 years. Pune Police had also written to the Nepal government to probe the matter. Surendra Shelke, the secretary of a Pune-based mountaineering association, said the couple's version of how exactly they climbed the mountain had many holes. The BWSSB's decision to make STPs mandatory in all apartment buildings is too little, 20 years too late. This 'solution', which will need to be implemented at great cost and inconvenience by apartment buildings that don't contribute to underground sewage in the first place, simply defies logic. While citizens sharing the cost of sewage treatment is a good idea, holding them responsible for untreated sewage will cause more problems than it solves, report Aknisree Karthik and Aksheev Thakur. Land sharks and the ever growing urban sprawl have taken over many of the citys lakes, those that are left are dying from pollution caused by the untreated sewage let into them by industries and apartments. With the polluted lakes no longer supplying it its water, the city draws 1350 MLD from the Cauvery river, the lifeline of Bengaluru and other districts, for its needs and lets out almost 80 per cent of it as sewage later. Although it generates 1,000 MLD of sewage on an average on any given day, sadly it's not able to treat all of it. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board ( BWSSB) admits it treats only 843 MLD at its 14 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) across the city. In fact, until recently it only treated 721 MLD before it increased its capacity earlier this year. Infographic There are 14 STPs across the city. BWSSB which was treating 721 MLD increased its capacity to 843 MLD this year. Even though BWSSB has capacity to treat 843 MLD sources claim that it isn't putting all its STPs to full use. Owing to reasons like power issues and lack of maintenance of old ones, BWSSB is treating only 500 MLD. How much water is supplied to Bengaluru every day ? 1350-1400 MLD How much sewage is generated ? Of the total water supplied about 80 percent come out as sewage. Roughly 1000 MLD of sewage is generated everyday in the city. How much of the sewage is treated ? Of the 1000 MLD , BWSSB claims to treat 843 MLD 843 MLD As many as 324 of 657 apartments around Bellandur Lake do not have Sewage Treatment Plants Forty four apartments are building STPs The KPSCB has issued 170 notices to the apartments around Bellandur Lake for failure to treat their sewage Upcoming STPs across Bengaluru Expected to be completed by 2017 end. Bellandur 90 MLD Kengeri 60 MLD Doddabele 20 MLD Horamavu 20 MLD Yellamappachetty 15 MLD Kadugodi 6 MLD But going by sources even this claim is not true. With power issues and lack of maintenance dogging its STPs, the BWSSB barely manages to treat 500 MLD, they say. Ask the BWSSB about its failure to treat all of the city's sewage and a senior officer admits that with its area of operation increasing over the years it is not able to fully do its job. "The water board was only tasked with taking care of water supply and the sewage in the core areas spread over 245 sq. kms when first set up. But with the addition of areas under the city and town municipal councils, its jurisdiction increased by 330 sq.kms. Also with the addition of 110 villages it is now required to take care of another 225 sq. kms, which has made its job almost unmanageable," he contends. "In the recent past we have been laying more stress on building new STPs. Work is on in full swing to build them at Bellandur, Kengeri, Yellampachetti, Doddabele, Horamavu and Kadugodi and they are expected to be operational by the year end, solving most of the crisis in the city caused by untreated sewage water," he , however, assures. Recalling that developed countries too have passed through this phase of polluted water bodies, water expert, S. Vishwanath, notes that the River Thames in London was also once smelly with sewage. He, however, believes the problem can be overcome if people are willing to pay for treating their sewage. "The cost of treating sewage is huge. You need Rs18 to 20 to treat a kilo litre of water (1000 liters) with basic technology. We can overcome the pollution caused by sewage in a matter of two years if people support the cause and are willing to pay for the service," he says. Not without your help, BWSSB: RWAs Although the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) made the installation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) compulsory for apartments with over 50 flats earlier this year , 324 of the 657 apartments built around Bellandur lake have not bothered to comply. Officials of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) , which has slapped over 170 notices on the apartments for their failure to fall in line, say most members of the Resident Welfare Associations here are unwilling to spend on installation of the STP. The apartment dwellers , however, claim that while the authorities want them to build an STP they have made no provision to help them set it up. Says Mr Harish Kumar Y of Green Glen Layout Resident Welfare Association, I will not say that the pollution control board is wrong in saying that the RWAs are not complying with the BWSSBs order, but the ground reality is that even if the apartments want to set up an STP they do not have the means to do so. One of the biggest constraints is the cost factor, according to him. Also, the Bangalore Apartments Federation had in May this year opposed the rule of the BWSSB calling for installation of STPs by the older apartments, arguing that they lacked space. Mr Kumar points out that several smaller builders responsible for apartments with over 50 flats have not bothered to comply with the required norms on STPs and have left their unsuspecting occupants in the lurch. While agreeing with the BWSSBs rule on installation of STPs by apartments, water expert, Vishwanath, however, believes that it should be left to them to comply and not be forced upon anyone, especially the older apartments. If the apartments have installed the STPs it is great, but the rule should not be forced upon them retrospectively, he insists. The team of security forces also recovered two Chinese pistols along with ammunition from their possession. (Representational Image) Baramulla: In an effort to foil terror elements from building a terror infrastructure to lure young boys of the Valley, the Baramulla Police assisted by 29 RR and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), apprehended three suspected individuals of Hizbul Mujahideen from Baramulla. The plan was chalked out to apprehend the terrorists on specific information, laid a joint Naka at Behrampora Tilgam crossing to detain the terrorists. The three terrorists are identified as Waseem Ahmed Mir of Andergam Pattan, Umer Hassan Rather and Akif Hussain of Achbal Sopore. The team of security forces also recovered two Chinese pistols along with ammunition from their possession. On sustained questioning the trio admitted that they are working for Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit and were motivating young boys into terrorism and have been carrying out this activity in the North Kashmir region from quite a long time. As per reports, the network was being spearheaded by Hizbul Mujahideen commander Parvez Wani, who hails from Galoora Handwara region. These networks were not only luring the youth of the Valley to join the terror outfits, but were also providing logistic support to terrorists in the Andergam Pattan and Sopore areas. FIR has been lodged in Kreeri police station and a case has been registered under sections 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, [ULA (P) Act]. At present, private operators have been collecting Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh per tonne of sand, so the government has decided to sell sand through the PDS, Mr Jayachandra said (Representational Image) Bengaluru: The state government has decided to import sand from Malaysia and will distribute it through the public distribution system(PDS) to the public at Rs 3,500 per tonne. Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra said since there is an acute shortage of sand in the state and because of the exorbitant prices, the government has decided to import sand. Before procuring imported sand from the government, the public will have to submit documents to local authorities regarding the need for sand, the building plan, the estimated cost of the house and other details. At present, private operators have been collecting Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh per tonne of sand, so the government has decided to sell sand through the PDS, Mr Jayachandra said. The state will also seek Central assistance for the loss of the arecanut and coconut crop due to shortage of rainfall with 1.91 lakh hectares of coconut and 0.51 lakh hectares of arecanut crop damaged due to the shortage of rain. It is the first time that such a large extent of arecanut and coconut crop has been damaged, Mr Jayachandra said, adding that the worst hit districts are Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Tumakuru districts. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has called a meeting on August 9 to discuss the Cauvery water sharing dispute. Since the hearing is going on in the Supreme Court, the CM has called the meeting in this regard, Mr Jayachandra said. The government is also contemplating bringing a separate sand mining policy for the coastal districts after assessing the pros and cons, he added. News / Local by Khuluma Afrika Khuluma Afrika is a center for investigative journalism and political analysis Harare - Reuters offices have been reportedly stormed in the capital of Zimbabwe by police accompanied by state security agents, while a top aide of the Mugabe family has been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive information about the President, Robert Mugabe's trip, and the brief detention of his wife Grace.Last month, President Mugabe accompanied by his wife Grace left for Singapore, where Mugabe was scheduled to undergo routine medical check ups. Upon arrival in Singapore, the Mugabe family was greeted by dozens of journalists at Gleneagles Hospital.The presence of journalists irritated Grace Mugabe who retaliated by attacking 2 journalists on consecutive days, and throwing their cellphones into a pond close to the entrance of the facility.Police were called in and effectively detained Grace Mugabe, and stated that she would not be allowed to leave the facility or the country until or unless she reimbursed the scribes money equivalent to the value of the cellphones she destroyed.On return to Zimbabwe, the Mugabe family was said to have been extremely upset about how journalists in Singapore were made aware of Mugabe's trip to the country."Robert Mugabe left on Friday, and arrived the next day. State media only revealed his trip on Sunday by which time Mugabe would have been checked in to the facility. Usually this is how the protocol works. His arrival is only announced once he has already arrived. This helps avoid unwanted attention, and people camping outside the clinic to protest.But this time, the moment they hit the air, someone told Reuters Zimbabwe, which in turn told Reuters Singapore, which led to many journos waiting at the hospital. Which cause great embarrassment." said a source within the Mugabe's inner circle."Upon return, one top aide was fingered in the information leak. He has since been arrested, and is being tortured to reveal how much more information he leaked. They also suspect it was him who told you guys at Khuluma Afrika, because the story was largely kept secret, and even Singapore guys were paid off to keep quiet about the incident. So now that is the million dollar question."Khuluma Afrika understands that journalists at Reuters Zimbabwe were promised 'severe consequences' should any further 'leaks' lead back to them.Information Minister, Chris Mushowe was reportedly instructed to threaten them with immediate closure and expulsion. The BJP-RSS are targeting Rahul Gandhi in order to kill him, Lalu Yadav said. (Photo: PTI | File) Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Yadav on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (RSS) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of trying to take the life of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. Lalu's assertion comes following the furore witnessed in the Lok Sabha earlier on Tuesday over the attack on Rahul Gandhi's convoy in Gujarat "Rahul Gandhi ko ei log target kiya hai hatya karne ka BJP-RSS, Rahul Gandhi ko mitaana chaahta hai. (The BJP-RSS are targeting Rahul Gandhi in order to kill him, they want to get rid of him)," Lalu said in a press conference. Addressing the Monsoon session of Lok Sabha, Rajnath argued that several police personnel were deployed for his safety, but the Congress front runner did not pay heed to the security arrangements made for him. "Rahul did not listen to the area police or the SPG officials, but only to his personal secretary. A large number of security personnel were deployed on the day, but Rahul did not sit in the vehicle provided by the police," alleged Rajnath. Rahul's convoy was attacked on Friday when he was on his way to the helipad after visiting the flood-hit areas in Gujarat's Dhanera. Following this, the police arrested one Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker, Jayesh Darji, on Saturday. Re-iterating the same, Rajnath said the government is looking into the matter, and investigation is underway. "Rahul should have followed security related suggestions," he further opined. However, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge responded strongly saying that the stone was pelted at Rahul Gandhi with an attempt to take his life. Rahul had blamed the BJP for the attack and said, "BJP workers threw a stone at me which hit my personal security officer (PSO). This is Prime Minister Modi and BJP-RSS's way of politics. What can I say?" Rahul had told the media. Earlier on Friday, Rahul took to Twitter and wrote, "Narendra Modi ji's slogans, black flags and stones will not stop us.... We will put in all our might into the service of people. The Karnataka Development Authority has instructed the banks that a Kannada unit must be established in all the branches. (Photo: PTI/Representational) Bengaluru: The Karnataka Development Authority (KDA) has issued a circular to all nationalised, private and rural banks to instruct their non-Kannada speaking employees to learn the local language in six months or they will lose their job. In a circular issued on Monday, KDA chairman SG Siddaramaiah asked the regional heads of the banks to make it mandatory for all non-Kannada speaking staffers to learn the language. It has instructed the banks to establish a Kannada unit in all the branches. "I have sensed that there has been a lack of will in implementing the local language in several banks. We can't ignore the fact that not paying due respect to the local language can lead to conflicts in future. The banks have to take up the said measures on an emergency basis," Siddaramaiah said. The KDA has also asked the banks to implement Dr Sarojini Mahishi report, which said that the local applicants must get the Group C and D posts. Siddaramaiah said he will later visit the bank branches to ascertain that the instructions of the KDA have been implemented effectively. In this picture released by the AICC, broken glass piece are seen inside a car after alleged stone pelting at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis convoy during his visit to flood affected Dhanera village of Banaskantha district on Friday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday accused Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi of violating protocol on his recent visit to Gujarat last week. Singh was responding to allegations by Congress members in Lok Sabha that Rahul could have been killed in Gujarat where stones were pelted on his car. Singh told the Lok Sabha that the Gujarat Police was informed two days in advance before he arrived in the state. Rahul Gandhi is under SPG protection. The state police had made adequate arrangement for the visit. He was even provided a bullet-proof car. But he opted for a non-bullet proof vehicle. He should have listened to the advice of security personnel. But he did not, he said. Singh added that had Rahul used vehicle provided by police, the incident could be avoided. Responding to the issue raised by Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Singh said the nation as well as the House want to know what Rahul wants to hide by not taking SPG protection along, when he left India on six occasions totalling 72 days. Earlier, Kharge alleged that if one of the stones had hit their leader, he could have been killed. Later, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid Congress protests over the attack. Ramesh also said that business as usual approach will not work against Modi and Shah and advocated for a flexibility in approach to make Congress relevant. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Congress is facing an existential crisis, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said, pitching for a collective effort by party leaders to overcome the challenges it faced from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Ramesh also said that the 'business as usual approach' would not work against Modi and Shah and advocated a flexibility in approach to make Congress relevant. Yes, the Congress party is facing a very serious crisis, Ramesh said in an interview. He said the Congress had faced electoral crisis from 1996 to 2004 when it was out of power. The party had also faced electoral crisis in 1977 when it lost the elections held soon after the Emergency. But today, I would say the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis, he said when asked whether the threat of poaching of MLAs posed by the BJP in Gujarat had forced the party to transport its MLAs to Karnataka to ensure party leader Ahmed Patels victory in the Rajya Sabha polls. He, however, justified the Gujarat Congress decision to send 44 of its MLAs to a resort in party-ruled Karnataka on July 29 to fend off the alleged poaching attempts by BJP, saying the saffron party had also transported MLAs in the past. He said it was wrong for the Congress to think that anti-incumbency will work automatically against the Modi-led government in states being ruled by the BJP. We have to understand we are up against Mr Modi, Mr Shah. And they think differently, they act differently, and if we are not flexible in our approach, we will become irrelevant, frankly, the Congress leader said. He said the Congress party must also recognise that India has changed. Old slogans dont work, old formulas dont work, old mantras dont work. India has changed, the Congress party has to change, he said. The former Union minister hoped that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi would end the uncertainty over becoming Congress president to make the party ready for crucial electoral battles in key states in 2018 and the Lok Sabha polls scheduled a year later. I think, in all probability, Rahul Gandhi would take charge (as Congress president) before the end of 2017, he said. The senior leader lamented he had been proved wrong in the past about his predictions about Rahuls ascendancy to the top post. I thought it would happen in 2015, it didnt happen. I thought it would happen in 2016, it didnt happen. So I am the wrong person to ask this question. I feel that it may happen before the end of 2017, Ramesh said. He said he had no indication about Rahul Gandhi's appointment as Congress president. I have only expectation. Thats all. In 2018 and 2019 you would be busy with elections. State elections, national elections... and this type of thing... this uncertainty is not good, he said. Ramesh urged the Gandhi scion to finish it off. Asked if there was anyone in the Congress party to give a strong challenge to Modi in the 2019 elections, Ramesh said, I have always maintained it is the collective strength of the Congress that will overcome Mr Modi, not some individual magic wand. It has to be a collective effort, he said. Ramesh took potshots at party leaders who "still behave as if the party is in power". The sultanate has gone, but we behave as if we are sultans still. We have to completely redo our way of thinking, acting, projecting, communicating. I think there is a lot of goodwill for the Congress, a lot of support for the Congress but people want to see a new Congress. They dont want to see old mantras, old slogans. We must recognise this is a big challenge. It is a huge challenge for us, he said. He said Nitish Kumars return to the NDA fold was a big setback for the anti-BJP coalition in the country, describing it as a completely betrayal of the mandate given to the Mahagathbandhan by the people of Bihar. Ramesh, who shares a personal rapport with Kumar, said, Personally, I was aghast, astonished, deeply disappointed, but we have to move on and we dont have time. Ramesh, who represents Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, expressed hope that the revival of Congress would happen in Karnataka next year as it had happened 40 years ago in 1978 in the Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat which served up a "political rebirth" of Indira Gandhi in the elections held after the Emergency. New Delhi: After the proverbial night of long knives, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel defeated BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput to enter the Rajya Sabha for his fifth consecutive term. It was a tough fight for 67-year old Congress veteran, the win reminiscent of his 1977 victory in Lok Sabha elections when the Congress was wiped out. Out of the three Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat for which polling took place on Tuesday, BJP national president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani also won. It was a day of high-octane political activity with both the Congress and the BJP making multiple trips to the Election Commission after the completion of voting for the three Rajya Sabha seats. After 176 MLAs had cast their votes by 3 pm in Gandhinagar, the Congress moved the EC in Delhi, demanding cancellation of the votes of two of its MLAs, Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavji Patel. The Congress charged its two legislators of showing their ballot sheets to people other than authorised party representatives. They had alleged waved their ballot paper to Mr Shah. Both these MLAs had voted against the party whip and in favour of the BJP, a fact to which they admitted openly. The Congress also submitted a video of the proceedings of the polling to the EC. Strongly contesting the Congress demand, a BJP delegation comprising Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Piyush Goyal approached the EC. The leaders termed the Congress reasons for cancellation as baseless. After them, another Congress delegation, led by senior leaders P. Chidambaram, Ashok Gehlot and Randeep Singh Surjewala, met the EC once again, demanding the cancellation of the votes of the two MLAs. This halted the counting of votes in the Gujarat Assembly. Late evening, after the EC held a meeting of its full bench, it ruled in favour of the Congress and cancelled the votes of its two MLAs, virtually clearing the decks for Mr Patels entry to the Upper House. The EC order reduced the strength of the Assembly to 174, which in turn reduced the victory margin by one vote to 44, down from 45. Though there was jubilation in the Congress camp, the BJP stalled the counting of votes, saying that the EC should address their complaint as well. Their complaint was that another Congress MLA had shown his ballot paper to an unauthorised person. However, EC sources said that they had not received any such complaint till late night. Sources said that the BJP was considering all legal options at its disposal. After much drama the ballot boxes were opened at around 1.30 am. Reports suggest that out of the Congress 51 MLAs, as many as eight MLAs cross-voted against the partys candidate. This includes former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela and his son. While MLA each of the NCP and JD(U) voted for Mr Patel. After his win, Mr Patel tweeted, Satyamev Jayate. New Delhi: The Shia Central Wakf Board on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that a mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The Allahabad High Court, by a 2:1 majority, had said the land be partitioned equally among three parties the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla and appeals against this verdict are pending. While The Sunni Wakf Board is one of the appellants, the Shia Board is cited as one of the parties but not the main appellant to the title dispute. In an affidavit, the Shia board, asserted that the Babri Masjid site was its property and only it was entitled to hold negotiations for an amicable settlement of the dispute. The Shia Board said the Sunni Board is under the dominant control of Sunni hardliners, fanatics and non-believers in peaceful co-existence, who have absolutely no stake in the present case. It said the Shia Board is of the view that closeness of place of worships i.e. masjid and mandir of the two litigating parties should be avoided in as much as parties using loudspeakers tend to disturb the religious performances of each other, often leading to conflicts bringing acrimony in the two factions. The Shia Board said to bring quietus, the masjid could be located in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram. It would be in the larger public interest that the apex court should set up a committee comprising retired Supreme Court judge, two retired judges of the Allahabad High Court, a nominee of the PMO, the UP Chief Minister or his nominee, a representative of Nirmohi Akhara and Hindu sect to make suggestions and proposals for amicable settlement, it said. The board favoured directions being given by the court to hold talks and submit its report. Shia Board had taken a contrary stand to that of the Sunni Wakf Board, which favoured construction of the mosque at the disputed site. New Delhi: In a surprise development, the Shia Central Wakf Board on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that a mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area and at a distance from Lord Ramas place of birth in Ayodhya. Ahead of the crucial hearing of the appeals against the Allahabad High Court order relating to the title dispute in Ayodhya on August 11, the Shia Board had taken a contrary stand to that of the Sunni Wakf Board, which favoured construction of the mosque at the disputed site. Pointing out that the matter was pending for seven years, and respecting the sentiments of the Hindus, the Shia Board said it was ready to conclude a peaceful settlement of the dispute. Hyderabad: Reacting to the acute drinking water shortage for Hyderabad city and Nalgonda district on account of dwindling levels at the Nagarjunasagar dam, irrigation minister T. Harish Rao on Tuesday requested the Karnataka government to release 15 tmc ft of Krishna waters immediately to tide over the crisis. The minister wrote to his Karnataka counterpart M.B. Patil to release waters from the Almatti or Narayanapur dams immediately. He stated that the water level at Nagarjunasagar dam was at 500.5 ft against the minimum draw down level of 510 ft, which is just not sufficient to meet the drinking water needs of Hyderabad city and fluoride affected areas of Nalgonda district. He asked Mr Patil to instruct officials to release water from Narayanapur as Telangana state would be barely able to sustain the water supply without any inflows into Nagarjunasagar. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There was absolute condemnation of the GST in the Assembly during the discussion on Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017, on Tuesday. While the LDF members presented the GST as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis grand plan to usurp the power of the states, and were highly critical of the poor preparedness before the roll out, the Congress members were disappointed with the shape that GST had acquired under Narendra Modi. And there was the general consensus that prices have gone up post GST, and the government was unable to do anything about it. The CPM members, in keeping with the Central Committee resolution adopted during the July 24-26 meeting exhorting party cadres to participate in protest movements against GST, were especially critical. Contradicting finance minister Dr Thomas Isaacs oft-repeated stand, CPM MLA Suresh Kurup said it would be naive for the state to set great store by the gains from taxing services. Keralas contribution to the services tax kitty of the Centre in the pre-GST period was a paltry 1.5 per cent, he said. Isaac, during his reply, said that this was because taxes on financial services and other major services provided for those in Kerala, say for instance banking services, were billed as collections from states where the headquarters of the service provider was situated, in most cases Mumbai. Now, under GST, the tax will come to the place where the service is received, Isaac said. CPMs young MLA M. Swaraj said esoteric graphs and percentages had clouded the reality about GST, a statement seen as an indirect attack on Isaac who is inclined to use academic tools to elaborate economic concepts. There is no point in hiding behind technicalities when asked why prices are not coming down, Swaraj said. Independent MLA P. C. George said Isaac had betrayed his party by being more excited about GST than even Modi. Isaac told George that all his interventions in the GST Council were with the backing of his party. Mr Isaac, however, conceded three things. One, the GST will rob the state of its powers. We cant take a decision on issues very specific to us, say for instance reducing tax on dry fish, Isaac said. Two, prices have gone up despite taxes on them actually falling. Three, the regime will hit small scale units hard as units that were earlier exempted from excise tax will now come under the ambit of the GST. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that though his party was not against GST, it was unfortunate that the GST rate was not capped at 18 per cent. Isaac described the Congress stance as distributionally regressive. I plead guilty for having argued forcefully to raise the upper ceiling in the GST Council, he said and added: It was only because the upper limit was raised that we could lower the 6 per cent rate to 5 per cent, and also introduce a slab for zero rated products. Nearly 40 percent of goods are included in the zero slab, Isaac said. Bengaluru: Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president, Amit Shah, AICC spokesperson and Gujarat Congress leader, Shaktisinh Gohil on Wednesday charged that former duo were "misusing power out of desperation" and that the timing of IT raid on energy minister, D. K Shivakumar at the resort was nothing but an act to intimidate them (Gujarat MLAs) ahead of Rajya Sabha polls on August 8. Speaking to reporters at the premises of the plush resort where 44 MLAs from Gujarat are lodged, Mr Gohil alleged that it was an attempt to threaten them. "Look at the timing of the raid, that too when he is staying with us in a resort. If there was something against D. K. Shivakumar, he has been a businessman for 30 years and files Income Tax returns regularly. Has he committed any murder? The way IT sleuths swooped in, it is a clear case of political vendetta," Gohil argued. He further questioned angrily that if the IT sleuths had to do something in connection with the case, couldn't they waited for another couple of days before they left this place? According to him, this raid was not procedural, it was to threaten MLAs and give a loud and clear message in Gujarat that when they can conduct a raid on a minister where Congress has it's government, anyone who stands by MLAs from Gujarat will not be spared. No political influence in the process? The IT raids on Energy Minister DK Shiva Kumar has raised a new controversy in the raging battle between the Congress and the BJP. While one concedes that there needs to be a war against unaccounted wealth, it is critical that the process has no whiff of political influence. There seem to be too many coincidences to believe that there are no political overtones to the raids . While the Congress and it's leaders will have a lot of answering to do, it would also be incumbent on the Central government to provide transparent proof of investigative agencies acting independently. Questions also arise on how Ministers at the Centre have immediate access to what happened during the raids, as is evidenced in the comments made in Parliament. The episode brings back to the centre stage the question of the autonomy and independence of investigative agencies. These agencies not only need to act independently of those in power , but need to instill confidence in the public that they are actually acting independently.Sandeep Shastri The BJP is indulging in an unprecedented witch-hunt to win one Rajya Sabha seat. After using the state machinery and every other agency, these I-T raids show their utter desperation and frustrationAhmed Patel, senior Congress leader News / National by Staff Reporter ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has deplored acts of political violence or calls to use violence to settle political scores by some members of political parties.This unfortunate incident was followed by intra-party violence within the Movement for Democratic Change -Tsvangirai's provincial party offices in Bulawayo on Sunday 06 August 2017.According to media reports, violent clashes erupted at the MDC-T's party offices after some youths stormed a meeting which was being addressed by Hon. Thokozani Khupe, the opposition party's Vice-President.In a statement issued on Monday 07 August 2017, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai confirmed the intra-party violence.ZLHR condemns such acts of violence and urges the MDC-T party supporters and other political parties to refrain from resorting to violence as a means of resolving differences.Tolerance of differing opinions is a crucial aspect of democracy and these violent actions will further limit the right of people to exercise their constitutionally protected freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression and association, which are guaranteed under the Constitution and Zimbabwe's international human rights obligations and are core values of any democracy.Regrettably this is not an isolated incident.In fact, over the last few weeks, ZLHR has observed wanton acts of political violence and some worrying statements inciting violence and made by the leader of Zimbabwe African Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) Robert Mugabe on 21 July 2017 at one of his Presidential Youth Interface rallies. President Mugabe encouraged his party supporters to mete instant justice on those that perpetrate violence in the name of ZANU PF.ZLHR strongly condemns such irresponsible utterances encouraging party supporters to "kick and punish" individuals and groups, accused of perpetrating and committing acts of violence in the name of his ruling party.Therefore, ZLHR calls upon; The MDC-T and all political parties to promote the values and practices of tolerance, to do everything to stop and prevent all forms of political violence All political parties ensure that their members and supporters respect the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of expression, assembly and association The Zimbabwe Republic Police to objectively investigate this incident and all other incidences of political violence including the one in which President Mugabe recently acknowledged to have been perpetrated by some of his party supporters against perceived opponents and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book irrespective of their political party affiliation and to maintain law and order, protect and secure the lives and security of people and enforce the law impartially. Chennai: The state government cannot be restrained from preventing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working President MK Stalin from visiting water bodies in any part of Tamil Nadu to take part in his party's desilting drive, as such a relief may lead to breach of law and order, the Salem District Collector submitted in the Madras High Court on Monday. The district authority submitted this in a counter affidavit filed in response to a petition by the DMK. The DMK's petition wanted the High Court to restrain the state government from preventing Stalin from visiting any part of Tamil Nadu to inspect water bodies. The main Opposition party filed this petition after Stalin was detained in Coimbatore by police in July en route to Salem to visit the Kacharayanpalayam tank and also to participate in a human chain protest on the issue of all-India medical entrance examination NEET. In his petition, the district collector opposed the relief sought by the DMK in the absence of infringement of the leader's fundamental right. The district collector said such a relief may lead to a breach of law and order. The government's top district authority said public interest was of paramount importance and no private interest of the parties with "vested intentions" could be encouraged when it posed threat to harmony. It may be recalled that the Tamil Nadu government had launched the 'Kudimaramathu scheme' to de-silt water bodies months ago in the state. Also, the DMK has started de-silting water bodies in the state alleging inaction on the part of the state government. Against this background, the collector in his petition said the DMK was trying to "hijack" a state government scheme to de-silt water bodies and create problems. The case has been posted for further hearing on Tuesday. Karachi: There is no mention of the colour blue in ancient texts. Not in early Greek literature, not in Hindu Vedic hymns, not in the original Hebrew Bible, not in ancient Chinese stories or Icelandic sagas. William Gladstone, the first to notice this through Homers Odyssey wondered if the Greeks were colour-blind. But philologist Gieger found a consistent pattern across different cultures: Every language first developed a word for black and white, the next colour was red, and after that yellow and green, blue was always the last to show up. People in ancient times could see it of course, but they couldnt recognise it. The Himba tribe in Namibia still doesnt have a word for it. How far does language shape our worlds? Can we understand it if we dont have a word for it? The lack of a word ensures we cannot discuss it, but since words also structure thoughts, does that mean we cannot think about it? This article is about rape. But in shifting the perception lag from colours to humans, lets start with an easier example. Historically, children became adults without teens as a transition category. So while people have been 14, 15, 16 years old throughout history, they were adults. Adolescence is a modern social construction. Questions of whether teenagers should labour or not, fight in wars or not, or be married off or not would have made no sense to anyone before the 19th century. Issues of adolescence could emerge only after adolescence was recognised. Now lets shift this further, to a problem that has frustrated women activists for decades. There is no local word for rape. Part of my first full-time job was to interview women survivors of violence to prepare case briefs for lawyers. And I didnt have the vocabulary to inquire about rape. When they tried to tell me themselves, Id spend 20 minutes telling them they were wrong, that no one had looted their izzat and hurmat (dignity and respect) because those were innate. Zyaadati spanned everything, from withheld promotions to unfair accusations. Zabardasti could range from forced marriage to forced work to forced confinement at home. We had no way of framing and understanding what had happened to her. At times, Id look at the women and simply ask, Did he? And they would simply nod. There was also the legal term zina bil jabr, translating to forced adultery, which is first a term no one knows. These roundabout terms further reinforce the stigma attached to rape. Naari Tehreek coined a new word, zabarjinsi. Women writers have also tried, though the terms still havent taken hold. So the question remains, can we understand the experience of sexualised subjugation when we have no conceptual architecture to even recognise it? Once you see blue, you cannot un-see it. But there is a difference between seeing something involuntarily, and looking at something. We can and do see womens suffering without actually looking at it. Optimism about social change is more about coldness than naivety. It requires an insensitivity that social activists shouldnt even have, of stepping away from the daily violence, to a distance where each case becomes merely a plot point on a graph of changing trends. Yet its the activists who need to see change most, otherwise outrage congeals into cataracts of bitterness. So heres the uplift. Language can be co-opted. Postscript: I heard Punjabi being sung before I heard it being spoken. Every wedding, women would sing the folksong Jugni, relishing the idea of a liberated female. The song is actually about the torch commemorating 50 years of Queen Victorias reign. Like the Olympic flame, the torch was carried across the British Empire. Jugni is the distortion of jubli which itself is a distortion of jubilee. Imperial pomp and the roaming torch co-opted to reflect womens longings. By arrangement with Dawn The election for Gujarats three Rajya Sabha seats held on Tuesday was a taint on the very idea of democracy. The sordid drama that played out on television screens across the nation couldnt but have filled all Indians with dismay. If symbolism has a place in life, these developments are all the more disturbing, coming as they do a week before Independence Day and on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, when we began to throw off the colonial yoke. It was a high-stakes election for the BJP, the ruling party at the Centre and Gujarat, and the Congress. The BJP is evidently keen to wipe out any Congress representation from Gujarat in the Council of States, taking forward its agenda of a Congress-mukt Bharat. Since Congress candidate Ahmed Patel, political secretary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, was seeking re-election, the BJP worked extra hard to have him defeated. With Assembly elections due in Gujarat at the end of the year, a defeat for Mr Patel was expected to further demoralise the Congress in Gujarat. These are not unlikely considerations for a party, but the way politics has played out there can be little doubt that every unfair means possible has been tried in this election. Horse-trading is writ large on the entire process. Typically, in India, this takes the form of money gifts and a political dividend. All of a sudden, a number of Congress MLAs resigned their Assembly seats. There was murky talk of blandishments coupled with threats. A nervous Congress transported most of its MLAs to Karnataka to shield them from poaching. A close eye was kept on them even when they returned just before the poll. Even so, it appears one of them jumped ship. Meanwhile, an intense battle ensued to win the vote of two NCP MLAs and a lone JD(U) MLA, besides an Independent member and a clutch of Congress MLAs. Every single vote became important and had to be obtained urgently, by fair means or foul. Party lines were crossed with abandon. After voting, some worthies publicly declared who they had voted for, and then contradicted themselves. They were evidently keen to impress their benefactors. Two Congress MLAs infringed the rules, framed to discourage horse-trading, and showed their ballot paper to top BJP leaders before casting their ballot. The Congress has urged the Election Commission to nullify their votes. In a retaliatory move, top Union ministers, including Arun Jaitley, officially complained to the EC against the ballot of a loyalist Congress MLA. It wasnt a fair election, no matter what. The Election Commission needs to cancel it and order fresh elections. For two decades, the Poison Cartel (now reduced to three Bayer Monsato, Dow Dupont, Syngenta Chem China) has been corrupting our governments, our regulatory agencies and some of our scientists to push their hazardous GMOs that do not work and claim patents and royalties based on scientific fraud. Monsantos corruption of regulatory agencies and attack on science and scientists is getting exposed. In the recently released Monsanto Papers made public through discovery in a court case filed by 100 cancer victims against Monsanto, it has become evident that not only are Monsantos products (Roundup and Roundup Ready crops) carcinogenic, but Monsanto has attacked the United Nations World Health Organisation and scientists like Dr Eric Seralini whose research established Monsantos links to cancer. On March 10, 1995, Mahyco (Maharastra Hybrid Seeds Company), a collaborator with Monsanto, imported 100 grams of the Bt Cotton seed without approval from the GEAC, which under Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of hazardous Microorganisms Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is the only body that can grant permission for importing genetically engineered substances (seeds in the present case). No person shall import, export, transport, manufacture, process, use or sell any hazardous micro-organisms or genetically-engineered organisms/substances or cells except with the approval of the GEAC. In 1998, Monsanto entered into an exclusive agreement with Mahyco and formed a joint venture, to introduce genetically modified Bt cotton in India. In 1998, Monsanto-Mahyco illegally started open field trials of Bt cotton in 40 locations, and I had to start a case against them in the Supreme Court to uphold our biosafety laws. In March 2002, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change admitted that Bt cotton poses major risks. The GEAC stated: (i) The crop, which is standing, may pass to the soil that modified genes which it contains. The effect on soil micro-organisms cannot be estimated and may cause an irreversible change in the environment structure of the soil. It is a standard practice to uproot crops which pose such a threat. The destruction by burning is to ensure safety to environment and human health and to obviate any possibility of cross-pollination. (ii) The destruction of the cotton produce as well as seeds harvested from this plant is also equally necessary. The cotton which has been produced is genetically-modified cotton, the effect of which i.e. allergenicity and other factors on mammals are not tested. The precautionary principles would require that no product, the effect of which is unknown be put into the market stream. This cotton which in appearance is no different from any other cotton will intermingle with ordinary cotton and it will become impossible to contain its adverse affect. The only remedy is to destroy the cotton as well as the seeds produced and harvested in this manner. (iii) Since farmers are being put to a loss, the further process to determine the compensation payable to farmers, who have unwittingly used this product, has to be determined and undertaken. I would respectfully submit that every day of delay in this matter poses a threat to the environment. Yet, a few days later Bt cotton that had been declared hazardous in the case of Navbharat was declared safe for Monsanto, and approval was given to Monsanto to introduce Bollard I. Even at the trial stage, it was clear that new pests are being created and Bt cotton does not work as a pest control technology. The primary justification for the genetic engineering of Bt into crops is that this will reduce the use of insecticides. One of the Monsanto brochures had a picture of a few worms and stated: You will see these in your cotton and thats okay. Dont spray. However, new pests have emerged and the pink bollworm has evolved resistance. Monsanto has used the failure of its technology as an excuse to sell Bollard II with higher prices and higher illegal royalties. Monsanto cannot legally collect royalties on seeds because our patent laws do not recognise seeds, plants and animals as inventions. Article 3(j), therefore, clearly excludes seeds and plants from patentability. When the government passed a seed price control order, Monsanto took the government to court and the case was dismissed only after our intervention. Monsanto is now challenging Article 3(j) of our patent Act in a case in the high court in Delhi in which I have had to intervene. Monsanto controls 95 per cent in the cotton seed sector, and when the Competition Commission started an investigation on the monopoly, it took the Competition Commission to court. This is the rule of Monsanto, not the rule of law. Corporations are introducing unnecessary, hazardous GMOs by corrupting biosafety regulations. The government failure to regulate GMOs and the courts failure to have regulations implemented honestly and scientifically has cost hundreds of thousands of farmers to commit suicides. Sixty per cent of the beneficial soil organism has disappeared and there are no pollinators to be found. These were avoidable costs if the evidence had not been ignored. The fraud and corruption we have witnessed in Bt cotton at high costs to farmers and the environment are now being repeated with GMO mustard. A herbicide-resist crop is being fraudulently pushed as a hybrid. The bar-barnase-barstar technology patented by Bayer-Monsanto is being falsely passed off as Pentals. Mustard, a crop that cross-pollinates vigorously, is being presented as a crop that has no risks of contamination through pollination. Mustard, our food, our culture of which we eat leaves, seeds and oil is being unscientifically equated with canola. Even though the evidence shows that the leaves have toxic genes, it is unscientifically assumed there will be no impact on health. No feeding trials have been done. Biosafety regulations have been put in place internationally and nationally to do independent safety assessments and obey the regulations. Non-tests are not proof of safety. Ignoring the recommendations of the Technical Expert Committee of the Supreme Court is, in effect, contempt of court. Ignoring the states that are saying they will not allow GMO mustard is a violation of the Constitution and the biosafety framework. Two decades of corporate corruption and scientific fraud is enough. GMO mustard must not be approved. It is recommended that you should download the August security patch, if available on your device, as soon as possible for a safer Android experience. The world is waiting for the search giant to unveil the next major upgrade to Android, called Android O. However, Googles own devices are still running on the latest version of Android 7.1, which has been out in the world for a few months. Despite axing the development of Android 7.1 Nougat, Google is still concerned about the security of the existing devices, especially after few deadly cyber attacks took place on the Android platform earlier this year. Thats why Google has rolled out the latest security patch for existing Android devices. The August security patch brings in a fix for a whopping 42 vulnerabilities that was yet unknown to the developers. The update was delivered in two batches the first batch fixed 28 flaws whereas the second one fixed 14 additional flaws. Google says that security vulnerability discovered in the media framework, which could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code using a specially crafted file. Such files could be easily tagged along with a website or some apps/games in the Play Store, which could easily spread to millions of Android devices. As usual, the August security patch is currently available for the following Google devices as of now Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5x, Pixel C, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player. The security patch should also be available for flagship smartphone from other manufacturers like Samsung, LG, HTC, Sony and Xiaomi. It is recommended that you should download the August security patch, if available on your device, as soon as possible for a safer Android experience. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said that despite threats, the US and the international community would not be scared of North Korea. (Photo: File/ AP) Washington: The US and the international community is "not going to run scared from North Korea", US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said after Pyongyang refused to roll back its nuclear weapons programme. "All of us should be concerned about what's happening right now. But I think the signs that we're seeing from North Korea, they're concerned back. Now they see the international community is standing with one voice. China didn't pull off. Russia didn't pull off. And all of the Security Council and the international community said that's enough. You've got to stop it," Haley told Fox News in an interview. "It's reckless. It's irresponsible. And the international community really laid down the groundwork of saying we're not going to watch you do this anymore. Now, North Korea has to respond. And yes, they're going to threaten, they're going to do all these things. But we're not going to run scared from them," the top Indian-American diplomat said. Haley praised both Russia and China for the UN Security Council vote on North Korean sanctions. "Ninety per cent of the trade that North Korea has is with China. So that's why they were so important to this resolution. And what we saw was the fact that China did step up these are hard-hitting sanctions that we're doing. Over a billion dollars out of their USD 3 billion export," she said. "What was more important was China stepped up and said, we will follow through on these sanctions. We will make sure that we follow. And they encouraged the international community to follow it. China feels this. I mean when I talk to the Chinese ambassador, when that missile test took off, they they felt it in China. It was so close to their border that the ground shook," she said. "The people of China now feel it. They're disturbed enough to say that they now have to do their part. And now we have to just stay on them to make sure they do that," Haley said. The crash occurred at the end of a training flight which was part of a programme to gradually return the Apaches to service. (Photo: Representational/AFP) Jerusalem: An Israeli officer was killed and his co-pilot seriously injured when their Apache attack helicopter crashed on landing at an air force base, a military spokeswoman said on Tuesday. "A military helicopter crashed at an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base in southern Israel," she said that the accident happened late Monday. She said that reserve Major David Zohar died "and a second officer is critically injured." The IAF has launched a technical investigation into the incident and ordered all combat helicopters be grounded pending the outcome of the probe, the spokeswoman said. According to Israeli media reports, the Apaches were previously grounded after a large crack was discovered in the rotor blade of one. They began flying again last month. The media reports said that Monday's crash occurred at the end of a training flight which was part of a programme to gradually return the Apaches to service. The pilot reported a malfunction before losing control. Colombo: Nearly 50 Indian fishermen were arrested on Tuesday by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly poaching in the countrys territorial waters. The Indian fishermen were on board 12 trawlers. They have been accused of indulging in bottom trawling which is outlawed in Sri Lanka, Naval spokesman Commander Chaminda Walakuluge said. They were escorted to the fisheries harbour in Karainagar in Jaffna. The fishermen would be handed over to the fisheries inspection office in Jaffna for further action, the Navy added. Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently by the maritime security agencies of both countries for illegal fishing and often stray into illegal waters due to absence of any proper technology to confirm the coastline border between Pakistan and India near Sir Creek in the Arabian Sea. Prime Minister Shahid Abbasi said that Pakistan would work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region. (Photo: File) Islamabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan will work together to defeat terrorism and ensure security and stability in the region, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Abbasi on Monday congratulated him on his election as the premier. The Prime Minister Office in a statement said Abbasi thanked the president and said that terrorism is a common threat for both the countries and both countries need to fight it together. "We will work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region," Abbasi said, adding that terrorism was a common enemy and "we will work together to eliminate this menace from the region". The two leaders also agreed to work together to address the challenge of energy in the region and improve the economic condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan leader expressed satisfaction over the smooth transition and said that it was good for democracy of Pakistan, the statement said. It was first high level call between the two leaders since Abbasi took office. The last known contact between top leadership was made when former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Ghani met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana about two months ago. The ongoing Doklam standoff between India and China has to be seen in the larger context. (File Photo) Beijing: Urging Modi government to not to make the same mistake that Nehru government did by assuming China wont strike a war during 1962, Chinese media on Tuesday warned India that keep ignoring Chinas warnings, war is inevitable. In 1962, India had made constant provocations at the China-India border and then, the Nehru government believed Beijing wont strike a war as it was already undergoing domestic turmoil and natural disasters, a Chinese state-run media, Global Times said in an editorial. The daily extended its advised to Indian government and said, "Not to be as naive as the Nehru government which underestimated the Chinese government to safeguard China's territorial integrity despite the country being occupied with other issues." Global times, which is known for its hoarse stance on India and its policies, also reasoned that 1962, had also seen Cold War between US and Russia, however, in this regard, "Beijing and Washington were engaged in hostility and China's relations with the Soviet Union had begun to chill. The daily said, if India is still reluctant to withdraw its troops from the alleged Chinese territory then the outcome of the standoff between Chinese and Indian troops in the Doklam area is fixed, adding that China has not resorted to a war because it hopes New Delhi can make a rational choice rather than daring. Chinese daily also said, As the risk of war is rising, Indian public opinion has become clear that Indian troops cannot defeat the Chinese People's Liberation Army. However, while addressing the Parliament, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said, "War is never the solution to a dispute. Wisdom is to resolve issues diplomatically. We're not only negotiating over Doklam, but discussing bilateral relations with China as well. This is the only solution. The editorial reiterates that Of course China doesn't want to risk a war and hopes that peace could return along China-India border. But if Indian troops continue to linger on Chinese soil, it will be quite another matter. The daily said, If Indians think China may not strike a war due to strategic concerns and US will take Indias side, which may exert psychological pressure on China, then they are wrong as New Delhi must understand the nature of the Sino-US rivalry and the meaning of strategic containment. The editorial on Global Times also pointed out that China wont be deterred, 'if India thinks Washington can influence the situation along the China-India border simply by issuing a pro-India statement or sending warships to the Indian Ocean'. As the Sikkim standoff has entered in its third month in August, the daily said, If Modi government continues to ignore the warning coming from a situation spiraling out of control, countermeasures from China will be unavoidable. It further added that If New Delhi really keeps faith that China will not take military action under any circumstances, and then its analysis is not based on the principles of international politics and military science. The end for the Sikkim standoff is not seen on cards as China is in complete denial for dialogue over the border issues unless India withdraws troop from the region which Beijing claims to be its territory. The spat worsened when China tried to build a road at the strategically important Chickens Neck area, also called as Doklam, which interestingly falls under disputed tri-junction land between India-Bhutan-China. News / National by Staff reporter Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has, in a "subtle" message, reportedly called on President Robert Mugabe to "sort out the mess he has created in the country" before "anointing" his successor.According to NewsDay, Mphoko said this during a Zanu-PF inter-district meeting in Bulawayo."The president (Mugabe) should be part of the solution to problems going on in the country with regards to who will succeed him. He should do it well and quietly through the structures. He knows how to do it, he is mature and will do it well," Mphoko was quoted as saying.This came as reports indicated that Mugabe's succession maze had reached a crescendo, with his nephew revealing that "swords were now out" for the nonagenarian's other deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who allegedly wanted to take over from the veteran leader.Mugabe's nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, who also doubled as the southern African country's youth and indigenisation minister, charged that the Manangagwa's allies were misleading the nation that he (Mnangagwa) was going to be Mugabe's successor.Grace's recent outburstsZhuwao, who reportedly belonged to a faction of the ruling Zanu-PF party calling itself "Generation 40" and made up of Young Turks that were loyal to First Lady Grace Mugabe, told a local weekly newspaper, The Standard, that Grace's recent outbursts were meant to stop Mnangagwa from taking over from Mugabe.Mnangagwa was linked to another faction calling itself "Team Lacoste".Grace told ruling party supporters at a rally in Chinhoyi that both the country's two deputy presidents were serving at her husband's will and could be replaced if they did not perform to his expectations.The first lady had earlier called on Mugabe to anoint a successor adding that the nonagenarian should also consider appointing a woman as his deputy fuelling speculation that Grace herself was planning to succeed her ageing husband.For his part, Mugabe, who has been denouncing factionalism within his party at all his campaign rallies, said he was not going anywhere anytime soon. Last month a transgender woman and her husband were issued a marriage certificate by a district office, a first in Nepal.(Photo: AFP) Kathmandu: Hundreds of members of Nepal's gay community marched through Kathmandu Tuesday, many wearing vibrant costumes and carrying rainbow flags and balloons, in an annual pride parade. The march is timed to coincide with the Hindu festival of Gai Jatra, which brings hundreds onto the streets to pay respects to those who have died in the past year. Historically Gai Jatra, which dates back to when Nepal was under royal rule, was also a chance for people to criticise the government -- with many people in colourful costumes satirising politicians. In recent years the gay community has started using the festival to call attention to its demands for equal rights. Around 1,500 people took part in the parade, paying tribute to members of LGBTI community who had died in 2017, including American artist Gilbert Baker who designed the rainbow flag that has become an emblem of the gay community. "Every year we celebrate a pride festival to show that we want to be recognised in this society with our different identity, that we are a part of this society," said Pinky Gurung, president of the Blue Diamond Society, a gay rights organisation in Nepal. Nepal has some of South Asia's most progressive laws on homosexuality and transgender rights, but activists say members of the community continue to face discrimination and live in the shadows of society. "The government has recognised us but should do more. People of third gender like us should be able to come out in the open, society should accept us," said Kirti Gurung, a 21-year-old transgender woman. Last month a transgender woman and her husband were issued a marriage certificate by a district office, a first in Nepal. But the country's laws are silent on same-sex or transgender marriages and the legality of the union are unclear. Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Monday called for a peaceful resolution between India and China over the border standoff. (Photo: AP) Kathmandu: Nepal has asked India and China to show restraint over the continuing border standoff between the two sides and called for a peaceful diplomatic dialogue to solve the issue. Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Monday called for a peaceful resolution between India and China over the border standoff. "Nepal has a clear policy. The dispute which is being seen in the border side in Doklam, we wish for peaceful, diplomatic and dialogue to resolve the issue. This is Nepal's policy, this is Nepali perspective. Nepal is not in favour of war and never expects a solution from the war," Mahara said during a press briefing. Nepal will face dire consequences in case a war between India and China breaks out, halting the trade and supplies from India with whom Nepal shares an open border and commonality. The trade between Nepal and China is not frequent in comparison with India as there has always been a problem with the transportation from the Northern side. Mahara, in his briefing, also talked about the upcoming visit of Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's to India. "We are preparing for the Prime Minister's visit to India. The most potential date for his visit to India would be from 23rd to 27th August," Mahara said. Prime Minister Deuba's five-day visit to India is expected to focus on implementing the previous agreements and engagement with the senior Indian politicos. Indian and Chinese troops continue to be locked in a standoff in Doklam and both sides have moved additional troops, ammunition and military equipment to the area. The stand-off emerged after the Chinese troops were stopped by the Indian Army from constructing roads along the Doklam border. India claims Sikkim border as part of its territory, while China has said that the area falls on their side as per the 1890 treaty signed between British and China. Consequently, China suspended the annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and conceded that the decision to suspend the pilgrimage was due to the border scuffle. It also alleged that the Indian troops had crossed the Sikkim sector of the Indo-China border. Beijing has accused New Delhi of violating a convention signed in 1890 between Britain and China relating to Sikkim and Tibet. This may not be the best time to talk about blessings in Kashmir, but oddly enough, the issue becomes relevant in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modis latest foreign visit. The situation in the Kashmir Valley has often been compared with that in Israel; stone-pelters here are supposed to have taken their cue from the Arab intifada. Several leaders, including Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, have now and then said that Indias presence in the state has similarities with Israels in what were Palestinian lands. Are the two really comparable? Both regions started off as being predominantly Muslim and within the respective communities ,vocal elements rail against what they call their occupying power. The genesis of both insurgencies lie in events in 1947 and 1948 when new dispensations took over governance in the territories now in turmoil. Legally, the case for the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India is unexceptionable, but let that be put aside for the moment. There is a marked difference in the way the two regions have evolved. In 1947-48, the Kashmir Valley was 94% Muslim, and it was Kashmiri in its ethos. Its religious and social character has remained unchanged in the 70 years that it has been a part of India. If anything, the ratio of Muslims would have increased marginally (with the exodus of the Pandits). Kashmiriyat is safe despite political upheavals in the state. In the country that is Israel today, in 1946, non-Jews, who were primarily Arab Muslims, constituted 70% of the population. In 2017, the ratios are almost in reverse, with Jews at 75% and Arabs only 20%. In the last half a century, Israel has enlarged its territory, in no small measure due to the incompetence of Arab leaders of the region. But that does not alter the fact that this was an area where, over centuries, the two communities lived and loved together, and fought and made up, even as they celebrated the common Abrahamic roots of their faiths. Israel was a country created to expiate the sins of European nations. For no fault of theirs, Arabs were forced to leave their lands and homes, even as Jews from outside settled there in numbers large enough to change its demographics. Over the last 70 years, contemporary events have crystallised into history that cannot be changed. Israel is here to stay. But the fact that the demography of the land has been changed is undeniable. No such exodus (apart from the Pandits being driven out, and not by the Indian state) took place in Kashmir. If anything, restrictions were placed on non-Kashmiris coming in and settling there. The option of a demographic solution to the problem was ruled out because India prides in its diversities and strives constantly to preserve and nurture them. Even BJP has gone quiet over the abrogation of Article 370 of Indias Constitution. In fact, in all recent instances where a larger political entity has taken in a smaller, culturally vulnerable region, Indias is perhaps the only case where no attempt was made to fool around with the ethnic character of the merged areas. Across the Line of Control, in areas under Pakistans rule, Kashmiriyat is an endangered idea. There are seven prominent dialects in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), and Kashmiri is not one of them. Pakistans commitment to the integrity of the region under its control was also exposed when it ceded the Shaksgam tract in the far north to China, in 1963 and it now forms a part of the latters Xinjiang province. Local insurgencies are not uncommon all over the world. But rarely is air power used to crush them. Pakistan is one of the exceptions. Many years ago, it strafed its own people in Baluchistan, and later in the north-west of the country. Only an alien power in forcible occupation of any territory would do this. China and Tibet What China is doing to Tibet is no better. The ancient way of life of one of the worlds most peaceful communities is set to be destroyed forever. The migration of Han Chinese is changing the character of the home of the Uighurs in Xinjiang province as well. But without a free press, their voice remains unheard. In the Kashmir Valley, one can hear a call for aazadi, but there is no echo from across the LoC. No one dare raise it there. Do the separatists in the Valley realise that if they ever realise their dreams, they will be pretty much alone in their 16,000 sq km domain, surrounded by some powerful, predatory neighbours in the west and the north who will have no qualms about destroying the ethos and plundering the resources of their land? Amidst the violence and the killings, the people of the Valley will still find something to be thankful for because they happen to be a part of India. (The writer is a freelance journalist based in Gurgaon) Giving some anxious moments to the ongress on the eve of Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat, NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja today claimed the party high command has decided to support BJP candidate Balvantsinh Rajput. MP Supriya Sule, daughter of the party founder Sharad Pawar, however, said that NCP MLAs in Gujarat would back the Congress. The NCP has two MLAs in Gujarat -- Kandhal Jadeja and Jayant Patel, its state unit president. Jadeja told reporters in Gandhinagar that the party has asked both of them to give their first preference votes to Rajput. "As per our party's directive, we have to give our vote to BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput. He will be our first preference," said Kandhal, who has openly admitted in the past that he was very close to senior leader Shankersinh Vaghela, who recently quit the Congress. "I just received a phone call from my party leaders who asked me to vote for Rajput," said Jadeja. Jayant Patel and NCP's in-charge for Gujarat, Praful Patel, were not available for comments. Asked to comment on reports that the party MLAs have been asked to vote for BJP, Sule said, "To the best of my knowledge it's Congress (that NCP MLAs would vote for)." Yesterday, Praful Patel had said his party, which shared power with the Congress at the Centre during the UPA regime and also had a pre-poll alliance with it in Gujarat in 2012 Assembly elections, had not taken any decision. However, referring to some unconfirmed reports, Congress' candidate Ahmed Patel today claimed that NCP had taken the decision to vote for him. The election to three Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat has turned into a high-stake battle. BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani are in the fray; the ruling party has also fielded Rajput, a former Congress MLA, as a third candidate. Going by its strength in the assembly, the BJP is certain to win two seats but would require additional votes to ensure the victory of the third candidate. The Congress was recently jolted by Vaghela's exit, cross-voting in presidential election and resignation of half a dozen party MLAs. A confident Ahmed Patel, after meeting the Congress MLAs who have returned from Bengaluru, had said he has the support of more MLAs than required for the win. "Apart from these 44 (Congress) legislators, two of NCP, one of JD-U would give their vote for me," he had said. Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, needs 45 votes to win. The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking framing of a national yoga policy and making the practice compulsory for students of Classes I-VIII across the country. A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta rejected the plea, saying it was for the government to take a decision on such an issue. We are nobody to say what is to be taught in schools. It is none of our business. How can we direct that?, the bench said. The apex court said it was not possible to grant the relief as sought by petitioners Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a lawyer and Delhi BJP spokesperson, and J C Seth. What is to be taught in schools is not a fundamental right, it said. Upadhyay had sought a direction to the Ministry of Human Resources Development, NCERT, NCTE and CBSE to provide standard textbooks of yoga and health education for students of Class I-VIII keeping in spirit various fundamental rights such as right to life, education and equality. Chandigarh Police has retrieved footage of five CCTV cameras on the route on which a 29-year- old woman was allegedly chased by two men including son of a Haryana BJP leader last week. The woman, daughter of a bureaucrat, had called up the police on Friday night complaining that two youth were chasing her along a stretch of over five km here. Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala's son Vikas (23) and Ashish Kumar (27) were earlier arrested for allegedly stalking the woman. However, both were released later on bail as they were booked under bailable sections of the IPC and the Motor Vehicles Act. "Chandigarh Police has retrieved footage of 5 CCTV cameras on the route capturing the chase of the victim's vehicle by the alleged vehicle," a Chandigarh Police official said here today. Yesterday, UT Chandigarh SSP Eish Singhal had said the police was in the process of taking the footage of CCTV on the route where the victim was allegedly stalked by the accused. "We have identified several CCTV cameras on the route taken by the accused and we are in the process of taking footage when their technical analysis is complete, we will let you know," he had said. On allegations that six CCTV cameras on the route were non-functional, the SSP had said, "I can brief about this only when the technical analysis is complete." "We are analysing every single camera on that road stretch. When technical analysis is complete, details will be put before you." Police had rejected claims that it was under any kind of pressure. The Chandigarh Police had also said it will not hesitate to add non-bailable provisions in the case if legal opinion is in its favour. Singhal had said they were investigating the matter with an "open mind" and were taking legal opinion on several issues pertaining to the case. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had yesterday condemned the alleged incident and said no attempt should be made to dilute charges against the accused. Security forces Tuesday busted a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant module, luring youths to militancy, by arresting three overground workers (OGWs) of the outfit in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. A police spokesperson said two Chinese pistols recovered from their possession after they were apprehended by a joint team of police, Armys 29 Rashtriya Rifles and paramilitary CRPF at a joint naka (checkpost) at Behrampora-Tilgam crossing in Baramulla. He identified the arrested as Waseem Mir, Umer Rather, and Akif Rather, all residents of Baramulla. On sustained questioning, the trio admitted that they are working for Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and were motivating young boys into militancy. These individuals have been long time conduits of militants in north Kashmir playing a major role in enticing young boys to join militancy, the spokesperson claimed. He said the network was being spearheaded by Hizbul commander Parvez Wani alias Mubashir, resident of Galoora Handwara. According to official data, over 1800 OGWs are active in different parts of the State with maximum presence in Sopore, Awantipora, Handwara and Pulwama areas of the valley. "For every active militant in Kashmir, there are 10 OGWs lined up by their mentors. OGWs are sustaining militancy and militants act on the advice and orders of their mentors and OGWs. If OGWs withdraw their support, militants will be sitting ducks. OGWs have been line up in such a manner that they help and guide the militants to our disadvantage," a senior police officer said. Earlier, militants on Monday night attacked an army patrol in Drabgam village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pulwama Choudary Aslam said that army's 44 Rashtriya Rifles patrolling party was fired upon by militants at Drabgam. The fire was retaliated, however, there was no injury on the either side, the SSP said and added that a massive hunt has been launched to nab the militants. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday sought to know why Rahul Gandhi was touring abroad without the elite Special Protect Group security cover and wondered whether he had something to hide. Singh was responding to the Congress attack on the Centre for its failure to provide adequate security to Rahul during his visit to flood-hit parts of Gujarat on Friday when he faced a life-threatening stone-pelting attack. Had he been injured by stone pelters, he (Rahul) would have lost his life. There were attempts to kill him. He is the son of a martyr, we are not afraid, Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress leader, said in the Lok Sabha as his party colleagues stormed the well to protest the attack. The Home Minister described Rahul as a priceless treasure of the nation and suggested that he should be mindful of security protocols. Singh rejected the charge of lapse in security. There was no lack of security. There were two bullet resistant cars, but he (Rahul) did not use it, he said. The Lok Sabha witnessed disruptions and the proceedings were adjourned for the day. In the past two years, he (Rahul) had carried out 121 planned and unplanned tours. He did not use bullet-resistant cars on 100 occasions, the Home Minister said adding that the violation of security protocols by Rahul Gandhi has been brought to the notice of the Congress president. He said the Congress vice president had undertaken six foreign visits spanning over 72 days without the SPG cover as mandated by an Act of Parliament. Where did he go? Deliberately, he did not move with SPG cover. What does he want to hide by not taking the SPG along, the nation and the House would like to know, Singh said turning the tables on the Congress. The Home Minister said Rahul always informed the SPG about his tours at the eleventh hour that created problems in providing proper security. Even during the Gujarat incident, Singh said, Rahul had acted on the advice of his personal secretary and travelled in a private Toyota Fortuner car ignoring the exhortation of the SPG personnel on using the bullet-resistant car. I congratulate the SPG, which asked its trained driver to drive the Fortuner, Singh said accusing the Congress vice president of violating security protocols and stopping at places where there was no pre-scheduled programme. In June, Rahul was away for a fortnight to meet his grandmother and family. In March, he had visited the US where his mother had gone for health check-up. In 2015, Rahul had taken off for two-month holiday during which he toured countries in the far east without security cover. The BJP has always used Rahul's foreign visits to score brownie points and Singh did not miss the opportunity on Tuesday. The Gujarat Chief Minister also visited the area, there were no protests. The Congress has to introspect, he (Rahul) was there on disaster tourism, Singh said prompting loud protests from the Congress benches. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will this week prod the BIMSTEC to step up regional connectivity and counterterror cooperation, as similar initiatives within the SAARC was blocked by Pakistan. Swaraj will attend the 15th meeting of the foreign ministers of the BIMSTEC nations in Kathmandu this week. She will not only call for early conclusion of the negotiations for the agreement that will set up the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, but will also push for expediting talks on the proposed pacts on services and investment, sources told the DH in New Delhi. She will also call for exploring the possibility of a BIMSTEC Motor Vehicle Agreement for hassle-free movement of vehicles across borders within the bloc, said the sources. The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is aimed at preparing for the fourth summit of the seven-nation bloc scheduled to take place in Kathmandu later this year. The Foreign Ministers will review the progress on the implementation of the agenda of action agreed by the leaders of the seven-nation-bloc during a meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted in Goa in October last year. With uncertainty looming large over the fate of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), New Delhi has since last year been focussing more on promoting regional cooperation through the BIMSTEC, particularly on counter-terrorism and connectivity. The BIMSTEC, which came into existence in 1997, comprises Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. The bloc thus has five of the eight members of the SAARC Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal. Only three SAARC members Pakistan, Afghanistan and Maldives are not members of the BIMSTEC. Sources on Monday told the DH that Swaraj would call for expediting the signing of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and for early ratification of the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking. Similar counter-terror initiatives within the SAARC (South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation) were earlier blocked by Pakistan. After a series of attacks on military facilities in India by terror outfits based in Pakistan or parts of Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan; New Delhi opted out of the SAARC summit that was to be hosted by the neighbouring country's government in Islamabad in November last year. With several other SAARC member-nations also supporting the stand taken by India, Pakistan Government had to defer the summit. The SAARCs fate, however, looked uncertain even before India decided to opt out of the summit, as Pakistan blocked most of its initiatives to boost connectivity and counter-terrorism cooperation. New Delhi since last year started focussing more on BIMSTEC, with Modi hosting the leaders of all the seven member-nations of the bloc for a retreat that was held in Goa on the sideline of the BRICS (a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed close to 200 terror incidents this year so far in which 115 terrorists were killed while 39 security personnel lost the life. Another five security personnel had lost lives in ceasefire violations by Pakistan. This was disclosed by Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir in Lok Sabha on Tuesday during Question Hour on queries by TDP MP from Guntur Jayadev Galla. Altogether there were 946 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir between 2014 and July 2017 in which 483 terrorists were killed while 260 were arrested. The casualty in security forces was 207 during this period. According to the statistics provided by the MHA in the Lower House, there were 194 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir this year till July. During this period, 44 terrorists were arrested. Last year, there were 322 incidents in which 150 terrorists were killed and 79 arrested. Security forces lost 82 personnel in the incident. The year 2016 saw an increase in numbers compared to 2015 when there were 208 terror incidents in which 108 terrorists were killed and 67 arrested. In 2014, there were 222 incidents in which 110 terrorists were killed and 70 arrested while 47 security personnel lost their lives. Casualties suffered by security forces due to ceasefire violations was three in 2014, 10 in 2015, 13 in 2016 and five till this year until July. To a question on the Islamic State, Ahir said the terror outfit is using various internet based social media platforms to propagate its ideology. "However, very few individuals have come to notice of the central and state security agencies who have joined ISIS. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the state's police have also registered cases against IS sympathisers and have arrested around 90 accused so far," Ahir said. Further, he said, the central and state agencies are monitoring the cyber space and taking action as per law wherever required. News / National by Staff reporter VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko's son Mr Siqokoqela Mphoko has dismissed as false allegations that there was tribal segregation in hiring workers at the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlet in Bulawayo."There is no such thing as this company employed people from outside Bulawayo."All we know is that 40 trainers came from Harare to help staffers from Bulawayo familiarise themselves with the system and operations of the business," said Mr Mphoko.The American brand which is being franchised in Zimbabwe by Crispy Chicken Restaurants (Pvt) Limited said work on the outlet was complete and they are ready to welcome foodies.The restaurant is situated at Bradfield Shopping Centre, corner Hillside Road and 23rd Avenue along Burns Drive."The brand new KFC is designed to world class standards and incorporates the stylish and most modern interior on the continent."The brand KFC is delighted to bring in their unique blend of high quality products and service to the city as well as creating local jobs and supporting economic growth," Crispy Chicken Restaurants said in a statement.Interesting to note is that KFC has created meals specifically for the country to suit the local flavour and palates like Streetwise which one can have with isitshwala.KFC closed its operations in Zimbabwe during the economic challenges in 2007, but reopened in 2014 in Harare.The Bulawayo branch opening brings the number of KFC outlets to six in Zimbabwe with four restaurants in Harare and one in Victoria Falls. In a major setback to the merger between two AIADMK warring factions in Tamil Nadu, a rebel group led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) announced protest on August 18 against Edappadi K Palaniswami government over several issues. Despite chief minister Palaniswami on Monday expressed confident that there would be united AIADMK very soon, OPS group is going ahead with the protest. During the protest demonstration, the rebel group said it will target the ruling party over several issues including NEET confusion and drinking water crisis in the State. Earlier, the protest was planned on August 10. However, it was postponed to August 18 since the OPS group could not obtain permission from the police in time. Banners were also erected at several places announcing that the protest will be organised under the leadership of Panneerselvam and AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma praesidium chairman E Madhusudanan. Recently, Rajya Sabha member V Maitreyan, one of the top honchos of the rebel faction, alleged that there was corruption in every department in the ruling AIADMK regime. His statement was also endorsed by Panneerselvam. The Shia Central Wakf Board on Tuesday suggested before the Supreme Court that the demolished Babri Masjid can be relocated in a Muslim area at a reasonable distance from the birthplace of Sri Ram at Ayodhya. The 30-page affidavit comes before the Supreme Court is to begin on August 11 a crucial hearing. In an affidavit in the ongoing appeals relating to the disputed site, the Uttar Pradesh-based Board claimed that the Babri Masjid is its property as it was built by Mir Baqi, a Shia Wakif. The Board is of the view that closeness of places of worship Masjid and Mandir of the two litigating denominations, should be avoided as both denominations using loudspeakers tend to disturb the religious performances of each other, it said. Two bodies were found today from the site where an explosive device went off last night, injuring at least 35 people, in Pakistan's Punjab province capital Lahore, officials said. The roof of a three-storey building caved in when the powerful explosion occurred inside a truck laden with fruits on the Out Fall Road - the route former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is to take on his return to his hometown for the first time since the Panama Papers scandal verdict on July 28. "We have found two bodies of two men while removing the debris," Rescue II22 spokesperson Deeba Shahnaz said. She said the men, in their 40s, were present in the school building when it collapsed because of the impact of the blast. "The rescue officials recovered the bodies after several hours of removing the debris," she told reporters. Most of the injured has been discharged after the first aid. According to police, the initial investigation suggested that the truck was carrying crates of apricot being transported from Swat to the city. The truck had been at the stand for the last three days. A huge cache of explosives was stored in the truck. The explosion shattered the windows of nearby buildings. A number of bikes and cars were also damaged due to its intensity. Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks in recent months. On July 24, a Taliban suicide bomber struck a police team near residence-cum-office of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here, killing 27 people, including policemen. In April, six persons were killed and 15 others injured when a suicide bomber targeted a population census team in Lahore's Bedian Road. In February, a suicide bomber killed 14 people, including senior police officers, near the Punjab Assembly here. Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil said that the State Government has prepared all the ground work for taking up cloud seeding following weak monsoon in several parts of the State and this would likely begin next week. Speaking to media in Dharwad on Tuesday, Mr Patil stated that for cloud seeding, government has reserved a fund of Rs 35 crore and is waiting for the clouds to appear in the targeted area. A private company Hoysala has bagged the tender and the government has asked them to target catchment areas that the inflow to the dams and reservoirs increases. This apart, three radars have been imported and they have been installed at Shahpur in Yadgir district, Gadag and Bengaluru. Once, the clouds appear in the above region, the cloud seeding would begin. The farmers need not worry as the government would bail them out of a drought-like situation and protect their crops, he assured. Reacting to the IT raid on Energy Minister D K Shivakumar residence and office, Mr Patil said that the time of the raid was improper. The raid has dented the image of the Income Tax Department. If notice was issued to the minister, why the raid was conducted when the Gujarat MLAs were camping in State, he questioned. The Centre should not practice any undemocratic acts which would earn bad name to the Central Investigative Agencies, said Mr Patil. Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons Naseem and Nayeem on Tuesday appeared before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for questioning in connection with the terror funding case. The agency also questioned Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Faheem, who is in-charge of another Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq's security. Geelani's elder son Nayeem, a surgeon by profession, and Naseem, an employee of the Jammu and Kashmir government, were summoned by the NIA after arresting seven Hurriyat leaders last month following its investigations. Sources said Nayeem, who is tipped to succeed the senior Geelani in separatist conglomerate comprising pro-Pakistan hardliner groups Tehrek-e-Hurriyat, and Nadeem were questioned on the basis of inputs it received following the grilling of seven others, including their brother-in-law Altaf Ahmed Shah, who is in NIA custody. Nayeem and Naseem were summoned by the NIA earlier but had delayed their appearance before the investigators. The NIA had registered a case on May 30 against the separatist and secessionist leaders, including members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations HM, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and other outfits and gangs. The middle-level Hurriyat leaders operated through local leaders to reach to the youths. They were given funds to organise stone-pelting protests after suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani's encounter killing in July last year. The agency had earlier recovered a protest calender authorised by the senior Geelani. Sources said that the protests that happened after the encounter killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani were coordinated with the instructions from handlers in Pakistan. In an apparent bid to boost the sagging morale of the party workers following dismal performance of his party's in the recent assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav will be hitting the road and hold series of rallies to protest against alleged ''anti-farmer'' and ''anti-people'' policies of the BJP government. According to the SP leaders, Akhilesh will launch the party's state wide 'desh bachao, desh banao' (save the country) agitation with a rally at the temple town of Ayodhya, about 125 kilometres from here, on Tuesday, the 'August Kranti Day'. ''Rallies and dharnas will be held across the state to expose the BJP's failure on law and order and its anti-farmer policies,'' SP leader and spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said. Chaudhary added that his party had given sufficient time to the new dispensation to prove that it was taking steps to resolve the pressing issues concerning the farmers and other sections. ''Even after four months, the BJP government has failed to fulfil the promises it had made to the people of the state at the time of the assembly polls,'' he added. ''The law and order situation in the state has worsened...women are unsafe...the crime graph has shot up drastically,'' the SP leader alleged. SP sources, however, said that the agitation was part of party's strategy to ''boost'' the ''sagging morale'' of the party workers and revive its support base in the state ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019. ''Akhilesh finalised the strategy after several round of meetings with senior SP leaders,'' said a senior party leader while speaking to Deccan Herald. The choice of Ayodhya was significant as UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath visited the town twice after assuming charge of the state. The agitation would continue till September, sources said. Akhilesh is likely to get a second term as SP national president in September at the party's national executive meeting. The lone JD(U) MLA in Gujarat, Chhotu Vasava, today said he voted for Congress' nominee Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls as the ruling BJP has done little for tribal people and the poor. Vasava represents Scheduled Tribe reserved Jhagadia assembly seat in Bharuch district in south Gujarat. The legislator, whose party recently forged ties with the BJP in Bihar, said he decided to vote for the Congress candidate as "he is unhappy with the ruling party's works for the poor and tribal population" that he represents. "BJP has ruled the state for 22 years but has ignored the state's tribal areas, which remain undeveloped as the government has done nothing for the poor and tribal population," he told PTI over phone. He said the decision to vote for the Congress nominee was solely his own and not necessarily that of the party which he represents. "Nitish Kumar (Bihar chief minister and JD(U) president) did not contact me over voting, and there was nothing like a whip issued by the party in this regard. The decision to vote for Patel was my own," he said. In major setback to the merger between two AIADMK warring factions in Tamil Nadu, the rebel group led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) announced that a protest would be launched on August 18 against Edappadi K Palaniswami government over several issues. Despite chief minister Palaniswami expressing confident on Monday that there would be united AIADMK very soon, OPS group is going ahead with the protest. During the protest demonstration, the rebel group is expected to target the ruling party over several issues including NEET confusion, drinking water crisis and alleged corruption charges in various departments. Earlier, the protest was planned on August 10. However, it was postponed to August 18 since OPS group could not obtain permission from the police on time. Banners were also erected at several places announcing that the protest will be organised under the leadership of Panneerselvam and AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma presidium chairman E Madhusudanan. Recently, Rajya Sabha member V Maitreyan, one of the top honchos of the rebel faction, alleged that there was corruption in every department in the ruling AIADMK regime. His statement was also endorsed by Panneerselvam. News / National by Chris Chinamhora One of the country's leading security companies has appealed to those going away during the forthcoming school holidays and public holidays to ensure that their homes are secure in their absence."Crime has been increasing. Properties left unoccupied while people are away, whether it is for weeks or just for a day or two, are prime targets," Safeguard Security chief executive Andrew Mallon said.He urged those going away on holiday to try to ensure their absence went unnoticed in the neighbourhood and that there were adequate security measures in place."Ideally you should ensure your home is alarmed and linked to a rapid response service. Having security guards in place would also be an advantage," he said."Even if you are just going out for the day, make sure your windows are securely closed and doors, including internal doors, locked and that your alarm, if you have one, is switched on," he said.He added that it was important too, when going away on holiday, to ensure alarm batteries were fully charged and not in danger of failing in the event of a power failure. The link to the rapid response service should be tested. Electric fences and outdoor beams should also be checked and, if need be, cleared of any foliageThose who had an alarm linked to a rapid response service should advise the response service of the dates they would be away and of who the keys to the premises would be left with.Mr Mallon pointed out that if an alarm system is already installed but not linked to a rapid response service, Safeguard could install a temporary radio link to its rapid response service at a low cost.When deciding on guard services, it was necessary, he said, to consider what the risks were. If nobody was staying on the premises, 24 hour guard services would be appropriate. If there were domestic staff or other people living on the premises, then a night guard might be sufficient."Make full use of value-added services your security service provider has to offer. Safeguard's rapid response, for instance, provides a free cellphone panic button for it rapid response subscribers which can be used to request assistance anywhere in Zimbabwe provided there is cellphone network coverage," he said."Safeguard can also provide a cellphone application that enables you to view and control your alarm system while you are on holiday, whether you are inside or outside Zimbabwe," he said.He said Safeguard rapid response customers with security alarm systems could have the fire alarm and medical emergency buttons on their alarm keypads activated so that they sound an alarm in a fire or medical emergency."Safeguard has links to the fire department and Emergency Medical Rescue Ambulance Service (EMRAS) and ACE Air & Ambulance. All of our alarm keypads have the fire and medical emergency alarm buttons which can be programmed on request free of charge."They can also have smoke detectors connected to the alarm and linked to the fire department in case a fire breaks out and nobody is at the premises to press the fire alarm button," he added.Mr Mallon urged those who had cash or valuables at home or at the office move them to a secure place."There is a storage facility in Harare, Storage Mart, where even cars and boats can be stored. It could be well worth considering making use of such a storage facility, if you are going away for a while," he said. In a stunning - but unsubstantiated - claim, a senior Chinese official said today that Bhutan has acknowledged that the Doklam area where the Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a standoff does not belong to it. China's top diplomat on the boundary issue, Wang Wenli, told a visiting Indian media delegation that Bhutan has conveyed to Beijing through the diplomatic channels that the area of the standoff is not its territory. She provided no evidence for the claim, which is at the complete variance with Bhutan's stated position and actions. Bhutan had protested to the Chinese government, accusing it of violating a bilateral pact after its troops tried to construct a road in the Doklam area on June 16. "After the incident, the Bhutanese made it very clear to us that the place where the trespassing happened is not Bhutan's territory," said Wang, who is the Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. She went on to say that "Bhutanese find it very strange that the Indian border troops are on the Chinese soil," and implied that her views have been gleaned from Bhutanese state media and legal blogs which have "more convincing information". A statement issued by India's External Affairs Ministry on June 30 said, "On June 16, a PLA (People's Liberation Army) construction party entered the Doklam area and attempted to construct a road. It is our understanding that a Royal Bhutan Army patrol attempted to dissuade them from this unilateral activity." India had also cited the Bhutanese Foreign Ministry as emphasising that "the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between these two countries. They have urged a return to the status quo as before June 16, 2017." India also conveyed to the Chinese government that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for it. India says both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place. Wang said Bhutan is observing the actions being taken by both Indian and Chinese troops from its territory. Bhutan has no direct diplomatic relations with China and maintains contacts with Beijing through its diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Bhutan and China have held 24 rounds of talks to resolve boundary dispute while India and China have completed 19 rounds of talks. Wang said India and Bhutan are two countries out of the 14 countries China is yet to sort out boundary disputes. China has settled boundary dispute approximately of 20,000 km with 12 countries out of the 22,000 km and is yet to settle about 2,000 km of boundary involving India and Bhutan. Former Deputy Chief Minister and Lalu Prasads youngest son Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday will kick-start his Janadesh Apmaan (Insult to mandate) yatra from Champaran. The Yatra will be aimed at informing the electorate how Nitish Kumar betrayed the huge mandate of 2015 Assembly elections. The place and timing assume significance as it was Mahatma Gandhi, who launched his Satyagraha (agitation) against Britishs oppression in 1917 from Champaran. The day is also significant as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of Gandhijis Quit India movement call given in 1942. The RJD has given a call for BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao (Remove BJP and Save India), said Lalu, while seeing off his two sons, including elder Tej Pratap, who accompanied Tejashwi to Champaran on Tuesday. Today there is an undeclared Emergency in India. Everyone, including the media, feels threatened. The incidents in UP (where police officers are beaten up) and Haryana (where daughter of an IAS officer is stalked by State BJP chiefs son) are glaring examples of Achche Din. Those who talk of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao have not spoken one bit against the misdemeanour of BJP leaders son against the Haryana daughter, said Lalu at Rabri Devis residence. The RJD chief regretted that he could not go to masses since he had been tied up with legal cases and had to appear in Ranchi court in connection with fodder scam cases. He, however, lambasted Nitish for betraying the mandate. This Paltu-Ram (a term used for those who take U-turn) was hand-in-glove with the BJP for the last six months. Tejashwi was just an excuse to exit Grand Alliance. In fact, all the allegations levelled by Sushil Modi in the last few months were made at the behest of Nitish. Tejashwi, who accompanied Bihar CM in Champaran on a 7-km-long padyatra in April this year (as part of centenary celebration of Champaran Satyagrah), will visit Gandhis statue on August 9 and seek forgiveness for aligning with Nitish, a leader whom nobody is going to trust in future. In fact, Nitish has committed political suicide. For the remaining period of his term, he will have to sing paeans to the man (Modi) whom he derided, said Lalu reminding Nitish about his vow to make the country 'Sangh-mukht Bharat'. The Centre is in process of chalking out a mechanism to regulate the private old age homes in the country. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is working on a proposal to prescribe quality standards for those offering home care services to the senior citizens. It is also considering carrying out a nation-wide evaluation of the performance of these service providers and rate them on the basis of the parameters to be set to determine their quality and standards. The registration of the private home care services providers with the Ministry would also be made mandatory. The move comes following a recommendation of a Group of Secretaries, set up by the government to examine problems in the education and social development and suggest measures to bring reforms. The Ministry's plan to bring in a regulatory mechanism for old age home service providers may require it to bring suitable amendments to the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007. It is proposed to prescribe standards in respect of various services to be provided by the home care service providers to the senior citizens and to rate them according to the facilities being provided. We are working on it,official sources told DH. The old age homes in India is largely unregulated. Though, they are set up under the existing laws of the land, the absence of a well-defined regulatory framework have left enough scope for various malpractices. A regulatory mechanism would not only streamline the situation but also ensure that the quality and standards of old age homes in the country the official added. A bus today overturned and fell into a ditch in Nadia district, killing eight persons and injuring 36, officials said. The bus was on its way from Krishnagar to Palassey para when the driver lost control over the vehicle at Galakata and it overturned and fell into a ditch, the police said. Eight persons were killed in the accident, Nadia District Magistrate Sumit Gupta said. The 36 people injured in the accident were rushed to hospitals at Tehatta and Krishnagar. The district magistrate said an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be paid to the next of kin of the deceased. The latest ceasefire violation by Pakistan came a day after another army man was injured along the LoC in Uri sector of north Kashmir's Baramulla district. Narendra Singh Bisht was hit by a single sniper fire on head from Pakistan side in Uri sector on Monday. An army soldier was killed due to sniper fire from across the Line of Control (LoC) in border district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.Reports said the soldier was killed when a sniper fired by Pakistani troops hit him in Mankote sector of Poonch along the LoC. Heavy firing and shelling was going on in the area as Indian troops were retaliating with heavy weapons on Pakistani posts, they said.The deceased was identified as Sepoy Pawan Kumar of 20 Kumaon regiment. Nearly 400 Indian soldiers committed suicide in the last three and half years notwithstanding the welfare measures introduced by the three services to relive the troops of the mental stress, accumulated over the years. The numbers are the highest in the Army where 104 soldiers committed suicides in 2016, followed by 78 in 2015 and 84 in 2014. The maximum casualty happened among the ordinary soldiers with 282 recorded suicide cases till July 31, the defence ministry informed the Parliament on Tuesday. In comparison, only 9 officers and 19 junior commissioned officers of the Indian Army committed suicide in the same period. The number of fratricide, however, remains low compared to the sharp rise a decade ago. There were only 11 such cases since 2014 in which a soldier killed a fellow soldier, Subhash Bhamre, the minister of state for defence said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. The last fratricide incident happened on July 17 when an officer from 8 Rashtriya Rifles was killed by a jawan after an altercation at one of the forward posts in the Uri sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Bhamre said the Defence Institute of Psychological Research conducted various studies on suicides and fratricides and their findings highlighted the need for the introduction of stress busting measures in the forces. The field level commanders have been sensitised on the psychological aspects of troop management and an elaborate mental health programme is being implemented in major stations. The suicide and fratricide numbers are far less in the other two services. While there are only 12 suicide cases in the Navy (till March 10, 2017) since 2014, the IAF recorded 60 suicide and two fratricide cases in the same period. Senior Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Yadav will embark on a three-day road-show in Bihar from Thursday amid speculation that he is preparing for a showdown with JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, who has now aligned with BJP against his wishes. Questions are also being raised whether Yadav would join RJD led by Lalu Prasad, who has already invited him to his party after Kumar junked the Grand Alliance to join hands with BJP to form the government in Bihar. Sources are also not ruling out Yadav attending the August 27 rally called by Prasad in Patna, which could turn out as a show of opposition unity. As per the plan, Yadav would visit Sonpur, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and Madhepura among other town for "a dialogue with people of Bihar". This road show and a convention on August 17 in which a Yadav has invited Opposition leaders from Congress' Sonia Gandhi to CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI's D Raja, comes ahead of JD(U) National Executive in Patna on August 19. His invitation letter to leaders for the convention has said that the country is "passing through a difficult period socially and politically as there is tension amongst masses on account of various reasons". Sources also said one of Yadav's close aides could attend a meeting of Opposition parties, called by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, this Friday evening in Parliament House to strategise the future programmes against Narendra Modi-led NDA government. Ali Anwar Ansari, a Rajya Sabha MP who has voiced the opposition against Kumar's move, is speculated to attend the meeting. Yadav's defiance has been interpreted by political watchers as preparing ground for a battle with Kumar and testing the ground before taking any action. The JD(U) leader, who has five more years in Rajya Sabha, could also return to the Upper House even if he quits in a scenario where Prasad opts to send him from Bihar. RJD-Congress combine with 107 MLAs in Bihar Assembly can send at least two nominees on its own next April when six MPs retire. Prasad has also announced that he would support BSP chief Mayawati, a prominent Dalit leader who quit Rajya Sabha last month, if she wishes to contest polls to the Upper House from Bihar. By bringing in Yadav to his fold and supporting Mayawati, Prasad thinks that it would further boost Yadav consolidation in his favour as well as the support of a large chunk of Dalits to his side. News / National by BBC South Africa's police minister Fikile Mbalula has denounced members of the governing ANC who voted for President Jacob Zuma's removal as "suicide bombers"."Why do you want to compromise the revolution?" he said.Mr Mbalula was addressing ANC supporters at a rally outside parliament after Mr Zuma survived a no-confidence by a wafer-thin margin.At least forty MPs of South Africa's governing ANC rebelled against President Jacob Zuma in the no-confidence vote in parliament.A total of 177 MPs voted to oust South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, compared with the 198 who voted to keep him in power.There were nine abstentions during the parliamentary vote.Zuma has been hailed as the "commander-in-chief of the revolution" by his supporters at a rally in Cape Town.They sang and danced as he came to address the rally.He said the result showed that the governing ANC was "big and powerful", and the party represented the overwhelming majority of South Africans.The ANC will win the 2019 general election, he added. After perusing petitions of the Congress and the counter-petition of the BJP, the Election Commission directed the Returning Officer of the Gujarat Rajya Sabha poll to reject the votes cast by Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel at the time of counting of votes by segregating the ballot papers concerned. The Commission also directed the resumption of counting of votes in the elections where Ahmed Patel is in a direct fight with BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput, a turncoat Congress MLA who is the supporter of rebel leader Shankarsinh Vaghela. The Commission said it had viewed the video recording cast by the two MLAs and found they had violated the voting procedure and secrecy of the ballot papers cast by them when they exercised their right to vote. The Congress had complained to the poll authority that these two MLAs had shown their ballot papers to BJP chief Amit Shah and others who were not authorised to see them. The Election Commission on Tuesday night declared invalid the votes cast by two Congress legislators in the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat giving a filip to Ahmed Patel. The indefinite stir being staged by Kasturi Karnataka Janapara Vedike in Maddur entered the 33rd day, on Tuesday. Extending support to their protest, hundreds of JD(S) workers took out a bicycle rally, led by JD(S) state youth wing president Madhu Bangarappa, and MLA D C Thammanna. Madhu Bangarappa said, The Cauvery River water-sharing issue has been left unsolved since the British rule. While the Centre has not shown any inclination to resolve the issue, the state government has totally neglected the farmers of the Cauvery basin. He pointed out that during the tenure of his father S Bangarappa as chief minister, he had opposed the Supreme Court's judgement and did not release water to Tamil Nadu, bailing out the farmers from the crisis. Vedike president Rameshgowda said, if the Chief Minister's decision is against the interests of farmers during the meeting scheduled to be held at the CMs residence, the legislators and elected representatives of the region should stage a protest in front of the CMs house. MLA D C Thammanna assured that the people's representatives in unison will demand release of water into the canals. Earlier, JD(S) workers formed a human chain on the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway at T B Circle for more than half an hour, resulting in disruption of vehicular traffic. Several people from the villages coming under eco-sensitive zone of Western Ghats here, blamed the elected representatives and officials for keeping them in dark, by not providing adequate information after the recent announcement on areas to be affected. The villagers were enraged over their stiff opposition to Kasturirangan Committee Report engendering the zone, yielding no results even after bringing it to the notice of both the state and the Central governments. During the gram sabha of Bettadalli gram panchayat held on Tuesday, the villagers resolved to forward the decision of the meeting to both the governments, opposing the final notification identifying the villages in the radius of one km around Pushpagiri wildlife as eco-sensitive zones. At the meeting presided over by gram panchayat president H R Pavitra, Pushpagiri Wildlife ACF Dushyanth informed that Kumaralli village and forest area, totalling 448.21 hectares and Kotnalli and forest area totalling 307.99 hectares, have been included under eco-sensitive zone. However, the villagers of Shantalli hobli were miffed at the officer when he failed to provide information about the exact number of villages under the hobli coming under the zone. Villagers Venkatesh, Thammaiah, Ramachandra among others who vented their ire against elected representatives and officials demanded the panchayat to pass a resolution demanding the presence of respective MP, MLAs and senior officers from Forest department during the special gram sabha. Villagers Satish, Mallappa, Sampath and Veeraraju took village accountant Umesh to task for pulling down a house near Mallalli waterfalls. They called it unscientific move by the department. Umesh clarified that the house was razed only after a serving a notice on the occupant for building the house on paisari land. The demolition was carried out following the order of the deputy commissioner. However, zilla panchayat vice president Lokeshwari Gopal questioned the action of revenue personnel when C and D categories of land come under Forest department. Flipkarts Big Freedom Sale, to celebrate the Indian Independence Day will begin from midnight of August 9 and go up to August 11. While HDFC Bank debit and credit cards are eligible for 10% instant discount, significant discounts are being offered on electronics such as mobile phones and laptops. Google Pixel XL, which is being offered at Rs 48,999 down from Rs 67,000. The Lenovo K5 Note will be sold at Rs 9,999 in the next three days instead of Rs 12,499. The iPhone 6 32 GB will be offered at a slashed price, but Flipkart has withheld the quantum of discount till sale timings. The sale covers a range of fashion and lifestyle products as well, and discounts range between 50% and 80%, across different categories of products. In a development that would change competition in the motorcycle manufacturing sector, Indias second largest manufacturer Bajaj Auto has inked a deal with with iconic British brand Triumph Motorcycles, for the manufacturing of mid-capacity motorcycles - leading to a tough time to some of the leading players in the sector. The objective of this non-equity partnership is to deliver a range of outstanding mid-capacity motorcycles benefiting from the collective strengths of both the companies, Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto Ltd and Nick Bloor, CEO, Triumph Motorcycles Ltd, said in a joint statement, on Tuesday. The brief statement, however, did not spell anything on financial details - though it clearly mentions manufacturing of mid-capacity motorcycles. We hope to bring to bear upon global markets the individual strengths of the partners, including brand position and perception, design and development technology, quality and cost competitiveness and worldwide distribution, the joint statement added. With this new agreement, Triumph would significantly expand its global reach by entering new high-volume market segments, especially within the emerging markets across the world. On the other hand, Bajaj Auto would gain access to the iconic Triumph brand, and its great motorcycles, enabling it to offer a wider range of motorcycles within its domestic and international markets. As far as Bajaj Auto is concerned, its motorcycle icons Pulsar, Discover, Boxer are top selling brands in many countries; Boxer is a leading motorcycle brand in Africa, and Avenger, Platina and CT100 are iconic brands in India and several other countries. The company that has recently launched new brands such as V and Dominar motorcycles is the worlds third largest motorcycle manufacturer, Indias second largest manufacturer of motorcycles and the worlds largest manufacturer of three-wheelers with market capitalisation exceeding of 10 billion as on March 31, 2017. It has its manufacturing facilities located at Chakan near Pune, Waluj near Aurangabad, and at Pant Nagar in Uttarakhand. First established in 1902, Triumph Motorcycles celebrated 115 years of motorcycle manufacturing in 2017. For more than two decades, Triumph Motorcycles has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and has produced iconic bikes that perfectly blend authentic design, character, charisma and performance. Building around 65,000 bikes per year, Triumph is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer. The Hulimavu and Bannerghatta police are on the manhunt for a man who misbehaved with a woman who had contested in the Mrs India beauty contest recently. The incident happened on NICE Road on Sunday, the police said. The victim, who uploaded a post about the incident on the official Facebook page of Bengaluru City Police (BCP), alleged that she was on her way home with her husband when their car broke down on NICE Road near the Bannerghatta toll booth. Leaving her in the car, her husband took a lift from a motorist to bring a mechanic. While she was waiting alone in the locked car, a man wearing lingerie and lipstick appeared out of nowhere and started scaring her. He then made obscene gestures, trying to misbehave with her. The petrified victim raised an alarm. However, though many vehicles passed by, none stopped to help her out, she said in he post. She even tried to call the NICE helpline, but in vain. The suspect managed to escape soon after the victim tried to click his photograph using her mobile phone, she stated. She also said that the man was wearing a white helmet and seemed mentally disturbed. Based on her complaint on Facebook, the social media team forwarded it to the jurisdictional police, who have now launched a manhunt for the suspect based on CCTV footage. However, the victim has still not approached the police to lodge a formal complaint. The police are also trying to get in touch with her to ascertain more clues about the suspect, a senior police officer said. The police have also verified with their Mumbai counterparts about the thefts and confirmed that they were the culprits. Of the Rs 34 lakh, the police could recover only Rs 4.2 lakh, a few gold rings and expensive mobile phones. The trio has been taken into custody for further questioning. They had committed the thefts three months ago and had blown Rs 30 lakh since then. Alert Cubbon Park police arrested a cash custodian of a private bank in Mumbai and two of his associates who had committed theft at ATMs that had no guards in and around Mumbai and blew the money on travel and partying.The arrested are Rakesh Pawan (24), Nayan Vijay Bansali (24) and Jyoti Chaddilal Gupta (22). The police caught them based on information that the trio was spending money lavishly at pubs and bars across the city for the last one month.According to the police, Rakesh used to be a cash custodian who managed to get the keys and passwords of a few ATMs across Mumbai, which did not have security guards. The suspects, using the ATM machine keys and passwords, stole Rs 34 lakh from ATMs in Kalegoan, Solanpada and Bhusawal areas.After committing thefts, they left for Delhi and from there visited Kullu Manali, Amritsar, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa and Pune before landing in Bengaluru at a star hotel on Lavelle Road on June 23, the police said.The suspects used to spend lavishly on liquor and other items. They also bought gold jewellery, apparel and expensive mobile phones, the police added. Their lavish spending grabbed the attention of the alert police who zeroed in on them and picked them up for questioning. The suspects had planned to return to Mumbai within a few days. After detailed questioning, they confessed to the crime. An unidentified person fired five bullets at Vijayapuras notorious history-sheeter Bhagappa Harijan on the district court premises here on Tuesday. Bhagappa was on the court campus to attend the hearing in a 2014 murder case in which he is accused of killing Basappa Harijan, a supari killer, at Bommanahalli in Sindagi taluk. The incident occurred when Bhagappa, along with his aides, got off an SUV. An unknown man greeted him, and as Bhagappa reciprocated and walked ahead, the man fired in Bhagappas back. As Bhagappa collapsed, the assailant rushed to him and shot four more bullets and fled the spot. A severely injured Bhagappa was rushed to a private hospital. His condition is said to be critical. Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Jain told reporters that there was no clue of the assailant, except that he fled on a Pulsar motorcylcle. A special team has been constituted to nab the culprit. Bhagappa is a close relative of Chandappa Harijan, another supari killer who was killed in a police encounter in 2000. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) officials have clarified that Aadhaar data of citizens, stored in the UIDAI domain, is safe and has not been leaked. While they have cautioned people asking them to be careful when sharing details on servers, they have also directed user agencies to ensure safety of the data, failing which they will be blacklisted. A senior UIDAI official said that Abhinav Srivatsav, the IITian who is accused of accessing Aadhaar data, has been booked for misusing the name of UIDAI data by accessing know your customer (KYC) details. He did not take permission for acting as a link between the e-hospitals and the authentication service provider. We assure citizens that no data has been leaked from the UIDAI servers and there are no chances of it happening. However, we have cautioned the authentication user agencies to be careful. We request people to check the authenticity of the servers and their safety mechanisms before giving details. . The police should question the e-hospitals as to what security features they have installed to ensure data safety, said a senior UIDAI official. This was a low-level hacking case. Aadhaar will become a currency soon. In future, it will be needed for all services. The user agencies should ensure that the data is safe. We are instructing the agencies accordingly and if they do not follow the directions, then they will be blacklisted and access blocked, he said. Data not tapped Explaining how the data can be tapped, the official said when the authorised agencies collect and store the data on the UIDAI server, there is a seconds gap where it is temporarily stored with them. This can be misused. But so far, nothing untoward has happened and the UIDAI teams are working on controlling this too. News / Press Release by Jacob Mafume - PDP Spokesperson Dementia and derangement seem not to go away from the motherland; the citizen craves a policy blunder free week. The previous weeks and days have not been different, a quick reminder that policy blundering is part of Mugabe and ZANUPF's DNA.First is the issue of bond notes, the RBZ Governor announced in his Mid-Term Monetary Policy presentation that a further 300 million worthy of bond notes will be injected into the economy.As a matter of fact the ones injected into circulation under the initial 200 Million dollar facility did not solve or ease liquidity crunch.Counting the costs and questioning the benefits 14 months later, the PDP notes that the scheme has caused no good but damage.The Bond Notes have displaced the few United States dollars that had remained in circulation, ZANUPF had been warned that Gresham's Law of bad money displacing good money would apply, as usual they ignored.Companies are now failing to import, instead they now have to refer their clients to companies across the borders.Introduction of bond notes also sent wrong signals into the economy resulting in price hikes including on basics like cereals and cooking oil. Some shops display different prices for the US dollar against the bond note a sign that the claim by both the Governor and the President that they have powers to determine exchange rates through a Statutory Instrument is in itself a fallacy.Extending the bond note agenda means an unrepentant violation of the country's constitution which states that the state can only borrow through parliament. The debt relating to the bond notes will now stand at half a billion, money borrowed with no parliament approval.The debt crisis in the country is visibly beyond the capacity of the Ministry of Finance, digging a bigger whole is irrational.The term sheets for the bond are also not available for anyone to see, we highlighted in our previous statements our reservations on the existence of the bond in the first place.Fundamentally the illusion that you can monetise your failures and flaws through a fake scheme is just but a waste of time, creating a lie and then believing the lie is a sustainable economic plan.The government must face it and pay back the money stolen from RTGS balances at the RBZ.What is needed is an active policy scenario focusing on supply side solutions, at the end of the day a currency is a reflectionof a country's exports against its imports.Then there is Mugabe's recent order to reinstate over 2000 so called Youth Officers on the government payroll.The PDP is irked by leaders who act the opposite when the situation demands otherwise; the government has been struggling with a huge wage bill which gobbles over 90% of the total budget.This is part of the reason why government introduced bond notes to monetise their deficits.Expenditure retrenchment is therefore an imperative under these circumstances; we have always suggested weeding out of ghost workers as the starting point of expenditure retrenchment.Some sections of ZANUPF realised our point made sense hence the retrenchment of the so-called youth officers.Our position has always been that the ghost workers are a deliberate mechanism to rig elections; Mugabe's move confirms our assertion.With an election a few months away Mugabe views economic reform as secondary to the pursuit of a narrow agenda of self-aggrandisement and power retention. His government has a track record of paying non-existent individuals. The Auditor-General's reports have always captured this fact.A political solution is the foundation to dealing with the crisis therefore Zimbabweans must strengthen the idea of convergence and liquidity an establishment of mediocrity.Together Another Zimbabwe is Possible Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that he has convened a meeting of MLAs and the MP from Mandya on Wednesday to discuss releasing water from the KRS dam to Tamil Nadu. Speaking to reporters here, the chief minister said that the volume of water to be released will be decided based on the availability of water in the reservoir. A final decision will be taken during a meeting of the elected representatives of all other districts coming under the Cauvery delta on August 19. Siddaramaiah said that while the available storage recorded is 53 tmcft, there is a requirement of 35 tmcft for irrigation and 30 tmcft for drinking water purpose. As per the crisis agreement, the state has released 12 tmcft as against the committed 21 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Stating that the state is expected to receive rain this month, the chief minister said that cloud seeding has been planned as an alternative, with measures being taken to start it from the month-end, after studying the exact places to take up the initiative. On the prevailing drought situation in the state, he said that he has written to the Centre. Besides, an all-party delegation will be taken to New Delhi. Although a similar exercise was conducted in the past to tide over the Cauvery and Mahadayi crises, there was no positive response from the Central government. Siddaramaiah also made a mockery of BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa for not raising the issue of farm loan waiver. While the state government has waived the crop loans advanced by cooperative banks, the BJP failed to exert pressure on the Central government to waive the loans given by nationalised banks. He also questioned the stand of the Union government, when the same dispensation had decided to write off the loans advanced to industrialists to the tune of Rs 81,000 crore. Targeting English signage and boards in the city again, members of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) demanded that the state tourism department ensure that all their brochures, signage, hoardings and boards are in Kannada. The KDA team visited the tourism office on Tuesday morning and instructed the departments officials to shift from English to Kannada within a month and a half. Tourism department director N Manjula assured them that the department would do it wherever possible. Unlike other state government departments, the tourism department is not limited to Karnataka and Kannadigas alone. We cater to national and international tourists. Wherever it is possible, we will instal dual language boards (Kannada and English), but only Kannada is not possible. We cannot make tourists feel helpless and depend on locals for guidance, said a tourism official who did not want to be named. Citing the example of Tamil Nadu, the official explained that tourists there are not happy as they are greeted with signage in the local language everywhere. After having their way with Metro rail, they are now asking us to change. We rank second in domestic travel and fifth in international travel. To reach the number one spot, we need to be open to people from across the globe. How will that happen if every thing is in Kannada alone? Kannada is being used in internal communication and files wherever possible. But everything cannot be in Kannada alone as it has communication with other states and organisations also, the official told the KDA team. The KDA accused the tourism department officials of not promoting the states culture in its true spirit globally. They expressed unhappiness at the usage of English language in all its brochures and advertising material. The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to IAS officer Gangaram Baderiya who is being probed in connection with the Janthakal mining case. Justice Rathnakala granted the bail and directed Baderiya not to leave the city and cooperate with the investigation agencies without destroying any evidence against him. Baderiya was arrested in the month March by the SIT for granting licence to Janthakal Enterprises which was involved in illegal mining in the forest area of Chitradurga district. The Second Additional District & Sessions Court here on Tuesday posted for judgement in the rape case involving former minister Hartal Halappa to August 17 as the written order was not ready. Judge B G Rama was expected to pronounce the verdict in the seven-year-old rape case on Tuesday. Former Food and Civil Supplies minister Halappa, the prime accused in the case, was present in the court hall on Tuesday. A M Suresh Kumar, public prosecutor, told DH that the judge will now pronounce the order on August 17. Chandrawathi, wife of Halappas friend Venkatesh Murthy, had complained that she was raped by Halappa at her house in Shivamogga on November 27, 2009. She had lodged a complaint with the Vinobnagar police station here in this regard. The case had triggered a series of protests across the state, which had prompted the then Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to drop Halappa from the ministry. Later, the case was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID in its charge sheet had stated that two laboratory analyses have confirmed the charges of the victim that she was raped by Halappa, a former MLA from Sorab in Shivamogga district in March 2011, the CID had filed the charge sheet against Halappa in the Shimoga Judicial Magistrate First Class court that he had raped Chandravati. The CID had sent the clothes worn by Halappa and Chandrawathi at the time of the rape to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad (CFSL). The report said: The accuseds semen was found on his dhoti (lungi) and on the complainants petticoat, nighty and bedsheet [sic]. The DNA test has confirmed the same. Venkatesh Murthy had submitted a video recording where Halappa and Chandravati were both seen in a bedroom. He had claimed that he had recorded it on his cell phone soon after his wife was raped between 3.30 am and 4 am on November 27. He had submitted the copy of the recording in a CD. Halappa had denied the entire incident. The CID had considered the clippings as one of the evidences and had sent it to a laboratory in New Delhi. The report said: There is no indication of alteration in the CD. The state government has laid the groundwork for cloud seeding which is likely to begin next week, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil told journalists here on Tuesday. The government has allocated Rs 35 crore for cloud seeding and is waiting for clouds to appear in the targeted areas to start the process, he said. The project has been awarded to Hoysala Projects Pvt Ltd. The government has asked it to target catchment areas so that inflow to dams goes up. Patil said three imported radars had been installed at Shahpur in Yadgir district, Gadag and Bengaluru. Allaying farmers fears, he said the government would bail them out if the drought-like situation persisted. On August 29, 1999, during the Kargil war, Major Sudhir Kumar Walia with a squad of five commandos was on a search and destroy operation in the dense jungle of Hafruda Forest in Kupwara district, Jammu & Kashmir. The squad suddenly chanced upon a well-camouflaged hideout housing 20 terrorists. He killed nine of the 20 militants and sustained gunshot wounds in the process. Though he was unable to move, he continued to give orders to his team till they succeeded. He allowed himself to be evacuated only 35 minutes after the operation ended. He was airlifted to the army base hospital but he succumbed to injuries en route. There are many such real stories of martyrs, which are compiled on Honourpoint. Describing itself as an online memorial for every Indian soldier, honourpoint.faujipoint.com was launched around three-and-a-half months ago by three retired Air Force officers Wing Commanders M A Afraz, Rajendra Prasad and L K Chaubey. The aim of this initiative is to bring the inspirational stories of our martyrs on a single platform and take it to as many Indians as possible to encourage them to do something equally meaningful for the country in their own way, said Afraz. The website is now active with a social media presence. Profiles of more than 10,000 soldiers who have sacrificed their lives on the war field of Kargil, Indo-Pak and Sino-India wars have been uploaded on the site, from data gathered over two years. Afraz, Prasad and Chaubey started their work, researching for content, searching the army sites, media reports, books, etc. for information on the martyrs and compiled the information on the website. Afraz explains, There has been no compilation of data of martyrs in the past. Their death appears in the news and people forget about it. We want to give them a tribute online. People should know who their real heroes are, he said. The team hopes to put together details of 24,000 martyrs from the armed forces in the future. Every website visitor can contribute content about martyrs by signing up and also pay tribute to the bravehearts. With this website, we hope to keep their stories alive and generate a sense of patriotism among the youth. We plan to raise funds to help the martyrs families, he added. The team, which is now operating without external funding, connects with families of the martyrs to ensure that the information on the website is authentic. Their Facebook page has over 40,000 followers and some of the content is managed by the family members of the bravehearts. Former Karnataka minister the late S R Kashappanavars wife sided with her daughter-in-law, and not her son, in a divorce case in a Bengaluru family court. The city family court directed Devanand Kashappanavar to pay a permanent alimony of Rs 4 crore to his wife. The verdict was pronounced on July 24. The court pronounced the order after granting a decree of divorce to the petitioner, Devanand's wife. The judge said that Devanand should pay the amount to the petitioner within 60 days from the order dated July 24, 2017. Judge K Bhagya pronounced the verdict after allowing the petition filed by Devanand's wife under Section 13 (1)(9)(b) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, seeking a decree of dissolution of her marriage. BJP national president Amit Shah's scheduled visit to Adichunchanagiri Mutt during his Karnataka tour this weekend is being seen as an attempt to woo Vokkaligas, a dominant community, ahead of the early next year's Legislative Assembly election in the state. The mutt has influence over the politically dominant Vokkaligas. Over the last three years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited powerful religious-cum-spiritual heads of the Lingayat community --- Shivakumara Swami, the centenarian pontiff of Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru district and Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Mutt in Mysuru district. Shahs scheduled trip to Adichunchanagiri Mutt is being interpreted in the state political circles as the BJPs balancing act among two major communities that swing election prospects. With the Congress trying to project the BJP as anti-Vokkaliga after Income Tax raids on the properties of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, the saffron party chiefs scheduled visit to the mutt will dispel the misconception, a senior BJP leader said. Shahs proposed engagement with Adichunchanagiri Mutt has gained significance as the academic institutions run by the mutt were probed by the Income Tax Department when the UPA was in power in 2013. The BJP leaders, however, stated that Shahs visit should not be seen with political prism. Instead, it is in appreciation of the fact that the mutts head Nirmalanandanatha Swami is taking keen interest in the prime ministers pet Swachh Bharat programme in that region and also adopted a few villages to implement the cleanliness project on behalf of the spiritual body. The party, which is hoping to retain its traditional Lingayat votes after declaring B S Yeddyurappa its chief ministerial candidate, is now working to reach out to Vokkaligas to consolidate on their 15% vote share, which in previous elections was scattered among different parties. The BJP recently took on board former Congress Chief Minister S M Krishna, a powerful Vokkaliga leader. Also, it recently appointed M S Boje Gowda, another leader from the community from Chikkamagaluru district, as chairman of the Coffee Board. There is also talk of inducting a Vokkaliga MP from Karnataka into the Union Cabinet in the next reshuffle expected later this month. Shah, who will be in Bengaluru for three days starting August 12, will also visit Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who runs the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru. Ravishankar, who was one of the staunch supporters of the prime minister, has a large following in Karnataka, especially among the new generation. During the next round of the state tour, Shah will also pay respects to other religious heads, said a BJP leader. The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Karnataka High Court order suspending the suo motu proceedings initiated by the National Green Tribunal against incidents of fire reported in polluted Bellandur lake in Bengaluru. A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Sanjay Kishan Kaul expressed anguish and displeasure over the HC's June 15 order, acting on a petition filed by NGO Namma Bengaluru Foundation through advocate Balaji Srinivasan. The court issued notice to Shashi Distilleries Pvt Limited, on whose writ petition the HC passed the order staying the proceedings. Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, representing the NGO, contended that the HC ignored all environmental aspects while ordering blanket ban on the proceedings started by the NGT for cleaning up the lake since February 16, last year. There exists a serious environmental threat due to which right to life of the citizens of Bengaluru was being jeopardised on account of reoccurring fire in the lakes and particularly the unusual burning of Bellandur lake caused due to discharge of effluents by erring establishments situated there, he contended. There were numerous timely directions issued by the NGT in order to safeguard the irreversible damage caused due to discharge of effluents by factories and establishments around the lake, he said. Poovayya also claimed that the HC erred in ignoring provision under Section 22 of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, to appeal before the apex court against an order passed by NGT. He said it was only due to doctrine of necessity that the Principal Bench of NGT at New Delhi had to take up the issue, which was previously being adjudicated by Southern Bench, whose member had recused himself from hearing the matter. Thus, there was no bench available to hear the matters concerning the environmental damage caused due to burning of lakes, the counsel said. Senior advocate K V Vishwanathan, appearing for Shashi Distilleries, contended that no cause of action existed as the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board's order of May 12 for closure of the unit had already been set aside. On question of jurisdiction, he supported the HC's order, saying only the Southern bench of the NGT must take up the controversy. The bench decided not to disturb the operation of the unit but it expressed its unhappiness over the HC's order for being in violation of the law laid down by the apex court in the case of 'Union of India and Ors. versus Shri Kant Sharma and Ors' (2015), which highlighted the mandatory requirement of availing the statutory remedy of appeal provided under a special legislation. The SC ruling deprecated the practice of filing writ petition before the High Court. News / Regional by Staff reporter FORMER Bulawayo councillor Joram Jika Ndebele has died.He was 89.Ndebele, a brother to the Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development, Sithembiso Nyoni, died on Saturday while being ferried to Harare from Gweru Provincial Hospital where he was being treated.His brother and family spokesperson Mr Moffat Ndebele described his brother as an educationist par excellence and a father figure.Moffat said Joram succumbed to a combination of old age, heart problems and high blood pressure, describing his death as a great loss to the family."He was a brother, family's pillar and a unifier who united the Ndebele family. We have lost a great man. He took over from our father in ensuring that his siblings got educated. He was a father figure to us," said Moffat.He said Joram was a teacher prior to joining politics.Moffat said his brother rose through the ranks to become a district education officer, a post he held until he retired from Government.He said after retiring from the civil service, Joram joined Zanu-PF and was a councillor between 1995 and 2003 in Bulawayo."Even during his days as a civil servant he was an affiliate to Zapu and when he retired from the civil service, he became politically active. He then became a chairperson of the Lookout Masuku district in Bulawayo. He was elected a councillor for Bulawayo for two terms between 1995 and 2003," said Moffat.He said burial arrangements are yet to be finalised as the family was still waiting for his children who are based in the diaspora.Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, mourned Joram describing him as a selfless leader."Bulawayo has lost a selfless leader who served as a wise councillor during his term of office rendering assistance to underprivileged residents of Bulawayo. Our deepest sympathies go to his wife, family and children and the entire community of Bulawayo. We mourn with you during this sad time," said Mrs Mpofu.She said Ndebele served in various council committees which included the Finance and Development Committee, Town, Lands and Planning, Health, Housing and Education Committee, Environmental Management and Engineering Services Committee, Audit Committee and the Water Committee.He is survived by his second wife, six children, 19 grand children and five great grand children.Mourners are gathered at house number 133 Victoria Falls Road, Richmond suburb. The cliffhanger of Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat on Tuesday proved to be what it was slated to be, a suspense filled political drama, that ended in Congress chanakya Ahmed Patel trouncing BJPs Chanakya Amit Shah by winning a berth to Upper House of Parliament for fifth time in a row. Though BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani won two of the three berths to Rajya Sabha with ease, the victory on the third seat was perhaps sweeter for Ahmed Patel, who not just beat the political manouvres of his political opponent but trounced turncoat Congressman-turned-BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput. Satyamev Jayate, Ahmed Patel tweet soon after Congress legislator emerged out of counting center shouting that he had bagged 44 votes. This is not just my victory. It is defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery, he added. Speaking to mediapersons, Ahmed Patel said that this election will prove to be a big booster for the party and Congress would emerge victorious in 2017 Assembly polls. The strength of electorate had come down to 176 in 182-seat Gujarat Assembly after Congress saw resignation of half-a-dozen of its legislators about 10 days ago. The first time winner to Rajya Sabha Amit Shah got 46 votes, while Union minister of textiles Smriti Irani too bagged 46 votes, while losing BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput could bag 38 valid votes. However, the final verdict did not come without Election Commission getting dragged in to the fierce fight between Congress and BJP. So much so that the results, that were to be announced around 6.30 pm in the evening, could be announced much past midnight, after Election Commission of India gave a go ahead to begin counting at 11.30 pm in the night. Congress, that has been fighting an uphill battle against ruling BJP after losing six of its legislators even before the first vote was cast and eight others, including its tall leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, six of his loyalists and one to cross-voting, won a legal battle by convincing EC to declare two votes of its rebel legislators - Raghavji Patel and Bholabhai Gohil - as invalid. The trouble began around 5.00 pm, when counting was slated to begin. The Congress election agent Shaktisinh Gohil raised alarm that two rebel legislators had flouted election norms by showing their votes to BJP candidates, rather than only to him as required. The imbroglio got entangled to such an extent that both the parties took the issue to Election Commission of India in New Delhi, with as many as seven senior Cabinet ministers reaching EC doors to counter high-powered Congress delegation of Central leaders. The EC appeared to have found merit in Congress claim and ruled accordingly. We welcome ECs decision, Arjun Modhvadia, Congress polling agent & leader, said. The BJP on its part dubbed the decision by EC as sad and incorrect. The Election Commission has not given a just ruling. They should make the CD public so that the people can see how an independent organisation too can make a mistake, Nitin Patel, Gujarat deputy chief minister, told mediapersons. Post EC decision, BJP workers shouted slogans outside the counting center in Gandhinagar, further stalling counting till 1.15 am on early Wednesday morning. The Tuesday night decision by EC brought down the need for Congress candidate Ahmed Patel to bag 44 votes, with total number of votes valid down from 176 to 174. Earlier, Congressman required 45 votes. The polling day, meanwhile, was full of drama and deceit, with cross-voting by eight rebel Congress legislators. While the Shankarsinh Vaghela and six of his loyal men stuck to their stance and voted against Ahmed Patel, they were joined in by one of the 44 MLAs herded to Bengaluru by Congress. Karamshi Patel, the legislator from Sanand voted against Patel. The bigger story was that there has been voting in favour of Ahmed Patel by either the lone JD(U) legislator Chhotubhai Vasava, two NCP legislators Jayant Patel (Bosky) and Kandhal Jadeja or Nalin Kotadia, Dhari legislator and rebel BJP man. The voting by BJP legislators, meanwhile, appeared well-controlled, with all of them being guided in to the polling booth to vote as a disciplined rank and file. The Supreme Court order, staying the decision of the Karnataka High Court which had stayed the NGT order on Bellandur Lake, has given more powers to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to take stern action against polluters. KSPCB chairman Lakshman told DH that the board was issuing closure orders to industries and persuading apartments to instal sewage treatment plants under Section 33 of the Water Act. We have not issued any permanent closure orders to any industries. The orders were revoked when industries complied with pollution control rules and installed STPs. The same will continue. Now, with the NGT orders, we will be able to penalise offenders, he said. The KSPCB has been inspecting all polluting commercial and residential units around water bodies and instructing them to instal STPs. Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) officials say that they were working on cleaning the 910-acre water body based on the recommendations of the expert committee. The NGT orders were only a booster. According to the monitoring committee comprising experts, work is going on as per schedule. So far, 30% of the weeds have been cleared. The committee had estimated that there are around 15,000 tonnes of hyacinth, but after clearing just 30% of the lake, nearly 18,000 to 20,000 tonnes have been cleared. They have suggested leaving some hyacinth and weeds as they are important for aquatic life, a senior BDA official said. The legal aspects do not matter to the BDA as we have been directed by the Lokayukta, Karnataka High Court, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, expert committee and NGT to rejuvenate the water body. The same has been demanded by citizens and experts. We have started work and it will continue, the BDA official said. He added that the lake will be completely cleaned only when sewage stops entering Bellandur Lake. The NGT has passed the same directions. Now, with their watch ticking, work will only be speeded up, he said. Residents near Varthur Lake fear that private players are dumping loads of soil on the banks of the lake, near Varthur Kodi. On Monday, one of the residents noticed that the gate to the lake was broken and several trucks were entering the area and dumping loads of soil. When we discussed this in our residents group, some of them said that they had seen cars with flashing lights along with trucks in the same area. They thought that there was some official work going on, one resident living in the area said. The residents informed the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) about what they saw. The BDA officials told us that they had complained about the broken gate to the police but no action had been taken. They restored some of the concrete poles and went back. On Tuesday morning, the poles were again knocked down and more soil was dumped, the residents said. A BDA official said the gate seemed to have been broken by locals who wanted to take a short-cut. We found the gate broken and we filed a police complaint on August 1. The concrete poles were also removed by some miscreants. The official said dumping was part of the ongoing work by the Minor Irrigation Department to lay pipelines for the KC Valley project. Residents, however, are not convinced and believe that private players are involved. The Opposition parties will meet on Friday to chalk out post-Parliament session strategy to take on the Narendra Modi-led government. Sources said the meeting could see the presence of a couple of JD(U) leaders, who are unhappy with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars decision to align with BJP. Senior leader Sharad Yadav would be in Bihar on Friday. Congress President Sonia Gandhi will chair the meeting of 18 parties in Parliament House on Friday evening after the conclusion of Monsoon Session. The sources said invitation has gone to 18 Opposition parties for the meeting, which could see the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee among others. A senior Opposition leader told DH that they were happy with the way the parties coordinated on the floor of Parliament during the session and the Friday meeting could further provide a strategy for coordination between parties outside the House. "There is a three-month gap for the next (Winter) session of Parliament. We cannot leave the ground empty. So the meeting will discuss next steps of coordination," the leader said. The meeting could discuss strategy for action on the ground as well as counter the BJP on social media as well. This is the first joint meeting of the Opposition parties after JD(U) broke ranks with them. The 18 parties, barring JD(U), had stood together in the Presidential polls while JD(U) had joined them in the vice presidential polls. Tomy, who has done solo circumnavigation in the past on a modern boat will now do it on the wooden boat Thuraya. The boat was launched in the water in Goa on Monday. The only opportunity for the participants to talk to friends and family during the course of more than 22,000 nautical miles journey is a few small windows when Ham radio links are available to the sailor. The wooden boat also cannot stock food and water beyond a limit, which means judicious use of the provisions that Tomy would carry. The 32-foot sail boat is a replica of the iconic boat Suhaili, which was sailed by Knox-Johnston, in the first solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world in 1968. It is for those who dare, just as it was for Sir Robin Knox Johnston. Competitors will sail simple boats with basic equipment. The challenge is pure and raw, Tomy said. The race would start on June 30, 2018, from Plymouth in the UK. However, the Indian Navy officer has to first prove the mettle of his boat by sailing 4,500 nautical miles from Goa to Cape Town in another race later this year. An Indian Navy officer will embark on a solo-circumnavigation trip using a wooden boat without deploying modern devices on board.So, no GPS device or satellite phones, other electronic instruments or autopilots; not even pocket calculators for Cdr Abhilash Tomy when he sets assail next year on the boat, which will not contain post-1968 technology.In fact, he would only use sextant on paper charts for navigation. He will hand write the logs and determine the weather manually by looking at the sky.Tomy is the only Indian to take part in the Golden Globe race, 2018 where sailors from around the world would attempt to replicate a legendary voyage undertaken by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the worlds first solo non-stop circumnavigator. Opinion / Columnist The paedophilic and exhibitionist Charity Charamba supervised sadistic and sexually predatory policemen based in Victoria Falls sexually abused Zibusiso Moyo who they accused of prostitution and loitering. Newsday reported that ten policemen based in Victoria Falls forced the 27 years old Zibusiso Moyo to sit on toxic caustic soda that was sprinkled on the seat of the police van causing her severe burns on her buttocks and private parts for the amusement of those predacious policemen. Zibusiso was taken by the same policemen to the charge office with a disregard of the excruciating pain she was experiencing. While at the charge office the pain from the corrosive caustic soda forced Zibusiso to take off her clothes to the appalling pleasure seeking of those policemen that were watching with lust. The morons Victoria Falls policemen obtained sexual arousal, gratification and org*sm from the pain, torture, rebuke, shock in the face of their victim and by watching the victim taking off her clothing under duress to expose her body. There is no doubt that this sexual exploitative culture by the policemen is confined to women only. It is also very likely to extend to sexual exploitation of children, boys, girls and even men in police custody. This is a sad story of a sadistic culture of police abuse of power now synonymous with the Zimbabwe Republic Police. The true scale of the problem may be far larger than the case that came to light with the Victoria Falls incident. The predatory abuse of power by the police is the untouched tip of the iceberg.The braggart policemen, after pleasuring themselves took Zibusiso to hospital for treatment. She will have to foot the hospital bills by herself while the same policemen return to Victoria Falls charge office on full pay to sexually abuse more women held as suspects. Zibusiso will hardly get any recourse to justice. She is invertible that she is going to suffer and live with the psychological trauma of the torturous sexual abuse perpetrated by the rapists' law enforcement berated policemen. The usually mouthy Charity Charamba will not care condemn the behaviour of these policemen because it is the fraudulent ideology by which her police force strives.Sexually abuse of suspects in police custody is the most serious corruption issue involving the police in Zimbabwe. The police are abusing their power to sexually assault and abuse suspects. It is a violation of abusing the trust and confidence of the police to protect the public. It is the exploitation of power where the guardian of law and order becomes the abuser. It undermines justice and public confidence. There should not be a place in the police force for any member of the force guilty of this sort of heinous abuse. Many women have been sexually exploited, harassed and abused but have remained silent because the general system does not protect them. The role of passing judgements is neither for the police, politicians, ministers or the soldiers. It is the role of the judiciary who are trained to listen to case brought before it and to make appropriate judiciary judgements. The police have no right to execute instant justice like they did with Zibusiso.This country has run short of a professional police force that is highly intelligent and emotionally mature to maintain public safety. The police force has become the perpetrators of crime against the people that it is meant to protect. Zimbabwe police force is poorly trained, poorly resourced, poorly paid, poorly supervised, poorly led, deliberate turning a blind eye to police crimes and handles itself with the macho culture. The police demand sex as a bribe from suspects both women and men for suspects with a promise to avoid arrests. The problem is not confined to the police in lower ranks; it goes all the way up to the senior police officers. When the police become the perpetrator of violence it reduces its credibility, respect and legitimacy.The heightened public awareness of police corruptio must press demands for the government and the functions of the police to take a deeper look of into systematic abuses of power and the causes of such abuses to protect suspects from police abuses. The people of Zimbabwe are expecting the police to be law abiding, efficient and competent in their traditional roles of peace keeping and crime prevention, and to provide a professional and quality service to the public in course of its duties. People are looking for a set of skills by the police that address the human aspects of modern policing.We have not heard women organisation speak out against this tragic event. The Musasa Project and women's league from political parties are resigned from the plight of Zibusiso. The girl child movements don't feel that they have a say. The Department of Women's Affairs; the Association of Women's Clubs; and Zimbabwe Underprivileged Women Organisation need to register their voice and even provide support for this poor woman. Zibusiso and other women in the same situation need a voice that represents them and that speaks for them. There are many women that are sexually abused by the police on a regular basis and have remained silent and not knowing where to turn to. Society needs to speak out. This must come to an end. Zibusiso needs justice right now. She needs your help where ever you are and if you have a little that can help. Something must happen in the way of justice and reparation for her. Charity Charamba and Augustine Chihuri will no doubt prosecute themselves. The police will in fact continue with its abusive policing culture unabated as they believe they are the untouchable power holders. For the last several months, parents of special education students in the San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) have been working to make their voices heard. Parents have protested in front of the district office, filed a petition and often filled the district board room to advocate for reform for the special education curriculum and facilities such as the portables for the Adult Transition Program (ATP). In a response to their suggestions, the district board voted to form a special education task force at a special meeting held on Aug. 2. This is a great first step forward to working with our community in special education and otherwise and Im really happy to see this being formed said SDUHSD President Amy Herman. The formation of the task force came a day after the district announced a short-term solution to the parents issues with the ATP facilities, two portables to house special education students ages 18-22 on the Earl Warren Middle School Campus. For the coming school year, the ATP program will be moved to three classrooms at La Costa Canyon High School. The district will continue to pursue long-term solutions, such as building permanent facilities at Sunset High School or moving to the program to MiraCosta Community College where students can interact with like-age peers. The task force will include representation from special education parents and educators, as well as a rotating school board member. According to Dill, the purpose of the task force will be to engage in a long-term strategic planning process for special education services. The group will come together through a series of formally agendized and publicly-noticed meetings to work through a series of topics over the course of the school year. The task force would come up with recommendations for the board to consider for the 2018-19 school year. Some of the topics to be discussed would include alignment of curriculum with California standards, post-secondary transition, parent outreach and engagement, career pathways and electives, community partnerships and engagement, professional development for certificated and classified staff, developing independence, equity and inclusion, and facilities issues. The task force will review and make recommendations regarding facilities for our specialized programs to ensure a cohesive long-term facilities plan for these programs, Dill wrote. As part of this, the task force will evaluate and recommend options for permanent placement of the ATP classrooms. Parent Lucile Lynch thanked the district for holding the July 28 tour and meeting, acknowledging that it was at times very emotional but the response from the district was intelligent and positive. Its very exciting to have the task force, Lynch said. I think its really an opportunity to make this program one of the best, just like our other programs in the district. I want to thank everybody for considering this, listening to us and moving forward. The board will be holding a special education workshop before its next meeting on Aug. 17. By Lisa Friedmanaug 7 August 2017 WASHINGTON (The New York Times) The average temperature in the United States has risen rapidly and drastically since 1980, and recent decades have been the warmest of the past 1,500 years, according to a sweeping federal climate change report awaiting approval by the Trump administration. The draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies, which has not yet been made public, concludes that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now. It directly contradicts claims by President Trump and members of his cabinet who say that the human contribution to climate change is uncertain, and that the ability to predict the effects is limited. Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, a draft of the report states. A copy of it was obtained by The New York Times. The authors note that thousands of studies, conducted by tens of thousands of scientists, have documented climate changes on land and in the air. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate change, they wrote. The report was completed this year and is a special science section of the National Climate Assessment, which is congressionally mandated every four years. The National Academy of Sciences has signed off on the draft report, and the authors are awaiting permission from the Trump administration to release it.One government scientist who worked on the report, Katharine Hayhoe, a professor of political science at Texas Tech University, called the conclusions among the most comprehensive climate science reports to be published. Another scientist involved in the process, who spoke to The New York Times on the condition of anonymity, said he and others were concerned that it would be suppressed.The White House and the Environmental Protection Agency did not immediately return calls or respond to emails requesting comment on Monday night. The report concludes that even if humans immediately stopped emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the world would still feel at least an additional 0.50 degrees Fahrenheit (0.30 degrees Celsius) of warming over this century compared with today. The projected actual rise, scientists say, will be as much as 2 degrees Celsius. A small difference in global temperatures can make a big difference in the climate: The difference between a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and one of 2 degrees Celsius, for example, could mean longer heat waves, more intense rainstorms, and the faster disintegration of coral reefs. [more] Opinion / Columnist Those who choose to deny the past and often forced to relive the same mistake."In the years and decades after World War II, the German society - while overwhelming rejecting Nazi ideology after the traumatic experience of the war - chose not to deal with the specific Nazi crimes too intensively," wrote Max Sollner in an article entitled "Why Holocaust denial is a crime in Germany""Generally speaking, the Holocaust, or what the Nazis had euphemistically called the final solution', was a taboo topic in West Germany in the 1950ies and 60ies. It was rarely talked about publicly and not taught in school extensively like today. In that atmosphere, trivialization and belittling of Nazi crimes could fester."Therefore, it comes as no surprise that in 1960 the first law against Holocaust denial was passed as a reaction to the re-emerging anti-Semitism in German society: On Christmas Eve 1959, just a couple of months after its widely celebrated re-opening, the synagogue in Cologne was besmeared with swastikas and anti-Semitic slurs by two members of a right-extremist party."Today, the outright denial and even the trivialization of the Holocaust in public is a federal crime, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. There are similar laws in other European countries.There are three very important things the passing of the law denying the Holocaust:1) Scientific facts such as the fact that the earth is just another planet going around the sun and not the centre round which all others revolve or that humanity is a creature of evolution and not "made in the image of God" have been hard to swallow. But no amount of denying these fact have changed the reality one iota. Indeed, by accepting reality, truth and facts and not deny them to message our vanity mankind has progress in leaps and bounds.If something happened, it happened it must be acknowledged as a historic fact, reality and truth.2) It is offensive to deny and/or trivialize someone else's suffering; a common enough bully tactic.3) Those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat the same mistakes."The mind-set of the deniers was seen as the foundational myth of new forms of anti-Semitism that focused on the state of Israel and its alleged moral blackmailing of the German state based on the in the eyes of these anti-Semites historical lie' of the Holocaust," wrote Sollner.In Zimbabwe, we are caught in our own denial of historic facts and, like all deniers of facts, truth and reality, are paying dearly for our folly by reliving the same mistake over and over again. Many Zimbabweans are in denial that Zanu PF has been rigging elections!"Beyond a coalition, the most important thing to focus on is electoral reforms to level the electoral field," commented Dewa Mavhinga in a recent Daily News report."If the opposition fails to secure electoral reforms then they must ensure they have the tools and mechanisms to monitor, track, and expose electoral rigging for the world to see and be convinced beyond a shadow of doubt. It has proven difficult to demonstrate that the 2013 elections were rigged in the absence of hard evidence to back up those claims."The Daily News referred to Mr Mavhinga as "(human) rights and political expert". He is very confused expert, to say the least!It is easier to establish that Zanu PF rigged the July 2013 elections as a historic fact by looking at the evidence of what happened that year in the context of what happened in the 2008 elections because the two are a continuation of the same electoral process. There is all the "hard evidence" even Mr Mavhinga would not deny that Zanu PF blatantly rigged the 2008 election.The regime "cooked" the March 2008 vote to deny Tsvangirai the outright victory to force the run-off. In the run-off, the regime then employed wanton violence to force the electorate to force for Mugabe.The regime "declared war on the people," complained Tsvangirai as he announced his withdrawal from the race.Mugabe declared himself the winner of the presidential run-off. No one; not even the SADC or AU election observers, renowned for giving a thumbs-up to some dodgy election processes; would accept the result as a true reflection of the democratic wishes of the people of Zimbabwe. SADC forced Mugabe to sign the Global Political Agreement (GPA) agreeing to the implementation of a raft of democratic reforms to ensure future elections are free, fair and credible.Sadly, none of the democratic reforms were implemented, a fact Dewa does not deny hence his admission "the most important thing to focus on is electoral reforms to level the electoral field". The electoral playfield was not level for the July 2013 elections either and so how can the result be free, fair and credible?Indeed, a close look at the July 2013 proves beyond doubt the process was illegal. Nearly one million voters, according to many independent monitors (300 000 according to ZEC's own report) were denied the vote on the day because their details were not in the constituency voters' roll. This would have been picked up and corrected if the voters' roll had been released at least one month before voting day, as is demanded by law. The regime only released a hard copy of the voters' roll just a few days before voting commenced.There are YouTube video still available for viewing, Dewa should Google "Tendai Biti witnesses vote rigging in Zimbabwe" for himself. ZEC, the Police and the regime was aware of all this blatant vote rigging at the time and no investigation, no arrest nothing.True, we do not have any "hard evidence" to ascertain the contribution the bussed hooded Zanu PF youths casting multiple votes made to Zanu PF's landslide victory but that is not because the evidence is hard to get. It is hard to get in this case because those with the power and authority to amass such evidence are the ones who have an investment interest in conceal the evidence which a different matter.Mr Dewa Mavhinga is supported to be a human rights expert; some expert given he does not seem to know that everyone has the right to free, fair and credible elections as stated in the UN Universal Human Rights declaration."Article 21.(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures." For a political expert one would expect Mr Mavhinga to know that there is no point in calling for the implementation of democratic reforms this late in the electoral cycle, there is no way any reforms can be agreed, drafted, implemented in time to stop Zanu PF rigging next year's elections.Frankly, one does not need to be an expert anything, to see and conclude that Zanu PF has been riding roughshod over the people denying them their freedoms, basic human rights and their very humanity!Zanu PF has failed to hold even one free, fair and credible elections in all the regime's 37 years in power; that is a historic fact. The political reality we must face and deal with today is that with no meaningful democratic reforms implemented Zanu PF will blatantly rig next year's elections.We silence those detractors who deny the truth of Zanu PF rigging elections or worse still pretend the regime can rig the vote and, somehow, lose the elections. After 37 years of rigged elections, it is madness to continue contesting flawed elections and expect a different result, Zanu PF to lose.BEFORE next elections can be held, we must demand the implementation of the democratic reforms to ensure free, fair and credible elections. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Get the pick of the week's best stories and fascinating features direct to your inbox every Saturday and Sunday morning in our exclusive Weekender newsletter A Devon council has agreed to spend 3.5million to create three heritage trails celebrating key moments in the city's history. Plymouth City Council is to spend the cash after a 4.7m bid for Heritage Lottery Fund cash was turned down. The money will be spent as part of the city's Mayflower 400 celebrations marking the anniversary of the sialing of the Pilgrim Fathers to America.Part of the money will be used to improve public spaces and buildings close to the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth. The first trail will journey around the historic Barbican and Sutton Harbour area and take visitors back to the 16th and 17th centuries, reports Plymouthherald . Proposals have also been made to restore Elizabethan House - a historic property laid out in the style of a merchant or sea captain's home from the 1600s - to create what the council describes as an "immersive attraction" to help visitors get a sense of life during this period of history. The second trail will help visitors navigate between the Barbican and The Box - the city's new visitor attraction, museum and gallery which will house the wider history, art and culture of Plymouth. The third will trace the journey along The Hoe, looking out towards Plymouth Sound. The Mayflower National Trail will connect 11 destinations across Britain to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower journey - a symbolic moment in the shared history of Britain, the Netherlands and the USA. Using his delegated authority, Cllr Bowyer has given the green light for 3.5 million for the projects. He said: "We want Plymouth to look its best in the global spotlight and I hope people are as excited as I am about the physical changes. "We've got something brand new in the form of the trails and improvements to public areas and something very, very old our incredible Elizabethan houses to help us tell this incredible story. "We are planning a year-long cultural programme including major events, but these projects are about improving areas so that Plymouth people, as well as visitors, can enjoy them for many years to come." The event is expected to bring in millions of pounds to the region's economy. Cllr Bowyer added: "The immediate impact of these projects during 2020 is estimated to be in the region of an additional 500,000 visitors, creating an additional economic impact of at least 18 million and 360 jobs. "Longer term these projects will support our target growth figures for visitor numbers which is good for jobs, good for local business and good for families living in and around Plymouth." It is hoped that local people of all ages will play a big part in the design process and get involved in creating way-markers and interpretation panels by unearthing stories through research with historians. Works are due to be carried out at the Mayflower Steps and Mayflower Museum, Sir John Hawkins Square - behind the law courts, Prysten House, and the entrance to Southside Street - the gateway to the Barbican. The project team is asking for funding to help support further detailed investigations into the condition of the city's two Grade II* Elizabethan buildings, the Elizabethan House in New Street and the Merchant's House in St Andrew's Street. Given their age older than the USA specialist advice and contractors will be needed for restoration. Charles Hackett, chief executive of Mayflower 400, said: "These trails will be a permanent and lasting reminder of the part Plymouth has played in the Mayflower story. "This is an opportunity to put Plymouth at the heart of an internationally significant commemoration but also for Plymouth people to get involved as this is their story too. "This is why we are so keen to get all of Plymouth on board to help us showcase the great things that Plymouth has." Plymouth's Mayflower leadership group and the National Mayflower Compact Partnership are chaired by Adrian Vinken OBE. He said: "It's exciting to see the ideas and projects we've been planning over the past few years finally starting to come together. "Parts of the city will be transformed for the better by the time we get to 2020." The paper agreed by Cllr Bowyer also gives the green light to investigate the feasibility of a Mayflower monument, as well as the need for waterfront event infrastructure on the Hoe linked to Mayflower events. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up for our Torbay newsletter and you'll never miss a big story again Firefighters in Devon and Somerset have rescued animals from perilous situations nearly 2,000 times since 2010 - including a puppy stuck in a Christmas tree and horses trapped in pools. Figures released under the Freedom of Information act show crews from Devon and Somerset have responded to 1,887 incidents involving animals between 2010 and the first quarter of 2017, including 243 in 2016. The numbers appear to be fairly consistent over the years, with crews responding to an average of 265 incidents a year from 2010 to 2016. Birds were the most likely to need rescuing, involved in 65 incidents in 2016, followed by cows with 37 and dogs and horses with 36 incidents each. Since 2014, firefighters have been called upon to rescue cats from trees on 22 occasions - although sometimes, like in Tiverton in April 2015, cats stuck at height have been left to climb down on their own. In another case, a cat in Sidmouth in August 2016 jumped down from the roof it was supposedly stuck on as soon as the fire crew pitched their ladder. Similarly, a harris hawk in Torquay in September 2016 flew away while a rescue attempt was being made. Among the more unusual incidents recorded was a puppy released from a Christmas tree stand in Barnstaple in April 2015, a small dog released from a chair lift in Yelverton in January 2016, a sparrowhawk released from a bin cage in Paignton in July 2015, and a gerbil stuck in a tree trunk in Torquay in June 2016. Crews were also called on to remove a horse from a swimming pool in Cheddar in May 2015, and rescue a pony from a swimming pool in Castle Cary in December 2015, while they helped a dolphin return to channel in Williton in August 2016. A deer trapped on a first floor balcony in Salcombe in May 2016 and a donkey in a kitchen in Martock in October 2010 also required assistance, as did a kitten trapped in a grill in a cooker in Ilfracombe in August 2016. Across the UK as a whole, cats were the most likely to need rescuing, involved in 894 incidents in 2016, where fire services have given details, followed by dogs with 604 and birds with 492. Since 2010, firefighters have been called upon to rescue cats from trees on at least 1,181 occasions. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Get the best and latest crime stories with our Court Insider newsletter A drugs gang called The Chyna Crew allegedly subjected a woman to a terrifying rape ordeal after accusing her of being linked to a rival group. The three men from Birmingham were in Exeter selling heroin and cocaine when they allegedly abducted the woman at knifepoint after she went to buy drugs. They moved her from one house to another, raped by three men, and told her they were going to 'pimp her out to every smackhead in Exeter for 3 a time', a jury were told. They allegedly made her lick their feet and forced her to drink water from a lavatory bowl and threatened to shave off her hair and set light to her. Each of the men allegedly forced her to have full or oral sex and DNA from two of them was recovered from her or her clothing. The men are all of Somali origin and are also accused of stabbing a man who they believed to be a rival dealer in full view of passers-by behind a city centre pub. The violence was all linked to a turf war between different drug gangs in Exeter in February over control of the city's valuable heroin and crack cocaine market, Exeter Crown Court was told. Abdirahman Abukar, aged 19, of Alum Rock Road, Birmingham, Abdirahman Kadir, aged 21, of no fixed address, and Ibrahim Mohammed, aged 18, all deny rape, false imprisonment and kidnap. They also deny assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Abukar and Kadir deny possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life or cause fear of violence. Amber Olivia, aged 22, formerly of Laburnum Road, Exeter, denies conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of heroin with intent to supply. Mr Ian Dixey, prosecuting, said the background to the case was a turf war between rival drug gangs in Exeter in February this year. The defendants were all members of a Birmingham-based Somali gang who called themselves The Chyna Crew. They took orders for drugs through a single mobile number and used local addicts as runners to deliver them. They also set up base at the homes of customers in return for drugs in an process known as cuckooing and the sexual assaults started when a woman customer went to a house at Sandford Walk to buy heroin at around 11 pm on February 23 this year. She went with a friend but he was told to leave while the woman was accused of workingfor a rival dealer and taken upstairs at knifepoint and raped. At one point the three men held went out and when they returned they boasted they had stabbed a man. Mr Dixey said this turned out to be true and related to an attack behind the Duke of York pub in York Road. He said during her ordeal the woman was driven to a second flat in Ashmore Court, on Haven Road, where she was sexually assaulted. She escaped by saying she was going to a local shop and instead went to the Safe Sleep hostel where she raised the alarm. Mr Dixey said:"At the first address she was taken to a bathroom by the men where she was made to kiss the bottom of their feet and call them King Chyna. They took water from the lavatory bowl and made her drink it. "They told her they would pimp her out to every smack user for 3 a time. They threatened to shave off her hair, throw liquid over her and set light to her. It was clearly intended to frighten and humiliate. "At Ashmore Court Abukar took her straight to the bedroom where he made her strip completely naked and raped her. She described how the men continued to humiliate her. "She was physically scared, especially when a knife was taken out. She thought she was going to be killed. She did everything she could to get out alive. "She offered to work for them by delivering drugs and she submitted to their sexual demands although she had no wish to do so. You can imagine how frightened she was and how she willing to do anything to get out of the situation. He said the other two men forced her to have oral sex before they all left to carry out the assault on a man called Joseph Kelly, who they believed was a rival dealer and who was traced with the help of Olivia, who also acted as a runner for them Mr Dixey said Mr Kelly was attacked at the rear of the Duke of York and suffered a small stab wound to his chest and others to his legs and buttocks. Women passers by who witnessed the attack were also threatened and one of the men said 'you bitches saw nothing'. Mr Dixey said Abukar and Kadir had also taken part in an incident at Wynford Road, Exeter, on February 8 in which the door of a house where they believed a rival dealer was living was blasted with a shotgun. Kadir, Abukar and Olivia were arrested together in Cardiff a few days later and Mohammed was arrested as he boarded a ferry to Ireland. He had a plane ticket to Dubai with him. They all denied all the offences but the only one who gave a full interview to police was Kadir, who said they had been set up by a rival gang and that the woman was lying and had consented to any sexual activity. Opinion / Columnist Maynard Manyowa is a Zimbabwean journalist, and co-editor of Khuluma Afrika - a nonpartisan center for investigative journalism and political analysis Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe was briefly detained by no nonsense police in Singapore after she assaulted reporters and threw their cellphones into a pond at the Gleneagles hospital. She had to reimburse the victims, about $1300 USD each to secure her release.In addition, Grace Mugabe's protocol team went on overdrive, paying hefty sums of money to reporters in the Southeast Asia city state to prevent the assault and detention' making its way to front pages of newspapers.Nonetheless, it still did. And in the aftermath, her family has engaged in desperate witch-hunt. One top aide, and a member of Mugabe's close protection unit has been accused of leaking the details to Khuluma Afrika. He is being tortured and beaten repeatedly as we speak.The poor bodyguard has now spent a few nights in cold dark holding cells, first at a detention barracks owned by the central intelligence organisation, and now, at some high security facility owned by counter intelligence (secret service).According to some sources, news agency Reuters has also been targeted. They are accused of leaking information about Mugabe's trip to begin with.The Mugabe's are upset. Especially Grace Mugabe and especially because this is not the first time she has been involved in such a debacle. All other times she has managed to somehow get away with it.In 2009, Grace Mugabe happened to be travelling through another Asian country. This time, it was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She was scheduled to spend about 2 hours in the VIP transit zone at the airport, while waiting to connect another destination.However, Grace decided she needed to walk around, and left the transit zone, proceeding from the international transit zone to the domestic flight zone. When she was done, she attempted to walk back to the VIP area using the same route she used to exit.This despite the fact that the route was clearly marked exit only'. Airport security quickly stopped her, and told her that she would need to use the entrance, and go through a check-in process, as all passengers who exit the transit area need to go through immigration, and must go through security procedures.But Gucci Grace owns the world. At least in her own mind. She refused, protested, and went on to assault some of the airport staff."She grabbed some of them by the collar, and bellowed that she was the wife of a President and could do whatever the hell she wanted to whenever the she wanted to", a source at the airport who witness the event said."In all my 34 years working here, i have never seen such rowdy behaviour, from anyone at all. I have hosted all bad boys, rappers, artists, and even seen real Presidents come here. This one was so disgraceful" the source added.The Malaysian authorities would have none of it. Members of Grace Mugabe's protocol had to plead with them not to be too harsh, after they had resolved to declare her a security risk, and likely arrest her.Members of her protocol and security team had to beg authorities for her release. While some of them had to beg her to cooperate and avoid causing a scene.Eventually she made her way through the normal procedures, but not without cursing at anyone and everyone using excess vulgar.The Malaysia incident is not the second one either. It is not even the third, or the fourth. Khuluma Afrika has seen documents detailing at least five other incidents.In Zimbabwe, there is a Shona saying that goes, "Mbudzi kudya mufenje hufananyina". Another says, "Mhembwe rudzi inozvara mwana ane kazhumwi", while another says, "Chaisiya huyo chaikuya nei".All sayings carry the same moral, that, "The apple does not fall far from the tree".In recent weeks, and months, several reports have exposed the lavish wild lifestyle that Mugabe's children lead.Robert Jnr was expelled from Dubai for bad behaviour. In SA, both him and his brother were evicted for all night drug parties. Grace Mugabe herself is on record for saying "Vana vandinesta (these kids trouble me)"Perhaps in this case, Mrs. Mugabe needs to look at her own violent record first. Her kids are wild, and it is probably cause they learnt from the best. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest and breaking local news for the day An expert on Chelsea's youth system has backed former Exeter City player Ethan Ampadu to be a success for the Blues. The news comes after Everton defender Ashley Williams heaped praise on the 16-year-old, who moved from City to West London this summer. Twitter user @ChelseaYouth - a well-respected source of knowledge when it comes to the Blues' youth teams, with over 130,000 followers on the social network site - has published their development squad preview for the forthcoming season and, in it, they say Ampadu has shown what he has to be successful. "Ali Suljic has looked very good in the summer friendly schedule," they wrote. "As has 16-year-old Ethan Ampadu, who played a dozen matches for Exeter City's first-team in League Two last season before signing a scholarship with Chelsea this summer. "His seamless transition into the left centre-back role for this group is an early indication of how much he can offer." This is the latest praise Ampadu has received, after Williams yesterday called his fellow Welshman his natural replacement. "I wasn't going to retire until I saw Ethan Ampadu in Portugal," he said. "He's something else. "We play a back three and he plays the same position as me. I was watching him at the other end and I thought, 'This kid is unbelievable'. "He's so young but if he carries on the sky is the limit for him. Definitely. Even I'm thinking, 'Ok, if he progresses how he should then he will be a natural replacement for me." Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Get the pick of the week's best stories and fascinating features direct to your inbox every Saturday and Sunday morning in our exclusive Weekender newsletter The Devon cyber security expert hailed a hero for derailing a global computer attack that wreaked havoc in the NHS faces a longer wait to answer charges that he created and sold a separate malware. Marcus Hutchins, 23, from Ilfracombe had been expected to deny all six counts in court in Milwaukee on Tuesday but the arraignment hearing was pushed back to August 14. A spokeswoman for Nevada Southern Detention Centre said he had been released from the facility on Monday but was unable to say whether he had been released on bail as a judge had ordered. Civil liberties group the Courage Foundation said he had been bailed after the bond of 30,000 US dollars (23,000) was raised. Courage's Naomi Colvin said: "It's a testament to the effectiveness of Marcus' friends and family that they've managed to get him released on bail, which is unusual for a UK citizen in this situation. "I share their sense of relief that Marcus is no longer in a US prison and able to communicate with legal counsel, friends and family." Supporters are due to meet at Newspeak House, in Shoreditch, east London, on Wednesday to discuss how to support Hutchins, who is also known as MalwareTech. His lawyer Adrian Lobo said they would fight the case and Hutchins would enter not guilty pleas to all the counts regarding the malware known as Kronos, which date between July 2014 and July 2015. A prosecutor has said that Hutchins admitted to investigators after his arrest in Las Vegas last week that he wrote the code and hinted he sold it. Strict bail conditions were set for Hutchins, who works for Los Angeles computer security firm Kryptos Logic, that include him having no access to the internet, surrendering his passport and being monitored by GPS. Family, friends and cyber security colleagues had been trying to raise enough money to meet the 30,000 dollar bond to allow his release. Hutchins was previously praised for finding a "kill-switch" that curbed the WannaCry ransomware that infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries in May. The malicious software demanded a ransom from users so they could regain control of their machines. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Get the pick of the week's best stories and fascinating features direct to your inbox every Saturday and Sunday morning in our exclusive Weekender newsletter The British cyber security expert accused of creating and selling malware that steals banking passwords has been released from a US prison, the jail has said. Marcus Hutchins, the 23-year-old previously hailed a hero for derailing a global computer attack that wreaked havoc in the NHS, was held in Nevada Southern Detention Centre over the weekend. Prison spokeswoman Kayla Gieni said he was "no longer at our facility" on Monday but was unable to say whether he had been released on bail as a judge had ordered on Friday. Hutchins, of Ilfracombe, Devon, is due to appear in court in Milwaukee on Tuesday, charged with six counts of creating and selling a malware known as Kronos. His lawyer, Adrian Lobo, said they would fight the case and Hutchins would enter not guilty pleas to all the counts, which date between July 2014 and July 2015. A prosecutor has said that Hutchins admitted to investigators after his arrest in Las Vegas last week that he wrote the code and hinted he sold it. Strict bail conditions were set for Hutchins, who works for Los Angeles computer security firm Kryptos Logic, that include him having no access to the internet, surrendering his passport and being monitored by GPS. Family, friends and cyber security colleagues had been trying to raise enough money to meet the 30,000-dollar (23,000) bond to allow his release. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now Hutchins was previously praised for for finding a "kill-switch" that curbed the WannaCry ransomware that infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries in May. The malicious software demanded a ransom from users so they could regain control of their machines. A former PCSO is due to appear in court in Exeter next week over allegations that he lied about being punched by another man while he was on duty. Thomas Rowland, 24, has been summonsed to appear before magistrates charged with perverting the court of justice by providing a false witness statement. The summons follows an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). Rowland, who is a former Avon and Somerset Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), is due before magistrates in Exeter, Devon, on Tuesday, August 15. The case will take place the day after another police officer from the same force is due to appear at magistrates' court in Taunton, Somerset, accused of tasering a 63-year-old man in Bristol. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our free email alerts for the top Traffic & Travel stories sent straight to your e-mail There were delays on the Devon rail network on Tuesday morning after reports of another person hit by a train in the county. British Transport Police Devon said at 2.30am there were delays to the South West Train network after someone was struck by a train near Honiton. It comes after a similar incident close to Alphington in Exeter at the weekend. Updates as we have them. South West Trains is currently reporting major disruption as a result of engineering works in London. Until Monday 28 August at London Waterloo, platforms 1-10 will be closed so work can start to extend platforms for longer trains, providing more space for more customers. Although the number of customers travelling in August is lower than any other time of the year, customers should expect: Severe disruption Extremely busy trains Queues at many stations Some journey times will be extended. The following stations will be closed for some or all of the time: Chessington South Chessington North Earlsfield (weekdays only until 10:00 and between 16:30 and 19:30) Malden Manor Norbiton Queenstown Road Tolworth Vauxhall (will be partially closed as platforms 7 and 8 will be closed and a large number of trains will no longer call there) For more information, including travel advice, ticket acceptance and additional information, please visit the South West Trains website. If you do have to travel during this time, you are strongly advised to plan ahead and avoid the following times: Vauxhall - 07:30 to 08:45 Clapham Junction - 06:45 to 09:30 Surbiton - 07:30 - 09:00 London Waterloo - 17:00 to 18:45 Vauxhall - 17:30 to 18:30 Clapham Junction - 17:00 - 19:30 Wimbledon - 17:00 to 19:00 August Bank Holiday weekend From Friday 25 to Monday 28 August, there will be additional engineering work at London Waterloo and platforms 10 to 14 will be closed. This will further reduce the number of trains that will run right across the network, but the impact will be more significant closer to London. There will be changes to your journeys but South West Trains and Network Rail are doing everything possible to reduce the inconvenience and make your journey as smooth as possible. this will include: Running longer trains throughout the day to provide more space and help you travel outside of the busiest times Temporarily open platforms 20 to 24 (the former London Waterloo International Terminal) to reduce some of the impact of closing platforms 1 to 9 Work round the clock to finish the works as quickly as possible Customer Advice: Consider travelling from a different station or via an alternative route where there may be a more frequent service. Travel slightly earlier or later than normal. The busiest trains arrive into London between 08:00 and 09:00 and leave London between 17.30 and 18:30. If you are able to do so, you might want to consider working from home or taking a holiday during some or all of this time. Because fewer South West Trains will be running throughout this period, some Southern and Thameslink services are expected to be busier. You can find more information on this here. Check before you travel: Please use the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner to check your journey before you travel. Get the pick of the week's best stories and fascinating features direct to your inbox every Saturday and Sunday morning in our exclusive Weekender newsletter A Tesco superstore in Dorchester and a large Exeter office are the latest investments by Torbay Council as it strives to fill its budget black hole. The superstore, petrol station and smaller shops in Ferndown, near Bournemouth, is the councils latest investment. It is understood to have spent some 25m on the site for which Tesco is the principal tenant. The council has already bought Wren Park retail park in Torquay for a figure of around 20m, and Gadeon House, Exeter next to the A30/M5 junction, occupied by EDF and understood to have cost around 16million. The council is also considering two further investments currently commercially confidential. It has been estimated that these three confirmed acquisitions would generate 1.6m income which will be used to fill the councils current 5m funding gap. A one per cent rise in council tax raises some 550,000. Torbay has also invested 6.5million to build a factory for a Japanese company in Paignton, which will save 45 jobs for Totnes-based Graphic Controls. It comes as councillors are on Tuesday being asked to increase from 50m to 200m the amount the council can borrow to invest further. It has been estimated this could yield up to 5million a year net income for the authority. But the proposals, and the borrowing that funds it, are not without their critics principally the Bays mayor Gordon Oliver. He has criticised the amount of borrowing being carried out to fund these investments and raised objections to plans for the investment committee which are to be considered at an extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday night. He said the councils currently borrowing an investments already totalled some 217million. Mayor Oliver said he had originally been on the investment committee but been voted off by his Conservative colleagues which is why he did not attend those meetings or the subsequent council meetings on such decisions because he had no knowledge nor information. He said the three other party leaders also voted together to stop him proceeding with the opportunity to examine the light railway system into Brixham and a helipad. He warned: We are spending substantial sums of money and heading for a debt of 300m. We have probably borrowed more than many other authorities. When I was first elected our debt was 180m and I got it down to 138m. Now we have probably spent more in the past few months than the authority has in its unitary history. He wants the investment fund to be capped at 50m. Cllr Alan Tyerman, vice-chairman of the investment committee, defended the recommendation to increase the level from 50m to 200m and the amount the committee can decide on itself from 5m to 25m and the level of expertise available to ensure investment decisions are sound. The income fund makes income for the council which benefits Torbay through the fact that income allows us to continue to provide services we might not otherwise be able to provide, he said. Its a question of making the budget work without making further excessive cuts we might otherwise have to make. There are discretionary services we would otherwise have to make further cuts to in the face of the pressures on our social care for adults and children. The Local Government Association in its peer review two years ago said we had to look at other ways of creating income, putting up the price of things we already do helps but it doesnt make that step change. Something entirely different was needed. Lib Dem investment committee member Nick Pentney said: Put bluntly, the investment committee is a necessary evil. I didnt become a councillor to become an investor. However, the fact of the matter is that Torbay badly needs revenue to provide essential services like adult social care. "Torbay is struggling to make ends meet. Everyone knows why its because of cuts by the Conservatives in Westminster in combination with chronic financial mismanagement by the Conservative administration locally. Investment committees in many authority areas are a proven method of creating badly needed revenue for councils to provide essential services, but only when those committees have been given the level of resource and responsibility they need to do the job. If the mayor has a better way of plugging the funding gap that he and his Conservative colleagues helped to create then were all ears. Best Foodie Gifts Shopping For A Foodie Friend? You'll Want To Check Out These Gifts 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. Christmas is fast approaching! Short on gift ideas? We've got you covered. From grooming products to the latest tech gadgets, check out our roundups of the best gifts for men and Christmas gifts for her for all the inspiration you need. Happy shopping! We all have that foodie friend - you know the one that brings foie gras to the potluck or drags you across town to a shady little restaurant in an alley because it supposedly has the best kimchi in the city. Needless to say, shopping for someone who considers Daniel Boulud a religious icon can be a little difficult. Sure, you can take the safe route out and get them something non-food related. But, if this is what your friend really loves, its time to buckle down and get searching for the perfect foodie gift. Gifting for the gourmand isnt as intimidating as it may seem, we promise. And if you really run out of ideas, Dean and Deluca has concocted a series of gift baskets aimed at the culinary crowd (fancy salts, whiskey baskets, even a smoked salmon-themed basket). Another route we suggest is to pick out a subscription box. Its relatively easy on your end - just pick a box, enter their address, and youve got one happy friend. Our favorites? MistoBoxs curated coffee box or one of Bespoke Posts food and bevy-themed boxes. To help get your foodie friends mouth watering, weve pulled together a selection of the perfect presents for your friends palette. From DeBragga grass-fed steaks to the newest addition to their knife set, these are our top picks. Crepe Kit Savoury or sweet, its hard to resist a good crepe. So whip up a French breakfast (or dinner, or snack) with the help of a blue steel French crepe pan, a beechwood crepe spreader, and Hayden Mills stone ground flour. The blue steel crepe pan is heat treated and non-stick will churn out the perfect, crispy crepe shells. $44.00 at BespokePost.com The Dumpling Galaxy Cookbook Helen Yous cookbook makes the somewhat daunting world of Chinese cuisine surprisingly approachable. Each page is filled with notes on different regional Chinese cuisine, how to incorporate these techniques into your repertoire, and best of all, all Yous delicious traditional and non-traditional recipes from her two New York outposts. $13.59 at Amazon.com Cast Iron Skillet with Oil Cast iron skillets are a kitchen essential: the naturally non-stick surface makes it easy to clean, and the iron handle allows you to easily transfer the skillet from the stovetop to the oven. This kit includes a 10.5 cast iron pan and a bottle of cast iron oil. True chefs will know that if you properly wash your cast iron (no soap, just warm water), and use a cast iron oil, the delicious homey flavors will build up with each use. $42.00 at BespokePost.com Cast Iron Dutch Oven Whether youre out on the trails or just looking for an easy weeknight dinner, a dutch oven can produce a flavorful dinner for a surprisingly minimal amount of effort. An 8-quart cast iron can be your best friend when making everything from fresh bread to sauces to roast chicken to hearty stews. $94.98 at Huckberry.com Le Creuset Espresso Mugs The French mega-brand has long since been known for churning out the best cast iron and stoneware cookware (a lot) of money can buy. But while you probably cant shell out the $300+ it takes to purchase one of Le Creusets infamous Dutch ovens, your recipient will be thoroughly impressed with Le Creusets stoneware espresso mugs. $31.95 at Amazon.com Mango Wood Holders Industrial mango wood boards with rose gold-colored metal handles will add some serious oomph to your next hors doeuvres platter, dessert selection, or charcuterie and cheese board. Plus, the three boards can be stored away in this subtle wood holder post-meal. $80.00 at Nordstrom.com Santoku Knife A good knife is a Chefs partner-in-crime: a good blade will get him everywhere and a sub-par blade will only hinder him. Santoku has won the hearts of chefs across the world for its hot-dropped stainless steel that will last hundreds of years, and its non-stick Granton edge. $90.00 at BespokePost.com Risotto Kit Making a simple, creamy, proper Italian risotto is a breeze with the proper tools - like arborio rice, extra virgin olive oil, tomato & basil Pomodoro spice mix, and a proper wooden stirring spoon, all from Dean & Delucas kitchen. $26.00 at DeanDeluca.com Whiskey Inspiration Kit For the whiskey enthusiast, Dean & Delucas whiskey inspiration kit comes with the perfect savory and sweet pairings for his or her favorite whiskey, Scotch, or Rye. Think whiskey-cured salami, Teroforma whiskey stones, a whiskey-rubbed cheese, a flask inscribed with the word neat, and a vanilla smoked chocolate bar. $125.00 at DeanDeluca.com Burger Comparison Kit Burgers have been a point of contention across the foodie world - rare or well-down? Charred? Ketchup or mayonnaise? With DeBraggas burger comparison, you can sample and compare four of DeBraggas best burger varieties. Wagyu ground beef, Angus beef shoulder, dry-aged Angus, and a classic ground beef, were all raised grass-fed and free of hormones or antibiotics. $75.00 at Debragga.com Barbecue Boss Gift Basket For the self-proclaimed king of the grill, Gourmet Gift Baskets has whipped up an anything-but-banal gift basket, filled to the brim with all the tools and gadgets needed to up his BBQ game. Cue Rufus Teagues famous steak rub, a fajita seasoning mix from Backyard Safari Company, Rufus Teagues BBQ sauce, a hickory maple bacon popcorn, J&R gourmets roasted & salted peanuts, and a Chichester snack mix. $49.99 at GourmetGiftBaskets.com Java Press Conical Burr Grinder As coffee connoisseurs will tell you, the way you grind your beans is almost as important as how you brew it. No matter how you brew your beans - pour-over, French press, Bialetti, etc. - a burr grinder will get the perfect grind to show off the beans flavors. $23.99 at Amazon.com MistoBox Subscription Created by coffee lovers for coffee lovers, MistoBox delivers a freshly roasted bag of coffee as frequently or as infrequently as you need. MistoBox has paired up with some of the best small-scale roasteries in the country - like Verve and Equator - to bring the best possible beans right to your door. Find out more at MistoBox.com Related Reading: Best Gifts For Sneakerheads Best Gift Baskets For Any Occasion Anniversary Gifts For Him 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. Google's new platform is apparently called Stamp, and it's an amalgamation of Stories and AMP. It may be announced next week. Google is reportedly working on a new platform called Stamp, which is inspired by Snapchats Discovery mode. The platform allows publishers to create and share visual stories, and the company is apparently in the middle of discussions with CNN, Vox Media, Mic, The Washington Post and Time, for participation on the platform. The company may be announcing the platform as early as next week. The name Stamp is an amalgamation of Stories and Googles AMP. So, Stories+AMP makes Stamp, and will show news as several swipeable slides encompass text, photos and video. The success of the open source AMP project is down to the constant collaboration with publishers that involves working early on upcoming features. We dont have anything to announced at the moment, but look forward to sharing more soon, a Google spokesperson told Engadget, responding to its queries about Stamp. Given that Stamp is a Discovery-based platform, one could expect Google to utilise its machine learning algorithms on the platform as well. The company has recently been bullish about machine learning and AI, utilising such algorithms for various purposes, including policing apps on the Google Play Store. Google already has a hold on the news ecosystem online, thanks to Google News and AMP. However, the company does face stiff competition from Facebook and Apple News. Developing a dedicated platform like Stamp works in Googles favour, since publishers still do use Google search to draw traffic to their websites. Rumours suggest that Samsung may ship a thin, transparent case with its upcoming Galaxy Note 8 smartphone. Samsung is launching its latest flagship, the Galaxy Note 8 on August 23 Samsung is all set to launch its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 8, on August 23. Rumours about the smartphones specifications have been making the rounds on the internet and now, etnews reports that Samsung is adding a transparent plastic case in the box with the Note 8, similar to what was included with the Note 7 Fan Edition in Korea. The case is said to be included in the box, along with other Note 8 accessories. ETNews says that the case will be made up of very thin, transparent plastic material that covers the back and the sides of Galaxy Note 8, while maintaining a sense of grip on the smartphone. The case is expected to flaunt the design of Galaxy Note 8, while keeping it protected from scruffles and chips. The website also claims that the manufacturing of original cases for the Galaxy Note 8 is underway and contracted to South-Korean smartphone accessory makers. It is estimated that at least 10 million original cases will be produced by these accessory makers. Consumers will benefit from this move by saving money on buying a case for the Note 8 externally, however, this spells a probable loss for vendors who sell these cases for the masses. According to the website, this is Samsung Electronics plan to minimise possible financial burden for consumers who were earlier required to purchase a smartphone case separately, thus minimising a possible financial burden on them. The case is estimated to cost somewhere between 20,000 - 30,000 KRW (about Rs 1100 - Rs 1800 ) when purchased separately. We have not decided anything regarding Galaxy Note 8, a high-ranking official for Samsung Electronics told etnews. It is difficult for us to mention any information regarding new products that are not released yet, added the official. It has also been rumoured that the case will not be included with the Note 8 in Europe, Russia, or the US. The upcoming Samsung's flagship smartphone is rumoured to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chipset in the US while being powered by Samsung's own Exynos 8895 chipset globally. It may feature 6GB RAM coupled with 64GB of internal storage. It is said to support expandable storage via microSD card slot. 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. Subscriber content preview By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON With Republicans unable to advance a health care bill in Congress, President Donald Trump's administration may find itself in an awkward role as caretaker of the Affordable Care Act, which he still promises to repeal and replace. The Constitution says presidents shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. So as long as former President Barack Obama's law is on the books, that doesn't seem to leave much choice for Trump, even if he considers Obamacare to be a disaster. . . . Govt extends Aadhaar deadline for free LPG till end-September The government has extended the deadline for applying for Aadhaar identification by poor women wanting to avail of free cooking gas (LPG) connection till September-end. The government had, in March this year, mandated that anyone wishing to avail of free cooking gas (LPG) connections must apply for the unique 12-digit biometric identification number Aadhaar by 31 May. Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, households below poverty line (BPL) are entitled to free LPG connection provided they have Aadhaar identification. "A beneficiary desirous of availing the benefits under the Scheme (PMUY), who does not possess the Aadhaar number or has not yet enrolled for Aadhar shall have to apply for Aadhaar enrolment by 31st May, 2017, provided she is entitled to obtain Aadhaar," the notification issued on 6 March read. The ministry of petroleum and natural gas has now issued a gazette notification extending that deadline to 30 September 30. In its latest notification, the ministry said: "The figures, letters and word '31st May, 2017', the figures, letters and word '30th September, 2017' shall be substituted." The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched last year, had proposed issue of free LPG connections to 50 million poor households, with a view to providing clean cooking fuel for poor women. The government claims to have provided 26 million free LPG connections so far. Once enrolled for Aadhaar, the beneficiary can apply for free LPG connection by providing the enrolment ID slip or a copy of such a request. Such application will have to be accompanied by one of the government identification documents like bank passbook with photograph, election voter ID, ration card, permanent account number (PAN), passport, driving licence, kisan photo passbook or a certificate of identity having a photo issued by a gazetted officer on an official letterhead, it said. The ministry has asked state-owned fuel retailing firms to facilitate enrolment of beneficiaries for biometric identification number, Aadhaar. The government currently provided 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates per household in a year. Those who need more than 12 cylinders a year will have to buy the fuel at market rates. Pak terrorist Hafiz Saeed enters politics with new party Hafiz Saeed, founder of the banned militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba has entered politics in Pakistan by forming a new party on the lines of his Jamaat-ud-Dawah, which is a front for the anti-India LeT that staged the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The new political party, Milli Muslim League, aims at giving militants better cover amid pressure from the international community on Pakistan to crack down on LeT and JuD. For all practical purposes, the Milli Muslim League party will follow the ideology of the JuD, which is a front for the banned LeT and is run by Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 attacks that killed 166 people. ''We have decided to make a new political party, so that Pakistan is made a real Islamic and welfare state,'' said Milli Muslim League president Saifullah Khalid. Tabish Qayoum, a JuD activist who will work as spokesman for Milli Muslim League, said the group had filed registration papers for a new party with Pakistan's electoral commission. Saeed, however, could not attend the launch event as he is under house arrest in Lahore, while names of other senior JuD leaders will not figures in the new party to avoid problems at the electoral commission. ''It is now the need of the hour to get your message to the grassroots,'' Reuters quoted Qayoum as saying. ''We demand an immediate release of Hafiz Saeed. Once he is released we will seek his guidance and ask what role he wants in this political party,'' said party chief Khalid. In the past, Saeed has often denounced democracy and the electoral process, saying it is not compatible with Islam. There is a $10 million US bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Saeed, even as Saeed has always denied involvement in the Mumbai attacks of 2008. Saeed has been under house arrest since January after years of living freely in Pakistan, mainly on fear that he may be harmed by the US the way it killed Osama bin Laden. The US state department's country report on terrorism for 2016 issued last month said the LeT and its wings continued to make use of economic resources and raise funds in Pakistan. The new party is intended to provide cover for the militant outfits as well as terrorists owing allegiance to these fronts. Pakistan continues to harbour Islamist militant groups and use them as proxies to wage war on neighbours even as Islamabad denies having any links with the terrorists. The company which Donegal businessman Jim Ferry says has taken over his waste collection business is itself operating illegally, the Irish Times has reported. Mr Ferry is facing a potential prison term for failing to comply with a High Court order last April to clean up an illegal dump he has been operating at Rossbracken near Letterkenny. Last Friday, Mr Justice Max Barrett, who described the case as revolting, gave Mr Ferry until August 22nd to comply with the order, saying he faced a lengthy jail sentence if he failed to do so. The following day, a fire broke out inside a shed at Rossbracken, stuffed with waste that Mr Ferry had been told to remove. The shed was partly destroyed. The Irish Times has established that Wers Waste of Tuam, Co Galway, does not have a permit for the waste facility it operates at Weir Road Business Park, Airgloony near Tuam. Wers , an acronym for Wheely Environmental Refuse Services Limited, claims to operate under licence from the local authority, according to its website. Prior to expanding into Donegal, Werss main focus was a wheelie-bin service covering north Galway, south Mayo and south Roscommon. However, permits to operate a waste facility are issued by individual local authorities and Wers does not have one. A spokeswoman for Galway County Council confirmed that Wers Waste do not have a valid waste facility permit in place at present. She added Galway County Council do not use the facility at present. Wers Wastes website was updated late last week, and a letter to customers, published on the site and dated August 1st, says Wers has acquired the Ferrys Refuse Household & Commercial Waste Collection service in Donegal. Galway County Council did not answer when asked when it ceased using the Wers Waste facility in Tuam and the circumstances of its learning it was illegal. A report examining Australian sleep habits has called for authorities to consider banning tired drivers form public roads. The Sleep Health Foundations 'Asleep on the Job report found that four in 10 adults say they do not sleep sufficiently on a regular basis. It claims that inadequate sleep resulted in more than 3000 deaths in Australia in 2016-17, including almost 400 people falling asleep behind the wheel or dying as a result of fatigue-related industrial accidents. The Sleep Health Foundation says fatigue contributes to around 24 per cent of crashes and that "police departments should devote as much attention to tired and fatigued drivers as they do to speeding and inebriated ones. Just as there are rules forbidding driving at more than a certain speed or after consuming an excessive amount of alcohol, there may be a case for restrictions on driving where the driver has had less than a set minimum hours of sleep in the past 24 hours, although methods of policing this are yet to evolve, it says. Its hard to see how that could work. One possibility could allow highway patrol officers to download snooze data from state-mandated activity bracelets, adding Fitbit examinations to existing arrangements for drug and alcohol testing. Tim Olds, professor of health sciences at the University of South Australia says the report illuminates a public health concern without going into import details such as quality of sleep. Olds says the survey-based self-reporting data offers relatively poor validity compared with scientific studies. What was your first-ever car? It was a red Dodge Dart, a '60 or maybe a '63. It was a huge thrill for me. I think I was 18 or 19. I was living in Los Angeles - the world of cheap cars. It would have been my first year there. I would have got it for hundreds. I adored that car. It was built like a tank. It reminded me of a fire truck. It was in great nick. What happened to it in the end? You know, I've got no idea what happened to it, and I'm a little worried now (laughs). What the hell happened to that? But I drove it for many years. You know, I believe I left for Australia. Some very lucky person would have just inherited my red Dodge Dart. What are you driving these days? I've got a convertible Mazda MX-5. It's black and it's got two seats and it's about six-inches above the ground. But it's probably one of the heaviest cars I've ever been in. I got it basically just to get me from Sydney to the north coast and back when I'm not flying. It holds one bag and one passenger if I really must (laughs). It's only been shared by my border collie since I've had it. I've never had anything like this but I just adore my sweet little roadster. How did you find the whole learning to drive experience? It was as easy as anything because I had watched, with interest, my father driving. It was always a manual. I've always driven a manual. I've never had an automatic. I feel much more in control with my own gears. So the minute I got into the car it was a bit jolty, but I'd watched it for decades and I knew what to do. It took a little bit of practice. But I think the big thing about learning to drive on any level is just the fear factor. Once you realise you're not going to crash, you're good to go. Are you a fan of driving per se? I'm actually a huge road trip person. I really get into styling up the car for a long drive, having the emergency bag in the back full of right-down-to-the-ground espresso and the little Bialetti machine. I love my road trips and I've been a person of the road. You have to make friends with the road when you're in my business. What's your favourite drive? There are so many. There are roads up in Darwin that are just like from another planet, and the drive from Northern California to Southern California along the coastline of course is just extraordinary. My recent favourite is Coffs Harbour to Tamworth, over the mountains and through Bellingen and Dorrigo and all the mountain towns. That was a really lovely day trip. VITAL STATISTICS 1999 the vintage of my Mazda MX-5 2 the number of years I've owned it The lowdown: the revered Canadian-born songstress learned to drive by watching her father from a young age. Career highlights: releasing classic Top 20 hit singles including Token Angels, Let's Kiss (Like Angels Do), The Day You Went Away and Friday's Child; recording albums including Emigre, Lily and The Witness Tree; winning six ARIA Awards. Current project: visit wendymatthews.com for upcoming show dates. Louth is to receive just 8,500 in funding, out of a total of 11 million, that has been approved for Measure 1 rural recreation projects in Ireland. Louth County Council had made only one application for Measure 1 for which it was successful. Last week the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, approved 11 million for more than 200 rural recreation projects across Ireland. Just one of these projects is in Louth, the Carlingford to Omeath Greenway, which is to receive 8,500 in funding, according to the Department of Rural and Community Development press release. Louth's funding was welcomed last week by Dundalk's Fine Gael Councillor John McGahon The 2017 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme involves funding for projects under 3 seperate measures. Measures 1 and 3 were announced last week. Measure 1 awards smaller grants of up to 10,000 each this is the measure under which Louth received it's 8,500. Measure 3 awards funding of between 100,000 and 1 million. 12 projects across Ireland received funding under this measure, however Louth had made no application. Funding approvals under Measure 2 have not yet been announced. This will be announced in Autumn. When small businesses engage with large enterprises, standard form contracts often leave them with no room to negotiate. Small businesses are left with the choice of either accepting terms heavily weighted against them, or terminating a deal that would be valuable for their business. To protect small businesses from backing into a corner, the unfair contracts laws were introduced in November 2016, prohibiting unfair contract terms in small business standard form contracts. The unfair contract term laws allow for clauses within standard form contracts to be considered as void and unenforceable if found to be unfair by a court or tribunal. If considered void, the court may: Grant an injunction Make an order providing redress to the small business Make any other order the court deems appropriate In order to determine whether clauses are unfair, businesses must first ascertain if the contract is: a standard form contract that is presented on a take it or leave it basis such that the contract is not negotiated between the parties an arrangement where one party employs less than 20 people entered into after 12 November 2016, or renewed after that date a contract under the contract value threshold of $300,000 for a one-year contract, or under $1 million for a multiple year contract a term not excluded by the Australian Consumer Law, such as those which set the upfront price payable an arrangement where there is an imbalance in the parties rights and obligations arising under the contract. What does the law mean for small businesses? The problem caused by standard form contracts has been very real for Australian small businesses. The ACCC states that 60% of small businesses claimed to have experienced unfairness in terms and conditions and 44% of small businesses reported experiencing harm as a result of unfair terms. Consequently, the ACCC has listed enforcing the unfair contract terms law and ensuring that small businesses receive the protection of the unfair contract terms law as one of their enforcement priorities in 2017. Sensis recently made headlines for failing to disclose that the 12-month minimum advertising contracts for the Yellow Pages and White Pages directories would automatically renew for a further year, if not explicitly cancelled. Customers faced cancellation fees equivalent to the cost of the remaining contract if they cancelled the renewed contract after a given date. Following the ACCCs investigations and to address ACCCs concerns, Sensis has provided a court-enforceable undertaking to refund customers, publish a notice on its website and agree to modify terms in its contracts in order to comply with the new law. As a result of this investigation, Sensis has amended its processes to ensure that its customers are made aware of its automatic renewal and cancellation processes and that customers are reminded of pending automatic renewal of their contracts. Avoiding similar pitfalls Small businesses should ensure that they are aware of the types of terms that may be considered as unfair. If they feel that a clause or various clauses in the contract fall into this category, they should always try to negotiate and resolve the issue with the other party. Disputes over whether clauses are unfair may also be resolved through an industry ombudsman or a dispute resolution scheme. If the dispute remains unresolved, small businesses may commence proceedings in the state and territory respective civil and administrative tribunal. Small businesses that are considering commencing proceedings in the Supreme Court for a declaration that a contract term is unfair should seek legal advice. Small businesses are also able to lodge a complaint with the ACCC who may commence an enforcement action pursuant to their Compliance and Enforcement Policy. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) enforces the unfair contract terms law in relation to financial products and services. This change shows real progress towards balancing the distribution of power between small businesses and large enterprises in standard form contracts. In many situations, small businesses lack the capacity or legal experience to closely examine contracts. This is illustrated by the fact that 30% of businesses spend under nine minutes reviewing standard form contracts before signing them. To benefit from the small business unfair contracts legislation, which has provided some clarity as to what may be considered as unfair contract terms, small businesses should review all standard form contracts before signing them to ensure that none of the terms are unfair. If small businesses believe that a contract term is unfair, they should try to negotiate and resolve the issue with the other party. About the author Myfanwy Wallwork is Executive Director for Regulatory Compliance at LexisNexis Pacific, a provider of content and technology solutions for professionals in the legal, risk management, corporate, government, law enforcement, accounting and academic markets. United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. RYAN PATRICK NICHOLL, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA, Defendant-Appellee. No. 16-17739 Decided: August 07, 2017 Before MARCUS, ROSENBAUM, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges. Ryan Nicholl, proceeding pro se, appeals the dismissal of his complaint against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (Board) for violating the U.S. Constitution, the Georgia Constitution, federal antitrust laws, and state contract law by charging him for a university meal plan and denying his request to opt out of the meal plan program. Nicholl raises two issues on appeal. First, he argues that the district court erred by concluding that his claims were barred on immunity grounds. Second, he contends that the court erroneously dismissed as futile his motion for leave to amend the complaint. We address each of the issues below. I. Nicholl argues that the court erred by determining that the Board was an arm of the state entitled to sovereign immunity; by concluding that his antitrust claims, his contract claims, and his constitutional claims were barred by immunity; by denying his request for money damages; by not treating his complaint as an in rem action; and by permitting the clerk to enter judgment. Each of Nicholl's arguments is addressed, in turn, below. A. Arm of the state entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity Nicholl contends that the Board is not a sovereign entity or an arm of the state entitled to sovereign immunity. The grant or denial of a state's sovereign immunity defense is an issue of law subject to de novo review. Garrett v. Univ. of Ala. at Birmingham Bd. of Trs., 344 F.3d 1288, 1290 (11th Cir. 2003). The Eleventh Amendment provides that [t]he Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State. U.S. Const. amend. XI. While the Supreme Court has held that the Eleventh Amendment is not jurisdictional in the sense that courts must address the issue sua sponte, it has held that Eleventh Amendment immunity is in the nature of a jurisdictional bar. Bouchard Transp. Co. v. Fla. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., 91 F.3d 1445, 1448 (11th Cir. 1996). Thus, Eleventh Amendment immunity is a threshold issue that should be decided at an early stage. Id. The Eleventh Amendment prohibits federal courts from exercising jurisdiction over lawsuits against a state, except where the state has consented to be sued or waived its immunity, or where Congress has overridden the state's immunity. Cross v. State of Ala., 49 F.3d 1490, 1502 (11th Cir. 1995). Sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment applies both to states and to those entities that are considered arm[s] of the state. Fouche v. Jekyll Island-State Park Auth., 713 F.2d 1518, 1520 (11th Cir. 1983). The Board is considered a state entity that is an arm of the state of Georgia for purposes of the Eleventh Amendment, and, therefore, is entitled to sovereign immunity, unless waived. See Lapides v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Ga., 535 U.S. 613, 616-17 (2002) (addressing whether the Board had waived its Eleventh Amendment immunity in that particular case); Stroud v. McIntosh, 722 F.3d 1294, 1299 (11th Cir. 2013) (describing the defendant in Lapides as the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (an arm of the state)); Williams v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Ga., 477 F.3d 1282, 1301-02 (11th Cir. 2007) (Nor has the Board of Regents waived its Eleventh Amendment immunity.). The district court did not err in concluding that the Board was an arm of the state entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity. See Lapides, 535 U.S. at 616-17; Stroud, 722 F.3d at 1299; Williams, 477 F.3d at 1301-02. Furthermore, as discussed in parts B, C, D, and E, below, the court correctly determined that Nicholl's antitrust claims, contract claims, constitutional claims, and request for money damages were barred because the Board, as an arm of the state, was immune to such suits. B. Antitrust claims Nicholl asserts that the court erred by concluding that his federal antitrust claims were barred by sovereign immunity. The application of the state action doctrine is a question of law reviewed de novo. F.T.C. v. Hosp. Bd. of Directors of Lee Cty., 38 F.3d 1184, 1187 (11th Cir. 1994). [N]either the Sherman Act nor the Clayton Act was intended to authorize restraint of governmental action. Alabama Power Co. v. Alabama Elec. Co-op., Inc., 394 F.2d 672, 675 (5th Cir. 1968). Under the state action immunity doctrine, states are immune from federal antitrust law for their actions as sovereign. Crosby v. Hosp. Auth. of Valdosta & Lowndes Cty., 93 F.3d 1515, 1521 (11th Cir. 1996); see Parker v. Brown, 317 U.S. 341 (1943). The doctrine is grounded in and derived from principles of federalism and state sovereignty. Crosby, 93 F.3d at 1521. The state action immunity doctrine does not apply directly to a state's political subdivisions because these subdivisions are not themselves sovereign. Id. (emphasis in original). A political subdivision is entitled to state action immunity if it acted pursuant to clearly articulated and affirmatively expressed state policy. Id. In Saenz v. Univ. Interscholastic League, 487 F.2d 1026 (5th Cir. 1973), the former Fifth Circuit determined that the University Interscholastic League (UIL), which was part of the Extension Division of the University of Texas at Austin, was a governmental entity outside the ambit of the Sherman Act. Saenz, 487 F.2d at 1027-28 (citing Alabama Power, 394 F.2d at 675). Because the University of Texas at Austin was inarguably a state agency or governmental body, the Fifth Circuit inquired into the extent to which the UIL was connected to the university in order to determine if it was imbued with ample characteristics to warrant the determination that the organization is an agency of the State of Texas. Id. The Court concluded that the UIL was an integral part of the university and, thus, immune from suit under federal antitrust law. Id. at 1028. The Fifth Circuit further noted that this shield of immunity, of course, is not limited to governmental agencies alone but extends as well to officers or agents of the State. Id. The district court correctly determined that the Board was immune from Nicholl's claims that relied on federal antitrust law. As an arm of the state, the Board is outside the ambit of Nicholl's Sherman Act and Clayton Act claims, and the court properly concluded that such claims were barred. See Saenz, 487 F.2d at 1028. C. Contract claims Nicholl argues that although Georgia only waived immunity from contract actions in state court, the Board never had sovereign immunity that needed to be waived for actions in federal court. Even if the Eleventh Amendment did apply, Nicholl argues, the Board's ability to contract in its own name, rather than in Georgia's name, makes it a distinct entity from the state and not an arm of the state for purposes of contract actions. Georgia has not waived its Eleventh Amendment immunity from suit in federal court for breach of contract claims. Barnes v. Zaccari, 669 F.3d 1295, 1308 (11th Cir. 2012). We explained in Barnes: The Georgia constitution waives the state's sovereign immunity for actions ex contractu. Ga. Const. art. I, 2, IX(c). Similarly, the Georgia Code also waives the state's sovereign immunity for breach of contract claims. Ga. Code 50-21-1(a). But neither provision expressly consents to suits in federal court. In fact, Georgia expressly retained its Eleventh Amendment immunity from such claims. Following the waiver of sovereign immunity in the Georgia constitution, a separate subsection provides that: No waiver of sovereign immunity under this Paragraph shall be construed as a waiver of any immunity provided to the state or its departments, agencies, officers, or employees by the United States Constitution. Ga. Const. art. I, 2, IX(f). Eleventh Amendment immunity is an immunity provided by the United States Constitution. Additionally, the waiver in the Georgia Code states that venue with respect to any [breach of contract] action shall be proper in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia. Ga. Code 50-21-1(b) [A] state can consent to suit in its own courts without consenting to suit in federal court. And that is exactly what Georgia did when it enacted 50-21-1. Id. at 1308-09. The court correctly concluded that Nicholl's contract claims were barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity. See Barnes, 669 F.3d at 1308-09. Georgia has not waived its sovereign immunity from suit in federal court for such claims, and, thus, the proper forum for Nicholl's contract claims is in Georgia state court, not federal court. See id. D. Constitutional claims Nicholl asserts that the court erred by categorizing his constitutional claims under a 42 U.S.C. 1983 action. He argues that he has the right to contest the legality of the money that he was charged under his right to due process and right to petition the government for redress of grievances. He states that the Board has taken his money without any due process and for no reason, and it should not be able to claim sovereign immunity to prevent it from having to return the money. Nicholl further contends that a takings or due process claim should prevail over sovereign immunity since the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified after the Eleventh Amendment. Section 1983 provides a remedy for the deprivation of federal civil rights by a person acting under color of state law. See 42 U.S.C. 1983; Griffin v. City of Opa-Locka, 261 F.3d 1295, 1303 (11th Cir. 2001). However, while [s]ection 1983 provides a federal forum to remedy many deprivations of civil liberties, it does not provide a federal forum for litigants who seek a remedy against a State for alleged deprivations of civil liberties. The Eleventh Amendment bars such suits, unless the immunity is waived or overridden. Will v. Mich. Dep't of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 66 (1989). Congress has not abrogated states' immunity from 1983 suits, nor has the Board waived its Eleventh Amendment immunity. Williams, 477 F.3d at 1301-02. Under the Ex Parte Young doctrine, a suit requesting injunctive relief on a prospective basis for an ongoing constitutional violation against a state official in her official capacity is not a suit against the state, and, accordingly, does not violate the Eleventh Amendment. Grizzle v. Kemp, 634 F.3d 1314, 1319 (11th Cir. 2011); see Ex Parte Young, 209 U.S. 123 (1908). However, the Ex Parte Young exception to sovereign immunity has no application in suits against the States and their agencies, which are barred regardless of the relief sought. Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Auth. v. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., 506 U.S. 139, 146 (1993). A Fifth Amendment Takings Clause claim does not become ripe for review in federal court unless the state provides no procedure for obtaining just compensation. Bickerstaff Clay Prod. Co. v. Harris Cty., Ga. By & Through Bd. of Comm'rs, 89 F.3d 1481, 1490-91 (11th Cir. 1996) (citing Williamson Cty. Reg'l Planning Comm'n v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City, 473 U.S. 172, 195 (1985)). Under Georgia law, such a procedure exists. Id. Here, the district court correctly dismissed Nicholl's constitutional claims against the Board. In order to avoid Eleventh Amendment immunity for his alleged deprivations of civil liberties, Nicholl needed to seek injunctive relief against a state official in his or her official capacity, because the Ex Parte Young exception does not apply to Nicholl's claims against the Board, which is an arm of the state. See Puerto Rico Aqueduct, 506 U.S. at 146; part A, supra. Inasmuch as Nicholl presented a Fifth Amendment takings claim, the claim was not ripe for review in federal court because Georgia offers a procedure for obtaining just compensation. See Bickerstaff, 89 F.3d at 1490-91. E. Request for money damages Nicholl contends that money damages are not barred because if the court were to rule in his favor, the Board would merely be returning money that it never lawfully owned, and recovered money, as opposed to taken money, may be awarded as damages. Citing Ward v. Bd. of Cty. Comm'rs of Love Cty., Okl., 253 U.S. 17 (1920), Nicholl asserts that when a political subdivision acquires money unlawfully, it remains obligated to return that money. Under the Eleventh Amendment, states are immune from money damages in 1983 suits. Tuveson v. Fla. Governor's Council on Indian Affairs, Inc., 734 F.2d 730, 732 (11th Cir. 1984). In Ward, the Supreme Court reversed the Oklahoma Supreme Court's refusal to award a refund for an unlawful tax that was levied by coercive means. Ward, 253 U.S. at 23-25. The county that levied the tax threatened to sell the lands of the claimants if the tax was not paid. Id. at 23. The court correctly concluded that Nicholl could not recover money damages. Nicholl cannot not seek such damages through a 1983 action, see Tuveson, 734 F.2d at 732, and Nicholl's only other contention is that he could recover the money under Ward. However, unlike in Ward, Nicholl was not coerced into paying a tax by threat of losing the taxed property. See Ward, 253 U.S. at 23. Accordingly, Ward does not provide Nicholl with a vehicle to recover money damages from the Board. F. In rem jurisdiction Nicholl argues that, even if sovereign immunity does apply, it does not block the court's in rem jurisdiction to decide the ownership of the money he was charged for the meal plans. We generally do not consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal. Narey v. Dean, 32 F.3d 1521, 1526 (11th Cir. 1994). There are five exceptions in which we will consider an issue that was not first raised in the district courts: (1) the issue involves a pure question of law, and refusal to consider it would result in a miscarriage of justice; (2) the appellant raises an objection to an order that he had no opportunity to raise at the district court level; (3) the interest of substantial justice is at stake; (4) the proper resolution is beyond any doubt; and (5) the issue presents significant questions of general impact or of great public concern. Id. at 1526-27. Nicholl's argument regarding in rem jurisdiction of the court was not raised below in Nicholl's amended complaint, response to the motion to dismiss, or motion to vacate or for leave to amend, and, thus, we decline to consider the argument. See Narey, 32 F.3d at 1526-27. To the extent that Nicholl argues that he could amend his complaint to an in rem action, his argument is discussed in issue 2, below. G. Entry of judgment Nicholl argues that the court erred by permitting the clerk to enter the written judgment. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(b) addresses when the clerk may enter judgment without the court's direction and when the court's approval is required. Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(b). Rule 58(b)(1) states that the clerk must, without awaiting the court's direction, promptly prepare, sign, and enter the judgment when the court denies all relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(b)(1)(C). The court did not err by permitting the clerk to enter the judgment in Nicholl's case, as the court's order dismissing all of Nicholl's claims denied all relief to Nicholl. Hence, the clerk was required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to prepare, sign, and enter the judgment without awaiting the court's direction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(b)(1)(C). II. Nicholl argues that the court erred by denying his request for leave to amend the complaint, assuming that it was defective, because he could have clearly correct[ed] the complaint by altering the style of the action to an in rem or quiet title action, even if sovereign immunity would otherwise bar the action. He also asserts that it would not have been futile to amend the complaint because he could have saved the complaint from dismissal by changing the way the Defendant is named , regardless of whether sovereign immunity barred the complaint. We review a district court's order denying a motion for leave to amend for abuse of discretion, although we review de novo the underlying legal conclusion of whether a particular amendment to the complaint would be futile. Chang v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 845 F.3d 1087, 1093-94 (11th Cir. 2017). Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a district court should freely give leave to amend a complaint when justice so requires. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). But a district court may properly deny leave to amend the complaint under Rule 15(a) when such amendment would be futile, such as when the complaint as amended is still subject to dismissal. Chang, 845 F.3d at 1094. To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). To state a plausible claim for relief, a plaintiff must go beyond merely pleading the sheer possibility of unlawful activity by a defendant and so must offer factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Id. The court did not err by denying the motion for leave to amend because Nicholl does not show that any proposed amendment would have avoided dismissal. See Chang, 845 F.3d at 1094. Even if Nicholl amended his complaint to name state officials under the Ex Parte Young exception and sought a prospective injunction, Nicholl would still need to show that there is more than the sheer possibility of ongoing constitutional violations by offering factual content that allows a court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged, and Nicholl fails to do so. See Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 678; Grizzle, 634 F.3d at 1319. Furthermore, Nicholl's contention that the complaint could be saved by being amended to an in rem or quiet title action against the money that was used to pay for the meal plan is without merit because Nicholl does not offer any proposed amendment that could state a plausible claim for relief on either of those bases. Accordingly, we affirm. AFFIRMED. FOOTNOTES . Nicholl's motion was a motion to vacate and for leave to amend. Because Nicholl only argues that denial of his request for leave to amend was error, the denial of the motion to vacate is not addressed. See Access Now, Inc. v. Sw. Airlines Co., 385 F.3d 1324, 1330 (11th Cir. 2004) ([A] legal claim or argument that has not been briefed before the court is deemed abandoned and its merits will not be addressed.). PER CURIAM: United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Shawn Keith HOTT, Defendant-Appellant No. 16-11435 Decided: August 07, 2017 Before STEWART, Chief Judge, and JONES and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges. Brian W. Portugal, James Wesley Hendrix, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Attorney's Office, for Plaintiff-Appellee. Randall Harrison Nunn, Esq., Mineral Wells, TX, for Defendant-Appellant. Shawn Keith Hott pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). The district court sentenced Hott to 120 months of imprisonment. Hott challenges his sentence on appeal. For the reasons set forth below, we AFFIRM. I In 2015, Hott approached an unidentified witness who was using a storage facility in Fort Worth, Texas, stating that he makes guns and silencers. Hott showed the witness firearms, homemade silencers, and ammunition. Hott also displayed bags of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder, which he stated could be combined to explode and level a building. Concerned by Hott's statements and display, the witness alerted law enforcement authorities. Federal agents later entered Hott's storage unit pursuant to a search warrant and seized thousands of rounds of ammunition, along with bags of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder. A subsequent search of Hott's RV pursuant to a search warrant revealed firearms, silencers, and more ammunition. Hott was indicted for one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). Pursuant to U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(a)(3), the Presentence Report (PSR) calculated Hott's base offense level to be 22 based on a prior Texas felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. The PSR added four levels under U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(b)(1)(B) based on the amount of firearms involved in the offense. The PSR also added four levels under U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) because Hott used or possessed a firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense. Finally, the PSR recommended that Hott did not qualify for a sentence reduction based on acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. 3E1.1(a). The Sentencing Guidelines range was calculated as 135 to 168 months, but because the statutory maximum sentence was ten years, the Guidelines range became 120 months. The district court sentenced Hott to 120 months. II A. First, Hott contends that the district court erred in imposing the 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) enhancement for using or possessing a firearm in connection with another felony offense. He raised this objection before the district court, which overruled the objection. We review the district court's application of the enhancement de novo and its factual findings for clear error. See United States v. Coleman, 609 F.3d 699, 708 (5th Cir. 2010). The enhancement applies if the firearm or ammunition facilitated, or had the potential of facilitating, another felony offense or another offense. U.S.S.G. 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(A). The district court imposed the enhancement on the basis that Hott possessed silencers in connection with another felony offense, namely, manufacturing and selling silencers in violation of the National Firearms Act. See United States v. Anderson, 885 F.2d 1248, 1250-51 (5th Cir. 1989) (en banc) (explaining that a silencer is considered a firearm under the National Firearms Act). The silencers were not cited in the offense of conviction. If the firearm used to support the enhancement is not a firearm cited in the offense of conviction, the enhancement applies if the offense of conviction and another felony offense were part of the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan. See U.S.S.G. 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(E)(ii). Hott argues that his possession of the firearm and ammunition cited in the offense of conviction did not facilitate or have the potential of facilitating his manufacture or sale of silencers. But the relevant inquiry here is whether his possession of the silencers not cited in the offense of conviction facilitated or had the potential of facilitating the unlawful manufacture or sale of silencers. See id. cmt. n.14(A) & n.14(E)(ii). The district court did not err in concluding that Hott's conduct meets the requirements. B. Second, Hott argues that the district court plainly erred by adopting the PSR's recommendation that he should not be given a sentence reduction under U.S.S.G. 3E1.1(a) for acceptance of responsibility. A defendant may receive a two-level reduction in offense level if he clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense. U.S.S.G. 3E1.1(a). This court will affirm a sentencing court's decision not to award a reduction unless it is without foundation, a standard of review more deferential than the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Juarez-Duarte, 513 F.3d 204, 211 (5th Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting United States v. Anderson, 174 F.3d 515, 525 (5th Cir. 1999)). During a presentence interview, Hott was adamant that the firearms and ammunition belonged to the defendant's roommate and coworker who lived with the defendant in his RV. Hott does not show plain error and, in any event, the district court had foundation to deny the reduction. C. Third, Hott contends that the government selectively and vindictively prosecuted him, citing the government's enforcement of marijuana laws. Hott's argument lacks adequate legal support. Moreover, Hott waived this argument by entering an unconditional guilty plea. D. Finally, Hott argues that the district court erred by imposing a base offense level of 22 pursuant to U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(a)(3), which requires a previous felony conviction for a crime of violence or controlled substance offense. Because he did not object to application of 2K2.1 below, we review for plain error. See United States v. Shepherd, 848 F.3d 425, 427 (5th Cir. 2017). To satisfy plain error review, Hott must demonstrate that an error was clear or obvious and that it affected his substantial rights. See Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135, 129 S.Ct. 1423, 173 L.Ed.2d 266 (2009). Substantial rights are affected when there is a reasonable probability that, but for the error, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different. Molina-Martinez v. United States, U.S. , 136 S.Ct. 1338, 1343, 194 L.Ed.2d 444 (2016) (internal quotation marks omitted). This court has discretion to correct a plain error only if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id. (quoting United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 736, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993)). The district court imposed a base offense level of 22 based on its determination that Hott committed the instant offense subsequent to a Texas felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. This court recently held that Texas possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance does not qualify as a controlled substance offense under the Guidelines. See United States v. Tanksley, 848 F.3d 347, 351-52 (5th Cir.), supplemented by 854 F.3d 284 (5th Cir. 2017). Based on Tanksley, the Government concedes error in calculation of the Guidelines range. Hott still must show a reasonable probability that, but for the [Guidelines calculation] error, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different. Molina-Martinez, 136 S.Ct. at 1343 (internal quotation marks omitted). At sentencing, the district court found after consider[ing] all of the facts and circumstances that the offense conduct as well as the relevant conduct coupled with the defendant's prior criminal history[ ] justify this particular sentence I believe this sentence provides just punishment in this case, affords adequate deterrents to others, and protect[s] the public from future crimes of the defendant. In its written statement of reasons, the district court stated that [e]ven if the guideline calculations are not correct, this is the sentence the Court would otherwise impose under 18 U.S.C. 3553. Our review of the record shows that the district court thought the sentence it chose was appropriate irrespective of the Guidelines range. Id. at 1346-47 (The Government remains free to point to parts of the recordincluding relevant statements by the judgeto counter any ostensible showing of prejudice the defendant may make.) (internal quotation marks and alteration omitted); see also United States v. Castro-Alfonso, 841 F.3d 292, 298 (5th Cir. 2016) (We take the district court at its clear and plain word.); United States v. Bonilla, 524 F.3d 647, 656-57 (5th Cir 2008) (finding no reasonable probability of different sentence despite erroneous enhancement where district court stated that even if Guidelines calculation were wrong, this is the sentence that I would impose in any event). Hott fails to show a reasonable probability of a different outcome and does not satisfy plain error review. III The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. FOOTNOTES . Hott relatedly argues that the district court erred in failing to adequately explain its written statement that [e]ven if the guideline calculations are not correct, this is the sentence the Court would otherwise impose under 18 U.S.C. 3553. This statement was consistent with the district court's oral pronouncement of the sentence based on the 3553 factors of punishment, deterrence, and protection of the public at sentencing. EDITH BROWN CLEMENT, Circuit Judge: United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CHARLES B. WEATHERMAN, Defendant-Appellant. No. 17-1354 Decided: August 07, 2017 Before DIANE P. WOOD, Chief Judge WILLIAM J. BAUER, Circuit Judge JOEL M. FLAUM, Circuit Judge ORDER Charles Weatherman entered a conditional guilty plea to one count of possessing child pornography, 18 U.S.C. 2252A(a)(5)(B), after authorities executing a search warrant at his home turned up child pornography on his electronic devices. On appeal Weatherman claims that the district court should have granted his motion to suppress, which argued that the affidavit supporting the search warrant was deficient because the investigator did not attach the images of child pornography he expected to find or include a description of those images. Whether or not the affidavit was deficient, however, we conclude that the search warrant was executed in good faith. On that basis we uphold the denial of Weatherman's motion to suppress. In March 2015, FBI special agent Tyrone Forte applied for a warrant to search Weatherman's home on suspicion that Weatherman possessed child pornography. Agent Forte supported his application with an affidavit explaining that he had worked at the FBI for 24 years, the last 10 investigating violent crimes against children. After explaining his knowledge of the ways in which child pornography is produced, possessed, and traded over the Internet, Forte described the course of the FBI's investigation into the production and distribution of child pornography by Jason Carpenski, a Maryland resident. That investigation had led investigators to Weatherman. Agent Forte explained that Carpenski had been indicted on charges of producing, possessing, and distributing child pornography. See 18 U.S.C. 2251(a), 2252(a)(2), 2252A(a)(5)(B). Carpenski had admitted taking an illicit photo of a minor and sharing it through email and a Craigslist post. According to Forte, a search of Carpenski's email account revealed he had sent at least one image of child pornography to several other accounts, including mrscarrierobert@yahoo.com and kendrahammer94@yahoo.com. One image in particular, titled CAM00313, was sent to both of those addresses. Someone using the kendrahammer94@yahoo.com address responded to Carpenski's email with eight more images. Seven of those, Forte declared, were child pornography. And someone using the mrscarrierobert@yahoo.com address sent Carpenski two images that Forte also characterized as child pornography. Based on Yahoo! subscriber data, Agent Forte came to believe that Weatherman was the man behind the two email accounts, kendrahammer94@yahoo.com and mrscarrierobert@yahoo.com. These accounts had been opened within a month of each other and most recently had been accessed from the same Internet Protocol address. Forte traced that IP address to subscribers Virginia and Terry Weatherman at 703 Prairie Street in Altamont, Illinois. Public records showed that Terry Weatherman was deceased, though a Charles Weathermen also resided at the same address. Public records further linked Charles Weatherman to another address in Altamont, 201 Clover Street. The residence at that address was abandoned, but over the course of several days investigators saw a van registered to Charles Weatherman parked at 703 Prairie Street. Agent Forte's suspicions were heightened when he investigated Charles Weatherman's Facebook profile. His Facebook page identifies as friends Kendralynn Hammer and Carrie Robertsnames corresponding with the email addresses that received images from Carpenski. The Facebook accounts had been opened around the same time as the email accounts, and the Facebook page for Hammer includes a photo depicting Kenralynn Hammer as a young woman who, according to Forte, was possibly 17 years old. Neither page had much activity, Forte said, but the profiles listed one anotherand Charles Weathermanas friends. The page for Hammer was captioned I'll be your little naughty angel, while the Roberts page was captioned My Angel. Agent Forte believed these accounts were fictitious and explained his understanding that persons have used phony Facebook accounts to target and gain access to unsuspecting young boys and girls in order to begin the grooming process. Forte further described his knowledge that certain individuals use these fictitious accounts to find other adults with their same interests to either validate their own inappropriate actions toward juveniles or to begin to trade images, movies or recounted stories of sex with minors to satisfy their sexual desires. Weatherman's Facebook page revealed connections with additional profiles that Agent Forte suspected were fictitious. These other profiles purported to represent young women with sexually suggestive overtones such as bondage, incest, nudist communities and role playing. Several of the accounts had been accessed from the same two or three IP addresses, meaning that, on multiple occasions, the same computer and wireless connection had been used to log in to each account. Based on this information, a magistrate judge issued a search warrant for the residence at 703 Prairie Street. Federal agents executed that warrant and seized computers, thumbdrives, and other electronic devices. Forensic analysis uncovered child pornography, leading to Weatherman's indictment for possessing child pornography, 18 U.S.C. 2252A(a)(5)(B). Weatherman moved to suppress those images on the ground that the search warrant was not supported by probable cause because Agent Forte's affidavit does not describe the suspected images of child pornography. Weatherman further argued that the agents who executed the warrant would have known that the supporting affidavit fails to demonstrate probable cause, and thus the government could not rely on the good-faith exception to defeat his motion to suppress. The district court denied Weatherman's motion. The court acknowledged that the magistrate judge was not entitled to rely on Agent Forte's conclusory statements characterizing as child pornography the photos sent by Carpenski to the email addresses believed to be operated by Weatherman. But, the court concluded, even without those conclusory statements, the affidavit establishes probable cause to believe that Weatherman possessed child pornography. The court pointed to the fact that Carpenski had been indicted for producing, possessing, and distributing child pornography and that Carpenski had sent images to email accounts traced to Weatherman. Not only had a grand jury determined that Carpenski produced child pornography, but Carpenski himself had admitted taking a pornographic image of a minor and sending it to others by email. The court further noted the pattern of suspicious Facebook and email personas likely created by Weatherman, which, in Forte's training and experience, indicated an interest in the sexual activity of children. Thus concluding that the affidavit supports a finding of probable cause, the district court declined to address whether the agents who executed the warrant had acted in good-faith reliance on the issuing judge's determination. Weatherman entered a conditional guilty plea, reserving his right to challenge the suppression ruling on appeal. He was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment and 5 years' supervised release. On appeal Weatherman renews his contention that the search-warrant affidavit does not establish probable cause. He argues in his brief that a search warrant affidavit seeking authority to search for evidence of child pornography offenses must contain either the actual images suspected of being child pornography or a detailed verbal description of them. But at oral argument, Weatherman's counsel conceded that our precedent does not require that every affidavit supporting a search warrant in a child-pornography case be accompanied by an image or detailed description of an image. See United States v. Clark, 668 F.3d 934, 94041 (7th Cir. 2012); United States v. Lowe, 516 F.3d 580, 586 (7th Cir. 2008). Indeed, such an argument would fail. Our precedent requires that if a probable-cause determination is based on an affiant's knowledge that a suspect produced, possessed, or distributed specific images of child pornography, the issuing judge must independently determine whether those images meet the legal definition of child pornography. See Clark, 668 F.3d at 94041. The judge cannot accept at face value the affiant's characterization of those images as child pornography but, instead, must either examine the images or evaluate detailed verbal descriptions. Id. at 941; see Lowe, 516 F.3d at 586. The reason for this rule is that identifying images as child pornography will almost always involve, to some degree, a subjective and conclusory determination on the part of the viewer which must be made by the judge, not the affiant. United States v. Pavulak, 700 F.3d 651, 661 (3d Cir. 2012) (quotations marks and citations omitted); see also Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 239 (1983) (Sufficient information must be presented to the magistrate to allow that official to determine probable cause; his action cannot be a mere ratification of the bare conclusions of others.). If the determination of probable cause is based on more than just an affiant's conclusory characterization of an image as child pornography, however, a search warrant will not be invalid simply because the supporting affidavit lacks a reproduction of the image or a description. Rather, a reviewing court may look to the other facts contained in the affidavit to see if those facts could establish probable cause without the conclusory references to child pornography. Clark, 668 F.3d at 941. In Clark we did just that, concluding that the affidavit still established probable cause because there was evidence that the defendant had sexually assaulted at least three children and used a computer in at least one of those instances. Id. Excising all conclusory references to child pornography from the affidavit in this case leaves us with a thin set of facts from which to determine whether probable cause existed. The affidavit states that Carpenski, a man who admitted producing child pornography and emailing it to others, sent several images to two email addresses traced to Weatherman. Each email address incorporates a woman's nameKendra Hammer and Carrie Robertscorresponding to a Facebook profile listed as a friend on Weatherman's own Facebook page. Both profiles had been accessed from an IP address assigned to a computer in Weatherman's home. Agent Forte averred that, given his expertise, he believed the Facebook pages were fictitious accounts of the type typically used by persons trying to find and gain access to young boys and girls and to connect with other adults with similar interests in sexual activity with minors. The district court concluded that these facts were just enough to establish probable cause, and Weatherman raises several challenges to that determination. But even if the affidavit is insufficient to support probable cause, the information it includes is enough to justify the executing agents' good-faith reliance on the warrant. Suppression of evidence is not an appropriate remedy for a deficient search warrant where the agent who executed the warrant did so with a good-faith belief that the warrant was supported by probable cause. See United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897 (1984). Agent Forte's decision to seek a warrant is prima facie evidence of good faith. See United States v. Woolsey, 535 F.3d 540, 54647 (7th Cir. 2008). To rebut that presumption, Weatherman was required to show that either the issuing judge abandoned his role as a neutral and detached arbiter, that the officers were dishonest or reckless in preparing the supporting affidavit, or that the affidavit was so lacking in probable cause that no officer could have relied on it. United States v. Mykytiuk, 402 F.3d 773, 777 (7th Cir. 2005). Weatherman argues that, because Clark's requirements were clear when Forte drafted his affidavit, his omission of the images or a description constituted disregard for, or ignorance of, clearly established circuit law. He further argues that the affidavit obviously is lacking in probable cause, such that the agents' reliance on it was unreasonable. Agent Forte reasonably could have believed that probable cause was established simply based on the fact that Weatherman had exchanged images with a known producer of child pornography. This is especially plausible given the agent's suspicions (which Weatherman never has refuted) that Weatherman had created several false Facebook personas and email addresses in an attempt to either groom unsuspecting minors to participate in sexually explicit activities or to connect with other collectors of child pornography. Moreover, the description in Carpenski's indictment of the same photo referenced in the warrant affidavitCAM00313makes clear that the image is child pornography, so there is no credible argument that the warrant affidavit was intended to mislead by omitting that description. See Indictment, United States v. Carpenski, No. 14-CR-461-CCB (D. Md. October 1, 2014), ECF No. 1. The indictment specifically references the photo entitled CAM00313 as the basis for the production charge, and describes the image as depicting Carpenski touching the genitalia of Jane Doe, a minor female, less than twelve years of age. See Indictment, United States v. Carpenski, No. 14-CR-461-CCB (D. Md. October 1, 2014), ECF No. 1. Although leaving the description out of the warrant affidavit may have been sloppy, the omission did not render the warrant so obviously lacking in probable cause (when combined with the other facts) to preclude good-faith reliance on the magistrate judge's determination of probable cause. See Woolsey, 535 F.3d at 547. The judgment of conviction thus is AFFIRMED. 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The group expanded later to include all potential emergency challenges which could impact the community. Chairman Steven Quinn of Catoosa County Fire Department, said that the group formed the Local Emergency Planning Committee to build professional relationships among agencies, businesses, government, and emergency services. "The objective was to increase cooperation, coordination, and interaction in the event of major incidents such as weather-related emergencies, hazardous material spills, terrorist attacks, large scale fires, and active shooter attacks, he said. Recognized by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the committee develops and implements strategies for response to these incidents on a countywide level, according to Vice Chairperson Lana Duff of Angel Emergency Medical Services. We facilitate training, participate in local drills and exercises such as the flu vaccine drill of 2008 and Georgia Northwestern College active shooter drill, she said. Secretary Jill Van Dyke of Catoosa County Environmental Health said that the organization also seeks and attains grant funding. We supported AED placement in public facilities, created volunteer participation by helping to start the CERT Community Emergency Response Teams and the Storm Spotters programs, she said. Treasurer Randall Franks, Ringgold City Councilmember, said that it is the planning, relationships, and teamwork created by the LEPC that help our community excel in the face of adversity. Whether it is disaster relief after the September 2009 flooding, April 2011 tornadoes, or other emergency incidents, what we hear consistently from agencies outside our community are comments about the seamless way we work together and accomplish what needs to be done, he said. The relationships built, training and planning through this organization helped our successful emergency response after the tornadoes and allowed us to effectively lead the rebuilding of our community. Proclamations by the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners, Catoosa County Board of Education, Ringgold City Council, and Fort Oglethorpe City Council, all denoted the contributions of the organization for its 10th Anniversary while recognizing each organizations employees who contributed to the cooperative effort for the endless hours of dedication to the safety and well-being of residents by all its members. The boards also acknowledged the LEPC board Mr. Quinn, Ms. Duff, Ms. Van Dyke, and Mr. Franks for leading the organization since its inception. "What we do would not be possible without the support of our community through donations and the grants we receive when we are eligible," Mr. Franks said. "We want to express our continued thanks to all who invest their volunteer time and money in making our community safer, and well prepared for whatever may come in the future." The work of the Catoosa County Local Emergency Planning Committee is funded by donations from individuals, businesses, and grants. To support the effort, individuals and businesses may donate to Catoosa County LEPC, 800 LaFayette Street, Ringgold, Ga. 30736 Among the current LEPC members: Angel Emergency Medical Services; Catoosa County Coroner; Catoosa County Emergency Management Agency; Catoosa County Fire Department; Catoosa County Government, Catoosa County Health Department; Catoosa County Public Schools; Catoosa County Sheriff Department; City of Fort Oglethorpe; City of Ringgold; Cornerstone Medical Center; Fort Oglethorpe Fire & Rescue; Fort Oglethorpe Police Department; Ringgold Police Department; Catoosa County Emergency Response Team (CERT); Catoosa County Extension Office; Catoosa County HAMM Operators; Catoosa County Storm Spotters; Colonial Pipeline; Dalton Utilities; Department of Family and Children Services; Erlanger Medical Center; Catoosa Family Collaborative; Georgia Emergency Management Agency; Georgia Northwestern Technical College; Heritage Pointe Baptist Church; National Guard Catoosa County Training Site; North Georgia Electric Membership; Parkridge Medical Center; Puckett EMS; American Red Cross; Shaw Industries; and SRT Safety. (Photo: REUTERS / Olivia Harris)Far-right British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin attends a protest against the killing of a British soldier in London June 1, 2013. Police intervened to separate about 150 far-right protesters from a much larger anti-racism crowd in London on Saturday to stop them from coming to blows over the killing of a British soldier on a busy street. Church of England clergy found to be members of the British National Party or the National Front could lose their right to serve in the ministry as the two organizations' views are deemed un-Christian. Church bishops said the two parties' views are incompatible with the teaching of the Church of England due to the stand they take on "equality of persons or groups of different races." British media said it is the first time that Church of England clergy have formally been banned from membership of any political party. The ban applies to clergy, ordinands, and employed lay people who have "duties that require them to represent or speak on behalf of the Church." Those who defy the ban will face disciplinary procedures. The Church of England is the national church of England and it is part of the 80-million strong worldwide Anglican Communion. A BNP spokesman said, "This is indicative of the way that the Church of England is being politicised. What is written in the Bible and scripture is clearly of secondary importance to the politically correct option that these people adhere to. "Where is it going to end? Are BNP members going to be allowed to be buried any more in churches? Is that where it is going to end? It makes you wonder. It is very sad to see the church go along with this." The bishops' ban came after the Church of England General Synod gave final approval in 2012 to legislation making it "unbecoming or inappropriate" conduct for clergy to be members of a political party with policies declared incompatible with church teaching on race equality. The synod, or national assembly of the Church of England, will now have an opportunity to debate and give formal approval to the declaration when it meets in the northern England city of York in July. If there is no debate, the declaration will automatically come into force at the start of the meeting. A Church of England spokesman told the Guardian newspaper it had not considered including the UK Independence Party on its taboo list. UKIP got the highest number of votes in elections for members of the European Parliament at the end of May. It has faced accusations of racism and been condemned for its anti-immigrant statements during the recent elections, but it is not on the church's list because it was not seen as overtly racist. "I think if you look at both the BNP and NF and their manifestos and declarations it is quite clear they are racist groups," the Church of England spokesman told the Guardian. The BNP leader, Nick Griffin, lost his seat as a Member of the European Parliament in May's elections. The party was also forced to change its constitution after it was found to be discriminatory by the courts. (Photo: REUTERS / Athar Hussain)Employees of Pakistan's biggest television station Geo TV attend a protest against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority after the station's license was suspended, in Karachi May 22, 2014. Pakistan's Geo TV said it was ramping up security on Tuesday after it became the object of dozens of blasphemy accusations for playing a song during an interview with an actress. Pakistan's blasphemy laws have long been viewed as a convenient stick for members from the overwhelming Muslim majority who might bear a grudge against a person from another faith. This week a leading European Parliament member caused a stir when she called Pakistan's blasphemy laws to be repealed and a safe place found for Christians. Christians make up about 1.6 percent of Pakistan's population and they live in constant fear of persecution from extremist Islamic groups in that country because of legal strictures under the draconian "blasphemy law," says Marijana Petir. A Croatian member of the European body, she cited the treatment of imprisoned Asia Bibi when she wrote an article for EP Today, the monthly magazine of the European Parliament. She wrote, "Asia Bibi, a woman from a small village in the Punjab province of Pakistan, caught international attention when she was charged with blasphemy under Pakistan's regressive Blasphemy Law." Her only crime said Petir, was that she was a Christian, "and had sipped water from the same vessel as a Muslim woman of her locality, leading to an argument." A mother of five children, Bibi was to soon realize that this seemingly innocuous incident in June 2009, would change the course of her life. Though she denied the charge of blasphemy, by November 2010 Asia had been sentenced to death by the District Court in Pakistan. "She remains in custody still, and has appealed against her sentence," noted Petir. The Croatian politician is known to be a fervent Catholic and she is also a member of the committee on women's rights and gender equality and has been critical of Pakistan's leadership. "Successive Pakistani governments have allowed radicalized extremist forces to thrive, drastically reducing tolerance within society and depriving minority religious groups the right to live safely and with dignity," she wrote for the European Parliament's own news site. "School textbooks are replete with content that inculcates religious bias in young minds, thereby preparing a future generation that will be rooted in bigotry and intolerance." (Photo: REUTERS / Toby Melville)Clergy members listen during the enthronement ceremony for the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at Canterbury Cathedral at Canterbury, southern England March 21, 2013. The new spiritual leader of the world's Anglicans was enthroned by a female cleric, taking the helm at a time when the troubled church risks tearing itself apart over gay marriage and women bishops. The class divide in Britain between those in the middle and the working class has long been debated and speculated on. But in recent days that debate has shifted to the role of the "State" church in England and Wales, the Church of England and why the working class are shunning it. On August 3 the Bishop of Burnley, Philip North was quoted in The Telegraph newspaper as saying the Church is "abandoning" the poor because middle-class clergy are unwilling to move away from "trendy coffee shops. North launched his critique of Church of England priests who are too wedded to wealthy areas to minister to the poor in a speech made at a Christian conference titled New Wine. "I am astonished at the number of people Jesus is calling to plant new churches as long as they are in Zones 1 and 2 of the London transport system," he said referring to areas of the British capital where the better heeled live. The following day the Church Times, an independent Anglican newspaper carried a report saying the church in the UK is dominated by the middle class. The report said church members "must eschew superior attitudes and empower working-class culture if the dearth of working-class people in their congregations is to be reversed." It cited a new book "A Church for the Poor" published by David C. Cook whose authors, Martin Charlesworth and Natalie Williams, straddle the class divide. "If the poor or working-class are uncomfortable in our churches, we don't need to convert them to our middle-class ways," the authors write. "We need to move out of our comfort zones and accept them as they are." The book has a warning against "an attitude of superiority" and the authors they cite sermons that disparage readers of the populist tabloid Sun newspapers. The also allude to social-media postings by Christians who argued for an IQ test before people could vote in a UK referendum as to whether Britain should remain in the European Union. Churches must "consciously empower the sub-culture of the incoming group," argue the authors. Both authors work for Jubilee , a non-profit group established to encourage the New Frontiers network of churches to become "champions of the poor." Charlesworth, who leads the charity, writes of his "secure middle-class background." Williams, its communications coordinator, grew up in a "very working-class family", but writes that she is now "middle-class in almost every way." "In my case that is largely due to becoming a Christian, copying the behaviour of others in church life, and aspiring for different things in my life as a result," she reflects. Speaking last week, she said that she and her co-author had "really wrestled" with definitions of both poverty and class, and drawn on research and the labels people gave themselves. LABELED MIDDLE CLASS She said she had been challenged about why she described herself as middle-class. "I know that if I said I am working-class, people would say 'No you're not.' But I feel I am working-class because of my upbringing. I identify with working-class values and habits much more, even though I have crossed over to a certain extent." The book says that if every working-class Christian changes to being culturally middle-class, the churches become full of middle-class people, and this leaves working class communities bereft of working-class Christians. "It's okay if people leave working-class culture if they want to," Williams said. "But sometimes, people come to church and there is this pressure, often unspoken, to conform to certain ways of behaving. It's okay if they are biblical, but not okay if it's just saying: 'This is the way we do things, and if you don't conform you won't fit in.'" Latest News ICMAI CMA December 2022 exam form submission date extended The candidates who have not applied yet will have the opportunity to fill the application form for the ICMAI NAAC accreditation will now be in binary terms, check details here Individual programmes offered by a college or an individual department of any university will also have the President Murmu launches AICTE Engineering books in Odia language The Odia language translated books are available at called e-KUMBH portal The Victorian Education Department has announced a major review of the states teacher watchdog following a series of controversial rulings. The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) has come under fire from parents who demanded a review into the institutes decision-making after a Grade 4 teacher, sacked for telling students stories about incest, was allowed to keep his job. In another ruling, a teacher who pleaded guilty to sex offences was deemed fit to continue teaching children. There has not been a review of the VITs governance arrangements since March 2008, when the King Review made extensive recommendations to the then Minister for Education, including that there should be a regular review of the VIT governance structure. The review will look into the appropriate role and functions for the VIT in light of government policies to ensure the safety and protection of children, including the Betrayal of Trust Report and the implementation of Child Safe Standards. It will also respond to other developments in the education sector such as the Excellence in Teacher Education reforms and numeracy and literacy standards. In a statement provided to The Educator, Victorian Education Minister, James Merlino, said he has become concerned in recent months that some decisions made by the VIT did not reflect community expectations. I recently had a productive conversation with the Chair of the Victorian Institute of Teaching to discuss these concerns, he said. I have requested an independent review to ensure VIT has appropriate governance and operational frameworks to meet legislative requirements, and ensure the regulator is functioning as it should. In this last part of the interview that she held with EL BOLETIN, from which have been previously published another two pieces; Ann Pettifor, member of the British Labour Partys Economic Advisory Committee, reporting to Jeremy Corbyn, analyses the last elections and the perspectives for the United Kingdom. Besides, Pettifor shares her impressions after taking part in the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) Summer Course held in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, which was sponsored by Podemos, Transform the Economy, Transform Society. Before, you have explained how people in these times of crisis tend to look for whoever seems to be a strong leader as could be in the case of Trump In this sense, everybody was expecting a great result for May in the last UK elections However, it didnt go that way. Why? I think the Brexit vote was our equivalent to the Trump vote. If you look at the voting pattern, the Leave vote was a vote of almost everybody who didnt live in London, where everybody wanted to remain because they have higher wages, they are very cosmopolitan, etc. But for people outside of London the life is very hard. In our system, if you live in the North East in a poorer constituency, that has voted Labour for a hundred years, you vote Labour and it will make no difference. But in a referendum, if you voted against the government or for the Brexit you would make an impact. Suddenly, your vote counts. And them it comes this election, and Jeremy Corbyn is not a strong man in the sense that Mrs. Lepen could be. He is a good man. People like him because he has no links to the City of London. He doesnt have any bankers backing him. Hes just decent and honest and he is principled. We know hes been against nuclear weapons all his life and he still find it hard to say that he will push the bottom. But what impressed me about the campaign was that what people voted for was the manifesto which was hugely popular. In Britain we are not used to manifestos being sexy and popular. What happened was rather foolishly because somebody leaked the manifesto to say: oh, look at all his crazy policies. But people liked them and that showed that people are not stupid: they didnt vote for the personalities, they voted for the policies. And they liked those policies: they like the NHS, they care about the education of their children, they want security, they want the police to be dealing with terrorism and they dont want people to die in fires in a tower. The electors are very intelligent: They use the opportunity of the Brexit vote to kick the politicians in the teeth, basically; but this time they use the election as an opportunity to vote for policies. The Conservatives policies were pretty awful, fox hunting and so on; but they didnt invest very much in their manifesto cause they also believed that manifestos didnt matter and they just touched strong and stable and all that stuff. For me its a wonderful thing because weve got passed the Blairite era. Blair used to say: Dont worry about policies. Just give them soundbites. They will be decided by the television, not by policies. Thats very patronizing towards the electorate, and this election was an example that is very humbling because you understand that the electors are very, very intelligent. A lot of people are already saying that the Mays government is a lame duck government and that we will have a new election soon do you agree? Its a lame duck government, but one prediction I will make with some confidence is that we wont leave the European Union. How is that? Well, there are two reasons why I believe that. Firstly, the bankers wont let it happen. Theyve got a lot of money and are very powerful. Secondly, the Tory party is now tearing itself apart cause they are a coalition of the very wealthy and the not so wealthy. The Chancellor, Philip Hammond represents the City of London and powerful big corporate interests; and people like David Davies represents ordinary people who thinks that all this immigration is being bad for Britain and so on. And now the Tory Party is tearing itself apart and it doesnt have enough power to keep united. May cant unite the party now. She has been seen to support the Brexit side too much. So now theres more pro Europe MPs in the conservative side. And if you add them with Labour party and with the Liberal Democrats there isnt a vote for Brexit. But Labour doesnt have a very clear position about Brexit neither. Yes, Labour is very ambiguous about Europe but as I was saying earlier, we are all ambiguous about Europe. We all think is a wonderful project, but we dont like the division, the fact that the North is kicking the South. We find that unattractive. Why would you like to belong to a club with bullies in it? So everyone complained about the nature of the Labour campaign on being in Europe, but they reflect more realistically the views of the electorate. In this sense is more representative because the electorate is also ambiguous but now that debates have got deeper about the impact of coming out of the single market, they are changing their minds. Thats what we saw in the election campaign. That said there are many on the Labour benches that will vote with the proEuropean so I say we wont leave. But them, dont you think, that this could generate a populist backlash against the main parties from all that people who wanted to show their anger through the Brexit vote? For me the populist backlash is actually against globalization and not having controls over money, trade flows or immigration flows and just leave it to the market. You cant do that. You have to manage even immigration. Is there enough housing for the immigrants? Is that housing decent? Many of the people that died in Grenfell Tower were immigrants. Thats not good enough. So theres got to be management of this flows of labour, money and trade. You cant just have chaos. So I think that the Brexit, Trump or a lot of the fascist votes in Europe is about that: theres something out of control and our politicians tell us they can do nothing. So if they cant do anything why do we elect them? And people go for somebody that will do something. So do you think that there will be a second referendum? We could have a second referendum. Or it could be also the Lords Before this election the House of Lords had to go along with Mrs. May because of the referendum. Now she doesnt have a mandate to do this. The House of Lords can block. But anyway we think the House of Commons will block as well, so get the legislation through will be extremely difficult. But maybe, even in that case, the EU could say: oh, sorry, too late. Maybe. We are gonna have to mend fences and make friends again, but I think that there is too much economically at stake for both sides. The Germans sell a lot of cars in Britain. And Britain will have to change their attitude to Europe and stop being so arrogant and pushy and come here and lecture all the Europeans about how they should be. But I might be wrong. Im only predicting this because I can see that the House of Commons doesnt have the numbers to get the legislation through. The Europeans might reject us, but I have a feeling that there is too much at stake. For me the big issue is that we have the United States with Trump on the one hand, and we have China on the other and these are both societies which dont share our human welfare values. We have more in common here than we have with the Americans or the Chinese. We are seeing that the Tory party is broken but is Labour ready to be united this time? Thats being fascinating to me. There is a wing of the Labour party called Progress, which is the Blairite wing, and they were financed by Lord Sainsbury, who is one of our millionaires. And last week he withdrew his 256.000 pounds that he gives to them every year. So they now have lost their major funder. So its not just that theyve lost political influences; they are now losing money as well. So I think the Blairites are on the back foot and that they are going to be very humble. If you watched Glastonbury, Corbyn spoke to a vast crowd and them there were pictures of Ed Balls, who was the austerity Shadow Chancellor under the formers leadership, and there he was standing in a queue for the lavatory by himself. So I think that tells you something about the fortunes of the two wings of the party. But whats extraordinary is the number of people that have joined the Labour party. Suddenly, we have the highest membership of any political party in Britain and the Blairites are gonna have to think very hard about their policies and how the public view their policies. But I dont think that we will have the divisions we had before the elections that were horrible. The day before the election, an exblairite MP came on to the television, Charles Clarke, and openly attacked Corbyn. When I was younger I was an activist, and in the old days, if you attacked the leadership, they will put you in jail virtually. It was considered to be a sin and for someone to do it the day before an election is like unbelievable and they have the nerve to do that. No more. Only because the media wont interview them anymore. They dont look at them as if they have any support. Wouldnt Jeremy Corbyn also need to change some things. I was shocked some months ago when all these resignations took place in the Council of Economic Advisors Wren-Lewis, Blanchflower They all resigned because they blamed Corbyn for the fact that the referendum went for Brexit. I found that was outrageous. I dont believe the prime minister should ever have called a referendum on such a complex issue. It was irresponsible. David Cameron was reckless, and the reason he did it was not because of the interest of the country, but for the interest of the Tory party because he had all this Brexiters chipping away at his heels, so to satisfy the Tory party they call a referendum and them they ran a terrible campaign. George Osborne said to the people: if you dont vote to remain, we will double the austerity that you have. You cant persuade people by threatening them. And them they lost the argument and the blame was put on Corbyn. So I would disagree with my colleagues Danny Blancheflower and Mariana Mazuccatto and Simon Wren-Lewis and I said I dont think the campaign was particularly brilliant but to blame him when really this is a Tory party issue, it was tragic. And the biggest strategic error that the Blairytes made was to call for a new leadership election the day after the referendum. We saw the conservative party lying dead on the floor, leaders killing each other, stabbing each other on the back. At that moment, we turned our backs on them and we attacked our own leadership. And that was lead by an MP called Margaret Hodge. That was an extraordinary strategic error on the part of the Blairites, so them we had a painful, slow leadership election and meanwhile the tories recovered and we just ignored them. And the economic advisors made the same error: instead of focusing on where the fault layed, they blamed Corbyn. I dont wanna defend Corbyns leadership as being perfect. Far from it. There is much that I have to complain about the leadership of the Labour party, for example I think that they are very conventional when it comes to Economics. I think that they are quite conservative, I would like them to be bolder than they are and I would like them to pay attention to the finance sector, because they focus mainly on social issues. So Im not defending them as being perfect; but in that environment, if you like to think of politics as war by other means, the enemy is hurting itself, they are all attacking each other and we dont use that opportunity. So thats the biggest mistake you can make in politics, so for the Blairites to recover from that, its gonna be very hard. Could you go a little bit deeper into that? Which kind of economic policies would you like to see from Labour As you know I advise the Labour party and they like to talk about putting up taxes. And I say: No, no, no, you dont need to put up taxes. You know what you need to do. You need to increase employment and about all, you need to increase well paid skilled employment. Why? Because an employee that is payed well pays more taxes and that can pay down your debt. So the best way to increase taxes is by increasing wages and by increasing employment. In the Summer Course, I was listening to a Podemos member of Parliament (in Madrids regional parliament), Eduardo Gutierrez, and he was telling us how shocking are the statistics here for the wages since they have fallen dramatically. Thats whats hurting the government, as well as hurting the banks, as well as hurting the people. So this is like a self-inflicted wound on the government and on the banks. Never mind, the damage that is doing to young people, to the Spanish youth who dont have work or a good work. This is a phenomenon that we have in Britain: our government boast that we have full employment but it means that young people are getting part time, unsecured, and in Britain we called them zero hour contract jobs. And their ambition is to become a barista, to be so skilled that they can deliver big coffee. Well, we would like our young people to have even higher ambitions than that. I appreciate a good coffee, but I want to see young people become architects and mathematicians and engineers and philosophers and artists. So all this complains about the lack of coordination and efficiency from Jeremy Corbyns leadership were just noise or did they have any substance? There was some substance to that, but the thing you need to know is that they had very little resources. I know from the treasury team that when they were elected and arrived to the Labour party offices in the House of Commons, all the computers had been taken by the old team. Petty little things like that. So they had to start from scratch and they have to start employing people and they had difficulties also with the Labour party HQ. So Im not saying they could not have handle it better but it was tough. Now that they have a bigger share of the vote, theyll get more money and theyll become more efficient. So I think some of the criticism was unfair given the toughness of transition. Plus there was a lot of racism with the attacks on them which were really unreasonable with Diane Abbott and so on. I am not for a moment suggesting that they got it all together but what they have are the principles of decency, honest and the electorate is hungry for that kind of politicians. Podemos in Spain has been compared to the Corbyn phenomenon and is even receiving very similar critics against them you have shared a seminar with them, here in El Escorial What are your views about this? To be honest I know very little about intern politics of Podemos and I dont want to comment on them because of that, but what impresses me is that they have these summer schools, that they take these issues seriously. Certainly the advisors do. Im not so sure about whether the politicians are getting a grasp of the economics and of the finances and of the policies that are necessary to make Podemos successful. I think sometimes politics is just to sexy by itself and there is less interest in the hard graft of getting economic policies right, but what I have seen this week is the very seriousness in which they are addressing some of the economic issues and that encourages me but I cant comment beyond that. 11/12/2022 The Native American Pow-Wow is underway at Point Park in Dayton this weekend. It was open on Saturday, and gates will open on Sunday at 10 a.m. and go until 6 p.m. Cost of admission is $7 ... more Former Chief Minister claims police wanted early finish for festival Former Chief Minister and Castletown MHK Tony Brown was previously the chairman of the Castletown Festival Committee. A former Chief Minister of the Isle of Man insists the Manx police are wrong to claim the Castletown Festival doesn't take its safety responsibilities seriously. Tony Brown, who is also a former MHK for Castletown and was previously chairman of the event's organising committee, posted on social media that whoever issued the Constabulary's statement on the event hasn't read the police file thoroughly. The retired politician states that the police have wanted the festival to end by 6pm for a number of years, and the Constabulary insisted the event needed a licence for music knowing it would result in an earlier finish. Mr Brown, who stepped down from his role as chairman last year, says the festival has always worked closely with police, and that their relationship with the Constabulary is good. He adds that the organisers have always supported the police's attempts to crack down on underage drinkers, as well as creating extra entrance points with stewards to allow for further checks. Mr Brown finished his response by saying the lack of music licence doesn't mean the festival isn't taking safety seriously, and that the police's statement suggesting otherwise is disingenuous. Beginning in the fall of 2018, Bryan College will offer a four-year Martial Arts Academy program for its students. This new program, led by David Holcomb 94, will serve as a leadership development program designed to provide students with a balanced mix of martial arts training and spiritual formation. To be able to bring together the two things that influenced my life the most my martial arts training and my Bryan College experience is truly an honor, Mr. Holcomb said. Students will have the opportunity to work towards a black belt in Isshinryu karate or their 1st through 4th degrees. The school will also offer scholarships to students based on demonstrated martial arts proficiency as well as financial need. Through this program, which is fully backed by the International Isshinryu Karate Association, students will receive credit for their training and have opportunities to compete annually in weapons kata, empty hand kata, and point fighting. In addition to martial arts training, students will develop a biblical worldview as well as the ability to think and communicate well to others. This Academy will work to improve students physical and emotional well being, Mr. Holcomb said. While students will spend the majority of their time on physical aspects like conditioning, kata, weapons, self-defense, fighting, and body mechanics, the remainder will focus on spiritual and mental aspects. Mr. Holcomb said that his goal is to grow the program to eventually host a collegiate martial arts tournament on Bryans campus. Theres no school in the country that offers this type of program. With this program, you could potentially get a black belt within four years at Bryan College. Bryan College President Dr. Stephen Livesay shares his excitement for the program and what it will mean for the school going forward. At Bryan College, we offer programs that meet the needs of our ever-changing community. This program will not only be impactful for the individual students, but also in positioning the College in a national spotlight. For more information about the program, please visit here. We have more newsletters 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 Armed police have cordoned off a road in Chelmsford due to an ongoing incident this evening (Tuesday, August 8). Officers have closed off access to Langton Avenue, in Melbourne , close to the park. The exact nature of the incident has yet to be established. Witnesses at the scene have reported that three armed officers are at the scene in addition to at least four police cars. There are also reports that a force helicopter has been hovering over the area since around 8.30pm. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story. For the latest news and breaking news visit http://www.essexlive.news/ Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Follow us on Twitter @essexlive - the official Essex Live account - real news in real time. We're also on https://www.facebook.com/essexlivenews/ - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from Essex Live. EU High Representative Federica Mogherini has visited Iran (7 August) on the occasion of the inauguration of President Hassan Rouhani. She reiterated the Unions commitment to the Iran nuclear deal and urged all parties to abide by it. Her comment was specifically targeted at the United States, whose fresh sanctions against Iran attracted much of attention, considering that the EU has indicated its full support for the nuclear deal with Tehran. The White House under the leadership of Donald Trump has recently voiced a lot of reservations over the deal with Tehran. The last batch of sanctions was said to be a response to the claims of ballistic missiles tests and Tehrans support of terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad that jeopardize the stability in the Middle East. Washington said that Iran maintained its steadfast support for the Assad regime in Syria, despite Assads atrocities against his own people. The international community is pursuing the landmark nuclear deal a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and the US, the EU. The deal provides for the restriction of Irans nuclear program, its peaceful use and, in return, the phasing out of Western sanctions. Mrs. Mogherini, who is JCPOAs coordinator, emphasized that the deal was actually delivering against its objectives, which is confirmed by the six International Agency for Atomic Energy reports and by the economic results following the lifting of nuclear related economic and financial sanctions. If imitation is the best form of flattery, Snapchat might be really pleased with Google right now. After copying Snapchats Stories feature, Google is now building a new visual publishing format, based on its AMP mobile optimization technology, which will be very similar to Snapchats Discover feature, the Wall Street Journal has reported. According to the report, which cites anonymous sources, the new format could be launched as early as this week and will be called Stamp; a portmanteau of Story and AMP. The WSJ report says that Google is talking with publishers like Vox, CNN, The Washington Post, etc. to come on board the new program. On the other hand, Snapchats Discovery counts the likes of National Geographic, Yahoo News, Comedy Central, CNN, ESPN, Vice Media, among others as its media partners. The report said that Stamp stories will work as a slideshow including text, video and images and will surface directly in mobile search results and Google products, much as AMP does right now, or they would reside directly in publisher sites. Google AMP was launched last year with a view to reduce load times of news articles while helping publishers increase discoverability of posts. http://www.exchange4media.com/digital/google-news-gets-speedier-with-amp-feature_64165.html Facebook has a similar product called Instant Articles, which it has been aggressively pushing, going as far as to promise publishers help in monetization while allowing them to keep majority of ad revenues from the Instant Articles platform. However, response to Instant Articles has been mixed over the months, with a number of large publishers either opting out of the platform or reducing their usage of it. Meanwhile, Snapchat has been increasing in popularity with users and marketers as it continues to grow market share. In April, it launched its own self-serve ad platform and media reports suggest that the company is now in the process of upgrading the platform with more tools for brands. Snapchat saw 166 million Daily Active Users (DAU) in Q1 2017, an increase of 5 per cent over last quarter. According to estimates, Twitters latest DAU stands at 157 million, up 12 per cent YoY. Facebook reported 1.32 billion DAU for June 2017, while Instagram, which Facebook owns, reported 250 million DAU for the same month. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) Apologies if this isn't the right forum spot to post the Q. I am going to start yet another one of those threads. I have tried to search online and on this forum but the issue I see is the person starting the thread does not typically come back with an update. Background: I was born in India, moved to Australia in 2001, finished up my Masters, CPA, got married in 2006. My wife was born overseas as well and moved to Australia in 2006. She eventually got her PR in 2007. We then moved to U.S. in 2010 June. I seem to remember that she was actually eligible to apply for Australian citizenship the very week we moved to U.S. I did not apply and this is, by far, one of my biggest mistakebut I digress. Our, now 4 years old, was born in U.S. and I have got his Australian Citizenship done. So the question is: does my wife, her PR has expired and we have had a couple of RRVs done for the last couple of visits to Australia, stand a chance to get citizenship via ministerial discretion route? If yes, what should be my next steps? Appreciate any advice, insight and feedback you can provide. Thanks, Hi all! I hope you can help - my friend is Canadian and is on the one-year extension visa to her Tier 4 visa from her PhD. She just got engaged to a British man and wants to get married in the UK before her Tier 4 visa expires in January. Are there rules regarding the timing of her wedding with regards to her current visa? I.e. does she need at least 3 months, 6 months, etc, left on her visa at the time of the marriage? Also, are the rules different in England and Scotland? Thank you in advance for your help! I'm looking for company who can clean my villa for between 4-6 hours a week. Can anyone make some personal recommendations for companies they have used in recent times? If it makes a difference my villa is in Al Satwa. Universities in Britain could lose talented academic teaching staff because there is still no clarity about the rights of EU citizens after Brexit, according to a new report.The Russell Group, which is made up of 24 of top research universities in the UK, including Oxford and Cambridge, says that the lack of progress in talks is causing anxiety and uncertainty and they dont want staff to leaveThe report points out that the contribution of EU nationals to research and teaching at the universities is crucial and more broadly, EU staff and students add to the diversity of campuses and enrich the learning experience for everyone.There are around 25,000 members of staff from other EU countries at Russell Group universities, delivering working on high quality teaching and cutting edge research.Brexit is causing uncertainty and anxiety for EU staff, who need clarity over their future rights as soon as possible. We value our EU colleagues and want them to stay, said Russell Group head of policy Jessica Cole.EU staff, students and universities need to be able to plan for the future with confidence. We urge the Government to secure an agreement with the EU on citizens' rights at the earliest possibility, she added.The report calls for EU nationals who already have permanent residence to be transferred automatically to settled status and argues that there is no need to reassess these individuals' right to be in the UK, as suggested by Prime Minister Theresa May.It also calls for EU students and academics who spend two years or more abroad not to lose their settled status after Brexit and for assurances that students starting courses this year and next can stay and work in the UK after finishing their courses and be eligible for settled status after five years.The report points out that Brexit does not just affect university staff, but also their families who have come to live in Britain. It wants to see an efficient system for processing applications which places minimum burden on applicants and clarity on the rights of families to stay together.What happens after Brexit is also important. The Russell Group says there needs to be cross border recognition of qualifications from both British and EU educational establishments.We have been clear about our commitment to the UK's world class higher education sector. The Government wants to reach a reciprocal agreement for EU citizens in Britain and UK nationals in Europe as quickly as possible, said a Government spokesman.We recognise that there are a wide range of individual circumstances to consider and we will continue to engage with the sector as this work develops, he added. Former San Antonio Express-News President and Publisher Tom Stephenson has been named the first executive director of Symphonic Music for San Antonio, the new nonprofit that will take over operations of the San Antonio Symphony. Stephenson will manage business aspects of the orchestra, including finance and payroll, as well as development and marketing. I guess I failed at retirement, Stephenson said. Ive always had a passion for the arts. Im excited about stepping in and seeing what I can do to help the orchestra remain the world class orchestra that it is. Stephenson retired last year as publisher and CEO of the Houston Chronicle after more than 40 years in the newspaper business. He served as Express-News president and publisher from 2006 to 2012. The Symphony Society of San Antonio, which was founded in 1939, will cease operations Sept. 1. The new nonprofit, which formed in July, will pick up the baton, overseeing the already planned 2017-18 concert season of the San Antonio Symphony, which begins Sept. 16 with pianist Emanuel Ax at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. David Gross served as president of the symphony under the Symphony Society of San Antonio, a role comparable to Stephensons in the new nonprofit. Alice Viroslav, chairwoman of the Symphony Society of San Antonio, said Gross will be moving on from the San Antonio Symphony, and they are working with Stephenson to ensure a smooth transition. Symphonic Music board president Dya Campos said Stephenson was a perfect fit for the new nonprofit, as much for his passion for the San Antonio community as for his experience in leading large and complex organizations. Stephenson also is a board member of the Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation, which owns and operates the Tobin Center. We think that him continuing to play that role in a capacity in our symphony moving forward will be a very positive thing for our orchestra, said Campos, who is governmental and public affairs director for H-E-B. When Stephenson expressed an interest in the executive director position, it was the quick, unanimous decision of our board to accept, and he started to work last Friday, J. Bruce Bugg Jr., Symphonic Music board chairman, said in a statement. Bugg is chairman and trustee of the Tobin Endowment. Hes joined on the Symphonic Music board by Campos and J. Tullos Wells, managing director of the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation. Stephenson and the Symphonic Music board look to right the course of the beleaguered San Antonio Symphony, which has faced financial hardships for decades. In addition to operating in a deficit for much of the past 30 years, the symphony has had to cancel entire seasons, file for bankruptcy and force pay cuts on musicians. For too many years I believe, and I think the major donors believe, that the balancing of the books has put a terrible strain on the musicians, Stephenson said. Theyre very dedicated, and they deserve to be compensated according to their ability. And that takes a business that can balance its budget. rguzman@express-news.net Twitter: @reneguz Proposal For 30-Story Apartment Tower Faces Early Blowback In Gentrification-Weary Pilsen By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 8, 2017 6:33PM Lacuna Lofts (via Jos. Cacciatore & Co. Real Estate), adjacent to site of the proposed tower Amid the Casa Aztlan firestorm and a controversial proposal for Pilsen's most desirable parcel of real estate, any major residential development proposal for the area is virtually guaranteed to come under sharp scrutiny by neighborhood groups. That's certainly been the case so far in terms of the latest plan to emerge in Pilsen. The owner of Pilsen's Lacuna Lofts wants to build a skyline-dwarfing, 30-story residential tower next to his long-running arts/events hall, a move that would require a zoning change. But the Pilsen Land Use Committeethe group that makes recommendations to Ald. Danny Solis (25th Ward) about whether or not to grant such changeshas already pushed back, according to Crain's. "The site is more suited for the creation of industrial and commercial jobs than residential uses," the group told the business paper in a statement. The plan for the $60 million tower near the Lacuna Lofts (2150 S. Canalport Ave) as proposed by owner Joe Cacciatore would calls for 43 units that are priced at a rate 25 percent lower than the other 76 unites, with studios charging $1000 per month, according to Crain's. Pilsen requires that 21 percent of units in a development that requires a zoning change be affordable. The federal standard defines rent burden as paying more than 30 percent of income on housing costs. Despite the early opposition to the development, the neighborhood's most prominent anti-gentrification group, Pilsen Alliance, was critical of PLUC and the alderman's officeneither of which specifically mentioned gentrification. "Let's work together to fight segregation and structural racism, but let's be honest on our conversation and our approach," the group wrote in a post on Facebook. "Unity comes with honesty and respect, we can not justify corruption and greed on the name of unity, we will find unity in our struggle for justice, and we see more and more people joining this fight for justice and equity in Pilsen and across the city." The site is roughly a half-mile southwest of the large vacant parcel that Property Market Group seeks to transform into a mixed-use development, a process which has been marked by controversy, opposition and a rezoning away from residential use. Students in Texas charter schools made larger strides in their reading test scores when compared with peers in traditional public schools, according to a recently published study that reversed previous findings in which charters lagged. Researchers at the Center for Research on Education Outcomes, or CREDO, at Stanford University also found that charters and traditional public schools had an equal effect on students improvement on math tests the first time charters have pulled from behind in a series of studies beginning in 2013. Some of the largest charter networks in San Antonio mirrored the statewide trend. The latest findings could help charter advocates quell criticism about their performance. Opponents of charter expansion often have cited CREDOs research as evidence that charter schools underperform academically while siphoning funding from traditional independent school districts. Were definitely pleased with these results, said David Dunn, executive director of the Texas Charter Schools Association. We think this report confirms a lot of the work our schools and members of our association have been trying to achieve in terms of student achievement. Mark Larson, CEO of KIPP San Antonio, said the report demonstrates that charter schools are steadily improving over time. He said the academic growth might also be the result of the states steady elimination of low-performing charter schools. We have been making a big push to continue to learn from our best teachers and to help to replicate those practices across the organization, he said. Thats great evidence of really hard work of the kids, first, and our teachers. In 2013 and 2015, CREDO researchers found that Texas charter schools had a negative effect on reading and math gains when compared with traditional public schools. Education leaders widely consider CREDOs reports on charter school performance among the most credible. Researchers identify students in charter and traditional public schools who share similar backgrounds race, economic status, English proficiency and baseline test scores. They then track their standardized test scores over a four-year period. In the most recent report, test scores from 2011-12 to 2014-15 were used. CREDO researchers quantify a schools effect by measuring whether their students performed better or worse than their peers from similar backgrounds. Then they translate those results into an equivalent number of days of learning gained or lost by students when compared with an average school. For example, KIPP San Antonio, which enrolled 1,920 students at five campuses in 2014-15, gained 34 days of learning in reading. IDEA Public Schools, a statewide charter network that operated 14 schools in San Antonio for 5,600 students that year, made even greater strides in reading, with an increase of 74 days of learning. Both charter districts had no significant difference with comparable public school students in math scores. A few San Antonio charter schools showed improvement in both subject areas. Harmony Schools, which had three schools in Bexar County, saw reading grow by 40 days and math grow by 68. The Riverwalk Education Foundation grew its academic performance by 34 learning days in reading and 63 in math. Some other local charter networks did not fare as well. New Frontiers Public Schools showed no meaningful gains in either reading or math performance for its roughly 600 students. The same was true for Jubilee Academic Center, whose enrollment reached more than 4,000 students during the period studied, and the School of Excellence in Education, which had an enrollment topping 1,000 students. The latest CREDO study calculated that students in Texas charter schools, on average, gained 17 additional days of learning per year in reading when compared with students in traditional public schools. There was virtually no difference in math. That was a significant improvement over CREDOs findings in 2013 and 2015. Those studies reported charter students lost an average of 14 days of learning in reading and 23 days in math when compared with traditional public school students. The most recent results are positive in two ways. Not only do they show a positive shift over time, but the values themselves are both positive for the first time, the researchers wrote. Although the results were, on average, positive for charter schools, there were large differences in performance among charter school operators. The findings bode well not just for San Antonios charter schools, but for the citys education landscape as a whole, KIPPs Larson said. The goal of charters has been not only to improve, but that schools writ large perform better, with charters experimenting with educational practices and sharing what is effective with traditional public schools, he said. I think this (study) is reinforcing the opportunity for that, Larson said. KIPP San Antonio has been working to improve its math curriculum so its schools can start seeing gains in that area on par with its reading performance, he said. Skeptics of CREDOs study typically offer three main criticisms of the research: It focuses exclusively on standardized test results, encouraging schools that teach to the test; it ignores other advantages of traditional public schools, such as better access to extracurricular activities; and it doesnt account for the fact that charter school students are more likely to have strong, positive parental influence on their education. About 240,000 students attended charter schools in Texas in 2014-15, equal to nearly 5 percent of all public school students. During the 2016-17 school year, 13,111 students were on waiting lists for San Antonios four largest charter networks KIPP, IDEA, Harmony and Great Hearts Academies according to data provided by Families Empowered, a Houston-based nonprofit. Jacob.Carpenter@chron.com Express-News Staff Writer Lauren Caruba contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Under an ornate, arched chapel ceiling, members of the University of the Incarnate Word and Southside Independent School District communities gathered for a Mass last weekend to embark on an unprecedented health partnership. The Rev. Jose Francisco Puente of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a Catholic parish on the South Side, led Saturdays service, for which students from Southside ISD were altar servers. A medical student from UIWs new School of Osteopathic Medicine read a prayer. Southside ISD parents, district administrators and university staff filled the pews. We know that it is not easy to begin something new, Puente told the gathering at the universitys Chapel of the Incarnate Word. But we know that the Lord is with us, and we know that the Lord will guide us. Starting this fall, the community health initiative, anchored by the partnership between the school district and the new medical school, will have students in the schools inaugural class working with Southside staff, students and their families to identify chronic and mental health issues and the socioeconomic factors that often go along with them. Its beyond anything I expected, said Southside ISD Superintendent Mark Eads. I really believe its going to help with the physical and mental health of our students, our families and all thats going to turn into academic success. Its going to change everything. The project is part of the medical schools broader attempt to examine poor health outcomes in San Antonios City Council District 3. That area of the city has chronic conditions like diabetes and kidney disease at far higher rates than the rest of the county and state, according to hospital discharge data from 2011 provided by UIW. For example, 26.8 percent of Bexar County residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, but the figure in District 3 was nearly 68 percent that year. The three-year pilot program is being funded by a $407,000 grant from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, based at the University of Texas at Austin. Officials hope to improve health outcomes for residents while educating future doctors outside a traditional clinical environment, said Anil Mangla, director of public health and research at the UIW medical school and principal investigator for the initiative. If you live in the south (part of the city), your chances of living are 15 years less than if you live in the north, Mangla said. You can look at these disparities in the south, and our goal is to narrow that gap. To do so, medical students will work with the school district and local health care providers to identify families who can adopt medical students for an extended period of time. The students, whose curriculum requires that they spend four hours every week on community engagement, will visit families at home to conduct physical and mental health assessments. They will also create action plans on a variety of health factors, including exercise, nutrition, substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, mental health problems and physical environment. The community health project fits the idea behind osteopathic medicine, which focuses on examining wellness as a whole and promoting disease prevention, Mangla added. These students will actually start learning from month one that a well-being of a person is not just coming into the office, getting treated and leaving, he said. Its beyond the office. Training for the school districts educators, in turn, can help them identify students who might be struggling with mental health or behavioral problems, Mangla said. Additionally, the medical students will hold periodic vaccination events and teach Southside ISD students and their families about health literacy and wellness. Randy Escamilla, spokesman for Southside ISD and director of parent and community education, said parents already have expressed excitement about the community health project. He said the districts boundaries encompass an area that does not have a grocery store but has dollar stores and plenty of fast-food restaurants. Up until this time, the only time you heard of this section of the city was always in a negative context, Escamilla said. This is really about transforming lives and transforming a community and transforming our city. Emily Portillo attended Saturdays Mass with her daughter, Mia Alcozer, 11, an incoming sixth-grader at Losoya Intermediate School. Portillo said she was looking forward to the benefits the partnership will bring to area residents and hopes to partner with one of the medical students, in light of her familys history with diabetes. We need a lot of stuff out there, and a lot of things are changing, Portillo said. This is a really big deal for us. If the project proves successful, Mangla hopes to eventually expand the initiative to other areas of San Antonio. lcaruba@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN A contentious bill giving homeowners more power to resist annexation failed to progress in the House after a procedural hang-up Monday. But lawmakers said they expect a revised version to be back up for consideration by weeks end. There was a defect in the Senate bill as it came over, but we still have time to get it back, said Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio. The challenge is more difficult we were under the assumption this bill would have come out today I still believe we have an opportunity. Annexation reform is one of 20 priorities Republican Gov. Greg Abbott laid out for the special session, which is scheduled to conclude Aug. 16. The legislation would give residents the right to vote on whether they are annexed by larger cities, such as San Antonio. While most of the recent debate has centered on so-called military buffer zones, meant to help cities protect bases from unrestrained development at their borders, the bill was held up Monday by a procedural issue after one section was determined not to meet constitutional muster. The bill voted unanimously out of a House committee last week calls for a 5-mile buffer, but that threatens to be a sticking point with the Senate, which approved a quarter-mile distance last month. San Antonio officials have pushed for the 5-mile zone in line with recommendations in a Joint Land Use Study of San Antonio military bases. In a meeting with Abbott on Monday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he stressed the important, critical need to protect our military installations. (Abbott) agreed with the need to protect bases and again he reaffirmed that we had brought up some good ideas, Nirenberg said. Abbotts spokesman, however, didnt say directly whether the governor favors the 5-mile buffer. In a July 22 op-ed in the San Antonio Express-News, Abbott said using military installation protection as an argument against much-needed annexation reforms, as some opponents of reforms are doing, is inexcusable. The annexation bill has faced the most opposition from municipal officials, worried it will curb their ability to manage city growth, especially around the perimeter of military bases. Annexation has been used to control development around military installations because cities have powers that counties do not to regulate lighting, building height and noise, among other factors that can affect a bases mission. But supporters of annexation reform argue homeowners deserve a say in whether they become part of a nearby city and have to pay associated taxes. The bill now returns to a House committee for more work, which some call a welcome development. Lawmakers, lobbyists and officials have voiced confusion over the currently proposed 5-mile military buffer zone. Some interpret the language to mean homeowners living within 5 miles of a military installation will not get to vote on whether they are annexed by cities. Others contend residents in the zone still will get a vote, municipalities will just get more control over land use in the area. At the same time, some lawmakers are pushing for provisions that would protect annexation agreements that have been reached by communities and cities, but that arent expected to take effect for several years. Those details will likely be ironed out in committee later in the week. It also remains to be seen whether the legislation can make it through the special session. Lawmakers said Mondays delay doesnt automatically spell the bills downfall. We believe there is definitely time; its just a matter of getting it though and getting it voted on, said Nathan McDaniel, spokesman for the bills sponsor, Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels. It still has plenty of time, said Democratic Sen. Jose Menendez of San Antonio, who helped kill a similar annexation bill during the regular session. My only desire is a reasonable bill comes out, one that doesnt put in danger our military bases. AMorris@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Adults might look back at kindergarten with nostalgia for a time of carefree fun, but its first few weeks can be difficult, teachers said at a recent graduation ceremony for 30 kids who spent three weeks preparing for it. Cher Kerlick, the Kinder Camp teacher at Artemisia Bowden Elementary School, said the camp was good for the children and for her. As she prepared them for full-time school, she got to set up her classroom for the start of the school year and assess her pupils academically. It was being offered here, and since it was being held in my classroom, I thought, It helps me, Kerlick said at the graduation Friday at Wheatley Community School. The program, held at three campuses in the San Antonio Independent School District, was funded by a Full-Service Community School Grant from the U.S. Education Department. Bowden is part of the Eastside Promise Neighborhood Program, dedicated to improving low-income neighborhoods with better education and services. There is a huge leap from pre-K to kindergarten, Kerlick said. I dont want them to go in scared. The camp served as a transition in which students adjusted to the school schedule and the loss of nap time. They were able to adjust in a slower-paced environment than that of the regular school year, with a smaller class, an assistant helping their teacher and a slightly shorter day. When school starts, they will be more at ease, Kerlick said. Her assistant teacher, Maria Martinez, said the graduates of the camp will put other pupils at ease, too. For at least the past two years, the camp lasted four weeks, but it was reduced to three this year, Martinez said. Thats sad because this is good for them, she said. They are familiar with the campus and familiar with the teacher. We dont want to overwhelm them. A study from the University of Virginia found that kindergarten classrooms in 2010 carried the same expectations as first-grade classrooms of 1998. We want them to be able to pick up a book and read, Kerlick said. We expect so much of them. I think they need more time being kids. But classes have to be rigorous early on if schools want students to pass standarized tests, she said, adding, The quicker we can get them to read, the easier it will be. Children in preschool programs typically remain in the same classroom and spend most of the day playing and napping, Martinez said. Only the big kids go in (the cafeteria) because they are bigger, said Izybel Segovia, 4. Izybel still has another year of prekindergarten before she has to face the cafeteria line, but she learned a lot at the camp. Congratulations, my friend, Kerlick said to Nevin Ladson, 5, about his improvement from the pre-test at the beginning of camp to the post-test given the last day. You are ready to read in kindergarten. You can go to your teacher and say, Give me a book. The test consisted of reading flashcards up to the number 20 and discerning letters of the alphabet out of order. Nevin will not attend Bowden, but he wanted to attend the camp and he is excited about school, said his mother, RuthAnne Brown. I knew it was going to help him use his energy, for one, and help him excel, she said. I knew they would challenge him. JPolcyn@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, in a meeting with Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday, said he asked the governor to ease a proposal to rein in local officials authority over property tax increases and expressed his concerns about the vitriol generated by Abbotts special session agenda. I told him one of my main concerns is that the level of vitriol and anti-city rhetoric that has been placed on the floor by this agenda has not been helpful, that hes going to have to work hard to unwind some of that and to cool the temperature off. If he does that, perhaps we can find some ways to make this a less damaging agenda for cities, Nirenberg told reporters after meeting with Abbott along with Garland Mayor Douglas Athas. Abbott spokesman John Wittman said the meeting was productive. A part of Abbotts agenda that cities consider particularly damaging is a proposal to institute automatic rollback elections if they raise property tax revenues over a certain amount. The Senate has approved a bill to set an automatic rollback election if cities, counties and special districts raise property tax revenues by more than 4 percent. The House Ways and Means Committee has backed a plan that would institute rollback elections for increases topping 6 percent. Cities and other opponents are fighting to keep the bill from being scheduled for a vote by the full House, saying that either version of proposed changes would hurt their ability to deliver needed services. Both proposals include exemptions for certain items and for smaller entities. Under current law, the threshold is 8 percent, and voters have to petition in order for there to be an election to reduce taxes. Nirenberg said he pitched a proposal to Abbott to exclude revenue that goes to public safety when calculating the rollback rate. I think that its well-known that the bulk of cities budgets goes to items regarding public safety and that if there is going to be a cap to the ability that cities have to raise revenues as they grow, it shouldnt affect our ability to raise revenues for police and fire services, Nirenberg said. For us, its two-thirds of the budget. Asked whether that seemed acceptable to Abbott, Nirenberg said, I wouldnt go that far, but we gave him some things to think about. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who is author of the Senate rollback bill, rebuffed the idea. The mathematics are clear. Two-thirds of the general fund budgets in cities are basically police and fire, Bettencourt said. It is up to the city council to decide how they want to prioritize their police and fire expenditures, but the taxpayers are better served by everything being covered under the limit. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who also was at the Capitol on Monday, expressed a preference for the House version of the rollback proposal if a change is inescapable. We prefer they just leave us alone. My understanding is something is going to come out of the House. If indeed it does, the 6 percent is something we could live with, Wolff said. Bennett Sandlin, executive director of the Texas Municipal League, said Nirenbergs idea would represent improvement but wouldnt be enough to make the bill a good one. Sandlin emphasized, as critics of the measure often do, that school property taxes make up the bulk of peoples tax bills and would be untouched by the rollback measure. School districts already are subject to an automatic rollback provision. Those who oppose extending automatic rollback elections to cities and counties say the real way to address soaring property taxes is by reforming school finance so there is less reliance on property taxes, which would mean putting in more state money. I appreciate the mayor trying to make a bad bill slightly less bad. Our belief is that the bill is not focusing on the real problem, which is school finance, Sandlin said. The property tax measure is one of several to diminish local officials authority that Abbott, who determines the special session agenda, has put before lawmakers. Among others are proposals to restrict local control over clearing trees, issuing permits and protecting transgender peoples ability to use restrooms that align with their gender identity in local government buildings and schools. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who backs the measures, created a stir with a recent interview on the Fox Business Network in which he slammed cities. Our cities are still controlled by Democrats, and where do we have all our problems in America? Not at the state level run by Republicans, but in our cities that are mostly controlled by Democrat mayors and Democrat city council men and women, Patrick said. Thats where you see liberal policies. Thats where you see high taxes. Thats where you see street crime. Asked about Patricks comments, Nirenberg said, Sounds like a statement from a very frustrated politician. And look, at this point, this agenda has made us all frustrated. A September Gallup poll found that Americans had more trust in local government than in their state government. When asked how much trust and confidence they had in their local governments to handle local problems, 71 percent said they had a great deal or a fair amount of trust. When asked about state government handling state problems, 62 percent gave the same answer. One topic that Nirenberg said he didnt discuss with Abbott was the bathroom bill, the proposal to restrict transgender peoples use of public restrooms. Nirenberg had earlier said that he would bring up the topic if given the chance at a meeting. But on Monday like Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said after his own meeting with Abbott Nirenberg said their positions already were well known. Abbott put a bathroom bill on the agenda, while Nirenberg said it unacceptable to San Antonio. We wanted to spend our time on issues where we could move the needle a little bit, Nirenberg said. Also Monday, Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, met to talk about issues after a long dry spell. They had stopped having weekly breakfast meetings with Abbott well before the regular legislative session ended May 29. Patrick in recent weeks had publicly complained that he had been unable to get a meeting with Straus. Abbott and Patrick have been aligned on high-profile issues, while Straus has been at odds with the two statewide leaders on a number of those issues, such as the bathroom bill. The House has passed few of the items on Abbotts agenda as the session nears its end. The speaker and I had a substantive meeting today where we discussed a lot of issues. We are still talking, Patrick said in a statement. Straus spokesman Jason Embry said the two had a good conversation about House priorities and Senate priorities. Abbott and Straus met last week. pfikac@express-news.net Twitter: @pfikac This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Millions of dollars in highway projects will soon change the way motorists commute on the traffic-clogged Northwest Side and far West Side. A new bridge is opening this week near Loop 410 and Texas 151 that offers a way to bypass a busy intersection at Military Drive. And at Loop 1604 and Bandera Road, the Texas Department of Transportation plans to introduce a new route for motorists who want to make left turns from Bandera to the 1604 access roads. Construction on a displaced left turn interchange is set to begin the first week in September and finish within two years. The $7.6 million project is supposed to reduce delays by promoting a continuous flow of traffic. Motorists on Bandera Road who want to turn left at 1604 wont use the traditional turn lanes at the highway intersection. Instead, the new displaced lane will shift traffic to the far left side of Bandera Road before motorists even reach the intersection. Theyll drive like Europeans on the left side of Bandera in their own lane, pass under 1604, then turn left on the access road on the other side of the highway. Its basically an expanded turn-around lane, said TxDOT spokesman Josh Donat. As puzzling as the project might look on paper, Donat said the intersections usually work smoothly. He said the design will be the first of its kind in San Antonio but its been used worldwide, including in San Marcos. They arent confusing at all, Donat said. If youre paying attention to the road, as you should be, they are extremely smooth. You can actually get where youre going pretty dang easy. Not everyone agrees. I think its horrible, said Dustin Claiborne, a motel employee in San Marcos who works near the new type of intersection at Interstate 35 and Texas 80. I take it every day to get over here to work. Claiborne said motorists drive under Interstate 35 and slow down when they prepare to take a left on the access road. Those slow-moving cars merge with traffic thats often moving faster. Working at the hotel, he said he often hears honking and screeching tires. A second project in San Antonio at Loop 410 and Texas 151 will also alter the usual routes for commuters Wednesday night. TxDOT plans to permanently close the ramp motorists use to exit southbound Loop 410 to get on Texas 151 from the access road. Instead of exiting 410 from that ramp, commuters will take the exit ramp for Military Drive. From there, theyll see a lane on the access road that leads to a new bridge that passes over Military Drive, then drops back down to the access road. Motorists will resume their usual route to get on 151. Once you get over (Military Drive), youre basically doing the same thing everybodys been doing for years, said Donat. The old exit for Texas 151 is permanently closing as construction crews continue work on an $82 million jumble of massive highway support columns and sweeping flyovers that will seamlessly connect motorists between 410 and 151 and avoid the access roads altogether. The idea behind the bridge was to accommodate business owners at Westover Marketplace, a shopping center at the highway intersection. It wasnt feasible to keep the old exit open, Donat said, and business owners were worried that the highway flyovers would stifle the flow of potential shoppers. TxDOT hopes the bridge will offer a way for motorists to exit 410, bypass Military Drive and head directly to the shopping center. jtedesco@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HOUSTON In space, bigger isnt always better when it comes to a good nights sleep. On the International Space Station, about 250 miles above the Earths surface, some American astronauts are too tall for their Russian-made sleeping bags. Its a daily inconvenience resulting from the fact that Russians tend to send shorter astronauts into space. The Americans are squeezing into sleeping bags that run a bit too snug. So NASAs making a change and theyre using the work of Houston-area teenagers to help. New sleeping bag liners manufactured by students and recent alumni from the Cy-Fair and Conroe independent school districts will arrive at the International Space Station next month, the result of a unique collaboration between NASA and local high schools. The liners are slightly larger than the Russian products, allowing American astronauts additional wiggle room at night. The lack of gravity in space makes a bed obsolete, so astronauts use a sleeping bag with a sheetlike liner for sleep. Students from the two districts will complete 96 of the liners. Six are in space already. A new batch will blast off next month, and others will get used in training and educational settings. It didnt really hit me until I saw that NASA logo on it, even though Ive been working on these all summer, said Emily Fernandez, a 2017 Cypress Woods High School graduate who is working on the project. The liners are the product of HUNCH (High school students United with NASA to Create Hardware), a governmental program that employs high school-age students to manufacture space-related hardware. Students get hands-on experience crafting real-world products while NASA gets cost-effective labor and an opportunity to connect with the next generation of engineers, researchers and labor. HUNCH has partnered with about 90 schools in 25 states. The agency provides the materials, equipment, training and safety protocols as well as $10 per hour for the students. Recent projects include cargo bags, a storage locker and a galley table, all of which have been used on the International Space Station. The products all undergo rigorous review to ensure quality, as students learned last month during a fit test at the Johnson Space Center. The smallest stain or slightly askew stitch gets noticed by NASA, said Mekayla Hughes, a junior at Cypress Ridge High School. The hardest thing is to be careful because if you snip a hole in there or something, the whole bag can be rejected and you have to restart, Hughes said. At Cy-Fair ISD, the sleeping-bag liner project has been organized through teacher Maureen Thomas fashion design class. Thomas said her students have learned how to sew, read a computer-assisted design layout and execute a long-term project, among other skills. Thomas said her students have completed two prior NASA HUNCH projects modeling and making a cargo bag and a zero-gravity trash can and received plaudits from agency officials. At first they just wanted to see how they were going to work and what quality we would produce, Thomas said. But they said they were amazed at the quality and thought that they fit beautifully. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MISSION Just a month ago, Marianna Trevino-Wright, the executive director of the National Butterfly Center, scoffed at the mere suggestion that President Donald Trumps border wall threatened the 100-acre preserve. Now she isnt so sure. In search of wildlife during a recent stroll through 70 acres of the center, south of a levee that cuts through the property, Trevino-Wright found construction crews clearing trees and brush. Im stunned, she said. Its such a punch in the gut. Earlier this month, the Homeland Security Department disclosed that preliminary preparations had begun for segments of the border wall that would cut through a portion of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, the crown jewel of the wildlife refuge system in the Rio Grande Valley. Trevino-Wright accidentally stumbled upon another possible segment being eyed for the levee that runs through the butterfly center, which abuts refuge land and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. More for you Hundreds of American citizens end up in deportation... Even as speculation swirls about Trumps big, beautiful wall, a picture has begun to take shape. Sixty miles of levee wall and fence would be strung across the Valley, marooning thousands of acres of wildlife refuge lands, historic landmarks and private property on its southern flank. The wall would chop up the habitat for terrestrial animals, like the ocelot, and during a flood it would be impossible for them to escape to dry ground, said Scott Nicol, the co-chair of the Sierra Club Borderlands Campaign. We had hoped that they would respect border residents and our environment this time around, but so far their actions show that they do not. The Trump administration wants to build 28 miles of new levee wall and 32 miles of new border wall in the Valley. Meanwhile, the administration is preparing to install 35 gates to close gaps in existing sections of fence, with $42 million provided in the 2017 fiscal year budget. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has requested funding for numerous projects, including more miles of wall, under the 2018 fiscal budget. The Republican-led House of Representatives last month approved $1.6 billion for border wall construction under fiscal 2018 appropriations bills that fund defense programs. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been preparing for segments of the wall, using a drilling rig to gather soil samples from levees in several areas across the Valley. A contractor placed wooden stakes with flagging, typically at ramps crossing the levee, prior to July 21. Since then, additional soil samples have been collected from locations along the levee, which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor has not performed any clearing or tree removals in the vicinity of the subject location, according to a corps statement. The contractor did place X markings on the ground surface as targets to be visible from an airplane to do mapping. About 650 miles of the U.S. border with Mexico, one-third of the total, already have barriers in place, including steel bollard fencing and levee walls. Customs and Border Protection argues that a wall is critical to securing the border. But the wall has raised the ire of many local border officials, who fear that it could scare off ecotourists, who pour $463 million into the economy, according to a Texas A&M University study. Environmental groups have planned protests and threatened lawsuits. And not many Texas leaders have embraced Trumps signature campaign promise. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said ahead of the House vote that technology might be better suited in some environmentally sensitive areas than a physical wall. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, offered a harsher assessment of the wall on the House floor. President Trump promised the American people that Mexico would pay for a wall, but hes footing the bill to American taxpayers, Cuellar said. A massively expensive wall would violate the rights of landowners, many of whom have had their land for generations, since before the United States was a country. Beyond the consternation over property rights and environmental damage is the human cost of ramping up border enforcement. The deaths of 10 immigrants inside a sweltering tractor-trailer parked outside a Walmart in San Antonio put a spotlight on the desperation of immigrants trying to enter the country illegally. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blamed the deaths on open border and sanctuary city policies that enable smugglers to put people in perilous situations. But experts say border walls do not prevent people from attempting to cross borders; rather, they compel them to take greater risks. There is a very clear relationship between building walls, adding more security and making it a much deadlier crossing, said Reece Jones, an associate professor in the geography department at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the author of Border Walls: Security and the War on Terror in the United States, India and Israel. 2016 saw by far the most deaths at borders of any year. Over 7,500 people died who tried to cross borders. The true figure is probably much higher, Jones said. More than 7,000 immigrants have died crossing the Southwest border since 1998, even as apprehensions plummeted to historic lows. There were 330 immigrant deaths in 2016, compared with 263 in 1998, despite a third the number of apprehensions, according to CBP data. In 2008, when construction began on 54 miles of fence and wall in the Valley, the Homeland Security Department waived environmental laws to expedite building sections of border fence. The waivers were made possible by the Real ID Act of 2005, which gave broad authority to government agencies to sidestep environmental reviews. Most of the land on the Texas-Mexico border is privately owned and will require that federal officials condemn properties and negotiate compensation, a costly endeavor. By contrast, cutting through refuge lands presents a far less daunting task. But the butterfly center is privately owned, and Trevino-Wright has already begun preparing herself for the fight ahead. She confronted the contractors on the property, demanding to know who had given them the authority to clear trees and brush. Days after the heavy equipment had been removed, leaving behind a few broken branches, Trevino-Wright drove down a dusty road toward a bend in the Rio Grande as queen, skipper and snout butterflies flitted about the thick foliage. It is a largely untrammeled area that would be lost to the public should a wall be allowed on the levee, Trevino-Wright explained. The next day, Border Patrol agents were waiting for her at the butterfly center. They attempted to smooth over the misunderstanding, but she said she still has not received paperwork attesting to their work authorization. This has all happened so fast, and secretly, Trevino-Wright said. It has us all on high alert. anelsen@express-news.net Twitter: @amnelsen Bon Appetit Crowns Chicago 'Restaurant City Of The Year' By Stephen Gossett in Food on Aug 8, 2017 4:53PM Smoked scallops at Elske. Photo by Kailley Lindman. Not without substantial cause, the folks at Bon Appetit are very taken with our city's dining scene: And on Tuesday, the magazine awarded its annual "Restaurant City of the Year" honors to Chicago. The nod comes just one week after four Chicago restaurants landed on the mag's list of 50 best new restaurants in the country (no other city had more), and fewer than three months after a similarly smitten Conde Nast Traveler named Chicago the Best Restaurant City In America. "Where other cities fall into soulless trend cycles, Chicago has a way of generating distinctively personal restaurants, writes Julia Kramer, a native Chicagoan and onetime food critic at Time Out Chicago, in Bon Appetit. "So, SF and L.A., this might hurt a little, but heres all the proof you need that the Midwest is best." Kramer hones in on eight noteworthy aspects of Chicago's restaurant scene in particular in her roundup: Anna Poseys desserts at the much-acclaimed, Danish-influenced Elske; the pilgrim-worthy dinners at Hanbun, in Westmont; the celebrated fine-dining/pub split-level that is Smyth and The Loyalist; Diana Davila's Mexican-street-food homage Mi Tocaya Antojeria, in Logan Square; small-plate newcomer fave Giant; the baking wizardry at Fat Rice's daytime baked-goods incarnation; farm-to-table gem Cellar Door Provisions; and the city's unstoppable mezcal boom (see Quiote, Estereo, Mezcaleria Las Flores and Lena Brava). Tough to argue with that group. Bon Appetit gave Restaurant City of the Year honors to Washington D.C. in 2016 and San Francisco the year before. Check out the full profile here, and be ready to take some notes. RELATED: West Loop's New Scandinavian-Inspired Restaurant Elske Will Charm You Logan Square's Cellar Door Provisions Totally Rocked Its First Dinner Service Logan Square's Newest Bar Will Make You Love Mezcal The 11 Most Exciting Restaurant Openings Of 2016 Given the background of Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood, one might not expect him to end up a target of the Fair Punishment Project. The mission of the Harvard School of Law nonprofit is to help create a fair and accountable justice system, in part by exposing overzealous prosecutors and excessive punishments. Before being elected DA in 2014, LaHood was fortunate to face neither. Its widely known that in 1994, when he was 21, LaHood was arrested for selling $3,600 of the illegal drug Ecstasy to an undercover agent at a strip club while in possession of a firearm. A plea agreement by the state and defense led to a lenient sentence for LaHood: deferred adjudication with a probated fine and community service. The presiding judge in the case, a close friend of LaHoods father at the time, even terminated LaHoods sentence early. LaHoods merciful encounter with the justice system, as well as his subsequent successful career as a defense attorney, has seemed to guide his philosophy as a prosecutor, at least on paper. In 2015, LaHood expanded a pretrial diversion program for certain first-time offenders begun by his predecessor, allowing successful participants to have their charges dismissed. Last week, however, an article penned by Jessica Brand, legal director of the Fair Punishment Project, and published by Slate, painted LaHood as exactly the type of overzealous prosecutor he was lucky to have avoided in his own arrest. The article was based on an incident that erupted while LaHood was trying a murder case in District Judge Lori Valenzuelas court, a case that ended in mistrial. Contradicting LaHoods denials under oath, Valenzuela later testified that she heard the district attorney threaten to destroy the legal practices of local defense attorneys Joe Gonzales and Christian Henricksen, who were representing murder defendant Miguel Martinez. When he made the alleged threats, LaHood was enraged by accusations of prosecutorial misconduct. The threats LaHood made during the Martinez case arent just an indicator that he has the wrong kind of temperament to be a district attorney, Brand wrote. They also reveal that theres reason to question the integrity of the justice system in San Antonio. Brand added, When defense lawyers worry that prosecutors may retaliate, they are no longer acting with their clients best interests in mind. Thats bad for both criminal defendants and criminal justice. LaHoods office denied that he threatened the lawyers. There were absolutely no threats made by the District Attorney, his spokeswoman, Jennifer Saucedo Rodriguez, said in an email to the San Antonio Express-News. His statements were a passionate response to an improper threat made by defense counsel. His history of innovation and reform within the District Attorneys Office reflects his commitment to ethically ensuring justice for all within our community. LaHood began to bar the Express-News from his news conferences shortly after its Editorial Board published a piece calling for an investigation by the State Bar of Texas into his alleged threats against the two defense attorneys. The Slate article revealed that defense attorney Mark Stevens recently filed a complaint against LaHood with the state bar on the matter. (On Monday, Stevens declined to comment on the record about a complaint.) The Slate piece also showed that its not just the daily newspaper criticizing LaHood for his apparent abuse of office. His actions have caught the eye of more than one watchdog, and not because of any conspiracy or agenda against him, as LaHood has alleged. It was a clear lapse in ethical standards that drew the ire of the Fair Punishment Project. Rather than a commitment to uphold fairness in the justice system a fairness that offered him a second chance in his own life more than two decades ago the district attorney seems to have learned from his brush with the law that the system is malleable: that justice is susceptible to pressure by those with the power to apply it. BChasnoff@express-news.net GREENVILLE, Pa. The Miklos family are the kind of dairy farmers who like to do most things themselves the labor, cow care and whatever else needs done. But when cars and trucks lined their driveway following a devastating fire Aug. 2, the help became a blessing. A major fire destroyed their Amazing Grace Dairy barn during the night, along with their herd of about 120 Holstein dairy cattle, several thousand bales of hay and some farm equipment. The Miklos have insurance, but are still assessing the loss, and how much their insurance will cover toward a new, modern dairy building. The fire remains under investigation. The Miklos believe the fire was caused by a lightning strike. There was a storm the same night, and Tammy Miklos awoke in the night when she discovered her home air conditioner had stopped working, due to a power outage. She then noticed the fire at the barn and called 9-1-1, shortly before 3 a.m. The family ran to each door on the barn, but Tammy said the heat and fire were so strong, they couldnt get inside. Built on faith Richard (Rick) Miklos and his wife, Tammy, had started the farm in 1987, and made various improvements and updates along the way. Today, they operate it with their son, Rick Miklos, and daughter, Reba Miklos. They named it Amazing Grace Dairy, because of their faith in God and his guidance through difficult times. We would never have gotten as far as we have, if it was not for God, and he will see us through this, we know that, said Tammy Miklos. We have to keep our faith and trust in Him. The barn was about 22,000 square feet and was set up as a tie-stall barn a facility in which the cows have their own stalls, and are kept in their stalls with a chain. Tammy said two cows did manage to escape, but under veterinary guidance, the Miklos decided to send them to processing. Matthew Goodemote, a captain with the Transfer Volunteer Fire Department, said they were the second truck on scene, but the barn was already fully engulfed and the barn had collapsed in on itself. The strategy became one of surround and drown, he said, to protect nearby structures from damage. The West Salem Volunteer Fire Department did not return calls seeking comment. Proper burial The Miklos family finished burying the cows over the weekend, in a grave behind the barn, dug with the help of friends, family and neighboring farmers. Were heartbroken, Tammy said. She said the cows were almost like family, and they wanted to give them a proper burial on the farm. Reba Miklos gathered some flowers in their honor and the family is still grieving the loss. God will take care of us; He will see us through this, Tammy said. Theyre not yet sure if theyll rebuild, but if they do, they want it to be away from the original barn to give the herd and their grave respect. Responding fire departments included Transfer Volunteer Fire Department, South Pymatuning, West Salem, Hermitage, and the Trumbull County tanker task force. Lawsuit Says Walgreens Wrongfully Charged The Hugely Unpopular Pop Tax By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 8, 2017 3:56PM When it finally arrived, the rollout of the pop tax was marked by confusion and reported mis-applications of the surchargewhich probably didn't help how overwhelmingly unpopular the new policy is with consumers. Now one shopper who says he was wrongly charged is taking Walgreens to court with a class-action lawsuit. Schaumburg man Vince De Leon filed suit against the company after it applied the penny-per-ounce tax to a case of Dasani Tropical Pineapple Sparkling Water, even though the packaging states it is unsweetened, according to the lawsuit. The suit cites other apparently incorrect applications of the charge, including at a Walgreens in Western Springs (for a case of Dasani Black Cherry Sparkling Water) and one in Chicago (on a bottle of Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened Green Tea). Walgreens also continued to wrongfully charge on unsweetened drinks even after copping to the mistake, the suit claims. The suit alleges, according to the Tribune: "Walgreens has publicly admitted it is wrongly charging the pop tax on unsweetened beverages and yet it continues to do so without informing customers that they are being wrongly charged. Despite knowing that it has improperly coded its products, Walgreens has not taken any steps to provide corrections at the cash register." Even away from the alleged Walgreens blunders, the pop tax has proven to be notably unpopular so far in the early going. More than 86 percent of respondents in a recent poll disapprove of the tax on pop. ("Pop," not "soda.") The backlash has been so strong that at least one would-be challenger to County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is reportedly now floating the idea of running against her. This post has been updated. Governor Hutchinson has directed Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward and Plant Board Director Terry Walker to convene and co-chair a task force to review the dicamba technology, investigate current problems with its use and application, and make long term recommendations for the future. The following individuals have been selected to serve on the task force: David Wildy, Farmer, Northeast Arkansas; Joe Mencer, Farmer, Southeast Arkansas; Shawn Peebles, Farmer, Central Arkansas; AJ Hood, Arkansas Soybean Association; Terry Dabbs, Arkansas Farm Bureau; Andrew Grobmyer, Agricultural Council of Arkansas; David Hundley, Arkansas Poultry Industry; Blake Foust, CCA, Arkansas Agricultural Consultants Association; Sterling Clifton, CCA, Arkansas Agricultural Consultants Association; Billy Maddox, Arkansas Seed Growers Association; John Petrus, Arkansas Seed Growers Association; Chad Duckworth, Arkansas Seed Dealers Association; Stacey Bruff, Arkansas Seed Dealers Association; Don Johnson, Arkansas Crop Protection Association; Brad Koen, Arkansas Crop Protection Association; Dale Reed, Arkansas Plant Food Association; Dan Gladden, Arkansas Plant Food Association; Danny Townsend, Arkansas Green Industry; James King, Arkansas Green Industry The task force will be assisted by technical experts serving as non-voting advisory members. Task Force meetings will be facilitated by the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain with the first meeting scheduled for August 17, 2017. The task force will attempt to reach consensus on a set of recommendations for the use of dicamba products in Arkansas as quickly as possible in order to provide certainty for the 2018 growing season. Upon conclusion of the task force, findings will be provided to Governor Hutchinson, the Arkansas Agriculture Department, and the State Plant Board. Learn more at aad.arkansas.gov. The Arkansas Agriculture Department offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Monday presented gifts to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to celebrate its 70th anniversary, while leading a delegation from the central authorities. Yu Zhengsheng (L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Li Jiheng, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, unveil a plaque in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 7, 2017. The plaque with an inscription by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, was presented as a gift to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to celebrate its 70th anniversary. [Photo/Xinhua] Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, presented a plaque with an inscription by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. It reads "building beautiful Inner Mongolia, achieving the great Chinese dream" in both Chinese and Mongolian. The 63-person delegation arrived in Hohhot on Monday morning, receiving warm welcome at the airport. Visiting an exhibition marking the region's achievements made under the leadership of the CPC over the past 70 years, Yu lauded the progress in economic transformation, ethnic unity, poverty reduction and ecological security. He also met with retired officials and people of various ethnic groups and from all walks of life, and extended greetings to them on behalf of the central delegation. While meeting with senior military officers stationed in the region, Yu asked them to carry forward glorious military traditions, act in accordance with the instructions of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, and make new contributions to the reform, development and stability of Inner Mongolia. Meeting with armed police forces based there, Yu asked them to always stay vigilant and ensure that they follow the Party, fight to win and forge exemplary conduct. When meeting with the armed forestry police, Yu urged them to focus on fire fighting and prevention. He also joined the people at a grand evening party, which presented a feast of traditional dancing and singing. With an area of 1.18 million square kilometers, Inner Mongolia covers about 12 percent of the country's land area. There have been only two foreign bribery prosecutions in Australia one involving banknote printing companies Securency and Note Printing Australia, and another involving the construction company Lifese. Why so little enforcement activity? One reason is the current wording of Australias Criminal Code Act, which makes it hard to bring cases that will stand up in court. For example, it may be hard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that certain payments such as fees to agents are not legitimately due, even though experience shows that bribes paid via commercial agents are one of the most common forms of international corruption. To address those problems, the Attorney Generals Department is preparing new legislation to revise the wording of the Criminal Code Act. In April, the Attorney Generals Department issued a consultation paper on the proposed changes. These include: The replacement of the phrase not legitimately due with the concept of improperly influencing an official. It will be easier for prosecutors to demonstrate improper influence in the courts. The creation of a new foreign bribery offense based on the fault element of recklessness. The concept of recklessness is defined in another section of the Criminal Code Act and refers to circumstances where a person is aware of a substantial risk of conduct that in this case would lead to improper influence on a foreign official. The creation of a new corporate offense of failing to prevent foreign bribery. This would be similar to Article 7 in the UK Bribery Act. A company would be automatically liable for bribery by employees unless it can show that it had a proper compliance system to prevent them committing the offense. * * * The Attorney Generals Department will submit the proposed amendments to parliament most likey in early 2018. If these proposals are passed into law, it will be much easier to bring successful foreign bribery cases to court. However, the legislation is unlikely to be retrospective and therefore will not apply to existing investigations. Also, in line with U.S. and UK practice, there will be greater emphasis on corporate culture and on compliance programmes to prevent bribery, rather than responding to problems retrospectively. Meanwhile, the Attorney Generals Department is crafting a separate piece of legislation to establish a scheme of Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) in relation to bribery and other serious corporate crimes. This too will be submitted to parliament in coming months. The Departments consultation paper released in March outlines an approach is broadly similar to the United States and UK. In certain circumstances, prosecutors would be able to negotiate an agreement with companies that face investigation for corporate crimes. To be eligible for a DPA, the company would be required to: Co-operate with any investigation Admit to an agreed set of facts concerning the offense Pay a financial penalty, possibly including disgorgement of the profits from the offense, and Implement an enhanced program to ensure future compliance, possibly under the supervision of an independent monitor. Companies that meet these requirements will not be prosecuted, provided that they avoid further offenses within a specified time period. However, prosecutors will offer a DPA only in cases where the company co-operates fully and where a negotiated agreement will be in the public interest. While the legislation is still pending, and some details remain to be decided, the direction of Australian policy is clear. Compared with their UK and U.S. counterparts, Australian companies may in the past have felt entitled to a degree of complacency on the need for tight anti-corruption compliance. This is no longer the case. ______ Mark Pulvirenti is a Control Risks Partner based in Sydney. He leads Control Risks Compliance, Forensics and Intelligence practice for the Australia Pacific region. He will be testifying at a hearing of the Senate Economics References Committee on August 7. John Bray is a Director at Control Risks Singapore office. I am ambidextrous. My teachers forced me to write with my right hand, but I wrote backwards with my right hand til second grade. I still like to pitch and bat with my left hand, and I often cut my meat with my left hand when no one's looking. Kathryn Brown Ramsperger I love medicine and healing. My high school Chemistry teacher discouraged me from pursuing medicine. I still enjoy figuring out medical puzzles, but I'm glad I chose what comes to me with such ease it's almost like magic: Writing. Once I identify my protagonists, I close my eyes and the plot just plays out in front of me like a movie. I also like to interview my characters. Their responses often surprise me. I've visited (or lived in) every continent except Antarctica and Australia, though I've had the same landline phone number for over 30 years. My friends always know where to find me! Both my parents (and their parents and grandparents and great great great grandparents) were all native South Carolinians. I had lived in three states (IL,TN, PA) by the time I was 5. My son was born in Switzerland and my daughter in China. Yet my writing is most influenced by lazy summer days listening to family stories as I swung in a porch swing sipping sweet tea. I still remember my Grandmother Annie Lee's stories about a disabled bear and my mother Sarah Elizabeth's stories about two Cuban ghosts, one of whom was a horse. I'm a mezzo soprano. I can sing opera, jazz, sacred, and show tunes. I also love to sing "Hotel California" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" on Karaoke nights. I don't know many famous musicians, but I've had dinner with my friend Marcie's brother, Kinky Friedman. I've never heard him play, but I have read and enjoyed his mystery novels. I may be distantly related to Former President Jimmy Carter. At least that's what my father's mother told me. Carter was the first president I ever voted for at age 18, and I interned for him, before I knew we were related. We both are melanoma survivors, have a desire to bring peace to the world, and a love of the land and Dylan Thomas' work. (My son's middle name is Dylan.) So maybe my granny was right about the family connection. I got my first college fiction award when I was 16. First place for a dystopian fantasy. I got a scholarship to Hollins University, and so studied creative writing there instead of journalism at the University of Virginia. I then became a journalist six weeks after graduation. Go figure. I kept writing fiction all through my journalism and cause-related marketing careers. I've worked at National Geographic, other mass market publications, television stations, and international organizations, and I'm happiest right now. A short story I wrote at Hollins got published last Spring. I've come full circle. I belong to a multicultural family not by marriage but through adoption. My daughter is from Kunshan, China. She prefers Italian and English. My biological son speaks Mandarin and just returned home from Chengdu, China. My experience with other cultures comes from friendships and some wonderful colleagues from the 190 countries that are members of the network of Red Cross or Red Crescent societies. I've traveled throughout the Middle East and Africa; my last trip to Lebanon was a few weeks before the 2006 war there. The way to win my heart is to make me laugh...hard. My husband told me a joke the night we met I'm still laughing at. We've been married more than three decades. See what I mean? I would rather eat a vine-ripened yellow tomato with hummus sandwich than anything else in the world. Hold the mayo, though...please. I'll end the meal with a peach plucked directly from the tree. I can't survive without my family, dark roast coffee, travel, and the love of an animal, preferably experienced at exactly the same time. Travel inspires me and feeds my creativity. I return with so many story ideas I'll never live long enough to write them. Animals feed my soul. And the coffee is just a bad habit: I paid over $10 for 3 ounces of coffee on a Hungarian train once. You can learn more intriguing tidbits about me and my new novel at shoresofoursouls.com. Hozier, Moby and Laura Mvula will join Ed Sheeran for the first-ever Give a Home charity concert series next month. Hozier The trio and the 'Shape Of You' hitmaker will join 1,000 other artists in Amnesty International and Sofar Sounds' forthcoming global festival, which will take place in cities all over the world, on September 20 to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis. 'Take Me to Church' hitmaker Hozier, who will be performing in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland said: "There's something wonderful about sharing a live music experience in the warmth and closeness of someone's home, which was my experience with Sofar. I'm thrilled to be taking part in the Give A Home gigs, a global act of welcome which embodies the hospitable spirit of Sofar with the important work of Amnesty International." Ed said: "We all deserve a home, not just the memory of one. That's why I'm proud to join Amnesty International and Sofar's Give a Home campaign in raising awareness for the global refugee crisis and funds for Amnesty's important work." Other artists playing in the concert series at top-secret venues around the world include Archive, Blaenavon, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Imelda May, Jon Hopkins w/ Leo Abrahams, Marika Hackman, Nick Mulvey, Sivu, The Hoosiers, To Kill A King and We Were Promised Jetpacks. And previously announced were Above & Beyond, Eliza & The Bear, James Morrison, Jessie Ware, JP Cooper, KT Tunstall, Nina Nesbitt, Nothing but Thieves, Rudimental, Sampa the Great, The Jezabels and Wild Beasts. The funds raised will support Amnesty International's work in documenting human rights abuses and violations against refugees and pushing governments to find a sustainable solution. More than 22 million people have been forced to flee their home country, so the aim of the ambitious concert series is to unite people in showing solidarity with refugees. Fans have until September 10 to apply for tickets through sofarsounds.com/giveahome. From the site, people will be able to select their city and the event of their choice to be in with a chance of winning two tickets. They will have the option of making a donation when applying for tickets. Prince Harry is reportedly set to treat Meghan Markle to a 1,000-a-night houseboat safari. Meghan Markle The British royal - who has been dating the 'Suits' actress since mid-2016 - has whisked Meghan off to Botswana, where they are set to cruise the Okavango Delta in the hope of seeing hippos and crocodiles. A source shared: "There are 6,000 square miles of water to explore. "Sometimes you can go for days without seeing another boat or another tourist. The boat will have a private cabin, or a bed can be made up on the deck if they decided to sleep out under the stars, which he has done before. "They have gone in the middle of the best season to see game." The high-profile couple - who have flown to Africa to mark Meghan's 36th birthday - are poised to spend three days on the houseboat during their three-week trip. And Harry is eager for his girlfriend to develop the same passion he already has for the continent of Africa, where he has spent so much time in the past. The insider told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Harry wants to show her where his heart really is - and it is Africa." Previously, the flame-haired Prince has been on holidays to Botswana with Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, his ex-girlfriends. Meanwhile, Kathryn Drysdale - who plays Meghan Markle in the comedy 'The Windsors' - recently said she thinks Prince Harry will soon propose to the actress. She shared: "I hear Prince Harry's going to propose - how exciting for her if that happens! I think Meghan has got her sights set on becoming a humanitarian and possibly a royal. "She's been thrust into the limelight, but I think she's very well equipped. She may be sweet and charming but she's probably got nerves of steel. I think she can handle it. That's the impression I get." Marissa Jade has been evicted from 'Celebrity Big Brother'. Marissa Jade The former 'Mob Wives' star has become the first housemate to leave the infamous house during Tuesday's (08.08.17) episode of the Channel 5 reality show. Marissa was nominated for eviction by fellow housemate and former 'EastEnders' actor Shaun Williamson, and looked less than impressed as she exited the house for her interview with show host Emma Willis. Speaking to Emma after her eviction, she said: "I wasn't really confident with my fan base and my fan base out here." The brunette beauty when on to slam Shaun's decision to hand her the killer nomination, and blamed "allies in the house" for his choice. She added: "There wasn't really a reason, I came to the conclusion that there were allies in the house and it was easier to target someone you didn't know. Out of the people he didn't know I was probably the most memorable one. I thought I handled it well but I guess it wasn't enough." And the 32-year-old actress dodged questions about her relationship with 'Ibiza Weekender' star Jordan Davies - whom she was seen getting close to inside the house - but admitted she'd love to see him win the show. Marissa said: "I think Jordan is going to do very well." However, their romance might not last long outside of the infamous house, as it was recently reported that Jordan still has feelings for his former fiancee Megan McKenna. When asked if Jordan would take Megan back if he had the chance, 'Ibiza Weekender' representative Deano Baily said: "Deep down in his little Welsh heart, he'd love to as he properly loved her. But I don't think she would." Closeness: With Tenerife being just four hours away from the UK, with direct flights from most regional airports, there is no need for newlyweds to travel long-haul for their honeymoon. Tenerife is also in the same time zone as the UK, so there is the added benefit of no jet lag! The weather... Weather: The island boasts 3,000 hours of sunlight a year and average annual spring-like temperatures of 22 degrees summers are not as hot as Mediterranean destinations, however winters are just as pleasant. Hotels: Tenerifes five-star hotel infrastructure is second to none. The island currently boasts more five-star hotels than Barcelona and more five and four-star hotels combined than in any other destination in Spain. Also, many of Tenerifes most-exclusive hotels offer honeymoon packages. Spas: With perfect year-round temperatures, an abundance of volcanic minerals and an iodine-rich Atlantic breeze, a spa treatment in Tenerife is a must! Most luxury hotels have an array of indulgent massages and treatments ideal for couples, many of which combine eastern and western methods, and even Canarian programmes featuring volcanic lava therapy and banana pulp facials. Landscapes: The exotic volcanic landscapes of the UNESCO-listed Teide National Park, the islands tropical forests, the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean make Tenerife the perfect backdrop for any honeymoon photo album. Beaches: The island features nearly 400 km of coastline and 70 km of beaches (both golden and black sand) to choose from, as well as natural salt pools (formed naturally by lava flows many years ago). Some favourites include Duque Beach, Las Teresitas and Benijo. Shopping: The island is VAT-free, so shopping is one of its top activities for visitors. The island has a number of shopping centres full of stores, restaurants and cinemas, plus the historic city and town centres are havens for keen shoppers. Recommended places are Calle del Castillo in Santa Cruz (the islands capital city) and Herradores and La Carrera in UNESCO-listed La Laguna. Gastronomy: Tenerife offers an authentic cuisine blessed with an array of intoxicating flavours, favoured by the islands year-round spring climate. Popular food includes wrinkled potatoes with paprika and green coriander sauces, goat stew and grilled cheese with honey not to mention the islands characterful wines, whose singularity lies in the barren volcanic soils on which the vines grow. Also, Tenerife has four Michelin-starred restaurants, making it the only Canary Island with Michelin stars. Sunset and stars: For a star struck experience, couples should be sure to try the magical Sunset and Stars excursion, whose highlight is to see the sunset on the summit of Mount Teide (Spains highest peak at 3,718 metres high). A Canarian buffet dinner designed by Michelin-starred Chef, Erlantz Gorostiza, adds to the experience. Whale watching: This is another popular activity for couples. A colony of pilot whales and bottle-nose dolphins live between the waters of Tenerife and La Gomera and can be spotted all year round. There are companies that offer private trips for a more romantic experience even at sunset with a glass of champagne. The National Board of Revenue (NBR), the apex authority for tax administration in Bangladesh, has announced reduction of income tax rate for garment manufacturers and exporters from the existing 20 per cent to 12 per cent. The income tax rate cut is being provided for building pollution free industrialisation in Bangladesh and low carbon economy. From the current financial year 2017-18, company and others taxpayers without company will provide maximum 12 per cent which was 20 percent for the financial year 2016-17, NBR said in a circular, according to a Bangladesh news agency report. Taxpayers of factories with international Green Building Certificate will get further benefit as they would have to pay 10 per cent income tax from this fiscal, the circular added. (RKS) The National Board of Revenue (NBR), the apex authority for tax administration in Bangladesh, has announced reduction of income tax rate for garment manufacturers and exporters from the existing 20 per cent to 12 per cent. The income tax rate cut is being provided for building pollution free industrialisation in Bangladesh and low carbon economy.# Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Brussels-based Foreign Trade Association (FTA), which represents trade interests of European retailers, brands and importers, has written to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urging her country to cooperate with international bodies, such as the European Union (EU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), in tackling outstanding labour issues.Due to pressure from the EU, ILO and other stakeholders regarding the lack of respect for fundamental human and labour rights in Bangladesh, especially the right of freedom of association, uncertainty has been rising among European apparel companies that are chalking out their future sourcing strategy at present, FTA director general Christian Ewert wrote in a July letter. Brussels-based Foreign Trade Association (FTA), which represents trade interests of European retailers, brands and importers, has written to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urging her country to cooperate with international bodies, such as the European Union (EU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), in tackling outstanding labour issues.# The reported extension of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety (Accord) without mutual consent, the unclear role of the Remediation Coordination Cell (RCC) and the July 3 boiler explosion in a textile factory in central Bangladesh have affected the reputation of the country as a sourcing hub and added to the uncertainty, he wrote.The RCC was set up by the Bangladesh Government in May this year to manage the remediation process for garment factories. It is supported by the ILO with funding from Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.After Rana Plaza building collapse of April 2013, which killed more than 1,100 workers, European retailers formed the Accord. Fifteen brands and retailers and two global rights groups UNI Global Union and IndustriAll Global Union on June 29 signed an agreement in Paris to extend the Accords tenure for three more years to 2021.In June, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing concerns for the lack of progress in a number of areas of the Sustainability Compact, which brings together the EU, the Bangladesh Government, the United States, Canada and the ILO accompanied by employers, trade unions and other key stakeholders to promote continuous improvements in labour rights and factory safety in the readymade garment industry in the country.The EU has increasingly put pressure on Bangladesh to do more to align national laws and practices with ILO recommendations. The EU also warned that Bangladesh might risk losing the trade preferences granted under the EUs Everything But Arms initiative if it failed to address the issues, the letter noted.FTA will maintain its engagement with Bangladesh and a roundtable in November will look at the labour issues there, it added. (DS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The Spanish company specialising in garment finishing, Jeanologia, is guiding the Indonesian textile industry in its transformation to efficiency and sustainability by establishing its presence as an expert technology partner for production centres looking for products that are equally innovative and ecological. The company has clients in five continents.The Spanish company at a press meet at Bandung presented their revolutionary combination of laser, ozone and e-flow technology that replace traditional processes producing large amounts of contaminants and dangerous for workers and the environment. With the introduction of these global solutions based on clean technologies along with Jeanologias know-how, production centres are able to increase productivity, efficiency and reduce production costs. The Spanish company specialising in garment finishing, Jeanologia, is guiding the Indonesian textile industry in its transformation to efficiency and sustainability by establishing its presence as an expert technology partner for production centres looking for products that are equally innovative and ecological. The company has clients in five continents.# Currently, Indonesia generates two per cent of global jeans production and wants to be equipped with the innovation and technology that attracts big fashion brands, allowing competitive advantage over other Asian countries.Jeanologia specialises in identifying needs, finding solutions and supporting brands, manufacturers and laundries during the transformation process.The sustainable use of water is one of the companys priorities and in Indonesia they have presented their revolutionary One Glass, One Garment. For the finishing of a pair of jeans, traditionally 70 liters of water is needed, with this new technology it is dramatically reduced to only one glass of water.According to Fernando Perez-Narbon, area manager at Jeanologia, it is possible to have a sustainable production thanks to innovation and technology. He highlights in the automotive industry they have managed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions of carbon dioxide due to innovation and the same is happening in the textile industry: with new technology, it is becoming possible to reducing water consumption and pollution. He adds we are living a revolution and giving added value to everyone involved: laundries, brands and final consumers.One of the objectives of the press conference was to promote the Green Kosambi Mall, the shopping mall is dedicated to the textile industry and aims to become the hub for all companies of the industry. Local textile companies can come here to learn about and experience Jeanologias technology as they already have one of their lasers installed.The Green Kosambi Mall is located in the city of Bandung, the historical heart of the countrys textiles known for its denim.The Spanish firm is consolidating its presence in Indonesia where it has increased its post-sales services, providing the country with a technical team and consulting and training services from their brainbox experts. This allows them to accompany production centres throughout the process of transformation to sustainability and efficiency.Since 1993 their mission has been to improve the industry of garment finishing through their technology and know-how. Their laser, G2 ozone and e-flow system have revolutionised the textile industry. They offer endless design possibilities and garment finishes, while saving water, energy and chemicals, eliminating waste and toxic emissions.Currently the Spanish company has clients in five continents. The export of its machines and services represents 90 per cent of its total billing, reaching 60 countries including: Indonesia, the USA, Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Portugal, India, China, Russia, Japan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, Tunisia and Vietnam. (SV) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Karl Mayers Italian subsidiary, Karl Mayer Rotal, involved in the manufacturing of machinery for the textile industries including parts, attachments, and accessories, is making a name for itself with the new Prodye-R, an indigo dyeing machine for stylish denim production of brand manufacturers, and a huge project in the rope dyeing sector.The Prodye-R indigo dyeing machine can deliver all these benefits and can also be used in the genuine/standard segment. The Prodye-R increases efficiency and reduces costs in rope dyeing. The indigo rope dyeing machine operates with just eight dyeing units to produce deep, pure shades with a dye application of up to 5.5 per cent of the yarn weight. The short wet zone reduces the bath volume by up to 25 per cent. Furthermore, when changing the ball, the warp length remaining in the machine, which is unusable, can be reduced by 20 per cent. Overall, the machine uses less energy and water and fewer chemicals. In fact, the water consumption can be reduced by roughly 30 per cent. The programmable cans, into which the dyed ropes are laid in a precise arrangement, also make the long chain beaming process more efficient. Karl Mayer's Italian subsidiary, Karl Mayer Rotal, involved in the manufacturing of machinery for the textile industries including parts, attachments, and accessories, is making a name for itself with the new Prodye-R, an indigo dyeing machine for stylish denim production of brand manufacturers, and a huge project in the rope dyeing sector.# The Prodye-R complements Karl Mayer Rotals product portfolio. With the new dyeing machine, the Ball Warper, The Long Chain Beamer, and the Prosize, the company is the only global manufacturer involved in the one-stop provision of highly innovative rope dyeing technology.One of the biggest companies involved in making-up denim clothing in Turkey, the Taypa Group, is cooperating with Karl Mayer Rotal on a huge project in Algeria. A textile complex for producing textiles and apparel is to be built on an area of 250 hectares in this North African country, which will create 25,000 new jobs. The planned annual output is 60 million metres of fabric per year.In December 2013, Taypa set up a joint venture with two state-run Algerian textile companies to implement these ambitious plans. In the first stage of this project in the province of Relizane, eleven integrated factories, mainly for producing jeans and other apparel fabrics, will be set up by the spring of 2018. Karl Mayer Rotal will supply the warp preparation technology for producing the denim. The first large shipment left for Algeria in the middle of May 2017. (GK) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Seven member of the VDMA textile machinery association from Germany presented their technologies to the representatives of the Colombian textile industry at a symposium in Colombia. More than 100 Colombian textile manufacturers used the symposia in Bogota and Medellin as an opportunity to gain first-hand information about German Technology.VDMA members Trutzschler, Groz-Beckert, Autefa Solutions Germany, Bruckner Trockentechnik, Mahlo, Interspare, and Saueressig participated in the business delegation trip by the German-Colombian Chamber of Commerce (AHK). All the companies could establish contacts with potential customers and representations and even partially conclude orders. Seven member of the VDMA textile machinery association from Germany presented their technologies to the representatives of the Colombian textile industry at a symposium in Colombia. More than 100 Colombian textile manufacturers used the symposia in Bogota and Medellin as an opportunity to gain first-hand information about German Technology.# Furthermore, the visits to the two large multi-level textile manufacturers Artextil (design, textile printing, finishing) and Fabricato (spinning, weaving preparation, weaving, finishing) provided insights on the state of the Colombian textile and apparel sector.Currently, the Colombian textile industry employs 114,322 people, contributing 6.5 per cent to the gross domestic product of the country. In addition to the import surplus of almost $1.2 billion, the Colombian textile and apparel sector is struggling primarily against illegal imports from Asia, which are countered by the government. The import of textile raw materials should be reduced through local production with the goal to increase quality, productivity, and export. In 2016, the export ratio was a mere 15 per cent. The security situation in the country has improved in recent years. (GK) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India 2017 Vintage Characterized as "Classic" Monday marked the first day of Mumm Napa's 2017 harvest and things started off early in the morning in the Napa Valley, as workers began picking Pinot Noirgrapes from a vineyard in southern Napa.The crop looks outstanding so far, said Mumm Napa's winemaker, and yields were slightly higher than average This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807006054/en/ Mumm Napa begins Napa Valley grape harvest (Photo: Business Wire) The Mumm Napa vineyard team started picking grapes as the sun rose over the horizon at the Green Island Vineyard in southern Napa. The first truckload of freshly picked grapes rolled into Mumm Napa's Rutherford winery around 10 a.m., where their arrival was celebrated by winemaker Ludovic Dervin. Dervin gave a traditional toast to the start of harvest followed by a dramatic "sabering" of a bottle of Mumm Napa sparkling wine. The winery's celebratory kickoff concluded with winery workers participating in a cork-pop "salute," simultaneously popping corks in unison, spraying each other and excited onlookers with bubbly. The 2017 vintage has been marked by welcomed plentiful winter rain, followed by warm summer afternoon temperatures and cool nights, for a steady and even ripening that pushed Mumm Napa's harvest into the first week of August this year. The weather was ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, which are the primary varieties used in making sparkling wine. Both are traditionally harvested at lower ripeness levels than those used to create still wine. The balanced warm afternoon and cold night temperatures provided perfect hang time for fruit to maintain optimal acidity and develop a fruit flavor complexity. Approximately 17 tons of Pinot Noir were harvested by Mumm Napa early Monday morning. "The summer months have been consistently blessed with cold nights and warm and sunny afternoons, making for perfectly ripe grapes," said winemaker Ludovic Dervin. "So far it is a classic Napa Valley vintage here at Mumm Napa." Mumm Napa is one of California's top sparkling wine producers and one of the most popular destinations for wine country visitors. For more than 20 years, Mumm Napa sparkling wines have set the standard for California methode traditionnelle sparkling wine, emphasizing the exceptional qualities of Napa Valley fruit along with the unique casual elegance of the Napa Valley lifestyle. The winery and visitor center are located in Rutherford along the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley and are open daily for tours, tastings and private events. For additional information, please visit www.mummnapa.com. About Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA, which employs a workforce of nearly 19,000 people worldwide and is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI). The company's leading spirits and wines include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Malibu, Kahlua Liqueur, Beefeater Gin, Plymouth Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Martell Cognac, Hiram Walker Liqueurs, Pernod, Ricard and Avion Tequila (through a joint venture with Tequila Avion); such superior wines as Jacob's Creek, Kenwood Vineyards and Brancott Estate; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouet Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne and Mumm Napa sparkling wines. Pernod Ricard USA is based in New York, New York, and has roughly 850 employees across the country. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active campaign to promote responsible drinking. For more information on this, please visit: www.acceptresponsibility.org. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807006054/en/ Contacts: Folsom Associates Hannah Perkins, 415-978-2685 hannah@folsomandassociates.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) announced the company now expects its 2017 adjusted earnings per share in the range of $1.52 to $1.56, compared to prior guidance range of $1.50 to $1.56. Adjusted for special items, net income in the second quarter of 2017 was $45.8 million, or $0.39 per share compared to adjusted net income in the second quarter of 2016 of $57.9 million, or $0.49 per share. Total revenue was $436.4 million compared to $463.3 million in the second quarter of 2016. The company said the decrease in revenue was attributable to the previously disclosed amendment to the contract for South Texas Family Residential Center resulting in a reduction to revenue of $28.3 million from the prior year quarter, and the expiration of contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at Eden Detention Center in April 2017. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 7, 2017 / Lundin Law PC, a shareholder rights firm, announces a class action lawsuit against Tahoe Resources Inc. ('Tahoe' or the 'Company') (NYSE: TAHO) for possible violations of federal securities laws from March 12, 2015 through July 5, 2017 inclusive (the 'Class Period'). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Tahoe shares during the Class Period should contact the firm prior to the September 5, 2017 lead plaintiff motion deadline. To participate in this class action lawsuit, click here. You can also call Brian Lundin, Esq., of Lundin Law PC, at 888-713-1033, or e-mail him at brian@lundinlawpc.com. No class has been certified in the above action yet. Until a class is certified, you are not considered to be represented by an attorney. You may also choose to do nothing and be an absent class member. According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, Tahoe made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: that consultation obligations relating to the permitting of the Escobal mining license were not met; that the Escobal mining license is subject to suspension; and that as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On July 5, 2017, Tahoe revealed that the Supreme Court of Guatemala issued a provisional decision suspending the Escobal mining license of its subsidiary Minera San Rafael, in connection with an action brought by CALAS against Guatemala's Ministry of Energy and Mines ('MEM'). CALAS alleges that MEM violated the Xinca Indigenous people's right of consultation in advance of granting the Escobal mining license. Following this news, shares of Tahoe decreased in value materially, which caused investors harm according to the Complaint. Lundin Law PC was established by Brian Lundin, Esq., a securities litigator based in Los Angeles dedicated to upholding the rights of shareholders. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in certain jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethics rules. Contact: Lundin Law PC Brian Lundin, Esq. Telephone: 888-713-1033 Facsimile: 888-713-1125 brian@lundinlawpc.com http://lundinlawpc.com/ SOURCE: Lundin Law PC According to the Complaint, throughout the Class Period, Arconic made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: that the Company knowingly supplied its highly flammable Reynobond PE (polyethylene) cladding panels for use in construction; that this conduct significantly increased the risk of property damage, injury and/or death in buildings constructed with Arconic's Reynobond PE panels; and that as a result of the above, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Upon release of this information to the public, Arconic's stock price fell materially, which caused investors harm according to the Complaint. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentglobal battery analyzers marketreport. This research report also lists 27 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005609/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global battery analyzers market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) The global battery analyzers market is expected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period. The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EV) across the globe, spurred by stringent emission norms, is the major factor driving the batteries market. This will, in turn, fuel the growth of the global battery analyzers market during the forecast period. Competitive vendor landscape The global battery analyzers market is marked by the presence of numerous vendors competing for a higher market share. The global battery analyzers market is highly dependent on the use of batteries across several industries. The growing popularity of battery-operated electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles has positively affected the battery analyzers market. "The introduction of advanced battery analyzer technologies and increased investments in the market are likely to intensify the competition among the existing players. However, in several developing and underdeveloped economies, local or regional vendors dominate the market," says Thanikachalam Chandrasekaran, a lead energy storage research analyst from Technavio Implementation of stringent environmental emission norms in developing economies will rapidly develop electric vehicles market worldwide. This will increase the demand for batteries and battery analyzers during the forecast period. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free Top five battery analyzers market vendors Amprobe Amprobe offers electrical test and measurement instruments for industrial, commercial, and residential applications with global operations. The company mainly manufactures and sells measurement equipment. Cadex Electronics Cadex Electronics provides technology and products that are used at all stages of battery lifecycle management. Cadex Electronics provides smart chargers, custom battery packs, and advanced battery analyzers. Fluke Fluke provides compact, professional electronic test tools, calibration equipment, and software. Fluke provides test and measurement instruments under its Fluke brand. Its other brands are Fluke Networks and Fluke Biomedical. Fluke offers its products to the following industries: Chemical processing, manufacturing, oil and gas, and mining and metals. Maccor Maccor is an electronic test equipment manufacturer with global services. Maccor instruments are used by researchers in laboratories, manufacturers, and organizations for battery testing applications. MIDTRONICS MIDTRONICS provides stationary power and transportation battery management services. The company provides power solutions to the following industries: Transportation, telecommunication, data centers, power utility, service providers, CATV/broadband, fire/security, healthcare, solar energy, and motive power. 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. Browse Related Reports: Global Industrial Battery Market for Material Handling Equipment 2017-2021 Global Alkaline Battery Market 2017-2021 Global Residential Backup Power Market 2017-2021 About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005609/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com WEST JORDAN, UT--(Marketwired - August 07, 2017) - Mountain America Credit Union is pleased to announce the grand opening celebration of its new Magna branch, located at 8349 West 3500 South. The event will be held on Saturday, August 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be food, prizes, and activities for families to enjoy. The Magna Branch is managed by Rachelle Pugsley. Rachelle joined Mountain America eight years ago, working her way up through various branch roles as she developed leadership and managerial skills. Opening the branch in Magna opens a new chapter in her credit union career. "We are excited to offer a convenient location for new and existing members in the Magna area," says Branch Manager Rachelle Pugsley. "My team and I are eager to meet our neighbors and serve this community." The Magna Branch provides a wide range of financial products and services, including traditional savings, insurance, investments, auto and RV loans and a full array of mortgage loans and services. Mountain America also offers the innovative MyStyle Checking" account with customizable rewards. Being federally chartered, Mountain America provides an additional broad assortment of services, including real estate and business lending. About Mountain America Credit Union With more than 680,000 members and $6.7 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union assists members on the right path to help them identify and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile banking technology, 88 branches across five states, thousands of shared-branching locations nationwide and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain America -- safely guiding you forward along your financial journey. Learn more at macu.com. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/8/7/11G143791/Images/Rachelle_Pugsley-ee0aaa8100ee9b5aa592daca38543424.jpg Media Contact: Bryan Packer 801-325-6439 Email contact LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Urgent measures should be taken in Venezuela to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, said a UK government spokesman, who also called on the South American country's government to respect democracy and human rights. 'It is a tragedy that so many people have lost their lives in the protests in Venezuela. We are sure that urgent measures must be taken to prevent the situation from worsening,' said the British spokesman. 'The United Kingdom has repeatedly called on [Nicolas] Maduro government to work with the opposition, release political prisoners and show respect for democracy and human rights,' he said. Last week, in a statement, the British Foreign Office urged its diplomatic staff in Venezuela to leave the country and recommended its citizens not to travel to the interior of the country, unless necessary. After four months of protests carried out by the opposition to Nicolas Maduro's government in Venezuela, at least 120 people died in violent episodes. 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. Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentglobal carboxylic acids marketreport. This research report also lists eight other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005636/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global carboxylic acid market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) The global carboxylic acids market is driven by many factors such as the growth of the global vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) market. The demand for VAMs is growing mainly due to the rising demand for polymer products manufactured using VAM. In 2016, APAC accounted for the largest share of the global carboxylic acids market both in terms of production and consumption. The growing use of carboxylic acids as animal feed and food preservative is also one of the major factors contributing to the market growth. Competitive vendor landscape According to the report, the global carboxylic acids market is highly fragmented in terms of product types and its scope for use in a wide range of applications. There are many vendors in the market because of which the key vendors, accounted for less than 25% of the total market share in 2016. "With an annual production of more than 150,000 MT, BASF accounted for a market share of 3 5.71% by volume in the global propionic acid market. There is no inadequacy in the production of carboxylic acids globally as many vendors are producing at least one type of carboxylic acid," says Hitesh Bhatia, a lead specialty chemicals research analyst from Technavio. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free Top five carboxylic acids market vendors BASF BASF offers 2-ethylhexanoic acid, formic acid, mandelic acid, and propionic acid. With the establishment of a production unit in Nanjing, the company has become a major supplier to China, India, and Taiwan. Apart from the UK, Germany is the largest consumer of propionic acid produced by BASF. Celanese Corporation Celanese Corporation is a global technology and specialty materials company. It is one of the largest producers of acetyl products that are the major intermediate chemicals used in many industries. It is also the largest producer of high-performance polymers. Eastman Chemical Company Eastman Chemical Company is a specialty chemicals company. It manufactures and markets chemicals, plastics, and fibers. It offers, adhesives, coatings, and specialty plastics products. It is one of the major suppliers of cellulose acetate fibers and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers for the packaging industry. Perstorp Holdings Perstorp Holdings is controlled by French Equity fund partners since 2005. The company has a diversified product portfolio serving segments, such as construction, engineering, agriculture products, and others. It reported annual revenue of SEK2,834 million (USD 323.07 million) in 2016. The Dow Chemical Company The Dow Chemical Company offers solutions for clean water, increased agricultural productivity, and clean energy generation and conservation. Its portfolio includes specialty chemicals, advanced materials, and agro-sciences. 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. Browse Related Reports: Global Methyl Ester Ethoxylate Market 2017-2021 Global Succinic Acid Market 2017-2021 Municipal Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market in CEE 2017-2021 About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005636/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-6252-2176 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/ TOKYO, Aug 8, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Client Computing Limited today announced the release of 30 new enterprise PC models across 15 product series, all equipped with the Windows 10 Creators Update, the latest version of the Windows 10 operating system. The new models are being rolled out in stages from mid-August in Japan.In its Fujitsu Desktop ESPRIMO family of desktop PCs, Fujitsu is offering five models, including the ESPRIMO K557/R, which has a new case design with a built-in liquid crystal display. In its Fujitsu Workstation CELSIUS family of workstations, Fujitsu is offering six models, including the CELSIUS W570, a compact mini-tower entry-level model.In its Fujitsu Notebook LIFEBOOK family of laptops, Fujitsu is offering twelve models, and in its Fujitsu Tablet ARROWS Tab family of Windows tablets, Fujitsu is offering seven models. Among them are three models that are thin and light for superior portability to support employees who work remotely, and the new models are priced up to 25% lower than similar existing models(1) to promote a transformation in the ways customers work.In addition, for all new models(2) Fujitsu offers the option of continuing to provide the Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8.1 Pro environments(3). The Fujitsu Group is supporting the operations of its customers across a variety of industries by expanding the functionality of its various product lines.Main Features of the New Products1. ESPRIMO K557/R, with an easy-to-use case design and built-in liquid crystal displayThe ESPRIMO family of desktop PCs now includes the ESPRIMO K557/R standard model that features a built-in liquid crystal display that is exceptional at conserving space, as well as an updated chassis design. It uses a high-quality liquid crystal IPS display that comes in different sizes ranging from 19.5 to 23.8 inches wide. Because the display is built into the body of the PC, compared to models with a separate liquid crystal display, its desktop footprint takes up about 30% less space(4), enabling customers to effectively use a limited area.It features a variety of improvements for greater operability. For example, it is designed so that the airflow from the fan does not blow toward someone behind the PC, and because the optical drive is in front and the USB ports can be customized to be positioned in front, it is easy to switch CDs and DVDs and plug in or unplug USB cables.The LCD screen swivels 340 degrees, making it ideal for in-store use and other usage scenarios in which the screen is shared with customers. Cables that are always used, such as the power and adapter cables, as well as the USB interface, are stored in the connector cover, and the back cover can be locked by attaching a wire lock (sold separately). With the customized option of an antibacterial keyboard and mouse, hygiene can be preserved for a long time, so it can be used with peace of mind in medical institutions and public facilities.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_ESPRIMOK557R.jpg2. CELSIUS W570, a compact mini-tower entry-level model with enhanced basic functionsIn its CELSIUS family of enterprise PC workstations, Fujitsu is newly offering the CELSIUS W570 minitower model, which is equipped with the Intel Xeon processor E3-1200 v6/E3-1200 v5 Family, the latest high-performance CPU. Because it can be equipped with the NVIDIA Quadro P4000, a Quadro graphics card with Pascal GPU architecture from NVIDIA, it can run such applications as the latest CAD or CAE(5) software or analytic simulations quickly and easily. In addition, it is more compact. Compared to the case of the previous CELSIUS W550 model, its cubic volume is 30% smaller.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_CELSIUSW570.jpg3. Enhanced line of LIFEBOOK laptop and ARROWS Tab tablet models, including remote work support modelsFujitsu's line of LIFEBOOK laptop and ARROWS Tab tablet models has been enhanced, with all the new models equipped with the Windows 10 Creators Update, the latest version of the Windows 10 operating system. Three models, the LIFEBOOK P727/R, LIFEBOOK U937/R, and ARROWS Tab R727/R, are priced up to 25% lower than similar existing models(1), and they are offered as remote work support models, supporting flexible ways of working without regard to location or time.(1) Similar existing modelsComparison with the ARROWS Tab R727/P, LIFEBOOK P727/P, and LIFEBOOK U937/P.(2) All new modelsExcept the CELSIUS H series.(3) Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1 Pro environmentsModels downgraded from Windows 10.(4) Compared to models with a separate liquid crystal display, its desktop footprint is about 30% smallerComparing the ESPRIMO K557/R with 19.5inch liquid crystal display to the ESPRIMO D586/P equipped with a VL-E20T-7 19.5-inch liquid crystal display.(5) CAEComputer Aided Engineering. Computer systems that support the design and development process for industrial products.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 155,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$40 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. A Galesville farmer has won his five-year legal battle against Xcel Energy over stray voltage that he says harmed his cattle and could result in a record $13.5 million award. A jury last week found that Xcel was negligent and failed to follow state regulations, causing more than $4 million in losses for Paul Halderson and his wife, Lyn, who operate a nearly 1,000-cow dairy. The Haldersons claimed their herd suffered from illness and decreased milk production for more than a decade because of improperly grounded power lines. In total, the Trempealeau County jury awarded the Haldersons about $4.5 million, which the court is required to triple in cases such as this where a jury finds willful, wanton or reckless violation of statutes. That would be the largest stray voltage award in Wisconsin history and likely the second largest in the nation, said Haldersons attorney Barry Hammarback of River Falls, Wis. It really was quite a vindication, Hammarback said, noting that the Haldersons had to endure accusations they were sub-standard farmers. Paul Halderson, a longtime member of the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau school board, said he would rather have avoided the lawsuit but was relieved to get compensation for a problem that began as early as 1993. It was a long struggle, he said. I wish that we didnt have to go through this to get this. Xcel spokeswoman Christine Ouellette said the company was disappointed by the verdict and is evaluating the next steps. The term stray voltage refers to current that leaks from neutral wires into the earth. Animals that come into contact with a grounded object such as a watering trough can receive small shocks. This can cause dairy cattle to avoid eating, become stressed and generally produce less milk, according to research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wisconsins Public Service Commission established guidelines in 1996 for acceptable levels of stray voltage for utility service, although a farm or homes own wiring can also be the source, said Doug Reinemann, professor and chair of biological systems engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Its typically some of each, Reinemann said. Theres always some coming from each side. According to the Haldersons suit, NSP found excessive voltage in one of their barns beginning in 1996 but failed to report it. In 2011, the Haldersons hired a consultant who found high levels of electricity and concluded it was coming from the utilitys distribution system. The suit claimed this led to reduced milk production and the loss of $5.8 million in profits between 2004 and 2011 when Xcel installed equipment designed to reduce stray voltage. Hammarback said after new equipment was installed, the cows reproduction rates nearly doubled, mortality plummeted and overall production increased by 5 million pounds of milk per year. Its like night and day, Haldeson said in a statement released by his attorney. When we had stray voltage, we could never get the production we wanted and the cows were struggling with health problems. Now it seems effortless. Production is way up and the cows are doing great. Also named in the suit was Star Blends LLC, which the Haldersons said provided bad feed in June 2011 shortly after Xcel installed equipment to address the stray voltage that killed some of their cows and left others sick. The Sparta feed company settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. Xcel countered that the Haldersons claim teeters on the false premise that their herd should have produced milk at levels exceeding state and local averages. The utility claims no one detected harmful currents where cows were present and says Haldersons problems resulted from his expansion during difficult times for the dairy industry, bad feed, disease and inadequate veterinary care, and poor conditions for the cattle. Arctic View expanded its operation in 2001 and 2005, growing the herd from around 200 cows to more than 900. Xcel says it tested for stray voltage each time new wiring was installed and did not find significant levels. In 2010 a Grant County farmer won a record $5 million settlement against Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative, and last year the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld a $9 million verdict against Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Co. It was a long struggle. I wish that we didnt have to go through this to get this. Paul Halderson, farmer WISeKey International Holding Ltd (WIHN.SW) ("WISeKey"), a leading Cybersecurity and IoT Platform announced that it has completed the integration of the OISTE/WISeKey Root of Trust into IoT embedded devices with problem-solving Artificial Intelligence ("AI") solutions. For WISeKey, integrating the technologies of its patent portfolio and intellectual property into its Vertical Platform is key to ensuring the company's position as a major player in the "DeepTech" for years to come. This allows to distinguish WISeKey from other companies that use technology commonly available, as WISeKey's technology is unique, protected and hard to reproduce based on tangible scientific discoveries or engineering innovations. By integrating problem-solving AI solution technologies WISeKey is solving issues that really affect the world. First step of the integration was achieved early this year by integrating the WISeKey's Global Root and Public Key Infrastructures into a Blockchain. The hardware interface is based on combining efficient microcontrollers to so called crypto-accelerators, while the software interface connects this combination to the web, mobile phones, reader systems and radio frequency systems like NFC, Bluetooth, ZigBee and low power wide area networks. WISeKey has built one of the most innovative smart tags in the industry. Its VaultIC 15x series is delivering asymmetric key algorithms in energy harvesting mode. Crypto-chips can be operated without batteries, only by the induction field of a mobile phone with NFC capability. This makes it easy and convenient to embed them into any kind of physical object, thus protecting their authenticity and provenance. Extending the capability of the VaultIC with industrial bus systems like I2C, SPI, UART solves all critical issues of machine identity related to IoT, sensor and actuator networks, smart city, smart plans, etc. Second step was achieved by integrating AI capabilities to the WISekey Vertical Platform by developing WISeAI the first ever Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Platform to resolve complicated cybersecurity and IoT environment burdened by exponential volumes of data, threats and exponential IoT growth. WISeIA uses advanced algorithms that learns from data generated by digital identities from WISeKey Ecosystems combined with predictability mathematics algorithms to learn "digital behaviors and patterns" for every identity (including people, object and processes) on the Internet, detect anomalies and provide solutions. WISeAI inspires from the human immune system protective force honed by millions of years of evolution to provide a broad, yet thorough opposition to entities that harm the human body. The technology mimics the way the human immune system identifies the level of threat and defends itself protecting the vital organs on the body. WISeAI leverages WISeKey Digital Identity Platform on which users are always in control of their digital identity stored on their mobile, IoT sensor. The Third step was achieved by integrating WISeID, the Identity Management capabilities to keep people's personal data protected. Users are always in control of their digital identity stored on their mobile, IoT sensor and or computer and is only the user who determines which identification attributes are shared with social media, credit cards, merchant sites etc., never disclosing the Personal Identifiable Information (PII) if not required or necessary. WISeID uses BlockChain as a public, immutable ledger that allows third parties to validate that the original Identity or Attribute certifications provided by a Third Trusted Party has not been changed or misrepresented. Keeping control of Digital Identity is key to protecting user's personal data. WISeID is also provided as a software development kit (SDK) to third parties wanting to use this method of identification for their identities requirements. This technology is already being used by several WISeKey customers including: Indian Potash Limited (IPL) to enable 140 million farmers (" WISeFarmers ") to tune into the digital economy and IoT using the WISeKey platform via the WISeKey India joint venture. Via an IoT chip, the technology traces the movement of a fertilizer bag from the factory /port until the doorstep of the farmer, thus sub serving the larger cause of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) reform in India. In January 2013, the Government of India launched the DBT program, aiming to reform Government delivery system for simpler and faster flow of information/funds and to ensure accurate targeting of the beneficiaries, de-duplication and reduction of fraud. ") to tune into the digital economy and IoT using the WISeKey platform via the WISeKey India joint venture. Via an IoT chip, the technology traces the movement of a fertilizer bag from the factory /port until the doorstep of the farmer, thus sub serving the larger cause of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) reform in India. In January 2013, the Government of India launched the DBT program, aiming to reform Government delivery system for simpler and faster flow of information/funds and to ensure accurate targeting of the beneficiaries, de-duplication and reduction of fraud. Bajaj Electricals Limited (BEL), India's leading consumer durable and lighting company is using WISeKey's technology to create 100 million IoT Digital Identities of SKUs and enable a digitally certified eco-system for connected objects, in the cloud, making the BEL a differentiated player in the Indian market and in the global arena as well. There are 12 billion 'end-points' in homes, enterprises, industrial facilities and retail locations, making lighting the most ubiquitous network of connected devices on the planet and the perfect platform for IoT. A leading European automobile manufacturer has installed WISeKey IoT and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in the manufacturer's connected car solutions allowing them to authenticate legitimate car components and enabling owners to securely interact with the car's smart features. Of note, BI Intelligence expects 94 million connected cars to be sold in 2021, and for 82% of all cars sold during that year to be connected. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 35% from 21 million connected cars in 2016. Virtually all new cars on the market today include electronic technologies that could pose vulnerabilities to hacking or privacy intrusions if data security is not addressed. For example, smart cars without cybersecurity protection technology could allow hackers to gain remote access by exploiting vulnerabilities in their ecosystem of connected components and online services. As the number of cars connected to the Internet is growing quickly (to over a quarter of a billion by year 2020, as estimated by Gartner), smart car manufactures are working to identify and reduce potential hacking vulnerabilities in their vehicles. About WISeKey: WISeKey (SIX Swiss Exchange: WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems with a patented process. WISeKey's Swiss based cryptographic Root of Trust ("RoT") provides secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, for the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of online transactions among objects and between objects and people. For more information, visit www.wisekey.com. To receive WISeKey's latest news, subscribe to our Newsletter or visit the WISeKey Investors Corner. Disclaimer: This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005765/en/ Contacts: Press and investors: WISeKey International Holding Ltd Carlos Moreira, +41 22 594 3000 Chairman CEO info@wisekey.com or WISeKey Investor Relations (US) The Equity Group Inc. Lena Cati, +1-212-836-9611 lcati@equityny.com BANGALORE and PORTLAND , Oregon, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hemex Health, an early stage medical diagnostics enterprise, announced the selection of Tata Elxsi as the product design and engineering partner of its latest Lab-in-a-Box diagnostic device. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161116/440033LOGO ) Hemex Health is designing a cost-effective and easy-to-use, point-of-care device that helps health workers provide quick and accurate diagnosis of malaria and sickle cell disease. The Lab-in-a-Box diagnostic device can diagnose malaria and sickle cell disease in just minutes, more quickly and affordably than any other point-of-care diagnostic on the market today. The new device integrates both malaria and sickle cell diagnostics inside a single unit. "Access to quality and affordable health care is still a challenge across the world today, especially in rural settings. Lack of facilities and suitable clinical tools for the rural and economically challenged areas of the world means that diseases such as malaria and sickle cell often go undiagnosed with devastating impact on families and communities," said Patti White, CEO, Hemex Health. "In our strategic mission to develop and launch this Lab-in-a-Box product, we have been actively looking for a partner that understands the challenges of these markets and possesses comprehensive capabilities from concept development to engineering and launch of medical products that meet regulatory standards. We are delighted to have found the right partner in Tata Elxsi." According to the statistics provided by WHO, it is estimated that up to 3.4 billion people (half the world's population) are currently at risk for malaria, especially in developing countries. Sickle Cell, on the other hand, is genetic in nature and known to cause recurring long-term health issues such as anemia, bacterial infections and stroke. As of 2015, it was estimated that up to 7% of the world's population carry this gene.International agencies acknowledge that progress on these diseases is hampered by the lack of affordable diagnostics at the point of care. "The social impact that technology can bring in delivering health care to the underserved and unserved sections of the society, especially in the emerging markets, is tremendous and multi-fold," said Mr. Nitin Pai, SVP - Marketing and Strategy, Tata Elxsi. He continued, "Intelligent engineering and the use of next-gen technologies can help make healthcare accessible and cost-effective -- the main challenges that many in the developing countries of the world face today. We are pleased to be supporting Hemex in the development of this novel and innovative technology." About Hemex Health Hemex Health was founded on the belief that people everywhere, no matter how underserved or remote their region, deserve access to affordable, life-sustaining medical care. Hemex Health is part of the OTRADI Bioscience Incubator located in Portland, Oregon. About Tata Elxsi Tata Elxsi is a global design and technology services company, headquartered in Bangalore. It addresses the healthcare, automotive, broadcast and communications, consumer electronics industries. This is supported by a network of design studios, development centers and offices worldwide. Tata Elxsi's Medical Device and Healthcare practice work with leading medical device OEMs and technology companies for product design & engineering services from market survey & research to product development and launch. It brings together expertise in market research and human factor engineering, hardware and software engineering, verification & validation, regulatory standards & compliance requirements along with technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud and IoT. Tata Elxsi's Medical Device and Healthcare practice is ISO 13485 certified. Media contact: Patti White CEO - Hemex Health +1-971-801-2573 Hari Balan Corporate Communications +91-80-2297-9123 Website: http://www.tataelxsi.com FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Group revenue in Q2 2017 increased by 12% (12% in local currency) to DKK 4,825 million compared with Q2 2016 Revenue from PANDORA owned retail increased 36% (37% in local currency). - Like-for-like sales-out growth for PANDORA owned concept stores was 10% Revenue from EMEA increased 10% (13% in local currency) driven by growth in all main markets Revenue from Americas increased 1% (-1% in local currency) - Like-for-like sales-out growth in the US was 8% driven by more effective promotions and improved in-store execution Revenue in Asia Pacific increased 35% (34% in local currency) driven by strong sales performances in Australia and China Full jewellery brand ambitions on track with revenue from Rings, Earrings and Necklaces & Pendants combined up 23% with the three categories representing 23% of Group revenue Revenue from Charms increased 6% and revenue from Bracelets increased 19% Gross margin was 73.9% in Q2 2017 (Q2 2016: 75.3%) impacted by headwind from currency EBITDA was DKK 1,611 million in Q2 2017, corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 33.4% (Q2 2016: 37.2%) impacted by higher administrative costs Free cash flow was DKK 556 million in Q2 2017 (Q2 2016: DKK 576 million) DKK 1,449 million returned to shareholders in Q2 2017 via quarterly dividend of DKK 9 per share and share buy-back of DKK 446 million Related to the Q2 2017 results, PANDORA will pay out a quarterly dividend of DKK 9 per share to shareholders (corresponding to DKK 1,000 million) Financial guidance for FY 2017 is maintained, including expected revenue of DKK 23-24 billion and EBITDA margin of approximately 38%. Commenting on the results, Anders Colding Friis, CEO of PANDORA, said: "We are pleased with the results for the second quarter delivering double digit top-line growth and continued healthy profitability. Markets like China, Italy, the UK, and Australia performed well, reflecting the significant growth potential for our product offering in both our newer and more developed markets. We also continue to make strides in improving the quality of our global store network and added net 70 new concept stores during the quarter. The retail environment in the US remains challenging, however, our strategy has delivered a solid improvement in the performance of the concept store network. Additionally, we are rolling out a number of initiatives to strengthen our US business even further. Our journey to become a full jewellery brand is progressing well, with revenue from Rings, Earrings and Necklaces & Pendants increasing by 23%. Meanwhile, sales of Charms and Bracelets also grew by 6% and 19% respectively." CONFERENCE CALL A conference call for investors and financial analysts will be held today at 11.00 CEST and can be joined online at www.pandoragroup.com. The presentation for the call will be available on the website one hour before the call. The following numbers can be used by investors and analysts: DK: +45 32 71 16 58 UK (International): +44 (0) 203 427 1908 US: +1 646 254 3388 To participate, please quote confirmation code "PANDORA" when dialling into the conference. FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2017 15 August 2017 PANDORA shares are traded ex-dividend 17 August 2017 Payment of quarterly dividend 24 August 2017 Payment of quarterly dividend for ADR holders 7 November 2017 Interim Report for the first nine months of 2017 14 November 2017 PANDORA shares are traded ex-dividend 16 November 2017 Payment of quarterly dividend 23 November 2017 Payment of quarterly dividend for ADR holders CONTACT For more information, please contact: INVESTOR RELATIONS MEDIA RELATIONS Magnus Thorstholm Jensen Kristian Lysgaard Vice President, Head of Investor Director, Corporate Communications Relations +45 7219 5774 +45 7219 5739 krly@pandora.net mtje@pandora.net Brian Granberg Martin Kjrsgaard Nielsen Investor Relations Officer Head of Media Relations, Corporate +45 7219 5344 Communications brgr@pandora.net +45 5077 5271 mnie@pandora.net Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=640546 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de EDINBURGH (dpa-AFX) - British insurer Standard Life plc (SL.L) Friday reported that its first-half profit attributable to equity holders rose 29 percent to 292 million pounds from 226 million pounds in the same period last year. Earnings per share were 14.8 pence, up from last year's 11.4 pence. Operating profit before tax from continuing operations was 362 million pounds, up 6 percent from 341 million pounds in the same period last year. Operating earnings per share rose to 16.4 pence from 13.5 pence a year ago. Total revenue for the first half declined to 7.40 billion pounds from last year's 7.70 billion pounds. The company's board has proposed an interim dividend of 7.00 pence per share, an increase of 8.2 percent from the year-ago period. Standard Life noted that its proposed merger with Aberdeen Asset Management PLC is expected to be effective on 14 August 2017. Keith Skeoch, Chief Executive of Standard Life, said, 'The combined leadership team of Standard Life and Aberdeen has been working well together to ensure 'Day 1' readiness. We are well placed to continue to meet changing client and customer needs globally, and to generate growing and sustainable returns for our shareholders.' Looking ahead, Standard Life noted that the slowdown in gross inflows it saw in the first half of the year is expected to ease as the company progresses with the merger integration. The company also expects to benefit from strong demand for its retail platforms and improving investment performance. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, a promotional video of Nanchang, China, cantered on the theme of 'the City of Heroes' has been broadcast on big digital screens on both Times Square in New York and Ginza Square in Tokyo, which have showcased glorious landscape of Nanchang as well as positive spirit of Nanchangers. This overseas promo video covers the culture, history and natural scenery of Nanchang, establishing an image of 'the city of heroes' from different perspectives in chronological order, comprehensively and convincingly. Visually and emotionally, this video is believed to be an authentic 'international' publicity catering to foreigners. As a supplement, huge Chinese-style posters characterized with Nanchang elements such as Tengwang Pavilion (one of the well-known landmarks of Nanchang) are also posted outdoors, which functions as an intermediary for the world to get closer to Nanchang. Wang Bo, one of the 'Four Literary Eminences in Early Tang Dynasty', described Nanchang as a land "richly endowed with nature resources and glorified by outstanding talents". Generation after generation, giant figures have been nurtured by this famous ancient city. On 1 August 1927, Nanchang Uprising led by the Communist Party of China broke out in Nanchang, announcing the birth of a new type of army which truly fought for Chinese people. Since then, this courageous and pioneering spirit has been rooted deeply in Nanchangers' heart, encouraging them to do their bit to contribute to the development of Nanchang. On the 90th anniversary of Nanchang Uprising, Nanchang Municipal Committee for Tourism Development took the opportunity to launch this overseas campaign to exhibit Nanchang's cultural 'soft power' and carry forward martyrs' heroic spirit. "Promoting Nanchang overseas to attract global focus is one of the official events hosted by Publicity Department of the CPC Nanchang Municipal Committee and Nanchang Municipal Committee for Tourism Development, in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of Nanchang Uprising and the founding of people's army." The director of Nanchang Municipal Committee for Tourism Development said. "Apart from outdoors posters and promotional videos, we will also make a series of videos called 'Nanchang in foreigners' eyes', which will be posted on various online media home and abroad, such as YouTube, Facebook and Toutiao.com. We wish to transfer overseas sensational impact back to home country, creating a second transmission flow effect. In all, this campaign is estimated to cover about 25 million people and 100 million Internet users." He added. To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, various forms of activities are organized throughout China recently. President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech after PLA's 90th birthday military parade, which greatly inspired all Chinese. Therefore, as the place where PLA was established, Nanchang has aroused the attention from both the press and Internet users at home and abroad, which are further reinforced by current overseas promo campaign. The director admitted that they also aimed to attract as many potential tourists as possible, thereby building on the international brand awareness for Nanchang as a tourist attraction. In late September, the International Military Music Festival is worth looking forward to be held in Nanchang, during which, subsequent promos will continue to be released in several cosmopolitan cities to immerse the whole world into a shared solemn atmosphere in memory of revolutionary martyrs. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/543055/NANCHANG_Travel.jpg PETERSFIELD, England, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning CRM vendor, Really Simple Systems, has launched a major new release of its popular cloud-based CRM. The new 'Version 5' is a total re-write of the CRM, delivering a dramatic step forward in CRM usability, targeting the SMB market. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/542735/RSS_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/542736/RSS_CRM_Sales_Dashboard.jpg ) (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/542737/RSS_Opportunities_Summary.jpg ) Responding to customer feedback, Really Simple Systems has developed this new release to build upon their reputation for ease of use and customer support. The CRM Version 5 includes new intuitive features such as 'drag and drop' customisation, a global search bar, easy data move and merge options, and pull-out support drawers on each page. Really Simple Systems CEO, John Paterson, comments "Unlike some CRM vendors, we haven't created a cut down version of something more complex. Really Simple Systems is directly addressing the needs of small businesses with a CRM that's quick and easy to use, yet has all the sales and marketing functionality needed." The new CRM Version 5 is a complete re-write from the ground up, that moves the system away from Microsoft to open source technology. With a clean, user-friendly interface, the new version reinforces the company's philosophy of 'taking complex applications and making them simple to use, and affordable'. Paterson continues "our CRM Version 5 offers features and functionality you might expect from a much larger vendor at a price you would not." Despite the new development, Really Simple Systems is keen to stress that its differential is still in its customer service. "We have also put a lot of effort into developing our support tools alongside the CRM" added Marketing Manager, Helen Armour. "We have new self-help tools within the product with links directly to our Customer Support Hub. Importantly, the information has been written by our Sales and Marketing team so it's easy to follow and understand." The Really Simple Systems CRM Version 5 is now available to new and current customers. A 14-day free trial is available and prices start at US$15 / UK10 per user per month. A free version of the CRM is also available. https://www.reallysimplesystems.com/ Notes Established in 2006, Really Simple Systems provides cloud-based CRM systems for small and mid-sized businesses operating B2B. Based in the UK, the company's philosophy is based on taking complex applications then making them easy and affordable. With over 18,000 customers Really Simple Systems is one of the world's largest providers of Cloud CRM systems. Customers range from single users to 100 user systems and include the Red Cross, the Royal Academy of Arts and IBM, as well as thousands of small and medium sized companies. Based in the UK, Really Simple Systems is regulated by the UK Data Protection Act and is compliant with EC Data Protection Directives and the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Contact Helen Armour, Marketing Manager +44(0)1730-823300 helen.armour@reallysimplesystems.com LONDON, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- B2B Relationship marketing technology firm Concep is consolidating its 15-year experience providing CRM-integrated relationship marketing software to legal, financial and professional services firms by launching a new commercial offering. Aimed at firms who rely on high-value relationships to do business, the new offering is designed to be easily accessible, scalable and cost effective. Concep offers a comprehensive marketing solution for teams who want to send, track and measure personalised email campaigns. Users benefit from a 360 view of a contact's activities eliminating any marketing and sales silos. Another advantage is the engagement scoring that highlights the strength of client relationships. Concep's other options take full advantage of Microsoft's intelligent cloud, displaying insights pulled in from different data sources. This gives marketing and business development teams the business intelligence to identify new opportunities and know where their most profitable relationships are. Concep will continue to offer its clients a fully serviced, configurable toolkit for all their Dynamics 365 relationship marketing requirements including a dedicated account manager, yearly health checks to ensure firms are getting the most out of their relationship marketing system, as well as best practice and knowledge sharing. The offering supports the growth and needs of global legal, financial and professional services firms where marketing is decentralised, while enabling brand owners to protect the brand. Freddie Hustler, Concep Global Head of Sales says: With offices and a 250-strong client base in Australia, North America and Europe, we are in an excellent position to support a growing network of global integration partners like Barhead, Thomson Reuters Elite, Hitachi Solutions and 360 Vertical Solutions. We have worked hard to understand our mutual clients' needs, adding real value to their businesses. This new offering builds on our expertise to offer firms a 'plug and go' solution for marketing that is cost-effective and grows with their business. Mauricio Alves, Global Head of Product Marketing says: As a Microsoft Gold Partner, we have had a relationship with Microsoft since 2012 and have worked closely with them to develop a Dynamics 365 integration that is seamless, easy-to-use and simple to access. We have added a sophisticated layer of functionality to Dynamics 365 creating a powerful relationship marketing tool that helps firms identify new opportunities, build stronger connections with clients and gain efficiencies. For more information, visit http://www.Marketing4Dynamics.com Contact: Freddie Hustler, Head of Global Sales, Concep Direct + 44(0)7436-886-366 Concep +44(0)207-952-5570 http://www.dynamics.concep.com China Everbright Bank (CEB) has chosen Wolters Kluwer's OneSumX Regulatory Reporting to provide its regulatory reporting software for its operations in Luxembourg. OneSumX Regulatory Reporting uses a single source of data to ensure consistency, reconciliation and accuracy and includes the firm's Regulatory Update Service. This unique service is maintained by Wolters Kluwer experts who actively monitor regulation in approximately 50 countries, helping to ensure the solution is current at all times. CEB (Europe) S.A., a wholly owned Luxembourg-based subsidiary of the bank, was granted a license by the European Central Bank and started operations in July 2017. CEB was established in August 1992 and is headquartered in Beijing, as a national joint-stock commercial bank approved by the State Council of China and the People's Bank of China. The bank was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in August 2010 and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in December 2013. In the past few months leading financial services firms from across the world have implemented the OneSumX solution for Regulatory Reporting, Risk and Finance (including IFRS 9 solutions). Major financial services providers that have recently announced their use of Wolters Kluwer include LGT, Nordea, BBVA, CIBC, Australia's Queensland Treasury Corporation and The Swedish Export Credit Corporation. Wolters Kluwer has received a number of recent awards, providing independent verification of its leading market position in integrated regulatory reporting. Chartis Research, for example, recently named Wolters Kluwer a Category Leader for IFRS 9 solutions, for the second year running, as well as a Category Leader in its Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) Report. Wolters Kluwer has won a number of other accolades for its dominant position in regulatory reporting from the likes of Wealth & Finance International, FinTech Finance, Data Management Review and Corporate Vision magazine. Wolters Kluwer's OneSumX for Risk was also named Best Risk Management System by Banking Technology magazine at the end of 2016. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk Compliance Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer which provides legal, finance, risk and compliance professionals and small business owners with a broad spectrum of solutions, services and expertise needed to help manage myriad governance, risk and compliance needs in dynamic markets and regulatory environments. Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171107005129/en/ Contacts: Wolters Kluwer Paul Lyon Office +44 20 3197 6586, Mobile +44 77 6539 1824 Director of International Corporate Communications Governance, Risk Compliance Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (NYSE: FSM) (TSX: FVI) announces that it will release its financial statements and MD&A for the second quarter after the market closes on Monday, August 14, 2017. A conference call to discuss the financial and operational results will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific / 12:00 p.m. Eastern. Hosting the call will be Jorge A. Ganoza, President and CEO, and Luis D. Ganoza, Chief Financial Officer. Shareholders, analysts, media and interested investors are invited to listen to the live conference call by logging onto the webcast at: http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=176090 or over the phone by dialing just prior to the starting time. Conference call details: Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m. Pacific / 12:00 p.m. Eastern Dial in number (Toll Free): +1.866.682.6100 Dial in number (International): +1.862.255.5401 Replay number (Toll Free): +1.877.481.4010 Replay number (International): +1.919.882.2331 Replay Passcode: 10421 Playback of the conference call will be available until August 31, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Playback of the webcast will be available until November 17, 2017. In addition, a transcript of the call will be archived in the company's website: https://www.fortunasilver.com/investors/financials/2017/. About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Fortuna is a growth oriented, precious metal producer focused on mining opportunities in Latin America. The Company's primary assets are the Caylloma silver mine in southern Peru, the San Jose silver-gold mine in Mexico and the Lindero gold project in Argentina. The Company is selectively pursuing acquisition opportunities throughout the Americas and in select other areas. ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY Carlos Baca, Investor Relations manager Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward looking statements which constitute "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "Forward looking Statements"). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward looking Statements. The Forward looking Statements in this news release may include, without limitation, statements about the Company's plans for its mines and mineral properties; the Company's business strategy, plans and outlook; the merit of the Company's mines and mineral properties; mineral resource and reserve estimates; timelines; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; expenditures; approvals and other matters. Often, but not always, these Forward looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as "will", "will be" or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward looking Statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; changes in prices for silver and other metals; technological and operational hazards in Fortuna's mining and mine development activities; risks inherent in mineral exploration; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries; governmental and other approvals; political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active; labor relations issues; as well as those factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward looking Statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to expectations regarding mine production costs; expected trends in mineral prices and currency exchange rates; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral resource and reserve estimates; that the Company's activities will be in accordance with the Company's public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained; that there will be no significant disruptions affecting operations and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward looking Statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that Forward looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward looking Statements. Contacts: Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Investor Relations: (Peru): +51.1.616.6060, ext. 0 info@fortunasilver.com SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- Avalara, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based tax compliance automation, today announced the launch of Avalara TrustFile GST in India to help businesses and tax practitioners easily achieve and maintain compliance with the country's new Goods and Services Tax (GST) law implemented July 1, 2017. The new national indirect tax regime makes India a unified common market and establishes GST as the single tax on the supply of goods and services, spanning manufacturer to consumer. The GST system replaces the prior indirect tax regime of multiple cascading taxes levied by Central and State governments. While the new unified system is expected to ease the burden on the consumer and make doing business in India more appealing for foreign companies in the long term, the immediate impact falls to millions of businesses throughout India, and international companies selling into India, to find a solution to comply with the new rules. Avalara has been named an Application Service Provider (ASP) and is partnering with authorized GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs) in India -- including Excellon Software -- to offer businesses Avalara TrustFile GST, its automated GST compliance solution. The partnerships leverage Avalara's experience as the only authorized ASP that has automated GST in both Canada and Brazil -- two other countries currently using GST -- where Avalara already helps hundreds of companies stay compliant. Vishnu Tambi, CEO, Excellon Software: "Avalara is an established expert in GST and VAT in other countries where it currently supports hundreds of businesses with their indirect tax requirements. Therefore, in our nation's transition to a new digital compliance system, we trust in its expertise and accuracy for our businesses. Avalara and Excellon will help finance teams comply with GST with automated tools and analytics." "Avalara identified India as a priority market 10 years ago, and we are excited to continue our expansion in one of the world's fastest growing economies," said Scott McFarlane, Avalara co-founder and CEO. "With the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and digitized return filing process in India, companies in India or selling into India need an efficient solution to comply with the new regulations. GST compliance is challenging, but Avalara TrustFile GST is a proven tool that improves compliance accuracy and efficiency for customers." Avalara TrustFile GST Avalara TrustFile GST is secure cloud-based software that provides end-to-end reconciliation and enables businesses and consultants to prepare and file timely GST returns. Key features of Avalara TrustFile GST: Automates returns preparation and filing of GSTR 1 to 11 Easily retrieves data from a company's ERP, accounting system, or ecommerce platforms Validates incoming data and flags corrections Classifies and allocates input tax credits Supports multiple Goods and Services Tax Identification Numbers (GSTINs) to handle multistate filing or multiple business units Provides configurable auto-reconciliation with built-in intelligence An IT ecosystem that incorporates a network of GSPs and ASPs will help corporate and tax consultants achieve better data-based compliance under the GST regime. For more information about Avalara TrustFile GST, please visit: https://www.avalara.com/in/products/gst-returns-filing/ About Avalara Avalara helps businesses of all sizes achieve compliance with transaction taxes, including sales and use, VAT, excise, communications, and other tax types. The company delivers comprehensive, automated, cloud-based solutions designed to be fast, accurate, and easy to use. Avalara's Compliance Cloud platform helps customers manage complicated and burdensome tax compliance obligations imposed by state, local, and other taxing authorities throughout the world. Avalara offers more than 580 pre-built connectors into leading accounting, ERP, ecommerce and other business applications, making the integration of tax and compliance solutions easy for customers. Each year, the company processes billions of indirect tax transactions for customers and users, files more than a million tax returns, and manages millions of tax exemption certificates and other compliance documents. A privately held company, Avalara's venture capital investors include Sageview Capital, Battery Ventures, Warburg Pincus, Technology Crossover Ventures, Arthur Ventures, and other institutional and individual investors. Headquartered in Seattle, Avalara has offices across the U.S. and overseas in the U.K., Belgium, Brazil, and India. More information at www.avalara.com Media Contacts Avalara India Payal Mathur Email Contact P. +91 20 25638991 x2413 Avalara Corporate Jesse Hamlin Email Contact P: 518-281-0631 MADISON After lawmakers finished grilling members of the Walker administration over the details of a proposed incentive package to bring Foxconn Technology Group to Wisconsin, the mood in Thursdays public hearing audibly changed. While their questions were still tough, members of the Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy took on a decidedly different tone as they listened to leaders of local government and higher education describe why they thought the deal would be good for Wisconsin and its taxpayers. Those few hours may represent a turning point in the debate over whether Foxconn, the worlds largest contract electronics manufacturer, should get $3 billion in public incentives over 15 years in exchange for a $10-billion investment, 13,000 direct jobs and a supply chain likely to employ twice as many workers. An inherent skepticism is baked into the mix when the executive branch of state government offers ideas that are subject to legislative scrutiny. That tension has been present with every administration in recent memory, Republican or Democrat, and its no different under Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Lawmakers are often more willing to listen to others whom they trust, even if the message is identical or nearly so to what they hear from a governors team. That was the case during Thursdays hearing in the Capitol, where the mood changed when lawmakers heard testimony from leaders of the University of Wisconsin System, Marquette University, the states Technical College System and bipartisan local leaders from Kenosha and Racine counties. Sites in those two counties are where Foxconn will build its 20-million-square-foot plant. UW System President Ray Cross said he believes the Foxconn project would be transformative for the state and would catapult the state university system into a position of global prominence through partnerships, internships and research opportunities that would build on what is already a strong research base. His views were supported by UW-Parkside Chancellor Deb Ford and UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone, whose campuses are close to Foxconns proposed sites and would be likely sources of talent and industry partnerships. UW-Madison Engineering Dean Ian Robertson talked about the need for engineering graduates to fill Foxconn-related jobs, either directly or indirectly, and noted the college must add faculty to meet those demands over time. Marquette President Mike Lovell described his time in Pittsburgh as that citys economy recovered from the loss of its historic steel industry. That recovery was spurred dramatically with a decision by Google to locate a major facility there, which in turn attracted more tech economy jobs. The same thing will happen in Wisconsin, Lovell predicted, if Foxconn lands here. State Technical College President Morna Foy was joined by campus presidents from Appleton, Wausau and Kenosha who described the systems ability to produce graduates who are ready to work and who usually stay in Wisconsin to do so. In fact, the retention rate for tech college graduates and certificate holders is 97 percent, the committee was told. Local government leaders from Racine and Kenosha voiced their excitement over Foxconns arrival, and described Foxconn leaders as being tough negotiators but fair and legitimately concerned about Wisconsin and their region. Lawmakers also heard the general manager of Kenoshas water utility, Edward St. Peter, detail how that citys facilities are ready to handle Foxconns enormous water demands and to return clean water to the environment. Local leaders that included former Democratic legislators Jim Kreuser and John Antaramian suggested some changes in the legislation pertaining to Tax Incremental Financing, but otherwise supported the incentive package. Other suggested changes that may find their way into the bill before it passes involved a Wisconsin First approach to giving state contractors and suppliers a shot at doing business with Foxconn and more targeted wetlands mitigation rules. There will still be skeptics, but lawmakers on hand Thursday heard how Wisconsin assembled a team approach to bring the Foxconn opportunity to this point. Its a team that appears poised to finish the job. CULVER CITY, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- FlitWays (OTC PINK: FTWS) a Los Angeles based travel technology company, today announce plans for their expansion into the principal markets across New Zealand. FlitWays' Director of Growth, Zacky Hamraz, commented, "We are ecstatic to announce our expansion into New Zealand. It is one of the regions that is experiencing substantial growth in both corporate and leisure travel. Our technology provides travelers the convenience to pre-book a door-to-door journey that enhances their experiences." FlitWays is one of the leading providers of business class transportation solutions. Our offering will provide our globally known flagship FlitWays vehicle service for use by corporate and business travelers that need transportation in this rapidly growing region. FlitWays will be immediately available in the following major New Zealand markets with other smaller markets to follow: Auckland Christchurch Wellington FlitWays continues to expand the breadth of markets we serve. We give more travelers greater access to reliable and affordable ground transportation. About FlitWays: FlitWays, a Los Angeles-based travel technology company, offers enterprise ground transportation solution for businesses in 170 cities around the world. Currently servicing over 400 airports with a fleet of over 20,000 vehicles. FlitWays provides businesses with enterprise suite and integrated booking tools that helps business to manage their global ground transportation through a secured platform that fits the way businesses travel. For additional information regarding FlitWays, visit www.FlitWays.com. Additional information regarding FlitWays Technology, Inc. can also be found in the Company's most recent filings with SEC at www.sec.gov and further Company press releases. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of FlitWays Technology Inc. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements," including, but not limited to; the proposed corporate name change; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements. FlitWays IR 855-710-0915 ext. 5 ir@flitways.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- -- High-grade, visible-gold mineralization intersected in Swan Zone up to 90 metres ("m") down plunge of recently released Mineral Reserve -- Key intercepts: 338 g/t Au over 33.6 m (Estimated True Width ("ETW") 4.6 m), 42.9 g/t Au over 49.5 m (ETW 3.6 m) and 11.4 g/t Au over 18.65 m (ETW 18.0 m) -- Continuity of mineralization of Swan Zone defined over strike extent of 300 m with vertical extent of 200 m. Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. ("Kirkland Lake Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: KL)(OTCQX: KLGDF) is pleased to report continued high-grade drill results at depth from underground drilling at Fosterville Mine in Australia. Underground definition drilling continues to infill and target down-plunge extensions of the Swan Zone of the Lower Phoenix gold system to increase Mineral Resource confidence and assess the potential of further Mineral Reserve expansion. Recent drill results returned from six underground holes totaling 2,652 metres ("m") into existing Mineral Resources and extensions of the Swan Zone (previously referred to as the Lower Phoenix Footwall) of the Lower Phoenix gold system continue to return intervals of extremely high grades with visible gold. Continuity of high-grade visible gold mineralization in the Swan Zone has now been defined over a strike extent of 300 m and vertical extent of 200 m. Recent drilling confirms that high-grade visible-gold mineralization extends approximately 80 m laterally to the south and 40 m below Swan Mineral Reserves as reported in the July 27, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release. Mr. Tony Makuch, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: "Today's drill results continue to demonstrate both the continuity and growth potential of the high-grade Swan Zone within the Lower Phoenix gold system. The Swan Zone is the highest-grade area of the Fosterville mine, with a recently released Mineral Reserve including 532,000 ounces at an average grade of 58.8 g/t Au. Today's results include two intercepts that are located between 70 and 90 m down plunge of the current Swan Zone Mineral Reserve, with additional high-grade mineralization being intersected to the south and at depth of the Zone. The results we are seeing from the ongoing drilling program are increasing our confidence in the geological controls and continuity of grade within the Swan Zone. They are also supporting our view that the potential exists to significantly grow the Swan Zone Mineral Reserve, where the average grade is well in excess of Fosterville's overall underground Mineral Reserve, which includes 1,030,000 ounces at an average grade of 17.9 g/t Au. "We intend to accelerate progressive step-out extension drilling on the Swan Zone of Lower Phoenix gold system during the second half of 2017, which remains open down plunge. Drilling will also continue to focus on the extensions of the Eagle and Lower Phoenix Zones in the Lower Phoenix gold system as well as on the Harrier gold system to potentially significantly expand Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves at Fosterville." Swan Mineralized Zone Underground Drilling Program Results of the ongoing underground resource drilling program at the Swan Zone continue to demonstrate high-grade continuity down plunge. Key intercepts are listed below, with further details provided in the commentary that follows. Key Intercepts: -- 338 g/t Au(1)(2) over 33.6 m, including 4,177 g/t Au(1)(2) over 0.95 m, 3,079 g/t Au(1)(2) over 0.65 m and 1,037 g/t Au (1)(2)over 3.55 m in hole UDH2081A; -- 42.9 g/t Au(1) over 49.5 m, including 1,856 g/t Au(1) over 0.6 m in hole UDH2084D; and -- 11.4 g/t Au(1) over 18.65 m, including 42.1 g/t Au(1)over 3.65 m in hole UDE138 Since the May 3, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release, underground diamond drilling has continued to focus on multiple targets, including further testing of the Swan mineralized zone. Reported drill results are from six holes (2,652 m), of which five have significant intercepts. Drill Hole UDH2081A is located within the Swan Inferred Mineral Resource approximately 70 m down plunge of the Swan Mineral Reserve. The drill hole is oriented sub-parallel to the Swan dip surface and returned a significant intercept of 338 g/t Au(1)(2) over 33.6 m (ETW 4.6 m), including 4,177 g/t Au(1)(2) over 0.95 m (ETW 0.1 m), 3,079 g/t Au(1)(2) over 0.65 m (ETW 0.1 m), 1,037 g/t Au(1)(2) over 3.55 m (ETW 0.5 m) and 714 g/t Au(1)(2) over 1.85 m (ETW 0.3 m). The drill intercepts for holes UDE138 and UDH2084D occur on 6350mN and 6325mN, respectively, and are 80-90 m down plunge from the Swan Mineral Reserve. Significant results of 11.4 g/t Au(1) over 18.65 m (ETW 18.0 m), including 42.1 g/t Au(1) over 3.65 m (ETW 3.5 m) are reported in hole UDE138. Drill hole UDH2084D is oriented sub-parallel to the Swan dip surface and returned 42.9 g/t Au(1) over 49.5 m (ETW 3.6 m), including 244 g/t Au(1) over 6.25 m (ETW 0.5 m), 1,856 g/t Au(1) over 0.6 m (ETW 0.04 m) and 618 g/t Au(1) over 0.5 m (ETW 0.04 m). The results for the above three holes confirm that the approximate 40 degrees west-dipping Swan Zone is continuously mineralized southwards down plunge, where high grades exist and are associated with observed disseminated visible gold in quartz. Drill holes UDE136 and UDE145 were recently drilled and returned intercepts that fall between 4090mRL and 4070mRLs and have the potential to support approximately 30 m of Mineral Reserve extension at these elevations. Significant results for these holes comprise 7.1 g/t Au over 13.8 m (ETW 12.3 m), including 25.4 g/t Au over 2.85 m (ETW 2.3 m), in hole UDE136 and 7.1 g/t Au(1) over 8.15 m (ETW 7.9 m), including 16.6 g/t Au(1) over 1.45 m (ETW 1.4 m) in hole UDE145. (1) Visible gold present in drill intercept; All drill results are presented in Table 1, and drill collars in Table 2 (2) Results included in June 30, 2017 Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves update To view a PDF of the tables and figures as referenced in this News Release, visit the links below. The tables are also available at the end of the press release. http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1100453t.pdf - Tables http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1100453f.pdf - Figures Qualified Persons Troy Fuller, MAIG, Geology Manager, Fosterville Gold Mine, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this News Release. Drilling and Assay QAQC Kirkland Lake Gold has in place quality-control systems to ensure best practice in drilling, sampling and analysis of drill core. All diamond drill hole collars (Table 2) are accurately surveyed using a Leica Total Stations instrument and down-hole deviations are measured by electronic multi-shot cameras. Sampling consisted of NQ2 diamond drill core that was cut longitudinally in half with a diamond saw; one-half of the drill core was sent to an independent laboratory for analysis and the other drill core half retained for reference. Drill core sample intervals vary between 0.3 and 1.2 m in length and were determined from logging of sulphide and visible gold. Samples containing visible gold or considered likely to contain visible gold were separated from sulphide gold samples and dispatched independently for assaying. At the laboratory "visible gold" jobs were processed through a single pulverizer and material barren of gold was crushed before and after each sample to minimize the potential for gold to contaminate successive samples. Sample pulps are returned from the assay laboratory for future reference. Assay results (Table 1) are based on 25-gram charge fire assays. Mean grades are calculated using a variable lower grade cut-off (generally 2 g/t Au) and maximum 2 m internal dilution. No upper gold grade cut is applied to the data. However, during future Mineral Resource studies the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed. Drill samples were assayed at On Site Laboratories, an independent laboratory in Bendigo, Victoria. The facility is registered ISO 9001:2008 (CERT-C33510). About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a mid-tier gold producer with 2017 target production of 570,000 to 590,000 ounces from mines in Canada and Australia. The production profile of the company is anchored from two high-grade, low-cost operations, including the Macassa Mine located in northeastern Ontario and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to planned exploration programs, costs and expenditures, changes in mineral resources and conversion of mineral resources to proven and probable reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future exploration potential, project economics, timing and scope of future exploration, anticipated costs and expenditures, changes in mineral resources and conversion of mineral resources to proven and probable reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Exploration results that include geophysics, sampling, and drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit. Such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. A mineral resource that is classified as "inferred" or "indicated" has a great amount of uncertainty as to its existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that any or part of an "indicated mineral resource" or "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category of resource. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into proven and probable reserves. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, risks related to international operations, risks related to obtaining the permits required to carry out planned exploration or development work, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as future prices of gold, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form and other disclosures of "Risk Factors" by the Company and its predecessors, available on SEDAR. Although Kirkland Lake Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates All resource and reserve estimates included in this news release or documents referenced in this news release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the "CIM Standards"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators, which established standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve" and "probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. These definitions differ materially from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7") under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act. In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in very limited circumstances. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource exists, will ever be converted into a mineral reserve or is or will ever be economically or legally mineable or recovered. Table 1: Drill Assay Intercepts for Underground Diamond Drilling for the Swan Mineralized Zone, Fosterville Gold Mine (The Swan Zone results are an update to those reported in May 3, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Downhole Estimated Gold Hole ID From To Interval True Width Grade Geological (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t Au) Structure ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Swan Mineralized Zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE136 257.7 271.5 13.8 12.3 7.1 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including 264.9 267.75 2.85 2.3 25.4 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE138 (1) 263 281.65 18.65 18.0 11.4 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including (1) 278 281.65 3.65 3.5 42.1 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE145 (1) 268.15 276.3 8.15 7.9 7.1 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including (1) 270.75 272.2 1.45 1.4 16.6 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2006 (2) 199 199.3 0.3 0.3 3.4 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2081A (1) (2) 353.6 387.2 33.6 4.6 338 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including (1) (2) 370.75 371.7 0.95 0.1 4,177 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- And Including (1) (2) 374.8 375.45 0.65 0.1 3,079 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- And Including (1) (2) 378.25 381.8 3.55 0.5 1,037 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- And Including (1) (2) 383.05 384.9 1.85 0.3 714 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2084D (1) 351.6 401.05 49.45 3.6 42.9 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including (1) 353.55 359.8 6.25 0.5 244 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Including (1) 356.8 357.4 0.6 0.04 1,856 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- And Including (1) 378 378.5 0.5 0.04 618 SWAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: (1) - Visible gold observed in drill intercept (2) - Drill intercept included the June 30, 2017 Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve update Drill intercepts greater than 30 Gram-Metres (gold grade x estimated true width) are in bold text Table 2: Underground Diamond Drill Hole Collar Locations, Fosterville Gold Mine ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Collar Collar Total Hole ID Northing Easting Elevation Azimuth Plunge Depth (m) (m) (m) ( degrees ) ( degrees ) (m) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE136 6,359.6 1,407.6 4,192.6 89 -27 335.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE138 6,363.0 1,394.0 4,192.0 96 -60 605.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDE145 6,359.6 1,407.6 4,192.6 95 -27 430.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2006 (2) 6,583.9 1,401.9 4,188.3 97.2 -11.5 227.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2081A (2) 6,244.2 1,857.4 4,256.9 298.3 -42.2 512.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UDH2084D 6,245.8 1,853.6 4,257.0 290 -46 539.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: Collar locations are in Fosterville Mine Grid coordinate system. (2) - Drill intercept included the June 30, 2017 Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve update. Contacts: Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. Anthony Makuch President, Chief Executive Officer & Director +1 416-840-7884 tmakuch@klgold.com Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. Mark Utting Vice President, Investor Relations +1 416-840-7884, 6205 mutting@klgold.com www.klgold.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- Martinrea International Inc. (TSX: MRE), a leader in the development and production of quality metal parts, assemblies and modules and fluid management systems and complex aluminum products focused primarily on the automotive sector, announced today the release of its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 and a quarterly dividend. All amounts in this press release are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated; and all tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except earnings per share and number of shares. Additional information about the Company, including the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of Operating Results and Financial Position for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 ("MD&A"), the Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 (the "interim consolidated financial statements") and the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016, can be found at www.sedar.com. HIGHLIGHTS -- Eleventh consecutive quarter with record year-over-year adjusted earnings; best quarterly earnings to date -- Production sales of $933.5 million -- Record quarterly net income of $47.3 million, or $0.55 per share -- Quarterly adjusted operating income (6.9%) and EBITDA (11.2%) margins increase substantially year over year -- Record quarterly adjusted EBITDA of $108.7 million -- Net debt decreases; balance sheet continues to strengthen -- Dividend of $0.03 per share announced OVERVIEW Pat D'Eramo, Martinrea's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Martinrea had a terrific performance in the second quarter. This is now our eleventh quarter in a row with record year-over-year adjusted earnings. Our margin improvement plan continues to be on track and our leverage ratio continues to improve. It is pretty clear that we are meeting, indeed exceeding, our objectives for the year even in a flat automotive environment. Our focus on operational excellence, cost reduction, good launches, and improving our product offerings to customers is taking hold, and our Martinrea 2.0 strategy is achieving results. I am also pleased to announce $50 million of new business wins in the quarter, since our last call, including $15 million of aluminum structural components and fluid management systems work for Ford on the next generation F-150 and new Bronco both starting in 2020, $15 million of steel structural components for GM on an upcoming electric autonomous vehicle starting in 2018, and $20 million of aluminum structural components for Lucid Motors starting in late 2019." Fred Di Tosto, Martinrea's Chief Financial Officer, stated: "Sales for the second quarter, excluding tooling sales of $39.3 million, were $933.5 million, within our previously announced sales guidance. In the quarter, our adjusted net earnings per share, on a basic and diluted basis, was $0.55 per share, in excess of the high end of our quarterly guidance and a record quarter. Our launches have gone well, we continue to make productivity and efficiency improvements, our sales mix is improving and we had a slightly lower than expected tax rate. Second quarter adjusted operating income and adjusted EBITDA margins improved significantly year-over-year. We continue to expect operating margins to improve to over 6% for the year by the end of 2017. Our net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio ended the quarter at 1.68x, a nice improvement from the end of the previous quarter and this time last year, as we continue to move towards our target ratio of 1.5x by the end of 2017. We had a very solid quarter from a financial perspective, once again. Our financial position is strong, our balance sheet is solid, and both are improving." Rob Wildeboer, Executive Chairman, stated: "We continue to drive our One Company culture and Martinrea 2.0 strategy as we continuously improve our business. Our Vision, Mission and Ten Guiding Principles are living things and are at the core of our improving financials. We are improving our business at a time of an industry plateau, and we will continue to see improvements, operationally and financially, year over year, for the rest of the year and going forward. We are demonstrating we can turn around distressed assets we have bought in the past, as well as build up new plants from scratch. The future looks fantastic. The year 2017 continues to trend nicely, and we expect third quarter sales, excluding tooling sales, of $810 million to $850 million, and adjusted net earnings per share in the range of $0.40 to $0.44 per share, which would be our best third quarter ever from a financial perspective. We would also like to thank our people and all stakeholders for their support." RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Results of operations may include certain unusual and other items which have been separately disclosed, where appropriate, in order to provide a clear assessment of the underlying Company results. In addition to IFRS measures, management uses non-IFRS measures in the Company's disclosures that it believes provide the most appropriate basis on which to evaluate the Company's results. OVERALL RESULTS The following tables set out certain highlights of the Company's performance for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. Refer to the Company's interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 for a detailed account of the Company's performance for the periods presented in the tables below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Three months months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sales $ 972,772 $1,023,825 (51,053) (5.0%) Gross Margin 128,926 116,222 12,704 10.9% Operating Income 66,958 18,729 48,229 257.5% Net Income for the period 47,411 (27) 47,438 1757.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company $ 47,346 $ (42) 47,388 1128.3% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Earnings per Share - Basic and Diluted $ 0.55 $ - 0.55 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Non-IFRS Measures(i) Adjusted Operating Income $ 66,958 $ 56,992 9,966 17.5% % of sales 6.9% 5.6% Adjusted EBITDA 108,707 94,649 14,058 14.9% % of sales 11.2% 9.2% Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company 47,346 37,663 9,683 25.7% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted Net Earnings per Share - Basic and Diluted $ 0.55 $ 0.44 0.11 25.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six months Six months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sales $1,973,322 $2,063,275 (89,953) (4.4%) Gross Margin 247,141 228,040 19,101 8.4% Operating Income 128,991 70,074 58,917 84.1% Net Income for the period 90,878 32,504 58,374 179.6% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company $ 90,948 $ 32,529 58,419 179.6% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Earnings per Share - Basic and Diluted $ 1.05 $ 0.38 0.67 176.3% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Non-IFRS Measures(i) Adjusted Operating Income $ 123,293 $ 108,337 14,956 13.8% % of sales 6.2% 5.3% Adjusted EBITDA 203,254 183,671 19,583 10.7% % of sales 10.3% 8.9% Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company 86,077 70,234 15,843 22.6% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted Net Earnings per Share - Basic $ 1.00 $ 0.81 0.19 23.5% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted Net Earnings per Share - Diluted $ 0.99 $ 0.81 0.18 22.2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)Non-IFRS Measures The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). However, the Company considers certain non-IFRS financial measures as useful additional information in measuring the financial performance and condition of the Company. These measures, which the Company believes are widely used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in evaluating the Company's performance, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies, nor should they be construed as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS measures include "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Net Earnings per Share (on a basic and diluted basis)", "Adjusted Operating Income" and "Adjusted EBITDA". The following tables provide a reconciliation of IFRS "Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company" to Non-IFRS "Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company", "Adjusted Operating Income" and "Adjusted EBITDA": ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months Three months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company $ 47,346 $ (42) Unusual and Other Items (after-tax)(i) - 37,705 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company $ 47,346 $ 37,663 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six months Six months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company $ 90,948 $ 32,529 Unusual and Other Items (after-tax)(i) (4,871) 37,705 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company $ 86,077 $ 70,234 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)Unusual and other items for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are explained in the "Adjustments to Net Income" section of this press release. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months Three months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income (loss) Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company $ 47,346 $ (42) Non-controlling interest 65 15 Income tax expense 14,162 11,637 Other finance expense (income) (112) 1,219 Finance expense 5,497 5,900 Unusual and Other Items (before-tax)(i) - 38,263 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted Operating Income $ 66,958 $ 56,992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 37,719 33,601 Amortization of intangible assets 3,990 4,078 Loss/(gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment 40 (22) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA $ 108,707 $ 94,649 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six months Six months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income Attributable to Equity Holders of the Company $ 90,948 $ 32,529 Non-controlling interest (70) (25) Income tax expense 27,515 22,136 Other finance expense (income) (743) 3,340 Finance expense 11,341 12,094 Unusual and Other Items (before-tax)(i) (5,698) 38,263 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted Operating Income $ 123,293 $ 108,337 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 72,528 67,223 Amortization of intangible assets 7,726 8,082 Loss/(gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment (293) 29 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA $ 203,254 $ 183,671 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)Unusual and other items for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are explained in the "Adjustments to Net Income" section of this press release. The year-over-year changes in significant accounts and financial highlights are discussed in detail in the sections below. Certain comparative information has been reclassified where relevant to confirm with the current financial statement presentation adopted in 2017. SALES Three months ended June 30, 2017 to three months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months Three months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- North America $ 789,055 $ 836,774 (47,719) (5.7%) Europe 155,620 168,249 (12,629) (7.5%) Rest of the World 32,767 22,312 10,455 46.9% Eliminations (4,670) (3,510) (1,160) 33.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Sales $ 972,772 $1,023,825 (51,053) (5.0%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Company's consolidated sales for the second quarter of 2017 decreased by $51.0 million or 5.0% to $972.8 million as compared to $1,023.8 million for the second quarter of 2016. The total decrease in sales was driven by decreases in the North America and Europe operating segments partially offset by an increase in sales in the Rest of the World. Sales for the second quarter of 2017 in the Company's North America operating segment decreased by $47.7 million or 5.7% to $789.1 million from $836.8 million for the second quarter of 2016. The decrease was due to a $23.2 million decrease in tooling sales, which are typically dependent on the timing of tooling construction and final acceptance by the customer, and lower year-over-year OEM production volumes on certain light-vehicle platforms including the Chrysler 200, customer production of which ended at the end of 2016, Ford Fusion, and other platforms late in their product life cycle such as the old GM Equinox/Terrain, and programs that ended production during or subsequent to the second quarter of 2016. These negative factors were partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange on the translation of U.S. denominated production sales, which had a positive impact on overall sales for the second quarter of 2017 of approximately $23.4 million as compared to the second quarter of 2016; higher year-over-year production volumes on certain light vehicle platforms such as the Ford Escape and GM Pick-up truck/SUV platform; and the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the second quarter of 2016 including the GM Bolt and next generation GM Equinox/Terrain, which is set to ramp up over the course of 2017 as the old model ramps down. Sales for the second quarter of 2017 in the Company's Europe operating segment decreased by $12.6 million or 7.5% to $155.6 million from $168.2 million for the second quarter of 2016. The decrease can be attributed to a $6.8 million decrease in tooling sales and generally lower year-over-year production volumes in the Company's operating facility in Spain; partially offset by a $0.1 million positive foreign exchange impact from the translation of Euro denominated production sales as compared to the second quarter of 2016. Sales for the second quarter of 2017 in the Company's Rest of the World operating segment increased by $10.5 million or 46.9% to $32.8 million from $22.3 million in the second quarter of 2016. The increase was mainly due to a year-over-year increase in production sales in the Company's operations in China due in large part to a year-over-year increase in production volumes on one of its key platforms which was down for seven weeks during the second quarter of 2016 as a result of an unplanned OEM shutdown; higher year-over-year production sales in the Company's operating facility in Brazil; and a $1.3 million positive foreign exchange impact from the translation of foreign denominated production sales as compared to the second quarter of 2016. These positive factors were partially offset by a $2.9 million decrease in tooling sales. Overall tooling sales decreased by $32.9 million to $39.3 million for the second quarter of 2017 from $72.2 million for the second quarter of 2016. Six months ended June 30, 2017 to six months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six months Six months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- North America $1,592,039 $1,680,084 (88,045) (5.2%) Europe 327,940 332,978 (5,038) (1.5%) Rest of the World 59,844 57,105 2,739 4.8% Eliminations (6,501) (6,892) 391 (5.7%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Sales $1,973,322 $2,063,275 (89,953) (4.4%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Company's consolidated sales for the six months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $90.0 million or 4.4% to $1,973.3 million as compared to $2,063.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The total decrease in sales was driven by decreases in the Company's North America and Europe operating segments, partially offset by a year-over-year increase in sales in the Rest of the World. Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2017 in the Company's North America operating segment decreased by $88.1 million or 5.2% to $1,592.0 million from $1,680.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The decrease was due to the impact of foreign exchange on the translation of U.S. denominated production sales, which had a negative impact on overall sales for the six months ended June 30, 2017 of approximately $9.8 million as compared to the comparative period of 2016; and lower year-over-year OEM production volumes on certain light-vehicle platforms including the Chrysler 200, customer production of which ended at the end of 2016, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, and other platforms late in their product life cycle such as the old GM Equinox/Terrain, and programs that ended production during or subsequent to the six months ended June 30, 2016. These negative factors were partially offset by a year-over-year increase in tooling sales of $3.3 million; an increase in production volumes on the Chrysler V6 Pentastar engine block program which was down during the first quarter of 2016 for re-tooling; higher year-over-year volumes on certain light vehicle platforms such as the Ford Escape, GM Pick-up truck/SUV platform and other GM programs previously impacted by unplanned OEM shutdowns during the second quarter of 2016 because of an earthquake in Japan which disrupted the supply chain; and the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the six months ended June 20, 2016 including the GM Bolt and next generation GM Equinox/Terrain, which is set to ramp up over the course of 2017 as the old model ramps down. Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2017 in the Company's Europe operating segment decreased by $5.1 million or 1.5% to $327.9 million from $333.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The decrease can be attributed to the impact of foreign exchange on the translation of Euro denominated production sales, which had a negative impact on overall sales for the six months ended June 30, 2017 of approximately $12.7 million as compared to the comparable period of 2016, partially offset by slightly higher production volumes in the Company's Martinrea Honsel German operations and a $3.3 million increase in tooling sales. Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2017 in the Company's Rest of the World operating segment increased by $2.7 million or 4.8% to $59.8 million from $57.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase was mainly due to a year-over-year increase in production sales in the Company's operations in China due in large part to a year-over-year increase in production volumes on one of its key platforms which was down for seven weeks during the second quarter of 2016 as a result of an unplanned OEM shutdown; higher year-over-year production sales in the Company's operating facility in Brazil; and a $0.5 million positive foreign exchange impact from the translation of foreign denominated production sales as compared to the six months ended June 30, of 2016. These positive factors were partially offset by a $10.6 million decrease in tooling sales. Overall tooling sales decreased by $4.0 million to $103.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from $107.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. GROSS MARGIN Three months ended June 30, 2017 to three months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months Three months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross margin $ 128,926 $ 116,222 12,704 10.9% % of sales 13.3% 11.4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The gross margin percentage for the second quarter of 2017 of 13.3% increased as a percentage of sales by 1.9% as compared to the gross margin percentage for the second quarter of 2016 of 11.4%. The increase in gross margin as a percentage of sales was generally due to: -- productivity and efficiency improvements at certain operating facilities; -- general sales mix including new and replacement programs that launched, and old programs that ended production, during or subsequent to the second quarter of 2016; and -- a decrease in tooling sales which typically earn low or no margins for the Company. These positive factors were partially offset by operational inefficiencies and other costs at certain other facilities including upfront costs incurred in the Company's China operations in preparation of upcoming new programs. Six months ended June 30, 2017 to six months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six months Six months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross margin $ 247,141 $ 228,040 19,101 8.4% % of sales 12.5% 11.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The gross margin percentage for the six months ended June 30, 2017 of 12.5% increased as a percentage of sales by 1.4% as compared to the gross margin percentage for the six months ended June 30, 2016 of 11.1%. The increase in gross margin as a percentage of sales was generally due to: -- productivity and efficiency improvements at certain operating facilities; -- general sales mix including new and replacement programs that launched, and old programs that ended production, during or subsequent to the six months ended June 30, 2016; and -- a slight decrease in tooling sales which typically earn low or no margins for the Company. These positive factors were partially offset by operational inefficiencies and other costs at certain other facilities including upfront costs incurred in the Company's China operations in preparation of upcoming new programs. SELLING, GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE ("SG&A") Three months ended June 30, 2017 to three months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months Three months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Selling, general & administrative $ 52,539 $ 50,661 1,878 3.7% % of sales 5.4% 4.9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SG&A expense for the second quarter of 2017 increased by $1.9 million to $52.5 million as compared to $50.7 million for the second quarter of 2016. SG&A expense as a percentage of sales increased year-over-year to 5.4% for the second quarter of 2017 compared to 4.9% for the second quarter of 2016. The increase was generally due to approximately $2.2 million in litigation costs related to certain employee related matters in the Company's operating facility in Brazil stemming in part from the right sizing of its workforce conducted by the Company after the business was acquired in 2011. Six months ended June 30, 2017 to six months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six months Six months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Selling, general & administrative $ 105,138 $ 102,115 3,023 3.0% % of sales 5.3% 4.9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SG&A expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $3.0 million to $105.1 million as compared to $102.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016. SG&A expense as a percentage of sales increased year-over-year to 5.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 4.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase can be attributed to approximately $4.2 million in litigation costs related to certain employee related matters in the Company's operating facility in Brazil stemming in part from the right sizing of its workforce conducted by the Company after the business was acquired in 2011. SG&A expenses are being monitored and managed on a continuous basis in order to optimize costs. ADJUSTMENTS TO NET INCOME (ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY) Adjusted Net Income excludes certain unusual and other items, as set out in the following tables and described in the notes thereto. Management uses Adjusted Net Income as a measurement of operating performance of the Company and believes that, in conjunction with IFRS measures, it provides useful information about the financial performance and condition of the Company. TABLE A Three months ended June 30, 2017 to three months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the three For the three months ended months ended June 30, 2017 June 30, 2016 (a)-(b) ------------- -------------- (a) (b) Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME (A) $ 47,346 $ (42) $ 47,388 Add Back - Unusual and Other Items: Impairment of assets (1) - 34,579 (34,579) Restructuring costs (2) - 3,684 (3,684) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL UNUSUAL AND OTHER ITEMS BEFORE TAX - $ 38,263 $(38,263) Tax impact of above items (3) - (558) 558 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL UNUSUAL AND OTHER ITEMS - AFTER TAX (B) - 37,705 $(37,705) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADJUSTED NET INCOME (A + B) $ 47,346 $ 37,663 $ 9,683 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Shares Outstanding - Basic ('000) 86,512 86,385 Adjusted Basic Net Earnings Per Share $ 0.55 $ 0.44 Number of Shares Outstanding - Diluted ('000) 86,786 86,578 Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share $ 0.55 $ 0.44 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE B - Six months ended June 30, 2017 to six months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the six For the six months ended months ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 (a)-(b) ------------ ------------- (a) (b) Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME (A) $ 90,948 $ 32,529 $ 58,419 Add Back - Unusual and Other Items: Impairment of assets (1) - 34,579 (34,579) Restructuring costs (2) - 3,684 (3,684) Gain on sale of land and building (4) (5,698) - (5,698) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL UNUSUAL AND OTHER ITEMS BEFORE TAX $ (5,698) $ 38,263 $(43,961) Tax impact of above items (3) 827 (558) 1,385 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL UNUSUAL AND OTHER ITEMS - AFTER TAX (B) $ (4,871) $ 37,705 $(42,576) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADJUSTED NET INCOME (A + B) $ 86,077 $ 70,234 $ 15,843 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Shares Outstanding - Basic ('000) 86,502 86,385 Adjusted Basic Net Earnings Per Share $ 1.00 $ 0.81 Number of Shares Outstanding - Diluted ('000) 86,714 86,603 Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share $ 0.99 $ 0.81 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Impairment of assets During the second quarter of 2016, the Company recorded impairment charges on PP&E, intangible assets and inventories totaling $34.6 million (US$26.6 million) related to an operating facility in Detroit, Michigan included in the North America operating segment. The impairment charges resulted from the cancellation of the main OEM light vehicle platform being serviced by the facility, representing the majority of the business, well before the end of its expected life cycle. This has led to a decision to close the facility. The impairment charges were recorded where the carrying amount of the assets exceeded their estimated recoverable amounts. (2) Restructuring costs As part of the acquisition of Honsel in 2011, a certain level of restructuring was contemplated, in particular, at the Company's German operating facility in Meschede, Germany. In connection with these restructuring activities, $1.8 million (EUR1.2 million) of employee related severance was recognized during the second quarter of 2016. No further costs related to this restructuring are expected to be incurred. Other additions to the restructuring accrual during the second quarter of 2016 totaled $1.9 million (US$1.4 million) and represent employee related payouts resulting from the closure of the operating facility in Detroit, Michigan as described above. (3) Tax impact of above items (For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016) The tax impact of the adjustments recorded to income during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 of $0.6 million represents solely the corresponding tax effect on the $1.8 million in restructuring costs incurred in Meschede, Germany. The $34.6 million in impairment charges and $1.9 million in restructuring costs related to the closure of the operating facility in Detroit, Michigan, as described above, resulted in tax losses that were not benefitted and, as a result, not recognized as a deferred tax asset. In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income and the reversal of taxable temporary differences; however, forming a conclusion on the realization of deferred tax assets requires judgment when there are recent tax losses. (4) Gain on sale of land and building During the first quarter of 2017, in connection with the relocation of an existing operation to another manufacturing facility, a building owned by the Company in Mississauga, Ontario was sold on an "as-is, where-is" basis. The building was sold for proceeds of $9.9 million (net of closing costs of $0.4 million) resulting in a pre-tax gain of $5.7 million. NET INCOME (ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY) Three months ended June 30, 2017 to three months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Three months months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income (loss) $ 47,346 $ (42) 47,388 1128.3% Adjusted Net Income $ 47,346 $ 37,663 9,683 25.7% Net Earnings per Share Basic and Diluted $ 0.55 $ - Adjusted Net Earnings per Share Basic and Diluted $ 0.55 $ 0.44 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income, before adjustments, for the second quarter of 2017 increased by $47.4 million from nil for the second quarter of 2016 largely as a result of the unusual and other items incurred during the second quarter of 2016 as explained in Table A under "Adjustments to Net Income". Excluding these unusual and other items, net income for the second quarter of 2017 increased to $47.3 million or $0.55 per share, on a basic and diluted basis, from $37.7 million or $0.44 per share, on a basic and diluted basis, for the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted Net Income for the second quarter of 2017, as compared to the second quarter of 2016, was positively impacted by the following: -- higher gross profit despite an overall decrease in year-over-year sales as previously explained; -- productivity and efficiency improvements at certain operating facilities; -- general sales mix including new and replacement programs that launched, and old programs that ended production, during or subsequent to the second quarter of 2016; -- a net foreign exchange gain of $0.05 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to a net foreign exchange loss of $1.3 million for the second quarter of 2016; -- a slight year-over-year decrease in finance expense on the Company's bank debt and equipment loans; and -- a lower effective tax rate on adjusted income due generally to the mix of earnings (23.0% for the second quarter of 2017 compared to 24.5% for the second quarter of 2016). These factors were partially offset by the following: -- operational inefficiencies and other costs at certain other facilities; -- a year-over-year increase in SG&A as previously discussed; -- a year-over-year increase in depreciation as previously discussed; and -- an increase in research and development costs due to increased new product and process research and development activity. Six months ended June 30, 2017 to six months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six months Six months ended June ended June $ % 30, 2017 30, 2016 Change Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income $ 90,948 $ 32,529 58,419 179.6% Adjusted Net Income $ 86,077 $ 70,234 15,843 22.6% Net Earnings per Share Basic and Diluted $ 1.05 $ 0.38 Adjusted Net Earnings per Share Basic $ 1.00 $ 0.81 Diluted $ 0.99 $ 0.81 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income, before adjustments, for the six months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $58.4 million to $90.9 million from $32.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 largely as a result of the impact of the unusual and other items incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 as explained in Table B under "Adjustments to Net Income". Excluding these unusual and other items, net income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 increased to $86.1 million or $1.00 per share on a basic basis, and $0.99 per share on a diluted basis, from $70.2 million or $0.81 per share, on a basic and diluted basis, for the six months ended June 30, 2016. Adjusted Net Income for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016, was positively impacted by the following: -- higher gross profit despite an overall decrease in year-over-year sales as previously explained; -- productivity and efficiency improvements at certain operating facilities; -- general sales mix including new and replacement programs that launched, and old programs that ended production, during or subsequent to the six months ended June 30, 2016; -- a net foreign exchange gain of $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to a net foreign exchange loss of $3.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016; -- a slight year-over-year decrease in finance expense on the Company's bank debt and equipment loans; and -- a lower effective tax rate on adjusted income due generally to the mix of earnings (23.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 24.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2016). These factors were partially offset by the following: -- operational inefficiencies and other costs at certain other facilities; -- a year-over-year increase in SG&A as previously discussed; -- a year-over-year increase in depreciation as previously discussed; and -- an increase in research and development costs due to increased new product and process research and development activity. ADDITIONS TO PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Three months ended June 30, 2017 to three months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Three months months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions to PP&E $ 45,091 $ 50,161 (5,070) (10.1%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions to PP&E decreased by $5.1 million to $45.1 million in the second quarter of 2017 from $50.2 million for the second quarter of 2016 due generally to the timing of expenditures. Additions as a percentage of sales decreased slightly year-over-year to 4.6% for the second quarter of 2017 compared to 4.9% for the comparative period of 2016. The Company continues to make investments in the business in particular at new greenfield operating facilities as these new plants execute on their backlogs of new business. Six months ended June 30, 2017 to six months ended June 30, 2016 comparison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six months Six months ended June ended June 30, 2017 30, 2016 $ Change % Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions to PP&E $ 111,732 $ 92,994 18,738 20.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions to PP&E increased by $18.7 million year-over-year to $111.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to $93.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 due generally to the timing of expenditures. Additions as a percentage of sales increased year-over-year to 5.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 4.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2016. While capital expenditures are made to refurbish or replace assets consumed in the normal course of business and for productivity improvements, a large portion of the investment in the first six months of 2017 continued to be for manufacturing equipment for new and replacement programs that recently launched or will be launching over the next 24 months. DIVIDEND A cash dividend of $0.03 per share has been declared by the Board of Directors payable to shareholders of record on September 30, 2017 on or about October 15, 2017. ABOUT MARTINREA Martinrea currently employs approximately 15,000 skilled and motivated people in 44 operating divisions in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Slovakia, Spain and China. Martinrea's vision for the future is to be the best, preferred and most valued supplier in the world in the products and services we provide our customers. The Company's mission is to deliver outstanding quality products and services to our customers; meaningful opportunity, job satisfaction and job security to our people through competitiveness and prudent growth; superior long term investment returns to our stakeholders; and positive contributions to our communities as good corporate citizens. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS A conference call to discuss those results will be held on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. (Toronto time) which can be accessed by dialing 416-405-9200 or toll free 866-696-5896. Please call 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. If you have any teleconferencing questions, please call Andre La Rosa at (416) 749-0314. There will also be a rebroadcast of the call available by dialing 905-694-9451 or toll free 800-408-3053 (conference id - 1891654#). The rebroadcast will be available until August 22, 2017. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws which are based on current expectations of management, including of management's plans, objectives, and strategies. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward looking including statements related to the growth or expectations of, improvements in, expansion of, strength of and/or guidance or outlook as to future revenue, sales, gross margin, margins, operating income margins, earnings, and earnings per share (including as adjusted), financial positions, balance sheet and net debt:EBITDA ratios for the 2017 year and beyond, the ramping up and launching of new programs and the financial impact of launches, the opportunity to increase sales and ability to capitalize on opportunities in the automotive industry, the future amount and type of restructuring expenses to be expensed (including the expectation as to no further restructuring costs from the Honsel acquisition), the growth, strengthening and improvement of the Company, the opening of facilities and pursuit of its strategies, the progress, and expectations, of operational and productivity improvements and efficiencies and the lean manufacturing culture, the reduction of costs and expenses, investments in its business, customer working relationships, the payment of dividends and as well as other forward-looking statements. The words "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "views", "intend", "believe", "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following factors, some of which are discussed in detail in the Company's Annual Information Form and other public filings which can found at www.sedar.com: -- North American and global economic and political conditions; -- the highly cyclical nature of the automotive industry and the industry's dependence on consumer spending and general economic conditions; -- the Company's dependence on a limited number of significant customers; -- financial viability of suppliers; -- the Company's reliance on critical suppliers and on suppliers for components and the risk that suppliers will not be able to supply components on a timely basis or in sufficient quantities; -- Competition; -- the increasing pressure on the Company to absorb costs related to product design and development, engineering, program management, prototypes, validation and tooling; -- increased pricing of raw materials; -- outsourcing and insourcing trends; -- the risk of increased costs associated with product warranty and recalls together with the associated liability; -- the Company's ability to enhance operations and manufacturing techniques; -- dependence on key personnel; -- limited financial resources; -- risks associated with the integration of acquisitions; -- costs associated with rationalization of production facilities; -- launch costs; -- the potential volatility of the Company's share price; -- changes in governmental regulations or laws including any changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement; -- labour disputes; litigation; -- currency risk; -- fluctuations in operating results; -- internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; -- environmental regulation; -- a shift away from technologies in which the Company is investing; -- competition with low cost countries; -- the Company's ability to shift its manufacturing footprint to take advantage of opportunities in emerging markets; -- risks of conducting business in foreign countries, including China, Brazil and other growing markets; -- potential tax exposure; -- a change in the Company's mix of earnings between jurisdictions with lower tax rates and those with higher tax rates, as well as under- funding of pensions plans; -- the cost of post-employment benefits; -- impairment charges; and -- cybersecurity threats. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The common shares of Martinrea trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MRE". Martinrea International Inc. Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands of Canadian dollars) (unaudited) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 30, December 31, Note 2017 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 57,143 $ 59,165 Trade and other receivables 2 604,599 568,445 Inventories 3 338,901 306,130 Prepaid expenses and deposits 18,198 14,758 Income taxes recoverable 12,192 9,786 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 1,031,033 958,284 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Property, plant and equipment 4 1,271,438 1,257,247 Deferred income tax assets 177,948 179,702 Intangible assets 5 70,566 73,261 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 1,519,952 1,510,210 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,550,985 $ 2,468,494 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES Trade and other payables 7 $ 767,102 $ 707,007 Provisions 8 5,988 6,689 Income taxes payable 30,499 18,622 Current portion of long-term debt 9 19,251 27,982 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 822,840 760,300 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long-term debt 9 658,138 693,421 Pension and other post-retirement benefits 72,549 66,863 Deferred income tax liabilities 97,905 118,234 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 828,592 878,518 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES 1,651,432 1,638,818 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EQUITY Capital stock 11 710,794 710,510 Contributed surplus 42,652 42,660 Accumulated other comprehensive income 104,694 117,048 Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 42,005 (40,020) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY 900,145 830,198 Non-controlling interest (592) (522) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL EQUITY 899,553 829,676 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 2,550,985 $ 2,468,494 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contingencies (note 16) See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements. On behalf of the Board: Robert Wildeboer, Director Scott Balfour, Director Martinrea International Inc. Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) (unaudited) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Three months months Six months Six months ended ended ended ended June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, Note 2017 2016 2017 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SALES $ 972,772 $ 1,023,825 $ 1,973,322 $ 2,063,275 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost of sales (excluding depreciation of property, plant and (1,658,324 (1,772,316 equipment) (808,539) (876,102) ) ) Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (production) (35,307) (31,501) (67,857) (62,919) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1,726,181 (1,835,235 Total cost of sales (843,846) (907,603) ) ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- GROSS MARGIN 128,926 116,222 247,141 228,040 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Research and development costs (6,437) (5,903) (13,252) (12,132) Selling, general and administrative (52,539) (50,661) (105,138) (102,115) Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (non- production) (2,412) (2,100) (4,671) (4,304) Amortization of customer contracts and relationships (540) (588) (1,080) (1,123) Gain on sale of land and building 4 - - 5,698 - Gain/(loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment (40) 22 293 (29) Impairment of assets 6 - (34,579) - (34,579) Restructuring costs 8 - (3,684) - (3,684) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATING INCOME 66,958 18,729 128,991 70,074 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finance expense (5,497) (5,900) (11,341) (12,094) Other finance income (expense) 13 112 (1,219) 743 (3,340) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 61,573 11,610 118,393 54,640 Income tax expense 10 (14,162) (11,637) (27,515) (22,136) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME FOR THE PERIOD $ 47,411 $ (27) $ 90,878 $ 32,504 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Non-controlling interest (65) (15) 70 25 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY $ 47,346 $ (42) $ 90,948 $ 32,529 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basic earnings per share 12 $ 0.55 $ - $ 1.05 $ 0.38 Diluted earnings per share 12 $ 0.55 $ - $ 1.05 $ 0.38 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Martinrea International Inc. Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (in thousands of Canadian dollars) (unaudited) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Three months months Six months Six months ended ended ended ended June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD $ 47,411 $ (27) $ 90,878 $ 32,504 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Items that may be reclassified to net income Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations (7,664) (9,493) (12,354) (50,924) Items that will not be reclassified to net income Actuarial losses from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans (3,194) (935) (3,729) (5,420) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (10,858) (10,428) (16,083) (56,344) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD $ 36,553 $ (10,455) $ 74,795 $ (23,840) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attributable to: Equity holders of the Company 36,488 (10,470) 74,865 (23,815) Non-controlling interest 65 15 (70) (25) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD $ 36,553 $ (10,455) $ 74,795 $ (23,840) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Martinrea International Inc. Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (in thousands of Canadian dollars) (unaudited) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company Cumulative Capital Contributed translation stock surplus account ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 2015 $ 709,396 $ 42,648 $ 147,442 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income for the period - - - Compensation expense related to stock options - 166 - Dividends ($0.06 per share) - - - Exercise of employee stock options 101 (29) - Other comprehensive loss, ---------------------------- net of tax ---------------------------- Actuarial losses from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans - - - Foreign currency translation differences - - (50,924) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at June 30, 2016 709,497 42,785 96,518 ------------------------------------------------ Net income for the period - - - Compensation expense related to stock options - 167 - Dividends ($0.06 per share) - - - Exercise of employee stock options 1,013 (292) - Other comprehensive income, ---------------------------- net of tax ---------------------------- Actuarial gains from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans - - - Foreign currency translation differences - - 20,530 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 2016 710,510 42,660 117,048 ------------------------------------------------ Net income for the period - - - Compensation expense related to stock options - 74 - Dividends ($0.06 per share) - - - Exercise of employee stock options 284 (82) - Other comprehensive loss, ---------------------------- net of tax ---------------------------- Actuarial losses from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans - - - Foreign currency translation differences - - (12,354) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at June 30, 2017 $ 710,794 $ 42,652 $ 104,694 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martinrea International Inc. Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (in thousands of Canadian dollars) (unaudited) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company Retained earnings/ Non- (accumulated controlling Total deficit) Total interest equity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 2015 $ (123,157) $ 776,329 $ (103) $ 776,226 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income for the period 32,529 32,529 (25) 32,504 Compensation expense related to stock options - 166 - 166 Dividends ($0.06 per share) (5,183) (5,183) - (5,183) Exercise of employee stock options - 72 - 72 Other comprehensive loss, ---------------------------- net of tax ---------------------------- Actuarial losses from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans (5,420) (5,420) - (5,420) Foreign currency translation differences - (50,924) - (50,924) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at June 30, 2016 (101,231) 747,569 (128) 747,441 ------------------------------------------------ Net income for the period 59,851 59,851 (394) 59,457 Compensation expense related to stock options - 167 - 167 Dividends ($0.06 per share) (5,183) (5,183) - (5,183) Exercise of employee stock options - 721 - 721 Other comprehensive income, ---------------------------- net of tax ---------------------------- Actuarial gains from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans 6,543 6,543 - 6,543 Foreign currency translation differences - 20,530 - 20,530 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 2016 (40,020) 830,198 (522) 829,676 ------------------------------------------------ Net income for the period 90,948 90,948 (70) 90,878 Compensation expense related to stock options - 74 - 74 Dividends ($0.06 per share) (5,194) (5,194) - (5,194) Exercise of employee stock options - 202 - 202 Other comprehensive loss, ---------------------------- net of tax ---------------------------- Actuarial losses from the remeasurement of defined benefit plans (3,729) (3,729) - (3,729) Foreign currency translation differences - (12,354) - (12,354) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at June 30, 2017 $ 42,005 $ 900,145 $ (592) $ 899,553 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Martinrea International Inc. Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands of Canadian dollars) (unaudited) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Three months months Six months Six months ended ended ended ended June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN): OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Income for the period $ 47,411 $ (27) $ 90,878 $ 32,504 Adjustments for: Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 37,719 33,601 72,528 67,223 Amortization of customer contracts and relationships 540 588 1,080 1,123 Amortization of development costs 3,450 3,490 6,646 6,959 Impairment of assets (note 6) - 34,579 - 34,579 Unrealized losses on foreign exchange forward contracts 2,146 1,619 450 916 Finance costs 5,497 5,900 11,341 12,094 Income tax expense 14,162 11,637 27,515 22,136 Gain on sale of land and building (note 4) - - (5,698) - Loss(Gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment 40 (22) (293) 29 Stock options expense 38 83 74 166 Deferred and restricted share units expense 691 253 789 253 Pension and other post- retirement benefits expense 1,154 1,158 2,292 2,267 Contributions made to pension and other post- retirement benefits (476) (707) (976) (1,039) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 112,372 92,152 206,626 179,210 Changes in non-cash working capital items: Trade and other receivables 14,544 (15,032) (43,102) (66,146) Inventories (18,203) 27,528 (36,752) 8,328 Prepaid expenses and deposits (1,821) (1,355) (3,865) (820) Trade, other payables and provisions (22,090) 4,219 97,505 8,389 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 84,802 107,512 220,412 128,961 Interest paid (excluding capitalized interest) (4,844) (5,112) (9,964) (10,000) Income taxes paid (9,205) (18,222) (32,657) (31,268) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ 70,753 $ 84,178 $ 177,791 $ 87,693 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Increase in long-term debt - 19,086 - 88,810 Repayment of long-term debt (7,631) (9,533) (34,590) (22,520) Dividends paid (2,591) (2,592) (5,182) (5,183) Exercise of employee stock options - - 202 72 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES $ (10,222) $ 6,961 $ (39,570) $ 61,179 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of property, plant and equipment(i) (56,213) (43,706) (143,552) (102,961) Capitalized development costs (3,768) (3,245) (7,291) (6,311) Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment 167 56 625 245 Upfront recovery of development costs incurred 1,170 - 1,170 - Proceeds on disposal of land and building (note 4) - - 9,872 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES $ (58,644) $ (46,895) $ (139,176) $ (109,027) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (793) (1,790) (1,067) (3,907) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 1,094 42,454 (2,022) 35,938 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 56,049 22,383 59,165 28,899 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 57,143 $ 64,837 $ 57,143 $ 64,837 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)As at June 30, 2017, $39,737 (December 31, 2016- $71,557) of purchases of property, plant and equipment remain unpaid. See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Contacts: Martinrea International Inc. Fred Di Tosto Chief Financial Officer (416) 749-0314 (289) 982-3001 (FAX) 3210 Langstaff Road Vaughan, Ontario L4K 5B2 BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Hungary's foreign trade surplus decreased notably in July from a year ago, as imports grew faster than exports, preliminary figures from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office showed Friday. The trade surplus fell to EUR 322 million in July from EUR 681 million in the corresponding month last year. Economists had expected the surplus to drop to EUR 660 million. Both exports and imports climbed by 5.2 percent and 11.0 percent, respectively in July from last year. The share of EU member states was 79 percent in exports and 78 percent in imports. During the first seven months of the year, total trade surplus of the country was EUR 5.15 billion versus EUR 6.12 billion in the same period of 2016. 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. BROOKFIELD, NEWS, 2017-11-09 13:07 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:BAM) (TSX:BAM.A) (Euronext:BAMA), a leading global alternative asset manager, today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. Bruce Flatt, CEO of Brookfield, stated that: "We closed a number of acquisitions during the quarter and have disposed of numerous assets, achieving excellent results. Assets under management increased to over $265 billion and with fundraising advancing on our next real estate opportunity fund we are well positioned for continued growth." Operating Results Net income and funds from operations ("FFO") both grew significantly on a comparable basis as operating results for the third quarter benefited from the ongoing expansion of our business through fundraising, acquisitions, development projects and operating improvements. Net income, prior to tax, was strong compared to last year, at $1.3 billion versus $1.0 billion in 2016, due to the aforementioned operating improvements and increased fair value gains. After including the impact of tax, which reflected a $1.0 billion tax recovery in the prior year quarter, net income was $992 million compared to $2 billion. FFO from operating activities was $564 million, a 15% increase from the 2016 quarter. Growth in fee related earnings was 8% due to continued expansion of fee bearing capital, as our listed issuers generated strong growth in their capital base, and higher incentive distributions. Invested capital FFO increased by 19% due to contributions from acquisitions, particularly in our infrastructure business, higher generation and pricing in our renewable power business and gains on short-term portfolio investments. FFO inclusive of disposition gains and realized carried interest was $809 million, slightly less than last year's amount of $883 million, which included a higher level of disposition gains. Disposition gains in the current quarter included gains on the sales of several office properties as well as the sale of a portion of our investment in Norbord. Dividend Declaration The Board declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.14 per share (representing US$0.56 per annum), payable on December 29, 2017 to shareholders of record as at the close of business on November 30, 2017. The Board also declared all of the regular monthly and quarterly dividends on its preferred shares. Highlights Our fee bearing capital has reached $120 billion, an 8% increase over September 2016. The capitalization of our listed issuers increased during the quarter as a result of strong market performance and capital deployment. During the quarter, we did not close any major funds although it is expected the first close of our real estate opportunity fund will occur in the fourth quarter. Following the quarter, we announced the acquisition of Center Coast Capital, a Houston-based SEC-registered investment advisor, focusing on energy infrastructure investments, with over $4 billion in fee bearing capital. This transaction will strengthen and expand our public securities investment offerings, and our retail distribution capabilities. We made progress on several significant transactions during and following the quarter. We recently completed the acquisition of a 51% interest in TerraForm Power and continued to advance the 100% acquisition of TerraForm Global. These transactions will deploy $1.4 billion into a high quality portfolio of solar and wind generation projects. We continued to advance our direct corporate credit business and expect to build up this business over time, as we see direct credit as an area where we can leverage our existing expertise by underwriting investments in businesses that we understand well. During the quarter, we sourced a $650 million direct loan, of which half was syndicated at closing. We funded the other half from our balance sheet as a seed asset for our new fund strategies. In addition to deploying capital in new investments, we have a large capital backlog of over $14 billion of organic growth projects across our various lines of business. In real estate, our team is managing a robust $7 billion pipeline of development projects. Within our core office business, we have 10 million square feet of development underway, including $3 billion of premier office building development ongoing in London, as well as $2 billion core office development ongoing within North America. The major renovation of our 5 Manhattan West office tower was recently completed and is now fully leased. During the current quarter, we signed a 15-year lease with Amazon to occupy the remaining 360,000 square feet in the building, adding to a marquee group of tenants. We are also focused on re-purposing real estate assets, in particular in the retail sector within our GGP and Rouse portfolios. Our infrastructure business remains focused on executing on its large backlog, which currently stands at $3.5 billion. Key projects include our utility connections in the U.K. regulated distribution business, network expansion opportunities in our French communications infrastructure business, and progressing several major expansion projects within our Brazilian toll road and electricity transmission operations. Across our remaining businesses, we have a pipeline of over 1,000 megawatts being developed in our renewable power business and numerous follow-on capital projects throughout our private equity business. These projects continue to provide us with opportunities to put capital to work at very attractive returns, including in markets or sectors where acquisitions are highly priced. We made progress on selling several investments and raised significant capital. In our real estate operations, we agreed to sell Gazeley, an industrial real estate business in Europe for 2.4 billion, representing a gross multiple of over 4.5 times and 47% compound IRR. We have substantial capital resources at our disposal, consisting of over $17 billion of third-party private fund commitments and $9 billion of core liquidity from cash and financial assets and from undrawn committed credit facilities, to pursue further opportunities. During the quarter, three of our listed issuers raised additional equity, which we participated in, in order to solidify their liquidity for the next wave of growth. We also issued C$300 million of perpetual preferred shares and $550 million of notes due in 2047. Basis of Presentation This news release and accompanying financial statements are based on International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB"), unless otherwise noted and make reference to Funds From Operations ("FFO"). We define FFO as net income attributable to shareholders prior to fair value changes, depreciation and amortization, and deferred income taxes, and include realized disposition gains that are not recorded in net income as determined under IFRS. FFO also includes the company's share of equity accounted investments' FFO on a fully diluted basis. FFO consists of the following components: -- FFO from Operating Activities represents the company's share of revenues less direct costs and interest expenses; excludes realized carried interest and disposition gains, fair value changes, depreciation and amortization and deferred income taxes; and includes our proportionate share of FFO from operating activities recorded by equity accounted investments on a fully diluted basis. We present this measure as we believe it assists in describing our results and variances within FFO. -- Realized Carried Interest represents our contractual share of investment gains generated within a private fund after considering our clients minimum return requirements. Realized carried interest is determined on third party capital that is no longer subject to future investment performance. -- Realized Disposition Gains are included in FFO because we consider the purchase and sale of assets to be a normal part of the company's business. Realized disposition gains include gains and losses recorded in net income and equity in the current period, and are adjusted to include fair value changes and revaluation surplus balances recorded in prior periods which were not included in prior period FFO. We use FFO to assess our operating results and the value of Brookfield's business and believe that many shareholders and analysts also find this measure of value to them. We note that FFO, its components, and its per share equivalent are non-IFRS measures which do not have any standard meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We provide additional information on the determination of FFO and reconciliation between FFO and net income attributable to Brookfield shareholders in our quarterly Supplemental Information and filings available at www.brookfield.com. Additional Information The Letter to Shareholders and the company's Supplemental Information for the three months ended September 30, 2017 contain further information on the company's strategy, operations and financial results. Shareholders are encouraged to read these documents, which are available on the company's website. The attached statements are based primarily on information that has been extracted from our interim financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2017, which have been prepared using IFRS, as issued by the IASB. The amounts have not been audited by Brookfield's external auditor. Brookfield's Board of Directors reviewed and approved this document, including the summarized unaudited consolidated financial statements, prior to its release. Information on our dividends can be found on our website under Stock & Distributions/Distribution History. Quarterly Earnings Call Details Investors, analysts and other interested parties can access Brookfield Asset Management's 2017 Third Quarter Results as well as the Shareholders' Letter and Supplemental Information on Brookfield's website under the Reports & Filings section at www.brookfield.com. The conference call can be accessed via webcast on November 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time at www.brookfield.com or via teleconference at 1-800-319-4610 toll free in North America. For overseas calls please dial 1-604-638-5340, at approximately 10:50 a.m. Eastern Time. A recording of the teleconference can be accessed at 1-800-319-6413 or 1-604-638-9010 (Password 1744#). Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a leading global alternative asset manager with over $265 billion in assets under management. The company has more than a 100-year history of owning and operating assets with a focus on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity. Brookfield offers a range of public and private investment products and services, and is co-listed on the New York, Toronto and Euronext stock exchanges under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. For more information, please visit our website at www.brookfield.com. Please note that Brookfield's previous audited annual and unaudited quarterly reports have been filed on EDGAR and SEDAR and can also be found in the investor section of its website at www.brookfield.com. Hard copies of the annual and quarterly reports can be obtained free of charge upon request. For more information, please visit our website at www.brookfield.com or contact: Claire Holland Linda Northwood Communications & Media Investor Relations Tel: (416) 369-8236 Tel: (416) 359-8647 Email: claire.holland@brookfield.com Email: linda.northwood@brookfield.com Forward-Looking Statements Note: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of Brookfield and its subsidiaries, as well as the outlook for North American and international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods, and include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "seeks," "intends," "targets," "projects," "forecasts" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would" and "could." Although we believe that our anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Brookfield to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors in the countries in which we do business; the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; strategic actions including dispositions; the ability to complete and effectively integrate acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the ability to appropriately manage human capital; the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation within the countries in which we operate; governmental investigations; litigation; changes in tax laws; ability to collect amounts owed; catastrophic events, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts and cyber terrorism; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States. We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, Brookfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This release does not constitute an offer of any Brookfield fund. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Unaudited September December 31 (US$ millions) 30 2017 2016 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,538 $ 4,299 Other financial assets 5,860 4,700 Accounts receivable and other 11,300 9,133 Inventory 6,648 5,349 Assets classified as held for sale 2,304 432 Equity accounted investments 28,155 24,977 Investment properties 56,923 54,172 Property, plant and equipment 47,130 45,346 Intangible assets 14,628 6,073 Goodwill 5,310 3,783 Deferred income tax assets 1,781 1,562 ------------------------- Total Assets $ 184,577 $ 159,826 ------------------------- Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable and other $ 17,045 $ 11,915 Liabilities associated with assets classified as held 1,004 127 for sale Corporate borrowings 5,705 4,500 Non-recourse borrowings Property-specific mortgages 58,095 52,442 Subsidiary borrowings 9,487 7,949 Deferred income tax liabilities 12,233 9,640 Subsidiary equity obligations 3,677 3,565 Equity Preferred equity 4,196 3,954 Non-controlling interests 50,171 43,235 Common equity 22,964 22,499 ------------------------- Total Equity 77,331 69,688 ------------------------- Total Liabilities and Equity $ 184,577 $ 159,826 ------------------------- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS UNAUDITED Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended FOR THE PERIODS ENDED SEP. 30 (US$ MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2017 2016 2017 2016 -------------- ------------------------------ -------------- Revenues $ 12,276 $ 6,285 $ 27,721 $ 17,476 Direct costs (10,034 ) (4,590 ) (21,753 ) (12,568 ) Other income (29 ) 325 236 391 and gains Equity 505 454 1,090 1,041 accounted income Expenses Interest (932 ) (825 ) (2,640 ) (2,407 ) Corporate (24 ) (20 ) (69 ) (68 ) costs 1,762 1,629 4,585 3,865 Fair value 132 (59 ) 141 358 changes Depreciation (643 ) (541 ) (1,755 ) (1,538 ) and amortization Income tax (259 ) 992 (503 ) 556 Net income $ 992 $ 2,021 $ 2,468 $ 3,241 Net income attributable to: Brookfield $ 228 $ 1,036 $ 416 $ 1,478 shareholde rs Non-control 764 985 2,052 1,763 ling interests ------------------------------------------------------------------ $ 992 $ 2,021 $ 2,468 $ 3,241 Net income per share Diluted $ 0.20 $ 1.03 $ 0.32 $ 1.41 Basic 0.20 1.05 0.32 1.44 ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL RESULTS UNAUDITED Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months FOR THE PERIODS Ended ENDED SEP. 30 (US$ MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) ------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------- Asset management $ 211 $ 178 $ 922 $ 695 Real estate 382 545 1,736 1,759 Renewable power 45 49 203 192 Infrastructure 87 89 357 334 Private equity and 113 107 440 529 other Cash and financial 54 8 163 63 assets Interest expense (83 ) (93 ) (298 ) (368 ) and operating costs Funds from $ 809 $ 883 $ 3,523 $ 3,204 operations1,2 Per share $ 0.79 $ 0.87 $ 3.47 $ 3.15 UNAUDITED Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months FOR THE PERIODS Ended ENDED SEP. 30 (US$ MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) -------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- FFO from $ 564 $ 491 $ 2,252 $ 2,056 operating activities2 Realized carried 25 - 177 - interest3 Realized 220 392 1,094 1,148 disposition gains2 Funds from 809 883 3,523 3,204 operations1,2 Realized (185 ) (231 ) (945 ) (672 ) disposition gains not in income Fair value (137 ) (104 ) (895 ) 80 changes Depreciation and (221 ) (222 ) (884 ) (868 ) amortization Income tax (38 ) 710 (210 ) 412 Net income $ 228 $ 1,036 $ 589 $ 2,156 attributable to shareholders Per share $ 0.20 $ 1.03 $ 0.46 $ 2.07 Notes: 1. Non-IFRS measure - see Basis of Presentation on page 3 and a reconciliation of net income to FFO on page 8 2. Excludes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests 3. Excludes carried interest generated that is subject to future investment performance EARNINGS PER SHARE UNAUDITED Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months FOR THE PERIODS Ended ENDED SEP. 30 (US$ MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) -------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 2016 2017 2016 ------------ ----------------------------- ------------- Net income $ 992 $ 2,021 $ 2,565 $ 4,428 Non-controlling (764 ) (985 ) (1,976 ) (2,272 ) interests Net income 228 1,036 589 2,156 attributable to shareholders Preferred share (35 ) (33 ) (139 ) (134 ) dividends Net income $ 193 $ 1,003 $ 450 $ 2,022 available to common shareholders Weighted average 958.9 959.1 958.8 958.9 shares Dilutive effect 21.6 18.8 16.5 18.2 of the conversion of options and escrowed shares using treasury stock method1 Shares and share 980.5 977.9 975.3 977.1 equivalents Diluted earnings $ 0.20 $ 1.03 $ 0.46 $ 2.07 per share Notes: 1. Includes management share option plan and escrowed stock plan RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS UNAUDITED Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months FOR THE PERIODS Ended ENDED SEP. 30 (US$ MILLIONS) ------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 2016 2017 2016 ----------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net income $ 992 $ 2,021 $ 2,565 $ 4,428 Equity accounted (15 ) (18 ) 546 159 fair value changes and other non-FFO items Fair value (132 ) 59 347 (952 ) changes Depreciation and 643 541 2,237 1,968 amortization Deferred income 162 (1,030 ) 441 (503 ) taxes Realized 232 235 1,079 996 disposition gains in fair value changes or prior periods1 Non-controlling (1,073 ) (925 ) (3,692 ) (2,892 ) interests Funds from $ 809 $ 883 $ 3,523 $ 3,204 operations1,2 Notes: 1. Non-IFRS measure - see Basis of Presentation on page 3 2. Excludes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- Sphinx Resources Ltd. ("Sphinx" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE: SFX) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Resources Tranchemontagne Inc. and Gardin Inc. ("Tranchemontagne" and "Gardin") to acquire a 100% undivided interest in 22 claims (13 km2) (the "Claims"), held by Tranchemontagne. The Claims are known as the Tessouat Project (the "Project"), located in the Pontiac MRC in southwestern Quebec. Under the terms of this agreement, Sphinx acquires the Claims for a consideration that consists of: -- a payment of $ 26,000; -- the issuance of 100,000 common shares of Sphinx; -- carrying out exploration work totaling $ 70,000 over a period of two years with work completed prior to August 1st, 2019; and -- the grant of a net smelter return of 2%. The shares to be issued have a deemed price of $ 0.045 per share and will be subject to a four-month hold period. The agreement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval and other customary closing conditions. Pursuant to Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"), the proposed transaction may be classified as a "related party transaction" as Gardin is a principal shareholder of the Corporation. In reviewing the applicable valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under MI 61-101, the Corporation is relying on the exemptions from such valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and (b) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101. The Project is located 5 km northeast of the municipality of Waltham with excellent road access throughout the year. The Project is located at the northern end of a northwest trending corridor as defined by zinc-bearing dolomitic marbles. This corridor has a length of 40 km and is named "Ziac" (abbreviation for "zinc-Pontiac"). The corridor includes the historic New Calumet zinc-lead-silver-gold mine (30 km southeast of the Project) which was operated from 1943 to 1968, the Calumet-Sud project currently explored by Sphinx and its partner SOQUEM, and Sphinx's Green Palladium project (see press release of August 3, 2017). Sphinx has designed a $ 20,000 exploration program to be completed this summer. The program will consist of soil sampling (approximately 400 samples) that will aim to identify the most prospective areas and define drill targets in this high grade metamorphic environment. The technical information presented in this press release has been approved by Normand Champigny, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sphinx, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. About Ressources Tranchemontagne and Gardin Tranchemontagne is a mineral exploration company incorporated in Quebec and is wholly owned by Gardin, itself owned by Michel Gauthier, PhD, geo and director of the Corporation. About Quebec and Sphinx Quebec has established itself as one of the world's most attractive mining jurisdictions, ranking 6th globally (Fraser Institute press release, February 28 2017). The Quebec government has created market confidence by following a proactive approach to mining policy. Quebec's mining sector has also been encouraged by the clarity and certainty of the legal and regulatory framework adopted by its government. Sphinx is engaged in the generation and acquisition of exploration projects in Quebec. For further information, please consult Sphinx's website. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and activities to vary materially from targeted results and planning. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Sphinx's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Sphinx from time to time with securities regulatory authorities. Contacts: Normand Champigny President and Chief Executive Officer 514.979.4746 info@sphinxresources.ca www.sphinxresources.ca VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE)(CSE: RISE.CN)(CNSX: RISE)(OTC PINK: RYES) ("Rise" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update of its corporate activities. The Company has been conducting detailed planning for its upcoming exploration program at the Idaho-Maryland Gold Project. The Company is anticipating that the upcoming exploration program will be the first significant exploration at the Idaho-Maryland Mine since it was closed in 1956. The Company will provide a comprehensive update of the upcoming exploration program within the next couple of weeks and is providing an update on other corporate activities in this news release. Industrial Land Holdings The Company currently owns 93 acres of M1 zoned industrial land in Nevada County, California which was purchased along with the 2,800 acres of private mineral rights which encompasses the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project. In addition to the 93 acres, the Company has invested US$600,000 into the purchase of an 82-acre parcel (the "Mill Site") adjacent to the historic New Brunswick mine shaft. A further payment of US$1,300,000 to complete the purchase of the Mill Site is due on September 30th 2017. The Company will own 175 acres of M1 Zoned Industrial Land upon completion of the Mill Site property acquisition. Rise Gold Corp will be a significant Industrial land holder and will own approximately 18% of the M1 Zoned Industrial land in Nevada County, California. Divestment of BC Exploration Properties The Company announces that on July 17th 2017, it returned the exploration stage mineral properties in British Columbia related to the Klondike Gold Corp. ("Klondike") acquisition announced July 18th 2016. The Company provided a cash payment of $100,000 to Klondike and the agreement has been mutually terminated. There will be no further payments, in relation to the Second Closing, to Klondike which would have required payments of $150,000 in cash, 2,000,000 shares and 1,000,000 warrants. The Company has now divested itself of all its BC exploration properties and will focus all resources on the development of the Idaho-Maryland Gold Project, located in Nevada County, California. Debt Settlement The Company announces that it has settled $95,952.41 in debt by issuance of 417,184 units (each a "Unit") at $0.23 per Unit where each Unit consists of one common share (a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.40 until May 5, 2019. This debt is related to finders fees on the previous private placement closed on May 5th 2017. About Rise Gold Corp Rise is an exploration-stage mining company. The Company's principal asset is the historic past producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in California, USA. The Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine is one of the United States' greatest past producing gold mines with total past production of 2,414,000 oz of gold from 1866-1955. Rise is a US corporation incorporated in Nevada, USA and maintains its head office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Benjamin Mossman, President, CEO and Director Rise Gold Corp. Benjamin Mossman, P.Eng, CEO of the Rise Gold Corp, is the Qualified Person responsible for the content of this news release. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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. Although the Company 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, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. Contacts: Rise Gold Corp. 604.260.4577 www.risegoldcorp.com Skanderbeg Capital Advisors Inc. Mario Vetro Investor Relations 604.687.7130 DENVER, COLORADO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- TrackX Holdings, Inc. (TSX VENTURE: TKX) ("TrackX" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the signing of the first of two renewal option years with prime contractor Leidos for a US port implementation. "Our continued partnership with Leidos ensures TrackX has continued exposure to the high-level security environments they serve such as defense, intelligence, homeland security along with the civil and health markets," said Tim Harvie, President and CEO of TrackX. "Renewing this license is a testament to the value and performance of our GAME platform." About TrackX's Transportation Management System TrackX provides a Transportation Management System (TMS) built on the TrackX GAME platform for Leidos and its customers. Operational since 2014, TrackX's TMS now tracks over 1.2 million truck entries into the various Marine Terminal Operators at the port per year. By interfacing with the port's Zebra Technologies' WhereNet system, TrackX provides real-time alerts for any trucks entering the facilities that are out of compliance with any regulations. The installation supports this port's Comprehensive Truck Management Program (CTEP) and integrates with California Air Resource Board (CARB) Drayage Truck Registry to help ensure compliance to CARB regulations at the facilities. In addition, it facilitates monitoring of the Secure Truck Program compliance by carriers performing activities at the Port. The TrackX GAME platform interfaces with existing asset tracking and management systems as well as accesses data from outside agencies and amalgamating this data to provide meaningful information, an essential component to maintaining regulatory compliance in the port environment. The customer has benefitted tremendously from the high level of quality and service that TrackX is providing and there are numerous similar opportunities where the solution may be implemented in the future. About TrackX TrackX, based in Denver, Colorado, is an enterprise Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) software platform provider leveraging multiple auto-ID technologies for the comprehensive management of physical assets. TrackX's Global Asset Management for the Enterprise (GAME) enables the IIoT by providing unique item level tracking, workflow processing, event management, alerts and powerful analytics to deliver solutions across a growing number of industries. This platform creates unprecedented visibility and business intelligence of man-to-machine and machine-to-machine interaction. TrackX delivers significant value to a growing list of Fortune 500 companies and for customers in industries such as transportation, beverage, brewery, healthcare, hi-tech, hospitality, mining, agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing and government. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur, including the implementation of TrackX's solution with Leidos are management's best estimates and cannot be guaranteed or relied upon and is forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Contacts: TrackX Holdings, Inc. Knox Henderson 778-373-2003 khenderson@trackx.com Sean Peasgood Sophic Capital 416-565-2805 Sean@SophicCapital.com BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German exports declined the most in nearly two years in June and imports logged the biggest contraction since 2009, lifting the trade surplus to a higher level. Exports fell unexpectedly by 2.8 percent in June from May, when they climbed 1.5 percent, data from Destatis showed Tuesday. This was the biggest fall since August 2015, when shipments slid 5.4 percent. At the same time, imports decreased 4.5 percent, in contrast to May's 1.3 percent increase. Imports fell for the first time in four months, logging the sharpest contraction since January 2009. Both exports and imports were expected to gain 0.2 percent each in June. As a result, the trade surplus increased to a seasonally adjusted EUR 21.2 billion from EUR 20.3 billion in May. On a yearly basis, export growth plunged to 0.7 percent from 14.1 percent. Similarly, imports grew only 3.6 percent after expanding 16.3 percent. The current account of the balance of payments showed a surplus of EUR 23.6 billion versus EUR 24 billion in the same period of previous year. Elsewhere in the euro area, data from the French customs office showed Tuesday that the trade shortfall widened to EUR 4.66 billion from EUR 4.43 billion in May. The deficit was forecast to widen to EUR 5.05 billion. Although German and French exporters struggled in June, the outlook for trade in both countries remains fairly bright amid strong growth in global demand, Jessica Hinds, an economist at Capital Economics, said. The brighter outlook is also supported by the still low level of the euro exchange rate, despite its recent appreciation, the economist added. Germany's second quarter GDP data is due on August 15. The economy had expanded 0.6 percent in the first quarter. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de New IFWE Book Tackles Christian Concerns About Capitalism MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 8, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE) announced Tuesday the launch of its latest book, Counting the Cost: Christian Perspectives on Capitalism (Abilene Christian University Press), an edited volume that addresses moral concerns Christians have about capitalism, featuring essays from 12 theologians, economists, and other academic leaders. Editors Anne R. Bradley and Art Lindsley said the book meets an urgent need. "There's a growing rejection of capitalism and an increasing interest in socialism, especially among young people," said Bradley, vice president of economic initiatives at IFWE. "The reality is, capitalism has played a major role in lifting people out of abject poverty, but few people know it." Lindsley, vice president of theological initiatives at IFWE, added, "If capitalism has been this pivotal in alleviating poverty, then Christians need to think critically about their concerns before rejecting the system entirely. Counting the Cost seeks to take these questions head-on, addressing each one through biblical and economic lenses." Contributing authors include the late Michael Novak, Wayne Grudem, Barry Asmus, Vernon Smith, Doug Bandow, E. Calvin Beisner, Jonathan Pennington, David Kotter, Ed Noell, Joseph Connors, Joy Buchanan, Jonathan Witt, and editors Art Lindsley and Anne Bradley. Each chapter addresses a different question about the morality of capitalism, such as: Does capitalism hurt the poor? Promote materialism and greed? Harm the environment? Allow the rich to get richer at the expense of others? Is capitalism really the best system for organizing societies and economies? The book is a project of IFWE and Abilene Christian University Press (ACUP). Jason Fikes, director of ACUP said Counting the Cost "represents a qualitative step forward in research on the ethics of capitalism. It is critical for business departments, students, and researchers to reflect critically on these important questions. Ours is a world driven by assumptions and sound bites, and Counting the Cost is a resource that can really open eyes to the underlying issues that are at stake in a discussion of economics." For interviews or to request a digital review copy, members of the media may contact kbrown@tifwe.org - Collaboration furthers both parties' commitment to advance research and development for neglected diseases -Agreement focuses on optimizing vaccine process development and formulation and exchanging know-how DARMSTADT, Germany, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with Baylor College of Medicine (Texas, U.S.) and its vaccine product development partnership (PDP), Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development (Texas Children's CVD), to advance vaccine research and development for neglected and emerging infections. The collaboration focuses on bringing vaccines through development to efficiently deliver them to societies in need. Merck's experts in process development and formulation are working with Texas Children's CVD scientists at Baylor to optimize the vaccine manufacturing process to increase vaccine stability and yield. Initially, these activities are targeting schistosomiasis, a deadly parasitic disease that affects millions of people a year in tropical and subtropical regions. "Our purpose is to solve the toughest problems in life science by collaborating with the global scientific community," said Udit Batra, Member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. "The alliance with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the premier research institutions in the world, is the ideal partnership to advance vaccine development and manufacturing. Together, we will support the fight against infectious diseases." The collaboration includes training and exchange of technical know-how in process development and formulation, filling knowledge gaps that exist from research and development to manufacturing, with a focus on neglected and emerging diseases. Dr. Peter Hotez, founding Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the PDP, recently presented on the topic at an Access to Medicine event earlier this year in Darmstadt, Germany. "We are excited to partner with Merck in order to advance this important vaccine. Today, schistosomiasis is considered one of the world's most devastating neglected tropical diseases, affecting hundreds of millions of the world's poorest people. We are excited about our new collaboration with Merck to advance this lifesaving vaccine," said Dr. Hotez. Dr. Maria-Elena Bottazzi, Deputy Director of Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, said, "The scientific knowledge exchange from this partnership will catalyze and accelerate the product development of much-needed vaccines against the diseases of poverty. It will serve as a framework for capacity building and will establish self-reliance in vaccine development and manufacturing around the globe." This collaboration, together with Merck's recently announced public-private partnership with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (James Cook University, Queensland), the Australian Government's investment promotion agency, and Baylor College of Medicine, furthers both parties' commitment to advancing research in neglected diseases globally. About Baylor College of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine (www.bcm.edu) in Houston is recognized as a premier academic health sciences center and is known for excellence in education, research and patient care. It is the only private medical school in the greater southwest and is ranked 21st among medical schools for research and 8th for primary care byU.S. News & World Report. Baylor is listed 19th among all U.S. medical schools for National Institutes of Health funding and number one in Texas. Located in the Texas Medical Center, Baylor has affiliations with seven teaching hospitals and jointly owns and operates Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, part of CHI St. Luke's Health. Currently, Baylor trains more than 3,000 medical, graduate, nurse anesthesia, physician assistant and orthotics students, as well as residents and post-doctoral fellows. In 2011, Baylor launched the National School of Tropical Medicine, which together with Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development is leading an innovative product development partnership model for the research & development of new vaccines to combat the world's neglected tropical diseases. All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. About Merck Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of 15 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMI) reported that its revenue for the third-quarter to be flat to up by 3% quarter-over-quarter. The company expects Non-GAAP operating expenses, excluding the effect of employee bonus accrual, government funding and gain from the disposal of living quarters, to range from $179 million to $185 million for the third-quarter. Revenue for the second-quarter of 2017 was $751.2 million, an increase of 8.8% from $690.2 million last year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX), an innovator of biological products and technologies, announces the execution of an agreement to supply an existing long-term customer with an increasing quantity of Microbix' viral antigen products over the next five years, with the parties having the option to extend that term. Sales from the agreement are expected to total $25 million, with approximately $10 million being new business. Microbix infectious disease antigens are incorporated into diagnostic tests used by laboratories and hospitals around the world. The customer is a major global diagnostics company with growing sales of infectious disease tests that require more antigen supply. The agreement also expedites the conversion to product derived from Microbix' new bioreactor - replacing its roller-bottle processes. The bioreactor process is expected to provide enhanced manufacturing capacity and immediate economic benefits for both Microbix and its customers. The companies have also agreed to explore additional opportunities to collaborate. Phil Casselli, SVP of Business Development at Microbix, commented, "Our customer is a leading global diagnostics producer and our long-term partnership with them has been rewarding for both companies. We're delighted to expand this key relationship through this agreement, which also demonstrates the growing demand for Microbix' products." Cameron Groome, CEO and President of Microbix, added, "We thank this important customer for its confidence in Microbix' capabilities. This agreement reinforces our position as a leading global provider of infectious disease antigens." About Microbix Microbix Biosystems Inc. develops and commercializes proprietary biological and technology solutions for human health and wellbeing. Microbix manufactures a wide range of critical biological materials for the global diagnostics industry. The Company also applies its biological expertise to develop other innovative and proprietary technologies and products. Its development pipeline currently includes two such proprietary products: (1) Kinlytic Urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots, and (2) Lumisort, a technology for ultra-rapid and efficient sorting of somatic cells that can be used to enrich cell populations of interest, such as in sexing semen. Established in 1988, Microbix is a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Forward-Looking Information This news release includes "forward-looking information," as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, the risks associated with the referenced customer supply agreement and its related expectations, the overall business and business units or the development pipeline, other commercial such as those referenced herein, operations in foreign jurisdictions, development and production facilities, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery of products), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining adequate working capital and raising further capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent the Company's judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information. For further information, please visit www.microbix.com. Contacts: Microbix Biosystems Inc. Cameron Groome CEO (905) 361-8910 x 350 cameron.groome@microbix.com Microbix Biosystems Inc. Jim Currie CFO (905) 361-8910 x 255 jim.currie@microbix.com Microbix Biosystems Inc. Stephen Kilmer Investor Relations (647) 872-4849 stephen.kilmer@microbix.com Industry-leading distributor expands channels, outpaces peers, commands market share Molex today announced the recipient of its 2016 European Distributor of the Year Award. Avnet Abacus accepted the annual award, which recognizes one outstanding channel partner for advancing Molex technology solutions through demonstrated growth in sales coupled with financial, operational and executive management excellence. "Avnet Abacus serves an integral role in continuing the growth of Molex innovative technical solutions into the European market. We are proud to recognize their significant contribution to our distribution channel," said Henry Fuerniss, vice president sales and marketing EMEA, Molex. "Their team in Europe contributed to significant revenue growth for both companies." Molex Distributor of the Year Award recipients are evaluated and selected based on criteria in multiple categories, including year over year sales growth, project conversion and engagement. A leading distributor of Interconnect, Passive, Electromechanical Power components, Avnet Abacus successfully outpaced peers to gain and command market share for Molex. "We have a strong collaboration with Molex which has enabled us to create new opportunities and support customers with Molex products. We are honored to be recognized for bringing the broad range of best-in-class Molex solutions to an increasing number of customers," stated Alan Jermyn, V.P Marketing, Avnet Abacus. For more information about Molex, please visit http://www.molex.com. About Molex: Molex brings together innovation and technology to deliver electronic solutions to customers worldwide. With a presence in more than 40 countries, Molex offers a full suite of solutions and services for many markets, including data communications, consumer electronics, medical, industrial, automotive, and commercial vehicle. For more information, please visit www.molex.com. Molex Resources: Learn more about Molex at www.molex.com Follow us at www.twitter.com/molexconnectors Watch our videos at www.youtube.com/molexconnectors Connect with us at www.facebook.com/molexconnectors Read our blog at www.connector.com Molex is a registered trademark of Molex, LLC in the United States of America and may be registered in other countries; all other trademarks listed herein belong to their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170808005068/en/ Contacts: Outlook Marketing Services Christa Carroll, 630-408-9164 Senior Vice President Christa@outlookmarketingsrv.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 6, 2018) - Arctic Star Exploration Corp (TSXV: ADD) (OTCQB: ASDZF) (FSE: 82A1) (WKN: A2DFY5) (the "Company" or "Arctic Star") is pleased to announce the discovery of a new kimberlite on its 100% owned Timantti Diamond Project in Finland. Further investigation of a drill core sample from a previous explorer held in the core archive of the GTK (the Finnish Geological Survey) at Loppi, Finland, has confirmed the kimberlite discovery. Finnish kimberlite expert Dr Hugh O'Brien of the GTK has undertaken petrographic and mineralogical examinations to confirm the new discovery. The new kimberlite is located approximately 230m west of the diamond bearing Black Wolf Kimberlite. There's no record of this drill core being announced to the public. In June 2005, previous explorer Karhu Mining Oy, drilled a geophysical magnetic target. Hole D476 intersected a meter of kimberlite in an inclined (-45) hole located within a zone of extensive alteration and brecciation. Dr O'Brien has conducted a detailed petrographic and mineralogical examination of the core from hole D476 and has confirmed that the kimberlite is "A micaceous Group II kimberlite importantly containing abundant indicator minerals including olivine macrocrysts 5mm in diameter." Dr O'Brien further stated "This kimberlite is very similar in texture and mineralogy to the rocks that form the diamond-bearing Wolf kimberlites. The existence of this kimberlite close to the Wolf kimberlites strongly indicates that the area is part of a kimberlite field and that the prognosis for additional discoveries in the area is quite high." Roy Spencer stated "As has been previously expressed by myself and supported now by kimberlite expert Dr Hugh O'Brien, kimberlites typically occur in fields or clusters and this exciting discovery 230 meters away from the Wolves strongly supports the thesis that we are looking at such a field here north of Kuusamo. With only a single intersection we do not yet know what form this kimberlite will take but we suspect that the body has not been investigated any further previously, and are glad to add another kimberlite to the pack." ABOUT ARCTIC STAR: The Company owns 100% of the recently acquired Timantti Diamond Project including a 243 Ha Exploration Permit and a 95,700 Ha Exploration Reservation near the township of Kuusamo, in Finland. The project is located approximately 450km NW of the operating Grib Diamond Mine in Russia. Arctic is commencing its exploration in Finland on the Timantti Project, where two diamondiferous kimberlites may represent the first finds in a large kimberlite field. The Company also controls diamond exploration properties in Nunavut (Stein), the NWT (Diagras and Redemption) and a rare metals project in BC (Cap). Arctic Star has a highly experienced diamond exploration team previously responsible for numerous world class diamond discoveries. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ARCTIC STAR EXPLORATION CORP. "Scott Eldridge" Scott Eldridge, President & CEO +1 (604) 722-5381 scott@arcticstar.ca "Patrick Power" Patrick Power, Executive Chairman +1 (604) 218-8772 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements in this press release include that the Timantti Project transaction is a pre-eminent opportunity. Lifestyle Delivery Systems besteht die Inspektion der Feuerwehr DGAP-News: Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. / Schlagwort(e): Zulassungsgenehmigung/Zwischenbericht Lifestyle Delivery Systems besteht die Inspektion der Feuerwehr 15.09.2017 / 14:05 Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent verantwortlich. Lifestyle Delivery Systems besteht die Inspektion der Feuerwehr Vancouver, British Columbia, Kanada, 15. September 2017, Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. (CSE: LDS), (OTCQB: LDSYF), (Frankfurt: LD6, WKN: A14XHT) ("LDS" oder das "Unternehmen") gibt bekannt, dass das Unternehmen am 8. September 2017 ein zweites Ersuchen fur eine Inspektion der Produktionsanlage der CSPA Group Inc. bei der San Bernardino County Bezirksfeuerwehr eingereicht hat. Die Inspektion wurde auf Mittwoch, den 13. September 2017, verlegt und alsdann abgeschlossen. Am 14. September 2017 wurde das Unternehmen daruber informiert, dass die Labor- und Produktionsanlage die Inspektion erfolgreich bestanden hat und der Antrag fur eine COO-Lizenz ("Certificate of Occupancy") bei der Gebaudeabteilung der Stadt Adelanto genehmigt wurde. Brad Eckenweiler, CEO von LDS, sagte: "Diese Inspektion und anschliessende Genehmigung der Anlage in Adelanto, Kalifornien, wurde schon lange antizipiert. Der Erhalt der Genehmigung von der San Bernardino County Bezirksfeuerwehr reprasentiert den letzten Schritt bevor die COO-Lizenz fur die Produktions- und Extraktionsbetriebe von der Stadt Adelanto ausgestellt werden kann. Auch mit der Verzogerung glauben wir, dass das September-Ziel fur den Produktionsstart angemessen ist." Das Unternehmen beabsichtigt, Bilder der nichtproprietaren Teile der Extraktions- und Laboranlage auf der Unternehmenswebseite zu veroffentlichen, sobald die COO-Lizenz erteilt wurde. Uber Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. Die Technologie vom Unternehmen produziert getrankte ("infused") Streifen ("strips"), ahnlich wie Atemstreifen ("breath strips"), die nicht nur eine sicherere und gesundere Alternative zum Rauchen sind, sondern auch ein neuer Weg sind, die Dosierung akkurat zu messen und die Reinheit vom Produkt sicherzustellen. Daruberhinaus hat das Unternehmen basierend auf seinen Management-Dienstleistungsvertragen mit NHMC Inc. und CSPA Group Inc. seinen Vorstoss begonnen, im Bereich Anbau von medizinischen Inhaltsstoffen und der Produktion seiner Produkte direkt involviert zu sein. Angefangen vom Samen bishin zum Verkauf werden die unternehmenseigenen Produkte und Inhaltsstoffe wahrend den Rezeptierungs- und Produktionsprozessen im Hinblick auf Qualitat und Zusammensetzung getestet, sodass ein Liefersystem ("delivery system") resultiert, das sicher, konsistent und effektiv ist. Im Namen vom Aufsichtsrat von Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. Brad Eckenweiler CEO & Direktor Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. Suite 820, 1130 W. Pender St. Vancouver BC, V6E 4A4 T: +1 (866) 347-5058 F: +1 (604) 648-0517 CSE: LDS OTCQB: LDSYF Frankfurt: LD6, WKN: A14XHT www.lifestyledeliverysystem.com FUR WEITERE INFORMATIONEN KONTAKTIEREN SIE BITTE: investor.relations@lifestyledeliverysystem.com Telefon: +1-866-347-5058 und Skanderbeg Capital Advisors Telefon: +1 604-687-7130 mario@skanderbegcapital.com Hinweis: Dies ist lediglich eine freie Ubersetzung der ursprunglichen englischen Pressemitteilung. Nur die ursprungliche englische Pressemitteilung ist verbindlich. Eine Haftung fur die Richtigkeit der Ubersetzung wird ausgeschlossen. Die originale Pressemitteilung kann auf der Webseite von Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. eingesehen werden: www.lifestyledeliverysystem.com Original-Hinweis vom Unternehmen: Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. 15.09.2017 Veroffentlichung einer Corporate News/Finanznachricht, ubermittelt durch DGAP - ein Service der EQS Group AG. Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich. Die DGAP Distributionsservices umfassen gesetzliche Meldepflichten, Corporate News/Finanznachrichten und Pressemitteilungen. Medienarchiv unter http://www.dgap.de 610037 15.09.2017 ISIN CA53224Y1043 AXC0146 2017-09-15/14:05 CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - At 8:30 am ET Thursday, Statistics Canada is set to release Canada new housing price index for September. Ahead of the data, the loonie traded mixed against its major rivals. While the loonie dropped against the euro and the yen, it held steady against the greenback. Against the aussie, the currency rose. The loonie was worth 89.11 against the yen, 0.9760 against the aussie, 1.4784 against the euro and 1.2713 against the greenback as of 8:25 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. IRW-PRESS: Engagement Labs Inc.: Engagement Labs sichert sich TotalSocial-Vertrag mit nationaler US-Sportliga Engagement Labs sichert sich TotalSocial-Vertrag mit nationaler US-Sportliga Montreal, QC/New Brunswick, NJ - (17. Januar 2018) - Wie Engagement Labs (TSX VENTURE: EL) bekannt gibt, konnte das Unternehmen durch einen Vertrag mit einer fuhrenden US-Sportliga Marktanteile in einer neuen Kategorie dazugewinnen. Die Liga hat sich fur TotalSocial als Daten- und Analyseplattform fur das soziale Okosystem entschieden. Der Vertrag im Wert von 255.000 CAD wurde fur einen Zeitraum von zwolf Monaten abgeschlossen und zum Jahresende bestatigt. Mit dem Zugewinn einer bedeutenden nationalen Sportliga als Neukunden setzt Engagement Labs erste Schritte fur den weiteren Ausbau seiner Marktanteile im Sportsektor. Uber die TotalSocial-Plattform erhalt die Liga laufend einen umfassenden Uberblick uber die auf ihre Marke bezogenen Gesprache der Konsumenten untereinander und kann diese Gesprache sowohl online als auch offline verfolgen. Daruber hinaus erhalten Sponsoren, welche die Liga finanziell unterstutzen, auch Zugriff auf entsprechende Leistungsdaten und andere Informationen wie z.B. Werbeeinschaltungen wahrend der diversen Sportveranstaltungen. Die von Engagement Labs bereitgestellte Analyseplattform samt Datenmaterial ermoglicht nachweislich Prognosen uber Konsumentenaktivitaten und Umsatzzahlen sowie andere wichtige Leistungskennzahlen wie etwa TV-Konsum und Nutzung digitaler Medien. Daruber hinaus stellt Engagement Labs Diagnose-Tools zur Verfugung, die dem Kunden dabei helfen sollen, geeignete Manahmen zur Steigerung seiner TotalSocial-Scores und damit seiner Unternehmensleistung zu setzen. Sport und Unterhaltung sind zwei der Themen, uber die am meisten gesprochen wird. Die Konsumenten treten sowohl in der realen Welt als auch uber soziale Medien in Kontakt und diskutieren uber verschiedene Sportarten und Unterhaltungssparten, fur die sie sich besonders begeistern und die sie anderen empfehlen, meint Ed Keller, CEO von Engagement Labs. Wir freuen uns sehr, diese fuhrende Sportliga zu unserem Kundenkreis zahlen zu durfen. Die Organisation zieht aus unserer TotalSocial-Plattform einen realen Nutzen; sie erhalt bessere Einblicke in die Materie und erzielt hohere Marketingrenditen und hohere Umsatze. TotalSocial ist eine zum Patent angemeldete Daten- und Analyseplattform, die Markenherstellern und anderen Unternehmen in einzigartiger Weise umfassende Einblicke in das soziale Okosystem und dessen Auswirkungen auf ihr Geschaft ermoglicht. Engagement Labs erweitert seine Klientel laufend und zahlt immer mehr Fortune 500-Marken in den Bereichen Finanzdienstleistung, Telekom, Medien, Sport, Lebensmittel, Schonheit und Software zu seinen Kunden. TotalSocial ist die einzige Plattform, die Online-Daten zu Konservationen im Hinblick auf Marken aus sozialen Netzwerken mit uber Mundpropaganda generierten Offline-Daten kombiniert. Die Plattform verfugt uber eine eigene Datenbank mit Offline-Kommunikationsdaten, die von Engagement Labs uber einen Zeitraum von 10 Jahren zusammengetragen wurden. Als einzige Quelle von Offline-Daten uber Marken dieser Art bietet sie damit einen wesentlichen Input, um Wettbewerbsvorteile zu erzielen. Mit diesen Daten werden die Prognose- bzw. Analyse-Tools des Unternehmens gefuttert, die auf eigenen Algorithmen und maschinellen Lernmethoden basieren und Umsatzprognosen fur die Zukunft ermoglichen. Marketingexperten erhalten damit bessere Einblicke und konnen so hohere Marketingrenditen und Umsatze erzielen. Erfahren Sie mehr unter www.engagementlabs.com / www.totalsocial.com. Uber Engagement Labs Engagement Labs (TSXV: EL) bietet international fuhrenden Markenherstellern ein einzigartiges und effizientes Instrument, um ihre Umsatze zu steigern und ihre Marketingrenditen zu erhohen. Unsere TotalSocial-Technologieplattform kombiniert Messdaten aus den sozialen Netzwerken mit dem weltweit einzigen Tool zur Messung von Offline-Daten uber Mundpropaganda und gibt Marketingexperten damit eine integrierte Gesamtlosung an die Hand, um Leistung zu messen, Schwachstellen und Chancen zu diagnostizieren und spezifische strategische und taktische Manahmen zur Steigerung von Umsatzzahlen und Marketingrenditen zu setzen. Das von uns entwickelte prognostische Analyse-Tool verbindet TotalSocial-Messdaten mit wichtigen Geschaftsergebnissen. Engagement Labs hat Niederlassungen in den Vereinigten Staaten, Grobritannien (UK) und Kanada. Haftungsausschluss in Bezug auf zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen Bei bestimmten Aussagen in dieser Pressemeldung handelt es sich um zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen im Sinne der geltenden Wertpapiergesetze. Zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen basieren zwangslaufig auf einer Reihe von Schatzungen und Annahmen, die von der Unternehmensfuhrung zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt als angemessen erachtet werden, jedoch betrachtlichen geschaftlichen, wirtschaftlichen und wettbewerbsbedingten Unsicherheiten und Risiken unterliegen. Den Anlegern wird empfohlen, sich nicht vorbehaltslos auf zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen zu verlassen. Engagement Labs hat nicht die Absicht und ist nicht verpflichtet, zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen zu aktualisieren, um insbesondere neuen Informationen oder zukunftigen Ereignissen Rechnung zu tragen, sofern dies nicht gesetzlich vorgeschrieben ist. Die TSX Venture Exchange und deren Regulierungsorgane (in den Statuten der TSX Venture Exchange als Regulation Services Provider bezeichnet) ubernehmen keinerlei Verantwortung fur die Angemessenheit oder Genauigkeit dieser Meldung. Medienanfragen richten Sie bitte an: KCSA Strategic Communications, ktumino@kcsa.com/asingh@kcsa.com, 212-896-1252 / 212-896-1207 Ed Keller, CEO, Engagement Labs Inc., ed.keller@engagementlabs.com 732-846-6800 Die Ausgangssprache (in der Regel Englisch), in der der Originaltext veroffentlicht wird, ist die offizielle, autorisierte und rechtsgultige Version. Diese Ubersetzung wird zur besseren Verstandigung mitgeliefert. Die deutschsprachige Fassung kann gekurzt oder zusammengefasst sein. Es wird keine Verantwortung oder Haftung: fur den Inhalt, fur die Richtigkeit, der Angemessenheit oder der Genauigkeit dieser Ubersetzung ubernommen. Aus Sicht des Ubersetzers stellt die Meldung keine Kauf- oder Verkaufsempfehlung dar! Bitte beachten Sie die englische Originalmeldung auf www.sedar.com, www.sec.gov, www.asx.com.au/ oder auf der Firmenwebsite! Die englische Originalmeldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=42122 Die ubersetzte Meldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=42122&tr=1 NEWSLETTER REGISTRIERUNG: Aktuelle Pressemeldungen dieses Unternehmens direkt in Ihr Postfach: http://www.irw-press.com/alert_subscription.php?lang=de&isin=CA29282 R1082 Mitteilung ubermittelt durch IRW-Press.com. Fur den Inhalt ist der Aussender verantwortlich. Kostenloser Abdruck mit Quellenangabe erlaubt. ISIN CA29282R1082 AXC0046 2018-01-18/08:02 MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/17 -- KP Tissue Inc. ("KPT") (TSX: KPT), which holds a limited partnership interest in Kruger Products L.P. ("KPLP"), will release the financial results for KPT and KPLP for the third quarter of 2017 on Wednesday November 8, 2017 before the market opens. KPT will hold its conference call the same day at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. 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. Foundation for Moral Law Defends the Ten Commandments MONTGOMERY, Ala., Aug. 8, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- The Foundation for Moral Law, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the defense of the Constitution as strictly interpreted by its Framers, rose to the defense of the Ten Commandments in an amicus brief filed Monday with the Supreme Court on behalf of the City of Bloomfield, New Mexico. After the City allowed a private person to place a monument of the Ten Commandments on the lawn of its city hall, two Wiccans successfully challenged the monument in federal court as a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The City recently asked the Supreme Court for review, and the Foundation has urged the Court to take the case. Foundation President Kayla Moore stated: "The Foundation was established upon the conviction that the Ten Commandments are the moral foundation of law. We hope the Court will take this case. States, counties, cities, school, and individuals all over the country are looking to the Court for assurance that the Ten Commandments can be displayed in public." Foundation Senior Counsel John Eidsmoe said: "The Ten Commandments monument is not an establishment of religion. It is a recognition of the political philosophy of the Declaration of Independence: that we are under the 'laws of nature and of nature's God,' and that those laws require respect for life, liberty, property, family, truth, and God Himself who ordained government and is the Grantor and Guarantor of unalienable rights." Eidsmoe added: "In our brief we demonstrate that when Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Reformation thinkers sought a model of republican government as an alternative to rising state absolutism, they looked not to Greece and Rome but to the Hebrew republic. As far as we know, this scholarship has never been presented to the Court. We believe it is a game-changer that has the potential to transform the Court's thinking on the role of the Ten Commandments in the history of American law." Contact: John Eidsmoe, Foundation for Moral Law , 334-262-1245, info@morallaw.org Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2017) - CVR Global Inc., on behalf of CVR Medical Corp. (TSXV: CVM) (FSE: B3BN) (OTCQB: CRRVF) ("CVR Medical"), has signed a letter of intent with Canon Virginia, Inc. (CVI), Canon U.S.A., Inc.'s domestic manufacturing subsidiary, for the manufacturer of CVR's Carotid Stenotic Scan (CSS). The CSS is a device being developed for early detection of carotid arterial health, a leading indicator of Stroke. CVR's pairing with CVI, after years of development and growing anticipation for its ground-breaking medical tech, is a landmark achievement and a testament to its industry-changing potential. "This collaboration opens a clear pathway to commercialization and sales for the Carotid Stenotic Scan," says CVR CEO Peter Bakema. "The confidence that CVI has shown with this commitment to dedicate engineering, manufacturing and logistics resources to this relationship represents the leap forward that we've long been building toward." From their state-of-the-art facility in Newport News, VA, CVI is a leading global manufacturer of high tech consumer goods since 1985. With a recently expanded scope that includes ISO 13485 certification and a new facility dedicated to advanced medical device manufacturing, CVI is able to provide both a streamlined supply chain and a unique, customized manufacturing solution for CVR's device. With this collaboration in place, CVR is extremely confident taking its product to market as it plans to leverage CVI's existing industry relations to maximize production value as the device scales to meet its high demand potential. Capabilities such as the on-site molding of parts and full device assembly will substantially reduce costs, setting CVR on a course for expedited market entry with a significantly lower cost requirement. In addition to these advantages, CVI's fully evolved infrastructure enables them to provide solutions such as warehousing, distribution, warranty, maintenance, and product support. "We are very pleased to begin working together with CVR Global," said Toru Nishizawa, President and CEO of Canon Virginia, Inc. "This is a true collaboration bringing together two companies with a shared belief and commitment to making a significant impact in the medical device industry. CVI brings the latest processes and technology solutions to our partners." Bakema goes on to state, "We are thrilled and looking forward to working with CVI to create something truly special. Beyond their ability to provide outstanding insight and the most efficient manufacturing process, we feel incredibly fortunate to share our vision with CVI and the Canon family of companies, leading providers of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. They've proven to be ahead of the curve across so many sectors of the industry, which is exactly the path we intend to pave in ours." CVI Press Release: https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/about/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/20170807-CVI/20170807-CVI For additional information on the organization, leadership, and current news please visit the company website at www.CVRMed.com. About CVR Medical CVR Medical is a company that is involved in an equal parts joint venture with CVR Global Inc. (the "Joint Venture"). The Joint Venture operates in the medical industry focused on the commercialization of a proprietary subsonic, infrasonic, and low frequency sound wave analysis technology and has patents to a diagnostic device designed to detect and measure carotid arterial stenosis. CVR Medical is managed by a proven technical team. CVR Medical trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CVM. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: (signed) "Peter Bakema" CEO, President & Director For further information contact: Brisco Capital Partners Corp. Scott Koyich, President Telephone: (403) 262-9888 This press release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events related to the Joint Venture. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: (1) a downturn in general economic conditions in North America and internationally, (2) the inherent uncertainties and speculative nature associated with commercialization of technology and the practice of medicine, (3) a change in health regulations, (4) any number of events or causes which may delay or cease commercialization and development of the Joint Venture, (5) the risk that the Company or the Joint Venture does not execute its business plan, (6) inability to retain key employees, (7) inability to finance operations and growth, and (8) other factors beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements. THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC. HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. 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. VANCOUVER, BC --(Marketwired - August 08, 2017) - Newrange Gold Corp. ("Newrange" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: NRG) (OTC PINK: CMBPF) (FRANKFURT: X6C) is pleased to announce MPX Geophysics of Ontario, Canada has started flying high resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys at the Company's high-grade Pamlico gold project in Nevada. The Company has also contracted for a ground based gravity survey to start on or about August 21st. These property wide geophysical surveys have never been done at Pamlico and are designed to help identify subtle alteration styles and the distribution and extent of favorable rock types that host the majority of the gold occurrences at Pamlico. The geophysical data will help refine known targets, as well as identify new targets for follow-up. Since acquiring Pamlico, the Company has increased the property size more than 160%, staking 1,337 additional hectares comprising 160 claims that cover more than 7 kilometers along a northwest striking belt of variably altered and mineralized carbonate sediments. The Company has identified areas within this belt of highly anomalous gold mineralization with surface rock chip samples ranging from 123 parts per billion (ppb) to 5 grams gold per metric tonne (g/T Au) as disclosed in the Company's news release of November 21, 2016. Rock chip samples are useful for indicating areas of mineral potential, but generally cannot be used to estimate potential mineral grades. Combined with ongoing mapping and sampling programs the geophysical surveys will be used to refine drill targets. Magnetic and Radiometric Survey The airborne magnetics portion of the survey is expected to indicate weakly to strongly altered volcanic rocks, areas of relatively unaltered mafic volcanic rocks, and possibly identify both near surface and deeper intrusive bodies. The principal objective of the radiometric component of the survey is to differentiate and identify surficial expressions of various types of alteration commonly associated with volcanic hosted gold systems like Pamlico. Gravity Survey Gravity data will be useful in modeling post mineralization pediment cover on the property where the Company believes there is potential to discover concealed extensions of mineralized structures in favorable host rocks. One such area of pediment cover lies along trend and immediately adjacent to known high-grade gold mineralization at Pamlico Ridge and the Pamlico Decline, and depth to bedrock is believed to be relatively shallow, but has never been tested. The gravity data will also be useful in assessing contrasting areas of high and low rock density. In the portion of the Pamlico District dominated by carbonate rocks, gravity data could indicate areas of low rock density where alteration has decalcified the rock. Decalcified rock, frequently associated with some silicification and brecciation of the carbonates along fault zones is commonly associated with anomalous gold at Pamlico and in gold systems throughout Nevada. Ongoing Programs The Company currently has multiple programs in progress at Pamlico including: High resolution, property wide airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys. Detailed surface geological mapping. Surface soil and rock geochemical sampling. Completing interpretation and modeling of OBI "Televiewer" downhole structural data. Construction of cross sections that combine downhole geology and oriented structural data with detailed surface and underground mapping for use in 3D modeling. Planned Work Near term work planned at Pamlico includes: Ground based gravity survey. Expanding the underground mapping and sampling program. Trenching to better expose targets for sampling and mapping. Additional RC drilling of Merritt Zone during Q3, 2017. RC drilling of new target zones during Q3 - Q4 2017. Large diameter PQ diamond core drilling program of Merritt Zone. Selecting suitable composite samples for preliminary metallurgical study. Assessing potential of bulk sampling / test mining utilizing the existing decline and infrastructure. Terms of Reference In this release, all references to grams per tonne (denoted g/T Au) are grams per metric ton of 1,000 kilograms (2,204.62 pounds). Quality Assurance/Quality Control Mr. Robert G. Carrington, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, the President and CEO of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved for disclosure the technical information contained in this news release. About Pamlico Located 12 miles southeast of Hawthorne, Nevada, along US Highway 95, the project has excellent access and infrastructure, a mild, year-round operating climate and strong support from Mineral County, one of the most pro-mining counties in the pro-mining state of Nevada. The Pamlico project covers the historic Pamlico group of mines, as well as the nearby Good Hope, Central, Gold Bar and Sunset mines. Discovered about 1884, the district rapidly gained a reputation as being one of Nevada's highest grade gold districts. Held by private interests for most of its history, the property remains underexplored in terms of modern exploration. About Newrange Gold Corp. Newrange is an aggressive exploration and development company focused on near to intermediate term production opportunities in favorable jurisdictions including Nevada, Colorado and Colombia. Focused on developing shareholder value through exploration and development, the Company is committed to building sustainable value for all stakeholders. Further information can be found on our website at www.newrangegold.com. Signed: "Robert G. Carrington" President & CEO Website: www.newrangegold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement: Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Newrange Gold Corp. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Hebgin Corporate Communications Phone: 760-898-9129 Email: info@newrangegold.com Dave Cross Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary Phone: 604-669-0868 Email: dcross@crossdavis.com CULVER CITY, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- eWellness Healthcare Corporation (OTCQB: EWLL), a provider of the state of the art PHZIO Platform for the physical therapy (PT) and telehealth markets, announced today that Evolution Physical Therapy has added eWellness' Telehealth PT Services at their four clinical locations in Los Angeles including: Culver City, Playa Vista, Beverly Hills, and Brentwood. For more information on Evolution Physical Therapy please go to: http://www.evolutionphysicaltherapy.com and log into Online Treatment in order to set a telehealth appointment or treatment. Concierge PT Medical Services: EWLL provides a new and highly unique patient treatment protocol, that includes "white glove" concierge in-home or in-office physical therapy assessments and digital care treatments, in order to enhance medical treatments and help improve patient treatment outcomes. PreHabPT: Any patient can now receive a (non-emergency) orthopedic surgery consultation, in-home or in-office physical therapy evaluation and may be prescribed a 4-8 week prehabpt.com exercise program prior to any surgery. Another in-home or in-office physical therapy evaluation will be made following surgery and a treatment plan will be initiated. PreHabPT is up to an 8-week physician to patient pre-surgical (Prehab) digital therapeutic exercise treatment system for patients that anticipate having total joint replacement (knee, hip and or shoulder) or back surgeries. Patients may complete these digital therapeutic exercises either monitored or unmonitored. PurePT: PurePT is a patient & independent PT digital treatment platform for connecting new patients to PTs that are seeking to be treated with our PHZIO treatment system. Patient program assessments can be made in the privacy of a patient home or office. PurePT connects new patients to PTs, particularly in states that have direct access rules where patients' insurance will reimburse for treatment without requiring a physician's prescription. PurePT puts the patient first! Evolution Physical Therapy is owned by Darwin Fogt, CEO of EWLL. About eWellness eWellness Healthcare Corporation (OTCQB: EWLL) is the first physical therapy telehealth company to offer insurance reimbursable real-time distance monitored treatments. Our business model is to license our PHZIO ("PHZIO") platform to any physical therapy ("PT") clinic in the U.S. and or have large-scale employers use our PHZIO platform as a fully PT monitored corporate wellness program. The Company's PHZIO home physical therapy exercise platform has been designed to disrupt the $30 billion physical therapy and the $8 billion corporate wellness industries. PHZIO re-defines the way physical therapy can be delivered. PHZIO is the first real-time remote monitored 1-to-many physical therapy platform for home use. Due to the real-time patient monitoring feature, the PHZIO platform is insurance reimbursable. The PHZIO Solution: A New Physical Therapy Delivery System SaaS technology platform solution for providers bundling rehabilitation services and employer wellness programs; First real-time remote monitored 1-to-many physical therapy treatment platform for home use; Ability for physical therapists to observe multiple patients simultaneously in real-time; Solves what has been a structural problem and limitation in post-acute care practice growth; and Allows PT practices to generate increased revenues due to higher adherence and compliance rates. For more information on eWellness go to: http://www.ewellnesshealth.com/ http://phzio.com/ http://prehabpt.com/ Safe Harbor Statement "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21e of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) regarding us and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the good faith judgment of our management and are based on facts and factors currently known to us. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of either the matters set forth or incorporated in this press release generally or certain economic and business factors, some of which may be unknown to and/or beyond the control of the Company. Specifically, we are exposed to various risks related to our need for additional financing to support our technology development, the sale of a significant number of our shares of common stock could depress the price of our common stock, acquiring or investing in new businesses and ongoing operations, we may incur losses in the future and the market price of our common stock may be volatile. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake, and we expressly disclaim, any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of the press release. For additional information on eWellness Healthcare Corporation and its PHZIO telemedicine products please contact Mr. Darwin Fogt CEO 1-855-470-1700 LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- Freedom Leaf, Inc. (OTCQB: FRLF) The Marijuana Legalization Company, CEO, Clifford J Perry Is honored to announce that his friend and mentor, Mr. Girish Soman, has been appointed a Board Director and Regional Director of West India's World Neem Organization (WNO). Neem is part of India's ancient medical tradition, whose value is now being widely recognized in the West. Freedom Leaf, Inc.'s wholly owned division "hempOLOGY" blends whole Hemp plant extract and rare legal Hemp cannabinoids with NuAxon Bioscience traditional Ayurvedic Premium Extracts, whose herbs and spices come from certified organic farms in the mountains of India. Freedom Leaf's hempOLOGY, breathable Vapors and Premium Skin Care product line will soon to be released to the general public through an exciting new e-commerce and affiliate commissioned website. The site is expected to attract numerous clients that are Influencers and popular celebrities in social media and other popular media outlets. Freedom Leaf is also in discussions with major distributors that sell to tens of thousands of retailers throughout the United States. Mr. Soman is Board Chairman of NuAxon Bioscience of India and has been in the agriculture and botanical industries for over 32 years. He holds a Master of Technology degree. Mr. Soman has created more than six successful companies in the botanical industry and excels in leading them in sustained profitability including the design, manufacture and operation of the finest Industrial CO2 Supercritical Extractor technology that has been in operation 24/7/365 for the past 17 years. Mr. Soman has continuously improved the design of his extraction equipment to speed up the process as well as improve the process at higher volumes. This has resulted in the production of super premium quality herbal extracts that are purchased by many of the largest and most successful companies in the US natural market. His technical expertise and business acumen have made him the head of several multimillion-dollar enterprises in India. He is an expert in plant extraction and equipment design. Freedom Leaf, Inc. has the worldwide exclusive sales and marketing agreement to represent the NuAxon Bioscience line of CO2 Extractors for the cannabis and hemp industry, which include a 100 liter up to 1,000 liter capacity unit, the sizes that will be needed to convert the thousands of acres of Hemp that are being planted in the U. S. and around the world. These rare cannabinoids, extracted from hemp and other cannabis strains, are in global demand for their medicinal properties. The production and sale of these rare cannabinoids is the most profitable use of the hemp plant at this time, bringing many thousands of dollars per kilo. Freedom Leaf has already sold and installed a NuAxon CO2 Supercritical extractor to HEMP, Inc. in Spring Hope, NC. See Press Release July 25, 2017 Installation of NuAxon Supercritical CO2 Extractor Now Complete Freedom Leaf, Inc. (OTCQB: FRLF) partnered and purchased a NuAxon Co2 Supercritical extractor for demonstration and showcase at our headquarters in Las Vegas, NV. Our sales department is currently in communication with over 56 interested parties with a potential of millions of dollars of sales and hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2017 commissions to $FRLF. See the Press Release: July 10, 2017: Freedom Leaf To Open CO2 Supercritical Extraction Facility In Las Vegas for CBD Oil Production From Local Hemp Farmers Under Nevada's New Law; State Cultivation Expected to Double Next Year; A Showcase for NuAxon Equipment. The Neem Foundation is the brainchild of a group of concerned citizens from different walks of life, who were keen that the resources of the Neem tree should be harnessed for nation-building. It was the first World Neem Conference in 1993 that got them together and opened their eyes to the miraculous powers of the Neem that had been in widespread use in the Indian countryside in hygiene health and for nourishing and protecting their fields. Neem Foundation is a voluntary, independent, not-for-profit organization. More importantly, it is a people's movement -- an initiative that involves ordinary citizens of the world. The Neem Foundation is a forum for individuals and institutions who would like to make a difference. Jason Edwards, CEO of NuAxon https://www.nuaxontech.com/our-team expresses, "We are very proud of Mr. Soman on his achievement and appointment to WNO with hardy congratulations to him on this great honor." NuAxon Bioscience, Inc. is a privately held company that manufactures and distributes botanical products located in Midwest, USA. About Freedom Leaf Freedom Leaf, Inc., The Marijuana Legalization Company, is a fully reporting and audited, publicly traded company trading under the symbol (OTCQB: FRLF). Freedom Leaf, Inc. is a leading go-to resource in the cannabis, medical marijuana, and industrial hemp industry. It is involved in mergers and acquisitions in the marijuana industry, including incubation/acceleration and spin offs of new marijuana/hemp related companies. Freedom Leaf, Inc.'s flagship publication is Freedom Leaf Magazine, The Good News in Marijuana Reform. The company produces a portfolio of news, print and digital multi-media verticals, websites, and web advertising, for the ever changing emerging cannabis, medical marijuana and industrial hemp industry. Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "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. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Freedom Leaf, Inc. . or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. 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. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include the uncertainty regarding viability and market acceptance of the Company's products and services, changes in relationships with third parties, and other factors described in the Company's most recent periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K dated June 30, 2016 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. CONTACT INFORMATION Raymond Medeiros IR and Business Development Director Phone: 415-601-1974 Ray@FreedomLeaf.com Freedom Leaf, Inc. 3571 East Sunset Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89120 MONTREAL, CANADA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- (NYSE: CAE)(TSX: CAE) - Representatives of the media are invited to attend CAE's 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, August 10, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). The meeting will be held at the CAE offices in Saint-Laurent, Quebec (Entrance 4 - Auditorium). At the meeting, members of CAE senior management will review the activities of fiscal year 2017 and present the financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 ended June 30, 2017. Marc Parent, President and Chief Executive Officer, will also discuss prospects for the current fiscal year. The meeting will be webcast live via video on CAE's site at www.cae.com. The webcast will be archived following the event. Please note that broadcast and photographic equipment will only be allowed in the shareholder meeting room for the first 10 minutes. Following the annual meeting, at approximately 12:00 p.m. ET, Marc Parent will be available for questions from the media. Event: CAE's FY2017 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders Date: Thursday, August 10, 2017 Time: Annual meeting: 11:00 a.m. ET Session with media: 12:00 p.m. ET Venue: CAE - Entrance 4, Auditorium 8585 chemin de la Cote-de-Liesse Saint-Laurent, Quebec H4T 1G6 Canada FY2018 first quarter financial results and conference call CAE will also release its fiscal year 2018 first quarter financial results on Thursday, August 10, 2017. A conference call will be held at 1:30 p.m. ET to provide analysts and institutional investors with a review of CAE's performance and outlook. Marc Parent, CAE's President and Chief Executive Officer, Sonya Branco, CAE's Chief Financial Officer, and Andrew Arnovitz, CAE's Vice President, Strategy and Investor Relations, will participate in this call intended for financial analysts, institutional investors and the media. Please note that the media will have the opportunity to ask questions immediately following the analysts' question period. The conference call will be audio Webcast live for the public and will also be archived for 90 days following the event at www.cae.com. Event: CAE's FY2018 Q1 financial results and conference call Date: Thursday, August 10, 2017 Time: 1:30 p.m. ET Phone numbers for conference call: -------------------------------------------------- Country Phone number -------------------------------------------------- North America 1 877 586-3392 -------------------------------------------------- Canada +1 416 981 9024 -------------------------------------------------- Australia 1800706721 -------------------------------------------------- Belgium 080077657 -------------------------------------------------- France 0800919393 -------------------------------------------------- Germany 08001816101 -------------------------------------------------- Netherlands 08000222280 -------------------------------------------------- Singapore 8001012594 -------------------------------------------------- United Kingdom 08004960381 -------------------------------------------------- Instant replay (available three hours after the call ends for 48 hours): +1-800-558-5253 or +1-416-626-4100 - Access code: 21856570# About CAE CAE is a global leader in the delivery of training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. We design and integrate the industry's most comprehensive training solutions, anchored by the knowledge and expertise of our over 8,500 employees, our world-leading simulation technologies and a track record of service and technology innovation spanning seven decades. Our global presence is the broadest in the industry, with 160 sites and training locations in 35 countries, including our joint venture operations, and the world's largest installed base of flight simulators. Each year, we train more than 120,000 civil and defence crewmembers, as well as thousands of healthcare professionals. www.cae.com Follow us on Twitter @CAE_Inc Contacts: CAE contacts: Helene V. Gagnon Vice President, Public Affairs and Global Communications 1-514-340-5536 helene.v.gagnon@cae.com Investor relations: Andrew Arnovitz Vice President, Strategy and Investor Relations 1-514-734-5760 andrew.arnovitz@cae.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- The Big Drone Show attendees and media will get a glimpse into the newest industrial drones from DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial technology, in partnership with Gap Wireless, a leading distributor of commercial and industrial UAV solutions. Announced earlier this year, DJI's Matrice 200 series drones are purpose-built for industrial users to perform aerial inspections and collect data - making drone technology an affordable and easy-to-use tool for enterprises that recognize how aerial imaging can transform their operations. As Canada's biggest drone showcase, The Big Drone Show will be taking flight in Toronto on September 27th and 28th and will showcase the world's top talent in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology. The Big Drone Show, sponsored by The Sky Guys, will see more than 20 industries represented, have over 40 speakers from around the world, and will feature a 2-day hackathon where top aerospace institutions will collaborate on a computer vision-based competition. "We are thrilled that DJI and Gap Wireless will showcase M200 series drones at the Toronto show," said Adam Sax, President and CEO of The Sky Guys. "The speaker's lineup is shaping up to be really impressive, and this is very exciting." With the potential use for drones continually expanding, the Matrice 200 series drones are designed for professionals that need precise, efficient and safe aerial data collection. The M200 series comes in three versions: the M200; M210; and M210 RTK. Each version is built to meet the needs of various industry applications, spanning critical infrastructure inspections, construction site mapping, energy facility inspections and public safety. Equipped with over 20 internal sensors for redundancy and an IP43 ingress protection rating for adverse environments, the M200 series has unmatched safety and reliability. In addition to hosting DJI drones, Gap Wireless will also be exhibiting at the Big Drone Show. Gap Wireless is a leading distributor of products and services for the mobile broadband and wireless markets, and has become a premier provider of UAV (drone) solutions for carriers and enterprises in Canada and the U.S., including Canadian distributorship for DJI Enterprise products. The company supplies UAV products and solutions spanning aircraft, cameras & sensors, software, regulatory/training solutions and drone defense. "DJI is the world's leader in drones and has a stellar reputation in the industry. We can't wait to welcome them to Toronto," stated Sax. The M200 series is available for pre-order from Gap Wireless. Visit www.gapwireless.com/matrice-200-series for details. For more information about the M200 series, please visit: http://www.dji.com/matrice-200-series. About The Sky Guys The Sky Guys are Canada's leading solutions providers and technology developers in the UAV / Drone industry. Their team of world class engineers, data scientists and advanced technologists continually break the mould by providing clients with new insights and innovative applications. The Sky Guys offers specialized UAV services to over 600 clients, using a unique approach to capture data, aerial video and photography, infrastructure inspection and 3D mapping. Through its wholly owned technology division, Defiant Labs, they instigate disruption at every corner. Developing proprietary drone technology and advanced data analytics for commercial and industrial use to give clients that needed edge. Defiant Labs, the future lives here. About Cambridge House International Cambridge House International has been building flagship, must-attend events for over 25 years, providing industries with the platform for networking, education and investment discovery. About The Big Drone Show The second annual Big Drone Show is set to take flight at the Metro Toronto Convention Center on September 27 & 28, 2017. The two-day event will feature more than 40 speakers, over 100 industry leaders a "hackathon", and the Toronto Drone Film Festival. The Big Drone Show is Canada's premier UAV / Drone event. Learn more at: bigdroneshow.com Contacts: Big Drone Show Sales & Sponsorship Opportunities: Cambridge House International +1.604.687.4151 georgia@cambridgehouse.com www.bigdroneshow.com Media Enquiries: Greg Kourtoff 647 227 8809 greg@upstreamgroup.ca CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Canadian dollar extends decline against its key counterparts in the European session on Tuesday. The loonie fell to 1.2690 against the greenback, from a high of 1.2651 hit at 7:00 am ET. The loonie slipped to a 1-1/2-month low of 1.0074 against the aussie, 5-week low of 86.89 against the yen and near a 2-month low of 1.4994 against the euro, off its early highs of 1.0023, 87.46 and 1.4942, respectively. The next possible support for the loonie is seen around 1.30 against the greenback, 1.01 against the aussie, 84.00 against the yen and 1.51 against the euro. 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. 200 Mbps connectivity with 22 dBi high gain antenna is compact and easy to install ROLLING MEADOWS, Illinois, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambium Networks, a leading global provider of wireless networking solutions, today announced the availability of the ePMP' Force 190 wireless broadband module. When configured for a point-to-point wireless link, the system provides up to 200 Mbps of connectivity for streaming video, voice and data applications. When deployed in a point-to-multipoint configuration with the ePMP 2000 or ePMP 1000 Access Point (AP), the Force 190 Subscriber Module (SM) provides up to 200 Mbps of bi-directional throughput to a long range with its 22 dBi antenna. "The ePMP Force 190 is designed to support rapid deployment of wireless connectivity in noisy RF environments," said Sakid Ahmed, Vice President of Engineering at Cambium Networks. "With the high gain antenna, narrow beamwidth and compact form factor, the Force 190 provides a quality connection that performs in a high-interference environment and is easy to install." Key Force 190 features include: 200 Mbps bi-directional throughput bi-directional throughput 4.9 - 5.9 GHz frequency - configurable for 5, 10, 20 and 40 MHz channel widths - configurable for 5, 10, 20 and 40 MHz channel widths 22 dBi gain antenna for long-range connectivity antenna for long-range connectivity Low 2 - 3 msec latency for sensitive streaming video and voice connectivity for sensitive streaming video and voice connectivity Small footprint - and easy to install "The Force 190 design is based on input from wireless ISP service providers around the world," said Scott Imhoff, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Cambium Networks. "The solution provides an affordable, quality connection that is interference-tolerant and can be rapidly deployed to provide a high-speed link almost anywhere in a matter of hours." Cambium Networks is hosting a free webinar ePMP Solutions on August 8 at 9 a.m. CDT. The ePMP Force 190 is available now through Cambium Networks resellers. About Cambium Networks Cambium Networks is aleadingglobal provider of trusted wirelesssolutions that connect the unconnected - People, Places and Things. Through its extensive portfolio of reliable, scalable and secure wireless narrowband and broadband platforms, Cambium Networks makes it possible for all service providers and industrial, enterprise and government network operators to build affordable, reliable, high-performance connectivity. The company currently has over six million radios deployed in thousands of demanding networks in more than 150 countries. Headquartered outside Chicago and with R&D centers in the U.S., U.K. and India, Cambium Networks sells through a range of trusted global distributors. For more information, visitwww.cambiumnetworks.com. Media Contact: Sara Black 1-213-618-1501 sara@bospar.com Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/325530/cambium_networks_logo.jpg ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2017 / GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (OTC PINK: GOSY) (OTC Current | http://www.GeckoSystems.com) announced today that they are now accepting applications for the sale and servicing of their AI augmented CareBot mobile service robots. "In the last two years, we have worked very hard to cost reduce our AI robotics solutions to enable a compelling value proposition to those seeking enrichment in family health care. Our CareBot not only has an MSRP of $4,950; but satisfies the three-legged milk stool fundamental requirements of: 100% collision-free for unattended errand running and patrolling, auto follow of a pre-designated person, and a verbal interface anywhere in the smart, connected IOT home for aging in place. Our dealers will enjoy a satisfying margin, exclusivity, dealer training, financing, and national advertising," stated Martin Spencer, CEO, GeckoSystems. Because CareBots are 100% safe, a family can create a fully autonomous virtual companion which will: Verbally answer repetitive, common questions Allow family to customize timely verbal reminders as a surrogate short-term memory: Quantity and type medication reminders requiring verbal confirmation Upcoming events like doctor appointments, family gatherings, TV shows, church functions, etc. Play word games, riddles, and other memory exercises Play favorite music as scheduled, desired Safely, smoothly follow them from room to room like a pet dog or cat to stay close by for virtual companionship, automatic "situation" and/or emergency notifications, easy video/audio monitoring and virtual visits Never hit anything as it automatically follows the parent, reminding them routinely that you care while watching over them for you, and yet contacting you or a designated party promptly if needed. "This new dealership program (dealers@geckosystems.com) is in addition to numerous ongoing joint venture and/or licensing discussions, not only internationally, but also in the U.S. I am also pleased that as the Service Robotics industry begins to offer real products to eager, significant markets our capabilities are being recognized that our 1300+ shareholders will garner the ROI they deserve. They can continue to be confident that we expect this dealer program to result in first-year sales of over 1,000 CareBots. In addition to sales to retail dealers, GeckoSystems will earn additional licensing revenues to further increase shareholder value," concluded Spencer. About GeckoSystems: GeckoSystems has been developing innovative robotic technologies for twenty years. It is CEO Martin Spencer's dream to make people's lives better through AI robotic technologies. The safety requirement for human quick WCET reflex time in all forms of mobile robots: In order to understand the importance of GeckoSystems' breakthrough, proprietary, and exclusive AI software and why another Chinese robotics company desires a business relationship with GeckoSystems, it's key to acknowledge some basic realities for all forms of automatic, non-human intervention, vehicular locomotion and steering. 1. Laws of Physics such as Conservation of Energy, inertia and momentum limit a vehicle's ability to stop or maneuver. If for instance, a car's braking system design cannot generate enough friction for a given road surface to stop the car in 100 feet after brake application, that's a real limitation. If a car cannot corner at more than .9g due to a combination of suspension design and road conditions, that, also, is reality. Regardless how talented a NASCAR driver may be, if his race car is inadequate, he's not going to win races. 2. At the same time, if a car driver (or pilot) is tired, drugged, distracted, etc. their reflex time becomes too slow to react in a timely fashion to unexpected direction changes of moving obstacles, or the sudden appearance of fixed obstacles. Many car "accidents" result from drunk driving due to reflex time and/or judgment impairment. Average reflex time takes between 150 & 300ms. 3. In robotic systems, "human reflex time" is known as Worst Case Execution Time (WCET). Historically, in computer systems engineering, WCET of a computational task is the maximum length of time the task could take to execute on a specific hardware platform. In big data, this is the time to load up the data to be processed and then outputted into useful distillations, summaries, or common sense insights. GeckoSystems' basic AI self-guidance navigation system processes 147 megabytes of data per second using low cost, Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Single Board Computers (SBCs). 4. Highly trained and skilled jet fighter pilots have a reflex time (WCET) of less than 120ms. Their "eye to hand" coordination time is a fundamental criterion for them to be successful jet fighter pilots. The same holds true for all high-performance forms of transportation that are sufficiently pushing the limits of the Laws of Physics to require the quickest possible reaction time for safe human control and/or usage. 5. GeckoSystems' WCET is less than 100ms, or as quick, or quicker than most gifted jet fighter pilots, NASCAR race car drivers, etc. while using low-cost COTS and SBCs. 6. In mobile robotic guidance systems, WCET has 3 fundamental components. a. Sufficient Field of View (FOV) with appropriate granularity, accuracy, and update rate. b. Rapid processing of that contextual data such that common-sense responses are generated. c. Timely physical execution of those common-sense responses. In order for any companion robot to be utilitarian for family care, it must be a "three legged milk stool." (1) Human quick reflex time to avoid moving and/or unmapped obstacles, (GeckoNav: http://tinyurl.com/le8a39r) (2) Verbal interaction (GeckoChat: http://tinyurl.com/nnupuw7) with a sense of date and time (GeckoScheduler: http://tinyurl.com/kojzgbx), and (3) Ability to automatically find and follow designated parties (GeckoTrak: http://tinyurl.com/mton9uh) such that verbal interaction can occur routinely with video and audio monitoring of the care receiver is uninterrupted. An earlier third party verification of GeckoSystems' AI-centric, human quick sense and avoidance of moving and/or unmapped obstacles by one of their mobile robots can be viewed here: http://t.co/NqqM22TbKN. These videos illustrate the development of the technology that makes GeckoSystems a world leader in Service Robotics development. Early CareBot prototypes were slower and frequently pivoted in order to avoid a static or dynamic obstacle; later prototypes avoided obstacles without pivoting. Current CareBots avoid obstacles with a graceful "bicycle smooth" motion. The latest videos also depict the CareBot's ability to automatically go faster or slower depending on the amount of clutter (number of obstacles) within its field of view. This is especially important when avoiding moving obstacles in "loose crowd" situations like a mall or an exhibit area. In addition to the timeline videos, GeckoSystems has numerous YouTube videos. The most popular of which are the ones showing room-to-room automatic self-navigation of the CareBot through narrow doorways and a hallway of an old 1954 home. You will see the CareBot slow down when going through the doorways because of their narrow width and then speed up as it goes across the relatively open kitchen area. There are also videos of the SafePath wheelchair, which is a migration of the CareBot AI-centric navigation system to a standard power wheelchair, and recently developed cost effective depth cameras were used in this recent configuration. SafePath navigation is now available to OEM licensees and these videos show the versatility of GeckoSystems' fully autonomous navigation solution. The company has successfully completed an Alpha trial of its CareBot personal assistance robot for the elderly. It was tested in a home care setting and received enthusiastic support from both caregivers and care receivers. The company believes that the CareBot will increase the safety and well-being of its elderly charges while decreasing stress on the caregiver and the family. Kinect Enabled Personal Robot video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn93BS44Das Above, the CareBot demonstrates static and dynamic obstacle avoidance as it backs in and out of a narrow and cluttered alley. There is no joystick control or programmed path; movements are smoother than those achieved using a joystick control. GeckoNav creates three low levels of obstacle avoidance: reactive, proactive, and contemplative. Subsumptive AI behavior within GeckoNav enables the CareBot to reach its target destination after engaging in obstacle avoidance. Telephone: Main number: +1 678-413-9236 Fax: +1 678-413-9247 Website: http://www.geckosystems.com Safe Harbor: Statements regarding financial matters in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, technology efficacy and all other forward-looking statements be subject to the Safe Harbors created thereby. The Company is a development stage firm that continues to be dependent upon outside capital to sustain its existence. Since these statements (future operational results and sales) involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ materially from expected results. SOURCE: GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. PYONGYANG (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump had harsh words for the leaders of North Korea and Iran in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Trump warned that the U.S. would have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea if is forced to defend itself or its allies. Referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as 'rocket man,' Trump claimed that the dictator is on a 'suicide mission for himself and for his regime.' Trump argued that it is time for North Korea to realize that denuclearization is its only acceptable option for a responsible future. The president also lashed out at Iran, claiming the Islamic republic's government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. 'It is far past time for the nations of the world to confront another reckless regime, one that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing death to America, destruction to Israel and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room,' Trump said. Trump also reiterated his criticism of the nuclear deal the Obama administration negotiated with Iran, calling the agreement 'one of the worst and most one-sided transactions' in the history of America. Speaking about the global situation more broadly, Trump said the world is at a time of both immense promise and great peril. Trump said, 'It is entirely up to us whether we lift the world to new heights or let it fall into a valley of disrepair.' (Photo: Gage Skidmore) 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. Moderate Growth in Total Turnover and EBITDA HONG KONG, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlights The Group's total turnover increased by 1.8% to RMB762.5 million . . EBITDA increased by 2.7% to RMB308.4 million . . Amortisation of concession rights increased by 8.7% to RMB163.9 million due to the investment to protect the long-term growth of the business. due to the investment to protect the long-term growth of the business. Net profit decreased by 15.5% to RMB76.9 million . . Basic earnings per share RMB0.1419 . Clear Media Limited ("Clear Media" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; SEHK Stock Code: 100), the largest bus shelter advertising panel operator in China, is pleased to announce its interim results for the six month ended 30 June 2017. The Group's total turnover for the six months ended 30 June 2017 increased by 1.8% year on year to RMB762.5million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation ("EBITDA") increased by 2.7% year on year to RMB308.4 million (1H2016: RMB300.2 million). Earnings before interest and tax ("EBIT") decreased by 3.8% to RMB137.0 million (1H2016: RMB142.4 million). Net profit decreased by 15.5% year on year to RMB76.9 million (1H2016: RMB90.9 million). Part of the decrease was attributable to the increase in amortisation of concession rights to RMB163.9 million (1H2016: RMB150.8 million), the RMB5.1 million realized exchange losses recognized during the period, and higher withholding tax expenses. Basic earnings per share reduced by 15.5% year on year to RMB0.1419 (1H2016: RMB0.1679). As of 30 June 2017, Clear Media operated the most extensive standardized bus shelter advertising network in Mainland China, with a total of more than 48,000 panels (1H2016: 47,000) covering 24 cities. Revenue, net of value added tax, from the bus shelter advertising business increased by 1.8% year on year to RMB762.5 million (1H2016: RMB748.8 million). The average number of bus shelter panels increased by 2.9% during the six month ended 30 June 2017. Yield per shelter before value added tax ("yield per shelter") decreased by 0.9%. The decrease was mainly caused by the decline in overall occupancy rate. For the six months ended 30 June 2017, driven by a 6.4% increase in the average number of bus shelter panels, revenue before value added tax ("gross revenue") from the Group's bus shelter advertising operations in the key cities of Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing increased by 6.0% year on year to RMB483.0 million (1H2016: RMB455.9 million). The yield per shelter declined marginally by 0.4% to RMB 50,748 (1H2016: RMB50,939). Gross revenue from all mid-tier cities decreased by 3.5% to RMB320.4 million (1H2016: RMB331.9 million) during the six months, mainly due to a lower yield per shelter at RMB26,024 (1H2016: RMB27,077). Among the mid-tier cities where the Group operates, Shenzhen, Dalian, Harbin, Changchun and Wuxi performed particularly well with double-digit growths in revenue. As of 30 June 2017, the Group operated a total of 256 digital advertising panels in Nanjing (1H2016: 257). Sales generated from the digital operation amounted to RMB4.8 million for the six months ended 30 June 2017 (1H2016: RMB5.6 million). Mr. Han Zi Jing, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, said: "During the first half of 2017, economic growth in Mainland China continued to be moderate while the operating environment remained challenging and volatile. Late confirmation and last-minute cancellation of orders continued to be common. The relatively early Chinese New Year and the postponement of the marketing campaigns by certain key customers posed challenges for our sales team during the first quarter of this year. Sales growth resumed in the second quarter with improved momentum." Mr. Joseph Tcheng, Chairman of the Group, said: "We are cautiously optimistic that the sales momentum in the second quarter will continue to the second half of the year. We expect a relatively high level of advertising interests from customers from the e-commerce, smart phone and mobile applications sectors." Financial Highlights Consolidated Income statement highlights for the six months ended 30 June 2017 (RMB'000) 2017 (Unaudited) 2016 (Unaudited) % Change Turnover 762,547 748,764 +1.8% EBITDA 308,387 300,248 +2.7% Net profit 76,854 90,948 -15.5% Basic EPS (RMB) 0.1419 0.1679 -15.5% Balance sheet highlights (RMB'000) 30 June 2017 (Unaudited) 31 Dec 2016 (Audited) Cash and cash equivalents 590,359 514,170 Net assets 2,344,093 2,355,529 About Clear Media Limited Clear Media is the largest bus shelter advertising panel operator in China, with leading market shares of more than 70% in top-tier cities, and also a broad presence in the fastest growing cities across the country. We provide one-stop solutions for countrywide advertising campaigns for our customers. Listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong since 2002 under the stock code 100, Clear Media's largest shareholder is Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE: CCO), one of the world's largest outdoor media companies. For more information on Clear Media, please visit: www.clear-media.net . For further information: Clear Media Limited Mr. Jeffrey Yip Director of Investor Relations, Company Secretary Tel:+852-2235-3977 Fax:+852-2235-3911 Email: jeffrey.yip@clear-media.net iPR Ogilvy & Mather Gary Li/ Nicola Chan/ Jenny Leung Tel:+852-3170-6753 / 3920-7642 / 3920-7625 Fax:+852-3170-6606 Email: clearmedia@iprogilvy.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clear-media-announces-interim-results-for-2017-300501153.html Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp.: Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. startet KoLab Project DGAP-News: Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. / Schlagwort(e): Auftragseingange/Markteinfuhrung Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp.: Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. startet KoLab Project 15.01.2018 / 06:25 Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent verantwortlich. Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. startet KoLab Project Vancouver, British Columbia, 15. Januar 2018 - Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. (d/b/a Wheaton Income) (TSX VENTURE:CBW) ("Wheaton Income" oder das "Unternehmen") ist begeistert, das KoLab Project Inc. ("KoLab Project") (ehemals RockGarden Medicinals (2014) Inc.) zu starten. Nach Erhalt der notwendigen behordlichen Genehmigungen wird KoLab Project Patienten mit Berechtigung fur medizinisches Cannabis eine exklusive monatliche Abonnement-Plattform bieten. Die Zielsetzung von KoLab Project ist, die Patientenerfahrung fur Kanadier zu uberdenken, die gema der Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (Zugangsbestimmungen fur medizinisches Cannabis) registriert sind. KoLab Project wird mit den besten und aussichtsreichsten Anbaubetrieben, lizenzierten Produzenten, Urhebern und Kunstlern zusammenarbeiten, um ein einzigartiges monatliches Erlebnis fur kanadische Patienten zu arrangieren. KoLab Projekt wird eine breite Palette an Cannabis durch Wheatons beispielloses Branchennetzwerk beziehen und Patienten Zugang zu gut sortiertem Cannabis bieten, das von ausgewahlten lizenzierten Produzenten und anerkannten Gastanbaubetrieben weltweit angebaut wird. Andrew Rock, Chief Operating Officer von KoLab Project, sagte: Wir sind begeistert, diese Initiative nicht nur fur uns zu beginnen, sondern auch fur Patienten in ganz Kanada. Wir glauben, dass die sich ausdehnende und geschaftiger werdende Branche eine Menge Larm und Auswahl erzeugen wird, was fur den Verbraucher entmutigend sein wird, sich darin zurechtzufinden. Unser Ziel ist, diese Beziehung durch die Fokussierung auf Qualitat, Innovation und Zusammenarbeit innerhalb unserer Netzwerke zu vereinfachen, um einzigartige monatliche Erlebnisse fur kanadische Patienten zu arrangieren. Wir freuen und darauf, mit einer Vielzahl von Kooperationspartnern aus verschiedenen Branchen zusammenzuarbeiten, um dies zu einem Projekt aufzubauen, das Wert ausstrahlt und diesen Wert jedem Beteiligten zukommen lasst. Unser Ziel ist nicht nur der einzige lizenzierte Produzent unserer Patienten zu sein, sondern auch ihr bevorzugter!" Ian Rapsey, Chief Creative Officer von Wheaton Income, sagte: "Da sich die Branche auf den Freizeitgebrauch von Cannabis durch Erwachsene zubewegt, wird viel Bandbreite fur das Ausma aufgewendet und es wurde so aussehen, dass es einige Geschichten weniger gibt uber Innovation und die Ausreizung des Potenzials in der Branche. Das Wheaton-Team konzentriert sich auf den Umfang und die Leistungsbereitschaft im Sommer 2018. Ferner liegt unser Schwerpunkt darauf, diese Strategien zusammenzufugen, indem wir uns anstrengen, zu denken und neue Sachen ausprobieren, die diese Branche auf unerwartete und erfreuliche Art und Weise voranbringen. Dies ist, was unsere Anlage in Carlton Place so attraktiv macht. Obwohl sie nicht sehr gro ist, so uberlauft sie mit der Moglichkeit, in der Branche etwas anderes zu machen. KoLab Project wird ein Zentrum fur Innovation, ein Sandkasten fur Kooperation und eine Marke sein, die eine Mastab dafur sein wird, was innerhalb der Branche moglich ist." Im Namen des Board Chuck Rifici Chairman & CEO Uber Wheaton Income Corp. (TSX VENTURE: CBW) Wheaton Income ist eine Unternehmergemeinschaft mit Leidenschaft an der Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft der Cannabis-Branche. Unser Auftrag besteht in der Forderung des Realwachstums unserer Beteiligungspartner, indem wir sie finanziell unterstutzen und unsere kollektiven Branchenerfahrungen mit ihnen teilen. Unsere Partner haben alle verschiedene Visionen, Stimmen sowie Markenwerte und teilen alle ein gemeinsames Ziel - den Aufbau einer Weltklasse-Branche basierend auf Ethik, Vielfalt, Qualitat und Innovation. Uber KoLab Project KoLab Project ist Wheatons vollstandig in Unternehmensbesitz befindliche Tochtergesellschaft und sie ist gema Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations fur den Anbau von Cannabis lizenziert. KoLab Project wird ein einzigartiges Patientenerlebnis bieten, das auf Monatsbasis fur die Zusammenarbeit mit den besten und aussichtsreichsten Anbaubetrieben, lizenzierten Produzenten, Urhebern und Kunstlern eingerichtet sein wird. Fur weitere Informationen besuchen Sie bitte www.KoLabProject.com. Bleiben Sie mit uns in Verbindung: Fur weitere Informationen uber Investitionen in Cannabis Wheaton besuchen Sie bitte http://www. wheatonincome.com oder kontaktieren unser Investor Relations Team uber die Rufnummer 800.980.1314 oder IR@wheatonincome.com. Folgen Sie uns auf Twitter @WheatonIncome. Medienkontakt: Sarah Bain, VP External Affairs Email: sarah@cannabiswheaton.com Tel.: 613.230.5869 Dies ist eine Ubersetzung der ursprunglichen englischen Pressemitteilung. Nur die ursprungliche englische Pressemitteilung ist verbindlich. Eine Haftung fur die Richtigkeit der Ubersetzung wird ausgeschlossen. 15.01.2018 Veroffentlichung einer Corporate News/Finanznachricht, ubermittelt durch DGAP - ein Service der EQS Group AG. Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich. Die DGAP Distributionsservices umfassen gesetzliche Meldepflichten, Corporate News/Finanznachrichten und Pressemitteilungen. Medienarchiv unter http://www.dgap.de 645249 15.01.2018 ISIN CA13765K1030 AXC0037 2018-01-15/06:25 IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/24/17 -- The University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education (DCE) has announced a new Machine and Deep Learning Specialized Studies Program for the Fall 2017 quarter. Machine Learning is a form of data analysis and is often described as the current state of the art of Artificial Intelligence providing practical tools and processes that businesses are using to remain competitive and society is using to improve the way we live. Deep Learning is a self-improving process that focuses on those Machine Learning tools that mimic human thought processes. Advances in Machine Learning and Deep Learning are helping to solve a very broad variety of problems including logistics, business process optimization, customer service, and health care. This program is intended for professionals in a variety of industries and job functions who are looking to help their organization leverage the massive amounts of diverse data they collect and develop self-improving systems that allow their organization the ability to compete in the global market place. A free webinar on Machine Learning will be offered on September 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT. "By 2020, IT departments will be monitoring 50 times more data than they are today," said Dave Dimas, Ph.D., director of engineering, sciences and information technology programs at UC Irvine DCE. "This tidal wave of data has driven unprecedented demand for those with the skills required to manage and leverage these very large data sets into a competitive advantage for their organizations." Specific job titles that would benefit from this program include: Marketing, Sales, Business Analysts, Data Engineers, Data Analysts, Computer Scientists, Database Administrators, Researchers, Statisticians, and those professionals looking to broaden their skills in this high-demand field while leveraging their unique domain expertise. The first course in the program is Tools and Techniques for Machine Learning. In this course, participants will cover the tools and techniques that are currently associated with the discipline of machine learning. They will start by exploring the field of machine learning and then gradually delve into practical examples of how to leverage machine learning algorithms to derive insights from big data. Once participants have attained practical exposure to utilizing machine learning algorithms, they will use visualization capabilities to surface the output generated by the machine learning algorithms. Finally, participants will explore the field of deep learning and understand how it differs from machine learning. To register for the webinar please visit here to reserve your space. For more information on the Machine and Deep Learning Specialized Studies program please visit here or call (949) 824-3413. About UCI Division of Continuing Education: The University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education (DCE) provides lifelong learning opportunities to thousands of students worldwide each year -- fulfilling the school's 60-year curriculum platform to connect degree programs to the world of work and achievement after graduation. The Division offers a broad range of certificate programs, specialized studies, and sequential courses to local, regional and global markets through online, on-campus and on-site delivery. A leader in the open education movement, the Division offers free Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and content through the UCI Open initiative. For more information about UCI Division of Continuing Education, visit here. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 28,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. Located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities, it's Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $4.8 billion annually to the local economy. CONTACT: Vivian Slater (714) 573-0899 x 235 Email Contact KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announces the appointment of Jacques Veyrat as a Senior Advisor to support KKR's investment activities in France. Mr Veyrat is a senior French executive with deep experience across a range of different sectors. He currently manages his own company, Impala SAS, a diversified investment company with around 1bn net asset value, active in energy, manufacturing, consumer brands, and asset management. Before founding Impala in 2011, Mr Veyrat served as Chairman and Chief Executive of the global merchant and commodity company Louis Dreyfus Group, and of telecoms company Neuf Cegetel before its acquisition by SFR. Johannes Huth, Member and Head of KKR EMEA, said: "I am delighted that KKR will be able to benefit from Jacques' expertise and strategic counsel in France. France is an important market for KKR, and we see significant opportunities across a number of sectors, building on our successful track record and commitment to supporting French businesses. Jacques will bring valuable insights and local knowledge as we further develop our presence and activities in France." Mr Veyrat's appointment builds on KKR's 15-year track record of supporting the growth and development of major French companies into leading global and French champions. KKR's investments span a range of sectors of the French economy, including industrials (Legrand, Tarkett, Winoa), software and outsourcing (Webhelp, OVH), and luxury goods (SMCP). In addition, KKR has deployed growth equity capital backing high-growth French technology businesses, including Ivalua and Fotolia. Across France, the firm supports the employment of almost 10,000 people through the operations of its 18 portfolio companies. This successful track record in France has been reflected in the recent promotions of a number of senior French executives at KKR, including Nicolas Gheysens, Edouard Pillot, Vincent Policard and Jean-Pierre Saad. Mr Veyrat will work closely with Henry Kravis, Johannes Huth and the wider EMEA leadership team on the development of KKR's platform in France. -ends- About KKR KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and, through its strategic partners, hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside its partners' capital and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180129005456/en/ Contacts: KKR Media Contacts UK International Alastair Elwen Finsbury Email: alastair.elwen@finsbury.com Phone: +44(0)20 7251 3801 or France Olivier Blain Adding Value Conseils Email: ob@addingvalueconseils.com Phone: +33 6 72 28 29 20 BURLINGTON, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- In its commitment to the democratization of wealth, Mandeville Private Client Inc. ("Mandeville") will now provide all wealth-seeking investors with access to quality private and alternative investment opportunities via the online discretionary investment advisory services (often referred to as "robo-advisor" or "online adviser") of Smart Money Capital Management Inc. ("Smart Money"). The online platform for current and prospective clients of Mandeville advisors will be accessed through a dedicated, online program called WealthPort. The WealthPort program and its associated services is a proprietary, automated wealth-planning portal designed to help Mandeville advisors leverage Smart Money's robo-technology, supported by a referral fee arrangement. WealthPort will allow clients to: -- capitalize on current market trends; -- effectively meet evolving investment needs through automation with online wealth creation solutions; -- access customized global portfolios with lower fees than traditional advice channels; -- enjoy user-friendly online account opening; -- access a live portfolio manager at regular intervals. Smart Money will also offer clients additional value adds like financial planning tools. Nauvzer Babul, CEO of Smart Money, states "This is a significant step forward for us. We are excited to partner with Mandeville and see technology and digital services playing a bigger role in the wealth management landscape, equipping advisors with investment solutions for all Canadian investors." "WealthPort is the ideal solution for advisors to preserve all client segments and provide access to unique investment opportunities" states Tuula Jalasjaa, Smart Money Advisory Board Member. The portfolio management process within WealthPort will be unique in the marketplace. In addition to largely including globally diversified low-cost index funds, Smart Money will also be including funds managed by Portland Investment Counsel Inc. ("Portland") (where suitable for the client). Michael Lee-Chin, Chairman and Director of Mandeville Holdings Inc. stated "The WealthPort program truly reflects Mandeville and Portland's mission of Democratizing Opportunities for Wealth Creation as it provides all wealth-seeking investors with access to the same public, private and alternative investment opportunities employed by ultra-affluent private clients and sophisticated institutional investors". Mandeville Holdings Inc. is also making a strategic minority investment in Smart Money. About Smart Money Capital Management Smart Money is a registered Portfolio Manager and automated wealth management solutions provider that offers discretionary investment advisory services to retail investors through an online platform, by leveraging unique portfolio management skills defined through rigorous risk management routed from many years of capital market experience. Smart Money offers leading edge online wealth management solutions to their advisors and clients to meet evolving investor needs. Smart Money is the latest firm to join the DMZ in Toronto, ranked the top tech incubator in North America and the leading business hub for tech companies in Canada. About Mandeville Holdings Mandeville Holdings Inc., founded by Michael Lee Chin, is the parent company of the Mandeville group of companies which includes Mandeville Private Client Inc., Mandeville Insurance Services Inc. and Portland Investment Counsel Inc. Mandeville is committed to the preservation of wealth for its clients. The Wealthy Invest Differently. Clients of the Mandeville group of companies have ACCESS to the benefits of our family office resources (via Portland Holdings Limited's conglomeration), which means a unique opportunity to invest in quality offerings alongside some of the world's most successful institutions and affluent investors. About Portland Portland Holdings Limited is a privately held investment company founded by Michael Lee-Chin that owns a collection of diversified businesses operating in sectors that include media, waste management, consumer goods, tourism and financial services. Contacts: Mandeville Private Client Inc. Frank Laferriere Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 905-331-4255 flaferriere@mandevilleinc.com Smart Money Capital Management Inc. Zia Hassan Legal Counsel 416-317-6110 zhassan@smartmoneyinvest.ca TEMECULA, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- The Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety recently upgraded to Airbus DS Communications' VESTA 9-1-1 Call Handling and VESTA Router solutions. This transition from traditional analog technology to a completely IP-based system allows Okaloosa County to better manage its 9-1-1 emergency calls and Public Safety communications, while placing it on an accelerated path to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1). The combined solutions give the County the capacity and technology to accept new forms of 9-1-1 calls, including text, and future forms of data such as images and video. Okaloosa County, located in northwestern Florida, along the Emerald coast, has 26 total Call Handling positions. Seventeen are based in the county's Emergency Communications Center, which serves as the main Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), among seven PSAPs. Together, they manage 123,000 emergency calls annually. "Having a partner like Airbus DS Communications makes our transition to NG9-1-1 as seamless and painless as possible," said Christine Cooper, 911 Coordinator for the Okaloosa Department of Public Safety. "We now have the right solutions and team in place to help protect our communities in Okaloosa County, as well as to more easily adapt and grow as Public Safety communications evolve." Okaloosa County, recently upgraded its Call Handling system to the VESTA 9-1-1 solution, as well as migrating to the IP-based VESTA Router solution. The VESTA Router solution provides advanced call routing to direct incoming emergency calls to the appropriate PSAPs and agencies. This includes Voice Over IP (VoIP), wireless and wireline traffic. IP call routing is a crucial component of NG9-1-1 as legacy selective routers begin to reach end-of-life and end-of-support, putting 9-1-1 communications at risk. "Next Generation 9-1-1 is on the horizon, and in many respects, it's already here. PSAPs have a tough job in readying their people, processes and technologies for the transition," said Airbus DS Communications' President and CEO Jeff Robertson. "We're thrilled to work with municipalities like Okaloosa County that are meeting the challenge head-on. Together, we're developing a system and network that fits their needs and advances the ways they keep their communities safe." For more information on Airbus DS Communications and its portfolio of Public Safety solutions, visit www.airbus-dscomm.com. Airbus Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2016, it generated revenues of EUR 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europe's number one space enterprise and the world's second largest space business. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. Airbus DS Communications (www.airbus-dscomm.com) Airbus DS Communications, Inc. is a global leader and trusted source for mission-critical communications technologies. The VESTA product suite provides Next Generation 9-1-1 call processing systems, land mobile radio solutions and emergency notification applications, creating smarter ways to keep all our communities safe. Airbus DS Communications was awarded the Frost and Sullivan's 2016 Best Practices Award as the NG9-1-1 Company of the Year. www.airbus-dscomm.com Media contacts Flynn Nogueira Airbus DS Communications, Director of Marketing flynn.nogueira@Airbus-DSComm.com +1 951.216.9699 Minh Le DVL Seigenthaler minh.le@dvlseigenthaler.com +1 615.610.0310 SCHAUMBURG, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- What do athlete's foot, jock itch, and barber's itch all have in common? They are all cases of ringworm, say dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology. However, despite its name, ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus, not a worm. It is very common, and your risk increases in hot, humid weather. "On most areas of the skin, ringworm causes flat, ring-shaped patches to develop," said Melissa Piliang, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. "The patches have a raised, scaly border that snakes its way around the edge like a worm, which is probably how ringworm got its name." On people with lighter skin tones, the patches tend to be red or pink, says Dr. Piliang. On people with skin of color, the patches tend to be brown or gray. They can be intensely itchy, she says, and they can grow slowly -- increasing in size and appearing on more areas of the body. "Anyone can get ringworm, and it can appear on just about any part of the body," said Dr. Piliang. "However, ringworm can look different on other parts of the body, which is probably why it goes by different names. On your scalp, groin, nails, the palms of your hands, and the soles of your feet, ringworm lacks the ring-shaped pattern." According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your risk of getting ringworm increases if you: Spend time in hot, humid weather Sweat heavily Play a contact sport, such as wrestling or football Have contact with an infected pet Live in close contact with others, such as in military housing or college dorm rooms Share personal belongings, such as towels, clothes, razors and other things without disinfecting or washing them Wear clothing that chafes your skin Use a locker room or pool without washing and drying your feet before putting on your socks and shoes Are obese Have diabetes "Ringworm is very contagious," said Dr. Piliang. "You can get it by touching an infected person's skin, petting an infected animal, touching soil infected with ringworm or using an infected object, like a phone, comb or towel." If you notice any signs or symptoms of ringworm, Dr. Piliang recommends the following tips: 1. See your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist. You could have ringworm or another type of skin infection, and treatment can cure the infection. 2. Keep the infected area clean and dry, as ringworm thrives in warm, moist areas. 3. Avoid sharing personal belongings. Ringworm is very contagious. If you're diagnosed, avoid sharing towels, hats, combs and other personal items to avoid spreading the disease. 4. Wash your hands after touching the infected area. Touching or scratching the area with ringworm and then touching another area can spread ringworm from one part of your body to another. Washing your hands well can help prevent this. 5. Treat the area for as long as recommended. Ringworm is treated with antifungal medication, which can take the form of a cream, ointment or pill. If you're diagnosed with ringworm, your treatment will depend on the size of the infection and its location on your body. If you're instructed to use over-the-counter antifungal medication, follow the directions on the package. If you're prescribed stronger antifungal medication, treat the area for as long as recommended by your dermatologist to prevent the infection from reappearing. "Every case of ringworm can be successfully treated, but sometimes it can be stubborn," said Dr. Piliang. "It's important to follow your dermatologist's treatment plan and keep all of your follow-up appointments. If your treatment fails to clear the rash or your infection gets worse, call your dermatologist." These tips are demonstrated in "Do I Have Ringworm?", a video posted to the AAD website and YouTube channel. This video is part of the AAD's "Video of the Month" series, which offers tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair and nails. A new video in the series posts to the AAD website and YouTube channel each month. More information: Ringworm: Signs and symptoms Ringworm: Diagnosis, treatment and outcome Ringworm: 12 tips for getting the best results from treatment Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 19,000 physicians worldwide, the AAD is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the AAD at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or aad.org. Follow the AAD on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology), Twitter (@AADskin), or YouTube (AcademyofDermatology). To view this release in a media-rich format, go to: http://aad.new-media-release.com/2017/ringworm/ Nicole DiVito (847) 240-1746 Email Contact Amanda Jacobs (847) 240-1714 Email Contact WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - With new U.N. sanctions ramping up tensions with North Korea, the results of a new CBS News poll found that a majority of Americans are uneasy about the possibility of conflict with the communist nation. Seventy-two percent of Americans said they are uneasy about a potential conflict with North Korea, while just 26 percent are confident the situation will be resolved. Republicans are slightly more confident things will be resolved, although 68 percent still said they are uneasy about a conflict. The uneasiness about the possibility of conflict with North Korea comes as Americans don't have much confidence in President Donald Trump's ability to handle the situation. While 35 percent of Americans said they are confident in Trump's ability to handle the situation, 61 percent are uneasy about his approach. The results showed a significant partisan divide on the issue, as 76 percent of Republicans are confident in Trump compared to the 87 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Independents that are uneasy. Nonetheless, the poll found that a majority of Americans think North Korea's development of weapons is a threat that can be contained right now. Sixty percent think the threat can be contained, while 29 percent said the threat requires U.S. military action and 7 percent said North Korea's development of weapons is not a threat to the U.S. at all. The CBS News survey of 1,111 adults was conducted by SRSS from August 3rd through 6th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. (Photo: Gage Skidmore) 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. DUBLIN, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The "USA Pediatric Proton Therapy Market: Patient Numbers, Forecast by Age & Tumors (36 Cancer Types Analyzed)" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. USA Pediatric Proton Therapy Market has potential to reach close to US$ 350 Million by the end of year 2021. But its actual market is predicted to be less than even half of this figure. The difference between this actual and potential market is due to its demand and supply gap. In United States, the cancer incidence among pediatric is rising at rapid pace. USA has largest and more efficient proton therapy center in world due to long history of its proton therapy research and huge investment on center development. The largest treated pediatric patient with proton therapy in USA is Ependymoma which has almost 15 percent share in United States pediatric proton therapy market. Moreover the ability of proton therapy to treat numerous types of pediatric cancer in a more efficient way than traditional radiotherapy has made it preferential choice for pediatric cancer patients. Proton Therapy has gained prominence in such a short period due to continuous development of cutting-edge technology like intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and pencil beam technology. Moreover rising cancer incidence among children in United States reinforced pediatric proton therapy market for faster growth. Companies Mentioned Hitachi IBA Proton Therapy Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Varian Medical Systems Key Topics Covered: 1. Research Findings 2. United States Pediatric Proton Therapy Market (Actual & Potential) 3. USA Pediatric Proton Therapy Market by Age Group 4. USA Pediatric Proton Therapy Patient Number - Actual and Potential 5. USA Pediatric Proton Therapy Patients Numbers by Age Group 6. Tumor Types - USA Pediatrics Proton Therapy Market (2010 - 2021) 7. Tumor Types - United States Pediatrics Proton Therapy Patients (2010 - 2021) 8. Components of a Standard Proton Therapy Center 9. Proton Therapy - Driving Factors 10. Proton Therapy - Challenges 11. Global Proton Therapy - Company Analysis (2010-2021) 12. Proton Therapy - Reimbursement Policies For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/zczhms/usa_pediatric 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 Our clients tell us were nothing like stereotypical engineers or contractors. Thats because we are highly responsive to their needs, explain things in laymans terms and are personable. But when it comes to precision and accuracy we are typical engineers! We love what we do and it shows in the results we deliver to each of our clients. Solid Rock Engineering Consultants Inc, was founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 2004 and performs work throughout the Southeastern United States. Clients from all types of business sectors rely on us for innovative, cost-effective solutions. We plan, design, permit and manage implementation of utilities, storm water detention ponds, roadways, recreation facilities, parking areas, etc everything from the ground down. Our clients use us for detailed design of new construction, as well as to expand, restore or repair the infrastructure of existing buildings, commercial sites and residential communities to achieve maximum return on their investment. Der US-amerikanische Sanger und Schauspieler David Hasselhoff kampft fur den Erhalt der Berliner East Side Gallery und wunscht sich zu diesem Zweck ein Gesprach mit Berlins Regierendem Burgermeister Michael Muller (SPD). "Ich wurde auch mit Burgermeister Muller personlich reden. Solange es das Denkmal bewahrt und weiter an die Menschen erinnert, die ihr Leben verloren haben. Es ist einfach heilig", sagte Hasselhoff der "Welt". Anfang Dezember hatte der Schauspieler eine Video-Nachricht an Muller geschickt, um damit fur den Erhalt des langsten erhaltenen Teilstucks der Berliner Mauer zu kampfen. "Sie ist ein Symbol fur Zusammenhalt, fur Freiheit", so Hasselhoff. Bereits 2013 hatte er mit einem Spontankonzert die Burgerinitiative "East Side Gallery retten" unterstutzt, um gegen den Bau eines Hotels zu protestieren - allerdings vergeblich. Spater wurde ein Neubau auf dem Todesstreifen errichtet. Dadurch sehe die Mauer jetzt "bescheuert" aus, so der Sanger. Hasselhoff, der in den 80er-Jahren mit den Serien "Knight Rider" und "Baywatch" bekannt wurde, erzahlte zudem, dass er an einer Fortsetzung einer der Serien arbeitet: "Ich will 'Knight Rider' zuruck ins Fernsehen bringen. Ich bin kurz davor, dass es klappt", sagte der Schauspieler. Es werde keine neue Variante, sondern eine Fortsetzung der alten Serie. "Es wird kein neues Auto geben, sondern K.I.T.T., dazu David Hasselhoff, vielleicht mit einem jungen Mann an meiner Seite oder einer jungen Frau." Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (NA:PSH) today announces that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's ordinary shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"): Date of purchase: 8 August 2017 Number of Shares purchased: 14,584 Shares Highest price paid per Share: 1,110 pence 14.40 USD Lowest price paid per Share: 1,105 pence 14.33 USD Average price paid per Share: 1,109.47 pence 14.39 USD PSH intends to cancel these Shares. The net asset value per Share related to this Share buyback is USD 18.31 GBP 13.87 which was calculated as of 31 July 2017. After giving effect to the above Share buyback, PSH has 238,494,593 outstanding Shares. The prices per share in USD were calculated by Jefferies. The number of PSH Management Shares and the 1 special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) has not been affected. About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170808006221/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Maitland James Devas, +44 20 7379 5151 Media-pershingsquareholdings@maitland.co.uk SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- Dr Steve Merten and his team at Pure Aesthetics are excited to announce that Dr Robert Knight will be joining the practice's team this month as a cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon. Dr Knight will be involved in all areas of surgery at the practice, including facelift surgery, breast augmentation liposuction, labiaplasty, and much more. He is passionate about helping patients through plastic and reconstructive surgery, saying this area of care "[embodies] the principles of function, aesthetic form and holistic care using techniques and artistic license rather than prescribed set operations." Dr Knight attended medical school in South Africa at Baragwanath Hospital, which is the largest hospital in the world -- this foundational education is what inspired his career as a surgeon. He was selected for a fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, in which he focused on being a specialist plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon. Following this prestigious training, Dr Knight completed a fellowship in Craniomaxillofacial Surgery. Throughout his time in medical school and fellowship training, Dr Knight received several awards for his work and research. Dr Knight then continued to undergo advanced training in Cosmetic and Aesthetic Surgery, which included travelling abroad to learn from experts on procedures like rhinoplasty, facelift surgery, and breast augmentation. During this time, Dr Knight published and presented papers on various surgical topics such as body contouring and breast implants. In addition to caring for patients, Dr Knight stays active in several professional organisations, including the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons. Dr Knight has spent 13 years studying and practicing plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery in 11 countries. Returning home to Sydney with his family, Dr Knight looks forward to joining the Pure Aesthetics team at the end of August, and bringing his experiences and knowledge to his patients. About Pure Aesthetics Based in Sydney, Pure Aesthetics is a cosmetic plastic surgery practice offering personalised, quality care for a variety of needs, ranging from facial rejuvenation to breast enhancement and body contouring procedures. The Pure Aesthetics team is composed of two specialist plastic surgeons -- Drs Steven Merten and Robert Knight -- and cosmetic physician and anaesthetist Dr Noela Ferch. The doctors treat patients at their two convenient office locations in Sydney CBD and at Macquarie University. They are available for interview upon request. To view the original source of this press release, click here: https://www.pureaesthetics.com.au/news-room/sydney-plastic-surgery-practice-announces-arrival-of-new-doctor/ Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3160929 Contact: Pure Aesthetics Level 6, 149 Macquarie Street Sydney, NSW 2000 02 9252 9262 Email Contact Rosemont Media 858-200-0044 www.rosemontmedia.com TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - August 08, 2017) - ECN Capital Corp. (TSX: ECN) ("ECN Capital" or the "Company"), one of North America's leading finance companies, today announced that it has entered into agreements to sell $1,487 million of Railcar Assets to affiliates of ITE Management L.P. and Napier Park Global Capital for proceeds of approximately $1,439 million (collectively, the "Railcar Dispositions"). The ITE transaction closed on August 4, 2017 and the Company expects the Napier Park transaction to close in the third quarter of 2017. The assets sold represent approximately 65% of the Company's rail portfolio. "I am delighted to announce the sale of our non-core rail finance assets as we continue to execute on our plan. The sale of these railcars will further position ECN Capital to capitalize on strategic growth opportunities and free up approximately $400 million of capital," said Steven Hudson, ECN Capital's Chief Executive Officer. "I want to thank Jim Nikopoulos, Dave McKerroll and their team for their hard work on these transactions and acknowledge Trinity Industries' great efforts in facilitating these transactions," said Mr. Hudson. ECN Capital today also reported financial results for the three-month period ending June 30, 2017. Readers should note that in this release, amounts reported for the comparable quarter ended June 30, 2016 is presented on a carved-out basis. In addition, the amounts reported for the comparable quarters ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2016 reflect continuing operations only. Consolidated numbers are reported in the MD&A and Financial Statements. For the three-month period ending June 30, 2017, ECN Capital reported After-tax Adjusted Operating Income of $16.3 million or $0.04 per share (basic) versus $16.2 million or $0.03 per share (basic) for the previous three-month period ending March 31, 2017 and $28.7 million or $0.07 per share (basic) for the same period last year. Book Value per Common Share as at June 30, 2017 was $4.70 versus $4.75 as at the end of the previous three-month period. Book value per common share was approximately $4.78 as at June 30, 2017 on a constant currency basis. Originations for the three-month period ending June 30, 2017 were $164.7 million versus $165.0 million for the previous three-month period ending March 31, 2017 and $188.0 million for the same period last year. Total Earning Assets under Management as at June 30, 2017 were $4.0 billion, versus $4.2 billion as at March 31, 2017 and $4.3 billion as at June 30, 2016, which excludes the discontinued U.S. Commercial & Vendor business. Net Financial Income, net of interest expense and provision for credit losses, for the three-month period ending June 30, 2017 was $35.7 million as compared with $37.3 million for the previous three-month period ending March 31, 2017 and $48.4 million for the same period last year. Adjusted Operating Expenses for the three-month period ending June 30, 2017 were $15.6 million versus $16.9 million reported for the previous three-month period ending March 31, 2017 and $10.1 for the same period last year. Net Income (Loss) for the three-month period ending June 30, 2017 was $15.9 million versus $11.5 million for the previous three-month period ending March 31, 2017 and $28.4 million for the same period last year. "I am very pleased with the Company's operating results as well as our consistent strategic execution. We continue to position ECN for the next stage of growth," said Mr. Hudson. Dividends Declared The Company's Board of Directors has authorized and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.01 per outstanding common share of ECN Capital for the third quarter of 2017. The dividend will be paid on October 13, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 29, 2017. These dividends are designated to be eligible dividends for purposes of section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). The Company's Board of Directors declared the following dividends on ECN Capital's preferred shares: A quarterly dividend of $0.40625 per outstanding Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Preferred Share, Series A (TSX: ECN.PR.A) payable on October 2, 2017 to shareholders of record on the close of business on September 18, 2017. The dividend payment is for the quarterly period up to, but excluding, September 30, 2017. These dividends are designated to be eligible dividends for purposes of section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). A quarterly dividend of $0.54795 per outstanding Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Preferred Share, Series C (TSX: ECN.PR.C) payable on October 2, 2017 to shareholders of record on the close of business on September 18, 2017. The dividend payment is for the period from the May 25, 2017 issue date to, but excluding, September 30, 2017. These dividends are designated to be eligible dividends for purposes of section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Webcast The Company will host an analyst briefing to discuss these results commencing at 5:00 PM (ET) on Tuesday August 8, 2017. A live webcast of this briefing will be available through the following URL: http://services.choruscall.ca/links/ecncapitalcorp20170808.html. Presentation slides to be referenced during the briefing will be accessible in the webcast and on the Company's website: http://www.ecncapitalcorp.com/investors/presentations. The audio portion of the briefing can be accessed by dialing 1-800-319-8560 toll-free in North America or the appropriate international number from http://services.choruscall.ca/public/accessnumbers.html and entering the passcode 47234. The webcast will be available until November 8, 2017. A recording of the conference call may also be accessed until September 8, 2017 by dialing 1-855-669-9658 in North America or 1-604-674-8052 and entering the passcode 1588. Non-IFRS Measures The Company's audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and the accounting policies we adopted in accordance with IFRS. The Company believes that certain Non-IFRS Measures can be useful to investors because they provide a means by which investors can evaluate the Company's underlying key drivers and operating performance of the business, exclusive of certain adjustments and activities that investors may consider to be unrelated to the underlying economic performance of the business of a given period. Throughout this Press Release, management used a number of terms and ratios which do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other organizations. A full description of these measures can be found in the Management Discussion & Analysis that accompanies the financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. ECN Capital's management discussion and analysis for the three-month period ended June 30, 2017 has been filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com)and is available under the investor section of the Company's website (www.ecnapitalcorp.com). About ECN Capital Corp. With total owned and managed assets of more than $4.3 billion, ECN Capital Corp. (TSX: ECN) is one of North America's leading commercial finance companies. ECN Capital operates across North America in three verticals of the equipment finance market (Rail Finance, Commercial & Vendor Finance, and Aviation Finance). Forward-looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements regarding ECN Capital and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of ECN Capital's management. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, including the future financial and operating performance of ECN Capital, the strategic advantages, business plans and future opportunities of ECN Capital and the ability of ECN Capital to access adequate funding sources, identify and execute on acquisition opportunities and transition to an asset management business. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting ECN Capital, including risks regarding the equipment finance industry, economic factors, and many other factors beyond the control of ECN Capital. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. A discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with this outlook can be found in ECN Capital's June 30, 2017 MD&A and Alternate AIF Disclosure Document dated September 3, 2016 which has been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and ECN Capital does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Contact: John Wimsatt 647-649-4634 jwimsatt@ecncapitalcorp.com TEL AVIV, ISRAEL -- (Marketwired) -- 08/08/17 -- InspireMD, Inc. (NYSE American: NSPR) (NYSE MKT: NSPR) (NYSE American: NSPR.WS) (NYSE MKT: NSPR.WS) ("InspireMD" or the "Company"), a leader in embolic prevention systems (EPS) / thrombus management technologies and neurovascular devices, today provided a business update, including the successful transition of all territories previously covered by the Company's former European distributor to a local network of regional distributors. The Company also reported financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. James Barry, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of InspireMD, commented, "I am pleased to report we successfully completed our transition from a single distributor covering 18 European countries, to now having a direct distribution model with local distributors that have much greater reach into all the relevant clinical specialties and each of their respective markets. Our new distributors share our belief that CGuard can achieve market leadership in all countries where it is available. Moreover, we completed the rollout on schedule and there has been tremendous support from the top key opinion leaders (KOL) in each of these markets. In fact, CGuard sales in these specific European countries increased 122% sequentially versus the first quarter of 2017." "With our European distribution network in place, we are now focusing our efforts on expansion into other markets around the world. Most recently, we signed an agreement with a leading distributor in Taiwan. This follows a similar agreement in Hong Kong earlier this year, and we are in talks with a number of distributors across Asia to further expand our footprint. We expect to make additional announcements on this subject in the coming months. We also announced recent agreements in Peru and Ecuador, and our plan is to continue to expand our presence in Central and South America. CGuard is a platform technology that can be transferred to a number of other products, and building this global distributor network should allow us to launch new products quickly and efficiently as our pipeline develops over the coming years." "We also continue to report new data and are gaining significant attention from top KOLs around the world. In May, we reported publication of the investigator initiated IRON-GUARD Italian clinical registry in the peer reviewed journal EuroIntervention. IRON-GUARD was an independent, multicenter, multi-disciplinary clinical study treating patients with carotid artery disease using the CGuard EPS in 12 Italian centers. The IRON-GUARD registry enrolled 200 patients, and showed results of 100% technical success placing the device, and zero incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), comprised of death, major stroke or myocardial infarction, in all patients at 30 days. Also in May, we were honored to have the team of Professor Alberto Cremonesi, Chief of the Cardiovascular Department and Director of the Interventional Cardiovascular Unit of Maria Cecilia Hospital - GVM Care & Research, Cotignola (Italy), perform a live endovascular interventional procedure featuring the CGuard EPS Carotid Stent at EuroPCR 2017. The case was transmitted real time to the entire congress. EuroPCR is the world's leading course in interventional cardiovascular medicine bringing together over 12,000 clinicians and industry executives each year." Dr. Barry concluded, "We remain extremely encouraged by the favorable response from leading medical practitioners around the world. Now that we have a robust distribution network in place across Europe, we believe we have a highly scalable and cost-effective platform to grow sales. We plan to replicate this model around the world. Overall, we achieved solid double-digit year-over-year and sequential revenue growth, which we expect to continue in the second half of the year. We also remain focused on carefully managing expenses and driving shareholder value. We appreciate the patience and support of our shareholders, and look forward to announcing additional significant milestones in the months ahead." Financial Results Revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 was $640,000 compared to $540,000 during the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in sales of CGuard EPS as we entered new regional markets during the transition from our prior exclusive distribution partner for most of Europe. The transition to local distributors reflects an effort to broaden our sales efforts from only interventional neuroradiologists to include vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists and interventional radiologists, as well. In addition to the increase in sales of CGuard EPS, sales of MGuard Prime EPS slightly increased, as well. Total operating expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 were $2,441,000, an increase of 33.5% compared to $1,828,000 for the same period in 2016. This increase was primarily due to an increase in sales and marketing expenses (primarily to support the commercialization of CGuard EPS), as well as an increase in salary expenses primarily due to a non-cash accrual adjustment. Net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 totaled $2,294,000, or $0.21 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1,946,000, or $4.56 per basic and diluted share, in the same period in 2016. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $1,209,000 compared to $1,103,000 during the same period in 2016. The increase was predominantly driven by the increase in sales of CGuard EPS offset by a decrease in sales of MGuard Prime EPS associated with the trend of doctors increasingly using drug eluting stents (DES) rather than bare metal stents in STEMI patients. Total operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were $4,919,000, an increase of 25.4% compared to $3,924,000 for the same period in 2016. This increase was primarily due to an increase in sales and marketing expenses (primarily to support the commercialization of CGuard EPS), as well as an increase in salary expenses primarily due to a non-cash accrual. Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2017 totaled $4,853,000, or $0.73 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $4,198,000, or $11.21 per basic and diluted share, in the same period in 2016. As of June 30, 2017, cash and cash equivalents were $6,879,000, compared to $7,516,000 as of December 31, 2016. Conference Call The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 9 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be available via telephone by dialing toll free 866-682-6100 for U.S. callers or +1 862-255-5401 for international callers, or on the Company's Investor Relations section of the website: http://www.inspiremd.com/en/investors/investor-relations/. A webcast will also be archived on the Company's website and a telephone replay of the call will be available approximately one hour following the call, through midnight August 23, 2017, and can be accessed by dialing 877-481-4010 for U.S. callers or +1 919-882-2331 for international callers and entering conference ID: 15963. About InspireMD, Inc. InspireMD seeks to utilize its proprietary MicroNet technology to make its products the industry standard for embolic protection and to provide a superior solution to the key clinical issues of current stenting in patients with a high risk of distal embolization, no reflow and major adverse cardiac events. InspireMD intends to pursue applications of this MicroNet technology in coronary, carotid (CGuard), neurovascular, and peripheral artery procedures. InspireMD's common stock is quoted on the NYSE MKT under the ticker symbol NSPR and certain warrants are quoted on the NYSE MKT under the ticker symbol NSPR.WS. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, (ii) negative clinical trial results or lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device industry from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, (vi) product malfunctions, (vii) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on subcontractors for assistance, (viii) insufficient or inadequate reimbursement by governmental and other third party payers for our products, (ix) our efforts to successfully obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) legislative or regulatory reform of the healthcare system in both the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain and (xiii) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (1) (U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, --------------------- --------------------- 2017 2016 2017 2016 ----------- -------- ----------- -------- Revenues $ 640 $ 540 $ 1,209 $ 1,103 Cost of revenues 493 478 988 975 ----------- -------- ----------- -------- Gross Profit 147 62 221 128 ----------- -------- ----------- -------- Operating Expenses: Research and development 403 278 753 657 Selling and marketing 632 403 1,164 768 General and administrative 1,406 1,147 3,002 2,499 ----------- -------- ----------- -------- Total operating expenses 2,441 1,828 4,919 3,924 ----------- -------- ----------- -------- Loss from operations (2,294) (1,766) (4,698) (3,796) Financial expenses - 180 154 401 ----------- -------- ----------- -------- Loss before tax expenses (2,294) (1,946) (4,852) (4,197) Tax expenses (Income) - - 1 1 ----------- -------- ----------- -------- Net Loss $ (2,294) $ (1,946) $ (4,853) $ (4,198) =========== ======== =========== ======== Net loss per share - basic and diluted $ (0.21) $ (4.56) $ (0.73) $ (11.21) =========== ======== =========== ======== Weighted average number of shares of common stock used in computing net loss per share - basic and diluted 10,983,402 426,976 7,484,399 374,330 =========== ======== =========== ======== CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (2) (U.S. dollars in thousands) ASSETS June 30, December 31, 2017 2016 ------------ ------------ Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,879 $ 7,516 Accounts receivable: Trade, net 451 356 Other 161 157 Prepaid expenses 73 65 Inventory 429 500 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 7,993 8,594 ------------ ------------ Non-current assets: Property, plant and equipment, net 459 379 Funds in respect of employee rights upon retirement 430 399 Royalties buyout 25 38 ------------ ------------ Total non-current assets 914 816 ------------ ------------ Total assets $ 8,907 $ 9,410 ============ ============ LIABILITIES AND EQUITY June 30, December 31, 2017 2016 ------------- ------------- Current liabilities: Current maturity of long-term loan $ - $ 2,680 Accounts payable and accruals: Trade 473 618 Other 2,066 1,447 Advanced payment from customers 54 33 ------------- ------------- Total current liabilities 2,593 4,778 ------------- ------------- Long-term liabilities Liability for employees rights upon retirement 572 587 ------------- ------------- Total long-term liabilities 572 587 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities 3,165 5,365 ------------- ------------- Equity: Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 150,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 7,467,646 and 1,475,318 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 1 - Preferred B shares, par value $0.0001 per share;500,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 181,295 and 311,521 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively - - Preferred C shares, par value $0.0001 per share;1,172,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2017; 745,775 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 - - Additional paid-in capital 142,508 135,959 Accumulated deficit (136,767) (131,914) ------------- ------------- Total equity 5,742 4,045 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities and equity $ 8,907 $ 9,410 ============= ============= (1) All 2017 financial information is derived from the Company's 2017 unaudited financial statements, as disclosed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all 2016 financial information is derived from the Company's 2016 unaudited financial statements, as disclosed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (2) All June 30, 2017 financial information is derived from the Company's 2017 unaudited financial statements, as disclosed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All December 31, 2016 financial information is derived from the Company's 2016 audited financial statements as disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investor Contacts: InspireMD, Inc. Craig Shore Chief Financial Officer Phone: 1-888-776-6804 FREE Email: craigs@inspiremd.com Crescendo Communications, LLC David Waldman Phone: (212) 671-1021 Email: NSPR@crescendo-ir.com Industry Leaders to Collaborate to Roll Out Industrial IoT Platform Leveraging Silver Spring Starfish Standards-Based Mesh Technology, Built on the Wi-SUN Technology Specification Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (NYSE: SSNI) today announced it has agreed to work with ESB Telecoms Ltd to develop a national Internet of Things (IoT) network across Ireland. ESB Telecoms Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESB and operates a national open access wholesale telecommunications network throughout Ireland. The envisioned network will serve as a catalyst for municipal, commercial and industrial customers to connect IoT and smart city applications and devices. Once the deployment of the IoT network is completed, Silver Spring's Starfish platform-as-a-service (PaaS) would augment ESB Telecoms Ltd's telecoms infrastructure and services nationally. Starfish PaaS would offer service level agreements, and be based on Silver Spring's proven, secure, reliable, Wi-SUN standards-based mesh technology, built on the IEEE 802.15.4g specification1 "Many Irish cities, towns and businesses are interested in how the IoT can help create new innovative, efficient and sustainable services," said Rory McGowan, Managing Director, ESB Telcoms Ltd. "By working with Silver Spring Networks, we believe that we'll be able to accelerate IoT development nationally, with the high standard of reliability and service that our customers have come to expect from us. We look forward to helping Ireland become a leader through the deployment of one of the world's first standards-based national IoT rollouts." "We will be honored to work with ESB Telecoms Ltd and see this as a further endorsement of the Wi-SUN mesh network protocol. Together we expect to utilize currently existing standards-based technology to accelerate deployment of massive-scale networks for devices, enabling entities to cost-effectively join the IoT revolution through our Starfish Platform-as-a-Service," said Mike Bell, President and CEO, Silver Spring Networks. "By its very nature, mesh technology can securely aggregate data from widely distributed endpoints from dense urban environments to remote rural areas and then backhaul that data through the carriers' towers. And above all, it's real and scalable - it has already proven itself for industrial IoT on five continents." As mesh-connected devices communicate with their neighbor devices, these networks are uniquely suited for delivering the robust and reliable connectivity that IoT networks require. With more than 26.7 million enabled devices delivered, Silver Spring has deployed its technology in Bristol, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Glasgow, Kolkata, London, Melbourne, Mexico City, Paris, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Singapore, and Washington, D.C. To learn more on why mesh networks are suited for smart cities and the Internet of Important Things, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYN2poDFiec. Join the Silver Spring Networks Conversation Read more on the Silver Spring Connect blog at www.ssni.com/blog/ www.ssni.com/blog/ Follow @SilverSpringNet on Twitter Like Silver Spring Networks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/silverspringnetworks Learn more about the Wi-Sun Alliance and the value of open standards-based IoT networking at www.wi-sun.org About ESB Telecoms Ltd. ESB Telecoms Ltd is the telecoms subsidiary of ESB, the Irish energy utility. ESB Telecoms Ltd owns and operates the National Telecommunications Fibre Optic Network covering the entire country. It also operates 450 telecommunication towers and sites on which all major Irish telecommunications companies have substantial installations. Customers of ESB Telecoms Ltd include all Mobile Phone operators, Irish Government bodies, licensed FM operators and Wireless Internet services providers. www.esb.ie/our-businesses/telecoms/telecoms-overview About Silver Spring Networks Silver Spring Networks enables the Internet of Important Things by reliably and securely connecting things that matter. Cities, utilities, and companies on five continents use the company's cost-effective, high-performance IoT network and data platform to operate more efficiently, get greener, and enable innovative services that can improve the lives of millions of people. With more than 26.7 million devices delivered, Silver Spring provides a proven standards-based platform safeguarded with military grade security. Silver Spring Networks' customers include Baltimore Gas Electric, CitiPower Powercor, ComEd, Consolidated Edison, CPS Energy, Florida Power Light, Pacific Gas Electric, Pepco Holdings, and Singapore Power. Silver Spring has also deployed networks in Smart Cities including Copenhagen, Glasgow, Paris, Providence, and Stockholm. To learn more, visit www.ssni.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements about Silver Spring Networks' expectations, plans, intentions, and strategies, including, but not limited to statements regarding Silver Spring's intended collaboration with ESB Telecoms Ltd. Statements including words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or "future" and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement, as well as those described in Silver Spring Networks' documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Silver Spring Networks as of the date hereof. Silver Spring Networks assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. 1 Wi-SUN is a registered trademark of the Wi-SUN Alliance. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170808006144/en/ Contacts: Silver Spring Networks Amy Nunnemacher, 669-770-4183 Global Communications pr@ssni.com Achieved strong sales performance in Q2; Reconfirms full year 2017 financial guidance Regulatory News: This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170808006434/en/ International Flavors Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) (Euronext Paris: IFF), a leading innovator of sensory experiences that move the world, reported financial results and strategic achievements for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Q2 2017 Consolidated Summary: Change vs. Prior Year Reported (GAAP) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Currency Neutral (Non-GAAP) Sales Operating Profit EPS Sales Operating Profit EPS Sales Operating Profit EPS Consolidated 6% (3)% (5)% 6% 4% 2% 8% 6% 8% Acquisition Impact 6% 4% 5% 6% 4% 5% 6% 4% 4% Schedules at the end of this release contain reconciliations of reported GAAP to non-GAAP metrics. Management Commentary "Our second quarter results finished in line with our expectations, with improved trends across several of our key financial metrics," said IFF Chairman and CEO Andreas Fibig. "We continued to advance our strategy as we drove innovation, executed our productivity programs, and benefited from acquisitions. These improvements reflect significant efforts across our entire organization as we implement our long-term strategy and generate strong returns for our shareholders." Mr. Fibig continued, "Looking forward, we expect second half performance to see improved year-over-year organic sales growth and additional savings related to the productivity program we announced earlier this year. For the full year, we remain optimistic that we can achieve our previously stated currency neutral guidance." Second Quarter 2017 Consolidated Financial Highlights Reported net sales for the second quarter totaled $842.9 million, an increase of 6% from $793.5 million for the second quarter of 2016. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, currency neutral sales increased 8% over the prior year, including approximately six percentage points related to our recent acquisitions. Reported operating profit for the second quarter was $159.1 million versus $164.7 million reported in 2016. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange and those items that affect comparability, currency neutral adjusted operating profit grew 6%, to $171.8 million, principally driven by acquisitions, volume growth, and productivity initiatives. Reported earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter was $1.38 per diluted share versus $1.46 per diluted share reported in 2016. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange and those items that affect comparability, currency neutral adjusted EPS improved 8%, to $1.50 per diluted share, benefiting from a year-over-year reduction in shares outstanding. Second Quarter 2017 Strategic Highlights Innovating Firsts: strengthen position and drive differentiation in priority R&D platforms Sweetness and savory modulation portfolio sales improved strong double-digits Flavors Latin America grew strong double-digits led by our proprietary delivery system Rolled out new flavor modulator for our flavorists' to use in formulation development Launched new fragrance ingredient, Veraspice, to further drive differentiation IFF Lucas Meyer Cosmetics won Bronze at In-Cosmetics Global 2017 for Siligel Win Where We Compete: achieve market leadership position in key markets, categories customers North America sales +19%, inclusive of our recent acquisitions Middle East Africa up strong double-digits led by growth in both Flavors Fragrances Become Our Customers' Partner of Choice: attain commercial excellence Launched Tastepoint SM by IFF to serve dynamic mid-tier customers by IFF to serve dynamic mid-tier customers First and only F&F house to sign the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's (WBCSD) new publication, The CEO Guide to the Circular Economy Strengthen and Expand the Portfolio: pursue value creation through collaborations acquisitions David Michael, Fragrance Resources and PowderPure acquisitions contributed approximately 6 percentage points of sales growth and 4 percentage points of operating profit growth in Q2 2017 Cosmetic Active Ingredients grew strong double-digits Joined MIT Media Lab to Accelerate Sensorial Open Innovation Second Quarter 2017 Segment Summary: Growth vs. Prior Year Reported (GAAP) Currency Neutral (Non-GAAP) Sales Segment Profit Sales Segment Profit Fragrances: 4% (3)% 5% (3)% Acquisition Impact 4% 0% 4% 0% Flavors: 9% 11% 11% 14% Acquisition Impact 7% 7% 8% 8% Fragrances Business Unit On a reported basis, sales increased 4%, or $14.6 million, to $428.5 million while currency neutral sales improved 5%. This increase was driven by the benefit of acquisitions as well as growth in Fine Fragrances, Fabric Care and Fragrance Ingredients. Fine Fragrances improved 10% on a reported basis and 11% on a currency neutral basis, inclusive of additional sales related to the acquisition of Fragrance Resources. Performance was driven by double-digit growth in Greater Asia, EAME and North America, more than offsetting softness in Latin America. Consumer Fragrances was flat on a reported basis and improved 1% on a currency neutral basis principally driven by the additional sales related to the acquisition of Fragrance Resources and low-single-digit improvements in Fabric Care and Home Care. Fragrance Ingredients grew 7% on a reported basis and 9% on a currency neutral basis, led by double-digit growth in EAME and Latin America and double-digit growth in cosmetic active ingredients. Fragrances segment profit decreased 3% on a reported basis and currency neutral basis, as volume growth and the benefits from productivity initiatives were more than offset by unfavorable price to input costs and weaker sales mix. Flavors Business Unit On a reported basis, sales increased 9%, or $34.8 million, to $414.3 million while currency neutral sales grew 11%. This increase was driven by organic growth coming from three of the four regions, as well as a strong contribution of sales related to the David Michael acquisition. EAME increased 2% on a reported basis and 9% on a currency neutral basis, led by broad-based growth, particularly in Western Europe and Central, Southern and Eastern Europe as well as additional sales related to the acquisition of David Michael. North America grew 30% reflecting additional sales related to the acquisition of David Michael and PowderPure, as well as broad-based category growth led by double-digit growth in Dairy and high-single-digit growth in Savory. Latin America increased 13% on a reported basis and 11% on a currency neutral basis, led by strong double-digit growth in Argentina and Colombia. Greater Asia decreased 3% on a reported basis and 2% on a currency neutral basis, as double-digit growth in Thailand and India plus low-single-digit growth in China was more than offset by challenging conditions in Indonesia. Flavors segment profit grew 11% on a reported basis and 14% on a currency neutral basis, driven by the contribution of acquisitions, the benefits from productivity initiatives and volume growth. FY 2017 Financial Guidance: Percent Change vs. Prior Year The Company's current full year 2017 guidance: Currency Neutral FX Impact1 Adjusted2 Sales 7.5% 8.5% ~(1.0)% 6.5% 7.5% Operating Profit 5.5% 6.5% ~(1.5)% 4.0% 5.0% EPS 6.5% 7.5% ~(2.5)% 4.0% 5.0% 1 See Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures 2Excludes items impacting comparability A copy of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q will be available on its website at www.iff.com or at sec.gov by August 9, 2017. Audio Webcast A live webcast to discuss the Company's second quarter financial results will be held on August 9, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Investors may access the webcast and accompanying slide presentation on the Company's IR website at ir.iff.com. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, a recorded version will be made available on the Company's website approximately one hour after the event and will remain available on IFF's website for one year. Cautionary Statement Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This press release includes "forward-looking statements" under the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our outlook for fiscal year 2017, the expected impact of and benefits from productivity initiatives and the impact of our actions on long-term value creation for our customers and shareholders. These forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosures contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on February 28, 2017. The Company wishes to caution readers that certain important factors may have affected and could in the future affect the Company's actual results and could cause the Company's actual results for subsequent periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. With respect to the Company's expectations regarding these statements, such factors include, but are not limited to: (1) macroeconomic trends affecting the emerging markets; (2) the Company's ability to implement and adapt its Vision 2020 strategy; (3) the Company's ability to successfully identify and complete acquisitions in line with its Vision 2020 strategy, and to realize the anticipated benefits of those acquisitions; (4) the Company's ability to realize the benefits of its productivity initiatives and other optimization activities, (5) the Company's ability to effectively compete in its market, and to successfully develop new and competitive products that appeal to its customers and consumers; (6) changes in consumer preferences and demand for the Company's products or a decline in consumer confidence and spending; (7) the Company's ability to benefit from its investments and expansion in emerging markets; (8) the impact of currency fluctuations or devaluations in the principal foreign markets in which it operates, including the devaluation of the Euro and certain emerging market currencies; (9) the economic and political risks associated with the Company's international operations, including challenging economic conditions in China and Latin America; (10) the impact of any failure of the Company's key information technology systems or costs that could be incurred due to a breach of data privacy or information security; (11) the Company's ability to attract and retain talented employees; (12) the Company's ability to comply with, and the costs associated with compliance with U.S. and foreign environmental protection laws; (13) volatility and increases in the price of raw materials, energy and transportation; (14) price realization in a rising input cost environment (15) fluctuations in the quality and availability of raw materials; (16) the impact of a disruption in the Company's supply chain or its relationship with its suppliers; (17) the impact of customer claims or product recalls; (18) any adverse impact on the availability, effectiveness and cost of the Company's hedging and risk management strategies; (19) the Company's ability to successfully manage its working capital and inventory balances; (20) uncertainties regarding the outcome of, or funding requirements related to litigation or settlement of pending litigation uncertain tax positions or other contingencies; (21) the effect of legal and regulatory developments, as well as restrictions or costs that may be imposed on the Company or its operations by U.S. and foreign governments; (22) adverse changes in federal, state, local and international tax legislation or policies, including with respect to transfer pricing and state aid, and adverse results of tax audits, assessments, or disputes; and (23) changes in market conditions or governmental regulations relating to our pension and postretirement obligations. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risks on the Company's business. Accordingly, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures We provide in this press release (i) Currency Neutral Sales, (ii) Adjusted Operating Profit and Currency Neutral Adjusted Operating Profit and (iii) Adjusted EPS and Currency Neutral Adjusted EPS. Currency Neutral Sales eliminate the effects that result from translating its international sales in U.S. dollars. Adjusted Operating Profit and Adjusted EPS exclude (a) restructuring costs, (b) certain other non-operational significant items such as legal charges/credits, gain on sale of assets, operational improvement initiatives, acquisition related costs, integration-related costs and CTA realization and (c) costs associated with product recalls (often referred to as "Items Impacting Comparability"). When we provide our expectations for our currency neutral metrics in our full year 2017 guidance, we estimate the anticipated FX impact by comparing prior year results to the prior year results restated at exchange rates in effect for the current year based on the currency of the underlying transaction. When we provide our expectations for our Adjusted Operating Profit and our Adjusted EPS in our full year 2017 guidance, the closest corresponding GAAP measures (expected reported Operating Profit and EPS) and a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP expectation and the corresponding GAAP measure generally are not available without unreasonable effort due to inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing and amount of reconciling items that would be excluded from the GAAP measure in the relevant future period and the relevant tax impact of such reconciling items on EPS. The variability of the excluded items may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on our future GAAP results. Currency Neutral Sales, Adjusted Operating Profit, Currency Neutral Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted EPS and Currency Neutral Adjusted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of the Company's results under GAAP and may not be comparable to other companies' calculation of such metrics. Meet IFF International Flavors Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) (Euronext Paris: IFF) is a leading innovator of sensorial experiences that move the world. At the heart of our company, we are fueled by a sense of discovery, constantly asking "what if?". That passion for exploration drives us to co-create unique products that consumers taste, smell, or feel in fine fragrances and beauty, detergents and household goods, as well as beloved foods and beverages. Our 7,400 team members globally take advantage of leading consumer insights, research and development, creative expertise, and customer intimacy to develop differentiated offerings for consumer products. Learn more at www.iff.com, Twitter , Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. International Flavors Fragrances Inc. Consolidated Income Statement (Amounts in thousands except per share data) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 2016 % Change 2017 2016 % Change Net sales 842,861 793,478 6 1,671,154 1,576,789 6 Cost of goods sold 468,272 427,837 9 931,899 850,940 10 Gross profit 374,589 365,641 2 739,255 725,849 2 Research and development expenses 70,320 63,252 11 140,031 126,637 11 Selling and administrative expenses 135,910 132,784 2 276,240 256,327 8 Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 8,494 5,130 66 15,561 11,191 39 Restructuring and other charges, net 791 100 10,934 100 Gain on sales of fixed assets (68 (197 (65 (89 (2,910 (97 Operating profit 159,142 164,672 (3 296,578 334,604 (11 Interest expense 17,556 15,060 17 30,363 27,539 10 Other (income) expense, net (454 (2,438 (81 (14,312 118 (12,229 Income before taxes 142,040 152,050 (7 280,527 306,947 (9 Taxes on income 32,245 35,317 (9 54,968 71,610 (23 Net income 109,795 116,733 (6 225,559 235,337 (4 Earnings per share basic 1.39 1.46 2.85 2.94 Earnings per share diluted 1.38 1.46 2.84 2.93 Average shares outstanding Basic 79,072 79,764 79,088 79,809 Diluted 79,305 80,040 79,360 80,141 International Flavors Fragrances Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) June 30, December 31, 2017 2016 Cash and cash equivalents 491,386 323,992 Receivables 665,511 550,658 Inventories 623,762 592,017 Other current assets 213,267 142,347 Total current assets 1,993,926 1,609,014 Property, plant and equipment, net 811,826 775,716 Goodwill and other intangibles, net 1,571,229 1,365,906 Other assets 241,894 266,348 Total assets 4,618,875 4,016,984 Bank borrowings and overdrafts, commercial paper and current portion of long-term debt 257,873 258,516 Other current liabilities 603,350 639,781 Total current liabilities 861,223 898,297 Long-term debt 1,636,338 1,066,855 Non-current liabilities 441,228 420,698 Shareholders' equity 1,680,086 1,631,134 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 4,618,875 4,016,984 International Flavors Fragrances Inc. Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 2016 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income 225,559 235,337 Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 55,805 49,743 Deferred income taxes 1,505 16,543 Gain on disposal of assets (89 (2,910 Stock-based compensation 12,893 13,774 Pension contributions (31,557 (39,510 Litigation settlement (56,000 Foreign currency gain on liquidation of entity (12,214 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Trade receivables (77,580 (70,361 Inventories (4,228 (7,271 Accounts payable (23,479 (29,167 Accruals for incentive compensation (12,316 (2,001 Other current payables and accrued expenses (3,099 13,400 Other assets 18,007 4,054 Other liabilities (35,286 (9,335 Net cash provided by operating activities 57,921 172,296 Cash flows from investing activities: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash received (191,304 Additions to property, plant and equipment (46,153 (43,236 Proceeds from life insurance contracts 1,941 Maturity of net investment hedges 3,016 (641 Proceeds from disposal of assets 473 3,630 Net cash used in investing activities (232,027 (40,247 Cash flows from financing activities: Cash dividends paid to shareholders (101,184 (89,463 Increase (decrease) in revolving credit facility borrowings and overdrafts 21,595 (138,142 Deferred financing costs (5,373 (4,796 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 498,250 555,559 Loss on pre-issuance hedges (5,310 (3,244 Proceeds from issuance of stock under stock plans 329 494 Employee withholding taxes paid (11,485 (13,315 Purchase of treasury stock (53,211 (71,714 Net cash provided by financing activities 343,611 235,379 Effect of exchange rates changes on cash and cash equivalents (2,111 (9,424 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 167,394 358,004 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 323,992 181,988 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 491,386 539,992 International Flavors Fragrances Inc. Business Unit Performance (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net Sales Flavors 414,323 379,504 820,487 752,012 Fragrances 428,538 413,974 850,667 824,777 Consolidated 842,861 793,478 1,671,154 1,576,789 Segment Profit Flavors 100,338 90,337 198,346 182,151 Fragrances 84,860 87,596 166,557 176,833 Global Expenses (13,398 (12,268 (29,594 (26,141 Restructuring and other charges, net (791 (182 (10,934 (283 Acquisition and related costs (6,278 (213 (15,066 (1,249 Operational improvement initiative costs (445 (831 (1,066 (1,099 Legal (charges) credits (1,000 36 (1,000 1,482 Gain on sales of assets 68 197 89 2,910 Tax assessment 19 (5,331 Integration-related costs (731 (1,923 Product liability charge (3,500 (3,500 Operating profit 159,142 164,672 296,578 334,604 Interest Expense (17,556 (15,060 (30,363 (27,539 Other income (expense), net 454 2,438 14,312 (118 Income before taxes 142,040 152,050 280,527 306,947 Operating Margin Flavors 24.2 23.8 24.2 24.2 Fragrances 19.8 21.2 19.6 21.4 Consolidated 18.9 20.8 17.7 21.2 International Flavors Fragrances Inc. Sales Performance by Region and Category (Unaudited) Second Quarter 2017 vs. Second Quarter 2016 Percentage Change in Sales by Region of Destination Fine Consumer Fragrances Ingredients Total Frag. Flavors Total North America Reported 12% 7% 2% 7% 30% 19% EAME Reported 15% 4% 8% 8% 2% 6% Currency Neutral 19% 8% 11% 12% 9% 11% Latin America Reported -5% -5% 35% -2% 13% 3% Currency Neutral -7% -6% 34% -4% 11% 1% Greater Asia Reported 23% -3% 1% -2% -3% -3% Currency Neutral 25% -2% 3% -1% -2% -1% Total Reported 10% 0% 7% 4% 9% 6% Currency Neutral 11% 1% 9% 5% 11% 8% First Six Months 2017 vs. First Six Months 2016 Percentage Change in Sales by Region of Destination Fine Consumer Fragrances Ingredients Total Frag. Flavors Total North America Reported 10% 6% -4% 4% 28% 17% EAME Reported 18% 4% 10% 10% 1% 6% Currency Neutral 22% 8% 13% 13% 7% 11% Latin America Reported -9% -7% 25% -5% 11% 0% Currency Neutral -14% -7% 24% -7% 8% -1% Greater Asia Reported 18% 0% -6% 0% -1% 0% Currency Neutral 20% 1% -4% 1% 0% 0% Total Reported 10% 1% 4% 3% 9% 6% Currency Neutral 11% 2% 5% 4% 11% 7% Currency neutral growth is calculated by translating prior year sales at the exchange rates used for the corresponding 2017 period. International Flavors Fragrances Inc. GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Foreign Exchange Impact (Unaudited) Q2 Consolidated Sales Operating Profit EPS % Change Reported (GAAP) 6 -3 -5 Items Impacting Comparability 0 7 7 % Change Adjusted (Non-GAAP) 6 4 2 Currency Impact 2 3 6 % Change Currency Neutral (Adjusted) 8 6%* 8 Q2 Flavors Sales Segment Profit % Change Reported (GAAP) 9 11 Currency Impact 2 3 % Change Currency Neutral 11 14 Q2 Fragrances Sales Segment Profit % Change Reported (GAAP) 4 -3 Currency Impact 1 0 % Change Currency Neutral 5 -3 1H Consolidated Sales Operating Profit EPS % Change Reported (GAAP) 6 -11 -3 Items Impacting Comparability 0 12 7 % Change Adjusted (Non-GAAP) 6 1 4 Currency Impact 1 4 5 % Change Currency Neutral (Adjusted) 7 5 9 *Item does not foot due to rounding International Flavors Fragrances Inc. GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) The following information and schedules provide reconciliation information between reported GAAP amounts and non-GAAP certain adjusted amounts. This information and schedules are not intended as, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for reported GAAP amounts or financial statements of the Company prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Second Quarter 2017 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Metrics Reconciliation of Gross Profit Reported (GAAP) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (a) Acquisition and Related Costs (b) Integration related costs (c) FDA mandated product recall (h) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Gross profit 374,589 445 5,606 98 3,500 384,238 Reconciliation of Selling and Administrative Expenses Reported (GAAP) Acquisition and Related Costs (b) Integration related costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Tax Assessment (e) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Selling and Administrative Expenses 135,910 (672 (542 (1,000 19 133,715 Reconciliation of Operating Profit Reported (GAAP) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (a) Acquisition Related Costs (b) Integration related costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Tax Assessment (e) Restructuring and Other Charges (f) Gain on Sale of Asset (g) FDA mandated product recall (h) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Operating profit 159,142 445 6,278 731 1,000 (19 791 (68 3,500 171,800 Reconciliation of Net Income Reported (GAAP) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (a) Acquisition Related Costs (b) Integration related costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Tax Assessment (e) Restructuring and Other Charges (f) Gain on Sale of Asset (g) FDA mandated product recall (h) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Income before taxes 142,040 445 6,278 731 1,000 (19 791 (68 3,500 154,698 Taxes on income (i) 32,245 111 1,472 243 354 (7 (75 (22 1,238 35,559 Net income 109,795 334 4,806 488 646 (12 866 (46 2,262 119,139 Diluted EPS 1.38 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 1.50 (a) Represents accelerated depreciation and idle labor costs in Hangzhou, China. (b) Represents the amortization of inventory "step-up" related to the acquisitions of David Michael, Fragrance Resources and PowderPure, included in Cost of goods sold and transaction costs related to the acquisitions of Fragrance Resources and PowderPure, included in Selling and administrative expenses. (c) Represents costs related to the integration of the David Michael and Fragrance Resources acquisitions. (d) Represents additional charge related to litigation settlement. (e) Represents the reversal of a portion of the reserve for payment of a tax assessment related to commercial rent for prior periods. (f) Represents severance costs related to the 2017 Productivity Program which were partially offset by the reversal of 2015 severance charges that were no longer needed. (g) Represents gains on sale of assets. (h) Represents an estimate of the Company's incremental direct costs and customer reimbursement obligations, in excess of the Company's sales value of the recalled products, arising from an FDA mandated recall of consumer products as a result of raw material received and identified by the Company as containing contamination. (The sales value of the recalled products was reserved in the first quarter of 2017). While the Company does not believe that any of the affected raw material was included in its finished products delivered to the customer, as the delivered product included raw material of the same vendor lot that tested positive, the FDA, after being notified by the Company, initiated a recall of all consumer products including raw material from the affected vendor lot due to the potential for product contamination. (i) The income tax expense (benefit) on non-GAAP adjustments is computed in accordance with ASC 740 using the same methodology as the GAAP provision of income taxes. Income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments are calculated based on the applicable statutory tax rate for each jurisdiction in which such charges were incurred. For the second quarter of 2017, these non-GAAP adjustments were not subject to foreign tax credits or valuation allowances, but to the extent that such factors are applicable to any future non-GAAP adjustments we will take such factors into consideration in calculating the tax expense (benefit). The Company tracks the amount of amortization recorded on recent acquisitions in order to monitor its progress with respect to its Vision 2020 goals. The following amounts were recorded with respect to recent acquisitions: $0.6M related to PowderPure, $1.5M related to Fragrance Resources, $1.1M related to David Michael, $1.9M related to Lucas Meyer and $1.6M related to Ottens Flavors. International Flavors Fragrances Inc. GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) The following information and schedules provide reconciliation information between reported GAAP amounts and non-GAAP certain adjusted amounts. This information and schedules are not intended as, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for reported GAAP amounts or financial statements of the Company prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Second Quarter 2016 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Metrics Reconciliation of Gross Profit Reported (GAAP) Restructuring and Other Charges (a) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (b) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Gross profit 365,641 182 831 366,654 Reconciliation of Selling and Administrative Expenses Reported (GAAP) Acquisition and Related Costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Selling and Administrative Expenses 132,784 (213 36 132,607 Reconciliation of Operating Profit Reported (GAAP) Restructuring and Other Charges (a) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (b) Acquisition Related Costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Gain on Sale of Asset (e) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Operating profit 164,672 182 831 213 (36 (197 165,665 Reconciliation of Net Income Reported (GAAP) Restructuring and Other Charges (a) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (b) Acquisition Related Costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Gain on Sale of Asset (e) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Income before taxes 152,050 182 831 213 (36 (197 153,043 Taxes on income (f) 35,317 35 208 (102 (9 (65 35,384 Net income 116,733 147 623 315 (27 (132 117,659 Diluted EPS 1.46 0.01 1.47 (a) Accelerated depreciation related to restructuring activities. (b) Accelerated depreciation and severance costs in Hangzhou, China. (c) Additional transaction costs related to the acquisition of Lucas Meyer, included in Selling and administrative expenses. (d) Principally related to favorable tax rulings. (e) Principally related to gain on sale of property in Europe. (f) The income tax expense (benefit) on non-GAAP adjustments is computed in accordance with ASC 740 using the same methodology as the GAAP provision of income taxes. Income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments are calculated based on the applicable statutory tax rate for each jurisdiction in which such charges were incurred. For the second quarter of 2016, these non-GAAP adjustments were not subject to foreign tax credits or valuation allowances, but to the extent that such factors are applicable to any future non-GAAP adjustments we will take such factors into consideration in calculating the tax expense (benefit). The Company tracks the amount of amortization recorded on recent acquisitions in order to monitor its progress with respect to its Vision 2020 goals. The following amounts were recorded with respect to recent acquisitions: $1.7M related to Lucas Meyer and $1.6M related to Ottens Flavors. International Flavors Fragrances Inc. GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) The following information and schedules provide reconciliation information between reported GAAP amounts and non-GAAP certain adjusted amounts. This information and schedules are not intended as, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for reported GAAP amounts or financial statements of the Company prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Second Quarter Year-to-Date 2017 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Metrics Reconciliation of Gross Profit Reported (GAAP) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (a) Acquisition and Related Costs (b) Integration Related costs (c) FDA mandated product recall (i) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Gross profit 739,255 1,066 10,908 186 3,500 754,915 Reconciliation of Selling and Administrative Expenses Reported (GAAP) Acquisition and Related Costs (b) Integration Related costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Tax Assessment (e) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Selling and Administrative Expenses 276,240 (4,158 (1,485 (1,000 (5,331 264,266 Reconciliation of Operating Profit Reported (GAAP) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (a) Acquisition Related Costs (b) Integration Related costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Tax Assessment (e) Restructuring and Other Charges (f) Gain on Sale of Asset (g) FDA mandated product recall (i) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Operating profit 296,578 1,066 15,066 1,923 1,000 5,331 10,934 (89 3,500 335,309 Reconciliation of Net Income Reported (GAAP) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (a) Acquisition Related Costs (b) Integration Related costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Tax Assessment (e) Restructuring and Other Charges (f) Gain on Sale of Asset (g) CTA Realization (h) FDA mandated product recall (i) Adjusted (Non- GAAP) Income before taxes 280,527 1,066 15,066 1,922 1,000 5,331 10,934 (89 (12,217 3,500 307,040 Taxes on income (j) 54,968 266 4,610 606 354 1,885 2,892 (29 1,238 66,790 Net income 225,559 800 10,456 1,316 646 3,446 8,042 (60 (12,217 2,262 240,250 Diluted EPS 2.84 0.01 0.13 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.10 (0.15 0.03 3.02 (a) Represents accelerated depreciation and idle labor costs in Hangzhou, China. (b) Represents the amortization of inventory "step-up" related to the acquisitions of David Michael, Fragrance Resources and PowderPure, included in Cost of goods sold and transaction costs related to the acquisitions of Fragrance Resources and PowderPure, included in Selling and administrative expenses. (c) Represents costs related to the integration of the David Michael and Fragrance Resources acquisitions. (d) Represents additional charge related to litigation settlement. (e) Represents the reserve for payment of a tax assessment related to commercial rent for prior periods. (f) Represents severance costs related to the 2017 Productivity Program which were partially offset by the reversal of 2015 severance charges that were no longer needed. (g) Represents gains on sale of assets. (h) Represents the release of CTA related to the liquidation of a foreign entity. (i) Represents an estimate of the Company's incremental direct costs and customer reimbursement obligations, in excess of the Company's sales value of the recalled products, arising from an FDA mandated recall of consumer products as a result of raw material received and identified by the Company as containing contamination. (The sales value of the recalled products was reserved in the first quarter of 2017). While the Company does not believe that any of the affected raw material was included in its finished products delivered to the customer, as the delivered product included raw material of the same vendor lot that tested positive, the FDA, after being notified by the Company, initiated a recall of all consumer products including raw material from the affected vendor lot due to the potential for product contamination. (j) The income tax expense (benefit) on non-GAAP adjustments is computed in accordance with ASC 740 using the same methodology as the GAAP provision of income taxes. Income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments are calculated based on the applicable statutory tax rate for each jurisdiction in which such charges were incurred, except for those items which are non-taxable for which the tax expense (benefit) was calculated at 0%. For the first six months of 2017, these non-GAAP adjustments were not subject to foreign tax credits or valuation allowances, but to the extent that such factors are applicable to any future non-GAAP adjustments we will take such factors into consideration in calculating the tax expense (benefit). Item does not foot due to rounding The Company tracks the amount of amortization recorded on recent acquisitions in order to monitor its progress with respect to its Vision 2020 goals. The following amounts were recorded with respect to recent acquisitions: $0.6M related to PowderPure, $2.8M related to Fragrance Resources, $1.7M related to David Michael, $3.8M related to Lucas Meyer and $3.1M related to Ottens Flavors. International Flavors Fragrances Inc. GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) The following information and schedules provide reconciliation information between reported GAAP amounts and non-GAAP certain adjusted amounts. This information and schedules are not intended as, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for reported GAAP amounts or financial statements of the Company prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Second Quarter Year-to-Date 2016 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Metrics Reconciliation of Gross Profit Reported (GAAP) Restructuring and Other Charges (a) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (b) Acquisition and Related Costs (c) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Gross profit 725,849 283 1,099 889 728,120 Reconciliation of Selling and Administrative Expenses Reported (GAAP) Acquisition and Related Costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Selling and Administrative Expenses 256,327 (360 1,482 257,449 Reconciliation of Operating Profit Reported (GAAP) Restructuring and Other Charges (a) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (b) Acquisition Related Costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Gain on Sale of Asset (e) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Operating profit 334,604 283 1,099 1,249 (1,482 (2,910 332,843 Reconciliation of Net Income Reported (GAAP) Restructuring and Other Charges (a) Operational Improvement Initiative Costs (b) Acquisition Related Costs (c) Legal Charges/Credits (d) Gain on Sale of Asset (e) Adjusted (Non-GAAP) Income before taxes 306,947 283 1,099 1,249 (1,482 (2,910 305,186 Taxes on income (f) 71,610 54 275 266 (411 (637 71,157 Net income 235,337 229 824 983 (1,071 (2,273 234,029 Diluted EPS 2.93 0.01 0.01 (0.01 (0.03 2.91 (a) Accelerated depreciation related to restructuring activities. (b) Accelerated depreciation and severance costs in Hangzhou, China. (c) Expense related to the amortization of inventory step-up, included in Cost of goods sold, and additional transaction costs related to the acquisition of Lucas Meyer, included in Selling and administrative expenses. (d) Settlements due to favorable tax rulings in jurisdictions for which reserves were previously recorded for ongoing tax disputes. (e) Principally related to gain on sale of property in Europe. (f) The income tax expense (benefit) on non-GAAP adjustments is computed in accordance with ASC 740 using the same methodology as the GAAP provision of income taxes. Income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments are calculated based on the applicable statutory tax rate for each jurisdiction in which such charges were incurred. For the first six months of 2016, these non-GAAP adjustments were not subject to foreign tax credits or valuation allowances, but to the extent that such factors are applicable to any future non-GAAP adjustments we will take such factors into consideration in calculating the tax expense (benefit). The Company tracks the amount of amortization recorded on recent acquisitions in order to monitor its progress with respect to its Vision 2020 goals. The following amounts were recorded with respect to recent acquisitions: $4.3M related to Lucas Meyer and $3.2M related to Ottens Flavors. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170808006434/en/ Contacts: International Flavors Fragrances Inc. Michael DeVeau, 212-708-7164 VP, Corporate Strategy, Investor Relations Communications Michael.DeVeau@iff.com MISGAV, Israel, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ApiFix, a portfolio company of The Trendlines Group, received TGA certification through its distributor Orthotech Pty. Ltd. to begin marketing the ApiFix system in Australia for the treatment and correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) using an innovative, minimally invasive surgical approach. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/536754/ApiFix_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/543093/Orthotech_Logo.jpg ) The ApiFix system represents a breakthrough treatment for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) as it is a minimally invasive, non-fusion spinal implant system which dramatically improves the quality of life of patients who undergo scoliosis surgery. Additionally, it saves hospitalisation and OR time, and is considerably more cost-effective than current scoliosis surgery. "Incorporating the ApiFix system into our portfolio of products fits our mission to bring exceptional, unique, state-of the-art orthopaedic products into the Australasian market. The ApiFix system provides game-changing technology for AIS patients and surgeons alike and we're proud to include them in our suite of products," commented Sam Scott-Young, Managing Director of Orthotech. Standard scoliosis surgical correction is a highly invasive, lengthy procedure involving a long recovery period, and resulting in a rigid spine due to fusion of the vertebrae. The ApiFix approach brings an ingenious solution with its minimally invasive, non-fusion spinal implant system, inserted in a short procedure, followed by a brief recovery period, and maintains spine flexibility. ApiFix CEO Eran Feldhay, M.D. remarked: "The certification for the ApiFix product by the TGA through our distribution partnership with Orthotech allows us to expand our reach and provide treatment for AIS patients in Australia too. We look forward to working with a company like Orthotech who are committed to innovative orthopaedic solutions for their customers." About ApiFix ApiFix is an innovation-driven medical device company focused on providing less invasive solutions for scoliosis patients. ApiFix's leading product for non-fusion treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is used today in Europe. ApiFix is led by a team of highly-regarded spine surgeons and veteran spine specialists. The company has CE clearance and is marketed in Germany, Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, Spain and Israel. ApiFix principals will attend theannual meeting of theScoliosis Research Society, (SRS)inPhiladelphia, USAonSeptember 5-8to present the ApiFix system, clinical cases and their follow-up to potential users from all over the world. Contact:Saar Wollach, ApiFix Sales & Marketing Manager, +972-54-4511512,Philadelphia saar@apifix.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Freshtex Produce of Alamo, TX announced the recall of 'Valery' brand Maradol Papayas grown and packed by Carica de Campeche, due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall was initiated after FDA notified the company that other brands of Maradol Papayas from the farm, Carica de Campeche, had tested positive for Salmonella. Few days back, Agroson's LLC of Bronx, NY also recalled 2,483 boxes of Maradol Papaya Cavi Brand, grown and packed by Carica de Campeche. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, while healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The Maradol Papayas was distributed to the State of Illinois from July 10 to July 13, 2017, and may have been further distributed outside the state of Illinois. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2017 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation ('Booz Allen' or the 'Company') (NYSE: BAH and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Booz Allen's securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants' violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you are a shareholder who purchased Booz Allen securities between May 19, 2016 and June 15, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until August 18, 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] Booz Allen is an American management consulting firm. The Company purports to provide management and technology consulting, engineering, analytics, digital, mission operations, and cyber solutions to governments, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations in the United States and internationally. At all relevant times, Booz Allen has derived substantially all of its revenues from services provided to the U.S. government. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Booz Allen engaged in improper accounting practices in its contracts with the U.S. government; (ii) consequently, the Company's revenues derived from services provided to the U.S. government were inflated and unsustainable; (iii) discovery of the foregoing conduct would subject the Company to heightened regulatory scrutiny, potential criminal sanctions, and jeopardize its business relationship with the U.S. government; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, Booz Allen's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On June 15, 2017, post-market, Booz Allen disclosed that on June 7, 2017, the Company's subsidiary Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. 'was informed that the U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a civil and criminal investigation relating to certain elements of [its] cost accounting and indirect cost charging practices with the U.S. government.' On this news, Booz Allen's share price fell $7.43, or 18.89%, to close at $31.90 on June 16, 2017. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP This domain was recently registered at Namecheap.com. Please check back later! NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2017 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against TechnipFMC plc ('TechnipFMC' or the 'Company') (NYSE: FTI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, and docketed under 17-cv-02368, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired TechnipFMC securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants' violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you are a shareholder who purchased TechnipFMC securities between April 27, 2017, and July 24, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until October 2, 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] TechnipFMC plc provides oilfield services. The Company offers subsea, surface, onshore, and offshore solutions for oil and gas projects. TechnipFMC serves customers worldwide. TechnipFMC was formed through the merger of FMC Technologies Inc. and French oil-services Technip SA. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) TechnipFMC had a material weakness in its internal control over rates used in the calculations of the foreign currency effects on certain of its engineering and construction projects; (ii) accordingly, the Company lacked effective internal controls over financial reporting; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, TechnipFMC's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On July 24, 2017, post-market, TechnipFMC issued a press release and filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC, announcing that the Company would restate its financial statements as of March 31, 2017, as these statements could no longer be relied upon. On this news, TechnipFMC's share price fell $0.48, or 1.71%, to close at $27.56 on July 25, 2017. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP Vintage Investment Partners, an Herzliya Pituach, Israel-based venture capital firm, closed its tenth fund, with $215m of commitments. Vintage Investments X, which is Vintages fourth secondary fund, was mainly secured from U.S., Canadian and Israeli financial institutions, university endowments, foundations and family offices, the vast majority of whom were investors in Vintages prior funds. The closing of Vintage X brings the firm to approximately $1.5 billion under management. The fund will continue to focus on purchasing limited partnership positions in Israeli and European venture and growth equity funds as well as select U.S. venture funds. Vintage will also continue its strategy of acquiring shares in private technology companies from entrepreneurs, former employees and angels who want liquidity on their holdings. Led by Founder and Managing Partner Alan Feld and General Partners Ehud Hai, Abe Finkelstein and Amit Frenkel, Vintage has now $1.5 billion under management four venture-focused secondary funds, four venture funds-of-funds and two late-stage venture co-investment funds. FinSMEs 08/08/2017 New Delhi: Changes in the food provided on board its aircraft will help Air India save Rs 20 crore annually, the government said on Tuesday. Air India had in July decided not to provide non-vegetarian meals to economy class passengers on domestic routes in a move to reduce expenses. "This was started to save costs, reduce wastage, improve service and also to avoid any chances of mix-up of meals," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. The airline is expected to save Rs 8-10 crore due to this move, he added. According to the minister, there have been other cost cutting measures too, such as meal schedule, rationalisation of dry stores and ancillary items. Altogether, the airline is expected to save Rs 20 crore because of changes made to its catering policy. Air India CMD Ashwini Lohani had told PTI that the national carrier is likely to take more such measures in order to rationalise costs. Last year, Air India replaced veg and non-veg sandwiches with veg hot meals on flights of up to 90 minutes duration. It had also decided to strike off both tea and coffee from its lunch and dinner menu. The national carrier, however, has a different strategy for its international flights after it was told by the civil aviation ministry "spend more to fill the aircraft". The airline plans to offer a variety of wines, mocktails and regional cuisine. There are also plans to offer passengers food of their choice, which will be collected from them days ahead of their flight. Air India is reeling under a debt of Rs 48,876.81 crore and the government has in-principle given approval for disinvesting its stakes in the airline, and has constituted a group of ministers to look into the modalities. A Google employee, now identified on Twitter as James Damore, shot off a mail, quite aggressive in content, on why gender diversity does not cut ice in the workplace. He argued that women had biological issues. So in the employees thinking that alone prevented women at the tech workplace from being as successful as men. Either Damore has a lot of time in his hands and not much work to have penned a 10-page memo, no less, at a time when Google is trying to defend a lawsuit against it from the US Department of Labour. The lawsuit alleges that the company pays its women employees far less than their male counterparts. What has now become the talking point after the mail went viral is CEO Sundar Pichai putting out a mail to employees that was contrary in nature. At one level Pichai defended the employee's right to speak his mind by supporting "the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it". "However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace," he said in the mail. The verbal backlash on Twitter against Pichai is palpable: Good job @sundarpichai!! Now what about all the employees who said they agreed with the sexist stereotypes? Good job @sundarpichai!! Now what about all the employees who said they agreed with the sexist stereotypes? https://t.co/8izvoRtMHa EricaJoy (@EricaJoy) August 8, 2017 Damore: @Google does not value diversity of thought@sundarpichai: That's a lie, and you're fired for even thinking that. Damore: @Google does not value diversity of thought@sundarpichai: That's a lie, and you're fired for even thinking that. Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) August 8, 2017 What is interesting to ponder upon is what would be the reaction if an employee gave vent to his/her thoughts on Indian turf? Would the CEO come out and publicly support his/her right to express themselves? Firstpost spoke with a few human resource professionals to ascertain their views on the subject. Their views were mixed. Almost all of them said that comparing Google and an Indian firm would not be contextually right. For one, Google is a new age company, which has created a unique culture and an environment where employees can speak out, one of them said. In the Indian context, there are largely three kinds of companies, says Rajeev Bharadwaj, vice-president - HR, Sunlife Financial Asia Service Center. There are the proprietor family-run firms where talking against the companies is taboo. Secondly, the multi-national companies (MNCs) that have co-opted Indian organisations prevalent culture of conservatism. Here some leeway would be allowed to voice opinions about the companys rules or culture. Third, the public sector units that have strict service rules about what can be said and done as an employee and talking about the organisations culture remains out-of-bounds, says Bharadwaj. India is anachronistic and is slowly unshackling itself. From a time when views about the company that were contrary to what the organisation upheld or believed in would be sacrilegious to say and even less to hear, to an age where organisational culture allows for employees to talk about their views regarding policies, etc, India Inc has traversed quite a journey but we are still evolving, say analysts. However, some people like the senior management in many organisations are allowed to speak up and air their views about the organisation, points out Sumit Sabharwal, CEO (managed services) & managing director (SAARC), Excelity Global, an HR outsourcing firm. He says that many companies have been able to make changes in services and products because of different voices being heard within organisations. All this boils down to one fact: That the Google employees mail was circulating in the company before it was tweeted and Motherboard published it. An employee should know where to air grievances before it becomes public. It also points to the intent, says Bharadwaj. Was the employee out to name and shame the company by putting the letter out in a forum where all employees could read it? Could he not have sent it to the concerned department in the organisation, he asks. Companies spend resources money, people and time promoting, safeguarding its image, product/service, and the brand. No company is going to let an employee fritter that away by comments that will work against it. Many times what is being said is heard only because of the position the employee holds within the company. That is why organisations hire public relation firms to disseminate what they have to say. If organisations encourage all its employees to say what they felt personally about the companys policies, the message of the company and what it stands for will be lost in the cacophony, said Vidur Gupta, MD, Spectrum Talent Management, a global HR service provider. Though Sundar Pichai is of Indian origin, he has imbibed the culture of a top notch innovative and disruptive organisation like Google. In the Indian context, many employees wont speak up even in town halls as opinions or thoughts contrary to the central philosophy of the organisation could cost the employee his/ her job. The Google employee who wrote the 10-page document highlighted so many issues that it is surprising he did not air it to the human resources department or the top management, said Sujaya Banerjee, chief executive officer, Capstone People Consulting, a consulting firm. If, as Pichai said in his letter, employees need not be afraid to speak up at Google, then the letter would not have been in the public domain at all, she says. Unlike Pichai, Indian organisations will not encourage employees speaking about company policies in public. But even if Sundar Pichai did encourage and the employee continued to be employed after speaking up, it would be a matter of time before he was eased out. That he has been now is not surprising. For, the reasoning would be: If you are not happy with the organisations policies, you should work elsewhere," says Banerjee. Be it in India or the West, no company is that progressive to allow its policies to be lambasted in public. If an employee chooses to speak out, there are consequences. Like it has for Google engineer Damore. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans had received huge flak from within his party for appointing Gita Gopinath, a liberal economist from Harvard as his economic advisor, but he stuck to the decision as he believed that it may help investors change their perception that communists are against capitalism. The investors realized he meant business after he cleared the hurdles for the development of national highways and few big ticket projects like GAILs gas pipeline and Vizhinjam Seaport besides piloting Kerala Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act for improving the states ranking with respect to ease of doing business (EoDB). However, captains of industry feel that his efforts may come to naught if he fails to check the spread of political violence in the state. More than political violence, it is the attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to take the issue to the national level that is hurting the state more, according to leaders of industry bodies. The chief minister himself has expressed apprehension that the wrongful projection of Kerala by the BJP and a section of the media as a region torn by political strife would impact his ambitious development agenda. He said that the effect of the false campaign was already being felt in the tourism sector, a key economic driver. Kerala has the best law and order situation in the country. Some communal groups are trying to create the impression that the state is on the boil. These outfits, which are intolerant of the peaceful environment in the state, are turning towards violence. Their aim is not the welfare of the state, he added. Any development that tarnishes the image of a region is bad for the industry. The projection of the entire state as a troubled region by anybody will certainly force an investor from outside think twice before he decides to set his shop in the state, says Nawas Meeran, managing director of Eastern Condiments and national council member of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He told the Firstpost that investors have been shying away from Kerala because of its militant trade unionism. While the trade unions have realized the mistake and changed their ways, the frequent shut down strikes (hartals) still remain as an irritant. The new problems in the law and order front would confound their fears, he said. The World Bank report on EoDB has placed Kerala at 20th position among the states with a dismal score of 36.97 percent. The states rank was 18 when the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government demitted office. It came two rungs down after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) assumed power in May 2016. Kerala was also ranked top among 29 Indian states in good governance in the last year of the previous government though it was hit by a series of scandals and scams. The ranking was done by Bengaluru-based think-tank Public Affairs Centre (PAC) based on 10 parameters comprising a total of 25 subjects and 68 development indicators. The fourth year of the UDF government saw Kerala emerging top in the ranks in terms of growth in receiving industrial entrepreneurs memorandum (IEM) proposals. A study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) showed that the state had recorded a growth of 315 percent business proposals to the tune of Rs 3 trillion during 2014-15 against a decline of 65 percent across India during the same period. Pinarayi has been trying to build on this by reforming the existing rules and Acts related to clearance procedures for starting enterprises. The LDF government has appointed KPMG (Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler), an international consultancy firm, to study the whole gamut of the processes. The captains of industry were hopeful that these efforts could lead to positive changes in the economic front and lift the state from years of industrial stagnation. They feel that the BJP is doing a disservice to the state by exaggerating the incidents of political violence. Many states are witnessing political violence. The violence in Kerala is confined to certain pockets and could not deter investors. Those who are operating in the state understand the politics behind the propaganda but an investor from outside take it seriously, says K Ramanujam, president of Kerala chapter of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said that the issues leading to political violence can easily be sorted out if the parties concerned sit together and take positive steps. Ramanjum said he was hopeful that they will end the current specter of violence since both the chief minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are batting for development. However, both the parties are in no mood to end the violence. The CPI (M) has sought to shirk its responsibility by blaming the BJP-RSS combine for the violence. Party secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan sees senior BJP leader and Union Minister Arun Jaitelys visit to the state as part of the partys agenda to capture power in the state through undemocratic means. The BJP is hell-bent on capturing power at any cost. The party is trying to achieve this by propagating falsehood. The people will reject their move to project the state as a land of political violence and turmoil, Balakrishnan said. Though the state leaders of the BJP have vowed to restrain their cadres from indulging in acts of violence in the bilateral and all party parleys convened by the chief minister in the wake of the murder of RSS worker Rajesh at Thiruvananthapurama last week, the party is trying to keep the issue alive. Political observers feel that a senior minister like Jaitely was fielded as part of a larger agenda. He has left a sour point by blaming the Pinarayi government for the violence. Party chief Amit Shah and RSS supremo Mohan Bhagawat, who are scheduled to visit the state soon, may follow suit. Political observers feel that this may deepen the wound that both sides are trying to heal. A report in Hindu said that the BJP had drawn up an extensive social media campaign targeting the LDF government. Quoting party sources, the report said that the party was trying to use the incidents of political violence in Kerala as part of its attempt shed its upper caste image. The incidents suite the agenda as the victims of the violence have been mostly from Dalit and backward classes. The Hindu report says that the party, therefore, may keep the issue of political violence in the state alive till at least next Lok Sabha elections. Stepping up the pressure on shell companies, Sebi on Monday directed premier stock exchanges to initiate action against 331 scrips which it suspects are such firms. In a communication to the exchange, the capital market regulator has said these stocks will not be available for trading this month. The regulator's directive came after the corporate affairs ministry shared a list of 331 listed companies that are suspected to be shell entities and could even face "compulsory delisting". Stepping up the surveillance measures, these entities would be subject to independent audit and if required, forensic audits could also be initiated to check their credentials. In a communication sent to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Metropolitan Stock Exchange, the markets regulator has asked them to keep the 331 shares in stage four of the graded surveillance measures (GSM) with immediate effect. These measures are taken to alert and advice investors to be extra cautious "while dealing in these securities and advice market participants to carry out necessary due diligence while dealing in these securities". According to a communication by the Bombay Stock Exchange, under the stage VI of GSM framework, trading in these identified securities shall be permitted only once a month under trade-to-trade category. "Further, any upward price movement in these securities shall not be permitted beyond the last traded price and additional surveillance deposit of 200 % of trade value shall be collected form the Buyers which shall be retained with Exchanges for a period for five months," the communication said. Apart from this, the shares held by the promoters and directors in such listed companies shall be allowed to be transferred by depositories only after verification by concerned exchanges. "...They shall not be allowed to transact in the security except to buy securities in the said listed company until verification of credential / fundamental by Exchanges is completed," it said. The bourses shall initiate a process of verifying the credentials / fundamentals of such companies and appoint an independent auditor to conduct audit of them. The may even conduct a forensic audit of these companies to verify its credentials/fundamentals. The exchanges will go for compulsory delisting of companies that could not be verified. "...The said company shall not be permitted to deal in any security on exchange platform and its holding in any depository account shall be frozen till such delisting process is completed," the BSE said. List of 331 Shell Companies - Provided by Sebi to BSE - 07 August 2017 by Firstpost on Scribd Sebi Letter to Exchanges and Depositories on Shell Companies - 7 August 2017 by Firstpost on Scribd With inputs Kishor Kadam Mumbai: Benchmark Sensex slumped 260 points while the Nifty cracked below the crucial 10,000-mark on Tuesday as Sebi clamped down on 331 suspected shell companies listed on exchanges. Investors were spooked after the markets watchdog last night directed bourses to initiate action against the suspected shell companies. These scrips will not be available for trading this month. Brokers said the order raised concerns of more such regulatory action. A majority of these companies are apparently facing probe for alleged tax evasion and corporate frauds and have been referred by the Income Tax Department and SFIO to the corporate affairs ministry and Sebi for further action. A number of these firms are from West Bengal. The 30-share Sensex, which lost nearly 52 points in the previous session, resumed higher at 32,341.05 and advanced to 32,354.77 in early trade. But selling pressure emerged as participants digested the Sebi order, which dragged the gauge below the 32,000-mark briefly to a low of 31,915.20. The index finally settled at 32,014.19, a loss of 259.48 points, or 0.80 percent. The NSE Nifty dipped below the key 10,000-mark to close 78.55 points, or 0.78 percent down at 9,978.55 after shuttling between 10,083.80 and 9,947. "The Sebi order has taken industry and investors by surprise. This has led to erosion of serious wealth and if some of the companies are found to be not shell companies, this order shall still be a death knell for their perception and valuation," said Rajesh Narain Gupta, Managing Partner, SNG & Partners. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 199.21 crore, while DIIs bought to the tune of Rs 308.15 crore on Monday, as per provisional data by the exchanges. Dr Reddy's was the worst performer in the Sensex pack, losing 4.91 percent. Other laggards included SBI, ITC, ICICI Bank, NTPC, Power Grid, Axis Bank, ONGC, Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, Sun Pharma, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Lupin, Reliance Industries, L&T, HDFC Bank, Infosys, Asian Paints, Wipro, TCS and HDFC, falling up to 2.33 percent. Tata Steel emerged as the top gainer by climbing 2.63 percent after the company returned to profit in the quarter ended June 30, 2017. In the metal space, Hindustan Aluminium, Nalco, Vedanta, SAIL and NMDC too showed some strength. Among the sectoral indices, realty was the hardest hit, down 4.53 percent, followed by oil & gas (2.16 percent), PSU (2.08 percent), power (1.88 percent), FMCG (1.50 percent), bank (1.34 percent), healthcare (1.32 percent), capital goods (0.93 percent), teck (0.65 percent), IT (0.60 percent) and auto (0.39 percent). In Asia, Japan's Nikkei fell 0.30 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.59 percent and Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.07 percent. European shares showed signs of weakness as Paris CAC dropped 0.20 percent and Frankfurt's DAX shed 0.03 percent in their early session. London's too FTSE fell 0.13 percent. Whether or not Daniel Craig would feature in the upcoming Bond movies was a matter of intense speculation; however, it now seems the British actor has given the nod to not one, but two of spy franchise's upcoming installments. Previously, Craig had refuted any possibilities of him reprising the role of James Bond and he even went on saying that he would rather slash his wrists than returning as the character, reported a 2015 piece by The Telegraph. According to a report by The Sun, the actor will be essaying the role of the world's most celebrated spy ever, in the upcoming two films. While other actors were considered for the part, producer Barbara Broccoli managed to convince Craig to return. After all, he has sort-of revived the James Bond movie franchise and brought enormous profits, hence losing him was not a wise option, according to the makers. It was already reported that the 25th venture, seemingly titled Shatterhand, is scheduled to release in 2019. It will be based on Raymond Benson's 2001 novel Never Dream of Dying. The film shows Bond on an adventure in Croatia where he meets a famous French movie star and develops a romantic liaison with her. He chances upon Mignonne's blind husband who eventually turns out to be the criminal mastermind behind the organisation known as the Union. If the two-film deal is to be believed, Craig will be the first Bond actor to have six films to his credit. The other film, apart from the supposed Shatterhand, is reported to be a remake of 1969s On Her Majestys Secret Service, directed by Peter R Hunt. The film will show Bond getting married and later losing his wife. Amid the protracted India-China standoff in the Sikkim region and in resonance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Act East' policy, reports have emerged that New Delhi has been reaching out to leaders of the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) to invite them for India's 69th Republic Day celebrations. This not only reflects a growing bond between India and the ASEAN nations but also commemorates New Delhi's 25 years of dialogue partnership with the bloc this year. New Delhi has planned a series of events, including the signing of an air services agreement, a car rally and a maritime expedition by Indian naval ships to the region, to mark 25 years of the partnership. As ASEAN completes 50 years of its existence as a bloc, India's relations with its member countries have picked up pace. India started engaging with ASEAN in 1992 through sectoral dialogue partnership. It also joined the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF), and several other platforms commonly shared with ASEAN. New Delhi became a full member partner in December 1995 and the relationship was further elevated with the convening of the ASEAN-India Summit in 2002 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Since then, the ASEAN-India Summit has been held annually. India's relations with ASEAN nations is an outcome of the significant changes in the world's political and economic scenario since the early 1990s and India's own march towards economic liberalisation. ASEAN leaders welcomed India's 'Act East Policy' and 'Make in India' initiative and encouraged New Delhi to work with the bloc. "From the Indian perspective, ASEAN occupies a central place in the security architecture of the Asia-Pacific region," minister of state for external affairs VK Singh said. In terms of security cooperation, since India became a dialogue partner of ASEAN, it has participated in a series of consultative meetings with the bloc under the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. India also acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asia (TAC) and signed a Joint Declaration for Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism with the grouping. The TAC stated that ASEAN political and security dialogue and cooperation should aim to promote regional peace and stability by enhancing regional resilience. Regional resilience shall be achieved by cooperating in all fields based on the principles of self-confidence, self-reliance, mutual respect, cooperation, and solidarity, which shall constitute the foundation for a strong and viable community of nations in Southeast Asia. India's growing relations with ASEAN nations should also be looked at in the light of Beijings boundary disputes with a number of ASEAN countries (including India now). As C Raja Mohan writes: "... at the commemorative summit in Delhi during December 2012, Delhi suggested that it was not too eager to be drawn into the conflicts between some of the ASEAN countries and China. In response to the calls from Vietnam and the Philippines for explicit support from India in their territorial disputes with China, India's then Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid signalled caution and ruled out Delhi's intervention in these disputes." However, with the recent turn of events, India might reconsider this stand. It is itself involved in a standoff with China in Sikkim, which shows no sign of receding. A growing partnership with ASEAN nations might help India counter the growing presence of Beijing. ASEAN countries see India as a counterbalance against China. Economic Cooperation Together, India and the ASEAN nations account for almost one-third of the global population and a combined GDP of approximately $3.8 trillion, according to The Diplomat. Together, they would form the third largest economy in the world. India's two-way trade with ASEAN stands at about $76 billion and India is also a part of the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which, if implemented, will cover almost 40 percent of the total world trade. The RCEP was supposed to be ready by 2016, however, negotiations are set to spill into 2018, according to Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. While the volume of trade and investment flows between ASEAN and India remained low foreign direct investments (FDI) flow from India to ASEAN increased by 9.4 percent, from $0.96 billion in 2015 to $1.05 billion in 2016. In 2003, the leaders signed the ASEAN-India Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation. The Framework Agreement laid a sound basis for the establishment of an ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (FTA), which includes FTA in goods, services and investment. The FTA was formally signed in 2014 and it opened opportunities for movement of both manpower and investments. A comprehensive economic partnership between India, ASEAN and six Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners will likely take place in 2017, The Hindu quoted an external affairs ministry official as saying. "The ASEAN is the fourth largest trading partner of India while we are the seventh largest trading partner to the ASEAN. However, there is far more trading potential between India and the ASEAN than they have presently achieved," joint secretary in the MEA Anurag Bhushan told IANS. In terms of tourism, the number of people visiting ASEAN from India in 2015 was 3.3 million, an increase of 7.49 percent from 3.07 million in 2014. At the ninth edition of the Delhi Dialogue held in New Delhi, as reported by The Diplomat, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj reinforced the importance of 3Cs (connectivity, commerce and culture) in her keynote address. Connectivity The ASEAN-India connectivity is a matter of strategic priority for India as also the ASEAN countries. In terms of physical connectivity, recent developments in India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multimodal Transit and Transport Project were mentioned and the problems in their implementation identified in the recently concluded Delhi Dialogue. India has also been working with ASEAN to enhance physical connectivity via its North East, said Swaraj. She also said that the Kaladan Multi Modal Transport project, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Rih Tedim Project in Myanmar were in progress to enhance connectivity between India and ASEAN nations via the North East. While the Kaladan project has achieved a physical progress of close to 90 percent and is scheduled to be completed in the next few months, the tendering process for 69 bridges on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway has been initiated. The implementation of the project will start soon with the Friendship Bridge connecting Moreh in India and Tamu in Myanmar, she said, adding that the process for Kalewa-Yargi road has also been speeded up. "The Rih-Tedim Road project will provide all weather connectivity between eastern Mizoram and western Myanmar," the external affairs minister said, adding that work on enhancing air connectivity between the northeast and the ASEAN region was also on. "Besides these projects, at the 13th ASEAN-India Summit in November 2015, the prime minister announced a line of credit of $1 billion to promote projects that support physical and digital connectivity between India and ASEAN. We will look forward to receiving proposals from ASEAN member states for utilisation of this line of credit," she said. India's bid to seek further ties with ASEAN nations comes at a time when China is being increasingly assertive. With the uncertainty over the leadership of US president Donald Trump, China seems to be emerging as the next global leader. "There is now a real question mark over Americas ability to be the leader in the region...everyone is waiting and watching to see what the new US President will decide to do next," Livemint quoted Harsh V Pant, professor of international relations, department of defence studies, at London's King's College, as saying. It is against this backdrop that India's relations with the ASEAN has become even more important. However, there is much to be done to harness the economic and strategic partnership between India and ASEAN. China's rise as an economic giant and its increasing trade with the ASEAN countries gives India all the more reason to step up its collaborative efforts vis-a-vis ASEAN. India and ASEAN should also in non-traditional security challenges, like piracy, writes Pant. Article 35A remains as one of the most divisive provisions in the Constitution as mere talk of any alteration to it provokes sharp reactions from parties across the aisle. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear a PIL challenging the article, the PDP, Congress and the National Conference all have raised concerns on the issue. Attempts to abrogate the article have been seen as an assault on the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The apex court case arose out of a petition filed by an NGO called We the Citizens. The NGO filed a writ petition asking the court to strike down Article 35A. While the state government filed a counter to the petition, the Centre did not, leading to speculation that BJP-led government might be looking to end the state's special status. But, first of all, it is important to understand what exactly the provision entails. Does it actually provide special rights to the citizens of the state? If so, what are those rights and why don't they infringe the Fundamental Rights of other Indians? Article 35A was not part of the Constitution as it was adopted in 1949. It was added later by a Presidential Order in 1954. This Order was issued under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which grants special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 is the subject of another Supreme Court case in which the court on Tuesday asked the Centre for its view on the validity of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The actual right to make laws In simple terms, Article 35A empowers the state legislature of Jammu and Kashmir to define 'permanent residents' of the state. These residents are then eligible for special rights and privileges which the legislature can provide. Further, the laws made under Article 35A cannot be challenged on the ground that they affect the Fundamental Rights of other Indian citizens. Thus a person from Uttar Pradesh cannot move the courts saying that their right to equality is infringed by a special right given to a permanent resident of Jammu and Kashmir. The right of the state legislature is not, however, unlimited. They can give these special rights and privileges only in the following four categories: Employment under the state government; Acquisition of immovable property in the state; Settlement in the state; or Right to scholarships and such other forms of aid as the state government may provide The actual rights and privileges The rights themselves are given in the state Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. First, it defines permanent residents as those people who on 14 May, 1954: were state subjects of Class I or of Class II type; or had lawfully acquired immovable property in the state and been a permanent resident of the state for more than ten years. It also has a provision to recognise as permanent residents, people who had migrated to Pakistan and returned, though subject to certain conditions. The state legislature can alter the definition of a permanent resident by passing a law with a two-third majority. Permanent residents are given a Permanent Resident Certificate which forms the basis of their rights in the state. According to India Today, only permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir are allowed to vote in the state Assembly election or contest elections to the state Assembly. The state also bars outsiders from buying property in or from settling in Jammu and Kashmir. Such a person cannot get a job in the Jammu and Kashmir government. Another problem which will arise, should the challenge to Article 35A succeed, is that then all 41 subsequent Presidential Orders will then become susceptible to legal challenges, according to The Indian Express. This is because all of these Orders were in essence amendments to the 1954 Order. These subsequent orders have extended 94 out of the 97 entries in the Union List to the state as well as applied 260 articles of the Indian Constitution to the state. The Orders have also been used to override provisions of the state Constitution, like changing the Sadr-e-Riyasat (President of the State) to the governor, prime minister (of the state) to the chief minister and extend the powers of the Supreme Court and Election Commission to Jammu and Kashmir. The law governing Jammu and Kashmir is thus quite complicated, rather like the state's current situation. As matters stand though, it seems clear that if any change is made to the law, as it applies to the state's citizens, it would require a fair amount of legal manoeuvring to ensure a smooth transition. The NDA government's move to not file an affidavit and seek a "larger debate" and "larger bench" over Article 35A in response to two recent petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutional validity of the clause has expectedly given rise to shrill debates. The Article refers to the special powers enjoyed by the Jammu and Kashmir legislature in defining "permanent residents" of the state. Those who are deemed "non-residents" under this provision are disallowed from buying property, settling down, seeking state government jobs, aids, college admissions or scholarships. Some of the clauses that flow from the Article are gender discriminatory and sit at odds with the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. The Article, which was added to the Constitution on 14 May, 1954, through a Presidential order bypassing the Parliament and appears in the Constitution as an "appendix" and not as an "amendment", preserves the tenets of the state's Constitution by virtue of being a "clarificatory provision" as observed by a division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in July 2015. Justice Muzaffar Attar and Justice AM Magrey had held that, "the power of Parliament to make laws in respect of J&K is circumscribed and it can make laws for it only where permitted by the state and not otherwise, and that too in accordance with the mechanism prescribed by Article 370 of the Constitution of India." In other words, Article 35A reinforces the special status of Jammu and Kashmir which has framed its relationship with the rest of the country under a host of special provisions, such as Article 370, Delhi Agreement of 1952 and is the only Indian state to possess its own Constitution (drawn up in 1956) which defines permanent residents as: "All persons born or settled within the state before 1911 or after having lawfully acquired immovable property resident in the state for not less than ten years prior to that date. All emigrants from Jammu and Kashmir, including those who migrated to Pakistan, are considered state subjects. The descendants of emigrants are considered state subjects for two generations." This has given rise to peculiar possibilities whereby a Pakistani citizen can buy property and settle in Kashmir, a provision denied to many Indian citizens. The provision is also gender discriminatory, as Supreme Court lawyer and a native of Kashmir Charu Wali Khanna has submitted in her petition before the apex court. "Despite being a Kashmiri Pandit by birth, the state does not recognise me as its citizen," Wali Khanna, who married out of her caste and settled outside the state told Mail Today. "I desired to build a home in Jammu and Kashmir in order to rediscover my roots but I was barred by the peculiar, discriminatory law in doing so Unreasonable classification between males and females and between females and females is against the spirit of Article 14 of the Constitution." According to the petitioner, the rules discriminate against Kashmiri women by restricting their choice of partners in marriage. If the husband doesn't hold a Permanent Resident Certificate, their children are denied subsequent rights. In a column for Outlook in 2013, Arun Jaitley had pointed out the predicament of refugees who migrated to Jammu and Kashmir during partition. Jaitley, then leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, wrote about the "unfortunate" Indians not being conferred "state subjects" under Article 6 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, which prevents them from voting or contesting Assembly, municipality or panchayat-level elections, holding state jobs, acquiring property. Their children were denied admission to colleges, scholarships or any other type of aid from the state. "The effect of this", wrote Jaitley, is that "these citizens of India are not entitled to the protection of Article 14 (equality), Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination on basis of religion, caste, race or place of birth), Article 16 (Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and reservations), the fundamental rights under Article 19 including the right to free speech and the right to life and liberty under Article 21 The non-State subjects, who are citizens of India, who live in Jammu & Kashmir by virtue of Article 35A, are denied these protections." It has been pointed out that since Article 35A is only a "clarificatory provision", and does not in itself confer any special powers, seeking to scrap it is pointless because any such action must also include all other presidential orders of 1954, some of which extended several provisions of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir in addition to the three areas of defence, foreign affairs and communication as defined under Article 370. Cautioning the NDA government, historian Srinath Raghavan writes in Hindustan Times, "questioning the validity of this Article (35A) has no bearing on the rights of state subjects. Nor can the Presidential Order of 1954 be questioned without questioning the validity of other provisions of the Indian constitution it extended to J&K." While it is a valid legal argument, this position prevents a satisfactory political resolution to the Kashmir problem. The time has come to confront the Kashmir reality by holding a larger deliberation on the validity of Article 370 itself. In fact, any debate on the validity of Article 35A must necessarily include the larger debate over Article 370 which in the guise of "special status" has remained the biggest obstacle towards integrating the state with India and normalising its relationship with the rest of the country by way of being a discriminatory and oppressive provision. It was meant, titled and appeared under "temporary provisions" of the Indian Constitution but in 2015, a division bench of J&K High Court subsequently interpreted it as a "permanent provision". "(The) Article 370, notwithstanding its title 'temporary provision' is a permanent provision of the Constitution. It cannot be abrogated, repealed or even amended as mechanism provided under Clause (3) of Article 370 is no more available", pronounced the court in October 2015. The ruling has been criticised as "pandering to political constituency". "This interpretation is truly a travesty. If the word "temporary" can be equated with "permanent", we might as well burn all dictionaries, as every word can be given the meaning any individual desires to give it. No one can then understand what anyone else is saying," R Jagannathan wrote in his column for Firstpost in 2015. It is imperative that the debate be held right now because Jammu and Kashmir is not just a political problem, it is also equally a security issue that has grave implications for India's sovereignty, given the animus that defines our ties with Pakistan and the deterioration of bilateral relationship with China. Both these countries have the resources, motivation and will to exploit India's festering political wound. China has shown no compunctions in violating One India policy and building roads as part of the CPEC project through Gilgit-Baltistan, and recent reports suggest that it is ready to fund the $12-$14 billion Diamer-Bhasha mega dam project in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, which even the World Bank or Asian Development Bank refused to touch given Indian reservations. Nudged by China, Pakistan has duly agreed to declare PoK as its fifth province and legitimise its hold over a territory claimed by India. It has been said that military action alone cannot solve the terrorism issue in Jammu and Kashmir, where the ethno-nationalist struggle for 'azaadi' has been usurped by an Islamist movement which is getting increased local backing. As the Indian Army eliminates terrorists in the Valley, critics have pointed out that these actions must be complemented with political outreach. It is ironic that these very critics, who expound political outreach theories, balk at the suggestion of abrogation of Article 370 or 35A, which are instruments of alienation. A greater integration is simply not possible unless Jammu and Kashmir is considered as just another Indian state. The debate must start from that assumption. The Chandigarh Police has confirmed that it has retrieved CCTV footage of the incident of alleged stalking by Haryana BJP chiefs son Vikas Barala and his friend, who followed an IAS officer's daughter's car on her way home. The Chandigarh Police have retrieved footage of five CCTV cameras on the route, capturing the chase of victims vehicle by the alleged vehicle of the accused, a Chandigarh Police officer was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. He confirmed that the footage showed the victims car being followed by a white SUV. The police had received flak earlier on Monday after they said the CCTVs along the route were non-functional. Speaking to The Indian Express, DGP Tejinder Singh Luthra said that the police have procured footage establishing that the victim was being chased by the accused in a Tata Safari. However, he refused to divulge the source of footage, which he said were either from the polices CCTV cameras or those privately installed. According to DNA, police have retrieved footage from five of the seven CCTV cameras installed along the route, and will provide further details at a press conference on Tuesday. The victim had called up the police on Friday night complaining that two youth were chasing her along a stretch of over five km. Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala's son Vikas (23) and Ashish Kumar (27) were initially arrested but were released on bail hours later. The footage is vital to proving the charge that Vikas and Kumar followed 29-year-old Varnika Kundu on 4 August at midnight. While the state BJP ruled out Barala's resignation, it's deputy president Ramveer Bhatti questioned why the 29-year-old woman was driving at odd hours. Congress lashed out at the government over the lack of necessary action against the culprits, a day after Vikas and Kumar were arrested and released on bail. The party's vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, condemned the incident and said the state government must punish the guilty and not "collude" with culprits. Kundu, in her complaint to the police, had said the two men followed her in their SUV, pulled up the vehicle close to her car several times and even tried to block her way. The victim's father, a senior Haryana IAS officer who had taken to social media to urge people to fight crime against women, told that he had full faith in the system and was grateful to Chandigarh Police for "saving" his daughter's life. On Monday, however, he said that the victim's family would move court if the charges against the alleged culprits were diluted. Meanwhile, MP from Chandigarh and BJP leader Kirron Kher assured the victim on Monday that justice would be served and had rubbished the claims of the CCTV footage going missing. She also said that the police were under no political pressure and were doing their job. Kher also rejected claims that the accused were booked under lenient provisions as one of them is related to the state BJP leader. Chandigarh Police had drawn criticism for failing to invoke charges of bid to kidnap a non-bailable offence in the FIR, despite the 29-year-old stating in her complaint that there was allegedly an attempt to kidnap her by Barala and Kumar. The charges in the FIR are all bailable: Section 354 D (Stalking) of IPC, 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (Driving under influence), Section 341 (Wrongful restraint). Both the accused were arrested and released on bail within a few hours on 5 August, when the case was registered. On Monday, SSP Eish Singhal confirmed that police were yet to include charges related to bid to kidnap in the FIR. "We are investigating the case with an open mind. If any section has to be added at a later stage, we will do it," he said. With inputs from PTI Days after a case of stalking and drunk-driving involving the son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala was registered with the Chandigarh Police, leaders across political parties have commented and shown support for the victim, who happens to be the daughter of an IAS officer in Haryana. But members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday resorted to blaming the woman involved , questioning why she was allowed to "stay out so late". "The girl should not have gone out at 12 in the night," state BJP vice-president Ramveer Bhatti told CNN-News18. "Why was she driving so late in the night? The atmosphere is not right. We need to take care of ourselves." BJP spokesperson Shaina NC tweeted with a picture of the victim which was later found to be inaccurate saying "So called victim beti with Vikas Barala... Story as true as Jasleen Kaur of Delhi and Rohtak sisters." Shaina soon deleted the tweet and claimed that her account was hacked by someone, and that she did not intend to send the original tweet. The tweet that @ShainaNC deleted. Don't delete and run away Shaina, as a party spokesperson pls explain pic.twitter.com/Ocf5fycwuN Nidhi Razdan (@RazdanNidhi) August 7, 2017 But others in the BJP did come out in support of the victim. I strongly condemn the eve teasing & stalking incident that has taken place. Men must learn to respect women & thr individual space. 1/2 Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) August 7, 2017 Instead of questioning the girl why she ws out at 12.30am,we must question those individuals & thr mindset tht leads to such harassment. 2/2 Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) August 7, 2017 The Congress has alleged that there is an attempt to brush the case under the carpet to protect Subhash Barala and his son Vikas. Home ministry which directly controls Chandigarh admin&police conspiring to hush up matter to protect Haryana BJP Pres&his son: RS Surjewala pic.twitter.com/OXheKIiG1r ANI (@ANI_news) August 7, 2017 Congress workers also staged a protest in Chandigarh to urge the police to bring the culprits to book. Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala's son stalking case: Congress workers hold protest against BJP in Chandigarh. pic.twitter.com/QNjgV65IsE ANI (@ANI_news) August 7, 2017 The victim had called up the police on Friday night complaining that two youths were chasing her along a stretch of over five kilometres. Vikas (23) and Ashish Kumar (27) were initially arrested but were released on bail hours later. The CCTV footage of the incident was initially claimed by the police to be missing but now has surfaced. While the state BJP ruled out Barala's resignation, its deputy president Bhatti's comments have been questioned by the National Commission for Women. The victim, in her complaint to the police, had said the two men followed her in their SUV, pulled up the vehicle close to her car several times and even tried to block her way. She told ANI on Tuesday, "I feel it might have been easier if they (the accused) didn't have connections, but it's not over till it's over." Whether or not we win this, I know it has raised awareness... If I don't win this, may be the next one will, may be one after that: Varnika pic.twitter.com/Dl1jgAYpnw ANI (@ANI_news) August 7, 2017 Her father, a senior officer in the state government who had taken to social media to urge people to fight crime against women, told that he had full faith in the system and was grateful to Chandigarh Police for "saving" his daughter's life. On Monday, however, he said that the victim's family would move court if the charges against the alleged culprits were diluted. Mere paas sabhi parties ke neta aaye. Maine request kiya hai koi politics na layen. Kewal BJP ke taraf se koi sandesh nhi mila hai: VS Kundu pic.twitter.com/PdKBoJVUUa ANI (@ANI_news) August 7, 2017 DGP has assured me all CCTV footage on the route will be secured and taken as evidence: VS Kundu, girl's father #ChandigarhStalking pic.twitter.com/AMYYxTC8hN ANI (@ANI_news) August 7, 2017 MP from Chandigarh and BJP leader Kirron Kher assured the victim on Monday that justice would be served and had rubbished the claims of the CCTV footage going missing. She also said that the police were under no political pressure and were doing their job. Kher also rejected claims that the accused were booked under lenient provisions as one of them is related to the state BJP leader. The police, too, has denied claims that they were under political pressure in this case. "We are investigating the case from every angle, all cases are different and should not be compared," Eish Singhal, Chandigarh SSP said. Not under any pressure, if we were why would we register FIR on very first day? : Eish Singhal, SSP Chandigarh on Vikas Barala stalking case pic.twitter.com/j9FUK5XuCI ANI (@ANI_news) August 7, 2017 The Mumbai Police arrested an IT software professional on Tuesday morning, for allegedly stalking and following a woman to her Lokhandwala house, ringing her doorbell and standing outside her building at 2 am on Sunday night. The accused has been arrested: Bharat Gaikwad, Senior police inspector, Amboli Police station, Mumbai pic.twitter.com/PT9aDceCXw ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 The victim, Aditi Nagpaul, told the media that the stalker came to her house at 2 am and asked for water. When she ignored his requests, he got angry. Later, when they checked with security officials, it was found that the stalker already knew Nagpaul's residence and had entered the building saying he was a guest. Prior to this incident, Nagpaul was travelling with another woman and two kids in a car. The police told Hindustan Times that she was followed by a man later identified as Malad resident Niteshkumar Sharma. Sharma left only after Nagpaul approached security, said senior police inspector Bharat Gaikwad. On Monday night, she narrated her ordeal on social media. As her Facebook and Twitter posts went viral, social media citizens demanded quick action. An FIR under Section 354 (D) (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code was also filed. This incident, similar to the stalking incident that shocked Chandigarh on Saturday, has again raised questions over women's safety across India. Raipur: The authorities here have ordered an inquiry into a recent incident, in which security personnel allegedly molested the girl students of a state-run residential school during a cultural programme held ahead of Raksha Bandhan in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. The district administration has constituted a five-member panel to look into the allegation and the police too have launched a probe after lodging a case in this regard. The incident allegedly took place on 31 July, when a Raksha Bandhan programme was organised by the CRPF troopers at a residential school in Palnar village under Kuakonda police station, Dantewada collector Saurabh Kumar told PTI. The paramilitary force, deployed to counter Naxal extremism in the area, has been organising such events at Palnar for the last nine years. Nearly 500 girls took part in the event, to be telecast on the local news channels, and tied rakhi to the CRPF personnel, said Kumar. "On 1 August, we received a complaint from the hostel warden that three girls were searched by the security personnel on the pretext of frisking, which should not be done with kids", he added. The collector said on 2 August, he went to the hostel, along with the Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) and local CRPF Deputy Inspector General, and spoke to the girls in the presence of women officials, including the warden. "The girls said they were physically searched by the men in uniform when they were returning from the toilet", he said. Kumar added that according to the girls, one securityman physically searched them while another kept watching the act. "Based on their statements, a five-member committee, headed by the Dantewada zila panchayat chief executive officer, was formed to probe the matter", he said. The other members of the panel are the Dantewada additional superintendent of police (ASP), sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), district education officer (DEO) and tehsildar. Subsequently, an FIR was lodged against the two unidentified security personnel under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Kuakonda police station, said Kumar. The CCTV footage obtained from the hostel premises was also being analysed, he added. "We are in constant touch with the CRPF, which is also investigating the matter at its level, and trying our best to identify the accused, so that the harshest punishment can be meted out to them", said the collector. New Delhi: Justice Dipak Misra, the senior most judge in the Supreme Court, will be the 45th Chief Justice of India, succeeding incumbent JS Khehar. An official notification announcing Misra's appointment was issued by the law ministry on Tuesday. One of the most eloquent judges in the apex court, Justice Misra, 63, has been a part of several key verdicts, such as sending Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon and four men who raped and killed a physiotherapy intern to the gallows. Justice Misra, who will have a tenure of over 13 months as the CJI after he takes over on 28 August, has a sensitive assignment on hand, the vexatious title dispute in the Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid case. His tenure will be a busy one, for as the CJI he will be part of benches deciding on crucial issues such as, apart from the Ayodhya title case, the Cauvery waters dispute, SEBI-Sahara payment row, BCCI reforms, the Panama Paper leaks and on privacy policy. Justice Misra, who was elevated to the apex court bench on 10 October, 2011, from the Delhi High Court, where he was the chief justice, has already presided over several key cases and verdicts. He headed the bench which, in an unprecedented pre-dawn hearing in 2015 when the doors of the apex court were opened at 1 AM, rejected last-ditch efforts by Memon to get his execution stayed. Justice Misra also headed a three-judge bench which upheld the Delhi High Court's verdict sentencing to death the four convicts of the sensational 16 December, 2012, gangrape-cum-murder case of Delhi. The "brutal, barbaric and diabolic nature" of the crime could create a "tsunami of shock" to destroy a civilised society, the verdict, penned by Justice Misra, had said. He headed the apex court bench which upheld the constitutional validity of 156-year-old penal laws on defamation, holding that the "reputation of one cannot be allowed to be crucified at the altar of the other's right of free speech". In an order, hailed by nationalist organisations, Justice Misra mandated the playing of the national anthem before the screening of films in cinema halls. Another significant judgement by Justice Misra was the one directing states and union territories to upload FIRs on websites within 24 hours of their registration for enabling accused and others to file appropriate pleas in the courts for redress. Justice Misra, who was enrolled as an advocate in 1977, had practised in constitutional, civil, criminal, revenue, service and sales tax matters in the Orissa High Court and Tribunals before being elevated to the High Court bench. He was appointed Additional Judge of the Orissa High Court in January, 1996, after which he was transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in March 1997. In 2009, Justice Misra became the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court and assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in May 2010. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 10 October, 2011. Editor's note: This is the first in a series of three ground reports from Doka La that look at the state of the region in light of the fluctuating animosity between India and China. Around fifty days into the India-China border row over Sikkim, the situation at the tri-junction remains tense. Even as Beijing and New Delhi play mind games, a different kind of contest is unfolding in freezing Doka La, where 250 Indian Army soldiers are facing down 250 troops from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) On 2 August, China issued a "fact sheet", claiming India had reduced its troop numbers in Doka La from 400 to 40. India, for once, responded. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj denied any troop reduction and the foreign ministry backed her up. Firstpost has learnt that 250 soldiers of the battle-hardened Jat regiment have been stationed at Doka La in two layers. A third layer comprising the Bofors guns artillery that cut its teeth during the 1999 Kargil War is primed to strike and pummel the enemy. India and China have a pact: At the Line of Actual Control (LAC), there must be an equal number of soldiers. Hence, the exact number of troops deployed by either side. A Chinese defence ministry spokesman boasted on 24 July: "It's easier to shake a mountain than the PLA." Perhaps the Chinese should have noted what British journalist Edmund Candler wrote of the Jats in his book The Sepoy: It takes earthquakes and volcanoes to turn a regiment of these hard-bitten men out of a position they have been given to hold." The position given to the Jats to hold now is Doka La. From all indications, it will be very difficult for the PLA to shake the taller Jats from their perch. More so because the terrain favours the Indian Army, which is proficient in mountain warfare. Fully prepared The first layer of the Indian Army has six-foot-tall Jats, all of them, with cameras. Which will only make the shorter PLA troops crane their necks upwards even more. Their marching orders are to keep a sharp eye on the enemy and capture their movements. Some of them are familiar with Mandarin. They will also keep their ears open. If the PLA attempts to make a move, the first wave of Indian soldiers will bear the brunt of the attack but hopefully not before they warn their heavily armed brethren. The soldiers in the second layer have been warned not to lower their guard and come out all guns blazing at any signs of aggression from the enemy camp. Patience is the buzzword at Doka La. The image that springs to mind is the hidden hand of the Dragon and the alertness of the crouching tiger. In their tents, the armies grab a quick bite, a sip of water or even a nap. Sleep is always welcome. Anything to distract from the jangling nerves. The bulk of the Indian Army is only 10 kilometres away from the tri-junction. A Punjabi soldier tells Firstpost: "At Doka La, we're nose-to-nose with the enemy. Barely 250 metres separates us." The soldier adds that a Black Cat platoon was the first to reach the spot after the border row kicked off. Then the Jat regiment was called in from the base camp at Nathu La. Another journalist backs up this claim, saying he walked right up to the Indian position at Doka La. New bunkers are being built. The ground is being mined to preempt the Chinese attack. Machine-gun nests are being placed at strategic points, and soldiers are performing battle drills at least twice a day. But restraint is still the buzzword, the journalist wrote, speaking about the Indian Army's preparations. Which could be the reason Firstpost was not allowed entry beyond a point at Nathu La. Apparently, the media has been kept out of Doka La because of China propensity to use its state media to distort reports from other outlets. Stopped several kilometres from ground zero, Firstpost spoke to soldiers at Nathu La. They told us that that the Jat regiment has been told to keep calm and beware of PLA's "creep" strategy. New Delhi sees Beijing's rhetoric as part of the psychological warfare that it wages against all countries. However, it considers the rhetoric blunted by India's response. A soldier stationed at Nathu La says that the PLA were making preparations much before they tried to extend a Class 4 road into Doka La. He also says while Indian Army bunkers are makeshift, those of the PLA are sturdier. But we are ready to counter-attack. Our supply line is uninterrupted and our three-tier defence is unassailable, he says. An army officer tells Firstpost that come September, Doka La will be snowed under. Bunkers have been cleaned. Extreme cold weather is expected from September to October, he says. Each bunker can accommodate seven soldiers. There are an estimated 1,200 bunkers in Nathu La. Meanwhile, China has been ramping up the rhetoric. On 4 August, it stated that it had run out of patience and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Indian troops from Doka La. The peace and tranquility of which Sushma Swaraj spoke in the Rajya Sabha on 3 August appears to have withered away. Nathu La is 14,000 feet above ground. At the tri-junction, the dagger-shaped Chumbi Valley points straight at our slender Chicken's Neck (Siliguri Corridor). India sees the PLA's efforts to build a road into Doka La, which Bhutan considers "disputed territory", as a direct threat to her national security. India's security apparatus is worried that China's game plan is to cut off India's contact with her North East. We were ordered to stop the Chinese penetration into Doka La," a soldier tells Firstpost, speaking on the condition of anonymity. But before we actually stopped them, they demolished some of our bunkers at Lalten Chowky. He says the army base camp is just 15 kilometres away from the ugly standoff. The mind of the soldier "Not only is the border tense but things are tense at home too. Do we handle the border or our families?" a soldier asks, displaying a string of WhatsApp messages. To keep spirits up, senior officers give their "boys" deployed at the tri-junction daily pep talks. They are gently reminded that, whatever the cost, they are to keep an even keel. Whenever a soldier returns from duty, senior officers make it a point to approach him," an army officer says. "We talk to them and ease their worries. If we spot signs of anger, depression or irritation, we take him off duty. The psychological warfare from both sides can take a toll on even the best of soldiers. In such a tense situation, it becomes crucial that no soldier slips up." The officer adds that within 48 hours of the 18 June standoff, an entire company based at Gangtok was deployed at Doka La. The company comprised 3,000 soldiers. The Chinese reciprocated India's gesture. Indian soldiers have constructed helipads on Sikkim's hilly terrain. The long grass has been flattened with the help of villagers from Kupuk and Julup. Soldiers usually make friends with the locals over a cup of tea. Mangal Jeet Rai, a resident of Kupuk village tells Firstpost: "My son is in the army. So I know the difficulties the men in uniform face while serving the nation. They keep us safe." Rai says three youth from Julup show their appreciation for the soldiers by providing them with chickens. Village elders say that if war comes, they will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the army. KB Rai, an ex-servicemen, says that when winter comes, villagers will move to the Gangtok base camp. However, the Jat soldiers will remain. Braving the cold. Guarding the frontier, right up to the tri-junction. Their eyes peeled for what lies beyond. Manoj Kumar is a Chandigarh-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. The potential for an explosion of anger in Kashmir has increased exponentially over the past few days. For, if there is one issue that unites Kashmiris and generates a feeling that their identity is under threat, it's the idea that "outsiders" may be allowed to settle here permanently. It was this fear that lurked behind the uprising of 2008, following the transfer of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board. That, let us remember, was the initial uprising that set off the chain of events that eventually led to the very challenging situation currently in place. "Outsiders" are prohibited from buying property or seeking government employment in the state because of a proclamation by the last maharaja of Kashmir, in January 1927. Ironically, his order was in response to a demand made by Dogras and Pandits, who feared that Punjabis were a threat to their stranglehold over higher and clerical jobs, respectively. It is pertinent to remember that the same maharaja, Hari Singh, signed the instrument of accession to India in 1947. Most Kashmiris mistakenly believe that the ban on outsiders who are not state subjects stems from Article 370 of the Constitution. But that is not so. In fact, that hastily drafted article vouchsafed the right of the state's separate constituent Assembly to reject any Indian laws beyond the basic areas of accession defence, foreign relations and communication. The relationship between the state and India was then worked out through the New Delhi Agreement in 1952. Article 35A was inserted into the Constitution of India through a presidential order in 1954, to guarantee that the maharaja's ban on outsiders would remain. It actually makes little difference in practical terms, for domicile rights apply in other states too. But Article 370 (and now 35A as well) has become a totem a symbol of the fact that Kashmir has not completely been integrated into India. That is why it excites strong emotions, both within Kashmir and among BJP, RSS and the "nationalists". Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has done well to oppose the legal challenge to Article 35A. And since the Article has been challenged in the Supreme Court, which will give its verdict next month, the issue has assumed explosive potential. It is better that the party in power in the state takes up this issue, rather than leave it to avowed secessionists. For, such are the ironies of Kashmir that those who generally insist that they want nothing to do with India would shrilly contest an issue regarding constitutional provisions. Mufti succinctly worded the issue while inaugurating a conference in New Delhi recently. The question, she said, is, "How much is the idea of India willing to accommodate the idea of Kashmir?" Personally, she said, the idea of India for her included Indira Gandhi. (The former prime minister had treated Mufti like a niece when the latter's father was in the Congress). Some observers wondered if that was a political signal. The chief minister seemed to be in a mood to reach out even to the Opposition in Kashmir. Her speech endorsed Sheikh Abdullah even though her father and the Abdullahs were bitter rivals. She dug in her heels against unitary nationhood. She pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir had defied the 'two-nation theory' to join India in 1947 on certain assurances and conditions, but had faced dishonesty, including the "dismissal of governments, charges of sedition, hanging, and more security forces". Other leaders, like National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah, have also warned of the explosive potential of this issue. The central government, for its part, has done well to place before the Supreme Court through Attorney General KK Venugopal that this is a sensitive matter that needs larger debate. This indicates that the Centre is aware of its explosive potential. Even though its a long-established objective of the BJP and its predecessor, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, it would be foolhardy to move ahead on it when there are such great challenges to national security from Kashmiri militancy, from Pakistan, and from China. New Delhi: The Election Commission on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it will be able to conduct the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls using EVMs with paper trail if it gets 73,500 VVPAT machines by September from the manufacturers. The poll panel, which maintained that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) cannot be tampered with, told the apex court that around 70,000 Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) units would be required for the Gujarat polls scheduled later this year. It said that around 48,000 units were expected to be delivered by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) by 31 August while another 25,500 such units would be delivered by September. "If the said consignment of VVPATs is delivered on time, the Election Commission expects to be able to conduct the elections to the Gujarat legislative assembly completely with the use of VVPATs," the poll panel told the apex court in its affidavit. The VVPAT machine is connected with EVMs and dispenses a paper proof for the voters so that they can verify their vote is cast correctly. The ECI further said that currently it was in possession of 53,500 VVPAT units. "It is pertinent to point out herein that the Election Commission of India (ECI) currently has 53,500 of VVPAT units in its possession and the number of VVPAT units required for conducting election to the Gujarat legislative assembly is 70,000 units. "The ECI expects to receive the delivery of 48,000 VVPAT units from BEL and ECIL by August 31, 2017 and another 25,500 VVPAT units in September 2017," the poll panel said. It, however, said that though there has been a debate over alleged EVM tampering but "no political party or person" was able to demonstrate how these machines could be tampered with during the course of open EVM challenge. The ECI's affidavit was filed in pursuance to the apex court's July 6 directive asking it to file a response on the possibility of using EVMs with VVPATs in the Gujarat polls. The apex court is hearing a plea filed by a Gujarat Patidar leader seeking the use of either ballot paper or EVMs with VVPAT for the assembly elections. Petitioner Reshma Vithabhai Patel, the convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, which was in the forefront of the Patel quota agitation, had claimed that the EVMs were not "fully reliable, foolproof, tamper-proof or hacker-proof". The ECI should be asked to replace EVMs with ballot paper or to ensure VVPAT for every EVM, she had demanded. Patel's plea had also alleged that the names of thousands of members of a "particular community" were missing from voter lists in the 2015 municipal corporation polls. It had sought the court's direction to the ECI to prevent this in future. She has said that the Gujarat High Court had erred in not appreciating that the Supreme Court had passed its judgement on 18 October 2013, asking to ensure polling through EVMs with paper trail, but despite that it was not implemented by the ECI and the State Election Commission. Congress candidate Ahmed Patel defeated the BJP nominee in a bitterly fought Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat after late night dramatic developments saw the Election Commission reject the votes of two dissident MLAs of the main Opposition party for violating electoral rules. Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi beat Balwantsinh Rajput, till recently the party's chief whip in the state Assembly before defecting to the BJP, polling 44 votes, in the first RS polls in Gujarat in two decades which saw a contest instead of official candidates of major parties getting elected unopposed. Rajput got 38 votes. BJP chief Amit Shah made his maiden entry into the house of elders and so did party nominee and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, clinching 46 votes each, an EC official said. "This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery," Patel, who secured a fifth Rajya Sabha term after the tough electoral fight, tweeted after his victory. "I am happy and I thank my party leadership, my MLAs, party's rank and file who worked like a family. It was a tough election which we won," he said. A defeat for Patel, apart from being seen as a personal setback to Sonia, would have left Congress rank and file hugely demoralised in a state where Assembly elections are to take place later this year. The EC's decision to cancel the votes of two Congress MLAs brought down the requirement for an outright victory for a candidate to 44 from 45. Ahmed Patel secured 44, but would have won with even lesser number of votes given the fact that Rajput could clinch only 38. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said BJP would legally challenge the EC's decision rejecting the votes of two Congress MLAs who had backed his party. Before counting was taken up following the Election Commission's order rejecting the votes cast by Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavjibhai Patel for allegedly showing their ballots to Amit Shah in violation of rules, a high-voltage drama unfolded at Nirvachan Sadan, the poll panel's headquarters in New Delhi. TV footages, however, showed that Patel displayed his ballot to an unidentified person present in the voting hall. Congress' media in-charge Randeep Surjewala and spokesman Shaktisinh Gohil had earlier claimed the two disgruntled MLAs had shown their ballots to Shah. The poll panel passed the order after viewing the video recording of the voting process, saying the two electors had "violated the voting procedure and secrecy of ballots." The usually quiet polls for the upper chamber of Parliament turned acrimonious and chaotic after the Congress approached the Election Commission demanding cancellation of the votes of Gohil and Patel for having shown the ballots to people other than the party's authorised representatives. Three delegations each of the Congress and BJP made a dash for 'Nirvachan Sadan' within a span of two hours, with the former demanding that the votes of Gohil and Patel be declared invalid, and the latter insisting that counting be taken up "immediately". The poll panel finally, accepted the Congress's contention and asked the returning officer to reject the votes of its two MLAs and proceed with counting. That the contest for three Rajya Sabha seats would go down to the wire had become clear the very day when Balwantsinh Rajput, the Congress chief whip in the state Assembly until a few days ago, defected to the BJP and was fielded to take on Ahmed Patel, the high-profile political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. According to the rules, voters for the Rajya Sabha elections have to show their ballots to authorised representative of their respective parties before casting them. Terming Congress' objections as "baseless", a delegation of BJP leaders, including Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Piyush Goyal, approached the EC demanding immediate counting of votes, contending that validity of votes once put in ballot boxes cannot be questioned. Prasad said the Congress was acting out of fear of losing the poll, in which its senior leader Ahmed Patel is locked in a tight fight with a Congress rebel fielded by the BJP. The BJP fancied its chances of getting a third candidate elected as, apart from Rajput, five other Congress MLAs had resigned with two joining the BJP with him, bringing down the Congress's strength in the 282-member House to 51 from 57. It hoped to make further inroads into the Congress' diminished flock of MLAs, which it did. However, that wasn't enough to ensure Rajput's victory. WHY DONT YOU READ THESE? New Delhi: The government has asked all universities and educational institutions to take students to memorials of freedom fighters and residences of martyrs in the run-up to the 70th Independence day celebrations next week. Students at various universities and educational institutions across the country will also take a pledge on Wednesday at 9.30 am along with teachers and non-teaching staff to make the country a "terrorism-free, caste-free, corruption-free, uncleanness-free and poverty-free society". "Faculty should be requested to conduct guided tour of students to memorials of freedom fighters and places/houses of any martyr from military, para-military and police, to acquaint the students about contribution of the freedom fighters," UGC secretary JS Sandhu said in a communication to vice chancellors of all universities. "Prime minister's endeavour to have a terrorism-free, caste-free, corruption-free, uncleanness-free and poverty-free society would only actualise with the help of the society and make his vision a reality. Accordingly you are requested to kindly organise pledge-taking ceremony on 9 August at 9.30 am," he added. A quiz competition to sensitise students about the contribution of our freedom fighters and the events as they unfolded during the freedom struggle besides talks by eminent educationists, debates and declamation contests are among the activities listed by UGC for commemoration of 75th year of 'Quit India Movement' and 70th year of India's Independence. Jammu: An Indian Army jawan was killed in Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The Indian troops retaliated "strongly and effectively" to the Pakistani firing, an Army officer said. "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Krishnagati sector at around 1450 hours today," the officer said. In the firing, Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries, the officer said. Sugra, aged 21, belonged to Sugri village of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand. He leaves behind his parents. "Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the Army said. On Monday, an Army jawan was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. On 7 August, the Pakistani Army had violated the ceasefire by firing at Indian posts along the LoC in Baba Khori belt of Naushera sector of Rajouri district. Till 1 August, there had been 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures of the Indian Army. Mumbai: Expressing confidence that Chabahar Port in Iran will be ready for operations by 2018, Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said India is considering sending wheat to Afghanistan via the strategically located port. "Government of India is going to send one lakh tons of wheat to Afghanistan, and we are trying to send that via Chabahar," the minister said at an event here, days after his visit to Iran. He said the civil construction of the port project, being developed by India, is complete, and the government is in a position to place orders worth Rs 400 crore for mechanised equipment and cranes. "I feel we will commence the operations by 2018," he said. During his visit, Gadkari said, he met Iran President Hasan Rouhani, and construction of a railway line liking the port with Russia was discussed. "Now, we are building a railway line in Iran. From Chabhar, we can go to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Russia," he said. An official statement had said on Monday that India and Iran had expressed commitment for early completion and operationalisation of Chabahar Port. Clamour is growing against the move to abrogate the State subject law with a united Opposition threatening to launch a statewide agitation against the central and the state government, if the Article 35A, a provision of Article 370, is fiddled with. Charu Wali Khan, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, who is settled outside the state, has challenged legality of Article 35-A claiming in her petition to Supreme Court that the said law takes away her succession rights away and disenfranchises her. This is the second time this provision has been challenged in Supreme Court. In 2014, an NGO had filed a writ petition seeking to strike Article 35A down; the case is still pending in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court sent notices to both state and Centre government last month for a response. Advocate General K Venugopal told the court that the provision raises several "sensitive questions so the point about its legality demands a larger debate." The court has referred the matter to a three-judge bench and set a six-week deadline for its disposal. This has kicked up a political storm in Valley. On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Opposition parties joined hands against any move to revoke the Article 35-A, which gives special rights and privileges to permanent residents of the state and empowers its legislature to frame laws. The provision was added to the Constitution by a presidential order issued in 1954 under Article 370. After chairing a meeting of opposition leaders National Conference president and former Union minister Farooq Abdullah said that if Article 35-A is revoked, there will be revolt much larger than the Amarnath Yatra Agitation, that left at least 60 people dead in 2008 and rejuvenated the 'Azadi' movement in Kashmir. Don't forget the Amarnath Land row. People rose overnight; this will be a far greater revolt, Abdullah said while addressing a press conference at his residence in Srinagar. Agenda of BJP & RSS is to erode the autonomous structure of the state (Jammu and Kashmir), that is what their plan is, he said. Abdullah said the meeting of the Opposition leaders in Jammu and Kashmir was called to deliberate and discuss the implications of the abrogation of Article 35 (A) in the state. The chief minister (Mehbooba Mufti) has said she will quit the chair if 35-A is removed, hope she stands by it, he added. Senior advocate and constitutional expert, Zafar Shah, told Firstpost that, although, there is a stronger case for Jammu and Kashmir it also needs Government of India's support. But, he said, the situation in court today is different, the Government of India has refused to file an affidavit. That means New Delhi has not committed itself to support, or not to support Article 35-A, it has kept its options open. In earlier cases, in last sixty years- whenever such an occasion had arisen the Government of India had filed an affidavit and defended the position. This is for the first time when no such affidavit has been filed by the central government. That is the reason situation has become so grave today, Shah said in an interview with Firstpost. The defense of it is left to the state government, now the state government has a problem because it is in coalition with a party whose workers have filed the petition. The BJP here, as part of Jammu and Kashmir government, has filed an affidavit in the court saying the petition should be dismissed. This is a paradox! he added. Meanwhile, BJP has said that the provision has done more harm to the state than any other provision of the law. It is a constitutional mistake. It was incorporated into a presidential order and not through the parliamentary process, Surinder Amabardar, a BJP MLC from Jammu said recently. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had recently openly threatened her own ally saying that if there is going to be any tinkering with the special status of the state, then there will be no one to hoist the tricolor in the Valley. Who is behind this litigation? It is none other than the BJP and RSS workers. They want this legislation to go but we will fight them, Abdullah said. The issue could snowball into a major controversy in coming days as the Valley is already reeling under unrest and street protests after the death of Burhan Wani. It has become a serious issue for the people of the state. They must leave no stone unturned to defend this provision. All the politicians of the state should unite and defend it. This law benefits all the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of whether you belong to BJP, PDP, NC or PDP. Since the BJP is pushing its agenda through the courts, they don't want this Article to be there. It is left to the people who don't share that ideology, Shah said. Therefore it is very important that state government defends this provision. And the defense would mean, apart from engaging the lawyers for defending in the courts, they must also persuade New Delhi (BJP) to ask its workers to withdraw the petition, he added. A united faction of Hurriyat Conference has called for Kashmir Bandh on 12 August against the proposed abrogation of Article 35-A, a statement issued by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik said on Monday. Srinagar: Police have unearthed a module of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit by arresting three persons, who were luring youth into militancy, in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. On specific inputs, Baramulla Police assisted by 29 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF laid a joint naka at Behrampora Tilgam crossing and apprehended three suspects, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Baramulla, Mir Imtiyaz Hussain said. He said the three persons have been identified as Waseem Ahmed Mir, a resident of Andergam Pattan, Umer Hassan Rather and Akif Hussain Rather, both residents of Achabal Sopore. Hussian said security forces recovered two Chinese pistols along with ammunition from their possession. On their sustained questioning, the SSP said, the trio admitted they are working for Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit and were luring young boys into militancy. These individuals have been long time conduits of terrorists in north Kashmir, playing a major role in enticing young boys to join militancy, he said. The network was being spearheaded by Hizbul Mujahideen commander Parvez Wani alias Mubashir, a resident of Galoora in Handwara area of the neighbouring Kupwara district. Hussain said the network of these militants was not only luring young boys to join militancy, but also used to provide all logistic support to ultras in Pattan and Sopore areas. A case under sections of 13 Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, [ULA (P) Act] has been registered in and further investigation is going on, the SSP said. He said though there are unabated attempts by such elements to disturb peace and order in the area by way of recruiting young boys to militancy, all such efforts have been thwarted by police and security forces so far. "It is a humble appeal to parents and conscientious citizens to come forward and help police and security forces to prevent such vulnerable youngsters falling prey to terrorist designs being lured to killing fields," Hussain said. Srinagar: Militants opened fire on a security forces' party and managed to escape the cordon after an ambush was laid to trap the ultras in Pulwama district of Kashmir, police said on Tuesday. Security forces laid an ambush at Drubgam in Pulwama district late on Monday night following information about possible movement of militants through the area, a police official said. He said the militants, noticing the presence of security forces, opened fire at them and fled from the place. There were no casualties in the incident, the official said. Security forces carried out a search operation in the area but called it off on Tuesday morning without any positive result, he added. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the CBI for filing the same report regarding its probe into disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmad that was placed on record last time, saying that the case was "not transferred to the agency for fun". "There is nothing new. It is the same report of 17 July. We did not adjourn matter on that date to examine this two-and-a-half page scrap today," a bench of Justices GS Sistani and Chander Shekhar said to the agency. It directed the CBI to file a fresh status report before the next date of hearing on 6 September. "We have not transferred the matter to the CBI for fun," the bench said, adding that the July 17 report only showed "cosmetic steps" being taken by the agency. The bench said it lists matters for hearing "at the cost of others". "What was the idea of listing it today? Just to say the report has been filed," it asked the CBI. During the hearing, the bench asked CBI what happened in the interrogation of the persons accused of assaulting the missing student the night before his disappearance. The agency replied it will indicate the same in its status report. The CBI also said there was progress in its investigation and it was sure it will "crack the case", but added that it would take some time. It also said that as part of its probe, it was also examining the earlier investigation carried out by the Delhi Police. The high court had on 16 May ordered the CBI to take over the probe into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the student since October 2016. The order was passed on the plea of Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, who moved the court on 25 November last for tracing her son, a first-year MSc Biotechnology student who went missing from JNU hostel Mahi Mandavi. The student went missing on 15 October, 2016 after he had an altercation with some students belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the campus. Later, students of the RSS-affiliated ABVP had denied any involvement in his disappearance. New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Tuesday took out a protest march, demanding that the administration abstain from infringing upon the rights of teachers. The other demands of the association included adhering to hostel manual for appointment of hostel wardens, reappointment of a professor who was removed without following procedures, and withdrawal of an illegal enquiry against a professor. "Stop the illegal inquiry against Professor Nivedita Menon, stop re-opening of Executive Council-ratified decisions and retrospective application of rules, and end arbitrary and humiliating procedures in wardenship renewal," JNUTA secretary Pradeep Shinde urged the administration, in a release. Professor Menon is accused of addressing some protesting students in violation of rules. Teachers' representatives, who wanted to meet vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, submitted their demands in a memorandum to Rector I Chintamani Mohapatra as the vice chancellor was unavailable. "The JNUTA wishes to remind the administration that the varsity is no one's personal fiefdom. It is an institution that belongs to the people and we are all collectively responsible for ensuring that it delivers on the purpose for which it exists," the association said in the memorandum. In the latest twist in the contentious debate over the use of Hindi in Karnataka, on Monday, the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) asked the regional heads of all nationalised, rural and scheduled banks to make it mandatory for all staff to learn Kannada within six months, according to media reports. The Times of India reported that KDA chairman professor SG Siddaramaiah issued a circular to the banks, stating that any employees unable to learn Kannada within six months should be relieved of duty. "I have sensed that there has been a lack of will in implementing the local language in many banks. We can't ignore the fact that not paying due respects to the local language can lead to conflicts in future. The banks have to take up the said measures on emergency basis," Siddaramaiah said, according to the report. Siddaramaiah also said that all information should be provided in Kannada so that people could easily conduct their affairs and that the RBI has specified this in their guidelines, Deccan Herald reported. He added that many banks were disregarding the rules and said that they used Karnataka's three-language formula as an excuse not to give information in Kannada, which disproportionately affected the poor. Siddaramaiah also directed bank officials to submit a status report and promised to visit all banks and take stock of the situation, according to the report. Protests over the use of Hindi language on signboards in Bengaluru metro stations escalated in July after pro-Kannada group Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) reportedly protesting the imposition of Hindi blackened the signboards of multiple metro stations. In early July, Hindi words were found masked from the signboards in Chickpete and Majestic metro stations. However, it was unclear who was responsible for the incident. In the last week of June, Twitter users started the #NammaMetroHindi Beda campaign to urge the state government to banish the use of Hindi. The campaign sought removal of Hindi signboards from all Namma Metro stations and also stopping announcements in Hindi. As anger built up on social media amid the height of the campaign, Union minister Ananth Kumar backed the use of trilingual signboards. He told PTI: "The railways has been using three languages. In Namma Metro too, the first priority should be Kannada. There should not be any compromise on that. Next Hindi and English should be used." In June, KRV staged a protest demanding that the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) end the practice of Hindi signboards in metro stations as well as announcements. KRV argued that Hindi was not being used in metro trains in neighbouring states of Kerala and Maharashtra. However, BMRCL defended the usage of Hindi and said that it was only implementing the Centre's orders. They said that non-Hindi speaking states were directed to use three languages, state's official language, Hindi, and English, for signboards, announcements and public material for public information in all metro stations. The Union Urban Development Ministry had asked BMRCL to ensure Hindi signage is used in the metros new Phase 1 stretch that was inaugurated in June. The anti-Hindi agitation found support from Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, Business Standard reported. He asked the officials to find out what policy was followed in non-Hindi states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. With inputs from agencies The Maharashtra government has revised the history textbooks that form a part of the state curriculum. Sadanand More, chairman of the History subject committee of the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, told Mumbai Mirror that the revisions were made to orient the curriculum with a Maharashtra-centric view of history. The revisions are an erasure of the Mughals from some parts of the curriculum and a renewed focus on the history of the Maratha empire. But what is the most startling thing about these revisions is that they also eliminated a chapter called India and the World which earlier discussed developments in Europe and the Middle East during the medieval era. This means that there is no discussion of how Indian numerals made their way across the world, the rise of republicanism in France (the preamble to our Constitution reads Liberty, Equality, Justice and Fraternity, a hat tip to those events). The rise of Islam in Arabia is also an important element that has been left out. The many reasons that made India the way it was at that time often had overseas causes. Without this, it is fully impossible to create the basic framework for the India in that period. The renewed focus on the Maratha empire is most welcomed. The empire doesn't often get the attention it should from our History Books. The Marathas were the key political force in India between the height of Mughal power and the onset of British administration. Around 1760, the Marathas were the largest empire in the sub-continent and they also were the supreme political power in India at that time. Their legacy still remains today in many parts of the country and remains in India as the modern Indian Navy owes its origins to the Maratha Navy, a naval power that could rival the European naval powers in the region. But without adequate context, it is impossible to truly appreciate this empire. The Maratha empire was one that was possible because of openness, tolerance and making the right political decisions at the right time. It is important to place the history in context in order to truly appreciate it. Without a discussion on the Bijapur Sultanate, Aurangazeb's rise to power over other contenders to the throne and the invasion by Ahmed Shah Durani, one can never truly appreciate the history of this empire. The Mughal and Maratha legacy are both equally valuable parts of modern Indian history and in particular equally a part of the modern history of Maharashtra. For example, the third battle of Panipat, where the Marathas were defeated by the Durani Empire of Afghanistan, the Marathas worked to restore Shah Alam II to the throne of the Mughal Empire (albeit Shah Alam II was only a puppet under the Marathas) and then led an army to punish the Afghans for their atrocities in 1772. They sacked fort of Pathargarh and forced the Rohilla Afghans to pay a huge war indemnity. This entire amazing bit of history would not make sense to anyone who doesn't know why the Afghans were invading India, why the Mughal empire was in decline and what the British were up to. Let's look at another instance, this concerning the British in India. There are numerous instances where Chhatrapati Shivaji tried to throw the British out of Bombay for refusing to sell him munitions to aid his war against the Mughals and there is also a case where Chhatrapati Shivaji tried to ask the British for help in Madras when he was on the way to fight his brother in the south. This provides valuable context for the Anglo-Martha wars that would follow and the eventual British control of the sub-continent. The revisions of the Maharashtra text books also leave out the Delhi sultanate and the Suri empire in India, without which most of modern Indian history would be unintelligible. It is important to learn about the sultanate as its organisational legacy still survives today. It's also important to note the introduction of things like land revenue, the rupee and other legacies like the refurbishment of the Grand Trunk Road. How will students be expected to understand the reasons for peasant dissatisfaction that would lead to the war of Maratha independence unless they understand the way India was organised at the time? While the spirit behind the reforms is something to appreciate, these reforms are very short-sighted. Students deserve to know their country's history in full without there being significant omissions. All facts need to be presented to let the narrative be truly comprehended. It is necessary to discuss the two sides of Akbar's legacy, one of which is a legacy that generated a lot of animosity amongst the Rajput states but another that he managed to consolidate India into a political power by cementing Mughal rule. After all, the Mughal empire is a key part of Indian history, just like the British empire or the Mauryan empire. The introduction of post-independence history is one that needs to be celebrated but expanding the curriculum cannot come at the cost of eliminating fundamentals that are necessary to fully grasp it. Even the post-partition history of India is one that still has many problems that can go back to that time. There is the problem of caste, religious unrest and unfortunate political events. These structural problems can only be understood with a firm historical foundation. Even the map of India as we know it cannot be truly comprehended without it. What is the legacy of Hyderabad State (a significant portion of which was made a part of Maharashtra) without an understanding of who the Nizams were and why they declared independence on the Mughal empire collapsing? The dispute about Belgaum, for example, is another such case. A nation's history is what makes the nation that nation. It is very tempting to often recast history with a view to attaining a specific kind of national identity. This is, however, a dangerous road to go down. For the distorted view of events, cherry-picking can result in current events being greatly miscalculated. India has many sensitive problems to deal with as she rises to be a superpower. These problems need to be approached with caution, empathy and understanding. The purpose of teaching history at the school level is to give the students a lens through which they can understand their world. The revisions to the textbook grossly fail in achieving this purpose. They need to be urgently reconsidered. If you are planning to travel to South Mumbai on Wednesday morning, it would be best to avoid the road. However, if you must, the traffic police advises you to plan your commute as per the travel restrictions imposed between Byculla and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) and Mumbai Central and Churchgate. After 57 silent marches in last one year across Maharashtra, the Maratha Kranti Morcha will take place in the financial capital on 9 August. The silent March, which will start from Jijamata Udyan in Byculla at 11 am and terminate at Azad Maidan by 5 pm. However, with more than five lakh members of Maratha community and an additional 10,000 vehicles are likely to enter Mumbai from cities like Pune, Nashik, Kolhapur, Raigad, and Satara, the silent March is expected to cripple the city's traffic mostly during the peak hours. Therefore, to facilitate a smooth flow of vehicles, the Mumbai Traffic Police has decided to close certain roads and install diversions between Byculla and Mumbai Central to CST and Churchgate. Diversions and blockades The traffic department has decided to close some roads and put up parking restrictions for smooth movement of vehicles during Maratha Kranti Morcha. "Due to the Maratha Morcha, it is sure that traffic movement will be disrupted, especially in south Mumbai region. So, to avoid traffic jams and enable smooth flow of vehicles, the police has already diverted some routes and is closing others," a senior traffic official told Firstpost. Routes for vehicles taking part in Morcha The Mumbai Traffic Police has created a special map with designated routes for vehicles taking part in the Maratha Kranti Morcha. According to the Mumbai Traffic Police press release, vehicles coming for the rally will be diverted from Suman Nagar junction through Bhakti Park (East) and will be further allowed to pass through Mumbai port trust marg where provisions to park the vehicles in an open area has been made. After parking their vehicles, agitators will assemble at Jijamata Udyan to participate in the rally. For participants coming from Vashi marg, their vehicles will be allowed from Khadipool toll junction to Shivaji statue (Panjarpol) Chembur, and from Suman nagar junction, vehicles will be allowed to take a left turn to reach the parking area at the Mumbai Port trust. As for protestors coming from Thane, they will be required to arrive at Suman Nagar and from there take a left to reach airport area near the Mumbai port trust. Vehicles (of participants) joining from the Western suburbs can reach the parking area in Mumbai Port Trust from Santacruz-Chembur Link Road through Amar Mahal Junction and divert left from Suman Nagar. Some vehicles from Western suburbs will be allowed to Kalanagar, T Junction Dharavi route to reach Sion Railway Station and take a left turn to drive from Highway Apartment to Suman Nagar. From Suman Nagar, vehicles will take a u-turn and then take a left to reach airport area near Mumbai port trust. Roads to be closed Apart from designated routes for Morcha vehicles, the Mumbai Traffic Police has also closed certain roads, DCP traffic, Ashok Dudhey said on Wednesday. "The road from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road at Dadar Fire Brigade junction will be closed for all vehicles on the south bound road (except emergency vehicles)," he said. Apart from that, north and south bound roads from JJ flyover to Azad Maidan will be closed for all vehicles. Hajarimal Somani Marg to CST will also be closed for all north and south bound traffic. The roads from Metro Junction to BMC head office and from Bhatia Baug to CST junction will also be closed. Both the Byculla bridge and JJ flyover bridge will be closed for vehicle traffic as well. Diversions for Mumbaikars The traffic department suggested alternative routes for daily commuters from King Circle towards P Demello Road, from Dadar TT towards Chaar Raasta, Naigaon crossroad to RAK Marg, from Madame Cama Road towards Hutatma Chowk to Kala Ghoda, from NM Joshi Marg to Lower Parel for Worli Naka, and Marine Drive road to Worli from Haji Ali. Preparations in full swing Seeing the size of the Maratha community that is expected to take part in the Maratha Kranti Morcha on Wednesday, the Mumbai Police, Traffic Police, BMC, Fire Brigade and intelligence units from state and Centre and other agencies held a final meeting on Tuesday to prevent any untoward incident. In fact, BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta and Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar of CID, Special Branch, have drawn a final map of responsibilities for each unit during the Morcha. "The BMC will be making arrangements for toilet and drinking water. And for the first time, we have also built a second gate in the Azad Maidan as per directions of the Mumbai Police to ensure smooth flow of participants," BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta told Firstpost. The new gate in Azad Maidan has been built near Hajarimal Somani Marg, Bombay Gymkhana. As for the police, it's planning to make maximum use of technology for surveillance during the rally. "We are planning to use drones, CCTV cameras, as well as keep a close eye on the social media," Mumbai Police PRO DCP Rashmi Karandikar told Firstpost. "We are going to have technical surveillance as well as civil dress watchers to ensure there is no law and order problem during the Maratha Kranti Morcha in Mumbai," she added. Schools to remain shut Though the Mumbai Police had earlier said that it will let schools decide whether or not to shut down schools on Wednesday, deputy education director, BB Chavhan issued a notification on Tuesday advising all schools in Central and South Mumbai from Sion to Colaba to remain closed on Wednesday due to the Maratha Kranti Morcha. In another development, ANI reported that the dabbawallahs will not be working either on Wednesday. Security agencies are also planning to keep a close vigil on trains arriving to Mumbai. "We have asked the Railway police to keep a vigil on trains from Ahmednagar, Nashik, Kolhapur, Raigad, Satara as the maximum crowds expected from these area," a senior police official said. New Delhi: A total of 310 army personnel have committed suicide since 2014 while 11 cases of fratricide were reported during the period, the government told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Nine officers and 19 junior commissioned officers were among those who committed suicide between 2014 and 31 July, this year, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre stated this while replying to a query on incidents of suicide and fratricide in the Army. Replying to another question on the issue, the minister listed implementation of the Sahayak system along with other steps to address the problem of stress among the army personnel. A senior army officer had said in June that the Army was actively considering recruiting civilian staff in peace stations to reform the colonial-era Sahayak system, in the wake of rising cases of jawans coming out openly against it. Under the system, a soldier is attached to an officer for various work including protecting the officer, maintaining his weapons and helping him carry out his responsibilities. In the course of his written reply, Bhamre also listed ensuring superior quality of clothing, food, travel facilities, recreation and establishment of grievance redressal mechanism as some other steps for management of stress among soldiers. Bhamre said 84 army personnel committed suicide in 2014 while in 2015 and 2016, the number was 78 and 104 respectively. Untill 31 July, the number of army men committing suicide was 44. The minister said 11 cases of fratricide were reported in the army since 2014. He said the defence institute of psychological research had conducted various studies on suicides and fratricides and their findings highlighted the need for steps to address the problem of stress. He said stress management sessions are organised at all major army stations by commanders and psychiatrists at various levels. To a separate question, Bhamre said India and Vietnam have agreed to take forward a proposal for training of Vietnam Air Force personnel on Su-30 aircraft. New Delhi: More than 18,000 cases of stalking were registered in last three years in the country, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. According to the statistics on crime against women tabled by Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir, stalking cases showed a consistent rise in last three years. As per the data, 7,132 cases of stalking were registered in 2016, 6,266 cases in 2015 and 4,699 cases in 2014. Ahir said as many as 8,620 people were arrested for cases related to stalking and 481 convicted for the same in 2016. In 2015, a total of 6,694 people were arrested and 473 were convicted, while in 2014, as many as 5,439 people were arrested and 262 were convicted for stalking-related crimes, the minister said. According to the data, abduction and attempt to abduction cases have also seen a rise in the past few years. In 2014, there were about 57,000 such cases, while in 2015, their number stood at 64,000, it added. New Delhi: This Raksha Bandhan was a special one for 103-year-old Sharbati Devi as she got a chance to tie a rakhi on the wrist of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was invited for the same by the prime minister himself. Devi lost her brother about 50 years ago, and would always miss him, especially on Raksha Bandhan, the PMO said. Smt. Sharbati Devi was extremely delighted to meet the PM & tie a Rakhi. They had a wonderful interaction today. pic.twitter.com/eBscaolvOG PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 7, 2017 Her son wrote to the prime minister who invited the elderly woman and her family to his residence on Monday. Sharbati Devi was extremely delighted to meet the prime minister and tie a rakhi. They had a wonderful interaction, the PMO added. Earlier, some young girls also tied rakhis on the prime minister's wrist. New Delhi: The NIA on Tuesday questioned hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons, Naeem and Naseem, as part of its probe into a money trail to expose how Pakistan sent cash to separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley. National Investigation Agency officials said the Geelani brothers arrived at the NIA headquarters in New Delhi at around 11 am after evading the counter-terror agency's earlier summons. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a doctor who was once based in Pakistan, on 27 July and 1 August. He failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. Geelani's younger son Naseem, who works at an agricultural university in Srinagar, was summoned to appear before NIA on 2 August. He also did not come saying the notice should be served through Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Agriculture Science so that he was permitted to take leave. The NIA has arrested eight separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there. The arrested separatists include Shabir Shah and Altaf Ahmad Shah, who is Geelani's son-in-law. They have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. New Delhi: The number of Indians being trafficked to China after being duped on the pretext of a good salary and a job has seen an increase in this year, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. Citing information received from the Ministry of External Affairs, Union minister of state for home Hansraj G Ahir told Lok Sabha, "In so far as China is concerned, it has been reported that some Indians in China were brought with the promise of good salary and jobs. They were reportedly duped and abandoned by the travel agencies." The (Indian) mission in China arranged for their return to India, he said in a written reply. The data provided by Ahir on "human trafficking cases reported in China" said that while 33 cases have been reported this year, it was 23 last year. The minister added there had also been some cases where "unscrupulous agents had brought Indian workers to Iraq without valid visa". He said the MEA had "issued a standard operating procedure in May, 2016 to be followed by the states on receipt of complaints regarding cheating by illegal agents on the pretext of providing overseas jobs". Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner over alleged "ceasefire violations" by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC). Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian deputy high commissioner JP Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces, Pakistan Foreign Office said. It claimed that a 35-year-old woman was killed in the Karela sector and another woman was injured in Khuiratta Sector in alleged firing by Indian forces on Monday. "The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," the Foreign Office said. The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace along the LoC. He also called on the Indian side to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. New Delhi: Various organisations on Tuesday demanded the release of activist Medha Patkar, currently kept at a hospital in Indore, as they organised a demonstration in the national capital against the "use of police force" to end the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader's indefinite fast. Police removed Patkar on Monday, who was on indefinite fast since 27 July seeking proper rehabilitation of Sardar Sarovar Project-oustees, from Chikhalda in Dhar district, and shifted her to Bombay Hospital in Indore, citing her worsening condition. "Patkar who has been taken to a hospital in Indore is not allowed to meet her colleagues. Only restricted access to one person has been allowed," said Madhuresh, a leader of National Alliance of People's Movement that organised the demonstration at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan. The demonstrators tried to reach the Madhya Pradesh Bhawan to submit a memorandum to the resident commissioner of the state but were stopped by police at a barricade. Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said that in a democratic system, people's voice need to be heard by the rulers but the MP government was "denying" that to them. "At least the government should listen to the affected families and try to resolve the rehabilitation issues faced by them," he said. Later, a delegation including Yadav and senior CPM leader Hannan Mollah submitted the memorandum at MP Bhawan. The memorandum submitted by the demonstrators demanded the Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to "release" Patkar and allow her to meet and discuss the future course of action with her associates. It also demanded "action" against the local police and administrative officers for "high handedness" at Chikhalada, and solving the problems of "40,000 families" affected by Sardar Sarovar dam project. Thousands of families along the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani, Dhar, Alirajpur and Khargone districts are at risk of getting displaced with the closing of gates of Sardar Sarovar Dam in neighboring Gujarat and resultant rise in the water level in its catchment area. The Centre recently gave its nod for closing the gates. The dam is likely to be filled to its capacity by August-end. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking framing of a national yoga policy and making the practice compulsory for students of Class I to VIII across the country. A bench headed by Justice MB Lokur dismissed the plea and said it is for the government to take a decision on such issue. "We are nobody to say what is to be taught in schools. It is none of our business. How can we direct that," the bench said. The apex court said it was not possible for it to grant the relief as sought by petitioners - Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a lawyer and Delhi BJP spokesperson and JC Seth. "What is to be taught in schools is not a fundamental right," it said. Upadhyay had sought a direction to the Ministry of Human Resources Development, NCERT, NCTE and CBSE to "provide standard textbooks of 'yoga and health education' for students of Class I to VIII keeping in spirit various fundamental rights such as right to life, education and equality." The apex court had on 29 November, 2016 asked the Centre to treat the petition as a representation and take a decision. The plea had said, "State has an obligation to provide health facilities to all the citizens, especially to children and adolescents. In a welfare state, it is obligation of the State to ensure the creation and sustenance of conditions congenial to good health." It had said that right to health cannot be secured without providing 'yoga and health education' to all children or framing a 'national yoga policy' to promote and propagate it. Mumbai: A special CBI court in Mumbai which is hearing the Sheena Bora murder case on Monday directed the central agency and the Mumbai Police to produce original statement of accused-turned-approver Shyamvar Rai, former driver of the prime accused Indrani Mukerjea. Police had recorded Rai's statement when he was arrested in the case in August 2015. Judge JC Jagdale passed the order as the court staff could not find a copy of the statement. Rai is being cross-examined by Indrani's lawyer Sudeep Passbola, who was on Monday trying to bring out contradictions between Rai's statement recorded by the police and another recorded by a magistrate. Passbola asked Rai if he had told the police that he had asked Indrani for money. Rai denied making such a statement. Passbola claimed that in his statement to the police, Rai did say so. The defence lawyer wanted to confront Rai with his statement to the police, but its copy was not found in the court record. Special public prosecutor Kavita Patil told the court that the police statement was not a part of the charge sheet because the prosecution is not relying on it. Since the defence never demanded its production before the court, it was possible that the court did not have a copy, she said. The hearing will continue on 11 August. The April 2012 murder of Sheena Bora, Indrani's daughter, came to light in August 2015 after Rai, arrested in another case, spilled the beans, and the Mumbai Police arrested Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and Rai. Later, Indrani's husband Peter Mukerjea, a former media baron, was also arrested. The CBI claimed that financial dispute was the reason for Indrani to hatch the conspiracy to murder Sheena. Beijing: Rejecting India's suggestion for a simultaneous withdrawal of troops to end the standoff at Doka La, China on Tuesday upped the ante, wondering what New Delhi would do if it "enters" Kalapani region in Uttarakhand or Kashmir. India and China have been locked in a face-off in the Doka La area of the Sikkim sector for 50 days after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the area. China claimed it was constructing the road within their territory and has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Doka La plateau. Bhutan says Doka La belongs to it but China claims the area belongs to it and says Thimphu has no dispute with Beijing over it. "Even if there is only one Indian soldier, even for a day it is still a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wang Wenli, Deputy Director General of the Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said. Wang was briefing an Indian media delegation, whose visit was sponsored by the state-run All China Journalists Association (ACJA), on China's stand on the Doka La standoff. "It is impossible to have a dialogue with India at this time. Our people will think our government is incompetent." "Until the Indian side withdraws from the Chinese territory, there will be no substantive talks between us," she said while reiterating Beijing's stand that the only way to end the present crisis on the border was the withdrawal of Indian troops from Doka La. Needling India, she raised the Kashmir issue and also referred to the Kalapani dispute between India and Nepal. "We think it is not doable for the Indian side to use tri-junction as an excuse," she said, referring to Indian External Affairs Ministry's assertion that the road building at the China, India and Bhutan tri-junction in the strategic narrow Chicken's Neck area changes the status quo. "The Indian side has also many tri-junctions. What if we use the same excuse and enter the Kalapani region between China, India and Nepal or even into the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan," she said. "Therefore, using the tri-junction as an excuse does not hold water at all. It will only cause more trouble," Wang said. This is the first time that a Chinese official sought to bring in the Kashmir issue even though such a remark has been made earlier by a scholar in the state-run Global Times. Asked whether China was getting ready for a war with India, Wang said, "I can only say that for the PLA (People's Liberation Army) and for the Chinese government, we have the determination. So, if the Indian side decides to go down the wrong path or still have illusions about this incident, then we have the right to use any act that is in line with the international law to protect our rights." Wang said India and China had many standoffs before but "we haven't issued any position paper till now". "But this time we have the position paper and in the position paper, you can find clear information about our position and possible moves by us," she said, referring to a 15-page fact sheet issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry a few days ago. "The Indian border troops are sending a signal of aggression while the signals sent by the foreign ministry is for peaceful negotiations. So, we think these two signals do not match with each other," she said. Wang also rejected a negotiated solution by restoring status quo with the simultaneous withdrawal of Indian and Chinese troops to their earlier positions. India's position on the issue was made clear by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj recently, saying both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place, favouring a peaceful resolution of the border standoff. Referring to reports in the Indian media that both the countries' border troops can withdraw at the same time to restore the status quo, Wang said: "this is also unacceptable for China". "Because the facts are clear. It is the Indian troops that crossed the mutually recognised boundary into the Chinese territory. So, it is the Indian border troops that have the responsibility to withdraw," she said. Skirting any references to the shrill campaign being conducted by the official media here, Wang said China is exercising restraint and goodwill. "In fact, we have expressed many times the diplomatic channel is always open and it is so in the past 50 days but it does not mean that we will not use our power to use the acts of defence in line with the UN charter or relevant international law." After recently getting additional charge of one of the more prestigious ministries in the Cabinet, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani is making sure that she continues to take controversial decisions. On Monday, this took the form of pulling up the news agency PTI which provides news stories and photographs on a lot of issues in India. The important issue which caught the IB minister's eye was a tweet PTI had put out which showed men in Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar masks celebrating Friendship Day. The link between the image and the story it accompanied was tenuous at best as it was about Nitish Kumar urging the Centre to allocate funds for the lower judiciary in Bihar. So this tweet hurt the sentiments of DEAR @smritiirani ji..!! pic.twitter.com/4hfGS9KHYI Nida (@123nida321) August 6, 2017 Irani took umbrage to the photograph and shot off a tweet expressing her displeasure and questioning PTI's "official stand". .@PTI_News is this how elected heads will be projected? Is this your official stand ? https://t.co/YrAuxPT6wJ Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) August 6, 2017 PTI quickly reacted and deleted the tweet. They had also released the photograph separately to media outlets but later issued a 'kill' alert which is media jargon for withdrawing a picture. They also issued an apology and said that they had withdrawn the picture. PTI apologises for hurting sentiments and therefore has withdrawn the picture. @smritiirani Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 6, 2017 Irani has been keeping a close eye on PTI for some time now as this is the second time which she has found apparent cause for the news agency to apologise, although earlier, her reason for expressing displeasure was less controversial. Earlier, a photograph of flooding at the Chennai airport was captioned as flooding at the Ahmedabad airport and was used by major newspapers before Irani pointed out the mistake. The photographer responsible for the mistake was later fired and PTI said that they regretted the mistake. However, while the flood photograph was a clear mistake and Irani was right in pointing that out, PTI's mistake in the present case is hard to discern. The image is simply of political workers wearing masks of leaders. These masks are not illegal and are worn at many political rallies as a sign of support. Further, Modi and Kumar are now allies in Bihar. Thus, portraying them as friends hardly seems problematic. The fact that Irani is in charge of the I&B ministry makes this even more worrisome. Mumbai: Rubabuddin Sheikh, brother of Sohrabuddin, who was killed in an alleged fake encounter, on Monday approached the Bombay High Court challenging the discharge of former Gujarat ATS chief DG Vanzara and Rajasthan IPS officer Dinesh MN from the case. A special CBI court in Mumbai had last week discharged Vanzara and Dinesh after observing that there was no prima facie evidence against them. Rubabuddin, in his petition filed in the high court, however, claimed that there was sufficient evidence on record to establish that Sohrabuddin was "abducted, kept in wrongful confinement" and that he and his aide Tulsidas Parajapati, were killed in a fake encounter. According to the CBI, Sohrabuddin, a gangster with alleged links to Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, and his wife Kausar Bi, were abducted by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad from Hyderabad when the couple was on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra. Sheikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter near Gandhinagar in November 2005, after which his wife disappeared. According to the CBI, she too was killed. Prajapati, Sheikh's aide and an eyewitness to the alleged encounter, was later killed by police at Chapri village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district in December 2006, the Central agency claimed. Rubabuddin's petition will come up for hearing in the due course of time. Vanzara, an IPS officer, was arrested on 24 April, 2007 by the Gujarat CID in Sohrabuddin encounter case, which was later handed over to the CBI. He was heading the Gujarat ATS when the alleged fake encounters took place. Dinesh MN had served seven years in jail in connection with the alleged fake encounter killings. He was granted bail in May 2014. He was promoted by the Rajasthan government to the post of Deputy Inspector General and then Inspector General with effect from May 9 the same year. The Sohrabuddin killing case was transferred to Mumbai in September 2012 at the request of CBI for a fair trial. In 2013, the Supreme Court had clubbed the alleged fake encounter case of Prajapati with that of Sheikh. New Delhi: The Supreme Court has constituted a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case from 11 August. The bench, whose other members are justices Ashok Bhushan and Abdul Nazeer, would adjudicate the dispute over ownership of Ram Temple-Babri Masjid land. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had in 2010 ruled a three-way division of the disputed 2.77 acres area at the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya. The three-judge bench of the high court, by a 2:1 majority, had said the land be partitioned equally among three parties: The Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. On 21 July, a bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar had said that it would soon take a decision to list the matter for early hearing. The court's remark had come on a plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who sought urgent listing and hearing of the matter. Swamy had said that the main appeals against the Allahabad High Court order are pending for the last seven years in the apex court and these required urgent hearing. He had also said that a separate petition had earlier been filed by him seeking enforcement of his right to worship without much hassle at the site. The BJP leader had told the court that he has been allowed by the apex court to intervene in the matter and is seeking expeditious disposal of the cases. Chandigarh: An IAS officer, whose daughter was allegedly stalked by the son of a senior Haryana BJP leader, on Sunday took to social media and urged people to fight crime against women while also sharing the ordeal his family had gone through. The victim also expressed her anguish in a post saying she was lucky not to be the daughter of a commoner or else who knows what her fate could be. "If we do not persist in trying to bring the guilty to justice, more and more daughters will suffer this hurt," said victim's father, in a Facebook post. The son of Haryana's ruling BJP chief Subhash Barala was on Saturday arrested along with his friend for allegedly stalking the woman in Chandigarh. Both the accused, Vikas Barala (23) and Ashish Kumar (27), were released later on bail as they were booked under bailable sections of the IPC and the Motor Vehicles Act, amid the political outcry. The incident had come to light when the woman, around 28 years of age, called up the police on Friday night and complained that two youth were chasing her. The father of the victim in his Facebook post thanked the Chandigarh police for being helpful and efficient in handling the matter. While stating how his family had gone through a "horrendous experience", he said that it will take a long time for his daughter "to go back to a normal life." Giving reasons for the Facebook post, the father said, "Our clear intention is to bring the culprits to book." The woman in her complaint had alleged that two youth in an SUV followed her when she was driving from the Sector 8 market in Chandigarh towards Panchkula on the intervening night of 4 and 5 August. "There were two guys inside the SUV, and they seemed to really be enjoying harassing a lone girl in the middle of the night, judging by how often their car swerved, just enough to scare me that it might hit me," the woman wrote in her Facebook post. "I'm lucky, it seems, to not be the daughter of a common man, because what chance would they have against such VIPs? I'm also lucky, because I'm not lying raped and murdered in a ditch somewhere. If this can happen in Chandigarh, it can happen anywhere," she said. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said that the law will take its own course in the case while Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala had said he respects the law and the "truth" will come out through the court. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress on Sunday held protests at various places against the incident. State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar led one such protest in Faridabad. "The arrogance of power in the BJP, the party which talks about saving and educating girl child, has reached to such a level that son of a state BJP chief dared to commit such crime," he said. Senior Congress leader and MLA from Haryana, Randeep Singh Surjewala also strongly condemned the incident. "Shocking & preposterous assault! Salute the brave girl and her parents. Your grit & determination makes us proud," Surjewala tweeted on Sunday. Shocking & preposterous assault! Salute the brave girl and her parents.Your grit & determination makes us proud.https://t.co/wHd2Zhwsx8 Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 6, 2017 Opposition party INLD and the leader of opposition Abhay Chautala demanded resignation of Barala on the issue. Police on Saturday said after receiving the complaint, the PCR staff located the vehicle of the youth and apprehended them. "They even tried to stop the (woman's) vehicle twice or thrice. They also banged the woman's vehicle with hands," Chandigarh police DSP Satish Kumar had said on Saturday quoting from the complaint of the woman. Both Vikas, who is a student of LLB, and his friend Ashish were booked under section 354 D (stalking) of IPC and 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs), the police said. After the woman recorded her statement before the area magistrate here under section 164 of the CrPC, the police added another Section 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) in the FIR, according to officials. Washington: Chinese president Xi Jinping sees Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader who is willing to stand up for Indian interests and to work together with other countries in the region that are looking to impose constraints on China, a top American Chinese expert has said. "I think that Xi Jinping sees Prime Minister Modi as a leader who is willing to stand up for Indian interests and to work together with other countries in the region that are looking to impose constraints on China, and particularly the US and Japan, and that's something I think Beijing is worried about," Bonnie S Glaser from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) told PTI in an interview. Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project at CSIS, a top American think-tank, based in Washington DC, felt that China does not sees itself as benefitting from a tense relationship with India. "Very early on, Xi Jinping went to Delhi and tried to engage with Prime Minister Modi. I think he had hoped that India would have a policy that would not challenge Chinese interest. But I think it has really not worked out that way as he's continued to be involved in the South China Sea," she noted. "There are obviously differences between the two countries, in the Indian Ocean and other maritime areas. China doesn't see itself as benefiting from a tense relationship with India. After all, the two countries share a long border," said Glaser, who is keeping a close watch on the developments in Doka La. India and China have been locked in a standoff in Doka La since 16 June after Chinese troops began constructing a road near the Bhutan tri-junction. Glaser, who has served as a member of the Defense Department's Defense Policy Board China Panel in 1997, said China sees India as a major challenger to it in the long term. "China sees India as the biggest rising developing power that in the longer run, could pose challenges. In the near term, China worries most about India's cooperation with other countries, forging coalitions with other countries like Japan, Australia, and the US, to counter Chinese power influence in the region, so that is a negative set of developments," she noted. India, she said, is the only country in the world that opposes explicitly China's One Belt and One Road Initiative. "China doesn't see India as posing very much of a military threat. China hasn't taken India's nuclear arsenal, for example, as a major threat to its security, but increasingly sees India as a political threat to China, in part because it is cooperation with lots of other powers to constrain China," she said. While Doka La standoff continues, India's position and its end result could have large implication on other countries in the region, especially those who have border dispute with China, she noted. "If China succeeds in having its way with other countries, and certainly with India, this could embolden China to be even more extrapolous, more unbending in dealing with countries with which it has territorial disputes," Glaser said. China, thinks that its economic power, growing political power and military power, is giving it enough clout to be able to turn these disputes and differences with countries in its own favor, she said. "That's worrisome to me because we've seen China over the last couple of years use economic coercion against countries, South Korea being the latest example of that. Its worrisome if China draws the lesson that it can use economic coercion, military power, political pressure in order to have its way," she said. "If China ends up winning, or in other words, if India pulls back its troops, China is able to go ahead and build this road and ultimately India and Bhutan are forced to accept it even though they believe it's against their national interest, particularly India," Glaser said. "That could embolden China further in dealing with territorial disputes with other neighbors," she said in response to a question. "China already had a bit of a win with the Philippines with the election of Duterte. There's now discussion underway of joint development between China and the Philippines, and I think that has emboldened Beijing in dealing with Vietnam, basically forcing the Vietnamese to stop the drilling that has been underway off of Vietnam's coast," she observed. Responding to another question, Glaser said US will avoid getting directly involved because any US involvement really would only make the crisis worse. "China would dig in its heels even more if the United States is seen as explicitly backing India. The strongest US interest is in de-escalation of the crisis," she said. She, however, did not rule out further escalation of the border standoff. "Clearly China and India do not have an interest in having a military conflict. But one cannot rule it out," she said. One possible outcome, she said, is that this standoff just continues through the winter when the weather deteriorates and then both sides have to pull out their troops and then there is a sort of gradual stand down. "China probably cannot build this road during the winter so it would have to wait until next spring, and that might provide a breather, an opportunity for both sides to actually talk about it," she said. "Another possibility is that Bhutan steps up, and not necessarily plays the role of mediator, but takes a position that enables China and India to move back their troops," she added. "For example, Bhutan could thank India very much for its assistance and say for the time being that India can pull back its forces and perhaps even replace some of those troops with its own troops. That's another possible face-saving way out. But again I don't rule out that there could be a military conflict," Glaser said. The Chandigarh stalking case, where the daughter of a senior IAS officer was harassed by the son of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Haryana unit president, has stirred the conscience of the nation, and rightly so. After all, this is not the first such instance where children of senior politicians have flouted laws, secure in their arrogance that their privileged background will ensure the police will not touch them. But it's not like guilty children have been supported or encouraged by their powerful politician parents in every instance. The laws of the country have ensured prosecutions, convictions and punishments in several cases. Manu Sharma, son of a powerful Congress leader from Haryana, is in jail after being convicted in the notorious Jessica Lal murder case. More recently, Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel's "heavily drunk" son was prevented by authorities from boarding a plane to fly abroad. So, the question we need to address regarding the Chandigarh stalking case is has BJP's Haryana chief Subhash Barala tampered with the law to protect his son? If he has, then the party high command should not only sack him but also prosecute him under relevant laws. But there is no evidence to that effect. But the lack of evidence establishing his involvement hasn't stopped people from demanding his resignation. Such demands are coming not only from the Congress but also from within a section of the BJP and from many leading women activists. Even the victim's father, Virender Kundu, has said involving the Barala family is not proper. Addressing the media, he said it was "rather unfortunate" that families of the accused had to face hardship, and that he didn't hold the families accountable for "acts of the children". Assuming the automatic involvement of the entire family in a crime committed by one member is dangerous, in more ways than one. In medieval ages, there was the concept of the "corruption of blood", under which punishment extended from a person on to his/her blood relations, as also did the quantum and duration of the punishment. In the 21st century, however, such a concept shouldn't have any relevance. If a member of a group kills a person, why should the entire group be tried for murder? A person may very well be trusted despite his/her family members doing something illegal. Why should we associate the wrongdoings of a previous generation with the subsequent generation? Taken at face value, such an interpretation would also mean Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are "suspended" from politics until Robert Vadra can clear all corruption charges against him. In fact, it may impact an overwhelming majority of India's political scene, since many leaders have pending charges against their children, parents or relatives. Former Union minister P Chidambaram too may have to give up his parliamentary seat, since his son Karti is a "key suspect" in money laundering and tax evasion cases. And all this is not logic, but its perversity. Justice and fairness demand that only those who commit the crimes should be solely responsible. In the US, for instance, the law specifically prohibits the "corruption of blood" argument. There the general principle is that you cannot hold responsible the family members of a guilty person for his/her crimes if they were not a party to them. In fact, in Florida, there is a statutory exemption for family members it even forbids prosecution of spouses, parents, grandparents, children, or grandchildren for helping an "offender avoid or escape detection, arrest, trial, or punishment", with one important exception the exemption does not apply if the primary offender is alleged to have committed child abuse or murder of a child under the age of 18, "unless the court finds that the person (claiming the exemption) is a victim of domestic violence". Even in India, the IPC does not automatically implicate the relatives. In fact, the Supreme court had recently expressed its concern with regard to false implication of the husband and his relatives in the cases under Section 498A of the IPC. It said that relatives should not suffer the ignominy of a criminal trial in the absence of specific and credible allegations. Of course, the IPC does embody the concept of 'Joint Liability' (Section 34 of the IPC). "Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention when a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of common intention of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if done by him alone." When the IPC was enacted in 1860, Section 34 didn't include the words "in furtherance of common intention". An amendment was made in 1870 to amend the IPC and these words were then included in Section 34. But in many cases thereafter, various high courts and the Supreme Court have ruled that "common intention" has to be determined, whether it was present before the crime was commitment. If the prosecution fails to establish solid evidence in this regard, the person accused of helping in the crime is exonerated. In fact, it has been argued that Section 34 needs to be read with various other sections of the IPC and cannot be applied on its own, and has to be applied with some other section so as to make a person jointly liable for the offence. Viewed thus, it would be unfair to implicate Subhash Barala in his son's crime. Did he really instigate his son to harass the girl? Or did he try to impede the prosecution? Nothing suggests as yet that this was the case. Why then, should he be punished? However, all this is not to suggest that prosecution of family members for harbouring fugitives can be an option, regardless of the nature of the crime or the extent of the family member's involvement. Even if it is understandable that it will not be easy to turn away family members at moments of need, the family must accede to the eternal principle of justice that if accurately and fairly imposed (due process of law), punishment for what the society or the country considers a crime must weigh above anything else. Kolkata: Stating that an "undeclared bandh" in Darjeeling hills has affected many lives, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged the hill parties to shun violence and come to the discussion table. She told the state Assembly that there had been a loss of Rs 550 crore and that the state administration had shown restraint. Schools, offices and tourism had come to a halt due to the bandh, she maintained while speaking on the current impasse in the Darjeeling hills. The indefinite shutdown in the hills called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and other hill parties demanding a separate Gorkhaland entered its 55th day today. Banerjee said Darjeeling had been a part of West Bengal and she would not allow its division. She said such kind of agitation in the hills had become common in a 10-15 year interval, adding that the time has come for election to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration as its five-year-term comes to an end. The TMC supremo praised the Congress for not politicising the issue while hitting out at the CPM for trying to fish in troubled waters. CPM member and Siliguri mayor Ashok Bhattacharya alleged that the situation in the hills had become worse than before. He blamed the chief minister for raising the language issue in the hills which "was not well taken and resulted in the current stalemate". Bhattacharya's statement drew flak from the ruling party members who tried to hoot him down. Congress MLA Shankar Malakar said it was not the time for pointing fingers against each other as the situation had gone beyond anybody's control, and that the time had come for all political parties and the Centre to arrive at a solution. Banerjee said constructive suggestion by the Congress was welcome. She also hit back at the CPM for misleading the House, asserting that the state government had not issued any notification on any language. Her statement irked the Left members who staged a walk-out from the Assembly. Speaker Biman Banerjee said that by staging a walk-out, the CPM and other Left members failed to show political courtesy. Hunt for a Rajya Sabha seat from the Gujarat quota is increasingly becoming an uphill task for Congress marksman Ahmed Patel as dramatic scenes during voting and uncertainty over counting have reduced the whole process to a soap opera with open mudslinging over allegations of horse-trading by the Congress against the BJP. The Congress even approached the Election Commission seeking the cancellation of votes of two of its MLAs Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavjibhai Patel for alleged violation of norms. The Congress claimed that voting procedure has been violated under Rule 39 of The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 by these two legislators hence their votes should be cancelled. Rule 39 states: "All the ballot papers on which the words "Cancelled: voting procedure violated" are recorded, shall be kept in a separate cover which shall bear on its face the words "Ballot papers: voting procedure violated". Before voting started on Tuesday morning, the requirement for Patel to win the Rajya Sabha for the fifth time was 45 votes which might change in the event of a cancellation. In the event, the Election Commission decides to cancel the two votes, there will be 42 valid votes from the Congress MLAs camp but not necessarily for the party itself. Patel is, however, assured to get one vote from the lone JD(U) MLA who in defiance of his party whip has claimed to have voted for the Congress leader. One of the two MLAs of the NCP voted for the Congress while the other opted for the BJP candidate. In the event cancellation of the two votes happen, the total number of votes will come down to 174 from 176. Six MLAs of the Congress have already resigned from the House and have joined the BJP in the House of 182. This is no respite for Patel as there is also a possibility that cross-voting might have happened and it is not an act that can lead to disqualification of votes. Also, there is another worry of rejection of votes if proper voting norms were not followed. Patel, who is literally living on the edge, as far as this poll is concerned, has probably emptied out all the aces up his sleeve. Before the six MLAs left Congress to join BJP, Congress veteran Shankersinh Vaghela also resigned from the party. The Congress strength in the Gujarat Assembly now stands at 44 from 51 with the departure of Vaghela and the other six MLAs. Auto refresh feeds The voting will begin at the Swarnim Sankul Bhawan of the Gujarat Assembly building at 9 am and continue till 4 pm. The results will be declared by 6 pm, CNN-News 18. In a latest shocker for the grand old party, its ally NCP has reportedly asked its MLAs to vote for the BJP candidate, CNN- News 18 reported. It is after a gap of about two decades that a Rajya Sabha contest is happening in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties usually get elected unopposed. Up for grabs are three Rajya Sabha seat, with the BJP lobbying hard to stymie the chances of Congress' Ahmed Patel, seeking to be re-elected for a fifth term in the Upper House. Therefore, it all boils down to the choice of individual MLAs and cross-voting too can't be ruled out. There seems to be some confusion over the stand of the Congress ally as CNN-news 18 reported that senior NCP leader Praful Patel had asked its legislators to vote for BJP. However, Congress leader Sharad Power said that the NCP will back the Congress. However, given the high-stakes involved, even a single vote going off in cross-voting will jeopardize Congress candidate's chances. Refusing to disclose who he and his supporters vote for, Shankersinh Vaghela clearly ruled out the possibility to choose NOTA. Vagghela's support to Patel may make or break his chance to retain his seat as the leader needs 44 votes to save his Rajya Sabha seat. That is also the number of MLAs he has under his protection, currently headed to the Assembly in a bus from a resort in Anand. Besides this, each MLA has the option to mention a second preference too. In case, neither Balwantsinh Rajput nor Ahmed Patel gets a clean 45, there would be a second round of counting preferential votes. However, this can be a game changer for Patel, given the BJP's far greater numbers in the House. In Rajya Sabha elections MLAs vote in what is called the proportional representation with the single transferable vote (STV) system. Each voter's vote is counted only once. A candidate needs the support of 45 legislators to secure a straight win in the 176-member-strong Assembly. Six Congress legislators, who had quit recently, with three joining the BJP, can't vote in the elections. Meanwhile, one of the two party MLAs Kandhal Jadeja is seen to be in support of rebel Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela, who has openly claimed that he did not for Patel. NCP leader Sharad Yadav today reasserted his support for the Congress party after media reports claimed that another senior leader from the party had asked the Gujarat MLAs to vote for the BJP. Another Congress leader Raghavji Patel also said that he has supported BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput. According to a Hindustan Times report, Congress MLA Mahendrasinh Vaghela and NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja take blessings of BJP chief Amit Shah by touching his feet. Meanwhile, rebel Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela also decidedly asserted that he did not vote for Patel. Congress hadnt been listening to us for a year, he told ANI. Dharmendra Jadeja of the Congress says he voted for Balwantsinh Rajput of the BJP, who was until recently the Congress chief whip in the state. Now, the party has not spelt clearly, where it's loyalties lie in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls where each and every vote will count for Congress' Ahmed Patel. I have voted as per partys ideology, is all JD(U) MLA Chotu Vasava has said. JD(U)'s has been a curiou case so far. In Bihar the party recently broke away from its alliance with the Congress and RJD, whereas it supported Congress vice presidential candidates, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, despite its newly forged alliance with the BJP. The party had voted for NDA's Ram Nath Kovind in presidential elections, when it was a Congress ally. It will be a neck-to-neck between, Patel and Congress turncoat Balwantsinh Rajput with 44 Congress MLAs supporting Patel amid high chances of cross-voting between the two parties. Meanwhile, as the debate is centred around Congress' Ahmed Patel as the battle turns threadbare, BJP top brass Amit Shah, Smriti Irani are expected to sail through the Rajya Sabha polls. With 122 MLAs in the House of 182, two BJP candidates will easily sail through. He said, "Four-five more MLAs from the 44 that the Congress is banking upon are also not going to vote for the party." "I have not voted for the Congress, because Ahmed Patel is not going to win and there is no point wasting a vote. We have pleaded so many times to listen to the grievances of the MLAs but it is unfortunate that they did not listen," Vaghela told reporters after polling. Two of the Congress MLAs along with the six supporters of Shankersinh Vaghela's have reportedly cross-voted in favour of BJP candidate. "Yes, the Congress party is facing a very serious crisis," Ramesh had told PTI in an interview. Cross-voting in Congress camp justifies senior Congress leaderJairam Ramesh's sultanante jibe on his own party. His statement puts a question mark in the Congress party's much claimed internal Democracy yet again. The senior Congress leader taking a jibe on the other leaders in a statement to the media had today said, "The sultanate has gone, but we behave as if we are sultans still." The clamour in the BJP camp is all about securing enough votes for Rajput to stymie the chnaces of Congress' Ahmed Patel. The BJP had carried out a demo voting excercise on Tuesday ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls to ensure that the polling goes as planned. 45 of the BJP's 121 MLAs will choose Amit Shah as their first preference, 45 will choose Smriti Irani, and the remaining 31 will choose Balwantsinh Rajput. Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is one of the few politicians who have worked closely with three generations of the Congress first family and remains loyal to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. This is what makes Patel important in the party and a defeat indicating a dent in his clout can be damaging for the party's morale, which is facing an "existential crisis" in its own leaders' words. Ahmed Patel is under the spotlight today, outdoing BJP top-brass Amit Shah and Smriti Irani who prominently claim headline space in the national media. Patel, hadn't been a very well-known name before the high-decibel elections garnered steam. He is often hailed as a key strategist behind the partys victory in the 2004 and 2009 general election, but was never seen as a prominent public face. As voting began for three RS seats, Patel expressed confidence that he will win. However, former Congress stalwart Shankersinh Vaghela, after casting his vote, told reporters, "As Ahmed Patel is going to lose, I have not given my vote to him." The elections have turned into a high-stake battle for the Congress in the backdrop of turbulence in the party following the surprise exit of Vaghela and the resignation of six of its MLAs recently. Voting is underway in Gujarat today for the Rajya Sabha elections in which Ahmed Patel, the influential political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, and BJP's Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput are in fray. The 44 Congress MLAs who were filed away into a resort in Bengaluru and then later in Anand, have all claimed that they have voted for Ahmed Patel. If that is true then Ahmed Patel may manage to scrape through the required 45 votes with the help of Gujarat Parivartan Party, who has pledgedsupport to Patel. BJP national president Amit Shah, a candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls is also an MLA in Gujarat Assembly. Congress MLA from Sanand, Karamsibhai Virjibhai Patel has defied the party whip and cross-voted for the BJP, CNN-News 18 reported. Karamsibhai was also one of the 44 MLAs holed up in resorts. Moreover reminding Vaghela of his caste, that too on a public platform is something which makes all the tall claims of ideology made by the party look farcical. His tweet reminds that decisions in the Congress party are more influenced by caste equation and cronyism than ideology. His tweet comes across as, "Since Congress allowed you the benefit of power so now it was your turn to pay for it by voting for Patel." Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's tweet reminding Shankersinh Vaghela of his caste underscores the party's caste based elitist politics. Just after Vaghela told the media that he along with his six supporters have not voted for Congress candidate, came Digvijaya Singh's tweet "Don't forget what Congress has done for you. You are a Rajput. Please ensure Ahmed Bhai's victory. He has been our friend and supporter." 61 BJP MLAs and 43 Congress MLAs have cast their votes so far Shankersinh Vaghela says voting against Congress doesn't mean we will join BJP: CNN-News18 He had even offered to support Patel in the election, albeit with the pre-condition that Congress leader Ashok Gehlot withdraws his statement againt him. He conspired with the BJP to bring down Congress' chances to secure a seat for Ahmed Patel, a leader who he had been heaping praise on, even in his exit rally. He had described Patel as a Sufi saint and a very liberal man. Shankersing Vaghgela has orchestrated many a politicl coups in Gujarat . "In a reversal of fortunes, just as Vaghelas exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) helped the Congress in the mid-90s, this time around the advantage is for the ruling BJP," a LiveMint article says of Vaghela. If the claims of the Congress party are true about GPP and JD(U) support, despite the reports of one Congress MLA defecting, Patel can still manage to touch the magic number of 45. The Congress also claims that a BJP MLA has voted in their favour, which although an unlikely outcome, will add much needed counts on Patel's slate, if true. It all boils down to hard numbers in the end; no matter which camp they come from. The Congress party may still manage a touch-and-go with the help of lone Gujarat Parivartan Party and Janata Dal (United) MLAs. Despite one Congress MLA cross-voting, Ahmed Patel may still scrape through Ashok Gehlot said that Shankersinh Vaghela had been saying that he would vote for Ahmed Patel despite leaving Congress. He, however, today turned around and claimed he did not vote for Patel. "This flip-flop in his stance only shows that he is under some sort of pressure. He is otherwise a politically mature leader, in my knowledge, and I don't see why his actions and words will vary so much if not for a pressure," Gehlot said. Speaking to CNN-News 18, Chotubhai Vasava confirmed that he cast his voted for Ahmed Patel claiming that the country is being run by cronies and capitalists and he would not back them. Congress concedes 1 MLA cross-voted, says we still have support of 45 MLAs Anandiben Patel says the fight is only between Vaghela and Ahmed Patel, it's not BJP's fight Polling is closed for the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls as all 176 MLAs have cast their votes. The party has said that the two votes should be cancelled at the time of the counting Congress has claimed that two of its MLAs who have cross-voted for the BJP showed their ballot to the people present inside the polling station, despite the fact that the polling was being conducted by a secret ballot. Out of these 44 MLAs, the Congress conceded that one has cross-voted, reducing the number to 43. Congress initially had 57 MLAs but after six of its MLAs quit, the number of Congress MLAs was reduced to 51. Out of these 51 MLAs, six MLAs (including Vaghela did not vote for Ahmed Patel). That leaves the Congress with the support of 44 MLAs. Balwantsinh Rajput is a former chief whip of Congress, and a relative of Shankersinh Vaghela. The proposal of Rajput as the third candidate was to ensure that Ahmed gets a tough fight in the elections. Similar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajput started his journey from selling tea but is now the owner of Gokul group, according to reports. Whoever has cross-voted will be suspended with immediate effect: Ashok Gehlot Congress MLA Mahendrasinh Vaghela and NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja had taken Amit Shah's blessings by touching his feet. NCP high command had asked its party MLAs to vote for UPA. "Nitish Kumar did not contact me over voting, and there was nothing like a whip issued by the party in this regard. The decision to vote for Patel was my own," he said. - PTI The lone JD(U) MLA in Gujarat, Chhotu Vasava, said he voted for Ahmed Patel in the polls as the ruling BJP has done little for tribal people and the poor. He said he decided to vote for the Congress candidate as "he is unhappy with the ruling party's works for the poor and tribal population" that he represents. The counting of votes has been put on hold after the Election Commission took notice of Congress' allegation that two of its legislators had shown their ballot papers to Amit Shah. The BJP claimed that these accusations don't hold water and Congress is just resorting to delaying tactics. Raghavjibhai Patel, one of the two MLAs against whom Congress has filed the complaint, defended himself and told CNN-News18 that he is being framed because he didn't vote for Congress. He also said that he didn't show anything to anyone. Congress had alleged that Raghavjibhai Patel and Bholabhai Gohil had shown their votes to Amit Shah. Raghavjibhai Patel defends himself, says he is being framed Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said that Congress' objections over the votes of two of its legislators have been rejected by the Returning Officer. He further said that the state election commission has submitted its report and the counting will begin after the Election Commission's nod. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Congress is levelling baseless allegations and they did not protest about it in the morning. Countering Prasad, Ahmed Patel said that the complaint was filed immediately but the Returning Officer did not do anything. Patel, who is literally living on the edge, as far as this poll is concerned, has probably emptied out all the aces up his sleeve. In case the two votes are cancelled, the total number of votes will come down to 174 from 176. Six MLAs of the Congress have already resigned from the House and have joined the BJP in the House of 182. This is no respite for Patel as there is also a possibility that cross-voting might have happened and it is not an act that can lead to disqualification of votes. Also, there is another worry of rejection of votes if proper voting norms were not followed. Why disqualification of two votes may not be enough to save Ahmed Patel The votes were polled in the morning, so why did Congress wait so long to raise their objections? We have met the Election Commission and requested them to start counting of votes at the earliest. High-ranking leaders of both BJP and the Congress are meeting Election Commission officers, with the former urging them to start counting of votes at the earliest, while the latter is insisting two MLAs' votes be disqualified. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad denied the Congress' accusations that votes of 11 of its MLAs were rejected in Haryana in June 2016, and this should be used as precedence in this case. "The Congress MLAs' votes were rejected in 2016 because they used a different colour pen. That cannot be used as a precedence because the issues were completely different," he said. After delegations from Congress and BJP presented their cases before the Election Commission, the EC is holding an empowered meeting in New Delhi to debate what the future course of action will be. The returning officer has reportedly sent in his recommendations to the EC, and the officers will decide whether to uphold these or not. After two delegations comprising senior party leaders met the Election Commission, the Congress is reportedly readying a third delegation to meet the EC. JD(U) leader KC Tyagi confirms the party's Gujarat party secretary Arun Srivastava has been fired after its leader Chhotubhai Vasava voted for Congress' Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls. "It is the misuse of muscle power, money power and government machinery. To get just one seat, the entire might of central government, Gujarat government, BJP and RSS, their muscle power and money power, everything has been misused to subvert the elections," said senior Congress leader AK Antony. Congress hits out at BJP over using 'money power' and 'money power' Senior Congress leader Ambika Soni said the party has sufficient MLAs to elect its candidate, but accused BJP of "weakening democracy" with its actions. "If by bypassing anti-defection law, bypassing political morality and laws, they have a fourth candidate which is unusual. BJP is doing a lot of things that are weakening democracy. If BJP thinks they can get away by using their power or they have their habit of ham-handing, then we will not allow them. We will not allow the BJP to frighten us or browbeat us," the Congress leader said. With just minutes to go before the Election Commission announces its decision on resuming counting, is the Congress throwing in the towel? Is that what the statements of AK Antony and Ambika Soni indicate? Or is it a red-herring? We will know before midnight hopefully. The Election Commission has given a breather to the Congress, saying the two rebel MLAs' votes will be considered "invalid", since they displayed their voting choice to BJP party president Amit Shah. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi says BJP's attempts to win "by hook or by crook" have failed, and said he is confident the disqualification of two rebel MLAs will ensure party candidate Ahmed Patel will get his victory. Now that the Election Commission has declared the votes of the two Congress rebel MLAs as invalid, the returning officer in Gandhinagar will recount and declare results. But the question is: Does Ahmed Patel have enough first preference votes to win even now? Or did more Congress MLAs ditch the party? A nail biting finish is awaited. Now that the Election Commission has declared the votes of the two Congress rebel MLAs as invalid, the returning officer in Gandhinagar will recount and declare results. But the question is: Does Ahmed Patel have enough first preference votes to win even now? Or did more Congress MLAs ditch the party? A nail biting finish is awaited. With two votes being disqualified, the magic number has gone down from 45 to 44. With the Election Commission having disqualified two votes, counting of all 176 MLAs' votes has begun in Gandhinagar. Congress candidate Ahmed Patel has spoken to the media after the Election Commission gave him a breather by disqualifying two rebel Congress MLAs' votes, in which he has said he is confident of reaching the magic figure of 44 votes. "Appreciate the (EC's) decision. Quota will come down to 44. I am confident of getting it," he said. Gujarat Congress leader Shailesh Parmar, who was in the counting room with Election Commission officers, has declared results of the Rajya Sabha polls, saying BJP president Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani, and Ahmed Patel have all been elected. Congress' Renuka Chaudhary says, "We will look into the reduced margin of victory and will see how to set things right, but we have won." Congress happy with victory, but says will look to set right 'reduced margin' Ahmed Patel says, "I contested as a candidate, not Sonia Gandhi's secretary. My victory will boost the morale of party workers ahead of Assembly elections later this year. I wish they hadn't fought the elections like they did. It seemed like there was a witch-hunt against me." Gujarat Congress leader Shailesh Parmar, who was in the counting room with Election Commission officers, has declared results of the Rajya Sabha polls, saying BJP president Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani, and Ahmed Patel have all been elected. I want to thank each & every MLA who voted for me despite unprecedented intimidation & pressure from BJP.They voted for an inclusive India Congress' Renuka Chaudhary says, "We will look into the reduced margin of victory and will see how to set things right, but we have won." Congress happy with victory, but says will look to set right 'reduced margin' Money, muscle and manipulation could not win in the Gujarat RS election. ,,, Treachery,immorality & misuse of State power defeated in Gujarat at the altar of truth and principles. BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror. People of Gujarat will give them a befitting reply in this year's election Congratulations Smt @smritiirani ji for once again becoming a member of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and leads the truth, Victory of democracy against money power has established it again #GujaratRSPolls Ahmed Patel says, "I contested as a candidate, not Sonia Gandhi's secretary. My victory will boost the morale of party workers ahead of Assembly elections later this year. I wish they hadn't fought the elections like they did. It seemed like there was a witch-hunt against me." Latest update: Voting for Gujarat Rajya Sabha poll closes early as all 176 MLAs have cast their votes Speaking to CNN-News 18, Chotubhai Vasava confirmed that he cast his voted for Ahmed Patel claiming that the country is being run by cronies and capitalists and he would not back them. His support will all that count for Patel as this undeclared support is expected to fetch him the magic score of 45, despite one of the 44 Congress MLA cross-voting. Suspense mounted over the fate of Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, seeking a fifth term in the Rajya Sabha, with the BJP going all out to stymie his efforts in the biennial elections on Tuesday. The 44 Congress MLAs, who were flown to Bengaluru to prevent "poaching" by the BJP, returned to the state on Monday. They were moved to the Nijanand Resort near Anand. Their family members visited the resort for the Raksha Bandhan festival. Of the 57 party legislators in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, six quit the party on July 26 and three of them joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on July 28. Of the remaining 51 MLAs, seven, including Shankersinh Vaghela, did not join those who were flown to Bengaluru. Patel, who needs 45 first preference votes in a House with an effective strength of 176 MLAs, expressed confidence that he will win the election with the support of 44 party MLAs, and the backing of two NCP and a lone JD-U member. "I have spoken to Sharad Pawarji and he has promised all help to the Congress. They have even issued a whip. As for Vaghela, he has himself promised that he will vote for me and I believe he will keep his word," he said. Asked about allegations of surveillance on him and Congress MLAs by the ruling BJP, he said: "I don't know why I am targeted like this. This is an example of a banana republic. "I have full confidence in my victory tomorrow despite the BJP's attempts and the numbers will surprise everyone," Patel said at a private resort near Anand where the 44 MLAs are lodged. On Tuesday, the legislators will directly go to state capital Gandhinagar to vote for the party's Rajya Sabha nominee Ahmed Patel. BJP chief Amit Shah and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani are contesting the other two seats, which the BJP is sure to win. The party fielded Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput as the third candidate in its bid to defeat Patel. "As all of us are united. The BJP cannot threaten any of our MLAs. Horse trading is not possible with those who are with us," party's lawmaker Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters outside the airport before leaving for Ahmedabad. In New Delhi, the Congress expressed confidence of Ahmed Patel's win, despite the BJP's attempts to lure MLAs through money, power and threats. "BJP, by adopting cheap methods, is conspiring to turn minority votes into majority in Gujarat," the Congress said. "They can make all attempts to insult the people's mandate... But we are confident that Ahmed Patel is going to be victorious...," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala while briefing reporters. "People have rejected them. It will be proven in the assembly elections. BJP is worried about the loss in Gujarat, therefore they are trying their best to further lower the level of politics. "However much they (BJP) try to conspire, Congress will walk the path of truth and will win," he added. Gujarat has seldom experienced political suspense since 1995 when the first BJP government came to power, and after Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has fortified the state like a fiefdom. All the 26 Lok Sabha candidates in the state are from Modi's party. Problems started when Congress veteran, the maverick 77-year-old Shankersinh Vaghela, called it quits at a public show of strength on his July 21 birthday over not being made the chief ministerial candidate for the 2017 assembly elections and not being handed over the complete reins of the campaign. On Monday, Vaghela said he was not in touch with Congress MLAs. He also said his relations with Congress leader Ahmed Patel were "very cordial". Vaghela, who resigned from the Congress in July, told NDTV in an interview that there was no question of getting any offer from the BJP. Asked about his vote, Vaghela said voting was the "property of a MLA". I don't want to expose it." Asked about speculation that he had been offered the post of Governor by the BJP, Vaghela said there were no talks between him and the Bharatiya Janata Party. "There is no question of any offer," he said and added that BJP leaders were not in touch with him. New Delhi: Terming Congress' objections as "baseless", the BJP on Tuesday demanded immediate counting of votes for the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, contending that validity of votes once put in ballot boxes cannot be questioned. A delegation of party leaders, including Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Piyush Goyal, approached the EC after the Congress asked the poll panel to cancel votes of its two "disgruntled" MLAs for allegedly showing their votes to persons other than the authorised party representatives. Goyal told reporters after meeting EC officials that the decision of presiding officers is final. If neither they (Congress) nor election observers object to it when votes were cast, then the votes cannot be questioned now, he said, and demanded that "the counting of votes should be done immediately and results declared". Prasad said the Congress was reacting out of fear of losing the poll, in which its senior leader Ahmed Patel is locked in a tight fight with a Congress rebel fielded by the BJP. New Delhi: The Delhi Assembly had a noisy start to the monsoon session on Monday with the ruling AAP targeting the BJP over the Chandigarh stalking case while the opposition BJP raised the issue of death of sanitation workers in the national capital. As the House met, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel mentioned the Chandigarh stalking case in which the Haryana BJP president's son is allegedly involved. Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta objected to it and demanded a discussion on the recent death of four workers who were cleaning a sewer line in Lajpat Nagar in south-east Delhi. Gupta was joined by his two party colleagues. Goel asked them to sit down and also charged Gupta with "disrespecting" the women of the country "by opposing condemnation" of the stalking incident. As Gupta and the other three BJP MLAs came in the Well of the House, the ruling AAP legislators followed suit and shouted slogans. They were wearing badges in support of the woman who resisted her alleged stalkers in Chandigarh. The 29-year-old woman was chased through the streets of Chandigarh on her way home late on Friday night, allegedly by the BJP leader's son and one more person. In the continuing din, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia tried to reply to Gupta over the death of workers but he could not continue as the House was adjourned for 15 minutes. When the House met again, Sisodia said that there is a standing instruction that sewage should be cleaned mechanically, but the contractor allowed manual cleaning of the sewers. "The government has announced Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of sanitation workers who had died while cleaning a sewer. The investigation is going in this case. If anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken," Sisodia said. AAP and BJP MLAs continued to indulge in shouting slogans against each other over stalking case and death of sanitation workers. The House was adjourned again for half an hour as the legislators stayed in the well despite the Speaker asking them to go back to their seats. 12:36 (ist) Opposition protest over different types of currency disrupt RS New Delhi: Opposition Congress, supported by TMC and JD(U), today forced four adjournments of the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha over what it called as "biggest scam of this century" in the printing of two different kinds of 500 and 1000 rupee notes. Slogan-shouting Congress members trooped into the well even as Leader of the House and finance minister Arun Jaitley said the opposition party has been raising "frivolous" issues without giving notices to stall Zero Hour proceedings. They were supported by Sharad Yadav (JD-U) who displayed copies of some currency notes. Some members including Derek O'Brien (TMC) displayed the new 500 rupee notes issued after demonetisation to show the different sizes they were bring printed. He first offered to submit the notes to Jaitley for scrutiny and then walked up to him to explain to him the difference. He, however, did not leave the notes with the Jaitley said there is no provision in the rules that anyone could "flash any paper and say it is point of order." "You have been raising frivolous issues in the Zero Hour without giving notice with a view to disrupt and not get replies," he said, but did not reply to the Opposition contentions on different sized notes. PTI New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Tuesday without undertaking any serious business as Congress members staged a noisy protest over the attack on Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat last week as the government questioned his foreign visits without any security cover. The Congress members stormed the Well of the House as soon as it met for the day, with their leader Mallikarjun Kharge saying that their vice president could have been killed when his convoy was hit by stones. The government went on an aggressive mode with home minister Rajnath Singh, who made an appearance in Parliament following a long spell of recuperation after he fractured his leg, attacking Gandhi for not adhering to SPG security norms. The nation as well as the House "want to know what he wants to hide by not taking SPG protection along when he left India on six occasions for over 72 days," Singh said. His sharp attack highlighting Gandhi's trips abroad, an issue which has often been used by the BJP to attack the Congress leader, intensified protests from the placard-carrying Congress members, forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to first adjourn the House till noon. There was no let-up in the Congress protests when the House reassembled, even as the Speaker went on with the scheduled proceedings for a while. However, the government appeared in no mood to placate the Congress members and this time it was parliamentary affairs Ananth Kumar's turn to hit back at them in the absence of the Home Minister. He responded after Kharge accused Singh of misleading the country and the House. "It is the Congress and Rahul Gandhi who are misleading the House. Where is he going? Why does he need SPG if he does not want to use it? So much of the country's money is spent on the SPG. The government is giving him full protection but he should also be responsible. He should use it," Kumar said. He sought to know why he does not take SPG personnel along when he travels abroad. Coming to the support of the Congress, Sudip Bandhopadhyay of the TMC said the House should condemn the attack on Rahul, calling it condemnable and disgraceful. Such an attack is reflective of intolerance in the society, he said but agreed with the point that the Congress leader should use SPG protection. As the Speaker proceeded with other business, Congress members pressed ahead with their protest, forcing her to adjourn the House till Wednesday. New Delhi: Opposition Congress, supported by TMC and JD(U), on Tuesday forced six adjournments of the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha over what it called as "biggest scam of this century" in the printing of two different kinds of 500 and 2,000 rupee notes. Slogan-shouting Congress members trooped into the well even as Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the opposition party has been raising "frivolous" issues without giving notices to stall Zero Hour proceedings. They were supported by Sharad Yadav who displayed copies of some currency notes. Some members including Derek O'Brien displayed the new 500 rupee notes issued after demonetisation to show the different sizes they were bring printed. He first offered to submit the notes to Jaitley for scrutiny and then walked up to him to explain to him the difference. He, however, did not leave the notes with the Finance Minister. Jaitley said there is no provision in the rules that anyone could "flash any paper and say it is point of order." "There is a misuse of zero hour which is going on," he said, adding that the Congress first raised the issue of provision for None-Of-The-Above (NOTA) in the ballot for Rajya Sabha poll but then discovered that the provision had been made during their rule. "You have been raising frivolous issues in the Zero Hour without giving notice" with a view to disrupt and not get replies, he said, but did not reply to the opposition contentions on different sized notes. Raising the issue through a point of order, Kapil Sibal said different sizes of the new high denomination currency was being printed - "one for the ruling party (members) and one for the others". "We have today discovered the reason why the government did demonetisation (of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes in November last year)," he said. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said "this is the biggest scam of this century." As law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi countered, Azad said two types of notes are being printed. "The government has no right to remain in office for even five minutes," he said. Deputy chairman PJ Kurien said even if there are two types of notes, it cannot be a point of order. "You raise the issue in a different form." "It is a serious issue,"O'Brien said as he displayed two 500 rupee notes that he said were different in size and design. Prasad asked opposition members to explain where they got the currency notes from. Yadav said no country in the world has two notes of different sizes. "One is bigger, one is smaller," he said. "I can give signed (copies of the notes)." Kurien said he is not an expert to examine the notes. "You give separate notice." "I will give them to Finance Minister," O'Brien said. Kurien said "give it to the Finance Minister, I have no objection." Anand Sharma said the credibility of the currency in circulation has been challenged. Kurien however said the issue cannot be taken up through a point of order and the members have to give separate notice. Pramod Tiwari said notice has been given, to which Kurien said the Chairman will examine them. As the din continued, Kurien adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes. After the adjournment, as Kurien asked the members again to give notice on the issue, O'Brien said he has given notice for discussion on demonetisation for the past three weeks, but the government has not yet listed the matter. As the din continued, Kurien adjourned the House till noon. Similar noisy scenes were witnessed when the Question Hour was taken up by Chairman Hamid Ansari, who adjourned the proceedings for another 15 minutes. When the House assembled again, the opposition members continued slogan-shouting, forcing Ansari to adjourn the House till one pm. Islamabad: Pakistan's ruling party may field ousted premier Nawaz Sharif's wife Kulsoom or his daughter Maryam from the seat that fell vacant after he was disqualified from holding office, a senior party leader said on Monday. Sharif stepped down on 28 July after the Supreme Court disqualified him for not disclosing his assets. After the verdict, Sharif ceased to be a member of parliament. Initially, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had decided that Sharifs younger brother Shehbaz Sharif would contest election from NA-120 in Lahore, vacated by Sharif, so that he could be appointed as prime minister. But now it has been decided to let him continue as chief minister of Punjab to complete different developmental schemes. The PML-N leader, on condition of anonymity, said that the party has a lot of respect for Kulsoom as she is the symbol of courage for many party members who remember the time when she led the party after Sharif was imprisoned by former military dictator Pervez Musharraf following the 1999 coup. "Begum sahiba (Kulsoom) is the natural choice to contest the polls on the seat vacated by Nawaz Sharif," he said. Maryam is the second choice and would be acceptable to the party as her father was grooming her for a role in politics. He said that the final decision would be taken by Sharif in coming days. The PML-N main rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has already announced the name of Yasmin Rashid for the seat. Sharif had defeated Rashid with a huge margin in 2013. New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Tuesday amid a war of words between the Congress and the government over the stone-pelting on Rahul Gandhi, with the former alleging that the attack had put his life at risk and the home minister wondering why the Congress vice president went abroad without his SPG cover. Responding to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's allegation that last week's stone pelting incident in Gujarat could have killed Rahul, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Congress vice president has violated the security protocol on several occasions in India and abroad. Rahul and party president Sonia Gandhi were not present in the House. Countering the Congress charges, the home minister said in the past two years, Rahul had carried out 121 planned and unplanned tours. He did not use the bullet proof car on 100 occasions. The offices of the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi were informed of the violations. Rahul went on foreign tours and informed the SPG at the eleventh hour, creating problems for it to provide proper security, the minister said while responding to the issue raised by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. In the last two years, Rahul has been out on six foreign visits for 72 days. He did not take along his SPG cover on these occasions, Singh told the Lok Sabha. "Where did he go? He deliberately did not move with the SPG cover. It is violative of the SPG Act enacted by Parliament," he said, alleging he has neglected his own security. The SPG was constituted and trained specially to provide protection to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in view of the threats to him. The SPG Act was later amended to provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate family members. Singh's sharp attack highlighted Gandhi's trips abroad, an issue which has often been used by the BJP to attack him. His remarks led Congress members to troop into the well with placards and were heard shouting slogans like 'Hitlershahi nahin chalegi'. "What does he want to hide by not taking the SPG along, the nation and the House want to know," Singh said. Earlier, Kharge said when Rahul visited Gujarat's flood-hit areas, stones were pelted on his car and dubbed it as a "life-threatening attack". "It is said in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists hurl stones. Which Jammu and Kashmir terrorist was in Gujarat? Or BJP workers became terrorists," he said. At this, BJP members shouted at Kharge and a war of words broke out in the House. Kharge alleged that the Centre and the state government failed to extend security. "Was the security deliberately ignored? We will have to see," he said. Responding to the attacks by BJP that Congress MLAs were not in the state and tucked away in a Karnataka resort, he said the BJP should explain where was the state Chief Minister during the floods and whether stones were hurled at him also. "Had the stone hit Rahul, he would have lost his life. There were attempts to kill him. He is son of a martyr, hence we are not afraid," the Congress leader said. He said the BJP should apologise for the incident and there should be action against the culprits. In his response, Rajnath Singh said Rahul was a national leader and a respected member of this House. "Rahul Gandhi is invaluable (anmol dharohar)," he said. He said the Congress leader was provided with a bullet-resistant car and a jammer. But at the helipad, he agreed with his aide to travel in a Toyota Fortuner but not the bullet-proof car and ignored the advice of the SPG to use the special vehicle. Singh hailed the SPG for making its trained driver drive the Fortuner SUV. "Rahul got down the car in violation of security protocol. He stopped at places where there was no pre-scheduled programme," the minister said. At his rally venue, 4,000 people had gathered. Some came with black flags. Rahul left the venue early. At Lal Chowk in Dhanera, a stone was hurled by a person. It hit the rear window, injuring an SPG personnel on his arm, he said. A case under various sections of the IPC was lodged and the person is in judicial custody. The chief minister has asked an additional director general of police to probe the incident, Singh said. "He should have used the bullet-resistant car. It was a clear violation of security protocol. On the second occasion too, he did not use the bullet-proof car. The SPG provided him body cover by standing on the footboard of the car," he said. The home minister said that in the past too, he has violated the security protocol. "In the past two years, he carried out 121 planned and unplanned tours. He did not use the bullet restrained car on 100 occasions. The office of the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi were informed of the violations," Singh said. Rahul went on foreign tours and informed the SPG at the eleventh hour, creating problems for it to provide proper security, he said. "On six occasions, he was out of the country for 72 days. Where did he go? He deliberately did not move with an SPG cover. It is violative of the SPG Act enacted by Parliament. The Supreme Court had also said that security over is inherent part of the protectee. He neglected his own security." Taking a dig at the Congress, Singh said even Gujarat chief minister undertook a tour of the flooded areas. Why was there no protest against him? The Congress has to introspect. "He (Rahul) was there on disaster tourism", the minister said. "Stone pelting either on politician or security forces is not acceptable," Singh said. Amid slogan shouting, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon for 30 minutes. When the House assembled again, Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC) said the Lok Sabha should condemn the attack and termed it condemnable and disgraceful. Such an attack is reflective of the intolerance in the society, he said. He also agreed with the point that the Congress leader should use the SPG protection. As the Speaker proceeded with other affairs of the business, Congress members pressed ahead with their noisy protests, forcing her to adjourn the House till Wednesday. Amethi: Posters declaring Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as "missing" have appeared in his Lok Sabha constituency in Am ethi, with the party terming it as a "handiwork" of the BJP and the RSS. The posters, which have been pasted at various places in the city, carry a picture of Rahul with a message below it. "Amethi ke man-niya saansad amethi se lapata hain (Respected Amethi parliamentarian is missing from Amethi)." Rahul had last visited his constituency in February this year in run up to the state assembly elections. The posters also claim developmental works, supposed to be carried out by MPs in their areas, have stalled in Amethi. "The common man is feeling cheated and humiliated due to his behaviour. Those giving information about him will be rewarded," the message on the poster adds. District Congress chief Yogendra Mishra termed it a "conspiracy" of the BJP and the RSS and said such things have happened earlier also. "We will register an FIR in this connection with the local police," Mishra said. BJP district president Uma Shankar Pandey denied the allegations saying his party and the RSS have nothing to do with it. "Had he (Rahul) done something for Amethi, the situation would not have arisen," he said. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) BC Dubey said police have not received complaint in this matter from anyone. "If we get a complaint, we will probe and take necessary action," he said. Rahul had last week met people of his constituency in Lucknow, where he had gone to submit a memorandum to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) regarding land acquisition of farmers for roads. Amid high drama, Congress political secretary Ahmed Patel clinched a difficult win on Tuesday in what was easily one of the most talked about and bitterly fought Rajya Sabha by-elections in the history of the Upper House. And with this, Congress has managed to save its face as a national party, as failing to elect the third most powerful person in the party to Rajya Sabha would have meant an 'end' not just for Patel but also for Congress in Gujarat right ahead of the crucial state Assembly Election. After the results were declared, Patel tweeted: This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) August 8, 2017 However, unlike the result, the run-up to the by-election was filled with political maneuvers which saw defections, resignations, and allegations of horse-trading. Just last month, senior Congress leader Vaghela had resigned from the party and following him six Congress MLAs had defected to the BJP. Congress then flew 44 MLAs to Bengaluru after reports emerged of MLAs being forced to side with BJP candidates. And just when it seemed on Tuesday that the high drama might will be over, another episode began right before counting could begin on Tuesday evening. The Indian National Congress sought disqualification of votes polled by its two MLAs Raghavjibhai Patel and Bholabhai Gohil under Rule 39 of The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. Though the Election Commission announced its decision to disqualify the two votes of rebel Congress leaders at 11.30 pm on Tuesday, the incidents that followed are worthy of a soap opera. The drama unfolds The two Congress leaders, belonging to the Vaghela group, allegedly not only disobeyed the party whip but also showed their ballots to Congress agent Shaktisinh Gohil as well as the BJP agent, thus violating Rule 39, and hence their votes have become invalid, the Congress claimed. "They had voted for the BJP. After showing their ballot to me, they also flashed their ballot to the side where (BJP national president and the party candidate) Amit Shah was sitting, and there is a video of this," Gohil said. "... Presiding Officer DM Patel is under pressure. We will ask for an official copy of the video and will even move Supreme Court if we find that the video is tampered with," he said. Gohil said counting of votes cannot start until the presiding officer takes action on the objection raised by the Congress. The BJP, however, challenged Congress party's objections, alleging that the party has taken to subversive methods to hide Gujarat Congress MLAs' lack of faith in Patel's leadership. What followed were delegations after delegations of BJP and Congress leaders paying back-to-back visits to the Election Commission offices in Gandhinagar and New Delhi. While BJP's team included senior leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goel and Arun Jaitley, batting for Congress were leaders like Randeep Singh Surjewala and P Chidambaram. "The Congress didn't say anything since morning. When they realised that they are losing, they raised objections. The rule is that once the observer and presiding officer allow a vote to be placed on a ballot, there's no provision to disqualify a vote," Prasad had said while speaking with the media on Tuesday evening. However, Patel said that Congress had submitted their objection right after the voting concluded. Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani said that Congress' demand reflects the opposition party's frustration. "Congress' internal scuffle has come to the fore, and such a demand (to show video and invalidate votes of the two MLAs) shows their frustration. They are opposing counting of votes because they are set to lose," he told reporters, adding, "They should not blame the BJP. Lack of trust on election officer is not right." Patel's win shows that all is not lost for Congress and its old guards yet. Even though the party is going through an existential crisis, it managed to clinch a win in a tight battle, And they did it even though six of its MLAs including party whip defected to rival BJP whereas Vaghela resigned from the party. The party will go to bed heaving a sigh of relief, but Congress' nightmares in Gujarat are farm from over especially with the state going for Assembly elections later this year. It's still a divided house, and most likely lacking any strategy to tackle BJP. The recent resignations have left Gujarat Congress unit also fragile, and the party's Gujarat unit needs a strong leadership to put up a formidable challenge to the BJP in the upcoming Assembly election. Another interesting aspect that Patel, who represents the old guards of Congress, and his re-election to Rajya Sabha, have shown is that nothing much is going to change in party's think tank. Today's Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat are being closely watched. Congress nominee Ahmed Patel is Sonia Gandhi's chief strategist. He has immense influence on the party's top leadership. Given his position, ensuring Ahmed's victory has become a matter of prestige for the Congress. Anything less will cause them to lose face. Ever since Sonia became Congress chief, the understated Ahmed has emerged as a powerful leader and backroom strategist. He has chosen to keep himself away from media glare and out of the public eye. He has hardly spoken in Parliament. So why does a section of the Muslim population want to keep Ahmed out of the Upper House of Parliament? Though small in number, Shias are up in arms against Ahmed's nomination. They have accused him of concealing facts in the affidavit filed with his nomination papers. Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, general secretary, Anjuman-E-Haideri a Shia trust which looks after the Wakfs and Imambara of Dargah Shah-e-Mardan at Karbala (Jor Bag) in New Delhi tells Firstpost: We lodged a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner on 4 August about the false affidavit submitted by Ahmed for contesting Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat. He deliberately misled the EC by not mentioning about an FIR registered against him in November 2016 at Lodhi Colony police station in New Delhi. At the heart of the acrimony: In 2005, Anjuman-E-Haideri claimed that the land around the Dargah which dates back to 1724 and is one of the oldest Shia Imambaras belonged to the Waqf and had been taken over by the government. The land has been in dispute ever since. Naqvi alleges: "We'd filed this FIR against him. The FIR was registered under Delhi High Court order and Ahmed was made main accused for supporting and patronising the Waqf Board land mafia active in Jor Bag area, which attacked Dargah Shah-e-Mardan. On Monday evening, the organisation held two back-to-back press conferences in Delhi claiming that, at first, the police had filed a dummy FIR which didn't even name Ahmed. It was only after we moved the Delhi High Court that Ahmeds name was added in the FIR. Police were conspiring with Ahmed and had deliberately excluded his name," Naqvi says. The organisation, which claims to have the backing of more than 5 crore Shias across the country as well as non-Shias who follow Imam Hussain (the 7th century revolutionary leader for social justice and the grandson of prophet Muhammad) has urged Gujarat MLAs to not support Ahmeds candidature. We have been repeatedly telling the people and government about Ahmed. He usurped 1.5 acres of our land, which is worth crores," Naqvi adds. Naqvi has also lodged a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner, urging action against Ahmed. Lucknow-based Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad has spearheaded a campaign demanding Ahmed's arrest. Ahmed Patel is lying that theres no FIR against him. Initially, the police didnt name him in the FIR, but after an order of the division bench of Delhi High Court, his name has been added. Therefore, theres an FIR against Ahmed, which he concealed from EC, senior counsel Mehmood Pracha, who contested the case before the high court tells Firstpost. Ahmed used dirty tricks to usurp a piece of land belonging to the trust. He has betrayed the community, says Zahrul Hassan, manager, Anjuman-E-Haideri. However, a Congress leader insisted that no FIR has been registered against Ahmed. "Its a false allegation to malign his image, the leader says. Despite repeated calls and text messages, Ahmed Patel did not respond to Firstpost. After weeks of dramatic political developments, Gujarat looks set for an on the edge of seat contest in the Rajya Sabha elections which will decide among others the fate of Ahmed Patel, the influential political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. It is after a gap of about two decades that a contest is happening in Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties used to get elected unopposed, after the BJP fielded a Congress rebel against Patel, who is seeking a fifth term. The ruling BJP has fielded party chief Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani, and Balwantsinh Rajput, who till recently was Congress' chief whip in the Assembly, for the three Rajya Sabha seats. While its first two candidate will sail through, the BJP will have to manage extra votes to enable Rajput beat Patel. Ahmed Patel, who met Congress MLAs after they returned from their Bengaluru sojourn, said he was confident of his victory. "This poll is not at all about anyone's prestige. I have full faith in my MLAs. Apart from these 44 (Congress) legislators, two of NCP, one of JD-U would vote for me," Patel told reporters. These MLAs have now been hosted at a resort in Anand district. In New Delhi, the high command too expressed confidence that Ahmed Patel would win, despite the BJP's attempts to lure MLAs through money, power and threats. "BJP, by adopting cheap methods, is conspiring to turn minority votes into majority in Gujarat," the Congress said. "They can make all attempts to insult the people's mandate... But we are confident that Ahmed Patel is going to be victorious...," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala while briefing reporters. "People have rejected them. It will be proven in the assembly elections. BJP is worried about the loss in Gujarat, therefore they are trying their best to further lower the level of politics. "However much they (BJP) try to conspire, Congress will walk the path of truth and will win," he added. NCP's position unclear Even as Patel asserted the two NCP MLAs would vote for him, a legislator of Sharad Pawar's party claimed the two lawmakers have been instructed to back BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput. The NCP, it appeared, was divided on the issue, with Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, an MP, saying the party would back the Congress candidate. NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja told reporters in Gandhinagar that he and Jayant Patel, another party lawmaker, have been asked to cast their first preference votes in favour of Rajput. "As per our party's directive, we have to give our vote to BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput. He will be our first preference," said Kandhal, who has openly admitted in the past that he was Vaghela. However, Sule said the NCP MLAs would vote for the Congress candidate "to the best of my knowledge". "To the best of my knowledge it's Congress (that NCP MLAs would vote for)," she said, responding to a text message when asked to comment on reports that the NCP leadership has decided to back BJP in the polls. Smaller parties key to Patel's success The Congress is also banking on the support of two NCP MLAs, and one each of JD(U) and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP). However, NCP leader Praful Patel on Sunday said his party had not yet made up its mind on whom to support. The NCP and JD(U) MLAs had accompanied Patel when he filed his nomination. Lone JD-U MLA Chhotubhai Vasava also extended his support to Patel's candidature. Vaghela's exit made Congress nervous The Congress, which has been out of power in the state for over a two decades now, was rattled by the surprise exit of party stalwart Shankarsinha Vaghela recently. It was jolted further when its six MLAs, including Rajput, a relative of Vaghela resigned from the Asssembly. Three of them later joined BJP, setting off alarm bells in the party in Gujarat where Assembly elections are due later this year. The beleaguered Congress flew its 44 MLAs to Bengaluru to ward off any threat of "poaching" by the BJP. However, six of the 51 MLAs still in the Congress, apart from Vaghela, have not put their cards on the table. They were not among the MLAs packed off to Bengaluru. Vaghela, who resigned from the party and as the leader of the opposition, has not quit the House yet, giving the Congress a major cause for worry. The Congress had faced a major embarrassment in the presidential election when joint opposition candidate Meira Kumar could manage 49 votes, when the party's strength then was 57. Keeping his cards close to chest, Vaghela on Monday chose to maintain silence on his choice of candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, but said Congress nominee Ahmed Patel remained a "friend." "Each and every voter is the owner of his vote. The vote is the personal property of an MLA (for the RS polls). Therefore, I do not want to reveal whom I will vote for," Vaghela told reporters. The 77-year-old veteran said he was no longer in touch with the Congress and dismissed the talk that he was in contact with the BJP. A candidate will require 45 votes for a straight win in the poll, and the BJP with 121 MLAs in the truncated 176- member Assembly following the resignation of six Congress legislators, can secure easy victories for Shah and Irani. How is the voting done? The party will be left with 31 surplus votes for Rajput, who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. Now that he has the support of two NCP MLAs, his task would become a bit easier. For now, Ahmed Patel looks like having the clear backing of 44 Congress MLAs, but even if none of them cross-votes or uses NOTA (None of the Above) option, the Congress candidate will require one additional vote for his victory. According to Election Commission officials, a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes. The MLAs have to give their preferential votes indicating first choice, second, third, fourth (as per number of candidates) or they can choose NOTA, they said. Meanwhile, Amit Shah, who has helmed the party to spectacular victories in several elections since 2014, is camping in Gujarat strategising on how to get all three BJP nominees win. With inputs from agencies The Rajya Sabha polls for three seats in Gujarat will begin at 9 am on Tuesday and continue till 4 pm. The counting of votes will start at 5 pm and the results are expected to be out by 6 pm. Gujarat looks set for an on the edge of seat contest as Ahmed Patel, the influential political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will look to secure his fifth consecutive Rajya Sabha victory. However, Patel will not get a walkover this time around as he will be facing Balwantsinh Rajput, a former Congress leader, who switched to the BJP. Patel's trouble grew after the Congress, which has been out of power in the state for over a two decades now, was rattled by the surprise exit of party stalwart Shankarsinha Vaghela recently. The party was jolted further when its six MLAs, including Rajput, a relative of Vaghela resigned from the Assembly. Three of them later joined BJP, setting off alarm bells in the party in Gujarat where Assembly elections are due later this year. The beleaguered Congress flew its 44 MLAs to Bengaluru to ward off any threat of "poaching" by the BJP. However, six of the 51 MLAs still in the Congress, apart from Vaghela, have not put their cards on the table. They were not among the MLAs packed off to Bengaluru. Vaghela, who resigned from the party and as the leader of the opposition, has not quit the House yet, giving the Congress a major cause for worry. BJP chief Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani are the other two candidates who are expected to win easily. According to Election Commission officials, a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes. BJP has 121 MLAs in the 182-seat Assembly. BJP will be left with 31 surplus votes for Rajput, who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. Rajput also has the support of two NCP MLAs, which will make his task a bit easier. With inputs from agencies AFP Apple's decision to bow to Chinese officials by removing apps to sidestep online censorship underscores the dilemma faced by US tech companies seeking to uphold principles while expanding their business. The iPhone maker is the latest from Silicon Valley to face a conundrum in balancing their value for human rights and free expression against a government intent on controlling online content. Apple this week acknowledged it had removed applications for so-called VPNs or virtual private networks, despite objections. "We would rather not remove the apps, but like in other countries, we obey the laws where we do business," Apple chief Tim Cook said during an earnings call. "We are hopeful that over time, the restrictions we are seeing are loosened, because innovation really requires freedom to collaborate and communicate, and I know that is a major focus there." The prospect of Apple scoring a hit with a 10th-anniversary iPhone model in the months ahead appeared to outweigh backlash from online rights activists who criticised the world's most valuable technology company for not standing up for online freedom. "There is a belief that millennials really want companies to be more active in protecting people's rights and free speech," Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group told AFP. "There is obviously no connection between the rhetoric and buying behavior at this point." Chinese internet users have for years sought to get around the so-called "Great Firewall" restrictions, including blocks on Facebook and Twitter, by using foreign VPN services. "If other companies follow Apple's lead, it could soon be much harder for people in China to access information freely online," Amnesty International said in a blog post. "Businesses have a responsibility to respect international human rights law... We would have expected a more robust stance from Apple, a company that prides itself on being a privacy champion." Cook maintained that the App Store in China remained stocked with VPN apps, including creations from developers outside that country. A commercial VPN securely relays internet communications through a private channel, hiding it from locals networks and, potentially, censors. "This wasn't a choice they really wanted to make, and I'm not sure what they could have done about it," analyst Enderle said of Apple. "They are not doing well in China, and ticking off the leaders would certainly not help." Apple and Chinese censors will ultimately "face a barrage of pressures" from each other and from technology users in China, US-based internet rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) said in an online post. "If Apple makes too great a stand against China's laws, it could be thrown out of the country," Eva Galperin and Amul Kalia of the EFF said in post. "But if China pushes its censorship system too hard, it will have to face the growing frustrations of its own elite." They reasoned that there was hope the crackdown on VPNs in China would recede when the political climate there improves. There is a history of US internet stars being humbled in China. Yahoo a decade ago wound up having to make amends after going along with Chinese officials demanding help some identifying pro-democracy advocates who used Yahoo online message boards. Microsoft has been doing business in China for some 20 years, staying within guidelines set by the government. Seven years ago, Google pulled its search engine out of mainland China in a rare stand against censors and for internet privacy. "Google stood up and left, and now they aren't a power in China," Enderle said of the cost of the move. However, the removal of VPN applications in China by Apple could ramp up the popularity of iPhone rivals powered by Google -backed Android software that lets people get apps from unofficial marketplaces. Apple's business model which requires users to install only approved applications, ironically, makes it easier for a regime like China to exert control, analysts point out. Galperin and Kalia of the EFF said the Apple policy "creates a single chokepoint for free expression and privacy. Reuters DiDi Chuxing, China's largest ride-hailing firm, has invested in Middle East online taxi service Careem in a new partnership deal that marks Didi's latest international expansion against rival Uber. DiDi is seeking to turn up the heat on ride-sharing pioneer Uber via a string of partnerships with regional players in Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa and now the Middle East. It has previously done similar deals in Latin America as well as with Uber's US rival Lyft. DiDi said on 8 August 2017 that it would invest in Careem to strengthen its market position across the region. The two companies said they would cooperate on smart transportation technology, product development and operations. Careem and DiDi declined to comment on the size of the Chinese company's investment in Careem. Founded five years ago, Dubai-based Careem has 12 million customers in 80 cities ranging from Pakistan to Turkey, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco. It is ahead of Uber in Pakistan and a strong second player to Uber in other regional markets, according to research firm SimilarWeb, which tracks consumer mobile and web usage habits. DiDi's ride-hailing system covers cities representing 60 percent of the worlds population in 1,000 cities in North America, Southeast Asia, South Asia and South America, it said. Over the past few weeks, DiDi has announced a similar investment in Estonian-based ride-hailing firm Taxify to help it to expand in Europe and Africa. DiDi and its backer SoftBank Group have also said they would contribute the bulk of a new $2.5 billion investment into Grab, a major online taxi player in south east Asia. Careem has raised $572 million in funding from a range of investors, including a $150 million round led by Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Kingdom Holding, according to Crunchbase data. German auto maker Daimler and Japan's Rakuten are also investors. Uber operates in nearly 600 cities in 70 countries and reported it had fare revenues around $20 billion last year. It was Silicon Valley's most valuable private firm when it was last valued at up to $68 billion. DiDi is the world's second most valuable venture-backed start-up after Uber, having last been valued at $50 billion according to venture investment tracking firm CB Insights, having raised $13 billion in funding over the past five years. It has 400 million customers in 400 cities in China. DiDi is backed by Chinese Internet giants Alibaba and Tencent and Japan's SoftBank, among others. DiDi acquired Uber's China business a year ago, leaving the U.S. company with a minor stake in DiDi. Over the past year, Uber has faced regulatory setbacks, employee and driver protests and executive departures, leading to founder Travis Kalanick being pushed aside by the company's board in June. tech2 News Staff Google has fired one of its employees, who penned the 10-page document titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber", which went viral over the weekend. The said employee confirmed his firing to Bloomberg, stating that he was terminated for 'perpetuating gender stereotypes'. Google has not yet commented on the matter. The post discussing topics involving gender and diversity went viral within the organisation for its controversial content. The post went to the extent of saying that women in the same position as men were paid less not due to any bias but because of inherent psychological differences between the genders. Over the last weekend, Motherboard reported the story which was followed by Gizmodo, who published the entire 10-page document. Google is currently defending itself from a lawsuit from the US Department of Labour which is alleging that the company systematically discriminates against women. At such a juncture, employing a person who just published a 10-page document promoting discrimination is the last thing the company wants to deal with. As expected, the points mentioned in the manifesto did not go down too well with a lot of Google employees. The newly appointed vice president for Diversity, Integrity and Governance at Google, Danielle Brown, also sent out a memo to Googlers on the issue. "Diversity and inclusion are a fundamental part of our values and the culture we continue to cultivate. We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and we'll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul," said Brown. According to Recode, even Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent out a memo saying that the employee had violated Google's code of conduct and that the post had "crossed the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK." The entire memo is available on Recode. Pichai has also cut short his vacation and along with his leadership team, Pichai will be addressing Googlers on Thursday in a town hall meeting. According to Google's 2017 diversity report, while the overall women to men ratio is 31:69, in the technology and leadership roles, the gap becomes even wider. While there are 20 percent women in tech in Google in 2017 as compared to a mere 17 percent in 2014, only one in four women hold leadership roles. In terms of racial diversity, over 50 percent are White, a consistent figure for every year since 2013. Geetha Kannan, managing director, India, for the Anita Borg Institute which works towards advocating diversity in technology and educating organisations on its importance, said that this was nothing new. According to Kannan, the attitude emerging from the 10-page document was a classic example of falling victim to the unconscious bias prejudices which are defined by attitudes or stereotypes which affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious manner. It remains to be seen how this removal of the employee will play out in the coming days. After all, Pichai had mentioned in his memo, "There are co-workers who are questioning whether they can safely express their views in the workplace (especially those with a minority viewpoint). They too feel under threat, and that is also not OK. People must feel free to express dissent. So to be clear again, many points raised in the memo such as the portions criticising Googles trainings, questioning the role of ideology in the workplace, and debating whether programs for women and underserved groups are sufficiently open to all are important topics. The author had a right to express their views on those topics we encourage an environment in which people can do this and it remains our policy to not take action against anyone for prompting these discussions." PTI Infosys co-founder and former UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani today swore by big data, saying it will address issues of economic growth and jobs and help small businesses avail of loans that have eluded them so far. "The fact that we are talking of using big data is not just some technical mumbo-jumbo, it is actually creating a cycle of investment and growth for India's small businesses, which will lead to economic growth and jobs," he told reporters at an event organised by CII here. Big data refers to huge complex number sets that are not easily dealt with by traditional processing application software. It faces challenges like capturing data, storage and data analysis. Nilekani was asked to assess the state of the Indian economy, especially in terms of jobs and overall economic growth, as the country is close to celebrating its 70th Independence. "With companies becoming data rich due to the availability of digital footprints through GST, some eight million small businesses in GST will start getting loans. When they start getting loans, they will grow and when they grow, it will create jobs," he added. Small businesses were not getting loans due to lack of business data on performance, Nilekani reasoned. On NPAs, he said the Reserve Bank of India is doing its best to address the issue under RBI Governor Urjit Patel. To another query, Nilekani said it is a necessity to put in place privacy infrastructure to secure big data as more and more people are using it through mobile phones. On the issue of having a regulator for data security, Nilekani said India is waiting for the report of the Data Protection Committee headed by former Supreme Court judge B N Srikrishna, which is looking into issues of data security, privacy and sovereignty. He, however, is not sure what type of regulator India would have - horizontal or category or sector-wise. "We are not sure whether we need a general or category regulatory. For example, in some sense, the RBI regulates data in banking world. Tomorrow, you will have a health regulator. It is not clear whether we will have one horizontal regulator or will it be sector wise," he added. tech2 News Staff Lenovo India is expected to officially launch the K8 Note on 9 August, the specifications for which have already been leaked on benchmarking site Geekbench as per the latest report. The Lenovo K8 Note will be an Amazon exclusive, as confirmed by the company. Based on the Geekbench listing the Lenovo K8 Note is powered by the Mediatek Helio X20 deca-core chipset dubbed MT6797 clocked at 1.85 GHz and will have 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM. On the graphics end, it comes with the Mali-T880 GPU. The phone scored 1551 points on the single-core test and 4664 points on the multi-core test. Another surprising finding from the Geekbench listing is the omission of Lenovo's custom Vibe UI which suggests that the company will offer a clean Android Nougat 7.1.1 experience. On the other hand, another variant of the K8 dubbed as the Lenovo K8 Plus was also spotted on the benchmarking website. The K8 Plus was spotted scoring a single-core score of 861 points and a multi-core score of 3761. The Plus is seen powered by the MT6757CD Helio P25 octa-core processor, clocked at 1.69 GHz and 3 GB of RAM. However, there was no news yet regarding its launch. The Lenovo K8 Plus is also expected to run Android Nougat 7.1.1. The Lenovo K8 Note is the successor to the K6 Note which launched in December 2016. The phone came with a 5.5-inch full HD (1080x1920 pixels) display, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset along with 3 GB and 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. The K6 Note also featured a 16 MP rear camera with LED flash and an 8 MP front camera. IANS Dubai authorities have launched an online system that will help customers fight fake products. It was unveiled on Monday by Khalid Mohammad Sharif Al Awadhi, assistant director general for Environment, Health and Safety Control Sector, reports Xinhua news agency. The smart, integrated system for classification and registration of consumer products, which is called "Montaji", will be complemented with a mobile app with the same name. The system, accessible through the city's portal (www.dm.gov.ae), will ensure product safety while guaranteeing smooth flow of trade. On the system, shoppers in Dubai can check the authenticity of any consumer products and match up their health profile with the product specifications. All consumer safety products sold in Dubai, such as health supplements, cosmetic and personal care products, perfumes, detergents, soaps, packaging materials and biocides such as anti-bacterial products, must be registered with the "Montaji" system, said Naseem Mohammed Rafee, head of the consumer product safety section. When consumers have any doubt about any such products, they can enter the bar code or name of the product in the Montaji system and verify the details. Consumers can report violations through the municipality's call centre 800900. A mobile app with the same name will be launched within two months, said Ahmad Mohammad Kajoor, head of IT Infrastructure at the municipality. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is slowly managing to undercut the national influence of feudalist powers but it's not an easy going for him as these people continue to organise different fronts against him. Ghani is managing to hold firm as former warlords and government officials form alliances, termed as "a coalition of killers" by Washington Post, to oppose his reform efforts. Often criticised for micromanaging, Ghani is doing that because its what Afghanistan needs the most to eradicate corruption until the change in the bureaucratic structure and security apparatus has been realised. The Afghan president has recently drawn the ire of a majority of the traditionalist and ethnocentric leaders, who have been grave human rights violators. Even though an absolute majority of the civil bureaucrats, especially at the foreign affairs ministry, and military and police are members of Jamiat-e-Islami, an ethnic Tajik party, its leaders see that their undisputable grip over the Afghan state is slipping away. Jamiat leaders took to the streets following the firing of Zia Massoud, a Tajik leader, by Ghani as his top adviser. Massoud and other former Mujahideen pocketed billions of dollars under former president Hamid Karzais watch during the American aid bonanza from 2002 to 2013. Karzai gained their patronage by allowing widespread corruption, especially in the police and military. Jamiat members lacking even a high school degree and zero training became generals overnight. Jamiat has grown strong roots in Afghan politics over the last decade. The fact that their candidate, Abdullah Abdullah, disputed the results of general elections and forced Ghani to broker a power-sharing deal with him shows how strong the Jamiat had become. Jamiat leaders and other warlords were considered untouchable and not subject to retribution and accountability. But it seems to be changing. Ghani has been less conservative than Karzai in exercising his power as president. That began to surface following Dostum-Ishchi incident. General Abdul Rashid Dostum, Afghanistans first vice-president abducted and sexually abused Jawzjans former governor, Ahmad Ishchi in November, 2016. Dostum was sidelined from decision-making since the incident and was put under house arrest, and then later was conditionally allowed to go to Turkey. It was unprecedented in the nascent tenure of the current state. Warlords impunity was accepted as the law of gravity in Afghanistan. Nobody expected Ghani to go through with Dostums case and sacking of Zia Massoud. But when he did, he received consistent resistance from pro-Jamiat masses. The sidelined warlords and dissenting officials met recently in Turkey and formed an alliance (Coalition for the Rescue of Afghanistan) with Dostum against Ghani. Besides Dostum, the alliance includes Mohammad Mohaqiq, a Hazara leader, and Atta Nur, an ethnic Tajik leader from Jamiat, but they did not present a practical rhetoric for reform aside from allegations and generic criticism of Ghani. That wave of dissidence against Ghani has been joined by some parliament (Wolesi Jirga) members as well. Ghani has undermined parliament members influence by taking advantage of the loophole, the illegitimacy of the parliament. The Coalition for Rescue of Afghanistan denigrated Ghani while they planned to jostle Dostum back to Afghanistan without the presidents knowledge. Last week, Dostum tried to land in Mazar-e-Sharif without permission from the central government, but his plane was diverted to Tajikistan when asked to either land in Kabul or leave Afghanistans air space. The powerful Balkh governor, Noor could not intervene to let the plane land in Balkh. Dostums diversion sounds like Ghani sent a message to warlords: The days of mutiny are gone. Ghanis administration is a cliffhanger. On one hand, he has recently appointed a young, educated minister, Shahzad Aryobee for the Ministry of Communications and IT, on the other hand, he appointed a corrupt former governor, Gul Agha Sherzai as minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs. He has appointed servile heads for security institutions rather than professional leaders. The war with the Taliban has intensified during his administration. On 6 August, Taliban attacked northern province of Sar-e-Pul and killed 50 people. An explosion on 24 July that took 36 lives was a sequel of a series of bombing in Kabul this year. More territories are controlled by the Taliban today than ever before in the past 14 years. Ghani promised to create one million jobs during his election campaigns, yet there are thousands of vacancies at various levels within the government, and no strategy is in place to fill them, let alone create new jobs. In addition, he has not been able to stage the elections for Wolesi Jirga. Constitutional obligations prescribed the end of the current Wolesi Jirga members in June 2015. Technically, the most important democratic institution of the Afghan state is illegitimate, which in turn makes the legitimacy of the cabinet questionable. Despite that, Ghani is the best choice Afghanistan has. In the political race between Ghani and his opponents, the mainstream media that act as the mouthpiece of warlords, are propagating against Ghani, but he has received far-flung support from social media users based on the sole reason that he has deterred warlords and corrupt officials. Being a veteran World Bank official, Ghani has the potential to lay the ground work for a steady economic growth in Afghanistan. For example, it is the first time in history that Afghanistan has had over $1bn revenue in the first half of the fiscal year--it is expected to double by the end of 2017. His collaboration with India on implementing developmental projects on rivers and building water dams, such as Kajaki, Kamal Khan and Salma is beginning to pay off and has even worried Iran. The vision of these dams was laid during King Zahir Khans rule some six decades ago. Ghani is now in pursuit of converting those visions into implementable projects. Managing rivers of Afghanistan as such will irrigate thousands of hectares of lands which will result in a double-digit fold growth in cultivation besides generating hydroelectricity. On the foreign policy end, he is building an energy-oriented relation with the energy-rich Central Asian nations. Ghani has been successful in rejuvenating the credibility of Afghanistan among the West, especially the US, which was badly tarnished by Karzai. During the initial months in office, he cleared the fog over the Afghan conflict and rigorously enunciated that Pakistan is in a state of undeclared war with Afghanistan, while no substantial action has been taken. In addition, his attractive clique of prominent technocrats, which includes people like Hanif Atmar, Mohammad Qayoumi and the passionate youth (diverse in gender and ethnicity) of Arg, have made Ghani an appealing leader in the international community. While he has a clear, corrupt free background and a game plan for his foreign and fiscal policies, his opponents are notorious human rights violators and corrupt officials with no strategy for reform. All their fuss is due to the drainage of their resources via corruption from public funds. Ghani is a visionary leader. Slowly and carefully, he is institutionalising and modernising the Afghan state a state that has functioned based on traditions instead of modern-day statehood. The author is a post-graduate student at Journalism and Public Relations Media School, Indiana University Bloomington. Rome: A 30-year-old man has been arrested in the alleged kidnapping of a young British model who thought she was coming to Milan for a photo shoot, but instead was drugged, hustled away in a suitcase and handcuffed in a house in northern Italy before being released, Milan police said Saturday. Police released a mugshot of the suspect whom they identified as Lukasz Pawel Herba, a Polish citizen with British residency. He was jailed for investigation of suspected kidnapping for extortion purposes, police said. Police official Lorenzo Bucossi told reporters the 20-year-old woman had come to Milan for what she thought was a photo shoot and was abducted on 11 July. A statement from Milan police headquarters detailed the woman's ordeal. "Attacked, drugged, handcuffed and closed inside a suitcase, that's how a 20-year-old English model was kidnapped on 11 July in Milan to be sold to the best offer on pornography sites," on the internet, the statement said. The suspect was arrested on 18 July, the day after he allegedly released the woman and dropped her off at the British consulate in Milan, police said. The woman had arrived in Milan on 10 July and was supposed to do the photography session the next day, the statement said. A photographer had booked the session through the model's agent, but as soon as she stepped inside the Milan apartment for the appointment, she was attacked by two men, according to the police account. "The kidnappers loaded the suitcase with the girl (inside) into a car trunk" and drove to a rural home in a hamlet outside Turin, the statement said. In the house, "the model was kept handcuffed to a wooden dresser in a bedroom" until she was released on 17 July, the police said. Police suspect the Polish man advertised the "sale" of the woman online, while at the same time demanding ransom from the woman's agent of $300,000 (about 260,000 euros). Authorities said as far as they know, no ransom was paid. An investigation is being conducted in Poland and Britain as well as in Italy. Investigators are trying to determine if the suspect had accomplices and was mainly after ransom, or was trying to defraud someone who might have been willing to pay money online for the woman, police said. They didn't identify the model's agent. Milan daily Corriere della Sera said the kidnapper let his victim go because he discovered she had a child and considered her unsuitable for the sex trade. But the police official, Lorenzo Bucossi, told reporters it was unclear why the woman was released. The Indian Army is all set to hold the 'Yudh Abhyas', a joint military exercise with the US Army in September. It comes just a month after the tri-nation Malabar naval exercise was held in the Bay of Bengal between India, Japan and the US. The military exercise will be held at Joint-Base Lewis McChord in the US from 14-27 September, The Times of India reported. This exercise comes at a time when India and China remain locked in a border standoff near the Doka La tri-border junction in Bhutan. The exercise will see the two armies climbing Mount Rainer. The 4,392-metre mountain is the highest highest in the US state of Washington, Navbharat Times reported. "This exercise will not only boost inter-operability between the two armies at the battalion and company levels, but will also help the Indian Army understand the doctrines, battle drills and procedures of the US Army," a senior officer was quoted as saying by Times Now. Two hundred soldiers from the Gorkha Riflies will take part in the battalion-level field training exercise with a brigade-level command post" under 'Yudh Abhyas', which the two countries want to upgrade to "a more complex, combined arms, division-level exercise", The Times of India report added. A White House press release stated that such military exercises can be seen as promotion of closer service ties between the two countries. "Key military and civilian defence leaders continue to meet via reciprocal counterpart visits and strategic and policy dialogues, promoting closer service ties and improving inter-operability among our forces," the release stated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the US in June, and the two countries had pledged to continue their strong defence partnership and broaden military to-military engagements. Highlighting the importance of India-US defence relationship, US President Donald Trump had said, "The security partnership between the US and India is incredibly important. Our militaries are working every day to enhance cooperation." "We see a growing convergence with India on our strategic outlook for the region, and we view India as an increasingly important regional security partner within and beyond the Indo-Asia-Pacific region," a recent US Congress report said. It also calls India and US as "natural partners". The defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of the US-India partnership, and both countries enjoy close defence cooperation across a range of areas. "The defence relationship between the US and India is positive and has come a long way in two decades. There are many up and downs but the relationship is on a positive trajectory," a senior US official said. The joint India-US military exercise first started in 2004 under the US Army Pacific partnership programme. The longest running joint military training, 'Yudh Abhyas', was last conducted in Chaubattia in Uttarakhand from 14 to 27 September and witnessed participation of about 225 US Army personnel and an equal number of the Indian Army's Congo Brigade officers, The Indian Express reported. A report in NDTV said that such joint exercises include cordon and search in counter-militant operations, jungle lane shooting, reflex shooting, long-range firing and cliff assault techniques. In July, the two countries were joined by Japan and the three had held a joint naval exercise, Malabar 2017, in the Bay of Bengal. That was aimed at achieving "deeper military ties between the three nations". As many as 95 aircraft, 16 ships and two submarines from the three countries took part in the exercise. Various maneuvres were undertaken in rough seas as part of the drill. With inputs from agencies Islamabad: Pakistan's banned militant outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawa today launched a political party, days after authorities extended its chief and Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed's "house arrest" for two months fearing threat to public order. Saifullah Khalid, closely linked to Saeed, announced the formation of 'Milli Muslim League' in Islamabad following weeks of campaign in Punjab's provincial capital Lahore. "We would soon file application with Election Commission of Pakistan for its registration," Khalid, who claimed to be the president of the new party, said. Khalid said the new party will strive to make Pakistan a "real Islamic state" and demanded the immediate release of Saeed, who is under "house arrest" since January. The party, political observers said, seems as an effort to set up a front which is acceptable to moderate Pakistanis. However, there appears to be little chance of electoral success for religious parties in Pakistan as the share of such political outfits have have gradually shrunk in parliament. Currently, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal of Maulan Fazlur Rehman is one of the largest such party with about a dozen elected members in the National Assembly, whereas the Jamaat-e-Islami has about half a dozen in the 342-member house. In a notification issued on 28 July, the Punjab government's Home Department said that on the recommendation of the federal interior ministry, the detention of Saeed has been extended for another 60 days. It said Saaed and others' detention expired on 27 July after his house arrest was extented for another 90 days. He was initially put under house arrest on 31 January. The JuD is believed to be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group behind the 2008 deadly attacks in Mumbai in which 166 people were killed by 10 terrorists who came from Pakistan. Cape Town: South African president Jacob Zuma faces a no-confidence vote by secret ballot in parliament on Tuesday, with opponents hoping that discontented ANC lawmakers could help oust him from office. Criticism of Zuma from within the African National Congress (ANC) has grown over corruption scandals and economic woes, and the celebrated party of Nelson Mandela has declined sharply at the polls. But the ANC which holds a large majority in parliament welcomed the decision to hold the vote by secret ballot and said it expected the no-confidence motion to fail. Several opposition parties will lead a protest to the national assembly in Cape Town on Tuesday ahead of the parliamentary session due to begin at 2.00 pm (1200 GMT). "ANC MPs now have no excuse. They must use their vote... to remove Jacob Zuma," the main opposition Democratic Alliance party said after the speaker of parliament made a surprise decision Monday to hold the ballot in secret. Zuma has easily survived several previous parliamentary votes held without secret balloting. A 201-vote majority would be needed to remove him from power, and the ANC holds 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament. His cabinet would also be forced to resign. "It's a long shot to expect a significant number of ANC MPs to vote against their own party and let the opposition claim this big political scalp," independent analyst Daniel Silke told AFP. Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president before the 2019 general election lessening pressure for his party to trigger imminent change. ANC loses its lustre The secret ballot has been subject to a long legal battle waged by opposition parties, who hope that ANC lawmakers will now be emboldened to vote against him without fear of intimidation. Last week ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu acknowledged recent criticism of the party, including the impact of a cabinet reshuffle in March when respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan was replaced with a Zuma loyalist. Gordhan's sacking led to a string of downgrades to South Africa's credit rating as well as causing the rand currency to tumble. Public support for the ANC, which swept to power under Mandela in the first non-racial elections in 1994, slipped to 55 percent in last year's local polls its worst-ever result. A handful of MPs, including Gordhan, have joined calls from anti-apartheid veterans and trade unions for Zuma to resign, as South Africa endures record unemployment and a recession. Zuma has been engulfed by corruption allegations since coming to office in 2009. A court last year found him guilty of violating the constitution after he refused to repay taxpayers' money used to refurbish his private rural house. He has been accused of being in the sway of the wealthy Gupta business family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments, contracts and state-owned businesses. He is also fighting a court order that could reinstate almost 800 corruption charges against him over a multi-billion dollar arms deal in the 1990s. Zuma is seen as favouring his ex-wife, former African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to succeed him ahead of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Lahore: An explosive device went off on Monday night inside a truck parked on the route former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif is to take on Wednesday for a public rally in Lahore, injuring at least 35 people, officials said. Official sources told PTI that the explosives were placed in the truck laden with fruits on the Out Fall Road - the route Sharif is to take on his return to his hometown for the first time since the Panama Papers scandal verdict on 28 July. Sharif was initially scheduled to travel to Lahore from Islamabad via the famous Grand Trunk Road on Sunday, but the rally was postponed to Wednesday. "It appears the explosive device was to target Sharif's cavalcade," the sources said, adding that Sharif is now likely to review his Wednesday's planned march through the route. The truck was parked there for the past three days, police said citing initial reports they had received. "It appears to be a message for Nawaz Sharif to cancel or defer his planned rally on coming Wednesday," the sources said. The PML-N has planned a "million march" against Sharif's disqualification by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case. Opposition leader Imram Khan has expressed concern over the ousted prime minister's plan to travel to Lahore with a cavalcade, terming it "a deliberate attempt to undermine the Supreme Court" and its judgement in the high-profile scandal. Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Sharif's travel plans were making Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders anxious. "Khan's is afraid of the strong solidarity that will be demonstrated by the masses for the ousted prime minister, who is now emerging as the people's prime minister," Iqbal said. A rescue official told PTI that an explosive device planted in the truck went off at around 9pm local time. The kind of device and the explosives used were not yet known. Police and rescue officials have cordoned off the area. "At least 35 people have been injured and admitted to hospitals. An injured minor girl is stated to be critical," he said. DIG Haider Ashraf confirmed that it was a bomb blast and said that the blast has created a huge crater. "We have launched investigation on all aspects," he said. Azim Hanif, an eyewitness, said he was going to the parking area when the powerful blast took place. "Due the impact of the blast, I fell on the ground. After a couple of minutes when I gained my senses, I saw some people injured," Hanif said. The explosion shattered the windows of nearby buildings. A number of bikes and cars were damaged due to its intensity. Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks in recent months. On 24 July, a Taliban suicide bomber struck a police team near residence-cum-office of Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif here, killing 27 people, including policemen. In April, six persons were killed and 15 others injured when a suicide bomber targeted a population census team in Lahore's Bedian Road. In February, a suicide bomber killed 14 people, including senior police officers, near the Punjab Assembly here. Islamabad: Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that the decision to disqualify him was taken before the Supreme Court announced the verdict after concluding the hearing in the Panama Papers scandal. Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court on 28 July for not disclosing the salary he did not receive from his son's company. "The decision to disqualify me had already been taken, only a justification was being sought," he told reporters. He said there was big debate in the country over his disqualification as people were not satisfied with the reason cited by the court to send him home. He said being the elected prime minister of Pakistan he had certain rights and it was important that various institutions respect each other. Sharif also challenged the court over the trial of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf and asked if there were any judges in the country who could hold Musharraf accountable. "Is there any court which can hold former dictators responsible for crimes like breaking up the country," he asked. Sharif said he had not misappropriated even a single penny and it was wrong to say that he was trying to dodge accountability. He said he appeared before the probe panel set up by the Supreme Court despite suggestion he was not bound to face the interrogation. Sharif is scheduled to go back to Lahore on Wednesday by the GT Road and Opposition has criticised that he was using it to interact with supporters to put pressure on the courts. He rejected the impression and said it was a "journey back home and not a protest." Islamabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan will work together to defeat terrorism and ensure security and stability in the region, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani called Abbasi on Monday and congratulated him on his election as the premier. The Prime Minister Office in a statement said Abbasi thanked the president and said that terrorism is a common threat for both the countries and both countries need to fight it together. "We will work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region," Abbasi said, adding that terrorism was a common enemy and "we will work together to eliminate this menace from the region". The two leaders also agreed to work together to address the challenge of energy in the region and improve the economic condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan leader expressed satisfaction over the smooth transition and said that it was good for democracy of Pakistan, the statement said. It was first high-level call between the two leaders since Abbasi took office. The last known contact between top leadership was made when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Ghani met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana about two months ago. Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday rejected as "malicious campaign" the allegations by Afghan officials that its military operation in the northwestern tribal region was meant to push militants into Afghanistan. Foreign Office spokesman rejected the statement attributed to the governor of the Afghan province of Kunar about operation Khyber-IV pushing militants into Afghanistan. "Such statements were contrary to the spirit and understanding arrived at during recent engagements at the leadership level of the two countries. Such media headlines are misleading and part of the malicious campaign," the spokesman said. He said Khyber-IV is part of the ongoing counter-terrorism operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and Pakistani security forces have achieved success in fighting back terrorists. The political leadership of the two countries had agreed that the two sides would coordinate and cooperate in their action to eradicate the menace of terrorism, which is a common challenge. The Afghan Defence authorities were accordingly informed about operation Khyber-IV. "Terrorists fleeing military action were to be dealt with by Afghan security forces. So far we have received no support from Afghanistan in operation Khyber IV," he said. The spokesman said that the effective border management is imperative to curb cross-border movement of terrorists. "Border management measures would facilitate movement of people, trade, and transit and would be instrumental in curtailing the activities of terrorists, drug and human smugglers and other undesired elements," he said. Pakistan stated that the country has received no support from Afghanistan despite being assured of it prior to the beginning of the Khyber-IV operation. In July, the Afghan Defence Ministry's Spokesman Dawlat Waziri had claimed that Pakistan had not carried out any coordination while launching the military operation in the Rajgal Valley despite an understanding about having coordinated operations on both sides of the Durand Line. Beijing: In a stunning but unsubstantiated claim, a senior Chinese official said on Tuesday that Bhutan has acknowledged that the Doka La area where the Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a standoff does not belong to it. China's top diplomat on the boundary issue, Wang Wenli, told a visiting Indian media delegation that Bhutan has conveyed to Beijing through the diplomatic channels that the area of the standoff is not its territory. She provided no evidence for the claim, which is at the complete variance with Bhutan's stated position and actions. Bhutan had protested to the Chinese government, accusing it of violating a bilateral pact after its troops tried to construct a road in the Doka La area on 16 June. "After the incident, the Bhutanese made it very clear to us that the place where the trespassing happened is not Bhutan's territory," said Wang, who is the Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese foreign ministry. She went on to say that "Bhutanese find it very strange that the Indian border troops are on the Chinese soil," and implied that her views have been gleaned from Bhutanese state media and legal blogs which have "more convincing information". A statement issued by India's external affairs ministry on 30 June said, "On 16 June, a PLA (People's Liberation Army) construction party entered the Doka La area and attempted to construct a road. It is our understanding that a Royal Bhutan Army patrol attempted to dissuade them from this unilateral activity." India had also cited the Bhutanese foreign ministry as emphasising that "the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between these two countries. They have urged a return to the status quo as before 16 June 2017." India also conveyed to the Chinese government that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for it. India says both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place. Wang said Bhutan is observing the actions being taken by both Indian and Chinese troops from its territory. Bhutan has no direct diplomatic relations with China and maintains contacts with Beijing through its diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Bhutan and China have held 24 rounds of talks to resolve boundary dispute while India and China have completed 19 rounds of talks. Wang said India and Bhutan are two countries out of the 14 countries China is yet to sort out boundary disputes. China has settled boundary dispute approximately of 20,000 km with 12 countries out of the 22,000 km and is yet to settle about 2,000 km of boundary involving India and Bhutan. Today Xiaomi India VP and Managing Director tweeted that the company will launch a new smartphone in India with dual rear cameras in India in next month along with a portrait shot with background blur effect. The smartphone will likely be the Mi 5X that was introduced in China last month. [HTML1] The Mi 5X has 12MP dual rear cameras, one with a wide-angle lens and other with a telephoto lens offering portrait mode, background blur and more features. It has a 5.5-inch 1080p 2.5D curved glass display, is powered by an Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 Mobile platform, runs on Android 7.1 (Nougat). Xiaomi Mi 5X specifications 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD 2.5D curved glass LTPS display, 450nit brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio 2GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 14nm processor with 650MHz Adreno 506 GPU 4GB RAM, 64GB storage (eMMC 5.0), expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD MIUI 8 based on Android 7.1.1 (Nougat), upgradable to MIUI 9 Hybrid Dual SIM (micro + nano/microSD) 12MP rear camera with wide-angle lens, 1.25m pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, dual-tone LED flash, secondary 12MP camera with telephoto lens, 1.0 m pixel size, f/2.6 aperture, PDAF 5MP front-facing camera Fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor Dimensions: 155.475.87.3mm; Weight: 165g 3.5mm audio jack, dedicated amplifier 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C 3080mAh (typical) / 3000mAh (minimum) battery The Xiaomi Mi 5X comes in Black, Gold and Rose Gold colors and was launched in China for 1499 yuan (US$ 222 / Rs. 14284 approx.). Hope it will be priced competitively in India. We should know the launch date soon. A group of hackers posted a fresh cache of stolen HBO files online Monday, and demanded a multimillion-dollar ransom from the network to prevent the release of entire television series and other sensitive proprietary files. HBO, which had previously acknowledged the theft of "proprietary information," said it's continuing to investigate and is working with police and cybersecurity experts. In a swaggering five-minute video from "Mr. Smith" to HBO CEO Richard Plepler included in the dump, the hackers used white text scrolling on a black background to deliver an ultimatum. In short: Pay up within three days or see the group, which claims to have stolen 1.5 terabytes of HBO shows and confidential corporate data, upload entire series and sensitive proprietary files. Specifically, the hackers demanded "our 6-month salary in bitcoin," and claimed they earn $12 million to $15 million a year from blackmailing organizations whose networks they have penetrated. They said they would only deal directly with "Richard" and only send one "letter" detailing how to pay. The dump itself was just 3.4 gigabytes mostly technical data that appears to provide a topography of HBO's network and to list network-administrator passwords. It includes what appear to be draft scripts from five "Game of Thrones" episodes, including one upcoming episode, and a month's worth of email apparently from the account of Leslie Cohen, HBO's vice president for film programming. The network reiterated Monday that it doesn't believe that its email system as a whole has been compromised. The video text was written in often flawed but fluent English peppered with misspellings and pop-culture references. The hackers claimed it took them about 6 months to breach HBO's network. Their biggest threat appears to be dumping videos of future shows online with their logo "HBO Is Falling" superimposed. Many of the more than 50 internal documents in the dump were labeled "confidential," including a spreadsheet of legal claims against the network, job offer letters to several top executives, slides discussing future technology plans and a list of 37,977 emails called "Richard's Contact list," an apparent reference to Plepler. One screenshot labeled "Highly Confidential" by the hackers listed folders such as "Penguin Random House," ''Licensing & Retail," ''Legal," ''International" and "Budgets." Another document appears to contain the confidential cast list for "Game of Thrones," listing personal cellphone numbers and email addresses for actors such as Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey and Emilia Clark. So far, however, the HBO leaks have been limited, falling well short of the chaos inflicted on Sony in 2014. In that attack, hackers possibly associated with North Korea unearthed thousands of embarrassing emails and released personal information, including salaries and social security numbers, of nearly 50,000 current and former Sony employees. The video letter uploaded Monday claimed the hackers spend a half million dollars a year to purchase "zero-day" exploits that let them break into networks through holes not yet know to Microsoft and other software companies. It claims HBO is the hackers' 17th target and that only three of their past targets refused to pay. North Korea has threatened to retaliate against the U.S. after the U.N. unanimously voted to impose tougher sanctions but The Coming Collapse of China author Gordon Chang said if the U.S. wants to damage the North Korean missile program, it must take aggressive financial actions. These sanctions are important and kudos to Nikki Haley and to the Trump administration for putting them into place and getting 15-0 on the Security Council but unfortunately these are incremental. These are just a little bit tighter than the previous six set of sanctions and the North Koreans are able to adjust around them, he told FOX Business. So what we need to do, if we want to cripple the North Korean missile program, or even if we want to bring them to the table to talk, what we need to do is go all in all at once take all their money. China is key to accomplishing this goal, in his opinion. There are a lot of countries that do business with North Korea but the other thing that it would take is going after Chinese banks because they have been money laundering for the North Koreans and not just the small ones, the big ones. Bank of China, one of Chinas so-called big four banks was named in a U.N. report last year for devising and operating a money clinging scheme for the North Koreans, he said. You walk down this streetyou will see a Bank of China branch and the question the Trump administration needs to ask is: Why can these guys launder money for North Koreans, do business in the U.S. and have access to dollar accounts in New York? If the Trump administration were to get tough on China by sanctioning banks, Chang said America would have the upper hand but warns U.S. companies who sell in China, like Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) and GE (NYSE:GE), will be hurt. We cannot allow the Chinese to continue to engage in increasingly predatory practices because it hurts American companies across the board. Not only the ones in China, but also of course, American workers. The other thing is, China is arming the North Koreans. So for instance, those launches on July 4 and July 28, the Chinese participated in them because those launchers were Chinese. During an appearance on Mornings with Maria on Tuesday, Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) said he wouldnt rule out the possibility of issuing sanctions against China, but Chang said President Trump has moved in the right direction. Trump has done one thing which is absolutely correct, he has put North Korea at the top of our list of priorities. No longer are we trying to integrate China into the international system. What he is trying to do is protect the American people by disarming the North Koreans, if nothing else, thats a precondition to success. Its not sufficient, but it is the precondition. Foxconn may in fact be heading to Michigan, according to Gov. Rick Snyder. Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou was quoted in Chinese media reports as saying the company, a major supplier for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), might open a new facility in Michigan to research new automobile technology like self-driving vehicles. Michigan, the home of General Motors (NYSE:GM), Ford (NYSE:F) and Fiat Chrysler (NYSE:FCAU), would be the second U.S. location for Foxconn. The Taiwanese electronics manufacturer recently announced plans to build a massive $10 billion plant in Wisconsin. Gov. Snyder is optimistic that Foxconn will open a facility in Michigan, but said what exactly it is has not been determined and it could be a few months before any potential deal takes shape. In a phone interview from Shanghai, where he was concluding a nine-day trade trip in China, Snyder told the Associated Press Monday night there is a "strong possibility" for Foxconn to still locate in the state after the company in recent weeks picked neighboring Wisconsin for a $10 billion display panel plant with 3,000 employees that could grow to 13,000. Snyder told The Associated Press that Gou invited him for dinner, meetings and a tour of the company's sprawling factory in Shenzhen near Hong Kong that employs some 200,000 workers. They discussed the autonomous vehicle industry and advanced manufacturing, Snyder said. The company, he said, is highly advanced in tooling, machinery and robotics similarly to Michigan but does not yet have much of a U.S. presence in those sectors. "We had very healthy, very good discussions about Michigan's strengths and how it could be very good for Foxconn to be present in Michigan in some fashion. What it is has yet to be determined," he said. Snyder declined to confirm that Foxconn is eyeing an autonomous vehicle facility but said "that would be one of the natural things that they could well be looking at." Foxconn said last month that its Wisconsin announcement was just the first of several unspecified investments the company will be making in the U.S. "It's going really well," Snyder said of the courtship. "But we're still getting to know each other, we're still working through that. They can make their own business decisions. But we're going to continue to present them good opportunities of what we can do in Michigan." Little known to consumers, the maker of iPhones and other gadgets is a giant in the electronics industry thanks to its dominant position in the global manufacturing supply chain. Working conditions at Foxconn's factories in China have come under scrutiny in the past due to labor practices and suicides. Snyder and state lawmakers last month enacted job-creation tax incentives, including one tailored to companies such as Foxconn that add at least 3,000 jobs that pay the average regional wage. But Wisconsin offered what Snyder called a "gigantic" $3 billion incentive package to land the factory that will construct liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors used in televisions and computers. Snyder said Foxconn has other projects on its radar that "would be better suited for Michigan." He said it is too early to say how many jobs could come with a Foxconn facility in Michigan. He is hopeful that talks continue in the next few months and "things start solidifying." The trip was the Snyder administration's seventh mission to China. Snyder said one theme throughout the trip was China's increased interest in autonomous mobility, and he wants Michigan to capitalize on potential business opportunities in the emerging sector. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Last December, President-elect Donald Trump suggested that the projected $4 billion-plus cost of the next-generation Air Force One planes was too expensive. In a somewhat cryptic tweet, he mused about canceling the order. (In fact, there was no firm order to cancel at that point -- just some preliminary plans.) In any case, Boeing (NYSE: BA) has found a way to reduce the cost of building new presidential transport planes. Instead of building new planes from scratch for the Air Force, Boeing will modify two 747-8s that it has already built, equipping them for the presidential transport mission. It's expensive to build a new Air Force One The Air Force One mission is currently served by two aging VC-25s, which entered service in 1990 and 1991, respectively. The VC-25 is a modified version of a Boeing 747-200. There was never much doubt that the Air Force would turn to the Boeing 747 again for its next-generation presidential transport planes. The 747-8 is the only U.S. built-plane that can meet all of the requirements for the presidential transport mission. For example, Air Force One needs to be big enough to accommodate the president, the traveling press corps, Secret Service members, and any guests, while leaving space for a bedroom, office, conference room, and even a medical suite. It also needs to be outfitted with sophisticated communications equipment, missile defenses, and aerial refueling capabilities. All of these features drive up the price. That's why it will inevitably cost billions of dollars to build a pair of state-of-the-art Air Force One replacements. Transaero abandoned its 747s One area where the Air Force can save money is in buying the basic airframe. It just so happens that Boeing already has "white-tail" 747-8s: planes that have been built but don't have a customer lined up. Some of these white-tails are the result of Transaero's 2015 bankruptcy. Transaero was for many years the largest privately owned airline in Russia and the main competitor to Aeroflot. However, the ruble plunged, and Russia fell into a deep recession in 2015 due to the impact of falling oil prices and sanctions related to Russia's annexation of the Crimea. This financial crisis left Transaero in deep financial distress. Aeroflot contemplated rescuing its smaller rival -- for a nominal price of one ruble -- but pulled out at the last minute. This led to Transaero's collapse. The carrier's last flights operated in October 2015. Transaero left behind a substantial order book for widebody aircraft, including slow-selling jumbo jets like the 747-8. In fact, Boeing still lists orders for three 747-8s from Transaero, even though the carrier has been defunct for nearly two years. Unfortunately, two of those 747-8s were built before Transaero's shutdown, and Boeing wasn't able to find another airline to buy them. The Air Force has now decided to scoop up those two white-tail planes at a steep discount. Over the next five years or so, they will be retrofitted with all of the special equipment necessary to serve as Air Force One. A good move, but the cost savings will be modest Using white-tail aircraft for the new Air Force One fleet will be good for both Boeing and taxpayers. Boeing has been desperate to unload these unwanted planes, so any deal to sell them is a positive step. Meanwhile, the government probably got a great deal for taking the white-tail airframes, similarly to how retailers often offer steep discounts for floor-model merchandise. On the other hand, it's important to recognize that the airframes represent a small piece of the total cost of creating the new Air Force One fleet. The list price of a 747-8 is $386.8 million, but discounts of 50% to 60% are normal for commercial airplanes. For an out-of-favor model like the 747-8, the discounts could be even greater. Thus, the Air Force probably could have negotiated to buy new 747-8s for $150 million each. Even if it got a 75% discount for taking the white-tail Transaero 747-8s, the savings would be just over $100 million. (Boeing required the government to keep the exact sale price private.) That is a meaningful amount of money, but still relatively small compared to the multibillion-dollar price tag President Trump had complained about. This just highlights how much of the cost of Air Force One relates to its special bells and whistles rather than the airframe itself. The only way to significantly reduce Air Force One's cost would be to remove a lot of its advanced technology. Clearly, that's an unacceptable trade-off for an aircraft designed to carry the president of the United States. 10 stocks we like better than BoeingWhen 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 Boeing 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 August 1, 2017 Adam Levine-Weinberg 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. If there's one thing Americans aren't known for, it's for being slackers. In fact, 40% of U.S. employees put in more than 50 hours a week on the job, while 20% work more than 60 hours. Furthermore, many of those who fall into the aforementioned statistics aren't overtime-eligible, which means they're busting their tails for the mere satisfaction that comes with a job well done. It's surprising, then, that a large number of companies still insist on having employees report to work at a certain hour, and leave at a certain hour (or later, of course), with very little wiggle room in between. Even workers who consistently put in 50 hours or more per week are often tied to a basic schedule, and are left at their managers' mercy when it comes to leaving early or getting in a bit late. On the other hand, a number of companies these days are recognizing the benefits of offering employees a more flexible work arrangement, whether it's the ability to work outside normal business hours or condense one's workweek into four days instead of five. Here are just a few reasons to consider cutting your employees some slack and offering up some wiggle room in their schedules. 1. Better teamwork It's hard to foster a team environment when you have some people pulling more weight than others. But if you give your employees the flexibility to work when they can but also keep up with life's responsibilities, they'll be more likely to pitch in when another team member needs time off and can't pull as much weight. When you force your employees to abide by a strict schedule, you create an environment where everyone is not only watching one another, but fighting to leave on time to the greatest extent possible. On the other hand, if you give your workers some leeway, they'll probably return the favor by joining forces, supporting one another, and delivering results. 2. Increased productivity Another reason to consider a flexible work schedule at your company is that it might lead to better productivity among your employees. Some people, by nature, don't do well with rising early in the morning, but rather get their energy later on in the day. Others work the opposite way -- they like to get an early start, power through their various tasks, and leave early enough so that they're refreshed in time for the following workday. If you allow your employees to create customized schedules that best serve their individual needs, you might soon notice an uptick in efficiency. 3. Happier employees It stands to reason that employees who are content in their jobs will be more motivated to work their hardest. Therefore, if you give your workers some scheduling leeway, they're likely to show some thanks in the form of better output. Imagine, for example, that you have a number of workers whose commutes are truly terrible. If you let them compress their workweeks or come in during off-peak times to avoid heavy traffic, they're apt to feel less stressed and more appreciative -- which, as a manager, will no doubt work out in your favor. Of course, just because you offer your employees a flexible schedule doesn't mean they aren't accountable for key tasks and responsibilities. Furthermore, giving your workers that leeway doesn't mean that they're allowed to come and go as they please. Rather, you can, and should, insist that your team members map out their schedules in advance to the greatest extent possible so you have a sense of when to expect them and when they'll be available. But if you've been sticking to a rigid schedule to date, it pays to give the flexible model a try and see what it does for your business. It could end up being one of the best moves you'll ever make. The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. U.S. airlines are removing passengers from overbooked flights at their lowest rate in decades, according to data released Tuesday, months after United drew universal criticism for dragging Dr. David Dao from one of its planes in a viral incident. The Transportation Department said Tuesday that just one in every 19,000 passengers was kicked off an overbooked flight in the first six months of this year. That's the lowest rate since the government started keeping track in 1995. Airlines overbook flights in case some passengers don't show up. In April, Chicago airport officers summoned by United dragged a 69-year-old man off an overcrowded plane. The video was seen by millions. United later apologized for its handling of the incident and updated its passenger removal procedures. CEO Oscar Munoz called the backlash a humbling learning experience. However, airlines have not stopped overbooking flights. Delta Air Lines CEO Edward Bastian called the method a valid business practice during a conference call last April, adding that overbookings have a small impact on day-to-day business. Since the public-relations disaster, United and other airlines have announced steps to reduce overbooking, including an increase in the maximum amount of money offered to people who give up their seats. Hot on the heels of its proposal to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced plans for an education campaign to discourage use of electronic cigarettes among youth. The plan follows the agency's proposal last month to both lower nicotine in combustible cigarettes and extend by four years the date by which e-cigarette manufacturers will be required to apply for authorization to sell their products. The extension means e-cigarette makers can sell their products for four more years before having to apply for permission to sell them. Its new policy "aims to strike a careful balance between the regulation of all tobacco products, and the opportunity to encourage development of innovative tobacco products that may be less dangerous than combustible cigarettes," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. Gottlieb is walking a tightrope between satisfying the interests of public health advocates, who like the idea of lowering nicotine levels in cigarettes, and e-cigarette companies that have been lobbying for a lighter regulatory hand. The FDA's public health campaign could go some way to mitigate concerns among public health advocates that the agency's extension of the compliance dates will allow products with flavors that may appeal to kids on the market longer than they might otherwise have been. More than 2 million middle- and high-school students were current users of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices in 2016 and half of all middle and high school students who used a tobacco product of some sort used two or more. The education campaign will be part of the agency's "The Real Cost" campaign to discourage cigarette use and begin this fall. A full-scale campaign will be launched in 2018. A fired engineer at a now-aborted Mississippi Power Co. plant sued the utility's parent company Tuesday, saying an order to reinstate him is being ignored. Brett Wingo of Homewood, Alabama, filed the whistleblower retaliation case in federal court in Birmingham, Alabama. Wingo says in the suit that he tried to tell executives with Atlanta-based Southern Co. that construction at the Kemper County power plant wouldn't meet deadlines promised to investors. Wingo says he raised concerns with executives as high as CEO Tom Fanning before he was fired, and describes that firing as retaliation. Spokespersons for Southern didn't immediately return phone calls and emails seeking comment. The suit says Wingo sought to report safety concerns and unrealistic construction schedules internally, but was ignored and then was warned that he was "digging a hole" for his career. Wingo complained to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which ruled in January that Southern should rehire Wingo and pay back wages and benefits, but Southern has yet to act on that order. Wingo's suit demands double back pay, plus additional damages. The $7.5 billion Kemper plant was designed to gasify soft lignite coal, strip out much of the carbon dioxide and other pollutants and burn the gas to generate power. But the plant ended up more than $4.5 billion over budget and three years behind schedule, with many of the delays Wingo foretold. "The Kemper project stands as a monument to the consequences of concealment of the truth, and what too often happens to those who step forward to reveal the truth: they are retaliated against, rather than embraced and protected," Wingo's lawyers wrote. The Mississippi Public Service Commission in June ordered the utility and regulatory staff to negotiate a settlement aimed at running the plant only on natural gas and shielding customers from paying for the gasifier. A regulatory staff attorney said Tuesday that those talks continue. Southern wrote off $2.8 billion worth of gasifier investment when it announced quarterly earnings last week, adding to $3.1 billion it had earlier lost on the project. Wingo's suit said he warned supervisors as early as summer 2012 that the company couldn't complete Kemper before the then-promised deadline of May 2014, and later began telling executives they would illegally mislead shareholders by promising that date. The company was trying to complete the plant during 2014 to claim federal tax credits. After the initial deadline slipped, Wingo said managers manipulated the schedule to "fraudulently" to claim 2014 completion was still possible. Wingo also said he was concerned that piping was poorly installed, with suit saying he feared pressure could lead to "shortcuts on important safety standards." Wingo said he reported his concerns to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in October 2014, claiming the company defrauded investors by misrepresenting the construction schedule. An SEC inquiry continues. Wingo was fired in February 2016, after a long period on administrative leave when the company paid him for no work. Later that year, he provided documents and recordings to The New York Times for an article highly critical of the plant. The company faces other Kemper-related lawsuits. Shareholders are suing in federal court in Atlanta, while a company that was supposed to receive carbon dioxide from the plant is suing in Georgia state court. A case involving Mississippi Power ratepayers was dismissed by a Mississippi state court judge in June, but is being appealed. ___ Follow Jeff Amy at: http://twitter.com/jeffamy. Read his work at https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy . Malaysia's government on Tuesday launched an inquiry into massive foreign exchange losses by the central bank more than two decades ago, in a probe that could lead to criminal prosecution for former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Opposition leaders slammed the inquiry as a political ploy to discredit Mahathir just months after he set up a new political party. He now leads an opposition coalition aimed at ousting Prime Minister Najib Razak in general elections due in mid-2018. Mahathir, 92, led the country for 22 years before stepping down in 2003. He has been spearheading calls for Najib to resign over a multibillion-dollar financial scandal in indebted state fund 1MDB. The fund is being investigated in several countries for money laundering. Najib has denied any wrongdoing. A five-member Royal Commission of Inquiry, meeting for the first time Tuesday, said it will investigate how much the central bank lost in currency trading in the 1990s and determine if there was a cover-up. The inquiry was set up after the government said a preliminary investigation found that the extent of losses was larger than what was reported to the Cabinet and Parliament. The inquiry panel said a hearing will begin Aug. 21 and that it will aim to submit a report to the king by Oct. 13. The panel can make recommendations on action to be taken against those found guilty, but it is up to the attorney-general to prosecute. Mahathir has said the inquiry is a "desperate effort by Najib to silence his detractors." He and other opposition leaders have urged the government to also set up a formal inquiry into losses at 1MDB. Malaysia's government has said it found no criminal wrongdoing at 1MDB. But the fund has been at the center of investigations in the U.S. and several countries amid allegations of a global embezzlement and money-laundering scheme. Najib started the fund shortly after taking office in 2009 to promote economic development projects, but it accumulated billions of dollars in debts. The U.S. Justice Department says at least $4.5 billion has been stolen from 1MDB by people close to Najib and has initiated action to seize $1.3 billion it says was taken from the fund to buy assets in the U.S. The government complaints also say that more than $700 million has landed in the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1." They did not name the official, but appear to be referring to Najib. Najib has resisted calls to resign, has clamped down on critics and continues to enjoy the unwavering support of most ruling-party members, but his real test will come in next year's elections. Najib's ruling coalition won the last elections in 2013 despite losing the popular vote to an opposition coalition. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Royal Commission of Inquiry has five members, not six. A telemarketing company owned by a politically connected multimillionaire who was sent to prison for witness tampering has filed for bankruptcy protection. Suarez Corporation Industries said in a bankruptcy court filing that it owes $10 million to $50 million and has $500,000 to $1 million in assets. Company owner Ben Suarez, 75, was convicted of witness tampering charges in a campaign finance investigation and spent just over a year in prison before being released in early 2016. Suarez was convicted of witness tampering in June 2014 but acquitted of seven other charges related to campaign contributions made by employees, relatives and others to the 2012 campaigns of U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and the failed U.S. Senate bid of Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel. He had sought the politicians' help in fighting a California consumer practices complaint. Neither politician was accused of wrongdoing. Both campaigns returned the money after an FBI investigation was made public. Suarez's attorneys argued that he did not know it was illegal to reimburse the contributors. Cleveland.com reports that a court filing blamed the SCI's current money trouble on the Great Recession and Suarez's time in prison. The company based near Canton owes money to 100 to 200 creditors, including property companies, technology companies and banks, according to the bankruptcy petition. ___ Information from: cleveland.com, http://www.cleveland.com While the Senate Finance Committee has been tasked with working with other members of Congress to craft President Trumps tax reform agenda, some of the Democrats within the committee are telling FOX Business that theyve been kept on the sidelines for almost the entire process. White House officials have not met with them as a group or privately with some individual members since May 17, when they met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, according to Democrat committee aides familiar with the matter. Natalie Strom, assistant White House press secretary, denies that the White House has ignored members of the opposing party by insisting officials are always meeting with them privately. There have been additional private one-on-one meetings with principals. Were not going to get into the specific dates as those were private meetings. We have been discussing tax reform with both sides and will continue to do so, Strom said. Strom also confirmed to FOX Business that the administration has met with Democrats from the House including members from the Ways and Means Committee, Blue Dog Coalition and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. There are also some Senate Democrats throwing shade on Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatchs, R-Utah, attempts at having discussions on a tax reform bill with members of their party. According to one aide, they havent spoken with Hatch about how to move forward on tax reform since January and even then, no details were discussed. The most detailed the meeting got was agreeing that good tax reform would begood, said the aide. Hatch told reporters last week at a press scrum on Capitol Hill that he's spoken with everyone on the Senate Finance Committee. "I've had conversations with every member of the Finance Committee both Republican and Democrat about tax reform priorities" Hatch said. A spokesman for Hatch declined to comment further. Congressional aides also noted that Hatch has been meeting with ranking member Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., every week since the beginning of the new Congress about where the Democrats stand on tax reform. In a statement to FOX Business, the Senate Finance Committee also insisted that Hatch has been consistently meeting with members from both parties. As chairman, Sen. Hatch promotes a collaborative process at the committee level and always welcomes input from his colleagues on both sides of the aisle, a committee spokeswoman said. Four of the 12 Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee have told FOX Business through their offices and committee aides that they havent heard from anyone within the administration since their original meeting in May. Congressional aides from the offices of ranking member Wyden, Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., have all told FOX Business that they have not met with White House officials on tax reform since that meeting. A Senate Committee aide told FOX Business that Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., has also not heard from White House officials since their meeting in May. Spokespersons for the eight other members did not return calls for comment. This comes as the White House and Republican leadership insist they are open to working with lawmakers from across the aisle and as Democrats make their list of demands on what they want to see in a tax reform package. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., President Trump and Sen. Hatch last week, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and 45 other Democrats urged Republicans to work with them on a bipartisan basis while also insisting that to get their support, any tax bill could not increase the tax burden on the middle class nor shrink tax bills for the wealthiest Americans. After the letter was released, McConnell announced that Republicans would go at tax reform alone. We will need to use reconciliation because we have been informed by the majority of the Democrats in a letter I just received today that most of the principles that would get the country growing again, theyre not interested in addressing, McConnell said. Reconciliation would allow Republicans to pass a tax reform bill with only 50 votes in the Senate and having Vice President Mike Pence be the tie breaker if needed. While it could make it easier to pass some form of tax legislation, Republicans tried the same tactic with their ObamaCare repeal bill and still did not receive enough votes to get it passed. The tone of taking on tax reform alone without a bipartisan consensus is not a consistent theme within Republican leadership. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., recently said in an interview that he hoped his party could find a way to strike a deal with the Democrats. "It would be nice if we could do something through the regular order process," Thune told the Washington Examiner. In an interview on Fox News Channel, Hatch said he believed the success of tax reform could come down to the work his party does with the Democrats. "It is going to take Democrats and Republicans getting together, putting aside their stupid differences and saying look, this one time let's do this for our country, lets do this for our American citizens, let's do this for our economy, Hatch told Sunday Morning Futures. According to Mark Mazur, director of the Urban Brookings Tax Policy Center and former assistant secretary for tax policy in the Treasury, the only way comprehensive tax reform was agreed upon in the past was through bipartisan negotiations. When undertaking true reform of the broaden the tax base, lower the tax rate variety, key constituencies often break along geographic or demographic or industry lines, not partisan ones this committees long tradition of bipartisan legislating bodes well for playing a leading role in developing a durable consensus on tax reform, Mazur told the Senate Finance Committee in July. Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch used an alias name for her official Justice Department email account, according to newly released documents. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a group led by one of President Trumpas attorneys, Jay Sekulow, released documents Monday, revealing Lynchas alias name of aElizabeth Carlisle.a aThere is nothing illegal or unethical about using the alias but it is odd and it does raise the antenna,a Fox News senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano told FOX Businessa Stuart Varney. The ACLJ unmasked the emails of the former Obama Attorney General through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request concerning Lynchas meeting with former President Bill Clinton on a tarmac in Arizona during the 2016 presidential campaign. The content of the emails were found blacked out, a request Napolitano said was made by the Justice Department under Attorney General Jeff Sessions. aI would have expected the Obama Justice Department trying to protect its attorney general. But if she [Lynch] did something untoward with Bill Clinton and she apparently did, we have the right to know about it.a Napolitano warned the Justice Department is hiding a adirty little secreta that the American people have the right to know to prosecute anyone who breaks the law. aWhy is it that the present administration wants to protect its predecessor? So its successor, the Justice Department of president who ever, fill in the blank, wonat come after it. Thatas the dirty little secret of the Justice Department and itas condemnable,a he said. Chris Brown is facing backlash for a comment he left on a picture of his ex-girlfriend Rihanna. The social media universe lashed out at Brown after the controversial rapper posted an emoji of bulging eyeballs on Monday underneath a snap of Rihanna in a scantily clad costume for the 2017 Crop Over festival in Barbados. One user wrote on Twitter, chris brown needs to cease and desist. chris brown needs to cease and desist pic.twitter.com/uObkp61HaZ hot tamale (@blckvans) August 8, 2017 While someone pleaded with the 28-year-old, Chris brown just leave her alone my guy. And an Instagram user chimed in, "Stay away from her u disgusting cockroach @chrisbrownofficial." But another defended Brown, You're a stranger. They know each other. Love each and have been best friends. Y'all don't know s--t bout them???? In February 2009, Brown was arrested after he assaulted his then-girlfriend Rihanna. Disturbing pictures surfaced on the Internet of the bruised and battered pop star. He later pleaded guilty to one count of felony battery. Hackers using the name "Mr. Smith" posted a fresh cache of stolen HBO files online Monday, and demanded that HBO pay a ransom of several million dollars in bitcoin to prevent further such releases. The data dump included what appear to be scripts from five "Game of Thrones" episodes, including one upcoming episode, and a month's worth of email from the account of Leslie Cohen, HBO's vice president for film programming. There were also internal documents, including a report of legal claims against the network and job offer letters to top executives. The latest leak is a half-gigabyte sample of the 1.5 terabytes of data the hackers have claimed to steal, according to Wired. All of the leaked "Game of Thrones" scripts include a watermark with the hackers motto, HBO is falling. The data dump also includes internal documents like emails, financial balance sheets, employment agreements, and marketing strategy. HBO, which previously acknowledged the theft of "proprietary information," said it's continuing to investigate and is working with police and cybersecurity experts. The network said Monday that it still doesn't believe that its email system as a whole has been compromised. This is the second data dump from the purported hacker. So far the HBO leaks have been limited, falling well short of the chaos inflicted on Sony in 2014. In that attack, hackers unearthed thousands of embarrassing emails and released personal information, including salaries and social security numbers, of nearly 50,000 current and former Sony employees. Those behind the HBO hack claim to have more data, including scripts, upcoming episodes of HBO shows and movies, and information damaging to HBO. In a video directed to HBO CEO Richard Plepler, "Mr. Smith" used white text on a black background to threaten further disclosures if HBO doesn't pay up. To stop the leaks, the purported hackers demanded "our 6 month salary in bitcoin," which they implied is at least $6 million. "Our demand is clear and Non-Negotiable: We want XXXX dollars to stop leaking your Data," the letter reads. "HBO spends 12 million for Market Research and 5 million for GOT7 advertisements. So consider us another budget for your advertisements!" The note adds that the deadline for payment is three days from when the letter was sent, but doesn't include a date, according to Wired. "Leakage will be your worst nightmare," the note continues. "So make a wise decision!" The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story. Kendall Jenner isn't "all right" about being accused of not tipping. The model hit back at Brooklyn bar Baby's All Right on Twitter Monday night after the venue accused her of failing to tip over the weekend. "Damn, I guess next time we won't tip in cash," Jenner wrote on Twitter in response to a fan's tweet about the incident. Baby's All Right posted a photo Friday on Instagram allegedly of Jenner's receipt showing $24 tab, the "tip" line empty and Jenner's signature. The bar captioned the photo: "Don't forget to tip your bartender :)" The photo has since been deleted, but not before creating a social media frenzy where people accused the star of being "cheap" despite her $17 million income. "If this is real it's just ridiculous for her not to be a very good tipper. In the age of social media and everyone posting everything, Kendall should've seen something like this coming. Money is no object for her just to save face she should be tipping 100% of the amount," one user wrote, questioning the authenticity. Jenner was believed to be at the Brooklyn bar Thursday night, where her rumored boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, was performing. The star was previously involved in another tipping scandal when a waitress claimed Jenner threw money in her face at another New York City restaurant, according to the New York Daily News. She denied the incident, saying she was "raised better than that." She was praised for another tipping incident when she left a $160 tip for a $544 bill at a restaurant in West Hollywood. Before Jerry Mathers found fame as Theodore Beaver Cleaver in the wholesome sitcom Leave It to Beaver, he was personally selected by Alfred Hitchcock to star in 1955 dark comedy The Trouble with Harry. I arrived at the audition and at that point he had probably seen everyone in Los Angeles for the part, the 69-year-old former child actor told Fox News. I walked into the interview and he seemed very nice. In fact, the first time I met him, he was sitting behind this huge desk and he had all of this food in front of him. "I hadnt had lunch because my mom told me we would have some after the audition. I was looking at all of this food and he said, Hello Mr. Mathers. I was a bit shocked. Then he said, How are you doing? Im thinking about making a movie. We talked for a little bit and he said, Well be going someplace, do you like to travel? This guy seemed very nice! Hitchcock, the brooding British filmmaker who earned the nicknamed the master of suspense for his psychological thrillers involving such as Psycho, The Birds, and Vertigo," appeared friendly and approachable to then-7-year-old Mathers. I really got to know him when we went to Stowe, Vermont, said Mathers. Whenever we had lunch there, and we were on location 12-14 weeks, all the local women would cook us lunch for the whole crew. "And each would bring out their best dishes every day. And whenever we had lunch, Mr. Hitchcock was the first one to examine the dishes I would just follow him and go, Oh, was that a good one, Mr. Hitchcock? And he would go, Yes, thats the one Im going to have. Mathers said he wouldnt really consider Hitchcock a friend due to their significant age differences. However, the director somehow always made his presence known when Mathers, then 9-years-old, would go on to appear in Leave It to Beaver. That was 1957, which was two years after he launched his own series, titled Alfred Hitchcock Presents. [He] was about three stages down [in the same studio]," Mathers recalled. But he only came in once a month [to] do all the intros... I would see him when I had a little free time and he would roll in a big Rolls Royce with a chauffeur... He would go, How are you doing today? Hows the show going? It wouldnt be the last time the two would cross paths in Hollywood. For the 1960 film Psycho, Mathers helped makeup supervisor Robert Dawn, who also worked on Leave It to Beaver, create the special effects for Mrs. Bates skull used in the final scenes of the movie. Leave It to Beaver ran from 1957 until 1963. Mathers told Fox News in July he currently leads lectures across the country to raise awareness on Type 2 diabetes, which he was diagnosed with in 1997. Hitchcock died at age 80 in 1980 from kidney failure. "Real Housewives of the OC" star Tamra Judge's estranged daughter is going after her reality TV star mom. In a Facebook post shared after Monday night's episode of the Bravo show, Sidney, 18, addressed her relationship with her estranged mom. In the post, Sidney accused Judge of being a neglectful parent. The reasons I left my mothers house are that she was neglectful (leaving us at home with no food or simply ignoring us entirely), she constantly put herself first and the biggest reason was that she was mentally and emotionally abusive. She was no mother to me," the 18-year-old wrote. The high school graduate, who lives solely with Judge's ex-husband Simon, said part of the reason for the failed family relationship is her mom's love of the limelight. Not even two weeks after I graduated she posted a photo of me and shared it with her one million followers knowing that it would get picked up by the press. The one thing I asked and have been asking for 4 years now has been to not talk about me because I dont want to be in the spotlight, the teenager continued. But Again breaking her promises as per usual, she puts herself, her fame, her reputation, and her bank account before me. If she really wanted a relationship she would keep her promises and recognize that it is no one elses fault but hers that I do not want her in my life. Sidney shared a screenshot of a text conversation with her mother pleading for her not to post her graduation pictures publicly. Judge agreed she would not replying, Okay. I dont post pictures of you Sidney and would never do that. And I have more class then [sic] to throw a scene with your dad. Judge told Fox News, "No comment." However, she soon took to her own Instagram to attack fellow "Real Housewives" star Gretchen Rossi, who commented on the Facebook post to side with Sidney. Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon may be contemplating challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) for his seat next year. Nixon, best known for portraying Miranda Hobbes in the HBO series Sex and the City, has reportedly been urged by liberal groups to run and challenge Cuomo, who is seeking a third term, according to The Wall Street Journal. Nixon, 51, made an appearance on NBCs Today" show on Tuesday and would not say whether she is running or not. The Emmy Award-winning actress answered I cannot when Today" show host Al Roker asked the actress if she would announce her bid. TAYLOR SWIFT IN COURT AS JURY SEATED IN CIVIL TRIAL Roker then asked, When you are ready to do it, will you come here to do it? I cannot make that statement either, Nixon responded. Nixon, who has been described as a liberal activist, has criticized Cuomos policies in the past. Nixon has also campaigned for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, President Barack Obama and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.). Billy Easton, the director of the Alliance for Quality Education, told the Wall Street Journal that Nixon would be a great candidate. DAVID LETTERMAN RETURNS WITH NEW NETFLIX SHOW Shes an out-of-the-box candidate with progressive credentials who would excite people, Easton said. Former State Sen. Terry Gipson (D-NY) and Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner have also been rumored to be planning to challenge Cuomo in the 2018 primaries. Part of the fun of ordering a Moscow mule is getting to drink out of the cool copper cup. But that fun may come to an end because of health concerns. Health officials of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division examined what happens when copper mixes with food. The results werent so great. DUNKIN' DONUTS MIGHT BE CHANGING ITS NAME, STARTING WITH CALIFORNIA LOCATION The state health officials concluded that using the signature mug for alcoholic beverages or any food or liquid with a pH balance of below 6 could result in food poisoning or copper poisoning, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and jaundice. Going even further, the state of Iowa has declared that they will follow an FDA code on copper mugs, which prohibits copper from coming into direct contact with foods that have a pH below 6.0. What falls below a pH of 6.0? Well, wine, for one, as well as vinegar, fruit juice, and pretty much all of the ingredients that make up a Moscow mule vodka, ginger beer and lime juice. In a statement from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, they assert that: FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS High concentrations of copper are poisonous and have caused foodborne illness. When copper and copper allow surfaces contact acidic foods, copper may be leached into the food. Fortunately for Moscow mule enthusiasts there is a way to indulge in the beverage with the unique copper cup. According to the same statement, liquids from copper mugs with an inner lining of nickel, stainless steel or another metal are safe to consume. Call it a true silver lining. A seafood restaurant in China says business was bountiful thanks to a recent meal deal but not everybody was super excited about the offer. Trendy Shrimp, located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, is being criticized for a recent promotion in which they offered female patrons a discount based on their bra sizes, reports the Qianjiang Evening Post. Specifically, a woman who wore an A cup bra was entitled to a five percent discount; a woman with a B was entitled to 15 percent; a C cup earned a 25 percent discount; and so on. RESTAURANT'S 'PAY WHAT YOU WANT' PROMOTION RESULTS IN MAJOR LOSS The restaurant also promoted the offer with a sign which illustrated the deal via a series of cartoon women, along with a caption reading The whole city is looking for BREASTS, per a translation in BBC News. This content [is] vulgar advertising, said Ms. Zhu, a Hangzhou resident who spoke with the Evening Post. In addition, I think it is discriminatory against women. JAPANESE BAR OFFERING DISCOUNTS BASED ON HEEL HEIGHT According to reports, Zhu and several others also called in complaints to the mayors office, asking for the removal of the advertising materials. The push-back has apparently worked, too, as the posters were removed in order to reduce the impact on passersby, said Lan Shenggang, the restaurants general manager. Whats more, the Post writes that Shenggang discontinued the promotion sometime afterward, following a phone call from Trendy Shrimps head office. Shenggang, meanwhile, had already told the Post that despite the backlash, the promotion was working exactly as planned. "Once the promotion started, customer numbers rose by about 20 percent," said Lan Shenggang, who further claimed that some of the girls were proud to receive the discount. They had nothing to hide. The BBC also reported that Shenggang told diners they could redeem their discounts with a female server in order to avoid embarrassment. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS However, now that the deal has ended, Mr. Lu, the CEO of the restaurant group that owns Trendy Shrimp, is already teasing a new promotion. "We apologize for all the guests who entered the store, and the discount was canceled, but we [are] planning a new program that would be launched, Lu told the Qianjiang Evening Post. With few good options available to deal with the growing threat from North Koreas nuclear and missile programs, the Trump administration scored a major victory on Saturday by getting the UN Security Council to unanimously impose the toughest sanctions ever on North Korea in response to its recent ICBM tests. But as important as the new sanctions are, they will have little or no effect unless China fully complies with them and starts playing a much more active role in pressuring Pyongyang to cease its WMD programs and belligerent behavior. The new UN sanctions reportedly will cost North Korean an estimated $1 billion a third of its export earnings mostly by filling loopholes in UN sanctions imposed last November that only put caps on iron ore and coal sales to China. The new sanctions outright ban iron ore, coal, lead and seafood exports from North Korea and increase banking sanctions as well as sanctions on North Korean persons and entities. Mr. Trumps blunt criticism of Chinas inaction and the presidents indications that all options really are on the table may lead Beijing to reevaluate its North Korea policy. While these may be the toughest UN sanctions ever imposed on North Korea, China and Russia blocked several tougher measures sought by the United States. For example, the United States wanted to cut off Chinese oil exports to North Korea but Moscow and Beijing would not agree. They also blocked stricter banking and commercial penalties. In addition, because of Chinese and Russia opposition, the new sanctions bar North Korea from sending more workers abroad but North Korean laborers already working abroad including many in China and Russia wont be sent home. Similarly, only new not existing foreign investment and joint ventures in North Korea are banned by the sanctions. While these shortcomings are significant, the main factor that will determine whether the new sanctions succeed is China. Will China cooperate? Will Beijing step up pressure against Pyongyang like it has never done before? A major reason prior UN sanctions failed to have the intended effect on North Korea is because China failed to abide by them. Chinas trade with North Korea increased in the first quarter of 2017 by 37 percent and its iron ore imports from the North grew by 270 percent despite UN sanctions imposed on the Hermit Kingdom last November. Chinas violations of these and other UN sanctions provided Kim Jong Un with billions of dollars in hard currency that he spent on about 84 missiles tests since 2012 including 17 in 2017 and three increasingly powerful nuclear weapon tests. Although there have been recent reports that North Korea may have an operational ICBM and an H-bomb within two years, no one outside North Korea (except maybe the Iranians) knows exactly how advanced these programs are. However, Beijing, like the rest of the world, is worried about the rapid progress of these programs and knows they are on a dangerous trajectory that could spark a major war, possibly by miscalculation. China also knows that unlike Barack Obama, who preferred doing nothing about difficult international problems and kick them down the road to the new president, President Trump sees North Koreas WMD programs and its repeated threats to attack the United States as an intolerable situation that need to be addressed now. Mr. Trumps blunt criticism of Chinas inaction and the presidents indications that all options really are on the table may lead Beijing to reevaluate its North Korea policy. As it has done so many times in the past, China today made the absurd claim that the United States bears some responsibility for tensions with North Korea and that these tensions could be reduced if the U.S. dropped joint military exercises with South Korea and withdrew U.S. troops from the South. But Chinas foreign minister also had an intensive conversation with his North Korean counterpart Monday and publicly warned North Korea to not violate the UNs decision or provoke the international societys good will by conducting missile launching or nuclear tests. This is a good start that I hope indicates Chinas willingness to finally get tough with North Korea and stop violating UN sanctions. If North Korea defies these sanctions, the United States should demand imposing the tougher measures that Moscow and Beijing refused to include in them. The Trump administration should follow up with additional sanctions against North Korea outside of the UN and closely monitor sanctions compliance, especially by China. Any Chinese cheating on these measures should result in U.S. sanctions against the Chinese firms and persons responsible. The Trump administration should also continue to develop military options, pressure South Korea to deploy the THAAD missile defense system, and put on more shows of military force in the region. The clock may be ticking down to a military conflict with North Korea. Hopefully Beijing realizes that strong and unambiguous Chinese pressure on Pyongyang may be the only way to prevent this from happening. Over the last six months the Trump administration has made good on its promise to enhance border security and enforce our immigration laws. In the first half of 2017, illegal border crossings fell by an estimated 70 percent. It is very reassuring to know that President Obamas reckless immigration policies are now over. An Executive Branch that is dedicated to fixing the problems along our southern border and actually enforcing our laws not only deters future illegal immigration, but is also absolutely necessary to protecting our homeland. However, we are constantly reminded that our borders and our immigration laws are still being exploited, including by those who are intent on doing Americans harm. For example, MS-13, a violent transnational gang controlled by members in El Salvador, has aggressively recruited minors who entered illegally at our southern border during recent surges of illegal immigration. Known for its brutal tactics of rape, theft, and homicide, this gang now has tens of thousands of members in cities all across the United States. These dangers are not always brought on by transnational gangs however. In late July, a 65-year-old woman from Portland, Oregon, was assaulted by an illegal immigrant armed with a knife. The assailant had been previously deported over a dozen times. How did this man keep sneaking into our country and why are some localities undermining the enforcement of our immigration laws and their communities safety? Further, nine illegal immigrants were recently found dead in a sweltering tractor-trailer parked outside of a Walmart in Texas. Tragically, dozens more were sent to a nearby hospital; some with life-threating conditions. They were the victims of a heinous human smuggling operation. We cannot be a safe nation if we have porous borders and our laws are not being fully enforced. Violent criminals, traffickers, drug smugglers, and international terrorists continue to do everything they can to break into America, creep into our neighborhoods, and take advantage of our society. This is completely unacceptable. We cannot be a safe nation if we have porous borders and our laws are not being fully enforced. We must tackle these problems head on. Fortunately, we have introduced two important pieces of legislation in the House of Representatives that work together as a united front to strengthen our border security, strengthen the enforcement of our immigration laws, and provide the Department of Homeland Security with the personnel and resources it needs to get the job done. The Judiciary Committee has passed Representative Raul Labradors, R-Idaho, Davis-Oliver Act, named for two law enforcement officers from California who were killed by an illegal immigrant. This legislation removes the ability of any future president to unilaterally shut down immigration enforcement by empowering state and local authorities to help enforce our immigration laws. State and local authorities are the front line in the fight against crime and encounter criminals every day in their communities. We must ensure that they are able to identify the drug dealers, murderers, drunk drivers, and spouse-abusers who are illegally present and work with federal immigration enforcement authorities to ensure their punishment and removal. The legislation also withholds certain federal grants from jurisdictions that illegally prohibit their officers from cooperating with ICE; allows victims of crimes by illegal aliens to sue localities in instances where the localitys refusal to cooperate with ICE facilitated the crime; makes membership in a gang a deportable offense; and calls for additional ICE officers to enforce our laws; among other important provisions. This legislation is a necessary step towards keeping our communities safe. The Homeland Security Committees Border Security for America Act is a multi-layered approach that enhances the security of our southern border in a number of important ways. Most notably, this bill authorizes the construction of a border wall and provides $15 billion for the deployment of tactical infrastructure, technology, and other measures to achieve full operational control and situational awareness. President Trump repeatedly said that a wall was an important part of securing our border and this legislation will help make that happen. However, a wall will not solve this problem by itself. This legislation improves and modernizes ports of entry to target illegal immigration while enhancing trade, authorizes the National Guard to assist with aviation intelligence support, and will ensure identification of visa overstays by requiring implementation of the Entry-Exit system Congress enacted over two decades ago to track the entry and exit of foreign nationals visiting our country. It also provides more boots on the ground by adding 5,000 Border Patrol Agents and 5,000 Customs and Border Protection Officers. We can have strong walls, solid intelligence, and advanced technology, but our strongest asset in the fight to control our borders are the brave men and women who patrol our borders. The American people have made it clear that they want to see their leaders implement policies that will protect their families and their neighborhoods. A weak border and immigration laws that can be easily circumvented only allow new dangers to enter our country and threaten our citizens. Lets work together and pass these common sense proposals that will better enforce our nations immigration laws and provide all Americans the secure border they have long demanded and deserve. The rhetoric coming from North Korea is heating up, which is a good indication that the latest U.S.-led action in the UN Security Council got the attention of the paranoid Pyongyang leadership. Last weekend the world saw a strong and united Security Council tell the North Korean regime that its illegal and dangerous acts must stop. This time, continuation of their illegal nuclear program was met with actions, not just words. The Security Councils action has thrown the dictators of Pyongyang off their stride because it hits them where it hurts most: The hard currency the regime gets from its exports and the slave labor of the North Korean people. The resolution is the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled on North Korea. It targets the regimes exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood the mainstays of its economy and reduces them by about one-third. It is the most stringent set of sanctions the United Nations has leveled on any country in a generation. Almost as important as the content of the sanctions is the fact that the Security Council spoke with one voice in imposing them. North Koreas neighbor, China, has a critical role to play when it comes to Pyongyang. Not only did the Chinese vote for the resolution, they worked cooperatively with the United States and other countries to bring the resolution to a vote. Russia another country that has favored North Korea at times voted for the resolution as well. The UNs action also puts a long overdue spotlight on the plight of the North Korean people. The development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles is expensive. While its own people go hungry, the North Korean regime diverts its scarce resources most of which come from the exports targeted in the UN resolution to these illegal programs. Whats more, North Korea is facing its worst drought in sixteen years. The regime has shamelessly begun to ask for international assistance, even as it plows its hard currency into nuclear development. We will continue to stand for the human dignity and rights of the North Korean people even as we respond to the regimes nuclear threat. While its own people go hungry, the North Korean regime diverts its scarce resources most of which come from the exports targeted in the UN resolution to these illegal programs. These sanctions are a big win for peace and security, the United Nations, and a unified Trump Administration foreign policy team. But we are not kidding ourselves. We have not solved the problem not even close. The threat posed by an outlaw, nuclearized North Korea has not gone away. In fact, it is rapidly growing more serious. In just the last month, North Korea has fired two missiles capable of reaching San Francisco, Tokyo, Paris or Sydney. The members of the Security Council and all nations must do more to increase the pressure on North Korea. Weve passed sanctions that cut deep but only if they are enforced. All UN member states now have the obligation to implement these and past sanctions on North Korea. For our part, the United States will continue to keep all options on the table. We prefer to end this crisis through dialogue, but our eyes are wide open. We will fight to see this resolution and others implemented to the fullest. We will continue to put maximum pressure on North Korea at the United Nations and elsewhere to change its ways. And our joint military exercises with South Korea will go on as they have for nearly 40 years. Despite what the dictators in Pyongyang claim, these exercises are meant to protect the United States and our allies. Unlike the North Korean nuclear and missile programs, they are open, transparent and defense-oriented. Saturday was a strong day at the United Nations all the bluster coming from Pyongyang is proof of that. But we will need many more such days in order to end the crisis created by the North Korean regime. The goal of the United States is and has always been a stable Korean peninsula, at peace, without nuclear weapons. It is now up to the North Korean regime to demonstrate, through its actions, that it shares this goal. Google became famous as an information company with its motto: Dont Be Evil. Well, in the wake of its firing of a 28-year-old employee for expressing dissatisfaction with Googles stifling ideological conformity, some critics are saying the company is now for soft authoritarianism. Make no mistake. James Damore didnt have his First Amendment free speech rights violated by Google. Working for a private employer, his right to speak out is limited - even under Californias broad protections for political speech. Recall that in 2014, Brendan Eich was forced out as CEO of Mozilla after it became known that six years earlier he had made a $1,000 donation to a traditional marriage ballot measure in California. Recall that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton opposed same-sex marriage until after the 2012 election. But that fact didnt slow down what gay columnist Andrew Sullivan called a lynch mob. Eich was forced to resign, even though California labor code makes it illegal to fire an employee for donating money to a campaign. Lazy journalists have falsely characterized Damores 10-page memo - posted on an internal Google bulletin board but leaked to the media by critics - as an anti-diversity screed. But it was hardly that, given that it ended with the author saying I strongly believe in gender and racial diversity, and I think we should strive for more. The lazy coverage of Damores points angered Conor Friedersdorf, a writer at the liberal Atlantic magazine: I cannot remember the last time so many outlets and observers mischaracterized so many aspects of a text everyone possessed, he wrote. Damore used what many considered insensitive language to point out there are differences between men and women that may explain the relative scarcity of women in computer coding jobs - a conclusion that the scientific literature backs up. He said he was not arguing that we should restrict people to certain gender roles; I'm advocating for quite the opposite: treat people as individuals, not as just another member of their group (tribalism)." But when it comes to fighting the Gods of Diversity, Damores lack of nuance was fatal. Some female Google employees were so offended they didnt show up for work. The company was besieged by both Social Justice Warriors and employees (though an unscientific poll of several hundred Google employees showed only about half were upset by his comments). The lazy coverage of Damores points angered Conor Friedersdorf, a writer at the liberal Atlantic magazine: I cannot remember the last time so many outlets and observers mischaracterized so many aspects of a text everyone possessed, he wrote. (Damores memo) is not against pursuing greater gender diversity at Google; he says it is against the current means Google is using to pursue that end and the way the company conceives of tradeoffs between the good of diversity and other goods. However his memo was received, Damores sudden firing generated criticism from many quarters. Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, wrote on Twitter: "Censorship is for losers. Women & men deserve respect. That includes not firing them for politely expressing ideas but rather arguing back." Eric Weinstein, the managing director of the investment firm Thiel Capital, had his own Twitter response: "Dear @Google, Stop teaching my girl that her path to financial freedom lies not in coding but in complaining to HR. Thx in advance, A dad," Gail Heriot, a law professor at the University of San Diego and an independent member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, is also disappointed in Googles action. "It's particularly troubling to see this coming from the company that we rely on to bring us information. Can a company this intolerant of differing opinions be trusted to do that job?" Indeed, it appears that Googles desire to appease the God of Diversity - the pseudo religion whose tenets increasingly govern American life and are not to be challenged - has taken priority over the spirit of free inquiry it was founded on. A few years ago the comedy show The Simpsons tackled the diversity dogma and gender differences in a particularly hilarious way. So hilarious, that I fear if someone at Google shared it over the companys internal bulletin board, they might wonder if their job would be in jeopardy. Judge for yourself by watching. Lets just hope the Social Justice Warriors dont launch a crusade to remove the clip from YouTube - which is owned by Google. Tuesday is the daythanks to a devastating report in The Washington Post saying North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles--that will go down in history. We can no longer deny North Korea has become a full-fledged nuclear power. Typing those words makes my hands shake. But it also makes me angryvery angry. We cant pretend we did not see this coming. I remember being an undergraduate in college in the late 1990s and reading about how North Korea could someday develop such weapons. It seemed so far off, as if that day would never come, but here we are. In all honesty, how are we shocked? This technology is old stuffdangerous, but old. Anyone who took a 5th grade history class knows that the first nuclear weapons were detonated in 1945 and used that same year to end the Second World Wartwice. The first ICBM launch by the United States was in 1957. This technology is from many years past, and even states like North Koreadespite its people starving and having an economy smaller than Ethiopiahave the capability to copy what was done many decades ago. They say failure has a thousand fathers, so when it comes to North Koreas nuclear achievements we can only blame administration after administrationDemocrats and Republicans alikewho decided the North Korean threat was never big enough, or too far away to demand that much of our attention or worry. We are paying for that attitude today. And future generations will as well. The good news and yes, there is good news is that President Trump had the guts to take this challenge on and is expending critical political capital to make sure the North Korean threat doesnt get any worse. He could have chosen to make the Syrian Civil War his top international priority, or Iran, or Russiabut he made the right choice and we are now able to act. And act he has. This weekend he pressed forward a tough package of sanctions at the UN Security Council that, if actually enforced, would take away a billion dollars or more of critical money that would help North Korea develop what could be the ultimate weapon: a hydrogen bomb mated to massive three-stage ICBM that could wipe out any major city in the continental U.S. So where do we go from here? As I see it, we have three options to pressure North Korea and make sure their nuclear program cant become even more deadly than what it is now. First, China must enforce the sanctions it agreed to at the UNor pay a massive price. President Trump needs to call President Xi Jinpingor call him out on Twitterand explain the days of China looking the other way when it comes to North Korea are over. Beijing must enforce the sanctions within 30 daysor else. If not, America will have no choice but to consider a massive recalibration of the U.S.-China relationship. That means getting tough on China over trade, the South and East China Sea, on Taiwanand that would be bad news for China. Second, its time we reinforce missile defenses in Asia. South Korea needs to not only embrace THAAD but also request from Washington more Patriot missile defense batteries as well. Japan, also staring down the North Korean nuclear nightmare across the sea, needs to acquire THAAD and the Aegis ashore missile defense systems, doing all it can to make sure Kim Jong Uns chances of attacking a critical ally drop as much as possible. Third, we need to invest in much more robust missile defenses right here at home. That means expanding dramatically the amount of ground based interceptors in Alaska and in other locations around the continental United States. We should spare no expense to ensure our homeland has the best possible defense from this imminent threat. And finally, we need to make sure that America First means Asia First. This critical region must be now our number one foreign policy priorityno exceptions. We are paying a high cost for the Obama Administrations so-called pivot to Asia that was nothing more than a slogan-style foreign policy bumper sticker. Obamas strategic patience policy towards North Korea was clearly a strategic failureand we are paying the price today. While North Korea may have crossed the threshold of becoming a nuclear power, we have tools to make sure the situation does not get any worse. It will take courage, but it will also require us to be honest with ourselves to confront the threat we faceno more denying this hasnt happened. Anything else, and we will wake up one day with North Korea having even more deadly nuclear weapons and missiles. And that is something we cant afford to risk. Someone brought a dog to mass at my parish this weekend. It lay smack in the middle of the main aisle, forcing parishioners to edge around it. No one said anything, but the symbolism was not lost on some in attendance: dogs may be going to church, but the universal Roman Catholic Church is going to the dogs. Under Pope Francis, the church has abandoned many of its bedrock positions on issues like divorce and homosexuality in favor of a why not? attitude. Francis has scolded people for being rich, sided with illegal immigrants, and suggested the church should be a refuge for the poor. He has sidelined conservative cardinals, installed like-minded allies in key jobs, taken personal control of the Knights of Malta for defying him, and generally sent the signal that behind his amiable smile and humble talk lurks a radically liberal agenda. The latest example of the popes blueprint for the future is contained in an article penned by two of his closest confidantes. They believe that conservative Catholics in the United States have formed a coalition with Evangelical Protestants to push Donald Trumps agenda, which the authors call a Manichean vision. The article, in the Jesuit publication La Civilta Cattolica, could not have been printed without Franciss knowledge and approval. The pope left little doubt about his feelings toward Trump when the president and first lady visited the Vatican earlier this year. In their joint photo, Francis frowns as if he smelled something bad in the room. In addition to rejecting Trumps worldview, the articles authors single out White House strategist Stephen Bannon as a supporter of apocalyptic geopolitics. The pope is expressing his displeasure at the election of Donald Trump as president and with the Catholics who voted for him, says Deal Hudson, former Catholic Outreach director for the Republican National Committee. It came as a huge surprise to the establishment of the church, who were pulling for Hillary Clinton. Now, says Hudson, the pope is wielding his power as CEO of the Church to tell American Catholics we are bad Christians. This was his way of calling us a basket of deplorables without using that phrase. This pope does not like the culture war, says Robert Royal, president of the Faith and Reason Institute and a commentator on the Catholic network EWTN. The real tragedy is theyre trying to discredit some types of religious action in the public square, while they are very active in advocating for the environment, immigrants and stopping human trafficking. Francis can run the church any way he wants. But demonizing conservative American Catholics is a risky business. They have deep pockets and long memories. It is, in the end, a dog eat dog world and church. The Russia investigation being overseen by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is beyond corrupt, beyond political and has now turned into an open-ended fishing expedition. Rosenstein, who like Special Counsel Robert Mueller, has glaring, inexcusable conflicts of interest in the case, insisted to Fox News Chris Wallace that he will keep Mueller from expanding his s not on a witch hunt. If he finds evidence of a crime that's within in the scope of what Director Mueller and I have agreed is the appropriate scope of this investigation, then he can, Rosenstein said on Fox News Sunday. If it's something outside that scope, he needs to come to the acting attorney general, at this time me, for permission to expand his investigation. Rosenstein says he wont let the special counsel turn into a fishing expedition? It already has. The whole investigation was supposed to be about President Trumps campaign supposedly colluding with the Russians. This has gone on 11 months, no smoking gun proving it ever surfaced. Yet, instead of ending it there, Mueller is reportedly now looking into the finances of President Trump and the Trump Organization and associates of President Trump. He has impaneled a grand jury in Washington, D.C., where the president got a little over four percent of the vote. What Rosenstein really said was that he has now given Mueller the green light to do whatever he wants. Even respected legal scholar Jonathan Turley, a Democrat, has said Rosenstein needs to recuse himself. After all, Rosenstein is likely going to be a witness in the investigation that he himself caused because he took the lead in writing the letter to President Trump on why former FBI Director James Comey should be fired. Mueller reportedly regards that as possible obstruction of justice. Rosenstein is also the guy who appointed Robert Mueller and apparently either didn't know or didn't care about the fact that the day before he was named special counsel, Mueller interviewed with President Trump for the FBI directors job. You can't make this up. Rosenstein has sat by while Mueller, with an unlimited budget, has assembled a team of 16 lawyers. Half have made political donations, shockingly, all to Democrats. How is that OK? If the tables were turned, would a Democrat allow a special counsel to only appoint Republican donors? It all comes down to this: Does Rod Rosenstein know what is going to happen if Mueller's mission creep continues to go unchecked? How does he think voters are going to feel? How many Trump supporters will feel robbed of their right and their vote in the free election of the president of the United States? That would be bad for the country. It would be bad for the system of justice. And it would be bad for anyone who believes in a constitutional republic. Adapted from Sean Hannity's monologue on "Hannity," Aug. 7, 2017 Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired back Monday at the lawsuit filed by the city of Chicago over the Justice Departments threat to withhold federal money from so-called sanctuary cities, saying no amount of money will help a city that wont help its own residents. This administration is committed to the rule of law and to enforcing the laws established by Congress. To a degree perhaps unsurpassed by any other jurisdiction, the political leadership of Chicago has chosen deliberately and intentionally to adopt a policy that obstructs this countrys lawful immigration system, Sessions said in a statement. The city filed its suit over the Justice Department's threat to withhold Byrne grants for law enforcement groups from sanctuary cities. The citys mayor, Rahm Emanuel, likened this to blackmail. Chicago will not be blackmailed into changing our values, and we are and will remain a welcoming city, Emanuel said. The federal government should be working with cities to provide necessary resources to improve public safety, not concocting new schemes to reduce our crime-fighting resources. Sessions said the city of Chicago has chosen to protect criminal aliens who prey on their own residents instead of enforcing laws meant to protect law enforcement. The attorney general called the open hostility against protecting law enforcement -- while protecting criminal aliens -- astounding given the influx of Chicagos violence crime. The citys leaders cannot follow some laws and ignore others and reasonably expect this horrific situation to improve, Sessions continued. The grants, named for former New York City police officer Edward Byrne, who was murdered in 1988, would provide $3.2 million to Chicago, to be used for police vehicles. Funding from the grant is a small fraction of the city's budget. A requirement added to the grants would force local jurisdictions to report to federal officials of the release of illegal immigrants from police custody at least 48 hours in advance, which Emanuel said would violate citizens fundamental rights. CRIME-RIDDEN CHICAGO SUES DOJ OVER SANCTUARY CITIES Emanuel complains that the federal governments focus on enforcing the law would require a reordering of law enforcement practice in Chicago, Sessions said. But thats just what Chicago needs: a recommitment to the rule of law and to policies that rollback the culture of lawlessness that has beset the city. Chicago will not let our police officers become political pawns in a debate, Emanuel said. Chicago will not let our residents have their fundamental rights isolated and violated. And Chicago will never relinquish our status as a welcoming city. DOJ THREATENS TO WITHHOLD CRIME-FIGHTS FUNDS FROM FOUR SANCTUARY CITIES Emanual said he did not think Chicago would be the last sanctuary city to file a lawsuit of this nature. Other cities the DOJ contacted about withholding funds of this nature include Baltimore, Albuquerque, N.M., and Stockton and San Bernardino, Calif. This administration will not simply give away grant dollars to city governments that proudly violate the rule of law and protect criminal aliens at the expense of public safety, Sessions concluded. So its this simple: Comply with the law or forego taxpayer dollars. President Trump continued his tweetstorm against Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal Monday, adding that Blumenthal "should take a nice long vacation in Vietnam, where he lied about his service, so he can at least say he was there." Trump called Blumenthal a "phony Vietnam con artist" Monday morning in a series of tweets against the senator, after he made comments against the Trump administration during an appearance on CNN Monday. Blumenthal criticized the Justice Department for its new policies to tamp down leaks, and questioned the motives of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the White House. "Im concerned that the Justice Department is weaponizing these laws for its personal and political ends, and specifically, for the White Houses purposes," Blumenthal said on "New Day," questioning Sessions announcement last week of a new counterintelligence unit to prioritize cases involving unauthorized disclosures. Blumenthal later tweeted that the president's "bullying hasn't worked before and it won't work now," adding that "no one is above the law." TRUMP SLAMS DEM SENATOR FOR 'PHONY' VIETNAM BRAVERY STORY Trump's tweets were referring to a controversy that arose during Blumenthal's 2010 campaign, when he claimed that he served in the Vietnam War. "I served during the Vietnam era," Blumenthal said in 2008. "I remember the taunts, the insults, sometimes even physical abuse." He told a gathering of families who were expressing support for returning American troops in 2003 that, "when we returned, we saw nothing like this." But The New York Times reported that Blumenthal, 71, got five military deferments that let him avoid deployment. Blumenthal addressed the controversy in a press conference during his 2010 Senate campaign, and clarified that he served "during" the war as a reservist, and not "in" the war overseas. Just before going after Blumenthal, Trump slammed the "fake news media" for failing to cover the "importance" of the United Nations Security Councils 15-0 vote to hit North Korea with tough sanctions. Trump tweeted the sentiments Monday afternoon, two days after the Security Council unanimously voted to sanction the regime in what U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley called "the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against the North Korean regime" and "the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation." In another tweet, the president went after the "failing" New York Times -- questioning how much longer the news organization would be in business. The New York Times tweet came one day after Vice President Pence blasted the news outlet for a report that said he was running a shadow campaign to defeat Trump in 2020 as "disgraceful and offensive." It was a small victory for President Trumps Commission on Election Integrity. Two New Hampshire lawmakers and the local ACLU had gone to court Monday to try to stop the state from handing over data to the commission. A compromise was reached and limited information will be released. As part of its investigation into voter fraud, the commission has requested publicly available data from all states on registered voters. Material requested includes party affiliation, voting history and the last four social security numbers. So far, California, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico and South Carolina have refused to cooperate. Twenty-six other states are charging fees for the data or have offered limited cooperation. Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Ohio and Washington have already complied. Commission critic Myrna Perez, deputy director of the Brennan Centers Democracy Program at New York University's School of Law, is worried about loss of privacy. She is also concerned about long-term consequences of any conclusions reached. "I think there are some members of the commission," Perez said, "who are interested in taking incomplete data, running it through a bunch of methodologically unsound practices and coming up with results that are not verifiable and that we cannot trust and then using results to justify laws and policies making it harder for eligible Americans to vote." California, one of the states refusing to cooperate with the commission, is under scrutiny following a report by conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch that says 11 California counties had more registered voters than voting-age citizens. The commission's vice chairman, Republican Kris Kobach, says voter fraud is a problem bigger than most people realize. "If you look at the convictions, we know that there have been 938 convictions of individuals for voter fraud," Kobach said. "That's just the tip of the iceberg." At least seven groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Common Cause and the ACLU have filed lawsuits challenging the commissions authority. No matter what the courts decide, the commission cannot compel a state to release data. The commission is expected to release a report on election fraud next year. Anthem, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., announced Monday that it will not offer plans through the Affordable Care Acts insurance marketplace in Nevada next year. The insurer also is expected to drastically scale back the plans it offers in Georgia, leaving only some insured in rural counties that otherwise would be left without coverage. With the removal of Anthem, there are 14 counties in Nevada that will not have health insurance for individuals, according to Fox Business. Planning and pricing for ACA-compliant health plans has become increasingly difficult due to a shrinking and deteriorating individual market, as well as continual changes and uncertainty in federal operations, rules and guidance, including cost sharing reduction subsidies and the restoration of taxes on fully insured coverage, Anthem said in a statement Monday. The move wasnt surprising. Analysts said four months ago that the insurance company was expected to exit a high percentage of its plans in the 144 regions where it participated. President Trump -- who has often railed against ObamaCare but has been so far been unsuccessful with pushing a replacement through the Republican-led Senate -- retweeted the news of Anthems exit from the health care marketplace. Trump has often suggested letting ObamaCare implode. Anthem certainly isnt the first insurer to scale back or pull out of the marketplace completely. Read on for a look at others. Aetna Aetna announced in May that it plans to completely leave the ObamaCare marketplace by 2018. OBAMACARE CO-OP NOW IN STATE RECEIVERSHIP AFTER EXITING OBAMACARE EXCHANGES Our individual Commercial products lost nearly $700 million between 2014 and 2016, and are projected to lose more than $200 million in 2017 despite a significant reduction in membership, the company said in a statement. Those losses are the result of marketplace structural issues that have led to co-op failures and carrier exits, and subsequent risk pool deterioration. Humana Humana, which covers about 150,000 people in 11 states, announced earlier this year that it would leave the Affordable Care Acts public insurance exchange. Humana was the first major insurer to cast a no-confidence vote about selling individual plans on the public marketplace for 2018, according to The New York Times. Its main focus has been selling private insurance through Medicare. Minuteman Health A Massachusetts-based insurance co-op, Minuteman Health announced in June that it plans to withdraw from the market in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. GOP LAWMAKERS VOW TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR OBAMACARE REPEAL Due to a lack of capital, the insurer has been placed in state receivership. Molina Healthcare Molina Healthcare Inc., revealed this month its plans to withdraw from the marketplace in Utah and Wisconsin. It also said it was reviewing its offerings in other states, as performance in Florida and Washington has been dismal. Harken Health Insurance A startup by UnitedHealth Group Inc., Harken Health Insurance announced last year that it would pull out of the marketplace in the two states where it offered insurance. The insurer said it would no longer offer plans in Georgia or Chicago. UnitedHealth also pulled out of the individual insurance marketplace this year. A 70-year-old New York veteran spent months fighting to get his guns back after being wrongfully targeted for confiscation after a bureaucratic screw-up labeled him mentally ill. Don Hall, who served in Vietnam, said police showed up at his house late one night with an order to take his guns. Hall said he was surprised by the order and didn't have any idea why it declared him "mentally defective." When he told police he hadn't ever had any mental issues, they told him he must've done something to trigger the state's restrictive New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act. "They said that they never did this to anybody that they didn't know why they were doing it," Hall told Syracuse.com. "I said well, I don't know why.'" The police then took six guns from Hallfour long guns and two handguns. Hall and his lawyer believe the confiscation was the result of a report filed under the SAFE Act, as police told Hall the night of the confiscation. However, the New York Office of Mental Health told Syracuse.com the confiscation was initiated under federal law, which requires hospitals to report when somebody has been involuntarily committed. Either way, Hall said nobody would tell him what he was supposed to have done wrong or listen to his claims of innocence. "I was guilty until I could prove myself innocent," Hall told the publication. "They don't tell you why or what you supposedly did. It was just a bad screw-up." Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon. Former President Obama's signature policy achievement, the Affordable Care Act, took another hit Monday when Anthem health care decided to abandon the health care exchange market in Nevada. Anthem's decision leaves 14 of Nevada's 17 counties without an exchange option in 2018. The insurance giant also pulled out of Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and parts of Georgia. The company says it cannot create a plan that is both Obamacare compliant and cost effective for patients. I am frustrated and disappointed with Anthems surprise and abrupt decision to leave the healthcare exchange especially during uncertain times. This is a significant blow to the states individual marketplace," said Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. OBAMACARE CO-OP NOW IN STATE RECEIVERSHIP AFTER EXITING OBAMACARE EXCHANGES So far, at least four large insurance companies have told officials they are pulling out of state exchanges in those four states as well as Iowa, Utah and California. All told, at least 868,460 patients will lose their current coverage in 2018 as a result. "It's a big inconvenience, that means they'll have to pick a new plan next year," said Jason Stevenson with the Utah Health Policy Project. "Losing an insurer is not good. That means less choice and less competition." Almost 7 million Americans get their health care through the exchanges. Generally, they are considered the working poor who receive federal subsidies on a sliding scale based on income to buy insurance in the exchanges. Premiums went up about 22 percent this year, and are expected to hit double digit gains again in 2018 in most states. GOP LAWMAKERS VOW TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR OBAMACARE REPEAL As of Friday, according to a county-by-county analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services, 2.3 million Americans, or 25 percent, of those enrolled in Obamacare will have no choice as to where they get their care. Health insurance companies have until August 16 to say if they are in or out of Obamacare for 2018, although patient sign up isn't until November. Their participation in the exchanges does not affect Medicare for older Americans or Medicaid for the very poor or enrollees who get insurance through their employer. Insurance companies attribute two reasons for the collapse of the state exchanges. One, neither the Obama nor Trump administration is enforcing the individual mandate meaning they are not forcing young people to buy insurance to subsidize the old. Secondly, companies say they don't know if the administration is going to kick in money to subsidize rates so enrollees can afford the premiums, copays and deductibles. So far, the administration has not said if it will continue giving insurance companies the $7 to $10 billion 'cost-sharing subsidy' used by six out of every 10 Affordable Care Act marketplace customers. That uncertainty, for some, is unacceptable. A Democratic congressman is taking heat from Sarah Palin and other conservatives for a painting hanging in his California district office that depicts the Statue of Liberty as a Muslim woman. We the People Rising, a conservative-leaning activist group, was among the first to object to the painting in Rep. Lou Correas district office in Santa Ana, Calif., arguing it violates the separation of church and state. The group, which advocates for tougher immigration laws, has asked Correa to remove the painting, which is a finalist in the Congress annual student art competition. Palin entered the debate Monday with a tweet about the controversy. "Statue of Liberty Painting Found In Congressman's Office, Then America Spots Something Unusual, Palin said in the tweet that included a retweet on the issue from the Young Conservatives group. Correa, a first-term congressman, has no plans to remove the painting, saying the Office of Legislative Counsel sees no legal issues. You take it in the context of a lady, probably a Muslim American -- with all thats going on, shes a proud American, Correa told The Orange County Register, which first reported the story. This is not the first time a submission from the art contest has stirred controversy. In January, a painting depicting police officers as pigs, from Missouri Democratic Rep. William Lacys district, was removed from a Capitol Hill hallway where submissions are displayed. We the People Rising has posted two videos on its website in which members go to Correa's district office on July 3 to ask that the painting be removed. You guys have a picture out in front of your office with the Statue of Liberty wearing a hijab, which I find reprehensible and disrespectful, one of the members tells a staffer in the first video. I would like to request that you remove it. The staffer says the theme of the art contest was Faces of America. He also said the controversial picture is among all of the finalists hanged in the district office and that the winning submission, which is displayed on Capitol Hill, honors WWII veterans. The second video shows the group confronting Correa on the issue outside his office, just minutes after the meeting. Editor's note: Several hours after publication of this article, a New York Times spokesperson returned an earlier request for comment to say the story had been updated. Scientists appear to have debunked The New York Times' claim it was leaked a secret, gloomy climate change report which it published amid fears President Trump would suppress it. On Monday, The New York Times published a story saying there are concerns that the Trump administration could suppress whats known as the National Climate Assessment, a project of the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The story, titled Scientists fear Trump will dismiss blunt climate report, said the draft report has not yet been made public but a copy of it was obtained by The New York Times. The paper also said those who challenge scientific data on human-caused climate change" are worried the report will be publicly released. But those who worked on the report are pushing back against the claims, saying the version that was obtained and posted in full by the New York Times has actually been online and available to the public for months. It's not clear what the news is in this story, Robert Kopp, a climate scientist at Rutgers University who is listed on the report as among the lead authors, said on Twitter. The Internet Archive, a website that archives content published online, says it downloaded the report from the Environmental Protection Agency's website in January 2017. Kopp noted the draft was published on the site during the public comment period, but then taken down after the period. But it still remained online at the Internet Archive's site. The Times' leaked draft has been on the Internet Archive since January, during the public comment period, Kopp said. Another scientist who authored the report, Katharine Hayhoe, a professor at Texas Tech who leads the schools Climate Science Center, also emphasized that the report is already publicly available. Important to point out that this report was already accessible to anyone who cared to read it during public review & comment time, she tweeted. Few did. Hayhoe added: Side-by-side comparison shows that @nytimes has public review version of our new climate sci report - so, no leak. It was available to all. Hayhoe also said anyone who wanted access to the draft could still request a copy from the National Academy of Sciences. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders on Tuesday said the New York Times story is disappointing, yet entirely predictable. As others have pointed out and The New York Times should have noticed drafts of this report have been published and made widely available online months ago during the public comment period, Sanders said. The White House will withhold comment on any draft report before its scheduled release date. Kopp, the Rutgers University scientist, said Tuesday afternoon that The Times updated the online story to post a newer draft, the Fifth Order Draft, which is currently under review. A correction, however, has not yet been added. The New York Times story cites an anonymous scientist involved in the report as saying he and others are concerned the Trump administration would suppress the report. It directly contradicts claims by President Trump and members of his Cabinet who say that the human contribution to climate change is uncertain, and that the ability to predict the effects is limited, The New York Times said. The story said that the National Academy of Sciences has signed off on the draft, but scientists are awaiting permission from the Trump administration to release it. But Kopp, one of the authors, pointed out in his tweets about the New York Times story that the White House hasnt missed its August 18 review deadline yet. Fox News Brooke Singman contributed to this report. It was supposed to be one of Attorney General Jeff Sessions most prolific wins. For years, the former Alabama senator had railed against the marijuana industry. Hes called it a gateway drug, compared it to heroin and claimed its use led to spikes in violence. When he was tapped to lead the Department of Justice, he vowed to use the full weight of the federal government to go after the industry. In February, he commissioned the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety a group of prosecutors and federal law enforcement officials to find ways to go after users and punish distributors. But the task force came up empty issuing no new policy recommendations to advance Sessions crackdown. Seven states and the District of Columbia have already passed major cannabis reform on recreational use. In total, 29 states, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico have legalized medical marijuana. Despite the primarily bipartisan look the other way consensus of his task force, Sessions efforts to crack down on cannabis could still be in the works. I will continue to review all of the Task Forces recommendations, and look forward to taking additional steps toward ensuring safer communities for all Americans, Sessions said in a statement. Part of his strategy could include reinterpreting the so-called Cole memo. In 2013, then-Deputy Attorney General James Cole issued a memo, addressed to all U.S. attorneys which basically told them to take a hands-off approach to legalization. The memo said in part, In jurisdictions that have enacted laws legalizing marijuana in some form conduct in compliance with those laws and regulations is less likely to threaten the federal priorities. The memo was issued despite the fact that marijuana was and still is classified as a Schedule 1 illegal substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Heroin, LSD, and ecstasy also fall into that category. Instead of taking the Obama administrations laissez-faire interpretation, Sessions has emphasized that the DOJ must remain committed to the federal ban on cannabis and targeted states in particular. In April, the Governors of Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington sent a letter to Sessions expressing their concern for his reconsideration of the Cole Memo and said that changing the regulated market could drive the marijuana industry back into the hands of the black market. Sessions responded in a letter to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and the states attorney general, Robert Ferguson, that said the distribution of the dangerous drug should remain a criminal offense, due to potential threats on health and safety. The Department remains committed to enforcing the Controlled Substances Act in a manner that efficiently applies our resources to address the most significant threats to public health and safety, Sessions wrote in the letter. Sessions also attached state-specific federal reports where he raised concerns about the efficacy of the regulatory structures in their prospective states. Sessions directly cited a 2016 report by the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), entitled "Washington State Marijuana Impact Report, listing some ramifications of the incompletely regulated market, targeting driving capabilities in particular. A week later, Inslee said in a statement that he was willing to pursue efforts to ensure a stable market, but was proud of his states progress in the industry. Unfortunately [Sessions] is referring to incomplete and unreliable data that does not provide the most accurate snapshot of our efforts since the marketplace opened in 2014, Inslee said in the statement. Pushing back against Sessions war on cannabis are several advocacy groups that tout the merits of marijuana. CEO of Medical Marijuana Inc.'s PR firm CMW Media Andrew Hard says Sessions push for the reversal of marijuana legalization is an outdated personal vendetta that doesnt adhere with the mutual benefits reaped by states and consumers. It doesnt seem like he cares about economic statistics out of Colorado and Washington that the industries are doing very well and making the states a lot of money, Hard told Fox News. This also affects peoples lives and livelihood. The largest drug addiction epidemic is the opioid pain killer epidemic, and the statistics indicate that the rates of opioid addiction are down in legal [marijuana] states. Although Sessions aims are set toward fighting the war on drugs and the opioid epidemic, his efforts may be antithetical for the movement. Kannalife Sciences CEO Dean Petkanas thinks that decriminalizing marijuana will promote a smooth and organized marketplace for the industry, and allow enforcement to focus on halting substance abuse. Maybe Sessions should spend more time cracking down on pill mills and the elicit use of opioids rather than outlawing cannabis, Petkanas told Fox News. Several studies have found health perks from marijuana, even in recreational use. The Departmernt of Justice did not respond to requests from Fox News for comment. Alabamans head to the voting booth today and will come one step closer to electing a new U.S. senator. Republican Jeff Sessions vacated his seat in February after he was confirmed as the U.S. attorney general. Former state Attorney General Luther Strange was picked by the governor to finish Sessions' term. The special election primary was scheduled for Aug. 15. However, if no candidate gets 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will occur at the end of September. The general election is set for Dec. 12. Heres a look at the nine Republicans and seven Democrats who are running to become the next U.S. senator from Alabama. James Beretta, Republican Dr. James Beretta, a pain management specialist just south of Birmingham, moved to Alabama 25 years ago to raise his family in a community-oriented area, according to AL.com. Beretta said he is disillusioned with Washington which is why he is running for office. "I'm tired of the corruption," he told AL.com. "I'm tired of the purpose of me being in office is to promote my own ideology and not what's being voted on and passed." Beretta said he would like to see immigration reform done correctly and thinks there should be a law against texting and driving, AL.com reported. He also thinks the state of health care today is another disaster and said former Gov. Robert Bentley should have expanded Medicaid in Alabama. Beretta supports President Donald Trump and thinks Trump presents himself to the world in a much better light than the previous administration. Will Boyd, Democrat The Rev. Will Boyd is a Democrat, but he doesnt support gun control or abortion. Im not somebody who wants to take guns away. Im not somebody who wants to kill babies, Boyd told AL.com. He said he grew up in South Carolina around guns and would just want to enforce existing laws regarding who can purchase a firearm. As for abortion, Boyd described himself as a man of the cloth and emphasized the importance of adoption. As a U.S. senator, Boyd would support a realistic path to citizenship plan for undocumented immigrants who are living and working peaceably in the U.S., according to his campaign website. He also opposes the privatization of Social Security, supports legislation that helps fill the health care/Medicaid coverage gap that exists for women in Alabama, opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership and wishes to increase the minimum wage to $14 by 2018. Joseph Breault, Republican Despite running for office, Joseph Breault is keeping a low profile. So low, in fact, that the Alabama GOP wasnt even aware of who he is, according to AL.com. And as the newspaper discovered, Breault doesnt like to speak to reporters, either. Breault, a chaplain based at the Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, was also the Republican nominee in a Utah House race last year, his LinkedIn page says. He previously served as chaplain at a VA hospital in Salt Lake City and at the Buckley Air Force base in Aurora, Colo. Randy Brinson, Republican A lay minister and former university trustee, Randy Brinson also received a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and served as the chief of gastroenterology at Maxwell Air Force Base. Aside from his professional accomplishments, Brinson also notes his Christian activism on his campaign website. He said he brought WAY-FM, a Christian music station, to Montgomery and headed the nonprofit Christian Coalition of Alabama. He also founded the conservative organization Redeem the Vote, which seeks to increase voter registration and participation of Christians. Brinson stepped down from the organization to run for Senate, AL.com reported. Now, Randy continues to advocate strongly for America and Israels interests across the globe, and he values to protect us from the threat of radical jihadists and historical adversaries such as China and Russia, as they seek world domination and threaten our way of life, his website states. As a senator, Brinson would push to end Common Core, repeal and replace ObamaCare and protect gun rights and the freedom of religion. Mo Brooks, Republican Like some of his opponents, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., was born in South Carolina but moved to Alabama as a child. But in Alabama, Brooks has been influential in politics and law. He graduated from the University of Alabama Law School, worked as a prosecutor in the Tuscaloosa District Attorneys office and clerked for Circuit Court Judge John David Snodgrass, according to his campaign website. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1982, appointed Madison County district attorney in 1991 and served as the special assistant attorney general for Sessions in 1995 when Sessions was the states attorney general. Brooks became a U.S. congressman in 2011 and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. As a senator, Brooks said he would defend gun rights, support Trumps promise to build a border wall and push for sanctions against hostile nations. With growing tension between Sessions and Trump and rumors that Sessions could be next to leave the administration Brooks offered to band together with the other GOP Senate candidates and drop out of the race to allow Sessions to have his seat back. Brooks said last month that while he supports Trumps policies, he does not support the public waterboarding of Sessions. I recognize that President Trump is popular in Alabama. My closest friends and political advisers have told me to not side with Jeff Sessions, that it will cost me politically to do so, Brooks said. My response is simple: I dont care. If this costs me politically, thats fine but I am going to do the right thing for Alabama and America. I stand with Jeff Sessions. Strange, one of Brooks Republican opponents, said Brooks plan proved he is desperate to get attention. The pair has also reportedly clashed over whether to keep the filibuster in the Senate. Vann Caldwell, Democrat Vann Caldwell is the constable in Talladega County near the center of the state. He has worked on a farm and for the public safety division of the University of Alabama, according to his website. After that, he developed his own security business. "I have experience with working with a diversity of people. Caldwell, 33, told AL.com. I have developed [an] understanding as well as a plan for all of the people. I will give my [very] best in the betterment and growth of this state and nation. It's not magic; it will take hard work and passion, which I have. He said that as a senator, he would focus on the economy, which in turn would help other issues education, the military and homeland security. As for health care policy, Caldwell told AL.com that by virtue of the Democratic beliefs and by virtue of the Republicans beliefs, only Democrats can make a health care law. Republicans can only outlaw a health care law, he said. Jason Fisher, Democrat Jason Fisher is a longtime resident of Alabamas Gulf Coast, but the 45-year-old Democrat grew up working on farms in Eastern Iowa, according to his campaign website. For Fisher, health care is a top issue and it hits close to home for him. Fishers wife unexpectedly died from a blood clot just before her 31st birthday, AL.com reported. He is now the single father of a 2-year-old girl who has special needs, the report said. "I have had no shortage of bad luck over the last six or seven years when it comes to my personal life," Fisher said. "But there is a gift that comes from that and it is the perspective of understanding what is truly important and how to work with people in a different way to get a better result. He said he hopes Congress would work to improve the current health care law to make it better for Americans. Fisher is a vice president and senior consultant at a marketing firm, but he has worked as a business manager, consultant and nonprofit executive, his website states. Michael Hansen, Democrat Michael Hansen, 35, said his Senate bid is a long shot but its a shot hes willing to take anyway. Hansen, executive director of the health advocacy group Gasp, is openly gay and a Democrat. In a Medium blog post announcing his run, Hansen noted that folks are sick and tired. He specifically noted the stereotypes that liberals, conservatives, Christians, people of color, men and white people face. Our list of grievances with one another goes on and on, and its unsustainable, he said. In the Senate, Hansen said he would fight for a federal law to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, fight against policies that would systematically oppress people of color and advocate for funding family planning services, including Planned Parenthood. Doug Jones, Democrat A former federal prosecutor, Doug Jones said he hope[s] to return to public office. On his campaign website, Jones criticized Trump for withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate change agreement. He also said he supports a womans right to choose and supports Planned Parenthood. The shenanigans around the 2016 campaign must be pushed aside and full equality for women made the law and the norm in America, he said. Former Vice President Joe Biden endorsed the candidate this week and joined in on a robocall to voters. Doug Jones will make a great U.S. Senator so please make sure you get out and vote on Tuesday - and Im hoping youll vote for my friend, Doug Jones, Biden said. Thus far, Jones has raised more than $158,000 for his campaign, AL.com reported. Thats only about half as much as some of the top GOP candidates, but its most likely more than any of his fellow Democrats, according to the newspaper. Robert Kennedy Jr., Democrat No, hes not related to the famous political family. But Robert Kennedy Jr., does hope to become a lawmaker. Kennedy attended Duke Universitys Fuqua School of Business and was stationed in Japan with the Navy. He spent nine years on active duty. AL.com reported that Kennedy, 47, remained fairly private during an interview and declined to reveal certain personal details about his life, including his job. His campaign website simply said Kennedy launched his civilian career in the casino industry, and subsequently transitioned into retail. Im a fiscally responsible Democrat who leads with faith, Kennedy said on his website. He told AL.com that he considers himself to be a conservative Democrat who supports gun rights. But he also supports keeping and fixing ObamaCare and abortion rights, according to his website. Despite staying fairly private about certain details, Kennedy led the field of Democrats in a recent WBRC-TV poll with 49 percent. Jones trailed with 28 percent. Mary Maxwell, Republican Mary Maxwell specifically moved to Alabama to run for the open Senate seat all the way from Australia. She told AL.com that she learned about the election from a Yahoo News article and decided that, after spending several decades in Australia, it was time for a move. In June, Maxwell became an Alabama resident. Maxwell, 70, is a unique candidate she travels the state by Greyhound bus because she doesnt want to drive on the right-hand side of the road, shes written about mind control and teen etiquette and she sued former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over the administration attacking Iran and Syria without a declaration of war. Maxwell was born in Massachusetts where she lived until she moved to Australia with her late-husband in 1980. "I don't mind admitting that as a Northerner, the South wasn't there for me," she told AL.com. "We don't see it, we don't think about it. I was never thinking about Alabama, I'll admit." Maxwell said she hang[s] out in front of Walmarts when [she] can, distributing copies of the Bill of Rights, usually warmly received, according to her campaign website. She said she is against war, mandatory vaccinations and privatizing prisons. She also would like to audit the Federal Reserve System and would look into government bullying as a senator. Roy Moore, Republican If Chuck Norris had his way, Judge Roy Moore would be the next senator. The "Walker, Texas Ranger" star endorsed Moore as he is "the real deal," Norris said. Alabama needs Judge Moore there doing what hes always done: fighting to protect our constitutional rights to life, religious liberty and the freedom to protect ourselves and our families. And he will always put principle over politics, Norris said. Moore recently served as the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court but was suspended in September 2016 from chief justice for violating the canons of judicial ethics. Prosecutors said Moore told probate judges to defy the Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide. Moore said on his Senate campaign website that he retired to seek the office in 2017 and addressed the controversy by saying that he was suspended for upholding the sanctity of marriage as between one man and one woman. Moore advocated for using the military to protect the countrys southern border, immediately repealing ObamaCare and making homosexuality against military policy on his campaign website. He is also opposed to abortion, federal funding to Planned Parenthood, same-sex marriage, civil unions and all other threats to the traditional family order. Bryan Peeples, Republican Bryan Peeples is young, has never held an elected office and doesnt have a campaign chairman, according to AL.com. Im doing this by myself, the 37-year-old said. As a consultant for small- and medium-sized hotels and restaurants, Peeples is focused on middle-income families and mid-sized businesses, he told AL.com. He is also focused on tax reform and term limits. He would like to donate a portion of his Senate salary to charity, according to a contract on his campaign website states. Trip Pittman, Republican State Sen. Trip Pittman is the natural successor to Jeff Sessions in the U.S. Senate, his campaign website states. He would also be the first non-lawyer in more than 100 years to represent Alabama in the Senate, it said. Pittman ran for state Senate after he survived a plane crash in 2007, according to his campaign website. Pittman is anti-abortion and supports Trumps call for a border wall. He also supports Trumps call to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. Luther Strange, Republican Strange currently holds Sessions old seat, as he was appointed by the governor to finish out Sessions' term. But Strange hopes to keep the office he was given. Before his Senate appointment, Strange was Alabamas attorney general and joined a lawsuit against the Obama administration that challenged Obama's executive order on amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Strange said he stands with President Trump and looks forward to working with the new administration to achieve landmark conservative success, on his campaign website. He also supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act and calls for immediate deportation of criminal undocumented immigrants and the construction of a border wall. And his loyalty to Trump appears to have paid off. The president endorsed Strange in a tweet on August 8. Senator Luther Strange has done a great job representing the people of the Great State of Alabama. He has my complete and total endorsement! Trump said. Strange said he was honored to receive the endorsement. Strange raised $1.8 million in just three months, AL.com reported in July. Hes endorsed by the National Rifle Association and Perry Hooper Jr., the Alabama Trump Victory chairman. Charles Nana, Democrat Businessman Charles Nana immigrated to the U.S. from Cameroon in West Africa, and he splits his time between his job in Nashville and his home in Birmingham, AL.com reported. He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Senate last year. [Nana] is deeply troubled by the way faith is being used by some to serve hate, racism and greed, his campaign website states. Nana advocates for a new fresh wind, which includes free education through college. If we can contemplate building a wall with Mexico, we can surely afford giving our children free education from Pre-K to college, he said on his website. Nana considers himself a Berniecrat and a conservative Democrat, according to AL.com. Withdrew - Dominic Gentile, Republican - Ed Henry, Republican - Karen Jackson, Republican - Brian McGee, Democrat President Trump and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who reportedly impaneled a grand jury in the investigation into Russian meddling and potential collusion with the Trump campaign in the 2016 presidential election, have sent messages back and forth, according to the presidents outside counsel. In an interview with USA Today, Trumps chief counsel John Dowd said he's sent the messages on behalf of the president, who appreciates Muellers work. Dowd reiterated to Fox News that the communications have been professional. He appreciates what Bob Mueller is doing. He asked me to share that with him and thats what Ive done, Dowd told USA Today. The president has sent messages back and forth. A spokesman for Mueller told Fox News that there have been communications among special counsel attorneys and the presidents outside legal team, as well as the presidents special counsel, Ty Cobb. The spokesman told Fox News those communications have been very professional and very cooperative from both sides. The special counsels team is now stacked with 16 attorneys. Last week, Mueller reportedly impaneled a grand jury, which was seen as a sign the investigation into election interference and possible collusion with the Trump campaign was ramping up to enter a new phase. Grand jury subpoenas reportedly were issued in connection with the meeting Donald Trump Jr. had with a Russian lawyer and her associates last year. MUELLER REPORTEDLY IMPANELS GRAND JURY IN RUSSIA PROBE Cobb said last week that he wasnt aware Mueller had impaneled a new grand jury but added, We favor anything that brings this investigation to a swift conclusion. Cobb also told reporters, Grand jury matters are typically secret, and the White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller. Despite cooperation and the presidents apparent appreciation, he and allies have openly criticized Mueller. The president has repeatedly referred to the investigation as a witch hunt. SENATORS INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT SPECIAL COUNSEL FROM FIRING Lawmakers have responded with legislation proposals that would shield Mueller from being fired. Fox News' John Roberts contributed to this report. President Trump took to his favorite 140-character medium Tuesday to chide the press for its newly revealed reluctance to cover last year's infamous tarmac meeting between then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former President Bill Clinton. Emails show that the AmazonWashingtonPost and the FailingNewYorkTimes were reluctant to cover the Clinton/ Lynch meeting in a plane, Trump tweeted Tuesday afternoon. Trump was apparently referring to new emails that were included in 413 pages of Department of Justice documents turned over in a Freedom of Information Act request to watchdog groups Judicial Watch and American Center for Law and Justice. The documents show email exchanges between DOJ officials and journalists from multiple outlets, including The New York Times and the Washington Post, regarding potential coverage of the June 27, 2016 tarmac meeting. The emails show that Peter Kadzik, then-assistant attorney general, was involved in handling the Justice Departments response to media inquiries regarding the tarmac meeting. One email exchange from June 28 shows a redacted response from him to an email with the subject line: DRAFT: Statement/ Talking Points. JUDICIAL WATCH CLASHES WITH DOJ OVER 'TALKING POINTS' FROM LYNCH-CLINTON TARMAC MEETING Another email shows then-director of the Justice Department Public Affairs Office Melanie Newman corresponding with colleagues to flag a story about a casual, unscheduled meeting between former President Bill Clinton and the AG. Reporters, including the Washington Posts Matt Zapotosky, emailed Newman for comment. My editors are still pretty interested in it, and Im hoping I can put it to rest by answering just a few more questions about how the meeting came about who approached who, and how did they realize they were in the same place? Zapotosky wrote. And New York Times reporter Mark Landler wrote to Newman: Ive been pressed into service to write about the questions being raised by the Attorney Generals meeting with Bill Clinton. Newmans assistant told Fox News she had no comment. Also exposed in the new documents was that Lynch used the alias Elizabeth Carlisle for official emails at the Justice Department, including those related to the tarmac meeting. LYNCH USED EMAIL ALIAS 'ELIZABETH CARLISLE' TO WRITE ABOUT CLINTON TARMAC MEETING The tarmac meeting fueled Republican complaints at the time that Lynch had improperly met with the husband of an investigation subject, Hillary Clinton, just before the probe into her personal email use was completed with no charges filed. Fired FBI Director James Comey, in Senate testimony in June, described that tarmac meeting as problematic. When retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly was sworn in as White House chief of staff last week, he took command of a Trump administration that now has more military commanders in top spots than any since Eisenhower's. The generals hand-picked by Trump -- Kelly, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Defense Secretary James Mattis -- share a penchant for passing their opinions up the chain of command in the bluntest of terms. Their prominence in the administration belies the common perception the commander in chief prefers to be surounded by yes men. Jim Mattis defines speaking truth to power in my view, and I like to think I do as well, said Kelly, speaking exclusively with Fox News in his first interview since becoming chief of staff. I observed him do it routinely -- every day -- as we planned the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath. " ... telling the unvarnished truth to power doesn't mean you always get your way. Gen. John Kelly A fourth general, Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford, is a holdover from the prior administration yet shares many of the same qualities that have endeared other high-ranking military men to Trump. Kelly had already earned Trump's approval by serving as Homeland Security secretary during the first six months of his administration. His no-nonsense pursuit of Trump's agenda on immigration and terrorism prompted Trump to brand him a "star," and tap him to succeed Reince Priebus as chief of staff. The job, which has traditionally been the domain of civilian leadership, makes Kelly the president's top adviser. Mattis, who famously said he devises a contingency plan to kill everyone he meets, required an act of Congress to get the job, since he hadnt been out of the military long enough when he was appointed to his role. Once he got the waiver, he breezed through confirmation by an 81-17 vote. "Hes a humble man with very little to be humble about," William Cohen, who served as President Clinton's Pentagon secretary, said of Mattis. The careers of all four men have intersected over the years. Kelly, Mattis and Dunford came up through the Marines and all are in their 60s. McMaster is younger, at 55, and came up through the Army. Yet all have made their reputations on both the battlefield and, in recent decades, the Pentagon boardroom. Kelly was a captain in the 4th Marine Expeditionary Unit when he first met then-Lt. Col. Mattis in the Persian Gulf War, but really got to know him right after 9/11 when I became his assistant division commander in the 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California. That was the summer of 2002. The two Marines then deployed to Kuwait later that year, and lived together in the desert until the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq started in March 2003. After leading a column into Baghdad, Kelly and Mattis led Marines in the intense combat over Al-Anbar province which went into full-scale revolt in 2004. Meanwhile, then-Army Capt. McMaster earned a Silver Star from the Battle of 73 Easting in Operation Desert Storm, when his heavily outnumbered armored unit destroyed 28 Iraqi Republican Guard tanks without loss in 23 minutes. McMaster, once described as a blunt-spoken bulldog of a man, was passed over for promotion to brigadier general twice for making too many enemies to rise past the rank of colonel before getting his first star. He replaced another general favored by Trump, Mike Flynn, as national security adviser and has continued to ruffle feathers on the right and left. Regarding H.R., I heard of him first when I read his superb book Dereliction of Duty, said Kelly, referring to McMasters seminal work in which he argued that the Vietnam War was lost because military leaders should have more openly voiced their opposition to the Johnson administrations policy of gradualism. Never really got to know him very well until he joined the administration, Kelly said. "[But] every day I see him speak truth to power to me in my current position. As the generals have taken command of the West Wing, including reportedly limiting who the President can see and what he can read, all three have come under intense scrutiny by both right and left. Michele Flournoy, said to be in the running for Secretary of Defense had Hillary Clinton won the election, worried that putting too many former senior general officers into civilian positions can be cause for concern in a democracy where we pride ourselves on civilian control. A top-level Washington government executive said recently about the widely-respected members of President Trumps administration, why would they risk their careers to be around such a man? That criticism was echoed by Cohen in an interview with Politico. The larger point is, whether its Kelly, Mattis or McMaster, you can spend a lifetime building credibility, and lose it overnight, Cohen said. McMaster, meanwhile, has come under fire from right-wing allies of White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon -- himself a former Navy lieutenant -- for working for a think-tank that was funded by George Soros, the billionaire financier of leftist causes. With a president caught between a Bannon wing focused on domestic priorities and a military wing focused on winning wars, Kelly said hes aware that the responsibility of the three generals is to advise, not command, inside the White House. Remember, telling the unvarnished truth to power doesn't mean you always get your way, Kelly told Fox News. "The principal ultimately decides and it is our way that so long as that decision is legal, moral, and ethical, one salutes and executes. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. A close examination of the three generals closest to Trump shows each brings a slightly different toolkit to addressing the same problems they see in generally the same frame: years of neglect of the military and Americas national security obligations, as well as an awareness that as American culture proceeds down a path of progressivism military culture, in their views, must remain deeply conservative to stay effective in a world of rapidly evolving threats, not to mention the longest run conflicts in American history. Both Mattis and Kelly worried that social changes during the Obama administration, such as allowing transgender people to serve and bringing women into combat roles, were hurting so-called battlefield lethality, or the ability of Americas military to win wars with the fewest number of casualties, on both sides. Thats the only filter we should ever look through, Kelly told Fox News in a prior interview late last year. Whether it's buying a new jet fighter, a new tool -- or any of the social changes. The only thing we should do is ask, does it make us more lethal on the battlefield? Kelly said many of the changes undertaken by the Obama administration, particularly the social changes, are not very wise. Mattis, who rarely does interviews, was reportedly pushed out during the Obama administration because his abrasive nature rubbed some Pentagon insiders the wrong way. In a book co-authored with former Bush national security official Kori Schake, Warriors & Citizens, Mattis wrote that as for the inclusion of women in the infantry, and allowing homosexuals and transgender people to serve openly in Americas military forces the public may perceive them as civil rights issues; the military by and large does not. Thats because, as Schake explained in an interview with Fox News, that while Americas civilian society values diversity and inclusion, lightning strikes of great ideas are not the metric of success of a military unit. Unit cohesion and battlefield lethality are the measures of success of military units. And that is a perspective many civilians lose sight of. McMaster has been criticized for working for a think-tank that supported President Obamas nuclear deal with Iran. But McMasters comments when he was active duty with a top strategic planning unit in the Army show hes anything but an apologist for Americas enemies including Iran. What is required is forward deterrence, McMaster said last year. Convincing your enemy that your enemy is unable to accomplish his objectives at a reasonable cost -- rather than sort of an offshore balancing approach which we know obviously from recent experience confirms is inadequate. In fact, McMaster, Kelly and Mattis all seem united in their criticism of civilian encroachment on military affairs. In a celebrated Veterans Day address to Georgetown University in 2014, McMaster told students that the warrior ethos is at risk for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to a coarsening popular culture, fewer Americans are connected to the military, and fewer and fewer Americans understand what is at stake in the wars in which we are engaged. Its all the more important today that we hold to our precious legacy of ferocious, ethical combat performance, said Mattis in a 2014 speech. For in a world awash in change, Americans need to have confidence in the everlasting character of our Marines. Trump has said he wished he served in the military himself, and is very proud of going to the New York Military Academy, 20 minutes from West Point, for high school. As Trumps son Donald Jr. told Fox News last year, my father raves about military school. He often says it's the best thing that ever happened to him. It gave him a lotta discipline. Such sentiments could explain why Trump has turned to the military to bring discipline to a White House awash in leaks and palace intrigue, and to bring a reasoned focus to a world rife with threats, sensing weakness and decline in the worlds only superpower. Trump's generals are ready for battle. NASA's New Horizons spacecraft may double its pleasure during its next deep-space flyby 16 months from now. On Jan. 1, 2019, New Horizons is scheduled to have a close encounter with a body called 2014 MU69, which lies 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) beyond Pluto in the distant, frigid Kuiper Belt. (The probe famously zoomed past Pluto in July 2015, returning the first-ever up-close images of that mysterious world. This second flyby is the key component of New Horizons' extended mission.) Not much is known about 2014 MU69, so the New Horizons team planned out a campaign to watch the object pass in front of background stars. Such "occultations" can reveal a great deal about the foreground body, including its size and shape. [Destination Pluto: NASA's New Horizons Mission in Pictures] Mission team members decamped to various spots around the globe to watch three occultations this year, one each on June 2, July 10 and July 17. Observations of the most recent one, which scientists made from southern Argentina, suggest that 2014 MU69 may actually be two separate bodies, New Horizons team members said. These two objects may be orbiting each other closely, or they could be touching, the team members added. "This new finding is simply spectacular. The shape of MU69 is truly provocative, and could mean another first for New Horizons going to a binary object in the Kuiper Belt," mission principal investigator Alan Stern, from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, said in a statement. "I could not be happier with the occultation results, which promise a scientific bonanza for the flyby." It's also possible that 2014 MU69 is a single object one that's relatively long and skinny, or a more spherical one with a big chunk taken out of it, NASA officials said. Further analysis of the occultation data may allow New Horizons team members to get to the bottom of the mystery, the officials added. Thanks to the occultation observations, MU69's size is now better understood as well. If the flyby target is a single body, it's no more than 19 miles (30 km) long. If it's a binary, each of the two pieces is 9 miles to 12 miles (15 to 20 km) long, mission scientists said. The occultation campaign was an extensive effort that involved a number of assets and instruments. For example, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) a 747 jet equipped with a 100-inch (2.5 meters) telescope observed the July 10 event. And mission team members used observations by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft to choose the best viewing spots on the ground. "Both of these space satellites were crucial to the success of the entire occultation campaign," Stern said. Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+ . Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook or Google+ . Originally published on Space.com . The Google software engineer fired on August 7 for publishing an anti-diversity memo is reportedly pursuing legal remedies, but one law expert says he does not have a First Amendment case. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who is cutting short a vacation to deal with the fallout at the companys California headquarters, wrote that James Damores memo violates the companys code of conduct and crosses a line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes though he also conceded that much of what is in that memo is fair to debate. Damore published a 10-page memo on an internal company site which produced a flood of responses from all sides accusing the tech giant of stifling ideological diversity at the expense of promoting women and people of color. Damore wrote that the firms well-known gender disparity was a result of biological differences between men and women, as opposed to discrimination. GOOGLE EMPLOYEE'S ANTI-DIVERSITY MANIFESTO PROMPTS TORRENT OF RESPONSES, SPARKS WIDER DEBATE Rick Rossein, a professor at City University of New Yorks School of Law, said that Damore would have a very hard time winning a case against the company. Free speech at a private sector employer is not a protected right, said Rossein. Most Americans, even some law students, believe the first amendment protects all of us. But it only applies to government, which cannot interfere with our first amendment rights. Damores communication with a reporter at the New York Times was a risky move. He has no first amendment right to talk to the Times, Rossein told Fox News. Any companys employee can be fired for talking to the media. Prior to being dismissed, Damore reportedly submitted a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board claiming that the search giants management was mispresenting and shaming him to silence his complaintstelling the Times it is illegal to retaliate against an NLRB charge. The National Labor Relations Act protects employees who are trying to organize unions, but there is a clause stating employees are allowed to engage in activities for other mutual aid or protection. The NLRA clause could allow Damore to argue that he was organizing for mutual aid not to be discriminated against as a man, says Rossein. A lot would depend on the timeline of what happened, but any complaint that he filed would not have been processed yet by the National Labor Relations Board. INTERNAL MEMO ACCUSES GOOGLE OF LEFT WING BIAS If he could prove he was fired at least in part for filing a charge, he could prevail, said Rossein, nothing that whether Damore actually has a claim under the NLRA is unclear. If he made a complaint and he could prove he was fired for that charge he has to prove Google was aware that he was filing this charge. In other words, Damore would have to somehow prove he was fired specifically for his NLRB complaint and not for the memo itself. Even if the software engineer had penned his memo and posted it on his own blog or social media account, Rossein said he could still face retaliation from his employer. Some on Twitter are calling for a boycott of Google over this issue and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has reportedly offered the fired engineer a job. An image of a monster crocodile caught by Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has gone viral, with some animal lovers criticizing the use of duct tape to bind the animals snout shut. Mr Wright uploaded a snap of the saltie to his Facebook page on Saturday, and it has already attracted more than 4,000 likes and hundreds of shares and comments. Many people were quick to point out the thick layers of tape covering the crocs snout and eyes. Tom Miller estimated it would have taken 10 rolls of duct tape to cover the salties mouth. Did you get enough tape on him? Sally-Jo Famlonga said. Hope thats not staying on for too long poor boy. Dean Adermann said he could see no reason why the monster was caught in the first place. Leave the poor animal alone, he said. Others were quick to jump to Mr Wrights defence. Its a crocodile, theyve been around since the dinosaurs, Jay Ryan said. Im sure he doesnt mind a bit of tape on his snout. Rebecca De Vries praised the Wranglers team for catching the saltie and keeping the community safe. Andrew Buckley pointed out croc catchers moved on salties so they didnt pose a threat in populated areas, or risk being shot by people. Most times these crocs are being relocated as they have clashed with humans/livestock and so if good people dont relocate them, some redneck will just shoot it, he said. When asked about the photo, Wright's publicist told Fox News: "As a crocodile conservationist, one of Matts efforts is to help relocate crocs that are in danger of being killed by the property owners," Wright's representatives said via email. "In this instance, this particular croc was a major threat to nearby people and livestock and had to be relocated. The crocodile's safety and welfare is always a priority and this method is the recommended way to secure the crocodile's snout by Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife." This story originally appeared in news.com.au with additional reporting by Fox News. United Airlines is caught in yet another controversy surrounding the death of an animal. The airline, which has the worst record for pet deaths onboard their flights, is being held responsible by a Houston family for the death of their 5-year-old King Charles Spaniel. UNITED FACES LEGAL ACTION FROM OWNERS OF GIANT RABBIT THAT DIED AFTER FLIGHT In a report to an ABC affiliate, the family said their dog was in the cargo hold of the plane when the flight was delayed and held on the tarmac for two hours before taking off to San Francisco. During that time in the cargo hold is when the dog may have died. In a statement released to Fox News, United said: "We are so sorry to learn of Lulu's passing and have reached out to our customer to offer our condolences and assistance. We are deeply upset any time an animal suffers an injury while traveling with us and especially grieved in the rare instance that one passes away. We are conducting a thorough review of this incident." FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS This is just the most recent accusation of animal deaths and cruetly that the airline has faced. Sex sells, but is there a limit to how much titillation consumers want? Chocotravel is a ticketing service based in Kazakhstan that is apparently looking to make a splash with their new app. To their credit, they picked pretty much the most straight-forward way to advertize with plenty of skin. However, the ads have left both the travel industry and consumers shaking their heads. The barely-there wardrobes in the ad were apparently supposed to have a purpose: to highlight the nothing-added fee structure of the company. Yet, the message that was actually communicated was more along the lines of "buy our product because of these attractive ladies." If you're thinking that Chocotravel was just catering to one gender, you would be mistaken, because the company responded to claims of sexism by digging their proverbial hole even further and releasing a second video featuring some men showing as they say the "Full Monty." Here's a pro tip for any companies that might be foolish enough to copy this advertising strategy: If you're looking to get past a charge of sexism, making sure all of your pilots are males and all of your attendants are female isn't the way to do it. The backlash to the company has been fierce thanks to internet comments, and plenty of digital ink has already been spilled on the matter. The company's director isn't convinced the criticisms are correct, however, and has responded via his personal Facebook page, as reported by the BBC. "On his Facebook page, Chocotravel Ticketing Service director, Nikolay Mazensev, has responded to the criticism saying the clips were "bold and outrageous and we did not mean to offend." He adds: "It shows no less than you'd see on the beach or by the pool. Do you attack girls in short skirts or swimsuits?" Whether or not Chocotravel benefits from the ads or decides to change strategy in future campaigns remains to be seen. What is clear is that they've made a splash in the market place though slightly bigger and messier than they likely intended. A botched home invasion turned deadly in Texas, as police said Monday they were searching for a person of interest in the case. Police are seeking Jeremy Jamal Wheaton Ardion, 30, saying it was unclear if he was there at the time -- but they believe he has information about the event, Fox 26 reported. Jalen Cole, 18, and an unidentified man burst into the apartment in Baytown right before 10 p.m. on Sunday. Police said the masked suspects tried to rob the people inside. The two suspects engaged in a gunfight with the people inside the apartment. Cole was shot at least once, collapsing and dying in the street. A stray bullet from the shootout pierced a wall and flew into an apartment unit next door, hitting Derrick Frank, a disabled 44-year-old man, in the shoulder while he was on a couch. Frank was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he underwent surgery. He's now on a ventilator, and is expected to survive. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Baytown Crimestoppers at 281-427-TIPS. Click for more from Fox 26. The graphic extent to which a man aboard a flight from Seattle to San Jose last Thursday allegedly exchanged plans to molest children was exposed on Monday, after a federal complaint concerning the case was unsealed. Michael Kellar, 56, from Tacoma, was flying into the northern California area on Southwest Airlines when a passenger seated behind him who was able to take photo evidence on her phone spotted him discussing drugging and raping two of the three minors living with fellow Tacoma resident Gail Burnworth, 50, investigators said. The passengers photo, the complaint stated, showed Burnworth informing Kellar that she would be alone with the children on Sunday and that she intended to sedate them with Benadryl and then film herself molesting them while they were asleep. She also allegedly agreed to recording Kellar raping them. The passenger a vacationing pre-school teacher on her way to visit family alerted authorities about what she had witnessed. Keller was taken into custody after landing, questioned, and immediately arrested. Burnworth was in custody soon after that. San Jose police Sgt. Brian Spears, who oversees the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children task force, has hailed the female passenger as a hero, and made a personal visit to her over the weekend. She was emotional, Spears stated. She said I knew something was wrong and she felt it in her heart. CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS APPROVE PROPOSAL TO END LIFETIME REGISTRY FOR SOME CHILD SEX OFFENDERS Investigators have said they believe two children ages 5 and 7 -- located at the same home as Burnworth, her ex-husband and her ex-husbands wife -- were indeed sexually assaulted. Kellar was able to come into contact with the victims through Burnworth, who worked as their babysitter, authorities noted. Investigators also claimed they found further messages between the two suspects conversing about bestiality and their mutual connection of being sexually aroused by children. Prosecutors also stated that Burnworth confessed to having already made up to 20 videos of the two victims -- which she sent to Kellar. AUSTRALIA PLANE TERROR PLOT INVOLVED POISONING PASSENGERS, USING HOMEMADE BOMBS, REPORT SAYS Both were charged Monday with attempted enticement of a minor, including rape of a child and conspiracy to produce child pornography. Kellar remains in custody awaiting extradition to his home state of Washington. The relationship between the two has not yet been made clear. An Arizona man got a little too close to nature during the weekend, after officials said he found a newborn fawn Saturday and brought it along to a local bar to show his friends. The Arizona Game and Fish Department said in a news release Monday that the little baby deer was born late last week -- but his life forever changed when a stranger thought he was doing the right thing. The unknown man stopped off at a local bar to show the fawn off and see if anyone wanted to take it home, before the agency was contacted. The newborn can now no longer live in the wild, officials said. "Who would take a deer fawn out of the wild and into the bar? I would say that is a new one, we hear a lot of things, but that definitely isn't one that's normal," Kellie Tharp, Chief of Education at AZGFD, told FOX 10 Phoenix. Officials say the fawn needs constant care now in order to survive, with feedings "every three to four hours." "Now that the fawn's been in our care, you see that it was being bottle fed, it's being imprinted," Tharp said. "It's relying on humans, it doesn't have a fear of humans so this fawn is non-releasable." The department will keep the fawn for a few days to ensure it is healthy and feeding well, then it will ultimately be transferred to a wildlife sanctuary in Arizona. Mike Demlong, AZGFD Wildlife Education program manager, told the Arizona Republic nobody at the bar knew the man who brought in the baby deer, so they won't be pursuing an investigation. Officials are also inviting people to help name the fawn by visiting the AZGFD Facebook page to leave a comment. Wildlife officials stress what happened to the fawn is an important lesson on what not to do when coming across wildlife. "A lot people are going to think 'Oh, what a great pet that would make.' Believe me, it's a lot of work, I would rather see them in the wild," Tharp told FOX 10. "Although its cute, it's best to leave the fawn where you found it." What began as one veteran driving around his northern California community looking for homeless veterans who he could help out, has blossomed into a full-fledged foundation with help pouring in from around the country. Fox News was first introduced to disabled veteran Kyle Cornwell in March after a local Sacramento TV station did a story on the work he was doing. At the time, the father-of-one said he wanted his efforts to becoming a nationwide movement. Weve come a long way, Cornwell recently told Fox News. To date, we have received more than 20,000 emails and phone calls from people that have started to do what we do in their communities. This was my ultimate goal. The foundation is called H3 Movement, or Heroes Helping Heroes. At the moment, Cornwell and a group of volunteers up to 200 at any time pile into their cars and drive around Sacramento and surrounding areas looking for veterans who are homeless and need help. Ive had weapons pulled on me and Ive been jumped several times, but its not going to stop me, he said, recounting how he goes beyond the streets and underpasses to find people that need help. There are so many vets that you dont see. They arent just sitting in the corner. In a storage unit, the foundation has hundreds of care packages with at least two weeks worth of supplies that they hand out to people. But it doesnt end there. H3 Movement is focusing on getting these men and women off the streets and have even secured jobs for some of them at local places and nearby ranches. Cornwell said they have also been able to get many of the men and women in touch with family members. We reached out to their families a lot of them dont know where they are, he said. It brings tears to your eyes. Ive watched fathers reconnect with their sons after 20 years. He continued: Last month, one of our homeless vets passed away. I got a call from the hospital because he had my card. I got in touch with his family in Alabama and they are going to give him a funeral there. The next step is raising funds for a housing facility that will offer homeless vets a place to stay for a year. In that year, they will get job training and medical visits in hopes of successfully transitioning into civilian life. We want to help vets who want to help themselves, save the ones that want to be saved, Cornwell said. He said the foundation needs at least $50,000 for the land; however, his goal is to raise $2 million. I know it sounds crazy but I am going to keep doing it, he said. The community has been more involved than I can explain. Its hard to explain the feeling. Donations for H3 Movement can be made through its website or via GoFundMe. A Texas professor is making waves on social media after protesting the state's campus carry law by wearing protective combat gear to class. San Antonio College geography instructor Charles K. Smith went to his class last week sporting a camouflaged bulletproof vest and helmet. He said he wore it because he doesnt feel safe. It definitely makes me feel uneasy that there are more firearms on campus than there should be, Smith told mySA.com. [Dressing this way] was just a statement on how I felt. Campus Carry, which was signed into state law in 2015 and officially implemented into Texas community colleges on Aug. 1, allows individuals with a conceal license to carry a handgun on college premises. The law went into effect at 4-year institutions in 2016. A photo of Smith wearing the combat gear was shared on Facebook, which generated a flurry of comments in favor of and against the professor. I realize students were carrying guns on campus illegally, but now its legal to do so. It increases the chances of something happening, said Smith, who also acknowledged that no one had pulled a gun on him in his 10 years at the college. Used to, when they got mad at me, they had to go home to get the gun and had time to cool off. Now they will have it with them, he added. Smith said hes concerned about an argument breaking out and one of the participants having a gun. My assumption is that you will have more people carrying guns that will lead to problems. It always has, he said. There is nothing on this planet worth a human life. James Hot Mustard Velten, who posted the photo on Facebook, told Fox News on Tuesday that response on campus has been mostly positive. "Many professors admire his statement about campus carry," he said. "Many professors don't feel safe because of the law." Velten also told mySA.com that Smith was a passionate professor. Around people like that, you tend to listen a bit more, he said. Smith said his protest has nothing to do with San Antonio College, as they are following the law. He said he ran his plans by local police and the administration beforehand. Some of them were okay and some of them werent, but it's freedom of speech, he said. Two Texas men who were killed earlier this year may have been lured to their deaths by an online dating app used by the pair's killers, investigators said Monday. Harris County sheriffs investigators said the app, which was not named, might have been used to entice Glenser Soliman, 44, and An Vinh Nguyen, 26, The Houston Chronicle reported. Soliman, a nurse at St. Lukes Medical Center, was found dead a few miles from his residence on Feb. 25 after being declared missing on Feb. 16. Nguyen, a student studying hotel and restaurant management at the University of Houston, has not been seen since March 31. Deputies believe the student is dead, but his body has not been found. The two victims' cars were found in Spring, a census-designated place of Houston in Harris County. Nguyens credit cards were stolen but it was not clear if anything was taken from Soliman. THIRD BOY SCOUT DEAD AFTER APPARENT ELECTROCUTION IN TEXAS It is possible that there were other victims, or victims that did get away who could give us more information, Mike Ritchie, the lead investigator, said Monday. Investigators have asked the public for help with any additional information. There have been two suspects named in the case; cousins Brandon Alexander Lyons, 18, and Jerrett Jamal Allen, 26. The two roomed together in the Spring area. Lyons was charged with capital murder after being accused of choking Soliman and hitting the man with an unidentified object. He has been in Harris County Jail since April after he was charged with stealing the slain nurses car. Allen has been sought on a charge of unlawfully using the students credit cards, detectives said. He was last seen in El Paso in April. Investigators said the two men could have been murdered by serial killers, but robbery has been cited as the probable motive, Ritchie said. Chief Deputy Edison Toquica and Ritchie have cautioned people who use dating apps, chat rooms, etc. to meet up in a public area or bring a friend or family member when meeting a stranger. They also advised people against gathering at the persons home. Soliman was found dead a few miles from his residence and police said they did not find any disorder in his house or indications of a break-in. But a friend of the nurse said the mans bedroom was disorganized, which was unusual for Soliman. DEADLY TEXAS HOME INVASION: POLICE SEARCH FOR PERSON OF INTEREST Nguyens family reported the student missing April 1 after they could not reach him. "He's very close to his family," Ritchie said. "They're tight-knit; they talk often. He had a job interview in Florida just a few days before he disappeared and he did not show up for that job interview. So he had a lot of things going for him, was a U of H student, a good family person and this is unlike him." The murders follow a case in Dallas where four men were accused of making a hoax Grindr account to perpetrate at least four home-invasion robberies in the surrounding Dallas area. Grindr is an online dating application used by gay and bisexual men. Walt Disney World unveiled a statue this week honoring a boy more than a year after he was killed when an alligator dragged him into a lagoon, a horrific tragedy that led to calls for change at the family-friendly resort. Disney World officials installed the lighthouse sculpture as a symbol of the Lane Thomas Foundation and placed it near where Lane Graves, 2, died, FOX35 reported. "The lighthouse sculpture has been installed to help spread awareness of the Lane Thomas Foundation, which was established to provide assistance and support to families whose children need organ transplants," Walt Disney World said in a statement. ALLIGATOR ATE TOES OFF OF FLORIDA MAN WHO BATHED IN POND, REPORT SAYS The company announced in June plans to build the gold and blue statue. The Lane Thomas Foundation posted on Monday a photo of the statue with the caption: "In recognition of National Lighthouse Day, please see the lighthouse created to honor our loving boy Lane." The Graves family was vacationing at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on June 14, 2016 when the 2-year-old boy went to scoop up some sand at the Seven Seas Lagoon. But he was snatched by an alligator a few moments later. Graves' dad jumped in and attempted to pry open the gator's jaws -- with no luck -- as a second gator attacked him. The reptile dragged the boy's body to the bottom of the lagoon. FLORIDA POLICE OFFICER WRANGLES ALLIGATOR NEAR FRONT DOOR OF HOUSE Divers recovered the body days later and an autopsy revealed Lane Graves died of drowning and traumatic injuries. People soon called for clearer signs and barriers warning visitors of the alligators. Reports indicted the resort had "No Swimming" signs posted, but no warning of the dangerous reptiles. Disney added the reptile warning signs near its waterways and constructed a boulder wall along the edge of the lagoon in the months later. Click here for more from FOX35 Orlando. A 1-year-old pit bull mix was set to have surgery Tuesday after her owners say she disappeared only to return a day later with signs of torture. Armanda Bruce and her fiance Samuel Hamilton told Fox News Diamond vanished late last week and returned a day later with holes in her paws and hind leg. Oh I cried. I dropped to the floor and I freaked out, Bruce said. Bruce said she and her fiance rushed the dog to Palmetto Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, where she was kept over night. They called me later on that day and told me that her hip was shattered and her femur bone was broke," Bruce said. Hamilton said he was upset when he received the news that Diamond would need her right hind leg amputated. It really hurt because I raised her from when she was really little, Hamilton said. [Shes] my little girl too, you know. Veterinary Technician Melissa McCloud said Diamond will undergo an hour-long surgery, but she is expected to make a full recovery. Shes young enough, McCloud said. She will definitely do well. Bruce is hoping for a successful surgery -- and a little more. Im hoping for justice because animal cruelty is wrong, she said. Adding to the suspicions of Bruce and Hamilton, the couple's neighbors dog disappeared and came back with similar marks. The neighbors dog had to be put down due to its injuries, Bruce said. A spokesman with the York County Sheriffs Office said they were investigating the incident. An Iowa school for juvenile offenders subjects the boys to restraints and seclusion rooms and denies them essential mental health care, a federally funded nonprofit organization alleged Monday in a report that threatened legal action unless the state makes significant changes. Disability Rights Iowa concluded the Boys State Training School doesn't have enough mental health professionals, locks up children by themselves and restrains them in beds with full-body wraps. It made the assessment after 11 visits to the facility, interviews with 30 residents and a review of records. The group said the school's shortcomings were part of larger problems throughout the state's system for juvenile offenders. "This is basically the tip of the iceberg," said Nathan Kirstein, a staff attorney for the organization. "This is not because this is an evil, deviant place, and if we fix it all our problems will go away. This is symptomatic of all the gaps in services along the way for these youths." Congress in the 1970s established the disability rights organizations to help ensure states don't violate the constitutional rights of disabled residents. The Iowa organization made numerous recommendations for changes in its report and threatened to file a federal lawsuit against Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Department of Human Services administrator and other officials if changes aren't implemented. After the organization made similar claims in 2013 against the State Training School for Girls in Toledo, then-Gov. Terry Branstad ordered the institution closed. School Superintendent Mark Day said he agreed with the report's call for expanded mental health services but argued that funding limits and a statewide shortage of psychologists and psychiatrists made it difficult to provide more treatment. "I don't know of anybody in this field who wouldn't love to have more psychiatric, psychological, therapeutic services," Day said. "... There's an increasing shortage of those folks that are willing to work in a correctional, juvenile mental health facility." The State Training School has space for 130 boys aged 12 to 18 and currently has about 100 students, all assigned to the institution by court order for crimes ranging from drug offenses to violent offenses such as murder and assault. The school, which dates to 1873, is in Eldora, a city of 2,700 people about 60 miles north of Des Moines. Although about 60 percent of the boys at the school take psychotropic drugs, Disability Rights Iowa's report notes the institution's sole psychologist isn't state-certified and that a psychiatrist works part-time on a contract basis. The report states that from Nov. 1, 2016, to April 30, 2017, nearly three-fourths of residents were put in seclusion rooms, with more than half of the stays for more than an hour and 6 percent for more than 24 hours. The group claims that sometimes, students are put in seclusion room as punishment, including for trivial infractions. It also questioned the use of a restraint called a "wrap," in which boys are held by straps around their wrists and ankles with a cloth around their body attached with Velcro. Day responded that restraints and seclusion are used as little as possible and only to protect boys from abusing themselves. Disability Rights Iowa called for transferring all students with mental illness or intellectual disabilities to facilities where they can receive proper treatment. "If there was a kid in a facility like this who had cancer or diabetes, we would certainly hold the state accountable for providing them that care, and it doesn't matter if your illness happens to be schizophrenia or attention deficit disorder," said Emily Ehlers, a Disability Rights Iowa attorney. State officials noted the state is working with an outside expert to make improvement but said the institution was already succeeding. "We educate kids that no one else in this state has been successful educating," Day said. "More importantly, we keep kids safe that no else in the state has been able to keep safe." A Kentucky man reportedly told police he blacked out and took on "another personality" Saturday when he tried strangling a woman in a cemetery. Brice Gross, 19, sneaked behind a woman Saturday evening in the Georgetown Cemetery and attacked her, placing his hands around the woman's neck, police said. The woman fought off Gross and ran away. Gross later told WKYT he blacked out and took on "another personality" when he was at the cemetery visiting his uncle's grave. "I vaguely remember getting her to the ground and then running," Gross told the news station. "That's just about it. I don't remember anything else." DATING APP MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO LURE MEN TO DEATHS, TEXAS INVESTIGATORS SAY Gross told police he planned to strangle the woman until she was unconscious, then place her in the back of his trunk. He would then place a rock on the vehicle's gas pedal to send the woman and the vehicle into the water, according to the police report. Gross claimed he has several hundred personalities, but never one that committed a violent act before, according to WKTY. He blamed visiting his uncle's grave for his personality change. ARIZONA WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER LOCKING YOUNG COUSIN IN BOX, KILLING HER "Because if that really -- I don't doubt it did happen -- but since it happened, my personalities are very dangerous, evidently," he said. "More dangerous than I thought they were." Gross was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with attempted murder and kidnapping. The nationwide manhunt for an Ohio rape suspect, who overpowered a sheriffs deputy and escaped, ended on Monday night when the mans body was found in a crawlspace in his parents basement. Cops found the body of suspected rapist Branden Powell in a basement crawl space at his familys Antwerp Township home around 9:30 p.m., according to the New York Daily News. Powell, 32, shot and killed himself according to a statement released by the Paulding County Sheriff. "While this is not the outcome law enforcement had hoped for, law enforcement hopes the community can rest knowing this armed dangerous individual is no longer a danger to the community," Sheriff Jason Landers said in a written statement according to WPTA21.com. Powell was jailed July 8 and subsequently indicted on rape, attempted rape and sexual battery charges for an alleged assault in the Paulding County village of Antwerp. After being jailed, Powell slit his throat in a suicide attempt and underwent surgery at a hospital, Landers said. He was sent to Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital on July 13. He was being transported from a mental health facility in Toledo on Friday when Powell, who was in leg shackles and in handcuffs secured to a belly belt, jumped over the seat and put the deputy in a headlock, causing the van to crash into a ditch. He managed to get the deputy's gun during a struggle and ordered the deputy at gunpoint to remove his restraints. Powell then handcuffed the deputy to the steering wheel and disabled the van's police radio and engine before fleeing with the deputy's wallet, cellphone, gun and 30 rounds of ammunition, Landers said. A Michigan mother held back tears Monday as she was sentenced to prison for luring two teenage boys by using Snapchat and then having sex with them -- incidents she called the "biggest regret" of her life. Brooke Lajiness, 38, was sentenced to a minimum of four years and nine months in prison, according to MLive.com. The mother of two children could serve a maximum of 15 years in prison. "This has been the biggest regret of my life," Lajiness said after her sentencing. "My family means everything to me, and I've caused them great pain for these regretful choices I have made." ICE OFFICERS ARREST 32 SEX OFFENDERS ON LONG ISLAND AS PART OF 'OPERATION SOAR' Lajiness lured the teenage boys, who were 14 and 15 at the time, by sending them naked pictures of herself on Snapchat and then having late-night sexual encounters near their parents' homes while sitting in her car, investigators said. The teens saw photos, including Lajiness in a bathtub performing sexual acts, and then met up with Lajiness for sex. "You made a conscious effort on several occasions to make arrangements to meet my son," the mother of the 14-year-old boy wrote in her impact statement. "Sneak out of your house, start your car, leave your husband and children at home and drive to my son's father's house, back into the driveway between midnight and 4 a.m., wait for my son to run the driveway, commit a crime and leave. Did you know that this was wrong? Did you ever worry about the harm you were doing to my son?" she continued. Lajiness initially told Michigan State detectives she was "helping" the victim, but could not describe what was being done. MANHUNT FOR WOMAN, 37, ACCUSED OF PERFORMING OBSCENE SEX ACT IN MCDONALD'S DINING ROOM "The defendant had a hard time explaining, but stated she was helping him, 'release his whatever.' This is an incident that this is clearly a predator," Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor John Vella said in court. Prosecutors requested Lajiness receive the harshest possible sentence for her crimes. Vella also claimed Lajiness and her husband wrote letters to the judge that didn't blame Lajiness for the crimes, but blamed the victims, MLive.com reported. The husband wrote a letter that blamed the assaults on his wife's insomnia. Lajiness pleaded guilty in June to third-degree criminal sexual conduct for oral sex, two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct for intercourse, one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes and one count of furnishing obscenity to children for sending nude photographs of herself to a minor. Millions of gallons of toxic chemicals and raw sewage are being dumped by Mexico into the Tijuana River, surrounding valleys and U.S. beaches at the U.S.-Mexico border, sickening border patrol agents, but those on the front lines say the U.S. has done little to force Mexico to literally clean up its act. Some 59 Border Patrol agents have reported getting sick in the last three months after exposure to pollutants while at work along the border. One agent suffered severe chemical burns on his feet after toxic chemicals burned through his boots, according to documentation provided by the U.S. Border Patrol Local 1613 Union. That union is threatening legal action that could result in all 300 people stationed at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol station to abandon their posts along the vast border between San Diego and Mexico. Border Patrol union leaders blame U.S. government agencies, Congress and the International Boundary and Water Commission for not aggressively addressing the continuing environmental pollution and health hazards. The organization is an independent U.S. commission directed by the State Department that oversees management of the river. Because it oversees sanitation, water quality and flood control in the border region, the IBWC has become the focus of outrage by local government officials as well as the Border Patrol. It is going to get the point where they cannot patrol down there. That is a national security issue, said Christopher Harris, secretary for the U.S. Border Patrol Local 1613 Union, which represents represent almost 2,000 US Border Patrol Bargaining Unit Employees in the San Diego Sector. If a judge rules that our agents cannot work in that area, we are going to cede this back to no mans land, Harris warned, noting that this would leave a vast area of the border open to Mexican cartel smuggling fugitives putting local residents at risk. During a tour of the U.S.-Mexican border arranged by the union, Joel Sevilla, a U.S. Army veteran who has been a Border Patrol Agent for nine years, told Fox News that last week he had to halt his ATV patrols. I like doing what I do, but now it has come to a point that every night I have headaches and every day I have headaches and nasal pain and I had to stop, Sevilla said. Numerous agents have suffered from gas inhalation, chemical burns, lung damage and infections, said Terrance Shiggs, president of the National Board Patrol Council Local 1613. Serge Dedina, mayor of the City of Imperial Beach, one of the beachfront communities most impacted by the pollution, said that between 30 and 40 million gallons of sewage are discharged daily onto the beach from Mexicos Punta Banderas sewage treatment plant six miles south of the border, and during south swells and south winds, the sewage washes up on U.S. beaches. Mexican sewage also flows into the U.S. from the Tijuana River. When there is a power outage affecting the sewage plant in Mexico, it is not uncommon for raw sewage to be discharged on to the U.S. side of the border, Dedina said. The City of Imperial Beach is planning its own legal action over Clean Water Act violations, Dedina added. We can no longer tolerate our own government allowing this to happen, he said. Dedina said residents, small business owners, and Border Agents are frustrated that the International Boundary and Water Commission doesnt take aggressive and immediate action to keep Mexican sewage and toxic chemicals from flowing into ocean, area canyons, the Tijuana River and a protected estuary. We want to make sure our residents and the Border Patrol agents and United States Navy SEALs who live and train in our city and just North of Coronado are not harmed by this mess, Dedina said. Dedina said the Department of Homeland Security should include new protections in the $200 million Congress just allocated for San Diego border wall upgrades. The trouble with Mexicos broken sewage system came to the forefront in February, when 250 million gallons of raw sewage poured from Mexico into the Tijuana River and then into the ocean for 17 days after the City of Tijuanas sanitation system broke down. No Mexican official disclosed the hazard, but the 200,000 people living in South San Diego, Imperial Beach and Chula Vista could smell the eye-watering, throat-burning smell of raw sewage from a mile away. The spill was the worst in the region in a decade, and resulted in several miles of beaches being closed for six weeks. Initially, the Mexican government pledged to fix the problem, but that changed. We were told on Aug. 4 by highest level American officials that the Mexican federal government has abandoned its effort to support this issue, Dedina said. The U.S. government has to step up and help us stop this toxic waste and toxic sewage from coming across the border. I dont think Mexico is doing this on purpose, but do I think they care - not a bit. The U-S government has to start doing some things to make Mexico care about its actions, said Harris. The U-S cannot solve this all alone, but we can mitigate the environmental hazards, and that is going to take the EPA and the International Boundary and Water Commission to get off the dime and start doing what they are supposed to. However, a spokesperson for the IBWC said the commission is taking a number of actions. The commission is now investing $17 million into upgrading its $239.4 million sewage treatment plant built in the 1990s. Working groups have made recommendations to improve the area and some key studies are planned or ongoing. The commission established a bi-national spill notification protocol and plans new joint inspections every other month at key sites to monitor trans-boundary flows, said IBWC spokesperson Sally Spener. "It is clear that when you look at the activities of the commission, not just since the February spill, but prior to that, there has been a long term interest and significant financial investment in improving the TJ river valley, Spener said. Dedina and others say the commission and federal government must take quicker and stronger action to stop the almost daily flows of raw sewage and toxic chemicals into the Imperial Beach and San Diego communities. More than 670,000 gallons of raw sewage are currently festering on Imperial Beach, attracting flies and mosquitoes, Dedina said. Somewhere along the way, the U.S. government has apparently decided that nothing needs to be done. That is unacceptable, Dedina said. This is not rocket science. It requires funding, engineering and political will. The direction of President Donald Trump's foreign policy is at the center of a battle between two of his top aides. Conservative groups are targeting national security adviser H.R. McMaster. They argue that he's insufficiently supportive of Israel and not tough enough on Iran. Those critics along with a website tied to Trump adviser Steve Bannon are pushing for McMaster to be ousted. McMaster is one of several powerful generals in Trump's orbit who hail from the Republican foreign policy establishment. But Trump is equally sympathetic to the views of firebrands like Bannon, who are trying to push the party in a new, isolationist direction embodied by his "America First" doctrine. Administration officials and outside advisers tell The Associated Pres that McMaster and Bannon have clashed over Afghanistan war strategy. A veteran has made it clear to a Florida homeowners association: Dont mess with Old Glory. Retired U.S. Navy Officer John Ackert is claiming victory in a dispute over a patriotic mailbox outside his Tallahassee home, saying the local homeowners association has backed down from its order to remove it for not being in consonance with the aesthetic values of the rest of the neighborhood. Ackert told WCTV he was informed Monday the Southwood Residential Community Association changed its rules to allow American flag wraps on homeowners mailboxes. The decision came after Ackert appealed the initial letter asking for him to remove the colorful mailbox wrapping. I view this as a form of bullying to be honest, Ackert told the station last week. And I think people should stand up to bullying of any form, and particularly this. The initial letter from the H.O.A., according to Ackert, stated: As the holiday season comes to a close, please remove the American flag mailbox wrap. Ackert said he has had the mailbox display in front of the house for the past four years. Click for more from WCTV. In the summer of 1944, hundreds of royals gathered for the opening of Umaid Bhawan Palace, a magnificent sandstone edifice that dominates the skyline in India's northwestern city of Jodhpur. It was the last of its kind. Three years later, India was free from British colonial rule, and more than 500 princely states the semi-sovereign principalities ruled by royal clans faced an uncertain future. Most have faded into obscurity, but the family that built this palace continues to thrive in part by converting a section of it into a hotel. "How many places do you know in the world where you can actually live right where the maharaja is living next door to you?" said the hotel's general manager, Mehrnawaz Avari. "The idea is to treat our guests like kings and queens." The 347-room palace, considered one of the world's fanciest residences, was used as the primary location for "Viceroy House," a film by director Gurinder Chadha being released Friday in India. The movie details the last days of the British Empire in India and the bloody partition with what became Pakistan in 1947. The iconic structure in this west Rajasthani city known for its traditional handicrafts was named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, the last king of what was known as the Marwar-Rathore Dynasty. He commissioned the project in 1929 with a "spirit of grandness," said royal family associate Karni Singh Jasol. "He had a larger-than-life vision." After independence, most of India's princely states opted to join the democratic republic, and initially maintained their titles, property and a degree of autonomy. Within decades, the royals lost almost all of it, though. India amended its constitution in 1971, giving its citizens equal rights and canceling royal privileges, including the regular payments royal families received from the state. Stripped of their allowances and unsure how to survive as commoners, many royal families descended into chaos. Some held onto property, only to lose it amid internal bickering over rival claims. "The properties that they inherited were in a true sense white elephants," Jasol said. "The royal families were high on assets, but low on liquidity. They didn't have large bank balances to turn their family properties into something grand or sustain it for the future." The Singhs of Jodhpur not only maintained their holdings, but managed over decades to grow. The last reigning maharaja's grandson, Gaj Singh, was only 4 when his father died in a plane crash in 1952, making him sole owner of the palace and other family properties, including the ancestral Mehrangarh Fort. When royal allowances were canceled in 1971, the young Singh patriarch acted quickly. The family opened part of its palace as a hotel in 1978, and turned the fort into a museum, investing profits into preserving Jodhpur's royal antiquities. "They today serve as the main economic levers for the city," said Jasol, who is director of the fort and museum. The palace is open to visitors year-round, and has become a go-to destination for government leaders, other royals, and Hollywood and Bollywood stars alike. In 2007, British actress Elizabeth Hurley married Indian businessman Arun Nayar beneath the white marble canopy, or baradari, on the palace lawn; they have since divorced. The palace is divided into a home for Gaj Singh and his family, and a heritage hotel of 64 rooms and suites run by the luxury hotel chain Taj Group since 2005. Designed by British architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester, the palace features elements of the art deco style popular in Europe and America in the '30s and '40s, combined with traditional Indian craftsmanship. Colonnaded verandas guide one's eye up to intricately carved pillars, stylized sculptures and finally a massive central dome topped by a 30-meter (105-foot) golden cupola. The cost of the royal experience ranges from $500 to more than $12,000 a night. For those who can afford it, the hotel pulls out all the stops. Visitors are greeted by a smiling guard wearing one of Jodhpur's famous handlebar moustaches; he opens the door while hotel staff shower guests with rose petals. Peacocks roam the palace lawns. Further inside, pulsating Rajasthani folk tunes fill the air as colorful dancers move in choreographed circles. Guests mingle amid crystal chandeliers and silk-draped furniture. Gold-leaf furniture and ornate mirrors are arranged around gleaming marble floors, while the walls are decorated with family portraits, as well as leopard skins and the busts of other animals hunted by former royals. The decoration was done over three years by Polish artist Stefan Norblin, who had fled from war-torn Europe in 1944. He also painted frescoes and murals in the royal suites. The royal family has long focused on conserving the region's heritage as a way to utilize its enormous real estate holdings. It manages trusts engaged in water conservation, education and cultural revival projects, creating employment for thousands of locals. "I know at one time, royalty was a bad word," said Singh's daughter, 42-year-old Shivranjani Rajye. "Now you don't have to shy away from it." The Cambridge-educated Rajye runs most of the family's business operations, though the family heir is her brother, Shivraj Singh, who also lives with his family in the palace. He has kept a low profile since spending several months in a coma after a near-fatal accident playing polo in 2005. Jodhpur's residents still see the family as their royals, and Gaj Singh as their maharaja. And he "very much believes he is the king," said Rajye, elegantly dressed in a chiffon sari with a hint of jewelry. "He never gave up his title he doesn't have it officially, but he knew who he was, and he knew he commanded respect of the people." ___ Follow Vineeta Deepak at www.twitter.com/VineetaDeepak. Less than a day after North Korea threatened that the United States would pay dearly thousands of times for pushing new sanctions to cripple the rogue nation's economy, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told Fox News that America has the iron-clad upper hand. It was a gut-punch to North Korea, to let them know the international community is tired of it and were going to start fighting back, Haley told Dana Perino Monday on The Story," in reference to the sweeping U.N. sanctions. Every dollar of revenue that the North Korean government gets, theyre not feeding their people with it. Theyre using it toward a nuclear weapons system. Going after these sanctions is going after their ability to build these missiles. The U.N. Security Council on Saturday voted unanimously to introduce a set of punishing sanctions that could cost the communist dictatorship some $1 billion off its $3 billion annual export revenue. The resolution, deemed the harshest since its first nuclear experiment in 2006, was payback for Pyongyangs testing of two intercontinental ballistic missiles last month, which for the first time showed a capacity to hit the U.S. mainland. That wasnt the only victory for Haley, who was one of the frontrunners in applying pressure to permanent members China and Russia to join them rather than veto the resolution. She acknowledged that it was no easy feat, but remained confident that China North Koreas central trading partner would fulfil its obligations and ensure the sanctions decree is upheld. Ninety percent of the trade that North Korea has is with China. So thats why they were so important to this resolution, she emphasized. China stepped up and said, we will follow through on these sanctions. And they encouraged the international community to follow it. When that missile test took off, they felt it in China. And theyre disturbed enough to say that they now have to do their part. North Korea responded Monday with threats and backlash, seemingly suggesting that the dictator Kim Jong Un was doubling down on his objective of developing a nuclear-armed missile that could reach the continental U.S. Haley, however, maintained that we are not going to run scared from them. U.S. SPY SATELLITES DETECT NORTH KOREA MOVING ANTI-SHIP CRUISE MISSILES TO PATROL BOAT The ambassador, who has made global human rights at the forefront of her positions since starting the job earlier this year, also characterized the chaos in Venezuela as tragic. We are watching a democracy go directly into a dictatorship, Haley said, noting that an emergency hearing on the country in crisis was called two months ago after she proclaimed it a serious human rights concern. NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS DESCRIBE CONCENTRATION CAMP, DAILY LIFE Venezuela has been in a state of conflict for months, with almost daily anti-government protests targeting iron-fisted President Nicolas Maduro have been engulfing through the increasingly impoverished country. The situation has deteriorated even further over the past few days since a controversial constituent assembly was sworn in on 4 August. The Security Councils response was that this should go to the Human Rights Council. The reason it hasnt gone to the Human Rights Council is because Venezuela is on the Human Rights Council, she added, indicating that the matter will likely need to return to the Security Council. Were going to continue sanctions, at least from the U.S. side, but we have to be loud about this. Haley said that North Korea is the largest threat facing the United States at this point in time, but acknowledged the lack of stability around the world. You cant take your eye off of any part of the world, Haley said on Fox & Friends Tuesday. We are anywhere and everywhere, which is what the United States Does. When we lead, people follow. Three U.S. Marines declared dead after their MV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Australia last weekend were identified on Monday. 1st Lt. Benjamin R. Cross, 26, of Oxford, Maine, Cpl. Nathaniel F. Ordway, 21, of Sedgwick, Kansas, and Pfc. Ruben P. Velasco, 19, of Los Angeles were officially declared "deceased" by the Marine Corps, a U.S. defense official told Fox News. The news followed an intensive search effort conducted by American and Australian forces. The MV-22 crashed while on final approach to USS Green Bay, a Navy amphibious ship off the east coast of Australia, on Saturday afternoon, local time. An official who has read the preliminary investigation into the incident told Fox News that the Marine MV-22 Osprey -- part helicopter, part airplane -- crashed into the back of the warship before tumbling into the sea. The MV-22 Osprey had taken off from USS Bonhomme Richard earlier Saturday. Cross was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265). His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Ordway was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265). His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. And Velasco was assigned to Battery G, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (BLT 3/5). His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. The loss of every Marine is felt across our entire Marine Corps family. To the families of the brave Marines we lost there is no way for us to understand what you are going through, said Col. Tye R. Wallace, Commanding Officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in a statement Monday. What we do know is that your Marines left a lasting impression on the 31st MEU, the Marine Corps, and the world. They will live on forever in our thoughts and our hearts. You will always be a part of the Marine Corps family, and you will remain in our prayers. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Human rights groups demanded information Tuesday about the whereabouts of a missing activist who was last seen when Argentine border police evicted a group of Mapuche Indians from lands in Patagonia owned by Italian clothing company Benetton. Santiago Maldonado's family says he went missing Aug. 1, when he was taking part in a protest supporting the land claims by the indigenous Mapuche community. They say border police detained him when he was blocking a road with other protesters in Chubut province, about 1,100 miles (1,800 kilometers) southeast of Argentina's capital. Authorities deny any wrongdoing. Argentina's Security Ministry offered a $27,000 reward on Tuesday for information on Maldonado's location. Maldonado's disappearance has triggered violent protests in Argentina, where some 30,000 people died or were forcibly disappeared during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, according to human rights groups. "It's inadmissible that in a rule of law, security forces take part in the detention and forced disappearance of people," Estela de Carlotto, president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo human rights group, said at a news conference. Participants in the Aug. 1 demonstration were demanding the release of Facundo Jones Huala, an imprisoned Mapuche leader who is wanted by Chile. The lands belong to Compania de Tierras Sud Argentino, a wool-producing company owned by Benetton. Mapuches claim the lands as their ancestral territory and have been occupying them since 2015. "On the day Maldonado disappeared, about 100 agents from the Gendarmerie entered the indigenous community shooting rubber and lead bullets, taking no precautions to protect its members' lives or integrity," the human rights group Center for Legal and Social Studies said Tuesday. Argentine activist Adolfo Perez Esquivel, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980 for his defense of human rights during the dictatorship, accused the government of repressing indigenous peoples. Brussels police opened fire on a car after a high-speed chase Tuesday in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver has told officers there are explosives inside the vehicle, officials said. Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch told The Associated Press on Tuesday afternoon that police fired once at the car, which was involved in two collisions during the chase. "When they got the person out, he immediately claimed that there were explosives inside," Van Wymersch said, adding the man was alone and no one has been injured. Army bomb disposal experts have been called in and police have sealed off the area, locking a number of people in nearby shops as a precaution, Van Wymersch said. Brussels police spokeswoman Dorothee Cattrysse said 400 to 500 people were being kept in the stores. The car is registered in Germany, Sky News reported. Brussels has been on high alert since 32 people were killed in 2016 suicide attacks. Many suspects linked to those attacks and the November 2015 massacre in Paris lived in or transited through Molenbeek. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Iranian drone nearly collided with a U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet while the American jet was in a holding pattern, a U.S. defense official told Fox News. The jet was about to land aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which recently arrived in the Persian Gulf. It was the first time an Iranian drone has interrupted a flight pattern, the official said. The F-18 maneuvered to avoid collision, said the official, who described the unarmed Iranian drone as a Qom-1. The official described the encounter as unsafe and unprofessionaland dangerous. The drone came within 100 feet of vertical separation from hitting the U.S. jet. Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday denied any wrongdoing as numerous investigations threatened to ensnare the Israeli prime minister, who on Tuesday declared he "won't be toppled" and has "nothing to fear." Netanyahu spoke privately to senior officials, accusing the media and own party members of trying to remove him as prime minister, according to Kan, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. "They are trying to get me and attempting to topple the Right," Netanyahu said. "This is not new. They have been trying for many years. I dont see us going to elections now." He added: "Its not like I am going tomorrow and they are going to replace me. I dont know what they want from me. I have nothing to fear. I dont think I have a problem." Netanyahu also took to his Facebook page Monday to address the corruption case, posting a photo of an article citing Palestinian sources who said they hoped the investigation would topple him. "Not going to happen," Netanyahu wrote. Israeli police revealed last week they were investigating Netanyahu's possible involvement in two corruption cases. Netanyahu is suspected of crimes involving fraud, breach of trust and bribes. One case reportedly concerns Netanyahu's alleged attempts to strike a deal with the publisher of the Yediot Ahronot newspaper group to weaken Israel Hayom Yediot's main competitor in exchange for more favorable coverage of Netanyahu by Yediot. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied the charges and called the accusations a witch hunt fueled by a hostile media. Israel's Supreme Court ruled on Monday the prime minister must hand over phone logs with U.S. casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who owns the pro-government Israel Hayom. Another investigation involving Netanyahu, dubbed by police as "File 1000," reportedly concerns claims he improperly accepted lavish gifts from wealthy supporters, including Australian billionaire James Packer and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan. A third investigation, "File 3000," relates to a possible conflict of interest involving the purchase of German submarines, in which Netanyahu's cousin and personal attorney represented the German firm involved in the deal. The Associated Press contributed to this report. North Korea, showing no intention of succumbing to international sanctions designed to end to the rogue regime's missile tests, once again on Tuesday hurled threats, vowing to send "packs of wolves" to "strangle" the nations standing firm in opposing Kim Jong Un's dictatorship. The country's official KCNA news agency issued the threat one day after declaring North Korea would strike the U.S. with "thousands-fold" revenge in retaliation for the sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Friday. "Packs of wolves are coming in attack to strangle a nation," the statement said. "They should be mindful that [North Korea's] strategic steps accompanied by physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilization of all its national strength." HALEY: NORTH KOREA NEEDS TO BRACE FOR COMBINED PRESSURE FROM US AND THE WORLD The "physical action" the rogue nation alludes to is likely the testing of more intercontinental ballistic missiles, part of the "unexpected gift packages" it consistently promises to send to the U.S. North Korea's news agency previously described the sanctions as "crimes" that were a "violent violation of our sovereignty" and a "heinous plot to isolate and stifle" the communist country. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to introduce the set of punishing sanctions -- the harshest since the dictatorship's first nuclear experiment in 2006. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said America had the iron-clad upper hand in pressuring North Korea with the new sanctions. "It was a gut-punch to North Korea, to let them know the international community is tired of it and were going to start fighting back," Haley told Fox News' "The Story," adding that "we are not going to run scared from them." NORTH KOREA THREATENS US WITH MORE 'UNEXPECTEDGIFT PACKAGES' AFTER MISSILE TEST But China still remains a roadblock in deterring North Korea. China is Pyongyang's biggest trading partner and has supported the dictatorship since it came into power. Haley, however, said she remains hopeful China will follow through with its obligations. "China stepped up and said, we will follow through on these sanctions. And they encouraged the international community to follow it. When that missile test took off, they felt it in China. And theyre disturbed enough to say that they now have to do their part," Haley said. WILL TOUGHER SANCTIONS HAVE ANY EFFECT ON NORTHKOREA? North Korea successfully tested two ICBM's in recent weeks, after a series of other missile launches carried out this year. Pyongyang has shown no signs of slowing down or halting the tests. At least half of the U.S. mainland is already believed to be in range of North Korean missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin has traveled to Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia, prompting protest by the Georgian government. His Tuesday's visit comes on the anniversary of a brief 2008 war between the two neighboring countries. The Georgian Foreign Ministry said "such cynical action ... serves for legitimization of forceful change of borders of the sovereign state through military aggression, ethnic cleansing and occupation." Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s as the Soviet Union collapsed. Moscow has tightened its control over the lush Black Sea province and a second breakaway Georgian region, South Ossetia, since the war. Russia recognizes both regions as independent nations and deploys its military there despite international condemnation. Putin promised Tuesday to ease border controls and customs procedures to encourage travel and facilitate trade. A Turkish media report says Turkey has begun construction of a wall along the country's frontier with Iran, mimicking the Turkish barrier along the Syrian border. The private Dogan news agency said the governor of Agri province, Suleyman Elban, inspected the construction of the security wall on Tuesday. The Turkish authorities are constructing the 2-meter wide, 3-meter high barrier with portable blocks, the report said. Turkey is building the wall along parts of the Iranian border to boost its security by halting the infiltrations of Kurdish militants and illegal smugglers. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced in January plans to build a wall along its borders with Iraq and Iran, similar to the one currently being erected along the 911-kilometer (566-mile) frontier with Syria. South Africa's parliament is preparing to vote on a motion of no confidence in embattled South African President Jacob Zuma. If the motion succeeds, he must resign. Parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete on Monday made the surprise decision to allow Tuesday afternoon's vote to be conducted by secret ballot. Opposition parties hope that will encourage disgruntled legislators from the ruling African National Congress party to vote against the scandal-ridden Zuma. The ANC holds a majority of the 400 parliament seats, and the party has repeatedly said its members will not support the opposition-led attempt to unseat the president. The no-confidence motion needs 201 votes to succeed. Zuma has survived several past no-confidence votes. Demonstrations both for and against Zuma are planned in front of the parliament building before the much-anticipated vote. Spanish police say they have arrested a Turkish-Swedish reporter and writer in Barcelona on an international arrest order from Turkey for alleged terrorism. Barcelona National Police spokesman Jose Antonio Nin said Tuesday Hamza Yalcin was detained at Barcelona airport Aug. 3 and is now being held pending an extradition hearing. He said Yalcin has been handed over to National Court authorities. Jonathan Lundqvist, head of the Swedish branch of Reporters Without Borders said the arrest was an attempt by Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan to show "he can reach critical voices even if they are not in the country." Lundqvist said Yalcin fled to Sweden in 1984. He said Spain has now to decide whether to hand him to Turkey where "over 100 other journalists have been charged by the Erdogan regime for similar crimes." President Donald Trump responded to reports of North Korea's nuclear threats on Tuesday, saying the regime "will be met with fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which the world has never seen before." Speaking from New Jersey, Trump also said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "has been very threatening beyond a normal state," adding that the regime "best not make any more threats to the United States." The president's comments follow a report that North Korea has produced a compact nuclear warhead that can be placed inside one of its advanced missiles which are already believed to be capable of reaching half of the United States. Fox News has confirmed the report, which first appeared in the Washington Post. The jarring assessment was prepared in July by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The Post was read parts of the DIA analysis and the document was verified by other U.S. officials, the newspaper reported. Dan Coats, director of national intelligence, made similar comments to Congress in May. Kim was also photographed beside a nuclear warhead design and missile airframes to show that North Korea has warheads small enough to fit on a missile," Coats said at the time. The [intelligence community] assesses North Korea has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, to include delivery by ICBM-class missiles, an excerpt of the DIA analysis stated. Further, it is now believed that dictator Kim Jong Un may control up to 60 nuclear weapons. The DIA report echoed some of the evaluations made in a lengthy Japanese defense white paper also revealed on Tuesday. It is conceivable that North Koreas nuclear weapons program has already considerably advanced and it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons into warheads and has acquired nuclear warheads, Japans defense ministry said in the 500-page report. The miniaturization of a nuclear warhead was one of three things U.S. officials said the regime needed to do in regards to their long-range missile tests. Officials said North Korea also needed to be able to hit a target and demonstrate the ability to "re-enter" the earth's atmosphere. The regime has conducted 12 tests so far this year. One of the ICBM tests conducted in late July, in which a missile traveled 2,300 miles into space and 45 minutes into the air, was the longest and farthest ballistic missile test in the history of North Korea, officials told Fox News at the time. "North Korea CAN miniaturize nuclear weapons for use on ballistic missiles," leading North Korea expert Mark Fitzpatrick told Fox News. "North Korea has been working on miniaturizing a war head for 30 years now." Fitzpatrick continued, saying that the regime is "very technically competent. It is natural that they should achieve this." Regarding the Post's claim that the regime has up to 60 nuclear weapons, Fitzpatrick thinks that number is high and believes the number is closer to the 20-30 that others have estimated. Reactions to the news highlighted the stunning advancements depicted in the reports. Some of those who've tangled with North Korea in the past advocated throwing diplomacy to the wayside. "Weve been playing the diplomatic game for a long time with #NorthKorea and its only given them time to advance their weapons program," former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton tweeted. Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies for the Center for the National Interest and executive editor of the National Interest magazine, told Fox News' "Happening Now" on Tuesday that North Korea was a "full-fledged" nuclear power. But the U.S. on Saturday achieved what appeared to be a remarkable diplomatic victory, securing the unanimous approval of tough new sanctions -- including votes from Russia and China. Fox News' Greg Palkot contributed to this report. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is on a blitz campaign to streamline the U.N.s underperforming bureaucracy, give more authority to its outlying branches, and greatly expand his ability to shuffle money around in the U.N.s regular biennial budget (just part of its total cost)all in the next 18 months. On paper, at least, it amounts to perhaps the most ambitious effort at U.N. reform in 20 years, before the world organization floundered into the vast Oil-for-Food scandal, and a subsequent array of administrative fiascos and largely failed reform attempts under Guterres predecessor, Ban Ki-moon. Guterres chief motivation, though he wont say so explicitly, is the Trump Administration. Instead, Guterres is arguing to U.N. member states what he told a town hall meeting of U.N. staffers in late July: that his version of reform is an absolutely essential instrument for the protection of the U.N. amid increasing international skepticism about the organizations efficiency, effectiveness, and even its reason for existenceall of which also happens to be true. But as he coyly told the staffers: When we see that these negative ideas are penetrating at some times, very high levels, at government levelsand I dont need to explain what this means in relation to the neighborhood--it is very clear is that one thing we must do is project to the outside the idea that we are taking seriously this kind of criticism, and are doing our best to address it. Draft proposals for a hard-nosed Trump Administration look at all of its U.N. spending that leaked last January have never resurfacedofficially --but U.N. bloat is under a gimlet eye in Washington, and the U.N.s multibillion-dollar peacekeeping budget has already taken a sharp haircut on the watch of U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, with more reductions likely soon. For its part, Haleys U.N. mission declined to comment at all to Fox News on the Guterres reform plan. But does Guterres truly mean what he says? And can he deliver? One of the ironies unearthed in Guterres reform efforts is that an internal survey of the U.N.s biggest failings largely validates what its harshest critics have long said. Among the failings he itemized to staffers: slow, unresponsive service delivery, a weak performance management culture, a trust deficit with member states and with staff, ineffective implementation of mandates, and lack of transparency and accountability. Yet even as he began to lobby with member states about the urgent necessity of change, the Secretary General publicly assured U.N. workers around the world that, peacekeeping aside, his reform efforts will not cut total jobs or reduce spending in the Secretariats s regular budgetcurrently $5.4 billionwhich, in turn, is only about half of the Secretariats actual cost. (The allotted U.S. share of the regular total is 22 per cent, or about $1.2 billionwhich is, once again, only a small fraction of overall U.S. spending on the U.N.s bewildering global array of organizations. ) That rhetoric may go down well not only with U.N. staffers but with the majority of developing countries that contribute not that much to U.N. coffers but determinedly see the organization as a font for development largesse and capacity building, as well as influential international jobs. They have bitterly opposed efforts at U.N. streamlining in the past, and may well do so now. On the other hand, financially overstretched Western nations that foot much of the bills the U.S. does not pay, while publicly deploring the Trump Administrations tough demands for U.N. spending cut,s are also experiencing acute budget strains and donor fatigue. At a minimum they want to see the world organization sharply refocused on truly helping the worlds poorest. But their own views on reform may not make those fearful U.N. staffers happy. As a Western diplomat told Fox News, The U.N. has a lot of people doing administrative functions, they are paid huge amounts of money and have massive perks. But they are doing process work. Most people, including many foreign ministries, have moved services to offshore hubs. The result for Guterress ostensible reform so far, is thus a rhetorical high-wire act, where the Western diplomat observes, theres a lot of talk about efficiency and fitness for purpose. What he is not saying is what he will do with the money savedif there is any. Guterres gave a skeletal Power Point indication of his reform plans at a closed-door meeting with U.N. member states on July 27, a day after he offered his no-job-cuts assurances to U.N. staffers at an internal town hall meeting. CLICK HERE FOR THE MEMBER STATE PRESENTATION Long on management buzz words (a paradigm shift for the U.N. Secretariat) and not very informative concept-diagrams, the proposals boil down to a few major initiatives: ? What Guterres told staffers would be a massive decentralization of authority from U.N. headquarters to a variety of field offices, regional commission headquarters and other U.N. sites around the world, where roughly two-thirds of the U.N. Secretariats staffers work. This could take place, Guterres said, under his current authority, without further member state approval. ? A major reshuffling of U.N. bureaucratic roles between its internal Department of Field Support (DFS) which currently supports peacekeeping, and its Department of Management. This would extend DFS support to U.N. functions beyond peacekeeping, reduce duplication of services, and ostensibly improve execution and oversight of U.N. strategy and policy in the Management Department . ? Improved staff performance management and greater mobility to match the decentralized model. ? Replacement of the U.N.s confusing and complicated biennial budgeting system for a process of annual budgets and fewer financial performance reports. ? Reduced U.N. funding pigeonholes in the budget, from 36 to six, which would greatly expand the Secretary Generals ability to juggle resources against demands. ? Expanded use of technology changes, including the U.N.s expensive and much delayed computerized management system Umoja, to improve its $17.6 billion procurement business and consolidate global service hubs. ? An extremely undefined increase in U.N. transparency and accountability, neither of which has been in great evidence in the past, to ensure that poor U.N. performance, fraud and corruption to not flourish in the new decentralized system, and that U.N. member states can clearly see the results. According to his own timetable, Guterres hopes to get a vote of confidence in his overall strategic plan, the proof of concept, from U.N. member states by the end of the year. They he expects to spend a full year working out details, and have the entire reform system in place by January 1, 2019. Just how he will do this, and whether the Secretary General will even succeed in getting approval for those ambitions, is still an open question. I have not been overly impressed by how fast he has come off the starting blocks, observes Thomas Weiss, a distinguished expert on U.N. organization and governance at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and a staunch but critical supporter of the organization. Hes taken eight or nine months to arrive at his recent positions, and its not quite clear what his next steps are, he added. Weiss also notes that when Guterres first took office, he had the opportunity to make a complete administrative sweep of top officials, but instead extended the terms of most of them. I think it would have helped to fire more of them. This does not bode well for overcoming institutional inertia, he said. Nonetheless, Weiss also adds that Guterres has proposed doing some things that desperately need to be done, while warning that they are only announced; nothing has happened. Aside from a slow start, Guterres can also expect growing opposition from member states that have gotten used to micro-managing internal U.N. affairs, and helping to produce the current bureaucratic labyrinth. U.N. budgetary authority is zealously guarded by member states, even if they dont put up the money themselves. Simplification of the budget system amounts in many cases to reduced bargaining leverage. While Guterres claims great latitude in decentralizing U.N. authority, that claim is greeted with skepticism by some influential U.N. member states. There is a slightly different interpretation of what he can do on his own versus what member states think he can do, observed a Western diplomat, without citing the actual differences. When it comes to reorganizing and reshaping budget lines, and decentralizing expensive decision-making, the opposition is likely to stiffen further, especially with Guterres highly undefined promises of greater transparency and accountability as the secret sauce that supposedly binds all such changes together. Neither him nor us know exactly what that means, says a Western diplomat. Indeed, transparency and accountability, along with staggering inefficiency, have been glaring weaknesses of the U.N. for decades, while Guterress ideas so far amount to a stronger emphasis on performance management reviews for senior executives and technological tweaks such as scorecards and dashboards. The same goes for near-invisible past U.N. concerns with fraud, which Guterres also promises to help fix with strengthened investigation capacity and a dedicated monitoring, quality assurance and accountability mechanism in his newly renovated Department of Management Strategy and Policy. The departmental reshuffle, in the view of one Western diplomat, may also be a mistake: You need an awful lot of political capital to start smashing departments together. Moreover: It will not make any difference if people dont learn to work together. At a deeper level, observes Brett Schaefer, an expert on U.N. finance and reform at the conservative Heritage Foundation, there is no effort in the reform program to look, for example, at the U.N.s more than 9,000 mandates to see if all of them are necessary and relevant today. He talks about the U.N.s fragmented management style, but he talks more about moving boxes around U.N. diagrams, Schaeffer said. Decentralization complicates fragmentation substantially. Any substantial U.N. reform, Schaeffer says, is going to have to look at actual activities, and whether they are worth continuing. What the reform campaign shows so far is that he has clearly gotten the message fro the U.S. that there is vast dissatisfaction at the way the U.N. is working. For the rest, he says, wait and see. Email information to tandc@freelancestar.com (subject: History Calendar). Deadline: noon Thursday preceding publication. Strong Men & Women in Virginia History, a traveling exhibit from the Library of Virginia, at Central Rappahannock Regional Library Headquarters, 1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, through Aug. 17. The Library of Virginia, in partnership with Dominion Energy, honors seven distinguished AfricanAmerican leaders annually by recognizing them as Strong Men & Women in Virginia History. These individuals are chosen based on their contributions to the state, the nation, or their professions. One of this years honorees is William E. Bailey, an aviation pioneer and philanthropist, who has family ties to the Fredericksburg region. Medal of Honor Theater at National Museum of the Marine Corps. 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, is showing a new 40-minute film, We, The Marines, every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on the theaters schedule and pricing, go to marineheritage.org/medalofhonortheater.html. World War I Wednesday. Aug. 9 and 23 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle. In commemoration of the Centennial of WWI, the museum will host educational displays the second and fourth Wednesday of the every month in 2017 and 2018. WWI German uniforms and gear will be on display and there will be a childrens craft. Admission and parking are free. Fredericksburg: City of Hospitals. Aug. 10 from 68 p.m. at St. Georges Episcopal Church, 905 Princess Anne St. Living history in Sydnor Hall with Dr. Jon Willen, followed by a lecture on hospitals in Fredericksburg during the Civil War by John J. Hennessy, upstairs in the church nave. Free. stgeorgesepiscopal.net/fredericksburg-city-hospitals. Slavery and Slave Places in Fredericksburg. Aug. 12. History at Sunset with National Park Service historians Becky Oakes and John Hennessy. Meet Riverfront Park, next to Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) on Sophia Street. Consider some of the sites in town that speak of the towns long history of enslavement, focusing on people who struggled through bondage to a life beyond. George Washington and His Women: The women who shaped the man. Aug. 13 at 3 p.m. at James Madison Museum, 129 Caroline St., Orange. Historian and author Frank Walker Jr. will give the presentation. Admission is $5. Refreshments will be served after the presentation. RSVP by calling 540/672-1776 or emailing jamesmadisonmuseuminfo@gmail.com. I Am Going To Whip Them or They Are Going To Whip MeThe Second Day at Gettysburg. Aug. 14. Kristopher White, education manager of the Civil War Trust, addresses Rappahannock Valley Civil War Roundtable at its monthly dinner meeting at Brocks Riverside Grill on Sophia Street in Fredericksburg. White is and author, tour guide and former National Park Service historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Social time begins at 5:45 p.m.; dinner 6:45; speaker 7:45. The talk is free, public invited. Dinner reservations required; $30 for nonmembers. For reservations, email cwrtdinner@yahoo.com or call 540/399-1702. rvcwrt.org. Understanding American Denial: Workshop and Seminar. Aug. 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Westmoreland County. The free workshop and seminar will focus on the legacy of Gunnar Myrdals research study, An American Dilemma, and the associated film, American Denial. Lunch will be provided (vegetarian options available). For educators, CEUs are available upon request. Attendance is limited; registration is required. Contact Jon Bachman at jbachman@stratfordhall.org or 804/493-1972 to register. stratfordhall.org. Dinner and a talk by B.L. Trahos of Mulberry Place Bowling Green about Colonial cooking and kitchens, Aug. 17 at the Port Royal Fire House on King Street. The program is free; but dinner is $10. The event is hosted by the Port Royal Ruritans. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.; talk to start at 7:15 p.m. Call 804/742-1218 for reservations. A Culpeper County judge sentenced a 25-year-old man to four life terms in prison for repeatedly raping a female co-worker in a field off Sperryville Pike on July 1, 2016. Judge Susan L. Whitlock sentenced Victor Esau Soto Avila, a native of Honduras, in Culpeper County Circuit Court on Monday to four life terms, one for each count of rape plus 20 years for the abduction with intent to defile and five years for forcible sodomy. The defendant and victim were apparently acquaintances who worked at a greenhouse in Orange. Avila, who used interpreter Louis Rivera to provide English/Spanish translation in court, pleaded not guilty to all charges in October 2016. He was convicted in April at a bench trial. Before Mondays verdict, Culpeper Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Russell Rabb referred to a mental evaluation report completed by Ilona Gravers, a licensed clinical psychologist and certified sex offender treatment provider in Manassas. The report on Avila described him as narcissistic and that he doesnt take responsibility or blame for his actions in this matter. He blames society and he wants what he wants when he wants it, said Rabb, quoting the report. He has an arrogant attitude toward women and society. Rabb said the victim, who was in court with family members on Monday, suffered bites and bruises on her body as well as psychological damage. This [incident] removed her trust with other individuals in society at the hands of the defendant, said Rabb. Rabb added that the report also describes Avila as a moderate to high risk to community safety. Avila's court-appointed defense attorney David Randle asked the court to consider his clients age. Hes still a kid, a young man who is clearly immature, said Randle. Before the verdict, Randle brought Avilas sister and aunt to the stand for brief questioning. He asked the two women if theyd provide financial and emotional support for Avila if hes released. Both women said yes. I will help him with everything in my power, said his sister Evelyn Soto. Whitlock also referred to the communitys safety during sentencing, adding that Avilas release could be a risk to the folks in this area. She also ordered Avila to stay away from the victim and her family. Randle told the court that his client plans to appeal the courts sentencing. International Assistance Dog Week feels especially meaningful for Hunter Van Pelt, a Fredericksburg man who recently received an assistance dog from Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities. The special week, which runs through Saturday, is designed to raise public awareness of the daily heroic deeds of trained assistance dogs and to honor the trainers and puppy raisers behind them. Van Pelt and Wyoming hit it off from the beginning. During a two-week training session at CCIs Northeast Regional Center in Medford, N.Y., Hunter had the opportunity to work with several dogs, but instantly felt a connection with the 2-year-old yellow Lab/golden retriever cross. We picked Wyoming, but she also picked us, said Hunters wife, Melody Van Pelt. Wyoming has been trained to respond to more than 40 advanced commands. She helps Hunter, who has cerebral palsy, with all of his daily needsfrom tugging off his socks to opening doors and picking up things on the floor. She even helps Hunter button his shirt and can hand him the end of her own leash. She can pick up just about anythingit could be a straw, keys or a medicine bottle cap, Melody said. Hunter and Melody agreed that they dont know where they would be without Wyoming. After their family dog died about six years ago, they began exploring the possibility of getting a service dog and learned about CCI. After submitting an application and completing a face-to-face interview, they were placed on a waiting list for five years. Melody said they coped with the long wait through the support of friends, family and co-workers. They understood that raising and training these dogs is no easy feat, and only four out of 10 dogs actually make it through the program. Hunter said Wyoming was well worth the wait. She has already made a huge difference in his lifeboth physically and emotionallyand the two share a very special bond. She also has made it easier to interact with people in public. When they go out, Wyoming serves as an ice-breaker and takes the focus off Hunters disability. All eyes are no longer on me when we go out in public, Hunter said. They are on the dog. Debra MacKenzie, senior director of development at CCI, explained that the organization breeds all of its assistance dogs. Volunteer puppy raisers across the country take care of the dogs and teach them basic commands from the time they are about 8 weeks old until they are about 16 to 18 months old. At that point, the dogs are sent to a training facility where the organizations professional trainers spend about six months teaching the dogs advanced skills that build upon what they learned in their puppy homes. During that time, the instructors evaluate the strengths of each of dog, and then match them with potential handlers. The handlers meet the dogs during a two-week program at one of CCIs training facilities. Here, the handler learns everything they need to knowincluding grooming, commanding and feeding, among other things. The program also gives the handler a chance to bond with the animal. Our dogs are special, MacKenzie said. The bond is deeper than a typical pet. It is a special type of bond you dont see every day. Hunter said the two-week training session was like boot camp. From 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., they participated in daily lectures, exams, practice and public outings. At the end of every day, they were exhausted, but they learned a lot. The training session was hard, but I think the real learning started at home once we were on our own, Melody added. Hunter said they are very grateful for the donors who make the organization a possibility. There is no charge for the dog, and CCI covers all of the costs associated with breeding, raising and training. CCI maintains ownership of the dog until it is ready to retire. At that point, the handler is given the option of adopting the animal. Hunter and Melody plan to adopt Wyoming once she shows signs of being tired of working. She is amazingshe really is, Hunter said. I dont know what I would do without her. Popularity of assistance dogS GROWING Over the past several years, assistance dogs have become increasingly popular. MacKenzie said CCI increases its placements each year, and about 5,457 human-dog teams have graduated since the organization was founded in 1975. Unfortunately, accompanying the rise in popularity of assistance dogs are scams that abuse the system and threaten the reputation of legitimate assistance dog providers. MacKenzie said assistance dog fraud is a growing problem. With the click of a button, anyone can purchase a service dog vest online and put it on a dog, whether that animal has received proper training or not. Phony certifications are also readily available. It takes more than a vest to make an assistance dog, MacKenzie said. CCIs dogs receive months of rigorous training so that they can perform specific commands and effectively assist people with disabilities. Some people put service vests on their dogs simply to circumvent rules, such as prohibitions against pets in shops or restaurants. Other buy these items for the purpose of selling fake service dogs who have not received training to provide services to those with disabilities. MacKenzie explained that these scams impact the integrity of reputable assistance dog providers, such as CCI. The publics perception of a service dog can be skewed by animals that are not trained properly, resulting in discrimination and loss of access to public places in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This has certainly been Hunter and Melodys experience. One day, they were out walking Wyoming when another dog wearing a service vest lunged at Wyoming and began barking. The dogs owner pulled at the leash with all of her might, as Melody tucked Wyoming safely behind her. It was clear to Hunter and Melody that this dog was not a true service dog. They explained that a trained service dog knows it is time to work as soon as the vest goes on. For example, when Hunter takes Wyoming into a restaurant, she sits quietly under the table and people will remark that they didnt even know she was there. That is how its supposed to be, Melody said. That is what they are trained to do. In a restaurant, a service dog should not be barking or eating food off the floor or even moving around. While most people and businesses have been very accommodating of Wyoming, Melody and Hunter worry this will not always be the case and that the rise of these scams could make the experience of taking a legitimate service dog out in public more difficult. It is not a game for us, Melody said. This helps give Hunter independence. To avoid these scams, MacKenzie recommends that those interested in obtaining a trained assistance dog turn to a reputable organization. She also said to be on the lookout for dogs that dont obey commands in public or act aggressive. When the dog is in public, it should be well-behaved, MacKenzie said. Assertive or aggressive behavior is often a tell-tale sign that dog is not certified and has not gone through extensive training. Linda S. Phillips, 68, of Colonial Beach, Va., passed away on August 2, 2017 at Mary Washington Hospital. She is survived by her husband, Foster Phillips; sisters, Marge and Kathy; brothers, Johnny and Harry "Brother Bill"; and step-father, John K. Parks. She was predeceased by her mother, Ruby Mae Miller. A memorial service will be held at Storke Funeral Home, King George Chapel on August 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia Cancer Foundation. Condolences may be left at www.storkefuneralhome.com. Bernd "Blue" Rothenberg, 70, of Spotsylvania County passed away Monday, August 7, 2017 at Mary Washington Hospital. Mr. Rothenberg had retired as a construction supervisor for Verizon. Survivors include his wife, Terry Rothenberg; daughter Karla Booth (Tom); sister Regina Campbell; brothers Karsten Rothenberg (Joan) and David Rothenberg (Paula); and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 9 at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. A service will be held at noon Thursday, August 10 at the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice. Online guestbook at covenantfuneralservice.com. 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. LINCOLN An attorney for Nebraska landowners who oppose the Keystone XL pipeline grilled one of the project's lead executives Monday in a testy legal hearing before a state commission that is reviewing the proposal. The hearing before the Nebraska Public Service Commission is the last major regulatory hurdle pipeline developer TransCanada faces in its nine-year quest to complete the $8 billion pipeline. The 1,179-mile crude oil pipeline has faced relentless criticism from environmental groups, Native American tribes and a well-organized minority of Nebraska landowners who don't want the project cutting through their property. Business groups and some unions support the Keystone XL, saying it will provide jobs and property tax revenue for local governments. The commission will decide whether to grant Calgary-based TransCanada's application for route approval for the pipeline through Nebraska, allowing the company to gain access to holdout landowners' property through eminent domain laws. The hearing at a Lincoln hotel, which could run as long as five days, drew about 60 people on Monday. A digital billboard truck circled the block outside, flashing anti-pipeline messages. If approved, the pipeline would transport oil from tar sand deposits of Alberta, Canada, through Montana and South Dakota to Nebraska, where it would connect with existing pipelines that feed Texas Gulf Coast refineries. It may also provide access for oil fields in North Dakota. Attorney Dave Domina questioned TransCanada executive Tony Palmer about whether the company would cover cleanup and restoration costs in the event of a spill and remove the pipeline once it's no longer in use. Domina also questioned whether TransCanada would agree to limits on how long the pipeline would remain in the ground if it's approved, an idea Palmer rejected. "The commission should know that this route, if they want to permit it, doesn't have to be perpetual," Domina said. "It can be time-limited so the land can go back to the families." Palmer said the company would pay for cleanup and restoration costs but might seek compensation from anyone who damages the pipeline. He said it's "very rare" to remove pipelines that have outlived their useful life, but some decommissioned pipelines are filled with an inert gas to keep them from corroding. Palmer acknowledged under questioning that the company has not estimated the cost of removing the pipeline from the ground. TransCanada could use the pipeline for more than 20 years, but if well maintained, it should last at least 50, Palmer said. "We fully expect this pipeline can provide service well beyond the commercial contract," Palmer said. Domina also alluded to TransCanada's Bison Pipeline, a natural gas pipeline that ruptured outside of Gillette, Wyoming, in 2011, six months after it went into service. A few months prior to the explosion, the company had touted that pipeline for its adherence to strict safety standards. James Powers, an attorney for TransCanada, objected to the statement and the commission's hearing officer declined to allow it. The latest August bull proofs sees much stability in the genomic, proven and spring-calving rankings, with a front runner returning to take the number-one position in the proven bull league table. Meanwhile, breeders who have now finished serving their spring-calving herds should feel reassured by the stability in the spring calving index (SCI) ranking. The top 10 genomic sires Genetic improvement continues at a pace amongst the young genomic Holstein sires and the front-runner retaining his number-one position Mr Rubi-Agronaut has broken the 800 profitable lifetime Index (PLI) barrier in the new rankings published today (8 August) by AHDB Dairy. 1. With a PLI of 819, Mr Rubi-Agronaut transmits solid production, marked by a predicted transmitting ability (PTA) for fat of +0.21%. This Rubicon son out of a Shotglass dam also ranks as the best feet and legs improver among the young genomic bulls at +2.51. 2. New in second place since the April indexes were published is Peak AltaDepot (Hotshot cross Montross) with a similarly impressive PLI of 818. This bull is an exceptional fitness transmitter hes one of the very best for somatic cell count at -36, lifespan index is +0.9 and daughter fertility index is a massive +17.5. At -6, AltaDepot is also a top bull for the new mastitis index (launched by AHDB in April 2017), indicating fewer daughter mastitis cases. See also: 6 ways dairy producers can raise milk hygiene levels 3. Climbing to third spot is VH Balisto Brook (PLI 791), another remarkable bull for udder health. With the top ratings for SCC and mastitis (-36 and -6, respectively), Brook also demonstrates high fat transmission for both weight and percentages (40.4kg, +0.24%). 4/5. A former number-one sire, Westcoast Perseus (Penmanship cross Doorman) now ranks in equal fourth place with a PLI of 779. He shares this position with non-mover Progenesis Padawan (Jedi cross Enforcer), a transmitter of solid protein, high lifespan, fertility and high type (+2.43 type merit). 6. One of the best milk-production transmitters of the breed features in sixth position in the shape of Westcoast Guarantee. This Boastful cross Tango shows genomic figures of 1,045kg milk, 38.9kg fat and 35.5kg protein and combines these with outstanding SCC and mastitis index scores, giving him a PLI of 774. 7. In seventh place with a PLI of 756 is VH Balisto Brixton. Brixton will appeal to those seeking improvements in fat and protein percentages, with +0.33% and +0.21%, respectively. He is also predicted to lower feed costs for maintenance, as indicated by his maintenance index of -15. 8. Prehen Lancaster is the highest UK-bred bull, weighing in with a PLI of 751 and ranking in eighth position. The PLI of this Penmanship cross Shamrock is underpinned by a tremendous daughter fertility index of +17.1 alongside a high lifespan index (+0.7). 9. A notable breed outlier when it comes to fat transmission, the ninth-ranking ABS Achiever is attracting interest and excitement in the breeding fraternity. With a PTA fat of +48.7kg (+0.30% fat), he rates as one of the breeds best and has a PLI of 743. 10. Rounding off the top 10 is Bomaz AltaTopshot, another production specialist that transmits more than 76kg fat and protein combined. This son of Cogent Supershot, which is also now gaining worldwide recognition as a high daughter-proven production sire, has a PLI of 740. See the top 20 Holstein bulls with genomic indexes ranked on profitable lifetime index August 2017 (PDF) Top 10 proven Holstein sires In the proven Holstein rankings, Gen-I-Beq Lavaman returns to his position as the number-one sire ranked on PLI for the seventh time. 1. With a PLI of 668, this Man-O-Man son now has 942 UK daughters contributing to his index. He continues to excel in predicted transmitting ability (PTA) for protein at +0.17% and has a high daughter fertility index at +14.3. 2. De-Su Rookie, which led the field in the April proof run, has been edged into second place with a PLI of 647. This high fat transmitter (35.2kg) also passes low cell counts (-25), good mastitis resistance (-4) and longevity (+0.6) on to his daughters. 3. Moving up to third place is the exceptional daughter fertility improver (fertility index +21.2) VH Cole Clark with a PLI of 641. This calving ease sire (+2.5 dCE%) also has a breed-leading PTA for lifespan (LS +0.8), indicating his daughters last an average eight months longer than the breed average. His daughters fertility and low maintenance feed costs are likely contributors to their strong survival. 4/5. S-S-I Shamrock Mystic ranks fourth (PLI 621) with a daughter fertility of +17.6 and longevity of +0.5. His paternal half-brother, Teemar Shamrock Alphabet (both by Shamrock) shares these characteristics with +17.5 FI and +0.7 LS and has a PLI of 612. Alphabet is also a calving ease specialist with +2.4 direct and +2.8 maternal calving ease figures. These indicate that his progeny will arrive easily (direct calving ease) and his daughters will also give birth more easily later in life (maternal calving ease). 6. New in the top 10 and moving up from 26th position into sixth is De-Su 11236 Balisto. A heavily used sire of sons, his 109 UK milking daughters confirm his genomic expectations and rank him high for protein (28.8kg and +0.17%) and maternal calving ease (+2.1). His PLI is 606. 7. Also making gains and climbing into the top 10 is Har-Dale-Acres-JP AltaCR with a PLI of 601. This Mogul son transmits high type (+2.44 type merit) and has daughters that are capable of producing large quantities of fat (+32.1kg). 8. Co-op Robust Cabriolet moves up two places to eighth overall with a PLI of 596. Another strong maternal (+2.9) as well as direct (+1.4) calving ease sire with strong fat yield credentials (+33.8kg), his daughters are also predicted to lower maintenance costs (-17) and are long-living (LS +0.5). 9. In ninth position with a PLI of 595 is EDG Rubicon, which is one of the breeds best fat yield bulls at +39.2kg. He also breeds daughters with good feet and legs (+2.30) and long lifespans (+0.5). 10. The highest-ranking UK-bred sire, and reappearing in the top 10, is Prehen Omen with a PLI of 588. Strengthening his position as daughters are added (he now has 268 UK daughters contributing to his index), this component specialist has +0.17% fat and +0.19% protein, and displays good daughter longevity (LS +0.5). Bred by Stuart Smith in the same County Londonderry herd as the leading UK genomic sire (Prehen Lancaster), Omen hails from the acclaimed Froukje family. Also with a PLI of 588 and sharing 10th position with Omen is Synergy Prime. Another high fat transmitter (+32.6kg), he also has strong credentials for udder health (SCC -27, Mast -5). See the top 20 daughter-proven Holstein bulls ranked on profitable lifetime index (PDF) Jersey dominate on SCI, but all breeds represented Jerseys continue to dominate, as they have done in previous months, reflecting the high milk quality and feed conversion efficiency for which the breed is renowned. With only two new additions to the otherwise largely unchanged top 10, the bull in number-one position, the Danish Jersey VJ Tester, holds his lead with a SCI of 502. New entries to SCI First of the two new entries is the eighth-ranking DJ Zuma son, VJ Zlager. A strong milk component sire, he has equally impressive figures for lifespan and fertility. Also entering the top 10 is the number one PLI Holstein sire Gen-I-Beq Lavaman. See the top 20 daughter-proven bulls ranked on spring calving index August 2017 (PDF) British Friesians British Friesians see no change at the top, with Catlane Chad, Catlane Caleb and Kirkby Jupiter each retaining their previous first to third positions. Their PLIs are 496, 395 and 358, respectively. Chad continues to excel as a mastitis and cell count improver, while Caleb transmits low volume, but high quality milk. Jupiters type merit edges upwards to an impressive +2.52. Ayrshires The Ayrshire number one, VR Gunnarstorp Backen Gobel, continues to excel as the breed-leading fertility and lifespan specialist and weighs in with a PLI of 626. Pell Pers moves up from fifth to second position, now with more than 200 UK milking daughters. Gains in production and lifespan scores helped raise his PLI to 604. Now with more than 800 milking daughters contributing to his index, Gunnerstorp cements his position firmly within the Ayrshire breed and earns a PLI of 500. Top five bulls for non-Holstein breeds ranked on PLI August 2017 (PDF) BELLWOOD Dave Hough has lived in Bellwood his entire life and helped organize the annual Bellwood Daze celebration since it started in 1999. Still, there's always something new for him to see each year. Its gotten way bigger, he said. We try to put new stuff in every year." Two of the new events Sunday were the turtle races and frog-jumping contests. Cousins Marcus Krivanek and Trent Mefford took turns racing the painted turtles they found at a lake near David City. They named the big ones Tommy and Timmy and a smaller one Tommy Jr. They even loaned turtles to kids who didn't have their own. Thats how Krivanek ended up competing against and losing to his own turtle. Its fine, he said. After the competition Krivanek, who said he feeds the reptiles every morning, was hoping to hold on to them a little longer. We might save them for Columbus (Days), he said. Or turn them loose at grandpas farm. John Wood and his two Belgian mares, Candy and Jess, were pulling a white carriage he bought at a Columbus auction. I needed it for my daughters wedding, he said. Wood decided to hitch Jess and Candy to the carriage during Bellwood Daze and give people a tour of the town. Its real quiet except for the clip-clop of the horses hooves, he said. I think people start to get back in touch with their grandparents and great-grandparents and how they traveled. Unlike some contestants who rolled their vehicles off trailers for the VFW car show, Carroll Adamy drove his 1932 Ford hot rod across the state. If you dont drive it, its no fun, he said. Adamy has owned the vehicle since 1971. He had a body shop in Wilber at the time and has continued to modify the machine over the years. Its just fun to accomplish something, he said. Adamy doesnt usually take his car to shows, but decided to make an exception for Bellwood Daze. It helps the VFW, he said. Also, its sitting, talking with friends. Hough said that community spirit is what keeps Bellwood Daze going. All the hard work from the volunteer fire department, churches and others who donate their time makes the event happen each year, he said. Everybody works together as one big family, Hough said. Im real proud of the people that help us every year. There currently are 93 Fisher Houses in the United States and in Europe with plans for more. Progress apparently is being made in the effort to save the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center. Center supporter Karen Stephenson used the community comments portion of Mondays Corvallis City Council meeting to note that the situation involving the center and its landlord, Oregon State University, has moved to more of a dialogue. OSU owns the center property on Northwest Ninth Street at the east end of the campus and has been leasing it to the nonprofit center, which has conducted a wide variety of educational programming in the Sunflower House for 12 years. The center, which has been paying $1 per year in rent, has been advised that its lease will expire in March 2018 so that the university can demolish the house and build housing for upper-division students. The university has offered the Literacy Center a replacement building on Northwest Jackson Avenue. The house used to be the site of the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center, which has since moved to new quarters on Southwest Jefferson Way. Center backers have expressed concerns that the Jackson building is only one-third the size of the Sunflower House. Literacy Center backers had forwarded a resolution to the council urging it to back the center in the dispute. However, the new dialogue with the university led Literacy Center backers to withdraw the request on Saturday, after the council packet which included the resolution already had been posted on the citys website. Theres been new developments, wrote Literacy Center backer Valori George in an email to Corvallis Mayor Biff Traber. For the first time, we can legitimately say that the CMLC and OSU are in conversation. OSU has requested that while this conversation is in process, they would prefer that the more public conversations regarding the fate of the CMLC and the Sunflower House be dialed back (my wording, not theirs). We respect their request in good faith and will restrain from public campaigning for the time being. I am excited that it is a conversation at this point, Stephenson told the council. OSU officials agreed. OSU and the leaders of the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center share a strong commitment to programming that serves the vibrant and valued diversity of the Corvallis community, including Oregon States international students, faculty and staff, said Steve Clark, OSUs vice president for university relations and marketing. We are pleased to be meeting with CMLC leaders and discussing the needs and priorities of the center and the university. We are hopeful that by working together, we will reach an agreement that mutually serves CMLC and OSU priorities to the best of our abilities. No details were available on the content of the conversations. In other action at Monday's meeting: Ward 3 Councilor Hyatt Lytle is hosting a special eclipse-related ward meeting at 6:30 tonight at the CoHo Ecovillage community room, 1975 SE Crystal Lake Drive. On hand will be representatives of the Corvallis Police Department and Parks and Recreation. Lytle said South Corvallis residents have expressed continuing concerns about vandalism, litter, parking and traffic issues that they fear eclipse visitors will produce. Traber announced that the council will hold a regular meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the downtown fire station. The council will not meet in its normal Monday slot that week because of the eclipse. The format will be similar to a council work session, with community comments at the end of the meeting. Councilors can take action on items should they choose to do so. Councilors passed a plan for an economic improvement district for the Downtown Corvallis Association but had to make a last-minute change in the boundaries of the district to accommodate a business owner who did not want to participate. The loss of the one property leaves the district about $3,000 short of the $60,000-plus it hoped to raise annually to pay for programs to assist downtown businesses. Ward 2 Councilor Roen Hogg, whose district includes downtown, urged councilors to use discretionary funds to make up the difference. Councilors will take up the request at a future meeting. Extended the deadline for Oakmont Development Corp. to remove a stockpile of soil that was created off of Southwest Brooklane Drive as part of development in the area. The company would have incurred a $5,000 fine had the council not awarded the extension. Developers said that the rainy weather had prevented them from making planned progress on the pile. The airline providing government-subsidized service to three Nebraska cities has declared bankruptcy and begun the process of shutting down those routes. Alaska-based PenAir announced Monday that it has filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As part of its reorganization plan, PenAir said it plans to shut down its Denver and Portland, Oregon hub operations. From Denver, PenAir provides air service to Kearney, North Platte and Scottsbluff through the federal Essential Air Service program. The company said it is filing a request with the Department of Transportation to end service on those routes and others out of its Denver and Portland hubs. PenAir said that process likely will take anywhere from 30-90 days. In a statement on its website, the city of Kearney said it plans to start working with the Department of Transportation immediately to do another bidding process to find another carrier. "The City of Kearney continues to be committed to obtaining a viable and long-term air service provider for our citizens," the statement said. "In the next few weeks we will know more information about our options moving forward." PenAir won the contract to serve all three cities in May 2016 and started service Nov. 1. In announcing its selection of PenAir, the Department of Transportation said the airline was "fit, willing and able to operate as a certificated airline, and capable of providing reliable Essential Air Service at Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska." However, it became apparent after a few months that wasn't the case. The airline had problems with cancellations that got worse the longer it operated. Things got so bad that Scottsbluff airport officials last month asked the federal government for permission to get out of the two-year contract more than a year early. Through May, PenAir was averaging nearly 15 delays and 20 cancellations a month, according to the Scottsbluff Star-Herald. The Essential Air Service provides subsidies to ensure small cities that are far from a large airport can maintain air service. There are seven EAS-eligible airports in Nebraska. The others are Alliance, Chadron, Grand Island and McCook. Arrest at Cologne/Bonn airport : 60-year-old with gun in his suitcase Koln/Bonn During a routine bag check last Thursday at Cologne/Bonn Airport, security workers found a gun with ammunition in a suitcase. Police took the 60-year-old owner of the bag into custody. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken The man was arrested early Thursday morning at around 2:30 am at the Cologne/Bonn Airport. Martin Pauly, spokesperson for the Federal Police Directorate in Sankt Augustin, gave out the information upon request. The 60-year-old man was with his family on their way to Gaziantep in Turkey. His place of residence was given as the Netherlands, and he was also a Turkish citizen. As security personnel were scanning the hand luggage, they noticed the outline of a weapon in the suitcase of the 60-year-old. Further investigation confirmed the suspicion and federal police were immediately summoned. The police took the man into custody in the security area and secured the weapon and ammunition. How the man got the weapon and what his intentions were remains unclear. An arrest warrant was filed against him for violation of the law on weapons and he sits in a Cologne detention center. Meanwhile, the criminal investigation department and the Cologne public prosecutor's office are looking into the case, explained Pauly. Investigations were difficult because the arrested man resides in the Netherlands. Officials did not want to comment further while the investigation was ongoing. European Medicines Agency : Bonn a well-suited candidate for new EMA home Bonn Bonn is vying to become the new headquarters for the European Medicines Agency, which will have to leave London with the Brexit. No other candidate is so well suited, says former NRW Prime Minister Wolfgang Clement. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Former North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Prime Minister Wolfgang Clement has taken on a new honorary position as Special Commisioner to bring the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to Bonn and he doesnt need to do much homework. No other candidate is so well suited says Clement about Bonns bid to be the new headquarters for the European Medicines Agency. There is hardly a city which can better fill the criteria of the European Commission for the EMA site, said the Bonn resident. With so many institutes covering nearly all areas of medicines and pharmacy, Bonn, as a major scientific and economic hub of international reputation in the heart of Europe, is practically cut out to be the new home of the European Medicines Agency. The agency is currently located in London with 900 employees but Great Britains decision to leave the European Union means that a new location has to be found for EMA. For both Bonn and NRW, hosting the EMA would bring big benefits. If Bonn would be chosen as the new EMA headquarters, it would bring numerous international conferences to Bonn. Another bonus, according to German Health Minister Hermann Grohe is that around 36,000 experts would visit the agency responsible for the control of medicines across the EU every year. This would also encourage growth in the hotel industry. The new building at Bundeskanzlerplatz could host the agency. Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan has also made a case for Bonn to become new EMA host. Bonn affords the EMA staff and their families a cosmopolitan new home with a high quality of life. Bonn is a city of short distances. We have an excellent labour market and are able to offer international childcare and schools. And the United Nations is also a factor. Because of this experience, he says we are very experienced in steering international staff through their first days in this Rhine city. Decision to be made by secret ballot It is still by no means a given that Bonn will be awarded the contract. A total of 19 cities are applying to host the EMA, including Vienna, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Bucharest. Barcelona has also apparently submitted a very convincing application. And what speaks for Bucharest is that Romania hosts not one single EU agency. Another factor that may reduce the chances for Bonn: The German Finance Ministry wants to host the European Banking Supervisory Authority (EBA), which is also leaving London because of the Brexit. It could possibly be situated in Frankfurt near the European Central Bank. According to insiders, chances that Germany would be awarded both EU institutions are practically zero. A decision is expected from the 27 European Council members in November. The vote will be per secret ballot. Time is running out because the EMA needs to be working from the new location in March of 2019. LINCOLN Supporters and critics sounded off at a Nebraska Board of Education meeting on a proposal to include the teaching of climate change in Nebraska public school science classes. Nearly 70 people crowded Friday into a meeting room and overflow room in Lincoln as the board discussed plans to adopt new science standards. For the first time, the standards would specifically include the teaching of climate change. However, the wording of the latest draft calls on students to "evaluate the reliability and validity" of climate models before making a projection of future climate trends. That's a change from an earlier draft in May that treated climate change as settled science. But some people argue the new language isn't strong enough. Doug Kagan, representing Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, said there is a "furious ongoing debate within the scientific community about the actual role that humans play in global warming." David Harwood, a geology professor with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, countered: "Climate change is happening. It is caused by human activity." Harwood is member of the standards writing team and urged the board to retain climate change, along with evolution, in the draft standards. Michael Fryda, an Omaha high school science teacher and the 2010 Nebraska teacher of the year, also urged the board to adopt the climate change-inclusive standards. The board is set to vote on the new standards next month. 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. kacylee at 8-08-2017 08:37 PM (5 years ago) (f) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N328,988,296.62 from nine major oil marketers between July 2016 sand 2017. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N328,988,296.62 from nine major oil marketers between July 2016 sand 2017. At a press conference this afternoon in Kano, the Commission stated that another N349,818,411,556.36 irregular transactions embarked upon by these major oil companies with the connivance of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over the years is still being traced. The agency said investigation against the major marketers followed a petition by Kano branch of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) alleging gross irregularities by NNPC in favour of major marketers. Some of the major marketers were alleged by EFCC to have returned these money following their investigation included. Details later. At a press conference this afternoon in Kano, the Commission stated that another N349,818,411,556.36 irregular transactions embarked upon by these major oil companies with the connivance of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over the years is still being traced.The agency said investigation against the major marketers followed a petition by Kano branch of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) alleging gross irregularities by NNPC in favour of major marketers.Some of the major marketers were alleged by EFCC to have returned these money following their investigation included.Details later. 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 8-08-2017 08:37 PM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero Mobility Guardian Phase 2 begins By Tech. Sgt. Jodi Martinez, 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs / Published August 07, 2017 JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) -- The second half of Exercise Mobility Guardian began Aug. 6, 2017, and will focus on training aircrew on advanced tactical air operations. Following the successful execution of the joint forcible entry, ground forces established control over Moses Lake, which enabled the transition to sustainment operations. "Mobility Guardian has tested our ability to prepare and deliver the force," said Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II, commander of Air Mobility Command. "Now it will test our ability to sustain the force and, after the mission is over, ensure the joint force returns home." The Army's 62nd Medical Brigade enabled the first step in the sustainment phase, said Air Force Lt. Col. Jeremy Wagner, the Mobility Guardian director. The brigade executed humanitarian relief operations after the 82nd Airborne Division accomplished a joint forcible entry and seized the airfield at Moses Lake. From there, components of the 7th Infantry Division, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, took over the airfield and established their power projection. These movements enabled the 621st Contingency Response Wing to begin air base opening operations at Fairchild Air Force Base, Moses Lake and Yakima, Washington. International teams working with ground forces will also provide force protection during the sustainment phase. The Number 2 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, one of the international teams, will provide airfield security for the 621st CRW. "They are force multipliers," said Wagner. "They've been very involved and have shown how capable they are as our partners." International teams will remain integrated during the 500-plus flights that were planned in support of Mobility Guardian, said Wagner. During the sustainment phase, aircraft will continue to deliver materials to support the ground forces' humanitarian efforts, but the air operations are expected to become more difficult. "We've been airdropping an incredible amount of equipment to some of the displaced humanitarian relief operations" said Wagner. "Now it mostly focuses on getting advanced tactical training for our aircrews. When we're done with that, we can start heading home." This training includes air drops in difficult locations, opportunities to test practice threat systems that detect ground enemies and C-130 Hercules wet-wing defueling, Wagner added. For Everhart, this advanced exercise is a testament of the abilities that U.S. and international service members provide the global response force. "Global reach is not a birthright for America; it requires hard work, preparation, investment and training," said Everhart. "Mobility Guardian offers our Airmen vital experience to excel in any environment, applying lessons learned from years of war to deliver a realistic and challenging training environment for not only the Air Force but our joint and international partners as well." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Luke graduates first F-35A initial qualification course By Airman 1st Class Pedro Mota, 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published August 07, 2017 LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- The 61st Fighter Squadron made history graduating the first F-35A Lightning II initial qualification course Aug. 5, 2017. After eight months of tremendous teamwork from across the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base produced six F-35A fighter pilots ready for the combat Air Force. During the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, commander of Air Education and Training Command, spoke to graduates. "This is a history making moment," said Roberson. "From my perspective there will be people 20 to 30 years from now who will remember that you were in the first (F-35A Lightning II initial qualification course). It is really important for you to know that the F-35 is the future." During the course, Lockheed Martin instructor pilots taught the academic phase of training, consisting of more than 156 events totaling 308 hours. Academics focused on learning the basic aircraft systems, emergency procedures, local area procedures, mission systems, weapons and tactical employment. Prior to the first flight in the Lightning II, each student completed 16 simulator events. The F-35 simulator provides a highly realistic and immersive experience that prepares each pilot for their first sortie in an aircraft. "Each student flew at least 48 sorties totaling 77 hours," said Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier, the 61st FS commander. "Starting with the basics of taking off and landing, continuing across the full spectrum mission sets, and culminating in our Capstone phase of high-end employment. Along the way, our students dropped inert and live laser-guided GBU-12s, refueled from a KC-135 day and night and flew low-altitude step-down training." During the graduation, the six pilots were presented several awards including the Academic Award, presented to 1st Lt. Brett Burnside. The Academic Award is presented to the student with the highest average test score over five tests taken throughout the course. "For B-Course graduates, you are going to be the one that everyone turns to," said Roberson. "It won't be long for the B-Course group to turn to you to find the answers about that airplane. You need to be the ones that step up and know the answers on a higher level. Don't be shy, we need you to push the envelope on how to fly the F-35. We are teaching you everything we know about the F-35, you're going to take us to another level." Hierlmeier gave a charge to the newly minted pilots as they move forward in their careers. "I salute you for your hard work and commitment to excellence," said Hierlmeier. "You have earned the title 'F-35 fighter pilot,' and you make us proud. You represent the hard work of the 56th Fighter Wing and (Luke AFB Airmen). Continue to learn and sharpen your sword, for there will likely be a day, sooner rather than later, when you will be tested. As you move on to your operational assignments remember that you wear our brand. Stay humble, fly, fight and win!" NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mobility forces enable joint forcible entry exercise By Airman 1st Class Erin McClellan, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs / Published August 07, 2017 JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) -- Air mobility forces partnered with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division for a joint forcible entry exercise Aug. 2, 2017, at both Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Moses Lake as part of Exercise Mobility Guardian. Thirteen C-17 Globemaster III's, 19 C-130 Hercules and 10 air refueling aircraft from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada and England enabled the mission, said Air Force Lt. Col. Judd Baker, the 43rd Operations Support Squadron commander, Pope Field, North Carolina. Personnel from the 82nd ABN, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group, Pope Field, prepared and inspected heavy cargo to ensure it was airworthy prior to the mission, he added. During the operation, partnerships between the Air Force and the Army were capitalized on to airdrop equipment and 377 Soldiers into an austere airfield at Moses Lake to exercise the global response force. "Every time there's an airborne assault, we're using the Air Force," said Army Lt. Col. Ricky Taylor, the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment battalion commander. "The joint planning and collaboration between the staffs and the commands is imperative. "We have a good working relationship, but we always need to hone our planning processes and overall skills. What we don't want is atrophy throughout the force." Once the 82nd ABN secured the airfield, they transitioned control to 821st Contingency Response Group personnel, who then began air base opening operations to safely land aircraft at the site. Exercises of this nature help ensure the branches are able to operate together seamlessly in real-world situations. "Practice makes perfect, and that's why we need this kind of exercise," said Air Force Maj. Ryan Strength, a 621st Mobility Support Operations Squadron air mobility liaison officer. "Not everything goes as planned the first time, and the way we find that out is through execution. We're not going to find all the limiting factors to any kind of scenario unless we actually practice it. You can always get better at something, and the more opportunities we have to train, the better equipped we're going to be for when we're actually fighting a war." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Officials Release Details of Latest Strikes Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 7, 2017 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 34 strikes consisting of 40 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 28 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed three ISIS oil stills. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed three ISIS oil stills. -- Near Raqqa, 24 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 30 fighting positions, two vehicles, two command-and-control nodes, two mortar systems, a tunnel, a heavy machine gun, an improvised explosive device facility and a vehicle-borne-bomb facility; and damaged six fighting positions. -- Near Shadaddi, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed a mortar system and a vehicle and damaged a fighting position. Strikes in Iraq In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of eight engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Huwayjah, two strikes destroyed two ISIS oil refineries. -- Near Kisik, a strike destroyed three ISIS mortar systems and two sniper rifles. -- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed an ISIS tactical vehicle and a storage facility. -- Near Tal Afar, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two IED facilities. Previous Strikes Additionally, 11 strikes consisting of 16 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 4-5 that closed within the last 24 hours. -- On Aug. 4, near Raqqa, Syria, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, destroyed five fighting positions and damaged a fighting position. -- On Aug. 5, near Raqqa, Syria, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions and a heavy machine gun. -- On Aug. 5, near Tal Afar, Iraq, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed two vehicle-borne-bomb facilities and damaged a supply route. 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 On Third Anniversary of ISIS Fight, 5 Million are Free from Terrorist Army By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2017 Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the U.S.-led coalition air campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, during which millions of people have been freed from ISIS control, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said today. Briefing the Pentagon press corps, Davis said the air campaign was a response to a terrorist army that came seemingly out of nowhere and emerged as one of the most well-funded, fastest-growing and most capable terrorist networks anywhere in the world. "On Aug. 8, 2014, two FA-18 [Super Hornet] jets launched from the USS George W. Bush in the [Persian] Gulf and dropped the first 500-pound laser-guided bombs on fighters near Irbil," Iraq," Davis said. ISIS was more than just an insurgency, he added. They were capable of holding 40,000 square miles of territory and able to launch external attacks in Europe and the United States. At one point they held an area the size of Ohio, Davis said, "and 8 million people were being ruthlessly held captive by their rule, living in misery, many fleeing their homes, many forced into refugee status, many forced into slavery. And we saw their depravity in videos that they posted on YouTube." Although 5 million people are now liberated from ISIS control, ISIS still presents a great threat, he said. "We know that they continue to murder and wound innocent people -- using them as human shields and displacing families into refugees. And we know that they're spreading to other places. We've seen their attacks in Europe [and] we've seen their influence shift into places like Afghanistan, Mali, and now even the Philippines." Defeat-ISIS Coalition In the three years since that first air strike, Davis noted, "we've worked very methodically over time with our defeat-ISIS coalition, and ISIS' control has been reduced significantly." In Iraq, about 70 percent of the territory ISIS once held is now liberated. In Syria, 50 percent of the territory they once held is liberated, and ISIS has not retaken one inch of territory liberated by the coalition, Davis said. "This includes places where external operations were [being] hatched and that served as hubs for the flow of foreign fighters in and terrorists out. Places like Manbij, and now Raqqa, their capital in Syria, which is surrounded and collapsing quickly," he added, noting that all was done with the cooperation of a large coalition. The coalition now includes 73 partners -- 69 nations plus the European Union, NATO, the Arab League and Interpol, he said. "The coalition is progressing and ISIS is facing its inevitable defeat. We will win and they will lose. Our campaign against ISIS has been done with the utmost care to minimize civilian casualties," Davis said, adding that although this campaign has been the most precise in the history of warfare, "Civilians do die in war and that's a sad truth. "But the 5 million innocent people liberated from ISIS would still be living under that brutality and the death toll would be even higher but for our efforts against ISIS," he said. Syria and Iraq In Raqqa today it is day 64 of Syria operations, Davis said. "Yesterday the [Syrian Democratic Forces] liberated about a square kilometer of terrain in Raqqa, continuing to work on the three axes that we've talked about before -- west, east and south. "And the east-west deconfliction line south of the Euphrates is holding as regime forces remain south and SDF forces remain north of that agreed-upon line," Davis added. Over the weekend strikes were conducted in Abu Kamal, Shaddadi, Dar Azar and Raqqa. The 24 strikes included 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 30 fighting positions, two vehicles, two command-and-control nodes, two mortar systems, a tunnel, a heavy machine gun, an improvised explosive device facility and a vehicle-borne-bomb facility and damaged six fighting positions, he said. "Meanwhile in Iraq, hold forces are in place in Mosul. This is a combination of Iraqi forces including the Federal Police, the 16th Iraqi Army Division, and [Counter Terrorism Service] battalions that remain in east and west Mosul and continue to assess security requirements," Davis said. The coalition continues to support the [Iraqis] as they reset and prepare for follow-on operations in Tal Afar, he said, "which is effectively surrounded at this point and we'll continue to see that tighten as time goes on." More strikes took place over the weekend in Huwayjah, Kisik, Rawah and Tal Afar, Davis said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MV-22 Osprey Goes Down Off Australian Coast, 3 Personnel Missing By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2017 An MV-22 Osprey aircraft went down Aug. 5 in water off the eastern coast of Australia with 26 personnel aboard, Pentagon Defense Press Operations director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today. Recovery efforts continue for three missing service members after 23 of the personnel aboard the Osprey were rescued, Davis said. The Osprey was assigned to Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 265, which was operating with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, he added. "The aircraft was conducting regularly scheduled operations when it hit the water," Davis said, noting that the circumstances are under investigation. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is operating with the USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group as part of a regularly scheduled deployment in the region, he said. "We thank the Australian Defense Force [and] in particular, the crew of the HMAS Melville for their assistance in the search and recovery effort," Davis said. "The Royal Australian Navy clearance diving team completed an embark aboard the HMAS Melville on Aug. 7. The dive team plans to commence recovery operations using a remote-operated vehicle this evening." The location of the aircraft was found yesterday by the hydrographic survey vessel HMAS Melville, he said. "The Australian forces volunteered their help before we could even ask, demonstrating the deep ties and enduring nature of the alliance between our two countries, and the crew of the Melville," Davis said. "Their assets have been invaluable in the recovery effort." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DoD Cracks Down on Use of Drones Over Installations By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2017 The increased use of commercial and privately owned small unmanned aircraft systems has raised Defense Department concerns for the safety and security of its installations, its aviation and its people, a Pentagon spokesman told reporters today. Guidance was sent Aug. 4 to the services and to installations about the use of small unmanned aircraft systems -- commonly called drones -- over and around military installations in the United States, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said. Public Guidance The new guidance specifies how DoD will interact with local communities about UAS restrictions on and near military installations, Davis said, adding that it follows classified guidance that was provided to the services and installations in early July. "Protecting our force remains a top priority, and that's why DoD issued the specific, but classified policy developed with the Federal Aviation Administration and our interagency partners that details how DoD personnel may counter the unmanned aircraft threat," he said. FAA Regulates UAS Activities All UAS activities within the United States must follow appropriate FAA regulations and guidelines, Davis said, noting that UAS activity outside FAA rules and guidelines is considered "unauthorized activity." Specific guidelines on the proper use of drones are listed on the FAA website, he pointed out. "We support civilian law enforcement investigations in the prosecution of unauthorized UAS operations over military installations," Davis said, "and though we do not discuss specific force-protection measures, we of course retain the right of self-defense. And when it comes to UAS or drones operating over military installations, this new guidance does afford us the ability to take action to stop those threats." Davis said such action includes tracking, disabling and destroying drones, depending on circumstance and the type of installation where UAS activity is detected. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address From Georgia to Georgia: National Guard Engineers train half a world away By Capt. William Carraway August 7, 2017 VAZIANI, Georgia -- Less than one year ago, Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers of the Swainsboro-based 810th Engineer Company (Sapper) were conducting debris clearance operations in the coastal counties of the state of Georgia in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Now, those same engineers are half a world away supporting the armed forces of the country of Georgia with combat engineer training as part of Exercise Noble Partner 17. "We will be at this location for several days conducting blank and live fire," said Capt. Christopher Butler, commander of the 810th. "Our training will progress into (demolitions)." For nearly 10 days, the combat engineers will live in tents pitched on the dry grassy side of a mountain in a remote rocky section of the Vaziani Training Area. During that time, the engineers will train with a company of engineers from the Georgian Armed Forces on tasks such as range operations, obstacle emplacement and removal. Noble Partner 2017 is the third iteration of the Noble Partner series of exercises. The exercise will be held in Vaziani and Camp Norio training areas in Georgia for the first two weeks of August. The purpose of the exercise is to support Georgia's training of a second light infantry company contribution to the NATO Response Force. For many Soldiers, like Sgt. Maurice Taylor of Waycross and Pfc. Jalin Anderson of Augusta, this is their first experience as part of an overseas mission. "It has been a lot of good training," said Taylor. Anderson agreed, citing the opportunity to travel and experience new cultures while training in a new environment. Brigadier General Tom Blackstock, commander of the 78th Troop Command, visited the combat engineers at Vaziani as they began construction of a small arms range. A sapper himself, Blackstock shared memories of past mobilizations and exercises as commander of the 265th Engineer Group and 648th Engineer Battalion (Sapper). Blackstock also recognized two Soldiers with challenge coins for excellent service. Cpl. Andrew Fergine and Sgt. Caleb Taylor were recommended by Capt. Butler for their contributions to the unit. "Sgt. Andrew Fergine was on the advanced party," said Butler. "He was a game changer." Butler noted that Taylor was an outstanding NCO who had gone above and beyond expectations. In addition to the engineers of the 810th, Georgia Army National Guard members of the Marietta-based Company H, 121st Infantry (Long Range Surveillance) and 165th Quartermaster are participating in Noble Partner 2017 along with aviators and crews of the Savannah-based 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard. They are part of a multinational involvement that includes units from U.S. Army Europe as well as service members and equipment from Germany, Armenia, United Kingdom, Turkey and Slovenia. Nearly 3,000 Soldiers will contribute to the exercise. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The defining role of the National Guard in WWI By National Guard Bureau Historical Services August 7, 2017 ARLINGTON, Va. -- Over 100 years ago, on August 5, 1917, the entire National Guard was drafted into U.S. Army service for World War I. This represented the culmination of several steps declared by President Woodrow Wilson that would mobilize the National Guard into the "Great War" and which sent troops into Europe for the first time. This act stands among a series of laws and military decisions in the early 20th century that resulted in the transformation of the National Guard from a traditionally local military organization into professional military force. A little over a year earlier, the National Defense Act of 1916 introduced the modern integration of National Guard Soldiers as an element of the United States Army. It required that Guard members in federal service would serve in the U.S. Army uniform and train to federal standards, in addition to other measures designed to improve readiness and efficiency. However, the 1916 Act did not authorize the transportation of federalized National Guard troops to a foreign country. The Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army ruled that the Guard could only be used domestically, owing to the Militia Clause of the U.S. Constitution that only allowed the National Guard in federal status to "execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrection and repel invasions." This phrase alone deemed necessary the draft action. The mobilization order of June 18, 1916, that ordered the Guard to the Mexican border represented the second milestone among the changes in national defense strategy. It demonstrated the power of the National Guard as the country's principal reserve force for the U.S. Army to be mobilized in a declared national emergency. This gradual evolution of legal precedents allowed the Army ample opportunity to make corrective action and improve the deployment process. Heightened national security concerns earlier in 1917 allowed the National Guard's mobilization to move forward after the draft order of August 5. The draft's impact was immediate. On June 30, 1917, the Regular Army consisted of 250,357 officers and enlisted men. By August 5, 1917, through means of incremental federalization of state National Guards and the draft order, 379,323 officers and enlisted men of the National Guard were drafted into the federal service. With one pen's stroke, the Operations Department within the Office of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army more than doubled the size of the Army. The National Guard's presence proved essential to raise the significantly larger fighting force, and it added the element of experience through its training completed in the four southwest border states during 1916 - 1917. Legal considerations remained paramount in this time of war. Statutes and laws regulated the operations of the militia from its very beginning in colonial New England. Thus, the draft order only continued the tradition of commitment to rightful principles administered under these conditions. On July 18, 1917, War Department General Order 95 established the first 16 National Guard divisions. A few weeks later after the draft order, the 42nd "Rainbow" Division mustered. From August 5th throughout the remainder of 1917, these units traveled to their respective training across the country to prepare for the voyage to Europe and the fight against the Central Powers. The settlement of legal and administrative matters allowed the federal government to assemble and accelerate the development of a National Army, and federal priorities turned to the training and the assembly of a highly effective fighting force. The German Empire proved every bit a formidable opponent, but the presence of the National Guard and the cumulative services proved decisive for the Allies. After the war's combat phase ended on Nov. 11, 1918, the German High Command's appraisal of American combat divisions assessed that eight divisions' effectiveness earned ratings of "superior to excellent." Among those eight, six were National Guard divisions. The Guard's highly effective success proved critical in the victory of Allied forces in their grueling months in the "War to End All Wars." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Carderock, DOE Collaborate on Advanced Wave Energy Conversion Tests Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170807-02 Release Date: 8/7/2017 10:03:00 AM By Dustin Q. Diaz, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division WEST BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division engineers worked with partners from Sandia National Laboratories to test new control strategies for producing, converting and gathering wave energy in the command's Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin in West Bethesda, Maryland, July 24 through Aug. 4. The combined engineering team members are testing a 1-ton wave energy converter (WEC) in the MASK with a focus on control to increase energy generation, according to Ryan Coe, a research engineer with Sandia's Albuquerque, New Mexico, facility. "The whole purpose of this project and this test is to try to increase the amount of electrical energy that these wave energy converters generate and collect," Coe said. "We're looking at how to control the dynamics of the device and the device itself in a way to increase energy capture and increase the efficiency of the device." Coe and colleagues from Sandia, a multi-mission laboratory contracted to support the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration, previously worked with Miguel Quintero and other ocean engineers at Carderock to test a WEC in winter 2016 in the MASK, Carderock's indoor ocean and ship-model testing facility. In the year since, Coe said they've analyzed the data collected, designed new testing models and improved the hardware to implement advanced new controls. "This device can move in three degrees of freedom: it can move in heave, surge, and pitch; so it's basically all the motions in a single plane," Coe said. "It can move all over the place and we're able to collect energy in all those degrees of freedom. "What that allows us to do is simulate a really wide range of different WECs and study those degrees of freedom separately and in conjunction with each other. We're now able to take the industry standard for WECs and apply a more complex, more optimal controller and as much as double the amount of power these devices produce in most sea states." Quintero and Carderock colleagues like Dave Newborn have shared knowledge with DOE partners like Sandia and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on large-scale wave energy conversion projects like this both during the previous test and during last year's Wave Energy Prize contest, which was a public prize competition that involved nine different WEC tests in the MASK over just 10 weeks. A self-described "waves guy," Quintero said this knowledge share has been a great opportunity for all parties to learn and benefit from the collaboration. "We've built a large dedicated structure for these tests and mounted the WEC on it, which is different from the method we usually use," Quintero said. "We'll use controllers for rudders, props and wavemaking, but with the way they're implementing it, the methodology is a little different. It's beneficial for all of us to learn how to test a device like this in different situations. Sandia brings a lot of knowledge and expertise on how to do this, and we can share in it and have that knowledge to do similar tests in the future, even when they aren't here." Giorgio Bacelli, another research engineer with Sandia, said he, Coe and Kevin Dullea, an engineer from Sandia's robotics department who built the new WEC, bring different techniques used in technologies like electronic systems, mobile phones and aerospace engineering to complement Carderock's background in ocean engineering and draw more energy from the converter. He compared these advanced power strategies to the process of swinging on a child's swing - putting energy in to gain more in return and managing that process. "This is a substantially different problem than trying to control the route of a ship free-floating in the ocean's waves," Bacelli said. "We've developed a method of testing that runs in short periodic waves that repeat multiple times. This allows us to quickly sweep through the control system's parameters and see a response. So far, taking a different approach and bringing in tools that have been used for rockets, robots and radio tuners has been giving good results." Coe said Sandia and DOE are looking at wave energy and other renewable energy sources to eventually power the continental U.S. electrical grid, and in the meantime, such development provides economic boosts in the form of new jobs required to install and develop technologies like WECs. But it also has applications that can directly benefit Navy and Marine Corps warfighters. "The Navy and the Marines operate in the ocean and they need energy to do so, just like the U.S. power grid does," Coe said. "Further down the line, there's a possibility that a WEC might serve to power a naval off-shore base, an autonomous system or something else along those lines and provide greater operational capacity, similar to the flexibility a solar panel will give you today." DOE officials including Alejandro Moreno, director for the Water Power Technologies Office in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, visited the MASK Aug. 2 to see the test first-hand. This was the second of three rounds of testing Sandia plans to hold in the MASK, according to Coe, with the final and most technically advanced round set to take place later in the year. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, a part of Naval Sea Systems Command, leads the Navy in hull, mechanical and electrical engineering. Headquartered in West Bethesda, Maryland, Carderock Division employs approximately 2,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and support personnel and includes detachments in Norfolk, Virginia (Little Creek); Port Canaveral, Florida; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; Bangor, Washington; Ketchikan, Alaska; and Bayview, Idaho. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Preble Sailors Conduct Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Exercise Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170807-22 Release Date: 8/7/2017 1:59:00 PM By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Morgan K. Nall, Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- More than 20 Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) conducted a visit, board, search and seizure exercise, Aug. 3, off the coast of southern California. The VBSS exercise, conducted with civilians playing the role of a compliant merchant vessel, was meant to test the skills of the crew and their ability to work together to ensure the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. "There are many members of the crew that need to know how to maneuver the ship in order to support us," said Chief Operations Specialist Alan K. Hudnall, VBSS boarding officer. "We had a lot of good communication between the Preble and the VBSS team, including where and when to move and exchanging information." The exercise provided a learning opportunity for both the VBSS members and Preble Sailors to see what aspects went well, and which areas can be improved in the future. "Our code words, call signs, movements and security sweeps were executed in the way they were supposed to and we did all of the basics right," said Hudnall. "We did a great job ensuring the compliant boarding situation did not escalate unnecessarily." For a few members of the VBSS team, this was their first exercise. "We worked cohesively as a team and were able to predict each other's movements a lot," said Yeoman (Submarine) 2nd Class Forrest R. Jones, VBSS team member. "Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Joshua Hardin really stepped up as a member of the team, even though it was his first time boarding." During the VBSS exercise, two teams from Preble boarded the merchant vessel and conducted an open-ended question investigation to verify the identity and operations of the ship. The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is conducting its final pre-deployment evaluation to ensure safe and effective coordination within the strike group to achieve mission readiness and the ability to effectively execute the Navy's maritime strategy. Following the successful completion of Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), the TRCSG will conduct worldwide operations in its upcoming deployment. TRSG is comprised of Carrier Strike Group 9 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 staff, aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, DESRON 23 ships USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Higgins (DDG 76), Preble and USS Sampson (DDG 102), as well as guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Patrol Squadron 16 Returns from Sea Breeze Exercise in Odessa, Ukraine Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170807-21 Release Date: 8/7/2017 1:58:00 PM By Lt. Eric Scott and Lt. j.g. Nicholas Senecal, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs SIGONELLA, Italy (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 returned July 23, 2017 from a 10-day detachment to Odessa, Ukraine, where they participated in exercise Sea Breeze 2017. The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) also participated in the exercise. Sea Breeze is a multinational exercise centered on enhancing partnerships in the Black Sea region. The primary focus areas of this year's exercise for the P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) and its crew included conducting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime domain awareness (MDA) exercises as well as enhancing interoperability with Black Sea partner nations. The "War Eagles" of VP-16 conducted coordinated ASW flights with ships and aircraft from Georgia, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States to improve working relationships with members of the maritime patrol community. The mission commander for the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, Lt. Eric Scott, credited the success of the det. to the common bond shared between members of the maritime patrol community. "It doesn't matter what aircraft you fly, or what country you are from," said Scott. "We all fly the same missions, in the same region, with the same goals." This year's Sea Breeze exercise marked the first time the Poseidon aircraft had landed in Ukraine, operating out of Odessa International Airport. During the 10 days of the exercise, the aircraft flew six separate missions and showcased the capabilities of its crew and sensors. In addition, the exercise provided opportunities for members of both the host nation, and our own Sailors, to learn from each other and forge long lasting, enduring relationships. QUICK FACTS: - This detachment marks the first time that the P-8A Poseidon aircraft has operated out of Odessa, Ukraine. - VP-16 is the second P-8A squadron to deploy to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. - VP-16 is homeported out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. - VP-16 is deployed to Commander, Task Force 67 out of Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. - VP-16 is in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation in support of U.S National security interests in Europe and Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VP-16 Participates in U.S. 6th Fleet Expeditionary Ordnance Loading Event in Rota Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170807-11 Release Date: 8/7/2017 11:31:00 AM By Lt j.g. Nicholas Senecal Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 Public Affairs NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 participated in an expeditionary ordnance loading exercise at Naval Station Rota, Spain, July 23, 2017. During the exercise, an ordnance-loading team from VP-16, with specialized equipment, was transported from Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, to Naval Station Rota aboard a U.S. Navy C-130 Hercules. The team then loaded an inert Mark 54 recoverable exercise torpedo onto a P-8A Poseidon aircraft, practicing the Navy's capability to move equipment and personnel to locations that do not have the established infrastructure to support ordnance loading operations. "I'm extremely proud of the improvisation and flexibility our team showed in making the P-8A Poseidon expeditionary loading concept a reality," said Capt. Bill Ellis, commander, Task Force 67. "I look forward to pushing the concept further at other air fields throughout the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in the near future." Quick Facts: Expeditionary ordnance loading exercises enhance the U.S. Navy's capability in loading ordnance in austere locations, improving the fleet's capability to conduct operations in support of maritime and regional security. This is the fourth in a series of inert expeditionary weapons loading events planned this year in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. Both Naval Station Sigonella and Naval Station Rota support U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, U.S. 6th Fleet and combatant command strategic priorities by providing airfield and port facilities, security force protection, logistical support, administrative support and emergency services to all U.S. and NATO forces. VP-16 is homeported out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. VP-16 is deployed to Commander, Task Force 67 out of Naval Air Station Sigonella. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of Joint and Naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Seabees Break Ground on Maritime Operations Center in Ukraine Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170807-03 Release Date: 8/7/2017 10:11:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brannon Deugan Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 Public Affairs NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- Seabees held a groundbreaking ceremony for a maritime operations center on Ochakiv Naval Base, Ukraine, July 25. The Seabees, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, have been in Ochakiv since April to establish contracts, obtain construction permits, and perform other logistical necessities needed for long term sustainment of the maritime operations center project. The maritime operations center is one of three projects that are currently planned to be executed by the Seabees in Ochakiv and will serve as a major planning and operational hub during future military exercises hosted by Ukraine. "Beginning construction in Ukraine is a significant accomplishment for NMCB 1," said Lt. j.g. Jason McGee, officer in charge of Det. Ukraine. "Our ability to maximize European reassurance initiatives in Ukraine holds strategic importance, and will ultimately improve host nation defense capacity and infrastructure, strengthen relations, and increase bilateral training capabilities." Maritime operations centers are the operational-level warfare command and control organizations designed to deliver flexible maritime capabilities throughout the full range of military operations. Maritime operations centers support fleet management and the execution of operational responsibilities by providing commanders with flexible, tailored, and scalable staff and processes to make mission-critical decisions and enhance maritime capabilities. Other future Seabee projects in Ochakiv include a boat maintenance facility and entry control points with perimeter fencing. "These projects have been in waiting for many years and to see them come to fruition is a major accomplishment for Seabees, and who better to lead the way than 'the first and finest,'" said McGee. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DJI not consulted about US Army's decision to ban its drones People's Daily Online (People's Daily Online) 17:10, August 07, 2017 DJI responded US Army's ban on using its drones due to cyber vulnerabilities on Sunday, saying they were not consulted during the decision and are still trying to reach out to U.S. Army about these so-called "cyber vulnerabilities." DJI is the world's largest manufacturer of civilian drones and is based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. A spokesperson for the company said they are willing to work with the U.S. military and other organizations to assess possible security issues. "We are surprised and disappointed to read reports of the U.S. Army's unprompted restriction on DJI drones as we were not consulted during their decision. We are happy to work directly with any organization, including the U.S. Army, that has concerns about our management of cyber issues," he said. The U.S. Army released a memo on Aug. 5 ordering service members to cease all use of DJI products due to unspecified "operational risks," noting that the drones are the Army's "most widely used non-program of record commercial off-the-shelf UAS," said United Press International. DJI said there was still no response from the U.S. Army. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, ASEAN agree to build higher level of strategic partnership People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:10, August 07, 2017 China and ASEAN nations on Sunday expressed satisfaction with the achievements made in their strategic partnership during the last 15 years and agreed to further enhance cooperation. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) made the pledge at a meeting in Manila. Wang congratulated ASEAN for its 50th anniversary, saying China is happy for ASEAN's development and achievements while expressing best wishes for ASEAN's better and faster development in the next 50 years. As an important regional organization, ASEAN has become a major force in promoting regional integration and maintaining regional peace and stability, Wang said. China has always taken ASEAN as a priority in its foreign diplomacy and has always supported ASEAN in taking a central role in regional cooperation and a bigger role in dealing with international and regional affairs, Wang said. As China and ASEAN celebrate the 15th anniversary of strategic partnership next year, both sides are also facing a critical point to bring the ties to a higher level, Wang said, calling for future actions to build a higher level China-ASEAN strategic partnership and a closer community of common destiny of China and ASEAN. Wang outlined a seven-point proposal on future China-ASEAN cooperation put forward by the Chinese side. First, to formulate a 2030 Vision for China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership as a blueprint to guide future relations. Second, to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, and further expand the scope and dimension for bilateral cooperation. Third, to designate 2018 as China-ASEAN Year of Innovation, give full play to the complementarity of innovation-driven development of China and innovation-driven growth of ASEAN, and launch the upgrading of China-ASEAN cooperation. Fourth, to accelerate the implementation of the outcomes on upgrading China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and jointly safeguard the global free trade regime. Fifth, to fully implement the China-ASEAN Joint Statement on Production Capacity Cooperation and boost each other's industrialization process. Sixth, to build new pillars for people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, ensure the success of the China-ASEAN Tourism Cooperation Year, and issue a joint statement on tourism cooperation so as to consolidate public support and social foundation for bilateral relations. Seventh, to expedite negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and lead the process of regional integration together. Foreign ministers of ASEAN nations congratulated China on the success of the recent Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, thanked China for its support on ASEAN's community building, recognized the positive progress of ASEAN-China ties in the past year and agreed with the depth and achievements of the China-ASEAN relations. The foreign ministers also expressed the anticipation that as China and ASEAN celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership next year, the two sides would strengthen strategic synergy, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, innovation, connectivity, tourism and other areas so as to bring the strategic partnership to a new level. On the South China Sea disputes, the foreign ministers fully acknowledged the positive momentum in the past year, welcomed the approval of the framework of the Code of Conduct (COC), and looked forward to further consultations on the COC under the framework of a full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Before the meeting, 10+1 foreign ministers also signed the amended version of the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing China-ASEAN Center. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daesh fires several rockets into Lebanon, army shells terrorists' positions Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 5:56PM The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has reportedly fired seven Grad rockets into the Lebanese territories from a militant-held enclave on the Syria-Lebanon border. A Lebanese security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, further said that the attack had been carried out on Monday, without causing any casualties. The source also said that the rockets fell in the vicinity of al-Qaa town, in Baalbek-Hermel province, and prompted the Lebanese army to respond by shelling Daesh positions in the nearby hills. The development came as the Lebanese army has intensified its shelling of Daesh posts in recent days amid reports that it is set to launch an operation aimed at purging the Takfiris out of the border region with Syria. The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement formally announced an end to its security operation around border town of Arsal against members of the foreign-sponsored and Takfiri Jabhat Fateh al-Sham previously known as the Nusra Front militant group. Hezbollah launched a major push on July 21 to clear both sides of Lebanon's border with Syria of "armed terrorists." Hezbollah fighters have fended off several Daesh attacks inside Lebanon. They have also been providing assistance to Syrian army forces to counter the ongoing foreign-sponsored militancy. On Friday, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that the next phase of the battle with terrorists would be aimed at eliminating the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the border areas between Lebanon and Syria. He also asserted that Hezbollah fighters were backed by the Syrian army in their battle with Takfiris. Israel, which continues to occupy Lebanon's Shebaa Farms and Syria's Golan Heights, is widely reported to be offering medical help to Takfiri terrorists injured in Syria. In December 2015, British newspaper, the Daily Mail, said Israel had saved the lives of more than 2,000 Takfiri militants since 2013. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security forces kill at least 14 separatists in DR Congo Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 4:37PM At least 14 members of separatist sect Bundu dia Kongo (BDK) have been killed in a series of violent clashes with Congolese security forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Police spokesman Pierrot Mwanamputu said in a statement that separatists were killed during clashes in the capital Kinshasa and the southwestern town of Matadi on Monday. According to the statement, at least 12 BDK assailants in Kinshasa were killed by "stray bullets" fired by security forces to disperse them. The attackers, who were armed with calibre-12 rifles and bladed weapons, also killed one policeman. A witness told Reuters that assailants wearing red headbands characteristic of BDK members staged the attack on the high-security Makala prison in the capital but did not make it past the front door. "We woke up to the deafening noise of gunshots." He said he had seen police and soldiers gather several bodies outside the prison walls. Two other BDK members were killed in Matadi, where three police officers were also injured, he added. This came after BDK leader Ne Muanda Nsemi, who escaped from prison in May, called on his supporters to rise up this Monday against President Joseph Kabila. Nsemi was arrested in March following clashes between his supporters and police. The militia aims to revive the pre-colonial Congo kingdom, which thrived for centuries around the mouth of the Congo River. The latest clashes also followed an attack by BDK members on Kinshasa's main prison and demonstrations by other members against Kabila in Kinshasa, Matadi and the southwestern city of Boma. BDK demonstrators on Monday held signs that read, "Rwanda for Rwandans. Congo for Congolese. Get out, Kanambe," using a slur to refer to Kabila, whom Nsemi accuses of being Rwandan. A series of large-scale prison breaks across Congo has aggravated widespread insecurity across the vast central African country over the past few months. Militia violence in Congo, a tinderbox of conflicts, is linked to land, ethnicity and mineral resources. The wave of violence has been exacerbated by Kabila's failure to step down when his constitutional mandate expired in December. Kabila's presidential term expired on December 19, 2016, but ruling officials have effectively prolonged his mandate until 2018, claiming that the government would not be able to arrange elections before then. Joseph Kabila has run one of the world's least developed countries since the 2001 assassination of his father Laurent. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US military relearns Cold War tactics amid Russia tensions Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 10:33AM The United States Army is planning to prepare for possible conflicts with Russia by relearning the tactics it used to deter the Soviet Union's armed forces in the Cold War, a new report has revealed. After spending more than a decade fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the US Army is now turning its attention to Eastern Europe, where tensions between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance have been running high, The New York Times reported Sunday. American commanders want their forces to forget about the large, secure bases they used to operate from in Iraq and Afghanistan and instead get adapted to the region's different terrain. This would require the troops to practice using camouflage netting to disguise their positions and dispersing into smaller groups to avoid sophisticated surveillance drones. Apart from that, hundreds of desert-tan battle tanks and armored military vehicles must be repainted dark green to blend into European terrain. Unlike Iraq and Afghanistan, where the soldiers were allowed to move freely both on the ground and in the air, Europe's strict laws for all things military means they will be required to coordinate their every single step with local authorities. Recently, Austrian border agents stopped an American Army supply convoy rushing ammunition from Germany to Romania for three days due to restrictions for military convoys during busy summer vacation travel periods. Last month, 25,000 American and allied forces from three former Warsaw Pact countries Hungary, Romania and Bulgariatook part in a military exercise in Bulgaria, rehearsing old tactics including nighttime aerial assaults by hundreds of paratroopers. "We have to figure out how to adapt to this new environment," said Colonel Clair A. Gill, who commands the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, which flies different helicopters such as Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook. "I don't think we're there yet." The development comes amid heightened tensions on Russia's western borders, following a growing military buildup by the US-led NATO alliance. The US and its allies have been deploying weapons and equipments to NATO's eastern frontier since 2014, after the Crimean Peninsula's reintegration with Russia in a referendum. Russia, in response, has deployed troops and nuclear missiles on its borders and stepped up military drills in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey, Qatar wrap up joint military drill Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 10:14AM The Turkish and Qatari militaries have wrapped up a joint exercise, flaunting the two sides' alliance in the face of a Saudi-led onslaught targeting Doha. The maneuvers that began on Sunday were aimed at preparing Qatar's Armed Forces to defend "vital economic, strategic, and infrastructure facilities," state-owned Qatari newspaper al-Sharq said. On July 31, the two sides held joint naval drills spanning two Qatari ports, and featuring the Turkish Navy's TCG Gokova Frigate. The militaries then played out a ground leg for the drills, which enlisted more than 250 Turkish troops and 30 armored vehicles. Turkey took Qatar's side after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates cut their diplomatic ties and transport links with the emirate on June 5, accusing it of "terror" support. Doha rejects the claim. Turkey started shipping food to the tiny kingdom after the crisis began, and is pushing through legislation to allow deployment of hundreds of reinforcements to a base it runs on the Qatari soil. Ankara has said it will deploy 3,000 ground troops at the base to serve as a venue for joint training exercises and to support anti-terrorism efforts. The quartet have asked Doha to close down the base, limit its Iran ties, and also shut down its Al Jazeera broadcaster. Iran likewise stood by Qatar during the crisis and provided it with food supplies. Ankara and Tehran have, meanwhile, laid emphasis on the need for negotiation as a means of resolving the contention. The Saudi-led bloc says Qatar has to meet the demands before any dialog could go underway on potential resolution of the crisis. Doha says the bloc has to first lift the blockade and rejects the demand to close down the base and restrict relations with the Islamic Republic as interference in its internal affairs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ASEAN leaders call for 'non-militarization' in South China Sea Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 10:1AM In a joint communique, leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called for "non-militarization" and "self-restraint" in the South China Sea, without making a direct reference to Beijing's role in the disputed waters. The 10 ASEAN foreign ministers issued the communique at the 50th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in the Philippines capital, Manila with a one-day delay late Sunday evening. The 46-page text said some members of the block voiced concerns about "activities in the area which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tension and may undermine peace, security and stability." It also "emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint." Diplomats said the group failed to issue its statement on Saturday amid disagreements about whether to make oblique references to China's rapid expansion of power in the region. Vietnam, which has overlapping sovereignty claims with China to the sea, had pushed for stronger language despite opposition from many of the ministers, according to a diplomat. The agreed text takes a stronger stance against China than an earlier unpublished draft, which was a watered-down version of the once issued last year in Laos, according to the diplomatic sources. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, most of the regional group's members, including Vietnam and Malaysia, have also competing claims to the waters, which are rich in oil and gas. Meanwhile, ASEAN foreign ministers and China also adopted a negotiating framework for a "code of conduct" in the disputed waters of South China Sea on Sunday. The ASEAN states also agreed to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's proposed three-step process, involving officially adopting the framework, holding consultations in August and announcing the start of the formal talks in November. Wang said the adoption of the framework created a foundation for negotiations that could start this year if "the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable and on the premise that there is no major interference from outside parties." By "outside parties," Wang was referring to the US, which is routinely accused by Beijing of interfering in territorial disputes between China and its neighboring rivals, including in the South China Sea. Beijing says Washington sparks unnecessary tensions by meddling in the disputes and siding with China's rivals. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Militants brutally kill up to 50 civilians in Shia Afghan village: Reports Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 5:50AM Militants have massacred dozens of civilians, mostly Shia Hazaras, in "a brutal, inhumane way" after attacking a village in a remote area of Afghanistan's northern province of Sar-e Pul, officials and locals say. The militants, whose identity was not immediately known, raided a security outpost in the Mirzawalang area of Sayaad District in Sar-e Pul overnight Sunday, said Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor. Amani said the assailants were a mixed group of Taliban and Takfiri Daesh militants, and that there were foreign nationals among them. During the raid, the militants set fire to several mosques, torched at least 30 houses, beheaded a number of villagers and shot dozens of others dead, other officials said. The carnage occurred "in the province's predominately Shia village of Mirzawalang after insurgents captured it on Saturday," said Sar-e Pul Governor Mohammad Zaher Wahdat. He added that "as many as 30 to 40 innocent people... were brutally shot and killed" in the raid; however, local elders in the village put the number of civilian victims at around 50. Up to seven Afghan security forces were also killed and dozens of civilians were taken hostage by the militants. No group has claimed responsibility for the carnage, which happened in the same area where the Taliban militant group had earlier claimed a victory against the Afghan army. Following the civilian deaths, Taliban said in a statement that they had gained control of the Mirzawalang village, but dismissed reports of the massacre, calling it "hollow propaganda by the enemy." Najib Danish, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry also said, "Fierce fighting continued in Sar-e-Pul over the past two days, unfortunately civilians and military personnel have sustained casualties during the battles." President Ashraf Ghani condemned the massacre, saying, "This barbaric act of them (militants) is deemed a direct violation of human rights and a war crime." "Criminal terrorists have once again killed civilians, women and children in Sayad district of Sar-e Pul Province, adding to their crimes," said the president. A senior government official in the capital, Kabul, said the army has sent more security forces and military equipment, including Air Force attack aircraft, to the area. Afghanistan is still grappling with violence well over a decade after the US and its allies invaded the country as part of the so-called war on terror. The invasion removed the Taliban from power, but has failed to stop the militancy. Taking advantage of the chaos, the Daesh terror group, which is mainly based in the Middle East, has managed to establish a foothold in the eastern Province of Nangarhar. Hundreds of people, including women and children, have fled the recent wave of violence fueled by Daesh terrorists in Nangarhar to take refuge in the provincial capital Jalalabad. Some 1,500 internally-displaced people have gathered in an unfinished university building on the outskirts of Jalalabad. Most of them are from Nangarhar's Achin and Haska Meyna districts, which have been the scene of heavy clashes between army forces and Daesh militants. One of the refugees said Daesh militants "brutally attacked civilians. Afghanistan National Army and foreign forces came to the battlefield. Then the US used the mother of all bombs in our village." Another displaced Afghan also described how "everything is destroyed by shells and drone aircraft. We have nothing now." Back in April, the US dropped the largest non-nuclear ordnance in the American arsenal on Achin, killing at least 90 reported militants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian Forces Kill 5 Militants Attempting to Cross Border in Kashmir Region Sputnik News 20:29 07.08.2017 Indian Army's Northern Command said that Indian armed forces killed five militants who tried to cross the Pakistani-Indian border in the disputed area of Kashmir. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Indian armed forces killed five militants who tried to cross the Pakistani-Indian border in the disputed area of Kashmir, Indian Army's Northern Command said on Monday. "Infiltration bid foiled in Machhil Sector (Kupwara [district]). Five armed intruders killed. Ops in progress," the command wrote on Twitter. The Jammu and Kashmir region has been disputed by India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Following several armed conflicts, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in 2003. Since then, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce. The unstable situation in the region led to the emergence of extremist groups. A significant escalation of tensions in the region occurred in July 2016 after Indian security forces killed Burhan Wani, the leader of a separatist group. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Significant Accomplishment': US Starts Building Major Naval Facility in Ukraine Sputnik News 18:20 07.08.2017 The US Navy has kicked off the construction of a major maritime operations center in Ukraine, which will serve as a major planning and operation hub during future military drills hosted by the country. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The United States has begun constructing a maritime operations center at the Ochakov Naval Base in Ukraine, the US Navy said in a statement on Monday. "Seabees held a groundbreaking ceremony for a maritime operations center on Ochakov Naval Base, Ukraine, July 25," the Navy said in the statement, referring to the US Naval Construction Battalions, known as Seabees. The Seabees arrived in Ochakov in April to establish contracts, obtain construction permits and perform other logistical tasks for the maritime operations center project. The center, which is one of three projects that the Seabees will execute in Ochakov, will serve as a major planning and operation hub during future military drills hosted by Ukraine, the Navy said. "Beginning construction in Ukraine is a significant accomplishment," said Lt. j.g. [junior grade] Jason McGee, officer in charge of Det. Ukraine. "Our ability to maximize European reassurance initiatives in Ukraine holds strategic importance, and will ultimately improve host nation defense capacity and infrastructure, strengthen relations and increase bilateral training capabilities." In addition to building the operations center, the Seabees will also build a boat maintenance facility and entry control points with perimeter fencing at Ochakov. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BALTRON Navy Military Drills Kick Off in Baltic Sea - Lithuanian MoD Sputnik News 13:07 07.08.2017 Lithuanian Defense Ministry stated that annual Baltic Naval Squadron naval military drills involving warships from Lithuania, Latvia and Germany are scheduled to begin in the Baltic Sea on Monday. VILNIUS (Sputnik) The annual Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) naval military drills involving warships from Lithuania, Latvia and Germany are scheduled to begin in the Baltic Sea on Monday, the press service of the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said in a statement. "On August 7-11, the annual international military exercises BALTRON Squadron Exercise 17/2 involving the Baltic states' warships will take place in the Baltic Sea, the Lithuanian territorial waters and the special economic zone," the statement read. During the drills, Lithuania will use its LNS Jotvingis (N42) ship, Suduvis (M52) and Kursis (M54) minehunters, Aukstaitis (P14) and Selis (P15) patrol ships, Sakiai rescue vessel and H21 harbor cutter, according to the statement. Germany will reportedly engage its Pegnitz (M1090) minesweeper. The international military drills will be headed by Lithuanian Navy Commander Tomas Skurdenis. the statement specified. The exercises would practice maneuvers, submarine target defense, communication, as well as search and rescue operations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen: Senior UN relief official voices concern at reports of airstrikes on civilians 7 August 2017 Expressing a deep concern about reports of airstrikes on civilians in Yemen's Sa'ada Governorate, a senior United Nations relief official has urged all parties to the conflict and those who influence and support them to uphold their responsibility under international humanitarian law to protect civilians. "All parties to the conflict continue to show a disregard for the protection of civilians and the principle of distinction between civilians and combatants in the conduct of hostilities," said Jamie McGoldrick, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, in a statement issued over the weekend by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Attacks on a house in As Safra District and on a private vehicle in Razih District on Friday have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 12 civilians, including women and children and the injury of 10 more people. While these new incidents are still being investigated by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), they are an example of the brutality in which the conflict is being conducted, Mr. McGoldrick stated. "As I have said before, even wars have rules and such rules must be respected," he added. Meanwhile, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at UN Headquarters today that there had been a delay in the delivery of fuel needed for the UN's humanitarian operations in the country but UN team has got assurances that fuel will be moving this week from Aden to the capital, Sana'a. "We ask authorities for a mechanism to help ensure regular delivery of aviation fuel for UN operations," Mr. Dujarric said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia Finds Missing US Aircraft By VOA News August 07, 2017 The Australian navy says it has found the missing U.S. aircraft that crashed into the sea Saturday off Australia's east coast. Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne said in a statement the submerged aircraft was located "shortly after" Royal Australian Navy survey ship HMAS Melville arrived in Shoalwater Bay. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Navy divers are working with the crew of the Melville at the crash site and are using remotely operated underwater vehicles. The aircraft had been launched from the USS Bonhomme Richard assault ship and was involved in routine operations when it crashed. Twenty-three people aboard the MV-22 Osprey were rescued, but three Marines remained missing. The U.S. military launched a search and rescue effort for the missing Marines, but eventually changed that operation to a recovery effort in coordination with Australian defense forces. The families of the missing Marines were notified. The aircraft was in Australia after completing a joint U.S.-Australian military training exercise at least two weeks ago in Shoalwater Bay. The biennial exercise involved some 30,000 troops and 200 aircraft. Australian troops are among U.S.-led coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Marine Corps did not say what caused the crash, but indicated it is under investigation. The Osprey is designed to take off like a helicopter and rotate its propellers to fly like a plane. Its development was almost cancelled after 23 marines were killed during a flight test in 2000. The U.S. military grounded its Osprey fleet in Japan last December after one of them crash-landed into the sea, injuring all five crew members on board. The Osprey is built by Boeing Company and Textron Inc.'s Bell Helicopter division. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Japan, Australia Urge Binding Code for South China Sea By VOA News August 07, 2017 The United States, Japan and Australia expressed "serious concerns" Monday over disputes concerning the South China Sea, while calling for a halt to land reclamation and military actions in the area that could increase tensions or cause permanent environmental damage. The three countries issued a joint statement after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono met in the Philippines on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial meeting. They called on China and the Philippines to abide by an arbitration ruling last year that invalidated much of China's territorial claim to the South China Sea, which is claimed in part by Taiwan and ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The statement also called on ASEAN members and China to ensure that a code of conduct they have pledged to develop regarding the South China Sea be "legally binding, meaningful, effective, and consistent with international law." The code of conduct would be aimed at avoiding accidents as the claimant countries fish, explore for oil and gas or develop some of the estimated 500 tiny islets. China has resisted having the agreement be binding, and has reinforced its claims to the sea with the construction of artificial islands that the United States and others have criticized. ASEAN ministers said in a communique Sunday they "warmly welcome improving cooperation" with China and are ready to begin substantive negotiation on the code of conduct, but made no mention of making it binding. They also noted concerns expressed by some members about land reclamations and emphasized "the importance of non-militarization." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Somali Children Flee Al-Shabab Recruitment By Mohamed Olad Hassan August 07, 2017 More than 100 children fleeing areas controlled by al-Shabab militants in central Somalia have arrived in the coastal town of Adale, seeking the government's protection, officials said. Adale is a key trading town in the Middle Shabelle region, 220 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu. In an interview with VOA Somali, the town's district commissioner, Muse Mohamed Ahmed, said the fleeing children are resisting new al-Shabab recruitment campaigns. "Al-Shabab has a large number of old fighters, so they want to recruit children to bolster its ranks. They have started abducting children from local schools, and those who do not want to join them have decided to flee to the government-controlled areas," Ahmed said. He estimated that more than 500 children have fled villages and towns in central Somalia, mainly in the Galgudud, Hirran and Middle Shabelle areas. "We do not have the exact number, but our estimation is that more than 500 children, mainly between the ages of 10 to 15, have arrived in the town in the last couple of months," Ahmed said. "Most of them pass to other government-controlled areas to join relatives, but 100 of them who did not know where to go stay with us here." He said each of the families in the town has offered to have two or three children stay with them until Somali government and regional authorities decide their fate. Other sources in the town have confirmed the presence of the youngsters. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who made an emergency visit to Somalia in March, said more than half of the fighters in the militant group may be children. Somali government officials said children as young as nine are being used in combat. "We have seen children as young as nine being caught or killed in several fronts fighting along the militants," said Col. Omar Ahmed with the Somali National Army, or SNA. Al-Shabab continues waging an insurgency against the U.S.-backed federal government in Somalia and the African Union troops deployed there 10 years ago. Al-Shabab, which is allied with al-Qaida, has been fighting since 2006 to overthrow the Somali government and turn the country into a strict Islamic state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wife Claims Former South Sudan Strongman is Under House Arrest By John Tanza August 07, 2017 The wife of the former head of South Sudan's army says her husband has been under house arrest for months on the direct orders of President Salva Kiir. In an exclusive interview Monday, Lucy Ayak Malong, the wife of Paul Malong Awan, told VOA's South Sudan in Focus that her husband has not been allowed to leave Juba since May, when the president fired him. Health concerns Malong's health has deteriorated steadily since she last saw him in the capital two months ago, according to Ayak, who is living in Nairobi, Kenya. She refused to disclose her husband's medical history, but said she is deeply concerned about his health under government-ordered confinement. Ayak wrote an open letter last week to President Kiir requesting he release her husband. "I cannot lie about the health of my husband because I am the one who knows him very well. He is not feeling well; that is why I have written that letter to the president," Ayak said. On May 9, Malong left Juba under cover of darkness with bodyguards and a fleet of vehicles. He was headed to his home village in Aweil state via the town of Yirol in Lakes state after hearing he was fired. Days later, Malong returned to Juba after community leaders from Aweil convinced him that he would be safe if he returned to the capital. The government of South Sudan has denied reports that Malong was placed under house arrest. Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told a local radio station in Juba last week that Malong's wife is simply seeking international attention. Ayak said Ateny is not telling the truth. "Ateny just wants to cover up what they have done. He [doesn't] want the world to know that General Malong has been under house arrest for almost three months and they denied him access to medical checkups," Ayak said. Denied visits Ayak said government officials have denied her husband permission to see his family in Kenya, adding, "He has to be with his family and kids; his kids need him." Ayak said their home in Juba is surrounded by soldiers. Ayak said she questions why the government deployed soldiers if her husband is not being confined. She said community leaders from Aweil state where Malong once served as governor have appealed to Kiir to release him on medical grounds, but said the president has yet to respond. "We have tried all our best and we are leaving it to the hands of the president to decide because all attempts have failed," Ayak said. President Kiir appointed Malong as chief of general staff of the military in April 2014, one year after violence erupted in the capital following a disagreement between Kiir and then-deputy, Riek Machar. Malong then become the real power behind the scenes in Juba, according to multiple sources close to Kiir. Malong was fired after several generals resigned, citing a lack of leadership in the army. They accused Malong of forming tribal militias fighting alongside the government against rebels allied with Machar. The power struggle that started in Juba led to fighting in the capital and other parts of the country. The fighting continues despite efforts by the regional bloc IGAD to broker a truce. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kenyans Cross into Uganda for Fear of Post-Election Violence By Halima Athumani August 07, 2017 The Uganda Red Cross says it has begun registering Kenyans who have fled their country in anticipation of violence surrounding elections set for Tuesday. The Uganda Red Cross says it plans to set up receiving sites at the border towns of Busia and Tororo. The Uganda Red Cross says it has received and seen a number of Kenyans who crossed the border, fearing for their safety. Bob Akankwasa is its director of disaster risk management. "We've seen a couple of hundreds coming through; we are yet to verify their true nationalities and where exactly they are moving in, but these are still the commercial population movements, people who have the capacities and abilities to handle their situations, but we haven't seen a significant number that may need significant assistance," he said. The Uganda Red Cross says so far, it has handled 10 families in need of support but expects even more once the voting is over. "We are making our preparation activities around Busia and Malaba border points, but all our branches across the eastern border are on the alert because some of these people move because they have relatives. As people vote, that's when they tend to move, when they have finished," said Akankwasa. For at least a week now, people are reported to be leaving Nairobi and other towns for their home villages; some for voting purposes and others because of potential post-election violence. Opinion polls predict a very close race between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga. It is still not clear how many people are fleeing for fear of trouble, but the streets of many towns are reported to be empty ahead of the election. Kenyans are also reported to have stocked up on items like milk, cooking oil, maize flour and other essential items. The Uganda Police Force has also stepped up security at the border. Asan Kasingye is a police spokesman. "We continue to take all considerable measures to ensure that all people crossing the borders are safe and secure; yesterday we received about 30 people here in Kampala, across the border and even in the past one week, we have been receiving Ugandans coming back," he said. For many Kenyans, reports of anticipated trouble trigger memories of the 2007 election violence in which more than one thousand people were killed and 500,000 others fled their homes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Navy holds live ammunition drills in Bohai, Yellow Sea People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 20:06, August 07, 2017 The Chinese Navy conducted live ammunition combat drills in water and air areas above both the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea simultaneously on Monday. Dozens of missiles were fired in the drills, according to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. In addition to naval forces, which took a major part in the drills, forces from the PLA Air Force also participated. The drills, involving dozens of surface vessels and submarines, more than ten aircraft as well as troops of the coastal defense force, carried out exercises including different forces' joint operations against offshore and onshore targets, as well as air interception. The PLA Navy said the drills aimed to test the military capability of systemic combat, operation and training methods and weaponry, as part of regular arrangements organized in the military's annual exercise plan. Senior naval officers attended the drills. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea A multiple group 1 winner. Two-length winner of Argentina's famed Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1). Brazil's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt. Show jumper and dressage mount. The latest addition to Xin Xu Lin's resume came just a few years ago, when the Brazilian champion arrived at the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2013 and met his new owner, Kasia Jaskowska, who adopted him as a jumper prospect. But before he made it to his current home in Columbia, Md., he did a bit more traveling around the globe. Bred by Oscar Faria Pacheco Borges' Haras Pirassununga in Brazil, Xin Xu Lin raced mostly in his home country for owner Jose Renato Cruz e Tucci, with the exception being his Gran Premio victory. He accumulated five wins, four coming at the highest level, in his seven starts. After he earned his champion honors at 3, Godolphin purchased the son of Wondertross and brought him to Dubai. He ran twice in group events at Meydan, his best finish being a fifth, five lengths behind stablemate Khawlah in the 2011 UAE Derby Sponsored by the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2). Xin Xu Lin was then sent to the U.S. with trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in late 2012, and subsequently finished fourth and 11th in two listed stakes. While Xin Xu Lin never regained the form he showed in Brazil, he still shows the personality and drive that earned him Horse of the Year honors. "If I start to do too much with my hands, he'll toss his head and he'll tell me what he thinks about me doing it," Jaskowska said. "Jumping-wise, when he's on a roll, he wants to keep going. When I put half halts in, he starts to get a little annoyed because he thinks he knows what he's doing better than I do, and most of the time I'd probably agree." Kasia Jaskowska and Xin Xu Lin. Photo: Erika Leigh Portraits Donated to the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center by Sheikh Mohammed's global breeding and racing operation, Xin Xu Lin wasn't the horse that Jaskowska drove to Kentucky to try. "There was a bay that caught my eye on their website. I went out and told Susanna (Thomas, MMSC's director) I'd like to try him and (another) mare," Jaskowska said of her trip to MMSC to find a potential mount. "The first horse, it didn't click. He was a very nice horse but something wasn't quite right about how the two of us were interacting. And (the mare) unfortunately had gotten kicked in the field so I couldn't get an accurate assessment." "'Xin' was the last one that Susanna had told me about," she said. "He was the only one that no one got on before I got on him, so that made me a little bit nervous but once I got on, it just clicked. Something worked." Jaskowska was certain Xin Xu Lin was the horse for her after the two tried a couple of jumps at MMSC. "What sold me on him was the jumping. He seemed so willing," she said. "At the end of the day that was it: he was willing, he was intelligent, and he felt great under saddle. He still had that attitude, so if you did push the wrong buttons, he'd probably tell you." Some minor setbacks, including back issues with Xin Xu Lin, have pushed the duo's show jumping plans further out. Jaskowska is currently working on building up his back muscles through dressage and has been participating in dressage schooling shows. Jaskowska, who primarily rides hunter/jumpers, said she also plans to take him through some lower-level eventing competitions and eventually compete in the 1-1.0-meter jumpers in a few months. While she never thought she'd own a champion racehorse, Jaskowska enjoys racing and loves the tenacity of the Thoroughbred breed. "When I was little, we'd go to the track with my grandfather. ... as a little kid I thought that would be the coolest thing, to ride a racehorse and be able to race on the track," she said, adding that while her dream of riding on the track never happened, an appreciation of racehorses did develop. "The Thoroughbred has so much heart," she said. "That's what brought me to wanting to take an off-the-track Thoroughbred. Definitely knowing at times they can be challenging, but any horse can. They're just really good horses." Chinese navy's hospital ship docks in Colombo, Sri Lanka People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:35, August 07, 2017 Chinese navy's hospital ship Peace Ark arrived at the port of Colombo on Sunday for a four-day stopover there. The ship slowly sailed into the port at around 10:00 a.m.(0430 GMT) in its first visit to Sri Lanka, with some 300 people, including officials of both countries and representatives of various Chinese communities there, welcoming its arrival. The hospital ship will be open to the public during the stopover and provide medical service for local residents, said Major General Guan Bolin, commander of the task. This is the sixth time for the hospital ship Peace Ark to carry out "Harmonious Mission" and Sri Lanka is the first stop for its 2017 mission. It is expected to visit Djibouti Port, Freetown Port in Sierra Leone, Owendo Port in Gabon, Pointe Noire Port in Congo and some other ports. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese experts denounce Indian media's self-claimed military advantage People's Daily Online (People's Daily Online) 17:08, August 07, 2017 Chinese military experts on Monday reiterated the country's military advantage over India after an Indian magazine issued a report insisting that the Indian Army would give China "a bloody nose" if war breaks out. India Today, one of India's most circulated English-language magazines, issued an article on Aug. 5, in which it drew a comparison between the two countries military power, noting that China's military advantage over India is totally misplaced and hyperbole. According to India Today, though China has about 2.26 million soldiers compared to India's 1.36 million, the former's numerical edge will be weakened if the reserve components of the army are also taken into account. The magazine cited statistics from Global Firepower a website which tracks the military strength of more than 100 countries noting that the Indian Army has about 2.84 million reserve soldiers, while Chinese PLA has about 1.45 million troops under reserve components. "The report's statistics are misleading. Based on different sources, the statistics can be extremely different. For instance, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), China currently has 2.3 million soldiers and 510,000 troops under reserve components, while the same numbers for India are 1.3 million and 1.15 million, respectively. Based on this, China still possesses more troops than India in total," an anonymous military expert told the Global Times. The expert also noted that numerical advantages alone cannot bring victory on the modern battlefield. Soldiers' personal competence and educational background play even more important role. Based on Indian government's own estimation, the country's illiteracy rate is around 20 to 30 percent, while the number in China is only 4 percent. As for geostrategic circumstances and security concerns, the article noted that due to China's longer shared border, the country will suffer more pressure than India. Such remarks have also been denounced by Chinese experts, who noted that though India's frontline is shorter, its intense border tussles with Pakistan will reduce the number of troops that can deployed along the Sino-Indian border. "The report claimed that India has more towed artillery and armored fighting vehicles than China, but such weaponry cannot reach their full potential once a war occurs between China and India, as most of the Sino-Indian border lies in highlands and mountain areas, which are not ideal battlefield conditions for such heavy military equipment," said the expert. "If a war occurs, China's self-propelled and rocket artilleries will seize the advantage, becoming the sword of Damocles hovering over the head of Indian troops," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's First Home-Grown Aircraft Carrier May Deploy Ahead of Schedule Sputnik News 22:09 07.08.2017(updated 22:11 07.08.2017) Chinese military analysts say that advances and progress with the power generators for its Type 001A aircraft carrier place the massive ship ahead of schedule prior to its first deployment. Type 001A could join the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) by the end of 2018 or perhaps 2019, according to the South China Morning Post's report on Monday. The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies previously estimated the carrier wouldn't join the rest of the navy until 2020. Before the Type 001A joins the active duty fleet, "we also need to a do a variety of systematic tests [at sea], including matching tests of carrier-based aircraft, weapons systems, and others," the Type 001A's project manager told SCMP. The carrier will rely primarily on steam generators to power ot over long distances. Construction on the carrier was finished in April, when it made its first launch into the open sea, and took just five years and three months to complete. Rebuilding the Soviet-made Liaoning (originally the Kuznetsov-class carrier Varyag), PLA-N's only other carrier, is believed to have given the Chinese important lessons in building the massive ships, which are vital for long-range maritime expeditionary capabilities. Deploying the Type 001A would be a major boost to a navy that is still in the early stages of learning how to conduct carrier operations. In particular, aircraft takeoff and landing can prove problematic even for naval crews with decades of experience. According to Andrew Erickson, associate professor at the US Naval War College's China Maritime Studies Institute, "already with China's so-called starter carrier, Liaoning, there is significant potential in the near future to take it overseas for some basic naval diplomacy and this will already have tremendous symbolic and psychological effects." It's worth noting that the Chinese carrier will be propelled by eight steam turbines getting their power from diesel generators. The PLA-N just last week commissioned its largest-ever resupply ship, which has hoses for refueling Chinese carriers. The US Navy's 10 Nimitz-class carriers, first commissioned in 1975, are all powered by nuclear propulsion, but the first nuclear-powered carrier, the USS Enterprise, was actually decommissioned in February. Using a nuclear power source allows the ships to operate at sea continuously for up to 20 years without refueling. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPRK says no intention to use nuke weapons against any country except U.S. People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 20:13, August 07, 2017 The foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Ri Hong-Yo, said on Monday that his country has no intention to use nuclear weapons against any other country except the United States. Ri, in Manila to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), said DPRK "is a responsible nuclear power and ICBM state," referring to the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. "We have no intention to use nuclear weapons or threaten with nuclear weapons against any other country except the U.S., unless it joins action of the U.S. against DPRK," Ri said in a statement to the ARF. Ri lambasted the U.S. for "trying to internationalize the issue of Korean Peninsula by abusing the United Nations" by claiming that DPRK's possession of nuclear weapons is a "global threat." He also said that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula was created and developed into the present phase today by the United States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea threatens 'severe' revenge on US if attacked Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 1:20PM North Korea says it is ready to teach the United States a "severe lesson" with its strategic nuclear force if Washington dares opt for military action against Pyongyang. In a transcript of a statement by Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, Pyongyang called new US-led sanctions at the UN Security Council "fabricated" and warned there would be "strong follow-up measures" and acts of justice. The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests in July proved that the entire US was in its firing range, and those missiles were a legitimate means of self-defense, it added. The statement, which was carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, also said that the sanctions were a "violent infringement of its sovereignty" that was caused by a "heinous US plot to isolate and stifle" North Korea. The sanctions will never force the country to give up its push to strengthen its nuclear capability as long as US hostility and nuclear threats persist, it pointed out. "It's a wild idea to think the DPRK (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) will be shaken and change its position due to this kind of new sanctions formulated by hostile forces," the statement read. The statement also accused the UN of abusing its authority. The warning comes after the UN Security Council on Saturday passed a resolution slapping sweeping sanctions on the North over its first test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The UNSC members, including Pyongyang's traditional allies, Beijing and Moscow, voted 15-0 for a partial ban on exports aimed at slashing Pyongyang's $3 billion foreign revenue by a third. The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, called the US-drafted resolution "the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against" North Korea. The sanctions ban all exports of coal, iron and iron ore, lead and lead ore, as well as fish and seafood from the country. They also block North Korea from increasing the number of workers it sends abroad, and prevents new joint ventures with Pyongyang or increasing investments in current ventures. North Korea has been under UN sanctions over its missile and nuclear development programs since 2006. The sanctions have, however, failed to dissuade the country from pursuing its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Pyongyang says it needs to continue developing its missile force as a deterrent against the US and its regional allies' aggression and expansionism. Since early July, the North has tested two ICBMs, which it says can hit the US mainland. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine capital hosts high-level talks on North Korea Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 7:19AM Foreign ministers of North and South Korea have briefly met on the sidelines of a regional summit in the Philippines amid international pressure on Pyongyang to stop its nuclear and missile programs. The South's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha shook hands with her Northern counterpart, Ri Yong-ho, ahead of an ASEAN Regional Forum dinner in Manila on Sunday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Monday. According to the report, Kang urged Ri to accept Seoul's offer of talks aimed at lowering tensions on the divided Korean Peninsula. Ri, however, said Seoul's proposal to improve ties with the North "lacked sincerity," the report added. "Given the current situation in which the South collaborates with the US to heap pressure on the North, such proposals lacked sincerity," an unnamed official quoted Ri as saying. Seoul put forward the initiative for talks with Pyongyang last month, but the North kept silent on the offer. Meanwhile, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who also met with Ri in Manila on Sunday, reiterated the need to resolve the Korean crisis through diplomacy, saying his country supports initiatives put forward by South Korea to resolve the issue. Wang said his North Korean opposite number had "not entirely rejected the positive proposals raised by the South." "For China as a neighbor of both North Korea and South Korea, we of course hope the North and South can improve relations. We also support the positive initiatives put forward by the new South Korean government. We are ready to see the North and South resume contact soon," Wang said. The Manila meetings came a day after the UN Security Council passed a resolution slapping sweeping sanctions on the North over its first test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which sparked global condemnations. Council members, including Pyongyang's traditional allies, Beijing and Moscow, voted 15-0 for a partial ban on exports aimed at slashing Pyongyang's $3 billion foreign revenue by a third, $1 billion. The sanctions block all exports of coal, iron and iron ore, lead and lead ore, as well as fish and seafood from the country over its recent missile tests. They also block North Korea from increasing the number of workers it sends abroad, and prevents new joint ventures with Pyongyang or increasing investments in current ventures. US President Donald Trump hailed the vote, thanking Russia and China for backing a measure that either could have halted with their veto power. Russia urges 'six-party talks' Separately, Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was also in Manila, held talks with his American and North Korean counterparts on the same issue. He explained that Russia and China shared a common position on the issue, supporting six-way talks between South Korea, North Korea, the US, China, Russia, and Japan. "There is a strong commitment to resume six-party talks in search of political settlement," Lavrov said. World is united against North Korea US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in Manila on Monday that talks with North Korea would start when conditions were right. Tillerson said the latest UN resolution sends a strong message, and that North Korea needs to understand what the world expects of it. He also said Russia and China's support for new anti-Pyongyang sanctions shows the international community expects them to help North Korea accept the realities. The top US diplomat said the execution and implementation of the new UN sanctions would be carefully watched. Meanwhile, South Korean President Moon Jae-In, who supports diplomacy vis-a-vis North Korea, held a phone conversation with the US president. "The two leaders affirmed that North Korea poses a grave and growing direct threat to the United States, South Korea, and Japan, as well as to most countries around the world," the White House said of the call. They "committed to fully implement all relevant resolutions and to urge the international community to do so as well." North Korea is under international pressure over its missile and nuclear development programs. Pyongyang says it needs to continue developing its missile force as a deterrent against the US and its regional allies' aggression and expansionism. Since early July, the North has tested two ICBMs, which it says can hit the US mainland. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea, U.S. Agree To Step Up Pressure on North RFE/RL August 07, 2017 South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in a telephone call on August 7 to apply maximum pressure and sanctions on North Korea, as Pyongyang defiantly vowed to bolster its nuclear arsenal. During an hour-long phone conversation, Moon and Trump said they would continue cooperating to rein in Pyongyang, particularly ahead of a regular joint military drill set for late August, Moon's spokesman Park Su-hyun told a media briefing. In a separate statement, the White House said the two leaders "affirmed that North Korea poses a grave and growing direct threat" to most countries around the world. The UN Security Council on August 5 unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea, aimed at pressuring Pyongyang to end its nuclear program. Russia and China, longtime defenders of North Korea on the council, voted in favor of the measures. The sanctions could slash North Korea's $3 billion annual export revenue by one-third, in what Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, called "the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against" North Korea. In a further push, the United States, Australia, and Japan on August 7 urged the international community to pressure North Korea to abandon its "threatening and provocative path" and apply additional diplomatic and economic measures on Pyongyang over its missile tests. Foreign ministers from the three countries issued a joint statement at the end of a meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN regional security summit in Manila, saying the new sanctions on Pyongyang should be strictly implemented. North Korea reacted defiantly, with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho saying Pyongyang is ready to give the United States a "severe lesson" with what he called its strategic nuclear force if Washington takes military action against it. In a transcript of a statement that was distributed to media in Manila, Ri called the new sanctions "fabricated" and warned there would be "strong follow-up measures" and acts of justice. The statement said the UN sanctions would never force the country to negotiate over its nuclear program or to give up its push to strengthen its nuclear capability. "We will under no circumstances put the nukes and ballistic rockets on [the] negotiating table," the statement said. "Neither shall we flinch even an inch from the road to bolstering up the nuclear forces chosen by ourselves unless the hostile policy and nuclear threat of the U.S. against North Korea is fundamentally eliminated," it added. Pyongyang test-launched two intercontinental balistic missiles last month as part of its efforts to acquire a long-range missile capable of striking anywhere in the mainland United States. Both missiles were fired at highly lofted angles and analysts say the weapons are capable of reaching parts of the United States if fired at a normal, flattened trajectory. China, North Korea's biggest trade partner and ally, has said it is committed to fully enforcing sanctions, but that sanctions are not a lasting solution. In a statement, China's Foreign Ministry stressed that the new sanctions should avoid impacting permitted economic activities and cooperation as well as food and humanitarian aid. China has also called for Washington and Seoul to help lower tensions by reining in their military activities and drills, and by withdrawing the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) antimissile system. The influential Global Times, published by the state-run People's Daily, said in an editorial that the United States needed to curb its "moral arrogance over North Korea." Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will host their Japanese counterpart in Washington next week to discuss regional threats. The August 17 meeting will focus on how the two allies can "coordinate their response to the evolving regional security environment, and strengthen their bilateral security and defense cooperation," a statement said. "The participants will also review the continued realignment of U.S. armed forces in Japan." With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/south-korea-u-s-pressure -north-korea/28663029.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 Handles North Korea Crisis Like 'Spoiled Child' - Moscow Sputnik News 18:29 07.08.2017(updated 18:41 07.08.2017) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US resembles a temperamental, "spoiled child" when it assigns other nations the responsibility of tackling the North Korean nuclear crisis. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The United States resembles a temperamental, "spoiled child" when it assigns other nations the responsibility of tackling the North Korean nuclear crisis, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Sputnik Radio in an interview. "Washington tends to make others responsible for the things, which should actually be done on its own. This is a kind of a behavioral algorithm. It can be compared to a naughty, spoiled child, who falls on the floor and bursts out crying and kicking, when he or she failed to do something or when some toy was not given immediately after the child asked to buy it," Ryabkov said. The deputy foreign minister stressed that he had no intention of making the situation comical, since the issue was very important and serious, with the situation on the Korean peninsula extremely "explosive." The United States has long been trying to make China exert more pressure on North Korea over the latter's nuclear provocations. In late July, US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to express his disappointment with China over its reluctance to do anything for the United States with North Korean nuclear threat. The situation on the Korean Peninsula has become aggravated in recent months due to a series of missile launches and nuclear tests conducted by Pyongyang, all of which are claimed to be in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. On July 4 and July 28, Pyongyang conducted tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles in violation of previous UNSC resolutions. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the latest launch on July 28 was successful with the missile having reached the altitude of 3,725 kilometers (2,314 miles) and traveled 998 kilometers for about 47 minutes before falling in the Sea of Japan. On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2371, which further tightens sanctions imposed on North Korea in response to Pyongyang's ballistic missiles launches. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea Rejects Calls to Halt Nuclear Weapons Development By Ken Bredemeier August 07, 2017 North Korea vowed Monday to persist in its nuclear weapons development program, rejecting calls from the international community to rein in its aggressive military actions. Pyongyang's United Nations mission contended that new U.N. sanctions against it for its missile tests were a "flagrant infringement upon its sovereignty," with state media claiming they were the result of a "heinous U.S. plot to isolate and stifle" the communist country. North Korea told a security conference of key regional leaders in Manila that it would never bargain away its development of nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles, and said that it would teach the United States a "severe lesson" with nuclear strategic force if Washington takes military against it. Pyongyang said it is a responsible nation state with no intent to threaten any country other than the United States unless they join Washington in military action. But North Korea boasted that its latest missile test in late July showed the world that the "entire U.S. mainland is in our firing range." Tillerson: Stop testing North Korea's response to the U.N. sanctions came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the best step Pyongyang could take to signal it is ready for dialogue would be to halt its missile tests. "We've not had an extended period of time where they have not taken some type of provocative action by launching ballistic missiles. So I think that would be the first and strongest signal they could send to us is just stop these missile launches," Tillerson said. He also spoke in Manila, where he is taking part in the regional forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. China, North Korea's economic lifeline, said it is fully committed to enforcing the U.N. sanctions intended to deprive North Korea of $1 billion in annual export money Pyongyang is using to fuel its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile program. "China will for sure implement that new resolution 100 percent, fully and strictly," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on the sidelines of the Manila meeting. In the U.S., the White House said that President Donald Trump talked with Tillerson and chief of staff John Kelly about North Korea for an hour. Trump has demanded quick implementation of the new sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's exports of coal, iron and iron ore, lead and lead ore, and seafood. Tillerson said Saturday's U.N. Security Council vote unanimously adopting new sanctions against North Korea for its ballistic missile tests sends a message that the entire international community finds the country's actions unacceptable, and that the clear expectation is a denuclearized Korean peninsula. "We hope again that this ultimately will result in North Korea coming to the conclusion to choose a different pathway, and when the conditions are right then we can sit and have a dialogue around the future of North Korea so that they feel secure and prosper economically," he said. Revenge threat North Korea, in the statement carried by state media, pledged to launch a "thousands-fold" revenge on the U.S. and reiterated its stance that sanctions will not force it to negotiate over its nuclear program.North Korea said it will take "action of justice," without elaborating, and said the U.S. would be making a mistake if it believed its mainland is safe because an ocean separates the two countries. The White House said Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in committed in a phone call to fully implement all relevant U.N. resolutions related to North Korea and to "urge the international community to do so as well." The statement late Sunday said Trump and Moon also welcomed the new Security Council resolution and reiterated their belief that North Korea "poses a grave threat" to their countries and Japan. China urges end to provocation Earlier Sunday, China pressed North Korea to halt its missile and nuclear tests, saying Pyongyang should not "provoke international society's goodwill." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang delivered Beijing's warning to his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial meetings. The United States cautiously welcomed China's newfound support of sanctions against North Korea, but said that it would closely monitor China's compliance with the penalties. Susan Thornton, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, told reporters that in the past China has supported efforts to curb Pyongyang's weapons development, but then slacked off. "We want to make sure China is continuing to implement fully the sanctions regime," Thornton said,"not this kind of episodic back and forth that we've seen." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump's 'Maximum Pressure' North Korea Policy Gains Support in Seoul By Brian Padden August 07, 2017 South Korean President Moon Jae-in is voicing strong support for the U.S. policy of maximum pressure against North Korea, after Pyongyang rejected his outreach efforts as "insincere." Moon returned from vacation Monday to speak by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time since North Korea conducted its second successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) over a week ago. Both Washington and Seoul reiterated support for the new U.N. sanctions on North Korea that were passed unanimously Saturday by the 15 members of the Security Council that includes the U.S., China and Russia. The new sanctions could deprive North Korea of $1 billion a year to fuel its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile program, by banning all exports of coal, iron, lead and seafood, and capping the number of North Korean laborers allowed to work outside the country. A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman on Sunday also welcomed the tougher U.N. sanctions on North Korea and said it was time to exert more "effective pressure" on Pyongyang rather than to pursue dialogue. Closer cooperation The White House released a statement Monday on the call between Trump and Moon that said, "The leaders committed to fully implement all relevant resolutions and to urge the international community to do so as well." The Blue House also emphasized support for continued joint military exercises with the U.S. "The two presidents decided to continue cooperation to deter and respond to North Korea's additional provocation based on a strong joint defense posture," said South Korean Presidential Spokesman Park Soo-hyun at a briefing on Monday. The two leaders also discussed Seoul's request for U.S. approval to double the destructive power of its own ballistic missile payload from 500 kilograms to one ton of explosives, and to increase their maximum range to 800 kilometers (500 miles). Under a longstanding bilateral missile guidelines agreement, the U.S. had imposed limits on South Korea's missile program to encourage the North to do the same. The two sides are expected to hold formal talks to amend the agreement that was last revised in 2002. High-resolution radar a concern Following North Korea's second ICBM test, South Korea also agreed to accelerate the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system, reversing a decision to first conduct an extended environmental study. Seoul's earlier delay was seen as a move to mitigate economic retaliation from China that reportedly imposed limits on travel and South Korean imports over THAAD. Beijing objects to the U.S. advanced anti-missile battery in the region that can potentially monitor China's military activities using high-resolution radar. THAAD is designed to intercept medium range missiles at high altitudes, but not ICBMs. On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi questioned South Korea's need for THAAD after meeting with Seoul's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha at a regional security summit in Manila organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "Will THAAD be able to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles? I think it's quite clear to everyone, this is impossible?" said Wang. Failed outreach Since taking office in May President Moon Jae-in has tried to balance pressure with engagement to defuse tensions with the nuclear North Korean state. However Pyongyang has so far rejected offers of dialogue, cooperation and humanitarian assistance. Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum Monday, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho told his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha that Seoul's proposals to improve ties with the North "lacks sincerity," according to the Yonhap News Agency. During his conversation with President Trump, Moon also said there is a need to show North Korea the door to dialogue is still open, but only after Pyongyang agrees to give up its nuclear program. China proposes 'dual suspension' At the ASEAN conference in Manila, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Monday encouraged the Moon administration to continue its efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and reduce the potential for conflict. "My feeling is that the North did not entirely reject the positive proposals raised by the South," he said. The Chinese official also said he hoped the United States would seriously consider China's proposed "dual suspension" of military drills in the South and missile tests in the North. A strong message U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said during the ASEAN forum that China and Russia's support for the latest sanctions sent a strong message to North Korea, but also said, "when the conditions are right then we can sit and have a dialogue around the future of North Korea, so they feel secure and prosper economically." However many regional security analysts remain skeptical that the new sanctions will succeed in pressuring the Kim Jong Un government to agree to talks on Washington's terms, and there are concerns that Beijing will selectively enforce the sanctions, as it had done in the past, for fear of destabilizing the region. Youmi Kim contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi Aircraft Crush Daesh Strongholds in Tal Afar as Part of Offensive on Mosul Sputnik News 16:10 07.08.2017 The Iraqi Air Force has crushed Daesh strongholds in the city of Tal Afar as part of a major push on Mosul, the Iraqi militia said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The targets in Tal Afar, located 30 miles away from Mosul, were destroyed as part of preparations to liberate the city. "The Iraqi Air Force struck a number of IS [Daesh] strongholds in the center of Tal Afar city on the basis of militia's intelligence data and bombed the bridges used by the IS militants for relocation inside the city," local militia said in a statement. The militants reportedly withdrew from the southern outskirts of Tal Afar, destroying the paved road to hinder the Iraqi army's advance toward the city. On August 2, the Rudaw broadcaster reported that the Iraqi military forces had launched an anti-Daesh operation to retake Tal Afar. Iraqi authorities, however, have not yet made a statement confirming the mission. On July 26, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi pledged to liberate both the city of Tal Afar in the Nineveh Province and Al-Hawija district in Kirkuk from the terrorist group in the same resolute manner in which the liberation of Iraq's Mosul was conducted. Mosul was liberated on July 9. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address S. Korean president urges DPRK to come to dialogue table after UN resolution adoption People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 18:25, August 07, 2017 South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to come to a dialogue table following the UN Security Council's unanimous adoption of a resolution toughening sanctions on Pyongyang. Moon said during the meeting with his senior secretaries that the DPRK should clearly recognize the international community's firm will against the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs through the new sanctions resolution. The new UN resolution, Moon said, was unanimously adopted in cooperation with major countries, including China and Russia, urging the DPRK to stop provocations and come to the dialogue table. On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted new sanctions on the DPRK as punishment for its recent ballistic missile test-launches. It bans the exports of seafood and minerals such as coal, iron, iron ore, lead and lead ore. Around midnight on July 28, the DPRK test-launched what it called an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which flew about 1,000 km and was lofted as high as over 3,700 km. It was an advanced version of what Pyongyang dubbed Hwasong-14 that traveled 933 km at a maximum altitude of 2,802 km at the July 4 test launch. Referring to his telephone conversation earlier in the day with U.S. President Donald Trump, Moon said he shared views with the U.S. president about grave security situations on the Korean Peninsula and discuss countermeasures with Trump. Moon said he and Trump agreed over the phone to maintain a close cooperation based on a "watertight" combined defense readiness of the two allies. During the phone talks, Moon re-confirmed a principle that the goal of the denuclearized Korean Peninsula should be achieved in a peaceful manner, vowing to overcome the grave security situations in a peaceful, diplomatic way, not through military confrontations. According to the presidential Blue House, the phone talks between Moon and Trump lasted for 56 minutes earlier in the day. During the talks, Moon said the peninsula's nuclear issue should be resolved in a peaceful, diplomatic manner based on close cooperation between South Korea and the United States. The South Korean leader said it can never be tolerated that any more horrors of war happen in the Korean Peninsula. The peninsula is technically in a state of war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in armistice, not a peace treaty. During the dialogue with Trump, Moon urged joint efforts to encourage Pyongyang to come to the dialogue table for the dismantlement of the DPRK's nuclear program by using strong pressure and sanctions. Moon told Trump that it needed to show a door to dialogue to be open when the DPRK makes a right choice of giving up its nuclear program. Meanwhile, top diplomats of South Korea and the DPRK had a brief encounter Sunday on the sidelines of a series of foreign ministers' meetings on East Asian cooperation, Yonhap news agency reported Monday. An unnamed South Korean foreign ministry official was quoted as saying that South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha briefly encountered and exchanged opinion with her DPRK counterpart Ri Yong-ho at a reception dinner of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, the Philippines. It marked the first time since the new South Korean government launched on May 10 that the foreign ministers of the two sides met, though briefly. During the encounter, Kang told Ri that South Korea anticipated rapid response to Seoul's dialogue overtures, which Pyongyang has been mum about. South Korea offered in mid-July to the DPRK holding talks on military affairs to stop all hostile acts near the military demarcation line (MDL) dividing the two sides. Seoul also proposed to Pyongyang a Red Cross dialogue to hold the reunion of families of the two sides, who have been separated since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in ceasefire. The top DPRK diplomat told the South Korean foreign minister that the dialogue overtures lacked sincerity as South Korea put pressures on the DPRK in cooperation with the United States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea Holds Live-Fire Drills Near Western Border With North Korea Sputnik News 22:04 07.08.2017(updated 22:11 07.08.2017) South Korea staged what military officials called a "routine" exercise near its contentious western border with North Korea, with Seoul's marines using K9 self-propelled howitzers to fire more than 200 artillery rounds and launching a Spike surface-to-surface missile. The live-fire drills were held by the 6th brigade and the Northwest Islands Defense Command, tasked with defending Seoul's Yellow Sea islands, and featured 2.75-inch rockets carried by AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters, according to the Marine Corps. According to one South Korean Marine official, the exercises were "Conducted in our waters south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL)," Yonhap reports. "It was a regular training to improve proficiency in combat In accordance with existing procedures, we informed North Korea of the training plan in advance through the UN Command Military Armistice Commission." Deployed in 2013, South Korea's Spike missiles are in place to counter North Korea's coastal artillery. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have increased since the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) rattled nations around the globe by conducting what some international observers believe were two intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests in July. Following the second launch, the state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) wrote, "The test-fire reconfirmed the reliability of the ICBM system, demonstrated the capability of making a surprise launch of the ICBM in any region and place any time, and clearly proved that the whole US mainland is in the firing range of [North Korea]," according to the Telegraph. The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday to impose sanctions on the DPRK after the launches, attempting to slow down its provocations by cutting a third out of its $3 billion annual export revenue. South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo told a press conference at the time of the vote that Seoul would take "independent measures" to curb the North's nuclear proliferation "as soon as possible." Some analysts feel that the sanctions will only trigger another test by the North, and officials in Washington are talking about the possibility of using a "military option" in response to Pyongyang's recalcitrance. US President Donald Trump released a statement after the second launch saying that Washington "will take all necessary steps to ensure the security of the American homeland and protect our allies in the region." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tillerson Tells Lavrov Russia's Election Meddling Created 'Serious Mistrust' RFE/RL August 07, 2017 U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says he has told his Russian counterpart that Moscow's meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election created "serious mistrust" between the two countries. Tillerson, speaking on August 7 on the sidelines of a regional forum in Manila, said he emphasized in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that interference in the election was "a serious incident." He said he tried to help Lavrov "understand just how serious this incident had been and how seriously it had damaged the relationship between the U.S. and the American people and the Russian people, that this had created serious mistrust and that we simply have to find some way to deal with that." The chief U.S. diplomat also warned Lavrov that Washington was deciding on a response to the Kremlin's decision to order a substantial reduction in the size of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia, a move made in retaliation for a new set of sanctions slapped on Russia by the United States. He asked Lavrov "several clarifying questions" about Moscow's retaliatory moves and warned his Russian counterpart that the U.S. would respond to these actions by September 1. 'Some Willingness' Nevertheless, Tillerson said the United States still wants to work with Moscow and that it was "not useful" to cut all ties based on one issue. "We should find places we can work together.... In places we have differences we're going to have to continue to find ways to address those," Tillerson told reporters. "The fact that we want to work with them on areas that are of serious national security interest to us, and at the same time having this extraordinary issue of mistrust that divides us, that is just what we in the diplomatic part of our relationship are required to do," he said. Tillerson also told reporters that Moscow had indicated "some willingness" to seek ways to move forward on matters related to Ukraine. The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its seizure of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in March 2014 and its support of separatist fighters whose war against Kyiv has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine. Tillerson noted that the United States has a new special representative for negotiations on the conflict, Kurt Volker, who traveled to Ukraine in July to assess the situation. "We appointed a special envoy to engage with Russia but also coordinating with all parties. This is full visibility to all parties," he said. "We are not trying to cut some kind of deal on the side." Hours earlier, Lavrov said he believed his U.S. counterpart was ready to continue dialogue with Russia on complex issues despite the bilateral tensions and the imposition of new U.S. sanctions. "We felt the readiness of our U.S. colleagues to continue dialogue. I think there's no alternative to that," Lavrov said after what he said was a lengthy meeting with Tillerson. On August 3, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter that Washington's "relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low." Those comments came a day after Trump signed off on the new sanctions against Moscow, a move Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said amounted to a "full-scale trade war" against his country. The U.S. intelligence community issued an assessment in January saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an "influence campaign" targeting the U.S. election, with goals that included undermining trust in the U.S. electoral process, denigrating Trump's Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, and helping Trump. The U.S. Justice Department and U.S. lawmakers are investigating the alleged Russian interference and examining where there was any collusion between his associates. Russia denies meddling, despite what critics say is strong evidence, and Trump denies there was any collusion. Strong Signal At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum, Tillerson also told reporters that the execution and implementation of new UN sanctions imposed on North Korea would be closely monitored and that the resolution sends a strong signal to Pyongyang. On August 6, the UN Security Council approved a U.S.-written sanctions package against the North that could deprive it of $1 billion a year in export revenue. He said the support of Russia and China for the sanctions was a strong sign to North Korea that the international community was united in its effort to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic-missile program. "It's quite clear in terms of there being no daylight between the international community as to the expectation that North Korea will take steps to achieve all of my objectives, which is a denuclearised Korean Peninsula," he said. Tillerson left open to the North Koreans the possibility of talks with the United States, but he insisted the regime must first end its missile tests, which are banned under previous UN resolutions. With reporting by Reuters, TASS, AFP, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tillerson-lavrov-russia-united- states-sanctoins-ukraine-manila/28662535.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 Saakashvili Predicts Putin's 'Full Isolation,' Rise of Russian Opposition Aleksei Dzikavitski August 07, 2017 WARSAW -- Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president and ex-governor of Ukraine's Odesa region who was stripped last month of his Ukrainian citizenship, says Russian President Vladimir Putin will eventually face "full international isolation" as a result of tensions between Moscow and the West. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL's Russian Service on August 7, Saakashvili also predicted that political opposition forces "will certainly prevail" in Russia. "In the end, Putin will be in full international isolation because [the tension between Moscow and the West] is rolling down with increasing speed," Saakashvili said during a visit to Warsaw. "There is a serious opposition rising up inside Russia," Saakashvili continued. "I am referring to the youth that we saw in the streets recently following [calls to rally by opposition leader Aleksei] Navalny. They were not those well-to-do people who had come out on Bolotnaya [Square in 2012] for protests that were limited to Moscow and St. Petersburg." Rather, Saakashvili said, Russia's new "rising" opposition was made up of "poor but well educated and very well informed" Russians, "millions and millions of residents of Russia. And that is a very big force." Saakashvili acknowledged that Russia's opposition remained in the minority for now. But he said that together with those who passively support antigovernment protests, the opposition now had the moral support of a majority of Russians, "and they will certainly prevail." Saakashvili also echoed the concerns of Baltic leaders about Russia's joint military exercises in Belarus in September known as Zapad 2017, saying he thought Putin will leave thousands of Russian troops in Belarus after the exercises to establish a military outpost against neighboring NATO countries. "I think the most imminent threat [from Russia] is coming up against Belarus, because I think part of the military personnel and equipment will remain in Belarus after the exercises," Saakashvili told RFE/RL. "It is unlikely they will do anything during the exercises. But any trap might be expected after the exercises. I think they are considering the possibility of the complete occupation of Belarus, and possibly an annexation of that country. That would be yet another big crisis in the region." A Citizen Of Nowhere Saakashvili -- a longtime adversary of Putin who resigned as Odesa's regional governor in November 2016 -- was in the United States when Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, his former political ally, issued an executive order on July 26 that stripped him of his Ukrainian citizenship. Poroshenko's decision effectively left Saakashvili stateless. The former Georgian president lost his Georgian citizenship in 2015 after becoming Odesa's regional governor -- a post that required him to take Ukrainian citizenship -- because Georgia does not allow dual citizenship. Authorities in Tbilisi are now seeking Saakashvili's extradition on charges related to the violent dispersal of protesters when he was president and charges related to a raid on a private television station. He rejects those charges as politically motivated. Despite the revocation of his Ukrainian citizenship and Tbilisi's extradition requests, Saakashvili told RFE/RL that he was allowed to leave the United States last week and to enter Poland using his Ukrainian passport. "Obviously, not everyone accepts the whims of some people who have suddenly decided to act in a Soviet, dictatorial way," Saakashvili said. Saakashvili also rejected the notion that his Ukrainian passport was now "illegal," saying that he planned to challenge Poroshenko's order in a Ukrainian court and at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. "Illegal is what Poroshenko did," Saakashvili told RFE/RL. "Absolutely, he violated Ukraine's Constitution. He violated the law on citizenship. He violated the [United Nations'] 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. In other words, in a typical Soviet way, he violated everything that is possible to violate." Saakashvili also said that although he cannot seek political office in Ukraine without Ukrainian citizenship, his "political plans are linked only to Ukraine." "I must return to Ukraine and win back in court my rights," he said. But he made it clear that he intends first to travel inside the EU's Schengen zone where, in principle, he will not be required to present any travel documents. The former Georgian president said he first plans to travel across the European Union to "meet with politicians, journalists, and political analysts" and bolster his case. "I am preparing for a trial in Ukraine," he said. "We are currently preparing our judicial documents. Together with my lawyers, we are now deciding when I must return, the court where I must file the papers, and I am also consulting with my supporters about how to organize all that properly." "My goal here [in the EU] is to gain back my right to return to Ukraine," he said. "Of course, I have not forgotten Georgia, but Georgia will never be successful if Ukraine fails to get through. That is why [my plans] are linked to Ukraine, of course. And, of course, I believe that injustice has happened and it is my duty to return [to Ukraine] and claim my right before a court." Saakashvili told RFE/RL that he was not concerned about the current Georgian government's calls for his extradition to Tbilisi -- efforts that have already included contacts with the authorities in Kyiv and Warsaw. "No one in the world will ever accept those charges," he said. "The charges are so bizarre that whoever looks at them in detail will see they are totally ridiculous." "Ukraine's Prosecutor-General [Yuriy] Lutsenko travelled to Georgia himself, where he testified against those cases in court," Saakashvili continued, noting that Lutsenko twice refused to launch investigations against him on grounds that the charges were politically motivated. Written by Ron Synovitz in Prague Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-georgia- saakashvili-predicts-putin-full-isolation -rise-opposition/28663784.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia, India to Train Naval, Air Blockade During Joint Exercises Indra-2017 Sputnik News 14:37 07.08.2017 According to the press service of Russia's Eastern Military District, ships from the Russian and Indian navies will practice creating a partial naval and air blockade of the simulated enemy during the Indra-2017 military exercises. VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) Ships from the Russian and Indian navies will practice creating a partial naval and air blockade of the simulated enemy during the Indra-2017 joint military exercises, the press service of Russia's Eastern Military District said Monday. "When the practical part of the exercise is held, the ships of [Russia's] Pacific Fleet and the Indian Navy will fulfill the tasks of organizing joint air defense at the sea crossing and creating a partial naval and air blockade of the simulated enemy," the statement said. The naval portion of the Indra-2017 exercises will take place in the Peter the Great Gulf and at the Klerk range in Primorsky Territory in the Russian Far East. The crews will practice escorting ships, creating humanitarian corridors, transferring various cargoes on the move, and detaining and inspecting ships that are conventionally captured by pirates. In addition, a search will be carried out for a submarine of a simulated enemy and a counter-offensive naval battle. Practice for landing and occupation of the coastline with the use of assault landing ships is also expected. Pilots of naval aircraft will conduct helicopter exercises, specifically focusing on landing on the deck. The press service noted that artillery fire at air, sea and coastal targets will be conducted. The exercise will be completed with three destroyers, a large anti-submarine ship, a supply vessel, a diesel submarine from both sides. This year, Russian-Indian exercises will be held for the first time in all-encompassing format. Instead of separate naval, air and anti-terrorist exercises conducted in 2016, a single exercise will be carried out involving the Pacific Fleet, and personnel, weaponry and equipment of air and ground units of Russia's Eastern Military District. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian army forces strike last militant stronghold near Damascus Iran Press TV Mon Aug 7, 2017 4:20PM Syrian government forces have intensified shelling and airstrikes on the last militant stronghold near the capital city of Damascus as army soldiers and allied fighters from popular defense groups continue to make territorial gains against foreign-sponsored militant groups across the war-battered country. Local sources said elite units of the army, positioned on the strategic Mount Qasioun that overlooks Damascus, struck Jobar district, located some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) east of the Old City walls, as well as Ain Terma suburb, located 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) east of Old Damascus. Syrian army troops also struck militant outposts in Zamalka, located 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) northeast of Old Damascus, Harasta city and Kafr Batna town. Abu Obada al-Shami, a commander from the Takfiri Faylaq al-Rahman militant group, said the extremists had dug tunnels and fortified their positions in the Eastern Ghouta district in a bid to impede the government forces' advance. Meanwhile, Syrian Air Force jets bombarded Daesh positions in al-Bawlieh Mountain, Ma'adan subdistrict, al-Khamaiseh, al-Jaber and al-Numaisa districts south of the northern city of Raqqah. Elsewhere in Salamiyah district of the central province of Hama, Syrian military aircraft pounded Daesh position, inflicting heavy losses on their ranks. Syrian Air Force warplanes also carried out airstrikes against Daesh gathering points and fortifications in al-Khashabiyieh, al-Fasda, Abu Hubailat, Jana al-Albawi, al-Dukailiyah al-Shamaliyah and Salba districts, killing and wounding scores of terrorists. Furthermore, Syrian government forces regained control over Manoukh village in the eastern part of Homs Province after eliminating the last pockets of Daesh terrorists there. Syrian military aircraft also hit Daesh positions across the troubled eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, leaving many terrorists dead and injured. Syria has been fighting different foreign-sponsored militant and terrorist groups since March 2011. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimated last August that more than 400,000 people had been killed until then. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Hints at Military Operation Against Syrian Kurds By Dorian Jones August 07, 2017 Turkey is building up military forces on the Syrian border, while Turkish President Recep Erdogan steps up his rhetoric suggesting an imminent military operation into Syria. Ankara is reportedly courting Moscow for its support for a possible operation into Syria's Afrin enclave, which is now under the control of the Kurdish YPG militia. Ankara accuses the YPG, which controls large swathes of Syrian territory along its border, of being an offshoot of the PKK, which is fighting the Turkish state. "We will take important steps to implement the new campaigns in the near future," Erdogan declared Saturday to cheering supporters in the Turkish city of Malatya. "We would rather pay the price for foiling plans targeting our future and liberty in Syria and Iraq, than on our own soil." The prospect of a military operation has been praised across Turkey's pro-government media. "Our greatest advantage is the leadership of a president who sees this threat exactly ... and responds to it courageously, both by discourse and by action," wrote Mehmet Acer in the staunchly pro-Erdogan Yeni Safak. He welcomed "this new attack-based security approach, which we define as the 'Erdogan doctrine'." Erdogan is courting nationalist voters, with one eye on looming presidential and parliamentary elections which could be held as early as next year. The rising political rhetoric has been matched by a reported surge in attacks against the YPG in Afrin by elements of the Turkish backed Free Syrian Army (FSA). Turkish forces, as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, entered Syria backing elements of the FSA against both Islamic State and the YPG. The FSA is on the border with the Afrin enclave but so far further gains have been stalled. "Turkey's Operation Euphrates shield was stopped by moves by both United States and Russia," said retired senior Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen, who is now an regional analyst. Both Russia and the U.S. deployed military forces as a buffer against further gains by Turkish-backed forces in Syria. "The problem facing Turkey is Russia and the U.S. are stopping Turkey from intervening," said Semih Idiz, political columnist for the Al Monitor website. "They are agreed on an overriding agenda [of] defeating ISIS (Islamic State). Now Turkey has this Kurdish agenda and it does not have support of either Russia or the Untied States ... That is the dilemma facing Turkey." Moscow has deployed military forces in the YPG-controlled Afrin region, some of them reportedly close to the Turkish border. But, "Turkey sees a window of opportunity," said analyst Selcen. "Now there is a change on ground between Russia and U.S." Selcen said Moscow is infuriated by the growing military cooperation between the YPG and the U.S. to drive the Islamic State from its self-declared capital of Raqqa. The YPG makes up a large proportion of the Syrian Democratic Forces seeking to capture Raqqa, an operation that excludes the Syrian regime. Russian frustrations were heightened in June when a U.S. jet shot down a Syrian government fighter-bomber reportedly targeting SDF forces. Ankara has stepped up its diplomatic courting of Moscow, having announced plans last month to purchase an advanced Russia air defense system. The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusolgu, spoke on Sunday with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Manila. Turkish, Russian and Iranian officials are scheduled to hold a two day meeting on Syria beginning Tuesday in Tehran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Danville police say the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old rising high school senior early Sunday morning was likely gang related, but remain tight-lipped about the reasons fueling this speculation. It also appears that Nitaya Adams, shot following a disagreement while with a large crowd on Paxton Street, was not the intended target, said Danville Police Department Lt. Mike Wallace. She died around 3 a.m. Sunday after a witness rushed her by car to SOVAH Health, where she was pronounced dead. Elements suggest gang involvement, Wallace said, who refused to elaborate Monday. Multiple shots were fired, waking Paxton Street neighbors and hitting the windshields of cars parked nearby and lodging into the walls of area homes. Investigators are trying to determine not only the shooter but also the intended target, Wallace added, refusing to say whether the gunman was among the group surrounding Adams or was driving by in a vehicle. Adams death marks ninth homicide victim in Danville this year. That figure surpasses the number of murders at this point in 2016, when there were eight, Wallace said. As for the possibility of more shootings as a result of Sundays incident, police are always on the lookout for retaliation, Wallace said. You cant always predict them, though, he said. Danville residents are safe, but putting yourself in proximity to people committing crimes will increase your likelihood of getting hurt or killed, he said. Adams would have started her senior year at George Washington High School on Wednesday. Friends, who called her Bally, gathered by candlelight at Dayle Thomas Park on Green Street later Sunday night to memorialize her. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality warns that disruptive behavior during pipeline-related public hearings this week could precipitate early adjournment. The DEQ knows emotions run high about the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline. Thats partly because the agency itself has been criticized about its approach to reviewing the projects potential impacts to water quality. Rural property owners reliant on wells and springs, managers of public drinking water sources, environmental watchdogs, regional state legislators both Democrats and Republicans and the general manager and brewmaster for a Salem-based craft brewery have been among those expressing concerns that the pipeline could do lasting damage to the regions water quality. A July 27 letter to DEQ Director David Paylor from State Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, referenced these fears. Many citizens in this region rely heavily on the pristine, fresh mountain spring water for drinking water, Edwards wrote. Contamination of well water would be an extreme threat to health and safety and cause long term damage to the environment. Edwards noted too that pipeline-related sediment and pollution pose threats to the Roanoke River watershed, an important source of drinking water. DEQ has responded to critics by asserting that its environmental review of the proposed 42-inch diameter buried pipeline which would transport natural gas at high pressure will be unprecedented and thorough. This week, DEQ will hold two public hearings to solicit comment about draft conditions the agency might recommend if the State Water Control Board grants Mountain Valley Pipeline the Clean Water Act 401 water quality certification it needs to proceed with construction. The first hearing is scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at Radford University. DEQ said it chose Radford even though the city is not on a pipeline route because the university offered a venue with sufficient seating capacity. The Bondurant Auditorium in Preston Hall seats 1,500. The second public hearing will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday in Chatham at the Chatham High School auditorium, which seats 500. Participants must sign up to speak. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes. An anti-pipeline group called Walking the Line plans to hold peaceful protests outside both hearings, alternating silence with singing. It hopes large crowds will turn out to demonstrate to DEQ the breadth and depth of worries about water quality. If I told you someone was walking toward your well with poison in their hands, you would get up and go out there, right? asked Kay Ferguson, an organizer of the event. DEQ also will participate Thursday in two informal meetings. Paylor will speak and field questions about the agencys review of the Mountain Valley project. These meetings, hosted by Del. Greg Habeeb, R-Salem, and Del. Joseph Yost, R-Giles County, will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Newport Community Center in Giles County and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Cave Spring High School. Spoken comments offered during these two meetings will not be recorded by DEQ, so Habeeb and others recommend that people who want to ensure their comments are accepted by DEQ should either speak at a public hearing or submit written comments. Certification with conditions? Pipeline opponents have hoped DEQ would determine that the Mountain Valley project is destined to exceed water quality standards, a conclusion they believed might lead the agency to recommend against granting certification. In New York, the states Department of Environmental Conservation has twice denied water quality certification to interstate natural gas pipeline projects; those decisions have been appealed by the pipeline companies. Yet DEQs brochure about the upcoming public hearings includes a statement that seems to suggest the agency is unlikely to advocate for denying certification: DEQs preliminary decision is to recommend issuance of a Section 401 Certification with conditions. Proposed conditions would limit removal of streamside vegetation in areas not directly associated with construction activities, require a vegetation buffer between surface waters and vehicle fueling and storage of hazardous materials, develop plans for spill prevention control and water quality monitoring and require dye tracing where indicated to identify the direction of flow of aquifers in karst landscapes characterized by sinkholes, caves and sinking streams. DEQ is working separately on plans to control erosion and sediment for the Mountain Valley project, which would cross hundreds of water bodies, climb and descend steep slopes and travel through thousands of acres of soils classified as having the potential for severe erosion. The agency said this weeks hearings are not intended to gather comments about erosion and sediment controls. DEQ spokeswoman Ann Regn said DEQ will accept input on the erosion and sediment control plans through Oct. 13. The agency says its erosion and sediment plans and stormwater management review will address every foot of land disturbance related to pipeline construction, including access roads and construction lay-down areas for both the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the separate but similar Atlantic Coast Pipeline. DEQ hired a consultant to help with these reviews and anticipates related costs will total about $2.2 million, an expense the pipeline companies ultimately will cover. As proposed, the $3.5 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline would travel about 303 miles from Wetzel County, W.Va, to terminate at the Transco pipeline in Pittsylvania County. Its 106-mile path through Virginia would burrow through Giles, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke and Franklin counties. As an interstate pipeline, it needs approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. On June 23, FERC released a final environmental impact statement for the project. Mountain Valley and FERC have reported that the pipeline would not have significant long-term effects on surface waters, groundwater or wetlands. DEQ came under fire in May after the department reported it had miscommunicated when advising that it would scrutinize each wetlands and stream crossing by the two pipelines. The agency clarified that it will rely on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting process to examine stream and wetlands crossings. DEQ said it would focus instead on potential threats to water quality from other aspects of pipeline construction and operation. Critics responded that the Corps Nationwide Permit is a streamlined blanket permit process that would not effectively evaluate long-term and cumulative effects to streams and wetlands. A paramount concern Meanwhile, Edwards and others, including Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, contend that DEQ should suspend the water quality certification public comment period, currently scheduled to end Aug. 22, until the agency has more information in hand. Both Edwards and Rasoul cited a recommendation last year from the Virginia Department of Health for a survey examining areas within 1,000 feet of the pipeline to identify people and properties that use local and regional groundwater and surface water for recreation or human consumption. Dwayne Roadcap, a division director for the department, observed in December that protecting water quality for these property owners is a paramount concern. An August 1 letter to Paylor from Roanoke Countys board of supervisors also referenced the survey recommended by the Department of Health. The board asked DEQ to extend the public comment period by 45 days to allow time to complete that survey. FERCs final environmental impact statement for the Mountain Valley project included a condition that the company identify the location of all water wells, springs and other drinking water sources within 150 feet of construction work areas and above-ground facilities. In karst landscapes, FERC recommended the distance for identifying water sources increase to 500 feet. On July 20, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation observed that the 500-foot criteria was arbitrary because unanticipated releases in karst landscapes have the potential to travel more than 500 feet and impact wells, cave streams and springs. EDEN, N.C. Sabrina Gilleylen had a lot to celebrate last Friday, July 28. Not only was it her 35th birthday, she was also cutting a ribbon for her new business, Dudley Concepts Salon, with friends and family traveling hundreds of miles to join her. This is the best birthday gift I could ever get in my life, said the Mississippi native. My life is complete. Gilleylen was living in Atlanta, where she was a celebrity hairstylist for television, working with The Walking Dead, Tyler Perry, Greenleaf and more. Then I was in three car accidents in one year, and I said, what can I do if anything was ever to happen again to where I cant use my hands, she said. Her answer? Invest. Gilleylen studied with Joe Dudley, president of Dudley Products in Greensboro, a manufacturer and distributor of hair and skin products for the African American community. He was in Kernersville, and he said, If you really want to do this, move to North Carolina, she said. And then, the church that I go to by me being obedient to the Word and listening to it, a provision was made and now Im in Mr. Dudleys mentorship program. and within four months, I own my own business. Her mentor had opened 36 salons under the name Dudley Q. With the company now in its 50th year, it is starting things over, like rebranding the salon franchises as Dudley Concepts Salons with Gilleylens Eden location being the very first one to open under the new name. Its so exciting. Im the owner. Im supposed to own four, but I told them to let me build this one, and then Im going to invest in others in Virginia, High Point and Greensboro, she said. But this is the first baby. And as soon as I get eight [employees] in there, I can start on the next one. Gilleylens best friend, Crystal Jones, moved from Mississippi last Thursday to begin working as the salon manager. She moved because she believes in this, the concept and the dream. And shes a stylist. While Dudley may be geared toward African American hair, Gilleylen said, Im not just for black, white, Indian Im for everybody. Dudley Concepts Salon is located at 350A W. Kings Highway in Eden, near the Salvation Army retail store. The salon is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 336-627-7600. VANCOUVER, Aug. 8, 2017 - Bravura Ventures Corp. (CSE: BVQ; OTC: BRVVF; FRA: 23B) ("Bravura" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the addition of Mr. Jerry Huang to the board of the Company. Mr. Huang, CPA. MBA., started his career at Tier 1 bank in Canada managing over $120M for HNW clients before joining executive roles at prominent junior mining companies. Junior mining companies he was part of included: TNR Gold (JV with McEwan Mining on large $16B copper project Los Azules) and International Lithium, the first lithium company on TSXV in 2010 which received IPO funding from the largest battery company in China. He continues to serve in corporate development and investor relations roles with a mining service company and producing miners with combined annual revenues of over $100M. The Company would also like to announce plans to carry out an initial exploration program on the Company's Rabbit Cobalt-Gold-Nickel-Silver Property (collectively, the "Rabbit Cobalt Property" or the "Property"), located 55km south of Cobalt, Ontario. The work program will consist of geologic mapping, prospecting and sampling focused on the Rabbit Lake Occurrence which is a mineral showing described in the Ontario Mineral Deposit Inventory. The work will be aimed at defining the existing mineral showing and identifying additional mineralization and favourable geology for follow up testing. The program is expected to start in late August. The Company continues to explore other opportunities within the same active Canadian region in an effort to increase shareholder value. About the Rabbit Cobalt Property: Location The Rabbit Cobalt property is located 14 km southeast of the town of Temagami near the eastern border of Ontario. The district is mining friendly having a rich history of cobalt and silver production. 55km north of the property is Cobalt, Ontario. The epicentre of past producing cobalt mines in Ontario. Property Status and Configuration The approximately 1,040 ha Rabbit Cobalt property is comprised of 65 claim units owned by Caprock Ventures. Access and Infrastructure The Property is accessible via Rabbit Lake which is accessed by 7 km of well maintained gravel surface road leaving highway 11, 3.5 km south of the town of Temagami. The property is located 10 km from rail and 5 km from power distribution lines. Mineralization Cobalt, gold and nickel mineralization is hosted within a fracture zone in diabase approximately 18 inches in width. The fracture is described as being at the contact between the mafic intrusive and the Gowganda Formation. A grab sample collected by A.G. Burrows returned an assay of 8.76% Cobalt, and 6.56% Nickel. The grab samples are selective samples, and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the property. History Sporadic exploration of the property has occurred since at least 1955 with minimal focus on cobalt mineralization in more recent years. In 2002 JML Resources flew airborne geophysics over several prospects in the area looking for diamondiferous kimberlites and partially covered the property. Tres-Or Resources in 2005 was also exploring the area for diamondiferous kimberlites. Bravura Ventures Corp. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BRAVURA VENTURES CORP. "Greg Burns" _______________________ Greg Burns, Director Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Historical data for the prospects were performed under supervision of a Professional Engineer or a geologist, and believed to be of good quality, with drill core and underground sampling results from fire assay analyses by B.C. Certified Assayers. However, under NI43-101 policy historical information included in this release has not been verified by a QP, and as such cannot be relied upon and must be treated as historical in nature. This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements that address capital costs, recovery, grade, and timing of work or plans at the Company's mineral projects. Forward-looking information may be, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "planned", "continue", "expect", "thought to", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "opportunity", "further" and others, or which describes a goal or action, event or result such as "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be undertaken, occur or achieved. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding expectations of management regarding the acquisition of the Property and includes that address future mineral production, reserve potential, potential size or scale of a mineralized zone, potential expansion of mineralization, potential type(s) of mining, potential grades as well as to the Company's ability to fund ongoing expenditure, or assumptions about future metal or mineral prices, currency exchange rates, metallurgical recoveries and grades, favourable operating conditions, access, political stability, obtaining or renewal of existing or required mineral titles, licenses and permits, labour stability, market conditions, availability of equipment, accuracy of any mineral resources, anticipated costs and expenditures. Assumptions may be based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to materially differ, and/or any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that the Company may not have the funds necessary to make its payments pursuant to the Agreement, that the CSE may not approve the transaction, and other factors beyond the control of the Company. Additional information on risks and uncertainties can be found within Financial Statements and other materials found on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Bravura has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Bravura withholds any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. SOURCE Bravura Ventures Corp. Contact 800 - 1199 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3T5w, Tel.: 604.283.1722 / Fax: 1.888.241.5996 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug 8, 2017) - Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (NYSE:FSM) (TSX:FVI) announces that it will release its financial statements and MD&A for the second quarter after the market closes on Monday, August 14, 2017. A conference call to discuss the financial and operational results will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific / 12:00 p.m. Eastern. Hosting the call will be Jorge A. Ganoza, President and CEO, and Luis D. Ganoza, Chief Financial Officer. Shareholders, analysts, media and interested investors are invited to listen to the live conference call by logging onto the webcast at: http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=176090 or over the phone by dialing just prior to the starting time. Conference call details: Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m. Pacific / 12:00 p.m. Eastern Dial in number (Toll Free): +1.866.682.6100 Dial in number (International): +1.862.255.5401 Replay number (Toll Free): +1.877.481.4010 Replay number (International): +1.919.882.2331 Replay Passcode: 10421 Playback of the conference call will be available until August 31, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Playback of the webcast will be available until November 17, 2017. In addition, a transcript of the call will be archived in the company's website: https://www.fortunasilver.com/investors/financials/2017/. About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Fortuna is a growth oriented, precious metal producer focused on mining opportunities in Latin America. The Company's primary assets are the Caylloma silver mine in southern Peru, the San Jose silver-gold mine in Mexico and the Lindero gold project in Argentina. The Company is selectively pursuing acquisition opportunities throughout the Americas and in select other areas. ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY Carlos Baca, Investor Relations manager Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward looking statements which constitute "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "Forward looking Statements"). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward looking Statements. The Forward looking Statements in this news release may include, without limitation, statements about the Company's plans for its mines and mineral properties; the Company's business strategy, plans and outlook; the merit of the Company's mines and mineral properties; mineral resource and reserve estimates; timelines; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; expenditures; approvals and other matters. Often, but not always, these Forward looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as "will", "will be" or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward looking Statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; changes in prices for silver and other metals; technological and operational hazards in Fortuna's mining and mine development activities; risks inherent in mineral exploration; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries; governmental and other approvals; political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active; labor relations issues; as well as those factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward looking Statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to expectations regarding mine production costs; expected trends in mineral prices and currency exchange rates; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral resource and reserve estimates; that the Company's activities will be in accordance with the Company's public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained; that there will be no significant disruptions affecting operations and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward looking Statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that Forward looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward looking Statements. As anglers on the Susquehanna river, and as citizens of Pennsylvania, we are concerned at EPA Secretary Scott Pruitts attempt to roll back the Clean Water Rule. The rule was enacted after an extensive period of public comment, and over 400 stakeholder meetings were held. The rule restores historic coverage of small streams, it does not expand them, nor does it require every ditch that is dug undergo an environmental review. It is a commonsense law that protects the drinking water of the 63 percent of Pennsylvanians who rely on drinking water sourced from the small streams that the rule was designed to protect. When small streams are protected, the benefits are seen in the larger bodies of water, like the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, all the way to the Chesapeake Bay. Our members rely on these rivers for their angling recreation. Anglers are a diverse group, and any blanket statement will be flawed, but recreational sportfishing is an economic driver here in Pennsylvania. A 2011 United States Fish and Wildlife report stated that 4.6 million Pennsylvanians participated in angling and spent $458 million on their sport. From the wading angler to the river enthusiast in the newest jet boat, anglers spend money ... but spending goes down when fishing success goes down. The reasons that the Susquehanna has suffered from a downturn in smallmouth bass populations are not fully understood, since there may be many factors at play. Recently, the outlook has gotten brighter, with better spawns and more age group diversity being seen. But we know that all of this is moot if we dont continue to protect the smaller tributaries of the river. We need to get this right, and continue to get it right, for the river to have any chance to return to the world class smallmouth bass fishery it once was. During several lean years, when the fishing was adversely impacted, we noticed a drop in membership renewals, and in overall use at our club. Conversely, as the fish population improved, interest increased as evidenced by our membership. The money spent on fishing recreation is not a given. If there are no fish to pursue, interest wanes and the economic benefits dry up. All of the above statements do not even address the economic impact quality fishing would have on out-of-state anglers. Making fishing more attractive would bring in outside dollars to the Pennsylvania economy. So it seems to us, the board of the Overview Anglers Club, that the benefits of the Clean Water Rule are undeniable. Pennsylvanians drinking water is protected, and anglers of all varieties benefit from clean water. The states economy benefits from the money spent on fishing. It seems to us there is no reason to weaken water protection. The Susquehanna needs our help, and keeping small tributaries running clean is no small part of keeping this great resource continuing to be a great resource. Vancouver, BC (FSCwire) - Miranda Gold Corp. ("Miranda") (TSX-V: MAD) is pleased to announce that John Anderson has agreed to join Mirandas Board of Directors. John Anderson is the Chairman of Purplefish Capital Management Limited (Purplefish), an independent Corporate Finance Advisory Firm with offices in Vancouver, Geneva, and Beijing. They also have strategic relationships with groups focused on Chinese markets. Purplefish works with companies to assist them in achieving strategic and financial objectives, and attract capital for business development and growth. Over past 25 years John has been instrumental in founding, helping found, and managing numerous companies - and successfully raising over $500 million in equity for a number of public and private companies in the United States, Canada and Europe - and has been directly responsible for numerous IPOs and cross-border public listings. His specialty is identifying undervalued opportunities and investing capital into these initiatives, and driving marketing and sales with a strong focus on corporate development. Currently he is the chairman of Triumph Gold Corp. (TSX-V: TIG) (formerly Northern Freegold Resources), and a director of American Eagle Energy, Huakan International Mining, Parallel Mining Corp. John anticipated the recent surge of company interest moving aggressively into the Yukon and helped position Triumph Gold for success with a major company in this popular jurisdiction. John is clearly a powerhouse entrepreneur and he readily translates his enthusiasm and commitment to every endeavor he involves himself in. Joseph Hebert, Chief Executive Officer of Miranda comments: Besides being a pleasure and inspiration to work with. John is a key addition to our Board. He will help provide Miranda ideas, and a vision for growth and business development, as well as expose Miranda to new shareholders and new sources of capital. About Miranda Miranda is a gold Prospect Generator active in Colombia with a production joint venture in Alaska. Our emphasis is on acquiring gold exploration projects with world-class discovery potential. Miranda performs its own grass roots exploration and then employs a joint venture business model on its projects to maximize investor exposure to discovery and minimize financial risk. Miranda has ongoing relationships with Gold Torrent, Inc. and IAMGold Corp.. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joseph Hebert, Chief Executive Officer +1-775-340-0450 Email: joseph.hebert75@gmail.com www.mirandagold.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. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/miranda08082017.pdfSource: Miranda Gold Corp. (TSX Venture:MAD) To follow Miranda Gold Corp. on your favorite social media platform or financial websites, please click on the icons below. Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2017 Filing Services Canada Inc. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug 8, 2017) - Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSX VENTURE:MUN) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company is mobilizing for the Phase II drill program at the Borsko Jezero license ("Borsko") where drilling is expected to commence in August. Borsko is one of the four licenses being sole funded by JOGMEC as part of the Amended Earn-in Agreement announced August 2016. Borsko is located in the central portion of the Timok Magmatic Complex ("Timok") and is directly west of the Serbian state-operated producing mines, RTB Group's Bor copper porphyry mine and the Veliki Krivelj copper-gold porphyry mine. HIGHLIGHTS The Borsko Phase II drill program is in follow-up to the Phase I drill program completed in May 2017 which tested two of the six generated drill targets. The Phase II drill program will test Target 1 with four diamond drill holes totalling approximately 3000 m (see Figure 1). The main goal of this drill program is to further test for epithermal high-sulphidation copper-gold mineralisation stepping out from the alteration intersected in BJ-06 and BJ-07 which began at approximately 580 m depth. Teo Dechev, CEO & President of Mundoro commented, "With our partner JOGMEC, we are looking forward to the Phase II step-out drill program to test Target 1 with 200 m step-out holes to the north, south, west and east. Mundoro will have an active H2-2017 field season comprising of the two JOGMEC funded drill programs: (i) Borsko Phase II step-out drill program in order to test for the epithermal high-sulphidation copper-gold mineralization, and (ii) Zeleznik Phase III fence drill program in order to further delineate the mineralized zones. As of Q1-2017, Mundoro had approximately $4.2 mln in cash and is debt free." Figure 1: Location Map of Borsko Phase II Drill Program Summary of Borsko Drill Program Core logging and assay results from BJ-06 and BJ-07 highlighted important findings: The highest concentration of geochemical anomalism in both BJ-06 and 07 is situated in the uppermost 30 m of the lithocap. The highest gold and copper values are related to breccia and veins within and cross-cutting the lithocap. The contact between the lithocap and overlying chlorite-smectite zone is a replacement front, as defined by the narrow transitional alteration zone and the magnetite remnants in the uppermost 1 to 2 m of the advanced argillic lithocap (see Figure 2). A similar abrupt vertical change from advanced argillic to chloritic alteration appears to correlate with the tops of the Cukaru Peki (approximately 10 km to the southeast) and Bor epithermal high-sulphidation copper-gold orebodies(approximately 4 km to the east) all within the Timok Magmatic Belt. Interpretation of the geology and alteration encountered in the Borsko Phase I drilling program highlights the uppermost part of the lithocap, immediately below the less-altered volcanic sequence, as the prime target for epithermal high-sulphidation copper-gold orebodies of the Bor and Cukaru Peki type. In order to further test the Borsko Target 1 for its copper-gold potential, the Company has designed the Phase II step-out drilling program to attain vectoring information towards a epithermal high-sulphidation system. The goal is to use geochemical and alteration information obtained in the four Phase II drill holes (drilled in four quadrants) to vector towards a epithermal high-sulphidation centre, if it is not directly intersected by Phase II drilling. For further description of the Borkso geology and Phase I drill program, see press release from June 7, 2017 at www.mundoro.com. Figure 2: Cross Section of Borsko Target 1 Next Steps The Company expects to complete the drilling in Q4-2017 and to release the results around year-end. On behalf of the Company, Teo Dechev, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director About Mundoro Capital Inc. Mundoro is a Canadian mineral exploration and development public company focused on building value for its shareholders through directly investing in mineral projects that have the ability to generate future returns for shareholders. The Company currently holds a diverse portfolio of projects in two European countries as well as an investment in a producing gold mine in Bulgaria and a feasibility stage gold project in China. The Company holds eight 100% owned projects in Serbia, the four Timok North Projects are in option to JOGMEC, and the four Timok South Projects are being advanced by Mundoro. Mundoro's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "MUN". Qualified Person Technical information contained in this Press Release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. G. Magaranov, P. Geo., Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Sampling and Analysis Drill hole orientations were surveyed at approximately 30 metre intervals. Company personnel monitored the drilling, with core delivered daily to the Company's core storage facility in the town of Bor, where it was logged, cut and sampled. Core recovery is recorded as 95-100% in most intervals, with the exception of the more intensely tectonized sections. The samples were collected in accordance with the Company's protocols that are compatible with accepted industry procedures and best practice standards. Most samples through the mineralized intervals were 1 m in length, up to a maximum 2 metres. In sections of poorly mineralized or unaltered and unmineralised rocks one 2 meter sample was collected at every 15 meter core. The samples were submitted to ALS Laboratory in Bor, Serbia, for sample preparation and analysis. Drill core samples are assayed using 50-gram fire assay with atomic absorption finish and ME-MS61 by ALS Romania. In addition to the laboratory's internal QA/QC procedures, the Company conducted its own QA/QC with the systematic inclusion of certified reference materials every 20 samples, blank samples every 20 samples and field duplicates at every 25 samples. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof, and include the following: completion of the earn-in expenditures and options by JOGMEC; and completion of a definitive joint venture agreement by the parties. The material assumptions that were applied in making the forward looking statements in this News Release include expectations as to the mineral potential of the Timok North Properties, the Company's future strategy and business plan and execution of the Company's existing plans. We caution readers of this News Release not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements contained in this News Release, as there can be no assurance that they will occur and they are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include general economic and market conditions, exploration results, commodity prices, changes in law, regulatory processes, the status of Mundoro's assets and financial condition, actions of competitors and the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this News Release and the Board undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and for a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Vancouver, August 8, 2017 - Nortec Minerals Corp. . (TSX-V: NVT; OTC-PK: NMNZF) (the "Company" or "Nortec") - Nortec has signed a diamond drilling contract with Energold Drilling (EMEA) Limited, an international drilling company based in United Kingdom with extensive experience in West Africa. Drilling on the Tomboko Permit (figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) is expected to commence in three weeks. Nortec's experienced management and technical team are on site to monitor and supervise the program. All access roads and drill pads have been constructed in preparation. The Company will issue a news release on the actual commencement of this first phase drilling program. The program will consist of 19 to 31 drill holes with total meterage ranging between 1700 to 2500 meters. Systematic drilling will be carried out on the Tom-1 North, Tom 1 South and Tom-2 targets on the Tomboko Permit. Nortec had planned to drill the Tomboko Project with a reverse circulation (RC) drill but the program was delayed and with the onset of the rainy season RC drilling was not practical so the decision was made to use a diamond drill which has superior performance in wet conditions. Nortec signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire an 80% interest in pro-rata stages in the Tomboko Gold Property, held by The Golden Rule Limited (TGR). An Amendment to the Definitive Agreement was signed extending the due dates for completion of the Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 exploration programs by 6 months to December 31, 2017, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 respectively. Nortec will also earn an 80% interest in all of TGR's interests in other exploration permits located in Guinea. The properties consist of the 100% interest in the Tomboko permit, a 100% interest in the Diguifara Permit and minority interests in the Badamako and the Kouroussa permits. These land holdings cover prospective ground on three separate prolific mineralized trends. Details on the geology, geochemical soil, termite and rock sampling surveys on the Tomboko, Diguifara, Badamako and Kouroussa permits can be referred to in the Company's January 11, February 10, April 12 and June 26, 2017 news releases. Work carried out by TGR (2009 - 2012) consisting of termite mound and pit sampling (over 10,000 samples) plus detailed geological mapping delineated three target areas for initial drilling: Tom-1, Tom-2 and Tom-3. Termite mound sampling returned high gold values of 7.1 g/t, 3.5 g/t, 2.7 g/t 2.3 g/t, 2.2 g/t, 1.8 g/t, 1.7 g/t, 1.6 g/t, 1.5 g/t, 1.4 g/t, 1.2 g/t and 1.1 g/t (Figure 3). Geochemical soil anomalies were delineated over several kilometres on all three target areas defined by a >100 ppb gold contour. Outcrop grab sampling, consisting of 65 samples, on the Tom-1 Zone-North prospect returned high grade gold values of 84.6 g/t, 35.8 g/t, 13.9 g/t, 5.8 g/t, 4.7 g/t and 2.5 g/t. The objective of the rock geochemical sampling was to test various rock types that are associated with the NW-trending termite gold anomalies. Over 9779 termite mound samples and 212 bedrock samples were collected and analysed for gold. Gold assay results rock, soil, pit and termite mound sampling returned values ranging from detection limit for the respective analyses type up to and including the maximum values listed above for each sampling type. Note that grab samples may not necessarily be representative of the rock unit or the mineralization style being sampled (Figure 2 and Re: news releases dated January 11, February 10, 2017). Mohan R. Vulimiri, M.Sc., P.Geo, Director of Nortec and CEO of Nortec Minerals, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Vulimiri has approved the corporate and technical content contained in this press release. All the bedrock and termite mound samples were analysed by SGS Labs, an accredited laboratory in Bamako, Mali with a blank inserted in every 20th sample for quality control. Mr. Simon Meadows Smith, FIMMM, FGS, of SEMS Exploration has also been contracted to complete a Technical Report compliant with NI 43-101 standards on the Tomboko Permit. The Report is in process. About Nortec Minerals Corp. Nortec is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company has a 49% interest in the Tammela Gold & Lithium Project in South-West Finland. Avalon Minerals, a public Australian mining company has earned the 51% interest and is carrying out the 29% Stage 2 earn-in interest on the Tammela Project. Avalon has completed more than 3,000 meters diamond drilling on the Kietyonmaki lithium prospect and the Satulinmaki and Riukka prospects that comprise the Tammela Project. Detailed information on the Company's projects have been posted on the Company's website www.nortecminerals.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Nortec Minerals Corp. "Mohan R. Vulimiri" Mohan R. Vulimiri, CEO and Chairman The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept the responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This press release contains certain forward looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays and uncertainties not under the Company's control which may cause actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performances or expectations implied by these forward looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1: Location Map. Guinea, West Africa Click Image To View Full Size Figure 2: Outcrop Grab Sampling Results - Tom 1 North Target and Termite and Soil Geochemical Anomalies, Tom 1 North, Tom 1 South and Tom 3 targets - Tomboko Permit. Note that grab samples may not necessarily be representative of the rock unit or the mineralization style being sampled. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 3: Outcrop Grab Sampling Results and Termite and Soil Geochemical Anomalies and interpreted A-B cross-section with proposed drill holes - Tom 1 North Target, Tomboko Permit. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 4, Locations of planned drill holes, Tomboko Permit. Copyright (c) 2017 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. TSX: ASO AIM: ASO TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Avesoro Resources Inc. ("Avesoro" or the "Company"), the TSX and AIM listed West African gold producer, provides the following clarifications as to the Directors' and significant shareholder's holdings in the Company. As at the date of his appointment to the Board on 15 July 2016, Mr Mehmet G?nal, Non-Executive Chairman of the Company (the "Chairman"), held no common shares in the Company ("Shares") in his own name and through his shareholding in MNG Gold Jersey Limited (renamed Avesoro Jersey Ltd, "Avesoro Jersey") had an indirect beneficial interest in 602,622,410 Shares representing approximately 50.1 per cent of the Company's issued share capital. As at the date of his appointment to the Board on 15 July 2016, Mr Serhan Umurhan, Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "CEO"), held no Shares in his own name and through his shareholding in Avesoro Jersey had an indirect beneficial interest in 19,866,673 Shares representing approximately 1.7 per cent of the Company's issued share capital. On 29 July 2016 following a corporate restructuring of Avesoro Jersey and its holding company, ultimate control of Avesoro Jersey was transferred from the Chairman to Mr Murathan G?nal, his adult son. Following this restructuring, Mr Murathan G?nal held an indirect beneficial interest in 642,355,756 Shares representing approximately 53.4 per cent of the Company's issued share capital and Mr Mehmet G?nal no longer had any interest in the Shares. The CEO maintained his 1.7 per cent indirect beneficial interest in the Shares. On 31 October 2016, the indirect beneficial ownership of Avesoro Jersey changed, such that Mr Murathan G?nal decreased his indirect beneficial interest in the Shares to 622,489,083 Shares representing approximately 51.7 per cent of the Company's issued share capital. The CEO maintained his 1.7 per cent indirect beneficial interest in the Shares. Upon completion of a fundraise by the Company on 6 December 2016, Avesoro Jersey increased its shareholding in the Company by 3,250,000,000 Shares to 3,912,222,429 Shares representing approximately 73.5 per cent of the Company's issued share capital. As a result, Mr Murathan G?nal's indirect beneficial interest in the Shares increased to 3,677,489,083 Shares representing approximately 69.1 per cent of the Company's issued share capital and the CEO's indirect beneficial interest in the Shares increased to 117,366,673 Shares representing approximately 2.2 per cent of the Company's issued share capital. As at the date of this announcement, the beneficial interests of the aforementioned individuals in the Shares are: Individual Direct holding Indirect holding Total beneficial holding Mr Mehmet G?nal (Non-Executive Chairman) 0 0 0 Mr Murathan G?nal 0 3,677,489,083 (69.1%) 3,677,489,083 (69.1%) Mr Serhan Umurhan (Chief Executive Officer) 8,010,0001 (0.15%) 117,366,673 (2.2%) 125,376,673 (2.35%) _________________________________ 1 As disclosed by the Company on 6 December 2016. About Avesoro Resources Inc. The Company's assets include the New Liberty Gold Mine in Liberia (the "New Liberty Gold Mine," "New Liberty" or the "mine") which has an estimated proven and probable mineral reserve of 8.5 Mt with 924,000 ounces of gold grading 3.4 g/t and an estimated measured and indicated mineral resource of 9,796 Kt with 1,143,000 ounces of gold grading 3.63 g/t and an estimated inferred mineral resource of 5,730 Kt with 593,000 ounces of gold grading 3.2 g/t. A Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") has been completed, the first gold pour has taken place and commercial production has been declared. The foregoing mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and additional information in connection therewith are set out in the Company's technical report dated March 25, 2015 and entitled "New Liberty Gold Project, Bea Mountain Mining Licence Southern Block, Liberia, West Africa, Definitive Project Plan. The New Liberty Gold Mine is located within the Southern Block of the 100% owned Bea Mountain mining licence. This licence covers 478 km and has a 25 year, renewable, mineral development agreement. The Bea Mountain mining license also hosts additional gold projects of Ndablama, Gondoja, Weaju and Leopard Rock which are the focus of exploration programs during 2016. Ndablama has an indicated mineral resource of 386,000 ounces of gold grading 1.6 g/t and inferred mineral resource of 515,000 ounces of gold grading 1.7 g/t and Weaju has an inferred mineral resource of 178,000 ounces of gold grading 2.1 g/t. The Yambesei (473 km2), Archaen West (56 km2), Mabong (36.6 km2) and Mafa West (15.6 km2) licences will also be subject to preliminary reconnaissance geological work. The foregoing mineral resource estimates and additional information in connection therewith are set out in the Company's technical report dated December 1, 2014 and entitled "Ndablama and Weaju Gold Projects, Bea Mountain Mining Licence, Northern Block, Technical Report on Mineral Resources" ("Ndablama and Weaju Technical Report 2014"). The Company also has a gold exploration permit in Cameroon. NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name Mehmet Nazif G?nal 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Director and Non- Executive Chairman b) Initial notification/ Amendment Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Avesoro Resources Inc. b) LEI N/A 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification code Common shares of no par value ("Shares") ISIN for Avesoro Resources Inc. common shares: CA05366A1049 b) Nature of the transaction 1) Indirect beneficial interest in the Shares acquired pursuant to the subscription of Shares by Avesoro Jersey Ltd 2) Disposal of indirect beneficial interest in the Shares pursuant to the disposal of shares in Avesoro Jersey Ltd c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 1) 3.21p 1) 602,622,410 2) * 2) 602,622,410 * N/A Disposal of shares in Avesoro Jersey Ltd at nominal value d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price See 4 c) above e) Date of the transaction 1) 15 July 2016 2) 29 July 2016 f) Place of the transaction Off market transactions 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name Serhan Umurhan 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Director and Chief Executive Officer b) Initial notification/ Amendment Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Avesoro Resources Inc. b) LEI N/A 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification code Common shares of no par value ("Shares") ISIN for Avesoro Resources Inc. common shares: CA05366A1049 b) Nature of the transaction 1) Indirect beneficial interest in the Shares acquired pursuant to the subscription of Shares by Avesoro Jersey Ltd 2) Increase in indirect beneficial interest in the Shares pursuant to the subscription of Shares by Avesoro Jersey Ltd c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 1) 3.21p 1) 19,866,673 2) 1.5p 2) 97,500,000 d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price See 4 c) above e) Date of the transaction 1) 15 July 2016 2) 6 December 2016 f) Place of the transaction Off market transactions SOURCE Avesoro Resources Inc. Dear Editor: Cumberland Countys 2017 Comprehensive Plan, at www.ccpa.net, addresses the themes "conserve, grow and connect." As the fastest growing county in Pennsylvania, with low unemployment and a solid economy, we have the opportunity to demand that new development is good for the environment, the community and the economy (a triple bottom line). As part of the comprehensive plan, a survey was completed by 2,992 citizens. Maintaining and developing parks, trails and greenways and preserving farmland were all priorities. In the area of economic development, 65 percent believe the county has too many warehouses, and 95 percent cited reusing existing developed sites as important. In January 2017, I completed an inventory of occupied and vacant warehouses in North Middleton, South Middleton, Dickinson, West Pennsboro and Penn townships; and Carlisle Borough's third and fourth annex using advertisements, tax records, Google Earth and site visits. Of the total of 25,127,073 square feet constructed, six new vacant warehouses contained 3,704,270 square feet (14.7 percent). An additional 10,824,748 square feet of warehouse construction is in the planning process in areas already zoned industrial in these townships. This will result in a total of 35,951,821 square feet of constructed warehouse space, or a 30 percent increase over what exists today, adding directly to the traffic congestion and poor air quality. Rezoning agricultural and residential property to accommodate warehouse development in our western townships should be stopped. While the county plan can serve as a guide, it is up to each township supervisor to try and fulfill what the citizens of Cumberland County are overwhelming asking for: planned growth that meets the triple bottom line of good for the environment, good for the community and good for the economy. We should demand no less of ourselves as we seek to preserve and grow our county for future generations. Ed Franco Plainfield Election results can change in just minutes and have major political ramifications nationwide. While traditional reporting tries to account for as many of those nuances as possible, sometimes the most immediate coverage comes in the form of just 280 characters. Louisiana public schools are starting the 2017-18 academic year anew, and students will not be the only ones facing a new challenge.After a four-year moratorium, around 15,000 of the state's roughly 50,000 teachers will again have their annual job reviews linked to how students fare on key tests.The most controversial part of the evaluations has been sidelined since the 2012-13 school year during the state's move to tougher academic standards, including Common Core.The idea was that, since students faced unfamiliar and more rigorous exams, it was unfair to tie their performance to a teacher's job status. Now that the timeout is over, the soon-to-be revived test score component is just as controversial as ever.Backers call the evaluations a way to help ensure quality teachers, and that repeated delays in using test score data were becoming a problem."Evaluations are a critical part of overall accountability," said Brigitte Nieland, who follows public school issues for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.However, the sponsor of the 2010 state law that requires the job checks has questions about connecting a teacher's annual job review to how students do in the classroom."We did it hoping it was going to work, but I am still not convinced it works," said state Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe and a veteran educator. "It doesn't do any good to say a teacher is good or bad if they are not good or bad."Hoffmann's bill was part of a wave of public school changes enacted under former Gov. Bobby Jindal.The idea is to measure the impact a teacher has on student learning by comparing new test scores to previous ones, and whether students met expected gains.The review is called the Value Added Model, or VAM, and is used in various forms in other states, not just Louisiana. It typically applies to math, English, science and social studies teachers.Others, like art and music teachers, are subject to job reviews split between classroom observations and student learning targets -- academic goals agreed to in advance by teachers and principals.Under the original plan, half of other teachers reviews would be linked to how students perform on exams and half on classroom observations. That formula changed last year, when test results were still being used only as advisory material in rating teachers. The new rules require that 35 percent of a teacher's rating comes from exam scores, 15 percent from learning targets and 50 percent from traditional observations.They were established by groups that rarely agree on the issue, including LABI, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, the Louisiana Association of Educators, the Louisiana School Boards Association, the Council for a Better Louisiana Louisiana, superintendents and Gov. John Bel Edwards.Despite the compromise, critics say the reviews remain flawed."I think it will be controversial," LAE President Debbie Meaux said.Meaux said that, in some cases, teachers land top ratings from principals and low marks from the VAM portion of the evaluation."There will be teachers who get caught with a negative or a lower score due to the value added data," she said. "That is going to be controversial."The annual snapshots have only been done in earnest one time -- 2013. Nearly one in three teachers got the top rating then and 4 percent were listed as ineffective.The evaluations are important because they can keep teachers from earning job security -- called tenure -- or even losing tenure they already have.Scott Richard, executive director of the LSBA, said the reviews put teachers in different categories -- those whose jobs are and are not linked to test results. "The whole goal of a school is you have everybody working as a team," Richard said.In an email, Richard said even after seven years the state Department of Education "is unable to truly explain or provide the actual mathematical calculation or formula" used to link test scores with teacher ratings."This obviously lends to the distrust of the entire initiative among the education community," he said.The test score portion of teacher evaluations is supposed to get a checkup of its own.Under legislation approved earlier this year -- House Resolution 158 -- the state's top school board is supposed to gauge the effectiveness of linking test scores to teacher ratings. BESE officials are to file a report with the Legislature by March 1.The study was a fallback when a bill by the governor, and sponsored by Hoffmann, would have allowed school officials to use test data as they chose on teacher evaluations failed to gain traction in the Legislature.Even critics of VAM said Edwards' proposal would have caused huge variance in standards for how teachers are rated from district to district.LFT President Larry Carter said many teachers view the job reviews as unfair, in part because student attendance, reading levels and other factors beyond a teacher's control play a role in test results.State Superintendent of Education John White said he respected the 2016 compromise that revamped the formula.White said principals should be strongly accountable for teaching in their schools and be allowed to evaluate "as they see fit."Cade Brumley, who leads the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, said students deserve one year of academic growth from one year of instruction."We need to be cautious in our approach, however, to ensure any model for measuring student growth is valid, reliable and accounts for extraneous variables, and is clearly defined for all parties involved inclusive of the classroom teacher," Brumley said in an email.Meaux said teachers struggle to touch on all the material that will appear on the test, with those results helping to decide their job status."Every teacher tries to cover everything but it is almost impossible to do," she said. A scandal erupted in Mecklenburg County, N.C., earlier this year when it was reported that the Health Department had failed to notify 185 women of abnormal Pap smear results. For public health officials, thats not the worst that could happen -- an epidemic that could have been prevented would top that list -- but its certainly a failing in what most would agree is a key duty in preventive medicine.Mecklenburg County Health Department Director Marcus Plescia took responsibility for the fiasco, which was traced back to the mistakes of one nurse. But Plescias leadership continued to come under fire when he demoted a member of his executive team who had helped to blow the whistle on the mishandling of the results, adding to employee accusations that he had created a culture of fear.Morale wasnt the only leadership issue.reported that some of the departments employees were unhappy with the general direction the agency was taking, complaining that it was focusing too much on environmental and social factors that affect health across the community while neglecting basic patient care. The final straw came when it was discovered that the department had given operating permits to public swimming pools without performing the proper inspections. Plescia announced in June that he was resigning.The conflicts playing out in Mecklenburg County are by no means unique. Public health officials everywhere are broadening their scope of practice. Its become more apparent than ever, they argue, that a healthy community is one with plenty of affordable housing, green spaces and smoke-free environments. Yet ensuring access to care is unquestionably one of the foundations of public health work. Do health departments risk neglecting their core functions when they focus on such big-picture ideas?It does raise some pretty big questions, like who will provide direct care if the health department moves away from that, says Jill Rosenthal, senior program director for the National Academy for State Health Policy. Are there federally qualified health centers or Planned Parenthoods that can pick up the slack?For some health departments, she says, it might make sense to shift the focus to population health initiatives and pass off more routine primary care to community-based clinics, such as those operated by Planned Parenthood. That is, as long as those systems and partnerships are already in place.Its hard to say why things went wrong in Mecklenburg County. Some suggest that the Health Department was trying to do too much with too few resources, and without clear communication and trusted partners. Laudy Aron, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, says the department is overwhelmed in part because North Carolina did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. So, she says, theres already more care needed.Aron is among those in the public health community advocating for departments to take a broader focus on community health factors. There are often tradeoffs when we start focusing on more things, she says, but at the end of the day we have to start addressing urgent health issues from a more holistic point of view.The debate about the proper role of health departments will likely continue, especially if we see more headlines around botched medical testing and disgruntled employees. But its important to remember that health departments are always going to be responsible for preventing disease and heading off epidemics. Its easy to see when someone doesnt get care, says Rosenthal. Its harder to see when a health department prevents an epidemic. Deona Scott was 24 and in her final semester at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina when she found out she was pregnant. She turned to Medicaid for maternity health coverage and learned about a free program for first-time mothers that could connect her with a nurse to answer questions about pregnancy and caring for her baby.The nurse would come to her home throughout her pregnancy and for two years after her childs birth.My mouth dropped, Scott said. I was like, Thank you, thank you, I cant not take this program.Now Scott works full time for that same Nurse-Family Partnership, a local affiliate of a national program. She spreads the word about the program to pregnant teenagers and young women in the state who may be feeling just as scared and unprepared as she did before her son, Phoenix, now 3, was born.Her job is part of a unique private-public initiative that is expected to quadruple the number of young women the Nurse-Family Partnership program serves in South Carolina. The expansion was designed in accordance with the nonprofit pay-for-success approach, which ties payment for social services to measurable outcomes.This is the first pay-for-success program to be run statewide.The expansion of the program is being funded with $30 million from private donors and the federal Medicaid program.Philanthropists, including the Duke Endowment, the Boeing Co. and the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, pledged $17 million upfront to allow the Nurse-Family Partnership to expand its services. In addition, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved a waiver for the project to be reimbursed statewide. The agency will provide approximately $13 million in Medicaid reimbursement to providers for services over the course of the project.That money will seed the expansion of the Nurse-Family Partnership. Then the state will make up to a $7.5 million success payment to keep the program going in years four and five, but only if the partnership achieves specified results.The outcomes to be measured include reducing the number of preterm births, hospitalizations and emergency department visits because of injuries. Also, the program will need to show an increase in the spacing between births and the number of moms served who live in high-poverty areas. Before the project launched early in 2016, the partnership served about 1,000 first-time mothers and officials expect to add 3,200 more women.In South Carolina, more than a quarter of children live in poverty, and a majority of babies are born to low-income mothers who qualify for Medicaid.The expansion will allow the partnership to zero in on pregnant teenagers and young women with less formal education at higher risk for complications, said Chris Bishop, executive director of the Nurse-Family Partnership in South Carolina.Its a massive investment to help us grow and to serve more families, and to innovate, Bishop said. For example, the program is trying telehealth visits to keep moms engaged and stay in touch, and keep them in the program while they go off and become great moms.Having someone like Scott doing grass-roots outreach is a new strategy, too, Bishop said, noting that his organization traditionally relied on referrals from other groups.The Nurse-Family Partnership is a national program that has been operating for more than 30 years. During that time, dozens of studies and clinical trials have found it improves pregnancy outcomes, reduces the likelihood of child abuse and neglect and enhances school readiness, among other things.Scott said that until she started talking with Lindsay Odell, her nurse, for example, she had no plans to breast-feed her baby. I thought that was old-school, she said, but Odells advice helped change her mind.She also credits Odell with helping her get child care and other details organized so she could complete her bachelors degree in kinesiology. She graduated at the end of 2015. Scott is now married and is five months pregnant with her second child.The Nurse-Family Partnership and other similar organizations receive funding through the federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, for at-risk pregnant women and families. Congress bundled its nearly $400 million in funding with the Childrens Health Insurance Program appropriation two years ago, but that money will dry up on Sept. 30. Traditionally a bipartisan program, Congress is expected to reauthorize the program, and home-visiting advocates are requesting an increase to $800 million over five years.Efforts like South Carolinas pay-for-success project can play an important role in expanding services, said Karen Howard, vice president of early childhood policy at First Focus, an advocacy group.Many of the programs in the states are relatively small programs and because of funding cant always go deep and saturate the community, she said.Continued federal funding is key. What we really want is secure and dedicated funding, Howard said. We need to serve more families. Mayor Megan Barry, returning to her regular duties as Nashville's mayor Monday, opened up publicly about the death of her son, Max, from an apparent drug overdose and pivoted to a new role a voice in the national opioid crisis.At an emotional news conference from the desk of her office, Barry thanked Nashvillians for their outpouring of support, which she said provided a "counter-balance" to her grief after the death of her 22-year-old son on July 29.She also addressed Max's past drug use, saying he had "occasional brushes" with drugs that prompted him last summer to enroll himself in a drug rehabilitation facility in Florida for a month."I don't want his death to define his life, but we have to have a frank conversation about how he died," said Barry, who last week temporarily stepped aside from work after Max's death. "We don't have the full autopsy yet, we don't have the final toxicology report, but the reality is that Max overdosed on drugs."I don't know exactly what the combination of drugs was, but I do know and we all know that that's what caused him to die." POLITICAL, COMMERCIAL LINES BLUR USEFUL TO POLITICAL PARTIES CENTRALIZING DATA CARRIES RISK OHIO LAW LESS RESTRICTIVE ONE REQUEST DENIED Maine has joined dozens of states in refusing to share personal voter information with President Trump's voter fraud commission. But the state regularly sells the very same data to political parties, candidates and ballot question or issue-based political action committees.In fact, over the last two years, Maine collected more than $30,000 selling voter information -- including name, year of birth, address, party affiliation and whether or not a voter participated in the last two elections.The state also provides data in its Central Voter Registry database at no cost to the federal court system, other government entities such as school district administrators, and academic researchers. And while voters can get their own information, the data is not otherwise available to the public.Under the state's open records laws, only government and a narrow group of other entities that must pay a fee are given access to the CVR data. The going price for a statewide list of Maine's registered voters is $2,200 -- if you are among the eligible few allowed to purchase it.In 2015 and 2016, the state sold the list not only to Republican and Democratic Party officials but also to lobbyists, candidates and activists working on political campaigns or ballot question initiatives.A review of records obtained by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram under a Freedom of Access Act request shows that CVR data was sold or given away 61 times over the two-year period. Only one formal request for voter data was denied by Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, who has broad discretion over the release of the data.Dunlap, who serves on Trump's Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, could release portions of Maine's CVR data to the commission. However, he said he won't do that because he is concerned that the commission, under federal law, may not have the authority to keep the data confidential.The state already releases CVR data to the federal government, including to law enforcement agents and the federal court system when it is requested for assembling jury pools.But Maine's ability to police the use of CVR data once it's in the hands of parties, candidates and others is limited.In 2014, a group calling itself the Maine State Voter Program sent postcards to Maine addresses claiming to show whether a voter's friends and neighbors had voted in past elections, with a veiled threat that the recipients could also be exposed if they didn't do their civic duty and vote.The tactic, known as voter shaming, is seen by some as a legitimate way to promote voter turnout and by others as a form of voter intimidation.The organization, which sent out similar mailers in Alaska that year, had no physical footprint in Maine and appeared to be connected to an Ohio-based organization.How the sponsors of the mailing got their hands on Maine's CVR data, including the addresses and voting participation records of voters, was never determined.Dunlap acknowledges that it could be difficult to learn or prove whether someone who is legally entitled to the data covertly provides it to someone else who shouldn't be able to access it.Maine's voter database was created in 2006, as a response to the 2002 passage of the federal Help America Vote Act, a sweeping law that created uniform standards and procedures in all 50 states.Among other things, the law mandated that states create a centralized database to track changes in the voting population. But while the federal law sought a uniformed voting system, it set no clear standards as to how voter data would be handled. As a result, each state creates its own rules about data access and cost.Some states make it easily available to public for nearly any use while others limit the use of voter data and only allow its release to political entities or government. Data fees range widely, with some states making it available for free while others, such as Arizona, charge as much as $32,000 for a copy of a statewide voter list.When Maine established its database, the Legislature decided to make its statewide voter data available only to political groups and government agencies. Statewide data costs $2,200, while smaller data sets cost less. The money collected is used to maintain and update the database as voters enroll and others move.Dunlap said lawmakers exempted the database from the state's open records law in part to protect Mainers' voting data from being used for commercial purposes.However, the line between political and commercial use can be a blurry one.For example, in 2016 the state sold copies of the statewide CVR database to lobbyist Cheryl Timberlake and consultant Stavros Mendros. Both were working on a signature-gathering campaign for a ballot question that, if approved, will give one Las Vegas developer the right to build a casino in York County.Prior to the creation of the central database, political organizations had to visit each of the state's more than 500 municipalities and townships to compile statewide voter data. In fact, the information about individual voters still resides in city and town halls and is available to the public. Your neighbors can look up your voter participation if they want. The limits on public access apply only to the aggregated database of Maine voters -- the form in which it has the most value to political or commercial entities.The statewide CVR list is a crucial basis for other "enhanced" voter lists that are developed by campaigns or parties. These lists, often using other publicly available records, or from information gathered by volunteers canvassing specific areas and interviewing voters, are then used for a variety of strategic political purposes.Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine Republican Party, said that without the underlying statewide voter list, other types of campaign tools and road maps would be more difficult to develop. Savage, who purchased the CVR database for the Maine Republican Party in 2016, said his party doesn't ever sell any of its voter lists and doesn't share voter data outside of Republican candidates or other campaign efforts.He said both major parties have developed their own voter databases from various sources over time, and that candidates have access to that information. "And there is a lot more data that is available now than ever before that voters (voluntarily) give the parties as well," he said.Mike Rogers, the data file manager for the Maine Democratic Party, said in a prepared statement that Democrats use the voter registry data to make voter contacts, for get-out-the-vote campaigns and other "voter services."The party shares the voter data with all of its wings, such as caucuses, county and municipal committees, he said.Savage said it's unclear to him why Dunlap has been so reluctant to share CVR data with the Trump commission, unless the registry contains other data that's not released to parties and candidates.Democrats, not surprisingly, have a different view."The voter information that the Trump sham commission requested went way beyond what a government entity is entitled to access, including personal information like social security numbers," Rogers said.Others who have purchased Maine's statewide voter list include Paul McCarrier, who worked on the citizens' initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Maine in 2016.He said his organization used the voter list primarily as a way to check the volume and validity of voter signatures on its petitions.Dunlap said the sale and release of voter data is strictly limited under Maine law, and he questions whether the Trump commission could withhold the data if it received a federal public records request.He said last week that until the commission sets specific goals for what it hopes to achieve and establishes clarity as a group on how it intends to protect voter privacy he won't release data in the state's registry to the commission.Dunlap said the federal Real I.D. law, which Maine had resisted complying with until this year, provides far more personal data to the federal government than anything in the voter registry. But Dunlap said the public is far more passionate about protecting the information in their voter registration files."I felt like I was a voice in the wilderness on Real I.D.," Dunlap said. "And there is a lot more sensitive information the federal government can access under Real I.D. -- certified copies of your birth certificate, facial recognition photographs, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers. If you have a medical history, if you have to maintain a medical certificate to keep your driver's license, they are going to get that. It's 10 stories high worth of information as opposed to your name and your address and the year of your birth."He said concern over voter information reflects how strongly people feel about "the sovereign right of people to democratic self governance -- they don't want anybody screwing around with that. That's the difference."Dunlap said he's unsure why Trump's commission wants so much voter data, but he suspects it is looking for instances of the same person being registered to vote in two different states, which in and of itself is not against the law -- provided the person isn't voting in both places.The commission's leaders may also be looking for people who shouldn't be registered to vote in the first place, although in some states voters have become so reluctant to have their data shared with the commission they are asking to be removed from their state's voting rolls.Myrna Perez, deputy director of the Democracy Program at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, said voters have reason to be leery.She said the dispersion of voter data and divergent laws among the 50 states provides a measure of insulation against widespread fraud or misuse of the data. A centralized federal voter database would be a rich target for those who may want to disrupt or corrupt American elections."If it's all combined and included in one, that immediately incentivizes making this the one target, because it becomes more valuable and has a higher payoff if you are able to get through," she said.Perez also worries that once the commission has voter data from all 50 states it won't be able to fully protect it in a way that complies with the standards for public access adopted in the various states.The center is suing the federal commission in an attempt to ensure that the various state protections for protecting the privacy of voter data are complied with, she said.Perez also said it seems unrealistic to expect that voter data released to legitimate political users isn't going to be shared with others who will use it for unauthorized purposes. She said policing the transfer of data would be virtually impossible, given that states regularly sell the data to a wide variety of customers.Some, including Andrew Smith, a political scientist who has done numerous political polls for the Telegram as director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, said Maine may want to consider loosening some of its constraints on voter registry data.From a pollster's perspective, Smith said, there are pros and cons to the data."Among the advantages are that during midterm or other low-turnout election, you're likely to get a better sample of actual voters than using (random direct dial) samples as midterm voters tend to be older and more established in their communities," Smith said in an email. "However, there is a significant portion of the electorate for whom there is no contact information (only about 60 percent of the registered voter lists you can purchase have a phone number for the voter). This is especially true for younger voters and people who have just moved to a state."Smith, originally from Ohio, said his home state makes voter data broadly available to researchers, parties, candidates and the general public as well. Most of Ohio's data is available for free, although the state does prohibit its use for commercial purposes, as does Maine.Smith said public access to that data in Ohio has seldom been controversial or dramatically misused."My experience in the Northeast is that states have a history of making it very difficult to get this public information and make it expensive as well," Smith wrote. "It's my opinion that since it is public, it should be available for anyone who asks for it. I do understand that there are costs involved, which should be paid by the requester, but they should be for actual costs."For now, access to Maine data will continue to be limited to selected categories of users.The one application for Maine's statewide database that was rejected in the last two years came from a Nashville-based company, icitizen Corp., which builds mobile applications aimed at improving voting participation and engagement and connections between elected officials and their constituents.The company requested Maine's data for an application that allows voters to see if they are actually registered to vote and, if not, provides them with state-specific instructions on how they can become registered.In a letter to icitizen, Maine's database manager, Tina Means, said the request was turned down because the app wasn't really a get-out-the-vote mobilization effort, which is one of the approved uses for the data. Means also said the CVR database is constantly being updated, so a point-in-time release of data through the app could result in a user getting inaccurate verification information."Such verification is an election-administration function that may only be performed by election officials," Means said. On Sunday, in the evening, at the Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey attended the Brisbane Sings 2017 performance. On Monday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC received Mr Melih Karalar, Consul-General of the Republic of Turkey in Sydney. In the afternoon, the Governor departed Brisbane for an official visit to the Sunshine Coast. Following, at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), Sippy Downs, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC attended a ceremony at which the Governor installed Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret'd) as USCs fourth Chancellor and addressed guests. Following, the Governor returned to Brisbane. Description GIS - 08 August, 2017: The Parc Industriel International de Diamniadio (PIID) in Senegal will be operational soon. In this context, the Societe des Infrastructures dAffaires Atlantic (SIAA), the Sovereign Fund for Strategic Investement (FONSIS), the Agence dAmenagement et de Promotion des Sites Industriels (APROSI) and the APIX signed several agreements last week pertaining to the exploitation, management as well as extension of the PIID. The(PIID) in Senegal will be operational soon. In this context, the(SIAA), the Sovereign Fund for Strategic Investement (FONSIS), the(APROSI) and the APIX signed several agreements last week pertaining to the exploitation, management as well as extension of the PIID. The signing ceremony was held in presence of the Senegalese Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, Mr Amadou Ba and other eminent personalities. The Minister of Industry and Mines, Mr Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, the Minister of Promotion of Investments, Partnerships and Development of Teleservices of the State, Mrs. Khoudia Mbaye, the Director General of the Mauritius-Africa Fund (MAF), Mr Yash Manick and several other general managers and heads of services in Senegal were present. In his address, Mr Amadou Ba recalled that the Government of Senegal intends to position itself as a regional logistics and industrial hub through the Senegal Emerging Plan (PSE). He highlighted that the objective is to ensure that the conditions for steady sustainable growth conducive to the reduction of poverty, promotion of the private sector, employment and economic emergence, are met. Beyond physical development, Senegal has chosen to focus on the creation of Special Economic Zones, an ecosystem of services, and high-performance incentives and it is within this framework that we have appealed to the world-renowned know-how of our Mauritian brothers and partners who intervene through the Mauritius-Africa Fund, he said. The management of the Park is vested in the SIAA, a Senegalese-Mauritian joint venture in which the Mauritian government is majority shareholder to the extent of 51% through the MAF. With the signing of these conventions, the first phase of the International Industrial Park of Diamniadio spread over 13 hectares becomes operational. More than 30,000 m2 of floor space built in this first phase are spread over four industrial sheds and one administrative building. A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) law offers attractive tax and customs incentives supported by the agreements of double taxation and protection of investments between Mauritius and Senegal. The PIID also benefits from a simplified system of hiring local and foreign workers, and especially a one-stop service. In this regard, the first companies are expected to come forward. This project is an opportunity for Mauritian companies to establish their business activities in Senegal in order to benefit from access to the emerging regional market of West Africa and especially the American and European markets given their proximity to Senegal. An information and promotion campaign for Mauritian companies is planned for August. Companies can already contact the Mauritius Africa Fund or the Board of Investment. Minister Amadou Ba, who welcomed the genuine collaboration between the two countries, instructed the Director General of MAF to convey to Mauritian authorities the gratitude of the Senegalese government for their confidence in both their economy and their country. Government Information Service, Prime Ministers Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: Website: ://gis.govmu.org Stacking Partnerships for Maximum Value Sharing Data to Plan Projects Sustaining Innovation What does a city do when faced with deteriorating infrastructure and a limited budget, but strong mayoral and public interest in building a more resilient urban landscape? For Syracuse, NY, the answer was not obvious at first. I started off going to the federal government, asking for more money, and going to state government, asking for more money, said Mayor Stephanie Miner. Then I realized to make a successful argument, I had to be able to say that we ourselves through self-help had tried to address the problem. What I realized is that data made available a way to effectively look at how were spending our resources.Yet at the time, in 2013, the city lacked any significant data-driven capacity. We had five or six GIS people total in all of our departments, said Syracuses recently-appointed chief data officer (CDO) Sam Edelstein. We had some people who knew a bit about data going back and forth between departments, but no dedicated talent that could rove across city government.Understanding the potential of using data to tackle city priorities like infrastructure but lacking the internal capacity and budget to develop a robust data program, the city began looking for help from outside the public sector. In 2014, the then-city planning director applied for and in 2015 ultimately received a three-year, $1.35 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to create a five-person Innovation Team (i-team): a dedicated capacity that helps leaders approach city priorities with innovation. Now working in over 20 cities across the U.S., Canada, Israel, and France, Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team program helps cities solve problems in new ways to deliver better results for residentsfrom tackling poverty and revitalizing neighborhoods to reducing violent crime and strengthening the citys economy.Through its i-team, Syracuse has gradually grown its innovation portfolio, pursuing partnerships and projects with an initial focus on the citys infrastructure. Located down the hall from Mayor Miners office in City Hall, the i-team has a 360-degree view of city projects, serving as a central hub for coordinating initiatives to produce depth, efficiency, and better outcomes for residents. The i-team has effectively coordinated innovations on two levels, pursuing complementary partnerships to accelerate its innovation agenda and encouraging departments to collaborate and share data to facilitate cross-departmental planning.In 2015, Syracuses i-team identified the citys crumbling water infrastructure as a critical priority: Syracuse has historically been plagued by problems with its water system, seeing 372 water main breaks in 2015 and a record 391 in 2014. The team began its infrastructure work by exploring research in the field, learning about existing products and services, traveling to cities with effective maintenance programs, and reaching out to the local community.During this process, the i-team came across water main sensors as a potential solution to the citys infrastructure woes. The team identified a number of companies that create sensors that detect when water mains have smaller leaks, allowing city workers to complete preventative maintenance projects in which they intervene more surgically to prevent larger breaks and save the city money. In an effort to predict and prevent major breaks, the innovation team began piloting sensors on water mains on a limited basis in 2016.While working on this project, the i-team simultaneously became an ambassador for innovation in the city, reaching out to other data-savvy organizations. To complement its work installing sensors on water mains, the i-team applied for a grant from Data Science for Social Good (DSSG)a University of Chicago program that places aspiring data scientists in governments and nonprofits to tackle real-world problemsto develop an early warning system for water infrastructure problems. Seeing the potential to directly address core challenges, DSSG came on board, providing $125,000 in in-kind services in exchange for Syracuses data on water main breaks. The innovation team and DSSG fellows collaborated to develop a model that analyzes factors including age, material, weather, and soil content to predict mains that are likely to break. This model works in tandem with the sensors to create an even more accurate predictor of water main breaks, furthering the i-teams efforts to enhance the citys capacity for preventative maintenance. Thanks to DSSGs work, the Water Department is now five times more likely to be able to spot a risky main, according to Adria Finch, director of Syracuses innovation team.These water infrastructure efforts also helped catalyze broader data capacity improvements in the city. According to Finch, the citys infrastructure data was originally limited and siloed within specific departments. Initially, the i-team worked to identify and build out data systems, then use them to create PowerPoint presentations to track the status of their infrastructure improvement initiatives. To put this data to work, the i-team partnered with What Works Cities, a Bloomberg Philanthropies program that pairs cities with partner organizations that provide technical assistance in developing effective data practices. Syracuse received assistance from What Works partners the Sunlight Foundation and the Johns Hopkins Center for Government Excellence (GovEx) on open data and performance practices.With this help as well as the efforts of innovation team member and CDO Sam Edelstein, the city has built out dashboards that provide much more dynamic and accessible displays of city data. Syracuse is parlaying these internal data sharing strategies into an open data portal and recently launched an initial version with a number of city datasets. Finch said that these organizations knowledge of best practices and the experience of other cities in the What Works Cities network have helped Syracuse navigate the data security and IT-related considerations that accompany opening data and ensure that the public is comfortable with the citys initiative. We received really good feedback from the community and, because different people have different sensitivities to open data, we worked with the Sunlight Foundation to ensure that there were no legal or privacy issues, Edelstein said. He added that the i-team has reached out to a number of community organizations in order to understand what datasets are most important to them and publish the most useful information possible. This portal will provide a platform for residents to access city dataincluding the information the i-team has collected on infrastructureand create apps, maps, and other tools.And to ensure Syracuse uses the data collected to address city priorities, the i-team has worked with What Works Cities and GovEx to develop performance-driven approaches to public policy, which leverage data to measure success and inform improvements. These partners have helped Syracuse develop and monitor targets and metrics to track infrastructure and other city projects. As a result, the city has been able to not only collect and manage troves of data, but also to select the best metrics from that data to monitor the success of city programs.Syracuses innovation team has served as a hub to plan and integrate projects within its various partnerships in order to make the most of limited funding. In addition to working to improve the citys water system, Syracuses innovation team has focused on the citys roads. The i-team piloted a street monitoring system called Street Quality Identification Device (SQUID), partnering with tech nonprofit ARGO Labs to gather data on 388 miles of city streets. The device is built with a $35 computer mounted to a city vehicle that uses an accelerometer and camera to detect imperfections in the citys roads and direct road repairs more efficiently. SQUID has greatly improved the precision of the citys road mapping efforts, which previously relied on a Department of Public Works employee who drove half of the city streets a year and visually rated each block on a scale of 1 10, according to Finch. By putting the device on one city vehicle, ARGO was able to accurately map almost the entire city in a few weeks.By facilitating cross-departmental communication and data-sharing, Syracuses innovation team has integrated this initiative with its water main project. According to Finch, the city has built a data warehouse with data from many city departments, providing a centralized resource for standardized cross-city data. Edelstein and the i-team have then transformed this data into maps of risk scores and ratings for roads, water mains, and sewers, information that will ultimately become available on the citys open data portal.Following the i-teams recommendation, the city identified a person to take all this data and use it to manage infrastructure projects. According to Finch, weve actually had to create a new position to coordinate all thisan infrastructure coordinator who collects and accesses departmental data to select and manage each years infrastructure improvement projects. By analyzing these maps in the data warehouse, the infrastructure coordinator, Department of Water, and Department of Public Works (DPW) are aware of the status of each others infrastructure work and can avoid inefficient, independent interventions in favor of dig-once infrastructure initiatives, where the city will complete multiple infrastructure improvement projects each time it digs into a road, said Finch. For example, if SQUID picks up poor road conditions in a certain area, the Department of Public Works may consult the ratings of water mains beneath that road before intervening. If water main maintenance is needed, the city can go in and fix the main before repaving the road. That way, DPW does not repave a road, only to then have a water main break underneath it, forcing us to reopen the freshly-paved street, Finch explained. With only three dig-once projects in 2016, the city saved nearly $450,000, representing 25 percent of its infrastructure repair project costs.These multi-purpose interventions fit within the mayors goal of using data to create a more cost-effective city government. We are using data to be efficient about how we spend our money and to make sure that we are spending it in the places that we're going to get the biggest return on investment, said Mayor Miner.In its final year of the grant, Syracuses i-team has taken on a new project: improving economic opportunity. According to Edelstein, the city has drawn upon lessons from its infrastructure work in order to cultivate buy-in from stakeholders during this next stage. Its about pushing for where we think the city should go, said Edelstein. but also working with departments to make sure that ultimately once weve handed initiatives off to departments, leaders can continue to build upon their momentum.Edelstein hopes that the teams successes thus far will justify a place for permanent data-driven capacity down the road. Our hope is that were doing good enough work that it makes sense for departments to keep doing it, said Edelstein. The innovation team has tried to show departments that data and technology can make their work simpler and more efficient. Were trying to make city employees lives a little bit easier, said Edelstein. For example, the i-team facilitated the installation of sensors on the hoses that DPW trucks use to fill potholes. Now, every time a crew fills a pothole, the sensor activates, logging and mapping a data point and sparing DPW workers the trouble of manually entering data.Edelstein and the i-team have also reached out directly to city departments to encourage buy-in and promote data literacy. After the i-team formally launched its projects, we convened stock take meetings with specific department heads to discuss our initiatives and get a sense of how they are doing, Edelstein explained. We also have a data users group that meets monthly and includes anyone in the city whos interested in working with data. We talk about specific initiatives and generally how to use analytics more effectively and different departments showcase their projects. In doing so, the i-team shows off the potential of data-driven initiatives and helps interested departments through the process of implementing these projects.In the future, Syracuses CDO envisions a new model of data-driven governance that relies on building capacity within city departments. If we could train people in departments to do analytics projects, that could get us really far, said Edelstein. However, there must remain some dedicated innovation capacity within the city that can do the training and make sure departments are asking the right questions. The i-team is working to attract new sources of funding to continue its efforts after the grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies is complete at the end of 2017.Mayors and other city leaders around the world are turning to outside assistance to increase their ability to resolve their cities most pressing problems and make meaningful changes. The work of the Syracuse i-team offers valuable lessons for other cities about how to build innovation capacity, collaborate across departments, and leverage data to create lasting results for residents. By offering a different set of tools and techniques to innovate more effectively, the Syracuse i-team has helped the city dramatically improve its infrastructure and achieve substantial savings for taxpayers. Entire Assam declared as 'disturbed' area under AFSPA for another month Published: August 8, 2017 The Union Home Ministry has declared entire Assam state as a disturbed area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for one more month, citing various violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB, and others. The Home Ministry also declared 20 km belt along Meghalayas border areas adjoining Assam and three districts in Arunachal Pradesh (Tirap, Changlang and Longding) as disturbed under the AFSPA for two more months. Background AFSPA has been continuing in Assam since November 1990. In 2016, there were 75 incidents of violence reported in Assam in which 33 people, including four security personnel, were killed and 14 others were abducted. The violence was perpetrated in Assam by insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and others. Similarly, continuing violence perpetrated by NSCN(K), NSCN(IM), ULFA, NDFB, and others were key reasons for continuing with AFSPA in Arunachal Pradesh. Meghalaya too has witnessed violence by ULFA, NDFB militants in the recent past. About Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act The AFSPA was enacted by the parliament in 1958. It grants extra-ordinary powers and immunity to the armed forces to bring back order in the disturbed areas. Some of these extra-ordinary powers include fire upon anyone after giving warning who is acting against law & order in the disturbed area, arrest anyone without warrant, stop and search any vehicle or vessel, legal immunity to armed forces personnel for their actions. Note: Presently AFSPA is enforced in the 6 states of North East (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland) and Jammu and Kashmir. It was lifted in Tripura in May 2015. Month: Current Affairs - August, 2017 Category: Defence Current Affairs Topics: AFSPA Arunachal Pradesh Assam internal security Meghalaya National Latest E-Books (TNS) -- PETERSBURG As the new city administration gets to work, officials are trying to bring attention to a problem that has contributed to the city's financial woes inadequate technology.The city is looking to overhaul a technological structure that is, in the words of new City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, "extremely outdated"."We have a very qualified IT department, and we're going to have to invest in ourselves," said Benavides. "We need to improve our automation."Though it will continue to be a long process, the city is starting to take steps forward to install an updated technological culture within the city government.During an interview at city hall, Gerrit VanVoorhees, the director of Information Technology, and Dileep Rajun, a Data Analytics specialist, talked about moving the city's technological architecture into the 21st century, both literally and figuratively.Petersburg currently houses basically all city data in a main system called BAI AS400 Municipal Software. The financial data and reporting for payroll, general ledger, treasury, and utilities are all in the BAI system. The system has many drawbacks: The information the system houses, especially for utilities, is very difficult to read and analyze: the system overall is outdated, with much of its software hailing from '90s-era computing. Benavides joked that the AS400 system was the one she worked with while in Chicago in 1997.One of the biggest problems with the AS400 is that it's a framework system, meaning only several city employees, VanVoorhees among them, have the ability to access the data it houses."Right now, we're completely dependent on Gerritt with the BAI system," said Rajun.VanVoorhees is currently leading the slow process of getting all the data out of the BAI system, in preparation for moving to a completely new system.Though it's still in the works, VanVoorhees said he is slowly preparing for when the city will move completely out of the AS400 system. This is more of a long-term project, as both VanVoorhees and Rajun hope for the city to eventually move to a cloud-based system, meaning the city's data can be accessed via the web, and not be imprisoned in a system that is only accessible to several people.Though it's a ways off, VanVorhees said he has already done some research as to what cloud-based systems would work best for the city."I have sketches of RFPs (requests for proposals) for when that day comes," he said.Rajun and VanVoorhees say the cost of switching systems could be in the hundreds of thousands, which is another reason it's unlikely the city will be able to switch over anytime soon.If the city were to move to a cloud-based system provided by a company like Amazon, the data it houses would become instantly more accessible and clearer. For things like utility billing, which has experienced many issues over the past several years, more transparent data would allow citizens to trust their bills. The city would also benefit from not having to worry about the security of the system, as it would be the responsibility of the company providing it."We are living an intermediary life," said Rajun. "Until we fully remove AS400 out, and every module that's plugged into it, you are living with a patchwork of systems."The intermediary life Rajun is referring to are the several new systems that the city has recently booted up, including OpenGov and CityWorks. OpenGov is a site which allows citizens to see all the financial records of the city. CityWorks, which city employees are currently being trained in, is a program that manages public work service requests. City workers can go into the site and put in a request for repairs for city operated facilities. From there, department heads can keep track of where problems were found, and if they're being addressed.Both those programs are plugged into the AS400 system, and would have to be moved out if the city moves to a different main operating system. (TNS) - President Donald Trump promised the American people that he would take action "to keep drugs from pouring into our country and help those who have been so badly affected by them."Now, the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, which was set up by President Trump, is calling on him to take action by declaring the opioid epidemic a state of emergency."According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the most recent data estimates that 142 Americans die every day from a drug overdose," the report states, adding, "... drug overdoses now kill more people than gun homicides and car crashed combined."Chaired by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the commission released a preliminary report of recommendations to the president on how to combat some of the biggest barriers between addicted Americans and treatment, as well as ways to stop drugs from coming into the country.According to FEMA, "The President can declare an emergency for any occasion or instance where the president determines federal assistance in needed. Emergency declarations supplements State and local or Indian tribal government efforts in providing emergency services, such as the protection of lives, property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States."Should the president declare a state of emergency, he would most likely do so under the Public Health Service Act, as suggested by the commission, or the Stafford Act, which FEMA operates under.The report's first recommendation is that a federal incentive to enhance access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) be immediately established and funded, citing that MAT has been proven to reduce overdose deaths, retain people in treatment, reduce relapse and decrease the use of heroin.The panel also is asking that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should grant all federally qualified health centers waivers to prescribe buprenorphine, one of the primary medications now used to treat addiction.The commission suggests that naloxone be prescribed to people who are given a high-risk opioid prescription, as well as equipping all law enforcement agencies in the country with the life-saving drug."The Federal Government should ensure that naloxone is made available when there is the greatest chance for an overdose," the report states.The panel also recommends legislation that informs and expands the ''Good Samaritan,'' or 911 drug immunity law, which is currently enacted in 40 states and the District of Columbia.While they vary from state-to-state, they all offer some form of criminal and civil prosecution protection for people seeking assistance at the scene of an overdose.Spearheaded by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Assemblyman Michael Cusick and Sen. Andrew Lanza, I-STOP -- short for the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing Act -- gives physicians and pharmacists access to their patients' up-to-the-minute prescription history, so they can determine if said patients are "doctor shopping."Similar data-sharing databases have been created in other states since I-STOP's initiation in 2014.The Commission is asking Trump to allocate federal funds, as well as technical support, to states to enhance interstate data sharing among state-based prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), which they have been told are being "significantly underutilized in the vast majority of our states."They are also asking that additional information, like if a patient has previously overdosed, be added to better determine if a patient is considered low- or high-risk.Federal funding cannot be used to reimburse services from inpatient facilities that treat a number of mental diseases, including addiction, that have more than 16 beds as regulated by the Social Security Act.The commission is asking Trump to grant waiver approvals for every state that would eliminate the "red tape" in the Medicaid program."This is the single fastest way to increase treatment availability across the nation," according to the report.Local politicians and advocates have been trying to increase the number of inpatient treatment beds on Staten Island.While there has been a modest expansion in the number of in-patient and other addiction services on Staten Island recently, the success of The Warm Handoff illustrates there are not enough treatment beds available in the borough.Mandating prescriber education initiatives with the guidance of medical and dental schools to enhance prevention efforts; mandate medical education training in opioid prescribing.Develop fentanyl detection sensors and disseminate them to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.Regulate patient privacy laws specific to addiction so physicians across the board have access to a patient's complete history, making treatment more accessible.2017 Staten Island Advance, N.Y.Visit Staten Island Advance, N.Y. at www.silive.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC (TNS) A flaw in the local flood-control system just north of Highway 14 needs to be fixed within the next 18 months, federal officials have told Mankato. And if it's not addressed, a substantial portion of property owners in lower North Mankato could suddenly find themselves living in a designated floodplain and be forced to buy hundreds of dollars of flood insurance each year.The problematic area is in Mankato's city limits between the Minnesota River and Highway 169 north of the interchange with Highway 14."But it's our residents that would be affected," said North Mankato Mayor Mark Dehen.Neither Dehen nor Mankato City Manager Pat Hentges sees the FEMA-identified flaw as an imminent danger, and Dehen said people shouldn't be alarmed. Their homes won't be underwater the next time the river is high.At the same time, Dehen said it's important to take FEMA's concerns seriously, and the threat of FEMA remapping the area and putting major portions of lower North Mankato in the flood plain is an immediate worry.Being in the flood plain would force property owners with a mortgage or other loan against their property to obtain flood insurance, which costs an average of $700 a year nationwide."It's an unwanted expense," Dehen said. "When you have the money we've invested in the dike system, to have flood insurance on top of that is an unnecessary expense."FEMA's concern involves a procedure required under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plan for Mankato's flood system during the very worst floods. When the Minnesota River reaches a certain level, something that last occurred in 1993, a temporary earthen berm must be constructed across Highway 169 north of Highway 14 to keep water from surging back through the Highway 14 overpass."That's been OK for 35 years," Hentges said of the contingency, but FEMA and the Corps reconsidered when they did their last re-certification of the flood-control system.Without that berm or if it was put in place but failed extremely high river levels could flow back into the previous river channel past the Hiniker Pond area, through Spring Lake Park and into surrounding neighborhoods."It's a fair chunk of lower North Mankato," Dehen said. "So it would affect a large number of our residents."When the emergency berm has been constructed, the river has never actually reached it, Hentges said. But ever since Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the flood-control system in New Orleans, FEMA has been skeptical of provisions in flood plans that require human action and the possibility of human error.Hentges, who is encouraging the two cities to push for federal funding for improvements to Highway 169, said the FEMA concern could be addressed as part of a new cloverleaf interchange at Highway 14. And the flood-control issue could make the project eligible for additional funding.While Dehen favors exploring that possibility, he's inclined to push for a short-term fix to the flood-control issue to ensure that FEMA is satisfied that a solution is in the works when the 2019 deadline arrives."I'm fine with that. ... Come up with a plan for the future," he said. "I just don't want to delay that flood mitigation."A short-term fix could involve raising about 500 feet of Highway 169 and its ditches by seven inches just north of the northside ramps to and from Highway 14. Although the emergency berm would still be needed during the most severe floods, it would be built on a higher foundation and that appears to be a satisfactory plan for FEMA.MnDOT District Engineer Greg Ous said his agency recognizes the urgency of the situation and is willing to work with the cities on a solution. First, though, an updated analysis of the Minnesota River is needed to reflect changes in recent decades since the last modeling was done, he said. And predicting what a river will do in a major flood is extremely difficult."The river is changing," Ous said. "The one thing we know about flood-modeling is we're wrong."2017 The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.)Visit The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.) at www.mankatofreepress.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) - Will County, Ill, residents who want to be better prepared for emergencies can now download a free smart phone app "Ready Will County.""This is a very powerful app," said Tom Murray, deputy director of the Will County Emergency Management Agency, who explained its features at a recent meeting of the county board's Public Health and Safety Committee."It's a way for residents to be better prepared, to know what to put in an emergency kit, know who to contact, how to endure an emergency, and what they should be doing."The app, which went live in June, provides information on how to prepare for and what to do if there is a tornado, terrorism attack, a public health emergency, or other disaster.It guides users to make their own personal emergency plan and create a list of contacts to let people know whether they are OK or in need of help.Other features of the app include:A list of nearby hospitals, cooling centers, police and fire stations, veterinarians and even polling places.Evacuation routes and emergency shelters.Detailed checklist of items for an emergency kit, which can be tailored to individual needs.Weather alerts, the latest news and notifications of an imminent threat.Information on what to do after a flood, tornado, or other incident, such as how to clean a home after a flood, safely clear debris after a tornado, and how to properly dispose of debris.How to set up an alarm on your phone so people can find you.Murray said residents who have gone through Community Emergency Response Team training can download a preparedness guide.The app can run offline, but users would not receive notifications, he said."This is excellent," said committee member Don Gould, R- Shorewood.Committee chairwoman Judy Ogalla, R-Monee, agreed."This is really great," she said, adding that she would like to host workshops to let people know more about this app.slafferty@tribpub.com2017 The Daily Southtown (Tinley Park, Ill.)Visit The Daily Southtown (Tinley Park, Ill.) at www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtownDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) Vacant property, a new police chief and bids to privatize the citys airport are some of the next items on St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewsons to-do list.Describing the period since her April inauguration as a whirlwind, Krewson has spent much of her early months in office responding to crises or controversies. Among them was an effort to remove a Confederate monument in Forest Park that led a local museum to sue the city in June, with the two parties eventually reaching a settlement to ensure the structures dismantling.After a fire at the historic Clemens House a building owned by Paul McKees redevelopment organization, NorthSide Regeneration sparked concerns in nearby neighborhoods of asbestos exposure, Krewson and state officials enlisted the EPA to test the air and the windblown debris from the blaze.A recent heat wave reinvigorated protesters to call for the closure of the citys medium security jail, which was operating without air conditioning and houses more than 700 inmates, most of whom are awaiting trial. The city opted to lease temporary air conditioning units, something Krewson said was possible this year because of electrical upgrades. But questions about other allegations of abuse and abhorrent conditions within the St. Louis Medium Security Institution have been left largely unanswered.And an announcement from St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger that a voter-approved half-cent sales tax would be used to raise police salaries by up to 30 percent has led Krewson to push for a similar proposal in the city, which voters will decide on in a special election in November. Should it pass, St. Louis sales tax rate will jump to at least 9.7 percent, one of the highest in the country.Theres been a lot of hustle, Krewson said of her first 100 days, in a recent meeting with the Post-Dispatchs editorial board. I think thats a good word to use.There has been progress, too, she says, citing a push toward community policing and other crime-prevention initiatives. Garbage pickup soon will improve, she said, after the passage of a proposal to raise trash fees from $11 to $14 to pay for new trash trucks. Other achievements she lists include successful negotiations to put Highway Patrol officers on city freeways and meetings to hear public comment on proposed tax incentive reforms and a new leader for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.Public safety remains the top priority every single day, Krewson said.She will need support from both the public and the city police officers union to get voter approval for a half-cent sales tax increase to hire more St. Louis Metropolitan police officers and pay them more money. The unions executive board has expressed reservations with the proposal she has backed, calling for all of the revenue generated to be allocated to police pay, rather than divided up among other initiatives, such as recreation programs.Take a neighborhood-by-neighborhood look at St. Louis crimeDo they really want to oppose $10,000 more (in salary and benefits) on average per officer? I would hope not. My belief is, cooler heads will prevail, Krewson said.But the St. Louis Police Officers Association maintains that there's no guarantee that any of the $13 million dedicated to the police department in the proposal would be used for raises. An amendment to earmark that money solely for salary increases was defeated in the Board of Aldermen in July, with Krewson lobbying against it.As for a new police chief, Krewson expects the city to hire a search firm to assist in the recruitment of candidates in August.I think a fresh view is good for a lot of reasons. However, I think we have to make that decision based on who is before us at the time, she said.Krewson also said shes convened meetings with judges, the circuit attorneys office and corrections officials to explore ways to reduce the population at the Medium Security Institution, known more informally throughout the city as the workhouse.The parties are discussing bail policies and whether there is any flexibility in holding more than 100 inmates who are in the jail for technical probation violations.Krewson has pushed back on persistent accusations that conditions at the workhouse are unsanitary or deplorable, but she told the editorial board that moving people more quickly through the criminal justice system will be a priority.Other priorities in the next 100 days include a vacant property initiative Krewson hopes to launch in the next two to three months. An idea she floated in the editorial board interview would involve the Land Reutilization Authority selling vacant properties inexpensively to individuals or small developers, who would have two years to rehab the structures and get them occupied, in exchange for a 10-year property tax abatement, as well as new sidewalks or street trees.Otis Williams, who heads the citys economic development office, said theres been no direction to do that yet, but that it could be an idea to discuss in upcoming meetings.Were not getting any money on them now, Krewson said. The idea would be that there would be five houses on a block that we get somebody to do, so we dont get one here, one there.The city intends to hire a financial adviser and seek proposals from entities who want to lease and operate St. Louis Lambert International Airport, the mayor said, adding that potential bidders already have emerged.Privatization is an idea Krewson says is worthy of consideration, but it was spearheaded by her predecessor, Francis Slay. The citys successful application to enter the Federal Aviation Administrations privatization program was paid for by Grow Missouri Inc., backed by St. Louis financier Rex Sinquefield.The goal is, can we have a better airport? Can we have more flights? Can we have better service? Can the city get a good stream of money ... are we satisfied with the bidder, that they can perform whatever all their promises would be?If we can do that, then well move forward with it. If we cant, then we wont, Krewson said.Krewson has also publicly supported the idea of more coordination between city and county governments, particularly in the areas of law enforcement and economic development but said future plans depend on the outcome of a cooperation study she and Stenger have asked a small committee to conduct.The Missouri Legislature might not wait that long. In May, Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard said he wanted the state to consider proposals to privatize the citys airport and consolidate St. Louis municipalities during its 2018 legislative session.Gov. Eric Greitens called the Legislature into a special session this summer in part to combat a St. Louis ordinance banning discrimination in employment and housing based on reproductive health decisions. The Legislature passed the bill into law, although many in St. Louis dont believe it will have much practical effect.Krewson maintains that despite the states tendency to bigfoot Missouris urban areas, she remains open to working with state officials as well as Stenger going forward.Theres not anything to be gained by not getting along with them, she said.And while the Legislature may have preempted a citywide minimum wage increase, Krewson said she still counts its implementation as an early victory, since some businesses will still keep the new $10 wage, which can be reverted this month.Its not the benefit that I would like for it to be, its not as much, but it was still worth it to go ahead and implement this in the city and give working folks a better wage, she said.2017 the St. Louis Post-DispatchVisit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at www.stltoday.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) - When someone is shot in Sacramento, Calif., its a good bet that one of about 50 mostly black or Latino young men pulled the trigger.Police know it. The figure comes in part from a city analysis of five years of homicide data and intelligence, said Khaalid Muttaqi, director of the citys gang prevention and intervention task force.Community members know it. The men are often well-established troublemakers in their neighborhoods, said activists who gathered recently in south Sacramento to discuss the problem.DeVone Boggan knows it, too. In Richmond, where he runs an anti-gun violence program called Advance Peace, he has befriended 84 men considered most likely to kill with a gun there.The truth about gun crimes, said Boggan, is that a small number of known shooters cause an outsize amount of trauma. They can be hard to catch, he said, and few have tried to reach them with anything but enforcement.Boggan has taken a different approach. His Advance Peace initiative, backed by philanthropic and government funding, identified Richmonds most active firearm-wielding criminals and tried to get them to change their ways through intensive one-on-one intervention, including therapy, mentoring and offering to pay them when they reached agreed-upon goals.Boggan, supported by Sacramento City Councilman Rick Jennings, is proposing to bring Advance Peace to Sacramento.In September, the Sacramento City Council will vote on whether to try Boggans program to reduce gun violence and gun-related homicides. The city is being asked to commit $1 million over four years in an attempt to target the most lethal young men walking the streets, Boggan said.Reformed felons would serve as mentors. Participants, called fellows, would receive around-the-clock support along with cash stipends paid in increments for reaching milestones such as beating substance abuse, getting a high school diploma or improving parenting skills.A month before the City Council vote, resistance to the idea of Advance Peace is simmering in Sacramentos law enforcement community and among some on the City Council. District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said she has many concerns and that Sacramento already has community organizations that provide excellent youth mentoring and intervention programs.Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, in an email interview, said he has fundamental objections to the program and to the idea of paying people just to (not) commit crimes or shoot people.Boggan conceded that the cash payments, which could total $9,000 over 18 months, are part of what makes Advance Peace a tough sell. He emphasized that none of the money given to participants would come from the city. Instead, it would come from philanthropic donations.We are paying people to reach goals; we are not paying people not to commit crimes, Sacramento Assistant City Manager Arturo Sanchez told a crowd of three dozen gathered in July at a community meeting at Fruitridge Community Collaborative. The meeting was organized by Sacramento Area Congregations Together so people could hear Boggan speak and learn more about the program.Those who support bringing Advance Peace to Sacramento argue the current approach isnt working. Les Simmons, a pastor and activist in south Sacramento, said many of those who work in the citys most violent neighborhoods think its smart to go after triggermen in new ways.You cant arrest your way out of this problem, said Simmons, who attended the community meeting with Boggan.In Sacramento, the clearance rate for homicides was 55.8 percent in 2015, according to the latest data available from the state Department of Justice, significantly less than the national average of 61.5 percent reported through FBI figures.Of 21 homicides that have occurred in Sacramento in 2017, police have made arrests in 13 cases, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Twelve of those murders involved a gun. Last year, there were 24 gun-related homicides. The department declined to say how many of those had been solved without a Public Records Act request. That request is pending.The numbers highlight the Catch-22 of gun violence: Its notoriously difficult to solve gang-related homicides in communities where residents distrust police as much as they fear criminals, as is true in many of Sacramentos poorest and most diverse areas. But without information, many killers are never caught, leaving some people in these neighborhoods feeling law enforcement isnt helping them.Heres a population that we can see law enforcement has had a very difficult time addressing, said Boggan. The goal of it is, how do we keep our guy that everybody believes is a shooter (but) we cant prosecute him we know hes responsible for recurrent activity. How do we keep him from crossing that line?Boggan said that of the 84 men who have been Advance Peace fellows in Richmond, five are dead and 10 are in jail. Most of the others are doing pretty well working jobs, going to college, raising their children.Even the ones still committing crimes are causing less trouble, and are no longer using a gun as their go-to problem solver, Boggan said.An independent review of Advance Peace by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency found 83 percent of fellows have avoided injury by a firearm since going through the program. Seventy-seven percent havent had a new firearm charge or arrest.Boggan said Richmond itself is the success story: The city has seen a 57 percent drop in gang-related gun homicides and a 51 percent drop in gun-related assaults in the six-year period from 2010 to 2016 when Advance Peace has been running, compared to the previous six years, according to Advance Peace data collected through the Richmond Police Department.Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay confirmed gun violence was way down and said that while Advance Peace pushes the envelope a little bit, media and public attention on the stipends is a disservice to the program and a simplistic way to look at it.He said Advance Peace is an integral part of the citys three-pronged strategy of prevention, enforcement and intervention to reduce gun violence. While police handle the first two, Boggans team is in charge of the third.(S)o very frequently the intervention piece is missing or underfunded, said Lindsay. I believe that there are fewer homicides as a direct result of their interventions.Those who support bringing Advance Peace to Sacramento with Vice Mayor Jennings at the forefront say its a smart approach that acknowledges shooters are made by environment and expectation, not genetics. The 50 men most likely to pull the trigger are also most likely to be shot, and come from families of perpetrators and victims, said Boggan.Every shooter in Boggans program in Richmond has been shot or had a family member shot. Gun violence typically breeds gun violence, because its cyclical and retaliatory, he said.He said the violence often has less to do with organized gangs than it does personal rivalries and neighborhood cliques. Weve got beefs around respect issues, historical beefs, Boggan said.Intervening with the worst of the worst, Boggans theory goes, can break the cycle not just for those families, but for neighborhoods. He always involves rivals in his groups so that they can figure out new ways of dealing with each other.These 50 will influence the second 50, Jennings said. These 50 will influence their children and grandchildren.Jennings said he knows first hand how changing one hard-case kid can help.Growing up in Washington, D.C., he said he wasnt as bad as the one-percenters who commit gun crimes, but added that I can guarantee you I was in the top 25 percent.It was his Uncle Tommy who intervened.I was stupid myself growing up and Uncle Tommy came in and all the sudden changed my course, said Jennings.Tommy taught Jennings to look a person in the eye when they met. When Jennings got it right, he earned $20. When he got it wrong, he owed his uncle 20 push-ups.He took me away from the stupidity of myself to become the vice mayor of Sacramento, Jennings said. He sees Advance Peace as a way to provide such mentors for young men who never had anyone showing them a way out of generational violence and poverty.Who is investing in these fifty? he asks. The sad thing is we are talking about youth that have no interventions, that have had no chance to habilitate, much less rehabilitate.Boggan said shooters are kids who grew up in atmospheric trauma and chaos every day, and often go minute-to-minute fearing for their safety and the safety of loved ones.If you cant embrace that because you get caught up on what they have been suspected of doing, understand that they are all trauma survivors and they should be treated like we treat all trauma survivors. Lets get them some help, Boggan said.A blue-eyed, middle-class 50-year-old with light black skin and a penchant for a gray fedora, Boggan had never lived a life like Jennings when he came up with the idea for interventions in 2007. He knew he couldnt really understand the men he wanted to change and more importantly, he knew they wouldnt understand or trust him. They didnt want his social services or his help.So, with the backing of city leaders in Richmond, he hired convicted gun felons as ambassadors ones who came from the corners where the young gunners now ruled, but who still had their respect and a license to operate unafraid.His hires who received city salaries and benefits also needed to be examples, leading stable lives.In Richmond, Boggan brought on three known criminals with street credibility to recruit his first group of 21 fellows in 2010.The old-timers invited their successors to a meeting at City Hall, where Boggan handed each one a personal check for $1,000 to get their attention, then offered to blow their mind on life, Boggan said.I needed to create a shockwave, Boggan said of the money. Now, fellows have to wait at least six months before earning payments, and some never earn substantial amounts if they dont hit hard goals that are set for each participant individually and monitored by staff. In his last class, Boggan had a budget of $198,000 but only gave out $96,000 he said.I knew I had them. I could see it on their faces, said Boggan, remembering what happened when the first fellows saw the checks. Shooters, you throw them a real lifeline, and they think its credible and legitimate on their end, theyre jumping on it. They want out.It was the start of an every day relationship that took the men through cognitive behavioral therapy, mentoring and life-skills training.The curriculum included a trip to Disneyland for transformative travel, which Boggan explains as helping participants grasp that the world is bigger than their neighborhood, and allowing them a few days in a place where theyre not afraid of being killed.Boggan said the cost of gun violence should also be considered when talking about the stipends paid to the fellows.The San Francisco-based Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence analyzed lethal shootings in Sacramento in 2016 and found gun-related injuries cost $49,164 per incident in medical bills. Local agencies spent $439,217 per incident to investigate.Lethal gun violence cost the region $14.6 million in a single year, wrote Mike McLively, senior staff attorney for the center, in a letter to the City Council.Boggan said in Sacramento, none of the stipend money for fellows would come from the city. Along with philanthropic heavyweights like the California Endowment, Boggan is backed by high-profile Silicon Valley venture capital foundation Draper Richards Kaplan, which is banking on the idea that Boggans model can be replicated nationwide.These are guys who for whatever reason havent been put in jail, and to me the choice is do nothing while they are out on the street and not arrestable or do something about it, said Carter Stewart, managing director of DRK Foundation and a former U.S. Justice Department prosecutor. As long as people treat them as less than human, then ... theres not going to be the intensive outreach of services that is necessary to get to the root of the problem.Stewart said the foundation is giving Boggan $300,000 over three years with the plan to expand to two California cities. Sacramento and Stockton are the top contenders, though Boggan said 35 cities nationwide have contacted him.Boggan has committed to bringing $500,000 a year into the Sacramento program in addition to the $250,000 the city would contribute annually. Each fellow costs the program about $40,000 a year.He promises to reduce firearm assaults and firearm-related homicides by 50 percent in four years.Along with active shooters, Boggan also plans on going downstream in Sacramento to reach younger kids who are likely to become firearm offenders but havent yet.The Advance Peace model remains especially sensitive for law enforcement. Boggan said he relies on police to share information with him on people they suspect of being shooters, but he doesnt share information with them in turn about crimes his fellows may have committed.That tenuous relationship with law enforcement was cited by Jones, the Sacramento County sheriff, as another concern he had with the program.Boggan said the one-way flow of intelligence from police to him is a critical part of the programs success. If his fellows think hes talking to police, theyll leave.Were not required to, not going to, said Boggan. Its challenging. ... (Police) think, Theyre out there helping the criminals be better criminals.Still, Boggan said Advance Peace isnt a get out of jail free card.He tells fellows if police can prove they committed a crime, theyll go to jail just like any other criminal, fellow or not.If they have committed a crime that is a crime that they can be held responsible for, they will be locked up, said Jennings. They will suffer the consequences of that crime.Jennings backing aside, political will is mixed on adopting Advance Peace in Sacramento.Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said he strongly supports the concept including the payments if they are tied to tangible reform.Focusing on these guys who are causing most of the problems is right, said Steinberg. If (the stipend) is for completing a GED, if its for participating in workforce training, Ill stand up night and day to defend that.Sanchez, the assistant city manager, told community members at the July meeting that some on the council want to wait until new police chief Daniel Hahn is sworn in on Aug. 11 before making a final decision on whether to move forward.Hahn said he hasnt had time to look into the details of Advance Peace yet, but hes open to any idea that is a permanent, long-term strategy that is collaborative.The majority of people gathered at Fruitridge Elementary saw promise in Boggans plan after what Simmons, the pastor, described as a plague of violence this summer.Sitting in the back of the packed classroom, Arnold DayDay Butler was among those who thought Advance Peace was worth a try.Butler was a notorious gangster who sold drugs in north Sacramento until police finally caught up with him in 2003. He just got out of prison a few months ago and came to Boggans community meeting in south Sacramento because he wants to stop the violence he once helped lionize.Butler said Boggan is right that gangsters can change, and right about needing guys like him to reach the younger shooters.They dont hear nothing nobody want to say. The only reason they listen to me is because they know my name, said Butler. Im going to work with him. I think the program will work.Anita Chabria: 916-321-1049, @chabriaa2017 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.)Visit The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) at www.sacbee.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Like temperature, air quality is hardly static, and can swing widely from one day to another or even from neighborhood to neighborhood.Baltimore, Md., and Lafayette, La., will soon have detailed air-quality data buzzing in from monitors mounted across both cities, offering real-time glimpses of ozone, temperature, humidity and particulate levels. The monitoring programs are part of the Environmental Protection Agencys Smart City Air Challenge a 2016 competitive grant program that made $40,000 available to each community. Both cities used the money primarily to purchase the air-quality sensor devices, but also develop the sort of software platforms needed to monitor and analyze the data.In Lafayette, the project is a partnership among the city, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and CGI , a Canada-based IT consulting firm with an office in Lafayette. The three formed the Lafayette Engagement and Research Network The primary role that CGI is playing is actually implementing a data management solution around all of the data thats coming from these [Internet of Things] devices, explained William LaBar, CGI vice president for consulting services at the companys Lafayette location.LaBar and his team will deploy some 300 air-quality sensors across the city, mounting them largely on traffic signals, which are already wired with electric power and the citys fiber communications network. That portion of the project should be complete by the end of the year, he said. Already, two prototype sensors are installed, and technicians are shoring up the calibration of those devices.Were just doing prototyping now because we want to ensure that design of the casing is going to be resilient, and able to handle different weather patterns, LaBar said, adding that the prototypes have already survived a tropical storm and a hail storm.In Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is taking the lead on that project. Known as Open Air Baltimore, the project will place about 250 air monitors across the city, offering a window into air quality in each neighborhood. Researchers want to know how much does air quality vary throughout the city? said Anna Scott, project lead of Open Air Baltimore, and a graduate student at Johns Hopkins.This data can then be mapped and overlaid with other information looking at demographics, socioeconomics, industry and other factors found in an urban setting.Eventually, thats the kind of work that well get out of this, said Scott. This type of technology is really well suited to understanding spatial variabilities."Both projects take advantage of existing smart city infrastructure such as Lafayettes fiber network, and open the door for other programs using data and IoT devices, say officials.Integrating our information systems and enabling open-data initiatives increases citizen engagement, improves government services, and promotes an innovative and thriving economy, said Carlee Alm-LaBar, planning zoning and development director for Lafayette Consolidated Government, via email.The hope is also that other communities could easily replicate what Lafayette and Baltimore are doing. CGI purchased several types of sensors from various vendors in a move to purposefully create an ecosystem where you have all different types of data coming in, but you need to interpret it, said LaBar. So we can understand what kind of algorithms would communities use when you start to have a lot of data coming in from different types of devices. So were intentionally kind of creating this diversity in order to understand how people can make sense of it.CGI is developing an application programing interface ( API ) based on an Open Geospatial Consortium standard.And so our development of this API can be given back to the open-source community so that any city can sort of implement this API on top of their data-management platform, LaBar explained. The open-source API is called Kinota.In Lafayette, a city of 126,000 residents spread across nearly 54 square miles in the heart of South Louisiana Cajun Country, there is currently only one air-quality sensor, maintained by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Multiplying that information-gathering by 300 will offer a wealth of more data to be used not only by city policymakers, but also by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a National Science Foundation funded big-data research institution. The university is helping to determine the locations for the sensors so that they are in line with the sustainability strategic plan at the university.Organizers in both Lafayette and Baltimore have reached into the community to use the programs as educational opportunities, teaching in many cases K-12 students technical skills related to electronics manufacture and assembly.So were going to do STEM [Science Technology Engineering Mathematics] as a part of the overall project teach kids about IoT, teach kids about environmental topics, and also teach them about data and analytics, said LaBar.Weve teamed up with a local job-training organization to run a job training program that teaches Baltimore residents how to do electronics manufacturing, Scott echoed. (TNS) -- California has far more electric cars and plug-in hybrids plying its roads than any other state about 300,000 so far. But theyre still just a tiny fraction of auto sales.Now, legislation in Sacramento is designed to juice the market, just as a new generation of long-range electric cars hits showroom floors. bill from Assemblyman Phil Ting , D-San Francisco, would revamp and expand Californias existing rebate program for people who buy electrics or plug-in hybrids. The bill, a version of which has already passed the Assembly, would devote $3 billion to clean car incentives. The money would come from the states cap-and-trade system for controlling greenhouse gas emissions.The new rebates would start big how big has yet to be determined and then shrink over time, as plug-in cars become more common and affordable. Eventually, the rebates would disappear altogether.Its the same approach California used 10 years ago to kick-start sales of rooftop solar arrays. That rebate program helped create the states solar industry.Even in eco-conscious California, sales of battery-powered cars have not accelerated as quickly as state officials wanted, due to relatively low gasoline prices and the limited range of most electric vehicles.But late last year, General Motors started selling a $37,500 car the Chevy Bolt that can go 238 miles on a charge, long enough to handle even brutal Bay Area commutes. Tesla just debuted its $35,000 Model 3, whose base model gets 220 miles per charge. And Nissan is expected next month to introduce the long-awaited redesign of its electric Leaf, offering similar range.Its time to be even more aggressive, Ting said. The reason were doing this now is there really hasnt been electric vehicles for the mass market before. Most (electric vehicles) get 80 miles, and even if you live in San Francisco and youve got a 30-mile commute, you can get range anxiety pretty quickly.California has set ambitious goals for slashing its greenhouse gas emissions and has stuck to those goals even as the federal government under President Trump moves to gut federal climate-change efforts.State law calls for cutting greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. That cant happen, however, unless drivers switch to cleaner cars.Transportation accounts for 37 percent of all the states greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other sector of the economy.Theres no way to meet our climate goals without dramatically reducing emissions from transportation, said Don Anair, deputy director of the clean vehicles program at the Union of Concerned Scientists public policy group. Were not going to get there by continuing to burn oil in our cars.Gov. Jerry Brown wants 1.5 million electric cars on the states roads by 2025.Ting just bought a Bolt, which he can drive from San Francisco to Sacramento and back on a single charge (although he usually tops off the battery at work). This is a major shift, he said. Now you have cars that fit most consumers needs.The current state rebate system offers $5,000 for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, $2,500 for electrics and $1,500 for plug-in hybrids. More than $439 million in rebates have been handed out so far, with about 38 percent of the money going to Bay Area drivers. The popular program often runs out of money during the year, forcing rebate applicants to sit on a waiting list until the Legislature appropriates more cash.Tings bill, AB 1184, would make several significant changes. Rebates would be handed out at the point of sale and would be tied to a dedicated, ongoing funding stream. Dealers would be able to factor the rebates into their advertised prices for cars, something they cant do now without potentially misleading buyers.The bill also calls for pegging the size of the rebate to the price difference between an electric car and the cost of the most frequently sold compact car in the state. The goal is to eliminate the higher up-front cost of electric cars as a reason for people not to try them, but the idea is only vaguely sketched out in the bill draft available online.I have no idea what that language means, said Gene Erbin, a lobbyist representing the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, at a July meeting of the Senates Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications.The bills fate is far from certain, and elements of it remain subject to change.Many of the key details such as the size of the rebates and the exact method of calculating them would need to be hashed out by state regulators, should the legislation pass. Some critics say it favors electric cars over plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles, issues Ting says he wants to address. An analysis prepared in June for a Senate committee questioned many of the bills details, including its recommendation that the program receive $500 million each year from the proceeds of the cap-and-trade program until the $3 billion total is reached. Cap and trade, the analysis noted, generated $850 million in revenue last year, of which $510 million was already appropriated to other programs.In addition, the bill faces criticism that it is meant to help Palo Altos Tesla, whose first three models before the Model 3 generally cost more than $100,000. Tesla buyers currently can take advantage of both the state rebate and a $7,500 federal tax credit. But the federal credit for any automakers customers phases out when the number of electric cars sold by that automaker in the U.S. reaches 200,000. Tesla is expected to hit that number within the next year.Steve Chadima, senior vice president of Advanced Energy Economy, which represents businesses pushing for a low-carbon economy, said the bill had nothing to do with Tesla.The word Tesla never passed anybodys lips the entire time we were talking about how to construct this bill, he said.Even if Tings bill passes, electric vehicles still have a long road ahead, including in California.As of May, California drivers had registered 153,737 pure electric cars just over half of all electrics nationwide as well as 143,473 plug-in hybrids, according to the Auto Alliance, an industry group. While the numbers are growing, those cars together represent just over 3 percent of Californias new car market. Many consumers dont want to deal with a new technology and the routine of figuring out when and where to charge up their cars, particularly when gasoline prices are relatively low.Youre asking people to adopt different behavior its not exactly seamless with the way they behaved before, said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of industry analysis at the Edmunds auto information service. I used to live in a condo, and I cant imagine asking the HOA to install a home charging system. (TNS) When Google realized in 2013 it had a diversity problem, it followed the corporate playbook by introducing workshops to train employees about hidden biases.But four years later and after sending three-quarters of its 70,000 employees through sensitivity training the Mountain View, Calif., tech giant is now reeling after a male employee (who has since been fired ) circulated a memo arguing women are biologically incapable of doing a mans job in Silicon Valley.The 3,000-word post which contended, among other things, that men fundamentally have a higher drive for status than women has triggered another crisis for a tech industry scrambling to find a credible solution to its underrepresentation of minorities and women. And it comes at a time when high-profile start-ups such as Uber and venture firms such as Binary Capital have come under fire for sexual harassment scandals.The memo also puts Googles push to promote diversity in the spotlight, raising questions about its efficacy. How could a company whose purportedis do no evil harbor an employee bold enough to deride empathy as irrational, equate more women in the workforce as social engineering and claim females are too agreeable to effectively lead?If this engineer said he didnt believe in the companys product philosophy, and he was going to work against the product internally, theres no way that person would keep their job, said Karla Monterroso of Code2040, a nonprofit that advocates for black and Latino leadership in tech. Tech needs to make this their moonshot. We had a speaker at a conference who said this is a matter of priority and belief, and this cannot be harder than creating an autonomous vehicle. It just isnt.Google did not respond when asked if the engineer had been disciplined. It disavowed the memo, calling its assumptions incorrect.We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and well continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul, Danielle Brown, vice president of diversity, integrity and governance, said in a statement.Its unclear if the manifesto, which first surfaced last week, represents a rogue viewpoint or some wider set of shared beliefs. Many Google employees came forward to decry it.The tech industry has long held the view that its a meritocracy in which the best ideas and brightest people find success. The argument that Googles lack of diversity is proof of a meritocracy has found support on corners of the internet in which the alt-right has thrived, such as the Politically Incorrect forum on 4chan.Googles diversity training was meant to address this, laying down a marker that the company which counts 31 percent of its total workforce as female sees it has a problem and is working to fix it. But the author of the offending memo appears to have hardened his views as a result of Googles push to tackle unconscious bias.The training has the potential for overcorrecting or backlash, especially if made mandatory, he writes.To experts, its not shocking that some men in an industry predominantly led by men would have trouble seeing the need for workshops.Ive been doing this work for years and I know without a doubt that there are plenty of people who dont come from underrepresented backgrounds who feel like the diversity work that companies are doing, and the conversations around giving women and underrepresented groups the same opportunities as everyone else, is unfair, said Wayne Sutton, co-founder of Change Catalyst, an organization that promotes diversity and inclusion in tech.They cant grasp how difficult it is, or what we experience as underrepresented individuals, Sutton continued. Often, they lack the intelligence and empathy to understand how other peoples behavior can limit our opportunities. These are supposed to be some of the most intelligent individuals, because they can code.Solving the problem will take the kind of strategic thinking and resources that helped build Google, now known by its parent companys name Alphabet Inc., into a $650 billion company, experts say.That doesnt mean a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, the entire executive team, the board and human resources department must work in unison. Guidelines must be put in place that will change workplace culture at all levels, experts say.It needs senior-level attention, said Jeff Reid, a professor at Georgetown Universitys McDonough School of Business. It means theres no quick fix. You cant say, oh, were going to hire a woman as our VP of inclusion, or offer diversity training, and that will solve our problem. When youre talking about an issue thats part of your culture, it takes a concerted effort to change culture.Google which was sued by the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this year for allegedly withholding information that could determine whether it was underpaying women declined a request to discuss precisely how its diversity training and push to diversify is being implemented.Google says on its corporate site it has widened its search for employees to predominantly black universities and other colleges. The company also maintains over 20 employee resource groups, including those for female, black, Latino, gay, senior and disabled workers.The results have been modest. Men account for 80 percent of tech jobs at Google, down from 83 percent in 2014 when the company first released diversity data. Men hold 75 percent of leadership positions today, down from 79 percent three years ago.As for racial and ethnic minorities, there has been little change. Black employees continue to hold only 1 percent of Googles tech jobs, whereas Latino representation in tech positions has risen to 3 percent from 2 percent since 2014. Meanwhile, Asians continue to thrive at the company, occupying 39 percent of tech positions compared with 34 percent three years ago.Google engineer Sarah Adams said she was disheartened by her experience in the companys unconscious bias workshops.At one session, an instructor described how women often see their ideas dismissed while white men are celebrated for espousing the same ideas. Asked to break off into smaller groups to discuss the problem, Adams voiced an idea only to be ignored by her colleagues. When a white man brought up the same idea, the group accepted it.It was very painful, Adams said. Most people who go to the trainings really want to be better, but of course thats not true of everyone who comes to the classes we offer.Changing a culture is not impossible. Lenore Blum headed an initiative at Carnegie Mellon Universitys school of computer science in the 1990s that helped increase the number of women in the computer science program from less than 10 percent to 49 percent today.We didnt change the curriculum, we just changed the environment, Blum said.Blum helped launch a group called Women@SCS (Women at the School of Computer Science). In lieu of fraternities, which provided many male students a chance to network, Women@SCS created opportunities for women to network and receive and mentorship.The school also expanded its criteria for student acceptance, allowing those without prior programming experience and seeking students with broad interests.It opened doors for women, but it also changed the kinds of men we were admitting, said Blum, adding there was a severe backlash that eventually dissipated. We dont see that anymore. The state of Illinois, which has taken pioneering strides with various blockchain projects in testing new Internet technology, is taking additional steps to improve cybersecurity at its first line of defense: with end users.On Monday, Aug. 7, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 2371 , an amendment to the states Data Security on State Computers Act requiring annual cybersecurity training from the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) for state employees.The amendment allows DoIT to adopt rules to implement the training and to make the training an online course. It also requires that the education cover how to detect phishing scams; prevent spyware infections and identity theft; and how to prevent and respond to data breaches. It takes effect on Jan. 1, 2018.Cybersecurity protection of our digital assets and the personal information of our residents is one of the most important public safety issues facing the state. Its essential to keep the people of Illinois safe and to keep their privacy reserved, that we are at the forefront of cybersecurity, Rauner said before the 3 p.m. Central Daylight Time signing.The governor was joined in DoITs Innovation Center at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago by Illinois Chief Digital Officer and Secretary Designate Hardik Bhatt and Chief Information Security Officer Kirk Lonbom, both of whom also discussed the bill via livestream before and after the signing.Bhatt said Illinois is working on a complete digital transformation informed by the statewide cybersecurity strategy Rauner unveiled in March, and told the audience that more than 95 percent of state employees have already received cybersecurity training.One of the weaker points in most organizations across the globe is the human being. It is very important that our employees become our first line of defense as it comes to cybersecurity, as it comes to making sure our environment is safe, Bhatt said.Rauner said roughly 47,000 of 50,000 state employees have already been trained.Lonbom reminded those assembled that as much as 91 percent of cyberattacks begin via phishing, a time-honored tactic thats popular again , and that most information breaches begin with a stolen password.The state of Missouri is among the agencies that phishes its own employees to test them.Cyberattacks are continuing to grow in frequency and scale, and its essential that we have a comprehensive approach, Lonbom said.As he signed the bill, Rauner praised legislators on both sides of the aisle for coming together to help preserve citizens private data and train state employees by passing it.But he acknowledged the states budget is still not balanced, and highlighted the general assemblys choice to remove $900 million in technology improvement funds before approving it.Where its disappointing to see the general assemblys decision on gutting the IT budget, thats going to cost us billions more in the future. This is investment that has return for taxpayers, Rauner said.Bhatt said online technology has changed how state agencies do business, and theyre not changing back.IT is not just technology. Its how we serve our citizens now. Technology is basically so pervasive that it does need investment, Bhatt said. We have fortunately been able to find a few dollars for cybersecurity training. We will be able to get by, but its very important that there is investment in this area."The cost of HB 2371 and the amount of funding behind it remains unclear.However, House Amendment No. 1 to the bill which was put forth by a House committee in February exempted several populations of state employees from having to take the training.The amendment to the bill specified that the term employee be limited, and not include staffers in the legislative or judicial branches of state government, constitutional officers other than the governor, or employees of a public state university.State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, the bills primary sponsor, toldvia email that the changes had been proposed by Rauner's office and DoIT.The bill reflects the governor's changes. Trailer legislation is always possible at a later date, Welch said via email.Whos left? That wasnt my choice, that was a determination of the lead sponsor, Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Hinckley, toldPritchard noted that any piece of legislation is a compromise, and called the bill a start that could potentially be altered or adjusted at a later date.And hopefully it wont necessarily have to be a law change," Pritchard said. "It will be that the executive and judicial and legislative branches will see that and have their employees included. Maharashtra Government to raise $270 m from Green Climate Fund Published: August 8, 2017 The 2030 Water Resources Group (2030WRG) has decided to help the Maharashtra Government to raise $270 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The amount raised will be invested in state governments integrated watershed programmes such as Jalyukt Shivar Yojana which has successfully augmented the ground water in drought affected areas of the state. Moreover, the raised fund will be also used to further connect efficient use of water at the village level, where the fund will be useful for technology and infrastructure development. It will also be used in crop diversification and adding market linkages. Maharashtra Water Resources Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MWRMP) 2030WRG along with the Maharashtra Government have launched the MWRMP to address critical water resources challenges in the State. The platform will be chaired by the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. The platform aims to accelerate water use efficiency programme in irrigated areas, along with agriculture growth and income enhancement. It will also develop public-private-community partnership models for implementation of the programmes. It will develop viable financing solutions, including blended finance models for promoting efficient use of water. 2030WRG The 2030WRG is hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. It is a public-private-civil society collaboration for water resources reform in developing economies. Its ultimate aim is to close the gap between water demand and supply by the year 2030. It facilitates open, trust-based dialogue processes to drive action on water resources reform in water stressed countries in developing economies. Green Climate Fund (GCF) The GCF is a fund under the UN. It is guided by the principles and provisions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It aims to help developing countries to finance clean energy projects other mitigation efforts and adaptation to climate change. Month: Current Affairs - August, 2017 Topics: 2030 Water Resources Group Environment Green Climate Fund Maharashtra National States Water conservation Latest E-Books A Morning Mixer will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce office. The Morning Mixer is a networking event for members of the Farmington Regional Chamber. It is held on the second Wednesday of each month. Each Morning Mixer is open to up to 40 chamber members. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Refreshments will be available for registered guests, and members may choose to stay for the duration of the event or just drop by to socialize for a few minutes. The Farmington and St. Francois County Industrial Development Authorities and the Farmington Regional Chamber have joined together to give members the opportunity to meet Anna Hui, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Hui will discuss topics on businesses and workers, safety and harassment-free environments. Governor Eric Greitens has put out the call to eliminate red tape and kill rules that are a hindrance rather than a help. As part of the review process, the Department of Labor is asking for your comments on its existing rules. The governors charge to the state agencies is to determine if specific regulations are ineffective or unnecessary by considering whether: The regulations cost outweighs its benefits. The regulation is effective. The regulation is the least restrictive alternative. The regulation is based on sound, reasonably available scientific, technical, economic, or other relevant information. The regulation is unduly burdensome or adversely affects Missouri citizens or customers. Seating at the Chamber office in Farmington is limited. Contact the Chamber at 573-756-3615 to reserve a seat. Light morning fare will be served. 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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 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. car2go members have also spent 33% more time traveling in car2gos in the first half of 2017 versus the first half of 2016, indicating that one-way carshare is gaining popularity as a convenient, affordable way to travel over varying distances. car2go N.A., North Americas largest flexible one-way carsharing service, saw a significant increase in use of its service during the first six months of 2017. Usage of car2go increased by 40% year-over-year in the first half of 2017 compared to the first half of 2016 across all 11 of the services North American locations, with more than 4.5 million trips taken so far this year. In January, car2go made a significant investment in North America by becoming the first and only one-way carsharing service to offer Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Since then, car2go has added nearly 100,000 new members and currently offers larger four-door, five passenger Mercedes-Benz vehicles in eight of the services 11 North American locations. car2go plans to bring Mercedes-Benz vehicles to additional North American locations, and will eventually boast a North American fleet made-up predominantly of Mercedes-Benz CLA and GLA vehicles. In July 2016, we released results of our three-year study examining the impact of one-way carsharing across five North American cities. Across the cities, we found that one-way carsharing services, like car2go, were responsible for removing up to 11 other vehicles from urban streets, while also reducing carbon emissions on net. Its encouraging to see that car2gos membership not only continues to rise, but that car2gos members are opting to choose carsharing more frequently when they travel. Dr. Susan Shaheen, Co-Director of the University of California Berkeleys Transportation Sustainability Research Center Among car2gos US and Canadian locations, New York, Toronto and Vancouver have experienced the fastest year-on-year membership growth in the first half of this 2017. Vancouver tops all North American car2go membership with more than 135,000 local members. In the US, Seattle leads with more than 95,000 members. US and Canadian car2go members have taken 37.5 million trips with car2go since the service launched in North America in late 2009 with its first location in Austin, Texas. car2go N.A., LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation. The sale and purchase agreement covers Nissans battery subsidiary, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation ( AESC ), as well as battery manufacturing operations in Smyrna, Tennessee, owned by Nissan North America Inc. (NNA), and in Sunderland, England, owned by Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. (NMUK). Assets sold to GSR will also include part of Nissans Japanese battery development and production engineering operations located in Oppama, Atsugi and Zama. Nissan Motor has entered into a definitive sale and purchase agreement with GSR Capital (GSR), a private investment fund, for the sale of Nissans automotive electric battery operations and production facilities to GSR. Nissan will implement the transaction by first taking full control of AESCfounded in 2007 to develop advanced lithium-ion batteriesby acquiring the combined 49% minority holding held by NEC Corporation and its wholly owned battery and electrode subsidiary, NEC Energy Devices, Ltd (NECED). This is a win-win for AESC and Nissan. It enables AESC to utilize GSRs wide networks and proactive investment to expand its customer base and further increase its competitiveness. In turn, this will further enhance Nissans EV competitiveness. AESC will remain a very important partner for Nissan as we deepen our focus on designing and producing market-leading electric vehicles. Hiroto Saikawa, president and CEO of Nissan The acquisition of AESC represents an important step for us in the new energy vehicle industry chain. We plan to further invest in R&D, expand existing production capacity in the US, UK and Japan, and also establish new facilities in China and Europe, enabling us to better serve customers around the world. With these capabilities and plans added to the battery business already skilled workforce, high technical capabilities and proven product-quality track record, we will be in a very good position for growth. Sonny Wu, chairman of GSR Capital The workforce at all facilities covered by the deal, including the production plants at Zama, Sunderland and Smyrna, will continue to be employed. The headquarters and development centers of the business will remain in Japan. The transaction is subject to normal consultation with staff representative bodies and, pending regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed by the end of December 2017. The transaction is contingent on GSR concluding purchase of all NECED shares from NEC. Financial terms have not been disclosed. GSR Capital is a leading private investment fund with offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Palo Alto. The firm focuses on investments in high growth sectors in electric vehicles, new energy, modern agriculture, healthcare and wireless technologies. The best thing IMO is to turn the spicket off now and let them drop like flies. Then. Maybe, after they are gone revisit the idea. Every one of them are getting new hips, eyes, knees and what not. The system was not designed for them to be turned into cyborgs on the taxpayers dime. Same w/ SS. If you want to comfortably live to 100 do it at your own expense. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. Donald J. Trump inauguration speech, Jan. 20, 2017 Actually, not so much. Any pretense that the Trump administration had a pro-worker, pro-family agenda has been belied by his actual policies. Policies that blow holes in the safety net that protects the health, education and financial security of American families, particularly low-wage workers. Policies that prevent instead of enable adoption and foster programs. Policies that literally rip families apart. And now policies that run counter to the very notion of the family as the basis for society. The safety net was the first to go. Major cuts to Medicaid are a central feature of all GOP proposals for a health care plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, the Trump budget calls for cutting Medicaid by $610 billion over 10 years. More than half of all Medicaid recipients are children, the elderly or people with disabilities. Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) also would be cut by 20 percent in the next two fiscal years. The SNAP program, as food stamps are now known, gets a 25 percent cut. That program serves more than 21 million families who otherwise struggle to buy food. Many of the people receiving health and nutrition benefits are American workers who dont make a living wage. Trump famously said during the presidential debates that wages were too high for American workers. He remains opposed to any increase in the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Trumps budget also cuts funding for education, affordable housing and Social Security Disability Insurance. Americans arent asking for much, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) said in a May during a floor speech regarding Trumps budget. The ability to put in an honest days work and provide for your familys basic needs. The chance to wake up in the morning without facing a series of impossible choices: food or medication; mortgage or your car repair; a bus pass or school supplies. In other words, the basic economic dignity that every single person in this country deserves. Countless American families battle these daily heartbreaks and small injustices with their heads held high. For those families, this budget doesnt see them for their dignity, but views them with disgrace. Trumps immigration policy fractures existing families and puts up roadblocks for those who would build families here. The U.S. travel ban isolated family members on different continents, put marriages in limbo and made many immigrants fearful of leaving the country to visit relatives. It also stranded more than 100 refugee children who were already matched to waiting American foster families. A deportation crackdown with the stated goal of rounding up bad hombres has become a policy to deport anyone who is in the country illegally. Students with scholarships, grandfathers with health problems and parents with underage children have been swept up. Two Triad mothers threatened with deportation have taken refuge in Greensboro churches rather than leave their families. There are 4.5 million American-born children who stand at risk of losing one or both of their parents to deportation. Studies have shown that this kind of traumatic separation puts children at greater risk of declining physical health, poor behavioral and educational outcomes and higher rates of poverty and food insecurity. These separations cost businesses valued workers, churches valued members and leave parents afraid to send children to school or take them to the doctor. Broken families and traumatized children place greater burdens on society, but thriving families make all our institutions stronger. And now Trump wants further to disadvantage families through legal immigration. Traditionally, there have been easier pathways to immigration for people who have family members in the U.S. A bill proposed in the U.S. Senate would cut legal immigration in half, largely by eliminating the criteria aimed at family reunification and replacing it with a merit system based on an immigrants ability to speak English and work in high-skills industries. But what highly skilled worker will want to immigrate to America if he or she cant bring along family members? The ones who do likely would be sending money back home to their families rather than investing it here. Without the connection to and support of family, people are disinclined to put down roots. People who dont put down roots are less likely to buy homes, be involved in the community or committed to its ideals. That is clearly part of the underlying goal. Immigration doesnt threaten American workers, but it clearly threatens the dominance of Republicans, who appeal to a shrinking white majority easily influenced by identity politics. America was built on people who came here precisely to build families and give their children a better life. Even if it achieved the goal of improving the economy a claim that is dubious at best this immigration plan is yet another anti-family measure that would fragment and weaken American society. The American Idol television show will hold an audition Aug. 27 in Asheville, the show's only stop in its search for new talent in North Carolina this summer. The show will hold auditions at 68 Haywood St. in downtown Asheville the area formerly known as the Pit of Despair, according to FOX8/WGHP, the Journal's newsgathering partner. Auditions will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. downtown at the city-owned property, the television station reported. Auditions are likely to be held outdoors. Auditions are open to anyone between 15 and 28 who wants a chance to be the next American Idol. Contestants must also be legal U.S. residents and not already signed to a label. GREENSBORO A Greensboro man was arrested at his home Monday afternoon in connection with robberies of two fish game businesses. Elisiah DeMikel Vincent, 18, is the second person accused of robbing the Skill Fish Arcade at 2216 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. on July 7, according to a police news release. He is charged with five counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, four counts of second-degree kidnapping and one count of conspiracy. He is confined in Guilford County jail with bail set at $252,000. Vincents alleged co-conspirator, Enrique Razaan Watkins, 20, turned himself in to the Guilford County jail on Thursday. Detectives also charged Vincent with robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping in the robbery of The Lighthouse, another fish game business, at 3817 W. Gate City Blvd. on June 6. Further investigation linked Watkins to this crime as well. As a result, Watkins is facing additional charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy, and kidnapping. He remains confined without bail. North Carolina Republicans appeared to fall just short in Tuesdays General Assembly elections of gaining large enough majorities to override Gov. Roy Coopers vetoes on their own. But their seat gains eroded further the Democrats ability to block bills on abortion and other highly contested legislation. The Senate GOP increased their seats to the number needed to have a veto-proof majority. But Speaker Tim Moore said that House Republicans were one seat shy of a similar threshold. Moore said Wednesday he's confident House Republicans can get help from Democrats in an override. But that could be more difficult on abortion restrictions, which Cooper and other Democrats campaigned against. It was a love fest Monday afternoon for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley in Corvallis. Merkley, Oregon's junior senator, stopped for a town hall at the Corvallis High School theater and wowed a crowd of more than 400 constituents, who applauded him repeatedly and gave him standing ovations at the beginning and end of his appearance. It was the 32nd town hall this year for Merkley, the son of a Myrtle Creek millwright, who was elected to the state Legislature in 1998 and the U.S. Senate in 2008. Merkley was re-elected in 2014 with a 16-point margin against Monica Wehby, but the gap was 31 points, 62 percent to 31 percent, in Benton County. Merkley spoke Monday evening in Albany as well at the Russell Tripp Performance Center at Linn-Benton Community College. Between the two town halls, he spoke with the editorial board at the Albany Democrat-Herald. In Corvallis, Merkley, dressed casually in a long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans and boots, spent the majority of his 20 minutes of prepared remarks on health care, an issue that brought dozens of T-shirt wearing and sign-waving constituents to the town hall. Merkley thanked Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, for his July 28 vote that killed Republican plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and also praised plans by a pair of senators, Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Democrat Patty Murray, to hold hearings on health care. It should have happened in January, Merkley said, but at least it happened. Merkley noted that he is against major drug companies working to shut down generic drug makers who compete with them and he advocates reducing the age of Medicare eligibility from 65 to 55. There is so much stress over health care, Merkley said. How about if we have a seamless system of health care and that by just getting born in America you will receive decent heath care? The audience responded with strong applause. On other topics, both during his speech and in the 40-minute question-and-answer session that followed, Merkley: Said he wont support tax reform that is about higher deficits and more giveaways to the wealthy. Indicated Senate Democrats will hold twice-weekly pro forma sessions during the August recess to prevent President Donald Trump from making any recess appointments. Said he wants to save federal research funds for programs such as the cross-laminated timber breakthrough that Oregon State University College of Forestry scientists are working on. Expressed concerns that a miscalculation in how to deal with North Koreas nuclear program could lead to war and added that policymakers need to deal with the reality of the situation by letting North Korea keep its nuclear material but persuading the government to quit testing missiles and warheads. Said that good health care, good education and good jobs should be the three things Democrats focus on to attract middle-class voters, adding that college should not be such a financial gantlet and that students should leave college debt-free. Merkley also noted the challenge of consensus-building in a media environment that is so partisan. Were living in two different media worlds, and there is a vast difference in the reporting on national issues, Merkley said. That difference is making problem-solving very difficult. In one of the few lighthearted moments of a rather serious session, Merkley noted that he had seen a study indicating that when parents are looking at the types of individuals their children might marry they are more concerned these days about their political affiliation than their religious ties. Merkley opened the session by honoring members of Linn Benton Food Share and presenting them with a flag that was flown at the U.S. Capitol. Merkley, who worked for Habitat for Humanity in the early 1990s, noted the challenge of hunger in Oregon and urged the audience to continue to fight for food stamps, school food programs and food banks. In the interview with the Democrat-Herald editorial board on Monday afternoon, Merkley said that he has worked to get language in the Senate appropriations bill to protect federal research laboratories such as the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Albany and the Oregon State University wave lab. Not all of those are guaranteed to make it through, he added. The labs, Merkley noted, are in both Democrat and Republican areas, however, so there is support from both parties, which will be key. On the topic of sanctuary cities, Merkley spoke out against using local law enforcement as agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying that it will contribute to a distrust of police. When residents dont report incidents because theyre worried about being deported, that will encourage crime, he added. Merkley told the DH editorial board that he didnt think that legalized marijuana would be a high priority for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and he encouraged the federal government to tackle organized crime, rather than businesses and residents operating legally under state laws. Providing a banking system, Merkley added, actually would deter organized crime in the marijuana industry. On the constant upheaval in Washington, D.C., Merkley said he believes new Chief of Staff John Kelly should bring order to the presidential administration. He added that Trumps daily drama is an enormous distraction from problem-solving. We should absolutely put problem-solving ahead of politics, but its getting harder, Merkley said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The state Elections Enforcement Commission has launched a formal investigation into a complaint alleging that Republican Dave Walker, the former U.S. comptroller general, failed to register as a candidate for governor while he was actively campaigning for the post. The month-old complaint was filed by the campaign manager of GOP rival Tim Herbst, who has accused Walker of circumventing fundraising and spending limits for candidates through the use of an exploratory committee. A commission spokesman said the referral of the complaint for investigation was not based on the merits of the case, but on the agencys jurisdiction over state election laws. Walker, a Bridgeport resident and 2014 lieutenant governor candidate, characterized the complaint as a frivolous waste of government time and resources. His complaint has no merit, Walker said Tuesday. Were dealing with it, and Im confident that well prevail when the commission does make a decision. Tim has the dubious distinction of being the first and only Republican to file a formal complaint against a fellow statewide Republican candidate. Fundraising limits Herbst, the first selectman of Trumbull, stood by the allegations and said that only after the complaint was filed did Walker register as a candidate. I think it goes without saying that we would not have brought it to the attention of (the commission) unless we felt there was probable cause to initiate an investigation, Herbst said. My campaign manager, Tom Daly, felt very strongly that there were potential violations. Herbst and Walker are each trying to raise $250,000 in increments of $100 or less from individual contributors to try to qualify for public campaign financing under Connecticuts clean-elections program. Each initially set up exploratory committees to gauge support for their political brand, allowing them to raise up to $375 from individual donors without spending limitations. They can apply $100 of each of those $375 donations toward the $250,000 threshold. But if Walker is found to have violated the law for exploratory committees, some of his contributions could be disqualified. Super PAC issue The legal wrangling between the increasingly bitter rivals may not end there, however. A video obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media shows Walker speaking to the Republican Town Committee in Greenwich in late May, when Walker boasted of a super PAC potentially rendering aid to him in the governors race. Herbst said that would violate state election laws prohibiting candidates from coordinating with outside groups. The segment started out with Walker, who served under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, guaranteeing that he would become eligible for public campaign financing. With the people I have on my finance committee, Ill qualify, Walker said. Im not worried about that. But its not just that. Theyre committed to raising a $30 (million) to $40 million super PAC to support this Connecticut turnaround concept. I will nationalize this race. I have contacts all over this country. We can turn a blue state red. State Elections Enforcement Commission Spokesman Joshua Foley said he could only comment generally about the law. Super PACs cant make contributions to Connecticut candidates, but they can make independent expenditures, Foley said. Herbst said Walker is brazenly flouting the law. The fact that a candidate would stand up before a (Republican Town Committee) and basically articulate how he intends to circumvent clean-election laws is incredibly troubling, Herbst said. We cannot afford to nominate a candidate that is either that politically inept or is committed to being that politically surreptitious. Walker said there is no collusion and that Herbst doesnt have a grasp of state elections law, even though he has a law degree. Tim Herbst is demonstrating that he is a bomb thrower with poor judgment, Walker said. This guy doesnt know when to quit. Staff Writer Ken Dixon contributed to this report. http://twitter.com/gettinviggy; nvigdor@hearstmediact.com; 203-625-4436 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An American Airlines flight lurched violently over the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday, sending drinks and people flying - and putting 10 in the hospital after landing in Philadelphia. Alex Ehmke and his family had spent nearly 10 hours in the air - flying home from a vacation in Europe, he told The Washington Post. Flight attendants were handing out a last round of drinks before landing, and the U.S. shore had just come into view. "It had been completely uneventful," Ehmke said. "It looked like a nice day." He and his wife got their coffees. Five minutes or so passed. What happened next is a bit of blur to Ehmke, but he recalled an announcement urging passengers to fasten their seat belts, though the safety light was already on. Another passenger, Ian Smith, told ABC affiliate WPVI that flight attendants were told to return to their seats, too. "They didn't even have time," he said. It began with a few seconds of shaking - not severe, the sort of turbulence any frequent flier gets used to. "I was fine," Ehmke recalled. "This is all within normal bounds." But the shaking got worse. Ehmke saw drinks spilling and sensed a faint panic in the aisles. Still, he wasn't worried. Then, suddenly, what he calls "the lurch." He would later tell NBC News that everything in his field of vision shot up four feet in the air, and he would tell WPVI that "it felt like the whole plane was in free fall." Other passengers would later report screaming and babies crying. Ehmke didn't recall that but can relive the surreal experience of beverages suddenly being severed from gravity. "The liquid catches your eye," he told The Post. "I saw all the drinks fly up at once." This seemed amusing at first, when the plane settled down and Ehmke and his family had a chance to collect their thoughts. "I was wearing half of my coffee; my brother was wearing the other half," he said. "My wife ended up with a pastry in her cup that was not hers." His wife, a reporter for ProPublica, documented the aftermath on Twitter: beverages sprayed across the ceiling of an Airbus A333, coffee trapped in the housing of the cabin lights. But in the row behind him, Ehmke said, a man had flown up from his seat, hit the ceiling and landed on his father - hard. The man was one of three passengers who would be hospitalized after the plane landed. According to American, the other seven injured were crew members. All the flight attendants disappeared from the main cabin after the jolt, Ehmke said. He and the other passengers took stock of their soaked clothes and the trash-strewn plane and tried to laugh off the fright. After a few minutes, one of the crew members reappeared, Ehmke recalled, and told the passengers, "I'm the only flight attendant that is able to help everyone right now." The others, he gathered, needed help themselves. Ehmke would later see the attendant who had served him throughout the flight with a sling on her arm and two passengers with ice packs on their heads. The plane didn't divert to another airport. In the half-hour or so before it reached Philadelphia, Ehmke said, the pilot apologized for what the Federal Aviation Administration and American Airlines later described as "severe turbulence," cause unknown. "He said another plane had flown through previously and reported only moderate turbulence," Ehmke recalled of the pilot's speech. "So they didn't try to go around it or predict it was as bad as it was." When another crew member took the microphone to explain how people would get off the plane, Ehmke said, "it was the most shaken I've ever heard flight staff sound. She clearly didn't know what was next." What was next was a safe landing at Philadelphia International Airport, where paramedics were standing by. American Airlines didn't provide details about the 10 people hospitalized but said all had been released by Sunday morning. "We want to thank our team members for taking care of our customers," the airline said in a statement. American called Ehmke's wife to check up on her after she tweeted about the incident. She and her husband praised the flight crew's response to what - for a split second, at least - had felt like a plane falling out of the sky. "I was worried people would take it out on the pilot or staff," Ehmke said. "I'm not, by any means, technically informed about aviation, but from my perspective these things happen." Summertime is prime time for many stores and restaurants, but road work and other construction in downtown Albany has slowed sales at some businesses. There are days that certain lanes are closed, so people drive by and dont stop because you kind of have to work to get in here. I think it has hampered things a little bit, said Tony Pope, owner of Hasty Freez, a burger and shake stand at 655 Lyon St. S.E. Weve had a lot of people pull in and say, We werent sure if you were open or not, he added. Hasty Freez will close for a week starting Aug. 14 because of work on its entrance and sidewalks, as well as construction on the new Albany downtown fire station next door. Pope said hed take advantage of the temporary shutdown by having his floors redone and tackling exterior projects at the business, which has been in operation since 1952. Kaymarie Novak, general manager for Novaks Hungarian Restaurant, 208 Second Ave. SW, said that blocked intersections and other issues have made it hard for tourists and residents to get to her establishment. But shes trying to think long-term about the $8.5 million Streetscape Project, which will include sidewalk, asphalt, water line, storm water, street lighting, landscape and parking improvements. Everybody is trying to have a good attitude because the final result will be good for the community and us. Anytime you can update the downtown and help it look nice, that always encourages people to come walking through, she said. Christy Shaeffer, owner of sandwich shop Big Town Hero, 327 Second Ave. SW, wasnt sure about the benefits to her business, though. I think it will look pretty, she said. I would imagine that this will just add to property taxes for our landlord, and then our landlord will increase our rent. This summer, there was a two-week stretch where Big Town Hero didnt have parking in front of its storefront. A lot of our regular customers have complained just about how hard it is to walk around here, Shaeffer said. Street and sidewalk work should continue to occur through September, said Staci Belcastro, city of Albany engineer, while landscaping and tree planting will be tackled by the end of the year. Paving work, including an Oregon Department of Transportation overlay on Lyon and Ellsworth streets from First through Ninth avenues, will occur next spring and summer. Voters approved the new $7.5 million downtown fire station, to replace an outdated station, as part of a May 2015 bond measure that also included a new police headquarters for Albany. Firefighters are scheduled to move into the building in September, Belcastro said. Belcastro added that the city has worked with businesses during design and construction to minimize impacts. Construction is so inconvenient. We fully recognize that is the case, she said. Pope said that the city and work crews have been good partners. No work is scheduled for Aug. 21, the day of the solar eclipse, when the area is expected to see an influx of visitors, said Marilyn Smith, city spokeswoman. Lise Grato, executive director of the Albany Downtown Association, said that there would be marketing efforts to support businesses during the construction. She added that merchants have been waiting for Second and Third street improvements ever since a similar project on First Street years ago. The drawings and the plans the city has presented are amazing, she said. Pope is eager for the projects to be completed and agreed that they will benefit the community. Lately, construction workers have been regulars at Hasty Freez. And the fire department, which includes some of his best customers, will have more workers downtown when the new station opens. Well just plow through and it will be nice when its all over, he said. It took a lot of tinkering for Mah-Ze-Dahr to create an all-natural soft-serve recipe. Photo: Melissa Hom A weeklong series dedicated to exploring everything thats happening in the world of ice cream right now. Classic, swirly soft serve is no longer confined to the Mister Softee truck; chefs like Dominique Ansel, Daniel Humm, and Greg Baxtrom have embraced it, too. Mah-Ze-Dahrs Umber Ahmad falls into that category she decided to add vanilla and chocolate soft serve to her West Village bakerys menu to evoke nostalgia for the simple childhood treat. (She says the highest compliment is that her ice cream tastes like a better version of Dairy Queens.) But Ahmad, who studied genetics at MIT, first had to solve a scientific problem: How do you make delicious soft serve without stabilizers or artificial flavors? Here, she explains how she figured it out. Soft serve was part of the happiness of my childhood. But the soft serve that I remember, if I go back and eat it today, it doesnt taste very good. Its artificial; it doesnt taste fresh. It doesnt taste like the rest of the foods that we eat now. So what we decided we wanted to do was elevate the soft-serve experience with all-natural ingredients and luxurious techniques. Its very hard to make soft serve and ice cream or anything frozen with no stabilizers. It really just becomes this balance of art and science, and a big part of it are the ingredients. The amount of fat, the amount of butter, the amount of sugar. When you are trying to make a cookie dough, it changes when it cooks in heat. Similarly, when you make a batter or a mix, its going to change when it gets frozen, and ice and air are introduced into the mix. There was a lot of experimentation. There was one explosion, which resulted in chocolate-ice-cream soft-serve base all over the room. And as anyone who has been into the backroom will know, its entirely white, and it was not before. We dont use stabilizers, so something thats different from a lot of other ice creams in the city is that our soft serve melts fast. As soon as you get it, you need to start eating it. It really depends on how much you are putting into it, but stabilizers can affect taste. There are natural stabilizers that exist, but theres nothing thats going to leave the taste unaltered. They leave a little bit of a remnant on your tongue. We also try to approach food as naturally as possible. It all comes together. Photo: Melissa Hom Our bases are made every day, and we refill the base as needed. On a busy Saturday, we can refill the machine 15 times. Its crazy how much we sell every day. There are two types of ice-cream bases: Philly-style does not have eggs, and the regular ice-cream base has eggs. Otherwise, our recipe includes Battenkill milk, heavy cream, sugar, nonfat dried-milk powder, a little bit of salt, and some vanilla or chocolate. From a health standpoint, by necessity of the way that soft serve is mixed and frozen, it has to have less fat than regular ice cream. Regular ice cream has anywhere from 15 to 25 percent butterfat, and soft serve is anywhere from 8 to 12. We played with the ratios a lot. It becomes a balance of three variables: what goes into the base itself, how much air you are pushing into it, and what the temperature is when youre freezing. You get to the point where youre happy with the taste and the consistency of the base, and you think, Im just going to play with the technicality of the machine until Im no longer altering the original taste of it. We use a Carpigiani machine, which people would say is the Rolls-Royce or the Lamborghini of ice-cream machines. There is almost never a used Carpigiani for sale, which I think is very telling of their success, but they also cost the price of a small country to actually own. Our chocolate is Philly-style, but the vanilla isnt. Part of the reason we started with vanilla bean and dark chocolate is because those are the nostalgic flavors. Its also a really lovely base if you want to add toppings. People will say that its one of the hardest things for a chef to do is to make roast chicken. In its nakedness, there is perfection, and the same goes with vanilla and chocolate. You cant hide behind a bunch of weird, quirky flavors or colors. Go for the swirl. Photo: Melissa Hom We use Nielsen-Massey Madagascar bourbon vanilla, which is becoming increasingly more difficult now because of the price of vanilla. It has gone up 12-fold in the past 18 months. It has to do with politics in Madagascar, with two consecutive crops not yielding the same amount that they did in the past. We continue to be committed to wanting to use Madagascar vanilla because it has the right flavor profile. We are part of Cercle V with Valrhona, so we are part of the group of chefs around the world who use Valrhona exclusively, and we use their cocoa in our chocolate ice cream. Cones are often just seen as disposable cups, but we considered the flavor, because the cone with the soft serve and the toppings is a composed dish. We make all of our waffle cones in-house. It has a little bit of honey and a little bit of cinnamon. We make them a little bit wider than normal cones, because we want the cone itself to be a vessel you can use a spoon and still feel like nothing is going to fall off the side. The first thing we do is put a housemade magic shell on the inside of the cone. Its chocolate sauce that hardens when it hits ice cream. It prevents dripping on the bottom of the cone. Then we layer the toppings with the soft serve. We use our housemade dark-chocolate brownies, candied hazelnuts, toasted almonds, little minivanilla meringues, a caramel sauce, and a dark-chocolate sauce. We also have custom-colored M&Ms in our signature colors, and rainbow sprinkles that are a little crunchy, which is great. Oftentimes, these sprinkles get soft, and theyre a little bit sad in the ice cream. We did have a sprinkles tasting. You can get a cup of ice cream with one topping for $5, a housemade cone of ice cream with three toppings for $7, or an affogato, which is a double shot of our Intelligentsia espresso over soft serve, for $5. People will look and say, That seems expensive, but a part of it is, we use all pure ingredients. This isnt a base that we purchased from a food-production company. We do it in-house. Update: Shortly after Google released it for its Pixels and Nexuses, the August security patch started hitting Nokia smartphones as well. It's currently out for the Nokia 5 and 6, although the Nokia 3 should also be getting the update sooner than later. Last month, Nokia was the first company to push out the monthly security update. Original story follows: Since it's the first Monday of the month, today gets the honor of being the day on which Google has released the latest Android security patches. As always, the company pushes these directly to the Pixel and Nexus devices it still supports, while third party Android device makers will hopefully update their handsets in due course. The August security update is split in two levels unsurprisingly, August 1 and August 5. The former contains most of the patches, while the latter fixes some low-level kernel exploits. Nexuses and Pixels always get everything, while for other devices their respective manufacturers will choose what to include. The factory images and full OTA zip files are already up for grabs from Google's website - that is, if you have a Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, or Nexus Player. If you're not into manually flashing things, don't worry - the over-the-air rollout of the update should have commenced already and will hit your particular device at some point within the next few days. Via 1 2 If you've been patiently waiting for Xiaomi to release the upcoming Mi Note 3 phablet, you may be in for a nice surprise. According to a new rumor out of China, the company is looking to launch the device sooner than the Mi Note 2 came out last year - which was in November. That model was announced in October, but its successor could actually become official before the end of this month. That's the earliest that Xiaomi might unveil the Mi Note 3, the rumor claims. If the handset doesn't step into the spotlight in August, then September will be the month of its launch. All of this allegedly comes from sources inside Xiaomi's supply chain, but the usual caveats about rumors (and taking them with salt) apply. The phone is said to sport a Samsung-made Super AMOLED touchscreen with QHD resolution. It should be powered by the Snapdragon 835, aided by 6GB of RAM. Source (in Chinese) | Via May 10, 1951 July 30, 2017 Thomas Vincent Barnes, 66, of Albany was called Home on July 30, 2017. He passed away in his home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer. Tom was born on May 10, 1951 to Irene and Vincent Barnes. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and at age 17, enlisted in the United States Army. He served as a supply specialist from 1969-1973. Tom accomplished many things in his lifetime. After serving his country, he moved to Oregon in the mid 70s, and earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Visual Communications and Printing Technology from Linn-Benton Community College in 1978. After graduation, he worked as Production Supervisor and Photographer for The New Era Publishing Company in Sweet Home. Tom took the most pride in his 31 years as a federal employee at the Albany Research Center. He served as an Offset Duplicator Operator, Visual Communications Specialist, and Property and Supply Management Specialist while working tirelessly as a union representative and also served as Union President. In 1995, he married his loving wife, Cherrie and together they raised three beautiful daughters. Tom was a long-time member of St. Marys Catholic Church, an avid reader, enjoyed photography and working on old cars. He loved attending swap meets, tinkering in his shop, preparing meals for St. Marys youth retreats and hosting game nights for family and friends. He most enjoyed playing with his five grandchildren. Above all else, his faith and his family were everything to him. We will remember Tom for his selflessness and willingness to help others, how welcoming and forgiving he was, and that he loved wholeheartedly. We will miss him terribly but send him off knowing that he really made a difference in the lives of so many. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Kathy Karnowski; brother Paul Barnes; sister-in-law Barb Barnes; and nephew Tony Barnes. Tom is survived by his wife of 22 years, Cherrie Barnes; his daughters and sons-in-law Julia Barnes, Amber and Scott Knight, Brittany and John Bauer; his grandchildren Brionna Pool and Bryce, Brayden, Lilly and Shane Bauer; brothers and sisters-in-law: John and Mary Barnes of Minnesota, Mike and Sylvia Barnes of New Mexico, Chuck and Dee Barnes of Arizona; his brother-in-law Frank E. and Mary Whiffen II of Florida and several nieces and nephews. Tom also leaves behind many friends whom he deeply loved. The family would like to thank everyone for their continued prayers, love and support. A viewing will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on August 8 at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home, followed by the recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on August 9 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Albany, with a reception to follow. The graveside service with military honors will be at 1:30 pm on August 10 at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Marys Soup Kitchen. AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com). Haiti - Montreal : Nearly 2,400 Haitians seeking asylum, CECI calls for help The massive influx of Haitian immigrants from the United States, who illegally cross the border near the Saint-Bernard de Lacolle border post, are fearing as nearly 60,000 of their compatriots in the United States lose their TPS Temporary Protection Status in the United States https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21037-haiti-flash-extension-of-tps-procedures-to-follow.html and to be expelled to Haiti from their country of origin, continues without any significant slowdown https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21717-haiti-flash-waves-of-haitian-refugees-unprecedented-in-quebec.html According to the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion, 2,388 immigrants would be housed in Montreal, of which about 700 at the Olympic Stadium, turned into a reception center last week. Some 300 asylum seekers were also expected Sunday in the former building of the Sisters of Providence of Ahuntsic-Cartierville. The Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) calls on the people of Quebec to show solidarity and humanism of asylum-seeking migrants and asks it to support the Maison d'Haiti, a Montreal-based community and cultural organization that has been a member of CECI for 45 years, dedicated to Education and integration of immigrant individuals and families and the creation and development of close links with the host society. Marjorie Villefranche, Director of the Maison d'Haiti stresses "Asylum seekers must quickly find accommodation and equip themselves. For a family with children, it takes a good installation. Especially if the precarious situation persists..." For his part, Claudia Black, the Director General of CECI, declared "When an emergency situation occurs in Haiti, CECI intervenes immediately, and each time we receive assistance from the Montreal-Haitian community. This time it is our turn to support the actions of the Maison dHaiti in order to ensure the best possible reception for the hundreds of asylum seekers who are currently crossing the border between the United States and Canada." CECI therefore invites the population wishing to help to make a donation directly on the website of the Maison d'Haiti : www.mhaiti.org/faire-un-don See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21717-haiti-flash-waves-of-haitian-refugees-unprecedented-in-quebec.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21037-haiti-flash-extension-of-tps-procedures-to-follow.html HL/ S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - DR : The number of voluntary returns of Haitians increases Monday, the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) informed that 127 Haitian nationals who were living in an irregular migration situation on the Dominican territory benefited from the voluntary return program https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21142-haiti-dr-voluntary-return-program-still-active.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14325-haiti-politic-private-bus-and-free-moving-for-voluntary-returns.html and returned to Haiti with all their belongings in vehicles provided by the DGM. Lieutenant-General Maximo William Munoz Delgado, head of the DGM, said that the voluntary return of this group of 74 Haitian adults and 53 minors had been carried out in coordination with the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and that the Haitians had been received at the Haitian border by Haitian migration officials. He stressed that the Haitian nationals were satisfied with the attention and assistance they had received from the Dominican authorities. Note that according to data from the DMG, more than 50% of Haitians who voluntarily return to Haiti are women, who in the Dominican Republic were mostly engaged as domestic staff. Delgado, who recalled that this is the third group of voluntary return in recent weeks, pointed out that the number of Haitians using the free voluntary return program has increased a lot. He also stated that he had given specific instructions to the inspectors of the DGM so that attention could be given not only to illegal Haitians but also to foreigners of other nationalities who are living illegally in Dominican territory. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21699-haiti-flash-13-446-illegal-haitians-deported-in-july.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-21690-icihaiti-dr-the-migration-office-rejected-the-allegations-of-senator-evaliere-beauplan.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21685-haiti-social-violence-against-haitians-in-dr-the-gaar-denies.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21624-haiti-flash-ultimate-reprieve-for-haitian-in-dr-registered-with-the-pnre.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21618-haiti-flash-dominican-army-sends-900-more-troops-to-reinforce-border.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21519-haiti-flash-dr-multiplies-controls-nearly-4-000-haitians-repatriated-in-recent-days.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21499-haiti-flash-more-than-140-000-haitians-turned-back-at-the-dominican-border.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21521-haiti-flash-military-reinforcement-at-the-dominican-border.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-21514-icihaiti-flash-arrests-and-deportations-of-more-than-400-haitians-in-pedernales.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21503-haiti-flash-deportations-recommendations-of-the-consulate-of-haiti-to-the-haitians-in-dr.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Concession agreement between Kaliko Beach Hotel and Hilton This Tuesday morning the Ministry of Tourism informs that will be signed at the premises of Kaliko Beach on the Arcadin Coast, a concession agreement between Kaliko Beach Hotel and Hilton. Hilton's "Double Tree" label will be awarded to Kaliko. Taxi-motorcycle demonstration On Monday, many taxi-motorcycle drivers took to the streets of Port-au-Prince to protest against the 1,750 Gourdes imposed by the authorities as part of the new security measures, which make it mandatory to wear helmet and an identified t-shirt. If they are not against these measures, the drivers say they do not have such a sum of money to acquire these accessories before the deadline of August 8th https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21688-haiti-news-zapping.html They ask the mayor of Port-au-Prince to help them. New Consul of Haiti in Atlanta The staff of the Consulate of Haiti in Atlanta wishes good luck and good work to the new Consul Roody Metellus, Head of Mission by Interim since last July 27th. The Consulate of Haiti takes this opportunity to thank Pastor Faustin Lebon for his service as Consul from July 2016 to July 2017. Words of the PNH DG "Our police is National, but we can not hide behind our sovereignty to do anything. All eyes are fixed on us. We have a duty of image and a duty of results," declared Michel-Ange Gedeon, the Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH). Cleaning in Port-au-Prince The mayor of Port-au-Prince, Ralph Youri Chevry, accompanied by his deputy Mrs. Kettyna Bellabe, launched the major works of cleaning of the Bld Harry Truman. Protector of the citizen : hearing of candidates Jean Renel Senatus, President of the Senate's Committee on Justice, Security and National Defense, announced that candidates for the position of Protector of the Citizen will be heard before the Commission on Wednesday (August 9th). He also promised to submit his report to the Assembly on Thursday. HL/ HaitiLibre SWEET HOME The city of Sweet Home is making enough progress on the possible development of the former Knife River property to satisfy the Linn County Board of Commissioners. The two governing bodies agreed to keep working cooperatively during a work session Monday at the Jim Riggs Community Center in Sweet Home. Several weeks ago the commissioners believed progress had stalled and they gave the council 90 days to decide whether the city wanted the property for free. The alternative would be for the county to return it to private ownership and return it to the tax rolls. Since progress has been made, the 90-day deadline was taken off the table. The city has completed a Phase 1 environmental assessment, and City Manager Ray Towry said the city has been talking with the owners of adjoining properties to determine the types of developments they might be planning and how they would mate up with the city's plan. "We see this as the the anchor point for a regional development," Towry said. "We are working with the other landowners to develop this area in a holistic way." Towry said that vision includes a balanced mix of a recreational complex, commercial businesses and residential housing. The elected officials talked about the hurdles facing local economic development, including the fact that industries looking to move to Oregon seem to be on a fast track and are searching for properties that already have buildings on them, instead of just shovel ready-properties, which were popular a few years ago. "We aren't seeing them show up with suitcases filled with money," said Commissioner Roger Nyquist said. "We aren't seeing those kinds of inquiries. Fortune 50 companies aren't calling." But, Nyquist added, there are several local success stories throughout Linn County, such as the Selmet expansion near Albany and the growth of the Radiator Supply House in Sweet Home. Linn County provided financial support for both industrial projects. Nyquist said the state's new minimum wage levels will greatly affect small business owners and escalating rent costs are pressuring the average worker. "In some cases, rent costs have gone through the roof," Nyquist said. He said communities have not been able to respond fast enough to the growing demand for housing, and that's why he wanted to know if Sweet Home was going to take the Knife River property. If the county retains ownership, it will most likely sell it to housing developers, since the property borders the South Santiam River. "We would hate to lose this market opportunity," Nyquist said. "But you have a plan and that's great. We just want to get to a place for the best use of the property. We don't have to worry about a pre-determined timeline." Phil Warnock of the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments provided both groups with an extensive overview of the economic development and community improvement programs available to businesses and individuals in the counties it serves. That included gap funding loans that have been used by several Sweet Home businesses. Long-term, transportation will continue to play a major role in attracting companies to the county, all agreed, which is why local government must battle for funding for area highway improvements, in Sweet Home's case, Highway 20. Published on 2017/08/08 | Source Added episodes 25 and 26 captures for the Korean drama "Bad Thief, Good Thief" (2017) Advertisement Directed by Jang Joon-ho, Oh Kyeong-hoon Written by Cha I-yeong, Son Yeong-mok Network : MBC With Ji Hyun-woo, Seohyun, Kim Ji-hoon-I, Lim Ju-eun, Ahn Kil-kang, Jung Kyung-soon,... 50 episodes - Sat, Sun 22:00 Synopsis A story of thieves who affect the authorities that manipulate Korea. It serves to bring satisfaction to those who are frustrated at the reality of the world. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/05/13 More Award winners: Meet Harpers' design champions 2017 By Jo Gilbert Once again a panel of judges came together to determine this years design stars from across the wines, beers and spirits stratosphere. Harpers Design Awards 2017 saw the new, the subtle and the bold sit side by side, showcasing some of the true creativity of the designers working in our industry. But initial impact was just one of the things that our business-savvy judges were looking for when judging entries, which were made up of designs that have either been launched or relaunched over the past year. They were also looking for a keen commercial understanding of UK consumers and how to clearly stand out in todays crowded marketplace. Looking out for a commitment to innovation as well as execution and business nous, this year the judges awarded a total of 33 medals 10 golds, four silvers, 14 bronzes and five commendations. They also awarded five trophies to those entrants that truly stood out and added value to their categories by elevating them beyond the everyday or expected. Congratulations to all of our trophy and medal winners. Here are this years winners in full. BEST REDESIGN & SUPREME CHAMPION Four Winds Vineyard Brand Owner: Four Winds Vineyard Design Agency: Denomination What our judges said: Warm, contemporary, evocative and elegant, was the consensus of the judges, who praised Four Winds ability to tell a relatable story with simple yet compelling artwork. BEST SPIRITS DESIGN Italicus Brand Owner: Italspirits Design Agency: Stranger & Stranger What our judges said: The Italian liqueur rosolio, which is usually derived from rose petals, is virtually unknown in the UK save for a few niche advocates. But judges agreed that Stranger & Stranger has injected the right amount of intrigue to make its design the perfect vehicle for introducing it to the UK market. MOST INNOVATIVE PACK FORMAT Most Wanted Wine Pouches Brand Owner: Off-Piste Wines Design Agency: Denomination What our judges said: Judges could imagine picnic and festival devotees pouring the wine into glasses or even drinking straight from the pouch and could also see the pouches becoming mainstays in travel retail and hotel minibars. BEST WINE RANGE No Evil Brand Owner: Fourth Wave Wine Design Agency: Denomination What our judges said: No Evil was also commended for the restrained aspects of its design, in particular its subtle but effective use of textured paper stock. BEST ALTERNATIVE PACKAGING PinotPinot - Pinot Grigio Sparkling Cans Brand Owner: Off-Piste Wines Design Agency: Denomination What our judges said: Cans may not be new to the market, but judges agreed Denomination hit the right note bringing this alternative format closer to the mainstream, with a smart design that borrows cues from the world of fashion. DESIGN AGENCY OF THE YEAR Denomination Once again, last years winners Denomination swept to the top of the scoring board as our standout design agency of 2017. Across the board its designs showed an ability to capture the essence and messaging of the product as well as the initiative to throw the rulebook out of the window when necessary, and play with established formats. Read our full report in this month's print edition of Harpers or on the link: President Mike Pence. The words do not trip lightly off the tongue. But as special counsel Bob Mueller dives ever deeper into the murky waters of Trump family enterprises and the campaign's possible collusion with Russia a Pence presidency must be contemplated. Donald Trump's journey from abrasively transformative to annoyingly ineffective would not have been enough to make the president's impeachment or resignation much of a probability. But recent developments kindle thoughts of Vice President Pence in the top job. Now, Pence would not be my first or 10th choice for president. Even among Republicans, he scores well below Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, both of whom have taken steps suggesting a challenge to Trump in 2020. Good luck to them, but this presidency may not last that long. Consider how far Trump has fallen in only six (can't call them "short") months. Congressional Republicans who once quaked at his nutty tweets now shrug. Foreign leaders openly mock him. And though Trump can still find 12 rapturous faces in West Virginia to pose in front of, his national approval numbers grow more pathetic by the week. Many liberal friends don't see Pence as much of an improvement over Trump. Pence, they say, is as hostile as Trump to reproductive rights and the Affordable Care Act (although, as governor of Indiana, he did expand Medicaid). He called global warming a "myth," said condoms don't protect against sexually transmitted disease and insisted "smoking doesn't kill." And while Pence seems to have majored in junk science, he minored in double-moral bookkeeping. The ease at which he delivers falsehoods under a smooth mask of piety is most unpleasant. Pence likes to preface his lies with "Let me be clear" as in his tweet, "Let me be clear: The Senate health-care bill strengthens and secures Medicaid." Actually, the Senate bill would have knocked the stuffing out of Medicaid, slashing $800 billion over 10 years. Some may see propriety in a man who asserts he won't dine alone with a woman not his wife. I see a man lacking basic self-control. Despite these reservations, a Pence presidency would offer welcome relief in the years before the 2020 election. That's because Pence has one significant advantage over Trump. He is sane. He would not insult our closest allies for the heck of it and is highly unlikely to have accepted favors from Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Few believe that mere affection for the strongman prompted Trump's shocking remark that the U.S. might not help defend the Baltic States should Russia attack them. This happens to be our obligation under NATO. Pence is now on cleanup patrol, recently reassuring Baltic leaders, "We are with you." And he told the prime minister of Georgia that the U.S. stands by his country's wish to join NATO, a prospect Putin abhors. Pence is, in effect, telling friends, "Ignore the crazy man with the Twitter account." This is cause for hope. During the campaign, Pence did object to some of Trump's more disgraceful outbursts, however meekly. When Trump smeared Indiana-born Judge Gonzalo Curiel over his Mexican heritage, Pence called the remarks "inappropriate." Those opposed to the Pence agenda can argue with reason that he'd probably be more adept at furthering it than Trump has been. They take solace in seeing little getting done so far. But the nation has yet to face an international crisis under its erratic, ill-informed leader. For Americans concerned about their safety and standing in the world, three years is a scary long time. So, strange as it seems and I choke saying it Mike Pence for president. The impact of injuries at work is enormous, says Alan Girle, Director at Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA) For many businesses the biggest impact of injuries at work will be the emotional toll on workers and the general drop in workforce morale. For others it will be the loss in productivity and costs associated with compensation and rehabilitation. For those unfortunate enough to be investigated by government, these costs will be further exacerbated by the investigation. Government investigations are disruptive to work productivity and can further weaken an already damaged workforce morale. If the government investigation results in a prosecution, the prosecution can damage business reputation and can act as a barrier in competitive tendering. This can translate into intolerable cost. On top of all this risk, is of course the risk of penal sanctions. What happens if the employer fails to comply? All mainstream areas of business are regulated by government and subject to obligations to ensure the safety of workers. Penalties for failure to ensure the safety of workers have the potential to be extremely high. The harmonised Work Health and Safety Act imposes a $3M maximum penalty for each charge and the potential for up to five years jail for individuals found to have recklessly breached that Act. However, in recent years we have seen police prosecutions in workplace settings. In South Australia for example, the principal of a trucking company was convicted and sentenced to over 12 years imprisonment. In Queensland, we have seen the supervisor of construction crew charged with two counts of manslaughter after the death of two workers. The maximum sentence for a manslaughter charge is life imprisonment. How much trouble can the employer get into? The answer is lots. However, the business risks flowing from workplace injuries are manageable. Those risks need to be managed both proactively and reactively. Proactive strategies involve identifying the risk areas and putting in place measures to remove or minimise those risks before they result in injury. Reactive strategies involve containing the risks flowing out of a workplace injury. In both cases the best outcomes are obtained through a fulsome consideration of the risks and a structured approach to the management of those risks. How can these risks be managed by the employer? In many cases, workplace incidents will come as a surprise. Businesses do not generally deliberately expose workers to risk. Often it is a combination of factors that result in a worker being injured. Sometimes the combination of factors is so unusual, that it is unlikely that the incident will ever happen again. However, government regulators can be intolerant of arguments about the remoteness of risks and can persevere with strong regulatory action. In these cases, the risks to the business remain high, but can be managed to minimise the exposure to both the business and its executives. Managing risks proactively and reactively starts with a simple phone call to an expert. Consider the businesses policies, procedures, what risk assessments have been done, what control measures are in place, the legal arrangements governing safety, whether existing insurance cover is adequate and if it all goes wrong, how the business will respond to contain the risks. Avoiding the distress of a workplace injury will always be the priority, but if it should occur, most businesses will want to be able to respond effectively. Alan Girle, Director at Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA), is a leading workplace and employment expert with a focus on work health and safety. ABLA is a legal advisory firm trusted by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is the leading voice for industry in the Fair Work Commission. Contact Alan on 1300 565 846 or [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this article. (HedgeCo.Net) A Massachusetts businessman has been charged with allegedly misusing investments intended for the development of cancer diagnostic tests to instead pay personal expenses and fund his fiancees restaurant businesses. According to the SECs complaint, Patrick Muraca established two pharmaceutical development companies and raised nearly $1.2 million by representing to investors that their money would be used to develop products to detect cancer and other diseases. The SEC has traced the flow of investor funds into Muracas personal bank account and alleges that at least $400,000 has been used to pay rent for the restaurants and fund other purchases by Muraca, including payments to a casino, automotive shop, and cigar shop. The SEC alleges that investors were never informed of the alternative uses of their investments in NanoMolecularDX LLC and MetaboRX LLC, including the fact that Muraca characterized the general character of the businesses as Serving Food; Restaurant in separate documents he has filed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to do business in the state. The SEC today obtained a court order freezing the assets of Muraca and his companies. As alleged in our complaint, were intervening to protect investors because Muraca has veered from his stated intentions and has been using their money for purposes other than the fight against cancer and other diseases, said Paul Levenson, Director of the SECs Boston Regional Office. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York today announced criminal charges against Muraca. The SECs complaint charges Muraca, NanoMolecularDX, and MetaboRX with violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint seeks disgorgement of ill-gotten monetary gains plus interest and penalties. Finnish Customs on Monday reported that the value of exports increased by roughly 15 per cent year-on-year to 29.5 billion euros and that of imports by 14 per cent to 30.5 billion euros between January and June. Finnish exports grew at a double-digit rate in the first half of this year, according to preliminary data released by Finnish Customs. The trade balance consequently showed a deficit of 880 million euros, representing an improvement of over 200 million euros from the previous year. The preliminary data indicate that the value of exports crept up by two per cent year-on-year to 5.1 billion euros and that of imports by nine per cent to 5.1 billion euros in June, shaking out to a monthly trade deficit of 65 million euros. The exports of metals, private motor vehicles, chemical industry products, and industrial machines and equipment rose particularly in June. The exports of oil products, and electrotechnical machines and equipment contrastively decreased from the previous year. The imports of oil products, pharmaceutical products, and industrial machines and equipment decreased from the previous year in June, while those of metals, electronics and tobacco products increased, according to the preliminary data. Finland recorded an increase of 15 per cent in the value of exports to other member states of the EU and one of 14 per cent to countries outside the EU between January and June. The value of goods imported from its fellow member states crept up by seven per cent and that of goods from third countries by as much as 24 per cent over the six first months of the year. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Markku Ulander Lehtikuva THE owner of an island in the Thames in Henley has contacted the town council after it threatened to take over the land because it was not being maintained properly. East Eyot, a narrow strip of land covered in trees near Mill Meadows, is registered to a company in Liechtenstein. In May councillors complained that it was in a state of disrepair and said the council could attempt to claim ownership in order to tidy it up. Now town clerk Janet Wheeler says the council has been contacted by the company representing the owner. She said: We have now established they are at least corresponding with us and I think they would like to get something in place. They may ask us to monitor the island for them. The issue was first raised by Mayor Kellie Hinton who said her partner Ben Hinton began investigating ownership of the island six years ago. She said: He felt the island was in disrepair and people were using it for free mooring. It is now damaged almost beyond repair. East Eyot used to be known as Corporation Island and was owned by the council until 1907 when it was sold. ALL trains on the Henley branch line will be held to connect with delayed services from London where possible following pressure from campaigners. Great Western Railway has announced it is restoring the policy, which allows outgoing trains at Twyford station, where branch line trains connect with other lines, to be held for up to four minutes. Staff were previously told not to hold off-peak services during the day, meaning passengers to and from Henley, Shiplake and Wargrave would miss their connections when trains were late. The branch line has been operating with a new 30-minute shuttle since May, although Wargrave is missed by every other train during off-peak times. GWR had previously promised that services would be held, when possible, for four minutes during the day and up to 15 minutes in the evening when there were delays. But Philip Meadowcroft, founder of the Wargrave User Group, said he had missed a connection to the village at Twyford last month after his train from Paddington arrived a minute after the branch line service had left. He was told by staff at the station that no trains were to be held between 9.20am and 4.48pm. Mr Meadowcroft said: We are expecting clarification from GWR with regard to holding back trains at Twyford when incoming mainline services are late. This is because we have discovered that what GWRs management have been telling us is contradicted by written operational instructions which the long-suffering GWR staff must observe. Who and what are we to believe? GWR said that holding trains throughout the day could have a detrimental impact on other services but last week confirmed that all services would now be held where required. A spokesman said: We did recently amend our connection policy for off-peak services. This was to ensure that we avoided importing delays into the rest of the day. With the new 30-minute frequency timetable working well, we will look at bringing the connectional policy for off-peak services in line with peak services. Neil Gunnell, of Henley Trains, said: Punctuality has not been great in the last couple of weeks. GWR seem to have gone through a rough patch due to signal problems and things like that and we are talking to them about that. If the branch line is running a half-hourly shuttle it needs to keep moving. GWR has always promised that if a Wargrave connection is missed the next train will stop. Travellers are reminded to alert staff if this is the case. GWR also said that several cancellations two weeks ago were caused by a lack of drivers and infrastructure challenges in London and the Thames Valley. Some trains in London were cancelled during busy times which had a knock-on effect for travellers on the branch line. The spokesman said: We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to customers. Meanwhile, the 5.06pm service from Henley to Twyford, which connects to a London service, will not be scrapped under a new timetable to be introduced next month. The service was to be cancelled along with two direct trains to London in a new timetable from September 4. Now GWR says the service will stay but will run two minutes slower until Friday, September 15 due to electrification work in Bristol. WASHINGTON When White House senior policy advisor Stephen Miller called on CNN's Jim Acosta at Wednesday's press briefing, Miller knew what he was doing. Miller had every reason to believe that Acosta would challenge President Donald Trump's support for the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act, a measure that would cut in half the number of green cards issued annually. Miller must have known that Acosta would do more than just ask a question that the CNN reporter, as is his habit, also was likely to challenge the Trump policy. For one thing, Acosta and Team Trump have some history. When President-elect Trump held a press conference at Trump Tower in January, Trump and spokesman Sean Spicer slammed Buzzfeed for publishing a story about a dossier that included salacious but unsubstantiated allegations about Trump, as well as CNN for running a story on the Buzzfeed scoop. Acosta's response: "Since you are attacking, can you give us a question?" Also, Acosta is not tame when he disagrees with the White House. In June, for example, he hit the administration's decision to ban video recordings of the briefings. "This is not campaign event," Acosta tweeted. "This is the WH. We are sitting in a briefing room full of cameras and taxpayer funded spokesman at podium." As for Miller, he comes across like the young, squeaky-clean and overly ambitious Pete Campbell of AMC's "Mad Men" series. The optics are rarely in favor of the smug. Privileged is not the best look when you are advocating for a point system that would favor immigrants with work and English-language skills and thus halve the number of green cards issued annually. Acosta, whose father immigrated from Cuba, accosted Miller for pushing a plan that "does not sound like it's in keeping with American tradition when it comes to immigration." Then Acosta quoted the Emma Lazarus poem that includes the phrase, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." And he added, "It doesn't say anything about speaking English or being able to be a computer programmer." "Jim, I appreciate your speech," Miller responded, "so let's talk about this." The 31-year-old White House aide had his facts in a row. He peppered Acosta with questions. "In 1970, when we let in 300,000 people a year, was that violating or not violating the Statue of Liberty law of the land? In the 1990s, when it was half-a-million a year, was it violating or not violating the Statue of Liberty law of the land?" The RAISE Act would reduce green cards but the government still would issue some half a million annually. Acosta dodged the questions as he accused Miller of "bringing a 'press one for English' approach to the issue. Acosta had a trump card, too when he talked about his father who came from Cuba. "My father came to this country not speaking any English," Acosta told Miller. Point Acosta. The Trump base considered the exchange a clear win for the White House. Miller had facts on his side; Acosta seemed to confuse a poem with immigration law. National Review editor Rich Lowry observed, "advocates of high levels of immigration are often the ones who despite their self-image as the rational bulwark against runaway populism rely on an ignorant emotionalism to make their case." Acosta came out ahead, too. Once again, he's the journalist who stood up to the White House. Wherever he goes, fans will ask to take selfies with him. While the players clearly have passionate viewpoints, the briefing room is a stage and everyone in the room knows it. Hoover Institution senior fellow Bill Whalen has a list of reporter categories useful to the White House Press Secretary "There are contentious reporters, there are friendly reporters, there are reporters who exist for comic relief and there are those who are comedic foils." Press Secretaries like to call on foils to gin up the base. Whalen compared Acosta to Sam Donaldson during the Ronald Reagan presidency. The ABC News reporter's questions made the "administration more sympathetic" to Reagan voters, and his shoutouts reminded swaths of the public why they hate the news media. The public's disenchantment with the news media has only grown. Whalen concluded Miller won the round with Acosta in part because, "The Washington media establishment could not be more full of self-importance and sanctimony." A cocaine-abusing Dublin banker laundered tens of thousands of euro for a criminal gang because he feared for his life, a court has heard. Former bank official Fiach Punch was forced to open an account for laundering money as he was in fear for his life after he was assaulted due to a small cocaine debt, a court heard. Punch (38) opened the Bank of Ireland account in late 2015 and a cheque for more than 19,000 was subsequently lodged into it. He claimed he never saw the cheque, but simply opened the account and handed over the ATM card and pin number to another individual. Systems Punch claimed he was living in fear at the time after he was assaulted and his ribs were broken owing to a small cocaine debt. He had been using the drug recreationally on nights out. He also alleged that unnamed individuals knew he had a history of working in a bank and thought they could use his knowledge of banking systems. Judge Dermot Dempsey did not accept Punch was under duress at the time and found him guilty of money laundering. The judge ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to October. The defendant, of Mayeston Crescent in St Margaret's, was found guilty before Swords District Court of lodging a cheque to Bank of Ireland in Malahide which could have been the proceeds of criminal conduct. The incident took place on a date between November 30 and December 22, 2015. Detective Garda Brian Pentony said a cheque in the sum of 19,175 was issued by a medical equipment company on February 23, 2015. Gda Pentony said the cheque was sent by post but never reached its destination. The court heard the cheque was subsequently lodged into a Bank of Ireland account which had been opened by Punch in November 2015. Defence lawyer Patrick Jackson said Punch, who had no previous convictions, was a vulnerable person and was under duress when he opened the bank account. Mr Jackson said Punch had been assaulted two weeks earlier and suffered broken ribs. The lawyer said Punch owed a small cocaine debt and was in fear for his life when he opened the bank account. Dubious When interviewed by gardai, Punch said an individual had travelled over from the UK and wanted him to open the account. He also provided the individual with his ATM card and pin number. He said he never received any money for allowing his account to be used. He also said he did not know how much the cheque was for, and accepted he thought what happened was "a bit dubious". The bank discovered the cheque had been altered and no money was ever paid out. Mr Jackson said Punch previously worked at Ulster Bank but is currently on disability benefits. He asked the judge to leave Punch without a conviction. Judge Dempsey ordered a probation report, saying Punch would need to complete voluntary work to avoid a conviction. A gang of thugs smashed their car into the home of one of the suspects arrested for the fatal stabbing of a 25-year-old man. The vandalised house in Island View, Kilrush, was targeted by three young men at around 9.30am yesterday in a reprisal attack following the killing of Karl Haugh. Speaking to the Herald, Julie Counihan said that two of her sons were in the house at the time - a 17-year-old and the 21-year-old suspect arrested for the stabbing of Mr Haugh. During the incident, a sitting room and upper bedroom window were broken, along with significant damage done to suspect's front door. The owner of the house suffered minor injuries to her foot and the family dog suffered cuts to its paws. Shouting Ms Counihan said she was asleep when she was awoken by "an awful lot of shouting" outside. "When I looked out of my window I saw three young men and asked them, 'what the hell is going on?' "I know these lads very well and they were shouting for me to come out. I hadn't a clue what they wanted, but you could tell they were under the influence of some drug; I could see it in their eyes," she said. Ms Counihan said the assault on her home began when one individual threw a hammer through her bedroom window. "I got such a fright. The entire room was covered in glass and one of my dog's paws was completely ripped open. My foot was also cut and I still can't get the shards out of it," she said. "Someone else then picked up my flower pot and threw it right at my front door. I thought that was the end of it. "But then I looked out of the window again and I saw one of them getting into his car, a blue BMW. He started the engine, picked up some speed and drove it straight at my sitting room window. "The glass instantly shattered, but luckily the bottom part of my house stopped the car from going right into the sitting room. "The bench in front of the window was completely destroyed. I was so scared and my hand was shaking so much that I couldn't even use the phone to ring the guards." Once he heard the commotion, the suspect ran downstairs to confront the three individuals. However, when he opened the front door the three men went back to their damaged car and drove away. "My neighbours were also very scared and rang the guards on my behalf," the Kilrush mother added. "I'm so scared for my son and haven't been able to see or talk to him since. "I feel like this is all a dream and that I could wake up at any minute. I've been crying ever since." She said she now fears for her own safety. "I'm so scared at the thought of what might happen and just don't know what's around the corner," she said. "My house is now totally destroyed." Gardai said no one was arrested in relation to this particular incident, but confirmed it was connected to the death of Mr Haugh. Damage Garda Superintendent John Galvin, of Kilrush Garda Station, said: "We believe this incident of criminal damage is linked to the attack in Kilkee on Sunday morning. We are currently making further inquiries to see if we can find any more connections." Mr Haugh was attacked and stabbed in the Marion Estate in Kilkee, Co Clare, at approximately 1.15am on Sunday morning. The father-of-one was taken to Limerick University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. One man has been charged in relation to the incident and was due to appear before Ennis District Court this morning. Two other men, arrested in relation to the investigation, have been released without charge. Parties have rallied behind the idea of extending gender quotas to include local elections, in a bid to boost the number of women in politics. Politicians from Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Labour Party have all said they support the idea of quotas for council elections. It comes after Junior European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said the measure should be considered as a way of increasing the number of female TDs and ministers. Fianna Fail TD Niamh Smyth said that gender quotas are not always popular but she sees them as "a necessary tool" in the short term "to get a critical mass of women involved in politics". Support She pointed to her own experience on Cavan County Council, where there were just three female representatives, and said she would support quotas being extended to local elections. A Fianna Fail spokesperson said the party supported the gender quota brought in for the 2016 General Election and its policy is to increase participation by women at every level of the organisation. She said the prospect of gender quotas for local elections would need to be "discussed in detail" and would require "a proper lead in time to allow all parties to prepare and comply". Sinn Fein equality spokesman Donnchadh O Laoghaire said his party already has a policy that 30pc of its candidates are women at local and national level. He said Sinn Fein would support the extension of gender quotas to local elections. "Such a move would be a step in the right direction in achieving gender equality," he said. Dun Laoghaire councillor Deirdre Kingston said Labour will have a gender quota of 40pc for the 2019 local elections. She raised concerns about possible legislation for local election gender quotas being effective "as there is no State funding tied to the outcome of local elections". Parties that fail to meet quotas in national elections face having their funding cut. Ms McEntee was one of just two female junior ministers appointed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, a situation that saw him come in for criticism. She said that "the biggest problem" is that there were not enough female TDs for the Taoiseach to choose from to join the ministerial ranks. She added that there was a need to increase the number of women in the Dail. RTE's Miriam O'Callaghan has wished Eurovision winner Shay Healy all the best after his health took a turn for the worse. The former RTE broadcaster and award-winning composer was admitted to Blackrock Clinic last week, where he is currently being cared for by staff. The news comes shortly after he lost his beloved wife, Dymphna, who died at their Southside home on July 10. The couple, who were married for nearly 50 years, had two children, Fionan and Oisin, and six grandchildren. O'Callaghan - who interviewed Healy on her RTE Radio One show in March 2014 about his Parkinson's disease - passed on her best wishes to the performer. "I am very privileged and honoured to have interviewed Shay on a number of occasions on both my television chat show and my Sunday morning radio show," she said. "He's an absolutely wonderful person in every way. "I wish him the very best and I look forward very much to our next chat." Bravely The 74-year-old is best known for his role as host of the TV chat show Nighthawks, and for composing What's Another Year for Johnny Logan, which was Ireland's winning entry in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest. Healy has spoken openly and bravely about his lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. The musician was first diagnosed with the condition 13 years ago. He previously said on RTE's Sunday With Miriam that he had resigned himself to the fact that he is in the last stages of life. "I think about death all the time, but not in an unhealthy way. I'm kind of resigned to the fact that I'm turned for home," he said. "I haven't cried. Being a realist, I try not to analyse it too much." He said being on stage is one of the places where the pain of Parkinson's "goes away" for him. "The stage is my natural home, that's where I belong. For 40 or 50 minutes there's no pain and the Parkinson's goes away," he said. Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disorder, for which there is no cure. Healy previously praised his late wife Dymphna, whom he married in September 1967, for looking after him throughout his illness. County fair season in the mid-valley officially wrapped up Saturday night, as the Benton County Fair closed its gates after a four-day run. Last month, the Linn County Fair continued its winning streak, with a very successful four-day event that shattered records for attendance and income. There's no doubt that the Linn fair is in the midst of a big winning streak, and this year's fair just kept on rolling: Attendance at the four-day event was 32,907, besting last year's record of 30,100. Income was up as well, from $397,522 to $451,471. The weather during the fair, which ran July 12-15, was just about perfect, and that helps a lot with attendance: Fair officials like to see sunny skies with highs in the 80s, and the weather this year cooperated. But that wasn't the only factor at play: Linn County Fair officials also gave credit to a big social media push and an advertorial piece that ran in newspapers offering tips on how to enjoy the fair. And the Linn fair has managed, year in and year out, to pull in musical acts that appeal to fair audiences: This year's roster of musical talent, headlined by Wynonna Judd, was a big hit with fans. (Lining up just the right mix of acts without busting the budget is tough to do, especially in a county that also has two major country-music festivals, but the Linn fair has done just that even though it spent a little extra this year on Judd.) And you can bet that as Linn County Fair officials watched their counterparts in Benton County last week, this was their No. 1 thought: Thank goodness we didn't have to deal with a heat wave like that. Attendance and income figures are not yet available for the Benton County Fair, but you can be sure that last week's brutal heat wave, with record high temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday, did a number on attendance at the Corvallis event. In fact, Benton County Fair officials were surprised that even 2,000 people showed up on Wednesday, the fair's opening day. Attendance picked up the last couple of days, as the weather cooled, but we'd guess that the final tally for the fair will be somewhere around 20,000. Like other county fairs across the nation, the Benton County Fair has been battling declining attendance over the years: In 2013, for example, the year the fair celebrated its 100th anniversary, attendance was around 32,000. But any fair manager will tell you that the weather is the No. 1 factor affecting attendance. Ideally, you have weather in the so-called "Goldilocks zone" not too hot, not too cold. Last week's 100-plus-degree days simply were too hot, and people stayed away, for that reason only. (The heat hurt attendance at the Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home as well.) Which is a shame: Lynne McKee, the new manager of the fairgrounds, added some nice new additions and wrinkles to this year's fair, and had built on successes from last year's fair as well. It would have been interesting to see how attendance would have fared if temperatures had been, say, in the low 80s. In fact, when temperatures finally did cool, attendance picked up: Officials thought Saturday's attendance might be around 10,000. That kind of attendance suggests that there's still an appetite for the fair in Benton County. We will be interested to see what McKee and her staff can do with next year's event given better weather. It takes a lot of hard work by a lot of people to make a fair run, so thanks to everyone who labored on (and sweat over) these events. There's nothing else quite like them. And there's no other place to get funnel cakes. We'll see you there next year. (mm) BRISTOL, Tenn. Bristol Tennessee City Schools will dismiss one hour late during the peak of a solar eclipse to ensure the safety of its students, according to a written statement from the school system. Vance Middle School and Tennessee High will dismiss at 3:30 p.m. and all elementary school students will be dismissed at 4:10 p.m. According to the statement the most unsafe time to view the eclipse without eye protection is during the schools regular dismissal times of 2:30 and 3:10 p.m. respectively. The statement says After weighing what is in the best interest of students, especially related to safety and education, we decided to extend the school day by an hour so students can enjoy the eclipse safely, with adult supervision and then be safely dismissed. Sullivan County Board of Education on Monday approved Director of Schools Evelyn Rafalowski's recommendation to close Sullivan County Schools on Aug. 21 because of the solar eclipse. Read more about the late dismissal in Wednesday's edition of the Bristol Herald Courier. 276-645-2512 Twitter@TChildressBHC ABINGDON, Va. Two men, including a corrections officer at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon, who agreed to smuggle a variety of contraband items into the facility pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon. Justin Andrew Brown, 23, of Lebanon, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of accepting a bribe as a public official, and one count of conspiring to accept a bribe as a public official. Robert Lewis Jones, 25, of Lebanon, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to accept a bribe as a public official. The U.S. Attorney's office said that during the summer of 2015, an inmate approached Brown about smuggling contraband, specifically tobacco, controlled substances and nude pictures into the jail. Following numerous discussions with the inmate, Brown agreed to smuggle controlled substances, tobacco and nude pictures into the jail in exchange for $10,000. Law enforcement agents became aware of Browns plan in March of 2016, prosecutors said. With the assistance of a cooperating witness, law enforcement arranged for a meeting between Brown and the cooperating witness at which Brown believed he would be receiving $10,000 and various contraband items that he was to smuggle into the jail, prosecutors said. Brown offered Jones $2,000 to watch his back during the meeting, prosecutors said. The meeting occurred at an Abingdon restaurant. During the meeting, Jones and Brown took possession of the contraband, and money, and Brown agreed to smuggle the items into the jail. They were arrested shortly after the meeting. GATE CITY, Va.A Virginia State Police trooper has been indicted on two felony charges in Scott County, Virginia. Matthew Morgan Phillips, 28, of Bristol, Virginia, was indicted Monday on charges of rape by force and sodomy of a "victim helpless," according to Scott County Circuit Court records. Phillips has until his Aug. 15 court date to turn himself into authorities. Phillips has had cases in Scott County resulting in the Commonwealth's Attorney there recusing himself. Russell County Commonwealth's Attorney Brian Patton was appointed special prosecutor in the case. The trooper's employment status was not immediately available Tuesday afternoon. Maryland cross country: Hubs' Stine, Leopards girls each finish second North Hagerstown sophomore Lauren Stine had the top performance by a Washington County athlete, placing second in the Class 3A girls race. Everyone knows who Nelson Mandela was-- not "everyone," but all normal, aware people who didn't vote for Trump. The 1984 Specials song, top 10 throughout Europe but barely top 100 in the U.S. (although #1 on alternative stations like KUSF where I was a dj at the time) helped, of course. Listen to it; it holds up. Nelson Mandela was the world's pre-eminent anti-apartheid hero; he served 27 years in prison before becoming South Africa's first democratically-elected president (1994), and is widely considered the George Washington of South Africa. The far right-- in South Africa and in the U.S.-- labeled him a Commie but he is better known as a beloved Nobel Peace Prize laureate. However, few in the U.S. know anything about South Africa's politics post-Mandela, who retired from the presidency in 1999. His successor was the always controversial Thabo Mbeki, who resigned in 2008. The following year Jacob Zuma (JZ) was elected president. Despite an incredibly corruption-scared administration, he's still president today, and still surrounded by gangsters enriching themselves-- and Zuma-- at the expense of the country. And that brings us to today, where calls for Zuma's resignation (or impeachment) are constant and deafening. Largely due to the corruption and political turmoil, the country's bonds are rated as "junk." Zumba is a racist, a homophobe, unimaginably crooked , more than a little authoritarian... and a polygamist with 6 wives. The Guardian's Simon Tisdall wondered if Over the weekend,'s Simon Tisdall wondered if Zuma's political foes have finally found the means to topple him . Now we're going to meet some new characters, the Gupta family. Tomorrow the South African parliament will hold a vote of no confidence as "persistent allegations of corruption, nepotism and abuse of power may finally be catching up with him." If there's a secret ballot tomorrow-- a possibility-- he'll probably lose the vote. [Zuma's] ANC holds 249 of the parliaments 400 seats. The opposition, principally composed of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Julius Malemas Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), will need 50 ANC defectors for a majority. A revolt on such a scale would once have been thought inconceivable in a party whose post-apartheid watchword is unity. But extra-parliamentary pressure for change is intense and growing. Major street demonstrations are planned in Cape Town this week. A petition signed by more than a million people demanding Zumas removal has been presented to Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president, by the DA leader, Mmusi Maimane. South Africans from all walks of life have stood up together and said, Look, we have got to a point now where we must ask Ramaphosa to do the right thing, Maimane said. The question is, what is he going to do? The answer could determine who, sooner or later, succeeds Zuma as ANC leader and president of South Africa. Regardless of what happens in parliament, the ANC is due to meet in December to select an heir. Ramaphosa is one candidate. Other possibles are Lindiwe Sisulu, Jeff Radebe, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Zweli Mkhize, Mathews Phosa-- and speaker Mbete. The extent of the line-up indicates how divided the ANC has become. Both Ramaphosa and Sisulu, the presumed frontrunners, face a dilemma. They have repeatedly condemned Zuma-era factionalism, looting and so-called state capture self-interested influence exercised by private businesses and individuals over state policy-making. But if Zuma falls, the main raison detre of their campaigns will fall with him. The Spear by Brett Murray And there is another problem: if Ramaphosa or the other presidential hopefuls back the parliamentary revolt, they will doubtless be lauded by the opposition. But many ANC members, who will choose Zumas successor in December (or sooner), may condemn them as traitors. Zuma supporters thus have reason to hope he will survive this no-confidence vote, as he has five others. Ramaphosa, who has been officially endorsed by Cosatu, the powerful trade union federation, has continued to argue that remaining silent about wrongdoing by the state and within the ANC amounts to a betrayal of the struggle. The ANC is your ANC. It belongs to you... Nothing should stop you [from speaking out], Ramaphosa told a Cosatu conference in May. The opposition also includes high-profile individuals with no stated interest in the presidential succession, such as Pravin Gordhan, the former finance minister sacked by Zuma in March. Gordhan warned recently that state capture was crippling the countrys economy. If South Africans allowed the rot to continue, he said, we are going to slump into a 10-year disaster. Much of the controversy over state capture centers on the relationship between Zuma and the wealthy Gupta business family, and alleged bribes and kickbacks associated with government contracts. Speaking to the BBC, Atal Gupta said the claims, including those made by Ramaphosa, were based on misunderstandings and misinformation, and denied any wrongdoing. Controversy has also arisen over social media work undertaken by the British PR firm Bell Pottinger to defend Gupta businesses against the allegations. CEO James Henderson has admitted his companys approach had been naive, but denied any intention to fuel racial tensions through use of terms such as economic apartheid and white monopoly capital (which Zuma has claimed lay behind calls for his resignation). State capture has become a metaphor for the wider political and economic ills afflicting South African society. In a damning independent report last May, entitled Betrayal of the Promise: How South Africa Is Being Stolen, researchers from the universities of Cape Town, Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Stellenbosch, funded by George Soross Open Society Foundation, accused Zuma Inc of turning the country into a mafia-style fiefdom. It stated: Commentators, opposition groups and ordinary South Africans underestimate Jacob Zuma, not simply because he is more brazen, wily and brutal than they expect but because they reduce him to caricature. In reality, the report said, Zuma had presided over a concerted political project to repurpose state institutions to channel money to his cronies in a shadowy elite. The report called on South Africans of all backgrounds to defend the founding promise of democracy by doing all that is necessary to stop the systemic and institutionalised process of betrayal. The no-confidence motion comes against a backdrop of increased disillusionment with the ANC, as evidenced by last years local elections, when the DA and EFF made significant gains. While Zumas unpopularity is undoubtedly to blame, so too is South Africas worsening economic performance. Comparing South Africa with other emerging countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developments 2017 survey makes alarming reading. Growth has declined sharply since 2011, it said, partly because of electricity shortages, falling commodity prices and policy uncertainty. Unemployment is up, at 27%, while youth unemployment was 53% in 2016. Low-quality education, high crime rates, healthcare deficiencies and violence against women are cited as continuing problems. A third of South Africans live on or below the poverty line, the survey found. And more than a quarter of a century after the end of apartheid, inequality remains stark, with the top fifth of the population earning 40 times more than the lowest. Writing for Bloomberg last week, Ana Monteiro explained the Gupta family for U.S. readers. Keep in mind, Gupta lies as easily (and believably) as Trump and it's likely that everything he ever says is as true as what Trump says. A raft of emails leaked to South African media about how the Gupta family have won billions of rands of contracts from state-owned companies and influenced government decisions through their closeness to President Jacob Zuma isnt authentic, family member Atul Gupta said. Theres no authenticity of Gupta Leaks at all, Gupta told the British Broadcasting Corp. in an interview. There is every-day perception-mongering to drive their own agenda, he said. Companies controlled by the Gupta family, who are friends with Zuma and in business with his son, were dropped by their South African bankers, brokers and auditors, and the nations graft ombudsman implied that the president allowed the family to influence cabinet appointments and the issuing of state contracts. Zuma and the Guptas deny the allegations. News organizations, including the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, have reported that they have as many as 200,000 emails they say expose dealings by the family showing influence over the government and state companies. Public-relations firm Bell Pottinger LLP [another criminal outfit, steep in rich-people entitlement and corruption and refusing to act until they were forced to] ended its relationship with the Guptas Oakbay Resources and Energy Ltd. and in July said it had hired the law firm Smith Herbert Freehills LLP to probe its work for Oakbay. It fired a partner and suspended three other employees after a preliminary investigation into its work for the Gupta family exposed inappropriate and offensive activities, it said. The Democratic Alliance, the biggest opposition party, accused Bell Pottinger of pushing white monopoly capital, a term used by politicians including Zuma and members of the Black First Land First movement, as the main cause of inequality in the country. At its July conference, the ruling African National Congress rejected demonizing the concept as the primary driver of the countrys problems -- a setback for the faction that supports Zumas favored candidate, his ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to succeed him as the partys leader in December. White monopoly capital, if you go research any revolutionary speech in this country, always exist, meaning I dont know where this term comes from, believe me, Gupta told the BBC. I dont think it belongs to any of our professional advisers. I will be shocked. They are very credible people, I believe they should not do anything like that. Neither us nor them. Bell Pottinger is Britain's biggest PR firm-- the top execs all get knighted and they're basically the scum of the earth-- and is on the verge of collapse over the Zuma-Gupta (Zupta) scandal. Bell Pottinger's founder, Lord Tim Bell, quit in disgust last year after the company refused to get out of bed with the Guptas. They now stand accused of running a racist Fake News social media campaign on behalf of the Guptas to help Zuma. Several of the culprits, including partner Victoria Geoghegan, were fired. Bell Pottinger has had experience in this area since the Bush regime hired them to do the same thing in the context of the Iraq War. Bell Pottinger CEO James Henderson, who had previously denied any wrongdoing by his company, was put on the spot on todays BBC Radio World at One by reporter Manveen Rana who skewered him for the companys dubious choice of clients and activity in this campaign (Henderson didnt do that badly, considering he was standing on one leg). Unfortunately for him just about every utterance was contradicted by Bell who claimed hed warned the company off the Gupta brothers but his advice had been ignored. Bell, whos famously said on many occasions that his (then) company would represent anyone (past and present clients include Chilean dictator General Pinochet, Bahrain and, according to its Wikipedia entry anyway, Rolf Harris) sidestepped the question of ethics by pointing out that the campaign for the Gupta brothers Oakbay company had cost Bell Pottinger valuable clients including Investec and South Africas Richemont, which owns Cartier and Dunhill among others. Bell Pottinger has always sailed close to the wind but had cover from the outspoken and proudly libertarian Bell whos view was that PR companies were like criminal barristers, you took on the brief if the client could pay. The rather more conventional Henderson now has to fight the Bell corner-- with Bell in the other one. Watch this incredible program on two videos, which was played this weekend on NPR and has made Americans aware of the scandal roiling South Africa: Over the past few weeks, Ive been touring volunteer fire departments and talking to firefighters and emergency workers in all regions of our great state. These firefighters, who selflessly give their time and effort to help all of us in almost any kind of emergency, confirmed something I already knew: Many volunteer fire departments are struggling with membership recruitment and retention. The problem isnt new, nor is it unique to North Carolina. Volunteer fire departments are having difficulty recruiting and retaining members nationwide. It wasnt always that way. Cherryville Fire Chief Jeff Cash told our office that decades ago, things were a lot different. When I first broke into the service back in the late 1970s, volunteer fire departments had a waiting list, Chief Cash said. He serves on the Executive Committee of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). He said that someone almost had to die to create a volunteer firefighting vacancy when he first got into fire service. The NVFC has studied the issue and notes that there is no one reason for the shortage. Among the top factors, the report says, are more demands on peoples time in a hectic modern society; more stringent training requirements; population shifts from smaller towns to urban centers; changes in the nature of small town industry and farming; internal leadership problems; and a decline in the sense of civic responsibility. Previously, when more businesses were locally owned, business-owners were more vested in their communities. Theyd let their employees take off to fight fires. Now, many businesses not locally owned dont look as favorably toward such practices. In addition, many employees now have longer commutes to work. That makes it more difficulty for would-be firefighters to balance time spent with their families and time necessary for fire department training and firefighting. Speaking of training, volunteer firefighters in North Carolina are required to complete 36 hours of training every year to qualify for certain benefits. Local departments are also allowed to set other training standards and are required to offer at least four hours of training a month for their members. The NVFC report also notes other reasons that fire departments may have difficulty retaining volunteers. Cultural reasons and department leadership come into play. Some volunteers may not feel like they fit in, or may feel that the organization is too cliquish. Just as there is no one reason for the membership recruitment and retention problem, there is no one solution. However, part of the solution is to encourage younger men and women to get involved in firefighting and emergency services. As the State Fire Marshal, I recently visited the High School Firefighter Challenge held in Buncombe County. I could see some of the classwork and hands-on training that these teenagers were getting. Last fall, 27 of our high schools had firefighter academy programs, where teenagers can learn firefighting skills and fight virtual fires. More high school programs could be added this fall. These classes are taught by firefighters, people who know what theyre doing. Of course, we dont let students younger than 18 fight actual fires. Other fire departments have a junior firefighter program, allowing teenagers to learn the skills and develop a rapport with volunteer and professional mentors. Both programs produce gung-ho firefighters. Many go on to professional or volunteer firefighting. Some do both. I applaud the youth who are training to make a difference in their communities, along with all the fire chiefs and firefighters both volunteer and professional who literally risk their lives to save ours and make our communities safer. These youth programs will help with our fire department recruitment needs. But they wont solve all the problems. I encourage leaders in volunteer fire departments to make an extra effort to make sure that their members have a sense of belonging. The NVFC report offers suggestions on how to do that. The need for firefighters and first responders will have to be met. If were unable to get enough volunteers, counties and their taxpayers will feel the pressure to fill the void. Having ample volunteer firefighters can result in lives saved, injuries prevented, property protected, savings on insurance premiums, and potentially savings on local property taxes. In closing, Id be remiss if I didnt thank all the firefighters and emergency personnel for the work that they do in making North Carolinas communities a great place to live. I also want to thank their families for the sacrifices they make when these men and women answer the call of public service. Mike Causey is North Carolinas Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal. 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 Doklam stand-off, now into its eighth week, has been characterised by jingoistic war rhetoric from the Chinese official English media and patient-yet-firm Indian diplomacy. Many an armchair strategist has misconstrued Indias calm demeanour to convey that Narendra Modi is in a tight spot and trying to wriggle out from a perceived position of weakness. This perception is perhaps diametrically opposite from the situation on ground at the strategic Doklam plateau as well as the mood of the deep state in New Delhi. The Modi governments hand has also been significantly strengthened by political support across party lines as expressed during the short-duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha on August 3. What needs to be singled out from that debate is that Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congresss Leader in the Rajya Sabha, ticked off party MP Rajiv Shukla who wanted India to attend the One Belt One Road Forum, by dismissing it as Shuklas personal view. The message from the Rajya Sabha that day was that India stands united on the Doklam stand-off and will not allow the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to unilaterally change the border alignment at the India-China-Bhutan trijunction. This is in accordance with the latest 2012 agreement signed by the Special Representatives on boundary talks and firmly reiterated by Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in his meeting with his Chinese counterpart State Councillor Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs summit in Beijing last month. The reason why India is not swayed by war rhetoric and is handling the situation quietly is due to its close diplomatic ties with Bhutan. The fact is that the Indian army and the Bhutanese army work in close operational coordination with a division-strength Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) sitting in Thimpu to train the troops of its closest ally. So while India has no intention of letting down its guard in the trijunction area and ending up exposing the vulnerable Silliguri corridor, the Chinese English media has been threatening military operations in two weeks time to evict Indian and Bhutanese troops from the so-called Chinese territory. This begets a simple question: If Doklam is Chinese territory then why has Beijing been negotiating with Bhutan on the same for the past decade? While New Delhi has gone on record stating that the issue needs to be resolved diplomatically, the verbal aggression from China could have a negative impact on the bilateral trade with the Indian public mood becoming increasingly resentful of the war rhetoric. Bilateral trade worth $ 71.482 billion is heavily skewed towards China with Indias trade deficit a touch more than $ 51 billion. Since Mao Zedongs time, Beijing has advocated parallel diplomacy to encourage the China-India bilateral relationship. In his memoirs, former Chinese foreign minister Huang Hua wrote that Mao in the 1970s wanted bilateral trade and boundary resolution with India to go on separate tracks and not impinge on each other. The war rhetoric from Beijing will complicate this parallel diplomacy. China watchers dismiss this verbal aggression as part of Chinese information warfare as it does not match with the passive military deployment on ground in Tibet. Even though border patrols on both sides are alert, there is nothing untoward happening at Doklam with troops from both sides at a safe distance. While hawks on the Chinese side favour escalation by the PLA, intruding into eight mutually identified disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), such a move will further isolate Beijing globally after its aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea. This does not augur well for a country that aspires to be numero uno on the global front. shishir.gupta@hindustantimes.com SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As someone affected with vitiligo (white patches form on skin due to loss of melanin), Kartiki Bhatnagar (17), a 12th grade student at Delhi Public School, has a lot of experience dealing with taunts. Relatives would often ask her parents about her uneven skin tone and suggest she wear shoes to cover the patches. Even relative strangers would suggest ways to cure her. One day, her friend Shreyas Kishore (18) pointed out how he loved her dual skin tone colour. That bewildered me. Here I was, loathing my problem and someone wanted to have it. He pointed at my left foot and commented, In fact, that patch actually looks like the Apple logo. Later on, Shreyas told me to outline it with a sketch-pen and reluctantly, I agreed, says Bhatnagar. Kartiki Bhatnagar chose to take on body shamers through her website and Instagram campaign. (Courtesy: embracinglifeblog.com) This incident spurred Bhatnagar to observe and map each and every spot on her skin. Later, she started doodling and painting them in different ways. Some of them looked like ghosts, others like mountains during sunrise or during a starry night. My foot could turn from something so mundane to a complete ocean with white islands, says Bhatnagar, who started sharing her unique designs and experiences on her website (Embracing Life) and coined the term Vitiloger for herself. Kishore offered her technical help in handling the website. Vitiligo is fairly common in India with approximately 0.5-2% of the population affected by it. Bhatnagar developed vitiligo through a thyroid problem. Vitiligo is not contagious or fatal, but there is no cure and a lot of apprehension about it, she says. For a decade, she underwent allopathic, Ayurvedic and homeopathic treatment. Finding the experience harrowing, she stopped taking medication. Some of Bhatnagars artwork. (Courtesy: Kartiki Bhatnagar) Apart from vitiligo, Bhatnagar is also running a campaign on Instagram (#Barethemidriff) to de-sexualise the midriff and help people embrace their imperfections. On the Instagram page, Bhatnagar asks people to shoot and send her images of their midriff, with or without a message scribbled on it. It was inspired by her personal experience in public places: In the Metro, you brush your hair and almost every man and woman stares at you. You match their gaze and realize your tummy is showing. When that happened to me, it riled me enough to actually do something. I realized that even a body part like the tummy is sexualised, as if so many other things arent. Why is that so? With 2,000 visitors per day on her site, Bhatnagar is happy that she is making a difference. I come across people who tell me Even my nephew has this, I did not know what this was called, or I thought this was due to burns but I was wrong. I am glad my main aim of making people aware of vitiligo is coming to the forefront, she says. Follow Kartiki Bhatnagars work on instagram.com/barethemidriff and embracinglifeblog.com Follow @htlifeandstyle for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Madhya Pradesh rights panel has asked the states top prison official to explain why Bhopal central jail staff stamped faces of the children accompanying their mothers when they visited their brothers on Rakshabandhan. The staff had on Monday stamped the visiting children on their cheeks to avoid confusing them with the kids of women prisoners. The round stamp mark in purple ink read Rakshabandhan Parv (Rakshabandhan festival) ...Kendriya Jail, Bhopal. Director general of jails Sanjay Chaudhary, who has a week to respond to the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commissions notice, told Hindustan Times on Tuesday the mark was usually made on visitors palms. When asked if jail personnel would face action, he said, I will look into it. The rights panel took a suo moto notice of the incident and asked for an explanation from the DG prisons, its public relations officer LR Sisodia said. It was a sign of colonial hangover, rights activist Sachin Jain, who complained to the National Human Rights Commission, said. The state authority wants the common man to realise that they are their subjects who are under constant surveillance. The state views them as criminals or like criminals who dont have a right to live a dignified life, he said. The kids faces were stamped while they visited the Bhopal jail. (Sourced) Around 8,500 women, many of them with children, were visiting on Monday and there were just four constables stamping visitors palms, jail superintendent Dinesh Nargawe said. What I have gathered so far is that there was waterlogging and in the rush, some children didnt get their palms stamped. When the constables spotted them, they put the stamp on their cheeks in a hurry, Nargawe said. Advocate Raghvendra Kumar said though there was no provision of punitive action but jail staff violated human rights. It might scar the children psychologically and emotionally, he said. -- SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The 2003 film Koi... Mil Gaya will always be counted among the most iconic films in the Hindi film industry. Right from introducing the Indian audience to cutting-edge special effects to melodious songs, the film was a hit with everyone. Actor Hrithik Roshan (Rohit Mehra) played the role of a mentally-challenged guy with sensibilities of an 11-year old. He accidentally contacts extra-terrestrial beings through his scientist fathers computer (played by his real-life dad, director Rakesh Roshan) and his life changes when one of the beings, Jaadu, is left behind on Earth and comes in contact with him. Preity Zinta played the role of Nisha, while the child-gang, who are friends with Hrithik, too gained instant fame upon the films release. The film was not only a big hit at the box-office, but critics too showered praises upon Hrithik for his terrific acting. As the film completes 14 years of its release on August 8, here are seven lesser-known facts about the film: Actor Indravadan Purohit as Jaadu. 1. The popular character of the film, Jaadu, was played by Indravadan Purohit. Dressed in the costume, with an animatronic headgear, he couldnt see anything and had to rely on instructions to move around. Purohit died in 2014. Actor Rishi Kapoor was originally approached to play Hrithik Roshans dad in the film 2. Actor Rishi Kapoor was initially approached to play the role of Hrithiks father by director Rakesh Roshan. Rishi, who had mentioned the whole episode in his recently-released autobiography, wrote that the two had a fallout after Rishi saw the role as a bad career move and refused to do it. Finally, Rakesh himself starred in the film. The character of the alien Jaadu became the darling of the nation upon the films release 3. The character of Jaadu became so wildly popular, that a spin-off TV series was aired in India with him in the lead. It was called J Bole Toh Jaadoo. Actor Hrithik Roshans portrayal of a mentally-challenged man was appreciated by both the audience and the critics 4. Hrithiks character undergoes a physical transformation in the film, and it was not possible for him to gain and lose weight so quickly. The problem was solved with baggy clothes that hid his real proportions. A special hairstyle further made his face look thinner. Actors Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta in a still from the film. 5. We all know the ending of the film where Jaadu leaves and gives Rohit his special powers. But did you know that the makers earlier had shot a different ending? In the alternate ending, the alien took away all the powers with him. The film was said to be inspired from the Hollywood flick E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. 6. The film was believed to be inspired from the 1982 Hollywood flick E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, in which a lonely boy befriends an extraterrestrial being, nicknamed ET, who is stranded on earth, and how the boy and his friends help him go back to his home. Hrithik was praised for his protrayal of Rohit, a mentally-challenged boy. 7. Actor Hrithik Roshan, like his character in the film, had himself faced a lot of bullying as a child. The 43-year old had a major stammering problem, and has confessed that his childhood days were like hell. The scene in which some bullies break Rohits bicycle is said to be inspired from a real-life incident in Hrithiks life. Follow @htshowbiz for more The gangster film series, Gangs of Wasseypur, which completes five years of its release today, can be counted among the biggest sleeper hits in the Hindi film industry. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, and starring actors such as Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Piyush Mishra, Huma Qureshi and Tigmanshu Dhulia, the storyline was applauded for its emotional rawness and its attempt at going beyond the conventional Hindi film sensibilities. Actor Pankaj Tripathi, recalling his experience of working with Anurag in both the films, says, We actors didnt even know how the film was shot. The only thing we were aware of was the story. Only Anurag (Kashyap), the captain of the ship, knew what he was crafting. All of us would just do what he asked us to. Pankaj played the role of Sultan Qureshi, a butcher and henchman, whose only agenda was to kill Sardar Khan (the role played by Manoj Bajpayee) and his sons. The actor tells how the cast initially had difficulty grasping the raw language spoken in the rural area, where the story was set. Pankaj Tripathi in a still from the film. The language, though tough to speak, was learnt by everyone. The set, too, had an aura of its own. We never expected the film to turn out this way, he says. Ask Pankaj what was the toughest part during the shoot, and he says, Since I play a butcher, most of my scenes were in an actual butcherhouse, and that also in a manual one. I belong to a Pandit family, and the sight of so much blood and the smell made all the actors vomit. It was really scary. Every person present there turned into a pure vegetarian for the next few months! Follow @htshowbiz for more Lisa Haydon shared a beautiful picture on Instagram where she can be seen breastfeeding her son. The actor advocated the need to breastfeed the newborns in the post. Ive gotten loads of posts asking about life after having my son... esp to do with weight and fitness. Seeing as its World Breastfeeding Week- time to give some credit where credit is due, she captioned the photo. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated from August 1 to 7. Contrary to popular belief that breastfeeding babies causes the body to lose its shape, Lisa wrote that it actually helped her. Breastfeeding has played such a big part in getting back into shape after giving birth to my baby, she wrote. Breastfeeding has been challenging+time consuming (literally hours spent everyday trying to stimulate milk supply) but its such a beautiful way to bond and connect with your child plus all the nutritional benefits that your child gets from your milk. Look out for my blog post on mycityforkids.com on breastfeeding. Happy #worldbreastfeedingweek, she added. Weekend vibe A post shared by Lisa Haydon (@lisahaydon) on Aug 6, 2017 at 9:06am PDT no greater satisfaction than being your mom my precious. @artipoppe A post shared by Lisa Haydon (@lisahaydon) on Jul 8, 2017 at 8:36am PDT Lisa, who has had a successful modelling stint and has featured in films like Aisha, Housefull 3 and Queen, married Dino Lalvani, son of Pakistan-born British entrepreneur Gullu Lalvani, in October 2016 after the two dated for a year. Her son, Zack, was born on May 17, 2017. @alexandrevauthierofficial @29lowndes @carlfbucherer #pfw #AmfarParis @ocspecial A post shared by Lisa Haydon (@lisahaydon) on Jul 3, 2017 at 10:17am PDT Just days after delivering her baby, Lisa made an appearance at the Paris Fashion Week showcasing her svelte figure in a red designer dress with a plunging neckline. Follow @htshowbiz for more There is good news for Roald Dahl fans! A picture book by the British writer is getting a makeover and will be republished on September 7. Billy and the Minpins, originally published in 1991, is the last book to be written by Dahl. Its new edition has been illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake, who collaborated with Dahl for classics, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and The BFG. I was delighted to be asked to illustrate Roalds Billy and the Minpins; it feels like the cornerstone in our long collaboration together. As Roalds parting gift, Patrick Bensons illustrations in the original edition were perfectly suited to the lyrical feel of The Minpins, Hello Magazine quotes Sir Quentin Blake as saying. This new edition has nearly fifty pages of black-and-white drawings, which meant I could enjoy myself tremendously as I went into all the details of Billys exploits and adventures with the Minpins in the mysterious forest! Blake added. Other popular books by Roald Dahl Billy and the Minpins narrates the adventures of Billy who must save the small, tree-dwelling Minpins, whose children are the size of matchsticks, from the perennially hungry terrible, galloping Gruncher. Luke Kelly, MD of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate and Roald Dahls grandson, told The Bookseller, We think its perfect as Billy is a quintessential Roald Dahl hero and deserves to be seen in the same light as Charlie, Matilda, James, Sophie and all the other child heroes readers around the world know and love. Billy and the Minpins is being published by Penguin Random House and will be out on September 7, ahead of Roald Dahls birthday on September 13. The previous edition, which featured coloured illustrations by Patrick Benson, is still available in print. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more In May 2008, Neeraj Singal, managing director of Bhushan Steel Ltd, threw a birthday party. It had been a good year; company profits were up, world steel prices at a record high and order books bulging. Tabloids splashed photographs of the party attended by industrialists and film stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor who took the stage in a black sequinned bodice and danced to pulsating Bollywood music. The celebrations mirrored the playful arrogance among big businesses in India, enriched by the opening up of mining, power and infrastructure sectors. Meanwhile, the western world was about to plunge into a crippling credit crisis triggered in the United States. For the Singals, one of Indias largest steel producers, this was a time of frenetic expansion of their steel plant in Odisha, while their quest for coal and ore took them as far as Australia. The golden run ended in July this year in a bankruptcy courtroom where a lawyer for State Bank of India (SBI) said Bhushan Steel had failed to repay loans worth thousands of crores. The companys total debts stand at Rs. 46,062 crore; about the same as Indias budgetary outlay on school education in 2017.According to media reports, the company is under investigation from the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). The banks need to get their money back, the SBI lawyer said. Is the company able to pay the debt or not pay the debt? Bhushan Steel is part of the NPA crisis, shorthand for Rs 8-lakh crore worth of loan defaults or Non-Performing Assets, that have choked Indias banking system and pushed lending, the lifeblood of the economy, to its lowest point in 20 years. Company promoters blame these defaults on a global recession, poor regulation and sheer bad luck. But the dramatic rise and fall of Bhushan Steel reveals the NPA crisis is equally about public sector banks backing risky bets of promoters accustomed to growing their businesses on borrowed money. And when these businesses floundered, banks threw good money after bad, often through third-party transactions. In the on-going court case of Bhushan Steel and Syndicate Bank, the Central Bureau of Investigation alleges in a First Information Report (No. RC AC1 2014A0004, August 1 2014), a bank official purportedly demanded bribes to ignore defaults. Nittin Johari, Director Finance at Bhushan Steel, declined to comment on any ongoing investigations, but said the company had not broken any laws. The Rise In 1987, Brij Bhushan Singal and his sons - Neeraj and Sanjay - acquired an ailing steel factory in Sahibabad, at a time when steel was dominated by state-owned companies. The group grew quickly by importing sophisticated Japanese machinery to make steel for Indias nascent automobile industry. But Bhushan Steels control over availability, quality and cost of input steel was very limited, Neeraj Singal explained in the companys 2009-10 annual report. So in 2003, they decided to build an integrated steel plant in Odisha. This was a time of great optimism for the steel sector. Banks were eager to lend to a company with an impressive order book of clients like Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Tata Motors. Banks were getting into project finance for the first time, a lender seeking anonymity to speak freely. If anyone questioned a projects viability, bosses would say - India will always need cars, or there are millions of Indians who still dont have electricity. Plant construction in Odisha began in 2005, and the company was promised a ready supply of iron-ore and coal needed to make steel. The first phase of construction was complete by 2009-10. Next year, elder brother Sanjay, broke away from the family business, but Bhushan Steels prospects were bright. But steel is a cyclical business, and as Chinese demand tapered after the 2008 Olympics, prices plummeted as fast as they had once peaked. House of Cards For Bhushan Steel, it was a gust of headwind. The whole house of cards came tumbling down, said a financier seeking anonymity to speak freely. In a slowdown, steel demand in India doesnt drop. Prices do, said the lender to Bhushan Steel. With debt you grow big fast, but when bad times come, the debt suddenly becomes a massive burden. By 2010, Bhushan Steel was already shouldering loans worth Rs 11,404 crore. Still, the company went on a borrowing spree to finance the next phase of construction. By 2012, the steel industry was slipping behind on interest payments as steel prices fell to $300/tonne that December from a 2008 peak of $1265/tonne. It was obvious that companies were borrowing from one bank to pay off another, the lender said. Banks were conflicted: pull the loans and book a loss, or keep lending and hope the sector revived. Bhushans lenders pinned their hopes on the Odisha plant reaching full capacity. It never did. In November 2013, the new plants furnace exploded during testing, three workers were killed and 29 injured. The accident was widely covered in the press. By March 2014, it was clear the company was in trouble. Profit had shrunk to a mere Rs 62 crore, while the company was spending more than Rs 1,600 crore a year in interest payments alone, according to Bhushans 2014 annual report. The banks doubled down. Despite these challenges, your companys bankers have demonstrated continued confidence on the company, the annual report stated, noting that banks had extended almost Rs18,000 crore in fresh loans and working capital. Many loans were secured against the companys stock, said the financier, noting that the Singals owned 70% of the stock. This allowed lenders to pretend that their loans were sufficiently collateralised. Then on August 1 2014, the Centre Bureau of Investigation, acting on a tip-off from a bank insider, said Bhushan Steel allegedly defaulted on a Rs.100 crore loan repayment to Syndicate Bank and allegedly bribed the bank chairman, S.K. Jain for a credit extension. Fresh credit was extended to M/s BSL by Syndicate Bank and as a token an illegal gratification of Rs 10 lakhs was paid to Shri Sudhir Kumar Jain, said the CBIs FIR. When Neeraj was arrested on August 7 2014, Bhushan stock, trading at Rs 380, went into free fall. Both men are out on bail, and the matter is sub-judice. HT reached out to S.K. Jain through his lawyer, but he did not respond. Ever-greening Indias banks have portrayed themselves as hapless victims of canny promoters. Yet, banks played along through a systemic failure of project monitoring, and inadequate due-diligence. HT sent SBI, Bhushan Steels lead banker with a total exposure of over Rs. 10,000 crore, a detailed email - through their media agency - to understand why banks continued to give fresh loans to the company when it had trouble paying back old debts. SBI does not comment on individual accounts, the media agency replied. Industry sources said much of the lending was loan ever-greening: an industry practice in which banks flip old loans into new ones, rather than acknowledge a potential default. When Bhushan Steel was on the brink of default in March 2014, SBI and a consortium of lenders sanctioned fresh loans. But as steel prices remained stubbornly low, and Bhushans interest costs escalated, the companys total debt rose 30% in two quick years: from Rs 35,710 crore in 2014 to Rs 46,062 crore in March 2016, the annual report said. As defaults continued into 2017, a business daily reported that the SBI-led lender consortium asked Deloitte India to conduct a forensic audit, and authorised still more restructuring. In court, Bhushans lawyers said Deloitte found no signs of malfeasance. SBI accepted Deloittes report. As a policy, we do not comment on any matter related to a company or client, a Deloitte spokesperson said when HT asked for a response. Loan anomaly On June 7 2017, a business daily reported the SFIO was investigating if Bhushan Steels management had diverted bank loans. An SFIO official involved in the investigation told HT they had collated financial data from the companys bankers. The official sought anonymity to speak freely. The SFIO, the official said, is also following up on an August 2016 SEBI order that alleges the Singals bought cheap shares in a company called First Financial. First Financials share price rose 5000% in one year, allowing the Singals to exit with a tax-free profit of Rs. 12 crore, the SEBI report said. The Singals, SEBI alleged, misused securities market system for making illegal gains and to convert ill-gotten gains, into genuine ones. A Bhushan spokesperson said a forensic audit of their books had found no wrongdoing. Money machine Deloitte - the firm that conducted the forensic audit - has now been appointed the insolvency professional agency to run Bhushan Steel for six months while banks figure out how to recover their money. This will cost Bhushan Steel in fee and expenses to Deloitte, money that the banks will extend as a fresh loan, technically called interim finance. From the moment a company takes a loan to the time it fails, everyone makes money, said a restructuring professional. Its just different people at each step. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Even as National Investigation Agency (NIA) reportedly recommended closing down trans-LoC trade routes with PoK, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday visited Octroi border out post along the Indo-Pak international border (IB) in Suchetgarh area of RS Pura sector in Jammu district to have an assessment of developing Octroi outpost on the line of Wagah border in Punjaba dream project of her late father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. On June 14 last year and often after that, Mehbooba has said that Suchetgarh area near the IB can be developed on the lines of Wagah pattern to enhance bonhomie between India and Pakistan. She also wants two more routes across the Line of Control (LoC) with PoK to have the camaraderie between the two countries. Via Octroi post, there had been Jammu-Sialkot rail route before Partition. Near the post there is a heritage building on old Jammu-Sialkot route, historical Raghunath temple and a BSF post, which have always attracted tourists. Even to this day, 250 to 500 tourists visit the border outpost everyday to have a glimpse of the Jammu-Sialkot route. Menbooba was welcomed at the BSF post by PHE minister Sham Lal Choudhary, tourism minister Priya Sethi, BSF Jammu Frontier IG Ram Awatar, director of tourism Smita Sethi, IG police Jammu Dr SDS Jamwal and others. Thereafter, Mehbooba had an assessment of the place and visited up to Zero Line. This trade route used to be the shortest and safest distance for the merchants before 1947. However, following the Partition, this route was preferred by trans-border smugglers and intense shelling had also been a routine affair but at the same time, one cannot ignore the fact that Suchetgarh-Sialkot are away for just 11 kms. A proposal had been lying with the Prime Ministers Office since UPA regime to take up opening of Suchetgarh-Sialkot, Nowshera-Mirpur and Pallanwala-Chamb routes with Pakistan but it was on hold after the Mumbai terror attack. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON "Every time a parent asks how the student is doing, they do better," says Sanu. "As SMC members, we have a direct channel with their teachers, too. So kids know that we are not only reliant on their words to know how they are performing. I can easily ask their teachers." Both Sanu and Devi agreed that getting to know teachers cultivates in their children a certain sort of productive "fear". As the education levels of Chandrashekhar's children has surpassed his own, he says he has become less involved in their lives. Where Sanu and Devi are assertive, Chandrashekhar is diffident. "My kids are more educated than me now," he says. "How do I help them out at home? All I do is ask them once in a while how they are doing at school, if they have done their homework. That is all." Yet Chandrashekhar's son, Arvind, who is in Class 9 at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, says he benefits from personal attention from his father. "When my father asks me about school, it makes me feel like he cares. It matters what I do and how I perform in school. I think I work extra hard on the days he asks." Saransh Vaswani, the co founder of Saajha, a not for profit organisation that works to enable parents to participate in the learning of their children and the School Management Committees, confirms that frequent interactions between parents and students are crucial no matter how educated the parents are. "It's okay if you are not literate," he says. "You could interact with your child while you are cooking, talk to them about shapes and colours. We have even given parents and students simple worksheets to fill out together. Simple things like, match the 'ba' with 'batak'." But like Chandrashekhar, his wife, Vimala Devi, and his other child, Jyoti, 21, also work long hours at intensive jobs, leaving them with only so much time and energy to interact with the Nikki and Arvind afterward. Vimala Devi and Jyoti each work at a garment factory in Okhla. Vimala Devi makes Rs. 6,000 a month; Jyoti makes Rs. 7,000. They work from 8am until 8pm most days, leaving Nikki to do household chores in addition to their schoolwork. "I come back late from work. I don't even have time to ask about her studies sometimes," says Vimala Devi of Nikki. Vimala Devi passed through only eighth grade; Chandrashekhar didn't make it past Class 5. Jyoti, who makes a strong effort to help her siblings, had to quit school during Class 8. Jyoti's foreshortened time in school was a direct result of her family's poverty. She now plays the role of a surrogate parent to her siblings. The end of a dream Jyoti's foreshortened time in school was a direct result of her family's poverty. "I always wanted to study and become 'something', 'someone'," she recollects. "From the seventh grade, I knew I wanted to become a doctor. My mom used to fall ill often, you see? So I wanted to treat her." This dream ended in 2008 when her father fell ill with multiple masses in his kidneys. She was in seventh grade. The family had to leave their small village in Uttar Pradesh for Delhi so that her father could seek treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. "When we moved to Delhi, we soon realised that we could not afford the expenses if I did not work too," says Jyoti. She joined her mother at a factory making, she says, "chamkeeli things", shiny trinkets that were decorated with small mirrors and sequins. "I remember having to beg her boss to give me a job as well," says Jyoti. "I was not 14 yet, so it was illegal to employ me. Saab finally relented and allowed me to work there, helping with some of the handiwork, for around Rs. 1,200 per month. They used to make me hide in boxes or send me out to play at the time of inspections." Though the new job meant that Jyoti could support her parents and siblings, it also meant that she would never become a doctor. "Now I try to live out my dreams by playing a doctor at home when somebody falls ill," Jyoti says. "Even when neighbours fall ill, I talk to the doctors about it and then prescribe the medicines they suggest." Though many parents realize that education is central to the future success of their kids, it is a long-term investment with no immediate returns. The financial straits of Chandrashekhar's family is typical of other families in the pahadi school. The average household income is about Rs.10,000 to Rs. 20,000 a month, according to Sonu Nijhawan, the vice principal. Teachers say they regularly see how the academic futures of their students are thwarted by the poverty of their families. "One instance that I will never forget is that of Madhu," says Neelam Sanjeeta Minj, the teacher who is in charge of the school's management committee. "One of our bright students, though she had only secured a 68% in her tenth grade. Her family was originally from a village in Rajasthan, and her father worked as a halwai here in Delhi. She had to discontinue her studies and go back to her village because her father was not earning enough to sustain a family here in Delhi. I still remember her crying." Much though many parents realise that education is central to the future success of their kids, it is a long-term investment with no immediate returns. For poorer families, it often must be sacrificed. "I keep telling Nikki to study," Jyoti says. "I even ask her to not do the household work. I say I will make dinner after I get home; I usually ask her to make use of the time to study." Wondering about the future "Hum toh padh nahin paye, humare bache to padhe (We were not able to study, but we would like our kids to study)." This belief, according to Minj, is the driving force behind many success stories of kids whose "stubborn" parents insisted they get an education. Jyoti is largely uneducated herself, works a difficult job, and comes home exhausted. Still, she has intuited what Minj learned from experience, and is determined, as a kind of surrogate parent, to provide her siblings with the unflagging attention and support that they need. "I keep telling Nikki to study," she says. "I even ask her to not do the household work. I say I will make dinner after I get home; I usually ask her to make use of the time to study... I sometimes yell at them when I see them squander away the opportunity given to them by goofing around. You are allowed to play, of course, but you need to study." Nikki dreams of teaching Hindi someday, and regularly practises by helping classmates with their homework. If she succeeds in becoming a teacher, it would radically change her family's circumstances. Nikki has noticed her sister's efforts. "'Padhle (study) Nikki, padhle.' This is something you will hear often in this house," she says. She dreams of teaching Hindi someday, and regularly practises by helping classmates with their homework. If Nikki succeeds in becoming a teacher, it would radically change her family's circumstances. A senior secondary school teacher in Delhi government schools can make as much as Rs. 55,000 a month. Nikki's teachers say that she is receiving high marks, but getting that job at a government school wouldn't be easy: she'd have to complete an MA and BEd in Hindi and pass an additional set of tests even to be considered. Jyoti has devoted herself to the difficult task of supporting the education of her siblings. But she is also acutely aware of how different Nikki's future might be different from her own. The eldest child wonders what her life would have been like if she hadn't dropped out of school. "My siblings, especially the youngest brother, call me uneducated at times," Jyoti says. "It is usually when I insist he go finish his homework or schoolwork. But when he calls me 'unpadh', I get angry, upset, all at once. I sometimes take it out on my parents. I ask them why they let their other kids study, but did not send me to school. I know it was not a choice they were happy making. It was something they were forced to do. But sometimes, I ask anyway." Dehradun: Uttarakhand governor KK Paul on Tuesday appealed to the universities to participate in national programs and adopt villages in order to ensure better rural development in Uttarakhand. Speaking at the third five-day toppers conclave taking place at Raj Bhawan in Dehradun on Tuesday, that included scientists, head of the Scientific Advisory Council to Prime Minister, professor CNR Rao, Paul said, Universities have greater role in evolving societies beyond their traditional academic activities inside the classrooms. They should come forward and play a leadership role in the social and economic progress of the state as well as the country. Teaching should not be confined to the classrooms .The programs of the national importance like swachh Bharat, adarsh gram, digital India, make in India and skill India need the participation of universities. He said that universities should adopt some villages for proper development of rural Uttarakhand. India will have to face strong competition from China and South Korea in the sphere of science in future. In todays world, the country which has excelled in science can rule the world, he added. We would have to develop the habit of working hard and surpass other countries by strengthening our foundation of science, said Rao. Applauding the concept of conclave, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that such beginnings will usher in great changes in the academics of the state. He appealed to the public to contribute towards water conservation, afforestation and protecting girl child. The state has 31 universities but little can be seen in the form of research that could help in the states development, said Rawat. The state government will bring in more improvement in higher education. The process to recruit 877 college lecturers has been started and further improvisation is awaited, said state higher education minister, Dhan Singh Rawat. DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government is looking for financial assistance from corporate bigwigs to fix the creaking infrastructure of its schools which are in need of a drastic overhaul. After the high court in June warned of imposing financial emergency could be imposed unless basic amenities are provided to government schools, a cornered BJP government is exploring avenues to augment the facilities at schools till December. The state is already facing acute financial crisis and therefore, we are seeking support from corporates to fund us for strengthening our schools, director general, education, Alok Shekhar Tiwari told Hindustan Times. The government will approach Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Hans Foundation among others to provide financial assistance through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) route. Uttarakhand has nearly 17,022 government schools in primary, upper primary and secondary level which, according to media reports, need a whopping Rs 900 crore for maintenance. The basic amenity of drinking water is not available in 562 primary, 171 upper primary and 366 secondary level schools. Pauri has the maximum number of primary schools (124) in need of potable water, Uttarkash for upper primary (46) and Tehri for secondary schools (62). Sanitation is another neglected area. Of the total 12,539 primary schools, toilets for girls are needed in 507 schools and another 413 require toilets for boys. Similarly, of the 2,791 upper primary schools, 154 need boys toilet and 98 girls toilet. In co-education schools, students face great difficulties when it comes to sanitation. It becomes awkward, especially for girls, to share toilers with boys. Theres an urgent need to provide basic amenities such as toilets, drinking water and infrastructure at the earliest, Hira Singh Bora, district president of teachers association Almora, said. There is an acute shortage of basic furniture and stationery in these schools. Of the over 15,330 primary and upper primary schools, 8,107 where 3,84,871 kids are enrolled, require furniture. Another 868 secondary schools are in the need of furniture. While private schools are working towards interactive learning through Smart TV, government schools have come a cropper. None of the 10,246 schools having up to 50 students have smart televisions. As many as 3,876 smart TVs are missing in 1,938 schools where enrollment is higher than 50 students. Computer is taught as a basic subject in private schools from grade 1. But, students get to learn it in government schools only in secondary level. And guess what? All 1,692 secondary government schools need computers so that students can practical classes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The NDA government will set up a new panel to decide on the ownership of 123 prime wakf properties in the national capital, rejecting a single-member panels recommendation that would have resulted in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government getting a say in the matter. Additional solicitor general (ASG) Sanjay Jain has rejected in toto the report of a government-appointed panel that had recommended that the Delhi wakf commissioner, appointed by the Delhi government, should take the final call on the ownership rights of these properties. The wakf properties were denotified by the UPA regime in March 2014 two months before the end of its tenure and ownership rights transferred to the Delhi Wakf Board from the Union government. The one-member panel under retired judicial officer JR Aryan was appointed in May 2016 by the housing and urban affairs ministry to review the UPA governments decision. Government sources said the committees report had not gone down well with the BJPs ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), as in many cases, even when there was ample evidence that the wakf property had ceased to exist, or was being used for commercial purpose, the committee failed to give a specific recommendation of handing it back to the government. RSS functionaries have met ministry officials to convey their unhappiness over the report, a source said. The ASG has told the housing and urban affairs ministry, which had sought his opinion, to constitute a new committee to review the UPA governments decision, a government source said. Located in prime real estate such as Connaught Place, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Lodhi Road, Pandara Road, Jungpura, Karol Bagh and Daryaganj, the properties are estimated to be worth crores. Before the then UPA governments denotification, the ownership rights of 61 of the 123 properties vested with the Land and Development Office under the housing and urban affairs ministry, while those of 62 were with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Revenue from waqf properties is used for carrying out welfare activity for the community, but government officials concede that many of these properties are being used for commercial purposes by individuals and organisations. The ministry had sought the ASGs opinion as it was not satisfied with the Aryan committee report. Even in cases where it was clearly evident that the wakf property was not being used for religious purpose and there was no dargah, mosque, tomb or graveyard, the Aryan committee did not recommend restoration of the land to the government land owning agencies, said a government official who did not want to be identified. The Aryan panels suggestion is also a setback to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) that had challenged the UPA governments decision in the Delhi high court, and written to the then Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu requesting a review after the NDA government came to power in May 2014. In its petition, the VHP had accused the UPA government of showing undue favour towards the minority community, especially the Muslim community for showing them that the government was gifting them away 123 prime properties in Delhi. In August 2014, the high court disposed of the petition with the following order, .the writ petition is accordingly disposed of leaving it open to the respondents No 1 & 2 (Union of India and L&DO) to take an appropriate decision after giving an opportunity of hearing to all the stakeholders, particularly Delhi Wakf Board. The court ordered that status quo be maintained with regard to the possession of the land. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A woman security guard was found murdered in her house in west Delhi on Tuesday morning. At around 6.30 am on Tuesday, the police control room received a call from a man in Inderpuri about the death of his tenant, a 25-year-old woman. The womans landlord told the police that he decided to check on the woman because she had not answered her cell phone for the past two days. The man told the police that at around 6.24 am, when he entered her house she was alone. The womans live-in partner, Vinod, was not home. The semi-nude body of the woman was lying on the ground, with the main door ajar and her clothes thrown beside her body. Investigating officials said there was no ransacking and there was no forced entry, suggesting the killer was known to the woman. Police suspect she was sexually assaulted but are awaiting post-mortem report. DCP West Vijay Kumar said the woman may have been smothered to death. Kumar said there were no external injuries on her body. The woman, a native of Siliguri in West Bengal, was sharing the room with Vinod. She was posted as a security guard. When police contacted Vinod, he initially took their calls but claimed that he was in Rae Barelli at his sisters house for the last two days. Vinod told the officials that he had come to his village for Rakshabandhan. A senior officer said that Vinod has been asked to come to Delhi and join investigation. Till late Tuesday night, his phone was switched off and he had not reached Delhi. Investigation revealed the woman, who had three kids from her first marriage had filed for divorce. She was living with Vinod for the last two years. We suspect that one of her clothes was used to smother or strangulate her while she was asleep. We are questioning all neighbours to know more about the couple. Apart from that we are also monitoring Vinods activities, said an officer. HT Correspondent New Delhi: A 30-year-old woman was repeatedly stabbed, allegedly by her brother-in-law, before being pushed out of the window of her second floor home in north Delhis Bharat Nagar on Sunday. The woman, however, escaped death after neighbours cushioned her fall. She was attacked because she had earlier thwarted his alleged attempts to establish sexual relations with her and had even reported his behaviour to her husband, said Milind Dumbere, DCP (north-west). The woman lives in Bharat Nagar with her husband who drives her cab. Her brother-in-law, a factory worker, lives in the same neighbourhood. While the womans husband would be away at work, his brother would allegedly visit her home and try to get close to her. She had been warning him to keep away. When he tried the same misadventure early last week, I threatened to call my husband and inform him. When he did not stop, I actually called my husband and put the phone on loudspeaker, the woman alleged. The man was forced to leave the house at that time, but he was left enraged. When the womans husband returned home, he confronted his brother and even slapped him twice, said the DCP. Since then, the man had been waiting to take revenge. On Sunday afternoon, the man again visited his sister-in-laws home and allegedly tried to molest her. When she resisted, he allegedly began punching her from behind before grabbing a knife and attacking her. Not satisfied, he allegedly pushed her out of the room window. The woman, however, held on to a cooler fixed to another window nearby and screamed for help. As some residents of the building gathered below on hearing her cries, her brother-in-law allegedly continued to attack her with a knife. But by the time the woman actually had a free fall, the residents had done enough to cushion her fall. But she had to be rushed to a hospital for treatment of the seven stab wounds she had received. She is now out of danger. Her brother-in-law, meanwhile, was caught by the public when he tried to escape from the house. He was handed over to the police and sent to jail. When his father Praveen Taneja began thrashing his mother Minakshi at her maternal home on Saturday afternoon, the 10-year-old boy thought it was one of the usual bursts of domestic abuse his mother was frequently subjected to. He realised his mothers life was in danger only when Minakshi began shouting out to him for help. The boy and his four-year-old brother were on the first floor of their grandparents home in south Delhis Badarpur when Taneja began the bloody assault on his 30-year-old wife. The younger boy was asleep at that time. When my father attacked my mother, she began shouting to me for help, the boy told the media. As his younger boy slept soundly, this boy ran down to his mothers aid. By the time he reached downstairs where the assault was playing out, his father had already picked up a knife. When the boy tried to intervene, his father allegedly pulled him by his hand and locked him in a room. I could do nothing from inside, said the boy who could see the murder take place through a window. My father then cut my mothers throat using a knife. She fell on the floor and wriggled while holding her neck. She could not speak anything after that, the boy said. The man then picked up the cooking gas cylinder and repeatedly bludgeoned his wife with it. He picked up the cylinder and threw it on my mother twice, but she was alive and continued to struggle. The third time, my father hurled it with more force. My mother did not move after that, said the boy. As Taneja walked out of the home with the knife in his hands, some neighbours walked in and opened the door to let the boy out. He immediately rushed to his mother to see if she was still breathing, but she had died by then. Police said the two boys are being counselled. Both boys are traumatised. One of them witnessed the murder while the other saw his mother being cut and crushed, said an investigator. For now, the children are under the care of their grandparents. The boys mother anyways wanted to leave them in her parents custody. She did not want them to witness her husband regularly beat her after coming home drunk, said the officer. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the three men who died on Sunday while trying to clean a drain in south Delhi. The three were cleaning a sewer line in Lajpat Nagar near the Kabir Ram temple on Sunday afternoon. They went inside, inhaled toxic fumes and were found unconscious. Kejriwal, who visited the families of the victims along with water minister Rajendra Gautam, also announced that the Delhi government will give jobs to a family member of each of the three men. In a similar incident three weeks ago in Ghitorni, four people died while trying to clean a rainwater harvesting pit which had turned into a sewage-filled septic tank due to lack of maintenance. We will form a high-powered committee to examine why such incidents keep happening. This is the second such incident in a month. We will try and figure what can be done to prevent such incidents, the chief minister said. Police have already registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the private contractor who hired the three to clean the DJB sewer line but did not provide them with necessary protective gear. Read: In Delhi sewer, three deaths in just seven minutes but not one cry for help According to Kejriwal, a probe has been ordered and attempts are on to find out who the contractor was. I asked the DJB CEO and he said that no such contract was given by the utility. Probe will bring out the truth. But I can assure you that whoever is responsible will get the strictest punishment, he said. The civic authorities are required to give boots, helmets, gloves and masks to sanitation staff but the guidelines are rarely followed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) teachers may soon organise public lectures on research methodology as entrance exams to research courses at the institute will have questions on the topic according to University Grants Commission guidelines. We will conduct these public lectures because the entrance test is to have questions based on these topics. But many students have no clear idea what research methodology is supposed to be. Research methodology itself is quite a vast topic, with quantitative and qualitative methods. The lectures will look at research methodologies for social sciences, said Pradeep Shinde, secretary of the JNU teachers association (JNUTA), which has been protesting the alleged research seat cuts. The teachers alleged some departments have had zero admissions to research programmes at certain centres, and the teachers of these schools and centres are expected to hold a khaali classroom lecture series, which will feature topics on research methodologies as well. This is expected to begin around August 16. Condemning what they called the myriad failures of the JNU VC and his team in managing the affairs of the university, the JNUTA took out a march on Tuesday in protest against the seat cuts and other matters such as the alleged termination of certain staff, stalling of promotions, and other disciplinary actions taken by the administration. The march attended by almost 100 people, including members of the JNU Student Union (JNUSU) and other students, culminated at the administrative block of JNU. The delegation led by Shinde was allegedly unable to meet the VC and claimed to have submitted the memo, listing their demands, to the Rector-I, Chintamani Mahapatra, instead. I was a student here at JNU in the 80s and have been a faculty here since the early 2000s. I have never seen a situation like this before, where the administration is unwilling to engage and negotiate, said Surajit Mazumdar, a professor at JNU and member of the Executive Council. HTs attempts to contact the JNU VC went unanswered. New Delhi The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday considered the submission of the Centre that it was willing to include Urdu as a language in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, the common entrance test for admission to medical courses, from academic session 2018-19 onwards. A bench, headed by Justices Dipak Misra, noted the submission made by solicitor general Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, that it was not opposed to conducting the NEET in Urdu medium also from 2018. The exam for this academic session is already over. We cant put the clock back...The appeal is disposed of, the bench, also comprising justice A M Khanwilkar, said. The solicitor general had on March 31 told the apex court that a students body seeking conduct of the NEET in Urdu language had accused the Centre of being communal. The submission was made while referring to an affidavit filed by the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) through its national secretary Thouseef Ahamad. The Centre had told the court it was not feasible to introduce Urdu as one of the mediums for the NEET from the current academic year. At present, the test is being conducted in ten languages, including Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese, Telegu, Tamil and Kannada. The court had earlier sought the response of the Centre, the Medical Council of India, the Dental Council of India, and the Central Board of Secondary Education on the plea for making Urdu as a medium for the NEET 2017. The government wants the Capitals private schools to put on their notice boards the number of seats in the institution, mentioning how much is reversed for the poor, and vacancies in each class. The move is aimed at preventing schools from refusing admission to students from economically weaker sections (EWS). No vacancy is allegedly often cited to deny enrollment to poor students by private schools that are recognised by the Delhi government but dont get any financial aid from it. The directorate of education ordered the schools to display the information in Hindi and English on notice boards and put them at such a place on the campus that these are visible from outside. Besides, the information on the board must be updated once a week. They also have to display the total applications received under the EWS quota, an official said. The schools also have to inform when these applications will be taken and the date for admissions. The order follows a recent court direction. Now we have online admission for EWS so some schools thought they just have to update information online. The order is to ensure they display the information publicly on notice boards, the official said. Poor parents may not have access to the internet or net-savvy to check the online notices. Atishi Marlena, adviser to education minister Manish Sisodia, said the step will help fill EWS seats. Education officials will visit each school to verify the information. The schools are also directed to update the information online on the education departments website, www.edudel.nic.in. Displaying the information on a notice board, which is easily accessible to the public, will help everyone to get the information, said the principal of a private school in east Delhi. The principal of Mount Abu school, Jyoti Arora, has similar views. This will help parents know the details about seats and vacancies in all categories. We used to update some of this information earlier. But now we are asked to display detailed information. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Electrification of New Delhi-Rewari line will commence on August 12 and a foot overbridge at Rajendra Park, long awaited by residents, will also be inaugurated on the day, Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh said on Tuesday. However, officials of the Northern Railway said the inaugurations on Saturday are tentative and could be shifted to a later date. The projects were scheduled to commence on Tuesday and railway minister Suresh Prabhu was to inaugurate the electrification project via video conferencing, but both had to be postponed due to the tight schedule of Northern Railway officials. The project for electrifying railway line from Sarai Rohilla station in New Delhi to Rewari was first put forward in the 2014-15 railway budget. As per Northern Railway officials, the project was eventually bagged by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) after tenders were floated last year. In the absence of an electrified line, only diesel engines can run on the line which approximately spans 85 km. Apart from being environment-friendly, an electric engine is also cost effective as it conserves kinetic energy every time the train brakes and continues to renew the energy source throughout the journey, Neeraj Sharma, chief public relations officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway said. As the operational cost will be low, the Northern Railway officials expect to add more electric multiple unit (EMU) trains on the New Delhi-Rewari route. This would provide a mass transport service option to thousands of passengers who travel daily to NCR cities for work. Incidentally, in 2015, Rao Inderjit Singh had written to Suresh Prabhu urging him to electrify the New Delhi-Rewari and New Delhi-Jaipur route aprt from modernising the Gurgaon railway station. As for the foot overbridge, a large number of pedestrians travelling from Rajendra Park put their lives in danger daily by crossing over the railway tracks for heading towards Sector 5. Although a foot overbridge is located at the railway station, it is restricted to passengers on platform number 2 and is inaccessible to Rajendra Park residents. Rajendra Park is a heavily populated area located beside the Gurgaon railway station. More than 1 lakh people residing in Rajendra Park have trouble crossing over to Sector 5 on a daily basis. The foot overbridge will end their long wait for one and ensure their lives are no longer at risk, the MP said. For residents, the new foot overbridge will ensure that their gamble with life will come to an end. I run a grocery shop in Sector 3 since the last 20 years and. each day, I cross the railway tracks to reach there. I am well aware of the dangers and the numerous accidents that take place on railway tracks each year. But I did not have any other option as I have to support my family The foot overbridge will finally end my familys worry, Praveen Yadav, a resident of Rajendra Park, said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A five-month-old Pakistani baby died of dehydration on Sunday night, barely a fortnight since he left India after a successful cardiac surgery at Noidas Jaypee Hospital. Despite tension between the two countries, Rohaan and his Lahore-based parents had managed to secure a medical visa to India through the intervention of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on humanitarian grounds. According to reports, Rohaan was rushed to a Lahore hospital after he came down with diarrhoea on Sunday. The baby, however, could not be saved. My Rohaan passed away last night. He fought and conquered with major heart surgery but slipped and fell in grave due to little dehydration (sic), his father, Kanwal Siddiq, tweeted. He went on to thank Swaraj and the people of India for the love and support they extended to Rohaan in trying times. Life is fragile, despite all efforts Rohaan passed away to a better place. Thank u and people of India for all efforts. God bless, the caption under a photograph of his sons grave read. A group of doctors had performed an exhaustive five-hour surgery on Rohaan at the Noida hospital on June 14. The baby was suffering from a complex condition that caused his heart to pump deoxygenated blood, bringing about bouts of pneumonia and making his body turn blue. Doctors at Jaypee said Rohaan was perfectly normal when he reached Lahore in July. We kept in touch with the parents after they reached. Rohaan was doing fine, and his reports were good until last Friday. We even suggested that his feeding be increased, and the baby began putting on weight. However, on Sunday, his parents called to say that they were admitting Rohaan to a hospital because he had come down with diarrhoea. Soon, we received the tragic news of his death, said a doctor. The Siddiqs managed to get a medical visa to India after Kanwal approached Swaraj for help on Twitter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Aiming to eliminate measles and curb instances of rubella by 2020, the Centre has rolled out the second phase of its measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the country. Nearly 3.4 crore children across eight states and union territories Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu will be covered in this stage. While measles is a viral infection that can be fatal, congenital rubella syndrome is responsible for irreversible birth defects. The Union health ministrys campaign against the two diseases intends to cover approximately 41 crore children in a phased manner, making it the largest-ever worldwide. The first phase of the campaign was launched across five states Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Lakshadweep and Puducherry in February this year. More than 3.3 crore children were vaccinated, reaching out to 97% of the intended age group, a statement issued by the health ministry read. The drive was carried out at schools, community centres and medical institutes, covering children between the ages of nine months and 15 years. After the special drive is completed, the MR vaccine will be made a part of the routine immunisation process replacing the measles vaccine thats currently being given between 9-12 months and 16-24 months after birth. The campaign aims to rapidly build up immunity for both measles and rubella diseases, so as to eliminate them. Therefore, all children should receive MR vaccine during the campaign, the statement read. The MR vaccine is meant for every child in the prescribed age group, and can be administered even if they have already received it. In order to achieve maximum coverage during the campaign, the Union health ministry has collaborated with several entities, including civil society groups, development partners, other ministries and organisations such as the Indian Association of Paediatrics, Indian Medical Association and Lions Club. The Measles-Rubella campaign is part of global efforts to reduce illness and deaths due to measles and rubella in the country. While measles immunisation directly contributes to the reduction of under-five child mortality, it also prevents congenital rubella syndrome in combination with the rubella vaccine, the health ministrys statement said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As soon as news broke of actors Chris Pratt and Anna Faris divorce, it was almost certain that someone would be blamed for it. And of course, it had to be a woman. Angry fans are spewing venom at Jennifer Lawrence for breaking up Chris and Annas marriage and are speculating that the two will be together in just a few months. The couple announced separation through social media posts on Monday. Anna and I are sad to announce we are legally separating. We tried hard for a long time, and were really disappointed. Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward. We still have love for each other, will always cherish our time together and continue to have the deepest respect for one another, they wrote. Chris and Jennifer worked together on Morten Tyldums 2016 romantic sci-fi film, Passengers. Their steamy chemistry in the film is perhaps the reason why fans are extending it to the real world. Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt in a still from Passengers. There is no reason for anyone to speculate that Jennifer had a hand in causing trouble. Anna and Jennifer even had a sweet moment at the Passengers premiere where they hugged and shared a laugh. But when has that stopped anyone from pointing fingers at someone they deem homewrecker in celebrity relationships? Jennifer Lawrence & Anna Faris at the #Passengers World Premiere! pic.twitter.com/6IbCFxdWRN Jennifer Lawrence (@JenLawUS) December 15, 2016 What is more is that Jennifer is currently dating director Darren Aronofsky. She will be seen in his film Mother! with Javier Bardem soon. I don't know why but I blame Jennifer Lawrence for Chris and Anna getting divorced pic.twitter.com/5bPxEmecNe Matthew Paul (@TheMattHart2007) August 7, 2017 Today's Headline: Chris Pratt and Anna Faris separating. Next Month's Headline: Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence dating. pic.twitter.com/H96joUcpXV V (@___Vin) August 7, 2017 If Chris Pratt starts to date Jennifer Lawrence I will... not like it. Don't let it happen Pratt, don't let it happen. Courtney Frey (@sea_freyd) August 8, 2017 Chris Pratt and Anna Farris are filing for divorce. I feel like Jennifer Lawrence has a role in this. Bitch has a role in everything. Jumah (@WokeMutant) August 7, 2017 I'm taking the high road and blaming Jennifer Lawrence. Jordan Veilleux (@veilleuxwho) August 7, 2017 I give it 6 weeks before it's announced Jennifer Lawrence & Chris Pratt are dating after his split from Anna Faris Colonel Kickhead (@colonelkickhead) August 7, 2017 I fully blame Jennifer Lawrence for the 2010 Miley/Liam breakup and now for the Chris Pratt/Anna faris separation. #SAD bmac (@brigidfay) August 7, 2017 The way Chris Pratt looked at Jennifer Lawrence in interviews... I saw this separation coming. Saadiqah** (@saadiqah) August 7, 2017 Going to assume Chris Pratt slept with Jennifer Lawrence which lead to the separation. But honestly, who could blame him? Sean Brown (@brownsean) August 7, 2017 In none of these tweets is anyone blaming Chris for hypothetically wrecking his own home but only name-calling Jennifer. Could it be that he really had no part to play in an affair, which incidentally, happens with the consent of two people? Anna Faris and Chris Pratt with their son Jack. (Shutterstock ) This is not the first time that an actress (completely non-related) has been shamed for a celeb split. In 2016, when Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, fans targeted French Oscar-winning actor Marion Cotillard. They believed things flamed up between Brad and Marion on the sets of their film Allied and quiet disgustingly, also speculated that her unborn child with partner and actor Guillaume Canet, was actually Brads. Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt in a still from Allied. The stress increased so much for Marion that she and her husband had to personally clarify on the matter. This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into. I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up. Firstly, many years ago, I met the man of my life, father of our son and of the baby we are expecting. He is my love, my best friend, the only one that I need. Secondly to those who have indicated that I am devastated, I am very well thank you. This crafted conversation isnt distressing. And to all the media and the haters who are quick to pass judgment, I sincerely wish you a swift recovery. Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment, she wrote in an Instagram post. Brad and Angelina had an affair while they were filming for Mr and Mrs Smith. (imago stock&people) Brad has been quite lucky in escaping wrath of fans. When he divorced Jennifer Aniston, Angelina was blamed for everything bad that happened to the star couples relationship. She was deemed a home wrecker while very few people appeared to judge Brad for cheating on his wife. When Ben Affleck was separated from wife Jennifer Garner, media and fans dug out info on the nanny he apparently cheated on his wife with. Same happened with Jude Law. Instead of judging the actions of men, the women are hunted and shamed. With Lemonade, Beyonce subtly told the world how husband Jay Z cheated on her. So many of her songs from the album were about how he hurt her and only a mention of Becky With The Good Hair. Of course, instead of chastising JayZ, everyone was far more bothered about who could be the Becky. Could you scratch your brains and come up with an instance where a man was blamed for breaking a celebrity marriage? Follow @htshowbiz for more Hollywood has always had problems when it comes to picking non-mainstream American cast. It happily whitewashes Asian characters and appropriates pop culture from the continent. Critics have forever questioned its wisdom (or the lack of it) when it came to casting for Asian characters (read: Emma Stone played a woman of Hawaiian and Asian heritage in Aloha and Scarlett Johansson starred in remake of anime classic in Ghost in the Shell). These are just a few examples from an industry that rarely even auditions Asian actors for lead roles. But it seems all that changed when Hollywoods Warner Brothers Studio decided to back the film adaptation of the best-selling book, Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan and went with an all-Asian star cast. For the uninitiated, Crazy Rich Asians is a 2013 bestseller dealing with the lives of rich Asians. The book delves into the lives of three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and all the gossip, backbiting and scheming that goes around. The principle characters in this funny yet satirical tale include Rachel Chu, Nick Young and Astrid Leong. In an Asia Abridged podcast, Kevin Kwan and films director Jon Chu discussed the process of casting for the film. Talking of experience, they said, There was a lot of concern that we would change all these crazy rich Asians to crazy rich Texans and Reese Witherspoon would be somehow cast as lead character and I wanted this film to be done in a way that it represented the best of Asia and Asians in America. In the podcast, the duo said the film would show Asians and Asian Americans in all their glory. The author said, When we were doing auditions, we met hundreds of amazingly talented actors from all around the world and saw their resumes. It is sad to see all the cliches, which started right on their IMDB page and it is not their fault. These people are real human beings and not some token heroes. The story begins when Rachel, an NYU economics professor, and her boyfriend Nick head back to Singapore to attend his best friends wedding. Rachel agrees to go on a holiday as she sincerely believes Nick and she might marry one day and takes this as an opportunity to meet his family. What she expects is a humble family home, long drives exploring the island and spending some quality time with his family. Little does she know whats coming her way--she walks into home thats more like a palace, cars get replaced by private jets and most alarming is her discovery that she has been dating a guy who is one of Asias most eligible bachelors and now must contend with barbs and remarks, even fend off stiff competition. The film adaptation will be directed by Jon M Chu, known for his works like Now You See Me 2, Justin Biebers Believe, Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D, and is expected to be out in 2018. Warner Bros is distributing the film worldwide. As per IMDB, the film will star Constance Wu (Rachel), Gemma Chan (Astrid), Henry Golding (Nick) and popular actor Michelle Yeoh. The movie is set to release in 2018. Follow @htshowbiz for more Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir on Tuesday said that 149 of the total 1,401 jails in the country had an overcrowding rate of more than 200% as on December 2015 as per the data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau. In the Model Prison Manual 2016, the minimum accommodation space per prisoner in Sleeping Barracks suggested is 3.71 sq mt and 8.92 sq mt of ground area in Cells. No Central statistics are available on the actual space available to a prison inmate in different jails, Ahir said in a statement in response to a question raised by Sushil Kumar Singh, who represents Aurangabad (Bihar) in the Lok Sabha. Prisons is a state subject. However, a central scheme for modernisation of prisons, with a financial outlay of Rs 1,800 crores, was launched in 2002. Under this scheme, 125 new jails were constructed and 1,579 barracks were added to existing prisons. Ahir said the government had introduced the concept of plea bargaining to address the problem of overcrowding in prisons. A total of 310 army personnel have committed suicide since 2014 while 11 cases of fratricide were reported during the period, the government told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Nine officers and 19 junior commissioned officers were among those who committed suicide between 2014 and July 31, this year, minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre stated this while replying to a query on incidents of suicide and fratricide in the Army. Replying to another question on the issue, the minister listed implementation of the Sahayak system along with other steps to address the problem of stress among the army personnel. A senior army officer had said in June that the Army was actively considering recruiting civilian staff in peace stations to reform the colonial-era Sahayak system, in the wake of rising cases of jawans coming out openly against it. Under the system, a solider is attached to an officer for various work including protecting the officer, maintaining his weapons and helping him carrying out his responsibilities. In the course of his written reply, Bhamre also listed ensuring superior quality of clothing, food, travel facilities, recreation and establishment of grievance redressal mechanism as some other steps for management of stress among soldiers. Bhamre said 84 army personnel committed suicide in 2014 while in 2015 and 2016, the number was 78 and 104 respectively. Till July 31, the number of army men committing suicide was 44. The minister said 11 cases of fratricide were reported in the army since 2014. He said the defence institute of psychological research had conducted various studies on suicides and fratricides and their findings highlighted the need for steps to address the problem of stress. He said stress management sessions are organised at all major army stations by commanders and psychiatrists at various levels. To a separate question, Bhamre said India and Vietnam have agreed to take forward a proposal for training of Vietnam Air Force personnel on Su-30 aircraft. As many as 84 people lost their lives in the recent floods in Assam, where 29 of 33 districts were hit by the deluge, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. As per information received from the Assam government, 29 out of 33 districts have been affected due to heavy rains, flood and erosion this monsoon, minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply. He said that as on August 6, a total of 84 people have lost their lives and 25.42 lakh people affected by the floods in the north eastern state. Less than a week after the Supreme Court ordered that the entire price of illegally mined ore from the mineral-rich districts of Odisha be recovered from the leaseholders, the state government on Tuesday decided to issue notices in 10 days to them to collect penalty of Rs 17,567 crore. Calling the Odisha mining scam as rapacious and one involving megabucks while disposing a writ petition filed by NGO Common Cause, the Supreme Court said last Wednesday, ... If there has been illegal mining, the defaulting lessee must bear the consequences and not be benefited by pocketing 70% of the illegally mined ore. It simply does not stand to reason why the State should be compelled to forego what is its due from the exploitation of a natural resource and on the contrary be a party in filling the coffers of defaulting lessees in an ill gotten manner. The apex court directed that the errant leaseholders pay up by December 31, 2017. Odisha chief secretary Aditya Padhi said the centrally empowered committee of the Supreme Court that looked into illegal mining had assessed the total notional value of minerals produced without an environmental clearance or in excess of the environmental clearance at Rs 17,576.16 crore. The SC had made it very clear that they agreed with the CEC stand. So there was no confusion on the penalty amount, Padhi added. Incidentally, the Odisha government sent demand note to more than 100 mining companies in November 2012 asking them to pay up over Rs 68,000 crore for excess mining between 2000 and 2010. So far only two of those companies have paid Rs 69 lakh, while the rest have gone on appeal before the mining tribunal. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will travel to Nepal to attend a multilateral event on Thursday, days before the Himalayan country will host Chinese vice premier Wang Yang at a time when Beijing is locked in a border standoff with New Delhi at Doklam in Sikkim and has been seeking greater ties with Kathmandu. Swaraj, who will take up a foreign travel after many months, will be attending the 15th meeting of foreign ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and also interact with the Nepalese leadership. India and Nepal enjoy a very close relationship. When an Indian leader visits Nepal, they discuss all key bilateral and regional issues, said an Indian official. Both the Asian neighbours would also like to get the support of Nepal at this juncture as the border standoff enters the second month. And Swarajs visit comes days ahead of Nepal playing the host to Wang, one of the four vice premiers of China, on August 14. Wang is a high-ranking Chinese politician and also a member of the politburo the Chinese Communist Party. He has been tasked with improving ties with Nepal in all the spheres. Beijing has been reaching out to many political parties in Nepal in recent times in an apparent bid to make ties with China a matter of political consensus. China could also be sensing an opportunity in the anti-India sentiments at play not so long ago in Nepal. China has been using its economic clout for a greater influence on Nepal, especially on issues of connectivity and energy cooperation. Nepal has been an active participant of Chinese president Xi Jinpings one road, one belt initiative which India boycotted over sovereignty concerns. An important project of this initiative, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through the Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Soon after Swarajs trip, Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will begin a five-day state visit to India on August 23, his first foreign trip after being elected to the post two months ago. Nepal foreign minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara is also likely to visit India at the invitation of Swaraj at an early date. But, by and large, Nepal has been mindful of Indian concerns. Prime Minister Deuba is another opportunity for India to stress on his close ties with Nepal, at a time when Beijings money does do some talking in its ties with Nepal. On Monday, Mahara said Nepal wants a peaceful resolution of the military standoff between India and China and does not support any of our neighbours in this case. Nepal does not want to be dragged into the boundary dispute between India and China ... Both of our big neighbours should maintain cordial relations through peaceful diplomacy and dialogue, Mahara said. We do not support any outcome that comes out of war, he also said, adding that there was no pressure on Nepal from India or China. Indian and Chinese diplomats are regularly meeting Nepali officials and diplomats in Kathmandu, New Delhi and Beijing to get their support, but Nepal has been maintaining an equidistance on the issue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Central Bureau of Investigation has sent judicial requests to four countries in connection with its probe into alleged corruption in the Antrix-Devas deal. The CBI wanted details of Devas Multimedia and its parent company, financial facts and alleged investment routed through Singapore and Mauritius, among other information, CBI sources said. Letters Rogatory, which are judicial requests, were sent to France, the United States, Mauritius and Singapore, they said. An investment in Devas Multimedia Pvt Limited from four companies one based in Singapore and three based in Mauritius amounting to $130 million is under the scanner of the CBI, the sources said. The case relates to the leasing of the S-Band, restricted wavelength of INSAT satellites for delivering videos, multimedia and information services to mobile receivers to a private company, Devas Multimedia, by Antrix, the commercial arm of the governments space body, ISRO. It was alleged in an FIR that the lease was given in violation of rules, causing an undue gain of Rs 578 crore to Devas Multimedia and a corresponding loss to the exchequer. The CBI filed its charge sheet in the case last year. Letters Rogatory are issued by courts on the request of an investigation agency when it wants information from another country. Once a court issues such a request, it is delivered to the competent court through diplomatic channels in the country from where the agency needs information. The court in that country may direct its investigation agency to gather and furnish the information sought. Despite being a partner of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the BJP on Tuesday said it was firmly of the opinion that opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir were misleading citizens on Article 35(A) and their flimsy claims of how its abrogation could hamper the states growth. On July 28, PDP president and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, at a function in New Delhi, had said, If special rights and privileges to the people of Jammu and Kashmir are tinkered with, then there would be no one in the state to hold the Tricolour. National Conference president and former CM Farooq Abdullah also said abrogation of article 35(A) is akin to playing with fire and can trigger a bigger revolt across the state than the 2008 Amarnath land row. However, without naming PDP, the BJP targeted Abdullah and said it believed that time has come to expose the doublespeak of these parties. Arun Kumar Gupta, state BJP spokesperson, said Article 35(A) is an unconstitutional provision of law, finds no place in the Constitution, and is supposed to be in operation without being passed in the Parliament of India. It is a great paradox that some article is being discussed in public domain without understanding its legal position. Misleading public on various issues, including the one under discussion, has become routine for NC, Congress and others, but public today is not ready to go by versions which suit their individual constituency, he said. Gupta said this provision has done great harm to all three regions of the state by not allowing anybody from other parts of the country to settle here, which results in total isolation and no growth of institutions required to generate employment, revenues, resources and the overall economy of the state. A mosque can be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Ram in Ayodhya, the Shia wakf board told the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The affidavit submitted by the Uttar Pradesh Shia board takes a position opposite to that of the Sunni board that claims ownership of the disputed site and rejects Hindu groups claims to the spot, highlighting differences within the Muslim community over the contentious issue. To bring a quietus to the issue, masjid (mosque) can be located in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Ram, said the 30-page affidavit. Proximity of place of worships should be avoided in as much as both denominations using loudspeakers tend to disturb religious performance of each other often leading to conflicts and acrimony, it said. The board also told the court the mosque site was its property and only it was entitled to hold negotiations for an amicable settlement of the dispute. The document comes three days before the Supreme Court begins hearing challenges to an Allahabad high court verdict on the land dispute in the case. The Sunni board has no stake in the case since the mosque was a Shia property, it said of the Mughal-era mosque that was demolished by a Hindu mob in 1992. Many Hindus believe that god Ram was born where Babur, the first Mughal emperor, built the mosque. The disputed 2.7-acre piece of land remains Indias most potent religious flashpoint. More than 3,000 people were killed in the communal violence that followed mosques demolition. A propertys status is known by its creator whether Shai/ Sunni and Babri masjid was built by one Mir Baqi, a Shia, the affidavit said. An inscription in the mosque said it was built by Baburs commander Mir Baqi in 1528-29 on the orders of the Mughal emperor but some dismiss it as a piece of fiction. The Allahabad high court said not less than 1/3rd of the property should go to Muslims. Muslims meant Shia waqf since the court rejected the claim of Sunni waqf on the Babri masjid, said the affidavit, which came after the board late July decided to stake claim to the disputed site. The board also requested the court to appoint a committee to resolve the decades-long dispute. The court recently constituted a three-judge bench to hear petitions against the Allahabad high court verdict that divided the land between Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhada and the Sunni wakf board. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chandigarh police banned media personnel on Tuesday from entering the Sector 26 police station which is in focus over the investigation into the alleged stalking of a DJ by two suspects, including the son of Haryanas BJP president. Vikas Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar, were accused of stalking and driving drunk after they allegedly followed the woman for kilometres and tried to stop her. The woman was eventually rescued by a police team. On Tuesday, police posted an armed constable at the gate of the Sector 26 station to stop mediapersons with cameras. Some cops reportedly misbehaved with journalists. The restrictions come shortly after increased criticism of the police over the case. They had announced on Monday that none of the surveillance cameras on the stretch where the woman was allegedly harassed were working, but later said they had recovered some footage. Opposition parties have accused the police of going soft on Barala, the son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala. Top police officials were seen on Monday keeping away from members of the media, who have been seeking a response to allegations that the case was being watered down. The polices decision to not invoke charges of attempted kidnapping a more serious allegation that would have kept the suspects behind bars till a court gave bail is under particular scrutiny. The police in Chandigarh, a Union Territory, reports to the Union home ministry which is under the control of the BJP. The victims father has said that he and his daughter will move court if the charges are diluted. Even after four days of registering a case of stalking against Vikas Barala, son of Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Subhash Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar, the city police are not sure whether to invoke the charge of attempt to kidnap against the duo. Facing flak for diluting the charges against Vikas, 23, and Ashish, 27, the police late on Monday evening claimed to have retrieved closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from five spots along the route on which Varnika Kundu, 29, alleged the two stalked her on Friday night. However, sources said the footage is of poor quality and is not of much help to corroborate the charge of kidnap bid, as alleged by Varnika, and the police will have to rely heavily on her statement for taking the case to its logical end. Another glaring lapse by the city police was that when it got done medical examination of the accused two hours prior to FIR was registered, the duo refused to give blood and urine samples. No medical examination was conducted after registration of the case. Their breath smelled of alcohol and their eyes were red (congestion of the conjunctiva) and both denied to give blood and urine samples to testify the blood alcohol content, reads the medical examination report of Vikas and Ashish. Punjab and Haryana high court senior advocate Atul Lakhan Pal said the police could have compelled the accused for medical examination. It would have helped the police in quantifying the degree of offence, he said. Vikas and Ashish were arrested from the Housing Board light point late on Friday night. Varnika, a disc jockey, who was driving from Sector 7, Chandigarh, towards Panchkula at 12.35am, alleged the two men followed her in their SUV. As the case was registered for stalking under Section 354-D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code, which is a bailable offence when a person is booked the first time, the two walked free for the time being. Even as Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (drink driving) was added after the medical examination of the accused stated their breath smelled of alcohol and Section 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC was added on the basis of Varnikas statement before the magistrate on Saturday, Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) read with Section 511 (attempting to commit offences) of the IPC was not added in the FIR. Varnika had mentioned kidnap bid in her Facebook post and the police complaint, though not before the magistrate. Although sources in the police department claimed they have enough evidence to prove stalking and drink driving on the basis of Varnikas statement and doctors report, other allegations cannot be proved yet. After all five CCTV cameras of the UT administration on the stretch were found non-operational as the annual maintenance contract signed with a firm got over on July 24, police procured footage from five cameras installed at private establishments. But the footage is grainy, and not reliable, said sources. The footage from a Sector 9 wine shop from where the accused bought beer shows the two consumed alcohol in the SUV in which they stalked Varnika, said police. Footage that the police claim to have retrieved from Sector 8, a private school in Sector 26, and near the Housing Board light point reportedly show the accuseds vehicle chasing Varnikas car. But the police are now trying to procure footage from the points where her vehicle was allegedly intercepted by accused. Apart from this, they would be using the details of the call made by Varnika to the police control room (PCR) complaining about a vehicle following her and the mobile phone location of both the accused and Varnika to make a case against the accused. Indias diplomatic efforts to end a seven-week military standoff with China have hit a roadblock, people briefed on the talks said, prompting Chinese state-run media to trumpet rhetoric of unavoidable countermeasures on the unmarked border. China has insisted that India unilaterally withdraw its troops from the remote Doklam plateau claimed by both Beijing and Indian ally Bhutan. But China did not respond to Indias suggestion that it move its troops back 250 metres (820 ft) in return, said one source with close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modis government. In the low-key diplomatic manoeuvres that took place outside the public eye, the Chinese countered with an offer to move back 100 metres (328 ft), so long as they received clearance from top government officials. But there has been no comeback since, except for Chinas mounting warnings of an escalation in the region, which it calls Donglang (Doklam). It is a logjam, there is no movement at all now, said a second source with knowledge of the talks. In Beijing, Chinas foreign ministry, which has repeatedly urged India to withdraw, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the state of talks. Indian troops in Doklam tried to stop a Chinese construction crew from extending a road Indias military says will bring Chinas army too close for comfort in the northeast. Their faceoff , military experts say, is the most serious since going toe-to-toe in the 1980s, with thousands of soldiers each elsewhere along the 3,500-km border. China has held off going to war in the hope New Delhi would see reason, the state-run Global Times, which has kept up a barrage of hostile commentary, said on Tuesday. If the Narendra Modi government continues ignoring the warning coming from a situation spiralling out of control, countermeasures from China will be unavoidable, it said. The border crisis caps a year of souring diplomatic ties between the Asian giants, even though trade between the fast growing economies is rising rapidly. India has grown concerned at Chinas ties to its archrival Pakistan, viewing their trade corridor, which will also run through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, as an infringement of its claim to the region. Modi refused to join President Xi Jinpings signature Belt and Road initiative to knit together Asia and beyond, making India the lone country to boycott a summit in May. China has warned New Delhi not to be drawn into a Western military alliance led by the United States and including Japan. Modi has sought closer ties with both. There will be no happy ending for this confrontation, Indian foreign policy expert C Raja Mohan wrote in the Indian Express newspaper, adding that India was unlikely to give in. The second source said the worry was the standoff could drag on into a summit of BRICs nations China is hosting next month. Live manoeuvres Indian military officials say there is no troop buildup on either side, nearly two months into a standoff that involved about 300 soldiers just 100 metres apart on a plateau 3,000m (10,000 ft) above sea level. China has accused India of massing troops, however, and state media have warned against a fate worse than its defeat in a brief border war in 1962. We will keep engaging with China to resolve the dispute. War cannot solve problems, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament, sticking to a conciliatory stance. Still, both have flexed their muscles. Last month, China held live-fire drills on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau near the site of the standoff, state media said. Indias army ran low-key exercises in the Ladakh sector of the western Himalayas, where previous disputes have flared, though it is thousands of miles from Doklam. The chance of a conflict is low, nobody is expecting Xi Jinping to go to war before the Communist Partys congress, said Srikanth Kondapalli, a China specialist at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, referring to an Oct-Nov meeting expected to confirm a second five-year term as party general secretary for the Chinese leader. Millions of chickens could be culled in the Netherlands over fears of insecticide-tainted eggs, an industry body said as Belgium vowed full transparency Monday about why it kept the scandal secret. Supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland have pulled millions of eggs from the shelves after fipronil, a substance potentially dangerous to humans, was found in them. Dutch farming organisation LTO said that several million hens may need to be culled at 150 companies in the country, with 300,000 having already been killed. An LTO spokesman said late Sunday that they had to be eliminated because of contamination. Belgiums agriculture minister meanwhile said he had ordered the countrys food safety agency to report by Tuesday on why it failed to notify neighbouring countries until July 20 despite knowing about fipronil contamination since June. Denis Ducarme said in a statement he had told the food safety agency (AFSCA) to produce a report on the circumstances of the agencys actions since the first information it received about the fipronil problem Facing pressure from Germany and the Netherlands, Ducarme promised complete transparency. He said he would speak by telephone with his counterparts in the coming days. Ducarme added that products from 57 Belgian egg producers -- around a quarter of the countrys -- had been blocked as a preventative measure. Belgian officials admitted on Saturday they had kept the problem under wraps and failed to trigger the EUs international food safety alert system but said it was because of a fraud probe. European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said she could not comment on the Belgian delay because its an ongoing criminal investigation. Germany has demanded an explanation from Belgium about why the issue was kept covered up. Fipronil is commonly used in veterinary products to get rid of fleas, lice and ticks. But it is banned from being used to treat animals destined for human consumption, such as chickens. In large quantities, the insecticide is considered to be moderately hazardous according to the World Health Organization, and can have dangerous effects on peoples kidneys, liver and thyroid glands. It is believed the toxic substance was introduced to poultry farms by a Dutch business named Chickfriend brought in to treat red lice, a nasty parasite in chickens. Dutch and Belgian media reports that the substance containing the insecticide was supplied to Chickfriend by a Belgian firm have not been confirmed. Every time the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is in power in Kerala, there is an increase in violence, union minister for finance, defence and corporate affairs, Arun Jaitley, said on August 7, 2017, during a press conference. Its a fact that the everytime LDF is in power, the incident of violence increase in Kerala : Shri @arunjaitley BJP (@BJP4India) August 6, 2017 We fact-checked his claim and found it incorrect. Source: National Crime Records Bureau NOTE: Cognisable crimes can be investigated by a police officer without a magistrates permission Between 2006 and 2011, when Kerala was ruled by the LDF, crimes registered increased 30%, from 105,255 in 2006 to 148,313 in 2010, according to 2015 data, the latest available, from the National Crime Records Bureau (NRCB). Over the same period, the crime ratecrimes per 100,000 population increased 35%, from 312.5 in 2006 to 424.5 in 2010. Since Jaitleys visit was connected with the murder of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker on July 29, 2017, we also looked at murder cases registered during this period. Between 2006 and 2011, an average of 365 murder cases were registered each year. Between 2011 and 2016, when Kerala was ruled by UDF, registered crimes increased from 172,137 to 257,704 in 2015, according to NCRB data. Over this period, the crime rate increased 40%, from 515.6 in 2010 to 723.2 in 2015. Between 2011 and 2016, an average of 363 murder cases were registered each year. Overall, registered crimes and the crime rate increased each year over a decade to 2016, but the number of murders registered every year remained largely the same, as the NCRB data show. Jaitleys claim is wrong and misleading. Kerala has the highest crime rate in the country, which can probably be attributed to higher reporting, but there is no substantial evidence for Jaitleys claim. Many states under-report crime, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, whose methods of holding down crimeby not reporting itwere revealed in an IndiaSpend analysis on May 24, 2016. Between 2000 and 2016, the number of party workers killed, from the RSS and the Left, in the northern Kerala district of Kannura hotbed of such violencehas been roughly equal: 31 from the RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 30 from the Left, according to police data obtained by 101 reporters.com through a right-to-information request, FactChecker reported on March 7, 2017. (Published in arrangement with IndiaSpend) Chief minister Mamata Banerjee told the assembly on Tuesday that the current flood situation in Gangetic West Bengal had been primarily caused by excess release of water by DVC and was becoming increasingly a man-made phenomenon. Making a statement in the House, Banerjee said although there had been rain, the situation had been aggravated by disproportionate release of water by DVC which had inundated 4.22 lakh hectares. The flood woes in Gangetic Bengal is increasingly becoming a man-made phenomenon. The flood this year has affected more than 1.67 lakh, who are now taking shelter in relief camps and the government is providing adequate relief materials to the affected, she said. She said water discharge from DVC dams was in excess of that in 1978 which saw an unprecedented flood in the state. So far 2.78 lakh cusecs of water had been discharged by DVC. Now 48 people have died and this is really serious, the chief minister said adding she had met union power minister Piyush Goyal under whose administrative control DVC is, the prime minister and union home minister and apprised them of the problems of water discharge by the DVC dams. As Jharkhand was at a higher altitude, water release from that state was causing sufferings in Bengal, she said and urged all political parties to unitedly protest against the water discharge by DVC . West Bengal government was dredging the canals and had spent Rs 2,000 crore in constructing irrigation embankments but there was also a need to dredge the DVC barrages and dams to raise water holding capacity, Banerjee said. There will be more rain in August and September and there was still scope for more water-logging, she added. Retired Calcutta high court judge CS Karnan, lodged in Presidency jail since June 21, has begun writing a memoir. The 62-year-old, who is Indias first serving judge to be sentenced to prison, has also planned to work as an advocate upon his release to take up a bigger fight for judicial reforms, Karnans legal counsel told HT. Justice Karnan remains highly spirited. He is spending time writing his memoir and reading books. He has a lot of things to tell people, said Bijoy Adhikari, a Kolkata-based advocate who has visited Karnan several times inside the prison. Adhikari is presently preparing a writ petition to be filed before a Calcutta high court bench, seeking its direction to the Bengals home department for the suspension of Karnans sentence of release on parole. Karnans advocate Mathew J Neduparas appeal to Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi in this regard has been forwarded to the state home department. A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court sentenced Karnan to six months in prison on charges of contempt. On May 9, the bench ordered the police to arrest Karnan, who was due to retire in about a months time. He was arrested from Coimbatore on June 20. Justice Karnan does not want to let his days in prison go in vain. Hell continue his fight for reforms and transparency in the system. He is also planning to start work as an advocate, not for money, but out of his social responsibilities, Adhikari said. Karnan had started his legal career as an advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu in 1983 and continued as a lawyer till 2009, when he was appointed a judge in the Madras high court. He was transferred to Calcutta high court in 2016. It is unusual for retired judges to launch a new innings as an advocate, and Karnans foray, if he indeed takes it up, will be one of its kind. In India, retired Supreme Court judges cannot practice law in any court of country but retired high court judges can practice in the apex court or in high courts in states where they have not served as a judge. Karnan, therefore, cannot practice law in Madras high court and Calcutta high court. Sources in Presidency said justice Karnan was offered to utilise the collection of books kept in the jail library. But he preferred to seek help from his friends, who send him the materials after following due procedure. Sometimes he reads till late in the night, a source said. Jail authorities have taken steps to ensure other inmates keep a distance from the former judge, although jail officials interact with him regularly. Adhikari and Mumbai-based lawyer Mathew J Nedumpara regularly keep in touch with Karnan. The judges wife and son have visited him twice. Nedumpara, who leads National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms a group of legal activists expects Karnan to join their crusade. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The government is planning to install a 24X7 seamless virtual fence with sensors along the India-Pakistan border to curb infiltration bid by the neighbouring nation, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. A pilot project for deployment of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management Solution (CIBMS), which includes different types of sensors, radars, day and night vision cameras etc, has been taken up, minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said. The minister said the pilot project has been undertaken in two stretches of five to six kms each in Jammu sector, adding that if found successful, similar projects will be taken up in other states along the Indo-Pakistan border. Gujarat police arrested a former central committee member of the banned CPI(Maoist) group near Nagpur on Tuesday morning. Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya who was also in charge of the rebel outfits Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and North Bihar divisions for several years was returning from West Bengal on the Geetanjali Express when he was taken into custody. His wife, Nagpur University lecturer Soma Sen, said Bhattacharya had gone to visit his sister in Kolkata. Prakash Meghe, a senior lawyer and the accuseds brother-in-law, said the police team accosted him while the train was plying between Gondia and Nagpur. They allegedly forced the 62-year-old former Maoist chieftan to turn off his mobile phone, and after showing him a warrant issued by a Surat court in connection with a 2010 case, whisked him away to Gujarat via Mumbai. Meghe said Bhattacharya was allowed to call him from Nagpur airport. He said the Gujarat police are taking him to Surat, and he would be produced before the court tomorrow, he added. Bhattacharya was earlier arrested by the Bihar police in September 2007 in connection with a four-decade-old Maoist raid on landlords at the historic Tappalapur village, now located in Telangana. He was lodged at the Cherlapally central prison in Hyderabad. After obtaining bail a couple of years ago, he moved into his wifes house at Nagpur. A Bengali settled in Telanganas Adilabad district, Bhattacharya had entered the Maoist movement during the reign of radical leader Kondapalli Seetharamaiah. His youngest brother is a senior BJP leader in the area. Bhattacharya was wanted by Gujarat police for his alleged extremist activities in the tribal areas of Surat, Navsari and Dangs. They had held 10 people including retired customs officer Vishwanath Iyer in this connection seven years ago. Among the other accused were a couple of Maoist leaders who allegedly imparted guerrilla warfare training to a number of Gujarati rebels in the forests of Kerala in 2000. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday after an action-packed vote in Gujarat that dealt a blow to the ruling BJP. BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani won the two other seats vacant in the state. The outcome ended a fortnight of political drama that turned the usually staid polls for Parliaments Upper House into an acrimonious prestige battle between the Congress and BJP. The election was projected as a battle of grit, wit and nerve between the chief strategists of the two principal national parties Congress president Sonia Gandhis political secretary Patel and BJP chief Shah. This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery, Patel tweeted at 1.53am on Wednesday. This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) August 8, 2017 Prior to his win for a fifth term in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress scored a moral victory after the Election Commission disqualified the ballots of two of its rebel lawmakers. The decision boosted Patels prospects as it brought down the number of votes required for his win to 44. He needed 45 votes at the time of polling. But it went down after the poll panel declared the votes of the two rebels invalid for allegedly showing their ballot papers to BJP president Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani both candidates in the biennial election. Besides, a legislator each of the NCP and JD(U) are said to have voted for Patel. The whip is clear. We are the partner of the UPA, said Jayant Patel, the NCP MLA and party state president. Later at night, BJP rebel Nalin Kotadiya also said he voted for the Congress candidate. JD(U) lawmaker Chhotu Vasava kept his cards close to his chest. I have voted for the country and as per the partys ideology, he said. But the partys national spokesperson, KC Tyagi, said its lone legislator in Gujarat voted for the partys latest ally, the BJP. Speculation swirled that JD(U) lawmaker switched sides as Patel visited Vasavas home in Gandhinagar after the vote. For more than six hours counting was put on hold after the Congress moved the election panel. This was the last twist in a fortnight-long drama before the election as the Congress, besieged by back-to-back resignations from six of its lawmakers, herded its flock to a resort near Bengaluru and accused the ruling BJP of bribing the MLAs to defect. Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and RPN Singh dashed to the poll panel and gave a video to buttress the partys allegation that lawmakers Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavjibhai Patel displayed their ballots and, hence, the two votes should be cancelled. Surjewala, the partys chief spokesperson, said the two MLAs showed their ballots to BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani. The BJP fielded Shah, Irani and Congress turncoat Balwantsinh Rajput, considered a pitch-queering contestant against Patel. Shah and Irani won comfortably as the party has 122 lawmakers in the assembly. The battle was for the third seat in which Patel was contesting. The Congress has effectively 51 lawmakers after the resignations, but only 44 are said to be loyal. The rest owe their allegiance to Shankersinh Vaghela, who quit the party on July 21. Vaghela declared he didnt vote for Patel. I did not want to waste my vote when Congress is not winning, he said. Also, he claimed that eight Congress MLAs cross-voted, including Karmshi Patel, the MLA for Sanand, who was part of the 44 legislators taken to Bengaluru. All 44 of them, who were shifted a day before the vote to a resort in Anand, over 100km from Gandhinagar, were brought in a bus to the polling station. Responding to the Congress move to the poll panel, the BJP deployed finance minister Arun Jaitley, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter the charges and demand immediate counting of votes. Jaitley, an acclaimed lawyer, argued that the validity of votes cant be questioned after they went into the ballot boxes. Prasad said: If no party or election observer objected to it when the votes were cast, their validity cant be questioned later. The Congress then sent a second team to counter the BJPs argument. Former finance minister P Chidambaram, one of the partys top legal brains, and Ghulam Nabi Azad cited the instance when Surjewalas vote was scrapped on similar objections during the Rajya Sabha poll in Haryana last year. His vote was declared invalid as he showed it to Congress legislature party leader Kiran Choudhary before putting the paper in the ballot box. Chidambaram said: The law is very clear. If the ballot is seen by a person other than the authorised person then it is liable to be rejected. BJP was beneficiary of this law on June 11, 2016. How has the law changed in one year? (With inputs from New Delhi bureau) The Election Commission will take a call on the Congresss demand for invalidating votes of two of its MLAs who claimed to have voted for BJP nominees in the Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat on Tuesday. (LIVE UPDATES) The outcome will not only decide which three of the four candidates in the fray go to the Upper House of Parliament but also have a bearing on the two powerful leaders of Indias major parties - Amit Shah of the BJP and Ahmed Patel of the Congress. The election means a lot for Patel, one of the most powerful politicians of the main opposition party. He is seeking re-election for the fifth term in the Rajya Sabha. Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, who himself is a candidate, has fielded a nominee against Patel, laying the ground for a battle royale between the two master strategists of the Congress and the BJP. What if the BJP candidate wins against Patel? 1) It will be a big boost for the saffron party ahead of this years assembly election in the western state. The party has set a target of winning 150 seats in the 182-member assembly. 2) It will reaffirm Shahs reputation as a master strategist. The party has 31 extra votes after securing two Rajya Sabha seats and is short of 14 votes to win the third seat. Shah has tried to muddy the waters by fielding a third candidate, a relative of rebel Congress leader Shankar Singh Vaghela, to take on Patel. 3) Shah makes his debut in Parliament as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Patels defeat will make it a grand entry for him in the Upper House. 4) It could be the end of the road for Patel as the Congress chief strategist. The veteran has been a close confidant of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for years but lying low for a while. If Shah manages to defeat him, his authority within the Congress will come under the scanner. What if Patel wins? 1) It will be a big setback for Shah, who has put in his might against Patel. The Opposition party has accused the BJP government at the Centre of misusing central agencies to hound Congress MLAs from Gujarat and Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar, who hosted them at a resort near Bengaluru. Congresss victory will give the party a new voice to challenge the BJP. 2) It will help Patel re-establish his credentials as a master strategist. It will also silence party snipers. 3) The Congress will get a new lease of life in Gujarat, where it wants to capitalise on the absence of Narendra Modi to make a comeback. Gujarat is scheduled to go to polls in November and Patels victory in such a high profile contest will boost the morale of the party cadres. 4) Anti-BJP forces such as Hardik Patel will be emboldened in Gujarat and could trigger a fresh round of political slugfest in the western state before the assembly polls. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It was a day of twists and turns in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, where Congress leader Ahmed Patel won the third seat. Ahmed Patel was pitted against Balvantsinh Rajput, the Congress rebel who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP national president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani won the other two seats. What added further suspense to the day of claims and counter claims was the suspension of the counting after the Congress complained to the Election Commission seeking to declare two votes of its rebel lawmakers invalid. The Congress said its two rebel legislators had showed ballot paper to the BJP polling agent. We had demanded that video tape should be run, our claim be checked and two votes should be cancelled, said Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil, adding, If required, we are ready to take this fight to the Supreme Court. Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel alleged, The Congress delayed the counting because they have seen the defeat coming, and said after the state election office had rejected the Congress plea for cancellation of two votes. As the returning officer overruled the Congress objection, the drama reached to the Election Commission but not before many lawmakers coming out and declaring their vote. In the morning, former Congress legislature party leader Shankersinh Vaghela attracted the spotlight as he claimed that he had not voted for Patel. I did not vote for the Congress. I did not want to waste my vote when Congress is not winning, he said. He also claimed that as eight Congress MLAs cross-voted and partys official candidate will lose. Ahmed Patel was quick to retort saying he was confident of the victory. Those who cross-voted also include Karmshi Patel, Sanand Congress MLA, who was part of the 44 MLAs taken by the Congress to Bengaluru levelling charges of horse-trading against the BJP. All 44 of them, who were on Monday shifted from Bengaluru to a resort in Ananad, over 100 km from Gandhinagar, were Tuesday brought together in a bus at polling station in secretariat. State senior leaders lined up to greet them as they got down from bus and left for polling. Request for proxy by Dhamsi Rajputana, one of the Congress MLAs who expressed inability to write, was rejected by EC as such request should be made at-least three days prior to the voting. He voted by himself. But it turned out to be cliffhanger till last minute as suspense prevailed over whom one of the two NCP MLA and lone JD(U) MLA voted for. While Kandhal Jadeja was seen taking blessings of BJP Chief Amit Shah after casting his vote, giving indication of voting for the BJP, NCPs second MLA and state president Jayant Patel said, Whip is clear. We are the partner of the UPA. JD(U) MLA Chhotu Vasava kept his cards close to his chest saying I have voted for the country and as per the partys ideology.. This came after JD (U) national spokesperson KC Tyagi said the lone legislator in Gujarat had voted for the partys latest ally BJP. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An engineering student died on Monday at a private hospital in Hyderabad after doctors attempted to abort her pregnancy that was more than 20 weeks old. Police filed a case against the doctors of Anusha Maternity Hospital and Nursing Home, since abortions cannot be carried out on foetuses older than 20 weeks unless allowed by a court. The woman, K Harika, was 21 years old. According to police, Harika and her partner S Madhu approached the hospital for an abortion on August 5. Hospital superintendent Dr Girija Rani agreed to perform the surgery and quoted a bill of Rs 20,000. The attempt failed and Harika suffered from excessive bleeding, prompting the staff to shift her to another maternity hospital at Dilsukhnagar, where she was declared brought dead. Harikas family members rushed to Anusha hospital and staged a dharna demanding action against the doctors for the botched abortion. Irrespective of whether the affair between the girl and her boyfriend was legal or illegal, conducting abortion is a crime. We have booked a case under Section 312 (causing miscarriage) and 314 (death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage) of the IPC, Vanasthalipuram police inspector S Murali Krishna told HT. Police have shifted the body to the government-run Osmania Hospital for an autopsy, while Girija Rani and Madhu were taken into custody for questioning. We are also verifying whether the hospital has violated the guidelines of Indian Medical Council and District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) for conducting the abortions, the police said. People want a better screening of a number of Chinese products that enter Indian markets and said they must pass the Indian quality standards before they are available at their local shops amid an ongoing standoff between India and China at Doklam in Sikkim, says an online survey. Indian and Chinese soldiers are locked in a standoff since June 16, with Beijing accusing New Delhi of trespassing and preventing its soldiers from building a road in disputed region of Doklam, or Donglang as the Chinese call it. The Chinese have taken an aggressive stand on the border impasse and has even warned of a war. From needles to toys, electronic gadgets to idols and crackers, a Chinese version of everything is available in the Indian markets at a cheaper price. Most products are cheap and their quality is not up to the mark. But Indian consumers buy them anyway. A recent series of detailed surveys conducted by citizens engagement portal LocalCircles point out at the various aspects of import of Chinese goods into India, their categories, and peoples perception about Chinese imports in India. In the first survey, out of the 8,689 respondents, 38% said they mostly buy Chinese consumer durables such as mobile phones and other electronic items and 15% said they buy home utility and decoration items while 10% gift items. And 37% said they buy Chinese goods across all these categories. In their next survey, LocalCircles found 83% of 8,973 people prefer a Chinese product over its Indian version as they believe they are cheaper and that Indian goods are quite expensive. Out of the 8,213 people who voted in the third survey, 52% said Indian products are of far more superior quality than the Chinese version, 21% said China made items were better in quality than the Indian made and 17% said both are more or less similar in quality. And, 10% were unsure about their choice. As Indians are becoming aware of their rights as consumers they have reported numerous quality concerns about Chinese products. Most of the participants in the fourth poll, which got 9,099 votes, said they wanted a better screening of goods before they land up in the Indian market. In response, 36% said import of only those Chinese products should be allowed to be sold that meet the standards of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and 33% said imports in hazardous and risk products category should not be allowed at all. And 29% said compliance and audit at import points in India should be increased and a small 2% were not sure about their preference. In the fifth poll, 96% people said every importer of Chinese products must be required by law to display Made in China prominently on their products for consumers to make an informed decision. Of the 8,928 people who responded to the poll, only 3% did not think it was necessary and 1% was not sure about it. The last poll asked people what should Indias strategy be going forward to reduce the huge trade deficit. Of the 9,217 people who voted, 56% of these said Chinese imports in some product categories should be banned and 21% wanted more product categories to be opened for exports. Another 21% wanted the government to work towards opening e-commerce supplies from India to Chinese consumers and 2% did not answer the question. An Indian Army soldier was killed on Tuesday in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district. Defence Ministry sources said in Jammu that the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire in Mankote area of the LoC in Poonch district. A soldier -- identified as Sepoy Pawan Kumar -- was killed in the firing by the Pakistan Army, the sources said. Indian positions have also retaliated to unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistan army in the area. A rattled Congress asked its senior leader Jairam Ramesh to take permission before speaking, after the Rajya Sabha member said the party was facing an existential crisis. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala rejected Rameshs view and said party leaders can discuss all matters within the party and take permission before speaking publicly. Whatever Jairam Ramesh has said, that can be his personal views. The Congress does not agree with this, he said. But Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said Rameshs remarks shouldnt be ignored as he is a true Congressman. Ramesh had said the sultanate has gone, but we behave as if we are sultans still, while pitching for a change in Congress style of functioning. Ranchi A framer in Jharkhands Dumka district has threatened to commit suicide along with his daughter after she was accused of stealing a mobile phone, stripped, thrashed and filmed by a group of students in a womens college. The incident took place in Santhal Pargana Womens College on August 4 and the video was shared on social media. Since the incident, the victim and her father, a poor farmer, went to local police, women police station, SC/ SC police station but claim that nobody came forward to assist them. Worried about his daughters future, the farmer says they are contemplating suicide. Whats the fate of my daughter now? How will she go to the college? How will she face the society? Who will marry her? Lumpen elements will now blackmail her, said the hapless and shocked father, accusing the administration of ignoring the sensitive issue. Dumka police superintendent Mayur Patel, however said, that police officials met the girl on Monday, recorded her statement and filed an FIR against the accused. We are proceeding with the inquiry. I assure the guilty students would not be spared, Patel said. He went on to add that the police is reaching out to the administrators of various WhatsApp groups to ensure that the video is deleted and is not circulated any further. A senior official of the college, who refused to be quoted, said since the incident occurred inside the hostel and both the accused as well the victim are tribals, there is pressure on the college authorities from the community leaders to settle the dispute on the campus through negotiation. According to victim, she recently purchased a second hand phone for Rs. 500. During that period, a girl had lost her cell phone. When she saw my phone, she charged me with stealing her phone. She said, soon other girls joined and accused her of being a thief. The students held a maha-panchayat (students council) inside the hostel. Few students from other colleges also joined the meeting where I was declared a culprit. Soon the crowd of students attacked me. They thrashed and stripped me calling me a thief. I saw a couple of girls filming the entire episode. The victim said the maha-panchayat later issued a diktat asking her to deposit a penalty of Rs. 18,600 failing which, they threatened they would make the video viral. The girl left the hostel and went to her village where she narrated her ordeals to her father. Her father went to the hostel two days later and pleaded with the student leaders to give him time till August 25 to pay the penalty and not to make the video viral. I will sell my oxen and submit the amount, he appealed before returning home. However, by then few girls had already circulated the video among their friends that went viral. Since then, the father-daughter duo has been running for help and justice. Hostel warden, Annu Murmu said she has submitted a detailed report to the principal, Dr Renuka Nath, who will decide the future course of action. The principal hasnt spoken to media yet. The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) on Tuesday staged a protest here demanding the immediate revocation of Article 35A, a day after the states opposition parties cautioned the Centre not to tinker with it. The party wants its revocation and complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India, JKNPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh told reporters during the protest at the Exhibition grounds here. Article 35A is unconstitutional and illegal. It has been extended to the state by the virtue of presidential order and has not been passed by the Parliament, which is a necessary formality, he said. Over a dozen activists of the party led by Singh staged a demonstration of the Article that accords special powers to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for framing laws. The protesters also set ablaze an effigy of the BJP, accusing it of surrendering its stand, ideology and election promises made to the people of the state and country. National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah had on Monday cautioned of an uprising far greater than the 2008 Amarnath land row if Article 35A was repealed. Separatists have called for a shutdown on August 12 on the issue. The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has asked all nationalised, scheduled and rural banks functioning in Karnataka to ensure that all its non-Kannada speaking staff learn the language in six months. The authority has also asked them to set up Kannada units at all their branches in the state, in line with Hindi units which exist for the implementation of the language. Pointing out that candidates are selected through examinations conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, KDA president SG Siddaramaiah in letters to banks said the IBPS in its application itself makes it clear that preference in selection should be given to candidates who know the local language. He said, Following this, official staff from other languages who are working in your banks should mandatorily learn Kannada within six months. If those who have been already appointed fail to learn Kannada in six months, they should be relieved of their services in accordance with the recruitment rules, he said. The move by the authority comes a few days after it intervened in the row over Hindi signages at Bengaluru Metro stations by issuing notices to the metro authorities. Stating that it was necessary for banks to transact in Kannada during their daily official functioning for the benefit of customers, especially for those from rural areas, Siddaramaiah said there are also the Reserve Bank of India guidelines in this regard. He also pointed out that the chief minister, during the state-level bankers meeting, had said that the government would not tolerate any dual standards in the implementation of Kannada language. Noting that there is lack of commitment in implementing local language on part of the banks, the letter said that with the three language policy not being followed, it is causing inconvenience to the public, especially the poor and those from rural areas. Despite rules that all bank facilities should be available to the public in Kannada, all kinds of forms, specimens should be in Kannada; official activities are not being transacted in Kannada, it said. Asking banks to give preference to local language candidates during recruitment in accordance with the Sarojini Mahishi report, Siddaramaiah said C and D group posts should completely be given to locals. Stating that he would visit banks in the days to come to examine the steps taken, he also asked banks to implement the steps suggested on priority basis and submit a report to the authority. Lalu Prasads ambition of cobbling together a fresh coalition of Opposition parties to take on the BJP appears to be faltering, with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati ambivalent on participating at the Rashtriya Janata Dals (RJD) rally in Patna on August 27. Struck by the blow of the collapse of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government in Bihar, Prasad had been looking ahead to Patna rally as an opportunity to stitch together an alternative alliance by bringing together Uttar Pradeshs arch political rivals Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati on the same platform. If Mayawati indeed skips the Patna rally, it will take the sting out of the Opposition moves to rustle up an effective political front against the BJP. At this juncture, when the 2019 general elections are far away, the BSP gains nothing by attending such rallies. However, it is up our party chief to decide whether or not to attend or whether to send an emissary, a senior BSP leader told HT. Some sections in the BSP feel that partys interests would be better served through a strategy aimed at consolidating the traditional vote banks in UP, while it is not time yet party to get into the election mode. The BSP chief who has done business with both the BJP and the SP in the past is known to keep her cards close to her chest. Also, a pending Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case against her being seen as a disincentive for her to take a clear-cut political position at this point in time. Read more: Bihar break-up to spice up UP bypolls amid fresh GA talks The speedy trials initiated against Prasad in the fodder scam cases have also given rise to speculations that the Patna rally could actually end up in according legitimacy to Prasads younger son and former deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav as a big leader While Prasad is himself on the wait and watch list of the Opposition camp on account of the uncertainties concerning his political future, regional party leaders the Mayawati camp in particular appear guarded about the outcome of the Patna conclave. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a surprise development, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday went to meet opposition National Conference president Farooq Abdullah amid a debate on an article in the Constitution which grants special privileges to the state. @MehboobaMufti called on @JKNC_ President this evening to discuss the prevailing political situation in the state. It was a cordial meeting, National Conference working president Omar Abdullah tweeted. Omar did not elaborate on the issues discussed by Mehbooba and Abdullah, who is a Lok Sabha member from Srinagar constituency. However, sources in the National Conference said the legal challenge mounted on the validity of Article 35A of the Indian Constitution was the main subject of discussion between the two leaders. The chief minister sought cooperation of all political parties including National Conference in safeguarding the special status of Jammu and Kashmir within the Constitution of India, the sources said. Article 35A, added to the Indian Constitution through a presidential order of 1954, empowers the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define the states permanent residents and their special rights and privileges. The Article has come under focus recently after two Kashmiri women approached the Supreme Court, challenging it as they contended that it had disenfranchised their children. At a recent event in Delhi, Mehbooba said if Article 35A was tinkered with, there will be no one in Kashmir to uphold the national flag. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to shed some light on the governments New India initiative during his first-ever interaction with district magistrates on August 9, the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. In the last two years, Modi has frequently used the term New India while referring to the governments policy of taking bold and innovative decisions. He is expected to further expound on the matter on Wednesday, ahead of his Independence Day speech next week. This would also be the first interaction between the Prime Minister and district magistrates across the country through video-conferencing in many years now. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh had called a meeting of collectors during the UPA-1 regime. This will be the first such meeting since then, said a PMO official. India has more than 680 district magistrates. The meeting also aims to deliver Modis message directly to the grass-root levels of bureaucracy at a time when the NDA government has entered its fourth year in power, and is in a hurry to enhance its performance quotient. The Prime Minister had earlier said that New India, for him, means strengthening women, providing opportunities to the poor and shaping the dreams of the youth. He had even attributed the governments move of prohibiting the use of red beacons by dignitaries including the Prime Minister and the President as a significant step towards fulfilling of the initiative. The government plans to celebrate the anniversary of the Quit India Movement, followed by the countrys 70th year of Independence, with much fanfare. While Parliament will hold a special session to commemorate the event, Modi will interact with freedom fighters on that day. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Medha Patkar has continued her indefinite hunger strike despite state government issuing an ultimatum in view of her deteriorating health. Speaking to HTs Neeraj Santoshi, Patkar said that she will not break her fast until officials assure that they will rehabilitate those displaced by Sardar Sarovar Dam. Excerpts : Q:Why did the mediators sent by the CM on Saturday fail to convince you? MP: They can never convince us because they had no information. They came as a delegation from the chief minister and not for a decisive dialogue. They had to go back and brief the CM. They went back accepting that rehabilitation was not complete. Q: Why are you not breaking the fast despite CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan making an appeal? MP: Along with the appeal, the CM is also saying on Twitter, that Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal Award (NWDTA) is fully and fairly implemented . The government is carrying on with the same asatya (untruth) and so our satyagraha must also go on. Q: What are your preconditions to break the fast? MP: We have already made it clear that there should be no displacement without proper rehabilitation, which has also been endorsed by Supreme Courts judgments since 2000. There are thousands of families who havent got their due. They cannot live without a source of livelihood on temporary rehabilitation. Q: What will you say to those who are worried about your health? MP: They should worry about the life and death of the people in Narmada valley. I am not the only one who is fasting, there are 12 of us. We are just the representatives of the people who are screaming and appealing to the conscience of the nation. Q: The damaffected families are not ready to move out despite the threat of submergence. Would you appeal to them to shift to safer places? MP: Which place is a safer than the community in which they are living? It is illegal to push them out into tin sheds or anywhere without a proper source of livelihood. How can they (the authorities) force the families to live the rest of their lives without ensuring quality of life? Q: The government has announced a new compensation package for projectaffected families. Is that not sufficient? MP: The new compensation package (has been) announced in one way and reflected in the government order in a different way. The packages do not ensure the legal entitlements of each family. Now, every benefit is offered only if people demolish their houses. Q: Why do you think the MP government is pushing the project despite it primarily benefitting Gujarat? MP: It is obvious that Gujarat is one state which wants to make this issue as political as possible before the upcoming elections even when they do not need water this year. Shivraj ji is supporting the project only because both the states have the same partys government and Modi jis rule is autocratic and undemocratic. Read more | Medha Patkar forcibly shifted after 12 days of hunger strike over Narmada dam SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nepals Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara has said his country will not take any sides in the ongoing Sikkim standoff between India and China. Nepal wants India and China to use peaceful diplomatic means to resolve the issue, said Mahara, who is also the Foreign Minister. Nepal will not get dragged into this or that side in the border dispute, he said. Some media reports are attempting to drag us in favour of one or the other side, but I want to make it clear that we have not taken any side in this matter, Mahara said. He said Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will pay an official visit to India from August 23 to 27 and necessary preparations are going on for the same. However, detailed itinerary of the visit is yet to be finalised, Mahara said. He also told media persons that Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will arrive in Nepal on August 14 on an official visit. The Chinese leaders visit will be centred on development, and it cannot be linked with the prime ministers visit to India in any way, he added. India and China have been locked in a standoff in Sikkim sections Doklam area since June 16 after Chinese troops began constructing a road near the Bhutan trijunction. Bhutan has protested to China, saying the area belonged to it and accused Beijing of violating agreements that aim to maintain the status quo until the boundary dispute is resolved. India says the Chinese action to lay the road was unilateral and changes the status quo. It fears the road would allow China to cut off Indias access to its northeastern states. Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. The senior most judge in the Supreme Court, Justice Dipak Misra, will be the 45th Chief Justice of India, succeeding incumbent JS Khehar. An official notification announcing Misras appointment was issued by the law ministry on Tuesday. One of the most eloquent judges in the apex court, Justice Misra, 63, has been part of several key verdicts, such as sending Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon and four men who raped and killed a physiotherapy intern in New Delhi on December 16, 2012 to the gallows. Justice Misra, who will have a tenure of over 13 months as the CJI after he takes over on August 28, has a sensitive assignment on hand the vexatious title dispute in the Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid case. His tenure will be a busy one, for as the CJI he will be part of benches deciding on crucial issues such as, apart from the Ayodhya title case, the Cauvery waters dispute, SEBI-Sahara payment issue, BCCI reforms, the Panama Paper leaks and on privacy policy. Justice Misra, who was elevated to the apex court bench on October 10, 2011, from the Delhi High Court, where he was the Chief Justice, has already presided over several key cases and verdicts. He headed the bench which, in an unprecedented pre-dawn hearing in 2015 when the doors of the apex court were opened at 1am, rejected last-ditch efforts by Memon to get his execution stayed. Justice Misra also headed a three-judge bench which upheld the Delhi High Courts verdict sentencing to death the four convicts of the sensational December 16, 2012, gang-rape and murder case. The brutal, barbaric and diabolic nature of the crime could create a tsunami of shock to destroy a civilised society, the verdict, penned by Justice Misra, had said. He headed the apex court bench which upheld the constitutional validity of 156-year-old penal laws on defamation, holding that the reputation of one cannot be allowed to be crucified at the altar of the others right of free speech. In an order, hailed by nationalist organisations, Justice Misra mandated the playing of the national anthem before the screening of films in cinema halls. Another significant judgment by Justice Misra was the one directing states and Union Territories to upload FIRs on websites within 24 hours of their registration for enabling accused and others to file appropriate pleas in the courts for redress. Justice Misra, who was enrolled as an advocate in 1977, had practised in constitutional, civil, criminal, revenue, service and sales tax matters in the Orissa High Court and Tribunals before being elevated to the High Court bench. He was appointed Additional Judge of the Orissa High Court in January, 1996, after which he was transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in March, 1997. In 2009, Justice Misra became the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court and assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in May, 2010. He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on October 10, 2011. Changes in the food provided on board its aircraft will help Air India save Rs 20 crore annually, the government said on Tuesday. Air India had last month decided not to provide non-vegetarian meals to economy class passengers on domestic routes in a move to reduce expenses. This was started to save costs, reduce wastage, improve service and also to avoid any chances of mix-up of meals, minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. The airline is expected to save Rs 8-10 crores due to this move, he added. According to the minister, there have been other cost cutting measures too, such as meal schedule, rationalisation of dry stores and ancillary items. Altogether, the airline is expected to save Rs 20 crore because of changes made to its catering policy. Air India CMD Ashwini Lohani had told PTI that the national carrier is likely to take more such measures in order to rationalise costs. Last year, Air India replaced veg and non-veg sandwiches with veg hot meals on flights of up to 90 minutes duration. It had also decided to strike off both tea and coffee from its lunch and dinner menu. The national carrier, however, has a different strategy for its international flights after its was told by the civil aviation ministry spend more to fill the aircraft. The airline plans to offer a variety of wines, mocktails for teetotallers and regional cuisine. There are also plans to offer passengers the food of their choice, which will be collected from them days ahead of their flight. Air India is reeling under a debt of Rs 48,876.81 crore and the government has in-principle given approval for disinvesting its stakes in the airline, and has constituted a group of ministers to look into the modalities. Pakistan summoned Indias Deputy High Commissioner on Tuesday over alleged ceasefire violations by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC). Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Indias Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces, Pakistan Foreign Office said. It claimed that a 35-year-old woman was killed in the Karela sector and another woman was injured in Khuiratta Sector in alleged firing by Indian forces yesterday. The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws, the Foreign Office said. The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace along the LoC. He also called on the Indian side to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. The AIADMK camp led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami continues to keep its doors open for the rebel leader O Panneerselvam-led faction to facilitate a rapprochement. The former chief minister-led camp is, however, firm in opposing the government even as sidelined deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran continues to strengthen his support base within the AIADMK by meeting party functionaries. It is my humble request that we (AIADMK factions) should be united and not give room for others to mock or criticise Ammas (J Jayalalithaas) government led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Finance Minister and senior Amma faction leader D Jayakumar said on Tuesday. Disagreeing with his view, senior Panneerselvam faction leader KP Munusamy said the incumbent regime was not Ammas government. Had it been the real Ammas government there would not have been a split or announcement for a protest, he told reporters here. The Panneerselvam-led faction had announced a protest demonstration on August 10 here on various issues faced by the people. However, it has now been deferred to a later date, tentatively August 18. Munusamy, who was a minister in late Jayalalithaas 2011-16 regime, said opposition parties should not mock at this government which was ushered in by Amma and people should not weep... that is why we have announced a protest. The Panneerselvam camp has been maintaining that a patch-up was not possible. Panneerselvam had on June 11 disbanded a seven-member party (AIADMK-Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) to facilitate a merger with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) faction. AIADMK comprises factions led by chief minister Palaniswami, rebel leader Panneeerselvam and party deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran. Meanwhile, several functionaries who were days ago appointed by Dhinakaran continued to call on him at his residence here, reassuring him of their support. When Dhinakaran made the appointments on August 4, the Palaniswami camp had questioned the move and the Panneerselvam faction had kept aloof, saying Dhinakaran is an outsider and hence it did not matter. Dhinakaran loyalist and sitting MLA Thanga Tamilselvan, to a question, said those who opposed (minister Jayakumar and others) the present appointments were themselves appointed by party general secretary VK Sasikala. He demanded to know why they have not come forward to quit such party posts. He said according to the plan, Dhinakaran would begin his state-wide tour from Madurai District on August 14. On August 7, Palaniswami had said he expected to see the much-anticipated but delayed merger of the factions soon. The Chandigarh stalking incident, involving the son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala and the daughter of a senior IAS officer, is expected to rock both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday. The opposition Congress has accused the Centre and state governments of pressuring the police to dilute the probe, while the BJP has stood behind Barala ruling out his resignation. Although key bills, including the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, the Requisition and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill and the Companies (Amendment) Bill, are scheduled to be taken up, the Congress is likely to press on the stalking incident as well as last weeks attack on party vice-president Rahul Gandhis car in Gujarat. Highlights: 2.30pm: Rajya Sabha is adjourned for the day. 2.15pm: Naresh Agrawal walks out of Rajya Sabha along with other Samajwadi members. BJP MPs also raise slogans to counter opposition MPs. 1.30pm: Lok Sabha adjourned for the day without undertaking any serious business as Congress members staged a noisy protest over the attack on Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat last week as the government questioned his foreign visits without any security cover. 11.31am: We want to know what is Rahul Gandhi trying to hide by not taking SPG along on foreign tours when he is a SPG protectee, asks home minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha 11.30am: This is not only a violation of the SPG Act but it is being negligent to safety issues as well, says home minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha 11.29am: In the last two years, Rahul Gandhi was out for 72 days on six foreign tours, but didnt take SPG cover. We want to know where did he go? Why didnt he take SPG cover: Rajnath Singh 11.28am: Rahul did not listen to the area police or SPG officials but only his personal secretary, says home minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha. 11.25am: The Gujarat government is investigating the matter and one person has been arrested. Rahul should have followed security related suggestions, says Singh. 11.05am: There was a heavy presence of security personnel (Rahul) Gandhi did not use the car provided by the police, says Singh after the Congress raises the issue of attack on its vice presidents car in Gujarat. For decades, textbooks were seen as the foundation for instruction in American schools. These discipline-specific tomes were a fundamental part of the educational infrastructure, assigned to students for each subject and carried in heavy backpacks every day from home to school and back again. The experience of students is much different today. As a scholar of learning technologies and a director for outreach and engagement at Ohio States College of Education and Human Ecology, weve seen how technological advances and an increase in digital curriculum materials have hastened the move away from textbooks. Does all of this technology spell the end of traditional textbooks? And if so, is that actually a good thing for students and teachers? Standards and the decline of textbooks In 1983, President Ronald Reagans National Commission on Excellence in Education released A Nation at Risk, which put a spotlight on school quality and accountability for student achievement. By the mid-1990s, the academic standards movement had picked up steam, spurred by Goals 2000, the Educate America Act of 1994. In response, states and local communities drafted guidelines to indicate what students should know at each grade level. With these guidelines, educators and policymakers began to question teachers reliance on textbooks. Education organizations examined textbooks not only for their accuracy and quality, but for their alignment to academic standards. Where once student success was marked by the end-of-chapter test for whatever textbook each school happened to use, success was now measured by how well students met standardized grade-level learning objectives. Different textbooks might produce different levels of knowledge and understanding from students, but the new standards were common across an entire state. Increased access to digital content With the rise of the internet and the proliferation of online content, teachers have found new sources to support student learning. Recent studies report that student-computer ratios in most U.S. schools have reached 5:1 (five students per computer), with almost all teachers having access to at least one computer in their classroom. One-to-one laptop programs, which provide every student with a computing device, have spread across multiple states. To support these initiatives, schools have access to a wealth of free and premium content designed specifically for a K-12 curriculum. Most textbook publishing companies have launched digital platforms; in fact, several have transformed their core identities from traditional textbook publishers to learning science companies or digital education companies. Much of this digitized content has blurred the definition of a book. Digital lessons can present information through dynamic, interactive features like simulations and videos. Digital textbooks can also provide support features that just arent possible in a print textbook: students can highlight text, search for content, change the font size or use text-to-speech audio. Teachers are also looking outside the world of K-12 education to support their lessons. Content freely available on the internet (including digital collections by the Smithsonian, Library of Congress and NASA) has created new opportunities for teaching and learning. Teachers can make classes more dynamic, more accurate and more customizable to meet the personalized learning needs of individual students. Challenges in the digital world But its not all good news. Schools are also confronting new challenges brought on by digital content. Textbooks are relatively easy to use. The same is not necessarily true for digital resources, which might require technological expertise on the part of the teacher or an in-school specialist to implement well. Moreover, teachers beliefs about technology integration are still barriers for adopting digital content in classrooms. Theres also a question of cost. Well-equipped schools are eagerly going digital, often reallocating their textbook budgets to purchase these materials. However, a lot of schools struggle to cover the costs of making the transition. Similarly, some schools, specifically those in rural communities, find it difficult to access wireless or high-speed internet services needed for digital learning: In 2016, 39 percent of rural areas lacked broadband internet. How to choose digital content Infrastructure and technological know-how arent the only obstacles. Digital education resources also vary in quality, and selecting the right content can be a major challenge for schools. That means that a teachers ability to evaluate and select digital content becomes an important requirement for digital learning. Teachers need to be able to find the right resources for their lessons and make sure theyre high quality, aligned to standards and compatible with existing tools. Without these skills, teachers struggle to integrate technology and digital content with their own teaching methods. Most teachers rarely get the opportunity to learn how to evaluate, select and integrate digital resources into their classrooms. Professional development programs and resources from educational supportorganizations can help teachers make the transition to digital content. While these resources exist, not enough teachers are able to take advantage of them. Our research indicated that the majority of teachers rate themselves low when asked to indicate their knowledge and skill in digital content evaluation. Embracing digital So, do we still need textbooks? Yes. But the composition as well as the role of textbooks is changing. Theyre becoming more digitized, more open, more affordable, more dynamic and interactive, and more frequently updated. Schools are buying fewer textbooks and are more often using them only as classroom or library reference materials or to teach special topics. Many school districts are shifting funds from their textbook budgets to purchase devices and digital content, but are making changes incrementally and replacing books with digital content based on their 3- to 5-year curriculum adoption schedules. Meanwhile, the proliferation of technology tools and resources has transformed the learning landscape. The shift from print to digital has given students and teachers access to content that exceeds the quantity and quality of a traditional textbook. With these advances come more engaging and exciting ways for students (and teachers) to learn. Hardik Patel, who grabbed headlines nation-wide when he led a huge agitation to demand reservations for Gujarats Patidar community, has narrated the experience in a new book, Who Took My Job: Why the Indian Reservation System Needs to Change, to be published by Juggernaut Books. In the book, Patel, 24, shares his ideologies with senior journalist Darshan Desai who has written the book that explores Patels political philosophy, the reservation movement he spearheads, and his journey so far. The book will be simultaneously published in Hindi and English. There should be 100 per cent reservation for all, according to population. Agriculture is in bad shape, employment opportunities are dwindling and there is no point of good education when you dont get admissions or even government jobs. I am not saying existing reservations should be stopped but meritorious persons should not be denied opportunities just to accommodate others, Patel said in a statement. For a journalist who has been covering politics for long, the Hardik Patel phenomenon was an eye opener not only because a boy in his early twenties shook an invincible Narendra Modi mountain, but also because he made a new national voice of sorts. My attempt here is not just a book talking to Hardik Patel, but trying to figure out this new generation, which, curiously is not against reservations for many disadvantaged classes but wants its own space, Desai said of his reason for writing the book. Chiki Sarkar, publisher of Juggernaut Books, added: At Juggernaut, we are committed to provide a platform to a new generation of voices, young leaders who are changing the landscape of Indian politics. This book promises to provide an insight into the aspirations of millions of young Indians. Students of Kashmir University held a pro-freedom protest during a visit of varsity chancellor and state governor NN Vohra on Tuesday. Vohra visited the university to inaugurate a laboratory block and interact with faculty of Institute of Kashmir Studies (IKS). Eyewitnesses said as news of Vohras visit spread in the campus, many students gathered near IKS to protest. The students were holding a banner of Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU), which has been banned by university authorities. Some also held placards that read We want freedom and We stand by resistance leadership. A student said the protest was against the human rights violations and atrocities of Indian forces on Kashmiri people. While returning, Vohras cavalcade slowed down when passing the protesting students who were shouting Go India go back. Suspended police constable couple Dinesh and Tarkeshwari Rathod, who had faked about scaling Mount Everest in May 2016, have been dismissed from the police service, a senior official said. The couple had been suspended from Pune police in November last year after an inquiry conducted by a fact-finding committee set up by police found that their claims were misleading and bogus, and it was confirmed that they had faked about the ascent. The couple faked about the Everest ascent, morphed the photographs, shared misleading information and while doing this, brought disrepute to the Maharashtra police department and did not report to duty. Based on the inquiry, we dismissed the couple from the department and an order to this effect was issued on Saturday, said Sahebrao Patil, additional commissioner of police (admin) of Pune police. One of the photos that was found to be morphed by the couple. (Photo courtesy: Facebook) The couple had been issued a show-cause notice in May this year and they were asked why they should not be dismissed from the services, he added. Dinesh and Tarkeshwari, posted at Shivajinagar police headquarters in the city, had claimed on June 5 last year that they have become the first Indian couple to scale the Everest. A group of local mountaineers had later claimed that couple was never at the summit and alleged that they had faked their expedition by morphing photographs, which showed them at the Everest peak. In August (last year), the Nepal government had reportedly banned the entry of Dinesh and Tarkeshwari in Nepal for 10 years. Following a complaint against the Rathods, an inquiry was ordered into the allegations and the city police had also written to the Nepal government to investigate the claim. Surendra Shelke, one of the complainants and secretary of a city-based mountaineering association, had alleged that the couple had morphed the pictures and there were several discrepancies in the version given about the summit, which could prove the falseness of the claim. Punjab MP Harinder Singh Khalsa said on Tuesday that he will legally challenge the appointment of Supreme Court judge Dipak Kumar Misra as the next chief justice of India (CJI). Im going to file a writ petition in Delhi high court on Tuesday challenging the appointment of next CJI, Khalsa told Hindustan Times over phone from his New Delhi residence on Tuesday. Khalsa, the Lok Sabha representative from Fatehgarh Sahib who has been suspended from the Aam Aadmi Party, said that he feels Misras elevation will harm Indias judiciary since he has been accused of corruption. Current CJI JS Khehar retires on August 27. The petition in Delhi High Court will seek a declaration that honourable justice Dipak Misra is disqualified to be appointed as next CJI in view of the allegations of corruption against him, Khalsa said. Is there dearth of senior judges with clear background? Why cant the norm of seniority be overlooked even when there are serious moral charges? The CJI is not just any other judge. He is the face of Indias judiciary, Khalsa said. The petition is being filed by advocates Mathew J Nedumpara and AC Phillip, who are part of the legal activism collective National Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Reforms and Transparency. The petition says that Hon Justice Dipak Misra is under a cloud and hence the government shall not appoint him as the next Chief Justice of India merely (by) acting upon the recommendation of the outgoing CJI, that too without any enquiry or proceedings, Nedumpara said. According to Khalsa, the allegations against justice Misra are in public domain. Both justice Khehar and justice Misra were named by former chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh Kalikho Pul in his suicide note for corrupt practices. It will be a black spot for Indias judiciary if Misra now becomes the CJI by virtue of Khehars recommendation, Khalsa told HT. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a jolt to BJP, Congress candidate Ahmed Patel on Wednesday scraped through to notch a victory in a bitterly-contested Rajya Sabha election against all out efforts of the BJP to check his attempt to seek a fifth term. Patel, 68, the powerful political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, is said to have secured 44 votes defeating Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput. The other two successful candidates in the election were BJP President Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani. Highlights: 2am: This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery, tweets Ahmed Patel. 1.42am: Senior Congress leaders claim victory for Ahmed Patel. The EC is yet to make official statement. 1.38am: Counting for Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls begins in Gandhinagar. Gujarat information department began around 1.35 am. 1.30am: Counting hasnt started yet. No communication by the authorities on why counting is stalled. 1am: Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia alleges that BJP has stalled the counting. 12.45pm: I appreciate the order of the Election Commission. I salute my MLAs and rank and file of the Congress Party, Ahmed Patel tells ANI 12.30am: Seeing the pain of 14 youths who died during Patidar agitation I voted against BJP, says BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya in a FB post. 12.05am: If required we will take legal action: Gujarat deputy CM Nitinbhai Patel on EC verdict declaring vote of 2 Cong MLAs as invalid. 11.55pm: The EC order said that while going through the video footage of the polling process, it found that the two had violated the secrecy of ballots. 11.50pm: Truth has emerged victorious in spite of BJP using all the power. Ahmed Patel will win: RS Surjewala 11:30 pm: Election Commission declares votes of Congress MLAs Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel as invalid. Voting to begin soon. 10:45 pm: Election Commission will convey order on counting of votes to Returning Officer at 11:30 pm. 10:25 pm: Why is BJP bringing an army of defence/finance minister, power minister, petroleum minister and commerce minister? It means they want to suppress truth, Surjewala questions. 10:12 pm: With all respect, want to tell BJP that this is the war of truth and lies cannot prevail on Gandhi Jis land, says Congress spokesperson RS Surjewala. 9:57 pm: EC officials turn away both Congress and BJP delegations for the third time. 9:55 pm: BJP delegation leaves Election Commission office. 9.45pm: We want electoral process to be completed and counting to begin: Nirmala Sitharaman at EC. 9:25 pm: BJP delegation also reaches Election Commission for the third time. 9:05 pm: Congress leaders including RPN Singh and Randeep Surjewala leave for Election Commission office for the third time. 9:05 pm: TV reports say full bench meeting of Election Commission underway. 9:03 pm: MP Naqvi says BJP has appealed the EC to start the counting process immediately because free and fair elections took place. 8:25 pm: Congress MP P Chidambaram says, There is enough evidence that the ballot paper were seen by people other than those authorized. EC must reject these ballot papers as it did in Haryana in June 2016, Chidambaram says, reports ANI. 8:17 pm: Delhi: Congress and BJP delegations at Election Commission #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/92zVQoIi75 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 8:10 pm: BJP delegation comprising Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal and RS Prasad arrive at Election Commission again. 7: 55 pm: BJP demands immediate counting of votes and announcement of results, says Congress is reacting out of fear of defeat. 7:50 pm: One of our MLAs had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana and his vote was rejected, same was done in Gujarat so their votes should be rejected: Congress MP Anand Sharma. 7: 42 pm: Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says they requested EC to reject Congress plea as once votes are cast, nothing can be done and the process was fair. Since morning Congress has been claiming win, now with defeat staring in their face they are making desperate attempts, Prasad says. 7:40 pm: Im very much confident let counting take place, says Ahmed Patel. 7:37 pm: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says Congress allegations are baseless and the party didnt protest in the morning. Congress Ahmed Patel says Congress filed complaint with the Returning Officer soon after two rebel party MLAs allegedly showed their vote to BJP leaders. Immediately a complaint was filed. The Returning Officer did not take any action, so we moved the Election Commission, Patel says. 7:29 pm: Congress leaders including Anand Sharma and Randeep Surjewala will go to the Election Commission again shortly, reports ANI. 7:19 pm: BJP delegation including Union ministers MA Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan leave for Election Commission office. 7:13 pm: Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadia says the party raised objection to cross-voting at 9.30 am but EC has not responded. He says no response by EC till now shows that they are being put under pressure. We requested that Congress, BJP and presiding officer should jointly watch video, but BJP objected, waiting for EC decision, says Modhwadia. 7:10 pm: Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar, Nirmala Sitharaman reach Election Commission. 7:00 pm: Election Commission meet underway now over Congress complaint, ECs decision to come today, reports ANI sources. 6:58 pm: Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel says, Rejecting Congress claim for cancellation of two votes, the state election commission has submitted report to the ECI and counting will begin after its nod. 6:32 pm: A copy of Congress complaint to EC seeking to invalidate two votes of its MLAs, who claimed to have voted for the BJP nominees . Congress complaint to EC demanding quashing of votes of 2 Cong MLAs who voted BJP and allegedly showed votes publicly pic.twitter.com/xf7glnABQ8 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 6:20 pm: Gujarat JD(U) general secretary Ambalal Jadhav responds to KC Tyagis statement on Chotubhai Vasavas vote. Who is KC Tyagi to say anything? Chotubhai has voted, he will tell. Our support is with Ahmed Patel.: Ambalal Jadhav 6:00 pm: Congress complaint sent to Central Election Commission in Delhi. Counting will begin once reply is received, reports ANI. 5:56 pm: Counting of votes begins. Congress plea for cancellation of two votes has been rejected by the State Election Commission. 5:45 pm: Congress spokespersons Randeep Surjewala and RPN Singh approach Election Commission seeking that votes of two party MLAs, who claimed to have voted for the BJP nominees, be declared invalid. 5:35 pm: Reacting to the Congress demand for cancellation of two cross-votes, BJP Gujarat president Jitu Vaghani says, Let the Election Commission take the call. He questions why the objection has been raised in the evening when the two MLAs have voted in the morning. 5: 33 pm: JD(U)s KC Tyagi says partys Gujarat MLA Chhotubhai Vasava voted for BJP, reports ANI. Vasava had earlier said he voted for Congress candidate Ahmed Patel . 5:32 pm: Two Congress MLAs Bhola Gohil and Raghavji Patel voted for BJP and publicly showed their votes: Shaktisinh Gohil 5:14 pm: Celebrations commence at BJP office in Ahmedabad ahead of Rajya Sabha Polls results. #Gujarat: Visuals of celebrations at BJP office in Ahmedabad ahead of #RajyaSabhaPolls results. pic.twitter.com/yctxKzGLOg ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 5:08 pm: Congress demands to delay the counting of votes alleging its two MLAs, who cross-voted, showed ballot paper to BJP polling agent. 4:53 pm: Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil says, If a voter shows his vote to anyone other than partys authorized agent, then the vote gets rejected, He says the two Congress MLAs who voted for BJP showed their votes to Amit Shahji, it has been video-graphed. Gohil adds that if the if the video was tampered, then its a serious a criminal act and they (Congress) will go to SC for that. 4:26 pm: Ashok Gehlot says, Whoever has cross-voted will be suspended with immediate effect. 4:15 pm: Gujarat JD-U MLA Chotubhai Vasava says he voted for Congress candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election as he was opposed to his party president Nitish Kumar aligning with BJP in Bihar. 4:00 pm: The counting of votes will commence at 5 pm. 2.52pm: All 176 MLAs have voted in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha election, says state election officer. 2.50pm: Ahmed Patel ji is winning comfortably, says Ashok Gehlot, Congress Gujarat in-charge. 2.35pm: The Congress has demanded cancellation of two cross votes. 2pm: Number are in our favour; result should be good. I am confident and optimistic, says Ahmed Patel. 1.56pm: Voting for Gujarat Rajya Sabha election has ended. 1.45pm: Ahmed Patel: One MLA cross-voted. Lets wait for the result. 1.03pm: Congress MLA Dharshi Khanpura cast his vote after EC officer denied his proxy voting request. 12.46pm: Congress MLA Dharshi Khanpura demands for proxy; BJP opposes. He says he is unable to reach the voting venue, but reasons for his absence arent clear. 12.45pm: Sources say Karamsibhai Patel, one of the 44 Congress MLAs who were taken to Bengaluru last week, is likely to have cross-voted. 12.38pm: 61 BJP MLAs and 43 Congress MLAs have cast their votes so far. 12.33pm: Victory of our candidates is certain. The party had been working for this since announcement of election dates, says former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel. 12.30pm: We have received more votes than needed, says Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia. 12.23pm: We have got 43 votes so far, one MLA is going to vote. Chhotubhai Vasava (JD-U) publicly said he voted for Ahmed bhai, Congress Arjun Modhwadia. 12.15pm: #Gujarat: Congress MLAs outside the assembly after casting their votes in #RajyaSabhaPolls. pic.twitter.com/lUMrTDD66i ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 11.39am: Congress state chief Bharatsinh Solanki: Ahmed bhai is winning. The BJP, by fielding thee candidates, has put Smriti Iranis chances at risk. 11.35am: Congress MLAs Paresh Dhanani, Kamini Rathod say they voted as per party whip. 10.43am: JD(U) MLA Chotu Vasava says: I have voted as per partys ideology. 10.32am: Things have been blown out of proportion because of Ahmed Patel. Hes in a risky situation; half of his people might end up voting for the BJP, says NCPs Majeed Memon. 10.24am: Voted according to the whip issued by high command, after all we are the partner of UPA, says NCP MLA Jayant Patel. 10.17am: Both NCP MLAs voting for BJP candidate, it is clear, says:Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. 10.11am: Bus with 44 MLAs reaches Swarnim Sankul 2. 10.10am: Congress MLA Bhola Gohil says he didnt vote for the Congress candidate. 10.06am: Out of the four candidates, Ahmed Patel is going to get the maximum number of votes. His victory is certain, says Shailesh Parmar. 9.58am: Voting is on at Swarnim Sankul 2, which houses ministers offices. At 12pm, a two-day monsoon session is to begin at Mahatma Mandir. It is a convention centre that is hosting the session as assembly building is under renovation. 9.57am: Congress MLA Mahendrasinh Vaghela and NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja take blessings of BJP chief Amit Shah by touching his feet. 9.55am: Two MLAs voted for the BJP despite being Congress MLAs. Shaktisinh Gohil has taken objection against this, Arjun Modhwadia of the Congress. 9.53am: Congress hadnt been listening to us for a year. We have voted for Balwantsinh Rajput, Congress MLA Dharmendra Jadeja. 9.52am: There are only two parties in Gujarat -- Congress and BJP. If Im not with the Congress, you know where will I be, says Raghavji Patel 9.50am: Shankersinh Vaghela says the Congress will not touch the 40 mark in the Rajya Sabha election. 9.45am: Mahendrasinh Vaghela, Shankersinhs son, only says he has voted, doesnt reveal the name. 9.41am: Congress MLAs Raghvji Patel and Dharmendra Jaedja say they voted for the BJPs Balwantsinh Rajput. 9.40am: Had cleared things yesterday. You will know everything in the evening, NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja. 9.37am: When I am confident, party is confident we are going to win. Wait for the result to come, says Congress candidate Ahmed Patel. 9.33am: Shankersinh Vaghela says he did not vote for the Congress as there is not point voting for a party that is not going to win. 9.10am: NDTV quotes Sharad Pawar as saying NCP will back Congress Ahmed Patel in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls but one legislator is defying order 9.05am: Given the support extended by the NCP, JD(U) and the fact that the Shankersinh Vaghela group will vote for Rajput, BJPs all three candidates are set to win, chief minister Vijay Rupani says minutes before voting. 9am: Voting begins at the Gujarat assembly for Rajya Sabha elections. 8.51am: BJP candidates Smriti Irani and Amit Shah arrive at the Gujarat legislative assembly. Chief minister Vijay Rupani reaches, too. 8.40am: Gujarat: Preparations for Rajya Sabha polls underway in State Legislative Assembly in Gandhinagar pic.twitter.com/zYyJhIlOqS ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 8.38am: On the eve of the Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat, the BJPs state in-charge Bhupendra Yadav said all the three candidates of the party will win by a very good margin. 8.32am: The Congress defectors are believed to be loyal to Shankersinh Vaghela, who quit the party on July 21, alleging that some of its leaders were conspiring against him. He is also said to have the allegiance of six of the 51 party MLAs. 8.30am: Ahmed Patel needs the support of 45 MLAs after six Congress lawmakers resigned amid horse-trading charges against the BJP, bringing the partys strength in the assembly to 51. The party is banking on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Janata Dal (United) lawmakers to support Patel, who is seeking re-election to the Upper House of Parliament. But the calculations could change as one of the two NCP legislators Kandhal Jadeja, the MLA for Kutiyana said on Monday evening he was asked by his party leadership to vote for Rajput. 8.14am: Providing enough and adequate security to the MLAs, they will be escorted safely to Gandhinagar for voting, says deputy SP BD Jadeja. 8.11am: Congress MLAs leave Neejanand Resort in Anand ahead of Rajya Sabha election voting. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A rogue elephant that has killed 10 people in Jharkhand since crossing over from neighbouring Bihar in April has emerged as public enemy number one in the eastern state where officials are normally pitted against Maoist insurgents. The tusker has struck terror in large swathes of the tribal state, prompting the government to requisition the services of a hunter from Hyderabad and several mahouts (trainers) from Uttar Pradesh in a bid to tame the animal. The hunter will arrive on Wednesday. We have also invited a five-member team of mahouts from Uttar Pradesh. The team is arriving tonight, MK Singh, the conservator of forests, told HT on Tuesday. The tusker had killed four people in Bihar before it crossed over to Jharkhand. On Sunday, it killed Raju Pahariya, 25, while he was returning from a weekly village market in Sahebganj block. Locals said Pahariya had chosen a short-cut through a forest when he came face-to-face with the elephant. Man-elephant conflict has been very high in Jharkhand with 589 people dying in the past decade. Elephants are long range animals requiring large habitats, but newer human habitations have cut off elephant corridors, trapping the giant mammals in smaller areas and forcing them to raid towns and villages. Two nights ago, an elephant herd raided the house of veteran BJP leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha in Hutpa village of Hazaribagh district, destroying the boundary wall. More than 25 villages of the Pahariya community in three blocks of Borio, Mandro and Taljhari are reportedly spending sleepless nights as the elephant targets houses and crops regularly. The elephant has been killing people for the last four months. But the forest department has not made any concrete effort to capture it. Villagers are living in panic as it may damage their houses or kill people anytime, alleged Mangli Paharin, the widow of Pahariya. But forest officials said several measures have already been undertaken to capture the elephant. In April, a team of 12 people was brought from West Bengal to chase away the elephant. The team is still camping in different villages of the district but the desired result is still awaited, the official said. Manish Tiwary, the divisional forest officer of Sahebganj, said the tusker seems to be confused and lost in its new habitat. It is making abrupt movement, causing loss to life and property, he said. All those killed by the tusker in Jharkhand belonged to the endangered tribal Pahariya community. According to the 2011 census, there are just 25,585 people of the community left and the government has launched several schemes for their protection and development. We have plans to tranquilise the elephant. If it cannot be captured after taking all possible steps, we may seek order for its shooting, forest conservator Singh said. We are taking every step to save the elephant, he added. The hunter expected to arrive in Jharkhand from Hyderabad is Nawab Shafath Ali Khan. An ace shooter who won his first national games gold medal at the age of 12 in 1968, Khan had been earlier tasked by the Bihar government to cull nilgais after they were declared a nuisance. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Tuesday the party must defend liberty and freedom of individuals and institutions and accused the BJP government of encouraging those who flout the law and unleash oppression. Speaking at a special CWC meeting here to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, she also expressed concerns over the rise in cases of self vigilantism and said not a day passed when the liberty of individuals was trampled upon. The Congress party must always remain on the frontline in defence of liberty and numerous values associated with liberty, and the institutions that go with it. We must never bow before those who assault the liberty of the individual and of society, she said. Hitting out at the BJP and the RSS, she said as the Congress saluted the patriots who struggled, we must not forget that there were organisations and individuals who opposed the 1942 movement and actually collaborated with the colonial government. Their political descendants are the very people who today hold high office and have arrogated to themselves the role of torch bearers of our freedom. The CWC passed two resolutions on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement and rededicated itself to uphold and defend the idea of India as envisioned by the leaders of the freedom movement. It also resolved to fight back and defeat the forces which seek to destroy the countrys heritage. The CWC, the highest decision-making body of the Congress, passed another resolution condemning the attack on party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat. Rahul skipped the meeting as he was down with a viral infection and Sonia chaired it. A number of top Congress leaders including AK Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, P Chidambaram, Ambika Soni, Karan Singh, Digivijay Singh and Anand Sharma attended it. Sonias remarks come on a day when the party petitioned the Election Commission for cancellation of two votes of its disgruntled MLAs during Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat in which the Congress presidents political secretary Ahmed Patel is contesting. Noting that she was anguished by the assault on freedom and the threat to liberty by self-appointed vigilantes, she accused the government of encouraging and empowering those who flouted the law. Today many sections live in fear, none more than the minorities, the Dalits, the tribals and women. Not a day passes without an incident where the liberty of the individual has been trampled upon by anti-social elements or self appointed vigilantes. Far from curbing their onslaught, the government of the day encourages and empowers them to flout the rule of law and unleash oppression. All this taken together is the biggest threat to liberty, and is the enemy of pluralism and diversity, she said. AICC in-charge of communication Randeep Surjewala also said that former prime minister Manmohan Singh expressed concerns during the meeting about Indias youth and peasantry as also multiple problems persisting post demonetisation and GST. The Congress has rededicated itself to those values and also resolved to defend the foundational values and principles of Indias constitution, its inclusive and secular and democratic character rand to defy the forces which seek to destroy our shared heritage, he said. Sharma said the Congress Working Committee also took note of the serious attack on Rahul in Gujarat and condemned it in unequivocal terms. To that effect the Congress has made it clear that the forces of violence leased by the BJP and its associates have no place in civilised public discourse and democracy. The Congress therefore is determined to fight back and confront and defeat the forces of violence and the resolution making it clear that Congress voice and truth cannot be silenced by such attacks, he said. The meeting discussed the contribution of the Congress in the movement and paid homage to the thousands of party workers who participated in the movement on the do or die call given by Mahatma Gandhi and died due to the brutal repression inflicted by the British. Sonia said liberty is the lifeline of democracy and takes within its sweep, the freedom of speech, freedom to dissent, freedom of choice, freedom of worship, the rule of law, equality and social justice. If any of these values is impaired, liberty itself will be diminished and curtailed, she said. The resolution passed at the CWC also said that taking note of and expressing its grave concern over the planned and systemic assaults on the foundational values of the country, and the constitutional rights of our citizens, the Congress re-dedicates itself to uphold and defend the idea of India as envisioned by the leaders of the freedom movement. The CWC on this historic day revolved anew to fight back and defeat the forces which seek to destroy our precious heritage, the resolution said. The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Centres response on a plea against a Delhi high court order which had rejected a petition challenging validity of Article 370 of the Constitution giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir. A bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar issued the notice to the Centre and sought its reply within four weeks. On April 11, the Delhi High Court had rejected the plea challenging the validity of Article 370, saying nothing survives in it as the Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition on the issue. The petitioner in high court, Kumari Vijayalakshmi Jha, claimed that the issue raised before the high court was different from the matter which was put before the apex court. She had contended that Article 370 was a temporary provision that had lapsed with the dissolution of the states Constituent Assembly in 1957. The petition had said the continuance of the temporary provision of Article 370 even after dissolution of the states Constituent Assembly and its Constitution which has never got the assent of the President of India or Parliament or the Government of India, amounts to fraud on the basic structure of our Constitution. In July 2014, the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea challenging the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir and had asked the petitioner to move the high court. India and Bangladesh have confirmed that external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Dhaka in the first half of September to attend the fourth Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting. Dates for the proposed visit, however, are yet to be finalised. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla had a meeting with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque in this regard at the Bangladesh foreign ministry in Dhaka on Monday, reports the Daily Star. This will be Swarajs second visit to Bangladesh. She last visited the country between June 25 and June 27, 2014. Diplomatic sources said the JCC meeting would review the implementation and progress of decisions taken during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas visit to India in April. The third JCC meeting was held in New Delhi on September 20 in 2014 when Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali led a 26-member delegation. Diplomatic sources said the foreign offices of the two countries were working to finalise the date of Swarajs visit. She will attend the UN General Assembly in New York in the second half of September. Meanwhile, Shringla expressed hope for a free and fair general election in Bangladesh. Were all democracies. We all believe in free and fair elections, he said, adding that he was sure, like in many other democracies, this was something that would happen. Talking to reporters after his meeting with the foreign secretary, Shringla, on participatory elections, said democracy means participation and whoever wants to take part in a democratic process. He also said not participating in the democratic process means youre not there. The high commissioner said the development profile between the two countries is large with $8 billion line of credit so far. He also said there are regular discussions on water resources issues. The NIA on Tuesday questioned hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelanis sons, Naeem and Naseem, as part of its probe into a money trail to expose how Pakistan sent cash to separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley. National Investigation Agency officials said the Geelani brothers arrived at the NIA headquarters here around 11 a.m. after evading the counter-terror agencys earlier summons. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a doctor who was once based in Pakistan, on July 27 and August 1. He failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. Geelanis younger son Naseem, who works at an agricultural university in Srinagar, was summoned to appear before NIA on August 2. He also did not come saying the notice should be served through Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Agriculture Science so that he was permitted to take leave. The NIA has arrested eight separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there. The arrested separatists include Shabir Shah and Altaf Ahmad Shah, who is Geelanis son-in-law. They have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. Aug. 6 Amanda A. Blasier, 31, of Elko was arrested at 1660 Mountain City Highway for buying, possessing or receiving stolen goods. Bail: $1,140 ------ Jason T. Fairbanks Jr., 40, of Elko was arrested at the Scoreboard in Spring Creek for violation of probation/condition of suspended sentence. No bail ------ Travis D. Fonnesbeck, 39, of Brigham City, Utah was arrested at the Red Lion Casino on 14 counts of obtaining or using another persons identification for harmful or unlawful purposes, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, and convicted person failure to register. Bail: $291,780 ------ Jay L. Jim, 33, of Elko was arrested at Lamoille Highway and Errecart Boulevard for speeding 1-10 mph over limit, failure to remove vehicle plate prior to sale of vehicle, no proof of insurance, driving without a drivers license, possession of a gun by a prohibited person, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a dangerous drug without a prescription. Bail: $36,325 ------ Jeanine T. Marshall, 40, of Sparks was arrested on Interstate 80 mile marker 294 for driving with a suspended license and speeding 11-20 mph over limit. Bail: $640 ------ Torrance C. McKnight, 26, of Spring Creek was arrested at the Scoreboard for two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Bail: $10,000 ------ Marcus M. Mustache, 33, of Salt Lake City was arrested at 1225 Wendover Blvd. for domestic battery. Bail: $3,000 ------ David J. Nelson, 51, of Elko was arrested at Interstate 80 mile marker 352 for trespass not amounting to burglary, false statement to obstruct an officer, resisting arrest, driver disobeying a police officer, disturbing the peace, and violation of highway restriction. Bail: $3,890 ------ Casey D. Overacker, 34, of Spring Creek was arrested at Walmart for trespass not amounting to burglary. Bail: $192 ------ Hector A. Ramirez, 20, of Elko was arrested on U.S. Highway 93 mile marker 74 for DUI, open container of alcohol in a vehicle, and minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage in public. Bail: $1,690 Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala, whose son is accused of stalking the daughter of a senior IAS officer, said on Tuesday there was no pressure on the police who are investigating the matter. The law should take its own course. The BJP is a party that believes in womens rights and freedom. Neither I nor BJP is pressuring anyone in this matter, he told the media. Baralas son Vikas, a law student, and his friend Ashish are accused of stalking Varnika Kundu, a disc jockey, early Saturday when she was driving from Sector 7 in Chandigarh towards Panchkula. Kundu has alleged that the two followed her in their Tata Safari Storme. Both were drunk, she said, and at one point the SUV blocked her way and the person in the co-drivers seat started walking towards her vehicle. Varnika is like my daughter To get her justice, whatever action is to be taken according to the rules against Vikas and Ashish should be taken, said Barala. The opposition Congress has accused the Centre and state governments of pressuring the police to dilute the probe, while the BJP has stood behind Barala ruling out his resignation. Battling accusations of hushing up the stalking incident that has sparked nationwide anger and raised questions over women safety, the Centre asked for a report from the Chandigarh administration. Even before you have registered a case under correct sections, the CCTV footage has gone. Does it not show that the union government is giving diktats to protect the Haryana BJP president and his son? Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said earlier in the day. The Chandigarh Police, which reports to the Centre, was protecting Subhash Barala and Vikas, he said. Vice President-elect M Venkaiah Naidu said on Tuesday that he would have retired from politics after 2019 had he not been chosen for the countrys second-highest Constitutional office. Reacting to expressions of sympathies pouring in for him on being forced to quit his active political career, Naidu told a gathering in Hyderabad that he had told his wife long ago that he would relinquish politics in 2019 after ensuring that Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister for the second term. I would be turning 70 by then, and as a matter of principle, I would have retired from politics. But circumstances have forced me to quit politics two years in advance, he said, in what he described as his last public speech before being sworn in as Vice President of India on August 11. Naidu was speaking at a function on the release of the Telugu edition of the compilation of his speeches within and outside Parliament, besides his articles published in various newspapers and journals. Admitting that he would not be able to move freely and interact with public as openly as he wished because of protocol restrictions, the veteran leader rejected the arguments that he would have to virtually lead a prison life in his new position. Well, I had experienced how the prison life would be, thanks to Emergency. So, I am not worried about the life I am going to experience it. Though there could be limitations and restrictions on my life, I am sure I would be able to find a way out to be a peoples man. I may not speak about politics, but I think I can speak on the issues concerning the people and the nation, he said. Naidu said he had never aspired for any posts and positions in his five decades of political career. It was just an accident that I had to adorn so many positions right from MLA to the Union cabinet minister and from BJP state president to national president; and now, the Vice President of India. But whatever position I held, I did my best to do justice to the job, he said. The former BJP MP dismissed notions that he was unwilling to become the Vice President because he was more interested in the Cabinet post. Remember, I had resigned from the Union cabinet during the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee regime to take up the responsibility of BJP president post. And when Vajpayee wanted to take me back in the Cabinet, I told him that it was a demotion for me, he recalled. Naidu said he was dead against dynasty politics. I never encouraged my son or daughter to enter politics, and asked them to focus on their respective activities. As long as I am alive, they will never get into politics, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Leaving no stone unturned to secure a second consecutive term when Rajasthan goes to polls, possibly by end of 2018, the ruling BJP is set to spread wings by establishing fully equipped party offices in 28 of the 33 districts. It is likely that the offices will be functional by June next year. The state urban development department has allocated land to BJP in 28 districts. A new state office will also be constructed in Jaipur for which land is being identified. State BJP president Ashok Parnami told HT that BJP had received a huge mandate in 2013 polls. The party, however, was finding it difficult to conduct regular Jan Sunwai in the districts. Till now, the offices at district level used to run from rented accommodation or from the residence of district president, which used to shift with change. Now, we have planned to set up a permanent office where workers can approach with their grievances. A place from where regular Jan Sunwai can take place, Parnami said. The state party chief said that they have set the deadline of June 18 to establish the permanent offices. At present, land for the same has been identified in 28 of 33 districts. A new headquarters in Jaipur too will be set up. We are looking for land. The space at the office we have right now is less, he added. Sources claimed that plots measuring 2,000 square metres to 3,000 sqm will be allocated for the offices depending upon the norms set for small and big towns. Parnami said the plan to set up districts offices was conceptualized around one-and-a-half-years ago, and for that a proposal was moved with the government. Under the norms the land is being allocated at district lease committee (DLC) rates. He said all the buildings at district level will be constructed based on Rajasthan architecture and painted as per the city theme --- such as golden in Jodhpur. We have not sought any benefits from government while seeking the land. We applied for the land as per the provision of land allocation to political parties, he said. State BJP spokesperson and Jaipur Mayor Ashok Lahoty said the objective behind having permanent offices at all districts is to ensure that party activities are held regular and in organised manner. In the age of digitalization, the office will be well equipped for video conferencing, library, single accounting (bank) from state level etc, he said. Rajasthan is likely to go for Assembly polls in late 2018. Buoyed by BJPs landslide win in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, chief minister Vasundhara Raje had said the BJP will replicate the performance during the 2018 state polls. We will win with huge mandate under leadership of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, she had said. At a time when atrocities against women are hogging headlines around the country, the Mamata Banerjee government has decided to launch a self-defence workshop in undergraduate colleges in Bengal. The project will be a part of the chief ministers pet girl child welfare project Kanyashree. Every year, a three- eek workshop on self defence techniques will be conducted in these colleges. The programme will be open for participation by the women teachers too. Read: Bengal violence: Mamata Banerjee should do some soul searching The Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI), under the state higher education department, has forwarded a notice to all government-run and government-aided colleges to start self defence programmes. Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee receiving the UN award for Kanyashree in The Hague on June 23, 2017. (Facebook) The chief minister has recently announced extension of Kanyashree scheme for girl students to undergraduate levels. Under this extension programme, self-defence trainings will be given to girls students in all government-run and government-aided colleges in the state, confirmed an official of DIP. The Kanyashree project has recently received an United Nations (UN) award for public services. The proposal to start the self-defence programme in colleges came from the state women & child development and social welfare department that forwarded a request to the state higher education department. Accordingly DIP, which comes under the state higher education department, sent notices to all such institutions. The expenditure will be borne by state women & child development and social welfare department from fund allocated under Kanyashree scheme, the DIP official said. Read: What Mamata Banerjee did right to wipe out Maoist violence in West Bengal Under this welfare project, the beneficiaries (between 13 and 18 years) are entitled to an annual scholarship of R 500. If they are not married off and enrol in colleges each gets R 25,000 in her account. To encourage women to prusue post graduate studies, the chief minister has announced that each will get monthly scholarship for R 2,500 (for science students) and R 2000 (for arts students). The individual colleges will be responsible for conducting the workshops involving local institutions, or clubs conducting martial art trainings. If necessary help of experts of Kolkata Police and West Bengal police can also be taken. Although the scheme will be funded under the Kanyashree project, girl students who are not covered under the scheme can participate in the workshop, the DIP official said. Read: UN award for Mamata Banerjees girl child project: BJP leader says Modi deserved it The Kanyashree project was launched in October 2013. As per statistics of West Bengal government, since its launch, 93.25 lakh candidates have enrolled themselves under the scheme, out which 89.40 lakh applications have been sanctioned. Self defence training be helpful in increasing confidence of the students, the bureaucrat said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) veterans were surprised when they saw their cadres had got China made rakhis for Raksha Bandhan despite the Sanghs no-Chinese-rakhi campaign. This situation came to the fore when the leaders visited a slum locality in Lucknow to celebrate the festival among Dalits as part of the organisations larger aim to unite the Hindus by bridging the caste divide. The Sangh leaders quickly got the Chinese rakhis replaced with swadeshi ones and explained the difference to the cadre. Raksha Bandhan is among the six major festivals that the Sangh celebrates. The no-Chinese-rakhi campaign was timed amid an increasingly bitter New Delhi-Beijing standoff over Doklam, which is under Chinas control but claimed by Bhutan. This, Sangh leaders say, prompted them to think of ways to weaken the Chinese financially. But, the mix-up in the presence of Sangh veterans Indresh Kumar and Mahirajdhwaj on Sunday evening showed that the saffron cadres hadnt quite understood how to distinguish between the foreign version and the desi. The cadres who got the rakhis on the occasion werent aware of the difference between Chinese and Indian made rakhis, an RSS source told HT. Unlike flashy, well-cut rakhis that are sold at attractive rates, the Indian version is mostly a simple thread, a Sangh leader said, admitting that several rakhi-sellers may have just been as confused as their own cadre were. Despite the embarrassment, the RSS isnt quite worried as it seeks to iron out deficiencies ahead of other festivals Janmashtami, Ganesh Utsav, Navratri and Diwali. By then, they expect the no-Chinese campaign to gain momentum. We will continue to build public opinion against China, Mahirajdhwaj said, explaining the campaign was receiving encouraging feedback. Addressing a function in the state capital, RSS leader Indresh Kumar said, China is a demon. The present government at the centre has successfully exposed the nefarious designs of both China and Pakistan before the international community. Later, in Varanasi, he said: Our sisters have thrown a challenge to China by boycotting rakhis made in China. They made rakhis and tied them to their brothers. Everyone should boycott Chinese goods and use indigenous items. Sanghs Rashtriya Ekta Mission will continue to up the ante against Chinese goods. The Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an RSS backed body, will build public opinion against Pakistan. Bhola Nath, who is associated with RSSs Swadeshi Jagran Manch, told HT that a massive rally will be organised at Delhis Ramlila ground in October. During the rally, the Modi government will be urged to opt out of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On the busy national highway 87 lies a hamlet, Nankar, in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh. It is famous for two things the grave of sufi saint Aijaz Miyan, and its guitar wali factory. Ask anyone about the guitar wali factory and they will direct you to a secluded workplace behind the grave. The smell that greets you is of resin and sawdust. This is Mohammed Zameeruddins violin manufacturing unit. Inside, around 42 labourers are busy handling heavy wood planks. Some are sawing them into different shapes and sizes. And everything is being done under the watchful eyes of Zameeruddin. One small mistake can spoil the violin and cost a lot of money. These planks are made of Brazilian maple wood -- very delicate and very costly. We also use spruce and heavy ebony wood -- also very expensive. So, I make sure that all work is carried out under my supervision, he said. Its purely a mathematical game --- violin-making. Every single part is measured and designed to give the ear a soothing sound. May be thats why there arent too many places manufacturing violins. In India, violins are only made in Rampur, where they are manufactured in bulk, and Kolkata. Family trade It was during the British era that Zameeruddins father began manufacturing violins. We are the oldest violin manufacturers of India. Its a rare trade here. My father Mohammed Haseenuddin started it. And he accidentally got into this business! recalled Zameeruddin. My father was a carpenter. His younger brother had bought a violin from Bombay (now Mumbai). He played it for hours. But after a few years, my father accidentally dropped the violin, breaking it. This caused my uncle to fall into depression. A concerned older brother, Haseenuddin decided to make a violin on his own. He examined the broken violin, and made a new one, much to the delight of my uncle. Since then, our family has been making violins, said Zameeruddin. A violin is made with fine maple wood from Brazil. Spruce wood of Himachal Pradesh (HP) is used on the top area of the instrument, and ebony wood is used in other parts, he explained. Initially, the family catered to the local market, but later, on finding few takers in UP, expanded business to other states and countries. We started exporting to Goa, Kerala, Karnataka and other states, and then to Dubai and European nations. Initially, the family catered to the local market, but later, on finding few takers in UP, expanded business to other states and countries. (HT Photo) Chinese Competition indigenously manufactured violins are facing tough competition from Chinese ones. But, its the quality of the Indian violins that keeps them a step ahead of their Chinese counterparts. Indian violins are handmade, highly durable, with good finish and quality.Chinese violins are machine-made. Although good in finish, they lack durability, said Zameeruddin. Also, violins are very delicate instruments. Even little moisture can spoil them. This is where Rampur scores. The cost of our violins starts from Rs 3,000 and goes up to more than Rs 15,000. Indian origin Classical Indian violinist Johar Ali Khan, who is also a member of the International Violin Association and hails from the 700-year-old Patiala Gharana of Rampur, claims that the violin has its origin in India. The concept of stringed and bow instruments was prevalent in India and nowhere else. Such instruments find mention in mythology too, and were classified under the category of Veena. An instrument somewhat similar to the present-day violin was called Pinachi Veena, he said. In Bengali, it is called Bela and Gaj Vadya. A similar instrument, Ravanhatta, is still played in Rajasthan, said Khan,adding, The British and the French were inspired by these instruments and modified them to create the violin. When Zameeruddins violin was played at Rashtrapati Bhawan It was a proud moment for Zameeruddin and his family when Johar Ali Khan played a violin made at his factory at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, during late Dr APJ Abdul Kalams tenure as the president. We had made a special violin for the purpose, and the performance left everyone spellbound, said Zameeruddin. Khan had also gifted a violin to Dr Kalam. Not only Johar Ali Khan, but his father Ustad Gohar Ali Khan -- a maestro -- also played my violins. He found them the finest of all, said Zameeruddin with pride. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Most parts of Lucknow have been ensnared by the deadly swine flu and with six fresh cases on Monday the total number of people affected by the disease has reached 135. Lucknow accounts for over 40 percent of the 313 cases in the state. Twenty-six samples were submitted on Saturday to KGMUs lab. The report came on Monday, said Prof NS Verma, spokesperson of the university. In the report, six people from Lucknow and 15 from other districts tested positive, he said. PGI to Indiranagar, Kakori to Sarojininagar and Aminabad to Aliganj the disease seems to be on a rampage affecting people one after another. Doctors blame the spread of the scourge on mobility of affected people and early onset of swine flu disease due to moisture. You find cases in rural areas, too, and thats because people frequently travel to city areas from where cases were reported till last year, said Sheetal Verma assistant professor in the department of microbiology of King Georges Medical University. She added: But there was no reason for people to panic. The areas that have a majority of cases are KGMU, PGI campus and the localities nearby. Cases were also reported from Hazratganj, Kanpur Road, Rajni Khand (Sharda Nagar), Alambagh, Indira Nagar, Rae Bareli Road, Triveni Nagar, City Station, Balaganj, Bazaarkhala, Rajajipuram, Aishbagh, Mawaian, Vrindavan Yojna, Gudamba, Kalli Pashchim, Telibagh, Charbagh, Nirala Nagar, Mahanagar and Aliganj. And if the city areas were not enough cases were also reported from rural pockets of the district -- Sarojininagar and Kakori. Read more: Swine flu cases rise in Ghaziabad and GB Nagar Experts say awareness and precaution is the key to control the disease, especially when one goes out. Avoid hand shake and crowded places such as railway stations and malls unless necessary, said Dr PK Gupta, president IMA. SCHOOL ALERT Worried over the spread of swine flu in schools, the office of chief medical officer (CMO), Lucknow has forwarded a list of schools, whose students tested positive for swine flu in the past one week, to the district inspector of schools and asked him to run awareness campaigns there. The CMO has requested the education department to ensure that these kids remain at home for treatment as there are chances of the disease spreading to other children if the affected kids attend school. The schools from where students tested positive are Seth MR Jaipuria, Gomti Nagar; Rani Laxmibai School, Sector 19, Indira Nagar; DPS Jankipuram; City Montessori School, Kanpur Road; Khun Khunji Girls Inter College, Chowk; Christ Church College, Hazratganj; St Johns School, Near Patel Dental College; Chiranjiv Bharti School, Ashiana. A class 12 girl was stabbed to death by four masked men in a village in eastern Uttar Pradeshs Bansdih town near Varanasi, on Tuesday while on her way to school. According to police, the 17-year-old girl, a resident of Bajahan village, was being stalked by Prince Tiwari aka Priyanshu, son of the same villages head Kripa Shankar Tiwari, for the last few days after she had spurned his attempts to befriend her. Prince (22), his cousin Sonu Tiwari and two others, Neeraj Tiwari and Raju Yadav, have been named as accused in the murder case, and a hunt has been launched for them, Bansdih circle officer, Ashok Kumar Singh said. The murder comes at a time another stalking incident in Chandigarh hit national headlines that of a woman DJ, daughter of an IAS officer, who was chased by the son of Haryana BJP chief late on Friday night. The incident shot to limelight after the accused was let off by police apparently under pressure from leaders of BJP, which is ruling Haryana. In Bansdih, the class 12 girls parents told police that Prince had been stalking their daughter, a student of private intermediate college in Salempur, for the last few days. She had told her parents about him but they did not approach the police fearing social embarrassment. On Tuesday morning, when the girl who was on her way to school reached near Kali temple, four masked assailants intercepted her and stabbed her inflicting multiple injuries. By the time, residents could come to her rescue, the accused fled the spot. The girl was rushed to a hospital where doctors pronounced her dead. Additional superintendent of police Vijay Pal Singh inspected the spot. Rehnuma Khan, 12, a student of Class 4, was sleeping on a bed in a cramped, low-roofed room of her house in Subhash Nagar area of Bareilly. Her younger brother Yusuf, 8, was sleeping beside her while her mother and other siblings occupied two other cots. There were seven people in the room but no one is sure as to when Rehnumas hair was chopped off. Meri bitiya subah-subah apne baal dekh ke rone lagi. Kisi cheez ne uske baal kaat diye (My granddaughter started crying after seeing her chopped hair. Something cut her hair), said Kaisar Jahan, 62, grandmother of Rehnuma. The incident that took place on August 3 was the first case of mysterious hair-chopping in Braj and Rohilkhand region. Five other cases came to light on the same day. People have applied turmeric and henna on their gates to avoid attacks. (Sachin Saini/HT Photo) In all the cases, women found their braids chopped off mysteriously and some of them also fell ill. In Mojampur village of Badaun, about 80 kilometres from Bareilly, a woman, Somwati, 32, had to be hospitalised after her braid was cut mysteriously. The incident took place at around 11 am on Thursday. After finding her hair chopped off, Somwati fainted and was rushed to the community health centre. In another case, Tabassum, 22, a resident of Bisauli town area in Badaun district, was sitting alone in a room at around 4 pm on Thursday (????) when she realised that a part of her braid has been chopped off by someone. When I turned around I saw a cat sitting near my hair. She disappeared as soon as my mother entered the room, Tabassum murmured from behind her red veil as her mother caressed her. She complained of uneasiness and nausea after the incident and was admitted to a private hospital. Initially, the local police did not play attention to these incidents but when the news reached Lucknow, teams rushed to the affected areas to take stock of the situation and collect evidence. The mass hysteria soon grabbed media attention. After the incident in our village, we didnt sleep all night. Everyone prayed to Allah for the safety of women and children, said Mohd Munaf Raza Khan, a resident of Mojampur village. Apart from prayers, villagers have started using others means to protect themselves. They are dipping their palms in turmeric and leaving its impression at the entrance of their houses to ward off evil. In the absence of turmeric, people are using henna, black paint or soil. Some people have fixed twigs of neem on the doors while others are putting green chillies, lemon, garlic and onion in their houses. The more cautious ones are applying mahawar or aalta (red dye) on their hands and feet. Women have started tying their hair in tight buns and covering it with dupattas. Residents of Banna Devi area of Aligarh, 132 km from Bisauli in Badaun, have also adopted various means to save themselves after a teenage girls hair was chopped off on Thursday evening. Reena Kumar, 16, a resident of Illiaspur locality near Aligarh, was alone at her house when she found a bunch of hair near her feet. I dont remember much as I was terrified, she said when asked how she could identify her hair in the dark. She is just a child, how much can she remember, her elder brother chipped in before she could finish. He added people were terrified after the incident. Ironically, mass hysteria rules the roost in the region where the incidents have done maximum damage. Barely 110 km away from Aligarh, an elderly woman was lynched by a group which branded her a witch on the suspicion that she was involved in hair chopping incidents. Police said Maan Devi, 60, a resident of Mutani in Agra, lost her way and reached another part of the village. Her son claimed she had weak eyesight and was returning home after attending the call of the nature. Some people claimed she was a witch behind chopping of womens hair and beat her up. She was taken to the hospital where she succumbed to injuries. The post-mortem report mentioned myocardial infarction (heart attack) due to physical shock as cause of her death. Police have charged two men with murder and have arrested one of them. She (Maan Devi) belonged to Jatav community and her attackers were Baghels. Her death has pitched the people of one community against the other, said Sumesh Singh, a member of the village panchyat. Bhoot ke chakkar main gaon main ek ko bhoot bana diya. Isse bura kya hoga, he rued. A constable was shot dead allegedly by his 17-year-old son in Uttar Pradeshs Kaushambi on Saturday night after he scolded him for not paying attention to studies, police said. Constable Motilal Pal, 45, a native of Chayal in Kaushambi, was posted at the writ cell in Bhadohi district while his wife Anita, daughter Divya and his son used to live in Bhoosa Gali of TP Nagar. Motilal, who was on a leave, reached home on Saturday and had a tiff with his wife. He also scolded his son for securing low marks in his class 11 examination and asked him to pay attention to studies. The boy, however, got agitated and attacked his father. He allegedly shot Motilal in the head with a country-made pistol which he had hidden in the house. The murder came to light on Sunday night when Motilals brother Ram Chander reached the house. He grew suspicious when his nephew refused to open the door. He broke open the door and found his brothers body lying on the floor. SSP Anand Kulkarni reached the spot and carried out investigations. The body was sent for autopsy. Motilals father Ram Prasad lodged a report in this connection accusing his daughter-in-law and grandson of murder. Circle officer, Civil Lines, Shreesh Chandra said the police were interrogating the accused to ascertain the involvement of other people in the incident. ELKO The National Weather Service issued several flash flood warnings for Nevada late Monday afternoon, including two in southwestern Elko County. At 4:27 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain flash flooding is expected to begin shortly, the agency warned. Areas expected to experience flooding include Emigrant Mine. Excessive rainfall over the Cole Creek and Red Springs burn scars will result in debris flow, the weather service said. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials. Warnings were also posted in southern Eureka County, Nye and White Pine counties. A flash flood watch remains in effect throughout the region until early Tuesday morning. Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads, the weather service advised. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Even as commuters in Mumbai were stranded thanks to the strike by Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) employees on Monday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was discussing Ganpati preparations in Mantralaya, said sources. The meeting was attended by BMC chief Ajoy Mehta, BEST general manager Dr Surendra Kumar Bagde and officials from the traffic department. According to BEST sources, there was no discussion done on the strike or the dire situation of the commuters. The meeting focussed on preparations for the upcoming festival, said a senior BEST official. Read: Mumbai BEST strike called off after Uddhav Thackeray promises to give salaries on time Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had sent a letter requesting an urgent meeting with the CM a day before the strike. Anil Kokil, BEST committee chairperson had also asked the CM to intervene. More than 36,000 BEST workers went on strike on Monday, affecting 29 lakh commuters. The strike was called off only after promises of timely salary payment and merging of BEST budget with BMC by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. After state housing minister Prakash Mehta faced graft allegations, another BJP minister Subhash Deshmukh is in a spot. Solapur-based Lokmangal Group, a conglomerate, which was founded by the state cooperation minister, has been accused of misusing farmers documents to take loans in their names. A handful of farmers in the district have alleged that two subsidiaries of the Lokmangal Group Lokmangal Agro Industries Pvt Limited and Lokmangal Sugar Ethanol & Cogeneration India Ltd used documents of farmers without their permission to obtain loans in their names from banks. Farmers and activists staged a protest in Solapur against the group on Monday. Despite several attempts, Deshmukh could not be reached for comment. His son Manish, a director of Lokmangal Agro Industries, also did not respond to several calls and text messages from HT. Last month, Gajanan Birajdar, a farmer from Solapurs Kusur taluka, filed a complaint with the Lokayukta, alleging that Lokmangal Sugar and the Union Bank of India committed a financial fraud by misusing his documents. He alleged that the company got a loan of Rs3 lakh in his name. Birajdar said Lokmangal Bank had loaned him a small amount and he was a member of Lokmangal Sugar, which is why the group had his documents. The farmer wrote in the letter, a copy of which is with HT, I have never been to the Union Bank of Indias Kasarvadi branch in Pune. I have never demanded or taken a loan from this bank. But when I went to other banks in Solapur to get a loan, a private bank checked my credit ratings. That is when I found out that I was a debtor to the Union Bank of India. Along with the Lokayukta, the farmer also addressed the letter to the director general of police, the Reserve Bank of India and the Solapur district collector. He added that when he inquired about the loan, Lokmangal Sugar repaid it with interest and the bank sent him a letter saying there were no dues in his name. Birajdar wrote that senior authorities of Lokmangal requested him to keep silent on the issue and also tried to put political pressure on him. Speaking to HT, Birajdar said, From my point of view, the matter is over. Lokmangal used my documents and took a loan in my name. I questioned the authorities and they repaid the loan. I only complained so that this doesnt happen again to anyone else. Similarly, Mahadev Bapu Maske, a farm labourer from Indapur village in Barshi taluka of Solapur received a letter from Dena Bank on July 23 , a copy of which is with HT, saying he has defaulted on a loan of Rs15 lakh taken from Lokmangal Agro Industries. The letter, which was also marked to Lokmangal Agro Industries, said the loan was taken in 2015-16 and the bank expected the payment to be made before June 2016. The bank asked Maske to pay Rs19.14 lakh, which included the principal amount and the interest, immediately or face action. Maske told HT, I am just a labourer and not even a member of Lokmangal. I dont own even an inch of land. I only visited the Lokmangal factory once for labour. I had not even heard of Dena Bank before this and have no idea where it is to even visit it and figure out what has happened. The notice caused me so much stress that I fell ill. Local Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Basavaraj Bagle who participated in Mondays protest, said, So far 15-20 such cases have come up but there are hundreds more that we are examining. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An aggressive Opposition rocked the state Assembly on Tuesday as it convened after a three-day break demanding resignations of two cabinet ministers, housing minister Prakash Mehta and industries minister Subhash Desai. Soon after the house proceedings began in the lower house, the Opposition demanded a debate on corruption cases. Mehta is facing a series of allegations of irregularities and graft in redevelopment projects, possessing assets disproportionate to his source of income. Desai is under attack for denotifying thousands of acres of industrial land across the state without following procedures. The Opposition has termed this corruption of Rs50,000 crore and demanded a special Investigation team probe into it, apart from resignations of the ministers. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised an inquiry into allegations against Mehta pertaining to a slum redevelopment project in Tardeo, but the state has not yet announced the details of this probe. The Congress has demanded a judicial commission against Mehta. Leader of Opposition Radharishna Vikhe-Patil and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar said the huge tracts of land at Igatpuri was denotified to favour a private builder. They said the land was denotified despite the opposition of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Desai, however, said the denotification was according to the existing rules and only after a nod from the MIDC. He cited the examples of denotification done by then ministers during the Congress government in 2010 and 2014. He said he was ready to face any inquiry and debate the issue in the house. However, a section within the Congress feel that by targeting Desai and thus two ministers, the Opposition is diluting its stance against Mehta. The case and allegations against Mehta are very serious and we can get his resignation if we gun for this case. For starters, the CM has agreed to a probe against his cabinet colleague (Mehta) and logically the minister must step down until the probe is over. However, by also asking for Desais resignation, we are playing into BJPs hands. The charges against Desai are not serious, said a senior Congress leader. For more than a year now, there has been a fierce tussle in the Nationalist Congress Party over support to the BJP. At a party meeting some months ago, the two sides even nearly came to blows as the independent side accused the BJP supporters of having sold Pawars reputation for fierce independence down the drain. Tumhi sahebana vikat ghetla aahe (You have bought him), was the exact accusation. The dispute was resolved only when Pawar, who had been listening silently to the altercation, suddenly piped up to say he considered Modi a great leader who would take the country forward by leaps and bounds. The sarcasm in his deadpan tone was evident to his supporters and that silenced those rooting for the BJP for some months. But NCP workers were right that those with business interests to safeguard in Gujarat and elsewhere, including Maharashtra, had compromised Pawar who was holding out only because of the socialist ethos he had been brought up in and that was ingrained into his personal constitution. But now with all the arbitrary dealings of the ruling party with the opposition look at last weeks income tax raid against the Karnataka minister who had financed the sequestering of Gujarat MLAS in Bangalore fear is what is driving the NCP to support the BJP. The I-T raid against the Karnataka minister DS Shiva Kumar may have yielded nothing but I am not so sure the NCP would have covered its tracks sufficiently to avoid escaping action from government authorities. While, despite finger pointing over the years, there has been not an iota of evidence against Sharad Pawar, the same cannot be said about others in his party. Pawar has been rendered particularly vulnerable by his nephews alleged involvement in a multi-crore irrigation scam and even Congress chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Prithviraj Chavan had enough documents to prove that complicity but they held their fire owing to coalition compulsions. There are others, though. While the ruling dispensation has so far ignored cases in Maharashtra, barring that relating to former public works department minister Chhagan Bhujbal who is already cooling his heels in jail, some relating to NCP ministers in the Union government have already caught their eye though there is nothing yet to suggest they may go much ahead in seeing them to their conclusion. But that is a message to the NCP to toe the line or face the consequences and, after Nitish Kumar in Bihar, Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra would be a big catch for the BJP. The NCP s decision to vote for the BJP too in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls ( it has two MLAs in the state and apparently one voted for the Congress and the other for the BJP) is a step in that direction but, as yet, the glass is only half full and Pawar not quite fully in the bag. But it is unlikely that the NCP will survive this betrayal of its own cause at the grassroots, either in Gujarat or in Maharashtra. In Gujarat, the NCP at best can play third fiddle to the BJP, after the JD (U) which will continue to be of more importance to the ruling party for a long time to come. In Maharashtra, recent surveys by the Shiv Sena, I am told, are already indicating that the hand is rising in rural areas. That is the space that the NCP is conceding to the Congress which may have done nothing right in recent times but the people believe it has done nothing wrong either. After the BJP, it was the Congress that led during the civic polls early this year across Maharashtra and that position is being automatically consolidated with the Sena having to share its urban space with the BJP while the rural might almost completely back the Congress. If the NCP is on the BJPs side, three parties in the same space would be a crowd for the voters with only the Congress offering them a choice. Clearly Pawar is not unaware of these ground realities but is playing both sides as he has to protect both his personal interests and political turf. So I would think it is now the turn of the BJP to savour Pawars fickleness. What you see is not what you get with Sharad Pawar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON While the Mumbai police on Monday arrested an IT professional who allegedly followed a designer up to her house in Lokhandwala, rang her doorbell and stood outside her building on Sunday night, they are yet to act against complaints of noise from Metro-3 work, which residents allege, is beyond permissible limit. Meanwhile, sources revealed while Mumbai was suffering owing to BEST strike, CM Devendra Fadnavis was discussing the preparations for Ganpati. Three children, who were abandoned by their mother at a Mumbai railway station, have been adopted by a US couple. Here are our top five: 1. Mumbai IT professional stalks designer, rings her doorbell at 2am, arrested The Mumbai police on Monday arrested an IT professional who allegedly followed a designer up to her house in Lokhandwala, rang her doorbell and stood outside her building on Sunday night. Aditi Nagpaul filed a complaint and later narrated her ordeal in a Facebook post. 2. Abandoned by mother at Mumbai railway station, three kids set to move to the US Twenty months after they were found abandoned at Ghatkopar railway station, three siblings two boys and a girl are set to go to the United States (US), as Bombay high court recently cleared their international adoption by a US couple. Mark Stoll, 42 and his 43-year-old wife Annette have adopted 5-year-old Rahul, 4-year-old Durga and 2-year-old Suraj. 3. BEST strike: While Mumbai suffered, CM held a meeting on Ganpati preparations Even as commuters in Mumbai were stranded thanks to the strike by Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) employees on Monday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was discussing Ganpati preparations in Mantralaya, said sources. The meeting was attended by BMC chief Ajoy Mehta, BEST general manager Dr Surendra Kumar Bagde and officials from the traffic department. 4. Mumbai dahi handis to go higher, grander: Height to age limit, its different this year Remarking that an accident could take place anywhere, even in ones own home, or the toilet, and that the courts need not issue regulations for everything, the Bombay high court on Monday refused to issue directions regulating the age of participants, and the height limit for the human pyramids formed during dahi handi celebrations. Heres what it means for Mumbai. 5. Mumbai Metro-3 work on through the night, SoBo residents say their noise complaints ignored Despite several complaints, the police havent taken steps to reduce noise from the construction work of Metro-3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz corridor), which goes on through the night, claim residents of south Mumbai. The noise is between 90 decibels (dB) and 100 decibels (dB), which is well beyond the permissible limit for residential areas and silence zones, said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee, NGO Watchdog Foundation, which filed a complaint with the Mumbai police on Monday. The Mumbai Police on Monday arrested an IT professional, who allegedly followed a fashion designer up to her house, rang her doorbell, and stood outside her building late on Sunday, days after a disc jockey was stalked and harassed in Chandigarh allegedly by the Haryana BJP chief Subhash Baralas son. Aditi Nagpaul, a resident of posh Shastri Nagar in Lokhandwala, said the incident took place on Veera Desai Road when she was returning home in her car with her two children. Niteshkumar Sharma, 36, according to police, saw the car and started following her. The CCTV footage from the building shows the man standing outside, they added. Sharma, a Malad resident, left the spot only after Nagpaul raised an alarm, said senior police inspector Bharat Gaikwad. He dint have any fear in his eyes, a fear of being captured by security cameras, interrogation by security guards or threats of Police! He just hung around coolly in his car long after the incident very comfortable in getting his pictures clicked! (sic) Nagpaul wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. The accused (left) after being arrested by officer Daya Nayak (right). (ANI) Nagpaul immediately approached the police at Amboli, who filed an FIR under section 354 (D) (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code. The police sent out a team and traced the man on Monday night. Chandigarh resident Varnika Kundu was allegedly stalked by Baralas son Vikas and his friend Ashish Kumar while she was driving home on August 4 at around 12.30am. Twitter users were quick to react, demanding action. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit thanked the police after they arrested Sharma. Cases of crimes against women have been on the rise in Mumbai, which is considered to be Indias safest city for women to travel alone, even at night. According to data, 2393 police complaints were registered under Section 354 and 509 (molestation and outraging the modesty of women) of the IPC until November 30, 2016. The number of complaints about molestations was 2002 and 391 offences were registered for outraging the modesty of women. Read: Chandigarh stalking: Police find key CCTV proof against Haryana BJP chiefs son Maharashtra housing minister Prakash Mehta, under attack over allegations of graft in redevelopment projects,, was on Monday hit by another accusation of owning assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Mehtas election affidavits show a 1,500% increase in his wealth in 10 years (2004 to 2014) from Rs 2.01 crore to Rs32.01 crore. In addition, the housing minister, in his 2009 affidavit, did not mention his son Harshs flat in Laxmi Bhawan, being revamped by Sai Nidhi Realtors Private Limited, in which he was the director until 2014. This redevelopment project is currently at the centre of a controversy, with the Opposition alleging Mehta had given flats under the project to his son and other kin at the cost of original tenants. Mehta was unavailable for comment because his phone was switched off. Social activist Ankit Shah, who pointed to the discrepancies and sudden increase in Mehtas income in his election affidavits, plans to file a complaint of disproportionate assets with the anti-corruption bureau (ACB). There is no explanation of this exponential rise in income. There is a lot of mismatch between the assets declared and the income generated. This is a clear cut case of disproportional assets, said Shah. Shah also accused Mehta of concealing information because he did not declare in his 2009 election affidavit that his son Harsh had purchased a house in 2006 in Laxmi Bhavan. Shah also plans to write to the Election Commission (EC) demanding Mehtas disqualification for concealing the information. So far, Mehta had defended his stance in the Laxmi Bhavan redevelopment by pointing out his son and kin were genuine beneficiaries in the project. But Shah says this begs the question why the asset was not declared in Mehtas affidavit. The latest allegation will further weaken Mehtas position as the monsoon session of state legislature resumes on Tuesday after a three-day break. Sources in the Opposition said they will continue the attack on the housing minister with this latest accusation. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan (Congress) on Monday indicated hardening of stance by holding a press conference in Delhi calling for Mehtas resignation and a judicial inquiry against him. The Opposition had stalled legislature proceedings last week saying unless Mehta resigned, they would not resume work. The state housing ministers fate could well be decided in the next four days before the end of the monsoon session. Troubles for Mehta began with allegations of violating norms in a slum redevelopment scheme in Tardeo to benefit a developer of around Rs 800-Rs1,000 crore. In this case, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had been dragged into the controversy with Mehta claiming initially that the decision was cleared by him. This was followed by corruption allegations in a transit camp-turned slum redevelopment project at Ghatkopar, again allegedly to benefit a developer. In this case, too, the opinion and negative remarks of the department had been ignored by the minister. The third allegation was about Mehtas son and kin benefitting for a redevelopment project at the cost of original tenants. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fearing traffic snarls owing to the Maratha Kranti Morcha on August 9, the states school education department has asked all schools in south Mumbai to remain shut for a day. The protest is expected to draw around 1.5lakh to 2lakh people from across Maharashtra. A circular issued by the department on Tuesday afternoon states that traffic jams are expected across the city especially south Mumbai. The starting point of the rally is at Byculla and it is expected to culminate 6km away at Bombay Gymkhana. Authorities fear this will throw traffic in these areas out of gear through the day. School vehicles might get stuck for hours in the traffic. Thats why south Mumbai schools should be shut on August 9, read the circular issued by BB Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai region. Earlier, the Mumbai police had apprised schools and colleges in South Mumbai of the protest so they could take a call on whether they want to declare Wednesday a non-working day, but the department has asked officials to inform schools in that zone to remain shut. Read: Maratha morcha on Wednesday: Traffic curbs in Mumbai, avoid these routes for a smoother commute We have instructed our officials to inform all schools immediately, said Chavan. This order is for all schools, irrespective of boards or managements. Cathedral and John Connon School, Fort, has already declared a holiday. We have announced a day off for the students, as we are located close to the Bombay Gymkhana, so technically, we will be in the eye of the storm, said Meera Isaacs, principal of the school. St Marys Schools, ICSE and SSC, in Mazgaon, St Xaviers Boys School, Fort, too will remain shut. We decided to keep the school shut after receiving a call from the deputy director, said Father Francis Swamy, joint-secretary of the Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE), which runs 150-odd schools. Some schools in Dadar, Matunga and Sion, will remain open, but school buses will not ply. We are not giving an official holiday, it is up to the parents to send children, said principal, Dadar Parsee Youth Assembly. Meanwhile, schools in other parts of the city too are worried about traffic snarls. We have requested our school to give a day off on Wednesday, said Anil Bornare, senior teacher, Swami Muktananda School, Chembur. Although the rally will end in south Mumbai, there is bound to be some spillover on to the central suburbs, causing traffic jams here too. Read: Maratha Kranti Morcha in Mumbai: Plan Wednesdays commute better to avoid traffic SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To boost heritage conservation in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and a company are set to restore the British-era milestones in the city. The first restored milestone is to be inaugurated at Parel on Wednesday morning. While demolishing stalls behind KEM hospital in April, BMC officials discovered the relic with V miles inscribed on it. Though there are 14 other Grade-1 heritage milestones in the city, only seven of them have been discovered, said a BMC official. Conservationists knew the approximate location of the undiscovered milestones, said the official. The BMC, Khaki Tours and the NGO D&J Foundation would restore all milestones, which had been damaged owing to road works or encroachments, said another official. Estimated to be more than 200 years old, the milestones were built to measure distance. The first milestone is near St Thomas Cathedral near Kala Ghoda. Two more milestones are near Sion Fort and at Kataria Marg in Mahim. Vishwas Mote, assistant commissioner of the F/South ward, has been spearheading the restoration works. Through active citizen participation, we are looking to restore a part of our history. We are also hoping that this model gets replicated in other restoration works, he said. Mote said the next milestone to be restored is opposite Chitra cinema in Dadar. It has VI Miles inscribed on it. Another VI milestone at Dadasaheb Phalke Road will also be restored. Bharat Gothoskar from Khaki Tours, which runs heritage walks in the city, said, The V milestone was completely encroached. When it was discovered, only its tip was visible. For bringing it back to its original glory, we extracted the stone without causing damages, created an embankment around it and also cleaned it. We are looking at micro-conservation as the city has several lost relics that need to be re-discovered. READ Of milestones, urban histories and central Bombay heritage Mumbai civic body finds British-era milestone during demolition drive SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Despite several complaints, the police havent taken steps to reduce noise from the construction work of Metro-3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz corridor), which goes on through the night, claim residents of south Mumbai. The noise is between 90 decibels (dB) and 100 decibels (dB), which is well beyond the permissible limit for residential areas and silence zones, said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee, NGO Watchdog Foundation, which filed a complaint with the Mumbai police on Monday. The World Health Organisation said long-term exposure to noise in the range of 85db-90db can lead to hearing loss. Noise standards laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, require silence zones to have 45dB and 40dB in the day and at night, respectively. The complaint stated those living on Vidhan Bhavan Marg and near Churchgate station called up the police on May 23 at 3.48am. Eight more complaints were filed between June 9 and June 19 -- all of them between 9pm and 6amwhile three complaints were filed between July 8 and 26 between 1am and 4am. The last complaint was filed on August 5 at 6.51am, the NGO stated. Read: Mumbai metro-3: Shiv Sena rejects BJPs proposal to give 4,000 sqm plot at Andheri Nariman Point residents told HT they filed two police complaints about the work going on near YB Chavan Centre between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Noise levels are unbearable since March. We cant get rest. Even the children cant study, said Shalini Lunkad, Nariman Point resident, who has filed maximum police complaints from the area. We understand the Metro authorities want to rush the work, but not at the cost of the health of citizens. Some residents confronted the contractor, but were turned away saying, do what you like, we will not stop the work at night, said Pimenta. We demand an immediate inquiry in the matter. Noise levels need to be measured. The police should file first-information-reports (FIRs) against the contractors of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC). Representatives of MMRC refused to comment. We have already directed officers from different police stations to measure the noise levels at site. A report will be drafted after the investigation. If we find the noise rules are being violated, we will take appropriate action against Metro authorities, said Pravin Padwal, additional commissioner of police, south region. Officials from the state pollution control board said they had suggested several measures to reduce noise levels. We had suggested use of noise barriers, installation of acoustic shields or covering up the area of construction before starting construction. We will check whether it has been done, said a senior official from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. Read: Trees cut illegally for Mumbai Metro-3? Bombay high court asks MMRCL to respond to plea SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnaviss pet project Mumbai-Nagpur Super Communications Expressway which is already facing hurdles owing to corruption allegations levelled against IAS officer Radheshyam Mopalwar, is unlikely to be completed on time. The state is keen to kick-off the civil construction of the 706-km expressway by October but the detailed project report (DPR) is not ready yet. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is still on the first stage of bidding. MSRDC recently extended the deadline for submitting bids. The extension was sought by companies to complete paperwork. The new date is August 11, said Kiran Kurundkar, joint managing director, MSRDC. The corporation had received 27 bids for 16 construction packages. Out of that, only 10 companies were eligible. So certain conditions were relaxed to increase competition and a fresh bids were called, a senior official added. This was the third round of bids for the project since January 2. A senior official working on the project said evaluating new bids would take a month. After that, we can call for bids. In the meantime, the DPR will be ready, which is a prerequisite for floating bids, the official said. Apart from the technical challenges, Fadnavis pet project faces a political challenge. After the CM told the legislative assembly that the allegation against Mopalwar, who headed MSRDC, do not pertain to the project, the Congress and NCP are planning to corner the government over the issue in the last few days of the monsoon session. Congress is also planning to demand an independent audit of the project. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the party will discuss this in a meeting on Tuesday. The process of acquisition is controversial. Several officials have bought land along the alignment. The project must be audited by an independent institution, Sawant said. Baban Harne, convener of Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti, a body which is spearheading the opposition to the expressway, said, An independent audit of the alignment that was planned by Mopalwar must be conducted by the CM given the current scenario. We will write to the CM demanding an audit. Days after Mopalwar was suspended, the state gave CIDCO MD Bhushan Gagrani the additional charge of the corporation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 32-year-old man travelling from Mumbai to Pune in a Shivneri bus saw the person sitting next to him using a laptop, which was the same as his. He told the man that he had the same device and received a smile in return. After this, the co-passenger shut the laptop, put it in his bag and got off at the next stop. On reaching Pune, the 35-year-old found that his own laptop was missing. It was then that he realised that the laptop that the co-passenger was working on was his. The 32-year-old is not the only one who lost his laptop in a Shivneri bus. Around 17 others have approached the Matunga police and the Pune police complaining about their laptops being stolen. The common factor: All of them lost the gadgets while commuting on Shivneri buses. After the Matunga police received the latest complaint on July 15, it prepared a team of three officers who found that there 83 Shivneri buses ply between Pune and Mumbai daily. They arrested Tanvir Choudhary, 30, Mansoor Rajput, 32, both from Uttar Pradesh and Hasan Qureshi, a resident of Bhendi Bazaar, on the route on Monday while they were flicking bags at Lonavala, which is a halt. The officers studied the pattern of the thefts and found that all of them took place during peak hours, said N Ambika, deputy commissioner of police (zone IV). The team travelled from Mumbai to Pune and back for 15 days, hoping for a lead. Inspector Dnyaneshwar Kharmate of the Matunga police said that the trio has confessed to 17 thefts so far. They have been stealing laptops for three to four months now. For each laptop, they would get Rs7,000 that they would split amongst themselves, said inspector Vijaykumar Ambarge. The three targeted Shivneri buses as the passengers are normally well to do and many carry laptops to offices in Mumbai, added Ambika. The modus operandi was simple. The three either robbed commuters early in the morning or late in the evening. They would buy bus tickets in a way so that their seats were far apart. When the buses stopped at the food court at Lonavala, they checked the bags on the overhead luggage shelf for laptops. On finding such a bag, they would wait until the owner fell asleep. The passengers normally take a nap after eating. This is when one of them would open the laptop bag and pass the device to his accomplice, who then transferred it into his own bag. The three would get off at the very next stop, said inspector Asmita Bhosle. Qureshi used to buy the stolen laptops from the other two and give them Rs7,000 to 10,000 for each. The police have recovered laptops worth Rs5.40 lakh from the trio and are now looking for other gang members. Police suspect involvement of two others in the thefts. The dolphins, whales, porpoises and turtles that wash ashore Mumbais beaches injured will soon get medical aid at the citys first marine mammal rescue centre. Proposed at Juhu beach, the centre is part of the governments plan to invest Rs1 crore to build rescue centres in every district along Maharashtras 720-km coastline. Between 2015 and 2017, 77 carcasses washed ashore on Mumbais beaches 15 of them this year alone. Any that may have survived died for lack of medical help, which the centre at Juhu aims to change. We have identified a 1,000sqft area at Juhu. It will be open on all sides and have a shed covering it, almost like a shack as the area falls under the coastal regulation zone (CRZ)-I and construction is not allowed, said Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forests, state mangrove cell. Currently, the structure is being designed. Work should be completed by December and the centre will be fully operational by January. Ghodke said Juhu was chosen as it was at the centre of the citys west coast. Mumbai needed such a rescue centre as the most number of mammal strandings were reported from the west coast, said Ghodke. The centre will also be useful to study protected marine species. READ: Rare 60kg whale washes ashore Rajodi beach near Mumbai, dies during rescue by fishermen For instance, last month, a seven-and-a-half foot sperm whale washed ashore at the Rajodi Beach between Virar and Nalasopara. It was not clear at first if it was a juvenile, pygmy or dwarf of the sperm whale species. Both the dwarf and pygmy species are protected under schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. A week later, after researchers dug out the body and studied the carcass, it was confirmed the mammal was a Dwarf sperm whale. The Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association (WCAWA) in Dahanu will assist the rescue cell with veterinary operations. WCAWA has treated about 200 turtles over seven years. While a large number of dead turtles are pulled back into the sea, the NGO has calculated an average of 50 turtle deaths in Mumbai a year. The rescue centre will act as a preliminary treatment centre with facilities such as x-ray, gaseous anesthesia and first-aid. It will function like a small hospital, said Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, a wildlife veterinarian and turtle expert, WCAWA. READ: Three injured Olive Ridley turtles wash ashore in three days near Mumbai While amenities to treat marine mammals like dolphins, whales and porpoises will be provided by the forest department, our focus will be to provide care for turtles. The turtles will be shifted to Dahanu for long-term treatment. Ghost nets used by fishermen was one of the major reasons so many turtles and marine animals get injured and wash ashore, Dr Vinherkar said. It is a source of pollution in the sea. These mammals and reptiles are getting stuck in them. Another source of harm is the propeller engines on boats. With the rise in sea traffic, more animal injuries are being reported said Dr Vinherkar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A taxi driver refusing a trip or autorickshaw overcharging all you need is an app to lodge your complaint. The transport department has launched web and Android applications that commuters can use to complain about fare refusal, overcharging and rash-driving, among others. The app will let you track the status of your complaints too. The transport departments app was developed with the help of Mahaonline, a joint venture between the state government and Tata Consultancy Services. The mobile application is free on the Google Play Store, said a senior official. Pravin Gedam, transport commissioner said the citizens complaints through the apps will be addressed within 7-15 days. READ: Learn to say no to fourth seats in share autos The mobile app also has an SOS button for passengers to use in case of an emergency. The transport department has been developing the mobile app since last year, but the process sped up after a Bombay high court directive to introduce an effective complaint-redressal system by May. Until now, registering a complaint was tedious process. So far, for complaints about auto and taxi drivers refusing trips, commuters either had to file written complaints at the RTO or call the helpline which most often did not work. For complaints about licence and applications, the only option was to write to the RTO, with no way to track the status of the complaint. The system will be interactive and is under development. Commuters will receive alerts via texts, said another official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON While 63-year-old Asha Sahanis body was decomposing in her flat on the 10th floor of Bellscot Tower in Lokhandwala, the residents of the Oshiwara society thought the stench was from a nullah in the vicinity, which connects to the creek. The nullah emanated foul smell most of the time, so people didnt suspect something was amiss. Sahani, 63, lived alone in the flat, as her maid and driver left the job after her husbands death in 2013. According to society members, the son, Rituraj, told them that she had also not been in touch with him since last April. She had purportedly told her son that she planned to shift to an old age home, the details of which she didnt give. Deputy commissioner of police Paramjit Singh Dahiya said, Rituraj is the son from Ashas first husband and she stayed with her second husband, who also died in 2013. The flats belonged to him. Rituraj is a Non Residential Indian (NRI) and was staying in the US for a long time. Members of the society said they had informed the police about her disappearance about six months ago, when she could not be reached to pay the maintenance bill. However, the Oshiwara police denied this. A member of the society who did not wish to be named told HT that the last maintenance bill that Sahani paid was in April, 2016. Roughly around February 2017, some of us went and knocked on her door. When no one responded, we informed the police, he said. He added that they did not have her son Riturajs contact number. The residents of the society then made enquiries and one of them contacted Rituraj and also emailed him about his mothers dues. We did tell him that there had been no response from his mother, he said. Senior inspector Subhash Khanvilkar of Oshiwara police station denied any complaint from the society. We came to know about her disappearance on Saturday when her son informed us about it, he said. According to the preliminary inquiry, we dont suspect any foul play. But we have been sending the remains of the body for chemical analysis, said Khanvilkar. An official said, We are checking the sons credentials to find out if he came to Mumbai on Sunday afternoon. We will inquire at the airport to find out about his arrival. In an unusual sighting for the city, a pair of peacocks a male and a peahen was spotted by residents of Dadar Parsi Colony on Tuesday around 10am. There have been no reports of peacocks in this area for decades. As long as we have been living here, this is the first time a peacock, more so a pair, has been spotted, said Nikhil Desai, a resident Dadar Parsi Colony and member of the ALM. The birds were first spotted near the agairy (Parsi temple) within the colony, which is surrounded by trees. They later flew to the roof of one of the buildings. The national bird, peacock is protected under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. In Mumbai, these birds have been spotted at Raj Bhawan, Malabar Hill, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and areas surrounding areas of Yeoor and Thane. Other residents said that they immediately rang the animal welfare officers upon spotting the birds. I saw one of the birds from my window. I couldnt belive my eyes that it was a peacock, said Katie Bagli, another resident. Worried that it could be in distress, I informed an animal welfare officer and asked him to rescue the bird. Bird rescuers claimed the peacocks had travelled from Raj Bhavan in Malabar Hill, which is home for nearly 20 peacocks. I tried rescuing the birds, but they were sitting on on tall tree. We have asked the residents to inform us if these birds come down from their perches. We will rescue and release them at SGNP, said Murlidhar S Jadhav, animal welfare officer from Ghatkopar However, experts from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) said peacocks cannot fly this far. It is definitely an unusual sight, but if they have actually come from Raj Bhavan or even SGNP, then somebody wouldve identified their movement. The other possibility is they might have escaped after being kept confined, said Deepak Apte, director, BNHS. While this bird is not endangered, their population is declining in India because of pesticide related mortalities. He said city-based monitoring of the peacocks and a detailed survey to identify the factors threatening their survival was the need need of the hour. Peacock death in April Animal welfare officers from south Mumbai said this was not the first time that peacocks have ventured into residential areas. On April 30 , residents of Grand Paradi bungalow, Peddar Road, informed animal welfare officer Anuj Khanvilkar about a peacock that had entered one of the bungalows. When I reached the spot, I found that the bird had already died. In such situations, the protocol is to inform the forest department, as it is a schedule 1 species. The forest department collected the birds body, said Khanvilkar. He added that there are several threats to the bird at Raj Bhawan. There is a growing population of mongoose that has been eating their eggs and street dogs chase the birds. If these two aspects are controlled, their habitat can be safeguarded. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After repeated security breaches at the Juhu aerodrome, the hub of helicopter operations in the city will now be guarded by the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF). On Monday, 40 of 160 guards began their aviation security training, while the others were deployed at spots identified as vulnerable. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) also shut down the Pawan Hans (chopper operator) main gate and is allowing access only from the AAI gate. These steps have been take to improve security, after several trespassers managed to enter the airport, considered a sensitive security zone. The airport, which has two cross runways, is mainly used by private charters and ONGC to ferry personnel by Pawan Hans choppers to offshore oil rigs. The new security guards will man the aerodrome round-the-clock. AAI first wanted to hire personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) - which provides security at Mumbai airport. But the plan was dropped after issues about accommodating the staff. In 2013, MSF was suggested as an alternative. In July 2016, the ministry of civil aviation agreed and recommended a survey by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The approvals came in this year. The move to have one main gate instead of two comes after MoCA raised security concerns in March. Dr M K Bimal, airport director at Juhu aerodrome said, The Maharashtra Security Force guards have the power to arrest anyone who tries to enter the aerodrome premises without a valid entry permit. A group of seven, including six minors, who used to rob people of their mobile phones, often at knifepoint, was finally caught in Goregaon. The Dindoshi police have also arrested a mobile phone seller for buying the stolen phones from them. The investigation into the crime started after a patrolling team found an Ola driver shouting for help near Oberoi mall in Goregaon (East) on Saturday. The driver told the police that a group of five to six boys apprehended him and snatched his phone at knifepoint. The police team chased and nabbed four of the six boys. Upon frisking them, the police found the drivers phone. They were brought in for questioning and the racket busted, said Vinaykumar Rathod, deputy commissioner of police, zone XII. The police recovered more mobile phones from their house. After questioning them, the police detained another two minor boys and arrested 29-year-old Shahabuddin Mansuri on Sunday. The accused confessed that they used to target taxi and autorickshaw drivers and daily wage workers at night and would rob them of their mobile phones at knifepoint. They would also break into chawls and shops. They would take the stolen phones to Mubarak Kharojiya, 20, who used a flasher device to wipe data. He would buy the phones at a cheaper rate from them and sell them. The police recovered around 35 stolen phones from Kharojiya. The police have recovered 75 mobile phones, some of them iPhones, worth Rs 6.22 lakh. Nine mobile theft cases have been registered in Dindoshi police station. Mansuri has been remanded in police custody till August 10. The minors were sent to childrens remand home. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Students of JJ School of Art will work with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as consultants for construction of an iconic Rs300-crore textile museum in Mumbai. The civic body will sign a contract with the school to prepare a vision document for the museum and design the interiors. The students have been roped in at a cost of Rs 15 crore. Eight years after the museum was proposed, the BMC started work on the textile museum which will be spread over 10 acres, and will be constructed at United Mills, at Kalachowkie. A civic official said, As the museum is planned on a mill compound, we want a to recreate old culture which will attract young crowd. The students will be able to help with that. The proposal will be been tabled before BMCs standing committee at an upcoming meet. Read: To celebrate Mumbais textile mill legacy, BMC to develop textile museum Around 2,700 employees of Cambata Aviation, once a leading ground handling agency in airports, have been not paid for the last 17 months ever since they ceased operation. The employees, led by social activist Anjali Damania, started an agitation on Tuesday at Azad Maidan demanding the immediate payment of dues. Cambata was one of the leading companies having its operations in Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Goa airports. After it shut in August last year, the owners left for the US and so they were unavailable for comment. Attempts to contact the management of Cambata Aviation too failed. According to Damania, the workers are facing serious problems. The workers are on the streets and there is no response either from the company nor the government. Their hard-earned money is not being paid to them, she said. Around 500 employees have retired but they have not been given retirement dues. She said the state government should direct the Mumbai International Airport Limited to take responsibility to clear the dues. Damania said there was mismanagement of funds which resulted in losses. Company sources refuted this, saying massive investments were done in the company. They said that their attempt to sell the company was stalled by the political outfit which had a union in Cambata. State labour minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar was not available for comment despite several attempts. Pandurang Kadam, 46, worked with the company for 23 years. My daughter who was diagnosed with tumour is no more. We faced a harrowing time and spent a lot of money for her treatment, he said. Another employee Udav Jadhav is being supported by his relatives. I am worried about my childrens education, said Jadhav. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A president campaigns with promises to achieve a specific goal. The House goes along. The Senate begins to examine the matter, accedes to various lawmakers demands for special favors and concessions, but the process runs into resistance. Commentators ask why a Republican president with a Republican House and a Republican Senate cant pass a major element of the Republican platform. That describes the legislative history of the Smoot-Hawley tariff bill of 1930, admittedly an unfortunate comparison to President Donald J. Trump and his efforts to win repeal of Obamacare. That tariff bill eventually passed into law, beginning a debate that continues to this very day about whether it caused, or deepened, the Great Depression. That debate is beside the point, at least for this column. What is relevant is the process and the political implications. Hoovers inability to manage Congress was rooted in a fundamental and amateurish misapprehension of his job, Kenneth Whyte writes in a new (refreshingly positive) biography of the 31st president, to be published two months from now. He adds: His ascension to the presidency without benefit of the usual Republican machinery had duped him into thinking that he had little need of his partys congressional potentates. The result of the Trump experience with health care the president has described some Republicans as fools and said that if the GOP doesnt try again to repeal Obamacare they would be total quitters is a fresh set of questions about what the Republican Party is all about, and who is a Republican. These kinds of questions have been raised before. They arose, for example, during the Barry Goldwater insurgency of 1964, again during the Ronald Reagan ascendancy in 1976 and 1980, and a third time when religious conservatives became a vital element of the GOP coalition around 1988. And these questions are not confined to the Republican Party. The Democrats asked similar searching questions about 1968 and over the next three decades, when they lost five out of six presidential elections and might have lost them all had not the Republicans been burdened by the Watergate scandal in 1976. But this month the question is taking on new urgency, prompted by the rise of a president who once was a Democrat and who won the White House by running against the establishment of the very party that gave him its presidential nomination. Goldwater tried that more than a half-century ago and failed. By the time Reagan won his first nomination, in 1980, he had a good deal of the establishment behind him, and his running mate, George H.W. Bush, whose father was a Connecticut senator, was a gold-plated member of that establishment. Trumps Republican Party is something entirely new. The GOP is being re-formed, or reformed, at this very moment. Sober voices are asking whether some members the names of Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska inevitably are invoked here are really Republicans after all, and whether they ought to be allowed to remain under the partys policy umbrella. The fact is that last year after Trump won, everyone was on the same page: full repeal of Obamacare, says Andrew Roth, the chief lobbyist for the Club for Growth, a conservative group that emphasizes economic issues, especially lower taxes. When the vote came and it mattered, some Republicans betrayed their campaign promises. The truth is that they largely believe in keeping Obamacare going. Theyre too liberal for the constituents they represent. Some establishment figures, meanwhile, are wondering whether they are welcome anymore. Like all presidents, Trump is remaking his party in his own image. Establishment Republicans grinned and bore the insults they received last year from the Trump campaign, figuring that establishment figures such as Reince Priebus, who had been the chair of the Republican National Committee, would steer the White House toward a traditional approach to Washington power centers, interest groups and what is known as the regular order in the capital. But Trumps impulses tend toward disrupting the regular order, and his supporters marginalized voters who felt economically and culturally alienated fully embraced those impulses and found a comfortable home in the new Trump coalition last November. The question is whether that coalition is a party. Trump is defying the physics of politics by trying as an outsider to transform dissent into a political force that lasts beyond a single election. Franklin Delano Roosevelt may have mobilized dissent in 1932, but he was a distant relative to a president, a Navy official, a vice-presidential nominee and the governor of the most important state before becoming president. FDR may have been a traitor to his class, but he was no outsider. The lack of precedent to the Trump ascendancy at least since Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, in a political system that bears no resemblance to ours is one reason the president is struggling with his fellow Republicans, particularly in the Senate, where the chambers rules reward independence. Then add this: The party that Trump is trying to transform has been, since 1908, the party of the establishment itself. Establishment figures are uncomfortable in rebel roles. The leading exception (Theodore Roosevelt, beginning in 1912) was himself a state assemblyman, a governor, a vice president and a president who served nearly two full terms in the White House. And while Woodrow Wilson took over a conservative Democratic Party and transformed it into a progressive vanguard, he was no rebel personally. He had, after all, been president of Princeton, then as conservative an institution, perhaps more so, as any in the land. Trump is reflective of our society, says Craig Shirley, who worked for the presidential campaigns of Reagan and both Bushes. Hes a product of the iPhone and the iPad. Kennedy and Reagan were special because they spoke of we and ours. Trump isnt thinking about building a party. He fits in with people who ran against the status quo. But the question is what the Republican Party looks like after Trump. Its the biggest question of the day. Grieving parents of deceased class 4 student, Arman Sehgal, staged a sit-in outside the main entrance of GD Goenka School in Indirapuram on Tuesday. Their 10-year-old son attended the school on August 1 and died after a fall at the school campus. He was declared brought dead within minutes of being rushed to Shanti Gopal Hospital. According to the postmortem report of Arman, the death was caused due to an internal head injury but his parents said there is no clarity on how the incident took place inside the secured school premises. Armans parents have since lodged an FIR against the school authorities for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and destruction of evidence. Apart from this, they have alleged police laxity in making arrests even a week after the incident. The school was to open on Tuesday but it is now shut indefinitely. Even parents have not come to drop their children to school. Who will send their children to such a school where a student died and there is no reply from school authorities at all? The school authorities are hiding ever since my son died. The police, on the other hand, are not ready to trace them and have been maintaining that they are investigating the case, said Swai Sehgal, Armans mother. Ghaziabad SSP HN Singh did not respond to Hindustan Times repeated calls. Apart from the FIR, the district administration has also initiated a magisterial inquiry into the incident but it has drawn naught as yet. Rajesh Kumar Yadav, additional district magistrate (finance & revenue), was entrusted with the inquiry and was to visit the school on Tuesday. However, he couldnt as the school was shut. The school authorities must open the school and come forward for the inquiry. If they dont open the school for the inquiry, it may go against them. We will speak to the police about the investigation and opening of the school. No one has come forward to give statements as yet, Yadav said. Amans parents said that they never demanded a magisterial probe but it was thrust upon them. The district magistrate had given us time to think about the type of inquiry we want. By evening, the magisterial inquiry was ordered even though we never asked for it. In fact, we are demanding a CBI inquiry in the case. Arman is no more. Now we are fighting for other students who could face a similar fate at some school or the other, Swati added. Earlier, Ghaziabad MP General (retired) VK Singh had also spoken to the Sehgals and assured them of help. We spoke to the family and later spoke to the district magistrate and the SSP . The DM told us that there is a magisterial inquiry on. Based on the inquiry, we may seek a CBI probe, General Singh said. School officials on August 1 told Hindustan Times that Arman just fell on the second floor corridor outside his class when he was going to the examination room. The entire school premises has CCTV coverage but the corridor where Arman fell had no CCTV camera installed. Armans parents have alleged that the surface had water on which Arman slipped and fell. They also alleged that the incident spot was cleaned by the school and police were giving enough time to the school officials to seek a legal remedy and destroy evidence. He just fell on the floor while walking from his class to the other room. We immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital but he did not survive. The incident is unfortunate and we will fully cooperate with his parents and also with police to take up any investigation. The floor had no water, as alleged, as there was no water source nearby, school principal, Dr Kavita Sharma, had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A maid was allegedly slapped by a resident for entering the society premises of Supertech Eco Village in Greater Noida on Tuesday. A case was registered in this regard against one unknown person in Surajpur police station. According to police, some maids working in the society had staged a protest outside the society demanding hike in their wages. One of the maids working in the residential society, who was not a part of the protest, entered the premises to her work, but was slapped by one of the residents. Some maids had staged a protest outside the society allegedly for not getting their salaries on time. No maid was allowed to enter the residential society by the protesters on Tuesday, said Manish Saxena, station house officer of Surajpur police station. As per the FIR lodged in Surajpur, the maid, who was not a part of the protest, entered the society for her work, but was slapped by an angry unknown woman of the society. Read I Mayhem in Noidas Mahagun Moderne society after maid is beaten up The maid said that she was happy with her employer and went to work on Tuesday as usual. As she was in the premises of the society, a woman approached her and asked her the reason for entering the society. All of a sudden the conversation heated up and the resident woman slapped the maid, Saxena said. The lady is not known to her but lived in the same residential society. We will conduct an identification parade and collect CCTV footages of the spot to look into the matter, the police official said. The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration has appealed the public to participate in tree plantation drive to be carried out along 17 km stretch of Hindon river passing through Noida and Greater Noida. Aimed at rejuvenating Hindon, the drive will be conducted in Van Mahotsav week from August 19 to August 26. The Meerut commissioner Dr Prabhat Kumar has asked district magistrates of seven districts -- through which Hindon river passes -- to conduct plantation drive in the month of August. Kumar hopes the public participation will save the dying Hindon, which was once a lifeline for Western Uttar Pradesh cities. He has also appealed that residents welfare associations, social groups and individuals should come forward to rejuvenate this dying river. He has started crowd funding initiative under which people can donate money for revival of the river, which has lost its aquatic life due to contamination of water. The administration has opened a bank account (MDA-Nirmal Hindon Kosh A/C No. 50399065176, Allahabad Bank with IFSC-ALLA0212075) where people can donate money to be spent on Hindon rejuvenation plan. So far we have collected Rs 7,000. But we hope that more and more people will come forward to participate in this noble cause and Hindon rejuvenation will become a public initiative. Rejuvenation of Hindon is crucial because it has started polluting aquifer, said Kumar. The administration aims to plant total 40,000 trees along Hindon Embankment that falls in Noida and Greater Noida areas. The Hindon originates from Barsani Falls at Shivalika Hills in Saharanpur and confluences with the Yamuna near Momnathal in Sector 151, Noida. In its journey to reach Momnathal, the river passes through Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Shamli, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. In January 2016, the Central Pollution Control Board in its report said the Hindon water does not meet the prescribed standard of primary water quality for bathing, as per the norms laid down in environment (protection) 1986. We will take steps for revival one by one. To begin with, we aim to plant 3 lakh trees along the river in seven districts. Social groups or individuals can do their bit by participating in this noble cause, said Kumar. The Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate BN Singh said that he has asked the forest department to make necessary arrangements for the drive. It is indeed a noble initiative started by Meerut Commissioner Prabhat Kumar. It should have been started much earlier because this River recharges ground water table in seven districts. We will support the administration in this cause, said Alok Singh, a member of Active Citizen Team in Greater Noida. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To ensure speedy redressal of grievances, the district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar on Sunday ordered to hold weekly review meeting with the heads of various government departments, including police. The meeting will be held every Wednesday from 4pm to 5pm at the district magistrates office in Sector 27. The move comes after complaints were received from residents about problems being faced by them due to traffic jam, water-logging, parking, health, hygiene and law and order. District Magistrate BN Singh said, Through these weekly meetings, we can come to know about the steps being taken by officials to address the grievances. In many cases, they may need my help or advice. It is a concerted effort by various departments to make the administration people friendly. Meanwhile, the problems related to law and order can be also discussed with the senior superintendent of police and superintendent of police (city). I expect the status of any issue will improve when the matter is taken in the next meeting, Singh said. Singh also directed city magistrate to issue notices to all the departments including Noida authority under section 133 of CrPc (removal of public nuisances). Both police and authority will submit the report to city magistrate related to the public nuisances. The city magistrate will take complaints about all the issues and subsequently action will be initiated. The major nuisance is the encroachment. We will also appeal to the citizens to come forward and report the problems to us. It is our responsibility to ensure the city is clean and green, said Singh. He also informed the traffic superintendent will be also asked for his suggestion as to how the traffic snarls can be reduced. The first meeting will take place on Thursday instead of Wednesday. Sometimes there can be official engagements on Wednesday and in that case the meeting will be chaired on next working day, said the district magistrate. Soon after the order of the district magistrate got circulated on social networking sites, it was welcomed by the residents and residents welfare associations. Atul Krishnan, a resident of Sector 76, said, The district administration has really taken a people friendly decision. Officials will remain accountable before the district magistrate and we hope there will be timely action. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 32-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide at Mahagun Moderne residential society in Sector 78 as she was depressed about not getting a job, which affected her marriage prospects. The police said the woman was a BTech graduate and had come to her brothers house there. No suicide note was recovered from the house. According to the police, the woman was identified as Ritu Verma, a resident of Gomti Nagar in Lucknow. The initial investigation by the police revealed that she had come to the city a fortnight ago and was in search of a job. Parshuram, station house officer of Noidas Sector 49 police station, said, The woman had come to stay with her elder brother, Sharad Verma, who works in a private company in Noida. He lives there with his wife. The woman had been looking for job opportunities for quite some time and was depressed as she was not getting a job even after several interviews. Her job status also affected her marriage prospects, said Parshuram. Her brother told us that Ritus employment status affected her marriage proposals due to which she was very depressed, the SHO said. She allegedly hung herself from the ceiling fan at her brothers house using her stole. According to the police, the incident could have taken place on Monday afternoon, when nobody was at home. Her brother returned home around 7pm and found her hanging, the police said. Police said the victims brother had gone out while his wife had gone to Lucknow. On spotting his sister hanging at the residence, Verma immediately called the police and informed them about the incident. A case has been registered in the matter and her body has been sent for a postmortem examination, the police said. At least 11 more cases of swine flu have been confirmed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) till Monday evening, thereby taking the total count of H1N1 patients in Gautam Budh Nagar to 49. On Tuesday, the district health department dispatched fresh samples of suspected swine flu patients to a Delhi laboratory for tests. After 11 more patients tested positive for swine flu, we dispatched 39 more samples for tests. Till now, we have sent 107 samples from the district for tests,Dr Anurag Bhargav, chief medical officer, health department, Gautam Budh Nagar, said. Of these 49 cases, at least six are from Ghaziabad and Delhi and the rest of the patients are from Noida and Greater Noida. At Ghaziabad, the total swine flu count stands at 33 after seven more cases were confirmed late Saturday night. The health department of Ghaziabad has dispatched fresh samples of suspected H1N1 samples to the Delhi lab for tests . We dont have any report of a fresh swine flu case. Today, we dispatched 27 more samples to the Delhi lab for tests. These samples were collected on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, NK Gupta, chief medical officer, health department, Ghaziabad, said. Swine flu is an infection caused by swine influenza viruses that is endemic in pigs. It is a highly contagious disease and can easily spread from a patient through saliva and mucus. The health departments of Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad have asked all government and private hospitals, community health centres and primary health centres to arrange for isolated wards for swine flu patients. Issuing an advisory, Dr Bhargav said ,Swine flu in otherwise healthy children is like another viral illness, with the symptoms being high fever, vomiting, headache and bodyache. In some cases, the patients might also contract pneumonia. GB Nagar health department has also started focusing on areas from where positive swine flu cases have been reported. We are in the process of tracking the areas from where the positive cases have been reported. But there is no particular area that has reported bulk swine flu cases. Soon, we will be able to come up with a detailed report, Bhargav said. Apart from isolated wards in hospitals, the health department has also opened a collection centre at the district hospital for suspected swine flu patients. I would like to appeal to residents to deposit their blood samples to the district hospital if they suspect to have swine flu. We will get it tested for free from the Delhi laboratory. They dont have to spend money in private hospitals for tests, Bhargav said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centre recently suggested to the Supreme Court an examination on the lines of the National-Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses to select judicial officers at lower courts, a plan supported by Chief Justice JS Khehar who had said the new system would ensure quick appointment of competent judges necessary for an effective judiciary. But nine high courts have objected to a plan for such a country-wide exam for recruitment to lower judiciary. India has over 620 district courts and the appointments to the state judicial services below the rank of district judge are made by the governor in consultation with the State Public Service Commission and the high court. Not many would know but HCs are independent of administrative control of the SC. Of the three crore million pending court cases (more than the population of Australia), over 80% of these cases are in the district and subordinate courts. On an average, 1,350 cases are pending with each judge, who clears 43 cases per month. The highest workload with 2,500 cases per judge is in Uttar Pradesh. Based on the 2011 census, the judge to population ratio is about 17.72 judges per 10 lakh people. This is seven times worse than the US. Both the SC and law commission (120th Report) have recommended that the strength of judges per million should be 50. The three-fold increase in the sanctioned strength looks like a distant dream when one looks at the vacancies and infrastructure. There are approximately 5,000 vacancies in the subordinate judiciary, which has a sanctioned strength of 21,000 positions. Besides the NEET model, the Centre also suggested few other options: Holding a centralised examination by a recruitment body under the supervision of the SC or handing over of selection process to the UPSC, which will conduct the examination in consultation with the HCs or adoption of banking services recruitment model. The SC bench had dispelled apprehensions of the states and HCs that such a test would impinge on the federal structure as their role in appointments of lower judiciary would be taken away by a central agency. The court assured them that they are not introducing all-India judicial services. It said the national test would prepare a merit list of successful candidates and the state would be allowed to appoint judges as per their rules and reservation policies. Strangely the SC justified a centralised test in the name of foreign investment and observed that we are trying to do a service to the nation. No progress can be made in the country if the judiciary is not efficient. No foreign investor would invest in the country if the judiciary is not efficient. New selection process was also justified by the court in the name of uniformity and to curb the instances of nepotism and favoritism. Everyone knows that allegations of uncle syndrome are more common about the appointments in the HCs and elevations to the Supreme Court under the collegiums system. But a centralised test has inherent weaknesses: It promotes elitism and adversely affects diversity. Even in the US, it has been found that mostly rich, white and children of politically powerful families make to the common tests. Our judiciary already has poor representation of women, Dalits, minorities and candidates coming from rural background. To say that NEET has been fully successful is premature. There have been allegations of paper leaks. Getting the test translated into various languages has been problematic. Testing proficiency in the local languages and knowledge of diverse local laws in one test will also be a Herculean task. Moreover unlike 100% multiple choice type questions in NEET, a national test for judicial services need to include descriptive-type questions. If at all such a central test is to be introduced, national law universities are better equipped to conduct it. Faizan Mustafa is vice-chancellor, NALSAR University of Law The views expressed are personal The stalking of Varnika Kundu (29) by Vikas Barala (23), son of Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief, Subhash Barala, has brought into focus the sense of entitlement and devil may care attitude that VIP brats brandish around. Though city is no stranger to the phenomenon of the sons of high and mighty breaking the law with impunity, but what is common in such cases is the near lack of conviction of the VIP brats charged with serious criminal offences. Chandigarh Police is facing a lot of flak for invoking only bailable section against Vikas Barala. In doing so, he was immediately granted bail. Almost all such cases fall flat in the court for either lack of evidence or out-of-the-court settlement by the powerful offenders with the victims. This trend not only underscores the failure of the police investigators and prosecution to bring substantial evidence to press charges against the VIP wards, it also highlights how lack of deterrent punishment is adding to the culture of impunity. Cases against VIP brats In September 1994, Gurkirat Singh, grandson of the then CM Beant Singh, was accused of abducting and molesting a French tourist Katia Darnand in Chandigarh. Katia had alleged molestation by former Punjab CMs grandson Gurkirat and six others. But all the accused were acquitted on April 10, 1999 as the victim didnt return to testify against the accused. Ranjit Bajaj, son of BR Bajaj and Rupan Deol Bajaj, a senior IAS officer couple of Punjab, has long list of cases where police had named him as accused but in all the cases he was acquitted for lack of evidence. Bajaj was convicted in only one case and awarded two year imprisonment for forgery and criminal conspiracy but in this case too he was acquitted by the appellate court. The FIR in this case was registered in May 2000 by the police under various sections of cheating and forgery for a fake registration number and black film on his car without permission. The car was being driven by Gursamip Singh, a friend of Ranjit Bajaj, in Sector 18, who has been declared proclaimed offender. In February 27, 2009, former Dhuri MLA Gaganjit Singh Barnala, facing allegations of raping a 55-year-old woman, was acquitted. Barnala, son of Tamil Nadu governor Surjeet Singh Barnala was arrested on August 12, 2006 after the woman, working as a masseur at his house in Sector 3, accused him of raping her. The prosecutions case fell flat after the victim while recording her statement before the court on December 15, 2006, denied having been raped and claimed that she suffered the injuries after falling from a bicycle. Zoravar Singh, son of former MC commissioner PS Aujla, was booked, along with three others for firing gun shots in IT park in October 2009. He along with Charanjit, Raminder Singh and Maninder were booked for alleged involvement in the brawl in the parking lot of Black Magic disco at DT Mall where the birthday of Zoravar Singhs girlfriend was being celebrated. A brawl over his girlfriend ensued between Zoravar and Panchkulas Sector-21 resident Vijay Garg. The scuffle grew violent and the accused exchanged blows. Zoravar allegedly took the service weapon of his gunman and fired shots in the air. The trigger caused a panic in the area following which they all fled from the spot. A case of rioting, assault, threatening, criminal intimidation was registered against the accused at the Manimajra police station. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It is an attempt to intimidate me. I dont feel the need to need to justify. They are using my personal pictures from Facebook images making ridiculous accusations. Anyone who can look at the pictures can understand what the truth is, said Varnika Kundu to mediapersons on Monday, commenting on what appears to be a slander campaign against the stalking victim. The incident of midnight stalking of the IAS officers daughter by the Haryana BJP chiefs son continued to capture the attention of netizens, with #ChandigarhStalking as the top trend on Twitter in India almost throughout Monday. From top politicians to social commentators and activists, to the general public, thousands of people continually talked about it on the social networking website. Facebook, too, was flooded with posts, including several that sought to discredit the complainant by using fake images and conjecture. Twitter handles of BJP spokesperson Shaina NC and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Patel were among many who circulated an old photograph of the woman with the narrative that the victim is with the accused Vikas Barala in the said picture. Prashant Patel tweeted, So called victim daughter of IAS from Chandigarh with Vikas Barala. This story is as true as like Jasleen Kaur of Delhi & of Rohtak Sisters. Many others picked up that image and made it viral on social media, reported the fact-checking website AltNews. However, the website said the woman told them it was not Vikas in the picture. She had told HT on Sunday: I have been told by friends that people are trying to say things about me; make it out like I am wrong. For instance, if you put up a picture of me with a guy online, is it suddenly going to make it okay for these guys to try and kidnap me? Also, it was on Twitter that maverick BJP MP Subramanian Swamy announced his decision to file a public interest litigation in the matter, leading to a number if tweets about possible difference of opinion within the BJP over the issue. Actor-activist Gul Panag, who belongs to Chandigarh, shared news reports about the victims interviews.BJP-leaning Ashoke Pandit tweeted: Disappearing of #CCTV footage of #ChandigarhStalking proves the crime committed by the #BJP leaders son & the system protecting him. Several users tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modis Twitter handles and sought response. A popular sarcastic comment doing the rounds was a play on the word vikas, Hindi for progress, which also happens to be the first name of the BJP leaders son, Vikas Barala. You were searching for vikas, and Vikas was busy trying to kidnap a girl in Chandigarh, it read. Among politicians, Delhi chief minister and AAP head Arvidn Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi (translated): Varnikas stalkers should get strict punishment, no matter how influential they may be! Else, people will lose faith in the system. Parents of the boy who got a fake call as a job offer from Google continues to be in agony. The boy 16-year-old Harshit Sharma has been diagnosed with confusional psychosis by an Ambala doctor. While the parents fear for their sons future, they fear being taunted by their colleagues, relatives, and neighbours too, they told HT in Chandigarh on Monday. Both the parents are teachers. Both of them agree to the fact that the principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, Chandigarh, the boys alma mater, should not have released the news without confirming it from them. I am a principal too. I know the responsibility, said Rajinder K Sharma, Harshits father. The family belongs to Kurukshetra in Haryana. It was on July 29 that the UT administration released a press note about Harshits purported achievement. The release claimed that the internet giant Google would pay him Rs 12 lakh per month as salary after a years training. During training, it was claimed he will get a stipend of Rs 4 lakh per month. The school had first released a press note, and the administration had followed. However, three days later, Google denied having offered paid training and job to Harshit. Even now, question remains over the offer letter that the school has provided to the media, claiming that Harshit had forwarded it to a teacher. The letter has several mistakes and does not contain any salary details. Yet, the parents have now said they do not want to blame the principal as they think she probably did it in excitement, feeling its the best for the school. But the principal has not contacted us even now, when its all over the news that Harshit is in hospital, said the mother, Bharti Sharma I too am a teacher. Whenever a student wins a competition, we create a report of the achievement, have comments from the parents, and then we release the news to the press, she added. The boy was discharged from Patnaik Hospital, Ambala, on August 7. The report provided by the parents says that the boy was admitted on August 2. Dr RK Patnaik diagnosed him with confusional psychosis, a state in which the patient has delusions. The boy was brought here in a confused state. He did not recognise anyone. He kept refusing food, and did not cooperate. Now the boy has recovered a little, said Dr Patnaik. Harshits father already has a medical condition and is being treated at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. He has been operated upon four times to remove a bone from his brain, according to the family. He had stitches all over his face, and could not speak properly. We did not inform the principal about any such news. I get so many fake calls on my phone but I do not believe those calls. If the child had gone to the principal, she should have called us, said Rajinder. The doctor has suggested keeping the boy away from mobile phones, TV, and the media as it might remind him of the incident. Parents said that they are now being taunted by everyone, including relatives, which has made it really difficult for the boy to recover. We had acquired a good reputation in such a long time. We are not even rich, so to say. This incident has shattered our lives. I am now thinking of resigning from the college. I dont know how I will face my students, said the father. The boy has been taken to a relatives place to recover. Parents fear for his future as well as look for ways to help themselves come out of this incident. We have told the boy not to lose heart, we are with him, said the father. During this season of gratitude, we are reminded of the many reasons we can be thankful for the freedom and opportunity to travel. The case of stalking of DJ Varnika Kundu by Haryana BJP chief Subhash Baralas son Vikas Barala and his friend in Chandigarh continued to ignite reactions online on Tuesday too. The incident that took place on Friday night stirred the larger debate over women safety in City Beautiful and other places, besides dominated the news.While Varnika, whose father is an IAS officer in Haryana, garnered a lot of support on social media, she was also on the receiving end of victim-shaming attempts. Among those who took a dig at the accused and his family, a Twitter user posted a photo of the signboard of Subhash Baralas residence with the caption, Irony just died a thousand deaths! The signboard reads Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save your daughters, teach your daughters) just above the name of the BJP leader. However, Subhash Barala broke his silence and said that Varnika is like his daughter and law should take its own course. This statement garnered some sharp reactions on social media. A user commented, If Varnika is like her daughter, utni raat ko kya rakhi bandne gaya tha (was he going after her at night to get a rakhi tied)? Union minister Babul Supriyo too shared the news report on Twitter, but had to face some sarcastic comments after he sought to downplay the incident. Further, a number of women across the country posted their similar experiences on social media, detailing how they have been stalked and harassed. Many of them said they had overlooked the issue due to societal pressures. Many prominent women also took to Twitter by posting their midnight selfies with the hashtag #AintNoCinderella in support of Varnika. In Chandigarh, a group of writers, poets, activists and others has decided to hold a Reclaim the Streets demonstration and solidarity march on Friday night. This was done by creating an event on Facebook. A page, Justice for Varnika Kundu has also been created on Facebook. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Oviya Helen has been the toast of Tamil Nadu ever since her debut on Bigg Boss Tamil in June this year. While she has received support from all quarters, comments from Tamil star Simbu have been really surprising, so much that rumours are abuzz that Simbu wants to marry Oviya. According to a report in India Today, a tweet from a fake account of Simbu stated that he wanted to marry Oviya. The tweet soon started doing the rounds on Twitter and a section of media too did stories based on the said tweet. On Monday, Simbu issued a statement clarifying his stand. He made it clear that he never said anything such and requested all to follow news only from his official handle. I know who's behind this fake news. Final warning, if you still? Different reply in a very different way. Don't unleash the god of a devil. STR (@iam_str) August 7, 2017 On August 2, Simbu had a long Twitter chat with choreographer Sathish on Bigg Boss Tamil contestants Oviya and Gayathri. Sathish, a devoted Oviya fan, had then made a blistering attack on Gayathri for ganging up against Oviya. Simbu, had chipped in, defending Gayathri while insisting that he too was very fond of Oviya. Oviya, who made her film debut in 2007s Malayalam film Kangaroo, has picked up a legion of fans, thanks to her honesty and the emotional upheaval she has had to face while in the house. Her no-nonsense attitude has endeared her to all. Whats more, her exit too has been equally dramatic. She quit the show insisting that she was in love with another contestant Aarav, a TV star who has worked in Hindi serials such as Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon and Mahabharata. Explaining how she arrived at her decision, she had said that she told herself early on that she would try and keep her feelings for Aarav aside and focus on the show. However, she found that her feelings for him were uncontrollable and hence she decided to leave the show. Before taking the step, however, she consulted Bigg Boss psychiatrists. Oviya may have quit the show but she remains one of the most popular contestants in the month-old Bigg Boss Tamil. She caught peoples attention early on in the show when she shut up a co-contestant Ganja Karuppu with, Neenga Shutup Pannunga (With due respect, please shut up). Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Nearly 50 Indian fishermen were arrested on Tuesday by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly poaching in the countrys territorial waters. The Indian fishermen were on board 12 trawlers. They have been accused of indulging in bottom trawling which is outlawed in Sri Lanka, Naval spokesman Commander Chaminda Walakuluge said. They were escorted to the fisheries harbour in Karainagar in Jaffna. The fishermen would be handed over to the fisheries inspection office in Jaffna for further action, the Navy added. Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently by the maritime security agencies of both countries for illegal fishing and often stray into illegal waters due to absence of any proper technology to confirm the coastline border between Pakistan and India near Sir Creek in the Arabian Sea. An eight-year-old Indian-origin transgender girl and her family have sued a US school for allegedly forcing her to wear a boys uniform and refusing to call her by her chosen name, media reports said. Parents Priya Shah and Jaspret Brar have sued Heritage Oak Private Education in California and its parent company, alleging that the school refused to call daughter Nikki Brar by her name, Los Angeles Times reported. The lawsuit, filed last week in Orange County Superior Court, alleges that Heritage Oak Private Education in Yorba Linda would not let Nicole, who goes by Nikki, dress as she chose, use the bathroom of her choice and go by female pronouns. The lawsuit alleges that the school violated the Unruh Civil Rights Act, a California law which outlaws discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation, the report said. When adults at a school think that they can dictate the name that a child goes by and demand she wear a boys uniform when she knows shes a girl, thats wrong. And thats what happened at Heritage Oak, Mark Rosenbaum, the lead attorney for the Shah Brar family, said in a news release from the law firm Public Counsel. Nikki and her parents are suing a private school for preventing her from expressing her gender identity. (From left) Nikkis mother Priya Shah, Nikki, her sister and father Jaspret Brar. (Pic courtesy: Shah-Brar family) As a society, we cant accept such discrimination from any quarter least of all from a school seeking to deny the identity of one of its students, Rosenbaum said. The suit is noteworthy because it is the first (transgender rights) case to use a state anti-discrimination law as one of the grounds for relief, said Rosenbaum. In light of the Trump administrations inaction on taking a stand against discrimination against trans-individuals... this is a terribly important case, he said. The suit also claims that the school barred teachers from protecting her from bullying and harassment. The lawsuit alleged that Nikki experienced social isolation. The girls would not play with her because she had to dress like a boy, and she found the boys games too rough. Boys would bully the youngster, calling her a loser, it said. Nikki left the school in February 2017. We believed it was extremely important to respond... to decide when and how to inform and educate our entire elementary school community... about the mid-year change of gender identity expression of a young child... Unfortunately, these accommodations were rejected and the parents withdrew their child, according to a statement by the schools parent group Nobel Learning Communities. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has been rolling back Obama-era protections for transgender students. In February, the administration rescinded federal guidelines instructing schools to allow students to use the bathroom corresponding with their gender identities. Last month, the department of education told its lawyers they could feel free to dismiss complaints related to bathroom access. Researchers may have found the home town of Peter and two other apostles of Jesus near the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel, an archaeologist said. Israeli and American archaeologists have likely uncovered the lost Roman city of Julias near the banks of the lake, also known as Lake Tiberias, said Mordechai Aviam of Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archeaology. First century Roman historian Flavius Josephus wrote that Julias was built around 30 AD on the ruins of Bethsaid, a fishing village where Peter was born according to the Gospel of John. Christians recognise Saint Peter, originally a fisherman, as one of the first followers of Jesus and the leader of the early Church following the ascension. The Catholic church also venerates him as its first pope. Two other apostles -- Philip and Peters brother Andrew -- are also believed to have been born or lived in Bethsaida. Archaeologists have long sought to locate Julias, focusing their search on three different sites. Aviam told AFP that one of the sites, the only one so far excavated, was believed to be the correct site. We have uncovered fragments of pottery, coins, and the remains of a public bath, which tends to prove that it was not a small village, but a town which may correspond to Julias, he said. Based on these findings, we believe this site is likely to be located at the site of Bethsaida. The site, not far from the Jordan River, is a few hundred metres from Lake Tiberias. Water levels would have been far higher during the first century. Work is also being carried out on another site a few kilometres away, Aviam added. He said he hoped further excavations would reveal evidence from pre-Roman times, including ancient Jewish remains, which could help verify whether the site is Bethsaida. The site will not immediately be opened to the public, he said. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck a remote, mountainous part of Chinas southwestern province of Sichuan, killing 19 people, including six tourists, and injuring 247, the provincial government and official media said on Wednesday. The quake hit a sparsely populated area 200 km (120 miles) northwest of the city of Guangyuan late on Tuesday at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was also close to the Jiuzhaigou nature reserve, a tourist destination. Sichuan is frequently struck by tremors. A huge quake there in May 2008 killed almost 70,000 people. A separate quake with a magnitude of 6.6 struck a remote part of Chinas far northwestern region of Xinjiang, more than 2,000 km (1,240 miles) away, on Wednesday morning, the Chinese earthquake administration said. The Peoples Daily said 32 people had been injured in the mostly rural area. Video shows panic among citizens during sichuan earthquake in Southwest China. Many dead, injured @htTweets pic.twitter.com/tV7jnVUVe1 sutirtho patranobis (@spatranobis) August 9, 2017 The Sichuan government said rescuers were gradually evacuating tourists and residents who had been cut off by landslides. Six tourists were among those killed, according to the official China News Service. State television said 19 people had been killed, and that most of those injured were not seriously hurt. The Sichuan government said that as many as 30,000 tourists had been evacuated from the quake zone, leading to traffic jams on the narrow roads. A few dozen tourists were camped out at Jiuzhaigou airport, waiting for flights. The airport was open and beginning to evacuate people by air, state media said. A traveller with a young daughter who gave his family name as Li said he was in his hotel when the earthquake hit. The walls and floor shook. Some things fell off the table, he said. Some people were injured in the hotel but most were fine. The rescue services showed up quickly and gave us water and things to eat, Li said. He was given priority to be evacuated as he was with a small child. At first the road was blocked but they had cleared a lane this morning for ambulances. A French man and a Canadian woman suffered light injuries, Xinhua reported. The Sichuan government said earlier fears that part of a hotel had collapsed were overblown, with only relatively minor damage and everyone evacuated safely. The Sichuan earthquake administration, which also measured the quake at a magnitude of 7.0, said the epicentre of the tremor was in Ngawa prefecture, which is largely populated by ethnic Tibetans, many of whom are nomadic herders. The area was rattled by a number of aftershocks on Wednesday. Pictures on state-run social media sites showed some damage in Jiuzhaigou, with tiles having fallen from buildings and people gathering outdoors. State television said electricity had now largely been restored to the affected areas and the military was also sending rescuers to help with relief efforts. The Sichuan government said on one of its official social media sites that more than 38,000 tourists were currently visiting Jiuzhaigou. Shaking was felt in the provincial capital, Chengdu, and as far away as Xian, home of the famous terracotta warrior figures, according to the government. The Xinjiang quakes epicentre was in Jinghe county, about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with Kazakhstan, where about 140,000 people live, according to Xinhua. Residents several hundred kilometres away in Urumqi, and the cities of Karamay and Yining, felt strong tremors, Xinhua said. The jolt lasted about 20 seconds, it said. President Donald Trump is trying to combat new weakness in his Republican base and re-energize his staunchest supporters after months of White House backbiting and legislative failures. White House officials have been urging the president to fire up his efforts on immigration and other agenda items favoured by conservatives, evangelicals and working-class whites who propelled him to the Oval Office. The president has increased his media-bashing via Twitter and staged rallies hoping to marshal his base to his defense. On Monday, he lashed out at Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal in multiple tweets after the lawmaker expressed support for a special counsels probe of Trumps associates links to Russia. The surge underscores Trumps shaky political position not yet seven months into his presidency. Trump has remained deeply unpopular among Democrats, and there are signs that his support among Republicans may be softening. His advisers are aware that a serious slip in support among his core voters could jeopardize hopes for a major, early legislative accomplishment and would certainly increase Republicans worries about his re-election prospects. Trump on Monday dismissed his own advisers statement on his political standing after White House counselor Kellyanne Conway acknowledged that the presidents approval rating among Republicans needs to go up. The president fired back on Twitter: The Trump base is far bigger & stronger than ever before and will never change! But polling doesnt support Trumps claim. A recent Quinnipiac University survey showed the presidents approval dipping into negative territory among whites without college degrees a key group of supporters for the president. The percentage of Republicans who strongly approve of his performance also fell, with just over half of Republicans saying they strongly approved of Trump. Thats down from the two-thirds of Republicans who strongly approved of the presidents performance in June. Just one-third of all Americans approved of his job performance, a new low in the poll. The presidents struggles already have prompted public speculation about his political future. The White House pushed back angrily Sunday against a New York Times report about Republicans preparing for 2020 presidential race that may not include Trump. The report described Vice President Mike Pence as laying groundwork in case Trump does not run. Pence called the report disgraceful. The chatter has been fueled by Trumps unsuccessful attempt to shepherd health care legislation through Congress, the drip-drip of revelations about his associates ties to Russia and the churn of turnover and turmoil at the White House. The presidents advisers have tried to drown out the bad news by promoting policies that conservatives like. They are telling him, just enact your program, Conway said of the presidents base. Dont worry about a Congress that isnt supporting legislation to get big-ticket items done. And dont worry about all the distractions and diversions and discouragement that others, who are trying to throw logs in your path, are throwing your way. In a televised event at the White House last week, the president endorsed legislation that would dramatically reduce legal immigration to the United States. The bill is unlikely to ever become law, but that mattered little to Trumps advisers. Their barometer for success was the reaction from conservatives like commentator Ann Coulter, who called the White Houses backing of the controversial legislation the best moment of the Trump presidency since the inauguration. Immigration is expected to continue being a focus for Trump in the coming weeks, including a push for the border wall with Mexico. Officials also are weighing a more public role for White House policy adviser Stephen Miller, a favorite of Trump backers whose hard-line immigration policies irritate some congressional Republicans. The appointment of White House chief of staff John Kelly also fits into that effort. While Kelly was brought in primarily to bring much-needed discipline to the West Wing, officials note that he, too, is viewed favorably by some Trump loyalists for his early execution of the administrations immigration policy as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Kellys appointment was particularly welcomed by senior strategist Steve Bannon, who has taken on the task of ensuring Trump doesnt drift from the promises he made to his base during the campaign. Several White House officials and Trump advisers insisted on anonymity in order to discuss the ways the administration is moving to shore up support for the president. Some of what the president has to offer his core supporters is more show than substance. In late July, Trump announced on Twitter that he was banning transgender people serving in the military a policy shift sought by social conservatives despite the fact that the Pentagon had no plans in place to enact the change. The policy is now being crafted. Alice Stewart, a conservative who worked for the presidential campaigns of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, said Trump is right to make overtures toward his coalition of loyal supporters, even if some of his moves are incomplete. I think people realize half a loaf is better than none, Stewart said. Mitch Harper, a former GOP state legislator and Republican activist in Indiana, said Trump will get credit from conservatives even for partial measures simply because he is articulating things that they have not heard anyone articulate in a long time. And what about the results? Harper said Trump supporters are willing to wait. Germanys agriculture minister said on Tuesday that the contamination of millions of eggs with a potentially harmful insecticide was criminal. It is criminal, that is very clear, Christian Schmidt told German television station ARD on Tuesday. He gave no further details. Retailers in several European countries have pulled millions of eggs from supermarket shelves as the scare over the use of the insecticide fipronil widened. Millions of hens may need to be culled in the Netherlands. The European Commission said it had first learned about the contamination in late July when it received an official notification from Belgium, but had not yet established whether the country had broken any rules by not notifying sooner. The Belgian food safety regulator has drawn criticism both at home and abroad after it said it was made aware of a first case of fipronil contamination in early June. Schmidt said no contaminated eggs should be on store shelves in Germany now. Batches of possibly contaminated eggs from the Netherlands and Germany had also been shipped to Sweden, Switzerland, France and Britain, EU filings showed last weekend. The World Health Organisation considers fipronil to be moderately toxic and says very large quantities can cause organ damage. Dutch and Belgian authorities have pinned the source of the insecticide to a supplier of cleaning products in the Netherlands. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani put forward a new cabinet line-up on Tuesday that again included no women, despite criticism of their absence from his reformist allies. There were no major changes to Rouhanis government, which is expected to continue his push for greater foreign investment and a technocratic approach to reviving the countrys stagnant economy. He did replace the defence minister, Major General Hossein Dehghan, with his deputy, General Amir Hatami -- the first time in more than two decades that the post has been filled by someone from the regular army rather than the elite Revolutionary Guards. The deputy economy minister, Masoud Karbasian, also replaced his boss, Ali Tayebnia. Key names in Irans efforts to rebuild ties with the West -- Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh -- retained their positions. All 18 cabinet members must be approved by parliament over the coming week. Rouhanis reformist allies have already criticised the president after news leaked that he would again fail to appoint any women to the cabinet -- seen as a capitulation to religious leaders. The lack of women ministers shows we are treading water, Shahindokht Mowlaverdi, Rouhanis outgoing vice president for womens affairs, told the reformist Etemad daily on Monday. During his first term, she was one of three women among his large cohort of vice presidents, who do not require parliamentary approval. The 68-year-old president is a moderate cleric, who won a sizeable election victory over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi in May, thanks largely to the support of reformists, who have felt ignored in the selection process for the new government. Ironically, the sole female minister since Irans 1979 Islamic revolution came under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rouhanis hardline predecessor, whose health minister Marzieh Dastjerdi served between 2009 and 2013. With no official parties in parliament, Rouhani must coordinate among a shifting pattern of political factions, none of which holds a definitive majority of the 290 seats. He is known to have coordinated closely on his appointments with other power-brokers, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary. Irans intelligence ministry says its forces have detained 27 militants linked to the Islamic State group who planned to carry out terrorist operations in religious cities inside the country. The ministry says Monday in a statement on its website, vaja.ir, that they were identified during an exchange of intelligence with one of the regional services, ahead of President Hassan Rouhanis inauguration. The report did not say which country Iran exchanged the intelligence with, or mention where they were arrested. It said 10 of them were detained at a control center abroad, and sent to Iran, while 17 others were arrested in Iran. The ministry added five of them had planned to carry out terror attacks inside Iran and the others were their supporters. A powerful Iraqi Shiite militia says at least 40 of its militiamen have been killed in an attack across the border in Syria. The deputy head of the militia, which is known as Kattaib Sayeed al-Shuhadaa, blames U.S. forces for the assault. The spokesman of the U.S.-led coalition, Army Col. Ryan Dillon, dismissed the allegation. The militias Ahmed al-Maksousi says U.S. forces hit their base in Syrias Jamouna area with artillery early on Monday. The area is about 12 kilometers around 7.5 miles from the Iraqi border. He claims that was followed by an on-the-ground attack by the Islamic State group. Al-Maksousi says that along with 40 killed, at least 30 militiamen were wounded. Several Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias have been fighting in Syria alongside Syrian government troops. Japan warned on Tuesday against the acute threat posed by North Koreas weapons programmes as Pyongyangs continued series of missile and nuclear tests, in defiance of UN sanctions, brings technological progress to the reclusive state. Japan released its annual Defence White Paper after North Korea fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) last month on lofted trajectories to land off Japans west coast. It is conceivable that North Koreas nuclear weapons programme has already considerably advanced and it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturisation of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads, the defence ministry said. Since last year, when it forcibly implemented two nuclear tests and more than 20 ballistic missile launches, the security threats have entered a new stage, it added in the 563-page document. North Koreas latest ICBM test showed Pyongyang may now be able to reach most of the continental United States, two US officials have told Reuters. The growing threat has prompted Japanese municipalities to hold evacuation drills in case of a possible missile attack, and boosted demand for nuclear shelters. Missiles launched on a lofted trajectory were difficult to intercept, the defence ministry said. With North Korea pressing ahead with missile tests, a group of ruling party lawmakers led by Itsunori Onodera, who became defence minister on Thursday, urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in March to consider acquiring the capability to hit enemy bases. If realised, that would be a drastic change in Japans defence posture. Tokyo has so far avoided taking the controversial and costly step of acquiring bombers or cruise missiles with the range to strike other countries. North Koreas missiles represent a deepening threat. That, along with Chinas continued threatening behaviour in the East China Sea and South China Sea, is a major concern for Japan, Onodera told a news briefing in Tokyo. The ministry said the number of Japans jet scrambles against Chinese aircraft hit a record in the year to March 2017. The first confirmed advancement of Chinas aircraft carrier to the Pacific also came in December 2016. There is a possibility that their naval activities, as well as air force activities, will pick up pace in the Sea of Japan from now on, the ministry said. We need to keep a close eye on the Chinese naval forces activity, it added. Tokyos ties with Beijing have long been plagued by a territorial dispute over a group of tiny, uninhabited East China Sea islets and the legacy of Japans wartime aggression. Kenyans on Tuesday voted in large numbers in an election that pits President Uhuru Kenyatta against challenger Raila Odinga in this East African economic hub known for its relative, long-term stability as well as the ethnic allegiances that shadow its democracy. Voters formed long lines at many polling stations before dawn, waiting for the chance to cast ballots in the tightly contested race for the presidency as well as for more than 1,800 elected positions, including governors, legislative representatives and county officials. A key concern was whether Kenya would echo its 2013 election, a mostly peaceful affair despite opposition allegations of vote-tampering, or the 2007 election, which led to violence fuelled by ethnic divisions that killed more than 1,000 people. Kenyatta, the 55-year-old son of Kenyas first president after independence from British colonial rule, campaigned on a record of major infrastructure projects, many backed by China, and claimed strong economic growth. Odinga, 72, is also the son of a leader of the independence struggle and has cast himself as a champion of the poor and a harsh critic of endemic corruption in many state institutions. Kenyan Opposition leader Raila Odinga, second left, casts his vote in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Aug.8, 2017. (AP) However, many voters are expected to vote along ethnic lines. President Kenyatta is widely seen as the candidate of the Kikuyu people, the countrys largest ethnic group. Odinga is associated with the Luo voting bloc, which has never produced a head of state. More than 300 people, including ethnic Maasai draped in traditional red blankets, waited for hours in the dark before polling station opened in the Rift Valley town of Il Bissil. Kenyan television also showed long lines of voters in the port city of Mombasa. This is a positive feedback for us, polling official James Njaya said of the high turnout in Kibera, a poor area in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Like many Kenyan voters, 34-year-old Fred Nyakundi arrived at a polling station several hours before it opened and waited in line in the dark before casting his vote. The exercise is very slow, but I am happy with the service I got, said Nyakundi, who owns a carpentry business in Nairobi. I am going home to open the business and wait for results. Another voter, 41-year-old Fatuma Ramadhan, thought the voting procedure was speedy. She was able to vote at 6 a.m., when polling stations opened, and then opened her restaurant to serve breakfast to other voters Reaction to the result could partly depend on the performance of Kenyas electoral commission, which will collect vote counts from more than 40,000 polling stations. Fears of violence were increased by the murder of an electoral official in charge of technology days ahead of the election. The election commission has said that about 25% of polling stations wont have network coverage, meaning officials will have to move to find a better signal and transmit results by satellite telephones. By law, election officials have up to a week to announce results, though many analysts believe the outcome of the presidential race will be declared far sooner, possibly within one or two days. The winner of the presidential race must get more than 50 percent of the votes as well as one-quarter or more votes in at least 24 of Kenyas 47 counties, according to election officials. If the front-runner falls short of those benchmarks, the two top contenders will contest a run-off vote. President Kenyatta and challenger Odinga also faced off in the 2013 election. Kenyatta won by a thin margin, with just over 50 percent of the vote; Odinga alleged voting irregularities and took his case to Kenyas highest court, which ruled in Kenyattas favor by validating the results. Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta is greeted by supporters after casting his vote in the Kenya election in his hometown of Gatundu in Kiambu county, Kenya August 8, 2017. (REUTERS) Kenya has nearly 20 million registered voters out of a population of more than 40 million. Former US Secretary of State John Kerry is among thousands of observers in Kenya for the election. The European Union has also dispatched monitors. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is leading an African Union delegation. In a speech late Monday, Kenyatta appealed to Kenyans to vote peacefully in large numbers. How you have voted should not in any way reflect or change the manner in which you have related to your neighbour, Kenyatta said. Shake their hand, share a meal and tell them, Let us wait for the results, for Kenya will be here long after this general election. French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to backpedal on the issue of creating an official First Lady position for his wife in the face of attacks from left-wing opponents and a petition against the move, officials and reports said. The newly-elected 39-year-old president had promised in March on the campaign trail to create a real status for his wife Brigitte, who is his former schoolteacher. The issue has become a new political headache for Macron after an online petition against creating the role garnered around 270,000 signatures and an opinion poll showed a majority of French people were also opposed. The presidency will clarify Brigitte Macrons position in the coming days, a source told AFP late on Monday, adding that there were would be no change to the constitution to create a First Lady position. Instead, the presidency will make clear the resources at Brigitte Macrons disposal and the cost to the public purse. The idea is for the French people to know how much this role costs, Aurore Berge, a senior lawmaker from Macrons Republic on the Move party, told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday. The new status would have seen France copy the American tradition of a prominent public role for the First Lady. Neither country has ever had a female head of state. The wife of the French president has historically always played a public role at official functions, welcoming heads of state or other VIPs at meetings or dinners. She has a small security and secretarial staff paid for by the presidential budget, but she has no formal job title -- like the partners of the British prime minister or German chancellor. The staff of Valerie Trierweiler, the former partner of ex-president Francois Hollande, cost 400,000 ($470,000 dollars) in 2013, according to public figures. In this Sept. 3, 2013 file photo, French president Francois Hollande and his companion Valerie Trierweiler wait for German President Joachim Gauckand, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris. (AP) The focus on the First Lady proposition comes at a bad time for Macron as opinion polls show his popularity slipping badly only three months after the young centrist clinched a sensational victory in May. One survey published last week showed just 36% of respondents held a positive view of him. As well as pushing through cuts to public spending, parliament is also preparing to vote for a new ethics law this week which will prevent MPs from employing their partners or family members as assistants after a series of scandals. But I see that sometimes one can create a role for ones partner, opposition MP Ugo Bernalicis from the far-left France Unbowed party said sarcastically during a debate in late July. He criticised the idea of according resources to Brigitte Macron even though she has never been elected. North Korea escalated its criticism of the United States, as well as its neighbouring allies, on Tuesday by warning that it will mobilize all its resources to take physical action in retaliation against the latest round of United Nations sanctions. The statement, carried by the Norths state-run Korean Central News Agency, was the strongest indication yet that the country could conduct another nuclear or missile test, as it had often done in response to past UN sanctions. Until now, the Norths response to the latest sanctions had been limited to strident yet vague warnings, such as threatening retaliation thousands of times over. Packs of wolves are coming in attack to strangle a nation, the North Korean statement said. They should be mindful that the DPRKs strategic steps accompanied by physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilization of all its national strength. DPRK stands for the Norths official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. North Koreas statement on Tuesday appeared to defy efforts by both Washington and Beijing to defuse the tense situation. On Monday, while attending a regional security meeting of foreign ministers in Manila, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson kept the door open for talks with North Korea, suggesting that the country should stop its recent string of missile launches to set the stage for negotiations over its weapons programs. At the same venue, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said he told his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho that the North should stop carrying out nuclear and missile tests. A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful test launch of the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile in an undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang on August 8, 2017. (Reuters) Incensed by the Norths two intercontinental ballistic missile tests last month, the UN Security Council adopted a new sanctions resolution over the weekend, the eighth since the country conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. Backers of the resolution said the new sanctions would cut North Koreas meagre annual export revenue by about a third, impeding its ability to raise cash for its weapons programs. President Donald Trump praised the sanctions in a tweet on Tuesday morning. After many years of failure, countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea, he said. We must be tough & decisive! The sanctions ban member countries from importing coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood from North Korea. They also prohibit member nations from hosting any additional workers from the North above their current levels. Washington called the restrictions the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation. But strong doubts remain over how rigorously China and Russia, the Norths two neighbouring allies, will enforce the sanctions. The sanctions also do not impair the Norths ability to import oil and export clothing and textiles that its workers produce for Chinese companies, although the sanctions ban new joint ventures with North Korea and any new investment in current joint ventures. Clothing and textile exports are a leading source of foreign currency for the impoverished country. Officials and analysts still doubt that North Korea has mastered the technology needed to deliver a nuclear payload on an intercontinental ballistic missile. But its last ICBM test, conducted on July 28, alarmed Washington and its allies by demonstrating that missiles now could potentially reach much the continental United States. North Koreas development of ballistic missiles and its nuclear program are becoming increasingly real and imminent problems for the Asia-Pacific region including Japan, as well as the rest of the world, the Japanese government said in an annual threat assessment released Tuesday. It is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads. One of the last technical hurdles North Korea must clear is mastering the re-entry know-how to protect a small nuclear warhead as the missile crashes through the earths atmosphere. A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful launch of the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile in an undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang on August 8, 2017. (Reuters) On Tuesday, North Korea barely held back its disdain for its traditional allies, China and Russia, for acquiescing to US pressure to impose tougher sanctions. The recent sanctions resolution cooked up by the US and its followers is an outcome of the horror and uneasiness of the U.S. taken aback by the might and mettle of the DPRK, its statement said. It is also the label of the weakness and servility of the riffraff who showed their hands in favour of adopting the resolution, as they are scared by the U.S. The statement did not mention China or Russia by name, only referring to big countries that it said abandoned their creed, conscience and obligation and voted for the sanctions to gain favour with Trump. By Sajjad Hussain Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday met newly-elected Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and discussed matters pertaining to the army. During the meeting, Abbasi lauded armed forces for its fight against militants. Professional matters pertaining to Pakistan Army were discussed in the meeting, said a statement issued by the PM House after the meeting. This was Gen Bajwas first formal meeting with the prime minister since the latter assumed office earlier this month after disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court. The powerful army, which enjoys considerable influence over policy decisions in Pakistan, has ruled the country for much of its life since it gained independence 70 years ago. Pakistans deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif is determined to hold a rally in his powerbase of Lahore despite a bombing in the city on Monday that killed one person and raised fears for the PML-N chiefs safety. The explosion in a fruit truck occurred on the route that Sharif is to take on Wednesday for the rally. Last week, Islamabad Police had cited threats from various militant groups and expressed reservations about the rally that Sharif plans to lead from Islamabad to Lahore. The media reported explosives were hidden in the truck laden with fruits. Initial reports had said the explosion occurred when the truck hit an electric transformer. The truck was parked at the same spot for the past three days, police said. One person was killed and 35 others were injured by the blast. Sharif plans to return to his hometown from Islamabad for the first time since the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 for being dishonest while declaring his assets specifically, that his sons Dubai-based company listed a monthly salary for him. Sharif has repeatedly said he never received any of that money. Despite the security threat to Sharifs rally, there is no change in the plans, Punjab government spokesman Malik Mohammad Ahmed said. The former premier was earlier scheduled to travel to Lahore from Islamabad via the famous Grand Trunk Road on Sunday, but the rally was postponed to Wednesday. The PML-N has planned a million march to protest against Sharifs disqualification in the Panama Papers case. Opposition leader Imram Khan has expressed concern at Sharifs plan to travel to Lahore with a cavalcade, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the Supreme Court and its judgement in the high-profile scandal. In another challenge to the ruling PML-N, firebrand opposition cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri returned home after mainly living abroad amid pending court cases against him in Pakistan. Qadri has vowed to get justice for eight supporters killed during anti-government rallies in 2014. Qadri said on Tuesday he will launch a fresh anti-government campaign and praised the top court for disqualifying Sharif. Sharifs removal plunged Pakistan into political turmoil but PML-N loyalists elected Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as the new prime minister. The next general election is due in June 2018. An organisation linked to the controversial Lal Masjid has approached Islamabad High Court to ban a beauty pageant sponsored by a skin care company, saying it would Indian-ise Pakistan. Tariq Asad, the president of the Shuhada Foundation, said in the petition that the Miss Veet Pakistan pageant was against the values of Islam and Pakistan. This product [manufactured by the sponsor] aims at and advertises asking women to remove body hair to make themselves more sexually appealing to the opposite gender which is fundamentally shameful and against the injunction of Shariah," the petition read. The petitioner submitted that the beauty pageant would Indian-ise the culture of Pakistan and it should not be allowed to be run on TV. It [the pageant] would serve as a launching pad for beauty contests [that are] common in many western countries," Asad submitted. Family ties would break and the values of society would deteriorate. If it [the pageant] is allowed to continue, it would degenerate the roots of our societys culture, he added in the petition. The petitioner said fashion and modelling events, dance and singing contests and TV dramas were against the norms and values of the Pakistani society. Almost all channels are bent on tarnishing the culture of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The electronic media has become a red light screen, he maintained. Though the petition has been filed, the court is yet to take it up to consider its maintainability. By Mubasher Bukhari Pakistani security forces killed four Taliban militants in the eastern city of Lahore hours after a truck bomb killed one person and wounded 22, authorities said on Tuesday. Attacks in Pakistans second-largest city have decreased over the past couple of years but Islamist militant groups are still active there, including a suicide bombing last month that killed 25 people. A spokesman for the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) said the department was following up information that militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, were planning an attack on Lahore police. Counter-terrorism officials formed a blockade near the bomb site on Monday night where they exchanged fire with suspected Taliban militants. The terrorists started firing at CTD officials who took precautions. When firing stopped, 4 terrorists were found dead while 3/4 fled away taking benefit of darkness, the spokesman said in a statement. Pakistani security officials investigate the site following an overnight bomb explosion placed inside a truck in Lahore on August 8, 2017. (AFP) No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack and it was not clear whether the militants killed were responsible for Mondays bomb blast but police officials said that they were not ruling out a connection. Authorities recovered one body near the blast site on Monday night after initially saying there had been no casualties. Yesterdays blast left one dead, whose body was recovered from rubble of a nearby collapsed house... A huge quantity of explosives was used in the truck, Punjab government spokesman Malik Ahmad Khan told Reuters. These days, the price of a San Francisco home can easily top a million dollars. But one savvy investor has bought up a whole street in the citys most exclusive neighbourhood for a mere $90,000. Trouble is, some of the extremely wealthy residents of Presidio Terrace were not aware their street was up for sale and are not pleased it has been sold. Presidio Terrace is an oval shaped street sealed off by a gate from the tony Presidio Heights neighbourhood. Lined with towering palm trees and multimillion dollar mansions, the street has been home, over the years, to famous residents including senator Dianne Feinstein and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. A sidewalk leads into luxury homes in the Presidio Terrace neighbourhood in San Francisco. (AP) Thanks to a city auction stemming from an unpaid tax bill, Bay Area real estate investor Michael Cheng, and his wife Tina Lam, bought the street and now own the sidewalks, the street itself and other areas of common ground in the private development that, the San Francisco Chronicle report ed, has been managed by the homeowners association since at least 1905. Cheng says reaction to the sale has been less than neighbourly. I thought they would reach out to us and invite us in as new neighbours, Cheng told The Associated Press. This has certainly blown up a lot more than we expected. It turns out the homeowners association for Presidio Terrace failed to pay a $14-a-year property tax, something that owners of all 181 private streets in San Francisco must do, the Chronicle reported. So the citys tax office put the property up for sale at the cost of $994 in an online auction to regain unpaid back taxes, penalties and interest. The couple eventually won the street with a $90,100 bid in an April 2015 auction. Scott Emblidge, the attorney for the Presidio Homeowners Association, said in a letter to the city that the owners failed to pay because the tax bill was mistakenly being sent to the address of an accountant who hadnt worked for the homeowners association since the 1980s, the Chronicle reported. Emblidge said the residents didnt know their street was put on the auction block, let alone sold, until May when a title search company hired by Cheng and Lam reached out to ask if any residents had interest in buying back the property. That was one of several options Cheng and Lam have considered for making the investment pay off. Another option is to charge residents to park on their street and rent out the 120 parking spaces that line the grand circular road. As legal owners of this property, we have a lot of options, Cheng said, adding that nothing has been decided. The matter could be headed for court. Last month, the homeowners petitioned the Board of Supervisors for a hearing to rescind the tax sale. The board has scheduled a hearing for October. The homeowners association has also sued the couple and the city, seeking to block Cheng and Lam from selling the street to anyone while the city appeal is pending. South African President Jacob Zuma again survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament Tuesday in the most serious attempt yet to unseat him after months of growing anger over alleged corruption and a sinking economy, while his party that has ruled since the end of apartheid continued to fracture. Zuma survived six previous attempts to dislodge him in Parliament, but this was the first held by secret ballot after parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete made the surprise decision to allow it. Opposition parties hoped it would encourage legislators with the ruling African National Congress party to vote, without fear of retaliation, against Zuma, under whose leadership the economy has slipped into recession. Instead, ANC members in the chamber began singing shortly before the results were announced, while supporters outside started to dance. A jubilant Zuma promised the ANC would win the next election in 2019 in a big number once again, and he dismissed propaganda that said his party no longer has the peoples support. Then he broke into song. We will never endorse or vote in favour of any motion that seeks to cripple our country, the ANC said, calling the vote an attempt to remove the party from power. Of the 384 votes cast, 177 were in favour of the no-confidence motion and 198 were against, with nine abstentions. The no-confidence motion needed 201 votes to succeed. Dozens of ANC members ended up supporting the no-confidence motion, as the ruling party holds 249 of the 400 parliament seats, five of them currently vacant. Some party members denounced those who voted against Zuma as sellouts, and chief whip Jackson Mthembu said the party would consider disciplining them. The main opposition Democratic Alliance party said after the vote that the majority of the ANC have chosen corruption, looting over the countrys interests. Its no-confidence motion said Zuma had lost all sense of rationality and sound judgment, harming the countrys poorest citizens. Widespread frustration over Zuma has hurt the ANC, the former liberation movement that has led South Africa since the end of white minority rule and the first all-race elections in 1994. Some long-time party members and anti-apartheid activists have openly called on Zuma to go. On Tuesday, former president Thabo Mbeki said ANC lawmakers must recall that they are the representatives of the people, according to a video posted by a Nairobi-based journalist on Twitter. Many predicted the vote would fail, saying most members of the decades-old liberation party would hesitate to make any major leadership changes initiated by the opposition. For me, its among the biggest reasons for the failure of African liberation movements, this misplaced loyalty to the end for the sake of holding it together, said William Gumede, executive chairman of the Johannesburg-based Democracy Works Foundation. Demonstrations both for and against Zuma, who has led South Africa since 2009, took place in front of the parliament building in Cape Town before the vote. As you can see, thousands of people have reached the end of their tether in terms of what is happening in our beautiful country, our beautiful, diverse country that we should enjoy but we cant enjoy because millions of our people are without jobs, said one protester, Johnnie Jacobs. We have got to get rid of this man before he destroys everything that we have all worked so hard for, said another protester, Anne Shirley. While Zumas term continues until elections in 2019, there have been calls from within the ANC for him to quit earlier and allow the party to build up support before the vote. The party is expected to replace Zuma as ANC president at a meeting in December. The reputation of Zuma, who spent a decade in prison for his anti-apartheid activities and has been popular among some South Africans for his personal warmth and populist policies, has been tarnished by allegations of impropriety. Last year, the Constitutional Court ruled unanimously that Zuma failed to uphold the constitution by not paying back some of the $20 million-plus in state money used to upgrade his rural home. Zumas ties to the Gupta family, immigrant businessmen accused of trying to manipulate government leaders and state companies for financial gain, also have stirred public anger. The presidents firing of widely respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a Cabinet reshuffle in March led two agencies, Fitch and Standard & Poors, to lower South Africas credit rating to below investment grade, or junk status. The Taliban released 235 hostages from a remote village in northern Afghanistan where it allegedly massacred around 50 civilians along with Islamic State insurgents but others were still feared held, officials said Tuesday. This evening 235 people including women and children were released from Mirzawalang as a result of mediation by the local elders and provincial officials, Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. They have been safely evacuated to Sar-e Pul city, but there are still an unknown number of people being kept hostage there, he added. An Afghan security source said he thought there were still around 100 people being held hostage in Mirzawalang, situated in the Sayad district of Sar-e Pul province, after insurgents captured it at the weekend. Taliban and IS fighters killed around 50 men, women and children in the mainly Shiite village on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials, who also said they took a number of residents captive. Despite the efforts of elders the bodies of the victims have not been recovered, Mohammad Zaher Wahdat, the provincial governor, told Tolo News, an Afghanistan television news channel. Two hundred and thirty-five hostages have been released. They are so shocked they cant even speak to tell us about anymore other hostages, he added. Amani, the provincial spokesman, has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) after a 48-hour battle before massacring civilians, he claimed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Most were shot or beheaded, he said. Special forces Afghan defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP that 34 civilians were known to have been killed. The discrepancy highlights the difficulty of verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications. AFP was not able to access the village. Before confirmation of the release of hostages Amani said that 150 families were being held while Waziri said an unknown number of people had been taken hostage. Since the villages is cut off, we cant confirm any new killings by the terrorists, Amani told AFP. The Taliban confirmed capturing Mirzawalang but said it did so alone. It has also denied allegations it had killed civilians. Taliban and IS fighters have regularly clashed in Afghanistan over the past two years but security sources say they have teamed up in the past to strike Afghan forces in certain areas. Commando forces have been deployed to the area, air strikes are being carried out as we speak, and commanders on the ground are busy planning the recapture of the valley, said Waziri, the defence spokesman. The operation to retake the valley will happen soon, and the terrorists will pay for their crimes, he added. Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghan government, told AFP it was difficult to know numbers of civilians concerned but said President Ashraf Ghani has instructed everyone to do everything to safeguard those people. US President Donald Trumps administration has given him a draft of a report that incontrovertibly links human activity to climate change and warns of significant warming if nothing is done. The climate science special report said the global annual average temperature has increased by over 1.6 degrees F (0.9 degrees C) between 1880 to 2015, and the average temperatures in recent decades over most of the world has been much higher than at any time in at least the past 1700 years. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are primarily responsible for observed climate changes in the industrial era. There are no alternative explanations, and no natural cycles are found in the observational record that can explain the observed changes in climate, the report said. Put together by 12 federal agencies, the reports findings are contrary to what Trump, his cabinet colleagues and many Republicans believe that global warming is a natural phenomenon but the impact and role of human activity is far from proven. Trump has called climate change a hoax, tweeting in 2012, The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. After taking over as president, Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement on climate change, saying it unfairly favoured some countries like India and China. The US formally communicated to the UN last week that it was withdrawing from the deal. Though Trump didnt question the science behind climate change, and said he might consider rejoining the pact at a later stage and that the United States will continue to work to reduce greenhouse gases, he has also rolled back some regulations introduced by his predecessor, Barack Obama. And Trump has packed the administration with climate change deniers. Scott Pruitt, who is in charge of the environmental protection agency, has said, I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and theres tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact. Rick Perry, who heads the energy department that maintains Americas nuclear weapons stockpile, has similar views, which permeates most of the administration. A department of agriculture note from earlier in the year directed employees not to use the phrase climate change. A final call on the fate of the report, which is being reviewed by the White House, will likely be taken by Trump himself. And the report leaves him with few options, should he care to take it seriously. It projects a near-term rise of temperature in the US by 2.5 degrees F (1.4 degrees C). But the rise is expected to be much bigger towards the latter part of the century by 5.0 degrees F (2.8 degrees C) with lower emissions and, by a whopping, 8.7 degrees F (4.8 degrees C) with higher emissions. Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geoscience and international affairs at Princeton University, told The New York Times, which first wrote about the report, This is the first case in which an analysis of climate change of this scope has come up in the Trump administration, and scientists will be watching very carefully to see how they handle it. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised other nations for addressing North Koreas missile program, days after the UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on Pyongyang over two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. After many years of failure, countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!, Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. The council passed the US-drafted resolution on North Korea on Saturday. British police appealed on Tuesday for help in tracing a jogger who appeared to push a woman into the path of an oncoming bus on a busy west London street. Closed circuit TV footage showed the male runner jog past one man on Putney Bridge on May 5 before knocking into the 33-year-old victim. As she tumbled to the ground, her head and upper body fell into the path of an oncoming bus which managed to swerve out of her way. The jogger ran on but returned heading in the other direction about 15 minutes later, the Metropolitan Police said. The man but did not acknowledge the victim when she tried to speak to him and instead kept on running. The victim was put in extreme danger when she was knocked into the road. It was only due to the superb quick reactions of the bus driver that she was not hit by the vehicle, said Sgt. Mat Knowles, the investigating officer. After the woman fell into the road, the bus stopped and passengers went to help the victim who had sustained minor injuries. Police said that the footage had been released as the investigation into identity of the runner, described as a white man in his 30s, had so far been unsuccessful. With the rise of a friendly leader in the Philippines, China has been spared a vocal adversary in the disputed South China Sea. In the process, it has gained momentum despite last years ruling by an arbitration tribunal that invalidated its expansive claims in the disputed waters. The rapprochement between President Rodrigo Duterte and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, defused a tense standoff between the Asian neighbours last year at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, where China allowed Filipinos back to fish in October as years of thorny relations began to brighten. As US President Donald Trump succeeded Barack Obama, who had challenged Chinas assertive advances in the disputed sea, Americas allies wondered if Trump would press his countrys role as a regional counterbalance to the Asian powerhouse. An annual summit of Asia-Pacific nations hosted by the Philippines over the weekend, however, delivered a reality check to Beijing. US secretary of state Rex Tillerson met his Australian and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of the meetings in Manila of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. After their meeting, they issued a joint statement that blasted aggressive actions in the contested offshore territories without, of course, naming Beijing directly, in line with diplomatic practice. Nevertheless, China quickly voiced its irritation. Its top diplomat said that while his country and the 10-nation ASEAN bloc all fully recognized that the situation in the South China Sea is showing signs of changes and things are moving toward a positive direction, some countries outside the region are not seeing the positive changes and are holding onto a mindset that still stays in the past. After the Philippines, ASEANs leader this year, hosted the first of three major summits of the bloc in April, Duterte issued a traditional chairmans statement that dropped mention of contentious issues, including Beijings island constructions in disputed reefs that China has lobbied to be struck out of such high-profile communiques. For China, it was seen as a diplomatic coup. Closeted in their annual gathering in Manila over the weekend, however, ASEAN foreign ministers wrangled over the tone and wordings to depict the territorial rifts involving China and five other governments in their joint statement, which unlike the chairmans statement is a negotiated document. A draft of the ASEAN ministerial statement seen by The Associated Press before it was finalized and made public provided a glimpse of the closed-door intramurals, with Vietnam insisting on stronger language against Chinas increasingly assertive actions in the busy waters. Vietnamese diplomats, for example, insisted on mentioning concern over extended construction in the contested waters. Cambodia, a Chinese ally, deferred a vote on the inclusion of worries over militarization. The Philippines was one of the countries that opposed mention of land reclamation and militarization in the communique, foreign secretary Alan Peter Cayetano acknowledged in a news conference late Tuesday. China, he said, threatened to end future talks aimed at resolving conflicts if the arbitration ruling was mentioned in the statement. We wont make any progress, Cayetano said. China already said if you talk about the arbitration award there is no talks. The protracted quibblings delayed the statements release, two Southeast Asian diplomats told the AP. When it was issued a day later, the joint ministerial statement surprisingly mentioned land reclamation and militarization and, to Beijings certain dismay, carried a vague reference to the arbitration ruling: full respect for diplomatic and legal process. Wang played down mention of the issues, including land reclamation, that critics have used to refer to Chinas massive island constructions in the South China Sea. The next battle is over a proposed code of conduct, which aims to stymie aggressive behaviour in the disputed sea, including new construction and military fortifications. China concluded talks with ASEAN for a negotiating framework for the non-aggression code, a baby step both sides hailed as a milestone. Most ASEAN states, including the Philippines, back a legally binding code. China wants otherwise and opposes mention of the contentious issues, including arbitration and a conflict-resolution arrangement, given its preference to solve the conflicts through one-on-one negotiation with its smaller rival claimants. With ASEAN unable to do anything unless it acquiesces to Chinas wishes, it relented to reach a consensus. Proponents of the rule of law were dismayed. The agreed framework is a lowest-common-denominator effort. It lacks teeth because China has opposed making it legally binding and refused to include a dispute settlement mechanism, said Bonnie Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. With ASEAN itself divided and Chinas sway over individual ASEAN members growing, Glaser said, this is an unsurprising even if disappointing development. Wang announced at the Manila meetings that China would be ready to start negotiations for the maritime code when its leader travels to the Philippines and joins ASEAN heads of state in November. But first, he said, in a shot at the United States, the situation has to be stable and free of major disruption from outside parties. The United States, Australia and Japan immediately weighed in, urging China and ASEAN to ensure that the code of conduct be finalized in a timely manner, and that it be legally binding, meaningful, effective, and consistent with international law. Outside parties like the U.S. will do what they think is needed to promote peace and stability in the region, Glaser said. If China opposes those actions, so be it. The US is sending dozens more Marines to Afghanistan to beef up internal security in the war-torn countrys Helmand province, according to a media report. The US Central Command has agreed to send an additional marines of less than 100, who would join the existing more than 300 marines assigned to Task Force Southwest, the NBC news reported. The officials said this deployment is not tied to the Trump administrations long-awaited new South Asia strategy, but instead fulfills a request from the commander on the ground, Marine Brig Gen Roger Turner. It was approved by Gen Joseph Votel at Central Command. The report, which was based on unnamed sources, was not confirmed by the Pentagon. The repositioning and movement of forces in the CENTCOM (area of responsibility), to include presently deployed Marines, happen at the discretion of the CENTCOM Commander, a spokesperson for Marine Corps Forces Central Command said. At this time there are no plans to deploy CONUS based Marines into Afghanistan, the spokesman said using the acronym for Continental United States. Tim Weiner has won the Pulitzer Prize for his national security reporting and the National Book Award for his best-selling Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA. His new book, Enemies: A History of the FBI, examines the Bureau from a fresh angle: as a domestic and international intelligence agency. In its pages, Weiner chronicles the efforts of a Bureau whose relentless focus is not the usual criminal suspects but spies, assassins, anarchists and terrorists. How accurate is the FBIs image? People think FBI agents are saintly lawmen with superhuman powers or a malevolent proto-Gestapo. Neither of those notions is true. For most of the past hundred years, the Bureau has had as its first and foremost mission secret intelligence against terrorists and spies. Anybody can find a stolen car or solve a bank robbery. It takes an intelligence agency to do counter-terrorism. A secret police is an anathema in a democracy, but the FBIs powers make it Americas closest counterpart. Why do we have a domestic intelligence agency? Because were a superpower. Teddy Roosevelt invented the FBI [then called the Bureau of Investigation] in 1908. From the moment he started to extend Americas power, he knew enemies would push back. Roosevelt wanted to stop anarchists, who, like al Qaeda, existed only to destroy. He wanted to stop plutocrats, who he called the great malefactors, from corrupting Congress. Under Roosevelt, laws were established regulating interstate commerce, food and drugs and the great malefactors. How do you enforce them? Thus was born the FBI. Has the United States faced any real threat of overthrow? Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon both thought that the forces opposing the war in Vietnam were capable of overthrowing our government. After 9/11, we feared another attack. Did these threats materialize? No. Were they real? Fear is real. Living in continual fear will cause you to err on the side of security at the cost of liberty. How political is the FBI? An organizations politics reflects its members backgrounds. The FBI that J. Edgar Hoover created, the FBI that he left behind and the FBI that survived for years after Hoover died was 99.4 percent white, 100 percent male, heavily Catholic and Mormon. The politics of people who joined the FBI was predominantly conservativein the best sense, of wanting to conserve traditional values, and conservative in the less wonderful sense of resisting change. The FBI remains overwhelmingly white and male, but it is not as white and as male as it was before. Youve got some women, black people, Asians, Arabic speakers. Have we always had the Bureau that we deserve? No. The Bureaus history is replete with egregious violations of common law and common sense. Particularly in Hoovers day, the FBI was at the fringe of and sometimes beyond the law. Only in recent years, thanks in good part to Director Robert Mueller, has the Bureau managed the difficult balancing act of calibrating our national security and our civil liberties. Are FBI directors above the law? Hoover in his heyday was the law; presidents gave him that authority. When the Supreme Court in 1939 said you couldnt bug without a warrant, FDR told Hoover, in essence, To hell with the Supreme Court. Since Hoovers death, no director has felt above the law. His immediate successor, L. Patrick Gray, lost his job and was indicted the charges were droppedfor conspiring to violate Americans civil rights. Thats quite a fall. Whats your personal take on J. Edgar Hoover? He was one of the four or five most important figures in the American government of the 20th century. He was, as his intelligence chief, William Sullivan, put it, a hater, and once he hated someone or something, he hated all his life. Hoovers mortal enemies were people like Felix Frankfurter, a Supreme Court justice; Roger Baldwin, head of the ACLU; W.E.B. Du Bois, this countrys first really great civil rights leader; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. People think of this as racism or personal animus, that Hoover hated blacks or he hated Jews, or he hated liberals. I think its a lot more complicated. Hoover was an ideologue, and ideology is an enemy of good intelligence. He was funny, sarcastic and often petulant. His mind was narrow but very deep. He understood intelligence and its power, but not its limits. Such as when he bugged Dr. King? Yes, but lets remember who authorized those bugs: Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Hoover had convinced Bobby Kennedy and his brother, the president, that Kings adviser, Stanley Levinson, was a Communist and that the civil rights movement was a cats-paw of international Communism. Has the post-Hoover FBI ever overstepped its power? When the Bureau oversteps, the courts or the press pull it back. Sometimes the FBI itself restores the balance. After 9/11, George W. Bush created an electronic eavesdropping system. Mueller told the president, this program is illegal; unless you trim it to within the confines of the law, I will resign, the attorney general will resign and his deputy and the four deputies after him will resign. What about times when the Bureau was overzealous? From 1956 to 1971, the FBI ran COINTELPRO, for counterintelligence programs. They were poison pen campaigns, libels and defamations against everybody from Communists to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Has the FBI erred more recently? During the 1990s, the FBI under Louis Freeh spent three times the money and manpower investigating Chinese campaign contributions that it did investigating terrorism. Its a terrible thing to say, but that is one proximate cause for the success of the 9/11 attacks. What do you consider examples of the Bureau at its best? In 1964, Lyndon Johnson ordered Hoover to destroy the most violent terrorist organization in this country in the 20th century, the Ku Klux Klan. It probably went against most of the bones in Hoovers body, but he did as the president ordered. Within three years the Klan was a shadow of itself. After the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103, the FBI traced a fragment of clothing to a shop in Malta and figured out who bought it, tied him to the Libyan intelligence service and figured out where hed been. And, most importantly, since 9/11 we havent been attacked in any serious way. Should we all ask the Bureau for copies of our files? Most of what you get will be blacked out. Originally published in the June 2012 issue of American History. To subscribe, click here. www.bluetigercommons.lincolnu.edu/fosterletters/ In the spring of 1865, about a month before the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, Union Lieutenant Richard Baxter Foster waged a very different war in the Trans-Mississippi West. Baxter was, he explained in a March 8 letter to his wife, Lucy, teaching a school of the Sergeants and Corporals of the Company about one hour each day. It was a task in which he took great pleasure, enjoying the fact that the men are very much interested and thank me every night for the lesson. I never saw a body of men so anxious to learn as our regiment now are. A native of New Hampshire and graduate of Dartmouth College, Baxter had moved to Illinois and then Iowa in the 1850s, where he was teaching African-American students and fighting in Kansas alongside John Brown until Baxter moved to Nebraska shortly before the Civil War began. He enlisted in the 1st Nebraska Infantry in 1862, and then volunteered to command an African-American unit the following year. His letters and his military service highlight the fact that Baxter fought to abolish slavery. Lincoln University, of Jefferson City, Mo., which Baxter helped found as Lincoln Institute in 1866 with the support of the men of the 62nd and 65th USCT, has posted online several of his letters that span his time with the 62nd USCT from 1863-1865. The collection is not vast and it relates to a unit that saw little fighting. But the value in Baxters correspondence lies in the number of issues he addresses. Many readers, for example, associate abolitionist-minded Union soldiers with those who served in Eastern units, and generally consider Western units to be unsupportive of emancipation. Baxter challenges this assumption, and while he expresses the common complaints of soldiers including long-overdue pay, poor commanders, and too-few letters from home, he also fumes about policies that Baxter thought caused more harm than good in the Trans-Mississippi West. The greatest value of the collection, though, is Baxters reflections on the role African Americans played in the war and would play in the peace that followed. He observed in late May 1865 that while white officers were rapidly resigning from service in the summer of 1865, black soldiers remained. Recognizing the possible limits of emancipation, he noted on May 24 that the white troops would want to go home [but] the black men dont, they would rather stay in the army awhile than take their chances any where else for which they are sensible. Baxter also expressed his desire to establish a new community after the war with men from his company, a trend among veterans that scholars are studying with increasing interest in the Trans-Mississippi West. Baxter proved pivotal in the 62nd USCTs tireless efforts to open a school to educate African Americans after the war. While the online collection does not include letters on that phase of his work, they highlight a key part of the process where Baxter had the opportunity to work closely with free blacks and former slaves-turned-soldiers who recognized that education would be key to enjoying freedoms the war secured. Susannah J. Ural You couldnt really ask for a more convenient location for a festival than The Beatyard at Dun Laoghaire pier. Hop off the dart, go around the corner, and Bobs your uncle. There are plenty of other things to recommend it too. One of the main selling points is the variety of street food on offer; Hot Press sampled several delights, all of which were a cut far above the usual half-cooked burger in a half-frozen bun for a tenner. On top of that, the liquid refreshment too was a far cry from the usual plastic glass of suds, I was particularly taken with the Nautical Boogie IPA, which explains both the two-and-eight I was in getting back on the train, and why this review was late. The music kicked off with the Italian/French/Spanish/Dublin gang Mama Kasbah, whose enjoyable mix of everything from reggae to rumba was unfortunately delivered to an almost empty space as a crowd had yet to arrive. If youre a fan of Manu Chao or Gogol Bordello, then these are the lads for you. They even managed to make an accordion driven version of Hava Nagila sound good. And then, of course, the heavens opened, we were at an Irish festival after all, so twist my arm why dont you, we took refuge at the bar in the Eatyard Tent. A series of talks and demos took place here during the day. My visit coincided with a particularly dry discussion on starting a food business, and there were various cookery sessions to follow. Ive never really seen the appeal of going to a festival to watch someone cook the dinner, but each to their own. Tommy Lee Jones is also set to appear. Oscar nominated Irish actress Ruth Negga is going to be acting alongside Brad pitt in an upcoming Space Epic Ad Astra. The film will be written and directed by James Gray, who won over critics earlier this year with his The Lost City of Z, a true to life adventure drama set in the early 1900s. Ad Astra will star Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones in the lead role. Pitt is reportedly playing a space engineer Roy McBride who heads out into the solar system 20 years after his father (Lee Jones) left on a one-way mission to Neptune, aiming to find signs of extra-terrestrial intelligence. Jones will seemingly be something of threat in a story that has some hallmarks of Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness Advertisement There is no word as of yet as to who Negga will be playing but expect to hear more details to come out in the coming days. Shooting on the film has just begun. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Aramark plans to lay off up to 175 workers after losing a key contract with Houston First to operate concessions at George R. Brown Convention Center and other city-owned venues. Affected employees likely will be offered positions with the yet-to-be named successor or at other venues where Aramark operates, officials said Monday. "Our contract to provide catering services at George R. Brown Convention Center and the Theatre District will conclude on Sept. 30," said David Freireich, a spokesman for Aramark. Philadelphia-based Aramark recently notified the Texas Workforce Commission of its layoff plans, which include a few positions at Miller Outdoor Theatre and Wortham Theater, by the end of September. Two layoffs at Jones Hall were effective July 30, according to the WARN, or Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, notice. "Typically, in these situations, the successor company will hire the employees, provided they meet the requirements of the new company," Freireich said. "We will also help identify opportunities for employees to find positions elsewhere with our company." Houston First, which oversees the city-owned convention center and arts venues, has not yet completed a contract with a new provider. The company has been evaluating contractors to secure the best deal, a customary practice when a contract is set to expire. "We are still negotiations with a vendor," said Carolyn Campbell, director of corporate communications for Houston First. "They have not signed on the dotted line." Levy Premium Food Service was selected as a front-runner at a recent Houston First board meeting. Aramark provides food and beverage services to NRG Park and Minute Maid Park, in addition to hospitality services to health care facilities and corporate clients in the area. (Bloomberg) -- Alphabet Inc.s Google has fired an employee who wrote an internal memo blasting the web companys diversity policies, creating a firestorm across Silicon Valley. James Damore, the Google engineer who wrote the note, confirmed his dismissal in an email, saying that he had been fired for perpetuating gender stereotypes. He said hes currently exploring all possible legal remedies. The imbroglio at Google is the latest in a long string of incidents concerning gender bias and diversity in the tech enclave. Uber Technologies Inc. Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick lost his job in June amid scandals over sexual harassment, discrimination and an aggressive culture. Ellen Paos gender-discrimination lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in 2015 also brought the issue to light, and more women are speaking up to say theyve been sidelined in the male-dominated industry, especially in engineering roles. Earlier on Monday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a note to employees that said portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. But he didnt say if the company was taking action against the employee. A Google representative, asked about the dismissal, referred to Pichais memo. Damores 10-page memorandum accused Google of silencing conservative political opinions and argued that biological differences play a role in the shortage of women in tech and leadership positions. It circulated widely inside the company and became public over the weekend, causing a furor that amplified the pressure on Google executives to take a more definitive stand. Read more: Bloomberg QuickTake on women and tech After the controversy swelled, Danielle Brown, Googles new vice president for diversity, integrity and governance, sent a statement to staff condemning Damores views and reaffirmed the companys stance on diversity. In internal discussion boards, multiple employees said they supported firing the author, and some said they would not choose to work with him, according to postings viewed by Bloomberg News. We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, Brown said in the statement. Well continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul. The memo and surrounding debate comes as Google fends off a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Labor alleging the company systemically discriminates against women. Google has denied the charges, arguing that it doesnt have a gender gap in pay, but has declined to share full salary information with the government. According to the companys most recent demographic report, 69 percent of its workforce and 80 percent of its technical staff are male. Following the memos publication, multiple executives shared an article from a senior engineer who recently left the company, Yonatan Zunger. In the blog post, Zunger said that based on the context of the memo, he determined that he would not in good conscience assign any employees to work with its author. You have just created a textbook hostile workplace environment, he wrote. He also said in a email, Could you imagine having to work with someone who had just publicly questioned your basic competency to do your job? Still, some right-wing websites had already lionized the memos author, and firing him could be seen as confirming some of the claims in the memo itself that the companys culture makes no room for dissenting political opinions. That outcome could galvanize any backlash against Alphabets efforts to make its workforce more diverse. In her initial response to the memo, Brown, who joined from Intel Corp. in June, suggested that Google was open to all hosting difficult political views, including those in the memo. However, she left open the possibility that Google could penalize the engineer for violating company policies. But that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies, and anti-discrimination laws, she wrote. The subject of Googles ideological bent came up at the most recent shareholder meeting, in June. A shareholder asked executives whether conservatives would feel welcome at the company. Executives disagreed with the idea that anyone wouldnt. The company was founded under the principles of freedom of expression, diversity, inclusiveness and science-based thinking, Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt said at the time. Youll also find that all of the other companies in our industry agree with us. (Updates with employee considering legal action in second paragraph.) To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Bergen in San Francisco at mbergen10@bloomberg.net, Ellen Huet in San Francisco at ehuet4@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Reed Stevenson 2017 Bloomberg L.P. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate President Donald Trump made a deal last week that could make the world a safer place, but he had to sacrifice some of his biggest supporters: steelworkers. Trump was poised last week to launch an investigation into China's blatantly illegal trade practices, particularly the Communist government's decision to flood global markets with cheap steel. But then the White House abruptly canceled the announcement and the president went on a 17-day vacation. Then on Saturday in the U.N. Security Council, China voted in favor of the Trump administration's punitive sanctions on North Korea. China had blocked previous attempts to isolate its ally for its pursuit of a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the United States. The vote was a huge diplomatic victory for Trump. If the sanctions succeed in getting North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Un to stop testing new missiles and nuclear weapons, then the deal should be considered a success. Trump voters in the Rust Belt, though, will be disappointed as Chinese steel continues to enter the U.S., taking away American jobs. About 28 percent of steel used in the United States is from overseas. Finished steel imports are up 16.5 percent so far this year, while total imports have risen 21.7 percent, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. This is despite Trump's promises to put American steel workers back to work. "Every chance the administration has had to make meaningful change on trade policy, they've kicked the can down the road," Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said Friday. "Just over one year ago, President-elect Trump promised to get tough on China's trade cheating by stopping Beijing's intellectual property theft, massive overcapacity, and currency manipulation. Now as president, Trump is currently zero for three on these issues." This isn't Trump's first broken promise to the steel industry. As a candidate, he promised to approve the Keystone XL pipeline to bring crude from Canada to the Gulf Coast and require that TransCanada use American steel. Once he was elected, though, he allowed the company to build it with only 50 percent American steel. In both cases Trump demonstrated pragmatism. Stopping North Korea's progress in building a nuclear weapon that threatens the United States is profoundly important, and he has readily acknowledged that China's help is needed to achieve this goal without bloodshed. When it comes to Keystone, most of the steel was already bought and waiting for installation. Trying to reshuffle inventory to meet the president's 100 percent Made in America requirement simply wouldn't work. After all, Trump has often used Chinese steel on his construction projects. What both of these cases demonstrate, though, is the difficulty of keeping wildly broad campaign promises when faced with the nitty-gritty details of policy making. The world is a complicated place, requiring compromise. Knowing which is the right trade-off is the hard part. North Korean officials could ignore all of the warnings and test a nuclear weapon or a new missile in the coming weeks. If that happens, expect global markets to react badly as Trump discovers his deal with the Chinese bore no fruit, and he's left with only bad military options. Striking North Korea and imposing tariffs on Chinese steel would panic the global economy. The Keystone pipeline, meanwhile, is not living up to expectations. The price of oil has dropped so low that companies have abandoned many of their Canadian tar sands projects, failing to produce the oil that TransCanada expected to transport. Trump and his team are discovering that in politics and diplomacy, making the right sacrifices for the right reasons can end up doing more harm than good. This is a tough lesson that every president learns in his first year in office. For more than four decades, manufacturing was the only work Donetta Raymond knew. Fresh from high school, she followed her father to the factory floor because, she said, "It was the best-paying job around." Starting as a sheet metal mechanic, Raymond found plenty of work in her hometown, Wichita, Kan., home to famous names in aviation like Cessna, Beech and Boeing. She applied her skills, eventually becoming a production operation specialist on 737 airplane fuselages for Boeing. Her work was praised consistently, including a good performance review in 2012 from the management of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings. The next year, she underwent a separate company review to gauge whether the company should retain her. Ominously, she slid to a "C" from her "A" rating the previous year. And just a few months later, the company laid off hundreds of longtime workers, including her, then age 59. The layoffs were swift and blunt. "They walked us out, and wouldn't let us go back and say goodbye," said a fellow worker, Debra Hatcher, 57, then a manufacturing operations analyst. "They drove us to an empty parking lot, and that was it." Competition blamed Spirit AeroSystems - formed from Boeing's 2005 sale of its Wichita division and Oklahoma operations - is an important supplier for Boeing, its biggest customer, and a rival, Airbus, chalking up nearly $1.7 billion in revenue in the first quarter of this year. When it laid off 360 workers in summer 2013, the company was not closing down or moving jobs to Mexico or anywhere else. Spirit, which has 11,000 employees in Wichita and operations in Europe and Asia, said layoffs among its salaried employees and managers were necessary to remain competitive. Today, a lawsuit filed by 70 former employees, including Raymond, is in proceedings in the U.S. District Court in Wichita. The suit was cleared first by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which must decide the validity of any claim of age or disability discrimination before it can proceed. The workers brought the suit after discovering that nearly half - or 164 - of those in the 2013 layoffs were 40 or older, the age that initiates federal age discrimination law protections. And workers charge that they were singled out, in addition, because they or their spouses had serious medical conditions. 'Compliant with the law' Spirit maintains it does not discriminate in hiring or termination decisions. "Reductions in force are never easy. However all decisions are based on job-related, nondiscriminatory criteria," said Fred Malley, Spirit's spokesman. "We are confident the evidence in this case will show Spirit is compliant with the law in its employment practices." Such lawsuits are popping up as the nation's workforce ages and as many longtime workers claim they are being deliberately targeted for such reductions. As manufacturing has contracted, more experienced workers feel they have limited options for re-employment if they are discarded at older ages. One of the few recourses for employees is to file a job discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Nearly 21,000 age discrimination complaints were filed in 2016 with the commission, up from 20,144 in 2015, though down slightly from a high of almost 25,000 in 2009 during the financial crisis, when huge numbers of jobs were eliminated. AARP's view In recent years, the number of filings has hovered in the 21,000 range, and age discrimination accounts for nearly a quarter of the overall complaints filed with the agency, which also pursues charges of discrimination against a job applicant or employee on the basis of a person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or genetic information. Yet, even as the workforce has a large number of older employees, one of the principal tools to fight such discrimination, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act - which Congress passed a half-century ago - may not be up to the task, said Laurie McCann, a lawyer with AARP Foundation Litigation, which is providing legal counsel to the Wichita plaintiffs. "Ageism unfortunately remains pervasive in the American workforce," she said. Only two of the cases the EEOC filed in court last year involved the federal age discrimination act, according to a list assembled by AARP, the nonprofit older citizens group. They were among a total of only 86 workplace discrimination cases litigated in court last year, AARP found. Few cases are taken to court because such complaints are complicated and expensive; it can take a long time to assemble relevant evidence and testimony. Tougher legal hurdle And a 2009 Supreme Court ruling has made proving age discrimination more difficult legally. In a case brought by an insurance executive who was among a dozen employees who were demoted, the court overturned an initial favorable ruling for the executive and imposed a tougher legal standard. To win, the court said, plaintiffs had to prove that age discrimination was the prime, or motivating, reason for demotion or dismissal. Without action by Congress to shore up the 1967 law, employers seem likely to continue to have an edge. In February, a group of senators, including Robert Casey, D-Pa., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. But past efforts to strengthen older worker rights have foundered on opposition from business groups, and the current bill is given little chance of passage. And many discrimination cases never reach the courtroom because they are settled voluntarily, said Victoria Lipnic, acting chairwoman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which in 2016 recovered just under $350 million for discrimination victims through mediation, conciliation and settlements. That compared with $52.2 million recovered from cases that involve litigation, she said in an interview. People who work in states like California and New Jersey, which have strong anti-discrimination laws, may fare better complaining to state employment fairness agencies than relying on federal agencies or courts. Still, proving age bias is difficult. Even companies that decide that older workers are too expensive, with their larger paychecks and costlier health insurance, rarely detail this in internal documents or emails. And court rulings have given companies significant leeway to defend against such lawsuits. "Employers have a great deal of freedom to decide how layoffs occur," said Lisa Klerman, a law professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and a mediator in employment disputes. (In Wichita, dozens of laid-off Spirit employees who are challenging their layoffs say their situation was exacerbated by the company's use of personal medical information to single them out for layoffs. A short time before the dismissals, they said in legal papers, Spirit switched to self-paid medical insurance, giving it an incentive to jettison higher-risk or sick employees to save money, they say. Then a few months after the 2013 layoffs, Spirit held a job fair to recruit for empty jobs, some of which appeared to have the same or very similar duties to the positions that had been vacated. But, according to Raymond and others, the company, Wichita's largest employer, with few exceptions, would not accept resumes, interview or rehire the discharged workers. Since those layoffs four years ago, aircraft parts plants in Wichita are now scrambling to find enough workers to fill a resurgence in orders. But that is little consolation to Raymond, who last October was told she had ovarian cancer. To get by, she said, she had drawn down her savings, started her Social Security benefits earlier than planned and underwent retraining to use power tools to make cabinets. She was further squeezed financially because she did not take the company's severance pay package and waived further claims against it. "It hurt big time not to do that," she said, "But I think it was unethical and illegal to use our health conditions and age against us, and I want to see that through and make sure everyone knows the company did that." Hatcher, her colleague, who has struggled to make a living with jobs in real estate and in estate sales, declined the severance payment as well. The women and their former colleagues say it's a matter of principle. "It's infuriating that you spend so much time with a company, and give them your loyalty and it winds up this way," Hatcher said. "It's just discrimination." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KPFT 90.1's supporters were due for an airing of grievances. And that's what they got Friday night. It's been quite a week for the staffers, board members and supporters of Houston's noncommercial radio station. The station has been in upheaval since July 14, when its interim general manager was fired unexpectedly. Since then, three more staffers have been fired, and their supporters are revolting against the head of KPFT's parent company. Friday night, at an emergency meeting of board directors, station supporters started a petition to eliminate Bill Crosier, the interim executive director of Pacifica Foundation, which owns KPFT. Crosier is the Pacifica executive who made the controversial decision to fire Obidike Kamau, KPFT's interim general manager, and three more station staffers. Story continues below ... Crosier said he fired Kamau because, in three months on the job, he failed to develop a plan to get the beleaguered station out of debt. Kamau's supporters say that he wasn't given enough time to turn the station around, and many suggest that racism played a part in his dismissal because Kamau is African-American. Tension has run high at the station for several days. Police were called to KPFT's Montrose headquarters on Tuesday,after a disagreement about which staffers should be allowed to stay in the building. And about 100 angry people gathered Friday at the SHAPE Community Center east of downtown. At Friday's meeting, board members expressed concerns about everything from the station's debt to a lack of Hispanic programming. And Kamau's supporters argued that he brought the station's staff closer together and created a new sense of camaraderie. At the station's latest fund drive, it met only 45 percent of its goal, but "that's one data point," argued board member Adrienne LaViolette. "That's not a trend," she said. "You can't judge (Kamau) on one failed pledge drive." Other members called for a change in the station's culture and a new approach to fundraising - which Kamau had started to initiate. "We've been failing financially for ages," said station supporter Judy Emerson. "And that's causing people not to want to donate because they don't know what's going to happen with their money." Station members agreed to put forward a ballot to determine whether Crosier should be removed from the local board, the Pacifica Foundation's national board and his position as Pacifica's interim executive director. The petition will need to have 2 percent of KPFT's approximately 6,000 members - about 120 signatures - to put forth the ballot, then 10 percent of the membership's support to oust Crosier. But nothing can be done until Aug. 9, the next board meeting that is sanctioned by the national board. So any major changes will have to wait until then. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Police were called to KPFT 90.1 FM's headquarters Tuesday as trouble at the radio station flared for the second time in a week. Tuesday morning, three station employees were given letters of termination - firings they say aren't permitted by KPFT's bylaws. More on the chaos at KPFT: Protest planned at KPFT Houston police got a call from the station's Montrose headquarters in the early afternoon, when two opposing groups began fighting over which of them should be allowed to stay in the building. Officers issued trespassing warnings to two of the fired employees and to a volunteer, said police spokesman John Cannon. "We're here with at least seven police officers," said Greg Audel, one of the staffers who was fired Tuesday. "It's absolutely insane." (Story continues below...) The trouble at KPFT started Friday, when Obidike Kamau, the station's interim general manager, was fired after just three months on the job by Bill Crosier, the interim executive director of the California-based Pacifica Foundation, which owns KPFT. Crosier fired Kamau for failing to develop a plan to get the beleaguered station out of debt. KPFT THROUGH THE YEARS: KPFT was bombed (for the first time) in 1970 A number of station staffers, board members and supporters were incensed and staged a protest Friday night, demanding Kamau's title be restored. Since then, they've started a petition to save Kamau's job. At a staff meeting Tuesday morning, Audel said, both Kamau and his appointed replacement, longtime KPFT deejay Larry Winters, showed up to lead the staff. "We had dueling general managers" until Winters left the room, he said. During that meeting, Audel and two other staffers - all Kamau supporters - received letters of termination signed by Crosier that offered no reason for their firing. HOUSTON RADIO: Houston music fans still begging for a true rock station Those staffers and their supporters argue that Crosier, as the head of the parent foundation, doesn't have the authority to fire local station employees. Crosier did not return a phone calls Tuesday. But Hank Lamb, a programmer for KPFT who recently resigned from the local station board, came to Crosier's defense. "Bill's not a racist, and he's not a mean man," Lamb said. Kamau is "a really good guy," he said, but he didn't get the fundraising support he needed from the board members who are now protesting his dismissal. "We've got a hot mess of a board and always have," Lamb said. Since Friday, KPFT supporters have been speaking out on social media about Kamau's firing: "We are all heartbroken," Audel said. "None of us are here for the money. None of us are here for anything other than we believe in community radio." Dave Rossman/For the Chronicle KPFT (90.1 FM) is no stranger to turmoil: Since its founding in 1970, the left-leaning Houston radio station has been bombed by the Ku Klux Klan, shot at, and has struggled to raise operating funds from its listeners. On Friday, the station boiled over yet again. After less than three months on the job, Obidike Kamau, the station's interim general manager, was fired Friday morning by the acting head of Pacifica, the national foundation that owns KPFT, sparking a protest march by Houston staffers, board members and volunteers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate University presidents -- including Rice University President David Leebron -- discussed the impact of campus research with Vice President Mike Pence at the White House last month. The coalition of university presidents who attended lead institutions that are part of the prestigious Association of American Universities, of which Leebron is board chair. They discussed how university research, bolstered by the federal government, can yield improvements to public health, the economy and national security, according to a Rice news release on Monday. The July 26 discussion came as President Donald Trump's administration has appeared to turn a skeptical eye toward spending on campus research. One proposed budget from the White House last May showed major cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported. That publication wrote: While acknowledging the Trump plan is not likely to be accepted by Congress, research advocates slammed it as a misguided view of national priorities. The administration's proposed cuts "would devastate America's science and technology enterprise, and negatively affect our nation's economy and public well-being," said Rush Holt, chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The Trump budget "would effectively cripple our nation's scientific efforts, undermining our economic growth, public health, and national security," said Mary Sue Coleman, president of the Association of American Universities. University presidents who attended the Pence meeting included Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Rafael Reif, Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust and AAU President Mary Sue Coleman, a former president of the University of Michigan. Known as the preeminent higher education organization for the United States and Canada, the AAU's 60 U.S. member universities produce several billions of dollars of federally funded research a year and convey nearly 60 percent of the nation's doctoral degrees in engineering, the physical sciences, math and computer science. A University of Texas at Austin student said he was unfairly suspended from the university after President Gregory Fenves intervened in his sexual assault case. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the student accused Fenves of unfairly intervening in an effort to take a hard-line stance on campus sexual assault, fearing that UT-Austin would "suffer the same public relations disaster that occurred at nearby Baylor University" if administrators did not appear to take the crime seriously. An initial review had sided with the male student. Fenves sided with the female student on appeal. "This sort of thinking is un-American," the lawsuit states. "It is political gamesmanship done to advance the reputation of a powerful bureaucrat and a wealthy university at the expense of truth about their own students. Public humiliation and punishment without a fair trial, done by insiders within the power structure, is a vestige of Middle Ages." SEX ASSAULT DATA: Data shows UT-Austin reported largest number of on-campus rapes UT-Austin spokesman J.B. Bird said in a statement that the university generally does not comment on pending litigation or student disciplinary measures. "Our policies and procedures in such cases are followed and applied with care and diligence at all levels, including appeals to the president during which he makes decisions only based upon the record in the case," he said. He told the Austin American-Statesman that Fenves responds to student disciplinary appeals, which attorney Brian Roark, who is representing the male student, confirmed in an email to the Chronicle. The students, identified only as Jane Roe and John Does, were college sophomores in April 2016 when she invited him to be her date at a sorority formal. They drank alcohol at the event, and afterward, the two went back to the male student's apartment, where both students said she consented to having sex. The female student later said her judgment was impaired and accused the male student of rape because she was incapacitated. A hearing panel sided with the male student in February 2017, and the female student appealed the decision. Fenves then stepped in. Responding in a seven-page letter, he concluded that it was more likely than not that the male student assaulted the female student "while she was too intoxicated to give consent," according to court documents. He was suspended for five semesters. Universities require a "preponderance of the evidence" standard in sexual assault cases, lower than the "beyond reasonable doubt" standard in criminal cases. UT-Austin defines incapacitation as "a state of being that prevents an individual from having the capacity to give consent." The state, according to the university, could stem from a person's use of drugs or alcohol, being asleep or unconscious or because of an intellectual or other disability. The lawsuit alleges that the university's definition is "unconstitutionally vague because it provides an entirely meaningless definition of the term incapacitation," and it suggests that Fenves overstepped so that the university would not be subject to criticism that it didn't take accusations seriously, naming Baylor as a cautionary tale. HoustonChronicle.com: Baylor sexual assault victims met with skepticism, little assistance from university The lawsuit also alleges that Fenves stepped in because the female student is the daughter of a wealthy donor, whom the lawsuit did not identify. Roark declined to give more information on the timeline of the parent's donations. "As the primary fund raiser for the University, President Fenves has a conflict of interest in deciding Title IX appeals generally, but especially when a donor's child is involved because of his potential bias towards donors and his role as a fundraiser," the lawsuit says. "The potential for abuse in this circumstance is significant, and the appearance of impropriety is striking." Do you find that reserving a public camping spot on short notice is hard to do? Well, thanks to startup company Hipcamp, that will soon get a lot easier in the Houston area. Hipcamp, founded by Alyssa Ravasio, was started in 2013 based on Ravasio's own frustrations in trying to find available camping sites. According to www.hipcamp.com, she had spent hours trying to find a good camping spot on the beach in California for New Years Eve. Once she did find a place, she was disappointed to realize that it was a great surfing spot. The online listing did not say so, which meant she did not know to bring her surfboard. At this time California was also considering to close down some of the state parks due to lack of funding. Click through the slideshow to see available Hipcamp sites on private land in Texas Because of this, Ravasio wanted to somehow make it easier to connect people with nature. "Hipcamp unlocks private access land for people to go camping. I love to camp and I was frustrated by how difficult it was to find somewhere to go outside. All the good parks and campgrounds can be booked many months in advance. This creates new places for people to go outside," Ravasio said. HIT THE ROAD: Unique places to vacation in Texas Hipcamp sites are available in all 50 states, but Hipcamp is currently looking at expanding in more urban areas, including Houston. "We are looking for land owners to join the platform. When we head into the fall, we will do a lot of lot of outreach in the Texas area. We do have over 500 campsites already in Texas, but we are still definitely focused on finding even more places," Ravasio said. If someone is interested in becoming a site host on Hipcamp, they have to fill out a simple form where they can tell Hipcamp about their property. Outreach specialists are available to help get the host's listings set up. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved. Campers can have more options at their finger tips at a moment's notice, and the extra income that the land owners make from the campers helps their ability to keep running and preserve their land. HipCamp keeps just 10 percent of the commissions. "They get to manage their own calendars and set their own prices. We connect them with the right people and handle the liability insurance," Ravasio said. The average price of a campsite on Hipcamp averages at around $50 a night, but can range anywhere to $15 to $300, depending on what the camper is looking for, and how large the group of campers are. According to Ravasio, there are a lot of unique places already available, such as "Privet Spring Fed Creek," a site an hour and a half drive west of Houston. The site includes a pizza oven, kayaks and a wood fired hot tub. Another location is the "Tin Barn Lodge," a two hour drive west of Houston, which is great for large group of people and the property includes mini ponies for guests to enjoy. Other locations are offered in Sam Houston National Forest, Brazos Bend State Park and on Galveston Island. With so many new camping options nearby, Hipcamp hopes to promote a "micro adventure," which is a new trend of getting away for one night during midweek, instead of a full weekend, which could also help with the capacity of other sites on the weekends. "Urbanization is one of the defining trends of our era for sure. Everyone is moving to cities. The public campgrounds and parks just haven't kept up with that and weren't planning for the density," Ravasio said. "I think right now, it is just too difficult to access nature. It is a need. It is part of having a balanced happy life." Ravasio notes that the biggest difference between camping on private land and at public spaces is the privacy. "You can get your own slice of nature to yourself. People are drawn to that. Even if you don't have a sleeping bag you can still go camping with the diversity of options that we have," Ravasio said. For more information, visit www.hipcamp.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If there were ever a way to have a sense of urgency while being patient, Montgomery County Sheriff's Detectives Donna Rippley and Keith Echols may have mastered it. The pair have been working to solve the murders of two young men found dead in a Tamina home last month. On Monday, in an exclusive interview with The Courier, Rippley and Echols announced they have made four arrests in the July 20 shooting deaths of Jaquise Williams, 23, and Akeem Russell, 24. Conroe residents Roman Pray, 18, Tomas Lizcano, 17, and Roddrick Jordan, 30, have been booked into the Montgomery County Jail. Pray and Lizcano are charged with capital murder. Jordan is charged with aggravated robbery. A 16-year-old male was arrested but has not been charged with any crime yet. All are being held on no bond. HOUSTON MURDERS: Suspects allegedly used gay dating app to lure victims While Rippley and Echols declined to provide specific details about the shooting, Echols called it "a robbery gone bad." "I can't say this was gang related, it was opportunity ... and it went bad." Echols said there probably will be additional arrests. "We aren't stopping with these four," he said. If convicted of capital murder, Pray could face the death penalty, while Lizcano could face life without parole. You must be 18 to recieve the death penalty. If Jordan is convicted, he could face 25 years to life in prison. Normal punishment for aggravated robbery is five years to life; but due to Jordan's criminal history, the range is enhanced to 25 years to life. Jordan's criminal history in Montgomery County stretches back to 2006 when he was arrested for possessing cocaine. He ultimately spent two years in prison for that charge after breaking the rules of his community supervision. He was again arrested in 2010 for possessing cocaine and was handed a 90-day jail sentence after pleading guilty. In 2012, he was arrested for aggravated robbery but pleaded guilty for a 180-day jail sentence. That same year, he was arrested for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and pleaded to another 180-day sentence. He most recently was handed a six-year prison sentence in 2013 for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. A spokesperson with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles could not be reached. Lizcano and Pray have no criminal history in Montgomery County, records indicate. Williams and Russell were found dead at a home in the 9600 block of Bimms Drive. The men were discovered by family members who had not heard from them that morning. Williams' 3-year-old daughter was found in the home uninjured. Detectives believe Williams and Russell were shot about 3 a.m. July 20. According to Rippley, while on scene detectives were given the names of several people who had been at the home the night before the shooting. She said they were able to rule out those individuals as suspects. However, on July 21, Rippley received information that led investigators to those involved. "I actually received information from a confidential informant in reference to the case and they were able to provide names of individuals that were possibly responsible for this," said Rippley, adding one of those names was Lizcano along with the names of two females. "Once we found out this information, we were able to find addresses and phone numbers. From there, we managed to track these individuals and bring them in for questioning." Following interviews with Lizcano, Rippley said, detectives learned of Pray and Jordan's alleged involvement. For Echols, the investigation has been intense and multifaceted. "We started with one name," he said. "When people give you information, a lot of times they are only giving you basic information." Rippley agrees. "Once we run all the information down, we can bring people in for questioning," she said. The pair credit others in the department, including patrol deputies and SWAT with the success of the investigation as well as help from the Texas Rangers and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. "It's a team effort," Rippley said. Capt. Bryan Carlisle called Rippley and Echols "experts." "They are able to do this on limited sleep and assist with other cases," he said. "Keith and Donna are a testament to the outstanding job our Violent Crimes folks do on a regular basis. The sheriff is extremely proud of what they have been able to accomplish." Capt. Kevin Ray echoed Carlisle. "The sheriff has made sure we are going to function as a family, as a team," Ray said. "These guys are experts in their field they have been phenomenal. I think that is something that should be accentuated, the cooperation in-house and with outside agencies." Reporter Jay Jordan contributed to this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Adrian Heath returned to his home in The Woodlands last week after being released from prison on parole, he found a sign on his lawn hailing him as an "American hero." Many conservatives in Montgomery County see Heath's incarceration as a noble act of personal sacrifice for a cause they embrace: exposing and holding accountable the quasi-governmental special districts that have fueled the county's growth. "Adrian Heath has been putting himself out there to expose some of the corruption in this county," said John Wertz, a leader of the county's tea party organization, which arranged to have the sign installed on Heath's lawn. Heath, 60, was released after serving six months of a three-year sentence handed down by a jury in 2012. Heath and three other defendants were convicted of illegally voting in a 2010 election for the board of the Woodlands Road Utility District. They were among 10 people who checked into a Woodlands hotel, listed it as their voting address and ousted the board incumbents, 10-2, with the aim of shutting down the district. The defeated board members regained their seats through a lawsuit, and the district lives on. As I discussed in a column last February, The Woodlands district offers an extreme example of the frequently criticized characteristics of special districts in Texas - namely, an ability to take on extraordinary levels of debt with little accountability or oversight. My colleague James Drew documented these issues in a series of articles last year. Heath, an immigrant from Australia whose low-key demeanor belies an underlying intensity, isn't particularly keen on being seen as a martyr for a cause. But he does see a potential benefit in his personal difficulties. "With regard to the RUD voters, we really had a tough time getting people to pay attention to this issue," Heath told me by phone Monday. "But once prison was looming, it did seem to trigger a significant response from people." Hundreds of people signed petitions calling for Heath's release, according to Wertz. Even the Montgomery County sheriff, Rand Henderson, wrote a letter on Heath's behalf to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. "I reflected upon the fact that Mr. Heath consulted with a state regulatory agency that provides oversight for voter laws before he committed the crime for which he was convicted," Henderson wrote. "He acted upon the advice given him " Voters on vacant land Throughout the case, Heath has maintained that officials in the Texas secretary of state's office told him that registering the hotel as his voting address would not be unlawful. The Texas attorney general at the time - Greg Abbott, now the governor - took a different view when he prosecuted Heath and the other defendants. There is perhaps some irony in the fact that Heath was convicted of a voting offense, when voting procedures lie at the heart of the questions he and others have been asking about the way special districts work. A developer planning a new subdivision in an unincorporated area needs a mechanism to pay for roads and utilities. Typically, the developer enlists a handful of people - sometimes paying them a fee - to establish residence and authorize bonds to pay for the infrastructure. The bonds are later repaid through taxes assessed on people who move into the homes the developer builds. In one of his articles last year, Drew cited the example of a municipal utility district that came into being when a Houston developer arranged for two people to move their trailer to an empty field in Fort Bend County. They voted - unanimously! - to authorize up to $188 million in bonds. "That's not how democracy is supposed to work," a resident of the development later told Drew. Which is more legit? Adrian Heath's parole will last 30 months. He's focused on finding work, and he still has to pay a $10,000 fine assessed at trial. Across the state, meanwhile, developers continue to set up a few voters in mobile homes on vacant land to authorize debt that other people will repay years later. I await an explanation of how this is a more legitimate use of the franchise than what Adrian Heath and his friends did when they rented that hotel room seven years ago. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Baytown police Monday searched for a 30-year-old man whom they believe has information related to a botched home invasion Sunday that left an 18-year-old dead. Police have identified Jeremy Jamal Wheaton Ardion, 30, of Baytown as a person of interest in the case. Ardion, who has not been accused of a crime in connection with Sunday's gunfire, pleaded guilty in January to evading police, a misdemeanor. He was sentenced in 2008 to eight years in state prison after being convicted of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Police were alerted shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday to the deadly home invasion at an apartment in the 300 block of South Pruett in Baytown. Two armed, masked men - including Jalen Cole, 18, of Baytown - are believed to have forced their way into an apartment, police said in a news release. The occupants of the apartment fought back; police believe they fired shots at Cole and the other masked man, both of whom returned fire. Cole was hit at least once. A stray bullet also entered a neighboring apartment, where it hit a 44-year-old Baytown man in the shoulder, according to the news release. Cole and the other masked man tried to escape the apartment, police said. Cole collapsed at the residence; police said he was dead by the time officers arrived. The injured neighbor was taken to a hospital in Houston. His condition was not immediately known. He was in surgery early Monday, according to the news release. Police believe Cole and the other masked man knew the occupants of the apartment. "They didn't just pick this apartment out of the blue," said Baytown police Lt. Steve Dorris. "There had to be some kind of purpose to it. We just don't know what the purpose is at this point." Since February, Cole had been charged in Harris County with three misdemeanors - possession of less than 28 grams of a controlled substance, carrying a handgun in a motor vehicle and unlawfully carrying a handgun. He was out of jail on bail at the time of his death. As of early Monday, the masked man who was with Cole was still at large. Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting or Ardion to contact Baytown Crime Stoppers at 281-427-TIPS (8477). More than a year has passed since the launch of a promising new 911 feature that could provide Houston-area first responders with information from gate codes to mental health issues. Yet the program has only a few thousand users out of a service area with 5.3 million residents, and - despite the city's police chief touting it on Twitter - Houston's dispatch center doesn't have access to the profiles. The Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network, the fourth largest in the country, launched the "emergency profiles" program in May 2016. Residents can fill out an online form with information that dispatchers pass on to police, to firefighters and to EMS personnel who answer the area's 4 million emergency calls a year. These profiles hold the promise of helping police and others tailor their responses for people with mental health issues, possibly averting situations such as a Houston police officer's 2012 fatal shooting of a mentally ill double amputee in a wheelchair. The program, which the regional network said cost $150,000 to develop, also allows residents to associate wireless numbers with a precise street address and to convey mundane but useful details about allergies, languages spoken, vehicles, specific street addresses and even pets. "This is a great tool to let us know about special circumstances you want us to be aware of before we arrive," wrote Art Acevedo, Houston's police chief, in a July 3 tweet. The Greater Harris County network, the umbrella agency that coordinates service in Harris and Fort Bend counties, created fliers and advertises the service prominently on its website, www.911.org. Katy's police department has used the profiles several times to find information like names and vehicles, spokeswoman Ondrea Baker said. The city has recently promoted the service through notices sent along with water bills. Yet since the introduction of the feature more than a year ago, the regional network counts only 4,100 users. "I think awareness has been a little slow," said Sonya Clausen, spokeswoman for the regional network. She added in an email that "the number of registrations is actually in line with other similar 911 services across the U.S." What's more, dispatchers for the largest police agency - Acevedo's Houston Police Department - do not have access to the emergency profiles. "It appears we really don't have this program up and running," HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva wrote in an email. Profiles inaccessible The manager of Houston's 911 call center said he was not ready to use the emergency profiles because of potential limitations. "It's good stuff," said Joe Laud, administration manager for the Houston Emergency Center. "It could work. But for right now, there's just some missing key factors. The information that you're going to have on the database is only for the number that's associated with it. And as far as police responding to incidents, what they're concerned about is the area, the location." Laud's main issue was that the profiles only come up when residents call from the phone numbers listed on their profiles. The information doesn't appear if the same resident calls 911 from a different number. And the information from the profiles describes only one specific address, not all addresses on a block - and police want to know about the whole area, not just one house. Also, he asked, what if residents were calling about a neighbor rather than about themselves? Laud also expressed concern about out-of-date information, but Clausen said users get an email every six months asking them to update their information or to confirm that it remains accurate. Profiles are removed when users don't respond. Laud said he did not know about that feature until a reporter described it to him.He said he recently discussed the program with Clausen because HPD wanted to hold a news conference about the program. Those plans hit a snag when the department learned its dispatchers, who work out of the Houston Emergency Center, don't have access to the profiles. 'Better decisions' Charles Dempsey, a Los Angeles Police Department detective who trains officers on how to interact with the mentally ill, said such "smart 911" systems are becoming more common nationally. Dempsey said knowing about mental health issues and developmental disabilities can help first responders better plan their response to a 911 call. Officers often ask dispatchers for information they can't provide. "Officers being armed with that additional information can make better decisions," said Dempsey, who joined the police force after working several years as a psychiatric nurse in the 1980s. "The more you know, the better the likelihood that you'll have good outcomes." If no life-threatening situation, like an active shooter or a robbery in progress, needs to be immediately addressed, then officers can slow things down and put information to use, Dempsey said. However, he added, that all depends "on the willingness of the person to comply." The detective gave a hypothetical example of how information from the emergency profile could help: A dispatcher gets a call from a family member about a person who was just released from the hospital, but the family member hangs up to go talk with the person. The profile might say that while the person has a history of suicide attempts, the family does not keep a gun in the house. The profile could describe how the person reacts to uniformed police, which could lead officers to call for backup so one person can enter calmly and without a weapon at the ready. As another example, a parent might describe an autistic teen who waves his arms as part of a coping mechanism called "flapping." That parent could make an emergency profile that associates that fact with the home address, the landline number and the teen's cellphone number. The 911 dispatcher then can pass along that information, possibly averting a situation where officers perceive the teen's motions as threatening. Even if officers have to handcuff the teen because of procedure or safety concerns, they might let him flap for a while before putting him in handcuffs. Thomas Dunn, a University of Northern Colorado psychology professor who practices in a Denver hospital and has worked decades in emergency medical services, said the profiles could help EMS providers as well as police. "I'm a big believer in the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior," Dunn said. Profile writers could include details about how to address family members' agitation. It could be as simple as making them take deep breaths or as serious as indicating which medication successfully calms them. Exact street addresses Along with personal information, the profiles could help dispatchers give more precise addresses to first responders. Landline numbers are automatically associated with specific street addresses, Clausen said. Cellphone numbers are not, and those now account for 84 percent of emergency calls in the Houston area. Wireless networks usually provide approximate GPS coordinates of a cellphone that calls 911 - within 50 meters nine times out of 10, and often within 10 feet, the spokeswoman said. And, of course, callers can give details. But the approximate location doesn't always yield an exact street address. The profiles might prevent a situation where paramedics have to go door-to-door on a residential street or floor-to-floor in an office building. "More information is always better," said Dempsey, the LAPD detective. A girl has been arrested in the brutal group beating of a man on a Dallas train July 30, which was caught on video. The girl is being held at the Dallas County's Henry Wade Juvenile Detention Center. Late last week brothers Remon Hendrix, 23, and Jakobi Hendrix, 21, were both arrested, CBS FWD reported. Remon was charged with misdemeanor assault and Jakobi with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police in North Texas are searching for a man who was recorded pointing a gun at a woman while he was driving on the highway. Victoria Best posted photos and video of the unidentified man on her Facebook account on Saturday. By Monday, the post had more than 1.6 million views and was shared 67,000 times. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for parts of Harris County after heavy overnight rains left much of Houston soggy Tuesday morning. Thunderstorms dumped as much as 6 inches of rain on parts of Houston, with the heaviest concentration falling west and north of downtown. Now Playing: Thunderstorms dumped as much as 6 inches of rain on parts of Houston, with the heaviest concentration falling west and north of downtown. Video: Houston Chronicle Hardest hit were the northwest suburbs, including the Katy area, Mission Bend and Copperfield Place, near Jersey Village, some of which got up to 8 inches of rain overnight, said Charles Roeseler, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The deluge prompted the National Weather Service to extend a Flash Flood Warning until 10:15 a.m. for northeastern Fort Bend , eastern Waller and western Harris counties. The original warning expired at 7:30 a.m. The rainfall abated Tuesday morning, allowing some - but not all - flooding to recede, according to the National Weather Service. Dangerously high water will remain throughout the morning in the areas covered by the warning. More showers and thunderstorms are expected to hit the Houston area after 12 p.m., Roeseler said. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, Chambers, Waller and Fort Bend counties through 8 a.m. Wednesday, in anticipation of more rainfall Tuesday afternoon and evening, Roeseler said. The rain expected Tuesday afternoon and evening likely won't match the downpour from overnight, Roeseler said. Yet, flash flooding is likely because of the already saturated soils from this morning's rainfall. More for you More showers to hit Houston area overnight, flash flood watch still in effect Current forecasts predict that the areas most likely to be affected by the second round of showers and storms will be further east than those impacted Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Heavy rain is most likely to hit eastern Harris County, Liberty, Chambers and eastern Montgomery counties, Roeseler said. Houston Community College announced it would delay opening until 10 a.m today due to severe weather. Classes at the University of Houston Downtown will continue as usual, but two major roadways surrounding the campus, Travis and Girard, are closed due to flooding. Also near the University of Houston Downtown, the entrance ramp to Interstate 10 westbound from Louisiana was shut down due to high water. Nearly 4,600 Houston-area households were without power by 6:45 a.m., according to CenterPoint Energy. Many of the customers that lost power were in downtown or Fort Bend County. The Houston Fire Department has reported about two dozen water rescues on Tuesday, many of which were in west Houston, along the Westpark Tollway and I-10. (Complete list of high-water road locations below...) Houston TranStar reports the following roads with high water: WASHINGTON - The average temperature in the United States has risen rapidly and drastically since 1980, and recent decades have been the warmest of the past 1,500 years, according to a sweeping federal climate change report awaiting approval by the Trump administration. The draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies, which has not yet been made public, concludes that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now. It directly contradicts claims by President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet who say that the human contribution to climate change is uncertain and that the ability to predict the effects is limited. "How much more the climate will change depends on future emissions and the sensitivity of the climate system to those emissions," a draft of the report states. Awaiting release The report was completed this year and is part of the National Climate Assessment, which is congressionally mandated every four years. The National Academy of Sciences has signed off on the draft and is awaiting permission from the Trump administration to release it. One government scientist who worked on the report, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he and others were concerned that it would be suppressed. The report concludes that even if humans immediately stopped emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the world would still feel at least an additional 0.50 degrees Fahrenheit (0.30 degrees Celsius) of warming over this century compared with today. A small difference in global temperatures can make a big difference in the climate: The difference between a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and one of 2 degrees Celsius, for example, could mean longer heat waves, more intense rainstorms and the faster disintegration of coral reefs. Among the more significant of the study's findings is that it is possible to attribute some extreme weather to climate change. The field known as "attribution science" has advanced rapidly in response to increasing risks from climate change. The report finds it "extremely likely" that more than half of the global mean temperature increase since 1951 can be linked to human influence. In the United States, the report finds with "very high" confidence that the number and severity of cool nights has decreased, while the frequency and severity of warm days has increased since the 1960s. Extreme cold waves, it says, are less common since the 1980s, while extreme heat waves are more common. The study examines every corner of the United States and finds that all of it was touched by climate change. It said the average annual rainfall across the country has increased by about 4 percent since the beginning of the 20th century. Parts of the West, Southwest and Southeast are drying up, while the Southern Plains and Midwest are getting wetter. With a medium degree of confidence, the authors linked the contribution of human-caused warming to rising temperatures over the Western and Northern United States. It found no direct link in the Southeast. 'A fraught situation' The Environmental Protection Agency is one of 13 agencies that must approve the report by Aug. 13. The agency's administrator, Scott Pruitt, has said he does not believe that carbon dioxide is a primary contributor to global warming. "It's a fraught situation," said Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geoscience and international affairs at Princeton University who was not involved in the study. "This is the first case in which an analysis of climate change of this scope has come up in the Trump administration, and scientists will be watching to see how they handle it." The government scientists wrote that surface, air and ground temperatures in Alaska and the Arctic are warming at a frighteningly fast rate - twice as fast as the global average. "It is very likely that the accelerated rate of Arctic warming will have a significant consequence for the United States due to accelerating land and sea ice melting that is driving changes in the ocean including sea level rise threatening our coastal communities," the report says. SAN DIEGO - The son of a leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel has been indicted on drug smuggling charges in the United States and pleaded not guilty Monday, less than two weeks after surrendering to U.S. border inspectors. Damaso Lopez Serrano was ordered held without bail after a brief appearance in federal court in San Diego. He is the son of Damaso Lopez Nunez, who has launched a struggle for control of the cartel following the arrest of its leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Guzman was extradited to the United States this year to face drug charges. The elder Lopez was arrested by authorities in Mexico City in May. Known by the nickname "El Licenciado," a title for college graduates, he was long considered Guzman's right-hand man and helped him escape from a Mexican prison in 2001. The elder Lopez is believed to have been locked in a dispute with Guzman's sons for control of the cartel's territories. The head of Mexico's federal detectives agency, Omar Garcia Harfuch, said in May that Lopez was "one of the main instigators of violence" in the Mexican states of Sinaloa and the southern part of Baja California. Lopez's son, known as "Mini Lic," turned himself in to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers July 27 in Calexico, Calif., across the border from Mexicali, Mexico, said Adam Braverman, an assistant U.S. attorney. The indictment, which was filed in August 2016 and ordered unsealed Monday, charges Lopez Serrano with conspiracy to import and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Braverman told U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw that the investigation lasted five years and involved intercepts of more than 250 communication devices. In 2015, there were tens of thousands of communication intercepts and "a number of (drug) seizures" in Mexico and the U.S. Lopez Serrano appeared in an orange uniform for jail inmates and said little in court. His attorney entered the plea of not guilty on his client's behalf. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MANILA - North Korea spurned harsh new U.N. sanctions Monday and threatened to defend itself with nuclear weapons if necessary, as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson repeated an offer to bargain with the outcast nation under the right circumstances. There was no sign at a major Asian security conference here that the sanctions hailed by President Donald Trump as a foreign policy achievement would succeed where past efforts have failed in persuading the country to give up its nuclear weapons. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told diplomats that his country will never negotiate away what he called a rational "strategic option" against the threat of attack from the United States. "We will, under no circumstances, put the nukes and ballistic rockets" up for negotiation, Ri said in prepared remarks, adding that the entire United States is within range of its missiles. He dismissed the U.N. Security Council sanctions approved Saturday as illegal, appearing to rule out talks that the Trump administration, in a diplomatic partnership with China and Russia, is offering North Korea as a way out of its economic and diplomatic pariah status. "The best signal that North Korea could send that they're prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches," Tillerson told reporters Monday at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering. The security conference in the Philippine capital was dominated by the rising threat posed by North Korea's rapid advances in nuclear and ballistic missile technology. Those capabilities are already a threat to neighbors and U.S. allies South Korea and Japan. In two tests last month, North Korea demonstrated that it could hit major population centers in the United States, and the country is now working to perfect the technology to allow those missiles to carry nuclear warheads. The new economic sanctions were approved amid the discussions here. The penalties are the toughest to date against a country that has been under international sanctions for more than a decade, and they carry the symbolic weight of approval by Pyongyang's closest ally, China. They also approximate a trade embargo by targeting some of North Korea's biggest exports, including coal. China presses North Korea The sanctions can work only if North Korean leader Kim Jong Un concludes that he has too much to lose by hanging on to his weapons. Kim's calculation has been the opposite - that his weapons and the means to deliver them buy him irreplaceable leverage over the United States, his principal adversary. China is urging Kim to consider negotiations, and also worked alongside the United States to develop the new U.N. sanctions. Days before the unanimous Security Council vote, Tillerson had made a point of saying that the United States does not consider North Korea its enemy and does not seek to invade or unseat Kim. Those reassurances were meant to encourage North Korea to meet at the bargaining table. At the same time, Washington has issued blunt warnings that the United States will use military force if necessary, and North Korea has answered in kind. In the printed version of his speech, Ri said Pyongyang will use nuclear weapons only against the United States or any other country that might join it in military action against North Korea. Ri's address here was closed to the media, so it could not be determined whether he stuck to a script delivered to reporters. Make U.S. 'pay dearly' Another direct warning was aimed at the United States in a government statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. "There is no bigger mistake than the United States believing that its land is safe across the ocean," it said. North Korea "will make the U.S. pay dearly for all the heinous crimes it commits against the state and people of this country," the statement said. Tillerson would not spell out a deadline for North Korea to respond to the diplomatic overture. "We'll know it when we see it," he said Monday. "We hope again that this ultimately will result in North Korea coming to a conclusion to choose a different pathway, and when the conditions are right that we can sit and have a dialogue around the future of North Korea so that they feel secure and prosper economically," he told reporters. Tillerson avoided running into Ri, who attended the related ASEAN Regional Forum. The State Department said he skipped one event where the two men might have met and left another early to attend a scheduled meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Tillerson and Trump spoke by phone for about an hour Monday, and Tillerson detailed the results of his discussions in Manila, the White House said. "United Nations Resolution is the single largest economic sanctions package ever on North Korea," Trump wrote in a Twitter message Saturday. "Over one billion dollars in cost to N.K." A day later, he noted that he had discussed the new package with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. "Very happy and impressed with 15-0 United Nations vote on North Korea sanctions," Trump wrote. North Korea rarely attends, or is even invited to, international forums such as the ASEAN meeting. Ri tried to make the most of it, holding meetings with the top diplomats from China and Russia, two countries that trade with North Korea and employ North Koreans as contract workers. China alone is responsible for 90 percent of North Korea's trade. Moscow and Beijing have proposed a "freeze for a freeze" approach, in which North Korea would suspend its missile and nuclear testing if the United States and its allies stop conducting joint military exercises in the region. Washington has rejected that. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In a break from tradition, Mayor Sylvester Turner will not ask voters to authorize new debt for low-income housing as part of this fall's $495 million bond package, focusing instead on library repairs, park upgrades and new police and fire vehicles. The move positions the city to whittle at more than $30 million in approved housing bonds that have gone unused as Houston fell deeper into an affordable housing crisis. Voters signed off on the latest $15 million batch of housing bonds five years ago, even though city officials had little intention of using them. Chrishelle Palay, Houston co-director of the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service, acknowledged the city's predicament but worried about losing an opportunity. "Recognizing that the city has mishandled money up until this point when it comes to the housing bonds, we definitely are in a housing crisis, and we continue to need dollars specifically reserved for affordable housing activities," she said. "It could be many years before we see another bond election, so if we don't see it this round, when will we get it again?" Turner's spokesman Alan Bernstein said there is "no immediate need" to request additional bond authority and emailed a statement from the mayor. "As funds for housing become available and are supportable by city finances, they will not sit idle on my watch," Turner said. "I've made sure funds have been spent on urgent housing needs. Through Complete Communities and other initiatives, I will continue to focus on affordable housing as a priority of my administration." The mayor speaks often about the need to combat inequality in Houston to ensure it does not become a city of "haves and have-nots," but his record of translating that rhetoric into action on affordable housing has been mixed. Mayor draws feds' ire The city has repaired more than 400 single-family homes over the last year - a $3.5 million undertaking - and City Council last month approved $2.4 million to continue housing the city's homeless after traditional housing vouchers became unavailable. But Turner's decision last year to nix a proposed mixed-income development near the Galleria drew federal ire and, eventually, a finding that the city's housing policies violate the Civil Rights Act. Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union has challenged Houston's latest restrictions on panhandling and camping on public property, and the mayor's signature neighborhood development program, Complete Communities, has rolled out more slowly than some hoped, with public meetings slated to begin just this month. "It is going more slowly than the original projections," said District H Councilwoman Karla Cisneros, who represents the Near Northside and Second Ward, neighborhoods the program would benefit. "People are anxious and excited about it." Range of projects With housing off the table, the $495 million bond package would finance projects ranging from swimming pool improvements to library roof repairs and community center renovations. A total of $54 million over five years also is set aside to replace aging fire trucks, and $66 million over five years is earmarked for replacement of police vehicles. "It's a large-ticket item, but we need these vehicles," said Fire Chief Samuel Pena, adding that many of the department's trucks are 20 years old. "It would get us on the path to again being able to have a fleet that's efficient and serviceable. It's not going to fix our problems in year one." In all, the bond package before voters asks for authorization to issue $159 million in public safety bonds, $104 million for parks, $109 million for general government improvements and $123 million for libraries. That includes $52 million for a multi-purpose facility in Alief next fiscal year, $25 million over the next two years for a new community center in Sunnyside and a variety of maintenance projects. The city has yet to decide how to spend more than $87 million of the bond authority it is requesting for library repairs. City Council is slated to vote Wednesday to place the measure on November's ballot. The Texas Legislature has returned to Austin for its special session, and now their results are a matter of life and death. While legislators are working on keeping state agencies in operation, continuing the discussion about the controversial "bathroom bill" and examining everything from local tree ordinances to public school finance, they will also, at Gov. Greg Abbott's direction, examine why Texas is a disproportionately lethal place for moms, especially African-American moms. The facts may surprise many Texans: Mothers in much of the developing world have lower maternal mortality rates than African-American moms in first-world Texas. Abbott is to be commended for including this examination of maternal mortality in his directive to the Texas Legislature's special session, but the unexplained skyrocketing of maternal mortality is only part of the picture. Parallel to the state's conversation about maternal mortality lies an equally - if less discussed - disturbing trend. Just like African-American mothers, African-American infants are also dying in Texas at rates stunningly higher than Latino and Anglo infants. Last year, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission presented data to the Texas Legislature highlighting the racial disparities in infant mortality rates in Texas. In 2013, the most recent year with available data, the commission reported to legislators that the infant mortality rate for African-American babies was twice as high as the state's average. This means that African-American infants die at more than twice the combined rate of white, Latino and Asian-American infants in Texas. And the trend line is worsening. There has been a dramatic increase in mortality among African-American infants since 2008. Texas has not always seen increasing infant mortality. In fact, in the years immediately preceding 2008, infant mortality among African-American babies in Texas was dropping steadily. In addition to the maternal mortality crisis, Texas also has a crisis in infant mortality. During the regular session, legislators from all over Texas came together to address maternal mortality. Newly elected Representative Shawn Thierry of Harris County filed legislation to create a task force to reduce maternal mortality. Despite bipartisan support, her bill fell victim to the tumultuous last days of the regular legislative session and efforts from members of the self-appointed "Freedom Caucus" to squash the legislation. Fortunately, Abbott ignored the morally questionable logic of the Freedom Caucus and asked the Legislature to address maternal mortality during the special session. The Texas Constitution clearly states that the Legislature can only discuss the items set forth by the governor for debate. Abbott and the Texas Legislature should thus include a discussion of infant mortality in its work on maternal mortality. Mothers and their infants are intrinsically linked in the real world. Legislators, parents, medical professionals, and others must work together to ensure that Texas reduces unnecessary death among moms and their babies. Please add your voice to those asking that the Texas Legislature address infant, as well as maternal mortality during this special session. Lives are at stake. Humphrey is a board member of CHILDREN AT RISK, a Texas-based research and advocacy group. Kimball is the director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at CHILDREN AT RISK. 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. 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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. NZNO industrial services manager Cee Payne agreed with Stuart and said the draft bill is a step backwards for women in New Zealand. The Bill as it is, currently puts the onus on women to prove inequity and introduces extra barriers for women to be paid fairly for their work, she said. I urge all political parties to question this and examine this proposition carefully. Erin Polaczuk, national secretary of the PSA, also agreed and said the legislation was not about pay equity but rather trying to shut it down. The Bill as it stands has cherry-picked the positive notes from the Joint Working Groups recommendations and spun them alongside law changes that actually limit womens ability to achieve pay free from discrimination, she said. Its completely incompatible with the actual recommendations of the JWG, and if it was already law, the care and support settlement for historically undervalued workers like Kristine Bartlett never could have come about, she continued. It's not often that a fashion show stops you in your tracks, taking you away to an altogether more emotional and reflective place. That's what Zahra 'Sooty' Hosseini's fashion performance, which opened the Royal College of Art MA show 2017, did. Before attending the show I received an email warning me to arrive early due to extra bag checks in the wake of the recent London terrorist attack. After delays and a very late start to the show as a result, Sooty's fashion performance was an even more poignant opener, for it presented her adaptable modern 'dress' for muslim women via the medium of prayer, complete with the call to prayer, facing towards Mecca. Advertisement Rewinding a little, Sooty's MA at the RCA has taken her on a two year journey of exploring her relationship with her culture (she hails from Manchester but her parents are Iranian), religion and faith. Having grown up in an liberal environment, Sooty's relationship with her faith has evolved naturally, without any pressure to pray or conform. She explored clothing as an expression of her own individuality and a tendency to wrap jumpers into a headscarf or layer garments in geometric ways led Sooty to re-evaluate her sense of purpose as a designer. Her journey is so personal as to involve direct input from young Muslim girls approaching her in the street to talk about her style, taking on ideas of interpreting dress to express personality, rather than simply having the function of covering the body. Sooty is adding a layer of design to what has been led for so long by practicality and function, and has been devoid of innovation. She recalls uninspiring shopping trips in her teenage years, when the limited offering of clothing instilled no individuality or opportunity for self-expression, except through customisation. I sense that her style of dressing is an empowerment and declaration of ownership of her faith - even a celebration of it, which she explains can be so much more difficult if Islam has been adopted by obligation and not freely. She feels this obligation is a breeding ground for rejection of the religion and culture, which she finds a great shame. Advertisement Inspired heavily by science-fiction and Islamic architecture and art, her aesthetic leans towards geometric pattern cutting and surface details, with widespread use of black with accents of green. The inclusion of green came about on a recent trip to Iran, supported by the RCA, where Sooty had the opportunity to explore her culture and dig deeper into some research she had already begun involving Dr. Leonard Horowitz's work on sound frequencies in the range of 440 to 528 Hz. The temporary loss of her hearing in one ear last year prompted a deep exploration of sound and frequency and a 'conscious meditation' on the links between form, sound and emotion. She shows me some research images of iron filings and magnets and Mecca during Hajj and draws interesting parallels in the formations within them. She also mentions the formation of birds and the communication between animals at certain frequencies, then the sound of the union of prayer, which is repeated in unison and draws people together at the same time - creating a global frequency, if you like, that she interprets as having a power and effect that is not measurable by science, but is experienced physically and spiritually. Advertisement When we met at the RCA to conduct this interview and dig deeper into her motivation and vision for her collection, Sooty told me that she is driven by human connection and making people feel something in response to her work - bringing about emotion. Her show certainly did that. Suzy Menkes took to Instagram to commend Sooty for making a statement, Vogue featured images of the show, taking it somewhat into the mainstream, for which Sooty is visibly moved. Instagram clip: Techstyler Advertisement All images: Zahra 'Sooty' Hosseini, except the three images immediately above, by Techstyler I asked how the performance came about and Sooty explained that she had a vision for presenting an honest representation of Islam. With the current media vilification of Islam and the misrepresentation of the faith (including demonising of the call to prayer by its use in police training scenarios of terrorist incidents in Manchester, for example), Sooty wanted to present the truth. It is clear that the last two years have seen her explore her faith and carry out an open dialogue with Zowie Broach (MA course Leader) and she says it was the support of both Zowie and Tristan Webber that urged her to carry out what she sees as her role to present Islam in the light it deserves and give young Muslim girls an alternative to simple, uninspiring clothing. Her entire collection of pieces is adaptable and made from squares - again drawing from geometry, and slashing and inserting zips to allow the wearer to change the styling and coverage, including openings at the hem to cover the feet during prayer. She also created a dress which can be worn with its corners hooked in at the waist, or laid out as a prayer mat. With this, Sooty is bringing design and even luxury, with her anatomically-placed quilted velvet for the hands, feet and knees when in the prayer position. Her garments are fully adaptable to be worn on the street, or during prayer. Advertisement When discussing the performance in more detail, Sooty explained that the casting was crucial. She wanted to cast 'hijabi girls who were short". A gorgeous outcome of the collection is that its proportions work best on girls of average height - or even better, those on the short side. It's a refreshing antidote to the typical western ideal of stretching everything and using ultra tall, thin models to create an 'aspirational ideal'. By using normal hijabi girls and transforming modest clothing through design and sci-fi inspiration, she has created another kind of aspiration. The kind that is meaningful and enriching and that will make a contribution to the world. "We don't need more shit", Sooty says, "the world is full of it". She is absolute in her mission to create designs and garments that have a real purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Images: Techstyler The next step for Sooty is an exciting journey into business with her brother and sister, who export luxury goods from London to sell to the Iranian market. They now plan to design a womenswear fashion range that is modern and aimed squarely at the market there and in the Middle East. It's not straightforward though, as she explains that it's big, recognisable brand names that sell well to clients in the Middle East, not emerging ones. She is pragmatic in the knowledge that some 'western endorsement' of her designs will be necessary at first, which is a point of frustration. We wrap up our interview with a discussion about Sooty's passion for sharing a positive message to young Muslim women and talk about her desire to engage in interviews, and perhaps even an ambassadorial role. It's hard to imagine a more inspiring and enlightening person for such a role - and she has that charming Mancunian accent on her side, too. Watch Sooty's edit of her final collection performance at the MA RCA fashion show here Header image: Celine Antal Follow Techstyler on Instagram Sexclamation - A First Post! Welcome readers to Sexclamation! - my new blog - all about sexual health! I was so excited to get the news that The HuffPost has signed me up as a new blogger, I've decided to celebrate! - I'm going to have my own chlamydia test! So - some of you may think this is not big news. Isn't that what we should all be doing anyway? But wait until I tell you that I'm 55, and that to date, I've never had one! Here's the thing - how hypocritical can anyone be? I need to practice what I preach. For you, the blog readers, I am going to put myself through the toe-curlingly embarrassing process. Advertisement The other important factor is my day job. I am a sexual health doctor. I work in the clinics and do these tests day in and day out, for my patients. It should be water off a duck's back? In fact, it's all very well to give advice to other people, but when it happens to YOU, it suddenly feels very different. So why should I do this - apart from embarrassing myself for millions of HuffPost readers? After all I haven't got any symptoms. But I know that 70% of people who have chlamydia infections are asymptomatic. So that's immaterial. (To be a successful STI, you don't want to cause any symptoms because you don't want anyone to know you are there!) So how do you know who needs testing? The clue about this comes from the sexual history. The sexual history, is the bit where you have to answer all those humiliating questions when you sit in that clinic chair. Key risk factors include: a new sexual partner (in the past 3 months), frequent change of sexual partner, overlapping partners and high risk sex . If present, these lend themselves to an increased chance of infection. In truth, that isn't really me - sorry to disappoint - but - I have had more than one partner in my lifetime. Plus my marriage dissolved about 5 years ago, same old story, my husband was having an affair. What exactly he had been up to and for how long I'll never know, but perhaps he left me with more than a large divorce bill! Plus, I have been - yes it's true - internet dating. Advertisement Now just remember, there is a difference between internet dating, and internet mating! And I am not fodder for a notch bed post gatherer! - BUT - I haven't taken a vow of chastity either. So ... yes, there is a risk in my sexual history. Be honest if you are reading this - Is there a risk in yours? The other fact is my age. In an audit I did in our clinic in the UK, when people attended asking for STI testing aged over 50, they were 40% more likely to have an infection than those attending in the younger age groups. Yes, young people are particularly at risk of STI's and need regular screening, but proportionately, we screen a lot of young people and they test negative. If an older person attends because they perceive for some reason they need a test, they are more likely to test positive for something. And who out there truly always uses a condom? And always uses it 100% correctly? Guilty here as charged! How about you? And it may interest you to know that condoms are better at preventing the spread of infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea, but they are not so good at preventing the spreads of viral infections like HPV (the Human Papilloma Virus) and herpes. Now - I really want to encourage anyone reading this to always use condoms carefully until they know they are in a monogamous relationship and have been tested - BUT, even if you have always used condoms, the point of writing all this, is that it is still most definitely worth being tested. (I can write a whole blog page about why should be, and give a fuller explanation, on a future post.) So - I seem not just to be talking chlamydia now. Yes, if you've been at risk of one infection, you are definitely at risk of having others. The fact of the matter is that STIs travel in twos and threes. It's thought that some STIs use sperm as a means of transport, and literally climb aboard for an intergalactic trip up into the pelvic cavity. If you test positive to one infection, you are strongly recommended to be fully screened across the board, and yes that includes blood tests for HIV and syphilis. Advertisement Let's also remember prevention is better than cure. But if it's too late for prevention, then early detection is better than late detection or no detection. The natural history of chlamydia is not well understood, and why some people have florid symptoms and others do not, remains a mystery. However in women, if left untreated, chlamydia can cause an unpleasant condition called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. This means, in simple terms, that the chlamydial infection has caused inflammation - redness and swelling - in the fallopian tubes, the uterus and other pelvic tissues. This may cause chronic lower abdominal and/or pelvic pain, painful sex, abnormal function in the fallopian tubes, tubal blockage and and/or ectopic pregnancy. In addition chlamydia can cause conjunctivitis and is frequently diagnosed in the ophthalmology clinics. It can also cause pneumonia in newborn babies. Chlamydia can also cause SARA, Sexually Acquired Reactive Arthritis, which can present as severe joint pain, and be difficult to treat. In men, chlamydia causes a condition known as urethritis, which is associated with pain passing urine, and sometimes penile discharge, but if untreated it may spread to cause testicular pain, pain on and after ejaculation, and/or prostatic symptoms. All of this may be associated with negative effects on the sperm count, like poor sperm motility. For all these reasons, untreated chlamydial infections may result in the emotional, physical and psychological trauma of female and male infertility. So - OK, I'm not having any more children aged 55, that's a fact! But those other symptoms are pretty unpleasant. Painful sex, or in medical terms, dyspareunia is all too common in sexual health clinics, and causes untold misery for millions of couples across the globe. This is something I would not relish at any age. Plus, how would I feel if I inadvertently passed an infection to any new partner? It doesn't bear thinking about. Advertisement So, it's official. I've made an appointment. It's not where I work, for obvious reasons. In fact I'm travelling 50 miles for anonymity. And I'll need to go through the whole clinic process, just for me. What will it feel like being a patient? What will I notice differently when I am usually on the other side of the fence? The answer is, read on and you will see the account of Daisy's journey! I don't think I'll sleep tonight for worrying about this. But there we. I'm doing this because - well because I'm a responsible citizen, and I want to set a good example, and I want to live a long life! Plus HuffPost readers are coming with me! So read on - and I'll give you my guide to the STI testing experience, in the 21st century! Daisy iStock Britons are still more likely to get their political news from TV and newspapers, and believe both had more influence on how they voted than social media The 2017 general election might have been the biggest social media election to date, but new YouGov research discovers there's life in the press and broadcasters yet. Advertisement Traditional news sources such as newspapers and television remain more influential among voters than social media, with 60% saying that they regularly get their political news from the BBC and 45% get their political news from a newspaper (with the Guardian and the Daily Mail the most popular newspapers for political news at 16% and 13% respectively). By contrast, only 15% report that they regularly get their political news from Facebook, 8% get it from Twitter and 4% from Buzzfeed. These sources all prove much more popular amongst 18-24 year olds, although even amongst this group traditional news sources remain the most popular sources of political news (for which the results were 23%, 16% and 20%, respectively). The research was conducted for the London Press Club and Society of Editors in order to understand the influence and impact of the media and social media on the recent general election. Advertisement Brits were also more likely to say the likes of television (42%) and newspapers and magazines (32%) had more of an influence social media (26%) over how they chose to vote at the recent election. Again, social media proved to be more important to younger voters with half (50%) saying that social media had at least some influence in helping them to choose who to vote for. This made social media the second most important influence on younger people's votes after television (54%). However, the results are not all positive for the traditional media. Although around half (48%) of Brits believe newspapers have "a significant impact on the outcome" of general elections, they also feel that the influence of newspapers has been diminished by the advent of the digital age (58% of all Brits and 63% of 18-24 year olds). Furthermore, the sample was torn between those who agree that the role of newspapers and their influence on general elections is "greatly overstated" (32%) and those who disagree (28%). Advertisement And while Brits clearly believe that traditional newspapers had some influence in the election, they felt social media also did as well. Over four in ten (44%) of the general population ad almost six in ten (58%) 18-24 year olds believe that the result of the election would have been quite different had social media not been a factor. YouGov conducted this specially commissioned polling in support of the London Press Club and Society of Editor's debate which was held at the Reuters Building in Canary Wharf on 26th July. The research, which was conducted amongst a nationally representative sample of 1,601 adults in Great Britain between 20-21 July 2017 Darren Yaxley is Associate Director, Reputation at YouGov Anadolu Agency via Getty Images If you've been campaigning against TTIP and CETA get ready for JEFTA - the upcoming EU trade deal with Japan. But this time, there may be a twist as JEFTA could come without a secret tribunal for multinationals. Over the last three years, the European Parliament's International Trade Committee in which I sit has been the political venue a la mode. Trade deals, an issue that used to be largely overlooked in the public debate, have regained significance thanks to massive controversies over EU negotiations with the US and Canada. Advertisement Both trade deals - one still in the making and one concluded this year - share a particularly loathed feature: special courts for multinationals. These are known as "investor protection" clauses and come in two forms: and old version called ISDS (for Investor State Dispute Settlement) and a new version labelled ICS (or Investor Court System). The latter - which was introduced in the EU-Canada CETA deal - is slightly more transparent than the former. But in essence it remains a privileged judicial system only accessible to foreign investors. With both systems, multinationals can challenge public decisions like environmental, health, food safety or even minimum wage regulations, and sue governments for millions. Companies don't always win, but the very fear of litigation has proven in the past to be a major hurdle for governments. I have been actively campaigning against both ISDS and ICS, in line with the position of the Labour Party. Advertisement In fact, it was the opposition to ISDS by all progressive forces within and outside the European Parliament that led the European Commission to drop its old model and come up with a new one. This minimal reform was deemed good enough by some, but not by North East Labour MEPs. Albeit small, this change of position by the European Commission has nonetheless led to a very significant development in another trade negotiation. JEFTA, a trade deal between the EU and Japan to be concluded in the coming months, does not contain either ISDS or ICS. Japan has been pushing for the inclusion of the old-fashioned ISDS in the deal, but the Commission cannot accept anything else than ICS. The reform was the main condition for securing parliamentary support for CETA, and the Commission knows it would be in trouble with any deal featuring the old ISDS. So as it stands there is not investment protection clause in the EU-Japan deal. Public pressure has effectively removed investment protection from the negotiating table and this is exactly where we want it to be. This can turn out to be a great victory for trade campaigners and progressive politicians, because JEFTA without ISDS or ICS could actually be a good deal for UK consumers, workers and businesses. Advertisement This goes to show that getting involved in trade talks - whether in engaging in the European Parliament, demonstrating in London or writing to your MEP - can actually work. But negotiations are not over yet, and one of two sides may very well prevail. In one scenario, the less likely, Japan would prevail and we would end up with the old ISDS. Should this happen, we can count on a majority of MEPs to oppose the deal. But in the other scenario, the Commission would get its way on ICS and we would need all the brunt of public opinion in Europe to fend off what would turn out to be a bad deal. Standing on deck seeing children, women and men up to their waist in seawater because their boat is slowly deflating, world politics suddenly seem very far away. We are the only ones here, in international waters. No other vessels around for miles, and about 140 people on the verge of dying. The roaring engines of our RHIBS carry the sound of survival for the people in the sinking boat. If an hour earlier the Italian coast guard hadn't directed us to this location, these people would have died. Pushed out from Libyan shores hours before without an NGO vessel - or any other vessel - close by. Pushed out to sea by smugglers, but also by violence, detention, persecution, corruption or the simple fact that they saw no future in the place where they were. When we dock in Catania a few days later, British journalist Katie Hopkins and members of the anti-immigrant movement Defend Europe are there, saying that we did the wrong thing. We shrug, restock, get our engine fixed and set out again. Advertisement A week later, I see what could have happened if we wouldn't have been on time. The NGO ProActiva Open Arms have rescued more than 160 people from a deflating rubber boat, but during an earlier panic on the dinghy at least 13 people died, drowned, trampled on, suffocated, burned by the chemical mix of seawater and fuel. We board Open Arms' vessel to collect the bodies, as we have a morgue on board and they don't. Never have I witnessed such a horrific scene. We put the bodies in new body bags and photograph them - the photos will be used by the Italian police in case of a criminal investigation into the causes of death. We're in the heart of the migration and refugee crisis, the big story of our era. Worldwide, more than 65million people have fled their homes. Most of them find refuge in their own countries or region, some try and make it to Europe through the dangerous crossing to Italy, a route on which this year roughly one in 43 people dies. And Italy has been bearing that brunt on its own for years. Advertisement Europe's answer however is quite simple: let's keep the migrants out. But surely, Europe can do better than that? Let's acknowledge the fact that the rescue vessels on the Mediterranean are not the solution for this crisis - although they are a life-or-death solution for the people on the flimsy boats. But let's also acknowledge the fact that people always will find ways to flee, as they have been doing for centuries. NGOs are in the eye of a political storm right now, as they are considered a pull-factor by some. Yet far more important for people to leave their homes are the push factors mentioned above; conflict, persecution, corruption, abuse, the lack of a future. The truth is, there is no quick fix for this issue. Ban the export of rubber boats to Libya? Sure. A Code of Conduct? We're always willing to constructively search for solutions as long as they don't go against human rights and our humanitarian mandate. Advertisement But they are not solutions for the people in the heart of this crisis, to those who aim to cross and who will keep on finding ways to get to a place where they hope to build a future for their children and families. In the short term, Europe must install safe and legal routes for people to come to Europe. Among the 577 people we recently brought to Italy were 66 Syrians; families with young children. Many of them fled war in their country years ago and were now fleeing the violence in Libya. It's almost certain they'll get their asylum status, so why are we forcing them, families with children, to get on a flimsy boat? The same goes for Eritreans, of whom we brought more than 250 to safety last week; they'll get their status, so why can't they come to Europe legally? The long term solution lies in tackling the root causes of mass migration. People flee violence, torture, slavery, poverty, the lack of opportunities. If we can take those causes away, people would no longer have a reason to leave their homes. My parents didn't play by the rules of the public education system. I'm so grateful they didn't. As immigrants from Colombia and Brazil, my father and mother recognized that education was the only way out for their children. They managed to scrape together enough money to send me and my sister to Catholic school. They believed it was my best chance at a quality education in our working class Southern California neighborhood. They were right. But I was a kid with an undiagnosed learning disability, and by the time I reached high school, I wasn't living up to that school's expectations. After failing several classes, I was kicked out. My poor mother almost had a heart attack. This was the 1980s. Although we lived on a "good" street, gangs ruled neighboring streets and drug sales were brisk business. My local high school was a gateway to crime and troubles that my parents desperately wanted me to avoid. Even with her limited English and her lack of sophistication about her adopted country, my mother feared that if I enrolled in the neighborhood traditional school, I would likely become victimized by the crime and violence that had engulfed so many other local kids. Advertisement My parents didn't play by the rules of the public education system. I'm so grateful they didn't. So, my mom did what any parent would do: she begged the principal at my all-girls Catholic high school to give me another chance. The principal, a nun, refused to give me another chance. My mom responded by doing what many parents are willing to do: she lied about our home address so I could attend a better, "white" school in a nearby city. Fortunately, we never got caught, and I graduated from high school. If my parents had played by the rules, I'm not sure where I would be today. While I understand the rules of the traditional public education system - go to the nearest school, no matter how bad it is, and no matter what kind of trouble it might lead to - I don't agree with them. I believe every parent should have the right to expect more and to seek out the right school for their children, just as mine did. And just as I would later do for my children. Years later, as a single mother, I found myself trying desperately to find exceptional schools for my kids in a world of sky high rents. When my job took me to a new city, I would once again begin the mad scramble to find the cheapest place to live within the boundaries of the nearest top-notch school district. It wasn't easy, but I did my research. And while I often lived beyond my means, I usually found a way to get by in the wealthy neighborhoods with the "right" zip codes - where schools were good. Advertisement How could I explain that to ensure they received a quality education, we needed to live among folks who were, in so many ways, unlike us? I did it for my kids, but it didn't come without a price. In a couple of cases, my kids were the outsiders at school and their playdates in mansions or beach houses often caused tension. They would come home with tales of lives lived extravagantly with bedrooms the size of our entire apartment and all the material things a child could ever want. How could I explain why our lives were different? How could I explain that to ensure they received a quality education, we needed to live among folks who were, in so many ways, unlike us? During my years as a Chicago Tribune education reporter, I found out how typical our problems were. I met countless parents who were in the exact same circumstances, doing everything they could to find a better school than the one that was assigned to them. Covering the third largest school district in the country showed me the brokenness and inequity of the traditional public school system. It was heartbreaking to walk into poorly run schools and classrooms and see how many children were getting shortchanged and not receiving the education they deserved. Of course, there were bright spots; some urban traditional schools were succeeding despite the odds. But they were the exception, not the rule. Most principals were still unwilling or unable to experiment, take risks, push boundaries and bet on their kids' capacity for success. Few educators were committed enough to tell every student within their school walls that each one of them deserved to attend college, and then to do everything necessary to help those students achieve that goal. In Chicago, seventh grade is a critical, "make-or-break-it" year. That's the year when a student's grades, attendance and standardized test scores determine whether he or she will get into the city's selective enrollment and magnet high schools. If you get one of these coveted spots, you basically just won the lottery in life. This is, of course, yet another glaring example of the system's lack of fairness: only some kids are "lucky" enough to go to the good schools. Advertisement I'm the first to admit that the charter school my daughter attended wasn't perfect ... But I have no doubt that my daughter received a better education at the charter than she would have at the school to which she would have been assigned. When it comes to my children, I'm not much of a gambler and as my daughter approached high school, I was already considering moving back to Southern California to live closer to my mother. I found a great, arts-focused, charter public school that wasn't exactly close to my new home, but worth the drive. We made the move and my daughter graduated from this high school. My son, on the other hand, graduated from the traditional public high school in my home district. They were both fortunate to receive an education that suited their individual needs, talents and personality. My youngest, in third grade, attends a traditional public school. I'm the first to admit that the charter school my daughter attended wasn't perfect. And we've all heard stories about charters that fall far short of the promise they make to their communities. But I have no doubt that my daughter received a better education at the charter than she would have at the school to which she would have been assigned. It was just a better fit for her. Last year I joined the California Charter Schools Association. Our mission is simple: to make sure that more parents have the right to choose a high quality public school for their kids. Advertisement Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time fighting political battles, just to protect parents' right to demand better. There is so much rhetoric out there demonizing the concept of school choice and the families who rely on it. I don't get too caught up in the rhetoric, probably because my personal experiences tell the real story of school choice: my mom lying to get me into a better school, my own desperate dash to find an affordable home in a strong school district, the struggling Chicago parents who prayed that their children would win the "lottery" and attend a great high school. Against this stark background, the politics and rhetoric are hollow and petty. After all, as many moms like me have found, what matters most is whether we can find the best schools for our kids. If the neighborhood public school is not delivering, why shouldn't we have another alternative? Why should they any parent be forced to sacrifice their children to a broken system? Its not enough for the countrys most advanced and sophisticated cities to be at the forefront of technological innovation with smart parking meters or informational kiosks. They also need to be sustainable and show an ability to preserve natural areas, according to Anil Ahuja, an engineering professional regarded as the Smart Cities Guru and author of the 2016 book Integration of Nature and Technology for Smart Cities. Ahuja has compiled the Top Ten U.S. Cities Integrating Nature & Technology report to highlight which cities are leaders at balancing new technology with good nature policies. A smart city doesnt just provide technology or economic solutions, he said in a statement. The smartest cities in the world are integrating nature to create a truly sustainable city. I have identified a number of cities in the United States that are excellent examples for other smart cities to model themselves after. The cities were selected based on four factors key to a thriving, vibrant city, according to a press release: Social quality of life. Does the city implement technology to optimize opportunity, such as green roofs, green facades, bike lanes, healthy food markets, efficient health-care facilities and biophilic design? Economic quality jobs. Does the city attract and retain top tier talent and attract high-tech industries and investments? Environmental quality air and water. Does the city have adequate amounts of green space to improve air quality and the right green infrastructure to manage storm water runoff? How does the city utilize technology for more efficient water and energy usage? Technology ease of communication. Does the city utilize technology to speed up the flow of information? Ahuja's list includes Boston, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020, and to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The city also uses its residents as sensors; apps such as Street Bump allow motorists to collect road conditions while they drive, while the Citizens Connect app allows Boston residents to report public issues directly from their smartphones into the citys work order management system, which routes it immediately to the right person in City Hall to fix the problem. And in Seattle, which was called out for being a pioneer and leader in establishing and increasing the adoption of green standards, the city has numerous programs to improve energy efficiency, largely through green development policies and building standards. The Green Building Sustainable Communities Program, for example, creates projects that meet sustainable outcomes. The city also provides tax breaks, loans and other incentives to businesses and residences that utilize green practices. In 2016, Seattle eliminated departmental silos and consolidated technology professionals from 15 departments into one, which has led to better collaboration and improved efficiencies. The city developed its Next Generation Data Center, which in part, brought together servers from disparate locations. Through IT consolidation we focused on how we could share infrastructure to reduce costs and operate more efficiently, Seattle Chief Technology Officer Michael Mattmiller told Government Technology. As a result, the project came in more than $2 million under budget and we were able to effectively introduce new technologies like hyper-converged infrastructure and cloud solutions that help our staff deploy solutions more quickly. And Orlando, Fla., was recognized for its approach to smart operation of transportation, security and emergency management, and energy waste reduction programs. More specifically, it has retrofitted 28 public buildings to enable real-time energy consumption tracking which has led to an average 31 percent reduction in annual utility costs. Many of the retrofits included advanced controls that enable facility managers to track energy consumption in real time and to receive notifications when large systems like chillers or condensing units are using abnormal amounts of energy, allowing facility staff to quickly address problems, according to the report. Portland, Ore., promotes energy efficiency through a number of residential, commercial and government initiatives. It was the first city to create a local action plan to reduce carbon emissions. Portland aims to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. Ahuja's top cities for integrating nature and technology listed alphabetically are: Boston Engaging its citizens through crowdsourced mobile technology to enable smart government. Engaging its citizens through crowdsourced mobile technology to enable smart government. Chicago Leveraging data to make cities healthier, more efficient and more livable. Leveraging data to make cities healthier, more efficient and more livable. Los Angeles Leveraging big data, mobile and cloud based technologies to save energy and improve efficiency. Leveraging big data, mobile and cloud based technologies to save energy and improve efficiency. New York Maximizing real-time traffic information to reduce congestion, improve the flow of traffic and decrease carbon emissions. Maximizing real-time traffic information to reduce congestion, improve the flow of traffic and decrease carbon emissions. Orlando Recognized for its approach to smart operation of transportation, security and emergency management and energy waste reduction programs. Recognized for its approach to smart operation of transportation, security and emergency management and energy waste reduction programs. Portland, Ore. Investing in IoT sensor networks and leveraging smart agriculture applications and big data to benefit the local region. Investing in IoT sensor networks and leveraging smart agriculture applications and big data to benefit the local region. San Diego Adopting the Climate Action Plan, which will improve public health and air quality, conserve water, and use current resources more efficiently. Adopting the Climate Action Plan, which will improve public health and air quality, conserve water, and use current resources more efficiently. San Francisco Multiple initiatives including waste reduction, electric car charging and building performance optimization. Multiple initiatives including waste reduction, electric car charging and building performance optimization. Seattle A pioneer and leader for establishing and increasing the adoption of green standards. A pioneer and leader for establishing and increasing the adoption of green standards. Washington, D.C. A leader in smart mobility and for its ratio of park acres to citizens. Ahuja did not respond to Government Technology's interview requests. Source: http://www.govtech.com/fs/10-Cities-Taking-a-Nature-Driven-Approach-to-Innovation.html Another Civil Law Suit Filed Against Berkshire Mall Owners LANESBOROUGH, Mass. Another civil lawsuit has been filed against the owners of the Berkshire Mall. UG2 LLC filed a civil suit in Berkshire Superior Court on Monday alleging Kohan Retail Investment Group bilked the company out of $143,096 worth of janitorial services. The company further accuses owner Mehran Kohansieh of "deceptive business practices." The complaint, filed by attorney Jonathan Allen from Peskin, Courchesne & Allen in Springfield, alleges that the Boston-based maintenance company had a contract in place from the previous owners. When Kohan Retail Investment Group purchased the property, operating under Berkshire Mall Realty Holdings, Kohan "assumed certain contractual obligations and liabilities" of the previous owners including the UG2 contract for janitorial and housekeeping services. UG2 continued to honor the contract, which expires in August 2018, but Berkshire Mall Realty has not paid the bills, the complaint reads. "Berkshire Mall has failed and refused to make any further payments on this account, leaving a balance due to the plaintiff from Berkshire Mall in the amount of $131,231.46," the complaint reads. UG2 is adding in interest dating back to Oct. 31, 2016 two months after Kohan purchased the property for a total sum of $143,096. Further, the complaint accuses Kohansieh of siphoning "away assets of Berkshire Mall for his own personal benefit and to the detriment of the plaintiff." The suit accuses Kohan of having "intentionally caused Berkshire Mall to fail to pay legitimate bills and invoices for janitorial and housekeeping services." "The acts of Kohan in directing Berkshire Mall not to pay the bills and invoices operating while thinly or under capitalized and siphoning away assets constitute unfair and deceptive trade practices," Allen wrote in the complaint. The suit is the second filed in Berkshire Superior Court against the mall. Earlier this year, the court issued an execution of judgment to the tune of $244,639.36 after the company was found to owe Petricca Construction for snowplowing. "On or around October 26, 2016, Berkshire Realty and PCC entered into an agreement concerning the provision of services at the Berkshire Mall. According to the agreement, Petricca Construction Company agreed to provide snow removal services as well as services incidental to snow removal, including salting, at a property operated by Berkshire Realty known as the Berkshire Mall," read the docket filed in Berkshire Superior Court. Just under a month ago in District Court, Maintenance Man Inc. was awarded a small claims judgment of $3,399.18. That was awarded after no one representing Kohan showed up in court. The trend isn't much different what has been in seen in other malls throughout the country Kohan owns. The company bills itself as specializing in buying distressed malls, and has continued to purchase malls throughout the country even when bills from individual malls were going unpaid. Some of the other malls have faced similar issues with unpaid bills including the lights being turned off by the electric company at the Rotterdam Square Mall in New York State. Other Kohan-owned malls have fallen into such disrepair they have been ordered to be demolished. Kohan has also faced issues with unpaid taxes for various malls he owns, including with the Berkshire Mall. With the Berkshire Mall, he has routinely fallen behind, caught back up, and then fallen behind again. The Great Neck, N.Y., based company purchased the Berkshire Mall in September 2016 for $3.5 million. The mall's tenancy was down significantly and grew more dire when Macy's, Best Buy, and J.C. Penney followed one by one in announcing they were leaving the facility. The mall is the largest taxpayer in the town of Lanesborough and its declining condition has raised alarms among town officials. The Baker Hill Road District, which manages the Connector Road, has asked the state for permission to purchase property so that it can seek ownership of the 717,000-square-foot mall. Kohan has seemingly been keeping up with the taxes enough to just barely avoid tax takings, which the Baker Hill Road District could have sought for a transfer of ownership. While Kohan said he hoped to revitalize the mall when he purchased it, although many in town have said they haven't seen much effort in that direction. North Adams Mayoral Field Largest in Years; 16 Qualify for Council Race NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Voters will narrow down one of the largest mayoral fields in decades this September, with five candidates qualifying for the preliminary election ballot. This will also be the first time in decades that an incumbent is not on the ballot -- the last time that happened was in 1983. The contest for the corner office will be reduced to two on Sept. 19, when Thomas W. Bernard, Rachel I. Branch, Robert R. Moulton Jr., Robert Martelle and Peter J. Oleskiewicz square off. Bernard was first out of the gate, within days of Mayor Richard Alcombright's announcement he would not seek a fifth term. The city native and current director of special projects at Smith College in Northampton has already held his campaign kick off with a platform focused on education, economic development and public health. Branch, whose family roots are deep in the city, is an activist and foster parent who has been working to raise awareness of the challenges encountered by society's most vulnerable. A local chapter president of One Billion Rising, she also hosts "Solutions Rising" on cable access television about violence against women and children. Moulton, who unsuccessfully ran against Alcombright in 2013, is trying again with a focus on his experience as a city councilor and local businessman. His family has operated Moulton's Spectacle Shoppe on Main Street for many years and he has served five non-consecutive terms on the council, including a term ending this year. Martelle also ran for mayor in 2011 and was eliminated in that year's preliminary that saw Alcombright and Ronald Boucher face off in the general election. The city native worked at the aluminum anodizing plant at the time and ran on a platform of bringing jobs to the city and cutting taxes. This year's newcomer is Oleskiewicz, who pulled papers on Aug. 2 and handed them in on the Monday deadline, as did Moulton and Martelle. Oleskiewicz does not appear to have run for office before. Boucher, a current city councilor and mayoral challenger in 2011, had indicated a little over a week ago that a rumored move to Clarksburg was not happening and he was planning to run. However, his Barbour Street home is listed for sale and he did not return papers. While a preliminary is set for mayor, there will not be enough candidates to hold one for City Council. Of the 21 potential candidates who took out papers, two withdrew, two did not return papers and one failed to reach the required amount of signatures. A preliminary election would only be held if there were at least 19 candidates. Sixteen names will appear on the November ballot for the nine at-large seats; the nine highest vote-getters will be elected. The candidates are incumbents Keith Bona, Eric Buddington, Benjamin Lamb, Joshua J. Moran and Wayne Wilkinson; and newcomers Rebbecca A. Cohen, Roger J. Eurbin, Keifer Gammell, Marie T. Harpin, Paul J. Hopkins, H. Merle Knight, Jason M. LaForest, Scott Orr, Bryan A. Sapienza, Ashley Marie Shade, and Clarise R. Vanderburgh. Ronald K. Sheldon returned his papers but did not have enough verifiable signatures; Lisa Blackmer, who is running for state representative, and Jessica L. Cramer withdrew and William J. Caprari and Edward L. Lacosse did not return papers. With only five incumbents, nearly half the City Council is guaranteed to turn over and of the incumbents, only Bona, who is completing his eighth non-consecutive term, has any significant time on the council. The other four have served no more than two terms. Two years ago, eight incumbents ran and seven were returned. There will be at least three names for the three open seats on the School Committee: incumbent Heather Putnam Boulger, and newcomers James C. Holmes and Ian D. Bergeron. Raya E. Kirby returned her papers by the 5 p.m. deadline but they have not yet been certified; Peter E. Breen did not return papers. Incumbents Paul Gigliotti and Gary Rivers are running unopposed for McCann School Committee. Imperial Valley News Center 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative Washington, DC - Yesterday, the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand, the Deputy Prime Minister of Viet Nam, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, the Secretary of State of the United States, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN met in Manila for the 10th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting. The Ministers of the Mekong countries welcomed Secretary Tillersons chairmanship of the Lower Mekong Initiative. The Secretary and Ministers re-affirmed their commitment to LMI as a primary driver of Lower Mekong sub-regional economic integration and sustainable development, pledging to continue their collaborative efforts toward peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia. The Secretary and Ministers lauded the on-going work under each of LMIs six Pillars Agriculture and Food Security, Connectivity, Education, Energy Security, Environment and Water, and Health, and charged the Pillars to redouble their efforts to advance regional priorities most effectively and successfully implement the LMI Plan of Action 2016 2020. The Ministers also emphasized the need for the LMI to work in tandem with and complement other country and regional plans of action, including ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together. The seven participants praised the effective implementation of the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership, announced at the 2016 LMI Ministerial, noting its success in equipping LMI member states in the management and development of regional infrastructure projects. Through the Partnership, the United States committed to further practical cooperation with the Friends of the Lower Mekong and more unified and sustainable engagement with the LMI members. The Secretary and Ministers congratulated the progress of the LMI Education Pillar, and its engagement among young scientists and academics to identify areas of regional cooperation in education and establish national focal points to coordinate joint scientific research projects, which will contribute to prosperous and sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region. The Ministers applauded the new Mekong Water Data Initiative proposal and hailed it as an important step in developing science-based decisions of their shared river system. The Ministers concluded that enhancing the Mekong River Commissions technical capabilities would help to facilitate data gathering and sharing in the region and requested their respective ministries to coordinate efforts to implement the Water Data Initiative effectively. The LMI members pledged to continue their close collaboration with the Friends of the Lower Mekong and the Mekong River Commission to support inclusive, sustainable and environment-responsible growth in the Mekong river basin. The LMI partners determined to continue discussions on the restructuring of the LMI Pillars at the upcoming Regional Working Group meeting in Laos and committed to work together to improve efficiencies, reflect evolving priorities in the sub-region, and devise a results-oriented way forward. The Secretary and Ministers arranged to reconvene for the 11th LMI Ministerial meeting in 2018 in Singapore. Heads of Delegations: H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic H.E. Kyaw Tin, Minister of State, Republic of the Union of Myanmar H.E. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand H.E. Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State, United States of America H.E. Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN Imperial Valley News Center Submit your SunShots photo contest Washington, DC - Have you submitted your solar technology photos to the Hit Me with Your SunShot photo contest yet? The deadline to submit is August 17. The best overall photo will receive a grand prize of $500, and there will be $250 prizes awarded to the best photos in eight categories, including solar installation, solar hardware and power electronics, and university research. See the full list of categories here. Submissions will be judged by Simon Edelman, Chief Creative Officer for the Department of Energy, and Dennis Schroeder, a photographer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. Need some guidance on taking the best solar photos? Simon wrote a blog post with five tips for capturing compelling solar power photos. We also posted all of the submissions received in July on the Department of Energys Flickr account, so be sure to check them out for some inspiration. Reception in Honor of Imperial County's 110th Anniversary El Centro, California - Tuesday, August 15, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors will host a reception to commemorate the 110th Anniversary of the Countys incorporation. The event will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., following the Board of Supervisors meeting, in the conference room adjacent to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors Chambers in El Centro. In an effort to celebrate the successes and milestones of the County over the years while providing an opportunity to reminisce of the Countys history and culture, the Board of Supervisors is hosting a reception for dignitaries, representatives of federal, state and local agencies, and members of the public. Governor Brown and First Lady Honor Marine Pfc. Ruben P. Velasco Sacramento, California - On behalf of all Californians, Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown honor Marine Pfc. Ruben P. Velasco, who bravely gave his life in service to our state and nation. The Governor and First Lady extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time. In memorial, Governor Brown ordered that flags be flown at half-staff over the State Capitol. Pfc. Velasco's family will receive a letter of condolence from the Governor. FTC Charges Online Marketing Scheme with Deceiving Shoppers Las Vegas, Nevada - A federal court temporarily halted the operation and froze its assets at the request of the FTC, which seeks to end the practices. According to the FTC, the defendants used a network of 78 companies, at least 87 websites, and dozens of bank accounts to hide their ownership and launder the profits from the scheme. They also drove people to their websites via affiliate networks that generate web traffic with blog posts, banner ads and surveys. For example, some consumers got emails inviting them to fill out surveys falsely claiming to be for well-known merchants such as Kohls and Amazon, and were directed to the defendants websites to claim a reward for completing the survey. The FTC alleges that, using deceptive claims, hidden fine-print disclosures and confusing terms, the defendants tricked consumers into providing their billing information, and then started charging them about $100 a month unless consumers canceled within 8 days. They also used an order confirmation page to trick consumers into signing up for a second monthly subscription, which cost an additional $100, for an identical product. Because of this double-deception, the defendants charged consumers, who reasonably believed they had agreed to a single shipment for $1.03 plus shipping costs, about $200 a month until they canceled both unauthorized subscriptions. The defendants are charged with violating the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act. The defendants are Blair McNea, Danielle Foss, Jennifer Johnson, Boulder Creek Internet Solutions Inc., Walnut Street Marketing Inc., and these LLCs: Anasazi Management Partners, RevMountain, Wave Rock, Juniper Solutions, Jasper Woods, Wheeler Peak Marketing, ROIRunner, Cherry Blitz, Flat Iron Avenue, Absolutely Working, Three Lakes, Bridge Ford, How and Why, Spruce River, TrimXT, Elation White, IvoryPro, Doing Whats Possible, RevGuard, RevLive!, Blue Rocket Brands, Convertis, Convertis Marketing, Turtle Mountains, Boulder Black Diamond, Mint House, Thunder Avenue, University & Folsom, Snow Sale, Brand Force, Wild Farms, Salamonie River, Indigo Systems, Night Watch Group, Newport Crossing, Greenville Creek, Brookville Lane, Honey Lake, Condor Canyon, Brass Triangle, Solid Ice, Sandstone Beach, Desert Gecko, Blizzardwhite, Action Pro White, First Class Whitening, Spark Whitening, Titanwhite, Dental Pro At Home, Smile Pro Direct, Circle of Youth Skincare, DermaGlam, Sedona Beauty Secrets, Bella at Home, SkinnyIQ, Body Tropical, and RoadRunner B2C LLC, also doing business as RevGo. The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 2-0. The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada entered a temporary restraining order against the defendants on July 25, 2017. Australia-Japan-United States Trilateral Strategic Dialogue Ministerial Joint Statement Manila, Philippines - The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Julie Bishop, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taro Kono, and the Secretary of State of the United States, Rex Tillerson, met in Manila, the Philippines, on August 7, 2017, for the seventh ministerial meeting of the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD). The ministers reaffirmed the importance of the trilateral strategic partnership among these three countries to ensure a free, open, peaceful, stable, democratic, and prosperous Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region and world, based on the rule of law, and reiterated their enduring commitment to further deepening coordination and cooperation to achieve this goal. The ministers noted that the partnership, which is founded upon the robust Australia-U.S. and Japan-U.S. Alliances, rests on the unshakable foundation of shared interests and values, including a commitment to a rules-based international order, respect for international law, open economies, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The ministers condemned in the strongest terms North Koreas unlawful pursuit of a nuclear weapons program and unprecedented ballistic missile activity since last year, including the launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles on July 4 and July 28, 2017. These actions blatantly violate multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and clearly demonstrate that North Korea increasingly poses new levels of threat to regional stability and global security. In this regard, the ministers welcomed the unanimous adoption of UNSC Resolution 2371 on August 5 which imposes a total ban on certain North Korean exports. The ministers called on the international community to implement strictly UNSC resolutions and impose additional diplomatic and economic measures to address the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) threat posed by the North Korean regime and its destabilizing behavior, and to make further efforts to urge North Korea to abandon its current threatening and provocative path and immediately take steps to denuclearize. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strong autonomous sanctions measures on North Korea and will coordinate these sanctions and capacity building measures, including in the area of export control to detect and disrupt North Korean WMD proliferation networks. The ministers also urged ASEAN member states to maximize pressure on North Korea. The ministers called on North Korea to immediately and fully comply with relevant UNSC resolutions and the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks of September 2005. The ministers also called on North Korea to end its systematic human rights violations and abuses and to immediately release all foreign nationals being held in North Korea, including Japanese abductees and American citizens. The ministers underscored the importance of upholding the rules-based order, called on all states to respect freedom of navigation and overflight and other internationally lawful uses of the seas, and reiterated that the three countries will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows. The ministers expressed serious concerns over maritime disputes in the South China Sea (SCS). The ministers voiced their strong opposition to coercive unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions. In this regard, the ministers urged SCS claimants to refrain from land reclamation, construction of outposts, militarization of disputed features, and undertaking unilateral actions that cause permanent physical change to the marine environment in areas pending delimitation. The ministers called on all claimants to make and clarify their maritime claims in accordance with the international law of the sea as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law. The ministers called on China and the Philippines to abide by the Arbitral Tribunal's 2016 Award in the Philippines-China arbitration, as it is final and legally binding on both parties. The ministers noted the significance of the UNCLOS dispute settlement regime and the Tribunals decision in discussions among parties in their efforts to peacefully resolve their maritime disputes in the SCS. The ministers urged ASEAN member states and China to fully and effectively implement the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The ministers acknowledged the announced consensus on a framework for the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea (COC). The ministers further urged ASEAN member states and China to ensure that the COC be finalized in a timely manner, and that it be legally binding, meaningful, effective, and consistent with international law. The ministers welcomed the development of trilateral cooperation on capacity building for maritime security and safety in Southeast Asia. The ministers resolved to advance and build on this cooperation through ongoing exchanges of information and dialogue on regional needs. The ministers reiterated the commitment of the three nations to continue coordinating their respective assistance programs and to identify ways they can more closely collaborate in the future. The Ministers expressed strong opposition to any coercive or unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions in the East China Sea and will remain in close communication about developments in the area. The ministers discussed ways to work together to counter terrorism and violent extremism. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the counter-terrorism-specific trilateral strategic dialogue to enhance coordination and programming. The ministers noted the importance of increasing engagement in regional and multilateral organizations such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The ministers expressed support for the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund and the UN Secretary General's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism and called for its implementation. The ministers resolved to continue to support internally displaced persons and to coordinate on protecting soft targets and countering terrorist financing. The ministers also resolved to advocate for and strengthen existing information sharing mechanisms, such as those provided by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and to combat the flow of foreign terrorist fighters both to and from conflict areas. The ministers reiterated their commitment to continue coordinating their respective assistance programs and to identify ways to collaborate in the future. The ministers expressed their concerns regarding the recent attacks by the ISIS-affiliated groups in Marawi, the Philippines, the loss of life, and the displacement of local populations. The ministers urged increased cooperation in the region to counter such terrorist activity and pledged their continued support for these efforts. The ministers underscored the importance of advancing cybersecurity, and committed to supporting the strategic framework for international cyber stability based on the application of existing international law; adherence to voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace in peacetime; and the implementation of confidence building measures, supported by coordinated capacity building programs. The ministers affirmed their mutual commitment to promote operationalization of voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible state behavior recommended by the report of the 2015 UN Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security. The ministers supported the establishment of a new ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies (ARF ISM on ICTs) as a dedicated international forum for advancing cyber cooperation among member states. Congratulating ASEAN on its 50th Anniversary, the ministers noted the central role ASEAN has played in the development of the Asia-Pacific regional architecture and its contribution to the region's stability and prosperity. The ministers resolved to work together to strengthen regional ASEAN-centered organizations, especially the East Asia Summit (EAS). The ministers stressed the value of the EAS as the premier Leaders-led forum in the region to address political and strategic issues and reiterated the importance of strengthening it in accordance with the 2015 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Tenth Anniversary of the East Asia Summit. The ministers recognized the complex challenges facing the Pacific Island Countries, and underscored the importance of further trilateral cooperation to enhance economic resilience, sustainable development, and regional peace and security. The ministers recognized the importance of ensuring free and open sea-lanes as well as enhancing regional connectivity, including through quality infrastructure development. The ministers resolved to continue to work closely together and with their partners to promote strong, sustainable growth and prosperity, including by supporting good governance, the rule of law, and human rights. Cote d'Ivoire's National Day Washington, DC - Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson: "On behalf of the Government of the United States, congratulations to the people of Cote dIvoire, as you celebrate your national independence on August 7th. "The United States and Cote dIvoire have maintained close and friendly relations since your nations inception. On this 57th anniversary of Cote dIvoires independence, the United States reaffirms its commitment to helping your nation work towards the goals of lasting peace and economic prosperity. Cote dIvoires dedication to democracy will strengthen its future growth and stability. "We wish the people of Cote dIvoire continued progress and success, as you commemorate your National Day." ASEAN Day 2017 Washington, DC - Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson: On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, we offer congratulations to the peoples and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as the ASEAN Secretariat, on the organizations 50th anniversary on August 8th. Since 1967, ASEAN has made remarkable strides in maintaining peace across Southeast Asia, accelerating economic growth, and improving the lives of the citizens of its 10 member states. We are also proud this year to celebrate 40 years of close ties between the United States and ASEAN. Our partnership is growing as we address shared challenges such as terrorism, trafficking in persons, and maritime security. Substantial trade and investment between the United States and ASEAN creates jobs for our peoples. Programs like Fulbright and the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative build enduring people-to-people ties. In April, Vice President Pence met with ASEAN permanent representative and the ASEAN Secretariat, and announced that President Trump will travel to Manila for the U.S.-ASEAN and East Asia Summits later this year. This is a testament to the value the United States places on our partnership with ASEAN and, as a Pacific nation, our engagement with the broader Asia-Pacific region. We congratulate ASEAN on its 50th anniversary and look forward to continuing our partnership and friendship with the people and governments of Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Secretariat to advance peace, stability, and prosperity for all. U.S. Delegation at 2017 AGOA Forum in Togo Washington, DC - Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs Peter Barlerin will travel to Togo from August 7 - August 10 as part of the delegation led by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to attend the 2017 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, held August 8-10 in Lome, Togo. Established by AGOA law, the annual forum provides a platform for promoting stronger economic ties between the United States and qualifying sub-Saharan African countries that receive enhanced U.S. market access under AGOA. The theme of this years Forum is The United States and Africa: Partnering for Prosperity through Trade. The Forum begins with events incorporating private sector, civil society, and U.S.-sponsored African Womens Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) participants, followed by two days of ministerial plenaries with representatives from the United States and the 38 African beneficiary countries. Led by U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer, the U.S. delegation will include senior officials from the U.S. Departments of State, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, and Transportation, as well as other U.S. government agencies and Congress. 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 }} As unlikely as it sounds, at first its difficult to spot PJ Harvey not because she isnt the only woman out of ten performers onstage, or that she isnt an unmistakably charismatic figure, but because she seems wilfully disguised amid the doleful procession drumming themselves onto the stage. Theres no showbiz entrance for her; only when the instrumental introduction to Chain of Keys has finished does the woman modestly hanging around amid the other musicians, saxophone in hand, step forward. This is all, as is fitting for a show at the Edinburgh International Festival, the purest theatre, and Harvey is a masterful lead actor. When her mouth opens shes transformed into something more than just a musician among many other musicians, more a force of nature. In this huge and atmospheric old concert hall, the fact (probably unintentionally constructed) that shes surrounded by mostly white, mostly older male players only elevates her. Her authority is tangible, like some priestess dressed all in black, hair sculpted into small devil horns of an obscure death cult. For nearly two hours, her music treads its own space with sureness and precision. Drawing heavily from last years The Hope Six Demolition Project, a travelogue account of her travels to experience post-war Afghanistan and Kosovo, and the clearance of housing in Washington DC, the set is political without being preachy, personal without being self-obsessed, human but with no sense of desperation for acceptance. This is music so powerful that it pulls you into its orbit, from the broken, two-saxophones-in-one-mouth oddity of The Ministry of Defence, thundering out as a modernist concrete wall rises into place behind the band, to the visceral evocation of a bloody battlefield on The Words That Maketh Murder. Let England Shake also shapes the political tone of the show, and the feeble rallying sound of a bugle on This Glorious Land speaks to a different kind of imagined solidarity than The Community of Hope, an airy, upbeat ode to people power. The carefully-balanced observational power of these albums leaps into three-dimensional life on the live stage, mainly because Harvey creates dramatic, evocative music to hang her lyrics on, in the first instance. The key word here is power; at various stages, her band of multi-instrumentalists (including old collaborators Mick Harvey and John Parish) contains five guitarists, three saxophonists or three drummers, and the effect upon the driving, handclap-strewn The Wheel, the pounding garage rock of 50ft Queenie and the dark, dense blues of Down By the Water is visceral. In intent and execution, a more or less perfect show. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A damning climate change report has been made public amid fear it could be hidden by the Trump administration. The study finds that the average temperature in the US has been rising quickly since 1980, and that it is now hotter than any other time in the last 1,500 years. As such, it argues that Americans are already living under the effects of climate change, and that it might already be impossible to fully mitigate against its effects. But the report is just as significant for the fact that despite being compiled by scientists from across the US government, it had to be leaked for fear that it could be stifled by the White House. Donald Trump has in the past suggested that he thinks global warming is a Chinese hoax and has appointed climate change deniers to top government positions. 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke filled with the carbon that is driving climate change drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan The report is in direct contradiction of the public stance of Mr Trump and those around him. It argues that there is clear evidence for climate change, "from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans", according to a leaked version that was published by the New York Times. Recommended US says it will join UN climate talks despite exit from Paris Accord "Thousands of studies conducted by tens of thousands of scientists around the world have documented changes in surface, atmospheric, and oceanic temperatures; melting glaciers; disappearing snow cover; shrinking sea ice; rising sea level; and an increase in atmospheric water vapor," it reads. "Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate changes." The report concludes that the world has already been irreversibly damaged by climate change, and that even if humans stopped making greenhouse gas immediately the planet would still have warmed by 0.3C. But it's most likely that global warming will be as much as 2C, which could bring about devastating changes in the environment, weather and planet. But despite that clear evidence, scientists told the New York Times that they were concerned that the government would seek to suppress the report and it may not be published. Instead, it was passed to the newspaper to publish online for fear it would never be seen. That is despite the report being part of the National Climate Assessment, which must be completed every four years. It is waiting for approval from the Trump administration before it can be properly published, as well as from the Environmental Protection Agency, to which Mr Trump has appointed climate science denier Scott Pruitt as its head. Researchers said that it will be an important moment to test whether the Trump administration is going to work to suppress such climate research. It is the first case of an analysis of the climate of such scope has come to be published under Donald Trump, one scientists told the New York Times. 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 }} Fast-fashion brand Missguided has come under fire for an in-store sign that consumers have slammed for being sexist and inappropriate. While women receive their fair share of messages asking for nudes - be it from prospective partners or even sleazy trolls the idea that such requests should be put in front of young teens seems in bad taste at the least. Its no wonder then that parents and concerned shoppers have called out teen clothing store Missguided for a sign asking them to do just that. Spotted in the brands Bluewater store, the neon pink sign reads send me nudes x, and also appears to feature on the walls of the Westfield Stratford branch. As soon as images began to circulate on social media, several angry parents demanded that the brand remove the reckless and disrespectful message. While some branded it sexist, others were concerned that it could incite illegal activity of under 18s sharing nude images and the message it sends to young girls and women. Missguided, send me nudes' in-store marketing is wrong, one person wrote. Disrespectful, exploitive and very dangerous! Change the message now! Another agreed adding, This is ghastly. Missguided is a 'millennial brand' claiming to empower teens/early 20s.What a crock of s***. One other person tweeted, Young girls are under enough pressure without this stupid sign. Shame on you. In light of the uproar, a petition calling for the sign to be removed was signed by more than 8,000 in under 24 hours. Teenage girls feel under increasing pressure to create and send nude pictures of themselves, it read. Once online, these nude images can be seen and used by anyone, making girls and vulnerable young women the victims of bullying, revenge porn and exploitation. It is illegal in the UK for nude images of under 18s to be created, sent and shared. Send me Nudes legitimises the culture of sexual coercion that teenage girls and young women experience daily. In posting 'Send me nudes' in their store, Missguided are promoting a negative and damaging culture. Instead, they should be empowering young women to value their intrinsic value and express their uniqueness through the art of fashion. So we are calling on Missguided to respect girls and take down their sign. In addition, youth worker Tim Gough penned an open letter to the companys CEO, Nitin Passi, slamming the sign for contributing to a sexting culture that can destroy young peoples lives. If you had spent any real time with a sixteen year old consumer who had followed your advice to send nudes, then you would witness first-hand the destruction that such a simple act creates, he wrote. Bluewater shopping centre has since responded on Twitter to say that it had been advised that the sign has now been removed from the store. 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 }} Chloe Ayling's story might be "frankly incredible" but is true, her lawyer has said. Francesco Pesce, who is representing the model in Italy, said that he believes Ms Ayling is telling the truth and that the authorities have satisfied themselves about any doubts in her story. Ms Ayling came to fame over the weekend after she said that she had been kidnapped in early July, after being led to Italy to take part in a photoshoot. Police say that a criminal gang intended to sell her as a sex slave, but realised that she was a mother and as a result let her free, resulting in her captor's arrest. But since then doubts have emerged around the story, with questions being raised about why Ms Ayling had been on a shopping trip with her kidnapper during the time she was allegedly being held captive. Mr Pesce said that he recognised those doubts were legitimate, but that the model would be proved right in time. "The story is frankly incredible," he said during an appearance on Sky News. "Why would the captor bring the detainee to the police, to the consulate? However, everything matched out and the story turned out to be true." UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA 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 Mr Pesce pointed to the fact that Ms Ayling's story appears to have convinced the prosecution, the police and the judge who has conducted pre-trial hearings enough that proceedings were still ongoing. The police held a press conference shortly before Ms Ayling identified herself as the victim, in which they detailed the evidence surrounding the kidnapping. "There must be some clarification on some elements," he admitted, "however I believe the investigators will be excellent in doing their job and everything will emerge." He did say that he would caution Ms Ayling to behave differently, after a Sky News journalist asked him about the model's behaviour since the trip. She has participated in an interview outside her house and friends have said she will be doing another page three shoot, just days after she revealed herself to be the victim. Recommended Chloe Ayling to do page 3 shoot days after she said she was kidnapped He also addressed questions around the shopping trip, during which Ms Ayling had apparently travelled with her captor to buy shoes and groceries. He said that despite being let out into public she did not feel safe enough to escape. "What she told me and the police before me is that she was told by the captor ... that other people that were affiliated to this Black Death organisation were watching her," he said. "So even if they tried to flee she would be killed. So that's duress. That's a state of psychological subjugation." And he responded to claims that Ms Ayling had met her captor before, saying that it was a brief moment and didn't mean anything. "There was no relationship between the two," he said. "And what I believe is the investigators thoroughly searched everything, and if they had any doubts that she was involved to some extent she wouldn't have gone back to England." Mr Pesce said that the next steps for the proceedings will be the completion of investigations in Italy as well as in the UK, which could include trying to catch another accomplice. The Italian courts will then bring the case to trial, he said. 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 }} My 91-year-old mother was deeply unhappy at the geriatric hospital in which she found herself after breaking her ankle. But we knew little of the alternatives. Official inspection ratings offer impersonal information. So how were we, her children, supposed to gauge the quality of other establishments offering care? Our saviour turned out to be Alison my mothers hairdresser. As a specialist in older, housebound clients, she had continued to do her customers hair as they moved to various hospitals or care homes. Alison gave us the names of three places nearby that our mother might prefer, and we arranged her transfer within 36 hours. It was a move which transformed the quality of her last few months of life. Unlike formal inspectors, Alison was an unthreatening, secret observer of each of the institutions she visited. She proved to be a knowledgeable and reliable guide. Without her, my mothers life could have ended very differently. The trouble is, not every family is lucky enough to know an Alison. In the UK, people are expected to make their own choices about their own care in the final months and years of life. But how can people become well informed about different care providers, especially when a crisis forces decisions to be made at short notice? Alison revealed the importance of informal contacts and social networks in allowing individuals and families to make good choices. Choosing the right care facility is stressful and the decisions often need to be made quickly (Shutterstock) How could her role be made available to all families seeking similar information? Care settings for those nearing the end of life are, in terms of inspection, a bit like restaurants. Technical medical and nursing procedures, like a restaurants kitchen, need inspecting by technical inspectors. But most of the care provided at the end of a persons life is not of the technical kind. It involves hard to measure factors like respect, a sense of belonging, and relationships with staff. It is in many ways like assessing a restaurants ambience. In the hospitality trade, this is something best considered by mystery customers who collectively author good food guides, or by informal online ratings like on TripAdvisor. Such assessments rightly abandon the myth of objectivity embedded in formal inspections. Potential consumers perusing TripAdvisor ratings understand them as subjective experiences to be taken on balance. So collective, honestly subjective, online ratings should be available for families to make informed choices about different care settings. For well-being over the course of life, we need to be able to read about customer experiences of health and care agencies just as much as we need to read about experiences of restaurants, hotels and holidays. A great example of what is needed is carehome.co.uk, which gathers and publishes reviews of care homes, along with other information provided by the home. Many of the care homes listed, however, have no reviews. Care at home is reviewed by the onlnie database homecare.co.uk, although the vast majority of organisations that look after people in their own homes have no reviews. Those two websites are funded by industry subscriptions. Proposed reviews are authenticated and vetted before publication, and reviewers are advised not to publish complaints but send them direct to the agency. These safeguards should eradicate vexatious reviews, although they may also present an unrealistically positive overall view of user experience. The sites are, however, a step in the right direction. End-of-life care is such an important decision, requiring as much information as possible (Shutterstock) Of course, TripAdvisor-style ratings for the last journey tend to come not from the actual service-user or patient. Most reviews are from family and friends, which could be an issue. Complex family dynamics such as guilt at putting parents into care, or anxiety that care costs are eating up the inheritance can mean families are rarely the baggage-free observers that Alison was. Reviewing the situation Of more concern is that even the most loving, attentive and observant family member may know little about the persons experiences at the hands of their paid carers. This might only be achieved by CCTV cameras, but do we really want care homes, hospital wards and (in the case of home care) even the persons own home to become zones of electronic surveillance? No way of monitoring or collecting information will be perfect. And we should acknowledge that the trajectory of frail elderly dying is always uncertain. No one can predict how they will feel as bodies and minds fail, so all choices will entail a degree of guesswork. Rigorous formal inspection and public enquiries when things go dramatically wrong are of course essential. But if people nearing the end of life (or their families) are to adopt the prescribed role of informed consumer, comprehensive collations of user experiences are vital. End of life care is more important than booking a restaurant or the next holiday so information needs to be just as good, or better. Tony Walter is a professor of death studies at the University of Bath. This article was originally published on The Conversation (www.theconversation.com) 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 }} At a glass-wrapped industrial estate in London north of the River Thames, Brexit is giving global broadcasters a headache. From a screen-packed, server-filled studio, Discovery Communications home of channels including Animal Planet and Eurosport transmits more than 120 TV feeds into Europe. Across the road, Walt Disney licences foreign-language versions of its popular kids channels beamed to the likes of Denmark, Greece and Norway. Akin to global banks, international media companies like Discovery, Swedens Modern Times Group and Time Warners Turner International use UK licences to access the European Union and must fast decide whether to relocate some operations to preserve that access. Delays to the start of substantive talks for Britains EU exit dont help the broadcasters risk having to make the call without knowing the full impact Brexit will have on their business. Broadcasters will have to decide on relocation by as early as next spring, says Adam Minns, executive director of the Commercial Broadcasters Association, which represents international media networks in the UK. No one running a business of any scale can wait to the end of negotiations before deciding what to do, Minns says. The process of acquiring office space, moving staff and shifting technical support could all take up to a year, he says. Each of the media companies referred requests for comment to Minns. The glacial pace of Brexit talks worsens the dilemma. The EU has said it wont discuss issues of trade until sufficient progress has been made on the topics of citizens rights, the Irish border and the divorce bill. Discussions are on hold until the last week of August and the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has described a situation of inertia in everything except citizens rights. Timely clarity on sector-specific issues such as broadcasting therefore looks unlikely, says Ed Hall, co-founder of Expert Media Partners, a media consultancy. Were not anticipating a dramatic positive development in 2017, Hall says. Even if you are the biggest optimist about not having to move, you still have to make that decision in 2017 to put it into your 2018 budget. Discovery, host of shows like River Monsters and The Crocodile Hunter on Animal Planet, is one of several media companies scouting alternative cities to use as their European hub given the uncertainty. Dublin and Amsterdam are among those looking to lure broadcasters. Amsterdams strong international flight connections, flexible regulator and existing pool of skilled English-speaking workers are a draw. Netflix opened its European headquarters there in 2015 and announced 400 more jobs in May, while Viacoms MTV also has a large presence in the city. I am holding talks with many companies, also with media companies, says Kajsa Ollongren, Amsterdams deputy mayor in charge of economic affairs. The creative industry in a broader sense is really strong, so that means that this is an interesting sector for us. Ireland is also vying to draw broadcasters from London. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has held meetings with international media companies assessing their options, says Michael OKeeffe, the bodys chief executive. The inquiries got more intense after March when the formal Brexit process started, OKeeffe says. The similarity of Irelands regulatory regime to the UKs and its well-developed audiovisual sector make it attractive to broadcasters looking to move, he says. The UKs problem is that broadcasting is one of the least liberalised sectors in global trade. Most countries limit what can be beamed in from overseas on cultural grounds and the EU generally excludes it from free-trade agreements, including from the recent accord with Canada. Thus after Brexit, a broadcaster with a hub in the UK but not elsewhere in the EU risks not being allowed to broadcast into the bloc. We did not identify any UK-licensed broadcasters who currently believe that audiovisual services are likely or very likely to be part of any free-trade deal with the EU when we leave in April 2019, Hall wrote in a report published in June, after meeting legal affairs teams in the broadcasting industry. Obtaining a licence in another EU country would avert disruption, though companies would have to have a significant part of their workforce and editorial decision-making based in that country to qualify, according to the current rules. What significant means is an open question. 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. Global broadcasters bring a direct benefit of 400m to the British economy each year, according to the Commercial Broadcasters Association, while also creating spillover benefits for areas like post-production and technical services that support channels. The UKs wider creative industries generated 84bn of value in 2014 and were identified by the Government as one of five priority sectors as part of its industrial strategy. The Government said in a statement it will work to get the right deal for broadcasters in the Brexit negotiations to support their growth in the country. We are one of the worlds most thriving and vibrant broadcasting markets, says John McVay, chief executive of Pact, a trade association for the UKs independent commercial production sector. Its a world-class industry that others aspire to be part of or to emulate. Bloomberg 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 }} Dutch authorities have reportedly started testing chicken meat originating from farms found to have produced eggs contaminated with insecticide. We are currently testing chicken meat in the poultry farms where eggs were infected to determine whether the meat is contaminated as well, Tjitte Mastenbroek, spokesperson for food security agency NVWA, told the AFP news agency. Mr Mastenbroek said the probe centres on a few dozen farms that produce both eggs and chicken meat. Recommended Potentially contaminated eggs from Europe have entered the UK Scientists are testing the meat for fipronil, a pesticide which can be harmful to humans if ingested. Mr Mastenbroek told AFP the measure was precautionary and said farms would be able to resume poultry sales if their samples tested negative for the substance. Millions of chickens face being culled in the Netherlands as the scandal widens. The latest news comes just a day after the UK's Food Standards Agency revealed that a very small number of potentially contaminated European eggs have entered the UK, . The watchdog said the threat to public health was very low and that the number of eggs involved represents about 0.0001 per cent of the eggs imported into the UK each year. Last week, Aldi and Lidl stores in Germany pulled millions of eggs from shelves amid fears they are tainted with traces of the pesticide Fipronil. Aldi said the measure was purely precautionary and pointed out that eggs sold in its UK stores are British. The World Health Organisation considers Fipronil to be moderately toxic and says the insecticide can damage the kidneys, liver and lymph glands, while also causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and eye irritation if absorbed into the skin. It is used to kill fleas, lice and ticks and is not allowed to be used on animals intended for human consumption under EU rules. In a statement on its website, the FSA said: The government has already taken action to prevent any risk to UK consumers by adding Fipronil to its robust surveillance programme in UK farms. We have no evidence that eggs laid in the UK are contaminated or that Fipronil has been used inappropriately in the UK. Eighty-five per cent of the eggs we consume in the UK are laid here. 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 }} Eleven members of gang who hunted down and killed a teenager in Manchester have been found guilty of carrying out the "vicious" attack. Defendants aged between 15 and 21 chased Abdulwahab Hafidah for more than five miles along busy roads in the evening rush hour on 12 May last year. The 18-year-old told a passer-by help me, theyre going to kill me moments before he was cornered, Manchester Crown Court heard. The pursuit started after Mr Hafidah strayed into a rival gangs territory, with 10 of the defendants starting to chase him from Princess Parkway towards Moss Lane East, attacking him with a hammer. CCTV footage released by Greater Manchester Police showed cars swerving to avoid the pack at a busy junction as Mr Hafidah fled his pursuers on foot and bicycles through traffic. A clip filmed nearby showed the chase continuing as attackers armed with knives and hammers repeatedly circled around their victim. 11 gang members have been convicted for killing Abdulwahab Hafidah, including a 15-year-old boy who cannot be identified for legal reasons (Greater Manchester Police) After a considerable chase where Abdul was clearly exhausted, he was finally incapacitated after [Nathanial Jermaine] Williams drove his Vauxhall Corsa at him, knocking him to the ground, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said. Once on the floor, Abdul was viciously attacked by the group with punches, kicks and stamps. The group then ran away in the direction of Quinney Crescent where the Corsa was waiting. Members of the public ran to help the teenager and called an ambulance but he died of his injuries in hospital two days later. A post-mortem carried out by the Home Office found that he died from two stab wounds to the neck and also suffered head injuries. Devonte Cantrill, 20, of no fixed address, Delroy Wright, 18, of no fixed address, Durrell Ford, 20, of Darncombe Close in Moss Side and Williams, 19 of Hebburn Walk in Rusholme were found guilty of murder, while Devonte Neish, 20, of Nell Lane in Manchester, William George, 21, of Cowesby Street in Moss Side, and an unnamed 15-year-old boy were convicted of manslaughter at Manchester Crown Court last month. Statement from family of 18-year-old Abdulwahab Hafidah murdered by gang in Manchester After a separate trial at Preston Crown Court, Reanu Walters, 19, of Greame Street in Moss Side, Trey Wilson, 19, of Oakfield Avenue in Whalley Range and Durrell Goodall, 20, of Kings Road in Ashton-under-Lyne were found guilty of murder and Remekell Samuels, 19, of Caythorpe Street in Moss Side pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday. They will all be sentenced in September. Mr Hafidahs family thanked the members of the public and emergency services who tried to save the teenagers life and the investigators who ensured his killers are made to account for their actions. His parents were on holiday when he was murdered, with his last message to them sent that morning reading: Mum and dad, I love you. Abdulwahab was a loving son, brother and uncle, said a statement from the family. He was selfless, putting everyone before himself. He cherished the good times he spent with his family and friends and was always smiling and laughing. Abdulwahab Hafidah, 18, was murdered in Manchester on 12 May 2016 (Facebook) Detective Chief Inspector Terry Crompton read out the statement at a press conference attended by his father and mother, who broke down into tears. He was hunted down, attacked and ripped away from our lives forever in a senseless act of brutality and we as a family are totally devastated by his loss, the statement said.. We are consumed by the sadness and emptiness we feel knowing we will never see him again but we will never forget him. Mr Hafidahs family said they do not hate those involved with his murder, saying that while taking his life they ruined their own. Relatives writing on a memorial page dedicated to the teenager welcomed the verdicts but added: This is justice but it will never be full justice because we will never see our beloved boy again. May all those convicted suffer the same suffering they caused my family. Abdulwahab Hafidah, 18, was murdered in Manchester on 12 May 2016 (Facebook) Mr Hafidah was friends with Salman Abedi, who was also of Libyan descent and would go on to massacre 22 people in an Isis-inspired suicide bombing at Manchester Arena in May. Former acquaintances said Abedi had links with gangs before becoming radicalised, and his sister Jomana Abedi told the Wall Street Journal he was devastated by Mr Hafidahs death. His Facebook page shows he was friends with Abedis younger brother Hashim. Lucy Powell, the Labour MP for Manchester Central, said his life was taken in tragic and horrific circumstances. I think that there are a lot of lessons to be learned about how we arrived at this dreadful situation, she added. It is important that the community takes time to reflect in the immediate aftermath of these convictions and that lessons are learned about how to prevent tragedies like this from occurring again. Ms Powell said there were no winners with knife crime, adding: Abduls family have lost their child and now the parents of those convicted of murder have also lost theirs. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle 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2022 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 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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 The MP said the case caused her to raise the use of joint enterprise laws, allowing multiple defendants to be convicted of a killing regardless of who struck the fatal blow because of their intent, over whether it was proportionate. Detective Chief Inspector Terry Crompton, from Greater Manchester Police, said the murder as a tragedy for everyone involved. Moss Side is a supportive and close-knit community; incidents like this do not represent the majority of the community, he added. I hope that todays convictions show that with violence and knife crime there are no winners, and we need to stand together as a community to ensure incidents like this one dont happen ever again. Alan Richardson, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said the vicious and sustained attack left Mr Hafidah completely outnumbered with no possibility of defending himself. The defendants chased him as a pack, cornered him and then subjected him to an extremely violent assault, he added. The evidence presented in court by the CPS included many hours of CCTV, over 20 eyewitness accounts and compelling DNA evidence. We were able to prove to the jury that these defendants were jointly involved in the violence that led to Abdulwahab Hafidahs death." 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 man who allegedly kidnapped a British model in Milan and detained her for six days while trying to auction her as a sex slave has been described as a dangerous fantasist by Italian police. Chloe Ayling, 20, was attacked on 11 July by two men as she attended an arranged photo shoot. She is believed to have been drugged and transported in a bag to Borgial, an isolated village near Turin, before being released on 17 July, Italian police said. Lukasz Pawal Herba, 30, a Polish man who lives in Britain, was arrested on 18 July on suspicion of kidnap and extortion. (Police handout (Police handout) He claimed to be a paid killer for a group called the Black Death and allegedly tried to sell Ms Ayling online for more than $300,000 (230,000) while demanding the model's agent pay to secure her safe release. Authorities said as far as they know, no ransom was paid. Then, on 17 July, Ms Ayling was dropped off at the British consulate in Milan. He is said to have handed her a business card advertising the Black Death group and asked her to publicise the group. The next day, police arrested Herba, a Polish citizen with British residency. Ms Ayling was kept handcuffed to furniture but was freed after six days and taken to the British Consulate in Milan, despite the ransom not being paid, police said. It has been reported Herba demanded 50,000 upon her release and threatened to kill her if she told police about the incident. Chloe Ayling speaks to reporters and poses for photos outside her home upon return to the UK Milan police officer Lorenzo Bucossi said Herba described himself as a "paid killer" for a mercenary organisation. But officers quoted by local media described him as a "dangerous person with traces of mythomania". It also emerged Herba emailed The Daily Mirror two days into the ordeal apparently offering to sell the story of a "British model kidnapped by Russian mafia" along with photos of Ms Ayling, the Daily Telegraph reports. Herba is also reported to have told police he had leukaemia and to have carried out the kidnapping to pay the cost of his treatment. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA 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 The "fantasist" is said to have sent text messages to his girlfriend while he was holding the model captive. Herba's partner Natalia told the Daily Mail he said he was a successful businessman who was travelling to America to meet new clients for his international firm, which makes synthetic chicken feed. He continued to text her while he allegedly held Ms Ayling captive and she only realised he was not in the US when a friend sent her a link to news about the kidnap with his picture. The paper also reported that Herba had given a business card to someone in Birmingham with a Dark Web address for "MD" - the name Ms Ayling said she was told to use to address her captor. Police are looking for at least one accomplice in connection with the kidnapping, believed to be Herba's brother Mikail. According to Italian media reports, Ms Ayling said she was released when her captor discovered she had a small child. He said abducting a mother was against the rules of his shadowy criminal organisation. It also emerged Ms Ayling went shoe shopping with her kidnapper during the ordeal. Her lawyer said she had been told people were watching her and would kill her if she attempted to escape. Britain's National Crime Agency said British police are working with Italian authorities and searched a house in central England linked to Herba. 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 }} Chloe Ayling is preparing for a page three shoot, just days after she said she was kidnapped, according to a close friend. Ms Ayling has said that she thought she was going for a modelling shoot when she flew to Italy in early July. But instead she was attacked and kidnapped, held by six days by a mysterious group called "Black Death", before being let go because she was a mother, police have said. Now model and agent Carla Belluci, who BBC journalist Victoria Derbyshire described as a close friend, says that Ms Ayling is already preparing to get back into shooting. She also addressed the increasing suggestions that there may be more going on in the case than has been made public. Questions have arisen over why Ms Ayling reportedly went shoe shopping with her captor, and police have claimed that he is a "fantasist". UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA 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 Presenter Victoria Derbyshire asked Ms Bellucci what she thought of suggestions that "something about the story doesn't add up, that it feels a bit fishy". "That's such a hard one, Chloe being a friend of mine," Ms Bellucci, who has known Chloe for five years, said. "I just think Chloe is a good girl, a little bit naive could she be misled? I just don't want to say to be honest. "If anything happened like that, I would say she was misled." She went on to say that Ms Ayling was preparing for a page three shoot for a newspaper today. She didn't name the newspaper and The Sun, which has the most prominent page three brand, has not announced that it is conducting such a shoot. Asked what she thought of that, Ms Bellucci said that it might be "her way of copying" with what had happened. "Each to their own maybe it's her way of coping and to just get back out there," she said in her first interview since the attack, after having spoken to Ms Ayling over the weekend. "For me, I wouldn't I think that would be the last thing on my mind. She has her reasons, and maybe it's her way fo dealing with what's happened to her to get back out there, maybe it's her way of coping." Ms Bellucci, who now runs her own modelling agency, said that she had spoken to Chloe at length since the attack but that she couldn't say much about what had gone on because she was still being debriefed by authorities. She said that Ms Ayling was relatively calm when they spoke but that she had time since the attack which happened in mid-July to gather herself. "Chloe seems to be strong, she's doing well considering what's happened to her," she said. "I wouldn't say she's the wisest of girls, she can be a bit naive, she's young. But I think she's had a few weeks to get used to this. For us it's new but for her she's had a few weeks to get used to it." Chloe Ayling speaks to reporters and poses for photos outside her home upon return to the UK Asked whether she thought that naivety might have led her to get caught up in the kidnapping, Ms Bellucci said that she was. "I would say she's naive, to get herself into that position," she said. Ms Bellucci also addressed questions about why Ms Ayling had stayed in the country for so long after the attack. She was found at the British consulate on 16 July, but didn't arrive back in the UK until last weekend. Ms Ayling's agent, Phil Green, said that she had been "detained" in the country by having her passport taken away, and that she had been assisting with the police's work in the meantime. "She told me the reason she stayed in Italy was she had to stay in Italy whilst the investigation was going on, she had to remain in the country," Ms Bellucci said. 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 }} Tributes have been paid to a swimmer who died during an endurance event in the English Channel. Douglas Waymark was named by event organisers after he died on Monday during a solo attempt to complete the Arch to Arc challenge between England and France. A tribute on the Enduroman website read: "Our friend Douglas Waymark sadly passed away swimming to France during stage 2 of his Solo Arch to Arc. "He touched our hearts with his strength, organisation and quiet humour. "He had gained massive respect amongst all who knew him. The Enduroman community will miss him and will never forget him." The event, described as "extreme", sees participants run, swim and cycle the route from Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA 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 A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "Last night at around 9.20pm, UK Coastguard received a VHF Radio call from a support vessel reporting that a cross channel swimmer was in difficulty and needed assistance. "The vessel was in French waters around 12 nautical miles from Dover. "The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd, which was training nearby, arrived on scene within 10 minutes and airlifted the swimmer to William Harvey Hospital, Ashford." 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 }} An officer has been dismissed for perverting the course of justice after he falsely claimed he was driving the car involved in a crash to protect his uninsured brother. PC Miladur Khan, 30, was formally dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service following a special misconduct hearing. He previously claimed he was behind the wheel during a minor road traffic collision on Burdett Road, Tower Hamlets, east London, on 29 June last year but CCTV confirmed he was not the driver. At the scene, Khan was asked several times to confirm whether he had been driving the car and he said he was. Khan, who was attached to the East Area Command, later pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at Southwark Crown Court. He admitted he had been protecting his uninsured brother Mured Khan. He was sentence to six months in prison. In the miscondcut hearing, Khan was accused of breaching standards of professional behaviour in respect of "discreditable conduct", "honesty and integrity" and "authority, respect and courtesy". UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA 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 The chair of the hearing found that Khan had breached professional standards in such a serious way that it amounted to gross misconduct. Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the chair, said: "This officer has let himself, his family and his colleagues down. Our communities expect the highest standards of integrity from our officers and in this case the officer failed the meet these standards. "I found that the only suitable sanction was dismissal without notice." 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 Governments flagship refugee programme is under fire for failing to accommodate the most vulnerable people fleeing the Syrian War. Exclusive figures obtained by The Independent show that just five per cent of refugees resettled under the scheme have disabilities, such as mobility issues or special educational needs, despite estimates that more than one in five people escaping the conflict are disabled. Labour said the findings marked an all new low for the Government, claiming that the Home Offices treatment of refugees contradicted British values. Hussein, Syrian refugee, tells of horror of losing his home and his leg Local council workers complained that central government was taking a one size fits all approach to refugee placement, with little consideration of how to accommodate complex needs. Meanwhile, councils were accused of providing shopping lists of the kinds of families they wanted that excluded the most at-risk groups. Figures released by 251 councils under freedom of information laws show that 5,529 Syrian refugees were resettled under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Programme (VPRP) between January 2014 and April this year. Of those 288, or 5.2 per cent, were registered as disabled. Yet the World Health Organisation calculates that 15 per cent of people worldwide have a disability and the proportion is higher among those fleeing conflict. Handicap International estimates around 22 per cent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan have serious impairments. The organisation found that 80 per cent of significant injuries were a result of the Syrian war. Those not resettled in Britain and other European countries remain in camps and cities in Syria's neighbour states, including Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey, where UN human rights experts warn disabled refugees face inadequate access to essential services and medical care. The VPRP which commits the Government to taking in 20,000 refugees by 2020 was set up in 2014 primarily to accommodate the most at-risk groups, including the elderly, the disabled and victims of sexual violence and torture. Revelations about how many disabled refugees the UK accepted came after The Independent in February reported that the Government had temporarily barred disabled child refugees from a different scheme because it could not cope with their needs. Labour-led councils in the UK took 69 per cent more disabled refugees per capita than Conservative ones, analysis revealed. The gap widened to 82 per cent when it came to the overall number of Syrians. Meanwhile, SNP-led councils took almost five times as many refugees with disabilities per capita as Conservative ones, housing 19 for every million people, compared to the Tories four, analysis showed. The Independent has based its calculations only on upper tier authorities that provided full figures. Around half (48 per cent) of the 288 disabled refugees the UK resettled were accepted by just 10 councils. Coventry took 23 people with mobility issues or special education needs the most of any local authority closely followed by Glasgow and Nottingham, which took 20 each. Louise Calvey, head of resettlement at Refugee Action, said an areas politics was a seismic factor in determining whether a council would participate in the refugee scheme. She added that some councils were daunted by the prospect of accepting responsibility for people with disabilities. When you [resettle] someone with a high level of additional needs it can be frightening. I think a lot of people are quite nervous about committing to that. In some areas, Ms Calvey said, a severely limited amount of accessible housing meant even councils that were willing to re-home disabled refugees could not. Recommended Government blocks entry to disabled child refugees They cant magic houses up, they can't suddenly develop a whole list of bungalows that wheelchair users can access easily," she said. The difficulties finding housing for disabled refugees were no different from the barriers those born in the UK who have physical disabilities face, she added. Recent welfare reforms, including the benefits cap, have made it even harder to accommodate people with complex needs, she claimed. Youve already got people being resettled into poverty, which makes me shudder, she said. Jazz Shaban, co-chair of Bicester Refugee Support in Oxfordshire, said local authorities were allowed to choose the kind of family they resettled, meaning some councils avoided helping those with the highest level of need. Local authorities have a shopping list of the sort of family they want, she said. Generally theyre not asking for people with complex needs. The words Ive heard used are a steady family. Not only was there variation between councils, but there were large differences in regional responses to refugees with disabilities. Scotland resettled almost four times the number of disabled refugees per capita than England. The north-east of England took more than eight times the number of disabled refugees per head than London. Parts of the country that voted for Brexit were less likely to take disabled refugees than those who opted to remain in the EU. Pro-remain areas accepted 44 per cent more disabled Syrian refugees per capita than Eurosceptic ones. For total Syrian refugees the difference was 43 per cent. Peter Barnett, from Coventry Council, criticised the Government for not doing enough to support disabled refugees. We are not helped by the one-size fits all nature of the Home Office programmes, which do not really address the additional support required by people living with disabilities, he said. Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott pointed to cases where central government failed to take up offers from local councils to house refugees. Responding to the figures, she said: This is truly appalling and an all new low in this Governments treatment of refugees, discriminating against the disabled. Just over a year ago when Theresa May made her first speech as Prime Minister she said a disability or a health condition should never dictate the path a person is able to take. But this has clearly been a factor blocking the legitimate right of vulnerable refugees to seek asylum in this country. This Governments treatment of refugees is simply not in line with British values. Melanie Ward, Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee said the UKs pledge to resettle refugees made specific reference to supporting disabled Syrians. She said it was disappointing that the UK had not fulfilled its goal of catering for the most vulnerable refugees. At a time where we are pushing European countries to expand their resettlement programmes, particular attention should be paid to ensuring the needs of disabled refugees are met, she added. It is vital that the UK recognises that disabled refugees are often among the most vulnerable, and are exactly those which resettlement seeks to protect. The UNs refugee agency, UNHCR, said much more needs to be done to cater for the most vulnerable refugees. Reception and integration support is key to successful resettlement through ensuring that resettled refugees are properly received and have the support and services they need to integrate into their new society and live fulfilled lives, a spokesperson said. The Home Office said the findings were inaccurate but was unable to provide numbers that contradicted The Independents figures. A spokesperson added: Almost a third of the families who have arrived include at least one person with either mobility issues, a serious medical condition, psychological problems or special educational needs. Given the hardships that they have faced, the reality is that the refugee families we resettle are all vulnerable, for a number of different reasons. How we place each family is carefully considered on a case by case basis in collaboration with local authorities and the UNHCR taking into account all relevant information. Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Fleeing the civil war on crutches: 'It was a tragedy living in Lebanon' Refugees with disabilities in countries surrounding Syria live in particularly poor conditions, since they struggle to access healthcare and other support, human rights organisations have reported. One disabled Syrian man The Independent spoke to was stranded in Lebanon with little access to medical care for two years. Hussein Ejrf, who was eventually resettled in the UK in November 2015, suffered catastrophic injuries when his dairy farm was shelled by both government and opposition forces in Quneitra, south-west Syria. When the 41-year-old father of four arrived in Lebanon he could not afford the surgery or medicine he needed. Eventually, his left leg had to be amputated, a procedure he believes would not have been necessary if he had been treated properly. It was a tragedy living in Lebanon, he said. On when one occasion when Mr Ejrf was in intensive care, his wife Hayat searched for three days for someone with a matching blood type. When she eventually found a donor, doctors refused to administer the blood until they paid $100 (76), Mr Ejrf said. They did not have the money, and Ms Ejrf had to beg strangers for help. Mr Ejrf now lives in Coventry with his wife and their four children. He visits the GP every month and gets the medication he needs. When he first arrived in the UK, he wanted to get a driving licence, but now he says he is thrilled with his electric wheelchair. 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 }} A low pressure kink in the jet stream is bringing cold and rain to the UK over the next few days, forecasters say. The un-seasonally high European temperatures that have warped railway tracks, and sent people diving into fountains to cool off, are nowhere to be found home. Wind, frost and temperatures will hit, with temperatures as low as 2C in Scotland overnight. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the East Midlands, East of England and London and South East England on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those regions will see heavy, slow moving and perhaps thundery showers, with some areas preparing for two to three hours of heavy rain . UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA 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 By Wednesday showers will become confined to the southeast of England as pressure builds from the west, and although quite windy midweek, the northwest of the UK will see some fine weather. Thursday and the weekend are likely to be a little drier and brighter, especially across the southern half of the UK. Europe has been going through an unusual weather patch nicknamed Lucifer in reference to its devilishly high temperatures. Half of Spain was placed under emergency alert at the weekend, while animal rights groups in Serbia asked citizens to leave bowls of water in parks and outside their buildings for stray dogs. In the UK, it does look like summer is still on hold, BBC presenter Stav Danaos said in Weather for the Week Ahead. If youre wondering where our summers gone, Europes had the lions share of it. 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 most senior judge in the UK has warned of confusion in the courts because of a lack of clarity over how they should treat EU law after Brexit. Lord Neuberger said the Government must give greater certainty over how judges should treat rulings from the European Court of Justice. The President of the Supreme Court said ministers risk creating a situation in which judges are blamed for making up the law because Parliament failed to. Recommended UK is paying EU less than half the sum claimed by Brexit campaigners It comes as Theresa May is expected to set out a series of positioning papers over the summer, with the first expected as early as next week on future customs arrangements. Ministers have made clear that the ECJs jurisdiction will end after Brexit, but have also said UK judges should continue to interpret the European Courts case law. Lord Neuberger told the BBC: If the Government doesnt express clearly what the judges should do about decisions of the ECJ after Brexit, or indeed any other topic after Brexit, then the judges will simply have to do their best. But to blame the judges for making the law when Parliament has failed to do so would be unfair. 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 The Governments Repeal Bill to be voted on in September says no UK court will need to have regard to decisions of the ECJ post-Brexit, but may do so if it considers it appropriate. Lord Neuberger, who stands down as Supreme Court president next month, said all judges would hope and expect Parliament to spell out in statute how the judges should approach areas of European law. A Government spokesman said: We have been clear that as we leave the EU, the direct jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK must come to an end. However, we want to provide maximum certainty so the Repeal Bill will ensure that for future cases, UK courts continue to interpret EU-derived law using the Court of Justice of the European Unions case law, as it exists on the day we leave the EU. Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake said: Judges have already been branded enemies of the people for daring to challenge Theresa Mays plans to force through an extreme Brexit with no accountability. Now the Governments inability to set out clearly how, whether or when ECJ rulings should be taken into account risks leaving judges in the firing line yet again. The Government must provide greater clarity in the Repeal Bill over the role the ECJ will play post-Brexit. Downing Street is expected to publish a series of positioning papers in coming weeks setting out more detail around its Brexit plans ahead of further talks with Brussels. Papers dealing with future customs arrangements and issues around the Irish border are expected as early as next week. The Prime Minister is then expected to make a speech at the end of the summer giving more details on her proposals on the initial divorce stage of Brexit. Number 10 played down claims that it is planning to suggest paying 36bn to settle financial with Europe and move talks onto discussions of future arrangements. 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 }} Brexit Secretary David Davis has said he will allow British judges to overrule extradition requests from European countries, in a move that will directly impede on the power of British courts to bring terrorists and other criminals who have committed crimes in Britain back to the UK to face justice. Brexiteers in the Conservative Party are concerned over the possibility of the UK seeking to maintain membership of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) scheme, the legislation which allowed failed 21/7 London bomber Hussain Osman to be brought back to the UK from Italy to face trial. He is now serving a 40 year minimum sentence in the UK. But the EAW is overseen by the European Court of Justice, the jurisdiction of which both Mr Davis and Theresa May have made clear must come to an end when the UK leaves the EU. Mr Davis hopes that by granting British judges the power to overrule the EAW, should the UK remain a member of it, it will satisfy Brexiteers that the ECJ jurisdiction has ended. Brexiteers have voiced concern that maintaining the European Arrest Warrant will give European governments the power to repatriate British citizens to face substandard foreign justice abroad. But the likelihood of EU officials allowing the UK to overrule the EAW while retaining membership of it is close to zero. While Home Secretary, Theresa May consistently championed the EAW as crucial to the UKs national security interests. In 2014 she wrote in the Daily Telegraph: If we want to stop foreign criminals from coming to Britain, deal with European fighters coming back from Syria, stop British criminals evading justice abroad, prevent foreign criminals evading justice by hiding here, and get foreign criminals out of our prisons, these measures are vital. The UK has used the European Arrest Warrant to extradite 800 suspected criminals back to face justice since 2010, including 41 for murder, 61 for rape and 3 on terrorism charges. Liberal Democrat Home affairs spokesman Ed Davey: "The government is risking the UKs participation in Europes best criminal-hunting, terrorist-catching mechanism. Hundreds of Britains most-wanted fugitives have been brought back to face justice using the European Arrest Warrant, but the Brexiteers now want to trash this instrument that has served our interests so well. Theresa May used to be a staunch defender of the EAW, now it seems shes prepared to put the unity of the Conservative Party ahead of Britains national security. We need to stop the Brexiteers ideological obsession with the European Court from undermining the safety of British citizens. A government spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister has been clear that we will take back control of our laws and bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom. "As part of the negotiations with the EU we will discuss with the EU and its member states how best to continue co-operation on security, law enforcement and criminal justice. "The White Paper makes it clear that we will seek a strong and close future relationship with the EU on these issues. "The EU has agreements with non-EU countries in this field to which direct ECJ jurisdiction does not apply." 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 }} Direct investment in the UK from European companies has created over 110,000 new jobs in the last five years and safeguarded a further 80,000, according to the Governments own figures. The new figures from the Department for International Trade show that a total of 9,798 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects were agreed in the UK from the financial year 2012-13 to 2016-17. Of those, 3,149 of the new projects came from investors based in the EUs member states, creating 116,407 jobs in the UK and safeguarding a further 80,078. While Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, has previously cited FDI as a reason to be optimistic about investment in Britain, the figures do also show how the UK could be severely affected by crashing out of the EU in the event of Brexit negotiations collapsing. Chris Leslie, a Labour MP and leading supporter of Open Britain, a campaign group advocating a soft Brexit, told The Independent: The evidence is there in black and white membership of the EU single market creates and safeguards thousands upon thousands of British jobs. He continued: Leaving the single market will make it harder it harder for European companies to invest in Britain and any new barriers to trade will put British jobs at risk and damage our economy. To protect the investment which is so important for Britain, ministers must put membership of the single market back on the table in the Brexit negotiations. The statistics also show that 1,134 over 30 per cent - of the EU projects were based in the London while just 75 were in Northern Ireland, 131 in Wales and a further 104 in the North East. It comes after data released earlier this year showed that the UK had retained its title as Europes most attractive location for international investment. But concerning signs had emerged over Britains investment appeal after Brexit. According to the figures, released in May, the UKs share of the European FDI in 2016 fell from 21 per cent to 19 per cent after a stellar performance in 2015, which saw a 20 per cent increase in the number of projects. A spokesperson for the Department for International Trade said: One year on since the EU referendum, the UK continues to attract record levels of inward investment with more foreign direct investment projects than ever before creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. Since 2012/13, the vast majority of these new and safeguarded jobs from foreign investment came from outside the EU more than two thirds. We continue to promote the strengths of the UK as a great inward investment destination - with an open, liberal economy and world-class talent - to investors from Europe and across the world. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Lawmakers of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) pledged to back President Jacob Zuma in a no-confidence motion in parliament later on Tuesday, a show of support that would thwart opposition efforts to force him to step down. Zuma, who has held power since 2009, has struggled to fend off accusations of corruption and mismanaging the economy and if the vote was to carry, he would have to relinquish office. The parliamentary speaker on Monday ruled it would be a secret ballot -- a decision the opposition hoped would embolden ANC members who are unhappy with Zuma to vote against him. The ANC has 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament and the opposition controls 151, so it would take 50 ANC lawmakers backing the opposition to vote Zuma and his cabinet out. The party, which has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, is deeply divided and several ANC lawmakers have voiced criticism of Zuma. But ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said that at a meeting on Tuesday before the parliamentary session, the party resolved to support him. Several ANC lawmakers left the meeting singing, he said. "You hear the singing," Mthembu told eNCA television channel. "Zuma was toyi-toying (dancing), that is what we do when we are under attack," Mthembu said. Zuma, who also attended the meeting, was described as being calm and jovial. On the streets, however, protesters blocked roads with burning tyres and rocks in a show of opposition to Zuma before the vote. Earlier, markets had welcomed Speaker Baleka Mbete's decision on the secret ballot, with the rand, bonds and banking shares surging after Mbete's announcement, buoyed by the prospect of Zuma's removal. On Tuesday, the rand traded flat as markets waited anxiously. In the past year, Zuma has upset investors, in particular by removing finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March. The country's credit rating has been downgraded to junk by two of the top three credit rating agencies, unemployment is at a 14-year high of 27.7 percent and the economy is back in recession. "Jacob Zuma has brought our nation to its knees," the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party, which brought the motion to parliament, said in a statement urging lawmakers to vote the president out. Across Gauteng province, where the commercial hub Johannesburg and capital Pretoria are located, protesters blocked major roads with burning tyres and rocks. Many wore DA blue colours and carried posters saying "Fire Zuma." Other posters featured a cartoon of Zuma in a dustbin. ANC members rallied in Cape Town, where parliament is located, to support Zuma, some carrying placards saying: "Zuma must stay". Opposition parties also planned a march in Cape Town to push for Zuma's removal. The leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party was expected to hold a protest in Pretoria. Newspaper headlines also reflected the high stakes at play -- "JZ's moment of truth" read The Star, while The Sowetan declared: "High Noon for Zuma". Zuma's tenure as South Africa's president is due to run until 2019, when national elections will be held. He has survived eight no-confidence votes during his eight years in power thanks to loyal voting by ANC lawmakers, who form a strong parliamentary majority. But those votes were not secret. "This motion, just like others before it, will be defeated," a statement from the ANC's chief whip Jackson Mthembu said. But ANC lawmaker Derek Hanekom, who was removed as tourism minister in the cabinet reshuffle that cost Gordhan his job, said on Twitter that lawmakers must vote against "massive looting and corruption. Vote for change". Nomura analyst Peter Attard Montalto said the decision to have a secret ballot was "a significant surprise" but he expected Zuma to survive. "We still expect the vote to fail, but attach a 30 percent chance of success," he said. If the motion is successful, Zuma would be removed as state president but would remain as ANC leader until December, when he is due to step down and a new leader elected in his place. Should he be forced to quit as South Africa's president, the speaker takes over and the National Assembly is expected to elect a new national leader within 30 days. As the largest party in parliament, the ANC would be expected to select the new president and government. The ANC -- once all-powerful as heir of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle -- has lost popularity under Zuma, underscored by its worst electoral showing in over two decades of power in local elections last year. Thousands of people took part in protest marches in April calling for Zuma to step down Reuters 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 }} Kenyans headed to the polls today in the culmination of a tense and bruising electoral campaign marred by murder and allegations of rigging, with President Uhuru Kenyatta pledging to step down if defeated. Raila Odinga, 72, is making his fourth attempt at the presidency in a bid to unseat President Uhuru Kenyatta in a race that is widely considered too close to call. Long queues snaked round polling stations, through fields, and down streets, as Kenyans across the country poured out to vote. They braved early starts and drizzle, with many joining the queues in the early hours of the morning ahead of polls opening at 6 am. While voting passed off peacefully at most polling stations, there were rowdy scenes at some amid claims of defective technology, delayed openings to the polling stations, and voters missing from registers. Police fired tear gas in the vicinity of one Nairobi polling station to quell protests after its opening was delayed for several hours without explanation. This election is being particularly closely watched amid concerns that any perceived irregularities could trigger widespread unrest. A decade ago, vote tallying abruptly stopped mid-count, with the incumbent later declared winner. The delayed announcement prompted country-wide killings and attacks along ethnic lines that left more than 1,200 dead, and 600,000 displaced. Mr Kenyatta and William Ruto, now his vice president, were taken to the International Criminal Court for their alleged role in the violence, but their cases later collapsed for lack of evidence. Electoral tensions this year escalated following the torture and murder of Chris Msando, a high-profile election official, a week before the vote, and the sudden deportation of foreign strategists hired by the opposition. It is the second time that Mr Odinga and Mr Kenyatta have gone head to head, and the opposition leader has claimed that he was rigged out of the two previous presidential contests. After voting, Mr Kenyatta, vying for a second and final term in office, said he would step down if he lost, and that his main opponent should do the same. "In the event that they lose, let us accept the will of the people, he said after voting at his local polling station 20 miles north of Nairobi. I am willing myself to accept the will of the people, so let them too." Mr Odinga voted in the poorer Kibera neighbourhood of the capital, surrounded by supporters chanting "Uhuru [Kenyatta] must go". Final results are not expected before Wednesday, and could take several days. 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 In Kibera, opposition voters said they did not foresee violence if the voting was seen as free and fair. But Mr Odinga has repeatedly accused Mr Kenyattas ruling Jubilee party of trying to sway the vote and if he loses, much will depend on his response. In 2007, [the violence] came abruptly. Nobody expected it, said Teresa Akini, a 23-year-old beautician. This time, people are really waiting, and it will be a great disappointment [if Mr Odinga loses]. I know these people - they have transported their wives and kids home, and have come back ready to fight. 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 }} Kenyans surged to the polls yesterday in a hotly-contested general election as politicians called on voters to accept the results amid fears of a repeat of the violence that has marred previous elections. Raila Odinga, 72, is making his fourth attempt at the presidency in a bid to unseat President Uhuru Kenyatta, son of Kenyas first president, in a race that has been overshadowed by the murder of a senior election official and the oppositions allegations of rigging. Ahead of polls opening, the race was considered too close to call, leaving open the possibility that the losing side would reject the results. However by Tuesday evening, partial preliminary results showed Mr Kenyatta taking 55 per cent of the vote to Mr Odinga's 44 per cent with nearly half of all polling stations having been counted. As polls opened at 6am Tuesday morning, long queues formed, snaking round polling stations, with observers predicting huge turnouts. Voters braved early starts and drizzle, with many starting to queue in the early hours of the morning. By the time the polls officially closed at 5pm, there were still long queues at some polling stations, and voting was extended in parts of northern Kenya, where bad weather hampered the delivery of ballot papers. This election has come under particularly close scrutiny amid concerns that any perceived irregularities could trigger deadly unrest in East Africas most developed and stable democracy. A decade ago, vote tallying abruptly stopped mid-count when the opposition was polling ahead. Its lead quickly evaporated, and the incumbent, Mwai Kibaki, was declared the winner. The oppositions rejection of the results plunged the country into bloody violence along ethnic lines that left more than 1,200 dead, and 600,000 displaced. Mr Kenyatta and William Ruto, now his vice president, were taken to the International Criminal Court for their alleged role in the violence, but their cases later collapsed for lack of evidence. Both men denied the charges against them. Little separates the two men in terms of policy, and voting was expected in large part to follow tribal lines, particularly outside of the capital. Mr Kenyatta comes from the Kikuyu elite, while Mr Odinga hails from the Luo tribe, which has its stronghold in western Kenya. In the lead-up to the election, which also sees contenders for a range of other posts from governor to city councillors, the mood had turned increasingly ugly. Chris Msando, a key election official, was found tortured and murdered a week before the vote, and the government deported foreign advisers to Mr Odingas campaign team. Mr Odinga has repeatedly suggested that the ruling Jubilee party will attempt to influence the outcome of elections. By the time polling stations had closed, however, the opposition had offered little serious criticism of the process. Mr Kenyatta, vying for his second term in office, said he would step down if he lost, and urged his main rival to do the same. "In the event that they lose, let us accept the will of the people, he said after voting at his local polling station 20 miles north of Nairobi. I am willing, myself, to accept the will of the people, so let them too." It is not clear when the final results will be known, but it could be as early as Wednesday morning, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has said. As voters streamed to the polls yesterday, the mood in parts of Nairobi was one of excited, if nervous, anticipation. Many believe that a rerun of the violence of a decade ago is unlikely, saying that the countrys electorate has matured, and recognises that too much is at stake. I think weve matured politically, said Caroline Nthiwa, 34, a university lecturer after voting in central Nairobi. I dont think well rise up to some chaotic thing. I think weve learned our lesson. Sarah Mwangi, 30, said that the post-election violence of 2007/8 had encouraged her to vote in subsequent polls. I didnt vote in 2007. I thought, Why do I want to get rained on and stand for three hours? But when she saw corpses and severed limbs in the streets, she changed her perspective, and promised herself she would never opt out again. It was a reality check - a bad reality check, she says. International observers on the ground praised what they said was a more orderly and transparent process than in previous years. Kenya is using biometric voting and electronic transmission of results, which will be announced at constituency level, thought to reduce significantly opportunities for fraud. Nevertheless, tensions are high as Mr Odinga has claimed that in both the 2007 and 2013 elections, victory was stolen for him. This is widely seen as his last bid for the presidency, and a do or die moment for him. In Kibera, Nairobis sprawling slum, huge cheers went up as Mr Odinga arrived to vote in the opposition stronghold. Youths clambered up onto trees and walls lined with shards of glass and barbed wire, to get a glimpse of the politician. 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 Get out of my way, one young woman cried at a man watching the scene. Youre keeping me from my president! Others blew on vuvuzelas, whistles, and cheered in support. Many opposition voters said they would respect the result if it was considered credible. But others said they feared developments could quickly spiral out of control if the ruling Jubilee party is accused of stealing votes. In 2007, [the violence] came abruptly. Nobody expected it, said Teresa Akini, a 23-year-old beautician. This time, people are really waiting, and it will be a great disappointment [if Mr Odinga loses]. I know these people - they have transported their wives and kids home, and have come back ready to fight. 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 }} Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has defended a claim made on his show that the so-called Deep State is plotting to remove Donald Trump from office and has threatened to kill him. A Newsweek article posted last week quoted the controversial presenter as claiming the Deep State, which refers to a group of unelected security officials who supposedly have influence over policy and politicians, are preparing to attack the President. Theyre saying, A month or two were going to kill the President, month or two were going to remove him, Mr Jones is quoted as saying. This is so sinister. Mike Cernovich, a right-wing conspiracy theorist who often appears on Mr Jones Infowars show, added: If they ban us from YouTube, thats when Trump will be killed, theres no question about it. Theyre going to kill us, theyre going to kill him, theyre going to kill everybody. In a new video this week, Mr Jones responded to the article, stating: "So they have this headline in Newsweek on Friday saying Deep State is going to kill the President, Alex Jones claims, then it shows nowhere from the very broadcast I did where I played Al Gore saying that the president is going to be removed in the next two months or Brennan saying hes going to be removed in the next few months, and its not gonna be from impeachment. The accusations made against former Vice President Al Gore refer to his appearance on James Cordens Late Late Show last month, during which he made a comment about the President, which Infowars has interpreted as a reference to deep-state conspiracy to delegitimise President Trump. Following a joke made by Mr Corden, the former Vice President said: To be serious for a moment, I think the next few months will be a little challenging for our country and we best gird ourselves for it. This thing is not going well. 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 Infowars presenters comments about John Brennan, former director of the CIA, appear to refer to a statement made last month about special counsel Robert Mueller. Speaking to CNNs Wolf Blitzer at the Aspen Security Forum, Mr Brennan said government officials should refuse orders to fire Mr Mueller, who is a former FBI director and currently leading the Russia investigation. If Mueller is fired, I hope our elected reps will stand up and say 'Enough is enough', he added. Moving on from these accusations, the Infowars presenter then alleges the Secret Service has visited its own sources in the wake of the claims made on his programme, and goes on to allege the security services are no longer protecting the president. Secret Service has even visited some of our sources after theyve come on [the show] and the sources say 'Go talk to Al Gore, go talk to all these people that are publicly saying it, he said, apparently referring to an alleged visit made to Pastor Howard Browne following his appearance on Alex Jones show. The pastor told Mr Jones the Secret Service wanted to know the name of the Congressman who reportedly alleged President Trump would suddenly be removed from office. Mr Jones then says the Secret Service has been ordered off the Presidents protection detail. But see, as a bureaucracy they dont want to actually stop it from happening, they want to act like they did everything they were supposed to before it happens because theyve been basically ordered off protecting the President and thats why the President has got his own military protectors and Im not even going to go into that, he claimed. The US Secret Services authority is provided by the law, and permanent protectees, such as the President and Vice President, have special agents permanently assigned to them, the agency states. Protection for the President and Vice President of the United States is mandatory, it adds. 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 }} An Arizona woman was sentenced to death on Monday for killing her 10-year-old cousin, who was locked inside a small storage bin as punishment for taking a Popsicle without permission. A Maricopa County jury deliberated for more than a week before returning the verdict against Sammantha Allen in the July 2011 suffocation death of Ame Deal at the child's Phoenix home, court officials said. Allen, 29, was convicted in June of first-degree murder and child abuse for leaving the child locked inside a plastic storage bin overnight in triple-digit temperatures. The girl was found dead the next morning. Allen's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment following the sentencing in county Superior Court in Phoenix. Recommended Driver could face death penalty after 10 die in back of lorry I want to thank the members of the jury for their time and effort on this case and reaching a difficult but just conclusion for the senseless murder of Ame, said County Attorney Bill Montgomery. Prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty against her husband, John Allen, who has pleaded not guilty to murder and child abuse charges in the girl's death. His trial is scheduled to start on 9 October. Allen will be the third woman on Arizona's death row. The state has executed one woman in its history, Eva Dugan who was hanged in 1930, prison officials said. Arizona has not executed an inmate in three years since an execution took nearly two hours. It resulted in a lawsuit by several inmates who claimed the process caused prolonged suffering. The state has said it does not have the drugs to perform an execution. Police said the child, left in the Allens' care, was forced to perform intense physical exercise for several hours during scorching summertime temperatures for stealing the frozen treat from the refrigerator. The married couple then ordered her to get the hinged, plastic container and climb into it, police said. Sammantha Allen watched as her husband padlocked the girl in the box and the couple then fell asleep, police said. The dead girl's body was found inside the small container that prosecutors at the trial said only had tiny air holes at its handles. 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 Family members initially told police that Deal's death was the result of a hide-and-seek game that turned tragic. That story unravelled during a police investigation. The girl's aunt and legal guardian, Cynthia Stoltzmann, who is Sammantha Allen's mother, was convicted in the case and is serving 24 years in prison for child abuse. Police said she was not present when the girl was locked in the storage bin. Reuters Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A British tourist is being treated in hospital in Brazil after she was reportedly shot while her family were looking for water. Eloise Dixon and her family were travelling in Angra dos Reis, a popular coastal holiday destination about 90 miles from Rio de Janeiro, on Sunday when they strayed into a rough neighbourhood, according to local reports. They said a bullet missed all of her major vessels and organs and she is recovering well. Recommended British family on holiday in Brazil shot after taking wrong turn A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are assisting the family of a British woman who has been hospitalised in Angra dos Reis, Brazil. Our staff remain in contact with the local authorities. It is believed that a language mix-up saw the family, which also included Ms Dixon's partner and their three children, directed to the Agua Santa neighbourhood, which translates to Holy Water, local press said. Authorities said a group approached the car at a favela and apparently told the family to get out and then opened fire. 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 A police statement said the woman was hit in the abdomen and was being treated in hospital. Press Association 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 }} Donald Trump has claimed the threat from North Korea will be met with "fire and fury like the world has never seen" if they continue to expand their nuclear and missile programmes. The comments come after reports that North Korea had produced a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). In a press conference at his Bedminster, New Jersey property, Mr Trump warned that North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un "best not make any more threats to the US". "They will be met with fire and fury and frankly power the likes of which the world has never seen before," Mr Trump said, in his first public comments since the news broke. The US Defense Intelligence Agency has determined that North Korea possesses up to 60 nuclear weapons some of which are small enough to fit on a long-range missile, The Washington Post reported. This number is more than double that predicted by most independent experts. Japan's Defense Ministry has also concluded that "it is possible that North Korea has achieved the miniaturisation of nuclear weapons and has developed nuclear warheads." In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video The North Korean regime tested two ICBMs - that they claimed were capable of hitting the US mainland - last month. The missiles were not believed to be capable of delivering a nuclear warhead at the time of launch, with experts split over their potential range. The US retaliated by flying bombers over the Korean Peninsula and testing a missile of its own. American forces are also helping to deploy a US-made anti-missile defence system - THAAD - in South Korea. North Korea has often accused the US and South Korea of escalating tensions by conducting joint military drills. Last week, the United Nations voted to impose an estimated $1bn in sanctions on North Korea. Praising the sanctions in an interview, US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned: "It is time for North Korea to realise, we are not playing anymore". The North Korean government, however, responded by threatening to take physical action against the US. Packs of wolves are coming in attack to strangle a nation, a statement broadcast on North Korean TV said. They should be mindful that [North Korea's] strategic steps accompanied by physical action will be taken mercilessly with the mobilisations of all its national strength. North Korea said in a later statement that it is carefully examining a plan to strike the US Pacific territory of Guam with missiles. A spokesman for the Korean People's Army, in a statement carried by the North's state-run KCNA news agency, said the strike plan will be put into practice once leader Kim Jong-un makes a decision. The consequences of any US strike against North Korea would potentially be catastrophic for South Koreans, Japanese and US military personnel within range of North Korean retaliatory strikes - let alone the possibility of civilian casualties. US military and intelligence officials said any military action against North Korea could unleash a barrage of missiles and artillery in retaliation targeted at Seoul and US bases in South Korea and elsewhere that would likely claim hundreds of thousands of lives. Several US officials have also said that military action is a possibility, although that is far from their first choice. National security adviser HR McMaster told MSNBC's Hugh Hewitt that the President is prepared to wage a "preventative war" against North Korea. [Mr Trump] said hes not going to tolerate North Korea being able to threaten the United States, Mr McMaster said. ...So of course, we have to provide all options to do that. And that includes a military option. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned of an effective and overwhelming response against North Korea if it chose to use nuclear weapons but has said any military solution would be tragic on an unbelievable scale. Despite the tough talk, however, the majority of Americans say they aren't sure Mr Trump can resolve the conflict. Sixty-one per cent of Americans say they are uneasy about Mr Trumps ability to handle the situation, according to a CBS News poll. Others also have reservations about US action. Responding to Mr Trump's latest comments, Republican Senator John McCain said in an interview that great leaders don't threaten foes unless they're ready to act and he's not certain President Trump is ready to act against North Korea. Elsewhere, South Korea has reiterated further United Nations resolutions against Pyongyang could follow if it did not pull back. While Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the new UN resolution on exports showed China and the international community's opposition to North Korea's continued missile tests. Owing to China's traditional economic ties with North Korea, it will mainly be China paying the price for implementing the resolution, China's foreign ministry in a statement on Tuesday, citing Mr Wang. China, North Korea's lone major ally, has repeatedly said it is committed to enforcing increasingly tough UN resolutions on North Korea, though it has also said what it terms normal trade and ordinary North Koreans should not be affected. 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 }} President Donald Trump is again attacking the media on Monday, and his broadsides carry a newly ominous edge: He is both faulting the media for allegedly downplaying the size and intensity of support from his base and accusing them of trying to deliberately weaken that support for him. This comes some 24 hours after Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein made big news by telling Fox News Sunday that if the special counsel finds evidence of crimes in the course of his probe into Russian sabotage of our election, it may be within the scope of his investigation to pursue them. In these seemingly disparate developments, it is hard not to discern the potential for a volatile, combustible combination. Because Trump is undermining our democratic norms and processes in so many ways, it is often easy to focus on each of them in isolation, rather than as part of the same larger story. But, taken together, they point to a possible climax in which Trump, cornered by revelations unearthed by Robert S. Mueller III's probe and by ongoing media scrutiny, seeks to rally his supporters behind the idea that this outcome represents not the imposition of accountability by functioning civic institutions, but rather an effort to steal the election from him - and from them. On ABC's This Week, Trump counsellor Kellyanne Conway on Sunday dismissed the entire Russia investigation as a total fabrication to excuse Hillary Clinton's loss. This echoed Trump himself, who recently told a rally that the probe is an effort to cheat his supporters out of their legitimately elected leadership (i.e., him) with a fake story that is demeaning to our country and demeaning to our Constitution. It bears repeating that Mueller's investigation is looking at how a hostile foreign power may have sabotaged our democracy, and at whether the Trump campaign colluded with it, and at conduct by Trump himself that came after the election: Whether the firing of former FBI Director James Comey after a demand for his loyalty was part of a pattern of obstruction of justice. The first of these has been attested to by our intelligence services, and evidence of the second (at least in the form of a willingness to collude) and the third of these has been unearthed by dogged scrutiny by news outlets. It is hardly an accident that Trump continues to cast doubt on the credibility of both those institutions, even as he and his spokespeople continue to cast the entire affair as an effort to reverse the election by illegitimate means. This threatens damage on multiple levels. By casting the entire Russia story as fiction, Trump seeks to undermine the credibility of efforts to determine how our electoral system might be vulnerable to further attacks, separate and irrespective of what is learned about the Trump campaign's conduct, possibly making it less likely that we secure our system against any such future sabotage. We don't know what all the ongoing scrutiny will produce in the way of revelations. But if it does produce any serious wrongdoing by Trump and/or his campaign - or even evidence of serious misconduct that is not criminal - it's not difficult to imagine what might happen next. Trump's advisers regularly tell us he will cooperate with Mueller's probe and play down the possibility of any effort to remove the special counsel. But Trump has confirmed that he is furious with his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions, for failing to protect him from Mueller's probe. That Trump confirmed this publicly only further underscores that he has zero sense of any obligation to the public to follow any rules of conduct, and plainly views any efforts to hold him accountable to those rules as illegitimate. Conservative writer Matt Lewis floats a scenario in which Mueller, under pressure to produce results, slips into prosecutorial overreach, giving Trump voters legitimate reasons to feel that the presidency is being stolen from them. It is fair to worry about such an outcome, and we must remember that we are far from knowing the full truth about what happened in 2016. But it's also easy to envision the flip side: Trump demagoguing his supporters into a frenzy of rage, at rallies that are exactly like the ones we've seen in recent days, in the face of legitimate revelations. 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 To be sure, there are new signs that Republicans in Congress are taking steps to set up safeguards, should Trump try to remove Mueller. There is reassuring evidence that our institutions are holding - for now, anyway - and as Brian Beutler notes in The New Republic, it's likely that more future revelations about Trump's unfitness for the presidency will further undercut his efforts to cast institutions holding him accountable as illegitimate. But Trump is already giving every indication that he will go all out in trying. And how much damage that will cause is anyone's guess. The Washington Post 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 }} Early on Saturday morning, President Donald Trump tweeted his gratitude to a social-media super fan, Nicole Mincey, magnifying her praise of him to his 35 million followers. Here's the problem: There is no evidence the Twitter feed belongs to someone named Nicole Mincey. And the account, according to experts, bears a lot of signs of a Russia-backed disinformation campaign. On Sunday, Twitter suspended the Mincey account, known as @ProTrump45, after several other users revealed that it was probably a fake, created to amplify pro-Trump content. The incident highlights Trump's penchant for off-the-cuff tweeting - and the potential consequences for doing so now that he holds the nation's highest office. Even as the President has railed against multiple investigations into Russia's meddling in US politics, he may have become Exhibit A of the foreign government's influence by elevating a suspected Russia-connected social media user - part a sophisticated campaign to exacerbate disputes in American politics and gain the attention of the most powerful tweeter in the world. The President doesn't know whether it's a Russian bot or not, said Clint Watt, a former FBI agent and fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, using the term for a fake Twitter account pretending to represent a real person and created to influence public opinion or promote a particular agenda. He's just pushing a narrative, whether it's true or false. This provides a window, not just for Russia, but for any adversary to both influence the President or discredit him. As a candidate, Trump became known for amplifying tweets from accounts of dubious origin, including a user that went by the name @WhiteGenocideTM, and by disseminating anti-Semitic memes that bubbled up from some of the darkest corners of the Internet. As President, not much has changed. Trump still routinely hits the retweet button if a Twitter user echoes his criticism of his adversaries or showers him with praise - regardless of who that user is or what their motives may be. Aides and advisers have hinted that Trump has been urged to tone down his tweeting habits, but the President has shut down those conversations quickly, according to two people who have witnessed such exchanges. He has also on occasion followed bouts of public discourse about his Twitter feed with a rapid-fire tweet storm - perhaps an implicit signal that he has no intention of ceding control of his account to aides now that he is in the White House. Trump's tweet storms of the last several days, for instance, have followed intense speculation that his new chief of staff, John Kelly, might try to exert greater control over the President's account. The message? That's probably not going to happen. During his six-month tenure, Trump's former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, was unable to do much to rein in Trump's social-media rants. Lawyers have tried and failed to impress upon the President the risks of discussing the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion of his campaign associates. Kelly faces much the same challenge. According to people who have spoken with him, he does not believe that he will be able to change Trump's social-media behaviour and believes that being seen as attempting to do so could pose risks, including damaging his relationship with the President. On Monday morning, marking Kelly's second week on the job, Trump blasted out nine tweets, including several renewing attacks on Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat-Connecticut), the fake news media, phony fake news polling, and the Fake News Russian collusion story While Trump continues to discredit the Russia investigation, bipartisan former national security officials and researchers say that the coordinated, state-backed efforts to spread disinformation during the 2016 campaign were very real. Nineteen to 20 percent of the messages in the month before the election were originated by bots, said Emilio Ferrara, a researcher at the University of Southern California, who conducted research on the impact of bots on the 2016 election. About 400,000 accounts that posted tweets related to the political conversation we believe were bots. If anything, these accounts have found an even greater foothold since the election among Trump's most ardent supporters online. In the last week, a virtual army of accounts identified as having ties to a Russia-backed disinformation campaigns targeting the US political system zeroed in on efforts among Trump's supporters to attack his national security adviser H.R. McMaster over the firing of two Trump loyalists from the National Security Council. A tool created by a bipartisan group of national security experts and researchers to track Russian-backed propaganda accounts found that the #fireMcMaster hashtag became popular among these misinformation accounts at the same time that several influential, pro-Trump users on Twitter adopted the anti-McMaster position. By Friday, the clamouring against McMaster had become so loud that Trump issued a public statement defending him. As a Republican it raises questions for some on the right who obviously have a difference of opinion on someone like General McMaster, but the reality is there is a foreign power here trying to push an agenda, said Jamie Fly, a former adviser to Senator Marco Rubio, Republican-Florida, who helped create the Hamilton 68 project to track the influence of Russian-backed propaganda online. Researchers say the fake accounts sometimes disseminate content from well-known Russian-backed sources including Sputnik or RT, which are then picked up by US conservatives. Or they might amplify content created by far-right media outlets known for misinformation as well, including Gateway Pundit or Infowars. Fly said Trump's liberal use of Twitter has only increased the return on investment for a foreign power such as Russia seeking to sow division within the US political system. Accounts can use Trump's low bar for retweets to their advantage by creating large volumes of content in the hope that he might be drawn to some of it. His use of Twitter has elevated the platform, Fly said. It's created a situation where it's probably even more useful for a foreign power like Russia to try to influence the debate on Twitter. In the case of the account that was the recipient of an emphatic Thank you Nicole! from Trump on Saturday, Twitter will not say exactly why it was suspended. Online sleuths have posted evidence that the account has changed names several times, including as recently as this weekend. Experts say accounts such as this one often disappear quickly once they are exposed or achieve their objective. No one named Nicole Mincey has stepped forward to say the account is hers. We do not comment on individual accounts, for privacy and security reasons, said a Twitter spokesperson in response to an inquiry about why the account was suspended. At one point, the account boasted as many at 150,000 followers, and, according to other Twitter users, was connected to similar accounts, which experts say suggests a network created to disseminate propaganda. These accounts are often set up as one-stop shops for pro-Trump, anti-Democratic Party memes. The accounts often use stock images doctored to display pro-Trump memorabilia. The Trump administration has appeared resistant to addressing the growing problem of Russian online propaganda, which lawmakers and national security experts warn is a continuation of the tactics seen during the 2016 campaign. Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Show all 8 1 /8 Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AFP/Getty Images Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AFP/Getty Images Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Congress has appropriated $80 million to combat Isis propaganda and Russian disinformation online, but the State Department has not yet used the money, prompting bipartisan condemnation from Senator Rob Portman, Republican-Ohio, and Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat-Connecticut, the lawmakers who wrote the legislation establishing the fund. The challenge of Russia disinformation is not about Donald Trump, it's much broader than that, said Portman in a speech at the Atlantic Council late last month. It was a serious problem before him, and it's going to continue to be a problem long after his term in office. The Washington Post 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 Google engineer who was fired for a memo assailing the company's diversity policies is considering legal action, but seemingly faces long odds of a successful case. James Damore caused an uproar and ultimately lost his job after authoring a 10-page essay that said women are not biologically fit for certain technology roles. He also warned against arbitrary social engineering of tech just to make it appealing to equal portions of both men and women and claimed that efforts to hire more women via such methods are misguided and biased. After he was terminated, Mr Damore - whose sacking has not been officially confirmed by the company - told Reuters that he was exploring his options and said he had filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board before he was fired. He claimed in another email to a number of outlets that he would "likely be pursuing legal action". He did not respond to a message from The Independent seeking more details on his plans. A spokesman for the NLRB could not comment on any potential case, citing privacy protections. Employment law gives employers broad discretion to fire at-will employees - workers who do not have contracts, like those negotiated by unions, that create more stringent requirements to fire someone. In an email to employees explaining the reaction to Mr Damores actions, Google CEO Sundar Pinchai - who is said to have returned from a vacation to deal with the matter - backed the rights of employees to express themselves but said Mr Damores comments breached the companys code of conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. Such reasoning should be a sufficient reason for Mr Damores firing, said Reuel Schiller, a professor and labour law expert at UC Hastings College of Law, since employee protections prevent people being fired for discriminatory reasons like a persons race or religion. But there is precedent in California of courts ruling in favour of employees who were fired for being outspoken about their views, noted William Gould, a professor emeritus at Stanford who chaired the NLRB. In one case, he noted, the law sided with a pacifist who had shared his anti-war views with coworkers. Employees can speak out, but I think the employers defence would be that this guy was speaking about women in a very stereotypical manner that was likely to prove to be disruptive, said Mr Gould. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Show all 13 1 /13 Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Ida Wells An African-American journalist and activist born in Mississippi in 1862, she wrote prolifically on the fight for womens suffrage as well as the struggle for civil rights. She documented the practice of lynching black people in the southern states showing how it was often used as means of controlling or punishing black people who competed with whites rather than as a means of justice for crimes. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Lotifa El Nadi Egypts first female pilot born in 1907 in Cairo. Although her father saw no need for her to pursue secondary education, expecting her to marry and have a family, she rebelled and worked as a secretary and telephone operator at a flying school in exchange for lessons as she had no other means to pay for the training. Her achievements made headlines around the world when she flew over the pyramids and competed in international flying races. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Frida Kahlo A Mexican painter and activist born in Mexico City in 1907, her work has been celebrated internationally as emblematic of Mexican national and indigenous traditions and by feminists for its honest depiction of female experience. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Lina Bo Bardi A Brazilian architect, born in Italy in 1914, she devoted her life to the promotion of the social and cultural potential of architecture and design. She is also celebrated for her furniture and jewellery designs. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Olga Skorokhodova A Soviet scientist born into a poor Ukranian peasant family in 1911, she lost her vision and hearing at the age of five. Overcoming these difficulties in a remarkable way, she became a researcher in the field of communication and created a number of scientific works concerning the development of education of deaf-blind children. She was also a teacher, therapist and writer. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Miriam Makeba A South African singer and civil rights activist born in Johannesburg in 1932, she was forced to work as a child following her fathers death. She became a teenage mother after a brief and allegedly abusive marriage at 17, before she was discovered as a singer of jazz and African melodies. After becoming hugely successful in the US and winning a Grammy, she became involved in the civil rights struggle stateside as well as in the campaign against apartheid in her home country, writing political songs. Upon her death, South African President Nelson Mandela said that her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Sally Ride An American astronaut and physicist, she was born in Los Angeles in 1951 and joined NASA in 1978 after gaining her PhD. She became the first American woman and the third woman ever to go into space in 1983 at the age of 32. Prior to her first space flight, she attracted attention because of her gender and at press conferences, was asked questions such as, Will the flight affect your reproductive organs? She later worked as an academic at the University of California, San Diego. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Halet Cambel A Turkish archaeologist born in 1916, she became the first Muslim women to compete in the Olympics in the 1936 Berlin games as a fencer. She declined an invitation to meet Adolf Hitler on political grounds, and after the conclusion of the Second World War, she trained as an architect and later worked as an academic in Turkey and Germany. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Ada Lovelace An English mathematician and writer born in 1815, she became the worlds first computer programmer. The daughter of poet George Byron, she is chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine, and was the first to recognise the machine had applications beyond pure calculation, creating the first algorithm intended to be carried out by such a machine. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Rukmini Devi An Indian dancer and choreographer credited with reviving Indian classical dance, she was born in 1904 and presented her form of dance on stage even though it was considered low and vulgar in the 1920s. She features in India Todays list of 100 people who shaped India having also worked to re-establish traditional Indian arts and crafts and as an animal rights activist. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Cecilia Grierson An Argentine physician, reformer born in Buenes Aires in 1859, she became the first woman in Argentina to receive a medical degree having previously worked as a teacher. Women were barred from entering medical school at the time, so she first volunteered as an unpaid lab assistant before she was allowed to train as a doctor. She was acclaimed for her work during a cholera epidemic before going on to found the first nursing school in Argentina. The harassment she experienced at medical school helped make her a militant advocate for womens rights in Argentina. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Lee Tai-young Koreas first female lawyer and judge born in 1914 in what is now North Korea, she was also an activist who founded the countrys first legal aid centre and fought for womens rights throughout her career. Her often mentioned refrain was, No society can or will prosper without the cooperation of women. She worked as a teacher, married and had four children before she was able to begin her legal career after the Second World War, becoming the first woman to enter Seoul National University. She also fought for civil rights in the country and was arrested in 1977 for her beliefs, receiving a three-year suspended sentence and a ten year disbarment. Google marks International Women's Day with 13 amazing women Suzanne Lenglen A French tennis champion born in 1899, she popularised the sport winning 31 championships and dominating the womens sport for over a decade. She was the first female tennis celebrity and one of the first international women sports stars, overcoming a childhood plagued with ill health including chronic asthma which continued to plague her in her adult life. At 15, she became the youngest ever winner of a major championship and lost only seven matches during her entire career. She received widespread criticism for her decision to turn professional, but defended her right to make a decent living in the days when the grand slam tournaments paid a relative pittance to the winners. In his essay, Mr Damore complained about Google's "ideological echo chamber" and said he wanted to increase representation of women in tech without moving towards discrimination. Mr Damore claimed to have received support from a number of colleagues for his views, while others have supported his right to hold such opinions even if they do not agree with them. Other Google employees are believed to have used an internal discussion board to call for Mr Damore's firing. Reactions on social media have been split, with some users lambasting Google for stifling free speech and others arguing that Mr Damore's manifesto was symptomatic of broader issues with diversity in the technology sector. Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, said he was offering Mr Damore a job, as "censorship is for losers". A number of right-wing websites such as Breitbart also rushed to his defence, with some people calling for a boycott of Google. As for the firing, another consideration according to Mr Gould, is Googles obligation to prevent sexual harassment. The company is already under scrutiny for how much it pays its female employees, with the Department of Labor suing for salary data. The law also protects employees who are trying to engage in certain types of collective activities, the foundational example being discussing forming a union. Challenges to employers suppressing such activity are a substantial part of the NLRBs brief. But because Mr Damores essay did not seem designed to rally employees to his cause, his case there would be pretty weak, Mr Schiller said. If he had said anybody who is interested in challenging the requirement that we go to diversity training, come meet with me, then he would have a very strong case, Mr Schiller said, but its not clear Mr Damores memo was intended to get people at Google to organize and protest against whatever the policies were that he didn't like. Alternatively, Mr Damore could assert that he was fired in retaliation for filing a claim with the NLRB - something that is clearly prohibited. But doing do would require him proving that he was fired for reaching out to the labour board, rather than for his memo itself, and that the reason for his firing was part of a concerted effort - again, not just one employee speaking out but a part of a larger movement. If Google fired him for filing a charge with the NLRB that would be against the law, straight-up, regardless of the merits of what hes pursuing, Mr Gould said, but hes got to show that he was involved in concerted activities, that more than one employee was involved. If he doesn't show that hes out, case dismissed. 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 }} Thousands of Haitians have fled from the United States to Canada under the threat of deportation under Donald Trump, some because of WhatsApp messages falsely saying the country would welcome them. Around 58,000 Haitians are living in the US under temporary protection status (TPS) since the Caribbean island was ravaged by an earthquake in 2010. However, the US President has threatened to end the status, leading many to consider Canada, especially after false rumours spread the country was automatically welcoming people with TPS. Haitians are urging people not to give money to American Red Cross One message, sent via WhatsApp and reported by CBC, said Canada "invited and even encouraged all Hatians to apply for residence." It went on to say the Canadian government would cover "the fees". But the false information could mean many Haitians will face deportation back to the US or even Haiti if their asylum claims in Canada are rejected. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. Since the false messages spread, some 250 to 300 people have sought asylum in Canada every day, up from around 50 a day in July. To cope with the increase, Montreal's Olympic stadium has been used as a temporary shelter for up to 1,050 asylum seekers. Last weekend, hundreds rallied at the stadium to show their support for the asylum seekers, while an anticipated anti-immigration protest failed to materialise. 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 serial killer who claimed to have sold his victims' remains in barbecue sandwiches has died in prison. Joe Metheny, 62, was found unresponsive by a prison guard in Maryland where he was serving two life sentences, having escaped a death sentence on appeal. Metheny was convicted of murdering two women in Baltimore during the mid-1990sCathy Magaziner and Kimberly Spicerbut claimed to have killed 10 people in total. The killer, who was then heavily overweight and nicknamed "Tiny", confessed to police at the time that he was "a very sick person" and, according to a contemporary report in the Baltimore Sun, broke down in court when he saw Ms Spicer's mother. Confessing to Ms Magaziner's murder two decades ago, Metheny told detectives he "got a rush out of it, got a high out of it". He was found dead at about 3pm on Saturday, the Sun reported. 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 In a supposed confession posted online, Metheny described how after killing the women he stored their flesh in a freezer and "opened up a little open-pit beef stand". "No one can tell the difference" between pork and human flesh when the two are mixed together, he claimed in the unverified text. He murdered the women while living in a trailer on the lot of a pallet company in south Baltimore. Ms Spicer's body was discovered in December 1996 and a few days later Metheny showed police the location of Ms Magaziner's remains. Police were unable to gather enough evidence to charge Metheny with all the killings he claimed to have committed. Before his conviction in the deaths of Ms Magaziner and Ms Spicer, he was acquitted of murdering two homeless men with an axe, though he later said he had been guilty. During court proceedings, the Sun reported at the time, Metheny falsely claimed his mother was dead. 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 }} Police in Florida have said a young man has been killed after defending a group of gay friends from a man who alleged unleashed a volley or homophobic abuse before shooting him dead. Juan Javier Cruz was killed outside the Restaurante Y Pupuseria Las Flores in Lake Worth, where he and his friends had spent the evening. Reports say that when they left, the group was confronted by a man who verbally abused them. If we were in my country Id kill all of you rats, the man allegedly shouted at the victims, according to witnesses who told the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office. I hate you damned gays. Im going to kill you all here. It was at that point that Mr Cruz, 22, stepped forward to defend his friends. When he did so, the man took out a handgun and fired several shots. His cousin, Pedro Cruz, said he believed the gunman was aiming at him but that his cousin pushed him out of the way and was struck instead. He died in his arms. He died instantly, he told CBS. Relatives of Mr Cruz have left flowers and candles at the spot where he was killed. He always said Keep your head up. Be who you are, said one. A fund-raising page has been set up to help pay for the costs of a funeral. Betsy DeVos refuses to say if federally funded schools will be punished for LGBTQ discrimination Police said that a suspect, Nelson Hernandez Mena, 48, has been arrested and ordered to be held without bail at the Palm Beach County jail on murder charges. 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 Reports said that Mr Mena, originally from Honduras, told police he had drank 15 beers before the incident. Mr Mena is being held on murder charges (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department ) (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department) Officials said the investigation into the shooting remains active, and that it too early to determine if Mr Mena will be charged with a hate crime, Palm Beach State Attorneys Office spokesman Michael Edmondson, told the Sun-Sentinel. First-degree murder cannot be enhanced as its a capital crime, but any lesser charge could be enhanced if the investigation establishes hate motivation on targeting the victim, 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 }} A Brazilian man accused of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl turned himself in after his own son recognised CCTV footage of him broadcast on the news. Video showed the moment Alexandra da Silva Alves allegedly threw a suitcase into a river to the north of Rio de Janeiro containing six-year-old Agatha Nicole Silva. Alves 10-year-old son reportedly recognised the man and alerted family members who convinced him to turn himself in, according to local media. The 43-year-old is accused of kidnapping and raping the child who reportedly lived in the same neighbourhood as him. Investigators said he took the girl back to his house, just yards from where she lived after approaching her while she was playing in the street. He is accused of throwing her in the suitcase into the river while she was still alive. Agathas grandmother Edir Silva told local media: A woman told my daughter she had seen a man throwing a suitcase into the river around 10pm. It had made a heavy thud and she was worried about what was inside it. 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 My daughter ran to look for the trunk and when she called her daughters name she could hear the child respond very faintly. But she couldnt reach the suitcase in time and we believe Agatha was too weak to survive the impact and her injuries. Police said Alves turned himself in on Friday accompanied by two local pastors. He was arrested and has since been charged with the murder and rape of a minor. 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 }} Donald Trump's supporters dont care if his wife Melania would likely fail to get into the US if she was vetted under a proposed screening system because she is the right kind of immigrant, it has been claimed. Journalist Julia Ioffe spoke out over restrictive plans by the Presidents administration to curb the number of arrivals by forcing the hopefuls to first take a skills-based points system. She said the crackdown was a bid by Mr Trump to pander to the loyal followers of his populist style of politics who ushered him into the White House in his shock election victory. But Ms Ioffe said his supporters were not concerned if his Slovenian-born wife herself could pass that screening because she is a beautiful white woman from Europe, and we like those. She said she doubted Ms Trump could jump through that hoop because she does not hold a college degree. She also pointed out that the first lady had first entered the US on a H-1B visa one of the visas that Mr Trumps Republican administration is trying to restrict. Last week the President threw his support behind the proposed points-based system designed to weed out the number of would-be immigrant who would qualify to enter the US. Ms Ioffe, a Russian-born journalist with The Atlantic Magazine, pointed out to CNN that the first lady herself arrived in the US under visas which Mr Trumps administration is trying to restrict. She said: Its interesting because Melania Trump was here originally on a H-1B visa, when in fact she worked illegally under a tourist visa first. But that doesnt seem to matter, because when you ask Trump supporters they dont seem to care. Shes the right kind of immigrant: shes a beautiful white woman from Europe, and we like those. She added: She doesnt have a college degree, you know. I dont know how she would have done under this points system. In a wider swipe at the proposal by Mr Trump's administrations to crack down on immigrants, Ms Ioffe said there was nothing new in the plan by Republican senators David Perdue and Tom Cotton. Its kind of more of the same in slightly different packaging, the same thing he has been promising to his base since he started running (for the White House) two years ago, she said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Its very restrictive in one shape or another. Mr Trump and his congressional allies framed the bill in the pipeline as a way to recruit more skilled workers and transition away from an immigration system that is focused on family unity. But critics including the tech industry has largely spurned the proposal, saying it failed to deal with the shortage of qualified foreign workers. The plan gets into an already crowded line of measures that Congress is considering, including health care, tax reform, a budget and raising the debt ceiling, meaning it is unlikely that the proposal will even be put on the table any time soon. 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 }} Leaders of a Minnesota mosque that was bombed have called on Donald Trump to condemn the incident that has been labelled an act of terrorism. Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Centre's director Mohamed Omar urged the US President to acknowledge the attack, which happened just before morning prayers on Saturday in Bloomington. Governor Mark Dayton called the bombing an act of terrorism but Mr Trump has yet to make a public statement on the incident. Officials say witnesses saw someone throw something from a truck or van before the blast and saw a vehicle speed away afterward. The FBI believe it was an improvised explosive device. Nobody was hurt in the explosion, but the blast damaged the imam's office across the hall from the worship space. We invite the president to come and see to come and see what happened, Mr Omar told BuzzFeed News. He is the president of this country, and this happened to us. He has to come here and at least express his feelings and say this is bad. Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Show all 8 1 /8 Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AFP/Getty Images Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AFP/Getty Images Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Director of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota Asad Zaman also urged Mr Trump to recognise the attack. We are wondering why President Trump has not tweeted about this. He seems to want to tweet about security and terror issues, he said. Mr Omar said the mosque did not have security cameras fitted to the outside of the building because the community, which is made up mostly of Somali immigrants, couldnt afford them. He also said the mosque didn't receive any threats beforehand or claims of responsibility afterward. The Minneapolis FBI office has not announced arrests or said whether it has identified any suspects. In a statement Monday afternoon, Special Agent in Charge Rick Thornton called it a "terrible crime" and vowed to focus every available resource on the case until it's solved. Recommended Europe has started to enshrine Islamophobia into law He also said certain questions could not be answered due to the ongoing investigation. "I want to assure the community that this investigation is our top priority and we continue to work to determine who carried out this crime and why," he said. "These are important questions, and it will take time to develop the information necessary to answer them." Mr Omar said the bombing had been "horrific and tragic," but added: On the other hand, good people came out, and they outnumber that one bad guy, and we are so pleased and so happy to see this community coming together in our support." Additional reporting by AP 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 messages sent by an alleged paedophile who was arrested after a woman sitting behind him on a plane spotted him discussing abusing children have been revealed. Michael Kellar, 56, was detained on 31 July after a fellow passenger on the Southwest Airlines flight from Seattle, Washington, to San Jose, California, saw the messages and reported him to authorities. The graphic content of the texts has now been released in court documents, revealing that Kellar was allegedly discussing plans to drug and rape two young children. The conversation, with fellow Tacoma, Washington, resident Gail Burnworth, 50, allegedly included Burnworth saying she would sedate the children, aged five and seven, with anti-histamine drug Benadryl before molesting them while they slept and then filming Mr Keller raping them. Burnworth is said to have had contact with the potential victims as their babysitter. The messages were spotted by an unnamed nursery school teacher who was on her way to visit family. She alerted a flight attendant who then told police, leading to Kellar being arrested and questioned when the flight landed in San Jose. Other messages found on their phones allegedly showed Kellar and Burnworth discussing bestiality. Prosecutors said Burnworth had already made up to 20 videos of the two victims and sent them to Kellar. Both suspects have been charged with attempted enticement of a minor, including rape of a child and conspiracy to produce child pornography. Speaking about the passenger who alerted authorities, Sergeant Brian Spears, who leads the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce, said: One minute she is on her way to visit family on her vacation, the next thing you know her actions saved two children from continuous molestation. I feel she is absolutely a hero and was paramount to this investigation. 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 police officer visited the woman the next day to thank her in person. I felt that she needed to be told in person she is our hero, he said. I was blessed to meet her, gave her a big hug and said thank you. She was emotional. She said I just knew something was wrong and she felt it in her heart. Prosecutors said both Kellar and Burnworth had admitted to being aroused by children but had claimed their conversations were just fantasies. However, the text exchange allegedly included Kellar messaging Burnworth saying: You can do this or are you just saying this??? She is alleged to have replied: No I think I can do it if I dont have parents over my shoulder or worried about whos going to walk in on me And then on Sunday I will have the kids no parents just kids. 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 wealthy residents of an exclusive San Francisco street have threatened legal action after learning that the communal areas outside their homes have been sold to a private investor for a combined total of just 70,000. Despite the streets mansions selling for millions of dollars, an unpaid tax bill saw the carefully manicured lawns and pristine pavements of Presidio Terrace auctioned for a mere $90,000. Michael Cheng and his wife Tina Lam bought the gated street and now own the road, footpaths and other areas of "common ground" in the private development. The auction stemmed from an unpaid bill after the homeowners association for Presidio Terrace failed to pay a $14-a-year property tax, something that owners of all 181 private streets in San Francisco must do, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The Californian citys tax office put the property up for sale for $994 in an online auction to claw back unpaid back taxes, penalties and interest. The couple eventually won the street with a $90,100 bid in an April 2015 auction. But Scott Emblidge, the lawyer for the Presidio Homeowners Association, has blamed an administrative mix-up for the missed payments. According to a letter seen by the Chronicle, he said the owners failed to pay because the tax bill was being sent to the address of an accountant who hadn't worked for the homeowners association since the 1980s. Mr Emblidge said the residents didn't know their street was put on the auction block, let alone sold, until May when a company hired by the streets new owners contacted residents to ask if any were interested in buying back the rights to land immediately outside their homes. Mr Cheng and Ms Lam are said to be looking for other ways to make money from their investment, including charging residents to park on their street or renting out the 120 parking spaces that line the road. "I thought they would reach out to us and invite us in as new neighbours," Mr Cheng told the Associated Press. "This has certainly blown up a lot more than we expected." A seven-bedroom property on the street recently sold for more than $17m and the real estate investor, who was born in Taiwan, said he "got lucky with the auction two years ago. A construction worker stands in front of a gate leading into the Presidio Terrace (AP) "As legal owners of this property, we have a lot of options," he told the Chronicle. Im a first-generation immigrant, and the first time I came to San Francisco I fell in love with the city. I really just wanted to own something in San Francisco because of my affinity for the city." However, the streets residents have attempted to block the new landowners by petitioning the citys Board of Supervisors for a hearing to rescind the tax sale. The board has scheduled a hearing for October. The homeowners association has also sued the couple and the city, seeking to block them from selling the street to anyone while the appeal is pending. Additional reporting AP 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 }} Taylor Swift fans have lined up for seats to see the opening arguments in the civil trial in which she has alleged that a Colorado DJ inappropriately groped her while at a meet and greet in Denver. Ex-radio host David Mueller first brought a lawsuit against Swift - who is countersuing - alleging that the pop star recklessly ruined his radio career with false accusations of inappropriate touching. Some of the Swift fans outside hoping to nab one of the 32 seats that had been made available to the public, said they felt inspired by the pop star's decision to fight back against athe alleged sexual assault. Recommended Taylor Swift expected to testify in sexual assault trial I think it's pretty cool that she's here to defend herself in person and not just kind of passing it off, Jacquelyn Evans, a 32-year-old fan from Denver, told CNN. It shows that it's a serious issue to her and it's a really great experience for girls to see her come out and do that. Swift and her lawyers allege that Mr Mueller had reached up under her skirt, and grabbed her buttocks while the pop star was posing with fans for photos. After the alleged groping in June 2013, Mr Mueller lost his job several days later when Swift and her team complained to his employer, radio station KYGO. The station says they conducted their own investigation into the issue. In his lawsuit, Mr Mueller says that he should not have been terminated, and that Swift has used her considerable power to ruin his life. During opening arguments in the case, Mr Muellers lawyer said that a photo that is likely to be central to both sides arguments simply shows awkward hand placement, but does not show Mr Mueller reaching up under her skirt. From beef to BFFs to beef again: Kanye West and Taylor Swift Show all 6 1 /6 From beef to BFFs to beef again: Kanye West and Taylor Swift From beef to BFFs to beef again: Kanye West and Taylor Swift September 2009 NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Kanye West (L) jumps onstage after Taylor Swift (C) won the "Best Female Video" award during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images) From beef to BFFs to beef again: Kanye West and Taylor Swift September 2009 NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Kanye West (L) jumps onstage after Taylor Swift (C) won the "Best Female Video" award during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images) Christopher Polk/Getty From beef to BFFs to beef again: Kanye West and Taylor Swift February 2015 LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 08: (L-R) Recording Artists Taylor Swift, Jay Z and Kanye West and tv personality Kim Kardashian attend The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS) From beef to BFFs to beef again: Kanye West and Taylor Swift August 2015 LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Kanye West (L) accepts the Video Vanguard Award from recording artist Taylor Swift onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) From beef to BFFs to beef again: Kanye West and Taylor Swift April 2016 Kanye West drops 'Famous', which includes the controversial line 'I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/Why? I made that bitch famous' From beef to BFFs to beef again: Kanye West and Taylor Swift July 2016 Kim Kardashian releases of audio of Tayior Swift approving the lyrics to 'Famous' Getty The photo shows Mr Mueller alongside Swift and another woman. Mr Muellers lawyers have argued that the photo doesnt show any ruffles in the skirt, which they say would be apparent if he did what they were alleging. If you look at that photo, his hand is not underneath her skirt. It's not ruffled, rumbled, affected in any form or fashion, Gabriel McFarland, Mr Muellers lawyer, argued. Swifts lawyers have argued that Mr Mueller is simply using his clients name and fame to make a bigger name for himself, and to get a big payday. Mr Mueller is seeking $3 million in damages. The pop stars counter-lawsuit argues that she is pursuing the avenue because the case will serve as an example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts. Any money gleaned from the lawsuit, the counter-lawsuit says, will be donated to charitable organisations that protect women from sexual assault. 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 }} Setting up an extraordinary public airing of how the American government treated terrorism suspects in the years following 9/11, a federal lawsuit against two psychologists accused of being architects of Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] interrogation methods will proceed to trial. Judge Justin L Quackenbush of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington cleared the way for the case to move to the trial phase on Monday, rejecting the psychologists lawyers request for summary judgement. The American Civil Liberties Union brought the lawsuit on behalf of two men who were captured and detained by the CIA and the family of a third who died of hypothermia while in custody. They allege that they were beaten, deprived of sleep, forced to endure extreme temperatures and subjected to a form of waterboarding, a technique that simulates drowning. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump advocate bringing back waterboarding The organisation hailed the impending trial as a rare opportunity to cast into the public eye an era that has often been shrouded in secrecy. A exhaustive US Senate report on post-9/11 interrogation techniques concluded that attempts to extract information from suspects were were brutal and far worse than the CIA represented to policymakers and others. This is a historic day for our clients and all who seek accountability for torture, ACLU attorney Dror Ladin said in a press release. The courts ruling means that for the first time, individuals responsible for the brutal and unlawful CIA torture program will face meaningful legal accountability for what they did. A complaint initiating the case accuses two psychologists who worked as contractors for the CIA, James Mitchell and John Bruce Jessen, of having designed, implemented, and personally administered an experimental torture program on behalf of the CIA. In overseeing the design of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, the complaint alleges, Mr Mitchell and Mr Jessen violated international norms and were liable for war crimes. While the pair have acknowledged they advised the government on techniques for questioning detainees, they dispute that they played a central role in designing or implementing the CIA interrogation programme. In a filing, their attorneys argue that Mr Mitchell and Mr Jessens role advising the CIA on its treatment of high-value detainees ceased in 2002, meaning there is no connection between the techniques they proposed and the treatment of the three men on whose behalf the ACLU is suing. It rejects the ACLUs contention that those techniques were intended to reduce detainees to a state of complete helplessness. But the participation of the psychologists in some aspects of the CIAs interrogation programme is not in doubt. After being asked by a federal official to analyse the effects of waterboarding and mock burials, Judge Quackenbush wrote, the factual evidence supports the men having recommended the use of enhanced interrogation techniques like waterboarding. The judge called it undisputed that Mr Jessen and Mr Mitchell had participated in interrogating and waterboarding a detainee who is not among the three plaintiffs. He also cited a CIA inspector general report which found that Mr Jessen played a significant role in the interrogation of Gul Rahman, the defendant who died in custody. An attorney for Mr Jessen and Mr Mitchell did not immediately respond to a request from The Independent for comment. 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 reportedly made up a story about an upmarket New York restaurant during a national security meeting and all the details were false. Mr Trump told his top security advisers an anecdote about the renovation of the Manhattan speakeasy 21 Club but both the former owner and the former CEO of the restaurant have denied the story. The US President reportedly told the story during a meeting at the White House with his advisers, when he suggested firing some of his top military commanders for not winning the war in Afghanistan. To emphasise his point about how long it was taking to craft a new US strategy in Afghanistan, he compared the situation to the renovation of the Club 21 during the 1980s, which is one of his regular spots, NBC previously reported. Officials in the meeting said he told generals how the elite restaurant closed for a year and hired an expensive consultant to plan for its renovation who eventually suggested the restaurant needed a bigger kitchen. They said Mr Trump kept emphasising that the consultant cost the business owner an eye watering fee and that speaking to the waiters might have had a better outcome. Mr Trump concluded he needed advise from those working on the ground and that war veterans might be better suited to advise him on a strategy in Afghanistan. But speaking to the the US magazine Page Six, Marshall Cogan, who owned the landmark club between 1985 and 1995 said none of the details in the story were true. "I have no idea what was in his head. I never have," he said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Ken Aretsky, 21 Club's CEO during that time, said that Mr Trump had "exaggerated" the story. He said the renovation took less than six months in 1987 and that no consultant had been hired but only an architect. "I signed all the checks. We didn't make any mistakes. The kitchens were 60 years old. We put in all new equipment and duct work." Mr Aretsky alo said Mr Trump was a regular client but not to the extent that he had his own table. He celebrated his election victory with his family there last year. Mr Cogan added: "I think [Trump] has a psychological problem that only a therapist can define for you. I can't." 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 }} Despite Donald Trump's optimism about the nuclear threat from North Korea, most Americans say they're not confident he can handle it. "After many years of failure, countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea," Mr Trump tweeted recently, in response to sanctions imposed by the UN. "We must be tough & decisive!" But sixty-one per cent of Americans say they are uneasy about Mr Trumps ability to handle the situation, according to a CBS News poll. Only 35 per cent say they are confident in his abilities. Even Mr Trumps base appears to be wary: 64 per cent of independents and 22 per cent of Republicans say they dont fully trust Mr Trump in this area. Only a quarter of Americans are confident the situation will be resolved. The North Korean regime tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICMBs) capable of reaching the US last month. The US Department of Defence has moved up their projection for when the missiles will be nuclear-capable by two years, to 2018. American diplomats have pushed the UN to put economic pressure on North Korea, ultimately securing the estimated $1bn in international sanctions against the country. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley hailed them as "the strongest sanctions ever imposed in response to a ballistic missile test. The North Korean government, however, responded by threatening to take physical action against the US. Speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum on Monday, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said the country is ready to teach the US a severe lesson with its nuclear strategic force if militarily provoked. "We will, under no circumstances, put the nukes and ballistic rockets on the negotiating table, he added. North Korea accuses the United States of escalating tensions by conducting military drills, like the 8 July Air Force flyover in response to Pyongyangs latest missile tests. In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video Still, some US officials continue to suggest a military response to the threat. National security adviser HR McMaster said on Saturday that the President was prepared to start a preventive war against North Korea. [Mr Trump] said hes not going to tolerate North Korea being able to threaten the United States, Mr McMaster told MSNBCs Hugh Hewitt. ...So of course, we have to provide all options to do that. And that includes a military option. The White House has said only that all options remain on the table. Mr Trump has confined himself largely to tweeting about the issue, asking whether North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un has anything better to do with his life. The President has also been critical of Chinas perceived inaction on the issue. He invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his South Florida estate for a summit in April, but later tweeted he was very disappointed in the country. Asked about what he would do to control the threat at a recent Cabinet meeting, Mr Trump said: Were going to be able to handle them. It will be handled. We handle everything. 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 }} Everybody knows just how much Donald Trump enjoys tweeting. The White House has said his tweets should be considered official statements from the US President, while Mr Trump believes they are the most effective way to communicate directly to his supporters. The FAKE MSM is working so hard trying to get me not to use Social Media, he tweeted in June. They hate that I can get the honest and unfiltered message out. But Mr Trump better get ready for a surprise: a survey has suggested the majority of Americans do not actually appreciate his tweeting. And an even larger proportion of the public think it is not an appropriate way for a leader to communicate. The poll for CNN found seven out of ten Americans believed his tweeting habits too often seem to be in response to news he may have seen on TV and believe Twitter is a risky way for a President to communicate. More than six in ten believed that his tweets too often turn out to be misleading and were easy to misunderstand. Trump plays golf and greets wedding guests as White House denies he's on holiday Mr Trump has long defended his tweeting. My use of social media is not Presidential - its MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL, he tweeted on July 1. Make America Great Again! But his social media habits have repeatedly placed him in hot water. One of the many Twitter controversies Mr Trump sparked during the election, was an early morning attack he launched on former Miss Universe Alicia Machado. 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 Since he has entered the White House, Mr Trumps tweeting has not become any more polite or measured - despite repeated calls from his advisors that he stop tweeting spontaneously. In June, the President sparked more outcry when he attacked television anchor Mika Brzezinski, who had recently voiced mild criticism of him. He said she had a low IQ and had been bleeding badly from a face-lift during a social gathering at Mr Trumps resort in Florida during the New Year. This week, despite the appointment of John Kelly as a new Chief of Staff, a former four star general tasked with trying to bring discipline to the West Wing, he has fired off a series of tweets attacking Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic senator from Connecticut. Mr Trump called him a phony Vietnam con artist on Twitter after the senator appeared on television to voice support for continuing the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The same survey found that Mr Trump has historically low approval ratings. Just 38 per cent of people said they approved of his handling of the presidency, while 56 per cent said they disapproved. 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 }} The Trump administration has ordered the deportations of almost 50,000 people to date an increase of almost 30 per cent from the same time last year, according to the US Department of Justice. Statistics released by the Executive Office of Immigration Review show 49,983 immigrants were given orders of removal between 1 February and 31 July of this year. An order of removal refers to the final command by an immigration judge to remove of an undocumented immigrant from the country. Experts have pointed out, however, that orders of removal are just that orders and do not always correspond with the number of successful removals. A press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ) touted the increase in final orders as a return to rule of law, writing: Return to rule of law in Trump administration marked by increase in key immigration statistics. The department credited the increase to Donald Trumps executive order sending more than one hundred immigration judges to detention centres around the country to process cases. According to the press release, more than 90 per cent of these cases resulted in immigrants being forced to leave the country. The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters The increase in orders of removal could also be linked to a rise in detentions. Arrests of those suspected of being in the country illegally increased by almost 40 per cent in Mr Trumps first 100 days, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported. The Trump administration has also stepped up detentions of immigrants with no criminal record, Arrests of such immigrants more than doubled in the first three months of Mr Trumps presidency, according to the Washington Post. ICE has also announced they will crack down on family members of undocumented children detained at the border a policy that could result in thousands of additional arrests. In a speech to the National District Attorneys Association last month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said his goal is "not to reduce illegal immigration but to end illegal immigration". "The people of this country have been pleading with their leaders for decades for a lawful system of immigration that serves our national interest and in which we can take pride," he said. "...With a major decline in illegal entry attempts, more personnel, and the wall, we have a real opportunity to fix this problem." 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 }} Staff at a US government agency have been instructed to "avoid" using the term "climate change" in their work and instead replace it the term "weather extremes". The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service - tasked with farmland preservation - received an email from Director of Soil Health Bianca Moebius-Clune with the list of terms and acceptable substitutions. The change in language may appear to be subtle, but has been done in an apparent bid to reflect the Trump administration's view that human action and government regulations to control those actions do not have an impact on the environment. The 16 February email, obtained by The Guardian, also said that "climate change adaptation" should be replaced with the phrase "resilience to weather extremes. The email also instructed the staff to replace "reduce greenhouse gases" with build soil organic matter, increase nutrient use efficiency. The change also appears to favour the Trump administration's repeated claims that policies will be enacted in order to restore the American coal industry, which has been in steady decline since the 1970s. The move comes just after Donald Trump officially notified the United Nations of the US withdrawal from the global Paris Agreement on climate change, an accord signed by nearly 200 countries in December 2015 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help poorer countries adapt to an already changed planet. 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke filled with the carbon that is driving climate change drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan Mr Trump had originally stated his intention to withdrawal in May 2017, when he said the accord puts American workers at an "economic disadvantage". He did not present data to accurately support the claim. Ms Moebius-Clune's email also mentioned that we wont change the modelling, just how we talk about it there are a lot of benefits to putting carbon back in the sail". She also said that mentions of business opportunities and economic growth through agriculture in the rural US should be "tolerated if not appreciated by all". Mr Trump has, at various points, called climate change a Chinese hoax and openly promoted the US oil, gas, and coal sectors. His appointments have reflected that sentiment as well. Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have both said that they do not believe humans cause climate change and have continuously questioned scores of studies proving the effects of a changing climate and global warming. He also pick Sam Clovis to be the USDA's top scientist. Mr Clovis does not have a science background, but worked as a business professor for a small college in the politically-important state of Iowa. The Trump aide has also said climate change is simply a mechanism for transferring wealth from one group of people to another." 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 }} Venezuelas top court has ordered the arrest and detention of a senior opposition leader behind recent protests, as President Nicholas Maduro seeks to hold onto power amid mounting international condemnation. The Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Ramon Muchacho, one of Caracass five mayors, for refusing an order to remove barricades set up by anti-government protesters. Critics of the government said the move was a violation of due process and a blatant attempt to punish opponents. Mr Muchacho, who is mayor of the Caracas district of Chacao, did not appear at the hearing and said on Twitter: All the weight of revolutionary injustice has fallen on my shoulders. He later emailed supporters, saying: We are being condemned for doing our job, for guaranteeing the legitimate right to peaceful protest and the right of all Venezuelans to exercise their civil and political rights. He added: The coming hours will be difficult for me. The move comes after Mr Maduro pressed ahead with a vote to establish a controversial new assembly that has been packed with his supporters and which his critics say will have unlimited powers. There is a dispute as to how many people took part in a vote for the assembly last month, but opposition parties boycotted the process. The move was condemned by the EU, US and Britain. Mr Maduro denounced the criticism from Washington as nothing more than the latest attempt by the US to interfere in the countrys affairs. The head of the CIA suggested last month the agency was working with Mexico and Colombia to bring about a transition in Caracas. Video shows Venezuelan men in uniform claiming start of coup Polls suggest that Mr Maduros approval rating may be as low as 20 per cent. Some observers believe that many supporters of the late Hugo Chavez, Mr Maduros predecessor, have lost sympathy as the economic situation has worsened, and food shortages intensified. Last month, the US introduced new sanctions against Mr Maduro and a dozen of his closest supporters. At least 124 people have been killed in protests against the government, yet it is unclear precisely how many of those were opponents of the government and how many were police or troops. UN human rights investigators believe security forces were responsible for at least 46 deaths, and pro-government armed groups were responsible for 27. The Associated Press said the Supreme Court has issued injunctions against nearly a dozen mayors of opposition municipalities, ordering them to prevent protesters from setting up barricades. The court is hearing a similar case against the mayor of another Caracas district, David Smolansky of El Hatillo. Intelligence agents last month arrested Alfredo Ramos, the mayor of the city of Barquisimeto, on accusations that he violated the same order, the AP said. On Tuesday, the US said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was convinced the crisis in Venezuela could not be solved through the imposition of unilateral measures and urged the government and opposition to relaunch negotiations. 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 UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Mr Guterres is concerned that recent developments could lead to further escalation of tensions and distance the country from a path conducive to a peaceful solution to its challenges. At this critical time the secretary-general is urging negotiations for the benefit of the Venezuelan people, he said. In Geneva, UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani, said: We are concerned that the situation in Venezuela is escalating and these patterns of human rights violations are showing no signs of abating. Larry Birns, Director of the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs, told The Independent Mr Maduro retained a number of hardcore supporters who would stand by him. Regardless of the hypocrisy of the US, Maduro is becoming more politically isolated every day, he said. If the opposition feels this is its moment, it will not budge. The US, which many believe has been seeking a change of government in Venezuela since Mr Chavez was first elected in 2002, repeated its rejection of the new constituent assembly. Department spokeswoman Heather Nauer issued a series of tweets saying the US will continue to use appropriate econ/diplomatic tools to address the threat to democratic institutions in Venezuela. 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 responsibility for human rights violations in Venezuela "lies at the highest level of government," the United Nations human rights office has said. Venezuelan security forces have wielded excessive force to suppress protests, killing dozens, and have arbitrarily detained 5,000 people since April, including 1,000 still in custody, the team's analysis found. It said it had investigated 124 deaths in connection with demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro's government, and found 46 attributable to security forces and 27 to pro-government armed groups, with the rest unclear. The team said violations included "house raids, torture and ill-treatment of those detained in connection with the protests." Opposition protesters clash with security forces in Venezuela "We are concerned that the situation in Venezuela is escalating and these human rights violations show no signs of abating," UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said in a statement: "These violations have occurred amid the breakdown of the rule of law in Venezuela, with constant attacks by the Government against the National Assembly and the Attorney-General's Office." "The responsibility for the human rights violations we are recording lies at the highest levels of Government," he added. In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Show all 22 1 /22 In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A girl scavanges for food in the streets of Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A man scavenges for food next to girls in the streets of Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is resisting opposition efforts to hold a vote on removing him from office. The opposition blames him for an economic crisis that has caused food shortages Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans line up to get the 'Fatherland's Card' at Bolivar Square in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela The mother of Venezuelan Rebecca Leon, who scavenges for food in the streets of Caracas, feeds her grandson at their house in Petare shantytown. Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan Rebecca Leon, who scavenges for food in the streets of Caracas, with her two-year-old son at her house in Petare shantytown Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Members of a pro-government community organisation work in an expropriated bakery in Caracas. Supported by popular militiamen, Venezuelan government inspectors oversee bakeries as bread comes out of the oven, to undermine an alleged plot to induce scarcity of this staple food Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Forensic police stand next to the body of a man outside a supermarket, where he died of a heart attack after waiting in a long line to buy food, in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan opposition activists take part in a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro at the Francisco Fajardo highway in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela National guard throws a tear gas canister during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporter shouts at a police officer during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with national guards during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A boy wearing a t-shirt with the colours of the Venezuelan national flag, during a demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro's government at Foreign Affairs Ministery, in Buenos Aires, Argentina AP In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Protesters cover themselves from tear gas fired by the Venezuelan National Guard officers during a protest in Caracas AP In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with national guards during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelan opposition activists take part in a protest -blocked by the National Guard- against the government of President Nicolas Maduro at the Francisco Fajardo highway in Caracas Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela A Venezuelan national guard reacts to the effect of pepper spray during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters holding a Venezuelan flag protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government during a rally in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters clash with riot police during a protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Opposition supporters protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government during a rally in Caracas Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuela's Supreme Court abandoned measures to seize power from the opposition-controlled legislature after the moves drew international condemnation and raised pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The president of Venezuela's National Assembly Julio Borges dismissed the court's gesture and told reporters that nothing had changed and the coup continued Getty Images In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans living in Peru and other protesters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, outside the Venezuela embassy in Lima, Peru Reuters In pictures: The crisis in Venezuela Venezuelans living in Peru and other protesters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, outside the Venezuela embassy in Lima, Peru Reuters Despite growing international criticism, Mr Maduro has remained firm in pressing the constitutional assembly forward in executing his priorities. The new constitutional assembly has signalled it will act swiftly in following through with Mr Maduro's commands, voting to replace chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz with a government loyalist and to create a "truth commission" that will wield unusual power to prosecute and levy sentences. Opposition leaders vowed to remain in their posts in their only government foothold - the country's single-chamber congress, the National Assembly. Opposition activists protesting against the newly inaugurated Constituent Assembly and riot police clash in Caracas (AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty) National Assembly president Julio Borges told fellow legislators on Monday that they should keep an active presence in the legislative palace despite threats from the constitutional assembly to strip them of any authority and lock up key leaders. Mr Borges called the building, with its gold cupola, the "symbol of popular sovereignty". "We are a testament to the fight for democracy," he said. "It should be known this assembly was true to its mandate." A full report on the team's findings is expected later this month 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 }} As many as 100 people are feared to have died after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck in a mountainous region of central China. State television said seven people had died, 88 were injured, including 21 of them seriously. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck in a sparsely populated area 200km (120 miles) west-northwest of the city of Guangyuan at a depth of 10km (6 miles). But China's National Commission for Disaster Reduction estimated that as many as 100 people living in the area could have died, based on a 2010 census of the region, the AFP reports. The commission also suggested that more than 13,000 houses may have been damaged. Officials from Sichuan government also said 100 tourists have been trapped by a landslide but there has been no confirmation over whether any of them were dead or injured. Spokesman Chen Weide said it was unclear what had happened to them and whether they had been buried or were trapped by a blocked road. The earthquake struck at about 9.20pm local time (1.20pm GMT) not far from the site of a massive magnitude 8.0 quake that occurred in 2008 and left 87,000 people dead or missing. The official People's Daily newspaper said more than 600 fire officers and soldiers have been deployed in the aftermath of the quake. The Red Cross Society of China also told the AFP the quake hit at night leaving communications lines disrupted and communities in the dark. "It may take some time to learn the extent of damage and casualties," said Gwendolyn Pang, a spokesman with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in China. The Sichuan earthquake administration said the epicentre of the tremor was in Ngawa prefecture, largely populated by ethnic Tibetans, many of whom are nomadic herders, but also close to the Jiuzhaigou a national park known for spectacular waterfalls and karst formations and a popular tourist destination. 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 Officials said on social media that more than 38,000 tourists were believed to be visiting Jiuzhaigou. The area is frequently struck by earthquakes. Pictures on state media-run social media sites showed some damage in Jiuzhaigou, with tiles having fallen from buildings and people gathering outdoors. The official Xinhua news agency quoted a Jiuzhaigou tourism official saying that some houses had collapsed or cracked and authorities were organising evacuations. Shaking was felt in the provincial capital Chengdu and as far away as Xian, home of the Terracotta Warriors, according to users of Chinese social media. The China Earthquake Networks Centre measured reported the quake at magnitude 7.0 and said it was 20km (12 miles) deep. Additional reporting by agencies. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A ten-year-old girl was recently denied an abortion by the Supreme Court of India. She was a victim of rape, which she alleges was perpetrated by her uncle several times over a period of seven months. Her pregnancy was discovered after she complained of stomach ache and was taken to the hospital, but in late July the court decided it was too late in the pregnancy for her to have an abortion. Such cases of sexual violence in India have been a key topic of discussion since the brutal gang rape of a student on a bus in Delhi made headlines around the world in 2012. Popularly referred to as Nirbhaya (meaning fearless one in Hindi), the victim didnt survive her internal injuries caused during the attack. In May 2017, Indias Supreme Court upheld the verdict of capital punishment for the four men convicted of rape in this case. Following this incident in December 2012, I got the opportunity to conduct research in Tihar Central Jail at New Delhi which later developed into my PhD research. As one of the first studies to take into account the perspectives of convicted rapists in India, my aim was to understand the attitudes these men have towards their victims and how this thinking contributes to the endemic sexual violence that women experience in the country. Over the course of the last three years, I have been able to talk with more than 100 convicted sex offenders. There is one particular story participant 49 that I have decided to share. One girls horror This 23-year-old convict had not completed primary school and was working as a temple cleaner. He was imprisoned in 2010 for raping a five-year-old girl. He described his victim as a small beggar girl who provoked him while he was busy with his duties. When I asked him to elaborate on how she provoked him, he said, she was touching me inappropriately so I thought Ill teach her a lesson. He added: Her mother is also like this, she too has a questionable character. Victim blaming is a commonly found phenomenon in the narratives of sex offenders and this case was not any different. What disturbed me more than the vivid details of his description of the attack was the fact that he thought he could make up for his crime by marrying the girl after his release. Results of two questionnaires he completed before I spoke to him also showed his attitudes towards women. He completed the Attitude Towards Women Questionnaire and scored lowly, indicating conservative or traditional attitudes towards women. His results for the Multicultural Masculinity Ideology Scale highlighted lack of sexual responsibility along with low sensitivity. He also ranked high on the toughness factor, indicating he had internalised cultural norms on how men should act and what defines a man or manliness. At the end of the interview, I was compelled to find the other side of the story the victims side. Considering he had already served five years in prison, I was not sure if I would be able to find the victim and her family. Luckily, based on his directions it didnt take long to locate the temple. The priest there confirmed the incident had taken place and also told me that the victims mother is a beggar who comes to the temple regularly. The following week, I was introduced to the mother of the victim. I informed her that I had interacted with her daughters attacker in Tihar Jail and that upon my probing he provided the details of the place of the attack and her family. At first she was absolutely shocked as she couldnt believe that he had actually been sentenced. I thought he had fled, gone to some other city, she told me. She recalled her daughter being rescued by the priest and then being rushed to the nearest government clinic where she was treated for three days. Since she could not afford further care, she brought her daughter back to the house. Her family knew the perpetrator well, which gives support to the widely known fact that most rapes are committed by aquaintances. She told me that when her husband found out about the attacks, he had a total mental breakdown and abandoned the family. She filed the charges and did all the paperwork on her own but didnt hope for much. She also didnt have any permanent contact details through which the police could inform her of what happened next. She said shed be happy to introduce me to her daughter, provided I didnt ask her to recall anything. After waiting a few days, I finally got the opportunity to meet this endearing little girl who was very excited to see me and was now almost ten. She told me that she was doing well in school and really enjoyed painting. Completely unfazed by her past, she appeared to have no recollection of the horrific event. For her mother though, it had been nothing short of a nightmare. I couldnt bring myself to tell her that her daughters perpetrator thinks he can make amends by marrying her daughter. 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 Questions over justice In a country where almost 90% of the rape cases go unreported, the perseverance and will of this mother in fighting for justice for her daughter is a story with deep resonance. Almost 34,651 cases of rape were reported in India in 2015, out of which only a select few made the headlines. Indias record of sexual assaults on minors is grim: in 2015, 10,854 rape cases of minors were reported and 14,913 other cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The mother asked me why her daughters attacker was only serving ten years in jail instead of being hanged: Doesnt she deserve the same justice as the Nirbhaya case? Those men are being hanged for their crime. Since I did not have a fitting response to her question, I thanked her for sharing her story and we said goodbye. Debates are continuing in India about punishment for rapists, particularly whether punitive methods or retributive and restorative justice are most effective. Sex offender treatment programmes have also been suggested as an alternative strategy. But what India needs most is to overhaul societys collective conscience to promote and protect womens rights and gender equality. The Conversation 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 Malaysian government is investigating an international atheist organisation after a picture of a meeting held by the group in Kuala Lumpur went viral. Atheist Republic, a Canada-based non-profit organisation, often stages meet-ups in larger cities, and last week posted a picture on Facebook of people attending the Atheist Republic Consulate of Kuala Lumpur annual meeting. The post said the gathering was such a blast! and shows a room full of people smiling with their arms in the air. Many are making hand gestures. Atheists from all walks of life came to meet one another, some for the very first time each sharing their stories and forming new friendships that hopefully last a lifetime! We rock! it read. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country where apostasy is not a federal crime, but critics say deepening fundamentalism within the Muslim majority is threatening religious freedoms, Reuters news agency reports. Malaysian states that have their own laws regarding Islamic affairs do now allow Muslims to formally renounce their faith, and people are instead fined, jailed or sent for counselling. Some claimed that Muslim apostates were involved in the Malaysian chapter of Atheist Republic, which has reportedly sparked uproar among some Muslims. Members of the atheist group are reported to have received death threats on social media. The group is being investigated by Malaysias Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department to determine whether any Muslims were involved in the meeting. Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, the countrys deputy minister who oversees religious affairs, told reporters: If it is proven that there are Muslims involved in atheist activities that could affect their faith, the state Islamic religious departments or Jawi could take action, New Straits Times reported. I have asked for Jawi to look into this grave allegation. Mr Wajdi told Reuters that the government will determine whether any Muslims were in attendance at the atheist meeting and if they have been involved in spreading atheism, which he claimed can jeopardise the aquidah [faith] of Muslims. We need to use the soft approach [with apostates], he added. Perhaps they are ignorant of the true Islam, so we need to engage them and educate them on the right teachings. He said ex-Muslims found to be part of the atheist gathering would be given counselling, while anyone found spreading atheist ideas could be prosecuted. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A woman kidnapped by three men in a car in New Delhi was rescued after onlookers heard her cries for help when the attackers started molesting her, according to Indian news reports. The alleged victim, who is in her 20s, was spotted by a group of young male motorbike riders eating at a roadside food stall, who chased after the car for several miles before they managed to stop it and free the woman, police said. A mob then surrounded the vehicle, pelting it with rocks and setting the car alight. Two of the abductors were arrested by police but a third managed to escape, The Times of India reported. "The woman was in a state of shock and semi-conscious when we rescued her," the paper quoted Aman Goyal, one of the youths involved in the chase, as saying. The incident, in Begumpur, in the southern suburbs of the Indian capital, took place on Saturday evening after the victim accepted a lift from a man whom she knew from her work as a housekeeper in the north-west of the city. When she got into the car she said she realised there were two other men already inside, who began to assault her. CCTV shows men molesting woman on New Year's Eve in India The Times of India said the men removed her clothes and when she shouted for help, they rolled up the cars windows. "After the Hyundai Accent car started going in an unknown direction, the woman got suspicious and asked them to stop, but they did not, a senior police officer told DNA India. Sensing danger, she started shouting, which is when a group of youths, who were having dinner at a dhaba [roadside restaurant], heard her. "Within 10 minutes, a police team from a picket also joined the hot chase and both the youths and the police together forced the driver of the car to pull over. As soon as the car stopped, the woman jumped out and was rescued. The accused men have been charged with assault of a woman with intent to disrobe and abduction. The burnt-out car has been seized as evidence and police are continuing to search for the third attacker. Sexual violence demonstrators protest outside police headquarters in New Delhi in October 2015 (Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters) Several shocking cases of rape and assault of women in India have renewed focus on sexual violence in the south Asian country. In June a 25-year-old woman was reportedly gang-raped in a moving car by three men in south Delhi. All of her attackers were arrested. The fatal gang-rape of a student on a bus in Delhi in 2012 triggered the first nationwide protests about violence against women and the failure of authorities to protect them. Around 80 per cent of Indian women say they have been harassed by men in public, known as Eve teasing, which includes catcalling, lewd comments and being followed by strangers. And in recent years, New Delhi has earned the title of "rape capital" of India, in part blamed on a lack of female police. Authorities in India have attempted to address the problem and last month an all-female police force was established in the city of Jaipur. The latest statistics made available by Indias National Crime Records Bureau showed there were more than 34,000 cases of rape against women in the country in 2015. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} North Korea is said to be able to produce a miniaturised warhead that can fit inside the kind of missiles it has recently been testing and which analysts believe could reach the US mainland. A US media report said that the finding was contained last month in an analysis completed by the US Defence Intelligence Agency. It said the intelligence community had recently concluded the East Asian nation had up to 60 nuclear weapons. The IC [intelligence community] assesses North Korea has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, to include delivery by ICBM-class missiles, the assessment stated, according to the The Washington Post. North Korea threten United States following UN Sanctions There has been no public, independent confirmation of the report and the news comes against a backdrop of mutual sabre-rattling by Washington and Pyongyang. As North Korea has continued to test intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that potentially have the ability to reach Alaska or Hawaii, Donald Trump and his top officials have warned that nothing is off the table when it comes to dealing with the challenge. A week ago, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said Washington would not seek UN Security Council action following North Koreas latest missile test, because the time for talk is over. Over the weekend, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to approve new sanctions that included a ban on coal and other exports worth more than $1bn. North Korea responded by saying it would launch a thousands-fold revenge against the US. 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 We are ready to retaliate with far bigger actions to make the US pay a price for its crime against our country and people, said the official Korean Central News Agency. It said it would send packs of wolves to strangle those nations opposing Kim Jong Un. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Monday North Korea could show it was ready for dialogue by stopping the missile tests. The best signal that North Korea could give us that theyre prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches, he said, speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Manila. Asked about a time frame within which the US wanted North Korea to halt its nuclear programme, he said: "Were not going to give someone a specific number of days or weeks. This is not a give me 30 days and we are ready to talk. Its not quite that simple. So it is all about how we see their attitude toward approaching a dialogue with us. USA Today said in a phone call on Sunday, Mr Trump and Moon Jae-in, his South Korean counterpart, affirmed that North Korea poses a grave and growing direct threat to the United States, South Korea and Japan, as well as to most countries around the world. The leaders committed to fully implement all relevant resolutions and to urge the international community to do so as well, a White House statement said. Mr Trump later tweeted: Just completed call with President Moon of South Korea. Very happy and impressed with 15-0 United Nations vote on North Korea sanctions. The Post said that while it has been more than a decade since North Koreas first nuclear detonation, many analysts believed it would be years before the country could design a compact warhead that could be delivered by missile to distant targets. It appears, that line has already been crossed. 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 controversial President of the Philippines claims representatives from the US and Australia have considerably toned down their criticism of his human rights record. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently met with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte at an Asian regional conference the highest-level interaction between a member of Donald Trump's administration and Mr Duterte to date. Mr Duterte, speaking about his meetings with Mr Tillerson and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, said the discussions revolved mostly around terrorism, and that human rights came up only in passing. Recommended The human rights disaster the world prefers to ignore He also introduced himself to Mr Tillerson publicly as a humble friend and ally of the United States. A representative for the State Department contested this version of events, telling the Washington Post that Mr Tillerson had brought up critiques of the Philippines's ongoing war on drugs and offered assistance in combating the problem. Tillerson aide RC Hammond quoted the Secretary of State as saying: Mr. President, we are all aware of the American peoples criticism of you in your handling of the drug cartels." The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 1 /9 The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On killing drug addicts These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, dont go into that, even if youre a policeman, because I will really kill you. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Message to China I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, Kill me AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Christmas message to law-breakers If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On sex life I was separated from my wife. Im not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On the drugs trade None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, kill him'" AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting the Pope We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Joke about rape I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first AFP/Getty The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA Mr Duterte campaigned on a promise of cleaning up the drug trade in the Philippines, vowing to kill all of you who make the lives of Filipinos miserable. Human rights groups say as many as 6,000 people have been killed as a result of this war on drugs. The UN high commissioner for human rights has called for a criminal investigation into the President. Relations between the US and the Philippines, however, have warmed under Mr Trumps leadership. The US President has praised Mr Duterte for doing "an unbelievable job on the drug problem, and even invited him to visit the White House. Both the US and Philippines said they planned to discuss human rights at the Asian regional gathering. But neither Mr Duterte nor Mr Tillerson addressed the issue at a press conference before their meeting, focusing instead on the nuclear situation in North Korea. When a reporter shouted out a question about human rights, the two men ignored it. Asked about the issue at a private press conference later, Mr Duterte replied: "Human rights, son of a b****." "Policemen and soldiers have died on me, he continued. The war now in Marawi, what caused it but drugs? So human rights, don't go there." Mr Tillerson also referenced the war in Marawi, saying he sees no conflict at all between the USs position on human rights and their assistance to the Philippines in fighting that war. The Philippine government has been fighting Isis-affiliated militants in Marawi since May. More than 120 Philippine troops and 45 civilians have been killed in the fighting. Mr Duterte has placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law. Mr Tillerson said the US has provided the Philippines with surveillance capabilities, training, information and aircraft to aid them in the conflict. "I see no conflict no conflict at all in our helping them with that situation and our views of the human rights concerns we have with respect to how they carry out their counter narcotics activities," Mr Tillerson said. Of the human rights situation, he added, the Philippines appears to be "beginning to get that situation under control. 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 }} Brigitte Macron will not be given the official job of Frances First Lady or the salary to go with it, aides to her husband French president Emmanuel Macron have said. The announcement comes after a petition against Ms Macron being given formal First Lady status attracted more than 284,000 signatures. Presidential aides have now clarified that Ms Macron will have a public role, but she will not draw a salary from the French state, and there will be no change in the constitution something that would have been required if the title First Lady of France was to be given formal legal standing. What will happen, the aides said, is that in the next few days a transparency charter will be published, clarifying Ms Macrons exact role, how much she costs the French taxpayer in expenses, and how many staff she has working with her. In a series of tweets, government spokesman Christophe Castaner said: Were not talking about paid employment. The wife of the president does not and will not have any payment for what she does. No change to the constitution, no new funding, no salary for Brigitte Macron. Promising to reveal more details of Ms Macrons role in the coming days, Mr Castaner added that Ms Macron received more than 200 letters a day and keeps a link with the French public with the greatest discretion. Brigitte Macron has a role, and responsibilities, he said. We want transparency and to define the extent to which she is funded. This is just an exercise in transparency. Today, nothing is being said. Tomorrow, everything will be said. The statements from Mr Castaner and other aides seem to suggest the role of the French presidents partner will remain as it has been for the last few decades: accompanying her husband and being called First Lady in countless news reports, without the title being officially recognised by the constitution; drawing no salary but having staff to help her and incurring expenses paid for by the French state. Donald Trump tells Brigitte Macron she's "in such good shape" In strict constitutional terms, the ambiguities are a bit similar to the position of Melania Trump as First Lady of the US (FLOTUS). That title, too, has never been codified in the US constitution and it does not come with a salary. In France, however, there now appears to be far more controversy about what the role of the presidents partner should be. This is partly because France got a break from presidents wives after Mr Macrons predecessor Francois Hollande split from his long-term partner Valerie Trierweiler in January 2014 over his affair with the actress Julie Gayet. The French public has also been far more sceptical about whether a presidential spouse should get state funding when they are unelected and their status seems wholly based on who their partner is. At the time of Mr Hollandes split from Ms Trierweiler, a series of polls suggested that more than 50 per cent of the French public did not wish to see any official role for presidential spouses. Months earlier the French government had admitted Ms Trierweiler had five aides and cost the state 236,904 (214,584) a year, while her predecessor Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, wife of Nicolas Sarkozy, had a team of eight staff and left taxpayers with an annual expenses bill of 437,376 (396,141). Since then, attitudes appear to have hardened further. In May a YouGov poll for the Huffington Post suggested 68 per cent of French voters opposed an official First Lady role, and last month Mr Macron suffered the biggest decline in popularity for a French president since Jacques Chirac in 1995, amid anger at proposed cuts to public services. The controversy over Ms Macron also comes as her husband drives through his flagship moralisation policy which will prevent National Assembly representatives from employing members of their own family. Highlighting the potential contradiction, the petition against official First Lady status declares: There is no reason for the wife of the head of state to get a budget out of public funds. The petition, started by the actor Thierry Paul Valette, adds: Brigitte Macron currently has a team of two or three helpers, as well as two secretaries and two security agents that is enough. If Ms Macron was granted official constitutional First Lady status, the petition adds, she would benefit from a budget, a significant role, numerous helpers, drivers, enhanced security and other advantages. Despite the pressure generated by the petition, Mr Macrons aides insisted they had not been influenced by it. They said a working group had been looking at how to define Ms Macrons role for several weeks. The announcement of a transparency charter also appears consistent with what Mr Macron said during his French presidential election campaign, when he revealed that he wanted to clarify what the presidents partner did and told one interviewer: Paid by the Republic [state], no. Having a role, a real status and the capacity to do things, yes. 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 }} Police in Brussels say they have opened fire on a vehicle after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek. The driver reportedly told officers there were explosives inside the vehicle. The area was cordoned off and police advised residents to remain indoors while military units checked for explosives, Belgium's federal prosecutors said. Belgian broadcaster RTL quoted a police spokesman as saying that shots were fired at the vehicle after it became stuck in traffic and the driver reversed into a police car. The report said that the vehicle is registered in Germany. A police spokesman told RTL: "We got the driver out, and he immediately told us that there were explosives inside." Brussels prosecutor's spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch said the suspect was alone and no one was injured. Witnesses on the scene heard two controlled explosions. Molenbeek, a poor district of the capital with a large Moroccan Muslim population, gained notoriety after an Isis cell based there mounted suicide attacks on Paris in November 2015 that killed 130 people. Associates of that group attacked Brussels itself four months later, killing 32 people. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report 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 story of Chloe Ayling's kidnap by a sex slave gang "seems incredible", said her lawyer, but he has stressed that he and investigators believe it is true. Ms Ayling, a 20-year-old glamour model, says that she was lured to Milan to take part in a photo shoot. But once she got there she was captured, drugged, and taken to an Italian farmhouse where she was held by her captors. Several days later apparently because her kidnappers didn't realise she was a mother she was dropped off at the British consolute in Milan, and she has been there for weeks since. When she was dropped off, the man who had taken her on the journey was arrested as a suspected kidnapper. Police have gone on to find various references to the "Black Death Group" and its involvement in the kidnapping, including a letter that instructed Ms Ayling to make sure that she gained the group good publicity. Her lawyer has agreed that the case sounds bizarre. He said investigators initially had "more than understandable doubts" about the model's story. "It seems incredible," lawyer Francesco Pesce said "a man kidnaps, together with others, a girl, and after a week, citing particular reasons, accompanies her inside a consulate ... (and) practically hands her over to police." "This at first was doubted also by investigators but the story later turned out to be true," he added. Italian police told the Mail that neither Mr Herba or Ms Ayling had co-operated with the initial stages of questioning. Ms Ayling's manager, Philip Green, told The Independent that Italian police had "detained" Ms Ayling after the kidnapping was reported by confiscating her passport but that it wasn't clear why. Ms Ayling was little known before the kidnap. Google searches for her name reveal a string of appearances on The Sun's page three, a story about her having been present during a terror attack in Paris, and her participation in a YouTube prank video in which she pretended to be a vlogger's boyfriend. There was no mention that Ms Ayling had gone missing in the media before last weekend, when she identified herself as the model who Italian police had said had been kidnapped. But police sources said that such a decision may have been made for operational reasons and that any missing person wouldn't necessarily be publicised. Since Ms Ayling has arrived back in England she has only given a short statement to the press. In that she said that she was being debriefed by British authorities, something that police sources said would tend to happen in cases where there could be intelligence about a broader crime group. "I've been through a terrifying experience," Ayling said outside her home. "I've feared for my life, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour." Police have repeatedly suggested that the suspect, Lukasz Pawel Herba, is a dangerous man. But they have also called him a fantasist and said that he exhibits signs of mythomania. He is accused of having taken Ms Ayling to sell her as a sex slave to the Middle East, for as much as $300,000. When they would grow tired of her, they would feed her to tigers, Italian newspapers reported him as having said. As the kidnapping came to an end, Mr Herba attempted to sell the story of a British model being kidnapped by the Russian mafia to the Daily Mirror, reports have claimed. Ms Ayling has said that she had no awareness of that contact, which would presumably have undermined any attempt to traffic her. The newspaper said that it had received a message that referenced Ms Ayling on 13 July, two days into the kidnap, that was also addressed to The Sun and the agency that represented the model. "There was nothing in the email to suggest it was from the alleged kidnappers, nor was it an attempt to sell a story about a kidnap," a spokesperson said. "We contacted the modelling agency copied into the email, but our call was not returned. No further emails were received." It has also emerged that Ms Ayling went shoe shopping with her kidnapper, while the ordeal was still taking place. She told police officers that was because she knew that he was planning to hand her back, and her lawyer said that she had been told that people were watching and would kill her if she attempted to escape. Police have also questioned why Mr Herba apparently made himself available to be arrested when he handed Ms Ayling over, as it emerged that the pair may have gone for breakfast in Milan after they arrived to find the consulate hadn't yet opened. It isn't clear whether the Black Death group that he claims to have belonged to actually exists. The image that has become associated with the group including on flyers found by police is easily accessible through Google Images, and is the fifth search result for the phrase "Black Death". A Milan police official has said that the demands were sent from Mr Herba's computer but that it wasn't possible to say whether or not he did so as part of a group. 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 }} Kidnapped model Chloe Ayling went shoe shopping with her abductor and even slept next to him for several nights, it has been claimed. The 20-year-old was drugged and kidnapped in Milan after being lured to a fake photoshoot, Italian police have said. Alleged kidnapper Lukasz Herba is said to have taken her to buy shoes at some point during her ordeal, because she lost them when she was snatched, Mail Online reported. According to The Sun, which cited a police statement, the pair shared a bed after the first day of her captivity, during which she was reportedly handcuffed to a chest of drawers. Ms Ayling told police she was not sexually assaulted. They are the latest details to emerge in an unusual case that even Ms Ayling's lawyer admitted had given detectives "more than understandable doubts". Ms Ayling, of Coulsdon, south London, is said to have been drugged with the horse tranquilliser ketamine and transported in a bag to Borgial, an isolated village near Turin, before being released on July 17, according to Italian police. She was then detained for six days while her captors reportedly tried to auction her on the dark web as a sex slave. But her kidnappers eventually took her to the British consulate in Milan despite receiving neither payment nor a ransom, with the reason later given that they had learned she was a mother. Ms Ayling's lawyer acknowledged that aspects of the case seemed bizarre. He said investigators initially had "more than understandable doubts" about the model's story. "It seems incredible," Francesco Pesce said. "A man kidnaps, together with others, a girl, and after a week, citing particular reasons, accompanies her inside a consulate ... (and) practically hands her over to police. "This at first was doubted also by investigators, but the story later turned out to be true." 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 Addressing the sensational claims in an interview with the BBC, Mr Pesce confirmed Ms Ayling had gone grocery and shoe shopping with her abductor. He said: "She was told that she was going to be sold to somebody in the Middle East for sex. She was told that people were there watching her and waiting to kill her if she tried anything. "So she thought that the best idea was to go along with it and to be nice, in a way, to her captor." Milan police officer Lorenzo Bucossi said Herba described himself as a "paid killer" for a mercenary organisation. Others have suggested he is a fantasist. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Milan deputy prosecutor Paolo Storari said: "Fantasist or not, what is clear is that he is a very dangerous man who drugged his victim as soon as she was kidnapped and put her inside a large travel bag in the boot of a car. "His version of events is barely credible but clearly he does not deny that he was with her for the time she was missing." 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 }} Footage has emerged of residents of a Russian mental health institution chained to beds and radiators. The grainy film, released by a psychiatrist from the Russian city of Briansk, shows several residents of the Trubchevsk Psycho-Neurological Institution near Briansk chained to objects by their wrists or ankles. The psychiatrist, Alexander Kupriyanov, told Human Rights Watch Russian authorities had opened a criminal case, but were mostly focused on finding out who recorded the videos. The video prompted several former staff members to come forward, with two former nurses confirming the practice of chaining people with psychosocial disabilities to their beds or radiators. They also said the practice was used for those believed to be suicidal. 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 A former kitchen worker said she recognised the patients in the video. She said staff regularly brought some residents to the dining hall chained to each other, and even forced them to eat in handcuffs. One former nurse said "unruly" patients would be chained, forcibly sedated or placed in solitary confinement. Others are practically immobile and the staff dont want visitors to see them crawling around the grounds, she added. The former staff said chains and handcuffs were mostly used in wing five of the institute, known as the "Mercy Wing." Shackling is prohibited under Russian and international law and Human Rights Watch has called for a full investigation into the allegations. "Authorities should properly investigate these damning allegations and make sure that people in such institutions around Russia are treated with the dignity they deserve," Yulia Gorbunova, a researcher for the group focusing on Russia and Belarus, said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Isis and the Taliban have joined forces in a deadly attack on a village in Afghanistan, it has been reported. At least 50 people died in the attack as militants from the two groups targeted the Mirzawalang area of Sar-e-Pul province. A Taliban spokesman denied that the two groups had joined forces. "It is completely wrong, it is propaganda of our enemy, Isis is our enemy, there is no Isis in Sar-e-Pul. Our commander in Sar-e-Pul is called Ghazanfar, who is not an Isis," Zabiullah Mojahid, a Taliban spokesman, told CNN. Local officials have claimed the two groups beheaded a number of people and the area was secured within 48 hours. The governor of the district said local authorities had requested air support to take out the militants, but it was refused. Despite several demands for air support and the special forces, the demands were ignored by central government. They told us the air force was busy in other provinces, Sharif Aminyar told the New York Times. 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 Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, another Taliban spokesman, denied any civilian deaths and brandished it propaganda. Mr Ahmadi said "only 28 local militia were killed" and said that their bodies were given to locals. 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 }} An international war crimes prosecutor has resigned from her position on the UNs investigative panel into human rights abuses in the Syrian civil war because she is so frustrated with its inability to hold criminals to account, it has emerged. I give up. The states in the Security Council dont want justice, Carla del Ponte told Swiss newspaper Blick over the weekend. I cant any longer be part of this commission which simply doesnt do anything. After six and a half years everyone is bad in the war-torn country, Ms del Ponte said. The Assad government is committing terrible crimes against humanity and using chemical weapons. And the opposition, that is made up only of extremists and terrorists anymore (Getty Images) Ms del Ponte, the former Swiss Attorney-General, rose to prominence for her prosecution work in the international war crimes tribunals into the 1990s Rwanda and former Yugoslavia conflicts. Believe me, the terrible crimes committed in Syria I neither saw in Rwanda nor ex-Yugoslavia, she said. We thought the international community had learned from Rwanda. But no, it learned nothing. In scathing comments Ms del Ponte criticised all sides in the complex six-year-old Syrian war, including the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the official rebel opposition. Theresa May refuses three times to say if she would join US in a strike against Syria When she was first appointed to the independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria in 2012, the opposition (members) were the good ones; the government were the bad ones, she was quoted as saying. But after six and a half years Everyone is bad in the war-torn country, she said. The Assad government is committing terrible crimes against humanity and using chemical weapons. And the opposition, that is made up only of extremists and terrorists anymore. The Security Council, she said, should have appointed a court similar to those for the Rwanda and Yugoslavian wars - a decision vetoed by permanent member Russia, which is a key backer of the Assad government. We have had absolutely no success holding perpetrators of war crimes in Syria to account, she added. For five years weve been running up against walls. While the investigative panel has compiled thousands of interviews and other documentation of possible war crimes committed by all sides in Syria, the work was pointless without a tribunal, she added. Ms del Ponte will leave her post in September, she said, sitting on the commissions meetings until then. In a statement the commission said it had been aware of Ms del Pontes plans since June and that its work will continue. In pictures: Children play underground in Syria Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: Children play underground in Syria In pictures: Children play underground in Syria A child plays in the ball pit at the 'Land of Childhood,' an underground playground in a besieged town in Syria Unicef In pictures: Children play underground in Syria Abdulaziz, 10, plays in the 'Land of Childhood' underground playground in Syria Unicef In pictures: Children play underground in Syria Boys look through a show window inside the tunnel that provides a safe passage for children between the two basements that form the 'Land of Childhood' in a besieged town in Syria Unicef In pictures: Children play underground in Syria Children play at the underground 'Land of Childhood' in a besieged town in Syria Unicef In pictures: Children play underground in Syria Two girls play at the 'Land of Childhood' underground playground in a besieged town in Syria Unicef In pictures: Children play underground in Syria Children on the ride on a ferris wheel at the 'Land of Childhood', an underground playground in a besieged town in Syria Unicef In pictures: Children play underground in Syria Seven-year-old Massa at the "Land of Childhood" underground playground in a besieged town in Syria Unicef In pictures: Children play underground in Syria Children wait in line to buy sweets at the 'Land of Childhood,' an underground playground in a besieged town in Syria Unicef With Ms Del Pontes departure there are now just two members left on the commission - Thai professor and former human rights investigator Vitit Muntarbhorn left in 2016 to become the UNs first-ever independent expert investigating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation. In recent months the commissions relevance has been called into question by the UNs General Assembly, which - faced with a deadlocked Security Council - in December 2016 created a separate investigative body designed at preparing legal cases for the most serious human rights violations in Syrias bloody civil war. Efforts by Turkey, Russia, Iran and the US to broker talks and ceasefires have had some success so far in 2017, although reports of sporadic fighting continue, and extremists Isis continue to roam Syrias northeast. The Associated Press contributed to this report For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A 10-year-old refugee, who has attracted global attention and the nickname of the little Picasso for his artistic talent, is holding his first exhibition and donating all the money raised at the event to a sick Serbian boy. Farhad Nouri has been living in a refugee camp with his parents and two younger brothers in Belgrades Krnjaca neighbourhood for the past eight months. The family was forced to flee conflict and poverty in their home country of Afghanistan two years ago, travelling through Greece and Turkey before arriving in Serbia. They hope to eventually start a peaceful new life somewhere in Western Europe. Farhad describes childhood in his temporary home as very difficult but says he tries to use art as a release from the suffering because when he draws he can think of nothing else. Only people here could really understand [how life is]. Its so bad for me, he told The Independent. If you spent one week in this camp you would be crazy but I feel very good when Im drawing. I feel better and I dont think about how it was in Afghanistan. When Im drawing Im relaxed. Picasso, his hero The spirited 10-year-old, who learned to speak English in just a year, began drawing at six years old after growing up watching his father create arabesque art in Afghanistan. He discovered he had a flair for drawing and has since sold artwork in Greece and Serbia. Farhad continues to hone his technique and spends his days sketching the people who inspire him, including Novak Djokovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angela Merkel, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso his hero. When I started to paint at six years old I could not draw like I do now back then, he said. Now my favourite thing I like to paint is faces and portraits. I feel very good when I draw these people. Especially Picasso because he is my favourite artist. For Farhad, the exhibition is more than just a means of sharing his photographs, drawings and paintings with the world. He wants to use it to change the way people think and that, he says, is why choosing the name of the show was so important to him. He eventually decided to call it We Need Kindness The Dream of a Ten-Year-Old. He said: Im very happy. When I found out I was having the exhibition I didnt know what to do [because of the excitement]. I spent all day thinking about what the name of it should be. I was talking to my father about being a refugee. He told me how difficult he finds it and I thought, do you know what we need? We need kindness. So I remembered that name. But beyond this noble act, Farhad also wants to use the art show to make a difference to the life of a seven-year-old Serbian boy, whose family are fundraising to help pay for lifesaving treatment at a specialist clinic in Paris. When he heard about his story he knew he had to do something to help. I dont want any children in the world to be afraid of anything, he said. Because of that I decided I wont sell my paintings for lots of money but instead I will put a box out and anyone who wants to donate can give for the sick boy. We need that kindness. I want to help him and to show other people how they can help him and show their kindness. I can understand people and I think we all need kindness. The exhibition, which opened at the Slow Cafe in Belgrade on Wednesday 9 August, has been organised in collaboration with Help Refugees, Refugees Foundation Serbia and Serbian photography school Fabrika Fotografa. Sian Pilkington, a field representative at Help Refugees said: Farhad is an intelligent boy with extraordinary talent, we are very happy to celebrate his artwork. Its a fantastic opportunity to reflect on a positive story rather than the negative stories of the refugee crisis that are in the media. We hope that Farhad is given all the opportunities that any 10-year-old deserves to achieve his dreams in the future. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A woman whose skull was cracked in a whipped cream accident similar to the one that killed a model in June has been awarded 1.1m (994,950) by a French court. The payout was unusually large for a non-fatal case in France, according to the victims lawyer, but was compensation for a life snatched away. Emilie Lada, 30, had been in the kitchen making a mousse with her husband and two young children in 2013 when the whipped cream dispenser she was using exploded. Its plastic lid tore off part of her face and left her with permanent disabilities including memory failure and loss of taste and smell. She is a young woman who can no longer work, her lawyer said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty A court in the southern French town of Montauban ruled that the canister importer F2J and insurance provider AXA should pay the money out. AXA unsuccessfully appealed against the ruling, saying that the Auchan supermarket chain where the canister had been sold was partially responsible. The sum included 1.09m (980,000) for Ms Lada and 10,000 each for her husband and two children, 3 and 6. An exploding whipped cream canister made by the same manufacturer was behind the death of French Instagram star Rebecca Burger. The fitness blogger suffered cardiac arrest after a piece of the exploding bottle flew up into her chest in June. Her family announced her death to her 200,000 fans on Facebook and Instagram with a warning about the dispenser. Many tens of thousands of the defective appliance are still in circulation, they wrote. The French National Consumer Institute (INC) has warned that the canister, recalled in March 2013, may not be able to withstand pressure from the carbon dioxide inside. Ms Ladas lawyer, Emilie Petitgirard, said that there have been 60 serious incidents involving whipped cream canisters since 2013, some involving the same brand, Ard Time. It is a symptom of scandalous inefficiency and a totally ineffective recall campaign that another woman could die four years later from the same product by the same brand, she said. 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 }} Despite the increasing international availability of Korean food and drink, there is one traditional product best sampled when visiting South Korea makgeolli. With significant amounts of lactobacilli, or lactic acid bacteria, the milky opaque liquor is probiotic, which means its good for digestion and bolstering the immune system. But the same fermentation process that makes makgeolli rich in amino acids and vitamins also means the traditional drink doesnt travel well without pasteurisation. Its at its best when consumed fresh, a week or two after being brewed. Fresh makgeolli is full of probiotics, so in a lot of ways it can be compared to yoghurt in health effects, said Shin Kim, chef and founder of New York City-based Banchan Story, which leads traditional Korean cooking classes and demos. But its definitely more fun to drink. It is a living food that continues its fermentation throughout its short shelf life. Freshly brewed makgeolli has a distinctive flavour that has alternatively been described as sweet and tart, creamy, bitter and astringent. Although bottled makgeolli is sold worldwide, exported versions have to be sterilised to stop the fermentation process, then treated with preservatives and sweeteners such as aspartame to mask the taste. Thats why anyone enthusiastic about Korean cuisine, interesting liquors, probiotics or educating their palate should travel to South Korea if they want to try authentic, freshly brewed makgeolli. Fresh makgeolli invariably tastes better because it contains live yeast cultures and has a more complex and vibrant flavour profile, said Julia Mellor, co-owner of The Sool Company in Seoul, which offers tasting tours of makgeolli breweries and museums. There is a high lactobacillus content in fresh makgeolli, but always be aware that it is still an alcohol so health benefits should be considered within that frame. Pasteurised makgeolli has a much longer shelf life, but for the most part it has a much more flat texture and simple flavour profile. Koreans have been brewing makgeolli since the Shilla Dynasty (57 BC to 935 AD), and it always begins with nuruk, a fermentation starter that is similar to malt and yeast. Each brewery uses its own nuruk, mixing in steamed rice, yeast and water, then sometimes herbs and flowers. Traditional makgeolli bars are experiencing a revival (Jiwoong Kim) There are different kinds of nuruk, said Kim Kwang Moo, makgeolli brewer and owner of Seouls Jeonju Jeontong Makgeolli Bar. Rice nuruk, flour nuruk and mung bean nuruk. Nuruk determines makgeollis taste and smell. For centuries makgeolli was brewed at home but it fell out of favour in the 1970s when South Koreans began to prefer imported wine and other liquors. Recently, the vitamin-rich brew has enjoyed a revival, partly because of the health benefits, partly because of the low alcohol content and partly due to a renewed appreciation of South Koreas culinary cultural traditions. Korean alcohol has faced a lot of challenges over the past century and is still often considered a low-quality beverage, said Mellor. However, we are seeing year by year more small batch artisan producers who are using better quality ingredients, longer fermentation times, and refusing to use artificial sweeteners. At least 700 small scale breweries currently exist in South Korea. In the past, makgeolli used to be considered as cheap and old-fashioned, so sellers focused only on selling big quantities to consumers, said Jang Yoon Suk, head of marketing at Neurin Maeul, a trendy makgeolli bar in Seoul. Today, the makgeolli industry overall is trying to appeal to consumers by offering novelty and high-end makgeollis. Jeonju Traditional Makgeolli serves it with cockles and skate sashimi (Jiwoong Kim) For many brewers, making high end makgeolli involves using more traditional methods and avoiding the addition of artificial ingredients. Many makgeolli companies have turned to mass production to expedite the process, said Kim. To maximise the profit, they dilute the makgeolli with water, which reduces the ABV. They use artificial nuruk with the bacteria theyve extracted. They add this artificial nuruk to rice to speed up the process. This is far from the traditional way of making makgeolli. To sample fresh brews, you can take a tour of brewing facilities or plan a visit around a makgeolli festival. Seouls best fresh brew bars Neurin Maeul Seoul, Jung-gu, Myeongdong, Eulji-ro 5-gil, 26 Baesangmyeon Brewerys makgeolli bar, Neurin Maeul, serves the traditional drink in a modern interior with high ceilings, exposed cement walls and tall stainless steel brewing pots that are installed in the middle of the bar. The bars award-winning makgeolli is made from rice, water and yeast in small batches to preserve the taste and smell. Based on its maturity, the makgeolli is categorised by seasons. From spring to winter, the liquor becomes stronger and less fizzy, said Kim Ki-Moon, manager of Neurin Maeul in Myeondong. After youve sampled makgeolli in its purest and simplest form, try it mixed into a cocktail combined with fruits, such as mango and pineapple, and ice. Jeonju Traditional Makgeolli Seoul, Seocho-gu, Banpo-dong Sapyung-daero 362 With its wooden walls and the warm orange light from colourful paper mache lanterns, this bar looks and feels more like a traditional makgeolli bar. Jeonju Traditional Makgeolli not only celebrates the liquor but the cuisine of Jeonju, a city famous for its savoury food. Order makgeolli and you can sample palate-pleasing snacks such as cockles and skate sashimi, as well as pancakes and oysters. Were popular for the cockles, said Kim Kwang Moo, the bars owner and makgeolli brewer. Another appetiser that cant be separated from makgeolli is hongeo (fermented skates). Since its made with sweet rice nuruk and cultivated twice, Kim says the Moo Young makgeolli is the closest you can get to the traditional method of making makgeolli. I hope to make quality makgeolli that leaves a long lasting impression in peoples minds, said Kim. A drink that people enjoy. A drink that means to rest and look back. Seouls best makgeolli tours The Sool Company (facebook.com/mmpkorea) offers tours that take visitors to breweries, with guides who speak English. Seouls best makgeolli festivals Jarasum Makgeolli Festival 1 to 3 September 2017 Location: Gyeonggi-do, Jarasum Island, which is located in Gyeonggi Province, about an hour northeast of Seoul. Entrance Fee: Free Korean Makgeolli Festival 7 to 8 October 2017 Location: Gyeonggi-do, Ilsan, about an hour outside Seoul. Entrance Fee: Free More information For more information about festivals, visit the Korean Tourism Organisation (english.visitkorea.or.kr). Click here to find hotels in South Korea 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 }} Travellers to Spain are on high alert following attacks by an anarchist group protesting against tourism. Last week masked members of Arran ambushed an open top sightseeing bus in Barcelona, slashing its tyres and painting slogans on the windows. Windows of five-star hotels were broken and bicycles rented out to tourists were damaged. In Palma, Mallorca, protestors let off smoke bombs and ran through restaurants before breaking windows. The group want to bring about the "end of the capitalist system and global injustice" and believe that mass tourism is destroying cities and condemning the working classes of the Catalan Countries to misery. Speaking to The Times, Laura Flores, 24, one of the leaders of the group, said: "We cannot rule out more attacks. There have been assaults in the past and there will be more in the future." The attacks have been condemned by the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who described the protesters as "extremists going against common sense" and by Ada Colau, the Mayor of Barcelona. Colau said: "We denounce the attack on a tourist bus. Protesting over tourism should never mean intimidating people." The Foreign Office said there is no specific update to their guidance for travellers heading to Spain at the moment but added that it is under constant review. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the protests and monitoring the situation. We are also in contact with the local authorities." The chairman of Abta, Noel Josephides, said he was concerned about future attacks. He said: "These protests are a wake-up call. The local governments havent been listening or taking the overcrowding seriously. Recommended How to stop city breaks killing our cities "The advice to tourists is use your common sense. Be vigilant and dont go where there might be a risk." Visitor numbers to Spain have increased by 12 per cent in the first six months of 2017 to 36.4 million and Catalonia is the most visited region with 8.6 million tourists. Although tourism represents 11 per cent of GDP for the Spanish economy, companies such as Airbnb are blamed by many residents for shutting them out of the local property market. More protests are planned in San Sebastian in August and authorities fear the violence could be repeated in other areas during the busy summer season. Frank Brehany, a travel consumer rights commentator, said that the protests are not new. "Local people have voiced their concerns about crime, water, traffic, housing and work which they ascribe to the 'saturation' of tourism. Recent events have seen these frustrations brought to the fore by the group calling itself Arran, who are currently providing headline grabbing stunts. "Holidaymakers should make themselves aware of any local frustrations before they book their holidays by carrying out online research. In the case of Spanish protests, like any protest in a resort or country, if you find yourself caught up in such an event you should always find a way to remove yourself from the area. Always follow the guidance of the local police and ultimately the UKs Foreign Office." 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 }} Check out the careers of first ladies of France and you can see why no self-respecting woman would want to go anywhere near the role. State-sponsored doormat might be a better description: humiliations range from presidents routinely cheating on their premieres dames, to denying them the right to speak for themselves at all. Now Emmanuel Macron, the fresh-faced reformer who seems determined to become known as a truly radical French head of state, wants to revise all that. His wife, Brigitte Macron, refuses to take the female lead in yet another excruciating soap opera. She potentially has a strong and powerful voice, and so Macron favours formalising the office into First Lady of France. Feminist inclinations are seemingly strong in Macron. He pushed for a 50/50 male-female split when choosing his new government and when selecting parliamentary candidates for his party, La Republique en Marche! Macron is as aware as everyone else that there has never been a male presidential consort in the history of France, and sees the need to elevate the position from mere partner of to something far more relevant to an egalitarian society. Opponents are less idealistic, however. Displaying predictable spite, and not a little misogyny, plenty have argued that first ladies need to know their place. An online petition against the creation of the job gathered around 250,000 this week and the French government has now responded by stating that she will not be granted an official First Lady title or budget, at least for now. Donald Trump tells Brigitte Macron she's "in such good shape" What is clear is that the lobbyists arguments mainly concern semantics. Modern first ladies already have up to five personal assistants, a team of security agents, and numerous perks, from the use of state jets to on-call hairdressers and florists. This adds up to a budget easily passing the 1m mark. Switching the title from first lady to First Lady would not significantly increase this total, and certainly wouldnt entail much judicial effort either. The new post will be unpaid, and will not require any constitutional change just the drawing up of a transparency charter, according to Macron aides. Rather than a political role, they say, it will be a public one. This has not stopped critics citing Penelopegate, the scandal which saw British-born Penelope Fillon accused of earning a fortune in taxpayers cash over three decades while apparently posing as the parliamentary assistant of her husband, would-be conservative president Francois Fillon. As the accusations against her intensified, Penelope Fillon did not utter a single word in public. If the allegations had remained hidden, she would undoubtedly have emerged as a first lady in the traditional mould: cynically compliant and for the most part hushed up (or discreet, to use the euphemism favoured by Francois Fillon). They deny any wrongdoing, but the Fillons are now indicted criminal suspects facing court action and, if found guilty, prison. President Macron is actually trying to clean up French politics. He has just introduced strict legislation to ban MPs and Senators from employing family members. There is no doubt that the Paris political class has been on the gravy train for far too long, and he wants to halt it. Emmanuel Macron claims Africa held back by 'civilisational' problems and women having 'seven or eight children' The Brigitte Macron I interviewed during her husbands electoral campaign was uninterested in making money, or having more flunkies around her. She was not in the slightest bit pushy or personally ambitious. On the contrary, the retired teacher wanted to be taken seriously as a well-educated and highly experienced public servant. Note how Brigitte Macrons detractors focus not on her character or intellect, but on her appearance, suggesting that the way she dresses is too young for a 64-year-old. They mock the age gap between her and the 39-year-old President. They laugh at her for daring to organise fleeting meetings with pop stars Bono and Rihanna in Paris. In short, they want to reduce her to another upstart who should be locked away in a quiet salon while her man sorts out domestic and world affairs. Little is made of it in France, but that is exactly what happened to the last two women who might reasonably have been called premiere dame. Valerie Trierweiler suffered in silence before being kicked out of the Elysee Palace when President Francois Hollande was exposed two-timing her with an actress. It was only much later that she spilled all the embarrassing details of her ordeal in a bestselling kiss-and-tell. In turn, Julie Gayet the thespian Hollande left Trierweiler for continues to adopt a Penelope-style omerta about her own covert experiences in the Elysee and other official homes. Trump handshake with Macron goes on forever Such incidents highlight the absolute farce of being the first lady. By making the occupation official, it will at least lose the sense of pitiful anonymity and powerlessness with which it has become associated. The status of First Lady of the United States did nothing for Michelle Obamas career as a lawyer, and she often looked awkward taking part in cheesy televised stunts. The function in America is still largely tokenistic one characterised by emotional displays of empathy and charity fundraising. Although it is not regulated by statute or codified in any way, Michelle Obama nonetheless had the Flotus title and earned respect because of it. It is only through establishing a Flof, and indeed properly defining what premieres dames do in France, that they might be guaranteed similar respect, and try to reform what is currently a woeful chore. If there was an ideal candidate to bring about some kind of change, then it was Brigitte Macron. France should reconsider. 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 }} So far from being an arrogant, self-aggrandising, Brexit-sabotaging enemy of the people, the British judiciary, it seems, wants nothing more than to be told what to do by Parliament. One of the too-many careless errors made by the Government in its mishandling of this issue was to leave utterly unresolved the status of the European Court of Justice in the Repeal Bill. Given the neuralgic effect even a mention of the ECJ can have on Conservative MPs, it is rather surprising to find such a laissez-faire attitude enshrined in the bill, such that no UK court will need to have regard to decisions of the ECJ post-Brexit but may do so if it considers it appropriate. That is hopelessly vague. Lord Neuberger, who stands down as Supreme Court president next month, has done his public duty as a lawyer, still more as a man of common sense, to point out to ministers the obvious danger of handing such sweeping powers to British judges, who, in due course, will indeed be blamed and vilified almost whatever course of action they take. The problem arises, for example, in employment law. If the UK-EU trade deal eventually stipulates that workers in Britain should enjoy the same or equivalent rights as those in EU member states, and the ECJ makes a judgement that clarifies European laws and rules, then to what degree is a British judge obliged to follow what the ECJ says? In effect the ECJ is making new law, but is Westminster prepared to allow British judges to follow suit? If so, whats left of the parliamentary sovereignty then? Law making will simply have been transferred from the ECJ to a puppet organisation in the UK, namely the British judiciary, and, in fact if not in name, the ECJs rule-making and interpretation of EU law will continue to be binding on British citizens and companies. (Except that the UK will no longer have a voice or votes on such laws in the European Council or European Parliament). Sir Simon Fraser: Brexit talks damaged by Cabinet splits which leave UK without a coherent strategy This is not the same issue, as it is sometimes stated, where there is a dispute over trade, which can be relatively easily decided by a joint ECJ-Independent tribunal, as with any disputes that arise between those members of the old EFTA who are also in the EU Single Market, such as Norway. This is a matter of making or breaking domestic UK laws. The judge is right in saying that Parliament cannot allow the judiciary to guess what it must do, or else we will end up with an even worse muddle than the one we are heading for anyway. The bill ought also to address those cases going to appeal in Europe that originated when the UK was in the EU and under the ECJ, but will be sent to the ECJ for judgment between now and 30 March 2019 (the putative date for Brexit), and indeed after 30 March 2019 and the ECJ should also make clear whether it wishes to adjudicate on cases that turned on a point of European law as enunciated by the ECJ at a time when the UK was in the EU. We may well end up with a situation where cases referred on appeal to the ECJ create precedents that can then not necessarily be followed in future, and in a culture where binding precedent means so much that again is a sure recipe for confusion. As ever, only the bank balances of solicitors, barristers and advocates will benefit from this unholy chaos. The law, never easy to manage, make or judge upon, has plainly not had anything like the attention it deserves from the Ministry of Justice or the various other departments involved in the Brexit process. The unlikely question arises; where is Justice Secretary David Lidington when his nation needs him? It is all very well condemning the ECJ as some sort of alien impost on Britains long history as an independent nation making its own procedures (that is when the ECJ is not being mixed up with the entirely separate European Court of Human Rights, not an EU institution anyway, and which the UK will, probably, continue to be party to). But what the British seem not to have much of a clue about is what their future independent procedures will be. Maybe before too long we will actually start to miss the ECJ for its crystal clarity of status and purpose. What was that about take back control, Theresa May? 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 }} Across Europe, terrorists and other criminals are cheering the news that the UK will withdraw from the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that has meant hundreds of serious criminals being sent back to the UK to face justice. Twelve years ago the UK used a EAW to bring back from Rome Husain Osman, who helped organise the London terror bombings in July 2005. He fled to Rome where his lawyers said his human rights were threatened if he was returned to London. The EAW trumped efforts to keep him in Italy. He is now serving an indefinite prison sentence. In March the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, told the Commons that the European Arrest Warrant was absolutely essential to delivering effective judgement to the murderers, rapists and paedophiles that we have managed to seek judgement on. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images Now David Davis is reported as telling pro-Brexit Tory MPs that UK judges can stop extradition of criminals from the UK which if implemented means Britain withdrawing from the EAW system as it works on extradition requests being automatically granted without local judges stopping extraditions. In 1995, the Islamist Algerian terrorist Rachid Ramda, was arrested in London after the French police sent proof of his involvement in the 1995 Paris Metro bombings. Lawyers and judges in London were able to delay his return to France for ten years until finally the then Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, decided he should face justice and he is now serving life. Ramda was detained before the EAW was in place, unlike the London tube terrorist, Husain Osman, who fled to Rome but was instantly returned. Every British police force insists the EAW is a vital tool in cross-border crime fighting. The best known EAW is the one issued by Sweden to retrieve Julian Assange. The WikiLeaks founder took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to escape the reach of the EAW. Of course not many Brexit fans want to go to bat for Assange, but Tory MPs hostile to the EAW have regularly used the House of Commons or the press to highlight cases of people who have come to Britain to avoid justice back home and then protest when an EAW is issued. Sir Simon Fraser: Brexit talks damaged by Cabinet splits which leave UK without a coherent strategy Between 2009 and 2016 Britain sent home 15,819 Europeans on the basis of a EAW. Thats an average of 586 for each EU member state. By contrast, over the same period, Britain has had shipped back to face justice 1716 suspected criminals from other EU nations on the basis of an EAW issued by the British government. The days of the Costa del Crime and long drawn out extradition cases have ended thanks to the EAW and Britains crime fighters are the main beneficiary. But it works both ways. The Romanian Anti-Corruption Agency and Romanian police have issued an EAW for Alexander Adamescu, a businessman whose father was sent to prison over allegations of fraud following the collapse of Romanias second biggest insurance firm. Around 1.8 million clients suddenly lost cover and Dan Adamescu, a Romanian Robert Maxwell, who also published Romanias leading right-wing daily paper, was accused of bribery and fraud. He died in prison. His son, a director of the company in Romania, went to London and now the Romanian justice authorities want him back. His UK lawyers have organised a noisy campaign insisting on his innocence and anti-EAW Tories have joined in. But the EAW doesnt decide guilt and if the UK walks away from it British justice will be the main loser. David Davis reportedly fears that the hardline anti-EAW Tories could cause trouble in the Commons. Labour, the SNP and Lib Dems should make clear that they will provide May and Davis with a majority on this aspect of Brexit and resist the temptation to play games by voting with Tory MPs who defend those wanted on criminal charges in other European countries who have come to the UK. As Britains 19th century prime minister, William Gladstone, put it in international disputes, Britain should always prefer the arbitrament of the court, to the arbitrament of the sword. Once Spain was famous for its Costa Del Crime. If Brexit means Britain pulling out of the EAW, it is London that will be the refuge of preference for every criminal in Europe. Do law and order Tory MPs really want that? Denis MacShane is the former Minister for Europe. His book Brexit, No Exit. Why (in the End) Britain Wont Leave Europe is published by IB Tauris 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 }} After nearly eight disastrous years of a Jacob Zuma presidency, the Rainbow Nation dream of Nelson Mandela lies in tatters. At an historic secret ballot of no confidence in the South African Parliament today, the countrys scandal-hit president survived - but by a small majority of 21 as 40 of his own ANC MPs rebelled against him. South Africa is now at yet another crossroads. At the recent funeral of one of Nelson Mandelas closest friends and fellow long-time Robben Island detainee, his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (herself an MP) said: All what we fought for is not what is going on right now our country is in crisis and anyone who cannot see that is just bluffing themselves. 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 At the very spot in Cape Town where Mandela gave his first speech after his long walk to freedom in 1990, thousands of protesters assembled and then marched on Parliament today to demand Zumas removal. This being fractured South Africa, they were joined by large numbers of pro-Zuma supporters. Meanwhile, roads from the Mandelas one-time township home in Soweto into the economic capital Johannesburg were barricaded with rocks and burning tyres from early morning as protesters took action across the province. Unemployment hit a 14-year high this week as Zumas stewardship of a fragile resources-based economy now officially in recession bites deep. A promising national economic blueprint dreamed up at the start of Zumas presidency has been abandoned. The economy of South Africa a member of the exclusive G20 club of nations is now growing at half the worst-case scenario rate envisaged by the experts Zuma appointed five years ago. State-owned companies the supposed engines of economic growth and job creation in ANCs economic policy have stuttered and stalled. The state electricity utility, the freight and passenger rail companies, the national airline and the arms manufacturer all enjoy near-monopoly status in South Africa, but are increasingly being propped up financially by the government. To support them, public money is diverted from other urgently needed social programmes education, health, housing. It is here in the beating heart of the countrys economic machine that a huge corruption scandal threatens to engulf Zuma, his party and perhaps the country. And it is a scandal that has been exposed by good old fashioned investigative journalism in the face of sinister intimidation and threats of violence. Over the past several weeks, the terms state capture and #Guptaleaks have dominated social media in South Africa, but beyond its borders not much is known. What are the #Guptaleaks and state capture? The phrase state capture has emerged to describe a situation where a business family, the Guptas, enjoying close ties to Zuma, have manoeuvred themselves into a position where they allegedly wield control over state-owned companies and their huge procurement budgets, diverting huge sums into their own pockets and, by extension, Zumas family. The Guptas are a family of Indian immigrants who arrived in South Africa from the early 1990s onwards, apparently spurred by the business promise of a newly democratic, post-apartheid state. The family is headed by three brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh. Young man forced ino coffin in South Africa So closely have the Zumas and Guptas become entwined that they are popularly referred to as the Zuptas. The key connection is Zumas son, Duduzane, whom the Gupta brothers took under their wing a decade ago and groomed for a role as a director and billionaire shareholder in the familys business empire. The Guptas are allegedly able to influence state procurement through the cascading appointment of their cronies, via Zuma-appointed cabinet ministers to key positions on decision-making committees. In several instances, would-be ministers have reportedly been informed of their cabinet appointments first by the Guptas, before receiving the official call from President Zuma. All this has been highlighted by one of the biggest leaks in the history of South African journalism. Earlier this year, investigative journalists obtained an enormous trove of emails and documents from the heart of the Gupta business empire. The subsequent exposes, dubbed the #GuptaLeaks, appear to confirm the state capture hypothesis that journalists have been chipping away at for years. For example, the latest story from the leaks, published on Tuesday, reveals how the Guptas bankrolled the loan repayments for a house owned by President Zumas fourth wife. They channelled the money in part via Duduzane, dipping into a Dubai-based slush fund set up to receive kickbacks from the successful Chinese winner of a major South African state locomotive tender. The #GuptaLeaks have lifted the lid on a multinational money laundering machine, dubbed the Dubai Laundromat, into which the Guptas allegedly funnel cash derived from state contracts in South Africa. How did the Guptas benefit financially? The cash is derived in two ways: either directly from contracts with state-owned companies won by Gupta-owned businesses; or from success fees solicited from international companies wanting to do business with the South African state. So far, the #GuptaLeaks have exposed how kickbacks were paid or facilitated to the Guptas by foreign companies throughout the world. They include a Swiss construction company, two German IT giants, a multinational management consultancy, a Chinese state outfit, and a major accounting firm. And the Guptas certainly know how to spend their gains. Having operated somewhat under the radar during the early years of Zumas presidency, the Guptas shot to national infamy in 2013 when they persuaded a raft of government departments to bend the law, allowing them to land an airliner of wedding guests from India at a high-security military air base near the capital, Pretoria. The South African wedding of the millennium between a Gupta niece and her Indian fiance, was designed to showcase the familys wealth and influence in their adopted home. Their Indian guests were whisked to the sprawling Sun City leisure complex by a VIP convoy of blue light-fitted vehicles normally reserved for government dignitaries, where they mingled with a whos who of South African politicians and businessmen. An inquiry held in response to the public outrage about multiple breaches of national security and protocol heard that Number One an apparent reference to President Zuma had pulled strings in the Guptas favour. The #GuptaLeaks have subsequently revealed how the Guptas sucked cash out of a state-funded rural development programme and sent it to Dubai, where it briefly washed through the Laundromat of Gupta companies before it was used to pay the wedding bills back in South Africa. Multinational auditing firm KPMG waved the transactions through, turning an apparent blind eye to related party transfers, thereby allowing the Guptas to also claim millions in tax-deductible expenses. KPMG said it stood by our work done and audit opinions issued, but its former Africa head who attended the wedding wrote thanking the Guptas gushingly afterwards: I have never been to an event like that and probably will not because it was an event of the millennium. Meanwhile, the leaks have also unearthed a letter, drafted by the Guptas on President Zumas behalf, in which they ask the Abu Dhabi crown prince to consider granting Zuma and his family residency in the country. While Zuma denied wishing to make the emirate a second home it has been confirmed that Duduzane obtained residency. Suspicions that the Guptas have been preparing a Dubai bolthole for Zuma were enhanced by media reports, based on the leaks, that the Guptas had acquired a 19 million mansion in an exclusive Dubai neighbourhood intended for Zumas use. The property is just a few doors down from a pad owned by Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe. Paralysis of the proud ANC Throughout these, and many other scandals throughout the Zuma presidency, the once-proud African National Congress (ANC) party has stood paralysed, unable or unwilling to confront the Zupta state capture phenomenon. With many of its officials allegedly captured by the Guptas, the ANCs inaction is perhaps unsurprising. The social cost has been enormous not least in the fraying of race relations which Mandelas ANC worked so hard to build. As the public outcry against the Guptas reached a crescendo last year, UK public relations firm Bell Pottinger - founded by Margaret Thatchers former PR guru Lord Tim Bell - stepped into the breach to spin for the Guptas on a 100,000-a-month contract. So, despite the mountain of dirty laundry already in the public domain about the Guptas relationship with Zuma, the firm accepted a brief partly in consultation with Zumas son Duduzane to run a counter-campaign blaming white-owned businesses for perpetuating economic apartheid in South Africa. Somehow, it was white monopoly capital standing in the way of genuinely aspirant black businessmen like the immigrant Gupta family from fulfilling their full economic potential in the country. Bell Pottinger now stands accused of stoking racial tension in the country, aimed at its white population in general and at the media in particular. Intimidation of journalists A pop-up movement called Black First Land First has subsequently targeted editors and journalists at the forefront of exposing the Guptas dealings. At one point, Bell Pottinger gave feedback about a prospective article proposed by the movements leader. The PR firm also scripted speeches subsequently delivered by ANC politicians at political rallies. For the past eighteen months, an army of fake Twitter bots and one-man blogs have spewed a torrent of racially-charged invective into public discourse around the Guptas and Zuma. Although such tactics have not been conclusively shown to be the brainchild of Bell Pottinger, a public outcry forced them to drop the Guptas last year. Last month Bell Pottingers CEO James Henderson initially offered a full, unequivocal and absolute apology. He then told the BBC in an interview last week: At worst, we were very naive in what we got involved with, but there was, at any point, no intention to create the impact that is claimed we created. But the atmosphere in South Africa remains poisonous. Black First Land First recently barricaded an editor in his home, scrawling graffiti on his garage door, and assaulting a colleague. Ignoring a subsequent court order barring them from intimidating journalists, the same group hijacked a public event hosted by investigative journalists to explain the #GuptaLeaks, manhandling a journalist to the ground. A judge ruled earlier on Tuesday that the movement was in contempt of court, and handed its leader a three-month jail sentence, suspended on condition that they did not breach the order again. For his part, Zuma will seek to direct the appointment of his successor to protect him and his family from future prosecution when his term as president ends in 2019. But if he does one day face trial, expect the #GuptaLeaks to feature strongly as evidence. Lionel Faull is an investigative journalist with Finance Uncovered, an associate member of the #GuptaLeaks team 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 }} Rex Tillerson finishes on Wednesday his latest tricky diplomatic trip as US Secretary of State, this time to Asia, where North Korea dominated the agenda. With stop offs in the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia, he sought to dispel perceptions that the Trump team has little interest in the strategically important Southeast Asia area which if massed collectively has the sixth largest economy in the world. The trip has already underlined that agendas of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam and those of the Trump team are not aligned. And this has fuelled concerns within the region that the administration cares little for it. Previously, the Obama administration pushed the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal to underline its regional commitment, partly to push back on Chinas growing power and presence which is a concern for many ASEAN states. But the Trump team has pulled out of that accord with no replacement initiatives. Moreover, while the agenda of ASEAN nations who met Sunday in Manila with Tillerson is broad from regional counter-terrorism, through to maritime security and Beijings assertiveness in the South China Sea the US Secretary of State was keen to put the Korean stand-off at the centre of his trip. To be sure, Washingtons concerns about Pyongyangs provocations are broadly felt by ASEAN. 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 However, despite the raising of the stakes last month with two intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests by the regime, the Southeast Asian states do not generally share Washingtons super prioritisation of this issue. The concern is that this de-emphasises other topics in the regional dialogue with the United States such as South China Sea tensions. Yet, from the Trump teams vantage point, the reason why the ICBM tests are so serious is that the missiles reportedly had the range to reach states on the countrys Western seaboard. With the US homeland looking vulnerable, Donald Trump could soon be facing into his first major foreign crisis, possibly requiring him to make big decisions soon on how to tackle Pyongyangs provocations. In this context, Tillerson used the weekend gathering of the ASEAN regional forum which is Asias biggest security group including outside dialogue nations such as Japan, North Korea as well as the United States to try to isolate Pyongyang by drastically reducing their dealings with it. The forum agreed Saturday to take a stronger tone than previous statements on North Korea calling for the regime to comply with UN Security Council resolutions on its nuclear programme, including the one unanimously passed on Saturday which bans mineral and seafood exports worth some $1bn to the regime. Coinciding with this sanctions diplomacy, the United States and South Korea conducted their latest tests last month of the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. Condemned by North Korea, China and Russia, THAAD is being deployed by Washington in South Korea as a means to potentially intercept missiles launched by Pyongyang. North Korea threten United States following UN Sanctions Recent US rhetoric has given the international community heightened concerns that Trump might now be thinking, much more seriously, about a pre-emptive strike on Pyongyangs nuclear capabilities. Last month, Trump asserted that North Korea is behaving in a very dangerous manner, and something will have to be done about it...and probably dealt with rapidly. While Washingtons next steps are not crystal clear, it looks increasingly likely that the two decades long US policy of strategic patience towards Pyongyang may now be over with all options on the table. Aside from military force, scenarios range from a new round of peace talks at the dovish end of the spectrum, to more hawkish actions like interdicting ships suspected of selling North Korea weapons abroad, one of the regimes key sources of income. However, Washington knows it would be wise to try to bring other parties, especially Beijing, on board for any intensified package of measures. Yet, beyond key regional allies like Tokyo and Seoul, others especially Beijing have been reluctant to take more comprehensive, sweeping measures. To be sure, China has taken some unilateral actions to tighten the screws on North Korea, including banning all coal imports into the country in February. However, it is unlikely to squeeze its neighbour too hard. The key reason Beijing has differed with Washington over the scope and severity of actions against Pyongyang largely reflects the fact that it does not want to push the regime so hard that it becomes significantly destabilised. From the vantage point of Chinese officials, this risks North Korea behaving even more unpredictably, and/ or the outside possibility of the implosion of the regime. This would not be in Beijings interests for at least two considerations. Firstly, if the Communist regime in Pyongyang falls it could undermine the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party its regional ally too. In addition, Beijing fears that the collapse of order in North Korea could lead to instability on the North Korea-China border, a potentially large influx of refugees that it would need to manage, and ultimately the potential emergence of a pro-US successor nation. Taken overall, Tillersons tricky trip will do little to ease concerns of Southeast Asian allies that the region is peripheral to the Trump teams priorities. While ASEAN nations are toughening their stance vis a vis North Korea, they do not generally share Washingtons super prioritisation of this issue at the potential expense of others such as the tensions in the South China Sea. Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics 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 }} In December of 2016, a student by the name of Saif Al Ameri was shot and killed by a police officer in Ohio. After a few months of paid leave, the officer was acquitted. Ryan Doran was given a clean bill of legal health a few days ago. Nothing will stitch the life back into Saif. Some reports say that Al Ameri was driving under the influence. Others say that he was driving erratically. The officer says that Al Ameri reached for the officers gun. And he "felt afraid" for his life. The grand jury acquitted this officer as they have acquitted literally hundreds of other police officers who have attacked unarmed young men in America. If it seems crazy that this 26-year-old young adult with no previous criminal record and who had no weapon constituted a real threat that was serious enough to make a fully trained and lethally armed police officer fearful for his life then its because it is crazy to think that. Totally crazy. There are situations where it is easy to imagine officers fearing for their lives; situations like those where weapons of war are made available to civilians. But Saif was in no position to outgun the police. Far from having automatic weapons, Saif Al Ameri was Ill say this once again unarmed. What's even crazier is that we're also supposed to buy the narrative that this officer could not stun or neutralise a threat from his victim with a single bullet. He had to shoot the gun five times over. Black Lives Matter hunger strikers take their case to SF City Hall But here's the deeper force behind this incident; the issue that has played a hand in shaping each and every one of the hundreds of incidents in which police officers in America kill unarmed people. It doesn't matter if Al Ameri was driving erratically. It doesn't matter if he was smoking marijuana. It doesn't even matter if he was acting in a disorderly way (he wasn't, according to every US report I've read). What matters here is that the officer isn't there to judge Al Ameri using a hunch based on the way his victim-to-be was acting. If the officer assessed that Al Ameri was doing something illegal, his job would've been to arrest him, read him his rights and bring him to a court of law. Ryan Doran is a foot soldier. His job is to be an officer and enforcer of the law. Instead he acted as judge, jury and executioner. He undermined the rule of law by making a judgement to take drastic action in the heat of the moment. He based his judgment on gut and instinct. And let's make no mistake: these gut instincts that inform officers to go after innocent people are not spawned in a vacuum. They're born of the worst human impulses. Just a few months before Al Ameri was killed, the Emirati businessman Ahmed Al Menhahi was standing outside his hotel, wearing the clothes that Emirati men wear in the UAE, when he was brutalised by Ohio police. The police assaulted and savaged Al Menhali to the point that the beatings landed him in a hospital bed. While searching for alternate accommodations during his stay in Cleveland for medical treatment, he was wrongly accused of pledging allegiance to Isis by a hotel clerk who didn't speak the language that he was speaking on his mobile phone and didn't know that the clothes he was wearing have nothing to do with Isis, but are rather the national dress of one of the United States key allies in the fight against that terrorist group. Al Menhali tried to explain that he was not a terrorist with the words: These are the clothes that Jesus wore. Black lives matter supporter at Trump rally 'shoved, tackled, punched and kicked' But the people who rang the false alarm in Al Menhalis case as well as the police officers who assaulted Al Menhali and killed Al Ameri have a limited view of the world. Their narrow fields of vision saw clothes they didn't know about. They heard a language they didn't understand. They saw people who looked like they came from somewhere they didn't want to know about or want to understand. Fear of the unknown is a powerful thing. There are complex forces shaping the world that many Americans are simply ill-equipped to comprehend. An alchemy of paranoia and violence is causing Americans to turn against each other at home and away from the world. You'd think that the president of a country like this would try to reassure his people by sizing up challenges and outlining ways to overcome them. Instead, Donald Trump, our law and order President, offers bleak fantasies of American carnage. In the first interview of the Trump era, he stated that the world is a mess. The world is as angry as it gets. A few days ago, Trump encouraged police officers to rough up criminals they arrest as though police forces were made for exacting vigilante justice rather than handing people over to the legal system and letting that system do its impartial work. But a tempered and just legal system requires respect for the judiciary. In the summer of 2016, when Al Menhali was being beaten by police, Trump was busy denigrating a federal judge. Now he is shaping the judiciary into something unrecognisable, with appointments of judges who lash out against sitting Supreme Court justices. Mosque director describes explosion as residents plead with Trump to condemn it as 'act of terrorism' When America elected the man whose rallies produced the mobs who chanted lock her up and who threatened his political opponent with imprisonment, we took a confident step in the direction of looking like a dangerous banana republic. Today were not simply looking the part. We're acting it too. Many of our closest friends can hardly recognise us. If America is seen to be a nation that cannot uphold the rule of law then even our friends will not feel confident visiting the United States. This includes citizens of countries who come here for study, healthcare and business; people who the United States wants (and needs) to deal with. The day when we have to question whether America can guarantee safe passage to its guests is a wake-up call that demands we take a long hard look at our national transformation. From the Supreme Court down to the officers tasked and trusted with enforcing law and order, America has witnessed a steady unravelling of the rule of law. There were roughly 30,000 people in the United States who fell as victims to gun violence last year. Over 900 of them were killed by police. The vast majority were American citizens. But one fatality in the United States last year was a 26-year-old Emirati who was executed by police and whose death was not atoned for in the courts. He had nothing to do with the fears and divisions plaguing America today and should've been left out of the vile crossfire of this nations conversation about gun violence and law enforcement. He didn't sign on to be a part of that conversation. He was just a student at Case Western University in Ohio. He came over to the United States to study law. The irony shouldnt be lost on anybody. Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness suggested Theresa May's government does not have the courage to put Brexit to a second public vote The vice-president of the European Parliament has accused the UK government of not being brave enough to hold a second referendum on Brexit. Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness said Theresa May's government does not have the courage to put Brexit to a second public vote, despite growing concern about the potential consequences of leaving the European Union. She also accused the UK Prime Minister of not showing how she intends to ensure no return of the "borders of the past" on the island of Ireland. "In Ireland, we are brave enough and courageous enough to have a second referendum," said Ms McGuinness, referring to the country's second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. "When we put the question first and we believe that the debate is not full then we go back to people and say 'look, here is much clearer information, our circumstances have changed, we'll put the question again on a number of issues.' "That is brave politics to do that," the Fine Gael MEP told the Press Association. She added: "Because the UK has not had that tradition and hasn't had the debate about Europe in the way we have, I think they are less able to do that. "So, because of that, it means we have to be prepared for the UK leaving the EU." Ms McGuinness also said she was concerned that Theresa May has so far failed to show "how she will deliver on her commitments to the (Northern Ireland) peace process and, more importantly, not returning to borders of the past." "The clock (on Brexit negotiations) is ticking. I think some harsh things will have to be said so the UK understands our position," she added. On Thursday, the Irish Premier Leo Varadkar mentioned two specific arrangements which he suggested could soften the impact of Brexit across the island of Ireland. Speaking at an event during his first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming Taoiseach, Mr Varadkar suggested the possibility of an EU-UK customs union. He also suggested a "deep free trade agreement" with the EU if the UK does not want to stay in the single market, with the possibility of its rejoining the EFTA (European Free Trade Association). The EU is to meet in October to decide whether sufficient progress had been made in the first phase of exit talks to allow the negotiations to proceed to the next phase. Philip Leahy died in hospital after a swimming accident in the sea An Irish student has died in hospital after a swimming accident in the United States. Philip Leahy, 22, from Ballyhooly, Co Cork, got into difficulty in the sea at Ocean City, Maryland last Wednesday. The student at Cork Institute of Technology, who was in the US on a J1 visa, died in Maryland General Hospital on Sunday night. An online fundraising campaign to pay for his treatment had reached almost 100,000 euro before his death. Mr Leahy's GAA club at Ballyhooly organised the fundraising initiative. A statement on the club's Facebook page said: "Unfortunately late last night we received the devastating news that Philip had passed away. "To say the whole community is numb and in shock would be an understatement. "The reaction to Philip's appeal has been overwhelming and a heartfelt thanks to all who contributed." The Government has said that it would welcome "any clarity" on the UK's approach to Brexit. The remarks came as Downing Street confirmed that it will finally outline positions on crucial issues, including the Northern Ireland Border, ahead of renewed Brexit talks at the end of the month. There has been frustration at the failure of the British government to put forward clear positions on a range of challenges thrown up by the complex process of leaving the European Union. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has recently ramped up the rhetoric, warning that Ireland won't "design a Border for the Brexiteers". Last night, British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman confirmed that position papers, with proposals on future customs arrangements between the UK and EU and the British approach to the Border here, would be published in the coming weeks. A spokesman for the Irish Government responded: "The Government would welcome any clarity as to the UK's general approach and looks forward to engaging as part of the bloc of 27 EU members states in the next round of negotiations." Meanwhile, the British government came in for stinging criticism from a former top diplomat, Simon Fraser. Read more - Ailish O'Hora: Winter is coming if Brexit focus not on common goals The former head of the foreign office said he did not think the talks had begun well from a British perspective, due to divisions in Mrs May's cabinet. A Downing Street spokesman said that Mrs May would "disagree strongly" with Mr Fraser's comments and insisted that important progress had been made in the initial rounds of talks with the EU. Mr Fraser's said on BBC Radio's 'Westminster Hour': "I don't think they [the Brexit talks] have begun particularly promisingly, frankly, on the British side and we haven't put forward a lot because, as we know, there are differences within the cabinet about the sort of Brexit that we are heading for." He said it would be difficult for the British government to have a clear position until those differences were resolved. Mr Fraser said the publication of position papers on the British approach to a new customs agreement and the Irish Border would be helpful as "we haven't put much on the table" other than proposals on the status of EU citizens. He added: "I think we need to demonstrate that we are ready to engage on the substance, so that people can understand what is really at stake here and what the options are." Millions of hens may need to be culled in the Netherlands after traces of a potentially harmful insecticide were found in eggs, a Dutch farming group said, ratcheting up the strain on a sector still reeling from a bird flu outbreak. Retailers in several European countries have pulled millions of eggs from supermarket shelves as the scare over the use of insecticide fipronil widened, though Dutch industry group LTO said consumers were no longer at risk. "For consumers this is pretty much over, but that is not the case for the farmers. It will take weeks if not months before they can resume production," LTO's Johan Boonen said. The World Health Organization considers fipronil to be moderately toxic and says very large quantities can cause organ damage. Dutch and Belgian authorities have pinned the source of the insecticide to a supplier of cleaning products in the Netherlands. Farmers in the Netherlands have already culled hundreds of thousands of hens in the wake of the fipronil scare but they can only regain market access once there are no traces of the insecticide in their eggs. The latest health scare follows a bird flu epidemic that swept northern Europe late last year and forced poultry farmers to cull flocks as well. LTO, the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture, said 150 Dutch companies had been closed because traces of the insecticide had been found. The size of the country's hen population could not be immediately determined. Belgian Agriculture Minister Denis Ducarme said products from 57 Belgian poultry companies had been blocked from reaching supermarket shelves. Belgium's food safety regulator was criticized over the weekend after it admitted to learning about a case of fipronil contamination in early June. It said it had not commented because of an ongoing judicial investigation. "The protection of the consumer is more important," Ducarme told state broadcaster RTBF, adding that he was calling on the regulator to outline what steps had been taken since June. Ducarme said he would discuss the situation with his German and Dutch counterparts. In France, a poultry farm located in the northern department of Pas de Calais was placed under surveillance last week after its farmer signaled the use of fipronil by a supplier, the French agriculture ministry said in a statement. The ministry said that at this point had no evidence contaminated eggs or meat were destined for consumption. Over the counter banking services will be a thing of the past from tomorrow in the Co Sligo town of Ballymote as Bank of Ireland begins to roll out the overhaul of its rural branch network. The bank is introducing a new "advice and self service model" in 100 branches nationwide by the end of the year. The changeover will involve staff assisting customers to lodge and withdraw cash at self service machines. Coin services will also cease at the Ballymote branch. Other affected locations include: Cobh, Cahir, Tulla, Cootehill, Urlingford, Graiguenamanagh, Borris, Portumna, Westport, Dunboyne, Athy and Portarlington. Portumna, Westport, Dunboyne, Athy and Portarlington will still have a counter service in the mornings until lunchtime. A BOI spokesperson said the change comes as "the use of credit and debit card and contactless banking continues to grow". However, a spokesman for the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association said it is a big concern for elderly farmers in Ballymote with a population of over 2,000 people. Technology "Older farmers don't trust the technology, they want to deal with people over the counter face to face," he said. The move marks the end of over the counter banking services in Ballymote which used to have three banks. Local Sinn Fein councillor Thomas Healy said business owners will be forced to drive up to 25kms to Sligo or Boyle to get coins for running their business. "Bank of Ireland needs to give more services not less. My biggest fear is that this is the beginning of the end, soon machines will be all that's left," he said. Ballymote mart manager Stephen Hannon said: "It's scandalous. Elderly people and elderly farmers will bear the brunt of the pain". The weanling trade has opened with a bang over the last fortnight. Intense competition between shippers and farmers has resulted in buoyant trade for both weanling bulls and heifers. The best of the continental weanling bulls, E and U grade Belgian Blues, are generally going for the Italian trade, with between 3.50/kg and 3.70/kg being paid. Farmers are the main buyers for heavy Limousin and Charolais bulls in the 480-550kg weight range, while exporters servicing the Turkish market and farmers are competing strongly for bulls in the 320-430kg weight bracket. Entries at the marts showed an increase over the past week but are still back on normal levels. Mart managers attributed the lower turnout to strong grass supply on farms after an excellent growing season. Seamus O'Keeffe of Kanturk Mart in Cork said there was "fierce demand" for the top-quality continental bulls. "The prices were up by around 100/hd on last year, with the specialist home bull beef producers looking for the heavy weanlings and the exporters competing for the lighter weights," Mr O'Keeffe said. "The serious bull beef producers are all looking for quality and shape in the animals at the top end of the market and generally going for the Belgian Blues and Limousin. "We had one customer looking for 180 head at last week's sale," he added. Competition between bull beef producers was evident at the ringside for the top-quality animals. However, Mr O'Keeffe said there was a cut-off point of 1,200/hd for everything but the very top stock. Grass supplies Shippers, such as Hallisseys and Purcells, have been very active for weanlings in the 300-350kg weight range. However, strong on-farm grass supplies mean that numbers in this weight category have been well back on previous years. Martin McNamara, manager of Clare Marts, reported that the trade was slightly easier for weanling bulls and heifers at last week's regular sale. Bull weanlings under 300kg sold up to 3.54/kg, with lots over 300kg selling from 2.30/kg up to 3.05/kg. Prices for weanling heifers was similar to the bulls, he said. At Ballinasloe Mart the average price for the weanling bulls was 2.38/kg, with the tops making up to 3.48/kg. The average weanling heifer price was 2.57/kg, while the top price was 3.21/kg David White of Castleisland Mart said demand for weanlings remained strong but the full flush was still to emerge. He said good-quality bulls sold for 2.50-2.70/kg. A post-Brexit trade deal with the US could see a massive increase in the amount of cancer-causing toxins in British milk and baby food. American regulations allow more than 20 times the quantity of harmful aflatoxins in food products, compared to the stricter regime imposed by the European Union, The Independent has reported. US standards also allow products made with nuts and cereals to have higher levels of the carcinogens, which cause damage to DNA and make cells more prone to becoming cancerous. While a direct link to liver cancer is widely accepted, the lower US standards allow American manufacturers to produce food more cheaply. Critics are now warning that ministers pursuing a quick trade deal with Washington would be putting GDP growth ahead of public health if safety standards are weakened. It follows a major furore over whether chlorinated chicken would flood the UK market, if a future trade deal allowed products to be sold in the UK but regulated by a more lenient American regime. US regulations permit 0.5 micrograms per kg of aflatoxins in milk, cereals, nuts and dried fruits, but the EU restricts levels to 0.025 micrograms twenty times lower. In all milk and dairy products, EU limits are ten times lower at 0.05 micrograms per kg. Simon Dawson, a lecturer in Food Science and Techonology at Cardiff Metropolitan University, told The Independent: Exposure [to aflatoxins] can have a number of detrimental effects on the body; therefore, levels should be kept as low as reasonably achievable due to their genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. With babies and infants, their immune systems are not fully developed therefore toxins such as these can affect their bodies more so than how an adult would react. The chemicals are produced by fungi found on agricultural crops such as maize, peanuts and tree nuts, and can contaminate crops in the field, at harvest and during storage. People are exposed by eating contaminated products or consuming meat or dairy foods from animals that ate contaminated feed. Studies have shown a direct linked to liver cancer, as the toxins damage genes which suppress the growth of deadly tumours. Mr Dawson said: Aflatoxins primarily attack the liver. Large doses will lead to severe illness and death, usually through liver cirrhosis. Chronic low doses have both an immunological and nutritional effect on the body as they are classified as being genotoxic carcinogens. Studies have shown changes to behaviour, decreased nutrient digestion and absorption, reduced growth rate, risks of cancer and a range of other nasty effects. He said that there were no studies he is aware of that show a level of 0.5 micrograms per kg resulting in adverse effects, but added: Having said that, we should be aiming to produce foods with as low as reasonably achievable levels of aflatoxins, therefore importing products with levels that exceed EU legislation doesnt feel like we are making positive steps. Unlike the EU, the US does not have a specific tighter limit on aflatoxins for babies and infant formula milk. Brussels set its limits in 2006 taking into account extensive research and best available practice to detect the chemicals, which is continuously reviewed and updated but the US standard has not been updated since 1977. Since then, there have been incidents in Africa and Asia involving intense contaminations of aflatoxins, including one in Kenya in 2004 which claimed 124 lives. American standards are not considered unsafe, but the more generous limits are part of the reason US farms can produce cereals more cheaply, and were a significant obstacle in the eventual breakdown of trade talks between the EU and US. The Food Standards Agency told The Independent that the lower EU levels currently adhered to in the UK are there to help protect public health. A spokesman said: The methods and criteria used to assess risk in the US are different to those used in Europe and the UK. The maximum levels of aflatoxins allowed in foods is agreed upon at a European level on the basis of sound scientific evidence, and the levels in food are kept as low as possible in order to protect public health. He added that the lower limits remove the most contaminated products from the food chain and ensure food businesses apply stronger agricultural and manufacturing practices. A spokesperson for the Department of International Trade said: We are committed to a mutually beneficial economic arrangement with the US but are clear that we are not going to dilute our high food safety standards or our high environmental standards in pursuit of any trade deal. Discussions with the US about our future trading relationship are at a very early stage and its too early to say what exactly will be covered in a future agreement. Cereals would undoubtedly form a major part of the agricultural aspects of any US/UK trade deal, with cheaper, lower production standards at risk of undercutting British manufacturers in much the same way as chlorine-washed chickens allows US farmers to deploy more intense production methods. Labours Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner said: We in the Labour Party have been absolutely clear that any trade agreement we come to with any country must not reduce the safety standards or animal welfare standards that we have already got in the UK. We have been asking the Government for many months for clarity on this, and we have been receiving confusing messages. Ian Murray MP, a leading figure in the campaign group Open Britain, said: "The Governments desperation to do a trade deal with Trumps America could put the health of British children and babies at risk. Compromising our standards to allow a higher level of carcinogens in food and milk is absolutely unacceptable, and ministers must make that clear. The Irish national sheep dog trials took place recently at Bridge Meadow Bunclody, Co Wexford. The three-day event selected 15 of the top dogs in the country. Which will represent Ireland in the International sheep dog trials which will be held near the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire in early September. Over the three days, 150 sheep dogs from all around the Island north and south and the Isle of Man came to Bunclody to compete. Each day 50 trials took place and out of those the top five dogs on the day are selected for the Irish team. On the last day the number one from the three days go head to head to be crowned Irish National Champion and he or she intern captains the team in the International. The singles judges this year for the Irish trials where Barra OBrian from Athlone and Thomas Doherty from Ballybofey. The doubles judges or the Brace where a Brain Casey from Co. Tipperary and Seamus Gallagher from Ballmena. The teams that take part in the international trails are England, Scotland, Wales and the Island of Ireland and the Isle of Man make up the Irish team. All handlers start with 110 points and gain points for every part of the cores completed correctly. At some stage during the day the judges introduce a Standard. Where if the dog has lost so many points that there is no way it could make it into the top 5 on that day the run ends for that handler no matter what stage he is at. These trials are not just about winning the Irish national. While the different runs are going on spectators are watching to see how the animal performs, thinking of maybe breeding their own animals to that dog. A lot of the dogs go for stud during and after their career so the trails are so much more to good dog handlers and some have been known to make a living from it. But behind it all said John McCullough the national president said: The pride is far more important than the potential money to all real handlers. Tom Huddleston chairman of the International Sheep Dog Society was there to explain how everything works and what the judges are looking for. The scoring is divided into the gathering 50 points, driving 30 points, shedding 10 and penning 10 and single 10. These are all based on typical jobs that farmers require of the dog while on daily stock handling duties. The gathering comprises of an outrun, a lift and a fetch. The outrun is where the dog is sent around the five sheep that await it at the fare side of field, he then lifts them from where they are and fetched them back to the handler. The drive is where the dog pushed the sheep up threw a series of gates seven yards wide. In the Irish national the handler stood at the post directing the dog to drive the sheep 450 yards over humps and hollows of a triangular course threw two sets of gates. Where the dog and handler work together in the ring to separate two sheep without collars from the bunch of five and be in full control is the shedding. Penning is very self-explanatory, an 8 by 9 foot pen where the dog must drive the sheep into. The last part of the course is the single. Where one of the two sheep with a collar must be shed while staying in the ring. 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 sheep used are between 6-9 months old, young sheep are much better to use in trails because they are like teenagers just waiting for some direction in life. Once they are used they are never used again in that trial. This Year Allistair Lyttle with Scott was crowned National Champion. Second was also Allistair and Jim. Third Place goes to James McCaffrey and Mey. National Champion Allistair Lyttle (scott) run-off (out of 200) 184, 198; 2 Allistair Lyttle, Jim, run off 142, 204 3 James McCaffrey, Mey ,runn-off DQ, 198 4 Frankie McCullough, Cap, 198 5 Johnny Cremin, Sally, 192 6 Toddy Lambe, Ben,182 7 Martin Feeney, Jack, 190 8 Martin OMalley, Gwenno, 178 9 Eamonn McAuley, Roy, 178 10 John Rooney, Taff, 188 11 Kieran McFadden, Star, 175 12 Dean McAuley, Jan, 168 13 Michael Hopkins, Dale, 188 14 Peter ConCannon, Sweep,173 15 Mick Burke, Tiny,167 Reserve, Martin OMalley, Groesfaen Jock ,182 Brace Champin Dennis Birchall, Peggy and Tweed, 220 Runner-up, Sammy Long, Roy and Jaybeez Broozer, 214. Strong competition for restricted grain supplies on the home market has pushed the price of barley off the combine to as high as 148/t, the IFA claimed this week. However, this assertion was challenged by merchants, who said prices remained in flux and that returns to growers would not be finalised until later in the harvest. "Empty stores and a shortfall of 200,000t of Irish barley this harvest, due to a combination of area reduction and yield drop, has resulted in buyers competing strongly for grain," the IFA's Liam Dunne maintained. "Prices of up to 148/t plus transport are on offer for barley off the combine as a consequence." Most price predictions for this year's harvest are in the 135-145/t range but Mr Dunne insisted that better deals are on offer and he advised farmers to "sell hard". These price skirmishes represented the extent of the activity on the harvest front for the last week, as poor weather stalled combines. Winter barley Nearly all of the winter barley has been cut in the main tillage areas. Cutting of malting barley has started in The Hook in Wexford and around Bagenalstown, Co Carlow. Very little information on yields was available as we went to press but it is understood that the protein limits for some malting barley crops going for distilling have been increased from 8.8pc to 9.3pc. Fields of winter oats were cut in north Dublin over the last few days, with crops yielding 3.4-3.9t/ac. In south Tipperary yields of up to 4t/ac were reported in what were described as "super crops". These were cut at 56-60kph and 15-16pc moisture. Small areas of winter wheat has been cut so far. Growers are said to be generally happy with the crops, with early yields ranging from 3.6t/ac to 4.4t/ac. A bigger spread in yields has been recorded for oilseed rape, with crops varying from 1t/ac to 2t/ac. The crop is generally yielding around 1.6-1.7t/ac. Meanwhile, demand for straw remains strong. In the south 4x4 bales of barley are selling ex-field at 14, with 28 being quoted for 8x4x3 bales. More is being charged in the west, with up to 18/bale being paid for 4x4 bales. Senior Bank of Ireland executive Mick Sweeney is leaving the business, staff at the bank have been told. Mr Sweeney led the bank's wealth-management division since 2010, before moving to insurance unit New Ireland as interim managing director last year. Liam McLoughlin, CEO of the bank's Irish retail division, said Mr Sweeney "enjoyed a distinguished career serving in a number of senior roles". Mr Sweeney is understood to be exploring opportunities regarding companies coming to Ireland on foot of Brexit. He has a background in asset management, investment banking, and insurance. Previously he was the chief executive of Bank of Ireland's global markets business. Mr Sweeney's departure comes shortly before CEO Richie Boucher leaves. He is being replaced by Francesca McDonagh, HSBC's head of retail and wealth management for the UK and Europe, with effect from October 1. The bank has recently been looking to buy portfolios of mortgages as an alternative source of growth, with the number of new mortgages constrained by supply. It has agreed to buy a portfolio of mortgages from so-called vulture fund Lone Star. Mortgage holders have received letters in recent weeks saying an agreement had been reached between the bank and the Lone Star entity Shoreline. "Over the last few years we've acquired several books across both mortgages and SMEs, and we continue to be in the market for good quality performing assets, where opportunities emerge," a Bank of Ireland spokesman said. A fresh assault on Ireland's corporation tax regime is coming. France and Germany are working on plans to harmonise corporate tax rates across the eurozone. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told Bloomberg on Friday that President Emmanuel Macron's plans to lower France's rate to 25pc by the end of his term should be seen as the start of a push for better alignment of eurozone countries' tax systems. France is making "a considerable effort", Mr Le Maire said. "We're asking other member states of the eurozone to make a similar effort in the other direction. "The objective is a common corporate tax with Germany in 2018 which should be the basis for a harmonisation at the level of the 19 member states of the eurozone." The renewed drive for harmonisation comes as Paris and Berlin seek to clamp down on tech companies' tax avoidance schemes. A German finance ministry spokesman said yesterday that the two countries discussed tax issues last month and Germany is set to discuss specific proposals after its election in September. Mr Le Maire said France would present its plans for "real taxation" at a meeting of officials next month. He thinks that current European efforts on corporation tax reform are taking too long. "Europe must learn to defend its economic interest much more firmly - China does it, the US does it," Mr Le Maire said. "You cannot take the benefit of doing business in France or in Europe without paying the taxes that other companies - French or European companies - are paying." The move puts Irish officials in a tricky position. The 12.5pc tax rate is an important pillar of our economic model which is heavily reliant on foreign direct investment. In a country where sovereignty is supposedly so important - witness the 1916 centenary bash last year - politicians have been quick to don the green jersey when moves towards tax harmonisation occur. But the tax regime has caused our country's reputation to take a bit of a battering in recent times on foot of the European Commission's ruling that Apple was given 13bn of illegal State aid, via sweetheart tax deals. With a key ally on its way out of the European Union, resisting efforts towards further integration become that bit harder. New strategies have to be formed when it comes to advancing Ireland's interests within the bloc, and relationships with those countries that remain take on an added importance. Does Ireland ally itself with the other small nations of the European Union, with which it has fewer historical and economic links? Or does it ally itself with Northern European countries, where relationships are stronger but Ireland is dwarfed in size by near neighbours? If the latter course is chosen, pressure from France and Germany may prove difficult to resist. Relationships with those countries would take on an added importance, and therefore using the power of veto risks antagonising them in a way that might cause damage to Ireland. But Ireland is not resisting every change to the global tax regime. The country is participating in a process (known as Beps) being run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which aims to set up a co-ordinated approach whereby companies are no longer able to minimise their tax bills via mismatches in national tax rules. Asked about the plans for Franco-German co-ordination, a Government spokesman told the Irish Independent that it sees Beps as "the standard approach for dealing with international tax reform". That sounds like a polite way of saying we won't be taking part in France and Germany's new scheme. But it looks like change of some sort may come. At EU level, Ireland has been resisting plans for a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB), which would introduce a harmonised way of calculating companies' taxable profits. Michael Noonan was a strong opponent of that scheme, saying it would make Ireland's base more narrow and therefore risk the country's revenue, but now that he is departed from the scene, it falls to Paschal Donohoe to pick up the fight. But does he have the stomach? "At EU level, we have been engaging constructively with the relaunched CCCTB but...our initial view is that the proposal for a CCCTB would narrow our base. We will continue to explore ways to keep the Irish system attractive, in a way that meets new international standards," the Government spokesman told this newspaper yesterday. With its talk of "initial" positions and meeting new international standards, this statement does not smack of a Government planning to defend Ireland's tax regime to the death. Under the terms of the 225m so-called Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, developers and local authorities were required to broker deals where it was agreed 40pc of all new homes would be sold at prices at least 10pc below market rates. Stock photo: PA Major developers are in line to receive millions of euro in taxpayers' money to help offset the cost of building homes - but there are no guarantees they will be affordable. The Government has committed to providing funding for global firms including Lone Star, Starwood Capital and Hines which jointly control assets worth billions of euro in Ireland and across the globe to help build roads and other infrastructure needed to open up land for housing. Under the terms of the 225m so-called Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (Lihaf), developers and local authorities were required to broker deals where it was agreed 40pc of all new homes would be sold at prices at least 10pc below market rates. They could alternatively strike a deal to reduce the cost of each unit, in return for receiving taxpayers' money. But the Irish Independent has learned no agreements have yet been reached, despite a July deadline passing. No money has been transferred to developers or councils. Local authority sources say only a "handful" of affordability agreements, which would allow key workers to buy homes in built-up areas, have been sent to the Department of Housing for approval. Expand Close The Luas stop at Cherrywood in south Dublin. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Luas stop at Cherrywood in south Dublin. Photo: Steve Humphreys Not until deals are concluded can monies allocated under Lihaf, announced last March, be drawn down. The major players involved also include Kennedy Wilson, and between them they control assets valued at billions of euro across the globe. They are landowners, or in negotiations with local authorities about building homes on publicly-owned sites. Big players in the Irish market include Cairn Homes, which is named by councils as being involved in seven separate developments. Receivers acting on behalf of Nama are also in line for State support, as are developers including Gannon Homes, Castlethorn Construction, Ballymore and Cosgrave. In all, more than 50 developers or agencies are involved. An examination of application documents sent to the Department of Housing in October last year shows in many cases, developers refused to set out concrete proposals to ensure homes were delivered at affordable prices. In one case, a council advised that a developer suggested if the Lihaf funding was not forthcoming, the profit margin on a home would be reduced to 10pc. This return would not be sufficient to allow investors to fund the scheme. In Cherrywood, where a new town on lands controlled by 11 owners is planned, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council told the department housing prices in the county were a "significant outlier" compared with other areas. It added that owners would provide land for roads and infrastructure free of charge, in return for "offsets" in development contributions which would help reduce house prices. Despite a requirement to set out how the affordability condition would be met, other developers merely stated they were "satisfied" to discuss delivery of affordable housing. Cork City Council said, in relation to a site on South Docks, that it was "premature" to set out how affordability would be achieved. It suggested that viability on the site was "borderline", and that measures such as VAT reductions should be considered for affordable units. On a site in Maynooth, Co Kildare, the council said no commitment on affordability had been secured, but that it had received confirmation that the "quantum of affordable housing will be proportionate to the cost of the infrastructure". In some cases the developers, or a group of developers, directly control the landbanks. In others, they are working with local authorities to provide homes on council-owned land or in partnership. Lihaf only applies to large-scale developments of more than 500 units on Dublin sites, and more than 200 outside the capital. Some 74 applications were made for funding from 21 of the country's 31 local authorities, totalling some 800m. Read more: Loan scheme aims to bring vacant homes into use Some 34 were approved across 15 councils. The total cost of the projects is 226.46m, of which 169.65m will be funded by the exchequer, and the remaining 56.81m by local authorities. More than half (113m) will be provided to the four Dublin local authorities and a further 46m to Cork city and county councils. In return for funding, developers and councils have committed to provide at least 22,830 new homes across all sites by 2021. It's also proposed that over the longer term, an additional 46,000 units can be delivered on these sites. The Department of Housing confirmed no agreements have been finalised. "The department currently has a number of both draft and provisional final agreements from a number of local authorities, which we are in the process of examining to ensure that they ascribe to the criteria set down in the terms of the fund," it said in a statement. The days of frantic website-hopping in an attempt to bag tickets to events are over as Tickx.ie has just launched in Ireland. Tickx is the UK's leading ticket event aggregator which provides a one-stop shop where event goers can find out what's on, compare prices, and buy tickets with no added fees. "People describe us as Skyscanner for events," reveals co-founder and CEO Steve Pearce. "We pull over 70,000 music, comedy, festival, theatre and sporting events and over 40 partners into one single platform. "Its one place where you can see all the events happening, who is selling tickets, and who is the cheapest. It also gives our ticket partners a wider audience." The website has partnered with the most popular ticket selling platforms in Ireland, including Ticketmaster, Eventbrite, SeeTickets, Tickets.IE, Seatwave, GetMeIn, Viagogo and Ticketbis. Free to use for ticket buyers, Tickx.ie gets its revenue from a small commission on bookings from their ticket partners. Using Apple and Spotify integration, buyers can also track their favourite artists and will be alerted when they're playing locally. "Were focused on not spamming our users so well learn what our users love and let them know if theres a new batch of tickets," says Steve. "So if your favourite artist is Beyonce and she's playing Dublin and new dates are added well let you know." With ticket buyers becoming increasingly frustrated with losing out on tickets to popular gigs, Tickx sounds like it might be the holy grail, but Steve admits there may sometimes be a slight delay on accessing tickets via their partners. Expand Close Tickx co-founder & CEO Steve Pearce (L) and co-founder and CTO Sam Coley (R) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tickx co-founder & CEO Steve Pearce (L) and co-founder and CTO Sam Coley (R) "We sync our feed six times each day so its as updated as it can be but sometimes there can be a slight discrepancy for half an hour or so," he says. Video of the Day "From time to time [its best to go directly to the ticketing website] but its very rare that that would be the case." He adds, "We have a lot of people who use us for different reasons. Some use us for discovery finding out where to go, some to see availability. If Ed Sheeran releases tickets and it looks like they've sold out straight away, often there are tickets available on other primary outlets. "People think they have to go to the secondary market but there may be tickets available on other primary outlets. Its best to come to us and have a look and see whats available." While Steve says they "promise that if you buy a ticket its from a secure partner", if issues do arise they are between the purchaser and the ticket partner so buyers are urged to be vigilant. "But we have good relationships were happy to help our customers," he adds. If Tickx sounds familiar it may be because Steve and his co-founder Sam Coley turned down investment on the UK version of Dragons' Den. Expand Close Steve and Sam on Dragons' Den / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Steve and Sam on Dragons' Den They appeared on the show in January after being invited by programme's researcher. Dragon Peter Jones described Tickx as "the Uber of events" and the young entrepreneurs received two offers of 75,000 from Jones and Nick Jenkins in partnership for 20 per cent equity and one from Touker Suleyman for 15 per cent. They rejected both. "We went on looking for investment but we felt the offers undervalued our business," says Steve. "Our parents and our family and our friends thought we were absolutely crazy and idiots at the time. Fortunately, it paid off we [have since] got 10 times more than we asked for in the Den." Jones said that they could live to regret the decision but, since the episode aired, TickX has raised an additional 750,000, increased revenue by 500%, reached 150,000 users per month, and launched the worlds first ever event search engine ChatBot. They have received investment from 24Haymarket alongside investment from former Chairman of BskyB Nick Ferguson and Stan Boland, who led and built four technology companies, creating businesses acquired for over $1.5 billion. "Weve been approached by some big players who have been impressed by what we have achieved in a short period of time," says Steve who adds that once they launch in Ireland this week they'll launch in Spain next month. "It's all quite fast but we know we've got to strike while the iron is hot!" he says. Dr Louise (Lucy) Kennedy has been living in Australia for two years AN IRISH vet's Australian residency was put at risk when she was told that her oral English fluency was not up to scratch by an automated computer program. Louise (Lucy) Kennedy (34), from Roundwood in Co Wicklow, has been working as an equine vet on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Despite being a native English speaker with two university degrees the young professional was deemed insufficient in her native tongue by an automatic scoring system. Lucy and husband Adam, an Australian, are expecting their first baby in 12 weeks and the Irish woman decided to apply for permanent residency, after two years in the country. For a skilled immigrant visa applicants need to take an English proficiency test. "I went with a company called Pearson because they give you the most points," Lucy told Independent.ie. The test was "very, very easy" she said. Part of it, the oral competency section, involved reading a paragraph that appeared on-screen. But when she received her results Lucy discovered she has scored 74 points when the government requires 79. It was only the oral competency section which was scored low. "I just thought [it was a mistake] and I'll just ring them up and they'll just listen to it again," she said. However, after much back and forth with the company, she was given the opportunity to take the $300 (200) test again, free of charge. "That's based on the fact that there was construction work outside of the test centre at the time which could be a possible interference," she said. She is convinced that it is a technical flaw in the company's software that has caused her not to be recognised as a native speaker. Other companies use human assessors. "It was very, very easy - a really basic paragraph," she said. Because her husband is Australian Lucy has the option of applying for a more expensive spouse visa which she is now in the process of doing. "Because I'm married to an Aussie I luckily have a back-up visa to go to but there is a $3,000 (2,000) cost over the skilled immigrant visa which we weren't banking on 12 weeks before having our first baby," she said. Time was also a factor in trying to rectify her fluency test results she said as her current visa would have expired in the time-frame it would take for all of the paperwork to be completed, even if she was recognised as a fluent English speaker by the testing company. She said the experience was very stressful. "It was even such a pain to have to take the whole day of work to do the test and then be told I can't speak English," she said. Lucy, who works with a mobile equine unit between north Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, holds two degrees; a BA in politics and history from UCD and my doctor of veterinary medicine is from the faculty of Veterinary Science, Budapest. Pearson, the company running the test, told Australian Associated Press that there was nothing wrong with their systems or the scoring of test scores. Sasha Hampson, the head of English for Pearson Asia Pacific, told the news organisation that the immigration department set the bar very high for people seeking permanent residency. A chef was caught red-handed with 700,000 worth of heroin at Dublin Airport after he flew in from Spain, a court has heard. A chef was allegedly caught red-handed with 700,000 worth of heroin at Dublin Airport after he flew in from Spain, a court has heard. Father-of-four Alan Maginn, (40), from Drumhillery Road, Keady, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland but who has been living in Malaga in Spain with his family, was denied bail after judge held that he is serious flight risk. He is charged with possessing heroin for the purpose of sale or supply on July 19 last at a car park in the airport. Objecting to bail, Det Garda Chris Elliot told Judge Kathryn Hutton at Cloverhill District Court that it was the States case that Mr Maginn was caught red-handed in a car with a controlled drug worth 700,000. He said the accused arrived on a flight from Malaga and was due to make a return trip with Aer Lingus four hours later. Det Gda Elliot told the court the man had an extensive flight history this year between Dublin and Malaga. He agreed with the defence that the accused has offered an address in the State where he could stay. However, Det Gda Elliot learned that the property is up for sale and the defendant would have to move out once it is sold. He said the accused has resided in Spain for three and a half years and his other address is at Drumhillery Road in Keady. He also accepted Mr Maginn had no previous convictions or a history of bench warrants. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions but forensic reports are awaited and that will take four weeks, Det Gda Elliot said. It was fairly certain that a book of evidence would be prepared and that the case would go to a different court, he said. He also gave evidence that it was his belief the accused was a flight risk. Roisin Maginn travelled to Dublin for the bail hearing and the defence barrister said she intends to remain here pending her husbands trial. The defence proposed that he could reside at the address provided and be ordered to obey a curfew. However, the detective pointed out that this would not stop the accused leaving the jurisdiction. Mrs Maginn told the court that when she works at the restaurant her husband minds their children. He is a qualified chef and helps in their restaurant when she is at home, she said. The defence also pointed out that Mr Maginn has surrendered his passport and argued that it would be difficult for him to flee the jurisdiction. His wife would also surrender her sons passport, the barrister said. Judge Hutton noted Mrs Maginn relies heavily on her husband and one of their children has a condition that requires a good deal of care. However, refusing bail she found that the accused was within the ambit of the principles of the OCallaghan Rules and he was a serious flight risk. She remanded him in custody to appear again on a date in September. A Dublin banker and cocaine user laundered tens of thousands of euro for a criminal gang because he feared for his life, a court has been told. Former bank official Fiach Punch claimed he had been forced to open an account for laundering money as he was in fear for his life after being assaulted over a cocaine debt. Punch (38) opened up the Bank of Ireland account in late 2015 and a cheque for more than 19,000 was later lodged into it. He claimed he never saw the cheque, but simply opened the account and handed over the ATM card and PIN to another individual. Punch claimed he was living in fear at the time because he had been assaulted and his ribs had been broken over the debt. He also claimed that unnamed individuals knew he had a history of working in a bank and thought they could use his knowledge of banking systems. The defendant, of Mayeston Crescent in St Margaret's, was found guilty before Swords District Court of lodging a cheque to Bank of Ireland in Malahide, which could have been the proceeds of criminal conduct. The incident took place on a date unknown between November 30 and December 22, 2015. Detective Garda Brian Pentony said a cheque in the sum of 19,175 was issued by a medical equipment company on February 23, 2015. The cheque was sent by post but never reached its destination. The court heard that it was subsequently lodged into the account which Punch had opened. Defence lawyer Patrick Jackson said Punch, who has no previous convictions, was a vulnerable person and that he was acting under duress when he opened the bank account, as he had been assaulted two weeks earlier. Punch told gardai that a person had come over from the UK and wanted him to open the account. He also provided this individual with his ATM card and PIN. He said he did not know how much the cheque was for and accepted he thought what happened was "a bit dubious". The bank discovered that the cheque had been altered and no money was ever paid out. Cheque Mr Jackson said Punch had previously worked in Ulster Bank but was now on disability. He asked the judge to leave Punch without a conviction. However, Judge Dermot Dempsey did not accept that Punch was under duress and found him guilty of money laundering. He ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to October. A steel fabricatory charged with the murder of his first cousin, whose body was found on a country laneway in south Dublin two years ago, has been granted bail by the High Court. Senior gardai had expressed their concerns that Stephen Tynan (40) was a flight risk and would not turn up for his trial. Detective Inspector Colm O'Malley said Mr Tynan was a Muslim convert and it was possible that as a Muslim convert he would seek "sanctuary" in Muslim countries and gardai would be unable to bring him back to Ireland. Defence lawyer Seamus Clarke BL said the inspector's ascertain that someone was a flight risk based on their religion was "highly discriminatory". Mr Clarke said no one would object to someone's bail because he "was a Catholic and could flee to Italy" Mr Tynan, with an address at Knockmore Park in Tallaght, is charged with the murder of 37-year-old Andrew Guerrine. His co-accused has not yet applied for bail. The murder allegedly happened at a place unknown between Knockmore and Killinarden estates in Tallaght on May 23, 2015. Mr Guerrine's body was found at Steelstown Lane in Rathcoole in the early hours of May 23, 2015. He had multiple stab wounds and his throat had been slashed. Mr Tynan must apply to the High Court for bail on a murder charge. Insp Colm O'Malley objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and the strength of the evidence. Insp O'Malley told Ronan Prendergast BL, for the State, that the post mortem showed Mr Guerrine was stabbed 20 times, with the stabs penetrating his skull and spine. He said the cause of death was haemorrhaging from multiple stab wounds. Insp O'Malley accepted that the case against Mr Tynan was circumstantial. He told the court that Mr Guerrine and a second man had travelled to Tallaght to sell 3,000 diazepam tablets to Mr Tynan. He said mobile phone data shows there was contact between the men, and it ends shortly before Mr Guerrine was last seen at 12 midnight on May 23, 2015. Insp O'Malley said Mr Tynan is also linked to a car which was allegedly used to dispose of the body. He said Mr Tynan borrowed the car from a neighbour, and Mr Tynan is later seen on CCTV cleaning down the car with his sleeve. Insp O'Malley also alleged that Mr Tynan could be placed near the area where Mr Guerrine's body was found. Defence lawyer Seamus Clarke BL said there was no evidence that the accused was a flight risk. Indeed, Mr Clarke said the evidence was that Mr Tynan had left the jurisdiction shortly after he was first interviewed by gardai but had returned, and had not sought to leave the country again. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart granted bail in Mr Tynan's own bond of 3,000 cash as well as an independent surety of 10,000. As part of his bail conditions, the accused must sign on at Tallaght Garda Station, surrender his passport and observe a curfew between 10pm and 8am. Mr Tynan must also provide a mobile phone number to gardai, have no contact with any witnesses in the case and have no contact with his co-accused. Gardai believe they foiled a gang hit when they arrested two men and seized a fire arm in south Dublin on Monday night. Two low level Kinahan associates were arrested during the operation in Ballyfermot. Gardai believe they were planning to kill gangland target Michael Frazer. Frazer has survived at least five attempts on his life in the last three years. He has fallen foul of members of the Kinahan cartel after a personal dispute. Gardai do not believe the attack was directly linked to the feud between the Hutch crime faction and the Kinahans. A loaded handgun, along with a can of petrol, were found when gardai stopped their van. Expand Close Crumlin Garda Station / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Crumlin Garda Station It is believed that the two men (aged 34 and 38), members of the Kinahan crime cartel, were on their way to shoot Frazer, who lives in the Crumlin area. The men were wearing gloves and camouflage clothing, RTE Reports. The pair were intercepted by the garda Emergency Response Unit on the Kylemore Road in Ballyfermot at around 8pm on Monday evening. They are currently being question in Crumlin Garda Station, having been detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. Gardai do not believe the foiled shooting is feud related but is "related to the internal workings of the organisation". Local councillor Daithi de Roiste said: "This is another example of how criminality remains a serious problem in Dublin. "I would like to praise the quick action of Gardai. It is very likely they have foiled a gangland hit." Councillor Daithi Doolan praised gardai for potentially saving someone's life. He told Independent.ie: "I would like to congratulate the gardai whose actions have saved a life. "This intelligence led operation has helped to protect life. "I absolutely condemn criminals for their activities in Dublin, who tonight were found to be behaving with blatant disregard for the safety of the community. "People would have been put in danger by these criminals, including children who are out playing on the streets. "The gardai deserve to be fully resourced in their fight against crime and I will be looking for more resources for gardai in Ballyfermot. "They clearly saved someone's life tonight." From left: Eir head of sponsorship, John Anslow; Irish Independent Education Editor Katherine Donnelly; Education Minister Richard Bruton; helpline co-ordinator Honor McAndrew, from the Institute of Guidance Counsellors; and NPCpp president Rose Callan. Photo: Douglas OConnor Up to 58,000 Leaving Certificate candidates are awaiting their results - and eager to see the impact of the first changes in 25 years to both the exam grading system and the CAO points scale. The results are due on Wednesday, August 16 and, as usual, the National Parents' Council post primary (NPCpp) Helpline will be open, providing invaluable support for students and their parents. The freephone helpline - 1800 265 165 - will run for six days, dealing with the range of queries that arise over the period around the release of the results and the publication of college offers. The helpline, which is sponsored by the Irish Independent and the Department of Education and Skills and supported by Eir, will be staffed by members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and a representative of the grants agency, Susi. Each year, it answers thousands of queries, with counsellors providing one-to-one support to callers, guiding them through various issues, including rechecks, the points system and non-CAO options. This year, as students and parents seek to familiarise themselves with the changes in the grading and points regimes, new questions are likely to be thrown up. In addition to the helpline, the Irish Independent will publish a series of special supplements and Independent.ie will run an interactive blog, staffed by a professional guidance counsellor, on August 16 and 21. NPCpp communications officer Ross MacMahon, said that the helpline provided students and parents with easily accessible advice and would be of "increased importance this year, due to the changes in the grading and points system". With results day approaching, Education Minister Richard Bruton wished every success to candidates. He also assured them that there was a wide range of course and career pathways available, so whatever the results brought, there would be something for them. There is an "urgent need" for almost 2,000 nurses to meet the targets for mental health service delivery planned by the Vision for Change programme 10 years ago, according to the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA). New figures from the HSE have revealed an "unacceptable slow pace of recruitment" of staff for mental health services. In reply to parliamentary questions from Fianna Fail Deputy James Browne, the HSE said there were 10,815 members of staff in mental health services in Ireland. The Vision for Change programme set out, 10 years ago, a need for 12,778 members of staff to work in the area. Peter Hughes, PNA general secretary, said the figures highlighted the "shamefully inadequate progress in the implementation" of what was intended to be a total reform of mental health services. The HSE figures reveal that only 93 new staff were recruited this year despite soaring demand in all areas of mental health services. "The hope promised in Vision for Change for a radically reformed mental health service is being lost," Mr Hughes said. Derek Cunningham, a spokesperson for the PNA, said he was "surprised" at the figures, and was concerned, considering the "huge amount of demand for the services". "The recruitment levels are just so slow and since we are 10 years on, it's just very disappointing," he told the Irish Independent. In its pre-Budget 2018 submission, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has urged the Government to spend 32m in youth mental health initiatives. The mental health issue "still looms large in the lives of Irish young people", according to James Doorley, deputy director of the NYCI. "While the overall number of people dying by suicide has declined, there has been an increase among young men." Mr Doorley said it was of "particular concern" that the suicide rate for young people aged 15-19 in Ireland was the fourth highest in the EU. A gang smashed their car into the home of one of the suspects arrested for the fatal stabbing of a 25-year-old man. The vandalised house in Island View, Kilrush, was targeted by three young men at around 9.30am yesterday, in a reprisal attack following the murder of Karl Haugh. Expand Close Karl Haugh, who was stabbed to death in Kilkee, Co Clare / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Karl Haugh, who was stabbed to death in Kilkee, Co Clare Speaking to the Irish Independent, Julie Counihan said that two of her sons were in the house at the time - the 21-year-old suspect Robbie Walsh, who was arrested and later charged over the stabbing of Mr Haugh, as well as her 17-year-old son. During the incident, a sitting room and upper bedroom window were broken. There was also significant damage to the suspect's front door. The owner of the house, a mother of three, suffered minor injuries to her foot. The family's pet dog suffered cuts to his paws. Ms Counihan was asleep and was woken by "an awful lot of shouting" from outside. "When I looked out my window, I saw three young men and asked them 'what the hell is going on?' I know these lads very well and they were shouting for me to come out. "I hadn't a clue what they wanted, but you could tell they were under the influence of some drug. "I could see it in their eyes," she said. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Damage to Julie Counihan's home. Damage to Julie Counihan's home. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Damage to Julie Counihan's home. Ms Counihan said that the assault on her home began when someone threw a hammer through her bedroom window. "I got such a fright. The entire room was covered in glass and one of my dogs had his paw completely ripped open. "My foot was also cut and I still can't get the shards out of it," she said. "Someone else then picked up my flower pot and threw it right at my front door. "I thought that was the end of it. "But when I looked out the window again, I saw one of them getting into his car, a blue BMW. "He started the engine, picked up speed and drove it straight at my sitting room window. The glass instantly shattered, but luckily the bottom part of my house stopped the car from going into the sitting room. "The bench in front of the window was also completely destroyed by the impact. I was so scared and my hand was shaking so much that I couldn't even use the phone to ring the guards," she said. Confront Once he heard the commotion, the 21-year-old ran downstairs to confront the three men, but they went back to their damaged car and drove away. "I'm so scared for my son and haven't been able to see or talk to him since," said Ms Counihan. "I feel this is all a dream and that I could wake up at any minute." The Kilrush mother said she now feared for her safety. "I'm so scared at the thoughts of what might happen and don't know what's around the corner. My house is totally destroyed." Gardai said that no one was arrested in relation to the incident. Supt John Galvin, of Kilrush Garda Station, said gardai believe the incident was linked to the attack in Kilkee, Co Clare, on Sunday morning. Mr Haugh was stabbed on the Marion Estate, Kilkee, at about 1.15am on Sunday. One opportunistic scammer in Dublin used their own rented home to advertise it to unsuspecting house hunters before making off with a large sum of money a senior garda has said. Gardai have issued a stark warning to students about a spike in rental scams as the rush for accommodation begins. While rental scams occur throughout the year, Sergeant Amanda Flood from the Garda Crime Prevention National Centre of Excellence said there is a spike when new third level students are seeking accommodation. Its an ongoing thing. It tends to rear its head more and more particularly at this time of year when there is a new flush of students, Sgt Flood told Independent.ie. The scam falls into three broad categories where the scammer either claims to be out of the country and requests a deposit without doing a viewing, is renting the property themselves and pretends to be the owner before disappearing with the deposit, or carries out the transaction as normal before the renter discovers the keys dont work. Sgt Flood said people have been brought to court earlier this year for such scams. Read More I know of a case earlier this year in Dublin where a renter was coming to tail end of their lease and showed the property to a number of people and made off with a significant amount of cash, she said. She said she is aware of these cases in all types of properties from apartments to houses as the scammer often doesn't need to be associated with the property at all. Were trying to give advice to people now before they become another victim, Sgt Flood added. An Garda Siochana has issued several pieces of advice for house-hunting students including a caution to always meet with a prospective landlord in the accommodation to be rented, asking for identification, using cheques or bank drafts and ensuring keys fit the doors before paying a deposit. Caution is advised if the rent sounds too good to be true," gardai warn. Property owners should also be aware of these types of scam. Our advice would be: know who youre renting to and know who youre renting from. Get identification and make sure it tallies with the person thats there, Sgt Flood added. The Private Residential Tenancies Board rent index provides students with an authoritative guide to actual rents being charged by landlords adjacent to all third level institutions. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is also urging students to be wary and cautious of the scams. "It is something that happens every year. Landlords are taking advantage of people who are desperate because of the shortage of accommodation," said USI President Michael Kerrigan. Read More Use cheques or bank drafts to pay the deposit and keep copies of receipts of payments and any correspondence. Dont hand over any cash to anyone, because you will not have a record or trace of your deposit. Students are handing up to two months rent as a deposit, and this kind of money being stolen can have a serious impact on a students ability to afford college for the coming year. Mr Kerrigan said he has heard of cases where students have handed over a deposit and never heard from the landlord again, or have shown up to the house to discover the keys don't work. Its a shame that people are taking advantage of students like this. Students should visit the accommodation theyre hoping to rent before sending over any sum of money, he said. He said students should get a photograph of the landlord's proof of ID. Meet the landlord and ask for proof of ID if youre unsure. If youre worried that youre being led into a scam, alert the gardai or your students union right away. It is always better to be safe. Dont rush into any arrangement that looks too good to be true," he added. AN investigation is underway into the alleged rape of a teenage girl after a disco in Co Leitrim. Gardai have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into an assault on a juvenile after an event in Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday, July 28. The Irish Daily Star is reporting that the youngster was attacked by two men after leaving the Cartown venue. The victim is said to have confided in her friend in the aftermath of the attack, who told her own parents and whose mother immediately contacted gardai. Gardai at Carrick-on-Shannon are leading investigations and anyone with information has been asked to contact them or the garda confidential line. There have been complaints of excessive drinking at the Forty Foot at Sandycove Beach in Dublin. Photo: Caroline Quinn The Justice Minister has been asked to intervene to prevent "extreme anti-social" behaviour at one of Dublin's most popular summer bathing spots. Dun Laoghaire TD Richard Boyd Barrett has asked Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan to outline plans to combat anti-social behaviour at the Forty Foot at Sandycove Beach in south Dublin. It is always a popular spot with swimmers when the temperatures rise but the TD said a "minority are ruining the amenity for the majority and causing a public safety issue". He quizzed the Justice Minister in a parliamentary question on plans to put measures in place to halt this activity. Mr Flanagan said he had asked gardai for a report on the matter. In the meantime, he pointed to a number of laws allowing gardai to police anti-social behaviour. "An Garda Siochana remains committed to tackling public disorder and anti-social behaviour by working with communities to reduce this type of behaviour and enhance community safety," he said. "The Garda approach includes a strong focus on quality-of-life issues and collaboration with local authorities, businesses (in particular the night-time economy) and other stakeholders to help address the causes of anti-social behaviour." Respond It is understood that locals have complained about drinking on the beach. In one incident, a young couple were allegedly spotted having sex on top of one of the sheds in the area. Local councillor Cormac Devlin said that gardai were generally quick to respond when it comes to issues at the much-loved coastal attraction, but that resourcing in the district was the problem. He said: "A small cohort of people can be intimidating and disruptive and it would be helpful if the gardai had the proper resources in the area to allocate a sufficient number of officers to the Forty Foot and Sandycove Beach on fine days." Mr Devlin added: "What should be brought to the Justice Minister's attention is the lack of resources in District F and then operational issues should be brought through the proper channels." John and Dani McGovern with their two year old son Logan from Ballinalack, Co. Westmeath who were removed from a Ryanair flight between Birmingham and Dublin. Photo: Tony Gavin A DISABLED mother says she felt a criminal would be treated better after she was forced to leave her crying toddler behind on a Ryanair flight after the airline removed her electric wheelchair from a plane. Danielle McGovern (33) from Ballinalack, Co Westmeath, had flown without issue from Dublin to Birmingham for a weekend family break. But when she was sitting on the return flight home to Ireland, on Bank Holiday Monday, the mother-of-one said she was told her electric wheelchair would have to be removed from the plane. Ms McGovern flew into Birmingham just two days earlier and had been on several flights with the wheelchair in recent months. Expand Close Dani McGovern with her two year old son Logan from Ballinalack, Co. Westmeath who were removed from a Ryanair flight between Birmingham and Dublin. Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dani McGovern with her two year old son Logan from Ballinalack, Co. Westmeath who were removed from a Ryanair flight between Birmingham and Dublin. Photo: Tony Gavin The mother said she was first asked by a disability assistance staff member on board what wattage her chair was, as the pilot had expressed concerns. Ms McGovern, who has cerebral palsy, said she told the staff member that she didnt know but that her wheelchair had a safe dry battery. Her husband John, searched the wattage of the battery online and the couple said they gave the information to the pilot. Wed never been asked what the wattage was before on a flight and the only concern usual question for flights is if its a wet or dry battery, Ms McGovern said. A wet battery isnt allowed on a flight but a dry one is fine. And the wattage was similar to a mobile phone we found out. Ms McGovern said that shed filled out all the appropriate paperwork to get the wheelchair on the flight but she was given an ultimatum: stay on the plane without the chair or leave the aircraft. It was awful, Ms McGovern said. "Ive never had an experience like it. It was discrimination and Ill never fly with Ryanair again. Id gone to Birmingham for a lovely family weekend away and there were eight of us on the flight. I felt like a criminal wouldnt be treated any worse. It was my little boy, Logans first time flying, so we were excited about that and it all ended with me having to leave the flight in tears with my little boy crying, as he saw me leaving the plane. My husband Johns wheelchair is manual and it was allowed to stay on the plane. John wanted to get off with me, he was very upset, as were all my family but I wanted him to stay on the flight with Logan. When they said I could stay on the plane without the chair I told the cabin crew I couldnt walk without it but it didnt make any difference. I felt awful. The plane was delayed by around an hour-and-a-half and there was an announcement that there had been a problem with cargo. I kept saying sorry to passengers but when they realised it was because of my wheelchair other travellers were upset for me and one woman said shed be complaining. They told me not to say sorry, that it wasnt my fault. Ms McGovern said she had filled in all the applicable paperwork for her wheelchair, shed checked in with her family and had never been told she had to do anything else. Ive travelled to several places in the past year with that same wheelchair and Ive been to Lanzarote and the U.S with it and its never been a problem, she said. By asking what the wattage was, I feel the pilot was trying to insinuate my chair could be a hazard but I think that was just an excuse. Ms McGoverns sister, Sharon Weldon, also claimed she saw ground staff kicking and manhandling the wheelchair. I was looking out the window from the plane and saw them kicking and roughly trying get the battery out of the wheelchair, she told the Herald. I told the cabin crew to stop them, that the chair is worth 12,000 and the battery couldnt be removed. I wished Id taken a photo of them doing it but I was shocked and just didnt think at the time. The way Ryanair treated my sister was appalling. I was furious. Ms McGovern was also infuriated that the airline hadnt sorted the issue out within the hour- -and-a-half the flight had been delayed. She claimed airline staff had a boarding card ready for her to get on another Ryanair flight when she returned to the airport. How could I not get on the flight I was on but there was a boarding card waiting for me to go on another flight? she said. The flight I got on was supposed to take off at 3pm but was delayed by 40 minutes and I got back to Dublin at about 5.30pm, she said. The others were waiting for me in Dublin Airport for three hours, including my little boy and the three other kids with us, my niece, whos 10, and nephews who are 7 and 5. The kids were all exhausted. I was in tears on the plane and my sister was crying too. I will never fly with Ryanair again, Ill never go through it again. Even when I went back to the airport I was never apologised to by Ryanair. No one explained the situation and it might have helped a little bit to hear some kind of explanation and apology. A Ryanair spokesman said: A customer on this flight from Birmingham to Dublin was asked to provide information relating to her wheelchair battery, in line with standard safety regulations, but was unable to do so in time for the flight departure. "They were provided with refreshment vouchers and transferred free of charge on to the next available flight to Dublin (which departed two hours later). While we regret any inconvenience caused, the safety of our customers, people and aircraft is our number one priority. Members of the PSNI and Garda join the Pride parade as it makes it's way through Belfast city centre. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 5, 2017. See PA story ULSTER Pride Parade. Photo: Peter Morrison/PA Wire A DUP councillor has expressed alarm and disgust that uniformed police officers were allowed to take part in Belfasts Gay Pride parade on Saturday. Last Saturday, uniformed officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Siochana took part in Belfast's Gay Pride parade for the first time. Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meets members of the PSNI and Garda representative of the Gay community as he arrives for a Gay Pride breakfast meeting at the Northern Whig bar in Belfast. Photo: Peter Morrison/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meets members of the PSNI and Garda representative of the Gay community as he arrives for a Gay Pride breakfast meeting at the Northern Whig bar in Belfast. Photo: Peter Morrison/PA Wire They were greeted with massive cheers from the crowds who lined the city's streets for the annual event. Around 40 uniformed officers from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and other UK police forces were among the 8,000 people who marched from Custom House Square in the city centre. They were watched by an estimated crowd of 15,000 people. However, in an open letter to the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Alderman John Finlay said there was considerable anger over uniformed police in the parade and added that he had been inundated with complaints. Mr Finlay, a DUP councillor in north Antrim, said allowing uniformed officers in the parade called into question the impartiality of the PSNI. Expand Close Cllr John Finlay / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cllr John Finlay Any claim by PSNI to be impartial now rings very hollow indeed. How can the PSNI be regarded as impartial when it formally and openly associates with one specific section of society? In this case, it is associating itself with a militant grouping which is lobbying for radical changes, not only to the definition of marriage, but to how society views human sexuality in general, he said. He asked whether uniformed officers would be allowed to take part in an act of witness and protest against the gay pride agenda. It will be difficult, if not impossible, for those involved in that event to have any confidence in the impartiality of the PSNI, he added. Mr Finlay said that many people have now suggested that the PSNI should encourage its officers who are Orangemen to take part in the Twelfth in full uniform. I could make many more suggestions. I suspect you will dismiss them, but a precedent has been set, he added. It's the time of year when we flock to foreign parts for holidays. Most of these spots are emotionally neutral like beach resorts in the South of France or Spain, or cottages in the West of Ireland or the Yorkshire Dales. Some will head for places that have a particular emotional power. These may have profound religious connotations or simply be beautiful cities like Paris or Florence, with a rich history. There is now a small but definite scientific literature on the power of place to cause psychosis. The best-known is Jerusalem Syndrome but others include Stendhal Syndrome and Paris Syndrome. Stendhal (or Florence) Syndrome was described in the early 19th century in a book by the writer Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle), Naples and Florence: A Journey from Milan to Reggio. This disorder can lead to spontaneous fainting, confusion and hallucinations. It is reported to occur in art-loving tourists who become overwhelmed by the beauty and splendour of the city of Florence. Psychoanalyst Graziella Magherini in her book La sindrome di Stendhal wrote a clinical description of the features of 106 tourists admitted to hospital in Florence between 1977 and 1986. In her series she reported that these particular patients became preoccupied by a detail in a painting that culminated in hallucinations and delusions. Paris Syndrome, first described in 1986, is characterised by acute delusions in visitors to the City of Light. For some reason, it seems to have a predilection for Japanese tourists. Jerusalem Syndrome was first described in the 1930s by Heinz Herman, a psychiatrist working in Jerusalem, although cases had been described in the Middle Ages by travel writers. Jerusalem Syndrome affects about 50-100 tourists each year and, unsurprisingly, Easter, Passover and Christmas are the most likely periods. During these times, hospitals are on high alert for new Messiahs to emerge. In 2001, Dr Yair Bar El from the Kfar Shaul Medical Centre in Jerusalem, which treats all of these cases, published a case series in The British Journal of Psychiatry. Over a 13-year period from 1980 to 1993, 1,200 tourists with a Jerusalem-generated mental disorder were assessed in that centre. Of these, 470 required psychiatric admission, or 40 annually. Three groups emerged: those with previous psychotic illness travelling alone (this group identify with specific biblical characters or with specific religious ideas, such as replacing Muslim monuments with Christian ones, and arrived to implement this, while others developed magical ideas about health and holy places or came in order to repair family problems); the second group is those without any prior psychotic illness but with other psychological problems such as personality disorder or eccentric religious ideas; the third group is those with no prior psychiatric illness, who were functionally normal. This group develops the psychosis in Jerusalem and after a brief period of hospitalisation and treatment returns home and has no further episodes. This illness-free group is small - amounting to 42 cases in the 13-year study. This group arrives in the city, often as part of a tour group and with no 'agenda' apart from visiting the sights. They often present initially with anxiety and a desire to split off from the tour group; they become preoccupied by purity and cleanliness and they have a compulsion to shout and or sing psalms. They often deliver a 'sermon' from one of the holy places. This is of very acute onset and recovery is often spontaneous. Most are deeply ashamed about the incident when they return home. Although most clearly described in relation to Jerusalem, similar episodes have been described in Mecca, at holy places in India and at shrines to the Blessed Virgin Mary as well as evangelical rallies. The things these locations have in common are their beauty, their personal significance, religiously or historically, and the emotion of reverence or awe that they inspire. These are cities that, to the person involved, are more than bricks and mortar. To try and understand what is happening in the group with no prior psychiatric disorder, Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, has conducted several brain-imaging studies of people in moments of extreme devotion. The limbic system, which is concerned with our emotions, shows high levels of activity during prayer. On the other hand, the frontal lobes, which ordinarily regulate extreme emotion, start to shut down, leading to hallucinations and abnormal behaviours. Other factors like jet lag, suggestibility and language or cultural barriers may also play a role. These unusual conditions are not named specifically in the standard textbooks of psychiatry or in the classifications such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders from the US. However, all of the psychiatric texts and manuals recognise that brief psychotic episodes, with and without a stressor, do occur and resolve rapidly, often without treatment. Jerusalem Syndrome, and other such place-related syndromes, demonstrate the interplay between place, history and personal significance. Most of us can visit these wonderful, awe-inspiring places without any psychological difficulties. We will continue to do so and be enriched by our experience. Ten passengers on an American Airlines flight from Athens, Greece, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were hospitalised following what has been described as the worst turbulence ever. Three passengers and seven cabin crew members were taken to a hospital after the plane carrying 287 passengers landed safely at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday afternoon and have since been released. The seatbelt sign was turned on when the turbulence hit shortly before landing, the airline said in a statement. The turbulence lasted around 30 minutes, during which passengers and drinks were hitting the ceiling as the plane began to shake and dropped in altitude, as if the whole plane was in free fall, according to passengers. I was looking forward and I just saw everything just move upwards about four feet," Alex Ehmke, who was on board the plane, told NBC News. "So, I saw drinks, you know, flying up against walls and up on the ceiling. Worst turbulence ever! Athens to Phil. Even the pilot didn't see it coming. Drinks on the ceiling. @AmericanAir #thoughtthiswasit pic.twitter.com/ndZ8ptgbWz Ervin Fang (@efnov6) August 6, 2017 "The gentleman directly behind us and diagonally behind us hit the ceiling himself," he added. Cabin crew had just been serving drinks to the passengers when they were suddenly warned to return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts. Thirty minutes out. They were giving us our drinks. The flight attendants were in the last couple rows when they said 'fasten your seat belts.' And then they said for the flight attendants to get to their seats, and they didn't even have time. It started shaking, then it took a big drop. Babies screaming, people in front of us hitting the ceiling," Ian Smith of South Philadelphia told ABC affiliate WPVI. "No warning at all. Plane lurched thru the air. Honestly, terrifying," Jessica Huseman, a reporter from ProPublica on board the flight, said. Back in NYC. Turbulence on flight was so insane and unexpected a flight attendant dislocated his shoulder. Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) August 5, 2017 Video footage captured by one passenger, Ervin Fang, posted on Twitter, showed the aftermath of the severe turbulence, with drinks splattered across the ceiling and the aisle cluttered by various items, while one passenger is seen clutching her face and a baby is heard crying in the background. The captain of the plane can be heard apologising for the unexpected incident over the PA system, according to the video. "We were expecting some light turbulence, the plane in front of us didn't report anything," the captain says. "That was totally unexpected. We've asked the cabin crew to take an assessment of everyone and make sure everyone is okay," the captain added. The airline has yet to confirm the suspected cause of the turbulence and the nature of the injuries of those treated at hospital, but one flight attendant was seen with a makeshift sling around his arm, while two passengers were seen holding ice packs on their heads, Mr Ehmke told NBC News. Mr Fang, a physician from Los Angeles, also confirmed he provided medical assistance on board, having to carry out shoulder relocation mid-air, he posted on Twitter. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Actors Chris Pratt (L) and Anna Faris at the premiere of Disney and Marvel's "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2" at Dolby Theatre on April 19, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) Anna Faris (L) and actor Chris Pratt attend the Taste of Chocolate during the 10th Annual Maui Film Festival at the Four Seasons Hotel on June 19, 2009 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) Actor Chris Pratt poses with his wife, actress Anna Faris, on his just unveiled Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on April 21, 2017 in Hollywood, California where he was the recipient of the 2,607th Star in the category of Motion Picture. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN Actors Anna Faris (L) and Chris Pratt attend the premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'Passengers' at Regency Village Theatre on December 14, 2016 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) Actor Chris Pratt (L) and actress Anna Faris celebrate bold moments with Tabasco at the MAXIM Party on January 31, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Tobasco) Presenters Anna Faris and Chris Pratt speak onstage during the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) US actress Anna Faris and US actor Chris Pratt (R) pose for a photograph upon arrival at the European Gala screening of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" in London on April 24, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVASDANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images Actors Anna Faris (L) and Chris Pratt at The World Premiere of Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA April 19th, 2017 (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) Most stories aren't nearly as fun when you already know the ending. Anna Faris and Chris Pratt's announcement on Sunday that they're ending their marriage after eight years in a joint statement is the most shocking split in a year filled with celebrity break-ups. The pair, who have always been outspoken in their soulmate status, were often seen as one of the most rock solid in Hollywood, and they have not yet given a reason behind the decision to split, only saying they are "really disappointed" and tried to make their marriage work "for a long time". But a recent interview by Faris for Live Happy's upcoming October issue, which took place in June, she opened up about her personal strengths and flaws, before declaring she was "really lucky" to have Pratt (38) in her life. Expand Close Actors Anna Faris (L) and Chris Pratt attend the premiere of "Passengers", in Westwood, California, on December 14, 2016. / AFP / VALERIE MACON / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actors Anna Faris (L) and Chris Pratt attend the premiere of "Passengers", in Westwood, California, on December 14, 2016. / AFP / VALERIE MACON "I'm really lucky that I have Chris and we laugh a lot about stupid stuff," she said of tabloid rumours at the time. "I was reading false rumors in a tabloid about us, and I feel so lucky that Chris and I can laugh about it rather than let it ruin our day." She recalled a particularly romantic occasion while he was filming Jurassic World 2 in London in March, saying: "He rented a boat that took us up and down the Thames. He had scones and it was wildly romantic. He's constantly doing really romantic things like that which are so wonderful. "But I also think that for us, our best date is an afternoon at our Washington home. Chris will put our crab pots out early in the morning, and later that day, we'll eat fresh crab with a little butter and just look at the scenery. I think that's one of the many reasons we fit so well together." The House Bunny star (40) said she believed their similar upbringings contributed to their compatibility, adding: "We're from the same place. We both know the same trees and smells and birds. It sounds corny, but those are things that ground us in everything outside of Hollywood." Expand Close Actors Chris Pratt (L) and Anna Faris at the premiere of Disney and Marvel's "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2" at Dolby Theatre on April 19, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actors Chris Pratt (L) and Anna Faris at the premiere of Disney and Marvel's "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2" at Dolby Theatre on April 19, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) She also revealed she "can't stand confrontation", describing it as a "character flaw". "But having said that, I do feel like when I do get upset, which is rare as my husband and family would say, I have a hard time letting go," she added, The couple first met in 2007 while filming Take Me Home Tonight when Faris was married to ex-husband Ben Indra and both emphasise that they were only friends during Faris' previous marriage. Expand Close Anna Faris (L) and actor Chris Pratt attend the Taste of Chocolate during the 10th Annual Maui Film Festival at the Four Seasons Hotel on June 19, 2009 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anna Faris (L) and actor Chris Pratt attend the Taste of Chocolate during the 10th Annual Maui Film Festival at the Four Seasons Hotel on June 19, 2009 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) Video of the Day Pratt said of their instant connection: "It was like magnets. Our personalities meshed, she was a goofball, she liked to have fun, it was impossible to offend her. We were friends first but she left her husband at the end of the movie, and we started dating when we were back in Los Angeles. So we were friends, and I was there for her." While Faris was undeniably the bigger star when they wed, Pratt's career has soared in recent years thanks to starring roles in blockbusters Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy. Expand Close Actor Chris Pratt poses with his wife, actress Anna Faris, on his just unveiled Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on April 21, 2017 in Hollywood, California where he was the recipient of the 2,607th Star in the category of Motion Picture. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actor Chris Pratt poses with his wife, actress Anna Faris, on his just unveiled Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on April 21, 2017 in Hollywood, California where he was the recipient of the 2,607th Star in the category of Motion Picture. / AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN Earlier this year, he told the Associated Press they originally put their careers first in order to support each other's dreams. "For the first part of our relationship, we put our careers at the top," he explained. "We were like, 'Honey, if you get a job and you have to go to Istanbul for six months, youre going. Ill help you pack. Ill Skype with you every day. Youre living your dream, Im living my dream. Thats what we do.'" They have a son Jack (four) together. US actors Chris Pratt and Anna Faris have announced their separation after eight years of marriage. The pair, who have a son named Jack, shared the news via social media, telling followers that they were disappointed by the split, but still have love and respect for each other. Pratt, who starred in Guardians Of The Galaxy, wrote on Facebook: Anna and I are sad to announce we are legally separating. We tried hard for a long time, and were really disappointed. Anna and I are sad to announce we are legally separating. We tried hard for a long time, and were really disappointed. Posted by Chris Pratt on Sunday, August 6, 2017 Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward. We still have love for each other, will always cherish our time together and continue to have the deepest respect for one another. Chris Pratt and Anna Faris. Pratt, 38, and Mom star Faris, 40, married in 2009 and starred together in 2011 high school comedy, Take Me Home Tonight. 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 Earlier this year, Pratt told the Associated Press of their relationship: For the first part of our relationship, we put our careers at the top. We were like, Honey, if you get a job and you have to go to Istanbul for six months, youre going. Ill help you pack. Ill Skype with you every day. Youre living your dream, Im living my dream. Thats what we do.' Video of the Day Faris, who shot to fame in the early noughties with roles in the Scary Movie horror film spoof series, also shared the statement on Twitter. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend 'Creative Collaborations: UK & China' along with The President of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Lancaster House SUITS "Skin In the Game" Episode 701 -- Pictured: Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane -- (Photo by: Ian Watson/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales with their sons Prince William & Prince Harry in the wild flower meadow at Highgrove (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images) This photograph released by Kensington Palace, from the personal photo album of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, shows Prince William and Prince Harry sitting on a picnic bench together and features in the new ITV documentary 'Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy', which airs on ITV at 21.00hrs on Monday 24th July. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Kiss me Kate: Prince William kisses his new wife in front of the world's media in 2011. Photo Getty images n this Handout Image provided by Clarence House, Kate Middleton and Prince William on the day of their graduation ceremony at St Andrew's University in St Andrew's on June 23, 2005 in Scotland. (Photo by the Middleton Family/Clarence House via GettyImages) A close up of Kate Middleton's engagement ring as she poses for photographs in the State Apartments with her fiance Prince William of St James Palace on November 16, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images) Kate Middleton and Prince William announcing their engagement in 20110, left, and Prince Harry, right Prince Harry reportedly made a personal sacrifice when his brother William proposed to Kate Middleton When William popped the question to Kate Middleton in 2010, the couple had already been together seven years and she was already developing a friendship with Harry too. At the time, it came as a shock when he gave Kate his late mother Princess Diana's sapphire and diamond engagement ring, a ring which was previously in Harry's possession. After their mother's death in 1997, a number of her personal items were stored for historical purposes, but the boys chose some special "keepsake" items from her belongings in Kensington Palace and Harry chose her ring. "After Diana died, the boys both chose a keepsake from Kensington Palace when they moved to Charles' rooms in St Jamess Palace. William picked his mums Cartier watch, and Harry picked her sapphire and diamond engagement ring," a source told the Daily Star. Expand Close Diana Princess Of Wales, Prince William & Prince Harry Visit The 'Thorpe Park' Amusement Park. (Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Diana Princess Of Wales, Prince William & Prince Harry Visit The 'Thorpe Park' Amusement Park. (Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images) "They had an agreement that whoever got engaged first would have Diana's ring, and of course that was William and Kate." While Harry is rumoured to be preparing for a royal engagement of his own to girlfriend Meghan Markle, it's reported he would transform a piece of his mother's jewellery into a diamond ring. Despite the fact that the couple are dating just over a year, they have both been smitten from the beginning and Meghan has been making moves in her personal life in order to accommodate a potential royal proposal - including closing her lifestyle blog and ending her commercial partnerships in Toronto, where she is based and films legal drama Suits. The couple are currently in his "second home" of Botswana, Africa as Harry whisked his other half away to mark her 36th birthday on a three week trip. Similarly, William got down on bended knee to his wife of six years during a trip to Kenya. And both brothers are conservation activisits. "Harry wants to show her where his heart really is and it is Africa," a source told The Mirror. Expand Close Prince Harry arrives at the 'Dunkirk' World Premiere at Odeon Leicester Square on July 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince Harry arrives at the 'Dunkirk' World Premiere at Odeon Leicester Square on July 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images) He is said to have planned a romantic excursion including a water safari along the Okavango Delta. Queen Letizia of Spain (R) and her daughter Princess Sofia (Shoes detail) visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain and their daughters Princess Leonor (L) and Princess Sofia (R) visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain and their daughters Princess Leonor of Spain (R) and Princess Sofia of Spain (L) visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain, Princess Leonor of Spain (R) and Princess Sofia of Spain (L) pose for the photographers during the summer photocall at the Marivent Palace on July 31, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) Queen Letizia of Spain visits the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) Queen Letizia of Spain and her daughter Princess Sofia of Spain visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) Queen Letizia of Spain and her daughter Princess Sofia of Spain visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain and their daughters Princess Leonor of Spain (L) and Princess Sofia of Spain (R) visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) Queen Letizia of Spain and her daughter Princess Sofia of Spain visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain and their daughters Princess Leonor of Spain and Princess Sofia of Spain visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Ballesteros - Pool/Getty Images) King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain and their daughters Princess Leonor of Spain and Princess Sofia of Spain visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Ballesteros - Pool/Getty Images) King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain and their daughters Princess Leonor of Spain and Princess Sofia of Spain visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Ballesteros - Pool/Getty Images) Spanish Queen Letizia (R) and her daughter Spanish crown princess Sofia, walk down a street in the village of Soller on Mallorca island on August 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAIME REINAJAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images Spanish King Felipe VI (L), his wife Queen Letizia (R) and their daughters Spanish crown princess Leonor (2L) and princess Sofia walk down a street in the village of Soller on Mallorca island, on August 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAIME REINAJAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain host a dinner for authorities at the Almudaina Palace on August 4, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) Spanish King Felipe VI (R) and Queen Letizia (L) pose with their daughters Spanish crown princess Leonor (2L) and princess Sofia in the gardens at the Marivent Palace on the island of Mallorca on July 31, 2017 Spanish King Felipe VI (R), Queen Letizia (3L) and her daughter Spanish crown princess Leonor, smile to a group of children during their visit to the village of Soller on Mallorca island, on August 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAIME REINAJAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images Spanish King Felipe VI (R) his wife Queen Letizia (L) and their daughters Spanish crown princess Leonor (2R) and princess Sofia pose at the door of Can Prunera Museum during their visit to the village of Soller on Mallorca island, on August 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAIME REINAJAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images Spanish Queen Letizia (R) and her daughters Spanish crown princess Leonor (L) and Spanish crown princess Sofia, pose as they walk down a street in the village of Soller on Mallorca island, on August 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAIME REINAJAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images Spain's Queen Letizia's summer style is truly effortless. While our day-to-day holiday wardrobes forego might consist of throwing our sweaty hair in a top knot, wearing a loose playsuit and sporting some questionable sunburn, a queen does not get the luxuries of such casual style. Letizia, a former television journalist, is currently in Palma de Mallorca with her husband King Felipe and look-a-like daughters Sofia and Leonor. She opted for a sleeveless white shift dress, first worn back in 2013, by Spanish designer Adolfo Dominguez and a pair of embellished sandals by Ulterque and a pair of diamond earrings by Chanel. She finished off her look with an on-trend straw and leather basket bag, which has seen a major resurgence in the last year. Expand Close King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain and their daughters Princess Leonor of Spain (L) and Princess Sofia of Spain (R) visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain and their daughters Princess Leonor of Spain (L) and Princess Sofia of Spain (R) visit the Can Prunera Museum on August 6, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) Princesses Sofia (10) and Leonor (11) meanwhile, were both dressed in linen dresses from Zara, The 42-year-old has been working some of her best summer wardrobe options in the last week as she continues her family holiday, peppered with occasional photo opportunities to awaiting press. Earlier in the week, she and Felipe hosted a dinner at the Almudaina Palace in an intricately woven floral dress by manton de Manila and floral drop earrings by Helena Nicolau. But her wardrobe hasn't been all high end pieces - for the first photos of their holidays, Letizia wore a yellow, black and white striped knittop from Mango, which retails for 45. Virgil Van Dijks has been one of the rollercoaster transfer sagas of the summer, with the latest twist coming in the form of a transfer request from the 26-year-old. Plenty of names have been in the mix for the Dutch defenders signature but Liverpools has been the most commonly touted so much so that some fans appear to be getting impatient 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 Matt from Twitters sentiment is one many Liverpool fans may sympathise with, as Van Dijk has been a long-term target for the Reds. Although his pleading with former Reds and England centre back Jamie Carragher seemed like a long shot, it seems he may have been onto something. 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 Gamely done by Carra. Whether or not he did message Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp isnt clear but of course, some fans had some extra requests. 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 Some people are never satisfied At least one guy had something nice to say. 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 Carragher is 39 maybe hes still got some games in him? Reports emerged in June that Van Dijk was on the verge of a 60 million transfer to the Reds, before Southampton reported them to the Premier League for making an alleged illegal approach. Liverpool responded by apologising, before also insisting they had ended any interest in the player. Reportedly Van Dijk has said he wants to move to Liverpool however, and Chelsea are also interested. Expand Close Virgil van Dijk may be about to finally seal his dream move to Liverpool (Martin Rickett/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Virgil van Dijk may be about to finally seal his dream move to Liverpool (Martin Rickett/PA) Who knows whats going to happen with this one? Some of the most endangered bears have moved into a new home at Chester Zoo. Two sun bears, named Toni and Milli, have relocated to the South East Asian zone, a new 3 million habitat. Also finding new homes in the zone are a Malayan tapir family, and they all look to be having a great time. Chester Zoos website says: The two sun bears, Milli and Toni were rescued from Cambodia after their mothers were killed by poachers and they were found as mistreated pets. But in their new environment, the bears will be able to climb trees, forage for food, and enjoy a stream. Furthermore, there is an area for the tapirs, which according to Chester Zoo is thought to be one of the worlds largest. With an outdoor and indoor pool to enjoy, people will be able to view the tapirs enjoying their new habitat. A police vehicle blocks a road in front of a bomb disposal robot in the Molenbeek suburb of Brussels (Olivier Matthys/AP) Belgian prosecutors said that no explosives were found in a car stopped by police fire after a high-speed chase in the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek. "Nothing suspicious was found in the vehicle," said Ine Van Wymersch, spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor's office. The car was chased by police after driving through a red light and was involved in two collisions until it was finally brought to a halt, she said. A witness, Mohamed Al Mossawi, told The Associated Press that the car's tyres were shot out by police. Ms Van Wymersch said only one shot was fired. "When the person got out, he immediately claimed that there were explosives inside," Ms Van Wymersch said. She declined to identify the suspect, but said he was a Rwandan national born in 1981 who was not previously known to police. A few hundred people were kept in nearby shops as a precaution while heavily protected army bomb disposal experts were called in to assess the situation. Unprotected police and forensic experts were later at the scene, taking objects from the car and examining them. The all-clear was given just over three hours after the car was stopped. No one was injured. Brussels has been on high alert since suicide bombers killed 32 people in attacks on the city's airport and subway on March 22 2016. Many suspects linked to those attacks and the November 2015 massacre in Paris lived in or travelled through Molenbeek. AP A 33-year-old woman was lucky to escape serious injury when she fell in front of a bus after colliding with a jogger, police in England have said. Dramatic CCTV of the incident shows a man running along Putney Bridge, west London, and appearing to push the woman into the road. Expand Close Police are appealing for anyone who knows this man to contact them. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police are appealing for anyone who knows this man to contact them. The oncoming bus is forced to swerve into the adjacent lane to avoid hitting her. Investigating officer Sergeant Mat Knowles said: "The victim was put in extreme danger when she was knocked into the road. "It was only due to the superb quick reactions of the bus driver that she was not hit by the vehicle." The Metropolitan Police said the bus stopped and passengers tended to the woman - who received minor injuries - following the incident on Friday, May 5 at about 7.40am. Officers said the jogger ran the other way across the bridge around 15 minutes later and the victim attempted to speak to him, but "he did not acknowledge her". An appeal has been launched for witnesses or anyone who recognises the jogger in the CCTV. The jogger is described as white in his early to mid-30s, with brown eyes and short brown hair. He was wearing a light grey T-shirt and dark blue shorts. Chloe Ayling, the 20-year-old glamour model who says she was kidnapped by an international criminal gang from the dark web, was told by her captors to sneak information into the press. The Black Death group, who police say kidnapped the model before returning her to the British consulate, gave Ms Ayling a specific series of things to say in media interviews, according to the police. The group said they would be watching her appearances and that they would eliminate her if she disobeyed them, according to a pamphlet that was released by the police. The letter, written in English, lays out a series of demands that were allegedly made of Ms Ayling when she was released. It said that her release does, however, come with a warning, and you should read this letter very carefully. It suggests that despite the fact that police have said Ms Aylings captors returned her within days of drugging and taking her, the kidnapping was still intended to be used as a kind of publicity event for the Black Death group. Very little has so far been known about the group, which, if it has previously existed at all, has looked to downplay its online presence. Expand Close British model Chloe Ayling (20), who was kidnapped and held for a week by men who threatened to auction her online. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp British model Chloe Ayling (20), who was kidnapped and held for a week by men who threatened to auction her online. Police have said that the group had originally intended to sell Ms Ayling online through the dark web. You will, upon your landing in your home country, cease any investigation activities related to your kidnapping, it reads. Ms Ayling has received a debriefing from authorities since she arrived in the UK at the weekend, but its thought that it is related to intelligence questions about the gang rather than the criminal investigations. The letter then goes on to make clear that what Ms Ayling says in the wake of the kidnapping will be monitored. It says that she agreed to sneak a pre-determined set of information into the media, and we will expect to see evidence that has been done in near future. Ms Ayling has so far only given one media interview, to an Italian TV station, outside her house. In that, she read a short statement and suggested that she would say more when the debriefing process was over. Expand Close Suspect Lukasz Pawel Herba / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Suspect Lukasz Pawel Herba The pamphlet says that any further interviews about the Black Death group must never be done in bad language and without respect. It said that she might have heard information from her captor, but that she can release that because he would never give you any information that could harm our activities. It also says that since Ms Ayling was treated well, she should tell the media about how good the group are. You have been treated fairly, with respect and we expect to hear exactly the same about us in return. We will not tolerate lying about anything that happened, the letter reads. Read More The authenticity of the Black Death Group or that they were the authors of the letter cannot be verified. But the police provided the pamphlet as part of their major press conference announcing they had captured one of the men they claim is responsible for the kidnapping. Expand Close Chloe Ayling. Picture: Instagram / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chloe Ayling. Picture: Instagram The document was taken from his computer, they said. It also included another page that listed the services the group can supposedly provide including bombings and assassinations and a disturbing image of plague doctors, which happens to be one of the first images that shows up in a Google search for black death. Meanwhile, the Telegraph is reporting that the accused kidnapper, Lukasz Pawel Herba, contacted the Daily Mirror and tried to sell the story of the kidnapping while the young girl was still being held captive. He emailed the paper under the heading British model kidnapped by Russian mafia and offered to sell photographs of her. On Monday, her agent from Supermodels Agency, said she was taken to the British Consulate in Milan after the "horrific ordeal", but could not return home to London for almost three weeks. "Chloe had her passport detained by Italian police who would not let her return to the UK until she gave evidence at a pre-trial hearing on August 4," he said in a statement. He added she was able to fly back to the UK on Sunday after attending the crime scene with police and her lawyer the day before. "Today she is debriefing Met Police and the Foreign Office, and has requested to spend the rest of the day in privacy with her mother," he added. In her only public statement since her ordeal she said: "I've been through a terrifying experience. I feared for my life, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour. "I am incredibly grateful to the Italian and UK authorities for all they have done to secure my safe release." British model Chloe Ayling (20), who was kidnapped and held for a week by men who threatened to auction her online. Chloe Ayling (right) claims she was held by Lukasz Pawel Herba (left top) at a rural house The chief suspect in the alleged kidnap of a British model in Milan has said he did not knowingly take part in any crime. Lukasz Pawel Herba says his involvement stems from wanting to raise money to treat his leukaemia and that he was hired by a group of Romanians to rent properties around Europe to store garments they were selling, according to reports. He is also said to have told investigators he posed as a photographer and met Chloe Ayling. He said he was paid 500,000 (553,000), found out the Romanians intended to kidnap her, and backed out of the plan. His side of the story has emerged as Ms Ayling's representatives dismissed doubts about the ordeal, saying it was real and terrifying. Expand Close Suspect Lukasz Pawel Herba / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Suspect Lukasz Pawel Herba Italian police said she was snatched last month by a group calling itself Black Death. She is believed to have been drugged and transported in a bag to an isolated village near Turin, where she was held for six days as her captors tried to auction her online. Expand Close Chloe Ayling. Picture: Instagram / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chloe Ayling. Picture: Instagram As more details emerged about the episode, including that she went shopping for shoes and groceries with her captor, her lawyer and an agent have spoken out to defend her. Lawyer Francesco Pesce said it is "evil" to suggest she was involved while Phil Green, of Supermodel Agency, said what took place was "real and very frightening for all concerned". Ms Ayling left her house in Coulsdon, south London, on Tuesday morning wearing black leggings and a gold-coloured jacket. Pulling on a white helmet and black coat, she climbed on to the pillion seat of a motorbike before it set off in the direction of Purley. Speaking previously, Ms Ayling said she had feared for her life "second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour" during the incident and thanked the Italian and UK authorities "for all they have done to secure my safe release". A friend of Ms Ayling's said the young model said she was doing a Page Three photo shoot on Tuesday. Expand Close British model Chloe Ayling (20), who was kidnapped and held for a week by men who threatened to auction her online. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp British model Chloe Ayling (20), who was kidnapped and held for a week by men who threatened to auction her online. Carla Bellucci, who runs a modelling agency, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "I wouldn't say she's the wisest of girls. "She can be a little bit naive, she's young. To us it's new but for her she's had a few weeks to get used to it." Ms Bellucci said the decision to pose so soon after the incident was "maybe... her way of dealing with what's happened to her, to get back out there". Ms Ayling was informed she was going to be sold to somebody in the Middle East for sex and complied with her captor during the alleged kidnap because she was told she would be killed if she tried to flee, Mr Pesce said. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "So she thought that the best idea was to go along with it and to be nice in a way to her captor because he told her that he wanted to release her somehow and sometime and she thought that the best thing to do was not to go in conflict with him. "So she abided to his request, 'let's go and buy groceries' and 'you need shoes, let's go buy shoes', and she didn't try to flee. "But I believe she was terrified at the moment and even if she could've asked for help she didn't because she was subjugated to this person, or people as she was given to understand." The Sun reported she told police she had developed a trusting relationship and even shared a bed with her kidnapper, who gave her chocolate and underwear, but she said he had not sexually assaulted her. Mr Green, of Supermodel Agency, said: "I can assure everybody that it was real and very frightening for all concerned." He also said, as reported by the Associated Press, that the person who made the booking for the photo shoot had "a website, previous pictures, details of his studio, details of what the shoot was going to be, times, locations, fee - everything". Mr Green said Ms Ayling was taken to the British Consulate in Milan after the alleged kidnap but was not allowed to return home for almost three weeks, arriving back in the UK on Sunday. A Polish man who lives in Britain was arrested on July 18 on suspicion of kidnap and extortion, Italian state police said. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said it has been assisting with the investigation and that a house in the Oldbury area linked to Herba had been searched and computer equipment seized. It is alleged the men tried to sell Ms Ayling online for more than 300,000 dollars (230,000) and demanded Mr Green pay to secure her release. She was kept handcuffed to furniture in the village of Borgial but was freed after six days and taken to the British Consulate in Milan, despite the ransom not being paid, police said. It has been reported the captor demanded 50,000 on her release and threatened to kill her if she told police about the incident. Milan police spokesman Lorenzo Bucossi told reporters the group the suspect was allegedly working for offered "mercenary services" on the dark web. The area was cordoned off as police inspected the vehicle Credit: AP Hundreds of people were kept in lockdown Credit: AP A bomb disposal squad is deployed after Belgian police shot at a vehicle in the Brussels district of Molenbeek Credit: REUTERS Belgian bomb squad found no explosives after a man who claimed to be carrying a bomb in his car was stopped by police, Brussels prosecutors said on Tuesday. "It's a mentally unstable person," a spokeswoman for prosecutors said. "The military did not find any explosive in his vehicle." She said that the suspect was from Rwanda and was not known to have a police record. The bomb scare was in the district of Molenbeek, a poor area with a large Moroccan Muslim population that was home to the Islamic State members who attacked Paris in November 2015. Expand Close Hundreds of people were kept in lockdown Credit: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hundreds of people were kept in lockdown Credit: AP Some 400 to 500 people were initially kept on lockdown while they investigated. Brussels has been on high alert since 32 people were killed in 2016 suicide attacks. Many suspects linked to those attacks and the November 2015 massacre in Paris lived in or transited through Molenbeek. Said Bahaji, with and without his beard (Bundesanwaltschaft/AP) A German man believed to have provided logistical support to the Hamburg-based September 11 hijackers has died, according to a newly released audio message from the leader of al Qaida. The announcement by Ayman al-Zawahri came in an audio message posted online in which he says a man he identifies as Zuhair al-Maghribi - who worked for As-Sahab, the terror network's media arm - is a "martyr". He says al-Maghribi is one of several who "sacrificed their lives" but does not provide details of when or how they died. Al-Maghribi is a known alias of Said Bahaji, who authorities have said worked for As-Sahab. He had been wanted on an international arrest warrant issued by Germany shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Germany-born Bahaji, who is of Moroccan descent, is believed to have helped suicide hijackers Mohamad Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi and Ziad Jarrah when they were in Hamburg, and to have fled shortly before the September 11 attacks. In an operation in 2009, the Pakistani military battled their way into a Taliban stronghold on the Afghan border and found Bahaji's German passport, among others. It included a tourist visa for Pakistan and a stamp indicating he had arrived in the southern city of Karachi on September 4 2001. The authenticity of the al-Zawahri recording could not be independently confirmed but it resembled previous messages released by the al Qaida leader. SITE Intelligence Group, a US organisation that monitors militant messaging, reported on the recording, noting that in it, al-Zawahri also "revealed that Khalid Sheikh Muhammad", a senior al Qaida leader in US custody, founded As-Sahab. Bahaji was long suspected of having died, but al Qaida never publicly acknowledged his death until al-Zawahri's audio recording. In a list published by the United Nations Security Council of people and entities against whom there are sanctions, Bahaji is said to be "reportedly deceased in September 2013 in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border area". AP People stand in line waiting to vote at Don Bosco school in Kiserian, Kenya (AP) Voters queue to cast their votes at Ziwa la Ng'ombe polling station in Mombasa (AP) Polls have closed in Kenya's hotly contested elections which are pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta against challenger Raila Odinga amid fears the east African economic hub's poll battle could spark deadly ethnic violence. Voters have turned out in large numbers and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said all those who are already in line will be permitted to vote. The announcement said voting will be extended in the Baringo and Turkana areas after polls opened late because of heavy rains. It said voting will also be extended in centres that started late or had technical difficulties. Mr Kenyatta, voting earlier in his birthplace of Gatundu, north of Nairobi, said: "I feel good. I feel positive because we ran a positive campaign." The 55-year-old, accompanied by his wife Margaret, his mother and two of his three children, urged Kenyans to vote peacefully and go home to await the results. Mr Odinga, 72, voted in the poor area of Kibera, an opposition stronghold in the capital Nairobi, and was surrounded by well-wishers. He urged supporters to gather on Wednesday in a central park for what he predicted would be a celebration. Voters formed long queues at many polling stations before dawn, waiting for the chance to cast ballots in a tightly contested race for the presidency as well as for more than 1,800 elected positions, including governors, legislative representatives and county officials. A key concern was whether Kenya would echo its 2013 election, a mostly peaceful affair despite opposition allegations of vote-tampering, or the 2007 election, which led to violence fuelled by ethnic divisions that killed more than 1,000 people. Mr Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's first president after independence from British colonial rule, campaigned on a record of major infrastructure projects, many backed by China, and claimed strong economic growth. Mr Odinga is also the son of a leader of the independence struggle and has cast himself as a champion of the poor and a critic of endemic corruption in many state institutions. Many people were expected to vote along ethnic lines. Mr Kenyatta was widely seen as the candidate of the Kikuyu people, the country's largest ethnic group, and Mr Odinga was associated with the Luo voting bloc, which has never produced a head of state. Reaction to the result could partly depend on the performance of Kenya's electoral commission, which will collect vote counts from more than 40,000 polling stations. Fears of violence were increased by the murder of an electoral official in charge of technology days ahead of the election. The election commission has said that about 25% of polling stations will not have network coverage, meaning officials will have to move to find a better signal and transmit results by satellite telephones. By law, election officials have up to a week to announce results, though many analysts believe the outcome of the presidential race will be declared far sooner, possibly within one or two days. The winner of the presidential race must get more than 50% of the votes as well as a quarter or more votes in at least 24 of Kenya's 47 counties, according to election officials. If the front-runner falls short of those benchmarks, the two top contenders will contest a run-off vote. Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga also faced off in the 2013 election. Mr Kenyatta won by a thin margin, with just over 50% of the vote. Mr Odinga alleged voting irregularities and took his case to Kenya's highest court, which ruled in Mr Kenyatta's favour by validating the results. Kenya has nearly 20 million registered voters out of a population of more than 40 million. AP First Lady Melania Trump, pictured here with husband President Donald Trump, will lead the US delegation to the Invictus Games. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) US President Donald Trump with first lady Melania Trump at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio. Photo: GETTY Donald Trump's supporters dont care if his wife Melania would likely fail to get into the US if she was vetted under a proposed screening system because she is the right kind of immigrant, it has been claimed. Journalist Julia Ioffe spoke out over restrictive plans by the Presidents administration to curb the number of arrivals by forcing the hopefuls to first take a skills-based points system. She said the crackdown was a bid by Mr Trump to pander to the loyal followers of his populist style of politics who ushered him into the White House in his shock election victory. But Ms Ioffe said his supporters were not concerned if his Slovenian-born wife herself could pass that screening because she is a beautiful white woman from Europe, and we like those. She said she doubted Ms Trump could jump through that hoop because she does not hold a college degree. She also pointed out that the first lady had first entered the US on a H-1B visa one of the visas that Mr Trumps Republican administration is trying to restrict. Expand Close U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he and First Lady Melania Trump leaves the White House on route to Ohio, in Washington, U.S., July 25, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he and First Lady Melania Trump leaves the White House on route to Ohio, in Washington, U.S., July 25, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Last week the President threw his support behind the proposed points-based system designed to weed out the number of would-be immigrant who would qualify to enter the US. Ms Ioffe, a Russian-born journalist with The Atlantic Magazine, pointed out to CNN that the first lady herself arrived in the US under visas which Mr Trumps administration is trying to restrict. Read More She said: Its interesting because Melania Trump was here originally on a H-1B visa, when in fact she worked illegally under a tourist visa first. But that doesnt seem to matter, because when you ask Trump supporters they dont seem to care. Shes the right kind of immigrant: shes a beautiful white woman from Europe, and we like those. She added: She doesnt have a college degree, you know. I dont know how she would have done under this points system. In a wider swipe at the proposal by Mr Trump's administrations to crack down on immigrants, Ms Ioffe said there was nothing new in the plan by Republican senators David Perdue and Tom Cotton. Its kind of more of the same in slightly different packaging, the same thing he has been promising to his base since he started running (for the White House) two years ago, she said. Its very restrictive in one shape or another. Mr Trump and his congressional allies framed the bill in the pipeline as a way to recruit more skilled workers and transition away from an immigration system that is focused on family unity. But critics including the tech industry has largely spurned the proposal, saying it failed to deal with the shortage of qualified foreign workers. The plan gets into an already crowded line of measures that Congress is considering, including health care, tax reform, a budget and raising the debt ceiling, meaning it is unlikely that the proposal will even be put on the table any time soon. U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on North Korea during an opioid-related briefing at Trump's golf estate in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., August 8, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump said that the North Korea will be met with "fire and fury" if it threatens the United States. Speaking at a press conference in New Jersey on Tuesday, Trump addressed the ongoing crisis between the US and North Korea. "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States," he told reporters. "They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen." "He has been very threatening... beyond a normal statement," he said of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "As I said, they will be met with fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which the world has never seen before." His comments came hours after it was revealed by CBS that North Korea had successfully created a miniaturised nuclear warhead designed to fit inside misiles. On Tuesday morning Trump took to Twitter to say that the US needs to be "tough" on North Korea. A French teenager who tried to attack soldiers guarding the Eiffel Tower has been sent back to a psychiatric hospital. The Paris prosecutor's office said on Tuesday that a psychiatric expert deemed the 19-year-old unfit to face prosecution, so he was released from custody. He was returned to the same hospital that discharged him last week, just before Saturday's tower incident. The prosecutor's office said counter-terrorism magistrates opened a judicial inquiry on Tuesday into the attempted attack, which will allow a second opinion on the man's awareness of his actions and fitness to face prosecution. No one was hurt in the incident. The suspect told police he had been in contact with an Islamic State member who encouraged him to attack security forces. AP US intelligence understands North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturised nuclear warhead, according to the Washington Post (AP) President Donald Trump has warned North Korea that it could face "fire and fury" after a new report said US intelligence believes Pyongyang has successfully produced a nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles. Washington's alarm over North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's pursuit of a nuclear capability has intensified after the North conducted two tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles last month. The latest report that it has produced a miniaturised nuclear warhead would mean North Korea has passed a key threshold in becoming a fully fledged nuclear power. "North Korea had best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen," Mr Trump said during a briefing on opioid addiction at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. Japan's defence ministry concluded in an annual white paper released on Tuesday that "it is possible that North Korea has achieved the miniaturisation of nuclear weapons and has developed nuclear warheads". Japan, a key US ally, is also a potential target of North Korean aggression. A report in The Washington Post on Tuesday went further. The newspaper said US intelligence officials have assessed that a decade after North Korea's first nuclear test explosion, Pyongyang has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, including by intercontinental missiles - the type capable of reaching the continental US. The Post story, citing unnamed US intelligence officials, said the confidential analysis was completed last month by the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The US also calculated last month that North Korea has up to 60 nuclear weapons, the Post said, more than double most assessments by independent experts. The UN Security Council this weekend slapped its toughest sanctions yet on North Korea over its latest test of a ballistic missile that could be used to deliver a nuclear weapon. Despite the rapid tempo of these tests, uncertainty has lingered over the isolated nation's ability to couple such a missile with a nuclear device, but tho se uncertainties appear to be receding. AP A murder suspect failed to show up for his court date. Destin Lamar Sloan, who was awaiting trial after making his bond, is now wanted for failure to appear in court for a pending trial in which he is a second-degree murder defendant. Sloan was arrested on July 13, 2014, for the murder of Kerry Gray, who at the time of his death was 39 years old and living in Woodleaf, N.C. The murder occurred on July 13, 2014, at 145 Maria Lane in Woodleaf allegedly after a dispute between the victim, Gray, and the suspect, Sloan. Sloan is a 25-year-old black male who listed his address as 4475 Mooresville Road Salisbury at the time of his arrest in July 2014. He is described as being 5 feet, 6 inches, 160 pounds, and having dark hair. He also has the tattoo MO$B across his fingers on his left hand. Sloan is known to carry a gun, and due caution should be used in any contact with him. Anyone with information regarding Dustin Sloan and his location should contact their local 911 Center immediately. To remain anonymous and possibly collect an award of up to $1,000, information can be submitted 24/7 online at http://tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers.org or by calling the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245. KABUL - Afghans are alarmed by widespread reports that President Donald Trump has threatened to fire Gen. John Nicholson Jr., the highly regarded U.S. military commander in this war-torn country, and that Trump has also delayed choosing a new military and political strategy Afghans have awaited anxiously for the past six months. Nicholson, 61, the top U.S. military official in Afghanistan for the past 16 months, has become the best-known face of Washington here, working closely with Afghan military and civilian officials, and vocally advocating expanded U.S. military engagement, while the Taliban and other insurgents continue aggressive attacks across the country. Now, with two U.S. service members killed in the past week, Trump's attack on Nicholson for failing to "win" the 16-year war has stunned Afghan officials and political leaders. They said a clear signal of continued support from Washington is urgently needed to keep the fragile Kabul government on its feet amid an explosion of public unrest and organized opposition from a variety of groups. "Our biggest immediate worry is the lack of an American strategy," said Omar Daudzai, a former senior Afghan official. "We are facing political turmoil and a security crisis. Neighboring governments are meddling. We need an American commitment to support the defense forces, elections and democratic institutions. America's reputation is at stake in Afghanistan, and if this all goes bad, America will lose its credibility." Over the past several days, Afghan officials and others here praised Nicholson, saying he inherited a protracted and worsening conflict but has worked closely with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on developing a detailed four-year plan to support Afghan security forces so they can defend the country alone. With no permanent U.S. ambassador here since December, the four-star general's role has also taken on added diplomatic importance. Observers in Kabul said Nicholson, now on his fourth military tour in the country, has earned wide respect for his hard work and outreach to Afghans of all stripes. Last year, Nicholson told a congressional committee that since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, "the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan has largely defined my service." A U.S. military official here, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Nicholson "is not one to twist in the wind. He is focusing on the mission he was asked to carry out: a strategy to help the Afghans stand on their own feet. This is an Afghan conflict, and everyone knows there is no quick and easy solution. The main thing President Ghani has asked us for is time." But a variety of Afghans said the new controversy over Nicholson, and further postponement of an announced U.S. policy after months of drift, have aroused concern that Washington may abandon its longtime role as a supporter of Afghan democracy, and possibly even the war effort, at a time of growing domestic unrest and interference by foreign regional powers. "These delays are not just a matter of bureaucracy. They are a matter of life and death to the Afghan people," said Davood Moradian, director of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies. The Taliban insurgents, he said, are trying to "influence the debate in Washington with these new attacks. The longer these delays continue, the more innocent lives will be lost." Moradian said Trump "has a right to be angry" about the military stalemate, "but he is attacking the wrong target." He said that Nicholson has done "an admirable job of filling the political and diplomatic vacuum" since Trump took office and that he should not be blamed for the failure of policies set by the Obama administration. Under President Barack Obama's policy, U.S. and NATO forces peaked in 2009 at 140,000 troops, but most of them withdrew in 2014 with the war still hotly contested. Nicholson heads a limited assistance mission of about 8,400 troops that advise and train Afghan forces and provide air combat support. The plan worked out by Nicholson and Ghani calls for doubling the size of the Afghan special operations forces and bringing in hundreds of U.S. trainers for the recruits, improving the Afghan air force, pairing advisers more closely with Afghan soldiers, reforming military leadership and combating corruption in the defense forces. Ghani has said he wants the military to be totally independent after four years. But some observers said Trump's sharp criticism of Nicholson at a tense July 19 meeting in the White House may indicate he wants to scrap the entire plan, supported by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, that would include raising the number of U.S. troops by several thousand. According to news reports, the president repeatedly said he wanted to fire the general, leaving senior military and policy aides stunned. There was no indication of what alternatives Trump is considering. "The president has undermined his own general, and he has also undermined the mission," said a former Afghan security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Nicholson has now lost face in front of Afghans, his NATO counterparts and his officers. What does this tell the troops under his command? How can Afghan leaders accept any commitment he makes when they know he does not carry the full faith and credit of the United States?" The other missing half of the equation is a U.S. political policy toward Afghanistan, which most experts agree is even more important than deciding how many troops to send or what they would do. Opinions among Afghans are divided on this issue, with some saying Washington needs to do more to strengthen the divided Ghani regime, and others saying it should focus on building institutions rather than supporting individual leaders. "The blind spot in U.S. policy is not about the troop numbers, it is about uncritically supporting Ghani," said the former security official, noting that the Afghan president's popularity has plummeted as his government faces growing public insecurity and political opposition. "The U.S. should be reexamining its political strategy. It should not be Ghani or bust." Government officials, however, said that Ghani's goal is to strengthen democratic institutions and reform a corrupt political system, not seek personal endorsements, and that a strong signal of support for those goals from the new administration in Washington is crucial. "We know that building a secure, stable Afghanistan is our responsibility, but we are also fighting a war against transnational terror, and we can't do it alone," said Nader Nadery, a senior Ghani aide. "It takes time for reforms to show results, and there is a huge wall of people against them. If there can be a clarification of U.S. support, everyone will get the message, the security plan will succeed, and eventually Afghanistan will be a success story for both countries." The Rowan County Sheriffs Office has been conducting a summer sweep of drug suspects from a series of operations conducted by the department. This sweep has been codenamed Operation Summer Heat. The suspects have been involved in crimes ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including trafficking of opium and heroin and possession of firearm by felon. Since mid-May, 14 individuals have been arrested, and the Rowan County Sheriffs Office is currently seeking the arrest of seven additional suspects. Those arrested to date are as follows: ARRESTED Aaron Lee Brown, 28, of 235 Brown Road in China Grove, was arrested June 27 on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was issued a $1,500 secured bond. The date of the offense was Dec. 29, 2016. Vanessa Marie Clemons, 30, of 1601 2nd St. in Salisbury, was arrested July 31 on charges of selling or delivering a counterfeit controlled substance. She was issued a $1,000 bond. The date of the offense was April 11. Lee Thomas Ellis, 66, of 751 E. Franklin St. in Salisbury, was arrested June 20 on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance and felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances. Ellis was issued a $10,000 secured bond. The date of the offense was July 19, 2016. Ellis was also charged with trafficking opium by possession and felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances. The date of that offense was May 26, 2017. Lee Thomas Ellis, 66, of 751 E. Franklin St. in Salisbury, was arrested Aug. 2 on charges trafficking opium by sale, trafficking opium by transportation, trafficking opium by possession, felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was issued a $100,000 secured bond, and the date of the offense was Aug. 2. At the time of this arrest, Ellis was out on bond from the June 2017 arrest where he was charged with trafficking opium and other drug-related charges. James Lee Hall, 42, of 250 Madison Drive in China Grove, was arrested July 6 on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance. He was issued a $12,000 secured bond, and the date of the offense was May 10. He was also charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance with an offense date of May 15, selling or delivering a Schedule II controlled substance with an offense date of May 31, and possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, felony maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia with an offense date of June 28. Brittney Nicole Hulon, 30, of 250 Paul Road in Rockwell, was arrested Aug. 3 on charges of selling or delivering methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine and felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances. The offense date was May 11. She was also charged with selling or delivering methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine and felony maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance. That offense date was May 22. She was issued a $10,000 secured bond. Melanie Dawn Johnson, 36, of 412 Carolina Ave. in Salisbury, was arrested Aug. 2 on charges of selling or delivering methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine and felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances. She was issued a $25,000 secured bond, and the offense date was May 23. Devin Allen Kelly, 24, of 116 Circle Drive in Salisbury, was arrested June 30 on charges of two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin and felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances with an offense date of May 16; trafficking opium by transportation, trafficking opium by possession and trafficking opium by selling with an offense date of May 24; trafficking opium by transportation, trafficking opium by possession and trafficking opium by selling with an offense date of June 27; and two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, felony possession of cocaine, felony maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance, felony possession of methamphetamine, simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia with an offense date of June 30. He was issued a $120,000 secured bond. Tevin Marcell Moore, 24, of 130 Red Maple Drive in Kannapolis, was arrested Aug. 2 on charges of trafficking heroin by possession, trafficking heroin by transport and felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances. The offense date was July 18, and he was issued a $100,000 secured bond. At the time of this arrest, Moore was out on bond from a May arrest for possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. During that incident, a probation search was conducted of Moores residence and a search warrant executed for a vehicle under Moores control. Investigators seized around 19 grams of cocaine, cutting agents used for heroin and cocaine, and $27,480 in cash. Michael Earl Perry, 51, of 360 Baptist Church Road in Gold Hill, was arrested July 3 on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. The offense date was Aug. 10, 2016, and he was issued a $10,000 secured bond. Terry Brian Parham, 46, of 517 Hickory St. in Landis, was arrested June 23 on charges of misdemeanor possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. The date of offense was July 27, 2016, and a secured bond was set at $5,000. Bobby Lee Russell, 48, of 1930 Miller Road in China Grove, was arrested June 14 on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, felony maintaining a dwelling for drugs, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and felony manufacturing of marijuana. The offense date was Sept. 1, 2016, and secured bond was set at $1,000. Patrick Sinclair Sherrill, 35, of 1045 California Drive in Mt. Ulla, was arrested May 19 on charges of trafficking heroin by possession, possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, two counts of felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of a Schedule III controlled substance. Offense dates were March 3, March 9, May 17 and May 19, and he was issued a $150,500 secured bond. Lisa Sabbath Tucci-Caselli, 54, of 54 Imperial Drive in Franklin, was arrested in Transylvania County on Aug. 5 on charges of trafficking opium by sale, trafficking opium by possession and trafficking opium by transportation. The offense date was July 13. David Michael Yarboro, 44, of 2206 Mooresville Road in Salisbury, was arrested May 30 on charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, with a June 23, 2016, offense date, and possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, with an offense date of Sept. 20, 2016. He was issued a $10,000 secured bond. CURRENTLY WANTED The Rowan County Sheriffs Office is presently seeking these individuals for outstanding warrants related to drug offenses: Mark Anthony Belik, 32, of 1060 Leonard Road in Salisbury, is wanted on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, selling or delivering marijuana and felony maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, with an offense date of March 28. Cory Marques Cruse, 46, of 111 Fort Worth Ave. in Kannapolis, is wanted on charges of selling or delivering a counterfeit controlled substance with an offense date of April 11. Thomas Nathaniel Kinney, 28, of 202 Mitchell St. in East Spencer, is wanted on charges of trafficking opium by sale, trafficking opium by possession and trafficking opium by delivery with an offense date of Oct. 4, 2016. Devin Allen Lyman, 22, of 4240 Highway 152 East in Rockwell, is wanted on charges of obtaining property by false pretense with an offense date of Jan. 20. Traci Pauline Smith, 44, of 105 Cedar Drive in Salisbury, is wanted on charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver fentanyl and felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances with an offense date of Dec. 14, 2015. Carla Ingram Swinson, 56, of 150 Misty Lane in Rockwell, is wanted on charges of selling or delivering a Schedule II controlled substance and possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance with an offense date of April 20, 2016. Lorenzo Campbell Troutman Jr., 57, of 1425 Hart Road in Woodleaf, is wanted on charges of trafficking opium by delivery, trafficking opium by possession, trafficking opium by transportation and conspiracy to traffick opium with an offense date of Oct. 4, 2016. If anyone has information pertaining to those wanted by the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, they can call the department at 704-216-8700. Editors Note: For information on how the Hickory Daily Records analysis was conducted and compiled, read the final section of this report. HICKORY In 2015, 1,488,707 drug abuse violations were reported in the United States, according to a Federal Bureau of Investigation report. Catawba County had a total of 1,142 drug abuse violations as of June 30, according to information compiled from Catawba County law enforcement agencies. Of the 1,142 violations in 2017, the Catawba County Sheriffs Office reports the largest portion with 504 drug abuse incidents, followed by Hickory Police Department at 343, Conover Police Department at 136, Newton Police Department at 113, and Longview Police Department at 46. The Catawba County drug abuse violation rate equaled 1,473 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is more than three times higher than the national average of 463 incidents per 100,000 residents. In addition to the incidents reported, theres an additional 285 ongoing drug investigations within the Catawba County Sheriffs Office, Capt. Jason Reid said. Theres two ways to attack (the drug problem in Catawba County), youve got the people who are distributing it, and the people who are using it, Reid said. You have to help the people who are addicted to it, and we have a program here for them. You have to help those people, but you have to enforce the people who are distributing it. Hickory Police Department Chief Thurman Whisnant said Hickory has experienced a decline in recent years with street corner and car-stop drug dealing. We saw a lot of that years back when crack cocaine was more popular, but we dont see that as much anymore; things have changed, Whisnant said. Both Whisnant and Reid discussed the national opioid epidemic that has hit North Carolina and Catawba County. (Opioids) are probably one of the most highly addictive drugs Ive seen in my time in law enforcement. Its like nothing weve ever seen (in terms of addiction), Whisnant said. Were not going to arrest our way out of this problem. The folks that are trafficking and supplying it, we have to really work hard to put them out of business. Reid believes the only drug distributors will feel the heat is by increasing their sentencing especially on individuals who distribute opioids and narcotics. Reid also discussed the recently released 2016 Castlight Health report that placed Hickory fifth in the nation in prescription opioid abuse. I dont care about (the study), because what I try to tell our drug investigators is yeah, thats terrible for us to be number five in the nation, but we need to have the mentality that were number one, Reid said. Theres nothing to brag about; everyone is on the list somewhere. Newton Police Departments drug abuse violations have risen from 64 at the end of June 2016 to 113 in June 2017, a rise of 77 percent. Hickory Police Department drug abuse violations have dropped 23 percent, from 440 incidents through June 2016 to 343 incidents through June 2017. Its not that theres less drugs. I believe that the way drugs are being sold is done differently, and its done more behind the scenes, Whisnant said. It makes our undercover operations all the more important. Reid spoke about the sheriffs office tip line which provides a call center for citizens to report drug or crime tips. In six months, beginning in May 2015, our drug investigations went up 954 percent from our tip line, going out into the community to educate citizens, and doing other programs about drug abuse, Reid said. Can we credit that to going out and doing these drug awareness classes and creating a tip line? I dont know, but I know we cant not credit it. Whisnant also discussed the L.E.A.D. project, an acronym for Law Enforcement Against Drugs, a Hickory Police Department initiative. L.E.A.D. gives us a place and case manager to say to a person, weve got this charge here, if youre willing to sign and go into treatment, well do the report and hold evidence, and if you back out, your case goes to the top of the stack, Whisnant said. If we can prevent having to arrest someone five times, thats the approach. Violent Crime In 2015, 1,197,704 violent incidents were reported in the United States. Of those violent incidents, 63.8 percent were considered aggravated assault, followed by 27.3 percent robbery, 7.5 percent rape, and murder comprising the final 1.3 percent, according to the FBI report. In 2017, Catawba County has had a total of 263 violent incidents reported within the county as of June 30. The area department with the highest amount of violent incidents reported was Hickory Police Department with 94, followed by the Catawba County Sheriffs Office with 76. Longview followed with 49, with Newton totaled 25 and Conover added 19. Proactive law enforcement is so important, Reid said. I dont mean writing speeding tickets; I mean searching to stop a crime before it happens. Whisnant agreed and said HPD focuses on staying ahead of potential trends and causes that may indicate the likelihood of violent crime. Of the 263 violent incidents in Catawba County, five murder incidents were included, three with the Catawba County Sheriffs Office and two with HPD. The highest amount of violent crimes consistently across departments was aggravated assaults, comprising 57 of the sheriffs offices total 76 violent crimes. Eighty-six percent of homicides the office has dealt with since 2013 have been drug related. In 2016, all five homicide incidents HPD investigated were domestic related, Whisnant said. Its a small sample, but one death is one death too many, he added. Aggravated assault has risen in HPD from 38 incidents through June 2016 to 60 incidents through June 2017. Using this information, the Catawba County violent crime rate amounted to 339.22 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, lower than the national violent crime rate at 372.6 per 100,000 residents. Whisnant discussed another initiative the county has introduced called the Catawba County Safe Communities Initiative, sparked by beginnings of gang activity rising up several years ago. We look for offenders who have shown patterns where they could be considered violent, but theyre not to the point where an intervention isnt possible, Whisnant said. Twice a year, we work with our federal partners and community leaders to bring a group of 12-15 people to say, you are putting our community at risk. The initiative also includes attendance from local employers, educators and leaders who show up to offer help and services to those willing to alter their path. We give them an ultimatum, Whisnant said. Either change and get help, or your case goes to the top of the stack. Whisnant indicated the initiative was targeted specifically to combat violent crime, and the gang issues many were concerned about at the time havent materialized in large part due to the program. Property crime In 2015, 7,993,631 property incidents were reported in the United States. Of those property incidents, larceny comprised 71.3 percent, with burglary at 19.7 percent and motor vehicle theft at 8.9 percent. In 2017, Catawba County has had a total of 2,312 property incidents reported as of June 30. The area department with the highest amount of property incidents reported was HPD with 983, followed by the Catawba County Sheriffs Office with 787, Conover Police Department with 241, Newton Police Department with 206 and Longview Police Department with 95. In many incidents, Reid and Whinsant both think a line can be drawn between property crime and drug violations. The two (property crime and drug violations) go hand in hand, Reid said. Sheriff (Coy) Reid is famous for using the phrase 90 to 95 percent of all crimes are directly or indirectly related to drugs, and hes right. Whisnant said most of time drug addicts resort to property crimes as a means to feed their addiction, especially if they are underemployed or unemployed. Of the property incidents reported, larceny aligned with the national rates to be the most common by a wide margin, comprising as many as 746 of HPDs total of 983 property crimes so far this year. Using the information submitted, the Catawba County property crime rate averaged out to 2,982 per 100,000 residents, higher than the national average of 2,487 per 100,000 residents. Whisnant also spoke about the high number of retail stores in the area, which creates more shoplifting opportunities. We started seeing a lot of the same people pop up (in larceny reports) and folks know now that theres a habitual larceny charge that makes it a felony, Whisnant said. So anytime someone crosses that threshold, were looking to pursue that with the district attorneys office. Reid mentioned the creative ways the sheriffs office has involved School Resource Officers in the summer while school is out, including two officers who caught individuals breaking into a home in the Sherrills Ford area. Our SROs have conducted license checks and intercepted individuals who were transporting methamphetamine and weapons, Reid said. We are getting more positive phone calls about what our SROs are doing than any other division. Whisnant said HPD encourages residents to lock their cars and monitor their valuables. He also referenced a recent report from HPDs Community Services PACT team finding 79 percent of motor vehicle larcenies happened as a result of unlocked cars. Engaging the public Both Reid and Whisnant spoke about numerous community projects surrounding law enforcement agencies stress to connect and educate citizens on recognizing and reporting crime. Reid spoke about the value of the tip line, and how little information is needed from reporting citizens to jumpstart an investigation. With the tip line, we dont need this long story of how you know this person, what hes doing, what hes selling, Reid said. All we need is a name, an address or a tag number, and if you call our tip line and give us one of those three things, well take over the rest. You can block your phone number, not give us your name, and thats a guarantee that were not going to know who you are. Reid credits the sheriffs offices upswing in drug arrests, not necessarily to our investigators, but to the community. Its as if theyve finally said, Im done, Ive had enough. Whisnant stressed the importance of having a relationship with the community, where theyre comfortable calling the police. Weve got to keep finding ways to make people feel comfortable about calling us and reporting incidents, he said. Whisnant also spoke about the departments refocused efforts to beef up the Hickory Police Department staff, as police staff recruitment and retention has become a national issue in recent years. At one point, the department was down as many as 14 officers. In the last three months, the department has hired 12 officers, with the goal being a fully-staffed 116 HPD officers. Were looking for folks who we can hire, train, keep, and invest in. Five years down the road will be a real measuring stick of how weve done, Whisnant said. Policing is a people business, crime prevention is a people business, and we still solve crimes because people give us information. HDRs analysis The latest United States Census Bureau information from 2015 lists Catawba County as having a sleeping population of 155,056. Hickory, the largest city within Catawba County, has a population of 40,408. The sleeping population does not necessarily reflect the day-to-day population of those traveling into the county and city for various reasons. Eight law enforcement departments reside within the county and include the Catawba County Sheriffs Office, Hickory Police Department, Newton Police Department, Conover Police Department, Maiden Police Department, Catawba Police Department, Claremont Police Department and Longview Police Department, which straddles Catawba and Burke counties. The Hickory Daily Records crime analysis contains information compiled from each law enforcement department in the county, with the exception of Maiden, Claremont and Catawba police departments; Longview Police Departments information pertains exclusively to Catawba County. The analysis tackles four areas including violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault), property crimes (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft), and drug abuse violations (possession, intent to manufacture, sell or deliver, and maintaining a dwelling, vehicle or place for marijuana or a controlled substance). To help tackle crime in Catawba County, community outreach projects by the Catawba County Sheriffs Office and Hickory Police Department represent a proactive approach for the Hickory-area. The statistics in the analysis reference offenses and incidents reported, and are not necessarily arrests. In addition, the incidents themselves do not necessarily reflect total victims. For example, Hickory Police Department has dealt with two homicide cases this year with a total of four victims. Additionally, the hierarchy rule applies in the incidents listed, meaning the highest charge in an incident will be listed, i.e. an incident regarding a homicide and drug violation will only reflect the homicide only. The report does include national statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigations Criminal Justice Information Service Divisions 2015 report titled, Crime in the United States using statistics from the Uniform Crime Reporting service. The rates of both Catawba County and national statistics listed are based on a scale per 100,000 residents, in an effort to compare the numbers. Per 100,000 rates in the county were scaled to reflect a year-long projection, as all statistics submitted by area law enforcement for the report were through June 2017. In addition, notable year to date changes are included on an individual departmental basis, as not all departments provided this information. Engineering exporters, shipping companies in India suffer increased costs under GST The Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC) has reported increased costs for shipping companies under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime due to changes to the refund schedule and roll back of tariff incentives. Under the GST, drawback refunds will not be released till the end of September or October. Further, supplies of goods to export oriented units (EoU) from domestic tariff area are no longer considered as deemed exports; shippers will not be allowed to import inputs without payment of duty under Advance Authorization. In addition, exporters will incur the costs of paying the basic customs duty and cesses, as input tax credit (ITC) can only be availed on the IGST. Resolving the sectors grievances is necessary: the export of engineering goods accounts for the biggest share in Indias total export basket; they are vital for job creation, particularly in small and medium enterprises. RELATED: Tax Compliance Advisory India is worlds third-biggest beef exporter In their latest report Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OECD) establish that India is the worlds third-biggest exporter of beef, and will stay so for the next decade. Although not specified in the report, beef exports from India appears to be mostly from buffaloes. India exported 1.56 million tons of beef in 2016 while total world beef exports amounted to 10.95 million tons. India is expected to account for 16 percent of global exports by 2026. Brazil followed by Australia are ranked as the worlds top beef exporters. RELATED: Impact of GST on Imports and Exports in India Indias digital economy continues to expand: e-commerce, digital payments, fintech services The e-commerce, digital payments, and fintech sectors all continue to rapidly expand in India, promising high potential for future growth and investments. According the government, Indias e-commerce market touched an estimated US$33 billion in the fiscal year 2016-17, registering a 19 percent growth. Meanwhile, India has been categorized in the break out segment of the Digital Evolution Index 2017 that tracks the digital economy of countries. The index, jointly released by the Fletcher School at Tufts University and Mastercard, notes that India is attractive for investors despite lower levels of digital advancement. This is because of its rapidly evolving digital payments ecosystem, which was catalyzed by the governments demonetization decision last November. The government has also sought greater acceptance of cashless payments through economic programs, reforms, and improving infrastructure, thereby, creating a positive environment for the online payments industry. This has directly fed into the proliferation of startups in Indias financial technology sector: more than 600 new enterprises have emerged in the field of lending, payments, insurance, and trading. Altogether, Indias fintech software services market stands at US$8 billion, and is expected to grow to about US$14 billion by 2020 as per the Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. Related Reading: 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. The third edition of Tax, Accounting and Audit in India is updated for 2017, and provides an overview of the fundamentals of Indias tax, accounting, and audit regime. The guide also includes a detailed introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that was launched on July 1, 2017, representing the complete transformation of Indias indirect taxation structure. In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we discuss payroll processing and reporting in India, and the various regulations and tax norms that impact salary and wage computation. Further, we explain Indias complex social security system and gratuity law, and how it applies to companies. Finally, we describe the importance of IT infrastructure, compliance, and confidentiality when processing payroll in India. A day heavy in green Indian equity markets saw a day, heavy in green, today. Nifty 50 ended, up by 321.5 points. Sensex ended, up by 1181.34 points. Top Gainers today were HDFC, HDFC Bank, Infosys. Top Losers ... November 11, 2022 | 11-11-2022 3:43 pm In early trade, Rupee rises 71 paise to 80.69 / $ Early on Friday, the rupee strengthened 71 paise to 80.69 against the dollar as investors' attitudes were bolstered by easing US CPI data and a decline in the dollar index. Forex traders claime... November 11, 2022 | 11-11-2022 2:24 pm Sensex zooms over 1,100 pts; Nifty above 18,300; IT index top contributor Domestic benchmark indices in the fast lane today led by IT and Metal stocks outperforming. Both the Sensex and Nifty benchmarks were nearly 2% higher amid positive global cues. On the se... November 11, 2022 | 11-11-2022 2:00 pm NIBE receives order of Rs11.88 crore from Goa Shipyard; Stock slips 1% Nibe Limited stocks in focus as the company announced the receipt of purchase orders. As per the regulatory filing, it has received two purchase orders dated November 08, 2022 from G... November 11, 2022 | 11-11-2022 12:53 pm Ashoka Buildcon receives provisional certificate for NHAI road project; Stock up 2% Ashoka Buildcon Limited has informed the declaration of October 26, 2021 as the Commercial Operation Date (CoD) for its Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) Project of National Highways Authority of ... November 11, 2022 | 11-11-2022 12:26 pm The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) will host its 2017 Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) in Indianapolis Nov. 30Dec. 3. The ALC themed Racing Toward the Future: Leading in a Time of Change will be held at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis. NBCSLs ALC is considered to be one of the premier conferences on critical African-American policy issues. Each year, hundreds of African-American legislators, along with advocates, policy experts, corporate executives and community leaders, attend the ALC to discuss and champion resolutions to address the nations most pressing issues affecting African-Americans and other marginalized communities. Lisa took to Instagram to post, "I've gotten loads of posts asking about life after having my son... esp to do with weight and fitness. Seeing as it's World Breastfeeding Week- time to give some credit where credit is due. Breastfeeding has played such a big part in getting back into shape after giving birth to my baby. Breastfeeding has been challenging+time consuming (literally hours spent everyday trying to stimulate milk supply) but it's such a beautiful way to bond and connect with your child plus all the nutritional benefits that your child gets from your milk. Look out for my blog post on mycityforkids.com on breastfeeding. Happy #worldbreastfeedingweek" But something really funny happened a few days ago. In a first, a Pune man, who was watching Jab Harry Met Sejal (Yes, the film that is receiving scathing and brutal reviews on social media sites) tweeted to Sushma Swaraj for help. Viral Bhayani After Kareena Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut and Saif Ali Khan, another one giving you fashion goals, all the way from Mumbai airport is none other than Baba Ramdev. With his saffron shawl swaying in the air and wooden paduka making its way out of the security zone, Baba Ramdev was seen unperturbed by the paparazzi. BCCL I will jump right into it! It's always been a wonderful association. So, whenever there is something [that comes my way in the Dabangg franchise], I'd do it without batting an eyelid, she told Mid-day in an interview. SquareSpace This time, the actor took to Twitter, to express his anger on what is wrong with the peoples opinion. In a series of tweets, he bashed out not only the BJP member but also the government. On a daily basis, we hear of the stalking incidents that horrify people every single time. The entire nation is angry and appalled by what recently happened with 29-year-old DJ Varnika Kundu, who was not only stalked but harassed by several men, one of which was Haryanas Presidents son Vikas Barala. And just like every other time, the blame game has started. While many are taking a stand for the woman, there are filthy minded people who have put the blame on her. What for? For staying out late. They kept following my car. Tried to block my way & even tried opening my car's door: Girl stalked by Haryana BJP Pres' son Vikas Barala pic.twitter.com/L14xDGU6nn ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2017 And who are these people? Well, one of them is the leader of the nationBJP Haryana's Vice-President Ramveer Bhatti, who in a statement said, Parents must take care of their children... they shouldn't allow them to roam at night. Children should come home on time, why stay out at night? Of course, it enraged people and many lost their cool. One of them was Vishal Dadlani who has actively been voicing out his opinions on things that matter. And if he is wrong, he never shies away from apologising as well. squarespace.com This time, the musician took to Twitter, to express his anger on what is wrong with the peoples opinion. In a series of tweets, he bashed out not only the BJP member but also the government. Our leaders must work towards a country where women don't need to be protected at all! Drop the "rishton ke bandhan" stuff & DO something! VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 7, 2017 All morning, I've been seeing news reports discrediting a woman who had the courage to stand up to a politically-connected harasser. VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 7, 2017 Some moron even asked "why was she out that late?". Because YOU assured her that she'd be safe. "Bahut hua naari pe vaar". Remember? VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 7, 2017 Also, naari/purush is beside the point. BOTH should be safe and secure. One gets killed for eating meat. The other gets treated like meat. VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 7, 2017 So stop with the platitudes on Raksha Bandhan. Neither are you doing any "raksha", nor do you seem to have any "bandhan" with the people. VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 7, 2017 It's high time to work towards improving the condition. Women's safety is not a new issue, after all! Heres a real time-saver if you want your special day to go off as spectacularly as you have imagined, but you dont have the time to plan every minute detail. You can opt for a weed wedding that can save you a lot of time, money and energy! herb.co The legalisation of marijuana in a handful of states and a few countries have paved the way for a new cannabis-laden money making avenue at weddings. The alcoholic beverages and wedding cakes aside, couples are now serving up different strains of cannabis at marijuana bars setups instead of alcohol! Serving marijuana at wedding receptions is due to become as normal as offering alcoholic. "It's actually cheaper than liquor," says Adrian Sedlin, chief executive officer of Canndescent, a California grower that has put on bud bars for weddings, states a report in Bloomberg. From bud bouquets to cannabis open bars, legal weed is now a part of weddings https://t.co/wZ5VPEXKJ9 pic.twitter.com/n2o5kVPSv9 Bloomberg (@business) August 1, 2017 "There's a lot more buzz for the buck in cannabis than in alcohol," adds Sedlin. A bud bar typically includes pre-rolled joints, vaporizers and glass pipes. Depending on the couples choices they may even end up adding elements like cannabis cocktails to the mix. nationalviral.com Specialised businesses, such as Bec Koop have sprung up to cater to the ever-growing demand of weed-weddings in states like Colorado where marijuana has been legally sold since 2014. Wedding planners Bec Koop who run a cannabis-friendly setup out of Colorado called Irie Wedding & Events and is one of the founding members of the Cannabis Wedding Expo offer a variety of services. These include: day-of coordination, overall planning, floral arrangements, and cannabis open bars, according to Bloomberg. thedailybeast.com Koop planned five weed weddings in her first year of business and twice as many in her second year. This year she expects at least two dozen weed-wedding requests this year. "We have people who are already outreaching to us for 2020," she says. "A lot of foresight coming from these so-called lazy stoners," says Koop. The Cannabis Wedding Expo was setup to give couples ideas about cannabis-themed wedding ideas. The ideas included marijuana-infused edibles, hemp-themed decor, cannabis wedding flavours and much more! metro.co.uk With several states and countries, the latest on being Uruguay, to legalize the consumption of recreational marijuana, it wont be long before you start spotting folks at wedding donning weed on their lapels and hair! @chicandunique84 at work on 420 making weddings happen like... #weedwedding #marrymemarijuana A post shared by Dustin Blake (@dustintylerblake) on Apr 20, 2017 at 10:32am PDT Weed weddings make sense if you think about; with weed in the mix you can bet the wedding will be an even cosier affair between the two families and the guests. Opposition parties are coming down hard on BJP after the party confirmed that their Haryana state leader, Subhash Barala, will not resign from his post after his son Vikas was caught stalking and harassing Varnika Kundu in her car in Chandigarh. This incident brought back memories from the past where Indian politicians brazenly uttered words of horror while addressing the issues of women misbehaviour and women safety in India. 1. G Parameshwara on Bengaluru molestations PTI "As I said, unfortunately what is happening is a large number of youngsters gather on days like New Year on Brigade Road, Commercial Street, M.G. Road. Youngsters who are almost like Westerners, they try to copy Westerners not only in mindset, but even the dressing. So some disturbance, some girls are harassed, these kinds of things do happen," said G Parameshwara, Karnataka's Home Minister. 2. Abu Azmi on Bengaluru molestations toi Samajwadi Party (SP) Maharashtra chief Abu Azmi said, "Partying late night in half attire, blindly following western culture, has never been our culture. Ladies hailing from well-to-do families, be it from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan or UP, they come out in decent attire and mostly with their family members." 3. Mulayam Singh Yadav while opposing the new anti-rape law pti Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said, "Handing death sentence for rape is not fair...boys make mistakes...there will be changes in the law if we come to power." 4. Mohan Bhagwat on how rapes occur in 'India', not 'Bharat' pti RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat said, "Crimes against women happening in urban India are shameful. It is a dangerous trend. But such crimes won't happen in 'Bharat' or the rural areas of the country. You go to villages and forests of the country and there will be no such incidents of gang-rape or sex crimes. Where 'Bharat' becomes 'India' with the influence of western culture, these type of incidents happen. The actual Indian values and culture should be established at every stratum of society where women are treated as 'mother'." 5. Om Prakasha Chautala on lowering the marriageable age for girls pti "We should learn from the past... specially in Mughal era, people used to marry their girls to save them from Mughal atrocities and currently a similar situation is arising in the state. I think that's the reason khap has taken such a decision and I support it," said former Haryana CM, Om Prakasha Chautala. 6. Babulal Gaur on rape as a social crime bccl "This is a social crime which depends on men and women. Sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong," said Babulal Gaur from BJP. 7. Botsa Satyanarayana on Delhi's gang-rape bccl Former Congress minister, Botsa Satyanarayana said, "Just because India achieved freedom at midnight does not mean that women can venture out after dark. They should ensure that they do not board buses with few passengers." 8. Kailash Vijayvargiya on women's moral limit bccl Madhya Pradesh industry minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said, "There is a moral limit, which should not be breached, and if it is breached, one must understand that Ravana is watching and then Sita is bound to be abducted." 9. Vibha Rao on women being equally responsible for crimes against them ani "Women display their bodies and indulge in various obscene activities. Women are unaware of the kind of message (their actions) generate," said Vibha Rao, Chattisgarh State Women Chief. 10. Abhijit Mukherjee on women who protested Delhi's gang-rape bccl "What's basically happening in Delhi is a lot like Egypt or elsewhere, where there's something called the Pink Revolution, which has very little connection with ground realities. In India, staging candle-lit marches, going to discotheques - we did all this during our student life too, we were students too - I know every well what kind of character students should have. Those who claim to be students - I can see many beautiful women among them - highly dented-painted - they're giving interviews on TV, they've brought their children to show them the scenes. I have grave doubts whether they're students, because women of that age are generally not students," said Abhijit Mukherjee, MP West Bengal. When we have politicians such as these ruling the states, across India, how can we expect the country to become safer for women? 16 Somali pirates, who were arrested by the Indian Coast Guard in 2011 for hijacking a fishing vessel have been to seven years in jail by a Mumbai court. The fishing vessel, MV Morteza had sailed from Iran when it was hijacked by the pirates who also took its Iranian and Pakistani crew hostage. bccl/representational image "Sessions judge J C Jagdale sentenced the accused to seven years in jail for conspiracy, attempt to murder, kidnapping and offences under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act," said special public prosecutor Ranjeet Sangle. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 14,000 on each of them, while directing the government to deport them to Somalia after they serve their prison terms. bccl/representational image The judge, however, acquitted them of the charges of 'kidnapping for ransom' (for which the maximum punishment is death), murder and offences under the Arms Act. Indian naval ship Suvarna, on anti-piracy patrol off the coast of Lakshadweep, was informed on March 26, 2011, that Maersk Kensington, a merchant's vessel, was attacked by pirates operating from MV Morteza, a hijacked vessel, and two skiffs. INS Suvarna rushed to the spot and directed the pirate vessel to stop engines. However, the pirates opened fire. bccl/representational image The retaliatory fire by the Navy led to a blaze on MV Morteza. The Navy rescued its crew members - 12 Iranians and four Pakistanis - and took 16 Somali pirates into custody. MV Morteza had set sail from Chabahar in Iran with 18 crew members. It was hijacked near Seychelles and taken to Somalia by the pirates, who rigged it up as a 'mother vessel' for launching piracy attacks. bccl/representational image The crew were kept captive on board, and witnessed several piracy attempts, the prosecution said. One of the crew members committed suicide due to torture by the pirates, while another was shot dead by the pirates when INS Suvarna was approaching it. The Navy and the Indian Coast Guard had nabbed a total of 120 pirates between January and March 2011. Two passengers, including a woman, who were flying to Dubai, were nabbed at Pune airport for carrying too much upma with them. Later, it turned out that the duo was trying to smuggle out foreign currency worth Rs 1.29 crore by concealing them in hot cases. A senior airport security staff said that an immigration officer found the documents of a man identified as Nishant Y suspicious. Veg Recipes of India He said the immigration officer alerted the Customs authorities at the airport who ordered a repeat check of the man's check-in luggage. He was booked on a flight to Dubai. "The bag contained a hot case with 'upma' inside. But, the weight of the eatable was more than usual and hence it was checked, only to reveal a black polythene having US $86,600 and Euro 15,000 inside," the official said. After some time the immigration authorities alerted Customs officials about another doubtful passenger, identified as H Ranglani, travelling to Dubai on the same flight. SquirmyFeet Explores Her baggage was checked by CISF security personnel which led them to a hot case in her bag. "This hot case, containing upma, was opened and foreign currency of US $86,200 and Euro 15,000 was found concealed in it," he said. The Customs officials are probing if the two cases are related, the official said. A group of youths turned into saviours for a woman who was abducted by three men in a car. The youths were eating at a dhaba when they heard her call for help. They rescued her after giving a chase on their bikes. A mob later surrounded the car, pelted stones and it and then set it on fire. While two of the abductors were handed over to the police, the third managed to escape. BCCL/Representational Image Around 9pm, the youths heard the woman shouting for help from a Hyundai Accent zooming past them near Begumpur Chowk. After chasing the car on their motorcycles, they forced it to a stop and rescued the woman. The men were dragged out and pinned down after a minor scuffle. "The woman was in a state of shock and semi-conscious when we rescued her," said Aman Goyal, one of the youths who had mounted the chase. By the time the police arrived, a mob had collected and started pelting stones at the car. Before the cops could stop the irate crowd, they set the car on fire. The fire department was then called to douse the flames. The car has been seized as evidence. Representational Image The victim, who is in her 20s, told the cops that she is a resident of Mangolpuri and knew one of the abductors. She had met him while working as a household help in Rohini. While she was returning home on Saturday, he approached her and offered her a lift in his car. When she boarded the car, she found two others in the vehicle. After travelling for a distance, the youths started touching her inappropriately. They even tore off her clothes. When she shouted for help, they rolled up the windows of the vehicle. BCCL/Representational Image The accused men were initially taken to Begampur police station after which the case was transferred to Mangolpuri as the abduction had taken place there. "We have registered a case under IPC sections 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and 362 (abduction). We found that the woman was in touch with one of the accused," said DCP (outer) M N Tiwari. A search is on to nab the third accused. Wearing shorts or pyjamas would be considered wildly inappropriate during a television interview. But not for Jordanian political analyst Majid Asfour, who took part in a Skype interview for Al Jazeera channel wearing shorts. Twitter/@NET_AD A behind-the-scenes video filmed by Asfour's son has taken the internet by storm. In the video, the former editor-in-chief of Al Rai Arabic, has his laptop on two cushions. And the internet couldn't enough of Asfour's sartorial pragmatism. According to reports, he was part of an online interview with Al Jazeera to discuss the Israeli embassy shooting in Amman. ... " " pic.twitter.com/JPcTQyekmd (@NET_AD) 26 July 2017 After the video went viral online, Asfour told local media, ": 'The temperature in Amman was above 30oC and I was at home, so I decided to wear a jacket, a shirt and go on air like this." He said that in his career as a journalist, his sartorial choice has received more accolades than all of his political commentary put together. While Majid Asfour's sartorail expose by his son is hilarious, it pales in comparison to Professor Robert Kelly's viral video where his kids hilariously danced into the frame as he was speaking live to the BBC. There's a storm raging through the tech community right now. It was let loose by a Google engineer last week. Diversity at the workplace is crucial In a 3000 word letter widely circulated within Google, and the wider tech workforce, it was suggested that there were "biological causes" why women were under-represented in the tech industry and leadership positions. At least two senior Google executives criticised the contents of the now infamous memo when it first emerged last week. Reports have now emerged that Google has fired the engineer who first wrote the letter. The fired Google engineer himself confirmed to Bloomberg the news of his firing -- he was fired on Monday. Pichai wasn't happy with the Google engineer's manifesto "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK," Sundar Pichai wrote. The reports of Google firing the concerned engineer come immediately after Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, wrote a company wide memo suggesting the original anti-diversity letter written by the engineer may be in violation of Google's code of conduct, according to Recode. In particular, Sundar Pichai seemingly objected to the author's claims that women are less-suited for tech careers due to "biological differences", even suggesting that this portion of the manifesto was "not OK," and that it clearly went too far "by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." The delegates cut cake to mark Singapore's National Day (Photo: voh.com.vn) Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Head of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association, emphasized that the relationship between the two countries was growing well in all fields of politics, economics, education and tourism. Particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, the Singaporean business community has developed and succeeded. Every year, it also presents hundreds of scholarships to excellent Vietnamese students in difficult circumstances. At the same time, it also contributes to the charity program of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association in the western provinces, enhancing the understanding between the two peoples, contributing to the consolidation and development of the relations between the two countries. Ms. Leow Siu Lin, Singaporean Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City, affirmed that the economic cooperation is one of the strongest developments in the relationship between the two countries. Singapore is currently the third largest investor in Vietnam and the largest in the city. In addition, the relationship between the peoples of the two countries is also developing through tourism and education./. 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. 10 more entrepreneurs have received cheques of N300, 000 each to grow their business at the Life Progress Booster Show, an initiative of Life Lager Beer, a brand committed to supporting small and medium scale entrepreneurs in South-East Nigeria. The entrepreneurs were presented with the cheques by managers of the brand on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at West Point, Answai Road, Government House, Asaba, Delta State. While addressing the audience at the presentation ceremony, Mr. Emmanuel Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc. stated that the brand had increased the grant from N250, 000 in 2016 to N300, 000 and will support 200 entrepreneurs through the Progress Booster platform in 2017. Progress Booster is a programme with the sole aim of supporting the people of the South-East who have innovative business ideas to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of the people. This is the second set of entrepreneurs we are supporting this year, and we look forward to empowering other innovative business men and women, Agu said. Mr. Agu also noted that Life Progress Booster Show is a platform for budding businessmen and women to present their proposals and transform their ideas to reality. The Progress Booster Show was initiated to raise more entrepreneurs and self-dependent individuals in South-East Nigeria. Through the years, Life Continental Beer has focused on empowering its consumers, and it is committed to contributing to their successes and achievements, said Agu. The presentation in Asaba brings the number of entrepreneurs who have benefited from the grant in 2017 to forty. Other guests at the event went home with consolation prizes such as bags of rice, gallons of oil, and many more exciting prizes from raffle draws. The ceremony also afforded past winners the opportunity to share their success stories even as they enjoined current winners to make good use of the support they received from the Life Progress Booster Show. The radio show airs on Hot 99.5 FM, Owerri every Saturday 7:30 8:30pm; Odenigbo 99.1 FM, Obosi every Friday 7:30 8:30pm; Family Love 103.9 FM, Umuahia every Saturday 7:30 8:30 PM and Solid 100.9 FM, Enugu every Friday 7:30 8:30pm. About Life Continental Beer Life Continental Lager Beer is the fine quality lager beer from the stables of Nigerian Breweries Plc made from the choicest grains, hops and the purest of waters. Life Continental Lager Beer is expertly brewed to give that rich, crisp distinctive taste and well-rounded aroma in true quality fashion of the master brewers. Life is better when shared and when life is shared, there is progress. This is what forms the core brand value of great-tasting Life Continental Beer, promoting and refreshing a life-long tradition of sharing, a heritage of progress. 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. The former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr James Danbaba, is dead, the death was confirmed by a family member, Clement Dah, who confirmed the death, disclosed that Danbaba died on Sunday at the Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, after a brief illness. Lagos Police Command spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, also confirmed Danbabas death, saying that the command has lost a gallant police officer to the cold hands of death. He added that burial arrangements will be announced by the family shortly. Born in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa on January 30, 1943, Danbaba joined the Nigeria Police as a Cadet Sub-Inspector in 1963 and rose to the rank of Commissioner of Police until his retirement in 1998. Source:( PM News ) The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Monday advised the electorate in Anambra to shun the call by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to boycott the governorship election in the state coming up in November. The partys National Director of Publicity, Mr Ifeanacho Oguejiofor said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the call was unrealistic as nothing would stop the election. Oguejiofor said, Nobody should listen to the so called IPOB telling them that there wont be election in Anambra, it is not possible. Whether we like it or not there can never be two states in a state likewise there can never be two authorities or two supremacists in a state. Until that is done, Anambrarians should go and register and have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) so that they can express their choice. This is because the choices they make today will affect their future, so they should go all out and obtain their PVCs which is their power, he said. Oguejiofor urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give all political parties level playing ground to enable them transform the countrys democracy, nurture and sustain it. The director expressed confidence that no political party would beat APGA in the forthcoming polls. According to him, the party has built solid foundation over the years in terms of people and infrastructural development since it wrested power from the PDP in the state. Since then we have been building the foundation and Willie Obiano is also building a super structure that no political party will be able to edge him out of the race. Whether you like it or not Anambra state is working, Obiano is equally working; the internally generated revenue of the state has improved since he came to power, he said. Oguejiofor disclosed that the party would commence sale of expression of interest form at the rate of N1 million and nomination form at N4 million from Aug. 8-10. He said that primaries would be held on Aug. 15 while Aug. 17 would be for the sitting of the governorship primaries appeal panel. The director added that the party would commence campaign on Aug. 18. Source: ( PM News ) The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of four suspected Fulani herdsmen for the killing of a farmer, identified as Omowole Orimisan, at the Hands Down area of Ore, in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Femi Joseph, said the widow of the victim, Abiodun, reported the killing last Thursday. It was gathered that the suspected killers attacked Omowole while he worked on his farm. The incident reportedly sparked off a protest by the residents of the community, who threatened to take the law into their own hands if something urgent was not done about the incessant killing of farmers in the area. Joseph said after the matter was reported at the Ore Police Division, men of the command arrested the four suspects, identified as Ibrahim Yussuf, 19; Soja, 20; Halti, 20; and Musa 25. Another suspect, who was identified as Dere, is still at large and we are making efforts to arrest him, he added. The leader of Ikale residents in Ore, Chief Owoleye Obilana, said the overbearing attitude of the herdsmen needed to be addressed, urging the government and security agents to be proactive. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) Japans defence ministry, said in an annual report on Tuesday that North Koreas missile development poses a new level of threat that also reiterated concerns over Chinas increasing military posture. Japan, which lies across the sea from North Korea, has been wary for decades over its missile development as well as Pyongyangs history of abducting Japanese citizens to train its spies. North Korea has increasingly been firing missiles into the waters between the two countries and last month launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles, with leader Kim Jong-Un boasting the entire United States was within reach. While experts and officals doubt the Norths missile technology is really that advanced, the country has made steady progress in recent years under Kim. Especially since last year, when it pushed ahead with two nuclear tests and launched more than 20 ballistic missiles, it has posed a new level of threat, Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said in the white paper. Onodera, reappointed to the post last week after having served in the position 2012-2014, also reiterated phrasing from past reports calling the danger from North Korea significant and imminent. It is conceivable that, over time, the risk will increase for the deployment of ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads that put our nation within their reach, the Japanese-language paper said. The UN Security Council at the weekend unanimously approved tough new sanctions against North Korea that could cost Pyongyang $1 billion a year. Japans white paper also reiterated Tokyos concerns about Chinas efforts to expand its military influence and territorial claims, particularly in waters around Japan. The government has long complained about Beijings routine dispatch of coastguard ships to Japans territorial waters surrounding disputed islands in East China Sea. Tokyo controls the islands as the Senkaku while Beijing claims them as the Diaoyu. Coastguards from the two sides have engaged in maritime standoffs, while their militaries have also had close calls. Experts fear such situations may lead to unplanned clashes. Regarding China, we are strongly concerned about its impact on the regional and global security environment as it continues to make unilateral, uncompromising assertions that are incompatible with the existing international order, Onodera said. Source: ( AFP ) The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arraigned a police officer, Musa Musa, for alleged involvement in the looting of the residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan, this was confirmed by the FCT police command on Tuesday. The suspect Mr. Musa, who is a sergeant, was one of those arrested for burgling the property at No. 89 Fourth Avenue Gwarimpa district, Abuja. Three officers were arrested following the incident, but only Mr. Musa has so far been arraigned. The items stolen include sets of furniture, plasma television sets, refrigerators, air-conditioner units and box-loads of clothes such as designer suits imprinted with the former presidents name, male and female Ijaw traditional attires, lace materials and bowler hats. After hearing arguments by respective counsels, the court granted Mr. Musa bail with a bond of N7 million. The law is clear about right to liberty. Bail is granted to allow the accused attend trial. Where it is perceived that the accused may jump bail, he may be denied, the magistrate, Mabel Segun-Bello, said. The prosecution had said that Mr. Musa was a flight risk as he had earlier jumped police bail. But the magistrate said the prosecution had not provided enough grounds for bail to be denied. She further said the matter was not of national importance as alleged by the prosecution counsel, Stanley Nwodo. She granted the defendant bail with a bond of N7 million and one surety in like sum. The surety should be civil servant of any cadre resident in Abuja. Source: ( Premium Times ) The Sunday attack on the St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State, has left many families bereaved in the state, while a large number of Nigerians on Monday continued to express their displeasure. The death toll has risen to 12 on Monday, while those injured climbed to 40 from 18. The state Governor, Willie Obiano, in a Monday broadcast, described the attack as a gang war imported into the Anambra State from abroad. One of the families affected is the Obunadikes, whose member, Joel Obunadike, lamented the death of three members. He told one of our correspondents that his sister-in-law, the baby girl she was nursing, and his uncle lost their lives in the attack. Obunadike said, I lost my uncle and my brothers wife, as well as her baby girl. My brothers wife was cuddling the baby when a bullet pierced through her back. The bullet killed her and the baby. We are still in shock. Thats all I can say for now. Also, it was gathered that one of the wives of the slain father of bishop (Aloysius Ikegwuonu, the alleged drug baron), Mrs. Caroline Ikegwuonu, was hit and had been admitted to a hospital in the area. When The PUNCH sought her comment, she said, Please I cant talk now. Im still in shock. Please leave me alone. Another victim, Samuel Ndulue, whose legs were shattered in the attack, said, I was in the church, but before the sermon started, I heard a gunshot that sounded like a banger. When I looked up I saw one man with a gun. I tried to escape from the east end of the church; but before I could do so, my two legs were shattered by bullets. I was later told that the gunman jumped into a vehicle after accomplishing his mission. I cant understand the reason for the attack, Ndulue stated. A nurse at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said four of the injured persons brought to the hospital on Sunday died on Monday while six had been referred to another hospital. She said, Four of them couldnt make it, including a baby. Twenty two injured persons are still with us and they are responding to treatment, the nurse added. The Public Relations Officer of NAUTH, Chris Ngige, also told The PUNCH on Monday that 20 of the victims were on admission in the hospital, adding that four corpses had been deposited in the hopsitals morgue. He said, The four that we have in our mortuary died on the way to the hospital yesterday (Sunday). There are many mortuaries in Nnewi, so the remaining corpses could have been deposited in them. We also have 20 other victims who have been admitted to our hospital. They are in a stable condition and they are responding to treatment. The Chairman of the Ekwisigo Local Government Area, Mr. Ikenna Ofodeme, said the casualty toll of the attack had increased. He said, The death toll has risen from 11 to 12, while the number of those who sustained injuries had gone up from 18 to 40. He said 27 victims were still receiving treatment at NAUTH. The state governor, in a radio and television broadcast, said such an attack would not happen in the state again. He said, We are dealing with a gang war that has spilled over to Anambra State from another African country. But this is the last time it will happen under my watch. With a sorrowful heart, I stand before you today to brief you on the tragic killing of 12 people at St. Philips Catholic Church, Amakwa, Ozubulu, on Sunday. First, I want to assure you all that what happened in Ozubulu was a tragic dimension of a long battle between two business partners who are from the same town. I have been fully informed that this dangerous conflict has been going on for a while in the country where they both live outside Nigeria before they decided to bring the conflict home. But let me assure you that Anambra is too hot for them to operate. He urged the residents to go about their normal business, adding, What happened in Amakwa, Ozubulu, is an isolated case. It will not happen again. The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Umar, told our correspondent on the telephone that the command had made some arrests in respect of the attack. He said, We wont give the number of persons arrested in order not to jeopardize our investigation. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) ASEAN flag hoisting (Photo: CPV) Over the past 50 years, from 5 initial members including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, ASEAN has admitted Brunei in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999, making a dream of an ASEAN with 10 Southeast Asian nations come true. Since its ASEAN membership, Vietnam has made active and responsible contributions to the association. Becoming a community in early 2016, ASEAN marked the efforts of member countries, including Vietnam, through initiatives, proposals and the 2010 Hanoi action program. So far, Vietnam has been one of leading countries in realizing the targets of the ASEAN Community, with nearly 95% of actions having been carried out. Vietnam has played a role as coordinator in cooperation mechanisms between ASEAN and its partners, most recently with China, EU and India. Vietnam has put forth initiatives, including expanding members of the East Asia Summit by promoting the admission of Russia and the US; organising for the first time the ASEAN Defence Minister's Meeting Plus (ADMM+); and successfully holding the ASEAN chairmanship in 1998 and 2010. Coping with ASEAN challenges, Vietnam has also made active contributions, including maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea./. The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday assured Nigerians the perpetrators behind the Sunday attack would be brought to book. Osinbajo made the promise in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande. The statement explained that since the incident occurred, the Acting President had been receiving regular updates on the status of investigation into the case from the state governor and security agencies. The statement read in part, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo condemns the despicable act of violence, and commiserates with families, relatives, friends of the victims, the entire people and the government of Anambra State. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) The Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) of the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia State, has given its full support to the university to sack over 400 workers. The university teachers said the affected workers were engaged on temporary basis, which under the laws of the university could not extend beyond 12 calendar months. They noted that in line with the provisions of the Federal University of Agriculture laws, the vice-chancellor only has the power to make temporary appointments to academic and non-academic positions for a period not exceeding 12 calendar months. The teachers stated this position in a statement by their union, ASUU, signed by its chairperson, C.A Echendu, and Secretary, F.A Nkaa, and made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday. The association said it was clearly indicated in the appointment letters of the temporary appointees that their appointments would terminate automatically after one year. The claim that MOUAU sacked over 400 staff is an utter falsehood and totally misleading. The appointments of these temporary appointees automatically expired on its own as provided for in the extant laws of the university and as clearly stated in their appointment letters. It was reported the controversy over the termination of the appointments of the 496 workers. The lecturers urged the federal government to conduct a forensic staff and financial audit of the the university from March 1, 2011 to February 29, 2016 to get to the roots of the crisis of the institution. They said they had written to the pro-chancellor and chairman of governing council of the institution, Anya Oko, on March 20, 2014 to complain that the former vice chancellor, Hillary Edeoga, was breaching due process and abusing his power to make temporary appointments. The use of temporary appointments to fill academic staff vacancies has become the rule rather than giving the university the opportunity of giving candidates equal opportunity and selecting the best and most suitable candidates. We believe that a competitive selection process is the best option for recruiting high calibre faculty and administrative staff, they quoted the letter as statin The union said it also wrote a petition on August 5, 2015 to the visitor of the school, President Muhammadu Buhari, that Mr. Edeoga had single-handedly, under the guise of the instrument of temporary employment, recruited over 1000 staff. The union said the former governing council under Anya Oko as chairman swept the matter under the carpet until January 29, 2015 when it was compelled by the deepening crisis to set up a cosmetic committee headed by a member of that council, Rasheed Ojikutu, to investigate the petition from ASUU MOUAU. According to the union, a fact-finding committee sent to the institution in December 2015, sequel to the petition to President Buhari, cautioned in its report that the power to make temporary appointments should be exercised responsibly. The report recommended that the governing council should revisit the entire process of appointments and promotions with a view to determining in specific and clear terms whether there are infractions, and in established cases of infraction, take decisions that may be deemed appropriate. It said although the Federal Ministry of Education upheld the recommendation of the fact-finding committee and directed that the governing council should revisit the entire process of appointment and promotion, the council failed to comply with the directive formally conveyed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu. The union said it had also written to the new governing council on June 20, demanding that fractional payment of salary should cease immediately and that the council should take immediate steps to redress weighty issues that border on impunity by the former vice chancellor and Anya-led governing council. Source: ( Premium Times ) Fashion Blogger & Entrepreneur, Laura Ikeji, who recently welcomed a baby with her husband, Ogbonna Kanu has taken to social media to comment on Nollywood actress, Juliet Ibrahims boyfriend, Iceberg slim. She made this comment on Juliets, saying that her boyfriend is hot and as well wished him a happy birthday. She wrote: He is hawt! Happy birthday bro SEE ALSO: I got Rid of My Pot Belly & Excess Body Fat in 21 days. The governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, Tuesday at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) forum in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, said that if President Buhari does not want to resign, he should be made the Minister of foreign affairs. According to him, Leadership must come with a certain measure of strength. If you dont have strength, how can you govern the country? So, we need a president that is hale and hearty. If our president doesnt want to go, let him become the minister of foreign affairs in London. These are statements of fact. He equally went further to say that he was excluded among those who visited Mr. President because he would have accessed and observed him closely which after arrival will reveal the truth of his health status to Nigerians who have the right to know the truth about their president. Source: The Cable Chocolate City Boss, M.I Abaga, has finally bared his thoughts about homosexuals discrimination in Nigeria. Recall a few days back, 46 homosexuals were arrested and arraigned before a law court in Lagos, an act that got the rapper to finally speak up.M.I bared his mind in a podcast saying it is beyond wrong for government to criminalise homosexuality. I feel like I have a few friends with different sexual orientations and I think its stupid that we have that law in Nigeria but now that we do, until the law is repealed, I feel its not safe to openly disclose your sexuality. Of course this did not go down well with a few fans who traded words with the artiste further revealing how less care is given to homosexuals. M.I responded to the tweet from a particular fan who disagreed tweeting: Cheating and adultery are wrong.. but they are not criminalized.. and no form of consensual adult expression of love should be.. my opinion. Source: Nairaland A Fake Policeman who has been identified as Yakasai Mohammed has been arrested by the Kano State Police Command for reportedly impersonating both the police and court officials in order to defraud innocent family members of arrested suspects. His arrest came after a complaint was made to the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), on July 27th via a phone call. On 27/07/17 at about 6:34pm a female resident of Kano, Kano state called the PCRRU phone line and complained that on the 17th of July, 2017 a team of police on patrol raided a place call Kwana Hudu area in Kano and arrested her son (name withheld) for an alleged robbery case. That her son was taken to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in Kano from where he was subsequently charged to court for alleged robbery. She also stated that the trial Judge ordered her son to be remanded in prison custody pending the next court date. However, one of the Investigating Police Officers (IPO) known as Yakasai who she met at the court premises collected the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) for bail and promised to release her son but he failed to do so as her son was taken to Kurmawa prison from the court hence her complaint. She also said that she picked the PCRRU contact phone number from a leaflet dropped by police helicopter in Kano on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017. The case was immediately registered, tracking number #PCRRU426434issued and matter referred to the Commissioner of Police Kano state for investigation and report in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni. Investigation carried out by the Kano State Police command reveals that the arrest of the complainants son and subsequent prosecution in court is pursuant to an investigation into a reported case. The said Yakasai was arrested and it was discovered that he is not a police officer or court official but an impostor who goes around courts in Kano metropolis pretending to be a police officer and a court worker. He confessed to the crime and the extorted N100,000 cash was recovered from him. The money has since been handed back to the complainant. Yakasai has also been charged to court for prosecution accordingly and he has been remanded in prison custody pending the next hearing date. Members of the public across Nigeria are advised not to pay money for bail as BAIL IS FREE. Also, in line with the Change Begins With Me campaign citizens are urged not to give bribe to any government official no matter the pressure on them. Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the payment of a special bursary for visually-impaired students of tertiary institutions. Obaseki said that the beneficiaries of the scheme would be natives of Edo State. The governor gave the approval on Monday when he received the state executive members of the Nigeria Association of the Blind at the Government House in Benin. While stressing that it was governments responsibility to cater for persons living with disabilities, he urged the association to compile the names of its members who were students in tertiary institutions for onward transmission to the Ministry of Education to enable them benefit from the scheme. Persons with disabilities are part of the society and it is obligatory on the part of government to ensure that they are well taken care of, the governor said. He promised that a special education department would be established for PLWDs either at the College of Education, Abudu, or at the Tayo Akpata University of Education in Ekiadolor. Obaseki, who noted that a Braille press would also be set up in the state, announced a donation of N1m to the association. Earlier, the State Chairman of the association, Mr. Nosakhare Asemota, commended the governors efforts in improving the education sector in the state. Asemota also noted that the visit was aimed at soliciting the state governments support in addressing some of the challenges facing the members. Source: ( Punch News) A Nigerian lady, Ebisike Victoria Chinyere, took to Facebook to invite her friends to her own burial all because she has no money to treat herself. The Imo state born who seemed to have given up in life, when asked what her ailment was she said she stepped on poison and has no money to treat herself and she can only afford rat poison to terminate her life! She wrote; There was a bit of confusion in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Monday when reports filtered in that some hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers had abducted five passengers, including the driver of a bus belonging to God is Good Motors. The occupants of the vehicle were said to be Lagos-bound from Port Harcourt before they were waylaid and taken to an unknown destination by their gun-wielding captors. It was learnt that the incident happened at about 7.20am in Elibrada community along the East-West Road, in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. Sources said the hoodlums had blocked the road with tree trunks and rushed out immediately the bus slowed down. It was gathered that the kidnappers pointed guns at the bus and ordered the passengers to come out before marching them into a bush. A community leader, who did not want to be identified, said the kidnappers also shot continously into the air and at the bus. The source added that no person was found dead in the abandoned vehicle after the incident. However, an official of the transport company, who declined comment on the development, said the management of the firm had moved to the scene of the incident to confirm the story. PUNCH Metro learnt that the booking of passengers for the Tuesdays journey at the Aba Road office of the transport firm was still ongoing despite the incident. But the Rivers State Police Command, who confirmed the incident to one of our correspondents, said it had rescued three among the passengers. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, said through a text message that the three victims were rescued at the risk of a shootout between security operatives and the kidnappers. Omoni denied that all the passengers were abducted, saying those kidnapped were five before three were rescued. Five passengers were kidnapped and three of them have been rescued, remaining two. We fought hard to rescue them at the risk of a gun battle, the text message indicated. However, several calls to get the police PRO to speak on where the victims were rescued and whether the bus had been recovered were not answered. It was also learnt that no contact had been established between the suspected kidnappers and any of the victims relatives as of the time of filing this report. A bus driver, who simply gave his name as Nkeme, told PUNCH Metro that he and some of his colleagues were always afraid whenever they got to some points along the East-West Road in Emohua while travelling. We need the police to be in those places. Whenever we are travelling, we are always afraid of the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers, he said. Few days ago, news of Nigerian student who was shot dead few days to his graduation was everywhere. However, it has been confirmed that he was a cultist before his death. The late cultist who has been identified as Osaji Charles and a student of Nwafor Orizu College of Education was buried dressed in his cult regalia. More photos below; When pictures of beautiful Multi-coloured eyed girl, Peace went viral on the internet, folks complained that peace might have an eye condition, and she should visit an eye clinic for check up. Contrary to those claims, Peace has revealed that she is fine, and she doesnt complain of any eye problems. Peace has now undergone a proper photoshoot. The photographer who discovered Peace at Mile 12 market, also released a statement, read below: Her name is Peace Samuel Omana, she is pretty and so brilliant. Some of her classmates who were available at the photoshoot described Peace as being calm, nice and a lover of Mathematics. Her school mates also said they always teased her about being miss Nigeria. Her parents are so grateful and optimistic that this would bring a end to poverty in their lives they are thankful for all the positive comments and love from everyone. Photographer who discovered Peace, Abimbola Balogun of Revelia Photography, also spoke about Peace saying: Transformations can happen overnight to anyone. Its her time, she is a star. You can tell from her pictures she was born to be! A lot of opportunities opening up for her already but Im being careful with the sort of endorsement she allows so she doesnt get the wrong attention. (Yabaleft) FreeSurfwella, a free Wi-Fi facility, will be made available in Nigerian universities, from this week, to give a boost to Stertiary education in the country. The Chief Marketing Officer, Surfwella, Olusola Bankole, said on Sunday that the firm would make available the free Wi-Fi in all university campuses in the country. Surfwella is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of an indigenous 4G operator, Cyberspace Network Limited, and a platform for social and cognitive computing. The University of Abuja will be the first beneficiary, with the service scheduled for launch on the institutions campus this week Wednesday, Bankole said. According to him, while the firm is unveiling the service at the University of Abuja and other institutions, it is still building and adding more features on the Internet infrastructure. The usage is totally free. No payment, no subscription, no data purchase, and no need for modems. It is free Internet in the most useable form on the Wi-Fi, he said. He said, The Lagos State University will be next, followed in quick succession by the College of Agric, Lafiaji, and the University of Lagos. Bankole said that Surfwella was doing this as a way to give back to the society. It is our own form of Corporate Social Responsibility. It is all about empowering the students to be globally competitive, and access to free Internet is the best way to empower the budding oncoming Generation-Z. The whole idea of this project is to ensure that future graduates from universities across the country will compete with their contemporaries from other countries of the globe. More so, the surest way to be an entrepreneur is to acquiring Information and Communications Technology skills, he added. The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has declared that nobody could stop him from visiting Lagos State if he wanted. Kanu who spoke exclusively to The AUTHORITY in Umuahia, was reacting to threats by some individuals and groups that his safety is not guaranteed in Lagos even as rumours are rife that Kanu is planning to storm the commercial city. The Biafra activist said his inalienable right of freedom of movement could not be limited by anyone or scarified on the altar of mere threat, adding that threats only embolden him. I go to anywhere I want to go. I dont listen to threats. They motivate me rather than dampen my spirit. That thing people say I cannot do is what I love to do. When the time comes I will go to Lagos if I have to go to Lagos. Asked if his much- talked- about visit to Lagos was by any invitation or only meant to prove his temerity, he simply said I am not under obligation to tell you, but quickly added that I have friends with connections in Lagos. Kani Fayode is my friend and he is in Lagos. If I try to visit him in Yoruba land, then I must see him in Lagos, Kanu said. On the possibility of his being re- arrested for alleged flouting of his bail conditions, Kanu said he was not afraid of being rearrested, adding that such development would only facilitate the actualisation of Biafra. If you arrest me, Biafra will come even quicker than we anticipate. I am not afraid of being arrested. I have been there before and if need be I will also be there again. I will be very happy if they re-arrest me. If we are hoping for 90% compliance with the boycott of Anambra State Governorship election, my arrest will make the compliance 100 %. Nollywood actress, Ifeoluwa Olawale was recently rumoured to be in a romantic relationship with comedian actor, Tayo Amokade also known as Ijebu. Ifeoluwa Olawale has come out to dismiss the rumuor. In an interview with YMG, Miss Olawale said the married Nollywood actor actually proposed to her but she rejected it because she could not date someone in the industry. She said; I got into the industry through Kemi Korede before i later met Ijebu, I informed him that i wanted to join his caucus and he never denied me the priviledge to join. Through him, i started going to locations. He later advised me to produce a movie which will help my career which i did and that is how i became a producer. He proposed to me when i was a fresher but i rejected because i dont like dating my boss or keeping a relationship with anyone in the industry. The reason is that my parents did not want me to act because of the impressions they have about actors. They believe we always mess around especially with one another and i promised to be exceptional. I like him for his kind of person and his creativity but i cannot date him. A coalition of civil society groups which was lead by Charly Boy on Monday in Abuja demanded the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical leave in the United Kingdom, the group insisted that he should resume in office or resign. But the Presidency has described the call by the protesters for Buhari to return to the country or resign as an irrational assault on the nations constitution. However, the protesters asked the National Assembly to invoke Section 144 sub-section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution and set up a medical panel to determine the Presidents health status. The convener of the protest, Deji Adeyanju, regretted the failure of the National Assembly to launch investigations or set up a panel to look into the true status of Buharis health. He alleged that the lawmakers might have been compromised and were working with the cabal in the Presidency against the people. Adeyanju said, The leadership of the National Assembly must choose between the Nigerian people and the cabal. Ninety days is too long for a president to be away from his country without any explanation to the people that voted him into office. If Buhari has become incapacitated, he should do the honourable thing and resign because he cannot continue to hold the country to ransom; his absence in the country is being exploited by a cabal to loot the treasury. We hereby demand that the National Assembly invoke Section 144 sub-section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution and direct the setting up of a medical panel in conjunction with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to ascertain whether the President is incapacitated or not, he stated. A leader of the group and member of the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, said the Federal Executive Council should disclose to Nigerians the nature of Buharis illness. He criticised the nations leaders for keeping silent over the absence of the President for over two months, noting that their inaction was not good enough. It is unfortunate that the leaders of the country are keeping silent over the absence of the President. The guardians of the nation are supposed to speak up and set things right, but they have kept sealed lips and that is why the youths are marching today to demand the return of Buhari or the disclosure of the nature of his illness by the FEC, Atoye stated. Led by an artist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, the coalition members defied an early morning showers and marched from the Unity Fountain, Maitama to the Presidential Villa junction to demand the return of the President to the country. Armed policemen and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps provided security for the drenched protesters who were marching and singing and dancing to the songs of the late Afro-beat king, Fela. The protest was spearheaded by the National Coordinator, Foundation For True Freedom and Good Leadership, Deji Adeyanju; Publicity Secretary, #OurMumuDonDo Movement, Adebayo Raphael; Convener, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Ariyo-Dare Atoye; and Secretary of Concerned Nigerians, John Danfulani. The movement had said it would continue with daily protests in Abuja and London to press for the return of the President. But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja, asked well-meaning members of the public to ignore the protesters, who he said, had over-stepped their bounds. The Presidential spokesman said, I wish to respond to media enquiries following demonstration by a few citizens this morning in Abuja. The demonstration is in the exercise of their freedom under the constitution, which guarantees their right to embark on peaceful protests. So long as they remain peaceful, we have no problem with them. What is democracy if citizens cant peacefully demonstrate? On the second issue, demanding the Presidents return, or resignation or certain explanations, I would say that they have over-stepped their bounds. The President has complied 100 per cent with the constitution by handing over power to the Vice-President before proceeding on his vacation. He has not breached any law or the constitution by staying away from office to take care of his health. Equally, there is nothing like a power vacuum in the country given the competence and general harmony with which the whole government is running. Any such calls as being made by this or any other group represents an irrational assault on the constitution and should be ignored by well-meaning members of the public. The need of the hour for this country is to rid it of corruption, reform and reinvigorate the economy and to fight crime and insurgency. The government is busy with the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure all over the country. It is creating jobs for the unemployed. It has set its sight on the larger picture of the countrys development; investing in rail and power projects and redeeming the countrys image from the mountains of corruption scandals that have marred it. We will not, therefore, be distracted by this or any other groups. Also, the lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, in a Facebook post on Monday, urged the protesters to drop their placards and pick up their prayer books and pray for the ailing President. The post read, Those protesting for the President to resume or resign have the constitutional and fundamental rights to do so. But the President had properly handed over power to the Acting President before he travelled on medical vacation. I fully respect the rights of protesters to object but I appeal to them to step down their placard and pick up a prayer book for our president. He has given so much and sacrificed so much for our country, and this is the time to stand by him when its telling on his health. For a man who has given the better part of his life for our unity and for our progress, its not much if we show him love, care and understanding in his trying moments. The Protest by Charly Boy and others have been backed by Senator Shehu Sani, the protest was aimed against President Muhammadu Buharis absence from the country for more than 90 days have the constitutional right to do so. In a facebbook post on Monday, Senator Sani said the protesters were only exercising their fundamental human right. Charly Boy and other protesters on Monday embarked on a peaceful march to the Presidential Villa in Abuja demanding the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from London, or resign from office if he cannot continue. Read Senator Sanis facebook post here: Those protesting for the President to resume or resign have the constitutional and fundamental rights to do so.But the President had properly handed over power to the acting president before he travelled on Medical vacation.I fully respect the rights of protesters to object but I appeal to them to step down their placard and pick up a prayer book for our president.He has given so much and sacrificed so much for our country and this is the time to stand by him when its telling on his health.For a man who has given the better part of his life for our unity and for our progress, its not much if we show him love, care and understanding in his trying moments. Source: ( PM News ) Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( NUPENG) , have called for the arrest of the perpetrators of the massacre that occured in a church in Anambra. The unions spoke who in separate statements on Monday, expressed shock at the killing of worshippers by gunmen, and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. The President, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, while describing the attack as animalistic and shameful, called on security operatives to beef up security around places of worship. What makes this attack more confounding is the fact that Ozubulu is far removed from any known theatre of conflict at the moment and has had little or no history of violence, Wabba said. The President, NUPENG, Dr. Igwe Achese, enjoined the Federal Government to be more intelligence-led and proactive in order to avert disasters. In a statement, the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama; and the Secretary, Musa Lawal, lamented insecurity in the country. The statement read in part, This is a bad signal, considering the fact that campaign and election in the state will commence soon. This development is unfortunate and a testimony to the fact that security operatives have so much work to do. The incident portrays the country in a bad light before the international community. It is heartbreaking that some Nigerians no longer have regard for human lives. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) A man accused of tying his roommate up and holding him at gunpoint before stealing 60 has been arrested after he was found asleep at the scene. Kanyoni Sedekiya, 20, was taken into custody on Friday after the botched robbery in Abilene, west Texas. He allegedly strapped his victim to a bed with duct tape, binding his feet and hands. The victim then freed himself and escaped to a neighbours house before calling the police. When officers arrived, they discovered Sedekiya asleep on the sofa with a gun in his lap. They knocked on the door, only for Sedekiya to turn off the lights and refuse to open up. Police then secured the perimeter and an arrest warrant before a SWAT team arrived. Sedekiya eventually surrendered and is in Taylor County Jail with a $60,000 bond. A development proposal from self-storage owner Joseph Giardino was reviewed last week by the Amsterdam, N.Y., Planning Board, which pushed it forward for examination by the Montgomery County, N.Y., Planning Board. Giardino, who already operates a Secured Storage USA facility in the city, intends to build three single-story storage buildings at 133 Route 67. The 30-by-90-foot structures would comprise about 8,100 square feet on less than an acre, according to the source. Amsterdam planners had previously expressed concern about whether the facilitys drive aisles would be gravel or paved and asked to see detailed blueprints. Giardino presented detailed plans during the meeting and indicated the aisles would be gravel. When presented with photos of his existing self-storage location at 4786 State Highway 30, Giardino confirmed the new buildings would be exactly the same, but a different color. Planners described the design as very clean, the source reported. The Secured Storage facility on Route 30 is just north of a proposed $15 million U-Haul self-storage development under consideration by Amsterdam and Montgomery County officials. It serves as an authorized U-Haul truck-rental dealer, according to its website. The Amsterdam board scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 6 to discuss the Route 67 project. Residents are angry about a four-story self-storage development thats under construction in Hobsonville, a rural suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. The National Mini Storage facility on Hobsonville Road is across from several homes and a school. Approved by the city in 2016, the project will include 1,400 storage units and 22 parking spaces. The property is zoned for light industrial under the Auckland Unitary Plan, and although the Auckland Council hasnt received any complaints, one resident claims neighbors are horrified about the building, according to the source. "Now they've got this humungous thing going up, and it's gob-smacking. And they've only done one half of it so far. The other half is going to block out the sun, literally, said John Carrodus, chairman of the West Harbour Residents Association and the Hobsonville Residents and Ratepayers Association. Although Carrodus said he knew the site was zoned light industrial before construction began, he expected the building to face the freeway and be less intrusive. Now hes concerned the property will have a negative impact on home values in the area. In addition, he claims the facility lacks an overall aesthetic plan, the source reported. Resident Murray Cooper, who lives down the street, also questioned why the building wasnt placed closer to the freeway. He noted his previous view of the hills is now blanked out totally by the storage building. Oliver Ivisoni called the structures height not ideal, but hoped the facility would bring new jobs to the area. Auckland Council Manager Stefan Naude noted the storage facility is in line with the type of development permitted in the zone. Public notification wasnt necessary, as the project was considered to have a minor adverse effect on the area, the source reported. The structures height of 15 meters falls under the citys 20-meter building restriction. In addition, National Mini agreed to focus on landscaping as well as create an urban design, particularly where the property faces the road and school. The storage facility is part of a wider subdivision at 106-108 and 110 Hobsonville Road, which contains 38 industrial lots. With a focus on high-employment density, the redevelopment includes part of the Hobsonville Village Centre, between Hobsonville Road and the Upper Harbour Motorway. Founded in 1991, National Mini operates nine facilities in Auckland. In addition to traditional storage, it offers vehicle storage, and sells moving and packing supplies. Property and casualty insurer The Travelers Companies has completed the acquisition of UK-based distributor Simply Business from Aquiline Capital Partners LLC. The enterprise value was about 375 million (AU$617 million), including the repayment of debt and other obligations.Simply Business, which began operating in 2005, provides small business insurance policies online on behalf of a broad panel of carriers. It has more than 430,000 microbusiness customers, covering more than 1,000 classes of business.Travelers chairman and chief executive Alan Schnitzer commented: Simply Business is a growing technology company, and its proven model to enhance the insurance buying experience for microbusiness owners aligns with our efforts to simplify the small commercial insurance transaction and make it more efficient.Schnitzer believes that the knowledge, capabilities, and talent that Simply Business has developed over more than a decade will contribute meaningfully to advancing Travelers digital and innovation agendas to best serve customers and the marketplace.The online business insurance broker will continue to partner with its panel of carriers which includes AXA Hiscox , and Zurich under its brand name, operating as a stand-alone business.We are committed to preserving the approach and values that have made Simply Business successful, said Greg Toczydlowski, executive vice president and president of business insurance at Travelers, when the deal was announced earlier this year.US-headquartered Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $28 billion (21.4 billion) in 2016. It funded the acquisition through a combination of debt financing and internal resources. Hub International Limited affiliate Hub Quebec has acquired assets from surety broker Patrice Varin.According to a release, the assets were acquired through a corporation held by Varin. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.Varin brings with him a commercial line book of business focused on providing bonds and other surety-related products.Patrice Varin is a courtier/broker associated with MP2B, having served for 14 years and counting. He has also been a board member for Plan de garantie GHMB for two years and is a member of the Surety Association of Canada. We successfully breached into your huge network HBO was one of our difficult targets to deal with but we succeeded. These were the words of the hackers themselves to big-shot cable company HBO. The message was delivered as a video letter to HBO chief executive Richard Plepler, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The demand for money was indicated in the video letter. Perpetrators of the data breach have also shared a link which provides access to confidential documents including emails and Game of Thrones materials such as marketing spreadsheets, script summaries, and casting details. The report said it is not clear whether the link it received was also sent to other media outlets. In response to The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson said, HBO believed that further leaks might emerge from this cyber incident when we confirmed it last week. As we said, the forensic review is ongoing. The statement continued: While it has been reported that a number of emails have been made public, the review to date has not given us a reason to believe that our e-mail system as a whole has been compromised. HBO said it continues to work around the clock with outside cybersecurity firms and law enforcement to resolve the incident which took the hackers about six months to execute. The global cyber market is estimated to be worth $3 billion to $3.5 billion, according to Lloyds. PricewaterhouseCoopers, on the other hand, forecasts a potential value of $7.5 billion by 2020. Property and casualty insurer The Travelers Companies has completed the acquisition of UK-based distributor Simply Business from Aquiline Capital Partners LLC. The enterprise value was about 375 million ($490 million), including the repayment of debt and other obligations.Simply Business, which began operating in 2005, provides small business insurance policies online on behalf of a broad panel of carriers. It has more than 430,000 microbusiness customers, covering more than 1,000 classes of business.Travelers chairman and chief executive Alan Schnitzer commented: Simply Business is a growing technology company, and its proven model to enhance the insurance buying experience for microbusiness owners aligns with our efforts to simplify the small commercial insurance transaction and make it more efficient.Schnitzer believes that the knowledge, capabilities, and talent that Simply Business has developed over more than a decade will contribute meaningfully to advancing Travelers digital and innovation agendas to best serve customers and the marketplace.The online business insurance broker will continue to partner with its panel of carriers which includes AXA Hiscox , and Zurich under its brand name, operating as a stand-alone business.We are committed to preserving the approach and values that have made Simply Business successful, said Greg Toczydlowski, executive vice president and president of business insurance at Travelers, when the deal was announced earlier this year.US-headquartered Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $28 billion (21.4 billion) in 2016. It funded the acquisition through a combination of debt financing and internal resources. Wal-Mart has settled a lawsuit brought by two insurers that wanted to avoid covering the megastores multimillion-dollar payout to comedian Tracy Morgan.Wal-Mart paid an undisclosed sum rumored to be as much as $90 million over a 2014 accident involving one of its trucks and Morgans limousine. Subsequent investigation revealed that the driver of the truck had been awake for more than 24 hours. The accident seriously injured Morgan and killed his friend, comedian James McNair.The insurers claimed that Wal-Mart may have paid Morgan and Adley Fuqua another injured passenger too much. At one point the insurers, who are both affiliated with Liberty Mutual Group, sought permission to question Morgan and Fuqua, according to a Reuters report.Terms of Wal-Marts settlement with Ohio Casualty Insurance and Liberty Insurance Underwriters are confidential, according to Reuters. However, US District Judge Freda Wilson ordered the dismissal of all claims against the retail giant by the insurers, and all counterclaims by Wal-Mart against them. The parties agreed not to bring their claims again.We are pleased to have resolved this matter, Wal-Mart spokesman Randy Hargrove told Reuters. A report has found that Southwest Florida doctors offices have paid among the highest claims for malpractice, specifically between 2000 and 2016.The report, published by Health News Florida, was based on data from the Florida Office of Insurance regulation and Department of Health. Notably, physicians who work in hospitals are not included in the report.Patients lives are at risk from bad apples, Carlos Cavenago, an attorney at Parvey and Frankel Attorneys, P.A., told Fox 4 Now.When a radiologist is reading a report, theres no room for making a mistake. If they make a mistake, they miss cancer. They miss something that can kill you.Fox 4 Now recounted the cases of Dr. Philip Regala and Dr. Myles Samotin Board Certified orthopedic surgeons in the Naples and Bonita Springs area who had at least eight paid claims between them worth a combined total of $3.5 million dollars. Dr. Regala faced disciplinary action from the state for incorrectly performing an incision on a patients right hip when it was supposed to be the left in 2005. Dr. Samotin also faced disciplinary action for failing to diagnose a patients Reflexive Sympathetic Dystrophy in 2003.Although the report may suggest that doctors offices in the region are prone to malpractice, malpractice claims do not necessarily mean physicians are always at fault it was noted.Every time someone gets cut open, there are known risks, Cavenago explained.Make sure your physician is board certified, check him or her out, Google him on the internet, see if theyve ever been arrested before. Ask your neighbor, ask people you trust, ask patients, he added. Markel International, the the London-based specialist insurer and Markel Corp. subsidiary, has appointed Alex Holcroft as political risk underwriter in Singapore. He joins the existing trade credit and political risk team serving the Asia Pacific region and will report to Nicola Marriage, senior underwriter in London. Holcroft will focus on expanding Markels political risk and structured trade credit business, developing regional capabilities that will broaden Markels political risk offering. Previously a Lloyds graduate trainee, Holcoft joins from Sompo Canopius where he was an underwriter in the political risk and structured trade credit team. Holcrofts previous experience in the London market and established client and broker relationships will serve him well in his new role, said Markel in a statement. He joins a team of four in Singapore led by Abhishek Chhajer, senior underwriter, who established Markels trade credit business in the Asia Pacific region in 2011. Other team members are Bennett Wong, underwriter, appointed in 2015 and recent hire, Dillon Matthews supported by Lynn Koh, underwriting assistant. The Markel trade credit team in Singapore writes business throughout Asia and currently offers comprehensive non-payment coverage written on both an excess of loss and specific buyer basis, with the emphasis on delivering specialist products and bespoke trade finance insurance solutions. The appointment follows the addition of surety capabilities to Markels global trade credit and political risk business and the on-going investment in its activities in London, New York and Dubai. The Asia Pacific region remains rich in opportunities both for our trade credit and political risk business and for Markels broader range of products, said Ewa Rose, managing director of Markels trade credit, political risk and surety business. Source: Markel International Related: Markel International Launches Surety Business; Team Leaders Appointed Topics Underwriting London The London Market Group (LMG) announced that one of the core solutions for improving the London markets efficiency, called structured data capture (SDC), has gone live for the lines of terrorism, financial lines, marine, property and casualty. By removing the need to re-key data, SDC aims to be one of the core solutions in the London markets Target Operating Model (LM TOM), an initiative that is modernizing the London market, thereby making it easier to do business in and with the market. SDC is described by LMG as an online service that converts the policy wording of a paper market reform contract (MRC) into consistent electronic data that can then be ingested by the carriers own systems, which removes the need to re-key data and reducing errors. (MRCs were developed to provide a standard form for submissions in the London market). The new SDC service means that MRC data can be entered only once and then re-used many times, said a statement from LMG, which is an association of London market associations the International Underwriting Association (IUA), the London and International Insurance Brokers Association (LIIBA), the Lloyds Market Association (LMA) and the Corporation of Lloyds. SDC will avoid significant duplication of effort by the market, which allows insurers and brokers to concentrate on the activities where they can really add value. It takes the market a step closer to one touch data capture, a core objective of the LM TOM, commented Michael Gould, COO of Talbot Underwriting and chair of the SDC Steering Committee. Market support for the project has been very strong and we are tremendously grateful to all the practitioners who have invested their time and energy in getting SDC live, he added. We expect the number of participants in the system to build strongly over the coming months, not least because the service will be free until the end of 2017. 2018 will see further development in the system introducing more lines of business. Target Operating Model (TOM) The Lloyds of London website describes the two principles at the heart of TOM: One touch data capture, in a common, global digital format, whereby data is entered only once, on behalf of all carriers and brokers, reducing risk of error and costly re-entry in multiple formats. Centralized administration and non-competitive services, allowing insurers and brokers to concentrate on their key business objectives. Related: Topics London New Markets Ray Hatfield Jr. was six months into his latest coal job when he was crushed to death in a Kentucky mine. Hatfield, a 23-year industry veteran, was cleaning a conveyor belt that shuttled coal to the surface of the Appalachian mine on the morning of Jan. 26. When his clothing got caught, he was pulled into the machine and killed. Hatfield, 42, left behind a wife and three kids. The fatality was preventable, investigators from the Labor Departments Mine Safety and Health Administration determined, citing a host of safety violations at the facility near Pikeville. Hatfield was working in a deathtrap, with not even minimal safety requirements being met, said Tony Oppegard, a Lexington, Kentucky-based attorney who represents mining families and has studied the governments report and been in touch with the Hatfield familys attorney. This is what a lot of Appalachian coal miners have to put up with. Ten other U.S. coal workers have died on the job this year, marking the first uptick in fatalities since 2010. The deaths come at a time when the Trump administration is promising to roll back federal regulations that it says were part of a war on coal. There have already been more fatalities so far this year than in all of 2016, as U.S. production of the fossil fuel rises. Production Rebound Industry leaders say the rash of fatalities is a result of increased mining activity. They point out that almost all of the coal deaths including Hatfields have involved workers whod been employed at their current mine for less than a year. Overall U.S. coal output is up 15 percent through the end of July compared with a year ago amid higher prices for natural gas a competing power plant fuel and increased demand from China. In June, there were 50,800 U.S. coal miners, up 3.7 percent from the same time in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You hear the president and others in his administration talk about there being too many regulations, promoting coal jobs and bringing back coal, but never a peep about making sure those jobs are safe, said Celeste Monforton, a lecturer at Texas State University in San Marcos, who during the Clinton administration served as policy adviser to MSHAs director. White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters, speaking aboard Air Force One as Donald Trump flew to West Virginia Thursday night for a rally, said the president isnt lowering safety standards and that the administrations main focus is on creating and growing jobs in coal country. West Virginia has had a challenging year in coal safety, leading the nation with five fatalities, the most there since 2014. There have also been two deaths in Kentucky and one each in Alabama, Montana, Pennsylvania and Colorado. The victims ranged in age from their 20s to their 60s and had on average more than a decades worth of experience, according to fatality reports from MSHA, which oversees the sector. Different Roles They may be experienced miners, but theyre coming into different job settings from when they worked previously, said Bruce Watzman, the National Mining Associations senior vice president for regulatory affairs. No two mines are exactly alike. Even if its the same company, there are differences in the geology and the environment. MSHA in June started a new program to stem the increase in fatalities, in which inspectors visit mines to help operators improve training for people new to their jobs. That sort of good-cop approach is favored by industry leaders including Robert E. Murray, chief executive officer of St. Clairsville, Ohio-based Murray Energy Corp., who in an interview earlier this year called for a radical change at MSHA. He criticized the agency for having too many inspectors handing out violations at a time when the coal industry had been shrinking. Murray hasnt experienced a mine fatality this year. Highest Priority Safety is, and always has been, the absolute highest priority at Murray Energy, Murray said in an emailed statement this week. There is no pound of coal that is worth getting hurt over. On the other hand, the United Mine Workers of America has blasted MSHAs latest program for being too industry-friendly. The union would rather see federal mine inspectors punishing coal operators found violating safety laws. In a letter last month, union President Cecil Roberts pointed out that the agencys staffers in the compliance assistance program cant even issue citations if they see problems. In an email, MSHA said its inspectors address any imminent danger hazard and require that it be corrected. It also said it has issued 24,377 violations through June 30, up 26 percent from a year ago. The last time coal fatalities spiked was in 2010, when an explosion at Massey Energy Co.s Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia killed 29 workers. In the aftermath, MSHA came under scrutiny from lawmakers for being too soft on chronically misbehaving coal companies. In response, the agency initiated a campaign of inspection blitzes designed to keep mine operators from covering up violations. Since then, there have been no mine disasters, which MSHA deems to be an accident that kills five or more. There had been four during the George W. Bush presidency. Instead, coal fatalities kept falling reaching an all-time low of eight last year. MSHA still carries out the inspection blitzes. For the third year in a row, none of Americas 13,000 mines coal and other types were found to be bad enough to face its toughest enforcement, according to a statement this week. Some problem mines had corrected recurring issues with MSHAs help. Those efforts are paying off, Patricia W. Silvey, MSHAs deputy assistant secretary for operations, said. Oppegard, the miners attorney, is skeptical. Even today, a certain segment of the coal industry is run by complete outlaws who cut corners on safety, he said. Oppegard fears that such operators will create mining conditions that could lead to the next Upper Big Branch disaster. They dont care for the health and safety of the people that work for them, Oppegard said. All they care about is getting more coal out as fast as they can. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics USA Legislation Virginia Kentucky Mining The betting was that law-and-order Attorney General Jeff Sessions would come out against the legalized marijuana industry with guns blazing. But the task force Sessions assembled to find the best legal strategy is giving him no ammunition, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. The Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, a group of prosecutors and federal law enforcement officials, has come up with no new policy recommendations to advance the attorney generals aggressively anti-marijuana views. The groups report largely reiterates the current Justice Department policy on marijuana. It encourages officials to keep studying whether to change or rescind the Obama administrations more hands-off approach to enforcement a stance that has allowed the nations experiment with legal pot to flourish. The report was not slated to be released publicly, but portions were obtained by the AP. Sessions, who has assailed marijuana as comparable to heroin and blamed it for spikes in violence, has been promising to reconsider existing pot policy since he took office six months ago. His statements have sparked both support and worry across the political spectrum as a growing number of states have worked to legalize the drug. Threats of a federal crackdown have united liberals, who object to the human costs of a war on pot, and some conservatives, who see it as a states rights issue. Some advocates and members of Congress had feared the task forces recommendations would give Sessions the green light to begin dismantling what has become a sophisticated, multimillion-dollar pot industry that helps fund schools, educational programs and law enforcement. But the tepid nature of the recommendations signals just how difficult it would be to change course on pot. Some in law enforcement support a tougher approach, but a bipartisan group of senators in March urged Sessions to uphold existing marijuana policy. Others in Congress are seeking ways to protect and promote pot businesses. The vague recommendations may be intentional, reflecting an understanding that shutting down the entire industry is neither palatable nor possible, said John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who studies marijuana law and was interviewed by members of the task force. If they come out with a more progressive, liberal policy, the attorney general is just going to reject it. They need to convince the attorney general that the recommendations are the best they can do without embarrassing the entire department by implementing a policy that fails, he said. The task force suggestions are not final, and Sessions is in no way bound by them. The government still has plenty of ways it can punish weed-tolerant states, including raiding pot businesses and suing states where the drug is legal, a rare but quick path to compliance. The only one who could override a drastic move by Sessions is President Donald Trump, whose personal views on marijuana remain mostly unknown. The Justice Department declined to comment. Rather than urging federal agents to shut down dispensaries and make mass arrests, the task force puts forth a more familiar approach. Its report says officials should continue to oppose rules that block the Justice Department from interfering with medical marijuana programs in states where it is allowed. Sessions wrote to members of Congress in May asking them unsuccessfully so far to undo those protections. The Obama administration also unsuccessfully opposed those rules. The report suggests teaming the Justice Department with Treasury officials to offer guidance to financial institutions, telling them to implement robust anti-money laundering programs and report suspicious transactions involving businesses in states where pot is legal. That is already required by federal law. And it tells officials to develop centralized guidance, tools and data related to marijuana enforcement, two years after the Government Accountability Office told the Justice Department it needs to better document how its tracking the effect of marijuana legalization in the states. Most critically, and without offering direction, it says officials should evaluate whether to maintain, revise or rescind a set of Obama-era memos that allowed states to legalize marijuana on the condition that officials act to keep it from migrating to places where it is still outlawed and out of the hands of criminal cartels and children. Any changes to the policy could impact the way pot-legal states operate. The recommendations are not surprising because theres as much evidence that Sessions intends to maintain the system and help improve upon it as there is that he intends to roll it back, said Mason Tvert, who ran Colorados legalization campaign. He pointed to Sessions comment during his Senate confirmation hearing that while he opposed legalization, he understood the scarcity of federal resources and echoed the position of his Democratic predecessors. But in July, he sent letters to Colorado and Washington that stirred concern, asking how they would address reports they were not adequately regulating the drug. It remains unclear how much weight Sessions might give the recommendations. He said he has been relying on them to enact policy in other areas. Apart from pot, the task force is studying a list of criminal justice issues. The overall reports executive summary says its work continues and its recommendations do not comprehensively address every effort that the Department is planning or currently undertaking to reduce violent crime. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Cannabis Beazley, a specialist property insurance provider, has appointed Santiago Jaramillo as engineering focus group leader for the U.S. and Latin America, based in Miami, reporting to Colin Rose, Beazleys head of construction and engineering. Jaramillo has more than 20 years experience in construction, engineering and heavy industry. He will be responsible for building Beazleys portfolio in the U.S., with the builders risk teams in San Francisco and Atlanta reporting to him starting August 1. Jaramillo will also be supported by an additional underwriter in Miami, Beazleys hub for its Latin American business. According to Rose, Jaramillo will play a pivotal role in the development of its specialist construction and engineering portfolio in both the U.S., and in Latin America where the company has ambitious plans to grow. Beazley plc is the parent company of specialist insurance businesses with operations in Europe, the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Beazley manages six Lloyds syndicates. Beazleys underwriters in the United States focus on writing a range of specialist insurance products. In the admitted market, coverage is provided by Beazley Insurance Company, Inc., an A.M. Best A rated carrier licensed in all 50 states. In the surplus lines market, coverage is provided by the Beazley syndicates at Lloyds. Beazley lines of business include professional indemnity, property, marine, reinsurance, accident and life, and political risks and contingency business. Thousands of property owners in one Florida County will be in newly created flood hazard zones later this year, and that means theyll be required to buy flood insurance for the first time. The Palm Beach Post reports the Federal Emergency Management Agency has finalized Palm Beach Countys new flood hazard zone maps. Many wont like what they find. Up to 50,839 properties will be newly designated in high-risk flood zones when the maps become official in two months, according to figures compiled by the county. Many homeowners in those zones who have federally backed mortgages will be required to buy flood insurance. Many properties werent developed when the countys current flood map was created in 1989, so they didnt have flood-risk classification and owners didnt have to buy insurance. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Flood Homeowners Mississippis top insurance regulator and its only Democratic congressman are both ready to cede some of the federal flood insurance market to private insurers. Both Republican Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson say theyre open to proposals being considered in Congress that would make it possible for private insurers to enter the market in a big way. Key among those would be a legal mandate that banks accept private as well as public insurance when they issue mortgages, Chaney said. The availability of flood insurance is a key concern for the 65,000 Mississippi homeowners who currently pay the National Flood Insurance Program to reimburse them from damage caused by floodwaters. Almost two-thirds of the policies are in the states three Gulf Coast counties, but there are also significant concentrations in Jackson and Greenville. The current law expires Sept. 30 and must be renewed. Chaney said hes hoping for a straightforward five-year renewal. But last time the law was up there were 18 separate lapses in the program before Congress agreed on a new law. Each of those interruptions gums up the real estate market, because people cant borrow money to buy a house in a flood plain if they cant buy a flood insurance policy. And that new law, which called for sharply higher premiums, ended up being overhauled two years later to limit premium increases. But the flood insurance program is still carrying nearly $25 billion in debt largely incurred from damages paid after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, as well as 2012s Hurricane Sandy. Right now, policyholders are subject to a minimum 5 percent increase in premiums, which could rise to 8 percent under a Republican proposal in the House. That would hurt the ability of lower-income property owners to afford insurance, some advocates warn. But the new part of the debate is the re-entry of private insurers into the market. The private market collapsed after 1965s Hurricane Betsy caused widespread damage in Florida and Louisiana. Now, though, a few companies are coming back. Chaney said that only one company, Coastal American Insurance Co., sells a policy that covers traditional homeowners insurance plus flood insurance right now in Mississippi. Gulfport-based Coastal American was founded to provide alternatives in the stressed coastal market after Katrina. The company says homeowners may be able to structure a combined wind-and-flood policy to reduce premiums. Coastal American has said that, so far, its mainly selling policies to people in low-risk areas, including many who have never had flood insurance. Thats because older structures in flood zones that wouldnt meet todays elevation requirements and building codes are grandfathered at lower rates under the federal program. Also, the federal program requires continuous coverage to keep the lower rate, meaning anyone who tried private insurance would lose the rate break. Chaney said Congress must mandate that mortgage companies accept private flood insurance to make the market work. Thompson said hes interested in one private insurer bearing flood and traditional homeowners policy risks, because he shares critics concerns that private wind insurers shifted claims after Katrina onto the federal program. Those claims featured in various lawsuits brought on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. To be honest, I think the taxpayers are being taken for a ride in the name of national flood insurance, Thompson said. Thompson said he would be interested in shifting flood insurance into the private market, as long as the burden of cost wasnt disproportionately more than what it is at this point. That way, one insurer might be responsible for all damage to a structure, making it impossible to shift blame. Topics Flood Homeowners Mississippi California Commissioner Dave Jones has ordered an investigation into recent allegations that Wells Fargo and National General Insurance improperly charged consumers for force-placed auto insurance for consumers who had auto loans with Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo in a July 27 news release acknowledged the company failed to properly manage the program and announced it was taking steps to refund and compensate consumers affected by the improperly placed insurance and assisting with correcting those consumers credit reports, which were negatively impacted by the force or lender-placed insurance. These most recent revelations by Wells Fargo are particularly troubling, Jones said in a statement. The department will investigate fully to determine the extent to which California consumers were affected by improper placement of force or lender-placed auto insurance and seek corrective action and penalties in the event that Californias consumer protection laws were violated. The California Department of Insurance also has an investigation underway regarding allegations that Wells Fargo signed consumers up for life insurance without their consent. Jones also directed the department to work with other state insurance regulators who might be opening investigations of Wells Fargo and National General Insurance. Related: Topics California The US Tax Court in Eaton Corporation and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo, 2017-147 determined that the IRS abused its discretion in cancelling two unilateral advanced pricing agreements (APAs) covering the transfer of certain products, the license of intangible property, and cost sharing between Eatons US subsidiaries and foreign subsidiaries in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic (the island subs). The Tax Court also rejected an alternative IRS position that if the two APAs were valid, Eaton owed additional tax on account of a non-APA covered transfer of intangibles to the island subs that enable the subs to earn excess profits. Background Eaton Corporation and its subsidiaries entered into two APAs establishing transfer pricing methodologies for covered transactions between Eatons US subsidiaries (Eaton US) and the island subs. The first APA (APA I) applied to tax years 2001-2005, and the second APA (APA II) applied to tax years 2006-2010. Eaton Corporation and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as Eaton. The APAs covered Eaton USs purchase of circuit breakers, switches and push-button controls manufactured by its island subs. The APAs generally adopted as the transfer pricing method (TPM) a comparable uncontrolled price (CUP) method per product sold by the island subs to Eaton US, with an aggregate adjustment, if necessary, to ensure Eaton US achieved a Berry ratio (the ratio of a company's gross profits to operating expenses) on its distribution activities. Under the CUP method agreed in the APAs, the profits of the island subs were not specially tested. During the APA process, some members of the IRS APA team had argued for use of the comparable profits method (CPM), under which the profits of the island subs would have been tested and limited. After the APAs were executed, Eaton discovered a number of transfer pricing computational errors, which it then corrected via the amended APA annual report filings and amended tax returns. Some of the errors favoured the taxpayer, while others favoured the IRS. In the aggregate, the errors resulted in about a 2% increase in the reported US APA related income. After reviewing those filings, in 2011, the IRS determined that Eaton had not complied in good faith with the terms of the applicable APA revenue procedures. The IRS cancelled APA I effective January 1 2005 and APA II effective January 1 2006. IRS used the computational errors as one basis for cancelling the APAs. Immediately following the APA cancellations, the IRS issued deficiency notices determining that 482 income adjustments were necessary to reflect arms-length results for Eatons intercompany transactions between Eaton US and the island subs for tax years 2005 and 2006, in the amounts of $102 million and $266 million, respectively, plus penalties The deficiencies were determined using methods that the IRS APA teams had considered, but not adopted, during the negotiations of APA I and APA II. As an alternative, if the Tax Court rejected the 482 adjustments, the IRS proposed to increase Eaton USs 2006 income by approximately $231 million based on a deemed 367 (d) transfer of intangibles to the island subs. The IRSs position was that the high profitability of the island subs could only be justified by their exploitation of non-routine intangibles. Because the island subs did not create any non-routine intangibles, the IRS concluded that intangibles must have been transferred from Eaton US to the island subs in a 367(d) transfer. Key points of the Tax Courts opinion In opposing the APA cancellations, Eaton initially argued that the APAs were contracts and that under ordinary contract law principles that apply to the US as a contracting party, the IRS had the burden of proving that Eaton had violated the terms of the APAs, which the IRS had failed to do. This argument was rejected by the court in pre-trial proceedings and in the trial opinion. Alternatively, Eaton argued that the APA cancellations were an abuse of discretion because there was no factual basis for the cancellation under the applicable revenue procedures. The IRS argued that the cancellations were not an abuse of discretion because Eaton did not comply in good faith with the terms and conditions of either APA and failed to satisfy the APA annual reporting requirements. IRS relied upon nine specific errors or omissions made by Eaton to support the cancellations. The standard of review applied by the Tax Court was whether it was an abuse of discretion for the IRS to cancel the APAs. Thus, Eaton was required to show that the cancellations were arbitrary, capricious, or without sound basis in fact. In considering whether there was an abuse of discretion, the court considered whether the IRS abided by the self-imposed limitations set forth in the applicable revenue procedures. Applying the standards set forth in the APA revenue procedures, the court focused on whether Eaton had made misrepresentations, made mistakes as to a material fact, or failed to state a material fact. In making its determinations, the court looked at nine disputed factual issues. Based on an individual review of each issue and an aggregate assessment of all the issues, the court concluded that for each particular issue, the information was either known by the APA teams, the APA teams had the opportunity to inquire about the information before agreeing to the APAs (but failed to do so), or the information was corrected or disclosed during APA negotiations and did not impact the choice of the APA TPM. Ultimately, the court concluded that any misrepresentations, mistakes or failures were not material. Specifically, the opinion stated that: [The] Respondent [IRS] had many opportunities not to agree to APA I and APA II. After completing the APA II negotiations, [the] respondent should have had a clear understanding of [the] petitioners transactions and should not have entered into APA II if the APA II team was concerned that [the] petitioner was omitting or misrepresenting information. In concluding, the court noted that an APA is a binding agreement and it should be cancelled only according to the terms of the revenue procedures. The revenue procedures define material facts as facts that, if known by the IRS, would have resulted in a significantly different APA or no APA at all. Eaton made immaterial and inadvertent errors that did not fit the APA governing revenue procedures definition of material. The court further noted that a desire to change the TPM after the negotiations concluded (i.e. buyers remorse) is not a reason for cancellation and therefore the cancellation was arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable. The court also rejected the alternative argument presented by the IRS under 367(d). The court found that no intangible assets were transferred in 2006. The court disagreed with the IRSs position that an intangible transfer could be inferred solely due to the excess profits of the island subs. The IRS did not identify any intangibles that should be subject to 367(d). The foreign subsidiaries had access to intangibles through licenses and therefore the court concluded that no intangibles were transferred subject to 367(d). Takeaways and observations As set forth in the opinion, APA cancellations are rare. There were only 11 APA cancellations or revocation between 1991 and 2015. In addition, Eaton had negotiated two unilateral APAs. Most APAs are bilateral and in such cases a treaty partner would be consulted before an APA was revoked or cancelled. The Eaton case is the first occasion when a taxpayer has judicially challenged an APA revocation or cancellation. What this case highlights is that APAs may not be reviewed under principles of contract law. The Tax Court will apply the abuse of discretion standard and focus on the self-imposed guidelines in the relevant revenue procedures. Notwithstanding what appears to be a higher burden of proof, the taxpayer was able to convince the court that it had not made misrepresentations of material facts or engaged in other conduct that justified the cancellations. The court noted that APAs are negotiations designed to solve complex transfer pricing issues. The goal is to reach a mutually acceptable understanding of the appropriate application of the arms-length standard to the taxpayers facts, it said. The conclusion of the negotiation is an acceptable negotiated instrument reached through compromise. During APA negotiations, taxpayers should keep in mind the delicate nature of negotiations to ensure goals are achieved and mistrust is not created. If the taxpayer discovers errors during the APA negotiations or afterwards, it is important to bring them to the attention of the IRS and maintain a cordial relationship. However, in the rare instance of a revocation or cancellation, judicial relief is available. Moreover, it is clear that the Tax Court will not support arguments that 367(d) transfers occur solely as a result of having excess profits in a particular entity. Generally, the theory that excess profits are attributable to an intangible transfer underlies many IRS exam adjustments and is the theoretical basis for the income method. In rejecting the IRSs position, the court looked to the statutorily defined list of intangibles that are applicable to 367(d), 482, and 936. The court rejected the IRSs position because there was no actual transfer of intangibles listed in the statute. The Tax Courts holding on this issue is consistent with the courts holdings rejecting similar IRS arguments in the Amazon and Veritas cases. As a final comment, the APA programme is designed to serve as a non-adversarial alternative to the traditional adversarial procedures for resolving transfer pricing. Based on the grounds argued by the IRS to support the APA cancellations, which the Tax Court found were individually and collectively immaterial or known to the IRS when the APAs were negotiated, it remains factually unclear why the IRS cancelled the two APAs in the first place. By Mike Patton and Mumi Hemrajani, DLA Piper, US. Crescono i prezzi al consumo dello 0,8% rispetto al 2017. La stima preliminare era +0,9%. Lo rivela l'Istitito Nazionale di Statistica nel suo ultimmo rapporto, pubblicato oggi. Su base mensile, a marzo 2018 evidenzia Istat l'indice nazionale dei prezzi al consumo per l'intera collettivita (Nic), al lordo dei tabacchi, aumenta dello 0,3%. Inflazione La ripresa dell'inflazione si deve principalmente allampia riduzione della flessione degli Alimentari non lavorati (-0,4% da -3,2%), alla quale si aggiunge l'accelerazione della crescita dei prezzi dei Tabacchi (+2,2% da +0,3%) e dei Servizi relativi ai trasporti (+2,5% da +1,9%). Con il rallentamento della crescita dei prezzi dei Beni energetici (+3,0% da +3,7%), soprattutto di quelli non regolamentati (+1,1% da +2,1%), l'inflazione di fondo, al netto degli energetici e degli alimentari freschi, sale di un solo decimo di punto (+0,7% da +0,6%) mentre quella al netto dei soli Beni energetici si porta a +0,5%, da +0,2% di febbraio. Tabacchi L'aumento su base mensile dell'indice generale e dovuto principalmente al rialzo dei prezzi dei Tabacchi (+1,8%) e dei Servizi relativi ai trasporti (+1,7%). Su base annua accelera la crescita dei prezzi dei beni (+0,7%, da +0,3% di febbraio) come pure quella dei servizi, sebbene in misura piu contenuta (+0,9% da +0,8%). Di conseguenza, il differenziale inflazionistico tra servizi e beni resta positivo a +0,2 punti percentuali (era +0,5 ai febbraio). L'indice armonizzato dei prezzi al consumo (Ipca) aumenta del 2,3% su base congiunturale e dello 0,9% su base annua (da +0,5% di febbraio). La stima preliminare era +1,1%. Il marcato rialzo congiunturale e in larga parte dovuto alla fine dei saldi invernali di abbigliamento e calzature, di cui il Nic non tiene conto. Top News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) Facial and Body Recognition Patent Application Received a Notice of Allowance San Diego, CA - November 9, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) with GBT Tokenize Corp. ("GBT/Tokenize") received a notice of allowance for its facial and body recognition non-provisional patent application. Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Enters into Agreement with Newgate Motor Group, one of Ireland's most Recognized Auto Groups, to Distribute the Mullen I-GOTM in Ireland and United Kingdom BREA, Calif. - November 9, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, announces today that it has entered into an agreement to appoint Newgate Motor Group, one of Ireland's most recognized dealership groups, as marketing, sales, distribution and servicing agent for the Mullen I-GO in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) AI Driven Financial Technology Patent Application Received a Notice of Publication San Diego, CA - November 3, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) received a notice of publication for its financial software patent application. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: Intellagents, a FatBrain AI (OTCQB: LZGI) Company, Announces Hiring of Insurtech Industry Veteran as Chief Revenue Officer NEW YORK, NY - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, announces the hiring of Euan King, an experienced and respected Insurtech industry leader as Chief Revenue Officer for insurance technology-focused subsidiary Intellagents. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire Update: Garda counter terrorism officers are questioning an Algerian man as part of an investigation into terrorism being conducted by the London Metropolitan Police, reports Cormac O'Keeffe. The suspect, aged in his 40s, was arrested at his home in north Dublin early this morning by members of the Special Detective Unit. The SDU conducted searches at three locations and have removed an amount of material for examination. Gardai said the man is being questioned in relation to possession of fraudulent documentation. A Garda statement said: As part of ongoing investigations targeting the possession of fraudulent documents, gardai from the Special Detective Unit in conjunction with the London Metropolitan Police searched a number of properties in the Dublin area. One man in his 40s was arrested in connection with the investigation and is currently in a north city garda station under the provisions of Section 4 - Criminal Justice Act 1984 for an offence under Section 6 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Act 2015. He can be held for up to 24 hours, excluding breaks. The Irish Examiner understands the London Met contacted Gardai after they uncovered suspect ID documentation in Europe, which they discovered as part of an investigation into Islamist terrorism. Earlier: An man in his 40s was arrested in Dublin today and is being questioned under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences)(Amendment) Act 2015. The man was arrested following after a number of Dublin properties were searched by gardai from the Special Detective Unit along with the London Metropolitan police today. The man in his 40s was arrested over the alleged possession of fraudulent documents - reported to include passports. The man is being detained at a garda station on the north side. The Criminal Justice (terrorist Offences)(Amendment) Act was amended to include new powers in 2015. They include: * Public Provocation to commit a Terrorist Offence * Recruitment for Terrorism * Training for Terrorism A terrorist bomb-maker who infiltrated the British military should receive a tougher sentence, a former armed forces minister has said. Mike Penning described former Royal Marine Ciaran Maxwell as a "very dangerous terrorist" and called on the Attorney General to review his 18-year jail term. In a letter to Jeremy Wright QC, Mr Penning said Maxwell could be released in six years, something which he said "cannot be allowed to happen". Maxwell was jailed last week for supplying bombs to dissident republicans. "He stashed anti-personnel mines, mortars, ammunition and 14 pipe bombs - four of which were later used - in 43 purpose-built hides at eight locations in Northern Ireland and England. Mr Penning, a former soldier, wrote to Mr Wright, saying: "I believe that the terrorism charges together with the large number of crimes he committed justifies a longer sentence. "He admits to stealing British army ordnance with intent for it to be used against innocent people of the United Kingdom, stockpiling and supplying to terrorists pipe bombs which he manufactured using skills gained in training as part of the elite Royal Marines and all the time being a traitor to his country and fellow service personnel. "I agree with Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism unit that Mr Maxwell is an extremely dangerous terrorist." He added: "This is an appalling situation where this man has used his privileged position in the highly respected Royal Marines to turn against his country and his colleagues to make and supply bombs intended for use against innocent people. "If this hadn't been stopped who knows what horrors could have been perpetrated. "With an 18-year sentence, he may well be out in six years. This cannot be allowed to happen. He is a very dangerous terrorist." Maxwell, 31, who is originally from Larne in Co Antrim and was with 40 Commando based at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, Somerset, at the time of the offences, was handed an 18-year jail term with another five years on licence at the Old Bailey on July 31. He pleaded guilty to preparation of terrorist acts between January 2011 and August last year, possessing images of bank cards for fraud and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Gillian Kearney said Maxwell used his military know-how to accumulate and construct his devices, and described the infiltration of the military by a republican terrorist as "very unusual" and "certainly the first case of its kind in recent years". Police also fear weapons he constructed may still be in circulation, ready for deployment by dissident republicans, with some of his stash potentially able to make an explosive larger than the 1987 Enniskillen bomb. Donald Trump has retweeted a Fox News report based on anonymous US intelligence sources, despite his attorney general's pledge to clamp down on government leaks. The president retweeted a story that said US spy agencies had detected North Korea "loading two anti-ship cruise missiles on a patrol boat on the country's east coast just days ago". The story was attributed to anonymous US officials. Mr Trump has repeatedly complained about leaks of government information to the press. Last week, attorney general Jeff Sessions vowed to crack down, arguing that such leaks could harm national security. Asked about the story on Fox & Friends, UN ambassador Nikki Haley said: "I can't talk about anything that's classified and if that's in a newspaper, that's a shame." It is unclear if the information is classified. The US military routinely discloses information about North Korean missile movements and launches. The type of missile movements in the story appears fairly routine. Pressed on whether this was a leak, Ms Haley said: "It's one of these things I don't know what's going on. But I will tell you that it's incredibly dangerous when things get out into the press like that." The White House did not respond to questions about why Mr Trump retweeted the story or whether he was confirming the information. Weekend rumblings that a change may be imminent came to pass, with shares dropping over 8% in London, though recovering some of these loses late yesterday. This extends a 25% drop since last years merger of Paddy Power bookmakers and the Betfair exchange. The firms chairman, Gary McCann, said it had begun a search for a successor some months ago after Mr Corcoran laid out his long-term plans. The firm said the CEO of the UK arm of global payments business WorldPay, Peter Jackson, would take over from Mr Corcoran, who will stay on as boss until an orderly transition is complete. There was no indication of a firm start date for Mr Jackson. Mr McGrath said he cried many nights because of what happened to Grace and the other 46 disabled children and young adults who went through the foster home at the heart of the scandal. But Mr McGrath said, in an interview with the Irish Examiner, that he was surprised at the reluctance within the senior levels of the HSE to co-operate with steps to establish the inquiry earlier this year. Grace was a young intellectually disabled girl who was allowed languish in a foster home for two decades despite long standing concerns about horrific sexual abuse at the home. I was very annoyed and extremely frustrated for a number of months, I was very upset because my focus was on the person with the disability. I was really annoyed and eventually when we got it over the line, but yes, I was surprised at the reluctance, he said. He vented his fury at what he saw were the unnecessary delays in releasing two reports which allowed for the commission to be established earlier this year. But there was massive frustration. There were many nights I cried thinking about her, thinking if that was my daughter in that situation. It was a very emotional situation and the frustrations did boil over on occasion. The delays were unacceptable and when Conor Dignam SC looked at it and found there was no real reason for that delay, and that cheesed me off. Mr McGrath said he wanted to speak out but had been warned if he did so, he could jeopardise the inquiry. It is the downside as a minister, as to how slow things can move. But the other thing is you have to be conscious of there has to be due process. I was constantly warned about that if I stuck my head above the parapet I could make the situation worse for Grace, he said. The system in here seems to go very very slowly but also from senior managers, I felt there wasnt enough professionalism. The minister said the commission of inquiry, headed up by Marjorie Farrelly, will produce an interim report on Graces case by Christmas time. I said to Marjorie Farrelly, please do Grace first and if the others need doing, do them. So she is doing an excellent job. She will have an interim report on Grace only, and then the commission will move on. Grace has to be done first. I also think we will learn a lot from the Grace case and we will know a lot which can be used for the next lot. The commission will cost less than 2m, he said. As the British broadcaster revolutionises itself by aiming to offer great content to younger audiences, Irish presenters Angela Scanlon and Dara O Briain are the very ones attracting this much-wanted demographic. The pair co-present Robot Wars together and according to the BBCs annual report, it is the corporations most popular non-childrens show with 16- to 34-year-olds. They were announced as the presenters of the show in February 2016, which was rebooted for BBC Two, since it ended a six-year run in 2004. The show sees amateur robot designers bring their creations to life before going into combat with each other. While O Briain has been involved with the British broadcaster for more than a decade, Scanlon became known to BBC viewers in 2015 when she fronted the digital companion show to The Voice and covered T in the Park and BAFTA red carpet coverage. Since then, the Meath womans star has ascended rapidly and this year she also began presenting the popular prime time programme, The One Show, winning her rave reviews. Before her move to the UK, OHanlan presented on Irish television including TV3 and RTE fronting shows such as Getaways and creating her own documentary Oi Ginger. The news about her and O Briains show comes as the broadcaster is re-imagining how it engages with younger audiences, including restructuring its childrens division and revitalising its comedy slate. The BBCs annual plan and annual report both highlighted how important children, teenagers and young adults have become for the broadcaster, and Scanlon and O Briain are at the heart of this. The broadcasters plan is to prioritise younger audiences, aged from babies to 34, across all our genres, services and platforms, not just via the services specifically for the young. It is about ensuring children and young people can find BBC content and consume it in ways that suit their lives, according to the state-owned corporation. While the complaint to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has not been upheld, Fr Kevin McNamara said the Catholic faith would be more respected by RTE in future programmes, he told Mass goers at the Church of the Assumption in the parish of Noyvane, near Listowel. The comment, made on a January 6, led to 11 complaints to the BAI. Fr McNamara told Sundays congregation he had brought the complaint initially to call a halt to what he felt was disrespect for the Catholic faith and religious values. As you are well aware by now, I lost the case with regards to my complaint about The Late Late Show, he said. However, I am delighted that the BAI made the following observation about how the presenter handled the item. He quoted the BAIs view that the presenter misjudged the offence likely to have been caused by the use of the term haunted bread , which was made by David Chambers, known as Blindboy Boatclub of the Rubberbandits, and that his comments compounded the offence caused to the complainant. While the committee did not believe that the comments or the presenters contributions crossed a line such that undue offence was caused to the audience as a whole, the degree of offence may have been minimised if the presenter had demonstrated greater sensitivity to the potential for offence and RTE is advised to have regard to the committees view in this regard, the priest said. I am looking forward to RTE and in particular its presenters taking on board what the BAI has suggested. I feel, as a result of this deliberation, the Catholic faith and indeed all faiths will be more respected in RTE programmes from here on. Fr Mc Namara previously spoke of his deep hurt at the remarks, and those of another panellist who likened the receipt of Holy Communion to cannibalism. He also felt such offensive remarks on the flagship chatshow of the national broadcaster would not have been made about the core values of religions other than Catholicism. In its response to the criticism, RTE had told the BAI that while the comment was provocative, it was designed, as the comedy of the Rubberbandits generally is, to provoke thought and not to be pointlessly offensive. Ukraine decreases scrap metal exports by 19.4% in Jan-July, sharply boosts it in July Ukrainian enterprises working with scrap ferrous metals in January-July 2017 decreased exports of these products by 19.4% compared to the same period in 2016, to 188,039 tonnes (233,378 tonnes a year ago). According to customs statistics made public by the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, scrap metal exports in monetary terms fell by 0.9%, to $40.627 million. In July, exports of scrap metal totaled 57,073 tonnes, while in June it was 29,106 tonnes, in May 26,151 tonnes, April 27,038 tonnes, March 20,889 tonnes, February 7,676 tonnes and January 10,106 tonnes. In January-July 2017 the country reduced imports of scrap metal in natural terms by 0.2% compared to January-July 2016, to 15,031 tonnes. In monetary terms, imports grew 3.4-fold, to $13.96 million. The goods were mainly imported from Turkey (87.44% of supply in terms of money), and Moldova (5.8%). Exports mainly went to Turkey (54.92%), Moldova (38.34%) and Bulgaria (5.36%). Sean OSullivan, who is managing director of Cork-headquartered Seabrook Technology Group as well as a former director of RTE, said that Irish business should begin viewing Brexit and US president Donald Trumps policies as opportunities rather than hindrances to business. He said he would be concerned about the psychological impact of reintroducing the border between the Republic and the North. The imposition of border controls and tariffs would be a step backward and benefit nobody. When the border came down many years ago and trade barriers were removed, this was a very clear signal that progress was being made. It prompted the idea that it was hard to fight about politics with your neighbours if you were doing good business with them, he said. Mr OSullivan said Irish companies need to start thinking outside the box when it comes to doing business in the UK and America. He said he would not deny that companies will now face more challenges due to Brexit and Trump policies but that he believed being strategic can result in more business for Irish firms. He said his own firm has taken actions to increase its sales activity in the UK rather than decrease it, and that it has increased its sales calls and seminars. Manufacturers in Britain are looking to increase quality and compliance to remain competitive in foreign markets. We see an opportunity for Seabrook to provide the software that improves quality while reducing costs. Under Mr Trump, there may be a shift towards a cut down on imports as US moves to bring manufacturing companies back to the US. Seabrook can capitalise on this increased US production, helping implement these new processes, said Mr OSullivan. Meanwhile, UK prime minister Theresa Mays gamble on a snap election has shaken public confidence with nearly two thirds of voters now negative about her governments approach to Brexit talks, an ORB International opinion poll found. This months Brexit tracker suggests the damage from a poor election result is continuing to cast doubt over Brexit. Confidence that the prime minister will be able to negotiate the right deal remains brittle, managing director of ORB, Johnny Heald said. Additional reporting Reuters THERE are transitions in every family. Sometimes you dont even notice them until after the event, when you realise things will never be the same again. My daughter, Vicky, will be experiencing one of those transitions next month, as the last of her three children starts school. Its not yet clear if the primary school system in Ireland is ready for Mikey, mind you. Mikey was born with a fully formed personality, and leaves a lasting impression wherever he goes. (I could fill a book, never mind a column, with Mikeys adventures. But thats for another day.) You never forget the day you started school. Back in my day, classrooms were drab and cheerless, and teachers cold and forbidding. If it was a bad experience for you, as it was for thousands of children back then, you sent your own children off to school with a sense of foreboding. I remember meeting a mum some years ago whose schooldays had been so awful that she was able to walk her children to the school gate, but she couldnt bring them in. Its not like that anymore. School is, as it ought to be, the start of a great adventure. That first moment of terror is instantly replaced by a welcome. Friendships are made within minutes, and children come running out after the first day all excited about what theyve done. Classrooms are fun places to be, and learning happens much more naturally than it did in my day. But the grind of getting everything ready for that first day never seems to end. The start of school might be a great adventure for the children, but its an immense pressure for parents. Increasingly, thats unique to Ireland. If my three grandchildren were starting school, or going back to school, 200km north of where they live now, their schoolbooks would be waiting for them. Thered be no letter from the school seeking a voluntary contribution. And thered be a free bus to take them to and from school. All of that would be mandated by the law of the land. Of course, that would be on the other side of a border, in a different jurisdiction. Weve all lived for years thinking that the border was a thing of the past, something that weve moved beyond. Latterly, and because of Brexit, our politicians have taken to saying that the worst possible thing that could happen would be the re-emergence of a border. If the North leaves the EU, as part of the UK, well see a border again, in some shape or other. But, oddly enough, although the physical border might have become invisible to us in recent years, they still do things differently in different jurisdictions. And one of the things they do differently is how they fund primary education. There is no expectation there, or anywhere in the UK, as there is here, that its the job of parents, no matter how hard-pressed, to subsidise the system. Of course, there is one other difference. We have a written constitution down here. That constitution (in Article 42) provides that all our children must receive a certain minimum education, moral, intellectual and social, and, on that basis, specifies that the State shall provide for free primary education. Its a funny concept, isnt it. All of our children, without exception, have a right to a free primary education, and the State has an obligation to provide it. Youd have to ask, wouldnt you, how its possible to have something described as a right, when its dependent on your parents ability to afford it? And we know the extent of that burden. Last week, as we do every year, we, Barnardos, published our annual survey of the costs of school. This year, we asked more than 1,800 parents to share their experiences with us. The figures are frightening. On average, its 355 for a child starting school thats more than 1,000 if you have three children, by the way. Its 395 for a child going into fourth class, and its 800 for a child starting secondary school. We know, from our work with families, how stressful this is. And we know, from the survey, that nearly half of all parents have to cut back on other things to pay this money. Utility bills go unpaid in many instances, but utility bills dont go away. Non-payment of bills like that, to buy a school uniform for your child, can start a downward spiral. And quite a few parents find themselves plunged into debt for this reason. Our survey started a lot of discussion, as it always does. And there is, thank goodness, some sign that the discussion is beginning to have an effect. For example, more schools than used to be the case are now allowing and encouraging generic uniforms. Fewer schools are putting pressure on parents to pay the so-called voluntary contributions. And many more schools, especially at primary level, are using book rental schemes, which keep costs down. There are signs, too, that the politicians are beginning to listen. On his last day as Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar raised the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance by 25 for eligible children under 12, and by 50 for children over 12. (To be eligible, children must live in families where the income is very modest a single parent with one child would have to earn less than 22,000 a year to qualify). These are all steps in the right direction. But theyre designed to help people cope with the burden of cost. It would make far more sense and it would be the bold and imaginative thing to do to eliminate the cost altogether. That, in turn, wouldnt break the bank. It would cost 100m at primary level, and another 125m at secondary level. In the overall scheme of things, its tiny. Even in the context of the Department of Educations own budget of nearly 9bn, its a really small proportion. And you know what? Were going to have to do it someday, anyway. In the discussion about Brexit, which I mentioned earlier, one of the other strands of conversation is about a united Ireland as one possible consequence of Britain leaving the EU. It has been proposed that a second, new Ireland Forum should be established, to identify the economic and social barriers to unity. Such a discussion would have to be immensely wide-ranging, of course. But some barriers are more easily eliminated than others. The cost of starting school is one of them. Were never, at any time in the future, going to ask parents to vote in favour of a primary school system that treats them and their children differently than they are treated now. So lets get rid of that barrier it strengthens the case for unity, and even enhances the psychology of unity. And, in doing so, lets lift an utterly unfair burden from thousands of parents. Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv has satisfied the claim filed by defense lawyers in the case of gas theft of PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia (the so-called Onyshchenko gas case) about sending a request to the Kyiv Court of Appeal to determine the jurisdiction of the case. Lawyer Kyryl Antonov told Interfax-Ukraine that he had submitted a motion, which is supported by all the defense lawyers, about changing the court, which will review the merits of the case - from Solomiansky to the Shevchenkivsky Kyiv court. "All the actions that are incriminated in this case are connected with the company Ukrgazvydobuvannia, which is located in the Shevchenkivsky district of Kyiv. Thus, we believe that it is expedient to consider this case in that court," Antonov said. The lawyer also said that, according to the law, if the investigative department of the NABU, which is located in a certain territory, is investigating a case, it can not be tried in a court that is on the same territory. Antonov said that on August 11 the full text of this decision of the Solomiansky court would be announced, after which it will be sent to the Court of Appeal of Kyiv, which will have to determine the panel of judges and set a date for consideration of this issue. In December 2015 detectives of the NABU began the pretrial investigation of the embezzlement of funds during the production and sale of natural gas under contracts of joint activity of Ukrgazvydobuvannia, as a result of which the state suffered losses amounting to about UAH 3 billion. The investigation established a possible involvement in the commission of crimes of 27 persons. The case concerning eight participants of the 'gas scheme' was sent to Solomiansky district court of Kyiv on May 30. One of the participants of the criminal organization, the person involved in the gas theft case of PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia, Valeriy Postny, was assigned the role of an organizer in the criminal organization. Tuesday, August 8th, 2017 (10:26 am) - Score 1,704 Wireless infrastructure builder Arqiva has signed their 12th London Borough street furniture concession contract, which gives them exclusive access rights to street furniture across Lambeth. As a result around 15,000 lampposts can now be used to improve 4G Mobile network coverage. The contract itself, which is granted for 10 years, will be used to deploy more small cells (low-powered radio access nodes) around the borough and this in turn should enhance 4G mobile coverage and capacity. In the future, these small cells could also become crucial to the delivery of 5G services. Arqiva already holds similar contracts for other parts of London including Barnet, Brent, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Hounslow, Islington, Merton, Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth. On top of that theyve signed related deals in Manchester, Southampton, Colchester, Eastbourne and Medway. Nicolas Ott, MD of Telecoms & M2M at Arqiva, said: Todays consumers and businesses are heavily reliant on a fast, uninterrupted mobile connection it is a necessity for everyone. Building on our strong heritage in this area, Arqiva is delighted to be working with Lambeth Council in leveraging their street infrastructure for the roll-out of small cells on behalf of the mobile operators in the years to come, when and where it will be needed to increase mobile coverage or capacity. It will allow Lambeth citizens, consumers, visitors and businesses to be better informed, entertained and connected on-the-go. It is also an integral key step in Arqivas strategy to be central to the UKs telecommunications infrastructure today in 4G, tomorrow in 5G. End. Tuesday, August 8th, 2017 (11:18 am) - Score 775 The UK telecoms regulator has hit KCOM, the incumbent telecoms and broadband provider for Hull in East Yorkshire, with a fine of 900,000 after a serious weakness in their network resulted in 74 calls to the emergency services failing after a BT telephone exchange in York flooded during Storm Eva. Under the rules network operators like KCOM are required to provide uninterrupted access to emergency organisations (police, fire etc.), although such systems are very complicated and sometimes major problems do occur. In this case the operator informed Ofcom on 28th December 2015 that its emergency-call service for the Hull area had failed for around a 4 hour period as a result of the aforementioned flooding. Ofcoms investigation ultimately found that all emergency calls from customers in the Hull area relied on the flooded telephone exchange in York (Stonebow), which was a single point of failure in KCOMs emergency-call routing and one that wouldnt have occurred had they been correctly following the rules (i.e. KCOM should have had a system to automatically divert emergency calls via back-up routes). In fact KCOM did have back-up routes but they all went through the same physical telephone exchange. Doh! Gaucho Rasmussen, Ofcoms Enforcement and Investigations Director, said: Ofcom rules mean that people must be able to call the emergency services around the clock. Any failure to connect 999 calls is extremely serious. Todays fine serves as a clear warning to the telecoms industry that it must prioritise access to the emergency services, no matter what the circumstances. KCOM has now created an alternative route to carry emergency-call traffic that bypassed the flooded telephone exchange in York, which was apparently established within just 2 hours of identifying the problem. Nevertheless Ofcom has fined the operator 900,000 and given them 20 working days to pay (this will be passed on to HM Treasury). A KCOM spokesperson told ISPreview.co.uk: We recognise the critical importance of providing our customers with uninterrupted access to emergency call services and take that responsibility extremely seriously. During Storm Eva in 2015, the loss of our 999 service was a result of a single point of failure in another operators exchange in York. Our emergency call services are managed through long-standing external outsourcing arrangements. In establishing them, we sought to ensure diverse and resilient routing, which Ofcom has acknowledged in its findings. Were very sorry this happened and immediately after the incident we ensured steps were taken to remove this network vulnerability. Customers trust that our service will be available in an emergency and so they should. Mobile network operator Three UK was recently fined 1.89m after they made a similar mistake (here), although theyre a mobile operator and have a much larger customer base. Interestingly Ofcoms investigation also provides us with an update on the number of lines that KCOM serves (total of 187,406). UPDATE 4:12pm Added a comment from KCOM above. Things tend to slow down a bit in the summer, which gives people a chance to go to the beach or look ahead to things that might happen once autumn arrives. Two stories during the past week suggest three mega-deals that may be on the table: a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile, an acquisition of Charter by Softbank, or an acquisition of Sprint by Charter. Reuters reported early last week that Softbank CEO Masayoski Son is said to be considering a bid for Charter, which could occur this month. The source told the site that the bid would at least half in cash, with the remainder in stock. Softbank is said to be working on the deal with JPMorgan Chase & Co., Deutsche Bank AG and Mizuho Financial Group. More banks may be added to the effort. In what would be another option, the story also suggests that there is talk of a merger of Sprint, which is majority-owned by SoftBank, with Charter. Charter shot down the idea, the story said. The piece is short on specifics. Instead, it suggests why the dynamics of the cellular and cable industries provide a strong rationale for such deals. Sprint is also front and center in the other rumor. Bloomberg reported that the wireless company has resumed merger talks with T-Mobile US. The talks were rejoined after the exclusive negotiating period between Sprint and Comcast and Charter expired at the end of July. The story outlines the on-again, off-again conversations between T-Mobile and Sprint. At the highest level, the combination of the two companies makes sense because the combined entity would be better able to compete with AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Clearly, one driver of the deals is Sons desire to expand and extend SoftBanks telecommunications holdings. These deals may also be gaining attention due to a feeling that the new leadership in Washington, D.C. is more agreeable than the Obama administration. Lexography points out that the Democrats, if they rebound, may make the going tougher for big telecom deals: As part of their effort to recast their party platform in preparation for the 2018 mid-term elections, Congressional Democrats announced an economic agenda. It would impose significant new standards on major telecommunications, cable and other industry mergers, which Democrats cite as a factor behind rising prices, lack of competition, and reduced consumer choice. The story describes the recently unveiled Democratic agenda, entitled A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, Better Future. Its a wide-ranging agenda and it is not insignificant that telecommunications deals, which typically are a bit arcane, are a major part of the mix. Son and executives at Sprint, T-Mobile, Charter and elsewhere certainly wont make a deal that they dont feel is beneficial for that reason. But the feeling that the window is closing may expedite things that are already on the table. Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk. Buying into IoT comes with a wealth of benefits, but adopting heavy use of the internet of things means more than plugging in devices and waiting for the data to pour in; it means modifying network infrastructure to accommodate them. This is not a trivial consideration. If the network doesnt adequately support all aspects of IoT, a company may be unable to take advantage of all that data and will fail to realize the return on investment it was hoping for. +Related: Feds consider tougher requirements for IoT security; IoT Security for Health Care is in critical condition; What is IoT?+ Early adopters of IoT can provide valuable lessons to other companies looking to roll out similar projects. Here are three examples of how companies are addressing various IoT networking issues. IoT Security and an IoT gateway at Rockwell Automation For some companies, IoT is nothing new. Rockwell Automation, a provider of industrial automation technology, launched its first IoT effort in 2011, says Scott Sandler, technology manager, cloud computing. The IoT initiative is intended to provide the appropriate technology to enable Rockwells customers to connect the industrial equipment and systems they use to the cloud, in order to better analyze their operational data and improve decision support for both operational technology and IT users. The company hired Microsoft to ensure that it has a secure industrial IoT platform that scales to meet its customers needs, whether they are scaling up or down, and to facilitate the movement of data through the enterprise to enable a range of analytics and business processes. Rockwells vision around IoT is really targeted towards [our] customershow we can better enable their success and achieve specific outcomes, Sandler says. Rockwells IoT solutions have allowed its customers to monitor unmanned remote assets, predict equipment failure, avoid the cost of deploying traditional on-premises servers, and boost performance through reduced downtime and optimized processes. One early consideration in terms of network infrastructure was data security, he adds. Rockwells early adopters were worried attackers would be able to reach into their manufacturing plants. To address these concerns, Rockwell made sure its IoT service used a gateway device that only connected to the cloud using outbound port 443 (https/TLS); the gateway is architected so that it only makes outbound calls and only receives updates from the cloud in a response to calls it has initiated. Rockwell also adopted other security measures, such as a policy server that issues shared access tokens and certificates to gateway devices for authentication purposes, so its customers dont need to make changes to their network or firewall settings, since \port 443 is typically set by default to allow secure browser-based communications. Other than taking steps to ensure secure data and configuring proxies, the network changes the company has had to make to accommodate its IoT initiative have been minimal, Sandler says. However, I would point out that Rockwell approached the concept of an IoT gateway from the perspective of being as low impact as possible. The companys experience with industrial automation, and the fact that Rockwell makes many of the devices its gateways connect to, help ensure a seamless connection between its industrial equipment and the cloud, says Sandler. Thats not a claim every industrial manufacturer can make. This is actually an area that deserves some critical attention, he says. Most of the industrial automation equipment in factories today has been in operation longer than the concept of IoT and the cloud. As a result, making additional connections to those devices and asking for data at arbitrary rates runs the risk of impacting the actual ability for those automation devices to perform their job of controlling the process. One suggestion Sandler has for preparing networks for IoT is to choose a solution partner that understands the companys data sources. Failure to do this could significantly impact the network between your gateway and control systems, and even impact the automation itself, he says. In addition, make sure the security strategy of your gateway aligns with your company guidelines, Sandler said. Our strategy around the gateway only making outbound calls and only to specific secured endpoints is designed to limit the risk of an outside threat reaching into the plant. There are certainly other security considerations as well as other ways to handle them, [but] make sure the gateway is consistent with your overall network security strategy. Iot devices need careful network configuration to insure bandwidth Thoroughly testing IoT devices before theyre deployed is also a good idea, but this too makes unique demands on network infrastructure. Marist College is engaged in advanced research with a company thats an incubator in the late stages of IoT product and service development (the college cannot identify the company due to a non-disclosure agreement). The technology collects bio-digital health information through wireless access directly from sensors worn by people at some level of health risk. The sensors gather data such as body temperature, heart rate and other indicators of a persons general health. Predictive algorithms compare any changes in these vital signs over time, and if any single vital sign or combination of signs change, that could indicate a decline in the persons health. The monitoring devices must persistently stream data using secure wireless protocols to remain constantly connected to monitoring systems and medical services. Our data science researchers have the opportunity to use big databillions of eventsto develop and prove advanced predictive processes, utilize machine learning, track interventions, and watch the effect of different variables in real time, says Bill Thirsk, vice president of IT and CIO at Marist. It is a perfect environment to develop cognitive computing with impact. The diversity and manufacturing specifications of devices play a huge role in how Marist handles IoT devices from a networking standpoint. Since they often have varying chip sets, use particular protocols or specific wireless bands, and even ignore security best practices at times, some leg work and testing is needed in order to properly develop the network for their support, Thirsk says. Marist is working with devices using a Broadcom chip transmitting over Wi-Fi. The devices connect wirelessly using both EnGenious and Cisco broadcast nodes. Marist is using an on-premise server connected via a Netgear switch to collect, pre-process and encrypt the data. A Netgear router transmits the SSL-secured data over the Internet, which is then received through Marists Juniper SRX 3600 series firewall and A10 load balancer. Once the device data is received by the predictive analytics server, its modeled for use by analysts. We have not had to modify our network physically, but we have had to re-engineer network configurations [to] ensure persistent and secure transmission on the client side, Thirsk says. Weve found different devices using alternate protocols and channels, [and] devices that could only open stream with no security. He also recommends testing and creating small pilots of various devices. You will invariably be faced with supporting a plethora of devices that users and clients may try to connect to the network, he warns. You must have an idea of the bandwidth requirements created by smart devices, what sort of encryption they can or cannot support, and whether or not they are secure and can be updated as needed. For example, Marist has experimented with small groups of inexpensive devices, such as Raspberry Pis, to see how they would work on its systems with various USB-based network interface cards, wireless adapters, and Bluetooth adapters. The goal is to collect information on the amount of bandwidth the devices would need and how much interference they might generate. Device registration is also important. Our network team wrote their own portal page that integrates with identity services, Thirsk says. Users register devices and only then are they placed into a control group that allows access. Devices can then be set to connect to the SSID Marist created. Separate VLANs might be required to segment classes of devices away from the protected networks that have different security requirements. Due to the lack of standardization on many devices, it might be difficult to identify them on the network if they do not have the ability to identify themselves, Thirsk says. Remember that once you achieve some level of success with IoT, prepare for an influx of connected devices, Thirsk says. Build in device and group visibility so you can understand the status of things, maintain security, and continue to expand your device presence and value, he says. IoT plus Wi-Fi can help track patients Rolling out an IoT initiative at a single site is challenging enough; doing it across multiple locations at the same time requires even more testing and preparation. Schlegel Villages, an operator of 16 long-term care and retirement communities across Ontario, Canada, recently overhauled its entire network, using Aruba Gigabit wireless access points and IoT devices to provide point-of-care services and automated food services to residents. The company is preparing its network to support the connection of objects such as security cameras, nurse call systems and HVAC systems. As part of the transition, Schlegel is migrating from a Novell eDirectory multi-location server setup to a Microsoft Active Directory environment in a single data center. In the future we anticipate taking advantage of the Aruba access points GPS locating technology, whether to locate lost equipment or get a notification on a resident who has left the building, says Chris Carde, director of information technologies for Schlegel. That will assist in saving lives. As part of its network update, Schlegel is upgrading all its switches and Wi-Fi access points, replacing the old equipment with HPE 5130 switches and Aruba 300 series access points, mostly Aruba AP 315s. By the end of the project we will have around 1,500 APs, 16 controllers, and 50 switches installed, Carde says. Internal speed means nothing if accessing the Internet is a bottleneck, so we are undergoing a large ISP upgrade from a basic business line to dedicated fiber of 150mbps up and down across all of our 16 sites, and 1000 mbps at our data center. The new infrastructure will allow us to support IoT with better care and services to our residents and administration staff. During the transition, the company is also implementing new iPad-based clinical software, which requires reliable Wi-Fi connectivity and performance, Carde says. By the end of the project, the company will have deployed about 600 iPads. In addition, the company is rolling out a multimedia product called Scala, which will display menus, news and weather on monitors throughout all of Schlegels locations. Organizations looking to create an IoT strategy need to think long term in terms of what types of devices will need to be connected, Carde says. Ensure your infrastructure is capable of growing with ease to accommodate your future needs, he says. There is nothing more frustrating than bottlenecking yourself with a new network infrastructure. Having a plan in place will speak volumes on your ability to design a robust and expandable network. Software development relies heavily on trust, especially when it comes to open source components. JavaScript developers recently got a reminder just how fragile the trust model is with the news that 39 malicious packages were removed from npm, the Node.js package management registry. Between July 19 and July 31, an account named hacktask published a series of packages on npm with names that were similar to existing npm packages, wrote npm CTO CJ Silverio. Packages are used by developers to implement common functions without having to write the code from scratch. If developers arent careful and add the wrong packages as dependencies to their code, they wind up with malicious code in their applications. The package naming was both deliberate and maliciousthe intent was to collect useful data from tricked users, Silverio said. The account hacktask has been closed, all packages associated with the account removed from npm, and the users email address banned from using npm. In this era of throwaway email addresses, that is not sufficient to prevent the human being behind it from trying again, but we felt it was a necessary gesture, Silverio said. There is nothing stopping package owners from using similar names, and just having similar names doesnt automatically mean malicious intent. In this situation with hacktask, it was not just a coincidence, as the packages had the same functionality as the original ones with an additional ability to transfer copies of data elsewhere. For example, developers could have mixed up cross-env, a well-known package which sets environmental variables, and crossenv, a hacktask package which sends the information stored by the environmental variables to a third-party server. Environmental variables, which store valuable information such as account credentials and authentication tokens and keys that provide access to other applications, services, and APIs, are valuable sources of information for attackers and thieves. On continuous integration servers such as Jenkins, TravisCI, Team Foundation Server, and Bamboo, environmental variables typically store multiple secret tokens. Its well known that npm doesnt have vetting mechanisms for preventing malicious packages from being added. Problematic packages are removed as they are found, making it even more important the community remains vigilant and report abuses. Its up to the developer to verify the package name to make sure the correct one was downloaded and to check the code to ensure it isnt doing anything unexpected. Many enterprises rely on source code scanners such as Black Duck Hub and Snyk to scan applications for vulnerabilities and problematic packages. Snyk added detection for all hacktask packages to its database. [Related: How to track and secure open source in your enterprise] Even though npms blog post said the malicious packages had not been widely downloaded, development teams should immediately check that they arent using any hacktask packages that came from hacktasks account. Dont just look at the dependencies pulled by each projectteams using third-party projects should check those projects to make sure there arent any malicious packages in those projects, either. It turns out there were a handful of GitHub projects using the malicious crossenv package, so anyone using those projects would have inadvertently pulled in the data-stealing code. While there are scanning tools to look for dependencies, there are also ways to check via the command-line, PowerShell or Yarn if any of the hacktask packages are in use. Dependencies are like Russian nesting dollsthey can go several layers, and the only way to be sure all problematic packages are removed is to go digging into every project and sub-project. If any of the packages are found, regenerate all secret tokens, as they would have been potentially exposed. In some cases, hacktask had packages with the same names as legitimate packages, but had different version numbers, adding to the confusion. Check for both version numbers and the source of the package when looking for potential bad packages. For example, there were multiple packages masquerading as Node.js database packages, with names such as mysql.js, nodesqlite, and mariadb, which had different version numbers than the real packages. While detection is currently limited to after-publication, package developers can use scopes (@scope/package-name) for their packages to protect their users from being tricked into using the wrong packages. This is a feature that makes it harder for users to install a wrong package, as the user would have to misspell both the scope name and the package name. Node.js developer Ivan Akulov also recommended developers do their own form of typo-squatting and claim the common misspellings of the package name themselves. By publishing empty packages under these misspelled names and warning users of the right name with the npm deprecate command, users wont be tricked into using the wrong packages, Akulov said. Making sure third-party codein the form of a library or as a block of code copy-and-pasted from another sourceis not doing something unexpected or harmful is important, but code repositories should also be exploring ways to identify typo-squatting instances where package names are too similar, and other malicious attempts. Silvero said npm is working with security company Smyte to detect and remove spam published to the npm registrywhere packages have README files with spam messages. Other projects are underway to detect malicious packages, but they are still in early stages. [Related: 5 open source security tools too good to ignore] Since its possible the malicious code could have been added to packages not owned by hacktask, Adam Baldwin of ^Lift Security scanned all other packages in the public registry to see if there were other packages using the script used by the crossenv package to transfer the data. At the moment, there arent any cases of packages not owned by hacktask with the same malicious script. We are supporting ^Lift Security and the Node Security Project in their ongoing work to do static analysis of public registry packages, but this will not find every problem, Silvero said. 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. Ukraine and Malta are interested in implementation of joint projects in the agricultural sector, especially in logistics, Deputy Agricultural Policy and Food Minister Olha Trofimtseva has said. "Despite the fact that bilateral trade in agriculture between our countries is small, we see a potential in cooperation in the investment area," the press service of the ministry said, citing Trofimtseva. She said that the creation of the distribution center could be interesting for some types of agricultural products and food, including processed products exported to African countries. "It is important for us to approve the concrete business model for operation of this distribution center for Ukrainian food in Malta, taking into account all the economic factors," she said. The sides decided to form a technical group to draw up a business model concept for the distribution center, which will be presented in the near term. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. There are no grounds to speak about the risks for gas transit using the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS). Capital investment in the system is growing, Naftogaz Ukrainy Commercial Director Yuriy Vitrenko has said. "We guarantee stable transit," he said on Channel 5 TV late on Monday, commenting on the statement of Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk that there are alleged risks of the operation efficiency of the GTS. Vitrenko said that Naftogaz planned to increase capital investment in the gas transport system in 2017 by 2.5 times, and the target was met by 103% for the January-June 2017 period. He said that the statement of the minister could be linked to absent-mindedness or his desire to have more funds invested in the GTS. Vitrenko said that Naftogaz must meet other targets, including for payments to the national budget. "We should balance 'wishes,'" he said. Nasalyk said on UA: Pershy TV channel on Sunday that he believes that the policy of Naftogaz regarding the transport system is absurd. The minister said that "we could finish with Ukrtransgaz that would not be ready to pump gas with this position of Naftogaz Ukrainy." As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Close The main military prosecutor's office of Ukraine has no legal grounds for transferring 1,000 high-sided wagons, belonging to Unison Group LLC, to PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia, because the court ruling prohibits the use of the arrested property, but contains no information on their transfer for storage or management to third parties, Unison Group shareholders have stated. "In his statement [on the transfer of the wagons] Mr. [Anatoliy] Matios refers to the decision of the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv. However, neither the shareholders nor the lawyers of Unison Group were informed about the time and place of such a court session, at which the transfer of wagons owned by Unison Groups to PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia was discussed. The shareholders of Unison Group were also not sent the text of such a decision, it was also not presented at a joint briefing of Matios and Wojciech Balczun," reads a statement by the company's shareholders. At the same time, it is stressed that in connection with this the shareholders of Unison Group are not aware of the legal motives used by Ukrzaliznytsia Chairman Wojciech Balczun at the time of accepting assets that legally belong to another business entity. Despite Israels 5th election in four years, it remains a beacon of democracy and freedom The Israeli elections are fast approaching. On November 1, Israelis go back to the polls for the fifth round of elections in less than four... What is a Jew? Israeli museum attempts an answer JERUSALEMI was on a short visit to Israel and spent time with a friend with whom I have been engaged in a 30-year argument. Elli... Ukrainian exporters won't be able to take advantage of crisis in EU egg market due to lack of supplies Ukrainian enterprises will not be able to take advantage of the crisis in the EU egg market in connection with the detection of infecting these products with fipronil in some countries. "Theoretically Ukrainian enterprises have the right to export eggs to the EU from 2015. However, in practice, none of them have taken advantage of this opportunity," Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumers' Rights Protection Volodymyr Lapa said. According to him, to start deliveries to the EU Ukrainian enterprises must file an appropriate application to the service for inspection, after which the European Commission includes it in the list of exporters. "Now we export only egg products," he said. The expert said that, according to information from the RASFF system, eggs infected with fipronil were not supplied to Ukraine. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is ranked nationally in six adult specialties on the U.S. News & World Reports Best Hospitals list for 2017-18, released today. By comparison, the system was ranked in five specialties for 2016-17. A hospital has to be among the top 50 in the country to achieve a national ranking. Only 152 hospitals were nationally ranked in a specialty. The magazines 28th annual ranking covers more than 4,500 hospitals and academic medical centers. It targets 25 specialties from cancer to urology. Wake Forest Baptist tied for the No. 2 hospital ranking in North Carolina with UNC Hospitals. Duke University Hospital was nationally ranked in 13 categories, unchanged from the previous ranking, and selected as the No. 17 hospital in the U.S., down one spot. The highest national rankings for Wake Forest Baptist were 27th in cancer and nephrology, along with 33rd in geriatrics and gynecology, 34th in ear, nose and throat, and 37th in neurology and neurosurgery. The center has been ranked nationally for 10 consecutive years in cancer and nephrology. Dr. Kevin High, Wake Forest Baptists executive vice president of health system affairs, said the center is pleased to be included among the countrys top hospitals. He credited the rankings to the dedication of our faculty, network physicians and staff. As has been the pattern for U.S. News, the rankings tilted again toward academic medical centers, both in North Carolina and nationally. Just one non-academic medical center in North Carolina received a national ranking: Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte), which received two. Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro was tied for sixth among 18 N.C. hospitals given best regional recognition, while Forsyth Medical Center was tied for ninth and High Point Regional Hospital was tied for 16th. Diana Best, senior vice president for clinical improvement at Novant Health Inc., said the system encourages patients to use all available resources and tools to help guide them in their health-care decisions. Cones chief medical officer, Dr. Bruce Swords, said the ranking provides more validity that the health care systems approach is the everyone is unique and that people in our communities get truly exceptional care without leaving town. U.S. News has tried to address the perception that it favors academic medical centers, though acknowledging that being a teaching hospital and/or having a medical school affiliation are two of the four ways a hospital is considered for ranking. The other eligibility categories are 200 or more beds set up and staffed, and 100 or more beds set up and staffed, plus availability of at least four medical technologies out of eight considered key to high-quality care. The rankings are produced for the magazine by RTI International, a research firm in Research Triangle Park. Academic medical centers tend to handle larger numbers of complex patients, and our specialty rankings are designed to identify hospitals that provide the best care for complex patients, said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis at U.S. News. The magazine said it made further adjustments to avoid penalizing hospitals for treating low-income patients or for accepting high-risk cases transferred from other hospitals. By comparison, Medicare puts its patient-care emphasis on where the patient receives his or her primary treatment, and not where the patient was first admitted for care, as RTI and U.S. News determines. We know outcomes matter most, which is why U.S. News is committed to publishing as much data as possible on patient outcomes, Harder said. Wake Forest Baptist was placed in the high-performing category for diabetes and endocrinology, orthopedics, pulmonology, urology, abdominal aortic aneurism repair, aortic value surgery, heart bypass, heart failure, colon cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Cone was listed as a high performer in 11 categories for 2017-18 and 14 categories for 2016-17 after being ranked in four in 2015-16. Those categories for 2017-18 are gastroenterology and GI, pulmonology, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve repair, heart bypass, heart failure, colon cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip replacement, knee replacement and lung cancer. Forsyth was listed as a high performer in eight categories in 2017-18 and 11 categories for 2016-17 after being not listed in 2015-16. Those categories are pulmonology, heart bypass, heart failure, colon cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip replacement, knee replacement and lung cancer. There is some debate about which consumer health care rankings carry the most weight. U.S. News is considered among the more relevant, along with www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare, ahrq.gov, healthgrades.com, drscore.com and leapfroggroup.org. Medicare released its first overall hospital quality rating in August 2016. Cone received a five-star rating, while Forsyth and Wake Forest Baptist received three stars. Complicating the comparison of the Medicare and U.S. News rankings is the fact that the magazine has an advertising component with its report. It includes touting marketing opportunities for hospitals with the rankings, including buying the right to use the Best Hospital logo in advertising and to be listed among the magazines featured hospitals. Q: Are individuals who have served on a grand jury ruled exempt from future jury duty? When I worked full-time, I was called often. But now that Im retired, I am never called. J.S. Answer: If a person serves on the grand jury they do not have to serve for six years after their year of serving on the Grand Jury, said Susan Frye, the Forsyth county clerk of courts. Jury selection is handle by an automated system designed by the county. The names in the system are Forsyth County citizens that vote, tax records and DMV records. The system pulls names by a totally random system. Q: What is the online contact to purchase the senior National Park passes as mentioned in Thursdays Journal? A.B. Answer: Information on America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands program can be found at store.usgs.gov/senior-pass. The senior lifetime passes are currently $10, but will be jumping to $80 on Aug. 28. The website also includes a list of federal recreational areas around the country where the passes are issued. Q: I totaled my car. Since it had really low mileage and was clean inside and out, I purchased it back and am having a respected body shop repair it. Some papers that I received from the insurance company said that it would have to be inspected by the enforcement division of the N.C. Department of Transportation, and I would have to apply for a salvage title. How do I do this? G.S. Answer: According to the License and Theft Bureau at the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, North Carolina General Statute 20-71.3(b) requires a customer rebuilding a vehicle to obtain a pre- and final inspection by a member of NCDMV License and Theft Bureau. If the customers vehicle model year is within the last six years, he/she will need to have a pre-inspection (prior to the vehicle being fixed) and a final inspection (after the vehicle is fixed) by an Inspector with the License and Theft Bureau, they said in an email response to SAM. If the vehicle is over six model years old, only a final inspection is required. He/she can call their local inspector and schedule an appointment to have him/her come out to the vehicle for the inspections to be completed. The original title will need to be turned into the Division for a branded (total loss, rebuilt, etc.) title to be issued. To find your local License & Theft inspectors office and get the needed forms, go to www.ncdot.gov/dmv/locations.html, choose your county, and the office type License & Theft Bureau. If there is not a bureau office in your county, check in the nearest adjacent counties for assistance. A teacher at Ledford Middle School in Thomasville has been charged with several sex offenses after she was accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenager, authorities said Tuesday. Lee Annette Williams, 50, who lives on Act Drive in the Wallburg community, is charged with two counts of statutory rape, four counts of statutory sex offense and four counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, according to arrest warrants and court records. Williams, who investigators say was a close family friend of her accuser as well as his teacher, is accused of having a sexual relationship with the boy when he was 14 and 15, the Davidson County Sheriffs Office said. Her accuser is now 22, and reported the allegations to the sheriffs office on July 19. The alleged sexual contact between Williams and the boy happened outside of the school setting, the sheriffs office said. Williams is listed as a teacher at Ledford Middle School on the Davidson County Schools website. Williams is a sixth-grade English as a Second Language teacher at the school, The Dispatch of Lexington reported. Williams couldnt be reached Tuesday to comment about the charges against her. Donna Stafford, a spokeswoman for Davidson County Schools, issued a statement Tuesday about the case. We are certainly aware of the charges against Mrs. Williams, the statement said. At this point in time, we have limited information in regards to the allegations. We will continue to investigate the allegations and work with law enforcement as this matter develops, the statement said. As more information becomes available to us, we will take the appropriate measures. As this involves a confidential personnel matter, we have no further information to share at this time. Williams has been released from the Davidson County Jail after she posted a $50,000 bond, the sheriffs office said. She is scheduled to appear in Davidson District Court on Aug. 25. Images released from robbery Winston-Salem police released surveillance camera images Monday of a suspect stealing money from the Exxon gas station at 140 S. Stratford Road. The theft happened at 11:52 p.m. July 20, when a man forced a door open and stole an undisclosed amount of money, police said. Police released three video images showing a man who they said arrived at the gas station in a white 2003 to 2007 Saturn sedan. Anyone with information regarding the suspects identity can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Police to hand out school supplies Free school supplies are up for grabs in Winston-Salem. Each child who shows up for the giveaway can receive one bag of supplies. City police officers will be handing out the supplies on a first-come, first-served system this Friday at 10 a.m. Heres where to find them: Winston Mutual Building, 1225 E. Fifth St. District 1 Police Station, 7836 North Point Blvd. District 2 Police Station, 1539 Waughtown St. District 3 Police Station, 2393 Winterhaven Lane Idol to hold N.C. auditions The American Idol television show will hold an audition Aug. 27 in Asheville, the shows only stop in its search for new talent in North Carolina this summer. The show will hold auditions at 68 Haywood St. in downtown Asheville the area formerly known as the Pit of Despair, according to FOX8/WGHP, the Journals newsgathering partner. Auditions will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. downtown at the city-owned property, the television station reported. Auditions are likely to be held outdoors. Auditions are open to anyone between 15 and 28 who wants a chance to be the next American Idol. Contestants must also be legal U.S. residents and not already signed to a label. Murder suspect captured GREENSBORO A North Carolina man wanted for murder and an accomplice trying to help him elude police have been captured. The Greensboro Police Department said Monday that 23-year-old Tafari Ashante Henderson-Samuels was wanted in the weekend shooting death of 20-year-old Steven Lemar Smith. Detectives said Smith and Henderson-Samuels were involved in an altercation that led to gunfire while they were riding in a car being driven through a Greensboro neighborhood. Police said Henderson-Samuels and 22-year-old Rodney Kyle Corbett led police on a chase Monday before crashing the car they were riding in. They fled on foot before they were caught a short distance from the crash. Both men face multiple charges. Henderson-Samuels is jailed without bond. Corbett is jailed on a $25,000 bond. Its not known if either man has an attorney. Pfizer to invest $100M in plant SANFORD Biopharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. plans to invest $100 million in a North Carolina plant to focus on a process by which genetic material is introduced to counter defective or missing genes. The company confirmed Gov. Roy Coopers news on Monday that it will expand its Sanford operations in preparation for producing gene therapy medicines based on technology developed at UNC-Chapel Hill. Coopers news release says the investment will lead to 40 new jobs. Firefighter struck by pickup KINSTON The president of a North Carolina volunteer fire department was killed when he was struck by a pickup truck as he walked with his wife along a rural road. The N.C. Highway Patrol told local media outlets that 54-year-old Glenn Deaver was killed as he walked with his back to traffic on a rural road southwest of Kinston in Lenoir County. Deavers wife, who was walking on the shoulder, wasnt hurt. Deaver was president of the Southwood Volunteer Fire Department and an active firefighter. According to the patrol, another vehicle was heading in the opposite direction and may have made it difficult for the driver of the pickup to see him. Troopers are continuing their investigation. No charges have been filed so far. GREENSBORO A Burlington man suspected of shooting and killing a man on Rugby Street Saturday led police on a chase Monday before arresting him in Alamance County. Tafari Ashante Henderson-Samuels, 23, faces a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of 20-year-old Steven Lamar Smith, according to Greensboro police. On Saturday, Guilford County deputies found Smith dead in the 1200 block of Ewing Street in Greensboro just 30 minutes after witnesses told police that he had been shot on Rugby Street. Detectives learned that Smith and Henderson-Samuels had been fighting inside a vehicle that was driving through the Ray Warren homes when Henderson-Samuels allegedly shot Smith. State Bureau of Investigation agents located Henderson-Samuels in Burlington riding in a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Rodney Kyle Corbett. Corbett and Henderson-Samuels led agents and detectives on a chase before crashing into a tree. Both men fled on foot but were later taken into custody. Smith's death is Greensboro's 26th homicide this year. Kyiv regards Poland's plans to put Lviv views on new passports as unfriendly step - Foreign Ministry The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has handed a note of protest to Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Jan Pieklo over Warsaw's plans to imprint images of a chapel situated in the Lychakiv Cemetery in Ukraine's Lviv on the pages of Poland's new passports. The Polish ambassador was summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on August 7, the ministry's press service said late on Monday. Pieklo was then given a note "expressing a strong protest against the intentions of Poland's Interior Ministry and Administration to imbed an image featuring the rotunda chapel situated near the Polish war graves in the Lychakiv Cemetery in the city of Lviv in the pages of the new passport of Poland," the ministry said. "Ukraine regards such intents as an unfriendly step, which adversely affects the development of the strategic Ukrainian-Polish partnership," it said. Evaluating historical events is the business of historians, it said. "Ukraine opposes politicizing specific historical facts to the detriment of the development of the mutually beneficial strategic partnership between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. GREENSBORO Congress is on vacation, but protesters arent. Around eight of them stood in the rain at midday Tuesday outside the office of U.S. Rep. Mark Walker (R-Greensboro) to encourage the continued funding of insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. President Donald Trump has threatened to halt the subsidies, which make insurance accessible to poorer Americans. Critics have said the move would increase premiums for consumers and lead to insurance companies withdrawing from the individual insurance exchange market. About 500,000 North Carolinians purchase insurance from the exchange, according to federal statistics. Many of those policies cover children with disabilities, such as Javier Chaires, a Greensboro 2-year-old with Down syndrome. He and his parents are not freeloaders, said Christy Robinson, a Winston-Salem resident and member of advocacy group Women of Action. They are terrified, and they need your help. Walker and other Republicans have said that the subsidies are illegal because they were never authorized by Congress. A federal District Court judge last year agreed and halted the payments but suspended the order to give the government a chance to appeal. The appeal is still in progress, according to The New York Times. Walker was in Alamance County on Tuesday and did not attend the protest, according to a spokesman. In a statement, Walker said that continuing the payments would amount to a bailout that would mask the failures of Obamacare at the expense of hardworking taxpayers. The people of North Carolina are already paying enough because of Obamacares pitfalls, he said. Instead of the executive branch issuing unconstitutional payments to bail out insurance companies, the Senate should continue working until they have passed a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. Their constituents are tired of their inability to fulfill their promise. KINSTON The president of a North Carolina volunteer fire department was killed when he was struck by a pickup truck as he walked with his wife along a rural road. The N.C. Highway Patrol told local media outlets that 54-year-old Glenn Deaver was killed as he walked with his back to traffic on a rural road southwest of Kinston in Lenoir County. Deaver's wife, who was walking on the shoulder, wasn't hurt. Deaver was president of the Southwood Volunteer Fire Department and an active firefighter. According to the patrol, another vehicle was heading in the opposite direction and may have made it difficult for the driver of the pickup to see him. Troopers are continuing their investigation. No charges have been filed so far. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close WASHINGTON What better way to usher in the hissingly hot dog days of summer, otherwise known as August, than with a high-wire verbal duel between CNN senior White House correspondent (and well-known cosmopolitan) Jim Acosta and White House sniper (and senior adviser) Stephen Miller. The sniping began during a news conference Wednesday, the same day President Trump endorsed Senate Republicans plan to reform legal immigration from family-based to skill-based standards. Reactions were swift, predictable and hysterical: Oh-my-god, whos going to harvest the crops? This is so un-American! Trump is a bigot! More or less. Acosta contributed to the latter lament by citing what he called Trumps three issues: Muslims, Mexicans and media, all of which the president presumably dislikes except when hes in Saudi Arabia, Mexico or appearing on Fox News. Passions intensified when Acosta further suggested that Trump only wants immigrants from English-speaking regions, prompting Miller to accuse him of having a cosmopolitan bias, which seems like something one would like to have or drink. Cosmopolitan means worldly, after all, and whats wrong with that? Perhaps some interpret worldliness as globalist or elitist, but then Miller, a Duke University graduate from California, probably isnt carving duck calls in his spare time. As for Acosta, what could explain his apparent extrapolation that prioritizing English proficiency is tantamount to restricting immigration to certain races or ethnicities? Or that reforming immigration to emphasize skilled workers would exclude people from countries where English is not the first language? One may infer that Trump is a bigot in certain instances, but not necessarily in this one. Are there no other reasons besides bigotry to prefer skilled to unskilled workers? Acostas accosting of Miller is why so many Americans see the media as biased. Lets be honest: If Donald Trump discovered a cure for narcissism, no one would object if he used it first on himself, but most in the media would insist that the cure was simply further evidence that Trump is a narcissist. To Acosta, the presidents bias in favor of English-speaking people is obvious and runs counter to the nations purpose as described in the poem on the Statue of Liberty welcoming the worlds tired, poor and huddled masses. Acosta, his inner soliloquist liberated at last, engaged in a recitation, whereupon Miller gleefully retorted that said poem, written in 1883 by one Emma Lazarus, was tacked onto the statue years after it was erected. In 2017, we cant welcome skilled workers, too? Todays wretched excess, if you will, is the direct consequence of the well-intentioned Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which gave preference to extended family members of people already here. Long lines ensued and increased quotas followed, as did the flow of immigrants too impatient for the legal process. Legal immigration has increased from 296,697 annually in 1965 to more than 1 million today. Of those, 39 percent are from Asia. About one-third emigrate from Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Before the law, 70 percent of legal immigrants were from Europe and Canada, compared with just 10 percent today. Perhaps these statistics account for Acostas sense that Republicans want to keep Americans hablando ingles. But might there also be other reasons to prefer skilled workers, who would find jobs waiting to be filled, pay taxes and contribute to the rising tide that lifts all boats? If such preferences are tantamount to bigotry, then others have been equally guilty, including Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy, as well as civil rights leader Barbara Jordan, who in 1972 became the first African-American woman from the South to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. As head of an immigration special task force, Jordan worried that opening the floodgates to unskilled workers would rob American citizens of jobs and strain social services. She, too, suggested focusing more on skilled immigrants. Kennedy, who in 1965 downplayed such concerns and supported the immigration bill, later changed his mind and in 2007 joined Sen. John McCain in a push for skills-based reforms. But then-presidential candidate Barack Obama and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton opposed the idea because, hold your air horns, they couldnt bear the thought that families (aka future Democratic voters) might be torn asunder. Oh, the ironies. The GOP has finally defined exactly which families they value, while Democrats have clarified their need for the needy. It would seem we have a draw. Yet somewhere in all the squabbling is space for the brain power Jordan urged Americans to call upon for a rational conversation about immigration reform that best serves the national interest. Meanwhile, thanks for the show, and enjoy ye dog days while ye may. On July 24, the president addressed the Boy Scouts of America during their quadrennial Jamboree in West Virginia. Would that he had offered these personal reflections to the assembled Scouts and for legions more across the country. I admire the Boy Scouts of America, he might have begun. I applaud your long history of service to our society and nation and I believe all of America could benefit now if each of us aspired to live out your 12 Scout Laws. A Scout is Trustworthy. I can see the value in that. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say go a long way in getting others to believe they can rely on your words. When you say one thing, act another, and then deny that you ever said the thing everybody knows you said, it makes people leery of relying on you. That creates problems for you and others. A Scout is Loyal. I value loyalty. Some people say its a two-way street and you must give loyalty to get loyalty. Maybe so, but thats hard work. Still, anything worth having is worth working for, including earning respect. A Scout is Helpful. We should all look for opportunities to help others in need. The world is a difficult place and not everyone begins life with advantages we may enjoy. Rather than kicking them aside as failures, it is better, I think, to help them lift themselves up. A Scout is Friendly. We all need friends, people who like to be around us because we have developed a mutual respect, people who come to our aid when we need them. To have a friend, be a friend. You cannot just command people to like you, no matter how much money and power you have. A Scout is Courteous. As a young lad, our first president, George Washington, copied for his penmanship lessons and his development of character a series of guidelines titled Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. Perhaps we should all read those from time to time. A Scout is Kind. Psychologists will tell you human behaviors arise from only three emotions: fear, anger, and sadness. Joy and kindness, of course, are our natural states when we remove those other three. When you are not acting out of kindness, stop and ask yourself: Of what am I afraid? At what am I angry? Why am I sad? People will like you more when you are kinder. A Scout is Obedient. Doing the right thing is always important; its paramount. Being obedient to the rule of law and to the United States Constitution are what keep us free of dictators and authoritarian rulers. And, yes, that could happen here. Be vigilant. A Scout is Cheerful. People like to be around others who are hopeful and optimistic. Complaining is easy. It is the favorite refuge of the uninformed. It requires no imagination and is soon quite tiresome to others. A Scout is Thrifty. In this world, you have two ways to be rich: have a lot of money or dont have many needs. Choosing how to manage your wants so they dont become the needs that control your life is all part of maturing into adulthood. A Scout is Brave. Standing up for justice is not easy. Youll need courage. Standing up to bullies and liars are the times in your life you will recall with the greatest sense of accomplishment and personal pride. A Scout is Clean. Falling prey to temptation is part of being human, but you are called to rise above those behaviors which will embarrass you and your family and bring shame on your household. Character is who you are in the dark, when no one is looking, when no one can see you. A Scout is Reverent. We all have a relationship with some concept of the origins of mankind. But know this: there is a God and you are not it. Humility is what makes us human. No action is more important for any president than to encourage the future of this great nation, the president might have concluded. You Scouts and all those who will come after you are part of the fabric of our future as the United States of America. I may not live out the 12 Scout Laws, he might have acknowledged, but if you love America, you will, every day. And, America thanks you, he could have said to great applause. But, he didnt. Randell Jones is an Eagle Scout, earned in 1965. He is the author of several history books, including "From Time to Time in North Carolina" and "Thumped by History." He lives in Winston-Salem. MARSHALL A. MAYS, Winston-Salem We are groaning The world has been at war since the beginning. I dont know if there is anyone who can say when first mass conflict took place. Around 800 B.C., Homer described the events of the Iliad. This work is a tale of the Trojan War. This was a major conflict in Anatolia that survives in our literature from the time of antiquity to the present day. The Romans enjoyed some peace and made great contributions to civilization for centuries. After 120 B.C. they were involved in civil wars. War did not end as ancient civilization developed. During the time of Christendom, the Thirty Years War disrupted the Holy Roman Empire of the German State. This occurred between 1618 and 1648 and allowed Calvinism and Lutheranism to take hold in Germany. Friedrich Schiller writes of this transition in The History of the Thirty Years War. A speculative person may ask, will war, division and anger ever end on earth? We are imperfect people in an imperfect world. Right now Republicans and Democrats are embroiled in a heated dispute. Even if such a seismic change occurred such as the Republican Party giving up its ideology and joining the Democratic Party, or vice versa, division and anger would probably continue. This is probably because the whole world is groaning and suffering. We lash out at one another in our pain. It might be worthwhile if those who are inclined will go into their closets and pray that suffering and groaning will end. ****** BARNEY HARPER, Winston-Salem We have to wonder I dont write this lightly and I dont do so simply to be insulting. But in all seriousness, liberals and conservatives alike have to wonder about President Trumps mental health. This morning (July 25) he indulged in another embarrassing Twitter-storm of incoherence. Does he think that Hillary Clinton is the president? The previous day he gave a baffling speech to the Boy Scouts of America that began with, I said, who the hell wants to speak about politics when Im in front of the Boy Scouts? and then consisted of almost nothing but politics, and in a very partisan fashion. Thats not appropriate at all. Trump told The New York Times that he wouldnt have nominated Jeff Sessions for attorney general if hed known Sessions would recuse himself from the Russian investigations. Does Trump not realize that questions about Sessions contact with the Russians didnt arise until his confirmation hearings? Sessions had no choice. Beyond those questions, we have to wonder if the president is corrupt. He indulges in the line of reasoning: What does she have to hide? Yet he tries to discourage and even obstruct any examination of his own dealings. Its only natural to ask, What does he have to hide? Trump acts like a man who is guilty of a crime and afraid of being caught. One doesnt have to be partisan to understand that none of this is rational. Maybe he is just not cut out to be president. ****** PATRICIA WARDLE, Lexington Appointments Is being appointed to high office by President Trump the 21st-century equivalent of being favored, or proposed to, by King Henry VIII? Please submit letters online to Letters@wsjournal.com or mail letters to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Ukrainian courts consider only one third of incoming corruption cases in H1 2017 During the first half of 2017, only one third of criminal cases on corruption crimes were considered at Ukrainian courts and 469 officials were convicted, of which 121 were sentenced to imprisonment. "For the first half of the year, 2,237 criminal proceedings indictments on corruption crimes were received by the courts, of which only 741 were considered," Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine Yaroslav Romaniuk told a briefing in Kyiv on Monday. According to statistical data provided to journalists, 469 officials were convicted on the basis of these proceedings, of which 77 were discharged, 110 cases were closed. Out of 469 convicts, 121 were imprisoned, 33 of them were restrained, while 265 officials were fined. The largest number of people among the convicts are identified under the category 'other civil servants' - 101 people: 58 police officers and other Interior Ministry employees, 44 military officials, 32 local government officials, 29 law enforcement officers, 19 village, town and city heads, 18 members of local councils, 13 employees of the State Fiscal Service. At the same time, only two employees of the Prosecutor's Office, one employee of the Security Service, one employee of the court administration are among the convicts. And there is neither a single judge nor an employee of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) or the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). 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. The return of Crimea under the control of the Ukrainian authorities should not be considered separately from the return of Donbas, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, President of the World Crimean Tatar Congress, MP Refat Chubarov has said. "Crimea is not just a territory, and Crimea is not just people who live there. Crimea is the native land of the indigenous people of Ukraine [Crimean Tatars, Karaites and inhabitants of Crimea]. If we put it away now, as you say, for a long shot [the return of Crimea under the sovereignty of Ukraine], then Russia will do everything to eliminate this indigenous people," Chubarov said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, commenting on the statements of German politicians regarding the issue of Crimea's return to Ukraine's sovereignty implying it should be solved after the solution of Donbas problem. Chubarov said that the Ukrainian state can not allow indigenous peoples to be destroyed on its territory. "Therefore, Crimea and the territory that we do control in eastern Ukraine - Crimea and Donbas should be in the same row, and we should simultaneously consider these issues," the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people said. As reported, on August 6, leader of the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP) Christian Lindner said that Europe should temporarily abandon attempts to achieve a solution to the issue of the status of Crimea and try to improve relations with Moscow. We must find a way out of the impasse, he said in an interview with the media group Funke, adding that the issue of Crimea should be treated as "a long-term temporary situation, at least for the time being." In turn, the German policy coordinator for Russia, Gernot Erler, commenting on the statements of Lindner, agreed that first it is necessary to put an end to the bloodshed in Donbas, and then raise the issue of Crimea. After two months of interning with the Summerville Orchestra, Olivia Johnston was recently hired to replace the outgoing Nancee Adams as the community music organization's new associate director of marketing and communications. Read moreS'ville Orchestra's Olivia Johnston settles into new role With decades of teaching experience in several capacities in Texas and over the past three years with The Flowertown Blossoms in Summerville, Anicia D. Brown is dead set on handing youngsters the tools to master stage acting and production, while also imparting impactful life lessons along t Read moreFlowertown Blossoms preaching the value of teamwork This year's Nov. 8 election didn't present any unforeseen outcomes, at least as it pertains to Dorchester County Council races. However, the competition between Republican Rita May Ranck and Democrat Carlisle Harrison was one of the more thrilling ones in the State, as the latter temporarily Read moreNewly elected Councilmember Rita May Ranck ready to 'work' and 'listen' A judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington [official website] on Monday denied a motion for summary judgment [opinion] filed by two psychologists who devised the torture techniques used on three former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prisoners, allowing the case to proceed to trial. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [advocacy website] filed the lawsuit [JURIST report] in 2015 against psychologists James Mitchell and John Bruce Jessen, who allegedly designed and persuaded the CIA to adopt their torture techniques as official practice of the CIA. In rejecting the both the plaintiffs and defendants motions for summary judgment, Judge Justin Quackenbush wrote, [n]either side has demonstrated judgment as a matter of law is appropriate. The case is scheduled to go to trial [ACLU press release] September 5. According to the lawsuit, the psychologists personally took part in many of the torture sessions and oversaw the entire programs implementation. The two surviving plaintiffs are Suleiman Abdullah Salim, a fisherman from Tanzania, and Mohamed Ahmed Ben Soud, a refugee at his time of capture. The third plaintiff, Gul Rahman, died, allegedly as a result of the torture. The lawsuit was filed under the Alien Tort Statute [text] after the release of the so-called Senate Torture Report [text, PDF] in 2014, which found the so-called enhanced interrogation techniques employed during the Bush administration were ineffective [JURIST report]. Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, President of the World Crimean Tatar Congress, MP Refat Chubarov has said he hopes that the Verkhovna Rada will pass a law on indigenous peoples of Ukraine this year. "A decade was necessary for a working group, that includes representatives of indigenous peoples, to reach mutual understanding [...] The bill, prepared by the working group and already finished by experts as far as possible, will further be the problem of the deputy corps. It will be considered at this session, which will be opened in September," Chubarov said during a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday. According to the MP, the rights of indigenous peoples, including Crimean Tatars, Karaites and inhabitants of Crimea, should be realized. "I would very much like that the law on the indigenous peoples of Ukraine would be adopted this year in Ukraine, and so, we would take another step towards strengthening of internal system in Ukraine, and most importantly - the launch of a more effective mechanism for restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula," Chubarov said. Dallas, TX, USA, 08/07/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/ If you love dogs like I do, you know that, when dogs first meet a person or another dog, the first thing they do is to smell the new acquaintance. Some breeds of dog have remarkably good senses of smell. For that reason, law enforcement has used trained dogs for many years to detect illegal drugs by smelling for them. This is called a dog sniff, says Dallas drug defense attorney John Helms Can that sniff violate your Constitutional rights? The answer is that, in some cases, it can. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government from conducting unreasonable searches and seizures. Whether an activity is a search for purposes of the Fourth Amendment depends not on the activity itself, but on whether the activity seeks information and intrudes on a persons legitimate expectation of privacy. In a series of cases, the United States Supreme Court has held that the following types of dog sniffs are NOT searches, so that they do not violate the Fourth Amendment: -Sniff of a car that has been lawfully stopped by the police. See United States v. Caballes. -Sniff of a car stopped at a drug interdiction checkpoint. See City of Indianapolis v. Edmond. -Sniff of luggage at an airport. See United States v. Place. In each of these cases, the Supreme Court has emphasized that people do not have a legitimate expectation of privacy in the air around a car or luggage. If all a dog does is sniff the air to determine whether there is an odor of illegal drugs, the Fourth Amendment is not violated. In Florida v. Jardines, however, the Supreme Court held that a search occurred when police officers brought a dog to the porch of a suspects house to sniff for drugs. The Supreme Court justified this because the law has always recognized that people have a high expectation of privacy in their homesmuch higher than in a car or at an airport. This meant that the drugs found in the home were suppressed and could not be used as evidence. In an interesting recent case called People v. McKnight, the Colorado Court of Appeals held that, under Colorado law, a dog sniff of a car was a search because the dog was trained to detect a number of illegal drugs and marijuana, but small quantities of marijuana were legal for adults to possess in Colorado. The Colorado court held that a search had occurred because motorists in Colorado have a legitimate expectation of privacy in their cars for conducting a lawful activity, and the dog was trained to alert if it smelled marijuana, the possession of which was lawful. The court, therefore, suppressed the controlled substance and drug paraphernalia they found when they searched the truck after the dog alerted. One technique that police officers sometimes use is to call for a K-9 unit to come to a traffic stop to sniff a car even if there is no indication of drug use. Since the dog sniff is normally not a search, they can generally do this. However, in a recent case called Rodriguez v. United States, the United States Supreme Court held that the police violate the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable SEIZURES if they detain the driver after legitimate law enforcement activity is over in order to give the K-9 unit time to get there. The law of searches and seizures is very complicated. If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime following a search, you should contact a lawyer who has expertise in this ever-changing area. As a criminal defense lawyer who has successfully fought these battles many times, I can tell you that it is always important to hire a skilled and experienced lawyer to protect your Constitutional rights. If you or a family member have been charged with a drug crime or any other drug related crime in Dallas or the nearby counties and have any questions about drug laws, contact Dallas drug defense attorney John Helms at 214-666-8010 or fill out this online contact form. We can talk about the situation, how the law could apply in your case and the best legal options to protect your rights and maintain your freedom. source: http://johnhelms.attorney/dallas-drug-defense-attorney-explains-dog-sniff-violates-rights/ Social Media Tags:Dallas drug defense attorney, When Is A Dog Sniff A Search, Federal dru possession lawyer, Dallas and Collin County criminal defense lawyer Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Philadelphia, 08/07/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/ Attorney Rand Spear, a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer Discusses Gym Injuries If youre like most people, youre always looking for ways to shed a few pounds and fit into those skinny jeans you keep in the back of your closet. Everyone wants to look their best and feel great about their body. Like anything else, however, moderation is generally the best bet when it comes to fitness. Unfortunately, extreme workouts can lead to injury. In some cases, excessive fitness regimens like CrossFit, Spinning, and P90X can cause life-threatening injuries and health conditions. According to a recent CNN report, some gym buffs have experienced dangerous syndromes like rhabdomyolysis, in which the muscles swell, causing the body to retain water. If the condition gets to a certain point, the kidneys stop functioning, and the person is forced to go on dialysis. In extreme cases, it can lead to kidney failure and even death. These health scares have caused some people to question what, if any, responsibility gyms bear when it comes to injuries. Is Your Gym Responsible for Your Injury? Extreme workouts like P90X and CrossFit have exploded in popularity, but experts say that one of the many red flags with these programs is that they simply arent for everyone. The CrossFit co-founder, Greg Glassman, told the New York Times, It can kill you. Thats a pretty self-explanatory statement if ever there was one. In nearly every gym in the country, you must sign some type of liability waiver when you join. The problem is that most of the time, these waivers are poorly written and difficult to understand. And what if the gym (or one of its personal trainers) does something negligent? What if they knew a machine or a workout move had a reasonable chance of injuring someone and they did nothing to fix it or stop it from causing the injury? In these types of situations, there is a chance the waiver is not worth the paper it is printed on. When you sign a waiver, you dont give the gym or its employees or agents a blank check to injure or maim you. In the CNN report about rhabdomyolysis, healthy 33-year-olds were hospitalized after a single Spinning workout. In these cases, its likely the gym or a trainer has responsibility for causing an injury. Philadelphia personal injury attorney Rand Spear explains, It goes without saying that you should always chat with your doctor before you take up any kind of exercise. Its a cliche, but that doesnt mean it isnt smart to do it. You cant go from hardcore couch surfing to toughing it out on the weight machines without risking an injury. On the other hand, if your gym has broken equipment or a trainer or the gyms policies put you at risk, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer Today Author: Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer for Gym Injury Cases Rand Spear 1-877-GET-RAND. Sources: source: http://randspear.com/2017/08/04/gym-injury-lawsuit-can-learn-lawyer/ Social Media Tags:Gym Injury Lawsuit, Gym Injury, Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer, Attorney Rand Spear Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Boca Raton, FL, USA, 08/07/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/ Recreational vehicles (RVs), after suffering major losses in sales after the 2008 recession, are selling again, many to those whove never driven them before. These large vehicles, either driven or towed, may be controlled by those behind the wheel for many hours. Florida residents should be on the lookout for RVs warns Boca car accident lawyer Joe Osborne. This market is back on fire, Gigi Stetler, of South Floridas RV Sales of Broward, told the New York Post last year. She said many of her customers stopped RVing with their parents as teens but now are in the market buying them. Gen Xers, or those 35 to 55 years old, now own more RVs than Baby Boomers with millennials becoming more frequent buyers. A record 396,400 RVs were bought last year (more than double the number purchased in 2009). In 2015 $16 billion in new RVs were bought. Though this may be great news for RV dealers, vacationing families and the many businesses that rely on them in Florida this may not be great news for motorists. RVs are often driven long distances by those who may be anxious to finally get to their vacation destination, distracted by GPS directing them to unfamiliar locations on busy roads and highways. Two people died in an RV crash in Utah on Interstate 84 in May. Idaho State Police reported a Winnebago motor home towing another vehicle went off the left shoulder, over corrected, overturned and stopped on the right shoulder when it caught fire. The driver and the passenger were killed in the accident, according to KMVT. A multiple vehicle crash that injured one on Interstate 57 south of Marion, Illinois, occurred when a motorhome and a SUV heading southbound collided in April. The two approached a work zone and while the SUV slowed down the motorhome behind it did not, reports WSIL. It rear-ended the SUV, injuring the driver. One person was killed and five others injured after a collision involving a motorhome that cut off a pickup truck in California in April at the intersection of Highway 46 and Highway 41. The California Highway Patrol reported the motorhome made a sharp turn from Highway 46 onto Highway 41 into the path of the pickup. Two people were ejected from the motorhome, one was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was taken from the scene by a helicopter to a local hospital, according to KSBY. There are many reasons an RV may crash and many potential dangers when you drive near or around an RV. The driver may have been driving a long distance, fatigued, distracted and unfamiliar with the area. A camper or motorhome may have a high center of gravity, not handle well and may easily overturn if the driver makes a sharp turn or suddenly brakes. High winds affect how an RV drives and can make it more difficult for a driver towing a camper trailer. The driver may be inexperienced and rarely drive the vehicle or tow the trailer so may not fully understand how to safely drive it, especially in bad driving conditions. Campers and motorhomes not driven often may be not maintained incorrectly and worn tires or those improperly inflated may blow resulting in a loss of control. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident involved an RV, contact Boca car accident lawyer Joe Osborne at (561) 800-4011 or fill out this online contact form. You can discuss your case, how the law may apply and your best legal options to protect your rights and obtain compensation for your injuries. source: http://www.oa-lawfirm.com/rvs-fun-owners-dangerous-others-boca-car-accident-lawyer-joe-osborne/ Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Relieving antibiotic resistance: Researchers answer questions about E. coli, take steps toward new treatment Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 MANHATTAN By understanding the functional differences between proteins expressed by two E. coli strains, researchers at Kansas State University are exploring new opportunities to inhibit their impacts to human health. The scientists are using findings from their study, "NleB/SseK effectors from Citrobacter rodentium, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica display distinct differences in host substrate specificity," published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, to start researching new ways to treat two types of E. coli: enterohemorrhagic E. coli and enteropathogenic E. coli. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli outbreaks are traced to improperly cooked meats, unpasteurized dairy products and unwashed vegetables. Enteropathogenic E. coli is a common cause of diarrhea in developing countries, especially in children younger than 2, according to Philip Hardwidge, professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Both forms cause abdominal pain and severe diarrhea, and in some cases, enterohemorrhagic E. coli infections progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a potentially fatal kidney illness, especially for children. Hardwidge and postdoctoral researcher Samir El Qaidi suggest that strategies to inhibit the activity of NleB, a protein expressed by both forms of E. coli, may be effective in reducing E. coli's virulence, or its ability to cause disease in people. Thus, their work could lead to new antivirulence treatments, which are important alternatives to antibiotics that are less prone to antibacterial resistance, Hardwidge said. This method of combating E. coli would not kill the bacteria because the bacteria do not need this protein to replicate. Rather, it would inhibit the bacteria's ability to cause disease in the body. The Kansas State University scientists are working with researchers at the University of Kansas to screen for inhibitors of the NleB protein that could potentially be developed for antivirulence treatment of E. coli and other bacteria that have the protein, including salmonella. "If we could block this protein from functioning, we might reduce bacterial burdens and let the immune system have a chance to do its job in clearing the infection," Hardwidge said. "Pathogen-specific therapies are expected to be less disruptive to the safe, normal bacteria in the intestine, many of which perform beneficial functions for humans. This strategy also could be used to supplement existing therapies to increase their effectiveness in treating infections." Additionally, their study resolves an important debate regarding proteins found in enterohemorrhagic E. coli and enteropathogenic E. coli. NleB appears to have a nearly identical genetic sequence in both forms of the E. coli, Hardwidge said. Scientists had thought NleB performed similar functions in each type of E. coli, but previous studies from other institutions came to different conclusions about its function. "When scientists conduct similar experiments but reach different conclusions, people wonder who is right," Hardwidge said. "In this particular case, the answer depends on which form of E. coli is being examined. We devoted our research to answering that question, because as the field moves forward, it will be critical to specify which form is being studied." Hardwidge and El Qaidi determined that the forms of NleB, despite appearing to be nearly identical at the genetic level, perform distinctly different activities in the different types of E. coli. Hardwidge and El Qaidi partnered with scientists in Denmark, Germany and Spain, as well as others in the U.S., for this project. The National Institutes of Health funded the research at Kansas State University. Former Georgian President, ex-head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheiil Saakashvili has left Poland, Polish Radio ZET has reported. "Mikheil Saakashvili, whom Georgias authorities are looking for, has left Poland," the radio station reported in a Twitter statement on Tuesday. It was reported on July 26, 2017, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had issued a decree depriving Saakashvili of Ukrainian citizenship. The presidential office explained that Saakashvili's citizenship had been revoked after it had turned out that he had mentioned incorrect information in his application for Ukrainian citizenship. The Commission on Citizenship Issues under the President of Ukraine voted for the termination of Saakashvili's citizenship and recommended that the president take an appropriate decision. The State Migration Service of Ukraine said on its website that materials concerning Saakashvili had been submitted by the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine. On August 7, Saakashvili said that he had unimpeded access to Poland with the Ukrainian passport. According to the Polish media, on the same day, the office of the Georgian Prosecutor's Office sent a request to Warsaw to provide information about the stay of Saakashvili n Poland at that time, on whom an international arrest warrant was allegedly issued three years ago and the need to take action in connection with international obligations. The former Georgian president was invited to Warsaw to take part in the celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. Saakashvili also said that he had met with Ukrainians working in Poland. If ex-president of Georgia and former governor of the Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili tries to cross the Ukrainian border, his Ukrainian passport will be seized by the border guards, and he himself will not be allowed to enter the territory of Ukraine, first deputy head of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service Vasyl Servatiuk has said. "The State Border Guard Service has the Ukrainian president's decree [on terminating Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship] and State Migration Service instructions at its disposal. The decree and the instructions deem the said documents invalid, and if such documents are detected, we are tasked with seizing them, filing out the relevant forms and forwarding them to the State Migration Service," Servatiuk said speaking with activists of the Movement of New Forces party (founded by Saakashvili) near the State Border Guard Service headquarters on Tuesday. If a border guard performing his border control duties comes across Saakashvili's Ukrainian passport or another document listed in the database as invalid, he will act in keeping with the established algorithm, he said. "The passport will be confiscated, a certificate on its confiscation will be issued, and the person will not be allowed to cross the border as someone who has no documents entitling them to cross the border," he said. It was reported on July 26, 2017, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had issued a decree depriving Saakashvili of Ukrainian citizenship. The presidential office explained that Saakashvili's citizenship had been revoked after it had turned out that he had mentioned incorrect information in his application for Ukrainian citizenship. The Commission on Citizenship Issues under the President of Ukraine voted for the termination of Saakashvili's citizenship and recommended that the president take an appropriate decision. The State Migration Service of Ukraine said on its website that materials concerning Saakashvili had been submitted by the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine. On August 4 it became known that Saakashvili arrived in Poland. On August 7, Saakashvili said that he had unimpeded access to Poland with the Ukrainian passport. The former Georgian president was invited to Warsaw to take part in the celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. Saakashvili also said that he had met with Ukrainians working in Poland. On August 8, Polish Radio ZET reported that Saakashvili had left Poland. The national postal service Ukrposhta's website has been subjected to a DDoS attack for the second day in a row, which mainly targets the service of tracking parcels, the company said on its Facebook page on Tuesday. "Today, hackers have become more active, due to their actions, both the website and services are working slowly and with interruptions," Ukrposhta said. The company points out that during the first wave of the attack, which started in the morning on August 7, the IT service was able to normalize the situation, after 17:00 all services of the website worked properly. Ukrposhta said it does everything possible to ensure that its customers receive the necessary information from the website without interruptions. In late July the company said in its report for the first half of 2017, its computer network was seriously affected by the virus on June 27, which led to the blocking and total inoperability of its automated systems, and therefore the financial reporting may be later adjusted. Ukrposhta is managed by Infrastructure Ministry. It provides over 50 types of services in almost 12,000 departments all over Ukraine. It provides over 50 types of services through almost 12,000 postal offices across Ukraine. It has 76,000-strong personnel. Of them 33,000 are postal workers and 13,000 are mail service operators. Motorola Android O 8.0: Moto X, Moto X2, Moto Droids & More Not Eligible For Upgrade Motorola is expected to roll out Android O update by the end of 2017. However, several Moto smartphones have reached the end of life cycle making them ineligible for the next Android version. Most Android smartphones are eligible for the next major Android upgrade within 18 months after the official release date. Manufacturers may choose to extend software support privileges depending on certain factors such as popularity and sales. For Motorola, there are several models which will not be updated to Android O version. Software support for Moto X and Moto X2 smartphones has ended on Android 5.1 Lollipop and Android 6.0 Marshmallow, respectively. Moto X Play, Moto X Force, and Moto X Style are all ineligible for Android O but users can upgrade these devices to Android 7.0 Nougat, according to GSMArena. Advertisement Motorola Droid Turbo models have also reached the end of life cycle with Android Marshmallow for the first generation and Android Nougat for the second generation. Official software support for Motorola Droid Maxx has ended on Android 4.4.4 KitKat while Motorola Droid Maxx 2 may still receive Android 7.0 Nougat update. Android O is also unlikely to reach Moto G 2013, Moto G 2014 and Moto G 2015 but these smartphones can still be upgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow except for the first generation with only Android 5.1.1 Lollipop available. Other Motorola smartphones which are not receiving Android O software update are Moto E2, Moto E3 Power and possibly Moto M according to MotoG5. Android 8.0 O brings several improvements to eligible devices such Project Treble for easier and faster software updates, SafetyNet for increased security, enhancements to Wi-Fi connectivity, better Bluetooth support, auto fill function across several apps, expanded theme functionality, new notifications, adaptive icons, new integrated widgets, animated clock, battery optimization and more. Users with advanced knowledge on Android OS may still be able to update Moto smartphones using custom ROMs. Advertisement Advertisement Like us and Follow us Follow @Koreaportal and 2022 Korea Portal, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Mary Jane Jelden, 75, of Pompano Beach died Monday, June 12, 2017, at West Palm Beach. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hildreth (Neb.) Cemetery. Jelden-Craig Funeral Home in Hildreth is assisting the family. Lunch at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth will follow burial. She died with her family by her side in her home state of Florida. Born March 4, 1942, in Chicago, Mary Jane lived many passions, chief among them her love of family, adventure and friends. Known for her fun-spirited, positive, ultra-accepting disposition, MJ was truly and instantly loved by everyone. Mary Jane enjoyed anything and everything she could create and would delight her family and friends (sometimes at the expense of her husband) with creative Christmas cards and parties (most recent was her SPAM party to introduce some friends to this unique delicacy). She graduated from Rich Township High School in Matteson, Ill., and later lived in California, Kansas City, Mo., and Pompano Beach. It was in Florida that she met a group of friends where she became the ringleader of an inseparable group of women who loved and cared for her immensely. She worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines until the airlines fired her for getting married (circa 1962). She also worked as a Playboy bunny and later had a very successful career in the cable industry. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Dean; her daughter, Dena and her husband, Terry, of Parker, Colo.; and her son, David and his wife, Mary, of North Aurora, Ill. She was nothing short of an inspiration to her five grandchildren and was blessed to meet and enjoy time with her first great-granddaughter this past year. She was also a loving aunt to her sisters three children and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Leonard Becker; and her sister, Sue Leadinghouse. If youre among the millions of Americans worried that our civilization is on a collision course with climate change catastrophe, the news out of Washington these past few months has been unsettling: n President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. n Despite the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists about the reality and cause of climate change, the head of the EPA has proposed a ridiculous Red Team/Blue Team debate about climate science. n The president signed an executive order to dismantle Obama-era initiatives, such as the Clean Power Plan, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. So, is there any hope that our government will make progress on climate change in the next 3 years? Actually, hope exists in the growing bipartisan movement in the House of Representatives whereby Republicans and Democrats are talking to each other and working together to enact climate change solutions. Since the beginning of the year, the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus has more than tripled its ranks and recently achieved the impressive milestone of 50 members when Rep. Steve Knight, R-Calif., and Marcy Kaptur, R-Ohio, joined the caucus. Never heard of the Climate Solutions Caucus? In February 2016, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., and Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., whose districts are threatened by climate change, formed the caucus. Their aim was to depoliticize the climate issue by bringing in members from both sides of the aisle to engage in constructive dialogue rather than partisan sniping. As the caucus reaches the critical mass needed for climate legislation, leadership is shifting from recruitment to action. Among the small but significant steps taken by caucus members: n Tom Reed, R-N.Y., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif., introduced the Technologies for Energy Security Act to extend tax credits for, among other things, small-scale wind power and geothermal energy. n The Climate Solutions Commission Act, introduced by John Delaney, D-Md., and John Faso, R-N.Y., would establish a bipartisan panel to review policy options and make recommendations. In mid-July, the Climate Solutions Caucus had a coming-out party of sorts when nearly all Republicans in the caucus voted as a bloc to reject an anti-climate amendment to the Defense authorization bill. These encouraging steps are happening in a bipartisan context. The hope is that eventually the caucus will draft and introduce major legislation to significantly reduce Americas greenhouse gas emissions. One promising approach that enjoys support in conservative circles is to place a rising fee on carbon-based fuels and return the revenue from that fee as direct payments to all households. The fee corrects the market failure underpinning fossil fuels so that we can accelerate the transition to clean energy. Giving revenue from the fee back to households prevents economic fallout from rising energy costs. Add a border adjustment tariff to imports from nations that dont price carbon in an equivalent manner thereby protecting American businesses and we have a win-win-win for everyone. At a time then the partisan divide in Washington seems insurmountable, the caucus provides a model for reaching across the aisle to tackle the big problems that bedevil us. Mark Reynolds is executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, bottom right, greets newly-arrived asylum seekers at a reception area at the Olympic Stadium, in Montreal on Thursday, August 3, 2017. The city of Montreal has opened a new temporary shelter for asylum seekers in a building that once housed a convent. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz In this July 31, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington. President Donald Trump plans to spend some time in New York while he takes a break from Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Alex Brandon, File We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Rolls of toilet paper speed down a conveyor belt towards the packaging department in the Potlatch plant, Sept. 30, 2003 in Lewiston, Idaho. A New Brunswick seniors' home is advising residents they will each be limited to two rolls of toilet paper a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jeff T. Green Supporters of South African President Jacob Zuma jubilate after Zuma survived a no-confidence vote by MP's in parliament in Cape Town South Africa, Tuesday Aug. 8, 2017. Zuma survived the vote which was the most serious attempt yet to unseat him after months of growing anger over alleged corruption and a sinking economy. (AP Photo/Halden Krog) In this sketch by courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba, pop singer Taylor Swift, left, and a defense attorney look on as former radio host David Mueller, background right, speaks during a civil trial in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Swift alleges that Mueller touched her during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, claiming sexual assault. (Jeff Kandyba via AP) A sidewalk leads into luxury homes in the Presidio Terrace neighborhood, Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, in San Francisco. Thanks to a city auction stemming from an unpaid tax bill, a Bay Area real state investor bought the street in the neighborhood and now owns the sidewalks, the street itself and other areas of "common ground" in the private development that, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, has been managed by the homeowners association since at least 1905. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) A second teen identified in connection with the strangulation death of a 17-year-old Kenosha girl is being held on a $20,000 cash bond for two related felony charges. Jamari Cook, 17, of Kenosha, appeared Monday before Kenosha County Court Commissioner David Berman on charges of hiding the corpse of Olivia Mackay and stealing her car with Daniel Tate, 19, also of Kenosha, who is suspected of killing the victim. Tate has not yet been formally charged with the homicide, but Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley named him Friday as the primary suspect in Mackays death. Tate is in custody on a total $20,000 cash bond for two unrelated criminal misdemeanors. However, the murder case remains under investigation, and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Krejcarek said Monday additional charges may be forthcoming. According to a criminal complaint filed in Cooks case, he detailed for Kenosha Police detectives his and Tates contact with Mackay from late July 23 to early July 24. Her body was found in Mount Pleasant on July 24. Cook told police Tate met Mackay on Facebook July 23 and arranged for her to meet up with them across the street from Tates grandmothers home on Sheridan Road, the complaint stated. Cook told detectives when Mackay arrived, Tate got into the front passenger seat of her Pontiac Grand Am, and he got into the back seat. The three drove to a beach near the Pennoyer Park Band Shell, 3601 Seventh Ave. From there, they drove to Racine before returning the same night to Pennoyer Park. The three were alone when they got out of the car and walked on the sand to the lake together. Cook said Tate and Mackay were hugging so he gave them more space. After getting about 5 to 10 feet from them, according to the complaint, Cook looked back and saw Tate choking Mackay from behind, lifting her off the ground in a sort of sleeper hold until she became motionless. Next, Cook told detectives, Tate held Mackay face down in the water with one knee on her back and his hands by her head and shoulders for what seemed like five minutes, the complaint said. Cook described Tate afterward finding an apron-looking thing on the beach and wrapping it around the victims neck until her head and upper body were bent backwards for about five minutes. Cook told police Mackay no longer was moving, and Tate dragged her body back to the Grand Am. Cook helped Tate lift her into the trunk. Cook did so, he told police, because he figured there was no going back now, the complaint states. With Cook driving the victims car, Tate directed him to an area in Racine County. When Cook asked Tate what he wanted to do with the body, Tate told him he didnt know yet, according to the criminal complaint. Cook drove until Tate told him to stop. Cook opened the trunk, he told police, and said Tate then took two garbage bags out of his red backpack, put one around Mackays feet and the other around her head. They then carried her body to a weedy area, where they laid the victim on her back under some bushes. Tate then drove them back to Kenosha in Mackays car, dropping Cook off at Cooks girlfriends house. According to the complaint, Tate told Cook he was going to sell the victims car. Kenosha Police Department detectives tracked down a Facebook communication and photo of the Grand Am sent by Tate to another man in an attempt to sell the stolen auto. That man is in custody on traffic-related charges, and has an extradition case to be returned to Illinois. Meanwhile, on July 24, Mount Pleasant Police Department investigators spoke to a couple who had spotted what appeared to be a body in an area of thick brush in the 10900 block of Louis Stevenson Road. The location has also been reported as the 11000 block. On July 25, the Milwaukee Medical Examiners Office autopsied Mackays body, giving a preliminary finding that her cause of death was strangulation. While trying to identify the body, a Mount Pleasant detective found Mackay had been reported missing in Kenosha and identified her initially by her drivers license. Her parents later confirmed their daughters identity. In addition to the charge of being party to hiding a corpse, Cook is charged with operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent. He is being held in the Kenosha County Jail and is next scheduled for an Aug. 15 preliminary hearing in court. Last week, Berman set Tates bond at $20,000 $10,000 for each of the two misdemeanor cases filed against him. He was charged in 2016 with battery and disorderly conduct, both as domestic abuse, for throwing his mother to the ground and punching his grandfather in the face. Tates failure to appear for sentencing in that case earlier this year led to Fridays new charge against him of misdemeanor bail jumping. RANDALL In the bright sun, three women have been crowded into and are hidden inside the bed of a large pickup truck that has pulled into the vast sandpit in the 32500 block of Highway C Monday afternoon. Another pickup truck has pulled alongside of the vehicle. Two men get out, both conversing in Spanish, when one man reveals the hidden human cargo in the trucks bed. The women look haggard. Thirsty. Weary. Welcome to the United States, the man says to the three women, who have survived a border crossing from Mexico. One of them has to use the bathroom. But there is none and so she has to go around the truck to relieve herself there. OK, cut. That was a lot better, said Peter Mastne, actor and director of Imago, a yet-to-be released independent film about human trafficking and whose crew has spent the last three months shooting in western Kenosha County. Monday was no different as Mastne took the actors to the sandpit, which was being used to stage a scene at the U.S.-Mexico border. The sandpit is among several sites in the Randall and Twin Lakes area Mastne chose to bring his film, which is scheduled to be released in April next year, to life. Other county sites include, the sewage plant off the Icehouse Trail, and a park on Highway KD. But the primary home base is the house of Paula and David Soderman whose 4,000-square-foot Cape Cod-style home is nestled on about a two acre lot. Home base The Sodermans home with its covered porch nestled within the trees, just west of where the border scene was being filmed, serves as a safe house for survivors of human and sex trafficking. It was there where Mastne, who also stars in the movie as private detective Scott Tanner, spoke about how the home naturally lent itself to becoming the safehouse run by a woman named Keisha Ross, who goes looking for one of the women who goes missing. Mastne, 30, actually shot a short film called A Family Affair at the Sodermans place a year ago. During that time he was writing Imago, he said. I looked at this and thought, This is the perfect place for the safe house, he said. Its secluded, out of the way. Beautiful surroundings, almost therapeutic vibe and the family, of course, the Sodermans were really hospitable. So, I actually wrote Imago with this house in mind. The entire family, including their daughters Lauren, who is a hair and make up artist, as well as, assistant director and Christine, of Schaumberg, Ill., who has designed posters for the film have been actively involved. Paula, a public notary and a member of the Randall Plan Commission, is part of the crew and has also as crew as their host mom in a many ways, feeding the crew on a nightly basis while her husband, an engineer, has also assisted. The whole vibe of the place really serves the safehouse, Mastne said. Soderman, whose home has now been listed in a network of homes used for filming, said the crew, which includes 44 actors, has been wonderful. I really treat them all as family, she said. Deeper storyline Mastne said that on one level, Imago looks at human trafficking on the surface. But it also involves going deeper in exploring redemption of the characters, he said. For most of the girls whove been either tricked or kidnapped, its physical and literal redemption (when theyre freed), he said. For some of the main characters, I play Scott Tanner, I need redemption from the past. Tanner was once a cop, but was fired and ends up working for the woman who runs the safe house. As they go looking for one of the girls from the safehouse, they encounter a ring of sex traffickers. The storyline is not new to Mastne who was born and raised in Thailand to parents who were missionaries and where sex slavery continues to be a profitable industry. His sister also works with A21, a group that advocates for victims of human trafficking. In writing the film, he also interviewed women who have survived sex trafficking. Finding redemption is a life-long process for these victims, he said. Theres different kinds. First theres your physical liberation and thats step one, but after that, theres many, many years. Part of it that is so horrific is that even when theyre free, the trauma they go through and the PTSD and reliving those nightmares and even their own self-worth, self-confidence and sense of identity suffers. Raising awareness For his part, Mastne wants Imago to bring awareness to the issue of sex trafficking, which has been brought to the fore by groups in recently in efforts in Kenosha and Racine through the I-94 Project and Selah Freedom, which has a safe house in the county. In fact, the word imago refers to the the last stage in which a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis as a fully developed adult. Mastne, now 30, said as child growing up in Thailand, he was very aware of the issue, as his family worked with abandoned babies and children who were born to mothers who were the victims of human trafficking. Coming back to the states as an adult, I never figured here that it was like that, he said. I knew that prostitution existed, but not human trafficking where people are forced into it ... its as big of a problem here as it is anywhere else. In fact, Mastne said the demand is greater in the U.S. Girls from Thailand, Mexico, eastern Europe, from Latin America, Middle East, from Africa, all get trafficked into the States because the demand is here, the money is here, he said. Thats really sad that here in the land of the free, were creating the most demand for it. Soderman said Mastne has also created awareness not just in her family but is hopeful the movie can bring issue to the forefront. Its relevant to the news now, she said. The actors have been very passionate about it and maybe they can make people realized that every day people, like ourselves see this could happen to our neighbors, to our daughters and granddaughters. Its become more than just a film. Its become a cause. For information on Imago see its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Imagothemovie2017. The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on Sunday that continued economic growth in China would benefit ASEAN members and the bloc anticipates a higher level of strategic partnership with China. CHINA-ASEAN PRAGMATIC COOPERATION WINS APPROVAL In a joint communique issued here on Sunday, the ASEAN foreign ministers commended China's growing role in the region and expressed expectations for more high-level dialogue and higher level of economic integration. They welcomed the entry into force of the Protocol to Amend the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Certain Agreements between ASEAN and China (ACFTA Upgrade Protocol) and looked forward to early ratification of the protocol by the remaining parties. "This will help support the twin goals to reach a two-way trade and investment of 1 trillion U.S. dollars and 150 billion U.S. dollars respectively by 2020," said the communique. The year 2018 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership and the ministers expect to designate 2018 as the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation Cooperation, and formulate a 2030 Vision for China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership as a blueprint to guide future relations. More cooperation in infrastructure construction, tourism, air transportation, anti-corruption, environment protection and other areas between the two sides should also be conducted. These protocols coincide with the remarks of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when he was interviewed by media. Wang said China and ASEAN are facing new opportunities for greater development, and that the China-ASEAN strategic partnership has stepped into a new phase of comprehensive development. China and the ASEAN nations are close to each other geographically and share a long time of friendship. During the past 50 years, the two sides have harvested tremendous results in cooperation in many areas including two-way trade, said the joint communique. China has become ASEAN's biggest trade partner, and the ASEAN countries look forward to participating in China's Belt and Road Initiative to further expand the scope and dimension for bilateral cooperation. SOUTH CHINA SEA ISSUE In the joint communique, ASEAN foreign ministers took note of the improving situation in the South China Sea over the past year, saying it reflected the positive results of cooperation in the region. Participants at the meeting agreed that promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the South China Sea will benefit all parties. They welcomed the adoption of the framework for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea and the successful testing of the MFA-to-MFA (ministry of foreign affairs-to-ministry of foreign affairs) hotline to manage maritime emergencies. They look forward to the operationalization of the joint statement on the observance of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) in the South China Sea, which is part of practical measures that could reduce tensions, the risks of accidents, misunderstanding and miscalculation. For the first time ever, the communique underlined "the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in conducting activities" by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Despite the consensus and joint endeavors made by China and most ASEAN members in easing disputes in the South China Sea, Vietnam tried to force its own agenda into the draft communique, a source close to the meeting told Xinhua. Vietnam wanted to insert sentences such as "construction on islands and reefs" into the draft communique. Such a move of Vietnam aimed at exerting pressure on China was futile, and the phrase was finally dropped due to opposition from other ASEAN countries, the source said. More than one year after an ill-founded award at a South China Sea arbitration unilaterally delivered by an ad hoc tribunal in The Hague, the situation in the South China Sea has stabilized and improved thanks to the wisdom and sincerity of China and the parties concerned. In such a cordial atmosphere, the move of Vietnam is not only against the positive trend in the South China Sea, but is also meant to undermine unity of ASEAN against the will of the people there. The compact pilot plant used in the SOLETAIR project is designed for decentralized production, fits into a shipping container, and can be extended modularly. (Photo: VTT) Production of liquid fuels from regenerative electric power is a major component of the energy turnaround. The first 200 l of synthetic fuel have now been produced from solar energy and the airs carbon dioxide by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis under the SOLETAIR project. Here, INERATEC, a spinoff of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), cooperates with Finnish partners. The mobile chemical pilot plant that can be used decentrally produces gasoline, diesel, and kerosene from regenerative hydrogen and carbon dioxide. It is so compact that it fits into a shipping container. Success of the energy transition needs innovations generated by research extending from fundamentals to applications, says Professor Thomas Hirth, KIT Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs. The success of SOLETAIR reflects the importance of international research networks that tackle global challenges and develop applicable solutions. The SOLETAIR project started in 2016. This summer, a decentralized plant network was established. It consists of three components. The Direct Air Capture Unit developed by the Technical Research Center of Finland (VTT) captures carbon dioxide from air. An electrolysis unit developed by Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) uses solar power to produce the required hydrogen. Afterwards, carbon dioxide and hydrogen are first converted into reactive synthesis gas at high temperature and then into liquid fuels in a microstructured chemical reactor. This reactor, the core of the plant, was developed by KIT and extended to a compact plant commercialized by INERATEC. For the first time, the complete process from photovoltaics and capturing carbon dioxide from air to fuel synthesis has been set up to demonstrate its technical feasibility. The pilot plant has a production capacity of up to 80 l of gasoline per day. In the first campaign now completed, about 200 l of fuel were produced in several phases to study the optimum synthesis process, possibilities of using the heat produced, and product properties. The compact plant is designed for decentralized production, fits into a shipping container, and can be extended modularly. In June 2017, the plant network was opened officially by Jamie Hyneman. Hyneman is honorary doctor of the project partner LUT and hosts the MythBusters science television series. The special effects expert is entrepreneur, innovator, and patent holder himself. His program has contributed significantly to making science and engineering more popular. The US American develops safety technologies for industry and the public space. When opening the SOLETAIR pilot plant, he impressively demonstrated the improved combustion and ignition properties of the synthetic fuel produced compared to conventional fuel. For the cut-together video on the opening and demonstration, click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOWQh9T_W64 INERATEC GmbH is a spinoff of KIT and develops, builds, and commercializes compact chemical facilities for gas-to-X and power-to-X applications. The spinoff is supported under the EXIST research transfer program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Last week, INERATEC won the third prize in the category of Emission Reduction, Processing, and Separation in the Baden-Wurttemberg 2017 competition for the Environmental Technology Award. Under the national research alliances of Energy Lab 2.0 and Neo-Carbon Energy, KIT, INERATEC, and VTT intensify their cooperation for the investigation and development of innovative energy systems based on renewable energy sources, novel storage technologies, and the conversion of renewable power into chemical energy carriers. Together with other project partners, KIT and INERATEC also study decentralized production of high-quality synthetic fuel from air and renewable power under the Power-to-X Kopernikus project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The energiewende will only be a success, if we pool our know-how and jointly strengthen the competencies of European industry in the energy sector, VTT scientist and SOLETAIR project head Dr. Pekka Simell says. In this respect, innovative startups, such as INERATEC, play a key role, Professor Roland Dittmeyer, Head of KITs Institute of Micro Process Engineering, adds. This summer, the power-to-liquid pilot plant was built on the LUT campus and connected to the solar power plant there. The SOLETAIR project will expire in mid-2018 and is funded with EUR 1 million by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes). Information obtained in the course of the project will be used for the commercialization of the technology. This will give rise to new business models for the more efficient utilization of local surpluses of renewable power, heat use concepts, use of carbon dioxide, or decentralized synthesis of chemical fuels and interim products. In future, the process may essentially contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions of traffic. More information: http://soletair.fi/news/finnish-demo-plant-produces-renewable-fuels/ http://www.kit.edu/kit/english/pi_2016_156_power-to-liquid-pilot-operation-of-first-compact-plant.php Videos of the opening ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOWQh9T_W64 (short) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d0uiqxjEOE (long) More about the KIT Energy Center: http://www.energy.kit.edu Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. BEIJING, Aug 8 (Reuters) - China's July exports rose 7.2 percent from a year earlier, while imports grew 11.0 percent, both well below analysts' forecasts, official data showed on Tuesday. That left the country with a trade surplus of $46.74 billion for the month, the General Administration of Customs said. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected July shipments from the world's largest exporter to have risen 10.9 percent, easing slightly from 11.3 percent growth in June. Imports had been expected to have climbed 16.6 percent, after rising 17.2 percent in June. Analysts were expecting China's trade surplus to have widened to $46.08 billion in July from June's $42.77 billion. After several lean years of declining shipments, China's trade performance has rebounded this year thanks to strong demand at home and abroad. While exports are contributing to China's economic growth once again, global investors have been more focused on its strong appetite for industrial commodities such as iron ore and coal which is boosting resources prices worldwide. (Reporting by Stella Qiu and Elias Glenn; Editing by Kim Coghill) * Japanese investors buy net 1.242 trn yen of U.S. debt in June vs 1.610 trn in May * Sell net 65.7 bln yen of British bonds in June vs net buy of 188.3 bln in May * Offload largest amount of Aussie debt since December 2014 (Adds detail, quotes) By Shinichi Saoshiro TOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Japanese investors were net buyers of French bonds and sellers of German bonds in June, data from Japan's Ministry of Finance showed on Tuesday, attracted by the higher yields on French securities. Monthly portfolio investment data showed Japanese investors bought a net 327.3 billion yen ($2.95 billion) of French bonds in June, after buying 646.8 billion yen in May. They sold a net 51 billion yen of German debt in June after buying a net 305.1 billion the previous month. In May Japanese investors had bought a variety of European bonds, including those from Germany, France and Britain as they began allocating new funds for the financial year that began in April. But in June investors appeared to have become more selective following the surge in global debt yields that originated in Europe. European debt yields climbed sharply towards the end of June after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's comments were seen to have signalled a prospective end to the euro zone's easy monetary policy. "Some investors likely reduced their German bond holdings in June following the ECB's hawkish message," said Shin Kadota, senior strategist at Barclays in Tokyo. "On the other hand, it is relatively easier for Japanese investors to keep buying French bonds as they yield more and with the country's political events out of the way," Kadota added, referring to June's French presidential election. The German 10-year bund yield ranged between 0.225 percent and 0.480 percent in June, while its French counterpart spanned 0.578 percent and 0.840 percent . Japanese investors sold a net 65.7 billion yen of British bonds in June after buying a net 188.3 billion in May. The 10-year British gilt yield sank to an eight-month trough below 1 percent in June after going as high as 1.22 percent in May. Elsewhere, Japanese investors bought a net 1.242 trillion yen of U.S. debt in June after buying a net 1.610 trillion yen in May. They sold a net 188.9 billion yen of Australian bonds in June, following 11 consecutive months of net buying. The net selling amount in June was the largest since December 2014. High-yielding Australian debt has found steady demand from Japanese investors, but the 10-year yield declined to a seven-month low of 2.33 percent in June. ($1 = 110.7700 yen) (Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro; Editing by Kim Coghill and Eric Meijer) (Updates to close) Aug 8 (Reuters) - Australian shares settled lower on Tuesday, posting their fourth session of falls in five, with Commonwealth Bank hit by its breaches of anti money-laundering laws, while industrial and material stocks slipped on disappointing earnings. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 29.76 points, or 0.5 percent, to end at 5,743.8. The benchmark rose 0.9 percent on Monday. Commonwealth Bank fell 1.1 percent, dogged by financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC's finding that it breached money-laundering regulations. The bank blamed a "coding error" for its breaches of the rules. Commonwealth Bank, Australia's biggest lender, scrapped its chief executive's bonus on Tuesday, but said he retains the board's confidence. Shares of the other "Big Four" banks pared their of some losses. National Australia Bank ended flat. Meanwhile, James Hardie Industries Plc , one of the world's biggest makers of fibre-cement building materials, fell 5.8 percent to post its lowest close since April 2016, after reporting a 34 percent drop in quarterly net profit. The stock saw its busiest day of trading since November 2015. Transurban Group closed 1.8 percent lower after missing estimates for annual profit. The toll road developer reported statutory profit from ordinary activities of A$209 million ($165.49 million) for the year, compared with estimates of A$288.48 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 11.15 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at an all-time high of 7,782.72. Gains in Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd and Spark New Zealand helped outweigh a 6.1 percent drop in online marketplace provider Trade Me Group , putting the index into positive territory. (Reporting by Chris Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Eric Meijer) By Davide Barbuscia and Robert Hogg DUBAI, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Bahrain's government has hired banks for a planned U.S. dollar-denominated bond issue, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. BNP Paribas, Citi and JPMorgan have been mandated to arrange the transaction together with Gulf International Bank and National Bank of Bahrain, the sources said. Bahrain's central bank did not respond to a request for comment. Citi declined to comment. The other banks did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bahrain could raise debt internationally as early as September through both conventional and Islamic bonds, sources told Reuters last month. The size of the deal could go up to $2 billion or $2.5 billion, one banking source said on Tuesday. Bahrain needs to raise debt to refill state coffers hit by a slump in oil prices. The small Gulf state raised $2 billion last October through a $1 billion conventional bond and a $1 billion sukuk issue. Bank ABC, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan and Standard Chartered arranged that deal. Bahrain is rated BB-minus by Standard & Poor's, B1 by Moody's and BB+ by Fitch. (Editing by Andrew Torchia) * Bulk of closures affect top producer China Hongqiao * Shutdowns were ordered to be completed by end-July * New round of environmental inspections ordered -ministry * New inspections stretch from Shandong to Tibet By Tom Daly BEIJING, Aug 8 (Reuters) - China's Shandong province has ordered 3.21 million tonnes of smelting capacity to be shut in the world's top producer of the metal, more than previously expected, as Beijing intensifies efforts to curb pollution in its bloated heavy industries. News of the cuts - affecting China Hongqiao , the world's biggest aluminium supplier - extended a rally in aluminium prices into a second day, with Shanghai futures hitting their highest levels in more than 4-1/2 years on Tuesday. In a statement made public on Tuesday but dated July 24, the Shandong Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) said checks had shown areas of the eastern province had 3.21 million tonnes of illegal capacity that was built without permits. With capacity of between 10-12 million tonnes, Shandong accounts for as much as a quarter of China's capacity. The regional government said in the statement it had ordered Hongqiao to shut 2.68 million tonnes per year of capacity across five projects by the end of July. Another Shandong producer, Xinfa Group, was told to close 530,000 tonnes by the same date, according to the SDRC statement. The size of the closures was bigger than sector watchers expected, but firms had previously indicated they would implement closures as Beijing ramps up anti-pollution efforts. Hongqiao said earlier this month it would cut more than 2 million tonnes per year of "outdated capacity", but that new capacity would keep its total at 6.5 million-7 million tonnes. It did not give a timeline or an exact figure. The Xinfa closure had previously been flagged by the local Chiping government in Shandong. Hongqiao and Xinfa did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The shutdowns come as China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said on Monday it was embarking on its fourth round of environmental inspections across eight provinces and regions, including Shandong. Eight teams will be sent to carry out inspections at Jilin, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hainan, Sichuan, Tibet, Qinghai and Xinjiang from Aug. 7-15, the ministry said. Paul Adkins, managing director of aluminium consultancy AZ China, said that by including Tibet and Qinghai in the latest probe, the MEP is going to "places where you wouldn't expect there to be a lot of air pollution". Tibet has no aluminium production capacity, whereas Qinghai has up to five smelters, Adkins said. On Tuesday, aluminium prices in Shanghai jumped almost 3 percent for their biggest one-day gain since October last year, hitting 15,620 yuan ($2,330.30) a tonne, their highest since December 2012. Traders said speculators were piling in with bullish bets in anticipation of tightening supply even as the global market remains awash with surplus metal, some producers are expanding output and concerns grow about slowing manufacturing activity in the world's second-largest economy. Open interest on the Shanghai Futures Exchange aluminium contract has surged by 27 percent to almost 770,000 lots on the SHFE from just above 600,000 at the start of the month. ($1 = 6.7030 Chinese yuan renminbi) <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ GRAPHIC: Speculators flood into Shanghai aluminium market ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Tom Daly; Additional reporting by Melanie Burton in MELBOURNE; Editing by Josephine Mason and Kenneth Maxwell) (Corrects SJC gold prices in Aug 7 story to 36.17/36.39 from 36,170/36,390) HANOI, Aug 7 (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 0457 GMT. August 7 USD/VND mid-point 22,440 USD/VND interbank 22,732/22,734 USD/VND unofficial 22,760/22,775 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.17/36.39 Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.35-0.70 1 week 0.5-0.8 1 month 1.5-1.9 3 months 3.1-3.8 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) Editor's Note: Kitco readers, have your say! Check out our newest feature KITCO CHAT! where you can share your comments and ask questions directly to us. (Kitco News) - Gold prices were ending a choppy U.S. day session slightly lower and in the middle of a wide daily trading range Tuesday. The light selling pressure came as the outside markets turned bearish on the day in morning U.S. trading. The U.S. dollar index scored decent gains and crude oil prices were weaker. Losses were limited by some safe-haven demand that cropped up amid an uptick in U.S.-North Korea tensions. December Comex gold was last down $3.00 an ounce at $1,261.80. September Comex silver was last up $0.134 at $16.385 an ounce. North Korea has threatened to use its nuclear weapons against the U.S. after the United Nations slapped more sanctions on the rogue nation. This matter wont just go away and will likely get worse before it gets better. Such is likely to continue to be an underlying bullish element for the gold market. The U.S. dollar index was weaker in early U.S. trading Tuesday, before rebounding in morning action. Still, the index remains in a price downtrend that has been in place all year long, and the bears still possess the strong near-term technical advantage. Nymex crude oil futures were slightly down and traded just above $49.00 a barrel in early afternoon Tuesday. Reports overnight said OPEC leader Saudi Arabia is planning to reduce its oil exports to Asia. OPEC members are meeting this week in Abu Dhabi. Technically, December gold futures bulls still have the overall near-term technical advantage. Bulls next upside technical objective is pushing prices above chart resistance at last weeks high of $1,280.30. Bears' next near-term downside price breakout objective is closing prices below solid technical support at $1,240.00. First resistance is seen at todays high of $1,271.00 and then at $1,275.00. First support is seen at todays low of $1,257.10 and then at $1,250.00. Wyckoffs Market Rating: 6.0 September silver bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. The next upside price breakout objective is closing futures prices above solid technical resistance at $17.00 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $16.00. First resistance is seen at $16.50 and then at $16.75. Next support is seen at todays low of $16.205 and then at this weeks low of $16.095. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 4.0. * Strong rupee, paddy prices make India exports too expensive * Chance for Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia to gain market share * Export prices need to fall $10-$15/T to become competitive * New crop supply to start from October, could soften prices By Rajendra Jadhav MUMBAI, Aug 8 (Reuters) - India's non-basmati rice exports are likely to slow over the next few months as its shipments of the grain have become too expensive on the world market due to a rally in the rupee and an increase in local paddy prices. Lower shipments from the world's biggest rice exporter will give rivals Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia a chance to raise their share of the global market. "Other origins are cheaper than India. There will be definitely a slowdown in exports," Nitin Gupta, business head of rice at Olam India, told Reuters. India was offering 5 percent broken parboiled rice this week at around $410 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) from Kakinada port on the east coast. In comparison, Thai rice was offered at between $390 and $392 a tonne, and Vietnam rice was quoted at $400 to $405 a tonne. "Due to an appreciating rupee, we can't match prices quoted by Vietnam or Thailand," said M. Adishankar, executive director at Sri Lalitha, a leading exporter based at Kakinada. The rupee has risen more than 6.5 percent so far in 2017, reaching its highest in more than two years. A stronger rupee means rice shippers have to raise their dollar-denominated export prices to cover their purchases and other costs. Key buyers of Indian rice in Africa - such as Benin, Senegal and Guinea - were not comfortable buying at the current level, Adishankar said. Last month, India's high prices resulted in suspension of a government-to-government deal with Bangladesh, which needs to import rice to replenish stocks hit by flash floods. After the deal with India was called off, Bangladesh agreed to buy 1 million tonnes of rice from Cambodia. In India, paddy rice prices are still rising as most of the supplies from the winter crop have already been consumed. "Until new summer crops enter into the market from October, paddy supply will remain tight," said a Kakinada-based exporter who declined to be named. Indian farmers had planted 28 million hectares of paddy rice as of Aug. 4, up 4.9 percent from a year ago, but lower rainfall in southern states has raised concerns over the harvest. "If Indian prices come down we can see demand from West African markets from October onwards for Christmas," said Gupta of Olam India. "Prices need to come down by $10 to $15 (per tonne) to become competitive." <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Indian rice exports seen slowing after rise in rupee pushes export prices higher ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Tom Hogue) JAKARTA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Indonesia sold 22.5 trillion rupiah ($1.7 billion) of bonds at an auction, the finance ministry's financing and risk management office said on Tuesday, above the indicative target of 15 trillion rupiah. The government sold T-bills maturing in November 2017 with a weighted average yield of 4.98823 percent, while the T-bills maturing in August 2018 had a weighted average yield of 5.89002 percent. The bonds maturing in May 2022 had a weighted average yield of 6.65526 percent, lower than 6.73955 percent at the last auction on July 25. The bonds maturing in August 2032 had a weighted average yield of 7.34000 percent, up from the previous auction's 7.32975 percent. The weighted average yield for bonds maturing in May 2038 was 7.64987 percent. Total incoming bids were 58.62 trillion rupiah, higher than 35.99 trillion rupiah received at the last auction. The highest bid-to-cover ratio was 7.56 for bonds maturing in August 2032 . ($1 = 13,310 rupiah) (Reporting by Nilufar Rizki; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) TOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices were mostly steady on Tuesday after an auction of 30-year debt proceeded smoothly and drew ample investor demand. The two-year yield was flat at minus 0.110 percent and the 10-year yield inched down half a basis point to 0.070 percent. The 30-year yield was flat at 0.875 percent . The bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of demand, at Tuesday's 800 billion yen ($7.23 billion) 30-year auction rose to 3.90 from 3.62 at the previous auction last month. The new 30-year auctions were supported on prospects of the Bank of Japan conducting a number of regular JGB-purchasing operations aimed towards longer-dated bonds through the rest of the month. A light auction calendar was also seen to have favoured the new 30-years, with the JGB market not facing another major sale until the 5-year offering on Aug. 17. ($1 = 110.5800 yen) (Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) LAGOS, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Nigeria's government has asked a court to withdraw its case against seven local banks over the non-remittance of $793 million due to the state, the government lawyer told the court on Tuesday. Yemi Akinseye-George told the court the government would seek an out-of-court settlement in the matter, on which the court was due to rule on Wednesday. A court last month ordered the banks to transfer a combined $793 million due to the government immediately and accused the lenders of withholding funds collected on behalf of the state. Several of the lenders have said they have remitted all funds due to government. (Reporting by Oludare Mayowa; Editing by Chijioke Ohuocha and Catherine Evans) Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours): STRATEGIC OPTIONS More than 20 firms listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange are re-evaluating their strategic options, which means that their ownership might soon change, the business daily Parkiet reported on Tuesday. SWISS FRANC BORROWERS Marek Chrzanowski, the head of Poland's financial regulator KNF, told the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily that the draft bill submitted earlier this month by President Andrzej Duda on how to help troubled foreign currency borrowers, mainly those who borrowed in Swiss francs, should replace all other earlier proposals. COGNOR The Polish steel maker Cognor is planning an additional share placement worth around 100 million zlotys ($27.77 million)to help reduce its debt, the daily Puls Biznesu reported. WAREHOUSES The size of commercial warehouse space leased in Poland rose 32 percent in the first six months, year-on-year, mainly due to higher demand from construction and home improvement stores, the daily Puls Biznesu reported, citing data from the consulting firm Axi Immo. ELECTRICITY IMPORTS Poland imported 3.3 terawatt-hours (TWh) of power in the first half of the year, which nearly equals the total amount of power imported in 2015 and is much higher than in the corresponding period of last year, the daily Rzeczpospolita reported. WIZZ AIR Jozsef Varadi, chief executive officer of the low-cost airline Wizz Air, told the Rzeczpospolita that he is not interested in co-operation with Poland's largest airline LOT. ****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 = 3.6010 zlotys) (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau) Marriott looks to woo Chinese travelers with alibaba deal. This would allow Marriott to leverage Alibaba's large consumer base in China. [Photo: Alibaba] Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group on Monday unveiled a joint venture with Marriott International to allow Chinese travelers to book Marriott hotels through Alibaba's travel service website and app. According to an announcement on the joint venture, Chinese tourists will be able to reserve Marriott's over 6,200 properties in 125 countries on Fliggy, the Chinese group's online platform, as well as the hotel chain's Chinese-language digital channels. The hotel company said it will also accept Alipay, the online payment platform owned by Alibaba affiliate company Ant Financial. Through the partnership, Marriott said it will be able to get access to Alibaba's 500 million monthly active mobile users to better market and engage with China's ever-growing consumer class. "Together, we are elevating and redefining the travel experience for Chinese consumers to be more seamless and personalized as they embark on adventures to discover the world," said Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group, in a statement. Shortly after the opening bell on Monday, shares of Alibaba soared nearly 2.1 percent to 156.50 U.S. dollars a share, while Marriott stocks rose nearly 1 percent to trade at 106.00 dollars a share. Enditem (Repeats story, with no changes to text) * Li Ka-Shing's Hutchison sells unit to I Squared Capital * Hutchison Telecom sees profit of HK$5.8 bln on the sale * Shares jump almost 15 percent to 21-month high By Kane Wu and Elzio Barreto HONG KONG, July 31 (Reuters) - Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd shares jumped almost 15 percent when it started trading on Monday, a day after it announced the sale of its fixed-line business for about $1.9 billion. Hutchison Telecom, a unit of Hong Kong's richest man Li Ka-Shing's CK Hutchison Holdings , said in a filing on Sunday that it had agreed to sell its fixed-line telecoms business to I Squared Capital for HK$14.5 billion in cash. Proceeds from the sale of Hutchison Global Communications (HGC), which provides fixed-line phone services as well as Wifi all around Hong Kong, will be used for investment into mobile phone services and for working capital. The price represents about 12 times HGC's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a source close to the deal told Reuters. Hutchison Telecom said it expected to make a profit of HK$5.8 billion ($742.71 million) on the sale of HGC. Hutchison Telecom shares have risen nearly 23 percent since May 16, when it acknowledged media reports about a potential sale of the fixed-line business. The HGC unit drew interest from several companies, including HKBN Ltd , SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd and a consortium of private equity firms TPG Capital Management LP and MBK Partners. I Squared Capital won the deal partly because it will not face the same anti-trust scrutiny as some of the other bidders would, the source said. TPG and MBK teamed up to buy Wharf T&T - Hong Kong's No.2 fixed-line operator for businesses last October from tycoon Peter Woo's Wharf Holdings Ltd in a $1.22 billion deal. The HGC deal is subject to shareholders' approval and is expected to close in October, Hutchison Telecom said in the filing. The value of the deal may be adjusted at the time based on debt, cash levels and other financial data. CK Hutchison, which owns 66.1 percent of Hutchison Telecom, will vote all its shares in favour of the sale during an as-yet unscheduled extraordinary shareholders meeting. I Squared has secured a HK$7.02 billion ($900 million) loan from Credit Agricole, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank to fund the HGC purchase, according to Basis Point, a Thomson Reuters publication. The three banks could not be immediately reached for comment. The firm, which invests in global infrastructure in energy, utilities and transport, is among potential buyers for Equis Energy, Asia's largest independent renewable energy producer valued at up to $5 billion, sources have said. Hutchison Telecom said it appointed Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs as financial advisers on the HGC transaction. Credit Suisse advised I Squared Capital on the transaction, according to another source familiar with the deal. The sale comes as Hutchison's unit Hutchison Drei Austria announced on Friday an acquisition of landline-focused Tele2 from its Swedish owner for 95 million euros ($111 million). Hutchison Telecom shares jumped almost 15 percent to a 21-month high earlier on Monday, and were trading up 10.32 percent at HK$3.10 apiece by 0526 GMT, versus the broader index that was up 1 percent. ($1 = 7.8092 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting by Kane Wu and Elzio Barreto, additional reporting by Basis Point; Editing by Jane Merriman and Himani Sarkar) ZURICH, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Here are some of the main factors that may affect Swiss stocks on Tuesday: COMPANY STATEMENTS * OC Oerlikon Corporation reported first half net profit up 11.6 percent at 48 million Swiss francs($49.35 million). * Banque Cantonale de Geneve reported that its first half operating income had increased by 8.2 percent to 183.1 Million Swiss francs. * Galenica confirmed its guidance for 2017 after reporting a first half net profit of 62.1 million Swiss francs. * Swissquote Group said H1 net trading income had risen 40.6 percent to 10.4 million francs. * Vifor Pharma raised its 2017 net sales and EBITDA guidance after reporting a 13.6 percent rise in net sales to 625.7 million Swiss francs. * LafargeHolcim's Nigerian-based unit - Lafarge Africa - is consolidating its businesses on the continent to simplify its ownership structure and operations, its head of strategy told Reuters on Monday. * Buyout firm Lion Capital is working with Credit Suisse to explore strategic options for Dutch discount retailer HEMA, sources familiar with the matter said, reviving previous efforts to find a new owner for the business. * Forbo Holding AG said it has raised 91 million Swiss francs after selling 63,000 treasury shares; the placement represented 3.5 percent of Forbo's share capital and most of the treasury shares it holds ECONOMY Jobless data for July due at 0545 GMT ($1 = 0.9727 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Zurich newsroom) Daily Swiss stock market report in German................ All SMI constituent stocks............................ News on major Swiss stock price moves.................. FTSE Eurotop 300 index................................ DJ STOXX index........................................ Top 10 STOXX sectors............................. Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors........................ Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors....................... Top 25 European pct gainers... , losers... Swiss mid-cap index SMI futures Swiss all-share index Market statistics Swiss market digest Sector overview All Swiss news Swiss research news All equity news INTERNET ADDRESSES: Swiss Exchange / Eurex STOXX Ltd SPEED GUIDES: )) Keywords: MARKETS SWISS STOCKS/ BUDAPEST, Aug 8 (Reuters) - The Hungarian Government Debt Management Agency (AKK) sold 15 billion forints ($58.20 million) worth of three-month Treasury bills on Tuesday, it said. Series: D171115 Issue status: Auction data: AUCTION DATE 08/08/2017 01/08/2017 TOTAL BIDS (bln HUF) 31.08 41.11 ALLOTTED (bln HUF) 15.00 15.00 AVERAGE YIELD (pct) 0.01 0.01 ($1 = 257.75 forints) (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs) 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. ANKARA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Here are news, reports and events that may affect Turkish financial markets on Tuesday. The lira stood at 3.5290 against the U.S. dollar at 0507 GMT, compared to 3.5263 at Monday's close. The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond was at 10.66 percent in spot trade at Monday's close. The main BIST 100 share index rose 1.1 percent to 109,781.13 on Monday. GLOBAL MARKETS Asian shares went flat on Tuesday as disappointing Chinese trade data clouded the otherwise upbeat outlook on global growth, leaving currencies and commodities becalmed in summer doldrums. TENSIONS WITH GERMANY Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany on Monday of assisting terrorists by not responding to thousands of files sent to Berlin or handing over suspects wanted by Turkish authorities. PM YILDIRIM Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will meet Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov in Ankara (0900 GMT), and later attend a ceremony for the ground-breaking of a road (1230 GMT). BANKS ASSOCIATION The Banks Association of Turkey (TBB) will hold a news conference at 9:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION The Turkish Statistics Institute will announce industrial output data for June (0700 GMT). For other related news, double click on: Turkish politics Turkish equities Turkish money Turkish debt Turkish hot stocks Forex news All emerging market news All Turkish news For real-time quotes, double click on: Istanbul National-100 stock index , interbank lira trading , lira bond trading (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu) * STOXX 600 up 0.2 pct * Results boost Nokian, Uniper * Pandora slumps after Q2 results * Paddy Power Betfair, IHG weigh on travel & leisure stocks * Basic resources fall as copper declines (ADVISORY- Follow European and UK stock markets in real time on the Reuters Live Markets blog on Eikon, see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets) By Kit Rees and Helen Reid LONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - European equities turned positive after a damp start on Tuesday as strong gains in utilities, auto and energy stocks outweighed losses from Pandora after disappointing results. Investors pointed to strong earnings growth as the second-quarter results season powered on. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.2 percent, while blue chips rose 0.4 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 was also up 0.2 percent, and Germany's DAX gained 0.3 percent. Year-on-year earnings growth for the quarter is running at 17 percent so far, with results in from 70 percent of MSCI Euro zone companies, Thomson Reuters data showed. "Investors should be confident that earnings growth is coming through," said Andrew King, head of European equities at BNP Paribas Investment Partners. "The aggregate level of earnings growth looks to be very very high." Some 51 percent of companies have beaten expectations, with this figure rising to 55 percent for the broader MSCI Europe universe. Most of the outperformance was down to energy stocks and financials, the key drivers of earnings growth according to Deutsche Bank strategists. "If you strip out the banks and energy it's a lot less - but if you disaggregate the two strongest sectors from any index you're going to get worse figures; so I don't think it's that legitimate to do this," said King. While moves in the index were muted on the day, earnings caused some sizeable price action among single stocks. Results hit shares in jewellery maker Pandora , which slumped 14 percent after second quarter results lagged estimates. Falls in Paddy Power Betfair and InterContinental Hotels Group weighed on the European travel and leisure sector, which was the biggest sectoral faller with a decline of 0.7 percent. Finnish tyre maker Nokian soared 6.4 percent, however, set for its best day in nine months after reporting better-than-expected quarterly profit on improved Russian demand, and raising its forecast. It helped autos stocks jump 0.5 percent. German power plant and energy trading group Uniper gained around 3.4 percent after it lifted its outlook for operating profit and dividend, helping the utilities sector outperform. Uniper peers RWE and E.ON led gains on the DAX. Credit Agricole jumped 2.8 percent, top of France's blue-chips and boosting European banks . Some 67 percent of European financials have either met or beaten expectations for the second quarter, according to Thomson Reuters data. "The sector is seeing a broad-based earnings recovery, benefiting from improving net interest income on the back of accelerating loan growth, lower provisions (e.g. French names), better fee income (e.g. Dutch banks) and solid wealth management results (in particular Swiss names)," Deutsche Bank's strategists said in a note. (Reporting by Kit Rees; Editing by John Stonestreet and Andrew Bolton) One News reports: The poll asked Kiwis what their view was on the Maori seats. Fifty-five per cent say they should be kept, 13 per cent say they should be abolished as soon as possible and 23 per cent say they should be abolished some time in the future. So if Winston does get his referendum, the result will be much the same as his previous referendum a huge loss. Chinese media need to do more to report the true Africa The Department of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, Beijing, China from July 31-August 4, held a seminar on Africa reports in the Chinese media. The yearly seminar, which is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was attended by 43 Chinese journalists from 28 media, with some having served in Africa. Three African journalists from Nigeria, Kenya and Cameroon, also gave lectures at the seminar. Organisers said the objective was to offer Chinese journalists more information and a sense of Africa's real development and China-Africa relations. It is an effort to degeneralize and demystify Africa amongst Chinese journalists with the aim of strengthening ties between the two sides, said Lianxing Li, one of the conveners. The little representation of African media in China At the beginning of this year, there was an international news forum for senior journalists from major Chinese media who discussed how to report Africa effectively. Now, the first ever academic grants for covering China-Africa relations have been created. We encourage journalists to submit proposals for covering the continent, which will be funded by our project. For long, Africa's story has long been neglected in international news, Lianxing Li said. He added that seminar participants were quite responsive and offered positive feedback at the end. This is because guest lecturers from various sectors showed them a comprehensive picture of this bilateral relationship, which was unfamiliar to them before. We need time to see how they focus on reporting this field and what works they will produce, he clarified. It was understood that field experience was the top criterion for selecting facilitators of the seminar. In this light, diplomats, bankers, investors, journalists and academics with vast knowledge of and living or serving in Africa for long were invited to share their experience. The seminar was part of a series by the Department of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University to create a critical thinking environment for media reports on China-African relations. Regular exchanges between Chinese and African journalists are necessary to enhance understanding A country's hard-won success could be less important than a simple tweet by the US President! More vivid development stories need to be told, while real information is required by potential partners and investors. The Chinese media has an important role to tell African stories in order to improve this bilateral relationship, Lianxing Li noted. Myths about Chinese journalism might have been broken by your own experiences. This is why we are critical and constructive. The only challenge for now is having first-hand experience and knowledge. We hope that more Chinese journalists will get engaged in covering Africa and consistently focus on related stories from a more diverse perspective, Lianxing concluded. More person-to-person exchanges between Chinese and Africans boosts understanding and cooperation Kimeng Hilton Ndukong is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently on media attachment with Peoples Daily Online in English. I'm a local boy. I was born and raised in Grants Pass. My family still lives here and we all love Southern Oregon. In 1996 I joined my 2nd family here at Grants Pass Broadcasting. In the early 2000's I decided I wanted to see what life was like outside the Rogue Valley, so I found work and moved away. I spent the better part of a decade living in the Seattle and Denver areas before returning to Grants Pass and resuming my career with the wonderful people here at Grants Pass Broadcasting. My love for music and tech coupled with the passion I have to never stop learning has led me to the engineering side of radio. I love spending my days on the mountain tops, climbing radio towers, and getting my hands dirty. When I'm not at the station, I'm getting my SUV out in the mud to explore the greener parts of Oregon. I don't mind a little down-time now and then either. When I'm home, I enjoy watching films and true crime dramas, playing video games, and waking each morning to kill it at the gym. Thanks for listening. If I can ever do anything for ya, please reach out on Facebook or drop by the station and say "hi." OHA Says Coronavirus Cases on the Rise in Southern Oregon and Across State Newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases rose in the Rogue Valley and across the state over the past week, reversing a pattern of declining cases from prior weeks. According to the Mail Tribune, the Oregon Health Authority reported 176 new cases in Jackson County during the past week, up from 127 cases the week before. For Josephine County, OHA reported 59 new cases during the past week, which was an increase from 33 the week before. Preliminary data from OHA indicates no Jackson or Josephine County residents died of COVID-19-related causes during the past week. Deaths can take time to categorize as the state agency receives and analyzes information from health care facilities and death certificates. Statewide, OHA reported 3,131 new cases for the past week -- up from 2,675 the week before. Two Oregonians died of COVID-19-related causes over the past week. This year's Xinjiang international folk dance festival was full of colour and glamour The fifth Xinjiang international folk dance festival ended last weekend in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China with the remarkable participation of Nsango Mbonda dancers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. Organisers said the festival afforded the Congolese troupe the opportunity to strengthen professional and cultural ties with Chinese and other international counterparts. Nsango Mbonda composition In all, the group, made up of about 40 men and women, held four concerts at the festival before concluding with another on August 5, 2017 in the famous National Centre for Performing Arts, Beijing, in the Chinese capital. Using at least 8 traditional drums and several percussion and acoustic instruments, Nsango Mbonda concerts received capacity crowds at the festival, members said at a reception held for them in Beijing on August 6 by the DRC Embassy. Nsango Mbonda's performances were an opportunity for Chinese audiences to know Congolese culture Lively concert! The Beijing concert entitled, Sounds and dances from Congo, was a presentation of dances from various DRC tribes. Our performance was intended to facilitate understanding by the audience so that language will not be a barrier, explained Brain Tshibanda, Nsango Mbonda manager. I was so impressed because the performance was lively and full of energy. It was an opportunity to know more about African culture. I think such performances enable Chinese people to understand African culture better, said Rong Jun Long, a young Chinese in his twenties. Interesting Congolese music It was simply wonderful! Congolese music is so interesting. I am so grateful to the dancers. I look forward to seeing them perform again in China, added an old man in his seventies. Founded in 2006 and based in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, it was the first time Nsango Mbonda was holding concerts in China. Last May, the group held the Fifth Mbonda Festival at the Kinshasa Fine Arts Institute. Nsango Mbonda's concerts drew capacity audiences at this year's Xinjiang international folk dance festival Massive participation at Xinjiang festival This years Xinjiang international folk dance festival attracted over 20,000 celebrated foreign folk dancers and 15 troupes. Inaugurated in 2008, the biennial festival is jointly organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government. The festival displays the charms of Xinjiangs culture, enhances the exchanges and cooperation among countries and promotes the friendship among peoples along the Belt and Road Initiative countries, Luo Shugang, the Chinese Minister of Culture said at the opening of the event on July 20, 2017. The festival with theme, Chinese Dream, Colorful Silk Road had a number of cultural exhibitions and activities, including online dancing interaction days, a Chinese opera art week, Xinjiang youth oil painting and China youth printmaking exhibitions. A Russian troupe was one of the 15 foreign groups that took part in the fifth Xinjiang international folk dance festival Kimeng Hilton Ndukong is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently on media attachment with Peoples Daily Online in English. Weta Digital's lighting technology director Lim Chang-ui talks during a presentation for the upcoming film "War For the Planet of the Apes" with the press at a CGV Theater in Yongsan, Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap By Kim Jae-heun Anders Langlands, the visual effect supervisor of the megahit "War For the Planet of the Apes" said actor Andy Serkis should be nominated for best actor at the Academy Awards for his incredible portrayal of the digitally created ape "Caesar." In the science fiction film series, Serkis played an intelligent chimpanzee, Caesar, who leads a tribe of genetically enhanced apes. With the help of the Weta Digital team's lightening and visual effects, the English actor took on the performance role comprising motion capture action, animation and voice work for the computer-generated character. "The character of Caesar is collaboration between what Andy's doing and what we're doing," said Langlands during a press conference at a CGV Theater in Yongsan, Seoul, Monday. "It all begins from his acting and we pushed ourselves to bring out the top technology to show Caeser's diverse emotions and his concerns through facial expression that Andy had brought out. He deserves to be recognized purely for his acting." The lighting technology director Lim Chang-ui of Weta Digital went on to say that it would be his dream for Caesar to win Best Actor at the award ceremony. "I am curious to ask the audience the difference between an actor playing a role in the scenes and an actor portraying a computer-generated character behind the screen. There is no need to distinguish the two as we only need to focus on how well they describe the characters in the story. Technology has developed to cover almost all the expressions from a human to digital character," said Lim. In response to a following question asking whether computers will take over actors' jobs and if there will no longer be a need for actors in the future, Lim said that is different story. The technician believes technology is only technology and human beings are the subjects that utilize it. Lim emphasized that technology is also a human creation. "There has been long debates on this topic; that one day we won't need human actors, and perhaps technology will be able to create virtual characters or even resurrect deceased actors one day," said Langlands. "However, I disagree. It is true that technology has developed enormously but no movie can exist without actors developing character. The Planet of the Apes also focuses on character and story," added the visual effect supervisor. In the third installment of the Planet of the Apes reboot series, Weta Digital took full control over computer graphic work, calling in some 990 staffers to portray the most sophisticated and grand scenes of warfare between apes and humans. Lim said Weta Digital has the longest history in working on developing apes' facial expressions on the screen and it possesses the knowhow to bring out the most advance technology in the field. Weta Digital has provided their top-notch computer graphic technology in visual effects in popular Hollywood films "The Lord of the Rings" series, "King Kong" (2005), "Avatar" (2009) and "The Avengers" (2012). "I've worked on the characters in Planet of the Apes for nearly six years. I loved working on it, and at the same time, I hated it so much. But I think work is like that. The happy moment is always so short and painful hours are always very long. Fortunately, the longer the painful time is the greater happiness you feel. That's how I felt working on this movie," said Lim. By Kim Hyo-jin North Korea offered to hold bilateral meetings with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, the Philippines, only to get the cold shoulder from them, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Tuesday. In a press briefing held on the last day of the forum, Kang said North Korea's diplomatic isolation has further deepened as the participants in the forum were determined to show collective concern against the North' s missile provocations. "North Korea requested bilateral meetings with many countries but most of them were rejected," Kang said. "ASEAN countries share the consensus that having one-on-one talks with North Korea would undermine the significance of their collective position. So the Philippines' foreign minister met the North's counterpart as a representative and delivered the ASEAN stance." On Saturday, foreign ministers of the 10-member ASEAN issued a joint statement as a rare move, expressing "grave concerns" over the North's continued missile tests. The statement, which came a day before North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho arrived in Manila, became a "tone setter" of the following ASEAN meetings scheduled Sunday and Monday, Kang said. "I think the ARF became a stage where North Korea deeply felt its diplomatic isolation," she said. "The North had already been in a difficult position at the beginning of the forum due to the adoption of Resolution 2371 at the U.N. Security Council. But it has been further cornered after expressing its unyielding stance in a statement responding to the U.N. resolution." Asked about Seoul's diplomatic achievements during the forum, Kang answered she drew much support from the participants of President Moon Jae-in's Berlin initiative unveiled in July, an overture pursuing rapprochement with Pyongyang, denuclearization and building lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Of Ri, Kang noted "he responds very prudently and slowly. I got the impression that he thinks a lot while talking to people." The annual forum involving 10 ASEAN nations as well as members of the dormant six-party talks on denuclearization of North Korea the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia was held from Aug. 6 to 8 in Manila. Gaeseong Industrial Complex / Korea Times file Expert claims sanctions on Pyongyang will not affect Gaeseong complex By Park Jae-hyuk The United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) adoption of a new sanctions resolution does not prohibit the resumption of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, a legal expert here said Tuesday. "Resolution 2371 does not ban foreigners from running businesses in North Korea," said Song Ki-ho of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society. "Although the resolution's article 13 specifies prohibition of opening new joint ventures with North Korea, the Gaeseong complex is not a joint venture." Article 13 reads the United Nations shall prohibit both opening of new joint ventures and expansion of existing ones through additional investments, unless such joint ventures have been approved by the Security Council Committee in advance. "If South Korean businesspeople directly pay wages to North Korean workers, they will not be subject to the resolution," Song said. The lawyer also claimed the South Korean government should not be swayed by the U.S. government's stance against reopening the industrial complex in North Korean territory. Grace Choi, a spokeswoman for the State Department's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told Voice of America (VOA) this week that "We support the 2016 decision to shut down the Gaeseong complex in the face of North Korea's destabilizing and provocative actions." The spokeswoman's remark has been regarded as the U.S. government's official response to South Korean authorities and experts, who have claimed the exceptionality of the Gaeseong complex. A South Korean high-ranking government official reportedly said last month that Seoul does not have any evidence that Pyongyang diverted wages of Gaeseong complex workers to funds for developing nuclear weapons and missiles. "South Korea will be able to use the Gaeseong complex as diplomatic leverage to resolve the nuclear crisis," Song said. "Russia has been able to garner leverage, because the latest resolution allows coal exports from the Port of Rajin." Article 9 reads that the resolution shall not apply with respect to coal transported through North Korea solely for export from the port of Rajin (also known as Rason). "Article 28 calls for the resumption of the six-party talks to respect sovereignties of both North Korea and the United States," Song said. "Article 29 stresses peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as a peaceful solution to the situation through dialogue." The attorney, however, emphasized the recent resolution should be fully complied with, urging Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, North Korea threatened Tuesday to take physical action in response to the UN's adoption of the resolution. Koichi Mizushima, deputy chief of the mission at the Japanese Embassy in Korea, enters the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. The foreign and defense ministries called in Mizushima and Kyosuke Tsushima, Japanese defense attache at the embassy, respectively, in protest of Tokyo's territorial claim over Dokdo in its white defense paper issued on Tuesday. / Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo The defense and foreign ministries both summoned ranking officials from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to protest Tokyo's renewed territorial claims over Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo in its annual defense white paper released Tuesday. The defense white paper included Dokdo, claimed by Tokyo as Takeshima, as a part of Japanese territory for 13 consecutive years. The Ministry of National Defense said it summoned Kyosuke Tsushima, Japanese defense attache in Seoul, to lodge a formal complaint. "We strongly protest against Japan for making these idle arguments over and over. We ask them to take corrective measures immediately and urge them not to repeat such acts," it said. It said it also expressed deep regret over Japan's repeated territorial claim of Dokdo since 2005, adding "We will take stern measures against any attempts to dent our sovereignty." It asked Japan to face history squarely and make efforts for "a mature and future-oriented partnership" between the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it summoned Koichi Mizushima, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy. It separately issued a statement as well, asking Japan to drop its claim to Dokdo immediately. "Dokdo is our indigenous territory in terms of history and geography and under international law. The Korean government will be strict on any provocations concerning Dokdo," the statement read. The foreign ministry claimed Japan's argument "will not help at all" in improving bilateral relations. In its diplomatic bluebook issued in April, Japan claimed its own sovereignty over Dokdo. Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos (front) inaugurated the construction of the Caculo Cabaca Hydropower Project in Dondo, Angola on Aug. 4, 2017. (Xinhua/Xu Kunpeng) Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos on Aug 4 laid the symbolic first stone for the Caculo Cabaca Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam ever built in the country, adding a new mega project to the growing reach of Chinese contractors in Africa. The $4.5 billion scheme, being financed by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, will be constructed by the state-owned China Gezhouba Group. When complete around 2023, it will generate 2.2 GW of power from the Kwanza River in North Kwanza province, expected to meet more than half of the country's power needs. Nearly 10,000 local jobs will be created during the peak construction period. Addressing the opening ceremony on Friday, Energy and Water Resources Minister Joao Baptista Borges called the project "crucial" to the economic construction of Angola. It will solve the power shortage in Angola and bring jobs to the country, he said. Chinese state-owned conglomerates behind colossal dams like The Three Gorges and some of the worlds highest-situated dams on the Tibetan Plateau have flexed their engineering muscles in Africa. By late June, according to survey by Peoples Daily Online, Chinese firms have raised or contracted to build hydropower plants in at least 24 out of 54 African countries. The dams form a circular web linking nearly all hydroelectricity sweet spots in the continent: in northeast Africa's Nile Basin, Sinohydro is at the heart of the Merowe Dam and the Roseires Dam in Sudan, and Dongfang Electricas contracted Africas 3rd largest hydro station to date, the 1.87 GW Gilgel Gibe III in Ethiopia, the dubbedWater Tower of Africa". In western Africa, myriad Chinese-built stations are rising in hydro-hegemon Guinea, the source of the regions longest river Niger, and its drainage area countries Mali and Nigeria. In central Africa, Gezhouba Group has just laid the groundwork for the 240 MW Busanga Dam along the Congo River in DR Congo in March, joining the Chinas hydro legion in the Congo Basin following projects in Central African Republic, Congo Republic, Zambia, Angola, and Cameroon. To the south, China-built dams cover Zambezi river basin countries Mozambique and Zimbabwe. But this is not the whole African presence of Chinese hydro giants. Exemplifying Sinohydro alone, the Chinese company known for building Chinas Three Gorges Dam is actively taking on irrigation, waste treatment, water conveyance, drainage, and other water-related projects, as well as real estate and transportation construction in Africa. The company has more than 430 projects conducive to livelihood betterment in nearly 40 African countries, covering 3/4 of the continent, according to the companys website. Despite all the progress, experts predict that the potential for China to boost profits and expand African market share remains huge. By 2014, only 8-9% of hydro power potential in Africa had been tapped. The rate is in the double digits in Southeast Asia, much lower than the 70-80% potential realized in developed countries. Power Construction Corporation and its subsidiary Sinohydro can still thrive in the overseas hydro market for another 30-50 years, Zhang Boting, vice secretary general of China Society for Hydropower Engineering, said in an earlier interview. Bakun Dam by Sinohydro in Sarawak, Malaysia, on the Balui River. World's Contractor In fact, outside the more saturated and mature markets in North America and Europe, Chinese hydro power makers have been exporting their technical prowess across all continents and regional blocs. In Latin America, where half of its electricity production is from hydroelectric sources, Chinese companies have laid roots in 11 out of its 34 countries and regions, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras and more. In Equador, with over 200 enormous water bodies, Sinohydro manufactured the countrys largest energy project in history, the 1.5 GW Coca Codo Sinclair Hydroelectric Complex that was inaugurated in April 2016. Once fully operational, the station will supply 40% of the nation's electricity needs and export $200 million worth of power to neighboring countries including Columbia. In Bolivia, a country that sits at an average altitude of 3,700 meters, Sinohydro has flexed its engineering muscles by raising the $235 million San Jose hydro project on the rim of the Altiplano highland. The project is expected to send 124 MW of energy to the national grid, powering 3 million residents in the countrys Cochabamba department. Bolivia's President Evo Morales has visited the site three times and gave high recognition of its importance to consolidate the nation's electric power infrastructure. Chinese hydroelectricity makers have also made headway in seven out of eleven countries in Southeast Asia; five out of seven South Asia countries; Kazakhstan and Tajikistan in Central Asia, Turkey, and Iran in the Middle East. In 2013 and 2014, respectively, Sinohydro was awarded contracts to build in Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, a springboard to enter the high-end European market with stricter standards for new players. By John Redmond The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) recently launched the Made in America committee as part of the initiative to reduce the trade deficit with the United States and help small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is an addition to AMCHAM's over 30 standing committees that meet regularly to discuss issues relevant to their respective business sectors. The Made in America committee will host events and seminars that assist small American businesses interested in expanding in Korea and encourage joint ventures with their Korean counterparts. Headed by partner Kim Jung-wook of Kim & Chang, the committee plans to work closely with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and other relevant trade-related organizations to improve and increase bilateral trade relations between the two countries. AMCHAM Chairman and Chief Executive James Kim has expressed confidence in the new committee's potential, given the importance of decreasing the trade deficit while helping SMEs. "The role of AMCHAM as a bridge-builder and as a problem solver is even more important than ever before," Kim said. "It has always been a top priority for AMCHAM to preserve a strong economic partnership between Korea and the United States. The Made in America committee's activities will ensure stability and a steadfast win-win partnership. I have the utmost confidence in Kim Jung-wook's expertise to make this committee one of the strongest at AMCHAM." AMCHAM Korea, founded in 1953, aims to encourage the development of investment and trade between Korea and the United States. It is the largest foreign chamber in Korea, with around 700 member companies with diverse interests and substantial participation in the Korean economy. Visit amchamkorea.org for more. Sylph Emew Busan will host the Busan International Rock Festival at Samnak Ecology Park, Aug. 11 to 13. The festival, billed as a leading music celebration in Korea, represents "the openness and youth of the coastal city of Busan," state the organizers. "The festival is organized with the goals of discovering new musical talent, revitalizing the music industry and celebrating indie bands." Highlights this year include French funk rock duo Teleferik and Japanese hard rock band Sylph Emew. Korean acts include big names like metal group Mahatma and Romantic Punch and Busan acts including Ska Wakers and Pia. General admission is free although fees may be charged for some events and activities. To get to Samnak Ecology Park, go out exit 3 of Sasang Station on Busan Metro Line 2 and walk about 750 meters straight, or leave exit 1 of Gwaebeop Renecite Station on the Busan-Gimhae LRT line. For more information visit bfo.or.kr or call 82-51-501-6051 or the KTO helpline 1330. Nottingham University / Courtesy of Jacob Lotinga By Jacob Lotinga Nottingham, UK -- Representatives of Nottingham University and three other British universities are preparing to reach out to South Korean high schools in Incheon this month. The 2017 East Asia Regional Institute will bring universities from around the world together with South Korean high schools from August 13 to 15 at the University of Utah's Asia campus. This is the first time the International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) will offer a regional institute in South Korea. Event program manager Lucien Giordano said IACAC was "ecstatic" about hosting it in South Korea. "It is a great opportunity to learn firsthand from over 40 universities representing over a dozen countries." British universities may find themselves outnumbered by the 22 U.S. universities expected to attend. Jeremy Burgess, deputy director of student recruitment at Nottingham University, said he was "super-excited" about his first visit to South Korea. Burgess, who will give two presentations at the Incheon event, said: "Part of the joy of this job is that you get to travel and be exposed to different cultures." Burgess praised South Korean students' contribution to British university life: "Having people from a diverse range of backgrounds helps to cultivate the intellectual landscape." Nottingham University has a well-established exchange agreement with Seoul's Korea University. Jessica Reeves, the senior international relations manager who leads on South Korea, said students from Yonsei, Ewha and Sookmyung universities sometimes came to Nottingham for a semester or a year. "One of the most popular subjects for Korean students is creative arts and creative subjects," Reeves said. The University of the Arts, London, is Britain's leading recruiter of South Korean students, according to the United Kingdom's Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA ), Burgess said, while Nottingham University ranks 19th. But the 2016-17 academic year saw 25 Korean students enrolled at Nottingham, a rise on the previous year. Reeves said South Korean students at Nottingham University were studying subjects including economics, sociology and education. She said Nottingham University student Gang Hye-rim had started a Korean-language blog on Naver, South Korea's biggest portal, while serving as a university intern. Reeves said the blog provided "a student's perspective on Nottingham life," mixing academic and fun content, and contrasting British and South Korean office life. Shin Gyong-gu, former dean of the international office at Chonnam National University (2008-12), said South Korean students had a "clear preference" for U.S. universities. But he said South Korean students were too "narrowly oriented" toward America and might learn more from European and British universities. Reeves, who has visited South Korea twice annually for three-and-a-half years, said: "I've had a fantastic experience working in South Korea." She said she had found people "pleasant, friendly, polite," South Korean society "efficient," and the cuisine "amazing" -- especially barbecue dishes. Jacob Lotinga is a contributor to The Korea Times. By Yi Whan-woo South Korea and the United States have begun their talks on revising Seoul's missile development guidelines so it can have more powerful missiles. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed Monday it was discussing with its South Korean counterpart the latter's proposal for a revision to better deter Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats. The negotiations come as President Moon Jae-in is seeking to bolster the country's self-defense capability, while leaving the door open to resuming dialogue with North Korea. Last changed in 2012, the guidelines ban South Korea from developing missiles with a range of over 800 kilometers and a payload exceeding 500 kilograms. The Moon administration has sought to extend the payload weight limit to 1 ton following the Kim Jong-un regime's two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. Doubling the payload is expected to increase South Korea's capability of striking Pyongyang's underground bunkers that are constructed to shelter the North Korean leadership in the event of war. "There is currently a limit on the warhead size and missiles that South Korea can have, and yes, it is a topic under active consideration here," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis was quoted as saying to Reuters and AFP. "I would tell you that we would be favorably inclined to do anything which increases the defensive capabilities of South Korea." The Pentagon said it had received the request from South Korea to review the guidelines and that it has been working with the Department of State to "determine the best way forward." According to Cheong Wa Dae, U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to actively cooperate when Moon sought Washington's support in rewriting the guidelines during a phone call Monday. Cheong Wa Dae said Moon also "briefly touched on" issues about nuclear submarines while addressing the need to enhance South Korea's self-defense capabilities along with its joint defensive posture with the U.S. South Korea does not possess nuclear-powered submarines. They have been considered critical to effectively deter the North's missiles, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles, as they can operate deep into North Korean waters, monitor Pyongyang's nuclear and missile facilities and strike preemptively if necessary But developing relevant technology will require a revision of a Seoul-Washington nuclear agreement. Revised in 2015, it only allows South Korea to use nuclear energy for peaceful and industrial purposes. Moon promised to revise the bilateral nuclear agreement during the May presidential campaign. In June, Moon observed the test-firing of the country's new Hyunmoo-type ballistic missile in what was seen as a warning against North Korea's cycle of military provocations. The new missile has a maximum range of 800 kilometers, which is sufficient to cover all of North Korea. From left are Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman nominee Jeong Kyeong-doo, Army Chief of Staff Kim Yong-woo, Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Wang-keun and ROK-U.S. CFC Deputy Commander Kim Byeong-joo. / Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye President Moon Jae-in nominated Air Force Chief of Staff Jeong Kyeong-doo to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in a military leadership reshuffle, Tuesday. If Jeong gets National Assembly confirmation, he will be the first Air Force general to become the JCS chairman in 23 years. The position has been mostly dominated by the Army. President Moon also promoted six lieutenant generals to four-star generals and assigned them to senior positions including chiefs of the Army and Air Force. The reshuffle reflects President Moon's will to reform the Army-dominated armed forces to achieve a better balance between the Army, Navy and Air Force, officials said. The move is also designed to move the conventional Army-orientated military toward a future-oriented one with the most advanced weapons systems, at a time when North Korea is bolstering its so-called asymmetric warfare capabilities by developing nuclear weapons and missiles. Moon earlier appointed retired Navy Admiral Song Young-moo as defense minister, a position that has also long been dominated by retired Army generals. The Ministry of National Defense said the latest appointments were made to better prepare for the evolving nuclear and missile threats from the North. "Those who can strongly push for defense reform and those who have all-around expertise in carrying out joint and combined exercises have been appointed to the positions," the ministry said in a release. Kim Yong-woo, who currently heads the JCS's strategy and planning office, was appointed as Army chief of staff, while the Air Force's Lee Wang-keun, the former Air Force Operations commander, was named as Air Force chief of staff. Kim Byeong-joo, who commands the Army's 3rd Corps, was tapped as deputy commander of the Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (ROK-US CFC). Moon also replaced the commanding generals of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd armies, including Gen. Park Chan-ju of the 2nd Operations Command. Park has been embroiled in controversy over allegations he and his wife exploited and disrespected soldiers assigned to serve at his official residence. Park was transferred to a "policy study" section with no formal job title. The ministry said he would not be discharged as his military status needs to be maintained for military prosecutors to investigate the allegation. Park Jong-jin, deputy commander of the 3rd Army, was appointed as commanding general of the 1st Army, while Park Han-ki, who commands the 8th Corps, was named to head the 2nd Operations Command. Kim Woon-yong, commanding general of the 2nd Corps, was named as commanding general of the 3rd Army. By Chyung Eun-ju Two policemen who failed to investigate a child abuse report, leading to a five-year-old boy having an eye surgically removed, were punished on Monday. Mokpo Police Station said a disciplinary hearing decided to reduce the officers' salaries for a month, according to JoongAng Ilbo. The punishment is the least-severe penalty available. The hearing also issued a reprimand to the officers' superiors. The case surfaced in July 2016 when the boy was hospitalized with a broken arm, caused by his mother's boyfriend. The boy was later discharged. The medical team reported their abuse suspicions to police, but they didn't immediately investigate. Police reportedly said they didn't act because the Gwangju Child Protection Institution did not find evidence of abuse or consult doctors regarding the boy. Three months after the boy's discharge, he was hospitalized again. The injuries meant doctors had to remove one of his eyes. Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency found that the eye removal was a result of Mokpo police's poor initial response. On July 27, the Gwangju District Court convicted the mother's boyfriend of grievous bodily harm and sentenced him 18 years' jail. The mother was sentenced to six years for child neglect. "Measures to identify child abuse in the early stages are urgent," a protection institution official said. "The rate of detecting child victims in Korea is 0.5 to 0.7 percent while it is 9.4 percent in the United States." Nearly 80 percent of child abusers in Korea are parents, while 9 percent of victimized children report to police, the institution said. Foreigners obliged to renew residence permit every 10 years By Kim Bo-eun The government will establish the legal grounds to ban foreigners suspected of having committed crimes that could lead to a minimum three years imprisonment up to a maximum of life or the death penalty from leaving the country. The government finalized revisions to the Immigration Control Law at a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, to include the travel ban on foreign criminal suspects. The revisions will be handed over to the National Assembly for legislative procedures. Another revision to the law will make it mandatory for foreigners to renew their permanent residence permit every 10 years. According to the revisions, investigative authorities will request immigration offices to ban travel for suspects when there is concern they could destroy evidence. Under the current law, there is only a clause banning travel for Korean suspects. "Up until now, investigative authorities made a documented request for a travel ban for foreign criminal suspects to the justice minister, which was then put under review, taking a considerable time making it possible for foreign suspects to flee," the Korea Immigration Service said in an email response, Tuesday. In October 2015, there was a case in which foreign suspects allegedly killed and buried a female farm owner in her 50s in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, but escaped law enforcement after fleeing to Uzbekistan. The suspects, who were illegal residents, worked at the farm. They were identified in surveillance cameras withdrawing cash from the farmer owner's account at an ATM, but this was uncovered after they had already fled. The revisions state if the investigative authorities request an immigration office for a travel ban on a foreign suspect, they must obtain approval from the justice minister within six hours of filing for the ban. The revisions also impose a 10-year expiration period for residency permits for foreigners. The residence permit for foreigners was introduced in April 2002 through revisions to the Immigration Control Law, but it did not outline means to renew the permit. "Up until now, because foreigners here did not need to renew their residence permits, they tended not to report changes in address; also the deaths of foreign residents tended not to be reported leaving a loophole in the management of foreign residents," the Korea Immigration Service said. "This is why the revisions were drawn up for renewing resident permits every 10 years, in order to keep track of foreigners' residences in the country." President Moon Jae-in gives a toy to 14 year-old Lim Sung-joon, one of the victims of a toxic humidifier disinfectant scandal, during a meeting with 15 victims and their relatives at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Moon offered an apology on behalf of the government and vowed to help them overcome their mental and physical damages. / Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon By Jun Ji-hye President Moon Jae-in held face-to-face talks with victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants and their relatives at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, vowing the government will lead efforts to compensate them for their physical and emotional distress. Government officials and politicians who participated in the meeting also vowed to draw up measures to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy. Moon apologized on behalf of the government for its failure to protect the people, although the humidifier disinfectant case, one of the worst scandals involving a consumer product using chemicals, occurred during former administrations. The case that came to light in 2011 has revealed up to 221 victims who mostly suffered lung problems. Among them, 177 had used Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Oxy products. Out of up to 90 deaths, 70 were believed to have been caused by products made by Oxy, according to the results of a government-led investigation. "The reason for the existence of the government is to protect the lives and safety of the people, but unfortunately, the administrations failed to prevent damage from humidifier disinfectants," Moon said. "The government also failed to actively and promptly respond to the health crisis. I offer a sincere apology on behalf of the government." He invited 15 victims and their relatives to the presidential office. Lim Sung-joon, a 14-year-old boy who has to rely on a respirator due to lung damage, was among them. From the government, Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung, presidential policy chief Jang Ha-sung and senior presidential secretary for social affairs Kim Su-hyun were present. From the National Assembly, Rep. Woo Won-shik, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and DPK Rep. Hong Young-pyo, who chairs the parliamentary environment committee, attended. Moon said manufacturers are responsible for the health problems involving their toxic humidifier disinfectants, but the government also needs to share responsibility. He pledged to allocate money to push for additional measures to compensate victims and families in addition to the existing state support program. In June, the government said it would offer partial living and caretaking costs for low-income victims, and expanded the number of hospitals designated to determine if a person's health had been impacted by humidifier disinfectants. "If a relevant law needs to be legislated or revised to support the victims and families, I will ask the National Assembly for cooperation," he said. Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Environment announced the government will implement a prior approval system for toxic products, such as disinfectants, starting in 2019, as part of measures to prevent a recurrence of such deadly incidents. The two separate legislations to implement the measures were approved by the Cabinet on the same day. Under the new rules, any potentially toxic products must be screened in advance for safety by the ministry before they are distributed to markets. A seller is required to submit documents detailing the possible toxicity of the substances used in the product. The new rules also stipulate that the government imposes fines of up to 1 billion won ($888,000) on manufacturers if they are caught using illegal ingredients. Jo Cook / Courtesy of Far Eastern Leopards UK activist to plant seeds of hope near North Korea By Jung Min-ho For Koreans, especially young people, it is now hard to imagine tigers and leopards living in the mountains around their cities and villages. But only a century ago, big cats were objects of dread and the source of many folk tales among the people sharing the Korean Peninsula with them. The country's last tiger was killed on Mt. Daedeok in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1922. The last leopard suffered the same fate in 1970 on Mt. Yeohang in Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province. Now, the Far Eastern Leopards, a London-based nonprofit organization working to conserve the endangered Amur leopards, is seeking to plant seeds of hope for lovers of big cats here. Jo Cook, co-coordinator for its endangered species program, will start a project to increase the number of Amur leopards the species that used to live here in Lazovsky Zapovednik, Russia's Far East (RFE), which is less than 300 kilometers from North Korea. The goal is not to reintroduce Amur leopards on the Korean Peninsula, but in the long run, it could happen, she noted. "I do believe increased numbers of both tigers and leopards could potentially see them expanding into the Korean Peninsula," Cook told The Korea Times. Amur leopard / Courtesy of Leopard Land National Park (by Choi Ki-soon) There are 70 to 80 wild Amur leopards in RFE, and they've been expanding westwards in recent years. "There could well be some living or at least temporarily moving into North Korea," she said. Her team will use pairs of Amur leopards from the breeding programs to produce cubs under special conditions, where they can be raised without direct human influence. This will either happen in RFE or in specially constructed facilities in zoos. Once the cubs grow big enough, they will be transferred to RFE for more adjustment before being released into the wild. The process will be repeated using different pairs of leopards in an effort to maximize the genetic diversity of the released population. Seoul Grand Park, which has aided the organization in its work for several years, will participate. Cook is confident of its success but said it may take time. "We believe the reintroduction project could see another population of approximately 90 individual Amur leopards living in RFE, but at this point it is impossible to put a timescale on it as there are so many variables," she said. Asked whether it would be possible to carry out such a project in South Korea, she said it may not be worthwhile, given the country's current environment. "For South Korea, I just don't think there is enough suitable habitat to make reintroduction worthwhile. If there is not enough habitat to support a small population, then it is not worth doing because small populations have to endure so many risks," Cook said. "There is a strong desire from some Koreans to have tigers and leopards reintroduced, and that is great. But realistically, I think we are some way off from even discussing it at great depth. But I would welcome seeing a rigorous survey of the habitat in South Korea as that has to be the first step in any reintroduction plan." Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, right, shakes hands with Sister Marianne Stoger at an event on Sorok Island in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Sorokdo National Hospital's establishment and the 13th Leprosy Day on May 17, 2016. / Korea Times file By Ko Dong-hwan, You Soo-sun The government plans to recommend two nurses from Austria as candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for their more than 40 years of dedication to leprosy patients on a remote southern island. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said Monday he will form a committee to push for the nomination of Sister Marianne Stoeger, 81, and Sister Margaritha Pissarek, 80. Lee recommended to the presidential office that former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik head the committee and first lady Kim Jung-sook be its honorary representative. Cheong Wa Dae expressed its intention to support Lee's recommendation. Lee's office said a Korean government official aims to give a speech during a peace prize planning meeting this year to recommend the nuns. The South Jeolla provincial government also announced it plans to recommend the nurses in recognition of their contributions on Sorok Island in South Jeolla Province. The provincial government is discussing measures to push ahead with the plan, including forming a committee for the nomination. The committee will consist of members representing areas of welfare, human rights, medicine and public administration. Graduates of a state nursing school in Austria, the two nurses began the mission of treating leprosy patients on Sorok Island in 1966. It had been an uninhabited and remote island, to where leprosy patients were exiled and where they would suffer from other forms of abuse. Yet, the nurses would stay there until December 2005, when they abruptly departed leaving only a letter behind. Sisters Marianne Stoeger, back row right, and Margareta Pissar, back row left, pose with co-workers treating leprosy patients on Soroko Island off the southern Korean coast in this picture taken in 1970 at the Sorokdo National Hospital. / Courtesy of Goheung County Office The two women are today hailed as "angels of Sorok Island" for their sacrificial service as well as their genuine care for the patients. It is said the two had only worn white gowns as they looked after 6,000 patients a stark contrast to others who geared themselves up with masks, gloves and quarantine gear. They cared for the patients, old and young, as well as their children, while receiving medicine from their families in Austria. The financial support they received from their hometown was used not for themselves but for facilities to treat the patients. Initiatives to honor the two women have grown nationwide over the last few years. In April 2016, they were invited by the Sorokdo National Hospital, Sorokdo Catholic Church and Goheung County to attend the hospital's centennial anniversary. Stoeger attended the event, while Pissarek was unable to attend due to illness. President Moon Jae-in attended a ceremony at the Goheung Cultural Center honoring the two as residents and paid a visit to Sorok Island in May 2016. In June this year, a group of government officials including Woo Ki-jong, vice governor of the province, met with the two nurses in Tyrol, Austria, to discuss the idea of a joint nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Vienna's Urania Cinema screened "Marianne and Margaret," a two-hour documentary about the nuns' efforts on the Korean island, a few days later. The screening attracted 230 people who celebrated the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Austria. Korean Ambassador Shin Dong-ik said at the event that the legacy of Stoeger and Pissarek "gives particular significance to the anniversary" and he hoped this film "will raise public awareness of their sacrifice." The Korean government plans to screen the film on Aug. 17 in Seoul and Sejong City as part of its plan to promote the nuns' service. During his separate phone talks with American and Japanese leaders Monday, President Moon Jae-in agreed to impose a ''maximum level of pressure and sanctions'' to induce change in North Korea's behavior. While talking with President Donald Trump, in particular, Moon stressed that the North ''must be brought to the point where it can no longer withstand sweeping sanctions.'' It's encouraging that the three countries reaffirmed their strong coordination against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats. Efforts to induce the rogue state to abandon its nuclear ambitions through stepped-up sanctions are surely going in the right direction. Given the North's fierce protests of the latest United Nations Security Council resolution, the likelihood is that the recalcitrant regime in Pyongyang won't back off from its nuclear brinkmanship in the foreseeable future. So the maximum level of pressure and sanctions are essential, considering that North Korea won't forsake its nuclear and missile programs until it finds it impossible to survive without ditching them. During his nearly one-hour conversation with Trump, Moon said there should be no outbreak of war on the Korean Peninsula, noting the need to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in a peaceful and diplomatic manner. Moon's perceptions are quite natural, taking into consideration that there have been allegations of preemptive strikes on the North in the United States amid an escalation of its nuclear and missile provocations. But it would not be wise if South Korea alone stuck to dialogue with the North at a time when sanctions have already become the norm around the world. This will certainly benefit only North Korea and China, its last remaining ally, as the hard-won international coordination of sanctions against Pyongyang falters once again. What is certain is that now is the time for pressure rather than dialogue. The United States and North Korea have been engaging in tense psychological warfare, confronting each other. Against this backdrop, it's obvious that our singlehanded call for dialogue with Pyongyang could result in us isolating ourselves internationally down the road. Certainly it's time to drop vague expectations for peace and make all-out efforts to pressure North Korea into negotiations through increased coordination with Washington. By Lee Seong-hyon The news story that the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping underscored China's "blood alliance" with North Korea in his meeting with President Moon Jae-in is still generating a flurry of speculation in the public sphere. Whether Xi really used the particular word at the G-20 summit is one thing, but what is more important is whether Pyongyang and Beijing can be still defined as allies in this 21st century? And from an analytical perspective, the answer is yes. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Xi said, "China has maintained a blood alliance with North Korea. There have been many changes, yet the relationship has not changed fundamentally." The Chinese side, through an unofficial channel, refuted Xi's use of the word "blood alliance" (xue meng). There is no official Chinese transcript released to fact-check Xi's words in the meeting. In general, the Chinese government today does not refer to the Sino-North Korea relationship as "xue meng." What the Chinese commonly use, instead, is "xian xue ning cheng." It means a relationship "formed through fresh blood." The common Korean translation for it is "dong maeng," which literally means "blood alliance." So, even if Xi didn't use the word "blood alliance," it would mean "blood alliance," when translated into Korean. Semantics aside, the important question is whether the nature of today's relationship between China and North Korea, in this 21st century, can still be defined as an "alliance" or not. The resounding answer is yes. Above all, China and North Korea have still kept their formal alliance since 1961. Despite reports that Beijing's patience with Pyongyang has reached its limit, China has never officially proposed to abolish or abandon its alliance with North Korea. After North Korea's third nuclear test in 2013, for instance, Deng Yuwen, then the deputy editor of Study Times, the journal of the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, wrote a column for the Financial Times, titled "China should abandon North Korea." It was soon found that Deng was fired by the Communist Party organ. A Chinese academic in Beijing observed: "Deng asserted that we should abandon North Korea, but it was him who was abandoned. Some argue that the North Korea-China Alliance treaty was a mere Cold War relic; its applicability in the post-Cold War era is virtually non-existent. But using the same logic, we can also ask why, even after the demise of the Cold War, China did not rescind its alliance with North Korea? This is a salient question because China abolished its alliance with the Soviet Union after it reached the treaty expiration period of 30 years. China and Russia are still not allies today. Even a prominent figure such as Fu Ying, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of China's National People's Congress, recently affirmed that the two are not allies. But China is very careful in choosing words when it comes to North Korea affairs So, we are back to page one. Why does China, which has a formal alliance with North Korea, want to avoid using the very word in public and make pains not to draw attention to it? The obvious answer is that the propaganda department of the Communist Party banned the word in the Chinese media, by putting it on the list of prohibited words. Since the reform and opening up of the country in 1978, China's foreign policy has emphasized the principle of "non-alliance" as its core of "independence diplomacy." The China-North Korea alliance is an anomaly. It directly goes against the very central tenet of the Chinese foreign policy. So, Beijing has reason not to highlight it. The Chinese alliance treaty with North Korea is still alive "quietly" unless the media pay attention to it. In addition, China, which self-styles itself as a "responsible great power" (fu zeren de daguo), wants to avoid taking responsibility in dealing with North Korea amid the heightened "China accountability" of North Korea in the international narrative. Furthermore, it may be beneath the dignity of the "great country" to be found to be a "close buddy" of the international pariah. China has been struggling to de-emphasize that its supreme leader did not use the word "blood alliance" in describing Beijing's ties with Pyongyang. The best way to dissipate the controversy is for China to demonstrate with its actions, not words, that North Korea is not its ally. Lee Seong-hyon, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the Sejong Institute. Reach him at sunnybbsfs@gmail.com An Arab businessman dealing with Kumho Tire products, second from left, and other overseas buyers hold a rally in front of the Kumho Asiana Group headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. The buyers said they oppose Kumho Tire creditors' plan to sell the company to Double Star Tires, a mid-tier Chinese tiremaker, claiming their business has been hurt by the ongoing sales talks. / Courtesy of Kumho Tire By Lee Min-hyung Scientists here have developed a sensor to monitor cellular calcium levels, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) said Tuesday. A research team led by KIST senior researcher Jeong Sang-hoon and Pusan National University professor Kim Tae-jin expects the sensor to be widely used for the early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and a series of cardiac disorders. The research was conducted to find out how calcium is stored in the body. This comes as calcium has been considered a mysterious mineral it plays an integral role in metabolism, gene regulation and cell proliferation. "The achievement will speed up the ongoing research surrounding the role of calcium and its interactions with cells in the human body," Chung said. "We believe the sensor can play an integral part in not just diagnosing various diseases but also developing relevant medicines to cure them." The research team has developed the sensor by focusing on monitoring the slightest changes of cellular calcium level in the body. The sensor is twice as sensitive to the cells, compared with existing monitoring devices, as it uses a mechanism called fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET refers to energy transfer between two light-sensitive molecules. The institute said finding out the reason for fluctuating in-body calcium levels is the key to resolving various diseases. The sensor will, therefore, serve as a key device to search correlations between calcium and degenerative diseases surrounding pneumonia, liver and blood vessels, the team said. The achievement was released in the August edition of the academic journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. By Yoon Sung-won The Moon Jae-in administration's plan to increase the discount rate on monthly mobile fees faces strong opposition from telecom companies. Sources said Tuesday that SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus plan to file legal action against the government to defend their profits. "It seems that a legal dispute with the government is inevitable," a telecom industry insider said. "The government is blindly pushing its plan without any effort to deal with the difficulties that we are facing." SK Telecom has worked with law firm Bae, Kim & Lee to prepare for possible litigation. KT and LG Uplus have reportedly consulted Yulchon and Kim & Chang, respectively. President Moon has pledged to introduce measures to reduce household telecom expenses. In Korea, people can either receive a one-time subsidy or monthly fee discounts under typical two-year mobile contracts. The discount rate is 20 percent and the Moon administration wants to raise it to 25 percent. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) asked the three telecom companies to make written submissions on the discount rate hike by today, aiming to implement its plan in September. The telecom companies, however, are expected to say the government's plan is "difficult to accept." According to Daishin Securities, telecom companies are expected to lose 320 billion won in revenue a year if the government pushes ahead with its plan. Telecom companies also argue that the government is trying to increase the discount rate without a legal basis. When the monthly fee discount was introduced, the ministry set it at 12 percent but raised it to 20 percent. "There will be a significant gap in actual benefits between the two choices if the government enforces the monthly fee discount rate hike as it plans," another industry source said. Although the new Science Minister You Young-min met the CEOs of the three telecom companies to seek cooperation, the government drive may reach a deadlock if the companies decide to file a legal challenge. "The government is trying to hike the rate unilaterally," said the industry source, who asked not to be named. "The government should not force us to blindly follow its directions while meddling in our pricing strategies." By Jhoo Dong-chan Daewoo Engineering & Construction (E&C) and Samsung Engineering are set to participate in a 5 trillion won ($4.4 billion) construction project in Oman. The two Korean builders said Tuesday they separately won two of the three contract packages ordered by Duqm Refinery & Petrochemical Industries Company, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company and Kuwait Petroleum International. The packages are about constructing refinery facilities 550 kilometers south of Oman's capital city Muscat. It will be able to process 230,000 barrels of crude oil a day in the Duqm Special Economic Zone. Italian builder Saipem won the third contract. Daewoo E&C will carry out the first construction package for $2.75 billion together with Spanish builder Tecnicas Reunidas. The 47-month construction package involves engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) operations for the refinery's main facilities. The Seoul-based firm holds a 35 percent stake, or $962.5 million, in the package. "Daewoo E&C managed to win the contract in a difficult situation like the Middle East's low demand due to low oil price. The contract means a lot to us," a Daewoo E&C official said. "The project will boost the company's profitability in the region. Daewoo E&C will do its best to win follow-up deals for other major construction projects in Oman." Samsung Engineering also won the second contract package together with British oil facility service company Petrofac. The $2 billion construction package to build utilities and offsite facilities for the refinery is expected to be finished by 2021. Samsung Engineering holds a 50 percent stake, or $1 billion, in the package. Unlike the deal with Daewoo E&C, Samsung Engineering will carry out the contract project on a turnkey basis to build various utility facilities, including water, air and oil tanks as well as a sewer system, for the refinery. In EPC operations, an ordering company provides basic engineering to a contractor, and the latter will perform detailed design based on received engineering. It is different from turnkey operation where the employer only provides certain technical specifications of the project and it is the responsibility of the contractor to carry out basic and detailed design of the project. "We have experience in proceeding with utilities and off-sites projects in the past and we expect to strengthen our competitiveness and influences not only in Oman but also in other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council by completing the construction successfully," a Samsung Engineering official said. Kang Jung-seok, Dong-A Socio Holdings chairman By Lee Hyo-sik Dong-A Socio Group is facing the biggest crisis in its 85-year history as Chairman Kang Jung-seok was put behind bars on charges of offering kickbacks to doctors and evading taxes. It is feared that the chairman's legal trouble could tarnish the corporate image of the country's largest pharmaceutical company and adversely affect its business with hospitals and other healthcare providers. The Busan District Court issued an arrest warrant this week for Kang, saying there is enough evidence to charge him and he may destroy evidence if he is not detained. The prosecution asked the court to allow detaining the chairman, claiming he orchestrated Dong-A's illicit scheme to create a slush fund to bribe doctors and dodged paying taxes. According to the investigators, Kang is suspected of having embezzled 70 billion won ($62 million) from the company between 2007 and 2013, and offering 5.5 billion won in kickbacks to doctors in return for prescribing its products. He also allegedly evaded paying 17 billion won in taxes. But he has been denying the charges, saying several salespeople went rogue to bolster their sales performance. Kang also blamed wholesale dealers who broker business deals between Dong-A and hospitals. "Chairman Kang and his lawyers will do everything to clear all the charges against him during the trial," a Dong-A Socio Holdings official said. "The court's decision to detain Kang doesn't prove anything." In response to growing concerns over the possible adverse effects of Kang's absence, the company said it will mobilize all available resources to run the business as usual. "Since March 2013 when the group adopted a holding company structure, professional CEOs have independently been running each unit," the official said. An industry analyst, who declined to be named, said the court's decision to detain Kang on alleged provision of kickbacks has surprised many pharmaceutical industry officials. "We have to wait and see whether the court finds Kang guilty or not," the analyst said. "I don't think his absence will negatively affect Dong-A's day-to-day operations. But the legal trouble will certainly tarnish the firm's image and may deprive them of new business opportunities." Kang became Dong-A Socio Holdings' chairman in January, replacing his 87-year-old father Kang Shin-ho who led the company for 35 years. After graduating from Chung-Ang University, he joined the pharmaceutical firm in 1989 and served in various key posts. In 2013, he was promoted to CEO of Dong-A Socio Holdings and then to the vice chairman two years later. The holding firm controls two flagship units: Dong-A Pharmaceuticals and Dong-A ST. The former produces over the counter, non-prescription drugs and health food items, while the latter deals with prescription drugs and medical equipment. Founded in 1932, Dong-A Socio Group earned 726.2 billion won in sales last year with a 76 billion won operating profit. The PLA Navy is conducting live-fire drills in the Yellow Sea. Yellow Sea exercises come in wake of Pyongyang's second long-range missile test in a month By Sarah Zheng Chinese naval forces will conduct more than 10 kinds of drills and launch dozens of types of missiles during four days of live-fire exercises off the Korean peninsula, according to state media. The details of the drills, which end on Tuesday, were released less than two weeks after North Korea fired off its second long-range missile in a month. State-run CCTV reported on Monday that the naval forces taking part in the exercises in the Yellow Sea would practice offensive and defensive manoeuvrers with surface ships, submarines, air support, and coastguard forces. The drills would mirror real combat conditions and test the troops' tactical, combat and weapons training, the report said. The exercises included aerial interception and assaults by land and sea, it said. Top brass overseeing the drills included navy chief Shen Jinlong, Central Military Commission training and management head Li Huohui,commissar of the Northern Theatre Command Fan Xiaojun, and navy commissar Miao Hua. The drills were taking place in the waters between the coast of Qingdao in Shandong province and Lianyungang in Jiangsu province, according to notices from the PLA Navy's North Sea Fleet and the Shandong Maritime Safety Administration. They come after a three-day naval exercise in the Yellow Sea late last month ahead of the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army. Analysts said this week's show of force in the geostrategic area near the increasingly provocative North Korea was an unsurprising response to Pyongyang's July 28 missile test. Malcolm Davis, a Chinese defence specialist at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the latest drill was essentially a warning to Pyongyang. "[The Chinese] could be sending a message to the North Koreans that they will be effective in any conflict if war is to break out," he said. Collin Koh, a maritime security expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, said the drill was meant to deter various players on the Korean peninsula, including North Korea and the United States. Koh said the exercises were intended to help ward off a full-blown shooting war. "States do this because they want to send a signal," he said. "It's not just targeted at North Korea." Feifei the cat looking healthy and relaxed after his wounds have healed. Stray animal was found on the streets of Chengdu and had operation to correct eye problem By Laura Zhou Before and after photos of a stray cat called Feifei, or Fatty, found on the streets of Chengdu have been widely shared online after it had surgery to correct an eyelid problem, making its eyes bigger. Feifei's eyelids folded inwards, which could cause irritation or infection. "My friend's vet clinic just helped a stray cat that could barely open its eyes because its eyelids folded inwards," the person who posted the photos wrote on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. "But after double eyelid surgery' it looks like a different cat." Double eyelid surgery is a common cosmetic procedure in China that adds a fold to make the eye seem larger. The photos show the cat before the surgery, in which its eyes look half-closed and irritated. Post-surgery photos show the cat with swelling and stitches below its eyes, while another photo shows the cat looking relaxed and healthy after the wounds have healed and able to fully open its eyes. Feifei has won plenty of fans online the photos have garnered some 35,000 "likes" since they were posted in mid-July. He Jinyi, the vet who operated on the cat last month, told Chengdu Business Daily that it was not cosmetic surgery, as many internet users believed, but a necessary procedure to correct its abnormal eyelids, which folded inwards. The condition could cause irritation or infection because the cat's eyelashes were constantly rubbing against its cornea, He said. "We discovered the problem when the cat was brought into the clinic," He was quoted as saying. "The surgery ... took about half an hour. The photos are a hit online because the changes in the cat's eyes are so dramatic." Two volunteers from an animal welfare group in the Sichuan capital found the cat in March, the report said. "We saw that there was something wrong with its eyes and the vet said it needed surgery after we took it in for a check-up," one of the volunteers, surnamed Chen, told the newspaper. The procedure cost nearly 2,000 yuan (US$295) and Feifei is now happily living with a local family, Chen said. Feifei's new look has been met with approval on social media. "Now I understand why so many girls are so obsessed with double eyelid surgery," one Weibo user wrote. Another person described the transformation as a miracle. "I think other cat owners should start saving so their cats can have this operation too." Kim Kardashian is one sexy woman and is known for her curve appeal in American and pretty much all around the world. Netizens are recently stating that this Korean star is similar to Kim Kardashian due to her recent photo shoot. Clara recently released a few photos from a photoshoot on her personal Instagram. The photos are to highlight her latest sunglass endorsement as well as her summer swimsuit style. Clara is known for adding lots of sex appeal to any outfit she wears. Clara consistently showcases her fashionista sense by sporting various leggings, bathing suits and other sexy apparel on her SNS. Fans even say that her "body robs the viewer of even looking at the sunglasses." Although Clara offers a great deal of sex appeal and is rocking those alluring bathing suits effortlessly, she is far from being as curvy as Kim Kardashian. However, the title of being a Korean Kim Kardashian is fitting for the other reasons stated above. What do you think of Clara's photo shoot and netizens comments about her body? Let us know down below. (file photo) The total track length of Beijing's rail transit network will exceed 1,500 kilometers, Chinanews.com reported on Aug. 7. Beijing plans to increase the number of rail transit lines to 35. This will include 21 subways, seven regional rapid rails, five medium-to-small-capacity rails, and two airport express trails. In 2017, the city will push for the construction of 20 central subway lines and sections, stretching some 350 kilometers. Two additional lines and sections will start construction, and 34.6 kilometers will be put into operation. Beijing was China's first city to have a subway. It has the largest number of rail transit lines and the largest passenger flow among all cities across the country. China's State Council Information Office released a whitepaper in December 2016, stating that the country will speed up construction of rail transit lines in urban areas with a population of more than three million during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), adding 3,000 kilometers of lines in operation. By the end of 2016, there were 128 rail transit lines operating in 29 Chinese mainland cities, reaching a total length of 3,832 kilometers. Eleven more cities are building urban rail transit systems and another 17 cities have plans. "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" releases at end of this year A still shot of "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace". [Photo: Chinadaily] Reputed as the sequel of "Empress in the Palace," another costume drama titled "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" is expected to hit the small screen at the end of this year in China. The author Liu Lianzi has spent five years of writing "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace." Since "Empress in the Palace" has received many praises from the viewers, its sequel has received public attention since shooting began. Starring Chinese mainland actress Zhou Xun and Taiwan actor Wallace Huo, the drama tells the romantic love story of emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and his empress Ruyi, who used to be childhood sweetheart, later threatened by growing crises in the palace and work together to overcome the difficulties. Writer Liu Lianzi revealed that most of the plots in "Empress in the Palace" were fictional, but as "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" is set in an actual dynasty, every character has a historical basis. CGTN photo Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is known for its long history and its cultural wealth, influenced by natural elements and a nomadic lifestyle. Inner Mongolians draw inspiration from the effortless move of green foliage and grass that cover their magnificent vast lands, giving rise to captivating and unique cultural symbols. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of north Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. There are a series of cultural events to celebrate the occasion. Join CGTNs live streaming on social platforms. If you're working in corporate America, chances are you've experienced your fair share of stress. Whether it's meeting deadlines, managing projects, or dealing with difficult co-workers, the workplace can be a breeding ground for stress. reducing stress from completing a project Once you've identified your triggers, it's important to take a step back and assess the situation objectively. LewiLink.com provides an in-depth article on reducing the stress from meeting deadlines at work. Bong a la noi ma ta co the hoa nhip ban than vao, noi ma nhung cam xuc uoc dang trao, that tuyet voi khi xem bong a cung ban be va xem tai nhung kenh truc tiep tuyet voi nhat cakhiatv Chung toi noi khong voi quang cao, luon ua trai nghiem cua nguoi dung len hang au, truc tiep nhung tran bong kich tinh nhat e phuc vu cho tat ca fan bong a . Fiona, the adorable baby hippopotamus who stole the hearts of animal lovers after she was born prematurely at an Ohio zoo, is getting her very own childrens book, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The book will be penned by Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo and author of books including Working With Wildlife and Animal Olympians. It will be titled Saving Fiona: Science, Social Media, and the Story of a Baby Hippo and published in January 2019 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers. Advertisement Saving Fiona, which will be written for elementary school readers, will feature many photographs of Fiona, who quickly became a social media star after her premature birth on Jan. 24. Hers is a great story to tell, Maynard told the Enquirer. She herself is so compelling. But a big part of her story is all the people whove raised her. Maynards profits from the book will be donated to the Cincinnati Zoo, which has chronicled the baby hippo from her birth on its website. One recent post kept fans updated on Fionas growth: Yay!!! My neckrolls are getting bigger! Today the scale read 421 lbs for this chunky chunky hippo. Maynard said he doesnt think the long wait for the book, which will be published just before Fionas second birthday, will hurts its sales. Shell be beloved a long time, he said. In 2017, its Fionas world, and were just living in it. Fiona is already a Cincinnati celebrity. Last month the local ice cream chain Graeters launched a new flavor, Chunky Chunky Hippo, in her honor. The toffee ice cream has salted roasted peanuts and milk chocolate caramel truffles, and is served at Graeters shops and at the zoo. Fionas popularity was a welcome break for the Cincinnati Zoo, which made headlines last year after the death of Harambe, a17-year-old gorilla who was shot and killed after he grabbed a three-year-old boy who had entered the gorillas enclosure. Walt Disney Co. will launch two Netflix-like streaming services one for sports and another for films and television shows in one of the boldest moves by an entertainment company to address the changing media landscape. The stand-alone subscription services would appeal to younger audiences who are turning away from traditional media and flocking to Netflix and other digital platforms. The ESPN service, which would be available next year, is expected to feature 10,000 sporting events annually, among them Major League Baseball games. The Disney-branded film and TV offering, set to debut in 2019, would include original content developed by Walt Disney Studios. Advertisement The move comes at a time of growing unease in Hollywood about the rising clout of Netflix, which has siphoned viewers from linear television and changed consumer habits threatening conventional business models. Until recently, studios have been happy to license their television shows and movies to Netflix, reaping big checks. A few have taken relatively modest steps to challenge Netflix by withholding certain films and shows. Some established media companies have taken a more aggressive approach, launching their own streaming services. HBO, CBS, Showtime, Starz even the Tennis Channel each has its own digital channels offered directly to consumers. At the same time, streamers such as Amazon.com are looking to get deeper into the live television business and have been on the hunt for sports rights. But Disneys actions, announced on the same day it delivered weak fiscal third-quarter earnings, go much further, and represent a major shift in strategy. The company said Tuesday that it would end its distribution agreement with Netflix for new films, beginning with the 2019 calendar year theatrical slate. Instead, viewers would have to go to the Disney service to stream those movies. Shows currently produced by Disneys Marvel Studios such as Jessica Jones would still be available on Netflix. This is a declaration of independence by Disney, and now you have a direct competition between these two behemoth players, said Peter Csathy, founder of the advisory firm Creatv Media. Netflix has a huge head start, but Disney thinks it can win. And Disney can feature the most valuable content library in the world. As part of its effort to create the new services, Disney is paying $1.58 billion for a greater stake in Bamtech, a streaming video company that is developing both products. Disney previously disclosed it was working on the ESPN service when it acquired a 33% interest in the company, which was created by Major League Baseball, in August 2016. Disney will now own 75% of Bamtech. No one is better positioned to lead the industry into this dynamic new era, and were accelerating our strategy to be at the forefront of this transformation, Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said during a conference call with analysts. Disneys third-quarter earnings report underscored the reasoning for the tactical realignment. For the quarter that ended July 1, Disney reported a profit of $2.37 billion, down 9% from a year earlier. It delivered adjusted earnings per share of $1.58 and revenue of $14.2 billion, which was essentially flat compared with a year earlier. Analysts had predicted earnings per share of $1.55 on revenue of $14.5 billion, according to Factset. Disneys media networks unit, which houses ESPN and ABC, had a tough quarter, reporting segment operating income of $1.84 billion, which was down 22% from a year earlier. The units operating income declined on a year-over-year basis for the fifth quarter in a row. Within the cable networks group, which includes ESPN, segment operating income was down 23% to $1.46 billion. Disney attributed the drop-off, in part, to higher programming costs because of a new NBA TV contract, and lower advertising revenue at ESPN. ESPN has long been the profit engine for Disney. But ESPN has been squeezed by rising sports rights costs at a time when pay-TV revenue has been under threat because of cord-cutting. ESPN has lost more than 10 million subscribers since 2010, according to Nielsen data. Robin Diedrich, an analyst with Edward Jones Research, said that the subscriber losses probably drove Disneys decision to launch the new platforms. We continue to see more erosion of general subscribers in the traditional business, she said. That is the concern and probably what was pushing them to do this sooner rather than later. Iger said that monetization possibilities are extraordinary for Disney once it launches the new streaming services, whose prices have not been disclosed. He said that the Disney-branded product would include exclusive films and TV shows a prospect that could make it a must-have for some consumers because of the many popular brands in Disneys stable. Over the last decade or so, Disneys multibillion-dollar acquisitions of Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm have given it a trove of valuable intellectual property. Disneys lucrative franchises include Star Wars, The Avengers and Toy Story. Its been clear to us for a while [that] the future of this industry will be forged by direct relationships between content creators and consumers, Iger said. Disney has worked with Netflix for years to distribute its content including hit films and original television shows. In a statement, the Los Gatos, Calif., company affirmed its business relationship with Disney, noting the two companies continue to work together on Marvel TV projects. Both Disneys and Netflixs stock lost more than 3% at one point in after-hours trading Tuesday. Shares of Disney had closed up about half a percent to $106.98 in regular trading. Netflix has been riding a wave of enthusiastic investor sentiment after it posted strong growth for the second quarter that ended in June, surpassing 100 million subscribers worldwide during the recent three-month period. The company has attributed the growth to its strong content slate, which includes new seasons of popular series including House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black and Master of None. This week, it acquired comic book publisher Millarworld and signed a deal to do a six-episode talk show with David Letterman. Despite Netflixs increased emphasis on original shows such as Stranger Things, most of the content viewed by its subscribers remains programming that Netflix licenses from other studios, including Disney. Netflix is expected to spend at least $6 billion this year on content, up from $5 billion last year. Some analysts have speculated that it would make sense for Disney to purchase Netflix to inoculate itself from audiences shift to streaming video. Now Netflix finds itself more directly competing with the $167-billion titan. Disney chose to fight, Csathy said. The hit on Netflix is real. Disneys decision is sure to ripple across the media and entertainment business. Pay-TV operators, for example, have dreaded the prospect of a stand-alone ESPN service because it would give some consumers more reason to ditch their TV subscriptions. However, many of these cable companies provide high-speed Internet service, which has become the most profitable part of their business. Consumers use more data as they stream hundreds of hours of television shows and movies. Times staff writer David Ng contributed to this report. daniel.miller@latimes.com Twitter: @DanielNMiller ALSO Travis Kalanick wont return as CEO of Uber, co-founder Garrett Camp says Why environmentalists want Impossible Burgers meatless patties to be pulled off menus By firing engineer, Google shows what you can say and what you cant at work UPDATES: 6:50 p.m.: This article was updated throughout. 3:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details. 2 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Netflix and other details. This article was originally published at 1:23 p.m. Britains media regulators appear to be reviewing Fox News handling of an erroneous story that claimed slain Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich was the source of damaging leaks during last years presidential campaign not Russia. Britains Secretary of State for Culture and Media Karen Bradley on Tuesday asked Britains media watchdog the Office of Communications to clarify portions of its assessment that 21st Century Fox, and the Rupert Murdoch family, which controls the media company, were fit and proper broadcasters. British officials have been mulling whether to approve the Murdochs $14-billion bid to take full control of Europes largest pay-TV company, Sky. The satellite TV service, which includes the Sky News unit, has 22 million customers in Britain, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. Advertisement Bradleys query comes less than a week after an explosive lawsuit was filed against Fox and Fox News in New York by a former Washington detective, Rod Wheeler. Wheeler was a longtime paid contributor to Fox News and he alleged that quotes attributed to him in the Fox News article, which ran online for about a week in May, were fabrications. Bradley, in a statement, did not mention the discredited Fox News story or the lawsuit alleging that President Trumps White House participated in the crafting of the story. Fox News has since retracted the story, saying it failed to live up to the networks standards. Instead, Bradley asked Britains Office of Communications, known as Ofcom, to provide clarifications on a number of points that have arisen recently. Bradley noted her office had reviewed a large number of allegations that have been lodged in relation to Fox. A number of these [allegations] raise new evidence and/or comment on the Ofcom assessment, Bradley wrote. She asked Ofcom to report back by Aug. 25. Wheelers suit contends that a wealthy backer of Trump, Ed Butowsky, conspired with a Fox News correspondent and the White House to make up a story to deflect attention from the Russia probe. Rich was a 27-year-old aide at the DNC who was shot to death last summer. Wheelers attorney, Douglas Wigdor, separately sent a 110-page letter to Ofcoms Chief Executive Sharon White last week. Wigdor wrote that Wheelers lawsuit shed new light on whether 21st Century Fox executives were forthcoming and transparent with Ofcom during its investigation, as well as the question whether 21st Century Fox is capable of accurately and truthfully delivering news to the public. A Fox spokesman declined Tuesday to comment. Fox owns 39% of Sky, and wants to buy the shares it does not own. There is no way that the British government can make a decision to approve this $14-billion takeover of Europes largest pay-TV operator without assessing the seriously damaging allegations that Fox News colluded with the White House in a massive coverup, said Will Davies, a campaign official with the activist group Avaaz, which opposes Foxs bid for Sky. meg.james@latimes.com @MegJamesLAT SAG-AFTRA said late Monday that its members have voted to approve a new three-year contract with the major Hollywood studios, ratifying the tentative agreement that the union reached in July. Members of the screen actors union voted nearly 76% in favor of the contract, though only slightly more than 15% of the 140,000 eligible members cast their ballots. The contract, which retroactively goes into effect from July 1, faced vocal opposition from some members including actor Esai Morales, who is one of several candidates running for union president. Advertisement SAG-AFTRA said the new contract will guarantee raises of 2.5% to 3% for each year, as well as increased pension and retirement contributions. In addition, it provides for earlier and bigger residuals, with an increase of more than 300% for content streamed on new media platforms such as Netflix and Amazon. I thank the many members who had input throughout this process. The gains in this contract reflect their hard work and their voices in negotiations, Gabrielle Carteris, SAG-AFTRA president, said in a statement. Carteris was elected president in 2016 and is running for reelection. The union negotiated the new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the bargaining organization that represents studios, broadcast networks and major cable networks. Before the tentative agreement was reached in the early hours of July 4, SAG-AFTRA had threatened a strike after the two sides failed to make sufficient progress on critical issues. But a strike was never called. Opposition to the new SAG-AFTRA contract included demands for better gains in travel costs as well as advancements for background artists, dancers and other performers. SAG-AFTRA is the last of the three big Hollywood unions to ratify a new contract. Both the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America ratified their new three-year contracts earlier this year. david.ng@latimes.com @DavidNgLAT When Google realized in 2013 it had a diversity problem, it followed the corporate playbook by introducing workshops to train employees about hidden biases. But four years later and after sending three-quarters of its 70,000 employees through sensitivity training the Mountain View tech giant is now reeling after a male employee circulated a memo arguing women are biologically incapable of doing a mans job in Silicon Valley. The 3,000-word post which contended, among other things, that men fundamentally have a higher drive for status than women has triggered another crisis for a tech industry scrambling to find a credible solution to its underrepresentation of minorities and women. And it comes at a time when high-profile start-ups such as Uber and venture firms such as Binary Capital have come under fire for sexual harassment scandals. Advertisement The memo also puts Googles push to promote diversity in the spotlight, raising questions about its efficacy. How could a company whose purported raison detre is do no evil harbor an employee bold enough to deride empathy as irrational, equate more women in the workforce as social engineering and claim females are too agreeable to effectively lead? If this engineer said he didnt believe in the companys product philosophy, and he was going to work against the product internally, theres no way that person would keep their job, said Karla Monterroso of Code2040, a nonprofit that advocates for black and Latino leadership in tech. Tech needs to make this their moonshot. We had a speaker at a conference who said this is a matter of priority and belief, and this cannot be harder than creating an autonomous vehicle. It just isnt. Google did not respond when asked if the engineer had been disciplined. James Damore, identified in media reports as the author of the document, told Bloomberg he had been fired for perpetuating gender stereotypes. Google disavowed the memo, calling its assumptions incorrect. We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and well continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul, Danielle Brown, vice president of diversity, integrity and governance, said in a statement. Its unclear if the manifesto, which first surfaced last week, represents a rogue viewpoint or some wider set of shared beliefs. Many Google employees came forward to decry it. The tech industry has long held the view that its a meritocracy, where the best ideas and brightest people find success. The argument that Googles lack of diversity is proof of a meritocracy in action has found support on corners of the Internet in which the alt-right has thrived, such as the Politically Incorrect forum on 4chan. Googles diversity training was meant to address this, laying down a marker that the company which counts 31% of its total workforce as female sees it has a problem and is working to fix it. But the author of the offending memo appears to have hardened his views as a result of Googles push to tackle unconscious bias. The training has the potential for overcorrecting or backlash, especially if made mandatory, he writes. To experts, its not shocking that some men in an industry predominantly led by men would have trouble seeing the need for such workshops. Ive been doing this work for years and I know without a doubt that there are plenty of people who dont come from underrepresented backgrounds who feel like the diversity work that companies are doing, and the conversations around giving women and underrepresented groups the same opportunities as everyone else, is unfair, said Wayne Sutton, co-founder of Change Catalyst, an organization that promotes diversity and inclusion in tech. They cant grasp how difficult it is, or what we experience as underrepresented individuals, Sutton continued. Often, they lack the intelligence and empathy to understand how other peoples behavior can limit our opportunities. These are supposed to be some of the most intelligent individuals, because they can code. Solving the problem will take the kind of strategic thinking and resources that helped build Google, now known by its parent companys name Alphabet Inc., into a $650-billion company, experts say. That doesnt mean a one-size-fits-all approach such as workshops. Rather, the entire executive team, the board and human resources department must work in unison. Guidelines must be put in place that will change workplace culture at all levels, experts say. It needs senior level attention, said Jeff Reid, a professor at Georgetown Universitys McDonough School of Business. It means theres no quick fix. You cant say, oh, were going to hire a woman as our VP of inclusion, or offer diversity training, and that will solve our problem. When youre talking about an issue thats part of your culture, it takes a concerted effort to change culture. It starts with consistent messaging and actions. Google which was sued by the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this year for allegedly withholding information that could determine whether it was underpaying women declined a request to discuss precisely how its diversity training and push to diversify is being implemented. Google says on its corporate site it has widened its search for employees to predominantly black universities and other colleges. The company also maintains over 20 employee resource groups, including those for female, black, Latino, gay, senior and disabled workers. The results have been modest. Men account for 80% of tech jobs at Google, down from 83% in 2014 when the company first released diversity data. Men hold 75% of leadership positions today, down from 79% three years ago. As for racial and ethnic minorities, there has been little change. Black employees continue to hold only 1% of Googles tech jobs, whereas Latino representation in tech positions has risen to 3% from 2% since 2014. Meanwhile, Asians continue to thrive at the company, occupying 39% of tech positions compared with 34% three years ago. Sarah Adams, a software engineer at Google for the past year, said she was disheartened by her experience in the companys unconscious bias workshops. At one session, an instructor described how women often see their ideas dismissed while white men are celebrated for espousing the same ideas. Asked to break off into smaller groups to discuss the problem, Adams voiced an idea only to be ignored by her colleagues. When a white man brought up the same idea, the group accepted it. It was very painful, she said. Most people who go to the trainings really want to be better, but of course thats not true of everyone who comes to the classes we offer. Changing a culture is not impossible. Lenore Blum headed an initiative at Carnegie Mellon Universitys school of computer science in the 1990s that helped increase the number of women in the computer science program from less than 10% to 49% today. We didnt change the curriculum, we just changed the environment, Blum said. Blum helped launch a group called Women@SCS (Women at the School of Computer Science), which still exists, to give female students the same opportunities as their male counterparts. In lieu of fraternities, which provided many male students with networking opportunities, Women@SCS created opportunities for women to network and receive mentorship. About the same time, the school also expanded its criteria for student acceptance, allowing those without prior programming experience and seeking students with broad interests. It opened doors for women, but it also changed the kinds of men we were admitting, said Blum, adding there was a severe backlash that eventually dissipated. We dont see that anymore. tracey.lien@latimes.com Twitter: @traceylien david.pierson@latimes.com Twitter: @dhpierson Times staff writer Alexa DAngelo contributed to this report. ALSO HBO says theres no evidence hack has infiltrated email system Tesla starts raising cash to help it get Model 3 to the masses Mohamed Hadid played financial shell game to skirt legal judgment, former security guard alleges UPDATES: 7:50 p.m.: This article was updated to include a report that the Google employee who wrote the document has been fired. This article was originally published at 5:40 p.m. Ten years ago this week, I wrote my first column for the Los Angeles Times. The topic was the huge mess that ensued after a guy in Connecticut stole my identity and ran up unpaid bills with credit card companies and Indian casinos. I wrote about how I had to investigate the case myself police nab fewer than 5% of identity thieves and serve up my findings to law enforcement authorities. This resulted in my ID thief, Derrick Davis, being arrested and convicted for Social Security fraud. He was subsequently set for deportation to his native Jamaica, a prosecutor told me. Advertisement And that, I thought, was that. Last week I got a call at home. It was for Davis. He was being sought in connection with an unpaid hospital bill in Connecticut. From just five years ago. In other words, hes back. And just like that, the nightmare starts again. Its one of the most significant problems with identity theft, said Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy for San Diegos Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Once your information gets out there, it can stay out there. Its unclear if Davis is once again using my Social Security number. But the fact that his personal troubles are still being linked to me illustrates the near-impossibility of fully correcting erroneous online information which I spent many hours trying to do the last time I dealt with this problem. Yet even now, a debt collector searching public and private databases for Davis came up with my home number, raising the possibility that my credit score could be in danger if any action were to be taken against Davis, such as a lien on his property. Information gets sold, exchanged and stored in many, many databases, Stephens said. You just cant find all the places its kept. I and a researcher at the newspaper scoured a bunch of databases for listings related to my Social Security number. After all this time, it still produced hits for Davis as well as for corruptions of our two names, such as Derrick Lazarus. A search for Davis wife, Charmaine, listed me as a relative. My original investigation into Davis activities, 15 years ago, revealed that he apparently had pulled my Social Security number out of the air. The first three digits of peoples numbers relate to their place of birth, and I was born in Connecticut. It was Davis bad luck to have inadvertently picked the Social Security number of an investigative reporter. It didnt seem like he was out to scam me. He was using my Social to hold various jobs. When I found him, he was working for a catering company. But he was also decidedly cavalier with his spending. Davis owed nearly $4,000 to a pair of Indian casinos and had bills outstanding for nine different credit cards. And now this latest situation. I received a call from a Las Vegas investigator trying to track down Davis on behalf of a debt collector. The investigator refused to provide me with any information, except that the debt was for a couple of thousand dollars related to a 2012 hospital visit. My home number, the investigator said, came up in a search for Davis possible whereabouts. Two can play at this game. My own search for Davis last week revealed that the state of Connecticut went after him and his wife in 2014 for $5,338 in unpaid taxes. The Internal Revenue Service put them in the cross-hairs in 2009 for almost $15,000 in unpaid federal taxes. In 2013, Charmaine Davis was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 24 months in prison for mortgage fraud. She also was fined $6,000 and ordered to forfeit $39,434. I spent days trying to piece together a trail to Davis current location. Most of my efforts hit dead ends disconnected numbers, former addresses. Then, on Friday, a woman with a Jamaican accent answered the phone. After all these years, Id found Davis wife. Im sorry to know this is happening to you, she said of my latest encounter with a debt collector. Charmaine Davis confirmed that she and her husband still reside in the New Haven area but she said theyre together only on and off. She wouldnt give me his number but agreed to pass mine along. She acknowledged that about 15 years ago Davis came in the country and made up a Social Security number so he could get a job. It was your number. She said he got that straightened out and now has his own Social Security number. She declined to comment on Davis current immigration status. Davis has never been in the hospital, she said, so she doesnt know why a debt collector is seeking him in connection with a medical bill. She wished me luck in extricating myself from this situation. So what do you do when an ID thief reappears? Privacy experts say the first thing is to accept that you can never make the problem completely go away. This is one of those super-scary crimes, said Eric Goldman, co-director of Santa Clara Universitys High Tech Law Institute. It can persist for decades after the crime occurred. He said theres not much use in playing offense that is, trying to clean up the thousands of databases containing consumer information. At the very least, though, its important to make sure your record is spotless with the three leading credit-reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Beyond that, all victims of ID theft should enroll in a credit-monitoring program to keep tabs on their credit files, particularly if, as in my case, your Social Security number is known to someone else. There are various services available that will monitor all three credit agencies at a cost of roughly $20 a month. Pro tip: If youre a Southern California AAA member, youre entitled to free monitoring of your Experian credit file, with additional safeguards available for $8.95 monthly. Contact the auto club. If you really want to circle your wagons, contact each credit agency and have a freeze put on your files. This means no one can unlock them without a code number, which should prevent anyone from, say, applying for a credit card in your name. Typically, you have to pay $10 every time you freeze and unlock your files. I told Goldman the story of how Davis had resurfaced in my life. That has to be both frustrating and disconcerting, he responded. It is. After I spoke with his wife, Davis didnt get in touch. If he knows whats good for him, hell keep his distance. 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. MORE CONSUMER CONFIDENTIAL: On peoples right to sue, Trumps hypocrisy matches that of businesses If Trump wanted, he could take steps to lower soaring drug prices To thwart the trolls, social-media sites should require users real names Yu Zhengsheng (L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Li Jiheng, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, unveil a plaque in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 7, 2017. The plaque with an inscription by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, was presented as a gift to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to celebrate its 70th anniversary. [Photo: Xinhua/Zhang Ling] Celebrations are ongoing to mark the 70th anniversary of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the first province-level ethnic autonomous region in China. Various events to celebrate the anniversary include gala evenings, exhibitions and the Nadam Festival, a traditional event with horse racing and Mongolian wrestling. China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Monday presented gifts to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to celebrate the anniversary, while leading a delegation from the central authorities. The autonomous region was founded on May 1, 1947 under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. It is one of the country's five autonomous regions, the others being Xinjiang, Tibet, Ningxia and Guangxi. A grand evening party marking the 70th anniversary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is held in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 7, 2017. Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, joined the people at the evening party. [Photo: Xinhua/Yao Dawei] Ethnic autonomy in regions, prefectures or counties across the country were introduced to create equality, solidarity and common prosperity of all ethnic groups. Inner Mongolia covers an area of 1.18 million sq km, about 12 percent of the country's land area. The Mongolian population is 4.6 million, nearly one-fifth of the region's total. Over the past 70 years, the region's economy has expanded from 537 million yuan (78 million U.S. dollars) to 1.86 trillion yuan. Over the last three years, Einaras Gravrock has turned his concerns as a parent into a fast-growing cybersecurity start-up. Gravrock had grown anxious about his childrens privacy when he heard about baby monitors being hacked. By the time they started playing with iPads, he wanted protection. What he ended up with is Cujo, a bowl-size firewall device that hard-wires into a home router, providing for digital security what a guard dog brings to physical defense. Gravrock believed enough in the idea that he divested from and stepped down as chief executive of Iconery, an online shop for jewelry that he co-founded. Iconery continues to operate. For Cujo, hes leaned on the expertise of Yuri Frayman, a friend who runs cybersecurity software maker Zenedge. Frayman had seen the need for Cujo firsthand. A couple of years before, his business clients began demanding that his home have as much cybersecurity as his corporate office. Gravrock raised $330,000 off a Kickstarter crowdfunding page, opened headquarters in El Segundo and agreed to a manufacturing deal with a factory in Illinois. Now, Cujo is nearing 100,000 users and 100 employees. The device is stocked at Best Buy and on Amazon.com for $250. Cujo picked up $11 million from 27 investors in a recent financing round, including earlier loans converted into stock. Investors include TA Ventures in Ukraine, USC adjunct business professor Ivan Nikkhoo and, of course, Frayman. Cujo board of directors Einaras Gravrock, CEO Yuri Frayman, founder of business cybersecurity firm Zenedge Yehuda Neuberger, former executive at American Stock Transfer & Trust Co. Steven Hurwitz, president at GFI Development Co. Does Cujo work? Gravrock knows what hes selling wont stop every computer virus or hacker. But he sees $250 as a necessary expense to deter the inconveniences that come with being hacked. The average user sees about five to seven suspicious connections blocked each week, he said. For someone installing ADT or a Ring, its the next frontier, he said, referring to home security options. Cujo is not that silver bullet, but being vigilant and educated about the problem, you have to apply best practices. Others in the industry back up that view. It's a good step in the right direction for home consumers, said Adriel Desautels, chief executive of Netragard, which tests security at companies in gaming, health and finance. It's going to eliminate the low-hanging fruit. But Desautels cautioned that Cujo alone might only take a consumer to 3 from 1 on a 100-point scale of security. That score could improve if Cujo succeeds on plans to add increased functionality. Business customers that purchased Cujo for employees have brought in auditors to test Cujo's effectiveness, but Gravrock said there are no plans to publish results. Desautels said he would like to see audits of Cujos effectiveness in protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information passing online through a home. How Cujo works Cujo works by analyzing router traffic data. It can see what computer your own device is connecting to on the Internet, how much information is being transferred and the speed at which its being sent. In relative terms, Cujo sees cars on a road, but not the interiors of them. Unlike some rivals, the company doesnt use deep packet inspection software to analyze the innards, a tactic often used in corporate firewalls and censorship software. In a few days of testing Cujo, the firewall mostly denied connections to tracking services apparently related to online ad technology. They probably belonged on an industry list of flagged websites. The device is meant to learn a users behavior over time, so that, for instance, a connection between a webcam and a computer in Russia is thwarted, except in homes where devices often visit Russian websites. Cujos system is looking for telltale signs, Gravrock said. It collects a couple of hundred data points and builds out a decision on the fly. Traffic data are sent to Cujos servers, where they are scrambled and stored with password protection. It hires consultants to test the security of its own system. Cujo stores data as long as a week, depending on whether the information proves useful in improving the software that detects suspicious connections. A Cujo mobile app issues alerts about blocked traffic and serves as a hub for parental controls. In testing, Cujo didnt noticeably slow website load times, but it needed to be disabled several times when websites didnt load for an unidentified reason. The set-up process also produced unspecified errors, though logging out and logging back in did the trick. Most of the complaints that stem from Cujo come from complex home network set-ups or specific devices that lead to communications issues with the firewall. That might make it a bad fit for some users. Cujo offers customer service through video chat on its app 16 hours a day, though the hours arent prominently displayed an issue the company said it would address. The company further tries to ameliorate any concerns by modeling itself on video doorbell maker Ring, which includes its CEOs emails on packaging. With Cujo, new users get an email with Gravrocks cellphone number and email address. Cujos competition Cujo has rivals on three fronts: Router makers, antivirus software developers and other hardware start-ups. Experts say theres little reason Linksys, Netgear or other router brands cant match Cujos features and many are moving in that direction after years of burying settings and data to which Cujos app provides simple access. Gravrock said Cujo decided not to compete with such router makers because it would have to wade into the fierce technical competition to make Wi-Fi speeds faster, which could distract from its security focus. Antivirus protection providers are having to adapt because installing software on devices is no longer practical as a variety of new appliances go online, including toasters and light bulbs. Nortons $250 Core router doubles as a home network firewall with a $10-a-month subscription. New companies such as Bitdefender, Keezel, RATrap and Dojo offer devices comparable to the Cujo at lower prices. About 70% of Cujo customers pay $250 for the device upfront. The remainder opt to pay about $100 upfront, but then $9 a month indefinitely for service. The company has received marketing help by partnering with organizations, such as one promoting childrens safety, to distribute devices to members. Cujo declined to identify customers or partners by name. Gravock has been leading companies since finishing at USC in 2009. Before the jewelry website, he co-founded Modnique, a once-fast-growing online retailer of clothing in Redondo Beach. Another division of the company struggled financially, leading to a bankruptcy fire sale in 2015. Activision Blizzards Candy Crush division looks to make more money from fewer players Fewer people are playing mobile games from King, whose portfolio includes Candy Crush and Pet Rescue. Thats an issue for Activision Blizzard, which counts on player purchases from its King division for about a third of its overall revenue. The Santa Monica company paid $5.8 billion to acquire King last year. Its begun experimenting with selling ad space in King games, but for the most part relies on player purchases of virtual goodies in games to make money. Activision Blizzard Chief Executive Bobby Kotick said King generated more spending on average from players for the eighth straight quarter. But King is looking to do better and has shifted resources toward the team charged with adding special features and tinkering with gameplay to keep players coming back. What youve seen is weve spent more time at King on whats valuable to our top players, Kotick said. They now have a much more dedicated team in live operations. Part of it is a recognition its a philosophy of if you put a player first, the earnings will follow. The latter is to be seen. Kings profit fell 7% to $164 million in the second quarter compared with the same period last year, Activision Blizzard announced last week. The company says the average King player spends 35 minutes per day in games, more than the average Snapchat user spends on that messaging app. Still, Kings monthly users have dropped 23% over the last year to 314 million. That compares to 39% growth to 46 million players in the last year at Activisions Blizzard division, largely because of the success of new game Overwatch. Players of Call of Duty and other Activision Publishing games declined 4% over the last year to 47 million, a number that could pick up with a new game release next month. Riccardo Zacconi, chief of the King division, also said his team is working on several new games that could boost usage. Among the options is expanding to a casino game and focusing less on casual games. Activision Blizzard combines financial results for other divisions, which are focused on producing films, TV series and consumer products. Sales for those divisions increased to $56 million in the second quarter compared with last years comparable period. The other category could become a larger investor focus as the company announces release dates for movies or begins to sell merchandise related to its new competitive league for Overwatch. Activision Blizzard shares have sunk about 2% since the earnings release, closing Monday at $62.51. Elsewhere on the Web Dietary supplement start-up Ritual Health raised $10.5 million as part of an investment round led by Founders Fund, according to TechCrunch. raised $10.5 million as part of an investment round led by Founders Fund, according to TechCrunch. Two Bits Circus is opening a small amusement park in the Arts District, according to L.A. Downtown News. is opening a small amusement park in the Arts District, according to L.A. Downtown News. Chinese co-working real estate provider URWork plans to open a location in Los Angeles, according to South China Morning Post. plans to open a location in Los Angeles, according to South China Morning Post. March Capital Partners is seeking to raise up to $150 million in investment for its second venture capital fund after raising $240 million a couple of years ago, according to federal filings. is seeking to raise up to $150 million in investment for its second venture capital fund after raising $240 million a couple of years ago, according to federal filings. South Bay city governments are hoping to create a plan to boost high-speed Internet access with an eye toward attracting and retaining businesses, according to the Daily Breeze. city governments are hoping to create a plan to boost high-speed Internet access with an eye toward attracting and retaining businesses, according to the Daily Breeze. Barnes & Noble acquired study websites operator Student Brands for about $59 million, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal. In case you missed it A widely celebrated cybersecurity researcher who works for Los Angeles start-up Kryptos Logic was indicted on charges of developing software that has stolen banking credentials from an untold number of people, prosecutors said. was indicted on charges of developing software that has stolen banking credentials from an untold number of people, prosecutors said. Last week, 150 students from 50 countries competed in the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. At stake: cash, prizes and the clout that comes with being the best in the world at Excel, PowerPoint or Word. Specialist World Championship at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. At stake: cash, prizes and the clout that comes with being the best in the world at Excel, PowerPoint or Word. Two former Palantir Technologies engineers are in charge of Palmer Luckeys new defense technology start-up Anduril Industries in Irvine, according to newly reviewed regulatory filings. in Irvine, according to newly reviewed regulatory filings. Joining the Standard & Poors 500 an index of the nations biggest and most popular stocks has long been an important mark of validation for businesses. But it wont be a distinction Snap Inc. gets anytime soon. paresh.dave@latimes.com Twitter: @peard33 Rumors have been circulating that Ubers former chief executive, Travis Kalanick, is angling for a return to the helm of the ride-hailing company. Now, it seems, Uber co-founder and board member Garrett Camp wants to lay those rumors to rest. Our CEO search is the boards top priority, Camp wrote in a Monday email to staffers, which was obtained by Recode. Its time for a new chapter and the right leader for our next phase of growth. Despite rumors Im sure youve seen in the news, Travis is not returning as CEO. We are committed to hiring a new world class CEO to lead Uber. Advertisement Recode reported last week that Kalanick, who is still on Ubers board, was telling people he was Steve Jobs-ing it a reference to the Apple co-founder who was ousted from his company but later made a triumphant return. Uber declined to comment Tuesday on the hiring process and on the report about Camps email. Kalanick resigned as CEO in June after a spate of high-profile scandals, and its not yet clear who will fill his shoes. Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman was floated as a candidate, but she announced in late July that she would not take the job. Uber board members have whittled the list of potential chief executives to three candidates all men, departing General Electric chief Jeff Immelt among them according to a Washington Post report that said the board is expected to make a decision before Labor Day. Uber is no stranger to controversy, having sparred with regulators, fought lawsuits from disgruntled drivers and been accused by competitors of playing dirty. Kalanick, who co-founded Uber with Camp, was credited for its success and was long seen as untouchable. But the relentless string of scandals that erupted this year proved too much even for him. Former Uber engineer Susan Fowler wrote a blog post in February accusing the company of systemic sexual harassment and cover-ups. Video emerged showing Kalanick berating an Uber driver. A former executive was accused of violating a passengers privacy by mishandling her medical records. The company was sued by Googles self-driving vehicle arm, which accused Uber of stealing its trade secrets. An independent investigation into the companys culture commissioned by Ubers board resulted in 20 terminations and the recommendation that the company take away some responsibilities from Kalanick. Kalanick resigned under pressure from investors, who believed Uber would not be able to turn over a new leaf with him still at the helm. A team of executives who once reported directly to Kalanick are now running the company while it searches for a new chief executive. The appointment of a new chief executive is an opportunity for Uber to signal to investors, employees, drivers and consumers that, after spending the last eight months embroiled in political and legal controversy, it is turning over a new leaf. The company needs a leader who can implement the recommendations of a report by former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. to change Ubers culture of bullying and harassment, secure deals and eventually lead the firm toward an expected initial public offering. alexa.dangelo@latimes.com Twitter: @andangelo15 ALSO Google CEO slams memo on gender as employee reportedly fired Google employees memo triggers another crisis for a tech industry struggling to diversify The start-ups that will help your company avoid becoming the next Uber UPDATES: 6:10 p.m.: This article was updated to include more context on Ubers CEO search. This article was originally published at 9:55 a.m. True Detective season three, starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, is officially confirmed at HBO By Sarah Rodman Mahershala Ali accepting his Oscar for Moonlight. The actor will star in the third season of the HBO drama True Detective (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) During the HBO executive session at the summer edition of the Television Critics Assn. press tour, programming president Casey Bloys confirmed reports that Moonlight Oscar winner Mahershala Ali would star in a third season of True Detective. Although he was mum at the time on when it might happen, he did say that he had read five scripts and thought they were terrific. Thursday night, the premium pay cabler released a statement officially confirming that the series will indeed return for a third installment. While no episode count or premiere date was included in the release, an enclosed synopsis stated that the next iteration of the show tells the story of a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozarks, and a mystery that deepens over decades and plays out in three separate time periods. Ali will star as Wayne Hays, a state police detective from northwest Arkansas. (Ali follows in the footsteps of season one stars, and continuing executive producers, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, and season twos Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn. No word yet on whether hell have a partner.) The show will once again be helmed by creator Nic Pizzolatto, who penned all the episodes of the upcoming series, save the fourth, which he co-wrote with David Milch (Deadwood, NYPD Blue). He will share directing duties with fellow executive producer Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin.) Im tremendously thrilled to be working with artists at the level of Mahershala and Jeremy, said Pizzolatto in a statement. I hope the material can do justice to their talents, and were all very excited to tell this story. Bloys noted that Nic has written truly remarkable scripts. With his ambitious vision and Mahershala Ali and Jeremy Saulnier aboard, we are excited to embark on the next installment of True Detective. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newly reopened Angels Flight has long been a popular L.A. shooting location By Mark Olsen Its among the more unusual landmarks in Los Angeles, a short, steep railway that gets people up and down a single hill. So it makes sense that Angels Flight has been featured in many movies and television shows over the years. Angels Flight resumed regular service Thursday after being closed since 2013 (it did operate for one day of shooting on La La Land). It remains to be seen if it starts to appear again in movies and television shows. (Not that it ever really stopped.) Speaking to The Times at last years Toronto International Film Festival, La La Land star Ryan Gosling reflected on the use of historic locations in the movie. This was an opportunity to show an L.A. thats still there.... Youve got to squint your eyes a little, but there are still places in L.A. that are still part of the golden years of Los Angeles when Hollywood was in its heyday, Gosling said. I lived around the corner for a long time from Angels Flight and Grand Central Market, although I never got to ride Angels Flight because it had been shut down, Gosling added. Those places are still there... these gems that are there, and we were able to shoot them one by one. Angels Flight reopened on Thursday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) The small piece of land next to the top of Angels Flight, known as Angels Knoll, was also prominently featured in (500) Days of Summer. The location has appeared in a wide variety of movies over the years, as early as 1916s Good Night, Nurse, 1918s Up She Goes and 1920s All Jazzed Up. It has also had high-profile cameos in Act of Violence (1949), M (1951), Kiss Me Deadly (1955), The Exiles (1961), The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (1963) -- all the way up to to 2011s The Muppets and last years La La Land. And on television, Angels Flight has been seen on Perry Mason, Dragnet and the recent series Bosch. READ MORE: Angels Flight: How it works and what its been through in its 100-year history Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Jamie Foxx announces telethon for Harvey relief By Libby Hill (Andrew Krech / News & Record via Associated Press) A new stream of celebrity support for victims of Hurricane Harvey opened Wednesday, as Jamie Foxx announced that a telethon fundraiser is in the works. In an Instagram post where the actor revealed his own donation of $25,000 to GlobalGiving, Foxx also shared preliminary plans for the upcoming benefit. From a fellow Texan, my heart goes out. My prayers go out, Foxx, from Terrell east of Dallas, said. September 12 we have a telethon that were doing. Well give you more details, so we can raise as much money as we can for everybody down there. View Instagram post Scooter Braun, talent manager and mastermind of One Love Manchester, is helming the event along with rapper and Houston native Bun B. TMZ reported that Foxx, Reese Witherspoon, Blake Shelton, Hilary Duff and Michael Strahan are all involved with the project, with commitments from the four major broadcast networks to air the special for an hour on Sept. 12. In an interview with TMZ, Bun B said that fellow Houston natives Beyonce and Jim Parsons are high on his wish list for the telethon. The outlet also reported that Bun B would only want President Trumps presence if it was via a show of unity with other former presidents. Solange also announced Wednesday that she will be holding a benefit show at Bostons Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 28. Featuring the Sun Ra Arkestra, the performance is titled Orions Rise and all proceeds will go to Hurricane Harvey relief. View Instagram post Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gwyneth Paltrows love life? Yeah, she admits shes screwed up plenty of relationships By Libby Hill Gwyneth Paltrow takes full responsibility for her romantic failings. She admitted as much in a recent interview with the podcast Girlboss Radio, during which Paltrow went deep on some of her lost loves. Oh, my god, Ive [screwed] up so many relationships, so many, Paltrow said. Im actually a pretty good friend and a good sister and a daughter and a mother, but I am at my potentially most vulnerable in the romantic slice of the pie. So its taken me a lot of work to get to the place where I have a good romantic relationship. Paltrow consciously uncoupled from ex-husband Chris Martin in 2014 after 10 years of marriage and has been romantically linked to American Horror Story creator Brad Falchuk for the past three years. On Girlboss Radio, Paltrow sent a shout-out to former beau Brad Pitt, whom she dated from 1994 through 1997, and was at one point engaged to. I [screwed] that up, Brad, Paltrow said. Paltrow also delved into her experiences as founder and CEO of her lifestyle brand Goop, sharing that once shes in the boardroom with investors, no one cares if shes a celebrity. I go into the room, and for the first 90 seconds, Im Gwyneth Paltrow, she said. And theyre like, Oh, my god, my wife loves you .... And then, about 90 seconds later, Im just getting grilled like anyone else. But she doesnt get offended; she relishes the challenge. It was such a beautiful chapter of my life when I started raising [venture capital financing], because it knocked me down so many pegs. I was like, Oh, Im, like, no one. Im nothing. This [stuff] is real. I have to know the most granular aspects of my business and be able to defend it. The celebrity just completely drains out of the room. Its irrelevant, she said. Paltrows full conversation with Sophia Amoruso can be streamed at Girlboss. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Longtime Simpsons composer Alf Clausen fired from the show after 27 years By Randall Roberts When the 29th season of The Simpsons premieres in the fall, it will, for the first time in decades, be doing so without its longtime musical contributor, Alf Clausen. Clausen, who composed the Fox animated shows incidental music, was told that the show was looking for a different kind of music moving forward, according to Variety. Clausen confirmed his firing via Twitter. Thank you for all of the support...unfortunately, the news is true... https://t.co/jBQH0b40cz Alf Clausen (@TheAlfClausen) August 31, 2017 The composers orchestral scores supported the familys foibles since the shows primitively drawn early days. And although The Simpsons theme song was penned by Danny Elfman, the sonic feel of the series has been defined by Clausens grandiose, often epic productions. Hes responsible for scoring Mr. Burns breakout See My Vest moment and crafted the tunes for the Springfield musical theater companys A Streetcar Named Desire adaptation. Ditto The Planet of the Apes musical. In short, nearly every classic music moment of The Simpsons has featured Clausens fingerprints. On Twitter, fans thanked Clausen for his work while expressing outrage at the circumstances surrounding his departure. Fired over the phone, yet, wrote one user. Clausen quickly corrected him with a one-word reply: Email ... On Thursday, producers for The Simpsons issued a statement to Variety. It stressed that Clausen will continue to contribute to the series: We tremendously value Alf Clausens contributions to The Simpsons and he will continue to have an ongoing role in the show. We remain committed to the finest in music for The Simpsons, absolutely including orchestral. The statement concluded: This is the part where we would make a joke but neither Alfs work nor the music of The Simpsons is treated as anything but seriously by us. Update, 1:16 p.m.: This story was updated with a statement from The Simpsons. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Instead of statues, Trevor Noah and Roy Wood Jr. have another idea for honoring Confederate history By Chris Barton With the country still reeling from the harrowing impact of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Wednesday nights Daily Show looked at one of the summers ongoing controversies: Confederate monuments. Occasionally setting aside the shows usual comedic tone, Trevor Noah enlisted correspondent Roy Wood Jr. to consider whether these statues honor Southern heritage, as their supporters claim, or the nations history and lingering problem with racism. After showing a montage of guests on network news shows who reminded viewers that these statues were erected during the Jim Crow era, decades after the Civil War, Wood equated slavery to another tragedy. Its like if a woman got out of an abusive relationship and then she had to keep pictures of her ex up in her house to remember the time, a straight-faced Wood explained. No, I dont need pictures to remember pain. People say, We want to remember the history of the Civil War, Noah added. Theres an easier way to remember what happened in the Civil War: Just walk around in the South. And if you see free black people, then you know what happened. Watch the segment above. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gloria Gaynor sings to Texas Harvey victims: You will survive By Christie DZurilla (Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images) Gloria Gaynor wants people affected by Harvey to know they will survive, and shes communicating that message through a new version of the song that has defined her career. Gaynor, whose I Will Survive became an anthem over the years, rewrote the 1978 disco hit to reach out to victims in Texas and posted her rendition on social media Wednesday. Hi, my neighbors in Texas, she said in a video shot while she sat at a piano she was about to play. This is Gloria Gaynor with a song that hopefully will cheer you up just a little bit. @SylvesterTurner @rashivats @SallyMacFox26 @TheRitaGarcia @kaitlinmonte @ChrisdyannUribe @MsCoCoDominguez @JMartinFOX26 TX WILL SURVIVE pic.twitter.com/FCNOnDr85o Gloria Gaynor (@gloriagaynor) August 30, 2017 Here are the tweaked lyrics, for those who dont want to hit play with the sound on. First we were afraid We were petrified Thinking Texas couldnt live With floodwaters this high We know you spent plenty of time Preparing for this hurricane Who couldve known that it would come With so much devastating rain But we will strive And youll survive With all our love and help and prayers We will stay strongly by your side We are your neighbors tried and true Well do all we can for you And youll survive You will survive, you will survive Similarly on Monday night, Coldplay unleashed a new original song written after the band was forced to cancel its Friday show in Houston with Hurricane Harvey bearing down. This is a new song, and well never play it again, frontman Chris Martin told an audience in Miami. Its a once-off. Its called Houston. Were going to sing it in Miami for everybody here, and then were going to send it over there to everyone who missed the show. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation donates $1 million to Harvey recovery By Christie DZurilla (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Leonardo DiCaprio has stepped up with a $1-million donation to aid the victims of Hurricane Harvey, now a tropical storm, which has dumped historic levels of rain on the Gulf Coast over the last several days. United Way Worldwide announced Wednesday that it has started the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund with a seven-figure donation from the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. The money 100% of it, according to the charity will go to help victims of flooding with mid- and long-term recovery over the coming years. There are 23 United Ways that operate in the path of the storm, which made landfall Aug. 24. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Leonardo DiCaprio and his foundation, United Way Worldwide President and CEO Brian Gallagher said in a statement. Responding to Hurricane Harvey requires the best of all of us and thats what this gift represents. DiCaprio has been urging support of the United Way and American Red Cross this week on his Twitter account and retweeting stories talking about Harvey and climate change. Di Caprios foundation has been committed to climate-related issues and environmental projects since 1998, Terry Tamminen, president and CEO of the foundation, said in a statement. We support efforts to build climate resilient communities and protect vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems across the planet, and have supported disaster relief and victim funds in the past. We hope others will step up and support the United Way and other organizations. Earlier this week, Sandra Bullock, who has a home in Texas, gave $1 million to the American Red Cross, repeating the lump-sum generosity she showed after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. Ellen DeGeneres was also in the seven-figure donation tier. The comic and talk-show host dropped $1 million in the relief bucket on Wednesday via J.J. Watts foundation. The effort by the Houston Texans star player topped $10 million on Thursday, with Watt chronicling its progress all week via videos on social media. Update, 8:50 a.m.: This post was updated with information about DeGeneres donation to Watts fund. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A Star Is Born: Chris Tucker turns 45 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Iris Schneider / Los Angeles Times) I had a dream as a kid: I wanted to be big, big like Richard [Pryor] and Eddie [Murphy]. I imagined it. I studied it. I had a passion. Chris Tucker, 2001 FROM THE ARCHIVES: In a Big Rush Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Springsteen on Broadway was born to run, is extended through February By Libby Hill Bruce Springsteens solo shows on Broadway have been extended through February, just hours after the original run sold out. (Greg Allen / Invision/Associated Press) Good news for Bruce Springsteen fans who were locked out of purchasing tickets Wednesday morning for his upcoming run of shows on Broadway. Ticketmaster announced that Springsteen on Broadway, an intimate stage experience that launches in October and features the rock legend performing solo, will be extending for 10 additional weeks. Originally scheduled to close in November, the show was extended through February after the original block of tickets sold out in a matter of minutes Wednesday. "#SpringsteenBroadway has been EXTENDED! the ticket outlet tweeted, with a follow-up tweet explaining that fans who had previously registered to purchase tickets will not have to register again. #SpringsteenBroadway has been EXTENDED! More information coming today. There will NOT be any additional codes released for today's onsale. pic.twitter.com/xGY3rj3Yrl Ticketmaster (@Ticketmaster) August 30, 2017 #SpringsteenBroadway extended run information YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REGISTER AGAIN! NEW #VerifiedFan registration: https://t.co/2xNBBhcVES pic.twitter.com/FT3mLaTLPV Ticketmaster (@Ticketmaster) August 30, 2017 Springsteen will be performing at New York Citys Walter Kerr Theater, which houses fewer than 1,000 seats. To curtail ticket scalping, Ticketmaster relied on its Verified Fan program. The program forces fans to register to even have an opportunity to purchase tickets and are limited to two tickets per purchase. For all of Ticketmasters efforts, resale sites already are flooded with Springsteen on Broadway tickets, with some reaching $10,000 apiece. Fans interested in trying their luck for the second batch of performance dates will need to register with Ticketmaster Verified Fan by Sept. 3 (at 7 p.m. Pacific). Tickets will be available for purchase 10 a.m. Pacific on Sept. 7. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Sandra Bullock donates $1 million to Harvey relief efforts By Libby Hill Sandra Bullock donated $1 million to the American Red Cross for storm relief. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) With the Gulf Coast still battling the aftereffects of Tropical Storm Harvey, celebrities continue to come forward to help with relief efforts for the humanitarian crisis. Sandra Bullock, who has a home in Texas, donated $1 million to the American Red Cross emergency efforts, the organization confirmed to The Times on Wednesday. We are so thankful for the overwhelming and generous response from those who want to help those affected by this devastating storm, Elizabeth Penniman, vice president of communications for American Red Cross national headquarters, said in an email. Massive disasters like Hurricane Harvey create many critical and immediate needs, so we are heartened by donations like this which allow us to provide immediate shelter, food and comfort to thousands in need, Penniman continued. The entertainment community has been so supportive to the Red Cross in response to this devastating disaster, and we are so grateful. Bullock is just the latest star who has donated to recovery efforts in Texas. The Kardashian family pledged $500,000 to the Salvation Army and Red Cross on Tuesday. Kevin Hart also spearheaded a celebrity-driven fundraising campaign on Crowdrise that has brought in more than $1 million for the Red Cross. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Corinne Olympios wants DeMario Jackson to know she doesnt blame him for anything By Christie DZurilla Corinne Olympios doesnt have any hard feelings toward DeMario Jackson, the fellow Bachelor in Paradise cast member who was with her at the center of a scandal that shut down production on the reality TV series in June. I dont blame DeMario. I never pointed fingers at DeMario. I never said a bad word about DeMario, the 25-year-old told host Chris Harrison in an early-August taped interview that aired Tuesday night on ABC. She and Jackson havent spoken since production was halted after allegations of misconduct were made by a producer, leading to an investigation of what happened during a period when, Olympios now says, she was blacked out. I was almost a little bit nervous to talk to [DeMario], because he did run to the media and I didnt want to add fuel to the fire, she said. Before she had a chance to collect her thoughts, he was out there and so on the defensive, she said. He was doing his thing and I didnt want to get messed up in that. ... I cant help but feel like maybe he felt like I thought he did something to me. Jackson did not do anything bad, she insisted. Seeing him start crying in a clip from his own interview with Harrison, which had aired on the show last week, Olympios welled up a bit too. It was hard for me to go through something like that. I know exactly how he feels. The media wants to paint you a certain way that you know youre just not, she said. Olympios told Harrison the same things she had said in a Tuesday morning interview with Good Morning America about blacking out from drinking too much and mixing alcohol with medication. However, she didnt directly address her I am a victim statement that was released at the height of the scandal. On GMA, she said she meant she was a victim of the media. Regarding Bachelor in Paradise with Harrison, she simply talked about how awful it was to have so many people acting like they had been there or were suddenly experts on her life. To even get up and go get eggs at the grocery store ... my face was all over every magazine and I had to check out and everyones staring, Olympios said. Youre looking at them and its like, Im not what youre thinking right now. Then, near the end of the interview, she shared one big wish. Obviously hindsight is 20/20, she said, and I wish it could have been handled differently. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Tomi Lahren finds new home at Fox News By Libby Hill Conservative firebrand Tomi Lahren is again gainfully employed after being fired from Glenn Becks The Blaze in March. On Wednesday, Lahren announced via her Facebook page that she is joining the Fox News team as a contributor. This exciting new step will allow me to give voice to all the America-loving patriots who have had my back since day one, Lahren wrote. I will remain a solid and passionate advocate for you. Though 25-year-old Lahren has made television appearances before -- including a contentious appearance on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah -- much of her career has been in digital media. She hosted On Point With Tomi Lahren for One America News Network, and her Final Thought videos have garnered her over 4.4 million Facebook followers. In addition to her role as a contributor, Lahren will also have a signature role on a Fox News digital product in development, according to a press release issued by the network. Lahren makes her debut on Wednesdays edition of Hannity at 7 p.m. PDT. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trevor Noah is shocked shocked by the latest revelations about Trump and Moscow By Robert Lloyd Even as the Earth offers humanity another taste of its weather future and President Trump keeps Sheriff Joe Arpaio out of jail and North Korean missiles fly over Japan late-night TV hosts have disappeared from their chairs as if it were August in France. Trevor Noah is on the job, though, hosting The Daily Show. Tuesday night, he had some mirthful words about the ongoing investigation into the Trump campaigns Russian affairs. Specifically, he reflected on the revelation of a letter of intent, signed by POTUS himself, to build a Trump Tower skyscraper in Moscow and make it the tallest building in the world despite Trumps repeated claims to have no business, no interests, no nothing in Russia. How can one person lie so big? HOW? Noah asked, amazedly. Its like if your friend said he had never heard of Mumford and Sons and then one day you see the album cover and youre like, wait a minute, youre Mumford. Were those connections strictly business, or were they getting out on the votey-votey action? Thats not clear yet, he said. What was clear is that a typically dubious character was at the center of it namely Felix Sater, a Russian-born real estate developer once convicted of stabbing a man in the neck and face with the stem of a broken margarita glass. Of all the glasses to stab someone with, a margarita glass is the worst, Noah said. Youre literally putting salt into the wounds. There was also a conviction for Saters involvement in a $40-million stock fraud, Noah added, which came as no surprise to the host. You never trust someone with a cat name. If a human goes by Felix or Whiskers or Mittens, you should probably just stay away. There were emails, of course; there are always emails. Buddy, our boy can become President of the USA and we can engineer it. I will get all of Putins team to buy in on this, Sater wrote to Trumps personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen. This buddy boy email may not be the smoking gun for Trump, Noah concluded, but what it could end up being is the broken taillight the thing that gives law enforcement the excuse they need to look into Trumps trunk. And we all know, he said, as a picture of the golfing presidents derriere appeared over his shoulder, hes got a lot of junk in that trunk. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Jury president Annette Bening addresses lack of female representation at Venice Film Festival By Nardine Saad (Claudio Onorati / Associated Press) Though there arent as many women represented at this years Venice Film Festival as she would like, jury president Annette Bening believes things are changing. The four-time Oscar nominee, whose film credits include American Beauty, The Kids Are All Right, 20th Century Women and Bugsy, addressed the lack of female directors Wednesday during the 74th annual Venice Film Festivals opening press conference. (Only one of the 21 films in competition is directed by a woman this year.) As women, we have to be sharp, shrewd and creative in what we choose to make. Sexism does exist and there is no question about it. But things are changing, the actress said at the opening press conference, according to Variety. The more we can make films that speak to everybody, the more we will be regarded as filmmakers, she added. Bening, the first woman to chair the jury in more than a decade, said she knew of both veteran and rookie filmmakers struggling to get their movies made whether they are men or women. She said the industry has a long way to go, in terms of parity but was confident that the direction were going is positive. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A Star Is Born: Lisa Ling turns 44 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) [People have said to me], When you were in the worlds largest slum [in India], you could almost smell what it was like by your expression.' Its not that Im trying to force myself on the viewer. Im just their eyes and ears. I think our work is quite pure. Lisa Ling, 1997 FROM THE ARCHIVES: Taking news personally Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In wake of Charlottesville strife, Virginia Film Festival to host director Spike Lee as special guest By Josh Rottenberg Director Spike Lee photographed in 2015. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) As the city of Charlottesville, Va., and the nation as a whole continues to grapple with the violent racial strife that erupted earlier this month, the Virginia Film Festival announced on Tuesday that it will host filmmaker Spike Lee as a special guest at the upcoming festival as part of a program around the legacy of slavery. Lee, who has tackled thorny issues of race throughout his career, will present his Oscar-nominated documentary 4 Little Girls about the 1963 bombing of a Baptist church in Birmingham, Ala., that claimed the lives of four African American girls, an act of white supremacist terrorism that marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement. We have for many years been interested in bringing Spike Lee to the Virginia Film Festival as he remains one of the most talented, innovative, and socially conscious filmmakers in our world today, said Jody Kielbasa, director of the film festival and vice provost for the arts at the University of Virginia. We first reached out to Mr. Lee in the spring to include him in our upcoming collaboration with Montpelier, and of course, the recent events in Charlottesville have made his participation more compelling, relevant and vital. The festival program will also include a short film titled I Cant Breathe that combines footage of the 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner during his arrest by a New York City police officer with footage of the death of Radio Raheem under similar circumstances in Lees 1989 film Do the Right Thing. The program is part of a larger collaboration with Montpelier, the Virginia plantation of President James Madison, who owned more than 100 slaves, that will explore both how the legacy of slavery continues to affect the lives of African Americans and how they are depicted in film and other media. The 30th annual Virginia Film Festival will run from Nov. 9 to 12 in Charlottesville. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Jerry Seinfeld recaps childhood in Netflixs first Jerry Before Seinfeld trailer By Nardine Saad The first trailer for Netflixs stand-up special Jerry Before Seinfeld has arrived, and its a madcap recap of Jerry Seinfelds humble beginnings, quirky family dynamics and bits of everyday observations. The teaser opens with Johnny Carson introducing the iconic comic in 1981 during his debut on The Tonight Show. Then it showcases the sitcom star back at the mike at the Comic Strip, the famous New York comedy club where he launched his career. Throwback photos, videos and interviews with Seinfeld are woven throughout. Hes back where he began, the title reads, doing what he loves. The original comedy special is the first of two stand-up specials Seinfeld will deliver in his massive deal with the streaming giant. (The deal also includes the entirety of his Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee catalog and 24 new episodes of the Emmy-nominated talk show, which will launch later this year.) Seinfeld and Netflix teased to the special last week with several clips posted on Instagram and a close-up look at the numerous legal pads scrawled with handwritten jokes hes kept from the 1970s. Jerry Before Seinfeld begins streaming Sept. 19. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kermit the Frog finds his new voice in Matt Vogel By Nardine Saad The new Kermit the Frog has arrived and hes following his dreams -- literally. New Muppeteer Matt Vogel made his vocal debut as the iconic frog on Monday in a Muppet Thought of the Week video posted on YouTube. Dreams are how we figure out where we want to go. Life is how we get there, he says in the brief clip. Im headed this way. The veteran voice actor has worked on Sesame Street and also operates the Muppets Floyd, Constantine and Sweetums. He is only the third puppeteer to take on Kermit the Frog full time since the character was created in 1955. He replaced former puppeteer Steve Whitmire, who began work on The Muppet Show in 1978 and inherited the role of Kermit when creator Jim Henson died in 1990. Whitmire was dismissed over concerns about his repeated unacceptable business conduct over a period of many years and he consistently failed to address the feedback, the Muppets Studio said at the time. Whitmire claimed he was fired in October 2016 and kept quiet about it until Vogel was announced as his replacement in July. It was his opinionated communication style that earned him his walking papers, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trevor Noah says Trumps pardon of Sheriff Arpaio renders courts powerless By Nardine Saad The Daily Show host Trevor Noah broke down former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaios presidential pardon on Monday, explaining how President Trumps decision undermines the judicial branch of government. The controversial Maricopa County lawman, who was convicted of criminal contempt of court for violating Latinos rights, earned himself a thuggish reputation as a sheriff, Noah said, citing his agencys use of tent cities, stun guns, jail overcrowding and numerous cases of inmate deaths and police brutality. But those were just his extracurriculars, Noah said. It turns out his full-time job is racism. The 85-year-old Arpaio was found guilty in July of defying a 2011 court order barring officers from stopping and detaining Latino motorists to check their immigration status. As much as Sheriff Arpaio presented himself as anti-illegal immigrants, it turned out really he was just anti being a decent human being, Noah said. When the president of the United States steps in and pardons someones contempt conviction, hes essentially rendering the courts powerless. Daily Show host Trevor Noah His abuses hurt inmates and taxpayers, costing the state $142 million in legal fees, settlements and compliance costs, Noah said. Other things they could have spent that money on? Schools, roads or they could have just paid Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather to just punch Arpaio in the face. But Noah made the point that Trumps decision completely undercut the judiciary. Remember how the three branches of government are supposed to be equal? Well, convicting someone of contempt is the one and only way the judicial branch can put muscle behind its decisions. So when the president of the United States steps in and pardons someones contempt conviction, hes essentially rendering the courts powerless, he said. Watch the full segment above. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Coldplay dedicate new song to Harvey victims -- and vow never to play it again By Randall Roberts (Jens Meyer / Associated Press) On Monday night in Miami, Coldplays Chris Martin drew attention to the victims of Tropical Storm Harvey by unveiling a new song called Houston -- and then vowed never to play it again. The band, which was forced to cancel its Houston show days earlier due to the storm, wrote the song as the region was enduring historic flooding. After acknowledging that he and the band all grew up loving country music, and, of course, thats kind of what we think of when we go to Texas, Martin asked the crowd to bear with them. This is a new song, and well never play it again, Martin said. Its a once-off. Its called Houston. Were going to sing it in Miami for everybody here and then were going to send it over there to everyone who missed the show. Vowing to return to Houston, Martin and band huddled and tentatively started a twangy little number. Im dreaming of when I get back to Houston, sang Martin, replete with a touch of Johnny Cash-ian twang. Describing it as that city where they send you into space, Martin crooned of Corpus Christi, Harris County, Galveston, of a harmony that hums down there in Houston, and urged the region to keep on keeping on. Merle Haggard it wasnt (and everyones a critic), but the performance drew huge applause from fans and went viral on Tuesday morning. Coldplays quick-turnaround ditty is hardly the first to document such deluges. Johnny Cashs Three Feet High and Rising occurred in real time as a family struggled to keep dry. In Charley Pattons High Water Everywhere, the country blues singer recalled the lives lost in the Great Flood of 1927, which consumed the Mississippi Delta and spawned dozens of songs: Oh, Lordy, women is groaning down / Oh, Lordy, women and children sinking down, Patton sang. I couldnt see nobody home, and was no one to be found. Below is another song about the flood of 27: Bessie Smiths Backwater Blues. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Corinne Olympios on Bachelor in Paradise scandal: I was really a victim of the media By Christie DZurilla (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images) Corinne Olympios says medication, the booze and the media were key players in Junes production-stopping Bachelor in Paradise scandal and its aftermath. Calling the situation just really unfortunate, she said Tuesday on Good Morning America that she doesnt remember anything that happened. Seeing video of what transpired on the first day of production on the looking-for-love reality show was like watching not-me, she said. Im watching someone else. On that day, Olympios and fellow cast member DeMario Jackson allegedly wound up in the pool or hot tub together in a situation that a producer thought went too far. Allegations of misconduct were made, and production shut down the next day for an investigation that ultimately determined nothing untoward had happened. The show, sans Corinne and DeMario, premiered its fourth season Aug. 14, a week later than originally planned. I did drink, too much, I definitely understand that, Olympios said. But I was also on a medication that severely blacks you out and impairs your judgment and messes with your balance, that I didnt know you were not supposed to not drink on, and so it really just caused a horrible, horrible blackout. It was like I went under like anesthesia and then just like woke up. Shes now weaning off the medication, she said, and cutting down on her drinking. But in explaining her provocative official statement that she was a victim living out her worst nightmare, Olympios revealed her specific definition of victimhood, which had little or nothing to do with consent, which was a hot topic throughout the scandal. I was really a victim of the media, Olympios said. It was just, all of a sudden people became an expert on the situation and on what happened, and it was like, Im still trying to figure out exactly what happened. It was just horrible to deal with. It got really, really bad. ..., she added. The things people say are just insane. When the remaining Paradise cast met as a whole on the first episode of the season, their sympathies seemed to lie with Jackson as they worried about the long-term effects the scandal would have on him and any future career opportunities, especially given the lingering racial issues of alleged misconduct between a white woman and a black man. However, they were quick to say they were not slut-shaming Olympios either. Jackson spoke last week on Bachelor in Paradise, sitting down with host Chris Harrison to give his take on what happened. Heres a taste of that, courtesy of GMA: Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Victorias Secret Fashion Show heads to Shanghai this year By Nardine Saad Angels will fly over the Great Wall of China in November as the Victorias Secret Fashion Show heads to Shanghai for the first time. Supermodels Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge and more will strut their stuff for the annual lingerie extravaganza, Victorias Secret and CBS said in a statement on Tuesday. The iconic pre-holiday show replete with teensy underwear and massive angel wings is usually filmed in New York, but Miami, Los Angeles and London have also hosted the scantily clad runway walk. The broadcast will air on CBS on Nov. 28 and will be shown in more than 190 countries. Models Elsa Hosk, Jasmine Tookes, Josephine Skriver, Lais Ribeiro, Martha Hunt, Romee Strijd, Sara Sampaio, Stella Maxwell and Taylor Hill will also walk in this years show. Musical performers will be announced at a later date, the statement said. Ni hao, China! This year's #VSFashionShow is headed to Shanghai. Watch it Nov 28, 10/9C on @CBS. Learn more: https://t.co/AHWHWjKOCI pic.twitter.com/tgIVJs7Lsr Victoria's Secret (@VictoriasSecret) August 29, 2017 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A Star Is Born: William Friedkin turns 82 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) I love the experience of making films. I love the mud. I love the dirt. I love all the inconveniences. Thats why you do it. If you do it because youre looking to be the Great American film maker, youre liable to experience disappointment. William Friedkin, 1989 FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Exorcisms of William Friedkin Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Taylor Swifts Look What You Made Me Do video bashes another YouTube record By Randy Lewis Taylor Swifts official video for her first new music in three years, Look What You Made Me Do, has blasted through the existing YouTube record for most views tallied during its first 24 hours of release. The clip logged 43.2 million views since the video was posted Sunday evening. That far surpasses the record set in 2013 by Korean pop star Psys Gentleman, which racked up 36 million views in its first day. It also hasnt slowed interest in Swifts previously released lyric video for the same song, which set a record for lyric video viewership by drawing 19 million views in the first 24 hours. That version has now surpassed 47 million views in less than four days. Both videos have generated flurries of debate and analysis among Swifts fans and her dissenters, the former seemingly outnumbering the latter by a margin of nearly 5 to 1. Likes have surpassed the 1 million mark, while dislikes stood at 232,000 at the 24-hour mark. The song is the first single from her forthcoming album Reputation, due Nov. 10. It will be Swifts sixth studio album. Each of her last three albums sold more than 1 million copies during the first week of release. Swift is the only artist with that achievement to her credit. Update Aug. 29, 10:30 a.m.: This post has been updated with the finalized 24-hour viewer total. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Watch the Game of Thrones cast and crew break down some of Season 7s best scenes By Tracy Brown Game of Thrones Season 7 may have concluded Sunday, but there is still plenty left for fans to unpack before Thrones"-withdrawal sets in. Along with all the burning questions left in the wake of the season finale, HBO has left us with some behind-the-scenes videos from this seasons most epic moments. The production magic of Game of Thrones is undeniable and it extends to beyond special effects dragons. From Arya donning Walder Freys face to dole out her brand of vengeance to Daenerys walking into Dragonstone for the first time, there is plenty to explore from just the first episode alone. The video above dives deep into what it took to craft the Season 7 premiere, including how Cerseis fancy new giant map came to be. Of course, plenty of fans are probably still contemplating the latest episode and what Jon and Danys new level of intimacy means going into the final season. Can this be how the actual prince that was promised is conceived? And if you were a bit squicked out by the pairs developing relationship, youre not alone. Unlike Jon and Daenerys, Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington are definitely aware that they are both Targaryens. For us as actors its just weird, said Clarke in a video about the coupling. The reality of what they are to each other. In fact, the actors had more facial expressions and sound effects to convey their feelings about this union than words. Watch in the video below. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ed Skrein leaves Hellboy after whitewashing furor By Christie DZurilla (Jordan Strauss / Associated Press) Ed Skrein will not play Maj. Ben Daimio in a reboot of Hellboy, the English actor said Monday, noting that when he accepted the role he didnt know that in the comics the character was of mixed Asian descent. Just a week ago, Skrein had tweeted his excitement over taking on the role. Backlash in the form of whitewashing allegations ensued. It is clear that representing this character in a culturally accurate way holds significance for people, and that to neglect this responsibility would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories and voices in the Arts, the 34-year-old Deadpool actor said in a statement announcing that he had changed his mind about portraying Daimio. Calling it a moral decision, he said he was sad to leave the movie but hoped his action would make a difference in making equal representation in the arts a reality. David Harbour, the Stranger Things actor slated to play Hellboy, tweeted, Hey internet. Thank you for your voices. An injustice was done and will be corrected. Many thanks to @edskrein for doing what is right. Mike Mignola, who created the Hellboy comics, also thanked Skrein on Monday and said the move was very nicely done. Hey internet. Thank you for your voices. An injustice was done and will be corrected. Many thanks to @edskrein for doing what is right. https://t.co/tUvP6YibgG David Harbour (@DavidKHarbour) August 28, 2017 In addition to Harbour, the 2018 version of the story so far stars Milla Jovovich as Nimue, Ian McShane as Professor Broom and Alice Monaghan as Sasha Lane, according to IMDb. Neil Marshall, who among other things has helmed episodes of Game of Thrones and Westworld, is set to direct. The Daimio character didnt appear in the 2004 or 2008 Guillermo del Toro films based on the Hellboy comics. Heres Skreins full explanation: pic.twitter.com/8WoSsHXDFO Ed Skrein (@edskrein) August 28, 2017 Updated, 2:39 p.m.: This story was updated with comments from Harbour and Mignola. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper are super-friends no more By Libby Hill Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin (Rob Kim / Getty Images) What began as a tasteless joke at the expense of President Trump continues to have real-life consequences for comedian Kathy Griffin. In an extensive interview with The Cut, Griffin admitted that her 17-year friendship with Anderson Cooper, with whom she co-hosted CNNs New Years Eve gig for a decade, ended in the wake of the Trump controversy. In May, Griffin publicized a photo shoot that featured her holding a bloodied imitation severed head bearing a strong resemblance to the president. The backlash was immediate and largely bipartisan, as many saw the images as glorifying violence and furthering political division. Griffin quickly apologized for the misstep but the damage had been done, with condemnation from the White House, investigation by the Secret Service and the loss of several jobs, including her CNN gig. On May 30, Cooper tweeted his disapproval of Griffins artistic expression, calling it disgusting and completely inappropriate, and Griffin admitted at a June 2 news conference that Coopers comments hurt her. For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in. It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate. Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) May 31, 2017 In July, Cooper appeared on Bravos Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen and stated that he and Griffin were still friends. Yeah, were still friends, and look I said what I said about I didnt think what she said was appropriate, but I wish her the best and I hope she bounces back, he stated. But Griffin claimed that at that point, nearly two months after the fact, she had yet to hear from Cooper privately. In reality, it wasnt until Aug. 10 that Cooper finally reached out to Griffin in a series of text messages, CNN confirmed to The Cut at which point Griffin informed him that their friendship was over. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In One Mississippi Season 2 trailer, Tig Notaro prays for the gay to stay By Christie DZurilla Tig Notaros One Mississippi is coming back for a second season, one in which her character is getting used to life back in her small Mississippi hometown. Season 1 of the Amazon Prime Video series took viewers through a fictionalized series of events that echoed Notaros own life: a potentially deadly intestinal illness, breast cancer, a double mastectomy, the unexpected death of her beloved mother and a romantic breakup. Yup, its a dark comedy. In Season 2, L.A. transplant Tig is navigating her new environs, including strategizing about how to proceed with a crush on Straight Kate and dealing with some well-meaning, pray-the-gay-away critics of her radio show. Plus, theres her stepfathers whole dishwasher drill to contend with, not to mention the story line that has to do with sexual assault. The new season of One Mississippi starts streaming Sept. 8. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Watch Frank Oceans lyric video for new song Provider By Randall Roberts As is his wont these days, R&B superstar Frank Ocean unveiled a new song, Provider, his own way: during the newest installment of Blonded Radio, the Apple Music/Beats 1 radio show he hosts and curates. The ballads a meditation that name-checks Aphex Twin, shoegaze, Talking Heads, Jaws, Patagonia sportswear and Stanley Kubrick, and moves through verses without much regard for structure. Immediately following the Sunday premiere, Ocean dropped the lyric video on his website. Featuring a souped-up mini-boombox retrofitted with bigger speaker cones and a Velcro-attached machete, the clip suggests an owner getting ready to hunt prey while using Provider as the lure. Ocean hasnt uploaded the clip to YouTube, but you can listen and watch on his blonded.co website. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gone With the Wind, deemed insensitive, has been pulled from a Memphis theater By Christie DZurilla Gone With the Wind will not be shown in the future by a Tennessee theater that decided it was insensitive to many in the local community. The 1939 movie, which marked the first Oscar win by a black actor, depicts a romanticized view of slavery and life on a Southern plantation before, during and after the Civil War. Gone With the Wind, which won 10 Academy Awards in 1940, including for best picture, had been shown by the Orpheum Theatre Group for years as part of an annual Summer Movie Series, according to Memphis Commercial-Appeal. At times, it was screened more than once a year, the paper said. This year, however, a different climate prevailed. The recent screening of Gone With the Wind at the Orpheum on Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, generated numerous comments, Brett Batterson, president of the theater group, said Friday in a statement (via the New York Times). The Orpheum carefully reviewed all of them. As an organization whose stated mission is to entertain, educate and enlighten the communities it serves, the Orpheum cannot show a film that is insensitive to a large segment of its local population. The majority of Memphis residents are black, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The screening happened, coincidentally, on the day before a rally of white nationalists that turned violent in Charlottesville, Va. a rally that has been followed by a national conversation about whether to purge monuments to Civil War generals and soldiers from public spaces. In an interview with the Commercial-Appeal, Batterson said the appropriateness of screening Gone With the Wind had been discussed every year, but the social media storm this year really brought it home. By Monday, comments on social media, including on the Facebook post announcing the screening, had shifted in large part to defense of Gone With the Wind as a product of its time that, despite its romanticized portrayal of the Old South and of slavery, was still part of movie history and worth showing on a big screen. The Orpheum did not respond Monday to The Times requests for comment. Hattie McDaniels Oscar win for supporting actress was a significant first but was also loaded with a lot of political and racial issues given that the film was the classic archetype of the Mammy, said Adilifu Nama, associate professor of African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University, speaking to The Times in 2014. McDaniels role of Mammy is fundamentally a subservient role and is part of a film that is a Southern racial fantasy, Nama said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Taylor Swift gets petty and Pink talks pretty in the must-see moments from MTVs Video Music Awards By Libby Hill Were you too busy watching [spoiler] revealed as [spoiler] on Sunday nights Game of Thrones finale to watch MTVs Video Music Awards? Fear not! Weve gathered up four must-see moments from the socially conscious affair (and one lackluster video debut from Taylor Swift) to keep you in the loop. Pinks PowerPoint presentation It was a banner night for singer Pink, who received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for her body of work and used the occasion to share an anecdote about her daughter Willow. Recently, Pink stated, her daughter referred to herself as the ugliest person she knew and complained that she looked like a boy with long hair. At first, the Raise Your Glass singer was taken aback by her daughters words but soon swung into action, compiling an elaborate PowerPoint presentation about the history of androgynous rock stars, including Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Annie Lennox. Pink relayed a simple sentiment that most of us could learn a lot from: So, baby, girl, we dont change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. Logic talks emotions Plenty of artists used the VMAs stage to speak passionately about issues they care about, but few did so as extensively as rapper Logic. After his performance of 1-800-273-8255" with Khalid and Alessia Cara, the title of which is the phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Logic talked about mental health and equality. Beginning at 3:50 in the above video, Logic first thanked the audience for giving him a platform to discuss the important issue of mental health. He then quickly pivoted to other pressing social issues including discrimination, sexism and domestic violence. I dont give a damn if youre black, white or any color in between, Logic said. I dont care if youre Christian, youre Muslim, youre gay, youre straight, I am gonna fight for your equality because I believe that we are all born equal, but we are not treated equally and that is why we must fight. Jared Leto honors Chester Bennington Logics performance and subsequent speech were particularly moving given the past years loss of two rock musicians to suicide Linkin Parks Chester Bennington and Soundgardens Chris Cornell. Jared Leto, an Academy Award winner and frontman of Thirty Seconds to Mars, spoke about both men at Sundays ceremony. MTV asked me to come here to say a few words about Chester and the late, great, Chris Cornell, two artists I had the absolute pleasure of touring with, Leto said of the two singers who were also close friends. Chester said of Chris, Your voice was joy and pain and anger and forgiveness, love and heartache, all wrapped up into one, Leto recalled. Leto also recounted his own memories of Bennington. I think about his heart, Leto said. And I remember his voice. At once ferocious and delicate, that voice will live forever. Fifth Harmony gets shady Despite the pleas for equality and the heartfelt speeches, there was still plenty of time for pettiness at the VMAs, as evidenced by Fifth Harmonys performance. As the group took the stage to perform its latest single, Angel, a mystery fifth member appeared in the lineup before being unceremoniously yanked offstage as the song began. What appeared as an inexplicable stunt to the uninitiated was likely a shady reference to former Fifth Harmony frontwoman Camila Cabello, who exited the group in December to pursue a solo career. It wasnt so much that Cabellos departure stung her former colleagues but that she reportedly failed to inform them of her decision before announcing it to the world. Oops. Also Taylor Swift Unless you were in a coma for the whole of last week, you probably heard that Taylor Swift announced the release date for her upcoming album, Reputation, as well as releasing the first single, Look What You Made Me Do. Its fine. Sunday night, Swift debuted the video for Look What You Made Me Do. It is also fine. This has been your daily Taylor Swift update. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kevin Hart, Beyonce and Drake lead charge for Hurricane Harvey flood relief By Nardine Saad (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times) As Harvey lashed southeastern Texas over the weekend, celebrities rallied for the relief effort. Comedian Kevin Hart led the charge Sunday night, donating $25,000 and challenging his celebrity friends to donate to the Red Cross amid catastrophic flooding in the Lone Star State. I think weve participated in a lot of challenges on the Internet, some meaningful, some meaningless, but weve all done them. Ive been a person thats partaken in several of them, Hart said in an Instagram video. At this point, this is a serious matter, he continued. I think the people are in bad shape and they need help. Im going to lead the charge and step up in this way. The Jumanji star called on his co-star Dwayne Johnson, comics Steve Harvey, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and Jerry Seinfeld, as well as musicians Jay-Z, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake to make donations and tag someone else to do the same. At that point, Houston native Beyonce and Kelly Rowland of Destinys Child had already posted notes about their hometown on Instagram, sending thoughts and prayers to the state that launched their careers. View Instagram post View Instagram post The deluge of support continued with country star Chris Young. The Man I Want to Be singer posted an emotional YouTube video about his certainty that his Texas home was destroyed and concern for his friends and family in the state. He donated $100,000 to relief efforts to a GoFundMe campaign to benefit the Red Cross. Harvey, one of the worst natural disasters in the states history, slammed onshore Friday as a Category 4 hurricane, then weakened to a tropical storm on Saturday, dropping up to 24 inches of rain on Houston in 24 hours. The National Weather Service reported that at least five people had died as of Sunday evening, but that number was expected to increase as the floodwaters recede. More than 30,000 people across the Gulf Coast are likely to seek temporary shelter as the tropical storm continues to drench southeastern Texas and Louisiana with heavy rains and surging floodwaters, The Times reported. Toronto native Drake, who has lived in Houston for the last eight years, said that he and DJ Future the Prince are working with local relief groups to aid and assist the people of Texas in anyway we can and in the most immediate way possible. I also want to thank all the men and women of service and volunteers for their courageous efforts to help people in need, the rapper said on Instagram. I encourage everyone to do what they can to assist the people of Texas knowing whatever effort you can make to help will go a long way. View Instagram post Also, during the MTV Video Music Awards Awards on Sunday, host Katy Perry touched upon the catastrophic event. She too urged viewers to donate to the Red Cross. All of us here at the VMAs are sending love to the people of southeastern Texas and everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey right now, Perry said onstage. Were praying for your safety in the days to come and we stand with you as you rebuild because were all in this together. According to the Houston Chronicle, more than 15 inches of rain could fall on several more southeastern Texas cities. Corpus Christi, where Harvey first made landfall, saw upward of 20 inches of rain in two days. By Monday morning, up to 40 inches of rain had fallen on northeast Houston. Another 20 inches were expected Monday before Tropical Storm Harvey travels farther east. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Susan Bro, mother of slain Charlottesville protester Heather Heyer, announces anti-hate foundation at the MTV VMAs By Randall Roberts (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) During an evening filled with defiant messages against racism, homophobia and body shaming, the mother of Heather Heyer announced some concrete actions to further the cause. Susan Bro, whose daughter was killed two weeks ago during protests in Charlottesville, Va., has worked through her grief by speaking out against racism, and took a further step by creating the Heather Heyer Foundation. Describing it as a nonprofit organization that will provide scholarships to help more people to join Heathers fight against hatred, Bro requested that viewers visit the new site to help me make Heathers death count. Added Bro: Heather never marched alone. She was always joined by people from every race and every background in this country. Bro was introduced by Robert Lee IV -- a descendant of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee -- who said his ancestor has became of idol of white supremacy and hate. Lee went on to describe racism as Americas original sin. He went on to ask all of those with privilege to confront white supremacy and racism head-on. Watch his speech below. I call on all of us with privilege and power to confront racism and white supremacy head-on" - Robert Lee IV #VMAs pic.twitter.com/ko4SM9VnaU MTV (@MTV) August 28, 2017 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Pinks inspiring MTV VMA speech to individuality By Randall Roberts In receiving her Video Vanguard award at the MTV VMAs on Sunday at the Forum -- the shows equivalent of a lifetime achievement trophy -- the pop star Pink told a story about a conversation shed recently had with her young daughter. They were driving to school and her daughter said, Mama, Im the ugliest girl I know. Pink replied, Huh? And she was like, Yeah, I look like a boy with long hair. Pink said that she immediately thought, My god, youre 6. Where is this coming from? The artist and mom didnt lecture her daughter. Instead, said Pink: I went home and made a PowerPoint presentation for her, and in that presentation were androgynous rock stars and artists that live their truth; are probably made fun of every day of their lives and carry on and wave their flag; and inspire the rest of us. These are artists like Michael Jackson and David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and Annie Lennox and Prince and Janis Joplin and George Michael, Elton John, so many artists. Pink said that her daughters eyes glazed over, but Pink pressed her about why she felt that way about herself. What do you think I look like? She said, Youre beautiful. The pop singer explained that she gets critiqued, too. They say I look like a boy or Im too masculine or Im too -- I have too many opinions. My body is too strong. I said to her, Do you see me growing my hair? She said No Mama. I said, Do you see me changing my body? She said, No Mama. Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world? No Mama. Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world. Yes Mama. OK baby girl. We dont change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so that they can see more kinds of beauty. Added Pink in closing: To all the artists here, Im so inspired by you. Thank you for being your true selves and for lighting the way for us. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Jared Leto offer touching tribute to Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington at the MTV VMAs By Randall Roberts In a moving tribute to two fallen musicians, the actor and musician Jared Leto honored the lives of Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park at the MTV VMAs on Sunday. Cornell and Bennington committed suicide in 2017, and Leto was friends with both. In 1976 in Phoenix, Ariz., a child was born. He was precocious, full of life, and determined, and grew up to become the singer of one of the greatest rock bands in the history of music, Leto said. His name was Chester Bennington, and the band is Linkin Park. Leto added that MTV asked him to say a few words about Bennington and Cornell, who he described as two artists that I had the absolute pleasure of touring with. They were close friends with one another -- Chester even singing the cover of the classic Hallelujah at Chris funeral. Recalling Benningtons words at Cornells funeral service, Leto said: Chester said of Chris, Your voice was joy and pain and anger and forgiveness, love and heartache all wrapped up into one. Just weeks later, Chester himself was gone. Chester was my friend. As he was to so many. Witnessing his life taught me important things -- especially about working relentlessly, pursuing dreams and being kind and caring while doing it. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Kodak Black, Lil Uzi Vert and more steal the MTV VMA spotlight By Gerrick Kennedy Kodak Black arriving at the MTV VMAs. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press) The line near a concession stand inside the Forum minutes before the MTV VMAs kicked off on Sunday was lengthy, but no one was waiting on food or drinks. Instead, a dozen or so folks waited patiently to get a selfie with Kodak Black, who high-fived and posed with as fans fumbled with smartphones. The VMAs are typically rife with heavyweights (Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry, etc.) but this years ceremony looked to tap into the wide scene of rising acts that have been dominating streaming services and social media all summer. Before the telecast even began Lil Uzi Vert clinched a major win, taking the trophy for song of summer for XO Tour Llif3" and he later joined Ed Sheeran for the tune, no doubt the nights most surprising collaboration. Meanwhile, Khalids pre-show medley could have easily anchored the main show while reality star turned breakout rap sensation Cardi B was another highlight of the pre-show festivities. Her viral hit Bodak Yellow rattled throughout the Forum during nearly every commercial break. Fifth Harmony later made its debut at the VMAs with an explosive main stage performance of Down, a song that also won the award for pop video. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Jack Antonoff is living his best life at the MTV VMAs By Mikael Wood Jack Antonoff performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show. (Joshua Blanchard / Getty Images) Has anyone at MTVs Video Music Awards had more screen time so far than Jack Antonoff? First the A-list producer and songwriter turned up on the nights pre-show ceremony for a performance with his band Bleachers. Then he introduced Lorde by noting that hed seen her eat gas-station sushi during the two years they spent together working on her album Melodrama. He also accepted the award for best collaboration for Taylor Swift and Zayns I Dont Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker), which he helped create because the singers couldnt be there. But Antonoffs best moment? Obviously the candid reaction shot in which he was shown casually eating a banana, as his girlfriend, Lena Dunham, described it on Twitter. My boyfriend just casually eating a banana at the VMAs is a good reminder of why we've been at it half a decade Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) August 28, 2017 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Taylor Swifts bold Look What You Made Me Do video, which premiered during the MTV VMAs By Randall Roberts Taylor Swifts new video for Look What You Made Me Do, which premiered during the 2017 MTV VMAs on Sunday night, features her dressed as a zombie, a diamond-drenched queen, a red-dressed seductress, a car-crash victim, a bird in a cage, a kitty-masked thief with a baseball bat, a biker chick wearing studded leather and a whip-snapping dominatrix. As she poses and pretends, Swift makes a not-so-veiled reference to her ongoing feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, getting all combative behind the microphone as a feather-light melody jumps behind her. The video premiered during a ceremony hosted by pop star and avowed Swift nemesis Katy Perry. Perry didnt introduce the clip, a hint that the two probably still arent besties. Inside the Forum, the video premiered on multiple big screen TVs rose that from the stage, and Perry was nowhere in sight. As the clip seems to be winding down, the music fades. But Swift hasnt fully made her point. In its final moments arrive a dozen-odd versions of Swift standing in front of a black private jet with the name of her new album, Reputation, scrawled on it. The many Swifts start bickering and referencing the various criticisms that have been lobbied at her over the years. Stop making that face, its so annoying, the zombie Swift says, a nod to what some believe is the exaggerated excitement the artist shows when she wins awards. A young version of Swift interrupts with an innocent Yall! but is shot down by an embittered Swift: Oh stop acting like youre so nice. Youre so fake! Standing in the center of the line is Swift seemingly dressed as she was at the 2009 VMAs, when West interrupted her victory speech to decry Beyonce's loss. Holding her VMA trophy, she says, Id like very much to be excluded from this narrative, both a nod to to the musical Hamilton and a repeat of a phrase Swift posted on social media in wake of controversy resulting from Wests song Famous. In that 2016 tune, he he boasted that I made that [profanity] famous and, therefore, that he and Swift might still have sex. The other Swifts reply in unison: Oh shut up! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kendrick Lamar opens 2017 VMAs with fiery performances of DNA and Humble By Randall Roberts Wearing a red scarf on his head and a poofy winter coat onstage, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar opened the 2017 MTV VMAs needing neither. Within a few minutes of launching with DNA a dancer center stage burst into flames. You could almost feel the heat simmering through the screen. I was born like this, since one like this, Lamar rapped. Immaculate conception/I transform like this, perform like this. Perform he did, moving into a second track, Humble, from his recent album Damn. Shedding the coat, he stood in front of a fiery backdrop grid that burned as dancers scaled it. As they did so, Lamar rapped, My left stroke just went viral/Right stroke put lil baby in a spiral. It was the opening shot of a VMAs in which politics and protest may end up taking center stage. Indeed, moments later presenter Paris Jackson drew a rousing applause when she denounced the racism and hatred propogated by white supremacists and neo-Nazis. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heidi Klum, Jack Antonoff and others stand in support of transgender military service members at VMAs By Randall Roberts View Instagram post As the 2017 Video Music Awards were approaching, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) was out in full force at the Forum. Its president and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, walked the red carpet along with her invited guests: six transgender members of the military. The action came in the wake of President Donald Trumps direction to the Pentagon on Friday, as reported in The Times, to return to the long-standing policy and practice barring military service by transgender individuals. Praising MTV as a pioneering advocate for the LGBTQ community, Ellis said in a statement, Throughout all the tweets, memos, and speculation, brave transgender Americans are still serving their country and defending the freedoms of this nation while meeting the same rigorous standards of their peers. We are proud to stand with them. Posing in support: musicians and celebrities including Jack Antonoff (Bleachers), supermodel Heidi Klum, actor-comedian Billy Eichner and others, who stood alongside transgender service members including Jennifer Peace, Logan Ireland, Sterling James Crutcher and Akira Wyatt, as well as trans veterans Laila Ireland and Brynn Tannehil. Also joining them was LGBTQ philanthropist August Getty, who in his other life is a fashion designer responsible for Miley Cyruss red carpet dress. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print MTV VMAs return to Southern California with an overwhelmingly impressive setup By Gerrick Kennedy Cardi B performing at the pre-show for the MTV VMAs. (Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press) After heading to the East Coast last year, the MTV VMAs have returned to Southern California. And tonight at the Forum in Inglewood, it was clear that the network decided to go big huge really. Upon arrival to the venue it appeared that the scale of this years show was unlike anything MTV had done in recent history. A structure that looked like a space shuttle swallowed the lot in front of the venue, and stars such as Cardi B and Big Freedia could be seen pumping through the red carpet (its a deep shade of blue this year). Inside the Forum, the stage took up the entirety of the venues ground floor. The imprint of the stage was impressive, even overwhelming in size as a maze of catwalks and secondary stages traced the floor, all of which was outlined by hundreds of glowing triangles and projection screens. It made for a futuristic playground of geometric glowing shapes that show opener Kendrick Lamar put to use immediately as he emerged from the center of the venue for the explosive DNA, strutting through half of the venue before making it to the main stage. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Taylor Swift breaks YouTube record with Look What You Made Me Do video By Randy Lewis Taylor Swift set a YouTube record with the lyric video for her new single Look What You Made Me Do, tallying 19 million views in just the first 24 hours. Thats more than double the previous first-day record for a lyric video, which was set in February by the lyric video for the Chainsmokers Something Just Like This featuring Coldplay, which registered 9 million views upon its release. Its also the best 24-hour figure Swift has logged, besting the first-day result for her 2015 official video for Bad Blood, which attracted 17 million views, and has since totaled more than 1.1 billion views. As of Sunday morning, the tally for Look What You Made Me Do had surpassed 35 million. It sets the stage for the premiere tonight of Swifts official video for the new single, which will be introduced during the MTV Video Music Awards Ceremony, taking place at the Forum in Inglewood. The overall record for viewership in the first 24 hours for any music video belongs to Adele, who registered 27.7 million views in 2015 at the premiere of the official video for her song Hello. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Why William Friedkin called Tobe Hoopers Texas Chain Saw Massacre an Umami Burger of a movie By Mark Olsen Director Tobe Hooper, who died in Los Angeles on Saturday at age 74, created many movies and TV shows during his long career including stepping to helm the filming of Poltergeist when Steven Spielberg was contractually banned from directing other films during the production of ET: The Extra Terrestrial. Hoopers most admired film, of course, was 1974s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. In 2014, on the occasion of the films 40th anniversary, The Exorcist director William Friedkin interviewed Hooper before an overflow audience at Los Angeles Vista theater. During the engaging conversation, Friedkin called Hooper one of the sweetest, nicest guys Ive ever known. And then added, So I often wonder where this stuff comes from. Hooper talked about purposely pitting his actors against each other to keep the on-screen tension high, how an unlikely pair of albums Elton Johns Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Lou Reeds Berlin inspired him during the writing of the screenplay, and about how damn strong women are, referring to the resilent character played by Marilyn Burns. Shes just not going to die. At one point, Friedkin provocatively asked, Do you think this is a work of art? Hooper first asked, Should I be modest? before responding with a salty confirmation, Its a ... work of art. The Times Mark Olsen was there for the interview. At the end of his article, theres this affirmation of the film from Friedkin: No 3-D, no CGI, welcome to this Umami Burger of a movie. Read on to find his reasoning. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cinefamily suspends all activities in wake of sexual misconduct allegations By Sonaiya Kelley The Cinefamily on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) Following the resignations Tuesday of two leadership figures at Cinefamily, the Los Angeles independent film venue has announced that it is temporarily suspending all activities to allow for the investigation and necessary restructure of management and the board. Recently, claims were made alleging improper behavior by one of more members of the organization, reads a release posted on the organizations website and social media pages. The Board of Directors of The Cinefamily has no tolerance for any form of behavior that does not conform to the high standards demanded by our members and staff and that of common human decency. The letter also says that Cinefamily is bringing on an independent third party, Giles Miller at Lynx Insights & Investigations, to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations. View Twitter post A spokesperson for the theater could not immediately be reached for comment. The announcement comes in the wake of two high profile exits: co-founder and executive creative director, Hadrian Belove, and vice president of its board of directors, Shadie Elnashai, resigned on Tuesday following allegations of sexual misconduct. The exits were announced in postings on Cinefamilys social media accounts. In light of recent events, Shadie Elnashai has resigned from Cinefamilys Board of Directors and Hadrian Belove has resigned as the Executive Creative Director of Cinefamily, read the statement. Addressing the anonymous allegations in a post to his personal Facebook account following his resignation, Belove described the emails contents as demonstrable lies and half-truths, and allegations without known victims. It is not clear whether screenings currently scheduled will still run, and there has been grumbling by monthly billed members as to whether or not automated charges will be suspended or cancelled. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The Texas Chain Saw Massacre director Tobe Hooper dies in Los Angeles at 74 By Associated Press Tobe Hooper, the horror-movie pioneer whose low-budget sensation The Texas Chain Saw Massacre took a buzz saw to audiences with its brutally frightful vision, has died. He was 74. The Los Angeles County coroners office says Hooper died Saturday in Sherman Oaks. It was reported as a natural death. Hooper and contemporaries like George Romero crafted some of the scariest nightmares that ever haunted moviegoers. He directed 1982s Poltergeist from a script by Steven Spielberg and was behind the 1979 miniseries Salems Lot, based on the Stephen King novel. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Is Taylor Swift trying to turn off her listeners? By Mikael Wood We can skip the rundown of Taylor Swifts feud with Kanye West, right? Less than 24 hours after the worlds biggest pop star unleashed her new single on a waiting commentariat, Im already exhausted by the idea of having to read (let alone write) yet another rehash of this deeply tiresome conflict. But you know whos not over it? Taylor Swift. In Look What You Made Me Do released online Thursday night as the lead single from a new album, Reputation, due in November the singer sounds positively fired up as she takes whack after brutal whack at the rapper who once interrupted her at an awards show. (Swift doesnt name West, to be clear, but with her reference to a tilted stage, she doesnt need to.) I dont like your perfect crime / How you laugh when you lie, she seethes over a throbbing electronic groove, You said the gun was mine / Isnt cool no, I dont like you. Later in the tune, which Swift created with Jack Antonoff, she pretends to answer a phone call from someone evidently looking for the old Taylor the sucker, you presume, who mightve let bygones be bygones. But she cant come to the phone, Swift tells the caller. Why? she adds. Oh, cause shes dead. Whats surprising about Look What You Made Me Do beyond the harsh industrial production that makes it feel like Swifts response to her enemys Yeezus is that it suggests the singer no longer cares (or is no longer able to tell) what pop fans want. Swift rose to superstardom by anticipating listeners desires; she knew just when to pivot from acoustic guitars to sleek synthesizers, from the fairy-tale romance of early hits like Love Story to the more grown-up depiction found on her last album, 2014s smash 1989. On tour behind that record, she spent a good portion of her show every night telling the members of her audience how closely shed been paying attention to them. But dredging up Taylor v. Kanye again? I mean, I cant be the only one whos sick of this topic something Swift wouldve known a few years ago without even having to think about it. OK, so she hardly lacks for company among A-listers eager to cook expired beef. Earlier this summer Katy Perry revived her ancient tussle with Swift I believe it had something to do with backup dancers? for Swish Swish. But Perrys song takes delight in its own pettiness, whereas Look What You Made Me Do just makes me think of President Trump whining endlessly about fake news. (Crediting Right Said Fred for the songs supposed debt to Im Too Sexy is funny in writing, but the inspiration adds little humor to the dour music.) Maybe Swift isnt aiming for me, though. Maybe this polarizing song is meant to galvanize her base which, sure enough, is rhapsodizing about the track on social media even at the expense of the wider world shes dominated for much of the last decade. If thats her play, its a wild one, especially coming after her powerful testimony during the recent trial regarding her alleged sexual assault at the hands of a Denver radio DJ. In court, Swift appeared driven to speak with a voice loud enough for others. Now, just days later, she seems uninterested in that job. Have we ever seen a pop star so happily give up a portion of her following? Thats an idea Im not tired of considering. Maybe Reputation will take it up. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Concerts by Coldplay, other acts canceled as Hurricane Harvey nears Texas By August Brown Coldplay performs at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in 2016. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) As the potentially devastating Hurricane Harvey approaches the Texas coast, major acts including Coldplay, Lady Antebellum and Mary J. Blige have canceled or rescheduled their Houston-area concerts. Coldplay on Friday postponed a show scheduled for NRG Stadium in Houston. We really wanted to play tonight, but sitting here all together watching the news about the storm, we feel that we cant ask anyone to put their safety at risk. So, sadly, we will have to postpone, the band wrote. Live Nation Houston said ticket-holders would be updated when there was further information. We urge all fans in the area to stay safe, it said. A makeup date has not yet been scheduled. The country trio Lady Antebellum canceled its Sunday show at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in the Woodlands, citing the storm. Blige postponed her Friday show at the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land. The venue announced that the concert had been rescheduled to Sept. 19. The Category 3 storm, which would be the first major hurricane to hit the United States since 2005, is expected to make landfall in coastal Texas on Saturday morning, bringing 100-mph winds and up to 35 inches of rain in some areas. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bachelor couple Nick Viall and Vanessa Grimaldi break off their engagement By Christie DZurilla (Leon Bennett / Getty Images) Nick Viall and Vanessa Grimaldi, who got engaged on the most recent season of The Bachelor, have with a great amount of heartbreak called the whole thing off. We gave this relationship our all and we are saddened that we did not get the fairytale ending we hoped for, they said Friday in a statement to E! News. The relationship lasted five months after the proposal aired on the Season 21 finale of The Bachelor in March. The two said in their statement that theyre parting with love and admiration for one another. The silver lining to what they called a difficult decision? This means Nick is potentially available for yet another TV stint in the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. That as-yet-imaginary gig would be his fifth ride on the looking-for-love roller coaster. In Bachelor Nation, its always good to dream. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher settle lawsuit over websites photos of their kids By Nardine Saad (Michael Nelson / EPA) Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis legal battle with British website MailOnline has been settled. The Two and a Half Men actor, the Bad Moms actress and the outlet have reached a satisfactory resolution of their legal action regarding the publication of photos of their children, their legal representatives said in a joint statement to The Times on Friday. The couple, who starred in That 70s Show together years before they began dating, took the websites publisher, Associated Newspapers, to Londons High Court in July 2015 over two articles featuring their daughter, who was 1 at the time. The U.K.'s MailOnline.com published images of Wyatt taken during a private family outing to the beach. A paparazzo used a long-lens camera to obtain the images, and the couple said they were unaware the photos were being taken. They claimed that the photos breached the Data Protection Act and were used for the unauthorized promotion of clothing on the website. [T]hey have reached a satisfactory resolution of their legal action, which includes an agreement to pixelate photographs of their daughter, Wyatt, their son, Dimitri, and any future children they should have together. Joint statement from Kutcher, Kunis and the MailOnline announcing their lawsuit settlement Per the agreement announced Friday, the outlet will pixelate photographs of Kutchers and Kunis daughter, Wyatt, their son, Dimitri, and any future children they should have together. The settlement is the latest legal blow to MailOnline and its associated newspaper, the Daily Mail. (The U.S. version of the website, DailyMail.com, is run by a separate news team.) In April, the tabloids parent company settled a libel suit with First Lady Melania Trump over an article it ran in the paper and online that suggested she may have once worked as an escort. In July 2014, George Clooney lambasted the Daily Mail in a USA Today op-ed that accused it of making up stories in the wake of an article it published about his mother-in-law. He got an apology and an acknowledgement that the story was inaccurate. That same month, Angelina Jolie reportedly threatened to take legal action after it published a video that claimed to show her under the influence of heroin in the 1990s. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Taylor Swifts Look What You Made Me Do lyrics: Let the analysis begin By Randy Lewis As if there were any doubt as to the level of interest in Taylor Swifts first new music in three years, her first single from her forthcoming album, Reputation, has been blowing up since it premiered Thursday night. The lyric video for Look What You Made Me Do had logged more than 7 million views as of 9:30 a.m. Friday. Additionally, Swift tweeted that the official video for the song will premiere Sunday during the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. For those who want to dig in and attempt to decode what and to whom the I dont like you references might refer, here are the full lyrics to the song: Look What You Made Me Do FIRST VERSE I dont like your little games Dont like your tilted stage The role you made me play Of the fool, no, I dont like you I dont like your perfect crime How you laugh when you lie You said the gun was mine Isnt cool, no, I dont like you PRE-CHORUS But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time Ive got a list of names and yours is in red, underlined I check it once, then I check it twice, oh! CHORUS Ooh, look what you made me do Look what you made me do Look what you just made me do Look what you just made me do Ooh, look what you made me do Look What you made me do Look what you just made me do Look what you just made me do SECOND VERSE I dont like your kingdom keys They once belonged to me You ask for a place to sleep Locked me out and threw a feast (what?) The world goes on, another day, another drama, drama But not for me, not for me, all I think about is karma And then the world moves on, but one things for sure Baby, I got mine, but youll all get yours PRE CHORUS REPEATS But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time Ive got a list of names and yours is in red, underlined I check it once, then I check it twice, oh! CHORUS REPEATS Ooh, look what you made me do Look what you made me do Look what you just made me do Look what you just made me do Ooh, look what you made me do Look what you made me do Look what you just made me do Look what you just made me do THIRD VERSE I dont trust nobody and nobody trusts me Ill be the actress starring in your bad dreams I dont trust nobody and nobody trusts me Ill be the actress starring in your bad dreams I dont trust nobody and nobody trusts me Ill be the actress starring in your bad dreams I dont trust nobody and nobody trusts me Ill be the actress starring in your bad dreams (Look what you made me do) (Look what you made me do) ANSWERING MACHINE INTERLUDE Im sorry, the old Taylor cant come to the phone right now. Why? Oh cause shes dead! CHORUS REPEATS Ooh, look what you made me do Look what you made me do Look what you just made me do Look what you just made me do Ooh, look what you made me do Look what you made me do Look what you just made me do Look what you just made me do Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Patty Jenkins isnt surprised James Cameron doesnt get Wonder Woman By Tracy Brown Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins has some words about James Camerons comments on the Amazonian warrior goddess: Of course he doesnt get it. Following the Avatar directors claims that Wonder Woman is a step backwards for women, Jenkins responded in a tweet that Camerons thoughts are unsurprising because he is not a woman. In an interview with the Guardian, Cameron threw some shade on Wonder Womans success by trying to compare Diana Prince to Sarah Connor from his Terminator franchise. "[Sarah Connor] was strong, she was troubled, she was a terrible mother, and she earned the respect of the audience through pure grit, Cameron said. Nothing like the objectified beauty icon he considers Wonder Woman to be. Jenkins points out that Camerons narrow qualifications for what makes a good female hero are restrictive and not at all progressive. If women have to always be hard, tough and troubled to be strong, and we arent free to be multidimensional or celebrate an icon of women everywhere because she is attractive and loving, then we havent come very far have we, Jenkins wrote. Jenkins also insisted that there should be room for all types of female lead characters and that women themselves should be the judge of these icons of progress. There is no right and wrong kind of powerful woman, she wrote. Read Jenkins full statement below. pic.twitter.com/8zkJXHLCJW Patty Jenkins (@PattyJenks) August 25, 2017 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Cameron thinks Wonder Womans success is misguided: Shes an objectified icon By Nardine Saad (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) James Cameron isnt here for Wonder Womans blockbuster success. In fact, the moviemaker calls the much-loved superhero flick (Wonder Woman is currently at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes) a step back from the female heroes he created in the 80s and 90s. It appears that the Titanic and Terminator 2" director, whose films often put tough women at the center of the action, doesnt think that Gal Gadots character was complicated or groundbreaking enough to merit so much acclaim -- $800 million at the worldwide box office aside. All of the self-congratulatory back-patting Hollywoods been doing over Wonder Woman has been so misguided. Shes an objectified icon, and its just male Hollywood doing the same old thing! Cameron said in an interview with the Guardian. All of the self-congratulatory back-patting Hollywoods been doing over Wonder Woman has been so misguided. Shes an objectified icon, and its just male Hollywood doing the same old thing! Filmmaker James Cameron on Wonder Woman The director, who was cast in the article as softened and evolved from his bone-crushing early movie-making days, believes that Wonder Woman was a step backwards. (Dont get him wrong, he did like Patty Jenkins summer blockbuster -- the first-ever feature-film incarnation of the DC Comics heroine and the highest-grossing live-action film directed by a woman -- just not enough to let it pass without throwing a little shade Diana Princes way.) Backwards in comparison with Camerons complex Sarah Connor character from the Terminator franchise. Sarah Connor was not a beauty icon. She was strong, she was troubled, she was a terrible mother, and she earned the respect of the audience through pure grit. And to me, [the benefit of characters like Sarah] is so obvious. I mean, half the audience is female! Cameron said. The three-time Oscar wi The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is getting ready to announce a new big winner though this time, for better or worse, there will be no envelope to open in front of millions of TV viewers. On Tuesday at 6 p.m, the academys 54-member board of governors including such boldfaced names as Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy and Whoopi Goldberg will meet at the organizations Beverly Hills headquarters to choose a new president from among its ranks to succeed Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who has led the nearly 90-year-old institution through four of the most tumultuous and transformative years in its history. In decades past, the job of academy president, which is unpaid, was largely ceremonial, a kind of unofficial mayoralty of Hollywoods glitterati. But whoever steps into the shoes of Boone Isaacs who was the first African American to hold the office will inherit a handful of thorny challenges, from an ongoing campaign to diversify the academys overwhelmingly white and male membership to an ambitious and costly museum project, as the proudly tradition-bound institution continues to give itself a makeover in full public view. Advertisement Its always different when you sit in the chair, Boone Isaacs told The Times in a May interview, reflecting on the intense scrutiny directed toward the academy in recent years. Certainly theres interest in the academy in a way that there didnt use to be holy mackerel, its really changed. And Im assuming thats not going to go away. Actively campaigning for the job of president has traditionally been frowned upon, but in recent weeks, a few names have circulated in the academy rumor mill, including documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy, casting director David Rubin and, perhaps most notably, actress Laura Dern. Currently serving a first term as a governor for the actors branch, Dern a two-time Oscar nominee and a member of a storied acting family would bring a fresh degree of star power to the role of president, which in years past has been held by prominent actors and filmmakers like Douglas Fairbanks, Bette Davis, Frank Capra and Gregory Peck as well as less well-known behind-the-scenes industry power players. Laura Dern (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Its just speculative at the moment. Laura Dern on running for Academy president The academy is looking to move past a series of controversies and public missteps, including two consecutive years of #OscarsSoWhite furor, repeated delays and cost overruns with the museum project and this years highly embarrassing Oscar-night gaffe, in which the wrong film was initially announced as best picture. At a time when many fear the movie industry as a whole is losing the cultural high ground to television and streaming, some believe making a well-regarded luminary like Dern the public face of the academy could help burnish its image. Speaking to The Times in the spring, Dern brushed off talk of her vying for the job of president. Its just speculative at the moment, she said, noting that she did wonder if the gavel that the academy president wields in meetings would come in handy with her two children. Theyd probably tune it out like they do the sound of my voice, she joked. Whoever assumes the job of president will have to work closely with academy CEO Dawn Hudson, who has herself been a lightning rod since being hired as the groups chief executive in 2011 and whose contract was recently renewed through June 2020. A vocal supporter of Hudson, Dern told The Times that the academy CEO is doing a great job and that the museum is going to be incredible, both for the academy and the city of Los Angeles, adding, The deep attempt to bring diversity and female power into the academy has been inspiring. As she comes to the end of her fourth and final term as academy president, having weathered more than the usual share of controversy and public-relations headaches along the way, Boone Isaacs said she has confidence that whoever next assumes the role will have the requisite skills to take on the challenges ahead. This group of men and women who have been involved in this organization, who have taken on this responsibility and have the backing of the different branches theyre all up for the job, she said. It just depends on who wishes to actually become president or first vice president, because all of the officers have a lot to do at this time and certainly the board does. Were evolving in so many wonderful ways. josh.rottenberg@latimes.com Twitter: @joshrottenberg In one of his occasional breaks from the supernatural, Stephen King created a detective, Bill Hodges, to engage with strictly human monsters. The first Hodges book, 2014s Mr. Mercedes, has been adapted for television by David E. Kelley, who seems clever again after writing the hit HBO miniseries Big Little Lies. It premieres Wednesday on DirecTVs Audience channel. For its first four hours anyway the ones available to review its a fairly straightforward adaptation, streamlined in most respects but also built out with new scenes and characters, some of whom, it seems clear, may not be sticking around. Like the novel, it begins with people waiting in line at a job fair jobs and joblessness, meaningful and meaningless work are recurring themes. A Mercedes Benz, driven by a clown-masked somebody, comes out of the fog and plows deliberately into the crowd, making hash of characters you have seen just enough of to like. It is not handled delicately. Advertisement Two years later, police detective Hodges (Brendan Gleeson), whom we have met briefly at the crime scene described above, has retired into a recliner-bound life of sloth and obesity and chasing kids off his messy lawn. That he plays old vinyl records and has a pet tortoise are good indications he is a person we might want to get to know. Hodges is unexpectedly rescued from his melancholy purgatory when he receives an arty, glitchy video message on the laptop he barely knows how to use. Its from the murderer, naturally, who calls himself Mr. Mercedes and hopes, as has long been the way with madmen and the cops who chase them, to mess with Hodges head, taunting him with the case he failed to solve and the dead he did not avenge. King does not waste time naming his antagonist, and neither does Kelley and its just the weirdo youd pick out of the lineup. (Im going to tell you now, so look away if you need to). Yes, its young Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway), who works as both a roving IT tech and an ice cream man, as if one obvious gig werent enough. Brady has a condescending boss at the electronics store (Robert Stanton) and a sardonic but centered co-worker (Breeda Wool) whom one would like to see walk into a detective show of her own. More to the point of his troubled back story, he has a mother (Kelly Lynch) who smokes and drinks and is friendly toward her son in ways all human cultures deem inappropriate, though Lynch somehow manages to make her character seem reasonable. King fans may feel differently, but the screen version improves on the paper original, just for spending less time inside the heads of the killer and his cop. Letters you wouldnt bother to finish in life, even if written to you by a psycho killer, and long, repetitive conversations boil down happily here to a handful of lines. Theyre not all good lines but they get the job done, and quickly. Even so, this is not, in its early episodes, exactly a rollicking ride. It is even a little dull to start as you wait, with some impatience, for Hodges to rouse himself from his torpor, sober up and straighten up and get back up on his figurative horse. Thats not a bad thing you need to leave room for things to get crazy later. Nor is it fatal that, apart from the specific arrangement of tropes and scenes and characters, there is nothing particularly original about Mr. Mercedes. This is familiar, old-fashioned stuff. Television veteran Jack Benders direction is workmanlike in the better sense: It doesnt call attention to itself; it looks like what TV looked like before TV looked like the movies. The cast, which also notably includes Mary-Louise Parker and Holland Taylor as women in or around Hodges life, is good; the players keep warm what could be a chilly exercise. As the designated nutcase, Treadaway (Dr. Frankenstein on Penny Dreadful) has the most to wrestle with but does get the odd moment of relative normalcy relative, mind you in which he makes Brady at least a little human. The less he grumbles, the more Gleeson, who was Mad-Eye Moody in the Harry Potter films, grows on you. There are two more Hodges books left to adapt, and I would be surprised to see them left on the shelf. ------------ Mr. Mercedes Where: Audience (DirecTV) When: 5 and 8 p.m. Wednesday Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17) robert.lloyd@latimes.com Follow Robert Lloyd on Twitter @LATimesTVLloyd Alexander Burgos Mejia was in his bunk at the Adelanto Detention Facility on a Tuesday evening in July when he heard a guard scream. Walking into a common room, Burgos Mejia saw a man hanging from the second floor with a bedsheet around his neck, he recalled in an interview. A female guard was trying to lift the man, and Burgos Mejia ran to help before other officials arrived and cut the man down, he said. The July 11 incident was the fifth report of an attempted suicide at the immigration detention center since December, according to San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department 911 call logs obtained by The Times through a public records request. Advertisement The incident unnerved Burgos Mejia, 28, who came to the U.S. earlier this year from Honduras, fleeing gangs and seeking asylum, and has been detained since. I think doing something like that is something that has crossed the mind of all of us who are locked up here, he said. As soon as he arrived at Adelanto, Burgos Mejia said, he felt like he was treated like a criminal, not a refugee. Its the most horrible [feeling] he said. From the moment that they chain you up from your feet and hands. We dont feel OK here. Were in danger here. Were in the middle of a hurricane here. Adelanto detainee Omar Rivera Martinez Government officials say the Adelanto Detention Facility is subject to rigorous operating requirements and is tightly monitored to ensure those standards are met. When problems are identified, they are promptly addressed, officials say. But complaints about the facility have grown particularly loud this year following the suicide attempts and three deaths since March, with multiple hunger strikes by detainees. * Located in the high desert 85 miles northeast of Los Angeles, the Adelanto Detention Facility can house nearly 2,000 men and women. Officials say more than 73,000 detainees have passed through since it opened in 2011. Among those held there are asylum seekers, people caught in immigration sweeps and those identified by authorities as potentially deportable after landing in jail. Some have lived in the U.S. for decades, others were sent to Adelanto soon after crossing the border. Geo Groups Adelanto Detention Facility, where detainees have complained of mistreatment. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) The GEO Group, which operates dozens of private prisons and detention centers around the country, owns and operates the facility. GEO Group receives a fee of up to about $112 per day per detainee from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the city of Adelanto serving as a go-between. Detainees and advocates have long complained of medical neglect, poor treatment by guards, lack of response to complaints and other problems. Government inspectors have also noted significant deficiencies at the facility often related to medical care. The Times interviewed detainees and their lawyers and advocates, and examined local law enforcement reports, city records and federal reviews dating to 2011, when the facility opened. In November 2011, an ICE contractor conducting an annual review faulted the facility because medical officials were not conducting detainee health appraisals within 14 days of arrival, and registered nurses were performing health assessments without proper training or certification. Ten months later, a report by ICEs Office of Detention Oversight found that many requests for medical care were delayed and medical records were not promptly reviewed. That report also said that the death of detainee Fernando Dominguez Valdivia in March 2012 followed egregious errors by medical staff and could have been prevented. In 2014, another report by the Office of Detention Oversight found Adelanto deficient in 26 areas including 16 related to the facilitys efforts to prevent and intervene in sexual abuse cases. After the 2015 death of Raul Ernesto Morales-Ramos, inspectors again found fault with Adelanto. In the months before he died, Morales-Ramos submitted two complaints to Adelanto officials. To who receives this, I am letting you know that I am very sick and they dont want to care for me, he wrote in one. The nurse only gave me ibuprofen and that only alleviates me for a few hours. Let me know if you can help me. I only need medical attention. Morales-Ramos had been detained since his 2010 arrest on a warrant issued in El Salvador for conspiracy involving aggravated homicide. His case persisted for years, and he was transferred to various detention centers until landing at Adelanto in May 2014. He complained throughout his detention of gastrointestinal and other problems and was given pain relievers and medicine for constipation and diarrhea. Eventually, a doctor who examined him found an abdominal mass that was the largest she has ever seen in her practice, according to the review conducted after his death. Based on its size, the tumor had likely been present for months. The report on his death, prepared by the Office of Detention Oversight, said Adelanto failed to provide Morales-Ramos with timely and comprehensive medical care, among other lapses. ICE officials declined an interview request. A guard escorts an immigrant detainee from a segregated housing unit back into the general population at the Adelanto Detention Facility in 2013. (John Moore / Getty Images) In a written response to questions, agency spokeswoman Virginia Kice said detention centers have undergone reforms in recent years to ensure that those in ICE custody receive timely access to medical services and treatment. Those reforms include assigning medical coordinators to the agencys field offices who can closely monitor complex cases, Kice said. Immigration officials have also simplified the process for authorizing detainee healthcare from outside providers, she said. Pablo Paez, a spokesman for GEO Group, also declined an interview request. In a statement, he said the Adelanto Detention Facility has a long-standing record providing high-quality, culturally responsive services, including comprehensive around the clock medical care, in a safe, secure, and humane environment that meets the non-penal, non-punitive needs of immigration detainees. We take all reviews and audits with the utmost seriousness and when necessary implement prompt corrective actions, Paez said. He said that during its most recent annual audit the facility was found to be in compliance with 100% of the mandated ICE standards. He did not provide a copy of that report. The Times filed a Freedom of Information Act request for copies of all recent inspections of the Adelanto facility in early June, but they have not yet been provided. * Attorney Mayra Gamez, who has represented dozens of Adelanto detainees in their immigration cases, said she often finds herself also acting as a medical advocate pushing for their access to doctors and follow-up care. Theres times when they do finally see someone and its not a doctor, its an RN or some other nurse and theyre just given Ibuprofen or told its nothing, she said. Sometimes they agree to [deportation] because theyre afraid of just dying in a detention facility after multiple attempts at seeking help or getting care, Gamez said. Since Morales-Ramos death in 2015, four others have died at the facility. Two days before Christmas in 2015, Jose Manuel Azurdia-Hernandez, 54, of Guatemala, died of a heart attack, according to ICE. In March of this year, Osmar Epifanio Gonzalez-Gadba, 32, of Nicaragua, died six days after he was found hanging in his cell. In April, Sergio Alonso Lopez, 55, of Mexico, died days after he was taken to the hospital for vomiting blood. Immigration officials said he had a history of serious medical issues. The preliminary cause of death was internal bleeding. And in May, Vicente Caceres-Maradiaga, a 46-year-old Honduran, died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. The preliminary cause of death was listed as acute coronary syndrome, immigration officials said in a statement. While any in-custody death is a cause for concern, the numbers should be considered in context, Kice said. Notably, Adelanto experienced no in-custody deaths in fiscal years 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016, Kice said. Only one detainee has died as a result of a suicide attempt, she added, a reference to Gonzalez-Gadba. When it comes to suicide prevention, Kice said, detainees are screened upon admission and immediate attention is provided to detainees who present a danger or an imminent risk to themselves. * In early July, in a white brick courtroom behind three locked doors inside the Adelanto facility, asylum seeker Omar Rivera Martinez faced Immigration Judge Jose Penalosa. Adelanto detainee Omar Rivera Martinez says he was beaten by guards in June. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Penalosa spent several minutes explaining the mans rights. But Rivera Martinez wanted to tell Penalosa what happened this summer, when he and eight other detainees announced a hunger strike to protest conditions inside Adelanto. The GEO officials beat us and sprayed us with gas, and I dont think thats right, Rivera Martinez told the judge. Rivera Martinez pointed to his mouth, where he had a gap in his teeth, and his nose, which crooked to the left, to show Penalosa damage he alleged was caused by guards. Attorney Nicole Ramos told the judge she was struggling to communicate with Rivera Martinez because the facility had blocked her phone number. (ICE officials say they sometimes block phone numbers for security reasons.) Penalosa said he would take note of the complaints. But he also explained to Rivera Martinez that his court is charged with deciding immigration cases, not resolving problems within the facility. Rivera Martinez came to the U.S. this spring in a caravan with dozens of asylum seekers from Central America. He said he fled El Salvador after a gang killed his brother and kidnapped him, his wife and teenage daughter when they witnessed the slaying. After the family escaped, Rivera Martinez said, he learned that the gang had occupied his house. I cant return home anymore, he said. Nine asylum seekers from the caravan reunited after finding themselves detained at Adelanto and soon grew frustrated about their treatment. I would never wish this place, Adelanto, on anyone, said group member Jose Cortez Diaz, of El Salvador. The mistreatment is just too much. The group began a hunger strike and wrote a letter to officials outlining their demands. They included reduced bond, new uniforms particularly new underwear more time for religious services, paperwork in their native languages, clean water 24 hours a day and better food. During breakfast on June 12, they attempted to hand the letter to a guard and asked to speak with someone who would hear their complaints. As more guards arrived, they linked arms and refused to leave. Rivera Martinez and several others say they were showered with pepper spray and beaten, resulting in the injuries Rivera Martinez showed the judge. Ramos, the attorney, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, asking it to investigate the brutal attack of these men. Kice, the ICE spokeswoman, said the situation posed a danger to staff and other detainees. Despite repeated orders from security personnel, several of the men continued to physically resist commands to submit to mechanical restraints, Kice said in an email. The officers applied the necessary degree of force to remove the resisting detainees from the residence unit and temporarily transfer them to a restricted housing area. None of the men was injured, Kice said, adding that review found proper policies and procedures were followed. After the protesters were allowed back into the general prison population, they began another hunger strike, which lasted several days. In early July, the group launched a third hunger strike, which lasted about 72 hours and included dozens of additional participants, detainees and their supporters said. In a letter to officials, they said they wanted their bond amounts to be reduced so they could leave Adelanto while fighting their cases for asylum. Several asylum seekers said their bond was between $15,000 and $35,000. We need for them to please let us out of here immediately, Rivera Martinez said. We dont feel OK here. Were in danger here. Were in the middle of a hurricane here. To read this article in Spanish, click here. paloma.esquivel@latimes.com Twitter: @palomaesquivel ALSO Chicago to sue Justice Department over threat to strip funds from sanctuary cities Its a familiar calamity: Dad is in immigration jail, baby No. 4 is on the way, and Mom is struggling With party switch in West Virginia, Republicans now have matched record number of governors seats. Will it last? Gunfire erupted at a popular restaurant in South Los Angeles late Monday afternoon, leaving two people wounded, police said. The shooting occurred about 4:15 p.m. after two people began arguing inside Carolyns Kitchen in the 800 block of East Manchester Avenue, Los Angeles Police Officer Mike Lopez said. The pair left but returned shortly later with at least one weapon and opened fire. After the shooting, the pair tried to drive away, but crashed in the restaurants parking lot. They then fled on foot. Advertisement Minutes later, two people matching the suspects description carjacked a woman down the street, Lopez said. The pair subsequently showed up at a hospital with unknown injuries and were arrested on suspicion of carjacking. Detectives are investigating whether they are the same men involved in the shooting. The two shooting victims were taken to a hospital and are expected to survive. One was shot in the leg, Lopez said, and the other was shot in the abdomen. KNBC-TV Channel 4 reported that during the shooting, customers and employees ducked for cover, using tables and chairs as shields. Footage taken at the restaurant showed windows blown out and casings on the ground. Restaurant employee Tizinski Bailey told KCBS-TV Channel 2 that two customers got into a fight and that he and other employees tried to break it up. Thats when one of the customers left and came back with a gun, the station reported. Started shooting inside the restaurant. As hes shooting, hes backing up, Bailey told the station. As hes shooting, and hes shooting through the glass and stuff like that. Couple of bullets went past me. I ducked down. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek Researchers recently documented a rare case of a cougar from the Santa Monica Mountains successfully crossing U.S. Highway 101 and moving into a range less hemmed in by Southern California sprawl, the National Park Service said Monday. The subadult male, dubbed P-55, crossed the 101 early July 30 along the steep Conejo Grade about 45 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. P-55 also crossed State Routes 23 and 118 to reach the Santa Susana Mountains, a park service statement said. It is only the fourth known successful crossing of the 101 in the 15 years researchers have been studying the big cats in the Santa Monica Mountains, a population dealing with inbreeding and a lack of genetic diversity because the mountain range is hemmed in by Los Angeles, its western suburbs and the Pacific Ocean. Advertisement Male mountain lions need vast individual territories. But the fragmented wilderness of the Santa Monica Mountains and the massive barrier of the 101 three or more lanes in each direction is a significant hindrance to dispersal. The freeway and other roads are life-threatening to the regions lions: There have been 17 documented deaths on roadways since 2002. The overwhelming pattern weve observed through GPS tracking is lions coming up to the edge of a freeway and turning around, said Seth Riley, a wildlife ecologist at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which sprawls over 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline. Male mountain lions usually leave their mothers at about age 1 to find their own territories. While a male can live with many females in its territory, it will face potentially fatal battles with other males if it cant disperse. So far in the study, its rare for a male mountain lion in the Santa Monicas to survive past age 2, according to the park service. P-55 had recently been fitted with a tracking collar and was seen on video in the backyard of a Newbury Park home the same weekend he crossed the 101. One proposal to help mountain lions more easily move between the Santa Monica range and the less-confined natural areas to the north would involve building a bridge for wildlife to cross the 101 at Liberty Canyon, which has open space on each side of the highway and is under permanent protection. For years, David Binkle was hailed as a pioneer among school nutrition advocates for accomplishing a near-herculean task using produce and meats provided by local growers to greatly reduce the number of fatty meals served in the nations second-largest school district. The Los Angeles Unified School District serves nearly 700,000 meals per day, and the professional chef helped lead a charge that saw vegetarian curries, pad Thai noodles and quinoa salads replace old cafeteria staples like chicken nuggets and corn dogs. The initiatives won the district numerous awards, drew praise from then-First Lady Michelle Obama as she led a national push to combat childhood obesity, and earned Binkle appearances on Tedx Talks. Advertisement But as he was revolutionizing meals for the districts students, prosecutors allege, Binkle illegally funneled roughly $65,000 of the districts money into a private consulting firm he ran, then placed some of that money into his own pocket. The 55-year-old appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts including embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. He posted $220,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court in October. While recognizing that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, the charges against Mr. Binkle are extremely upsetting as they do not reflect the professionalism, ethics and character we expect of all L.A. Unified employees, the school district said in a statement. Emails and calls to Binkle seeking comment were not returned. His attorney, Alec Rose, declined to comment. In a previous statement to The Times, Binkle denied wrongdoing and said allegations of financial misconduct were unsubstantiated. According to court documents, Binkle repeatedly misappropriated district funds in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 between 2010 and 2014. Prosecutors also allege that he forged an application to become a vendor with the district and failed to disclose outside financial interests. If convicted, he faces up to 13 years in prison. Binkle worked as a chef before joining the district as deputy director of food services in 2008. His initiatives to push for healthier food won praise from Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, and Binkle enjoyed broad support from school nutrition advocates, local farmers and the union that represented school service managers. Binkle was credited with adopting menus that lowered the sodium and fat content of school meals and with increasing the amount of food served daily in cafeterias. Binkle dramatically altered the way the district procured ingredients, opting for years-long contracts with providers that included Tyson Foods Inc., Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, Goldstar Foods, Five Star Gourmet Foods, Driftwood Dairy and Don Lee Farms. Five of the vendors also agreed to contribute approximately $500,000 annually to a marketing program that promoted healthy eating in the districts schools. But problems began to arise. George Beck, a former food-services deputy branch director responsible for accounting and budgets, previously told The Times he began questioning Binkles management of the marketing program as early as 2011. The district took no corrective action however, according to Beck, who says he was laid off in retaliation two years later. In 2012, Binkle was elevated to the position of director of food services, overseeing a program with a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars. In November 2014, a scathing report from the districts Office of the Inspector General accused him of failing to disclose his ownership of an outside culinary consulting firm or report payments from vendors to attend school nutrition conferences. His firm, California Culinary Consulting, presented at minimum an appearance of a conflict of interest, the audit said. And the marketing program was being mismanaged and at worst being consistently abused by Binkle, according to the audit. A month later, the district placed Binkle on unpaid leave. At the time, he was making an annual salary of $152,000. In an email to the Times in 2015, Binkle said the state conflict-of-interest law did not require him to disclose anything about his firm because all of his consulting income that year came from outside Los Angeles County. Binkle said he was frustrated and baffled by the allegations. He insisted his use of the marketing funds was aboveboard and had been approved by district supervisors, including the former chief financial officer and then chief deputy superintendent Michelle King, who now runs the district. I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide, since my actions were approved and encouraged from senior district officials, general counsel or the ethics office, Binkle wrote in the email. I am confident the truth and facts will show the allegations are unsubstantiated. Beck said the allegations against Binkle represent a larger problem within the district. Binkle, Beck said, was allowed to operate with virtually no supervision, creating a situation that cost the district money and allowed him to enter into contracts with vendors with essentially no input from other school officials. He negotiated these contracts with these firms with no oversight, nobody else participating. It was a huge procurement bureaucracy. There was one contract for vegetarian entrees, and I remember sitting in a meeting with 35 people. Binkle was there. He had one entree that was $2.25 per item, and our reimbursement was less than the cost of the meal, Beck said. Every meal that we sold, we were losing money. When informed of the charges against Binkle by a Times reporter, Beck said he felt vindicated. You have absolutely made my afternoon, Beck said. Binkle remains employed as an adjunct culinary instructor at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, according to a spokesman for the school. He has been employed there since August 2009 and is scheduled to teach a class in the fall. While they declined to comment on the criminal charges, school nutrition advocates praised Binkles work in Los Angeles, saying he did his best to provide healthy food to hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren. David worked hard to improve the menus, the ingredients, the presentation and the student nutrition experience, said Matthew Sharp, a longtime school nutrition advocate who has worked extensively with Los Angeles schools. Beck said he still cant believe it took six years, and outside intervention by prosecutors, to get to the bottom of the conduct he uncovered long ago. All these internal control entities that were supposed to be exercising internal control were not doing it, he said. I brought it to their attention, and they did nothing about it. Times staff writers Sonali Kohli and Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report. james.queally@latimes.com Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California. UPDATES: 7:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional background about Binkles tenure with the district, and comments from former employees and nutrition advocates. 1:55 p.m.: This article was updated with information about Binkles plea and background about his work in the district. 12:30 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the L.A. Unified School District. This article was originally published at 11:25 a.m. An upscale hotel in Santa Monica has agreed to a $310,000 fine for laundering donations to City Council candidates and committees in hopes of thwarting the expansion of a competing hotel, records show. The Huntley Hotel concealed 62 campaign contributions totaling $97,350 to anti-development committees and political candidates thought likely to oppose the contentious expansion of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, according to the Fair Political Practices Commissions enforcement division. State officials believe the proposed fine, which comes after a two-year investigation, is the second-largest in the agencys history. Advertisement In 2012, the Fairmont, a luxury oceanfront hotel that sits directly in front of the Huntley, was pursuing a significant expansion that involved building private condos and three new buildings, including a 21-story high-rise tower. The Huntley, along with residents and businesses in the area, opposed the expansion, worrying that it would snarl traffic and block sunlight and views. According to the commissions records, the Huntley selected its assistant general manager, Manju Raman, to fundraise and help organize the communitys opposition to the Fairmonts expansion. Raman said she had no experience in campaign contributions and was not personally familiar with campaign finance rules, FPPC records said. When she fell short of her assigned goals, she offered to reimburse hotel employees and their spouses if they wrote checks to the candidates. That year, the hotel reimbursed 44 contributors who donated $86,650 to Santa Monicans for Responsible Growth and City Council candidates. The Political Reform Act prohibits contributors from donating to campaigns in the name of another person. Making a campaign contribution in the name of another is one of the most serious violations of the Political Reform Act, the FPPC said. It deceives the public as to the true source of contributions, and as occurred with certain of the contributions in this case, it allows for the circumvention of local contribution limits. The Huntleys donations went to two candidates Ted Winterer and Richard McKinnon who ran on slow-growth platforms, as well as two incumbents Terry ODay and Gleam Davis, the commissions records show. Winterer, now the citys mayor, was elected to the council in 2012, along with Davis and ODay. McKinnon, unsuccessful in his bid for City Council, is serving his second term on the citys Planning Commission. ODay told The Times he was really pleased with the states action and was unaware that certain donations to his campaign came from the hotel. This was wrongdoing by a group of funders, he said. We, as elected officials and as a city body, have long invested in transparency and clean campaigns in Santa Monica with accountability, and so this action, I hope, restores the sense of faith in government. ODay said he doesnt consider himself a slow-growth politician. He said hes open to the [Fairmont] hotel having a right to renovate the property to remain competitive. The hotel, he said, has scaled back its expansion proposal since it was first submitted because of community input. Winterer, Davis and McKinnon were not immediately available for comment. During the next local election, the Huntley again improperly reimbursed people for their campaign contributions. In a related campaign finance investigation, a law firm and an Encino Pilates studio face a $10,000 fine for failing to disclose original contributor information. In 2012, the law firm, Richardson Patel, donated $10,000 to the anti-growth committee in Santa Monica in the name of Pure Pilates without disclosing that the true donor was the Huntley, FPPC records show. Neither the firm nor the studio was immediately available for comment. Sohrab Sassounian, president of the Huntley, could not immediately be reached for comment. A woman who answered the phone at Sassounians home questioned why The Times was interested in publishing a story on a minor violation, noting that he had already paid the fine. He didnt kill somebody, the woman said. The commission will consider whether to accept the fine at a meeting later this month. The hotel, state officials said, has already written a check. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek Concern has risen in Hong Kong over the outbreak of seasonal influenza, but officials said that reports comparing it to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003 are misleading. In Hong Kong, 324 summer flu-related deaths were recorded from May 5 to Aug 6, according to the Centre for Health Protection under the special administrative region's Department of Health. The number of deaths during winter flu season reached 442 in 2015 and 171 in 2016, according to CHP records. Some news reports last weekend said that the summer flu in Hong Kong had killed more people than the SARS epidemic did in 2003. But Guan Yi, director of State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Center of Influenza Research at the University of Hong Kong, said the two numbers are not comparable, and added that such coverage "exaggerated the situation" and would create unnecessary public fear. Guan said the deaths caused by summer flu often involve senior citizens, a high-risk demographic, many of whom have chronic diseases and a weak immune system. Summer flu can trigger other complications that can cause death, he added. During the SARS epidemic, however, the virus was much more potent and killed people of all ages, Guan noted. In 2003, SARS claimed 299 lives from March 10 to June 23 in Hong Kong, killing 17 percent of those who got sick, official data show. The CHP estimated that the death rate for summer flu this year would be less than 2.1 percent, given that most patients would recover in two to seven days. The death rate in past flu seasons has ranged from 1.9 percent to 3.3 percent, according to the CHP. The summer flu season is expected to continue for the next few weeks, CHP officials said. In Shenzhen, meanwhile, the disease control and prevention department issued its highest-level alert for the past three weeks for seasonal flu, and it warned that the situation bears watching this week since the number of infections is still expected to increase at a high rate. However, Song Tie, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the situation this year is similar to that of previous years, except that the peak has come later. Seasonal influenza usually breaks out between May and July in southern Guangdong province, but the peak may come earlier or later depending on the particular strain of the virus, said Kong Dongfeng, associate senior physician of the communicable disease control and prevention division of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The most prevalent influenza virus this year is the H3N2 virus, accounting for 75 percent of the cases in Guangdong, with children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic diseases being the most vulnerable groups, officials said. No statistics on deaths were released. Last month, 1,468 influenza cases were detected at Shenzhen ports of entry, compared with 848 cases in June, both representing significant growth compared with a year earlier, according to the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. Influenza-like illnesses represented 4.64 percent of all the outpatient cases in the city from July 26 to Aug 1, according to official statistics. The figure for the previous week was 4.98 percent. Guan, from Hong Kong, suggested that people take Tamiflu, an antiviral medication used to treat and prevent influenza A and influenza B, once they experience such symptoms as runny nose, coughing, fever and other flu symptoms. Two former Kern County Sheriffs deputies avoided prison time Monday for stealing and selling marijuana that was seized during drug busts. Logan August and Derrick Penney were sentenced Monday to three years probation for the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, according to the U.S. attorney office in Fresno. August, a 30-year-old Bakersfield resident, was also ordered to serve 1,500 hours of community service and forfeit $16,500 earned in the trafficking operation, federal authorities said. Advertisement Penney, a 34-year-old Star, Idaho, resident, must serve 250 hours in community service and surrender $1,200, federal authorities said. The former deputies were facing up to five years in prison for the offense. The defendants in this case caused a significant breach of the publics trust when they committed these crimes, U.S. Atty. Phillip A. Talbert said in a statement. Not only did they betray the community they were sworn to serve, but also their fellow, hard-working officers who protect the Kern County community every day. The former deputies were accused of working with former Bakersfield police detective Patrick Mara and others to steal marijuana from the Kern County Sheriffs Office storage unit, according federal court documents. The plot transpired between June 2014 and October 2014, according to the documents. Federal authorities said the group planned to sell the cannabis, which had been previously seized by police during drug operations on private and public properties. August was assigned to the sheriffs Major Vendor Narcotics Unit and participated in drug busts. Penney was member of the sheriffs Gang Suppression Section-Investigations Unit. Both deputies had department-issued access cards, which they used to enter the storage unit, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Once inside, they tossed the marijuana plants and buds into trash bags, federal authorities said. After stealing the marijuana from the storage unit, they had it trimmed, so it could be sold. August then handed the eight pounds of marijuana to a confidential informant who sold it for him, federal authorities said. August shared his earnings with Penney, each receiving about $1,200, according to federal prosecutors. August also gave a portion of the proceeds to Mara, who is about to begin a five-year federal prison sentence in a separate case, authorities said. Mara, a 13-year Bakersfield police veteran, admitted to stealing methamphetamine from drug dealers during traffic stops. Federal authorities said August took the marijuana from drug busts on 10 separate occasions and gave his informant about 25 pounds of cannabis. After the marijuana was sold, he received thousands of dollars, according to federal prosecutors. In February 2016, the deputies voluntarily visited FBI offices in Bakersfield and confessed to stealing the marijuana, according to federal court documents. They pleaded guilty in May for their roles in the trafficking operation. That same month, August recorded a video message entitled I am sorry! during which he apologized to Kern County residents, law enforcement officials and anybody I had ever worked with that wears the badge that I disgraced. Seated with his wife, August talked directly to the camera during the nearly 7-minute YouTube video, saying Satan was playing games with him. I made a horrible decision, he said. It was nobody elses fault. Nobody influenced me to do it. I made that decision based on Satan playing games with me and making me feel like I was prideful and unable to go to family members for help. Before Mondays sentencing, Augusts close friends, relatives and former coworkers submitted letters to the court, pleading for leniency in the sentencing process. In one letter, Kern County Sheriffs Deputy Darren Wonderly described working closely with August and Penney on SWAT and narcotics teams. I do not judge people by mistakes they have made. I have never lived that way and I was never trained that way, Wonderly wrote. Mistakes by Logan and Derrick do not define them and will never compare to the amazing achievements they have accomplished in their lives. Augusts attorney, David Torres, said his client does not plan to work in law enforcement again. August is running a private personal training business and has been organizing fundraising events for local charities, Torres said. It was obvious to the court that Mr. August was genuinely remorseful for the acts he committed and the taint he brought upon fellow law enforcement officers, Torres said. Nevertheless, [the judge] gave this young man an extraordinary opportunity to give back to his community by performing 1,500 hours of community service. veronica.rocha@latimes.com Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA UPDATES: 2:45 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Augusts attorney. This article was originally published at 11:10 a.m. For more than three years, a pair of drones donated to the Los Angeles Police Department was locked away, collecting dust after a public outcry over the idea of police using the controversial technology. Seattle police saw a similar backlash when they wanted to use the devices, grounding their drone program before it even took off. And recently, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments use of a drone has been criticized by activists as well as civilian oversight commissioners who want the agency to stop. On Tuesday, the LAPD again waded into the heated debate, saying the department wanted to test the use of drones in a one-year pilot program. Advertisement Drones have been hailed by law enforcement across the country as a valuable technology that could help find missing hikers or monitor armed suspects without jeopardizing the safety of officers. But efforts to deploy the unmanned aircraft have frequently drawn fierce criticism from privacy advocates or police critics for whom the devices stir Orwellian visions of inappropriate or illegal surveillance and fears of military-grade, weaponized drones patrolling the skies. The LAPD saw that resistance Tuesday even before department brass unveiled details of their proposal to the Police Commission. About three dozen activists gathered before the boards morning meeting to denounce any use of drones by the department. When the presentation ended, some of those activists leapt to their feet. Drone-free LAPD, no drones L.A.! they chanted. The LAPDs vision, if approved by the Police Commission, is to fly a small drone measuring about a foot long and 7 inches tall during incidents such as standoffs with hostage-takers or barricaded suspects, bomb scares, or shootings where a gunman is still targeting people. The devices could help gather crucial information as such situations unfold, without putting officers at risk, Assistant Chief Beatrice Girmala said. The LAPD would draw up strict criteria before flying drones, she said. Each use would require the approval of a high-ranking department official and would be documented in a written report to ensure that the rules were followed, she added. The LAPD plans to hold public meetings and draft guidelines that must be approved by the Police Commission before the drones can be flown. The department would also need certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and to train officers to use the devices, Girmala said. The process could take a few months. When LAPD officials decided to revisit the use of drones, they wanted to take their time and not risk the publics trust by imposing something new that is already controversial in our community. In our discussions, it was very clear that if this were ever to be approved, it had to be very methodical and it had to be very thoughtful, she said. Its a sharp contrast to the approach taken by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department in launching its drone. That initiative was abruptly announced by Sheriff Jim McDonnell at a January press conference before the department had collected public feedback and after deputies had already been trained to fly the device. Protestors leave the L.A. Police Commissions meeting Tuesday after urging the panel to reject the LAPDs proposal to test drones. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) The decision stirred outrage. Activists staged a protest. One civil liberties advocate blasted what he described as a unilateral decision by the department. Several members of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission also expressed concern, saying theyd like the Sheriffs Department to stop flying the drone. But the commission has no direct authority to compel the Sheriffs Department. A sheriffs spokeswoman said the department plans to keep using its drone and it did so during a standoff with a gunman in East L.A. last week. How a department approaches using a drone and how it explains that to the public can impact how local residents react, said Dan Gettinger, co-director of the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College. Many agencies have adopted the technology without much public reaction, he said. People are concerned because they associate the drones that police might be using with the drones that are being used by the military, Gettinger said. The word drone just has that implication. Almost 350 public safety departments in the U.S. have acquired drones, nearly half of them last year, according to a study Gettingers center published earlier this year. Skeptics have expressed apprehension not just about how police use drones today, he said, but how they might be used in the future. Weve just hit the tip of the iceberg, Gettinger said. The systems are going to evolve, and thats going to bring with them questions about how theyre going to be used. Drones have already prompted a flurry of legislative action. In an attempt to strike a balance between privacy and public safety, at least 18 states have adopted rules requiring law enforcement agencies to obtain warrants before using drones to conduct surveillance or searches, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. A similar proposal by the California Legislature was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2014. But legislation in some states has deepened the alarm of drone opponents. In 2015, North Dakota became the first state to legalize the police use of drones equipped with less-lethal devices, such as tear gas, rubber bullets or Tasers. Connecticut flirted with a similar bill earlier this year that would have allowed police to weaponize drones there. In a nod to those worries, Girmala said the LAPDs drones would not be weaponized and that officers would still need to get a search warrant signed by a judge when necessary. What were looking at ... is really just another set of eyes, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said after the commission meeting. The LAPDs dance with drones began in 2014, when the department received two Draganflyer X6 drones from police in Seattle drones the Washington agency unloaded after heavy criticism from the public. Although the LAPD said it would deploy the drones for narrow and prescribed uses, civil liberties advocates questioned their use in even a limited fashion. Less than a week after getting the drones, Beck said he would not fly them until the department had sought public feedback as well as approval from the Police Commission. I will not sacrifice public support for a piece of police equipment, Beck said at the time. The drones were locked away in the office of the LAPDs inspector general. They were destroyed earlier this week, Girmala said, because they were obsolete and not what the department is considering using now. The department hasnt yet looked at specific models to test in a pilot program, she added. Opponents of police drones were not satisfied by the LAPDs pledge to use them only under strict rules. In addition to expressing fears about surveillance and the militarization of police, drone opponents said Tuesday that they worried about mission creep that police would quietly expand the use of drones beyond what is first allowed. The activists said they didnt trust the LAPD to use the drones appropriately and said the fear of being watched by the LAPD from the sky was alarming to residents who already feel targeted by police. When Girmala told the Police Commission that SWAT officers would use the drones, many opponents in the room jeered. Were going to fight it to the very end, said Jamie Garcia, a member of the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, one of the departments most vocal critics. Just drop the idea. Its not going to happen. Matt Johnson, the Police Commissions president, said he thought drones had the potential to help save lives, and he signaled support for developing a pilot program. Our challenge is going to be to develop strong policies and oversight to govern this program, to govern against misuse and mission creep, he said. Its also critical that we get public opinion like we received today. That feedback should be taken seriously in deciding whether to move forward at all, said Melanie Ochoa, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. Drones represent a significant threat to privacy, she told commissioners. They should only be approved after a robust public discussion. The union representing rank-and-file LAPD officers dismissed the criticism Tuesday, saying in a statement that drones were a commonsense tool that can ensure resident and officer safety in dangerous situations. Its time for the conspiracy theorists and professional protesters to stop obstructing every effort we make to keep Angelenos safe, the union added. Both Beck and Girmala acknowledged that the fiercest critics would probably never support the LAPDs use of drones. But Girmala said she hoped the departments public process for evaluating the technology would help reassure others. We sincerely understand and respect those concerns, she said. But I believe that time will prove that we are being as careful and respectful of peoples rights as humanly possible. kate.mather@latimes.com @katemather ALSO May you die in pain: California GOP congressman gets an earful at town hall Deportation put on hold for man detained by ICE after dropping daughter off at L.A. school We dont feel OK here: Detainee deaths, suicide attempts and hunger strikes plague California immigration facility UPDATES: 7:35 p.m.: This story was updated with comments from opponents of police drones, LAPD officials, the police union and Police Commission President Matt Johnson. 12:55 p.m.: This story was updated with comments from Assistant Chief Beatrice Girmala at the Police Commission. 9:45 a.m.: This story was updated with comments from a news conference held by activists opposing the LAPDs use of drones. This story was originally published at 4 a.m. A U.S. appeals court decided Monday that the federal government wrongly approved Californias request to temporarily cut Medi-Cal reimbursement by 10% during the recession for hospital outpatient care. The ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the federal government can approve such cuts only if evidence shows that the recipients of aid will have access to the same services as the general population. California, struggling with a budget crisis, imposed the cutback for eight months, from July 2008 through February 2009. Advertisement If the ruling stands, the state and the federal government will have to pay back California hospitals hundreds of millions of dollars, said Robert Leventhal, who represented more than 50 California hospitals in the challenge. Before cuts can be made, federal law requires a showing of evidence that beneficiaries will have access to care at least to the extent that such care and services are available to the general population in the geographic area, the 9th Circuit said, citing a provision in federal law. Leventhal said previous challenges to the Medi-Cal cuts relied on different legal theories. Mondays ruling will have a major impact on Medi-Cal rates and hopefully bring them up, he said. They are the lowest or next to the lowest in all 50 states for hospital outpatient services, Leventhal said. He also said the ruling could be used in future challenges involving Medi-Cal. It is impossible for the government to show that rate cuts would leave recipients with the same access to care as the general public, Leventhal argued. Its clear that the rates arent structured to provide the same access to care, he said. Jeffrey Eric Sandberg, who argued the case for the U.S. Dept. of Justice, referred questions to the departments public information office. A department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government could ask the panel to reconsider the decision, request a larger 9th Circuit panel to weigh in or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. maura.dolan@latimes.com Twitter: @mauradolan ALSO One child, a $21-million medical bill: How a tiny number of patients poses a huge challenge for Medi-Cal Medi-Cal patients sue state, claiming widespread discrimination Senate health bill would leave Medi-Cal with $115-billion shortfall through 2027, analysis finds Some of San Franciscos richest and most influential residents cant step off their front lawn without trespassing onto Michael Cheng and Tina Lams property. Thats because in 2015, the private street linking 34 multimillion-dollar homes in the citys Presidio Heights was sold to the highest bidder right under the homeowners noses. After publishing notices, county officials sold parcel 1355-001 -- also known as the one-way street Presidio Terrace -- to Cheng and Lam from San Jose for $90,582.50 in a public auction, about $89,000 more than was owed in back taxes and miscellaneous costs. Advertisement The 2-year-old purchase was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Like most of the general public, the lands previous owners, Presidio Terrace Assn., didnt learn about the sale until recently. Not even Cheng and Lam knew what theyd bought when they first won the lot, Cheng said. Scores of properties are sold at county auctions, most of them worthless slivers of land too awkward to be developed. The only thing Cheng and Lam knew was that it was in Presidio Heights. We were bidding on some that were marginally usable; this was the one that we won. You hope you did OK and didnt overpay, Cheng said. About five months after the auction, the title was officially transferred. So Cheng and Lam went to look at the lot but were refused entry because its in a gated community. We found this was an extreme property. Its an entire area of the community, all the common areas, Cheng said. I was pleasantly surprised. But he also had reservations. On the other hand, we also knew well be coming head to head with some very wealthy people. They have a lot of connections in the city, Cheng said. So the couple hired a lawyer and planned their next move. In May, a representative for the couple contacted the association and asserted the couples right to the land and asking if the association wanted to buy it back. We were hoping to just be like neighbors and talk about it, Cheng said. Our long-term goal is to just hold on to this property and to work out a deal with the homeowners. The association responded to the representatives inquiry July 17 in the form of a civil suit, which sought to negate the sale to Cheng and Lam. It alleged that the county did not go to a reasonable effort to notify homeowners that their street was in arrears and also that the San Jose couple had no right to own the property because its a common area. In fact, the association said, it had owned and managed the land since 1905 and paid property taxes between $13 and $14 annually. The only reason it fell into arrears, the lawsuit claims, is because San Francisco had been sending the tax bills to an address on Kearney Street, which the association believes was connected to an accountant who last did work for the association in the 1980. Not even the associations property management firm was aware that payments were not being made, the lawsuit said. In all, the association owed about $994 in back taxes, according to the lawsuit. The propertys delinquency started in the 2003-04 fiscal year, according to San Francisco County. Its really up to the property owners to keep up with their bills, said Amanda Kahn Fried, spokeswoman for the Department of Treasury. Since reports of this purchase first broke, Kahn Fried said shes heard from many officials who say its a lesson on why property owners need to stay informed and up to date on their taxes. Were all created equal under the tax code, she said. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. ALSO Nextdoor becomes home to real estate listings The 20% mortgage down payment is dead Culver City hopes its $300-million Ivy Station complex will lure people who dont want to live in urban downtown A flood of students unexpectedly accepted admission offers. A UC campus was caught off guard. Administrators scoured the files of the admitted and took a hard line on those who had failed to meet paperwork deadlines. They withdrew more than 500 offers, causing a furor. The year was 2015, the campus Santa Cruz. The storm that UC Irvine recently unleashed when it took a similar approach to overenrollment was unusual but hardly unheard of on the nations college campuses. Experts say the two UC cases and others like them at Temple University in Philadelphia and St. Marys College of Maryland underscore the vagaries of enrollment prediction a discipline that aims to meld the science of data analysis with the guesswork of anticipating teenage whims. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also miscalculated its numbers this year, with about 700 more students saying yes to its offers than expected. One curveball was a campus decision to eliminate the option for students to make an early, binding commitment to enroll, which boosts their chances of admission but was seen as advantageous to the wealthier ones who did not need to wait for financial aid packages. Advertisement The move made a difference, with a 30% increase in the incoming freshman class of low-income and underrepresented minority students. But it also made the process more unpredictable, since early commitments previously had locked in nearly a quarter of the enrollment early on, said James Maraviglia, the associate vice provost who oversees the admissions process. It wasnt just freshmen, who accepted admission offers at a far higher rate 34.6% this year compared to 29.5% last year. Four hundred more current students than anticipated said they were planning to return to campus, many of whom benefited from enhanced academic support and counseling to keep from dropping out, said Mary Pedersen, senior vice provost of academic planning and programs. Unlike Irvine, however, the popular California State University campus did not face the crunch by trying to find ways to withdraw more admission offers. Instead, it is working to accommodate the extra students by reconfiguring dorms to add 1,000 more beds and hiring additional faculty. Enrollment management is an art, not an actuarial science, Maraviglia said. One variable can change and totally change your mix. He and others said predictions have become even trickier since the advent of online applications has made it easier for students to apply to multiple campuses. Tom Green, a college enrollment management expert who has consulted with several Cal State campuses, said California predictions are made particularly difficult by the sheer size of its three higher education systems, which collectively educate 2.9 million students. How do you try to predict things ...when you are so much larger than anybody else that theres no other model like you? said Green, associate executive director of the American Assn. of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Trying to manage enrollment and resources at that scale is really challenging. UC Irvine, in the end, has had to reverse course. Stung by public outrage over its abrupt cancellation of nearly 500 admission offers after 850 more students than expected said they would attend, the school announced last week that it would readmit most of those affected. Chancellor Howard Gillman apologized and announced that he had directed the internal auditor to review the admissions process to try to understand how officials so badly underestimated the enrollment, why students who got the notices were poorly treated when they inquired about them and how to avoid repeating the mistakes. UC Santa Cruz launched a similar review after its 2015 fiasco, which prompted some outraged parents to contact their state legislators to demand answers and changes in procedure. The campus subsequently overhauled not only how it predicts its enrollment numbers, but also how it publicly explains its admission process and handles those who fail to meet paperwork deadlines, said Michelle Whittingham, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management. Those changes seem to have made a difference, she said. UC Santa Cruz missed its mark by 366 students in 2015 but by only one in 2016 and seven in 2017. And thanks to more forgiving policies adopted last year, campus officials this year revoked only 31 admission offers for paperwork problems, such as missing deadlines for submitting transcripts. We recognize this was exceptionally devastating to students and families, Whittingham said of the 2015 cancellations. We really tried to dissect every piece of our process and do everything we can do to make sure nothing like that ever happens again. For starters, the campus zeroed in on weaknesses in its forecasting model. Most campuses start with enrollment targets and work backwards, calculating how many students need to be admitted to reach them by looking at such factors as previous rates of acceptance, known as yield, and of students who initially accept but then decide to enroll elsewhere. At Santa Cruz, officials used to predict group behavior. Now their model looks at each applicant, calculating the likelihood that a student will come based on such variables as their grades and test scores, zip codes, intended majors and campus visits. Those considered more likely to attend UC Santa Cruz generally live closer to campus, visit more frequently before deciding and have a weighted grade point average that is somewhere around 3.9. Students planning to major in engineering, film and computational media are more likely to attend than those focused on music or feminist studies. Not that the carefully crafted forecasting model can account for all teen decisions. When Whittingham asked students why they chose UC Santa Cruz, one told her oxygen levels, and another said the campus was close to Seattle. One of the things you cant lose sight of is that literally were predicting the behavior of 17- and 18-year-olds, she said. I cant predict my own sons behavior. The campus model has a built-in margin of error that admits fewer students and places more on a waitlist. That way, overenrollment is less likely and wait-listed students fill the gap in cases of underenrollment, Whittingham said. Other campuses also rely heavily on waitlists, though some use them differently. Cal State Fullerton, for instance, offers those who miss paperwork deadlines spots on the waitlist rather than completely pulling their offers. The campus needs to enforce deadlines because its so popular and, for years, has had to turn away thousands of eligible students, said Darren Bush, interim associate vice president of student affairs. With the help of regular data updates throughout the admissions process, officials have fine-tuned their forecasting model to be on target this year. More information sharing between the UC and Cal State systems would be helpful, Whittingham said, since all of the schools are affected by the actions of their competitors. Santa Cruzs lower-than-expected yield rate this year might have been affected by Cal Poly SLOs elimination of the early decision option and subsequent enrollment surge, she said. Since 2015, officials from UC campuses have gathered at an annual summit to share their enrollment targets and forecasting strategies. Thats helped with planning, Whittingham said. When UCLA and UC Berkeley announced they would increase admission offers last year as part of the UC systems pledge to add 5,000 California freshmen, she knew fewer applicants would accept offers from her less-selective campus. To improve its process, Santa Cruz also has stepped up its outreach to students, parents and high school counselors, sending out more reminders about paperwork deadlines and being less severe about them. The campus extends the July 1 deadline for transcripts to Aug. 10 for those who need more time, for instance, and has restarted mailing reminders to parents after many said they never saw the electronic information sent to students online portals and email accounts. That said, no amount of planning is fail-safe. People spend years trying to create predictability out of unpredictability, Whittingham said. So much of this work is illogical. teresa.watanabe@latimes.com | Twitter: @teresawatanabe rosanna.xia@latimes.com | Twitter: @rosannaxia ALSO A transgender 8-year-old sues a private school, saying it didnt let her be the girl she is Out of 57 voting USC trustees, only three have commented on the former medical school dean scandal Deportation put on hold for man detained by ICE after dropping daughter off at L.A. school The U.S. Marine Corps for the first time is considering a plan to let women attend what has been male-only combat training in Southern California, as officials work to quash recurring problems with sexism and other bad behavior among Marines, according to Marine Corps officials. If approved by senior Marine leaders, the change could happen as soon as next spring. And it could be the first step in a broader campaign to give male Marines who do their initial training on the West Coast the opportunity to work with female colleagues early in their career. Marine leaders are also considering allowing women to attend boot camp at San Diego, the officials said. Currently all women recruits go through boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., while male recruits go either there or to San Diego. The combat training comes after troops have finished boot camp, and is done both in South Carolina and at Camp Pendleton outside San Diego, but women are trained only on the East Coast. Advertisement The officials were not authorized to publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity because final decisions have not been made. The boot camp decision is still under discussion. Marine leaders have come under persistent criticism from members of Congress because the Corps is the only military service to separate men and women for portions of their boot camp. And only the Marine Corps allows half of its recruits to go through initial training without any female colleagues. Because there are only a small number of female Marines, they all go through boot camp at Parris Island, where they are separated from the men for portions of the training. Members of Congress have been highly critical of that policy and demanded changes, and the Corps has been reviewing the issue. The Marines have argued that the separation from the men is needed so the women can become more physically competitive before joining their male counterparts. They also have argued that it gives the female Marines the support they need during their early weeks of boot camp. Women make up 8.4% of the Marine Corps, and that is the smallest percentage of all the armed services. But Marine Corps officials are now suggesting that training half of their recruits on the West Coast with no females in their units could be contributing to some of the disciplinary problems theyve had. Giving the male Marines greater exposure to females during training could foster better relations and greater respect over time, some have suggested. Over the last several years, Marine leaders have battled persistent accusations that the Corps is hostile to women. The Marines were the only service to formally request an exception when the Pentagon moved to allow women to serve in all combat jobs. That request was denied in late 2015 by then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter. More recently, the service was rocked by a scandal in which Marines shared sexually explicit photos of female colleagues on various social media and other websites and included crude, derogatory and even violent comments about the women. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is looking into the matter and several Marines have been disciplined. A Marine task force has been reviewing a range of options and changes for several months to try to reduce the problems. Months ago, Gen. Robert Neller, the Marine Corps commandant, told Congress that the service has been looking at the recruit training issue. But to date, no major changes have been made. The nude photo-sharing investigation represents a broader military problem. In a report issued earlier this year, the Pentagon said that nearly 6,200 military members said that sexually explicit photos of them were taken or shared against their will by someone from work, and it made them uncomfortable, angry or upset. But, across the services, female Marines made up the largest percentage of women who complained. Among all U.S. service members, more than 22,000 said they were upset or angry when someone at work showed or sent them pornography. And, again, female Marines represented the highest percentage of complaints from women. ALSO Pfc. Ruben Velasco of West Covina was among the three Marines lost in air crash in Australia Google CEO slams memo on gender as employee reportedly fired Transgender veterans outraged by Trumps sudden ban on military service Already under federal investigation for allegedly paying its female employees less than their male counterparts, Google was hit with another allegation of discrimination over the weekend. A male software engineer at the company accused it in an internal memo of having an ideological echo chamber that silenced conservatives and blocked debate over its efforts to promote diversity. The anonymous engineers memo quickly spread online, triggering a vigorous, even outraged debate over Googles policies. If Google was actually trying to squelch a free and open exchange of ideas, this particular Googler has engineered a way around it. Granted, much of the debate seems to be over the memo writers views about why women hold such a small percentage of the leadership jobs, not his opinion that Googles left bias has created a politically correct monoculture that maintains its hold by shaming dissenters into silence. Although he insisted that he shares the goal of a more diverse workplace, he argued that part of the blame for the gender gap in hiring and promotion was a function of uncorrectable chromosomal differences, including an innate inability or disinclination among women to handle the stress that comes with leadership. Advertisement The companys workforce looks little like the world around it. Naturally, that triggered the sort of outrage that gender stereotypes usually produce, and rightfully so. Hiring and promotion decisions, after all, are about individuals, not statistical averages. Imagine the reaction if a woman argued that older men were underrepresented in some female-dominated field because they need too many bathroom breaks. On one front, though, the Googleplexs current top provocateur is right: No companys leadership should be afraid to reexamine the methods its using to achieve its goals, whether that be turning a profit, recruiting a great workforce or having a healthy corporate culture. Youd think that Silicon Valley, with its meritocratic posturing and its fetish for disruption, would be particularly open to ideas that come from outside the mainstream. (After this editorial went to press Monday, Bloomberg reported that Google had fired the memo writer, identified as James Damore. Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees in an email that the memo violated the companys Code of Conduct and cross[ed] the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace, the news service reported. Clearly, there are some ideas from outside the mainstream that Google will not even debate internally.) Googles hiring and promotion practices have come under scrutiny because, like much of the tech industry, the companys workforce looks little like the world around it. Almost 70% of its employees are male, including 80% of its technical workers. Only 2% of its workers are African American. As the Guardian pointed out Monday, the lack of racial diversity typifies Silicon Valley, but not other U.S. tech hubs. Google insists that it is committed to reducing these gaps, even though it has resisted the U.S. Department of Labors efforts to collect detailed payroll data in its probe of alleged pay disparities (after a court sided with Google, the company turned over a much more limited data set). Ultimately, the goals it sets and the methods it chooses are up to the companys leadership, overseen by those who enforce anti-discrimination laws and by the market. The disgruntled software engineer seemed more concerned about Googles efforts to train more women and minorities to become engineers than about the shortage of women and minorities entering the field. The former isnt the problem the latter is. But at least he has demonstrated how easy it is to foster a debate over Googles goals and methods, at least outside the top offices of the Googleplex. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook UPDATES: 8:38 a.m.: The editorial was updated with new information about the memo-writers firing. This editorial was orginally published at 5 a.m. Tuesday. A draft federal report on climate change that went public Monday contains little in the way of new science, and although its language is unequivocal, it merely confirms what has been obvious to so many scientists for so long: Human activity is increasing global temperatures, leading to potentially catastrophic climate change. So whats the news? That federal scientists so feared the final report would be gutted or suppressed by the climate change-doubting Trump administration that they leaked it. Theres no way to know for sure whether the administration would have squelched the final report, preliminary versions of which have been circulating for months. What we do know, however, is that President Trumps refusal to accept the obvious about the planets changing climate is more than embarrassing. His stance sets the U.S. at odds with nearly every other nation on Earth, all but two of which are part of the 2015 Paris agreement to try to cap global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hitting the Paris agreements target will require a rapid pivot away from burning fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy. But Trumps policy is to not only drill for more oil and gas and resurrect the coal industry (whose product is the worst offender among fossil fuels), but also to assert the U.S. as the dominant producer of the very energy sources that threaten radical upheaval in how humans live on Earth. Thats as wrong-headed as it is dangerous. Advertisement In leaking the report (obtained by the New York Times), scientists within the government ensured that their work would reach the public, serving as a check on the administration in case it did indeed try to trump science with politics. In that sense, the leaked report helps isolate the president, his fellow doubters and his allies, such as Environmental Protection Agency Director Scott Pruitt and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, whose combined regulatory moves would reduce curbs on emissions and set the stage for accelerated drilling and mining on federal lands. Additionally, environmental groups and states are mounting legal challenges to regulatory rollbacks that, we hope, will at the least slow these bad policies, if not stymie them altogether. One area where the leaked report, part of the congressionally required quadrennial National Climate Assessment, breaks new ground is in so-called attribution science. In the past, scientists have been reticent to tie specific severe weather events to overall climate change. But the report says scientists are now able to draw some direct connections with varying degrees of certainty between climate change and such events as heat waves in Europe in 2003 and Australia in 2013. It also links human-propelled climate change with a decrease in the number of cool nights across the United States since the 1960s and an increase in the number of warm days since the 1980s. It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century, the report says. For the warming over the last century, there is no convincing alternative explanation supported by the extent of the observational evidence. Despite the head-in-the-sand denials among Republicans in Washington, in California the reality of climate change has found some bipartisan acceptance. The Legislature recently extended the states cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon emissions with the help of a handful of Republican lawmakers who believe the science of climate change. We have to make decisions as legislators do we do what is right or do we do what is politically right? Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) said at the time. Its a question more lawmakers ought to ask themselves. The world is in a dangerous place, and its unclear how much of climate change even concerted global action can stop. The report adds to recent observations that temperatures at the poles are increasing more quickly than they are elsewhere, reducing the size of the Arctic ice cap which, some scientists believe, is creating a feedback loop in which less ice leads to warmer water temperatures which leads to less ice. And thawing tundra has also been emitting massive amounts of methane, causing more short-term warming than carbon dioxide and creating its own sort of feedback loop, leading to more thawing of the tundra. The changes are already real and the future risks potentially catastrophic. The whole world knows it, and the vast majority of the world is trying to address it. That Trump is not, and that government scientists feel the needs to join deep state actors in leaking their findings in fear of what the president might do against the nations best interests, is damning. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook MORE EDITORIALS: Trump tries diplomacy in countering North Koreas nuclear provocation Hard lines in court and at the border wont fix our broken immigration system Union-backed bill would tie counties hands on contract workers UPDATES: 1:40 p.m.: This editorial was updated to clarify that preliminary versions of this draft final report have been available for months. 3 p.m.: The editorial was updated to separate Interior Secretary Ryan Zinkes stance on climate change from EPA Director Scott Pruitts more skeptical position. North Koreas nuclear program, which reached an ominous milestone last month with the testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching Los Angeles, has prompted some of the Trump administrations worst foreign-policy moments. At times the administration seemed to signal, almost casually, that it was considering a preemptive strike on North Korea, which could trigger a land war on the Korean peninsula and the deaths of tens of thousands of people. At other times President Trump seemed to think that China could be easily induced to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. (Later, Trump tweeted that I am very disappointed in China.) Now, fortunately, the administration seems to have settled on a policy of muting the bellicose rhetoric and giving diplomacy a chance. That approach paid off last weekend when the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution imposing unprecedentedly tough economic sanctions on North Korea. Significantly, the sanctions were supported by China, which accounts for more than 90% of North Koreas external commerce. Chinas foreign minister said that he had advised his North Korean counterpart not to provoke the international societys good will by conducting missile launching or nuclear tests. Advertisement Now, fortunately, the administration seems to have settled on a policy of muting the bellicose rhetoric and giving diplomacy a chance. The new sanctions are the toughest yet, potentially cutting off a third of North Koreas exports and undermining the countrys stabilizing economy. But there is no guarantee that they will be enforced by the Norths trading partners, or that they will persuade it to comply with a series of U.N. resolutions against its nuclear and missile tests. Certainly the Norths initial reaction was defiant. North Koreas official news agency threatened to make the United States pay the price for its crime thousands of times, and North Koreas foreign minister warned that warned that Pyongyang will, under no circumstances, put the nuclear and ballistic missiles on the negotiating table. But that reaction was to be expected. The Trump administration, which ostentatiously announced this year that it was ending the Obama administrations policy of strategic patience, now seems willing to wait for at least some period of time to see if the new sanctions lead North Korea to reconsider that position. Indeed, the administration eventually may be willing to resume talks with North Korea without a commitment by Pyongyang in advance that it would be willing to dismantle its nuclear program. On Monday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters that the best signal that North Korea could give us that theyre prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches. (In another gesture, Tillerson said last week that the U.S. did not seek regime change in the North.) This combination of prudence and pressure is less emotionally satisfying than the simplicities and saber-rattling of the first few months of the Trump administration. But its also more responsible and realistic. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook To mark the 90th birthday of the Peoples Liberation Army on Aug. 1, Chinas President Xi Jinping went to the Inner Mongolian steppe to the site where Genghis Khan began his conquest of Eurasia. There, at Zhurihe, he was welcomed by an impressive display of Chinas martial might: a parade of Chinese troops, tanks, helicopters, aircraft and missiles. But the main course was a massive war game demonstrating the state of Chinas preparation to fight and win future military conflicts. For what war is the PLA preparing? Recent events should make the answer abundantly clear. In July, North Korea conducted two ICBM tests that put the American heartland within reach of its nuclear weapons. In response, the U.S. flew two B-1 bombers over the Korean peninsula to send the message, in the words of Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Terrence J. OShaughnessy, that the U.S. is ready to respond with rapid, lethal and overwhelming force at a time and place of our choosing. President Trump has directed his ire at China, tweeting after the North Korean missile test: I am very disappointed in China they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk. We will no longer allow this to continue. Advertisement If Chinese and American forces once again meet in Korea ... the PLA will not at all resemble the low-tech army of the past. Xis parade, along with recent Chinese military maneuvers, sends an equally unambiguous message: If war breaks out on the Korean peninsula, China is ready to protect its national interests. A major pillar of Xis program for making China great again is building a modern military fully capable of fighting and winning a 21st century war including, if need be, against the United States. In recent months, China has moved additional military units to its border with North Korea. It has established new fortifications and 24-hour video surveillance using aerial drones. But PLA special forces and airborne troops have begun repeatedly drilling for missions that go far beyond closing the border or establishing a buffer zone: They appear to be preparing to push deep into North Korea in the event of crisis. Those who doubt Chinas willingness to act, or its ferocity, should review what happened in 1950. That June, North Korea invaded South Korea and would have gained control of the peninsula had the American-led United Nations Command not come to the rescue. With little thought for how China which had barely 1/50th the GDP of the U.S. might react, allied forces under Gen. Douglas MacArthur pushed North Korean troops back across the 38th parallel and advanced rapidly toward the Yalu River bordering China. U.S. intelligence officers discounted the possibility that China might intervene on behalf of the North. Nonetheless, MacArthur awoke one morning to find the vanguard of a 300,000-strong Chinese army slamming U.S. and allied forces. Caught off-guard, American units suffered severe losses. One regiment of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division lost 600 men in close combat in a matter of hours. In the weeks that followed, what MacArthur and his fellow commanders had dismissed as a peasant army not only halted the U.S. advance but beat allied forces back to a stalemate at the 38th parallel. If Chinese and American forces once again meet in Korea perhaps in what Gen. Raymond Thomas has warned could become a vertical track meet to secure the Norths nuclear weapons the PLA will not at all resemble the low-tech army of the past. In 1991, Chinese leaders were stunned by the devastating effectiveness of the U.S. military during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, when it defeated Saddam Husseins forces in less than a month with fewer than 150 U.S. combat deaths. Watching Americas full-spectrum technological dominance via space-based navigation and surveillance systems, long-range precision-guided bombs and radar-evading stealth aircraft, Chinese leaders determined to acquire the technical capabilities to counter and ultimately surpass what they referred to as American magic. Accordingly, Xi has made it his mission to ruthlessly rebuild and reorganize Chinas armed forces on a scale that Russias foremost expert on the Chinese military, Andrei Kokoshin, calls unprecedented. And the Pentagon is taking notice. Its annual report on the Chinese military, released in June, warned that the PLA had modernized its conventionally armed missile force extraordinarily rapidly, while the PLA Air Force was also rapidly closing the gap with the U.S. The world is not peaceful, Xi said at Zhurihe, warning, we need more than any period in history to build a strong peoples military. Notably, the exercises there featured Chinese forces facing off against a Blue Force modeled on the command structure, technology, weaponry and tactics of the United States. As Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis keeps saying, North Korea is a clear and present threat. Events there could drag the U.S. and China into a major war neither wants. Especially in the context of Thucydides Trap the dangerous dynamic when a rising power threatens to displace the ruling one once military machines are in motion, misunderstandings and miscalculations could escalate all too easily to a catastrophic conflict no one intended. Graham Allison is a professor of government at Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and the author of Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydidess Trap? Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook ALSO Firing Silicon Valleys worst offenders is an important step. But in the tech industry, sexism is in the water Does state funding for Medi-Cal discriminate against the Latinos it serves? 72 years after the bombing of Nagasaki, there are 15,000 nuclear weapons in the world A Kentucky circuit court last week issued an unusual, reasonable and welcome ruling: It is unconstitutional to execute people for murders committed when they were younger than 21. Why? Because research increasingly shows that the human brain has not fully matured particularly in areas of impulse control and risk-assessment until people are well into their 20s. At the same time, according to the ruling, fewer people have been executed in recent years for crimes committed between the ages of 18 and 21, signaling a shift in the evolving standards of decency that earlier had informed Supreme Court decisions protecting from execution people who were first under 16, and later under 18, as well as the intellectually disabled and people too mentally ill to understand why they are being executed. It appears there is a very clear national consensus trending toward restricting the death penalty, especially in cases where defendants are 18 to 21 years of age, Circuit Court Judge Ernesto Scorsone wrote. Advertisement Capital punishment is an immoral and unjust system, and the nations adherence to it makes the U.S. an outlier among its peer societies. The death penalty is wrong in all circumstances. Beyond the inherent immorality of a state executing its citizens, the system is too prone to manipulation and error for use as an arbiter of who should die decisions that have fallen disproportionately on minorities and the poor. That arbitrary application should be a red flag for people who profess to believe in equal application of the law. The death penalty also is inconsistently sought by prosecutors and not reserved for the worst of the worst. Similar murders committed in adjoining counties can draw a death sentence in one and a life sentence in the other purely based on the outlook of the prosecutor. Even a new district attorney in one of those counties can mean a change in whether the death penalty will be sought (that happened in Riverside County, where a new D.A. dropped the death penalty in seven of 22 inherited cases). Thus the whims of an individual can determine whether to seek an execution. Then theres the exorbitant cost of appeals to make sure the innocent arent mistakenly put to death an assurance that cannot be absolute, even though an execution is. All in all, capital punishment is an immoral and unjust system, and the nations adherence to it makes the U.S. an outlier among its peer societies. In its 2005 Roper vs. Simmons decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that executing someone for a crime committed before age 18 violates the 8th Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Not that age exculpates them from responsibility, but that because minors are still evolving into adulthood and do not have the same tools and skills for judging their own actions and their consequences, execution would be an excessive penalty. Their own vulnerability and comparative lack of control over their immediate surroundings mean juveniles have a greater claim than adults to be forgiven for failing to escape negative influences in their whole environment, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority. The reality that juveniles still struggle to define their identity means it is less supportable to conclude that even a heinous crime committed by a juvenile is evidence of irretrievably depraved character. Thus, by definition, a juvenile cannot be among the worst of the worst for whom the death penalty is supposed to be reserved. In his decision last week, Scorsone wrote that a growing body of studies shows that the same argument the Supreme Court made to bar execution for crimes committed before age 18 applies to those committed before age 21 because key aspects of human growth and maturity, particularly impulse control, are not fully developed until the mid-20s. Given the exclusive finality of an execution, prudence dictates broad latitude be given to the brain science. Incidentally, Californias death row includes 87 people who were sentenced to death for murders committed when they were age 18, 19 or 20. That amounts to 12% of the 748 condemned inmates. So why draw the line at age 21? The most recent studies indicate that the brains of people under that age are still maturing, though there is no bright line on when that process ends. So it makes sense, at a minimum, to bar the execution of people who committed murder before age 21, and to ensure that courts consider individual traits and circumstances in deciding whether an older defendants actions merit the death penalty. Again, no criminal act by an individual should result in execution by the state, but if a death sentence is handed down, it should only be in cases in which the condemned is a fully fledged adult and able to fully understand actions and consequences. And again, this does not mean people should not be held accountable for crimes they commit under age 21, but that they should not be eligible for execution because, as Scorsone wrote, they are more likely than adults to underestimate the number, seriousness, and likelihood of risks involved in a given situation. The Kentucky appellate courts should uphold this standard, and other capital punishment states should adopt it. Human decency demands it. And with such reductions in the pool of the execution-eligible, the nation also would continue to evolve its standard of decency to eventually bar the barbaric practice altogether. Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com Follow my posts and re-tweets at @smartelle on Twitter On Tuesday, a Los Angeles City Council committee has an opportunity, finally, to give the go-ahead to a smart, well-conceived, affordable housing development in Boyle Heights. The development sits on a vacant one-acre lot on the corner of East 1st and Lorena streets. On one side is the venerable El Mercado shopping center and restaurant. On the other side, across the street, is a cemetery. Across another street, a Pizza Hut. Theres no question that the planned development would enhance the block. We desperately need projects like this. In a city with scarce affordable housing, a city where the homeless population has risen 20% since last year, this development would offer 49 residential units half going to homeless people and the rest to low-income veterans and families. It would also offer 10,000 square feet of commercial space. Advertisement And it has the blessing of the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, the L.A. City Planning Department, and the L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the land. A highly regarded nonprofit developer, A Community of Friends, was chosen by Metro to be the developer. City planning department professionals approved the developers environmental analysis, but the El Mercado owners have appealed it, saying the developers should go through a full environmental impact review. This is little more than a ploy to kill the project. Even with the modest amount of housing for the homeless in this project, it has still drawn opponents who just dont want housing for homeless people near them. We need community advocates and political leaders to coax people to drop their unfounded fears about this. There are supportive housing developments all around the county and they fit into their neighborhoods just as well as typical market-rate apartment buildings. Councilman Jose Huizar, who represents this area and also chairs the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, which will hear the El Mercado appeal on Tuesday, has been resistant to this project from the time it first appeared before the Metro board. When his PLUM committee took up this issue in May, he said that his objections were not NIMBYism. He said he felt ambushed by the Metro board for approving the project with changes that were not run by him first. I was appalled at the way it was pushed through, he said. Ok, that was more than four years ago (so it didnt get pushed anywhere fast) and a lot in the project has changed since the Metro board approval. Dora Gallo, the chief executive of A Community of Friends, has sought to incorporate suggestions and allay concerns all around. She increased the projects commercial space at Huizars offices request, made design changes to address the El Mercado owners concerns, and added a child-care facility and fitness space at the communitys request. Will everyone be pleased with it? Of course not. Nor should the developer have to appease everyone. This is a solid, attractive, much-needed project that has been approved by planning professionals and the neighborhood council. City voters have made it clear that they want to house homeless people. Last November, they approved Proposition HHH bond money that will build as many as 10,000 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless people across the city over the course of a decade. Can we just start with these 24 units for homeless people on Lorena Street? Huizar said in May that this is not the right location for this type of project. Why not? It has housing not just for homeless people but for veterans and families. It has commercial space. It has open space. This doesnt have to be a difficult call. Deny the appeal that will hold up the project. Let it finally proceed. carla.hall@latimes.com Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Had I read this article on April 1, I would have thought it was an April Fools piece. (Nothing to do with lynching, Aug 5) Being a Lynch, I was appalled and aghast at the proposal to change the name of Oregons Lynch View Elementary. This is political correctness on steroids. Gee, should I now shield my hand when signing a bill so as not to offend? Should I always add a parenthetical (Its just my last name; Im not a racist) addendum to my printed name on documents? Advertisement I hope saner heads prevail in this rewriting of history, but I fear the worst. John Lynch, West Hollywood .. To the editor: Instead of trying to sterilize institutions, the district should call the schools Patrick Lynch and Catherine Lynch to make it clear that Lynch is a surname while preserving the citys history. Michael Helperin, Los Angeles .. To the editor: As a proud Lynch of Irish ancestry, I was appalled at your story concerning Oregons Centennial School District possibly changing the names of three schools that honor my maiden name. It is unbelievable to me the current state to which political correctness now influences, not only our everyday lives, but also our national history. In the current climate, should a word or phrase offend anyone it is mandated that the word must be immediately removed from use in the English language. If this is not the absolute Orwellian insanity identified in the book 1984, then I dont know what is. I, for one, will continue to teach my children and grandchildren the ancestry and meaningful contributions those with the name Lynch made to better the world. And thank heavens the majority of Centennial/Lynch families think the same. Judy (Lynch) Selfridge-Thomas, Ventura Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook May you die in pain: California GOP congressman gets an earful at town hall Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) kicks off his Monday morning town hall in Chico. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) May you die in pain. That was the nastiest moment of Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfas early morning town hall in the Northern California town of Chico on Monday. The wish was uttered by an older man who criticized LaMalfa for voting for the House GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. He was also holding a pink sign that read Lackey for the Rich! ALSO: LaMalfa says the Russia investigation is a bunch of crap The open hostility and intransigence inside the Chico Elks Lodge came as the political divide in the country has grown more inflamed, with Trumps election unleashing a wave of both liberal activism and conservative empowerment. As a result, Washingtons deeply partisan fights over issues such as health care, immigration and environmental protections have followed members of Congress home, turning once sedate town halls into in-your-face venting sessions that in left-leaning California have Republican House members on the defensive. LaMalfa stood his ground on stage as person after person ripped into him for his votes and positions on healthcare and climate change, as well as for his unyielding support for President Trump. A few speakers asked LaMalfa to resign, including one dressed up as the Wicked Witch of the West Coast. Heather Calun dressed up as the Wicked Witch of the West Coast in protest. She wants LaMalfa to resign over his vote to repeal Obamacare. pic.twitter.com/rBZXAnjd2l Phil Willon (@philwillon) August 7, 2017 Most comments and questions during the hour-long town hall were fairly cordial, although they were laced with plenty of boos and catcalls. Norma Wilcox, a retired nurse who lives in Chico, also questioned LaMalfas healthcare vote. Wilcox told LaMalfa the House plan would take away healthcare for millions of Americans while providing tax breaks to the rich. I am open to new ideas, LaMalfa told her, describing the House GOP bill as a placeholder that everyone expected to be improved during negotiations with the Senate. (The Senates healthcare efforts now appear dead.) But the Richvale congressman, who represents Californias massive 1st Congressional District in the northeast corner of the state, said he will support only a new healthcare program that provides affordable coverage to middle-class Americans. LaMalfa said Obamacare is quickly become unaffordable and unsustainable, with premium costs rising and the number of insurance companies offering coverage declining. People across the board are being hurt by this, LaMalfa said. When shouts and boos rained down on him, he chastised the crowd saying, I have the mic folks. Yep, boo away. Ann Sisney of Chico told LaMalfa that her son, William, died of an opioid overdose two years ago. She held up a picture of the 19-year-old, asked the congressman to take it, and told him more people will die if GOP leadership in Congress gets its way on healthcare. These are life-and-death decisions that you are making, Sisney told him. LaMalfa assured her that Congress was working to find funds to address the nationwide opioid epidemic. The Republican congressman also raised the ire of the crowd when he was asked about climate change and the degraded air quality in this stretch of Northern California. I dont buy the idea that man-made activity is responsible, LaMalfa said bluntly. The crowd of several hundred did include some LaMalfa supporters, though most stayed silent. Ron Jones, 67, of Paradise said hes been to a few of LaMalfas town halls and all have been dominated by his critics. Most of the time people want to ... complain, said Jones, a self-described conservative, after the event ended. The people who support him are quietly in the background. LaMalfa does indeed have a lot of support in the district that also overwhelmingly voted for Trump over Hillary Clinton in last years presidential election. LaMalfa won his last election by almost 15%, and though he has attracted a few Democratic challengers, the district is not considered a battleground for 2018. Unlike many California Republican members of Congress, LaMalfa hasnt shied away from holding town halls, though its rarely a pleasant experience for him. He held one in Nevada City in March and another in April in Oroville. No other California Republicans are scheduled to hold town halls during their August recess. Near the end of Mondays town hall, a woman criticized LaMalfa for inviting only Christian pastors to provide invocations at his town halls and other events, and urged him to include religious leaders of all faiths. If you want to have your own town hall, you can invite whoever you like, LaMalfa told her. U.S. intelligence officials assess that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can be carried atop its missiles, according to media reports. That would mean North Korea has passed a crucial threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power. The story, reported by the Washington Post, cited unnamed U.S. intelligence officials who said the confidential analysis was completed last month by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. Advertisement Officials at the agency would not comment Tuesday. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence could not immediately be reached for comment. Separately, Japans defense ministry assessed in a report Tuesday that it is possible that North Korea has achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has developed nuclear warheads. ALSO Pences sensitivity to talk of 2020 speaks to White House insecurity President Trump is tasked with governing, but he keeps harping on these 7 things A clash over wet wipes is the latest front in D.C.'s battle for self-rule Californias top elections officer and 11 county registrars have been asked to hand over detailed voter registration records or face a federal lawsuit, a request that centers on new accusations that the records are inaccurate. The effort by the conservative-leaning organization Judicial Watch seeks an explanation for what its attorneys contend are official records that dont match the groups estimates of the legally eligible voting population in the counties, including Los Angeles County. We want the actual data, said Robert Popper, an attorney for the Washington, D.C.-based organization. Advertisement The effort was sharply criticized Tuesday by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who said he has yet to make a final decision on how to respond. Its bad math and dubious methodology, Padilla said of the accusations. Judicial Watch has recently attracted attention for its aggressive effort to gather emails from Hillary Clintons time as U.S. secretary of State, as well as documents related to the 2012 attack on the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya. The latest effort seeks information about two separate lists of registered voters. Like other states, California elections officials maintain both an active and inactive list of voters. In a letter sent to Padilla last week, the group charged California officials dont have an accurate record of eligible voters. The exact size of the alleged errors is unclear. Judicial Watch declined a request from the Los Angeles Times to provide the full details of its voter registration analysis. We may be in litigation shortly, Popper said when asked why the information wont be shared. Those details, however, are at the heart of the complaint. Judicial Watch alleges that adding together the active and inactive voter lists in the 11 counties produces a total number of voters significantly larger than the estimate of voting-age citizens calculated by the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey. The organization used the ACS five-year average for its baseline of eligible voters. The letter to Padilla claims that combined registration in the counties Imperial, Lassen, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Stanislaus and Yolo exceeds 100% of the eligible voting population. Popper said his group believes its important to include both active and inactive voters in the tally because inactive voters can show up and cast ballots. There are a lot of different ways that a system can be abused, he said. When you get a really big inactive list, like they have in California, its a sign that things arent going well. Dean Logan, the registrar of voters for Los Angeles County, countered that the two lists are quite different. He said the inactive voter list is more like a fail-safe to make sure that people are not administratively disenfranchised. Even then, elections officials argue the lists shouldnt be compared with ACS data, which are compiled with caveats about population accuracy. Voter registration is not a survey, Gail Pellerin, registrar of voters in Santa Cruz County, said in questioning Judicial Watchs methodology. We deal in real facts. Pellerin said Santa Cruz County has 44,172 names on its inactive list, and only 12 of them came forward to cast ballots last November. A voter on an inactive file who moves to a new residence must cast a provisional ballot which isnt counted until elections officials confirm the persons eligibility. In her county, Pellerin requires voters who are on the inactive list due to not voting to recite their entire address and sign new registration forms under penalty of perjury. We want our voter file to be as accurate as possible, she said. Political Road Map: Californias big change in elections is off to a rocky start for 2018 Rules governing the list of inactive voters in each of Californias 58 counties are dictated by both state and federal election law. Elections officials arent easily able to discard the registration of voters who stop casting ballots. Last year, a long-awaited statewide voter registration database went online that allows counties to quickly maintain records that can track the movement or death of voters. The Judicial Watch allegations come on the heels of intense debate over President Trumps unproven claims of massive 2016 voter fraud in California and other states. Those comments led to the creation of a presidential commission on voter fraud, whose leaders have asked for similar details names, addresses and birth dates regarding California voters as the new legal complaint. Padilla, who has twice refused to give the information to the presidential panel, said he doesnt believe the new allegations are a coincidence. To me, its clearly part of a concerted effort, a continued attack on voting rights and setting the stage for the Trump administration to roll back voting rights, he said. Judicial Watchs letter warned a federal lawsuit is possible if active and inactive voter data arent turned over next week. Padilla said he hasnt yet decided how, or when, to respond to the request. john.myers@latimes.com Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast. ALSO: Trumps voter fraud panel again asks for California data and again, the answer is no More Californians will vote by mail, and not at polling places, under a new law Updates on California politics UPDATES: 4:15 p.m.: This article was updated with an additional quote from Robert Popper. This article was originally published at 3:45 p.m. Trump promotes sons Justice with Judge Jeanine interview President Trump promoted via Twitter an interview with his son Eric Trump just before it aired Saturday night on Fox News Justice with Judge Jeanine. Eric Trump on @JudgeJeanine on @FoxNews now! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 Eric Trump called into the show to defend his father from criticism prompted by the first government shutdown in more than four years, as well as a series of Womens March events that saw protesters in dozens of cities take to the streets to oppose the presidents policies. .@EricTrump joined me over the phone from Mar-a-Lago ! pic.twitter.com/Hro3TzUW52 Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) January 21, 2018 Speaking to host Jeannine Piro who is reportedly an old friend of the presidents Eric Trump offered effusive praise for his father, ticking off glowing statistics to illustrate the strength of the U.S. economy and gains against Islamic State fighters overseas. My fathers working like no ones ever worked before to bring back this country and to fulfill his promise to make America great again, said the executive vice president of the Trump Organization. He also repeated a sentiment recently expressed on Twitter by his father: That Democratic lawmakers forced a government shutdown on the anniversary of the presidents inauguration in a bid to distract from his achievements. You look at this whole government shutdown, and the only reason they want to shut down government is to distract and to stop his momentum, Eric Trump said. I mean, my father has had incredible momentum. Hes gotten more done in one year than arguably any president in history. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets: a perfect day for all Women to March President Trump hailed the nationwide Womens March gatherings Saturday. On Twitter, the president called it a perfect day for all Women to March, seeming to imply that those taking part were celebrating his administrations accomplishments: Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Participants in the marches across the United States were actually seeking to deliver a powerful rebuke to Trumps policies and mount a crucial mobilization for this years midterm elections. But Trump continued to tout his administrations unprecedented success in tweets sent later in the day: Unprecedented success for our Country, in so many ways, since the Election. Record Stock Market, Strong on Military, Crime, Borders, & ISIS, Judicial Strength & Numbers, Lowest Unemployment for Women & ALL, Massive Tax Cuts, end of Individual Mandate - and so much more. Big 2018! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The Trump Administration has terminated more UNNECESSARY Regulation, in just twelve months, than any other Administration has terminated during their full term in office, no matter what the length. The good news is, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO COME! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 In addition to the roll call of major American cities where womens marches took place including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta protesters also raised their voices in suburbs and small towns, reflecting the aim of coalescing a broad-based movement on the anniversary of Trumps inauguration to oppose the presidents stance on immigration, healthcare, racial divides and an array of other issues. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump calls shutdown a present from Democrats By Associated Press President Trump is blaming Democrats for the government shutdown tweeting that they wanted to give him a nice present to mark the one-year anniversary of his inauguration: This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 That comes after Senate Democrats late Friday killed a GOP-written House-passed measure that would have kept agencies functioning for four weeks. Democrats were seeking a stopgap bill of just a few days in hopes that would build pressure on Republicans, and they were opposing a three-week alternative offered by GOP leaders. Democrats have insisted they would back legislation reopening the government once theres a bipartisan agreement to preserve protections against deporting about 700,000 immigrants known as Dreamers who arrived in the United States illegally as children. Trump on Saturday accused Democrats of holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration: Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Cant let that happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Democrats are laying fault for the shutdown on Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress and the White House and have struggled with building internal consensus. In a series of tweets hours after the shutdown began, the president tried to make the case for Americans to elect more Republicans to Congress in November in order to power through this mess: Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 He noted that there are 51 Republicans in the 100-member Senate, and it often takes 60 votes to advance legislation: For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 #AMERICA FIRST! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The stopgap spending measure won 50 votes in the Senate, including five from Democrats. Although the House and Senate were in session Saturday, it was unclear whether lawmakers would take any votes of consequence. Trump had been set to leave Friday afternoon for a fundraiser at his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., where he intended to mark the inauguration anniversary. But he remained in Washington and ended up scrapping his plans to attend the Saturday fundraiser. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet casts doubt on likelihood of averting shutdown President Trump appeared to cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown Friday night in a tweet. Trump also sought to blame Democrats for what would be the first shutdown since 2013. His message came just hours before the midnight deadline by which lawmakers must pass a measure to fund government agencies, or some operations will cease. Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Despite last-minute negotiations Friday between Trump and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Congress remained deadlocked over a spending bill and the federal government was headed toward a shutdown at midnight. Senate Democrats joined by some GOP deficit hawks and immigration allies were set to filibuster a stopgap funding bill approved by the House on Thursday. A Senate vote was planned for 10 p.m. Eastern, and even White House officials predicted it would fail. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Lisa Mascaro. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump signs surveillance law after confusing tweets By Associated Press President Trump on Friday signed a bill into law to renew a foreign intelligence surveillance program, announcing his action in the latest in a series of confusing tweets about the spy program: Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 19, 2018 Trumps tweet on Jan. 11 created chaos in the House just before it voted to reauthorize what is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He linked the intelligence program to a dossier that alleges his presidential campaign had ties to Russia. That caused people to wonder if he didnt support the program that allows U.S. spy agencies to collect intelligence on foreign targets abroad. Trump and other Republicans have alleged that Obama administration officials improperly shared the identities of Trump presidential transition team members mentioned in intelligence reports. Democrats say there is no evidence that happened. Shortly before the House vote, and after conferring with House Speaker Paul Ryan, Trump did an apparent about-face. This vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land, he tweeted. We need it! Get smart! In his tweet announcing that he had just signed the bill, Trump wrote: This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! There are no obvious links between the dossier Trump spoke of, which includes salacious but unsubstantiated allegations against him, and the reauthorization of the spying program, or between the program and Trumps oft-repeated claims that the Obama administration conducted surveillance on Trump Tower during the presidential campaign. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In tweet, Trump suggests that Pennsylvania trip is a political one The White House press office was once again forced to walk back a tweet from President Trump on Thursday morning after he described a trip to Pennsylvania later in the day as a political one a statement that would force the Republican Party, not taxpayers, to pay for the journey. The White House had said Trump was going to an industrial equipment company outside of Pittsburgh to highlight the good economy and new tax cuts, making it an official, policy-oriented event. It was widely assumed that the trip had a political cast the area is holding a special election to fill a congressional seat vacated by a Republican who resigned. Trump, by his tweet, seemed to confirm that politics was the whole purpose: Will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE, running for Congress in a Special Election (March 13). Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 Trump later shared via Twitter a pair of video clips of his speech at H&K Equipment, in which he touted the tax cuts he signed into law just before Christmas and tried to turn the conversation back to his accomplishments after weeks dominated by distractions, including questions about his mental health and comments about immigration that some considered racist: Departing Pittsburgh now, where it was my great honor to stand with our incredible workers, and to show the world that AMERICA is back - and we are coming back bigger and better and stronger than ever before! pic.twitter.com/kWPgylqFzj Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 AMERICA will once again be a NATION that thinks big, dreams bigger, and always reaches for the stars. YOU are the ones who will shape Americas destiny. YOU are the ones who will restore our prosperity. And YOU are the ones who are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! #MAGA pic.twitter.com/f2abNK47II Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 The Republican National Committee, rather than the White House, is supposed to pay for political travel so that taxpayers are not financing party activities; for trips that combine policy and politics, parties have split the cost under past presidents. Neither the RNC nor the White House responded to emails sent Thursday asking who would pay. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement later Thursday suggesting that taxpayers would foot the bill. She insisted that Trump would be conducting government business while in Pennsylvania. Read More This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets praise of Bob Dole after awarding him Congressional Gold Medal By Associated Press Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole knew the art of the deal before President Trump published the 1987 book of the same name. The two shared a stage under the Capitol dome Wednesday as Dole, 94, accepted Congress highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, for his World War II service and decades of work in the House and Senate. Trump later praised Dole in a tweet, attaching to his message a video composed of clips from the ceremony: Today, we witnessed an incredible moment in history the presentation of Congress highest civilian honor to our friend, and true AMERICAN HERO, Bob Dole. #CongressionalGoldMedal pic.twitter.com/qNQqDLRmCk Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2018 At the ceremony, the president saluted Dole as a patriot and gave tribute to Doles struggle as a veteran who worked his way back from a grievous shoulder wound he suffered in Italy. He knows about grit, said Trump. But it was Doles penchant for working across the aisle that earned him his latest award, according to the legislation. Bob Dole was known for his ability to work across the aisle and embrace practical bipartisanship, reads the legislation Trump signed in September. Some of the awards 300 recipients include George Washington and Mother Teresa, according to the Congressional Research Service. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts report that seeks to link terrorism cases with immigration By Joseph Tanfani The Trump administration on Tuesday released a report attempting to link terrorism with migration, arguing that it was evidence of the need to dramatically reshape the nations immigration system. New report from DOJ & DHS shows that nearly 3 in 4 individuals convicted of terrorism-related charges are foreign-born. We have submitted to Congress a list of resources and reforms.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 ....we need to keep America safe, including moving away from a random chain migration and lottery system, to one that is merit-based. https://t.co/7PtoSFK1n2 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The report, ordered by President Trump in an executive order last year, said that 75% of the 549 people convicted of terrorism charges since 9/11 were born outside the U.S. Administration officials called that a sign that the U.S. needs to scrap its policy of family preferences for visas, which they call chain migration, and a diversity visa lottery program. But the report did not specify how many if any of the convicted terrorists entered the country through those means. It also did not detail how many of the convictions were related to attacks or plans in the U.S. versus overseas and how many involved people who went to fight overseas for the Islamic State or another terrorist group. Those details were not available, officials said. The report, due last year, is being released in a highly charged moment in the immigration debate, as Trump and some Republicans in Congress seek tough new border and immigration measures in return for a deal protecting the 690,000 people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Trump also fired off a pair of tweets on the topic earlier Tuesday: We must have Security at our VERY DANGEROUS SOUTHERN BORDER, and we must have a great WALL to help protect us, and to help stop the massive inflow of drugs pouring into our country! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The Democrats want to shut down the Government over Amnesty for all and Border Security. The biggest loser will be our rapidly rebuilding Military, at a time we need it more than ever. We need a merit based system of immigration, and we need it now! No more dangerous Lottery. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The focus of our immigration system should be assimilation, a senior administration official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition that his name not be used. He said the nation should give priority to potential immigrants who speak English, who have an education and those who are committed to supporting our values not family members of people already here. The official said the timing of the report was coincidental. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets welcome to president of Kazakhstan By Associated Press President Trump said Tuesday that he and the president of Kazakhstan are united in a shared determination to prevent North Korea from threatening the world with nuclear devastation. Trump and President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed North Korea along with other issues during meetings at the White House. Today, it was my honor to welcome President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan to the @WhiteHouse! pic.twitter.com/TerYFZViax Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 Trump said Kazakhstan, once part of the Soviet Union, is a valued partner in our efforts to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. Together we are determined to prevent the North Korean regime from threatening the world with nuclear devastation, he said, as both presidents addressed journalists between meetings. Nazarbayev noted that his country once had one of the worlds largest nuclear arsenals but voluntarily gave it up after the Soviet Union collapsed. He said his country is in talks with Iran, which was the focus of a global deal that lifted some economic sanctions in exchange for Irans curbing its nuclear program. Trump has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal and threatened last week to pull out soon unless other countries fix what he says are terrible flaws. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump falsely claims his approval rating among black Americans has doubled By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump lashed out at the news media Tuesday morning in a tweet denouncing the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion among members of his campaign team. Do you notice the Fake News Mainstream Media never likes covering the great and record setting economic news, but rather talks about anything negative or that can be turned into the negative. The Russian Collusion Hoax is dead, except as it pertains to the Dems. Public gets it! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the presidents tweet, but it appeared as though he was watching Fox & Friends. A short time later, Trump tweeted a headline from a report that aired during that mornings episode: 90% of Trump 2017 news coverage was negative -and much of it contrived!@foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The segment focused on the latest survey results from conservative watchdog Media Research Center, which purportedly analyzed the evening news broadcasts on ABC, CBS and NBC from Jan. 20 to Dec. 31 and found that 90% of the statements made about Trump were negative. Study: 90% of Trump media coverage in 2017 was negative pic.twitter.com/vbrwup4Drg FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 16, 2018 But believe it or not, through all this negative coverage, they did a survey of 600,000 people about how black America views this president, co-host Brian Kilmeade said. His numbers have actually doubled in approval. Trump highlighted the statement in another tweet: Unemployment for Black Americans is the lowest ever recorded. Trump approval ratings with Black Americans has doubled. Thank you, and it will get even (much) better! @FoxNews Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 But its not true. The claim appears to have originated from a misreading of data from the online polling firm SurveyMonkey, according to factcheck.org. The firm polled 600,000 Americans in 2017 and found that Trumps approval rating among blacks actually dropped from 23% early in his presidency to about 17%, as of the week ending Jan. 3. Some conservative outlets, including Breitbart, produced an average from those and other SurveyMonkey figures and compared them to the scores Trump received from black voters in the 2016 exit polls. That methodology is not sound. And since the statistics measure different things, the comparison is misleading. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump goes after senator who surfaced his immigration remark By Associated Press President Trump turned his Twitter torment Monday on the Democrat in the room where immigration talks with lawmakers took a famously coarse turn, saying Sen. Richard J. Durbin misrepresented what he had said about African nations and Haiti and, in the process, undermined the trust needed to make a deal. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting, Trump tweeted, using a nickname to needle the Illinois senator. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 Trump was referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects young people who came to the United States illegally as children. Members of Congress from both parties are trying to strike a deal that Trump would support to extend that protection. Trump also cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching an agreement in tweets sent earlier Monday: Statement by me last night in Florida: Honestly, I dont think the Democrats want to make a deal. They talk about DACA, but they dont want to help..We are ready, willing and able to make a deal but they dont want to. They dont want security at the border, they dont want..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 ...to stop drugs, they want to take money away from our military which we cannot do. My standard is very simple, AMERICA FIRST & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 On a day of remembrance for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Trump spent time at his golf course with no public events, bypassing the acts of service that his predecessors staged in honor of the civil rights leader. Instead, Trump dedicated his weekly address to Kings memory, saying Kings dream and Americas are the same: A world where people are judged by who they are, not how they look or where they come from. That message was a distinct counterpoint to words attributed to Trump by Durbin and others at a meeting last week, when the question of where immigrants come from seemed at the forefront of Trumps concerns. Some participants and others familiar with the conversation said Trump challenged immigration from shithole countries of Africa and disparaged Haiti as well. Without explicitly denying using that word, Trump lashed out at the Democratic senator, who said Trump uttered it on several occasions. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks pundit for laudatory Fox & Friends spot By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump thanked Fox News personality Stuart Varney after Varney praised Trump during an appearance on Fox & Friends. In a pair of tweets early Sunday, Trump quoted from Varneys commentary, in which he argued that Trump deserves more credit for the booming economy. The pundit, who also hosts a show on Fox Business Network, cited moves by some corporations to raise workers minimum wage or pay out one-time bonuses in response to the GOP tax cuts. President Trump is not getting the credit he deserves for the economy. Tax Cut bonuses to more than 2,000,000 workers. Most explosive Stock Market rally that weve seen in modern times. 18,000 to 26,000 from Election, and grounded in profitability and growth. All Trump, not 0... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 ...big unnecessary regulation cuts made it all possible (among many other things). President Trump reversed the policies of President Obama, and reversed our economic decline. Thank you Stuart Varney. @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 Varney was reacting to a quote from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who on Thursday called the bonuses handed down to workers pathetic in comparison to the gains corporations are expected to see from the tax cuts. In terms of the bonus that corporate America received versus the crumbs that they are giving to workers to kind of put the schmooze on is so pathetic, Pelosi told reporters. Its pathetic. Varney shot back Sunday that the bonuses, along with explosive stock market growth, are enriching all Americans. This is a huge shot in the arm, its the result of this tax cut deal and I think President Trump should get the credit for it, he said. .@Varneyco Sets the economic record straight after Nancy Pelosi calls U.S. mass bonuses crumbs pic.twitter.com/BvjIHGm3HE FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 14, 2018 The sweeping tax plan passed last month lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and cuts personal income taxes. Analysts say the benefits will largely flow to corporations and the wealthy, as theyre more likely to be in positions to share in corporate profits. For instance, Wells Fargo & Co., which responded to news of the tax overhaul by announcing it will raise workers pay to at least $15 an hour, also reported that it expects to pay an effective tax rate of 19% this year, down from about 31% in previous years. That should amount to tax savings of more than $3 billion annually. On average, middle-class Americans are expected to see a very small tax cut in the near term and a tax increase after 2025, when all of the tax cuts for individuals expire. The tax cuts for corporations, however, are permanent. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer James Rufus Koren. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts MLK proclamation in tweet, but ceremony is overshadowed by reports of racist remarks By Associated Press President Trump signed a proclamation Friday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, noting the contributions of a great American hero. Today, it was my great honor to proclaim January 15, 2018, as Martin Luther King Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service activities in honor of Dr. King's life and legacy. pic.twitter.com/samlJsz1Nt Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 Overshadowing the event was mounting backlash from Trumps comments during a private meeting with lawmakers the day before. A short time after the meeting, which was called to discuss a possible immigration deal, reports emerged that Trump had asked participants why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, the Senates second-ranking Democrat, appeared to confirm those reports on Friday. Trump did not respond Friday to several questions about the incident, including whether he actually used vulgar language to describe African nations, or if he is racist. The president said at the White House that love was central to the slain civil rights leader. Trump said the nation celebrates King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or place of our birth, we are all created equal by God. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump criticizes Democrats in tweet calling for stricter immigration rules President Trump hit out at Democrats on Thursday night in a tweet calling for stricter immigration rules. Trump wrote that members of the party seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the border with Mexico: The Democrats seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the Southern Border, risking thousands of lives in the process. It is my duty to protect the lives and safety of all Americans. We must build a Great Wall, think Merit and end Lottery & Chain. USA! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the tweet. Earlier Thursday, Trump rejected a bipartisan compromise to resolve the standoff over so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children but have temporary permits to work, attend school or serve in the military. The president drew widespread condemnation after reports emerged that he had asked participants in an Oval Office meeting about the proposal why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts bill aimed at improving border screening for fentanyl By Associated Press President Trump signed legislation Wednesday aimed at giving Customs and Border Protection agents additional screening devices and other tools to stop the flow of illicit drugs. Speaking at a surprise bill-signing ceremony while flanked by members of Congress from both parties in the Oval Office, Trump described the bill as a significant step forward in the fight against powerful opioids such as fentanyl, which he called our new big scourge. He echoed that language Thursday in a tweet: Yesterday, I signed the #INTERDICTAct (H.R. 2142) with bipartisan members of Congress to help end the flow of drugs into our country. Together, we are committed to doing everything we can to combat the deadly scourge of drug addiction and overdose in the United States! pic.twitter.com/ELZvFol5Lo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 The legislation will pay for new portable and fixed chemical screening devices to detect and intercept fentanyl at ports of entry and in the mail, along with other laboratory equipment and personnel, including scientists. Trump has made fighting the opioid epidemic a centerpiece of his administration, though critics say he hasnt dedicated nearly enough money or resources to make a difference. Trump suggested during his remarks on Wednesday that hed like to take a more aggressive approach to the drug crisis but the countrys not ready for what he has in mind. So were going to sign this. And its a step. And it feels like a very giant step, but unfortunately, its not going to be a giant step, because no matter what you do, this is something that keeps pouring in, he said. And were going to find the answer. There is an answer. I think I actually know the answer, but Im not sure the countrys ready for it yet, he added. Does anybody know what I mean? I think so. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump applauds news that Toyota-Mazda plant is slated for Alabama By Associated Press Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda on Wednesday announced plans to build a mammoth, $1.6-billion joint-venture plant in Alabama that will eventually employ about 4,000 people. President Trump lauded the news in a tweet: Cutting taxes and simplifying regulations makes America the place to invest! Great news as Toyota and Mazda announce they are bringing 4,000 JOBS and investing $1.6 BILLION in Alabama, helping to further grow our economy! pic.twitter.com/Kcg8IVH6iA Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Good news: Toyota and Mazda announce giant new Huntsville, Alabama, plant which will produce over 300,000 cars and SUVs a year and employ 4000 people. Companies are coming back to the U.S. in a very big way. Congratulations Alabama! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 Several states had competed for the project, which will be able to turn out 300,000 vehicles per year and produce the Toyota Corolla compact car for North America and a new small SUV from Mazda. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and company executives held a news conference to announce that the facility is coming to the Huntsville area not far from the Tennessee line. Production is expected to begin by 2021. The decision to pick Alabama is another example of foreign-based automakers building U.S. factories in the South. To entice manufacturers, Southern states have used a combination of lucrative incentive packages, low-cost labor and a pro-business labor environment, because the United Auto Workers union is stronger in Northern states. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump highlights call for border wall in tweets on visit with Norways prime minister By Associated Press President Trump praised Norways prime minister in a tweet on Wednesday after Erna Solberg became the first foreign leader to visit with the president in 2018. Today, it was my great honor to welcome Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway to the @WhiteHouse - a great friend and ally of the United States! Joint press conference: https://t.co/qWR1BhfQZI pic.twitter.com/PJvwznjRCO Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Trump also shared via Twitter a video clip of a joint news conference he held with Solberg on Wednesday afternoon. In the clip, Trump responds to a question from a reporter by saying there can be no bipartisan immigration deal absent funding for his long-promised wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been seeking a solution for hundreds of thousands of so-called Dreamers, young people who were brought to the United States as children and are living here illegally. The United States needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. The safety and security of our country is #1! pic.twitter.com/4CFzQXb5aS Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 We need the wall for security, we need the wall for safety, we need the wall for stopping the drugs from pouring in, Trump said Wednesday. Any solution has to include the wall because without the wall, it all doesnt work. On Tuesday, Trump drew widespread attention when he said during a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers that he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. That contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill in subsequent tweets and public comments. Read More This post contains reporting from Los Angeles Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump praises Cabinet in tweet touting meeting By Associated Press President Trump promoted a meeting of his Cabinet on Wednesday, sharing via Twitter a link to a video of the session posted on the White House YouTube account. In his tweet, Trump thanked his Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country and wrote that the last year has been one of monumental achievement. I want to thank my @Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country. 2017 was a year of monumental achievement and we look forward to the year ahead. Together, we are delivering results and MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! https://t.co/ptXa1hAPwW pic.twitter.com/yv6RALkQf3 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The former reality television star continued to dispense accolades at the meeting Wednesday, greeting reporters in the Cabinet Room by saying: Welcome back to the studio. Then he proceeded to relive a Cabinet Room session from the prior day, when he had allowed reporters and TV cameras to stick around for much of his meeting with a bipartisan group of legislators on the thorny issue of immigration. It was a tremendous meeting. Actually, it was reported as incredibly good. And my performance you know, some of them called it a performance I consider it work, Trump said. Trump went on to say he had received letters from news anchors calling it one of the greatest meetings theyve ever witnessed. He added that the media will ultimately support Trump in the end, because theyre going to say, if Trump doesnt win in three years, theyre all out of business. Asked for examples of letters received from news anchors, the White House said it had received private communications. It also offered a series of positive on-air comments and tweets from journalists about the unusual access to the meeting. During his remarks, Trump swung from praising his own meeting coverage to telling journalists that they were dependent on his presidency for ratings to threatening a strong look at libel laws. Still, Trump thanked the journalists in front of him, joking: Youve gotten very familiar with this room. I appreciate your nice comments yesterday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump blasts DACA ruling in tweet calling courts broken and unfair By Lisa Mascaro President Trump denounced the federal courts Wednesday as broken and unfair after a district judge in San Francisco issued a nationwide injunction keeping protections in place for so-called Dreamers. Trump tweeted: It just shows everyone how broken and unfair our Court System is when the opposing side in a case (such as DACA) always runs to the 9th Circuit and almost always wins before being reversed by higher courts. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 On Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco temporarily blocked the Trump administrations decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, which has protected from deportation some 700,000 people who came to the country illegally as children. Alsup granted a request by the state of California, the University of California and other plaintiffs to stop Trump from ending DACA on March 5. The administrations decision to end DACA, which was announced in September, was based on a flawed legal analysis, Alsup wrote in his decision. Dreamers would be irreparably harmed if their DACA protections, which allow them to live and work legally in the U.S., were stripped away before the courts had a chance to fully consider their claims, he ruled. The action is the mirror image of a ruling in 2015 by a federal judge in Texas who ruled in favor of that state when it sought to block President Obama from expanding DACA to include the parents of Dreamers. Trump administration officials praised that judicial ruling. By contrast, they sharply criticized Alsups decision. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks lawmakers for productive immigration meeting, says deal must include border wall President Trump thanked a bipartisan group of lawmakers for participating in a meeting on immigration legislation on Tuesday. Much of the discussion involved so-called Dreamers, an estimated 700,000 young people who were brought to the country illegally as children and are now facing deportation. In a tweet, Trump wrote that there was strong agreement to negotiate a bill to protect Dreamers, as well as put into place some of the reforms favored by Republicans. Thanks to all of the Republican and Democratic lawmakers for todays very productive meeting on immigration reform. There was strong agreement to negotiate a bill that deals with border security, chain migration, lottery and DACA. https://t.co/SdqAQ3aL3z pic.twitter.com/8DYHZHspAy Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 The most notable exchange of the meeting came when Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the San Francisco Democrat, asked Trump whether he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. Yeah, I would like to do it, Trump responded. The statement drew widespread attention because it contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump later backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill, tweeting that a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico must be part of any deal: As I made very clear today, our country needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Pressure has been mounting for Congress to broker an immigration deal by Jan. 19 as part of a must-pass budget package to fund the government. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks officers and veterans in tweets President Trump doled out a slew of accolades Tuesday via Twitter. He thanked the nations law enforcement officers, including in his message a hashtag denoting a day of appreciation organized by a national support group for law enforcement families. On behalf of the American people, THANK YOU to our incredible law enforcement officers. As President of the United States - I will fight for you, and I will never, ever let you down. Now, more than ever, we must support the men and women in blue! #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/Qb4uxB4JRm Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trump later expressed gratitude for federal immigration agents, in particular: .@ICEgov HSI agents and ERO officers, on behalf of an entire Nation, THANK YOU for what you are doing 24/7/365 to keep fellow Americans SAFE. Everyone is so grateful!#LawEnforcementAppreciationDay President @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/HXCpTlruVo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The president thanked veterans as he cited his administrations efforts to curb the number of veteran suicides by improving mental health treatment for the high-risk group: Today, it was my great honor to sign a new Executive Order to ensure Veterans have the resources they need as they transition back to civilian life. We must ensure that our HEROES are given the care and support they so richly deserve! https://t.co/0MdP9DDIAS pic.twitter.com/LP2a8KCBAp Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trumps tweet included photos of the president signing an executive order Tuesday directing the secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to provide seamless access to mental health and suicide prevention resources for 12 months for members leaving the armed forces. Also on Tuesday, Trump touted a law he signed the day before designating the birthplace of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. a national historic park: It was my great honor to sign H.R. 267, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act, which redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. https://t.co/Qe0b6HBFTY pic.twitter.com/QTgaqTawPT Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 And he thanked House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) for sharing a video compilation comprised of clips of politicians and commentators praising the GOPs tax cut bill: Thank you @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy! Couldnt agree w/you more. TOGETHER, we are #MAGA https://t.co/QaxtqpyXTR Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump hails tax bill in tweets recapping speech to farmers By Associated Press Connecting with rural Americans, President Trump on Monday hailed his tax overhaul as a victory for family farmers. Farm country is Gods country, Trump told the annual convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Trump became the first president in a quarter-century to address the federations convention. His Southern swing also included a stop in Atlanta for the national college football championship game. Cant wait to be back in the amazing state of Tennessee to address the 99th American @FarmBureau Federations Annual Convention in Nashville! #AFBF18 On my way now - join me LIVE at 4:00pmE: https://t.co/QaljAqekdD. pic.twitter.com/Wm7Io0hYT8 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Joined by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and a group of Tennessee lawmakers, Trump said most of the benefits of the tax legislation are going to working families, small businesses, and who the family farmer. The package Trump signed into law last month provides generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and more modest reductions for middle- and low-income individuals and families. In every decision we make, we are honoring Americas PROUD FARMING LEGACY. Years of crushing taxes, crippling regs, & corrupt politics left our communities hurting, our economy stagnant, & millions of hardworking Americans COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN. But they are not forgotten ANYMORE! pic.twitter.com/MdYS7xnukQ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The president vastly inflated the value of the package in his speech, citing a total of $5.5 trillion in tax cuts, with most of those benefits going to working families, small businesses and who? The family farmer. The estimated value of the tax cuts is actually $1.5 trillion for families and businesses because of cuts in deductions and the use of other steps to generate offsetting tax revenue. We have been working every day to DELIVER for Americas Farmers just as they work every day to deliver FOR US. #AFBF18 pic.twitter.com/QDH7fvFkZ7 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 From Nashville, Trump traveled to Atlanta to watch Alabamas Crimson Tide and Georgias Bulldogs face off Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship. We are fighting for our farmers, for our country, and for our GREAT AMERICAN FLAG. We want our flag respected - and we want our NATIONAL ANTHEM respected also! pic.twitter.com/16eOLXg6Fi Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Before departing for the game, Trump referenced his ongoing defense of the American flag and the national anthem, saying there was enough space for people to express their views. We love our flag and we love our anthem, and we want to keep it that way, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet hails drop in unemployment rate for African Americans By Associated Press President Trump touted a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans on Monday in a tweet. African American unemployment is the lowest ever recorded in our country. The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped a full point in the last year and is close to the lowest in recorded history. Dems did nothing for you but get your vote! #NeverForget @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The rate fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Trump also hailed the development via Twitter on Saturday. His latest tweet on the topic came about an hour after it was discussed during an episode of Fox & Friends, according to Mediaite. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump talks up the economy and dresses down the media in Sunday tweets With President Trump cheering from the sidelines, the White House on Sunday pressed its defense of the presidents fitness to govern, as fired former aide Stephen K. Bannon reversed course and apologized for his role in a new books explosive portrait of Trump. The presidents critics, meanwhile, said Trumps stream of taunts and insults in response to the book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, released last week served only to underscore the authors unsettling portrayal of Trumps year-old presidency, depicting a leader whose own aides consider him childish, ignorant and dangerously erratic. Trump provided more ammunition Sunday morning, as he continued to attack the book via Twitter while preparing to depart Camp David for the White House: Leaving Camp David for the White House. Great meetings with the Cabinet and Military on many very important subjects including Border Security & the desperately needed Wall, the ever increasing Drug and Opioid Problem, Infrastructure, Military, Budget, Trade and DACA. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Ive had to put up with the Fake News from the first day I announced that I would be running for President. Now I have to put up with a Fake Book, written by a totally discredited author. Ronald Reagan had the same problem and handled it well. So will I! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 The most vehement defense of Trump on Sunday came from senior advisor Stephen Miller, a onetime Bannon acolyte who distanced himself from his former mentor. In a combative appearance Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, Miller called the book grotesque and writer Michael Wolff the garbage author of a garbage book. Trump is known to closely monitor aides televised performances in putting forth his case, and he gleefully weighed in within moments of Millers televised clash with host Jake Tapper. CNN has long been a particular target of Trumps ire. Jake Tapper of Fake News CNN just got destroyed in his interview with Stephen Miller of the Trump Administration. Watch the hatred and unfairness of this CNN flunky! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trumps reaction, however, seemed to bolster Tappers on-air depiction of Miller as using his appearance on the show to play to the president rather than addressing questions put to him. I get it theres one viewer that you care about, the host said exasperatedly after Miller turned the discussion repeatedly to negative news coverage of the president while deflecting specific queries. Later on Twitter, Trump took up two themes that have been prevalent on his social media feeds recently. The president again went after the news media, tweeting that the recipients of his self-proclaimed most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year, which he promised earlier in the week to announce on Monday, would actually be revealed the following Wednesday: The Fake News Awards, those going to the most corrupt & biased of the Mainstream Media, will be presented to the losers on Wednesday, January 17th, rather than this coming Monday. The interest in, and importance of, these awards is far greater than anyone could have anticipated! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trump later lauded a New York Post opinion piece that compared him favorably with his predecessor, President Obama, as well as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. In quoting the op-ed, Trump initally misspelled consequential as consensual, but he deleted those tweets and re-sent the messages. His is turning out to be an enormously consequential presidency. So much so that, despite my own frustration over his missteps, there has never been a day when I wished Hillary Clinton were president. Not one. Indeed, as Trumps accomplishments accumulate, the mere thought of... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 ...Clinton in the WH, doubling down on Barack Obamas failed policies, washes away any doubts that America made the right choice. This was truly a change election and the changes Trump is bringing are far-reaching & necessary. Thank you Michael Goodwin! https://t.co/4fHNcx2Ydg Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Trump also continued talking up the economy, which has been enjoying a period of strong gains. The Stock Market has been creating tremendous benefits for our country in the form of not only Record Setting Stock Prices, but present and future Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Seven TRILLION dollars of value created since our big election win! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 In addition to Miller, other senior administration officials made the rounds of Sunday news talk shows to decry the claims made in Wolffs book. CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Wolffs characterization of Trump as averse to digesting classified briefing material was ludicrous, and the ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, insisted that that those around Trump love their country and respect their president. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Responding to book that mocks his intelligence, Trump tweets hes like, really smart By Tracy Wilkinson President Trump declared himself a very stable genius on Twitter on Saturday and later in a televised news conference called the author of a book that questioned his mental fitness a fraud. His comments came on a bone-cold day at Camp David during a weekend retreat with top administration officials and Republican congressional leaders strategizing on the years legislative agenda, including matters such as infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and national security. Now that Russian collusion, after one year of intense study, has proven to be a total hoax on the American public, the Democrats and their lapdogs, the Fake News Mainstream Media, are taking out the old Ronald Reagan playbook and screaming mental stability and intelligence..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius....and a very stable genius at that! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Still, Trumps explosive rebuttal to author Michael Wolffs claims not only opened the day, but it also ensured the presidents capability to fill the highest office in the land was a topic that would not go away. In his early-morning tweets, Trump said two of his greatest assets have been mental stability, and being, like, really smart. He noted that his former Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, played these cards [about competence] very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In morning tweets, Trump touts job numbers and takes digs at news media By Associated Press President Trump used Twitter on Saturday morning to tout a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans. He also used the tweets as an opportunity to take digs at media outlets whose past coverage he has found to be critical. The African American unemployment rate fell to 6.8%, the lowest rate in 45 years. I am so happy about this News! And, in the Washington Post (of all places), headline states, Trumps first year jobs numbers were very, very good. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The unemployment rate for African Americans fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Still, the rate for black workers remains well above those for whites and some other groups, something experts attribute in large part to decades of discrimination and disadvantages. Robust job creation has lowered unemployment for all Americans. U.S. employers added nearly 2.1 million jobs in 2017 the seventh straight year that hiring has topped 2 million. In his tweet, Trump praised a report that noted the numbers, touting the fact that it appeared in the Washington Post (of all places). Minutes later, Trump renewed his attack on an ABC News reporter who was suspended last month after filing an erroneous report on Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security advisor. Brian Ross, the reporter who made a fraudulent live newscast about me that drove the Stock Market down 350 points (billions of dollars), was suspended for a month but is now back at ABC NEWS in a lower capacity. He is no longer allowed to report on Trump. Should have been fired! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The reporter, Brian Ross, was reportedly reassigned within ABC News upon returning from his unpaid suspension. But on Saturday, Trump wrote that he should have been fired. Trumps tweets came hours before he was set to host congressional Republicans and administration officials at Camp David. The meeting scheduled to begin at midmorning Saturday was expected to touch on the budget, infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and the shape of the midterm election this fall. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump commends Sen. Rand Paul after he proposes eliminating all U.S. aid to Pakistan President Trump commended Sen. Rand Paul after the Kentucky Republican announced plans to introduce legislation that would eliminate all U.S. aid to Pakistan. Trump tweeted Friday night: Good idea Rand! https://t.co/55sqUDiC0s Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 On Thursday, the Trump administration announced it was suspending security assistance to Islamabad until the country moves aggressively against local militants who have attacked U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration at the apparent inability of Pakistani authorities to rein in militants who cross out of the countrys rugged tribal areas to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump continues to lash out at Sloppy Steve Bannon in tweets on tell-all book By Associated Press President Trump is praising a major Republican donor family for distancing themselves from his former advisor Steve Bannon. Trump tweeted Friday: The Mercer Family recently dumped the leaker known as Sloppy Steve Bannon. Smart! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trump has continued to lash out at Bannon over an explosive new book that quoted his former aide as questioning Trumps competence and describing a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower among Donald Trump Jr., Trump campaign aides and a Russian lawyer as treasonous and unpatriotic. On Thursday, billionaire GOP donor Rebekah Mercer issued a statement distancing her family from Bannon. Mercer is a co-owner of Breitbart, the populist website Bannon helps run. I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected, Mercer said. My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements. The book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, quickly shot atop Amazons best-seller list, and the publisher moved up its release date by four days, to Friday. Trump took up the topic again on Twitter on Friday night, denouncing both Bannon and the books author, Michael Wolff, in starkly personal terms: Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book. He used Sloppy Steve Bannon, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad! https://t.co/mEeUhk5ZV9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Trumps message linked to a meme depicting a parody book cover titled, Liar and Phony, that featured a photo of Wolff and disparaging quotes about the author. In a tweet sent earlier Friday morning, Trump suggested the book was intended to serve as a distraction from the FBIs investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, which Trump wrote is proving to be a total hoax. Well, now that collusion with Russia is proving to be a total hoax and the only collusion is with Hillary Clinton and the FBI/Russia, the Fake News Media (Mainstream) and this phony new book are hitting out at every new front imaginable. They should try winning an election. Sad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 That came amid reports that Trump directed his White House counsel to tell Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to not recuse himself from the Justice Departments Russia investigation. Trumps effort to keep Sessions, a vocal and loyal supporter of his election bid, in charge of an investigation into his campaign offers special counsel Robert Mueller yet another avenue to explore as his prosecutors work to untangle potential evidence of obstruction. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump praises the economy ahead of meetings at Camp David By Associated Press President Trump is praising the strength of the U.S. economy ahead of meetings at Camp David with congressional Republicans. Trump tweeted early Friday: Dow goes from 18,589 on November 9, 2016, to 25,075 today, for a new all-time Record. Jumped 1000 points in last 5 weeks, Record fastest 1000 point move in history. This is all about the Make America Great Again agenda! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Six trillion dollars in value created! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The president also told reporters on the South Lawn that the tax cuts are really kicking in after Congress passed a package of tax cuts at the end of 2017. And the president praised the December jobs report, which found U.S. employers added 148,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%, the lowest level since 2000. The modest but steady pace of hiring is a reassuring sign for investors who have been buoyed by the just-passed Republican tax plan and have been sending stock market indexes roaring to uncharted heights. The president is meeting with Republican congressional leaders and members of his Cabinet on Friday and Saturday to discuss the 2018 agenda. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets as Dow crashes through 25,000 By Associated Press President Trump dispatched a congratulatory tweet as the Dow Jones industrial average rose above the 25,000-point mark Thursday, just five weeks after its first close above 24,000. Dow just crashes through 25,000. Congrats! Big cuts in unnecessary regulations continuing. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 After the Dow closed above 25,000, Trump shared a graphic depicting the stock indexs record-setting rise. MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/iONbr1DkVk Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Later in the day, the president was back on Twitter, complaining that news outlets had barely covered the stock market milestone. He suggested that the strength of the economy would be the biggest story on earth, had it unfolded during the presidency of his predecessor. The Fake News Media barely mentions the fact that the Stock Market just hit another New Record and that business in the U.S. is booming...but the people know! Can you imagine if O was president and had these numbers - would be biggest story on earth! Dow now over 25,000. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The Dow broke past 1,000-point barriers in 2017 on its way to a 25% gain for the year, as an eight-year rally since the Great Recession continued to confound skeptics. Strong global economic growth and good prospects for higher company earnings have analysts predicting more gains, although the market may not stay as calm as it has been recently. The Dow has made a rapid trip since it reached 24,000 points Nov. 30, partly on enthusiasm over passage of the Republican-backed tax package, which could boost company profits this year with across-the-board cuts to corporate taxes. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump reacts to Fire and Fury book in tweet lashing out at author and Sloppy Steve President Trump lashed out at the author of a soon-to-be-released book about the chaotic first year of his presidency Thursday night. In a tweet, Trump called Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, a phony book and claimed that hed never spoken to its author, Michael Wolff. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Trump wrote. He appeared to be referring to former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, whose stunning criticisms of Trump and his circle figure prominently in the title. I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that dont exist. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trumps tweet came hours after he had his lawyer demand that Henry Holt & Co. and Wolff stop publication the book. Instead, the publisher expedited the books release to Friday, four days before it was slated to hit bookstore shelves, in response to unprecedented demand. Published excerpts on Wednesday and Thursday whetted that appetite and roiled Washington. Bannons comments, including that it was treasonous and unpatriotic for Trumps son Donald Trump Jr., son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort to have met in 2016 with Russians said to have dirt on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, prompted Trump on Wednesday to rebuke his former advisor, saying Bannon had lost his mind. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks senators who attended meeting on immigration President Trump tweeted thanks to Republican senators who attended a meeting about possible immigration legislation on Thursday. In his message, Trump also listed his top priorities when it comes to any type of overhaul of the nations immigration system. Thank you to the great Republican Senators who showed up to our mtg on immigration reform. We must BUILD THE WALL, stop illegal immigration, end chain migration & cancel the visa lottery. The current system is unsafe & unfair to the great people of our country - time for change! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Trumps tweet echoed his remarks at the beginning of Thursdays meeting, when he insisted again that constructing a border wall and overhauling two legal immigration programs must be part of any deal with Democrats to protect the so-called Dreamers from deportation. Two-year deportation protections and work permits given under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program begin to expire March 6 under an executive order. Trump announced in September that he was ending the Obama-era program, but told Congress to draft a law to continue protections for people brought to the country illegally as children a group that has widespread public support. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Brian Bennett. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump resumes Twitter war against kneeling NFL players President Trump has resumed his Twitter war against NFL players who kneel during the national anthem to protest social injustice and racial inequality. In a tweet early Thursday, Trump replied to a supporter who shared a meme that appears to depict family members lying on the grave of a fallen soldier with the caption: This is why we stand. Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! Trump wrote. So beautiful....Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! https://t.co/tJLM1tvbvb Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The president has denounced players who kneel during the anthem in previous tweets. Hes also called for the firing of players who do so. His latest message came amid news that the NFL finished the regular season with TV ratings that fell nearly 10% below the previous season. Analysts attribute the drop to controversies facing the league, as well as changing viewing habits and a possible saturation point in the number of games available. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Stephen Battaglio and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump credits himself with facilitating talks between North and South Korea By Associated Press President Trump says his tough stance on nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula is helping push North Korea and South Korea to talk. Trump tweeted early Thursday: With all of the failed experts weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasnt firm, strong and willing to commit our total might against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 That assertion is in conflict with some of the presidents own statements. Last year, he ridiculed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for talking about negotiations with the North. This week, Trump seemed open to the possibility of an inter-Korean dialogue after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare overture toward South Korea in a New Years Day address. But Trumps ambassador to the United Nations insisted that talks wont be meaningful unless the North is getting rid of its nuclear weapons. The overture about talks came after Trump and Kim traded more bellicose claims about their nuclear weapons. In his New Years Day address, Kim repeated fiery nuclear threats against the United States. Kim said he has a nuclear button on his office desk and warned that the whole territory of the U.S. is within the range of our nuclear strike. Trump mocked that assertion Tuesday evening in a tweet. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After disbanding his vote fraud panel, Trump still says voting system is rigged By Brian Bennett One day after disbanding his troubled voter fraud commission without any findings of fraud, President Trump continued to call the U.S. voting system rigged and said states should require that Americans have voter-identification cards. In two tweets on Thursday morning, Trump blamed the commissions failure on the lack of cooperation from mostly Democrat States that refused to hand over voter rolls because they know that many people are voting illegally. However, voting supervisors in Republican-led states refused as well, objecting on privacy and other grounds. Many mostly Democrat States refused to hand over data from the 2016 Election to the Commission On Voter Fraud. They fought hard that the Commission not see their records or methods because they know that many people are voting illegally. System is rigged, must go to Voter I.D. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 As Americans, you need identification, sometimes in a very strong and accurate form, for almost everything you do.....except when it comes to the most important thing, VOTING for the people that run your country. Push hard for Voter Identification! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Despite Trumps assertions, analysts have not found evidence of widespread voter fraud. Trump created the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in May after alleging, without proof, that millions of illegal votes were cast for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Trump was elected after winning a majority in the electoral college, but the nationwide count showed Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes. The commission sought personal data on voters across the country and faced mounting lawsuits in recent months over privacy concerns. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump touts another good day for stocks, credits tax cut By Associated Press President Trump touted another good day for the stock market Wednesday in a tweet. Stock Market had another good day but, now that the Tax Cut Bill has passed, we have tremendous upward potential. Dow just short of 25,000, a number that few thought would be possible this soon into my administration. Also, unemployment went down to 4.1%. Only getting better! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Big gains for technology and healthcare stocks helped U.S. indexes set records again Wednesday. Some analysts attributed the surge to investor enthusiasm for Trumps $1.5-trillion tax cut. All told, Wall Street analysts estimate the tax package should boost earnings for companies in the Standard & Poors 500 index by roughly 8% this year. Thats much more generous than the average tax cut of 1.6% that middle-class families will receive, according to the Tax Policy Center. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The public has been less enthusiastic about the tax law. A Monmouth University poll last month found that nearly half of Americans disapproved of it, with only 26% in support. Still, as Trump also noted on Twitter, some workers have seen a benefit: So far, dozens of companies have announced bonuses and higher minimum wages as a result of the tax cut. AT&T, Comcast, Bank of America, and American Airlines have all pledged to pay $1,000 bonuses to their employees. Some 40 U.S. companies have responded to President Trumps tax cut and reform victory in Congress last year by handing out bonuses up to $2,000, increases in 401k matches and spending on charity, a much higher number than previously known. https://t.co/bmWrwWzxMR Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Investors also appear less concerned than many politicians about how the additional profits will be used. The Trump administration says it expects companies will plow much of the extra profit back into their businesses, purchasing more software, machinery, and other equipment. Those investments will make workers more productive and provide a key boost to the economys long-run growth. They should also boost wages and salaries for employees. Opponents of the tax law respond that companies are more likely to pass the windfall on to shareholders in the form of higher dividend payments and share buybacks, which raise the price of those shares still in investors hands. Previous cuts in corporate tax rates, in the United States and overseas, havent always led to higher wages. For Wall Street, its all good, at least in the short run. Most analysts take the view that either way, companies and the economy will benefit. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump reacts to death of Mormon Church president By Associated Press President Trump mourned the death of Mormon Church leader Thomas S. Monson on Wednesday evening. Trump tweeted a link to a statement in which he said that Monson demonstrated wisdom, inspired leadership, and great compassion and delivered a message of optimism, forgiveness, and faith. Melania and I are deeply saddened by the death of Thomas S. Monson, a beloved President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...https://t.co/ETD3fWtfU3 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 A church bishop at the age of 22, Monson became the youngest church apostle ever in 1963 at the age of 36. He served as a counselor for three church presidents before assuming the role of the top leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. After a life of church service, Monson died Tuesday at his home in Salt Lake City, according to church spokesman Eric Hawkins. He was 90. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets that Iranian protesters will see great U.S. support at the appropriate time By Associated Press President Trump continued to express support for Irans anti-government protesters on Wednesday. In a tweet, Trump commended the protesters and pledged that the United States will support them at the appropriate time. Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government. You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Trumps tweet Wednesday morning came as Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo sent a letter to United Nations officials complaining that Washington was intervening in a grotesque way in Irans internal affairs. The President and Vice-President of the United States, in their numerous absurd tweets, incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts, the ambassador wrote to the U.N. Security Council president and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The U.S. didnt immediately respond to the letter, which maintains that Washington has crossed every limit in flouting rules and principles of international law governing the civilized conduct of international relations. At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in Iran during a week of anti-government protests and unrest over economic woes and official corruption. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people took part in counter-demonstrations Wednesday backing the clerically overseen government, which has said enemies of Iran are fomenting the protests. Trump has unleashed a series of tweets in recent days backing the protesters, saying Iran is failing at every level and declaring that it is time for change in the Islamic Republic. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump congratulates Sen. Orrin Hatch upon news of his retirement By Associated Press President Trump congratulated Sen. Orrin Hatch for an absolutely incredible career upon news of Hatchs impending retirement. In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, Trump called Hatch a tremendous supporter and wrote that he will be greatly missed in the Senate. Congratulations to Senator Orrin Hatch on an absolutely incredible career. He has been a tremendous supporter, and I will never forget the (beyond kind) statements he has made about me as President. He is my friend and he will be greatly missed in the U.S. Senate! pic.twitter.com/0VjzLEeHTl Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Hatchs decision to retire from the Senate after four decades lets the Utah Republican walk away at the height of his power after helping to push through an overhaul of the tax code and persuading Trump to downsize two national monuments. Retirement also preserves the 83-year-olds legacy by allowing him to avoid a bruising reelection battle that would have broken his promise not to seek an eighth term. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet exaggerates progress in improving veterans care By Associated Press President Trump played up tremendous progress in improving care for veterans in his first year on Tuesday in a tweet. His message linked to an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is fighting for our veterans. But it overstates the impact of these steps. We will not rest until all of Americas GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time. Keep up the great work @SecShulkin @DeptVetAffairs! https://t.co/ir25vW15hx pic.twitter.com/OtuzIgxMn6 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The departments poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard. A fifth claim involves telehealth, a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasnt been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House. A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited effect so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims. The last two initiatives make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trumps watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the effect on veterans care is not fully known. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump unleashes his first tweetstorm of 2018 By Noah Bierman President Trump clearly didnt resolve to change his Twitter habits this year. With nine disparate tweets over three hours on Tuesday morning, the first working day of 2018, Trump continued to exploit social media to be the most aggressive commentator in chief in American history. For any other president, his posts would have made for a monumental day of (mis-)statements. Yet for Trump, the series attacks on political foes and media, provocations of foreign leaders and self-praise for events he had nothing to do with was all but unremarkable. His Twitter barrage sent between 7:09 a.m. and 10:16 a.m. reflected a familiar gamut after nearly a year in office: Attacks on political foes: Nearly 14 months after his election, Trump called for the jailing of Huma Abedin, Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid (his misspelling, another occasional feature of Trump tweets). Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid, Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols. She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 In the same tweet, he disparaged the Deep State Justice Dept, headed of course by his appointees, calling on it to act against James B. Comey, the FBI director he fired for investigating the Russia thing. Diplomatic provocations: Trump again called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Rocket man, ridiculed the volatile nuclear-armed foe for recent military defections and openly speculated about potential talks between North and South Korea. Sanctions and other pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea. Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not - we will see! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not we will see! Trump wrote. Later Tuesday, Trump tweeted: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Also later Tuesday, Trump tweeted an attack on Pakistan, his second in as many days, and added a new one against Palestinians: It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They dont even want to negotiate a long overdue... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Undermining media: Trump offered Congratulations! to A.G. Sulzberger, who took over as publisher of the New York Times this week. The Failing New York Times has a new publisher, A.G. Sulzberger. Congratulations! Here is a last chance for the Times to fulfill the vision of its Founder, Adolph Ochs, to give the news impartially, without fear or FAVOR, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved. Get... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ....impartial journalists of a much higher standard, lose all of your phony and non-existent sources, and treat the President of the United States FAIRLY, so that the next time I (and the people) win, you wont have to write an apology to your readers for a job poorly done! GL Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the two-part post was really yet another slam against a perceived media foe: Trump said the paper had a last chance to fulfill its journalistic mission, and accused it of relying on phony sources and substandard reporters just days after he granted another exclusive interview to the paper. As a bonus, the tweet contained a recycled falsehood, that the paper apologized after the election for reporting on him unfairly. It didnt. Trump later said on Twitter that he would soon announce the most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year. Stay tuned! I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 oclock. Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 The president also tweeted a quote from Fox Business Networks Lou Dobbs Tonight, which aired a segment praising Trumps first-year accomplishments. Dobbs reportedly joined Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday for a gala to celebrate New Years Eve. President Trump has something now he didnt have a year ago, that is a set of accomplishments that nobody can deny. The accomplishments are there, look at his record, he has had a very significant first year. @LouDobbs Show,David Asman & Ed Rollins Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Taking credit: Trump congratulated himself for policing the border with Mexico, an area where his policies and anti-immigration rhetoric are believed to have had some effect on reducing illegal crossings. Thank you to Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council for your kind words on how well we are doing at the Border. We will be bringing in more & more of your great folks and will build the desperately needed WALL! @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 He took credit for employee bonuses by companies after he signed Republican tax cuts into law last month. Companies are giving big bonuses to their workers because of the Tax Cut Bill. Really great! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the jaw-dropper was Trump congratulating himself for planes not crashing. Since taking office I have been very strict on Commercial Aviation. Good news - it was just reported that there were Zero deaths in 2017, the best and safest year on record! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 It was the safest year on record worldwide, but the American streak without commercial jet passenger deaths goes back to 2009. Trump, who has promoted deregulation as one of his top accomplishments, has not signed off on any new airline safety regulations. The White House pointed to new security screening of passengers, to electronic devices to prevent terrorist attacks and to Trumps support for privatizing air traffic control a proposal that has gotten nowhere in Congress. Falsehoods: Trump said President Obama, in brokering the 2015 nuclear arms limitation deal with Iran, foolishly gave money to the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. He didnt. The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 The nuclear deal, which included major U.S. allies as signators, released Irans own funds that had long been frozen. Trumps art of the deal: When Trump sees a big deal looming, he often blasts the other side to gain leverage, as hes written. This week he resumes a showdown with Democratic lawmakers over funding the government and immigration protections for so-called Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA - just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems, will start falling in love with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Trump, who in September ordered a gradual end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, sought to shift blame for the resulting controversy, saying Democrats are doing nothing for DACA and are just interested in politics. Trump has insisted that any help for Dreamers be paired with funding for a border wall and a crackdown on legal immigration. Democrats, and some Republicans, are opposed. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In tweet, Trump suggests U.S. will withdraw financial assistance to Pakistan By Shashank Bengali Pakistan lashed out Monday after President Trump accused its leaders of lies & deceit and suggested the United States would withdraw financial assistance to the nuclear-armed nation it once saw as a key ally against terrorism. It was the presidents latest broadside against Pakistan after a speech in August in which he demanded its leaders crack down on the safe havens enjoyed by Taliban militants fighting U.S.-backed forces in neighboring Afghanistan. The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018 U.S. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the presidents statement, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. Pakistan lodged a strongly worded protest and asked for clarification about Trumps comments, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, called a Cabinet meeting for Tuesday and a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss Trumps New Years Day tweet. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump continues to tweet in support of Iranian protesters By Laura King President Trump expressed renewed support Sunday for protesters in Iran, declaring that people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. In a tweet from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the president said the nationwide economic protests that began on Thursday and have taken on wider political overtones as they have grown in size were a signal that Iranians will not take it any longer. Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Trump has tweeted about the protests for three days straight as Iranians took to the streets despite a heavy police presence, tear gas and scores of arrests. The defiance gained urgency after two people were reported shot to death in the city of Dorud, about 200 miles southwest of Tehran. As the conflict escalated, Iranian authorities on Sunday slapped a temporary ban on Instagram and the messaging app Telegram, which were widely used to fan protest fervor. Iran, the Number One State of Sponsored Terror with numerous violations of Human Rights occurring on an hourly basis, has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Irans leaders already are casting Trumps increasingly effusive expressions of support for the demonstrators as opportunistic meddling and are painting the demonstrators as foreign pawns, adopting a strategy that some analysts say could jeopardize the legitimacy of the nascent antigovernment protests. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets condolences after Colorado deputies are shot in ambush, one fatally By Associated Press A man fired more than 100 rounds at sheriffs deputies in Colorado early Sunday, killing one and injuring four others, before being fatally shot himself in what authorities called an ambush. Two civilians were also injured. President Trump expressed sorrow, writing on Twitter: My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all! #LESM Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said deputies came under fire almost The Huntington Beach City Council voted Monday night to repeal and replace a 2013 resolution requiring downtown businesses that serve alcohol to close by midnight when they apply for or seek to amend a conditional use permit. The vote was 5-1, with Councilwoman Jill Hardy dissenting and Councilman Billy OConnell recusing himself because of business interests in the downtown area. The replacement resolution makes several changes to the original, most notably allowing the zoning administrator, Planning Commission and City Council to approve exceptions to the standard conditions of the conditional use permit process, thereby shortening the procedure for requesting deviations. The original resolution allowed only the council to approve such exceptions. In March, the council directed city staff to look into changing the resolution. Council members Mike Posey and Erik Peterson, who proposed the original item, said the rule might hurt downtown businesses. In particular, the original resolution raised concern that it may keep businesses from applying to alter their properties because doing so might trigger the midnight closing requirement. Posey said Monday that the new resolution would keep downtown businesses competitive by not penalizing them for trying to improve. Hardy said she opposed the new motion because, for the sake of transparency, the council should be the only body to approve deviations. The council is monitored more by the public than the zoning administrator or Planning Commission, she said. The new resolution also strengthens the citys ability to revoke conditional use permits if conditions are not followed, according to a city staff report. Councilman Patrick Brenden said it strikes the right balance between helping downtown businesses and granting the city the ability to regulate if things get out of control. Energy program The council voted 5-2, with members Lyn Semeta and Peterson dissenting, to enter an agreement with Southern California Edison to look into community choice aggregation, which can provide cities control over electricity rates and efficiency programs. A CCA is a program for cities to buy or generate electricity for residents. Peterson said he doesnt like the idea of government being involved in the power industry. I dont think its our role, he said, adding that residents go to the council about things such as cleaning downtown or fixing streets rather than anything related to their power bill. The council would need to enter a non-disclosure agreement with Edison to obtain customer energy use data to see whether a CCA would be economically viable for the city, according to a city staff report. City Attorney Michael Gates said the non-disclosure agreement comes with some risk because it relies on broad language. Several members of the public spoke about community choice aggregation. Cari Swan said a CCA comes with huge risks and is an unnecessary expansion of government. Michael Rotcher said he favors CCA and moving forward with the study to find out if the program is feasible in Huntington Beach. Organic pesticides The council heard a three-month update on a year-long organic pesticide pilot program. The city started the project in the western portion of Central Park. Staff met with representatives of Irvine for insights on how that citys organic pesticide program is working. Pesticides are substances used to control pests or weeds. Irvine and San Juan Capistrano have adopted organic-first pesticide policies. Last year, the Ocean View School District, based in Huntington Beach, stopped using the chemical herbicide Roundup, the main ingredient of which, glyphosate, the state classifies as a possible carcinogen. The Irvine and Newport-Mesa unified school districts stopped using it in 2015. In a presentation Monday, city maintenance operations manager Denny Bacon said the city has narrowed its options to three. The first is the continuous use of organic pesticides to mitigate weeds, which would cost about $1 million per year, Bacon said. The second is to use Irvines model: manual labor for much of its weed abatement. As part of that plan, Huntington Beach wouldnt use herbicides in parks but would use organic pesticides in rights-of-way. The plan would cost about $723,000 per year, Bacon said. In the third option, the city wouldnt use any chemicals and would manually eliminate weeds in all rights-of-way and parks, which would cost about $540,000 per year. Bacon said that is the safest program. Several residents voiced support for a program that doesnt use synthetic chemicals. Dan Jamieson said it would be terrificto get anything potentially toxic out of city parks. Tim Kowal, a board member for community group HB Tomorrow, started an online petition in late June calling for the city to end the use of synthetic pesticides. The petition had more than 340 signatures as of Tuesday morning. The city will give another update on its pilot program in three months. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot Former teen idol Nick Jonas will make waves in the Bahamas this fall when he performs aboard two ships as part of Carnival Cruise Lines LIVE Concert Series, which has featured a string of top pop artists in the past three years. Jonas, a multiplatinum and Grammy-nominated recording artist and songwriter, will perform aboard Carnival Liberty on Nov. 17 and Carnival Victory on Nov. 18 while the ships are docked in Nassau, capital of the Bahamas. The Liberty sailing is three days round-trip from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Nassau, with prices starting at $309 per person, double occupancy. The Victory sailing is also three days round-trip from Miami to Nassau, with prices starting at $269 per person, double occupancy. Advertisement The performances will be held in the ships main show lounges, with tickets priced at $75 for general admission and $250 for VIP tickets, which include up-front seating and a photo op with Jonas. Jonas began his career as a member of the boy band the Jonas Brothers and has appeared on such television shows as Smash. He released his self-titled debut album in 2014, with the hits Jealous and Chains. His second album, Last Year Was Complicated, was released in 2016 and featured the platinum hit Close with Tove Lo. He will appear in the film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which is set to be released in December. Among the artists who have participated in Carnivals LIVE series are LeAnn Rimes, Lionel Richie, REO Speedwagon, Chicago, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum. Carnival also has announced that comedian Chris Tucker, best known for his role in the Rush Hour films, will appear as part of the series on Sept. 17. Tucker will appear on the Carnival Breeze stage in Nassau as part of a seven-day, round-trip voyage from Galveston, Texas, to Key West, Fla., Freeport, Bahamas and Nassau. Tickets for the Tucker show are $30 general admission and $100 for VIP seats. Info: Carnival Cruise Line, (800) 764-7419, or contact a travel agent ALSO Here are great prices for Thanksgiving travel if you book right now Uniworld picks model Petra Nemcova as guardian angel of its new millennial cruise line Three ways to ease the psychic pain of air travel and one new way that may make your pain worse Heading to Catalina this summer? Here are 20 new things to see and do travel@latimes.com Twitter: @latimestravel CGTN photo Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, as the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the regional institution. "On behalf of the Chinese government and people, and myself, I congratulate you and other ASEAN members on the organization's 50th anniversary," Xi said in a letter addressing to Duterte. Xi applauded ASEAN's efforts in keeping regional peace and stability and in bringing prosperity to people in ASEAN member states. Xi said China is committed to improving the political trust and cooperation between China and ASEAN members. 2018 marks the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership and China will take advantage of this opportunity to create a community of shared future for mankind, Xi added. James Kamau got up at 2 a.m. Tuesday and rushed to the polling station in Kibera slum four hours before it opened so that he could be one of the first to vote in favor of the president he worships, Uhuru Kenyatta. Carolly Obonyo, 23, got to a polling station in another Kibera neighborhood at 4 a.m. to find a long queue. He waited six hours to cast his vote for change, supporting opposition candidate Raila Odinga in a closely fought election that some fear could reprise the postelection clashes of nearly a decade ago. Turnout appeared to be high among the 19.6 million registered voters in a nation where people often vote according to ethnic allegiance, and amid ethnic favoritism in government and public sector posts that feed long-held grievances among groups that feel excluded. Advertisement Kenyatta 55, represents the Kikuyu, the nations largest ethnic group, and his deputy and running mate, William Ruto, is a member of the Kalenjin, another of Kenyas biggest tribes. Both men were indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity after the 2007 election when violence flared across the country. But after government obstruction of the investigation and witnesses were killed, disappeared or withdrew their evidence, the prosecution was forced to drop both cases. Odinga, 72, a Luo, is running for the fourth time, but his ethnic group has never produced a president. He has pledged to create jobs, end poverty and address the endemic corruption that has stifled Kenyan progress. There are six other candidates, none expected to poll more than a few percent of the vote. The election is being closely watched for signs of voting fraud and violence after the results are announced, should the losing candidate fail to concede defeat. The result is expected within two days of the election. Voting largely went smoothly, said Wafula Chebukati, chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. In northern Kenya, election officials and voting materials had to be flown in by helicopter because of heavy rains. Some polling stations opened late, but voting was extended at those stations. We are happy to report that there are no major hitches reported from the 40,833 polling stations throughout the country apart from a few issues affecting some of the polling stations across the country, and we are addressing them accordingly, he told journalists. But some voters complained of long delays, problems with biometric equipment to identify voters and names missing on the voter register. Odinga tweeted that election officials had been frustrating opposition agents at polling stations. Kenya, with a population of more than 46 million, is a major transport hub in East Africa with economic growth of nearly 6% a year. It relies on agriculture and tourism for most of its income, with 75% of the population reliant on farming or livestock herding. A candidate needs 50% of the vote and more than 25% of votes in at least 24 of Kenyas 47 counties to avoid a second-round vote. In the 2013 election, Kenyatta narrowly avoided a runoff, a result that Odinga challenged in court without success. Obonyo, a nursing student who grew up as an orphan in Kibera, said the government did little for slum dwellers. Tribalism is making the people angry. We dont want one of the two tribes to be in power forever, he said. People get employed according to their tribe. Most of the people in the government are Kalenjin or Kikuyu, he said, referring to the ethnic groups of Kenyatta and Ruto. Its been that way for a long period. Tribalism is making the people angry. We dont want one of the two tribes to be in power forever. Carolly Obonyo, slum dweller in Nairobi, Kenya He hoped that if Odinga was elected, people would be appointed to government and public sector jobs on merit and ethnicity would play no role. Kibera is a sprawling slum of rusted corrugated iron houses, open gutters, street traders and drifting smoke from cooking fires. The neighborhood buzzes with entrepreneurial energy, with micro businesses on every corner, such as women frying dough cakes or fish, barbershops, bars, furniture makers, shoeshine men, butchers and secondhand-clothing sellers. But formal jobs are hard to find and the youth unemployment rate is high. The costs of rent, food, water and school fees are high, and traders complain that no one has money to spend. I blame the government because the economy has been low and has remained low while prices have continued escalating, said Ruth Agumba of Kibera, a 45-year-old vegetable seller with three children. There are no jobs. Youth are idle all over, including my children. They have no jobs. I can never get ahead because my situation is hand-to-mouth, said Agumba, who voted for Odinga. She wasnt concerned about possible violence after the election, even though her sister was shot dead by riot police in western Kenya in the violence that followed the 2007 election. If Kenyatta was announced the winner in a vote that Odinga did not accept, she would support protests, despite fears they could turn violent. Everyone dies, after all. We need democracy, so if the youth take part in demonstrations in order to get democracy, its OK. If it turns violent, its OK because were fighting for democracy. Ann Wafula, 41, an opposition supporter, said her hairdressing business of 19 years had never struggled as much as it has lately. Business is very bad. Its difficult to support four children as a single mother. The problem is clients. They dont come because they dont have any money. We have to do without some things. Sometimes you cannot even afford money for food and school fees are a problem. We need a change of government because Kenya is heading in the wrong direction. But Kamau, a government supporter and commuter minibus driver, said Kenyatta had brought many benefits to Kenya, including improvements to roads and infrastructure, and moves to stop corruption. The economy is good, according to me, because corruption has gone down. Although salaries vary, those who are paid more get to lift the others who are poor out of poverty. He said for most Kenyans, the most important result was a peaceful election. First of all, we are peace-loving people, and theres no bad or good government, but what is important is peace among Kenyans. Still he doubted that opposition supporters would accept the result if Odinga was defeated by Kenyatta. He feared the possibility of a contested result and violence. Odinga is like that. Ive never seen him concede defeat. The main problem Kenya has is the opposition. Whether they win or lose, they always bring controversies. We dont know what will befall the country or what he will do. Kenyatta said he was confident of victory after casting his vote Tuesday. I feel very positive, he told journalists. We have run a very positive campaign telling Kenyans what we have done, what we intend to do, and I believe Kenyans have the ability to choose and reflect on the direction that they want us to go. I believe they want us to move forward, they want us to continue living in peace harmony and unity, and I believe they want us to have progress. Odinga said he had prepared a victory speech but not a concession speech. I have a universal speech because I am confident that I am going to win, but in the unlikely event that I lose, I dont need a speech as I will speak from the heart, he said. He said the opposition was conducting its own tally of votes to ensure the result was not rigged. robyn.dixon@latimes.com Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT ALSO In Kenya, memories of election horrors set an ominous tone for Tuesdays vote One-armed bandits hit the savanna: Inside the Chinese-led gambling epidemic in rural Ghana The neat-as-a-pin African country where people are executed for petty theft A German man believed to have provided logistical support to the Hamburg-based Sept. 11 hijackers has died, according to a newly released audio message from the leader of Al Qaeda. The announcement by Ayman Zawahri came in an Aug. 2 audio message posted online in which he says a man he identifies as Zuhair Maghribi who worked for As-Sahab, the terror networks media arm, is a martyr. He says Maghribi is one of several who sacrificed their lives but doesnt provide details on when or how they died. Advertisement Maghribi is a known alias of Said Bahaji, who authorities have said worked for As-Sahab. Hes been wanted on an international arrest warrant issued by Germany shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon. The German-born Bahaji, who is of Moroccan descent, is believed to have helped suicide hijackers Mohamad Atta, Marwan Shehhi and Ziad Jarrah when they were in Hamburg, and to have fled shortly before the Sept. 11 attacks. In an operation in 2009, the Pakistani military battled its way into a Taliban stronghold along the Afghan border and found Bahajis German passport, among others. It included a tourist visa for Pakistan and a stamp indicating he had arrived in the southern city of Karachi on Sept. 4, 2001. The authenticity of the Zawahri recording could not be independently confirmed but it resembled previous messages released by the Al Qaeda leader. SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S. organization that monitors militant messaging, reported on the recording, noting that in it, Zawahri also revealed that Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, a top Al Qaeda leader in U.S. custody, founded As-Sahab. Germanys foreign intelligence agency, the BND, would not comment Tuesday on the recording, citing policy. Bahaji was long suspected of having died, but Al Qaeda never publicly acknowledged his death until Zawahris audio recording a week ago. In a list published by the United Nations Security Council of people and entities against whom there are sanctions, Bahaji is said to be reportedly deceased in September 2013 in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border area. A motion of no confidence in South African President Jacob Zuma has failed in parliament after months of growing anger over alleged corruption and a sinking economy. Zuma had survived six previous attempts to unseat him in parliament, but this was the first to be held by secret ballot. Opposition parties had hoped it would encourage disgruntled legislators with the ruling African National Congress party to vote against Zuma, who has faced numerous allegations of graft while South Africas economy has fallen into recession. Zumas term continues until elections in 2019. The ANC is expected to replace him as party leader at its meeting in December. Watches are not rocket science. Or are they? Watches are not rocket... Perhaps you dont have a PhD. Well, thats a shame, because with some watches, youll need one to understand how to tell the time. Perhaps you dont have a PhD. Well,... Lehigh Valley Hospital nurse Leo Bermudez said he is lucky to have survived a stabbing in his jugular vein by a man he previously treated at the Bethlehem hospital. Had the stabbing been outside a hospital, Bermudez said he would have died. Bermudez testified on Tuesday that he was talking to a co-worker on June 30 in the ER when, "Next thing you know, I feel a big hit on my shoulder. I didn't know what happened." Bermudez was treated immediately, and given blood, before being air lifted from the Bethlehem hospital to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township. The alleged attacker, Joshua Santos, was in court Tuesday for his preliminary hearing on charges including attempted homicide. After hearing from Bermudez and other eye witnesses, District Judge Michael Pochron sent all the charges against Santos to county court. Santos then turned to look at the victim and said, "I'm gonna f--- your wife," before he was ushered out of the courtroom by deputies and taken back to county jail. It was the same insult Santos hurled at a doctor the night Bermudez was part of his treatment team, the victim testified. Santos, of the 4700 block of Kathi Drive in Hanover Township, Northampton County, is being held on $100,000 bail in the case. Bermudez, who has worked at the Bethlehem hospital for 28 years, said he observed Santos on June 3, when Santos was taken from his job at the Dunkin Donuts on Schoenersville Road to the hospital ER for reported drug ingestion. Witnesses testified Santos was acting erratic and combative, and had been fitted with a spit shield and four-point restraints. Because of the restraints, hospital protocol is that a staffer being on hand to observe and make records of the patient. On that night, Bermudez was the observer. "He was out of control" on that night, Bermudez testified. Santos was not speaking, and refused to provide a urine sample, nurse Bridgit McNamar testified. After a catheter was used to retrieve a urine sample, Santos began hurling threats and insults at staff, and tried to grab the staffers treating him, McNamar said. The urine test was positive for cannabis. Santos was medicated so he could sleep, and the following morning he denied taking any drugs, McNamar said. Santos was treated and released. Almost four weeks later, Bermudez saw Santos again, walking around the ER on the night of June 30, but thought Santos was a family member of a patient. Another nurse spotted Santos walking around the ER in a black hoodie and black pants. Kristen Keane said it was unusual to see someone wandering in her area of the ER, and she asked the man if he needed help. The man said no, then he spotted Bermudez and made a beeline toward him, according to Keane. "I saw him raise his arm and hit Leo in the back of the neck," she testified. When Leo reached up to the wound and pulled his hand away, Keane could see blood as someone yelled, "Oh my God, he's been stabbed." Santos ran out of the ER, and McNamar said she saw him in a hospital parking lot walking in circles and howling at the moon, before he took off. Acting police Lieutenant Rodney Bronson was on the lookout for Santos, after the police sent out Santos' name, description of his clothes, and surveillance footage of him from the hospital. About a half-hour after the alert, Bronson said he was turning on Eighth Avenue from Schoenersville Road, when he saw a man he later learned was Santos walking by the road. Bronson said he got out of his police vehicle and called Santos' name, and Santos turned around to look at him but kept walking. Santos walked to a small business center at Eighth and Eaton avenues that includes a CVS. As Bronson followed Santos through the fence line, he saw Santos kneeling by a sewer grate and then get up and continue walking. Santos refused to stop, but did not say anything to the officer. Eventually, Santos was arrested in the parking lot Bronson said he found a steak knife in the sewer drain. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Baltimore woman is accused of being part of a Victoria's Secrets theft ring that hit stores on the East Coast, including in the Lehigh Valley. Twanika Greer, 24, is one of five people who have been charged with stealing thousands of dollars worth of lingerie from Victoria's Secret stores in Lebanon Valley Mall in Lebanon County, and the Berkshire Mall in Berks County. Now Greer is charged with a heist from a store in the South Mall in Salisbury Township. Greer is being held in Berks County Jail on $250,000 bail, and was arraigned Monday on charges of robbery, conspiracy, retail theft and simple assault in the South Mall case. Her bail was set at $35,000 in the Lehigh County case. Salisbury Township police said Greer and two others hit the South Mall Victoria's Secret on the afternoon of April 2. The trio walked in with tote bags, and started filling the bags with items on display at the front of the store, police said. When the manager walked over and asked if she could help them, Greer allegedly said, "better back off you are going to get maced." The trio fled the store, and were walking down a hallway when employees from a sporting goods store tried to stop them, according to township police. Greer reportedly said "Don't touch me or we will mace you," and then got into a waiting car. The group got away with 77 items worth a little more than $3,000, police said. A break in the theft ring came on May 19, according to prosecutors, when Greer and four others were arrested after a similar theft at the Berkshire Mall. The group was caught after their getaway vehicle crashed, according to WFMZ. Mall employees identified Greer from a photo lineup as the one who threatened to mace, Salisbury Township police said. A township police officer went to Berks County Jail to interview Greer last month. Greer reportedly said she did not go farther north than Berks County, and did know the location of Allentown. Greer told the officer she was working the day of the South Mall thefts, but her workplace said she did not work that day, according to police. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A 64-year-old Lower Macungie Township woman died Monday afternoon after a two-vehicle crash at Creamery and Spring Creek roads in the township, authorities report. Cynthia A. Amorino was driving a red Nissan Altima south on Creamery and entered the intersection just after 1 p.m. where she collided with a blue Dodge Ram 1500 driven by a 58-year-old Barto, Pennsylvania, man, Pennsylvania State Police and the Lehigh County Coroner's Office report. There is a stop sign on Creamery, police added. Amorino was pronounced dead by a deputy coroner at 1:50 p.m. at the scene, a news release said. She died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries and Coroner Scott Grim ruled the incident an accident. The driver of the pickup, who police did not identify by name, was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Spring Creek Road was closed for about four hours during the investigation, police said. Anyone who may have seen the crash is asked to call police at 610-395-1438. Police and the coroner's office continue to investigate. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Egypt received its second Type-209/1400 submarine from Germany on Tuesday at a ceremony in the German city of Kiel, according to a statement from Egypt's military spokesman. Commander of the Egyptian Navy Ahmed Khalid, raised the Egyptian flag on the submarine, manufactured by the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The new submarine, which will officially join the Egyptian naval forces "within days", is a technological addition to Egypt's navy and will further its capability to bolster Egyptian national security, the spokesman said. The Type-209/1400 has a range of 11,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 21.5 knots. It is equipped with missiles and torpedoes. The new submarine, S42, is the second of four Type-209 craft ordered from Germany. The first craft, S41, was handed over in Germany in December, officially joining the Egyptian navy's fleet in April. Search Keywords: Short link: Burglars tried to access a safe early Monday in a Slate Belt fitness business but ended up being scared off, according to police. The burglary was about 2:30 a.m. at Ignite Fitness, 1310 Blue Valley Drive, police in Washington Township, Northampton County, said Tuesday. investigators believe more than one person entered via a southern, rear door and ransacked the business office but couldn't open the safe, police Chief Scott Miller said. Nothing was believed to have been stolen. Police found tools used in the burglary, leading investigators to believe the perpetrators left in a hurry. Police were reviewing surveillance footage as part of the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigator Brian Kaiser at wtpd3810@frontier.com or 610-588-2040. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Family, people and places are at the heart of a new book that has just been published by Portlaoise woman, Denise Curtin Dunne. The book is a collection of Denises poetry which she says celebrates life. I celebrate life in my poetry, I cannot write unless it is about something that I love and something that moves me. I feel like it is usually about something I am celebrating in life like my family, people who are and were important to me, where I come from and my background, she said. Denise was born in Athy but has spent most of her life living in Portlaoise. Both towns feature in Heartland, her new book of poetry. Previous winner of the Cecil Day Lewis Poetry Prize, her work has been published in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines. Denises new book includes a creative collection of poems about diverse subjects as family life, genealogy, Sylvia Plath and David Bowie. The second section is devoted to memories of her childhood in Athy and its references to long-gone faces and places in the town are sure to be of great interest to natives of the town. The attractive cover image of Heartland is the work of Denises son, John Denis Dunne. I am very lucky that my son is a lovely artist, when I saw the picture I thought it represents me, people, places and events. It reflects the theme of the book which has to do with the roots and hearts and home, Denise said. One of Denises favourite poems from the collection, which she said has received great feedback, is entitled On Journeys to Visit my Children. I have children living abroad and living in Dublin and I have grandchildren. None of them live locally, my children are all grown up now and I think about them all of the time, they are always in my heart and never far away, Denise said. Denise took her own advice in deciding to publish the book. It wasnt easy, I am a creative writing teacher and I decided to pull the poems together over the summer holidays. I am very pro getting other people to write so I thought it was time to take my own advice, she explained. See all of the work Denise has put into this lovely book which is now available in a strictly limited edition in Allbooks, Lyster Square, Portlaoise, News Express, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise and The Gem, Athy. Kildare motorists are being reminded that a busy bridge and road used by many travelling into Naas or on to the motorway to Dublin closes for three weeks from this morning. Kildare County Council has given notice that it intends to close the the L2030 road at Victoria Bridge, between Floods Cross (L2030/ L2006) and Thomastown Junction (L2030/L7041), Thomastown, Caragh, Naas. The road will be closed from Tuesday, August 8 to Friday, August 25, to facilitate resurfacing works. Alternative routes will be put in place as follows: RATHANGAN TO NAAS: Car traffic from Rathanagan will be diverted via the L2030 over Malones Bridge to Caragh Village, on to the R409 to Halverstown Cross and turn right onto the L2006 to Floods Cross where it will rejoin the L2030. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes will be diverted from Allen Cross via the R415/R416 to Newbridge and onto the R445 to Naas where it rejoins the L2030 at the Bundle of Sticks Roundabout. NAAS TO RATHANGAN: Car traffic from Naas will be diverted at Floods Cross onto the L2006 to Halverstown Cross, left onto the R409 to Caragh Village, left onto the L2030 at Caragh Church and rejoin the L2030 at Thomastown. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes will be diverted at the Bundle of Sticks roundabout onto the R445 into Newbridge, onto the R416 to Milltown and onto the R415 to Allen Cross. Diversionary routes will be clearly signposted and local and emergency access will be maintained. Tickets for Liam Gallaghers Weston aerodrome gig on October 19 have sold out. According to the ticketmaster website, there are no tickets left for the concert, which is being held at a hanger at the facility located on the Kildare/Dublin border near Leixlip. He is due to be joined by The Strypes as part of the Samhain Festival. However, local resident Caitriona McClean has some concerns about the event. The secretary for Fianna Fail in Lucan said South Dublin County Council (SDCC) had not received an application for permission to hold the event so far. The Concert Licence section have received no application. I am concerned whether there is some loophole in planning and have asked SDCC to say whether planning permission is in fact required. According to information on the internet last night, tickets are almost sold out., she said. Ms McClean said she has raised the issue of the consultation on rezoning at Weston Aerodrome as a matter of huge concern. She asserts it relates to more than the development of the aerodrome as an airport. READ MORE: Worries over Kildare airport expansion plans She spoke at the recent Leixlip public meeting to make that point. Using the holiday period for this process is not in the public interest. Rezoning to Enterprise and Employment would mean a Business Park and a substantial change in the environment. What environment impact has been undertaken? It's not just a matter of having potentially a regional airport on our doorstep with all the noise and environmental issues that go with that. There is far more going on than that," she said. "I have alerted Weston Park residents and Kew Park and others in smaller developments, I am going door to door with this. This must not happen. She continued; "The development of the Weston Aerodrome for enterprise will increase the value of land and the re sale value but it would decrease the value of local housing and our quality of life. Rezoning from rural is not in the interest of residents and we must not be made suffer for the potential profits of others. Rezoning benefits not the community but the owners of the land. Weston Aerodrome is not suitable as a Business Park or a regional airport." SEE ALSO: Vintage planes on display for fun weekend at Weston Airport Gardai are advising people to be wary of rental scams, particularly at this time of year when students are returning to college. While rental scams occur throughout the year there is a spike due to a new generation of 3rd level students seeking accommodation. The scams fall into three broad categories; (1) the scammer claims to be out of the country and cant show you the property and requests a deposit, (2) the scammer is living at the property and shows a number of people around, gets a deposit from several people and disappears with the money; and (3) the transaction appears normal until the renter finds that the keys dont work and the landlord has disappeared. Therefore people need to establish that the house exists and that is available for rent and the identity of landlord /agent & is he/she authorised to rent the property. 1. Ideally only do business with established bon-fide rental agencies. 2. Always meet a prospective landlord in the accommodation to be rented. 3. Ask for identification, a drivers licence or Photo identification of landlord or letting agent. etc. (Take a photo of the document on your phone) 4. Pay the deposit to the Landlord and not the persons leaving the property/ courier other person. 5. Use cheques or bank drafts to pay the deposit and keep copies of receipts of payments and any correspondence. 6. Ensure keys fit, open door lock and sign rental contract, prior to payment of deposit. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) rent index provides students with important benchmark information and is an authoritative guide as to the actual rents being charged by landlords adjacent to all Universities, ITs and other Third Level colleges. www.rtb.ie. Caution is advised, if the rent sounds too good to be true. Inside [CRAFT] was officially launched last week by Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD at the Virginia Show Centre. The project, an ambitious new craft tourism drive is set to raise the profile of counties Leitrim, Cavan, Roscommon and Longford as a creative region by showcasing the work of craftspeople, designers and artists living and working here. The first pop up shop was held in the Virginia Show Centre over the August Bank Holiday weekend and will return for the Virginia Show on August 23 from 8am - 5pm. Next month, Inside [CRAFT] will also visit Lough Key Forest Park from September 20-24, with further pop up dates and venues to be confirmed. Speaking at the launch of Inside [CRAFT] Minister Humphreys commented, I am delighted to launch this exciting new initiative, which has the potential to significantly boost the numbers of visitors coming to this region. Cavan and its surrounding counties are renowned for arts, crafts and creativity and I look forward to Inside [CRAFT] showcasing this to a much wider audience. The Governments Creative Ireland programme aims to enable culture and creativity in every community nationwide, so it is wonderful to see the Local Enterprise Offices in Cavan, Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon putting culture to the forefront of their agenda. Engaging in cultural activities is good for our sense of wellbeing, great for tourism and in turn very beneficial for the economy. I would encourage everyone to check out the range of events which will be held as part of Inside [CRAFT] across these four counties in the coming months. The initiative is under the umbrella of USEFE the Upper Shannon Erne Future Economy, a regional collaboration for economic development between the four counties of Cavan, Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon. Covering a wide breadth of creative disciplines, Inside [CRAFT] has to date attracted a multitude of designer-makers; sculptors, book-makers, mixed-media artists, wood-turners, ceramicists and fashion designers. An on-going drive to signup new members will continue via the website www.insidecraft.ie Last week the York Liberal Democrats were delighted to welcome Sir Vince Cable for a flying visit to his home city. Vince was born and brought up in York and many local members have fond memories of the two energetic general election campaigns we fought when Vince was Parliamentary Candidate for the old York constituency in 1983 and 1987. York is an interesting city politically in that the three main parties each have roughly the same number of councillors. Since 2015 the Liberal Democrat Group has formed part of the joint administration running the Council. One area in which we can take pride in the Councils record is homelessness. Yorks services for preventing and managing homelessness have been awarded the National Practitioner Support Services Gold Standard award. At the time of the award we were only the third local authority to have achieved this. Gold Standard requires the service to have a focus on early intervention and prevention of homelessness at its core. On Sunday 30 July Vince joined our Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Carol Runciman, and myself for a tour of the Peasholme Centre on Fishergate. Many members will be familiar with this part of the city since it is very close to the Novotel and the Barbican Centre where the party has held three successful Spring Conferences. As the centres website says: The Peasholme Centre is a supported accommodation centre for 22 people, staffed 24 hours a day. Residents are referred to the centre by agencies and once accepted, they will remain at the centre for a short period until the Council is able to find them more permanent accommodation. Peasholme offers a comprehensive support package for individuals who are homeless. It offers a structured and stable environment that gives residents the space they need to address the issues that have contributed to their homelessness. The centre plays a crucial role in helping resettle homeless people in the city and helps them to reintegrate themselves back into mainstream society. Tim Farron rightly made housing policy a central plank of his leadership and I know that addressing the causes of homelessness is something that all Liberal Democrats will support. Im grateful to Vince for helping to provide some well-deserved positive local media coverage for Yorks excellent homelessness service. * Keith Aspden has been the Councillor for Fulford Ward in York since 2003 and for Fulford and Heslington Ward since 2015. Since 2019 he is the Leader of City of York Council, and the Liberal Democrat Deputy Chair of the LGA Fire Services Management Committee. Guest post submitted by Jane Burns (RCSI/UCD) & Helen Fallon (Maynooth University) The Dublin Business School Annual Seminar is an event to look forward to every year. There is always a fantastic line-up of speakers and often a new event is in the mix to make the event different and unpredictable. The 2017 Seminar was held on Friday 9th June 2017. This year we were asked to participate in a debate on the topic; Is it Time to Retire the Words Library and Librarian to Enhance the Employment Opportunities of Graduates? (Jane Burns (supporting) and Helen Fallon (opposing) We both tried to give compelling arguments You have to read through to the end of this post to see which way, and if, the audience was swayed. Helens position: Is it time to retire the words Library and Librarian to enhance the employment opportunities for library graduates and professionals? No! Keep the terms just enhance the / your image. I say not and I feel I speak with some authority having worked for 39 years in libraries. During this time, Ive worked in libraries in five very different countries Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Namibia and Tanzania and in all of these countries Ive experienced a common understanding and value to the terms Library and Librarian. Despite sometimes very different cultures and environments they all valued their library. The term Library and Librarian embodies something deep and rich that is part of life in virtually every part of the world and is something which we should not give surrender to. Rather we should embrace these terms and promote ourselves as the skilled and valuable professionals that we are. I taught librarianship at the University of Sierra Leone from 1980 to 1991. When I returned 14 years later I was heartened to see the public library which is also the national library open for business in Freetown and other libraries being reopened or in some cases rebuilt in the Provinces. In Freetown the law library was recording and archiving the very important testimony of the war. In the British Council Library, I met Sierra Leonean Mike Butscher. He had established PEN Sierra Leone, a chapter of PEN International - a writers group. He wanted to set up a small library in their office in Freetown so that people like himself who aspired to write about life in a time of war, could explore how Sierra Leonean and other writers were recounting their experiences. I met Irish born Sister Celia Doyle who had established a womens weaving project in a refugee camp. She wanted to establish a small library in the camp as part of a literacy project for the women weavers. These people understood the importance of librarians and libraries in the rebuilding of Sierra Leone. I didnt have to explain that to them what we could do. As Librarians we have a long established tradition were the second oldest profession and I think we need to affirm that libraries and librarians have the potential to transform lives in Ireland and elsewhere and we can and should use these terms with pride. Coming to employment opportunities of library graduates. I believe we need to change how we are perceived rather than change our titles and we have the power to do this. The first thing I would suggest for recent graduates seeking employment is to match your CV to the actual post on offer. This takes time and if you are looking for employment in non-traditional sectors it may take more time. I sit on a lot of interview panels and over the past twenty years or so I am surprised by the number of job applicants who have a CV and use it with a different covering letter for different posts. My advice would be to study the job description and see what you have in your experience and education that matches that and put it in your CV. You can briefly summarise the key points in the covering letter. Please lets have no more standard CVs. Join professional networks and increase your visibility and enhance your CV. Theres a very active new professionals group and many other groups in the LAI that would value and need new members with energy and ideas. Through these groups you will develop skills that are transferable to the workplace. When you get a job be visible, no matter how short term the post is, think of yourself as an ambassador for your organisation and get out there and be seen and heard. I graduated from UCD with a diploma in Librarianship in 1982. It was a very depressed time. Many of my colleagues went to the UK to work. I went to Saudi Arabia to an American-run health sciences library. This was a wonderful opportunity to learn about medical librarianship in a library that was very much at the heart of the hospital. Shortly after I started work the Librarian suggested I leave the desk and go around and ask people if they were finding what they needed and could I help them. My initial reaction was resistance. But I did it and was pleasantly surprised at how effective it was. About 20 years later we introduced a roving service in Maynooth University. I think from that experience I learned how important it was to be visible and today, I would say the same thing. Put your energy into increasing your visibility particularly among your user community. We dont need to change the terms library and librarian instead we need to embrace these very terms and create an impact as a profession to enhance our image and employability nationally and internationally. My first permanent post was as Business Librarian in Dublin City University. I still remember my first Faculty meeting. Wed recently acquired the online version of what is now the Web of Science, so I prepared and memorised a few sentences about this, on the advice of Alan MacDougall, who was then Librarian hed told me it was really important that I speak. I was seriously worried though. I thought I might have a heart attack while waiting for research - my entry point to come up on the agenda. I still remember that fear of speaking at this eminent gathering twenty something years later, but I did it and the next time I had to speak in similar circumstances I was a little less frightened and my confidence grew. Challenge yourself. When I started work in Maynooth University seventeen years ago, I made a commitment to myself to try to meet one new person outside the Library every week. So, every Monday morning I looked at the phone directory still print at the time and asked myself Who can I throw myself at this week? The term networking has become quite popular. Now, in the final decade of my own career and having watched careers, including my own, develop I think this is hugely important if librarians are to be viewed as a vital part of whatever organisation they belong to. This isnt always easy but the more you do it the easier it gets. When I attend an event now I try to meet at least four new people. Ive gotten involved in non-library groups such as AISHE and Ive worked with colleagues from that group on publishing a book. Nobody had thought about having a chapter from a librarian in their book about teaching and learning in higher education, until I put a proposal with abstract in and then everybody realised that it was vital to have the library contribution. In the same way when Maynooth Univeristy had short secondments under the Strategic Innovation Fund nobody thought of Librarians as possible candidates. The job adverts were restricted to academic staff. Instead of moaning about exclusion I went to the particular office and politely explained that as a Librarian I had the skillset to do some of the projects. The next time they advertised internally they didnt limit it to academic staff and I go one of the projects, which brought me into new networks, where I was able to promote the role and skillset of the librarian. So my advice is - Dont change your title. Rather see how you can promote it and the work you do. Be the change you want to see in the world. Janes position Is it time to retire the words Library and Librarian- my position takes it to the next level where I am proposing that they should be eliminated. It is with a heavy heart that I have come to the conclusion that the words library and librarian should be eliminated as I have always been very proud to call myself a librarian but upon reflection, especially these last few years I think the time has come to take a very hard look at our profession - in particular how do develop our professional identities, how are we viewed in society and what are realistic career expectations. The terms library and librarian are old fashioned and do not convey what a modern library or librarian is or does. It limits the field of jobs as there are so many roles an MLIS can be applied to but employers and students do not see this qualification as it is hidden under the library umbrella. In the job market, today we see fewer roles for librarians. We have highly qualified people competing for entry level roles in libraries that previously were taken up by those with leaving cert level education and often Saturday jobs for students. In academic library environments, there is inertia: people are in the same or similar roles for many years with little chance of promotion or even lateral movement. The dynamic components of what we can do are often left on the shelf. As a lecturer in UCD in the School of Information studies I have also made myself aware of the program here at DBS, University of Ulster, Aberystwyth and Robert Gordon. I am acutely aware of the courses that our students are undertaking and in most cases they bear little resemblance to the curriculum of even 5 years ago. Todays students are more technically focussed and have a high level of research skills; they are embedded in electronic resources and delivery of these in online formats. Many are skilled in developing apps. All seem to have an extremely high-level of skills which enable them to contextualise content into multiple formats for a variety of users and uses. To limit this pool of talent to only traditional library jobs is to do a disservice to recent graduates and to their employers. Information management skills and resources are no longer the domain of the library environment. By recognising business applications in such areas as taxonomical development this opens the door to every online producer, manager or creator of content. Content needs to be structured so it is discoverable and accessible. There are other technical and research roles that our new entrants are more than capable of entering into. No longer guardians of knowledge but rather knowledge makers, facilitators and collaborators. By confining ourselves to the title of librarian we are limiting ourselves it is an out of date descriptor for our profession and especially for our new entrants. Why would we continue to hold onto a limiting professional identity? Library The term library is also one whose time has come to be eliminated. A Library can be defined as a building or room containing collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the public or the members of an institution As more and more libraries are eliminating book stock, print copies of all resources then how do they fit this definition. A recent survey of graduate and PhD students indicated that 90% of their access to library resources is done online. They only ever come to library when they need a physical book (which is rare) and to have a study space or a place or a to meet up with other students to work on projects or socialise. Surely this does not sound like a traditional library- it is more link a Study Space or Information Hub. Many students, including some of my fellow PhD students still find the library and librarians intimidating and there are documented cases of library phobia. By changing the name of this building to a more realistic name and that of the name of the staff who work there would be more relevant and accessible to end users. There are Negative stereotypes of both the words library and librarian. Why hold on to these? W e must redefine libraries for a digital-plus era. By digital-plus, I mean that materials are born digital and then rendered in a variety of formats, some print (traditional books and hard-copies of images) and some digital (e-books, interactive games, image files, audio and visual works in digital format). Libraries must become networked institutions. Theres much to be learned from how networked organisations function that will help libraries (and librarians as professionals) to thrive. Library schools and i-schools have a big role to play, as do funders and organisations that focus on professional development for librarians. Librarians should seek common cause with authors, agents, editors, and publishers, but if that fails, libraries may need to take on new functions. Librarians should seek common cause with technologists, inside and outside of libraries, in the public and private sectors and develop strong technical (coding, information architecture, design, etc.) skills across the board within the library profession. Library spaces should function more like labs, where people interact with information and make new knowledge. Libraries should maintain physical spaces but use them for lots of things other than the storage of physical materials. To sum up these positions I am suggesting a a call to action - to eliminate these words - to dissociate ourselves and create new words and terms that reflect this. My observation is that librarians dont engage and promote their careers enough - if we dont value ourselves how can we expect anyone else to? Summing up We both found this debate challenging. Especially, Jane as she took the opposing option and many of her points were not ones she personally agreed with but were necessary for the debating process. We hope the ideas and issues as well as the suggestions for action will be a catalyst for professional reflection for readers. At the end of the debate there was some swaying but most attendees sided with the idea that the terms Libraries and Librarian should remain in tact. 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. Two policemen were killed in an armed attack on a security patrol in Menoufiya on Tuesday morning, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported. According to a security source, assailants shot at the patrol in the town of Qowaysna, killing two low-ranking policemen and injuring the chief of the town's police investigations unit. The security source said that the assailants, who have so far evaded capture, are already wanted on several criminal charges. No details were provided on whether they had been charged with terrorism-related offences. Egypt is battling an Islamist insurgency, with most fighting in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. However, militants have also struck elsewhere in the country, including the capital, often targeting police and army personnel. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) issued a statement on Tuesday praising a new law regulating a re-forming of the NCHR, saying it grants the organisation the independence necessary to do its job. "The law helps the council play its role in an impartial and independent manner as well as maintain its international standing," the NCHR said. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a decree on Monday amending some laws and provisions organising the re-formation of the NCHR. The new law was presented by the government before it was approved by the parliament in July. The first article of the law, published in the official gazette on Monday, says that the NCHR, first established in 2003, is an independent council that aims to promote, maintain and protect human rights and public freedoms in accordance with the constitution and international conventions. According to the new law, the council shall be formed of 25 members, in addition to its president and vice president, for four-year terms instead of three years as stated in the previous version of the law. The new law also grants members of the council the right to visit health institutions and prisons and interview inmates to ensure their rights are preserved. Although this duty was previously carried out by members of the council, the previous version of the law did not explicitly grant this right. The new law also grants both the president and parliament the right to convene the council, whereas previously only the president was granted this right. The law also grants the parliament speaker and the prime minister the right to refer to parliament any issues related to the NCHR. The law states that members of the council shall comprise public figures with experience and interest in human rights issues, including professors in constitutional law from an Egyptian university. The law says that members shall not be appointed for two consecutive terms. The new law also states that parliament must approve the formation of the council, and do its best to see that its members represent different segments of society. Parliament shall be tasked with selecting the president of the council and his deputy with a majority vote. The council is tasked with presenting an annual report to the president, parliament and the cabinet on the human rights situation, its efforts and activities, as well as present proposals. The law also puts in place an independent budget for the council to be monitored by the Accountability State Authority. NCHR Vice President Abdel-Ghaffar Shukr has said that according to the new law, the council should be formed within 30 days of the final approval of the law, and that the formation will be approved by parliaments General Committee. Shukr has said that parliament will task professional unions, human rights organisations, and universities with nominating members for the council. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's administrative prosecution has referred 35 government officials to an urgent disciplinary trial for "blatant neglect" after they reportedly ignored evidence of sexual abuse among children at a Cairo orphanage, state news agency MENA said on Tuesday. The defendants, who include a number of officials at the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the municipality, face charges including "blatant neglect of their duties" for failing to take action after seeing evidence that older children were sexually victimising their younger peers at an orphanage in the eastern Cairo suburb of Ain Shams, administrative prosecution spokesman Mohamed Samir said in a statement. Medical examination showed that 35 out of 80 children at the Fatma Al-Zahraa orphanage were subjected to repeated sexual assaults, the statement added. Administrative prosecutors ordered a probe into the case in February after a social worker appeared on the TV talk show Ashera Masaan alleging a prevalence of sexual assault at the orphanage. The prosecution said that investigations revealed that a supervisor at the orphanage had filed a report after noticing what appeared to be signs of sexual abuse on a child while helping him shower. During a session with the social worker who later appeared on Ashera Masaan, the child revealed he was sexually assaulted by an older peer. The social worker says that the management at the orphanage ignored her when she reported the incident, saying that such incidents are to be expected among gatherings of children of the same sex. The social worker says she was then removed from her position at the orphanage. She says that the management has ignored several reports of sexual assaults violations since 2012. The prosecution says that a number of other violations have been found at the orphanage, including a lack of security, qualified education staff, and medical care. Search Keywords: Short link: Yemen's national blood bank may be forced to close due to a lack of money after an international medical charity decided to end two years of support, the director of the blood bank said. But the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) said it was trying to help by sending further supplies. Patients suffering diseases including thalassaemia, cancer and kidney failures, as well as victims of a two-year civil war in which more than 10,000 people have been killed, would be affected if the bank closed, officials said. More than three million people have been displaced in Yemen's conflict and much of the country's infrastructure including its health system has been destroyed. "If the centre stops, a catastrophe will hit the whole country," said Munir al-Zubaidi, a spokesman for the bank said. The country of 27 million is also facing a cholera epidemic that has affected some 600,000 people and killed nearly 2,000. The National Blood Transfusion Centre director, Dr. Adnan al-Hakimi, said the crisis emerged after French medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) informed the bank it was suspending its aid after more than two years of work. "The centre suffers from a complete shortage of supplies, including medical solutions, blood bags and medical needs," Hakimi said. "We have issued an appeal to all civil society groups, businessmen and anyone interested in charity work to save the lives of those who are ill, injured or wounded so the centre would not stop," he added. An MSF spokeswoman said the charity had handed over its support for the blood bank to the WHO. MSF has been doing extensive work in Yemen since the war began in March 2015, operating hospitals and clinics and providing medical supplies to various state-run facilities. In a report in January, MSF said it had provided regular blood testing kits to the blood bank since September 2015. The WHO confirmed the bank was at risk of closing. "WHO is looking into ways to support the National Blood Transfusion Centre," said Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman. "Supplies were ordered but have not reached Yemen as of now," he added without elaborating Search Keywords: Short link: Three major banks in Hungary have experienced a series of targeted phishing attempts in recent months, the central bank said on Tuesday, without naming the lenders involved. The National Bank of Hungary, which is the regulator for banks and financial markets, said no funds had been lost as a result of the attacks, which started in June. In a statement, it said banking clients were targeted with misleading email and text messages calling on account holders to confirm their security credentials. The central bank said the cloned websites through which hackers were trying to obtain banking login details were more convincing than in previous phishing attempts, using grammatical Hungarian rather than relying on translation software, for example. The central bank said banks affected were taking measures to tackle the issue but warned that other lenders could be subject to similar phishing attempts in the coming days. Search Keywords: Short link: South African President Jacob Zuma faces a no-confidence vote by secret ballot in parliament Tuesday, with opponents hoping that discontented ANC lawmakers could oust him from office. Criticism of Zuma from within the African National Congress (ANC) has grown over corruption scandals and economic woes, and the celebrated party of Nelson Mandela has declined sharply at the polls. But the ANC -- which holds a large majority in parliament -- said it expected its members to easily defeat the no-confidence motion. Several opposition parties led thousands of anti-Zuma protesters to the national assembly in Cape Town ahead of the parliamentary session due to begin at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT). "ANC MPs now have no excuse. They must use their vote... to remove Jacob Zuma," the main opposition Democratic Alliance party said after the speaker of parliament made a surprise decision Monday to hold the ballot in secret. Zuma has survived several previous parliamentary votes that were held without secret balloting. A 201-vote majority would be needed to remove him from power, and the ANC holds 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament. His cabinet would also be forced to resign. "Mbete's decision was made knowing that Zuma will be secure," said Darias Jonker of the New York-based Eurasia political analysis consultancy. "The vast majority of ANC MPs are not willing to risk the stability of the party in order to remove Zuma in this fashion." Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president before the 2019 general election -- lessening pressure for his party to trigger imminent change. The secret ballot has been subject to a long legal battle waged by opposition parties, who hope that ANC lawmakers will now be emboldened to vote against him without fear of intimidation. But ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu told reporters Tuesday that lawmakers would "fight for the unity of our party". "We will vote against this motion," he said. "We can't vote with the opposition to remove our own government." Mthembu last week acknowledged recent criticism of the party, including the impact of a cabinet reshuffle in March when respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan was replaced with a Zuma loyalist. Gordhan's sacking led to a string of downgrades to South Africa's credit rating as well as causing the rand currency to tumble. Public support for the ANC, which swept to power under Mandela in the first non-racial elections in 1994, slipped to 55 percent in last year's local polls -- its worst-ever result. A handful of MPs, including Gordhan, have joined calls from anti-apartheid veterans and trade unions for Zuma to resign, as South Africa endures record unemployment and a recession. Zuma has been engulfed by corruption allegations since coming to office in 2009. A court last year found him guilty of violating the constitution after he refused to repay taxpayers' money used to refurbish his private rural house. He has been accused of being in the sway of the wealthy Gupta business family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments, contracts and state-owned businesses. He is also fighting a court order that could reinstate almost 800 corruption charges against him over a multi-billion dollar arms deal in the 1990s. Zuma is seen as favouring his ex-wife, former African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to succeed him ahead of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Search Keywords: Short link: A 47-year-old San Jose man who purported himself to be a doctor, but who lacked a license to practice medicine, was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman during an unlicensed examination, police said Monday. Ezequiel Aaron Dureo-Carvajal, the owner of a holistic pharmacy called Iridologia Farmacia, was arrested at the business on Friday, according to the San Jose Police Department. A Twenty Minute Silence Followed by Applause By Shawn Wen Sarabande. 136 pp. $15.95 --- It isn't easy to turn a biography into poetry. But Shawn Wen does exactly that with her portrait of mime artist Marcel Marceau, who introduced the world to this wordless art form. Wen, a radio producer and multimedia artist, has written her first book with the kind of poetic zeal that suits an artist who practically created silent cinema on stage. Her lyrical essay pirouettes from Marceau's rescue of children during the Holocaust to his education at Charles Dullin's School of Dramatic Art in Paris to his acclaimed role playing Bip. But his life wasn't all heroics and gloss. Wen is quick to include Marceau's regrets, too. The research here is impressive. Wen mined interviews, reviews and archived performances, even cataloging his possessions made public after his death in 2007. Translating Marceau's backstory is one thing, but evoking his mime performances on the page is an incredibly difficult feat that the author accomplishes successfully. Wen breaks up her short chapters on Marceau's upbringing, education and career with many scenes of the mime character Bip. We get a taste of Bip fighting bulls, wooing women in the crowd, mimicking a sea creature. Marceau's genius still deserves to be seen, but Wen's evocative writing invites us into the audience to watch the powdered face arch into emotional heights, the body sway against unseen wind. "The mime refashions time," Wen writes, "sculpting it with a precision instrument. He can suspend it or hasten it at will. He marches in place for three minutes and a lifetime has passed." If the empty stage is a world without laws, as Wen suggests, then Marceau saw the beauty and the tragedy in the invisible. He became the mayor of his lawless universe. He breathed personalities into his characters who rocketed mime into worldwide attention in the 1970s and 1980s. What was once a European attraction soon gave rise to mime troupes and shows across the United States. Marceau was on top of the world, but still he couldn't keep his masked grin on his real face. Wen characterizes Marceau as a tormented artist who didn't express himself vocally to his three ex-wives and who was constantly absent from his four children. He could tell stories with his body but couldn't speak openly with his loved ones. He silent-cried. His wives didn't know how to access a part of him that he opened only in front of audiences. And the work wore on him, too. "The mime keeps count in heartbeats and breaths," Wen writes. "After decades, he is weathered." By framing Marceau's life as a lyrical ode, we aren't bogged down by dates and key accomplishments. We get just a passing tour of his commitment to saving Jewish kids in the Holocaust by dressing them up as campers and marching them out of Nazi-occupied France into Switzerland. She only briefly notes his relationship with Michael Jackson, who reportedly borrowed Marceau's footwork to create his moonwalk. ("Michael has the soul of a mine," said Marceau, as if they were two brothers separated by oceans and time.) We are instead let into the life of an artist whose movements became the language of his art. As Wen writes, "The body is boneless, loose/like elastic, the form/of anything that vibrates or throbs." We learn that Marceau was a "life-sized marionette, tumbling for our amusement." When death comes, Wen writes, "Proteins shatter, a pile of shards in a dustpan, loose pebbles in a kaleidoscope." Her writing acts almost as a prayer in response to losing another star in a sky that dims with each passing guru. Where the book lags is in the listings of items found in Marceau's home, from silverware to books. These details break the momentum of Wen's prose and should have been scaled back instead of being peppered between Marceau's feats. We also don't get much perspective on how mime has influenced artists today, but that could be an entirely other volume, likely triple the length of this brief book. Don't come to Wen expecting a primer on mime and where it's headed and how it's been overlooked by theater or comedy scenes. That's not her intention. With "A Twenty Minutes Silence Followed by Applause," Wen offers an invigorating and memorable paean to Marceau's talent and tragedies, wrapped in a melodic critique that is unafraid to show the pain of an artist who sometimes felt trapped in a box. --- Silverberg is a freelance journalist who writes for BBC News, Vice and Ars Technica. Defining the "song of the summer" is a fraught concept, with so many options from so many genres - but there's no question that one of the top contenders of 2017 originated in Nashville. Sam Hunt's inescapable "Body Like a Back Road," a two-minute-and-45-second earworm in which a narrator extols the physical virtues of his ladyfriend, shattered records last week after reaching 25 consecutive weeks on the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the longest No. 1 streak in history. The previous record-holder was Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" in 2012, at 24 weeks, followed by Leroy Van Dyke's "Walk On By" in 1961, at 19 weeks. The chart, which has existed since 1958, measures radio play and sales, and in more recent years, streaming. Spotify and Pandora numbers probably gave a big boost to "Body Like a Back Road," which is also the third most-downloaded song of any genre in 2017, selling approximately 1.4 million digital copies so far. The track also spent three weeks at No. 1 on country radio, a rare accomplishment in an era where hits are quickly shuffled off the top of the charts. So, how did it happen? Even Hunt's three co-writers - Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Zach Crowell - still aren't quite sure. (Hunt was unavailable to comment.) Crowell, also Hunt's producer, said the song is "maybe 25 best-case scenarios at the same time": Perfect timing as it hits its peak in summer; a sound that fits on modern country radio; and satisfaction for Hunt's fans who were craving new material, given that he has barely released any since his debut multiplatinum album, "Montevallo," in 2014. "The moons lined up in our favor . . . the world was really wanting to like Sam's next song," Crowell said. Plus, he added, the song's precise, pared-down lyrics were appealing. "I definitely think it's simple," he said. "And simple always wins. That's one common thread from the beginning of music." Indeed, the song doesn't mince words. Hunt briskly finishes off the verses and puts all the emphasis on the can't-get-it-out-of-your-head chorus: "Body like a back road/driving with my eyes closed/I know every curve like the back of my hand." But for a "simple" song, the writing process was complicated. The track was born out of a songwriters' trip in November 2016 to Charleston, South Carolina, as the four - who have written together for years - looked for inspiration outside of Nashville. One day, Hunt said, "I have an idea for a song, but I don't know if you think it's a cool idea." He offered the title, "Body Like a Back Road." According to Osborne, the group was immediately intrigued. "We were like, 'Yes, we want to write that,' " Osborne said. "It just sounded like a hit country song." The four of them spent hours working on the lyrics, and although the chorus stayed much the same throughout the process, the verses went through many iterations. First, they had too many references to the road, so it felt overwritten. Then they took them out, and the song was too loose. They rewrote some more. Finally, they left Charleston thinking the song was finished. However, a couple of months later, Hunt still thought the lyrics needed to be polished, and they went back to work. The hardest part was making it sound conversational, a frequent ingredient in Hunt's music; he will occasionally break into spoken word. Osborne said they cracked the code when Hunt came up with the line, "Had to get her number, took me like six weeks." It might sound silly, but the lyric indicates a longer story in a few words, and listeners might be able to relate. "Sam has the advantage of going out on stage and performing these songs, so he has the viewpoint of what people are going to respond to. So sometimes that's hard for us, because we're trying to write these definitive lines that people will go, 'How did they think of that?' " McAnally said. "Honestly, this song does that, but in a different way. That's how I feel when I hear it, I'm like, 'The breeze and the birds!' I mean, it must have taken us nine hours of actual songwriting work to ever come to that line. It's just a different beast." Eventually, they perfected the lyrics. Crowell produced the track, and upon its release in February, "Body Like a Back Road" rocketed up the charts - and just kept going. While Hunt's affinity for pop and R&B can be polarizing, his success proves that there's an appetite for his style of music. He's the genre's next hope for a pop crossover sensation. Osborne said he has received a hugely positive response from the writing community in Nashville, and the song's breakthrough is a good reminder of the benefits of lighter songs, even if the instinct for Nashville writers is to dig deeper. (Or, in his words, the goal is often to "write a song where I play it at the Bluebird and the crowd cries.") "But there's something to be said to be part of a song that's part of someone's summer vacation, or when they're jamming out at the lake," Osborne said. "We talk so much as songwriters that we want to make people feel something - so many times we forget that 'happy' is something that people feel, too." Egypt is looking to reverse a series of bans on its agricultural products that has hit one of its most promising export sectors, Abdel Hamid al-Demerdash, the head of Egypt's Agriculture Export Council told Reuters. Egyptian crops from strawberries to peppers have been hit by temporary bans in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on concerns over pesticides residues. Sudan introduced a blanket ban in May on agricultural products from Egypt. Agricultural exports were expected to increase significantly this year after Egypt floated its pound currency in November, roughly halving its value and making goods relatively cheap for foreign buyers. But Demerdash put sales from the export season, which is set to end this month, at about $2.1 billion, down from $2.2 billion last year. Egypt's agricultural export season runs from September through August. Arab countries have requested that Egypt establish a "whitelist" of approved exporters who can guarantee the safety of their products, said Demerdash, whose council is working with the government to set it up. "There is going to be an official Egyptian delegation visiting the countries which have banned the goods. We hope that these countries return to importing from Egypt before the beginning of the new export season," said Demerdash, who represents about 1200 Egyptian agricultural exporters. Egypt exports about 1.8 million tonnes of fruit per year and 1.4 million tonnes of vegetables, making agricultural products one its largest export sectors at about 10 percent of total exports. The country has a gaping trade deficit that stood at $42.64 billion last year. That deficit has been narrowing in the past few months on the back of a large decline in imports, though export growth remains modest at just 8 percent in the first half of 2017. "We're working on opening new export markets in Asia and Africa and we will be making several visits to countries there, in addition to opening markets for grapes in Canada and Australia," said Demerdash. Search Keywords: Short link: Kimberly Brooks has been a voice actress for over 20 years and has given her vocals to television (a computer on "Big Bang Theory), video games ("Fallout 4", "Halo 5") and animation ("Rugrats," "Shimer and Shine," "Steven Universe"). But it is her current role voicing Princess Allura on Netflix's "Voltron: Legendary Defender" that Brooks says is the highlight of her career working in Hollywood. Brooks recalled that she recorded almost the entire first season of Netflix's "Voltron" in 2016 before producers Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery presented images from production. "I'll never forget the first time I actually saw Allura," Brooks told The Washington Post. "I literally teared up because she was so beautiful." In "Voltron's" first two seasons, Princess Allura guided the paladin pilots of the five robot lions that come together to form Voltron. But from the very beginning of the series, fans, and Brooks herself, wondered if the day would come when Allura (just like in the original "Voltron" series of the 1980s) would eventually become a paladin herself and pilot the blue lion. That moment finally arrived in Season 3 (which began streaming Aug. 4), when a shift in the Voltron roster left the blue lion needing a new paladin. Allura answered the call and Brooks was now not only a princess, but a vital part of Voltron. "I think (piloting a Voltron lion) might make it possible for me to get my own action figure now," Brooks said with a laugh. "Hard to come by those action figures unless you've got some action going on." Brooks didn't know for sure Allura would pilot the blue lion until the script for that episode landed in her hands. Dos Santos and Montgomery reveal plot details to their cast on a script by script basis. "The worst part is I have to keep it all inside until it airs," Brooks said. Brooks is aware of the potential influence she can have as an African-American actress who is the voice of such a popular animated character. That a young girl of color can look at Princess Allura's golden brown alien hue and then see Brooks as the voice behind that character is something the actress takes pride in. "Just as an African-American actress, working in this town, working in this field, there's not enough roles," Brooks said. "But I love that what little contribution that I'm making, that that's possibly opening doors for the future for other actresses who may want to do this or just want to be represented. So of course, that's the icing on top of the cake of just being a working actor." After a seven-episode third season, "Voltron" will return to Netflix for a fourth season in October. Brooks says fans should continue to be intrigued by the presence of Prince Lotor, a classic villain who debuted in Season 3 and will be a big part of Season 4. "Expect a lot of surprises from Lotor and just the unexpected. We have no idea what this guy is all about," Brooks said. "Can we defend and restore peace to the universe? I think people have a lot to look forward to." San Antonio will be a little more "insane" in a few months. The American hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse will perform at the Alamo City Music Hall on October 13. As a part of "The Great Milenko" 20 year tour, the face-painted pair will give San Antonians a taste of their horrorcore rap. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. TV star Jason Ritter recently shot a scene in the San Antonio International Airport for an upcoming prime time series, and it was so emotional that his eyes still well up when he recalls the experience. It was really magical. Ill never be able to fly out of the San Antonio airport without thinking of it, a visibly moved Ritter (Parenthood) revealed in a one-on-one chat Sunday at an ABC party in Beverly Hills, Calif. The moment, described as golden by an executive producer, was shot in the spring against the backdrop of S.A.s busy airport. Viewers can watch it when the pilot of new fall series Kevin (Probably) Saves the World debuts at 9 p.m. Oct. 3 on ABC. RELATED: 'Big Bang Theory' spinoff has a Texas accent The show is set in Austin and its much smaller, rural neighbor, Taylor. Much of the first episode was filmed in those two cities as well. However, because of the Lone Star States relatively meager filming incentives, producers said that the rest of the shoot was moved to Atlanta. In Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, Ritter John Ritters son, whos known for his recurring turns in Girls, Goliath and too many other series to count plays Kevin Finn, a cluelessly self-serving guy who is on a perilous path to despair. In a downward spiral, he returns home to Central Texas to stay with his widowed twin sister (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) and niece in their homey farmhouse. On Kevin's first night there, an unlikely celestial being named Yvette appears and presents him with a mission. Humanity has been thrown into crisis, this vision tells him, and hes been tasked with saving it through one act of kindness at a time. RELATED: Pop superstar with S.A. roots gets Kennedy honor Although TV critics have yet to see a full screener, the show sounds like an updated cross between such classics as the heartwarming Touched by an Angel and the more irreverent My Name is Earl. However, the agent for good here, Yvette originally played by Latina standup comic Cristela Alonzo, but recast with Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Vice Principals) prefers the title warrior for God rather than angel. Initially, Kevin is left befuddled by the strange visit. Crestfallen after what turns into a painful time in Texas with his sister and niece, he decides to take a plane back to his old life in New York. At the airport, however, hes awakened to the possibility that his recent celestial experience could actually mean something. In a nutshell, he sees a stranger and is consumed with the desire to open up to him. Its the climax of the pilot. He sees this guy and has a sense that he needs to hug him, co-creator Michele Fazekas said in a more intimate interview after the group session for Kevin. He gives this long speech: Heres what happened to me. I almost killed myself; my life is terrible, but I want to change it. Do you mind if I hug you? RELATED: Director Richard Linklater praises, blasts 'crazy' Texas Theres a twist I wont reveal, but suffice to say that Kevin gets his hug, and the act of opening up to a stranger affirms that he was on the right path. It prompts him to go back home to Texas and try it again, Ritter said, adding it was that scene that made him want to do the series it was the moment that held everything together. When I read it, it brought tears to my eyes. Fazekas said the backdrop of the San Antonio airport made it even more special. They gave us a gate at the end of Southwest wing, she said. RELATED: TV's take on Stephen King's 'Mr. Mercedes' a disturbing ride It wasnt an easy shoot: The rest of the airport was working around us - the announcements were playing and all that. Fazekas was a bit concerned that Ritter had to deliver his most emotional scene in the pilot amidst this chaos. However, it ended up looking amazing, she said. It was wonderful shooting it in an actual airport. Without $100,000 for visual effects, youre not going to get those production values. When Kevin and the stranger hug, it was such a beautiful moment, she added. A plane moves out of the way and the sun turns everything to gold a really emotional, lovely scene. JJakle@express-news.net The murals include works by prominent Egypt artists like Seif Wanly and Monir Canaan El-Beit magazine will showcase murals from Al-Ahrams art collection in an exhibition titled Konooz El-Haram El-Rabea (Treasures of the Fourth Pyramid), which opens on 9 August at one of the organisations downtown buildings. Sawsan Morad, editor of El-Beit magazine, said in a press release that the exhibition is to celebrate 17 years since the founding of El-Beit and 142 since the founding of Al-Ahram. Morad says the exhibition reflects the organisation's long-time support of culture and art. The exhibition is curated by artist Ehab El-Labban, and will include murals by Seif Wanly, Mounir Canaan, Sabry Mansour, Gazebiya Serry, Omar El-Nagdy, Ahmed Nawar, and Zeinab Abdel-Hamid, among other prominent Egyptian artists. The artworks are large-scale pieces that adorn Al-Ahrams walls across its different floors and departments, exhibited to the public for the first time. The works are special because some of the artists created something different than their usual style, while others kept their signature style but it was different for them to create in this large scale, Moard said. The exhibition shows how Al-Ahram organization throughout the years was not only a platform for ideas, bas has always played an important role in supporting art and Egyptian artists, El-Labban added. Morad stated that choosing El-Labban to curate the exhibition came after he curated the art exhibition at the recently opened Aisha Fahmy Palace. I believe that a specialized artist who has an academic background will add depth to the exhibition and understand the considerations of displaying the artworks. I felt El-Labban would the best person to do that, commented Morad. Programme: The exhibition opens at 8pm on 9 August, runs until 20 August Al-Ahram Newspapers New Building, El-Galaa Street, Downtown Cairo 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: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Queensbury woman killed in collision QUEENSBURY A Queensbury woman died and another was left critically injured after a Monday morning car crash, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office. Caroline Bennett, 44, of Bay Road was pronounced dead at the scene of the 8:45 a.m. collision involving her Chevrolet Trailblazer and a tractor-trailer on Route 149 about a quarter mile east of Oxbow Hill Road, authorities said. Her passenger, Ellen Gipe, 42, also of Bay Road, was extricated from the vehicle and flown by helicopter to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. The truck driver, Larry Long Jr., 49, Ephrata, Pa., was not injured. The sheriff's office said the truck was eastbound on Route 149 when the collision occurred with the westbound SUV. The crash pushed Bennett's vehicle backward, striking a third vehicle, a westbound Subaru being operated by Guy Fullen, 59, also of Bay Road, who was not injured. Witnesses said the vehicle operated by Bennett was on the wrong side of the road at the time of the collision, the sheriff's office said, and evidence corroborates the witness statements. Staff report Robber caught with $6,600 bank cash SCHENECTADY A man who allegedly slipped a note demanding money to a teller at the Citizens Bank on State Street and ran off with the money was arrested Monday soon after the 9:45 a.m. heist, city police said. Robert L. Costello, 36, was apprehended not far from the bank at 501 State St. and taken to the Detective Division where he was found to be in possession of $6,600, police spokesman Officer Timothy Rizzo said. Costello was charged with third-degree robbery and grand larceny and held in the city lockup awaiting arraignment. Staff report Ex-Albany cop runs afoul of law again SARATOGA SPRINGS A former Albany policeman who has had his troubles with the law was arrested in Saratoga Springs. William Bonanni, 50, of Stillwater allegedly tossed a chair, smashing a window at Saratoga Hospital at noon. He was charged with criminal mischief, a felony. Police said it is unclear why Bonanni threw the chair. In 2002, Bonanni was charged with using excessive force during a racially charged beating of a handcuffed college student in Arbor Hill. A federal jury found that the Albany police officer violated the civil rights of the man and awarded the victim $200,000 in punitive damages. In 2003, Bonanni and another officer were involved in a fatal shooting of a bystander on New Year's Eve. Aside from additional training, Bonanni went unpunished. The city, however, settled with the victim's family at a cost of $1.3 million. At the time, it was the largest settlement in the city's history. Wendy Liberatore Man sentence for VA shooting threat ALBANY A Rochester-area man who called a veterans help line last summer and said he would "kill everybody" at Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany was sentenced to time served Thursday. Robert J. Seifert, 59, of Canandaigua has been in jail for the 12 1/2 months since he threatened the mass shooting and will face three years of post-release supervision when he is freed. Seifert, who made the threats three days after a mass shooter killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., admitted to a charge of making an interstate threat to injure another on March 31 days before his trial in U.S. District Court was to begin. He had faced two additional counts of threatening to assault and kill a U.S. official before pleading guilty. On June 15, 2016, Seifert called a Veterans Crisis Line operator in Portland, Ore., and detailed his plans for carnage, according to a pretrial brief filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett. "I got an Uzi and I wanna kill everybody at the Albany VA. And I'm not playing games with you," Seifert told the operator. "Watch what happens when I get to the Albany VA with my Uzi and I start shooting people up." "OK," the operator replied. "Well, you're going to go to the Albany VA with your Uzi? Do you have an Uzi?" "Know who the (expletive) this is?" Seifert answered. "My name is Robert Seifert. And I'm ..." "Sorry. Your name is Robert?" the operator asked. "And I'm going to (expletive) kill everybody there. Bye," Seifert said. "Robert?" the operator asked. Seifert did not reply. Emily Masters No foul play found in death near motel COLONIE The man who was found dead behind the vacant Cocca's motel Wednesday morning died of natural causes, town police said Monday. The man, who was in his 40s and will not be identified by police, suffered a fatal blockage of an artery in his lung, Colonie police spokesman Lt. Robert Winn said. The man and his female companion, both of whom Winn said were homeless, had been staying on the property for at least two days. Police said the couple had gained access to one of the motel rooms, where the woman had been staying while the man slept in a car parked nearby. On Wednesday morning, the woman emerged from the room to find the man lying on the pavement, police said. She called 911. Arriving firefighters immediately started CPR but officials said it was clear the man had died several hours earlier. His body had no apparent wounds and police found no drugs or alcohol at the scene, Winn said. While the motel is vacant, it is not considered a "zombie property," Colonie spokeswoman Sara Wiest said, using a term the town applies to blighted problem structures. "It's not a zombie property in the sense that we know who the owner is, the owner is responsive and the taxes are paid," she said, adding there is also no history of code violations. Emily Masters Police: Drunk man stole catering truck COLONIE A Schenectady man who allegedly stole a Mazzone Catering truck took police on a chase on Troy-Schenectady Road on Saturday morning, Colonie police said. Donald Errichetto, 39, was driving the box truck with a flat tire at about 6 a.m. When police tried to pull over the truck, Errichetto took off, at a low speed, police said. When he could not longer drive on the blown tire, he jumped out of the truck and ran into a wooded and weedy area. Police caught up with him at 1201 Troy-Schenectady Road. Errichetto was charged with felony DWI as he had a prior DWI conviction and criminal possession of stolen property. He also was charged with driving with a suspended license, ticketed for numerous violations, arraigned and sent to Albany County jail. Staff report Prison for man who shot himself ALBANY Edwin Ferrer, 44, of Schenectady was sentenced Monday to 63 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a handgun, ammunition and crack cocaine. Evidence his trial showed that on December 18, 2015, Ferrer was driving his Cadillac SUV in Schenectady when he accidentally shot himself in the leg with his Smith & Wesson pistol. Investigators searched his SUV and recovered the pistol, six rounds of ammunition, and a quarter of a gram of crack cocaine. On March 29, following a three-day trial, a jury voted to convict Ferrer of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, as well as a small quantity of crack cocaine. United States District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, which will start after Ferrer is released from prison. This case was investigated by Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Schenectady Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss. Staff report This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In the wake of a warning by the U.S. State Department regarding possible tainted or counterfeit alcohol in Mexico, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission recently seized pulque coming through Laredo, state authorities said Monday. On July 25, a TABC tax compliance officer seized 45 gallons of pulque from three fuel containers. The person transporting the pulque is not facing charges, authorities said. Chris Porter, TABC public information officer, said it's unclear if the pulque was tainted but did say the pulque did not have proper label and identification. "Illicit alcohol includes any alcohol products which are not properly labeled or are carried in improper containers. Such products may also contain dangerous or illegal additives, making them unsafe for human consumption," TABC said in a news release. READ MORE: Texans, San Antonians react to Monday morning storms in hilarious Twitter posts In fiscal year 2017, tax compliance officers from TABC's ports of entry division seized more than 1,000 containers of illicit or dangerous alcohol brought by travelers crossing into Texas from Mexico, according to TABC. "It's not uncommon for our (tax compliance officers) to identify alcohol in unmarked containers, such as a gasoline container or water bottle," said TABC Ports of Entry Chief John Reney. "These products, if allowed to enter Texas, could prove dangerous to consumers. For that reason, we seize the products and destroy them before they can enter the marketplace." Recently, the U.S. Department of State had updated Mexico's safety and security guidance on its website regarding alcohol consumption. "There have been allegations that consumption of tainted or substandard alcohol has resulted in illness or blacking out. If you choose to drink alcohol, it is important to do so in moderation and to stop and seek medical attention if you begin to feel ill," the State Department said. MORE FROM LMTonline: Laredo police investigating man found dead near Slaughter Park In January, A Wisconsin woman died while vacationing with her family in a Mexican resort, according to media reports. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation claims the woman's death raised questions about drinks being served in all-inclusive resorts in Mexico. Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the department, addressed the topic in a July 27 news conference. "We've put an update on our website about that because we have seen the media reports and concerns that people have about tainted alcohol at some resorts and clubs and things of that sort in Mexico," she said. "So, the United States wouldn't be involved in an investigation. That would be an internal matter for the Government of Mexico. They have a regulatory body that, from my understanding, they are involved in looking into some of this." In This Corner of the World is a Japanese animation that tells the story of a young woman who comes of age just as World War II is beginning. It starts as a pastoral tale, and then gradually the war starts pressing in, first with rationing and food shortages and later with aerial bombing. Most of the film takes place in Kure, a naval port that was the site of a major sea battle in 1945. To give you an idea of where the story goes, Kure is less than 20 miles from Hiroshima, the first city destroyed by an atomic bomb. The animation is hand-drawn and delicate, with a color palette made up mostly of pastels, pink and light blue. The characters are delicate, as well. Though the movie ultimately turns on the violence wreaked on a wars innocent bystanders, the characters are uniformly gentle, almost meek. And so we watch in a kind of dread as 1945 gets closer. Yet in another way, 1945 cant arrive fast enough, in that In This Corner of the World is 129 minutes, an eternity for an animated film, especially one so wispy in look and so sparing in plot. By the time the movies halfway over, viewers may have the paradoxical sensation of wishing the war would get going already. In this way, the film feels very much a cultural artifact not quite making the translation from Japan to America. Still, there are moments that leap out with a touching quality of poetry, as when the young heroine looks out at a cloud forming in the direction of Hiroshima. Its elaborate and looks like a mushroom cloud, but its years before the atomic bomb. This time its just a rain cloud, prefiguring the calamity to come. Theres also an interesting moment when the heroine gets word of the Japanese surrender. Instead of the reactions that we, within our culture, might expect such as relief, or resignation, or a sad acknowledgment at the inevitable finally happening she is bitter with rage, as if ready to take on the U.S. Army single-handedly. Its a curious moment and gives insight into a people known and feared at the time for their willingness to fight until the last person was standing. Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle In This Corner of the World Animation. Starring Non and Megumi Han. Directed by Sunao Katabuchi. In Japanese with English subtitles. (PG-13. 129 minutes.) A historic cemetery where the pioneering families of Harris County are buried is easier to access and has better protection from feral hogs, thanks to the efforts of a group of people tending the site. Members of the Hammer-McFaddin-Harris Cemetery Association were instrumental in persuading Harris County Precinct 2 officials to grade a mile-long road leading to the cemetery and install fencing to prevent feral hogs from rooting up the ground. "This will help us maintain the cemetery in some kind of good condition, because we can get out there now when we want," said Jean Epperson, chairwoman of the association, which she founded with her half brother, John Harris. "(The improvements) will certainly encourage people who have family out there to go to the cemetery and people who are interested in history." Located on the south bank of Willow Gully, one mile up a dirt road, northeast of Red Bluff Road at Kirby, the cemetery was established in 1851 with the death of Mary Richardson Harris. David McFaddin, who fought in the Battle of San Jacinto, is believed to be buried there. The property and surrounding land passed through various families, including the McFaddin and Hammer families, until the land was donated to Harris County in 1993 by the Friendswood Development Co. Though the cemetery is under the conservatorship of nearby Armand Bayou Nature Center, it is kept up by the cemetery association, which secured the designation as a Historic Texas Cemetery in 2010. However, Epperson said in recent years the dirt road leading to the cemetery had deteriorated and become impassable when it rained, and hogs were digging up the ground. The county recently installed fencing around the property to prevent wildlife from causing damage and has been working on regrading the road to improve drainage and maintain its integrity, at a total cost of $23,000. "Commissioner (Jack) Morman recognizes the historical value of this site; so we were already looking at different ways to improve it," Precinct 2 Parks Director Kyle Kelley said in an email. "The weather was making it difficult for us to evaluate the site and come up with a plan. After it cleared up, we were able to team up with Ms. Epperson to come up with the best and quickest solution for preserving the cemetery." Epperson praised Kelley for his support of their efforts to protect and preserve the one-acre cemetery, where two of Stephen F. Austin's "Old 300" - David Harris and Samuel Isaacks - are also buried, along with several generations of their families and others. Harris was the brother of John Richardson Harris, after whom Harris County is named. Epperson's half brother is a descendent. "Old 300" refers to settlers who received land grants as part of Stephen F. Austin's contract in Texas when it was under Mexico, according to the Texas Historical Commission. In addition to Epperson, Dawn Hammer, a descendent of Nicholas and Celestine Hammer, who were buried there in the late 1800s, and of John B. Hammer, who once owned the property, have been lobbying for the improvements. "It's history," Dawn Hammer said. "To me it goes beyond just that my family is there. These are the people that settled here originally. They are the ones who fought for Texas independence." As well as keeping up the grounds, the cemetery association, which counts about a dozen active members, has identified some of the many unmarked graves, and with the limited funds from donations and the sale of Jean West's booklet about the cemetery, provided headstones. Epperson isn't done. She hopes to persuade the county to take up an offer of $10,000 from an anonymous donor to name the surrounding parkland David Harris Historic Park. And at 90 years old, she hopes someone will step up and take over her position as chair of the association. To find out more about the HMH Cemetery Association, contact Epperson at j.epperson1@yahoo.com. A man previously charged with supporting the Islamic State in an alleged plot to kill a U.S. soldier has now been charged with attempted murder, federal officials announced Tuesday. A federal grand jury in Maryland recently issued the attempted murder charge and a weapons charge against Nelash Das, 25, in addition to a count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS that was handed up last year. CASS CITY A renewed effort is underway to build another dairy processing center in Cass City. There was a special meeting recently at the Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation office in Caro to try to work out an agreement to develop a proposed second dairy processing facility in Cass City. The project has been stalled because a power source needs to be extended four miles to the Dairy Farmers of American (DFA) processing plant at 4105 N. Division St. Because DTE Energy has several projects ahead of the power line for DFA, it is estimated it would take about three years before the line could be extended, but DFA officials want the work done within two years. The second proposed processing plant is expected to be a multi-million dollar facility that would employ about 200 people so every effort is being made to have it built locally. Because of the length of time for a power source extension, DFA officials are looking at other possible sites in other areas of the state. "About 20 to 30 people were at the meeting in Caro, including our local senator and people from DTE," said Cass City Village President Carl Palmateer. "We are working on trying to get this (project) to happen." Back in September 2013, when construction of the $40 million DFA processing plant started, the plan was for it to be the first of a three-phase dairy processing complex. Some Cass City residents suggested a letter-writing campaign to officials like what was done that helped the new state hospital be built in Tuscola County. The state had planned to replace the Caro Center with a new hospital somewhere in the state, which would have meant the loss of hundreds of jobs and would have meant about a $60 million loss of revenue. A massive letter-writing campaign and data supporting the need to keep the Tuscola County location swayed lawmakers to build the new hospital in Caro. "Right now, the right-of-way from residents for the power line is being worked on," explained Palmateer. "We will have to see how it develops, but it is being worked on." Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation and Cass City officials continue to work with DFA and DTE representatives. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Caracas, Venezuela Pro- and anti-government factions dug themselves further into their trenches Monday amid Venezuela's deepening political crisis, with each side staking a claim to the powers granted them by dueling national assemblies. The new chief prosecutor who replaced an outspoken government critic outlined plans for restructuring the Public Ministry, while the opposition-controlled National Assembly vowed to continue meeting at the stately legislative palace a short walk across a plaza from where the all-powerful constitutional assembly is expected to hold its next meeting Tuesday. National Assembly president Julio Borges told fellow lawmakers they should keep an active presence in the building despite threats from the new assembly to swiftly strip them of any authority and lock up key leaders. Borges called the building, with its gold cupola, the "symbol of popular sovereignty." "We are a testament to the fight for democracy," he said at a meeting cobbled together amid mounting uncertainty about the legislature's future. "It should be known this assembly was true to its mandate." In theory, both the National Assembly and the pro-government constitutional assembly can rule simultaneously, but the new super body created through a July 30 election that drew international condemnation has the authority to trump any other branch of government and Venezuela's leaders have promised to do just that. Since its installation Friday, the constitutional assembly has signaled that it will act swiftly in response to President Nicolas Maduro's commands, which have included calls to strip legislators of their constitutional immunity from prosecution. "It should be clear: We arrived there to help President Nicolas Maduro," Diosdado Cabello, a leader of the ruling socialist party and member of the new assembly, told a crowd of supporters Monday. "But also, to create strong bases for the construction of Bolivarian and Chavista socialism." Several hundred pro-government Venezuelans marched to the legislative palace, where opposition lawmakers were inside crafting a resolution disavowing the new assembly. National Assembly members voted unanimously not to recognize any of the new super-body's decisions, which include removing chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz from power and installing a "truth commission" that will wield unusual authority to prosecute and levy sentences. For seven years, Gerhard Schroder was the leader of the most populous democracy in Western Europe. He modernized the country's social security system, angered George W. Bush by refusing to participate in the invasion of Iraq and was only narrowly ousted in an election defeat to Angela Merkel in 2005. Schroder could have easily spent the rest of his career as an elder statesman, attending summits and writing books. Instead, Schroder - a friend of Vladimir Putin who has defended Moscow's top man as a "flawless democrat" - opted for a career in the Russian business world. Schroder has spent much of the past decade working for the Russian energy industry, serving as a board member of several consortia in which Russian-government-controlled energy company Gazprom is either the majority or sole shareholder. His astonishing career in the Russian energy industry reached new heights last week when the former chancellor was reportedly offered a position on the board of Rosneft, Russia's largest oil company - and one in which the Kremlin also holds a controlling stake, according to Russian business publication RBK. A representative for Schroder told German media outlets that there were currently no talks, and Rosneft did not respond to a request for comment on the supposed offer. Schroder's office did not respond to an interview request by The Washington Post. At a time when Russian business connections among members of Trump administration have come under growing scrutiny, Schroder's case stands out as the perhaps most blatant example of a Western politician having conflicts of interests when it comes to Moscow. "By becoming a well-paid official of a foreign, aggressive power he has damaged the reputation of the political class more than any other living politician," said Stephan Bierling, an international politics professor at the University of Regensburg. Yet, despite his obvious links to the Russian government which are considered embarrassing by many Germans, Schroder has recently made a comeback among Germany's Social Democrats, or SPD. The former chancellor was applauded by party members during a rare campaign speech at a party convention in June. "What happens in the U.S. needs to be openly and harshly criticized," said Schroder in the speech, during which he did not mention alleged Russian election interference, the conflict in Ukraine or Russian human rights abuses. Although Schroder stated he was "not anti-American," he went on to criticize the United States' "monstrous" political influence, and he urged Germans to ignore Trump's demands to spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense. There was long applause for his remarks, which implied the need to improve relations with Russia. Schroder no longer holds any active official position in the party, and Thorsten Benner, the director of Berlin's Global Public Policy Institute, cautioned that "it would be wrong to see Schroder as the mastermind behind SPD policies on Russia." But as the last SPD politician to become chancellor, Schroder's advice is increasingly back in demand. The Social Democrats are a junior partner in Merkel's governing coalition and seemingly offer little meaningful difference from her Christian Democratic Union. Current SPD leader Martin Schulz, Merkel's only serious challenger in Germany's general election in September, appears headed for yet another sizable defeat. Still, some Social Democrats worry about glorifying a man who won two elections but crossed ethical boundaries in an unprecedented way after losing his third. Schroder's renewed popularity among parts of the German left has also stunned conservatives, who are concerned about possible Russian election interference in September. "Does Schroder only fight for the SPD, or does the SPD also fight for him - the Chairman of the Shareholders Committee of Nord Stream 2, a 100-percent sister company of the state giant Gazprom?," asked German tabloid Bild of its mostly right-leaning readers, referring to the expansion of a natural gas pipeline that connects Russia and Western Europe. Schroder's current tightrope walk between the sidelines of German politics and the forefront of Kremlin-connected commerce is as astonishing as the path he took to get there. As chancellor, Schroder championed the North Stream pipeline deal with Russia. The German government pursued the offshore pipeline between Russia and Germany to cut energy costs and establish a reliable supply route, but the U.S. largely viewed it as a Russian attempt to make Europe more dependent on the Kremlin. An expansion of the now-finished pipeline has been targeted by recent U.S. sanctions, pitting Washington against Germany and Russia on the issue. Fears in Washington over the pipeline date back to 2005, when Schroder hastily signed the deal during his last days in office. Then, just weeks after leaving politics, he began to oversee the implementation of the gas pipeline project himself - this time as a businessman in Russia and as the head of Nord Stream AG's shareholder committee. His move to Russia soon raised doubts about numerous other policies he had pursued. "Throughout his term in office, Mr. Schroeder thwarted attempts to put unified Western pressure on Russia to change its behavior," The Washington Post's editorial board summarized in 2005. "We can only hope that Germany's new chancellor, Angela Merkel, uses this extraordinary announcement as a reason to launch a new German policy toward Russia, one based on something other than Mr. Schroeder's private interests." Merkel did take a harsher stance on Russia in the following years, during which she sought a stronger alliance with the U.S. Meanwhile, Schroder's embrace of Russia continued undeterred. In 2014, at the height of the Ukraine crisis, Schroder celebrated his 70th birthday with Putin, sparking an international backlash. By opting for a post-politics business career in Russia, his critics said, Schroder had essentially chosen to join the Putin administration. His own former party was outraged at the time. "For anyone fighting for human rights and against Putin's aggressive politics, this seems cynical," the Social Democrats' human rights spokesman told reporters after the Schroder-Putin meeting in 2014. Three years later, however, a growing number of people on the German left have started to admire Schroder again. While many are still skeptical of the radical welfare-state revisions he introduced, some German left-wingers have recently started to acknowledge that the unpopular project paved the way for Germany's current economic prosperity. He's also remembered as a "fighter with guts," as Benner put it, for standing up to the U.S. during the Iraq War - something the Trump era may call for again. Perhaps most importantly, said Benner, Schroder is seen "a strong campaigner who showed how to take on Merkel" - something the SPD, which trails Merkel's party by at least 15 percentage points, has lacked since his departure. Schroder's rehabilitation also fits in with the traditional patterns of German politics. "Germans on the left and the far right have always had a weak spot for Moscow - [perhaps because] the relationship seemed to be on more equal footing than with the U.S. which remains the only superpower," said Bierling, the Regensburg international politics professor."If Putin had not invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine, many Germans would see him as a natural ally in times of transatlantic estrangement." Indeed, the current anti-Putin sentiment in Germany might not last forever. With global confidence in the U.S. in free-fall due to the Trump administration's policies, Schroder and other pro-Russian voices in Germany are finding it easier again to defend Putin, said Bierling - and so, too, are many Germans finding it easier to forgive and forget when it comes to their former leader. The Trump administration won't give any specifics about how it will handle the looming enrollment season in the Obamacare marketplaces, where 10 million-plus Americans are expected to seek health coverage for 2018. The six-week sign-up period will be the first handled exclusively by an administration that's hostile to the Affordable Care Act - and one that hoped by now to see Congress pass legislation unraveling much of the law. In each of the past four sign-up seasons, the Obama administration was a clear cheerleader for the marketplaces, engaging in widespread marketing efforts, supporting nonprofit "navigators" who helped with community-based enrollment and loudly proclaiming the availability of insurance plans -- and federal subsidies -- to just about anyone without employer-sponsored coverage, Medicare or Medicaid. So is the new administration -- and specifically the Department of Health and Human Services, run by former GOP Rep. Tom Price -- a friend or foe of the marketplaces? On one hand, any problems with enrollment on Healthcare.gov are likely to be blamed on the agency, which is in charge of operating and promoting it. On the other hand, Price's boss, President Donald Trump, has been loudly declaring his ongoing animosity to Obamacare and his hopes that its marketplaces will self-implode. Here are just some of the questions on our mind: - Will the government contact current enrollees to alert them that sign-ups will last just 45 days, about half as long as in the past three years? - Will HHS run call centers for consumers who need help as they look for plans? - Will the HealthCare.gov computer system be adjusted to accommodate a possible crush of shoppers given the shorter sign-up period? - And how will automatic enrollment be handled? In previous years, notices have been sent out in mid-December, informing customers with coverage about price changes for their current health plan and urging them to shop around. This year, Dec. 15 is when enrollment will end. Communications staff for HHS declined to answer questions about a half-dozen specific facets of the enrollment season, which will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. Instead, a spokeswoman for the agency's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a generic statement: "As open enrollment approaches, we are evaluating how to best serve the American people who access coverage on HealthCare.gov." An hour later, the spokeswoman, Jane Norris, requested that the statement be withdrawn, saying that she did not have permission to release it. When I asked her again for detailed answers, neither she nor anyone else at HHS responded further. So we decided instead to ask people who might know: State officials and health-care nonprofits around the country that have received so-called "navigator" grants to promote enrollment. (The three-year navigator grants were first awarded in 2015, and recipients say HHS has indicated they'll get the final annual payment in early September.) Many of these folks attended a two-day conference in Baltimore in June, where HHS staff held sessions about the enrollment season. One of the attendees was Daniel Bouton, manager of a consortium that helps people enroll across North Texas, who said many attendees peppered officials with questions about their advertising intentions. "Every time the question was brought up . . . the only answer we received is they were working on it, and they hadn't made a final decision about whether they were going to have a marketing campaign this year," Bouton told me. Jessie Menkens, who works for another navigator group, the Alaska Primary Care Association, had a similar account of the Baltimore meeting. At one point she asked an official about whether the administration plans to do outreach around enrollment season. "I said pretty much - is there a commitment at this time to proceed with this outreach?" Menkens said. "They very kindly said 'We're not able to provide a commitment to that.'" Menkens and others say they believe the navigator groups are more important than in years past, given the lack of commitment from the Trump administration to promoting Healthcare.gov. "There is a lot of noise coming from Washington, and it is our job to try to cut through that and provide factual and relatable information," Menkens said. Staff at the liberal consumer-health lobby Families USA grew accustomed over the past four years to frequent meetings with HHS staff members to talk over eligibility and related issues for open enrollments. There have been no such meetings since Trump took office, and federal officials have sometimes replied to written questions by saying no decision has yet been made, Eliot Fishman, the group's senior director of health policy, told the Post's Amy Goldstein. Heather Korbulic, executive director of Nevada's marketplace, is feeling daunted by a similar lack of answers. She has tried to find out whether HHS intends to contact Nevadans with ACA health plans to remind them to enroll - a particularly pressing issue because the state exchange operates under a hybrid system and pays about $5 million to rely on HealthCare.gov. She also has tried to get federal officials to provide a list of currently enrolled residents so the state can notify them directly. "I ask this question every week," Korbulic said. "It's verbal, written, and to different levels of management . . . We are desperately seeking answers." Julie McPeak, Tennessee's insurance commissioner and the incoming president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, said that she and colleagues have contacted officials at HHS, the Justice Department, the White House's Intergovernmental Affairs office, and its Office of Management and Budget, trying to learn which part of the government would make the decision about these cost-sharing payments and when. "And we can't get a clear picture," McPeak said. As a result, she noted, Tennessee cannot plan its own outreach efforts because it is impossible to provide consumers accurate information about insurance prices and choices for the coming year. "It's entirely opaque to us," McPeak said. The Republic of Macedonia's new government is stepping up its efforts to join NATO, arguing that membership in the military alliance will protect the Balkan nation from Russia "interfering" in its affairs, the country's defense minister said. "Influences interfering in this strategic goal aren't helpful, and they're not friendly," Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska said in an interview in Skopje last week. "We've seen some leaks, even before the government was elected, about Russian attempts for influence in key political and security areas. And we have been concerned about them. We believe Macedonian NATO membership can put an end to these attempts." After undergoing the first change in leadership in more than a decade in June, the nation of 2 million people is trying to revive its efforts to join the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. As part of that push, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's government is trying to rebuild regional ties after accusing the previous administration of deliberately fueling a naming dispute with Greece dating back to 1991, when the nation broke away from Yugoslavia and called itself Republic of Macedonia. Greece, which blocked its neighbor's attempts to join NATO because of the dispute, believes that to be a territorial claim on its neighboring northern province of the same name. While some countries that gained independence after the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s have joined the EU and NATO, laggards like the Republic of Macedonia are now caught in a power struggle between Russia on one side and Europe and the U.S. on the other. Tensions escalated after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, prompting the biggest standoff with the U.S. since the Cold War. They deepened further after President Donald Trump raised questions about the future of NATO and relations with Moscow. Russia remains opposed to NATO expansion in Europe and has been accused of trying to derail the region's western accession efforts. Last year, Montenegro's government said the Kremlin led a failed coup during parliamentary elections, allegations that Russia denies. Sekerinska, the 45-year-old deputy chairwoman of the ruling Social Democratic Union, said the Cabinet was seeking to improve ties with Greece and commit to domestic reforms within nine months to be able to join NATO "as soon as possible." The country needs to address issues regarding the rule of law and judicial independence that are now "seen as a problem for Macedonia's NATO entry," Sekerinska said. "We'll stay committed to making these reforms a reality, but we'll keep asking NATO member states to appreciate these efforts, take into account the results and make decisions as soon as possible," she said. As it strives to follow the example of Montenegro, which joined the alliance in June, the country will start boosting defense spending in 2018 from below 1 percent of gross domestic product, she said. The government's efforts may not be rewarded soon, said Dimitar Bechev, a senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center. "Greece has given no indication that it will step back on the name dispute any time soon," he said by phone. Sekerinska, who also serves as a deputy premier, hailed last week's visit of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to Montenegro, which she said delivered a "key message" that removed all doubts from earlier this year about whether the U.S. remains committed to NATO and the region. "Those doubts have disappeared," she said. Early Saturday morning, President Donald Trump tweeted his gratitude to a social-media super fan, Nicole Mincey, magnifying her praise of him to his 35 million followers. Here's the problem: There is no evidence the Twitter feed belongs to someone named Nicole Mincey. And the account, according to experts, bears a lot of signs of a Russia-backed disinformation campaign. On Sunday, Twitter suspended the Mincey account, known as @ProTrump45, after several other users revealed that it was probably a fake, created to amplify pro-Trump content. The incident highlights Trump's penchant for off-the-cuff tweeting - and the potential consequences for doing so now that he holds the nation's highest office. Even as the president has railed against multiple investigations into Russia's meddling in U.S. politics, he may have become Exhibit A of the foreign government's influence by elevating a suspected Russia-connected social media user - part a sophisticated campaign to exacerbate disputes in American politics and gain the attention of the most powerful tweeter in the world. "The president doesn't know whether it's a Russian bot or not," said Clint Watt, a former FBI agent and fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, using the term for a fake Twitter account pretending to represent a real person and created to influence public opinion or promote a particular agenda. "He's just pushing a narrative, whether it's true or false. This provides a window, not just for Russia, but for any adversary to both influence the president or discredit him." As a candidate, Trump became known for amplifying tweets from accounts of dubious origin, including a user that went by the name @WhiteGenocideTM, and by disseminating anti-Semitic memes that bubbled up from some of the darkest corners of the Internet. As president, not much has changed. Trump still routinely hits the retweet button if a Twitter user echoes his criticism of his adversaries or showers him with praise - regardless of who that user is or what their motives may be. Aides and advisers have hinted that Trump has been urged to tone down his tweeting habits, but the president has shut down those conversations quickly, according to two people who have witnessed such exchanges. He has also on occasion followed bouts of public discourse about his Twitter feed with a rapid-fire tweet storm - perhaps an implicit signal that he has no intention of ceding control of his account to aides now that he is in the White House. Trump's tweet storms of the last several days, for instance, have followed intense speculation that his new chief of staff, John Kelly, might try to exert greater control over the president's account. The message? That's probably not going to happen. During his six-month tenure, Trump's former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, was unable to do much to rein in Trump's social-media rants. Lawyers have tried and failed to impress upon the president the risks of discussing the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion of his campaign associates. Kelly faces much the same challenge. According to people who have spoken with him, he does not believe that he will be able to change Trump's social-media behavior and believes that being seen as attempting to do so could pose risks, including damaging his relationship with the president. On Monday morning, marking Kelly's second week on the job, Trump blasted out nine tweets, including several renewing attacks on Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the "fake news" media, "phony fake news polling," and the "Fake News Russian collusion story" While Trump continues to discredit the Russia investigation, bipartisan former national security officials and researchers say that the coordinated, state-backed efforts to spread disinformation during the 2016 campaign were very real. VIDEO: Twitter bots on the rise, study says "Nineteen to 20 percent of the messages in the month before the election were originated by bots," said Emilio Ferrara, a researcher at the University of Southern California, who conducted research on the impact of bots on the 2016 election. "About 400,000 accounts that posted tweets related to the political conversation we believe were bots." If anything, these accounts have found an even greater foothold since the election among Trump's most ardent supporters online. In the last week, a virtual army of accounts identified as having ties to a Russia-backed disinformation campaigns targeting the U.S. political system zeroed in on efforts among Trump's supporters to attack his national security adviser H.R. McMaster over the firing of two Trump loyalists from the National Security Council. A tool created by a bipartisan group of national security experts and researchers to track Russian-backed propaganda accounts found that the "#fireMcMaster" hashtag became popular among these misinformation accounts at the same time that several influential, pro-Trump users on Twitter adopted the anti-McMaster position. By Friday, the clamoring against McMaster had become so loud that Trump issued a public statement defending him. "As a Republican it raises questions for some on the right who obviously have a difference of opinion on someone like Gen. McMaster, but the reality is there is a foreign power here trying to push an agenda," said Jamie Fly, a former adviser to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who helped create the Hamilton 68 project to track the influence of Russian-backed propaganda online. Researchers say the fake accounts sometimes disseminate content from well-known Russian-backed sources including Sputnik or RT, which are then picked up by U.S. conservatives. Or they might amplify content created by far-right media outlets known for misinformation as well, including Gateway Pundit or Infowars. Fly said Trump's liberal use of Twitter has only increased the return on investment for a foreign power such as Russia seeking to sow division within the U.S. political system. Accounts can use Trump's low bar for retweets to their advantage by creating large volumes of content in the hope that he might be drawn to some of it. "His use of Twitter has elevated the platform," Fly said. "It's created a situation where it's probably even more useful for a foreign power like Russia to try to influence the debate on Twitter." In the case of the account that was the recipient of an emphatic "Thank you Nicole!" from Trump on Saturday, Twitter will not say exactly why it was suspended. Online sleuths have posted evidence that the account has changed names several times, including as recently as this weekend. Experts say accounts such as this one often disappear quickly once they are exposed or achieve their objective. No one named Nicole Mincey has stepped forward to say the account is hers. "We do not comment on individual accounts, for privacy and security reasons," said a Twitter spokesperson in response to an inquiry about why the account was suspended. At one point, the account boasted as many at 150,000 followers, and, according to other Twitter users, was connected to similar accounts, which experts say suggests a network created to disseminate propaganda. These accounts are often set up as one-stop shops for pro-Trump, anti-Democratic Party memes. The accounts often use stock images doctored to display pro-Trump memorabilia. The Trump administration has appeared resistant to addressing the growing problem of Russian online propaganda, which lawmakers and national security experts warn is a continuation of the tactics seen during the 2016 campaign. Congress has appropriated $80 million to combat Islamic State propaganda and Russian disinformation online, but the State Department has not yet used the money, prompting bipartisan condemnation from Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the lawmakers who wrote the legislation establishing the fund. "The challenge of Russia disinformation is not about Donald Trump, it's much broader than that," said Portman in a speech at the Atlantic Council late last month. "It was a serious problem before him, and it's going to continue to be a problem long after his term in office." If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. A man who appeared at last weeks sitting of Longford District Court charged under the Theft & Fraud Offences Act had the case against him dismissed following a hearing into the matter. John Paul Conway, Longford appeared before Judge Marie Keane charged with trespass at Apple Green restaurant, Main Street, Longford on April 29, 2017. He was also further charged with burglary at Apple Green on May 10, 2017; burglary at Tally-weijl, Main Street, Longford on April 29, 2017 and stealing 115 from a car at Grian Ard, Longford on February 19 last. Outlining the evidence to the court, Inspector Blathin Moran said that the case centered around numerous offences that took place in Longford town over a number of months earlier this year. The Inspector also pointed out that CCTV footage in respect of some of the matters was available to the court. In his direct evidence to the court, Garda Sheil said that on April 29 last, a burglary took place at the Tally-weijl clothing store which is situated along Longford towns main street. He said that he secured CCTV footage from the premises and was viewing it when he became aware that another burglary had taken place at a local restaurant. I also viewed CCTV from that incident, added Garda Sheil, before pointing out the owners of both establishments had also provided statements to the Gardai. The court was also told that those who provided the statements were not in a position to provide that evidence to the court. The court then went on to hear what had been taken during the burglaries. In relation to Tally-weijl, the culprits gained access to the premises by climbing up onto the roof, the local garda continued. They turned the CCTV camera in the opposite direction and then entered the clothes store. There they proceeded to take the hard drive from the CCTV set-up inside the store and took 200 from the till. There was also 200 worth of damage caused where the culprits gained entry. The court was then told about what happened to the adjoining building earlier when the culprits were accessing the Tally-weijl building. The building next door is a restaurant and they gained access to that by damaging the back door. Once they entered the building, the alarm went off, so they ran off. Nothing was taken during that incident. Garda Sheil then went on to say that he arrested the defendant on May 11, 2017 for questioning. The Garda told the court that after viewing the CCTV footage, he recognised Mr Conway and was therefore in a position to arrest him in relation to the burglaries. He was interviewed and made certain admissions during the interview, Garda Sheil added. Meanwhile, the court went on to hear that the defendant was also shown the CCTV footage when he was being questioned, but he made no comment in respect of that. The court then heard that the defendant was released and subsequently charged in relation to both burglaries on June 9, last. Garda Sheil also told the court that he knew Mr Conway well and easily identified him from the CCTV footage. Defence solicitor, John Quinn then put it to Garda Sheil that the CCTV footage he was relying on was not very clear. And in fairness, Mr Quinn continued, the faces of the culprits are covered. Meanwhile, Garda Sheil said that the culprits used hoods over their heads and while the tops of the defendants heads were covered it was still possible to recognise their facial features, which he added, is very clear. The court was also told, at that point, that the defendant had 67 previous convictions. Mr Quinn then put it to Judge Keane that the States case against his client was insufficient particular in relation to the allegation of criminal damage. There is no statement from the owner and no evidence of anything being taken so all of this is just hearsay from the Garda, said Mr Quinn. I would respectfully submit that the States case is deficient. The CCTV footage is very poor and cannot be relied upon. Garda Sheil then addressed the court in relation to the matter. He said that he had taken statements from the injured parties on the day, but Mr Quinn interjected and said that because those statements had not been submitted in evidence, the Garda was producing hearsay evidence to the court. This is just not acceptable, added Mr Quinn. The States case is deficient; there simply is no evidence against my client. During her deliberations on the matter Judge Keane said that while she was satisfied, after viewing the CCTV in the case herself, that the footage did clarify who the gentleman involved was, the evidence against Mr Conway was weak. She also said there was no independent evidence in respect of any criminal damage available to the court, so she was therefore dismissing that particular charge. Before concluding, the Judge struck all the charges against the defendant out citing the lack of evidence in the States case as the reason for her decision. Business membership organisation, Guaranteed Irish is calling on individuals and businesses in Longford to nominate their Music Hero as part of the Guaranteed Irish Hero Awards, which recognise individuals who have been ambassadors for Ireland both at home and abroad. Members of the public are invited to nominate their music hero before the deadline of Friday, August 11, 2017. Artist, Maser; Captain of Irish Womens Rugby team, Niamh Briggs and Director of INFANT Research Centre, Professor Louise Kenny, have so far been recognised as awardees for their contributions to art, sport and science, respectively. Launching the call for the Guaranteed Irish Music Hero, CEO of Guaranteed Irish, Brid OConnell said: This award is a great opportunity to commend someone who you consider to be a Guaranteed Irish Music Hero. Ireland has a rich musical history and heritage, and we believe it is time to champion Irish contributions to music. What better way to do that than to nominate a Guaranteed Irish Music Hero? We're calling on businesses and individuals in Longford to get involved and put forward names of anyone who has demonstrated a real commitment to creating a better Ireland with music through: jobs, community and provenance. As the music festival season is now in full swing, if you know someone who fits that bill, then we want to hear from you. The remaining Guaranteed Irish Heroes for food and technology will be awarded later in the year. To get involved and to nominate your Guaranteed Irish Music Hero, simply email info@guaranteedirish.ie before Friday, August 11th 2017 or use the dedicated hashtag: #GIhero on social media with your nomination and a link to the artists song or music video. Local News, Crime, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: August 08 2017 Jason Brewster Will Face 10 Years In State Prison. New York, NY - August 8, 2017 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the guilty plea of Jason Brewster, a major heroin distributor who sold drugs in Dutchess County. Brewster, of Poughkeepsie, pled guilty today to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-1 felony. He will be sentenced on September 5th to 10 years in state prison. As uncovered during a joint investigation involving the Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU), with assistance from the Dutchess County Drug Task Force (DCDTF), Brewster initially sold in excess of 260 grams of heroin to an informant, with a street value of more than $16,000. Between October 2015 and February 2016, Brewster made six such sales to the informant. Brewster sold heroin on a regular basis out of his home where children were present, and in other locations in and around Poughkeepsie, including a location right near the S.F.B. Morse Magnet School, located at 101 Mansion Street in the City of Poughkeepsie. Deadly drug traffickers like Jason Brewster fuel and exploit the opioid epidemic thats tearing families apart across New York, said Attorney General Schneiderman. We will continue to partner with local law enforcement partners to find and prosecute dangerous criminals who deal death in our communities. Brewster was apprehended on May 23, 2017 after a fifteen-month manhunt conducted by the Attorney Generals OCTF, NY State Police SIU, and DCDTF. Ultimately, Brewster returned to his Poughkeepsie residence and was captured by law enforcement who had been surveilling the house. The S.U.R.G.E. Initiative targets gangs and individuals who deal heroin and opioids and commit acts of violence in suburban and upstate communities across New York State. The Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those criminals. In addition to prosecuting major drug traffickers, the Attorney General is taking other steps to combat the heroin crisis in New York. Attorney General Schneiderman has obtained settlements with health insurers to remove barriers to life saving treatment for opioid use disorder, spearheaded the I-STOP program to enable doctors and pharmacists to report and track controlled narcotics in real time, and secured an agreement with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to cut and cap the price of naloxone for all agencies in New York State. The office has also aggressively enforced laws that require parity in health plan coverage of mental health and addiction treatment, reaching agreements with several companies. Music, Movies & Entertainment, Local News, Arts & Culture, Seasonal & Current Events By Long Island News & PR Published: August 08 2017 Television host, activist and artist, Abby Martin, will be Tom Needhams guest this Thursday on WUSBs the "Sounds of Film." Stony Brook, NY - August 8th, 2017 - Abby Martin, the presenter of the "Empire Files," will join Tom Needham this Thursday at 6 P.M. on Abby Martin, the presenter of the "Empire Files," will join Tom Needham this Thursday at 6 P.M. on WUSBs the "Sounds of Film." She will be discussing her unique alternative news career, activism and art. Abby Martin is one of Americas most recognizable and controversial independent female journalists. She is the host of teleSURs "Empire Files," an investigative news program which recently featured groundbreaking reporting on Venezuela, Philippines' Trafficking, and the Darknet. She previously gained international attention as the outspoken host of RTs "Breaking the Set." The show attempted to cut through the false left/right paradigm promoted by the mainstream media. The program also offered a voice to many Americans shunned by the traditional news networks like Chris Hedges, Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Alex Jones and Naomi Wolf. Martin has appeared in the documentary "Project Censored The Movie: Ending the Reign of Junk Food News" and co-directed "99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film." She is on the board of directors for the Media Freedom Foundation which manages Project Censored. She is also an accomplished artist who paints, takes photographs and makes collages. Her work has recently been featured at several galleries. About the Sounds of Film Local News, Travel & Local Attractions, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: August 08 2017 LIRR Proposes New Mid-day Service and a Doubling of In-Season Weekend Service Opportunities to North Fork; Proposed South-Fork Commuter Connection Aims to Reduce Traffic Congestion. Long Island, NY - August 8th, 2017 - The Long Island Rail Road and a coalition of East End elected officials and community groups discussed proposals for enhancing train service on the North Fork ( The Long Island Rail Road and a coalition of East End elected officials and community groups discussed proposals for enhancing train service on the North Fork ( Ronkonkoma to Greenport ) and South Fork ( Speonk to Montauk ) recently. In the latest in a series of discussions between the LIRR and East End elected officials and members of the public, the North Fork representatives expressed support for additional Morning and Mid-day service. The revised weekday schedule would increase service to Greenport to four roundtrips between Greenport and Ronkonkoma and would allow for a mid-day arrival in New York City as requested by North Fork community members. Additional Ronkonkoma Greenport roundtrips were also proposed for weekend summer service, which would provide more opportunities for day trippers heading in either direction. On the South Fork, discussions centered around opportunities to provide additional intra-island travel east of Speonk. The proposed service enhancements would provide new morning and evening opportunities for commuting east of Speonk, as well as additional mid-day travel. The additional intra-island service aims to give customers transportation choices and reduce traffic congestion along the South Fork. Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. said, My thanks to the Long Island Rail Road for their continued efforts to increase and improve train service to the East End. Our journey to provide more trains and commuter service for our local residents has taken a major step forward. We challenged the LIRR to provide additional service opportunities to be more responsive to local residents and businesses and they delivered. With continued dialog expected between the LIRR and North Fork business communities in July, changes to the Greenport weekday schedule could go into effect as early as November. On the South Fork, progress has been made on a schedule for the Commuter Connection, which would provide daily Intra-Island commuter service on the South Fork, and now South Fork officials will continue to identify long-range infrastructure planning needs and the next steps to implement the service and make it successful, such as providing last-mile connections to businesses. "This is a terrific example of individuals, groups and elected officials coming together to develop a plan to improve LIRR service on the East End. The Railroad has listened to residents and has been responsive in committing to service improvements, which will go a long way in meeting the changing transportation needs of eastern Long Island. It has been a pleasure to work with Assemblyman Thiele who has done an exemplary job of coordinating this effort. My thanks to the Long Island Rail Road and all those who have committed their time and talents to achieve these goals," said Senator Ken LaValle. Legislator Bridget Fleming said, For years, East Enders have faced limited options for public transportation. This has meant extraordinary traffic congestion, economic burdens on businesses and their employees, and over-reliance on individual cars. I applaud the LIRR, and especially Assemblyman Fred Thiele, for recognizing the needs of our community, and for taking important steps address them, with additional service that will improve the environment, the economy, and quality of life for the East End. The goal is to get more cars off our congested roadways and to provide more service options for those visiting and commuting to and from the East End, said Legislator Al Krupski. This increased service will go a long way in helping to achieve this aim. I want to thank Assemblyman Fred Thiele for his leadership, the various stakeholder groups for their continued advocacy and the LIRR for their responsiveness. East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said, "Improving rail service to the South Fork is one of the only opportunities to decrease the growing vehicle traffic crisis in this region. I am encouraged by the unified efforts of the Towns of East Hampton and Southampton , LIRR, and Assemblyman Thiele and Senator LaValle to bring improved train shuttle services to the South Fork." Im encouraged by the level of cooperation we are receiving from the LIRR, said Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman. Morning and afternoon commuter trains will reduce traffic congestion and allow our workforce an affordable and reliable new way to get to their jobs on time. Shelter Island Town Supervisor Jim Dougherty said, As the Expressway and local North and South Fork roads get increasingly choked with traffic, drastically increasing travel times, Shelter Islanders look to the convenient LIRR depot in Greenport, footsteps from our North Ferry, as a promising alternative and welcome additional trains to Greenport. Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said, This is terrific news for the people of the East End. Once again Assemblyman Thiele and Senator LaValle have delivered for us. Senator Todd Kaminsky has led the fight for improving service and reducing fares on the Long Island Rail Road. In May, he hosted a rally, attended by scores of people, to Sack Amtrak. He twice penned letters to legislative leadership requesting they hold emergency hearings on conditions at Penn Station, and toured the facility, insisting that Amtrak officials do all they can to remedy the situation. In response, the Assembly held hearings during which Amtrak and MTA officials testified, disclosing new, actionable information. Senator Kaminsky has spoken out against the increase in LIRR fares while performance has declined, and challenged the MTA Director in Senate hearings on the poor state of several stations in his district. Most recently, Kaminsky authored a letter to MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota calling on his agency to explore establishing a ferry route to Manhattan from the South Shore of Nassau County , and requesting that Lhota join the Senator and local elected officials for a tour of potential docking sites. Kochi: The Special Investigation team probing the abduction and assault of a female actor in Kochi produced actor Dileep before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court through video conferencing on Wednesday. The court today extended Dileep's remand custody till August 22nd. The actor was produced before the magistrate as his current remand period was slated to end today. Meanwhile, the police denied the reports that a nun counselled the actor in jail. The jail authorities also denied reports of the actor not keeping well inside the prison and receiving undue favours from the prison officials. MARTINSVILLE Fire investigators continue to try and figure out what sparked a massive blaze in April that destroyed the former American of Martinsville furniture plant on Aaron Street. Since the fire nearly 3 months ago, fewer and fewer people have contacted investigators to provide information they thought might be useful in determining a cause, said city Fire Chief Ted Anderson. He urges anyone such as people in the neighborhood on April 22 who think they may have helpful information to contact the fire department. The four-alarm fire that day caused about $2 million in damages to the contents of Bargains Galore, a furniture store that operated in the building. Although rain helped firefighters extinguish it, the blaze smoldered for days afterward. Investigators have not completely ruled out any potential cause, Anderson said. Were not ruling in or ruling out anything due to the amount of fire we had, he said. We want to make sure we leave ourselves enough room to navigate through this investigation. Officials previously have said they may never determine the cause because the fire was so intense that it might have destroyed any evidence. But Im always optimistic that one will be found, Anderson said. As part of their probe, fire officials have walked around the damaged building, watching videos of the blaze taken as it was burning and used drones and a ladder truck to take overhead photos of the scene. Because of safety concerns, they do not plan to enter the buildings remains. The building is owned by Fred Martin & Associates. Anderson said the fire department has turned the building over to the family so they can have it demolished. Family representative Tim Martin could not be reached for comment on Monday. In the meantime, the portion of Aaron Street near the building remains closed to traffic. We appreciate the patience of neighbors, Anderson said. We understand its an inconvenience (for the street to be closed). Were trying to expedite the cleanup. NORTHAMPTON - A commemorative pilgrimage, beginning and ending at the David Ruggles Center for Early Florence History and Underground Railroad Studies, 225 Nonotuck St., will be held Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., in honor of slain civil rights worker and Episcopal seminarian Jonathan Daniels. The white New Hampshire native had traveled from his divinity school in Cambridge to Alabama to do voter registration work when he was killed by a part-time sheriff on Aug 20, 1965. The state's attorney general at the time called Daniels' killing "another Ku Kux Klan murder" in a county known for violent bigotry. An all-white jury acquitted the sheriff who also seriously wounded a white Catholic priest walking with Daniels to buy a soda. A black teen said Daniels' pulled her to safety before he was fatally shot. The group had been on the grounds of a convenience store when the sheriff order them off the property and began to shoot. Saturday's event, sponsored by the Social Justice Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, includes an hour-long walking tour celebrating local African American history, as well as a visit to the Ruggles center and a Eucharist celebration. Black abolitionist, publisher and Connecticut native Ruggles, who died in 1849, was an Underground Railroad conductor in New York City who helped hundreds of slaves, including Frederick Douglass, escape to the North. In failing health toward the end of the 1930s and with assistance from fellow abolitionist and writer Lydia Maria Child, Ruggles joined the Northampton Associate of Education and Industry, a utopian community in Florence whose members also included Sojourner Truth. The area around the Ruggles center has been mapped to highlight homes of fugitive slaves, members of the utopian community who housed fugitive slaves as well as the home of Truth. Daniels, who had responded to Martin Luther King's call for northern clergy to support the civil rights movement, had been arrested Aug. 14, in Alabama, and jailed for six days during a protest against discriminatory business practices. The Episcopal church, which recognizes Daniels as a civil rights martyr, commemorates Aug. 14 as his feast day. Since 1999, the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama has helped sponsor the annual Jonathan Daniels & Martyrs of Alabama Pilgrimage, in August, which begins at the Lowndes County Courthouse Square in Hayneville. Western Massachusetts Episcopal Bishop Douglas Fisher attended the pilgrimage, in 2015, on the 50th anniversary of Daniels' murder. Refreshments will be served at Saturday's event for which a donation of $10 is suggested. The decades-old, first-degree murder conviction of Frederick Clay was vacated by the Suffolk County District Attorney's office on Tuesday. The conviction dates back to 1981, when Clay was found guilty of murdering Jeffrey Boyajian, a 28-year-old cab driver, in Roslindale. District Attorney Daniel F. Conley asserted that a more recent, second investigation into the case did not prove Clay's innocence. But the investigation's findings "raised significant doubt as to the fairness of his trial and the justice of his conviction," according to a statement provided by the D.A.'s office. In the 1981 trial, hypnosis was reportedly used to help witnesses recollect what they had seen. That practice, the D.A.'s office says, is considered an unreliable technique in modern courts. To use such testimony would go against the standard D.A. Conley set in 2004, when he reformed the way eyewitness evidence was gathered and used in Suffolk County. "After extensive investigation and scrutiny by this office's Conviction Integrity Program, the Commonwealth has concluded that the interests of justice would not be served by the prosecution of this case," Conley's office said in a document filed during a defense motion hearing for a new trial. The D.A.'s office said the several family members of the victim, Boyajian's young brother and Boyajian's sister-in-law, agreed with the decision to vacate the murder conviction. They both reportedly told Judge Christine Roach that they supported the disposition. A Boston man is accused of fatally beating another Massachusetts resident while the two shared a hospital room. Hameed Edwards was ordered held without bail Monday on a second-degree murder charge. The allegations stem from two years ago when Edwards, 41, shared a room with John Duggie at Arbour Hospital in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. On the day Duggie was attacked in 2015, hospital staff reported to police hearing a loud noise followed by Edwards shouting, "I'm sorry. Kill me, kill me." Duggie, a 50-year-old from Framingham, had suffered a skull fracture and his condition worsened in following weeks. He was taken off life support a month after the attack. Though Duggie was critically injured on July 2, 2015, Boston police were not notified for five days. "Mr. Duggie's injuries should have been reported to police immediately, allowing investigators to examine the crime scene and his injuries as they appeared shortly after the assault," Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said in a statement. "A delay like this raises serious questions about Arbour administrators' priorities in the aftermath of a serious and ultimately fatal assault on a patient." SPRINGFIELD -- City, state and federal law enforcement personnel raided four city locations early Monday, arrested 10 men and seized enough raw heroin to fill more than 450,000 bags. Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni's office announced the break-up of what is described as a high-level heroin trafficking organization Tuesday morning. Investigators also seized 4,500 ready-for-sale bags of heroin and four motor vehicles, according to a release. The six kilos of un-milled heroin would conservatively yield over 450,000 bags of heroin on the street. In all, 10 search warrants and one arrest warrant were executed. James Leydon, spokesman for Gulluni, said additional information will be released during a press conference this afternoon. Gulluni, Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard McKeon, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Michael Ferguson will discuss the arrests and seizures then. This is a developing story. Additional information will be posted as soon as it is available. HOLYOKE -- Over 200 people participated in a peace vigil and candlelight march in South Holyoke Monday prompted by the shooting deaths of two people earlier in the day at 570 South Summer St. "We cannot continue to lose lives this this, you know, and it's hard, you know, we all mourn together as a community. That's one thing about South Holyoke: When there's somebody that falls, we're all together," said Carmen Ocasio, president of the South Holyoke Neighborhood Association. "I think the turnout is beautiful. I think it shows that the neighborhood and the community really cares, that we're all in pain, that we're all connected, and that's a big statement," said Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman, who helped organize the event. Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said police are seeking one suspect who is believed to have shot and killed two men. The names of the two victims have not been released yet because officials are working to notify family members, said James Leydon, spokesman for Gulluni. It appears that the two victims arrived at a second-floor apartment in the area, and an altercation took place with a third person. Several shots were fired, and the third person fled on foot, Leydon said. Information about victims' identifies, motives for the shootings and whether police have suspects wasn't immediately available from police or the DA's office. Holyoke police are investigating the shootings with the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the district attorney's office, Leydon said. Police received a call at 1:06 a.m. about shots fired at 570 South Summer St., he said. "We're going to go behind the building where this occurred and we're going to have a moment of silence," Roman said. He spoke after the march had left Carlos Vega Park on Hamilton Street and walked to Valley Arena Park on South Bridge Street for remarks at a table with candles and photos of one of the victims. "You see all the people here from the neighborhood, they're the shop owners, the residents from the apartment buildings," Roman said. The procession walked in a light rain with candles to behind the building where the men were shot and killed. "I think it's wonderful to see this massive line of people behind us," Roman said, "that's what Holyoke's about, that's what South Holyoke's about, and that's what this really is about - the reason why we did this vigil was to honor the two men who got shot, but also to say that we're reclaiming this. We're claiming this narrative as a community that's safe, that's united, that's really building and coming together to make change in a positive way for South Holyoke, and you can see it with all the people who are here. "I'm touched, and it's sad. It's sad that there are two mothers out there without kids. It's sad but it's moving." Lizandro Cruz, an usher at the Apostolic Christian Church at 456 Main St., where one of the victim's families attends services, made remarks at Roman's request during the vigil. He spoke later with The Republican about the victims and the person accused of shooting them. The hope is the shooter will be brought to justice, Cruz said, "And we're going to be praying for his family along with the victim's family." "We heard that he had been shot here so we came out to support the family and to be able to come out here and pray and participate with the community, so we're really happy that we had a great turnout," Cruz said. "We're saddened." This updates a story posted at 8:19 a.m. SPRINGFIELD -- City, state and federal law enforcement personnel raided four city locations early Monday, arresting 10 men and seizing enough raw heroin to fill more than 450,000 bags. The six-plus kilos of raw heroin, once milled or processed and packaged for resale, would have a "conservative" street value of $1,350,000, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said. Investigators seized the raw heroin from 73 Cherrelynn St. which served as a large-scale heroin processing factory or mill with a set-up that could accommodate some 6 to 8 workers as they milled the heroin, mixed it with cutting agents and then packaged and stamped it for distribution onto the street. Gulluni praised those who participated in the investigation and raids, which also yielded 4,500 bags of ready-for-sale heroin, six firearms and four motor vehicles. "This was a high-level and sophisticated operation that was supplying this area with heroin," he said. "The streets and neighborhoods here in Hampden County are appreciably safer today with these individuals in custody." The raids, conducted simultaneously at 6:30 a.m., followed several months of extensive intelligence gathering, investigators said. Investigators uncovered a smaller milling operation at 57-59 Sterling St., the home of one of the primary targets, Josue Pujols. That property also served as housing for the heroin mill workers. From that property they seized approximately 1.5 ounces of uncut heroin, four shotguns, two loaded handguns and multiple baggies, grinders and packaging materials consistent with a small mill. Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard McKeon, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Michael Ferguson and Springfield Commissioner John Barbieri also participated in the press conference. It was held in a conference room at 1441 Main St. McKeon said the success of the investigation was the result of close coordination and cooperation among the law enforcement partners, a model that is vital to large-scale drug operations. "The defendants and locations we targeted in this network were critical components of a significant distribution network in this area," he said. Ferguson added, "Those suffering from the disease of opioid addiction need access to treatment and recovery. But those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like heroin and fentanyl to the citizens of Massachusetts need to be held accountable for their actions." Ferguson said such heroin mills started appearing in Massachusetts about a year-and-half ago. "There is more profit if they do it this way," he said. Some of the heroin seized from this particular organization before this particular bust was found to be laced with fentanyl, Ferguson said. The heroin seized Monday has yet be tested. Barbieri gestured at the seized evidence on display, including the six firearms, as he spoke to the violence that is intrinsic to the drug trade. "I ask everybody here to look at these two tables," he said. "They are full of violence and pain." Arrested at 57-59 Sterling St., which is in the Liberty Heights neighborhood, were Astrun Pujols, Miguel Sanchez, and Josue Pujols, all of Springfield. All three were charged with possession of a firearm without a license (a total of three counts for Josue Pujols). That latter suspect was also charged with trafficking heroin (18-36 grams). Arrested at 73 Cherrelyn St., which is also located in the Liberty Heights neighborhood, were: Springfield residents Elvis Pujols and Harlem Ciprian; Queens, N.Y. residents Yankey Ciprian, Edward Ciprian and Franky Mosquea and Bronx, N.Y. resident Richard Capran. All six were charged with trafficking in heroin over 200 grams. The final arrest was the target of the operation and the subject of an arrest warrant, Fausto Pujols of Springfield. He was arrested at an unrelated fifth location by the state police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section. Fausto Pujols was charged with trafficking heroin (over 200 grams) conspiracy to violate drug laws and heroin distribution. He is believed to have orchestrated the milling operation at 73 Cherrelyn St. The suspects are slated to be arraigned in District Court. Investigators said the investigation is ongoing. The raids were conducted by DEA agents, state troopers attached to Gulluni's office, troopers from the state police narcotics unit, the FBI Gang Task Force. Springfield narcotics detectives and agents from both the IRS and ATF. Gulluni made a point to particularly praise the work of state police Trooper Michael Scott and Assistant District Attorney Kerry Beattie during the investigation. Family of an 80-year-old missing Massachusetts sailor continue to entertain hopes some trace of him will be discovered after he went missing during an annual trip up the coast last week. The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday evening found William Pratt's 33-foot sailboat, the Tarrier, on Richmond Island off the coast of Cape Elizabeth in Maine. The sails were up and the boat appeared undamaged, but Pratt was absent. The Coast Guard suspended its search Friday afternoon and won't resume unless more evidence is uncovered. "We still have hope, but it would be some sort of miracle if they find him alive now," Marjorie Earl, Pratt's sister, told The Portland Press Herald. "It seems kind of crazy, going sailing on your own in open water at 80 years old, but it's what he loved to do," Pratt's great-nephew, Brian Pratt, 30, of East Bridgewater, told the paper. The Tarrier's log book indicates Pratt spent Tuesday night moored off Misery Island near Salem after taking off from Cohasset and Wednesday night moored near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The events that followed remain a mystery. Coast Guard and Maine authorities covered 300 nautical miles in their search for Pratt, a retired welder and native of Cohasset. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation worker seriously injured after a vehicle struck his truck while he was clearing debris on I-95 this morning is undergoing surgery but is expected to recover, his son said in an interview with MassLive. Zack Taylor, 23, identified the worker hurt in the crash as 53-year-old David Taylor, a highway maintenance worker and a 16-year MassDOT veteran. Speaking from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center shortly before 6 p.m., Taylor said his father had just undergone surgery on his legs and was scheduled for another operation. "Both of his tibias and fibias in his leg are broken. His left arm is also broken, as well as having cuts, gashes, scrapes and what not all over his body," Taylor said. "They said that it looks like he's going to be ok," he continued. "It's good. It's good news for us." David Taylor was called to clear debris on I-95 northbound in Dedham shortly before noon on Monday. He pulled into the left breakdown lane and the two vehicles behind him slowed down, but the third -- a Chevrolet van driven by a 37-year-old Canton man -- did not, state police said. The Chevrolet swerved to the left to avoid the slowing vehicles, but struck a Cadillac sedan, rolled over and crashed into Taylor's MassDOT pickup truck. Taylor was either entering or exiting the pickup when it was struck and suffered injuries, state police said. He was taken by ambulance to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. It was then that Zack Taylor received a phone call from the hospital, telling him his father was seriously hurt. He, his mother and his aunt drove to the hospital from Weymouth, and were able to speak with Taylor before he entered surgery. "He was in a ton of pain," Zack Taylor said. "He was talking to my mom, saying don't cry, it will be ok." His father was coherent and doctors said he had not suffered brain damage, Taylor said. State police said this afternoon that the crash remains under investigation and that a collision analysis and reconstruction team is working on the case. Taylor, a South Weymouth resident, grew up in South Boston. In his 16 years with MassDOT Taylor had suffered other injuries -- broken ribs from falling on a jersey barrier, a twisted ankle -- but never a close call like this, his son said. SPRINGFIELD -- The city's five-member retirement board is set to vote Wednesday on a proposal to settle the pension distribution of late police Detective Kevin Burnham, who died of an apparent suicide June 5 -- the day he was scheduled to plead guilty to larceny charges. Burnham was indicted in Hampden Superior Court in early 2016 in connection with siphoning nearly $400,000 over five years from the narcotics evidence room before his retirement in 2014. On the afternoon he was to plead guilty before Judge John Agostini, he did not show up for the hearing, and the judge issued a warrant for his arrest. However, when police arrived at his Wilbraham home around 3 p.m. that day, they made the tragic discovery. Burnham is survived by his wife. While he was at risk under state law of losing his $47,745 annual pension if he was convicted of a felony -- particularly a job-related crime -- the state attorney general's office was forced to dismiss the case against him upon his death. Burnham had been a police officer for 43 years when he retired with Badge No. 1. In June, City Solicitor Edward Pikula asked for a hearing before the retirement board to probe whether Burnham's pension should be forfeited under a state law regarding the misappropriation of public money. Pikula flagged the city's potential claim and requested a hearing in a June 7 email citing state law on the "Misappropriation of funds" subsection of the law on "Dereliction of duty by members." In the email to the board's executive director, Pikula stated the city's claim is "for the extent of the amount so found to be misappropriated by Mr. Burnham and to the extent of the costs of the investigation." Burnham was indicted for the theft of $385,317 in drug evidence money, some of which he stole on the very day he retired, according to the attorney general's indictment. The agenda item for the retirement board's Aug. 9 meeting reads: "Kevin Burnham - consideration and vote on parties' agreement." The proposal is not yet publicly available, but Susana Baltazar, executive director of the city board, said board Chairman Thomas Scanlon, a detective with the Springfield Police Department, may make a public statement after the vote. Pikula also said the city hopes to issue public documents after the vote. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., but there are more than a dozen items on the agenda and the Burnham matter is listed as second-to-last. Reached for comment on Monday, Scanlon said he had not yet seen the finalized agreement between the city and the Burnham estate but said it includes a restitution component. "We will get a presentation at the board meeting Wednesday and see if all parties are satisfied, then hopefully vote on the matter," Scanlon said. Burnham had been receiving his monthly retirement of nearly $4,000 per month up until his death and his estate has continued to receive those payments, city officials previously confirmed. In previous interviews, Scanlon said that while the board has considered rescinding pensions on the heels of criminal convictions, Burnham's case is unique. Massachusetts statutes that dictate this area of the law focus on "final conviction." But, the law also allows a retirement board to revoke a pension after a hearing and after the hearing board "finds the charges to be true. Montana State University has completed an upgrade to its campus network, more than tripling the bandwidth available for students, faculty and, especially, researchers. The upgrade will make sure MSU has the network resources it needs for the future, said Jerry Sheehan, the universitys vice president for information technology. "The network is the foundation for our campus digital infrastructure," Sheehan said. "It allows us to provide cloud-based tools for collaboration, online learning and our business environments, while also acting as the lifeblood for research. Our new network capacity meets not only todays need, but prepares us for the years to come." Full Story: http://www.montana.edu/news/17048/msu-triples-internet-bandwidth-hosts-national-conference-on-research-networking Governor Bullocks Office of Outdoor Recreation now makes more sense than ever, as does taking good care of our public lands Last week, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) confirmed what many in our state have known for some time that outdoor recreation is not only intrinsic to our way of life in Montana, it is also one of the most crucial parts of our economy. According to OIAs new figures, outdoor recreation is now the largest sector of Montanas economy, generating over $7 billion per year in consumer spending and supporting over 70,000 jobs that pay more than $2 billion worth of wages. These numbers, while eye-popping, are even more impressive when you realize that they dont even account for indirect economic effects, such as the thousands of start-ups and small businesses that choose to locate here to take advantage of our outdoor way of life. Full Story: http://wildmontana.org/wild-word/outdoor-recreation-now-the-largest-sector-of-our-economy The employees at Advanced Technology Group https://atginfo.com/ in Missoula planned to celebrate when the staff grew to 25, but they were too busy to acknowledge the milestone. They tried again at 50 but the results were the same. Now that ATG has grown its downtown office to 100 employees, it may give the celebration another shot. The company reached the milestone at the close of July, making it one of the fastest growing tech companies in the state. Along the way, it also has emerged as an economic leader, injecting more than $18 million into Missoulas economy each year. By Martin Kidston Full Story: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2017/08/missoula-atg-hires-employee/ *** ATG Career Opportunities Tired of the same old day-in, day-out drudgery of your current job? Does it seem like you spend as much time in your car trying to get to and from work as you do at home with family and friends? Need a break from all of the office politics that take-no-prisoners rat race to the middle? There are many reasons to found a startup. There are many reasons to work at a startup. But theres only one reason your company got funded liquidity. The Good News To most founders a startup is not a job, but a calling. Full Story: https://thinkgrowth.org/how-to-build-a-startup-that-gets-acquired-85ada592bfd7?hs_fb_account_id=44581710 The McDowell Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) recently contributed a check for $1,000 to the McDowell Technical Community College Foundation to establish an endowed scholarship for needy students to attend McDowell Technical Community College. The check was presented to college administrators by Chapter President Ray McKesson, Vice-President Don Ramsey, Treasurer Phyllis McKesson and Board Member Virginia Woody. We are delighted that the NAACP has decided to be a partner with us in providing need-based scholarships for our students, said John Gossett, president of McDowell Technical Community College. Chapter members have worked hard to raise funds to establish this endowment and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them in the future. No separate application will be required for the award. Anyone applying for scholarship assistance through MTCCs General Scholarship Application will be considered for the award. The MTCC Financial Aid Office will make all decisions regarding scholarship awards. Preference will be given to students who have unmet financial need after receiving limited funding through federal, state and outside sources. Awards will be given in an amount up to $500 annually. Unlike some endowed scholarship funds, no additional requirements or conditions have been placed on the choice of scholarship recipients by the NAACP, including degree preference. This year, the college will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary with the theme, 50 Years of Changing Lives in McDowell County. Through this endowment, the McDowell Chapter of the NAACP joins us in committing to changing more lives in McDowell County over the next 50 years and beyond. We are grateful to the NAACP leadership for their self-sacrifice and vision for improving the quality of life in McDowell County, one student at a time, Gossett said. Individuals who would like to contribute to the fund may contact the chapter at P.O. Box 1823, Marion, NC 28752. Morgan County Veterans Day Parade slated Nov. 11 Audio Article The Morgan County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Friday, Nov. 11. The parade will form at the Commons, in McConnelsville, at 9:30 a.m. and set out at 10 a.m. The American Legion Post 24 will render honors at the monuments at the Commons, Riecker Building, the Square, at... A concert with two purposes Audio Article Wednesday, Nov. 30, a concert with dual purposes is being held at the Twin City Opera House in McConnelsville, Ohio. Its a thank-you to healthcare workers, who can attend for free, and its a benefit for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. In September 2021, Rick Shriver contracted COVID-19. He collapsed... BOE reminder of early voting hours and polling location change Audio Article Remaining early voting hours at the Morgan County Board of Elections are as follows: from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov, 2 through Friday, Nov. 4; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.... Lions Club announces annual Wreaths Across America Audio Article On Saturday, Dec. 17, the Chesterhill Lions Club will be joining with National Wreaths Across America in the laying of wreaths at each of the seven cemeteries located in Marion Township. The mission is to honor the local veterans who have served our nation so their families can rest assured... Governor DeWine awards $6.7 million for domestic violence survivor programs Audio Article Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that he is awarding $6.7 million to support the work of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) to offer mobile and health advocacy services and temporary residential services for domestic violence survivors across the state. The announcement comes during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.... CDC committee vote wont change Ohio school vaccine requirement Audio Article Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA has released the following statement: The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine to be added to the formulary or schedule of vaccines for children does not mandate this vaccine for school children. Ohio law determines... Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong faces the final session on Monday in his trial for bribing ex-President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil (US$1=W1,126). He has been on trial since April 7. All sides will deliver their final statements. IIndependent counsel Park Young-soo has described the Samsung scandal as "the most endemic and most typical example of collusive ties between politicians and businessmen." Lee's attorneys have claimed that prosecutors "forcefully stuck the pieces together without proper evidence." The presiding judge will then announce the date of the sentencing hearing, which is expected before Aug. 27 and may be televised under a recent rule change. Accounts from Maduro and other Venezuelan officials indicated about 20 people took part in the assault on the Paramacay military base. Ten of them fled before Venezuelan army units arrived, some carrying off arms, while those left behind exchanged gunfire with soldiers until about 8 a.m. before all were either killed or captured. Maduro declared the attack was an act of terrorism financed by the United States and Colombia, but he gave no evidence for that claim in a regular Sunday evening television broadcast. At least two of the intruders were killed during a firefight early Sunday with military units that overwhelmed the rebels at a base near the city of Valencia, in central Venezuela. Uprising Leader Turns to Social Media Maduro said "an active manhunt" was underway for those who escaped. "I can't say it another way," Maduro said during his TV appearance. "It is an attack against the armed forces." He congratulated army units that "responded in a united manner, with... decisiveness." An army officer who identified himself as Captain Juan Caguaripano posted a video on social media in which he was surrounded by more than a dozen men in military garb, apparently members of the uprising. He declared himself to be in "legitimate rebellion" against what he calls Maduro's "murderous tyranny." "We clarify this is not a coup d'etat. This is a civilian and military action to restore the constitutional order and, more than that, to save the country from total destruction," Caguaripano declared. He is said to be a deserter from the army who has the support of "right-wing extremists." Police Disperse Protesters Some residents of Valencia demonstrated in support of the attackers, but were dispersed by police. Four months of anti-government protests have killed more than 120 Venezuelans. The country's social and political turmoil worsened last week when Maduro swore in a hugely unpopular constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution. The assembly has already made its first major move, dismissing Attorney General Luisa Ortega, a former Maduro ally turned vociferous opponent. The government claims 8 million people voted on July 30 to elect the new assembly's 545 members. The opposition, which voters to boycott the election, said turnout was less than half as much as the government claimed. In addition, pre-election opinion polls showed about 70 percent of Venezuelans opposed the assembly. Changes Will Bring Peace, Stability? Maduro has said a new constitution will bring peace and stability. The opposition said the constituent assembly is packed with Maduro supporters -- including his wife and son -- and predicted it will try to dissolve the opposition-led national assembly and turn Venezuela into a socialist dictatorship. "Each step by the constituent assembly is a step toward the precipice by this government," the opposition's parliamentary president, Julio Borges, said Sunday. "The only thing it has left is brute force. This is not a strong government. It's a rotten government which is failing. The only thing it wants to do is to cling to power." The United States has already imposed sanctions on Maduro and more could be on the way. The U.S., Canada, the European Union, and nearly all Latin American countries have refused to recognize the new constituent assembly. New research has shown that a naturally occurring protein can improve cognition in mice with Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease-like characteristics. The findings open up a new therapeutic avenue for treating these neurodegenerative illnesses. Share on Pinterest In our rapidly aging world, the longevity protein klotho provides much-needed hope for treating neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. The research was carried out by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, and it was led by Dr. Dena Dubal, an associate professor of neurology at the university. Their findings were published in the journal Cell Reports. This study builds on previous research that found that high levels of the klotho protein correlated with improved cognition. These previous studies looked at mice that had been genetically modified to have high levels of the protein, as well as with humans who naturally had such elevated levels. What the new research adds is an investigation into the potential therapeutic use of this protein. More specifically, the new study examines whether or not the protein can be used as a drug to quickly improve cognition in mice that have either low levels of the protein, normal levels, or cognitive impairment. About the relevance of the research, Dr. Dubal says, With our new aging demographic, cognitive dysfunction and lack of mobility are now emerging as our biggest biomedical challenges, and there are no truly effective medical therapies for these debilitating problems. However, her findings point to the protein hormone klotho as key for devising such therapies. What is klotho? Klotho is a protein that occurs naturally in the body produced in the kidneys and the brain which then goes on to circulate as a hormone. As the researchers explain in their study, klotho is known to be involved in regulating several other key bodily processes and hormones, such as insulin and the growth of fibroblasts, which are a type of connective tissue cell that produces collagen, among other things. Overexpression of the protein has been shown to be life-extending in humans and a variety of organisms, while low levels have been shown to shorten the lifespan. With age, we lose this life-extending protein. Studies referenced by the authors of the current research have shown that klotho levels decrease with age, with increased levels of chronic stress, and in the presence of a neurodegenerative illness such as Alzheimers disease or Parkinsons. Previous studies have also shown that natural genetic overexpression of the protein boosts cognition and neural resilience, regardless of age. It is also known that the way it does this is at least partially by improving the connections between the neurons synapses through the NMDA receptor, which is for glutamate. But what was not known was whether or not klotho could be used therapeutically to achieve the same effects, and if so, how quickly it can do this. For this reason, Dr. Dubal and team set out to test its therapeutic potential. How a klotho fragment boosts cognition The team injected both young and aging mice (which were 18 months old roughly the equivalent of 65 human years) with an alpha-klotho protein fragment (KL-F), which is similar to the secreted hormone. The researchers also created a mouse model wherein the rodents were genetically engineered to have excessive levels of alpha-synuclein that is, a protein largely responsible for Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. They administered injections of KL-F to these rodents as well. Dr. Dubal and team went on to test the cognitive performance of these mice by subjecting them to a range of tests. These included the Morris water maze and the Y-maze, which assess spatial learning and spatial memory. The tests revealed that young mice that had been treated with KL-F for 4 days in a row drastically improved their cognition, and the cognitive benefits lasted for more than 2 weeks. As for the aging mice, these showed cognitive improvements only 2 days after receiving just a single shot of the treatment. Finally, receiving KL-F treatment for a few days in a row helped to alleviate motor and cognitive impairment in mice with neurodegenerative illness. The study also found that for the duration of the time that KL-F boosted cognition, the neural signaling through the NMDA receptor was also enhanced, which, in turn, strengthened neural connections in the hippocampus, which is a brain area key for learning and memory. Speaking to Medical News Today about the results of the new study, Dr. Dubal said, When the impaired mice were treated with the hormone, they soon experienced the ability to move, learn, and remember better all in spite of the high levels of toxic proteins in their brains. The klotho treatment increased the ability of their brains to withstand and even reverse effects of pathogenic proteins already present; it boosted their brain resilience. Advertisement Janet M. Currie et al., Study links unhealthy segregated neighborhoods to childhood asthma, NBER (2017). Janet M. Currie, who is the Henry Putnam Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, explains that the racial disparity in asthma rates is so strong that some researchers have even concluded that "being black" is a risk factor for asthma.Low birth weight may predispose children to asthma, but by itself it doesn't cause the disease. A physical trigger is required. Thus it appears that something about the neighborhoods where the low-birth-weight children live, regardless of their race, is causing them to develop asthma."This distinction is important," Currie said, "because unlike race, it is possible to change neighborhoods, either by finding and remediating the hazards that are causing higher asthma prevalence or by helping vulnerable children to move."Not only can indoor and outdoor air pollution trigger asthma in susceptible children, Currie and Alexander noted they can also cause women to have low-birth-weight babies in the first place.To conduct their study, Currie and Alexander combined two sets of data records of all children born to mothers who lived in New Jersey from 2006 to 2010, and records of all New Jersey hospital emergency room visits from 2006 to 2012. The records help in determining whether or how many times each low-birth-weight child was treated in an emergency room for asthma during the study period."The United States continues to be highly racially segregated," Currie said, "with African-American neighborhoods suffering higher poverty, lower average educational attainments, higher unemployment, higher exposure to pollution, and other ills."Currie and Alexander's study suggests that the characteristics of highly segregated neighborhoods may be a major factor behind such persistent racial health disparities.But when Currie and her co-author, Princeton Ph.D. Diane Alexander of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, compared low-birth-weight children of all races and ethnicities who lived in "black" ZIP codes in New Jersey -- in which half or more of the residents are African American -- the racial disparity in the association between low birth weight and asthma disappeared completely.In other words, all low-birth-weight children in these ZIP codes, whatever their race, had the same elevated risk of asthma, compared to children born at a normal weight.The researchers found that New Jersey neighborhoods with a majority of black residents are on average twice as close as other neighborhoods to major industrial sources of air pollution. They are more likely to be near busy highways that produce high concentrations of harmful particulate matter.Currie and Alexander's study couldn't say definitively what exactly about the link between the Zip codes and the risk of the disease. But indoor and outdoor pollution might be the triggering factor for asthma in low birth weight children.Source: Medindia Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. The EU has not put an official number on the size of the bill, but estimates have ranged as high as 100 billion euros ($118 billion). Britain's outstanding tab to settle commitments it made as an EU member is one of the biggest issues confronting the divorce talks. The EU says it won't discuss future trade relations with Britain until there is progress on the bill and other key issues. The British government denied Monday that it has agreed on the amount of its European Union exit bill, after a report emerged that it plans offer the bloc 36 billion pounds ($47 billion). Britain voted in a referendum last year to quit the 28-nation bloc and is due to leave in March 2019. EU budget commissioner Guenther Oettinger told Germany's Bild newspaper in comments published Monday that Britain would remain bound by some previous commitments to long-term projects after Brexit and "will therefore have to transfer funds to Brussels at least until 2020." The size of the bill is a hot political issue in Britain, with some anti-EU politicians insisting the country should pay nothing at all. The Sunday Telegraph reported that British officials have decided to offer 36 billion pounds, or 40 billion euros, in a bid to move talks on to the key issue of trade. But Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman, James Slack, said "I don't recognize" the figure. He added, however, that Britain was prepared to pay a "fair settlement" of its obligations. Oettinger said in the long term, Britain's withdrawal will mean a loss of about 10 to 12 billion euros ($11.8-14 billion) per year to the EU budget, which will be made up through a combination of cuts and higher payments from other members. He estimated that Germany would face an "additional single-digit billion" increase. The presiding judge said the sentencing hearing will take place on Aug. 25. But Lee's lawyers entered a final plea of innocence, arguing the indictment was "filled with contradictions and unilateral assumptions," and demanded their client's acquittal. Prosecutors on Monday called for a 12-year prison sentence for Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong on charges of bribing ex-President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil. Independent counsel Park Young-soo told the court that Lee gave or pledged around W43.3 billion to Choi in return for securing government backing for the merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015, which was a crucial step in cementing his personal control over Korea's biggest business conglomerate. The independent counsel has described the case as "the most endemic and typical example of collusive ties between politicians and businessmen." In his own closing statement, Lee said he strove to be a respectable businessman but feels "overwhelmed with emotions" standing in front of a court. He said he is to blame for the controversy but denied bribing Park and Choi to lean on the national pension fund, which held the controlling vote in the publicly traded company at the time, to back the merger. President Moon Jae-in on Monday spoke on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump and stressed the need to apply maximum pressure on North Korea to scrap its nuclear and missile programs. Cheong Wa Dae quoted Moon as saying, "This is not a time for dialogue, but a time for pressure and sanctions." Moon and Trump "shared concerns about North Korea's evolving nuclear capabilities, and agreed their countries must put maximum pressure and sanctions on North Korea in cooperation with the international community to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs, and choose the right path," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun said. The call lasted for almost an hour and came 10 days after North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Deputy Minister Amanatidis represented the Greek government at the official swearing-in ceremony of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Hassan Rouhani, which took place at 17:00 (local time) on Saturday, 5 August 2017, at the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Majles, in Tehran. Earlier in the day, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs had a one-hour one-on-one meeting with his Iranian counterpart the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for American and European Affairs, Majid Takht Ravanchi. Mr. Takht Ravanchi expressed his certainty that, during President Rouhani's term, "we will continue to work to enhance our bilateral cooperation, with the mutual respect and cooperation that links our two peoples." Mr. Amanatidis underscored that "Greece can serve as the bridge between Iran and Europe on issues of energy, economy and trade," adding that "the roadmap agreed upon during Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' last visit to Tehran will function as a valuable tool for our bilateral cooperation." Mr. Amanatidis also highlighted that "the historical and cultural ties between the two countries, which go back more than 4,000 years, in tandem with the emphasis given on intercultural dialogue and our longstanding cooperation, are leading us to a better future." "As is well known, a major step was taken during the dialogue that took place last April, at the first meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, in Athens," at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs N. Kotzias, Mr. Amanatidis stressed, adding that "Iran participated actively in that initiative, becoming signatory of the "Declaration of Athens." The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs concluded by stressing that "we are continuing to build on existing opportunities for mutual cooperation in a number of sectors." North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said on Monday that the North is a "responsible nuclear power" and refused to sit down for talks unless the U.S. "fundamentally" gives up its "hostile policy." He was speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, the Philippines. Ri claimed North Korea's nuclear and missile programs resulted from Washington's decades-old "nuclear blackmail." "We will, under no circumstances, put the nukes and ballistic rockets on negotiating table. Neither shall we flinch even an inch from the road to bolstering up the nuclear forces chosen by ourselves, unless the hostile policy and nuclear threat of the U.S. against [North Korea] are fundamentally eliminated," he said. The Regional Governor of Attica and Chair of Greece's Bid Committee for hosting the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Rena Dourou, and Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Katrougalos, will brief diplomatic and foreign correspondents on Greece's candidacy at 12:00 on Wednesday, 9 August, at the Foreign Ministry's Sofianopoulou hall (1 Vas. Sofias Ave., Athens). North Korea on Tuesday slammed a new UN Security Council Resolution tightening sanctions against the renegade regime. A government statement released through the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Monday said that the new resolution is "a flagrant infringement" of the North's sovereignty and "an outright challenge" to the regime. In the usual garbled prose, it added, "As we've already said, we'll take a stern action of justice, as long as the U.S. has ultimately produced the UNSC resolution aimed at violating our sovereignty and rights to survival and development. We're ready to use the last resort of any kind without hesitation." The regime also slammed China and Russia for joining the U.S. in passing the resolution. "The countries that the U.S. thanked for colluding in working out the villainous sanctions resolution can never shirk responsibility for further aggravating the situation on the Korean Peninsula and putting the regional peace and security at risk." The fresh sanctions ban North Korea's exports of iron ore and coal, which have kept the impoverished country afloat, and are expected to slash its US$3 billion exports by one-third. An estimated 2.82 million Koreans have traveled overseas for their summer holidays this year, the highest number on record. Cheap flights and falling hotel prices mean the days are gone when Koreans saved up for months to go on vacation somewhere in their own country. Office worker Kim Sang-min (28) recently went to Hokkaido, Japan for three days. He flew by budget airline from Incheon and booked the round-trip tickets two weeks in advance for W230,000 (US$1=W1,129). There he paid W133,000 for a four-star hotel in Sapporo. On his first day in Hokkaido, Kim spent W200,000 on food and lodging. "Public transport costs more than in Korea, but food was cheaper," he said. Compare the cost of a holiday in Busan and Da Nang, Vietnam. The ticket from Gimpo to Busan costs W166,000 and the flight from Incheon to Da Nang W383,000. A four-star hotel room on Haeundae Beach would set travelers back W169,400 a night but in Da Nang only W70,000. Two nights easily make up for the difference in air fare. Bus parking spots relief for traffic From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-08-07 09:22 Parking spots for tour buses on Dongchang Road is relieving traffic pressure in Lujiazui tourist zone. Most tourist buses need parking only for up to 1.5 hours, which means that about 120 buses can use the 21 slots from 7am to 11pm every day, said Zhang Qing, a traffic police officer in the area. The slots are between Dongtai Road and Puming Road on Dongchang Road. Meanwhile, tourist bus drivers are encouraged to use seven spots in the area to pick up and drop passengers that include three near the Oriental Pearl Tower and one near Jinmao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium and Shanghai Tower. Its estimated that more than 450 tourist buses go through this area every day. May 1 this year saw a record when 708 buses came and went. Such heavy volumes pose a heavy traffic burden on the area, which has about 1,400 companies within its 1.7 square kilometers. Tourist buses were able to park on Yincheng Road M. between Huayuanshiqiao Road and Lujiazui Ring Road before the second half of 2015, but the parking space was shut down after the opening of Shanghai Tower. Tourist buses used to block the traffic around the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower and Shanghai Tower especially during peak hours, with complaints about illegal parking of the buses increasingly reaching the police. Since July 9 when the new parking spot on Dongchang Road was put into use, police said they had found only about 20 illegally parked tourist buses a day in the area, down from 70 previously. Zhou Xiaocheng, another traffic police officer, said the police plan to propose to the government to open a second exclusive parking spot for tourist buses on Binjiang Avenue between Zhangyang Road and Shangcheng Road. After the release of Chinas main economic indicators of the first half of this year, global media clearly noticed that the advanced manufacturing and service industry had a strong growth trend in the country. Reuters reported that Chinas engines for driving economic growth are further improving. A series of data showed that the transformation of old and new driving forces in China are pushing the transformation and upgrade of Chinas economy. In 2016 new driving engines contributed 70 percent of newly-added jobs. The first half of 2017 online sales saw an increase of 33.4 percent year-on-year, triple the growth speed of total offline retail sales. The logistics kept an increase speed of above 30 percent, and the value added in strategic new emerging industries and high-tech industries increased 10.8 percent and 13.1 percent, respectively, year-on-year. At a symposium chaired by Premier Li Keqiang in April, the Premier stressed the need to transform old growth engines to new ones, saying that the new development concept of innovation, coordination, green, opening-up and sharing should be implemented to complete the transformation. The following are a selection of the Premiers comments on the transformation of old and new growth engines: To stick to the concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open and sharing development, while promoting an upgrade of growth momentum, environment and support are two basic elements. Administrative streamlining and service optimization can create a better environment for new driving forces growth, and entrepreneurship and innovation can provide a stronger support. -- At a seminar on new development concepts and economic momentum on April 18, 2017 As long as we lead innovation with new concepts, promote it with new support, implement innovation-driven strategy, and create new growth engines with mass entrepreneurship and innovation, we can keep the economic growth at medium to high speed, and promote the economy step forward from medium to high levels. We also could improve economic efficiency while increasing quality. -- In a written article in the magazine, Qiushi, on Oct 16, 2015 More support should be given to new technologies and sectors to make them new engines of Chinas economy, while traditional industries like agriculture, manufacturing and services should strengthen their competitiveness, making themselves to be high-end, low-carbon and intelligent. -- Chairing a meeting with scholars and heads of enterprises to discuss the current economic situation and future economic work, Nov 3, 2014 You have completely upgraded the traditional metal processing industry with system reform and technology breakthroughs. Its a specific example of the transformation of growth engines in Chinas manufacturing. -- During an inspection at Kocel Machinery Co Ltd in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Feb 2, 2016 It is natural that traditional growth drivers may fade in a certain period, which has been proved by many countries, especially many developed countries. In that time, the new drivers need to emerge to adapt to the new industrial revolution. And it is possible that the combination of old and new drivers may form a new mixed driving engine. -- Meeting with the press after the annual meeting of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing, March 16, 2016 I hope that you could continue the trend, with new driving forces taking the lead and old ones staying vibrant. -- During an inspection to Dongguan, Guangdong province, Oct 13, 2016 To upgrade economic structure, we should accelerate the transformation of old and new driving forces, which comes from new technologies, emerging industries and new modes, as well as innovation in traditional industries. -- At a meeting focused on enhancing new development concepts and new economic drivers, April 18, 2017 We could strike gold in every traditional industry as long as we catch the new driving forces. -- Visiting Dishang Group, a clothing manufacturer based in Weihai, Shandong province, April 20, 2017 As the transformation mode from old to new driving engines is changing from time to time, the supervision and service models, such as financing support and tax calculation methods, also should be improved to adapt to the changes. It is necessary to explore inclusive and prudent supervision models to help the growth of new driving engines. -- Visiting an exhibition of innovation and entrepreneurship projects from eight central SOEs in Beijing on April 27, 2017 Centrally-administered SOEs should serve as vanguards in revitalizing the real economy by developing new growth engines and advancing industrial upgrades. To meet the nations strategic needs and implement the Made in China 2025 strategy, they should move up the industrial and value chains and increase their presence in emerging sectors, through developing revolutionary new technologies and new business models. They also should use the internet and other new technologies to upgrade their production, management and marketing models so as to revive traditional sectors. -- At a seminar on SOEs innovation and entrepreneurship in Beijing on April 27, 2017 Inclusive and prudent supervision is needed toward emerging things to promote its vigorous and orderly development with the aid of new technologies and new models. -- Inspecting Chinas major mobile network operators in Beijing on July 31, 2017 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. 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... Marillyn A. Hewson is chairwoman, president and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin. No place embodies the breadth and far-reaching legacy of the Marines better than the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. The museum tells the story of the world's premier expeditionary force and the integral role the Marine Corps has played throughout American history. Since the formation of the Continental Marines at Philadelphia's Tun Tavern in 1775, it has been a story of the Marines adapting and overcoming challenges in conflicts around the world -- all while staying true to the foundational values of honor, courage and commitment. That's why it was such a pleasure to join with senior Marine leaders to celebrate the opening of the Medal of Honor Theatre and the premiere of the new documentary "We, The Marines." These are the first steps in a major expansion that will add exhibits about the Marine Corps in the modern era, covering 1976 to the present. The Medal of Honor Theater, sponsored by Lockheed Martin, and the film will be the capstone experience for visitors, showing what it takes to earn the privilege of wearing the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and what life as a modern Marine entails. At Lockheed Martin, we are deeply proud to have contributed to the museum's expansion. We recognize the need for Marines to have a place to preserve and share their remarkable history. We also see the museum as a place for the American public to better understand the needs and ongoing sacrifices of modern Marines -- so our nation can better support them now and in the future. As we look ahead to the threats and challenges of the 21st century, there is no doubt the Corps will continue to be critical to global security and rapid response. For this reason, Lockheed Martin is committed to working to provide Marines with the technologies and capabilities needed to carry out their critical missions. As a strong industry partner, we are asking the question: What will the story of the Marine Corps be in years to come? We believe the challenges Marines are facing are more volatile and unpredictable than at any time in their 241-year history. Threats are intercontinental and asymmetric. Potential adversaries range from near-peer nations to non-state actors. Today's Marines must be prepared for everything from urban warfare and chemical weapons to humanitarian crises and even cyberattacks. To deal with these modern challenges, Marines need modern equipment, training and support. As Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in testimony before Congress earlier this year, "History has not been kind to militaries that fail to evolve, and the global change we are witnessing is rapid and dramatic." Of course, few organizations have a better track record of doing more with less than the Corps. But in recent years, the ever-widening gap between needs and resources has become dangerously unsustainable, forcing Marines to make difficult decisions every day. Lockheed Martin has an important role to play in addressing the Corps' evolving needs. We are focused on providing affordable, flexible and comprehensive solutions that will allow the service to increase interoperability, maximize agility, and extend its reach. And we will continue to think beyond today to ensure the technologies we provide are ready for the battlefields of tomorrow. We also recognize that our elected leaders in Washington must work together to ensure that the Marine Corps has the full support it needs, while simultaneously investing in the technologies that ensure it remains the world's premier expeditionary force. Fully funding critical modernization programs such as the F-35 and CH-53K will give the Marine Corps and its industry partners the stability and momentum necessary to get these technologies into the field on time and on budget. With strong collaboration between the Marines, the administration, Congress and industry, we can honor the legacy of the United States Marine Corps and ensure that Marines have the capabilities necessary to defend America's interests for decades to come. -- If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Of five Marine Corps unit commanders fired this year, two were relieved as a result of a negative command climate that included Marines' improper behavior toward women, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps said Tuesday. Gen. Glenn Walters, who was tapped to lead efforts to combat misogyny and disrespect in the ranks following the March revelation that some Marines were sharing nude photos of female troops in a private Facebook group, revealed Tuesday for the first time that field-grade officers have been penalized in connection with the problem. "We relieve commanders for a variety of reasons. I believe -- and if you're going to quote me on this, get it precisely correct -- we have relieved commanders. Two out of those five that have been relieved, I can directly attribute to an awareness of this issue and the fact that they didn't have the correct command climate, and what they did," Walters said. "So to me, that's progress." Of the five commanders who have been fired this year, four are lieutenant colonels and one is a colonel, all out of North Carolina. They include: Lt. Col. Jennifer Grieves, commander of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, was relieved June 2 after a domestic incident that resulted in charges, ultimately dropped, came to light. Col. Daniel O'Hora, commander of Marine Corps Engineer School at Camp Lejeune, was relieved June 6. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Brown, commander of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, was relieved June 14. Lt. Col. Taylor White, commander of Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, was relieved July 20. Lt. Col. Shawn Grzybowski, commander of Combat Logistics Battalion 8 out of Camp Lejeune, was relieved Aug. 3. As Marine Corps Times reported, Brown and O'Hora were relieved quietly and without an official announcement because their firings were not the result of personal misconduct or an investigation. While Walters would not identify the two officers he referred to, he said they were removed from their post as a result of lack of trust and confidence in their ability to lead. Related content: "Their [unit's] behavior toward women was a component of that decision. And that's as far as I'd like to go," Walters said. " ...They didn't do what we want commanders to do and exhibited the wrong behavior as a commander." To highlight these issues moving forward, Walters told Military.com the Marine Corps was planning changes to command climate surveys to assess the presence of bias within units under a commander's leadership. "That will get at this if the commander is judged not to have accepted change," he said. "In other words, if he hasn't implemented this, it will be on his fitness report, and that's how we get promoted." Melissa Cohen, who has been installed as the leader of the Marine Corps' brand-new Personnel Studies and Oversight Office, said those potential changes to command climate surveys are being evaluated now. "Questions that you add to the survey need to be carefully reviewed so you ask the right questions, so you get the right issues," she said. "And so that's what we are going to be doing moving forward is to make sure we thoroughly vet the questions we'll add to the field so we get the responses." Since an explosive investigative story in March revealed the existence of non-consensual nude photo-sharing and other activities disrespectful to women online, the Marine Corps has implemented new social media guidance giving commanders more tools to punish troops who act improperly on the internet. Officials have also implemented guidance requiring that Marines found to have participated in illicit photo-sharing are processed for administrative separation. In addition, a massive task force including personnel from Naval Criminal Investigative Service has sifted through hundreds of thousands of photographs and identified 100 subjects of interest, 78 of them Marines. To date, 33 have faced some form of punishment, including one summary court-martial and two involuntary separations. The goal with these activities, Walters said, is to achieve a future Marine Corps where all personnel respect each other. Editor's Note: The penultimate graph has been updated to correct the number of Marines who have faced punishment to 33. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Two Marine aviators and an infantryman were killed when an MV-22 Osprey went down Aug. 5 into the waters off the coast of Queensland, Australia, officials announced Monday evening. As dive teams continue to recover debris from the site of the crash, the service has identified the three Marines lost in the tragedy. They are 1st Lt. Benjamin Cross, 26, of Oxford, Maine; Cpl. Nathaniel Ordway, 21, of Sedgwick, Kansas; and Pfc. Ruben Velasco, 19, of Los Angeles. Cross and Ordway were both assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 out of Futenma, Japan; Velasco was a member of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, out of Camp Pendleton, California. Both units were assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is forward deployed to the Pacific and was near Australia for the multinational training exercise Talisman Saber. Related content: "The loss of every Marine is felt across our entire Marine Corps family. To the families of the brave Marines we lost -- there is no way for us to understand what you are going through," Col. Tye R. Wallace, commanding officer of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in a statement. "What we do know is that your Marines left a lasting impression on the 31st MEU, the Marine Corps, and the world," he said. "They will live on forever in our thoughts and our hearts. You will always be a part of the Marine Corps family, and you will remain in our prayers." The Osprey, which belonged to VMM-265, crashed after launching from the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard in a routine operation, officials have said. The aircraft went down roughly 18 miles off the coast of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. Of the 26 troops aboard the aircraft, 23 were located alive, and three were missing following the crash. The Marine Corps launched "extensive search and rescue efforts" to locate the missing Marines, officials said, but transitioned to recovery efforts 11 hours later, acknowledging the troops did not survive. Earlier Monday, officials said they had located the wreckage of the Osprey with the aid of the Australian hydrographic survey ship Melville and were dispatching dive teams to assess and recover the wreckage. Officials with III MEF did not respond to questions about whether remains of the fallen Marines had been recovered. While Japanese officials called for the Marine Corps to ground its fleet of Ospreys, citing safety concerns, the service has yet to announce such a step. "We are looking at our options in terms of reviewing safety across the Marine Corps fleet at the moment ... pending an across-the-board safety review," a US defense official told Agence France-Presse earlier today. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the tragic crash. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. An F/A-18 Super Hornet was forced to maneuver away after being buzzed by an Iranian drone during a carrier landing attempt in the Central Arabian Gulf, Navy officials said Tuesday. The aircraft, which belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron 147, was in a holding pattern while preparing to land aboard the carrier Nimitz, officials with U.S. Navy Central Command said. The unarmed Iranian QOM-1 drone approached, coming within 100 feet vertically and 200 feet laterally of the aircraft, ignoring radio calls to stay clear of aircraft operations. "The F/A-18E maneuvered to avoid collision with the QOM-1, resulting in a lateral separation of approximately 200 feet and a vertical separation of approximately 100 feet," said Lt. Chloe Morgan, a NAVCENT spokeswoman, in a statement. "The dangerous maneuver by the QOM-1 in the known vicinity of fixed-wing flight operations and at coincident altitude with operating aircraft created a collision hazard and is not in keeping with international maritime customs and laws," she said. Related content: Morgan said Tuesday's incident was the 13th unsafe or unprofessional maritime interaction with Iranian forces to date this year. It comes just weeks after a Navy patrol craft, the USS Thunderbolt, was forced to fire warning shots from its .50-caliber machine guns in July to stop the dangerous approach of vessels belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. In May, the commanding officer of the carrier George H.W. Bush, Capt. Will Pennington, told Military.com that Iranian drones regularly harassed the carrier while it was deployed in the Gulf. "That is a capability that the entire world is getting, and Iran is no different," he told Military.com in an interview aboard the Bush. "These aren't small, radio-controlled drones. They're reconnaissance." The Nimitz recently arrived in the region to replace the Bush, which is expected to return shortly to its homeport in Norfolk. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. As news broke that an Iranian drone came within 100 feet of a U.S. Navy F/A-18 landing on the USS Nimitz in the Persian Gulf, four analysts in Washington, D.C., reiterated their call to remove American forces from the region. What's at stake for the U.S. being involved in a conflict that grows more complicated by the day? Everything, said former U.S. State Department official Matthew Hoh and former CIA counterterrorism analyst John Kiriakou. Hoh and Kiriakou were accompanied by legal analyst Christie Edwards, and author and activist David Swanson. "We are on the brink with a war with Russia," Hoh told an audience at a National Press Club event Tuesday. Hoh resigned as the senior civilian representative in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, in 2009, making him the first known U.S. official to resign in protest of America's war in Afghanistan. A former U.S. Marine Corps captain, he had previously served two tours in Iraq. He said the involvement of U.S. and Russian warplanes over Syria -- still a sovereign state -- is a clear violation of international laws. And as each country continues to bait the other -- mainly in the Baltics and Ukraine -- the basis for involvement in Syria becomes even more misconstrued, Hoh said. To further Hoh's point, Edwards, a legal analyst with the American Society of International Law and chair of the Lieber Society on the law of armed conflict, said Russia and the U.S. make contradictory claims for their presence in Syria. Related content: Edwards used the F/A-18E Super Hornet shootdown of a Syrian Su-22 in June after the Soviet-era fighter-bomber dropped munitions near U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighters as an example. "The U.S. claims that it acted in collected self-defense of coalition forces because the Syrian plane was bombing the SDF," Edwards said. "Russia, however, says the plane was providing air cover for Syrian ground forces fighting ISIS, so the U.S. action here violated Syria's sovereignty and international law and thus constituted military aggression against the Syrian government." It doesn't help that Congress has not approved a new authorization of military force, or AUMF, in the region, she said. The Pentagon has been operating under the 2001 AUMF. "Article 51 [of the United Nations Charter] does allow for collective self-defense of states but not necessarily non-state armed groups like the SDF. To be clear, the U.S. has not claimed that the SDF is a de facto organ of the United States -- it's providing some support, but it's not claiming it's a de facto organ under its control," Edwards said. She also argued there is leeway that the U.S. can use "proportionate force" to defend members of the coalition and coalition non-state armed groups against ISIS, "if defeating ISIS was its sole mission." The legal analyst said the waters have been muddied by U.S. officials such as U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who have repeatedly indicated a regime change in Syria, saying that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is not the solution. "The fact that there could be some mixed motives for both fighting ISIS, which is a strategic objective of the United States, and possible regime change -- the mixing of these motives compromise the legal basis for military operations that have occurred and may occur here in the future," Edwards said. Recently, Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles Corcoran, commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, confirmed to Military.com that American pilots made the call to shoot down aircraft over Syria on three separate missions, including the Su-22 shootdown. He said the acts were all within the parameters of the rules of engagement. "We're here to fight ISIS, but we're going to protect our forces from Syrian pro-regime entities," Corcoran told Military.com during a recent trip to the Middle East. The general, however, did raise another point: Such calls may happen with more frequency as ISIS continues to lose ground in Syria, where a civil war has raged since 2011, and the U.S. finds itself operating in airspace increasingly congested by forces loyal to Assad and backed by Russia. During an interview in his office, Corcoran said, "We're here to fight ISIS" but pointed to a map of Syria and Iraq outlining areas controlled by the Islamic State in red. "It's pretty clear that at some point the 'red' is going to go away," he said, "and we're going to have state-on-state" forces fighting. "ISIS is a sideshow ... but what happens when the [other] two meet? Strategically, when ISIS goes away, that's the real issue." Thus far, the U.S. has spent $14.3 billion in operations related to ISIS since kinetic strikes began on Aug. 8, 2014, according to the Defense Department. Kiriakou, who served in the CIA from 1990 to 2004 and identifies himself as a CIA whistleblower, on Tuesday said, "The only way to save that country from becoming a failed state or an ISIS state is to sit at the table with all of the stakeholders, including the Syrians, the Russians -- and, whether we like it or not, the Iranians." "We have to accept the fact that al-Assad is not going anywhere, nor should he," he said. "His is the internationally recognized government of Syria -- and that is no matter what [U.S. President Donald] Trump nor [former President Barack] Obama have said. "We should sit across the table from Bashar al-Assad," Kiriakou said. The former CIA analyst said the Russians have been invited by Syria to be there, while the U.S. has not. But Swanson disagreed with the alleged legality of Russia's invite. "Can an exiled dictator create legality by inviting other nations to attack his country? No, these are nonsense arguments for war," said Swanson, the director of WorldBeyondWar.org. He added there are no legal statutes that say, "War is OK if a dictator asks you to help with it." "The U.S. is committing a crime in Syria. So is Russia," Swanson said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Every year, more than 200,000 service members transition out of the military, and the vast majority (94%) of you are looking for jobs after completing your service, according to Monsters 2018 Veterans Survey. You are some of the highest-trained candidates in the workforce, with skills required in growth industries ranging from information technology to health care to cybersecurity. By all accounts, veterans exit the military with great mission focus, work ethic, integrity, passion, and drive, along with leading-edge training and skills. In my opinion, theres no single better pool of talent in the U.S. than the military, says Charles Miles, director of military employment programs for PenFed Credit Union and a retired U.S. Marine major. Yet despite all the training, skills, and experience, there's still a communications gap between employers and military candidates. One of the biggest obstacles to finding the right job fit after separating from the military is matching your skills to the appropriate civilian jobs. Tools such as the skills translator at Military.com help take the guessing out of which jobs to apply to and what level you should be at in your career. Such resources, along with a growing number of companies that recognize the value of veteran and military hiring, are helping the communication gap to narrow. For the past five years, in honor of Veterans Day, Monster and Military.com have worked with experts in veteran and military-family hiring to compile our Best Companies for Veterans list. Each year, the pool of candidates has gotten stronger and the benchmark for inclusion has gotten higher. In fact, the minimum percentage of veterans compared to total workforce at these companies has reached a whopping 19%; and the workforce at the top-ranked company, DynCorp, is made up of 60% veterans! Encompassing industries such as IT, government, and consulting, here's this year's list of the top 10 companies for veterans: 1. DynCorp International First year on the list, veteran-owned company What the company does: DynCorp provides base operations, supply chain management, and infrastructure support for the U.S. government, military, and commercial customers around the world. Industry: Defense Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 51% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 60% What we liked: The company recognizes the leadership and life experiences that veterans bring to the workforce; therefore, they accept military training for civilian credentials and acknowledge the importance these skills bring to the success of their business model. We accept all training, which affirms our corporate belief in the value of military training, says a company spokesperson. During onboarding, veterans are assigned a sponsor who provides insight, support, and resources to new hires. 2020 hiring goals: Increase veteran hiring by 10%. Find jobs at DynCorp International on Monster. 2. Intelligent Waves, LLC Third year on the list, veteran-owned company What the company does: Founded by veterans, Intelligent Waves LLC is a veteran-owned small business that specializes in providing IT and communications support to a wide variety of U.S. government customers. Industry: Information technology Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 50% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 44% What we liked: IntelligentWaves focuses on placing veteran hires in the right job where they can be successful at building a civilian career. The company offers various professional development opportunities to veterans, including the Admin to Engineer (A2E) program. During the 18-month training, participants learn all the skills they need while obtaining the required certificates and TS/SCI security clearance. A2E participants receive all-expense-paid computer-based training, IT boot camp, lab work, mentoring, and job shadowing. Upon completion, graduates have all the certifications necessary to work as engineers on the companys Engineering Services (ES) Team or in the Professional Services (PS) department. In addition, Intelligent Waves partners with Warriors Ethosa 501(3)(c) non-profit founded by Intelligent Waves executive team in 2013to provide veterans with the additional career assistance and professional development needed for success. 2020 hiring goals: Increase the percentage of veteran employees to 60%. Find jobs at Intelligent Waves on Monster. 3. American Systems First year on the list What the company does: One of the largest employee-owned companies in the United States, American Systems is a government services contractor focused on delivering strategic IT and engineering solutions to complex national priority programs. Industry: Information technology and consulting Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 42% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 50% What we liked: More than half of American Systems executive leadership are veterans. The company has created an employee resource group called the Servicemember Outreach And Referral (SOAR) Program, which is a platform for veteran employees to strengthen the camaraderie, onboarding, and morale of fellow veterans inside and outside the company. Applicants who are veterans are matched with veteran employees who speak with them about the company and culture. This pairing may continue through a Buddy Program, which allows new hires to assist in the transition to a new company and begin developing their network. Senior leadership in the HR department receives training on veteran employment, training, and retention. 2020 hiring goals: Have 50% of all new hires be veterans. Find jobs at American Systems on Monster. 4. CACI Second year on the list What the company does: CACI provides expertise and technology to enterprise and mission customers in support of national security missions and government transformation for defense, intelligence, and civilian customers. Industry: Information technology Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 42% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 38% What we liked: As part of CACIs Veteran Inclusion Program (VIP), veteran hires receive a team welcome letter within their first 30 days and are invited to join the Veterans Employee Resource Group. Recently separated veteran new hires are offered a veteran transition mentor to assist in their integration into the company. New recruiters, talent acquisition managers, and hiring managers receive mandatory training on CACIs veterans hiring program and the value of a veteran. They have a dedicated full-time veteran-engagement team that actively seeks ways to bring military into the company. In partnership with the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, and as part of the companys Continuing Your Mission veterans and military spouse outreach campaign, they produce job flyers specifically tailored to military spouses, focusing on a wide variety of career opportunities that do not require security clearances. 2020 hiring goals: Exceed this year's hiring percentages. Find jobs at CACI on Monster. 5. LMI First year on the list What the company does: LMI is a consultancy dedicated to improving the business of government, drawing from deep expertise in advanced analytics, digital services, logistics, and management advisory services. Industry: Management consulting Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 41% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 34% What we liked: LMI greets members of the military community on Day 1, providing them with resources, mentoring, and peer support. They have career path check-ins at regular intervals, as well as as-needed support to ensure they are thriving at LMI. The company has a robust veteran employee resource group that offers professional development, internal mobility, and opportunities for community service to its members. LMI conducts an average of four outreach events per month seeking military talent and has quarterly open house events for prospective job seekers from the military community. Additionally, LMI is committed to providing an informational interview to every candidate from the military community who seeks one. Of LMIs 2018 veteran hires, 97% have stayed with the company longer than 12 monthsthe largest number of any company on our list. 2020 hiring goals: Hire 250 veterans and/or military-family members. Find jobs at LMI on Monster. 6. PRISM Second year on the list What the company does: PRISM provides technology, cybersecurity, and IT enterprise solutions to public and private companies. Industry: Information technology Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 32% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 25% What we liked: PRISMs Veteran Performance Management Program provides veterans with continual workforce support and believes the company has a duty to ensure the career development and growth of veterans and their spouses. PRISM also donates funds for higher education and certification industry training. This year, the company hired a Program Development Manager to help spread the word about the value of military-friendly programs and help PRISMs efforts become stronger with partner companies and leaders. 2020 hiring goals: Increase veteran hiring to 33% and military families to 2% for all new hires. Find jobs at PRISM on Monster. 7. MSA Security First year on the list What the company does: MSA Security provides security, intelligence, training, and investigative services in order to protect personnel, property, and peace of mind. Industry: Security and investigations Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 30% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 40% What we liked: Veterans comprise 20% of MSAs C-suite. MSA aids in the transition from military to civilian life by providing veterans with the opportunity to not only earn a steady wage, but to do so while utilizing the skills and knowledge learned while in service. MSA is dedicated to being straightforward and transparent in direction and expectations to eliminate much of the ambiguity returning veterans face when entering the public and private sectors. 2020 hiring goals: Maintain an 89% veteran-retention rate. Find jobs at MSA Security on Monster. 8. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Fifth year on the list What the company does: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), one of the worlds largest law enforcement agencies, is charged with keeping terrorists and weapons out of the U.S., while also facilitating lawful international travel and trade. Industry: Government agency Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 28% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 29% What we liked: CBP frequently conducts educational workshops and webinars about the hiring process and career opportunities, and participates in career fairs at military installations across the U.S., for transitioning service members and military spouses. Within the CBPs National Recruitment Division (NRD), the primary proponents of veteran hiring include the Veterans Employment Program Manager (VEPM) and the National Frontline Recruitment Command (NFRC)/Special Emphasis Recruitment Program (SERP). CBPs VEPM advocates for the placement of transitioning service members, veterans, and veterans with disabilities into CBP; NFRC continues to dedicate uniformed recruiters from CBPs Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, and Air and Marine Operations to conduct frontline recruitment events tailored for transitioning active duty military, veterans, and underrepresented groups. SERP continues to have a full-time recruiter presence at six Department of Defense locations. 2020 hiring goals: Have 10% of new hires be veterans with disabilities. Find jobs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Monster. 9. IntelliDyne, LLC First year on the list What the company does: IntelliDyne develops and executes effective solutions in EIM, analytics, cybersecurity and information assurance, application development, and cloud computing. Industry: Information technology Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 26% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 27% What we liked: For a smooth and efficient onboarding, IntelliDyne has a veteran buddy program to connect newly transitioned hires with established employees from the same branch of service who can help the new hire navigate through the organization. After a few months on the job, veteran employees have breakfast with the CEO and spend a half-day with the executive team for a company overview. The company offers free on-demand video training through Lynda.com, as well as up to $5,000 per year for job-related training. In 2018, the chief human resources officer launched the Military Resource Groupan employee-led group with a focus to hire qualified veterans, keep veterans engaged in the organization, and support veteran communities. One of their top six strategic initiatives is to increase veteran employment. Their veteran and military hiring goals are to achieve over 30% of the workforce as military. 2020 hiring goals: Focus on tracking military spouse hires as part of the company's comprehensive military-family hiring efforts. Find jobs at IntelliDyne on Monster. 10. AbleVets LLC First year on the list, veteran-owned company What the company does: A service-disabled veteran-owned small business, AbleVets is an award-winning health IT engineering and consulting company dedicated to improving the lives of our nations veterans, service members, and their families. Industry: IT consulting and engineering Percentage of 2019 hires who are vets: 23% Percentage of workforce who are vets: 19% What we liked: Veterans occupy many of AbleVets leadership roles, including the founder and CEO, Chief Medical Officer, VP Strategy, VP Infrastructure Operations, and others at the next level of management. Veterans participate in leading new hire orientation to reinforce the companys mission and commitment. In addition, the companys military veterans employee resource groups support new hire transition and integration, strengthens internal networks, build training and recruiting partnerships, creates next-gen leaders, and promotes community outreach. We are proud of the progress weve made in bringing more veterans on board and know that diversity makes us stronger and more innovative, according to a spokesperson at AbleVets. 2020 hiring goals: Track military-family hires as well as veteran hires as part of the company's overall recruitment plans. Find jobs at AbleVets on Monster. Find the right fit As a veteran, you already have the necessary skills and experience many employers are seeking. Do you struggle figuring out how to find those companies? You need the combined power of Monster and Military.com behind you. You can join Monster for free today. As a member, youll get a free resume review to help you ensure that youre civilian-world ready, and you can upload your resume (up to five versions!) so that recruiters can find you. But youll also want to head over to Military.com, where you can search for veteran-friendly employers, use the Military Skills Translator and get career transition help, and learn about the latest news and trends affecting vets. Methodology Monster worked with veteran and military-family hiring experts to identify companies they thought were standouts for their veteran hiring and retention practices. We then reached out to each companyplus past winnersfor the following additional information: what percentage of the companys 2019 hires were veterans; what percentage of the total workforce is veterans; what the retention rate was for 2018 hires; what 2020 recruitment plans it had for veterans; whether it has a dedicated veteran-recruitment team and if any of that team are veterans; what kind of special programs it offers for onboarding, development, and retention; whether they accepted military training in place of civilian credentials; and if the companys leadership is updated on the value of hiring veterans, military culture, and veterans issues. We ranked first on 2019 hires, then on total workforce, and finally used the other data points to inform the final rankings. Find the Right Veteran Job Whether you want to polish your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.com can help. Sign up for a free Military.com membership to have job postings, guides and advice, and more delivered directly to your inbox. Social Media You can follow us on different types of social media by clicking the links below: PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI - An 18-year-old Milan man accused of raping and assaulting a woman two days in a row at her home will undergo a competency examination. Theodore Dapprich appeared briefly in Pittsfield Township's 14A-1 District Court Tuesday, Aug. 8 when he was scheduled for a preliminary examination, which was adjourned. Instead, Judge Elizabeth Hines granted a request for a competency evaluation made by Dapprich's attorney, Southfield-based Ray Correll. Dapprich will be evaluated to see if he's competent to stand trial. A competency review is scheduled for Oct. 10. In the meantime, Dapprich will remain free on $20,000 cash or surety bond. He was charged in early June with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder in connection with two alleged assaults at a residence on Greentree Lane in Milan - one on May 31 and a second on June 1, according to Milan police. Dapprich and a 21-year-old woman knew each other from high school and recently rekindled an acquaintanceship on social media, police said. Dapprich is accused of sexually and physically assaulting the woman. BANGOR TWP, MI -- The Natural Resources Commission of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has removed two proposals regarding the Bay City State Recreation Area from the agenda for its upcoming meeting. The removal of the proposals from the agenda comes less than 24 hours after the DNR hosted an informational meeting at the state recreation area. Several dozen residents voiced their disapproval with one of the proposals, which would expand hunting and trapping opportunities at Tobico Marsh State Game Area. Another proposal changing the name to "Bay City State Park" is also crossed out on the agenda. George Lauinger, unit manager of the state recreation area, said Monday that the change would be made to lessen confusion from visitors. The agenda was revised Tuesday, Aug. 8. The two proposals were to be considered by the NRC at its meeting Thursday, Aug. 10, in Jackson. Ron Olson, chief of parks and recreation for the DNR, said a decision was made after Monday's meeting to remove the items from the agenda. He said a postponement would allow everyone to assess the entirety of the proposals before the NRC's Sept. 14 meeting. Bay County Executive Jim Barcia spoke at Monday's meeting and stated the Bay County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution opposing the expanded hunting proposal. "They've heard Bay County and the concerns that have been expressed," Barcia said. DNR officials stated the increased acreage would allow more opportunities for hunters. Residents on Monday expressed safety concerns along the Tobico trails, which would be in areas open to hunting. "There is nothing going to be addressed at the meeting this week," Olson said. Olson said postponing a decision was respectful to the residents who came out on Monday. "That's why you have a public meeting," he said. Olson said both proposals are intended to return to the agenda at next month's meeting. He said both proposals were related, so they were postponed at the same time. State Rep. Brian Elder, D-Bay City, confirmed that the proposals were removed. Elder organized Monday's meeting between the DNR and residents at the state recreation area. The DNR informed Elder of the agenda changes on Tuesday. Elder said in its explanation, the DNR indicated there a lot of confusion about what the proposal was, and that was a reason for the postponement. Elder also referred to a number of different maps that were distributed at Monday's meeting. The DNR wanted to do a better job of relaying where hunting would be allowed and take the time to do more research, Elder said. Elder said he is happy with the outcome and believes other people should be as well. "I think the residents themselves should be quite proud of what they did," he said. BAY COUNTY, MI -- Two Bay County beaches reopened Tuesday, Aug. 8, after closing for four days due to high bacteria levels. Bay County Health Department Officials announced that results of water samples at Bay City State Recreation Area and South Linwood Beach on Monday, Aug. 7, met the state standard. Both beaches closed beginning Aug. 4, according to the Michigan DEQ BeachGuard monitoring system. The state's standard is 300 colonies of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water. Monday's results produced results of 35.9 and 38.8 colonies, respectively, at South Linwood Beach, according to the DEQ. At Bay City State Recreation Area, results were 44.3 and 67 colonies, respectively, according to the DEQ. Bay City State Recreation Area beach has closed and reopened two times in 2017 for a total of five days. It also closed on June 15 due to high bacteria levels. South Linwood Beach has closed four times for 16 days this year. FRASER TWP, MI -- Kelly Rosenbrock and her husband were forced out of their home following the historic flooding in June across mid-Michigan. Her Northern Bay County home along M-13, parallel to the Tebo-Erickson drainage ditch, saw about about 2 feet of water flood inside the two-story structure. Now, only a small part of her house remains standing. "There's no way we can live in it," Rosenbrock said." There's no house left." Rosenbrock and her neighbors are blaming a lack of maintenance on the Tebo drain for the property damage and are demanding the county cleans up the debris and vegetation that has built up in the drain over the past five decades. But Joseph Rivet, Bay County's elected drain commissioner, calls the flooding an anomaly that simply overwhelmed the system and that no amount of maintenance would have made a difference. "Our drain systems work well," Rivet said. "It's just a tragedy. We weren't unhappy with how our drains worked." The issue sparked a community meeting earlier this month to educate residents on how county drains are maintained and a political clash on how the matter should be handled. Meeting At an Aug. 1 meeting at Fraser Township Hall, about 50 residents, including Rosenbrock and many others who were affected by the June flooding, were in attendance. Rivet, a Democrat, said there was "a lot of education" at the meeting. He said all of the county's drains on June 23 -- the day more than six inches of rain quickly pounded the region -- were working fine and nothing could have been done to stop Tebo from flooding. He added drains in Bay County are built to handle only so much rain. The drain commissioner said problems at the Rosenbrock home may have been caused by several factors, including the elevation of the home and the sheer amount of rainfall -- not just the flooding of the drain. The county regularly maintains its drains, but bigger projects require a residential petition under the Michigan Drain Code, Rivet said. A minimum of five signatures are needed for the petition. A project initiated by citizens or a local government could allow for hydraulic studies and culvert examinations that could remove some of the old trees and logs that have fallen into the drain, Rivet said. The drain commissioner added he would welcome any petition, but warned it would cost the taxpayers. Exact figures of the cost for projects are initially unknown, which Rivet said is the downfall for most projects. Rosenbrock argues that it's Rivet's job as an elected official to protect the health and safety of the public and to physically maintain the drainage ditches. Rivet said there has not been a substantial project done on the drain in question since 1958, according to his records. Rosenbrock challenged him: "You cannot tell me that in 60 years that you see no problem with it," she said. Politics The Tebo-Erickson issue has caught the attention of state Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Midland, who sent a letter to Rivet inquiring why the drain hasn't been maintained. Rivet later responded with how the system works. Glenn, who is considering a run for state Senate, argued to Rivet that downed trees and other debris caused the massive flooding near the drain. Rivet said that is "just not accurate." Rivet told Glenn he would remove the necessary deadfall in the Tebo-Erickson drain, which flows into the Saginaw Bay. The drain commissioner said due to the size of the Tebo-Erickson drain and its current state, his ability to address everything in the ditch is limited. Under the code, Rivet has the power to do some maintenance on some drains, with up to $5,000 per mile, but can assess taxpayers $2,500 per mile annually. About 75 percent of drain maintenance work is paid for by residents, he said. Brandon DeFrain, chairman of the Bay County Republican Party, called out Rivet on Facebook about the issue. "When our drain Commissioner focuses less on politics and addresses the problem like the neglect to our system over the last 5 years, maybe residents will truly get the service they deserve," he wrote. "And this talk about petitions for drain maintenance? Give me a break Commissioner you live in the County, you know the problems." After the flooding began, Rivet said he received about 100 phone calls, and only one-to-two of them were "actionable items" for the drain office. He still believes the nearly 300 county drains that span 1,400 miles across Bay County are in good working condition. Rivet believes it would have caused similar property damage if the drain did not have trees clogging it. He referenced Bangor Township near the Bay City Mall and how flooded those areas were after the heavy rains. "The reality is even our best or most recently maintained drains had substantial flooding," Rivet said. Regularly scheduled maintenance of the Tebo drain is scheduled for this summer, Rivet said. Bay County Executive Jim Barcia said he visited northern Bay County after the flooding to inspect the area. Barcia said there were trees that reached about 20 feet in the ditch. "As time moves forward, the cost of cleaning up that drain becomes more-and-more expensive," Barcia said. FEMA assistance Ann Russell lives on East Coggins Road, with the drain in question running behind her house. Her once-finished basement no longer has carpet or drywall and she had to use a boat to navigate her property following the floods. She estimates there was about $86,000 in damages, but that is not including the personal belongings destroyed by the floods -- including items dear to her family, like her mother's decorative Christmas village. "You just can't replace that kind of stuff," she said. After the flooding, Russell and her husband lived in an apartment for about three weeks before moving back to their home. Russell is waiting for FEMA assistance before making decisions. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Aug. 2, approved Gov. Rick Snyder's disaster declaration for four mid-Michigan counties -- including Bay County. Bay County is now accepting applications for those who sustained property damage from the floods. Russell hopes in the future drains are cleaned to prevent flooding, which she said hasn't been that bad in her 27 years at the residence. "It's just a mess," she said. LENNON, MI - A funeral planned for a 26-year-old Michigan hair stylist who was stabbed to death in Chicago has been moved to a larger venue. The family of Trenton James Cornell-Duranleau told the Associated Press on Tuesday that they had to change to a bigger space for Saturday's funeral in Lennon "due to the amount of love and support." The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 at The Lennon Wesleyan Church, located about 15 miles west of Flint. Burial will follow at the Yerian Cemetery in Lennon, according to The Associated Press. Cornell-Duranleau was found with multiple stab wounds on July 27 in a 10th floor apartment of a Chicago high-rise building on State Street. Wyndham Lathem, a 42-year-old professor at Northwestern University, and Andrew Warren, a 56-year-old English national who worked at the University of Oxford, were both arrested in California on Aug. 4 following a nationwide manhunt. They are both accused of committing the grisly crime. FLINT, MI - A 60-year-old self-described prison gang leader has been indicted on multiple federal charges - including sex trafficking of children - after police climbed in his home's window and allegedly found guns, drugs and underage girls locked inside. On Wednesday, Aug. 2, Bobbie Charles Townsend, of Flint, was indicted by a grand jury on 10 charges in relation to maintaining two drug and prostitution residences, including: Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances Sex trafficking of children Transportation to engage in prostitution Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Possession of ammunition by a felon Five counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. Townsend's alleged accomplice, Anthony "TK" Knight, was indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a felon in relation to the case. The indictment also ordered Townsend and Knight to forfeit all weapons and ammunition previously confiscated by officials. A federal criminal complaint filed in March in U.S. District Court alleged Townsend - a self-identified leader of the Melanics, a Michigan prison gang - maintained two drug and prostitution residences where he "regularly abuse[d] the victims and forced them to purchase weapons and drugs." According to the criminal complaint, officials began investigating Townsend in February after a Crime Stoppers tip reported that he "carried a knife, operated a prostitution and drug operation by selling heroin and methamphetamine." The tip also stated that Townsend "regularly abuses [two women - one of whom was 17 at the time of abuse, according to prosecutors - locked in a house] and forces them to purchase weapons, which he keeps inside the house." According to the complaint, Townsend then came to the FBI's attention on March 2 after an informant reported that Townsend was "a heroin dealer who committed homicide with a firearm." Davison Township police arrested Townsend on March 7 outside Williams Gunsight and Outfitters after a 17-year-old girl attempted to purchase a holster for a weapon -- later determined to be a .40 caliber pistol -- while Townsend waited outside the store. According to a motion filed by Townsend's former attorney, Joan Morgan, in efforts to suppress Townsend's statements to police, the girl told police that her former pimp was in the parking lot of the shop, and that he had done "20 years in Jackson Prison and he had four female guards that trafficked narcotics for him inside of the prison." In a later call, the girl told Davison Township police that "Townsend had killed 14 people, and she had seen him kill three people on his front porch," according to the motion. The lieutenant responded that information sounded like a "tall tale," according to the motion. The girl agreed to come to the police station to make a statement, but never showed up. Instead, police later found her locked inside one of Townsend's alleged drug residences, according to the motion. In a recorded jail call, Townsend later said he took the firearm the girl bought and placed it in his car's trunk, the complaint says. On March 7, authorities claim a recorded call made from the jail to an unidentified individual by Townsend included directions to have Knight, "clean up Ponderosa, clean it up right now." Townsend believes that officers did not have probable cause to arrest him simply based on the girl's statements, according to Morgan's motion. Townsend since filed to substitute Morgan for Bryan J. Sherer, also from the federal defender's office. In July, Sherer submitted a motion to withdraw from representing Townsend, citing "a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship." Neither Sherer nor Knight's attorney, Jessica Mainprize-Hajek, were immediately available for comment on the case. According to the complaint, Flint police performed a vehicle stop March 8 and arrested the unidentified driver of the vehicle, who did not have a valid Michigan driver's license and was found to have "suspected heroin and a powder that he identified as crushed Xanax." In the passenger seat of the car sat Knight, who allegedly told police he had additional evidence belonging to Townsend that was taken from a home operated by Townsend on the 3900 block of Greenbrook and brought to his residence on Rankin St. In the car, officers also found Suboxone, an opiate and opioid addiction recovery medication; $3,250 in cash; a safe; and letters and checkbooks belonging to Townsend. After signing a consent form, Knight allowed police to search his home, where a federal criminal complaint filed against him claims they found several guns and bags of cocaine, determined by agents at the scene to be "consistent with an intent to distribute," according to the complaint. Knight allegedly told police that Townsend had women at the Greenbrook residence in order to have sex for money and that Townsend keeps a percentage of the money. Knight allegedly told officials that the women then use their portion of the money to buy drugs from Townsend, according to the complaint. Davison Township police shared the information of their arrest of Townsend with Flint police, which on March 9 approached a home allegedly operated by him on Greenbrook Lane. Officers made contact with two women at the home who were locked inside by armor guard locks, according to the complaint. Flint police officers climbed in through a window of the home, aided by two of the women inside. They allegedly discovered drugs, ammunition and needles in plain sight. Authorities were able to obtain search warrants for the Greenbrook home and another one allegedly operated by Townsend on the 700 block of Pasadena. According to the complaint, inside the Greenbrook home, officials found gun ammunition, marijuana, suspected crystal methamphetamine, a taser gun, four digital scales, a K-bar style knife inside a sheath and letters written to Townsend at the Greenbrook address. A search warrant at the home on Pasadena allegedly uncovered a rifle, ammunition, suspected crack cocaine and several torn sandwich bag ends and an open box of sandwich bags. Court records show Townsend has multiple previous felony assault convictions. Knight also has multiple previous felony assault and uttering and publishing charges. Townsend is scheduled for both a motion and a plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Linda V. Parker at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Knight is scheduled for a plea hearing before the judge on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 12 p.m. Map of pedestrian path for Open Streets Detroit - courtesy of DDP Last year, for two days, parts of Michigan Avenue and Vernor Highway became free of vehicular traffic. The event, called Open Streets Detroit , encouraged pedestrians to reimagine the use of roads through the use of vendors, performances, and interactive street art."Ultimately, over 10,000 people came each day, most of them from Detroit," wrote Jessica Meyer, in a piece for Model D about the event . "There were no major injuries besides an occasional bee sting and there was no violence or fighting. Residents from both Corktown and Southwest expressed pride in showcasing their neighborhoods. Through events like Open Streets Detroit, we can empower Detroiters to think critically about their surroundings and advocate for their right to public space."The event was such a success, that it's happening once again. Organized by The Downtown Detroit Partnership , the free event will take place on Sunday, October 1, from noon to 5 p.m. There will be an addition to the route this year, beginning at the newly created Beacon Park downtown and connecting to Michigan Avenue."We received a lot of positive feedback from participants and business owners from last year's events, and we're looking forward to working with the Corktown and Southwest Detroit communities to further build off that momentum," said Lisa Nuszkowski, project lead for Open Streets Detroit, in a press release. "We found that there is a real desire for a program like Open Streets, which helps connect communities, support local businesses, and encourages people to get out and get active."The organizers are also seeking program sponsors, "who can create family-friendly participatory activities focused on health, wellness, arts and culture."[Open Streets Detroit was also featured in a Model D piece about the future of Michigan Avenue] live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Pursuant to Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we hereby intimate you that the Board at its Meeting held today i.e. August 8, 2017 approved the appointment of Mr Rajiv Sonalker (DIN: 07900178) as an Additional and Whole-time Director on the Board of the Company for a term of 2 (two) years effective August 8, 2017, subject to approval of the Shareholders of the Company.Mr Sonalker is also a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Company. He has over 28 years' of experience in the Pharmaceutical, FMCG and Engineering sectors. Prior to joining Abbott India, he worked with Bristol-Myers Squibb as Director Finance, Voltas Ltd, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi Aventis in India and Germany. He is a Fellow Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.Mr Sonalker does not hold any shares in the Company and not related to any of the Board Directors of the Company.Source : BSE Read More live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Pursuant to Regulation 33 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we enclose a text of Unaudited Financial Results of the Company for the first quarter ended on June 30, 2017, approved by the Board of Directors at its Meeting held on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 along with the Limited Review Report issued by S R B C & CO. LLP, Statutory Auditors of the Company.The Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company commenced at 12 Noon and concluded at 2.00 pm.Source : BSE Read More live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Dear Sir,Sub: Board Meeting on 14th August, 2017Pursuant to Section 173 of the Companies Act, 2013 and Regulation 29 of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015 notice is hereby sent to you that a meeting of the Board of Directors of JMT Auto Limited is scheduled to be held on Monday, the 14th day of August, 2017, at the Registered Office at Delhi at 3, LSC Pamposh Enclave, Guru Nanak Market, Opp. LSC Market, New Delhi 110048 for the following matters:-1. To consider & approve the Unaudited Financial Results of the Company for the quarter ended 30th June, 2017 in accordance with Regulation 33 read with Regulation 47 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulation, 2015.2. Other mattersThis is to further inform that the trading window shall remain close for all designated employees of the Company from 8th August, 2017 and shall continue until the beginning of 25th hour after the public announcement of the financial results are made.Company SecretarySource : BSE Read More Bajaj Auto, the countrys fourth biggest two-wheeler maker, today announced a partnership with UKs Triumph Motorcycles to jointly make mid-capacity motorcycles for Indian and global markets. This non-equity partnership will look to address growing demand for leisure riding, something on the lines of products from Harley Davidson. However, with Bajajs low-cost expertise the partnership will address the budget segment buyers looking for bikes having engine capacity of 400cc-800cc. While Bajaj Auto stands to gain from Triumphs technology and brand the UK-based company will benefit from low-capacity higher volumes bikes. Bajaj will make new range of locally developed Triumph bikes at its Chakan facility in Pune. We hope to bring to bear upon global markets the individual strengths of the partners including brand position and perception, design and development technology, quality and cost competitiveness and worldwide distribution, said Bajaj Auto in statement. The partnership arrangement is of similar nature when compared to Austria-based KTM, where Bajaj holds 48 percent share. Bajaj developed a range of low-capacity street bikes having engine capacities ranging from 125cc-390cc but priced significantly higher than Bajajs range bearing same engines. Bajajs Chakan plant will progressively produce four different brands KTM, Husqvarna, Triumph and Bajaj. While Bajaj will play in the entry segment, KTM and Husqvarna will be present in the segment above Bajaj (200cc and above) while Triumph will play in the segment above that. Bajaj is betting big on volumes predicted out of this new partnership. At the recent annual general meeting, Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto said that at least half a million motorcycles sales are expected from the new partnership which will be in addition to the projected half million from KTM and Husqvarna. At present, however, just 65,000 Triumphs are sold every year through 700 dealers across the world including India. Triumph Motorcycles is one of worlds oldest bike brands, celebrating 115 years this year. The company has an assembly facility based in Manesar, Haryana. It sells 16 models in India and only 20 percent of them get locally made. The company had announced plans to increase localization to 90 percent by 2018. Triumph sells around 250-300 bikes in India with prices starting at Rs 5.7 lakh. Bajaj Auto recently severed ties with its long-time partner Kawasaki who was also its technology partner since mid-1990s. Kawasaki decided to go solo after KTM and Bajaj significantly increased their partnership. Meta layoffs | Why Zuckerberg's Metaverse bet has proven to be a bit too costly Hero of Mollywood's first musical hit 'Thiramala' shares his Hollywood stint, directing Prem Nazir and more Chandan Taparia of Motilal Oswal Securities told CNBC-TV18, "We have positive view on selective PSU banks, especially on State Bank of India (SBI). Recently the stock has tested its earlier breakout zone near Rs 299 with the Put writing activity. So, we may see an up move in the counter, suggesting to buy with a stop loss of Rs 304 for an upside target of Rs 325." "Second trade is a buy on Petronet LNG. Recently, the stock made double bottom near Rs 199-200 zone and formed a base with divergence on the mechanical indicator. It has seen built up of long position followed by short covering and overall it has been consolidating between Rs 200 and Rs 230 zones from last couple of weeks. So, as it has taken support at the lower band of the trading range. We are expecting it to head towards Rs 223-225 kind of level. One can buy with a stop loss of Rs 206," he said. "Last trade is a buy on Hindalco Industries . We have seen built up of long position in most of the metal counters. Tata Steel , Hindalco, JSW Steel , all have seen the built up of long position and are trading near to recent 52-week high levels. Trend is intact and the fresh momentum with the open interest activity indicates that the rally can extend. So, recommending to buy Hindalco with a stop loss of Rs 221 for an upside immediate target of Rs 238. Traders can also trade with 230 Call on Hindalco to play the upside momentum with limited risk," he added. auto Bikes above 250cc up to 750cc are next big opportunity, says Bajaj Auto Bajaj Auto has partnered with Triumph to make mid-capacity motorcycles. A customer walks outside an HDFC Bank branch in Mumbai July 17, 2013. India's HDFC Bank Ltd posted on Wednesday a 30 percent rise in first-quarter net profits, in line with expectations, boosted by higher fee income and credit growth. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS) - RTX11P4B live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More HDFC Banks senior official has cautioned on use of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) as various banks rush in to file large corporate non-performing loan accounts to the insolvency courts. "In general, the Code is good and one more resolution mechanism that has timeline around it. However, it should be used with prudence and not everyone should be taken straight to the NCLT proceedings," said Kaizad Bharucha, wholesale and corporate banking in-charge at the countrys second largest private lender. However, Bharucha executive director with the bank refused to divulge details on the accounts HDFC Bank has taken to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the IBC, which was passed by the Parliament last year to empower banks to take action against corporate loan defaulters. According to him, people (corporates) should be given a fair chance. "But where it is evaluated and you know that (giving a fair chance) is not the way forward, NCLT and IBC present another important mechanism to be appropriate to use." Over 150 cases have already been filed by financial and operational creditors against companies to the NCLT to help recovery of loans. The Reserve Bank of India has also identified top 12 large corporates in June to be immediately referred to the NCLT under the insolvency proceedings for default of loans. Top lenders again met on Monday to take stock of the already filed 12 accounts -- Essar Steel, Bhushan Steel, Electrosteel Steels, Amtek Auto, Bhusan Power and Steel, Alok Industries, Monnet Ispat and Lanco Infratech, Era Infra Engineering, Jaypee Infratech, ABG Shipyard and Jyoti Structures. The Code fast tracks the review of the loan default cases while taking management control of the company in default, provides a strict timeline of 180 days extendable up to 270 days to bring a solution for either reviving the company or bringing in a new buyer in order to repay the debts. In case the deadline is missed, the company will have to undergo liquidation process to make the debt repayments. While most banks have been fighting to recovery over Rs 7.7 lakh crore non-performing assets (NPAs) with their gross NPA ratio as a percentage of total loans ranging from 5-15 percent, HDFC Bank has largely remained unscathed from the huge loan defaults with their gross NPAs at a miniscule 1.24 percent for the April to June quarter. Speaking to the media with its top wholesale banking team for the first time, Bharucha said, Private capex (capital expenditure) is yet to really kick-in, in the manner one would have liked it to. Has it moved? Yes, when you compare it to last couple of years, but the pace of it could be better. The top team announced a Greenwich study that ranks HDFC Bank as a top leader in the large corporate banking, mid-market and cash management businesses. The banks wholesale banking book for 2016-17 stands at Rs 2.63 lakh crore, accounting for 47 percent of the banks total loan book. Its emerging corporate book doubled its base to Rs 65,000 crore in three years. Apple: The iPhone maker sent shocks through the tech sector when it came under fire for deliberately slowing some of its models to preserve their battery life. CEO Tim Cook issued an apology, saying the company was not being transparent about its operations. (Image: Reuters) Apple has recently faced criticism from India's telecom regulator Trai, who has accused the company of engaging in 'data colonisation' and being 'anti-consumer', reports the Times of India. Trai says that the iPhone maker is not allowing customers to pass on details about telemarketing calls and spam messages to authorities and their mobile operators. TOI reports that the provision of not having do-not-disturb (DND) over the iPhone has remained unresolved for over a year. This angered Trai's chairman RS Sharma, who went on to say that while Google's android platform supports the DND app, "Apple has just been discussing, discussing, and discussing. They have not done anything." Last year in June, Trai had launched the DND app to enable the user to block unsolicited calls and messages. The app can access SMS details and call records from an individual's phone and enable them to report straight to Trai on unwanted calls and messages. The US tech giant has not allowed the app to access such information on its platform. Sharma said that the company is violating the right of the user to share their data with the telecom regulator or with "any third party of his/her choice". "If a customer wants to share financial transaction data with his/her bank, for getting a loan, why should it not be allowed?" Sharma said. "This is what we call data colonisation," he added The newspaper had sent a questionnaire to Apple over the issue to which it did not receive any response. Arvind Panagariya will step down as the vice chairman of Niti Aayog on August 31 and head back to teaching at the Columbia University in the US. The decision to head back, which took many by surprise, was taken 'very recently', the outgoing vice chairman said in an exclusive interview to CNBC-TV18. Panagariya, appointed in January 2015, said that PM Narendra Modi, who he had met in mid-August, was keen for him to serve his full term. Key highlights from his interview. Reforms & achievements Speaking of his three years, Panagariya said closure of sick units and privatisation of many of them is one of the greatest achievements of his tenure. However, the slow speed has been disappointing, he said. On reforms, he said that while reforms are happening, bureaucracy is delaying the process. "Even with the top leadership wishing for some things to move, (reforms) may stall because certain offices (bureaucracy) may not move fast enough," he said. Bureaucracy can sometimes delay, but not stop what the top leadership wants, he added. He further said that system has not been able to respond to Modis push for divestment. However, there is no loss of appetite for more private sector collaboration, he said. Another satisfaction is on Railways, where all milestone have been met so far, and the progress is on track. Disappointments The lack of development of special employment zones has been a disappointment. Panagariya is, however, optimistic and said "it is something that the country will need and it will happen." Panagariya is leading a committee to lay down new tools for job measurement in the country. He assured that the final report on it will be submitted before his term ends. Challenges & wishlist "The big challenge is job creation - jobs that would employ people at relatively low level of skill and productive wages," Panagariya said. The solution, he said, will have to come from labor-intensive industries like clothing, footwear and manufacturing. India will also need to capture more share in the world trade for this to happen. His wishlist for India includes job creation and to bring in world industries into the labour intensive units. Trade facilitation and development of infrastructure for rail, road and port is needed, he added. "If we can really capture the global markets in these labour intensive markets, the way China did in late 80s and onwards, I think we would lay down solid foundation not only for good jobs, but also for steady, sustained growth at 8% or even higher for next two decades," he said. Signing off, Panagariya said that his tenure at Niti Aayog will probably change the way he teaches with deeper understanding of economic work and implementation of policies. Below is the transcript of the discussion with Arvind Panagariya. Q: Let me start by asking you about when you took this decision to head back to the US. Our last conversation was just before Prime Minister Modi visited Washington DC to meet with President Trump. It has been a little over a month since that happened which happened towards the end of June. There was absolutely no inkling of you wanting to leave or considering even the possibility of heading back. When was this decision taken? A: The decision was very recently, but the process was already in the works at the time because I met the Prime Minister in mid-May, I mentioned to him that my leave was ending at the end of August and therefore, I may have to depart and he personally and through the PMO, subsequently also communicated with me that the Prime Minister was keen that I stay for the full term meaning it will be coterminous with his term. So, I discussed the matter with the dean of the school at Columbia, but the leave in the end could not be extended and so, therefore, at that point, once it became clear that leave will not be extended, I had to then discuss the possibility of leaving. Q: Were you not aware of this possibility that your leave perhaps would not be extended beyond a three-year period because you just signed up, for instance, among the many things that you have been tasked with is for the new jobs data committee that has been set up with you as the head of that. And in our last conversation, you said that it will take at least 12 months for you to be able to put that together. So, you were aware of the fact that in three years your term would end, then why would you take on new responsibilities? A: No, the institutions work cannot be stopped just on the possibility that you may not be here after a certain date. My institution\'s work has not stopped even today just because the vice chairman of the institution is slated to leave on a certain date, the institution\'s work cannot be allowed to be stopped. Now any major decisions which will have long-term implications, those clearly with the successor to have the room to make decisions. But otherwise, certainly I do not think that this is a good policy that you stop the institution's work. Q: No, I am not suggesting that you stop the institution, I am saying that you took on charge of an additional responsibility. A: No, this was a committee. Actually the report of the committee will be completed before I leave. Q: I want you to comment on an article, on a column that has been written by your successor, Rajiv Kumar. Implicit in that comment there is the fact that he believes that there has been a parachuting of foreign experts into India's policy making arena. There is a lack of commitment even and leaving mid-way is the charge that he is making. How do you respond to that? A: On this, I follow the advice and rule of a good friend of mine, Dr Vijay Kelkar. The Vijay Kelkar rule is that you should not comment on either your predecessor or you successor. So I would refrain from commenting. Q: Okay, do not comment on the specific point that he has made with respect to either Raghuram Rajan or even to you, but on the larger issue that he makes in this column of his, where he talks about imported experts having formulated policy which is not really necessary for India or relevant for the India of today, where he talks about the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank influenced experts trying to dovetail policy making to the western narrative as opposed to Indian realities. How would you respond to that? A: Unfortunately, the context still remains the specific article that has been written or specific sets of articles that may have been written by my announced successor and therefore, no matter how, whatever I comment is taken in that context. So, this is not the time for me to make that commentary. If the context is different, a similar question is asked, I will certainly be at some point happy to give you my take, but the current context is unfortunately, very intimately connected to what my successor has written. Q: Given what you have heard or you have seen today in the form of this article, do you feel disappointed, do you feel hurt? Are you pained by what you have seen being written? A: My response is the same that I would refrain from commenting because it does relate directly to what my successor has actually written. So, I will follow the Vijay Kelkar rule with strictness and I am not going to comment on it. Q: Let me get you to comment on the charge that has been levelled against the NITI Aayog by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch for instance. This is public information, they have gone public with it saying that the NITI Aayog has been following the western narrative, the NITI Aayog has been working for foreign companies and foreign corporations and so on and so forth and they are disconnected with Indias realities. How would you respond then to the charges that have been levelled by organisations like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch? A: This is something I have said before that there is nothing I have done in my two years and eight months that I did not see in the national interest, everything I have done I have kept national interest in mind foremost in front of me. Perceptions of what I think is in national interest and what the Swadeshi Jagran Manch might think is national interest might defer but I stand by the fact that nothing other than the national interest determines what I do and I will continue to do that. This is something I have done for almost two decades of my life while writing on India in the media or in my interviews to the media, plus my scholarly writings in the media and likewise I would continue to do after I return to Columbia. I think the guiding principle is going to remain the same. Q: Do you believe that there is already a shift in the economic narrative of the government or there is likely to be a departure from the government stated polices of maximum governance, minimum government and perhaps as Rajiv Kumar points out, our understanding of that means is different from what the government believes it ought to be. Our understanding of it seems to suggest that the government will get out of being in businesses where it has no business being, it means strategic disinvestment, it means privatisation but perhaps that may not necessarily be the course to take. Do you believe that there is a shift in the economic thinking and the economic narrative? A: There was a shift when this government came in office from the narrative that existed when the UPA was ruling the country. So, there had been that shift. Q: I am talking about the economic narrative of NDA 2 which came with the promise of ease of doing business, minimum government maximum governance. A: You are saying either because I am leaving or because new successor is coming in, could that lead to a change in the narrative? Is that the question? Q: The question that I am trying to say is that, have we perhaps as Rajiv Kumar seems to suggest that we have misinterpreted the governments thinking when it comes to thinks like maximum governance and minimum government. He says the Regan Thatcher model of economic development is not going to work in India. It has failed globally, there is no relevance for that in India today. Do you believe that there is a change in the economic narrative? A: Economic narrative is determined by the leadership of the country. First and foremost the Prime Minister and then this ministerial colleagues and I dont see that they have changed or nor do I know of any change of mind on their part. So, I personally think that as long the countries leadership remains the same and has not changed its mind, I dont see why the narrative would change. So, that is my reading of the situation currently. Q28. X was conceived by three friendsScott Seamans, George Boedecker, and Lyndon Hansonon a trip in the Caribbean, when Seaman showed his friends the extraordinary slip-resistant clog he was wearing; learning that it was made by a Canadian company called "Foam Creations," the friends spotted an opportunity. The name of the company is derived from the snout of a reptile. Identify X? Union minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari today unveiled a standard operating procedure (SoP) for developing cruise tourism in the country. The minister said that cruise tourism could be a game-changer for India as it has a potential to generate revenues of Rs 35,000 crore while creating employment for over two lakh people. Speaking at a conference, Dawn of Cruise Tourism, Gadkari said that right market atmosphere, easy immigration process, security procedures that do not impede movement, taxation regime that allows for a platform for growth, customs and duties procedures that do not tie the industry are key steps that the ministry has underscored to unleash the potential of the sector. He said that lack of proper infrastructure and procedural hassles for dealing with cruise vessels and tourists hinder the growth of cruise tourism. The ministry has recommended single window system for all pre-cruise requirements for cruise operators, separate dedicated approach road and entrance to the cruise terminals, uniform and consistent security procedures at all ports, coordination between immigration and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), use of technology in clearance, implementation of green lane/red lane at existing terminals with random custom checking, declaration of only limited items of inventory of the cruise ships in place of the existing requirement of having the complete inventory for all the stocks in the ship. He said that port level committees have already been constituted to handle manpower and logistics issues along with SoP for handling cruise vessels and tourists, provision of additional rebate of 25 percent above the 40 percent on coastal cruise transportation for home vessels, extension of e-Visa and e-Landing facility to five ports among many other facilities. Tender has been awarded for construction of terminal building at Mumbai port worth Rs 300 crore. There are plans to develop more port destinations other than the 5 ports of Mumbai, Goa, New Mangalore, Cochin and Chennai. Ports and shipping India and Iran have expressed commitment for early completion and operationalisation of Chabahar Port besides strengthening bilateral ties. Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari was on a two-day visit to Tehran on August 5 and 6 to represent India at the inauguration and oath taking ceremony of Hassan Rouhani as the President of Iran for a second term where he also held discussions with Iranian officials on wide ranging issues including Chabahar Port and proposed rail link between Chabahar and Zahedan. "In the meetings, both sides positively assessed the progress in implementation of the decisions taken during the Indian Prime Ministers visit to Iran last year, including the progress of Chabahar Port. Both sides reiterated their commitment to complete and operationalize the port at the earliest," Ministry of Shipping said in a statement today. Besides meeting Rouhani, Gadkari also called on the first Vice President E Jahangiri and highlighted the issue of activation of contract of Chabahar Port development and conveyed to him that India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) has finalised procurement of critical equipment such as Rail Mounted Gantry Crane and is close to finalising orders relating to Rubber Tyre Mobile Crane, MT Container Handlers, Truck and Tractor Trailers Containers and related equipment. The statement also said he has conveyed Indias readiness to aid Iran in taking up operations in Chabahar Port during the interim period between the actual activation of contract. He requested the Iranian side for an early submission of loan application for Chabahar Port Development to Exim Bank of India so that the contract agreement between the two countries can be activated. The Iranian side earlier had requested India to provide up to 150 million dollar credit and had made it a condition for activation of the Chabahar Port contract. The application for loan to Exim Bank of India is still awaited. Later, Gadkari met Abbas Akhoundi, the Iranian Minister for Roads and Urban Development, and conveyed to him the latest update on procurement of equipment for the two terminals - multipurpose and container - that are covered under Chabahar Port Agreement, the statement said. He also requested Akhoundi that in the interest of supporting operations of Chabahar Port, the Iranian side should consider waiving the condition of submission of loan application as it was taking time. The Iranian side assured that the application shall be presented to Exim Bank of India early. The Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA) application was also presented by the MD, IPGL to the Iranian authorities in the presence of Gadkari and Akhoundi. India has opened an office of IPGL in Tehran. The statement said in his meeting with Akhoundi, Gadkari stressed upon the need for marketing of the Chabahar Port to attract cargo. He said, Iran and India should jointly organise a workshop at Chabahar for this purpose at an early date. Gadkari also emphasized the need to develop rail connectivity from Chabahar to Zahedan, and said that the MoU with India in this regard may be extended, it said. The issue of ratification of the trilateral Transit Agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan was also discussed. While India and Afghanistan have signed the agreement, Iran is yet to do the same. During the run-up to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), government officials touted it as a reform that would simplify taxation. To be fair, GST was meant to subsume a number of taxes and make life easier for the people at large. But trust the bureaucrats running the government to make a simple thing such as the GST into a taxing affair. All pun intended. In a move that has caught the auto industry by surprise and, in some cases, shock, the government has recommended an amendment to increase the cess on all passenger vehicles above four meters and with an engine capacity of 1,500 cc and above. Such vehicles were attracting a GST of 28 percent and a 15 percent cess. The cess amount has been increased from 15 percent to 25 percent taking the total tax up from 43 percent to 53 percent. The only silver lining here is that the increased tax will take the time to implement. The Centre will have to amend the schedule to Section 8 of the GST Act, 2017, for this increase to take effect. The auto industry is going through the same cycle of euphoria-to-anxiety that was witnessed by the cigarette industry a few days ago. When GST was first implemented it was found that tax incidence on the cigarette was lower than pre-GST days. However, the government soon realised its mistake and soon corrected the anomaly. However, the increase was significantly higher under the new tax regime as compared to the pre-GST scenario. The auto industry has also undergone similar swings at the launch of GST. The higher end cars were taxed at the peak GST rate of 28 percent with a cess of 15 percent. This was a positive development for high-end cars, some of whom were attracting taxes of up to 55 percent in the pre-GST era. Recognising the sharp drop in high-end vehicles the government took corrective action by revising the cess higher, as it did in the case of cigarettes. But auto players, who were upbeat post GST implementation and expected lower taxes to continue, are naturally crying foul. Rahil Ansari, Head of Audi India, has been quoted as saying: This move, unfortunately, is against the spirit of liberal market dynamics. This proposed increase in cess will most definitely adversely impact sales and we will be forced to re-evaluate our business plans. Roland Folger, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Mercedes-Benz, also spoke on similar lines saying: This will also affect our plans of expansion under the Make in India initiative. The constant shift in policy makes our long-term planning for the market highly risky, and we think this would only have an adverse impact on the country's financial ratings." Though the management of luxury car makers is right in complaining about the shifting goal post which affects long-term planning, it is unlikely that the government will accede to their logic. Firstly because the decision to increase cess was taken after it was found that the taxes on these cars were lower when GST rates were first announced than under the indirect taxation system prevalent earlier. And, secondly because, luxury cars annual sales of around 30,000 units account for only 1 percent of the passenger vehicle market. Its too small a market to politically affect the government. From the government's point of view, they had said that it would take a few months before the system is streamlined. Some stakeholders will benefit in the changing dynamics while some may be affected. Luxury car makers are crying over the rate change that has taken place in the last one month and not for the rates that were prevalent in the pre-GST era. The first few months post-GST were expected to be fluid in terms of getting the act in place. Firming up future growth plans during such fluid times is a high-risk decision. Nonetheless, the government has to face the flak of unnecessarily complicating GST in its haste to meet its aggressive deadline. It does not take too much of an effort to align pre-GST rate with what the rate should be at the time of launch, especially in the case of cigarettes and luxury cars as they were enjoying peak rates and easily noticeable. To make matter worst the state governments present another set of problems. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have imposed their own taxes on cinema tickets and vehicles. We are heading back to the same scenario of multiple taxes which was prevalent in pre-GST days. Integra Engineering India | The company's RoE for FY18: 33.00%, FY19: 63.33%, and FY20: 22.22%. On September 7, the share price closed at Rs 25.50 which is -45 percent below its 52-week high of Rs 46.70. ore than 1.62 lakh companies not carrying out business for long have been deregistered, with Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad together accounting for more than half of such firms, the government told Parliament today. "After following the due process under Section 248 of the Companies Act, 2013, 1,62,618 companies were removed from the register of the companies as of July 12, 2017," Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. Section 248 provides powers to the Registrar of Companies (RoC) to remove the name of a company from the register on various grounds, including that the entity was not carrying out any business for two preceding financial years. Out of the 1,62,618 companies that have been struck off the register, a total of 76,451 firms were cancelled by RoCs Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad put together. Individually, RoC (Mumbai) has cancelled registration of 33,000 companies, RoC (Delhi) 22,863 and RoC (Hyderabad) 20,588 firms, Meghwal said. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said 37,000 shell companies indulging in tax evasion had been detected and more than three lakh firms were under the scanner for suspicious dealings, post demonetisation. "The government has cancelled registration of over 1 lakh companies in a single stroke and more than 37,000 shell firms have been identified for strong action," he had said. The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) today welcomed the GST Council's move to slash the rate on job work like weaving, cutting, knitting and embroidery to 5 per cent from 18 per cent decided earlier. The GST Council, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley comprising representatives from all states, last week decided to tax all job works in the textile sector at 5 per cent. This 5 per cent rate will be applicable for job works in apparel, shawls and carpets. In a statement, CITI Vice Chairman Sanjay K Jain described it as a big breather to small job work manufacturers in all segments of textile value chain which will allow the free flow of business across the value chain. "A common rate across the chain would also avoid confusion. All textile job works being manufacturing activities were exempted from service tax in pre-GST regime. But job workers could not avail input tax credit that had been increasing the cost of the products and affecting the export competitiveness and also the domestic consumers," Jain said. He said the 5 per cent GST rate on job works would enable the industry to claim full input credit and also avoid any inverted duty and strengthen the global competitiveness of the textile sector apart from benefiting the domestic consumers. However, Jain said the reduction of GST rate for manmade fibre and synthetics from 18 to 12 per cent being postponed is disappointing. He claimed that imports are now cheaper than domestic products as the countervailing duty (CVD) and special additional duty (SAD) on imports have become Integrated GST. "Earlier the additional duties, namely, CVD & SAD were a protection against imports. Hence, industry would need some safeguard measures to ensure the Make in India initiative does not wash away in the avalanche of imports (which have post GST become 12 to 16 per cent cheaper). "We have apprehensions that Indian market would get flooded with imports from China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which would end up in huge job losses," Jain said. He urged to the government and GST Council to accommodate the textile industry's demand of 12 per cent GST rate on MMF and synthetic yarn or refund of duty under inverted duty incidence at fabric stage as prescribed in GST Act. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The insurance regulator Irdai has reiterated that insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has to bring down its stakes in ITC and L&T to below 15 per cent by December 2018. These two are considered as non-strategic investments for LIC. While LIC holds 16.29 per cent stake in ITC, it holds 17.97 per cent stake in L&T as of end June. However, LIC is free to continue with its strategic investments in companies like Corporation Bank (18.9 per cent), LIC Housing Finance (40.3 per cent) and Simplex Realty (22.9 per cent). LIC has been holding these two companies on behalf of government since UTI was broken up in the early years of the new millennium through Suuti or Specified Undertaking of Unit Trust of India, along with stakes in Axis Bank. Suuti, which is managed by an administrator appointed by the Centre, lowered its stake in ITC from 11.12 per cent to 9.10 per cent in February, with LIC picking up the stake for around Rs 6,700 crore via block deals. "Since LIC has been buying out the Suuti disinvestments in these two scrips and the government would have got the money, we have allowed LIC to reduce its stake in L&T and ITC to 15 per cent by December 2018," Nilesh Sathe, member (life, finance & investment), Irdai said here on the sidelines of an industry event organised by CII today. "LIC can continue its strategic investment in other companies beyond 15 per cent as usual, particularly in Corporation Bank and LIC HF," he added. He further said "we don't want LIC diluting its investment in any company to create market disruption and so we are willing to consider case-to-case request from LIC to extend the timeline to bring its stake down to 15 per cent." Sathe also said the Irdai will be coming out with broking regulation shortly, and a final decision is likely on the next board meeting scheduled for August 28. The regulator has already issued a discussion paper on the issue which seeks to double capital requirement for different categories of brokers including direct, composite and reinsurance. Over the last 12 months, midcaps have delivered 25 percent returns, as against 17 percent by the Nifty. Also, over the last five years, midcaps have outperformed the Nifty by 65 percent. Midcaps now trade at a 14 percent premium to the Nifty on a P/E basis. The Indian market has already rallied above 20 percent so far in the year 2017 led by a surge in liquidity. But, there is one pattern which seems to common in equity market not just in India but across the globe and that is a handful of stocks are pushing indices higher, Ajay Srivastava, CEO, Dimensions Corporate Finance Services said in an interview with CNBC-TV18. Indian market is reacting to a global phenomenon is that global indices are driven by lesser and lesser number of stocks. Even if we look at the Indian market, the investors should pare their holding from losers and concentrate only on winning bets, he said. Over the last 12 months, midcaps have delivered 25 percent returns, as against 17 percent by the Nifty. Also, over the last five years, midcaps have outperformed the Nifty by 65 percent. Midcaps now trade at a 14 percent premium to the Nifty on a P/E basis. Srivastava further added that the market breadth will slowly narrow going forward. That should perhaps party explain some bit of cooling in midcaps. So general buying is over and people will concentrate more on specific buying. We will see thinning out of midcap buying to some select stocks. Consumer Discretionary: Commenting on consumer discretionary space, Srivastava is of the view that who MSME sector is going to face virtual endangerment if not extinction in the next 3-5 years. The bright side, companies like Bata Arvind and Titan have shown what shape the corporate sector will look like in the next few years. Dont look at this today, I think the wheels have been set in motion for the decimation of MSME sector or small companies, he said. Even if the economy grows at 5-6 percent, these companies might grow at much larger rate because market share will move. Investors can safely bet on the stocks in this sector either at current levels or on dips. The caution is demand revival in the next three months. This is a festive season Diwali is early and if we cant get the demand revival in these three months, it wont happen in the next 6 months either, explains Srivastava. Metals: The metal story is building up purely because it was under owned to a large extent, the deleveraging process is now stabalised and people are able to make enough EBITDA to repay the debt, the yields have now started to inch higher because of dividends and lastly, the global refinancing window for metal companies have opened up. A lot of money is not getting raised abroad at good rates which can help these companies to refinance existing debt, explains Srivastava. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) which has registered a whopping 145 percent jump in profit from the sale of equities in the April-June quarter of the current financial year was also busy in raising stake in most of the bluechip names. There are about 20 companies in which LIC holds more than 10 percent stake which includes names like ITC, Corporation Bank, Orissa Minerals, NALCO, IDBI Bank, Modella Woollens, Bank of India, Central Bank, Oriental Bank, Vijaya Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Punjab National Bank, Tata Steel, NTPC, Andhra Bank, Syndicate Bank, SAIL, IOB, L&T and State Bank of India. The insurance major increased stake in 40 companies during the quarter gone by which include names like L&T, SBI, Bank of India, IDBI and Dena Bank among others. Among the biggies, L&T saw LIC holding go up from 16 per cent in Q4 of FY17 to 17.97 per cent in Q1 of FY18. In Nalco, it went up from 10.57 per cent to 14.46 per cent, Bank of India from 13.87 per cent to 14.25 per cent and Dena Bank from 12.23 per cent to 12.29 per cent, said a report. However, the insurance major will have to trim its stake in companies where it holds more than 15 percent, to avoid concentration of risks and a have a good balance of risks in their portfolio. LIC has exceeded 15 percent stake in companies like ITC, Corporation Bank and L&T. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) may only have time till the end of 2018 to trim investments in companies such as ITC, Corporate Bank and L&T to 15 percent, said a Moneycontrol report. A senior regulatory official said that they are hoping that the insurer would bring down its stake to 15 percent in the companies it has exceeded it. The portfolio of LIC is heavily structured around financials which are likely to benefit more from the recent rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as well as debt restructuring exercise started by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). "LIC made a profit of Rs 6,100 crore in the April- June quarter through the sale of equities from Rs 2,489 crore in the year-ago period, thus showing a growth of 145 per cent," V K Sharma, LIC chairman, told reporters. The Indian market has been on a roll so far in the year 2017 with over 20 percent return on both Sensex and Nifty50 but there was plenty of action in individual stocks most of which were now trading above their historical averages. LIC preferred to book some profits in stocks which were signalling frothy valuations as it sold as it sold its stake in as much as 32 stocks in the quarter ended June, Capitaline data showed. There are more than 30 stocks in which LIC sold its stake in the quarter gone by which include names like Hotel Leela, Orchid Pharma, Oil India, Canara Bank, UCO Bank, IOC, Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, Reliance Communications, Mandhana Retail among others. Typically, LIC invests Rs 50,000 crore in equities, the only exception was in 2014-15 when it shot up to Rs 65,000 crore, largely due to our investments in the OFS of Indian Oil and ONGC. Recent data suggest that all three institutional classes bought Indian stocks and took their ownership to either record highs or multi-year highs. As per quarter ended Jun 17, their ownership rose to 40.7 percent, the highest level in history. The QoQ change was the sharpest since March 2012, Morgan Stanley said in a note. We believe that Indian markets are becoming institutionalized. Domestic mutual funds (DMF) increased their equity holdings for the 12th quarter running, to 5.7 percent, up 44bps QoQ. Domestic financial institutions (DFI i.e., insurance and banks) bought equity stakes marginally during the quarter. Their ownership rose to 7.6 percent, up 8bps QoQ, said the Morgan Stanley note. On the sector front, financials remain an overweight play while healthcare remains an underweight and technology are institutions' biggest positions. Kulin Patel The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) has emerged as an important and reliable wealth creating benefit for the organised workforce. Any developments around EPF become a talking-point and can lead to strong reactions. A case in point: the government had announced certain changes in EPF in 2015, prompting huge uproar from the working-class. The government had to yield to the popular sentiment and roll-back the proposed changes. Though these types of events create headlines, it is more important for people to understand how the EPF is evolving so that their long-term financial plans can keep pace. Here are a few things to note and remember: Coverage EPF covers the organised sector. If you are embarking on a freelance career, be self-employed or own a business, then note that you will not be covered automatically. New employees into the workforce and never been part of the EPF before can opt out. However, this is not common and perhaps not advisable. Remember, by not participating, one loses out on the employer contribution and other benefits of the EPF. Contributions The chart below is a summary of the main contributions of the EPF schemes. Remember that the EPFO is not just the EPF. *at the consent of employer and employee EPS contributions on the wages above the Rs15,000 can be done of 1.16% and this would be deducted from the employees 12% EPF contribution. However not many employees have used this facility. The employer also contributes towards Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme. In addition to the contributions, your employer also pays expense charges to the EPFO. These have been reduced to 0.65% from 1 April 2017. The EPS1995 employer contributions DO NOT go into your EPF account. They are used to fund the EPS 1995. Employer contributions typically will be included by your employer in your Cost to Company ( CTC). The employee contributions will be deducted from your salary. Employer contributions are not considered taxable income for employees. Employee contributions are included in your annual section 80c allowance (currently a maximum of Rs. 1.5 lakh). Employees can make voluntary contributions up to 88% of PF Wages which can be a tax effective saving as the investment return is tax free and so are the eventual retirement benefits. Investment returns EPF returns have ranged from 8.5 to 8.8 per cent in the last five years. FY2016-17 was 8.65%. However, everyone should be ready for returns, which may possibly change in the future. The EPFO has had many long standing high yielding investments that it has used to stablise returns. Once they reach maturity, the portfolio will have greater weight of lower yield bonds bought in the last 10-15 years. Furthermore, EPFO has started investing some of the new contributions in equities that should help long-term returns but over time may bring challenges of what to declare if underlying equity returns are volatile. The equity portfolio is still small so something to watch over the next 5 to 10 years. Withdrawals EPFO has various opportunities for members to take loans or withdrawals. For certain financial life events, EPF funds can come in useful. A recent announcement was the option of members using up to 90% of their monies to fund new house/ land purchases, including regular withdrawals for EMI payments. These type of initiatives are important but members should be clearly advised and be aware of the impact on their long term financial plans and to make suitable arrangements in other ways. Employee services EPFO has embarked on several initiatives in the last couple of years to help members have better access and improve track requests. Take a look at the EPFO app, SMS notifications and online requests for withdrawals/ transfers. The UAN initiative was a game changer and will dramatically reduce the lost old PF accounts syndrome and ensure members have better visibility of their various accounts from different employments across the country. By linking your UAN to Aadhaar number, the process of payments and services will be even faster. Employees Pension Scheme 1995 There is really a pension! At a summary level, one-seventieth of the PF wages (currently up to the maximum of 15,000 INR per month) for each year of service is the pension formula. There is a maximum of 50% of the PF wages and a minimum pension of 1,000 INR per month. One has to have at least 10 years of EPS contributions to qualify for a full pension at age 58. As the earnings threshold increases, so will the pension amount. Many perceive the EPF as an important long term savings vehicle. With the EPFO and the benefits rapidly evolving, it is important that members actively monitor their EPF benefits in the future and the role it plays in their short and longer terms financial plans. Note *PF Wages is typically applied as basic salary plus DA however the actual definition legally is more complex and subject to ongoing legal interpretation Soon after the July 31 deadline to register ongoing projects with the real estate regulator ended, several states across the country decided to extend the timeline by either a few days or months. But does the Central RERA Act authorise them to give an extension to developers to sign up their projects with the state regulator? While there is no provision under RERA that allows states to extend the registration deadline, Section 59 of RERA says that if any promoter contravenes the provisions of section 3, he shall be liable to a penalty which may extend up to ten per cent of the estimated cost of the real estate project as determined by the Authority. This can be interpreted to mean that the penalty can be imposed up to 10 per cent but states have the discretion to not impose any penalty up to a certain period, say for three months as is happening in some states. Penalty by states can only be levied under section 59 of RERA. It is well within the right of the state/regulator to levy a penalty of zero per cent for a certain period of default which in certain cases can go up to 10 per cent of the estimated project cost, say experts. It is perhaps this rule that state governments have used to extend the deadline for a certain period of time. Whilst there is no specific provision to extend the time period of three months as specified under Section 3 (1) of the Act, Section 59 of the Act is the Section under which penalty is to be imposed on an errant promoter. Section 59 (1) says that penalty may be any amount which may extended up to 10% of the estimated cost of real estate project. Therefore, the authority/state government is well within the powers to specify quantum of penalty considering gravity of the offence. If a certain period is extended it would necessarily mean that chance is given to the defaulting promoter/developer to cure his defect within a given period of time failing which penalty may be levied in proportion to the gravity (period of delay) of registration of their projects, says Sudip Mullick from Khaitan & Co. In fact, such a system would demonstrate that the authority is acting in a reasonable manner, he says. If the intention of the Parliament was to impose 10 per cent penalty on the first day of expiry of three months, then the Act would have said so and it would not have left the discretion of determining the quantum of penalty to the regulator/state government. The Parliament has however fixed a maximum amount that can be levied as a penalty, explains Mullick. But home buyers think otherwise. Ongoing projects need to be registered within three months from the date of commencement of RERA as per proviso to section 3(1) of the Act. The deadline for such registration ended on July 31, 2017, they say. Many states have extended this deadline to cover for their failure to notify their state rules and also appoint authorities within the timeframe given under the Act. The extension granted for such registration by state governments is clear violation of section 3(1) of the Act. As, RERA is central Act passed by Parliament, no state government is empowered to tinker with the provisions of RERA. It is appalling to note, that state governments have surpassed their brief in this regard and have went ahead to extend the deadline when no such power lies with them. This clearly proves beyond doubt that strict implementation of RERA is not in their priority which will leave homebuyers in the lurch, says Abhay Upadhyay, National Convenor, Fight for RERA. Read more: Homebuyers beware! Violating RERA provisions may land you in jail The Goa government was the first to extend the deadline by three months until October for ongoing projects to register with RERA, as the state has still not notified final rules. The UP government this week decided to extend the deadline for registration for builders under RERA until August 15, after which it will apply a graded penalty until September 30. From August 16-31, registrations would entail 1 per cent penalty, from September 1-15 a penalty of 5 per cent would be imposed and from September 16-30, a penalty of 10 per cent. The total number of projects registered on the UP-RERA portal are over 1,500. The Telangana government is exploring the options of extending the deadline for RERA registration by 2-3 months as the state has not yet notified the final rules. Several Haryana-based developers have approached the government, seeking an extension of the deadline for registration of projects under H-RERA. The Maharashtra RERA is the only state till now which has ruled out the possibility of any extension in the deadline for developers to register projects. The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) this week decided to slap a penalty of Rs 50,000 each on the 480 ongoing housing projects that registered with it after the July 31 deadline. Read more: Are interim RERA authorities set up by states illegal? Under the RERA Act, states are not empowered for extension..... But Section 1 (3) talks about different timelines for different provisions vide separate notifications...... Even if there were notifications, delegating that power to states, its legal validity is suspect. As per the Act, once the provisions come into force, no extension can be envisaged except through Section 91 that provides for the power to remove difficulties, adds Narendra Kumar, advocate on record, Supreme Court. Bull's Eye, CNBC-TV18's popular game show, where market experts come together to dish out trading strategies for you to make your week more exciting and compete with each other to see whose portfolio is the strongest. Remember these are midcap ideas not just for the day, but stocks that look attractive in the medium-term as well. This week, Sameet Chavan, Vijay Chopra and Sumeet Jain battle it out for top honours. Below their top stock picks and analysis: Sameet Chavan of Angel Broking Buy Jet Airways with a stoploss at Rs 619 and target of Rs 668 Buy Radico Khaitan with a stoploss at Rs 147 and target of Rs 159 Buy Shipping Corporation of India with a stoploss at Rs 84 and target of Rs 100 Sell Amara Raja Batteries with a stoploss at Rs 841 and target of Rs 768 Vijay Chopra of enochventures.com Buy Tata Global Beverage with a stoploss at Rs 169 and target of Rs 175 Buy Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) with a stoploss at Rs 175 and target of Rs 187 Buy Arvind with a stoploss at Rs 380 and target of Rs 400 Buy Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) with a stoploss at Rs 450 and target of Rs 465 Sumeet Jain of Destimoney Securities Buy Dabur India with a stoploss at Rs 312.50 and target of Rs 336 Buy Apollo Tyres with a stoploss at Rs 278 and target of Rs 313 Buy Sterlite Technologies with a stoploss at Rs 228 and target of Rs 274 Granules India Ltd. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Motilal Oswal's research report on Lupin Lupin's (LPC) 1QFY18 revenue declined ~13% YoY to INR38.7b (12% miss), primarily due to weak US business (-27% YoY to USD238m) on the back of lower Glumetza sales. EBITDA declined 41% YoY to INR7.7b, with margins coming in lowest in 16 quarters at 20%. Guidance lowered for FY18: LPC guided for revenue decline of low-single-digit in FY18 v/s earlier guidance of 7-8% growth. EBITDA margin guidance was lowered from 25-26% to 21-23% due to INR appreciation, competition in the Metformin portfolio and high-single-digit price erosion in the US. US business - bottom is still a quarter away: Large part of the decline in US sales (USD238m from USD276m in 4Q) was because of lower Glumetza sales. US business grew 9% QoQ without Glumetza, and 11% QoQ without Fortamet and Glumetza. The company expects US business to bottom in 2Q (as Glumetza sales are expected to come down further). Few key approvals expected in FY18 are Tamiflu, Lanthanum, Levothyroxine, Hydrocodone APAP (2Q), Potassium Chloride (2Q) and Oxycodone APAP. Bigger approvals like Toprol EL, Renexa and Renvela are expected in FY19. Outlook Recovery expected only from 2H; stock already factors most of the concerns: Although pricing pressure in base business and new competition in Metformin portfolio will keep exerting pressure on the US business, we believe that sales will bottom by 2QFY18. Recent fall in the stock price already factors in these concerns. Resolution of Goa and Indore plant inspection in the next two months, coupled with key upcoming launches, will help drive growth from 2H. We maintain Buy with TP of INR1,125 @ 20x FY19E PER (v/s INR1,450 @ 20x FY19E PER). We cut FY18E/19E EPS by 29%/22% as we build in the impact of competition in key products in the US. For all recommendations report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More Representative image. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of Dr Lal PathLabs gained 3.3 percent intraday Tuesday on the back of strong June quarter numbers and on acquisition of company in Bangladesh. The company has registered 11 percent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 44.4 crore for the quarter ended June 30 against net profit of Rs 40 crore in the same quarter last year. The total income of the company was up 12 percent at Rs 256.8 crore versus Rs 229.2 crore. The company in its board meeting held on August 07 has approved the acquisition of a company in Bangladesh named Dr Lal PathLabs Bangladesh (DLPLB). The company has decided to acquire 70 percent stake in DLPLB from its existing shareholders with the objective of strengthening its presence in Bangladesh. There is no government approval require for the acquisition and it will get completed in 6 months. DLPL is incorporated on September 6, 2011 in Bangladesh. At 09:18 hrs Dr Lal PathLabs was quoting at Rs 845.10, up Rs 16, or 1.93 percent on the BSE. Posted by Rakesh Patil Sushil Finance's commodity report on crude oil Oil prices dipped on Monday as a rebound in product ion from Libya's largest oil field prompted selling, and investors worried about higher output from OPEC and the United States. Output at Libya's Sharara field was returning to normal after a brief disruption by armed protesters, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said. Oil fell as much as 2 percent during the session, but traders said they thought some buying kicked in at the lows due to algorithmic trading. Both contracts stood below levels hit last week, which marked their highest since late May. Doubts have emerged about the effectiveness of output cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other big producers including Russia. OPEC output hit a 2017 high in July and its exports hit a record. Oil prices have been pressured as "producers meeting in Abu Dhabi have been slow to assure the market that compliance with this year's production cuts will be improved," Tim Evans, Citi Futures' energy futures specialist, said in a note, adding that "adherence to the limits has actually been quite strong by historical standards." "The recent increase in OPEC production has mostly been a function of recovering volumes from Libya and Nigeria." Officials from a joint OPEC and non - OPEC technical committee are meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday to discuss ways to boost compliance with the deal to cut 1.8 million barrels per day in production. Outlook We expect crude oil prices to trade sideways on the back of profit booking after up - move in prices. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More In an interview to CNBC-TV18's Anuj Singhal and Surabhi Upadhyay, SP Tulsian of sptulsian.com shared his views and outlook on the fundamentals of the market and specific stocks. Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview. Anuj: I first wanted your thoughts on this SEBI circular. I asked you this because there are a couple of stocks where we have seen, genuine businesses, but these stocks or these companies have also been classified under those shell companies, Pincon Spirit, J Kumar Infraprojects, even something like Prakash Industries where you have expressed bullish view. So what do shareholders do in this case? A: First coming on this 331 companies, excellent move on part of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, who in turn have given this list to SEBI for taking the corrective actions or maybe the requisite actions required in that regard. And you have used the word rightly that couple of companies, and in fact, this whole list, I have this 10 page list in front of me, 331 companies, in fact I have tried to mark and I could only be able to see seven companies which can be taken as a genuine companies. Prakash Industries, since you have mentioned, I have been keeping a positive view. Company has already made their representations to the stock exchanges saying that they have paid Rs 650 crore having Rs 2,400 crore value of assets. They got the coal linkages, mines from Coal India, they got mines from the government in Odisha and all sort of things. So I am not holding the brief of Prakash Industries here, but since you have referred the first, let me give you the background that there these shell companies, the word used, direct and indirect beneficiary of the nexus, the word which has been used. And if you see, which in fact I have made a lot of homework on this and if you recall about 4-5 months back, at the start of the financial year, I have said in the afternoon show or maybe in the morning show that we have prepared a negative list. And at that time, in fact, maybe Latha or someone asked me that what are those stocks, but I said that that is for our internal consumption. And when I collated this list with that list, about 150 stocks are falling in the same category. So I think this is an excellent move. There is no point in making hue and cry on those seven companies which I may be feeling it have value, you may have some 2-4 companies more. But if you really see these shell companies that has originally started, shell may have been used loosely for these 6-7 companies because they are not shell companies, they have the manufacturing facilities, they have assets, they have profitability. And they are paying taxes, as Prakash Industries having paid Rs 650 crore. But many of these companies have origin from the investment companies or shell companies from Kolkata and other parts of Delhi, Mumbai and all sort of things, but mainly from Kolkata. And in fact, if you see, Pincon Spirit also, I am not trying to put any allegations against any of these companies or not trying to defend anyone. If you really see the same kind of, either having the common director or having the common list and all that. In fact we have collated about 522 companies and those companies list having from Kolkata, that same common address, common directors and all sort of things. So maybe if those 6-7 companies or 8 companies makes the representations to SEBI or to ministry of corporate affairs, I think definitely they will get an escape from this. They will get excluded from this company because maybe accidentally or erroneously those companies may have included in the list because of some direct or indirect, on the pretext of direct and indirect nexus, they may have had some kind of dealing, having loan taken or, in fact which in the common commercial parlance we call it having taken entry. It is not the actual loan. So, probably if they present their case before SEBI or maybe before MCA, probably those companies will get excluded, but I think this is an excellent move and there is no need to worry being an investor. Suppose if you are an investor in the company, I have recommended Prakash Industries and you have rightly said so, if I am invested into the stock of Prakash Industries, which I am, I am not worried because maybe company will make their presentations and maybe they will get an escape from this list of shell companies. So this is an excellent move and I think that this kind of move will keep coming in and probably I will not be surprised because these are some of these companies, about 130 companies are only listed on NSE and rest all are on BSE. Probably if you dig the list on BSE, you may find 500 such companies still which can come in the second, third list, depends on the investigations being carried out by these authorities. So I am very happy with this move and I am not taking an isolated case where the accidentally or erroneously some companies have been included, they will get excluded if they present their case strongly and correctly before the authorities. Surabhi: Does Glenmark Pharma have that kicker that can yield results of the next two years? A: This member wants to enter Glenmark with a view of 1-2 years. That means he is very clear in his vision that yes, he can have the conviction and time horizon of two years. With that view, he can definitely enter because there are many of the positives lined up for Glenmark even if you see the Q1 numbers, having posted by the company, they have been quite good and in fact, apart from this, though we have not been compulsive buyers in the pharmaceutical stocks. But those who wish to, maybe because they want to have the pharmaceutical stocks also in their portfolio, we are advising them to go with Aurobindo Pharma and Glenmark. So obviously, the stock falls in our selected choice as well and with a two years' view, we can buy it now. Surabhi: One of the stocks that we often discuss with you, Century Textiles, actually moving against the tide today, it was a recommendation by our technical experts as well. Are you expecting any kind of a big trigger to come through as we go through the result fine print at the end of Q1, this unlocking of value, are you expecting it some time soon? A: If you first go through the results probably, I think the market has still not yet analysed these mind blowing results. If I just give the example, probably this would have been a pure cement company, probably this would have been the best results having posted by cement. If I just quickly go through cement, EBIT has risen to Rs 170 crore from Rs 52 crore. On a sequential basis I am referring to. And if you take the Century EBIT margin of cement division, it has come at 13.5 percent against Shree Cement having posted 11.3 percent for the same quarter, Orient Cement 13.88 percent, ACC 12.29 percent, UltraTech Cement 18.1 percent and Ambuja Cement 16.97 percent. I am taking of all the cement capacity, having capacity of 10 million tonnes because Century also has a capacity of 14 million tonnes. So probably from 4.1 percentage as EBIT margin seen in Q4, if you are jumping to 13.5 percent EBIT margin and I think that this is sustainable. In fact I have said that apart from monetisation of the paper plant, Kumar Mangalam Birla has put in a huge, a new team and that has been closely watching the operations which has resulted in this ramp up of the EBIT margin. And if this gets sustained, because if you see the earnings per share (EPS) of about Rs 11 having posted by the companies after the deferred tax of Rs 66 crore which is a non-cash item. So if you add that, it is Rs 17 EPS for Q1 and it is very much sustainable. So just imagine the kind of turnaround which we have seen in the performance of the cement division with huge, probably the stock which is valued, the cement division getting valued at about maybe USD 95-100 definitely will be seeing the market cap getting expanded maybe because of the enterprise valuation (EV) valuation being given to cement division. Coming on paper division, again paper division has performed very well with EBIT of about Rs 88 crore against Rs 52 crore on a sequential basis. So even that is going to give them and I am quite certain that paper division is going to get monetised, maybe by the company in the next couple of months. And if you take the EBIT of Rs 88 crore, that translates into closer to about Rs 450-500 crore as EBITDA for whole of FY18 which can definitely fetch them a very good valuations which they have been looking at, at about Rs 4,500 crore. So apart from monetisation after looking to Q1 numbers, in fact my positive view, have built up more because of the sharp turnaround seen into the cement division of the company. Surabhi: There is one pocket where we have seen buying today and it is metals. So, Tata Steel, some of the targets are very handsome, Rs 800 plus is what we heard from some of the brokerages in the morning. Would you buy anything in metals? A: I have been giving buy call on metals for about maybe 3-4 months back and I have always said that if you really want to outperform, hunt for ideas in the midcap space. I agree that the Tata Steel numbers have been good, but in spite of reading the analysis of the domestic business, having given as good numbers, I do not agree that because if you make the comparison with the long products which are made like Prakash Industries and Sarda Energy, forget Prakash Industries having included in this 331 list, shell companies, if you just knock that off, the kind of performance which we have seen is much better. Or even on a relative basis, if I compare Tata Steel standalone numbers, that is India operations with JSW Steel , probably Tata Steel is giving me a disappointment. Because if you really see on a year-on-year basis, the numbers are seen flat. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the numbers are seen quite down in spite of Kalinganagar having added three million tonne capacity. Coming back on metals, yes, as I said, we have been keeping a positive view and we continue to have so for the next one year, but we will be keeping our focus more on the midcap steel stocks rather than larger one like JSW Steel and Tata Steel going forward. Man speaks on his mobile phone as he sits in front of a shop displaying the Idea Cellular Ltd's logo on its shutter in Mumbai live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Weakness in the market dragged the stock of Idea Cellular down by over 1.5 percent intraday before gaining around 3 percent in the morning session. Earlier in the day, the company informed the exchanges that it filed an application before the National Company Law Tribunal, Ahmedabad Bench, for an approval of the merger of Vodafone India and Vodafone Mobile Services with the company. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), on Monday, gave a conditional go-ahead to the USD 23 billion deal between Idea Cellular and Vodafone India. The multi-layered deal was announced in March and recently got clearance from the fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI). In their 'no-objection' letters on "draft composite scheme of amalgamation and arrangement among Vodafone Mobile Services, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular and their respective shareholders and creditors", BSE and NSE said that all the conditions put forth by the regulator need to be placed before the NCLT while seeking its approval. The "no-objection" as per SEBI's regulations will enable the companies to file the draft scheme with the NCLT. The stock gained over 11 percent in the past one month, while its three-day loss stood at around a percent. At 13:59 hrs Idea Cellular was quoting at Rs 92.70, down Rs 0.35, or 0.38 percent on the BSE. It touched an intraday high of Rs 95.45 and an intraday low of Rs 91.50. People queue outside a bank to exchange and deposit their old high denomination banknotes in Masuda village in the desert Indian state of Rajasthan, India, November 15, 2016. REUTERS/Himanshu Sharma - RTX2TPVT The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBIs) annual report that will be presented later this month may contain details about the volume and value of demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes deposited between November 8 and December 30. RBI governor Urjit Patel last month told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance that the deposited demonetised currency notes were still being counted, making it difficult for the central bank to disclose specifics about how much of outlawed currency had come back into the banking system during the 50-day window. Patel appeared before a Parliamentary panel, headed by Congress leader for the second time since January. According to reply given in Rajya Sabha on December 2 by the Minister of State for Finance, Arjun Ram Meghwal, there were 17,165 million pieces of Rs 500 notes and 6,858 million pieces of Rs 1,000 notes in circulation, amounting to Rs 15.44 lakh crore in value. Finance minister Arun Jaitley had said that in value terms this was 86 per cent of the total currency in circulation valued at about Rs 17.97 lakh crore. Also read: RBI is still counting demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes: Urjit Patel The annual report of RBI, which follows a July-June financial year, contains a chapter on `Currency Management with specific sections on `Trends in Currency and `Currency Management Architecture among others that may include details of banned notes. On December 13, 2016, RBI deputy governor R Gandhi had told the media that banks had garnered Rs 12.44 lakh crore in banned notes till December 10. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise announcement outlawed Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, taking away their legal tender status from the midnight of November 8. This set in motion the worlds largest currency culling exercise with people given 50-days to deposit old notes in banks and post-offices by December 30. The government has pitched the move as part of a broader strategy to clamp down on Indias bustling parallel economy where deals take place in cash. These transactions remain outside the legitimate financial system, evading tax and hoodwinking authorities by obscuring the flow and source of slush money. Also read: Govt orders shuttering of 1 lakh dodgy companies in last 48 hours; PM signals crackdown on tax evaders The government has been scrutinising suspicious bank transactions and data mined after November 8 has thrown up several tax evasion methods that authorities will now crack down on. In June, the government deregistered and shuttered more than 1 lakh companies with doctored accounts, sending a stern message that the government will come down heavily on tax dodgers who refuse to come clean despite repeated warnings. More than three lakh companies have been identified so far, based on data mined after demonetisation, whose books haves been found to be suspicious. The debate over language in Karnataka raged further on Tuesday after the government introduced a new culture policy to further the state's agenda on the language. In another related development, the state's civic body Karnataka Development Authority (KDA) has made it compulsory for all non-Kannada speaking employees of rural, scheduled and nationalised banks in the state to learn the local language in six months. Failing to comply with the KDA diktat would lead to termination. KDA Chairman SG Siddaramaiah said in a circular distributed in banks that if the language is not learnt, then "they (employees) should be relieved of their services in accordance with the recruitment rules." The KDA Chairman said that it is important for the banks to follow a three-language formula in all advertisements - Hindi, English and Kannada, saying that it has to be implemented on an 'emergency basis.' There is a lack of will in implementing the local language in many banks," Siddaramaiah said. The chairman said he will personally review if the banks have followed the instructions on the circular. Nearly two weeks ago, the KDA asked the state government to replace non-Kannadiga engineers with Kannada speakers in Bengaluru's Namma Metro. According to reports, over 17 percent of the staff don't speak the local language. The Reason These two steps are taken in accordance with the Sarojini Mahishi report. "The Authority shall every year prepare projects and programmes for the development of Kannada and forward it to the State Government for approval. The State Government may approve the project and programmes with or without modification," according to the report. Even though the report is now more than a decade old, the report seems to be the reason behind the cultural policy push meant to strengthen the ethnic and linguistic sentiment among Kannadigas. On Monday, the state government approved a new state culture policy to push the Kannada agenda. After a Cabinet Meeting, Law Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters that a total of Rs 59.68 crore will be invested in strengthening this cultural policy. He added that the state has decided to do extensive research on the local language and will "try to get it incorporated under the eighth schedule of the Constitution and also get it classical status." This policy also aims to boost tourism participation in Kannada cultural activities dance, dramas at tourist hotspots, increase monthly pensions of Kannada litterateurs and artists etc. The policy suggests implementation of scholarship programmes for Kannada students from this year. Two days after Chandigarh's Varnika Kundu was hounded and stalked by Haryana BJP Chief Subhash Barala's son, the missing CCTV footages of the incident were retrieved by the Chandigarh police on Monday. CNN News TV18 played the CCTV footages of the stalking event which took place on August 4. It was apparent from the footages that Vikas Barala's vehicle followed Varnika's vehicle, harassing her in the wee hours of the night. With the case gaining momentum in the public sphere, especially due to the involvement of a politician's son, people are asking questions on whether power would overshadow justice. In the political front, the parties have also engaged in a frenzy concerning the issue. The night of harassment Varnika Kundu, daughter of senior IAS officer Virender Kundu was allegedly chased and harassed by Vikas Barala and his associate Ashish Kumar as they followed her car around the city on the night of August 4. Varnika has said that both of the 'stalkers' were intoxicated and driving under the influence of alcohol. Varnika narrated the happenings of the night in a Facebook post on August 5, which soon became viral. According to the post, the boys "bullied" her and even tried to corner her so that she couldn't escape, urging her to call the police for help. After following her for some time, they came up to her and hounded her so that she would get out. At this point, police arrived and rescued Varnika. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Satish Shah said that the two young boys had consumed two cans of beer while driving Vikas' relative's car. He added that they kept following Varnika's car and tried to block her several times. Varnika's father, Virender Kundu claimed that he would move the court if justice is not meted out the Chandigarh police. Arrested but "out on bail" Vikas Baral and his friend Ashish Kumar were caught when the police arrived to rescue Varnika. However, after a formal complaint was registered by Varnika, the police arrested the two boys on August 5. The accused were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 354 D (for stalking a woman) and Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The charges of attempting to kidnap or forceful restraint were not pressed. Since the offences charged are bailable offences, Vikas and Ashish were out on a bail by the evening. Demands for Subhash Barala's resignation As the case gained momentum, opposition leaders demanded that Haryana BJP Chief Subhash Barala should resign. Haryana Congress Legislative Party leader Kiran Choudhury told the Indian Express, "The BJP leaders, who gave slogan of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, are busy preaching others. It would have been better if they would have preached their president Barala on this." Other parties like the Aam Aadmi Party, Swaraj India, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) attacked BJP and demanded Barala's resignation. However, the BJP dismissed the resignation of Barala on grounds that it does not involve him directly. Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Kattar said that if his son is found guilty, due action will be taken. He also said that since Subhash Barala is not directly involved with the case, his resignation is unnecessary. Backlash over missing CCTV footages Amid the ongoing investigation, Chandigarh police had said on Monday that out of the seven CCTV footages of the area where the incident took place, five footages were missing which were recovered on Tuesday. Opposition parties had accused the BJP of influencing the Chandigarh police and defending the politician's son. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told ANI: "This is extremely clear that BJP is pressurising Chandigarh administration and hatching conspiracy to protect the son of its political leader. " Attacks on victim blaming Subhash Barala's deputy, Ranveer Bhatti questioned Varnika Kundu's presence in the car at the late hours of the night. Bhatti wrote on social media, saying that parent must not allow their children to stay out at night and must ensure that they come home on time. His social media post received tremendous flak from people and Varnika Kundu lashed out claiming that it is her right to be wherever she wants. She added that for "men like these", women feel unsafe in the night. Rajya Sabha In late-night drama, Election Commission disqualified votes of two Congress rebels * Amit Shah and Smriti Irani also elected to Rajya Sabha 19:30 In all, 11 Rajya Sabha members one from Goa, one from Madhya Pradesh, six from West Bengal and three from Gujarat were elected. FULL REPORT | Rajya Sabha elections: Here who's got elected and re-elected 19:00 Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav on Wednesday congratulated Congress' Ahmed Patel for winning the election to a Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat, 'in spite of the toughest hurdles'. Full Report 16:34 Why Patel's win matters: A defeat could have meant more trouble for the Congress. 15:51 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also congratulated Ahmed Patel on his victory. "How much more evidence do we require to understandthat we opposition parties are up against a ruthless, finely tuned BJP political machine," Abdullah said. 14:21 Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has said that Congress leader Ahmed Patel's win in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls "should have never been this difficult" and the opposition needs to introspect and shift strategy to counter the BJP in the 2019 general elections. 13:33 Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath says the party has always fought back. 12:59 Amit Shah is choosing to focus on the third anniversary of his tenure as BJP President, thanking his followers his Twitter for their wishes. He has not yet commented on his Rajya Sabha victory or the BJP candidate's defeat to Ahmed Patel. 12:14 There is no confirmation from the BJP yet over whether they will approach the courts over the EC's decision to disallow two votes. 11:39 Kailash Vijayvargiya puts things in perspective. "We have won two seats and Congress only one [in Gujarat], no question of disappointment," the BJP leader tells News18. 11:19 Congress President Sonia Gandhi says she is very happy with Ahmed Patel's victory. "Thank god for the Election Commission," she says. 11:03 Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad says the defeat is a lesson for the BJP and they are free to approach any court. 10:33 JD(U) legislator Chhotubhai Vasava is also believed to have voted for Ahmed Patel, defying the party whip. 10:22 JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav has congratulated Ahmed Patel on his Rajya Sabha victory. The JD(U) is now part of the NDA, but Yadav has been against the idea. 09:55 Meanwhile, six leaders were elected to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal on Wednesday. Five of them were from the Trinamool Congress -Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Manas Bhunia, Shanta Chhetri. Pradip Bhattachya of the Congress was also elected to the Upper House. 09:12 While Smriti Irani has taken to Twitter to express her joy at being elected to the Rajya Sabha, there is no official word yet from Amit Shah, who was also elected and completes three years as BJP President today. 08:28 There is speculation that the BJP may approach the courts regarding the Election Commission's decision to disqualify the two votes. We should get some clairty as the day progresses. 08:10 In the end, it was two disqualified votes that helped take Ahmed Patel over the line. Here's a recap. 07:50 Ahmed Patel has gone from a low-profile politician to the centre of attention in the past month. Here's a short history of Patel's career. 07:40 Why does Patel's win matter so much? Read our report. 07:30 After late-night drama that saw Ahmed Patel retain his seat, we can expect to see reactions pour in through the day. 02:30 That's all from the Rajya Sabha election for now. Log on to www. moneycontrol.com for coverage of the Rajya Sabha elections during the day. Thanks for staying tuned. 02:15 Celebrations in the Congress ranks have begun in full swing. After his win, Ahmed Patel tweeted, "BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror. People of Gujarat will give them a befitting reply in this year's election." Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram lauded Congress' resilience. "BJP can break a few weak Congress MLAs, but BJP cannot break the Congress party," he tweeted. 01:52 BJP's Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and Congress' Ahmed Patel have won Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat. 01:45 Congress has begun claiming victory in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha election. Bharat Singh Solanki tells CNN-News18 Ahmed Patel has received 44 votes and won the Rajya Sabha seat. There is no official confirmation from the Election Commission yet. 01:30 Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani says the ballot box has been opened. Counting has begun. Will it complete without any further interruptions? 01:15 There appears no sight to the drama in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls. The BJP is reportedly not allowing the counting of votes to take place. It has asked Election Commission to address its complaint over the issue of privacy of votes, reports CNN-News18. Remember, a battery of BJP leaders including Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Nirmala Sitharaman, RS Prasad and Piyush Goyal had arrived at the EC headquarters on Tuesday evening. 00:35 The cliffhanger doesn't end at EC disqualification. BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya says he voted for Congress nominee Ahmed Patel. This is likely to tilt the scales in favour of Patel. 23:57 Reactions coming from the BJP camp now. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel says the party doesn't agree with the Election Commission's move. Shaktisinh Gohil Ji was angry when MLA showed him his vote, tried to snatch the ballot paper, he says. 23:50 The Election Commission's decision is a big win for democracy. It will boost the morale of Congress workers. Ahmed Patel will win with big margin, says Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki. 23:47 Modhwadia lauds the Returning Officer, says he didn't act under pressure from the BJP. We welcome Election Commission's decision, he says. 23:45 The Congress MLA votes that are disqualified belong to Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel, says Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia while briefing the media. He adds that after they voted, the duo waved their ballot papers to the BJP candidates. 23:40 The process of counting shall now begin after the two votes are "segregated". 23:36 The wait on the Election Commission verdict has ended. Big setback for the BJP. The EC has disqualified the votes cast by two rebel Congress MLAs, reports CNN-News18. 23:00 Reports indicate that Election Commission is set to give a go-ahead to the counting of votes. It will intimate the Gujarat Election Commission of its decision. Meanwhile, the BJP brass including Amit Shah are awaiting EC's decision at the counting centre in Gandhinagar. 22:30 The BJP has brought in an "army"of Union Ministers at the Election Commission headquarters to "suppress the truth", says Congress leader Surjewala. 22:00 Election Commission officials didn't meet Congress and BJP leaders after they turned up at its headquarters. The officials are holding a closed-door meeting now. 21:58 The BJP leadership is going all-out to hit back at the Congress. Here's what the party leaders have said on Congress' charges and the Election Commission. Union Minister RS Prasad: Congress cannot put undue pressure on the Election Commission. Union Minister Piyush Goyal: Congress indulging in complete. Their allegations are completely baseless. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan: We are confident about EC's judgement. It will be giving its opinion on counting soon. 21:20 CNN-News18 reports that Election Commission officials have reviewed the video and that the counting will be completed tonight. No word yet on the decision over the validity of votes cast by two MLAs. 21:08 Meanwhile, BJP leader has come to the party's defence. He says voting was conducted in a fair manner while urging the Election Commission to commence counting at the earliest. 20:27 The Election Commission must reject these ballot papers as it did in Haryana in June 2016, Chidambaram adds. 20:25 Congress leader P Chidambaram is speaking to media now. There is enough evidence that ballot papers of 2 MLAs were seen by people other than those authorised to see, Chidambaram. The Congress urges disqualification of the 2 votes, he says. 20:15 Congress leader Anand Sharma makes a case for vote disqualification. One of our MLAs had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana and his vote was rejected. Same was done in Gujarat, so it should be rejected, says Sharma. 20:00 The BJP now says that it has urged EC to reject Congress' plea. RS Prasad says the voting process was fair and nothing can be done once votes are cast. 19:30 Even Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nirmala Sitharaman have reached Election Commission. 19:25 BJP leadership comprising Union Ministers MA Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan reaches EC headquarters in Delhi. BJP likely to retaliate to Congress allegations. Reports say BJP will move EC on the issue. Gujarat Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia says that the BJP is putting pressure on the Election Commission. The BJP has objected to Congress' request that of watching the video in presence of EC's presiding officer and the BJP, he says. 18:57 Rebel Congress MLA Raghav Ji Patel tells News18 that he didn't flash ballot paper to anybody, except Congress party agent. He denies all the allegations, says Congress was losing elections and thus resorting to such actions. He adds that he supported the BJP by voting against the Congress while reiterating that he didn't flash his ballot paper. 18:40 The Gujarat Election Commission has sent Congress's complaint to the Election Commission of India. Counting will start only after the local body receives a response from the CEC, reports News18. 18:10 Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and RPN Singh are addressing the media outside the Election Commission. He says the party wants cancellation of two votes. There is a legal ground for quashing of votes, he adds. The party has expressed its concerns and raised a complaint with EC, says Singh. Surjewala says that Congress has communicated its grievances to the EC in writing and has given evidence to support their claim. 17:50 Secrecy of votes is sacrosanct in any election. In the case of Rajya Sabha polls, MLAs are allowed to show their ballot papers only to their respective party agent. 17:46 Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and RPN Singh have approached the Election Commission to demand quashing of votes of 2 Congress MLAs. They seek disqualification on the ground that the MLAs publicly showed votes (ballot papers), according to ANI. 17:40 Interesting developments coming in. JD (U) leader KC Tyagi tells ANI that the party's Gujarat MLA Chotubhai Vasava voted for the BJP after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked him to vote for the BJP. 17:32 The complaint has delayed the counting. The party says that votes of MLAs who showed their ballot papers to Amit Shah must be disqualified. The BJP claims that the Congress is resorting to delaying tactics. 17:30 Two Congress MLAs Bholabhai and Raghavji Bhai voted for BJP and publicly showed their votes, says Gohil. 17:24 Two Congress MLAs voted for the BJP and showed their votes to Amit Shahji, it has been video-graphed, says Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil. If voter shows his vote to anyone other than party's authorised agent, then the vote gets rejected, he adds. 17:10: Congress has lodged complaint with Election Commission. The party says that 2 MLAs who showed their ballot papers to Amit Shah must be disqualified. 16:52 Counting will begin in 10 minutes from now. A reminder that Amit Shah and Smriti Irani are also in the fray from Gujarat. In addition, seven other seats are up for grabs in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. 16:33 Chotubhai Vasava confirmed voting for Ahmed Patel in the election because he was opposed to his party JD(U) president Nitish Kumar forming an alliance with the BJP in Bihar. 16:08 Election officials have told NDTV that counting will begin at 5pm and the result will be known around 6pm. 15:36 Ahead of counting, the Congress believes it has the support of 45 legislators, which is exactly how many votes it needs to get Ahmed Patel elected. These include 43 party MLAs, one from the NCP and one from the JD(U). 15:17 A defeat for Ahmed Patel would constitute a major blow for the Congress, given that he has been a senior party figure for years. 14:55 As we wait for counting to begin, here's a report on what's at stake for Ahmed Patel. 14:38 No clarity yet on when counting will begin. Voting was supposed to end at 4pm, but given that all the MLAs have already voted, counting could possibly take place earlier. 14:23 Ahmed Patel: Number are in our favour; result should be good. I am confident and optimistic. 14:15 State election officer says voting has ended with all 176 eligible MLAs having cast their vote. 14:10 So as things stand, we know for sure that one Congress MLA cross-voted while one JD(U) legislator and one NCP legislator voted for Congress candidate Ahmed Patel. 14:00 The sole JD(U) legislator has confirmed to News18 that he voted for Ahmed Patel. 13:50 Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia: We will get more than the number required. We will get two votes more than 45. All our MLAs and two from other parties have also voted for Ahmed Patel. 13:40 Congress' Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot admits that one party MLA cross-voted, but insists that Ahmed Patel will still win. 13:23 A little more than 100 legislators have cast their vote. The deadline is 4pm. Gujarat has 176 MLAs. 13:12 The Congress is now claiming that only have 44 of its MLAs voted for Ahmed Patel, but one BJP legislator has cross-voted. 12:48 "The victory of our candidates is certain. The party had been working for this since announcement of election dates," says former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. 12:28 Senior Congress leaders are insisting that Makwana did not cross-vote. 12:17 Makwana was one of the 'resort MLAs' who were shipped off to Bengaluru. 12:10 CNN-News18 reports that Congress legislator Karamsinh Makwana has cross-voted. 12:03 BJP President Amit Shah has cast his vote. He is set to be elected to Parliament for the first time. 11:38 Wondering how Rajya Sabha members are elected? Here's the lowdown: A Rajya Sabha member from any state is elected by dividing the total number of eligible votes (legislators) in the assembly with the number of candidates being put up, plus one. In Gujarats case, there were originally 182 eligible votes. After the recent spate of resignations from Congress, the total number of eligible votes has come down to 176. As things stand today, this how the numbers work out: 176 divided by 4, which equals to 44, plus one. This means that the number of votes which a candidate requires to be elected to the Rajya Sabha in Gujarat sits at 45. 11:17 Meanwhile, elections are also taking place in West Bengal, where the tenure of members Derek O'Brien (TMC), Debabrata Bandhopadhyay (TMC), Pradip Bhattacharya (Cong), Sitaram Yechury (CPM), Sukhenduhakhar Roy (TMC) and Dola Sen (TMC) is set to end. 11:04 Things have been blown out of proportion because of Ahmed Patel. Hes in a risky situation; half of his people might end up voting for the BJP, says NCPs Majeed Memon. 10:48 The Congress is also banking on support from the lone JD(U) MLA, Chhotu Vasava. But he gives nothing away. "I have voted for the nation," Vasava says. 10:37 A bus with 44 Congress MLAs has arrived at the state assembly in Gandhinagar. The legislators were being housed at a resort in Anand after returning from Bengaluru on Monday. 10:31 Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani earlier said that both NCP legislators will vote for the BJP candidate. 10:22 Vaghela now saying that Ahmed Patel will get support from less than 40 of the 45 MLAs required for victory. 10:18 A glimmer of hope: NCP legislator Jayant Patel says he voted for Ahmed Patel. 10:13 A reminder that the Congress needs the support of 45 legislators to secure Ahmed Patel's victory. It has 51 MLAs in the Assembly, but seven of them were not in the Bengaluru contingent. 10:07 The Congress is making a concerted effort to distance Sonia Gandhi from what is looking like a possible defeat for Ahmed Patel. Both Patel and Gujarat Congress in-charge Ashok Gehlot have said today that the Congress President should not be dragged into this election. 09:57 Some more bad news for the Congress. Senior party leader Arjun Modhwadia says that two party legislators who were part of the group that was shipped off to the Bengaluru resort have defied party orders and voted for the BJP candidate. 09:55 Personal equations could also be at play as Vaghela's granddaughter is married to BJP candidate Balvantsinh Rajput's son. 09:51 More from Vaghela: "The Congress is not winning so why should I waste my vote?" 09:47 Ahmed Patel is putting on a brave face. "We will become stronger, in fact, we will form the government this time. We have more than 44 people on our side, we will win for sure. I am contesting as a Congress member and not as Soniajis aide," he said. 09:39 Vaghela brushed off a question over whether he had voted for the BJP candidate or chosen the NOTA option. 09:34 Shankersinh Vaghela, who resigned as Leader of Opposition and quit the Congress a fortnight ago, says he will not vote for Ahmed Patel. This is important given that his loyalists may also follow suit. 09:23 Voting ends at 5pm. The counting will begin immediately after. 09:16 In some good news for the Congress, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said he has instructed his two Gujarat legislators to vote for Ahmed Patel. 09:12 The BJP is already the single largest party in the Rajya Sabha, albeit by a narrow margin. The party will be looking to consolidate today. 09:06 The mini exodus of sorts from the Congress had triggered political drama. The Congress had shipped off its Gujarat MLAs to a resort in Bengaluru over fears that the BJP would try and poach them. The legislators only returned to Gujarat on Monday, where they were again housed in a resort in a bid to keep the flock together. 09:04 Patel remained confident of victory, saying on Monday that the numbers will be surprising when the results are declared. 09:02 Voting has begun in the state Assemblies. 09:01 It is after a gap of about two decades that a contest is happening in Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties used to get elected unopposed, after the BJP fielded a Congress rebel against Patel, who is seeking a fifth term. 08:56 Shah and Irani's victory is a foregone conclusion given the BJP has 121 MLAs in the truncated 176-member Gujarat Assembly. However, Ahmed Patel's victory is anything but certain after six Congress legislators resigned in the past fortnight. 08:53 Voting will begin at 9am in the state assemblies. 08:50 All eyes are on Gujarat, where high-profile leaders are contesting. BJP President Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani are both contesting from the state, as is Congress troubleshooter and Sonia Gandhi's political secretary. Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the Rajya Sabha elections. Legislators from three states - Gujarat, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh - will vote today to elect 10 MPs to the Upper House of Parliament. The case of a DJ (disco jockey) in Chandigarh being stalked by a BJP leader's son last week has rattled the nation and yet again brought up the subject of "stalking laws" in India to the forefront of public debate. On the night of August 4, Varnika Kundu was stalked by Vikas Barala, son of Haryana BJP chief, while she was driving back home. The Chandigarh police rescued her and arrested Vikas Barrala and his accomplice, Ashish Kumar, the next day. However, both of them walked out on bail in the evening. The Chandigarh police had booked the youth under two sections- Section 354 D of the Indian Penal Code (stalking) and Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (for driving while drinking). As of now, the Indian Penal Code makes "stalking" a one-time bailable offence, which means that one accused of stalking for the first time can be granted bail without producing them in Court. However, if one repeats the act of stalking, the bail will depend on the court's discretion. According to media reports, the police had charged the accused with three more sections which were later dropped. These are IPC Sections 341 dealing with wrongful restraint, Section 365 dealing with kidnapping, abducting or an attempt to do so and Section 511 dealing with punishment for attempting offences punishable by life imprisonment or other imprisonments. Had these three Sections been linked with the case, the accused would not have acquired a bail without being produced at the court. But, the police decided to drop these charges against the accused, allowing them to walk out on bail. This has also brought Section 354 D of the Indian Penal Code which deals with the offence of "stalking" under renewed focus after it was dealt by the Justice Verma Committee in the aftermath of the Delhi gang rape in 2012. A three-member Commission with Justice J.S Verma as the Chairperson was set up in 2012 to re-evaluate the gender crime laws of India. The Verma Committee report had proposed that "stalking" should be made a non-bailable offence under the Indian Penal Code, with 1-3 years of imprisonment as the punishment. The United Progressive Alliance-led government in 2012 accepted the recommendations and paved way for a bill to be introduced in the Parliament. However, opposition leaders belonging to Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (United) stood against it, claiming that the law could be misused against men. This resulted in tweaking the suggestions by the Verma Committee which made the first stalking offence as bailable whereas all subsequent stalking offences would be non-bailable with five years of jail. Move aside cottons and silks! The luxurious pashmina is set to take centre stage, bringing back the royal Mughal grandeur. And, perhaps, claim the throne it deserves. With Global Luxury Pashmina Dialogue, pashmina artist Babar Afzal intends to join hands with the likes of German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld to bring back the lost sheen of the fabric once worn by royalty. A paisley woven wool and silk shawl with a typical all-over intricate design from 18-19th century part of the big-sized square Mughal collection woven in gold thread priced over Rs 1.5 crore will be on display at the Global Luxury Pashmina Dialogue. This, however, is just an isolated example of the luxury pashmina that would be promoted at the first edition of the dialogue. Besides antique collection from the Mughal courts, two dozen Pashmina artworks made from pashmina goat hair, vegetable dyes and cotton will be showcased. The cost of each of these artworks range between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. Sozni Pashmina shawls that take around six to seven years to be made and cost close to Rs 70 lakh will also be exhibited at the dialogue. With support from the J&K government, the Pashmina Dialogue aims to revive the Rs 1,700-crore pashmina industry in India. The initiative would bring together the largest importers of pashmina France, Germany, Canada, Monaco, and the UAE in Delhi. The Global Luxury Pashmina Dialogue aims to walk the audience through the journey of pashmina right from Changthang to the luxury stores of Europe. The dialogue intends to be a yearly event, first in six cities of India and subsequently going international, said Afzal. For Afzal, a lot hinges on the success of the dialogue. He left a high-profile job at an MNC in the Silicon Valley to become a shepherd and work for the preservation of Pashmina goats in the Himalayas. The dialogue will also act as a platform for fundraising for the pashmina weaving community. Art auctions, exhibition of pashmina products, and an exclusive pashmina fashion show will be part of the dialogue. Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Udaipur, Kolkata and New Delhi will host the first edition of the dialogue that would be partnered and funded by partners in the luxury sector. While luxury Pashmina is being promoted by private players like Afzal, the government of Jammu and Kashmir too is leaving no stones unturned to revive the art. The Rs 50-crore fund allocated towards Pashmina development project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 will be implemented by the Central Wool Development Board. With that we plan to enhance the production of Pashmina from Kashmir to 8 tonnes from 4 tonnes in the next three years, said Shailendra Kumar, Secretary, Industry and Commerce, J&K. Representative image Targhar in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will have three modes of transport available to the passengers: Metro, sky train and local train services. These services will be available on two levels. The metro and sky train will run on the first floor and Uran suburban train will run below the elevated station, said a report in The Times of India. The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd informed that the 115-crore financial bid for the Targhar railway station will open on Wednesday. The station will be on the upcoming Nerul-Belapur-Uran railway corridor. Targhar railway station will function as the link station to the Navi Mumbai International Airport from the suburbs of Thane and Kalyan. The developments at Targhar will be done in two phases. The first phase will involve the construction of the station. In the second phase, the station will be developed commercially as it is in Vashi and Belapur. Seven parties have bid for the project, the report said. The bid involves both the technical and financial aspects of the project. Qualifying parties for the technical bid will compete against each other for the financial bid. Interestingly, Targhar will be the first station in the suburban railway that will be on pillars. The station, once completed, will connect to the airports via sky train and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal-Panvel elevated corridor that will run like a metro. The corridor will have a dedicated branch ending directly at the airport. Children practice yoga at a park in Mumbai March 27, 2012. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: SOCIETY) - RTR2ZYKJ After the Supreme Court quashed an advocate's petition asking Yoga to be made compulsory in schools, the central government in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court said that Yoga education cannot be enforced in schools as it is not a fundamental right under Right to Education Act. Advocate J C Seth had petitioned in the apex court in 2011 that Yoga should be made a compulsory subject in schools under Section 7(6) and 8(g) and (h) of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). After a wait of six years, in April 2017, the Supreme Court asked the central government to file a response in the matter, a report in The Times of India said. "RTE Act does not specifically mention about the curriculum of Yoga. As such, it cannot be concluded that Yoga education has become an enforceable fundamental right. Yoga is an integral part of the curriculum of 'Health and Physical Education', which is a compulsory subject for Classes 1 to 10. To that extent, Yoga has not been neglected in school education," read the affidavit. Further clarifying, the centre said that education figures in the concurrent list of the Constitution and most of the schools in the country are under state governments control. The onus of complying with the NCF provisions rests with the states. Quoting an official, the report said, "Implementation of various subject areas, including Yoga, depends upon states and UTs concerned." Ahmed Patel JD(U) MLA in Gujarat, Chhotu Vasava, said he voted for Congress' nominee Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls as the ruling BJP has done little for tribal people and the poor. Vasava represents Scheduled Tribe reserved Jhagadia assembly seat in Bharuch district in south Gujarat. The legislator, whose party recently forged ties with the BJP in Bihar, said he decided to vote for the Congress candidate as "he is unhappy with the ruling party's works for the poor and tribal population" that he represents. "BJP has ruled the state for 22 years but has ignored the state's tribal areas, which remain undeveloped as the government has done nothing for the poor and tribal population," he told PTI over phone. He said the decision to vote for the Congress nominee was solely his own and not necessarily that of the party which he represents. "Nitish Kumar (Bihar chief minister and JD(U) president) did not contact me over voting, and there was nothing like a whip issued by the party in this regard. The decision to vote for Patel was my own," he said. A supporter of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with his body painted in the party's colour attends a public rally after the party's national executive meeting in Allahabad, India June 13, 2016. REUTERS/Jitendra Prakash - RTX2G09Z Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power with a thumping majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it has steadily expanded its footprint across the country. A party which ruled just six states in early 2014 is now part of the government in 18 states. Earlier this year, the party registered a comprehensive victory in India's largest state, Uttar Pradesh, bagging 325 out of 403 seats along with its allies. In the last month, the saffron party has also managed to get their Presidential and the Vice-Presidential candidates, courtesy the numbers they have across both Houses of Parliament and state assemblies. And in a big boost, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) also returned to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Kumar was considered by many as the Opposition's best chance of beating the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Now, the BJP's next challenge is to win in states where they have traditionally had little or no support. The party has been working towards restructuring its organisation in these states and strengthening at the grass-roots level. Here's an update on their progress: Tripura The party had historically not done well in any of the north-eastern states. However, since 2013, the BJP and its allies are ruling in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim and Nagaland. On Monday, BJP became the principal Opposition party in Tripura after six of the Trinamool Congress' MLAs joined them. The development comes with just seven months to go for the Assembly polls where the BJP is targeting 51 out of the 60 seats. Meghalaya The Congress-ruled state where the saffron party has no seat will go to the polls in 2018. In April, the BJP floated a new non-Congress platform called the North-eastern Democratic Alliance. However, in June, 5,000 party workers quit over the Centre's new rules which sought to prevent trade of cattle for slaughter. West Bengal Historically, the BJP has had little presence in the state. BJP and its ally Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) currently have three seats each in the 294-member assembly. However, the party is now making inroads by stepping up its activities and focusing on the grass-roots. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the state unit will use Save Bengal from becoming Kashmir as a motto in the panchayat elections. Earlier this year, NDA had managed to win three civic polls. The party has also stepped up its attack on the state government. Following incidents of communal violence, the state's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Jishnu Basu accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of not taking action to control the violence. Odisha In January 2015, Shah made the BJP's intent clear when he announced at a rally, We will overthrow the corrupt BJD government in the 2019 elections. The BJP's membership has increased from six lakh to 40 lakh in the state since then. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) may face anti-incumbency after nearly two decades in power. Making their intentions clear, the BJP staged its National Executive meet in capital Bhubaneswar in April. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made four official trips to the state since 2014 while nearly all the BJP's Union ministers have visited at least once. In February, ground-level party workers helped the party increase its tally of zilla parishad seats by nearly tenfold from 36 to 297. Kerala Finance Minister Arun Jaitley visited the family of a slain RSS worker last week. Attacking the Communist Party of India (Marxist) government, he said, Every time the LDF (Left Democratic Front) comes to power, the incidents of violence increase. The political opponents are killed in a most brutal and barbaric manner. While the killing of both BJP and CPI (M) workers in parts of Kerala have happened before, the BJP's reaction this time is being seen by political observers as a war cry. Tamil Nadu The death of chief minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016 left a vacuum in the state's politics. The split in the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) since then has given the BJP a window. On Friday, Amit Shah urged the two warring factions of the AIADMK to reconcile amid media reports that a unified AIADMK could join the NDA. Actor Rajinikanth, who has a mass following, has cordial relations with PM Modi and may to join politics, according to reports. The organisation has inducted 12 tribal faces and had asked its workers to fan out and reach out to the people in the state. Whatfix | Headcount: 350 | Headquarters: Bengaluru | Year founded: 2014 | As remote work becomes the norm and more businesses go online, Whatfix sees strong tailwinds going ahead, LinkedIn said. (Representative image) Saudi-Arabian honesty app Sarahah has made its way to India as users are posting their profile links on social networking platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat. Launched in the Google Play store in June 2017, Sarahah has become the most downloaded free app in the last few weeks, beating app-giants like WhatsApp and Facebook. Developed by Saudi programmer Zain al-Abidin Tawfiq, Sarahah means "honesty" in Arabic. The app lets anybody with your profile link send an anonymous message to you. While you can read the messages, you cannot reply to them. Earlier, Sarahah only existed as a website developed by Tawfiq which was used for the purpose of employees posting honest feedback to the employer without running the risk of being fired. Later, Tawfiq was convinced that it could be developed into an app for personal messages. Sarahah was launched in Saudi Arabia in February 2017 and by the end of the month, there were 2.5 million users in Egypt, 1.7 million in Tunisia and 1.2 million in Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, Tawfiq released the app in Apple iOS and Google Play on June 13, 2017. Since then, the app's popularity has exponentially increased over the last month with 300 million users worldwide. However, when there is a provision for remaining anonymous, people more often than not tend to misuse it. Media reports indicate that there have been several cases of cyber-bullying in the app which are reflected in the review comments by users. The reviews include users warning parents to forbid their children from using the apps. Many have written that racist and misogynist comments were passed along with lewd body-shaming messages. There have also been positive reviews which described it as a "fun" app which lets users know how people feel about them. A new Renault Kadjar car is seen during the 87th International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse - RTS11QWC Iran signed the country's biggest-ever car deal with French multinational automobile manufacturer Groupe Renault today to produce 150,000 cars, beginning in 2018. The USD 778 million deal follows the lifting of international sanctions after Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. It also comes just days after new US sanctions on Iran were signed by President Donald Trump. The US legislation also imposed new sanctions on Russia and North Korea. During the ceremony in Tehran, Iran's Minister of Industry Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said the deal with Renault would "establish a research and development center for designing" in the country. A Renault executive, Thierry Bollor, said it would help transfer technology to Iran. The car deal is expected to create about 3,000 jobs for the two Iranian companies involved: IDRO, or the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran, and the privately owned Negin Group. Renault has a 60 per cent partnership in the deal. The plant in a Tehran suburb will produce Duster and Symbol cars starting in 2018. Renault will be majority shareholder, and have its own distribution network in Iran for the first time. Last year, French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen reached a deal with Iran Khodro to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles annually. Peugeot was a major player in Iran's car market before international sanctions were imposed over Iran's controversial uranium enrichment program a possible pathway to nuclear weapons. At the time, PSA group said negotiations for the deal began before the sanctions were lifted. France and other European nations have moved quickly to create stronger business ties with Iran's large market since international sanctions were lifted. On September 2016, during the Paris auto show, when Iran's President Hassan Rouhani visited Paris, Renault reached a deal with Iran's government to open the plant with IDRO. Iran produces about 1,350,000 vehicles a year, though authorities hope that number will reach 3 million annually by 2025. Clampdown on H-1B visa programme will make it difficult for the US IT sector to attract open talent from countries like India and America might lose its competitive edge, a top American think-tank has said. As the Trump administration is carrying out a review of the non-immigrant visas, the Center for Global Development (CGD) in a report said that H-1B visa, the most sought after by Indian IT professionals, is beneficial for both India and the US. "It is really important to make sure that the I-T sectors from both countries are allowed to attract the right kind of people, because they really allow for innovation and growth in both the countries," Gaurav Khanna, fellow at the CGD and co- author of the research paper, said. The report titled 'The IT Boom and Other Unintended Consequences of Chasing the American Dream' takes an in-depth look at how the H-1B visa programme affects both the US and Indian economies. "Both the economies have really benefited from the H-1B programme," he told PTI. "What our paper is really trying to stress, is that on average the US is better off because of the H-1B programme. So clamping down on the H-1B programme will basically not allow the US IT sector to attract the open talent from places like India. The US might then lose its competitive edge in IT production," he warned, adding that IT companies might move to countries like Canada in the event of large scale clampdown on H-1B visas. Khanna said the research has shown that India has been a beneficiary of brain-gain, rather than brain drain due to the visa programme. "If you think about what happens in India, you know the prospect of migrating to the US and earning such a high wage ...it seemed they really encouraged certain students and workers to acquire skills that would be valued by the H-1B programme," he said. The research, which examines the relationship between migration and the outsourcing of IT production to India since the early 2000s, found that US workers are on average, better off by about USD 431 million or USD 1,345 per additional migrant in 2010 because of the H-1B programme. The study incorporates crucial mechanisms like innovation by businesses, trade with other countries, and the choices made by students and workers to become computer scientists. While there are some negative impacts for a subset of the US workers, the overall gains outweigh the losses as the combined incomes of the US and India both rise under the H-1B programme by about USD 17.3 billion or 0.36 per cent. And total IT output from both nations rose steadily under the H-1B regime by about 0.45 per cent in 2010, the CGD research said. It also found out that better technology, as a by-product of this immigration of tech workers, increased the overall productivity of other sectors as well, and consumers of computer-related goods enjoyed better software and lower prices. The study found a one per cent decrease in price for US IT products and an 7.4 per cent fall in Indian IT products. "The average worker in each country is better off because of immigration, and US native workers have made big gains because of the H-1B visa programme," Khanna said. "Yes, there may be things that can be done to blunt distributional impacts that affect a subset of workers, but overall, this policy has been a net-positive for the US economy and workers," he asserted. The research found out that those who migrated to the US acquired skills, technical know-how and established networks with US companies. Aftet their visas expired, they returned with these acquired human capital and technology and contributed to the growing tech-workforce in India. "Together, the brain-gain to India under the H-1B programme outweighs any brain-drain," it said. According to Khanna, the increase in IT sector productivity, because of the additional knowledge and skilled workers spurred by the H-1B visa programme, allowed India to eventually surpass the US in software exports. Over time, some IT production begins to be outsourced from the US to India. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. 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, August 08, 2017 Equality Or Diversity? - An 'Outrageous' Memo Questions Google A Google engineer, James Damore, recently wrote an internal memo about "Googles Ideological Echo Chamber - How bias clouds our thinking about diversity and inclusion": At Google, were regularly told that implicit (unconscious) and explicit biases are holding women back in tech and leadership. Of course, men and women experience bias, tech, and the workplace differently and we should be cognizant of this, but its far from the whole story. On average, men and women biologically differ in many ways. These differences arent just socially constructed because: - ... - ... Google company policy is in favor of "equal representation" of both genders. As the existing representation in tech jobs is unequal that policy has led to hiring preferences, priority status and special treatment for the underrepresented category, in this case women. The author says that this policy is based on ideology and not on rationality. It is the wrong way to go, he says. Basic differences, not bias, are (to some extend) responsible for different representations in tech jobs. If the (natural) different representation is "cured" by preferring the underrepresented, the optimal configuration can not be achieved. The author cites scientific studies which find that men and women (as categories, not as specific persons) are - independent of cultural bias - unequal in several social perspectives. These might be life planning, willingness to work more for a higher status, or social behavior. The differences evolve from the natural biological differences between men and women. A gender preference for specific occupations and positions is to be expected, Cultural bias alone can not explain it. It therefore does not make sense to strive for equal group representation in all occupations. From James Damore's memo From there he points to the implementation of Google's policy and concludes: Discrimination to reach equal representation is unfair, divisive, and bad for business. Google fired the engineer. Its 'Vice President of Diversity, Integrity & Governance' stated: We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company. [..] Part of building an open, inclusive environment means fostering a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions. But that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies, and anti-discrimination laws. (Translation: "You are welcome to discuss your alternative policy views - unless we disagree with them.") The current public discussion of the case evolves around "conservative" versus "progressive", "left" versus "right" categories. That misses the point the author makes: Google's policy is based on unfounded ideology, not on sciences. The (legal) "principle of equality" does not imply that everyone and everything must be handled equally. It rather means that in proportion with its equality the same shall be treated equally, and in proportion with its inequality the different shall be treated unequally. The author asks: Are men and women different? Do these differences result in personal occupation preferences? He quotes the relevant science and answers these questions with "yes" and "yes". From that follows a third question: What is the purpose of compelled equal representation in occupations when the inherent (natural gender) differences are not in line with such an outcome? Several scientist in the relevant fields have stated that the author's scientific reasoning is largely correct. The biological differences between men and women do result in observable social and psychological differences which are independent of culture and its biases. It is to be expected that these difference lead to different preferences of occupations. Moreover: If men and women are inherently equal (in their tech job capabilities) why does Google need to say that "diversity and inclusion are critical to our success"? Equality and diversity are in this extend contradictory. (Why, by the way, is Google selling advertising-space with "male" and "female" as targeting criteria?) If women and men are not equal, we should, in line with the principle of equality, differentiate accordingly. We then should not insist on or strive for equal gender representation in all occupations but accept a certain "gender gap" as the expression of natural differences. It is sad that Google and the general society avoid to discuss the questions that the author of the memo has asked. That Google fires him only confirms his claim that Google's policy is not based on science and rationality but on a non-discussible ideology. Posted by b on August 8, 2017 at 17:41 UTC | Permalink Comments next page One broker is quietly assembling a suite of industry-leading technology.Jason Henneberry, broker with Verico MortgagePal Inc., has launched a number of technology services over the past year and hes now announced a merger.By integrating Niche Sheet into LenderSpotlight, we are creating the industry's most advanced mortgage product and rate filtering system, enabling brokers to quickly search more than 50,000 data points to find the most suitable mortgage products for their clients, Henneberry wrote in an email to MortgageBrokerNews.ca. We not only acquired the technology, but we brought on the key person behind Niche Sheet to join DocAssist and lead our data team for LenderSpotlight.Brokers are now able to search a complete database of lender underwriting guidelines and policies to determine the most suitable lender, product and rate based on the nuances of their files, Henneberry explained.Earlier this year, Henneberry lauched LenderSpotlight, which aims to round up mortgage options from Canadian lenders in a searchable database.Basically, what a broker does is they go onto the system and plug in the variables for the deal is it a purchase, a refi? and the system will filter against underwriting and product criteria and give the most suitable option across a number of lenders, Henneberry said at the time.And in 2016, Henneberry developed DocAssist.ca, an administrative service that aims to alleviate some of the back-end admin tasks that are increasingly eating up brokers time.In his estimation, brokers spend 30-60% of their time on administrative tasks.We believe the way of the future is more process-oriented and more streamlined; brokers will have a better chance at earning a decent income, Henneberry said at the time. Thats how DocAssist was born. In the year that followed the B.C. governments introduction of the foreign home buyers tax, consumer demand for condominium units and townhouses has significantly outpaced the hunger for free-standing homes, according to the B.C. Real Estate Association.The MLS Home Price Index benchmark price of apartments has increased by 18.5 per cent compared to July 2016, up to $616,000. Meanwhile, the benchmark price for townhouses has grown by 11.9 per cent over the past year, up to $763,700.BCREA economist Brendon Ogmundson attributed this shift to a pronounced need for more affordable residential real estate.Jill Oudil, president of the regions real estate board, backed this assertion.Detached home listings have increased every month this year, while the number of condominiums for sale has decreased each month since February, Oudil told CBC News.She added that the tax has failed to address the main factor igniting runaway housing costs in Vancouver.It most certainly hasnt changed supply which has been our driving force in our market right now, Oudil said.The MLS Home Price Index benchmark price of apartments has increased by 18.5 per cent compared to July 2016, up to $616,000. Meanwhile, the benchmark price for townhouses has grown by 11.9 per cent over the past year, up to $763,700.Andy Yan, director of SFUs City Program, emphasized that curing the housing affordability malaise plaguing the city requires close coordination between the local, provincial, and federal governments.The expectation that this was about a single event, that it was about just foreign buyers by themselves creating unaffordability in the region, I think really fails to recognize the issue of a failing housing system, Yan stated. CMHC data from the first half of 2017 revealed a steady trend of foreign capital holders flocking into the Montreal residential real estate market, with the number of these buyers growing by 30 per cent over the previous year.And while this influx represented only 1.3 per cent of all home sale transactions in Montreal from January to June 2017, the CMHC noted that the phenomenon is likely being driven by an investor exodus from the 15 per cent foreign home buyers taxes in both Toronto and Vancouver.The investor profile has changed a bit, CMHC principal market analyst Francis Cortellino told CBC News.There are more investors from China, where it used to be dominated by France and the United States.Unsal Ozdilek of the Universite du Quebec a Montrealors School of Management opined that a compelling motivator for foreigners to put roots in Montreal is the citys enviable assets, including air and water quality and safety, while not being as ruinously expensive as other local and international markets.Shanghai-based real estate broker Colin Bogar echoed these sentiments, noting an observable increase in interest in Montreal from his end, mainly because of the citys economy, transit system, and higher education institutions. He added that this attention started to intensify even before the implementation of the taxes in Toronto and Vancouver. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Two men were indicted on Thursday in federal court on charges of bank fraud related to a real estate scheme, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Steve Myhre for the District of Nevada. If convicted, Dustin Lewis of Henderson, Nev., and Brian Sorensen of Las Vegas each face a maximum 30-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The two were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud. The indictment alleges that Lewis and Sorensen conspired with each other to defraud OneWest Bank from about Aug. 15, 2011, to about Jan. 17, 2014. The men allegedly came up with a scheme to prevent a foreclosure so that Lewis could remain the owner of 5,331-square foot, five-bedroom home in Henderson. Under the scheme, Lewis is claimed to have submitted a fraudulent short-sale application to the bank. This led OneWest to allow him to sell the home to Sorensens family member for an amount much less than the balance of the existing mortgage loan. It was further alleged in the indictment that Lewis did not disclose that there was an agreement that he would continue living at the property and that it would be later sold back to him, this time without the mortgage loan. The indictment claims that Lewis listed the property for sale on or about July 21, 2017, with a $1,195,000 price. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case with assistance from the U.S. Department of Interior-Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns is prosecuting the case. More high school students will get the chance to develop their careers before going to college. The Midland Development Corp. board on Monday approved a contract with the Midland Community College District to help expand Midland Colleges dual-credit career and technology program, which in the past school year served 301 Midland Independent School District students. All involved hope to more than double that number in two years. Its been a long process working with the MDC and MISD, MC President Steve Thomas said ahead of the vote. Thomas said the college will create a health sciences academy and a business/IT academy at the Advanced Technology Center. Plus, MDC funds will go toward training current faculty and hiring new faculty. I applaud the MDC for taking this important initiative to train a new generation of skilled technicians to help sustain and increase Midlands workforce, Thomas said in a press release issued after the meeting. The release said the Abell-Hanger Foundation has indicated it wants to increase its financial support to boost enrollment in the programs. The foundation has awarded $25,000 annually to upgrade technology at the ATC. Sharla Hotchkiss, District 3 City councilwoman and Texas Workforce Investment Council member, said after the meeting she commended all parties involved for recognizing the need for vocational education in high school. The board voted 3-0 to approve the deal. Board members Wesley Bownds and Gary Douglas were absent. Starting with the 2017-18 school year, the MDC will provide MC with $250,000 each year through 2019-20. The college will receive $300,000 in 2020-21 and 2021-22 for a five-year grand total of $1.35 million. Enrollment is projected at 520 students in the first year, 690 in the second and 730 from the third year on. The agreement calls for MC to remodel and equip two new energy technology labs and upgrade equipment in the existing automotive technology, diesel technology and health sciences labs at the ATC. New faculty will be required to have direct industry experience. Thomas said during the meeting that the business community has high interest in the program and some companies might donate equipment. The model used in the much-lauded Early College High School program will be applied to the career and technical programs. The MDC wants this to be the beginning of a long-term partnership with Midland College, Vice Chairman Keith Stretcher said in a written statement before Mondays meeting. We want to continue to work with Midland College to assist in meeting the educational needs of Midlanders. The MDC is an economic development group funded by the voter-approved quarter-cent Type A sales tax. The MDCs mission is to promote and advance opportunities that enhance and diversify the strength and stability of the Midland economy, according to its website. While historically focused on using financial incentives to draw businesses to Midland, its focus has changed in recent months. The group is putting its efforts into improving the communitys roads, health care and educational opportunities. The MDC this year partnered with the University of Texas of the Permian Basin to establish a maker space and business incubator at the Center for Energy and Economic Development building. In addition, the group put money toward the construction of UTPBs engineering college so that it could expand its degree offerings. The MDC also has partnered with the Small Business Development Center at UTPB to establish an entrepreneurial challenge in an effort to develop small businesses and startups by giving them seed money to help them grow. In an update Monday on the challenge, SBDC representatives said four businesses have been chosen: a farmer who reclaimed a building to grow microgreens, a trucker who brings people to Midland, a microbrewery and an app builder. SBDC Regional Director Enrique Romero said other communities have reached out to the organization seeking to establish their own entrepreneurial challenge programs after learning of the MDCs efforts. He assured board members that the MDCs program takes precedence. Stretcher said the MDC will continue to recruit businesses if they provide high-paying jobs and expand the tax base. However, businesses will receive funds only after meeting certain benchmarks. There will no longer be any contracts that are not performance-based, he said. IN OTHER BUSINESS The board approved the 2017-18 budget, which anticipates $9.5 million in sales tax revenue, $1 million more than was anticipated for the current fiscal year. Year-to-date, $7,486,950.20 has been collected, with $819,179.51 in June. Total expenditures are expected to be $15,505,490 for 2017-18; however, the MDC has budgeted to spend $11,185,648 in economic incentives. The total estimated balance on Oct. 1 is slated to be $25,334,204, a decrease of $5,975,490. The board approved Executive Director Pam Welchs retirement and to hire her as a consultant until Jan. 31. Welch will work to finalize business deals currently in the works. The board also voted to approve Chairman Brent Hilliard to pursue hiring a new executive director, though not by securing the services of an executive search firm. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Some rectangular-shaped devices recently popped up on Lake Mary Boulevard at the entrance to Seminole State College. Devices designed to track traffic efficiencies Sanford-based Blue-Band designed the devices FDOT will first test them near Lake Mary Boulevard The Florida Department of Transportation will be testing the wireless devices for possible use in making traffic improvements throughout the state. Carlo Adair said he's always dreamed of ways to advance technology. "I grew up on the Jetsons thinking there would be some really cool things coming in our future and there are," said Adair, who is the lead engineer for Blue-Band, LLC. Adair and Blue-Band CEO Kevin Yorke designed the new traffic devices at their Sanford-based office. The Florida Department of Transportation is now going to test them at the busy Lake Mary intersection. "It's a large intersection with a lot of traffic," Yorke said. FDOT could eventually use them to collect traffic data all over the state. "It's definitely very exciting," Adair said. The devices can even detect a car's Bluetooth as it drives over them and then use that signal to track how long it takes for that car to get to the next intersection. "We know no particulars about the vehicle or who has the Bluetooth, we just assign a number for one location to the next," Yorke said. Spotlight synchronization, traffic flow and traffic volume is already measured by different devices in operation throughout Central Florida. But the wireless detectors don't require wires or pipes to install them, making them cheaper. They also report data in real-time. Adair hopes it's just the beginning of a more advanced way to help people get around more efficiently. "What we're establishing is the groundwork for smart cities the ability to intelligently manage our entire transit system," Adair said. The detectors are about 1 inch tall, which is similar to road reflectors. Yorke said that if needed, they can be built about 1 inch into the pavement. That would make them flush with the surface of the roadway. Seminole County traffic planners said the new devices were installed in late July and a 30-day testing period for them should soon begin. AUSTIN -- Several members of the Texas Senate emphasized their support for reforming the state's school finance and retired teacher healthcare systems at a press conference on Tuesday. As the special session enters its final week, the time to pass legislation designated by Gov. Greg Abbott is running out, and these members want to ensure that key bills reach his desk. These senators highlighted two measures passed by the body earlier in the session, one to create a special commission to study the way the state pays for public education and one to put more money into TRS-Care, the program that provides health coverage for retired teachers. The first, SB 16, by Friendswood Sen. and Education Committee Chair Larry Taylor, passed the Senate with unanimous approval twice, once during the regular session and again at the end of July. The measure now awaits House action. Taylor believes that with no Supreme Court mandate directing them, the Legislature has a unique opportunity to address the state's 30-year-old school finance system. "With the most recent Supreme Court decision, they have given us the ability to start with a clean slate, and design a school finance system from the ground up," he said. "A system that includes all the constitutional parameters we know we must meet, yet accounts for the demands and the innovations that the 21st century offers." Call it the kindness of strangers, a simple gift. Or call it what you will. We know it when we see it and this vignette from DeKalb, Indiana, is the real thing. The deed surely will not be forgotten by 11-year-old Phil Mick. At Christmastime last year, Phil and his mother, Tammy Mick, attended an event held by a motorcycle shop in DeKalb for families who couldnt afford a holiday celebration. There they met Brent Warfield of KDZ Motorcycle Sales & Service. Phils mother confided to Warfield that her son had been getting physically bullied for the past two years. Mick told The Washington Post she suspected it after he came home with bruises. Kids at his school would hit, punch and call Phil names, she said. The 11-year-old told WTSP he was being bullied for being overweight. The boys plight struck a chord with Warfield. I was bullied when I was younger, he told The Washington Post. I know what its like to be picked on. I told his mom, Ive got a bunch of big-hearted biker friends who would love to help. A couple of days before the start of school this week, Warfield took Phil to the mall to get new clothes and some school supplies. Then Warfield, who is the director of United Motorcycle Enthusiasts, put a message on his Facebook page inviting Indiana bikers to escort Phil to school. He wrote, Were hopefully going to make a positive [impact] for Phil and hopefully show the other kids that bullying isnt cool. The first day of school rolled around Aug. 1. That morning, a group of bikers met Phil and his mom for breakfast at Richards, a local restaurant. When they left, people on bikes were out in the parking lot, Warfield said. Some of the bikers had traveled over an hour to escort Phil to school. Some took the day off work. Before the ride, a member from the Christian Motorcyclists Association led a prayer wishing Phil a safe school year. There they were, gathered in a circle, heads bowed, all the new friends of Phil. Going to school can be tough, the prayer leader said. You know, Lord, that there are people out there that are just not nice. . . . Lord, I ask that you make your presence known to Phil as he goes to school, not just today, but all through the school year. Let him know that you are there with him, that he can lean on you. . . . Amen. Phil hopped on the back of a bike for his first motorcycle ride, and the group, resplendent on their Harleys and in their leather jackets, thundered down the street. The glorious growl of 50 big bike engines reverberated off the brick walls of DeKalb Middle School as they pulled up, sending a message no one could miss. Principal Matt Vince fully approved, he told the Brown County Democrat. Standing up against bullying - we need more of that. And they did it in a positive way. Phil was just in heaven. He wasnt apprehensive or scared. He walked in with confidence, Warfield said. This is his new start. He was happy as heck. Warfield said the work isnt over. The Indiana motorcyclists have organized a suicide awareness and teen bullying ride scheduled for late September. Phil plans to speak at the event. As for Phil, he hasnt stopped smiling, his mother said. He told her, she said, that he has new brothers and sisters watching over him. MERIDEN The city is refusing to release a letter of discipline issued to City Attorney Deborah Moore, claiming its release may constitute an invasion of personal privacy. Moore did not return a request for comment. Moore was issued a letter of discipline earlier this year for reasons city officials have declined to discuss. The Record-Journal requested the letter through the state Freedom of Information Act, along with all letters of discipline issued to city employees since January. On Aug. 4, the city provided access to over two dozen disciplinary letters that the city did not determine to be exempt under the Freedom of Information Act. Moores letter of discipline was withheld, but the city provided a memo in which Moore raised an objection to the release of the letter and an email requesting it be stricken from her file. Respectfully, I will renew my request that the document be removed in its entirety from my file as I believe that request was taken under advisement when this matter first arose and I havent received a decision, Moore wrote in a July 19 email. The city cited the Perkins test as reason for withholding the document. The Perkins test is the result a 1993 Connecticut Supreme Court case, Perkins v. Freedom of Information Commission, in which it was determined a personnel document can be exempt from disclosure if it is deemed to be both highly offensive to a reasonable person and doesnt pertain to a legitimate matter of public concern, according to state FOI law. Tom Hennick, public education officer from the Freedom of Information Commission, said documents must meet both criteria in order to be considered exempt. Perkins can always apply to something thats in a personnel file, but if an agency truly believes that it rises to the level of invasion of privacy, then with any document it can raise the exemption, Hennick said. The problem is the invasion is two-pronged. City Manager Guy Scaife said the matter was really a human resources and legal issue. Its the citys opinion that there is proper reason to withhold those, Scaife said. Were obligated to try and do what we think is right and thats what the human resources director has done as an independent person with no bias. Human Resources Director Marci Nogueira did not return a request for comment on the subject. The Record-Journal has filed an appeal with the Freedom of Information Commission to obtain Moores disciplinary letter. ltauss@record-journal.com 203-317-2231 Twitter: @LeighTaussRJ MERIDEN A city man who was to be deported to Ecuador on Tuesday has taken refuge in a New Haven church as he waits for an appeal of his removal order. Marco Reyes is a father of three children who came to the United States in 1997 and is the sole caretaker of his wife, children and other family members for 20 years. He received a deportation order in 2009, but was given stays of leave since. His most recent stay was denied in July and his attorney filed a motion to reopen his deportation order, citing personal danger if he returns to Ecuador. A brother-in-law was recently murdered in Ecuador, and the man convicted in the killing was recently released. The family fears Reyes would become a target. Reyes was supposed to fly out of New Yorks Kennedy International Airport at 9 a.m. Tuesday but took sanctuary at First and Summerfield United Methodist Church in downtown New Haven, according to his attorney, Erin ONeil-Baker. He was joined by his wife, Fanny Torres, three children, family and religious leaders and community members. At this point, he has a motion pending, ONeil-Baker said. If he gets his removal order rescinded, he can seek asylum in the U.S. A large crowd gathered in front of the church Tuesday afternoon for a press conference on the status of Reyes case. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, New Haven Mayor Toni Harp and Meriden City Councilor Miguel Castro spoke in support of Reyes, urging his appeal be heard by the courts. Reyes spoke to the crowd using a translator, describing the difficult last-minute decision to seek sanctuary at the church. Just the thought of being away from my loved ones, but on top of that exists the chance I might never see them again. Its a very heavy burden for them, but of course for me, Reyes said. We came to this country with a lot of dreams and it is very difficult for us to be going through what we are going through right now. Here I am, here is my family, here is my community and here all of us are people who want to believe in a better world. In between speakers, the crowd loudly chanted no more deportation, and keep Marco home. Alongside Reyes was his 12-year-old daughter Adriana Reyes, who will be entering the seventh grade at Lincoln Middle School this fall. Wearing a T-shirt with the words Please keep my dad home, Adriana Reyes clung to her father with tears in her eyes after the press conference. Let my dad stay because I need my dad with me, Reyes said. I dont know what I would do without him. Reyes is one of as many as 1,800 undocumented residents in Meriden, Castro estimated. They need our protection, Castro said. We cannot allow them to be subject to ICE coming in and tearing apart our community. His appeal to restore the stay awaits action from the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals. The office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended Reyes in 2007 after he was traveling with a group that accidentally crossed into Canada, but he was allowed to stay in the U.S. His family and supporters say he should remain in the country, as he has no criminal record and poses no danger. ICE says the order of removal came from a judge in 2009, but Reyes obtained a stay so that he could pursue legal options. He has exhausted those options, and ICE needs a valid legal argument before it can grant a second stay, said Shawn Neudaurer, a spokesman for the agency. Neudaurer said in a statement last week that ICE chose not to place him in custody during his most recent check in, allowing him to make timely departure arrangements. If he doesnt comply with the removal order, he will be considered a fugitive and arrested when encountered. At that point, ICE will carry out his order of removal, Neudaurer said in a statement. ICE has a policy forbidding enforcement actions occurring at or focused on sensitive locations such as schools and places of worship unless exigent circumstances exist, other law enforcement actions have led officers to a sensitive location, or prior approval is obtained from a designated supervisory official. Neudauer updated his statement Tuesday afternoon and said Reyes is now an ICE fugitive who will be arrested and detained when encountered. At which time, ICE will remove him from the United States. Neudauer also said the Board of Immigration Appeals denied the stay of removal, allowing ICE to proceed with the case. On May 5, 2017, ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan notified the chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees that ICE would no longer automatically grant a stay of removal for an undocumented immigrant based on private immigration bills introduced by members of Congress, unless the chair of the full committee makes a written request to stay the aliens removal. Undocumented immigrants who had a request for investigative report prior to May 5, 2017, will be processed under the old policy and granted an automatic stay until March 15, 2019. ICE is working to fulfill all requests for investigative reports, Neudauer stated. A federal immigration judges orders cannot be ignored, Neudauer wrote. ICE and the courts can delay acting on an order to ensure all applicable legal processes and possible benefits are followed and/or reviewed, which occurred in this case. However, after these legal options are exhausted ICE must still carry out the judges order in the absence of any other mitigating factors. Jesus Morales Sanchez from Unidad Latina en Accion and the Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance said Reyes tough decision to defy his removal order is a bitter reminder of the reality that immigrants experience every day, as well as a reminder of how urgent it is to continue fighting back as this situation wont get better if we dont stand together and organize our communities. Last week, residents, activists and elected officials, including Sen. Blumenthal, rallied outside the Ribicoff Federal Building in Hartford in support of Reyes. Their message demanded that ICE exercise discretion and keep Reyes in the country. Blumenthal issued another statement Tuesday. There must be fair and effective enforcement of all laws in accordance with due process, which I firmly believe as a former federal prosecutor and state attorney general, Blumenthal said in the statement. But strong law enforcement must also reflect humane and compassionate values, including the unbreakable bond between a parent and child. I am outraged and heartbroken by the arbitrary and callous decision to deport Marco Reyes. Blumenthal called Reyes plight a symptom of (President) Trumps cruel and inhumane immigration policies that lack all sense of reason and rationality. He pledged to continue to assist the family and work on comprehensive immigration reform that provides lasting and significant change to this badly broken system. Reyes is among a number of city residents in recent weeks to be denied stays and ordered returned to Ecuador. Rosa Chabla, who worked at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel, left her husband, daughter and 10-year-old son behind and returned to Ecuador last week. Her son, Edwin Quilligana, 18, a Maloney High School graduate, was returned on the same flight as his mother. His father, Cesar Quilligana, told the Record-Journal last week his son doesnt leave his home in Ecuador out of fear of gang violence. North Haven immigration attorney Michael Boyle represents a city couple who were denied a stay last week and given 30 days to buy a ticket to Ecuador. They have a son in a city high school and another son who attends Central Connecticut State University, who has been given power of attorney to care for the younger son. The couple is mulling their options. Removals of undocumented residents with work tax identification cards have increased 60 percent since Trump took office, according to ICE. Appeals efforts have had mixed results. Two weeks ago, a judge granted a stay to Nury Chevarria, a Norwalk woman who took refuge from ICE in a New Haven church while she waited for a decision. Reyes told other immigrants in the Meriden community threatened with deportation, to believe in themselves and to have a lot of faith. The only person that can give the miracle for them to stay would be God, Reyes said. Nobody else can do it. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea vowed Monday to bolster its nuclear arsenal and gain revenge of a thousand-fold against the United States in response to tough U.N. sanctions imposed following its recent intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The warning came two days after the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved new sanctions to punish North Korea, including a ban on coal and other exports worth over $1 billion. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, called the U.S.-drafted resolution the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against North Korea. In a statement carried by the Norths state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Koreas government said the sanctions were a violent infringement of its sovereignty that was caused by a heinous U.S. plot to isolate and stifle the country. We will make the U.S. pay by a thousand-fold for all the heinous crimes it commits against the state and people of this country, the statement said. The North said it would take an unspecified resolute action of justice and would never place its nuclear program on the negotiating table or flinch an inch from its push to strengthen its nuclear deterrence as long as U.S. hostility against North Korea persists. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho made similar comments during an annual regional security conference in Manila on Monday. South Koreas government said the North would face stronger sanctions if it doesnt stop its nuclear and missile provocation. Lim Eul Chul, a North Korea expert at South Koreas Kyungnam University, said the comments by the North demonstrate how angry it is over the U.N. sanctions, but that the country is not likely to launch a pre-emptive strike against the United States. He said the North could still carry out further missile tests or a sixth atomic bomb test in the coming months under its broader weapons development timetable. North Korea test-launched two ICBMs last month as part of its efforts to possess a long-range missile capable of striking anywhere in the mainland U.S. Both missiles were fired at highly lofted angles, and analysts say the weapons could reach parts of the United States such as Alaska, Los Angeles or Chicago if fired at a normal, flattened trajectory. The centerpiece of the U.N. sanctions is a ban on North Korean exports of coal, iron, lead and seafood products and a ban on all countries importing those products, estimated to be worth over $1 billion a year in hard currency. The resolution also bans countries from giving any additional permits to North Korean laborers, another source of foreign currency for the North, and prohibits all new joint ventures with North Korean companies. Analysts say that North Korea, already under numerous U.N. and other international sanctions, will feel some pain from the new sanctions but is not likely to return to disarmament negotiations anytime soon because of them. Lim, the North Korea expert, said the North will probably squeeze its ordinary citizens to help finance its nuclear and missile programs. Shin Beomchul of the Seoul-based Korea National Diplomatic Academy said sanctions that can force a change from North Korea would include a ban on Chinas annual, mostly free shipment of 500,000 tons of crude oil to North Korea and the deporting by U.N. member states of the tens of thousands of North Korean workers currently dispatched abroad. PLAINVILLE A sundial in memory of Mary Rose Faith DiMinno will be unveiled by her family soon at the site of the former Linden Street School. We wanted to honor our daughter and keep her memory and legacy alive, said Kevin DiMinno. His daughter, a former student at the newly constructed Linden Street Elementary School, died in 2013 at age 8 after suffering seizures throughout her life. On Sunday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m., a sundial donated by the family will be revealed to the public in the little girls memory. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the old school site were given to the artist who made the piece in England so that the dial will always show the correct time. The design is still under wraps until the debut of the sundial on site at the end of the month. Its a working timepiece, DiMinno said. It can be used as an outdoor classroom tool. Linden Street Elementary School was recently awarded a $5,800 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain to create an outdoor learning space and reading courtyard which will be created on the old site. The idea is to install benches to arch around the Linden tree to act as an outdoor classroom. The grant will be used to purchase the benches. Plans for the site have been in the works since the old school, vacant since 2009, was demolished last summer. Several items from the old school were saved including an archway, a bell from the courtyard, and various memorials of students who had died. A tree in memory of Helen Coughlin, a founder of PARC, which provides services to people with disabilities, was removed during construction. The replanted tree will be rededicated at Linden Street Elementary School the same day as the unveiling of the sundial. We definitely have plans to use that area, said Erica Donovan, executive director of PARC. Its a great place for students. New sidewalks were recently installed for access to the site. A sign from the old school was also installed on the corner of East Maple and Linden Streets. The sign used to be over the entrance on the East Maple Street side of the old building. I think its going to be an area where people can go and relax, said Nancy Eberhardt, chairwoman of the Linden Street School committee. A gazebo was also donated by the Rotary Club to replace the old gazebo from the historic school. Eberhardt said the committee is planning on having memorial bricks placed on the side of the walkways. akus@record-journal.com 203-317-2448 Twitter: @KusReporter WALLINGFORD To celebrate its 10th year, the Wallingford Community Theatre brought not one, but half a dozen plays to Sheehan High Schools stage. The cast likened it to bringing a monster to life, but it received a standing ovation as it came to a close a close that many in the cast said they were sad to see. Edward McCarver, who played Harold Hill in The Music Man, said he was a little sad since its the last night as he prepared for the plays final showing Saturday. You generate a lot of new friends. To pay homage to all their past performances it was decided that instead of performing any one script, the play would be composed of some of the best acts of the past nine shows. The result included The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, The King and I, and Beauty and the Beast. To bring the scenes together, Mary Ellen Kingsland-Eckels, the stage and music director, wrote a few scenes she titled The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy. As the characters in those scenes navigated Broadway, the audience followed them through the other plays. It was creative, said Melissa Bucchieri, who came to the play to watch her niece and nephew perform. Standing outside the theater during the intermission, she said her daughter was already working on convincing her to go to Broadway themselves. In one of the custom-written scenes, two of the actors walked through the audience and talked about getting some of the best seats in the house, with some banter about how their friendship brought them there. Off the stage, those actors, Jason Michael and Dave Walton, had a friendship of their own to thank the theater for. Walton is an experienced actor, but Michael said he hadnt been on a stage since eighth grade, prior to rehearsals beginning in May. Michael ended up on the stage as a result of his attempts to get his daughter to sign up for rehearsals. He was finally able to convince her after he told her that if she signed up he would, too. Many of the actors were just as new to the stage as Michael, with their more seasoned peers like Walton mentoring them. This included an age gap ranging from a 4-year-old to actors in their 60s. Theres been a tight-knit community throughout the making of the play, said Matthew Bennett, who played Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast and Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, among other roles offstage. While Bennett admitted that it can sometimes be challenging to work with people so new to the stage, its rewarding to see them grow, especially the children. Theyre like three feet taller every year he sees them, he said. Its amazing that kids can do such a great job, Michael Gallagher said. He came to the play to surprise his niece and nephew, who didnt know he was going to be waiting for them when the show ended. When he was young and attended Sheehan High School, Gallagher performed on the same stage, even in some of the same plays he was watching his niece and nephew act in. The theater keeps itself going, in part, with revenue from the convenience stand selling the pizza Gallagher was eating, as well as cupcakes and other treats, with some of the money also going toward scholarships for high school graduates. For Kingsland-Eckels, its always been a dream to use her experiences to create a place where people can discover themselves. I think the greatest thing is for some, its a place to belong, to know theyre welcome. For some, its not knowing you could possibly have a gift that would be worthwhile to someone else and finding out you do, she said after the show concluded. WALLINGFORD Six members of the fire department helped deliver a baby at a local familys home Saturday. Gretchen Richardson was originally scheduled to give birth to her daughter, Skylar Richardson, on Monday, but complications led to a change of plans. On Saturday morning, Gretchen Richardson began to experience pain. After consulting with her husband, Damon, the couple decided to go to the hospital, but they were unable to leave because the baby was crowning. The couple called 911, and within moments, six members of the fire department responded to the home. They got here so fast, Gretchen Richardson said. They helped deliver the baby in Gretchen and Damons bedroom. Gretchen and Skylar were then taken to the hospital. They were released the next day. There was no medical problem, Gretchen Richardson said. We were fortunate in that regard. Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Alsup said the department is trained in deliveries and occasionally responds to such incidents. All members of the fire department are cross-trained as emergency medical technicians. Theyre well-trained, do their job very well, Alsup said. Gretchen Richardson plans to take Skylar to the fire department in the next few weeks to personally thank those who helped with the birth. Theyre part of her story; theyre part of her baby book, she said. As a licensed social worker, Gretchen Richardson works with first responders frequentl . I respect first responders immensely, she said. The job they have to do is so hard. They see a lot of death and hurt; they dont always get to see the miracle of life. blipiner@record-journal.com 203-317-2444 Twitter: @BryanLipiner Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has added flights along two new nonstop routes from San Antonio to Washington D.C. and the Los Angeles area, the company announced Tuesday. Starting in October, Frontier will fly passengers direct to Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. and Ontario International Airport east of Los Angeles, Frontier Airlines spokesman Richard Oliver said in a phone interview. Introductory fares start at $49 and the flights are scheduled to run four times a week, year-round. David Letterman is preparing to return to television in his first ongoing series since stepping down as the host of CBSs Late Show in 2015. Netflix announced Tuesday that it has picked up a new show from Letterman, the comedian and broadcaster. Each hour-long episode of the series, which will run for six episodes next year, will feature a long-form interview between Mr. Letterman and an individual guest, as well as segments in which he explores the wider world. Mr. Letterman said on Tuesday in a phone interview that ever since he signed off from his Late Show duties, Everybody would come to me and say, What do you want to do? And I kept saying, Well, jeez, I did what I wanted to do. But his new series, which does not yet have a title, feels like exactly what I want at this stage of my life, he added. In his 33-year tenure as a late-night host, Mr. Letterman, 70, pushed the format well beyond the boundaries established by predecessors like Johnny Carson, the genial M.C. of NBCs The Tonight Show. At NBCs Late Night (which he created and hosted from 1982 to 1993) and CBSs Late Show (from 1993 to 2015), Mr. Letterman helped introduce many innovative comedy bits, as well as an acerbic, cockeyed style that still permeates the genre. He also appeared in segments taped outside his studios where he amused himself with explorations of quotidian life and interactions with everyday people. As Mr. Letterman described it, his Netflix series would not much resemble his past network late-night shows. I cant stop talking, so theres no time limit, he said, explaining its format. I can just talk the ears off people, until they call the police. As with many things, Im coming from a position of great ignorance, so the well of questioning is pretty much infinite. Its a perfect fit for me. His current stage of planning, Mr. Letterman said, was to write down a list of people that you know youre not going to be able to talk to, and those are the people that I want to try to get to talk to. He said he had already booked one such guest that Im delighted about, that Im told I cant reveal. Since his departure from Late Show, where he was succeeded by Stephen Colbert, Mr. Letterman has made only a handful of TV appearances. Last year he was a celebrity correspondent on Years of Living Dangerously, a climate-change documentary series on the National Geographic Channel, for which he traveled to India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (He also grew a copious beard.) Citing his experience on Years of Living Dangerously and his friendship with Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, the comedian turned politician, Mr. Letterman said he would like to do work that might affect people and help people that notion to me, as high-minded as that might be, is a great motivator here. (Asked if Mr. Franken was among the guests he was considering, Mr. Letterman said, No, no. Wed have to do so much better than Al Franken as a guest. He wouldnt even make the junior varsity, Im sorry.) Mr. Letterman was also adamant that he would keep his beard for the Netflix series. Between you and me, the beard is to cover up botched plastic surgery, he said. The beard has to stay. It would be hideous. Children would be frightened. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 24-year-old Concord man has been charged with arson after admitting to a police officer that he used a cigarette lighter to start a fire in the East Bay hills last week, authorities said Tuesday. Alameda County prosecutors charged Alfredo Bautista with arson, attempted robbery, assault and vehicle theft in connection with a string of incidents that began last Wednesday morning with road rage and ended with a confession next to a stolen car as a wildland fire burned nearby. Police said Bautista, armed with a rifle, tried to rob two people along Grizzly Peak Boulevard, then followed and repeatedly rammed their vehicle as they drove away, before they crashed into a parked car. Bautista pointed the gun at the couple, then fled the scene, police said. A few hours later, a UC Berkeley police officer was called to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory campus on reports of a car theft in progress. A UC police affidavit released Tuesday said Bautista had broken into a vehicle and started driving away before witnesses stopped him. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged The officer detained Bautista and, during a search, found the cigarette lighter in his pocket. The suspect freely admitted to starting eight separate fires in the area, the affidavit said, including one inside the fenced-off UC Berkeley field station, where researchers study ecology and animal behavior. Bautista matched the description of both the road rage suspect and that of someone seen hopping the fence into the research area earlier in the day, the affidavit said. On Tuesday afternoon, Bautista pleaded not guilty in Alameda County Superior Court, and a pretrial hearing was scheduled for Aug. 15. The fire devoured 20 acres of rough terrain and took five days and more than 150 firefighters to fully contain. The blaze spread from UC property to land in Oaklands jurisdiction and required the assistance of 12 local fire agencies as well as the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. One Cal Fire member suffered minor injuries when he fell 50 feet down a hillside while working to extinguish the flames. A motive in the case has yet to be determined, said Lt. Marc DeCoulode of the UC Police Department. Bautista is not a student, and his connection to the campus is unknown, DeCoulode said. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One of two people accused of killing a 71-year-old film scout and photographer on San Franciscos Twin Peaks last month had been arrested days earlier in the city for allegedly being a felon in possession of a gun, but was released from jail through a pretrial diversion program, records show. City officials are now questioning the release of Lamonte Mims, a 19-year-old former resident of Patterson (Stanislaus County), who was on probation for burglarizing cars on Twin Peaks. Mims was booked Monday and appeared in Superior Court on Tuesday to face charges including murder in the July 16 shooting of the film scout, Edward French, which occurred in the early morning during an apparent robbery attempt. A second suspect, 20-year-old Fantasy Decuir of San Francisco, did not appear in court after being hospitalized for an undisclosed reason, Assistant District Attorney Michael Swart said in court. Defense attorney Randall Knox, who was appointed to represent Mims, and Public Defender Jeff Adachi, who is representing Decuir, declined to comment outside court. Swart said there is video evidence that Decuir pulled the trigger and that Mims, who had been barred from Twin Peaks by a court order, made admissions of robbing French of his belongings to police. Mims was previously arrested July 7 on suspicion of being a felon with a gun, according to court documents, and appeared in court July 11. Investigators reported finding him July 4 in a car on Fitzgerald Avenue, along with another man, a 9mm Ruger pistol and a .38-caliber revolver an alleged violation of his probation. Mims had been arrested in November on suspicion of committing three car break-ins on Twin Peaks and possessing burglary tools. On March 28, records show, he pleaded guilty to burglary and receiving stolen property, both misdemeanors. He was sentenced to three years of probation and a 90-day suspended sentence. The district attorneys office moved to revoke his probation July 11, but a judge ruled he should be released on what is known as assertive case management, a pretrial program that requires routine check-ins. The judge had followed a recommendation by the San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project, a nonprofit group funded by the sheriffs department and the mayors office. In May 2016, San Francisco began experimenting with a computer algorithm that seeks to improve on the system of setting bail based on alleged crimes, taking into consideration whether a defendant might pose a public safety or flight risk. The risk-assessment tool, developed by the Texas-based Laura and John Arnold Foundation, weighs a number of factors including the pending charges, the persons age and rap sheet, and their record of showing up to court. The tool then makes a recommendation for or against release, which is sent to a judge who can follow or ignore the advice. Though District Attorney George Gascon was a proponent of the tool, prosecutors and defense attorneys said they have seen assessments with which they did not agree. Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorneys office, said Tuesday there have been many instances of contention. As it relates to this case along with many other cases, we have a disagreement with how that risk assessment is being calculated, Bastian said. They suggested release with certain conditions, and the judge carried out that recommendation and this defendant was released. The Pretrial Diversion Project and the Arnold Foundation did not immediately return requests for comment Tuesday. In addition to the San Francisco offenses, Mims was on felony probation in San Mateo County. He pleaded no contest to felony car burglary and misdemeanor identity theft on July 21, 2016, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. His arrest at Twin Peaks in November was a violation of Mims probation in San Mateo County, and he returned to court there in January, Wagstaffe said. Mims admitted the probation violation on Jan. 20, Wagstaffe said, and was sentenced to six months in jail. He served three months, with another three months of credit for good behavior. San Francisco police said they linked Decuir and Mims to Frenchs killing while investigating a separate armed robbery that occurred near the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption at Geary and Gough streets on the morning of July 28. A 53-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman had been robbed of their cameras and wallets at gunpoint. In court Tuesday, Swart argued against Judge Donna Hitchens decision to set bail for Mims and Decuir at $5 million, calling it an insult. He asked for $10 million, citing Mims prior convictions and the murder charges against them. Hitchens kept the bail at $5 million. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo On Nov. 7, 2016, I was 270 pages into the manuscript of my 11th novel. I was down to the wire, deadline-wise, but comfortably nearing the final 100 pages of the book, where conflict comes to a head, characters figure out their issues, pages start to fly and deliciously naughty bits occur. I write romance novels, so those bits aren't just naughty. They're also important. I was feeling so comfortable that I took Nov. 8 off to maniacally refresh fivethirtyeight.com and fantasize about writing a romance novel about wonky researchers and the politicians who loved/hated them. I was going to write that book the moment I finished my current one, starring a coldhearted, bitter, unloved Victorian-era duke and the woman he'd once loved, who'd left him and whom he now wished to punish for past sins ... if only he weren't falling in love with her all over again. He was what romance readers would call a classic alpha, molded in the archetype of masculinity brought to readers for centuries, Darcys and Rochesters, dukes and vampire kings and billionaires, each one cold, hard, impenetrable, angry or unfeeling until he has no chance but to feel, because love trumps hate, doesn't it? Like its sisters-in-arms, the mystery and the thriller, the romance holds essential covenants with its readers. Where mysteries promise the reveal of who done it and thrillers promise the triumph of the hero, the romance promises its own heroic vindication: the happily-ever-after. No matter what happens over the course of these books, no matter how low the lows, how devastating the conflict, or how bleak the future might look, the heroes and heroines of these stories will fall in love, and they will live happily ever after. There is ecstasy in that promise. But there is a second covenant romance writers hold with our readers, particularly when it comes to these heroes: the cold duke, the wicked vampire king, the ruthless billionaire. The impenetrable alpha is always heroic. He rarely shows it, and never brags about it, but he gives to charity, takes in orphan children, protects the weak, and uses his power to help those who are less fortunate. That's his business, though; don't ask about it. You and the heroine will find out all about it when it's time for him to, say, march onto floor of Parliament and vote his conscience. Romance readers value this covenant beyond all else. We've seen the story so many times that we know the beats of it. We know the aggressively masculine exterior is just facade - protective coating until our hero meets his match and his cold, icy heart cracks open along with his cold, icy exterior. Until he realizes that he is half a man without the woman he loves, and he'll do anything for her partnership, for her success. He'll suffer her silly family, give up everything for her happiness, sell his company for her dreams. And suddenly, he's not just an alpha male. He's an alpha feminist. Committed to her satisfaction in all forms - socially, intellectually, economically, sexually. He respects her beyond measure. Remember, when Darcy finally seals the deal with Lizzy Bennet, it's not with "I love you," but with the promise that her no means no: "One word from you will silence me on this subject forever." Be still my heart. You can keep the explosive ending in that thriller you're reading; as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing more explosive than seeing an alpha go full feminist. My hero, he was on a path to enlightenment. He'd certainly get there by the end. And then, Nov. 9 came. I opened my manuscript - all 270 hard-won pages - and I had a problem. That hero? The one I'd lovingly crafted in that mold of masculinity that romance readers have loved for centuries? Sure, I had plans for him to see the promise of gender equality, but at that moment, I wanted him gone. This dude wasn't just aggressively masculine. He was toxic. Indeed, I suspected he would have voted for Donald Trump. And I wanted nothing to do with him. Suddenly, there was no promise that he would change. That hero - the one whom so many others in the genre have written for centuries, the one who grows into his awareness that everything is better with equality of partnership - he wasn't enough. I wanted a hero who had that awareness from the start. I wanted an alpha feminist from Page 1. Reader, I rewrote him. Recently, romance has seen magnificent examples of the feminist alpha. These are heroes who though immensely wealthy and powerful, don't wither or scoff at heroines who are powerful in their own right; they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their matches. In Kresley Cole's "Wicked Abyss," for instance, the hero is the thousands-of-years-old Abyssian "Sian" Infernas - a demon with the power to literally create and destroy worlds. His infinite power should make him a matchless hero, but Cole delivers him Lila Barbot, a lost princess with character and purpose that makes her not only his equal, but able to wield power beyond Sian's. What's more, his passion for her stems from her ability to hold that power. Cole is one of the best romance writers out there, and this is perhaps her best work because of the perfect parity between Sian and Lila. As for my rewritten hero, "The Day of the Duchess" was released earlier this summer, and though the icy cold Duke of Haven retains the hallmarks of the archetypal alpha, he uses that power, money, influence toward a singular purpose - making himself a partner worthy of his wife, Seraphina, who is now wealthy and powerful in her own right. Haven's motivations are never muddled. His deep love and abiding respect for his estranged wife - whom he had pushed away with his aggressive masculinity - is never in question. Haven is willing to do anything to raise Sera up, a willingness that delivers its own challenge to their romance, as she is skeptical of this new man with his new passion for equal partnership. Their love was hard won, for them and for me. But there is no doubt in my mind - or in Sera's - that Haven is with her. --- MacLean reviews romance novels monthly for The Washington Post. Her most recent book is "The Day of the Duchess." If you haven't been keeping up with your TV news this summer, things will probably be looking different when you flip it on when school starts. Three stations lost TV talent between May and July. Luckily, they added a lot more in that same time period. Chef Pieter Sypesteyn woke up July 21 to the news that the Facebook rating on his New Orleans-inspired St. Marys Strip restaurant The Cookhouse overnight had gone from an enviable 4.8 out of 5 to a dismal 2.2 thanks to several hundred 1-star reviews within the span of a few minutes. The establishment, consistently rated as one of the top in San Antonio by both diners and Express-News critics, wasnt the only one; Wrigleyville Grill suffered the same fate. Its very obvious its some sort of hack and were not the only ones it happened to, said The Cookhouse owner Pieter Sypesteyn. Having a bad review on a format like that can be really devastating for a small business like ours. RELATED: S.A. spot debuts limited time burger so hot you'll have to sign a waiver before eating it This type of attack is typically committed by automatic computerized systems, often referred to as bots, and does not require hacking into the victims personal accounts. The detractors appear on the screen as people living in Brazil, Cameroon and other far-flung locales, although its unlikely any of the accounts correspond with an actual human being. None left any commentary, and nearly all were on and off of Sypesteyns page between 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. the morning of the 21st. They managed to hack Facebooks review system instead, or so it seems, Trinity University information technology communications coordinator Courtney Cunningham wrote in a message to the Express-News. Bots have gotten more sophisticated recently, able to create fake accounts quickly and get past guards for review legitimacy, how many reviews that can be left and how quickly. READ ALSO: Readers' Choice 2017: The best Mexican dishes to try in San Antonio Facebooks online forums have questions about similar strikes asked by business owners dating back at least two years. The site does have a process for removing unwanted reviews, but theres a catch: only star ratings that include a comment can be reported, and none of the 1-star ratings that deluged The Cookhouse and Wrigleyville did. I can tell you that we have a dedicated team thats tasked with helping to detect and block these kinds of scams, and weve developed several techniques to help detect and block this type of abuse, a Facebook spokesman said in an email to the Express-News. If someone is repeatedly posting something you think is spam, consider unfriending , blocking or reporting that person. For tips on moderating Pages, we encourage you to visit: https://www.facebook.com/business/a/page-moderation-tips . Sypesteyn did petition Facebook for intercession, and hes confident a resolution will eventually be reached. A post about the kerfuffle on his business page yielded more immediate results. Cookhouse friends and family, some unsavory folks overseas have tainted our reputation with 300 1-star reviews in 2 minutes. Facebook customer service has been no help, so if youve been to the restaurant, and enjoyed it, please show us some love so we can get our ratings back up. Lots of love to all of you! the restaurants Facebook post read. The spots rating currently sits at 3.9 thanks to a deluge of 5-star nods, including a contribution form Cunningham. I wanted to help because theyre a great local business close to where I work and live, she said, noting her office regularly takes job candidates to The Cookhouse during interviews. I hate to see these sorts of pointless, random digital attacks. Internet readers are notoriously poor at digging deep so Im afraid theyll only notice the number of 1 star reviews and nothing else. The carnage was even worse at Wrigleyville Grill. The restaurant was swamped with more than 1,600 1-star posts between July 21 and Aug. 1, prompting owners to leave the following plea on their page. These people have never been at Wrigleyville Grill. We know this was done by one of our competitors. Buying one star reviews online and adding them to our site, the restaurants Facebook post read. We tried countless times to contact Facebook to no avail. All we get are the robot responses. We know this fraud was perpetrated with the use of facebook. This abuse took place on facebook. They allowed 600+ reviews to be published in a matter of hours. Where are the red flags on facebooks part. Where is their customer service? This is a slap in the face of small business owners who use facebook and spend hard earned money for advertising. Where is our help? The 1,600-point deficit has been countered with several hundred marks of high praise including a glowing five stars from San Antonio resident Bridget Garza. While there are different means for hungry people to find new restaurants such as Yelp and Urbanspoon, many people opt to check a business Facebook page to get information. Its more convenient for individuals who would rather not have to download an app or visit a separate website, Garza wrote in a message to the Express-News. Ive been to Wrigleyville Grill several times and recommended it by word of mouth to everyone looking for a tasty affordable hot dog. If someone has never been to this restaurant before, one could quickly glance over it with its current 2 star rating. It would be awful for a family business to lose potential customers and eventually be forced to shutter its doors due to a malicious spam attack. Sypesteyn, for his part, was overwhelmed by the rapid and passionate outpouring of praise. We felt a really awesome community response from it that we werent really expecting, Sypesteyn, who was taking the attack in stride, said. For us, service is a really big aspect of what we do. We try really hard to keep up a good reputation on Facebook and Yelp. We try hard to respond to each of our guests. We put a lot into it. But at the end of the day, social media is just one form of communicating with people. We still rely on word of mouth with our local clientele and the proof is in the pudding. Im really not too worried about it. PStephen@express-news.net Twitter: @pjbites Instagram: @pjstephen Albany The list of Democrats considering a challenge to the big bully of New York politics is growing. You know who the bully is. But you may not know any of the men and women preparing to take him on. None are household names. Certainly not Stephanie Miner, the mayor of Syracuse. Not Terry Gipson, former state senator from the Hudson Valley. Not even former "Sex in the City" star Cynthia Nixon. But no matter. The potential challengers realize something about Gov. Andrew Cuomo. They realize the Democrat is vulnerable. I know, I know. Cuomo has more money than Goldman Sachs. He has a name everybody knows. He has the power and trappings of that fancy second-floor office in the Capitol. But Cuomo had all that in 2014, and Zephyr Teachout and Rob Astorino still mounted surprisingly vigorous challenges, from the left and the right, despite paper-thin wallets and near anonymity. Those challenges came before the corruption charges against Cuomo aides, trials still to come. Before the collapse of the New York subway system, for which Cuomo is getting much of the blame. Before the governor schemed to attach the family name to the Tappan Zee Bridge. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged Given enough time, voters will eventually tire of the ego and mismanagement and decide enough is enough. Even downstate voters who can't find Albany on a map will realize the strong man has a paunch. They will look past the flash and demand substance. Will it happen in 2018? More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse I wouldn't bet my house on it. But it just might. Even if Cuomo wins, spare us all the 2020 presidential talk. American voters are not going to replace a loud megalomaniac from Queens with another loud megalomaniac from Queens. The personalities and the accents are too similar. So fuhgeddaboudit! Sorry. That's more Brooklyn than Queens, I know. But I couldn't resist. I've yet to mention the Republicans considering a Cuomo challenge. Astorino again. Richard Hanna, the former congressman from Utica, a staunch anti-Trumper. John DeFrancisco, deputy majority leader in the state Senate. Even crazy Carl Paladino might want a crack at the nomination. Oh God, please don't let Paladino win the nomination. Not again. All of those candidates except Paladino could hammer Cuomo on the failure to clean up state government, as evidenced by those looming corruption trials. They could lash him for the continued inertia of the upstate economy. Wouldn't a competitive race be fun to watch? More important, wouldn't it be good for the health of the state? Even New Yorkers who believe Cuomo has done a fine job should recognize there is nothing good about any governor coasting to re-election on the depth of his campaign war chest. That's not democracy. That's intimidation. But Cuomo's poll numbers have been sinking not quite down to Trumpian levels of subterranean darkness, but into dangerous territory nonetheless. The recent Siena Research Institute poll found that 43 percent of New Yorkers rated the governor's job performance positively. A mere 46 percent 42 percent upstate wanted him re-elected. I don't need poll numbers to know Cuomo is vulnerable. I know it from personal experience. Over four years of penning this column, I've written critically of quite a few politicians. Hillary, Trump and Bernie on the national level, for example, or Kathy Sheehan and Shawn Morse locally. In all those cases and more, the criticism brought a backlash from those who support, and in some cases really seem to love, those politicians the diehards any candidate needs in his corner. (The Trumpheads are passionate, I can tell you, but nobody tops the Feel the Bern crowd for email intensity.) But when I write critically of Cuomo, the response is as quiet as a church on Tuesday. Nobody seems to mind, much less get angry. Oh sure, I might hear from people who are paid to support the governor, the poor souls pressed to write reams of glowing press release copy. But that's different. That passion isn't real. It's transactional. And shallow. If the governor held a Trump-like rally at the local arena, how many voters would show up? That's an honest question because as far as I can tell, few ordinary voters love or even admire Andrew Cuomo. He lacks a passionately devoted constituency that will stick with him through thick and thin. For a politician, that's deadly. When voters aren't emotionally invested, they won't hesitate to change their minds. Tepid support can evaporate overnight. So yes, Cuomo is vulnerable in 2018. And the presidency? That's a pipe dream. cchurchill@timesunion.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MD Anderson Cancer Center retained its status as the best cancer hospital, TIRR Memorial Hermann again ranked as the second best for rehabilitative care and the Menninger Clinic moved up to the third best for psychiatric care. Those are the Houston highlights in U.S. News & World Report's annual survey of the nation's best hospitals, released Tuesday. Houston Methodist dropped out of the Honor Roll it made last year, but ranked as Texas' No. 1 comprehensive hospital for the sixth straight year. It was followed by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor University Medical Center, both in Dallas, as the state's No. 2 and 3 best hospitals, respectively. Houston's Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center was 4th and Memorial Hermann 5th, the reverse of their rankings last year. The survey, the magazine's 28th, compares more than 4,500 hospitals and medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties. It often is criticized as a popularity contest but remains hugely influential, touted by hospitals that fare well and downplayed by those that do not. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged MD Anderson's No. 1 ranking is its 10th in the last 11 years. It never has finished worse than No. 2 in the survey, perennially battling Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. TIRR's No. 2 ranking is its fourth straight, and Menninger, which moved from Kansas to Houston in 2003, moved up from No. 5 last year. Both institutions have ranked in the survey all 28 years. Methodist had eight specialties ranked in the top 50, the most of any hospital in Texas. Overall, it ranked 24th among the nation's hospitals surveyed, just outside the 20 selected for the magazine's Honor Roll. Methodist made the honor roll in 2009 and 2017. St. Luke's and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center both ranked in two specialties. St. Luke's Texas Heart Institute, which has dropped precipitously in recent years, improved from 38 to 24. Atop the Honor Roll, in order, are the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. For all the rankings, including a search function that will bring up any of 5,000 hospitals and the scores they received in each specialty (only the 50 highest scores are ranked), visit the U.S. News & World Report rankings site here. For rankings in Texas, go here. The magazine's pediatric hospital survey came out last month. Texas Children's ranked fourth nationally. On Sunday, eligible citizens of the North African state of Mauritania went to vote on a referendum on two constitutional amendments. One was pretty straightforward: The nation's green flag with a yellow crescent moon and star would have two red stripes added to symbolize the blood spilled in the 1960 independence struggle against France. Voting against the measure would be like spitting on the patriots' graves. It passed overwhelmingly, with 86 percent casting a "yes" vote. But marking "oui" on the ballot also meant approving President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's plan to abolish the country's senate, which he described as "useless and too costly." The senate's authority will be devolved to more pliant regional and religious councils. Mauritanians are almost 100 percent Muslim. Combining the amendments into one vote was a display of authoritarian expedience, critics said. Human rights activists allege that Abdel Aziz, who came to power in a 2008 coup d'etat, is laying the groundwork for a third term in office, which is currently unlawful. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged The senate had, perhaps unsurprisingly, rejected its own abolition in March, prompting Abdel Aziz's push for a referendum. According to Agence-France Presse, the president has speculated at further amendments-by-referendum in the near future. Mauritania is one of the world's poorest countries. The average person there earns just over $1,000 a year. That means that even the flag change is controversial - because it is costly. Every flag - be they stand-alone or on any number of signs, uniforms and so on - will have to be replaced. Abdel Aziz and his predecessor, whom he deposed, for that matter, have abysmal human rights records. Mauritania is infamous for having one of the highest instances of slavery in the world. It hasn't experienced a peaceful transition of power since its independence nearly six decades ago. But Western governments, including the United States, support Mauritania as a partner against terror groups operating in the Sahara. A boycott movement against Sunday's referendum lowered turnout in the capital, Nouakchott, to around 36 percent, though the rest of the sparsely-populated country, clustered mostly in oasis towns in the Sahara, voted in much higher numbers. As he cast his vote on Sunday in the capital, Abdel Aziz scoffed at any opposition. "Those who have followed the news lately realize that they have no impact on the national political scene," he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Johnny Leon Hodum Jr. was supposed to be on his way to a San Marcos trade school Tuesday, paving his way for a better life and an early start on a lifelong career. But the 17-year-old's dreams were cut short after detectives say Joshua Lee Villagomez, 22, stabbed Hodum and left him for dead in Sunday's early morning hours. Hodum's mother, Angela Purselley, told The Courier her son was finally taking charge over his life and making a name for himself after having a rough childhood. "I fought 17 years to keep him out of harm's way, out of trouble and to keep him on the right track," Purselley said. "I was two days late." Authorities found Hodum bleeding to death in the back seat of a car located in the 11400 block of Underwood Street in the Walnut Cove neighborhood. Medics rushed him to Conroe Regional Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery, Purselley said. "He bled so much that his body was shutting down," Purselley said. "He had just enough blood for them to run into emergency surgery at about 3 o'clock Sunday morning in order to replace the blood that he had lost. When he came out of surgery, he was stable. He was good to go. But he had been stabbed in the main vessel underneath his heart." More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged Hodum's injuries were so severe that he fell into a coma after coming out of surgery. Purselley decided to take him off life support Sunday afternoon, around the same time Montgomery County Sheriff's Office detectives were pegging Villagomez as a suspect. The victim's grandmother said she was still in disbelief over her grandson's death. "Someone took his life," Brenda Dequeant said. "How can somebody do somebody like that and walk away? What kind of conscience, what kind of heart do you have?" Villagomez was arrested Monday afternoon on a first-degree felony murder charge, which could land him in prison for the rest of his life if convicted. He's been in and out of the Montgomery County Jail since 2012 for various arrests. He pleaded guilty in 2012 to assaulting a family member and also pleaded guilty in 2014 to threatening to kill another person. He also has two felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine and evading arrest with a vehicle, both from 2015. For Purselley, the death of her son was a needless killing. "I didn't want to ever think I was going to bury one of my kids," Purselley said. "Especially the youngest one." The family is hosting a celebration of life service 5 p.m. Thursday at the Fellowship of Huntsville located at 3895 Texas 30 West in Huntsville. A burglary suspect returned to a San Antonio home, shortly after his attempt was foiled on Tuesday, so he could yell at the homeowner for shooting at him, police say. The burglar, dressed in all black, broke into the home in the 400 block of Millwood Lane around 9:30 a.m. He entered through the garage and then forced his way into the kitchen, where he encountered the homeowner, police said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate (TNS) WASHINGTON An Army court will decide this week whether to review and perhaps reduce the life sentence of a soldier who massacred Afghan civilians and in the process it will judge a controversial malaria drug given to troops that is known to cause hallucinations, anxiety and paranoia. Attorneys for Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the serviceman convicted in 2013 of killing 16 Afghans in the worst U.S. military massacre since Vietnam, are expected to raise the soldier's use of mefloquine, also known by the brand name Lariam, before or during his deployment. The prescription was not considered during the investigation and his legal team will use this as the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals weighs whether Bales is entitled to a new sentencing hearing on two procedural issues _ whether the prosecution failed to disclose evidence related to his case and that the court failed to investigate a military judge's disclosure of protected information Mefloquine is a malaria treatment medication that was commonly used by the U.S. military as a prophylactic in malaria endemic regions, taken once a week by troops. It has been controversial since its commercial introduction in 1989, as it is known to cause neurological and vestibular problems in a small percentage of users. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged Concerns inside the Defense Department began surfacing in 2002 following a string of violent deaths and suicides among soldiers and military family members at Fort Bragg, N.C. In 2004, a federal investigation found that 11 troops taking the medication experienced debilitating vertigo. In 2009, the Defense Department issued a policy listing it as a last-choice preventive, to be used only in areas where strains are resistant to other medications. And in 2012 and 2016, several case studies were published of troops developing brain damage as a result of taking the drug. Shortly after Bales murdered the Afghan civilians on March 11, 2012, retired Army psychiatrist Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie raised questions as to whether Bales had been taking mefloquine during his deployment or on his previous three trips to Iraq. The next month, in April 2012, the Food and Drug Administration received notification from Roche, the maker of the brand-name version of mefloquine, that it had received a report from an anonymous pharmacist that a patient taking the medication had developed homicidal behavior that "led to the homicide killing of 17 Afghans." (Initial reports cited that 17, not 16, villagers had been killed.) "It was reported that the patient was suffering from traumatic brain injury and was administered mefloquine in direct contradiction to U.S. military rules that mefloquine should not be given to soldiers who had suffered traumatic brain injury due to its propensity to cross blood-brain barriers inciting psychotic, homicidal or suicidal behavior," the report stated. Bales had sustained a traumatic brain injury during his last deployment to Iraq in 2009. The FDA disclosed the adverse report in 2013 as Bales was being sentenced, having pleaded guilty in exchange for dropping the death penalty. A lead prosecutor in the case, now-retired Army Lt. Col. Jay Morse, told the Seattle Times last week that the document was not considered to be evidence that Bales used the drug and no other documentation was available on Bales' prescription history. "There is zero evidence that Bales was on mefloquine," Morse said. The Seattle Times first reported Bales' legal team's plan for the sentence review. But to any member of the U.S. military who has deployed, the lack of evidence or record is not surprising. In January 2012, then Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Jonathan Woodson issued a memo noting that some deployed service members were issued mefloquine without it being recorded in their medical records. "In addition, not all individuals have been provided the required mefloquine medication guide and wallet information card. It is incumbent upon us to ensure our service members are appropriately screened and informed about the medicines they are taking and we must accurately record their prescriptions in their medical record," Woodson wrote. The FDA in 2013 placed a black box warning on mefloquine, to alert patients of the drug's potential neurological and psychiatric side effects. Bales attorneys have retained mefloquine researcher and former Army public health physician Dr. Remington Nevin as a subject matter expert on the case. In his clemency request in 2014, Bales cited post-traumatic stress disorder, his brain injury, alcohol and steroid use while deployed, as well as his reliance on sleeping pills and steroids he took as possible contributing factors. He also spoke of guilt, fear and the desire to protect his fellow soldiers all as factors. "I still don't believe that the PTSD, TBI, alcohol, steroids and sleeping pills were the only factors in my actions on March 11, 2012. I believe there is much more," he wrote. ___ (c)2017 McClatchy Washington Bureau Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau at www.mcclatchydc.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In the end, it was the pictures that convinced jurors that Sammantha Allen needed to die. The photos, shown on the second day of Allen's trial, displayed the dirt-caked body of 10-year-old Ame Deal next to the incomprehensibly small box where she spent her final moments, suffocating. The box had once stored Barbie dolls before the collection got too big. Allen and other family members were accused of making the child fold herself into the box as punishment for stealing an ice pop. "The pictures of the victim stayed in our minds," juror Ann Ospeth told the Arizona Republic. "I think the thing for us was the victim and all the things her life entailed." Allen, 29, was convicted of first-degree murder and four counts of child abuse for making her young cousin exercise in the sweltering Arizona heat and then padlocking her in the box, which measured just 31 by 14 by 12 inches. Allen fell asleep and forgot about the girl, who was found dead nearly seven hours later, in the summer of 2011, according to the Associated Press. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged It was the end of Ame's brief, abuse-filled life in a crowded home in south Phoenix, prosecutors argued. She had been the victim of physical abuse, including being kicked in the face and beaten with a wooden paddle. The adults in the house made Ame drink hot sauce, eat dog feces and crush aluminum cans with her bare feet. The night she died, in July 2011, wasn't the first time her relatives had forced her into the plastic storage box to punish her. At the time, the temperature exceeded 100 degrees. Allen was found guilty June 26, according to the Republic. For more than a week, a jury deliberated to determine whether there were mitigating factors that meant she shouldn't be given the death penalty - including her own dysfunctional upbringing and her age. "Lack of remorse was the biggest thing that played into it for us, that we didn't see that from Sammantha throughout the whole process," juror Anne Schaad told CBS affiliate KTVK. On Monday, the jury decided on the death penalty. Cynthia Stoltzmann - Allen's mother and Ame's legal guardian - is serving a 24-year prison sentence for a child abuse conviction. The trial of John Allen, Allen's 29-year-old husband, is scheduled to start Oct. 9, according to the AP. He has pleaded not guilty to the same charges as his wife and also faces the death penalty. David Deal, Ame's father, was convicted of attempted child abuse and sentenced to jail, according to KTVK. In the moments after they discovered Ame dead, the adults in the house concocted a story about a game of hide-and-seek going tragically wrong, the AP reported. But the Allens eventually confessed to padlocking the girl in the box, where she died. Sammantha Allen becomes the third woman on Arizona's death row, and the first since 2011, when Shawna Forde was sentenced to death, according to the Arizona Republic. The AP reported that she was the 55th woman sentenced to death nationwide. Some 2,800 men are facing execution across the country, according to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Arizona has struggled to acquire the drugs used for lethal injection and conducted a review after the botched 2014 execution of Joseph Wood. Companies that manufacture the most common lethal injection drugs have stopped shipping them to death penalty states, distancing themselves from a practice many view as barbaric. Some medical professionals have taken a similar stance, saying their duty is to save lives, not end them. After the jury's verdict was read in Allen's case, she hung her head and wept. Her attorney, John Curry, told reporters: "I just feel sad." But Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery told the Republic that condemning Allen to death was the correct decision: "I want to thank the members of the jury for their time and effort on this case and reaching a difficult but just conclusion for the senseless murder of Ame." A former state trooper convicted and later exonerated for participating in an unlicensed horse race has sued a trio of state investigators who brought the charges against him. Richard "Rick" Rivera, 61, filed a civil rights suit Monday in federal court based on a ruling last year by the First Court of Appeals in Houston that overturned his 2014 conviction for alleged involvement in unlawful betting at an unlicensed horse race at the 70-acre Rancho El Herradero near Crosby. Rivera regained his peace officer's license last month but remains unemployed. Rivera was among six law enforcement officers who were arrested after working security at events at the ranch following a lengthy undercover investigation that culminated in October 2013. "This case is about a dedicated state trooper with a spotless, 32-year service record who was falsely arrested and maliciously prosecuted for alleged conducting a horse race without a license," said Houston attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents Rivera. "And all he did was provide pedestrian traffic control at a rodeo." More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged The lawsuit named as defendants a Texas Ranger and a state Department of Public Safety criminal investigator who conducted the investigation into Rivera and th others working at the Crosby ranch, which did not have a state racing license. Testimony at Rivera's trial by undercover agents and others indicated betting was openly conducted at a race track installed at the ranch in 2013. But there was no evidence that Rivera took a role in conducting the operations or assisted persons who did, according to an opinion last November by the appeal court, which reversed Rivera's conviction and entered an acquittal. DPS officials would not comment, citing their policy of not commenting on pending litigation. During the undercover investigation, a DPS agent posing as a ranch customer said Rivera was present while betting was going on, and recorded his conversation when he asked Rivera if it was okay to bet on a race. Rivera replied it was alright as long as he didn't see it because he could not take legal action on a bet he did not witness, according to the court opinion. Rivera testified his remarks were a warning to the customer that he would enforce state law against gambling if he saw an offense committed. "I was there to enforce all the laws," Rivera testified during his felony trial. "They never gambled in front of me. They never bet in front of me. I was never able to take any action on that." The appeals court ruled that prosecutors did not present any evidence that Rivera had agreed with ranch owners, managers or anyone else to conduct horse racing, concluding that "at most" the trooper was present at a horse race while betting was occurring. Texas law allows gambling on a horse race only at a state-licensed track, and the wager must be between the racetrack and a patron and not between customers themselves. Rivera, contacted at his home in South Texas, stressed he had been given approval to work the extra job at the ranch by his DPS superiors since 2008, adding his primary job was to provide security at events while patrolling on an all-terrain vehicle. He said he occasionally placed ropes along the track to control access so visitors would not be harmed by horses. "It came as a complete surprise when they came and arrested me at my house for illegal racing," said Rivera, who resigned from the agency. "I said for what? What am I racing? I don't even own a horse." Texas Ranger Noe Diaz, one two named defendant's in Rivera's suit, testified at his trial that DPS officers are strictly prohibited from working extra jobs at establishments where gambling occurs. He said Rivera's application to work the off-duty at the ranch described the operation as a Mexican rodeo, and said if the application had listed racetrack it would have raised immediate concerns. The other named defendant is DPS agent Justin Duck. A third officer was sued but not named. Rivera's wife also worked security at the Crosby ranch, and she was charged with the felony offense of impersonating a police officer because she wore a uniform and carried a gun. A Harris County judge granted her deferred adjudication in 2014 to a reduced charge of attempting to impersonate a public official, and she was successfully discharged after two years of community supervision, Harris County court records show. Rivera said his life has been "a real hell" following his arrest and prosecution, causing him to lose his home as well as tarnishing his reputation among his closest peers. "I lost a lot of friends, my integrity, my reputation, I had no job, no money. I couldn't even get an apartment because my status was I was a convicted felon," he said. "When you have that label, you can't do anything." Rivera, an El Paso native who earned a criminal justice degree from the University of Texas El Paso, joined the DPS in 1981. His more than 30 years on the job did not result in any discipline against him until his arrest in 2013. "This was the only department I ever worked for, and I never had any problems," Rivera said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The bloody fingerprint on the safe was perhaps the first sign that Sandra Melgar might be telling the truth about her innocence in the death of her husband of nearly 32 years. The print - spotted by crime scene investigators near the body of Jaime Melgar - was never tested as a latent print or for DNA, and the evidence later disappeared. But the missing evidence joined a string of allegations raised in court documents as Sandra Melgar braces for trial this week on a charge that she killed her husband, then tied herself up to stage a home invasion. The accusations add another dimension to one of the more bizarre murder cases in Houston in recent years. "The defendant has vigorously asserted her innocence, denied having any involvement in her husband's death, is herself a victim of a home invasion, and has demanded a jury trial," according to a discovery motion from the defense filed earlier this year. "Many items were never tested or adequately examined and/or whatever testing or examination which was conducted was itself, incomplete or inadequate." More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged Melgar, now 57, is charged with murder in the death of her husband, 52, in their northwest Harris County home on Dec. 22, 2012, one day before their 32nd wedding anniversary. She was charged a year after the killing. Defense attorney Mac Secrest did not return calls for comment Monday, but court filings accuse investigators of failing to test the bloody print and "many" other pieces of evidence from the crime scene, despite repeated pleas. The court documents suggest the defense will argue that the Harris County Sheriff's Office misplaced evidence instead of testing it after settling on a theory that Sandra Melgar staged the home invasion. Assistant District Attorney Colleen Barnett declined to comment Monday on the case. Questions about evidence The omission of tests on the fingerprint is one of several problems with evidence stemming from the work of former homicide investigator Shawn Carrizal, who lost his job for backdating search warrants, court records show. "What appears to be bloody finger or thumb print was observed by (Crime Scene United) investigators and homicide detectives during the investigation of the handle of a safe that was located in the master bedroom closet where the body of the deceased was found," according to the defense motion. "Inexplicably, no examination was conducted for latent prints or the presence of DNA despite the fact that fingerprint ridges and grooves are easily observed on photographic evidence of the handle." In court filings, lawyers for Melgar say the print was repeatedly brought to the attention of homicide investigators early in the case. In other examples, the defense said evidence gathered by crime scene investigators was found in a filing cabinet two years after Carrizal lost his job. "This evidence had not been properly processed, catalogued and maintained," the defense argued in court records. Carrizal was a veteran of the sheriff's office who left to become an investigator at the Harris County District Attorney's Office. He was forced to resign after backdated search warrants were discovered, court records show. He was rehired by the sheriff's office, but lost his job when officials found out why he had resigned from the DA's office. The Harris County Sheriff's Civil Service Commission sustained his termination, according to court records filed by Melgar's defense counsel. Carrizal did not respond to a request for comment Monday. National spotlight on case On Tuesday, jury selection is scheduled to continue in the murder trial in state District Judge Kelli Johnson's court. Jury selection began Monday, but too many potential jurors out of a panel of 60 people were excluded to seat a jury of 12. Opening statements are scheduled for Wednesday morning. Prosecutors have accused Melgar of trying to cover up the fatal stabbing of her husband by tying herself up in a closet so they could be discovered by friends arriving for a party the next day. Friends arriving to celebrate the anniversary at the home in the 9500 block of Kelsey Meadows Court found the garage door open about 4:30 p.m. Inside, they found Jaime Melgar, tied up, stabbed, and stuffed into a closet. Sandra Melgar was bound in another closet. She told investigators she had been in the bathroom with her husband around 1 a.m., then blacked out. Her arrest more than a year after the slaying, and the allegation that she tied herself up to stage an armed robbery, made national news. The nationally televised news magazine "Dateline" is expected to cover the trial. After the arrest, Jaime Melgar's 89-year-old mother was incredulous. "How could anyone do this?" the elderly woman said in 2014. Ines Melgar said she brought Jaime and his two older brothers to the Texas area from Guatemala when he was just 3 years old. She said Jaime and Sandra were high school sweethearts who raised a daughter together. She said the couple had lived in the house about six years. The couple had a good relationship, Ines Melgar said after Sandra's arrest. The trial could last as long as two weeks. If convicted of murder, Melgar faces the possibility of life in prison. She is free on $50,000 bail. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for parts of Harris County after heavy overnight rains left much of Houston soggy Tuesday morning. Thunderstorms dumped as much as 6 inches of rain on parts of Houston, with the heaviest concentration falling west and north of downtown. Now Playing: Thunderstorms dumped as much as 6 inches of rain on parts of Houston, with the heaviest concentration falling west and north of downtown. Video: Houston Chronicle Hardest hit were the northwest suburbs, including the Katy area, Mission Bend and Copperfield Place, near Jersey Village, some of which got up to 8 inches of rain overnight, said Charles Roeseler, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The deluge prompted the National Weather Service to extend a Flash Flood Warning until 10:15 a.m. for northeastern Fort Bend , eastern Waller and western Harris counties. The original warning expired at 7:30 a.m. The rainfall abated Tuesday morning, allowing some - but not all - flooding to recede, according to the National Weather Service. Dangerously high water will remain throughout the morning in the areas covered by the warning. More for you More showers to hit Houston area overnight, flash flood watch still in effect More showers and thunderstorms are expected to hit the Houston area after 12 p.m., Roeseler said. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, Chambers, Waller and Fort Bend counties through 8 a.m. Wednesday, in anticipation of more rainfall Tuesday afternoon and evening, Roeseler said. The rain expected Tuesday afternoon and evening likely won't match the downpour from overnight, Roeseler said. Yet, flash flooding is likely because of the already saturated soils from this morning's rainfall. Current forecasts predict that the areas most likely to be affected by the second round of showers and storms will be further east than those impacted Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Heavy rain is most likely to hit eastern Harris County, Liberty, Chambers and eastern Montgomery counties, Roeseler said. Houston Community College announced it would delay opening until 10 a.m today due to severe weather. Classes at the University of Houston Downtown will continue as usual, but two major roadways surrounding the campus, Travis and Girard, are closed due to flooding. Also near the University of Houston Downtown, the entrance ramp to Interstate 10 westbound from Louisiana was shut down due to high water. Nearly 4,600 Houston-area households were without power by 6:45 a.m., according to CenterPoint Energy. Many of the customers that lost power were in downtown or Fort Bend County. The Houston Fire Department has reported about two dozen water rescues on Tuesday, many of which were in west Houston, along the Westpark Tollway and I-10. (Complete list of high-water road locations below...) Houston TranStar reports the following roads with high water: By noon Monday, lightning had caused four structure fires, the San Antonio Fire Department made seven water rescues and thousands were without power. A total of 269 requests for service came into the San Antonio Fire Department Monday morning as rain beat down on the city. Of the requests, 24 were for high water investigations, seven water rescues, and 13 structure fires, said Woody Woodward, SAFD spokesman. Four of the structure fires were caused by lightning, he said. Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News San Antonios ozone levels are expected to rise to unhealthy concentrations for sensitive groups on Wednesday, state officials said. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is forecasting high ozone levels for the citys South and Southwest sides because of low winds, abundant sunshine and high background levels of the air pollutant. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Sky lantern releases have garnered plenty of popularity in the United States the last few years. But one San Antonio man is on a mission to ban them for good. And last week he saw some success. Mario Giacalone created a petition in December to put an end to Lantern Fest on South Padre Island. Last week, after hearing from Giacalone and other groups, the City of SPI voted 5 to 1 to deny the event's permit. Lantern Fest would have celebrated its second year in September. Giacalone said the two-day event was expected to draw in a crowd of 3,000 to 4,000 people. While he's the first to admit Lantern Fest and other events like it make for an "amazing, gorgeous sight," Giacalone also told mySA.com the lanterns, especially when they are released by the thousands, are environmentally destructive. "But people don't realize that when those things land, it's not a gorgeous site. They are pretty, but that five to 10 minutes of beauty is not worth the amount of damage," he said. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged READ ALSO: Organizers of South Padre Island parties subject to new rules "Basically people are lighting fires on balloons and letting them loose to fly away," Giacalone said. "A little fact on those balloons is they are designed to burn for 5 to 10 minutes. They can get altitudes up to 1,200 feet and have been known to fly to up to 5 miles away." Giacalone said these ceremonies have led to dead livestock, injured children, wildfires, damage to sea life and more. The devices themselves are made from bamboo rigs, nylon material and chemically treated rice paper. In the weeks leading up to the vote, an 8-week experiment was performed to determine the bio-degradation rates of sky lanterns in the Laguna Madre. The Shoreline Department of SPI found that a fully burnt lantern will take seven weeks to reduce to the bamboo ring and weathered string. "If it doesn't burn out and it hits the ground, which they do by the hundreds, now you have this liquid device soaked in a flammable material," Giacalone said, adding, or if they don't burn out, they can go into the water and pollute the ocean. Even after South Padre Island banned the festival, Giacalone continues to work on spreading the word on sky lantern dangers. He is trying to reach other areas near San Antonio where these events take place. RELATED: Bastrop fire photos: October 2015 "They are trying to hold one outside of Bastrop which hasn't recouped yet from the major fire that almost burned the city down five years ago," he said. Giacalone said that if Texas adopted the international fire code, then sky lanterns would be banned statewide; however, even if adopted, the state could choose to not apply it in full. In the meantime, this San Antonian is taking matters into his own hands. "My goal is to make citizens aware of the dangers of what these things can do, get the state involved and pass an ordinance to ban these devices," Giacalone said. "I'm not done." Visit SPI AGAINST LANTERN FESTIVAL Facebook page for more information. jthorpe@express-news.net @jerilynnthorpe This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Up to 5 inches of rain fell across San Antonio Monday morning, flooding streets and stalling vehicles, but it wasn't enough to move the city out of stage 1 drought restrictions, officials with the San Antonio Water System said. While the bout of rain raised the level of Edward's Aquifer and delayed the need for residents to water their lawns, San Antonio remains in Stage 1 drought restrictions, said SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden. "So, the rain was a drought reliever, but not a drought buster," Hayden said. At the San Antonio International Airport, 3.31 inches of rain fell and 4.04 inches were recorded at the Stinson Municipal Airport, said Aaron Treadway, National Weather Service meteorologist. RELATED: Rescuers save San Antonio drivers trapped in raging waters on West Side Drought 1 water restrictions, including one-day-a-week lawn watering and irrigation system use, began July 14 in San Antonio after Edwards Aquifer dropped below 660 feet. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged The Stage 1 restrictions will be in effect until 15 days after the aquifer is above 660 feet. Hayden said if rain continues to be in the forecast, it is possible the aquifer's level could rise and move the city out of Stage 1. The aquifer has been at an average of 654.4 feet over the last 10 days in Bexar County, according to the Edwards Aquifer website. The aquifer was at 658.6 feet Tuesday morning. Treadway said there is a 40-50 percent chance for rain in the San Antonio-area through Wednesday when it drops to a 30 percent possibility. He said even if it does rain, it will likely be less severe than Monday's rainfall. RELATED: Homes in Leon Valley evacuated due to flooding, fire department urges residents to seek shelter During Stage 1, watering lawns or using irrigation systems will only be allowed before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m., once a week. The final number of residents' home addresses will determine which day of the week they can water their lawns. Here is a breakdown of who can water their lawn and when: Monday: 0-1 Tuesday: 2-3 Wednesday: 4-5 Thursday: 6-7 Friday: 8-9 The days begin and end at midnight and lawns cannot be watered overnight. Handheld hose watering is still allowed any day and any time under the restrictions, officials said. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 The body of a man who was last seen sacrificing his life jacket for his daughter on Canyon Lake was recovered Tuesday after a two-day search, officials with the Comal County Sheriff's Office said. Michael Talley, a 45-year-old from the Houston area, was on a jet ski with his daughter Sunday when the pair made a sharp turn and were flung into the water. Though both had life jackets on, Talley threw his to his daughter, who swam to shore. Ellie Mae loves to kiss and cuddle. She is a friendly sweet thing, just like Felicity, who behaves well with others. Ellie Mae is a Chihuahua terrier mix, and Felicity appears to be a retriever mix. They are two of the 85 dogs and cats available for adoption or foster care from the Kirby-Bexar Animal Facility. Jacy Dingel-Elrod, shelter manager, said the facility has been at maximum capacity for about three weeks. Roughly 20 pets have found new homes since its May opening. It is a matter of me and the staff working really hard to get these animals out to rescue organizations or via adoption, so we can open up space without having to euthanize (the pets), she said. We havent had to euthanize yet. Dingel-Elrod, whos worked at SnipSA, Animal Care Services and Animal Defense League, has extensive experience finding new homes for neglected animals. Placing animals in a safe environment has been always been a passion for her, she said. More for you Texas couple finds ring lost in tornado, immediately gets engaged Its where my heart lies, said Dingel-Elrod, who has five dogs and three cats of her own. If Im able to get as many pets out alive through adoption or rescue organizations then that is what makes me happy. Since the animal facilitys inception, adoption inquiries have come from as far as Florida, she said. Out-of-town applicants would have to pay the $125 fee for dogs or $60 for cats plus transportation costs. Dingel-Elrod credited local and out-of-state rescue organizations for helping transport adopted animals to new homes throughout the country. Those organizations include the San Antonio Humane Society, Animal Defense League, Vun-Veq Rescue, San Antonio ROCKS and the Wyoming Dachshund and Corgi Rescue. There are three Bexar County-employed kennel technicians and 10 volunteers who assist Dingel-Elrod with animal transportation, maintenance, laundry and administrative duties. Air Force Master Sgt. China Werner, a volunteer at the Kirby-Bexar facility for the past two months, said theres a need for more help. The facility is short staffed, said Werner, who is stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Instead of talking to other rescue organizations to get these animals out, Jacy is cleaning the kennels. We need to get these animals out of here because the threat of euthanasia is real. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old to not require adult supervision at the facility. Those who are interested in adopting or fostering and who rent their homes should check with their landlords about rules for pets, Dingel-Elrod said. We dont want to put the pets in another situation that hinders them or returns them back here, she said. We just want to make sure its a positive experience for the family. There is a three-day stray hold on animals that come to the shelter without any identification and a five-day hold on pets with identification. The Kirby-Bexar Animal Facility, 5503 Duffek Drive, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday; closed on Wednesdays. Call 210-214-6919 for more information on adopting, fostering or volunteering. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Fares Sabawi / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Fares Sabawi / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Fares Sabawi / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 5 of 5 San Antonio police say a tip regarding an active homicide investigation led to the discovery of human remains in the brush off Old Corpus Christi Road in south Bexar County Tuesday. Officer Doug Greene, a police spokesperson, said a homicide investigator went out the area shortly after noon while following up on a lead. Isolated showers popping up across San Antonio Tuesday afternoon will likely continue until sunset, according to officials with the National Weather Service. But it shouldn't be anywhere close to a repeat of Monday. With his interference in the 2016 election, Russian President Vladimir Putin hoped he could tilt Washington onto a more pro-Moscow course. But after President Trump signed legislation tightening sanctions on Russia last week, it should be clear that Putins strategy backfired in a big way. Russia wanted sanctions lifted; instead, they have been strengthened. Russia hoped that Trump would splinter the NATO alliance with his threats not to defend members who were not meeting their financial commitments. Instead, allies are increasing their defense spending by $12 billion, the Trump administration continued the deployment of NATO forces to the Baltics and sent an additional 900 troops to Polands border with Russia, and the president has now reaffirmed the United States commitment to Article V of the NATO charter. The Trump administration is considering plans to provide Ukraine with advanced anti-tank weapons, including Javelin missiles, and possibly anti-aircraft weapons a move that is sure to anger Putin. In Warsaw, Trump proposed a natural gas deal with Poland to decrease its energy dependence on Moscow. Administration officials have accused Moscow of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty and arming the Taliban in Afghanistan. The one bright spot for Putin is Syria, where Trump worked with Russia to establish a cease-fire area and canceled a CIA program to train and equip anti-Assad rebels a move sought by Moscow. But Trump also bombed Putins ally Bashar al-Assad and his administration blamed Moscow for Assads use of chemical weapons on innocent civilians. Second, Russias election meddling has boxed Trump in to this aggressive stance for the foreseeable future. Trumps best defense against charges of collusion with Russia is: Look at my policies. Even if Trump wanted to pursue detente with Russia, he cannot do so, because any concessions he makes to Putin will be seen through the prism of the Russia investigation. Third, Russias election meddling turned Democrats into modern-day Cold Warriors. In 2012, after Mitt Romney called Russia our No. 1 geopolitical foe, Democrats cheered Barack Obama for mocking him by saying, The 1980s are calling to ask for their foreign policy back. Today, five years later, Democrats are suddenly channeling their inner Reagan. During the Cold War, when the Kremlin was throwing people into the gulag and threatening the United States with nuclear annihilation, many Democrats opposed the Reagan defense buildup, the Strategic Defense Initiative and aid to anti-Soviet freedom fighters and chafed when Reagan declared the Soviet Union an Evil Empire. But the Kremlin finally crossed a line when it messed with Hillary Clintons campaign. There is still no evidence that Moscows interference had any impact on the results of the election. Long before the first WikiLeaks emails came out, polls showed that 65 percent of Americans had already decided that Clinton was dishonest and 56 percent said she should have been prosecuted. Moreover, the stories that cemented these perceptions in Americans minds had nothing to do with Russia or WikiLeaks and most came out many months before the first WikiLeaks emails were published. It was the New York Times that broke the story that Clinton used a private email server while secretary of state. It was The Post that revealed the Clinton Foundation accepted millions of dollars in donations from foreign governments during the same period. So while Russias interference did not change the outcome of the 2016 election, it certainly has changed U.S. policy since. Relations with Moscow are at an all-time low, and there has not been such bipartisan unity in opposing Russia in decades. Thats actually a pretty good outcome for the United States and her allies but not exactly what Putin had in mind when he decided to meddle in American democracy. Marc Thiessen writes a column for the Washington Post. During the past 20 years, many U.S. newspapers have experimented with online news delivery, with limited success. Its true that consumers are increasingly getting news online, but most turn to news aggregators such as Yahoo News and Google News or social media like Facebook. The problem is most aggregators republish news stories produced by newspaper reporters and ultimately benefit from such content without having to pay much, if at all, for it. Some newspaper publishers get really upset calling Google a digital vampire sucking newspaper blood. With a huge user base that attracts a large amount of ad spending, Google and Facebook have evolved into tech giants with unprecedented global market power. In contrast, most of the 1,300 U.S. daily newspapers operate in narrowly defined geographic areas with average weekday circulation less than 30,000 and dropping. For these newspapers to compete with Google and Facebook online is like a local diner trying to complete with McDonalds. It is against this backdrop that the News Media Alliance is requesting a limited antitrust exemption from Congress so that newspapers can negotiate with Google and Facebook collectively. It is unclear what kind of negotiation they plan to conduct, but this indicates a way of thinking that is long overdue. Part of the problem is self-inflicted. Most newspapers have been actively sharing their content on these big platforms for example, many have hired social media editors to distribute content on Facebook and Twitter for free. As a result, many online readers have stopped visiting newspaper websites, and social media sites have become a major source for news 44 percent of U.S. adults now get news on Facebook. This has affected newspapers advertising revenue. After 20 years of experimenting with digital, newspapers online advertising revenue has remained underwhelming, increasingly only slightly from $3.2 billion in 2007 to $3.5 billion in 2014. In contrast, Google reported $89.6 billion in global revenue and Facebook reported $27.6 billion in 2016. As a reference, total U.S. digital ad spending was $72.5 billion in 2016. So, all evidence suggests that U.S. newspapers have lost this digital battle in terms of audience attention and advertising revenue. The reason they are still here is that their print editions, despite substantial declines, still generate advertising and subscription revenue. The good news is major metro newspapers still reach one-third of the local adults in their markets, and surprisingly, the vast majority of them are print, paying readers. This is good news because newspapers remain the most important institutions providing much-needed local coverage that no Facebook, no Google, no Twitter or Instagram would even consider producing. Tens of thousands of journalists are still doing their jobs covering our communities the best they can, often under stress, sometimes humiliation, when management makes decisions to address problems they didnt create. Now newspapers are trying to redefine their relationships with Facebook and Google through an antitrust exemption. On the one hand, this exemption, even if granted, would not easily change the result of a losing game one thats between a local diner and McDonalds especially if the newspaper industry does not first address some of the unwise, short-sighted decisions made by itself in the name of digital transformation. On the other, it is extremely important that policymakers recognize how market power has shifted toward digital giants that are indeed swallowing journalism (and everything else). In a market that truly encourages competition, consumers have the final say. Just as health-conscious consumers managed to propel McDonalds to offer healthier choices, there is a lot news consumers can do, if, and only if, they care. Iris Chyi is an associate professor of journalism in the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin. He calls it the Democracy Project. If it has enough takers, it will be worthy of the moniker. Joseph Nazaroff a retired local businessman, son of immigrants and former Bexar Democratic Party official during a tumultuous period for the organization is launching a series of free civics classes. Why? A discovery that public schools dont teach civics as they did previously and a desire to instill civic engagement. He has taught GED classes and U.S. citizenship. The first class will happen today at 6:30 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church, 745 Morningview Drive in San Antonio. According to the Education Commission of the States, civics education in Texas public schools occurs in social studies classes. This has struck us as inadequate, given the states paltry election turnouts relative to other states. Those of us of a certain age lets call us mature adults remember a class devoted entirely to civics education. We bemoan the departure from that. The curriculum Nazaroff promises will cover overviews of the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, an explanation of the three branches of government, the functions of local, state and federal governments, the role of political parties and we particularly like these last two the role of the press in a democracy and separating fact from fiction when attempting to get informed. In the regular session of the Legislature this year, the House approved a bill that would have required a civics test to graduate. But it did not emerge from the Senate Interested in getting one of the two-hour civics classes for your organization? Contact Nazaroff at ideasjn@aol.com. MUTARE Central MP, Innocent Gonese Wednesday demanded an investigation into recent threats on the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwas life by a state security officer. The MDC politician also said during parliaments question and answer session that government should also update the nation on who carried out the shock assassination attempt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some Zanu PF top officials at an election campaign rally in Bulawayo June 2018. Gonese went on to demand answers on who recently sent a threatening letter and bullets to Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders to try and frighten them against organising a job stay away. What is government doing in ensuring that the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in Chapter 4, Section 52 (of the Constitution) relating to the right to personal security on the threats which were sent to the ZCTU president Peter Mutasa? Gonese said in a question he directed at Home Affairs Minister Cain Mathema. What steps is the government or executive taking to make sure that what happened to Itai Dzamara who disappeared has not been found, we have ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure who was abducted, beaten up, assaulted and no one up to now has been arrested. Recently we have had the situation where the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has also indicated that she has received some threats. What steps is government taking to ensure that peoples rights are protected, said Gonese. This comes after the Presidents wife was heard in a leaked audio screaming at a security officer she accuses of spying on her movements. Mrs Mnangagwa also says in the audio that whoever was after her life should spare her and go for President Mnangagwa whom she says could be the principal target of the first couples enemies. On his part, Minister Mathema said Wedneday the government will try all it can to get to the bottom of the cases. I can assure the people that wherever there are complaints of such nature wherever they are, we will do the best we can and find out where the people who are claimed to have disappeared are, he said. Kambuzuma MP Willias Madzimure also asked why the nation has been kept in the dark about details of the Bulawayo bombing. However, the minister insisted that investigations were still in progress but Job Sikhala accused the Minister of trying to evade the question. On the issue about Itai Dzamara, the case includes a court judgment. So for the minister to try and evade the question, it is an insult to this House. We are demanding a ministerial statement so that he tells us how far he has gone with the Issue of Itai Dzamara, Sikhala fumed. NewZimbabwe Breaking News via Email VICTORIA, Australia In what will be an Australian-first and a breakthrough in cracking down on crime, the days of criminals getting away with fuel theft may be coming to an end in Victoria. And according to the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), it wont be a moment too soon. The Liberal Party announced last week a tougher stance on crime with a proposal to treat petrol theft, where criminal intent can be established, as a criminal matter and not a civil matter. AACS CEO Jeff Rogut said the strong position is very welcome and represents a new line in the sand in dealing with the spiraling incidences of crime against convenience stores. We have always supported the hard work of Victoria Police officers who, like the rest of the community, recognize the increasing incidence of crimes against convenience stores. But to date, Victoria Police has not had the support and resources needed from the Victorian Government and the judiciary, Rogut said. He continued that the policy outlined by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Shadow Police Minister Ed O'Donohue seeks to address this dangerous oversight and is welcomed by the convenience sector Only through a zero-tolerance approach can we hope to create an environment in which crimes against convenience store owners and staff are genuinely deterred. We commend the Oppositions intention to take a tougher stand on petrol theft, Rogut said. The measures announced by the Opposition include plans to establish a Victoria Police centrally administered fuel drive-off online reporting system, the introduction of a specific offence code to the Crimes Act 1958 detailing fuel drive-off, and an improved information sharing system between Victoria Police and VicRoads to quickly identify stolen number plates. According to the AACS State of the Industry Report, petrol theft costs the convenience industry upwards of $66 million nationally. On average, each service station in Australia loses around $186 per week as a result of this crime. In Victoria, the AACS has publicly urged the Police Minister to engage with the convenience industry to understand the reality of the trauma inflicted on people when petrol theft and other robberies occur, but to no avail. Aside from petrol, tobacco is another regular target of violent robberies committed against convenience stores, due to excessive excise taxes that make the price of legal tobacco in Australia among the most expensive in the world. The AACS has called for a moratorium on excise tax increases on legal tobacco from the Australian government, and has urged a coordinated response by authorities in tackling the huge illicit tobacco market plaguing communities nationwide. The community has been horrified by recent crimes against convenience retailers and these cannot continue to go unchecked, Rogut said, adding, The Oppositions proposal is a step in the right direction towards zero tolerance and we commend Guy and ODonohue on the hard line theyre taking on crime. Last years Victorian government report into fuel drive-offs was met with disappointment by AACS members, with the recommendations glossing over widespread calls for a proper deterrent for repeat offenders. The industry was presented a series of empty recommendations that either ignored the small business perspective, or simply reinforced actions the industry had already independently taken, Rogut said. Our retailers are at the forefront of this issue, they see it happening each week, they pay the financial cost and at times the human cost, all while trying to operate their small businesses. Urgent political and judicial support is needed so Victoria Police can be empowered to truly crack down on crime. Power-to-liquid: 200 liters of fuel from solar power and the air's carbon dioxide (Nanowerk News) Production of liquid fuels from regenerative electric power is a major component of the energy turnaround. The first 200 l of synthetic fuel have now been produced from solar energy and the air's carbon dioxide by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis under the SOLETAIR project. Here, INERATEC, a spinoff of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), cooperates with Finnish partners. The mobile chemical pilot plant that can be used decentrally produces gasoline, diesel, and kerosene from regenerative hydrogen and carbon dioxide. It is so compact that it fits into a shipping container. The compact pilot plant used in the SOLETAIR project is designed for decentralized production, fits into a shipping container, and can be extended modularly. (Image: VTT) "Success of the energy transition needs innovations generated by research extending from fundamentals to applications," says Professor Thomas Hirth, KIT Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs. "The success of SOLETAIR reflects the importance of international research networks that tackle global challenges and develop applicable solutions." The pilot plant has a production capacity of up to 80 l of gasoline per day. In the first campaign now completed, about 200 l of fuel were produced in several phases to study the optimum synthesis process, possibilities of using the heat produced, and product properties. The compact plant is designed for decentralized production, fits into a shipping container, and can be extended modularly. In June 2017, the plant network was opened officially by Jamie Hyneman. Hyneman is honorary doctor of the project partner LUT and hosts the "MythBusters" science television series. The special effects expert is entrepreneur, innovator, and patent holder himself. His program has contributed significantly to making science and engineering more popular. The US American develops safety technologies for industry and the public space. When opening the SOLETAIR pilot plant, he impressively demonstrated the improved combustion and ignition properties of the synthetic fuel produced compared to conventional fuel. INERATEC GmbH is a spinoff of KIT and develops, builds, and commercializes compact chemical facilities for gas-to-X and power-to-X applications. The spinoff is supported under the EXIST research transfer program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Last week, INERATEC won the third prize in the category of "Emission Reduction, Processing, and Separation" in the Baden-Wurttemberg 2017 competition for the Environmental Technology Award. Under the national research alliances of "Energy Lab 2.0" and "Neo-Carbon Energy," KIT, INERATEC, and VTT intensify their cooperation for the investigation and development of innovative energy systems based on renewable energy sources, novel storage technologies, and the conversion of renewable power into chemical energy carriers. Together with other project partners, KIT and INERATEC also study decentralized production of high-quality synthetic fuel from air and renewable power under the "Power-to-X" Kopernikus project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. "The energiewende will only be a success, if we pool our know-how and jointly strengthen the competencies of European industry in the energy sector," VTT scientist and SOLETAIR project head Dr. Pekka Simell says. "In this respect, innovative startups, such as INERATEC, play a key role," Professor Roland Dittmeyer, Head of KIT's Institute of Micro Process Engineering, adds. (Natural News) We have entered a truly dangerous period in human history in which not only have we lost touch with traditional, natural treatments for infection, but improper and excessive use of antibiotics has led to drug-resistant superbugs. Back in 2012, Dr. Margaret Chan, then director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), noted that we are moving toward a post-antibiotic era in which things as common as strep throat or a childs scratched knee could once again kill. Then, just last year, Reuters reported that for the first time in the U.S., a patient had been diagnosed with an infection resistant to a last-resort antibiotic. At the time, health officials expressed grave concern that the superbug could pose serious danger for routine infections. [Related: Stay abreast of the latest information at Superbugs.news.] As Dr. Chan noted, in terms of new antibiotics, the pipeline is virtually dry. The cupboard is nearly bare. It is therefore becoming increasingly important that we familiarize ourselves with the ancient knowledge of natural antibiotics that have all but been forgotten by modern medicine. Rebecca Tarrant, writing for Ask a Prepper, provides a list of 12 of the most powerful antibiotics known to man and not a single one was created in a laboratory. [Related: Learn more about natural healing at Nutrients.news.] Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis): This plant, native to North America, is a traditional treatment for skin infections resulting from scrapes and cuts. The leaf extract is so powerful that it can treat not only minor abrasions, but even superbugs like MRSA methicillin resistant Stapholococcus aureus. Garlic (Allium sativum): While many of us are very familiar with garlics delicious cooking properties, its powerful medicinal powers are less well known. Garlic is a potent antibacterial when crushed and exposed to air, and laboratory studies have found it as effective as penicillin at treating many infections, though studies on its efficacy against superbug infections is limited. [Related: Discover the healing power of garlic at NaturalPedia.com.] Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Ginger is a powerful anti-fungal, anti-viral and antibacterial, and is traditionally used to treat coughs and colds. It has also shown promise in the fight against more serious infections like pneumonia and even superbugs. Indigo (Baptisia sp.): The Indigo plant has proven to be an effective treatment against typhoid. While we do not see many cases of this disease in the U.S., it is interesting to note that typhoid and food-borne salmonella which does affect about 1 million people each year are very similar bacteria. It is therefore logical to assume that indigo would also be an effective treatment for cases of salmonella poisoning. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): This powerful anti-inflammatory is an excellent treatment for allergies and asthma. A word of warning, though: Pregnant women should not consume licorice, and it should be avoided by those with high blood pressure. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): This well-known spice is an effective treatment for gingivitis as well as other irritations and infections of the mouth. Honey: Honey is a powerful antibacterial that also speeds up recovery from burns. It can also prevent infection and promote healing. Turmeric (Curcuma longa): The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of turmeric make it an effective healer even of wounds that are slow to heal like diabetic wounds and pressure ulcers. It is most effective when used as an ointment. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra): Elderberry boosts immunity, making the body better able to fight off any infection and helping to avoid the necessity for antibiotics. Echinacea (Echinacea purpura): Studies have found that Echinacea is at least as effective as pharmaceutical anti-viral drugs in the treatment of the common flu. Patients who take Echinacea have been found to suffer fewer complications and side effects than those treated with anti-virals. Cumin (Cuminum cyminum): This well-known Middle Eastern spice is a powerful antimicrobial, and can treat mouth infections that even antibiotics are useless against. It is likely, therefore, that it would be effective against superbugs. Cranberries: Cranberries contain anti-inflammatory properties which mean they can both prevent and treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). By preventing bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder, cranberries also help to prevent recurring bladder infections. Sources include: AskAPrepper.com Reuters.com WHO.int (Natural News) A professor of biology at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, has filed a $3.8 million civil claim against the school after being forced to go into hiding following a slew of anti-white terrorism on campus. Prof. Bret Weinstein, along with his wife, Heather Heying, a professor of anthropology, say they were verbally berated and subjected to a hostile work environment for their refusal to bow down to the demands of Black Lives Matter racists. Back in the spring, angry mobs of black students and their enablers began marching around Evergreen provoking and making racist demands of all white students and faculty members. They even went so far as to demand that all whites observe the so-called Day of Absence, a day at Evergreen in which all whites were expected to stay home and not attend classes for the purpose of explor[ing] issues of race, equity, allyship [sic], inclusion and privilege. Prof. Weinstein wrote an email decrying these insane demands, noting that ones right to speak or be present on campus must never be based on skin color. Such an aggressive proposal by Black Lives Matter activists to silence and punish whites for their alleged acts of oppression, he added, represent an act of oppression in and of itself. The only voice of reason on Evergreens far gone communist campus, Prof. Weinstein was chided by many of his fellow faculty members and students rather than praised for his taking a stand against anti-white racism and domestic terrorism by Black Lives Matter lunatics. And in the months to follow, Prof. Weinstein endured a barrage of discriminatory treatment and threats that he says forced him to seek sanctuary away from Evergreen. Through a series of decisions made at the highest levels, including to officially support a day of racial segregation, the College has refused to protect its employees from repeated provocative and corrosive verbal and written hostility based on race, as well as threats of physical violence, reads Weinsteins claim against the school. Racist Jews target Weinstein, who is also a Jew, for refusing to engage in anti-white hatred Black Lives Matter activists havent been the only racists to target Weinstein, according to reports. A Jewish group on Evergreens campus reportedly penned its own correspondence, entitled A Letter to the campus and Bret Weinstein from some Jews bent on the destruction of White Supremacy, that derides Prof. Weinstein for refusing to be bullied over the color of his skin. As received by Campus Reform, the letter states: We want to talk about the ways that Weinstein is positioning himself as a Jew to invalidate the claims of racism being raised against him. Bret Weinstein is wrong, he has put you in danger, and we will not allow him to hide behind our histories in order to dodge responsibility for his abhorrent and reprehensible words and actions. The letter went on to demand that all police and law enforcement officers be immediately removed from campus, and that Prof. Weinstein be fired. It concluded with the statement, BLACK LIVES MATTER!!! All of this and more is what ultimately brought Prof. Weinstein and his wife to the breaking point. Such a hostile campus environment is hardly conducive for learning, and in more ways than one represents a threat to both the livelihoods and safety of white professors and white students. According to Prof. Weinsteins attorney, Evergreen has failed to set and enforce necessary boundaries in the workplace on campus, selectively has chosen not to enforce its student Code of Conduct, and sent the unmistakable message that the school will tolerate (and even endorse) egregious violations (and even crimes) purportedly to advance racial social goals, diminishing the collegiate experience for all, and fostering a racially hostile work and retaliatory environment for faculty and staff. Sources for this article include: DailyCaller.com Chronicle.com NaturalNews.com CampusReform.org (Natural News) A recent sewage dumping incident at Niagara Falls has prompted lawmakers to call for a criminal investigation into the actions of the Niagara Falls Water Board. On the afternoon of Saturday, July 29, Niagara Falls State Park was full of summer visitors when a foul smell overtook the air and a black discharge clouded the Niagara River, engulfing the shoreline spanning from the Rainbow Bridge to the boat dock for the Maid of the Mist. Onlookers feared an oil leak and likened the sight to something out of a science fiction movie. Many tourists expressed shock and disgust at the foul odor and unattractive sight of this black plume oozing through the river in an incident that could have a negative impact on future tourism in the area. Food stand operators reported significant business losses as the foul odor created an unappetizing eating environment. The Niagara Falls Waste Water Treatment Plant was found to be the source of the inky blob, which expanded for several hours as they emptied a sediment settling basin while carrying out routine maintenance. They claimed that they had the appropriate permits to release the sewage and sediment in the water and that the discharges carbon residue and accumulated solids fell within permitted limits. The Water Board issued a public apology to tourists and residents, but that wasnt enough to stop officials from looking into the matter. Gov. Cuomo orders investigation New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered an investigation into the dumping, and the states Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has stated that the dumping was a violation of clean water regulations. Cuomo said that criminal action is possible because of the potentially serious nature of the situation. State officials said that the release of carbon filter backwash into rivers is only allowed if it does not otherwise violate the states water quality standards. Because these standards do not allow discharge that changes the Niagara Rivers appearance or odor, it appears to be a violation. DEC Spokesperson Sean Mahar said: The violation of the states water quality standards are subject to fines, but this investigation is very much ongoing right now so its hard to say exactly what any enforcement actions could be levied against the water treatment board. Representative Brian Higgins has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate whether the action was a violation of the Clean Water Act or any other federal rules. He said that the discharge was not only upsetting because of its impact on tourism but because of the significant and unique ecosystem found in the Niagara Gorge. He pointed out that preserving these vital resources was one of the most crucial responsibilities of the agency. The results of tests performed on water samples taken by treatment plant operators have not yet been released. International incident It has now become an international incident, with the Niagara Falls Provincial Parliament in Canada asking the Ontario government to be part of the investigation. Officials from the Niagara Falls Water Board have already met with the Environmental Conservation Department, and now the Niagara County legislature is planning a special meeting related to four resolutions urging Niagara Falls Water Board leaders to resign and asking for a criminal investigation to be launched. It is believed that the Legislature will have enough votes to pass all of the resolutions. Sources include: BuffaloNews.com News.WBFO.org CBC.ca WXXINews.org (Natural News) In yet another sign that President Donald J. Trump picked just the right person for the right job at the right time, Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt criticized the department for failing big time to protect the environment following the disastrous Gold King Mine debacle in August 2015. Commemorating the two-year anniversary of the disaster from the site where the contamination occurred, Pruitt declared, EPA should be held to the same standard as those we regulate. The previous administration failed those who counted on them to protect the environment. A work crew at the site contracting for the EPA unleashed 3-4 million gallons of highly toxic water containing heavy metals during an excavation project gone wrong. The toxic water spewed into a nearby creek and eventually contaminated waterways in three states and the Navajo Nation. (Related: Much of the EPAs Gold King Mine investigation remains secret.) In the process, the spill turned the Animas and San Juan rivers a bright orange color, harming farmers who were dependent on the waters to irrigate crops. Also, the spill led to many questions about the EPAs role and its overall response to an environmental disaster it created. In a press release regarding Pruitts visit, the EPA noted that in January, before Trump took office, the prior agency administration denied 79 administrative claims that were filed by ranchers, farmers, homeowners, businesses, employees and state and local governments, in addition to other concerned parties harmed by the spill. Despite the release of 3 million gallons of contaminated water tainted with arsenic, lead and other heavy metals, which turned the Animas River mustard-yellow, and moved along the San Juan River through Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and American Indian land to Lake Powell in Utah, the EPA Administrator at the time, Gina McCarthy, nor President Obama nor Vice President Biden, ever visited the site of the spill itself, the press release said, as reported by Breitbart News. In July Pruitt said the agency would reconsider claims that had been denied by the Obama administration. When I was appointed EPA Administrator by President Trump, I committed to review the Gold King Mine decision made by the previous Administration. A new review is paramount to ensure that those who have, in fact, suffered losses have a fair opportunity to have their claims heard, Pruitt said. By visiting the site, Pruitt fulfilled a pledge he made during his confirmation hearing to both U.S. senators from Colorado: Republican Cory Gardner, Democrat Michael Bennet. Gov. John Hickenlooper joined Pruitt during his site tour. The disaster occurred Aug. 5, 2015. Since then the EPA has spent more than $29 million responding to and addressing concerns that stem from the accident. Currently, there are about 144 claims pending, the press release stated. Following Pruitts visit, EPA political appointees took part in a town hall event in Durango, Colorado, to discuss the spill with concerned residents. We want to listen and learn directly from the community, said Ken Wagner, a senior advisor to Pruitt for regional and state affairs. The local community is ground zero in environmental disasters, and we want to hear their concerns and do our best to coordinate and provide assistance. In an interview with the Denver Post, Pruitt noted the hypocrisy of the Obama EPAs anti-fossil fuel agenda. I think its safe to say if this had been any other company, a BP-type of a situation, there would have been an investigation that would ensue by the agency and there would have been accountability, Pruitt said. That didnt take place here. The federal government should not be able to hide behind sovereign immunity when the facts dont meet the protections, he added. In my estimation, the EPA walked away from those folks and left them in a position of incurring damages without taking accountability. Before becoming EPA administrator, Pruitt was Oklahomas attorney general, where he sued the agency on some occasions, mostly over onerous and expensive rules based on bogus global warming claims. J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel. Sources include: EPA.gov Breitbart.com Twisted.news DenverPost.com (Natural News) Streams and rivers in Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and other parts of the central Great Plains are drying up as farmers continue to pump groundwater to irrigate their crops, a new study found. Though climate change often gets blamed for turning creeks into dry riverbeds, the water needed to irrigate one sixth of the worlds grain production comes from the High Plains Aquifer, also known as the Ogallala Aquifer. Irrigation of crops accounts for 90 percent of the human global use of water. Groundwater from the High Plains Aquifer is the single greatest source of groundwater in North America and the lifeblood of Great Plains agriculture. As farmers increasingly pump more water, nearby creeks and riverbeds are vanishing at a rapid pace. As their habitat diminishes, native fish species are disappearing too. What were losing are the fishes that require habitat found only in the rivers and large streams of the region, and replacing them with those that can survive in the small streams that are left, said Fausch, a Colorado State University (CSU) professor. We are losing whole populations of species from rivers in that region because theres no habitat for them. Since the first surveys were done in the 1940s, seven of the 16 native fish species including small minnows, suckers, and catfish that were once found in the Arikaree River have disappeared. Nonetheless, these fish are not among those that are currently federally endangered or threatened. Therefore, little regulatory authority is in place to preserve the habitats of these native fish. A finite resource of water that is not being recharged The CSU researchers warned that these habitats and the fish populations will continue to shrink if pumping practices are not modified. According to Professor Fausch, about 350 miles of streams disappeared in eastern Colorado, southwest Nebraska, and northwest Kansas in a 60-year span. If nothing changes, the teams models predicted another 180 miles could vanish by 2060. Fausch noted their results are sobering, adding that if we keep pumping groundwater to feed a growing human population of more than 7 billion people, the Arikaree River in eastern Colorado, which used to flow about 70 miles, will dry up to about one-half mile by 2045. As more water is being pumped out every year, only a small amount flows back into the aquifer from rain and snow. As reported by Science Daily, nearly as much water as what exists in Lake Erie, or about 100 trillion gallons, has been extracted from the aquifer since the 1950s and only a small amount has trickled back into the reservoir. A grim future for the generations to come If we dont tackle the problem and keep pumping groundwater at this pace, farmers are not only thoughtlessly jeopardizing the streams and fish, but also the future of the next generation of farmers. Without the rivers and streams, these farmers will be unable to continue to work on the land. They will have no water for their cattle and the cottonwoods that provide shade, Fausch explained. They also lose the grass that grows in the riparian zone, which is critical forage for cattle in summer. Some of thats your livelihood, but its also the place you go for picnics, and to hunt deer and turkeys. If you lose the river, you lose a major feature of what that landscape is, he added. While the future looks grim, Fausch said that there are some signs of progress. Meters are being installed on wells to ensure that farmers pump only the amount of water allowed under their permits. Furthermore, farmers are looking for ways to optimize their water usage with new technology to slow down the declining groundwater levels. When we lose these rivers, we will lose them for our lifetime, our childrens lifetime, and our grandchildrens lifetime, Fausch noted. Stay informed about the threats our environment is facing today at Environ.news. Sources include: Sciencedaily.com DX.DOI.org Actress Cynthia Nixon has plenty of criticism for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, though she's not saying whether she'll run against him next year. Appearing on the "Today" show Tuesday, the "Sex and the City" star wouldn't answer when asked whether she plans to mount a campaign, but said she has heard "rumors" about her potential challenge to Cuomo in next year's Democratic primary. "I think there are a lot of people who would like me to run, and I think for a variety of reasons," she said. "But I think the No. 1 is education. We've got a real problem on our hands in New York state." She went on to criticize Cuomo's handling of public education, saying the gap between rich and poor schools has never been greater. Nixon has been active in New York City politics, particularly in education advocacy, and has supported Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio. Her name emerged as a potential candidate for governor last week after liberal activists said she would make a good candidate. She noted on "Today" that she has three children who have attended New York public schools. Cuomo has been mentioned as a possible White House candidate in 2020, though he says he's planning to seek a third term in 2018. His office declined to comment Tuesday when asked about Nixon's possible candidacy. The 5-year-old boy from San Diego who was found in chains, beaten and starved by his aunt and uncle in Mexico may soon be reunited with his father. The father, Pascual Castro, was deported for the tenth time on Tuesday. He departed Tijuana for Mexico City on Friday morning to retrieve his son. The boy, Anthony, has a Mexican and U.S. dual citizenship and has been the center of an international custody battle since he was discovered by Mexican authorities in late June. Castro said he had left his son with his sister and brother-in-law in Mexico and was sending over $500 a month while he was working in the U.S. Anthony's mother, Dawn Sanderson, lost custody of him when he was 11-months old. Castro was notified in June that his son was found in chains and abused at his familys house outside Mexico City, but said he was unable to return to Mexico to care for him because of his undocumented status in the U.S. On Tuesday, Castro was intercepted by Border Patrol in San Diego County during a fugitive operation and deported. Now he is back in Mexico, attempting contact with his son. "I hope to see him very soon," said Castro in Spanish to Telemundo 20. "I feel pure happiness right now. The important thing is the child." The National System for Integral Family Development (DIF) said Pascual will have to prove he can care for Anthony. "I feel satisfied I can do that," said Pascual. "I already fought it and on two previous occasions, I already showed that I can do that." Castros son would require comprehensive care if Castro manages to gain custody, DIF said in a press conference. Sanderson, who lives in Escondido, said she is also seeking custody. "Im going to do what I have to do without stopping until the day I have him with me," Sanderson told NBC News in Spanish. Castros sister and brother-in-law face charges of child abuse, according to Mexican authorities. What to Know Jarrod Anthony Samra, 23, was arrested during the Bryant fire last week Samra was a former member of the fire explorers program The largest of the eight fires was the July 14 Bridge 2 fire in Highland, which scorched 460 acres Authorities announced arson-related charges Monday in connection with a series of wildfires in San Bernardino County, including one that injured a firefighter. Jarrod Anthony Samra, a 23-year-old man from Yucaipa and former member of the San Manuel Fire Departments Fire Explorer program, was arrested last week in a wildfire in the hills above Mentone. His vehicle was found near the Bryant fire, which burned about 300 acres, according to authorities. A firefighter was injured in one of the fires, which began more than a month ago. Samra faces eight counts of arson for eight different fires in the county, District Attorney Mike Ramos said. He was charged with one count of arson causing great bodily injury. "The history of fires in our county and the destruction they have caused to human life and property is absolutely tragic," said Ramos. "Thankfully, through the investigative work of our law enforcement and public safety partners, we were able to stop this individual and prevent any future destruction or potential loss of life." Most of the fires started along roads and at similar times. Evidence also was found at each scene that connected the fires to Samra, according to authorities. Samra was a former member of the fire explorers program. Samra aged out of the program, which introduces youth members to firefighting, when he turned 21. He faces up to 19 years in prison, if convicted. Investigators were preparing arrest warrants for Samra when the Bryant 2 fire broke out last week. After information about the suspect was dispatched to law enforcement agencies, deputies located his vehicle Thursday near the Bryant 2 fire, burning near Highway 38, Ramos said. The largest of the eight fires was the July 14 Bridge 2 fire in Highland, which scorched 460 acres. Samra was expected to be arraigned Monday afternoon. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney. As of Sunday, CAL FIRE reported nearly 4,000 fires in California so far this year. Those fires scorched 220,623 acres. During that same period last year, CAL FIRE reported 3,027 fires that burned 140,095 acres. California's five-year average through mid-July is 3,176 fires and more than 90,000 acres of scorched land. A report released earlier this year provided a wildfire outlook for the hot, dry summer months in California. The National Interagency Fire Center report said wildfire risk will be high in inland Southern California in July and in parts of Northern California during August and September. The report noted what could be a delayed start to the wildfire season in some locations. The state is coming off one of its wettest winters in years, which left hillsides covered in grass and other vegetation. That grass will dry out this summer and turn into tinder, providing fuel for rapidly spreading fires often pushed by strong winds. An increase in the number of dead and dying trees also can exacerbate the wildfire threat, CAL FIRE officials said. An estimated 102 million trees have died in California due to the state's five-year dry spell and bark beetle infestation. The agency has been urging residents to take prevention steps, such as maintaining 100 feet of defensible space around homes and other structures. Defensible space provides a natural buffer between buildings and grass, trees, bushes, shrubs and other vegetation that can burn. Less than 24 hours after arresting a man in connection with two violent and "unprovoked" attacks on BART, the transportation agency on Monday was alerted to a slew of others crimes across its system. At least nine incidents, which ranged from bike thefts to laptops being stolen, were reported Monday night at stations across the Bay Area, according to the BART police log. A complete breakdown of the reported crimes is listed below. Before the crimes were committed, BART police arrested Mario Washington for his suspected role in two separate attacks that left two men with non-life threatening injuries, according to police. Washington hit a man with bolt cutters in one attack and punched another man in the face in the second attack. BART indicated that its police presence will remain heightened in response to the recent crimes. Summary of Monday Crimes: Report No. 1: Grand Theft MacArthur Station A female victim reported that her cell phone was stolen by a juvenile male who fled from the train with three other young men, according to BART police. The victim was not hurt, and her phone was eventually found. Two of the boys were detained while two escaped. The two detained boys were eventually handed over to their parents. Report No. 2: Auto Theft Pittsburg Station A victim reported that their motor scooter was heisted from the area where motorcycles are parked, according to BART police. Report No. 3: Robbery Montgomery Station A male victim reported that two juvenile males held him down on a train and stole his laptop, according to BART police. The suspects escaped from the train and have not been found. Report No. 4: Auto Burglary Coliseum Station A male victim reported that someone managed to get into his car, open the hood and steal the car's battery, according to police. Report No. 5: Grand Theft San Leandro Station A male victim reported that a juvenile suspect snatched his laptop after he fell asleep on a train, according to BART police. The suspect, who was with a group of about five juveniles, fled from the train at the Coliseum Station. The suspect and the group have not been found. The man's laptop was also not recovered. He was not injured. Report No. 6: Petty Theft Pleasant Hill Station Three victims reported that their bikes were stolen from bike racks, according to BART police. The three bikes were securely locked when they were taken. Report No. 7: Petty Theft South Hayward Station A victim reported that he left his bike on the platform before hopping on a train, according to BART police. When he returned, the bike was nowhere to be seen. Report No. 8: Petty Theft West Oakland Station A victim reported that their bike was stolen from bike racks, according to BART police. The bike was securely locked when it was taken. Report No. 9: Auto Theft El Cerrito Plaza Station A 1998 Honda Accord was taken from the station's parking lot, according to BART police. An angry voter told Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., at a town hall meeting on Monday that he hopes the congressman "dies in pain," NBC News reported. The voter, an elderly man who was not identified, was one of 400 residents who attended the town hall in Chico, California, many of them protesting the California Republican's support of a House GOP plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. "I think that your vote to throw 22 million people off of health is reprehensible and in the service of the rich," the resident told LaMalfa. "I hope you suffer the same painful fate as those millions that you have voted to remove health care from." But LaMalfa defended his vote, saying that "people across the board are being hurt by this," and that "we pray for our constituents, too, sir," according to The Los Angeles Times. A Google engineer was fired Monday after igniting a firestorm of controversy over the weekend by writing and releasing an internal memo criticizing the tech company's diversity programs, according to multiple reports. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a memo to employees that the engineer who penned the memo violated the company's code of conduct, according to a Redcode report, which was also published to CNBC. Bloomberg first reported the name of the fired engineer, who confirmed his dismissal in an email to the news agency. NBC News has not independently confirmed the report. The 10-page anti-diversity memo, first reported by Motherboard and published in full by Gizmodo Saturday, argued that men are biologically better fit to work in the tech industry and be leaders in the workplace. It also characterized Google's gender equality efforts as misguided. According to Redcode, Pichai added, "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK." The anti-diversity memo was sent out Friday to more than 40,000 Google employees. Some employees tweeted about it on Saturday. In May, Google said publicly it had to improve the company's diversity programs and close pay gaps between men and women. Seventy percent of the company's tech-sector employees are men. One Google employee responded to the memo with a tweet: "That garbage fire of a document is trash, and you are wonderful coworkers who I am extremely lucky to work with." Another employee wrote: "Imagine working at Google, getting paid all that money, just to spend your time writing a disgusting manifesto and sending it to your peers." Danielle Brown, Google's new vice president of diversity and inclusion, responded to the document in a memo to employees, which was obtained by Motherboard. "We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company," she wrote. "Weve continued to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul." In his anti-diversity memo, the Google engineer said there is sexism at work but that some ideas are "too sacred to be honestly discussed" at Google. He said the company needs to be more open to conservative ideals. Kym McNicholas, community director of Extreme Tech Challenge, a competition for startup companies, sent her thoughts on the incident to NBC Bay Area via email Sunday. "I wouldn't give this engineer anything more than a reality check," she said. "It shows he feels threatened, and that's his own insecurity coming out." SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK - Two hikers walking a High Sierra trail in California's wilderness encountered a wild mountain lion in their path, videotaping part of the nerve-wracking stare-down with the big cat that lasted nearly half an hour. The video shows the adult lion scurry down a winding trail out of sight. Moments later the hikers slowly round a turn to see it peering down on them from a rocky perch feet away. Its ears are perked up and head cocked. "What are you supposed to do?" one hiker whispers. The other answers: "I don't know. I don't think you're supposed to run." Rangers at Sequoia National Park on Monday posted a link to the two-minute video captured July 23. The clip ends with the hikers slowly backing away, but they said the encounter didn't end there. Sam Vonderheide, who pressed record on his camera, and his hiking companion, Brian McKinney, told The Tribune newspaper in San Luis Obispo that they were on the first day of an 11-day hike through the Central California mountains. They waited for the cat to leave and tried rousing it from the trail, so they could continue onto the place they wanted to set up camp. The lion didn't budge. "For a good 20 to 25 minutes, we tried to scare it, to make noise," McKinney told the newspaper. "It just looked at us." The two hikers then turned back and set up camp for a restless night's sleep in another area, never seeing it again, they said. Wildlife biologist Daniel Gammons said the men did the right thing by staying calm. Biologists say you should make yourself appear big by waving your arms overhead and scare off the animal, as the men did. "The big thing these visitors did right was that they didn't panic and run," Gammons said. "Probably the most important message to get out to visitors is not to act like prey if they encounter a mountain lion." At its current rate, San Francisco's troubled Millennium Tower could tilt another 10 inches toward the Salesforce Tower in the next two years, lawyers for the homeowners warned in a legal filing urging a speedy trial over the sinking building. Owners of condos in the listing tower hoped to impress upon Judge Curtis Karnow the need to push for a trial by mid-2018 and to fund a fix. But at a hearing on Monday, Karnow put off key decisions in the complicated case until October to give the many parties the developer, builder, engineering consultants as well as homeowners and the city time to plot out how best to proceed. The homeowners association wants the court to endorse its plan to drive about 150 concrete and steel piles through the towers 10-foot-thick foundation all the way to bedrock. In court papers and as reported last month by NBC Bay Area, the latest data shows the tower has tilted about 2.5" west to the Salesforce skyscraper since January. Thats more than twice the historical tipping rate, the owners lawyers argued to the judge. They noted that the building tilted a total of 11.5 inches in the eight years since it opened in 2009 and the end of last year. At the current rate of tilt, even a two-year delay could add another 8" to 10" of tilt to the west," the homeowner lawyers said in the filing. "Prompt corrective action is required to limit further damage to the Tower. The homeowners called their plan feasible, appropriate, and will stop the sinking and tilting. Noting that the current tilting is likely impossible to reverse, the homeowners conclude that each month it continues amounts to additional serious harm to the tower and owners. Nothing stands in the way of saving Millennium Tower from further tilting except the unwillingness of the responsible parties to pay for the required repairs. But no money for that fix, expected to cost $150 million, has so far materialized. As a result, homeowners want a trial the middle of next year. But in its response, the legal team for the Millennium emphasized the recent findings by its consultant that the building remains structurally and seismically safe." Homeowners would be better off going after tall buildings nearby such as Salesforce, they contend, as there is ample evidence that their construction and removal of water around the tower is a significant cause of the tilt of the building. Millennium called the homeowners plan a self-selected remedy, that has yet to be approved or even been meaningfully evaluated. Neither the relevant authorities with jurisdiction nor those alleged to be at fault could be expected to simply accept such a remedy on its face. Jerry Dodson, a lawyer who lives in the building, worried Monday about the prospect the building could tilt as much as 2 feet by 2019. That unexpected tilt, I think, is very alarming and something that needs to be addressed more than a report from millennium partners saying that everything is safe because they have done a model and tweak it to get the result they wanted. A 24-year-old road rage suspect, who was nabbed by police while allegedly trying to steal a car, has confessed to setting last week's Oakland Hills fire and seven other blazes with a cigarette lighter, University of California, Berkeley police say. Alfredo Bautista was arrested on Aug. 2, according to two police complaints one out of UC Berkeley and the other, Oakland. The Concord man pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday. His pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15. Oakland police said officers on Wednesday responded to a report of a car collision involving a rifle-toting suspect. The victims told police that an unknown man identified later as Bautista approached their vehicle and pointes his firearm at them. Afraid for their lives, they fled, officer Matthew Jung wrote in a complaint. The suspect, however, proceeded to follow the victims and slammed his car into theirs several times. Finally, the victims car hit a parked vehicle on Fish Ranch Road, Jung said. Bautista kept his rifle trained on the victims before taking off. He was arrested by University of California, Berkeley police on a separate crime, according to Jung. The second incident began just after 2 p.m. when officer Ryan Miyamoto, with the university's police department, responded to a car theft in progress near the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Miyamoto wrote in a complaint that he found a shirtless Bautista near the stolen car and realized that he matched the description of the man sought by the Oakland Police Department in connection with the road rage case. Bautista is also accused of leaping over a fence at the UC Berkeley Field Station for the Study of Behavior, Ecology and Reproduction. According to Miyamoto, Bautista did not own the car or have permission to drive it. Witnesses told police that he had climbed into the vehicle, started it and begun to drive away when they stopped him. Upon detaining Bautista, Miyamoto said he found a cigarette lighter in the suspect's pocket. Bautista later confessed to police that he had used the lighter to start eight fires, including the five-alarm blaze that scorched 20 acres near Grizzly Peak in the East Bay Hills. Miyamoto arrested Bautista on suspicion of vehicle theft, arson of a structure or forest land, and arson that causes great bodily injury. He was taken to the UC Berkeley jail before being transferred to the Oakland Police Department. Upon being positively identified by the people who he aimed his rifle at earlier in the day, Bautista was also charged with brandishing a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon, which in this case is his vehicle, according to Jung. Shannon Hernandez, who frequents the area where Bautista allegedly lit the five-alarm blaze, said, "It's definitely good they got him instead of him keeping on doing what he's doing." Hernandez said she's grateful someone is in custody for the bizarre case of road rage that then escalated to arson. "This could have been worse than it was," she said. "Thank God it wasn't." NBC Bay Area's Jodi Hernandez contributed to this report. Read the police complaints below: Oakland police on Monday night were searching for a man, possibly armed, who they suspect abducted a woman, according to a Facebook post by the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate division. Oakland police enlisted the help of other law enforcement agencies in the search for Ronald Armor, 32, who they believe abducted Erica Jones, a woman in her mid to late 20s, police said. Armor was last seen driving a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu with a California license plate of 5RDZ344. He may be armed with a silver handgun, police said. Anyone who sees the suspect or the suspect vehicle should call 911, police said. No further details were available. One of the swankiest streets in San Francisco has been sold to a private real estate agent. That's right: An entire street in the City by the Bay was purchased. And now residents of Presidio Terrace are being told they may have to pay rent to park in front of their mansions. The private street is one of 181 in San Francisco, but Presidio Terrace is among the fanciest. Sen. Dianne Feinstein lived in one of the multimillion-dollar homes on the street when she was running for governor. The land in front of those 35 mega-mansions sold for a paltry $90,000 to Michael Cheng and his partner. Cheng, speaking via Facetime from Florida on Monday, said he and his partner are thinking about either renting parking spots or possibly putting up meters. "Our initial goal was just to buy it and hang onto it for a while," Cheng said. Somehow payment of the $14-a-year property tax on the street was overlooked for decades, and that led the city to sell the street for taxes and a little bit more. The last time a house went up for sale on Presidio Terrace, the asking price was $16 million. Most of the homeowners only found out about the sale of their street in the newspaper Monday morning. The city had been sending tax bills to an accounting office at 47 Kearny St., which is now a Pilates studio. An attorney for the homeowners said no one working for the homeowners has been at the address for 30 years. Peter Michael is a tech mogul turned winemaker who lives on Presidio Terrrace. "Its negligence on the citys part not to post it," he said. The homeowners have filed a lawsuit against the city Office of Treasurer and Tax Collector for failing to notify the property owners. But a spokeswoman for the office said everything was done according to the law. "Its uniform in every county in California, how this happens, and its really the property owners' responsibility to be up to date on their taxes," spokeswoman Amanda Kahn Fried said. The homeowners are appealing to the Board of Supervisors, and a hearing is set for Oct. 31. The solar eclipse is Aug. 21 and it will be quite the sight. Although some parts of the country will see a total eclipse of the sun, New England will have a partial eclipse. Experts warn that looking at even the partial eclipse with the naked eye could cause blindness, even though the sun is 93 million miles away. "Were really talking about a huge amount of energy. It is not something that our eyes are used to looking right at. Its just too dangerous," said Eric O'Dea with the Museum of Science. Solar eclipse glasses with special filters are being sold, but beware unsafe versions are on the market. NASA recommends ones that have the number 12312-2 and the manufacturers name and address on them. NASA warns home-made filters and sunglasses are not safe if viewing the eclipse. Doctor Jason Comander of Massachusetts Eye and Ear said, "If you keep looking at the sun damage can build up and you can hurt yourself," Dr. Jason Comander of Massachusetts Eye and Ear said. He said a split second glance is OK, but the temptation to keep looking can cause eye damage. NASA says many reputable vendors are already sold out. The space agency gave two million glasses to libraries across to the country. Click here for more safety tips. The family of Gabriel Taye, the 8-year-old boy who killed himself in January after a bullying attack, has sued the child's school over the circumstances of Gabriel's bullying, NBC News reported. The 41-page lawsuit filed Monday in federal district court in Cincinnati says the school only notified the boy's mother after he had recovered completely from an assault in the school bathroom. The suit says this withholding "prevented his mother from seeking appropriate treatment. Had she known of the extreme violence at Carson, she never would have continued to send him to school there." During the Jan. 24 incident, the suit says, a classmate knocked Gabriel unconscious before other students kicked, poked and stepped on him. Gabriel hung himself from his bunk bed two days later. The school did not respond to a request for comment. The district previously said that school officials didnt know Gabriel was attacked, and that he initially told a nurse that he fell. Gabriels family discovered that hed been assaulted after their lawyers reviewed police documents that described a surveillance video. No criminal charges were filed in connection with Gabriels death. SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A rare pink dolphin is making a splash in Louisiana thanks to a video showing the animal jumping in and out of the water in front of a ship in the Calcasieu Ship Channel this weekend. In fact, Bridget Anne Boudreaux said she saw two albino dolphins by her boat Saturday, along with some others, she told NBC News. Albino dolphins are extremely rare, according to the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, with five potentially white bottlenose dolphins spotted in the entire Southeast United States as of 2016 and just three individuals likely behind the sightings of white or pink bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico. A pink dolphin calf was first spotted in Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana, in 2007, and has been spotted many times since then, according to NOAA, which wrote that it's considered an albino despite its pink coloration. "All sightings of this dolphin have been off Louisiana and most of the time it was seen swimming with a group," according to NOAA. NBC reached out to the agency to ask about the video. Boudreaux said the two pink dolphins she saw never appeared together, so she couldn't get video of them both. One jumping out of the water near her boat caught the attention of her and her husband. "We watched them play around for awhile and then they went to the ship to play in front of it. And I told my husband to keep up with the ship so I can get a better video," Boudreaux said. The strongest sanctions yet against North Korea could still prove no match for the communist country's relentless nuclear weapons ambitions. While the United States hails a new package of U.N. penalties that could cut a third of North Korea's exports, the sanctions themselves aren't the American objective. They're only a tactic for getting Kim Jong Un's totalitarian government to end its missile advances and atomic weapons tests, and there is little evidence to suggest this newest round of economic pressure will be more successful than previous efforts. Whatever the economic pain on Pyongyang, Kim's government has expressed no interest in negotiating away its fast-growing arsenal of perhaps 20 nuclear bombs and the ballistic missiles needed to deliver them. For the young North Korean leader, the weapons are fundamental to the survival of his authoritarian regime, even if they deepen diplomatic isolation and bring even more extreme poverty for his long-suffering people. And the sanctions may not prove effective. The North has learned through decades of U.S. efforts at isolation how to circumvent commercial and financial restrictions, and reluctant powers like China and Russia have often proven half-hearted partners when it comes to policing their ally. "On paper, this is a pretty strict containment of North Korea economically," said Scott Snyder, an expert on Korea at the Council on Foreign Relations. "But North Korea has been able to evade sanctions in the past and it's not clear to me things are going to be much different this time." Speaking in the Philippines after meeting Asian foreign ministers, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday said there is "no daylight" in the view among Washington and its partners that North Korea must move toward abandoning its nuclear weapons. But he was quick to stress the importance of everyone enforcing the new, tougher sanctions. "We will be monitoring that carefully," he said. The U.N. penalties aim to cut off roughly $1 billion of North Korea's estimated $3 billion in annual exports, by banning countries from importing its coal, iron, lead and seafood products, and stopping them from letting in more North Korean laborers, who help Kim's government by sending cash home. President Donald Trump's U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, called it "the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against" North Korea. Even if, in the best-case scenario, the sanctions hurt North Korea's economy and weaken its government, questions remain over what to do next. Can North Korea be persuaded to give up its weapons of mass destruction, removing the threat to the United States and its allies, South Korea and Japan? If not, what new options does the United States have? Trump is only the latest U.S. president to choose sanctions instead of confronting the North militarily or offering diplomatic talks without nuclear concessions. Much rests on the willingness of China, the North's traditional ally and main trading partner. China opposes Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and was uncharacteristically forthright in saying so this week. But it remains cautious of triggering a North Korean collapse, fearful of fomenting chaos along its border or advancing any scenario that would lead to a reunified and U.S.-allied Korea on its doorstep. Anthony Ruggiero, a former Treasury Department official and sanctions expert, said China and Russia have failed to implement a half-dozen previous U.N. resolutions on North Korea since 2006, when the country became the first and only one this century to conduct a nuclear test explosion. Four further atomic tests since then have honed its capability to miniaturize a nuclear device. Last month's pair of groundbreaking tests of long-range ballistic missiles has put the continental United States in range for the first time. While uncertainty remains over the North's ability to wed a warhead with such a missile and strike a U.S. target, it is a prospect that looms larger over Trump's presidency. As a matter of urgency, Ruggiero argued, the U.S. should punish Chinese banks and companies helping North Korea evade sanctions. Any such action may now face delays, as Washington will first have to gauge Beijing's implementation of the new penalties. Amid all the pressure, the Trump administration has left open the possibility of resuming talks with Pyongyang. In Manila, Tillerson said he hoped the North would "choose a different pathway and when the conditions are right, that we can sit and have a dialogue." He urged North Korea to first halt tests for an "extended period," however often such confidence-building measures have failed. North Korean shows scant interest in playing by America's rules. Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told Asian foreign ministers at the same meeting Tillerson attended that "under no circumstances" will his country put its nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles on the negotiating table. Without such a commitment, talks appear unlikely. Washington has dismissed a Chinese proposal designed to pique Pyongyang's interest: a suspension of American military exercises with South Korea if the North freezes its weapons development. The stances reflect a fundamental impasse that no amount of sanctions may be able to change. While the U.S. position is that North Korea must ultimately give up its nukes, the North insists it must keep them. Richard Nephew, a former State Department official who helped craft the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, wrote that for sanctions to succeed, they have to be paired with a credible negotiating effort. It's time to "cut a deal," Nephew wrote on the 38 North website, "to reduce the threat of North Korea's existing arsenal and to stabilize the peninsula before the situation gets out of hand." The Pentagon is considering a plan that would allow the U.S. military to conduct airstrikes on ISIS in the Philippines, two defense officials told NBC News. The authority to strike ISIS targets, most likely with the use of armed drones, could be granted as part of an official military operation that may be named as early as Tuesday, the officials said. Under the proposed plan, the U.S. military would be able to conduct strikes against ISIS targets that could be a threat to U.S. allies in the region, including the Philippine forces already battling ISIS on the countrys southern islands. In Manila on Monday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the U.S. was providing the Philippines government with "intelligence capabilities" in the fight against ISIS, including "some recent transfers of a couple of Cessnas and a couple of UAVs (drones) to allow to them to have better information with which to conduct the fight down there." The president of the states largest business group said the stalemate in the General Assembly over a state budget hasnt yet reached a critical stage, but said things can quickly change if wide-scale tax increases become the bedrock of a budget bargain. Joe Brennan, the president of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, said the delay over reaching a budget isnt something that will shake confidence nearly as much as a solution that includes businesses and consumers paying more out of their pocket to support state or local government. "I just dont think anybody is going to tolerate any broad-based large scale tax increases like weve seen over the last few years," Brennan said during an interview. Between corporate and income tax changes in recent years, Brennan points out how both Governor Dannel Malloy and even former Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey conceded that those tax increases eventually did not help with the states historic deficits in the billions. As long as lawmakers keep talking and working on solutions, Brennan said thats fine. "Even if it goes on a little bit longer but we end up with a budget that is balanced, that doesnt have gimmicks, that doesnt overly rely on borrowing, and doesnt have any broad-based tax increases, then I think people will consider that a success," Brennan said. However, if the budget impasse continues and tax increases, whether they be sales, income, or elsewhere, he can see consumer optimism deteriorate, along with the states perception around the region and around the country. "If it goes on many more months and we end up with a budget that relies on tax increases then thats going to be a much bigger problem," Brennan said. Brennan said Connecticut residents, businesses and policymakers all want to see the same thing, optimism. "We need people to be more confident in Connecticut so we see the investments and growth here," he said. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is making funds available for a new round of microgrid projects that generate power for facilities such as hospitals and wastewater treatment facilities. DEEP will accept applications for the program, which provides matching funds and/or low-interest loans, beginning Sept. 1 until Jan. 1. The microgrid initiative was developed in 2012. It stems from a recommendation from the Governor's Two Storm Panel, a group formed after two major storms that caused widespread electricity outages for long periods of time. DEEP has so far issued $20.5 million in grants for 10 projects. To date, six microgrids are operational and four are under construction. DEEP Commissioner Robert Kleet says microgrids are crucial to making the state's electrical supply more resilient and reliable. The Town of East Haven is the latest Connecticut municipality to implement changes as state lawmakers still cant make a budget deal. Mayor Joseph Maturo announced Monday that the town would be implementing a spending freeze, meaning no additional spending without the mayors approval, effective immediately. "Everyday we pick up the newspaper or turn on the TV theres another delay. We dont know if theyre ever going to come up with a budget," Maturo said in an interview with NBC Connecticut. The mayor said this is the earliest in the year the town has implemented such a freeze. They typically come toward the end of the fiscal year to ensure that the town doesnt exceed its annual $100 million budget. But Maturo said uncertainty about how much money the town could get or not get from the state whenever it does enact a budget is a cause for concern and prudence in the meantime. "I want to make sure that our residents are protected. It really hurts a lot and thats why this is the prudent way to go," Maturo said. The news of the spending freeze was enough to anger some East Haven residents. "Shame on them," lifelong resident Angela Caruthers said in reference to the state lawmakers lagging progress on a budget. "With the money we take out from these politicians, they can't even run a state," she said. Maturo said in a worst case scenario, the town could have to dip into its rainy day fund to cover expenses. That move could impact the towns bond rating and with it, the mill rate and property taxes. Maturo said placing controls on spending in the meantime will hopefully avoid having to take that step in the future. A Meriden father who was supposed to be deported today to Ecuador after spending decades in the United States has sought sanctuary in a New Haven church instead of leaving the country. Marco Reyes, a father of three and the family's sole provider, learned in July when he reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as scheduled, that he would have to leave behind the life he built in Meriden and head back to Ecuador by today. Reyes is in the church with his family members. Reyes has been living in Connecticut with his wife and children since 1997 and the problem came in 2007 when the family was vacationing and accidentally crossed into Canada. Federal immigration authorities apprehended Reyes as they tried to return and supporters said he has been checking in with ICE since 2016. There must be fair and effective enforcement of all laws in accordance with due process, which I firmly believe as a former federal prosecutor and state Attorney General. But strong law enforcement must also reflect humane and compassionate values, including the unbreakable bond between a parent and child, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in a statement. I am outraged and heartbroken by the arbitrary and callous decision to deport Marco Reyes. His plight today is a symptom of Trumps cruel and inhumane immigration policies that lack all sense of reason and rationality. Marco is a hardworking father and husband who has called Connecticut home for two decades without any criminal wrongdoing," Blumthenthal said in a statement. "He faces serious threats to his life should he be deported. I will continue to explore all opportunities to assist Marco and his family. I remain committed to comprehensive immigration reform to provide lasting and significant change to this badly broken system. Shawn Neudauer, ICE spokesman for the New England area, said a federal immigration judge issued a final order of removal for Reyes in 2009 and Reyes was granted a stay of removal to allow him to pursue legal options in his immigration proceedings but has since exhausted his legal options. Supporters said the father of three is a valuable member of the community who is also the sole provider for his family. Officials from First and Summerfield United Methodist Church in New Haven said Reyes took sanctuary there before 9 a.m. Tuesday. Neudauer said that Reyes is now considered an ICE fugitive for refusing to comply with the removal order and will arrested when encountered. Is ICE's policy not to apprehend people in sensitive locations like churches unless there are pressing circumstances. "A federal immigration judges orders cannot be ignored. ICE and the courts can delay acting on an order to ensure all applicable legal processes and possible benefits are followed and/or reviewed, which occurred in this case. However, after these legal options are exhausted, ICE must still carry out the judges order in the absence of any other mitigating factors," Neudauer said in a statement. Read the full statement from ICE at the bottom of this article. Reyes was supposed to take a one-way trip to Ecuador this morning but sought sanctuary in the church instead of leaving his family behind. A news conference is planned for this evening. Reyes is not the first Connecticut resident to seek refuge in a church while fighting deportation. Nuvy Chavarria, a mother of four, who left Guatemala in 1993, when she was 19, sought sanctuary at Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal Church in New Haven, and has since been granted a stay that will allow her to remain in the country. Full statement from ICE: On Aug. 8, Marco Reyes-Alvarez, a citizen of Ecuador illegally present in the United States, was scheduled to meet ICE deportation officers with the agencys Hartford, Connecticut office, to verify his compliance with a removal order issued by a federal immigration judge in 2009. Reyes failed to appear and has since taken refuge in a church in New Haven, indicating he does not intend to comply with the courts order. Reyes is now considered an ICE fugitive and will be arrested and detained when encountered. At which time, ICE will remove him from the United States. In 2010, Reyes previously filed petitions to reopen his case and requested a stay of removal from the Board of Immigration Appeals and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Both were ultimately denied. He requested another stay of removal from ICE in 2016, which was granted while he pursued additional legal options in his case. After he exhausted those options, ICE notified him that the agency planned to carry out his removal order. Last week, he again petitioned the Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen his case and requested another stay of removal. The Board of Immigration Appeals denied the stay of removal, allowing ICE to proceed with the case. On May 5, 2017, ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan notified the chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees that ICE will no longer automatically grant a stay of removal for an alien based on private immigration bills introduced by Members of Congress unless the Chair of the full Committee or Subcommittee makes a written request to ICE to stay the aliens removal. This policy became effective May 5, 2017. Those aliens for whom an investigative report had been requested prior to May 5, 2017, will be processed under the old policy and granted an automatic stay of removal until March 15, 2019. Formal correspondence documenting this update is forthcoming. ICE is currently working to fulfill all requests for investigative reports received in conjunction with private immigration relief legislation introduced in the 115th Congress. This grandfathering of the private immigration bill policy affects 30 aliens whose private bills were processed before May 5. A federal immigration judges orders cannot be ignored. ICE and the courts can delay acting on an order to ensure all applicable legal processes and possible benefits are followed and/or reviewed, which occurred in this case. However, after these legal options are exhausted, ICE must still carry out the judges order in the absence of any other mitigating factors. - Shawn Neudauer, ICE spokesman, New England The attorney for a New Fairfield father facing deportation have called on immigration officials to allow him to stay in the U.S. while he continues efforts to become an American citizen. Joel Colindres' attorneys, along with three prominent Connecticut lawmakers, are pleading with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to delay his deportation. Colindres, who entered the U.S. illegally 13 years ago, was ordered to leave the country by Aug. 17 and return to his native country, Guatemala. "If he leaves the United States on the 17th he will be barred from entering the United States for 10 years. That is why this is such an emergency, his attorney, Erin ONeil-Baker, said. ONeil-Baker said Colindres missed a court hearing in 2004, which triggered the deportation notice that is being enforced by the current administration. "The thought of this family being ripped apart is gut-wrenching and heartbreaking," said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat. Blumenthal, along with Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., sent a letter to ICE and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services urging the agencies to reconsider Colindres' deportation. Murphy and Esty met with his family for the first time on Monday. "A day like today brings some hope when you have everybody here, but when you do look at the calendar, its like Todays our last full week together, you get upset," Joels wife, Samantha, said. Supporters argue that Colindres should be allowed to stay in the country because hes married to an American citizen and has no criminal record, according to The Associated Press. He also allegedly faces retribution if he returns to Guatemala. "Thats based on things happening now in Guatemala, happening to his family," Esty said. Increased drug trafficking coupled with rising gang violence and easy access to firearms has helped place Guatemala among the world's deadliest nations in terms of murder rates, according to the U.S. Department of State. Guatemala is also a major transit country for cocaine and heroin, according to the Central Intelligence Agency. When asked how his family is being threatened, Colindres declined to comment. "Its more difficult now because everyone knows my face," Colindres said. The 33-year-old has a 6-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter with his wife, Samantha. ONeil-Baker said her clients best chance of staying in this country includes his claims for asylum and the fact that deportation would be a hardship on his wife and two children." I dont think you have any idea how hard it is to become part of this country," Colindres said. Vietnamese retail sector to flourish in AEC era Since the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Vietnam has become a potential market for regional retailers, which promotes the development of the domestic retail sector, but also alerts domestic enterprises to watch out and continuously improve to not fall behind in this fierce competition. Vietnam after AEC Before 2015, the Vietnamese retail sector largely slipped under the notice of the mass media and there were only a handful of investors, such as Big C, a brand of Groupe Casino from France, a mass retailer with operations around the world. Additionally Metro Cash & Carry, an international self-service wholesaler from Germany, and some big retailers from Asia, such as Aeon Group from Japan and Lotte Group from South Korea were present. The situation had changed after the establishment of the AEC in 2015, after most trade barriers among different member states were eliminated and a market of more than 600 million consumers was created. Vietnam has become a target for regional countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Among all these countries, Thailand can be considered the biggest and most noticeable partner in the retail sector. Within a year, the three biggest M&A deals in the retail sector were implemented by billionaires from Thailand. The first one was major Thai multi-sector corporation Central Group. In 2015, it had spent more than $100 million on acquiring the number one electronics retailer at the time, Nguyen Kim, and one year later spent $1.05 billion acquiring the Big C chain which comprised of 33 supermarkets and shopping malls in Vietnam. Recently, this group has spent more than $10 million acquiring Zaloras business in Vietnam and Thailand. Zalora is a brand of Global Fashion Group, the umbrella group that holds Rocket Internet-backed online fashion businesses worldwide. Up till now, Central Group has been operating four famous brands in Vietnam with more than 100 outlets, including four Robins shopping centres, 27 SuperSports stores, 30 Crocs and New Balance fashion stores, one hotel, 21 Nguyen Kim electronics stores, one e-commerce channel, and 13 Lan Chi supermarkets. Meanwhile, the second biggest M&A deal took place in January 2016 by TCC Group, a Thai enterprise operated by the second richest billionaire in Thailand, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi. The entire wholesale system of Metro Cash & Carry was acquired, consisting of 19 shopping centres and other real estate items, which were priced at about $848 million. It is estimated that Metro Cash & Carry accounted for 22 per cent of the market share in the Vietnamese distribution sector. Before the acquisition of Metro Cash & Carry, in the middle of 2013, Berli Jucker PCL (BJC), a subsidiary of TCC Group, bought the Family Mart convenience store chain, which had belonged to Phu Thai Group and Japanese company Family Mart, and changed its name to Bs Mart. BJC now has around 95 Bs Marts in Vietnam. BJC plans to spend an additional $31.2 million to add 205 stores in 2018. Some experts explained that domestic room to develop in the Thailand retail sector has become narrow and saturated, so Thai retailers are forced to look for other potential markets. Thus, the establishment of AEC is a chance for Thai retailers to gain success outside their home turf. High expectations for Vietnam In the last three years, Pham Hong Hai, general director of HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. (HSBC Vietnam), along with other partners, has been visiting ASEAN countries to call for investment. According to Hai, in the next five years, there will be a strong wave of investment from ASEAN countries into Vietnam. The Vietnamese market has huge advantages in terms of stabile politics and macro-economy, low labour costs, and many preferential policies to attract investment, Hai said. Nearly two years ago, Pico electronics market chain revealed its plans to expand in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, with especially high expectations for Myanmar, as Pico expected it to grow into a potential market with good chances for future development. However, due to some barriers in terms of politics and unclear open-door policies in Myanmar, this plan has not been implemented yet. Now Pico is continuing this plan with another partner, but it will be scheduled more carefully. The domestic market is still the dominant market of Pico. In our development plan, we will give top priority to domestic expansion, which may create a foundation for future sustainable development if Pico decides to invest in other markets, Trinh Duc Tuan, deputy general director of Pico, said. Another electronics retailer Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG) also plans to expand its business in the ASEAN. However, MWG has only one mobile device store in Cambodia. This year, MWG has scheduled to launch some more outlets overseas, but this step is considered a trial only. The markets in Laos and Myanmar have not really opened up for foreign businesses, so the mobile device store in Cambodia is our first step to expand overseas. However, the market environment here is not completely transparent and favourable, so all our business plans are trials only until the business environment improves, Tran Kinh Doanh, general director of MWG, said. The increasing competition from foreign enterprises cannot discourage this retailer. Doanh said that in the retail sector, electronics is still a playground mostly for Vietnamese enterprises. For example, the Nguyen Kim electronics chain has the giant Central Group behind to support, but it cannot win significant market share from its rivals. At the end of June 2017, there have been 1,527 MWG outlets. Of the total, the Dien may XANH chain had 404 stores and the Bach hoa XANH chain had 110 stores. With the large number of outlets all over Vietnam, MWG is still on the hunt for attractive M&A deals. Currently, it is rumoured that MWG is planning to acquire Tran Anh Digital World JSC (Tran Anh), one of the biggest competitors of MWG in Northern Vietnam. Detailed information has not been released yet, Tran Anh did not confirm rumours, but Doanh did not answer to the negative when asked. Besides, he revealed that negotiations on MWGs M&A deal has almost been finished. We do not mind competing with foreign rivals. We want to hold a strong position in the market, and the best way is to focus on qualified services and products for more than 93 million Vietnamese nationals, Doanh said. - ASEAN has become Vietnams second biggest trade partner with an annual growth rate of 14.5 per cent during the last decade - Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and the ASEAN increased from about $19 billion in 2006 to around $41.36 billion in 2016 - The ASEAN is the third biggest market and supplier for Vietnamese enterprises (Source: the Ministry of Industry and Trade) VIR It's the celebrity workout that has models like Ashley Graham and Chrissy Teigen flying high. We're talking aerial yoga an anti-gravity fitness craze that's now taking over North Texas. Aerial yoga is essentially traditional yoga, but suspended in mid-air in a silk hammock. "Elevating the yoga poses helps to deepen stretches and decompress your spine when hanging upside down," said Jessica Harris, owner of Moxie Mischief Aerial Arts in Dallas. "It's something different. You don't even think you're working out until the next day when you're feeling sore." And count on feeling sore because aerial yoga is a full-body workout as well as a full-body stretch. Harris says you'll feel muscles you never knew you had. Whether you're six years old or 60 years old, Harris says aerial yoga is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy, even if you have zero experience. "Some people come in with a great tolerance for being upside down. Some people have to build it a little. It is something that you progress pretty quickly," she said. Lawyers for about 1,000 inmates at an unbearably hot Texas prison that lacks air conditioning will get their chance on Tuesday to respond to the state's plan to temporarily house them in climate controlled lockups. U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ruled last month that the conditions inside the Wallace Pack Unit, a state prison about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of Houston where it sometimes feels hotter than 100 degrees (38 Celsius), amount to cruel and unusual punishment. He ordered that inmates with certain health conditions or who are at least 65 years old be transferred or housed elsewhere in the prison where temperatures don't exceed 88 degrees (31 Celsius). The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has proposed temporarily housing the inmates in climate-controlled state prisons in Austin and the East Texas city of Diboll. While Ellison didn't require the Pack Unit, built in 1983, be air conditioned, state officials said installing temporary cooling would be cost-prohibitive and couldn't guarantee a temperature that would comply with the judge's mandate. Jeff Edwards, the inmates' lead attorney, said he's worried that the state's plan to move the inmates by bus could take several weeks to complete during the hottest time of year. He said the state should be embracing the court order, as it will benefit both the prisoners and guards. "This always has been about the core issue: Get people out of the heat," he said. "We're in the absolute apex of the heat." In his ruling, Ellison acknowledged that it was the hottest time of the year and said he'd use Tuesday's hearing to determine a timetable for improving the situation. Evidence during a nine-day hearing in June showed the heat index at the prison, the combination of temperature and humidity, topped 100 degrees during 13 days in 2016, and was between 90 and 99 degrees on 55 days. On July 19, the date of Ellison's ruling, it was 104. Prison officials argued that they provide the nearly 1,500 Pack Unit inmates with showers, fans and ice water, other ventilation, unlimited rest periods in air-conditioned areas and education concerning heat precautions. Some parts of the prison are air conditioned. Housing areas are not. Records show that 23 Texas inmates have died of heat stroke since 1998, although no heat-related deaths have occurred at the Pack Unit, one of Texas' 106 prisons. Only 28 of them are fully air conditioned. The state has said it will appeal Ellison's ruling. State officials have said installing air conditioning in prisons would cost tens of millions of dollars. For Pack Unit inmates considered healthy and not subject to transfer, Ellison has ordered managers to develop a heat wave policy and install screens for open windows to keep out insects. Authorities say a South Texas woman has pleaded guilty to sex-trafficking a 9-year-old girl. Maria Candelaria Losoya appeared Aug. 1 before a federal judge and admitted she was responsible for the assault of the victim in exchange for money. The 55-year-old remains free on bond pending sentencing scheduled for Nov. 16. Losoya faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine and also must register as a sex offender. Authorities say the abuse began in Brownsville in 2012 and lasted roughly three years. Losoya later traveled with the victim three hours from Brownsville to Rockport so the assault could continue. David Wills, a former Rockport resident accused of assaulting the victim, was arrested in July and released on a $5 million bond. What to Know The name of the male victim has not been released; he is the 1,641st victim of the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center to be identified Monday's announcement marks the first time a Sept. 11 World Trade Center victim has been identified since March 2015 Roughly 1,112 victims -- about 40 percent of the 2,753 victims in the New York attacks -- have yet to be identified More than 1,000 families are still waiting for their loved ones' remains to be positively identified from the Sept. 11 terror attack on the World Trade Center. On Monday, nearly 16 years later, the New York City Medical Examiner's Office confirmed one more victim. His name was withheld at his family's request, the medical examiner's office said. Monday's announcement marks the first time since March 2015 that a Sept. 11 World Trade Center victim has been positively confirmed. The man's identity was confirmed through DNA retesting. He is the 1,641st victim of the 2,753 killed at the lower Manhattan site that day to be identified. The city says it is still working to identify the other 1,112 victims. In 2013, authorities sifted through truckloads of debris unearthed by construction crews who were working on rebuilding the site. Potential remains of more than 20 victims were recovered. New, more sensitive DNA technology was deployed earlier this year and helped make the latest identification after earlier testing produced no results, the medical examiner's office said. As DNA testing advanced, so has the multimillion-dollar effort to connect more than 21,900 bits of remains to individual victims. Few full bodies were recovered after the giant towers burned and collapsed, and the effects of heat, bacteria and chemicals such as jet fuel made it all the more difficult to analyze the remains. Over time, the medical examiner's office came to use a process that involves pulverizing the fragments to extract DNA, then comparing it to the office's collection of genetic material from victims or their relatives. Most of the DNA profiles generated belong to previously identified victims. In some cases, scientists have gone back to the same bone fragment 10 or more times, hoping new technology will provide answers. The 9/11 airliner attacks killed a total of nearly 3,000 people in New York, at the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A team of professors from the University of Texas at Arlington is working to create a program that will help stop the spread of fake news. What were talking about the President uses that term to refer to media in general but what were talking about are stories that are entirely fictitious or largely fictitious, said Mark Tremayne, Ph.D., an assistant professor of communications at UT Arlington. The project to root out fake news on social media is titled, Bot vs. Bot: Automated Detection of Fake News Bots, and will eventually result in a computer program that will be designed to alert people when posts theyre seeing, or even comments on social media posts, have likely been generated by automated social media accounts. The researchers have made assurances that their motivations are not political. This is not targeted for or against any one party or any one candidate, said Christoph Csallner, Ph.D., an Associate Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department. This project is really about national security. You could imagine some real threats [being spread through fake news posts] like another country trying to start confusion among residents, or the military. At some point this could be considered a danger to democracy or a danger to national security if these platforms, Facebook and the other social networks, are being used as propaganda tools, Dr. Csallner added. Part of the problem of combating automated efforts to spread fake news is that bots can simultaneously share posts that contain deliberate falsehoods in a single instant across multiple platforms that will be seen and potentially shared by millions of real people. The stuff can be generated automatically by a program, Dr. Tremayne said. So you dont know as you are scrolling through, especially with the comments, you dont know which one is an actual person [who] sat there and typed them out and which ones were just spit out by some algorithm. And wouldnt you like to know? The challenge, Dr. Csallner said, will be sorting through the massive amount of content that is published on social media and keying in on indicators that increase the likelihood that any particular post was made by a bot. The team is in its early stage of development for its program, and expects to have a working result within a year. Protesters will rally outside of the Miami Seaquarium on Tuesday asking for the release of Lolita, the famous orca whale who has been an attraction for nearly half a century. The whale was captured 47 years ago along Washington state coast lines and has been on display at the Key Biscayne park ever since. Lolita weighs about 7,000 pounds and is about 20 feet long. She performs in the killer whale and dolphin show. Protesters cite a USDA study stating a whale of Lolita's size should be in a bigger tank. However, officials from the Seaquarium dispute that and have long said Lolita is well taken care of and has lived in captivity for so long that she wouldnt survive out on her own. PETA activists will gather in front of the Seaquarium at 12 p.m. pleading for her release into the ocean. With the trouble growing in Venezuela by the minute, the Miami-Dade Commission is calling for Washington to allow Venezuelans living in the U.S. to remain here longer. The Commission Monday wrote the President asking for what's known as Temporary Protected Status be granted to Venezuelans who fear being killed, or have no way to work and survive if they go back home. There are more than 70,000 Venezuelans in Miami-Dade County and many of them are panicking about their loved ones in Caracas and other cities. The Temporary Protected Status would mean that Venezuelans who are in the U.S. visiting, or about to have their visas expire, they wouldn't have to go back to their homeland. The chaos in Venezuela now a daily occurrence. There were more street battles taking place as a new National Assembly was recently sworn in. The move to install the Assembly called a farce and a fraud by much of the international community including the Trump White House. Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura said he's making the moves to restore peace. However, social media on the weekend showed postings of military soldiers opposing the government's recent moves. Monday afternoon, the Miami Dade Commission voted in an emergency session to support Venezuelans fighting for democracy. The Commission is sending a letter to the White House that applauds sanctions already taken, condemns election results for the newly installed National Assembly and urges the Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans here. Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz organized the action, even rousting up enough of the commissioners to return from their vacations to vote in favor. "I think its something that is very doable within our community especially showing the history in Haiti and Nicaragua that did get the temporary protected status," Diaz told NBC 6. "I think its something that we are all united to make that we can talk to the President." Mayor Carlos Gimenez also supported the move. "I think there's a solid case for the United States to grant temporary protected status. This is not a economic issue. This is really political asylum," Gimenez said. Damian Perez, who has family in Caracas, says the TPC would really make a difference. "I have a cousin actually who came here a couple of days ago actually and she has been out of work for years because of the economic situation." Perez said. "People are suffering. If the they can be here with relatives, families, that's what we are looking for." The State Department rules say the temporary status can be granted when there's an ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster and other extraordinary and temporary conditions. Daniella Capriles, whose father is the elected mayor of Caracas, but who has been placed on house arrest, came to Miami to thank the Commission. "Its very similar the situation in Syria. They started fighting like a government that was becoming dictatorial," Capriles said. "So, I think we are not far from becoming another Syria, or another Aleppo, because the government. This is not a civil war this is the government killing civilians because we are protesting against them." This request for the temporary status is just going up to Washington, so it has to be evaluated. Commissioner Diaz and the Venezelean community in South Florida are hoping the approval comes soon. A 60-year-old New Jersey man who has been barred from driving in New York for nearly three decades has been charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle after cops say he struck and killed a 73-year-old man crossing the street in Chelsea early Tuesday. Police say Sydney Jones, who does have a valid commercial license in New Jersey, was driving the tractor-trailer that hit the victim as the older man tried to cross the street near West 25th Street and Seventh Avenue shortly before 5 a.m. The unidentified victim suffered severe head injuries and died at a hospital. Jones stayed at the scene. It wasn't clear who had the right of way at the time, but the investigation is ongoing. Police say Jones' driver's license has been suspended in New York state since 1991 for failing to answer a summons in Orange County. He also paid a fine in $200 for operating an overweight or oversize vehicle in Seneca County. There are no accidents with injuries on his record in New Jersey, officials in the Garden State say. He has had his license suspended three times in New Jersey, twice for being uninsured and once for a parking violation, officials say. None of those suspensions are recent, the state said. It wasn't known if Jones would face charges in connection with the man's death, nor was it clear if he had an attorney who could comment on the crash. A drug task force uncovered an apparent heroin and fentanyl packaging mill -- complete with branding stamps like "Uber," "Uber Black," "Walking Dead" and "Time Bomb" -- along with $3 million in drugs and a loaded gun inside a home on Central Park West, authorities say. Four men were arrested and nearly 20 pounds of suspected fentanyl and heroin were seized in the bust at 448 Central Park West Friday, federal prosecutors say. Investigators had been watching the suspects as part of an ongoing drug investigation and on Friday afternoon, saw one of them, David Rodriguez, walk out of the building with a large white shopping bag, prosecutors say. The man got into an Uber car, and investigators followed the vehicle to 121st Street and Amsterdam Avenue, where they pulled it over and found Rodriguez sitting in the backseat with an open box containing packaged cylinders of powder. Both David Rodriguez, 32, and the Uber driver, Richard Rodriguez, 42, were arrested. Back at the apartment on Central Park West, investigators executed a search warrant and found more packages of the suspected fentanyl and heroin, and 1,100 glassine envelopes of packaged powder marked "Uber," prosecutors said. A loaded .25 caliber Beretta pistol was found wedged between two couch cushions, and $30,000 in cash was also recovered, along with IDs, cellphones and ledgers, as well as more than two dozen rubber stamps for marking glassines. Two other men were arrested as they left the building: Johnny Beltrez, 32, and Jesus Perez-Cabral, 19, who investigators say is a member of the drug trafficking organization. The four suspects were arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday; bail was set for Perez-Cabral at $100,000, for David Rodriguez at $200,000, for Beltrez at $10,000 and for Richard Rodriguez at $1,000. It wasn't immediately clear if the men had attorneys who could comment on their behalf. The seized drugs are estimated to have a street value of $3 million but could be millions more depending on the potency and proportion of fentanyl to heroin. Fentanyl is about 50 times stronger than heroin and is being increasingly mixed into illicit drugs in New York City, according to Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. It's driving a spike in fatal overdoses, which reached an all-time high of 1,374 deaths in New York City in 2016 -- a 46-percent increase over 2015, according to NYC health data. There were more overdose deaths than homicides in New York last year, according to Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. West Side residents had no idea a heroin operation this big was running right under their noses. "It's shocking," said Rob Schreiber. "You never know this stuff is happening until somebody gets arrested." What to Know Cuomo first announced the ambitious overhaul plan in July 2015, a year after then VP Joe Biden said the hub was like a third world country The entire airport is being rebuilt, and the new LaGuardia will offer state-of-the-art amenities and expanded transportation The first new gates are scheduled to open next year and the new airport is on track to be fully completed by 2021 Construction is officially underway for a multibillion-dollar overhaul of LaGuardia Airport, which former Vice President Joe Biden once likened to "some Third World Country." Delta is a partner in the project, and held a ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday to commence construction on a $4 billion, 37-gate facility that will be a cornerstone of the two-phase renovation. The airline says it is investing $3.4 billion in the overhaul, marking the largest airport investment in its history. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the airport, is committing $600 million to cover the rest. The agency and Delta just signed a new, long-term lease. Gov. Cuomo, who was on hand at LaGuardia for Tuesday's groundbreaking, tweeted renderings of a sleek new terminal and taxiways, saying, "It's going to be a beautiful front door to New York." "LaGuardia is a pillar of New Yorks transportation network, but for too long the airport has been unworthy of New York state," the governor tweeted. The Delta facility is the final component of the new LaGuardia, which will provide travelers with state-of-the-art amenities and expanded public transportation, including a planned AirTrain. "This is a historic day for Delta as we break ground on our state-of-the-art facility at LaGuardia Airport," Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement. "This investment underscores our commitment to LaGuardia, to New York and to providing our customers and employees here and across the state with a world-class experience at one of our most important hubs." Cuomo first unveiled the ambitious overhaul plan in July 2015, a year after then Vice President Biden likened it to "some Third World Country." The project called for rebuilding the entire footprint of the airport, which is shoehorned onto a small, oddly-shaped property of about 680 acres on the shore of the East River. The space is a fraction of what's used at other airports around the country handling similar passenger loads. LaGuardia's existing, cramped and chaotic buildings are being replaced with a big new terminal 600 feet closer to the Grand Central Parkway, the highway that rings the airport like a moat. That shift will relieve some of the space constraints for aircraft trying to taxi to and from the congested gate areas. That phase of the overhaul got underway in June 2016. The first new gates are expected to open next year, and the new airport is on track to be fully completed by 2021. Cuomo also announced on Tuesday a breakthrough with LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the firm that is building the western half of the airport. JLC Infrastructure, a joint venture comprising Magic Johnson Enterprises and Loop Capital Markets LLC, will become an MWBE investor with LGP, marking the first time in the state's history that there will be an MWBE firm investing equity in a public-private construction project. Eight lost Purple Heart medals were returned to their rightful owners as part of a ceremony in New York for National Purple Heart Day. The families of seven U.S. service members who have since passed gathered at Federal Hall on Wall Street for Mondays ceremony. New York City firefighter and veteran Daniel Swift was among those present. Hes the only one of the eight Purple Heart recipients still living. Hopefully, this will finish it off for me and I can put (what happened) away, Daniel Swift said, before receiving back his lost medal. Swift was wounded during the Iraq War in 2004 when a roadside bomb struck his Humvee, but he still rushed to save the life of his injured comrade. A New York Army National Guard member and combat medic, Swift was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, as well as a Purple Heart, which he lost soon after he received it overseas. The explosion killed two other soldiers the widow of one of them unveiled and presented the reclaimed Purple Heart to Swift. Its bittersweet, Swift said. Private Frank Lymann Dunnel of Buffalo, New York, who has since died, earned his Purple Heart after being wounded in the Battle of the Somme during World War I. His medal was found in a bank decades ago, but only recently turned in, according to his great niece Frances Carlson. It really brings him back in a whole new dimension for me, Carlson said. Army Private Dan Lyle Feragen of Montana served in the Bataan Death March during World War II. He later died as a prisoner of war in the Philippines, buried in an unmarked grave and unidentified for years. His Purple Heart was posthumously awarded to his nephew, Lyle Feragen, at Mondays ceremony. It is one of the greatest honors I think can be bestowed, Feragan said. The eight returned medals had Vermont-based group Purple Hearts United to thank. Its founder, Zachariah Fike, is a Purple Heart recipient himself and has made it his labor of love to track down lost medals. To date, the organization has returned more than 300 Purple Hearts, and they find as many as five each week around the country. I have some very good volunteer researchers out there, and we work around the clock to find these families, Fike said. The ceremonys location, Federal Hall, was also George Washingtons inauguration site. The nations first president created the Purple Heart, which was known as the Badge of Military Merit at the time. U.S. News & World Report has released its annual ranking of the nation's best hospitals and three in New York City have landed in the top 20. The study analyzed more than 4,500 medical centers across the country to compile the rankings. In addition to the general ranking, the publication also awards 20 hospitals the distinction of being on the "Honor Roll." Landing on this list means the hospital delivers "exceptional treatment across multiple areas of care," according to U.S. News & World Report. The methodology behind the "Honor Roll" ranking is based on survival and readmission rates, volume, patient experience, patient safety and quality of nursing. These are the three New York City hospitals that made it on the prestigious list: New York-Presbyterian Hospital, N.Y is the highest ranking New York City hospital on the "Honor Roll," coming in at No. 8. This teaching hospital is the largest of the three New York hospitals on the list, with 2,381 beds. Mount Sinai Hospital comes in at No. 18 on the "Honor Roll." This Manhattan hospital is a large teaching hospital that has 1,175 beds for patients. Mount Sinai also has about 4,500 doctors and 2,500 nurses on staff, according to U.S. News & World Report. No. 19 on the list is NYU Langone Medical Center. NYU Lagone is a large metro, general medical and surgical hospital in Manhattan. Additionally, it is a teaching hospital for medical and nursing students. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, claimed the top spot in the ranking for the second year in a row. 30 New York Hospitals Appear on Best Hospitals in America List Three people are jailed in Pennsylvania on charges they conspired to kill a man found dead at the bottom of an embankment in southern Pennsylvania. The Bedford County coroner says 50-year-old Gary Shriver Jr. died from blood loss, though the coroner and state police investigators haven't said how that occurred. The body of the Cumberland, Maryland man was found shortly before midnight Friday near Lake Gordon. Shriver had a long history of drug-related arrests in his home state. Thirty-nine-year-old Heather Schade has been jailed and charged in Shriver's death along with two Maryland residents, 29-year-old James Wallace, of Randallstown, and 22-year-old Devonta Gaines, of Baltimore. Online court records don't list attorneys for the suspects, who are all being held without bond. They face a preliminary hearing Aug. 9. As the investigation of the fatal police shooting of a Philadelphia man continues, activists continued to protest Monday, interrupting an event by city council president Darrell Clarke and beginning a march to the nations capital. Protesters gathered on 4200 Whitaker Avenue around noon Monday where 30-year-old David Jones was shot and killed by Philadelphia Police Officer Ryan Pownall back on June 8. Police said Jones was shot in the back after he was stopped for allegedly driving a dirt bike recklessly on a street. A preliminary investigation from police found that the shooting occurred after Jones removed a handgun from his waistband and got into a struggle with Officer Pownall. A man who said he witnessed the confrontation said Jones never brandished the weapon however. Family Photo After a group held a rally on Whitaker Avenue Monday, Jamal Johnson, an organizer with the Stop Killing Us (SKU) campaign, began a 150-mile march to Washington, DC to protest police killings. Supporters joined Johnson as he ended the first day of the march at the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office. He plans to continue marching for three weeks until he reaches the Department of Justice in Washington, DC on August 28 where hell deliver a list of proposed policies and solutions developed by SKU to change policing across the country. Protesters also interrupted an event held by Council President Darrell Clarke Monday. Clarke later released a statement on the status of the investigation. Any time a police officer is involved in the shooting of a civilian is cause for a timely and diligent investigation, he wrote. Because of the circumstances in which Mr. Jones was shot and killed, including conflicting witness accounts and the troubling fact that he was shot from behind, we need a thorough investigation." "The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office has referred this matter to the Office of the Attorney General due to a conflict. The OAG has taken over this investigation. I am confident Attorney General Josh Shapiro will conduct a thorough and fair investigation into this matter. Clarke also expressed the councils condolences to Jones loved ones. NBC10 spoke to a man who said he was in the backseat of Officer Pownalls vehicle on June 8 and witnessed Jones death. Terrence, who did not want to reveal his last name, said his 9-year-old son had been abducted that night but managed to escape. Officer Pownall picked up Terrence, his son and Terrence's 11-year-old daughter to take them to the Special Victims Unit. As Officer Pownall, a 12-year veteran assigned to the 15th District, continued driving the family, he spotted Jones riding a red dirt bike in a "reckless manner," investigators said. Dirt bikes are illegal in the city. Pownall then saw the dirt bike stall on the sidewalk next to a nightclub on the 4200 block of Whitaker Avenue, according to police. Investigators say Pownall stopped his vehicle and tried to question Jones. Initially (the officer) was only going there to tell this guy to knock it off," Police Commissioner Richard Ross said. Information from a preliminary investigation stated that Jones turned away from the officer and began holding the front of his waistband. Terrence also told NBC10 Pownall tried to pat Jones down. "Pull up, skrrt! 'I'm taking your s***!' That's what he said," Terrence said. "So Mr. Jones is still sitting on the bike." Police said Pownall patted Jones down and felt a firearm in his waistband. Officer Pownall then took out his gun and repeatedly told Jones not to touch the weapon, police said. Jones then allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband. "(The officer) looks in his face and says, 'Bro don't do it, bro don't do it,'" Ross said. Terrence said a struggled ensued between the two men and Jones then broke free of the officer and ran. "I could hear him, 'He had a f-ing gun! He had a f-ing gun!' I said, 'The gun is right here,'" Terrence said. Officer Pownall tried to use his taser on Jones at first and then took out his gun, according to Terrence. Police say Pownall then squeezed the trigger but it jammed. Pownall then cleared the stoppage and opened fire as Jones ran away south on Whitaker Avenue, according to investigators. Jones was shot in the back and buttocks. He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. "The individual then starts to run and the officer then discharges," Ross said. "He is running ahead of the officer when he discharges from behind, so that's a piece we want to look at very closely." Several people who knew Jones arrived within minutes after the shooting and started yelling at officers. Ross was at the scene as well. One woman described Jones as a "good boy" who didn't bother anyone. Pownall was not injured during the incident. A black handgun later identified by police as a fully-loaded 9mm could be seen several feet from the dirt bike as a reporter arrived to the scene. Investigators say the gun belonged to Jones and was loaded with 15 9mm cartridges in the magazine. The dirt bike lay on its side, surrounded by officers and detectives. NBC10 obtained surveillance video from a nearby restaurant that appeared to show Jones running away from the officer. "I did watch the video and clearly one of the shots was taken while the male was running away, there's no doubt about that," Ross said. Ross said the video gives investigators "pause." "The one video vantage point is actually showing or depicting the officer firing as the guy is running away," Ross said. "I can't get into what the officer may have been seeing or believing at that particular time. Clearly he knows he was in a struggle with a violent guy prior to that." Ross said he wanted to make sure that the officer was following department protocol, which states you should only shoot a fleeing suspect if they are a suspect in a "forcible felony," but there are exceptions and you shouldn't always shoot. Ross asked anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward and share information with authorities. Pownall was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation. He has not been charged. Robert Marchetti assumed it was a mistake when the cashier quoted a higher price than normal for a soda he bought at a Wendys restaurant in Ridley Park, Delaware County Monday. Thats what I thought at first, Marchetti told NBC10. Or maybe they upped their prices a little bit. But I wasnt quite sure. As Marchetti looked at his receipt more closely he noticed something else; a line for the Philadelphia Beverage Surcharge charging him 45 cents, even though the Ridley Park Wendys is located three and a half miles outside Philadelphia city limits. Well were not in Philadelphia, Marchetti said. So why are we being charged for it? A spokesperson for Wendys told NBC10 the soda tax charges were a programming error that was quickly identified and corrected yesterday only. The spokesperson said the Ridley Park Wendys had been miscoded in corporate computers as being within the city of Philadelphia and that for several hours Monday, every customer who bought a soda there was charged with the penny-and-a-half per ounce tax. The spokesperson said that all the customers who were charged are eligible for a refund and a free drink. Im not worried about the 45 cents, Marchetti said. Its the principle of the fact that, putting a new charge. A Philadelphia beverage charge? This isnt Philadelphia." The spokesperson did not reveal exactly how many customers were impacted by the mistake. In addition to offering refunds however, Wendys also promised to donate all the money it incorrectly collected to the Boys and Girls Club. A long-running dispute between two Chester County neighbors came to a head overnight Tuesday when one man gunned down the other in the victim's front lawn, prosecutors said. Clayton Carter, 51, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and related offenses. The shooting happened at 1 a.m. along the 300 block of Box Elder Drive in West Goshen, Pennsylvania. Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said Carter shot his neighbor, Brooks Jennings, two times in the head. Carter stood over his neighbor and delivered the second shot as Jennings' wife watched from a nearby window, Hogan said. Jennings died at the scene. Chester County District Attorney's Office "This killing leaves a wife without a husband, a little boy without a father, and a community in shock and mourning," Hogan said. Tuesday's deadly shooting was not the first time these feuding neighbors resorted to gunplay, Hogan said. Carter previously pulled a gun on Jennings. On Monday evening, West Goshen police responded to the neighbors' block after they got into an argument over cursing and recording video in the yard. But Tuesday's shooting followed an argument over lights being shined into each other's homes, Hogan said. Carter claimed Jennings was pointing a light into his eyes when he was outside. Carter then pulled his car onto his lawn, aimed the front toward Jennings' home and turned on the high beams. A .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun and two shell casings were recovered at the scene. Carter claimed Jennings' attacked him with a knife, prosecutors said. A knife was found at the scene, but officials said Carter was not injured and did not call police. Jennings, a husband and father to a young boy, was a member of the Republican Committee of Chester County. He joined the group in 2014. Pennsylvania GOP Chair Val DiGiorgio said he was "very well respected" and "one of the most personable, nicest gentlemen." Court documents show Carter pleaded guilty to a simple assault charge stemming from a 2012 incident. Neighbors said others had run-ins with Carter related to parking and other issues. Carter was arraigned on the murder charges Tuesday afternoon at a district court in West Chester. He is being held without bail. It's not immediately clear if Carter has retained an attorney. Four men were arrested Tuesday morning following a tense standoff with a Montgomery County SWAT team in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania. Police said the men broke into a house and threatened the homeowner with a gun, shoving the firearm into his mouth. Authorities credit the watchful eye of a neighbor with alerting them to the escalating situation. The ordeal unfolded around 8:20 a.m. when longtime Cambridge Road resident Carol Bergman was watching TV with her husband and noticed someone across the street exit a truck wearing a mask and hooded sweatshirt. "It startled and scared me," she said. Two men approached the home, knocking first on the front door and then the back door. When no one answered, two more suspects jumped out of the truck, opened a window to the home and climbed inside, police said. Bergman called 911. By the time police arrived, three people were seen running down the street. All three were apprehended, Plymouth Township Police Chief Joe Lawrence said. One of the men was the victim, who escaped during the chaos that ensued. He was released after questioning. "This is really crazy," Bergman said of her normally quiet neighborhood. "I was very upset." When law enforcement approached the victim's property, they were greeted by an armed man wearing a face mask. He ran back inside the house and barricaded the door. The victim told police the suspects hit him over the head, put a gun in his mouth and threatened to kill him. Plymouth Twp. Police The standoff lasted approximately three hours, Lawrence said. During that time, a SWAT officer came into Bergman's home and used a second-floor room to get a better vantage point as police negotiated with suspects to surrender. Shortly before noon, two of the men could be seen on live TV surrendering to police. Wearing dark clothing, the pair emerged from the victim's house with arms raised. They walked backwards until SWAT members could safely take them into custody. The suspects were identified as 18-year-old Jason Hutton, 18-year-old Walter Mattis, 22-year-old Anthony Sabatino and 31-year-old Anthony Ferliano. All four are Philadelphia residents, Lawrence said. Police are investigating if there is any connection to other burglaries in the area. "We think it's a group of four people who were bored, got in their truck and drove up to the suburbs of Philadelphia to look for an easy place to break into," Lawrence said. "We believe it was random." The victim, is in his 70s. He sustained non-life threatening injuries during the scuffle. Bergman has lived in her home for 50 years and estimated that the victim has lived in his, alone, for at least 35 years, she said. A woman was sexually assaulted and robbed of prescription medications after she took out her trash in University Heights Tuesday, police confirmed. One suspect assaulted the victim while the other stole prescription medicines from her cabinet, said SDPD officers. Police were called to a home on Texas Street, near Polk Avenue and Howard Avenue just after 10 a.m. The 34-year-old victim was outside of her home when she was confronted by two people in a robbery, SDPD Officer Bill Hernandez told NBC 7. Police said a woman knocked on the victim's apartment door, asking for a person who doesn't live there. Twenty minutes later, while the victim was taking out her trash, the woman came back. This time she was accompanied by a man. The man allegedly sexually assaulted her, while the woman went inside her home and stole her things, including medicine, said police. After the attack, the suspects ran from the scene, SDPD Officer Joshua Hodge said. Police are searching for the man and woman who worked together to carry out the home invasion, assault and robbery. Officers said the victim does not appear to have known the suspects. The property manager said they had problems with the previous tenants, who were evicted earlier this year. Neighbors said they used to see a lot of drugs in the area that cleared up after the eviction. The suspects were described as a white woman in her late 40s, 5 feet, 5 inches tall with light brown hair and a black male in his late 30s, 6 feet tall with a thin build, police said. The woman has a heavy build and wore her brunette hair in a ponytail, along with a dark, baggy hoodie. The man was wearing a white shirt and tennis shoes. His dreadlocks were also pulled back in a ponytail. "I've never heard of anyone being assaulted in this neighborhood. Never," said Charles Johnson, a resident who lives nearby. "That worries me." Emergency personnel took the woman to Scripps Mercy in Hillcrest. Police did not have details on her injuries or her condition. The nature of the assault was not clear, officers said. They also did not know the type of medicine stolen. The Sex Crimes Unit is investigating, according to the SDPD. "It is very uncommon and this particular scenario," said Tu Nguyen, the Acting Lt. for the Sex Crimes Unit. "It's more of an isolated incident only because they came in asking for a very particular individual who does not live there." Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available. A registered sex offender tried to enter a school in Virginia, according to Prince William County Police. The man walked through the exterior doors into the vestibule of The Goddard School in Woodbridge about 2 p.m. Monday, police said. When he couldnt open the locked interior doors, he looked through until school staff contacted him and he walked away, police said. Officers found 53-year-old Jesse Wade Himes a short time later and determined he is a registered sex offender, police said. He was arrested without incident. Himes is being held without bond on a charge of being present on the property of a child day center during school hours as a registered violent sex offender. Hes scheduled to appear in court Sept. 18. A middle school math teacher in Virginia was sentenced to 20 years after being found guilty of aggravated sexual battery of two female students. Jose Daniel Estrada, 36, of Clifton, Virginia, had 12 years of his sentence suspended but will be on supervised probation during those 12 years. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Authorities said there were separate incidents with two female students at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. This came together because of a courageous young student, Falls Church police Chief Mary Gavin said in a news release at the time of Estrada's release.. She did exactly what she should have done. She fled and told adults right away. She is a remarkable person, and I admire her tenacity and bravery, as well the second student who also came forward. I also appreciate the adults who said to these children, I believe you and Its not your fault then reported to the authorities. Police did not provide further information about the sexual assault. Estrada started working for the school system in July 2015, a spokesperson said. The U.S. is sending dozens more Marines to Afghanistan to help with internal force protection, three U.S. defense officials told NBC News. The Marines have not yet moved to Afghanistan. But they will join more than 300 other Marines assigned to Task Force Southwest. The officials said the deployment is not tied to the Trump administration's new South Asia strategy but fulfills a request from the commander on the ground. The officials also said there is a request for more U.S. air support in Afghanistan, but did not provide more details. Police are seeking a suspect in connection with a shooting last month in Gardner, Massachusetts. Daniel Christian, 31, is wanted by the Gardner Police Department for his alleged involvement in a July 18 shooting. Christian is described as being 6'6", and was last seen at about 240 pounds He has a muscular build and a light beard. There are outstanding warrants for Christian for the charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and for discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building. He is considered armed and dangerous, and police said he should not be approached. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 978-632-5600. Officials in New Hampshire are searching for an inmate who walked away from a transitional housing unit in Manchester late Monday night. Christopher Michael Lanagan, 33, of Manchester, ran away from the Calumet Transitional Housing Unit around 11:30 p.m. after staff questioned him about unauthorized property he had. The state Department of Corrections says Lanagan was sentenced to two to five years with 261 days of time served credited to his sentence for operating after being certified a habitual offender. He is eligible for parole on November 9 and his maximum release date is July 30, 2020. Lanagan is described as 57 tall and 190 pounds. He has dark hair and blue eyes. He has multiple tattoos on his neck, arms, forearms, and chest. Anyone with information should contact police. Twenty-one year old Talicia Martins was once photographed for Teen Vogue, and wrote an article about her year traveling in Europe. But it was a recent trip to Camden, Maine, thats making headlines now, leading to a new photograph - a mug shot. Camden Police said the New York City socialite is a suspect in a burglary spree through downtown Camden and has been charged with felony theft. Martins is the daughter of Darci Kistler, the former principal dancer in the New York City Ballet, and Peter Martins, a famous choreographer and the chief of the metropolitan ballet company. Police said three small businesses in the coastal Maine community were broken into last week, and each had hundreds of dollars stolen from cash registers. Police circulated surveillance footage, and an anonymous tip led them to Martins and her friend, Jacob Flanagan. Investigators said the pair had traveled from Manhattan to Maine, and that drugs and alcohol were involved in the burglaries. "I think people of privilege should be helping other people, not destroying people that are working really hard," said Alicia Landi, owner of the Smoothie Shack. She said she found her business broken into and cash register stolen. She estimates about $500 was stolen. At Francine Bistro, the burglars kicked down the front door and stole about $600. At ice cream shop Camden Cone, the suspects entered through a window and stole more than $1,000. Martins and Flanagan are free on bail. Court documents state that the pair will return to Rockland, Maine, for an initial court appearance on Sept. 25. It wasn't immediately clear if Martins and Flanagan had lawyers. Phone numbers for the pair couldn't be located, and the phone rang unanswered at their parents' homes. Great Yarmouth greets new Team Rector 2017: Everyone is invited to Great Yarmouth Minster at 7pm tonight for the induction of Rev Simon Ward as the new Team Rector of the Great Yarmouth Team Ministry. Interviews were held earlier in the year to find a replacement for canon Chris Terry following his departure last September. Rev Simon Ward was chosen to fill the vacant role of team rector and will be instituted by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Winton, Bishop of Thetford, tonight in the Minster. The induction will be performed by The Ven Karen Hutchinson Archdeacon of Norwich. Refreshments will be available after the service. Rev Simon is an experienced priest in the Diocese of Norwich, and in his most recent role he was the priest in charge of the parish of Earlham, with three churches under his care. He is married to Georgette, who works at the University of East Anglia, and they have two sons of school age. Rev Simon, a former secondary school teacher, studied Theology at Durham University before going on to Oxford for his teacher training. He trained for ordination at Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire and served his curacy in the Diocese of Guildford before moving to the Sole Bay Team in Southwold, Suffolk to be their team vicar. As part of his new role Rev Simon will also become an honorary canon at Norwich Cathedral. To read Rev Simons message, visit Network Yarmouth . This story first appeared in the Eastern Daily Press . The picture of Rev Simon Ward is courtesy of Network Yarmouth The picture of Yarmouth Minster is courtesy of http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk? Lenovo has done a bang-up job in taking over IBMs old PC business and turning it into a rousing success. Or at least as much of a success as can be had in an era of declining PC sales. Its luck with the server business? Not so much. Lenovo picked up IBMs x86 server business in 2014 after some grumbling and consternation from the government. It seemed the government and military had quite an installed base of IBM servers and wasnt keen on the Chinese taking ownership of them. But the deal went through after some assurances. Looks like that was the least of their problems. According to Gartner, in the first quarter of 2017, Lenovo sales fell 16 percent and its market share dropped to just 5.8 percent. Lenovo was fifth, behind HPE, Dell EMC, IBM (which is only selling Power-based RISC systems and mainframes) and Cisco. In fact, Lenovo had been ahead of Cisco in terms of units sold. When you fall behind Cisco in servers, a business Cisco didnt even enter until a decade ago, you have a problem. When you fall behind Cisco in servers, a business Cisco didnt even enter until a decade ago, you have a problem. Now partners are expressing concern over the departure of the companys North American president Emilio Ghilardi after just 18 months on the job. It should be noted that Ghilardi was in charge of the PC and laptop group. Leadership of its Data Center group remains unaffected. At least by the departure of Ghilardi. It still has a bit of an image problem that the groups leadership must address. Ron Venzin, partner at Focal Point Solutions Group, summed it up with this comment to CRN: When customers look at Lenovo, they see desktops and laptops. They dont look at Lenovo in the data center. Even more damning was this comment from a solution provider: When I lay out OEM partnerships, when I mention Lenovo, the customer says, 'No, I don't want anything to do with that. They're a Chinese company.' The Chinese are known for reverse engineering technology. It's purely political." How does Lenovo, with its massive U.S. office in North Carolina, overcome that? Lenovo tries to turn things around Thats not to say Lenovo isnt trying. In June, it introduced 26 data center hardware products, covering servers, storage and network switches as part of two brand launches, ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile. The company has also introduced new software-defined infrastructure and struck a deal with SAP to run HANA applications on Lenovo hardware. Also, Lenovo scored a big get when it hired Kirk Skaugen to be president of its data center unit. Skaugen was a heavy-hitter at Intel and might have been a contender for the CEO position. He did great things with the data center group, although he was also just selling chips, not systems. Lenovo also hired former Intel CIO Kim Stevenson to be general manager of the data center unit. For now, Christian Teismann, senior vice president and general manager of its enterprise business segment, will serve as an interim chief until a replacement is found for Ghilardi. Max Green abseils down ArcelorMittal Orbit in London A NEWBURY man conquered his fear of heights to raise funds for an autism charity by abseiling down the 280ft ArcelorMittal Orbit in London. Max Green, 20, descended the outside of the sculpture by the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park the UKs highest freefall abseil to raise money for the National Autistic Society (NAS). The aspiring actor, who had never abseiled before, raised 930 for the charity through his fearless fundraiser. It was so scary, he said. Youre sitting on the edge and you have to just lean back and you think youre going to fall, its very daunting. It took five minutes to make it all the way down, but it seemed to last forever. I just wanted to get to the bottom, but it just seemed to go on forever. It was a great feeling when I got my feet back on the ground, though. Watch Mr Green's vlog of his abseil below. Mr Green, who works as an IT analyst at Sovereign Housing in Newbury, explained how he has been working with the charity, having featured in a 2016 NAS national campaign video focussing on the difficulties those with autism have in finding employment. Mr Green, who has autism, said performing in the video helped him realise the great work done by the charity. I just got to see first-hand the work they do, he said. Mr Green added about the abseil: Im very glad I did it for NAS, but I didnt feel it at the time. I hate heights, but I knew I had to do it. There was no way I was going to back out because it was for such a great cause. Ive raised 930 so far, but would love to get to 1,000. Im so close now so itd be great to get it. Mr Green, who featured in an episode of Holby City in 2015, is now planning on continuing his work to raise awareness and support for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and is setting up his own website www.maxjgreen.com later this month. You can sponsor Mr Green for his abseil by visiting his justgiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/max-green1 By PTI NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today pulled up the CBI for filing the same report regarding its probe into the disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmad that was placed on record last time, saying that the case was "not transferred to the agency for fun". "There is nothing new. It is the same report of July 17. We did not adjourn matter on that date to examine this two-and-a-half page scrap today," a bench of Justices G S Sistani and Chander Shekhar said to the agency. It directed the CBI to file a fresh status report before the next date of hearing on September 6. "We have not transferred the matter to the CBI for fun," the bench said, adding that the July 17 report only showed "cosmetic steps" being taken by the agency. The bench said it lists matters for hearing "at the cost of others". "What was the idea of listing it today? Just to say the report has been filed," it asked the CBI. During the hearing, the bench asked CBI what happened in the interrogation of the persons accused of assaulting the missing student the night before his disappearance. The agency replied it will indicate the same in its status report. The CBI also said there was progress in its investigation and it was sure it will "crack the case", but added that it would take some time. It also said that as part of its probe, it was also examining the earlier investigation carried out by the Delhi Police. The high court had on May 16 ordered the CBI to take over the probe into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the student since October 2016. The order was passed on the plea of Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, who moved the court on November 25 last for tracing her son, a first-year MSc Biotechnology student who went missing from JNU hostel Mahi Mandavi. The student went missing on October 15, 2016 after he had an altercation with some students belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the campus. Later, students of the RSS-affiliated ABVP had denied any involvement in his disappearance. NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today pulled up the CBI for filing the same report regarding its probe into the disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmad that was placed on record last time, saying that the case was "not transferred to the agency for fun". "There is nothing new. It is the same report of July 17. We did not adjourn matter on that date to examine this two-and-a-half page scrap today," a bench of Justices G S Sistani and Chander Shekhar said to the agency. It directed the CBI to file a fresh status report before the next date of hearing on September 6. "We have not transferred the matter to the CBI for fun," the bench said, adding that the July 17 report only showed "cosmetic steps" being taken by the agency. The bench said it lists matters for hearing "at the cost of others". "What was the idea of listing it today? Just to say the report has been filed," it asked the CBI. During the hearing, the bench asked CBI what happened in the interrogation of the persons accused of assaulting the missing student the night before his disappearance. The agency replied it will indicate the same in its status report. The CBI also said there was progress in its investigation and it was sure it will "crack the case", but added that it would take some time. It also said that as part of its probe, it was also examining the earlier investigation carried out by the Delhi Police. The high court had on May 16 ordered the CBI to take over the probe into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the student since October 2016. The order was passed on the plea of Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, who moved the court on November 25 last for tracing her son, a first-year MSc Biotechnology student who went missing from JNU hostel Mahi Mandavi. The student went missing on October 15, 2016 after he had an altercation with some students belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the campus. Later, students of the RSS-affiliated ABVP had denied any involvement in his disappearance. By ANI NEW DELHI: Kerala Angamali magisterial court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of actor Dileep till August 22, in connection with assault and abduction of a Malayalam actress. On July 14, Dileep was produced before the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court where his police custody was extended. Dileep on July 11 was expelled from the primary membership of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) after being arrested. He was also sent to 14-day judicial custody. Dileep was slapped with conspiracy charges owing to the abduction and assault of a popular Malayalam actress earlier in February. Later that day, he was arrested by evening. Earlier, the two main accused in the case, Sunil Kumar (Pulsar Suni) and Vigeesh, were brought to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for evidence collection. The incident reportedly took place when the actress was returning from a shoot. NEW DELHI: Kerala Angamali magisterial court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of actor Dileep till August 22, in connection with assault and abduction of a Malayalam actress. On July 14, Dileep was produced before the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court where his police custody was extended. Dileep on July 11 was expelled from the primary membership of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) after being arrested. He was also sent to 14-day judicial custody. Dileep was slapped with conspiracy charges owing to the abduction and assault of a popular Malayalam actress earlier in February. Later that day, he was arrested by evening. Earlier, the two main accused in the case, Sunil Kumar (Pulsar Suni) and Vigeesh, were brought to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for evidence collection. The incident reportedly took place when the actress was returning from a shoot. By PTI WASHINGTON: Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have developed a device that can convert skin cells in the body into any other cell type with just a touch, an advance that may help repair injured tissues, blood vessels and nerves. Researchers from the Ohio State University in the US developed a new technology called Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) and tested it on mice and pigs.They were able to reprogramme skin cells to become vascular cells in badly injured legs that lacked blood flow. Within a week, active blood vessels appeared in the injured leg, and by the second week, the leg was saved. In lab tests, the technology was able to reprogramme skin cells in the live body into nerve cells that were injected into brain-injured mice to help them recover from stroke. "By using our novel nanochip technology, injured or compromised organs can be replaced. We have shown that skin is a fertile land where we can grow the elements of any organ that is declining," said Chandan Sen, director of Ohio State's Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Based Therapies. "This is difficult to imagine, but it is achievable, successfully working about 98 per cent of the time. With this technology, we can convert skin cells into elements of any organ with just one touch," said Sen."This process only takes less than a second and is non- invasive, and then you're off. The chip does not stay with you, and the reprogramming of the cell starts," he said. TNT technology has two major components: a nanotechnology-based chip designed to deliver cargo to adult cells in the live body; and the design of specific biological cargo for cell conversion. This cargo, when delivered using the chip, converts an adult cell from one type to another, said Daniel Gallego- Perez, an assistant professor at Ohio State. TNT does not require any laboratory-based procedures and may be implemented at the point of care. The procedure is also non-invasive.The cargo is delivered by zapping the device with a small electrical charge that is barely felt by the patient.The research was published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. WASHINGTON: Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have developed a device that can convert skin cells in the body into any other cell type with just a touch, an advance that may help repair injured tissues, blood vessels and nerves. Researchers from the Ohio State University in the US developed a new technology called Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) and tested it on mice and pigs.They were able to reprogramme skin cells to become vascular cells in badly injured legs that lacked blood flow. Within a week, active blood vessels appeared in the injured leg, and by the second week, the leg was saved. In lab tests, the technology was able to reprogramme skin cells in the live body into nerve cells that were injected into brain-injured mice to help them recover from stroke. "By using our novel nanochip technology, injured or compromised organs can be replaced. We have shown that skin is a fertile land where we can grow the elements of any organ that is declining," said Chandan Sen, director of Ohio State's Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Based Therapies. "This is difficult to imagine, but it is achievable, successfully working about 98 per cent of the time. With this technology, we can convert skin cells into elements of any organ with just one touch," said Sen."This process only takes less than a second and is non- invasive, and then you're off. The chip does not stay with you, and the reprogramming of the cell starts," he said. TNT technology has two major components: a nanotechnology-based chip designed to deliver cargo to adult cells in the live body; and the design of specific biological cargo for cell conversion. This cargo, when delivered using the chip, converts an adult cell from one type to another, said Daniel Gallego- Perez, an assistant professor at Ohio State. TNT does not require any laboratory-based procedures and may be implemented at the point of care. The procedure is also non-invasive.The cargo is delivered by zapping the device with a small electrical charge that is barely felt by the patient.The research was published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. By PTI JAMMU: An Indian Army jawan was killed in Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today. The Indian troops retaliated "strongly and effectively" to the Pakistani firing, an Army officer said. "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Krishnagati sector at around 1450 hours today," the officer said. In the firing, Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries, the officer said. Sugra, aged 21, belonged to Sugri village of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand. He leaves behind his parents "Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the Army said. Yesterday, an Army jawan was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. On August 7, the Pakistani Army had violated the ceasefire by firing at Indian posts along the LoC in Baba Khori belt of Naushera sector of Rajouri district. Till August 1, there had been 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures of the Indian Army. JAMMU: An Indian Army jawan was killed in Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today. The Indian troops retaliated "strongly and effectively" to the Pakistani firing, an Army officer said. "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Krishnagati sector at around 1450 hours today," the officer said. In the firing, Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries, the officer said. Sugra, aged 21, belonged to Sugri village of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand. He leaves behind his parents "Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the Army said. Yesterday, an Army jawan was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. On August 7, the Pakistani Army had violated the ceasefire by firing at Indian posts along the LoC in Baba Khori belt of Naushera sector of Rajouri district. Till August 1, there had been 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures of the Indian Army. By PTI BEIJING: Rejecting India's suggestion for a simultaneous withdrawal of troops to end the standoff at Doklam, China today upped the ante, wondering what New Delhi would do if it "enters" Kalapani region in Uttarakhand or Kashmir. India and China have been locked in a face-off in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector for 50 days after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the area. China claimed it was constructing the road within their territory and has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Doklam plateau. Bhutan says Doklam belongs to it but China claims the area belongs to it and says Thimphu has no dispute with Beijing over it. "Even if there is only one Indian soldier, even for a day, it is still a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wang Wenli, Deputy Director General of the Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said. Wang was briefing an Indian media delegation, whose visit was sponsored by the state-run All China Journalists Association (ACJA), on China's stand on the Doklam standoff. "It is impossible to have a dialogue with India at this time. Our people will think our government is incompetent. Until the Indian side withdraws from the Chinese territory, there will be no substantive talks between us," she said, while reiterating Beijing's stand that the only way to end the present crisis on the border was the withdrawal of Indian troops from Doklam. Needling India, she raised the Kashmir issue and also referred to the Kalapani dispute between India and Nepal. "We think it is not doable for the Indian side to use tri-junction as an excuse," she said, referring to Indian External Affairs Ministry's assertion that the road building at the China, India and Bhutan tri-junction in the strategic narrow Chicken's Neck area changes the status quo. "The Indian side has also many tri-junctions. What if we use the same excuse and enter the Kalapani region between China, India and Nepal or even into the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan," she said. "Therefore, using the tri-junction as an excuse does not hold water at all. It will only cause more trouble," Wang said. This is the first time that a Chinese official sought to bring in the Kashmir issue even though such a remark has been made earlier by a scholar in the state-run Global Times. Asked whether China was getting ready for a war with India, Wang said, "I can only say that for the PLA (People's Liberation Army) and for the Chinese government, we have the determination. So, if the Indian side decides to go down the wrong path or still have illusions about this incident, then we have the right to use any act that is in line with the international law to protect our rights." Wang said India and China had many standoffs before but "we haven't issued any position paper till now". "But this time we have the position paper and in the position paper, you can find clear information about our position and possible moves by us," she said, referring to a 15-page fact sheet issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry few days ago. "The Indian border troops are sending a signal of aggression while the signals sent by the foreign ministry is for peaceful negotiations. So, we think these two signals do not match with each other," she said. Wang also rejected a negotiated solution by restoring status quo with the simultaneous withdrawal of Indian and Chinese troops to their earlier positions. India's position on the issue was made clear by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj recently, saying both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place, favouring a peaceful resolution of the border standoff. Referring to reports in the Indian media that both the countries' border troops can withdraw at the same time to restore the status quo, Wang said "this is also unacceptable for China". "Because the facts are clear. It is the Indian troops that crossed the mutually recognised boundary into the Chinese territory. So, it is the Indian border troops that have the responsibility to withdraw," she said. Skirting any references to the shrill campaign being conducted by the official media here, Wang said China is exercising restraint and goodwill. "In fact, we have expressed many times the diplomatic channel is always open and it is so in the past 50 days but it does not mean that we will not use our power to use the acts of defence in line with the UN charter or relevant international law." BEIJING: Rejecting India's suggestion for a simultaneous withdrawal of troops to end the standoff at Doklam, China today upped the ante, wondering what New Delhi would do if it "enters" Kalapani region in Uttarakhand or Kashmir. India and China have been locked in a face-off in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector for 50 days after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the area. China claimed it was constructing the road within their territory and has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Doklam plateau. Bhutan says Doklam belongs to it but China claims the area belongs to it and says Thimphu has no dispute with Beijing over it. "Even if there is only one Indian soldier, even for a day, it is still a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wang Wenli, Deputy Director General of the Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said. Wang was briefing an Indian media delegation, whose visit was sponsored by the state-run All China Journalists Association (ACJA), on China's stand on the Doklam standoff. "It is impossible to have a dialogue with India at this time. Our people will think our government is incompetent. Until the Indian side withdraws from the Chinese territory, there will be no substantive talks between us," she said, while reiterating Beijing's stand that the only way to end the present crisis on the border was the withdrawal of Indian troops from Doklam. Needling India, she raised the Kashmir issue and also referred to the Kalapani dispute between India and Nepal. "We think it is not doable for the Indian side to use tri-junction as an excuse," she said, referring to Indian External Affairs Ministry's assertion that the road building at the China, India and Bhutan tri-junction in the strategic narrow Chicken's Neck area changes the status quo. "The Indian side has also many tri-junctions. What if we use the same excuse and enter the Kalapani region between China, India and Nepal or even into the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan," she said. "Therefore, using the tri-junction as an excuse does not hold water at all. It will only cause more trouble," Wang said. This is the first time that a Chinese official sought to bring in the Kashmir issue even though such a remark has been made earlier by a scholar in the state-run Global Times. Asked whether China was getting ready for a war with India, Wang said, "I can only say that for the PLA (People's Liberation Army) and for the Chinese government, we have the determination. So, if the Indian side decides to go down the wrong path or still have illusions about this incident, then we have the right to use any act that is in line with the international law to protect our rights." Wang said India and China had many standoffs before but "we haven't issued any position paper till now". "But this time we have the position paper and in the position paper, you can find clear information about our position and possible moves by us," she said, referring to a 15-page fact sheet issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry few days ago. "The Indian border troops are sending a signal of aggression while the signals sent by the foreign ministry is for peaceful negotiations. So, we think these two signals do not match with each other," she said. Wang also rejected a negotiated solution by restoring status quo with the simultaneous withdrawal of Indian and Chinese troops to their earlier positions. India's position on the issue was made clear by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj recently, saying both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place, favouring a peaceful resolution of the border standoff. Referring to reports in the Indian media that both the countries' border troops can withdraw at the same time to restore the status quo, Wang said "this is also unacceptable for China". "Because the facts are clear. It is the Indian troops that crossed the mutually recognised boundary into the Chinese territory. So, it is the Indian border troops that have the responsibility to withdraw," she said. Skirting any references to the shrill campaign being conducted by the official media here, Wang said China is exercising restraint and goodwill. "In fact, we have expressed many times the diplomatic channel is always open and it is so in the past 50 days but it does not mean that we will not use our power to use the acts of defence in line with the UN charter or relevant international law." By Online Desk A day of drama came to an end in the midnight hours as Congress veteran Ahmed Patel held on dearly to his Rajya Sabha seat retaining his place in the upper house with the support of 44 MLAs in Gujarat. Counting for the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections had to be stopped on Tuesday evening with the Congress demanding cancellation of votes of two of its legislators who cross-voted and displayed their ballot paper to the BJP's polling agent. Two rebel Congress MLAs, Raghavji Patel and Bholabhai Gohil, displayed their ballot paper before the BJP agent as well as the Congress counterpart, which was challenged by senior Congress leaders. Later, Shaktisinh Gohil and Arjun Modhwadia of the Congress and state BJP president Jitu Vaghani viewed the videography of the polling. A report was sent to the Election Commission in Delhi on the incident. The Commission after holding closed door meetings for hours finally accepted the plea of the Congress and rejected the votes of the two MLAs Voting ended in Gujarat state assembly on Tuesday afternoon for the Rajya Sabha elections in which Ahmed Patel, the influential political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, and BJP's Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput are in the fray. The elections have turned into a high-stake battle for the Congress in the backdrop of turbulence in the party following the surprise exit of Vaghela and the resignation of six of its MLAs recently. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT Watch video: Congress MLAs leave from Neejanand Resort Here are the updates as it happened: 2.40 AM: Congress veteran Ahmed Patel gets 44 votes while BJP chief Amit Shah and Smriti Irani get 46 votes each - TV reports BJP's Amit Shah flashes victory sign as he leaves counting center in Gandhinagar. (Photo: ANI) 2.20 AM: 2.00 AM: BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani also win Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat. (ANI) 1.50 AM: Ahmed Patel tweets that his Rajya Sabha poll win is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery . This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) August 8, 2017 1.45 AM: *Congress workers celebrate the victory of Ahmed Patel. However, official confirmation from the Election Commission is expected shortly. *Congress on twitter congratulates Ahmed Patel for his Rajya Sabha win. Heartiest congratulations to @ahmedpatel on his win! Congress (@INCIndia) August 8, 2017 1.40 AM: Congress leader Ahmed Patel retains Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat (ANI) 1.35 AM: Counting of votes for the Gujarat Rajya Sabha seats begin in Gandhinagar.(ANI) 1.20 AM: Counting of votes for the three Gujarat Rajya Sabha seat to start shortly. (ANI) 9 August , 12.30 AM: Congress' Rajya Sabha candidate Ahmed Patel appreciates the order of the Election Commission. Says he salutes his MLAs, rank, file of the Congress Party. 11.55 PM Gujarat Deputy CM Nitinbhai Patel said the decision is sad and if the CD of voting is made public, not just us the whole nation will say the decision is wrong. 11.45PM: Big win for democracy; will boost morale of Congress worker. Ahmed Patel will win with big margin: Bharatsinh Solanki, Gujarat Cong Pres pic.twitter.com/IrYHbHWx9J ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 11.30 PM: *EC declares votes of Congress MLAs Bhola Bhai Gohil & Raghav Bhai Patel as invalid.(Read More) *EC asks Returning Officer to start counting of votes after segregating the votes in question. 11.05 PM: In a latest development, JD(U) has sacked Gujarat General Secretary Arun Srivastava for writing to RO over appointment of party's election agent when he was not directed to do so. (Read more) 10.55 PM: BJP president Amit Shah has camped with other BJP party members outside the counting center in Gandhinagar awaiting the EC verdict and possibly the results of the polling. Gujarat: Amit Shah, CM Vijay Rupani, Bhupender Yadav & othe rparty members sitting outside counting center in Gandhinagar #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/n3b1MZDKrs ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 10.45 PM: Election Commission will convey order on counting of votes to Returning Officer at 11.30 pm. (ANI) 10.10 PM: With all respect want to tell BJP that this is the war of truth, lies cannot prevail on Gandhi Ji's land: RS Surjewala #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/1oxCTeLFxU ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 10 PM: *The counting of votes has been delayed for five hours now and Officials are in closed door meeting. TV reports suggest the Election Commission decision will be announced soon. *EC officials did not meet the Congress & BJP delegations after they approached the poll panel for a third time. 9.40 PM: We want electoral process to be completed and counting to begin, says Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman after approaching Election Commission for a third time. 9.25 PM: Now BJP delegation approaches Election Commission for the third time. Congress cannot put undue pressure on EC. If Congress party goes to EC the third time, so will we: RS Prasad #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/W0LQjUk0t4 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 9.00 PM: A Congress delegation of leaders including RPN Singh and Randeep Surjewala approach the Election Commission for a third time. 8.45 PM: Have full faith in EC, Congress's allegations have no substance and they are giving wrong precedents: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad after meeting EC again. (Read more) 8.35 PM: A BJP delegation of Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arun Jaitley had earlier met the poll panel had requested to reject the plea of Congress. Now, Arun Jaitley has again arrived at the Election Commission office and the BJP delegation meets poll panel one more time. Delhi: Union Minister Arun Jaitley also reached Election Commission #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/wd1PpxbytF ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 8:25 PM: There is enough evidence that the ballot paper was seen by people other than those authorized. EC must reject these ballot papers as it did in Haryana in June 2016, says former Union Minister P Chidambaram. P Chidambaram addressin the media outside the EC office in New Delhi. (ANI) 8:20 PM: Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram addresses the media at the Election Commission in New Delhi, says showing of the ballot is a violation of rules. - TV reports 8:10 PM: BJP delegation including Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal and Ravi Shankar Prasad arrive at Election Commission again. 7:45 PM: One of our MLAs had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana, and his vote was rejected, same was done in Gujarat so should be rejected: Anand Sharma to ANI. Anand Sharma addresses the media outside the Election Commission office in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. (ANI) 7:40 PM: Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad said that the poll panel has been requested to reject Congress's plea as once votes are cast then nothing can be done; the process was fair. 7:35 PM: The complaint was filed immediately but returning officer didn't do anything. I'm very much confident let counting take place: Ahmed Patel, Congress to ANI. 7:30 PM: Why did the Congress wait for five hours, and is making baseless allegations, asks BJP's Ravishankar Prasad outside the Election commission office in New Delhi. 7:20 PM: Delhi: BJP delegation including union ministers MA Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan going to Election Commission pic.twitter.com/pnOeUfU2p5 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 7:15 PM: We requested that Congress, BJP, and the Presiding officer should jointly watch the video on cross-voting, but the BJP objected, and are waiting for the EC decision: Arjun Modhwadia of Congress to ANI. 7:10 PM: Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar, Nirmala Sitharaman also reach Election Commission. 7:05 PM: Election Commission meeting over Congress complaint underway; the decision to be announced today, say sources. 7:00 PM: BJP delegation including union ministers MA Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan going to Election Commission. 6:20 PM: Congress complaint to EC demanding quashing of votes of 2 Cong MLAs who voted BJP and allegedly showed votes publicly pic.twitter.com/xf7glnABQ8 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 5:55 PM: All reports and Congress' complaint have been sent to the Election Commission in Delhi. Counting will begin once a reply is received. 5:45 PM: Congress' Randeep Surjewala and RPN Singh approach the Election Commission to demand quashing of votes of two Congress MLAs alleging that they voted for BJP and publicly showed votes. 5:40 PM: Nitish Kumar had asked our Gujarat MLA Chhotubhai Vasava to vote for BJP and he voted BJP: KC Tyagi, JDU MP and spokesperson to ANI. 5:35 PM: Two Congress MLAs Bholabhai and Raghavji Bhai voted for BJP and publicly showed their votes. We will ask for an official copy, if the video is found to be tampered, then it is a serious a criminal act, we will go to SC for that: Shaktisinh Gohil. 5:00 PM: Two Congress MLAs who voted for BJP showed their votes to Amit Shahji, it has been video-graphed: Shaktisinh Gohil #RajyaSabhaPolls pic.twitter.com/72Hbla288n ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 4:00 PM: The lone JD(U) MLA in Gujarat, Chhotu Vasava, today said he voted for Congress' nominee Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls as the ruling BJP has done little for tribal people and the poor. [READ FULL REPORT] 2: 30 PM: Ahmed Patel ji is winning comfortably: Ashok Gehlot,Congress Gujarat in charge #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/JbP8UlYMc4 ANI News (@Ani_News) August 8, 2017 2: 12 PM: Number are in our favour, result should be good, I am confident and optimistic: Ahmed Patel. ( ANI) 2: 11 PM: Voting for Gujarat Rajya Sabha Election 2017 has ended. (ANI) 1: 40 PM: A day after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that his party is in existential crisis, the grand old party on Tuesday flatly rejected the assertion. (ANI) [READ FULL REPORT] 1: 30 PM: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday made a fervent appeal to former party leader Shankersinh Vaghela over the Gujarat Rajya Sabha Polls, reminding him not to forget what the grand old party has done for him over the past years. (ANI) [READ FULL REPORT] 1: 20 PM: Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress MLAs at Uma Bhawan after they cast their vote in #RajyaSabhaPolls #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/p54SlDFebx ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 12: 45 PM: Congress MLA Dharshi Khanpura cast his vote himself after EC officer denied his proxy voting request. (ANI) Congress MLA Dharshi Khanpura after casting his vote; EC officer had denied his proxy voting request. #RajyaSabhaPolls #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/dXLovAZCEP ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 12: 30 PM: Victory of our candidates certain. Party had been working for this since the announcement of election dates: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. (ANI) 12: 25 PM: "We have got 43 votes so far, 1 MLA is going to vote. Chhotubhai Vasava (JDU) publicly said he voted for Ahmed bhai, " said Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia. (ANI). [FULL REPORT] 12: 20 AM: Latest secene out side the Gujarat assembly. #Gujarat: Congress MLAs outside the assembly after casting their votes in #RajyaSabhaPolls. pic.twitter.com/lUMrTDD66i ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 11: 52 AM: On the other hand, Jairam Ramesh today did not respond to questions on his yesterday's statement about Congress facing existential crisis ahead of today's poll. (ANI) 10: 50 AM: "Things blown out of proportion because of Ahmed Patel. He's in risky situation , half of his people might end up voting for BJP, " NCP leader Majeed Memon. (ANI) 10: 27 AM: Voted according to whip issued by high command, after all we are the partner of UPA: NCP MLA Jayant Patel. (ANI) Jadeja (Kandhal Jadeja) ji is first time MLA, he is innocent. Our vote is for UPA:Jayant Patel,NCP #Gujarat #RajyaSabhaPolls pic.twitter.com/72inJcapWf ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 10: 24 AM: I have cast my vote. In a democracy the voting is secret: Congress MLA Mahendra Sinh Vaghela. (ANI) 10: 19 AM: Both NCP MLAs voting for BJP candidate, it is clear: #Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani #RajyaSabhaPolls pic.twitter.com/HXI9YOBtcq ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 10: 15 AM: Congress MLAs arrive at state assembly from Neejanand resort in Anand district. (ANI) 10: 00 AM: Two MLAs voted for BJP despite being from Congress. Shakti Singh Gohil has taken objection against this: Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia. (ANI) 9: 52 AM: Two more MLAs, Dharmendra Jadeja and Raghavji Patel vote for Dharmendra Jadeja, another former Congress leader, who is now contesting against Ahmed Patel for the crucial third Rajya Sabha seat. (ANI) There are only 2 parties in Gujarat - Congress & BJP. If I'm not with Congress, you know where will I be: Raghavji Patel #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/BnsI87MLAH ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 9: 47 AM: Had cleared things yesterday itself. You will know everything in the evening: NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja #RajyaSabhaPolls #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/AVktLSVTTC ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 9: 45 AM: Shankersinh Vaghela ditches his former party Congress, says that he has not voted for Patel. (ANI) [FULL REPORT] 9: 40 AM: "When I am confident, party is confident we are going to win. Wait for the result to come," Ahmed Patel. (ANI) 9: 03 AM: Voting begins at the Gujarat assembly. (ANI) 9: 00 AM: BJP Rajya Sabha candidates Smriti Irani & Amit Shah arrive at Gujarat Legislative Assembly; state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also reaches the house. (ANI) Gujarat: Preparations for Rajya Sabha polls underway in State Legislative Assembly in Gandhinagar pic.twitter.com/zYyJhIlOqS ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 A candidate will require 45 votes for a straight win in the poll, and the BJP with 121 MLAs can secure easy victories for BJP chief Shah and union minister Irani. The party will be left with 31 surplus votes for Rajput, who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. Rajput till recently was Congress' chief whip in the House. It is after a gap of about two decades that a contest is happening in Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties used to get elected unopposed after the BJP fielded a Congress rebel against Patel, who is seeking a fifth term. According to Election Commission officials, a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes. The MLAs have to give their preferential votes indicating first choice, second, third, fourth (as per the number of candidates) or they can choose NOTA, they said. A day of drama came to an end in the midnight hours as Congress veteran Ahmed Patel held on dearly to his Rajya Sabha seat retaining his place in the upper house with the support of 44 MLAs in Gujarat. Counting for the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections had to be stopped on Tuesday evening with the Congress demanding cancellation of votes of two of its legislators who cross-voted and displayed their ballot paper to the BJP's polling agent. Two rebel Congress MLAs, Raghavji Patel and Bholabhai Gohil, displayed their ballot paper before the BJP agent as well as the Congress counterpart, which was challenged by senior Congress leaders. Later, Shaktisinh Gohil and Arjun Modhwadia of the Congress and state BJP president Jitu Vaghani viewed the videography of the polling. A report was sent to the Election Commission in Delhi on the incident. The Commission after holding closed door meetings for hours finally accepted the plea of the Congress and rejected the votes of the two MLAs Voting ended in Gujarat state assembly on Tuesday afternoon for the Rajya Sabha elections in which Ahmed Patel, the influential political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, and BJP's Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput are in the fray. The elections have turned into a high-stake battle for the Congress in the backdrop of turbulence in the party following the surprise exit of Vaghela and the resignation of six of its MLAs recently. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT Watch video: Congress MLAs leave from Neejanand Resort Here are the updates as it happened: 2.40 AM: Congress veteran Ahmed Patel gets 44 votes while BJP chief Amit Shah and Smriti Irani get 46 votes each - TV reports BJP's Amit Shah flashes victory sign as he leaves counting center in Gandhinagar. (Photo: ANI) 2.20 AM: Supporters in Bharuch celebrate #AhmedPatel's victory, shout slogans in his support #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/tBEFTljvDA ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 2.00 AM: BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani also win Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat. (ANI) 1.50 AM: Ahmed Patel tweets that his Rajya Sabha poll win is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery . This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) August 8, 2017 1.45 AM: *Congress workers celebrate the victory of Ahmed Patel. However, official confirmation from the Election Commission is expected shortly. *Congress on twitter congratulates Ahmed Patel for his Rajya Sabha win. Heartiest congratulations to @ahmedpatel on his win! Congress (@INCIndia) August 8, 2017 1.40 AM: Congress leader Ahmed Patel retains Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat (ANI) 1.35 AM: Counting of votes for the Gujarat Rajya Sabha seats begin in Gandhinagar.(ANI) 1.20 AM: Counting of votes for the three Gujarat Rajya Sabha seat to start shortly. (ANI) 9 August , 12.30 AM: Congress' Rajya Sabha candidate Ahmed Patel appreciates the order of the Election Commission. Says he salutes his MLAs, rank, file of the Congress Party. 11.55 PM Gujarat Deputy CM Nitinbhai Patel said the decision is sad and if the CD of voting is made public, not just us the whole nation will say the decision is wrong. 11.45PM: Big win for democracy; will boost morale of Congress worker. Ahmed Patel will win with big margin: Bharatsinh Solanki, Gujarat Cong Pres pic.twitter.com/IrYHbHWx9J ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 11.30 PM: *EC declares votes of Congress MLAs Bhola Bhai Gohil & Raghav Bhai Patel as invalid.(Read More) *EC asks Returning Officer to start counting of votes after segregating the votes in question. 11.05 PM: In a latest development, JD(U) has sacked Gujarat General Secretary Arun Srivastava for writing to RO over appointment of party's election agent when he was not directed to do so. (Read more) 10.55 PM: BJP president Amit Shah has camped with other BJP party members outside the counting center in Gandhinagar awaiting the EC verdict and possibly the results of the polling. Gujarat: Amit Shah, CM Vijay Rupani, Bhupender Yadav & othe rparty members sitting outside counting center in Gandhinagar #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/n3b1MZDKrs ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 10.45 PM: Election Commission will convey order on counting of votes to Returning Officer at 11.30 pm. (ANI) 10.10 PM: With all respect want to tell BJP that this is the war of truth, lies cannot prevail on Gandhi Ji's land: RS Surjewala #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/1oxCTeLFxU ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 10 PM: *The counting of votes has been delayed for five hours now and Officials are in closed door meeting. TV reports suggest the Election Commission decision will be announced soon. *EC officials did not meet the Congress & BJP delegations after they approached the poll panel for a third time. 9.40 PM: We want electoral process to be completed and counting to begin, says Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman after approaching Election Commission for a third time. 9.25 PM: Now BJP delegation approaches Election Commission for the third time. Congress cannot put undue pressure on EC. If Congress party goes to EC the third time, so will we: RS Prasad #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/W0LQjUk0t4 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 9.00 PM: A Congress delegation of leaders including RPN Singh and Randeep Surjewala approach the Election Commission for a third time. 8.45 PM: Have full faith in EC, Congress's allegations have no substance and they are giving wrong precedents: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad after meeting EC again. (Read more) 8.35 PM: A BJP delegation of Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arun Jaitley had earlier met the poll panel had requested to reject the plea of Congress. Now, Arun Jaitley has again arrived at the Election Commission office and the BJP delegation meets poll panel one more time. Delhi: Union Minister Arun Jaitley also reached Election Commission #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/wd1PpxbytF ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 8:25 PM: There is enough evidence that the ballot paper was seen by people other than those authorized. EC must reject these ballot papers as it did in Haryana in June 2016, says former Union Minister P Chidambaram. P Chidambaram addressin the media outside the EC office in New Delhi. (ANI) 8:20 PM: Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram addresses the media at the Election Commission in New Delhi, says showing of the ballot is a violation of rules. - TV reports 8:10 PM: BJP delegation including Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal and Ravi Shankar Prasad arrive at Election Commission again. 7:45 PM: One of our MLAs had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana, and his vote was rejected, same was done in Gujarat so should be rejected: Anand Sharma to ANI. Anand Sharma addresses the media outside the Election Commission office in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. (ANI) 7:40 PM: Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad said that the poll panel has been requested to reject Congress's plea as once votes are cast then nothing can be done; the process was fair. 7:35 PM: The complaint was filed immediately but returning officer didn't do anything. I'm very much confident let counting take place: Ahmed Patel, Congress to ANI. 7:30 PM: Why did the Congress wait for five hours, and is making baseless allegations, asks BJP's Ravishankar Prasad outside the Election commission office in New Delhi. 7:20 PM: Delhi: BJP delegation including union ministers MA Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan going to Election Commission pic.twitter.com/pnOeUfU2p5 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 7:15 PM: We requested that Congress, BJP, and the Presiding officer should jointly watch the video on cross-voting, but the BJP objected, and are waiting for the EC decision: Arjun Modhwadia of Congress to ANI. 7:10 PM: Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar, Nirmala Sitharaman also reach Election Commission. 7:05 PM: Election Commission meeting over Congress complaint underway; the decision to be announced today, say sources. 7:00 PM: BJP delegation including union ministers MA Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan going to Election Commission. 6:20 PM: Congress complaint to EC demanding quashing of votes of 2 Cong MLAs who voted BJP and allegedly showed votes publicly pic.twitter.com/xf7glnABQ8 ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 5:55 PM: All reports and Congress' complaint have been sent to the Election Commission in Delhi. Counting will begin once a reply is received. 5:45 PM: Congress' Randeep Surjewala and RPN Singh approach the Election Commission to demand quashing of votes of two Congress MLAs alleging that they voted for BJP and publicly showed votes. 5:40 PM: Nitish Kumar had asked our Gujarat MLA Chhotubhai Vasava to vote for BJP and he voted BJP: KC Tyagi, JDU MP and spokesperson to ANI. 5:35 PM: Two Congress MLAs Bholabhai and Raghavji Bhai voted for BJP and publicly showed their votes. We will ask for an official copy, if the video is found to be tampered, then it is a serious a criminal act, we will go to SC for that: Shaktisinh Gohil. 5:00 PM: Two Congress MLAs who voted for BJP showed their votes to Amit Shahji, it has been video-graphed: Shaktisinh Gohil #RajyaSabhaPolls pic.twitter.com/72Hbla288n ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 4:00 PM: The lone JD(U) MLA in Gujarat, Chhotu Vasava, today said he voted for Congress' nominee Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls as the ruling BJP has done little for tribal people and the poor. [READ FULL REPORT] 2: 30 PM: Ahmed Patel ji is winning comfortably: Ashok Gehlot,Congress Gujarat in charge #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/JbP8UlYMc4 ANI News (@Ani_News) August 8, 2017 2: 12 PM: Number are in our favour, result should be good, I am confident and optimistic: Ahmed Patel. ( ANI) 2: 11 PM: Voting for Gujarat Rajya Sabha Election 2017 has ended. (ANI) 1: 40 PM: A day after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that his party is in existential crisis, the grand old party on Tuesday flatly rejected the assertion. (ANI) [READ FULL REPORT] 1: 30 PM: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday made a fervent appeal to former party leader Shankersinh Vaghela over the Gujarat Rajya Sabha Polls, reminding him not to forget what the grand old party has done for him over the past years. (ANI) [READ FULL REPORT] 1: 20 PM: Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress MLAs at Uma Bhawan after they cast their vote in #RajyaSabhaPolls #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/p54SlDFebx ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 12: 45 PM: Congress MLA Dharshi Khanpura cast his vote himself after EC officer denied his proxy voting request. (ANI) Congress MLA Dharshi Khanpura after casting his vote; EC officer had denied his proxy voting request. #RajyaSabhaPolls #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/dXLovAZCEP ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 12: 30 PM: Victory of our candidates certain. Party had been working for this since the announcement of election dates: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. (ANI) 12: 25 PM: "We have got 43 votes so far, 1 MLA is going to vote. Chhotubhai Vasava (JDU) publicly said he voted for Ahmed bhai, " said Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia. (ANI). [FULL REPORT] 12: 20 AM: Latest secene out side the Gujarat assembly. #Gujarat: Congress MLAs outside the assembly after casting their votes in #RajyaSabhaPolls. pic.twitter.com/lUMrTDD66i ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 11: 52 AM: On the other hand, Jairam Ramesh today did not respond to questions on his yesterday's statement about Congress facing existential crisis ahead of today's poll. (ANI) 10: 50 AM: "Things blown out of proportion because of Ahmed Patel. He's in risky situation , half of his people might end up voting for BJP, " NCP leader Majeed Memon. (ANI) 10: 27 AM: Voted according to whip issued by high command, after all we are the partner of UPA: NCP MLA Jayant Patel. (ANI) Jadeja (Kandhal Jadeja) ji is first time MLA, he is innocent. Our vote is for UPA:Jayant Patel,NCP #Gujarat #RajyaSabhaPolls pic.twitter.com/72inJcapWf ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 10: 24 AM: I have cast my vote. In a democracy the voting is secret: Congress MLA Mahendra Sinh Vaghela. (ANI) 10: 19 AM: Both NCP MLAs voting for BJP candidate, it is clear: #Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani #RajyaSabhaPolls pic.twitter.com/HXI9YOBtcq ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 10: 15 AM: Congress MLAs arrive at state assembly from Neejanand resort in Anand district. (ANI) 10: 00 AM: Two MLAs voted for BJP despite being from Congress. Shakti Singh Gohil has taken objection against this: Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia. (ANI) 9: 52 AM: Two more MLAs, Dharmendra Jadeja and Raghavji Patel vote for Dharmendra Jadeja, another former Congress leader, who is now contesting against Ahmed Patel for the crucial third Rajya Sabha seat. (ANI) There are only 2 parties in Gujarat - Congress & BJP. If I'm not with Congress, you know where will I be: Raghavji Patel #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/BnsI87MLAH ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 9: 47 AM: Had cleared things yesterday itself. You will know everything in the evening: NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja #RajyaSabhaPolls #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/AVktLSVTTC ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 9: 45 AM: Shankersinh Vaghela ditches his former party Congress, says that he has not voted for Patel. (ANI) [FULL REPORT] 9: 40 AM: "When I am confident, party is confident we are going to win. Wait for the result to come," Ahmed Patel. (ANI) 9: 03 AM: Voting begins at the Gujarat assembly. (ANI) 9: 00 AM: BJP Rajya Sabha candidates Smriti Irani & Amit Shah arrive at Gujarat Legislative Assembly; state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also reaches the house. (ANI) Gujarat: Preparations for Rajya Sabha polls underway in State Legislative Assembly in Gandhinagar pic.twitter.com/zYyJhIlOqS ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 A candidate will require 45 votes for a straight win in the poll, and the BJP with 121 MLAs can secure easy victories for BJP chief Shah and union minister Irani. The party will be left with 31 surplus votes for Rajput, who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. Rajput till recently was Congress' chief whip in the House. It is after a gap of about two decades that a contest is happening in Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties used to get elected unopposed after the BJP fielded a Congress rebel against Patel, who is seeking a fifth term. According to Election Commission officials, a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes. The MLAs have to give their preferential votes indicating first choice, second, third, fourth (as per the number of candidates) or they can choose NOTA, they said. Santwana Bhattacharya By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Congress is in an existential crisis. Its not an electoral crisis. This is Jairam Ramesh, a former minister and Rajya Sabha member, sending an SOS to his party through media. The alarm bells could not have been rung at a more appropriate time his party colleague in Gujarat, Ahmed Patel, is staring down the barrel in whats perhaps the toughest challenge to his political career. Electoral and existential: its the same for Patel. State party chief Shaktisinh Gohil may be imparting desperate lessons to 44 MLAs on how to vote for Patel without fail in the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday. But on the voting eve, things looked iffy for a once-powerful political secretary to the party president. Patel needs 45 to win his fifth re-election in a row to the Rajya Sabha. So even if all 44 Congress MLAs vote obediently for him, hes still one short. NCP leader Praful Patel, a former UPA minister, who has suddenly reclaimed his Gujarati origins with posters splashed around Ahmedabad, has declared that his party is in alliance with no one, so his Gujarat MLAs are free to vote for anyone they choose. Chotubhai Vasava, a JD-U MLA, was present when Patel filed his nominations and pledged support. But in his latest statement, hes said he would vote for those wholl give something to his constituency. Later in the evening, a Vasava confidante told Express the MLA will take final call tomorrow, leaving it tantalizingly open for the voting day. Nalin Kotadia of the erstwhile Gujarat Parivartan Party, Keshubhai Patels rebel outfit, is reportedly headed for the BJP.Then theres Shankarsinh Vaghela, his MLA son Mahendrasinh and close aide Raghavji Patel, and four other fence-sitters from the gang of Congress rebels. None of them, including Vaghela, have formally resigned from the party, but declared theyve quit.Vaghela on Monday told a channel that he spoke to Ahmed Patel on Sunday and would speak to him again on Tuesday. But whom an MLA votes for is not a matter that can be discussed, he said. Its his/her right. Whats more, he admitted that hes been advising Balwantsinh Rajput, Patels ex-protege whos contesting against him, on what he needs to do to win the elections!The Congresss band of 44 too is a cause for some nervousness. Despite Patel saying Ive enough numbers and more, political watchers in Ahmedabad and Delhi are keeping their fingers crossedwhat if a dozen carted from their resort in Karnataka to a resort in Gujarat transfer their vote to Rajput or put a tick on NOTA? NEW DELHI: The Congress is in an existential crisis. Its not an electoral crisis. This is Jairam Ramesh, a former minister and Rajya Sabha member, sending an SOS to his party through media. The alarm bells could not have been rung at a more appropriate time his party colleague in Gujarat, Ahmed Patel, is staring down the barrel in whats perhaps the toughest challenge to his political career. Electoral and existential: its the same for Patel. State party chief Shaktisinh Gohil may be imparting desperate lessons to 44 MLAs on how to vote for Patel without fail in the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday. But on the voting eve, things looked iffy for a once-powerful political secretary to the party president. Patel needs 45 to win his fifth re-election in a row to the Rajya Sabha. So even if all 44 Congress MLAs vote obediently for him, hes still one short. NCP leader Praful Patel, a former UPA minister, who has suddenly reclaimed his Gujarati origins with posters splashed around Ahmedabad, has declared that his party is in alliance with no one, so his Gujarat MLAs are free to vote for anyone they choose. Chotubhai Vasava, a JD-U MLA, was present when Patel filed his nominations and pledged support. But in his latest statement, hes said he would vote for those wholl give something to his constituency. Later in the evening, a Vasava confidante told Express the MLA will take final call tomorrow, leaving it tantalizingly open for the voting day. Nalin Kotadia of the erstwhile Gujarat Parivartan Party, Keshubhai Patels rebel outfit, is reportedly headed for the BJP.Then theres Shankarsinh Vaghela, his MLA son Mahendrasinh and close aide Raghavji Patel, and four other fence-sitters from the gang of Congress rebels. None of them, including Vaghela, have formally resigned from the party, but declared theyve quit.Vaghela on Monday told a channel that he spoke to Ahmed Patel on Sunday and would speak to him again on Tuesday. But whom an MLA votes for is not a matter that can be discussed, he said. Its his/her right. Whats more, he admitted that hes been advising Balwantsinh Rajput, Patels ex-protege whos contesting against him, on what he needs to do to win the elections!The Congresss band of 44 too is a cause for some nervousness. Despite Patel saying Ive enough numbers and more, political watchers in Ahmedabad and Delhi are keeping their fingers crossedwhat if a dozen carted from their resort in Karnataka to a resort in Gujarat transfer their vote to Rajput or put a tick on NOTA? Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Following Friday's sensational stalking incident, which saw the son of Haryana BJP president chase the daughter of the state's additional chief secretary, it came to light that out of the 94 CCTV cameras installed at various points in the city, at least 23 of them have not been functional for at least a month. The Chandigarh director general of police Tajinder Singh Luthra on Monday night claimed that the police had obtained the CCTV footage from five cameras and was examining them. But the fact is that the footage obtained by the police is not from the CCTVs installed by the Chandigarh Administration on that 7-Km long stretch. Rather, it is from five private cameras installed outside shops in Sector 7 and 26 on Madhya Marg (the main and busiest road of the city). "One of the footage obtained showed two vehicles - a sedan and an SUV, which was seen speeding past 19 seconds after the sedan had passed. We suspect that the girl was in the sedan and the boy was chasing her in the SUV. We don't have a clear footage showing the face of the girl or the alleged accused. The registration number plates of the vehicles are also not visible, said a police official. He said that another footage showed the boys coming out of the liquor store in Sector 9, but again, they cannot be identified as there is a lot of rush and the footage is hazy. Sources said that the Chandigarh Administration had installed 94 CCTV cameras in various parts of the city including different traffic light points and roundabouts. But since July, 23 of those have not been functioning. This means all the CCTVs on Madhya Marg from PGI to the Fun Republic Light Point were out of order. The maintenance of these cameras is done by the Engineering Wing of the administration. When contacted, an official of the engineering wing said on condition of anonymity that all the cameras on Madhya Marg from PGI to the Railway Light Crossing were not functional as the cable got cut. The private company, which maintains these cameras was given a notice on July 25. However, the company failed to repair these cameras. Again on August 3, a legal notice was sent to the company. Meanwhile, the police are silent on why the accused has not been called for a crime scene reconstruction. The forensic experts have examined the Tata Safari of the accused. CHANDIGARH: Following Friday's sensational stalking incident, which saw the son of Haryana BJP president chase the daughter of the state's additional chief secretary, it came to light that out of the 94 CCTV cameras installed at various points in the city, at least 23 of them have not been functional for at least a month. The Chandigarh director general of police Tajinder Singh Luthra on Monday night claimed that the police had obtained the CCTV footage from five cameras and was examining them. But the fact is that the footage obtained by the police is not from the CCTVs installed by the Chandigarh Administration on that 7-Km long stretch. Rather, it is from five private cameras installed outside shops in Sector 7 and 26 on Madhya Marg (the main and busiest road of the city). "One of the footage obtained showed two vehicles - a sedan and an SUV, which was seen speeding past 19 seconds after the sedan had passed. We suspect that the girl was in the sedan and the boy was chasing her in the SUV. We don't have a clear footage showing the face of the girl or the alleged accused. The registration number plates of the vehicles are also not visible, said a police official. He said that another footage showed the boys coming out of the liquor store in Sector 9, but again, they cannot be identified as there is a lot of rush and the footage is hazy. Sources said that the Chandigarh Administration had installed 94 CCTV cameras in various parts of the city including different traffic light points and roundabouts. But since July, 23 of those have not been functioning. This means all the CCTVs on Madhya Marg from PGI to the Fun Republic Light Point were out of order. The maintenance of these cameras is done by the Engineering Wing of the administration. When contacted, an official of the engineering wing said on condition of anonymity that all the cameras on Madhya Marg from PGI to the Railway Light Crossing were not functional as the cable got cut. The private company, which maintains these cameras was given a notice on July 25. However, the company failed to repair these cameras. Again on August 3, a legal notice was sent to the company. Meanwhile, the police are silent on why the accused has not been called for a crime scene reconstruction. The forensic experts have examined the Tata Safari of the accused. By IANS AHMEDABAD/NEW DELHI: In a blow to the Congress in Gujarat and a further setback for Ahmed Patel's attempt to enter the Rajya Sabha for the fifth term, an NCP MLA said he and his party colleague have been asked to vote for the BJP. Nationalist Congress Party MLA Kandhal Jadeja told local TV that they had been asked by senior party leaders to vote for BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election. The latest development muddies the situation for Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with the BJP all out to stymie his efforts in the biennial elections. Earlier, the 44 Congress MLAs, who were flown to Bengaluru to prevent "poaching" by the BJP, returned to the state on Monday. They were moved to the Nijanand Resort near Anand. Their family members visited the resort for the Raksha Bandhan festival. Of the 57 party legislators in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, six quit the party on July 26 and three of them joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on July 28. Of the remaining 51 MLAs, seven, including Shankersinh Vaghela, did not join those who were flown to Bengaluru. Patel, who needs 45 first preference votes in a House with an effective strength of 176 MLAs, expressed confidence that he will win the election with the support of 44 party MLAs, and the backing of two NCP and a lone JD-U member. "I have spoken to (NCP chief) Sharad Pawarji and he has promised all help to the Congress. They have even issued a whip. As for Vaghela, he has himself promised that he will vote for me and I believe he will keep his word," he said. Asked about allegations of surveillance on him and Congress MLAs by the ruling BJP, he said: "I don't know why I am targeted like this. This is an example of a banana republic. "I have full confidence in my victory tomorrow despite the BJP's attempts and the numbers will surprise everyone," Patel said at the private resort near Anand where the 44 MLAs are lodged. On Tuesday, the legislators will directly go to state capital Gandhinagar to vote for Ahmed Patel. BJP chief Amit Shah and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani are contesting the other two seats, which the BJP is sure to win. The party fielded Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput as the third candidate in its bid to defeat Patel. "As all of us are united. The BJP cannot threaten any of our MLAs. Horse trading is not possible with those who are with us," party's lawmaker Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters earlier. In New Delhi, the Congress expressed confidence of Ahmed Patel's win, despite the BJP's attempts to lure MLAs through money, power and threats. "BJP, by adopting cheap methods, is conspiring to turn minority votes into majority in Gujarat," the Congress said. "They can make all attempts to insult the people's mandate... But we are confident that Ahmed Patel is going to be victorious...," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala while briefing reporters. "People have rejected them. It will be proven in the assembly elections. BJP is worried about the loss in Gujarat, therefore they are trying their best to further lower the level of politics. "However much they (BJP) try to conspire, Congress will walk the path of truth and will win," he added. Gujarat has seldom experienced political suspense since 1995 when the first BJP government came to power, and after Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has fortified the state like a fiefdom. All the 26 Lok Sabha candidates in the state are from Modi's party. Problems started when Congress veteran, the maverick 77-year-old Vaghela, called it quits at a public show of strength on his July 21 birthday over not being made the chief ministerial candidate for the 2017 assembly elections and not being handed over the complete reins of the campaign. On Monday, Vaghela said he was not in touch with Congress MLAs. He also said his relations with Congress leader Ahmed Patel were "very cordial". Vaghela, who resigned from the Congress in July, told NDTV in an interview that there was no question of getting any offer from the BJP. Asked about his vote, Vaghela said voting was the "property of a MLA". I don't want to expose it." Asked about speculation that he had been offered the post of Governor by the BJP, Vaghela said there were no talks between him and the Bharatiya Janata Party. "There is no question of any offer," he said and added that BJP leaders were not in touch with him. Earlier, the NCP had extended its support to Patel. Lone JD-U MLA Chhotubhai Vasava has also extended his support to Patel's candidature. AHMEDABAD/NEW DELHI: In a blow to the Congress in Gujarat and a further setback for Ahmed Patel's attempt to enter the Rajya Sabha for the fifth term, an NCP MLA said he and his party colleague have been asked to vote for the BJP. Nationalist Congress Party MLA Kandhal Jadeja told local TV that they had been asked by senior party leaders to vote for BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election. The latest development muddies the situation for Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with the BJP all out to stymie his efforts in the biennial elections. Earlier, the 44 Congress MLAs, who were flown to Bengaluru to prevent "poaching" by the BJP, returned to the state on Monday. They were moved to the Nijanand Resort near Anand. Their family members visited the resort for the Raksha Bandhan festival. Of the 57 party legislators in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, six quit the party on July 26 and three of them joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on July 28. Of the remaining 51 MLAs, seven, including Shankersinh Vaghela, did not join those who were flown to Bengaluru. Patel, who needs 45 first preference votes in a House with an effective strength of 176 MLAs, expressed confidence that he will win the election with the support of 44 party MLAs, and the backing of two NCP and a lone JD-U member. "I have spoken to (NCP chief) Sharad Pawarji and he has promised all help to the Congress. They have even issued a whip. As for Vaghela, he has himself promised that he will vote for me and I believe he will keep his word," he said. Asked about allegations of surveillance on him and Congress MLAs by the ruling BJP, he said: "I don't know why I am targeted like this. This is an example of a banana republic. "I have full confidence in my victory tomorrow despite the BJP's attempts and the numbers will surprise everyone," Patel said at the private resort near Anand where the 44 MLAs are lodged. On Tuesday, the legislators will directly go to state capital Gandhinagar to vote for Ahmed Patel. BJP chief Amit Shah and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani are contesting the other two seats, which the BJP is sure to win. The party fielded Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput as the third candidate in its bid to defeat Patel. "As all of us are united. The BJP cannot threaten any of our MLAs. Horse trading is not possible with those who are with us," party's lawmaker Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters earlier. In New Delhi, the Congress expressed confidence of Ahmed Patel's win, despite the BJP's attempts to lure MLAs through money, power and threats. "BJP, by adopting cheap methods, is conspiring to turn minority votes into majority in Gujarat," the Congress said. "They can make all attempts to insult the people's mandate... But we are confident that Ahmed Patel is going to be victorious...," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala while briefing reporters. "People have rejected them. It will be proven in the assembly elections. BJP is worried about the loss in Gujarat, therefore they are trying their best to further lower the level of politics. "However much they (BJP) try to conspire, Congress will walk the path of truth and will win," he added. Gujarat has seldom experienced political suspense since 1995 when the first BJP government came to power, and after Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has fortified the state like a fiefdom. All the 26 Lok Sabha candidates in the state are from Modi's party. Problems started when Congress veteran, the maverick 77-year-old Vaghela, called it quits at a public show of strength on his July 21 birthday over not being made the chief ministerial candidate for the 2017 assembly elections and not being handed over the complete reins of the campaign. On Monday, Vaghela said he was not in touch with Congress MLAs. He also said his relations with Congress leader Ahmed Patel were "very cordial". Vaghela, who resigned from the Congress in July, told NDTV in an interview that there was no question of getting any offer from the BJP. Asked about his vote, Vaghela said voting was the "property of a MLA". I don't want to expose it." Asked about speculation that he had been offered the post of Governor by the BJP, Vaghela said there were no talks between him and the Bharatiya Janata Party. "There is no question of any offer," he said and added that BJP leaders were not in touch with him. Earlier, the NCP had extended its support to Patel. Lone JD-U MLA Chhotubhai Vasava has also extended his support to Patel's candidature. By PTI NEW DELHI: The NIA on Tuesday questioned hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons, Naeem and Naseem, as part of its probe into a money trail to expose how Pakistan sent cash to separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley. National Investigation Agency officials said the Geelani brothers arrived at the NIA headquarters here around 11 a.m. after evading the counter-terror agency's earlier summons. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a doctor who was once based in Pakistan, on July 27 and August 1. He failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. Geelani's younger son Naseem, who works at an agricultural university in Srinagar, was summoned to appear before NIA on August 2. He also did not come saying the notice should be served through Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Agriculture Science so that he was permitted to take leave. The NIA has arrested eight separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there. The arrested separatists include Shabir Shah and Altaf Ahmad Shah, who is Geelani's son-in-law. They have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. NEW DELHI: The NIA on Tuesday questioned hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons, Naeem and Naseem, as part of its probe into a money trail to expose how Pakistan sent cash to separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley. National Investigation Agency officials said the Geelani brothers arrived at the NIA headquarters here around 11 a.m. after evading the counter-terror agency's earlier summons. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a doctor who was once based in Pakistan, on July 27 and August 1. He failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. Geelani's younger son Naseem, who works at an agricultural university in Srinagar, was summoned to appear before NIA on August 2. He also did not come saying the notice should be served through Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Agriculture Science so that he was permitted to take leave. The NIA has arrested eight separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there. The arrested separatists include Shabir Shah and Altaf Ahmad Shah, who is Geelani's son-in-law. They have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner here over alleged "ceasefire violations" by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC). Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces, Pakistan Foreign Office said. It claimed that a 35-year-old woman was killed in the Karela sector and another woman was injured in Khuiratta Sector in alleged firing by Indian forces yesterday. "The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," the Foreign Office said. The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace along the LoC. He also called on the Indian side to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner here over alleged "ceasefire violations" by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC). Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces, Pakistan Foreign Office said. It claimed that a 35-year-old woman was killed in the Karela sector and another woman was injured in Khuiratta Sector in alleged firing by Indian forces yesterday. "The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," the Foreign Office said. The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace along the LoC. He also called on the Indian side to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. Aihik Sur By Express News Service CHENNAI: Dr. Rajiv Kumar comes to the NITI Aayog on the strength of wide experience with several think tanks and lobby groups such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), and the Pahle Indian Foundation. At NITI Aayog his mandate is to chart out a course for the economy that will pass muster with the voters in 2019. Here are some positions taken by the low-key personality on the major economic and political questions of the day. On Narendra Modi In his 2016 book titled Modi and his Challenges, Rajiv Kumar says it would be too simplistic to say that Narendra Modi is only a proponent of the RSS ideology. A simplistic understanding of Modi as an RSS pracharak or as driven exclusively by personal ambition is highly misleading, Kumar says. Modi style of functioning is individualist and centralised while the RSS style emphasizes teamwork, he notes. On the Godhra riots Rajiv Kumar puts up a strong defence of Narendra Modis role during the 2002 Godha riots in his book on the man. He criticised the media for saying that law enforcement agencies let culpable ministers in the Modi cabinet go scot free after the Godhra riots. In fact, he says, more than 100 politicians were arrested. He does not also fail to point out that Modi was absolved of any involvement in the riots by a special investigation team, and that his victory in the 2014 general election was: an endorsement by the people. However, he also wrote, There are instances which raise a doubt about his (Modis) commitment to a purely developmental and non-communal agenda. This impression is reinforced by his unwillingness to publicly criticise those who revel in communal rants. On demonetization Kumar was an early supporter of Narendra Modis demonetization. A day after its rollout on Nov. 8, 2016, he wrote in an opinion piece in Quint: With the de-monetisation of high denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes the Prime Minister has burnished his anti-black market credentials beyond any conceivable doubt. He also, interestingly, termed the new Rs 2000 note as hi-tech. This affirmation came at a time when the pink note had given rise to rumours that it was equipped with a GPS tracker and an encoded chip. On Indias economic growth Rajiv Kumar was not entirely convinced when the world crowed that India was the fastest growing economy. In an article for the East Asia Forum, commenting on the GDP estimates announced on 2015, Kumar noted, The growth in gross value added recorded in these estimates overstates Indias actual economic performance. He said although manufacturing growth was said to be over 7 per cent, the Index of Industrial Production stood at minus 2 per cent. This discrepancy, he said, reflects significant weakness in the corporate sector, which by all accounts is not generating new jobs. On farm loan waivers Like many supply side economists, Rajiv Kumar views loan waivers as write-offs meant to secure a partys interests in a state. In that article on the East Asia Forum, he said, Yogi Adityanath is treating his maiden tenure as chief minister like a two-year term and aims to deliver tangible results by 2019. This is understandable. The BJP needs to show significant progress in Uttar Pradesh before 2019 as success in the state is a must for retaining power in Delhi. He said waivers bring temporary relief to farmers who are likely to find themselves in unmitigated poverty immediately thereafter. Kumar noted that UP wasnt in a position to finance the waiver since its fiscal deficit stood at 4.45 per cent of GSDP, double the average fiscal deficit for other states in India. On Yogi Adityanath The outcome of the recent UP elections giving a four-fifths majority to the BJP and the installation of Yogi Adityanath as the chief minister is seen as the maturing of Indian democracy, wrote Kumar in an opinion piece for Daily Mail. He also said, To argue that the election of Yogi Adityanath reflects a counter-democratic trend or foretells the demise of true democracy in India, is to question the voters constitutionally enshrined right in a democracy. On Amartya Sen Right after demonetisation was announced, Rajiv Kumar tweeted, Amartya Sen calls demonetization as despotic on NDTV. Elitist edicts with zero consequence & really anti-people. Barkha why air these views? The fact that Rajiv Kumar and Sen dont see eye to eye is further clarified in his article for Daily Mail. Criticising Amartya Sen and former prime minister Manmohan Singh for harbouring ideological biases, Rajiv Kumar demanded an apology from them for their comments on demonetisation. On the US presidential election During the US presidential election campaign, Rajiv Kumar was all for Hillary Clinton. He said the best bet for Clinton would be to offer the vice-presidency to the other Bernie Sanders because anti-establishment Democrat voters were threatening to switch allegiance to Trump. On rape and political action When a BBC documentary on the Nirbhaya rape was banned in 2015, Rajiv Kumar wrote in a blog that rather than banning it, the issues raised by it should have been addressed. He urged political leaders to follow Mahatma Gandhis example of leading movements against social evils rather than just leave this to civil society organisations which politicians will subsequently perceive as agent provocateurs. CHENNAI: Dr. Rajiv Kumar comes to the NITI Aayog on the strength of wide experience with several think tanks and lobby groups such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), and the Pahle Indian Foundation. At NITI Aayog his mandate is to chart out a course for the economy that will pass muster with the voters in 2019. Here are some positions taken by the low-key personality on the major economic and political questions of the day. On Narendra Modi In his 2016 book titled Modi and his Challenges, Rajiv Kumar says it would be too simplistic to say that Narendra Modi is only a proponent of the RSS ideology. A simplistic understanding of Modi as an RSS pracharak or as driven exclusively by personal ambition is highly misleading, Kumar says. Modi style of functioning is individualist and centralised while the RSS style emphasizes teamwork, he notes. On the Godhra riots Rajiv Kumar puts up a strong defence of Narendra Modis role during the 2002 Godha riots in his book on the man. He criticised the media for saying that law enforcement agencies let culpable ministers in the Modi cabinet go scot free after the Godhra riots. In fact, he says, more than 100 politicians were arrested. He does not also fail to point out that Modi was absolved of any involvement in the riots by a special investigation team, and that his victory in the 2014 general election was: an endorsement by the people. However, he also wrote, There are instances which raise a doubt about his (Modis) commitment to a purely developmental and non-communal agenda. This impression is reinforced by his unwillingness to publicly criticise those who revel in communal rants. On demonetization Kumar was an early supporter of Narendra Modis demonetization. A day after its rollout on Nov. 8, 2016, he wrote in an opinion piece in Quint: With the de-monetisation of high denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes the Prime Minister has burnished his anti-black market credentials beyond any conceivable doubt. He also, interestingly, termed the new Rs 2000 note as hi-tech. This affirmation came at a time when the pink note had given rise to rumours that it was equipped with a GPS tracker and an encoded chip. On Indias economic growth Rajiv Kumar was not entirely convinced when the world crowed that India was the fastest growing economy. In an article for the East Asia Forum, commenting on the GDP estimates announced on 2015, Kumar noted, The growth in gross value added recorded in these estimates overstates Indias actual economic performance. He said although manufacturing growth was said to be over 7 per cent, the Index of Industrial Production stood at minus 2 per cent. This discrepancy, he said, reflects significant weakness in the corporate sector, which by all accounts is not generating new jobs. On farm loan waivers Like many supply side economists, Rajiv Kumar views loan waivers as write-offs meant to secure a partys interests in a state. In that article on the East Asia Forum, he said, Yogi Adityanath is treating his maiden tenure as chief minister like a two-year term and aims to deliver tangible results by 2019. This is understandable. The BJP needs to show significant progress in Uttar Pradesh before 2019 as success in the state is a must for retaining power in Delhi. He said waivers bring temporary relief to farmers who are likely to find themselves in unmitigated poverty immediately thereafter. Kumar noted that UP wasnt in a position to finance the waiver since its fiscal deficit stood at 4.45 per cent of GSDP, double the average fiscal deficit for other states in India. On Yogi Adityanath The outcome of the recent UP elections giving a four-fifths majority to the BJP and the installation of Yogi Adityanath as the chief minister is seen as the maturing of Indian democracy, wrote Kumar in an opinion piece for Daily Mail. He also said, To argue that the election of Yogi Adityanath reflects a counter-democratic trend or foretells the demise of true democracy in India, is to question the voters constitutionally enshrined right in a democracy. On Amartya Sen Right after demonetisation was announced, Rajiv Kumar tweeted, Amartya Sen calls demonetization as despotic on NDTV. Elitist edicts with zero consequence & really anti-people. Barkha why air these views? The fact that Rajiv Kumar and Sen dont see eye to eye is further clarified in his article for Daily Mail. Criticising Amartya Sen and former prime minister Manmohan Singh for harbouring ideological biases, Rajiv Kumar demanded an apology from them for their comments on demonetisation. On the US presidential election During the US presidential election campaign, Rajiv Kumar was all for Hillary Clinton. He said the best bet for Clinton would be to offer the vice-presidency to the other Bernie Sanders because anti-establishment Democrat voters were threatening to switch allegiance to Trump. On rape and political action When a BBC documentary on the Nirbhaya rape was banned in 2015, Rajiv Kumar wrote in a blog that rather than banning it, the issues raised by it should have been addressed. He urged political leaders to follow Mahatma Gandhis example of leading movements against social evils rather than just leave this to civil society organisations which politicians will subsequently perceive as agent provocateurs. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: The UP Shia Waqf Board has given the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue an altogether new twist by proposing in its affidavit to the Supreme Court that a new mosque be built away from the disputed site in Ayodhya. A central claim in the 30-page affidavit is that the disputed site was originally Shia Waqf land and therefore only the Shia Waqf Board could be a claimant to the title and only it could propose any solution to the long and bitter dispute. The Shia claim to the property is not new. But this new affidavit and the proposal to build a new mosque away from the disputed site are significant. They come just three days ahead of the commencement of fast-track hearings by the Supreme Court on appeals against the 2010 verdict by the Allahabad High Court which awarded the title to three parties: the notional Ram Lalla, the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Wakf Board. The Shia Waqf Board has always had an issue with the last-named over ownership of the site where the Babri Masjid once stood until its demolition by a frenzied Hindu mob in 1992. Until 1946, the two waqf boards, Shia and Sunni, contested ownership in the courts. That year, the suit was awarded to the Sunni Waqf Board by a local court. It was by virtue of that victory that the Sunni Waqf Board became a disputant in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi tangle, which has come to shape politics in India in the last 70 years. Now, Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi says, the award to the Sunni Waqf Board will be challenged again after all those years. The Shia Waqf Boards claim is based on disputed history. It says the real name of the Babri Masjid was Waqf Masjid Mir Baqi, and it was a Shia mosque. Rizvi says it was by a conspiracy that the Shia Waqf Board contrived to lose the 1946 case to the Sunnis. The mosque was built during the reign of Babar by Mir Baqi, who, according to history, was a Shia from Persia. It was always a Shia mosque, with mutawwalis from the pedigree of Baqi. Only the imam and muezzin of the mosque were Sunni. They were paid by the Shia mutawwali. Namaz was offered by both Shias and Sunnis, says Rizvi. Rizvi says the Sunni Waqf Board got the property registered in its name in 1944. This was challenged by the Shias in 1945 but they failed to put up a strong defence and lost the case. Now the board has authorised me to challenge it again in the court of law, says Razvi. But what credence is there for the claim that the Babri Masjid was a Shia structure? Razvi refers to a stone inscription that stood at the mosque that purportedly attested Mir Baqi as the waqif, the one who gave the land to the waqf. Rizvis claim is of course contested. Zafaryab Jilani, a prominent Muslim lawyer who represents the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in Babri Masjid cases in the Supreme Court, said that the mosque cannot be Shia or Sunni. It epitomises the faith of 20 crore Indian Muslims. Even if Shia Waqf Board represents 20,000 people, they dont stand a claim, said Jilani. As to the Shia Waqf Boards suggestion that a new mosque be built away from the disputed site, Jilani said it was a matter for the courts to decide. Prominent Shia clerics have already recorded their statements on this matter in the court of law. They were contrary to what Rizvi is suggesting now, Jilani added. Maulana Yasoob Abbasi, a Shia cleric, refused to comment on the affidavit filed by the UP Shia Waqf Board. He expressed support to the stance of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board which wants the masjid rebuilt right where it stood before its demolition. Rizvi says its time India found a solution to the Babri Masjid tangle. By keeping it pending, nothing but hatred will be bred, he told the New Indian Express. It will keep the situation always tense. Building a mosque beside a temple is not a feasible solution to the problem. There will not be any peace. The atmosphere will always remain communally charged. Was the land owned by Shias? It is believed that Hindus and Muslims used to perform puja and offer namaz at the disputed site until 1858 AD. In 1813 AD, the Shia clergy, apparently, faked an inscription that spoke of Baburs general Mir Baqi as the wakif and pushed the date of construction of the mosque back by more than a century. In 1944, the Sunni Waqf Board got the disputed land registered in its name. This was challenged by the Shias in 1945 but they lost the case to the Sunni Waqf Board in 1946. Who was Mir Baqi? Historical evidence is scant on the origins of the Babri Masjid as well as its reputed builder Mir Baqi. He is said to be the same man as Baqi Tashqandi, a Mughal commander from Tashkent whom Babur appointed as the governor of Awadh. In 1528, Mir Baqi is believed to have built a masjid in Ayodhya and named it after Babur. However, a former IPS officer Kishore Kunal contradicts this account of Mir Baqi In his book Ayodhya Revisited, Kunal, a member of the Ayodhya cell during the governments of V P Singh, Chandrashekhar and P V Narasimha Rao, says Mir Baqi was a fictitious character who had nothing to do with Baqi Tashkindi. Even the Baburnama, Baburs account of his time in India has no mention of anyone called Mir Baqi. LUCKNOW: The UP Shia Waqf Board has given the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue an altogether new twist by proposing in its affidavit to the Supreme Court that a new mosque be built away from the disputed site in Ayodhya. A central claim in the 30-page affidavit is that the disputed site was originally Shia Waqf land and therefore only the Shia Waqf Board could be a claimant to the title and only it could propose any solution to the long and bitter dispute. The Shia claim to the property is not new. But this new affidavit and the proposal to build a new mosque away from the disputed site are significant. They come just three days ahead of the commencement of fast-track hearings by the Supreme Court on appeals against the 2010 verdict by the Allahabad High Court which awarded the title to three parties: the notional Ram Lalla, the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Wakf Board. The Shia Waqf Board has always had an issue with the last-named over ownership of the site where the Babri Masjid once stood until its demolition by a frenzied Hindu mob in 1992. Until 1946, the two waqf boards, Shia and Sunni, contested ownership in the courts. That year, the suit was awarded to the Sunni Waqf Board by a local court. It was by virtue of that victory that the Sunni Waqf Board became a disputant in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi tangle, which has come to shape politics in India in the last 70 years. Now, Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi says, the award to the Sunni Waqf Board will be challenged again after all those years. The Shia Waqf Boards claim is based on disputed history. It says the real name of the Babri Masjid was Waqf Masjid Mir Baqi, and it was a Shia mosque. Rizvi says it was by a conspiracy that the Shia Waqf Board contrived to lose the 1946 case to the Sunnis. The mosque was built during the reign of Babar by Mir Baqi, who, according to history, was a Shia from Persia. It was always a Shia mosque, with mutawwalis from the pedigree of Baqi. Only the imam and muezzin of the mosque were Sunni. They were paid by the Shia mutawwali. Namaz was offered by both Shias and Sunnis, says Rizvi. Rizvi says the Sunni Waqf Board got the property registered in its name in 1944. This was challenged by the Shias in 1945 but they failed to put up a strong defence and lost the case. Now the board has authorised me to challenge it again in the court of law, says Razvi. But what credence is there for the claim that the Babri Masjid was a Shia structure? Razvi refers to a stone inscription that stood at the mosque that purportedly attested Mir Baqi as the waqif, the one who gave the land to the waqf. Rizvis claim is of course contested. Zafaryab Jilani, a prominent Muslim lawyer who represents the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in Babri Masjid cases in the Supreme Court, said that the mosque cannot be Shia or Sunni. It epitomises the faith of 20 crore Indian Muslims. Even if Shia Waqf Board represents 20,000 people, they dont stand a claim, said Jilani. As to the Shia Waqf Boards suggestion that a new mosque be built away from the disputed site, Jilani said it was a matter for the courts to decide. Prominent Shia clerics have already recorded their statements on this matter in the court of law. They were contrary to what Rizvi is suggesting now, Jilani added. Maulana Yasoob Abbasi, a Shia cleric, refused to comment on the affidavit filed by the UP Shia Waqf Board. He expressed support to the stance of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board which wants the masjid rebuilt right where it stood before its demolition. Rizvi says its time India found a solution to the Babri Masjid tangle. By keeping it pending, nothing but hatred will be bred, he told the New Indian Express. It will keep the situation always tense. Building a mosque beside a temple is not a feasible solution to the problem. There will not be any peace. The atmosphere will always remain communally charged. Was the land owned by Shias? It is believed that Hindus and Muslims used to perform puja and offer namaz at the disputed site until 1858 AD. In 1813 AD, the Shia clergy, apparently, faked an inscription that spoke of Baburs general Mir Baqi as the wakif and pushed the date of construction of the mosque back by more than a century. In 1944, the Sunni Waqf Board got the disputed land registered in its name. This was challenged by the Shias in 1945 but they lost the case to the Sunni Waqf Board in 1946. Who was Mir Baqi? Historical evidence is scant on the origins of the Babri Masjid as well as its reputed builder Mir Baqi. He is said to be the same man as Baqi Tashqandi, a Mughal commander from Tashkent whom Babur appointed as the governor of Awadh. In 1528, Mir Baqi is believed to have built a masjid in Ayodhya and named it after Babur. However, a former IPS officer Kishore Kunal contradicts this account of Mir Baqi In his book Ayodhya Revisited, Kunal, a member of the Ayodhya cell during the governments of V P Singh, Chandrashekhar and P V Narasimha Rao, says Mir Baqi was a fictitious character who had nothing to do with Baqi Tashkindi. Even the Baburnama, Baburs account of his time in India has no mention of anyone called Mir Baqi. By IANS NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said four self-radicalised Islamic State sympathisers were behind a March train blast in Madhya Pradesh that left at least 10 people injured. The NIA made the allegations in a chargesheet naming the four Uttar Pradesh men who had taken an oath of allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The four -- Atif Muzzafar, Mohammad Danish, Syed Mir Hussain and Ghaus Mohammad Khan -- plotted to carry out attacks in India after forming an Islamic State-influenced terror module in February 2016. The four were arrested by the NIA. The NIA named another person, Saiffullah Khan, who was killed in a shootout with Lucknow ATS days after the train blast. The chargesheet was filed against the four accused for their involvement in the conspiracy to plant a bomb in the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train, near Jabari Railway Station of Madhya Pradesh on March 7. "They took ' bayath ' (oath of allegiance) to ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) and also attempted migrating (to Syria or Iraq) several times through Kashmir, Amritsar, Mumbai and other places," NIA spokesperson Inspector General Alok Mittal said in a statement. Mittal said after the suspects failed to migrate to the Islamic State held areas, they conspired to cause "subversive activities threatening the sovereignty of India and the safety and security of the nation". He said they shifted to a hideout in Lucknow and collected arms and fabricated IEDs there. They conducted trial blasts and also killed a teacher at Kanpur in November 2016 using the arms they had procured, said Mittal. "The investigation conducted by the NIA disclosed that Atif had formed a terrorist gang with several members. They got radicalized after watching the online publications of the ISIS including but not limited to its Dabiq and Inspire magazines." The agency said it had found "sufficient oral, documentary, technical, forensic and material evidence...which establishes the criminal conspiracy and the terror act committed by these accused". NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said four self-radicalised Islamic State sympathisers were behind a March train blast in Madhya Pradesh that left at least 10 people injured. The NIA made the allegations in a chargesheet naming the four Uttar Pradesh men who had taken an oath of allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The four -- Atif Muzzafar, Mohammad Danish, Syed Mir Hussain and Ghaus Mohammad Khan -- plotted to carry out attacks in India after forming an Islamic State-influenced terror module in February 2016. The four were arrested by the NIA. The NIA named another person, Saiffullah Khan, who was killed in a shootout with Lucknow ATS days after the train blast. The chargesheet was filed against the four accused for their involvement in the conspiracy to plant a bomb in the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train, near Jabari Railway Station of Madhya Pradesh on March 7. "They took ' bayath ' (oath of allegiance) to ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) and also attempted migrating (to Syria or Iraq) several times through Kashmir, Amritsar, Mumbai and other places," NIA spokesperson Inspector General Alok Mittal said in a statement. Mittal said after the suspects failed to migrate to the Islamic State held areas, they conspired to cause "subversive activities threatening the sovereignty of India and the safety and security of the nation". He said they shifted to a hideout in Lucknow and collected arms and fabricated IEDs there. They conducted trial blasts and also killed a teacher at Kanpur in November 2016 using the arms they had procured, said Mittal. "The investigation conducted by the NIA disclosed that Atif had formed a terrorist gang with several members. They got radicalized after watching the online publications of the ISIS including but not limited to its Dabiq and Inspire magazines." The agency said it had found "sufficient oral, documentary, technical, forensic and material evidence...which establishes the criminal conspiracy and the terror act committed by these accused". Manoj Das By Manoj Das Eminent author and recipient of several awards including the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship Email: prof.manojdas@gmail.com Ajoke was in circulation in the early sixties of the last century. Two dogs met at the Indo-China frontier, a famished one crossing into China and a plump one entering India. Whats the matter? the second one asked the first. Not much food in India, was the reply. Welcome; should find enough, said the Chinese dog. But why are you coming to India? queried the first. Well, because Im not allowed to bark!Later I was told, True, it could not bark, but its claim that there was enough to eat was humbug. And, of course, the fiasco that was Maos Great Leap Forward is well-known today. That was a period when each date in the unpublished Chinese calendar was marked by a million starvation deaths. No doubt a number of factors lay behind that terrible situation, but a particular decision taken by Mao which worsened it was so naive and bizarre that it is surprising that none warned him against it. The only answer I got, and it came very spontaneously from an academic in Beijing, was: When the peoples natural dispensation for free expression is mercilessly suppressed, they begin to suppress their own zeal for thinking. Mao concluded that sparrows were the villains causing the decline in agricultural yield. He ordered their total elimination. Day after day the twilight sky continued losing its homing coveys to random bullets from hamlets below. The result, as any lay farmer could have anticipated, unless too scared to anticipate anything beyond the infallible leaders vision, was the triumphal return of the locusts and other deadly pests which the sparrows checked. Famine followed. According to journalist Yang Jishengs research, 36 million died of starvation pure, and forty million more due to added of misfortunes.Has the situation changed? Yes, in the sense that now the dog can bark, but bark backward only. Mao and the Gang of Four led by Jiang, an actress who had become his fourth wife, could be criticised, but not the current leadership. One should feel sad but not surprised at the treatment meted out to the Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo who died a prisoner on 13 Julyand the authorities making it difficult for his friends to access his wifeif we remember how writers were dealt with during Maos Cultural Revolution. As the leader of an Indian delegation of writers, I was at the Museum of Modern Chinese Literature, in a meeting with its office bearers. The walls displayed pictures of the past pioneers of the institution and one of them appeared familiar to me. He was Lao She, father of the present director. I had read some of his works in translation. How old was he when he died? Sixty-six, replied the son. Only? I uttered spontaneously. At once the sons face turned grave and eyes intensely probing. Probably he wondered if my exclamation was deliberate. Hours later, courtesy a young writer, I realised the significance of his reaction. During the reign of terror that was the Cultural Revolution, the Red Guards disfigured numerous works of architecture, sculpture and painting. Their war was against everything that smacked of feudal and imperial culture. They forgot that while burning thousands of books, that they were saluting their first ever emperor, Tsi Hwang Ti. His logic, two thousand years ago, was simple:Whats the use people reading Confucius and others and getting ideas? Wasnt their duty limited to labour harder and harder and pay more and more tax? Thus, ordered by him, his men made bonfires of books. Those who resisted were whipped into the Great Wall under construction. (Their remains stumble out when portions of the Wall collapse.) Lao She was dragged to the streets. A placard on his chest read, I am Reactionary. A procession led him along, rhythmically slapping him and inspiring the mob to spit on him. He was kept standing at a public square till sundown. Set free at last, he drowned himself in a lake. He is a celebrity today, with awards to commemorate his memory.China today is ruled from a cluster of buildings adjacent to the Forbidden City, the palaces of the imperial dynasties. Did the spooky spirits which controlled the whims and fancies of the emperors and their advisors, the wise eunuchs, slyly migrate into the once great idealist Maos brains and subsequently into those of his successors? Conscience has been of no consequence to the succession of leaders in power. Soon after the Chinese aggression of 1962, the late Utsava Parikh, a friend of this author, once a powerful minister in the Gujarat cabinet, happened to be in Nehrus company for about an hour, quietly sitting while the prime minister was meeting visitors. Thrice at the intervals of those meetings, as if in a soliloquy, Nehru muttered a question that obviously had become an obsession with him: I dont understand how could China do this to us! For Nehru Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai was an emotional hymn; for Chou En-Lai it was probably nothing more than an amusing slogan. Analysts may discover strategic reasons, but unless we look for occult factors which are beyond us, only one factor works behind Chinas conductranging from flexing muscles at our border to its treatment of the gentle tribe of Liu Xiaobothe idiosyncratic will of a single powerful leader at a given time, till an internal clique overthrows him for another leader dominated by the same psychological law of natural ego as well as a fear of insecurity. The great nation is bereft of any national voice of opposition and criticism. Sporadic protests are brutally smothered. Alas, Chinas intellectuals will have no freedom nor its neighbours peace until the day democracy replaces its present structure. Manoj Das Eminent author and recipient of several awards including the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship Email: prof.manojdas@gmail.com Ajoke was in circulation in the early sixties of the last century. Two dogs met at the Indo-China frontier, a famished one crossing into China and a plump one entering India. Whats the matter? the second one asked the first. Not much food in India, was the reply. Welcome; should find enough, said the Chinese dog. But why are you coming to India? queried the first. Well, because Im not allowed to bark!Later I was told, True, it could not bark, but its claim that there was enough to eat was humbug. And, of course, the fiasco that was Maos Great Leap Forward is well-known today. That was a period when each date in the unpublished Chinese calendar was marked by a million starvation deaths. No doubt a number of factors lay behind that terrible situation, but a particular decision taken by Mao which worsened it was so naive and bizarre that it is surprising that none warned him against it. The only answer I got, and it came very spontaneously from an academic in Beijing, was: When the peoples natural dispensation for free expression is mercilessly suppressed, they begin to suppress their own zeal for thinking. Mao concluded that sparrows were the villains causing the decline in agricultural yield. He ordered their total elimination. Day after day the twilight sky continued losing its homing coveys to random bullets from hamlets below. The result, as any lay farmer could have anticipated, unless too scared to anticipate anything beyond the infallible leaders vision, was the triumphal return of the locusts and other deadly pests which the sparrows checked. Famine followed. According to journalist Yang Jishengs research, 36 million died of starvation pure, and forty million more due to added of misfortunes.Has the situation changed? Yes, in the sense that now the dog can bark, but bark backward only. Mao and the Gang of Four led by Jiang, an actress who had become his fourth wife, could be criticised, but not the current leadership. One should feel sad but not surprised at the treatment meted out to the Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo who died a prisoner on 13 Julyand the authorities making it difficult for his friends to access his wifeif we remember how writers were dealt with during Maos Cultural Revolution. As the leader of an Indian delegation of writers, I was at the Museum of Modern Chinese Literature, in a meeting with its office bearers. The walls displayed pictures of the past pioneers of the institution and one of them appeared familiar to me. He was Lao She, father of the present director. I had read some of his works in translation. How old was he when he died? Sixty-six, replied the son. Only? I uttered spontaneously. At once the sons face turned grave and eyes intensely probing. Probably he wondered if my exclamation was deliberate. Hours later, courtesy a young writer, I realised the significance of his reaction. During the reign of terror that was the Cultural Revolution, the Red Guards disfigured numerous works of architecture, sculpture and painting. Their war was against everything that smacked of feudal and imperial culture. They forgot that while burning thousands of books, that they were saluting their first ever emperor, Tsi Hwang Ti. His logic, two thousand years ago, was simple:Whats the use people reading Confucius and others and getting ideas? Wasnt their duty limited to labour harder and harder and pay more and more tax? Thus, ordered by him, his men made bonfires of books. Those who resisted were whipped into the Great Wall under construction. (Their remains stumble out when portions of the Wall collapse.) Lao She was dragged to the streets. A placard on his chest read, I am Reactionary. A procession led him along, rhythmically slapping him and inspiring the mob to spit on him. He was kept standing at a public square till sundown. Set free at last, he drowned himself in a lake. He is a celebrity today, with awards to commemorate his memory.China today is ruled from a cluster of buildings adjacent to the Forbidden City, the palaces of the imperial dynasties. Did the spooky spirits which controlled the whims and fancies of the emperors and their advisors, the wise eunuchs, slyly migrate into the once great idealist Maos brains and subsequently into those of his successors? Conscience has been of no consequence to the succession of leaders in power. Soon after the Chinese aggression of 1962, the late Utsava Parikh, a friend of this author, once a powerful minister in the Gujarat cabinet, happened to be in Nehrus company for about an hour, quietly sitting while the prime minister was meeting visitors. Thrice at the intervals of those meetings, as if in a soliloquy, Nehru muttered a question that obviously had become an obsession with him: I dont understand how could China do this to us! For Nehru Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai was an emotional hymn; for Chou En-Lai it was probably nothing more than an amusing slogan. Analysts may discover strategic reasons, but unless we look for occult factors which are beyond us, only one factor works behind Chinas conductranging from flexing muscles at our border to its treatment of the gentle tribe of Liu Xiaobothe idiosyncratic will of a single powerful leader at a given time, till an internal clique overthrows him for another leader dominated by the same psychological law of natural ego as well as a fear of insecurity. The great nation is bereft of any national voice of opposition and criticism. Sporadic protests are brutally smothered. Alas, Chinas intellectuals will have no freedom nor its neighbours peace until the day democracy replaces its present structure. July 23, 1945. Germany had already surrendered. Most of Japans major cities had been destroyed by aerial bombing, but it had not yet given up. The US prepared a list of Japanese cities: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata in order of choice. Nagasaki was not on the list How powerful is our new weapon? The US, which hoped to avoid an invasion, wanted a pristine city for its new atomic bomb so that it could more definitely determine its power. Tokyo is a possibility but it is now all bombed out Hiroshima is the largest untouched target, the Americans noted Nagasakis luck On August 4, two US officers undraped the blackboards to reveal the aerial photographs of the targets: Hiroshima and Kokura remained on the list. Niigata was excluded, apparently because of weather issues; in its place was Nagasaki, writes historian Richard Rhodes in The Making of the Atomic Bomb The lethal fallout Hiroshima was hit on August 6. Three days later, the B-29 carrying the second bomb set off, its main target Kokura. But heavy haze obscured the city. So it moved on to Nagasaki. Many died immediately. The internal organs of some started decaying even while alive July 23, 1945. Germany had already surrendered. Most of Japans major cities had been destroyed by aerial bombing, but it had not yet given up. The US prepared a list of Japanese cities: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata in order of choice. Nagasaki was not on the list How powerful is our new weapon? The US, which hoped to avoid an invasion, wanted a pristine city for its new atomic bomb so that it could more definitely determine its power. Tokyo is a possibility but it is now all bombed out Hiroshima is the largest untouched target, the Americans noted Nagasakis luck On August 4, two US officers undraped the blackboards to reveal the aerial photographs of the targets: Hiroshima and Kokura remained on the list. Niigata was excluded, apparently because of weather issues; in its place was Nagasaki, writes historian Richard Rhodes in The Making of the Atomic Bomb The lethal fallout Hiroshima was hit on August 6. Three days later, the B-29 carrying the second bomb set off, its main target Kokura. But heavy haze obscured the city. So it moved on to Nagasaki. Many died immediately. The internal organs of some started decaying even while alive By Express News Service VIJAYAPURA: A notorious gangster was shot at by an unknown assailant in district court premises in Karnataka today morning. The gangster Bagappa Harijan, 40, has been on bail for the last six months had come to Vijayapura district court in connection with a murder case, when he was shot at. The police said five rounds were fired at Harijan, who is presently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vijayapura. The incident occurred at around 10.30 am when Harijan was walking towards the additional court complex. The assailant was lurking behind trees and was waiting for Harijan. Police have recovered cartridges from the spot. The doctors attending Harijan confirmed that five bullets were shot at him from a close range. They said an operation is being conducted on Harijan who is in a critical condition. Police suspect old rivalry behind the shooting incident but did not pinpoint any suspects yet. Harijan was wanted in connecting with murder and extortions reported from Vijayapura, Kalaburagi and parts of Maharashtra. VIJAYAPURA: A notorious gangster was shot at by an unknown assailant in district court premises in Karnataka today morning. The gangster Bagappa Harijan, 40, has been on bail for the last six months had come to Vijayapura district court in connection with a murder case, when he was shot at. The police said five rounds were fired at Harijan, who is presently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vijayapura. The incident occurred at around 10.30 am when Harijan was walking towards the additional court complex. The assailant was lurking behind trees and was waiting for Harijan. Police have recovered cartridges from the spot. The doctors attending Harijan confirmed that five bullets were shot at him from a close range. They said an operation is being conducted on Harijan who is in a critical condition. Police suspect old rivalry behind the shooting incident but did not pinpoint any suspects yet. Harijan was wanted in connecting with murder and extortions reported from Vijayapura, Kalaburagi and parts of Maharashtra. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Karnataka Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and his brother and Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh were questioned for more than four hours by the Income Tax officials on Monday. Shivakumar arrived at the office, located on Queens Road, around 10.30am and was questioned in connection with the raids conducted at his various properties last week. Following these raids from Aug 2 to Aug 5, the minister was summoned under Section 131 of the Income Tax Act. Speaking to media persons after the questioning, which ended around 2.45 pm, Shivakumar said that he was co-operating with the I-T sleuths and had appeared before them following the summons. They have said that they would call me for questioning if required. They, however, have not instructed me to appear again, he said. Noting that the officials had asked him to submit some documents, he said the papers would be submitted to them by his auditor. This is not the first time I am appearing in front of I-T officials. I have appeared several times in the past, whenever they have asked me to, he said. The raids against Shivakumar had kicked up a controversy as it was conducted at a time when he hosted 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs at Eagleton Resort, near Bengaluru. Apart from Shivakumar and Suresh, MLC and their relative S Ravi and several others were raided. Among the ones who appeared before the I-T sleuths included Dwarakanath, Shivakumars astrologer, whose residence was also raided. Mysuru Petas for Gujarat MLAs A total of 44 Congress MLAs, who stayed put here, returned to Ahmedabad in the early hours of Monday morning. They flew to Ahmedabad from Kempegowda International Airport around 2.40 am, with Energy Minister D K Shivakumar accompanying them to the airport. They were felicitated with traditional Mysuru petas, before the flight took off. The MLAs were brought to the city on July 29, after the Congress accused BJP of poaching them, ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat on August 8. They were put up at Eagleton Resort in Bidadi, near Bengaluru. The MLAs had alleged that they were being intimidated by the BJP and had sought the intervention of the Supreme Court over their safety. The MLAs were in the thick of the action during the raid on Shivakumar and his associates properties, as the minister was picked up from the resort. BENGALURU: Karnataka Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and his brother and Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh were questioned for more than four hours by the Income Tax officials on Monday. Shivakumar arrived at the office, located on Queens Road, around 10.30am and was questioned in connection with the raids conducted at his various properties last week. Following these raids from Aug 2 to Aug 5, the minister was summoned under Section 131 of the Income Tax Act. Speaking to media persons after the questioning, which ended around 2.45 pm, Shivakumar said that he was co-operating with the I-T sleuths and had appeared before them following the summons. They have said that they would call me for questioning if required. They, however, have not instructed me to appear again, he said. Noting that the officials had asked him to submit some documents, he said the papers would be submitted to them by his auditor. This is not the first time I am appearing in front of I-T officials. I have appeared several times in the past, whenever they have asked me to, he said. The raids against Shivakumar had kicked up a controversy as it was conducted at a time when he hosted 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs at Eagleton Resort, near Bengaluru. Apart from Shivakumar and Suresh, MLC and their relative S Ravi and several others were raided. Among the ones who appeared before the I-T sleuths included Dwarakanath, Shivakumars astrologer, whose residence was also raided. Mysuru Petas for Gujarat MLAs A total of 44 Congress MLAs, who stayed put here, returned to Ahmedabad in the early hours of Monday morning. They flew to Ahmedabad from Kempegowda International Airport around 2.40 am, with Energy Minister D K Shivakumar accompanying them to the airport. They were felicitated with traditional Mysuru petas, before the flight took off. The MLAs were brought to the city on July 29, after the Congress accused BJP of poaching them, ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat on August 8. They were put up at Eagleton Resort in Bidadi, near Bengaluru. The MLAs had alleged that they were being intimidated by the BJP and had sought the intervention of the Supreme Court over their safety. The MLAs were in the thick of the action during the raid on Shivakumar and his associates properties, as the minister was picked up from the resort. By AFP MAZAR-I-SHARIF: The Afghan government has dispatched special forces to a remote village over fears that Taliban and Islamic State insurgents have taken several families hostage after massacring dozens of civilians, officials said today. Fighters from the two groups killed around 50 men, women and children in Sayad district of northern Sar-e Pul province on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials. Spokesmen from both the central and provincial governments said they believed the insurgents were holding a number of residents of Mirzawalang village hostage. "An unknown number of people have been taken hostage," defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP. "Commando forces have been deployed to the area, air strikes are being carried out as we speak, and commanders on the ground are busy planning the recapture of the valley. "The operation to retake the valley will happen soon, and the terrorists will pay for their crimes," he added. Waziri put the death toll from Saturday's atrocity at 34 but Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor in Sar-e Pul, said 50 people had been killed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications is difficult, and AFP was not able to access the village. "Since the villages is cut off, we can't confirm any new killings by the terrorists," Amani told AFP. "But as many as 150 families are being kept hostage there," he added. Amani has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) on Saturday before massacring civilians, he claimed. Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghan government, told AFP it was difficult to know numbers of civilians being held but said: "President Ashraf Ghani has instructed everyone to do everything to safeguard those people". MAZAR-I-SHARIF: The Afghan government has dispatched special forces to a remote village over fears that Taliban and Islamic State insurgents have taken several families hostage after massacring dozens of civilians, officials said today. Fighters from the two groups killed around 50 men, women and children in Sayad district of northern Sar-e Pul province on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials. Spokesmen from both the central and provincial governments said they believed the insurgents were holding a number of residents of Mirzawalang village hostage. "An unknown number of people have been taken hostage," defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP. "Commando forces have been deployed to the area, air strikes are being carried out as we speak, and commanders on the ground are busy planning the recapture of the valley. "The operation to retake the valley will happen soon, and the terrorists will pay for their crimes," he added. Waziri put the death toll from Saturday's atrocity at 34 but Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor in Sar-e Pul, said 50 people had been killed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications is difficult, and AFP was not able to access the village. "Since the villages is cut off, we can't confirm any new killings by the terrorists," Amani told AFP. "But as many as 150 families are being kept hostage there," he added. Amani has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) on Saturday before massacring civilians, he claimed. Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghan government, told AFP it was difficult to know numbers of civilians being held but said: "President Ashraf Ghani has instructed everyone to do everything to safeguard those people". By AFP TSHIKAPA: Rich in diamonds but ravaged by violence and gripped by poverty, the vast region of Kasai embodies the potential and the problems of Democratic Republic of Congo, sub-Saharan Africa's biggest nation: Shifting borders, endless unrest At the time of Congo's independence from Belgium in 1960, Kasai was a single province of 321,160 square kilometres (124,000 square miles) -- almost the size of Germany. Frequent warfare between the Luba and Bena Lulua tribes led that same year to secession of a "Mining State" headed by Albert Kalonji, who proclaimed himself king of South Kasai. The Kinshasa regime took back control at the end of 1961. Since 2015, the Kasai-Oriental and Kasai-Occidental provinces ("Kasai-East" and "Kasai-West") created in 1966 have been subdivided into five separate provinces as part of a measure to tighten territorial administration. Today, the residual province of Kasai has an area of 95,600 sq. kms, nearly that of South Korea. Three of the new provinces still bear Kasai in their name. Resentment and rites The current strife pitting tribal militias against the security forces erupted after police killed a rebellious tribal chieftain, Jean-Prince Mpandi, in a raid on his home in Kasai-Central in August last year. Mpandi was the sixth leader to bear the honorific of Kamwina Npasu, which is used by his armed followers. Some believe that he lives on because he was buried by officials with no respect for the rites accorded men of his stature. A deep-rooted resentment of President Joseph Kabila's regime fuelled the conflict, which swiftly spread to other provinces. Kinshasa is accused of appointing its henchmen to powerful posts notably on the deaths of respected chiefs, ignoring their natural heirs and succession rites. Surviving leaders fear that their own duties may lose their sacrosanct character and mystic qualities, which are traditionally inherited by the rightful successor during the ceremony of burial. Mass killings Violence has spiralled violence across three provinces -- Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental and Kasai-Occidental. Some 1.4 million people have fled, sometimes going south across the Angolan border, while the Roman Catholic Church estimates that the conflict has claimed more than 3,000 lives. The United Nations, which saw two investigators murdered in Kasai, gave details on Friday of more than 250 killings over three months, with dozens of children reportedly slain. UN officials have reported more than 70 suspected mass graves across the zone of a conflict that has repercussions in nine provinces. A UN peacekeeping mission (today's MONUSCO) was deployed in the DRC before the end of the Second Congo War in July 2003 and has a current strength of about 18,000 military and police. Direct armed intervention has been a rare and tightly regulated part of its mandate. Children bearing the brunt Last month, the special envoy of the UN secretary general in Congo, Maman Sidikou, made a plea for youngsters who had been put on in the firing line. "Children are disproportionately affected by the conflict. They are exposed to extreme risks of violence," Sidikou said. Forcibly recruited children are used by the militia as human shields during clashes with the security forces, and government troops too have been accused of serious human rights abuses, watchdogs say. More than 600 elementary and secondary schools have been targeted since the uprising began. Even medical personnel are unable to work in many areas because their facilities have been destroyed. TSHIKAPA: Rich in diamonds but ravaged by violence and gripped by poverty, the vast region of Kasai embodies the potential and the problems of Democratic Republic of Congo, sub-Saharan Africa's biggest nation: Shifting borders, endless unrest At the time of Congo's independence from Belgium in 1960, Kasai was a single province of 321,160 square kilometres (124,000 square miles) -- almost the size of Germany. Frequent warfare between the Luba and Bena Lulua tribes led that same year to secession of a "Mining State" headed by Albert Kalonji, who proclaimed himself king of South Kasai. The Kinshasa regime took back control at the end of 1961. Since 2015, the Kasai-Oriental and Kasai-Occidental provinces ("Kasai-East" and "Kasai-West") created in 1966 have been subdivided into five separate provinces as part of a measure to tighten territorial administration. Today, the residual province of Kasai has an area of 95,600 sq. kms, nearly that of South Korea. Three of the new provinces still bear Kasai in their name. Resentment and rites The current strife pitting tribal militias against the security forces erupted after police killed a rebellious tribal chieftain, Jean-Prince Mpandi, in a raid on his home in Kasai-Central in August last year. Mpandi was the sixth leader to bear the honorific of Kamwina Npasu, which is used by his armed followers. Some believe that he lives on because he was buried by officials with no respect for the rites accorded men of his stature. A deep-rooted resentment of President Joseph Kabila's regime fuelled the conflict, which swiftly spread to other provinces. Kinshasa is accused of appointing its henchmen to powerful posts notably on the deaths of respected chiefs, ignoring their natural heirs and succession rites. Surviving leaders fear that their own duties may lose their sacrosanct character and mystic qualities, which are traditionally inherited by the rightful successor during the ceremony of burial. Mass killings Violence has spiralled violence across three provinces -- Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental and Kasai-Occidental. Some 1.4 million people have fled, sometimes going south across the Angolan border, while the Roman Catholic Church estimates that the conflict has claimed more than 3,000 lives. The United Nations, which saw two investigators murdered in Kasai, gave details on Friday of more than 250 killings over three months, with dozens of children reportedly slain. UN officials have reported more than 70 suspected mass graves across the zone of a conflict that has repercussions in nine provinces. A UN peacekeeping mission (today's MONUSCO) was deployed in the DRC before the end of the Second Congo War in July 2003 and has a current strength of about 18,000 military and police. Direct armed intervention has been a rare and tightly regulated part of its mandate. Children bearing the brunt Last month, the special envoy of the UN secretary general in Congo, Maman Sidikou, made a plea for youngsters who had been put on in the firing line. "Children are disproportionately affected by the conflict. They are exposed to extreme risks of violence," Sidikou said. Forcibly recruited children are used by the militia as human shields during clashes with the security forces, and government troops too have been accused of serious human rights abuses, watchdogs say. More than 600 elementary and secondary schools have been targeted since the uprising began. Even medical personnel are unable to work in many areas because their facilities have been destroyed. By Associated Press NEW YORK: A memo written by a male engineer at Google about gender differences sparked a quick rebuttal from Google after it circulated widely online. Google CEO Sundar Pichai denounced the memo in an email on Monday for "advancing harmful gender stereotypes" and said he was cutting short a vacation to hold a town hall with staff on Thursday. The engineer, James Damore, was fired, according to Bloomberg, which cited an email from him. An email sent to an address believed to be used by Damore was not immediately returned; Google declined to comment. The engineer's widely shared memo, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," criticized Google for pushing mentoring and diversity programs and for "alienating conservatives." Google's just-hired head of diversity, Danielle Brown, responded earlier with her own memo, saying that Google is "unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success." She said change is hard and "often uncomfortable." The battling messages come as Silicon Valley grapples with accusations of sexism and discrimination. Google is also in the midst of a Department of Labor investigation into whether it pays women less than men, while Uber's CEO recently lost his job amid accusations of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. Leading tech companies, including Google, Facebook and Uber, have said they are trying to improve hiring and working conditions for women. But diversity numbers are barely changing. The Google employee memo, which gained attention online over the weekend, begins by saying that only honest discussion will address a lack of equity. But it also asserts that women "prefer jobs in social and artistic areas" while more men "may like coding because it requires systemizing." The memo, which was shared on the tech blog Gizmodo, attributes biological differences between men and women to the reason why "we don't have 50% representation of women in tech and leadership." While the engineer's views were broadly and publicly criticized online, they echo the 2005 statements by then-Harvard President Lawrence Summers, who said the reason there are fewer female scientists at top universities is in part due to "innate" gender differences. Brande Stellings, senior vice president of advisory services for Catalyst, a nonprofit advocacy group for women in the workplace, said the engineer's viewpoints show "how ingrained, entrenched and harmful gender-based stereotypes truly are." "It's much easier for some to point to 'innate biological differences' than to confront the unconscious biases and obstacles that get in the way of a level playing field," Stellings wrote in an email. Google, like other tech companies, has far fewer women than men in technology and leadership positions. Fifty-six percent of its workers are white and 35 percent are Asian, while Hispanic and Black employees make up 4 percent and 2 percent of its workforce, respectively, according to the company's latest diversity report. Tech companies say they are trying, by reaching out to and interviewing a broader range of job candidates, by offering coding classes, internships and mentorship programs and by holding mandatory "unconscious bias" training sessions for existing employees. But, as the employee memo shows, not everyone at Google is happy with this. NEW YORK: A memo written by a male engineer at Google about gender differences sparked a quick rebuttal from Google after it circulated widely online. Google CEO Sundar Pichai denounced the memo in an email on Monday for "advancing harmful gender stereotypes" and said he was cutting short a vacation to hold a town hall with staff on Thursday. The engineer, James Damore, was fired, according to Bloomberg, which cited an email from him. An email sent to an address believed to be used by Damore was not immediately returned; Google declined to comment. The engineer's widely shared memo, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," criticized Google for pushing mentoring and diversity programs and for "alienating conservatives." Google's just-hired head of diversity, Danielle Brown, responded earlier with her own memo, saying that Google is "unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success." She said change is hard and "often uncomfortable." The battling messages come as Silicon Valley grapples with accusations of sexism and discrimination. Google is also in the midst of a Department of Labor investigation into whether it pays women less than men, while Uber's CEO recently lost his job amid accusations of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. Leading tech companies, including Google, Facebook and Uber, have said they are trying to improve hiring and working conditions for women. But diversity numbers are barely changing. The Google employee memo, which gained attention online over the weekend, begins by saying that only honest discussion will address a lack of equity. But it also asserts that women "prefer jobs in social and artistic areas" while more men "may like coding because it requires systemizing." The memo, which was shared on the tech blog Gizmodo, attributes biological differences between men and women to the reason why "we don't have 50% representation of women in tech and leadership." While the engineer's views were broadly and publicly criticized online, they echo the 2005 statements by then-Harvard President Lawrence Summers, who said the reason there are fewer female scientists at top universities is in part due to "innate" gender differences. Brande Stellings, senior vice president of advisory services for Catalyst, a nonprofit advocacy group for women in the workplace, said the engineer's viewpoints show "how ingrained, entrenched and harmful gender-based stereotypes truly are." "It's much easier for some to point to 'innate biological differences' than to confront the unconscious biases and obstacles that get in the way of a level playing field," Stellings wrote in an email. Google, like other tech companies, has far fewer women than men in technology and leadership positions. Fifty-six percent of its workers are white and 35 percent are Asian, while Hispanic and Black employees make up 4 percent and 2 percent of its workforce, respectively, according to the company's latest diversity report. Tech companies say they are trying, by reaching out to and interviewing a broader range of job candidates, by offering coding classes, internships and mentorship programs and by holding mandatory "unconscious bias" training sessions for existing employees. But, as the employee memo shows, not everyone at Google is happy with this. By AFP TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani put forward a new cabinet line-up on Tuesday that again included no women, despite criticism of their absence from his reformist allies. There were no major changes to Rouhani's government, which is expected to continue his push for greater foreign investment and a technocratic approach to reviving the country's stagnant economy. He did replace the defence minister, Major General Hossein Dehghan, with his deputy, General Amir Hatami -- the first time in more than two decades that the post has been filled by someone from the regular army rather than the elite Revolutionary Guards. The deputy economy minister, Masoud Karbasian, also replaced his boss, Ali Tayebnia. Key names in Iran's efforts to rebuild ties with the West -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh -- retained their positions. All 18 cabinet members must be approved by parliament over the coming week. Rouhani's reformist allies have already criticised the president after news leaked that he would again fail to appoint any women to the cabinet -- seen as a capitulation to religious leaders. "The lack of women ministers shows we are treading water," Shahindokht Mowlaverdi, Rouhani's outgoing vice president for women's affairs, told the reformist Etemad daily on Monday. During his first term, she was one of three women among his large cohort of vice presidents, who do not require parliamentary approval. The 68-year-old president is a moderate cleric, who won a sizeable election victory over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi in May, thanks largely to the support of reformists, who have felt ignored in the selection process for the new government. Ironically, the sole female minister since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution came under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rouhani's hardline predecessor, whose health minister Marzieh Dastjerdi served between 2009 and 2013. With no official parties in parliament, Rouhani must coordinate among a shifting pattern of political factions, none of which holds a definitive majority of the 290 seats. He is known to have coordinated closely on his appointments with other power-brokers, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary. TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani put forward a new cabinet line-up on Tuesday that again included no women, despite criticism of their absence from his reformist allies. There were no major changes to Rouhani's government, which is expected to continue his push for greater foreign investment and a technocratic approach to reviving the country's stagnant economy. He did replace the defence minister, Major General Hossein Dehghan, with his deputy, General Amir Hatami -- the first time in more than two decades that the post has been filled by someone from the regular army rather than the elite Revolutionary Guards. The deputy economy minister, Masoud Karbasian, also replaced his boss, Ali Tayebnia. Key names in Iran's efforts to rebuild ties with the West -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh -- retained their positions. All 18 cabinet members must be approved by parliament over the coming week. Rouhani's reformist allies have already criticised the president after news leaked that he would again fail to appoint any women to the cabinet -- seen as a capitulation to religious leaders. "The lack of women ministers shows we are treading water," Shahindokht Mowlaverdi, Rouhani's outgoing vice president for women's affairs, told the reformist Etemad daily on Monday. During his first term, she was one of three women among his large cohort of vice presidents, who do not require parliamentary approval. The 68-year-old president is a moderate cleric, who won a sizeable election victory over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi in May, thanks largely to the support of reformists, who have felt ignored in the selection process for the new government. Ironically, the sole female minister since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution came under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rouhani's hardline predecessor, whose health minister Marzieh Dastjerdi served between 2009 and 2013. With no official parties in parliament, Rouhani must coordinate among a shifting pattern of political factions, none of which holds a definitive majority of the 290 seats. He is known to have coordinated closely on his appointments with other power-brokers, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan will work together to defeat terrorism and ensure security and stability in the region, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Abbasi yesterday congratulated him on his election as the premier. The Prime Minister Office in a statement said Abbasi thanked the president and said that terrorism is a common threat for both the countries and both countries need to fight it together. "We will work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region," Abbasi said, adding that terrorism was a common enemy and "we will work together to eliminate this menace from the region". The two leaders also agreed to work together to address the challenge of energy in the region and improve the economic condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan leader expressed satisfaction over the smooth transition and said that it was good for democracy of Pakistan, the statement said. It was first high-level call between the two leaders since Abbasi took office. The last known contact between top leadership was made when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Ghani met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana about two months ago. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan will work together to defeat terrorism and ensure security and stability in the region, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Abbasi yesterday congratulated him on his election as the premier. The Prime Minister Office in a statement said Abbasi thanked the president and said that terrorism is a common threat for both the countries and both countries need to fight it together. "We will work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region," Abbasi said, adding that terrorism was a common enemy and "we will work together to eliminate this menace from the region". The two leaders also agreed to work together to address the challenge of energy in the region and improve the economic condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan leader expressed satisfaction over the smooth transition and said that it was good for democracy of Pakistan, the statement said. It was first high-level call between the two leaders since Abbasi took office. The last known contact between top leadership was made when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Ghani met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana about two months ago. By AFP MAZAR-I-SHARIF: The Taliban released 235 hostages from a remote village in northern Afghanistan where it allegedly massacred around 50 civilians along with Islamic State insurgents but others were still feared held, officials said today. "This evening 235 people including women and children were released from Mirzawalang as a result of mediation by the local elders and provincial officials," Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. "They have been safely evacuated to Sar-e Pul city, but there are still an unknown number of people being kept hostage there," he added. An Afghan security source said he thought there were still around 100 people being held hostage in Mirzawalang, situated in the Sayad district of Sar-e Pul province, after insurgents captured it at the weekend. Taliban and IS fighters killed around 50 men, women and children in the mainly Shiite village on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials, who also said they took a number of residents captive. "Despite the efforts of elders the bodies of the victims have not been recovered," Mohammad Zaher Wahdat, the provincial governor, told Tolo News, an Afghanistan television news channel. "Two hundred and thirty-five hostages have been released. They are so shocked they can't even speak to tell us about anymore other hostages," he added. Amani, the provincial spokesman, has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) after a 48hour battle before massacring civilians, he claimed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Most were shot or beheaded, he said. Afghan defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP that 34 civilians were known to have been killed. The discrepancy highlights the difficulty of verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications. AFP was not able to access the village. Before confirmation of the release of hostages Amani said that 150 families were being held while Waziri said "an unknown number of people" had been taken hostage. MAZAR-I-SHARIF: The Taliban released 235 hostages from a remote village in northern Afghanistan where it allegedly massacred around 50 civilians along with Islamic State insurgents but others were still feared held, officials said today. "This evening 235 people including women and children were released from Mirzawalang as a result of mediation by the local elders and provincial officials," Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. "They have been safely evacuated to Sar-e Pul city, but there are still an unknown number of people being kept hostage there," he added. An Afghan security source said he thought there were still around 100 people being held hostage in Mirzawalang, situated in the Sayad district of Sar-e Pul province, after insurgents captured it at the weekend. Taliban and IS fighters killed around 50 men, women and children in the mainly Shiite village on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials, who also said they took a number of residents captive. "Despite the efforts of elders the bodies of the victims have not been recovered," Mohammad Zaher Wahdat, the provincial governor, told Tolo News, an Afghanistan television news channel. "Two hundred and thirty-five hostages have been released. They are so shocked they can't even speak to tell us about anymore other hostages," he added. Amani, the provincial spokesman, has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) after a 48hour battle before massacring civilians, he claimed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Most were shot or beheaded, he said. Afghan defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP that 34 civilians were known to have been killed. The discrepancy highlights the difficulty of verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications. AFP was not able to access the village. Before confirmation of the release of hostages Amani said that 150 families were being held while Waziri said "an unknown number of people" had been taken hostage. By AFP UNITED NATIONS: Renewed clashes in the Central African Republic are early warning signs of genocide, the UN aid chief has said, calling for more troops and police to beef up the UN peacekeeping mission in the strife-torn country. Some 180,000 people have been driven from their homes this year, bringing the total number of displaced in the Central African Republic to well over half a million, said Stephen O'Brien. "The early warning signs of genocide are there," O'Brien told a UN meeting following his recent trip to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. "We must act now, not pare down the UN's effort, and pray we don't live to regret it." O'Brien said it was time to authorize an increase in troops and police serving in the MINUSCA force to enable the mission to "deliver on its critical protection mandate." UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix last week said he was considering sending a request to the UN Security Council for more troops for MINUSCA. One of the world's poorest nations, CAR was pitched into a war between Muslim and Christian militias in 2013. It was unleashed when President Francois Bozize was overthrown by a coalition of Muslim-majority rebel groups called the Seleka. They in turn were ousted by a military intervention led by former colonial ruler France. Those events sparked some of the bloodiest sectarian violence in the country's history as mainly Christian militias sought revenge. Christians, who account for about 80 per cent of the population, organized vigilante units dubbed "anti-balaka", a reference to the machetes used by the Muslim rebels. The United Nations has 12,350 troops and police on the ground to help protect civilians and support the government of President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who was elected last year. While Touadera's government remains in control in Bangui, its authority is weak outside of the capital where former Seleka groups and anti-balaka fighters have clashed. Thirteen MINUSCA peacekeepers have been killed this year-- nine in the southern town of Bangassou alone -- raising alarm that the country is sliding back to the bloodletting that exploded in 2013 following the overthrow of Bozize. UNITED NATIONS: Renewed clashes in the Central African Republic are early warning signs of genocide, the UN aid chief has said, calling for more troops and police to beef up the UN peacekeeping mission in the strife-torn country. Some 180,000 people have been driven from their homes this year, bringing the total number of displaced in the Central African Republic to well over half a million, said Stephen O'Brien. "The early warning signs of genocide are there," O'Brien told a UN meeting following his recent trip to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. "We must act now, not pare down the UN's effort, and pray we don't live to regret it." O'Brien said it was time to authorize an increase in troops and police serving in the MINUSCA force to enable the mission to "deliver on its critical protection mandate." UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix last week said he was considering sending a request to the UN Security Council for more troops for MINUSCA. One of the world's poorest nations, CAR was pitched into a war between Muslim and Christian militias in 2013. It was unleashed when President Francois Bozize was overthrown by a coalition of Muslim-majority rebel groups called the Seleka. They in turn were ousted by a military intervention led by former colonial ruler France. Those events sparked some of the bloodiest sectarian violence in the country's history as mainly Christian militias sought revenge. Christians, who account for about 80 per cent of the population, organized vigilante units dubbed "anti-balaka", a reference to the machetes used by the Muslim rebels. The United Nations has 12,350 troops and police on the ground to help protect civilians and support the government of President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who was elected last year. While Touadera's government remains in control in Bangui, its authority is weak outside of the capital where former Seleka groups and anti-balaka fighters have clashed. Thirteen MINUSCA peacekeepers have been killed this year-- nine in the southern town of Bangassou alone -- raising alarm that the country is sliding back to the bloodletting that exploded in 2013 following the overthrow of Bozize. Newport Art Museum wraps up fall with variety of programs Though it hasnt always felt like fall these past few weeks, the museum is in high gear hosting fall events and planning for winter. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Champaign, IL (61820) Today Light snow this evening with clearing late. Low 23F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%.. Tonight Light snow this evening with clearing late. Low 23F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Iran signed the country's biggest-ever car deal with French multinational automobile manufacturer Groupe Renault today to produce 150,000 cars, beginning in 2018. The USD 778 million deal follows the lifting of international sanctions after Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. It also comes just days after new US sanctions on Iran were signed by President Donald Trump. The US legislation also imposed new sanctions on Russia and North Korea.During the ceremony in Tehran, Iran's Minister of Industry Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said the deal with Renault would "establish a research and development center for designing" in the country. A Renault executive, Thierry Bollor, said it would help transfer technology to Iran. The car deal is expected to create about 3,000 jobs for the two Iranian companies involved: IDRO, or the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran, and the privately owned Negin Group.Renault has a 60 percent partnership in the deal. The plant in a Tehran suburb will produce Duster and Symbol cars starting in 2018. Renault will be the majority shareholder and have its own distribution network in Iran for the first time. Last year, French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen reached a deal with Iran Khodro to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles annually. Peugeot was a major player in Iran's car market before international sanctions were imposed over Iran's controversial uranium enrichment program a possible pathway to nuclear weapons.At the time, PSA group said negotiations for the deal began before the sanctions were lifted. France and other European nations have moved quickly to create stronger business ties with Iran's large market since international sanctions were lifted. On September 2016, during the Paris auto show, when Iran's President Hassan Rouhani visited Paris, Renault reached a deal with Iran's government to open the plant with IDRO. Iran produces about 1,350,000 vehicles a year, though authorities hope that number will reach 3 million annually by 2025. Officially verified as the first production electric car to exceed 1000km on a single charge! Congratulations Tesla Owners Italia!! https://t.co/r8fFZIFEP2 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 5, 2017 Tesla is known for manufacturing some of the most frugal electric cars on Earth, with an all-electric range as high as 535 km in the Tesla Model S. In fact, the new Tesla Model 3 is not far behind with an electric range of 500 km. But none of the above mentioned cars can match the new record set in a Tesla Model S 100D, which managed to run a complete 1078 km on a single charge, before running out of juice.The record was set by Tesla Owners Italy , an independent group of people who own Tesla cars in Italy. The fun part is, Elon Musk took to Twitter to congratulate the team at Tesla Owners Italy for its accomplishment and confirm the record set. Interestingly, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted about the possibility of churning 1000 km out of the Tesla Model S, on a single charge "with the right tyres."Seems like he was right as the groups record by certified by a notary, who sealed the charging port before the drive began. A stock 100-kWh Model S, baring a set of low-rolling-resistance tyres was driven over the course of 29 hours, averaging about 25 miles per hour. The end result was a new record mileage of 1,078 km (almost 670 miles), double the official EPA-estimated 335 miles range.A total of 5 drivers got to drive the car with the AC off and the car consumed a total of 98.4 kWh of electricity. "The driving was made simple by the semi-autonomous driving system, which helped us to keep a constant speed in the middle of the lane," said Rosario Pingaro, one of the team's five drivers.The previous world record of maximum EV mileage of 560 miles on a single charge was also set on a Tesla Model S P100D. New Delhi: Cyber security preparedness is a continuous activity and the RBI has asked banks to periodically conduct vulnerability test, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar said the RBI has issued Cyber Security Framework in Bank to help them deal with any future cbyer attacks. According to the Reserve Bank, 'WannaCry' ransomware attacks were reported from banks during May and June this year and a few computers in two bank branches and one ATM unit were impacted "though no data loss was reported". "The RBI had issued advisories to banks in relation to ransomware attacks, regarding application of relevant patches in and update of anti-virus software for all systems," the minister said. Gangwar further said the RBI has "apprised that the performance" of banks in this regard is closely monitored through both on-site and off-site assessments. To another question related to cloning of credit and debit cards, the minister said 6,811 cases of frauds related to credit cards and 15,792 ATM and debit cards were reported during the last financial year. The total amount involved was Rs 204 crore. Replying to another question, Gangwar said public sector banks had 8,915 wilful defaulters involving Rs 92,376 crore at March-end 2017. Action has been initiated in 5,954 cases involving Rs 69,439 crore under the SARFAESI Act (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act). The Maharashtra government has now revised the history textbooks.History of Western countries and Mughals holds no relevance for Class VII and IX students under the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education as per the state education department and the History Subject Committee.Chairman of the History subject committee of the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research -- Sadanand More -- justified the change by saying that the revisions were made to make the history more "Maharashtra-centric"."Why should we not change? We have looked at history from a Maharashtra-centric point of view. Even if it is the Delhi Sultanate or the Mughal rule and the medieval history of India, we have kept Maharashtra at the centre. It is a natural course as we are from Maharashtra.What's wrong in that? In fact, the Central board books have very little about our state, More said to Mumbai Mirror Akbar has now been renamed as the ruler who "tried to bring India under a central authority" from "liberal and tolerant administrator." While Shivaji is now "An Ideal Ruler' from "People's King" under the revision."We are from Maharashtra, we need to learn more about the history of this region. I don't think there is anything wrong in that," More told The Indian Express Here's a list of some controversial changes or findings in Indian textbooks:The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education made a revision in the history section of the Class X social science books according to which Maharana Pratap defeated Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16th-century Battle of Haldighati.The students in Rajasthan were earlier taught that the Battle of Haldighati, which took place on June 18, 1576, was inconclusive. After the revision, the history books in Rajasthan schools will now teach that the Maharana Pratap's army fought a heroic battle and forced Akbar's army to retreat from the battlefield.References to the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his contributions had been dropped in the social science textbook for class eight in BJP-ruled Rajasthan last year.Congress cried foul and accused the Vasundhara Raje government of touching a "new low" by the "shameless act" of omitting references to Nehru in the book while carrying out a revision of several textbooks.Rajasthan PCC President Sachin Pilot said the opposition party would launch an agitation against the "deliberate" omission of Nehru's name, saying the RSS-BJP can tweak text books but cannot rewrite history.The new name included in the textbook was that of freedom movement leader Hemu Kalani. While the names of Mahatma Gandhi, Veer Savarkar, Bhagat Singh, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Subhash Chandra Bose were among those figured in the textbook, there was no mention of Nehru either in the chapter on Freedom Movement or in that on India After Independence.In 1995, when BJP leader Keshubhai Patel became the chief minister of Gujarat, a Class IX social studies textbook showed Muslims, Christians, and Parsis as foreigners. To make it even more controversial, the book said: "in most of the states, the Hindus are a minority and the Muslims, Christians and Sikhs are in a majority."A class VIII social studies book had a horrendous description of Christian priests: The accumulation of power and wealth in the hands of the priests resulted in a perversion of the religion. Some of the priests became pleasure-loving and badly behaved.In an embarrassing error, a Class IX Hindi subject textbook of the board refers to Jesus Christ as a demon and goes on to say that stories of this "demon" will be forever remembered.Realising the blooper, the education minister and the chairman of the textbook board have said that the error will be rectified soon. Officials said that the mistake was caused by a misprint.The reference to Jesus Christ as a demon is made in chapter 16 of the book titled Bharatiya Sanskriti Mein Guru-Shishya Sambandh. This translates to the relationship between a guru and his disciples in Indian culture.On page 70, the line referring to Jesus Christ reads "Iss sambandh mein haivan Isa ka ek kathan sadaa smaraniya hain." Translated, it means that in this context, an incident of demon Jesus will always be remembered.In early 2000, one history textbook described Adolf Hitler as, "Hitler lent dignity and prestige to the German government within a short time by establishing a strong administrative setup. He created the vast state of Greater Germany."[caption id="attachment_1259630" align="alignnone" width="875"] File photo of Adolf Hitler[/caption]"He adopted the policy of opposition towards the Jewish people and advocated the supremacy of the German race. He adopted a new economic policy and brought prosperity to Germany. He began efforts for the eradication of unemployment.""He started constructing public buildings, providing irrigation facilities, building railways, roads and production of war materials. He made untiring efforts to make Germany self-reliant within one decade."Hitler discarded the Treaty of Versailles by calling it just 'a piece of paper' and stopped paying the war penalty. He instilled the spirit of adventure in the common people, but in doing so it led to extreme nationalism and caused the Second World War." New Delhi: Keen on boosting bilateral trade and ties, India and Iran have expressed commitment to operationalise the strategic Chabahar Port at the earliest. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is on a two-day visit to Tehran as a special envoy of India deputed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the second tenure of Hassan Rouhani as the President of Iran, extended the PM's invitation to Rouhani to visit India while handing over a letter of felicitation to him and held talks with him and other Iranian officials. In the meetings, both sides reviewed and positively assessed the progress in implementation of the decisions taken during Prime Minister's visit to Iran last year, including the progress in the development of Chabahar Port, Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. "Both sides reiterated their commitment to complete and operationalise the port at the earliest that would contribute to bilateral and regional trade and economic development and also provide alternate access to landlocked Afghanistan to regional and global markets," the statement said. Hopeful of rolling out infrastructure projects in Iran and Afghanistan, Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari has said that once Chabahar Port in Iran becomes operational, there will be no looking back as it will be a gateway to golden opportunities. "Talks are on for building railways and roads through Chabahar till Afghanistan and then we have access to Russia. Once Chabahar is operationalised, which we are hopeful to be in 12 to 18 months time, it will prove to be a gateway to golden opportunities to boost trade and business," Gadkari told PTI. Gadkari, during his two-day visit, apart from meeting President Rouhani, also called on Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri and Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Abbas Akhoundi and held talks on bilateral cooperation. Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan province in the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations southern coast, lies outside the Persian Gulf and is easily accessed from India's western coast, bypassing Pakistan. "We are hopeful of ratification of Trilateral Transit and Transport Agreement by Iran and once approvals are given, the work will start," Gadkari said. The trilateral pact was inked during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Tehran in May 2016. The pact envisages establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor between India, Iran and Afghanistan using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran besides multi-modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations. The Cabinet and the President had ratified the pact in November and December, 2016 respectively. A government official said Afghanistan has also ratified it but Iran is yet to complete the internal processes of the ratification. Gadkari said operationalisation of the Port will not accelerate the infrastructure projects but will be a "win-win situation" for the nations as it would give tremendous boost to trade and offer vast opportunities to investors. "Chabahar will not only boost ties between Iran and India but we will be closer to Afghanistan and then Russia....We can export goods till Russia. This will be a direct route," he said. India has already built the Zaranj-Delaram Road in Afghanistan where the cargo reaching Zehedan can connect to. "The rail route is aimed at connecting the existing rail network of Iran at Zahedan, and subsequently to Mashad in north area, thereby providing access to Turkmenistan as well as northern Afghanistan through its connection to the Bafq- Mashad route," an official said. This project will significantly enhance the opportunity for trade and business among the nations. Chabahar-Zahedan Railway line project is located in the Sistan-Baluchistan province in eastern Iran. Gadkari's visit assumes significance as India has accelerated work on the Chabahar port and finalised some tenders for installation of key equipment at the port. "Civil construction work has started there. We have finalised tenders worth Rs 380 crore for equipment out of Rs 600 crore and once the port becomes operational it will become a growth engine," the minister had said. For greater trade and investment flow with Iran and neighbouring countries, the Cabinet last year cleared proposals for development of Chabahar port including a USD 150 million credit from Exim Bank. It also authorised the Shipping Ministry to form a company in Iran for implementing the Chabahar Port Development Project and related activities. As per the MoU signed between the two nations in May last year, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease. Ownership of the equipment will be transferred to the Iranian side on completion of 10 years or for an extended period, based on mutual agreement. The Iranian side had requested for provision of a credit of USD 150 million in accordance with the MoU. As per the pact, operations of the two berths are to commence within a period of maximum 18 months after the signing of the contract. Besides the bilateral pact to develop the Chabahar port, for which India will invest USD 500 million, a trilateral Agreement on Transport and Transit Corridor has also been signed by India, Afghanistan and Iran. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Central government's stand on whether Article 370, which grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, lapsed with dissolution of Constituent Assembly in 1957. A bench led by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar issued a notice to the Centre, seeking its response in four weeks. Incidentally, this is fourth such petition in the top court which has brought to fore the controversy over continuance of Article 370 and Article 35A in J&K. The petition, moved by Kumari Vijayalakshmi Jha, has contended that Article 370 was a temporary provision that had lapsed with dissolution of the states Constituent Assembly in 1957. It said the question before the court for consideration was whether the temporary provision lapsed automatically with the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on 26 January, 1957. The petition added that continuance of temporary provision of Article 370, which had never got the assent/approval of President of India/Parliament/government of India, regarding matters like citizenship, amounted to fraud on the basic structure of our Constitution, and was against the sovereignty, integrity, unity of the nation. Two other such petitions had laid challenge to Articles 370 and 35A on the ground of violating fundamental rights to equality and liberty. They also contended that Article 370 was a temporary provision and that it could not be now construed as a permanent part of the Indian Constitution. Another PIL has demanded treating Hindus as minority in J&K, and questioned if the state was exempted from applicability of the National Commission for Minority Act under Article 370, there is no reason why money should be allocated to them by the Centre. The Karnataka Development Authority (KDA) has asked senior bank managers working in the state to learn Kannada in six months or get sacked. The directive has been aimed at the non-Kannada speaking regional heads of nationalized, private and rural banks.The Authority also said that the day to day business of banks must be carried out in the local language so that people are not excluded from banking services, especially in rural areas. Earlier this year a customer had dragged ICICI bank to court after his cheque was dishonoured on the grounds that it was written in Kannada.It is unclear if the KDA has the authority to sack bank staff, but the directive follows close on the heels of the language row in the Southern state. Hindi signs have been blackened out in the Bengaluru Metro. A social media campaign on Twitter with the hashtag #NammaBankuKannadaBeku (Our banks need Kannada) seeks to promote the use of the local language in the financial services industry.People have posted tweets under the hashtag about how even ATMs do not have information in Kannada. Many had tweeted pictures of banks, ATM home pages, and other bank services in English and Hindi, to highlight the lack of local language options.The thrust of the social media campaign and the directive is that financial services must be made available in simple and easily understandable terms in Kannada. All circulars and guidelines must be in Kannada, in addition to English and Hindi.The institute of banking personnel selection holds competitive exams for bank recruitment. While merit is the criteria, the rules also state that people with local language skills should be recruited for each area.The KDAs stand is that those who are recruited must be asked to learn Kannada within six months of recruitment and those already in service must be given six months to learn the language. If they do not learn the language, they should be sacked. Further, the KDA says that all grade C and D workers must be locals, as laid down in the Sarojini Mahishi report.The KDA wants all bank branches in the state to have a Kannada unit similar to the Hindi units were opened throughout India when Hindi was implemented. The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, had earlier said that the government won't tolerate a discriminatory attitude towards locals by banks. Mumbai: After 57 silent rallies across Maharashtra, the Maratha community will come together on Wednesday, to conduct a massive silent rally in Mumbai that is expected to draw lakhs of participants. The Maratha kranti morcha, that is sure to disrupt traffic movement in the city, will have a host of demands including reservations for the Maratha community. The rally will start from Jijamata Udyaan at 11am and culminate at Azad Maidan near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at 5pm. In order to ensure a smooth traffic flow for the commuters, police will divert some of the routes apart from closing down some other roads. The protesting Maratha leaders have rejected the idea of negotiations with the government. With this final rally, the community is demanding justice for the 15-year-old Kopardi rape victim and amendment in Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, apart from other things. Pune: Suspended police constable couple Dinesh and Tarkeshwari Rathod, who had faked about scaling Mount Everest in May last year, have been dismissed from the police service, a senior official said on Monday. The couple had been suspended from Pune police in November last year after an inquiry conducted by a fact-finding committee, set up by police, found that their claims were misleading and bogus, and it was confirmed that they had faked about the ascent. "The couple faked about the Everest ascent, morphed the photographs, shared misleading information and while doing this, brought disrepute to the Maharashtra police department and did not report to duty. Based on the inquiry, we dismissed the couple from the department and an order to this effect was issued on Saturday," Sahebrao Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (admin) of Pune police, said. The couple had been issued a show-cause notice in May this year and they were asked why they should not be dismissed from the services, he added. Dinesh and Tarkeshwari, posted at Shivajinagar police headquarters in the city, had claimed on June 5 last year that they have become the first Indian couple to scale the Everest. A group of local mountaineers had later claimed that couple was never at the summit and alleged that they had faked their expedition by morphing photographs, which showed them at the Everest peak. In August (last year), the Nepal government had reportedly banned the entry of Dinesh and Tarkeshwari in Nepal for 10 years. Following a complaint against the Rathods, an inquiry was ordered into the allegations and the city police had also written to the Nepal government to investigate the claim. Surendra Shelke, one of the complainants and secretary of a city-based mountaineering association, had alleged that the couple had morphed the pictures and there were several discrepancies in the version given about the summit, which could prove the falseness of the claim. Amethi: Posters declaring Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as "missing" have appeared in his Lok Sabha constituency in Amethi, with the party terming it as a "handiwork" of the BJP and the RSS. The posters, which have been pasted at various places in the city, carry a picture of Gandhi with a message below it. "Amethi ke man-niya saansad amethi se lapata hain (Respected Amethi parliamentarian is missing from Amethi)." Gandhi had last visited his constituency in February this year in run up to the state assembly elections. The posters also claim developmental works, supposed to be carried out by MPs in their areas, have stalled in Amethi. "The common man is feeling cheated and humiliated due to his behaviour. Those giving information about him will be rewarded," the message on the poster adds. District Congress chief Yogendra Mishra termed it a "conspiracy" of the BJP and the RSS and said such things have happened earlier also. "We will register an FIR in this connection with the local police," Mishra said. BJP district president Uma Shankar Pandey denied the allegations saying his party and the RSS have nothing to do with it. "Had he (Gandhi) done something for Amethi, the situation would not have arisen," he said. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) BC Dubey said police have not received complaint in this matter from anyone. "If we get a complaint, we will probe and take necessary action," he said. Gandhi had last week met people of his constituency in Lucknow, where he had gone to submit a memorandum to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) regarding land acquisition of farmers for roads. New Delhi: Stalking cases across the country have increased over the last three years, government said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Answering a question about rising crime against women, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir tabled data in the Lok Sabha which showed a consistent rise in stalking cases in past three years. As per the data, 7132 cases of stalking were registered in 2016, 6266 cases in 2015 and 4699 cases in 2014. While 8620 people were arrested and 481 convicted for stalking related crimes in 2016; in 2015, 6694 people were arrested while 473 convicted for the crime. The corresponding figures for 2014 were 5439 people arrested and 262 convicted. Abduction and attempt to abduction cases have also been on the rise in the past few years. In 2014, 57,000 cases were registered while in 2015, it went up to 64,000. Recently, there was a stalking case in Chandigarh in which the son of the BJP's Haryana unit chief Subhash Barala is an accused. Chandigarh police have been facing flak for diluting charges against accused Ashish Kumar and Vikas Barala and for stalking a woman. Attempt to abduct is a non-bailable offence and if this was applied, it would have been difficult for the accused to get bail. Bhopal: In a weird case of tagging for identity, two minors were stamped with an entry seal on their face when they reached to meet their imprisoned relatives on Raksha Bandhan at the Bhopal Central Jail on Monday. The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) too has taken cognizance of the matter after the photographs of two children including a girl with an entry seal on their faces surfaced in a section of media in Bhopal. The jail authorities, however, said the incident of 'stamping-seal-on-face' was an unintentional goof-up and might have been done mistakenly due to surge of visitors in the jail premises to mark the festive day of Raksha Bandhan. "Couple of children might have been stamped an entry seal on their cheeks. It was unintentional and done mistakenly as over 8,500 people mostly women and children visited the jail premises on the day of Raksha Bandhan," Bhopal Central Jail's Superintendent Dinesh Nargave told PTI on Tuesday. Nargave said there is a practice of putting an entry seal on every visitor's hand in a bid to distinguish them from the jail inmates. "The visitors mix up with the prisoners and it is hard to point them out. So, a stamp is embossed on the hand of a visitor to identify them," he added. Nargave doubted that this goof-up might have occurred as some women and girls wear burqa. "We are conducting an inquiry into the matter. We will take action against the employee concerned, if found that this was done intentionally," he assured. Meanwhile, the MPHRC has served a notice to the Director General (jails) seeking an explanation on this incident within seven days of notice. "MPHRC has taken cognizance of the incident after the photograph of two minors with stamp on face was published today in the newspapers. We have served a notice to Director General (jails) seeking explanation about the incident," Commission's public relation officer LR Sisodia told PTI. He said the Commission considered the stamp-on-the-face of child and the girl as the breach of human rights and also violation of child rights. Microalgae blooms proliferating in hot weather in Spain's Canary Islands are irritating beachgoers, who should avoid direct contact with them, local authorities said on Monday. Tenerife in particular is awash with visitors at this time of year but some of those having an Atlantic dip have come out scratching themselves after brushing up against the tiny algae. The spreading algae have produced a greenish brown hue in the waters off some beaches in the tourist haven. "Since the end of June, we have seen episodes of massive efflorescence (or bloom) of microalgae, sometimes reaching as far as bathing beaches," Jose Juan Aleman, director of public health for the Canaries, told AFP. The algae are a type of bacteria, trichodesmium erythraeum, also known as sea sawdust, said Aleman. "Its proliferation is a natural, temporary phenomenon which is going to disappear" in due course, he added, suggesting global warming was helping the algae spread. The bacterium "contains a toxin which can lead to skin irritation, dermatitis, hence one must avoid coming into contact with it in the water and on the sand." With the islands last year welcoming more than 13 million foreign tourists, local authorities were keen to reassure sun-seekers. "Generally, it has not been necessary to close the beaches," said Aleman. However, AFP found that several have been closed to swimmers over recent weeks, including the popular Teresitas beach at Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Marta Sanson, professor of plant biology at Tenerife's La Laguna university, told AFP that "ideal conditions are allowing proliferation of these microalgae". Those include "an increase in water temperature" as well as a "dust cloud sweeping in off the Sahara which is rich in iron, a nutrient which micro-organisms like." Washington: Indian-origin actor Dev Patel is among nine individuals to be honoured by a leading educational organisation for making a "transformative and positive" difference for the future of Asia and the world. London-born Patel, who became popular with his debut film Slumdog Millionaire, will be felicitated with the Asia Society 2017 Asia Game Changers Award at a ceremony to be held at the United Nations, New York, in November. The organisation said that Patel in less than a decade has emerged as a full-blown movie star, delivering acclaimed performances in an impressive range of films and television shows. "His work has done more than just entertain. It has also built bridges of understanding between India, a country so frequently reduced to a stereotype, and audiences in the West," Patel's profile by Asia Society said. He was recently seen in Garth Davis' Lion, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for the best actor in a supporting role. Patel will next be seen in Hotel Mumbai, a drama centered around the 26/11 terror attacks. Asia Society noted that Patel has turned his attention and star power to philanthropy. His "#lionheart" campaign raised over USD 2,50,000 in support of India's millions of homeless children. Patel, who refers to himself as just a "guy from London", has established lasting ties with his ancestral homeland. "They feel a strong ownership over me, which is more than welcome in a big way," Patel said, referring to the people of India. Asia Society President Josette Sheeran said this year's honorees have each made a significant difference through a unique vision, perseverance and courage. "In a world of challenges, it is important to honour the dreamers and leaders, those who take action and those who inspire us to build a better world," Sheeran said in a statement. The Asia Game Changer lifetime achievement award will be given to Aga Khan, Founder of the Aga Khan Development Network for using philanthropy to lift millions of Asia's most vulnerable. Other honorees include Afghan rapper and activist Sonita Alizadeh, Chinese ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing President Jean Liu, Cambodian Environmental activist Leng Ouch, nonprofit organization Sesame Workshop, Chinese musician and composer Wu Tong and Japanese casual wear retailer UNIQLO founder Tadashi Yanai. Quite a lot has been written, spoken and discussed about the recently released film Jab Harry Met Sejal. Nothing that we pen down will perhaps sound new to you. But a thought that has stayed with us long after we left the theatre is that theres something inherently wrong with Anushka Sharmas character, Sejal. Does she need help? If not help-help, maybe a little counseling?Sejal is like a metaphor of contradictions and inconsistencies. Contradictions surrounding the build-up of her character, the pretentious portrayal of her character and of course inconsistencies regarding the needs and desires of her character. And the fact that it comes from Imtiaz Ali, the sole filmmaker who has etched a rainbow of complex, self-battling yet substantial characters Jab We Mets Geet and Aditya to Tamashas Ved and Taara, Highway's Veera and Mahabir, Love Aaj Kal's Meera and Jai, Socha Na Tha's Aditi and Viren and Rockstar's Heer and Janardhan - is a little disheartening.Born and brought up in a conservative Gujarati family, Sejal is a lawyer by profession LLB in legal family matters. She possesses a certain desire to explain her name's meaning to everyone she meets. Shes engaged to god-knows-who in the first half and a blink-and-miss fiancee on a video call in the second. On a family trip to Europe, she loses her engagement ring and decides to not return until she finds it after fighting with her fiancee. She, somehow, convinces her tour-guide to accompany her on the pursuit of finding the lost ring. And post that, its only inexcusable how incongruities unfold.In a moment, oned like to call it a work of conscious and subconscious that while consciously shes journeying back to find her engagement ring, subconsciously shes only looking for an escape from the shackles of what her future marriage holds and that somewhere shes also rooting for an adventure she hasn't yet been on. For which, ring perhaps is a fitting symbolism. But certain questions regarding why she does what she does still remain to be answered.In an initial scene with Harry, her tour guide, she hands out an indemnity bond to him and makes it clear that if at all they indulge in a sexual interaction amounting or not amounting to full intercourse, hell be absolved of all legal charges. The makers would have us believe that shes confident, a woman of her words and that she sure knows when to draw a line. And that shes definitely not in this journey for pleasure.Yet, the scenes that follow highlight how she craves validation from men be it her faceless fiancee or Harry. That how shes in a constant need of being assured that shes laayak and that shes worth lusting for. That how she follows a tour guide only to find out if he finds her sexy enough.In fact, at one point, Sejal directly asks Harry if hes trying to hit on her. And as soon as he denies any such act, she gets back saying, Kyun main sexy nahin hoon kya.While its understood that its because a sexual drive towards her is missing from her fiancees end, it remains unclear as to why she continuously follows her tour guide both metaphorically and literally. And honestly, after a point, theres absolutely no sense of who Sejal is in reality.It also becomes rather difficult to fathom as to why shes so much in need of being objectified that when Harry calls her more laayak than a certain woman; she gets so elated that she probably forgets why they set out tracing back their steps through Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest in the first place.But soon after all this, when its clear that the two on some level have fallen for each other, she retaliates saying shes not the kind of woman whod run away with a tour guide. Why would you follow him to night clubs then? Why would you seduce him? Why would you dance around wishing he'd swoon over you? Why?Being so complex herself, its also a little amusing how she trivializes Harrys loneliness post the Radha song and how shes okay with Harry considering her as his girlfriend for time being. Plus, whats with Sejal asking Harry to literally play her fiancee Rupen while searching for rings in cafes and on streets? It felt like a scene only meant to give Shah Rukh Khan enough time to be his charming best. Because how else does he do it no?Not just this, a certain scene wherein the two are running away from a mafia gang of sorts, Sejal breaks down in a moment of crisis. So much so that she even fears that if her fiancee finds out about the ongoing incident, hell yell at her. In a moment that a lawyers sensibilities shouldve taken over, she lies there vulnerable and being disturbingly self-aware. All of a sudden.Moreover, the entire perplexity of being a Gujarati seems to be tackled only by the accent. An accent so disturbing that it starts getting on to you. Have said this before, will say this again putting a ne after every sentence doesnt make one a Gujarati.A filmmaker of Ali's caliber could've carved a personality graph strong enough to get the viewers invested, but with Jab Harry Met Sejal, neither Sejal nor Harry will taste the success which Ali's other characters continue to live on. Hyderabad: As part of its mega expansion drive in South India, the Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a campaign in Telangana to celebrate September 17, the day when the Government of India took over Hyderabad State from the Nizam in 1948 after an Army operation, as Telangana Liberation Day. And the party is going all out to make the event a success as it eyes to be seen as the main Opposition to K Chandrashekar Rao-led government in the state. The BJP hopes this event will provide the party a launch platform for its ambition of winning the 2019 Assembly polls in Telangana. BJP chief Amit Shah will visit Hyderabad for three days in September to set the agenda for the party. During his visit from September 10 to 12, he will review organizational structure at grass-root level and discuss the strategy with state unit leaders. The end of 200 years old Nizams rule in 1948 came after an Army operation and was followed by communal violence, leaving the region, particularly the Hyderabad city, deeply scarred. In this background, public celebration of September 17 as Liberation Day is being seen as communally sensitive by political analysts in Hyderabad. When asked, BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said, We are a party that believes in celebrating everything that is nationalist. This region would have become a South Pakistan if it was not liberated. So there is a huge reason to celebrate this day officially, as it marks the Independence from the oppression of the Nizam. KCR government has taken U-turn on this promise to appease minority vote bank. Telangana government is under pressure of Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. Alleging the BJP of playing divisive card just for the sake of votes, Telangana Rashtra Samiti MP Vishweshwar Reddy said, Politically the BJP is irrelevant in Telangana. They dont have any understanding of local issues. What is important for the people is infrastructure, water and famers issues. BJP wants to play divisive card. But they will find difficulty and never succeed as ours is a multi-cultural society. Taking on TRS is only a good dream for them. During his last visit to the state, Amit Shah had said Telangana will be the BJPs gateway for South India. While the Assembly polls are still two years away, September 17 onwards KCR government can expect a constant challenge from the BJP. Ahmedabad: Gujarat is all geared up for a political battle with the two largest parties in the country fighting it out in the Rajya Sabha elections that will take place on Tuesday. The real contest is for a single seat. While the Congress has fielded Ahmed Patel, a five-term MP and the political advisor to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, the BJP has put up rebel Congress leader Balvantsinh Rajput, who till recently was Congress' chief whip in the Gujarat Assembly. It is after a gap of about two decades that Gujarat is witnessing a contest in the Rajya Sabha elections. Official nominees of the major parties usually get elected unopposed. Other than Rajput, the ruling BJP has fielded party chief Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani. While Shah and Irani are expected to sail through, the BJP will have to manage extra votes to enable Rajput to beat Patel. Ahmed Patel, who met Congress MLAs after they returned from their Bengaluru sojourn, said he was confident of his victory. "This poll is not at all about anyone's prestige. I have full faith in my MLAs. Apart from these 44 (Congress) legislators, two of NCP, one of JD-U would vote for me," Patel told reporters. These MLAs have now been hosted at a resort in Anand district. Even as Patel asserted the two NCP MLAs would vote for him, a legislator of Sharad Pawar's party claimed the two lawmakers have been instructed to back BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput. The NCP, it appeared, was divided on the issue, with Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, an MP, saying the party would back the Congress candidate. NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja told reporters in Gandhinagar that he and Jayant Patel, another party lawmaker, have been asked to cast their first preference votes in favour of Rajput. "As per our party's directive, we have to give our vote to BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput. He will be our first preference," said Kandhal, who has openly admitted in the past that he was Vaghela. However, Sule said the NCP MLAs would vote for the Congress candidate. "To the best of my knowledge it's Congress (that NCP MLAs would vote for)," she said, responding to a text message when asked to comment on reports that the NCP leadership has decided to back BJP in the polls. The Congress, which has been out of power in the state for over a decade-and-a-half now, was rattled by the surprise exit of party stalwart Shankarsinha Vaghela recently. It was jolted further when six of its MLAs, including Rajput, a relative of Vaghela resigned from the Assembly. Three of them later joined BJP, setting off alarm bells in the party in Gujarat where Assembly elections are due later this year. The beleaguered Congress flew its 44 MLAs to Bengaluru to ward off any threat of "poaching" by the BJP. However, six of the 51 MLAs still in the Congress, apart from Vaghela, have not put their cards on the table. They were not among the MLAs packed off to Bengaluru. Vaghela, who resigned from the party and as the leader of the opposition, has not quit the House yet, giving the Congress a major cause for worry. The Congress had faced a major embarrassment in the presidential election when joint opposition candidate Meira Kumar could manage 49 votes when the party's strength then was 57. A candidate will require 45 votes for a straight win in the poll, and the BJP with 121 MLAs in the truncated 176-member Assembly following the resignation of six Congress legislators, can secure easy victories for Shah and Irani. The party will be left with 31 surplus votes for Rajput, who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. Now that he has the support of two NCP MLAs, his task would become a bit easier. For now, Ahmed Patel looks like having the clear backing of 44 Congress MLAs, but even if none of them cross-votes or uses NOTA (None of the Above) option, the Congress candidate will require one additional vote for his victory. The Congress is also banking on the support of two NCP MLAs, and one each of JD(U) and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP). However, JD(U) MLA Chotubhai Vasava has been saying he will only support those who will give something to his constituency. Keeping his cards close to chest, Vaghela on Monday chose to maintain silence on his choice of candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, but said Congress nominee Ahmed Patel remained his friend. "Each and every voter is the owner of his vote. The vote is the personal property of an MLA (for the RS polls). Therefore, I do not want to reveal whom I will vote for," Vaghela told reporters. The 77-year-old veteran said he was no longer in touch with the Congress and dismissed the talk that he was in contact with the BJP. According to Election Commission officials, a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes. The MLAs have to give their preferential votes indicating first choice, second, third, fourth (as per number of candidates) or they can choose NOTA, they said. Meanwhile, Amit Shah, who has helmed the party to spectacular victories in several elections since 2014, is camping in Gujarat strategising on how to get all three BJP nominees win. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: On a day of high drama and expectations, the Congress took its fight to the Election Commission and got the verdict it wanted when EC agreed to disqualify the two rebel MLAs for showing their ballot paper to Amit Shah. Ahmed Patel eventually victorious with 44 votes in his favour. The drama began when counting of votes for the three Gujarat Rajya Sabha seats, which was supposed to start at 5 pm on Tuesday, was held up after the Congress demanded that the Election Commission of India should quash the votes of Raghav Bhai Patel and Bhola Bhai Gohil who belonged to the Shankersinh Vaghela camp. Congress first approached the Returning Officer for cancellation of the two votes. Then a Congress delegation, including leaders like RPN Singh and Randeep Surjewala, approached the EC office in New Delhi over the issue and asked that their votes should be voided. They were followed by a BJP delegation, which included leaders like Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal and Ravi Shankar Prasad, visiting the Election Commission on Tuesday. Sitharaman demanded the EC complete the electoral process and counting should begin. However, the EC officials did not meet Congress and BJP delegations. Both the parties sent delegations to meet the Election Commission thrice in a space of three hours. After a two-member Congress, low profile delegation met the Commission, a battery of senior ministers headed by Arun Jaitley met the poll panel and accused the Congress of trying to stall the process. Briefing media after the meeting, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said if any party has any complaint then only an election petition in courts is the course left for the aggrieved. Finally, a high-powered Congress delegation led by Ghulam Nabi Azad called on the Commission and asked it to follow the precedent set by it in Haryana and Rajasthan. Briefing the media, former Minister P. Chidambaram said there was videographic evidence of the two Congress MLAs showing their ballots to people other than those authorised. Finally, at 11.30 PM, EC decided to rule in favour of the Congress and disqualified the votes of the rebel MLAs. The Election Commission, after watching video recordings of the voting, has decided to disqualify the two Congress MLAs for having violated poll code in Gujarat Rajya Sabha Election. The Congress protested vociferously seeking cancellation of those votes and a clutch of senior Congress leaders visited the EC office in Delhi. The BJP too had its leaders visiting the EC office contesting Congress version of the event. Catch all the live updates here. Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here. New Delhi: The fate of Ahmed Patels Rajya Sabha candidature may hang on how the Election Commission views the objections raised by the Congress. Congress has requested that EC invalidate votes of two of its party members, who after showing their poll agent their ballot, also showed it to BJPs poll agent. Senior leaders, from Ravishankar Prasad to Bhupender Yadav from BJP, and P Chidambaram to Randeep Surjewala from Congress, argued their case with the Chief Election Commissioner in the capital. While the Chief Election Commissioner takes his time in deciding the case, News18 reached out to constitutional experts and former election commissioners seeking their opinion on the current stalemate. According to the former CEC, SY Quraishi, the Congress MLAs, by showing which way theyve voted to representatives of the opposite party, have effectively wasted their votes. Going by the rules, if any voter shows their vote to anyone except their partys poll agent, their vote is immediately disqualified. This is what has happened today, said Quraishi. To buttress their point, senior Congress leaders have raised two cases. First, of the disqualification of votes cast by 14 Congress MLAs in Rajya Sabha elections held for a seat in Haryana last year. And second about a case from 2000 in Rajasthan when an independent member of the Upper House of the Parliament revealed his vote while casting it. Speaking purely on technicalities, the case doesnt have a precedent. Which is why, former CEC N Gopalaswami, when approached by News18 for a comment, said he was still going through the rules to arrive at a conclusion himself. Former secretary general, Rajya Sabha, Yogendra Narain, also cant think of a precedent to what happened in Gujarat on Tuesday. But he doesnt think that the votes of the two Congress MLAs can be disqualified. I dont think there is any law against an MLA showing his vote to people who arent from his party. Its their privilege. There is no illegality in this I think. The concept of secrecy is subjective to what the respective voter makes of it, said Narain. Subhash Kashyap, another constitutional expert, also claims that the votes of the two Congress MLAs will not be disqualified. I dont think the law anywhere states that a candidate cannot show his vote to anyone else. The law only mandates that a person cannot cast their vote under duress, so I dont think that the votes will be invalidated. Also I dont think there is a precedent to whats happening there right now. According to Conduct Of Elections (Amendment) Rules, 2004 - Provided that where such elector is a member of a political party in an election to fill a seat or seats in the Council of States, the presiding officer shall, before placing the tendered ballot paper in the said cover, allow the authorised agent of that political party to verify as to which candidate the elector has cast his vote. While uncertainty looms over the fate of Ahmed Patel, one can be very sure about one fact that the contest between BJP and Congress wont end here. Whoever loses, is bound to take the fight up to the courts. New Delhi: The Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections set for Tuesday, has shone the limelight on Congress president Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel, who would be contesting the polls against BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput. This raises the question of how exactly is a candidate elected to the Rajya Sabha? And towards whom are the results slanted towards? News18 connects the dots: A Rajya Sabha member from any state is elected by dividing the total number of eligible votes (legislators) in the assembly with the number of candidates being put up, plus one. In Gujarats case, there were originally 182 eligible votes. After the recent spate of resignations from Congress, the total number of eligible votes has come down to 176. As things stand today, this how numbers work out 176 divided by 4, which equals to 44, adding one more to take it over the half-way mark the number which a candidate requires to be elected to the Rajya Sabha sits at 45. Before the Congress MLA resignations (out of the 182 legislators), 121 were from the BJP, 57 from Congress, 2 from NCP and 1 from JD(U) and the independent Shankersinh Vaghela. After the resignations, the total number has come down to 176 and Congress can only boast of 51 MLAs. In order to keep its remaining flock together, the Congress moved all its Gujarat MLAs to a resort in Bengaluru. Seven of its 51 legislators though did not travel with the group, raising doubts that Patel would not be getting their backing. So, if we deduct the seven from the 51, it leaves Ahmed Patel with the support of 44 legislators one short of the magic number. On the other hand, the BJP out of its total 121 votes would first vote for Amit Shah and Smriti Irani. Considering they would vote to the exact number of 45 for both of them, it would leave them with 31 votes for Balvantsinh Rajput a Congress MLA who on July 20 resigned from INC at 3:30 pm and joined BJP at 5:30 pm. One of the major players is former Congress Gujarat chief Shankersinh Vaghela. The leader is related to Balvantsinh Rajput, as the BJP nominees son is married to Vaghelas granddaughter. Meanwhile, the now independent candidate is self-admittedly a friend of Ahmed Patel. If in case there is a tie or none of the candidates get the required number, there would a counting of second-preferences and given the fact that the BJP has a huge majority in the assembly, it would be a cakewalk for Rajput. Political analysts believe if Ahmed Patel is defeated, then it would be nothing short of a political egg-on-face for Sonia Gandhi, as Patel has been the Congress chiefs long-time political advisor. The political slugfest worsened in Kerala today with the CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan daring the BJP-led Centre to dismiss the Pinarayi Vijayan government. His statement coincided with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys visit to the state to meet the family of an RSS worker who was hacked to death last week. Will an all-party meeting called today defuse tensions? Stay tuned for updates: Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here. Gandhinagar: Chhotubhai Vasava, the lone JD(U) MLA in Gujarat, emerged as a kingmaker in Rajya Sabha election on Tuesday which became more of an ego battle between Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's aide Ahmed Patel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Man Friday Amit Shah. Vasava had kept everyone guessing till the last moment, making both sides wish that he would vote in their favour. While walking out of polling booth, he told News18 that he had voted for Patel. But the suspense was still not over in the great battle of Gujarat. Minutes after Vasava's statement, JD(U)'s national spokesperson came on TV saying Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had personally asked Vasava to vote for the BJP candidate. Earlier, hours after Nitish Kumar had announced his decision to quit Mahagathbandhan and join NDA, Vasava had pledged his support for Patel. Not just that, he had accompanied Patel when he had filed nomination for Rajya Sabha in Gandhinagar. "Ahmed Patel is a public figure and a politician. I see no harm in accompanying him. After all I have known Patel for a very long time," Vasava said. But consistency doesn't seem to be his strong point. On August 4, he told News18, "I am yet to make up my mind regarding my Rajya Sabha election vote." Interestingly, he didn't even mind admitting that he was speaking to both the sides till the last moment. "Yes, both parties are in touch with me. And what is wrong if both parties are in touch with me? I will speak to both parties and see which party offers better benefits to the tribals and adivasis of central Gujarat. I will then decide," he had said. Vasava won the Jhagadia seat of central Gujarat on JD(U) ticket in 2007 and 2012 Gujarat Assembly polls. Before this, he had won the seat on Gujarat Adivasi Vikas Paksh ticket. He had formed the GAVP with the aim of representing adivasi and tribal rights in the Gujarat Assembly. Vasava said that the recent alliance between the JD(U) and the BJP in Bihar had no bearing on his vote in the Rajya Sabha election. "The alliance between Nitish Kumar and the BJP in Bihar has nothing to do with the Gujarat scenario," he said. Hyderabad: The Nandyal by-election in Andhra Pradesh has turned into a prestige battle between Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress Party leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy who are going all out to win the seat at any cost. Looking at the intense campaign by both Telugu Desam Party and YSRCP, political analysts and activists told CNN-News18 the Nandyal by-election may prove to be the costliest ever. Experts estimate that unofficially, anywhere from Rs 100 crore to Rs 300 crore or more could have been spent on this election. Winning Nandyal seat will be symbolic victory for any party before 2019 assembly elections. V Lakshmana Reddy, state president, Jana Chaitanya Vedika, has written a letter to the Election Commission requesting him to take measures to curb money and liquor power during election. Speaking to CNN News18, he said, "Highest expenditure will be incurred in the Nandyal by-poll. Each candidate may spend Rs 3000-5000 to bribe each voter. Apart from this, money will be spent on liquor too. We have written to Election Commission to ensure liquor flow in the district is same as that of last year and more flying squads are placed to curb illegal practices." Secretary, Forum for Good Governance, Padmanabha Reddy told CNN News 18,"Since it has become a prestige battle, surely lot of money would be spent by all parties. It is expected each candidate may spend Rs 50-100 crore. There are observers from Election Commission, but that never helps. Parties find a channel to distribute liquor and money to buy votes. Its very unfortunate." Jayaprakash Narayan, founder, Loksatta, said, "Some estimates even go up to Rs 300 crores. This is a poor state with poor people, but super wealthy politicos." YSRCP has even registered complain with the Election Commission alleging ruling TDP of misusing government machinery to lure voters. Senior YSRCP leader said, "Foundation stones are laid during night times secretly and funds are released overnight. Many development schemes have suddenly started sprouting in the Nandyal constituency and the TDP caravan of leaders is roaming across the constituency announcing sops." The opposition has requested EC to treat all the expenses made to be included as election expenditure and take appropriate action. New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday alleged that two different kind of notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes were printed post-demonetisation. The Opposition said this has "jeopardised the credibility of the Indian currency" and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi come clear on it. The Congress, which disrupted proceedings in the Rajya Sabha over the issue forcing an adjournment, said the high denomination notes were different in size, design and other features. They also demanded that the government explain where and how they were printed as the issue "raises questions over financial structure of the country". Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Kapil Sibal, who raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day, said the party would keep flagging it in Parliament until the government comes out with an explanation. Sibal also alleged that the demonetisation move "failed" to achieve its stated objectives of combating black money, corruption, counterfeit currency and terrorism. He demanded that the government explain the motive behind invalidating the old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes. "First they should explain which dye was used (for printing the notes), what types of notes were printed, at which printing press notes of different sizes were printed. "Having different size of currency notes jeopardises the credibility of the currency. The prime minister, finance minister, RBI governor should come to the fore and explain," Sibal told reporters. Earlier in the day, the Congress, TMC and JD(U) forced four adjournments of the proceedings in the upper House over what they termed as "biggest scam of this century" in the printing of two different kinds of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. (with PTI inputs) Congress MPs protested in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday against the attack on Rahul Gandhis convoy in Gujarat. The MPs raised slogans against the government and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said the government turned a blind eye to the Congress leaders security. Here is a recap of todays proceedings: Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here. This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) August 8, 2017 This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) August 8, 2017 : A day of intense drama in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha election concluded with the victory of political advisor to Sonia Gandhi Ahmed Patel on late Tuesday night. BJP President Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani were the other winners of the day.Bharat Singh Solanki, the Gujarat MLA, was the first one to claim on CNN-News18 that Ahmed Patel had received 44 votes and won the Rajya Sabha seat.Within minutes of his hard-fought victory, Ahmed Patel took to Twitter, saying, "Satyamev Jayate." In a series of tweets, the political advisor to Sonia Gandhi expressed gratitude towards his MLAs, calling his victory not just his own but "a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery.""I want to thank each & every MLA who voted for me despite unprecedented intimidation & pressure from BJP. They voted for an inclusive India.""BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror. People of Gujarat will give them a befitting reply in this year's election," read another tweet. Congress has always stood united, he told CNN-News18.Patel had a word of appreciation for Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi post his victory. Ahmed Patel said that "Congress will emerge as a different political outfit under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi".Arjun Modhwadia, the Congress leader, said that Ahmed Patel won the election, "saluting his MLAs who didn't bog down under pressure."But the victory wasn't an easy one. The two parties, in what was described by many as a battle for prestige, locked horns not just in Gandhinagar but also at the Election Commission's office in New Delhi.In normal circumstances, the results should have been declared at around 6 PM, but the process got delayed when the Congress registered a complaint with the Election Commission that two of its rebel MLAs had waved their ballot papers to "unauthorised people", demanding the disqualification of these votes.The counting of votes came to a halt even before it could begin. The state EC forwarded the complaint to the Election Commission of India in New Delhi.What ensued was a series of visits by Congress and BJP-led delegations to the Election Commission's office. The two teams comprising bigwigs such as Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad on the one end, and P Chidambaram and Gulam Nabi Azad on the other paid as many as three visits. There was so much of movement that, according to sources, the EC made it a point that it didn't want to meet any more delegations.Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said there was video evidence which showed that ballot papers were waved to people other than the concerned authorities."There is ample evidence to suggest that rebel MLAs showed their ballot papers to the people who were not the representatives of the Congress party. Therefore, we demand the rejection of these ballot papers."Chidambaram also said that in 2000, in a similar incident, the vote of an independent legislator was rejected because he had shown his ballot to the unauthorised person. Congress also alleged that BJP was using its ministers to exert "pressure on EC".Rebutting Congress, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Congress was "levelling baseless allegations" and delaying the counting process."When they realised they were losing, they came up with these baseless allegations." We have communicated the same to the Election Commission, too, Prasad told media.Piyush Goyal, who was also a part of the BJP delegation, said that the Congress didn't protest in the morning and was now making these allegations.The Election Commission, after a long deliberation, directed the Returning Officer to declare the votes in question as "invalid".These two rebel MLAs - Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel - had voted in favour of BJP. If that wasn't enough, later in the night, BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya admitted to cross-voting for the Congress party, further paving the way for Patel's win.Earlier in the day, the voting ended at around 2:30 in the after noon, but it was the lone JD (U) legislator, Chhotubhai Vasava, who was the centre of all attraction. After a Congress MLA cross-voted and an NCP legislator voted for the BJP, Vasava's vote was instrumental to Patel's win.Chhotubhai Vasava told News18 that he had voted for Ahmed Patel. Not just that, he had accompanied Patel when he had filed nomination for Rajya Sabha in Gandhinagar. "Ahmed Patel is a public figure and a politician. I see no harm in accompanying him. After all, I have known Patel for a very long time," Vasava had said.Many said that Patel was staring at a defeat when a series of defections in the Gujarat Congress and the subsequent departure of Shankarsinh Vaghela battered the party. Six of the Congress MLAs abandoned the party; 3 of them joined the BJP, later in July. Even Ahmed Patel was seen accepting that this was the most difficult elections of his political career.In desperation, the Congress had flown 44 of its MLAs to Karnataka, alleging the ruling BJP was "intimidating and bribing" its MLAs to join its ranks. These MLAs returned to Gujarat just a day before the voting for the Rajya Sabha election.When asked about the MLAs being holed up at a Karnataka resort, Ahmed Patel said that the ruling BJP forced his party to move the MLAs out of the state. "This victory will make a difference in the forthcoming Assembly elections," Ahmed Patel asserted. New Delhi: The Congress and the BJP were in a war of words over the attack on Rahul Gandhis convoy in Gujarat. The ruling party alleged that the attack had put his life at risk, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh wondering why the Congress vice president went abroad without his SPG cover. Responding to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's allegation that last week's stone pelting incident in Gujarat could have killed Rahul, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Congress vice president has violated the security protocol on several occasions in India and abroad. Rahul and party President Sonia Gandhi were not present in the House. Countering the Congress charges, the Home Minister said in the past two years, Rahul had carried out 121 planned and unplanned tours. He did not use the bullet proof car on 100 occasions. The offices of the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi were informed of the violations. Rahul went on foreign tours and informed the SPG at the eleventh hour, creating problems for it to provide proper security, the Minister said while responding to the issue raised by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. In the last two years, Rahul has been out on six foreign visits for 72 days. He did not take along his SPG cover on these occasions, Singh told the Lok Sabha. "Where did he go? He deliberately did not move with the SPG cover. It is violative of the SPG Act enacted by Parliament," he said, alleging he has neglected his own security. The SPG was constituted and trained specially to provide protection to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in view of the threats to him. The SPG Act was later amended to provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate family members. Singh's sharp attack highlighted Gandhi's trips abroad, an issue which has often been used by the BJP to attack him. His remarks led Congress members to troop into the well with placards and were heard shouting slogans like 'Hitlershahi nahin chalegi'. "What does he want to hide by not taking the SPG along, the nation and the House want to know," Singh said. Earlier, Kharge said when Rahul visited Gujarat's flood-hit areas, stones were pelted on his car and dubbed it as a "life-threatening attack". "It is said in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists hurl stones. Which Jammu and Kashmir terrorist was in Gujarat? Or BJP workers became terrorists," he said. At this, BJP members shouted at Kharge and a war of words broke out in the House. Kharge alleged that the Centre and the state government failed to extend security. "Was the security deliberately ignored? We will have to see," he said. Responding to the attacks by BJP that Congress MLAs were not in the state and tucked away in a Karnataka resort, he said the BJP should explain where was the state Chief Minister during the floods and whether stones were hurled at him also. "Had the stone hit Rahul, he would have lost his life. There were attempts to kill him. He is son of a martyr, hence we are not afraid," the Congress leader said. He said the BJP should apologise for the incident and there should be action against the culprits. In his response, Rajnath Singh said Rahul was a national leader and a respected member of this House. "Rahul Gandhi is invaluable (anmol dharohar)". He said the Congress leader was provided with a bullet- resistant car and a jammer. But at the helipad, he agreed with his aide to travel in a Toyota Fortuner but not the bullet-proof car and ignored the advice of the SPG to use the special vehicle. Singh hailed the SPG for making its trained driver drive the Fortuner SUV. "Rahul got down the car in violation of security protocol. He stopped at places where there was no pre- scheduled programme," the Minister said. At his rally venue, 4,000 people had gathered. Some came with black flags. Rahul left the venue early. At Lal Chowk in Dhanera, a stone was hurled by a person. It hit the rear window, injuring an SPG personnel on his arm, he said. A case under various sections of the IPC was lodged and the person is in judicial custody. The Chief Minister has asked an additional director general of police to probe the incident, Singh said. "He should have used the bullet-resistant car. It was a clear violation of security protocol. On the second occasion too, he did not use the bullet-proof car. The SPG provided him body cover by standing on the footboard of the car," he said. The Home minister said that in the past too, he has violated the security protocol. "In the past two years, he carried out 121 planned and unplanned tours. He did not use the bullet restrained car on 100 occasions. The office of the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi were informed of the violations," Singh said. Rahul went on foreign tours and informed the SPG at the eleventh hour, creating problems for it to provide proper security, he said. "On six occasions, he was out of the country for 72 days. Where did he go? He deliberately did not move with an SPG cover. It is violative of the SPG Act enacted by Parliament. The Supreme Court had also said that security over is inherent part of the protectee. He neglected his own security." Taking a dig at the Congress, Singh said even Gujarat Chief Minister undertook a tour of the flooded areas. Why was there no protest against him? The Congress has to introspect. "He (Rahul) was there on disaster tourism", the minister said. "Stone pelting either on politician or security forces is not acceptable," Singh said. Amid slogan shouting, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon for 30 minutes. When the House assembled again, Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC) said the Lok Sabha should condemn the attack and termed it condemnable and disgraceful. Such an attack is reflective of the intolerance in the society, he said. He also agreed with the point that the Congress leader should use the SPG protection. As the Speaker proceeded with other affairs of the business, Congress members pressed ahead with their noisy protests, forcing her to adjourn the House till Wednesday. (With PTI inputs) Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus has launched a limited edition Soft Gold colour version of the flagship OnePlus 5 smartphone for the same price of Rs 32,999. Starting August 9, the limited-edition OnePlus 5 Soft Gold with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage will be on Amazon.in and the companys own store- oneolusstore.in. Customers can also experience and purchase the device across OnePlus Experience stores in Bengaluru, Mall of India in Noida and Select Citywalk in New Delhi.The smartphone comes with a 5.5-inches AMOLED display, covered by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and is powered by the latest Snapdragon 835 processor. It runs the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS and comes in two memory options as stated above. The optics of the OnePlus 5 include a dual primary camera with a 16-megapixel sensor and a 20-megapixel telephoto sensor that come with features like Phase-detection Autofocus and dual-LED. There is also a 16-megapixel secondary camera with f/2.0 aperture. The smartphone runs on a 3,300 mAh battery and weighs 153 grams. The connectivity options on the OnePlus 5 include a Dual Nano-SIM and 4G LTE support.The Slate Gray OnePlus 5 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will also be available on Amazon.in, oneplusstore.in and across OnePlus Experience Stores in Delhi and Bangalore at Rs 37,999 in India, in the upcoming weeks. An explosive device on Monday night went off inside a truck parked on the route former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif is to take on Wednesday for a public rally in Lahore, injuring at least 35 people, officials said.Official sources told PTI that the explosives were placed in the truck laden with fruits on the Out Fall Road - the route Sharif is to take on his return to his hometown for the first time since the Panama Papers scandal verdict on July 28.Sharif was initially scheduled to travel to Lahore from Islamabad via the famous Grand Trunk Road on Sunday, but the rally was postponed to Wednesday."It appears the explosive device was to target Sharif's cavalcade," the sources said, adding that Sharif is now likely to review his Wednesday's planned march through the route.The truck was parked there for the past three days, police said citing initial reports they had received."It appears to be a message for Nawaz Sharif to cancel or defer his planned rally on coming Wednesday," the sources said.The PML-N has planned a "million march" against Sharif's disqualification by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case. Opposition leader Imram Khan has expressed concern over the ousted prime minister's plan to travel to Lahore with a cavalcade, terming it "a deliberate attempt to undermine the Supreme Court" and its judgement in the high-profile scandal.Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Sharif's travel plans were making Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders anxious.Rescue personnel carry a girl rescued from a collapsed building after a blast in Lahore, Pakistan (REUTERS)"Khan's is afraid of the strong solidarity that will be demonstrated by the masses for the ousted prime minister, who is now emerging as the people's prime minister," Iqbal said.A rescue official told PTI that an explosive device planted in the truck went off at around 9pm local time.The kind of device and the explosives used were not yet known.Police and rescue officials have cordoned off the area."At least 35 people have been injured and admitted to hospitals. An injured minor girl is stated to be critical," he said.DIG Haider Ashraf confirmed that it was a bomb blast and said that the blast has created a huge crater."We have launched investigation on all aspects," he said.Azim Hanif, an eyewitness, said he was going to the parking area when the powerful blast took place."Due the impact of the blast, I fell on the ground. After a couple of minutes when I gained my senses, I saw some people injured," Hanif said.The explosion shattered the windows of nearby buildings. A number of bikes and cars were damaged due to its intensity.Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks in recent months.On July 24, a Taliban suicide bomber struck a police team near residence-cum-office of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here, killing 27 people, including policemen.In April, six persons were killed and 15 others injured when a suicide bomber targeted a population census team in Lahore's Bedian Road.In February, a suicide bomber killed 14 people, including senior police officers, near the Punjab Assembly here. Beijing: China will pay the biggest price from the new United Nations sanctions against North Korea because of its close economic relationship with the country, but will always enforce the resolutions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. The United Nations Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday that could slash its $3 billion annual export revenue by a third. Speaking at a regional security forum in Manila on Monday, Wang said the new resolution showed China and the international community's opposition to North Korea's continued missile tests, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. "Owing to China's traditional economic ties with North Korea, it will mainly be China paying the price for implementing the resolution," the statement cited Wang as saying. "But in order to protect the international non-proliferation system and regional peace and stability, China will as before fully and strictly properly implement the entire contents of the relevant resolution." China has repeatedly said it is committed to enforcing increasingly tough U.N. resolutions on North Korea, though it has also said what it terms "normal" trade and ordinary North Koreans should not be affected. The latest U.N. resolution bans North Korean exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It also prohibits countries from increasing the numbers of North Korean labourers currently working abroad, bans new joint ventures with North Korea and any new investment in current joint ventures. DOOR TO DISCUSSIONS? Wang said that apart from the new sanctions, the resolution also made clear that the six party talks process, a stalled dialogue mechanism with North Korea that also includes Russia and Japan, should be restarted. China appreciated comments earlier this month by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the United States does not seek to topple the North Korean government and would like dialogue with Pyongyang at some point, Wang added. The United States does not seek regime change, the collapse of the regime, an accelerated reunification of the peninsula or an excuse to send the U.S. military into North Korea, Tillerson said. Wang said Tillerson's "Four Nos" promise was a positive signal. China "hopes North Korea can echo this signal from the United States", Wang added. Speaking at the same forum on Monday, Tillerson held a door open for dialogue with North Korea saying Washington was willing to talk to Pyongyang if it halted a series of recent missile test launches. North Korea said the latest sanctions infringed its sovereignty and it was ready to give Washington a "severe lesson" with its strategic nuclear force in response to any U.S. military action. The successful testing of two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) last month suggested the reclusive North was making technical progress, Japan's annual Defence White Paper warned. "Since last year, when it forcibly implemented two nuclear tests and more than 20 ballistic missile launches, the security threats have entered a new stage," the Japanese Defence Ministry said in the 563-page document released on Tuesday. "It is conceivable that North Korea's nuclear weapons programme has already considerably advanced and it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturisation of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads," it said. South Korea reiterated further resolutions against Pyongyang could follow if it did not pull back. "North Korea should realise if it doesn't stop its nuclear, missile provocations it will face even stronger pressure and sanctions," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a regular news briefing. "We warn North Korea not to test or misunderstand the will of the South Korea-U.S. alliance." London: Former British Prime Minister David Cameron has been pictured sharing an unexpected embrace with a pink-haired supporter of opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn at a music festival. Clutching a cigarette in one hand and a drink in another, Cameron, former leader of the Conservative Party, appeared to be unaware that the back of his companion's sequined cape was emblazoned with Corbyn's name inside a large pink heart. The coat's owner, 29-year-old art consultant Lucy Edwards, later posted the photo, which went viral, on Instagram with the caption: "Couldnt have even planned it (big Dave C in the house, shame he cant read)." Cameron, who was prime minister from 2010 until his resignation after the Brexit vote in 2016, was attending the upscale Wilderness festival on Saturday near his home in central England. Left-winger Corbyn made festival headlines of his own in June with an appearance at Glastonbury. Islamabad: Pakistan's ousted premier Nawaz Sharif raised questions over the Supreme Court's verdict to disqualify him and said the decision was taken before concluding the hearing in the Panama Papers scandal. Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 over undeclared assets brought to light in the 2016 Panama Papers leak. "The decision to disqualify me had already been taken, only a justification was being sought," he told reporters. He said there was big debate in the country over his disqualification as people were not satisfied with the reason cited by the court to send him home. He said being the elected prime minister of Pakistan he had certain rights and it was important that various institutions respect each other. Sharif also challenged the court over the trial of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf and asked if there were any judges in the country who could hold Musharraf accountable. "Is there any court which can hold former dictators responsible for crimes like breaking up the country," he asked. Sharif said he had not misappropriated even a single penny and it was wrong to say that he was trying to dodge accountability. He said he appeared before the probe panel set up by the Supreme Court despite suggestion he was not bound to face the interrogation. According to a PTI report, Sharif is scheduled to go back to Lahore on Wednesday by the GT Road and opposition has criticised that he was using it to interact with supporters to put pressure on the courts. However, he rejected the impression and said it was a "journey back home and not a protest." (With PTI inputs) Johannesburg: Lawmakers of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) pledged to back President Jacob Zuma in a no-confidence motion in parliament later on Tuesday, a show of support that would thwart opposition efforts to force him to step down. Zuma, who has held power since 2009, has struggled to fend off accusations of corruption and mismanaging the economy and if the vote was to carry, he would have to relinquish office. The parliamentary speaker on Monday ruled it would be a secret ballot -- a decision the opposition hoped would embolden ANC members who are unhappy with Zuma to vote against him. The ANC has 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament and the opposition controls 151, so it would take 50 ANC lawmakers backing the opposition to vote Zuma and his cabinet out. The party, which has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, is deeply divided and several ANC lawmakers have voiced criticism of Zuma. But ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said that at a meeting on Tuesday before the parliamentary session, the party resolved to support him. Several ANC lawmakers left the meeting singing, he said. "You hear the singing," Mthembu told eNCA television channel. "Zuma was toyi-toying (dancing), that is what we do when we are under attack," Mthembu said. Zuma, who also attended the meeting, was described as being calm and jovial. On the streets, however, protesters blocked roads with burning tyres and rocks in a show of opposition to Zuma before the vote. Earlier, markets had welcomed Speaker Baleka Mbete's decision on the secret ballot, with the rand, bonds and banking shares surging after Mbete's announcement, buoyed by the prospect of Zuma's removal. On Tuesday, the rand traded flat as markets waited anxiously. In the past year, Zuma has upset investors, in particular by removing finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March. The country's credit rating has been downgraded to junk by two of the top three credit rating agencies, unemployment is at a 14-year high of 27.7 percent and the economy is back in recession. "Jacob Zuma has brought our nation to its knees," the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party, which brought the motion to parliament, said in a statement urging lawmakers to vote the president out. "FIRE ZUMA" Across Gauteng province, where the commercial hub Johannesburg and capital Pretoria are located, protesters blocked major roads with burning tyres and rocks. Many wore DA blue colours and carried posters saying "Fire Zuma." Other posters featured a cartoon of Zuma in a dustbin. ANC members rallied in Cape Town, where parliament is located, to support Zuma, some carrying placards saying: "Zuma must stay". Opposition parties also planned a march in Cape Town to push for Zuma's removal. The leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party was expected to hold a protest in Pretoria. Newspaper headlines also reflected the high stakes at play -- "JZ's moment of truth" read The Star, while The Sowetan declared: "High Noon for Zuma". Zuma's tenure as South Africa's president is due to run until 2019, when national elections will be held. He has survived eight no-confidence votes during his eight years in power thanks to loyal voting by ANC lawmakers, who form a strong parliamentary majority. But those votes were not secret. "This motion, just like others before it, will be defeated," a statement from the ANC's chief whip Jackson Mthembu said. But ANC lawmaker Derek Hanekom, who was removed as tourism minister in the cabinet reshuffle that cost Gordhan his job, said on Twitter that lawmakers must vote against "massive looting and corruption. Vote for change". Nomura analyst Peter Attard Montalto said the decision to have a secret ballot was "a significant surprise" but he expected Zuma to survive. "We still expect the vote to fail, but attach a 30 percent chance of success," he said. If the motion is successful, Zuma would be removed as state president but would remain as ANC leader until December, when he is due to step down and a new leader elected in his place. Should he be forced to quit as South Africa's president, the speaker takes over and the National Assembly is expected to elect a new national leader within 30 days. As the largest party in parliament, the ANC would be expected to select the new president and government. The ANC -- once all-powerful as heir of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle -- has lost popularity under Zuma, underscored by its worst electoral showing in over two decades of power in local elections last year. Thousands of people took part in protest marches in April calling for Zuma to step down. Nairobi: Kenyan officials are inking the tiny fingers of babies who accompany their mothers in Tuesday's elections, cracking down on queue-jumpers who rent an infant to exploit a rule letting parents with young children skip long lines. "Every mother who is coming with a kid, we mark the mother and also the kid," said Tabitha Muigai, the presiding officer at a polling station in central Nairobi's Starehe constituency. "(If) a mother comes with a baby we give them a notice that they are not supposed to give other mothers the same kid to come and get favours in the name of jumping the lines," she said. The "babies-for-rent" scam was common in past Kenyan elections, often marked by delays and long queues. At Muigai's polling station, hundreds of Kenyans queued up around the block, keen to elect a new president, lawmakers and local representatives. The election is the final time veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, 72, will face-off against his archrival, incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, 55. Odinga is the son of the country's first vice president and Kenyatta is the son of its first president. The two dynasties have long been rivals, and Kenyans feel so strongly about the vote that ambulances have been ferrying bed-bound patients to polling stations. In Kisumu, Odinga's heartland, clerk Stephy Onyango said officials were trained to watch out for the suspicious circulation of babies. "This one is mine," said mother Joan Awuor, as the fingernail of her sleepy 3-month-old son Ricken was marked when she voted. London: Britain's most senior judge has said the government needs to spell out how British courts should interpret rulings from the European Court of Justice after Brexit. Currently Britain must abide by ECJ judgements but Prime Minister Theresa May's government has said that Britain will leave its jurisdiction after Brexit. Britain has begun the long and complicated process of disentangling UK legislation from more than 40 years of EU lawmaking, however the government has said the British courts might still take note of ECJ rulings after the country has left the bloc. "If the United Kingdom parliament says we should take into account decisions of the ECJ then we will do so, if it says we shouldn't then we won't, and basically we will do what the statute says," David Neuberger, President of the UK's Supreme Court, told the BBC in an interview aired on Tuesday. "If it doesn't express clearly what the judges should do about decisions of the European Court of Justice, then the judges will simply have to do their best. But to blame the judges for, as it were, making the law when parliament has failed to do so would be unfair." Deciding the scope of ECJ is set to be one of the main sticking points in divorce talks, such as whether the three million EU nationals living in Britain should be able to seek recourse to the European court after Brexit. Brexit supporters say the ECJ should have no say at all over British matters and that the vote to leave the EU was partly about restoring legislative sovereignty. However, former British Attorney General Dominic Grieve, a vocal Brexit opponent, said Neuberger was right. "The legislation for withdrawing us from the EU ... leaves very unclear what the relationship subsequently between European Court of Justice decisions and jurisprudence and our own courts should be," he told BBC radio. "We're incorporating large amounts of European law into our own law to ensure continuity but how is that to be interpreted thereafter?" A government spokeswoman said ministers had been clear that the direct jurisdiction of the ECJ must come to an end. "However, we want to provide maximum certainty so the Repeal Bill will ensure that for future cases, UK courts continue to interpret EU-derived law using the ECJ's case law, as it exists on the day we leave the EU," she said. Designer of the Year Award recipient Joseph Altuzarra attends the 21st Annual ACE Awards hosted by the Accessories Council at Cipriani 42nd Street on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, in New York. (Image: AP) RUSTBURG A juvenile witness in a murder case in Campbell County will be able to give her testimony outside of the courtroom, a judge ruled Monday. Kimberly Mayhew Barksdale, 50, of Altavista, stands accused of second-degree murder in the 2016 shooting death of her husband, Todd Lee Barksdale. Law enforcement found his body outside a Main Street residence near Altavista on Nov. 18 and arrested Kimberly Barksdale later that day. Campbell County Commonwealths Attorney Paul McAndrews argued his motion Monday to allow a juvenile witness in the case to testify from a back room over closed circuit television, as opposed to in an open courtroom. Deborah Maxey, a licensed professional counselor and traumatologist who has worked with the juvenile, testified the girl had suffered severe emotional damage related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while testifying for a related civil case. Maxey said the girl might not be able to testify in open court during the trial at all because of that PTSD. Considering the potential for re-emergence of that PTSD, Judge John T. Cook granted the motion. Cook also denied a motion Monday to move the trial from Campbell County to another venue. Barksdales defense attorney Jim Childress presented a package of media coverage of his clients case so far, but McAndrews said the motion was premature, and the presence of media articles is just not enough to warrant a change of venue. Cook agreed publicity itself wasnt enough to grant the motion, and the jury candidates will be asked if they can be fair and impartial during the trial. The date of that trial will be set later this month. The Lynchburg Police Department received only positive feedback at Monday nights reaccreditation information session. Eleven speakers, including citizens, City Council members and local law enforcement officials, praised the department to assessors with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, at the hourlong meeting, citing its professionalism and dedication to building relationships with the community. Assessor and CALEA team leader Philip Potter said Monday nights turnout at City Hall was above average for these kinds of meetings and that information sessions are an important part of assessing the agency. Its an important principle to hear what the people that are served in that community by the police department feel about their police department and how they comply with CALEA standards, Potter said. Most importantly, the accreditation itself is voluntary, Potter said. I think it reflects favorably on the agency that since 1989, they voluntarily entered this process and have continued to be reaccredited by the agency, he said. To me, the bottom line is that the CALEA standards represent the best practices in law enforcement and if I was a citizen in the community, I would want to make sure that my police department was trying to follow the best practices, and thats reflected in these CALEA standards. Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority Administrator Tim Trent was the first to speak on LPDs behalf. In addition to their agencies working together to police the jails, LPD gathers and shares information with the BRRJA, helped get the drug court up and running and more, he said. One of the other things that LPD takes the lead in is [crisis intervention training], and it helps to divert individuals that may be in a crisis away from being incarcerated in our jail, he said. Each speaker was given 10 minutes to comment on the agencys ability to comply with most of CALEAs 404 best practice standards. Capt. Keith Keesee, of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Appomattox Field Office, and Campbell County Sheriff Steve Hutcherson praised LPDs ability to assist various agencies, while Lynchburg Interim Sheriff Don Sloan spoke about how the departments assistance made possible Project Lifesaver, a program that uses technology to care for those suffering from Alzheimers and other related mental disorders if they become lost. Dearing Street Neighborhood Watch meeting coordinator Shanda Rowe said she owed her watchs success to the department. There have been times we have requested meetings with the chief, times we have asked for help from the officers we have come to know by seeing them in our neighborhood and having them at our Monday evening meetings, she said. In every instance and I should emphasize the word every our concerns have been addressed. We have been treated with courtesy and respect. City Council member Sterling Wilder also argued for the departments reaccreditation, citing the community involvement of officers as one of the reasons the city doesnt seem to suffer from the deteriorating relationships between citizens and law enforcement seen in various cities across the country. In addition, Mark Sheehan, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg; Brenda Grey, treasurer of the city of Lynchburg Police Foundation; Turner Perrow, City Council member; and resident Kathy Gerber also spoke. Overall, LPD Chief Raul Diaz said the meeting went well. People spoke their mind and said how they feel about the police department, he said. Were very happy, obviously, to have the support that we have within the community and to hear those kinds of responses. LPD Officer and Accreditation Manager Brandon Isner added, We feel like we have a very positive relationship with the community, he said. But it is always nice to hear them come out and say we have a nice relationship. Isner said the assessors are set to leave Wednesday afternoon after arriving Sunday. They will be spending full workdays with the department and riding along with officers, conducting interviews and more, Potter said. The decision about the departments accreditation status will be made in November, with the status being made public this fall. Lynchburg City Council approved a new hotel and apartment project with a 4-3 vote Tuesday night. Council members Jeff Helgeson, Turner Perrow and Randy Nelson voted against the project, voicing concern no proffers were listed in the request to rezone the property on Murray Place. The three members were worried the developers could turn the property into anything allowable in a business district. Developers proposed building a new extended stay hotel with apartments next to the Courtyard by Marriott on Murray Place across from the entrance to River Ridge mall. The hotel and apartments would be built at 4634 Murray Place. The rezoning request made by Hotel Acquisitions 3 TPS LLC, based in Syracuse, New York, would allow the construction of about 100 hotel rooms and about 20 apartment units. The structure would include a rooftop patio, a pool, associated parking and other typical hotel amenities, Richard Pietrasesa, of Hotel Acquisitions 3, said Tuesday. Hotel Acquisitions 3 also owns the Marriott next door at 4640 Murray Place. It was built in 1999 and was renovated in 2016. Pietrasesa said the business purchased the lot next to the Marriott, which housed an old warehouse, to ensure it could control what would be next to the hotel. We thought there could be a possibility to put another hotel with some apartments, Pietrasesa said. The Courtyard is more of an overnight property. We would try to supplement that with an extended stay property. Construction would begin in October. He said the building would have views of the mountains and valley. Its a good spot for apartments, he said. Its kind of quiet. We thought modern, contemporary apartments would be very marketable. The apartments would be located at the top of the hotel building. Pietrasesa said he loves Lynchburg as it has a stable economy, but it is in need of high-quality apartments and hotels. He hopes the new addition will appeal to a millennial crowd. Lynchburg is becoming a little more sophisticated, he said. There are some hip hotels like the Craddock Terry, but other than that, theyre pretty traditional. According to city planning documents, the hotel and apartments would be located on about 1.5 acres. The land is valued at about $91,000, according to the citys land assessor. Hotel Acquisitions 3 asked the city to rezone the property from heavy industrial to a general business district. Helgeson said if the city rezones the land to be part of the business district, the owner of the hotel potentially could veer from their original plan. He added the road leading to the hotel is very narrow and is fine for an industrial area but could become dangerous with hundreds of cars coming in and out. Helgeson, Perrow and Nelson voted to table the request until the developer added proffers stating they only would be building a hotel and a few apartments, but it didnt pass. Im not going to vote in favor of tabling it, Mayor Joan Foster said. Im trying to understand where my council members are coming from because usually we are doing back flips when a new business comes to town, and this is definitely a business. Im taking them at their word. Marriott is a well-established name across America, and they are definitely in the hotel business. Mike Gestwick, project manager with the Pike Development Company out of Albany, New York, who is helping to develop the project, said developers are committed to building a hotel and nothing else. If the request had been tabled, Gestwick said it would send the project back six months. Fire chief takes service into the future Bruce has seen the changing face of Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service, having been in the service for 37 years. He envisions a fire service that can readily fight fires and perform land and search rescue demands, with the right physical infrastructure as well as access to international best practices and training. He admits that the physical infrastructure is not where it is supposed to be, but believes that the Government is doing its best given the current economic conditions. The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd on its website said, The Ministry of National Security has initiated the design and construction of new Fire Station Projects to provide Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services (TTFS) with modern, safe, functional and efficient facilities to serve the community of Trinidad and Tobago and to meet the requirements of todays demands. It said 16 new fire stations are to be constructed on a phased basis. The Wrightson Road Headquarters are among those to be reconstructed. This, for Bruce, is well on its way to leading TTs fire service into the future. However, he said despite the deficiencies at its headquarters the service has been functioning in a very effective manner. All of the emergencies the service has encountered it was able to mitigate. He added, too, that the service has also had a number of rescues for the year. The major role in the fire service will be rescue. In the fire service we save lives and property and render humanitarian service. So our first call is to preserve lives. If there is a major disaster, lives lost. People trapped, people injured. We investigate. The service, he said, takes a multi-agency approach to disaster, working with other agencies such as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) and regional corporations. While questions might arise with respect to the services equipment, Bruce assured that the equipment used in TT is the same used in what is often described as first world countries. We have equipment to respond to emergencies, most of the equipment we will have will be mechanical or in some instances, electrical, and will suffer some kind of wear and tear and deterioration over the years. But he added, We are replacing equipment as we go along so we continue to have enough equipment to carry on our jobs. The service continued to purchase and order equipment and there was quite a bit of equipment on order right now. For the year, we have received, five fire appliances. We also have in terms of vehicles on the way, 12 , inclusive of ambulances, he said. While the service could out multiple fires in buildings and had equipment to do so, such as the two hydraulic aerial platforms in Port of Spain, more equipment like those were needed to truly combat such fires. The service, he said, has continued to request equipment, including a hydraulic platform aerial fire-fighting vehicle. Several tankers have already been purchased this year with more water tenders coming in. He said the service had an active preventative/maintenance programme in place. While it was understood that from time to time vehicles would break down, he said, One of the complaints that we have is that sometimes we have stations without vehicles. We have for the out-stations, one water tender attached to the out-station. If that vehicle goes down and it takes a while to repair, sometimes we dont have an extra vehicle to send to that station, so we may have to offer coverage from the nearer fire stations. For instance, if Woodbrook does not have an appliance, then you might get coverage from headquarters or Belmont etc. So we always have a coverage plan in place. We try as much to much as possible to always ensure we have appliances in the station. He said the fleet is about 80 per cent operational. He said new fire stations were coming on stream and there was need to outfit those new stations. Among these are Penal, which he said is 66 per cent complete and which he hopes is up and running for the next fiscal year, Mayaro, which recently became operational and still needs to get equipment. The fire service is looking forward to having the Arouca, Point Fortin and Roxborough fire stations started, he said. The service did a screening in October last year and received over 10,000 applicants, who are required to go through an interview, physical aptitude test and a medical as well as character tests. He said screening would start from the examination and those who pass are then selected to do the aptitude test, then to the interview and then the character screening. As for Bruces vision for the service, I would like to see the fire service in the future as having the physical infrastructure to carry out the functions, as well as training to continue to assess international training to remain on the cutting edge. We want to improve our training facilities where we would have accredited training programmes which would be assessed by our regional colleagues, and we should be equipped to handle any emergency in our changing environment in terms of high rise structures and chemical industries that we have now. Training, equipment physical infrastructure should take us there. PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday met his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, in Tehran, with the leaders of the two nations emerging from their discussion determined to boost co-operation and overcome common adversity. The closed-door talks began mid-morning local time and continued for more than an hour. The meeting was initially scheduled to be held on Sunday, a day after President Mugabe joined other world leaders and/or their representatives from at least 100 countries to witness Mr Rouhanis inauguration for a second term as Irans president. President Mugabe was accompanied to Iran by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba and other senior Government officials. The anticipation ahead of yesterdays engagement was that Zimbabwe and Iran would discuss how best to advance the already strong political and cultural ties between the two countries so that they extended more fully into the realm of the economy. And after yesterdays meeting, it appeared this deepening of relations was well on track, with Minister Mumbengegwi telling the media the chemistry between the two leaders boded well for their common agenda. He said, The area of energy, for example, was one area which they discussed. They also looked at the issue of pharmaceuticals. Iran has a very highly developed pharmaceutical industry and they discussed co-operation in that area. Iran also has a very highly developed science and technology sector. Again the two leaders discussed how the two countries can co-operate in that area in the context of higher education and our new focus on STEM. He said discussions also dwelt on agricultural co-operation, and that the Zimbabwe-Iran Joint Commission could meet this year to rejuvenate and resuscitate existing agreements, as well as look at new areas of co-operation. Minister Mumbengegwi said President Mugabe had invited his Iranian counterpart to visit Zimbabwe, and they were confident that the invitation would get a favourable response. Four Iranian leaders have visited Zimbabwe over the past three decades, and this is President Mugabes fifth visit to the Middle Eastern oil and gas giant. The ties between the two peoples date back to 13th century trade in ivory and gold. herald VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko was one of the first customers to visit the newly opened Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlet in Bulawayo on Sunday. In an interview, the Vice President said he visited the fast food outlet to support local business in the city. We are delighted about the new development in the city. At least people now have an additional meeting place in the city and we are happy about the new development, said VP Mphoko who was with his family. His son Mr Siqokoqela Mphoko dismissed as false allegations that there was tribal segregation in hiring workers at the KFC branch. There is no such thing as this company employed people from outside Bulawayo. All we know is that 40 trainers came from Harare to help staffers from Bulawayo familiarise themselves with the system and operations of the business, said Mr Mphoko. The American brand which is being franchised in Zimbabwe by Crispy Chicken Restaurants (Pvt) Limited said work on the outlet was complete and they are ready to welcome foodies. The restaurant is situated at Bradfield Shopping Centre, corner Hillside Road and 23rd Avenue along Burns Drive. The brand new KFC is designed to world class standards and incorporates the stylish and most modern interior on the continent. The brand KFC is delighted to bring in their unique blend of high quality products and service to the city as well as creating local jobs and supporting economic growth, Crispy Chicken Restaurants said in a statement. Interesting to note is that KFC has created meals specifically for the country to suit the local flavour and palates like Streetwise which one can have with isitshwala. KFC closed its operations in Zimbabwe during the economic challenges in 2007, but reopened in 2014 in Harare. The Bulawayo branch opening brings the number of KFC outlets to six in Zimbabwe with four restaurants in Harare and one in Victoria Falls. chronicle Morgan Tsvangirai and some of his top officials are headed for a showdown over the terms of an alliance deal inked by the MDC president on Saturday, along with leaders of other fringe opposition parties, in what is likely to present a litmus test for the former trade unionist ahead of next years polls. The MDCs public relations machinery went into overdrive yesterday as officials papered over cracks emerging within the partys rank and files days after they had unveiled an alliance to confront Zanu PF at the 2018 polls. A section of the MDC backed by Tsvangirais deputy for 11 years, Thokozani Khupe, and the partys chairman, Lovemore Moyo is unhappy with the alliance, particularly the formulae adopted by its negotiators as the basis for allocating constituencies among the participating partners. The rift has been further widened by the violence that broke out in the second city yesterday, resulting in Khupe and other senior officials suffering various degrees of injuries. Khupe, who was conspicuous by her absence at the signing ceremony, has been so shocked by the level of violence meted on her and other senior members by the partys thugs that yesterday she temporarily went into hiding and cut contact with colleagues and sympathisers moments after being treated for wounds at a Bulawayo hospital. At the same time, Tsvangirai has questioned why Khupe, Moyo and other senior members, who were attacked by the partys violent gang, did not attend the launch of an alliance of opposition parties in Harare on Saturday. Khupe was on Sunday injured during an orgy of violence that caused the cancellation of a provincial meeting, which had been called by Moyo to give feedback to the structures on the alliance. She received treatment at a Bulawayo medical facility but could not be reached for comment as her bodyguards firstly told the Daily News that she was resting before eventually saying she would not be available for security reasons. Further attempts to speak to her were fruitless as her mobile phone was going unanswered before it eventually became out of reach. Sources close to Khupe yesterday told the Daily News that she was shocked by the attacks on her and other senior figures by a group of violent youths who allegedly came from the MDC headquarters in Harare. They said the Bulawayo meeting was meant to discuss and relay the outcome of the alliance which the MDC Matabeleland grassroots structures were in support of but differed on the implementation of constituency allocation. The whole of Matabeleland province is not against a coalition but wants a scientific method of determining which party gets what in the parcelling out of constituencies. The three provinces feel that the MDC has done well in Matabeleland and if there is really need to choose candidates for those constituencies, then primary elections were the best way of dealing with that, a source said in explaining the attacks on Khupe and other senior officials. Matabeleland provinces do not see logic or reason in surrendering their constituencies to a party that has not held or won elections there. So they believe primary elections should decide which candidate and party the people wanted to represent them in next years elections. Tsvangirai told Daily News in an interview that he had not sanctioned the meeting in Bulawayo but had spoken with Moyo who said he was not going to attend the alliance launch in Harare. Yes, on the day we were supposed to meet, he (Moyo) said that he was not going to come to the launch. I said, why? And of course made excuses and said I understand you are having a meeting tomorrow. Remember that you cannot have a meeting which is regional. We are a national party and you know as well as I do that the resolution of the council regarding the coalition was only taken last Friday. Ah no we are trying to explain to people, people I said, but tell me something. Is there unhappiness about the strategy or the process? Zvikanzi (and he said) no, no, we are not opposed to the strategy. We are just saying that we were not consulted thoroughly. And I said that this thing has been going on for a whole year, right? And we have had so many meetings adopting principles, giving me mandates and assigning this team yema (of) negotiators to go and talk to the other opposition parties right up to the conclusion, explained Tsvangirai. He said Khupe did not sent apologies for not attending the alliance meeting in Harare. She didn't pitch up - the three of them. Madam Khupe, (Abednico) Bhebhe and Moyo. But look, even if they had reservations, one of the things you don't do is you don't engage in work avoidance. At a place of work if you have a grievance, you work and then you raise your grievance. In this case, the party has a grievance procedure. And I think internally no one had closed them off, said Tsvangirai. Earlier at a press conference, Tsvangirai had condemned the violence for causing damage to the partys standing before he suggested that Sundays barbaric scenes at the Bulawayo provincial offices could have been sponsored by State security agents. The MDC is a social democratic party whose values include equality, solidarity and the respect of human rights. As such, I unreservedly condemn the violence that happened yesterday, the 6th of August 2017, in Bulawayo where a group of thugs violently disrupted a meeting at our Bulawayo Offices. As the president of the party, I condemn in the strongest terms this callous act of violence committed by these people. Our vice president..Thokozani Khupe, together with other members of the national leadership were manhandled by these thugs resulting in the vice president having to seek medical attention. Her position as the partys vice president, her dignity and her status as a woman, a mother and a role model to many young women, was immensely undermined in the process, said Tsvangirai. I understand there are a few culprits who were apprehended by the police and as the leader of the party, I regard this incident as a criminal act and these thugs must face the full wrath of the law. I have since activated our own internal investigations and appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against the perpetrators or anyone behind them. I, for one, have been a victim of violence at the hands of the State, bashed in a police station, in many circumstances left for dead while there been many attempts on my life. We are investigating this incident with the intention of taking stern action against any of our members who may have been involved in this dastardly act. At the same time, we are not ruling out the invisible hand of the State as it had a huge motive to douse the successful script of the Alliance on Saturday, he added. Political analysts said the violence which came barely 24 hours after the launch of the coalition was a sign that the MDC was deeply divided over the issue. Conflict is inevitable but violence is not. Beating up people for differing with you is sick. It shows we have a long way to go. This is the opposition that suffered lots of violence and lost members to Zanu PF violence. People with such predisposition for violence should never be given state power they will crush anyone with disseminating views, said political analysts, Maxwell Saungweme. He said senior posts in the MDC such as that of the vice president were likely to be made irrelevant as leaders of fringe parties would gain seniority by virtue of leading those parties. So this causes division as some people will feel their power will be diluted. Some of the issues are real. Some parties in the coalition are so small such as (Transform Zimbabwe president Jacob) Ngarivhume's. So people like Ngarivhume will be senior in the coalition more senior than Khupe for example yet he runs a small party with very few followers, added Saungweme. Another political analyst, Shakespeare Hamauswa, said the opposition was likely to have two coalitions, warning that Khupe and other senior figures in the MDC could join former vice president Joice Mujuru. What we are seeing is the manifestation of highly complicated political implosion in Zimbabwe. The whole opposition if not all political parties are likely to explode. The recent violence in MDC therefore indicates how the opposition is highly divided. So in light of coalition talks, we are going to see at least two big coalitions of opposition parties. Khupe and team might join hands with Simba Makoni, Dumiso Dabengwa, Mujuru and Priscilla Misihairabwi, Hamauswa told the Daily News. On Saturday Tsvangirai signed a pact with former Finance minister Tendai Biti of Peoples Democratic Party, Welshman Ncube (MDC), Jacob Ngarivhume (Transform Zimbabwe) and Zimbabwe People Firsts Agrippa Mutambara, a retired army chief. As far as the larger sections of the opposition movement are concerned, this is the grand coalition that they have been waiting for and its leadership has been decided. However, Mujuru and other opposition chiefs who stayed away on Saturday from the launch of an electoral alliance which chose MDC Morgan Tsvangirai as its main man, say the grand coalition is not yet a done deal. Daily News Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. A real estate-savvy couple is now the proud owner of the streets and sidewalks of uber-wealthy, uber-exclusive San Francisco gated community Presidio Terrace. But residents of the 35 mega-mansions lining the private, oval-shaped street are pushing back, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. South Bay couple Tina Lam and Michael Cheng scooped up the street at a city-run auction for a little over $90,000 in 2015. The street was up for grabs due to unpaid property taxes that the communitys homeowners association neglected to pay for 30 years. Seeking to recover the $14 owed per year, the city put the street up for sale. (Plus interest and penalties, the bill amounted to a whopping $994.) Residents say they didnt know about the back taxes or sale until this May, when a title search company hired by Cheng and Lam sent out letters asking if property owners were interested in buying the street back. Per Curbed, the Presidio Terrace Association filed a complaint claiming that the address the city used to bill the association was not associated with any of its members. A Treasurer-Tax Collector spokesperson says the city followed all requirements, adding that almost all local homeowners "pay their taxes on timeand they keep their mailing address up to date. According to the Chronicle, Cheng and Lams property comes with plenty of financial opportunity, including making residents pay for street parking. But Lam asserts that owning the once white-only property goes beyond dollar signs: I really just wanted to own something in San Francisco because of my affinity for the city. Meanwhile, the association has petitioned the Board of Supervisors to negate the salea hearing is scheduled for Octoberand sued the couple and the city in an attempt to block the property being sold to anyone else while the appeal is pending. (Read more real estate stories.) Vacation or no vacation, President Trump had a busy Monday on Twitter: In a series of tweets over more than nine hours, the president laid into Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal for lying about military service in Vietnam. Never in US history "has has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal," Trump tweeted, accusing the senator of being a "phony Vietnam con artist." "He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child," Trump said. "Now he judges collusion?" Trump later added: "I think Senator Blumenthal should take a nice long vacation in Vietnam, where he lied about his service, so he can at least say he was there." Trump was apparently angered by Blumenthal's remarks Monday supporting special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of alleged Russian election meddling, CNN reports. Blumenthal later tweeted: "Mr. President: Your bullying hasn't worked before and it won't work now. No one is above the law." Blumenthal apologized years ago for "misspeaking" by saying he served "in Vietnam" instead of "during the Vietnam era," when he was in the Marine Reserves, NBC News reports. The Washington Post reports that Trump criticsincluding conservatives like Bill Kristolcriticized the president, who received multiple draft deferments, for attacking Blumenthal on an issue "where he is even more vulnerable." (Read more Richard Blumenthal stories.) A report on climate change from scientists at 13 federal agencies has been leaked to the New York Times and the Washington Postand it's firmly at odds with President Trump and Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt's stated positions on the issue. The draft seen by the Times warns that there's very strong evidence of drastic temperature rises since 1980, and "many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities," especially greenhouse-gas emissions, "are primarily responsible for recent observed climate change." The report's authors have been waiting for permission from the Trump administration to release it, and some of them say they're worried the government will suppress the report. The climate science report dismisses talk of a climate change "hiatus" and cites increasing evidence that warming can be linked to major weather events. The climate science report is part of the National Climate Assessment, which is supposed to be released every four years, though it has only appeared three times since 1990. "The current situation will provide an acid test of whether the Trump administration is open to hearing the scientific truth about climate change or is so much in the thrall of fossil fuel interests that they are fixated on hiding the reality from the public," Princeton University professor Michael Oppenheimer tells the Post. Gizmodo describes the leak as a "clear middle finger" to Trump and Pruitt, though it is one that could cause "an ill-advised act of revenge." (Read more climate change stories.) The US already has a small military force in the Philippines to help in the fight against ISIS, but NBC News reports that the Pentagon might ramp things up by allowing US drones to conduct airstrikes. The strikes would be part of an official military mission that could be unveiled this week, one designed to root out the Islamic State in the region. The development comes after a relatively cordial meeting between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the Philippines' controversial leader, Rodrigo Duterte, in Manila. While Duterte has been criticized for human rights abuses amid a brutal crackdown on drugs, he told reporters afterward that the issue came up "only in passing" during their meeting, per the Guardian. He said the same held true for his meeting with Australia's foreign minister. "Mostly they have considerably toned down in human rights," he said, according to the state news agency. He bristled when asked details about discussion of the issue. Human rights, son of a b----," he said. "Policemen and soldiers have died on me. The war now in Marawi, what caused it but drugs? So human rights, dont go there." Tillerson has generally de-emphasized the issue, reports ABC News, telling employees of the State Department earlier this year that national security sometimes has to take precedence over human rights concerns abroad. In addition to the US special task force currently on the ground in the Philippines, the US shares military intelligence with the nation and provides training. (Tillerson says the US will respond to Russia's recent diplomatic retaliation within weeks.) The greatest joy followed by the deepest sorrow: A Saturday car crash claimed the lives of Austin Wesson and Rebekah Bouma in Clearwater, Kansas. The 19-year-olds had been married the day prior. The Wichita Eagle describes theirs as a whirlwind romance: The two met while on mission trips in Wesson's native South Africa in February, and were engaged by June. Bouma's mother, Rachel Bouma, says the two married in a courthouse ceremony Friday that was conducted with Wesson's immigration status in mind; a wedding celebration, with Wesson's South African relatives present, had been planned for next month. The couple intended to move to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for college. KWCH reports the crash occurred at 6:30pm, with evidence suggesting Wesson, who was behind the wheel, lost control of the Ford F-150 pickup. It left the road, and was found against a tree, on its side. Wesson was pronounced dead at the scene, while Bouma died early Monday in the hospital. The crash remains under investigation. On Facebook, Rachel Bouma writes, "She is with the Lord that she loved so deeply and so joyfully and she is with her husband of just one day, Austin Wesson, whom she loved with all her heart. We thank God that they are together while grieving their loss so very deeply." (This bride was killed in a crash minutes after her wedding.) The Google engineer who got fired for writing an anti-diversity memo won't be out of a job long if he so wishes. Julian Assange of WikiLeaks tweeted a job offer Tuesday, reports the Telegraph. "Censorship is for losers," he wrote, adding that WikiLeaks "is offering a job to fired Google engineer James Damore." Assange wasn't expressing support for Damore's views so much as objecting to Google's reaction. "Women & men deserve respect," he tweeted. "That includes not firing them for politely expressing ideas but rather arguing back." Related coverage: The memo: Read Damore's memo in full here. Among other things, he says Google's push for diversity in the workplace is resulting in a lower-quality workforce, and he suggests the gender gap in tech has its roots in "biological causes," not discrimination. Another key point: He says Google "leans left" and silences opposing views internally. Read Damore's memo in full here. Among other things, he says Google's push for diversity in the workplace is resulting in a lower-quality workforce, and he suggests the gender gap in tech has its roots in "biological causes," not discrimination. Another key point: He says Google "leans left" and silences opposing views internally. Free speech: For Google and other companies, the controversy raises thorny free-speech issues in regard to workers. As one legal expert puts it to the Wall Street Journal, "Are you going to discipline employees for speaking their minds, when you've created a platform that encourages it?" Crossing the line: "Had the employee not belittled women's skills, I assume, he would not be let go," writes Kara Swisher at Recode. Indeed, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the memo violated company policy by "advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." He added that "to suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK." "Had the employee not belittled women's skills, I assume, he would not be let go," writes Kara Swisher at Recode. Indeed, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the memo violated company policy by "advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." He added that "to suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK." Anita Hill: In an op-ed at the New York Times, she runs through a litany of sexism problems in the tech industry and suggests it's time to stop waiting for Silicon Valley to fix itself. Instead: class-action lawsuits. "It's time women in tech consider taking advantage of the law to disrupt the industry once and for all." In an op-ed at the New York Times, she runs through a litany of sexism problems in the tech industry and suggests it's time to stop waiting for Silicon Valley to fix itself. Instead: class-action lawsuits. "It's time women in tech consider taking advantage of the law to disrupt the industry once and for all." Counterpoint: At the National Review, David French says the firing is "a direct assault on the American culture of free speech." He adds that it means workers' economic opportunities depend not just on talent but their political opinions. Breitbart, meanwhile, reports that left-leaning Google managers effectively blacklist colleagues who don't share their views. At the National Review, David French says the firing is "a direct assault on the American culture of free speech." He adds that it means workers' economic opportunities depend not just on talent but their political opinions. Breitbart, meanwhile, reports that left-leaning Google managers effectively blacklist colleagues who don't share their views. More: In a widely shared tweet, Eric Weinstein of Peter Thiel's investment firm Thiel Capital wrote, "Stop teaching my girl that her path to financial freedom lies not in coding but in complaining to HR." In a widely shared tweet, Eric Weinstein of Peter Thiel's investment firm Thiel Capital wrote, "Stop teaching my girl that her path to financial freedom lies not in coding but in complaining to HR." In other words: Josh Horwitz frames the whole debate nicely at Quartz: "Damore's proponents will argue that he was fired for questioning prevailing dogma about diversity and the best ways to improve it. His detractors, meanwhile, will argue that he set himself up for immunity by couching a sexist manifesto in the framing of ideological diversity." Josh Horwitz frames the whole debate nicely at Quartz: "Damore's proponents will argue that he was fired for questioning prevailing dogma about diversity and the best ways to improve it. His detractors, meanwhile, will argue that he set himself up for immunity by couching a sexist manifesto in the framing of ideological diversity." About Damore: The 28-year-old had worked at Google since 2013, reports Newsweek. The Illinois native was a chess champ as a kid and went on to graduate with honors from the University of Illinois. He also pursued his doctorate in systems biology at Harvard, per Heavy.com, which rounds up details from his resume and online posts. (Read more Google stories.) An alt-right rally planned in a Charlottesville, Va., park Saturday is a follow-up to protests in May against the removal of a Confederate statue there. But those attending may have to rebook their lodgings: After Airbnb got wind of large groups making reservations through its system to ostensibly attend the "Unite the Right" rally in Emancipation Park, promoted by the likes of white nationalist Richard Spencer, the service canceled the accounts of those users, citing its "Airbnb Community Commitment," WVIR reports. All Airbnb users must sign off on this agreement; rally attendees would be violating the part noting they must "accept people regardless of their race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age." The service adds it's able to determine who's in violation of the commitment via "our background check processes or from input of our community." Per BuzzFeed, people started catching on over the weekend that those deemed by Airbnb to be "antithetical" to its philosophy were seeing their accounts deactivated. Jason Kessler, one of the so-called organizers of the rally, posted an eight-minute video on Twitter Monday railing against Airbnb's actions, which he says was based on "political ideology," along with the tweet: "Free speech and civil rights under attack by #Charlottesville government & AirBnb." Charlottesville officials have been trying to get Kessler and his group to move the rally elsewhere, for "safety and logistical reasons," per WVIR, but Kessler says they're staying put in Emancipation Park because that's where the statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee is. The Washington Post notes the park has long been mired in controversy due to its Confederate iconography. (Read more Airbnb stories.) A rape suspect who overpowered an Ohio sheriff's deputy to escape a transport van has killed himself during a police standoff, ending a manhunt. Paulding County authorities say 32-year-old Branden Lee Powell shot himself Monday night at his parents' home near Antwerp, about 70 miles southwest of Toledo. Authorities say Powell was in a crawl space and shot himself as officers were trying to persuade him to surrender, reports the AP. Investigators say Powell had stolen a gun from a deputy he overpowered during a Friday trip from a psychiatric hospital to jail. Powell jumped over a seat wearing leg shackles and handcuffs and put the deputy in a headlock, causing the van to crash. Authorities say Powell forced the deputy to remove the restraints and handcuffed the officer to the steering wheel before taking off. WPTA 21 reports Powell had previously attempted to cut his own throat while in jail and underwent surgery as a result. In a statement, Sheriff Jason Landers says, "While this is not the outcome law enforcement had hoped for, law enforcement hopes the community can rest knowing this armed dangerous individual is no longer a danger to the community." (Read more escaped criminal stories.) The talent agent who sent British model Chloe Ayling to Italy, where she says she was kidnapped and was to reportedly be auctioned on the dark web as a sex slave, has hit out at people questioning her story. Phil Green of Supermodel Agency says, "I can assure everybody that it was real and very frightening for all concerned." But Ayling broke down in tears when confronted by investigators with a witness who said Ayling had gone to buy shoes with the alleged kidnapper. According to a transcript of Chloe Ayling's deposition obtained Tuesday by the AP, the 20-year-old model initially said she was held at a remote farmhouse for six days without ever leaving. But on the second day of questioning, she was confronted with witness testimony that said she and the main suspect had bought shoes for her the day before her release. The Guardian reports she also allegedly went grocery shopping with him. She told investigators that she couldn't give a "reasonable explanation" about why she had omitted the shoe shopping, but she said she considered the alleged kidnapper to be her best chance at freedom. Police have arrested a suspect, Lukasz Pawel Herba. Green said Tuesday that Ayling went to Milan in July for a photo shoot that seemed legitimate. He said the person who made the booking had "a website, previous pictures, details of his studio, details of what the shoot was going to be, times, locations, feeeverything." But the day after his client was due to return, Green says he received a ransom demand for $300,000. Ayling was released at the UK Consulate in Milan on July 17. CBS News reports it's believed that no ransom was paid. (Read more kidnapping stories.) The Washington Post is out with a chilling report about North Korea's nuclear capabilities: It says Pyongyang has figured out how to make a nuclear warhead small enough to be carried by a missile. The news comes from a newly completed assessment by US intelligence officials, and it suggests that the North has passed the crucial milestone years ahead of schedule. It's not known whether the North has actually tested such a warhead, though it has boasted of doing so. Combined with the nation's progress in testing intercontinental ballistic missiles, which could someday reach US shores, the news will only raise the pressure on President Trump and the international community. Related developments: Trump fires back: After the Post story appeared, Trump made a jarring statement: "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States," he told reporters, per ABC News. "They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen." He said Kim Jong Un has been "very threatening" and reiterated that the North "will be met with fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which the world has never seen before." Caveat: It remains unclear just how firm the new assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency is, notes the Atlantic. The Post reporters were read an excerpt of the report and did not see it in its entirety. "What we dont know ... is how confident the agency is in its assessment and what its assessment is based on. Nor is it clear whether other US intelligence agencies share this view." It remains unclear just how firm the new assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency is, notes the Atlantic. The Post reporters were read an excerpt of the report and did not see it in its entirety. "What we dont know ... is how confident the agency is in its assessment and what its assessment is based on. Nor is it clear whether other US intelligence agencies share this view." Bad sign: The North has been ordered to halt its missile tests, but US spy satellites have spotted two anti-ship cruise missiles being loaded on a patrol boata possible sign of new tests in the coming days, reports Fox News. The North frequently responds to sanctions with new tests, notes the New York Times, and it has promised "righteous action" after the latest round from the UN. The North has been ordered to halt its missile tests, but US spy satellites have spotted two anti-ship cruise missiles being loaded on a patrol boata possible sign of new tests in the coming days, reports Fox News. The North frequently responds to sanctions with new tests, notes the New York Times, and it has promised "righteous action" after the latest round from the UN. Tillerson: Still on his foreign trip, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Southeast Asian nations to help keep the new sanctions enforced on the North, reports the Wall Street Journal. (Read more North Korea stories.) Good Time is a film about one bad night gone worse. Robert Pattinson plays a small-time Queens crook named Connie Nikas whose botched robbery and escape attempt lands his mentally handicapped brother in jail. And that's just in the first few minutes. The film doesn't come up for a breather for the next 90. People have described Good Time as "Mean Streets on MDMA," which might even be too tame. The filmmakers behind it, Josh and Benny Safdie, are two who the general public would be forgiven for not knowing. They are 30-something brothers whose last film, the punishing heroin drama Heaven Knows What, played in only 14 theaters. So how did they get one of the biggest movie stars in the world to lead their next film? Pattinson called them. The AP reports Pattinson saw a promotional still from Heaven Knows What and essentially decided he had to work with the brothers. "I guess it is kind of wild," says Josh Safdie. "To me it's like a guy saw a picture and he was inspired by it and he reached out." Pattinson says of the brothers, "They run at a different level of energy to most people. I was thinking how to describe the movie and it's like it's a car crash movie, but the car crash happens in the first five minutes and you're just skidding for the rest." Safdie explains that they visited the Manhattan Detention Center as part of their research thanks to a friendly warden who didn't know who they were. As soon as they entered the female wing, that changed. The AP has more. (Read more Robert Pattinson stories.) President Trump is said to be frustrated with progress in the 16-year-old Afghanistan war, and a familiar name in US military circles is offering an unprecedented solution. Blackwater founder Erik Prince has floated a plan to the White House that it turn over most of its military duties in the country to private contractors, reports USA Today. The US currently has 8,400 troops there, though their mission is to train and advise, not engage in combat. Prince would replace them with 5,500 contractors, most of them former Special Ops troops. They would be supported by a private air force of about 90 planes. One key point: They would wear Afghan uniforms and operate under Afghan command. At what point do you say a conventional military approach in Afghanistan is not working, says Prince. Maybe we say that at 16 years. The newspaper says defense chief Jim Mattis and national security adviser HR McMaster are leery, while adviser Steve Bannon is more open to the idea. The Navy Times notes that the proposal would likely run into legal trouble. Current defense law stipulates that "the use of combat power against enemy forces or hostile actors is inherently in the purview of the U.S. government." Contractors can provide assistance, but Prince's plan goes way beyond that. The former Navy SEAL says it would cost about $10 billion year, far less than the Pentagon's current annual outlay of $40 billion. (Read more Afghanistan war stories.) Jammu and Kashmir: Soldier killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan on LoC in Poonch Jammu : An Indian Army soldier was killed on Tuesday in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Defence Ministry sources said in Jammu that the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire in Mankote area of the LoC in Poonch district. "A soldier -- identified as Sepoy Pawan Kumar -- was killed in the firing by the Pakistan Army," the sources said. Indian positions have also retaliated to unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistan army in the area. Pakistan-origin woman is in awe of her 'Rakhi' brother Narendra Modi New Delhi : Pakistan-origin woman Qamar Mohsin Shaikh, who has been living in India for the past 35 years, is in awe of her 'Rakhi' brother Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She credits him for everything she is today. Presently living in Ahmedabad, Shaikh traveled to Delhi on Monday to tie the thread of sibling bond on Modi's wrist, the way she says she has been doing for the last 23 years. "I have been tying Rakhi to Narendra Bhai for the last 23 years. I am extremely excited to be able to do it this time too," Shaikh, who came to India from Pakistan after her marriage, told a news channel in Delhi. What made this year's Rakhi special for her was the fact that she had thought Modi would be too busy and she would not get to meet him. But to her surprise, Shaikh said, she got a call two days back from Modi and "I was very happy to know that and I started preparing for Raksha Bandhan" with the Prime Minister. She said Modi spent a few seconds with each visitor who had come to greet him and tie a rakhi, but "I was surprised and extremely happy that he spent more time with me". "I told him whatever I am today is because of you. He put his hand on my head to bless me. He asked me about my son Sufian and my husband Mohsin. I feel like the luckiest and happiest person in the world." Shaikh said her first Raksha Bandhan with Modi was when he was a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker. "When I first tied rakhi to Narendra Bhai, he was a karyakarta but with his sheer hard work and vision, he has become the Prime Minister," she said. "This relationship is now 23 years old. I am proud to be a sister of Prime Minister Modi," Shaikh told Zee News. She said she was apprehensive when she came from Pakistan and married an Indian man. "But life became easier when I got a brother like Narendra Bhai. He has never made me feel that I don't have my brother around." Asked what gift she wanted from Modi on Raksha Bandhan, Shaik said: "I just need his blessings. His blessings are what count the most. His blessings are with me and that is why I am here. I will always remember him. His hand is behind my every success." She also shared how Modi would express the desire to see the paintings drawn by her husband and how he would also joke with his son, who she says is a swimmer and calls the Prime Minister "maama". Sorry! This content is not available in your region The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Hyderabad: The lure of money, unwanted pregnancy, fear of society, an unwed teenage mother, blatant flouting of medical rules and ethics, all these factors resulted in the tragic death of a 19-year-old engineering student in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana. The victim was seven months pregnant and had visited the Anusha Maternity Hospital and Nursing Home, Vanasthalipuram on August 5 along with her boyfriend to carry out Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP), or abortion informed the sources. The police have filed a case against the concerned doctor Girija Rani who had charged Rs 20,000 to carry out the procedure. The girl's boyfriend Madhu S, 21, and the doctor have been taken into custody for further interrogation after the girl's father Mahesh Kalluri filed a complaint. Vanasthalipuram police station sub inspector Dharavath Vijay said, "She was administered a pill on admission, following which the foetus was aborted. The girl, however, experienced heavy bleeding and fell unconscious. Later the doctor asked her boyfriend to shift her to another hospital where she was declared brought dead." On Monday, August 7, her body was shifted to Osmania Hospital for an autopsy. The police approached the district medical health officer (DMHO) to check if Anusha Maternity Hospital and Nursing Home has the mandatory certification to conduct abortions. The investigators are also probing if the doctor violated guidelines laid down by the Indian Medical Council while performing the procedure. The girl was a second-year student of an engineering college in Ibrahimpatnam and was living at a private hostel at D N Reddy Nagar. "She had met her photographer boyfriend at a function over a year ago and later entered into a relationship with him. The girl's parents were unaware of her pregnancy or her admission to the hospital for abortion," informed a police officer. New Delhi: Rani Lakshmibai, the queen of Jhansi, was one of the important figures of India's independence movement. She was born on 19 November 1828 at Poona and was a symbol of bravery, honour and patriotism. Lakshmibai also known as Manikarnika had a significant contribution in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. While her father Moropant Tabme was a court advisor, mother Bhagirathi was a scholarly woman. Laxmibai lost her mother at a very tender age and was raised by her father in a unconventional way. Her father supported her to learn elephant and horse rides and also gave useful lessons to handle various kind of weapons effectively. She grew up with Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope, who were active participants in the first revolt of independence. In the year 1842, Rani Lakshmi Bai tied her knot with Raja Gangadhar Rao who was the Maharaja of Jhansi at the time. After her marriage, she came to be known as Lakshmi Bai. In 1851, she gave birth to a son who unfortunately died in his fourth month. After this tragic incident, a boy namely Damodar Rao was adopted by both Laxmibai and Raja Gangadhar. Being moved by the death of his son Gangadhar Rao also breathed his last followed by a very bad health. Rani Lakshmi Bai was just eighteen years old when Maharaja breathed his last and took all her responsibilities without shedding tears. Also Read: 70 years of Independence | Chittagong raid during freedom movement Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India at that time, was a very shrewd person who tried to take advantage of the misfortune of Jhansi to expand the British Empire. The British rulers did not accept little Damodar Rao, as the legal heir of late Maharaja Gangadhar Rao and Rani Lakshmi Bai. Their plan was to annex Jhansi on the ground that it did not have any legal heir. In March 1854, Rani of Jhansi was granted an annual pension of 60,000 and was ordered to leave the Jhansi fort. She was firm on the decision not to give up the dominion of Jhansi to the British. For strengthening the defence of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai assembled an army of rebellions, which also included women. For this great cause she was supported by brave warriors like Gulam Gaus Khan, Dost Khan, Khuda Baksh, Sunder-Mundar, Kashi Bai, Lala Bhau Bakshi, Moti Bai, Deewan Raghunath Singh and Deewan Jawahar Singh. She assembled 14,000 rebels and organised an army for the defence of the city. In March 1858, when Jhansi was attacked by the British, Rani Lakshmi Bai's army decided to fight and the war continued for two long weeks. The army fought very bravely, even though the end was tragic. Also Read: 70 Years of Independence: Remembering Indias 'hero' Mangal Pandey After a long tight battle with the British forces Jhansi finally lost the war. After a fierce war when the British army entered Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai, tied her son Damodar Rao to her back and fought bravely using two swords in both her hands. She escaped to the fortress of Kalpi under the cover of darkness and was accompanied by many other rebellions. She departed to Gwalior and a fierce battle was fought between the British and the Rani's army. On the unfortunate day of 17 June of 1858, this great warrior martyred her life for India's freedom. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Chandigarh police has retrieved CCTV footage from five cameras on the route where a 29-year-old daughter of an IAS officer was allegedly chased down by Haryanas BJP chief Subhash Baralas son and the other man. The victim had called up the police on Friday night complaining that two men were chasing her. Soon after the complaint, the police arrested the duo, Vikash Barala and Ashish Kumar under the charges of stalking a woman. Later, both were released. A police official said, Chandigarh Police has retrieved footage of 5 CCTV cameras on the route capturing the chase of the victims vehicle by the alleged vehicle. Chandigarh SSP Eish Singhal on Monday said that the police were in the process of taking CCTV footage wherein the girl was allegedly stalked. ALSO READ | Stalking case: Don't turn the matter into media trial, Chandigarh SSP pleads press, refutes claims of political pressure We have identified several CCTV cameras on the route taken by the accused and we are in the process of taking footage when their technical analysis is complete, we will let you know, Singhal had said. However, he had also mentioned that six CCTV cameras were non-functional. I can brief about this only when the technical analysis is complete, he had said. We are analysing every single camera on that road stretch. When technical analysis is complete, details will be put before you, he had added. Police had also rejected claims that it was under any kind of pressure. The Chandigarh Police had also said it will not hesitate to add non-bailable provisions in the case if legal opinion is in its favour. Singhal had said they were investigating the matter with an open mind and were taking legal opinion on several issues pertaining to the case. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday condemned the alleged incident and said no attempt should be made to dilute charges against the accused. (With PTI inputs) ALSO READ | Chandigarh stalking case: Girl and her father narrate their experience on Facebook while BJP defends the accused For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Opposition on Tuesday jolted the Parliament by displaying two different 500 rupee notes issued by the Reserve Bank of India. Alleging that it is the biggest scam of the century, the Congress said that the notes were of different sizes and designs. They displayed the images of two 500 rupee notes. Senior leader of the Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad lashed out at the government saying they also ruled the country but never printed two kinds of notes. "We ruled, but we never printed two kinds of notes, one for the party and one for the government - there are two kinds of Rs. 500 notes and two kinds of Rs. 1,000 notes," he said. ALSO READ: Congress is facing existential crisis, says Jairam Ramesh On the contrary, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley rubbished the claims accusing the grand-old party of making irresponsible statements. "There is no such provision where you flag any paper and say it's a Point of Order....irresponsible remarks are being made about the currency... Zero Hour is being misused," he said. Another Congress leader, Kapil Sibal also targeted the government saying "Today we have discovered why the government took the demonetisation decision. The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) prints two kinds of notes in different sizes and designs." Other opposition parties including Trinamool Congress also supported the Congress party. TMC leader Derek O'Brien backed them saying "Look at the notes. Mr Sibal has raised a serious issue." However, the Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi raised questions on the source of the notes. ALSO READ | Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls: Cong MLA Dharshi Khanpura cast his vote himself after EC officer denied his proxy voting request For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kochi: The Congress is facing an existential crisis, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said and pitched for a collective effort by party leaders to overcome the challenges it faced from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Ramesh also said that business as usual approach will not work against Modi and Shah and advocated for a flexibility in approach to make Congress relevant. Yes, the Congress party is facing a very serious crisis, Ramesh told PTI in an interview. He said the Congress had faced electoral crisis from 1996 to 2004 when it was out of power. The party had also faced electoral crisis in 1977 when it lost the elections held soon after the emergency. Gujarat RS polls: Amit Shah, Smriti Irani, Balwantsinh Rajput in fray But today, I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis, he said, when asked whether the threat of poaching of MLAs posed by the BJP in Gujarat had forced the party to transport its MLAs to Karnataka to ensure party leader Ahmed Patels victory in the Rajya Sabha polls. He, however, justified the Gujarat Congresss decision to send 44 of its MLAs to a resort in party-ruled Karnataka on July 29 to fend off the alleged poaching attempts by BJP, saying the saffron party had also transported MLAs in the past. He said it was wrong for the Congress party to think that anti-incumbency will work automatically against the Modi-led government in the states being ruled by the BJP in the elections. We have to understand we are up against Mr Modi, Mr Shah. And they think differently, they act differently, and if we are not flexible in our approach, we will become irrelevant, frankly, the Congress leader said. He said the Congress party must also recognise that India has changed. Old slogans dont work, old formulas dont work, old mantras dont work. India has changed, the Congress party has to change, he said. The former union minister hoped that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi would end the uncertainty over his taking over as the Congress president to make the party ready for crucial electoral battles in key states in 2018 and the Lok Sabha polls scheduled a year later. I think in all probability, Rahul Gandhi will take charge (as Congress president) before the end of 2017, he said. The senior leader lamented that he had been proved wrong in the past about his prediction about Rahuls assuming charge of the top party job. I thought it will happen in 2015, it didnt happen. I thought it will happen in 2016, it didnt happen. So I am the wrong person to ask this question. I feel that it may happen before the end of 2017, Ramesh said. He said he had no indication about appointment of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president. I have only expectation. Thats all. In 2018 and 2019 you will be busy with elections. State elections, national elections...and this type of thing...uncertainty is not good, he said and urged the Gandhi scion to finish it off. Asked if there is anyone in the Congress party to give a strong challenge to Modi in 2019 elections, Ramesh said, I have always maintained that it is the collective strength of the Congress that will overcome Mr Modi not some individual magic wand. It has to be a collective effort, he said. Ramesh took a potshots at party leaders who still behave as if the party is still in power. The sultanate has gone, but we behave as if we are sultans still. We have to completely redo the way of thinking, the way of acting, the way of projecting, the way of communicating. I think there is a lot of goodwill for the Congress, a lot of support for the Congress but people want to see a new Congress. They dont want to see old mantras, old slogans. We must recognise this is a big challenge. Huge challenge for us, he said. He said Nitish Kumars return to the NDA fold was a big setback for anti-BJP coalition in the country, describing it as a completely betrayal of the mandate given to the Mahagathbandhan by the people of Bihar. Ramesh, who shares a personal rapport with Kumar, said, personally, I was aghast, astonished, deeply disappointed, but we have to move on and we dont have time. Ramesh, representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, expressed hope that the revival of Congress will happen in Karnataka next year as it had happened 40 years ago in 1978 in Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat in the state which gave political rebirth to Indira Gandhi who faced defeat in Rae Bareli in the elections held after the Emergency. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Chinese state media on Tuesday reasserted the likleyhood of 'a small-scale military operation' by People's Liberation Army at the disputed land of Dokalam. Reverting to an Indian daily's claim that "the Indian security establishment is reasonably sure China will not risk a war or even "a small-scale military operation", Chinese daily 'Global Times' warned India of not being so sure of it. "Of course China doesn't want to risk a war and hopes that peace could return and China and India can get along well. But if Indian troops continue to linger on Chinese soil, it will be quite another matter," the report said. The article titled 'India misjudges Chinas hope for peace' warns India of not repeating the mistakes of 1962, "India made constant provocations at the China-India border in 1962. The government of Jawaharlal Nehru at that time firmly believed China would not strike back... the Nehru government underestimated the determination of the Chinese government to safeguard China's territorial integrity even as the country was mired in both domestic and diplomatic woes." Suggested read: India-China may soon enter into full-scale war; Washington will support New Delhi, says Meghnad Desai "Fifty-five years have passed, but the Indian government is as naive as it ever was. The lessons of the 1962 war didn't last for half a century." The strong rhetoric of the state media, is however, not backed by the official sources. A top PLA official on Monday declined to back it but said that India should withdraw its soldiers unconditionally to end the 50-day long standoff from escalating. "This kind of reports represents the view of the media and think-tanks. For official information please refer to the statements of foreign ministry and defence ministry spokespersons," China's Defence Ministry's spokesman Sr Col Ren Guoqiang told an Indian media delegation in Beijing. The Global Times'Tuesday article was in repornse to Times of India editorial 'Doklam row: India reasonably sure China does not want war despite angry rhetoric' published on Tuesday, wherein it claimed that Indian authorities are sure that Chinese troops will not act on threats. "A "face-saving" workable option is for both India and China to simultaneously withdraw their troops from the Bhutanese territory of Doklam (called Dong Lang by China) near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction, said sources in the security establishment," the Indian daily's report had said. Suggested read: Chinese state media warns not to underestimate countrys resolve to defend territorial sovereignty For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Political Secretary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel holds a key position in the grand-old party. He is one of the few leaders, who are involved in the decision-making process in the Congress. Born on August 21, 1949 in Gujarats Bharuch, he completed his graduation from Shree Jayendra Puri Arts and Science College. Talking about his political career, he was first elected as the member of the 6th Lok Sabha in 1977. But he served the term only for two years till 1979. He again served as the MP from 1980 to 1984. Besides this, he was holding a key position in the Congress party. The leader became the Joint Secretary of the All India Congress Committee in 1983. His political graph has been growing since he entered into Indian politics. ALSO READ | Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls: Cong MLA Dharshi Khanpura cast his vote himself after EC officer denied his proxy voting request Patel is one of the few political politicians who are having good terms with the leaders of other parties. He was even close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the latter was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. As far as his Rajya Sabhas term is concerned, he served his first term as a member of the upper house in the year 1993. Then he got re-elected in 1993, 1999, 2005, 2011 and 2017. ALSO READ: Congress is facing existential crisis, says Jairam Ramesh For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Facing heat from all quarters over his sonas alleged involvement in a stalking case, Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala broke his silence, saying that the victim (Varnika Kundu) is like his daughter and there was no pressure from his side to influence the investigation. While talking to ANI, Barala said that law must take its own course in the matter. He said BJP is a party which believes in women's rights and freedom. On Monday, Senior BJP leader Anil Jain, in-charge of the partyas Haryana affairs, had ruled out the resignation of Barala following the arrest of his son. Varnika is like my daughter, there is no pressure to influence the investigation: Subhash Barala, Haryana BJP chief #ChandigarhStalking pic.twitter.com/IBhJYhTpip a ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 aSubhash Barala has nothing to with the Vikas Barala case. The law is taking its own course. There is no reason for Subhash Baralaas resignation,a Jain had said in a statement. Law should take its own course, BJP is party which believes in women's rights&freedom: Subhash Barala, Haryana BJP chief #ChandigarhStalking pic.twitter.com/FG6BVRzPPg a ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 Jainas statement ruling out Baralaas resignation comes a day after Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had also said that the BJP state unit chief had anothing to do with incidenta. The opposition has been mounting pressure seeking Subhash Baralaas resignation on the issue. aSubhash Barala has nothing to do with this incident. It is an individual happening, the accused will face action once found guilty. This is my official stand, this was my stand yesterday and today also this is my stand. After this, on this issue, no question, no answer,a Khattar had told.A Both the accused, Vikas Barala (23) and Ashish Kumar(27), were released later on bail as they were booked underbailable sections of the IPC and the Motor Vehicles Act, amid a major outcry. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An Army personnel Pawan Singh Sugra was on Tuesday martyred in sniper shot fired by Pakistan at Balnoi Sector of Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmir. Pawan belonged to 20 Kumaon regiment. The incident reported at around 4 PM. In the exchange of fire, Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries. Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra aged 21 years, belonged to Village Sugri, PO Chaurpal,Tehsil Gangolihat, District Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand and is survived by his parents Earlier in the day, an Army jawan got injured in yet another incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Baramullas Silikoot. The ceasefire violation took place along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said. Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing towards an Indian post in the Uri sector, resulting in injuries to a jawan, an Army official said. Also read | J&K: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan along LoC, one soldier injured For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An Army jawan got injured in yet another incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Baramullas Silikoot on Monday.The ceasefire violation took place along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said. Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing towards an Indian post in the Uri sector, resulting in injuries to a jawan, an Army official said. He said the injured soldier has been taken to the Army hospital here for treatment. Further details of the incident are awaited, he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Pune: Pune's suspended constant couple who lied about scaling Mount Everest have been dismissed from the police services. The couple Dinesh and Tarkeshwari Rathod had claimed to climb the world's highest mountain in May last year. Pune Police had suspended the couple last year in November. Police had set a fact-finding committee to conduct an inquiry about the couple's claim of climbing Everest. The inquiry confirmed that the claims made by the two were bogus and fraudulent. "The couple faked about the Everest ascent, morphed the photographs, shared misleading information and while doing this, brought disrepute to the Maharashtra police department and did not report to duty. Based on the inquiry, we dismissed the couple from the department and an order to this effect was issued on Saturday," Sahebrao Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (admin) of Pune police, said. The couple had been issued a show-cause notice in May this year and they were asked why they should not be dismissed from the services, he added. Dinesh and Tarkeshwari, posted at Shivajinagar police headquarters in the city, had claimed on June 5 last year that they have become the first Indian couple to scale the Everest. A group of local mountaineers had later claimed that couple was never at the summit and alleged that they had faked their expedition by morphing photographs, which showed them at the Everest peak. In August (last year), the Nepal government had reportedly banned the entry of Dinesh and Tarkeshwari in Nepal for 10 years. Following a complaint against the Rathods, an inquiry was ordered into the allegations and the city police had also written to the Nepal government to investigate the claim. Surendra Shelke, one of the complainants and secretary of a city-based mountaineering association, had alleged that the couple had morphed the pictures and there were several discrepancies in the version given about the summit, which could prove the falseness of the claim. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Union Home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi did not follow the security guideline and instructions given by the police. He was making statements in Lok Sabha after Congress raised the issue of attack on Rahul Gandhis convoy in Banaskantha in Gujarat. Rajnath said Rahul has changed his vehicle after his Personal Secretary suggested him for same. He said Rahul did not listen to the police officials. He said the Gujarat government is investigating the matter and one person has been arrested. Rahul should have followed security related suggestions. Rajnath Singh said Rahul Gandhi was out for 72 days on 6 foreign tours in the last two years, but didn't take SPG cover. We want to know what is Rahul Gandhi trying to hide by not taking SPG along on foreign tours when he is a SPG protectee, he said. Rahul did not listen to the area police or SPG officials but only his Personal secretary: Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 Rajnath Singh said, We want to know where did he go? Why didn't he take SPG cover. Singh said it is not only a violation of SPG Act but being negligent to safety issues as well. We want to know where did he go? Why didn't he take SPG cover: Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 While raising the issue in the Lower house, M Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the government , saying that Centre had stated that the stone pelters in the Valley were terrorists. I want to know from the government-were the stone pelters in Gujarat came from Jammu and Kashmir or BJP activists converted themselves into stone pelters, Kharge said. Kharge said it was an attempt to kill the congress vice-president. Also Read: Rahul Gandhi alleges BJP-RSS people attacked his car, says this is PM Modis way of politics For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Wednesday visited the makeshift Ram Temple to offer prayers at the disputed site. After the prayers CM Adityanath addressed a public meeting where he said the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute should be resolved through bilateral talks. He was addressing a small gathering called at the birthday celebrations of VHP leader Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, president of the Ram Janambhoomi Nyas Trust, an organisation formed to promote the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site. This problem must be sorted out through bilateral talks between both the communities, Adityanath said. His comments seemed in line with the advice of Supreme Court, which had suggested a negotiated settlement of the dispute. Significantly, Das, at whose birthday celebrations the Chief Minister was speaking, was one of the 12 persons including BJP veterans L K Advani, M M Joshi and Union minister Uma Bharti against whom a CBI court had on Monday framed charges in the Babri Masjid demolition case. Earlier today, Adityanath offered prayers at the makeshift Ram temple here. He spent around 30 minutes there. This was Adityanaths first visit to Ayodhya after he took over as Uttar Pradesh chief minister. He reached Faizabad today morning and visited the famous Hanuman Garhi temple. He was accompanied by Dharam Das, another person against whom conspiracy charges were framed yesterday. Adityanath also offered payers on the banks of the Saryu river here. Tuesday, a special CBI court in Lucknow had framed charges against BJP veterans L K Advani, M M Joshi, Union minister Uma Bharti and nine others in the 1992 Babri mosque demolition case. The Supreme Court had ordered restoration of the conspiracy charge against them on April 19. Adityanath had yesterday gone to the VVIP guest house in Lucknow to meet Advani, who had come to appear before the court. In Faizabad Wednesday, Adityanath also held a meeting with the BJP MLAs, MPs and senior officials of the Faizabad area and reviewed the law and order situation as well as development issues. He also inaugurated a Passport Sewa Kendra at the head post office in Faizabad. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Government and Opposition of Jammu and Kashmir have united against the possible retracting of Article 35A which gives the state special rights and privileges. At a recent event in Delhi, state CM Mehbooba Mufti said if Article 35A was tinkered with, there will be no one in Kashmir to uphold the national flag. Main Opposition party National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah warned that if the Centre does any tinkering with the existing arrangement concerning Jammu and Kashmir, there would be a huge protest, much bigger than what was seen during the Amarnath Shrine land controversy when his son Omar Abdullah was the Chief Minister of the state. Suggested read | If Article 35A is tinkered with there will be no one left to hold tricolour in Kashmir: CM Mehbooba Mufti What is Article 35A? Article 35A of the Indian Constitution is an article that empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define permanent residents of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents. The article draws its relevance and affects effectiveness of Article 370. Full text of Article 35A "Saving of laws with respect to permanent residents and their rights. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution, no existing law in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and no law hereafter enacted by the Legislature of the State: (a) defining the classes of persons who are, or shall be, permanent residents of the State of Jammu and Kashmir; or (b) conferring on such permanent residents any special rights and privileges or imposing upon other persons any restrictions as respects (i) employment under the State Government; (ii) acquisition of immovable property in the State; (iii) settlement in the State; or (iv) right to scholarships and such other forms of aid as the State Government may provide, shall be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with or takes away or abridges any rights conferred on the other citizens of India by any provision of this part." Suggested read | Congress attacks PDP for alleged attempts to abrogate Article 35-A What is the debate around Article 35A? The Article has come under focus recently after a Delhi-based NGO 'We the Citizens' filed a petition demanding that Article 35A be repealed+ because of its "unconstitutional" character. Soon after, two Kashmiri women approached the Supreme Court, challenging the clause as they contended that it had disenfranchised their children. Those who oppose Article 35A claim that it gives a free hand to the state government and politicians to discriminate between citizens of India, on an unfair basis and give preferential treatment to some by trampling over others, since the non-residents of the state are debarred from buying properties, getting a government job or voting in the local elections. During the hearing of the petition by the NGO, Attorney general K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, had told court that given the "sensitive" nature of the issue, the Centre wanted a "larger debate" on it. He also said that the matter be referred to a larger bench given the constitutional issues involved; the court agreed, saying a three-judge bench would hear the matter in six weeks (which is to be completed end August). What court says on Article 35A? In a similar case in July 2015, an RSS-backed think-tank called the Jammu & Kashmir Study Centre first came up with the idea to challenge Article 35A in the Supreme Court. In that case, the division bench of J&K high court, comprising Justice Muzaffar Attar and Justice A M Magrey, enumerated the importance of Article 35A and said this law, which has been applied to J&K, clarifies the already-existing constitutional and legal position and does not extend something new to the state. The court had observed that Article 35A was only a clarificatory provision to clear the issue of constitutional position obtaining in the rest of country in contrast to J&K. Suggested read | Supreme Court seeks Centres reply on validity of special status to Jammu and Kashmir Why debate Article 35A now? The special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir were given in 1954 through a presidential order, then why debate the re-appeal now in 2017? The reason lies in BJP's strength at Centre. Repealing Article 370 has been on the agenda of the BJP and RSS for decades. For long the BJP said that the day it came to power in New Delhi on its own, it would resolve the Kashmir issue. Its pet prescription has been doing away with Article 370 of the Constitution, which was inserted in after the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir signed the instrument of accession with India in 1947 following invasion by Pakistan. Now that the BJP is heading the strongest government at the Centre in 30 years after having secured majority of its own in the last Lok Sabha elections, the clamour for repeal of Article 370 has been growing in the Sangh parivar. But, it is not as simple as it may seem. Thus, the Modi Government has shifted the focus to another provision of the Constitution - Article 35A. Suggested read | Article 370 is responsible for most of problems in J&K, says Bhartiya Janata Party For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Xiaomi may launch its Mi Note 3 phablet this month in China reported a Chinese website mydrivers.com. The Mi Note 3 is expected to have a Qualcomm Snadragon 835 processor supported with 6 GB of RAM and the 5.7 inch display is rumored to be a QHD Super AMOLED panel made by Samsung. The metal body phone comes with a finger sensor. Xiaomis Mi Note 2 was launched last year but was not sold in India. Note 2 came with 5.7 inch amoled display supported with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 6 GB RAM. The Phone had 22.5 megapixel camera with a f/20 aperture and 8 megapixel camera to click selfies. According to the website Xiaomi is going to roll-out schedule of MIUI 9 and updates for Mi 6, Redmi Note 4X, Mi Max, Mi Max 2, Redmi 4X, Mi Mix, Mi Note 2, Mi 5, Mi 5s and 5s Plus, Mi 4s and 4c and Mi 5c this month. Beijing: In a stunning -but unsubstantiated-claim, a senior Chinese official said on Tuesday that Bhutan has acknowledged that the Dokalam area where the Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a standoff does not belong to it. Chinas top diplomat on the boundary issue, Wang Wenli, told a visiting Indian media delegation that Bhutan has conveyed to Beijing through the diplomatic channels that the area of the standoff is not its territory. She provided no evidence for the claim, which is at the complete variance with Bhutans stated position and actions. Bhutan had protested to the Chinese government, accusing it of violating a bilateral pact after its troops tried to construct a road in the Doklam area on June 16. After the incident, the Bhutanese made it very clear to us that the place where the trespassing happened is not Bhutans territory, said Wang, who is the Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. She went on to say that Bhutanese find it very strange that the Indian border troops are on the Chinese soil, and implied that her views have been gleaned from Bhutanese state media and legal blogs which have more convincing information. A statement issued by Indias External Affairs Ministry on June 30 said, On June 16, a PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) construction party entered the Doklam area and attempted to construct a road. It is our understanding that a Royal Bhutan Army patrol attempted to dissuade them from this unilateral activity. India had also cited the Bhutanese Foreign Ministry as emphasising that the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between these two countries. They have urged a return to the status quo as before June 16, 2017. India also conveyed to the Chinese government that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for it. India says both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place. Wang said Bhutan is observing the actions being taken by both Indian and Chinese troops from its territory. Bhutan has no direct diplomatic relations with China and maintains contacts with Beijing through its diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Bhutan and China have held 24 rounds of talks to resolve boundary dispute while India and China have completed 19 rounds of talks. Wang said India and Bhutan are two countries out of the 14 countries China is yet to sort out boundary disputes. China has settled boundary dispute approximately of 20,000 km with 12 countries out of the 22,000 km and is yet to settle about 2,000 km of boundary involving India and Bhutan. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will visit India on August 23, for his first official trip overseas, after being elected to the post two months ago. Foreign ministry on Monday, announced the visit of PM. Nepal's deputy prime minister Krishna Bahadur and foreign minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara told that preparations are underway for Deuba's visit and to set the agenda of the visit. A high-level Chinese delegation led by the Vice Premier of China, Wang Yang, will visit Nepal ahead of the Deuba'svisit to India and hold talks on post-quake reconstruction, Mahara said. He said Nepal wants to maintain cordial relations through peaceful diplomacy and dialogue with both India and Nepal. Dauba, the 71-year-old veteran Nepali politician known for his close ties to India, took over the reigns of Nepal when the Himalayan nation was navigating a political turmoil over the implementation of the Constitution and unrest in the southern plains due to the Madhesi agitation. Mahara also said that a ministerial conference of the BIMSTEC grouping will be held in Kathmandu from August 10, according to the daily. The conference will lead to the summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation to be held in Nepal this year. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. #World University Games Chuncheong named host of 2027 World University Games The South Korean central region of Chungcheong was named the host of the 2027 Summer World University Games on Saturday, bringing the biennial event to the country for the fourth t... #first lady First lady visits home of Cambodian child with heart disease First lady Kim Keon-hee visited the home of a Cambodian child with a heart disease Saturday and comforted the family, urging them not to give up under any circumstances, the presid... The city of Kyoto aims to introduce a lodging tax in 2018 at the earliest to cope with issues stemming from a surge in the number of tourists, based on a recommendation Monday from an advisory panel. "Based on the recommendation, we want to work out the system at an early date so we can make a proposal to the city assembly in September," Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa said after receiving a report from the panel of experts. The panel recommended taxes be imposed on lodgers, except for students on school excursions, at all accommodations facilities in the city, including private houses and rooms for vacation rental. Heavier taxes should be imposed at accommodation facilities with higher fees, it said. The number of lodgers hit a record 14.15 million in 2016 in Kyoto, an ancient Japanese capital and one of the most popular destinations in Japan for foreign tourists. With the surge in the number of lodgers, Kyoto is facing swelling costs in tackling such issues as crowded hotels and buses as well as the improvement of public transportation systems. DANBURY Young local immigrants are holding a community meeting Thursday to show their support for the federal program that temporarily protects undocumented youth from deportation. The push comes as a group of state attorneys general from across the country are pushing President Donald Trump to rescind the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrival Program or DACA, which was created by the Obama administration. If Trump doesnt phase out the program by Sept. 5, the attorneys general have said, they will sue. In response, CT Students for a Dream, which was co-founded by local sisters Carolina and Camila Bortolleto, has planned a series of community meetings across the state in support of DACA, which protects as many as 10,000 young people in Connecticut. The first meeting drew about 30 people in Hartford on Monday. The next meeting is Wednesday in New Haven and the last is on Thursday in Danbury. Danburys meeting will start at 6 p.m. at the Ecuadorian Civic Center at 20 West St. Many DACA participants arrived in the U.S. as small children. DACA, launched in 2012, protects them from deportation and allows them to work legally. DACA permits must be renewed every two years. The protection can be revoked at any time, and some young immigrants have lost its protections after being arrested for crimes. Alejandra, who asked that her real first and last name not be used, received DACA in 2012. She moved to the United States from Mexico when she was 3 years old. She now lives in Danbury. The program doesnt hurt anybody, she said. If anything, its taking people who were in the shadows for a long time and allowing them to feel like normal people. There is no logical reason to end it ... it literally made me everything I am today. Alejandra said she was able to get a job and a drivers license and attend Western Connecticut State University under DACA protections. She hopes to go to medical school. It gave me my identity, she said. A larger and separate group of attorneys general, including Connecticuts George Jepsen, have urged Trump to save the DACA program. In a letter to federal officials, this group of attorneys general wrote that about 800,000 young immigrants brought to the country as young children were granted DACA after completing applications, submitting to and passing a background check and applying for a work permit. In the case of young adults granted DACA, they are among our newest soldiers, college graduates, nurses and first responders, they wrote. They are our neighbors, coworkers, students and community and church leaders. And they are boosting the economies and communities of our states every day. The Connecticut Congressional delegation has also penned a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in support of DACA. The Associated Press contributed to this article. U.S. Sen. Corey Booker, D- NJ, this month introduced legislation to pave the way for federal legalization of marijuana. His proposed Marijuana Justice Act would make marijuana use legal nationwide and also encourage states to legalize it at the local level. However, his bill has one major problem. The chances of it becoming law in the current political landscape in Washington are essentially zero. Most media reports on Bookers bill acknowledge this fact. Politico gave it virtually no chance to become law. Even enthusiastic pro-marijuana Rolling Stone admitted it faces an uphill battle. Its likely more than uphill. Its likely impossible. Related: L.A. Considers Plan for City-Owned Bank Friendly to Marijuana Businesses GOP in charge. At this point, trying to get marijuana legalized at the federal level is like trying to come from 21 points down against the 1985 Chicago Bears defense. The GOP has earned that comparison. They have done a stellar job locking down congressional and legislative races. Republicans control both houses in the 115th U.S. Congress, which will run through January 2019. They hold 52 of the 100 Senate seats. The other 48 are divided between Democrats (46) and Independents (2). In the House, the Republicans have an even bigger advantage. They hold 240 of the 435 seats, or 55.2 percent. Theres more. All the GOP leadership come from states where marijuana remains illegal, even for medical use. Senate leader Mitch McConnell hails from Kentucky. Vice President Mike Pence, the Senate president, is from Indiana. House Speaker Paul Ryan comes from Wisconsin. Related: 3 Big Things You Need to Know Before Charging Into the Legal Marijuana Business Trump and the states. The other factor is President Donald Trump. Hes been mostly quiet on marijuana, but his administration the Department of Justice has signaled it wants to enforce federal laws that still list marijuana as a Schedule 1 illegal drug. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has especially spoken out against marijuana. Hes yet another GOP leader from a state -- Alabama -- where marijuana remains illegal. Finally, there are the state legislatures. Any attempt to get legislative approval for marijuana at the state level will run into trouble in the 67 partisan state legislative chambers now controlled by Republicans. Thats more than twice the number of chambers controlled by Democrats (31). Thats a new record for the GOP. Check out the red-dominated map from the National Conference of State Legislatures. In addition to unlikely support for pro-marijuana legislation, these Republican dominated states also can set the tone for political discourse at the local level. That discourse, so far, has been anti-legalized marijuana in most states. Booker hammers war on drugs. While the chances of passage are slim to none, Bookers bill does foster public debate on legalized marijuana. Similar efforts to help the marijuana industry, like this one from Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have helped move the debate forward. Booker also takes on an issue that is beginning to surface more and more in the War on Drugs debate. His bill would penalize states where marijuana laws have led to a disproportionate number of arrests and incarceration of minorities. Related: A New High: Nearly Half of All American Adults Have Tried Marijuana Also, the new bill would expunge criminal records involving federal charges for possession and use of marijuana. Booker, the former mayor of Newark, laid his position out in plain language on his Facebook page, where he said the failed War on Drugs has resulted in millions of nonviolent drug offenders in jail and saddled with permanent criminal records. He added that the War on Drug has been waged at an incredible cost of lost human potential, torn apart families and communities, and taxpayer dollars. The effects of the drug war have had a disproportionately devastating impact on Americans of color and the poor. Follow dispensaries.com on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news. Related: Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A topic that for so long was rarely discussed above a whisper has recently been taken up by growing numbers of lawmakers. Spurred by grass-roots activism aimed at lifting the stigma surrounding menstruation, the lawmakers are proposing measures to provide broad access to menstrual products for women. Their efforts include exempting tampons and pads from state and local taxes, compelling prisons to stop charging inmates for the supplies and making them available for free at public schools and workplaces. "It's outrageous that something that is a basic health need should be denied women," said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who co-sponsored a bill last month with Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., that would require free access to menstrual products as part of a proposal to promote basic rights for incarcerated women. "It's something that needs to be talked about. People should not be shy about putting it right up front," Booker said in an interview. The most far-reaching legislative push has been to eliminate the sales tax on tampons and pads. Sometimes labeled the "pink tax" or "period penalty," the tax on menstrual products has been called unfair. Many say the items should be deemed essential, like food and medicine, and similarly exempted. Since 2016, two dozen of the 40 states that tax menstrual products have introduced legislation to eliminate the tax. Four states - New York, Illinois, Connecticut and Florida - ultimately approved sales-tax exemptions, along with the cities of Chicago and Washington. But although D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, signed the bill, the budget the council approved did not include funding to cover the $3.3 million price tag, so the tax remains. In Virginia, a bill that would have eliminated the tax died in subcommittee this year. Maryland does not tax tampons. Opponents of tax-exemption laws say they are often unwarranted and impractical. Hygiene products are not life-sustaining in the way that food or medicine is, they say. And repealing the tax has an impact on state and local revenues, which help fund programs that serve poor families. It's better to keep exceptions at an absolute minimum, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, D, said. "We can find good reasons for exempting a lot of different types of goods and services," he said in a statement. The grass-roots movement for "menstrual equity" is being fueled by thousands of women who are intimately familiar with the anxiety and embarrassment that comes from not having a tampon or pad when they need one. "Women get it. They just get it," said Dana Marlowe, an IT consultant in Wheaton, Maryland, who founded a nonprofit called Support the Girls that distributes menstrual products and bras to homeless women. Marlowe and other activists are also pushing to make the products easily available to other poor women and to girls in public schools. What Marlowe refers to as the "mountain of maxipads" in her house started with a simple Facebook post, but women everywhere were quick to respond, she said. The pads, tampons and bras have come from as far away as Japan and the Netherlands and are delivered in small bags from neighbors or by the truckload from Procter & Gamble. In July, Marlowe and volunteers delivered a minivan full of products, including more than 21,000 tampons and 1,500 pads, to Martha's Table, a nonprofit that provides food and other items and services to the needy, including free clothing and hygiene products. In Virginia, Holly Seibold started an organization called BRAWS that supplies dozens of area shelters with menstrual products and newly purchased bras. The former teacher from Vienna and her volunteers also deliver menstrual products to about 140 school-age girls each month in shelters or schools in northern Virginia and the District because she learned some girls skip school when they have their periods. Seibold said girls who are homeless often can't afford the products and are embarrassed to ask for them. Terrionna Thomas, a rising senior at Roosevelt STAY, an alternative high school in the District, said she found herself questioning whether to go to school one day when her supply of sanitary pads was low and she was not sure she could make it through the day. There is no full-time nurse, and the tampon dispensers always seem to be empty, she said. A security guard has been known to keep extra pads on hand. "But what if she's not there?" she thought. "It's not her responsibility to be supplying pads to the school." At many schools and colleges, students are agitating for change. A "Free the Tampons" campaign has led several universities, including American University in the District, to begin stocking women's restrooms with free products. At School Without Walls, a high school in the District, a Planned Parenthood club started supplying a bin in the girls' bathroom with a variety of free products last semester, said Janiya Proctor, 17, who just graduated. "When I saw that, I wanted to applaud," she said. Influenced by such activism, some lawmakers say that menstrual products are a necessity that should be stocked in bathrooms like toilet paper. The New York City Council last year passed first-of-its-kind legislation making menstrual products freely available in public schools, shelters and jails. Colorado lawmakers approved a plan to provide free tampons and pads to inmates. In February, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., introduced the Menstrual Equity for All Act, which would, among other things, direct large companies to offer free products in workplace restrooms. It would also require state prisons that receive certain federal grants to provide free menstrual products. "When I first started talking about this issue, you could see a lot of men - and some women - were uncomfortable. But the climate is changing. There is more openness," Meng said. The effect of this activism has been slower to show up in jails and prisons, in part because they rarely accept donations and the public looks less sympathetically on the needs of incarcerated women, said Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, a leading activist in the movement and author of the forthcoming book "Periods Gone Public." But she said female inmates, the majority of whom are mothers sentenced for nonviolent crimes, are caught in a system that was designed for men and does not take their physical needs into account. A 2015 report from the Correctional Association of New York found that 54 percent of women surveyed in state prisons said they did not get enough sanitary pads each month. Women who needed more than their allotment had to request a medical permit, the report said. One facility required women to collect a bag full of their used sanitary napkins to prove they needed more. There is little consistency across the criminal justice system when it comes to menstrual hygiene. Some jails provide pads that women can help themselves to as needed; many do not. A policy document for the federal Bureau of Prisons simply says, "Products for female hygiene needs shall be available." Andrea James, executive director of the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, served time in a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, where, she said, a crate full of "tiny sanitary napkins" was kept on the bathroom floor. A tampon or something more absorbent could be purchased at the commissary, but that was not an option for many woman earning 12 cents an hour and counting out pennies to be able to call home, something that the Senate bill Booker co-sponsored also addresses. Ashley Palmer, 24, who was recently released from the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center in Winchester, Virginia, said incarcerated women are often forced to fashion tampons out of sanitary pads. "Ingenious," she recalled thinking when she made her first tampon. But she soon learned that her resourcefulness would have to extend far beyond that. Corrections officers didn't always respond to requests in time, so she and her fellow inmates learned to improvise with anything they could find, including socks. "Nobody cares," she said. "They don't care." Palmer was released from the Winchester center this month and moved into Friends of Guest House, a reentry program for women in Alexandria. A few days later, Seibold came by the house with a donation of menstrual products and underwear. She stacked boxes of tampons and an assortment of pads high on the dining room table and told the women to take whatever they wanted. Palmer could not believe her luck. "It's like period Christmas in here," she said. TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Giving young Canadians an opportunity develop their skills and gain valuable work experience will help build a stronger economy and a thriving middle class. Today, Parliamentary Secretary Adam Vaughan, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced that up to 224 youth in Toronto will have summer job opportunities thanks to over $739,000 in Canada Summer Jobs funding. A total of 51 organizations that are making a difference in their communities have been approved to receive funding. The jobs created will allow youth to develop their skills and gain valuable work experience. Mr. Vaughan made the announcement at the Scadding Court Community Centre, accompanied by Members of Parliament Michael Levitt (York Centre), Marco Mendicino (EglintonLawrence) and Julie Dabrusin (TorontoDanforth). Quotes "Our government is firmly focused on ensuring every Canadian has a fair shot as success. When young Canadians, including at-risk youth, have the skills and work experience they need to get a strong start in their careers, our middle class is stronger and our economy thrives." The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour "Communities from across Toronto will benefit from helping at-risk youth get the experience and skills they need to get a great start for their future careers, thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program." Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing and Urban Affairs) and Member of Parliament for SpadinaFort York "The Scadding Court Community Centre wants every young person who can work to benefit from community work experiences, in our centre or others. This grant gets us closer and closer to providing growing opportunities, particularly for low-income racialized youth to get paid above minimum wage and learn skills that are non-traditional for themit can inspire young people to choose careers by opening doors and providing hands-on training." Kevin Lee, Executive Director of the Scadding Court Community Centre "It's very important for organizations like Scadding to get these funds to hire young people. I would not have known anything about microgreens. Now I may start my own business." Shariff Hamid, participant in the program Quick Facts Canada Summer Jobs is part of the federal government's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). Each year the Government invests more than $330 million in YES to help young people gain the skills, abilities and work experience they need to find and keep good, well-paying jobs. is part of the federal government's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). Each year the Government invests more than in YES to help young people gain the skills, abilities and work experience they need to find and keep good, well-paying jobs. Budget 2017 will invest an additional $395.5 million over three years for YES, starting in 201718. over three years for YES, starting in 201718. In 2016 the federal government significantly increased its investment in the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program by allocating an additional $339 million over three years to create more summer jobs for young Canadians. As a result, in 2016 the CSJ program funded roughly 65,800 jobs, which nearly doubled the number of jobs created over previous years. This is in addition to the 330,000 jobs that were created between 2007, when the program began, and the summer of 2015. over three years to create more summer jobs for young Canadians. As a result, in 2016 the CSJ program funded roughly 65,800 jobs, which nearly doubled the number of jobs created over previous years. This is in addition to the 330,000 jobs that were created between 2007, when the program began, and the summer of 2015. Since 2005, YES has helped over 820,000 young Canadians get the training and work experience they need to enter the job market. Related Product Backgrounder Associated Links Budget 2017 Youth Employment Strategy Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada For further information: Matt Pascuzzo, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, [email protected], 819-654-5613; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected] (All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated) TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Enercare Inc. ("Enercare") (TSX: ECI), one of North America's leading providers of essential home and commercial services and energy solutions, reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Second Quarter 2017 Highlights Second quarter revenue of $342 million , increased 40% compared to the same period in 2016. , increased 40% compared to the same period in 2016. EBITDA of $78.9 million , increased $10.2 million or 15%, mainly as a result of the full quarter impact of the acquisition of Service Experts, on May 11, 2016 . , increased or 15%, mainly as a result of the full quarter impact of the acquisition of Service Experts, on . EBITDA would have increased by 24%, excluding the $6.2 million cumulative impact from the cancellation of an enterprise resource system. cumulative impact from the cancellation of an enterprise resource system. Home Services increased heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") rental transactions by 18% and sales transactions by 12% compared to the same period in 2016. Home Services reported eight consecutive quarters of net growth in rental units. Service Experts increased sales installations by 14%. Sub-metering increased second quarter EBITDA by 10% compared to the same period in 2016. Financial Highlights (in millions of Canadian dollars except per unit amounts)1 Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($ millions) 2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change Total revenue $342.1 $244.1 40% $619.9 $386.8 60% EBITDA $78.9 $68.7 15% $129.4 $120.6 7% Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA2 $84.3 $74.7 13% $136.8 $132.8 3% Net earnings $21.1 $16.1 31% $18.1 $24.2 (25%) Basic earnings per share $0.20 $0.17 18% $0.17 $0.26 (35%) Payout Ratio - Maintenance2 45% 53% (8)* 61% 56% 5* Payout Ratio2 66% 90% (24)* 111% 104% 7* Rental attrition (units) 7,300 7,200 1% 15,000 14,700 2% Rental additions net of attrition 2,000 1,000 100% 3,000 2,000 50% Sub-metering contracted units 1,000 9,000 (89%) 11,000 17,000 (35%) *percentage points John Macdonald, President and CEO, said: "We are very pleased with Enercare's strong performance, with each of our businesses showing EBITDA growth and an expanding customer base. Our expansion into the U.S. market through the acquisition of Service Experts has been very successful, as shown by Service Experts' consistently strong performance since acquisition." _________________ 1 Unless otherwise noted, amounts are reported in thousands, except customers, units, shares and per share amounts and percentages. 2 Adjusted EBITDA, Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA, Payout Ratio and Payout Ratio - Maintenance are non-IFRS financial measures. Refer to the Non-IFRS Financial and Performance Measures section in the MD&A. Results of Operations Earnings Statement Three months ended June 30, 2017 (000's) Enercare Home Services Service Experts Sub-metering Corporate Total Revenues: Contracted revenue $105,857 $ 14,541 $30,518 $ - $150,916 Sales and other services 7,128 182,511 1,188 - 190,827 Investment income 368 10 1 - 379 Total revenue $113,353 $197,062 $31,707 $ - $342,122 Expenses: Cost of goods sold: Commodity - - 22,499 - 22,499 Maintenance & servicing costs 16,721 11,281 - - 28,002 Sales and other services 5,248 116,366 644 - 122,258 Total cost of goods sold 21,969 127,647 23,143 - 172,759 SG&A expenses 25,897 44,840 5,019 9,791 85,547 Foreign exchange 88 (222) (39) (16) (189) Amortization expense 31,396 5,320 2,021 748 39,485 Net loss on disposal of equipment and other assets 264 4,873 - - 5,137 Interest expense: Interest expense payable in cash 9,274 Make-whole charge on early redemption of debt - Non-cash interest expense 489 Total interest expense 9,763 Total expenses 312,502 Earnings before income taxes 29,620 Current tax (expense) (6,500) Deferred tax (expense) (2,017) Net earnings $ 21,103 EBITDA $ 65,135 $ 19,924 $ 3,584 $(9,775) $ 78,868 Adjusted EBITDA $ 65,399 $ 24,797 $ 3,584 $(9,775) $ 84,005 Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA $ 65,399 $ 25,070 $ 3,584 $(9,775) $ 84,278 Three months ended June 30, 2016 (000's) Enercare Home Services Service Experts Sub-metering Corporate Total Revenues: Contracted revenue $101,719 $ 1,745 $32,387 $ - $135,851 Sales and other services 6,270 100,464 1,162 - 107,896 Investment income 83 77 3 192 355 Total revenue $108,072 $102,286 $33,552 $ 192 $244,102 Expenses: Cost of goods sold: Commodity - - 24,811 - 24,811 Maintenance & servicing costs 16,405 1,402 - - 17,807 Sales and other services 5,312 61,101 579 - 66,992 Total cost of goods sold 21,717 62,503 25,390 - 109,610 SG&A expenses 23,516 29,582 4,966 6,959 65,023 Foreign exchange 2 (5) (27) (52) (82) Amortization expense 30,145 3,336 1,653 662 35,796 Net loss on disposal of equipment and other assets 884 47 (40) - 891 Interest expense: Interest expense payable in cash 8,731 Non-cash interest expense 456 Total interest expense 9,187 Total expenses 220,425 Earnings before income taxes 23,677 Current tax (expense) (15,259) Deferred tax recovery 7,633 Net earnings $ 16,051 EBITDA $ 61,953 $ 10,159 $ 3,263 $(6,715) $ 68,660 Adjusted EBITDA $ 62,837 $ 10,206 $ 3,223 $(6,715) $ 69,551 Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA $ 60,698 $ 16,899 $ 3,223 $(6,141) $ 74,679 Six months ended June 30, 2017 (000's) Enercare Home Services Service Experts Sub-metering Corporate Total Revenues: Contracted revenue $210,259 $ 25,918 $67,664 $ - $303,841 Sales and other services 13,674 298,888 2,892 - 315,454 Investment income 617 20 3 - 640 Total revenue $224,550 $324,826 $70,559 $ - $619,935 Expenses: Cost of goods sold: Commodity - - 51,994 - 51,994 Maintenance & servicing costs 32,985 20,370 - - 53,355 Sales and other services 10,799 193,691 1,797 - 206,287 Total cost of goods sold 43,784 214,061 53,791 - 311,636 SG&A expenses 53,596 89,765 10,693 18,015 172,069 Foreign exchange 166 (225) (78) (16) (153) Amortization expense 62,276 10,470 3,791 1,347 77,884 Net loss on disposal of equipment and other assets 2,127 4,857 10 - 6,994 Interest expense: Interest expense payable in cash 18,914 Make-whole charge on early redemption of debt 5,049 Non-cash interest expense 1,644 Total interest expense 25,607 Total expenses 594,037 Earnings before income taxes 25,898 Current tax (expense) (11,915) Deferred tax recovery 4,088 Net earnings $ 18,071 EBITDA $124,877 $ 16,368 $ 6,143 $(17,999) $129,389 Adjusted EBITDA $127,004 $ 21,225 $ 6,153 $(17,999) $136,383 Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA $127,004 $ 21,602 $ 6,153 $(17,999) $136,760 Six months ended June 30, 2016 (000's) Enercare Home Services Service Experts Sub-metering Corporate Total Revenues: Contracted revenue $202,050 $ 1,745 $67,604 $ - $271,399 Sales and other services 12,368 100,464 2,065 - 114,897 Investment income 161 77 25 192 455 Total revenue $214,579 $102,286 $69,694 $ 192 $386,751 Expenses: Cost of goods sold: Commodity - - 52,558 - 52,558 Maintenance & servicing costs 32,673 1,402 - - 34,075 Sales and other services 10,593 61,101 943 - 72,637 Total cost of goods sold 43,266 62,503 53,501 - 159,270 SG&A expenses 49,408 29,582 9,656 15,515 104,161 Foreign exchange 22 (5) (12) (64) (59) Amortization expense 60,181 3,336 3,275 1,311 68,103 Net loss on disposal of equipment and other assets 2,809 47 (34) - 2,822 Interest expense: Interest expense payable in cash 16,657 Non-cash interest expense 883 Total interest expense 17,540 Total expenses 351,837 Earnings before income taxes 34,914 Current tax (expense) (27,515) Deferred tax recovery 16,847 Net earnings $ 24,246 EBITDA $119,074 $ 10,159 $ 6,583 $(15,259) $120,557 Adjusted EBITDA $121,883 $ 10,206 $ 6,549 $(15,259) $123,379 Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA $124,037 $ 16,899 $ 6,549 $(14,685) $132,800 Revenues Total revenues of $342,122 for the second quarter of 2017 increased by $98,020 or 40% and by $233,184 or 60% to $619,935 year to date compared to the same periods in 2016, primarily as a result of the timing of the acquisition of Service Experts by Enercare, through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Enercare Solutions Inc. ("Enercare Solutions"), on May 11, 2016 (the "SE Transaction"). Enercare Home Services revenues, excluding investment income, of $112,985 for the second quarter of 2017 increased by $4,996 or 5% and by $9,515 to $223,933 year to date, compared to the same periods in 2016, primarily as a result of a rental rate increase implemented in January 2017, changes in asset mix and growth in rental HVAC units. Contracted revenue in Enercare Home Services represents revenue generated by the rentals portfolio and protection plan contracts, while sales and other services revenue mainly pertains to one-time sales and installations of residential furnaces, boilers and air conditioners, as well as plumbing, duct cleaning and other services. Enercare's strategy to emphasize HVAC rentals over outright sales results in significant increases in recurring revenue at the expense of sales and other services revenue. Service Experts revenues, excluding investment income, were $197,052 and $324,806 during the second quarter of 2017 and year to date, respectively. Service Experts revenues were lowered by $4,562 for the second quarter of 2017 and $7,960 year to date as a result of purchase accounting adjustments for deferred revenue associated with the SE Transaction. These adjustments compare to $7,836 in respect of the same periods in 2016. Changes in foreign exchange rates during the second quarter and year to date 2017 accounted for approximately $6,400 and $8,900, respectively, of the increase in revenues compared to the same periods in 2016. The increase in revenue is primarily due to the timing of the SE Transaction in 2016 coupled with strong origination growth in 2017. Sub-metering revenues, excluding investment income, were $31,706 during the second quarter of 2017, a decrease of $1,843 or 5%, with year to date revenues increasing $887 or 1% over the same period in 2016, primarily as a result of lower flow-through commodity charges partly offset by higher billable units. Sub-metering revenue includes total flow through commodity charges of $22,499 in the second quarter and $51,994 year to date, decreases of $2,312 or 9% and $564 or 1%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016. In the second half of 2016, Sub-metering negotiated renewals with four large property management companies representing approximately 21,000 metering units. These properties were either at or near the end of their original contracts and the renewals were completed at lower net revenue per meter point due to competitive pressures. This resulted in a reduction in revenue of approximately $450 in the quarter and $900 year to date. The typical term for these renewals is between 10 to 15 years. Investment income was $379 in the second quarter of 2017 and $640 year to date, increases of $24 and $185, respectively, when compared to the same periods in 2016. The change in year to date investment income was primarily attributable to the investment of the proceeds from the $275,000 of 3.38% Series 2017-1 Senior Unsecured Notes of Enercare Solutions, due February 21, 2022 (the "2017-1 Notes") and the $225,000 of 3.99% Series 2017-2 Senior Unsecured Notes of Enercare Solutions, due February 21, 2024 (the "2017-2 Notes") (collectively the "2017 Notes"), for approximately 30 days prior to the redemption of the $210,000 4 year variable rate, non-revolving term loan facility of Enercare Solutions (the "2014 Term Loan") and the repayment of the $250,000 of 4.30% Series 2012-1 Senior Unsecured Notes of Enercare Solutions (the "2012 Notes") during the first quarter of 2017. Cost of Goods Sold Total cost of goods sold for the second quarter of 2017 was $172,759 and $311,636 year to date, increases of $63,149 or 58% and $152,366 or 96%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016, primarily as a result of the timing of the SE Transaction, which was completed in May of 2016. Enercare Home Services cost of goods sold increased by $252 in the second quarter of 2017, and $518 year to date, compared to the same periods in 2016, increasing by 1% in both of the respective periods as a result of an increased emphasis on cost containment. Maintenance and servicing costs in Enercare Home Services primarily consist of protection plan expenses and servicing costs related to the rentals portfolio, while sales and other services expenses mainly pertain to one-time sales and installations of residential furnaces, boilers, air conditioners and small commercial products as well as plumbing, duct cleaning and other chargeable services. Service Experts cost of goods sold amounted to $127,647 in the second quarter of 2017 and $214,061 year to date. Service Experts cost of goods sold was reduced by $3,506 for the second quarter of 2017 and $6,197 year to date as a result of purchase accounting adjustments for the service obligation associated with the SE Transaction, compared to $6,313 in the same periods in 2016. Changes in foreign exchange rates during the second quarter and year to date 2017, accounted for approximately $4,000 and $5,700, respectively, of the increase in cost of goods sold compared to the same periods in 2016. The increase in cost of goods sold is primarily due to the timing of the SE Transaction in 2016 combined with increases in originations offset by lower costs per unit resulting from price reductions from suppliers. Sub-metering cost of goods sold was $23,143 in the second quarter of 2017 and $53,791 year to date, decreasing by $2,247 or 9% and increasing by $290 or 1%, respectively, primarily from fluctuations in pass through commodity charges compared to the same periods in 2016. Sales and other services expenses for Sub-metering relate to Triacta Power Technologies Inc. ("Triacta") meter sales and the sale and installation of water conservation products in apartments and condominiums. Selling, General & Administrative Expenses Total selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $85,547 in the second quarter of 2017 and $172,069 year to date, an increase of $20,524 and $67,908, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016, primarily as a result of the SE Transaction. Enercare Home Services SG&A expenses of $25,897 in the second quarter and $53,596 year to date, increased by $2,381 and $4,188, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016. The $2,381 increase in the second quarter was primarily from increases of approximately $2,500 in professional fees partly offset by lower claims expenses of $100. The increase in professional fees resulted from a reclassification of acquisition expenses from Enercare Home Services to Service Experts during the second quarter of 2016. The $4,188 year to date increase was primarily as a result of increases of approximately $3,000 in higher wages and benefits, driven partly by higher stock-based compensation costs resulting from an increase in the price of the common shares of Enercare ("Shares"), $1,500 in sales and marketing expenses, $1,400 of support costs, $300 in claims and $200 in bad debt expenses partly offset by a reduction in office expenses of $1,900 and professional fees of $400. Enercare Home Services SG&A expenses included $695 in the second quarter of 2016 and $2,154 year to date of integration and business transformation costs related to the acquisition of the Ontario home and small commercial services business of Direct Energy Marketing Limited by Enercare on October 20, 2014 (the "DE Acquisition"), primarily from information technology integration activities to optimize the information technology platforms and marketing spend related to continued rebranding. Service Experts SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2017 amounted to $44,840 and $89,765 year to date. Second quarter SG&A expenses primarily comprised of approximately $24,600 of wages and benefits, $11,800 of sales and marketing costs, $6,100 of office related expenses and $1,600 of professional fees. Year to date SG&A expenses are primarily comprised of approximately $51,200 of wages and benefits, $23,000 of sales and marketing costs, $11,300 of office related expenses and $2,600 of professional fees. Service Experts SG&A expenses in the second quarter included one-time expenses relating to prepaid software maintenance costs of approximately $1,000, which were expensed during the quarter relating to the write-down of an enterprise resource planning system. Service Experts SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2017 included acquisition related expenditures of $273 and $377 year to date, primarily consisting of professional fees associated with the acquisitions of Hammond Plumbing and Heating Inc. and CS Operating LLC. Changes in foreign exchange rates during the second quarter and year to date 2017 accounted for approximately $1,500 and $2,400, respectively, of the increase in SG&A compared to the same periods in 2016. Service Experts SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2016 and year to date included $6,693 of acquisition related expenditures associated with the SE Transaction, primarily consisting of professional fees. These costs included $2,834 of pre-acquisition expenditures incurred by Enercare Home Services. Certain wage related expenditures, in the amount of $1,948 for the year to date 2017 and $1,838 during the second quarter of 2016, have been reclassified from SG&A expenses to cost of goods sold. Sub-metering SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2017 were $5,019 and $10,693 year to date, an increase of $53 and $1,037, respectively, over the same periods in 2016. The $53 increase in the second quarter is primarily the result of approximately $100 of higher wages and benefits, $100 increase in selling expenses and $250 of higher office expenses, partly offset by lower bad debt expenses of $400 resulting from recoveries of receivables for which provisions were previously made. The $1,037 year to date increase was primarily the result of approximately $900 of higher wages and benefits and $100 of increased selling expenses. Corporate expenses of $9,791 in the second quarter of 2017 and $18,015 year to date increased by $2,832 or 41% and $2,500 or 16%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016. The $2,832 increase was primarily as a result of approximately $1,600 in higher office expenses, driven mainly by increases in software license fees, $700 of higher professional fees and $500 of higher selling expenses. The year to date increase of $2,500 was primarily as a result of approximately $1,800 of higher office expenses from increased software licensing costs and building move expenses of $700. Corporate SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2016 included $574 and $1,081 year to date of integration and business transformation costs related to the DE Acquisition, primarily from information technology integration activities to optimize the information technology platforms. Amortization Expense Amortization expense increased by $3,689 or 10% in the second quarter of 2017 and $9,781 or 14% year to date, compared to the same periods in 2016, primarily due to the SE Transaction, an increasing capital asset base from asset mix changes in the rentals portfolio and increased Sub-metering capital investments, which are amortized over a shorter life than those of the Enercare Home Services business. Net Loss on Disposal of Equipment and Other Assets Enercare reported a net loss on disposal of equipment and other assets of $5,137 in the second quarter of 2017 and $6,994 year to date, increases of $4,246 or 478% and $4,172 or 145%, respectively, over the same periods in 2016. The net loss on disposal amount is influenced by the number of assets retired, proceeds on disposal of equipment, changes in the retirement asset mix and the age of the assets retired. During the second quarter of 2017, net loss on disposal included a non-recurring write-down of $5,165 of software intangible assets related to an enterprise resource system that Service Experts had been developing that will now be superseded by a common platform implemented across both the Enercare Home Services and Service Experts businesses. The year to date net loss on disposal also includes a non-recurring write down of $845 from the first quarter of 2017 relating to stranded technology investments resulting from going concern issues with a supplier that was developing software solutions for the Enercare Home Services business. Interest Expense Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, (000's) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Interest expense payable in cash $9,274 $7,613 $18,914 $14,242 Interest payable on subscription receipts - 1,109 - 2,217 Equity bridge financing fees - 9 - 198 Make-whole payment on early redemption of senior debt - - 5,049 - Non-cash items: Notional interest on employee benefit plans 226 210 452 420 Amortization of financing costs 263 246 1,192 463 Interest expense $9,763 $9,187 $25,607 $17,540 Interest expense payable in cash increased by $1,661 to $9,274 in the second quarter of 2017 and by $4,672 to $18,914 year to date, compared to the same periods in 2016. These increases were primarily related to the addition of the USD $200,000 from the two 4-year non-revolving, non-amortizing variable rate term credit facilities (the "2016 Term Loan"), maturing on May 11, 2020, related to the financing of the SE Transaction and the issuance of 2017 Notes during the first quarter of 2017, partially offset by the conversion of the 6.25% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures of Enercare ("Convertible Debentures") to Shares. A make-whole payment for the early redemption of the 2012 Notes during the first quarter of 2017 resulted in a one-time interest expense of $5,049. Notional interest of $226 in the second quarter of 2017, $452 year to date, relates to the defined benefit employee benefits plans. Amortization of financing costs includes the previously unamortized costs associated with the 2012 Notes, which were redeemed on March 23, 2017, the $225,000 of 4.60% Series 2013-1 Senior Unsecured Notes of Enercare Solutions, which mature on February 3, 2020, the Convertible Debentures, the 2014 Term Loan, which was repaid on February 23, 2017, the 2016 Term Loan and the 2017 Notes. The 2017-1 Notes were sold at a price of 99.982% of the principal amount, with an effective yield of 3.384% per annum if held to maturity and the 2017-2 Notes were sold at 99.982% of the principal amount, with an effective yield of 3.993% per annum if held to maturity. As part of the SE Transaction, Enercare issued subscription receipts (the "SE Subscription Receipts") during the first quarter of 2016 and subsequently exchanged them for Shares upon the closing of the SE Transaction on May 11, 2016. While the SE Subscription Receipts remained outstanding, they were classified as debt, resulting in interest expense of $1,109 during the second quarter of 2016 and $2,217 year to date 2016, which were the equivalent to the dividend payments on such SE Subscription Receipts if they had been Shares. Equity bridge financing fees of $9 in the second quarter of 2016 and $198 year to date 2016 were also incurred as part of the SE Transaction. Income Taxes Enercare reported current tax expense of $6,500 in the second quarter of 2017 and $11,915 year to date, reductions of $8,759 and $15,600, respectively, over the same periods in 2016. These reductions were primarily from higher taxes owed in the first half of 2016, resulting from a one-year tax deferral originated in 2015, and additional interest expense incurred in the first half of 2017, partly offset by higher taxes owed by Service Experts in 2017. The deferred income tax expense of $2,017 and recovery of $4,088 year to date decreased by $9,650 and $12,759, respectively, over the same periods in 2016, primarily as a result of temporary difference reversals in the Enercare Home Services, Service Experts and Sub-metering businesses. Net Earnings Net earnings were $21,103 in the second quarter of 2017 and $18,071 year to date, an increase of $5,052 and decrease of $6,175, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016, as previously described. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA The following table summarizes comparative quarterly results for the last eight quarters, and reconciles net earnings, an IFRS measure, to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA. (000's) Q2/17 Q1/17 Q4/16 Q3/16 Q2/16 Q1/16 Q4/15 Q3/15 Net earnings/(loss) $ 21,103 $(3,032) $17,552 $19,332 $16,051 $8,195 $13,725 $13,124 Deferred tax expense/(recovery) 2,017 (6,105) (5,275) (7,522) (7,633) (9,214) 1,069 2,376 Current tax expense 6,500 5,415 11,534 15,332 15,259 12,256 2,784 2,169 Amortization expense 39,485 38,399 38,892 38,329 35,796 32,307 31,917 31,606 Interest expense 9,763 15,844 8,554 8,507 9,187 8,353 6,988 6,955 EBITDA(a) 78,868 50,521 71,257 73,978 68,660 51,897 56,483 56,230 Add: Net loss/(gain) on disposal 5,137 1,857 850 734 891 1,931 (1,455) 1,001 Adjusted EBITDA(b) 84,005 52,378 72,107 74,712 69,551 53,828 55,028 57,231 Add: Acquisition SG&A 273 104 603 4,854 5,128 4,293 3,028 3,946 Acquisition Adjusted EBITDA $84,278 $52,482 $72,710 $79,566 $74,679 $58,121 $58,056 $61,177 (a) Historical EBITDA has been conformed to the current presentation which includes investment income and other income. (b) Historical Adjusted EBITDA has been conformed to the current presentation which includes investment income and other income and excludes net loss on disposal. Outlook The forward-looking statements contained in this section are not historical facts but, rather, reflect Enercare's current expectations regarding future results or events and are based on information currently available to management (see "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements" in this news release). Enercare Home Services Segment Our main priority for the business in 2017 is to grow EBITDA. In order to grow EBITDA in the Enercare Home Services business, our key priority is to continue to grow the number of rental contracts. We believe that we have the opportunity to continue to grow the number of contract additions in excess of Attrition throughout 2017. Other key priorities for the Enercare Home Services business include growing the protection plan portfolio, enabled by the full launch of the electrical protection plans, investing in the replacement of key infrastructure and IT systems that support our vision for sustainable growth and further enhancing our customer satisfaction levels. We will also continue to build on the innovation of our mobile app with further enhancements to the customer experience throughout the year. Our strategy to emphasize HVAC rentals over outright sales in order to create a long-term customer revenue stream and provide valuable cross-selling opportunities continues to be successful. While this strategy has resulted in a significant increase in recurring HVAC rental revenues, we anticipate the negative short-term impact on non-recurring sales and other services revenue to continue throughout 2017. Our collective bargaining agreement in respect of Enercare Home Services with UNIFOR Local 975 expired on March 31, 2017 . Renegotiations began in March and are continuing. Service Experts Segment Consistent with previous guidance, cost synergies relating to the SE Transaction are estimated to be in the range of $0.05 to $0.08 per Share on an annualized basis by the end of 2017. Enercare estimates that on a year to date basis approximately half of these synergies have already been achieved with savings coming primarily from improved sourcing costs leading to lower cost of goods sold, SG&A and capital expenditures as well as lower current taxes. per Share on an annualized basis by the end of 2017. Enercare estimates that on a year to date basis approximately half of these synergies have already been achieved with savings coming primarily from improved sourcing costs leading to lower cost of goods sold, SG&A and capital expenditures as well as lower current taxes. Our key priority for the Service Experts business in 2017 is to grow revenues and EBITDA while continuing to expand the rental programs for HVAC and water heater products in both Canada and the U.S. Service Experts will also continue to explore strategic acquisition opportunities. and the U.S. Service Experts will also continue to explore strategic acquisition opportunities. In October 2016 , Service Experts introduced a rental program for HVAC products and water heaters in several centers within Canada . This rollout was completed at all 15 locations in Canada in February 2017 , and while the program is still in the very early stages, Enercare is encouraged by the initial results which show an initial rental mix during the first half of 2017 of approximately 13% (ranging from 6% to 30% depending on the center) in Ontario and 7% (ranging from 3% to 11% depending on the center) in Western Canada , where the rental model is a new concept. The successful introduction of our recurring revenue rental model in Canada is part of our plan to integrate rentals throughout Service Experts residential heating and cooling operations over the next two years to create recurring revenue. During the first quarter of 2017, Service Experts extended the rental HVAC offerings through a pilot in two U.S. states and subsequently rolled out to two additional states in late March and one in early May. The U.S. rental program is similar to Enercare's existing Canadian rental program, except that due to U.S. regulations, the rental contracts in the United States will be for a definitive term, which in the piloted states is 10 years. Enercare anticipates that the form of the contract, as driven by the U.S. regulatory environment, will result in a slower adoption of the rental program in the U.S. The preliminary rental mix of total HVAC origination in the United States during the first half of 2017 was approximately 3% (ranging from 0.5% to 8% depending on the center). While the initial results in a number of these U.S. centers are encouraging, Service Experts continues to review its U.S. rental program to identify opportunities to improve its customer offerings and related rental execution processes. , Service Experts introduced a rental program for HVAC products and water heaters in several centers within . This rollout was completed at all 15 locations in in , and while the program is still in the very early stages, Enercare is encouraged by the initial results which show an initial rental mix during the first half of 2017 of approximately 13% (ranging from 6% to 30% depending on the center) in and 7% (ranging from 3% to 11% depending on the center) in , where the rental model is a new concept. The successful introduction of our recurring revenue rental model in is part of our plan to integrate rentals throughout Service Experts residential heating and cooling operations over the next two years to create recurring revenue. During the first quarter of 2017, Service Experts extended the rental HVAC offerings through a pilot in two U.S. states and subsequently rolled out to two additional states in late March and one in early May. The U.S. rental program is similar to Enercare's existing Canadian rental program, except that due to U.S. regulations, the rental contracts in will be for a definitive term, which in the piloted states is 10 years. Enercare anticipates that the form of the contract, as driven by the U.S. regulatory environment, will result in a slower adoption of the rental program in the U.S. The preliminary rental mix of total HVAC origination in during the first half of 2017 was approximately 3% (ranging from 0.5% to 8% depending on the center). While the initial results in a number of these U.S. centers are encouraging, Service Experts continues to review its U.S. rental program to identify opportunities to improve its customer offerings and related rental execution processes. The business of Service Experts is subject to greater seasonality than Enercare Home Services as a result of it having fewer recurring revenue sources. Revenue and EBITDA tend to be seasonally highest in the second quarter of the year, followed by the third quarter, and substantially less in the fourth and first quarters, due primarily to the geography where Service Experts operates and weather patterns. The heating season (roughly November through February) and cooling season (roughly May through August) are periods when consumers transition their buying patterns from one season to the next. In most of the states that Services Experts operates, cooling equipment as opposed to heating equipment represents a substantial portion of its annual HVAC sales and service revenue. Conversely, in the three provinces that Service Experts operates, heating equipment represents a large portion of its Canadian sales and service revenue. The sales are also impacted by seasonal weather patterns; in periods of extreme heat and cold, installation and demand service revenue tend to increase. This results in higher sales in the second and third quarters due to the higher volume in the cooling season relative to the heating season and the lowest revenue and substantially reduced EBITDA, relative to other quarters, in the first quarter. Service Experts normally generates a neutral level of profitability in the first quarter of the year and as a result the working capital needs are generally greater in the first quarter, followed by higher operating cash inflows in the second and third quarters. Sub-metering Segment In respect of Sub-metering, our priorities for 2017 will be to continue to grow EBITDA by increasing contract sales. Other key priorities include reducing the capital spend per unit for new installations and introducing new products and services. During the first half of 2017, we continued to experience the trend that almost one-half of our contracted units were for thermal, gas or water sub-metering. The majority of all new construction contracts are for both electricity and water sub-metering services, which contributes to lower billing costs over time as multiple products will be invoiced on a single bill. Sub-metering sales opportunities continue to be strong and skewed towards multi-commodity products within the new construction and condominium segments. During the first half of 2017, over three-quarters of the newly contracted services have come from new construction condominiums and rental properties. Although the buildings related to these contracts have yet to be constructed and as a result the bulk of the capital and all of the related revenues will occur in 24 to 36 months, once constructed, all units within these buildings will start billing on initial move-in. This is in contrast to retrofit apartment contracts for which installation starts sooner, but billing lags as it is reliant on tenant turnover. In a new construction scenario, the typical lead time between the signing of a sub-metering agreement, which happens prior to construction and the on-boarding of metering customers averages three years. With the current backlog, we are expecting higher than average new construction installations in 2018 which will continue in the following years. Sub-metering plans to continue to negotiate new contracts with existing clients as they approach the end of their original contracts. Each of these negotiations are unique and competitive pressure will likely result in re-negotiated fees being below those of the original contracts. During the first quarter, sub-metering introduced a new commercial service offering through a controlled launch process. This offering compliments our recently launched commercial consolidation billing solution and brings additional features, such as tenant level consumption reporting and client options to purchase the meters. During the second quarter, the first contracts for this service were signed with installations scheduled for the second half of 2017. Triacta has been developing the generation 5 PowerHawk metering platform, which is entering laboratory trials. This new platform has a modular architecture, allowing for a single unit to measure multiple types of commodities and utilize a variety of communications protocols. General availability of the product is expected in late 2017. Corporate Enercare has embarked on an ongoing program to increase efficiency and innovation by investing in its systems and technology. During the second half of 2017, in order to improve its customer experience, Enercare will deploy a new interactive voice response system as well as make enhancements to its mobile app. Enhancements to the mobile app will allow customers, not currently with Enercare Home Services, the ability to download the app to purchase products and services. In the third quarter of 2017, Enercare will also launch a human resource management system to automate human resource activities and processes. As well, Enercare plans to implement a customer relationship management system and an ERP system across both the Enercare Home Services and Services Experts businesses, which initiative is currently in the scoping phase. As these and other innovations are rolled out over the next few years, Enercare will continue making additional investments in both capital and SG&A expenditures. Consistent with previous guidance, Enercare estimates that it will recognize approximately $23 million to $29 million in current income tax expense for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 . This estimate assumes corporate tax rates of approximately 26.5% in Canada and 39% in the US. Taxable income is principally impacted by changes in revenue, operating expenses, potential acquisitions or divestitures, appropriate tax planning and capital expenditures through the capital cost allowance deduction. in current income tax expense for the fiscal year ending . This estimate assumes corporate tax rates of approximately 26.5% in and 39% in the US. Taxable income is principally impacted by changes in revenue, operating expenses, potential acquisitions or divestitures, appropriate tax planning and capital expenditures through the capital cost allowance deduction. Consistent with previous guidance, Enercare is targeting a range of between $167 million and $192 million in capital investments in 2017, primarily reflecting higher unit costs due to higher end product originations, higher sales volumes and higher corporate spending on platforms for innovation and growth to enable future product offerings, including smart home products for a connected home. The target ranges for some capital expenditure categories have been adjusted in the table below. Capital Expenditure(1) Target Range for 2017 as of March 31, 2017 Adjustments Target Range for 2017 as of June 30, 2017 HVAC rentals $46M $52M ($1M) $45M $51M Water heater additions $35M $39M $2M $37M $41M Water heater exchanges $32M $36M $2M $34M $38M Sub-metering growth $17M $21M $17M $21M In-house financing(2) $5M $ 8M $5M $ 8M Corporate and building(3) $32M $36M ($3M) $29M $33M Total range $167M $192M $167M $192M(4) (1) Excludes acquisitions. (2) In-house financing represents the increase in financing receivables related to the program. (3) Corporate capital includes IT software and hardware, furniture and fixtures and other capital projects. The building relates to a new head office purchased in Q2 of 2016 including renovations continuing into the first half of 2017. (4) The target range of capital spend for the Enercare Home Services and Service Experts businesses is largely based on the number and type of equipment originated (assumed to be approximately 26,000 water heater and water treatment rental additions, 44,000 water heater exchanges and 14,500 HVAC rental additions) and the mix between rental, sales and financing arrangements similar to actual results experienced in the last 12 months of operations. The target range for capital spend in the Sub-metering business is based on the number and type of metering equipment installed during the year assumed to be approximately 18,000 units. Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis Enercare's financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the period ended June 30, 2017 are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on Enercare's investor relations website at www.enercareinc.com. Conference Call and Webcast Management will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss Enercare's financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 this morning at 10:00 a.m. (ET). John Macdonald, President and CEO, and Evelyn Sutherland, CFO, will review Enercare's results and discuss the quarter's operating highlights. Those wishing to listen to the teleconference may access the live webcast as follows: Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2017 Time: 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. (ET) By telephone: 647.427.2311 or 1.866.521.4909 Please allow 10 minutes to be connected to the conference call. Webcast: http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1380369-1/E9C1AF45FCC2E0D8EF0A9D7922352F62 Note: this is a listen-only audio webcast. Media Player or Real Player is required to listen to the broadcast. Replay: An archived audio webcast will be available at www.enercareinc.com for one year following the original broadcast. Note: A slide presentation intended for simultaneous viewing with the conference call will be available the morning of Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at www.enercareinc.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information") that involve various risks and uncertainties and should be read in conjunction with Enercare's 2016 audited consolidated financial statements. Additional information in respect of Enercare, including the Annual Information Form of Enercare dated March 31, 2017 ("AIF"), can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this news release may be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, management's expectations, intentions and beliefs concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, economic performance or expectations with respect to Enercare, including Enercare's business operations, business strategy and financial condition. When used herein, the words "anticipates", "believes", "budgets", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "goal", "intends", "may", "might", "outlook", "plans", "projects", "schedule", "should", "strive", "target", "will", "would" and similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. These forward-looking statements may reflect the internal projections, expectations, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of Enercare and are based on information currently available to Enercare and/or assumptions that Enercare believes are reasonable. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results and developments discussed in the forward-looking information. In developing these forward-looking statements, certain material assumptions were made. These forward-looking statements are also subject to certain risks. These factors include, but are not limited to: actual future market conditions being different than anticipated by management; the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the SE Transaction, strategic initiatives and tax efficiencies; the risk that the pilot and subsequent roll out of rental HVAC offerings in 5 states in the United States does not realize anticipated results as the rental model is a new concept in this industry in the United States ; and does not realize anticipated results as the rental model is a new concept in this industry in ; and the risks and uncertainties described under "Risk Factors" in the AIF. Material factors or assumptions that were applied to drawing a conclusion or making an estimate set out in forward-looking statements include: the view of management regarding current and anticipated market conditions; industry trends remaining unchanged; the financial and operating attributes of Enercare and Service Experts as at the date hereof and the anticipated future performance of Enercare and Service Experts; assumptions regarding the volume and mix of business activities remaining consistent with current trends; assumptions regarding the interest rate of the 2016 Term Loan, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices; and the number of Shares outstanding remaining constant. There can be no assurance that the anticipated strategic benefits and operational, competitive and cost synergies from the SE Transaction will be realized. There can be no assurance that recent results from the introduction of the rental model to Service Experts in Canada and the United States are indicative of future results. Readers are cautioned that the preceding list of material factors or assumptions is not exhaustive. Although forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and assumptions as management cannot provide assurance that actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Enercare. All forward-looking information in this news release is made as of the date of this news release. These forward-looking statements are subject to change as a result of new information, future events or other circumstances, in which case they will only be updated by Enercare where required by law. About Enercare Inc. Enercare is headquartered in Markham, Ontario and publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ECI). As one of North America's largest home and commercial services and energy solutions companies with approximately 4,500 employees under its Enercare and Service Experts brands, Enercare is a leading provider of water heaters, water treatment, furnaces, air conditioners and other HVAC rental products, plumbing services, protection plans and related services. With operations in Canada and the United States, Enercare serves approximately 1.6 million customers annually. Enercare is also the largest non-utility sub-meter provider, with electricity, water, thermal and gas metering contracts for condominium and apartment suites in Canada and through its Triacta brand, a premier designer and manufacturer of advanced sub-meters and sub-metering solutions. For more information on Enercare visit enercare.ca. Additional information regarding Enercare is available through our investor relations website at www.enercareinc.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Subscribe to our email alerts at www.enercareinc.com/alerts to receive our news releases electronically. SOURCE Enercare Inc. For further information: Evelyn Sutherland, CFO, 416.649.1860, [email protected] Related Links www.enercare.ca Airborne Data Encouraging Field Exploration Remains Paused Due to Fire Hazard New CFO Appointed VANCOUVER, Aug. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - David H. Brett, President & CEO, EnGold Mines Ltd., (TSX-V: EGM, "EnGold" or the "Company") reports that drill hole G17-23, located 112 metres west-southwest from discovery hole G16-01 has intersected 18.75 metres grading 1.13 % copper, 0.14 gpt gold, 5.55 gpt silver and 26.23 % iron. Although the geometry of the mineralization has yet to be determined, this hole significantly extends the zone to 250 meters from recently announced G17-16 (43.45 m grading 1.31% copper, 0.20 gpt gold, 4.06 gpt silver & 31.14% iron). Assay results have also been received for drill holes G17-18 through 22 and are tabulated below. All results reported are believed to be true width. Mineralization within DDH G17-23 is typical of the skarn replacement style defined by earlier drilling in the discovery area, with magnetite-chalcopyrite replacement of calcsilicate-tourmaline altered basaltic polylithic volcanic breccia containing subrounded, partially digested clasts (up to 6cm), locally including limestone. Several well mineralized intervals (see assay table) are separated by narrow intervals of dark green, pyroxene-phyric mafic volcanic flows containing only traces of chalcopyrite. Results demonstrate the strong lithological control on this stratiform mineralization. See latest drill collar map for hole and zone intersection locations. DDH From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Fe (%) G17-18 313.07 316.84 3.77 0.33 0.05 1.46 26.05 including 313.07 313.96 0.89 0.53 0.11 2.40 20.47 G17-19 306.30 307.34 1.04 0.97 0.14 4.20 25.00 G17-20 not sampled G17-21 no significant assays G17-22 220.00 222.60 2.60 0.31 0.05 1.13 9.15 G17-23 351.20 369.95 18.75 1.13 0.14 5.55 26.23 including 351.20 356.05 4.85 1.42 0.15 9.13 37.48 including 352.00 354.00 2.00 1.69 0.20 13.50 36.70 including 361.76 363.05 1.29 5.44 0.54 19.80 30.80 including 363.81 365.03 1.22 1.37 0.47 5.70 28.00 including 366.35 367.95 1.60 1.46 0.26 7.00 26.00 The Company has been notified by the BC Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resources that exploration activities at the Company's Lac La Hache Property may not resume until further notice due to the extreme fire danger rating within the project area. Although no fires are burning on or close to the Property, and evacuation orders have recently been lifted for nearby communities such as Williams Lake and 100 Mile House, the reported fire danger level remains at the highest level within the project area, requiring EnGold to cease field work. Under the BC Wildfire Act, High Risk Activities, including drilling and other exploration work, must be curtailed when reported fire risk reaches certain levels. When the highest fire danger level of 5 is reported for 3 consecutive days, operations must cease. The Company is closely monitoring fire and weather data with a view to resuming activities as soon as it is safe and prudent to do so. EnGold received the final airborne geophysical data on August 1. Preliminary results indicate positive gravity anomalies over the discovery area and in several new, previously unexplored areas. A more rigorous evaluation is underway. Also, EnGold recently completed a high-resolution LIDAR and orthophoto survey of the Property, which will further enhance the Company's ability to plot and target drill data to maximize potential rates of success. "Our technical team is working with the ground gravity and airborne survey contractors and geophysical consultant Trent Pezzot, to fully integrate and interpret all layers, for selection of best exploration drill targets, when we are permitted to resume activities on the project," said VP of Exploration Rob Shives. "Although no work on the ground is proceeding at this time, exploration activity is ramping up significantly on the desktops of our geological and geophysical experts." "Although road closures, power outages and other access issues are abating in our area, the extremely dry and hot conditions in the woods persist," said EnGold President and CEO David Brett. "2017 has been a transformational year for EnGold so far and our team is working hard to deliver exceptional value to all our stakeholders throughout the rest of the year." EnGold is also pleased to report the appointment of Mr. Alastair Brownlow as the Company's new Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), replacing former CFO Dale Reimer, who remains a director of EnGold. Mr. Brownlow is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a U.S. Certified Public Accountant (Washington) with significant public company experience who has specialized in the mineral exploration and development field in Canada and throughout the world. Mr. Brownlow also has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. In connection with the appointment, the Company has agreed to grant 200,000 incentive stock options at $0.40 per share for up to four years. The options will be subject to vesting restrictions, whereby the options will vest one-third per year commencing 12 months following the date of grant. The options will also expire one-third per year commencing 24 months following the date of grant. Quality Control/Quality Assurance Program EnGold Mines Ltd follows procedures which ensure sample security, chain of custody and Quality Assurance/Quality Control for all drilling and geochemical sampling, conforming to industry practices defined by Canadian Institute for Mining, Metallurgy (CIMM) standards, and required for TSX-listed companies by National Instrument 43-101. All core was logged and photographed. Sampled intervals were sawed in half, bagged, sealed and sent securely to ALS Canada Ltd for analyses. Half-gram samples were digested with aqua regia acid then analysed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for 35 elements (ME-ICP41). A 30 gram split is analyzed for gold by fire assay with a gravimetric finish (ME-GRA21). Copper values exceeding 1 percent were analyzed using aqua regia digestion with an ICP-AES finish (ME-OG46) to improve accuracy and precision at higher grades. As part of our comprehensive QA/QC program, one standard, one blank and one in-line replicate were inserted into the sample stream in each group of approximately 20 samples in each analytical batch. About EnGold EnGold is focused on exploring its 100% owned mineral property located near the town of Lac La Hache in BC's prolific Cariboo mining region. EnGold's corporate philosophy rests on three interdependent pillars: Environment, Engagement and Gold. Through sound environmental stewardship, commitment to transparent engagement with local communities, the Company is dedicated to driving exceptional shareholder and stakeholder value by discovering and developing mineral resources. Rob Shives P.Geo., VP Exploration and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. Engold Mines Ltd. Per/ David Brett, MBA President & CEO This news release may contain "forwardlooking statements". Readers are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual development or results may vary materially from those in these "forward looking statements." Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Engold Mines Ltd. For further information: David Brett, 604-682-2421 or [email protected] The Government of Canada provides over $60,000 in financial support for this community project NOTRE-DAME-DU-LAUS, QC, August 8, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) Key community stakeholders have long been asking for concrete, sustainable measures to improve community and recreational infrastructure. As part of the celebrations marking Canada's 150th anniversary, the Government of Canada is proud to support projects like this one by the Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc that contribute to the drawing power, vibrancy and quality of life of the region. David Graham, MP for LaurentidesLabelle, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, announced that the Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc received $62,500 in financial assistance, in the form of a nonrepayable contribution, to upgrade its recreational and visitor centre infrastructure. Specifically, the work recently carried out involved reconfiguring and expanding the parking area and the Poisson Blanc Reservoir landing dock, upgrading public rest areas and renovating the visitor centre. The work required a total investment of $125,000 by the Corporation, in partnership with the federal government, the Antoine-Labelle MRC and the Municipality of Notre-Dame-du-Laus. Founded in 2005, the Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc is a non-profit organization tasked with ensuring the development and integrated management of recreational and tourism resources in Notre-Dame-du-Laus. It has a mandate from the Municipality of Notre-Dame-du-Laus to oversee activities at Poisson Blanc Regional Park, which has become a favourite spot for nature lovers and fans of camping and fishing alike. Quotes "I am delighted with CED's support in the region. Part of Canada's 150th celebrations, this federal partnership with the Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc and the community is just one of many community projects that have received support over the past year. Kudos to all these enthusiasts who manage, organize activities in, maintain, showcase and preserve this magnificent park which, like the Parc regional Montagne du Diable and Kiamika Regional Park, has contributed to the reputation of the Upper Laurentians and the quality of life here." David Graham, MP for LaurentidesLabelle "The Government of Canada supports projects by organizations such as the Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc that mobilize and unite our communities. These projects strengthen Canada's communities, stimulate economic activity, have a positive impact on the environment and benefit families and the middle class." The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED "We are thrilled to be once again working together with CED to upgrade our infrastructure. The rise in the number of visitors and the overall popularity of ecotourism activities means that, despite the Park's young age, some of our visitor reception facilities and the facilities that provide public access to the water need to be optimized. CED was one of the partners in 2011 for the construction of our LEED Goldcertified visitor centre. Again today, we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation for their support for the development of our beautiful region." Paul Bissonnette, President of the Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc Quick facts Since its creation in 2015, CIP 150 has provided almost $58M for over 450 projects targeting the enhancement of the vitality of communities in Quebec . for over 450 projects targeting the enhancement of the vitality of communities in . CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Stay connected Follow CED on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube Follow the Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc on Twitter SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions For further information: Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: 514-283-7443, Email: [email protected]; Luc Lefebvre, Office of David Graham, MP for Laurentides--Labelle, 819-325-0778, [email protected] The Government of Canada supports Orientalys Festival 2017 MONTREAL, Aug. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced $89,500 in funding for the seventh edition of the Orientalys Festival, which will be held in Montreal from August 10 to 13, 2017. This funding, provided through the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program, will help Quebeckers learn more about their diverse cultural communities. Quotes "As we mark Canada 150, we have a unique opportunity to celebrate our cultural and regional diversity. This is why our government is proud to support the Orientalys Festival, which fosters cultural exchanges while encouraging social cohesion. I encourage all residents and visitors to participate in this event." The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage "The proposed programming for Orientalys reflects a commitment to recognize diverse cultural communities. It offers a concrete opportunity for citizens and groups from all backgrounds to connect through innovative artistic projects and to build strong relationships for the present and future. These projects reflect a culturally diverse art community's visible dedication to participate actively in the development of a unifying, prejudice-free Montreal culture." Ms. Ghiwa Nakhle, Director of the Orientalys Festival Quick Facts Founded in 1993, Alchimies, Creations et Cultures is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to create, produce and disseminate multicultural and interdisciplinary artistic works. The annual Orientalys Festival is one of the major events it organizes. The Orientalys Festival will be held at the Old Port of Montreal's Clock Tower Quay over four days. The event will offer cultural and artistic activities, including craft workshops, live music and traditional dance performances. This large gathering, with the active involvement of 260 volunteers, will allow 270 local artists and artisans to share their cultural heritage and skills with Quebeckers. A turnout of over 145,000 people is expected for the event. Associated Links Orientalys Festival 2017 Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage SOURCE Canadian Heritage For further information: (media only), please contact: Pierre-Olivier Herbert, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected] Related Links http://www.pch.gc.ca Fifteen winners selected after record number of applications received TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Following a demanding selection process, Crohn's and Colitis Canada is proud to announce it has selected 15 post-secondary students to be awarded AbbVie IBD Scholarships. The 15 students, hailing from colleges and universities across the country, all live with the challenges of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but still strive to earn a higher education. The scholarships of up to $5,000 to be used by each student for his or her tuition consist of ten annual scholarships and five additional scholarships awarded this year in celebration of Canada 150. "We received a record number of scholarship applications in 2017, with each student sharing heartfelt stories of courage and determination," said Mina Mawani, President and CEO, Crohn's and Colitis Canada. "Every student receiving the AbbVie IBD Scholarship has worked hard to excel academically while overcoming the difficulties caused by their disease." Canada has one of the highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease in the world, with nearly a quarter of a million people affected. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the two main forms of IBD, cause inflammation of the intestinal tract, resulting in ulcers, severe pain, fatigue, internal bleeding, and an unpredictable and urgent need to use the washroom. People with IBD are often diagnosed at a young age, which can make the already challenging task of completing post-secondary education all the more stressful. "The AbbVie IBD Scholarship is designed to assist post-secondary students at a critical time in their lives by encouraging them to pursue their studies while living with these chronic diseases," says Stephane Lassignardie, General Manager of AbbVie Canada. "Dealing with the everyday stress of school can be challenging enough. When you factor in the pain and stigma felt by many people living with Crohn's and colitis, it can be overwhelming." Since 2012, the AbbVie IBD Scholarship has supported nearly 60 Canadian students in navigating post-secondary education while living with Crohn's or colitis by awarding scholarships that total in excess of $250,000. Scholarship recipients are not only academically ambitious, but also actively engaged in their communities, supporting others living with IBD and raising awareness. To that end, each recipient will be sharing their story in their community and online. 2017 AbbVie IBD Scholarship Recipients Adrian Bulfon Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Alexandra Cohen McGill University Shira Gertsman University of Ottawa Hjordis Hentschel University of Lethbridge Leslie Hernandez National Theatre School National Theatre School Timothy Ireland University of Winnipeg Aleksandra Kacinska Ryerson University Najla Kanaan Wilfred Laurier University Wilfred Laurier University Gillian McKirdy City University in Canada City University in Emma Neary Queen's University Queen's University Elliot Pitter Dalhousie University Brandon Schupp University of Toronto Joseph Shaw Dalhousie University Veronica Slade University of Regina Aaron Slobodin Quest University Canada To read more about the 2017 AbbVie IBD Scholarship recipients, visit: http://crohnsandcolitis.ca/Support-for-You/IBD-Scholarships/Recipients About the AbbVie IBD Scholarship Now in its sixth year, the AbbVie IBD Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding students across Canada who are living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Each winner is awarded an educational grant of up to $5,000 CAD. The scholarship is available to students of any age who are enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary educational institution in 2017. Visit ibdscholarship.ca for more information. About Crohn's and Colitis Canada Crohn's and Colitis Canada is the only national, volunteer-based charity focused on finding the cures for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the lives of children and adults affected by these diseases. We are one of the top two health charity funders of Crohn's and colitis research in the world, investing over $100 million in research to date. We are transforming the lives of people affected by Crohn's and colitis (the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease) through research, patient programs, advocacy and awareness. Visit crohnsandcolitis.ca for more information. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @getgutsycanada. About AbbVie AbbVie is a global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the world's most complex and critical conditions. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to markedly improve treatments across four primary therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In more than 75 countries, AbbVie employees are working every day to advance health solutions for people around the world. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.ca or follow us on Twitter at @abbviecanada SOURCE Crohn's and Colitis Canada For further information: For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact: Adam Bornstein, Smithcom Ltd., [email protected], 905.505.2540; Rasheed Clarke, Crohn's and Colitis Canada, [email protected], 416-920-5035 ext. 215 WASHINGTON and OTTAWA, Ontario, Aug. 8, 2017 /CNW/ -- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) announced today the opening of its annual request for proposals (RFP) for the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program. The grants program supports SFI's work to promote sustainable forest management through partnerships with conservation groups that are contributing to the understanding of critical links between forests and communities across the range of American and Canadian forests, and community groups working at the intersection of sustainable forestry, responsible procurement and thriving communities. "SFI is proud to stand with so many partners that lead the way on positively impacting the future of our forests. This new grant cycle allows us to reassert our role as a sustainability leader that is working beyond supply chain assurances to elevate conservation value and foster community engagement," said Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of SFI Inc. "We look forward to this round of proposals and how they will contribute to our scientific understanding, long-standing commitment to forest research, and shared quality of life." Since 2010, SFI has awarded more than 100 grants to foster conservation and community-building projects across North America. When leveraged with project partner contributions, the combined investment exceeds $13.2 million. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 pm EST, Tuesday, October 10, 2017. SFI grants are available to academic institutions, non-profit organizations and Indigenous groups. Download this year's RFP instructions and criteria. For SFI Conservation Grant applications, SFI Inc. is placing a priority on projects that measure, demonstrate, or establish methodologies to demonstrate, the conservation-related values of SFI-certified forestlands, or values promoted by the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. Particular attention will be paid to applications focused on conservation values in the areas of water, climate change (including both carbon attributes and forest resiliency), and biodiversity. SFI's Community Partnerships Grant Program is focused on elevating and enriching the links between people and forests. SFI awards grants to collaborative community-based projects, activities or events that support SFI's core mission to connect communities to forests. Applications that feature creative partnerships or high degrees of leverage (e.g., matching funds, scale of impact, etc.) are preferred. In 2016 and 2017, SFI provided 13 conservation grants to academic and non-profit institutions, including the American Bird Conservancy, Foothills Research Institute, Laval University Faculty of Forestry - Geography and Geomatics, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Saskatchewan Research Council, The Nature Conservancy - Georgia Chapter, University of Georgia, University of Northern British Columbia, The Boreal Avian Modelling Project, GreenBlue, Manomet, NatureServe, and Saskatchewan Research Council. And, in 2016 and 2017, SFI provided 16 community grants to partners including Cornell University, Earth Rangers, Muckleshoot Tribe, National Wild Turkey Federation, San Carlos Apache Forest Resources Program, Black Family Land Trust, Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, Forests Ontario, Fraser Basin Council Society, Maine SFI Implementation Committee, Scouts Canada, South Carolina Forestry Foundation, South Dakota Project Learning Tree, The Greening of Detroit, Trees for Tomorrow, and Whitefish Montana School District. Several highlights of these grants include: The Canadian Forest Carbon Assessment, led by the Saskatchewan Research Council, is building a roadmap to conduct a comprehensive carbon-stock assessment for well-managed forests, including those certified to SFI. This project will quantify carbon storage in different forest ecosystems using national and regional data and examine forest management practices that influence carbon stocks. is building a roadmap to conduct a comprehensive carbon-stock assessment for well-managed forests, including those certified to SFI. This project will quantify carbon storage in different forest ecosystems using national and regional data and examine forest management practices that influence carbon stocks. The Conservation Values of Forests Project, led by NatureServe, will help consolidate and illustrate the biodiversity-related conservation value of forests certified to SFI, ultimately helping stakeholders to understand and communicate conservation outcomes. Findings will also help forest managers improve wildlife habitat across large landscapes. will help consolidate and illustrate the biodiversity-related conservation value of forests certified to SFI, ultimately helping stakeholders to understand and communicate conservation outcomes. Findings will also help forest managers improve wildlife habitat across large landscapes. A Tree, Is A Tree, Is A Tree 101, led by the Black Family Land Trust , is engaging African Americans in Southside Virginia to turn family forest assets into performing assets for today, tomorrow and for generations to come. , is engaging African Americans in to turn family forest assets into performing assets for today, tomorrow and for generations to come. Marten Monitoring and Youth Knowledge Transfer Program, is an effort led by the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi in Quebec to evaluate the impact of wildlife management guidelines on marten populations and transfer knowledge to Cree youth in the community by combining science and traditional knowledge. in to evaluate the impact of wildlife management guidelines on marten populations and transfer knowledge to Cree youth in the community by combining science and traditional knowledge. A Guide to Harvesting Family Woodlands, being developed by the Maine SFI Implementation Committee, will be a key tool to conserve forests, educate forest owners and build partnerships among family woodland owners and forest managers. Learn more about the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program, read about current and past grant projects, and review the RFP process on our website. For additional questions, please contact Rocco Saracina, Manager of Conservation Partnerships. About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a sustainability leader that stands for future forests. SFI is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting forest sustainability and supporting the links between sustainable forests and communities through grant programs, carefully targeted research, youth education, supply chain assurances, and partnerships that effectively contribute to multiple conservation objectives. Forests certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard cover 285 million acres/115 million hectares, while millions more acres benefit from the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. SFI's Forest Management, Fiber Sourcing and Chain of Custody Standards facilitate good purchasing decisions, and help to ensure the health and future of forests. SFI works collaboratively with conservation groups, brand owners, local communities, Indigenous communities, youth, resource professionals, land managers and countless other organizations and individuals who share our passion for and commitment to healthy forests, responsible purchasing and sustainable communities. Project Learning Tree (PLT) became a program of SFI in 2017, bringing over forty years of experience in developing students' awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the environment. SFI Inc. is governed by an independent three-chamber board of directors representing environmental, social and economic sectors equally. SOURCE Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. For further information: Daniel Pellegrom, Senior Director, Communications, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, 202-596-3452, [email protected], http://www.sfiprogram.org Related Links http://www.sfiprogram.org Christine Stuart / ctnewsjunkie EAST HARTFORD >> U.S. Rep. John B. Larson has a big idea about how to solve the nations crumbling infrastructure and he wants to create a carbon tax to pay for it. Standing Tuesday on the banks of the Connecticut River, Larson announced the America Wins Act, which he plans to introduce when Congress reconvenes in September. HARTFORD >> Republican legislative leaders are meeting with House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz today, but the reason for the meeting is unclear. It signals that General Assembly Democrats are close to finding agreement on the budget within their caucuses, but Aresimowiczs office declined comment prior to the meeting. The Democratic Party, which holds a 79-72 majority over Republicans in the House and is tied with Republicans in the Senate, has not released any budget documents since the end of June. But last week Aresimowicz said Democrats were only $100 million to $400 million apart. Senate Republican President Len Fasano, R-North Haven, isnt holding his breath for an outcome. Fasano said that before the $1.57 billion labor concession package, which erased about one-third of the deficit, Democrats alleged they were close to a deal. With the new labor agreement in the rearview mirror, Fasano said he expected that a budget deal with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy would be announced within days. But its been more than a week since the Senate approved the labor concessions and theres been no word of a deal. To argue you got rid of a third of problem and you dont know where to go next tells me SEBAC didnt solve the problem, Fasano said, referring to the deal negotiated with the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition. If that labor deal was the corner piece of the Democratic budget proposal, then where is it? Fasano said. He added that hes given Democratic leadership all the information theyve requested about his budget proposal. Read more. A response to letter to the editor, Solarize Milford offers discounts to Milford residents (July 18). This is well-meaning but the worldwide scientific community has made it clear that local/state/regional efforts will be too little too late to have any impact on global warming (NAS/IPCC). We need to phase out fossil fuels, globally. Now. The National Academy of Sciences says climate change poses the most immediate and important threat to human survival. According to Nature, the worlds most highly-cited peer-reviewed science journal, we must bend the greenhouse-gas emissions curve downwards by 2020 to avert the worst effects of global warming. Scientific American: Have We Passed the Point of No Return on Climate Change? Greenhouse Gas Cuts Must Begin Soon or It Could Be Too Late to Halt Global Warming. We could soon pass the tipping point into irreversible, runaway global warming and not even know it. Worst-case scenario? All the oceans could boil dry (National Geographic). We need to tax fossil fuel corporations out of existence and give all that tax money to the taxpayers in equal monthly checks. British Columbias done that for eight years and they have the best economy in Canada: lower taxes and energy bills, more jobs and much lower emissions. Theyve used carbon fee-and-dividend: Fossil fuels pay the fee, we get the dividends in equal monthly checks. The fee increases annually, so do your dividends. Switch to solar/wind and you save more every year as theyre now as cheap or cheaper than any fossil fuel (Fortune) and theyll continue to drop in price as they scale up (Bloomberg). This will create millions of jobs and increase GDP $75-80 billion annually. It also has a global domino effect that will make other countries cut their emissions as much as we do. (CitizensClimateLobby.org). You can find out how we can make this happen now at the Citizens Climate Lobby. Pete Kuntz Lancaster, Pennsylvania HARTFORD >> It was the first meeting of Democratic and Republican legislative leaders since passage of the state employee concession package, but theyre no closer to resolving the two-year budget deficit than they were in June. The labor package resolved $1.57 billion of the two-year $5.1 billion budget deficit, but the two parties were no closer to eliminating the rest of the $3.5 billion state budget deficit Tuesday. After meeting for more than an hour behind closed doors at the state Capitol, members of both caucuses and parties emerged to tell reporters they are continuing to share information about how to resolve the remainder of the budget deficit. I want to share ideas and thoughts, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, said. I think the people of Connecticut want us to work together. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said theres no question the people of Connecticut want the parties to work together, but we have different ideas about how the state of Connecticut moves forward. She said Republicans dont believe tax increases will fix those problems. Were open to see if there are any other ways to move the budget forward without them, Klarides said. The Senate Democratic caucus has also bristled at the notion of a sales tax increase to 6.99 percent. The House Democrats have maintained their support for a sales tax increase to help municipalities keep property taxes low, but Aresimowicz admitted that a budget with a sales tax increase wouldnt pass the Senate. Aresimowicz said Tuesdays discussion was hard because they dont have a completed budget document to negotiate. This isnt a single party negotiation, Aresimowicz said. He said it has to pass the House, the Senate, and it has to be signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. And theres no document they can all agree on that would get enough votes at this point to become law. Read more at CTNewsJunkie.com. NEW HAVEN >> A Southern Connecticut State University student was found dead in a campus apartment this weekend, the university said in a statement. Southern Connecticut State Police said in the statement there was no evidence of foul play in the death of the student, a junior at the university. A university police officer on Tuesday declined to say whether they were investigating the untimely death. University spokesman Patrick Dilger confirmed Tuesday afternoon that university police were investigating the incident. Southern police are investigating this, Dilger said. Its standard procedure in the event of an untimely death. Its not being investigated as a criminal matter, however. The student was a sport management major from New Jersey who had been working as a summer associate in residence life since May, according to the statement. The student was found unresponsive in his North Campus apartment. In the statement released by the university, SCSU President Joe Bertolino described the student as a vibrant and well-liked member of the campus community. Our deepest sympathies are extended to his family and friends on this untimely loss, Bertolino said in the statement. An exact cause of death had not been determined, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The medical examiners office reported the students cause of death is pending further studies. Counseling services are available in Engleman Hall, Room B219. Students can also call 203-392-5475 to schedule an appointment. Reach Esteban L. Hernandez at 203-680-9901 NORTH BRanford >> The East Shore District Health Department has received confirmation that mosquitoes recently sampled in North Branford carried the West Nile virus. The mosquitoes were collected July 31 from the Cedar Pond area, according to a press release. The species of mosquito carrying the West Nile virus can be found in a variety of places, such as old tires, stagnant pools of ground water, artificial containers and catch basins. According to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile have also been found in West Haven, Greenwich, South Windsor, Stratford and Westport. The warm weather, high humidity and frequent rainfall have created ideal conditions that are conducive to the spreading of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes, the release stated. There have not been any human cases in Connecticut this summer. In 2016, there was one human case of West Nile virus in Milford, according to the release. People are most vulnerable to the West Nile virus in August and September. The health district advised that people take the proper precautions to avoid mosquito bites, such as minimizing time spent outdoors around dusk and dawn; making sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair; wearing shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when and where mosquitoes are most active, using mosquito netting when sleeping and to protect small babies when outdoors, and considering the use of mosquito repellent containing DEET. The health district is also advising that people continue eliminating stagnant water in and around their properties. Mosquitoes are collected about every 10 days. The town funds a program that includes application of larvicide to mosquito-breeding areas, as well as storm water catch basins. The East Shore District Health Department locally administers the program that includes mosquito and human surveillance and aggressive elimination of breeding conditions. For more information, call the health department at 203-481-4233 or visit www.esdhd.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Magister means teacher, but the students in Oliver Nusbaums Latin classes dont call him that. They know the Brunswick rising senior as Oliver, the one who makes Latin fun. For two weeks each of the past two summers, Nusbaum has given Latin lessons to third- and fourth-graders in the Horizons at Brunswick program. The all-boys enrichment camp provides a free summer-time academic boost to low-income children from Greenwich Public Schools. I really enjoy doing these lessons, said Nusbaum. A lot of these kids never knew why romance languages are so similar or what a romance language even was. So its been cool to see the effect it can have. Nusbaum got involved with Horizons at Brunswick after the programs Executive Director Marianne Ho Barnum saw him teaching Latin after school at the Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester, N.Y. Nusbaum has run a Latin club at the community center for the past two years. I think that Latin is so important because it is giving you the roots of our English language, said Barnum. Learning the language could spark curiosity about words and literacy in her students who may struggle to read or speak English, she thought. The little light bulb went off in my head, she said. I thought it would be a great fit. In his classes this summer, Nusbaum started each class by introducing the students to a classical myth, like that of Icarus and Daedalus or Hercules. Then, the students would learn vocabulary related to the myth and practice it in games and conversation. Its been such a success and Olivers such a good teacher at such a young age, said Barnum. Although Latin is considered a dead language, Oliver has learned through his own Latin education and a trip to Rome the importance of giving the language voice. When you read it and you speak it, it is a stronger memory tool, he said. It makes it more fun for kids as well. Nusbaum used to teach Latin through interactive games like Jeopardy in his early days running the club at the Don Bosco Center. But with the help of the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Paideia Institute a nonprofit educational organization that runs introductory Latin classes for elementary- and middle-school students in New York City and Philadelphia and that backs Nusbaums club Nusbaum has developed a more robust Latin curriculum. He used the new curriculum at Don Bosco and Horizons this year. Both the Horizons at Brunwick program and the Don Bosco club have high percentages of children who speak Spanish at home. Many are the children of immigrants from Latin American countries, which may give them an advantage learning Latin because of the similarities between Latin and the Spanish spoken in their homes. "Latin unfortunately has a reputation for not being accessible, even though it is a basis for many words in English and many words in Spanish," said Liz Butterworth, director of Development for the Paideia Institute. "But when done with a lot of energy, the way Oliver has done it, teaching Latin can be an incredible exciting experience for many different kinds of students." Nusbaum will continue teaching at Don Bosco in the upcoming school year. He has a group of about 15 fifth- through seventh-graders who participate in the club regularly and about five high school volunteers from Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, Rye Country Day and Horace Mann School who help him. In college, Nusbaum said he hopes to continue his studies of Latin and Greek. "Learning Latin is like decoding or cracking a code I always found that to be very cool," Nusbaum said. "Ive definitely grown to appreciate it more and the impact it can have. emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson MILFORD >> The advocacy group Milford Speaks Out is celebrating immigrants with its first Thanks for Coming!! award, with a winner to be announced in November. Dave Duffner, who is on the groups Immigration Committee, said the award is an effort to create a unifying approach. The group is taking nominations through Sept. 15 and forms are available on bulletin boards at City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce, Milford Public Library, the Senior Center and the Parsons Government Center. A form can also be obtained by emailing dlduffner@yahoo.com. Duffner said the award will recognize the service of immigrants, provide role models and inform people in general of immigrants achievements. Duffner said the award is open to foreign-born Americans with a Milford connection. Nominees must have made a substantial contribution to the health, civic or economic life of Milford or, while a resident of Milford, made a significant contribution to the civic, cultural, social, economic, health, family or educational life of Connecticut or the United States. The award will be given on a day close to Thanksgiving that will be proclaimed Immigration Day in Milford, he said. Candidates must have been in the country for at least 10 years they need not be continuous and a naturalized citizen, or have formally applied for U.S. citizenship, according to the application form. The proclamation is not complete, but Duffner has a rough draft that quotes the Declaration of Independences sentiment that: all men are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, Duffner wrote in an email. He said it may also mention the words on the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Duffner said the draft proclamation says: Immigration provided the labor and energy to build our transportation systems, to populate our farms, to fill our factories and, in turn, to consume our goods and services and to defend our country. Duffner said the draft of the proclamation alsosays the inspirations and innovations from first-generation immigrants from Alexander Hamilton to David Sarnoff to Albert Einstein to Madeleine Albright to Yo-Yo Ma to Sergey Brin increased the prosperity, education and security of all Americans. The draft proclamation also includes words to convey that the immigrants cultural practices, religious beliefs, artistic achievements, and charitable works influenced and modified the American experience and, in turn, were themselves modified by their encounter with daily American life. Mayor Ben Blake said that since November is a few months away, no proclamation has been formally drafted. But Blake said hell likely highlight that Thanksgiving Day is one of Americas most beloved and widely celebrated holidays whether descendants of the original colonists or new residents, we all join with family and friends to give thanks for the blessings of freedom, peace and plenty. Milford Speaks Out researched months ago having Milford designated as a sanctuary city, but found that move unnecessary after discussions with the city police chief, who said the state and city already have strong laws protecting undocumented workers. Milford Speaks Out steering committee members said at the time in a press release that they explored the issue, because of increased detentions and deportations of undocumented immigrants by the federal government. In May, Milford Speaks Out presented a talk by a Muslim couple in order to help counter stereotypes and misperceptions. Courtesy of Milford police MILFORD >> A 26-year-old New Haven man was arrested Saturday on sexual assault charges for allegedly bumping into a woman with his groin at the Connecticut Post Mall, police said. Police were called to the mall at 1201 Boston Post Road at 5:30 p.m. and spoke to the victim. She told officers that while she was shopping with her 6-year-old child, a man bumped into her. When she turned around, she noticed there was no reason for the man to bump her, but did not pay it much attention, police said in a news release. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW HAVEN >> Marco Reyes Alvarez took sanctuary in First and Summerfield United Methodist Church Tuesday, the second undocumented immigrant to decide this was his only option as he faced imminent deportation. The Meriden resident had a one-way ticket to fly to his native Ecuador early that morning, a country he hasnt seen in 20 years. Instead, he and his family came to the church, where he will take up residence while his attorney seeks a hearing where she will argue that he could be killed if he is sent back. The Rev. Juhye Hahn, pastor of the church on the New Haven Green, said she got a text at 2 a.m. from a fellow minister that someone needed sanctuary four hours from then. Putting it in the Christian religious context of welcoming the stranger and providing hospitality for all in need, Hahn told advocates at a rally and press conference later that day: We didnt ask for his legal situation. We didnt ask where he originally came from. We just saw a persons great need for sanctuary, so we simply responded. Attorney Erin ONeil-Baker said Reyes is seeking a credible fear interview, which she said the government must accommodate. ONeil-Baker said she has told Immigration and Custom Enforcement that Reyes life is in danger if he is returned to Ecuador. The attorney said Section 241b-3a of the Immigration and Naturalization Act prevents the U.S. attorney general from deporting an individual to a country where his or her life is in danger, until a credible fear hearing has been satisfied. ONeil-Baker said right now the issue is who has jurisdiction over a such a hearing for an individual with a final removal order. He should have a chance to have his hearing, she said. ONeil-Baker said she did not advise her client to seek sanctuary. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., at the press conference, said Reyes has a credible claim. It ought to be considered. It deserves factual fairness and so as a law enforcer, I say, give him his day in court. ONeil-Baker said Reyes brother-in-law was murdered and his killer, who is out of prison, is continuing to threaten the family, with a niece recently fleeing to the U.S. to seek asylum. Let his new attorney present facts that have never been considered before, but may persuade a judge that he ought to be kept here, the senator said. Blumenthal said if Reyes is separated from his family now, he may never live with them again. The senator told the crowd that they were there for Reyes but also for our country because our country is better than the new policies that have been adopted in the last seven months. Miguel Castro, a council member in Meriden, said it was no secret that our humanitarian values are under attack with policies that are threatening the very core of our values. While existing immigration law was not fully enforced in the recent past, the Trump administration has made enforcement a priority. The Rev. Paul Fleck of Hamden Plains United Methodist Church, said First and Summerfield is a church known as the conscience on the Green. Our faith tells us to love our neighbor, Fleck said. Marco Reyes is my neighbor. ICE took a different view of the decision by Reyes. Shawn Neudauer, spokesman for ICE in New England, said Reyes is now considered an ICE fugitive and will be arrested and detained when encountered. He said Reyes would then be removed from the United States. He said a removal order for Reyes was first issued in 2009. Neudauer said both the Board of Immigration Appeals and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a stay of removal request. A stay was granted in 2016 and Reyes was allowed to pursue his legal case, Neudauer said. When that was rejected, ICE told him it planned to carry out the removal order. ONeil-Baker said the BIA still has not ruled on her request to reopen the case on new grounds. A federal immigration judges orders cannot be ignored. ICE and the courts can delay acting on an order to ensure all applicable legal processes and possible benefits are followed and/or reviewed, which occurred in this case. However, after these legal options are exhausted, ICE must still carry out the judges order in the absence of any other mitigating factors, Neudauer said. Reyes said ICE has never considered his security concerns. He said the thought of never seeing his family again was a very heavy burden for them and of course for me. We came to this country with a lot of dreams and it is very difficult to be going through what we are going through right now, Reyes said. First and Summerfield United Methodist is one of two congregations in New Haven that have announced they will provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants about to be deported. Nury Chavarria took up sanctuary in Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal in Fair Haven last month for six days, rather than be deported to Guatemala. She has been granted a stay and attorneys are seeking to reopen her removal case. At the press conference Tuesday, New Haven Mayor Toni Harp said, Just to be clear: New Haven will remain a sanctuary city. New Haven will be a wecoming city no matter where you used to live or where you used to come from. Immigrants are vitally important as a fabric of our community. Immigrants make our community economically viable, culturally vibrant and make our cities better places to live, Harp said to cheers from the crowd. This nation has been a beacon to goes who flee oppression and persecution, who seek freedom and opportunity instead. We in New Haven will continue to embrace those arriving from wherever they may have lived and will work to make them feel welcome and safe, Harp said. Reyes two older children have protection from deportation under DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy which protects undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children and allows them to work and study in the U.S. Reyes and his family, while on vacation near the Canadian border in 2007, mistakenly entered that country. When they crossed back, they were stopped by U.S. border guards. Reyes said Adriana Reyes, his 12-year-old daughter, may stay with him from time to time. She will enter seventh grade in the fall in the Meriden school system. I need my dad with me in the United States, she said. It is what a child needs in life and I dont know what I would do without him. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, said in a statement that the planned deportation of Marco Reyes is yet another example of the Trump administrations heartless immigration policy. She said the administration has lost sight of what makes America great: the opportunity to work hard, play by the rules, and provide for your family, DeLauro said. The stories of Marco Reyes, Nury Chavvaria, Luis Barrios and so many others are the reason why Congress needs to take up comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to legal citizenship. Our nations immigration enforcement agents should be focused on deporting dangerous criminals, not breaking up families. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Advocates allege that a West Haven mans undocumented son was used as bait to lure the man to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices where he was charged with violating a final order of removal and is now in detention in Massachusetts. While they discussed Mynor Antonio Espinozas case, another immigrant, Marco Antonio Reyes Alvarez, was facing deportation to Ecuador Tuesday morning, having been denied an emergency stay Monday evening. Attorney Erin ONeil-Baker said around 7 p.m. she got the news that a stay for Reyes was denied by ICE, while the Board of Immigration Appeals wont rule on a motion to reopen his deportation case before Tuesday morning. Reyes, who lives in Meriden with his wife and three children, is set to leave his home around 6 a.m. for a 9 a.m. plane back to Ecuador, where he has not lived in two decades. Espinoza, 31, was asked to come to the Hartford ICE office on June 5 with his 9-year-old son, who entered the country illegally last year as part of the large wave of unaccompanied children, according to the Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance. The boy, who was stopped at the border, was turned over to the custody of his father with the condition that Espinoza accompany the child when requested to answer to ICE. ICE spokesman Shawn Neudauer said Espinoza, who is from Guatemala, previously had been removed from the United States in 2009. Neudauer said he will remain in custody pending removal proceedings. ICE discounted the bait theory. Like any law enforcement agency, ICE routinely runs the names of individuals encountered to check for outstanding warrants or other criminal activity, be it on the street or at our offices. Individuals who have outstanding warrants for removal or deportation orders are subject to arrest at the time of encounter, Neudauer wrote. ONeil-Baker said Reyes is scheduled to meet ICE agents at the airport Tuesday, at which time they will remove his GPS tracking device and watch him depart the country. The attorney took over the case recently and said, while they havent had a lot of time to work on it, We dont close any door, until it is clearly over. She said there have been instances in which a client has been walking to the stairs of the airplane when he got the word that he had more time to make his case. ONeil-Baker, in her motion to the BIA, argued that Reyes life is in danger in Ecuador. His brother-in-law was killed there and the individual who was incarcerated for the crime is out of prison and continuing to threaten the family. She said this recently forced another family member to flee to the U.S. to seek asylum. Espinoza, who is married and has four children, left Guatemala with his oldest child eight years ago fleeing persecution, according to CIRA. Three of his children are American citizens. CIRA said he faces serious harm if deported. Espinozas attorney, Yazmin Rodriguez, said his case is not an isolated incident. My colleagues and I have been witnessing these deceptive practices for the past couple of months, she said. Rodriguez advised parents to consult with an attorney before interacting with any ICE office. Ana Maria Rivera-Forastieri, a member of CIRA, called ICE a rogue agency that terrorizes our communities. This practice of luring parents with the sole purpose of tearing them apart from their children is the most despicable and inhumane practice we have witnessed. We will do everything we can to keep Mynor home, and to increase the levels of protection our state can and should offer to all families, Rivera-Forastieri said. Espinoza is scheduled for a bond hearing Wednesday. We have had enough of President Donald Trump. We have had enough of his family and Russian friends. we have had enough of tweets, lies and innuendos. We have had enough of his boorish behavior, contradictions and grandiose, and false promises. We have had enough of the gang that cant shoot straight. We have had enough. Instead of clearing the swamp, they have created a cesspool. It is time to speed up the investigations. Get on with indictments, arrests and impeachment. And to those pitiful humans that still support this equally pathetic human being, I say wise up. The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, on Monday said it is disrespectful for anyone to be asking for details of the Presidents health status.The presidential aide explained that demanding Buharis health details was wrong because he was currently a private citizen.Onochie made the remark while featuring on Channels television.According to her, For the life of me, I have no idea why anybody should disrespect another by asking for the details of their health status.As we speak, we have an acting president. As we speak, President Buhari seems to be like a private citizen at the moment. We have no right and it is very disrespectful for anyone to ask for his health status.In the UK where I came from, nobody would release anybodys health record to another, not even the members of their family unless the person decides to approve.The prerogative to speak on his ailment lies only on President Buhari. If he chooses, it is a choice. It is very disrespectful and very intrusive. We are intruding into his private rights. He has rights too as a citizen of Nigeria. It is not right, not appropriate. Anybody body can get sick at any particular time. Entrepreneurs Get N3m Grant to Boost Businesses Ten new entrepreneurs have received cheques of N300, 000 each, making a total of N3 million to grow their business at the Life Progress Booster Show, an initiative of Life Lager Beer.The beer brand is committed to supporting small and medium entrepreneurs in South-East Nigeria.The entrepreneurs were at the weekend, presented with the cheques by managers of the brand 2017 at West Point, Answai Road, Government House, Asaba, Delta State.While addressing the audience at the presentation ceremony, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Emmanuel Agu said the brand had increased the grant from N250, 000 in 2016 to N300, 000 and will support 200 entrepreneurs through the Progress Booster platform in 2017.Progress Booster is a programme with the sole aim of supporting the people of the South-East who have innovative business ideas to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of the people, Agu said. Happy New Month Nigeria! Welcome to the month of June. As the world searches for a respite from all its troubles since 2020 began, one can ... A UK based Nigerian man, Jonathan Goodluck Oberia, teamed up with his female friend to stage a protest in front of the Abuja house in London to ask the presidency to disclose the health status of President Buhari who has been out of Nigeria for 92 days now.According to Jonathan, some staff of the Abuja house called the police to arrest him but the police officers on their arrival said the man did not commit any crime. See what he wrote on his Facebook page below A former Vice-President and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has urged the Federal Government ... A former Vice-President and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has urged the Federal Government to fish out those behind a song disparaging people of Igbo extraction and ensure they are punished.In a statement in Abuja on Monday, Atiku recalled that the Rwandan genocide was ignited by a song, titled I hate Hutus, sung by a popular musician, Simon Bikindi.The former Vice-President called on men and women of goodwill to rise up against what he described as evil.He said those who thought they could treat their fellow citizens unjustly, through a song, should also know that there were mechanisms within and outside Nigeria to ensure that they answer for their crimes.The statement read in part, It has come to my attention that a song disparaging people of Igbo origin, and which wishes them dead, is circulating in some parts of the nation.I totally and unequivocally condemn this development, and I call on all men of goodwill to rise up against this evil.This song is reminiscent of the beginnings of the Rwanda genocide. Nigerians need to be aware that the Rwandan genocide was believed to have been ignited by a song titled Nanga Abahutu (I hate Hutus), sung by Rwandas then most popular musician, Simon Bikindi. Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, has dismissed claims that Sundays killing at the St. Paul Catholic Church in Ozobulu was carried ... Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, has dismissed claims that Sundays killing at the St. Paul Catholic Church in Ozobulu was carried out by Boko Haram militants or separatist group.The governor, who spoke in Abuja after collecting his nomination form for the state governorship election, also said the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) posed no threat to the smooth conduct of the November 18 election in the state.The governor was responding to claim that the Anambra church attack was carried out by terrorists.He said: Let me make this point. Ozobulu killing was not the kind of terrorism you use to know. It is not by Boko haram or anybody. Again it is not by people agitating for separation. It is a feud between two gangsters that live outside Nigeria.They killed themselves over there and they decided to come home and both of them are from that village where the church is built. We have picked up some guys already and very soon, Im very confident that we are going to pick up the guy that did the killings dead or alive. Special Adviser on Media to former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, Jude Ndukwe, on Tuesday berated the Presidency for saying its wron... Special Adviser on Media to former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, Jude Ndukwe, on Tuesday berated the Presidency for saying its wrong for Nigerians to be demanding for details of President Muhammadu Buharis health status. Ndukwe, who took to his twitter handle described the Senior Special Assistant to Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehus comment berating Nigerians who demanded details of Buharis health as idiotic. He also condemned Buharis Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie for saying it is disrespectful for anyone to be asking for details of the Presidents health status. Ndukwe wrote: It is absolutely idiotic for Garba Shehu to threaten us simply because were expressing our rights on status of Muhammadu Buhari .Were not cowed. Nonsense. Let me assure Garba Shehu that rather than being cowed, were taking this struggle a notch higher; threats are fuel to our struggle. More of it. Did Lauretta Onnochie really say its disrespectful for citizens to ask about Buhari health? To think this girl was sensible a bit was a mistake. A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe, has accused state governors of committing impunity with local government funds.Mbadiwe, who represented Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, accused governors of pouncing on funds meant for local governments with impunity and stalling development at the grassroots.Describing the Governors Forum as a dangerous body not provided for in the constitution of Nigeria, the APGA chieftain said the governors use the forum to perpetrate odditities, adding that growth at the rural communities in the country would remain at zero level with the forum.Mbadiwe who spoke at the golden jubilee wedding anniversary of the Chief Medical Director of Memfys International Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu, Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam said: These are the kind of instruments the governors lean on for protection and intimidate the people.How do you expect the local government chairmen to embark on projects that would touch on the lives of their people when their allocations are seized and they only receive peanuts. Our people must rise and speak out against this wicked act.He called for the scrapping of the Governors Forum, saying our governors are just greedy. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, has expressed surprise at the report that he described those agitating for restructuring as political jo... Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, has expressed surprise at the report that he described those agitating for restructuring as political jobbers.A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said that at no time did the acting President describe those asking for restructuring as political jobbers looking for appointments.He said the video, audio tapes and full text of Osinbajos speech at last weeks National Security summit organised by the Department of State Services (DSS) are publicly available.The statement said: While several newspapers and media outlets reported Prof. Osinbajos said speech last Wednesday, not one of the publications made such a blatantly inaccurate claim that he said those asking for restructuring were political jobbers.Besides, the debate on restructuring is an important one and the calls for restructuring cover a wide range of legitimate and constitutionally valid issues. Indeed all Nigerians have both a right and a duty to advance their arguments on the subject.The acting President himself had expressed support for State police based on the community policing model, advocated for devolution of powers to the states and fiscal federalism.Besides, the Buhari administration has been active in supporting state rights in several ways including in fiscal matters and will continue to do so. A member of Nassarawa State House of Assembly, Kassim Mohammed Kassim, has accused former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-military Head o... A member of Nassarawa State House of Assembly, Kassim Mohammed Kassim, has accused former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida and ex-military Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, of conspiracy against good governance of President Muhammadu Buhari. Kassim, who made the claim under the aegis of The Democratic Youth Congress, Kassim accused the three former leaders of being uncomfortable with Buharis stance on corruption. He alleged that the former leaders, handed over to Nigerians corruption, nepotism, underdevelopment and values laced with mutual distrust and suspicion. Speaking with Punch on Monday in Lafia, the state capital, Kassim also alleged that the former leaders have began, a search for President Muhammadu Buharis successor. Kassim, who represents Akwanga South in the state House of Assembly said at no time did the President confide in any of the former leaders about his future political plans. He stated that the former leaders lacked the moral standing to chart a political course for a country they ignominiously mismanaged. Kassim said such a move was not only an act of betrayal, but arson against the collective wishes of the Nigerian people. He maintained that the so-called search smirks of hypocrisy and intent to cause political disharmony in the polity. Kassim said, What have Obasanjo, Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar bequeathed to this country as leaders, if not corruption, nepotism, underdevelopment and values laced with mutual distrust and suspicion which has further compounded our journey to prosperity as a nation. Enough is enough. We Nigerian youths have allowed such leaders to mortgage the future of this country. We, Nigerian youths, would henceforth use any civil and political will to resist such attempt by past leaders to determine the common destiny of this great nation. The lawmaker pledged the groups unflinching support to the emergence and continuation in office of President Muhammad Buhari beyond 2019. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday expressed his confidence that Kenyans would give him another five-year mandate to finish the job.The president on Tuesday cast his vote at Mutomo Primary School in his birthplace of Gatundu, Kiambu County. Speaking to journalists, Kenyatta said he was confident of winning because he ran a positive campaign.I feel good. I feel positive because we ran a positive campaign, said Kenyatta who was accompanied by his family including First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and his mother, former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, and two of his three children.Voting opened in Kenyas presidential, parliamentary and gubernatorial elections Tuesday with 19.6 million voters expected at over 40,000 poll centres to elect 1,882 public officials, including the president.Thousands of voters started trooping to polling stations as early as 1 am Tuesday, hours ahead of the official voting time of 6 a.m. to vote for their choice.Kenyatta said his party ran on a platform of peace, harmony and progress that resonated with Kenyans.The president called for peace, urging Kenyans to vote peacefully and go back to their homes to await the results.Vote and go home to wait for the results, the president said in response to a question about what his message to Kenyans was on election day. He urged Kenyans to safeguard the stability of the country.The Head of State will spend the day in Gatundu visiting neighbours, and waiting for the results to come from the electoral body.Some 19.6 million Kenyans will vote to elect the countrys fifth president, 290 members of parliament, 47 county governors, similar number of senators and women representatives and several hundred county representatives.Eight candidates are contesting for the presidencyUhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Party, National Super Alliance (NASA)s Raila Odinga, Cyrus Jirongo of the United Democratic Party (UDP).Others are Ekuru Aukot of Thirdway Alliance, Abduba Dida of the Alliance for Real Change (ARC), and Independent candidates Joseph Nyagah, Michael Wainaina and Japheth Kavinga.However, tight contest is expected between the incumbent and Odinga.The seat for County Ward Representative has attracted the most number of candidates totaling 11,857, followed by the position of the member of National Assembly where 1,893 candidates have been cleared to run.The Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) cleared 210 candidates to vie for various gubernatorial posts across the country.The Senate contest has attracted 256 contestants while 299 women have been cleared to contest for the 47 County Woman Representative posts across the country.Polling stations is scheduled to open as early as 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning across the country and close at 6:00 p.m.in the evening, with voting being extended in areas where more time is needed.Kenyans of over 18 years are eligible to vote but one must be a registered voter to be allowed to cast the ballot.About 5.2 million Kenyans will vote for the first time.The electoral body also stated that 53 per cent of those registered are male compared to 47 per cent female.According to IEBC, about 51 per cent of the registered voters represents persons aged between 18 and 35.Results are expected to start trickling in by Tuesday evening and by Wednesday evening, the countrys next president will be known, although the electoral body will have seven days to officially announce the results. The Senate on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari had not violated any law by not returning from medical vacation after 90 days. The Senate on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari had not violated any law by not returning from medical vacation after 90 days.The Senate made this known in a statement by its spokesman, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, in Abuja.It was reacting to protests by a coalition of civil society organizations, operating under the aegis of OurMumuDonDo, demanding the resignation of the president over his long medical vacation in London.It urged the protesters to stop heating up the polity, saying that it was creating unnecessary tension in the country.The upper chamber said that the protest was an attempt to divert the attention of the Presidency from the economic and security issues, which were already being tackled.It explained that Buhari had complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that he must handover to the Vice President and duly inform the two chambers of the legislature about his medical vacation.The president has broken no law and therefore we do not see any justification for this diversion and noise-making.The sponsors are merely seeking cheap publicity at the expense of the peace of Nigeria.We, in the National Assembly, are satisfied that there is no vacuum. The Federal Government is working.Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is providing the required leadership. So, there is no reason for the protests.All Nigerians now should focus on praying for the safe return of the President.We in the Senate are happy about the report by the governors and party leaders, who recently visited President Buhari in London and we know he will soon return to continue to provide leadership to our people and the rest of Africa.We therefore call on the protesters to stop all these demonstrations and let their sense of patriotism overshadow the zeal for activism by joining other Nigerians to pray for the president.We should also pray for the acting president and Nigeria as a country at this critical period, it stated. Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has said that no current African player matches the ability of Neymar, who he described as a world class player who loves to entertain like him.Okocha stated this while speaking with FIFA.com about this years The Best Awards and his favourites to win the mens award on 23rd October in London.When asked if the ability to dazzle was enough to be crowned The Best, he replied: Anyone aspiring to be the best or one of the best, needs more than that. You also need to be able to focus, work hard, and be consistent, as natural talent alone is not enough to elevate you to that level. If you understand that, and you have the raw talent, then you can compete at that level.Anyone aspiring to be the best or one of the best needs more than that. You also need to be able to focus, work hard, and be consistent, as natural talent alone is not enough to elevate you to that level. If you understand that, and you have the raw talent, then you can compete at that level.Okocha also said Neymar, who has inherited his No. 10 shirt at Paris Saint-Germain, resembles him as a player.Id say the player whose style most resembles mine would be Neymar. Thats because I played with a sense of joy and you can see that he feels the same and really enjoys his own play. He doesnt play for himself or just to entertain the fans he plays for his team. He uses his quality and skill for the good of the team, he added. The presidency Monday said that President Muhammadu Buhari who has spent about 90 days in London as a result of undisclosed ill health w... The presidency Monday said that President Muhammadu Buhari who has spent about 90 days in London as a result of undisclosed ill health will not resign from his office as he has not fallen short of any known law in the country.The Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu stated this while addressing State House Correspondents over the call by some civil society organizations, CSOs that protested in Abuja demanding that the president should either resume work or resign on the grounds of ill health.Recall that President Buhari left Nigeria on 7th May to London on medical vacation and he transmitted power to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who he said should step into his shoes in acting capacity pending the time of his return. Speaking with State House correspondents, Malam Shehu said President Buhari has not breached any law of the country.According to him, Those making the calls are exercising their rights in line with the constitution of this country. Of what use, or value is a democracy in which citizens cannot embark on peaceful protests? So we respect their right to convene or undertake peaceful protest. On the call for the President to resign or disclose whatever, I think they are stepping outside the laws of this country. Anyone conversant with the constitution of this country will have noticed or seen that Mr. President has complied 100 percent with the requirements of the constitution of this country.He has handed over power to the vice president as required by the constitution and the vice president is carrying out the affairs of this country.He is undertaking activities of government in line with the constitution in a way that the President himself has given words of commendation. So the President has not breached any law. What he has done is perfectly in line with the constitution and people are looking for things to say. I think they should do their research very well. Lauretta Onochie, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, and Reno Omokri, the former aide to ex-President Goo... Lauretta Onochie, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, and Reno Omokri, the former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, have traded words over comments on Buharis health. Onochie, while featuring on Channels TVs Politics Today hosted by Seun Okinbaloye said: For the life of me, I have no idea why anybody would disrespect another by asking for the details of their health status. As we speak, we have an acting president. As we speak, President Buhari seems to be like a private citizen at the moment. We have no right and it is very disrespectful for anyone to ask for his health status. In the UK where I came from nobody would release anybodys health record to another, not even the members of their family unless the person decides to approve. On the social media, the president is well loved by Nigerians. I come across a lot of Nigerians who wish him well. The prerogative to speak on his ailment lies only on President Buhari. If he chooses, it is a choice. It is very disrespectful and very intrusive. We are intruding into his private rights. He has rights too as a citizen of Nigeria. Anybody can get ill, it is not something planned. The president is receiving medical care in the UK, Nigerians are praying for him. They want him to get well. Governance is going well, the economy is improving. We are nearly out of recession. However, Omokri and several Nigerians swiftly tackled Onochie through the social media. Omokri said: Isnt the Presidency ashamed to call President Muhammadu Buhari a private citizen? He is staying at Abuja House not Buharis House and Nigerians are paying for his treatment. He is NOT a private citizen. Yesterday he released a statement condemning the Ozubulu massacre and assuring us of our safety. These all show that he is NOT a private citizen. Nigeria is tired of a part time President. Nigeria is tired of a freelance President. Nigeria is tired of a private citizen President! Other Nigerians who reacted to Onochies comments on Buharis health include: @Charliescode: How we ended up with people like Lauretta Onochie as Spokesperson for the office of the President of Nigeri beats my imagination. @IamMalachy: Lauretta Onochie is one of the reasons Nigeria is stuck! When did knowing our Presidents health status become a crime? @Retweetbod: This woman, Lauretta Onochie, does she not have shame? @Igweofficial: Mama Lauretta Onochie shouldnt be speaking on behalf of the Presidency. Does she not have shame? @Brianjdennis: Imagine Introducing Lauretta Onochie as your mother. Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West, have insisted that Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe remains the partys authentic chairman in the zone even as they declared Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State a persona non grata after accusing him of fanning the embers of discord within the party in the South West.While dissociated themselves from the meeting called in Ibadan, Oyo state, the leaders maintained that the executives who emerged at the zonal congress held on October 11, 2014 remains the only validly elected and judicially sanctioned leadership of the party in the zone.Leaders of party from the zone from Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo and Osun States met after an emergency meeting of South West PDP zonal leadership and stakeholders in Lagos.Those present at the meeting include the lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Buruji Kashamu, former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Abiodun Aluko, former PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, Mr. Tunde Carenna and Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju. Others are Mr. Segun Adewale, Mr. Wahab Owokoniran, Chief Gbenga Otegbolu, Chief Kolapo Ogunjobi, Mr. Hakeem Taiwo and Mr. Adekola Razak.Reading the communique issued at the end of its meeting, Chief Ogundipe restated that he remains the chairman of the party in the zone, adding that those parading themselves as executives of the party in the region are impostors.He said: we observed with grave concern the activities of some impostors and errand boys parading themselves as members of the South West zonal executives of the PDP. These people-Eddy Olafeso, Bunmi Jenyo and others- are products of a contraption which has since been nullified by the Federal High Court, Lagos, in suit No. FHC/L/CS/605/2016.We further note that in a final judgment delivered on the 24th of June, 2016, the court categorically stated that our tenure ends in October, 2018, having been elected at a special zonal congress held on the 11th of October, 2014 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.Therefore, the South West Zonal executives of the PDP under the able leadership of Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, who was Fayoses nominee at the South West Zonal Congress, held on the 11th of October, 2014, remains the only validly elected and judicially sanctioned leadership of the party in the zone.Ogundipe, who berated Governor Fayoses hostile, authoritarian and destabilizing activities however demanded that the Governor be called to order before he sounds the death knell on the party in the South West.The authentic zonal leadership and stakeholders hereby declare Fayose a persona non grata and dissociate the zone from his activities.He, however, appealed to chairman, Caretaker Committee on the party, Sen Ahmed Makarfi, to desist from relating with Governor Fayose as regards the South West zone, just as the authentic leadership of the party in the zone and Ekiti State are directed to desist from dealing with Fayose in any capacity until further notice.Also, the party leader said a special committee of the party will be set up to mobilise people into the PDP, just as we would continue to reach out and appeal to all those who had left the party as a result of the high-handedness and intolerant activities of Fayose and his cohorts, from the South West zone,to come back.In his remarks, the partys former scribe, Prof. Oladipo assured the Makarfi leadership of the regions support of the South West in Saturdays special convention.He said: I am assuring Makarfi, we are going to moblise the entire South West so that Sen Makarfi would record a resounding success. We are not taking over a garage because we not garage boys, we are going to compete fairly. South African President Jacob Zuma faces a no-confidence vote by secret ballot in parliament Tuesday, with opponents hoping that discontented ANC lawmakers could help oust him from office.Criticism of Zuma from within the African National Congress (ANC) has grown over corruption scandals and economic woes, and the celebrated party of Nelson Mandela has declined sharply at the polls.But the ANC which holds a large majority in parliament welcomed the decision to hold the vote by secret ballot and said it expected the no-confidence motion to fail.Several opposition parties will lead a protest to the national assembly in Cape Town on Tuesday ahead of the parliamentary session due to begin at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT).ANC MPs now have no excuse. They must use their vote to remove Jacob Zuma, the main opposition Democratic Alliance party said after the speaker of parliament made a surprise decision Monday to hold the ballot in secret.Zuma has easily survived several previous parliamentary votes held without secret balloting.A 201-vote majority would be needed to remove him from power, and the ANC holds 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament. His cabinet would also be forced to resign.Its a long shot to expect a significant number of ANC MPs to vote against their own party and let the opposition claim this big political scalp, independent analyst Daniel Silke told AFP.Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president before the 2019 general election lessening pressure for his party to trigger imminent change. ANC loses its lustre The secret ballot has been subject to a long legal battle waged by opposition parties, who hope that ANC lawmakers will now be emboldened to vote against him without fear of intimidation.Last week ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu acknowledged recent criticism of the party, including the impact of a cabinet reshuffle in March when respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan was replaced with a Zuma loyalist.Gordhans sacking led to a string of downgrades to South Africas credit rating as well as causing the rand currency to tumble.Public support for the ANC, which swept to power under Mandela in the first non-racial elections in 1994, slipped to 55 percent in last years local polls its worst-ever result.A handful of MPs, including Gordhan, have joined calls from anti-apartheid veterans and trade unions for Zuma to resign, as South Africa endures record unemployment and a recession.Zuma has been engulfed by corruption allegations since coming to office in 2009.A court last year found him guilty of violating the constitution after he refused to repay taxpayers money used to refurbish his private rural house.He has been accused of being in the sway of the wealthy Gupta business family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments, contracts and state-owned businesses.He is also fighting a court order that could reinstate almost 800 corruption charges against him over a multi-billion dollar arms deal in the 1990s.Zuma is seen as favouring his ex-wife, former African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to succeed him ahead of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Alhaji Mohammed has insisted that there can be no substitute for President Buhari. Alhaji Mohammed has insisted that there can be no substitute for President Buhari.Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the minister said though the president is being missed, he said the country has remained in steady hands.Mohammed said: There is no doubt that we miss the president but I think the government has been functioning very well. There cant be a substitute for the president, no doubt but I dont think it has gotten to any stage whereby we find the kind of acrimony, agitations that are coming up. It is normal for anybody to be ill.When somebody is ill, there are certain things he cannot do, but we thank God that Mr. President is improving and he will come back very soon. The important thing is that government has been working.We have not missed one single federal executive council meeting since he left. Also, we have not missed one single national economic council meeting. Whatever needs to be done is being done because there are serious consultations between the Acting president and Mr. President and as such, I dont see the hoopla about Mr. President being away. There is pandemonium at Obadeyi bus-stop, Ojokoro axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, as an alleged ritualist was apprehended by resid... There is pandemonium at Obadeyi bus-stop, Ojokoro axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, as an alleged ritualist was apprehended by residents in the area. It was gathered that the suspect was caught when passers-by overheard the voice of a woman allegedly kidnapped by the suspect and his accomplices. Police officers at the scene could not control the crowd who are bent on lynching the suspect. A witness, Adesola John, said passers-by overheard the voice of the allegedly kidnapped woman and began to comb the bridge on the expressway where the suspect was found. A woman was crying for help and people heard her voice and searched under the bridge before they found this man, he said. The woman has not been found and, as you can see, we are still searching. Another witness who pleaded anonymity said there may be many victims trapped underneath. The alleged kidnapper who was arrested on Tuesday morning has been burnt alive by an angry mob. Officials of the Nigerian Army later arrived the scene and made efforts to control the mob. Fire fighters have also arrived to control the fire, while pandemonium still pervades the area. As at the time of filing this report, search for the suspected victim is still ongoing as some soldiers and other security operatives plunge into the dark passageway underneath the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. Another kidnap suspect has been found while security officials search for a kidnap victim in Ojokoro, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The latest suspect allegedly ran out of the other end of the hole being searched by security operatives including soldiers. He was subsequently caught by the mob. The mob was bent on setting him ablaze too, but he was rescued by soldiers who took him away. Soldiers are trying to control the mob while the pandemonium persists. There is heavy traffic as vehicular movement on both sides of the highway has been slowed down by the heavy crowd. The first suspect who was burnt by the mob is yet to be evacuated. Search is still on for the victim, whose cry for help witnesses said they heard. According to a Twitter user, Oluwanifemi an eye witness said the 'Ajale' was uncovered by a female sweeper who heard a victim screaming for help. The ritualists allegedly target pedestrians who ply the road early in the morning and late at night. They drag them into the hole which stretches along the whole road where they are eventually killed. See more photos and read the rest of his tweets below: A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Segun Olulade has said the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode will deal decisively with th... A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Segun Olulade has said the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode will deal decisively with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu if he tries to hold a rally in the State. Olulade made the disclosure while reacting to Kanus recent declaration that he would soon visit Lagos State as part of his sensitization and mobilization of Igbos towards the actualization of Biafra. The lawmaker, who represents Epe constituency II in the State Assembly warned Kanu to steer clear of the state. The Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services stressed that Ambode and people of the state would not fold their hands and allow anyone disturb the peace that is enjoyed by residents in the state. Speaking with The Independent, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services said: I think as a state, we will be ready to curtail any act of insecurity in Lagos state. We will not fold our hands and allow anybody to cause crisis and breakdown of law and order in the state. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will deal decisively with anyone threatening to shut down the state. If any fellow is threatening to shut down our state, he should go back to where he is coming from. He is not welcome in Lagos state. Lagosians will resist it. The government of Lagos will resist it and we will ensure that nobody truncates the peace we enjoy in Lagos. I see his threat to hold a rally and shut down Lagos state as an empty threat. Lagos is not like any other state. The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has emphasized on the importance of acquiring air fighting capabilities for the NAF saying that global experience has shown that air power is critical to the defeat of asymmetric warfare such as the Boko Haram insurgency.Making the disclosure on Tuesday 7th August 2017 while visiting the frontline troops at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Yola, the CAS said, All hands must therefore be on deck to ensure the effective projection of air power to complete the defeat of the Boko Haram challenge.Abubakar consequently urged all the personnel to ensure that all the NAF aircraft committed to Operation Lafiya Dole remained serviceable and operational for the NAF to effectively project air power.He also disclosed that the Service Chiefs had started exploring how to improve the synergy among the 3 Services towards putting a final end to the Boko Haram menace.According to disclosure by Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, Director of NAF Public Relations, Air Marshal Abubakar during the visit expressed appreciation to the NAF personnel for their continuous selfless efforts towards ensuring that Nigerians are able to go about their normal businesses without fear.He also commended their efforts in maintaining aircraft and associated equipment, which had enabled the NAF to fly over 9000 hours in the previous 2 years alone, in prosecution of the counterinsurgency operations.The CAS added that there was no doubt that the security situation in the country had improved but he was quick to add that the NAF could still do more, especially in view of the recent setbacks.Air Marshal Abubakar therefore charged the personnel to redouble their efforts at further ensuring the security of the country, remarking that Nigerians expected more considering the huge taxpayers resources being expended to sustain the operations.In their comments, most of the personnel appreciated the efforts of the NAF leadership in creating a conducive environment to operate.A few highlighted some challenges bordering on operational, training and welfare matters whereas others suggested additional infrastructural development to enable them function better.The CAS promptly addressed all the issues raised, to the satisfaction of the personnel.He subsequently cautioned the personnel on the need to take absolute care of the equipment entrusted in their care as well as to always adhere to all the safety standards and procedures already in place. A 48-year-old man from New Jersey was killed in a motocross accident Saturday afternoon in upstate New York, according to a report on RecordOnline.com. Bart O'Neil, of Waldwick, fell from his bike when landed following a 25-foot-jump at Gotham Mountain Motocross in Rock Hill, Sullivan County. He was then accidentally struck by one or two other riders, who weren't able to avoid him, the report said. O'Neil died at a local hospital a little more than an hour after the 12:30 p.m. accident due to upper body trauma. No charges will be filed, the report said. A steamfitter with Local No. 638 in New York, O'Neil is survived by his wife, son and daughter, parents and many other relatives, according to an online obituary. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts. The study looks at two smaller-scale projects that are in some ways predecessors to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, the $2 billion plan to slow land loss erasing Louisiana's coast. Construction on that project could begin as early as next year, while a similar one on the opposite side of the river known as the Mid-Breton Diversion could follow. At 14, Caylee Olson was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a rare condition in which the body stops producing enough new blood cells. Two years later, her doctors detected a secondary disease, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, which causes her immune system to attack red blood cells. When Caylee learned about Make-A-Wish Iowa and its mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, she knew she wanted to go on a trip with her family. Theyve been so supportive of me during my journey with these disorders, she said. I knew I wanted to go see the ocean for the first time, and I wanted it to be somewhat tropical so I could be on a beach. I chose Turks and Caicos. Counting down the days to my trip I became more and more excited, especially after doing all the research and seeing all the beautiful pictures. Caylees wish experience was more than she imagined. That moment when I first stepped on the beach, I noticed the sand was so white and felt like powdered sugar between my toes, she recalled. The ocean seemed to go on and on for miles, and the water was the most beautiful turquoise blue I had ever seen. It was in that moment that I knew I loved the ocean and felt like I was in paradise. Caylee and her family were able to horseback ride, swim and snorkel during their time in Turks and Caicos. I never knew I would love snorkeling so much! she said. The resort we stayed at was so beautiful and had so much to offer. Wishes are more than just a nice thing. They can be a game-changer for a child with a life-threatening medical condition like Caylee. In those days, I was able to forget I had these blood disorders, and it just felt good to be normal and enjoy life, she said. In May, Caylee graduated from high school, and when looking to the future, she said her disorders and experiences have inspired her career path. I want to be a paramedic. I want to be able to help others and inspire them the way all my doctors continue to help and inspire me. Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Help Make-A-Wish Iowa continue to transform lives, one wish at a time, by supporting the second Taco bout Wishes ride on Aug. 17. Register today at https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=127350 Demand for the 13th Western/Central Iowa Honor Flight is high. As organizers continue to prepare for the trip, Jeff Ballenger, chairman of the Honor Flight organization committee, lamented the fact that a large number of veterans wont be able to make the trip. On Sept. 12, a group of about 240 veterans will make the flight on two 737 jets from Des Moines International Airport to Washington D.C., where theyll visit the Vietnam, World War II and other memorials in the nations capital. Theyll return home that day. There were 450 veterans who applied that the committee is currently unable to accommodate. I knew wed get a lot of applications, I didnt know wed get that many, Ballenger said. You hate to see these guys not be able to go. This will be the committees 13th flight and the first predominantly for Vietnam veterans. Ballenger said hes hopeful with the high demand a donor might be able to step up and make a third plane possible, or possibly fund another Honor Flight in October. Were always open to additional help, Ballenger said. With the event a little more than a month away, Ballenger and others on the committee continue to prepare for the trip. The flight, as currently set up, was made possible after the committee raised $370,000 to fund the excursion. The committee received $200,000 from the Polk County Board of Supervisors, $100,000 from Hy-Vee, $20,000 from Prairie Meadows racetrack and casino in Des Moines and $50,000 in the committees general fund accrued through various donations. Ballenger said the process to get the veterans from Council Bluffs, then Des Moines and eventually Washington takes about 200 volunteers, with people lending their time and expertise on both ends of the trip. Volunteer guardians are enlisted to help with the process, and while a handful will make the flight, the majority stay on the ground. We try to minimize the number of guardians on the plane so we can maximize the number of veterans, Ballenger said. When we get to D.C. were able to count on volunteers from military academies out there or other folks on the ground that meet us there. The nationwide Honor Flight Network started with the first flight in 2005, featuring veterans from Ohio. The western and central Iowa committee organized its first flight in September of 2008 and the September of 2017 flight will be the 13th. The most recent flight, for Korean War veterans, was in 2014. For more information, go online to centraliowahonorflight.org. A video of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchevs 1959 visit to Coon Rapids at the height of the Cold War. The neatly typed script President Herbert Hoover used during his 1929 inaugural address, slightly wrinkled by the rain that doused the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. Sheet music and an audio recording of a 1915 song called Dont Bite the Hand Thats Feeding You, which urged immigrants to stay loyal to the United States during World War I. These documents and dozens more from the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Library of Congress are now available to teachers, students and lifelong learners thanks to a new free online resource that was unveiled today at www.iowaculture.gov. The project is the result of more than a year of research and almost $100,000 in grant funding from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program. The project was designed to help teachers develop lessons around first-hand accounts of major turning points in history, from the Underground Railroad to the Great Depression to the various efforts to desegregate schools throughout the 20th century. About 80 percent of the materials offer a national perspective, while the remaining 20 percent focus on Iowa. Were eager to give people a new tool to dig deeper into the past, State Historical Society of Iowa Administrator Susan Kloewer said in a release. These multimedia documents bring history to life in ways that even the best textbooks simply cant. The primary source sets, as theyre called, will be particularly useful for Iowa teachers, who have been asked to incorporate Iowa history at all grade levels by 2020. The requirement is part of a new set of social studies standards the Iowa State Board of Education adopted earlier this year. Accordingly, the primary source sets are accompanied by an online toolkit to help K-12 teachers guide classroom discussions and nudge their students toward historical investigation. The sets are searchable by subject, time period and grade level. We designed this new resource to be clear and easy to use for teachers so that theyre well-positioned to provide an engaging classroom experience for their students, Stefanie Wager, the social studies consultant for the Iowa Department of Education, said in the release. Wager leads the Iowa History Advisory Council, whose final report on the matter suggested that because Iowa history has been so long neglected, there is a generation of Iowa school children growing up unaware of the impressive lives of distinguished Iowans who are nationally and even internationally recognized or the ways in which important global events had important Iowa connections. It is a deficiency of our own making, and we have the resources and willpower to end it, the report concluded. The time to tell our own stories is now. The direct link to all 12 new primary source sets is: https://iowaculture.gov/history/education/educator-resources/primary-source-sets. AVOCA A water boil order has been issued for the City of Avoca on Tuesday because of a water main break, according to Pottawattamie County Emergency Management. Impacted areas are all residential properties south of the Caseys General Store area at 1019 N Chestnut St. Residents are encouraged to use bottled water or boil water before consuming, cooking or personal hygiene use, such as brushing teeth. The advisory will last for the next 24-48 hours or until tests confirm there is no risk to public health. Pottawattamie County residents can keep updated through the Alert Iowa program. Register at pottcounty-ia.gov. Updates from officials will also be available through social media. For more information, contact Avoca City Hall at 712-343-2424. According to Nebraska law, sexual assault is performed by one person to another without consent of the victim, or if the person knew or should have known the victim was mentally or physically incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of their conduct or when the actor is 19 years of age or older and the victim is at least 12 but less than 16 years old. First-degree sexual assault in Nebraska is a Class II felony punishable by a minimum of one year or a maximum of 50 years imprisonment if convicted. WASHINGTON Donald Trump may have annoyed the wrong man in Congress. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has been ramping up an investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trumps presidential campaign, in addition to the presidents dismissal of former FBI Director James Comey. The plain-spoken Iowa Republican had sharply criticized the administrations initial failure to respond to many lawmakers requests for information. He also hasnt been shy about other topics, including the use of foul language by the recently dismissed White House communications chief, Anthony Scaramucci. Grassleys decision to move full speed ahead on Russia, including threatening Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., and others with subpoenas, will likely force a more public and unpredictable autopsy of topics the administration would rather fade away. Grassley, working with the Judiciary Committees top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, is pressing to uncover any attempts to obstruct justice or influence the presidential election. The senators approach puzzles some of his Republican colleagues. GOP leaders have preferred to keep the Russia probe limited to the Intelligence Committee, a buttoned-down panel that usually conducts its business behind closed doors. Colleagues say Grassley remains a loyal Republican who is merely doing what hes done for decades. He has defended Trump on a range of issues, helped install Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, and has lambasted Democratic leaders. He even criticized the media for hysteria about the Russia investigations. Hes a good conservative, but he loves the institution, and hes got that Iowa sense of fairness, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, who serves on the Judiciary Committee, in an interview. He doesnt go pick a fight, but if you get in a fight with him, youve got a worthy opponent. I think the more you stonewall him, the worse it gets. Earlier this year, some Democrats complained Grassley wasnt doing enough to pursue the Russia matter. Then in June, the committee started delving deeper and the Democrats complaints turned to praise. Grassley said hes investigating for a simple reason: Congress has a responsibility to provide oversight. This is what Chuck Grassley does, Grassley said in an interview at the Capitol last week. They may be new to town, but they surely recognize what Chuck Grassleys reputation is. And if they dont know it, theyve been told, I bet, a hundred times, he said. I think Ive got a pretty good reputation for being what I call an equal-opportunity overseer. Grassley said nobody from the White House has asked him to stop or slow his efforts though Trump has repeatedly tweeted about how the Russia probes are unfair and that Republican lawmakers should be standing by him. Grassleys advocacy has already notched a win, when the White House pledged last month to respond to oversight letters from rank-and-file members in both parties. An earlier legal memo argued that only chairmen were entitled to oversight responses from the administration, prompting a six-page letter of condemnation from Grassley. Shutting down oversight requests doesnt drain the swamp, Mr. President. It floods the swamp, Grassley wrote. Id be doing it if Obama was president, and like I told you, back in the Reagan years, I subpoenaed William French Smith, who was then the attorney general, Grassley said. Grassley, 83, has served in the Senate since 1981 after serving six years in the U.S. House. He was elected to the Iowa State Legislature in 1958. You want to know what I do? he said he asks high school students. Most of you think all we do is pass bills and appropriate money. But thats only half of it. Once weve done that we have a constitutional responsibility to do what the Constitution says. Is the president faithfully executing the laws? Or anybody that works for him? If Trump were to try and dissuade him, it wouldnt work, Grassley said. I treat all presidents the same, Republican or Democrat. Soon after Trump took office, Grassley tweeted to Trump in hopes the administration would respond to senators requests for records so we can do oversight. In June, Grassley wrote a letter blasting a Justice Department opinion arguing that only committee chairmen were authorized to demand responses from the administration. Grassleys Republican colleagues havent directly urged him to back off, although some have questioned the probe to reporters, including second-ranking Senate Republican John Cornyn of Texas. The senator said in June its wholly inappropriate for Judiciary to examine possible obstruction of justice because thats the job of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading a criminal investigation into the Russia matter. We could end up harming the investigation, Cornyn said. Grassley brushed off such comments at the time. They arent chairman of the committee, he said then. Its my jurisdiction. Feinstein said Grassley is terrific to work with. What I know of Grassley is, hes got strong beliefs in whats right and whats wrong, Feinstein said in an interview. He is very honest, very direct, he is without artifice. and hes basically a good man. A little gruff sometimes, but we all have our ways. Among the areas they are probing is unregistered lobbying and advocacy efforts by Russians, Ukrainians and others during last years campaign. That led to Grassleys threat to subpoena the presidents son and campaign manager Paul Manafort if they didnt cooperate with a request for testimony and documents relating to a June 2016 meeting with Russians who promised to deliver incriminating information on Democrat Hillary Clinton. Feinstein said she and Grassley are completing details for what could be two public hearings in late September at which Trump Jr. and Manafort would testify. Chuck Grassley is determined, I think, to uncover the truth about any obstruction of justice involving the firing of Jim Comey or other political interference in the investigation of Russian meddling, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat who serves on the Judiciary Committee, said in an interview. The Senate Intelligence Committee staff already has interviewed Manafort, and the panel also wants to hear from Trump Jr. and others. Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina said Grassleys investigation isnt interfering with his probe, which he said has included interviews with more than 70 people. Im not sure that I understand exactly what theyre trying to do, Burr said in an interview, adding that Judiciary doesnt have access to classified intelligence documents. They tried to subpoena Paul Manafort; we interviewed him, Burr noted. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said its in the committees purview to determine whether the president obstructed justice, why Comey was fired, and why Trump has publicly criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions over his recusal from the Russia probe. As long as those are active questions, I think they are well within the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee, Coons said in an interview. Graham, who has been critical of Trump, points to the firing of Comey and his subsequent testimony to the Intelligence Committee as a turning point for Grassley. Over time, he has gotten much more assertive in terms of the committees jurisdiction, Graham said of Grassley. As the facts have unfolded, more and more of the Russian intrigue is in the Judiciary lane. Obstruction of justice, you know, maybe campaign finance laws being violated. Graham said hes pleased with how Grassley has proceeded. In all the things hes done in his very illustrious career, I think this is one of his finest hours, Graham said. In less than two weeks, the sounds of children will replace the sounds of construction in the new residential treatment complex at the north end of the Childrens Square U.S.A. campus at North Sixth Street and Avenue A. The 23,880-square-foot complex includes three cottages two for boys and one for girls and a shared multipurpose area. All in a single structure. Cottonwood, an existing cottage for girls living at Childrens Square, will remain in service on the campus. Clients and board members toured the new facility during the last board meeting, parents were to get their turn this past weekend and Childrens Square alumni will have an opportunity to tour it during the annual alumni event next weekend. When the kids came in, they were just in awe, Childrens Square President and CEO Carol Wood said. Theyre so excited. Its not a prison-looking place or a hospital-looking place. The new residential treatment complex is, bottom line, not just a great place for the kids who will be living there but a tremendous asset for the community and region served by Childrens Square. The residential treatment complex will replace three existing dormitories that are outdated and no longer meet the safety, supervision and security needs to care for children with significant emotional and behavioral challenges. The new complex will have the necessary bedroom and bathroom configurations, programming space and a storm shelter. Weve never had a storm shelter, Wood said. Lacking a storm shelter in the sometimes-volatile climate of the Midwest, children were directed to take shelter under mattresses in the hallways in the event of a storm. The storm shelter included in the new residential treatment complex will be furnished with tables and chairs so it can be used as a classroom or conference room. The shelter also has restrooms in the event that residents need to be in it for an extended period. After residents move into the new complex now expected to occur around Aug. 18 two of the former cottages on the campus will be converted to temporary school facilities so Childrens Squares academic center, which houses the special education programs for grades 1 through 12, can be renovated. Housed in a 5,380-square-foot, two-story building the academic center was originally built in 1913 as a dormitory. To accommodate the special education programs, the building was divided into six classrooms. In addition to kids in the Childrens Square residential program, the academic center serves students in the Council Bluffs community and surrounding school district who qualify for the facilitys level of special education instruction. Among the problems that will be addressed with the renovation are the buildings lack of space for a library, computer lab and lunchroom. The building is also not currently handicapped accessible and has just one bathroom stall on each floor. The construction and renovation project was financed through Childrens Squares $9 million Better Spaces, Brighter Futures capital campaign. Co-chairs for the drive were Dr. Alan Fisher and Dick Miller, and their wives, Cordie Fisher and the late Deanna Miller. Honorary co-chairs for the campaign were Mayor Matt Walsh and his wife, Barbara; the late Bill Ramsey and his wife, Pat; and Maria Fernandez. Its an amazing building, and it wouldnt have been possible with the community stepping up to give so generously, Wood said. For those taking a more all-encompassing view, the work at Childrens Square is, in our view, yet another example of the willingness of Council Bluffs and area residents to step up to address the challenges that face the community and the region in building a brighter future. Farmers manage crops, maintain equipment and market products, often while balancing a second job and family demands. Adding a dispute with a crop insurance company is the last thing farmers need. Kevin Glanz, a farmer near Manchester, has planted cover crops for five years. Cover crops are usually grasses or legumes planted between crop rotations to suppress weeds, manage soil erosion and help soil quality. Last year, his crop insurance agent raised concerns. After three in-person inspections as part of a quality control audit, Kevin understood if he filed a claim in the fall, his loss may not be covered due to a cover crop practice. Crop insurance is managed by the federal government, which underwrites policies. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has established Good Farming Practices to help define good crop management and stewardship. However, Good Farming Practices does not address cover crops, so there is an additional set of guidelines that direct when farmers should terminate cover crops before planting their main crop to remain eligible for crop insurance. In 2015, the government spent nearly $8 billion on administering crop insurance, including support for farmers crop insurance bills (or premiums), indemnities, and expense reimbursement to crop insurance companies. Congress is beginning work on the next farm bill, and we urge our elected representatives to consider policies that encourage crop insurance companies to support conservation practices, such as cover crops. Farmers and good stewards like Kevin need to know they can depend on their crop insurance. Anna Johnson Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, Nebraska Fight for your rights Its turning into a long hot summer for the emerging global counter-economy. In June and July, an international group of law enforcement agencies took down two of the largest dark web marketplaces, Hansa and Alphabay. Then on July 25, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued a weird, barely coherent, press release seemingly kinda sorta but not exactly declaring its own plenary authority over all things cryptocurrency. The U.S. Department of Justice announced its indictment of cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e for money laundering even as one of the sites admins, Alexander Vinnik, was arrested in Greece. What were seeing is the latest bit of backlash from a political establishment scared witless by technologies which threaten to make it superfluous. A friend of mine who writes under the pseudonym dL notes that the trajectory of technology follows a repeated path. When first introduced, it gives an asymmetric advantage to the individual. Over time, the state catches up and the asymmetric advantage shifts to the state. Maybe hes right. Maybe the political class will be able to nip a bright future in the bud and maintain its grip on power. On the other hand, Victor Hugo seemed quite sure that one withstands the invasion of armies; one does not withstand the invasion of ideas. We stand at the doorway of a future featuring money without borders, work and trade without permission. That future represents existential crisis for the political class: The end of the state as we know it. Absent the ability to tax and regulate its host, the parasite known as government starves and dies. The situation is equally dire for the rest of us. High-profile takedowns like the Silk Road, Alphabay, Hansa and BTC-e, large as they loom in the moment, are speed bumps. The road to the future remains open, and the only way to plausibly close that road off entirely is to essentially pull the plug on every technological development since the introduction of the personal computer. Theres no doubt that the American and global political classes are willing to go there. Any number of regimes have done so on a temporary and semi-effectual basis in times of unrest, and American politicians have seriously proposed ideas like an Internet Kill Switch. The excuse for such proposals is to protect us from terrorists and drug dealers, but make no mistake: Their real purpose is to protect our rulers from us. Thomas L. Knapp, Florida The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners received its preliminary budget for 2017-18 on Monday. Susan Maline, a CPA from McChesney Martin Sagehorn, P.C., presented the budget to the board. The total proposed property tax request of $12.62 million will be just short of 1 percent less than last years request of $12.74 million. The proposed tax rate is $0.25678, down from $0.26885. The tax rate has been going down each year, Maline said. She noted that the proposed rate was based on preliminary valuations and that final numbers wont be available until later this month. Usually this is pretty close to what it will be in the end. The proposed budget totals $39.9 million. You have an unused authority of $528,135, which is a positive number, which is a good thing, Maline said. She noted that there were a few legislative changes to the budgeting process. The county is no longer able to budget for 5 percent delinquent tax additions to the tax request, Maline said, and highway allocation funds are no longer included in the restricted funds. Some changes could be made to the budget document, Maline said. There will be a few tweaks well have to make as we go forward, but they wont be major, Maline said. A public hearing regarding the budget is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sept. 11 in the Commissioners Room of the Lincoln County Courthouse. A second hearing will follow at 10:30 a.m. regarding setting the final tax request. During Mondays meeting the board also: Authorized the chairman to sign an agreement with Union Pacific and the Nebraska Department of Transportation for the Maxwell southeast rail crossing. Heard comments from Shirley Hubbard, a Lincoln County citizen, about property valuations. Reappointed Deputy County Clerk Terry Heessel to the Lincoln County Safety Committee for a three-year term. Adopted a resolution directing the county treasurer to issue tax sale certificates to Lincoln County on parcels that are two years delinquent on real estate taxes or special assessments Authorized the chairman to sign a special designated liquor permit submitted by Sculleys LLC for a reception Aug. 26 at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds Authorized the Lincoln County attorney and her deputies to draft necessary documents and negotiate with the appropriate entities so the application requirements can be met for a grant from Nebraska Game and Parks Commissions Recreational Trail Program for a 0.6-mile section of trail near Lake Maloney. The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meets at 9 a.m. every Monday in the Commissioners Room of the Lincoln County Courthouse. PenAir has announced plans to discontinue its flights between North Platte and Denver. Alaska-based PenAir has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization and plans to close scheduled service at its Denver and Portland, Oregon, hubs over the next 90 days. Last week, the airline announced the termination of regional routes in the Portland area as part of a cost-cutting plan. On Monday, PenAir announced that it has requested the closure of its Denver hub, pending approval from the Department of Transportation. If the request is approved, customers who have purchased tickets to fly into Denver will be eligible for full refunds from PenAir, said Melissa Roberts, PenAirs vice president of marketing and sales. Mayor Dwight Livingston said he was very saddened by the news of the filing. He said PenAir is a good company who tried to provide a valuable service to our citizens. We were caught off guard, said Mike Sharkey, manager of the North Platte Regional Airport. PenAirs decision will affect EAS routes operating between Denver and North Platte, Kearney and Scottsbluff as well as Liberal and Dodge City, Kansas. Once approved by the Department of Transportation, the transition will take 30-90 days, according to the statement from PenAir. Sharkey said it may take longer. He said the Department of Transportation will send out a request for proposals to other airlines to find a replacement for PenAir. Once an airline is selected, it will need to develop contracts, set up a Denver hub, figure out pricing and take other steps to prepare to take on customers in North Platte. I would say itd be four to five months from today before we could expect a new airline, Sharkey said. Because of the terms of PenAirs contract, it is required to continue providing service to the North Platte airport until a suitable replacement is found and can provide daily flights to Denver, Sharkey said. He noted that a Chapter 11 filing is different from a Chapter 7 filing. Its not a Chapter 7, where they just close their doors and go away, Sharkey said. As far as we know, were not going to lose our service to Denver. PenAir CEO and Chairman Denny Seybert said in a statement that the reorganization will allow PenAir to emerge as a stronger airline, while continuing our focus on safe operations. PenAirs first flight from North Platte to Denver took off last November, after the airline was selected to serve the area last April. Seven airlines bids to serve the area had been reviewed by a committee led by Livingston. The Department of Transportation then approved the committees choice. PenAir also services Kearney and Scottsbluff. Scottsbluff officials have said there have been problems with the airline. Last month the Western Nebraska Regional Airport Authority requested permission from the Department of Transportation to seek new airline bids before its contact with PenAir was up. Chairman Don Overman told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald that the proposed contract termination stemmed from high cancellation and delay rates. In July, Sharkey had defended the airline, stating that while there were some startup issues, it was improving. He said the airlines problems stemmed from restrictions put in place by the federal government. In separate statements about PenAirs announcement, U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith and Sen. Deb Fischer expressed commitment to preserving Essential Air Service. Commercial air service is necessary to connect rural communities with the national transportation network, and todays announcement from PenAir on discontinuing its service in Kearney, North Platte and Scottsbluff is causing understandable concern among Nebraskans, Smith said. I have long supported the Essential Air Service and fought against federal regulations threatening our small airports. Despite this discouraging news, I will keep working with the impacted airports to help ensure continued access to air service, which is a crucial tool for economic development in these communities. Fischer said: Todays news regarding PenAir is concerning for Nebraskans, especially those in our states rural areas and the Panhandle. Reliable air service connects our families, businesses and communities to the rest of our country and the world. As Congress considers the FAA reauthorization this year, I will continue to shore up support for the Essential Air Service program. I will also work to reduce burdensome regulations that harm Nebraskas small and community airports by reducing the number of available pilots and increasing service costs. LINCOLN Lawyers sparred over issues of credibility and relevancy as the states hearings on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline began Monday. Witnesses testifying on behalf of pipeline developer TransCanada spent the day defending the adequacy of its application for the 275-mile route across Nebraska, and even the accuracy of its projections that the $8 billion project would generate 4,000 construction jobs and millions of dollars in additional property taxes. Dave Domina, the lawyer for landowners opposed to the pipeline, questioned why no one representing the actual applicant for the pipeline route, TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, would be testifying during the scheduled, week-long hearings before the Nebraska Public Service Commission. The chief testifier for the pipeline was Tony Palmer, the head of two TransCanada subsidiaries. Domina said that if a grain warehouse wanted to open in Nebraska, the PSC would expect the owner to come and testify, not the head of a subsidiary who, according to Palmer, owned .02 percent of the project. Its important for my clients because we want to know who were dealing with, said the attorney, who suggested that the multiple layers of TransCanada subsidiaries was a way to dodge responsibility and liability for pipeline problems. Palmer disputed that in his testimony, saying that his subsidiaries, which will manage the Keystone XL, will abide by all conditions and laws. He also fended off speculation that the pipeline may never be built because its no longer needed by oil shippers. We are highly committed to this project, Palmer said. Weve sought it for nine years and we need approval for it from this body. During grilling by Domina, Creighton University economist Ernie Goss admitted that his socio-economic report on the benefits of the pipeline project was mostly an update of a report generated by a pro-pipeline group based in Houston, the Consumer Energy Alliance. I assumed their study was on the up and up, said Goss, after checking up on the organization via the Internet and by talking to members of the Nebraska Legislature. He added that while his study was not peer-reviewed, he was confident in its conclusions, which he called conservative. Domina bore into the economic benefits that Goss had projected for Keya Paha County, a rural county with fewer than 800 residents that the pipeline would cross. The lawyer voiced doubts about Goss projections that the Keystone XL would create .2 of a job and generate $217,000 in yearly labor benefits in that county. Goss said his projection included money earned by self-employed residents from the pipeline project, and not just the one-fifth new job created in Keya Paha County. This week, I am leading a trade mission to Canada. The importance of Canada as a trading partner that is helping grow Nebraska cannot be overstated. Canada is Nebraskas largest export market and fourth largest agriculture export market. In 2016, total agricultural exports from Nebraska to Canada equaled an estimated $468 million out of a total agriculture export value of $5.4 billion. In addition to our important trade relationship, Nebraska and Canada are both celebrating our 150th birthdays this year, a special occasion which we will be highlighting along the way. Our historic partnership is why I chose to lead what is quite possibly the first-ever, governor-led Nebraska trade mission to Canada. Why travel to Canada when Nebraska already has such a great relationship? We cannot take our best customers for granted. Appreciation is one of the most important aspects of any partnership, so we are taking the time to thank our largest export market for their business while solidifying our current relationships with government officials and investors. This mission can also help open new doors and new opportunities for Nebraska ag producers and businesses looking to grow. The timing of this trade mission is critical, as negotiations between the United States, Canada and Mexico are set to begin on the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA has been pivotal to growing Nebraska agriculture, our states No. 1 industry. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, exports from Nebraska to free-trade agreement markets grew 104 percent from 2005 to 2015, with growth in NAFTA trade far outpacing our trade with other partners. As NAFTA negotiations have begun, Nebraska ag producers and I have been working together to showcase how critical this agreement is to the future of the farm families who help grow our state. This week, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Economic Development, as well as ag producers will be joining the mission. During our visit we will share the story of Nebraska and the high quality commodities produced by our farm and ranch families with current and potential investors. While in Canada, we will sit down for a roundtable discussion with the United States Consul General for Toronto, as well as a reception and meal featuring Nebraska beef that will be hosted by the Minister Counselor for Agricultural Affairs. Nebraska beef products are Nebraskas number one agricultural export to Canada, totaling $138.2 million in 2015. My cabinet directors and I will also have the opportunity to meet directly with the Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. This meeting will provide us an opportunity to share our thanks for the market access Nebraska products enjoy in Canada as well as a conversation about future growth opportunities. Additionally, we plan to meet with the Canadian Pork Council and the Canadian Cattlemen Association at the U.S. Embassy. Pork is Nebraskas third highest agricultural export to Canada, providing $61.3 million of exports. We look forward to sharing Nebraskas beef and pork story with these two organizations. During the trade mission, participants will also receive a number of briefings on trade issues. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is hosting a workshop on the Safe Foods for Canadians Act. This workshop, which is also open to Canadian businesses, will allow for an open discussion about how the Act will change the way we export food products to Canada. During visits with the U.S. Consulate in Toronto and the US Embassy in Ottawa, the delegation will learn more about Canadas economic and social structures and how those affect the Nebraska manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Trade missions like these have allowed Nebraska to build on relationships that have been helping grow our state for 150 years. Nebraska has achieved great growth through trade over the years because of an ongoing commitment by our agriculture and business communities to raising Nebraskas international profile. As work begins on modernizing NAFTA, it is more important than ever that we demonstrate our appreciation for our states largest customer, and this trade mission will help do just that. We often hear that Congress cant work together, or that Republicans and Democrats are unable to find compromises on behalf of the American people. While there are days when that seems true, I want to highlight a few recent cases where I have joined with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to pass meaningful legislation to help the lives of Nebraskans. I think they prove that when we work together, Congress can be effective. Right before I headed to Nebraska for the summer work period, the Senate approved three bipartisan bills I have been working on with my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee. The legislation included Karis Law, the Spoofing Prevention Act and the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act. These bills would help keep Nebraskans safe and make important telecommunications updates. In December 2013, Kari Hunt was murdered in a Texas hotel room. As this assault unfolded, Karis 9-year-old daughter desperately dialed 911 for help. The call did not go through. Like millions of American children, Karis daughter knew that 911 was for emergencies, but they were in a hotel room. The phone required her to press 9 to reach an outside line, something a 9-year-old would never think to do. Everyone should be able to access 911 during an emergency. Thats why I teamed up with Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to fix this obvious flaw in our phone systems. We introduced Karis Law, legislation that requires multiline telephone systems (MLTS), commonly found in hotels and offices, to enable direct access to 911. Emergency calls should be standard no matter where you are. By having phone companies change how MLTS work, Karis Law ensures families can call for the help they need, especially when traveling and staying in hotels. The Senate also worked together to pass a law protecting some of the most vulnerable in our society from fraudulent scams. I joined Senators Bill Nelson, D-Fla., to introduce and help pass the Spoofing Prevention Act of 2017. Spoofing, the deliberate falsification of telephone numbers and/or names through caller ID, has become a major problem for Nebraskans and law enforcement. Thieves are often posing as the IRS or FBI to trick people, especially the elderly, into handing over banking information. This practice is so common that over the past few years the FBI has posted warnings about scammers using the Bureaus identification to target Nebraskans. Our bipartisan coalition joined together to help stop these scams. The Spoofing Prevention Act cracks down on spoofing by prohibiting the practice on all voice calls, including calls made over the internet. It also bans caller ID spoofing via text messaging. Finally, our bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report on how the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission are combatting spoofing. Weve been working together to promote prosperity and entrepreneurialism, as well. Earlier this year, I joined Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, to reintroduce the DIGIT Act, a bill to open up lines of communication between the private and public sector to spur innovation. This legislation will help our state build on the success of the Silicon Prairie in Lincoln and Omaha. It promotes the Internet of Things by streamlining regulations and convening a working group to prevent potential problems, such as regulatory silos, a circumstance where poor communication between agencies and innovators creates duplicative or inefficient regulations. Government regulators shouldnt stand in the way of great American ideas and creativity. The DIGIT Act helps the identify outdated regulations that only act as obstacles to innovation and success. Americans are creative and know how to build a safe, successful society. These three bills show how effective senators can be when we work together to serve our constituents. I am hopeful that the Senate can find more common ground to help the American people. Forbes Magazine named Valparaiso University one of "America's Top Colleges" and one of the top 75 schools in the Midwest. Forbes, which is known for lists such as The World's Billionaires, The Celebrity 100 and the World's 100 Highest Paid Athletes, named the private Lutheran school with an enrollment of around 4,500 students the 72nd best college in the Midwest based on factors such as alumni salary, graduation rate, academic success, postgraduate success, student debt and the student experience. "Schools that offer the best return on investment rank highest on Forbes list. At Valparaiso University, graduate placement has exceeded 90 percent for 24 consecutive years, and the student loan default rate of 3.5 is well below the national average of 11.3," the university said in a statement. "Valparaiso Universitys excellent graduate placement rate is a direct result of high-quality academic programming delivered by gifted and passionate faculty at a reasonable cost. Valpo awards more than $100 million to undergraduate students annually, with 93 percent of students receiving financial assistance through scholarships, grants, loans and/or campus employment." Valparaiso University ranked 231st in Forbes' list of private colleges, and 337th out of all colleges. The university, which charges $36,160 a year in tuition, got a C+ in Forbes Financial Grade, which looks at factors such as tuition as a percentage of core revenues, endowment assets, return on assets and core operating margin. The school placed 172nd in the 2017 Grateful Grads Index, a survey of alumni satisfaction that ranks the "Top 200 Best-Loved Colleges" nationally. This year, U.S. News & World Report also named Valparaiso University the 4th Best Regional University and No. 1 in the Midwest for Best Value and Best Undergraduate Teaching. The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is in line to receive a $9.85 million federal grant that would help bulk up its infrastructure to handle multimodal containers that can be loaded onto ships, barges, trucks or trains. The U.S. Department of Transportation is recommending partial federal funding for a $19.7 million expansion that also will boost the port's cargo handling capacity. The Indianapolis-based Ports of Indiana, a quasi-government agency that's run like an independent business, would fund the other half of the cost. "Indiana has one of the premier inland ports systems in North America. This project will increase our state's ability to attract and grow multimodal business in Northwest Indiana," Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said. "Our Lake Michigan port provides critical access to ocean vessels, Great Lakes ships and river barges that connect Indiana companies to the world. Further investment into this port will only strengthen the tremendous economic impact it generates for our state each year." The planned expansion would include a new 2.3-acre cargo terminal for transfers of multimodal containers, 4.4 miles of rail, and two new rail yards that could store 165 rail cars, accommodate a 90-car train and switch trains onto other tracks. Other projects would include the addition of 1,200 feet of usable dock space, a new 6-acre truck marshaling yard, the extension of a retaining wall on the west dock and the repaving of a dock apron. "These investments in Northwest Indiana will allow the Port of Indiana to increase its multimodal freight-handling capabilities to help meet anticipated future demand," Ports of Indiana Chief Executive Officer Rich Cooper said. "Our port companies and stevedores will benefit tremendously with this significant new infrastructure investment that will enhance productivity and efficiency for those who rely on the port's water, rail and highway connections. Our Portage port is regarded as one of the premier ports on all of the Great Lakes because of our continued reinvestments into the facility. This grant will permit us to further accelerate our investments to help attract new companies and new cargoes to the region." The funding one of 10 FASTLANE small project grants for 2017 is not guaranteed. Congress could vote to block the port expansion or any other similarly funded project within the next 60 days. Indianas ports are economic drivers for our state that help create jobs and support our states manufacturing," said U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind. "I was proud to support the Ports of Indianas application because this grant will help Burns Harbor increase its capacity and efficiency, expanding economic opportunities for Indiana. The project has bipartisan support from both of Indiana's senators. Infrastructure means jobs. Indiana is investing where it matters to attract business and help existing businesses grow and hire more," said U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind. "The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor FASTLANE grant will help strengthen the Hoosier economy and, in the Senate, I will continue to support efforts to enhance infrastructure vital to our state and nation. Faces of the Region: Here's a look at some of the new faces you'll find teaching at Region schools this year DOLTON Illinois State Police said two carjacking suspects were in custody Tuesday night following a police pursuit and subsequent officer-involved shooting on the Bishop Ford near 130th Street. State police said they are assisting Dolton police with the case. The Dolton Police Department was involved in a pursuit for a vehicle wanted out of Hazel Crest, Illinois, state police said. The pursuit led to an officer shooting one of two suspects at about 2:19 p.m. Tuesday on the Bishop Ford near 130th Street, state police said. The suspects fled on foot and a pursuit ensued, according to state police. One of the suspects was shot and transported to an area hospital. As of 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, the northbound lanes of the Bishop Ford in the area of the pursuit remained closed to traffic to block off the crime scene. For some time, police were searching in the area for a possibly armed suspect involved in the earlier car hijacking. Both individuals were in custody as of 7:30 p.m., state police said. HAMMOND Presentation of evidence opened Monday afternoon in the public corruption trial of Lake County Sheriff John Buncich. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Benson told jurors Buncich sold his office to pay off his campaign debts in his opening statement to the jury. Benson told jurors they will see video and hear audio tapes of the sheriff personally accepting bribe money from tow truck drivers. You will see the sheriff taking money and putting it in his back pocket," Benson said Monday afternoon in an opening statement where he pointed his finger at the sheriff, seated at the defense table. The sheriff remained passive during these accusations. One of Buncich's lawyers, Bryan M. Truitt, of Valparaiso, said in his opening statement the sheriff did nothing wrong. "The FBI tried to buy a crime where one didn't exist." The first witness Benson called was Scott Jurgensen, owner of Samsons Towing, of Merrillville. He was cross-examined by Larry W. Rogers, of Valparaiso, Buncich's other attorney. Buncich is pleading not guilty to six counts of wire fraud and bribery alleging he corruptly used his authority over towing contracts to enrich himself by soliciting and accepting cash and campaign contributions. Jurgensen, a 20-year veteran of the Merrillville Police Department, said he got into towing after a back injury ended his police career. Jurgensen said he experienced difficulty getting contracts to do towing for local police departments including Merrillville's. He said an FBI agent asked him why and he answered, "I don't pay bribes." He said the agent asked him to start paying the bribes as a confidential informant of an FBI investigation. Jurgensen said he balked initially because he feared for the safety of his family. He said he agreed after an FBI agent told him, "Evil men prosper because good men do nothing." He said the FBI paid him more than $130,000 over five years for his work and the expenses involved, including bribe money. Jurgensen said he already was on the sheriff's approved tow list before he became an informant and started paying bribes because he was a friend of Timothy Downs, the sheriff's second-in-command. But he began working with William Szarmach, a Lake Station towing firm owner who said he was cold to the sheriff. They agreed to jointly pay bribes to increase the work they received from county police. "I knew that if I wanted to stay on the tow list, I had to pay," Jurgensen said. Jurgensen said Downs and Daniel Murchek, the sheriff's third-in-command, brought him the sheriff's campaign fundraising tickets, and he bought thousands of dollars of tickets even though he never went to the fundraising events. Jurgensen said he was prepared to support Downs for sheriff once Buncich left office because of term limits, but Downs later backed out after Dan Murchek opened his own campaign for sheriff. He said he gave Murchek campaign contributions and Murchek promised him a county police towing list that would be shorter than Buncich's. Jurgensen said he and Szarmach met personally with the sheriff and made payments to him several times last year and Jurgensen said he recorded the meetings without the sheriff's knowledge. He said at one meeting, in April 2016, Szarmach invited the sheriff to look at Szarmach's new truck. The sheriff went inside and came out with what appeared to be thousands of dollars in cash Szarmach left on the seat. Jurgensen said he gave the sheriff an envelope containing money too and he and Szarmach later got exclusive work to tow derelict cars in Gary, which allowed the sheriff to enforce cars in violation of the city's ordinances. Jurgensen said he later gave the sheriff $7,500 to get exclusive towing rights in the town of New Chicago. He said the sheriff said he would speak with Sue Pelfrey, then a town councilwoman, on Jurgensen's behalf. Jurgensen said he later got sole towing rights in the town. Larry W. Rogers, who is part of Buncich's defense team, questioned Jurgensen how he knew others were paying the sheriff bribes. Jurgensen said he trusted those who told him so, including Szarmach and Downs. Jurgensen said he believes the sheriff had sole authority over who stayed on the approved towing list. He said after he became identified as a confidential informant for the FBI in the bribery case, he said the county stopped sending him towing work. Benson told the court he expects to begin presenting video and audio surveillance as early as Tuesday. Check back at nwi.com for updates to this story. INDIANAPOLIS A southwestern Indiana state representative on Tuesday became the fifth candidate to declare that he's running for the state's Republican U.S. Senate nomination, as another expected candidate is set to imminently announce his bid. State Rep. Mike Braun, R-Jasper, is emphasizing his record as owner of a nationwide auto parts distribution company in his appeal for support among Hoosier Republicans. "I made my career in the private sector. Our country needs more people who can tackle big issues from perspectives gained from running a business and not a career politician's perspective," Braun said. "I've spent my life building a business and creating jobs." Braun said that experience would be especially useful in the Senate where "we need leaders who understand the real consequences of the failure of our federal government and are capable of delivering solutions for Hoosiers on issues like health care and tax reform." Similar to U.S. Rep. Luke Messer, R-Shelbyville, the current front-runner in the race, Braun said he stands side-by-side with Republican President Donald Trump, and pledged to reinforce Trump's efforts "as he takes on the D.C. swamp." "Last year's presidential election showed that Hoosiers know outsiders with business experience are the country's best hope to fix the broken political system in Washington," Braun said. Braun is serving a second term in the Indiana House where he's a member of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee, and this year co-sponsored legislation hiking fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees to pay for road and bridge improvements throughout the state. Federal campaign finance records show Braun is running well behind Messer in fundraising for the Senate race. But Braun likely will dip into his personal fortune to get his campaign off the ground. The contest is due to take another turn in coming days when U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Brownsburg, confirms his entry. The Munster native has been fundraising and quietly building a campaign team for months in the hope of winning the GOP primary and denying re-election to U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind. Three additional Republicans, so far, also are running for Indiana's Republican U.S. Senate nomination: Hamilton County businessman Terry Henderson; Kokomo attorney Mark Hurt; and Floyds Knobs educator Andrew Takami. LAPORTE Among the two newest candidates in the mayoral race is a man better known, perhaps, as a hillbilly character named Ruffas, a persona that has built an online following. Unlike his shirtless character wearing a straw hat and bib overalls, Tom Obertein, 50, is a business owner with a professional background in marketing and promotions. Obertein said he wants to be taken seriously in his quest to become mayor of LaPorte. On Monday, he and Spencer England joined the mayor's race, which now has at least eight candidates. The deadline to file candidacy papers is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. England, 41, works in commercial sales and marketing for Bath Fitter out of Chicago. He ran against Milo in the 2010 mayoral race. England, who was active locally in the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, said his action plan for the city includes a more aggressive fight against heroin, continued upgrading of the streets and enhancing the sense of community that has been building under Milo by including more residents in the process. While he's open to visitors, England said, "We have no interest in becoming a suburb of Chicago." Obertein, 50, said he wants to further the progress achieved by Milo during her more than 5 1/2 years as mayor. Attracting more higher-paying jobs and combating the drug problem are among his top priorities. Obertein, who came to LaPorte two years ago from Chicago, said his experience can help tap into the growing interest here from investors in Illinois. "You got to make sure you got somebody in office who knows how to deal with these people when they're coming," Obertein said. He operates LaPorte's Best Kept Secret, a store on McClung Road. He uses his Ruffas character to advertise his store and give updates on the latest specials. Also running for mayor are Leigh Morris, Mark Krentz, Geoff Sellers, Paul Boardman, Roger Galloway and Tim Stabosz. LaPorte's 20 GOP precinct committeepersons will gather at 5:30 p.m. Friday to select a replacement for outgoing mayor Blair Milo, who is leaving for Indianapolis to become a member of Governor Eric Holcomb's cabinet. Milo, 34, will officially become Indiana's first secretary of Career Connection & Talent Monday. The position was created by the governor to address the 700,000 jobs expected to be vacated by retiring baby boomers and the 300,000 new jobs projected over the coming decade. HAMMOND Kurt Koch's wife made sure her husband received recognition Monday for his meritorious service, while the humble award winner made sure to praise others who sacrificed for their nation. "The heroes are the ones that are continuing to sacrifice," said Koch of the disabled veterans who returned from service with severe physical and emotional wounds. "I mean you see them every day and those are the ones that we need to reach out and help." Koch spoke after receiving the Bronze Star for his distinguished service in Vietnam where he served as an Army Ranger with Company H of the 75th Infantry. The award was presented by U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., at a surprise ceremony in the office of Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. Koch, who serves as a city building commissioner, was attending a staff meeting with others when Koch's wife, Joyce, accompanied by Young and U.S. Sen. Joseph Donnelly, D-Ind., entered the room. Joyce Koch put the plan in motion to have her husband recognized several months ago. Her husband was going through some of his military documents, she said, when he exclaimed, "Oh, my God, honey I won the Bronze Star and never knew it." Joyce Koch said she could see the spark in her husband's eye and lump in his chest as he made the discovery and believed she had to do something for him. Through a series of events, Joyce Koch found out one of her Hammond neighbors was a retired colonel who works on the Bronze Star committee. She contacted him and he forwarded the application for the medal to Young's office, which took the necessary steps to ensure Koch would get the medal. When Young's office said the senator would like to make the presentation himself, Joyce Koch said "my heart stopped" and with the assistance of Mark McLaughlin, who has served as McDermott's chief of staff, she set up Monday's surprise presentation. "He doesn't like to draw attention to himself," said Joyce Koch of her husband, "but I knew I had to do this for him." Young said presenting such an award is one of the greatest privileges he has as a U.S. senator. "This is awarded for great heroism and meritorious achievement on behalf of our country," he told Koch as he made the presentation. "Thank you, sir, for your service with the 75th Infantry Division in Vietnam." McDermott, himself a Navy veteran, said he had not realized before recently that Koch had earned a Bronze Star. "It's a great honor," he said. Young said Koch's words in response to the award, where he spoke of the need to help disabled veterans, were "spot on. He took the time as a real hero would that there were others who made great sacrifices." For Koch, something stood out above everything else on Monday, which was that "my wife would go to those lengths for me. That meant more than anything else." CROWN POINT Practice apparently doesn't make perfect when it comes to William Dolick's success at apple peeling. "I ain't peeled an apple until last year's event," Dolick quipped. Dolick, 80, a retired farmer from Reynolds, Indiana, was a cut above eight other competitors in the apple peeling contest at the Lake County Fair. The apple peeling contest was held Monday inside the Lakeshore Public Media Showcase tent and was part of the Senior Citizens Day, sponsored by Franciscan Alliance. "I won," Dolick shouted after hearing his name announced as the winning apple peeler. Zach Fraley measured Dolick's continuous apple peel at 44 inches. "It must be in the wrist," Fraley said. Dolick has taken first place three times in a row at previous Lake County Fair events, including one year when his peel measured 75 inches. "I tied with someone else and so I had to do it again. I ended up winning," Dolick said. Pat Gilarski, 78, of Gary, quietly ate her peeled apple after checking in at 36.5 inches for a second-place win. Gilarski, who has had previous first place wins at the event, said she had practiced but on a different type of apple. "Through the years I've been practicing on a green apple," Gilarski said. In her younger years as a housewife, Gilarski said she had peeled many an apple to use in her homemade apple pies. "There is nothing better than a fresh apple pie," Gilarski said. Ariana Benitez, 24, of Merrillville, who placed third with her 35 inch peel, is far from being in the senior category age wise but she enjoyed time spent with them. "I've worked with senior citizens and I'm at home with seniors," Benitez said. Contestant Mary Kapitan, of Crown Point, complained the the red apples selected this year for the competition weren't good for peeling. Similar complaints were lodged by contestant Robin Littrell, whose peel measured slightly over 18 inches. "I need a lot of practice," Littrell said. Other events as part of the Senior Citizens Day included a king and queen crowning as well as the free health tests, information and activities presented by Franciscan Alliance. Joe Dejanovic, Franciscan Alliance spokesman, estimated there were 600 to 700 seniors taking part in the screenings. "This is one of our biggest crowds in the 15 years we've been doing this at the fair," Dejanovic said. Dejanovic said that a few years ago a woman came to the fair, had her blood pressure taken and found it to be in the high range. "She thanked us because she was able to go and do something about it," Dejanovic said. HAMMOND The Northwest Indiana Symphony returns to The Pavilion at Wolf Lake Friday night for its annual concert there. Music selections include songs from "JFK," "Star Wars" and "Spider-Man" among others. The parking lot opens at 6 p.m., the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. Parking is free as is admission. In case of rain, the concert moves to Calumet College of St. Joseph, 2100 New York Ave. Any change in location will be determined by 1 p.m. The concert is sponsored by Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and the Hammond Port Authority. The Pavilion at Wolf Lake is at 2324 Calumet Ave., Hammond. Brazil's President Michel Temer speaks during a ceremony in Sao Paulo, Brazil August 7, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's President Michel Temer vowed Monday to "unite" the country and called the division caused by the country's political crisis "unacceptable." "It is unacceptable that Brazilians go up against Brazilians. We must unite Brazil," said Temer in a speech in Sao Paulo. Temer survived a vote by the Chamber of Deputies, which exonerated him of corruption charges, but criticized the "excess of emotions" that has seen government and opposition supporters clash on the streets and online. He praised the mayor of Sao Paulo, Joao Doria, who is seen as a potential presidential candidate, for seeking solutions. "We need solutions. I see that Doria works with conciliation, always adding and joining," he said. "Doria understands the problems of the country like nobody. His vision is not local, it is also national." However, the Workers' Party (PT) seemed very likely to continue its vociferous opposition to Temer. The country has seen a slew of new membership applications in July, despite a corruption conviction for its figurehead, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, which saw him condemned to 9.5 years in prison. Remaining free while appealing his case, Lula and the PT are preparing for a recruitment drive in the northeast of Brazil. In July, the party has said it signed up 5,141 new members. The Globo television network revealed Monday that Lula will personally sign the membership cards of new members in the states of Pernambuco and Paraiba. Lula is adamant that he will run for election in 2018 even though his sentence bars him from public office. Seen as a strong Plan B by the party, the former mayor of Sao Paulo, Fernando Haddad, will accompany the trip. The poorer northeast of Brazil has always been a strong base of support for Lula and the PT, with the former president having been born in Pernambuco. LAPORTE COUNTY Law enforcement are urging drivers to take caution near school buses as students across the county begin school over the next several days. With the increase in car and foot traffic near schools, motorists should pay attention to areas with reduced speed limits and when school guards are helping children cross streets, a news release from the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office emphasized. Drivers each year refuse to stop for school buses with a stop-arm extended and lights activated while loading or unloading children, police said. Violators are subject to arrest and can be charged with a class B misdemeanor, police said. The only exception is when a driver and a school bus are on a divided highway including U.S. 35, south of LaPorte. OGDEN DUNES A 15-year-old Portage High School student counts herself lucky to be alive after nearly drowning in Lake Michigan. Julianna Ramirez-Martinez, one of five teens pulled from Lake Michigan on July 27, got the chance on Monday to offer a personal thank you and to shake the hands of her many rescuers including two she now calls by their first names. "I told my friend that it's crazy how many people helped us, how long it took and that we're still alive," Ramirez-Martinez said. A group of those who helped rescue her and her four friends was honored at the beginning of the Ogden Dunes Town Council meeting. Those honored included several Ogden Dunes residents, Ogden Dunes police officers and staff from the Porter County Central Communications Center. "This is just a tiny fraction of those who took part in the rescue," Ogden Dunes Police Chief James Reeder said. Reeder said one of five teenagers was wading out into the water on July 27 near Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Park when he apparently got caught in a rip current. The other four teenagers went to his aid and they also got swept up in the current and waves of the swollen lake. Lakefront resident Lou Gagliardi, one of those who came to the meeting, said he was sitting in his dining room table when he spotted one of the teens and knew he was in trouble. Gagliardi said he saw the teens being pulled to the seawall and he went down to the shore with a rope, but that it didn't work because all were grabbing onto it and he was being pulled into the lake with them. "It's very dangerous in that area, almost like a whirlpool," Gagliardi said. Gagliardi had his wife, Patty, call 911 then the two of them and their three sons, David, 17; Matthew, 15 and Andrew, 11, all used an inflatable round tube as well as a neighbor's ladder to rescue the teens. "It was definitely a team effort ... It was a blessing they all got out," Gagliardi said. Ramirez-Martinez, who refers to her rescuers Lou and Patty by their first names, said she remembers being in the water and just feeling so helpless. "No matter how hard I tried to keep my head above water, I couldn't," Ramirez-Martinez said. A large group of residents, including neighbors Richard Hassan, Emily Vogt-Skish and her son, William Skish, came down to the shore and lowered a ladder down to bring the teens out of the water. Reeder said some of the exhausted teens, including Ramirez-Martinez, had to be given assistance to get up the ladder. Ramirez-Martinez, once rescued, was transported to a hospital in South Bend because she had a tear in her trachea. "After I went home from the hospital it hit me that I could not be alive," Ramirez-Martinez said. Her mom, Stephanie Ramirez of Portage, said she is "very, very grateful" to all those who took part in the rescue of her daughter. "It could have been a different outcome, definitely, if she and her friends didn't get all the help they did," Ramirez said. Some dozen law enforcement and emergency response agencies also took part in the rescue, Reeder said. The Valparaiso International Center (The VIC) will host a free Spanish-language conversation group from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the organizations headquarters, 309 E. Lincolnway. Spanish Table at The VIC takes place on the second Thursday of each month. Spanish Table is a great way to improve individual language skills and have fun doing so, said past VIC Chair Duane Davison. "It provides an opportunity to meet and interact with Spanish speakers from all over the world. People at all levels of competence are encouraged to participate, including native Spanish speakers. Activities include conversation on a variety of cultural and current-affairs topics, as well as word and board games." The VIC is an independent nonprofit organization that serves all of Northwest Indiana from its headquarters in downtown Valparaiso. It provides a forum to learn about different cultures through interactive events, festivals, classes and discussion groups. EAST CHICAGO HUD Secretary Ben Carson said it was clear that residents relocated from the West Calumet Housing Complex because of soil contamination felt uprooted and that some were inconvenienced. However, Carson said it was important to recognize it was necessary to remove residents from harms way and the relocation was done in a good way. Residents, who spoke to reporters after their meeting with Carson and other officials inside the old Carrie Gosch Elementary School, said the relocation was far from a success and rejected statements by public officials that East Chicago could be a national model or blueprint for how to handle similar challenges in other communities. Maybe a blueprint of what not to do, said Tara Adams, a former West Calumet resident, while meeting with reporters after public officials concluded their news conference. Even before the announcement was made, we should have been involved, she said. West Calumet residents also could have been given more time to move and been treated better by East Chicago Housing Authority staff, she said. A total of 12 residents were permitted inside the meeting with Carson, U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, and Gov. Eric Holcomb, a spokeswoman for the governor said. A year of challenges The East Chicago Housing Authority and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered more than 1,000 people to relocate about one year ago from the West Calumet Housing Complex, which comprises about one-third of the USS Lead Superfund site in East Chicago. Residents living at more than 1,000 properties in Calumet and East Calumet were not told to leave their homes before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began removing lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil. Carson said he wanted to hear firsthand from residents about the challenges theyve faced. The health of residents, particularly the young and vulnerable, was of particular concern, he said. However, Carson didnt want to spend time focused on laying blame, he said. The complex was built in the early 1970s, before people became fully aware of the dangers of lead and arsenic exposure, he said. Adams said she and other residents arent looking to place blame on public officials responsible for building the complex in the footprint of the former Anaconda Lead Products smelter in the 1970s. What about right now? What about what happened last year? she asked. We can place blame there. It wasnt right. Its all about compassion. Carson and others stressed that officials at the local, state and federal level have come together during the past year to address the challenges. All of the public officials said they remain committed to continuing that cooperation. Donnelly said the relocation wasnt perfect, but the officials would continue working to improve. The commitment we make is well be here with residents every step of the way, he said. Donnelly said he, Young and Visclosky recently sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeking long-term health monitoring for residents. Young and Visclosky both talked about ensuring the city has sufficient resources to address the challenges. Visclosky said he felt a particular responsibility, because he is the only member of Northwest Indianas congressional delegation who serves on an appropriations committee. List of demands presented Members of Calumet Lives Matter, the Community Strategy Group and East Chicago/Calumet Coalition Community Advisory Group presented Carson and his staff with a list of demands. The demands to HUD include making federal funds available for a recovery fund to help residents affected by the crisis, giving former West Calumet residents the first right to any new housing developed in the city, and requiring a full environmental review of the former complex site before approving a demolition plan. James Cunningham, deputy administrator for HUD Region 5, said there is no firm timeline for approval of ECHA's proposed demolition plan. Residents also want HUD to review the East Chicago Housing Authoritys programs and statements about lead abatement in its units and to investigate ECHAs statements about lead-based paint in its units and its employees conduct during the relocation process. The groups gave HUD a deadline to respond to their demands, said the Rev. Cheryl Rivera, of the Community Strategy Group. Carson and other public officials offered no assurances any of the demands would be met, she said. Residents said Carson listened, but offered no insights into what the future might hold for the shuttered complex or its former residents. "I just don't feel hopeful after this meeting," said Sherry Hunter, who has advocated on behalf of former West Calumet residents. Copeland and Donnelly said during the news conference they support giving former West Calumet residents the first opportunity to move into any new housing. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority announced Monday it is advancing a plan to develop more affordable housing in Northwest Indiana. The state received bids Monday from six development teams, and the authoritys board is scheduled to select two teams later this month. At least one of two projects would be in East Chicago, but no specifics about the location or design were available yet. Ground would not be broken until 2019. Adams said there may be some residents who will always want to move home, but time could be a deterrent for her family. Once shes established in another community, she likely will be reluctant to move her family back. People dont think about the stress for the children, she said. It is 11:22am and I arrive at Nyadri health centre III in the West Nile district of Maracha. As patients and caretakers sit outside the pharmacy, a mother in a tattered black dress catches my attention. She rubs her slightly-swollen left cheek, a signal that she possibly has a toothache. She softly tells me that fever and headache are the other ailments that have brought her to this facility. I have had this toothache for the last three days, but I will be fine, Jessica Maturu says, adjusting a rusty safety pin on her buttonless dress that is exposing her breasts. Her wailing 13-month-old baby strapped to her back is an obvious added burden for this 27-year-old mother-of-seven. Despite her illnesses, Maturu is at least pleased with the changing service delivery at this facility that enables patients to leave early. Jesca Maturu shows her swollen cheeks during the interview There was a time when people would come and they were not attended to, or they would leave late. I walked three kilometres to reach here at 9am, and if it was not for the hepatitis B vaccination, I would have left by 11am, she says, abandoning the interview to pick her drugs. Other patients agree; general health service delivery has greatly improved in the district. This is thanks to a three-year Community and District Empowerment for Scale-up (CODES) project that has been implemented by ChildFund Uganda in partnership with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). Funded by Unicef, the project sought to demonstrate the importance of a district-focused strategy to strengthen management performance complemented by community engagement to improve equitable coverage and the quality of key interventions for children under five years. ChildFund and LSTM also expected to reduce childhood illness and deaths due to diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia. The CODES project was first rolled out in five districts of Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Mukono, Wakiso and Buikwe in 2011, before expanding. With a population of 198,666, Maracha district has 10 health centre IIIs, seven health centre IIs and one private not-for-profit hospital owned by the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau. According to Zac Ssinabulya, the regional health supervisor of the CODES project, a survey found Maracha district with high mortality and morbidity rates of malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia in children below five years. In 2014, we found the district performing generally well but something was lacking in their district health teams (DHTs), communities, management and health practioners to improve services, Ssinabulya says. Findings from the survey came with a Bottleneck Analysis (BNA) tool that enables the community and health service providers to identify supply and demand challenges and how to act on them. For instance, health facilities like Nyadri have been able to adapt the five S component sort the workplace, set it well, make it shine, standardize it and sustain your work all designed within the BNA tool. Patrick Andima, a clinical officer in charge of Nyadri health centre III, attests that the components have become routine in most facilities. This BNA tool is very simple. Once you know the challenges around you, you can serve better, Andima says. If the bottleneck is arriving late on duty, sort that challenge, report early and attend to your patients. Here, arrival on duty strictly closes at 8:45am. Using the BNA tool, it was also discovered that doctors prescribed drugs without lab testing and health facilities lacked essential equipment including measuring tapes, infant weighing machines, and respiratory timers for testing pneumonia and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tapes to assess nutrition in children. There were also findings of family members sharing drugs. All these shortcomings are now history in Maracha. The communities are informed, the equipment were bought and doctors were trained on testing and counseling before prescribing drugs, says Andima. Patrick Andima, the clinical officer in charge of Nyadri health centre III (in white coat) talking to patients Before the project, Nyadri outpatients department would receive up to 80 patients daily but this has reduced to 40 thanks to community health dialogues. Statistics at the facility indicate that in the last two years, there have been no maternal deaths while only one baby in 2015 and another in April this year suffered intrauterine foetal deaths. RECOGNITION When the CODES project was launched in 2014, little did ChildFund and LSTM know that the BNA tool would be adopted by the ministry of health. According to the 2016 local government planning guidelines for the health sector, district working plans without the BNA tool will not be approved. The bottleneck analysis should be followed for each of the identified bottleneck, the district health management team should conduct an in-depth analysis to determine the underlying causes of the bottleneck, reads part of the guidelines. Sunday Cadribo, the acting district health officer in Maracha, says the tool has seen the district improve in its rankings in just three years. The project found us in a situation where you dont know that you dont know. Our health planning system was poor and uncoordinated; it was not informed by anything at all but just copy and paste, Cadribo says. [But] after one year, we started doing things differently. Every year, the health ministry assesses districts and places them into what is known as the national league table. In 2013/14, out of 112 districts, Maracha was ranked 69 and 4th in the West Nile region. In 2014/15, the district sunk to position 90 and 5th in the region. But after fully embracing the BNA tool, it rose to position 21 and first in the region in 2015/16. Our health budgets did not change much. It was little money, but we put it to good use with informed plans, he says. He says the district emphasized more community engagements and introduced attendance registers to track rampant absenteeism. We now have daily attendance registrars and forms that in-charges of facilities forward to district headquarters every two weeks. Other forms are digital and reflect overall attendance of health workers, Cadribo says. He cites an incident in one of the health facilities where the temperature of the fridge used to store some vaccines was not checked for three days. The temperature must be checked daily, every morning and evening. This means internal supervision was the bottleneck and we fixed it, Cadribo adds. Initially, health workers thought it was a witch-hunt, but they adjusted to the new regulations and improved service delivery. With the limited funding to the health sector, Cadribo has advice for district health officers: Before you ask government for more money, build health centres in the minds of the people so that they avoid diseases, observe personal hygiene and live a healthy life. Secondly, endeavour to properly utilise the minimal funds. Currently, the district has an estimated health budget of Shs 3.3bn for the 2017/18 financial year. According to the health sector ministerial policy statement for the 2017/18 financial year, the sector will be underfunded after Shs 964m was cut off its budget. This implies that scaling up interventions to address the high burden of HIV/TB, malaria, nutritional challenges, environmental sanitation and hygiene, immunization, Hepatitis B and Non Communicable diseases will remain a challenge. At least Shs 275 billion is required annually. While the sector will also grapple with inadequate operational funds for Primary Health Care services (PHC), Maracha district is set to address such shortcomings with skills obtained during the CODES project. During a recent visit, Ssinabulya urged district officials to continue on the set pace. The project is closing but Maracha people should not close with us. Let them continue implementing what they have learnt. We have left behind the necessary skills and knowledge, he said. Marachas health service delivery leads in West Nile, followed by Zombo, Yumbe, Moyo, Nebbi, Adjumani, Arua and Koboko in last place. nangonzi@observer.ug People have been making wine of thousands of years, but in only three colors red, white and rose. But not anymore. Spanish companies have come up with ways to make all-natural wines in pretty much any color imaginable, from vibrant blue to green and even pink. It all started last year, when Spanish startup Gik unveiled the worlds first blue wine. They spent two years working with scientists at the University of the Basque Country and food researchers at Azti Tecnecalia trying to use anthocyanin, a natural pigment in the grapes skin, in order to manipulate the color of wine. It became a great commercial success, with the company reporting in January that it had sold over 100,000 bottles in under six months. But competition is ramping up, as other Spanish wineries are using similar technology to create all kinds of unusually-colored wines. Bodega Santa Margarita, in Caudete, Spain, offers different shades of blue wine, as well as green, orange and pink wines, as part of its Passion line. They are already a big hit in several European markets, like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. They also use anthocyanin for their Passion Blue wines, but its not clear how they make their wines orange and pink. If I had to guess, they are combination of different wines and the added grape skin pigment. One thing is for sure, they are completely natural. The last few weeks the wine has been flying out the doors, Vincent Janssen, a Dutch wine importer, told Share-a-Bottle. We also had to get used to the idea, but that color appears to have a real value to people. It looks different and the wine is good too. Bodegas y Vinedos Amaya also mixes tradition and innovation to create what it calls tecnovinos. So far they have a collection of bright red, yellow and green wines, made from a variety of Spanish grapes. All these winemakers are relying on peoples curiosity to reach a whole new customer base, as well as change the way the world thinks about wine. But, apparently, lawmakers dont like change very much. Earlier this year, Gik announced that Spanish authorities had forbidden them to sell their blue drink as wine, because its the wrong color. There is no category for blue wine, so even though it is 100% wine, Gik was forced to relabel the bottles and sell its product as part of the other alcoholic drinks category. In order to continue selling, we have been forced to stop labeling Gik as a wine. Instead, we had to label it as a bastard category named Other alcoholic drinks. The main reason? Theres not a category for a blue wine, as there is no historic background for anything similar, Gik wrote in a statement. We had to change the composition to 99 per cent wine and 1 per cent grape to adapt the product to the current legislation. Despite such hurdles, its unlikely that the wine color revolution will be stopped. People are drawn to unusual colors like blue and pink, even if it does make the wines look more like energy drinks, and most of them dont really care about technical details like the category the wines are being sold in. Usually, lowering the tax levy puts everyone in a good mood. That wasnt the case as the members of the Millard school board put forth their 2017-18 budget proposal Monday. It was clear that Millard officials are concerned about future budgets, not just the one they will consider approving Sept. 5. Under the proposed budget, property owners would see a slight rate decrease to $1.2190 per $100 of valuation. The tax bill would be $2,438 on a $200,000 house, about a $9 reduction if the homeowner escaped a valuation increase. The proposed drop in the levy is about a half cent per $100 valuation. The budget provides for expenditures of $227.9 million, a 1.13 percent increase. It includes a combination of position cuts through attrition, a $2 million infusion from cash reserves and a 3.1 percent increase in property valuations by the Douglas County assessor. Although no one spoke during the public hearing, officials expressed displeasure over the districts financial position and criticized the Nebraska Legislature for actions that they say have enriched other districts at Millards expense. They noted that the district lost about $12.1 million through the Legislatures elimination of aid tied to small elementary class sizes, longer instructional time and employing teachers with advanced degrees. This hits Millard worse than other districts in the state because those were quality indicators that we really focused on, said Chad Meisgeier, the districts chief financial officer. Meisgeier said state lawmakers did a good job last session, in a tough budget year, of increasing aid to school districts by 2 percent for 2017-18. The bad news is it didnt work out well for Millard, he said. Millards aid decreased because of legislative changes in the aid formula that were designed to provide property tax reductions for rural areas, he said. Board member Mike Pate said hurting one district to help another is bad policy particularly, he said, when rural district tax levies are below the statutory limit. Theres something intrinsically wrong with the way theyre shifting tax dollars, he said. Board President Mike Kennedy said the states two biggest districts, Omaha and Lincoln, have seen double-digit increases in aid in the past eight years while Millards has been static. Millards state aid in 2017-18 was the same as in 2009-10: $75.8 million, according to Nebraska Department of Education records. I just dont see how ... thats equitable to Millard, when weve cut everything to the bone, weve increased our student-teacher ratio, weve gotten rid of all the couch-cushion money we can squeeze out, he said. The district has set up two informational meetings this week to discuss the districts financial picture and a possible levy override. The meetings are today and Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Don Stroh Administration Center, 5606 S. 147th St. Under state law, school districts can exceed the states $1.05 property tax levy limit if voters approve. Overrides are rare. This year, four of Nebraskas 245 school districts have levy overrides in place. The Westside Community Schools have had an override in place since 1998. Voters in that district are being asked to approve another override in September. WASHINGTON Donald Trump may have annoyed the wrong man in Congress. Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has been ramping up an investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trump's presidential campaign, in addition to the president's dismissal of former FBI Director James Comey. The plain-spoken Iowa Republican had sharply criticized the administration's initial failure to respond to many lawmakers' requests for information. He also hasn't been shy about other topics, including the use of foul language by the recently dismissed White House communications chief, Anthony Scaramucci. Grassley's decision to move full speed ahead on Russia, including threatening Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., and others with subpoenas, will likely force a more public and unpredictable autopsy of topics the administration would rather fade away. Grassley, working with the Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, is pressing to uncover any attempts to obstruct justice or influence the presidential election. The senator's approach puzzles some of his Republican colleagues. GOP leaders have preferred to keep the Russia probe limited to the Intelligence Committee, a buttoned-down panel that usually conducts its business behind closed doors. Colleagues say Grassley remains a loyal Republican who is merely doing what he's done for decades. He has defended Trump on a range of issues, helped install Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, and has lambasted Democratic leaders. He even criticized the media for "hysteria" about the Russia investigations. "He's a good conservative, but he loves the institution, and he's got that Iowa sense of fairness," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, who serves on the Judiciary Committee, in an interview. "He doesn't go pick a fight, but if you get in a fight with him, you've got a worthy opponent. I think the more you stonewall him, the worse it gets." Earlier this year, some Democrats complained Grassley wasn't doing enough to pursue the Russia matter. Then in June, the committee started delving deeper and the Democrats' complaints turned to praise. Grassley said he's investigating for a simple reason: Congress has a responsibility to provide oversight. "This is what Chuck Grassley does," Grassley said in an interview at the Capitol last week. "They may be new to town, but they surely recognize what Chuck Grassley's reputation is. And if they don't know it, they've been told, I bet, a hundred times," he said. "I think I've got a pretty good reputation for being what I call an equal-opportunity overseer." Grassley said nobody from the White House has asked him to stop or slow his efforts though Trump has repeatedly tweeted about how the Russia probes are unfair and that Republican lawmakers should be standing by him. Grassley's advocacy has already notched a win, when the White House pledged last month to respond to oversight letters from rank-and-file members in both parties. An earlier legal memo argued that only chairmen were entitled to oversight responses from the administration, prompting a six-page letter of condemnation from Grassley. "Shutting down oversight requests doesn't drain the swamp, Mr. President. It floods the swamp," Grassley wrote. "I'd be doing it if Obama was president, and like I told you, back in the Reagan years, I subpoenaed William French Smith," who was then the attorney general, Grassley said. Grassley, 83, has served in the Senate since 1981 after serving six years in the U.S. House. He was elected to the Iowa State Legislature in 1958. "You want to know what I do?" he said he asks high school students. "Most of you think all we do is pass bills and appropriate money. But that's only half of it. Once we've done that we have a constitutional responsibility to do what the Constitution says. Is the president faithfully executing the laws? Or anybody that works for him?" If Trump were to try and dissuade him, it wouldn't work, Grassley said. "I treat all presidents the same, Republican or Democrat." Soon after Trump took office, Grassley tweeted to Trump in hopes the administration would respond to senators' requests for records "so we can do oversight." In June, Grassley wrote a letter blasting a Justice Department opinion arguing that only committee chairmen were authorized to demand responses from the administration. Grassley's Republican colleagues haven't directly urged him to back off, although some have questioned the probe to reporters, including second-ranking Senate Republican John Cornyn of Texas. The senator said in June it's "wholly inappropriate" for Judiciary to examine possible obstruction of justice because that's the job of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading a criminal investigation into the Russia matter. "We could end up harming the investigation," Cornyn said. Grassley brushed off such comments at the time. "They aren't chairman of the committee," he said then. "It's my jurisdiction." Feinstein said Grassley is "terrific" to work with. "What I know of Grassley is, he's got strong beliefs in what's right and what's wrong," Feinstein said in an interview. "He is very honest, very direct, he is without artifice. and he's basically a good man. A little gruff sometimes, but we all have our ways." Among the areas they are probing is unregistered lobbying and advocacy efforts by Russians, Ukrainians and others during last year's campaign. That led to Grassley's threat to subpoena the president's son and campaign manager Paul Manafort if they didn't cooperate with a request for testimony and documents relating to a June 2016 meeting with Russians who promised to deliver incriminating information on Democrat Hillary Clinton. Feinstein said she and Grassley are completing details for what could be two public hearings in late September at which Trump Jr. and Manafort would testify. "Chuck Grassley is determined, I think, to uncover the truth about any obstruction of justice involving the firing of Jim Comey or other political interference in the investigation of Russian meddling," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat who serves on the Judiciary Committee, said in an interview. The Senate Intelligence Committee staff already has interviewed Manafort, and the panel also wants to hear from Trump Jr. and others. Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina said Grassley's investigation isn't interfering with his probe, which he said has included interviews with more than 70 people. "I'm not sure that I understand exactly what they're trying to do," Burr said in an interview, adding that Judiciary doesn't have access to classified intelligence documents. "They tried to subpoena Paul Manafort; we interviewed him," Burr noted. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said it's in the committee's purview to determine whether the president obstructed justice, why Comey was fired, and why Trump has publicly criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions over his recusal from the Russia probe. "As long as those are active questions, I think they are well within the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee," Coons said in an interview. Graham, who has been critical of Trump, points to the firing of Comey and his subsequent testimony to the Intelligence Committee as a turning point for Grassley. "Over time, he has gotten much more assertive in terms of the committee's jurisdiction," Graham said of Grassley. "As the facts have unfolded, more and more of the Russian intrigue is in the Judiciary lane. Obstruction of justice, you know, maybe campaign finance laws being violated." Graham said he's pleased with how Grassley has proceeded. "In all the things he's done in his very illustrious career, I think this is one of his finest hours," Graham said. Two sections of Omaha streets have new commemorative names after the City Council approved the designations Tuesday. Spaulding Street between 36th Street and 36th Avenue will be designated as Adam L. Burton Boulevard. And Davenport Street between 78th and 80th Streets will be commemoratively designated as Robert Swanson Drive. Burton, who died last year, was an Air Force veteran and longtime pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church, at 36th Avenue and Spaulding Street. An application for the designation from the church cites his 32 years as a pastor, his service on the Mayors Clergy Advisory Board and his Air Force service. Swanson, who died in May, was one of the driving forces behind organizing the American Legion Riders program in 39 chapters across Nebraska. A Navy veteran, he worked for 37 years at Physicians Mutual Insurance Co., retiring as a vice president. After retiring, he began volunteering with American Legion Post 1 in Omaha. The stretch of road to be named in his honor passes in front of the post. In his work with the Legion, he helped secure the 236-acre Omaha National Cemetery and placed signs honoring veterans at all Interstate 80 rest areas in Nebraska. An application for the designation also cites the many funeral escorts he organized and his work with homeless veterans. PONCA, Neb. Nebraskas celebration of its 150 years of statehood is taking a literary twist. About 60 people are attending 150 Years of Nebraska Storytelling, a signature event of the states sesquicentennial, at Ponca State Park. The event opened Sunday. Nebraskas history and the art of storytelling are explored through author presentations, writer workshops, American Indian perspectives and other experiences, including writing. People have been telling stories for a long time, mostly to preserve history, religion and culture, said State Poet Twyla Hansen of Lincoln. Hansen encouraged attendees to write. I firmly believe everybody has one good story, she said. But we need to write them down. Only you know that story that version of the story. Brad Kellogg of Wakefield, Nebraska, portrayed 1870s Dixon County Sheriff Mason DeWitt who solved a murder after tracking the suspect to Council Bluffs. The trial was held in the Lutheran church in Ponca. The suspect was convicted and died in a botched hanging immediately after the trial. Kellogg, a Nebraska Humanities speaker, is the author of The Aisles of the Forgotten Graveyards. All of our history is in our cemeteries, he said. Hansen and Kellogg were among about a dozen authors, writers, storytellers and journalists with deep connections to Nebraska presenting present programs and talks. Others in the lineup include Nebraska Educational Television broadcasting pioneer Ron Hull; John G. Neihardt biographer and journalist Tim Anderson; fiction and nonfiction writer Karen Shoemaker; historian Jeff Barnes; nonfiction writer Preston Love Jr.; oral storyteller Linda Garcia-Perez; poet and fiction writer Neil Harrison; living history storyteller Brad Kellogg; historian Sarah Polak; oral storyteller Jerome Kills Small; living history storyteller Deb Carpenter; poet and fiction writer J.V. Brummels; and storyteller, author and poet Lyn Messersmith. The event unofficially opened Sunday at the annual Neihardt Day celebration at the John G. Neihardt State Historic Site in Bancoft, Nebraska. The program included honoring Hull for 50 years of serving as emcee of Neihardt Day. The Neihardt Foundation also announced that the name for the Herb Mignery bronze sculptures of Neihardt and Nicholas Black Elk, the Lakota holy man, unveiled last year. It is Sharing the Great Vision and Mitakuye Oyasin, Lakota for We are all related. The storytelling event ends at noon Tuesday. Ponca State Park is 122 miles north of Omaha. A park entry permit is required. LINCOLN Who was that suspicious-looking gang shooting lasers at Nebraskas historic State Capitol on Monday night? None other than Nebraskas first lady, Susanne Shore, and a crew of laser artists from Texas, demonstrating what they could do with a canvas the size of the 14-story tall Capitol. Shore, who is leading the celebration of the states sesquicentennial this year, said that if all goes well, a show produced by Laser Spectacles of San Marcos, Texas, will headline a Sept. 22 event at the Capitol. A fireworks show worthy of the states 150th birthday, she said, was proving too expensive, so they turned to a high-tech laser show displayed in sync with music. Hopefully it will be knockout awesome, Shore said. A state senator who just happened to be walking by, Jim Smith of Papillion, seconded that opinion. Its a great idea, he said. The Sept. 22 event will include live bands and food trucks, according to Regan Anson, the executive director of the sesquicentennial. A 55-year-old Hartington man has died from injuries he suffered in a car-pedestrian crash in northeast Nebraskas Cedar County. The Cedar County Sheriffs Office received a call Monday about a car striking a pedestrian on Nebraska Highway 84 west of the Nebraska Highway 57 intersection near Hartington. According to the sheriffs office, an eastbound vehicle driven by Alton Halle, 72, of Hartington struck Daniel Leise while he was crossing Highway 84. Leise was part of a volunteer group maintaining the grounds at a nearby cemetery when the accident occurred. He was taken by medical helicopter to a Sioux City hospital, where he died from his injuries, authorities said. Halle was not injured in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Cedar County Sheriffs office. LINCOLN On his farm north of Albion, Art Tanderup says hes used no-till farming and cover crops to reduce erosion, enrich his soil and, ultimately, increase yields of corn, soybeans and rye. He said Tuesday that construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would track 55 feet wide and a half-mile across his farm, would compact his soil, destroy micro-nutrients and, because of heat generated by friction in the flowing oil, kill the deep roots of his corn and soybeans. It would ruin 13 years of no-till farming, said Tanderup, a former teacher and a leading member of the anti-pipeline group Bold Nebraska. He was among four rural Nebraska landowners to testify Tuesday during hearings to determine whether the controversial pipelines route across the state is in the public interest and whether construction should proceed. Testimony before the five-member Nebraska Public Service Commission is expected to wrap up Thursday. The landowners who testified Tuesday said they feared erosion, lowered property values and land that would slowly or never recover if the Keystone XL is authorized. That was in stark contrast to eight representatives of pipeline developer TransCanada who have testified. They said theres no evidence that heat from the pipeline, buried 48 inches deep, would reduce yields or damage crops, and that the company had been able to restore soils to pre-pipeline productivity after construction of a 30-inch-wide Keystone pipeline was completed in 2010. Good and successful was how John Beaver, a Montana-based ecologist hired by TransCanada, called the restoration of farm and ranch ground across eastern Nebraska following completion of the Keystone. He said he expected the same with the Keystone XL. Even porous, sandy soils that the pipeline crosses like that on Tanderups land can be reclaimed by using mulch and cover crops to prevent erosion, Beaver said. That didnt square with what Tanderup has seen along the Keystone route east of Norfolk, the farmer said in an interview. He said you can see a bare streak through an alfalfa field where the pipeline crosses U.S. 275. On the other side of the highway, he said, you can see where the soil has settled in a cornfield. That also didnt match testimony from TransCanada officials, who said they work with landowners to fill in land that has settled, with suitable top soil. Tuesdays testimony drew about 30 spectators, about half of the crowd of the opening day of the hearings on Monday. Outside the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel where the hearings are held, a group of about 50 Native Americans conducted a rally, praying, beating drums and shouting stand up, fight back. The orderly protest followed the signing, by the five Indian tribes of Nebraska and the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma, of a treaty opposing the pipeline and tar sands expansion. The Sierra Club said 150 tribes in the U.S. and Canada have signed a similar treaty. Much of the testimony on Tuesday concerned whether the 36-inch-wide Keystone XL should be rerouted to parallel the existing Keystone pipeline. Attorney Brian Jorde, who is representing landowners opposed to the project, said that the route proposed by TransCanada was 65 miles longer than the existing Keystone pipeline, which crosses fewer major rivers, less sandy soils and avoids most of the range of the endangered whooping crane. If the goal of TransCanada is to minimize the disruption of land, isnt paralleling the Keystone XL with the existing pipeline the best alternative? Jorde asked. Not really, responded Jon Schmidt, a Florida-based regulatory consultant hired by TransCanada, who said that parallel routing was not a viable option. A TransCanada engineer, Meera Kothari, said the XLs diagonal route was chosen because it is a straight line from a pipeline pumping station in Alberta to another at Steele City, Nebraska, on the Kansas border. By contrast, the Keystone route travels north-south, from a converted natural gas pipeline just across the Canadian border through Nebraska from Cedar County in the north to Steele City. Theres not another pipeline there to hook up to, Kothari said. Rerouting the pipeline farther east the route was previously adjusted to avoid Nebraskas Sand Hills could add millions to the cost of the long-delayed, $8 billion Keystone XL project, which is already facing financial challenges. Three of the five members of the Public Service Commission have farming backgrounds, and two of them, Tim Schram of Gretna and Mary Ridder of Callaway, asked several questions about soil restoration and whether TransCanada plans to test soil for fertility and compaction. LINCOLN Lawyers sparred over issues of credibility and relevancy as the states hearings on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline began Monday. Witnesses testifying on behalf of pipeline developer TransCanada spent the day defending the adequacy of its application for the 275-mile route across Nebraska and even the accuracy of its projections that the $8 billion project would generate 4,000 construction jobs and millions of dollars of additional property taxes. Dave Domina, the lawyer for landowners opposed to the pipeline, asked why no one representing the actual applicant for the pipeline route, TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, would be testifying during the scheduled weeklong hearings before the Nebraska Public Service Commission. The chief testifier for the pipeline was Tony Palmer, the head of two TransCanada subsidiaries. Domina said that if a grain warehouse wanted to open in Nebraska, the PSC would expect the owner to come and testify, not the head of subsidiaries who, according to Palmer, own .02 percent of the project. Its important for my clients because we want to know who were dealing with, Domina said. He suggested that the multiple layers of TransCanada subsidiaries were a way to dodge responsibility and liability for pipeline problems. Palmer disputed that in his testimony, saying his subsidiaries will manage the Keystone XL and will abide by all laws and conditions placed on its parent corporation. He also fended off speculation that the pipeline may never be built because its no longer needed by oil shippers. We are highly committed to this project, Palmer said. Weve sought it for nine years, and we need approval for it from this body. During grilling by Domina, Creighton University economist Ernie Goss admitted that his socio-economic report on the benefits of the pipeline project was mostly an update of a report generated by a pro-pipeline group based in Houston, the Consumer Energy Alliance. Goss said that while his study was not peer-reviewed, he was confident in its conclusions, which he called conservative. Domina bore into the economic benefits that Goss had projected for Keya Paha County, a rural county with fewer than 800 residents that the pipeline would cross. The lawyer voiced skepticism about Goss projections that the Keystone XL would create .2 of a job and generate $217,000 in yearly labor benefits in that county. Goss said his projection included money earned from the pipeline project by self-employed residents and not just the one-fifth new job created in Keya Paha County. The pipeline would be taxed as personal property, and its taxable value would decline to zero after 15 years (that is unlike the five pumping stations across the state, which will pay real property taxes). Goss projected that the XL would pay $58.6 million in property taxes overall, including $6.8 million in Keya Paha County. Domina contrasted that 15 years of tax liability to his brothers on the familys century-old farmhouse in Cedar County, which is still being taxed. He added that if the pipeline is used for 50 years, as was projected, the tax benefits are further diluted. In recent weeks, TransCanada officials have said they will decide in December whether to proceed with the project after learning how many oil producers will sign 20-year contracts to use the 36-inch pipeline. Low oil prices, cooling of production in the oil sands region of Canada and the advent of other competing pipelines have raised doubts about whether the Keystone XL project, first proposed nine years ago, is still needed. Domina asked why TransCanada needs permission for a pipeline it hasnt yet decided to build and also whether the company could gain permission for a pipeline route and then sell it to another firm. Palmer initially said he couldnt answer yes or no about whether the pipeline route could be sold. After a lunch break, he testified that TransCanada had no intention of selling the route. Palmer also said the pipeline would not be used for transporting water, which has been speculated about by some ranchers in groundwater-rich Nebraska. Much of the court-like proceeding involved spats between Domina and attorneys representing TransCanada. Omaha attorney Jim Powers, who is representing the pipeline firm, objected to Dominas questioning as argumentative and delving into safety issues, which are outside of the scope of the permitting process set up by the Nebraska Legislature. Whether or not the pipeline route is in the public interest is the question before the five elected members of the Public Service Commission. The hearing officer, retired Lancaster County Judge Karen Flowers, sustained many of Powers objections. The PSC could also decide that a better route for the XL would be alongside the existing Keystone pipeline, which has been transporting oil across eastern Nebraska since 2010. It was pointed out Monday that moving the route would avoid all sandy, erodible soils, avoid whooping crane migration routes and pass by fewer wells and center pivot irrigation systems. But TransCanada officials defended their preferred route as the shortest and saying it would disturb the fewest miles of land. Security was tight, though the spectators were well-behaved. Only about 60 people attended the session. About 30 state troopers and Lincoln police officers and firefighters provided security inside and outside the Cornhusker Hotel. Thirteen lawyers, representing labor unions, Indian tribes and anti- pipeline groups like Bold Nebraska, sat before the hearing officer. The hearings are scheduled to conclude Thursday or Friday. The Western bias and why it cannot digest Indias success Explained: Why has US removed India from its currency monitoring list Why India preferred Israel designed Spike missiles over US made Javelin? Feature oi-Vikas SV By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 8 (2017): The Indian Army had expressed its interest to procure anti-tank missiles around 2010 and the process to acquire it had begun as early as 2011. The reason why the issue has gained momentum now is because the production of Israeli designed fire-and-forget guided missile, Spike MR, is set to begin in Hyderabad soon. In 2011, India had two options - US made FGM-148 Javelin, proposed under a Government-to-Government (G2G) program via U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS), and the Spike MR, proposed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Recommended Video Sikkim Standoff: China's fresh warnings of war to India | Oneindia News Why India chose Spike? Spike was chosen because Israel was willing to transfer technology and manufacture the missiles in India which gives a boost to government's 'Make in India' initiative. Rather than outright purchase of these missiles, India negotiated with Israel for technology transfer so that the missiles can be produced in India. Spike MR will be manufactured by Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS), which is a joint venture between India's Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Spike missile system and its versions: The Spike system is made up of the launching tripod with its fire control unit and the missile. Spike can be operated from the launcher by infantry, or from mounts that can be fitted to vehicles such as fast attack vehicles, armoured personnel carriers or utility vehicles. Versions of Spike missile: Spike-SR - The short-range version of the weapon was unveiled in 2012 and has a range of 1-1.5 kms. Spike-MR - The medium range version which has a range of around 2.5 kms. Spike-LR - The long-range version which has a range of around 5 kms. RAFAEL introduced new capabilities with Spike LR, extending the missile's range by 25 percent, to five kilometers. This improvement was achieved without changes to the missile's weight, dimensions or interfaces. The weapon uses a two-way fiber-optic datalink to transfer the seeker's image from the missile to the operator, while carrying target updates back to the weapon's guidance system. Spike-ER - The extended range or extra-long range version of the weapon which has a range 8 kms. Spike NLOS - The ultra-long range version of the weapon with a claimed maximum range of up to 25 km. RAFAEL engineers are working on expanding the NLOS versatility, enhancing the existing EO-IR/CCD seeker with semi-active laser (SAL) capability. US made Javelin Missile: Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance. The system takes a top-attack flight profile against armored vehicles (attacking the top armor, which is generally thinner), but can also take a direct-attack mode for use against buildings, targets inside the minimum top-attack engagement range, and targets under obstructions. The missile also has the ability to engage helicopters in the direct attack mode. It can reach a peak altitude of 150 m in top-attack mode and 60 m in direct-fire mode. It is equipped with an imaging infrared seeker. The tandem warhead is fitted with two shaped charges: a precursor warhead to detonate any explosive reactive armor and a primary warhead to penetrate base armor. What's Chinese equivalent of it? While India is yet to start produced fire-and-forget Spike missiles, China already has an equivalent. The Chinese Red Arrow 12 displayed at Airshow China 2014 looks like a combination of the Israeli Spike MR and American Javelin. A man portable guided missile system, the Red Arrow 12 is similar to the Israeli Spike MR, another version of the missile seems a copy of the US Javelin. Chinese Red Arrow 12 has already been inducted into the armed forces. OneIndia News Infants set to get Aadhaar: Here is why 20,000 Aadhaar numbers leaked on Punjab govt website, another breach of privacy? India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer While Supreme Court is currently in the process of determining whether the Aadhaar programme violates rights to privacy, a Punjab government's website has published the Aadhaar numbers of more than 20,000 people who applied for low-cost housing in Ludhiana. This isn't the first time a government organization has committed such a breach of privacy. The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) had invited applications from economically weaker sections for houses in Ludhiana and Jagraon under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Then it published the names, fathers' names and Aadhaar numbers of beneficiaries chosen. By Monday evening, the data had been removed but the PDF files remained online on Tuesday as well. Aadhaar, a 12-digit identity number, is linked to a person's biometric details and has become increasingly mandatory for government services. Other such leaks in the past This alleged leak is a grave cause of concern, especially considering that this is not the first time the government has overlooked individuals' privacy. In April, the Jharkhand Directorate of Social Security published details of 1.6mn beneficiaries of a pension scheme. The same month, the Union Water and Sanitation Department uploaded Aadhaar numbers of beneficiaries of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, on its website. What does the law say? Section 29(4) of the Aadhaar Act rules that no Aadhaar number or core biometric information can be published, displayed or posted publicly, except for specified purposes. Under the same act, such violations can be punished by up to three years in prison and other penalties. UIDAI's defence According to a report in the month of May 2017, by the Centre, four government websites had made public 13.5 crore Aadhaar numbers, plus 100 million bank account numbers. Individuals' information included addresses, bank details and caste/religion information, among others. its defence, the UIDAI said, "While Aadhaar numbers are available, the biometric information is not. (They) are in safe custody." OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 12:51 [IST] Actor Dileep's custody extended, to remain in jail until August 22 India oi-Anusha Actor Dileep's judicial custody was extended by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Angamaly on Tuesday. The actor will now remain in jail until August 22. Dileep's custody that ended today has been extended as the probe continues in the actress abduction and molestation case. Dileep did not make a personal appearance in court on Tuesday and instead appeared via video conferencing. The Kerala High Court earlier had refused to grant bail to the actor forcing him to return to jail despite the police not seeking an extension of custody. Dileep was arrested on July 10 for his alleged role in the Malayalam actress molestation case that took place in February earlier this year. Dileep has been accused of masterminding the attack and hiring prime accused Pulsar Suni to assault the woman. Senior advocate B Raman Pillai has been roped in to represent Dileep in the case. The senior advocate had earlier represented Mohammed Nisham, the infamous beedi tycoon who rammed his Hummer into a security guard, killing him. Earlier in August, Dileep's manager Appunni appeared before the probe team. Despite managing to arrest key people involved in the case, the police have not been able to recover the phone used to record the crime against the actress. OneIndia News People of Himachal have decided to go with Modi; all other factors irrelevant: CM Thakur BJP in Assam comes under scanner for saffronising education India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Guwahati, August 8: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam is facing stiff resistance from several quarters over its attempt to name model colleges after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) icon Deendayal Upadhyaya. Along with the allegation that by naming these colleges after the Jan Sangh leader the BJP governments, both in the state and the Centre, are trying to "saffronise" education in Assam, the ruling party is also feeling the heat over the demand to name these colleges after famous personalities from the state. The powerful All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Opposition Congress asked the BJP "why the colleges should not be named after eminent personalities from the state?" The five Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Adarsha Mahavidalayas are all set to open their doors for students from September 1. The Sarbananda Sonowal government in the state has also issued appointment letters to the teachers and employees of these colleges recently. The Assam-based peasant's organisation, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), on Monday slammed the Centre's decision to name the model colleges across the country, including Assam, after BJP ideologue Upadhyaya. KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi said that it was evident that the BJP government was trying to saffronise the state's education by setting up colleges named after the RSS icon. "Earlier, the state government also decided to give Rs 10 lakh to the Sankardev Sishuniketans annually while ignoring the Jatiya Vidyalayas," he said. "During the Congress rule, things were named after the members of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Now, the BJP is following suit and naming after BJP-RSS ideologies," Akhil added. "The BJP-led government has come to power with the promise of jati, bheti and mati (identity, land and homes). After coming to power they are taking up decisions one after another which are detrimental to the regional sentiment of the state." AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya said it's a gross injustice to the eminent personalities of Assam who had contributed immensely towards education and social upliftment of the state. "We have no issue if one or two colleges are named after Deendayal Upadhyaya. We do not disrespect him. But naming all new model colleges after him is definitely disrespecting eminent personalities from Assam whose contribution towards nation building was no less than that of Upadhyaya," Bhattacharyya said. The AASU also suggested the names of some eminent personalities from the state after whom these colleges could be named. The students' organisation said some of these model colleges could be named after personalities such as Sahityarathi Lakhsminath Bezbaroa, Padmanath Gohain Baruah, Gopinath Bordoloi, Bhimbor Deuri, Moidul Islam Bora, Krishna Kanta Handique and Sitanath Brahma-Choudhury. The Congress described the decision to name the colleges after Upadhyaya "a stark declaration of unabashed cultural imperialism". Debabrata Saikia, leader of the Opposition in Assembly, said Upadhyaya did not take part in the freedom movement and was associated with a "divisive agenda". "Upadhyaya took no part in the freedom struggle, nor did he believe in the concept of a multi-religious and multi-cultural India. Assam, on the other hand, has always been a shining example of unity in diversity. Sarma is making a mockery of the Assamese ethos by foisting the name of a person associated with a divisive agenda on centres of higher education," Saikia said in a statement. "Some of the colleges should be named after Swargadeo Sukapha, the founder of the Ahom kingdom, the first ICS officer Anundoram Borooah, cultural doyen Jyotiprasad Agarwala, literary figure Lakshminath Bezbaroa, first Assamese high court judge Haliram Deka, and of course, Bhupen Hazarika," Saikia said. Seven more such colleges would be set up soon, said state education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Some of these would be exclusively for girls in minority-dominated areas, Sarma added. According to a notification issued by the state higher education department, these colleges are being set up under a scheme with central assistance for educationally-backward districts where the gross enrolment ratio in higher education was less than the national average in 2008-09. The notification also said these colleges would be named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, "a great thinker, philosopher, economist and sociologist". OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 7:19 [IST] BJP gangs up against Ahmed Patel, promises to fight Gujarat RS polls tooth and nail India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Ahmedabad, August 8: Things are not looking good for senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who is fighting one of his toughest electoral battles in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections slated on Tuesday. The leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have already predicted Patel's defeat as they are confident of their victory in all the three Rajya Sabha seats up for grabs on Tuesday's elections. Short of sounding the war bugle, the BJP promises to fight tooth and nail to ensure Patel's defeat in the elections. Recommended Video Gujarat Assembly elections: Shankersinh Vaghela votes against Congress | Oneindia News "The BJP is confident of victory on all seats for the simple fact that the BJP has numbers and we have already seen that the Congress is a divided house. We will fight the election tooth and nail, constitutionally and legally under the aegis of the Election Commission of India (ECI)," BJP leader Sudesh Verma told ANI. Verma added that the Congress cannot blame the BJP for division within its own house. "The Congress party has to look inward and find out the problem of leadership." The BJP is sure that the Congress' ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), too will vote against Patel. BJP's national spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao appealed to all political parties to select the candidature on merit. "It is natural for the other political parties like the NCP not to support the Congress candidate. We certainly appeal to all political parties to select our candidature on merit and as far as the Congress is concerned, it has demonstrated to Gujarat and to the rest of the country that it will enact any drama to lure it MLAs to win one Rajya Sabha seat," said Rao. Rao added that the six Gujarat Congress members of legislative assembly (MLAs) have joined the BJP ahead of the polls as they find the Congress to be unattractive and unappealing to the people of Gujarat. On Monday, a day ahead of the elections, NCP leader Kandhal Jadeja said that his party will be backing the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat. Senior leader of the NCP, Majid Memom, too echoed similar views. "If Praful Patelji has indeed said that our two NCP Gujarat MLAs will support the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls then it must be correct," Memom said. Patel's opponent is the BJP's candidate Balwantsinh Rajput, who has recently deserted the Congress to join the saffron party. In the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, the strength of the Congress has gone down to 51. The other two high profile BJP candidates contesting the Rajya Sabha polls from the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are BJP president Amit Shah and union minister Smriti Irani. After the defection of six MLAs, the Congress recently flew down 44 of its MLAs to a resort in the suburbs of Bengaluru, Karnataka, to avoid further "poaching". However, on Monday, they came back to Gujarat to cast their votes for Tuesday polls. The Congress MLAs alleged that they were offered Rs 15 crore each to join the BJP. The saffron party, on its part, denied the allegations and criticised the Congress for taking away the MLAs from their home state to Karnataka at a time when floods have created havoc in Gujarat. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 9:03 [IST] Jaitley statue at Kotla: Angry Bedi asks DDCA to remove his name from stands, quits membership Reforms in India being done by conviction, not compulsion: PM Narendra Modi BJP leaders pay tribute to former minister Arun Jaitley on his third death anniversary Cong alleges 'biggest scam of century', says RBI printing 2 types of Rs 500 notes India oi-PTI New Delhi, August 8: Opposition Congress, supported by TMC and JD(U), on Tuesday forced four adjournments of the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha over what it called as "biggest scam of this century" in the printing of two different kinds of 500 and 1000 rupee notes. Slogan-shouting Congress members trooped into the well even as Leader of the House and finance minister Arun Jaitley said the opposition party has been raising "frivolous" issues without giving notices to stall Zero Hour proceedings. Recommended Video Sibal accuses BJP of printing two different notes of 500 They were supported by Sharad Yadav (JD-U) who displayed copies of some currency notes. Some members including Derek O'Brien (TMC) displayed the new 500 rupee notes issued after demonetisation to show the different sizes that were bring printed. He first offered to submit the notes to Jaitley for scrutiny and then walked up to him to explain to him the difference. He, however, did not leave the notes with the finance minister. Jaitley said there is no provision in the rules that anyone could "flash any paper and say it is point of order." 'One for ruling party, one for others' Raising the issue through a point of order, Kapil Sibal said different sizes of the new high denomination currency were being printed - "one for the ruling party (members) and one for the others". "We have today discovered the reason why the government did demonetisation (of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes in November last year)," he said. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad (Cong) said "this is the biggest scam of this century." Have found 2 kinds of Rs 500&Rs 2000 notes whose dimension&design differ. How is it possible that 2 diff kinds of notes are printed?:K Sibal pic.twitter.com/SiZ5dVSHqK ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2017 As Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi countered, Azad said two types of notes are being printed. "The government has no right to remain in office for even five minutes," he said. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said even if there are two types of notes, it cannot be a point of order. "You raise the issue in a different form." "It is a serious issue," O'Brien said as he displayed two 500 rupee notes that he said were different in size and design. Prasad asked opposition members to explain where they got the currency notes from. JD(U) leader supports Cong claims Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said no country in the world has two notes of different sizes. "One is bigger, one is smaller," he said. "I can give signed (copies of the notes)." Kurien said he is not an expert to examine the notes. "You give separate notice." "I will give them to finance minister," O'Brien said. Kurien said "give it to the Finance Minister, I have no objection." No point of order Anand Sharma of Congress said the credibility of the currency in circulation has been challenged. Kurien however said the issue cannot be taken up through a point of order and the members have to give separate notice. Pramod Tiwari (Cong) said notice has been given, to which Kurien said the chairman will examine them. PTI Who will win Gujarat 2022 polls? Here's what ABP-C-Voter survey says Satyameva Jayate, tweets Ahmed Patel after retaining seat in Gujarat RS elections India oi-Deepika By Deepika After a night of riveting drama, Congress leader Ahmed Patel retained Rajya Sabha seat with 44 votes against Congress rebel Balwantsinh Rajput. Hit by defections and fear of cross-voting in a reduced Assembly of 176 legislators, Patel virtually snatched victory from the jaws of defeat garnering 44 votes to retain the seat for fifth time. Soon after the results were out Ahmed Patel took to twitter to thank his party and voters. Recommended Video Gujarat Assembly elections: Ahmed Patel saves Congress's grace | Oneindia News Satyamev Jayate. Not just my victory. Its defeat of most blatant use of money power,muscle power&abuse of state machinery, tweeted Ahmed Patel. "I want to thank each and every MLA who voted for me despite unprecedented intimidation and pressure from BJP. They voted for an inclusive India," Ahmed Patel said in another tweet. BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta&political terror. People of Gujarat will give them befitting reply in this year's election, he tweeted taking a dig at the BJP. Patel needed 44 votes to win after the Election Commission holding the votes of two Congress rebels invalid for showing their ballot papers to the BJP's election agent. BJP chief Amit Shah, who makes his debut in Parliament, and union minister Smriti Irani have won the other two seats. Earlier in the day, the counting of votes for the three Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat was delayed as the Congress moved the Election Commission seeking that votes of two party MLAs, who claimed to have voted for the BJP nominees, be declared invalid. Two MLA's Patel and Gohil showed their ballots to the Congress agent Shaktisinh Gehlot and to the BJP agent, thus their votes have become invalid, the Congress claimed. There was a high- drama for about 7 hours and delegations from BJP and Congress met Election Commission for 3 times. Shankersinh Vagehla had called the election, declaring Ahmed Patel defeated, saying that who win vote for a losing candidate. However, Patel had expressed confidence to win the election since the beginning. Now, Ahmed Patel's win is seen as a big boost to the congress party keeping in view of Gujarat Assembly elections slated later in the year. It is after a gap of about two decades that a contest has taken place in Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties used to get elected unopposed. Last week, the Congress moved 44 of its legislators to party-ruled Karnataka for about 10 days to prevent any further "poaching". These legislators were brought back home only on Monday, but kept at Nijanand Resort near Anand, 80 km from state capital Gandhinagar, the venue of voting. The Congress had issued a whip and a warning as well. OneIndia News Congress downplays Jairam Ramesh's 'existential crisis' remark, calls it his 'personal views' India oi-Vikas By Vikas The Congress party on Tuesday downplayed senior party leader Jairam Ramesh's remark that the grand old party is facing an "existential crisis". Terming the comment as Ramesh's personal views, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, however, acknowledged that the party is going through a "challenging phase". "We don't agree that there is an existential crisis. Congress principle, the policy is strong under the leadership of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi," Surjewala told news agency ANI. Recommended Video Gujarat Assembly election: Ahmed Patel and the party positive about victory | Oneindia News Senior leader Ramesh had said Congress is facing an "existential crisis" and called for efforts by party leaders to overcome the challenges it is facing from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. According to him, the usual approach will not work against Modi and Shah and that party leaders need to show flexibility in their approach to make Congress relevant. Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that Jairam Ramesh's comment shows that he is concerned for the party, adding that attention ought to be given to his opinion. "If we don't pay attention to different opinions and find out the solution then we cannot go forward," ANI quoted Aiyar as said. [Existential crisis in Congress, says Jairam Ramesh] In an exclusive interview to PTI, Ramesh earlier stated the Congress had faced "electoral crisis" from 1996 to 2004 when it was out of power and also faced a similar situation in 1977, when it lost the elections held immediately after the emergency. "But today, I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis," Ramesh had said. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 13:11 [IST] Sonia Gandhi slams Modi govt, raises concern over raise of self-vigilantism India oi-Deepika By Deepika Congress must defend liberty and freedom of individuals and institutions and accused the BJP government of encouraging those who flout the law and unleash oppression, said Congress President Sonia Gandhi at a special CWC meeting here to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. The Congress party must always remain on the frontline in defence of liberty and numerous values associated with liberty, and the institutions that go with it. We must never bow before those who assault the liberty of the individual and of society," she said. The meeting is being held just a day before the special sitting of the two Houses of Parliament to mark the anniversary of Quit India Day. The Indian National Congress had launched the Quit India campaign in 1942 that called for India's immediate independence from Britain. The CWC passed two resolutions on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement and rededicated itself to uphold and defend the idea of India as envisioned by the leaders of the freedom movement. It also resolved to fight back and defeat the forces which seek to destroy the country's heritage. Rahul skipped the meeting as he was down with a viral infection and Sonia chaired it. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former defence minister AK Antony, senior minister Ghulam Nabi Azad along with several senior ministers are present at the meet. OneIndia News Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls: Rift within Congress is out in the open, once again India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Ahmedabad, August 8: The biggest opponents of the Congress are its own party men. That is why the grand old party is losing elections after elections with such 'disgraceful' frequency. If cross-voting of the Congress members of legislative assembly (MLAs) during the recently-concluded presidential election was not enough, once again as the Congress is hoping against hope of the victory of its senior leader Ahmed Patel in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections held on Tuesday, a large numbers of Congress MLAs seemed to have voted in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Balwantsinh Rajput. Rajput is one of the former Congress MLAs, who along with five others left the party to join the BJP recently. After the defection of the six MLAs from the party, the Congress' strength in the Gujarat Assembly has come down to 51 from 57. In order to win the polls, Patel, the political secretary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, needs at least 45 votes. Recommended Video Gujarat Assembly elections: Shankersinh Vaghela votes against Congress | Oneindia News Even before the election results of the three Gujarat Rajya Sabha seats are out two things are very clear--one that both BJP president Amit Shah and union minister Smriti Irani will easily win and second the uncertainty over Patel's victory. The former Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, who till the last minute kept his cards close to his chest, finally revealed to reporters after casting his vote that he did not vote for Patel. Vaghela also predicted that Patel would not even secure 40 votes, five short of the magic figure of 45 to win the polls. "When we know that the Congress will not win then there is no point of voting in favour of them. I didn't cast my vote for Ahmed Patel," Vaghela said. Vaghela, in an act of rebellion, left the Congress recently. However, the veteran leader is yet to join any other political party. His son and Congress MLA Mahendrasinh Jadeja, however, remained tight-lipped after his vote. Two other Congress leaders, Raghavji Patel and Dharmendra Jadeja, also admitted after casting their votes that they had voted in favour of the BJP candidate, Rajput. "I have voted for Balwantsinh Rajput. I want to stay in politics but not in the Congress. There are only two parties in Gujarat--the Congress and the BJP. If I am not with the Congress, this is understood where I will be," Raghavji Patel said. "Congress hadn't been listening to us for a year. We have voted for Balwantsinh Rajput," Jadeja said. Putting up a brave face, Patel said, "I am confident and the party is confident. We are going to win. Wait for the result to come." The voting for the all-important Rajya Sabha polls for three seats started at 9 am and will continue till 4 pm. The counting will start at 5 pm. Recently, the Congress took 44 of its MLAs to a resort near Bengaluru in Karnataka to avoid further "poaching". The Congress alleged that the BJP was luring its MLAs by giving them Rs 15 crore each. It was during the MLAs stay at the Karnataka resort when Karnataka energy minister DK Shivakumar's properties were raided by the sleuths of the Income Tax (IT) department. Shivakumar was in-charge of the Gujarat MLAs during their stay at the resort. The Congress cried foul that the IT raids were done by the Narendra Modi government to intimidate the Congress MLAs of Gujarat. Now, we have to wait till the counting gets over to see how many Congress votes Patel managed to get in the polls. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 12:15 [IST] Gujarat RS elections: A tale of two political Chanakyas, Shah and Patel India oi-Prabhpreet By Prabhpreet Rarely, if ever, have elections for the Rajya Sabha garnered so much attention. And given the characters taking part in political drama in Gujarat, the interest shown by everyone with eyes on Indian politics is quite understandable. Given the star-cast of Bharatiya Janata Party's all-powerful President, Amit Shah, and the man who taught Sonia Gandhi the workings of politics in the country while being her political secretary, Ahmed Patel, this is as big a blockbuster event that an election for the Upper House of Parliament can throw up. Recommended Video Gujarat Assembly elections: Congress Especially since one of them, Patel is in the midst of the fight of his life to win. And though his struggle seems to have overshadowed the significance of the other, yet put together the two leaders represent the class, which even though might not be the final decision makers in their parties, are the ones that run them. Such a standing, makes the present troubles of Patel, most of them caused by Shah's political manoeuvring, and the success of Shah embody everything significant about this Rajya Sabha election and the state of Indian politics as a whole. Patel's struggle to win a fifth consecutive term has come at a time when his party, and its leader Sonia Gandhi, are fighting to stay relevant in the country's political arena. It all started following the drubbing in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which they went into after ten years in power, that saw them win only 44 seats as the BJP romped to power. Since then, adding to the worries of the Grand Old Party, and its Chanakya, Patel, they have seen the BJP go from strength to strength, with the saffron party now in power in 18 states, 13 of them on its own, while the Congress has lost out in state elections one after the other. This nadir in the Congress's fortunes now seems to be aligning itself with Patel's career too. As the usually behind the scenes manager is not only under pressure due to his party's situation but also from other details such as the growing rise of the Rahul Gandhi's team at the helm of the party along with Sonia Gandhi's ailing health which has seen her take the backseat in party matters. And now with the struggle to earn another term from his own state has just brought the problem home for him. Though he has been making public statements stating that he is confident of a victory, the actions of 'Resort politics' where the MLA's who are supporting him have been ferried from one city to another, one resort to another, say something else. Revered for his political calculation by the Congress President, he has been working hard to keep his own flock of MLA's who support him together. On top of that, a couple of defections of those close to him have just added to Patel's worries. For example, the fourth candidate for the three seats up for grabs this time, Balvantsinh Rajput, who was till recently in the Congress and was mentored by Patel. His switching of sides has just added insult to injury for both Patel and the party. These developments are a worry for not only the current election but the one for the state assembly to be held next year as well. From 57, the party has gone down to 51 legislators after the six of them resigned following senior leader Shankersinh Vaghela's exit after he rebelled against the leadership. While those that have jumped ship or separated from the Congress like Vaghela, might not say it, the working of Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's Chanakya, in such developments is most probably the worst kept secret in Gujarat right now. As the past few years have seen the dwindling of Patel's political stars, those of Shah, have been shining brighter than ever. Credited with leading the party to its current standing, his total control over the party machinery is unlike that of any past BJP president till date. With him soon to become an MP, his power and control are bound to grow even more and may lead to bigger things in 2024. For now, he seems intent to finish off the political standing of his fellow Gujarati from the Congress. Parking himself in Gujarat he has left no stone unturned in trying to ensure that all three candidates who are elected are from the BJP, with Rajput joining him and union minister, Smriti Irani, in the Rajya Sabha. Though it might seem that Shah, who is currently also an MLA in Gujarat, has taken the decision to take on Patel to deliver a blow to the Congress, which Patel's defeat would be, and an attempt to deliver an often-repeated phrase by the BJP, of a 'Congress Mukt Bharat.' It might be too simplistic a view. Along with being an embarrassment to Sonia Gandhi and the national political leadership of her party, Patel's defeat will also quite possibly derail its already struggling fight for the election next year with party members, supporters and voters viewing it as an end of any hope of mounting a significant challenge. Yet on a personal level, from one Chanakya to another, there might be a little more to it. And this may come from the happenings when the nature and quantum of power that both now have, were totally opposite. While Patel was one of the most powerful people in the country during the UPA regime, Shah was sent to jail in the Sohrabuddin encounter case when he was the home minister of Gujarat and still just a state leader. It won't be too far off the mark to think that Shah might feel that the push in the case from the various investigative agencies might have had a hand of the then all mighty Patel. Such a background and the present political realities have played their part in making the latest Rajya Sabha elections into one of the most widely watched, and throw light on the standings that both Patel and Shah have had, and do, in not only their parties but also in the great Indian political tamasha. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 6:25 [IST] ISIS module behind Bhopal-Ujjain Passenger Train blast India oi-Vicky By Vicky The National Investigation Agency has filed its chargesheet in the Bhopal-Ujjain Passenger Train conspiracy case. Atif Muzaffar, Mohd. Danish, Syed Mir Hussain and Ghaus Mohd Khan have been named in the chargesheet. Investigation conducted by the NIA disclosed thatAtif Muzzaffar had formed a terrorist gang with the other accused. The group owed allegiance to the Islamic State. The group tried to move to Syria, but failed to do so. These persons then entered into a criminal conspiracy and shifted their location to Lucknow. They collected arms and fabricated IEDs at this hideout. They conducted trial blasts and also killed a teacher at Kanpur in November 2016 using the arms they had purchased. One such IED was fabricated at their hideout at Lucknow and carried from Lucknow to Bhopal. After getting down at Bhopal, the accused planted the bomb on the train. In the blast a few persons were injured. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 17:11 [IST] JNU missing student: Delhi HC rebukes CBI, says case not transferred for fun India oi-PTI New Delhi, August 8: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the CBI for filing the same report regarding its probe into disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed that was placed on record last time, saying that the case was "not transferred to the agency for fun". "There is nothing new. It is the same report of 17 July. We did not adjourn matter on that date to examine this two-and-a-half page scrap today," a bench of Justices GS Sistani and Chander Shekhar said to the agency. It directed the CBI to file a fresh status report before the next date of hearing on 6 September. "We have not transferred the matter to the CBI for fun," the bench said, adding that the July 17 report only showed "cosmetic steps" being taken by the agency. The bench said it lists matters for hearing "at the cost of others". "What was the idea of listing it today? Just to say the report has been filed," it asked the CBI. During the hearing, the bench asked CBI what happened in the interrogation of the persons accused of assaulting the missing student the night before his disappearance. The agency replied it will indicate the same in its status report. The CBI also said there was progress in its investigation and it was sure it will "crack the case", but added that it would take some time. It also said that as part of its probe, it was also examining the earlier investigation carried out by the Delhi Police. The high court had on 16 May ordered the CBI to take over the probe into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the student since October 2016. The order was passed on the plea of Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, who moved the court on 25 November last for tracing her son, a first-year MSc Biotechnology student who went missing from JNU hostel Mahi Mandavi. The student went missing on 15 October, 2016 after he had an altercation with some students belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the campus. Later, students of the RSS-affiliated ABVP had denied any involvement in his disappearance. PTI Maratha Kranti Morcha rally in Mumbai on Wednesday, brace for traffic snarls India oi-Anusha Traffic in Mumbai is expected to be hit on Wednesday as Maratha Kranti Morcha is scheduled to hold a massive rally. close to five lakh people are expected to take part in the Maratha pride rally and take out a silent march in South Mumbai. Civic administration has asked people to avoid travelling to South Mumbai while the police have put restrictions in place. The organisers, however have claimed that the march will not cause inconvenience but the sheer numbers are expected to bring the city to a standstill. Protesters are expected to arrive from different parts of Maharashtra on vehicles. The rally will start from Jijamata Udyaan at 11 AM and culminate at Azad Maidan near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at 5 PM. Reservations for Marathas in the state, amendments to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 are the key demands of protestors. The massive rally in Mumbai comes after the community completed 57 silent rallies across multiple locations Maharashtra. On Sunday, a bike rally to invite people to take part in the August 9 rally was held. Wednesday's rally is all set to be a show of strength of the Maratha community. The rally will pass through major junctions and is expected to mar traffic, especially after office hours. Restrictions and alternates routes have been chalked out by the Maharashtra police to ensure minimum disruption. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 16:26 [IST] Morchas agitation to meet with stiff resistance in the plains India oi-Amitava By Amitava Darjeeling, August 8, 2017: With the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's (GJM) deadline expiring on Tuesday evening without any response from the Union Government, the hill party will be going in for an intensive agitation from Wednesday. Plans are to spill the ongoing Hill agitation to Terai and Dooars regions (plains of the Darjeeling district along with Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar) in North Bengal. The GJM's plan is likely to meet with stiff resistance from different quarters in the plains thereby increasing chances of flashpoints from Wednesday. On Tuesday West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressing the West Bengal Assembly stated that the State Government is ready for talks with the agitators provided the agitators shun violence and lift the ongoing bandh. The indefinite bandh clamped in the Hills hit the 55thday mark on Tuesday while the fast unto death in the Hills touched the 19thday mark. GJM President Bimal Gurung had issued a deadline to the Union Government to intervene in the ongoing Darjeeling impasse by August 8 failing which the GJM would beef up the agitation. On Monday Gurung gave a clarion call to the Adivasis (indigenous tribes residing in the Terai and Dooars region) to support the Gorkhaland agitation. Gurung assured them that with the creation of Gorkhland comprising of the Hills, Terai and contiguous areas of Dooars) the 6th Schedule status will be granted to the Adivasi majority areas thereby protecting and promoting the unique culture, traditions and language of the Adivasi population. Gurung's sudden appeal has given rise to speculations that the Hill party wants to spill the Hill agitation to the plains. In the recent past there have been clashes between security forces and GJM supporters over rallies in different areas of Terai and Dooars. Interestingly more than the administration, the GJM has been meeting with stiff opposition from the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP- a pan Indian organization working for the welfare of the Tribes) in the past. A mixed demography makes Terai and Dooars vulnerable. While in the Hills the separate state demands enjoys absolute majority, in Dooars there is mixed opinion regarding a separate state. "We will not part with even an inch of land in Terai and Dooars. We have been living peacefully with the Gorkhas in Terai and Dooars since ages but why try to create unrest coming down from the Hills. If they (read GJM) want to come down and create unrest then they will have to face the consequences. As of now we have adopted a wait and watch strategy. We are prepared," warned Birsa Tirkey, State President, ABAVP, West Bengal. ABAVP will be commemorating Viswa Adivasi Diwas (World Tribe Day) in different parts of Terai and Dooars on Wednesday. "I will be present at Kadopani in Bagdogra. This issue will definitely be discussed on Wednesday" added Tirkey. The administration has also decided to take a strong stand. "We will not allow the disturbance of peace, and tranquility. We will take stringent action in case of any such attempt. We are keeping a close tab. We will also be imposing prohibitory orders" stated Niraj Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Police, Siliguri Metropolitan Police. The Trinamool Congress has also decided to counter the GJM rallies in the plains. "We will have rallies throughout Terai and Dooars on August 8, 9, 10 for an unified Bengal" stated Gautam Deb, TMC leader and Tourism Minister, West Bengal. The GJM will be holding "Tiranga Yatra" from August 9 to 15,in the Hills, Terai and Dooars with the slogan "Bengal Quit the Hills. " The other programmes for the intensified agitation will be announced on Wednesday. The GJM held a central committee meeting in Patleybash, 8 km from Darjeeling town on Tuesday. However the meeting could not continue owing to police raids in Patleybash claimed a GJM source. Since the past few days security forces have been conduction area domination in the Singmari, Patleybash area. One Bishal Chettri was arrested from the Methibari area near Siliguri on Tuesday in connection with the clashes in Sukna on June 29. Two other persons namely Nitin Chettri, GJM youth leader from Sukna and one Uday Fagu of Ilam District of Nepal were arrested on Monday in connection with the Sukna incident. They were produced at the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, SIliguri on Tuesday and remanded to 12 days of police custody. Fagu's relatives however claimed that he was in Siliguri for his mother's treatment and does not have anything to do with the agitation. The police however claim that he was present in the Sukna incident on June 29. On that day Security forces and GJM supporters had locked horns at Sukna over a GJM rally brandishing "Khukuris" (traditional Gorkha sword) being stopped by the police. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 21:26 [IST] Mumbai techie arrested for stalking woman, ringing doorbell at 2 AM India oi-Anusha An IT professional was arrested in Mumbai for stalking a fashion designer, following her to her residence and ringing the doorbell at 2 AM on Sunday. Aditi Nagpaul took to Facebook to explain the ordeal shocked at the stalker's audacity. Following a formal complaint by the woman, the Mumbai police arrested 36-year-old Nitesh Kumar Sharma who was captured by the CCTV camera standing outside Nagpaul's door. According to the complaint, the man spotted Nagpaul when she was returning home in her car with her children. The accused allegedly started following her. "He dint have any fear in his eyes, a fear of being captured by security cameras , interrogation by security guards or threats of Police! He just hung around coolly in his car long after the incident very comfortable in getting his pictures clicked!(SIC)" she said in her facebook post. The man is said to have left the building in Shastri Nagar of Lokhandwala only after Nagpaul raised an alarm. A case was registered at the Amboli police station under IPC section 354 (D) for stalking. Within hours the accused was nabbed and the woman congratulated the Mumbai police. The incident comes on the close heels of Varnika Kundu a Chandigarh resident and a bureaucrat's daughter accusing Haryana JP chief Barala's son of stalking her. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 17:35 [IST] Central team roped in as dengue cases in Bihar rise to over 5000 Nitish has committed political suicide by joining hands with BJP, says Lalu India oi-PTI Taking a dig at Bihar Chief mMinister Nitish Kumar for walking out of the Grand Alliance, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Tuesday said the JD(U) leader has committed "political suicide" by joining hands with the BJP. Using words like "treacherous Man Singh" and "Ranchhor" (one who quits battle field), Prasad said, "No party in the country would any longer trust Nitish he is politically finished now." "Nitish has committed political suicide by joining hands with the BJP," Prasad told reporters. He said that Kumar will not get more than two seats, which is currently with the JD(U), in the next parliamentary election. "The BJP and the NDA would not spare their current seats from the state for him in 2019 poll," he said. "I always considered Nitish to be more mature than me but he has proven me wrong... I feel sorry for him." Prasad also refuted the charge of Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who has alleged a "nexus" between the former's family and a sand mafia. Sushil had also alleged that the sand mafia was "funding" RJD's proposed rally on 27 August. "We have not taken even a single penny from him for the rally. It was rather Sushil Modi who had given him a contract for sand mining during previous NDA rule in Bihar," the RJD chief said adding, "Let them spin stories against us. We would expose them in 27 August rally at Patna." Referring to the alleged stalking of a woman in Haryana by the son of the BJP state president, Prasad said, "Jungle raj is prevailing across the country under the BJP." Tejashwi Yadav, who is now the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, will lead the RJD campaign across Bihar from Wednesday. PTI Sad to see grand old party implode: Omar Abdullah on Azad's resignation from Congress Omar dubs opposition unity a 'myth', likens it to Chimera India pti-PTI Srinagar, Aug 8: Hinting that the BJP may return to power in 2019 general elections, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah called the opposition a "myth". He also likened the opposition unity to a mythological beast Chimera, which has many heads and is composed of the parts of more than one animal. "The myth of opposition unity has been systematically shown for what it is- a chimera. It's each 1 (one) for themselves in 2019 & 5 (five) more years 2 (to) BJP," Omar wrote on Twitter. The National Conference working president was reacting the developments in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls where Ahmad Patel, Congress candidate and confidante of party president Sonia Gandhi, is seeking a fifth term to the Upper House. "I can't remember the last time a #RajyaSabhaElection was such an attention grabbing event. This one is a real cliff hanger," Omar said. Omar expressed hope that there were people in the Congress who take note of opinions like that of Jairam Ramesh, who admitted that the party was in crisis. "I hope there are people in the Grand Old Party who sit up & take note of what Jairam is saying. Dismissing his views will be shortsighted," Omar said. Ramesh, in an interview with PTI, said "I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis." The Congress, however, downplayed Ramesh's comment saying it was his personal view. Ramesh stated the Congress had faced "electoral crisis" from 1996 to 2004 when it was out of power and also faced a similar situation in 1977 when it lost the elections held immediately after the emergency. "But today, I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis," Ramesh had said. PTI My life is 1%, dear death: The spooky diary of the accused in J&K DGPs killing Police start probing husbands role in the gruesome Fulbari twin murder India oi-Amitava By Amitava Darjeeling: Police have started probing Abhinandan Saha's role in the baffling murder of his wife and daughter in Fulbari in North Bengal. The businessman's wife and daughter were ruthlessly murdered on August 3 in Fulbari in the Jalpaiguri district. Saha seems to be one of the prime suspects in this case. Ratan Saha, the elder brother of Late Rita Saha, wife of Abhinandan Saha had lodged an FIR against Abhinanadan at the New Japaiguri police station on Saturday. Ratan Saha alleged that in the past his sister had been mentally and physically tortured by her husband Abhinandan on multiple occasions. The twin murders had occured at Patkelgunj under the Phulbari Gram Panchayat 1 in the Jalpaiguri district of North Bengal. According to police sources Abhinandan Saha, a businessman had closed his grocery shop and gone up to his residence at around midnight on Wednesday. At around 1:20 am Saha's neighbours heard him scream for help. They came out to inquire as to what was wrong. Soon a large crowd had gathered outside Saha's house. Neighbours stated that they saw Saha standing on the balcony shouting for help. He claimed that a group had entered his house and murdered his family members. They had escaped after committing the heinous act. Saha even claimed that he had seized a chopper from the assailants but could not stop their escape. The neighbours then urged him to come down. Meanwhile the police were also called in. Saha then climbed down from the balcony onto the boundary wall and then to the ground floor. He held a chopper in his hand. His head, face and legs bore marks of injury. Police had to force open the main door of the house to enter. In the bedroom they found the dead bodies of Rita Saha (30) and her daughter Payel (10 years) laying in a pool of blood on the floor. In the adjacent room her 7 year old son was found. He was in a state of shock and trauma. Saha has been admitted at a private nursing home in Siliguri, 10km from Phulbari. Police on Monday took Saha to the forensic department of the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital on a stretcher. Forensic tests were conducted on him along with the collection of finger print samples. Recently a forensic team had visited Saha's house and had collected samples from the site of the murder. Along with this the four member forensic team led by Professor Prabir Kumar Deb, Head of the Department is trying to ascertain whether the injury on Saha's person was caused by other or self inflicted. The forensic report is expected in three to four days. After the forensic examination Abhinandan was taken back to the private nursing home where he is undergoing treatment. Police also interrogated him. Police sources claim that there is disparity in his statements leading arousing further suspicion. There are chances of Abhinandan's arrest in the near future. On the day of the murder Saha had claimed that the assailants were there with the motive of robbery. However the assailants had not touched the Rs. 5 lakh cash and gold ornaments that was stashed in the room. It is also unexplained as to how they had entered the house and the route through which they left after committing the crime. The CCTV footage of the building at the time of the alleged assault does not show any outsiders. The neighbours had not seen anyone leave the house. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 6:06 [IST] Fashion and fitness influencer Anjali Kapoor gets nostalgic while sharing her memories of yoga Some countries want to patent Yoga, but it belongs to India: RSS chief SC dismisses plea to make yoga compulsory in schools India oi-Vikas By Vikas The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the plea seeking to make yoga education compulsory in schools and put the onus on the government to take a decision. The plea had sought making it compulsory in schools from class 1 to 8 across the country. A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice L N Rao reportedly said, "Go and persuade people to take up yoga. If people want, they will pick it up themselves." The Delhi high court had earlier rejected the plea for the introduction of yoga as part of the syllabi and holding of compulsory yoga classes for all school students, said reports. Asserting that yoga cannot be enforced as a fundamental right under children's right to free and compulsory education, the Centre had earlier said that education figured in the concurrent list and a majority of schools were under the control of states and Union Territories. Tamil Nadu education minister Thiru Sengottaiyan had in June said that yoga will be made compulsory in all schools in the state. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also directed the state officials to introduce a yoga education programme in government schools. Petitioner-advocate J C Seth had on March 8, 2011 persuaded the apex court to seek a response from the Centre on making yoga a compulsory subject in schools. The SC had then asked additional solicitor general Maninder Singh to look into the issue. OneIndia News Ishrat Jahan case: Discharge plea of two ex-cops to be heard on Aug 7 Sohrabuddin's brother moves Bombay High Court against Vanzara's discharge India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Sohrabuddin Sheikh's brother has moved the Bombay High Court against a special CBI court's order discharging IPS officer (retd) D G Vanzara in the encounter case. The petition challenges the lower court's decision letting off former Gujarat ATS chief D G Vanzara and Rajasthan IPS officer Dinesh MN. Rubabuddin Sheikh approached the high court on Monday after a special CBI court discharged the duo citing lack of evidence in the alleged fake encounter case. The police officers were discharged last week after a long legal battle. "There is sufficient evidence on record to establish that Sohrabuddin was abducted, kept in wrongful confinement. There is also evidence that his aide Tulsidas Parajapati and he were killed in a fake encounter," said Rubabuddin in his petition. The petition has been admitted but the court is yet to give a date for hearing the same. The police officers were arrested after the CBI said that Sohrabuddin, a gangster with alleged links to Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, and his wife Kausar Bi, were abducted by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad from Hyderabad when the couple was on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra. The CBI in its report claimed that Sohrabuddin Sheikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter near Gandhinagar in November 2005, after which his wife disappeared. Prajapati, Sheikh's aide and an eyewitness to the alleged encounter, was later killed by police at Chapri village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district in December 2006, the Central agency claimed. (With agency inputs) How it can be seen The total solar eclipse can be seen from coast-to-coast and the path of the eclipse stretches from Oregon to South Carolina and hundreds of Americans are gearing up to watch the natural phenomenon with proper eyewear. [Solar Eclipse 2017: When, where, time and why is it unusual] Observing solar eclipse without the correct protective eyewear is detrimental to health and the sun's rays can cook the retinal tissue of the eye. There are some ways through which one can observe the solar eclipse like a pinhole camera or a welder's glasses. However there are quite a few local events which you can frequent. Updates The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Victoria Centre will be up on the Mount Tolmie from 8.30 am to 11.30 am. The University of Victoria will also be updating its site about its planned event. From 9 am to 12 pm Science World, Vancouver will hold its event with the total solar eclipse coverage from the US in the Science Theatre from 10 am to 5 pm. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Edmonton Centre's Observatory at TELUS World of Science will be in attendance. TELUS Spark is all set to throw an eclipse party from 10 am to 1 pm and you can make your own eclipse viewer. From 10 am to 2 pm you will be able to have a look at the solar eclipse through telescopes with solar filters and not to miss mentioning the barbecue that will be available from 11 am to 1 pm for a price in Calgary. Viewing the eclipse The Calgary University will also have a solar eclipse viewing at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory from 10 am t 12.30 pm. The total solar eclipse begins at 10.30 am with 75% of the sun covered by moon at 11.46 am. Astronomers will be congregated at the Saskatchewan Science Centre outside the Kramer IMAX Theatre in Regina. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in Saskatoon will set up telescopes to see the solar eclipse at London Drugs at Preston Avenue and 8 St. E. 70% of the sun covered by moon can be seen from the Manitoba Museum from 11 am to 2 pm in Winnipeg. Partial eclipse can be seen from solar telescopes About 70% of the sun will be blocked out at Toronto. The Ontario Science Centre has an all day itinerary. York University is holding an event from 1 pm to 4 pm at Lions Stadium. The Toronto University is holding an eclipse party at Princess Margaret Stadium at the CNE from 10 am to 5 pm. And will also be giving out free eclipse glasses. There is no entry fee but the attendees will need to pay admission to CNE grounds. Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa will be holding an event where an astrophysicist will share discourse about the sun. McGill University in Montreal will give free eclipse glasses and live stream the solar eclipse. The event runs from 1 pm to 4 pm. A viewing party at Espace pour la vie is organized at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium in Montreal. The Saint John Astronomy Club has two venues for the viewing of the solar eclipse Irving nature Park and the Rockwood Park Bark Park. The solar eclipse path of totality will begin at Lincoln City, Oregon into Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and, finally, South Carolina. The eclipse will last longest near Carbondale, Illinois in US for minutes and 44 seconds. The Corballis campus of Oregon State University will host the OSU150 Space Grant Festival: A Total Eclipse Experience. It is a weekend long celebration, a watch party will also be hosted on the campus. At Madras, Oregon a four-day Solarfest will be organized at two locations. Symbiosis Gathering will be hosting a global eclipse gathering and the Orgeon Museum of Science and Industry will host an event at the Orgeon State Fairgrounds. Brigham Young University, Idaho is slated to offer series of eclipse related educational events. Special events Nashville, Tennessee is the largest city in the path of totality and is offering many special events such as Music City Eclipse Science & Technology Festival at the Adventure Science Center. The Italian Lights Festival is hosting the largest Eclipse Viewing Party in Nashville which is a free NASA-Certified Eclipse Event held at the Bicentennial Mall and will have two astrophysicists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Bryson City in North Carolina is offering planetarium shows and rides on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) in Rosman, North Carolina will be hosting a viewing event. Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke will appear at the four days educational event being held at South Carolina State Museum, in Columbia, South Carolina. Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina will include streaming coverage from NASA and educational activities. The next solar eclipse would occur on April 28 2024. Sri Lankan Navy arrests 48 Tamil Nadu fishermen, seize 12 boats India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Rameswaram, August 8: The Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday arrested 48 fishermen from Tamil Nadu after firing in the air, official sources said. Twelve mechanised boats of the fishermen were also seized by the Sri Lankan Navy, Fisheries Assistant director Shivakumar told PTI in Chennai. The fishermen, belonging to Pudukottai and Jagadapattinam districts, were taken to Kangesanthurai by the navy personnel, he said. The navy men allegedly rammed their boats against the mechanised vessels and under its impact four fishermen fell into the sea and were rescued by the naval personnel immediately. Later they fired a couple of shots in the air and asked the fishermen to surrender, which they did. They were escorted to the fisheries harbour in Karainagar in Jaffna. The fishermen would be handed over to the fisheries inspection office in Jaffna for further action, the navy added. Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently by the maritime security agencies of both countries for illegal fishing and often stray into illegal waters due to absence of any proper technology to confirm the coastline border between Pakistan and India near Sir Creek in the Arabian Sea. OneIndia News (with agency inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 17:06 [IST] The joy of our lives: Sushma Swaraj's husband warm birthday wishes for late leader Remembering Sushma Swaraj on her death anniversary: Facts about Iron Lady of India Sushma Swaraj to visit Bangladesh in September India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, August 8: India has confirmed that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Dhaka in the first half of September to attend the fourth Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting. Dates for the proposed visit, however, are yet to be finalised. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla had a meeting with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque in this regard at the Bangladesh foreign ministry in Dhaka on Monday, reports the Daily Star. This will be Swaraj's second visit to Bangladesh. She last visited the country between June 25 and June 27, 2014. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 15:11 [IST] Bharat Jodo Yatra will proceed to Srinagar, come what may, says Rahul Gandhi as march enters Maharashtra Viral fever keeps Rahul Gandhi away from Congress Working Committee India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer AICC vice President Rahul Gandhi will not be part of Congress Working Committee meet on Tuesday. As the party deals with a crisis over Rajya Sabha elections and cross voting in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi is said to be down with viral fever. The key meet ahead of independence day was conveyed to discuss and adopt a resolution 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement. Rahul Gandhi, who is said to be unwell, will give the key event a miss. The resolution is likely to revolve around Congress' role in the Freedom movement and its strategy to counter the BJP and RSS. The times when Rahul Gandhi was absent when his party needed him most While a viral fever kept Rahul Gandhi away, leaders including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived for the meeting as per schedule despite Congress' Ahmad Patel facing uncertainty in the Rajya Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi had visited flood-affected Gujarat where the stones were pelted at his car. The meeting has been called a day before the special sitting of the parliament to mark Quit India Day's anniversary. The Congress had launched the Quit India campaign in 1942 and the Congress Working Committee meeting was crucial to decide their strategy to attack the BJP that is pushing itself as the epitome of nationalism. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 18:55 [IST] ISIS-Taliban patch up, kill 50 in Afghanistan: Why India must worry International oi-Vicky By Vicky The Islamic State and Taliban joined hands and massacred over 50 men, women and children in the Sayad district of Afghanistan. The Taliban and ISIS which has been battling each other for supremacy have decided to join hands. While in some portions, the two groups continue to battle each other in many other parts they have called for a truce. Both the ISIS and the Taliban view the US as a common enemy. Hence its commanders decided that it would be best if they call for a truce and fight the Americans instead of battling each other. Recommended Video Thane : Huge cache of explosives recovered ahead of Independence day | Oneindia News For India the truce between the two outfits is not good news. Hamid Karzai had recently sounded India off about the growing threat of the ISIS. He said that the ISIS which is non Afghan is more sinister and hence India needs to be careful, up and alert. India has been fighting the ISIS menace. Various agencies are probing cases of Indian ISIS modules and also incidents of many suspected to have joined the ISIS. In the Afghanistan scenario, there is something that India needs to worry about since the latest round of recruitments made by the ISIS were to that country. The big plan: The ISIS has nurtured big plans in Afghanistan. It has already successfully entered into the minds of several radicals in Bangladesh. Through its Bangladesh chapter it proposes to target states such as West Bengal and Assam. However, Indian Intelligence Bureau officials say that the bigger worry would be in the Afghanistan context. On July 12 2014, the Intelligence Bureau had put out a report which suggested that 30 from the Indian Mujahideen had left for Afghanistan. While it was stated that they had joined the Taliban, further investigations showed that they were helping the ISIS set up shop. The Indian Mujahideen rebranded itself as the Ansar-ul-Tawhid and focused on recruiting Indians for the ISIS. Several cases of Indian Muslims going missing and joining the ISIS in Syria have been reported. This scenario is changing gradually says an IB official while adding that the new round of recruitments are for Afghanistan. Out of the 21 from Kerala who went missing, at least 14 are suspected to be in Afghanistan. The IB which traps ISIS sympathisers through its Operation Chakravyuh while decoding the conversations has learnt that most Indians prefer to be in Afghanistan rather than Syria or Iraq. Cultural similarities, ease of conversing, food habits and proximity to home are some of the reasons Indian Muslims have quoted while seeking out a job with the ISIS in Afghanistan. Why India must worry: The forging of a patch work cease fire between the ISIS and Taliban is not exactly good news for India. Officials say that they expect this cease fire to be temporary, but for now the signs are worrying. India faces a threat from both the outfits, but also states that in the case of the Taliban the group is contained to Afghanistan. However, if the ISIS is seen getting stronger in Afghanistan then the problem could spill over into India. The ISIS has witnessed set backs in Afghanistan but now with the patch up with the Taliban, the group could resurrect itself. The ceasefire was reached to fight against the US backed efforts to dislodge both the Taliban and the ISIS. While it may appear that the two groups have come together, experts say that this is a short term arrangements. The agreement is not to fight against each other for small provinces and instead turn the heat on the government. General Mohammad Zaman Waziri who commands the Afghan troops in the East says that there has been no fighting between the two groups. He also adds that there is a good chance that the ceasefire can break anytime soon. This is due to the fact that the two groups are ideologically different. India would watch closely these developments and the first priority would be to prevent an influx of its own citizens into the ISIS in the Khorasan. While the ISIS may appear to be a puny outfit in front of the Taliban, its capabilities cannot be doubted or ignored. The deadly Kabul bombing which killed 80 which was incidentally the largest attack since 2001 was the handiwork of the ISIS. Indian agencies will keep this in mind while dealing with the problem. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 7:10 [IST] More US marines head for Afghanistan International pti-PTI Washington, Aug 8: The US is sending dozens more Marines to Afghanistan to beef up internal security in the war-torn country's Helmand province, according to a media report. The US Central Command has agreed to send additional marines of less than 100, who would join the existing more than 300 marines assigned to Task Force Southwest, the NBC news reported. The officials said this deployment is not tied to the Trump administration's long-awaited new South Asia strategy, but instead fulfils a request from the commander on the ground, Marine Brig Gen Roger Turner. It was approved by Gen Joseph Votel at Central Command. The report, which was based on unnamed sources, was not confirmed by the Pentagon. "The repositioning and movement of forces in the CENTCOM (area of responsibility), to include presently deployed Marines, happen at the discretion of the CENTCOM Commander," a spokesperson for Marine Corps Forces Central Command said. "At this time there are no plans to deploy CONUS based Marines into Afghanistan," the spokesman said using the acronym for the Continental United States. PTI N Korea's ICBM capability main concern for Japan:Report International pti-PTI Tokyo, Aug 8: A Defence Ministry report has stated that the threat to Japan from North Korea has reached a "new stage" with Pyongyang now having the capability to launch an ICBM. North Korea was the main concern cited as Japan's Cabinet approved the report, less than two weeks after the North test-fired a second ICBM that analysts say has a range that could include more of the US mainland, including Los Angeles and Chicago. The security review came just a week after Itsunori Onodera, who was defense minister in 2012-2014, resumed that job when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revamped his Cabinet after a slew of politically costly scandals. Onodera told reporters Friday he planned to update Japan's defence guidelines to reflect the threat from the North, suggesting he may seek an offensive missile capability. "North Korea's missile launches have escalated tensions both in terms of quality and quantity. I would like to study if our current missile defense is sufficient just with the Aegis destroyers and (surface-to-air) PAC 3," said Onodera, who headed a ruling party study in March that called for beefing up Japan's missile response capability. The ICBM North Korea tested July 30 flew on a highly lofted trajectory and landed about 200 kilometers (120 miles) off Japan's Hokkaido island. North Korea has been increasing the range, accuracy and versatility of its missiles and diversifying its launch sites and methods. It has conducted two nuclear tests and more than 20 missile launches over the past year alone, exceeding the total of 16 missiles launched over 18 years under former leader Kim Jong Il, the report said. "North Korea's development of ballistic missiles, along with its nuclear program, are becoming increasingly real and imminent problems for the Asia-Pacific region including Japan, as well as the rest of the world," it said. The 532-page defense report also raised concerns over China's ongoing assertiveness in air and maritime activity in the regional seas, and raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the country's military buildup with its budget tripling over the past decade. PTI PM Abbasi says Pakistan, Afghanistan to work together to fight terror International pti-PTI Islamabad, Aug 8: Pakistan and Afghanistan will work together to defeat terrorism and ensure security and stability in the region, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Abbasi yesterday congratulated him on his election as the premier. The Prime Minister Office in a statement said Abbasi thanked the president and said that terrorism is a common threat for both the countries and both countries need to fight it together. "We will work with Afghanistan for security and stability in the region," Abbasi said, adding that terrorism was a common enemy and "we will work together to eliminate this menace from the region". Recommended Video Thane : Huge cache of explosives recovered ahead of Independence day | Oneindia News The two leaders also agreed to work together to address the challenge of energy in the region and improve the economic condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan leader expressed satisfaction over the smooth transition and said that it was good for democracy of Pakistan, the statement said. It was first high level call between the two leaders since Abbasi took office. The last known contact between top leadership was made when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Ghani met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana about two months ago. PTI Terrorist Hafiz Saeed launches political outfit in Pakistan International oi-Vicky By Vicky The Jamaat-ud-Dawa which had funded the Mumbai 26/11 attack has officially launched its political outfit Milli Muslim League Pakistan. The JuD which is the financial wing of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba decided to effect the name change took the call due to extreme pressure from the United States. The chief of these outfits, Hafiz Saeed who is an accused in the Mumbai 26/11 attack decided that the Milli Muslim League Pakistan will be a political outfit. Recommended Video Thane : Huge cache of explosives recovered ahead of Independence day | Oneindia News The social media is flooded with posters regarding the launch of the new outfit. "Hamari Siyasat, Khidmat Insaniyat (Our politics is for serving humanity)" reads one of the posters of Milli Muslim League Pakistan. This development comes close on the heels of the ouster of Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister of Pakistan in connection with the Panama Papers case. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, August 8, 2017, 6:57 [IST] Are you a vicim of cyber fraud? Here is the new national helpline number Amit Shah says cyber attack has deep national security impact, orders new panel to tackle it China's tech thefts an open secret but will Biden stem it? Venezuela: Hackers backing rebel group launch cyber attack International pti-PTI Caracas, Aug 8: Hackers lending support to an armed rebel group launched a cyber attack on over a dozen website, mostly belonging to the state, in Venezuela. The hackers' collective, calling itself The Binary Guardians, targeted the portals for the government, the supreme court and the legislature, among others. The sites for private companies were also affected, including subscription TV service DirecTV and telephone provider Digital. The online operation came a day after three military officers -- a dismissed captain and two lieutenants -- led around 20 men in uniform on a raid of an army base in the city of Valencia. They made off with an unspecified arsenal of weapons, though half their number, including one of the lieutenants, was captured and two were killed. Several of the hacked sites were offline late yesterday. Those for President Nicolas Maduro's office and for the electoral council were eventually back to normal. The Binary Guardians showed on Twitter the screen they had inserted on the portals' home pages: a tract supporting the rebel group's "Operation David" on the army base, next to an excerpt from Charlie Chaplin's movie "The Great Dictator." "Our struggle is digital," the hacker group said. "You close the streets, we do so to networks." It urged anti-government protesters to demonstrate "and support our valiant soldiers." PTI 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Celebrity Wire 29 Oct 2022 In this clip Toni Collette (Macey) and Anna Faris (Savanna) decide what to do with Kathleen Turner (Aunt Hilda). Check it out. Business Insider 14 May 2020 Google has significantly scaled back diversity and inclusion efforts, moves that employees said were meant to help the company.. Rumble 06 Oct 2022 In part one of a three part series, Mighty Car Mods show you how they built their budget show car - made on a suburban driveway.. In the past few weeks, several venture capital firms have published different variations of the same pledge: well do a better.. TechCrunch 09 Jun 2020 Jerusalem Post 01 Jul 2022 Curry College, in the suburb of Milton, announced Thursday it had identified the perpetrator of the graffiti dating back to.. Breitbart 25 Jul 2022 Google has fired one of its engineers who recently shared his belief that the company's artificial intelligence system is sentient.. Kim Kardashian has stepped out braless in a skintight taupe bodysuit, adding second skin bottoms that accentuated her hourglass curves. The 38-year-old shared a KKW Beauty snap to her Twitter Friday to promote a new body product launching on June 21. And soon after, Kim stepped out in an eye-catching look for lunch at Emilils Trattoria in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Encino with her sister Khloe Kardashian, as they film scenes for their hit reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. The gorgeous mother of four, who chose to go braless, highlighted her ample chest in the bodysuit for a racy afternoon ensemble. The KKW Beauty founder showcased her tiny waist and her pert derriere in skintight camel colored bottoms. The high-waisted bottoms, which had zippered accents on the hem, showed off her incredible hourglass figure. Different Kinds of Air Ducts Used in the HVAC Industry www.GulfoFlex.com In every HVAC system, one of the most important elements to check is the Duct system or what is known as ductwork. Ducts are passages that are used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to provide and remove air. They are used in different HVAC elements like air supply, air processing units, air return, diffusers, and more. To be able to achieve a high efficiency HVAC system, the type of ductwork should be adequate enough and sized correctly for the system.The types of ducts that are installed depends on the quality of the installation since their benefits vary from energy savings to the acoustic properties of the system. Four common types of ducts are flexible ducts, metal ducts, glass wool duct boards and plastic ducts.Flexible ductsFlexible ducts are made up of two aluminum and polyester concentric tubes, wherein a glass wool layer or fiberglass wool is inserted in between the two tubes to serve as thermal insulation. Their main use is to connect main air ducts and terminal units such as diffusers or grids. An example of a high quality flexible duct is the Gulf-O-Flex Flexible Insulated Duct by Rubber World Industries (RWI), a rubber insulation manufacturing company based in the UAE. It makes use of triple lamination of aluminum foil, polyester as well as metalized polyester film permanently bonded to a coated spring steel wire helix. The external part of the duct is wrapped with a blanket of fiberglass insulation.Metal ductsMetal ducts are made from different kinds of sheet metal, like galvanized or stainless steel, copper and aluminum. They are cut, and shaped into the required measured shape for the duct system. Being a good thermal conductor, metal ducts require thermal insulation as well. The most common material used is fiberglass wool that is wrapped around the outer duct wall. Insulation can be installed on the inner wall of the duct as well using fiberglass wool duct wraps or duct slabs that are faced with glass matting or mesh. These provide acoustic insulation and strengthening the inner part of the duct.Fiberglass Duct boardsFiberglass Duct boards are made from high density fiberglass boards. The ducts will be shaped from the boards by cutting and folding respectively to get the needed shape for the system. The side of the board that has contact with the air stream after the duct assembly is called the internal face, while the other face is called the external face.The external face of the duct will be installed with a strong reinforced aluminum foil that will act as a vapour barrier. On the other hand, the internal face will have either an aluminum coating or fabric layer depending on the requirements needed.Plastic DuctsPlastic ducts which include ducts that are made from plastic or foam boards, are made by cutting and folding the needed shapes to create the cross-sectional shape of the duct system.The internal and external board faces are usually installed with aluminum coating.Rowena LariosaRubber World IndustriesMarketing@gulfoflex.comTel: +971 6 7434176WebMedia ContactAlyssa GonzagaMedia AccountLincoln Martin Strategic MarketingTel: +971 50 4289684Rubber World Industries LLC was established in 1993 to manufacture a comprehensive and versatile range of technically advanced Rubber Insulation products. Part of the Shaikhani Group of Companies, RWI is a pioneer UAE national enterprise that has become an industry leader in the entire Gulf and South-East Asia region.Emaar Square, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, UAE Network Outsourcing Market 2017 Global Trend, Segmentation and Opportunities Forecast To 2022 Network Outsourcing https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/222058-network-outsourcing-global-market-outlook-trends-forecast-and-opportunity-assessment-2014-2022 www.wiseguyreports.com https://www.wiseguyreports.com/conferences https://www.wiseguyreports.com/seminars The Global Network Outsourcing Market Research Report provides detailed analysis of the key regional market status of the Network Outsourcing Industry.The Global Network Outsourcing market size is poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.12% over the period 2014 to 2022. The factors that are influencing the market growth include improved company focus, access to world-class capabilities by outsourcing providers, obtaining resources that are not available internally, and reduced costs. Whereas uncertainty in costs and opportunism by external vendors are some of the key restraining factors in the global market.IT industry is the largest benefiter of the outsourcing trend having leveraged outsourcing as the way to augment capabilities and skills, and reduce costs. Emerging economies such as India and China are the leading markets for the network outsourcing as these are the most inhabited countries with the availability of skilled man power and their willingness to work on lower wages.Network Outsourcing market is segmented on the basis of type of components, technology, service, application and geography. On the basis of type of components, the market is segregated into IP/VPN, IP telephony, LAN/WLAN network, ethernet links and video conferencing. On the basis of technology, the market is categorized into wireless network technologies, web services, VPN topologies, unified messaging, open specification servers, modular component style architecture, java, interconnection, instant messaging, graphics, digital loop carrier (DLC) network nodes, cross layer traffic engineering, business center technology, bandwidth management and autonomic computing attributes.The market is segmented on the basis of service into network design services, network implementation services, network monitoring services and support and maintenance services. By application the market is segregated into transport and logistics, telecom and it, retail, public sector, media, manufacturing, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, energy & resources and others. Global network outsourcing market by geography is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia pacific, and rest of the world.The key players in the Network Outsourcing market includeAmazon, At&T, Accenture, IBM Global services, Nokia Siemens Networks, Ericsson, Csc, Huawei, Cisco and Colt Group.Sample Copy @What our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 8 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsTable Of Content1 Executive Summary2 Preface2.1 Abstract2.2 Research Scope2.3 Research Methodology2.4 Research Sources3 Market Trend Analysis3.1 Introduction3.2 Drivers3.3 Restraints3.4 Opportunities3.5 Threats4 Porters Five Force Analysis4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers4.2 Bargaining power of buyers4.3 Threat of substitutes4.4 Threat of new entrants4.5 Competitive rivalry5 Global Network Outsourcing Market, By type of components,5.1 Introduction5.2 IP/VPN5.3 IP telephony5.4 LAN/WLAN network5.5 Ethernet links5.6 Video conferencing11 Company Profiling11.1 Amazon11.2 At&T11.3 Accenture11.4 IBM Global services11.5 Nokia Siemens Networks11.6 Ericsson11.7 Csc11.8 Huawei11.9 Cisco11.10 Colt GroupCONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)For accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially check :For updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially check :Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Pune, India Global Wheat Bran Market 2017 Industry Key Players, Share, Trend, Applications, Segmentation and Forecast to 2022 Wheat Bran Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1039974-global-wheat-bran-sales-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1039974-global-wheat-bran-sales-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/conferences WiseGuyReports added new market study, titled Global Wheat Bran Sales Market Report 2017 to its expanding database of research reports. The research study offers a comprehensive overview of market and growth trends of this industry in the coming years.Wheat Bran" statistical surveying report gives an inside and out examination of the Wheat Bran " market and its vital evaluation and foresight during forecast period. The report considers the current situation of the market and incorporates a conversation on showcase development drivers, patterns, and limitations in the market. It outlines the major players in the market.The aim of market research is to get equipped with the information needed to develop business strategies such as expansion & business setups, investments plan, innovation, and brand reinforcement to achieve expected growth and success. With the help of effective market research, get valuable information about your competitors, economic shifts, demographics, the current market trends and expensive features on your customers. At the global level, the report provide an outlook for import and export market trend in present and coming years. These analytics are used in the future for estimating the above standards. The market research helps to produce a wealth of information about your products and services.The report provides in depth study of Wheat Bran using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The report identify the strength factors of the organization will help organizations to hold a major share in the market, rectify where the organization is lacking or some hole which is creating glitches for development product. Look out for more opportunity in the market, need to be up to date to avoid any threats, competitors and substitutes.Sample link @The Wheat Bran report represent the complete analysis for major players in the market. The analysis is done on various prime factors such as organization overview, product profile and understanding, cost layout, manufacturing the product, financial stability of the organization. The branding strategy used by major players to launch their product in market and amount spent on various medium use to promote a product in the market.Key players here:Star of the WestHindustan Animal FeedsSiemer Milling CompanyJordansHarinera VilafranquinaKarim Karobar CompanyBeiDaHuang GroupGupta GroupThe report showcase existing situation of the market which is based on historical data and predicted market growth references to value, volume, technology advancement, Macroeconomic and political factors.Report link @Table of content:Global Wheat Bran Sales Market Report 20171 Wheat Bran Market Overview2 Global Wheat Bran Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Wheat Bran (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Wheat Bran (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Wheat Bran (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Wheat Bran (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Wheat Bran (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Wheat Bran (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Wheat Bran Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Wheat Bran Maufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Wheat Bran Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixList of Tables and Figures:Figure Product Picture of Wheat BranFigure Global Wheat Bran Sales Volume Comparison (K MT) by Type (2012-2022)Figure Global Wheat Bran Sales Volume Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2016Figure Feed Grade Wheat Bran Product PictureFigure Medical Grade Wheat Bran Product PictureFigure Other Product PictureFigure Global Wheat Bran Sales Comparison (K MT) by Application (2012-2022)Figure Global Sales Market Share of Wheat Bran by Application in 2016Figure Pharmaceutical ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in PharmaceuticalFigure Cosmetic Industries ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in Cosmetic IndustriesFigure Animal Feed ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in Animal FeedFigure Biofuels ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in BiofuelsFigure Others ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in OthersFigure Global Wheat Bran Market Size (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure United States Wheat Bran Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Wheat Bran Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Wheat Bran Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Wheat Bran Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Wheat Bran Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Wheat Bran Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Wheat Bran Sales Volume (K MT) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Wheat Bran Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Market Major Players Wheat Bran Sales Volume (K MT) (2012-2017)Table Global Wheat Bran Sales (K MT) of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)Table Global Wheat Bran Sales Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)For accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially check :Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT. LTD.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune 411028Maharashtra, India Europe Luxury Vinyl Flooring Market Analysis by Key Armstrong ,Gerflor Mannington Mills, Tarkett Forecast and Analysis 2017-2022 Luxury Vinyl Flooring Industry https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1684078-europe-luxury-vinyl-flooring-lvt-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/1684078-europe-luxury-vinyl-flooring-lvt-market-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1684078 Press Release: Pune, India- August , 2017Europe Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022Description:The report provides in depth study of Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The report identify the strength factors of the organization will help organizations to hold a major share in the market, rectify where the organization is lacking or some hole which is creating glitches for development product.LVT is an acronym for "luxury vinyl tile." It is a marketing term used by numerous companies to describe their vinyl flooring that is decoratively patterned to emulate the look of natural wood, granite or other types of flooring. There is no exact definition of the term, only generalities. It is not actually a separate category of tiling, simply a way of describing standard vinyl tiling that has been designed to match natural flooring.For Sample Report @This report focuses on the Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) in Europe market, especially in Germany, UK, France, Russia, and Italy. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversArmstrongMannington MillsTarkettNOX CorporationLG HausysCongoleumMohawkGerflorForboBeaulieuRiLMetroflorMillikenPolyflorKarndeanParterreSnmo LVTHailide New MaterialTaide Plastic FlooringMarket Segment by Countries, coveringGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyMarket Segment by Type, coversDecorative Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT)Functional Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT)Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoCommercial useResidential useThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the Europe Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) market.Chapter 1, to describe Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT), with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers in Europe, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Europe market by countries, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT), for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type and application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key countries by manufacturers, Type and Application, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Chapter 12, Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceFor any Enquiry write us @Table of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Decorative Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT)1.2.2 Functional Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT)1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Commercial use1.3.2 Residential use1.4 Market Analysis by Countries1.4.1 Germany Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 France Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 UK Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Russia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Italy Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Armstrong2.1.1 Profile2.1.2 Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Armstrong Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.1.4 Business Overview2.1.5 Armstrong News2.2 Mannington Mills2.2.1 Profile2.2.2 Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Mannington Mills Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2.4 Business Overview2.2.5 Mannington Mills News2.3 Tarkett2.3.1 Profile2.3.2 Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Tarkett Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3.4 Business Overview2.3.5 Tarkett News2.4 NOX Corporation2.4.1 Profile2.4.2 Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 NOX Corporation Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4.4 Business Overview2.4.5 NOX Corporation News2.5 LG Hausys2.5.1 Profile2.5.2 Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 LG Hausys Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5.4 Business Overview2.5.5 LG Hausys NewsContinuedBuy now@Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every category and an even more comprehensive collection of research reports under these categories and sub-categoriesOffice No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028 Maharashtra, India Growth of Foam Bags Market Driven by Surging End-use in Consumer Goods and Services Industries Foam Bags https://www.grandresearchstore.com/report-sample/global-foam-bags-market-research-report-2017 https://www.grandresearchstore.com/consumer-goods-and-services/global-foam-bags-market-research-report-2017 Foam bags market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.4% from 2017 to 2025. The worldwide adoption of foam bags has led to its use in packaging solutions in various industries such as food & beverages and pharmaceuticals.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Foam Bags in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaGlobal Foam Bags market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including Universal Protective Packaging, Inc. Macfarlane Group Plc Smurfit Kappa Group PLC Alta packaging Inc. Essen Multipack Ltd Sealed Air Corporation Pregis Corporation Petrofoam, and Sancell Pty Ltd Starpack Overseas Private LimitedDownload a free sample of Foam Bags Market @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Polyethylene (PE) High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)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 Foam Bags for each application, including Medical Devices Electronic Products Cosmetic and Personal Care Automotive Parts Foods OthersIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table Of Contents:1 Foam Bags Market Overview2 Global Foam Bags Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Foam Bags Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Foam Bags Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Foam Bags Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Foam Bags Market Analysis by Application7 Global Foam Bags Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Foam Bags Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Foam Bags Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixView full report details at :GR-Store has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.276 5th Avenue, New York , NY 10001, United StatesInt'l: +1(212)-634-4884 / +1(646)-781-7170Fax: +1(212)-634-4885help@grandresearchstore.com Make your Magento Store GST compatible with Indian GST Magento Extension Portland, Oregon (August 7, 2017) Enabling Indian Magento Store owners to make their stores, GST compatible, CedCommerce on Monday, launched the Indian GST Magento extension. After installing the extension, Magento sellers can sell their goods according to the new Tax slab under GST.The GST, an indirect country, is meant to be unified across the all the states of Union of India. The GST is different from the earlier tax regime in the way that earlier tax was levied by the Union Government and States at varying rates on the full value whereas, now the tax is levied on the value added at each stage.Being a single tax which is collected at multiple points with a full set-off for taxes paid earlier in the value chain, the final consumer has to bear only the GST charged by the last dealer in the supply chain management. Thus making it beneficial for both the sellers and end users, in the long run, however due to being a new tax system, businesses are still skeptical about the implementation.Specification and CompatibilityThe Indian GST Magento Extension after installation automatically calculates the final value of the order including SCGST/CGST or IGST (as per slab). Also, the GSTIN and contact details of the sellers (Magento users) is displayed on the invoice and credit memo.The plugin is compatible with Magento 1.7, 1.8 and 1.9 stores.How it works:After installation, the sellers can enable the functionalities from the back-end which makes the Magento website GST ready. Thereafter, it needs the location of the warehouse to ascertain whether CGST/SGST or IGST is to be applied on the orders.Pricing and Availability:The Indian GST Magento extension is priced at $99 and can be purchased from the product page of Indian GST Magento extension at CedCommerce website and the URL is cedcommerce.com/magento-extensions/indian-gst-magento-extension.About CedCommerce:The CedCommerce, established in 2010, offers Magento-extension based e-commerce solutions that enable Magento 1 and 2 users to open their online marketplace, B2B, Online Reservation types businesses and more. Also, the company provides multichannel sales extension Jet Magento Integration and Walmart Magento extension. 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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 Cabin-cruisers Global Market Outlook 2017-2022 Formula, Campion, Chaparral, Yamarin, Crownline Cabin-cruisers Market http://bit.ly/2hB5J1b http://bit.ly/2ugNAaQ Cabin-cruisers Market Research ReportA market study Global Cabin-cruisers Market examines the performance of the Cabin-cruisers market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Cabin-cruisers market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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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 Protein Kinase Inhibitor Global Market Outlook 2017-2022 Pfizer, Allergan, Amgen, Biocon, Bionomics Protein Kinase Inhibitor Market http://bit.ly/2ve2aBd http://bit.ly/2vHlnyt Protein Kinase Inhibitor Market Research ReportA market study Global Protein Kinase Inhibitor Market examines the performance of the Protein Kinase Inhibitor market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Protein Kinase Inhibitor market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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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 Manual Angle Seat Valve Global Market Outlook 2017-2022 Bopp & Reuther, BUROCCO ACHILLE, Danfoss, DFL ITALIA SRL, FGS Brasil Manual Angle Seat Valve Market http://bit.ly/2wmwwBF http://bit.ly/2vwA9r7 Manual Angle Seat Valve Market Research ReportA market study Global Manual Angle Seat Valve Market examines the performance of the Manual Angle Seat Valve market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Manual Angle Seat Valve market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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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 Acid Chemical Cleaning Agent Global Market Outlook 2017-2022 Hubbard-Hall, KYZEN, Quaker Chem, Durr Ecoclean, Pero Acid Chemical Cleaning Agent Market http://bit.ly/2vcaDXp http://bit.ly/2uh8Xcn Acid Chemical Cleaning Agent Market Research ReportA market study Global Acid Chemical Cleaning Agent Market examines the performance of the Acid Chemical Cleaning Agent market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Acid Chemical Cleaning Agent market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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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 Agrow: Plant Growth Regulators https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=41331 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/agrow-plant-growth-regulators ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Agrow: Plant Growth Regulators to its growing collection of premium market research reports.Since 1990, the significant uptake in the adoption of plant growth regulators (PGRs) has seen their use quadruple globally.Although Europe has seen steady baseline demand of around 12 000 tonnes a year since 1990, the biggest growth markets are in Latin America with a five-year CAGR of 29.8%. Here, the largest PGR market is Chile (33%), followed by Brazil (32%), Peru (20%) and Honduras (10%).In 2016, demand for active ingredients in Europe and North America stood at 15.9 and 7.9 thousand tonnes respectively, with North Americas PGR use largely associated with cereal crops.However, the PGR competitive landscape remains fragmented and offers strong growth opportunities for major and medium-sized crop protection companies, as well as more specialist start-ups and players.To Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @This new report offers an extensive overview of the chemistry and active ingredients deployed in the PGR market segment, activity by company and country, product portfolios, patents, research and development, and prospects for this sector.It also provides a usage breakdown for key countries, with fully illustrative tables and charts, as well as key PGR applications, modal actions, registration history and current status of the main commercial PGR active ingredients. Each active ingredient category is presented in order of commercial significance.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:About ReportsWorldwide.comReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-4994Fax +1 (617) 398-4995abigail@reportsworldwide.com Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market 2017 - Top Players Saft, GS Yuasa, EnerSys, EverExceed, Exide Technologies, HBL, Sunlight Systems http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1276530 http://www.researchmoz.us/asia-pacific-submarine-battery-market-report-2017-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1276530 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (MW), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Submarine Battery for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), includingChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Submarine Battery sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingSaftGS YuasaEnerSysEverExceedExide TechnologiesHBLSunlight Systems...On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (MW), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/KW), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSSNSSBNSSKOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume (MW), market share and growth rate of Submarine Battery for each application, includinMilitaryCivilianBrowse Detail Report With Full TOC @Table of ContentsAsia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market Report 20171 Submarine Battery Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Submarine Battery1.2 Classification of Submarine Battery by Product Category1.2.1 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 SSN1.2.4 SSBN1.2.5 SSK1.3 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Military1.3.3 Civilian1.4 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market by Region1.4.1 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.8 Australia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Asia-Pacific Market Size (Value and Volume) of Submarine Battery (2012-2022)1.5.1 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery (Volume) by Application2.4 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery (Volume and Value) by Region2.4.1 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4.2 Asia-Pacific Submarine Battery Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3 China Submarine Battery (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 China Submarine Battery Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 China Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 China Submarine Battery Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 China Submarine Battery Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 China Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.3 China Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 Japan Submarine Battery (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 Japan Submarine Battery Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 Japan Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 Japan Submarine Battery Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 Japan Submarine Battery Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 Japan Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.3 Japan Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Application5 South Korea Submarine Battery (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 South Korea Submarine Battery Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 South Korea Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 South Korea Submarine Battery Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 South Korea Submarine Battery Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 South Korea Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Type5.3 South Korea Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Application6 Taiwan Submarine Battery (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Taiwan Submarine Battery Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Taiwan Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Taiwan Submarine Battery Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Taiwan Submarine Battery Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Taiwan Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Type6.3 Taiwan Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Application7 India Submarine Battery (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7.1 India Submarine Battery Sales and Value (2012-2017)7.1.1 India Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)7.1.2 India Submarine Battery Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)7.1.3 India Submarine Battery Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)7.2 India Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by Type7.3 India Submarine Battery Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Datamonitor Healthcare Osteoporosis KOL Interviews https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/datamonitor-healthcare-osteoporosis-kol-interviews https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=41342 ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Datamonitor Healthcare Osteoporosis KOL Interviews to its growing collection of premium market research reports.For a Detailed description and table of contents of this report please click here:February 03, 2017Datamonitor Healthcare interviewed an endocrinologist based in the US and a rheumatologist based in the UK to gauge their views on current treatment options, late stage clinical candidates, treatment challenges and unmet needs in osteoporosis. The drugs discussed include abaloparatide (RDUS), Atelvia (AGN), Evenity (AMGN), Evista (LLY), Forteo (LLY), Fosamax (MRK), Prolia (AMGN) and Reclast (NVS). The two interviews were combined into a single report.To Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @About ReportsWorldwide.comReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-4994Fax +1 (617) 398-4995abigail@reportsworldwide.com Insect Pheromones https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=41328 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/agrow-insect-pheromones ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Insect Pheromones to its growing collection of premium market research reports.The significant increase in world population demands more food production and, consequently, key inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides, particularly in developing countries.Environmentally-sustainable technologies for pest management means greater semiochemical use, which currently shows a compound annual growth rate higher than 15%.This report cogently explains how increased semiochemical use is being driven by more restrictive regulatory legislation for conventional pesticides, by consumer demand, and as a result of a meaningful increase in pesticide resistance.Key features include: The regulatory and political factors influencing the market Consumer behaviour and its effect on the industry Market shares and values Trends and technological advances shaping the marketTo Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @The sector is limited by political (reduction in government funding), societal (cost and lack of understanding), and regulatory factors. However, on a positive note, governments are encouraging more sustainable agricultural policies including less complicated and faster regulatory procedures.Consumers want to eat residue-free foods and are resistant to conventional insecticides. They are also eating more organic foods and believe in sustainable agriculture. Technological trends include improvements in pheromone manufacture resulting in lower costs.With the creation of a substantial biopesticide industry, and the investment of large crop protection companies, the pheromone market will likely see consolidation and mergers in the near future.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:About ReportsWorldwide.comReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-4994Fax +1 (617) 398-4995abigail@reportsworldwide.com SCHOOL OF ROCK NAMES ANTHONY PADULO CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER www.schoolofrock.com www.facebook.com/SchoolofRockUSA www.twitter.com/SchoolofRockUSA www.SchoolofRock.com http://franchising.schoolofrock.com/ School of Rock, the leader in performance-based music education, is pleased to announce Anthony Padulo as their new Chief Development Officer. As the newest addition to the School of Rock executive team, Padulo brings unmatched experience in strategic planning, franchise sales, real estate development and employee training to the growing School of Rock family.We are honored to welcome Anthony to the School of Rock family, and know that his proven track record and extensive experience in franchise development will be a major driver in the brands growth, said School of Rock CEO, Rob Price. We look forward to leveraging his expertise in developing and strengthening the School of Rock brand both domestically and internationally.In Anthonys more than 30 years of experience in the franchise space, he spent over 22 years with Dunkin Donuts, where he played a pivotal role in launching both them and Baskin Robbins in over 30 countries. In addition, he has led development efforts for Goddard Systems, Inc., the largest childcare franchisor in the United States. In that capacity, he took responsibility for new franchise sales, resales, new school openings, market planning, real estate development, construction and franchise planning. Padulo has worked with other notable brands including AAMCO Transmissions Inc., and most recently, BrightStar Care, where he served as Executive Vice President of Global Development, where he also oversaw the strategic expansion and worldwide franchise growth.I am proud to be joining the School of Rock team during such an exciting time, and my top priority is to better position the brand for rapid expansion, said Anthony Padulo, School of Rock Chief Development Officer. The School of Rock concept has universal appeal. I look forward to sharing the impact of our performance-driven learning model with more students within our existing seven countries and in many new markets.For more information on School of Rock or to find a school near you, please visit###ABOUT SCHOOL OF ROCKThe music school your mom and dad wish they had when they were kids, School of Rock is an ingenious concept that gets kids and adults rocking out to the classics and up and performing with their peers. With 200 locations in nine countries, the franchise proves that rock and roll is here to stay. Follow School of Rock on Facebook atand on Twitter at. For more information on School of Rock visitor call 866-695-5515. To learn more about School of Rock franchise opportunities head to888 S. Figueroa St. Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Market Share 2017 AMF Bakery Systems, APV, Baader, Briggs Of Burton Plc Food Processing and Packaging Equipment http://bit.ly/2uhnPHt http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-food-processing-and-packaging-equipment-market-2017-demand-insights-key-palyers-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022/ Global Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Market ResearchThe Global Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Market 2017 Industry Research Report is a in-depth study and professional analysis on the current state of the Food Processing and Packaging Equipment market.Firstly, Worldwide Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Market report provides a basic overview of the Food Processing and Packaging Equipment industry including classification, definitions, Key vendors, Growth Drivers, Competitive Landscape, Regional Analysis and Food Processing and Packaging Equipment industry chain structure.Request For Sample Report:Major Companies covered in this Research Report are:-1. AMF Bakery Systems2. APV3. Atlas Pacific Engineering Company Inc.4. Baader Gmbh & Co. Kg5. Briggs Of Burton Plc6. Buhler AG7. Cimbria A/S8. Coesia S.P.A.9. Multivac Inc.10. Pigo S.R.L.11. Reading Bakery Systems12. Rheon Automatic Machinery Co. Ltd.13. Satake Corp.14. Sidel Group15. Solbern16. SPX Flow Inc17. Tetra Laval International S.A.18. Tetra PAK19. Tromp Bakery Equipment20. Vanmark Equipment Llc21. Wenger Manufacturing Inc.....Global Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Market analysis is provided for the international industry including company development history, Food Processing and Packaging Equipment market competitive landscape, Regional analysis and major regions development status on industry Market scenario.Secondly, Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Market report includes, development policies and plans are discussed, manufacturing processes and cost structures. This Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Industry report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, Global Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Market revenue and gross margin by regions (South East Asia, India, North America, Europe, Japan and China) and also other can be added.Browse Complete Report Here:Then, the report pay attention on worldwide major leading market players (in Food Processing and Packaging Equipment industry area) with information such as Company Profile, Sales Volume, Price, Gross Margin and contact information. Global Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Industry report also includes Upstream & downstream consumers analysis, raw materials.All above Company Profile, Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue, Supply, Import, Export and Consumption covered in Food Processing and Packaging Equipment industry report.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA Clamp Meters Market Outlook 2017 Kewtech, Metrel, Klein Tools, Tekpower, Etekcity, Tenma Clamp Meters http://bit.ly/2uzjTkF http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-clamp-meters-market-2017-demand-insights-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022 Clamp Meters Market Research 2017A market study Global Clamp Meters Market examines the performance of the Clamp Meters market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Clamp Meters market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Clamp Meters market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Clamp Meters Market 2017 report includes Clamp Meters market Revenue, market Share, Clamp Meters industry volume, market Trends, Clamp Meters Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Clamp Meters Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Clamp Meters Market 2017 :FlukeAmprobeIdeal IndustriesExtech InstrumentsUEi Test InstrumentsKyoritsuChauvin ArnouxMilwaukee ToolEtekcityUni-TrendSperry InstrumentsKlein ToolsPrecision MastechTenmaTekpowerTestoMetrelMeggerMartindale ElectricKewtechClamp Meters Market : By ApplicationResidentialIndustrialClamp Meters Market : By TypeDigital Clamp MetersAnalog Clamp MetersFirstly, the report covers the top Clamp Meters manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Clamp Meters report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Clamp Meters industry, Clamp Meters industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Clamp Meters Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Clamp Meters 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 Clamp Meters market revenue worldwide.Finally, Clamp Meters market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA Wellness Food Market Outlook 2017 Worthington Foods, Chiquita Brands, Danone, Arla Foods, Heinz Wellness Food http://bit.ly/2vdRfHH http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-wellness-food-market-2017-demand-insights-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022 Wellness Food Market Research 2017A market study Global Wellness Food Market examines the performance of the Wellness Food market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Wellness Food market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Wellness Food market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Wellness Food Market 2017 report includes Wellness Food market Revenue, market Share, Wellness Food industry volume, market Trends, Wellness Food Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Wellness Food Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Wellness Food Market 2017 :DanoneGeneral MillsHeinzKelloggNestlePepsiCoAbbott LaboratoriesCoco-ColaThe Great NutritionThe Hain CelestialUnileverWorthington FoodsNatures Path FoodsAlberts OrganicChiquita BrandsBobs Red Mill Natural FoodsArla FoodsHormel FoodsMead Johnson NutritionWellness Food Market : By ApplicationHypermarkets and SupermarketsIndependent Small GrocersConvenience StoresWellness Food Market : By TypeOrganic FoodFunctional FoodFirstly, the report covers the top Wellness Food manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Wellness Food report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Wellness Food industry, Wellness Food industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Wellness Food Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Wellness Food 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 Wellness Food market revenue worldwide.Finally, Wellness Food market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA Sugar-Free Food and Beverages Market Outlook 2017 Kraft Heinz, Unilever, PepsiCo, Hershey, Nestle, Kellogg Sugar-Free Food and Beverages http://bit.ly/2uwyA8a http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-sugar-free-food-and-beverages-market-2017-demand-insights-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022 Sugar-Free Food and Beverages Market Research 2017A market study Global Sugar-Free Food and Beverages Market examines the performance of the Sugar-Free Food and Beverages market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Sugar-Free Food and Beverages market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Sugar-Free Food and Beverages market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Sugar-Free Food and Beverages Market 2017 report includes Sugar-Free Food and Beverages market Revenue, market Share, Sugar-Free Food and Beverages industry volume, market Trends, Sugar-Free Food and Beverages Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Sugar-Free Food and Beverages Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Sugar-Free Food and Beverages Market 2017 :HersheyKelloggMarsNestleUnileverCoca-ColaKraft HeinzPepsiCoFirstly, the report covers the top Sugar-Free Food and Beverages manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Sugar-Free Food and Beverages report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Sugar-Free Food and Beverages industry, Sugar-Free Food and Beverages industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Sugar-Free Food and Beverages Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Sugar-Free Food and Beverages 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 Sugar-Free Food and Beverages market revenue worldwide.Finally, Sugar-Free Food and Beverages market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA Thermal Conductivity Analyzers Market Outlook 2017 PerkinElmer, Hot Disk, Setaram, Eltra Thermal Conductivity Analyzers http://bit.ly/2vG70tx http://www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-thermal-conductivity-analyzers-market-2017-demand-insights-key-players-segmentation-and-forecast-to-2022 Thermal Conductivity Analyzers Market Research 2017A market study Global Thermal Conductivity Analyzers Market examines the performance of the Thermal Conductivity Analyzers market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Thermal Conductivity Analyzers market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Thermal Conductivity Analyzers market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Thermal Conductivity Analyzers Market 2017 report includes Thermal Conductivity Analyzers market Revenue, market Share, Thermal Conductivity Analyzers industry volume, market Trends, Thermal Conductivity Analyzers Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Thermal Conductivity Analyzers Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Thermal Conductivity Analyzers Market 2017 :Hitech InstrumentsEltraHiden AnalyticalHot DiskLinseis Thermal AnalysisPerkinElmerSetaramTA InstrumentsFirstly, the report covers the top Thermal Conductivity Analyzers manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Thermal Conductivity Analyzers report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Thermal Conductivity Analyzers industry, Thermal Conductivity Analyzers industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Thermal Conductivity Analyzers Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Thermal Conductivity Analyzers 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 Thermal Conductivity Analyzers market revenue worldwide.Finally, Thermal Conductivity Analyzers market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USA Three Clean Employees Selected for Raleigh Business Community Leadership Programs RALEIGH, N.C. (AUGUST 7, 2017) Clean, an award-winning integrated branding agency, today congratulated three staffers on their acceptances into the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerces annual professional development programs, Leadership Raleigh and Emerging Leaders. Associate Director of Business Development Dickens Sanchez, Associate Director of Account Management Lindsay Beavers, and Account Director Lera Germaine were chosen for this years classes, which honor both professional success and contributions to the community.Dickens and Lindsay have been accepted to the 35 and 36 classes of Leadership Raleigh, respectively. During the nine-month program, participants gain a thorough understanding of community issues, develop skills necessary to assume senior leadership roles, network with peers and current community leaders, and participate in community service. Both women are senior members of Cleans management team and support various non-profits and local professional development groups such as Wake Education Partnership, Artspace, the American Marketing Association, and Triangle Womens Alliance.Lera joins the Emerging Leaders program, designed for promising mid-career professionals to enhance their leadership skills by engaging with industry experts and experienced business leaders. Participants in the program visit companies and community sites to discuss topics such as professional development, work/life balance, and how to expand their skills for next-level career roles. In her role at Clean, Lera leads some of the agencys top accounts, supervising all aspects of client relationships.These three women are indeed business leaders of tomorrow and serve as examples to us all, said Clean CEO Natalie Perkins. We love giving back here at Clean, and Lindsay, Dickens and Lera exemplify community spirit and dedication. We are honored to have all three of our nominees hand-picked for these valuable Triangle area programs.About CleanClean is an integrated branding agency with a diverse client portfolio featuring Lenovo, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Credit Suisse, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Wilmington Tourism, and Durham Distillery. The agency provides a complete array of services under one roof, including strategy, creative, digital, media, public relations, and social. Launched in 1996, Clean uses a strategy-first approach to develop and execute multichannel marketing programs tailored to each client. A woman-owned business, Clean has been awarded HUB certification by the State of North Carolina.cleaninc.com###Dan Strickford919.987.3623dstrickford@cleaninc.comClean6601 Six Forks RoadSuite 400Raleigh, NC 27609 SparrowHawk Announces Closing on Additional St. Louis Market Property SparrowHawk Announces Closing on Additional St. Louis Market Property SparrowHawk Real Estate Strategists has acquired 1619 Park 370, a single-tenant, 213,558-square-foot industrial property in Hazelwood, Missouri from Chicago based HSA.The 11.28 acre property includes a Class A office/warehouse building and is fully occupied by XPO Logistics, a top ten global logistics company. The property is situated within minutes ofI-70 and I-270 interchanges and Lambert St. Louis International Airport. The Park 370 location is considered a premier regional logistic hub. Katie Haywood and Jon Hinds of CBRE represented SparrowHawk and Jeff Hawley of Block Hawley represented HSA on the transaction.A big fan of St. Louis, Alfredo Gutierrez, SparrowHawks founder said, The Park 370 is a high quality and functional industrial building. Its an excellent addition to two St. Louis area buildings totaling 625,000 SF that SparrowHawk purchased in December of 2016. SparrowHawk has been active in buying and selling buildings in St. Louis since 2007 and I believe the city isone of the top industrial markets for investments because of its growth and dependability.About SparrowHawk Real Estate StrategistsSparrowHawk Real Estate Strategists is a privately held industrial real estate firm headquartered in Houston, Texas. SparrowHawk specializes in the acquisition, management, enhancement and disposition of quality industrial properties throughout the continental United States, for the benefit of institutional investors, brokers and tenants.SparrowHawk is a company dedicated to strategic industrial-real-estate investing throughout the continental United States. With keen vision, SparrowHawk pinpoints industrial projects offering exceptional investment potential. Through a nurturing management approach, SparrowHawk increases asset value and assembles properties into prized Class-A portfolios. For the benefit of its partners, SparrowHawk helps assure that ROI reaches new heights.Preserving a Nimble, Hands-on Investment ApproachSparrowHawk is a streamlined company by design. Company founder, Alfredo Gutierrez, is directly involved in every transaction. Moreover, Alfredo fosters longstanding relationships within the investor, owner and broker communities. These characteristics offer SparrowHawks partners a number of distinct advantages Speed As a small company with hands-on leadership, SparrowHawk can act upon opportunities when time is of the essenceCreativity Because SparrowHawk is free from many institutional restraints, the company can explore leading-edge strategies and offer innovative financing solutionsFlexibility SparrowHawk often works outside the narrow parameters of portfolio-based or institutional criteria to uncover a wide array of investment possibilitiessparrowHawk LLC1800 west loop southsuite 1650Houston tx 77027 CHD Expert Evaluates the 2017 U.S. Healthcare Foodservice Industry Market Landscape https://info.chd-expert.com/chd-expert-healthcare-industry-report As the healthcare debate continues to heat up in Washington, much of America is wondering how new policies might change the healthcare industry. For companies looking to capitalize on whitespace opportunities created by a landscape in flux, CHD Expert, a global leader in aggregating, analyzing, and managing foodservice data, provides an overview of the current healthcare foodservice industry in advance of the AHF 2017 Annual Conference, highlighting profitable avenues for businesses that serve the healthcare market.According to CHD Experts data, there are over 60,500 healthcare facilities in the United States. This includes hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, nursing homes, assisted or senior living centers, and other healthcare establishments.Of the healthcare facilities in the country, only around 39% have self-operated foodservice operations. The majority of facilities, approximately 61%, are managed by foodservice management companies, with Aramark owning 3.2% to the total managed market, Sodexo at 22.4%, and Compass at 7.2%, making up the big three. Approximately 94% of the hospital landscape participates with a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) to receive discounts on food purchases.In addition to determining overall market size, CHD Experts data also provides details regarding facility locations, and shows that healthcare facilities fall primarily within major cities, larger metropolitan areas, and within population-dense states. For example, the top five states with the most healthcare facilities overall are California, Texas, Ohio, Florida, and New York. When only considering the hospital landscape of the U.S., the top five states with the largest number of hospitals are Texas, California, Florida, Louisiana, and Ohio.CHD Expert estimates that approximately 42% of all healthcare providers in the United States have between 101 to 500 beds. The numbers are similar when looking at just the hospital landscape, with 36% of hospitals having between 101 to 500 beds. Also in the hospital landscape, 41% have between 1 to 50 beds and 19% have from 51 to 100 beds.Manufacturers and distributors should also consider the overall market potential of healthcare operators when identifying whitespace opportunities. Patient populations require a variety of foodservice-related products and services during their stay, and healthcare institutions spend approximately $16 billion on purchasing food, beverages and other disposable products.Seven cities account for more than $660 million in food, beverage, and other disposable product purchases within healthcare facilities and make up approximately 4% of the national spend of these items within the overall healthcare landscape. These cities are Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, and Houston.Changes are happening all across the healthcare landscape, and if your organization does business with healthcare operators, understanding the numbers is essential to landing new accounts, said Catherine Kearns, General Manager at CHD Expert The Americas. As hospitals and other healthcare facilities change their programs to meet both the changing needs of their patients as well as new policy requirements, providers that leverage CHD Experts comprehensive foodservice data are better positioned to create winning sales and marketing campaigns.To obtain detailed information on the healthcare foodservice landscape in the United States, download our 2017 Healthcare Foodservice Industry Report by visiting:To purchase this data or email addresses for over 5,000 contacts within the healthcare industry, email us at sales@chd-expert.com.Data Ingredients. Growth Served. For over 20 years, CHD Expert has collected, analyzed, and managed foodservice and hospitality data to help businesses win in this fragmented and fast-moving industry. Our comprehensive and segmented data allows us to adapt our local and global insights to our clients objectives. From ideas to execution, we deliver actionable solutions that drive business growth. To learn more, please visit chd-expert.com.CHD Expert The Americas130 S. Jefferson St., Suite 250Chicago, IL, 60661 USAPhone: (312) 768-6900Fax: (312) 575-9765E-mail: sales@chd-expert.com Global Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017 Global Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017 https://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ QYRlogoThe Zinc Fluoride Industry 2017 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Zinc Fluoride industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Zinc Fluoride market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Zinc Fluoride industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Global Zinc Fluoride market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Zinc Fluoride sales volume, Price (USD/Dose), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingCompany 1Company 2Company 3Company 4Company 5......Ask a complete & professional report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com or visit atTable of contents:1 Zinc Fluoride Market Overview2 Global Zinc Fluoride Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Zinc Fluoride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Zinc Fluoride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Zinc Fluoride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Zinc Fluoride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Zinc Fluoride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Zinc Fluoride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Zinc Fluoride Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Zinc Fluoride Maufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Zinc Fluoride Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:Global Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017Europe Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017China Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017India Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017Japan Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017USA Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017Korea Zinc Fluoride Sales Market Report 2017Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchTina| Sales ManagersEmail: tinaning@qyresearch.com Tel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Web:QYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business.Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe District Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) Market to Register Steady Growth During 2015 to 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/cellulose-acetate-butyrate-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4550 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) is an amorphous, transparent thermoplastic material with uses from trim for automobiles to tool handles, pens and blister packaging among others. It can be melted and remodeled into new shapes without altering its molecular structure. It is resistant to ultraviolet rays, has low moisture absorption and high impact strength. In addition it has high transparency, aesthetic appeal, high dielectric constant, excellent machinability, compatibility with human skin and ability to be offered in unlimited range of colors. It has soft and pliable nature and can be stretched up to 60% of its original length. It is expensive than its precursor cellulose acetate because of additional steps necessary in producing the compound. Since, cellulose acetate butyrate is resistant to ultraviolet, it can be used for applications where high surface gloss is needed such as production of lacquers for lenses and for various forms of plastic film.Get access to full summary @:Cellulose acetate butyrate is resistant to household chemicals and can be used in manufacture of numerous types of toys and sporting goods. Since, cellulose acetate butyrate has low electrical conductivity, high internal resistance and external resistance, it serves as a good insulating material. It also finds variety of applications in products such as textile fibers, wound dressings, photography, slip covers, steering wheels, goggles, pneumatic system traps and magnetic tape among others. Majority of cellulose acetate butyrate is consumed for making cigarette filters.Cigarette tow and textiles are the key end use application for cellulose acetate butyrate. The major demand comes from cigarette filter tow manufacturing companies that are also engaged in manufacture of textile fibers. Rising consumption of cigarette in low to middle income countries such as China and India, introduction of longer cigarette filters, preference for low tar cigarettes is driving the demand for cellulose acetate butyrate. Absence of stringent government regulations regarding cigarette consumption and demand for lesser emission of nicotine in the smoke is also accelerating the demand for cellulose acetate butyrate in emerging economies. A company must incur huge sunk costs to build a dedicated production facility, this act as a significant barrier for new players to enter the cellulose acetate butyrate market.Cellulose acetate butyrate is a mature product and growth has slowed down in the U.S and Western Europe. Cigarette applications are getting diminished in Europe and the U.S as a result of increased awareness of health hazards of smoking and stringent government regulations. Demand for cellulose acetate butyrate is growing in Eastern and Central Europe, India, China and Latin America as cigarette consumption is growing in these regions. The Asia Pacific region is the largest consumer for Cellulose acetate butyrate. It is also one of the fastest growing regions for cellulose acetate butyrate, largely driven by filter tow market. China is the largest market in terms of filter tow consumption and new cellulose acetate filter tow production facilities and capacity expansions are expected to be constructed in China in the coming years. There is also a shift of textile production facilities from western countries towards China that favors the growth of domestic market.A sample of this report is available upon request @The key companies in the cellulose acetate butyrate market include Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd, Daicel Corporation, Eastman Chemical Company, Celanese Corporation, SK Chemicals Co. Ltd, Celanese Acetate, Rhodia Acetow GmbH, Primester, Simagchem Corporation, Haihang Industry Co. and Hangzhou Dayangchem Co. Ltd among others.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: Ultrasound Gel Market - Global Industry Analysis 2025 Ultrasound Gel Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ultrasound-gel-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28367 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Medical ultrasound is transfer of sound waves into body for diagnostic purpose. This is carried out to obtain internal body images. The ultrasound technology when used alone is not effective, as the sound waves are impeded by air and gases. These air and gases cause intense reflections between the skin and ultrasound transducer. Therefore, a conductive medium is required, where the ultrasound waves can be transferred through skin without any reflections. This ultrasound gels serve as a conductive medium between the transducer and surface of skin and help transfer sound waves through skin by preventing the formation of of air bubbles.Alcohol and water are also suitable media, but inappropriate to use due to their low viscosity and volatility. Ultrasound gel is composed of propylene glycol and water. These gels are completely transparent, non-allergic, and have gliding characteristics. These gels are little sticky, and when applied to skin, do not dip or run off. Ultrasound gel can be easily wiped off after the medical procedure. Ideally, ultrasound gel should be non-irritating and should not stain clothes or damage equipment. It should be completely aqueous.Browse Market Research Report @Based on type, the ultrasound gel market can be segmented into sterile and non-sterile. Sterile ultrasound gels are available in sachets with overwrapped. They are acoustically correct for all medical ultrasound frequencies. Sterile ultrasound gels are recommended for sterile body site procedures. They are also recommended for procedures with mucosal contact where biopsy is not planned and also on all procedures for pediatric patients. Non-sterile ultrasound gels are usually available in doppler tubes, bottles, and containers. The use of non-sterile ultrasound gel is recommended for low risk procedures on intact skin. For non-sterile ultrasound gels, single use containers are recommended rather than refillable or reusable bottles. If reusable bottles are used, they should follow proper guidelines for refilling. Non-sterile ultrasound gels lead in terms of market share due to their low cost and bulk availability. However, sterile ultrasound gels are gaining popularity owing to their recommended usage in pediatric procedures and other therapies.Based on end-use application, the ultrasound gel market can be categorized into therapy, hospital, and diagnostics. Under the therapy segment, ultrasound gel is used along with the ultrasound machine for therapies such as hyperthermia, unfocused beam, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), intracorporeal lithotripsy, extracorporeal lithotripsy, focused ultrasound, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, intravascular ultrasound, and low intensity pulsed ultrasound. Under the hospital segment, ultrasound gels are used along with ultrasound machines for anesthesiology, gynecology, neonatology, ophthalmology, and urology. Ultrasound gel is applied for diagnostic procedures such as echocardiography, endoscopy, electrocardiography, and carotid ultrasonography. The therapy segment dominates the market for ultrasound gel due to its extensive range of applications. It is followed by the diagnostic segment.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Ultrasound Gel Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Based on region, the ultrasound gel market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The health care industry is in the mature stage in developed nations of North America and Europe. Therefore, North America leads the market for ultrasound gel. It is followed by Europe. The ultrasound gel market in Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa is in the growth stage.Key players operating in the ultrasound gel market are Parker Laboratories Inc., Optimum Medical Limited, Tele-Paper Malaysia, Livondo, NEXT Medical Products, Sonotech, Sonogel Vertriebs Gmbh, Changchun Chengshi, National Therapy Products Inc, Phyto Performance, Ultragel Kft, Eco-Med, Besmed, Medguard Healthcare, and Ceracarta.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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 are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us :-90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207, USATel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB) Market - Global Industry Analysis To 2025 VRFBVanadium Redox Flow Batteries Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/vanadium-redox-flow-batteries-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28379 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ VRFBs store energy by employing vanadium redox (oxidation state) couples, V2+/V3+ in the negative, and V4+/V5+ in the positive half-cells. Vanadium redox couple is chemically active; it gets dissolved in sulfur acid electrolyte solution. The energy and power rating of VRFB are independent of each other. This is a significant feature of VRFB to modulate power in kilowatts (kW) and energy in kilo watt hour (kWh). The power of the VRFB is defined by the size and number of cells in a unit, while the energy capacity is set by the amount of electrolyte stored in the reservoir. The half cells of VRFB are connected to the electrolyte storage tanks, which can essentially pump large amounts of electrolytes for better performance in storage of power especially for solar and wind power generation plants.Vanadium redox flow battery (VFRB) technologies store energy in the liquid form due to the ability of vanadium to exist in four different oxidation states. This property of vanadium makes the battery have one electro active element instead of two. VRFBs are bulky in size; hence, these are used for grid energy storage attached to the power plant or electrical grids.Browse Market Research Report @Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB) Market: Dynamics and TrendsThe first demonstration of VRFB was carried out in Australia in 1980, with vanadium in sulfuric acid solution in each half. However, initial vanadium redox batteries creation was started in 1930s. VRFBs have the ability to operate in a full cycle, wherein the battery can stay active even at 0% charge. This makes them suitable for energy storage in solar and wind power generation farms. Lithium ion (Li-on) batteries, unlike VRFB, can only operate between 20% and 100%. Li-on batteries cannot function when the charge is 20% or below.VRFB has limited self-discharge characteristics. This makes the battery suitable in applications wherein batteries are to be stored for eventually longer period of time with low maintenance and a ready-state of the battery has to be maintained. VRFBs are installed in the sensor components of certain military equipments (weapons, ammunitions, etc.) such as land mines.VRFB have rapid response time. Thus, these batteries are suitable for UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) applications. These batteries have the potential to replace the use of lead acid batteries and diesel generators. Rapid response time also makes VRFB suitable for frequency regelation in large power generating stations. VRFBs provide an effective solution for micro grids, which require reliable operation, frequency regulation, and peak load and base load shifting.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the VRFBVanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB) Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @VRFB offers certain vital properties. It can offer almost unlimited energy capacity if large amount of electrolyte is stored and has low maintenance and no ill effects even when VRFB is left discharged for a longer period of time. The energy to volume ratio of VRFB is poor. This is one of the major advantages as compared to standard storage batteries.VRFB Market SegmentationBased on application, the VRFB market can be segmented into power storage (for solar, wind power generation), military electronics, and UPS (uninterrupted power supply applications). In terms of region, the global VRFB market can be divided into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.VRFBVanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB) Market: Key PlayersKey players operating in the global VRFB market include Imergy Power Systems, Inc., Northern Graphite, UniEnergy Technologies, StorEn Technologies, Sumitomo Corp., Gildemeister AG, and Prudent Energy.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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 are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us :-90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207, USATel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Critical Infrastructure Protection Market worth 153.16 Billion USD by 2022 Bharat Book Bureau https://www.bharatbook.com/information-technology-market-research-reports-419598/critical-infrastructure-protection-security-technology-service-region-global.html https://www.bharatbook.com/market-research-report/technology-media.html?SortBy=&searchText=Infrastructure&da=Y&CatID=7&FromDate=&ToDate=&FromPrice=&ToPrice= www.bharatbook.com Rise in security breaches and cyber-attacks targeting enterprises across various industry verticals is expected to drive the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) marketThe CIP market size is estimated to grow from USD 110.41 billion in 2017 to USD 153.16 billion by 2022, at an estimated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The CIP market includes various security technologies, which are essential for safeguarding critical assets, enterprises, and territories from physical and cyber-attacks. Increased instances of physical attacks, such as terrorist activities, thefts, and intrusion drones, and cyber-attacks which include malware, ransomware, virus, and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) have driven the need for large-scale adoption of CIP security devices and services. However, the lack of technical expertise and industrial control system awareness limits the growth of the market.To read the complete report, click the link below :The consulting services segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast periodThe consulting services are helping clients in designing and implementing CIP programs, developing capital investment strategies, assessing and monitoring infrastructures, and meeting compliances and standards. Thus, the consulting services segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. However, the maintenance and support services segment is expected to have the largest market size in 2017.The transportation systems segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast periodThe CIP transportation systems market size is growing rapidly, due to increased instances of terror attacks on railway infrastructures, highways and bridges, and airports; pirate activities in international waters and ports; and cyber threats of malware, viruses, and APTs. The sensitive infrastructures and enterprises segment is expected to have the largest market size in 2017, owing to large adoption of video surveillance, video analytics, smart cards, biometric systems, and intrusion detection systems.MEA is expected to have the highest growth rate and North America is expected have the largest market share during the forecast periodMajor oil field projects are set up in Middle East and Africa (MEA), which require protection from physical attacks, cyber-attacks, and natural disasters. The MEA government and private customers are adopting best-in-class CIP systems, such as video surveillance systems, radars, command and control systems, access control systems, cybersecurity systems, and solutions, which have helped in the proliferation of the CIP market in the MEA region. The services segment is also growing at a high rate in the MEA region, as the risk assessment, incident response, maintenance and support, and consulting services are helping the critical site managers to keep their assets safe from threats.North America is expected to have the largest market size in 2017, due to increasing number of criminals and cyber-attackers, who have disrupted the functioning of the critical infrastructural assets in the region. The North American region observes increased adoption in surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, radars and communication systems. Surveillance measures in public places and industrial sites have been strictly tightened by installing video surveillance systems supported by video analytics software. Various airports, marine ports, and border control areas have adopted biometrics based on modalities, such as fingerprint, face, and iris recognition for access control.In-depth interviews were conducted with the CEOs, marketing directors, other innovation and technology directors, and executives from various key organizations operating in the CIP market place.Click the below link for related reports :About Bharat Book Bureau :Bharat Book Bureau is the leading market research information provider for market research reports, company profiles, industry analysis, country reports, business reports, newsletters and online databases Bharat Book Bureau provides over a million reports from more than 400 publishers around the globe. We cover sectors starting from Aeronautics to Zoology.Contact us at :Bharat Book BureauTel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773Email: poonam@bharatbook.comWebsite:Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Google Plus LTE-Advanced Test Equipment Market to Undertake Strapping Growth During 2015 - 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/lteadvanced-test-equipment-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/6694 LTE (Long-Term Evolution) advanced is a wireless communication standard and a major advancement to the existing LTE standards. The advantage of LTE advanced standard over LTE standard is its ability to optimize and use advanced topology networks, thereby improving communications and ensuring proper utilization of network resources. Another advantage is the ability to introduce multicarrier to support high data rates of up to 100 MHz. LTE-advanced test equipment are monitoring and test tools that ensures mobility, interoperability and high quality services of LTE advanced standards in wireless communications. The LTE-advanced test equipment market is segmented on the basis of products into network tester, simulation instrument, drive test tool, air interface monitoring, vector signal generator, sweep generator, protocol conformance test instrument, and terminal radio communication tester among others.Get access to full summary @:The increasing transfer of data rates is the major factor fuelling the growth of LTE-advanced test equipment market. Now-a-days consumers are looking to perform various tasks such as bill payment and other work related tasks while on the move. This leads to increased mobile data traffic and puts pressure on service providers of wireless networks for improved efficiencies. This triggers the need for the deployment of effective LTE-advanced test equipment to test performance and conformity with the standards. Such testing methods ensure high quality services and efficient use of LTE-advanced standards, thereby contributing to the growth of LTE-advanced test equipment market. Another factor fuelling the growth of LTE-advanced test equipment market is the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT). This has further led to increased data transfer encouraging network operators to efficiently utilize the available resources so as to increase data rates. This gives rise to the stiff competition among the network operators for deployment of efficient LTE-advanced test equipment so as to efficiently expand the available wireless networks, thereby fuelling the growth of test equipment market.However, the compatibility issue of LTE-advanced terminal with LTE is adversely affecting the growth of this market. An LTE-advanced stations performance is affected in situations of backward compatibility of base stations with LTE. Due to such a limitation, the service providers are reluctant in investing for LTE-advanced standards from LTE. This limited use of LTE-advanced standards restricts the growth of LTE-advanced test equipment market. Another roadblock to the growth of the LTE advanced test equipment market is the high investment required for Research and Development (R&D) so as to keep them abreast with changes in the technology. s. Also, the degree of complexities in integrating multiple technologies at various frequency bands makes the new entrants unaffordable, thereby restraining the growth of this market.A sample of this report is available upon request @To overcome the limitations in existing services, the major players in the market are introducing solutions to meet the advanced testing configurations. For instance, Azimuth Systems, Inc., one of the major players in the market recently launched ACE RNX testing platform. This platform enables customers to implement and execute complex multi-link test cases during the development and deployment of next generation wireless technologies such as LTE-advanced. Some of the other players in the market are AT&T Inc., Alcatel-Lucent, LM Ericsson and Huwei Technologies Co. Ltd.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Wind Power Coating Market - Global Industry Analysis 2025 Wind Power Coating Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/wind-power-coating-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28421 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://marketresearchreports2017.blogspot.in Corrosion and erosion of wind blades and towers in harsh environmental conditions encountered on land and at sea affects the wind power efficiency. Corrosion and erosion can adversely affect the reliability, strength, lifespan, and economic value of a structure. Thus, coating plays a key role in protecting towers, blades, and other components from the harsh environment. Demand for coatings for wind turbines is expected to increase due to the rise in adoption of wind and photovoltaic (PV) systems, growth in focus on decreasing the maintenance costs, and improvement in efficiency. This is expected to drive the wind power coating market. Smart coatings for wind energy and PV applications carry antimicrobial and self-cleaning properties. These are used to prevent wind turbine blades from damage. They also improve energy efficiency by lowering the amount of contamination.Wind power coatings enables wind turbine to run longer with low maintenance and less operating cost in harsh environmental conditions. Smart coatings are used to detect the degree of destruction to the blades, improve power generation efficiency, and resolve damages caused to the blades. However, smart coating materials are not fully commercialized; they are still under development. Wind turbines generating renewable energy to feed the rising global demand for electricity. The aim to lower operating costs of independent power producers and utilities is driving the global wind power coating market. Offshore wind turbine is one of the growth opportunities for the wind power coating market across the globe.Browse Market Research Report @The wind power coating market can be segmented based on type, application, and region. Based on type, the market can be divided into polymer coatings, ceramic coatings, and metal coatings. In terms of application, the market can be split into offshore (including offshore blade, offshore tower, and offshore interior) and onshore (including onshore blade, onshore tower, and onshore interior). Better quality coatings can help protect key structures and strengthen their performance, reduce maintenance cost, lower operation failure, extend plant lifespan, and improve sustainability by reducing material corrosion and wastage.Based on region, the market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. The wind power coating market is dominated by Asia Pacific owing to government initiatives to minimize greenhouse gas emission in the region. This trend is anticipated to continue in the near future. Europe is also estimated to be a key region for wind energy due to the advancement in technology and the availability of new forms of energy across the region. Ocean energy and offshore wind energy are two of the forms of renewable energy sources in Europe.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Wind Power Coating Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Global levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of onshore and offshore wind power has been decreasing. This is projected to drive the wind power coating market in Asia Pacific and Europe. The proportion of imports of wind power coatings into Europe is relatively low; however, it is expected rise through suppliers from the U.S., China, and India. China is active in the wind turbine sector. Thus, the country is likely to hold major share of the wind power coating market in the near future.Key players operating in the global wind power coating market include Akzo Nobel N.V., Hempel A/S, PPG Industries, Inc., BASF SE, Jordan Wind Project Company PSC, Bergolin GmbH & Co KG, The 3M Company, Acolus Coatings, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Dupont), and Duromar, Inc.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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 are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog: Wireless Gas Monitoring Market - Global Industry Analysis 2025 Wireless Gas Monitoring Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/wireless-gas-monitoring-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28427 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://marketresearchreports2017.blogspot.in Wireless technology of gas monitoring eliminates the physical and economic barriers associated with wired gas detection devices. Toxic and combustible gases seep into industrial processes such as oil & gas production facilities, refining & petrochemical, chemical production, and power generation. These gases can cause serious hazards if they get released into the environment. Toxic H2S and combustible methane are the common and dangerous gases that can cause potential danger to life and property. Therefore, companies often employ gas detection systems in order to minimize the risk to personnel and plant safety.A typical gas detector identifies and monitors gas leaks by generating an electronic signal (sound or visual). Installation of traditional wired gas monitoring system incurs additional cost, as it requires a network of wires. Space constraint is another issue faced while installing wired gas monitoring systems in specific applications such as oil & gas production platforms or confined space entry operations in coal fired power plants.Browse Market Research Report @Wireless gas monitoring system can save up to 90% of installed cost and time and can be applied in field and plant networks, sensing leaks that might not otherwise be detected by sparsely distributed wired units. These wireless systems offer high accuracy, flexibility, and reliability in detecting gas leaks. Wireless gas monitoring or detection systems are available as stand-alone monitors, rapid deployable systems, self-healing mesh-radio systems, and replacements for traditional fixed or hard wired systems. The latest wireless systems can be interfaced to Internet for real-time alarm and data sharing.High industry safety standards implemented by regulatory bodies across the world is a key driver of the wireless gas monitoring market. Companies dealing with toxic gas emissions are mandated to follow all health safety & environmental norms established by regulatory bodies. Wi-Fi can communicate directly with other IP devices either locally or through Internet Protocol (IP) network. This is another factor driving the wireless monitoring system market. Installation of wireless gas monitoring is hassle-free and provides continuous monitoring. The traditional wired devices may sometimes fail due to the breakage of wire. Repairing or replacing such wires may prove a time consuming task. However, battery life and interconnectivity issues may hamper the wireless gas monitoring market. Wireless modules are battery powered, thereby requiring replacement of batteries. Interconnectivity issues may arise due to IP network related problems.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Wireless Gas Monitoring Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @The wireless gas monitoring system market is expected to expand primarily in North America, as the region is technologically advanced and has presence of several manufacturers of wireless gas monitoring systems. Rapid industrial growth in Asia Pacific makes the region attractive for wireless gas monitoring systems. Europe is also anticipated to account for major share of the market, as the region is known for its high industrial safety standards. Presence of major oil & gas producing countries makes Middle East & Africa as well as Latin America a beneficial region for the wireless gas monitoring market.Key players operating in the wireless gas monitoring market are Pem-Tech, Inc., TROLEX, United Electric Controls Company, City Technology Ltd., RAE Systems, General Electric, Siemens AG, Status Scientific Controls Ltd., Yokogawa Electric Corporation, RKI Instruments, and Sierra Monitor Corporation.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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 are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog: Zirconium Oxide Flap Disc Market - Global Industry Analysis 2025 Zirconium Oxide Flap Disc Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/zirconium-oxide-flap-disc-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28439 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://marketresearchreports2017.blogspot.in Zirconium oxide, also called zirconium, is a white crystalline oxide of zirconium. Calcining zirconium compounds produce zirconium. Technically, zirconium is chemically inert and is slowly reacted by highly concentrated acids such as hydrofluoric acid and sulfuric acid. Flap discs are grinding and finishing tools, which are used in applications such as weld grinding, rust removal, deburring, weld seam blending, and edge grinding. A zirconium flap disc consists of three components: backing plate, adhesive, and abrasive cloth flaps. Many companies manufacture zirconium flap discs, as these flap discs are more advantageous than grinding wheels.Zirconium Oxide Flap Disc Market: Dynamics and TrendsZirconium flap discs offer various advantages over grinding plates. This is driving the market for zirconium oxide flap discs. Demand for zirconium flap discs is increasing across various industry verticals such as construction, automotive, aerospace, and electronics due to their chemically inert nature. Zirconium flap discs also last longer compared to grinding wheels. Further, they provide maximum contact with the grinding surface, which positively affects the grinding quality.The zirconium oxide flap disc market is also driven by the increase in demand for grinding applications in rotors, shafts, landing gear, fasteners, and other products. Zirconium oxide flap discs are also play a vital role in ensuring safe landing and take-off in aircraft. Implementation of stringent quality measures for aircraft components are driving the need for proper grinding, thereby boosting the demand for zirconium flap discs in the aerospace industry.Obtain Report Details @Rise in innovations in automobile, construction, and aerospace industries is estimated to propel the demand for zirconium flap discs, as they reduce time and costs toward grinding procedures.Zirconium flap discs work slowly and are also expensive than grinding wheels. This is likely to hamper the market during the forecast period.Zirconium Oxide Flap Disc Market: SegmentationBased on component, the zirconium oxide flap disc market can be segmented into backing plate, adhesive, and abrasive cloth flaps. The abrasive cloth flaps segment can be further divided into medium abrasives, coarse and extra coarse abrasives, and fine and ultra-fine abrasives.In terms of the metal processing type, the zirconium oxide flap disc market can be classified into iron, steel, and others. The iron segment is anticipated to account for major share of the market due to its vast applications in various industry verticals. The metal is being employed in various industrial verticals due to its low cost. This has been increasing the scope of grinding, thereby augmenting the need for zirconium flap discs.Based on application, the zirconium oxide flap disc market can be split into grinding, stock removal, weld blending, and others. Grinding and stock removal segments are expected to hold key share of the zirconium oxide flap disc market. Demand for zirconium flap discs has been rising owing to the increase in demand for grinding in various verticals. This has been contributing to the overall market growth.For more information on this report, fill the form @Based on end-user industry, the zirconium oxide flap disc market can be segmented into aerospace, automotive, construction, and others. The aerospace segment is expected to constitute significant share of the market during the forecast period. It is projected to be followed by the automotive segment. Demand for zirconium flap discs has been increasing owing to the rise in demand for grinding of parts such as landing gears in aircraft. The automotive industry segment is likely to hold key share of the market, due to the increasing demand for metal finishing.Zirconium Oxide Flap Disc Market: Regional OutlookAsia Pacific is predicted to be an emerging market for zirconium oxide flap disc, due to the rise in demand for grinding activities in various industry verticals in the region. North America and Europe are also expected to hold key shares of the market. Germany is contributing significantly to the zirconium flap disc market in Europe, led by the growth in the automotive industry. This trend is estimated to continue during the forecast period.The presence of a high number of small, medium, and large-scale vendors of zirconium flap discs in Asia Pacific is also driving the market in the region.Zirconium Oxide Flap Disc Market: Key PlayersProminent players operating in the global zirconium oxide flap disc market include 3M, TYROLIT Group, KLINGSPOR Abrasives, Weiler, Camel Grinding Wheels Works Sarid LTD, Metabo, DRONCO, and Saint-Gobain.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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 are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog: Subsea Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines (SURF) Market - Global Industry Analysis 2025 Subsea Umbilicals Risers Flowlines Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/subsea-umbilicals-risers-flowlines-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28310 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://marketresearchreports2017.blogspot.in Production of oil & gas from the known, old, and mature fields has started declining. As a result, companies are now seeking newer fields. These fields are located in deeper waters as compared to the mature fields. They are situated in the less explored locations of the world such as Latin America, West Africa, and the North Sea. SURF is primarily employed in these deep offshore fields. SURF helps connect the surface systems and subsea production. In line with this objective, SURF can be divided into two parts: umbilicals, and risers and flowlines.Umbilical is the connective medium between the surface equipment and subsea equipment. The Umbilical Termination Structure (UTS) facilitates transportation of services such as electric power, chemicals, telecommunications, and instructions to various subsea equipment. These services reach the various subsea equipment through flying leads, which are basically common extension cords. Umbilicals are designed for static as well as dynamic applications; demand for the latter has been rising due to the increase in depth of fields. The raw material or composition of the cable also changes as per project requirement. Cables are available in the form of hoses, steel tubes, power and optical umbilicals, and composite umbilicals. Demand for steel tubes is rising due to their enhanced response times and ability to handle higher pressures.Browse Market Research Report @Flowlines are used to transport unprocessed fluids from the subsea well to the riser pipeline. They are sometimes considered part of a larger pipeline network consisting of flowlines, riser, extension cords, and other pipes. However, flowlines retain distinctive characteristics primarily owing to their function of being the import line or production line for unprocessed fluids. Risers are used to connect flowlines back to the surface facility. These set of pipelines are available in various diameters, ranging from under one inch to more than 10 inches. This partly depends upon the depth of the offshore fields and the consequent pressure the pipes are subjected to.Another important categorization for the SURF market is the depth of the offshore field. This includes shallow water, deep water, and ultra-deep water, depending upon the location of the offshore field. Demand for deep water and ultra-deep water SURF has been increasing due to the depletion of mature fields. Development of complex oil & gas processing equipment such as Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units and Floating Production Units (FPU) has also enabled the development of deep water fields. This has been boosting the deep water and ultra-deep water segment.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Subsea Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines (SURF) Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Consistent increase in demand for oil & gas across the world is expected to continue driving the demand for SURF. However, demand for gas is likely to rise faster as compared to that for oil in the near future. On the other hand, demand for various other chemicals is anticipated to stay constant in the next few years. The SURF market is estimated to largely follow the trend of demand for oil & gas across the globe. Demand for oil & gas is largely dependent upon the economic growth of countries; thus, the market for SURF is also directly affected by this dynamic.In terms of region, market share of several new areas such as South America, the Gulf of Mexico, and Africa is projected to rise in the near future. Prominent companies operating in the SURF market include TechnipFMC, Aker Solutions, Saipem SpA, Subsea 7, and ABB.About Us:-Transparency Market Research 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 are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog: Frozen Bakery Products Market Trends and Opportunities 2017 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001978089/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-and-united-states-frozen-bakery-products-in-depth-research-report-2017-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001978089/discount http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001978089/buy/3190 ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global and United States Frozen Bakery Products In-Depth Research Report 2017-2022 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.This report focuses on the U.S. market and presents volume and value of market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also changes in prices. As an in-depth report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinions in Frozen Bakery Products industry.Major CompaniesGrupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V.(Mexico)Nestl-SA(U.S.A)Conagra Brands, Inc(U.S.A)Aryzta AG(Switzerland)Vandemoortele(Belgium)Campbell Soup Co(U.S.A)Lantmannen Unibake International(U.K.)General Mills Inc(U.S.A)Tyson(U.S.A)Kellogg Company(U.S.A)Flowers Foods Inc(U.S.A)Associated British Foods plc(U.K.)Europastry(U.K.)Harry-Brot GmbH(German)Agrofert as(Ceske)Kuchenmeister GmbH(German)Kobeya(U.S.A)Request a Sample atKey RegionsUnited StatesCaliforniaTexasNew YorkOthersCanadaMexicoEuropeGermanyBritishFranceOthersChinaJapanIndiaOthersBrowse Complete Report atMain types of productsFrozen Bakery Products Market, by TypeBreadsPizza CrustsCakes & PastriesOthers (biscuits, cookies, etc)Frozen Bakery Products Market, by TechnologyRaw ProductsReady-to-BakeReady Baked & FrozenKey Consumers (End User)Frozen Bakery Products Market, by ConsumerArtisan BakersRetailCatering & IndustrialGet discount on report purchase atKey Point from Table of Contents:Chapter One Global Frozen Bakery Products Market OverviewChapter Two United States Frozen Bakery Products Market OverviewChapter Three Frozen Bakery Products by Regions 2012-2017Chapter Four Global Frozen Bakery Products by Companies 2012-2017Chapter Five United States Frozen Bakery Products by Companies 2012-2017Chapter Six Global Frozen Bakery Products by Consumer 2012-2017Chapter Seven Global Frozen Bakery Products by Consumer 2012-2017Chapter Eight Top Companies ProfileChapter Nine Industry Chain and Supply ChainChapter Ten Global Frozen Bakery Products Market Size (Sales and Revenue) Forecast (2017-2022)Chapter Eleven United States Frozen Bakery Products Market Size (Sales and Revenue) Forecast (2017-2022)Chapter Twelve Development Trend and Research ConclusionChapter Thirteen Methodology and Data SourcePurchase Complete Report atReportsWeb 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.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Aircraft Cleaning Chemical Market Value Share, Supply Demand, share and Value Chain 2017-2027 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3155 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3155 www.futuremarketinsights.com The external climatic conditions and temperature variations associated with of aerial transportation has generated the need of operation and maintenance activities in aircrafts, which in turn has generated a considerable demand for aircraft cleaning chemical. Stringent quality inspections and related checks are conducted during every scheduled take offs and landings of an aircraft. The aircraft cleaning chemical ensures the performance, safety, and aesthetics of an aircraft body protecting it. This involves periodic cleaning with appropriate aircraft cleaning chemical safeguards the aircraft from such damages and extends the shelf life. The excessive grime that may get collected on the exterior body, wings and pilot window screens of an aircraft can cause adverse effects on performance and safety of the aircraft thereby requiring regular cleaning of aircraft. Aircraft cleaning chemical is made for specific purposes, which includes manufacturing, maintenance, and testing of aircraft. Apart from these, aircraft cleaning chemical is useful for polishing, coating, etc.There are many chemicals available for cleaning aircraft to keep the aircraft at its best in all weather conditions. Aircraft cleaning chemical is used to keep the components of aircraft in safe and working condition and also protection from metal corrosion.Request Report Sample@Aircraft Cleaning Chemical Market: Market DynamicsThe demand of aircraft cleaning chemical is highly driven by OEMs and after sales service industry. The high growth in aircraft after sales service industry is expected to drive the growth of global aircraft cleaning chemical market. The future of aircraft cleaning chemical market looks stable with opportunities in commercial, military, and personal segment. It has been estimated that with the increase in air passenger traffic, air travel increases, which creates a positive growth for aircraft cleaning chemical that caters to the demand of maintenance and operations activates. It has been also estimated that the major demand of aircraft cleaning chemical is from the commercial aviation industry.There is stringent regulation by the authorities in respect to the aircraft cleaning chemicals which is required in aviation industry to ensure the safety and effective functioning of the aircrafts. The development of aviation chemicals meeting all regulatory guidelines along with maintaining their profitability is expected to remain a key challenge among aviation chemicals manufacturersAircraft Cleaning Chemical Market: Regional OutlookNorth America is expected to be a relatively large market of aircraft cleaning chemical as it covers one of the largest aircraft fleets globally along with a large number of airlines in the world. Maintenance chemical usage is directly proportional to aircraft fleet size, and an increase in number of aircrafts is a growth factor for this market.The regions with cold climatic conditions will always be major consumers of the de-icing / anti-icing purpose. Asia Pacific is expected to grow with a high CAGR, due to the expansion in aircraft fleet. The increase in passenger traffic across end use sectors in turn is expected to increase the scope of operation and maintenance activities thereby driving the aircraft cleaning chemicals market.Aircraft Cleaning Chemical Market: Market SegmentsThe global market for aircraft cleaning chemical can be segmented on the basis of product type, chemicals, and end user.Based on nature of chemicals, the aircraft cleaning chemical market can be divided intoOrganic ChemicalInorganic ChemicalOn the basis of end user, the global aircraft cleaning chemical market can be divided into:General aviationBusiness aviationDefense aviationCommercial aviation.Visit For TOC@On the basis of product type, global aircraft cleaning chemical market can be divided intoAviation Acidic Cleaners & DegreasersAviation Neutral Cleaners & DegreasersAlkaline CleanersMetal Pretreatment ChemicalsPaint and Coating RemoverCorrosion InhibitorsAircraft Polishing ChemicalsAircraft Dry wash Cleaner & WaxGrease Cutting AgentsOthersAircraft Cleaning Chemical Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants identified in the global aircraft cleaning chemical market are Callington Haven Pty Ltd, Spirit Group International, ALMADION International, Jaco Aerospace., Velocity Chemicals Ltd, Crest Chemicals, and Z.I. Chemicals, LLC among others.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Data Center Networking Market 2017 Key Players Overview - Dell Inc, Arista Networks, Juniper Networks, Avaya https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/89317/request-sample https://goo.gl/ZUBRmi www.fiormarkets.com www.albaniantimes.com The report titled Data Center Networking is an in-depth and a professional document that provides a comprehensive overview of the global Data Center Networking market.The report provides an executive-level blueprint of the Data Center Networking market beginning with the definition of the market dynamics. The analysis classifies the Data Center Networking market in terms of products, application, and key geographic regions. Presenting a detailed value chain analysis, the study evaluates the set of region-specific approaches forged by the industry. To determine the market potential for Data Center Networking in the international scenario, the study delves into the competitive landscape and development landscape exhibited by the key geographic regions.Download Free Sample Report @The reports analysis is based on technical data and industry figures sourced from the most reputable databases. Other aspects that will prove especially beneficial to readers of the report are: investment feasibility analysis, recommendations for growth, investment return analysis, trends analysis, opportunity analysis, and SWOT analyses of competing companies. With the help of inputs and insights from technical and marketing experts, the report presents an objective assessment of the Data Center Networking market.This report also presents product specification, manufacturing process, and product cost structure etc. Production is separated by regions, technology and applications. Analysis also covers upstream raw materials, equipment, Downstream client survey, Marketing channels, Industry development trend and proposals. In the end, the report includes Data Center Networking new project SWOT analysis, Investment feasibility analysis, Investment return analysis, and Development trend analysis. In conclusion, it is a deep research report on Global Data Center Networking industry. Here, we express our thanks for the support and assistance from Data Center Networking industry chain related technical experts and marketing engineers during Research Teams survey and interviews.Access Full Report @Other important aspects that have been meticulously studied in the Data Center Networking market report are: Demand and supply dynamics, import and export scenario, industry processes and cost structures, and major R&D initiatives. The new opportunities they present to market players have been mentioned in the report.If you have any special requirements, please contact to our sales team : sales@fiormarkets.comAbout 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 ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: Linear Actuators Market Revenue, Opportunity, Forecast and Value Chain 2017-2027 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3778 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3778 www.futuremarketinsights.com Linear actuators assist in converting energy into straight line motions, generally for positioning applications. Most of the linear actuators are either mechanical or electro-mechanical devices that provide controlled movement and positioning. These actuators are primarily used in industrial machinery, computer peripherals, valves, and many other places where linear motion is required. A typical linear actuator generally produces push and pull action. As most processes across a variegated range of industries gets automated, the global linear actuators market is expected to expand with an impressive CAGR throughout the forecast period.Linear ActuatorsMarket: Drivers & RestraintsThe major factors boosting the growth of linear actuators market is rising automation across manufacturing industry. Industrial objectives such as achieving complete factory automation, and integrating Industrial Internet of Things are some of the prime reasons that will drive more demand for linear actuators. While, rising industrialization particularly in the third world countries is another factor that will drive the demand in the global linear actuators market, on the backdrop of increasing number of factories. As the number of research studies conducted increases, demand for telescopic actuators is expected to increase significantly. Also as companies overcome their legacy systems to achieve higher efficiency, and replace existing actuators with new ones, demand for linear actuators is expected to rise. Furthermore, as an increasing number of industrial process adopt self-control and positioning demand in the linear actuators market is expected to continuously rise.Request Report Sample@However, as concerns regarding employment rises among most countries on the backdrop of increasing automation in factories, demand for linear actuators might get sluggish over the end years of the forecast period. Adoption of 3D printing in many industries is another factor that will restrain the demand for linear actuators, as usage of machines will decrease.Linear ActuatorsMarket: Market SegmentationThe Linear Actuators Market is segmented into two parts based on operation type and end use industry:Based on operation mechanism, the linear actuator market is segmented into:MechanicalHydraulicPneumaticPiezoelectricElectro-mechanical actuatorsBased on End Use Industry, the linear actuator market is segmented into:AutomotiveMedical/HealthcareEnergy and Mining,SteelConstructionMilitaryChemicalOthersLinear Actuators Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, linear actuators market has been categorized into seven key regions including North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.A prominent share of the demand for linear actuators comes from North America, and the region is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, with more inclination towards shifting manufacturing in US from China and other ASEAN countries, demand for linear actuators will further rise in the region. Asia Pacific Exc. Japan is another prominent shareholder in terms of demand for linear actuators, amid, large manufacturing sector of China. Moreover, with India and Indonesia picking up at a fast pace, demand for linear actuators is expected to expand with a bullish growth rate over the forecast period. Being home to large automotive and research base companies, Western Europe is another prominent region generating huge demand for linear actuators. Eastern Europe is also expected to generate descent demand for linear actuators, particularly from energy and defense sector. Rising industrialization and the already dominant oil and gas industry of Middle East and Africa is the prime reason driving automation in the Middle Eastern region. Thus driving more demand for linear actuators. Japan is another prominent industrial nation, which drives demand for linear actuators, due to high automation penetration in their industries coupled with growing semiconductor industry of the region.Linear Actuators Market: Key PlayersSome of the players identified in Global Linear Actuators market are:-Duff-NortonHelix Linear Technologies, Inc.Altra Industrial MotionTolomatic, Inc.Fabco-Air, Inc.Actuonix Motion DevicesTusk Direct, Inc.Bishop-Wisecarver CorporationBEI Kimco MagneticsBurr Engineering & Development CompanyDel-Tron Precision, Inc.Rollon India Pvt. Ltd.Visit For TOC@The global woodworking machines market is highly fragmented due to the presence of large number of regional and global players. Regional players choose quality service and competitive pricing as their winning strategy over global players. In response to this, global players are largely involved in merger & acquisition and partnership activities in order to enhance their profitability margin and market share.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Ammonia industry is expected to spend around US$24.9 billion Till Year 2020 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/943614 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/943614/q4-global-ammonia-capacity-and-capital-expenditure-outlook-asia-and-middle-east-fuel-ammonia-industry-expansion-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiryBuy/943614 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Ammonia Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGlobal Ammonia capacity will experience considerable growth in the next five years with increase from 229.0 MTPA in 2015 to 278.6 MTPA by 2020. Around 82 planned projects are expected to come online primarily in Iran and the US in the next five years. Dangote Group, Eurochem Mineral and Chemical Co and CF Industries Holdings, Inc. are the top three companies by capacity additions expected to come on-stream over the next five years.Request For Sample Report @Global Ammonia industry is expected to spend around US$24.9 billion by 2020 for the upcoming projects. India, Iran and US are the top three countries by capital expenditure for projects by 2020.ScopeReport provides information and insight on -- Historic and forecast global Ammonia capacity by region- Ammonia planned plants details- Global Ammonia capacity by feedstock- Capacity share of the major Ammonia producers in the world- Global Ammonia capital expenditure forecast by regionComplete Report Details @Reasons to buyThe report will clarify -- Understand the key trends in the global Ammonia industry- Understand the regional Ammonia supply scenario- Identify opportunities in the global Ammonia industry with the help of upcoming projects and capital expenditure forecast- Understand the current and likely future competitive scenarioHave Any Query? Ask Our Expert @1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 31.2 List of Figures 42 Global Ammonia Industry 52.1 Key Highlights 52.2 New Project Announcements 62.3 New Project Cancellations 62.4 Planned Ammonia Projects in the World 183 Appendix 303.1 Definitions 303.1.1 Installed Capacity 303.1.2 Key Feedstock 303.2 Abbreviations 303.3 GlobalDatas Research Methodology 303.3.1 Coverage 303.3.2 Secondary Research 313.3.3 Primary Research 323.3.4 Expert Panel Validation 323.4 Disclaimer 33About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz IoT Healthcare Market: Upcoming Demands and Growth Analysis 2024 https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/iot-healthcare-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/iot-healthcare-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/iot-healthcare-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/iot-healthcare-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com https://zionmarketresearch.wordpress.com/ The internet of things in the healthcare market consists of services, software, and medical devices. It has created an overall impact on the healthcare market as it is very beneficiary in the remote clinical monitoring, preventive care, personal fitness monitoring, chronic disease management, and assisted living. The advantages of including internet of things in the healthcare sector are very prominent. Some of the benefits are improved efficiency, low costs, and improved quality of the patient care.Request Free Sample Report @The global IoT healthcare market is segmented into system and software, connectivity technologies, services, types of medical devices, applications, and end users. On the basis of the types of medical devices, the global market is segregated into stationary medical devices, wearable external medical devices, and implanted medical devices. Based on the systems and software, the market is categorized into network bandwidth management, application security, remote device management, data analytics, and network security. Depending on the connectivity technologies, the market is classified into BLE, ZigBee, satellite, Wi-Fi, NFC, and cellular. On the basis of services, the market is bifurcated into support and maintenance, system integration, and professional service. Based on the applications, the market is divided into clinical operations and workflow management, inpatient monitoring, telemedicine, connected imaging, medication management, and others. The various end users of the IoT healthcare are research and diagnostic laboratories, clinical research organizations, government and defense institutions, hospitals, surgical centers, and clinics.The global healthcare industry has undergone numerous changes in order to give quality, accessible, and affordable patient care. There are various technological advancements made in this industry so that it can improve its services which are boosting the growth of the market. The factors that are contributing to the market growth include the increasing population of the aged people, increasing awareness of the people about the advanced disease management system, and the increasing cases of the chronic diseases. Some other benefits of including IoT in the healthcare industry include the improvement that is made in managing the huge amount of data, healthcare outcomes, and level of monitoring the patients has increased. The increasing use of the smartphones and the improving internet connectivity are other factors that contribute to the market growth.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Regionally, the IoT healthcare market is diversified into regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. The region that dominates the IoT healthcare market is the North America and will continue to do so in the coming years. The factors that contribute to this market growth include the presence of the best healthcare infrastructure in the region, the increased initiatives that are taken for the R&D in IoT, the technological advancements that are made in this region, and the increasing disposable income. Following North America is Asia Pacific region. The emerging economies such as India and China are contributing a major share in the market growth.Market Competitive PlayersThe major market players in the IoT healthcare market include Adheretech, PhysIQ, Qualcomm Life Inc., Medtronic Inc., Proteus Digital Health Inc., Diabetizer Ltd. & Co. KG, SAP SE, Honeywell Care Solutions, Cerner Corporation, Stanley Healthcare, Cisco Systems, GE Healthcare, Microsoft Corporation, Philips, and IBM Corporation.Browse detail report @IoT Healthcare Market by Geographical Analysis: North America( U.S.), Europe( UK, France, Germany), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India), Latin America( Brazil), Middle East and AfricaOur value reports provide full, in-depth analysis of the parent market including most significant changes in market dynamics; the report also presents the detailed overview on segmentation of this market. We managed to present as many important information in essential form thanks to our report You will learn more about former, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and value, assessment of niche industry developments and Market share analysis. We have not forgotten to present key strategies for major players, emerging segments and regional markets and last but not least, testimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the marketInquire more before buying this report @About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligate company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Our Blog: Global Ethylene Market Worth Will Reach US$66.85 billion Till Year 2025 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/943615 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/943615/q4-global-ethylene-capacity-and-capital-expenditure-outlook-the-us-and-china-to-spearhead-ethylene-industry-expansion-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiryBuy/943615 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Ethylene Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGlobal Ethylene capacity will experience considerable growth in the next five years with increase from 171.12 MTPA in 2015 to 235.11 MTPA by 2025. Around 89 planned projects are expected to come online primarily in the US and China in the next ten years. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Sibur Holding and Exxon Mobil Corporation are the top three companies by capacity additions expected to come on-stream over the next ten years.Request For Sample Report @Global Ethylene industry is expected to spend around US$66.85 billion by 2025 for the upcoming projects. Russia, US and China are the top three countries by capital expenditure for projects by 2025.ScopeReport provides information and insight on -- Historic and forecast global Ethylene capacity by region- Ethylene planned plants details- Global Ethylene capacity by feedstock- Capacity share of the major Ethylene producers in the world- Global Ethylene capital expenditure forecast by regionComplete Report Details @Reasons to buyThe report will clarify -- Understand the key trends in the global Ethylene industry- Understand the regional Ethylene supply scenario- Identify opportunities in the global Ethylene industry with the help of upcoming projects and capital expenditure forecast- Understand the current and likely future competitive scenarioHave Any Query? Ask Our Expert @1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 31.2 List of Figures 42 Global Ethylene Industry 52.1 Key Highlights 52.2 New Project Announcements 62.3 New Project Cancellations 62.4 Planned Ethylene Projects in the World 183 Appendix 313.1 Definitions 313.1.1 Installed Capacity 313.1.2 Key Feedstock 313.2 Abbreviations 313.3 GlobalDatas Research Methodology 313.3.1 Coverage 313.3.2 Secondary Research 323.3.3 Primary Research 333.3.4 Expert Panel Validation 333.4 Disclaimer 34About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Propylene industry Anticipated To Hit Around US$23.89 billion by 2020 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/976682 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/976682/q4-global-propylene-capacity-and-capital-expenditure-outlook-asia-and-north-america-to-propel-propylene-industry-expansion-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiryBuy/976682 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Propylene Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGlobal propylene capacity will experience considerable growth in the next five years with increase from 111.02 MTPA in 2015 to 133.50 MTPA by 2020. Around 74 planned projects are expected to come online primarily in the China and US in the next 10 years. Ascend Performance Materials LLC, Oriental Energy Co., Ltd. and China Petroleum Chemical Corporation are the top three companies by capacity additions expected to come on-stream over the next five years.Request For Sample Report @Global Propylene industry is expected to spend around US$23.89 billion by 2020 for the upcoming projects. China, Azerbaijan and Rusia are the top three countries by capital expenditure for projects by 2020.ScopeReport provides information and insight on -- Historic and forecast global Propylene capacity by region- Propylene planned plants details- Global Propylene capacity by feedstock- Capacity share of the major Propylene producers in the world- Global Propylene capital expenditure forecast by regionComplete Report Details @Reasons to buyThe report will clarify -- Understand the key trends in the global Propylene industry- Understand the regional Propylene supply scenario- Identify opportunities in the global Propylene industry with the help of upcoming projects and capital expenditure forecast- Understand the current and likely future competitive scenarioHave Any Query? Ask Our Expert @1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 31.2 List of Figures 42 Global Propylene Industry 52.1 Key Highlights 52.2 New Project Announcements 62.3 New Project Cancellations 62.4 Planned Propylene Projects in the World 183 Appendix 263.1 Definitions 263.1.1 Installed Capacity 263.1.2 Key Feedstock 263.2 Abbreviations 263.3 GlobalDatas Research Methodology 263.3.1 Coverage 263.3.2 Secondary Research 273.3.3 Primary Research 283.3.4 Expert Panel Validation 283.4 Disclaimer 29About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Animal Healthcare Market forecast to witness phenomenal growth opportunities by 2024 https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/animal-healthcare-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/animal-healthcare-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/animal-healthcare-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com https://zionmarketresearch.wordpress.com/ Global Animal Healthcare Market: OverviewCompanion animals are those animals that give companionship to mankind and guard their houses and offices. Many people adopt animals as the companion or other psychological benefits. Cats and dogs are common companion animals for emotional benefits. People in India and China keep companion animals owing to the acceptance of Western culture and lifestyle. Rising frequency of the diseases such as zoonotic and foodborne diseases is, in turn, growing concerns for animal healthcare. In some countries such as the U.S., brucellosis still causes abortion in animals.Request Free Sample Report @Global Animal Healthcare Market by Segmentation: The global animal healthcare market is bifurcated based on types as vaccines, feed additives, and pharmaceuticals. Feed additives are further sub-categorized into medicinal feed additives and nutritional feed additives. The nutritional feed additives consist of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals that are used for animal growth and production. Moreover, medicinal feed additives consist of prebiotics, enzymes, feed acidifiers, hormones, and immune-modulators, to recover from targeted diseases in companion and production animals. Furthermore, pharmaceutical products include anti-inflammatories, endo parasiticides, antibiotics, ectoparasiticides, endectocides, and others. Vaccines prevent the animal from certain diseases.Global Animal Healthcare Market by Growth Factors: Rising incidences of bacterial infections in animals are driving the global animal healthcare market. Growing chances of the animal disease transmission to humans is also anticipated to boost the animal healthcare market in the near future. Moreover, increasing the population of companion animals is expected to foster the market growth. Furthermore, a number of production animals are also growing; this, in turn, is anticipated to fuel the market demand in future.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Animal Healthcare Market by Regional Analysis: North America is the global player in the animal healthcare market and is as considered as the home for many healthcare industries for the animal. This trend is followed by Europe accounting for the largest market share in the global market. Asia Pacific is also a major animal meat producer and consumer; this is expected to further contribute to the global animal healthcare market growth. Moreover, Latin America is an emerging market for animal healthcare showing a considerable growth in the market. Pharmaceuticals market in Europe is also expected to provide ample opportunities to the niche player in the market in near future.Global Animal Healthcare Market by Competitive Players: Some of the major players in the global animal healthcare market are Nutreco N.V., Merck & Co., Inc. Virbac S.A., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Sanofi S.A., Ceva Sante Animale, Zoetis, Inc., Bayer Healthcare AG, and Vetoquinol SA. Other key players in the global market are Cargill Inc., Koninklijke DSM N.V, Evonik Industries AG, and ADM Alliance Nutrition.Browse detail report @Animal Healthcare Market by Geographical Analysis: North America( U.S.), Europe( UK, France, Germany), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India), Latin America( Brazil), Middle East and AfricaOur value reports provide full, in-depth analysis of the parent market including most significant changes in market dynamics; the report also presents the detailed overview on segmentation of this market. We managed to present as many important information in essential form thanks to our report You will learn more about former, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and value, assessment of niche industry developments and Market share analysis. We have not forgotten to present key strategies for major players, emerging segments and regional markets and last but not least, testimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligate company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Our Blog: Track your field staff's real-time on-site actions with SerpentCS's new invention- Trackoo App http://serpentcs.in/ With wide range of businesses involved in on-site field operations, the main challenge faced by these businesses is to track performance of field staff/salesperson. Generally, those businesses whose service area includes- Pharma, FMCG, Telecom, Banking & Insurance, Logistics/Courier, Home Service agency or any such fields face maximum challenges. 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At the same time, advanced quilters find lots of inspiration for their own experiments in the unusual and unconventional techniques.The author Michaela Mosmuller has been experimenting intensively with textile surface design techniques for many years and has been working as a freelance artist and lecturer in her Austrian home Marbach an der Donau since 2008. Her quilts are regularly shown at exhibitions and competitions across Europe and the USA. Her extraordinary works are also always enriching the international community projects of Quilt around the World.Details:Title: Water Variations Inspiration for Textile Surface DesignAuthor: Michaela MosmullerPublisher: Quilt around the World GmbHPrinter: Books on Demand GmbH1st Edition May 22, 2017Language: EnglishPaperback: 96 pagesISBN- 978-3-7431-2678-7The book can be ordered for 22.90 Euro plus shipping from the Quilt around the World web shop. For each copy sold directly via Quilt around the World, 1 Euro will be donated to the international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF).About Quilt around the WorldQuilt around the World GmbH, headquartered in Munich, was founded in 2010 and provides an innovative, independent and international online portal for patchwork and quilting.Atquilters and other textile enthusiasts will find many sources for inspiration and comprehensive information on patchwork, quilting, and other forms of textile crafts. Online activities and international community quilt projects unite quilt friends around the globe. Besides quilt patterns and tutorials, there are interviews with quilt artists, book and product reviews as well as travel reports for international quilting destinations available online. All articles are published in English and German.Quilt around the World GmbHGross-Nabas-Str. 3D-81827 MunichGermanyContact:Anke B . Calzada, Media RelationsPhone.: +49 (0) 8161-787 14 18media@quilt-around-the-world.com Animal Health Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market to Rise at 7.3% CAGR by 2025 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/animal-health-active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/16972 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/animal-health-active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market/toc http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Asia Pacific (APAC) will continue to be the most lucrative region in the global animal health active pharmaceutical ingredient market, with sales exhibiting the second highest CAGR through 2025. APAC has remained one of the largest API suppliers, at affordable costs. Governments across APAC have been making investments and focusing on local manufacturing facilities of APIs. Favorable policies offered by these governments have been shifting the focus of API manufacturers in moving their production bases to APAC countries, such as India and China. In addition, limited insurance or government intervention provides smooth flow to market growth in these regions.The global animal health active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) market is projected to register an impressive expansion at 7.3% CAGR during the forecast period 2017 to 2025, according to a recent study by Persistence Market Research (PMR). PMRs study estimates the market to increase from revenues worth US$ 5,216.1 Mn in 2017 to reach US$ 9,162.2 Mn by 2025-end.Browse Complete Report @However, animal health API products manufactured in APAC countries do not meet regulatory standards, and there has been increasing concerns pertaining to the quality of APIs, especially those produced in China and India. Western regulatory bodies are becoming stricter in the inspection of APIs produced in these regions. Manufacturers are further facing challenges in bridging the gap between the cost and quality of APIs. These factors will inhibit growth of the market in APAC.Europe will remain the second largest market for animal health active pharmaceutical ingredients. Leading healthcare companies are located in the Europe, which in turn has boosted requirement for veterinary APIs in the region. Consumption of veterinary drugs in Europe has surged substantially over the past few years. Spain has been witnessed to be the largest consumer of veterinary antimicrobial APIs in the EU. In addition, rising improvements in the animal productivity has driven growth of the animal health industry in this region. These incidences are expected to augment growth of the animal health API market in Europe.A sample of this report is available upon request @However, the pharmaceutical industry in Europe has been concerned with potential short-term impacts of REACH regulations. This is likely to result in decreased supply of materials, or reagents, which are not preregistered by EU suppliers. In addition, dynamic changes in Europes macro-economic environment, such as the Brexit, has been impacting the intra-European trade and overall pharmaceutical sector. These factors might curb growth of the animal health API market in Europe.Antiparasitics will continue to be the largest adopted API in the market, followed by anti-infectives. Sales of Antiparasitics are expected to register the fastest expansion, to account for the largest revenues by 2025-end. In contrast, revenues from sales of anesthetics and NSAIDs will remain comparatively lower than antiparasitics and anti-infectives.Request to view table of content @Key market players profiled in PMRs report include Glenmark Pharmaceutical Limited., Zoetis, Inc., Eli Lilly & Co., Sanofi Winthrop Industrie (CEPiA), Indukern, S.A., Ofichem BV, P&R S.p.A (Olon S.p.A), Lonza Group AG, Huvepharma AD, Ourofino Saude Animal, Blanver Farmoquimica E Farmaceutica S.A., Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Changzhou Yabang-Qh Pharmachem Co., Ltd., Shanghai Pharmtech Co., Ltd., Ningxia Tairui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shaanxi Hanjiang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Sequent Scientific Ltd., NGL Fine-Chem Ltd., Omkar Speciality Chemicals Ltd., Excel Industries Ltd.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Automotive Aftermarket: Market Analysis, Future Demand & Outlook to 2021 https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/automotive-aftermarket https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/automotive-aftermarket https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/automotive-aftermarket http://www.zionmarketresearch.com https://zionmarketresearch.wordpress.com/ The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry. It is one of the vigorous, highly complex, and competitive markets that are generally concerned with retailing, manufacturing, remanufacturing, and distribution. In addition, the aftersales sector includes accessories, installation of all vehicle parts, equipment, and chemicals after selling the products by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to the buyers. The automotive aftermarket is a diverse market that majorly deals with maintenance, repair, and post-sale services. Automotive aftermarket comprises the process of replacement of the part damaged due to accident or crash. There is a wide variety of parts of different quality and prices for numerous different vehicle models.Request Free Sample Report @With the need of new and advanced vehicles, the demand for the automotive parts is increasing. Declining cost of aftermarket parts is one of the major driving factors for growth of the market. Moreover, rising population and increasing income will also foster the market in the near future. The increasing use of light vehicles also impacts the market in a positive way. Moreover, there is a high demand for accessories and auto parts, which will further boost the automotive aftermarket the near future. Technological advancements and standardizing architecture will also drive the demand of the market in future. Reduced maintenance cost, improved quality of the product, and rising demand for the branded parts is the biggest revenue generator for the market. Conversely, the key restraining factor of the market is the global legal issue. Also, increasing the openness of the automated market is creating the challenge to the growth of the market.On the basis of types, the global automotive aftermarket is segmented as replacement parts and accessories. The replacement parts segment comprises automotive parts that are manufactured to replace original equipment (OE) if they are damaged. Accessories are designed to provide comfort, performance, convenience, and safety. The accessories segment is the leading segment in the automotive aftermarket. In addition, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) segment and the Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) segment are also available to customers through which they can repair their vehicles themselves or can take the vehicle to a professional repair facility.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Europe and Asia Pacific are the emerging markets for the automotive aftermarket. Considerable growth in the high-quality brand, reducing engineering costs, and modular architecture are the factors that are anticipated to expand the market globally. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the largest market.Some of the major players dominating the global automotive aftermarket are Tenneco, Dana, and TRW Automotive. Other key players influencing the global market include Visteon, Johnson Controls, and BorgWarner.Browse detail report @Global Automotive Aftermarket by Geographical Analysis: North America( U.S.), Europe( UK, France, Germany), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India), Latin America( Brazil), Middle East and AfricaAbout Us: Zion Market Research is an obligate company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Our Blog: Global petrochemical industry is expected to spend around US$243.1 billion Till Year 2025 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/990983 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/990983/global-petrochemicals-capacity-and-capital-expenditure-outlook-ethylene-and-methanol-spearhead-the-petrochemicals-industry-expansion-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiryBuy/990983 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global petrochemical Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGlobal petrochemicals capacity will experience considerable growth in the next nine years with increase from 1,447.9 mmtpa in 2016 to 1,619.3 mmtpa by 2025. Large capacity additions with more than 700 planned projects are expected to come online primarily in the China, US and Iran in the next nine years. NW Innovation Works Inc, Janus Methanol AG and Petroliam Nasional Berhad are the top three companies by capacity additions expected to come on-stream over the next nine years.Request For Sample Report @Global petrochemical industry is expected to spend around US$243.1 billion by 2025 for the upcoming projects. The US, Russia and China are the top three countries by capital expenditure for projects by 2025.ScopeReport provides information and insight on -- Historic and forecast global petrochemical capacity by region- Global petrochemical planned plants details- Capacity share of the major petrochemical producers in the world- Global petrochemical capital expenditure forecast by regionComplete Report Details @Reasons to buyThe report will clarify -- Understand the key trends in the global petrochemical industry- Understand the regional petrochemical supply scenario- Identify opportunities in the global petrochemical industry with the help of upcoming projects and capital expenditure forecast- Understand the current and likely future competitive scenarioHave Any Query? Ask Our Expert @1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 31.2 List of Figures 72 Global Petrochemicals Industry 82.1 Key Highlights 82.2 New Project Announcements 92.3 New Project Cancellations 102.4 Planned Petrochemicals Projects in the World 203 Appendix 1063.1 Definitions 1063.1.1 Installed Capacity 1063.2 Abbreviations 1063.3 GlobalDatas Research Methodology 1063.3.1 Coverage 1063.3.2 Secondary Research 1073.3.3 Primary Research 1073.3.4 Expert Panel Validation 1083.4 Disclaimer 108About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Dichloroethane (EDC) Market to Rear Excessive Growth by 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/dichloroethane-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3358 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Dichloroethane is also known as ethylene dichloride (EDC). Dichloroethane is a colorless liquid with chloroform-like odor. Dichloroethane is a chlorinated hydrocarbon, generally used to produce vinyl chloride monomer, the major precursor of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).Dichloroethane is highly flammable, toxic and carcinogenic.Dichloroethane can be easily recycled and reused in the same facility for further use. Dichloroethane market is strongly depends on PVC market and construction industry.Based on the application, the dichloroethane market is divided in three broad segments: vinyl chloride monomer, tetraethylenepentamine and others. On the basis of raw materials, dichloroethane market is segmented in two categories: ethylene and others.Get access to full summary @:Asia Pacific is the largest market for dichloroethane, followed by North America and Europe. Asia Pacific region is expected to show a good growth rate over a forecasted period due to high growth potential of building and construction industry. China represents the largest market for PVC in the Asia Pacific region.Some of the major drivers contributing to the overall market growth of dichloroethane market include high growth in the construction sector and increasing demand for PVC globally.Governments and private sectors across the globe are investing in better infrastructure facilities. Construction of residential and non-residential buildings leads to the demand for PVC products; indirectly increase the demand for dichloroethane market. For infrastructure development, the U.K governments public sector investment is expected to rise by USD 4.9 billion to about USD 77.7 billion in 2013-14 over 2012-13. Some of the major restraints for dichloroethane market include strict environmental regulations.A sample of this report is available upon request @Some of the major companies operating in the dichloroethane market include Dow Chemical Co., Occidental Chemical Corp, SolVin, Formosa Plastics Corporation and INEOS.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: Acoustic Insulation Market to Grow Rapidly to Reach USD 14.10 Billion by 2023 Acoustic Insulation Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2862 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/acoustic-insulation-market-2862 Synopsis: Acoustic Insulation MarketMajor Key Players in Market:The key players of acoustic insulation market are: ROCKWOOL International A/S (Denmark) Knauf Insulation GmbH (Germany) Saint-Gobain S.A. (France) Owens Corning Corporation (U.S.) Johns Manville Corporation (U.S.) BASF SE (Germany) Paroc Group Oy (Finland) Kingspan Group PLC (Ireland), Fletcher Insulation (Australia) Armacell GmbH (Germany)Market Forecast:Acoustic insulation is used either for noise reduction or for noise absorption. The growing demand from the automotive sector, mainly to produce acoustically insulated luxury vehicles, is driving the demand of the market. However, high capital requirement for acoustic insulation in buildings, is a restraint that may hamper the growth of the market.The Global Acoustic Insulation Market is projected to reach USD 14.10 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period.Receive a Sample Report upon Request @Market Research AnalysisOn the basis of regions, global acoustic insulation market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Asia-Pacific dominates global acoustic insulation market. Growing demand from construction and infrastructure sector is driving the demand of the market in Asia-Pacific region. The increasing disposable income among individuals along with changing life style is also fueling the growth of the market. Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period.Europe is another major market for acoustic insulation. Building safety codes in countries such as U.K., Germany, and France are driving the demand of the market in the region. North America region contribute significantly in acoustic insulation market during the forecast period.Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global acoustic insulation market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region.Access Report Details @The scope of the study segments the global acoustic insulation market by its material, application and region.By Material: Stone wool Plastic foam Glass wool Cellulose aerogels OthersBy Application: Construction Transportation Industrial othersBy Region: North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com United States Maltodextrin Market Analysis- Size, Share, Growth, Forecast, Segment, Application Analysis To 2022: Maltodextrin http://bit.ly/2woGJOh http://bit.ly/2wCPfs2 http://bit.ly/2vh5DiN http://www.globalinforeports.com http://www.globalinforeports.com/blog Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide that is always used as a food additive. It is produced from various starches, such as corn, rice, potato, wheat, mandioc and etc., by partial hydrolysis with the value of DE below 20%. And it is usually found as a white hygroscopic spray-dried powder.Get a Sample of Maltodextrin Market research report from Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Maltodextrin in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Major Players Included in Maltodextrin Market:Grain Processing CorporationCargillMatsutaniArcher Daniels Midland (ADM)Roquette FreresSSSFI-AAAIngredionTate & LyleBeneoAgrana GroupAvebe U.A.Emsland St`rke GmbHKraftWGCXiwangAnd Many OthersScope of the Maltodextrin Industry on the basis of region:CaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisBrowse full Report with table of contents and data tables For Maltodextrin Market Report @Market Segment by Type, coversDE1010DE1515DE20Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFood & BeverageDrinkCandyFrozen foodOthersThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the United States Maltodextrin market.Chapter 1, to describe Maltodextrin Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by States, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Maltodextrin, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the United States market by States, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Maltodextrin, for each state, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key States by Type and Application, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, revenue and market share by types and applications;Chapter 12, Maltodextrin market forecast, by States, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Maltodextrin Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source.Check for Discount @About Global Info Reports:GIR Market Research is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. GIR Market Research is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:+1-888-376-9998 (US)Email- sales@globalinforeports.comWeb-Blogs- Global Uranium Mining Market Research Report & Industry Analysis https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/286952 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/286952/global-uranium-mining-to-2020-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiryBuy/286952 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Uranium Mining Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsTimetric's 'Global Uranium Mining to 2020' report comprehensively covers global identified resources of uranium, reasonably assured resources by country, the historical and forecast data on global uranium mine production, planned and committed mine expansions and production by country, production by mining method and production by major mines. The report also includes demand drivers affecting the global uranium mining industry, profiles of major uranium producing companies and information on the global major active, exploration and development projects by region.Request For Sample Report @Executive summaryGlobal uranium mine production according to Timetric's global uranium report was 56,184 tonnes (t) in 2014, down by 5.4% compared with 2013, with Kazakhstan being the leading producer, followed by Canada and Australia.ScopeThe report provides information on the global uranium mining industry together with the key demand drivers affecting the industry. Further, it provides information about reserves, historic and forecast production and production by country, production by mining method and production by major mines, competitive landscape and major active, exploration and development projects.Complete Report Details @Reasons to buyGain an understanding of the global uranium mining industry, the relevant demand drivers , reserves, historic and forecast production, production by major country, production by mining method and production by major mines, active, exploration and development projects and the competitive landscape.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @Key highlightsGlobal uranium mine (or metal content in the ore) production was 56,184t in 2014, down by 5.4% compared with 2013.The increase in global production in recent years is mainly due to an increase in output from Kazakhstan.With power generation being a significant end use for uranium, the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident has had an impact on long term nuclear power policies in Germany, Belgium, France and Switzerland, switching in favor of capping and eventually phasing out nuclear power plants. However, there is demand for nuclear capacities from other parts of the world, and demand has a unique regional footprint.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Dispersant / Dispersing Agent Market to Perceive Substantial Growth by 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/dispersant-dispersing-agent-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3359 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com A dispersant or dispersing agent (also known as plasticizer or supper plasticizer) is mostly surface active material or sometimes it can be a non-surface active polymer added to a suspension typically a colloid for enhance separation of particles and to prevent the process of thickening or clumping in the suspension. Dispersing agents include mixture of various chemicals such acrylic acid, polycarboxylate, lignosulfonates, and napthalene sulfonate.On the basis of the end user industry, the market is segmented in the eight broad categories namely, construction industry, paints & coatings industry, pulp & paper industry, detergent industry, oil & gas industry, agricultural industry, pharmaceuticals industry, and other end-user industriesGet access to full summary @:ncreasing demand of dispersant / dispersing agent from growing oil & gas industry, trend towards environmental sustainability and growing end user industries such as construction, paints & coatings industry, automobile industry and paper and pulp industry is driving the global dispersant / dispersing agent market.The continuous variation in the raw materials costs and lack of Innovation in the dispersing agent market are some of the major challenges of the global dispersant / dispersing agent market.Asia Pacific is the largest market of dispersant / dispersing agent market followed by Europe and North America. Asia Pacific is the fasted growing market attributed to growing allied industries such as construction and automotive industry. Surging urbanisation and embryonic transportation infrastructure in developing countries of Asia Pacific is keeping construction as major end user industry for dispersant / dispersing agent in this region. Moreover the rising demand of dispersant agents from automobile industry is expected to keep the growth rate high during the forecasted period.The various application dispersing agents is increasing as a result several players has expanded many new and innovative products to confine an increase market share. Some of the major players of the market have also expanded their geographical presence, capacity expansion, and gone through many merger and acquisitions.A sample of this report is available upon request @Some of the leading companies operating in global dispersant / dispersing agent market include, Cytec Industries Inc., Emerald Performance Materials Llc, Gruppo Chimico Dalton, The Lubrizol Corporation, Rudolf Gmbh, The Dow Chemical Company, Arkema Group, Basf SE, Clariant AG, Evonik Industries, Meadwestvaco Corporation and Ashland Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Egypt Cards and Payments Industry Market 2017 - Current and Future Plans 2020 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1685836-the-cards-and-payments-industry-in-egypt-emerging-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/conferences https://www.wiseguyreports.com/seminars SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled The Cards and Payments Industry in Egypt: Emerging trends and opportunities."The Cards and Payments Industry in Egypt: Emerging trends and opportunities to 2020" report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Egyptian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including credit transfers, payment cards, cash, and cheques during the review-period (2012-16e).The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry, and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2016-20f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.The report brings together research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers details of regulatory policy and recent changes in the regulatory structure.This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Egyptian cards and payments industry, including - Current and forecast values for each market in the Egyptian cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards.- Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, cash, cheques, and payment cards. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.- E-commerce market analysis and payment methods.- Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Egyptian cards and payments industry.- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit cards.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Scope- To replenish depleting foreign reserves and reduce illegal foreign currency trading in the country, the central bank directed banks to adopt measures to regulate the international use of Egyptian pound-denominated debit cards in 2016. Every bank must enforce a cap on payment card transactions and cash withdrawal limits for international transactions. Following the announcement, Credit Agricole Egypt banned the use of Egyptian pound-denominated debit cards abroad with effect from September 1, 2016. Likewise, CIB has reduced the limit on oversees spending on Egyptian pound-denominated debit cards. The maximum monthly purchase limit of its Classic, Titanium, and Platinum cards are $50 (EGP906.60), $150 (EGP2,719.90), and $300 (EGP5,439.70) respectively.- Alternative payments are slowly gaining prominence in Egypt. Visa in association with QNB Alahli Bank launched its mobile payment solution mVisa in Egypt in May 2017. The service allows users to make in-store payments by scanning a QR code or entering the merchants identification number. Banque Misr launched its mobile wallet BM Wallet in February 2017, allowing customers to transfer funds to individuals in Egypt, withdraw cash, make utility bill payments, and conduct in-store purchases at participating merchants. Similarly, CIB introduced its Smart Wallet in January 2016, allowing customers to conduct purchases, make utility bill payments, and pay for ticketing and mobile recharges.- To increase financial inclusion and promote electronic payments, the Central Bank of Egypt introduced new regulations on mobile payment services in November 2016. Banks must now employ agents in remote areas to provide banking services to unbanked and low-income individuals. Users can transfer funds from their mobile account to other accounts within the same bank. Additionally, micro-enterprises and small merchants can receive payments from customers on their mobile accounts. The service enables consumers to receive cross-border family remittances on their mobile accounts, and the money transferred can be disbursed by beneficiaries through agents.Key points to buy- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Egyptian cards and payments industry and each market within it.- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Egyptian cards and payments industry.- Assess the competitive dynamics in the Egyptian cards and payments industry.- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Egypt.- Gain insights into key regulations governing the Egyptian cards and payments industry.Table of Contents1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2. PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS3. E-COMMERCE AND ALTERNATIVE PAYMENTS4. REGULATIONS IN THE CARDS AND PAYMENTS INDUSTRY5. ANALYSIS OF CARDS AND PAYMENTS INDUSTRY DRIVERS6. PAYMENT CARDS7. DEBIT CARDS8. PAY-LATER CARDS9. PREPAID CARDS10. APPENDIX..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, Venezuela Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Market Poised for Robust CAGR of Over 5.6% Through 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-387 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-387 www.futuremarketinsights.com The global electronic medical record (EMR) market was estimated to be valued at US$ 11.41 Bn in 2015, and is expected to increase at 5.6% CAGR through 2025. These insights are according to the report, Electronic Medical Record Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2015 - 2025, by research and consulting firm Future Market Insights (FMI).Rising need for integrated healthcare facilities, combined with operational efficiency benefits are the key factors driving adoption of electronic medical records in end-use sectors, such as hospitals and ambulatory settings. Government support and advocacy for implementation of EMR is also driving adoption in key regions, such as the US and Europe. For example, in the US, adoption and meaningful use of health information technology through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act is boosting adoption of EMR. In the U.K., over 4 Bn has been set aside for incorporating digital technology in healthcare; the countrys National Health Services (NHS) aims to go paperless by 2018.FMIs report offers market forecast on the basis of product, components, deployment, end-user, and region.On the basis of product, the EMR market has been segmented into hospital EMR and ambulatory EMR. According to FMIs analysis, the ambulatory EMS segment, worth US$ 3.74 Bn in 2015, is expected to increase at over 8% CAGR and surpass US$ 8 Bn by 2025.Request Report Sample@Key end-use segments in the EMR market include hospitals, general physician clinics, specialised clinics, and ambulatory surgical centres. Among these, hospitals segment holds the highest revenue share and the status quo is expected to remain so during the forecast period as well. Adoption of EMR technology in clinics is growing at a robust pace by 2025, clinics segment is expected to hold over 27% revenue share of the global EMR market.On the basis of deployment type, FMIs report has segmented the market into cloud-based server setups, client server setups, and hybrid server setups. Among these, cloud-based server setups is anticipated to increase at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to ease of installation and optimum cost.On the basis of component, the report offers 10-year market forecast on the segments software and services. The services segment accounted for over 60% revenue share of the global EMR market in 2015.North America and Western Europe are currently the two largest markets for EMR in terms of revenue. North Americas dominance of the global EMR market is expected to continue during the forecast period. Adoption of EMR technology in Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a spike in the next decade -- the Asia Pacific EMR market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 6.2% through 2025.Send An Enquiry@Key players in the global EMR market include Epic Systems Corporation, McKesson Corporation, Cerner Corp, Medical Information Technology Inc., NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC, Greenway Health, LLC, and GE Healthcare. An analysis on the current and future strategies of these key players has been provided in FMIs report.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite : Orthopaedic Prosthetics Market to Grow at a CAGR of 5% by 2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1443 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1443 www.futuremarketinsights.com Global demand for orthopaedic prosthetics devices market is projected to reach US$ 1.76 Bn in 2017, up from US$ 1.69 Bn in 2016. Demand for orthopaedic prosthetics devices will be fuelled by increasing baby boomers & geriatric population. Availability of advanced prosthetics that offer customisation and enhanced functionality will continue to witness increasing demand in developed markets. However, high cost and lack of favourable reimbursement policies will continue to pose challenges to wider adoption. North America will continue to remain the largest market for orthopaedic prosthetics devices, owing to strong demand in the U.S. Sales of orthopaedic prosthetics devices in the Western Europe the second largest market globally will remain concentrated in EU5.Other key factors expected to fuel demand for orthopaedic prosthetic devices include increase in the number of accidents, higher emphasis on physical sports, and increase in prevalence of conditions that require amputation. Replacement of older prosthetics with lighter, durable materials is also expected to complement demand during the forecast period.FMIs report offers insights on the regulations on orthopaedic prosthetics devices in key markets of the U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. In the U.S., orthopaedic prosthetics devices are regulated by U.S. FDA and Centre for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). In Europe, a majority of prosthetic and orthotic devices are class I with CE marking.To provide a detailed analysis on the orthopaedic prosthetic market, FMIs report offers forecast and analysis on the basis of product type, technology, end-use, and region.Fill the Form for an Exclusive Sample of this Report@Prosthetics Devices Market SegmentationBy product type, the key segments include lower extremity prosthetics, upper extremity prosthetics, liners, sockets, and modular components. Among these, lower extremity prosthetics account for the highest demand, followed by upper extremity prosthetics. All the aforementioned product types will lose market share to lower extremity prosthetics during the forecast period.By technology, electric powered prosthetic devices account for the highest demand and the trend is projected to remain unchanged during the forecast period. Electric powered prosthetic devices are expected to gain 467 BPS during the forecast period and account for over 50% revenue share of the market by 2026. Ease of operation is one of the key factors for high adoption of electric powered prosthetics devices.By end-use, prosthetic clinics accounted for the highest revenue share of the global market, followed by hospitals and rehabilitation centres. Prosthetic clinics will continue to remain the largest end-user segment during the forecast period, gaining 293 BPS between 2016 and 2026.North America is the largest market for prosthetics devices market, accounting for a significant share of global revenues. The U.S. is the leading market for prosthetics devices, accounting for over 78% share of the global market in 2016. The U.S. will continue to be the largest market for prosthetics devices during the forecast period.Send An Enquiry@Leading players in the global prosthetics devices market include Hanger Inc., Blatchford Ltd., Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH Ossur, Touch Bionics Inc., and The Ohio Willow Wood Co.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 Engine Brake Market 2017 - Jacobs, VOLVO, Ennova, MAN, Eaton, Pacbrake https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/51866/request-sample https://goo.gl/ztiURF www.fiormarkets.com www.enrollpress.com The report studies Engine Brake 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 2022A compression release brake (also known as a Jacobs brake or "jake brake"), is the type of brake most commonly confused with real engine braking; it is used mainly in large diesel trucks and works by opening the exhaust valves at the top of the compression stroke, resulting in adiabatic expansion of the compressed air, so the large amount of energy stored in that compressed air is not returned to the crankshaft, but is released into the atmosphere.Request For Sample Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Engine Brake in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversJacobsVOLVOEnnovaMANEatonPacbrakeMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Access Full Report With TOC @Market Segment by Type, coversCompression Release BrakeExhaust BrakeMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoBelow 11 MT11-15 MTAbove 15 MTThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Engine Brake market.About Fior MarketsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: Global Nanopatterning Market to grow at a CAGR of 22.95% during 2017-2021 - AMO, IMS CHIPS, Micro Resist Technology, SUSS MicroTec http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1027831 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-nanopatterning-market-2017-2021-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Nanopatterning is concerned with imprinting nanoscale patterns on the substrate without using light or radiation-based techniques. Nanopatterning involves patterning on a nanometer scale and is currently a vital ingredient of nanotechnology. Nanopatterning and nanofabrication are essential when patterns with different densities are required for nanoscale devices. The primary benefit of modern nanopatterning techniques is the ability to generate different patterns in a single-step procedure.The global nanopatterning market to grow at a CAGR of 22.95% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global nanopatterning market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the equipment manufacturers and service providers of nanopatterning process technology.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAClick to get sample PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Nanopatterning 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.Browse more details at:Key vendors- AMO- IMS CHIPS- Micro Resist Technology- SUSS MicroTecOther prominent vendors- EV Group- NanoOpto- SET Corporation- SVG Optronics- Transfer DevicesMarket driver- Emergence of miniaturized semiconductor components- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Increasing cost of lithography functions- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Increase in the use of semiconductor devices in automobiles- For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report -- What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?About UsResearchMoz 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: Gellan Gum Revenues to Expand Moderately at 4.3% CAGR During 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1801 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1801 www.futuremarketinsights.com Considering the growing demand for natural & organic gelling ingredients for production of food and beverages, global consumption of gellan gum should continue to increase at a greater pace. However, Future Market Insights projects that over a ten-year forecast period, global consumption will exhibit a moderate CAGR of 3.7%. Global gellan gum sales will incur a sluggish increment till the end of 2026, adding just over 500 MT to the current ballpark figures on global gellan gum consumption. Regardless of substituting agar as thickener for food & beverages and incurring higher use in production of pharmaceutical fluids, global sales of gellan gum will continue to rake in meagre revenues over the forecast period.Key Deterrents for Growth in Global Gellan Gum ConsumptionProcuring raw materials required for production of gellan gum remains to be a major challenge for manufacturers. Complex techniques used for formulating gellan gum from lactose or glucose inhibits their production among local players that have a modest manufacturing infrastructure.Gellan gum is now being actively substituted by alternative hydrocolloids such as xanthan, pectin and gelatine, which are cheaper to produce and easier to harvest from raw materials. The consumption of carrangeenan, among such hydrocolloids, is projected to gain traction as opposed to gellan gum.Request For Report Sample@Nevertheless, several companies in the global food & beverage industry will continue to prefer gellan gum as organic thickeners for products such as jellies, soups and packaged yogurts. Leading gellan gum manufacturers in the world are expanding their production capacity, primarily focusing on delivering gellan gum products for food & beverage applications. Royal DSM, a prominent manufacturer of gellan gum, recently acquired manufacturing plants in China, while CP Kelco made headlines for expanding the production capacity of its San Diego plant.In the report, titled Gellan Gum Market: Global Industry Analysis & Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026, Future Market Insights mentions that a majority of gellan gum manufacturers in the global market are based in China, and are incidentally factoring a rampant growth of gellan gum market in the Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region. Dancheng Caixin Sugar Industry Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Tech-Way Biochemicals Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Gellan Solutions Biotec Co. Ltd., Zhejiang DSM Zhongken Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Meron Group, Hebei Xinhe Biochemical Co. Ltd., Fufeng Group, and Inner Mongolia Rainbow Biotech Co. Ltd., are gellan gum manufacturers based in APEJ countries such as China and India. In terms of global market value, APEJ gellan gum market will account for over one-third share throughout the forecast period. US-based CP Kelco will continue to account for over 70% of global gellan gum revenues, making North America a dominant region in the global gellan gum market through 2026.Send an Enquiry @According to Future Market Insights, the global market for gellan gum raked in an estimated revenues worth US$ 46.1 million in 2016, which are likely to increase at 4.3% CAGR to reach US$ 70.2 million by the end of 2026. Demand for gellan gum products will high acyl content will remain lower compared to low-acyl gellan gum products, with global sales of the latter are expected to amount nearly US$ 50 million revenues by the end of 2026. The report also projects that application of gellan gum in global food industry will procure revenues worth over US$ 40 million by the end of forecast period, rendering it the largest application segment in the global gellan gum market.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: Herbicides Market to Witness Exponential Growth by 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/herbicides-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3369 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Herbicides are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Herbicides are generally used to clear waste ground, industrial sites and kill all plant material with which they come into contact. Herbicides are widely used in agriculture and landscape turf management. Herbicides are toxic in nature and cause several health diseases with the direct contact. Health effects ranging from skin rashes to death can arise from intentional or unintentional direct consumption of herbicides. In addition, improper application resulting in the herbicide coming into direct contact with people or wildlife. Herbicides are used to protect wide variety of grains, cereals, oilseeds, vegetable crops from infestation of weeds.Get access to full summary @:On the basis of product type, Herbicides market can be segmented into Atrazine, Acetochlor, Glyphosate and others. On the basis of crop type, herbicides market is classified as Oilseeds, Cereals & grains, Fruits & Vegetables and others.North America is the largest market for herbicides, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market. China and India hold the key for future market trends in herbicides market due to changes in farming practices, rapid growth in agriculture sector and increasing acceptance of modern farming and protected agriculture in these regions.Some of the major drivers contributing the overall market growth of herbicides include limited availability of cultivable land, change in farming practices and technology and increasing acceptance of modern farming and protected agriculture. Growing concern towards environment and genetically modified crops are some of the major restraints for herbicides market. Strict approvals and regulations and ban and restriction imposed by regulatory authority are expected to pose severe challenge to the growth of herbicides market. Rapid growth in the organic herbicides market can act as an opportunity for herbicides market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Some of the major companies operating in the herbicides market include Chemtura Corporation, Dow Chemical Company, Cheminova A/S, BASF, Monsanto Company, Nissan Chemical Industries Ltd, Syngenta AG, Drexel Chemical Company, E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Company, Nufarm Limited, FMC Corporation, Marrone Bio Innovations Inc., Valent Biosciences Corp and Wilbur-Ellis Company.Persistence 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.Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Unisecure Positions Right Pricing for Industry Start-ups Unisecure : Data Center & Hosting Provider www.unisecure.com Unisecure the renowned web hosting provider in the US offers best and right pricing to the start-ups.Scarsdale, NY, August 08, 2017 | Unisecure, a leading provider of managed data center services & web hosting solutions in the US, recently stated that it offers the best pricing in the web hosting industry to the start-up organizations."As a startup, every single penny counts! They need to think twice, before spending. 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Our web hosting services are combined with world-class specialized team support and powers more than 6 million sites around the world.Unisecure is a renowned name in the business with over 10 years experience seeking after a dream to advance and create innovative technologies to make the services more economical and let your business pick up on ROI. When startup companies come up with new ideas and technologies, we want to support them because we know these things will ease human life. And at the same time, we understand how a budget can affect their productivity. So to make this world filled with better technologies, we do our bit of providing the best prices to these start-ups. Olivia, Head of Business Development.Unisecure is a US-based dedicated web server hosting and data center services provider with several world class data centers in the USA. Unisecure started in 1996 and since has effectively conveyed various ventures in the territories of Data Center Services, Dedicated Servers, VPS facilitating, colocation, Cloud arrangements and Disaster Recovery Services.Unisecure offer 99.995% Network Uptime SLA ensure. They have three privately owned state-of-art data centers located in the US, catering to the customers across the globe. The data centers are encouraged with modern and redundant framework; Unisecure is among a couple of suppliers to offer Linux and Windows hosting services. The competitive offerings and service levels by Unisecure are translated into customers' delight.For more information, visit4, Sunrise lane, Scarsdale, New York - 10583, United States Global Social Business Intelligence Market 2017 - Industry Key Players, Growth, Trends, Application, size, Share, Forecast https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/10907/request-sample https://goo.gl/5piB5J www.fiormarkets.com www.enrollpress.com The report studies Social Business Intelligence 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 2022Request For Sample Report @The recent report on Social Business Intelligence market throws light on the various factors governing the market across the globe. The report, titled Social Business Intelligence assesses the growth of the Social Business Intelligence market and estimates the valuation of the overall market by the end of the forecast period. The report provides an overview of the market and lists down the key drivers and restraints which will affect the market during the forecast horizon. Analysis of Porters Five Forces on Social Business Intelligence market in the world has been mentioned in the report. The report also compiles insightful information about the key players in the market.The report segments the Social Business Intelligence market in the globe on the basis of product types and end-use application segments. The report analyzes the entire value chain of the Social Business Intelligence market and forecasts the market size and revenue to be generated by each of the segments. Various micro- and macro-economic factors governing the global Social Business Intelligence market has been mentioned in the report. In globe, the present slow growth of the economy and the impact of the governments latest initiatives have been taken into account while forecasting the growth of the Social Business Intelligence market in the region.Access Full Report With TOC @The report discusses in details about the vendor landscape of the Social Business Intelligence market. The market has been analyzed on the basis of market attractiveness and investment feasibility. The report lists down the key players in the Social Business Intelligence market and provides crucial information about them such as business overview, revenue segmentation, and product offerings. Through SWOT analysis, the report analyses the growth of the key players during the forecast horizon.The report determines the leading players in the global market. The company profiles of the major participants operating in the global Social Business Intelligence market have been reviewed in this study.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: Anti-Reflective Coatings Market Poised to Cross Market Value worth USD 5.8 Billion by 2022 Anti-Reflective Coatings Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2152 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/anti-reflective-coatings-market-2152 Anti-Reflective Coatings Market Synopsis:Market Overview and Forecast:Market Research Future has a half-cooked research report on Anti-Reflective Coatings Market. The Anti-Reflective Coatings Market in 2015 was USD 3.4 Billion and is expected to grow at CAGR of 8.7% from 2016 to 2022.Anti-Reflective Coatings Market is expected to increase to USD 5.8 billion by the end of 2022. Anti-Reflective Coatings are highly preferred in eyeglasses due to their ability to enhance visibility and distract back reflections from surrounding surfaces. This coating is applied on optical surface to reduce direct sunlight glare, eliminate unwanted reflections and adjust the contrast light of surroundings so that customers feel comfortable to experience the environment. The growing application industries such as electronic and eyewear along with increasing need of non-conventional resources such as solar power is expected to drive the demand for anti-reflective coatings. Government concern regarding increase in eye disorder majorly in children due to low awareness, fluctuation in price and supply of raw material can hamper the market in future.Anti-reflective coatings are produced through various technology such as electron beam evaporation method and sputtering method. Electron beam evaporation method dominated the market owing to low cost coupled with technological advancement. Sputtering method is expected to witness a significant growth due to high mechanical and durability property and utilization of these upon production yield, cost and material.Anti-Reflective Coatings Market Players:The major participants of this market are: Royal DSM, Carl Zeiss AG, Honeywell International Inc, Hoya Corporation, Essilor International Co., PPG Industries, Inc, Rodenstock GmbH, Cascade Optical Corporation, Janos Technology Inc, iCoat Company LLC and others.Receive a Sample Report upon Request @Segmentation:The Global Anti-Reflective Coatings Market is majorly segmented on the basis of technology and applications. Based on the technology, anti-reflective coating market is segmented into electron beam evaporation and sputtering. Further, on the basis of application the market is classified into eyewear, automobile, electronics and solar power system.Global Anti-Reflective Coatings Market sees a strong growth due to its demand from end user industries such as eyewear, automobile, electronic and solar power system. Eyewear application industry account for largest market share owing to its characteristic such as eliminating unwanted reflection and distracting direct sunlight. This application is likely to boost the demand for anti-reflective coating owing to technological advancement in the same. Electronics account for second largest market owing to use of smartphones, electronic gadgets and smart TV. These devices need anti-reflection coating glasses for providing high definition. Increase in production and supply of smartphones in emerging economies is expected to drive the demand for Anti-Reflective Coatings Market. Moreover, increase in production of automobiles will also increase the demand for anti-reflective coatings as it is used in GPS display system and windshield of car. High end customers are looking out for technologies in vehicles such as GPS navigation system. Anti-reflective coatings are used in GPS system to avoid too much glare. Additionally, anti-reflective coatings are used in car windshield to avoid phase changes during driving. Other applications like solar power system are growing in order to meet the energy demand of the world and it is expected that anti-reflective coatings will be used for solar panels in forecasted period. The rapid depletion of conventional energy resources and growing concern about global warming is expected to aid the demand for solar panels increasing the demand for anti-reflective coatings.Geographically, North America shares the largest market of anti-reflective coatings. This share is attributed to growing electronic industries and solar power systems. Various gadgets like smartphones, TVs and cameras need anti-reflective glass panel that can separate bright colors, indoor and outdoor light. Therefore, it is expected to aid the growth of Anti-Reflective Coatings Market in this region. Increase in need of non-conventional resources and growing concern of depletion of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases has open an opportunity for solar energy panels market to grow in this region.Details of Report @It is expected that Europe will show a significant growth in anti-reflective coatings owing to demand for solar system and automobile end users. Automobile industry is contributing rapidly in the growth of the Anti-Reflective Coatings Market owing to its applications like GPS system and windshield. Germany is expected to forecast highest demand for anti-reflective coatings owing to use of solar power system for energy consumption in automobile industries over here.Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region for Anti-Reflective Coatings Market. Rapid industrialization and growing demand of non-conventional resources in manufacturing industries that generates energy is anticipated to aid growth of anti-reflective coatings in solar system. Countries like China, India and South Korea are looking forward for expansion in non-conventional resources due to growing population and depletion of fossil fuels. Therefore, it is expected to aid growth of Anti-Reflective Coatings Market.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.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 India Nuclear Power Market 2017 -Develop Market-Entry and Market Expansion Strategies 2030 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1685821-nuclear-power-in-india-market-outlook-to-2030-update-2017-capacity https://www.wiseguyreports.com/conferences https://www.wiseguyreports.com/seminars SUMMARYWiseGuyReports published new report, titled Nuclear Power in India, Market Outlook."Nuclear Power in India, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles" is the latest report from, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the nuclear power market in India.The report provides in depth analysis on global nuclear power market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in India (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro, pumped storage and renewables) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details nuclear power market outlook in the country and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in India nuclear power market. A detailed coverage of nuclear energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to nuclear is provided in the report. The research also provides details of active nuclear reactors in the country, market size of major equipment and company snapshot 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 team of industry experts.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Scope- A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption.- Historical period is during 2006-2016 (unless specified) and forecast period is for 2017-2030.- Overview on the global nuclear power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by region in 2016, installed capacity split by major nuclear power countries in 2016 and investment trends.- Power market scenario in India provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewables) with forecasts up to 2030.- Details of India nuclear power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity by reactor type, installed capacity share by contractor/owner and information on major active and upcoming projects.- Key policies and regulatory framework supporting nuclear power development.- Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.Key points 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 India nuclear power market.- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for nuclear power market.- Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential.- Identify key partners and business development avenues.- Understand and respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects.Table of Contents1 Table of Contents2 Executive Summary3 Introduction4 Nuclear Power Market, Global5 Power Market, India6 Nuclear Power Market, India7 Renewable Energy Policy Framework, India8 Nuclear Power Market, India, Company Profiles9 Appendix..CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise 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. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, Venezuela Global Hair Styling Equipments Industry Market Research Report 2017 http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ http:///www.qyresearcheurope.com/ http://www.qyresearchjapan.com/ SummaryThe Global Hair Styling Equipments Industry 2017 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Hair Styling Equipments industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Hair Styling Equipments market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Hair Styling Equipments industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Ask a sample or any question, please email to:hebe@qyresearchglobal.com or hebe@qyresearch.comThe players list(Partly, Players you are interested can also be added):Koninklijke PhilipsBeauty Elite GroupHelen of TroyPanasonicTESCOMAndisConairBio IonicDevacurlDrybarDysonElchiLVMHNuMeP&G...Key Topics Covered:Chapter One Industry Overview of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Two Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Three Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Four Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Hair Styling Equipments by Regions, Types and ManufacturersChapter Five Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Hair Styling Equipments by Regions, Types and ManufacturersChapter Six Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Sale Price Analysis of Hair Styling Equipments by Regions, Types and ApplicationsChapter Seven Supply, Import, Export and Consumption Analysis of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Eight Major Manufacturers Analysis of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Nine Marketing Trader or Distributor Analysis of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Ten Industry Chain Analysis of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Eleven Development Trend of Analysis of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Twelve New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Hair Styling EquipmentsChapter Thirteen Conclusion of the Global Hair Styling Equipments Industry 2017 Market Research ReportRelated Reports:US Hair Styling Equipments Industry Market Research Report 2017Europe Hair Styling Equipments Industry Market Research Report 2017India Hair Styling Equipments Industry Market Research Report 2017China Hair Styling Equipments Industry Market Research Report 2017Korea Hair Styling Equipments Industry Market Research Report 2017Japan Hair Styling Equipments Industry Market Research Report 2017If you need a report or have any question, please feel free to contact meHebe | Sr. Manager Global SalesProfessional Market Research Report PublisherQYResearch Co.LtdQYResearch focus on Market Survey and ResearchPhone: +86-20-22093278Email: hebe@qyresearchglobal.com or hebe@qyresearch.comWeb:About QYResearchQYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, database and seminar services. the company owned a large basic database (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business. Through the companys years of effort and a lot of customer support, QYResearch consulting group creative design method of many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch brand has become the consulting industry with quality assurance consulting brand. The company has 2500 global well-known customers, covering energy automobile pharmaceutical chemical agriculture more than 30 industries, services from the data analysis and recommendations-Consulting landing one-stop solution, and research regions cover China,US,EU,Asia,Middle East and Africa,South America,Australia,etc Global all regions,and also built research or marketing center in China USA UK France Hongkong etc regions. currently, QYResearch has become the first choice and worth trusted consulting brand in Global and China business consulting services.Media ContactCompany Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITEDContact Person: HebeEmail: hebe@qyresearchglobal.comPhone: +86-20-22093278Address: Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe DistrictCity: GuangzhouCountry: ChinaWebsite:(US) |(EU) |(JP) Photo Printing and Merchandise Market to Bring US$ 21.7 Bn by the end of 2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1588 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1588 www.futuremarketinsights.com According to Future Market Insights,Advent of digital imaging technology can be identified as the point from where roll films were ordained to go out of business.The declining demand for cameras with film rolls is directly associated with growing adoption of digital cameras. Consumers grew more inclined towards digital cameras, thereby making photo printing and merchandise obsolete.Furthermore, time consumed by dye sublimation photo printers added to this shift towards instantaneously-rendered digital images. Poor image quality and expensive costs of conventional inkjet printers further deterred consumers from photo printing & merchandise.Future Market Insights recent report predicts a very unavailing future for the global photo printing & merchandise market. Above factors have been compiled in the report to define the dynamics of global market for photo printing & merchandise. Based on these, the US$ 16.8 Bn market for photo printing & merchandise will see a decelerated revenue growth at 2.6% CAGR, bringing in just over US$ 21.7 Bn by the end of 2026. Future Market Insights projects that in the ten-year forecast period, photo printing & merchandise worth a little less than US$ 5 Bn will be sold across the globe. The report also highlights trends which will, in one way or another, boost the sluggish adoption of photo printing among digital age consumers.Request For Report Sample@Firstly, manufacturers of photo printing merchandise are expected to maintain more focus on introducing kiosks for increasing marketing exposure. Companies like Fujifilm Group have already deployed their SmartPix photo kiosks across various commercial settings such as supermarkets, malls and camera shops, and have also augmented them with enhanced connectivity features. Instating NFC capabilities in photo printing kiosks can be also observed as another promising opportunity for manufacturers to generate interest among customers towards conventional photo printing.Although, almost half of global photo printing & merchandise revenues are likely to be coming from online sales. While instant kiosks account for less than 10% of the market value, online distribution of photo printing & merchandise will bringing more than US$ 12.2 Bn revenues through 2026. Meanwhile, distribution of photo printing & merchandise through retail channels will be scaling down rigorously, exhibiting a negative 1.6% CAGR during the forecast period.The report has analysed that in 2016, an estimated one-third of global photo printing & merchandise revenues emanated from sales of film printing. This indicates that a majority of consumers are preferring digital printing merchandise. Also, over the forecast period, the report projects an impressive growth in demand for mobile application-based photo printing. Desktop applications are expected to lose out to mobile applications as this mode of printing is projected to register a comparatively faster revenue growth at 4.9% CAGR.Send an Enquiry @The report also predicts fastest revenue growth in the Asia-Pacific excluding Japan region 3.9% CAGR. North America is also expected to dominate with nearly one-fourth stake in global revenues, although the region is likely to lose out its presence beyond 2020. Leading manufacturers of photo printing & merchandise, profiled in the report, include Sanpfish, Eastman Kodak Company, Cimpress NV, Bay Photo Inc., Digitalab, AdoramaPix LCC, Shutterfly, Inc., and Mpix.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: Water Treatment System (Point of Use) Market Analysis- Growth Rate of 9.89% Annually to be Observed by 2023 Water Treatment System (Point of Use) Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3078 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/water-treatment-system-market-3078 Market Forecast and Overview:Market Research Future analysis shows that the global market of Water Treatment System (Point of Use) market is estimated to grow at 9.89% CAGR by the end of the forecast period.The Global Market for Water Treatment System (Point of Use) is majorly driven by factors such as, convenience, fast and safety among others. Focus towards construction, and infrastructural development makes water treatment system (point of use), popular among manufacturers. Water treatment system (Point of use) account for features such as availability and thus can conveniently use whenever required. However high capital costs act as a significant entry barrier. Nowadays, many companies focus on on-site water treatment systems for treating contaminated water generated by construction dewatering activities and maintain groundwater treatment equipment to treat the waste from construction dewatering system. The fast growth of Water Treatment System (Point of use) in the APAC region is a new growth trend.Major Key Players:The prominent players in the Water Treatment System (Point of Use) Market include: 3M Company (U.S.) Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.) Koninklijke Philips NV (The Netherlands) Pentair plc (U.K.) Panasonic Corporation (Japan) Unilever PLC (U.K.) LG Electronics Inc. (South Korea) General Electric Company (U.S.) Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (U.S.) Danaher Corporation(U.S.)Receive a Report Sample upon Request @Market Research Analysis:The growing demand for infrastructural development and eventually construction, are the major factors driving the market of Water Treatment System (Point of use). Sustained growth in housing segment, government emphasis on infrastructure and increased global demand are expected to drive the water treatment system (Point of use) market. Asia-Pacific region is expected to lead the market of Water Treatment System (Point of use) during the forecast period. This is because of the growth in construction industry and rapidly rising urban population in the region. Water Treatment System (Point of use) demand is growing in housing and infrastructure sector.Details of Reports @Important Pointers Covered in Table of Contents:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology3 Market Dynamics4 Global Water Treatment System (Point of use) Market, By Technology5 Global Water Treatment System (Point of use) Market, By Device6 Global Water Treatment System (Point of use) Market, By Application7 Regional Market Analysis8 Competitive AnalysisContinuedAbout 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 APAC Broadcasting Equipment Market Estimated to Rise at 8.1% CAGR by 2024 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/asia-pacific-broadcasting-equipment-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11317 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/asia-pacific-broadcasting-equipment-market/toc http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The report has segmented the APAC broadcasting equipment market into traditional TV broadcast, traditional radio broadcast, IP converged broadcasting and asset management systems.According to the latest report published by Persistence Market Research, titled Broadcasting Equipment Market: Asia Pacific Industry Analysis and Forecast, 20162024, the broadcasting equipment market in APAC region is expected to be valued at US$ 5,104.8 Mn by 2024.Browse Complete Report @The broadcasting equipment market in APAC region was valued at US$ 2487.5 Mn in 2015 and is expected to register a CAGR of 8.1% from 2016 to 2024. The growth of broadcasting equipment market in APAC region is primarily driven by convergence of high definition technologies such as 4K with IP. As per the report, 4K services are expected to be available on IP networks over the next four to five years via satellite launching and cable platforms.Traditional TV broadcast segment was valued at US$ 1123 Mn in 2015 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period (20162024). The traditional radio broadcast segment was valued at US$ 544 Mn in 2015 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. The IP converged broadcasting is projected to be the fastest growing segment in APAC broadcasting equipment market, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.0% during the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Traditional TV broadcast segment accounted for 45.1% share in terms of value of the total APAC broadcasting equipment market in 2015. Consumption of high definition content in APAC region is increasing at a rapid pace, supported by rising sales of HD ready TVs.The traditional TV broadcast equipment market is further segmented into camera, monitors, routers, switchers, cable, transmitter, receiver and other accessories. Routers sub-segment is projected to expand at the highest CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period. Content creators across the region are shifting towards 4K cameras in order to capture high definition video. This is being supported by sales of 4K UHD television that has gained momentum due to rising disposable income in the region.Request to view table of content @Key players of the APAC Broadcasting Equipment market include Media Excel Inc.(US), ChyronHego Corporation (US), TVU Networks Corporation (US), XOR Media Inc.(US), FOR-A Company (Japan), ORACLE Corporation (US), Unlimi-Tech Software Inc. (US), Grass Valley (Canada) and General Dynamics Mediaware (Australia).This report covers trends that are driving each segment and offers analysis and insights regarding the potential of the broadcasting equipment market in APAC regions.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: Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Worth US$2,284.2 mn By 2025 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1279337 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1279337/wood-preservative-chemicals-global-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/1279337 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Latest Research Report Wood Preservative Chemicals Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Wood Preservative Chemicals MarketWood preservative chemicals are chemicals that are applied on wood for preserving it from various organisms such as termites, ants, insects, fungi and other microbes. The product prevents the wood from decay, decomposition and degradation problem. The major products which are available as wood preservative chemicals are chromated arsenicals, creosote, copper based, zinc based and others. The wood preservative chemical is also available by various technologies such as waterborne, oil borne, organic solvent borne and others. Wood preservative chemicals find application in various industries from furnitures to construction, etc.Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Scope of StudyThe report estimates and forecasts the wood preservative chemicals market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2017 and 2025 based on volume (Kilo Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2016 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the wood preservative chemicals market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the wood preservative chemicals market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources.Get Sample copy of this Report @The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the wood preservative chemicals market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein applications and countries have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for wood preservative chemicals between 2017 and 2025.Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Research MethodologySecondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Market SegmentationThe study provides a comprehensive view of the wood preservative chemicals market by dividing it on the basis of end-use and geography segments. The wood preservative chemicals market has been segmented into furniture & decking, marine, construction and others based on end-use. End-users segment have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for wood preservative chemicals in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Additionally, the report comprises country-level analysis in terms of volume and revenue for application segments. Key countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, India, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil have been included in the study. Market segmentation includes demand for individual applications in all the regions and countries.View Report @Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Competitive OutlookThe report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report includes BASF SE, Koppers Inc., Lonza Group, Lanxess, Troy Corporation, Safeguard Europe Ltd., Rutgers Organics GmbH, Rio Tinto Borates, Kurt Obermeier GmbH and others. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).The global wood preservative chemicals market has been segmented as follows:Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Product AnalysisChromated ArsenicalsCreosoteCopper BasedAlkaline Copper QuarternaryAmmoniacal Copper ArseniteCopper AzoleCopper NapthenateOthersZinc BasedOthersWood Preservative Chemicals Market Technology AnalysisWaterborneOil borneOrganic Solvent borneOthersWood Preservative Chemicals Market End-user AnalysisFurniture & DeckingMarineConstructionOthersWood Preservative Chemicals Market Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyFranceU.K.ItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanAustralia & New ZealandASEANRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaSend An Enquiry Request @Table of Content1. Preface1.1 Report Scope and Market Segmentation1.2 Research Highlights1.3 Research Objectives1.4 Key Questions Answered2. Assumptions and Research Methodology2.1. Assumptions and Acronyms Used2.2. Research Methodology3. Executive Summary3.1 Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Size, by Market Value (US$ Mn) and Market Value Share, by Region, 20163.2 Regional Overview, 20253.3 Top 3 Application Share % Market Share Global4. Market Overview4.1. Product Overview4.2. Key Industry Developments4.3. Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Overview, 2016 and 20254.4. Key Market Indicators4.5. Drivers and Restraints Snapshot Analysis4.6 Wood Preservative Chemicals Market - Global Supply Demand Scenario4.7. Global Demand-Supply Scenario, 201520204.8. Porters Analysis4.9 .Value Chain Analysis4.10. List of Manufacturers4.11. List of Mills4.12. List of Retailers/Brand4.13. List of End-users4.14. Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Outlook, by % Market Share (by Revenue), 20164.15. Market Value Share, by End-user (2016)5. Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Analysis, By Product5.1. Introduction5.2. Key Findings5.3. Key Trends5.4. Market Size (US$ Mn) and Volume (Kilo Tons) Forecast, by Product5.5. Market Attractiveness, by Product6. Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Analysis, By Technology6.1. Introduction6.2. Key Findings6.3. Key Trends6.4. Market Size (US$ Mn) and Volume (Kilo Tons) Forecast, by Technology6.5. Market Attractiveness, by TechnologyAbout 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: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz True Fleet in Spain continues to gain ground, expanding for yet another month www.dataforce.de While Julys growth in the True Fleet Market was a little more muted than Junes it was still a double-digit growth of 15.0% that helped push the year-to-date channel growth to + 13.4%. The Total Market finished with 115,000 registrations, remaining in a positive position of + 3.5% despite the Private Market achieving the same figure just with a negative result (- 3.5%). Special Channels once again returned to double-digit territory with a + 12.4%.Brand performanceRanking for True Fleet manufacturers had some blistering results and July was a great choice for one to have its month in the sun. Nissan had a red hot July, jumping 8 places to take the #1 spot with its best figures ever in True Fleet. This marked the first month it has held the top spot outright since our statistics began (It held #1 jointly with Renault in March 2015).Home-grown manufacturer SEAT also outshone lots of the competition achieving the 2nd highest growth (Nissan was 1st) with a + 66.2%, boosting them from 10th into 3rd positon, a little over 100 units shy of Volkswagen in 2nd. Audi in 4th leapfrogged Mercedes in 5th and Renault in 6th, both of who retained their July 2016 places.Peugeot in 7th and Ford in 8th had slightly negative months with BMW in 9th managing to stay in positive growth by a mere 24 units. Opel unfortunately endured their 4th month of negative growth falling 8 places into 10th position, hopefully the finalisation of the takeover by PSA group will help to push them back into light.Vehicle segmentsLooking at the True Fleet vehicle segments YTD we see excellent growth coming from three segments. As expected SUV are currently in the #1 position, up by 27.1% over last year. Small Cars are also up by 32.0% and should the current trajectory remain would be able to make a serious challenge for Compact Car position at #2 in the rankings. However the biggest gain in growth terms comes from the Utilities segment. After seven months, this segment is showing a + 55.2% and is currently just 1,300 units away from beating last years total figure (Its best year since Dataforce figures started in 2005).(370 words, 2120 characters)DATAFORCE Focus on FleetsDataforce is the leading provider of fleet market data and automotive intelligence solutions in Europe. In addition, the company also provides detailed information on sales opportunities for the automotive industry, together with a wide portfolio of information based on primary market research and consulting services. The company is based in Frankfurt, Germany.Richard WorrowDataforce Verlagsgesellschaft fur Business Informationen mbHHamburger Allee 1460486 Frankfurt am MainGermanyPhone: +49 69 95930-231Fax: +49 69 95930-333Email: richard.worrow@dataforce.de Smart Machines Market Estimated to Rise at 18.8% CAGR by 2024 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/smart-machines-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/8872 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/smart-machines-market/toc http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com According to a report published by Persistence Market Research (PMR), the global market for smart machines is expected to register a strong CAGR of above 18% over the forecast period (20162024).Smart machines are deployed to setup distributed intelligence in various manufacturing industries and improve networked resources. Assimilation of such smart devices is resulting in the formation of enhanced networking paths. In addition, smart machines can be easily connected to larger networks of connected devices, allowing users to share data to various devices. Thus, ensuring users to access or connect their devices at anytime from anywhere. This, in turn, is anticipated to drive the growth of the global market for smart machines. Demand for smart machines, especially in Australia is expected to grow at a substantial rate over the next few years attribute to the rapid adoption of smart machines in various industries in the country.Autonomous robots are likely to find higher applications in commercial and agriculture sector in order to tackle impediments such as labor shortage in the country. Companies based in Australia are increasing investing in advanced technological solutions such as IoT.Browse Complete Report @Smart machines are designed to assist in decision making in an efficient manner.These machines run of artificial intelligence enabling them to learn from their operational interactions and increase their precision with passing time. Thereby, advancement in artificial intelligence is encouraging companies to switch to systems that are more efficient and smarter. For instance, Narrative Science Inc., a leading company is providing analytical solutions, uses a technology known as virtual assistant quill based on natural language processing for providing smart analytical solutions.Based on components, the global market for smart machines has been segmented into service hardware and software. Demand for smart machines software and hardware is growing due to increasing requirement for processing and analyzing of big unstructured data amongst various sectors such as healthcare manufacturing, defense, and aerospace. By machine type, the global market for smart machines has been segmented into drones autonomous cars, robots, wearable electronics and others.A sample of this report is available upon request @Based on technology, the global market for smart machines has been segmented into robotics, cloud computing, internet of everything (IoE), big data, effective technology, and cognitive technology. The effective technology segment is anticipated to expand at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. Due to increasing technological discrepancies in cognitive computing faced by enterprises, demand for affective computing is expected to rise. Through the implementation of cognitive computing technology, robots and smarts machines are enabled with emotion linking that can assist the robot while performing complex tasks and on decision making, which is mostly rational.On the basis of region, the global market for smart machines is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe are foreseen to witness strong growth rates through 2024. MEA is comparatively a smaller but important market as demand for smart machines is growing in the region owing to higher government investments in this several public sectors in order to digitize government services. In terms of revenue, the market in Europe in anticipated to gain healthy market shares over the forecast period. This is mainly due to the growing demand for smart machines from the manufacturing and automobile industries in countries such as France and Germany. In 2015, The APAC region accounted for the largest market share and is anticipated to gain 232 BPS by 2024.Request to view table of content @Vendor NewsKey participant operating the global market for smart machines include Microsoft Corporation, Creative Virtual Ltd., IBM Corporation, Rethink Robotics, Rockwell Automation, Inc., Apple Inc., Google Inc., BAE Systems, General Electric Co. Digital Reasoning Systems, Inc., Narrative Science Inc., and ABB Limited.Summary: Effective technology will continue to be the most dominating segment of the global market for smart machines during the forecast period.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Fungicides Market to Undertake Strapping Growth by 2022 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/fungicides-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3387 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Fungicides is a type of pesticide used to kill the fungi or fungi spores. Fungicides finds major use in the agricultural sector for crop protection. It is used to prevent the damage to crops caused by the attack of fungicides. It gives higher yield with better quality of the crops. It is also used to kill the fungal infections in animals. The use of fungicides differ according to the type of crop. Different types of fungicides available are translaminar, systemic and contact fungicides. The active ingredients include chlorothalonil, mancozeb, prochloraz, propicanazole, prochloraz, propicanazole and many more. One of the most common active ingredient in the fungicides is sulfur. Some fungicides are dangerous to human health and so the major laws governing the use of fungicides in different countries is expected to hamper the growth of global fungicides market in the near future. However, the global fungicides market is expected to witness a moderate single digit growth in the forecast period.Get access to full summary @:The most significant demand driver for the global fungicides market is the increasing demand for fungicides in the crop protection sector for ensuring higher crop yields. The growing population is also expected to be the major driving factor for the global fungicides market. The increasing concerns pertaining to the disease control is anticipated to drive the global fungicides market. The shrinking arable land and the growing demand for food is projected to increase the demand for fungicides, thereby driving the global fungicides market.The growing technological advancements in the seeds is expected to restrain the global fungicides market in the upcoming years. The use of genetically modified crops is projected to restrain the growth of global fungicides market in the near future.The development of new organic fungicides is expected to create new opportunities in terms of revenue for the major players in the global fungicides market.The global fungicides market can be segmented on the basis of product type and crop typeOn the basis of type, the global fungicides market is segmented as:BenzimidazolesTriazolesDithiocarbamatesChloronitrilesPhenylamidesStrobilurinsOthersOn the basis of crop types, the global fungicides market is segmented as:FruitsVegetablesCereals and grainsOilseedsOthersThe global fungicides market is segmented into five key regions on the basis of geography as North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Asia pacific holds the largest market share in the global fungicides market, owing to the large agricultural business in this region. India and China is expected to be the maximum market share holding countries in the global fungicides market. Use of fungicides in the European countries is also expected to increase in the near future due to the stringent regulatory authorities in this region. The consumption of fungicides is also anticipated to escalate in the European countries in the upcoming years. The consumption of fungicides in Middle East and Africa is projected to demonstrate a stagnant growth in the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Some of the key players identified in the global fungicides market are, BASF SE, Bayer AG, Syngenta AG, The Dow Chemical Company, E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Company, Cheminova A/S, Nufarm Ltd, Chemtura CorporationPersistence 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.Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Cloud Robotics Market (2016-2024)- Research Nester http://www.researchnester.com/sample-request/2/rep-id-366 http://www.researchnester.com/toc-request/1/rep-id-366 http://www.researchnester.com/reports/cloud-robotics-market-global-demand-analysis-opportunity-outlook-2024/366 www.researchnester.com Cloud robotics is modern robotics which is used in cloud computing and cloud storage. Cloud robotics makes robots to do many intensive tasks such as image processing, scanning and voice recognition. Cloud robotics allows robots to access the data and information such as updated image library, maps, product data and others. Cloud robotics enables the robots to learn some interesting skill such as speaking, dancing, running and others. Apart from this, cloud robotics is very valuable in handling big data, parallel grid computing, crowd sourcing and other works.Market Size & ForecastGlobal cloud robotics market is anticipated to flourish at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.1% over the forecast period. Global cloud robotics market is anticipated to reach at a valuation of about USD 3100.1 Million by the end of 2024. Rising technological advancement of robots and wide adoption of robotics in service sector are some of the major factors expected to propel the growth of global cloud robotics market over the forecast period.In terms of region, global cloud robotics market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa region. In terms of market share, Europe region is the biggest market of the cloud robotics .Rising consumers awareness towards robotics and presence of some major cloud robotics companies such as Cervi Robotics and Torninova are the major factors which are driving the growth of cloud robotics market in Europe region. By share, North America region is the second leading market of cloud robotics and is anticipated to witness remarkable growth over the forecast period.For Sample Pages please go through link below:Apart from this, Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing regional market of cloud robotics and is expected to flourish at a compound annual growth (CAGR) of 34.1% over the forecast period. Japan & China are expected to be the key contributors in growth of cloud robotics in this region. Middle East & Africa and Latin America regions are also anticipated to grow at a satisfactory growth rate over the forecast period.Market SegmentationOur-in depth analysis of the global cloud robotics market includes the following segments:By End UserIndustrialMilitaryCommercialPersonalBy ConnectivityBluetoothWi-Fi3G4G5GRFInfraredBy DeploymentHybridPrivatePublicBy ApplicationAerospaceManufacturingEducationLogisticAgricultureHomeConstructionBy RegionGlobal cloud robotics market is further classified on the basis of region as follows:North America (U.S. & Canada) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity AnalysisLatin America (Brazil, Mexico, Rest of Latin America) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity AnalysisEurope (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, Rest of Western Europe) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity AnalysisAsia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis.Middle East and Africa (GCC, North Africa, South Africa and Rest of Middle East) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity AnalysisGrowth Drivers & ChallengesGlobal cloud robotics market is driven by rising adoption of high-tech machines and their benefits in our personal and professional life. Application of cloud robotics in agriculture sector has made them more intelligent in terms of operation and control. This advancement in agriculture sector by using cloud robotics is anticipated to propel the growth of global cloud robotics market in near future. Moreover, rising adoption of cloud robotics in defense & security sector for the enhancement of existing security system is a major driver which is likely to foster the growth of global cloud robotics market in near future. Utilization of cloud robotics for enhancement of old robots in the terms of intelligence and to arm them with skills like walking, running, speaking and others are some of the major reasons driving the growth of cloud robotics market.Request For TOC Here:Apart from this, rising adoption of cloud robotics in education sector is likely to foster the growth of cloud robotics market. Cloud robotics has a wide range of applications including manufacturing, logistic, homes and others. Further, use of cloud robotics in manufacturing sector has resulted in increased production, reduction of human errors, improved quality. These advantages are anticipated to propel the involvement of cloud robotics in manufacturing sector. Additionally, cloud robotics is used in logistic sector. Expansion of logistic service across the globe is envisioned to bolster the growth of global cloud robotics market over the forecast period.However, high cost of cloud robotics and lack of user guidance are some major challenges which are restraining the growth of global cloud robotics market. Apart from this, slow adoption rate is also hampering the growth of global cloud robotics market.Key PlayersV3 Smart Technology Pvt. Ltd.Company OverviewKey Product OfferingsBusiness StrategySWOT AnalysisFinancialsHit Robot GroupABB GroupAdept TechnologyBoston DynamicsFanuc CorporationRockwell Automation Inc.Rapyuta Robotics Co. Ltd.Universal Robotics A/SHotblack Robotics SrlMotion Controls RoboticsScope & ContextOverview of the Parent MarketAnalyst ViewSegmentationThe global cloud robotics market is segmented as follows:By End User Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisBy Connectivity Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisBy Deployment Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisBy Application Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisBy Region Market Size & Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisMarket DynamicsSupply & Demand RiskCompetitive LandscapePorters Five Force ModelGeographical Economic ActivityKey Players (respective SWOT Analysis) and their Strategies and Product PortfolioRecent Trends and DevelopmentsIndustry Growth Drivers and ChallengesKey Information for Players to establish themselves in current dynamic environmentTo know more about this research, kindly visit:Research Nester is a global market research and consulting firm helping organizations, private entities, governments undertaking, non-legislative associations and non-profit organizations. With our decades of experience in the market research, we help our clients to gain a competitive edge over other players. Thus, helping them making strategic yet dynamic decisions for the future investments.Ajay DanielEmail: ajay.daniel@researchnester.comU.S. +1 646 586 9123U.K. +44 203 608 59191820 Avenue M, Suite# 1113,Brooklyn, New York 11230web : Global Lactose-free Cheese Industry Market Research Report 2017 http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ http:///www.qyresearcheurope.com/ http://www.qyresearchjapan.com/ SummaryThe Global Lactose-free Cheese Industry 2017 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Lactose-free Cheese industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Lactose-free Cheese market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Lactose-free Cheese industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Ask a sample or any question, please email to:hebe@qyresearchglobal.com or hebe@qyresearch.comThe players list(Partly, Players you are interested can also be added):Arla FoodsMcNeil NutritionalsOMIRA Oberland-MilchverwertungTINEAlproAmy's KitchenCabot CreameryDairy Farmers of AmericaDaiya FoodsDean FoodsEdlong Dairy TechnologiesEmmi GroupFonterra Co-operative GroupGreen Valley OrganicsHP HoodDevondale Murray GoulburnTHE WHITEWAVE FOOD COMPANYKey Topics Covered:Chapter One Industry Overview of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Two Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Three Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Four Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Lactose-free Cheese by Regions, Types and ManufacturersChapter Five Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Lactose-free Cheese by Regions, Types and ManufacturersChapter Six Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Sale Price Analysis of Lactose-free Cheese by Regions, Types and ApplicationsChapter Seven Supply, Import, Export and Consumption Analysis of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Eight Major Manufacturers Analysis of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Nine Marketing Trader or Distributor Analysis of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Ten Industry Chain Analysis of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Eleven Development Trend of Analysis of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Twelve New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Lactose-free CheeseChapter Thirteen Conclusion of the Global Lactose-free Cheese Industry 2017 Market Research ReportRelated Reports:US Lactose-free Cheese Industry Market Research Report 2017Europe Lactose-free Cheese Industry Market Research Report 2017India Lactose-free Cheese Industry Market Research Report 2017China Lactose-free Cheese Industry Market Research Report 2017Korea Lactose-free Cheese Industry Market Research Report 2017Japan Lactose-free Cheese Industry Market Research Report 2017If you need a report or have any question, please feel free to contact meHebe | Sr. Manager Global SalesProfessional Market Research Report PublisherQYResearch Co.LtdQYResearch focus on Market Survey and ResearchPhone: +86-20-22093278Email: hebe@qyresearchglobal.com or hebe@qyresearch.comWeb:About QYResearchQYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, database and seminar services. the company owned a large basic database (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business. Through the companys years of effort and a lot of customer support, QYResearch consulting group creative design method of many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch brand has become the consulting industry with quality assurance consulting brand. The company has 2500 global well-known customers, covering energy automobile pharmaceutical chemical agriculture more than 30 industries, services from the data analysis and recommendations-Consulting landing one-stop solution, and research regions cover China,US,EU,Asia,Middle East and Africa,South America,Australia,etc Global all regions,and also built research or marketing center in China USA UK France Hongkong etc regions. currently, QYResearch has become the first choice and worth trusted consulting brand in Global and China business consulting services.Media ContactCompany Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITEDContact Person: HebeEmail: hebe@qyresearchglobal.comPhone: +86-20-22093278Address: Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe DistrictCity: GuangzhouCountry: ChinaWebsite:(US) |(EU) |(JP) Country Intelligence Report In-depth Analysis Of Fixed, Mobile And Pay-TV Services Market 2017-2022 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1277461 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1277461/germany-country-intelligence-report-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/1277461 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Germany: Country Intelligence Report provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Country Intelligence Market"Germany: Country Intelligence Report", provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Germany today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2022. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, and mobile, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.The telecom service revenue growth in Germany over 2017-2022 will be sustained by mobile data and fixed broadband overtaking the loss of revenue from the switching off of circuit-switched lines in the country. Fixed broadband is the largest revenue-contributing segment but is expected to be replaced by mobile data in 2022. Going forward, operators will focus on data-centric services and invest in LTE-A, 5G and FTTH deployments to boost broadband penetration in the country. Operators push for digital solutions such as M2M/IoT, and high-speed broadband network under the Gigabit society plan 2025 will create significant opportunities for vendors and investors in the coming years.Get Sample Copy of this report @The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following -- Demographic and macroeconomic context- Regulatory context- In-depth analysis of fixed, mobile and pay-TV services market- Competitive landscape and company snapshots- Forecast assumptions- Data tablesScope- The total telecom service revenue growth in Germany will remain low due to loss of revenue from circuit-switched but will be supported by growth in mobile data, VoIP and fixed broadband revenue.- Mobile revenue will account for 48.3% of the total telecom revenue in 2022, with mobile data accounting for 61.1% of mobile revenue in 2022.- 4G is currently the most adopted mobile technology . However, its share will decline during the forecast period as customers migrate to 5G assuming it is comercially available by 2020.- The top two mobile operators, T-Mobile and Vodafone accounted for 61.2% share of overall mobile subscriptions in 2017. We expect the competition to intensify further with the recent approved merger of United Internets 1&1 with Drillisch.- Operators will continue to invest in 4G network expansions, fiber deployments, 5G and advanced DSL technologies such as G.fast to improve connectivity and cater to the rising data demand.View Full Report @Reasons to buy- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Germanys 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 Germanys mobile communications, fixed telephony, broadband markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.- With more than 40 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 Germanys 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 Germany.Send An Enquiry Request @Table of ContentsTable of contents 3Market highlights 4Demographic, macro and regulatory context 5Demographic and macroeconomic context 6Regulatory context 8Telecom and pay-TV services market outlook 9Total telecom service revenue 10Mobile services market 12Fixed services market 18Pay-TV services market 22Competitive landscape and company snapshots 25Competitive landscape 26Deutsche Telekom 28Telefonica Deutschland 29Competitive landscape and company snapshots (contd) 25Vodafone 30United Internet 31Unitymedia 32Additional resources 33Forecast assumptions 34Data tables 35Glossary 36Methodology 39About the authors 40Country Intelligence Report coverage 41About GlobalData 42About 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: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Industrial Gas Generator Market 2017 Research Report Considers the New Installations, Shipments, Sales, Volume, Value, New Technology and Future Forecast http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/289857 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contact/purchase/289857 http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/2017-market-research-report-on-global-industrial-gas-generator-industry https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbis-research https://twitter.com/orbisresearch https://www.facebook.com/OrbisResearch Latest Report Available at Orbis research Industrial Gas Generator Market provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics and a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining industry growth.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 Industrial Gas Generator Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Industrial Gas Generator 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 Industrial Gas Generator Market report is a noteworthy.Request a sample of this report @The Global Industrial Gas Generator 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 Industrial Gas Generator Industry report showcases the latest trends in the global and regional markets on all critical parameters which include technology, supplies, capacity, production, profit, price, and competition. The key players covered in the report provide a detailed analysis of the competition and their developments in the Global Industrial Gas Generator Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Global Industrial Gas Generator Market report.Purchase a copy of Global Industrial Gas Generator Market visit @For more information contact sales@orbisresearch.com .The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Finally, the Industrial Gas Generator 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 Industrial Gas Generator Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from. The report which is the result of ultimate dedication of pedigree professionals has a wealth of information which can benefit anyone, irrespective of their commercial or academic interest.Browse Complete Report @Some points from TOC:Chapter One: Industrial Gas Generator Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Industrial Gas Generator1.2 Industrial Gas Generator Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Industrial Gas Generator Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Industrial Gas Generator Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 20Kw To 100Kw1.2.4 101Kw To 500Kw1.2.5 501Kw To 1Mw1.2.6 1Mw To 2 Mw1.2.7 2Mw To 5Mw1.3 Global Industrial Gas Generator Segment by Application1.3.1 Industrial Gas Generator Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Chemical Industry1.3.3 Breeding Industry1.3.4 Petroleum And Gas Industry1.3.5 Mining Industry1.3.6 Other1.4 Global Industrial Gas Generator Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Industrial Gas Generator 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 Industrial Gas Generator (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Industrial Gas Generator Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Industrial Gas Generator Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For any enquires before buying, connect with us @ enquiry@orbisresearch.comAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:Follow us on Twitter:Like us on Facebook: Global Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017 Global Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017 https://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ The Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Industry 2017 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Global Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride sales volume, Price (USD/Dose), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingCompany 1Company 2Company 3Company 4Company 5......Ask a complete & professional report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com or visit atTable of contents:1 Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Market Overview2 Global Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Maufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:Global Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017Europe Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017China Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017India Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017Japan Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017USA Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017Korea Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Sales Market Report 2017Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchTina| Sales ManagersEmail: tinaning@qyresearch.com Tel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Web:QYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business.Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe District Capsule Endoscopy Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast Report To 2025 Crystal Market Research http://bit.ly/2vA4aGO http://bit.ly/2vhjTIl https://blog.crystalmarketresearch.com http://www.crystalmarketresearch.com Capsule Endoscopy Market Overview:Capsule endoscopy is a minimal invasive procedure in which a tiny camera is used to capture images of patients digestive tract. It is a shape and size of a pill containing a tiny camera. The Capsule capture pictures of the digestive tract once the patient swallows it. It provides high resolution images which cannot be taken by any other endoscopy. Capsule endoscopy has witnessed significant technological advancements (such as image resolution, battery life, and miniaturization of the device) since its introduction to the market.The capsule endoscopy market is projected to witness robust growth during the forecast period, primarily due to growing prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases, rapidly aging population, growing popularity of minimally invasive procedures, and technological advancements. Moreover, high preference for capsule endoscopy for GI procedures due to its minimal invasive nature will further contribute to the market growth.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @The rapidly aging population is set to drive the demand for capsule endoscopes as this group is more susceptible to GI diseases. As per Health Guidance for Better Health, almost 34 million people are affected with digestive tract diseases in the U.S., of which 20 million Americans have chronic condition. It further states that around 8% of the total population in the U.S. suffers from chronic digestive tract disorders, 6% from acute disorders, and 43% from intermittent GI disorders. Moreover, the growing elderly population will further contribute to the market growth. For instance, the number of older people is projected to reach 2 billion in 2050 from 841 million people in 2013 (Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs). Thus, the rapidly aging population will accelerate the demand for capsule endoscopy in near future. Such high target population will bring in ample growth opportunities for the key players to develop technologically advanced products.In addition to this, the rising prevalence of colon cancer will further stimulate the market growth. For instance, in 2012, the estimated number of colon cancer cases was 1.4 million and this number is expected to reach 2.4 million by 2035. Therefore, a large patient pool of colon cancer will be in need of adequate diagnostic and monitoring devices such as capsule endoscopes.Make an inquiry @Major players operating in this market are IntroMedic Co. Ltd., Olympus Corporation, SynMed Limited, CapsoVision Inc., Fujifilm Holding Corporation, and Given Imaging Ltd. These companies are highly focused on introduction of new capsule endoscopes with innovative techniques and advanced features to meet the unmet medical needs. Thus, innovation will derive the demand for capsule endoscopes globally.About Crystal Market ResearchCrystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.comBlog:Website: Facial Care Market, Global Surge Towards Solid Growth by 2024 Facial Care Market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/facial-care-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/facial-care-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/facial-care-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com https://zionmarketresearch.wordpress.com/ Global Facial Care Market: OverviewFacial care is the practices followed since ages to hold skin veracity, enhance skin appearance, and reduce skin conditions. These include avoiding excess sun exposure, adequate nutrition, and proper use of moisturizers. Facial care products enhancing its appearance include several cosmetics, exfoliation, botulinum, fillers, microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, retinol therapy, peels, and so on.Global Facial Care Market: Growth FactorsFacial care segment contributes up to 70% of the total skin care markets revenue; thus, it is anticipated to witness high growth in the near future. This growth can be attributed to the introduction of a wide range of products including BB creams, anti-aging creams, moisturizers, cleansing wipes, skin toners, masks & serums, and so on. This, in turn, has resulted in the availability of a wide array of products to the customers and further has increased the penetration of facial and personal care products. Rising awareness about the facial care products and new multinationals entering the market are other factors boosting the growth of the global facial care market. The increasing esteem of multifunctional products and growing distribution channels and networks are further propelling the growth of the global market. In addition, increasing fairness products demand, rising focus on an advertisement, and changing the life style of consumers are some other factors impacting the global facial care market growth.Request Free Sample Report @Global Facial Care Market: SegmentationThe global facial care market is segmented on the basis of product type and region. On the basis of product type, the global market is segmented as anti-aging, skin whitening or lightening, serums and masks, face wash, facial creams, cleansing wipes, and others. The other segment is further bifurcated as pore strips, fade creams, and toners. Regionally, the global facial care market is categorized as Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and RoW (Rest of the World).Global Facial Care Market: Regional AnalysisAsia Pacific dominates the global facial care market and is anticipated to continue this trend in the near future. This growth can be attributed to India and Japan followed by China mainly owing to the increasing disposable income of consumers and growing popularity of facial care products. Shifting trend of consumers to Western luxury brands in order to gain enhanced results are factors boosting the global facial care market in North America in the coming future. Moreover, increasing awareness among consumers about the use of facial care products and the easily available products in this region are expected to enhance the facial care products demand in the coming future.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Facial Care Market: Competitive PlayersSome of the major players in the global facial care market include Estee Lauder Companies Inc., LOreal S.A., Shiseido Co. Ltd., Kose Corporation, Kao Corporation, Johnson and Johnson Limited, The Unilever Plc, and Procter and Gamble Company.Global Facial Care Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaBrowse detail report @What Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Our Blog: Spray Drying Equipment Market, Global Competitive Dynamics & Global Outlook 2024 Spray Drying Equipment Market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/spray-drying-equipment-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/spray-drying-equipment-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/spray-drying-equipment-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com https://zionmarketresearch.wordpress.com/ Spray drying equipment is a device that is particularly used for the spray drying which helps in converting the substance that is originally in the liquid form to dry powder form with the help of hot gas. Spray drying uses the process of evaporation in order to produce dry powders. Various types of spray drying equipment that is available include rotary atomizer, fluidized, nozzle atomizer, centrifugal, and closed loop and mini dryers.The market for the spray drying equipment is globally fragmented into drying stage, equipment types, and application. Depending on the drying stage the global market is segregated into single, two, and multiple stage. It is the two stage segment that is holding the major market share. Depending on the equipment type, the market is categorized into nozzle atomizer, closed loop, fluidized, centrifugal, and others. The nozzle atomizer segment is leading the global spray drying equipment. Depending on the applications, the market is divided into pharmaceutical, food, ceramic material, fertilizer, chemical, and feed. In the application segment, the food industry has the maximum market share owing to the increasing demand for the ready-to-eat foods and functional foods.Request Free Sample Report @The global spray drying equipment market will witness a significant market growth in the coming years. The factors that are contributing to the growth of the spray drying equipment market are the reduction in the product from getting thermal destruction, industrial development that is made in the spray drying products, increase in the demand for ready to eat foods and the functional food & beverages, and rise in the demand for the products that have longer shelf life. The spray drying equipment has high operational costs which are the major challenge for the spray drying equipment market and the variations in the organoleptic properties affect the profit margins of spray drying equipment market.The global spray drying equipment market is regionally diversified into Eastern Europe, Latin America, Western Europe, the Middle East & Africa, North America, and Asia Pacific. In terms of revenue, the global spray drying equipment market is lead by the North America. But in the coming years, Asia Pacific region will experience a rapid growth in the market owing to the growing health awareness among the consumers which potentially increases the pharmaceutical and food & beverages market. In the U.S. and Canada, there is an increased demand for the milk substitutes and the powdered forms of the dairy where the spray drying equipment is an essential element.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @The key market players that are involved in the spray drying equipment market include Buchi Labortechnik AG, Acmefil Engineering Systems Pvt. Ltd., S P X Flow Technology Danmark A/S, GEA Group AG, New AVM Systech Pvt. Ltd., C.E. Rogers Company, Changzhou Lemar Drying Engineering Co. Ltd., European Spraydry Technologies Llp, Dedert Corporation, and others.Browse detail report @About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Our Blog: Pen Needle Market Size Is Projected To Be Around $4.9 Billion By 2025: Crystal Market Research http://bit.ly/2wpdtXE http://bit.ly/2vgQkGK http://bit.ly/2fpiZ8r http://bit.ly/2vIn9yj http://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report/ampoule-and-syringes-market https://blog.crystalmarketresearch.com http://www.crystalmarketresearch.com A research study titled, Pen Needle Market by Type, Needle Length, Therapy and Mode of Purchase - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2025 published by Crystal Market Research, states that the pen needle market is projected to be around $4.9 billion by 2025.Diabetes is one of the most occurring chronic diseases characterized by either incapability of pancreas to produce glucose or incapability of body to absorb glucose produced by pancreas. According to survey conducted by International Diabetic Federation (IDF) in 2015, around 415 million are living with diabetes with proportion of type-2 diabetics increasing globally. Largenumber of people aged 40 to 59 suffer from diabetes and related complications. Diabetic people have high risk of developing several complications (such as vascular disorders, kidney malfunctioning besides affecting eyes, nerves and teeth) due to high glucose level. Diabetes has long term impact on health and economic condition of individual. Over a period of time, diabetes affect kidney, damages heart vessels, and eyes, leading to malfunctioning of body. Besides, people with diabetes are likely to incur huge expenditure causing financial burdens on them and family members. There are many methods to inject insulin in body such as through syringes and pen needles. Withseveral risks (such as sharp injuries or rapture of blood vessels) associated with the use of syringes; the demand for insulin syringes is expected to decline in near future. However, this will provide ample growth opportunities for the pen needle market.Browse full research report with TOC on Pen Needle Market by Type, Needle Length, Therapy and Mode of Purchase - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2025 at:Standard pen needles segment dominated the global market in 2016, due to growing awareness among consumers about the availability of safe insulin delivery methods, increasing prevalence of diabetes with rise in geriatric population, and standard pen needles being cost effective as compared to other insulin delivery methods. However, standard pen needles are expected to witness decline in the growth during forecast period due to various risks of needle related injuries such as rupture of blood vessel while injecting insulin in the body. Among various needles available, 8mm needle length accounted for the largest share of the global market in 2016; as these needles are prescribe to large number of people including obese people. Insulin therapy segment dominated the overall market in 2016, primarily due to increasing adoption of self-administration of insulin for diabetes type-1 as well as type-2. With increasing trend in e-commerce, online purchase segment will witness high growth during the forecast period.Europe accounted for the major share of the global pen needles market in 2016, primarily due to rising diabetic population, increased funding for diabetic research, high adoption of technologically advanced devices, and rise in demand for safe insulin delivery methods. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness high growth in forecast period, due to increasing demand for better healthcare infrastructure and rise in awareness about commercially available treatments for diabetes.Request a sample copy of Pen Needle Market Research Report @Major players in the market are Becton, Dickinson and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S, Owen Mumford, Ltd., HTL-STREFA S.A., B. Braun Melsungen, Ypsomed Holding AG, Terumo Corporation, and Allison Medical, Inc. These players are highly focused on developing advanced products for the treatment of diabetes. For instance, in 2013, Becton, Dickinson and Company launched BD Ultra-Fine Nano 4mm pen needle with easy flow technology for easier and faster delivery of insulin in the body. Advanced features such as easy flow with 5mm needles and digitalized pen needles will dominate the market in coming years.Key Findings of the Research Study: Standard pen needles segment accounted for the largest share of the global market in 2016, due to increase in diabetic population and availability of cost effective standard pen needles. Reusable and disposable pen needles segment accounted for almost equal share with reusable having slightly higher market share in 2016. U.S. dominated the global market and will continue to dominate during forecast period due to high demand for technologically advanced devices and availability of better health infrastructure. 4mm needle length segment is expected to witness highest growth rate during forecast period due to its short length. Insulin therapy segment dominated the global market in 2016, owing to increasedpreferencefor self-administration of insulin UK and Germany dominated the European market due to EUs regulatory framework to minimized needle related injuries and to increase in preference of self-administrative methods.Inquire more about this report at:Pen needle market is segmented on following basis:By Type: Safety Pen Needles Standard Pen NeedlesBy Needle Length: 12mm 10mm 8mm 6mm 5mm 4mmBy Therapy: Glucagon-like-Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Insulin Growth HormoneBy Mode of Purchase: Retail Non-retailBy Region: North Americao U.So Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo UKo Italyo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia-Pacifico Japano Chinao Australiao Indiao South Koreao Rest of Asia-Pacific Rest of the Worldo Brazilo South Africao Saudi Arabiao Turkeyo United Arab Emirateso OthersGet Customization in the Report At:Related Reports:Ampoule and Syringes Market by Product and End User - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2025:About Crystal Market ResearchCrystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.comBlog:Website: United States Underwater Camera Market Outlook with Company Analysis and Forecast 2020 Underwater Camera http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/372301 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/372301 http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/united-states-underwater-camera-market-2017-industry-trend-and-forecast-2022 https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbis-research SummaryOrbis Research released a new research report of 108 pages on title United States Underwater Camera Market 2017 Industry Trend and Forecast 2022 with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies.DescriptionThe United States Underwater Camera Market report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the United States Underwater Camera industry. This report evaluates the United States market for " United States Underwater Camera".The United States Underwater Camera Market report provides complete analysis of the United States Underwater Camera Market by analysing all round market dynamics such as regional market opportunities, drivers, challenges, constraints, threats, and other market trends.The United States Underwater Camera Market report contains latest Business Data resulting from various Research sources that helps Decision Makers to deliver a Distinctive and Trustworthy Analysis for Companys Growth.Get a PDF Sample of United States Underwater Camera Market report at:The United States Underwater Camera Market Survey starts with Industry overview of United States Underwater Camera Market covering Major Regions Status, Industry Chain Structure, Definitions and Specifications, with a detailed focus on Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis including Raw Material Suppliers, Equipment Suppliers and Manufacturing Process.In Next Part, the researchers has collected and presented information on Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis which comprises of Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source of Major Manufacturers in 2017.In following segment, with Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin, Business Region Distribution Analysis, Competition between various Company Profile has been given along with Product Pictures and Specifications in United States Underwater Camera Industry Report.The Key Players Mentioned in United States Underwater Camera Market Report are: Ageotec Aqualights AqualightsBowtech Products C-Products Europe DWTEK Inuktun Europe Iris Innovations JT electric Kongsberg Maritime Remote Ocean System Rugged Marine Shark Marine Technologies Sidus SolutionsFor Any Query, before Purchasing Report Click Here:The United States Underwater Camera Industry Report is also a Great Source of Marketing Type Analysis consisting:1. United States Underwater Camera Regional Marketing Type Analysis2. United States Underwater Camera International Trade Type Analysis3. Traders or Distributors with Contact Information of United States Underwater Camera by Regions4. United States Underwater Camera Supply Chain AnalysisSome Points from Table of Contents:Chapter One: Underwater Camera Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Underwater Camera1.2 Classification of Underwater Camera by Product Category1.2.1 United States Underwater Camera Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 United States Underwater Camera Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 720P1.2.4 1080P1.2.5 4KChapter Two: United States Underwater Camera Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1 United States Underwater Camera Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 United States Underwater Camera Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.3 United States Underwater Camera Average Price by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.4 United States Underwater Camera Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 United States Underwater Camera Market Concentration RateChapter Three: United States Underwater Camera Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 United States Underwater Camera Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 United States Underwater Camera Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 United States Underwater Camera Price by Region (2012-2017)Chapter Four: United States Underwater Camera Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)4.1 United States Underwater Camera Sales and Market Share by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)4.2 United States Underwater Camera Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.3 United States Underwater Camera Price by Type (2012-2017)4.4 United States Underwater Camera Sales Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)Browse The Full Report With TOC@:Lastly, the Report provides Development Trend Analysis for 2017-2022 years which will forecast Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales Price, Consumption Forecast, Market Trend (Product Type) and Market Trend (Application). Also the List of Major Consumers is analyzed and Contact Details are provided to easy communicating.Finally, the Report is concluded with Various Methodology, Analyst Introduction and Data SourcesOrbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Follow Us on LinkedIn: 2017 Market Data Analysis of Global Etapenem Sales Market Report Global Etapenem Sales Market Report 2017 https://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ QYRlogoThe Etapenem Industry 2017 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Etapenem industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Etapenem market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Etapenem industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Global Etapenem market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Etapenem sales volume, Price (USD/Dose), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingCompany 1Company 2Company 3Company 4Company 5......Ask a complete & professional report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com or visit atTable of contents:1 Etapenem Market Overview2 Global Etapenem Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Etapenem (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Etapenem (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Etapenem (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Etapenem (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Etapenem (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Etapenem (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Etapenem Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Etapenem Maufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Etapenem Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:Global Etapenem Sales Market Report 2017Europe Etapenem Sales Market Report 2017China Etapenem Sales Market Report 2017India Etapenem Sales Market Report 2017Japan Etapenem Sales Market Report 2017USA Etapenem Sales Market Report 2017Korea Etapenem Sales Market Report 2017Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchTina| Sales ManagersEmail: tinaning@qyresearch.com Tel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Web:QYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business.Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe District Solar Street Lighting Market size was over USD 2.9 billion in 2015 with forecast to grow over 20% from 2016 to 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/770 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/770 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/solar-street-lighting-market https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/africa-off-grid-solar-lighting-market https://www.gminsights.com https://gminsights.wordpress.com Rapid depleting fossil fuel with the correction in petroleum products prices over the forecast period is anticipated to fuel the need for finding alternative sources that can be used as petroleum substitutes. Increasing need for self-sustenance and to eliminate dependence on grid power systems is predicted to fuel the need for substitute energy systems. Increasing electricity demand owing to rising consumption is expected to fuel industry growth.Global solar street lighting market size is further segregated on product basis as standalone and grid connected. Standalone product accounted for over 89% of global installation in 2015 owing to increasing demand for clean fuel energy couple with increasing off grid population across the region.Request for a sample of this research report @Global street lighting trends indicate around 20% to 35% of the total energy bill, which signifies the rising focus towards enhancing energy efficiency by reducing power consumption. Furthermore, depleting fossil fuels have significantly contributed to increasing electricity prices. Solar street lights are efficient, clean and has low operational and maintained cost compared to conventional street lighting.China LED solar street lighting market size may generate over USD 1.2 billion by 2024. The one foundation and climate group launched the 1,000 villages solar LED lighting program to electrify the rural communities in china.Stringent government regulation towards energy conservation and to reduce carbon footprints is likely to drive solar street lighting market size. The industry players have analyzed the massive potential for solar energy source making it a new market opportunity to explore.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Key insights from the report include:Nigeria standalone solar street lighting market size was USD 148.5 million for 2015, and will grow at a CAGR of 21.9% from 2016 to 2024, as majority of population in Nigeria has no access to electricity owing to lack of electric infrastructure.India LED solar street lighting market is forecast to reach over USD 3 billion by 2024. Increasing demand for energy conservation coupled with government regulations to reduce the carbon emissions in the country is likely to drive industry growth up to 2024.Residential application in the U.S. is projected to reach at 0.28 million units by 2024. Government initiative to develop green building project for residential will further drive industry growth.Browse key industry insights spread across 246 pages with 452 market data tables & 16 figures& charts from the report, Solar Street Lighting Market indetail along with the table of contents at:Low-cost batteries will consequently result in lowering the off-grid solar lighting product price. In addition, decreasing component cost will subsequently reduce the overall product price by 70%. Low price may increase the penetration of solar street lights among low income households.Thailand grid connected segment demand was USD 3.6 million for 2015, growing at a CAGR of 16.32% from 2016 to 2024.Brazil Residential segment demand was USD 3.5 million for 2015, growing at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2016 to 2024.Global solar street lighting market share is highly fragmented and competitive. Sunna Design, Philips Lighting Holding B.V., SOKOYO Solar Group, Bridgelux, Inc., Urja Global Ltd., Omega Solar, Sol Inc., Dragons Breath Solar, VERYSOL Gmbh, Solar Street Lights USA.Browse Related ReportAfrica Off Grid Solar Lighting Market Size By Product (Solar Lantern System, Solar Home System and Large Solar Home System) By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 2024About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Zonal Isolation Market Size By Technology Growth Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/766 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/766 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/zonal-isolation-market https://www.gminsights.com https://gminsights.wordpress.com Operators use cementing technique to deliver isolation method throughout the life cycle of a well. In the past few years, several chemical and mechanical techniques have been developed to prevent the cross flow of gas, water, or oil between unlike formations.Global zonal isolation market size is further segregated on application basis as offshore and onshore. Offshore applications accounted for over 66% of global revenue in 2015 owing to increasing offshore projects across the region Chemical technologies accounted for more than 59% of global zonal isolation market share in 2015 due to is wide applications in offshore drilling.Request for a sample of this research report @Mechanical technology comprises the practice of mechanical equipment such as packers, plugs, sliding sleeves, and slotted/perforated liners. Chemical on the contrary, involves the practice of monomer systems, polymer gels, elastomers, and biopolymers.Multiple technologies including remedial and primary cementing are employed by well operators for isolating a specific zone during well intervention and completion. The employment of technology depends on several parameters, which include type of producing zone (oil/gas), wellbore geometry, depth of well, and wellbore temperature.Zonal isolation method is considered critical for evolving unconventional resources owing to high initial investment. It is essential to anticipate flow rates successfully to implement and design, multistage hydraulic fracturing is low in permeable shale gas reservoirs.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Key insights from the report include:Norway zonal isolation market size was valued at over USD 186.2 million in 2015. Increasing shale gas exploration coupled with growing demand for oil & gas will drive the industry growth over the forecast period.U.S. zonal isolation market share was valued at over USD 3.6 billion in 2015. Increasing production and exploration of natural oil &gas in the region, growing production of shale gas in the Gulf of Mexico, increasing drilling offshore activities, and the detection of untapped oil & gas reservoirs are anticipated to drive the industry growth.China is estimated to hold around 30 trillion cubic meter technically recoverable shale gas resources. It has invested over USD 1 billion on shale gas revolution. These investments in oil and gas industry will drive the China zonal isolation market over the forecast timeframe.UK is forecast to reach USD 173.5 million by 2024. Increasing exploration in the country is likely to drive industry growth up to 2024.Browse key industry insights spread across 90 pages with 69 market data tables & 9 figures & charts from the report, Zonal Isolation Market in detail along with the table of contents at:Saudi Arabia zonal isolation market is projected to expand at a CAGR of over 5.5% up to 2024. Increasing rig count and growing demand for oil & gas are key factors propelling industry growth.Major industry participants included in the zonal isolation market are OILSERV, FMC Technologies, Archer, Weatherford, Tendeka, Expro International Group, Superior Energy Services, Baker Hughes Incorporated, Schlumberger Limited, C&J Energy Services, TAM International, Inc., and Halliburton.According to the National Board of Canada, 90% of Canadas natural gas is produced mainly using tight and shale gas. It is anticipated that Canadian industry would grow due to an increase in the exploration of tight and shale gas owing to the growing population.About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Zaluvida appoints Dr. Graham Dixon as Group Head of R&D and Chief Operating Officer for Neem Biotech Dr. Graham Dixon www.zaluvida.com www.neembiotech.com ROLLE, SWITZERLAND | 08.08.2017Zaluvida Corporate AG, a Swiss-based pioneering life science company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Graham Dixon as Group Head of R&D for the entire Zaluvida group, effect immediately. Dr. Dixon will also take up the role of Chief Operating Officer at Zaluvidas Welsh-based fundamental research and development arm, Neem Biotech.This appointment is in line with Zaluvidas recruitment of world-class talent and enhances the groups in-house drug development expertise around some of modern societys most pressing healthcare challenges.With over 25 years of experience across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, Dr. Dixon brings along a wealth of expertise in discovering and developing novel drugs with applications for both orphan and mainstream disease indications. He has steered numerous novel drug candidates from early development through clinical and later stage development processes across multiple indications. These have ranged from anti-infectives to oncology and neurological indications.Dr. Dixon joined Zaluvida from Onexo, where he held the role of Chief Scientific Officer being responsible for all research and development processes in the organisation. Prior to that, he held joint Chief Scientific Officer/Head of R&D roles in venture capital funded and publically listed biotechs, including Sensorion, Addex Therapeutics, Galapagos, Entomed and F2G. As Head of R&D at Galapagos, his responsibilities included managing a staff of 260 scientists across three European sites. He started his R&D career as Head of Biochemistry at DowElanco Ltd, moving on later to AstraZeneca as a project leader and later as Global Product Director. Dr Dixon obtained his Ph.D. in biochemistry at Swansea University and his BSc in Applied Biology from the University of Bradford.Zaluvidas Group CEO, Christoph Staeuble, said: I am very pleased to have Graham on board, both as Head of R&D for the Zaluvida group and as part of the Neem Biotech leadership team. He is a great fit for the organisation and brings with him a valuable wealth of industry experience.Dr. Michael Graz, Neem Biotechs Managing Director, said: We are delighted to welcome Graham back to Wales, where he started his professional career. Our work in environmental, animal and human health, and, in particular, our developments to fight anti-microbial resistance stand to benefit from his expertise in biotechnology and big pharma.Dr. Graham Dixon, said: This is an exciting time to join Zaluvida. I am looking forward to being able to play a part in the next phase of the companys evolution and in the development of the impressive pipeline assets of the group.About ZaluvidaZaluvida is a globally operating life science group that endeavours to rapidly develop solutions for the biggest challenges in healthcare. The company is led from its corporate offices in Switzerland and has branches in Germany, Wales, the Netherlands, the U.S. and Malaysia. By making use of unique bioactive compounds with pharma-grade efficacy, Zaluvida is a pioneer in therapies and technologies for obesity, antimicrobial resistance and for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Our team is united by the desire to use visionary biotech innovations to support as many people as possible in shaping a better future for themselves.For further information visit:About Neem BiotechNeem Biotech is a Wales-based R&D life sciences centre that brings with it significant expertise in the biology and chemistry of bioactive compounds, and transforms these into platform technology resources for application in the fight against global threats to human and animal health. These threats include antimicrobial resistance, metabolic disease syndrome and other areas of unmet medical needs and/or rare diseases. Particular areas of interest for Neem Biotech include cystic fibrosis, fatty liver disease and infection control in wound healing. Neem is fully owned by the life-science group Zaluvida. Neem Biotechs aim is to enhance the life expectancy of patients and the quality of life of both patients and their families.For further information visit:Daniel de CarvalhoZaluvida Corporate AGAvenue Des Uttins 11180 RolleSwitzerlandddecarvalho@zaluvida.comBianca EgliAPCO WorldwideBorsenstrae 2-460313 Frankfurt am Mainbegli@apcoworldwide.com Aerospace turbine parts Market Worldwide Analysis, Major Players, Growth and Forecast 2021 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/world-aerospace-turbine-parts-market-forecast-to-2021 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001858533/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001858533/buying Publisher's Aerospace turbine parts market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.The Players mentioned in our reportTimkenBarnes AerospaceSenior plcEOSMoellerMTWChromalloyUTC Aerospace SystemsFor More Information About This Report:Global Aerospace turbine parts Market: Product Segment AnalysisAccessory gearboxesAugmentorsCombustorsCompressor statorsDrive and turbine shaftsDuctsGlobal Aerospace turbine parts Market: Application Segment AnalysisAerospace turbine enginesGlobal Aerospace turbine parts Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaRequest Sample Copy At:Table of ContentChapter 1 About the Aerospace turbine parts IndustryChapter 2 World Market Competition LandscapeChapter 3 World Aerospace turbine parts Market shareChapter 4 Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 5 Company ProfilesChapter 6 Globalization & TradeChapter 7 Distributors and CustomersChapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major CountriesChapter 9 World Aerospace turbine parts Market Forecast through 2021Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market OverviewInquire For This Report At:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Vena Cava Filter Sales Industry Report: Sales Volume Market Share by Type and Application Global Vena Cava Filter Sales Market Report 2017 https://www.themarketreports.com/report/global-vena-cava-filter-sales-market-report-2017 https://www.themarketreports.com/report/buy-now/601912 https://www.themarketreports.com/report/ask-your-query/601912 Global Vena Cava Filter Sales Market Research Report 2017 contains historic data that spans 2012 to 2016, and then continues to forecast to 2022. That makes this report so invaluable, resources, for the leaders as well as the new entrants in the Industry.Global Vena Cava Filter Sales Market report is replete with detailed analysis from a thorough research, especially on questions that border on market size, development environment, futuristic developments, operation situation, pathways and trend of Vena Cava Filter Sales. All these are offshoots of understanding the current situation that the industry is in, especially in 2017. The will chart the course for a more comprehensive organization and discernment of the competition situation in the Vena Cava Filter Sales market. As this will help manufacturers and investors alike, to have a better understanding of the direction in which the Vena Cava Filter Sales Market is headed. Access complete report at:With this Vena Cava Filter Sales Market report, one is sure to keep up with information on the dogged competition for market share and control, between elite manufacturers. It also features, price, production, and revenue. It is where you will understand the politics and tussle of gaining control of a huge chunk of the market share. As long as you are in search of key Industry data and information that can readily be accessed, you can rest assured that this report got them covered. Key companies profiled in this report are Boston Scientific, Argon Medical Devices, Cook Medical, C.R. Bard, Cordis and others. Purchase a copy of this report at:When taking a good look at this report, based on the product, it is evident that the report shows the rate of production, price, revenue, and market share as well as of the growth of each product type. And emphasis is laid on the end users, as well as on the applications of the product. It is one report that hasn't shied away from taking a critical look at the current status and future outlook for the consumption/sales of these products, by the end users and applications. Not forgetting the market share control and growth rate of Vena Cava Filter Sales Industry, per application. All the queries about this report can be asked at:List of Chapters:1 Vena Cava Filter Sales Market Overview2 Global Vena Cava Filter Sales Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Vena Cava Filter Sales (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Vena Cava Filter Sales (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Vena Cava Filter Sales (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Vena Cava Filter Sales (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Vena Cava Filter Sales (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Vena Cava Filter Sales (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Vena Cava Filter Sales Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Vena Cava Filter Sales Manufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Vena Cava Filter Sales Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixThe Market ReportsWe at, The Market Reports aiming to provide the best industry and market reports to a seeker. We are looking forward to a place where we are the one stop destination for all the report seekers irrespective of any country, category, domain, etc.The Market ReportsSF-29, North Block,Sacred World, Wanawadi,Pune, 411040 (India)Phone: +1-631-407-1315, +91-750-729-1479 Medical Gas Analyzer Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024 MRRSE http://www.mrrse.com/sample/3110 http://www.mrrse.com/medical-gas-analyzers-market http://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3110 http://www.mrrse.com/ Medical gas analyzer are devices used for detection, measurement and qualitative & quantitative analysis of single or mixture of medical gases. Five types of medical gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide and medical air are widely used in hospitals and related healthcare industries. Single gas analyzer and multiple gas analyzer are two common types of medical gas analyzer used for analysis of medical gases. These medical gas analyzer detects, measures and analyze the concentration of medical gases and their mixtures at different levels using variety of gas sensing technologies such as electrochemical, infrared, optical, etc. Analysis and monitoring of medical gases in hospitals has become the integral and crucial part in patient diagnosis, monitoring and therapeutics. The use of medical gas analyzer in hospitals, and pharma and food industries is increasing across the globe for the safety of patients, medical professionals and operators in various healthcare facilities.Request For Sample Report:Global Medical Gas Analyzer Market: Growth DynamicsIncreasing number of hospitals and healthcare reforms for safety standards in developing countries across the globe are the factors expected to drive the growth for global medical gas analyzer market. New technologies have been developed for gas measurement such as electrochemical, paramagnetic, and infrared sensor technology. These technologies enable safer and quicker measurement of medical gases. Companies are spending more on R&D activities in order to develop products to measure trace levels of gases in the health care industry. Companies by using different technologies in one single device to measure multiple gases can target specific areas where accuracy is important. Paramagnetic and zirconia technologies for gas sensing are able to deliver these results. Majority of players in the gas analyzer market operate globally through strong distribution networks. Key players are expanding their business in developing and less developed countries through subsidiary companies and local distributors. The incorporation of multiple gas sensing technologies in single device to facilitate the analysis of multiple gases at a time lead to increased cost of these device which restricts the growth of medical gas analyzer market. Also lack of standardization to meet specific and precise needs in healthcare facilities in developing and under developed markets are the key restraints of global medical gas analyzer market.Global Medical Gas Analyzer Market: SegmentationBased on type of analyzer, global medical gas analyzer market is segmented into single gas analyzer and multiple gas analyzer. Single gas analyzer accounts for largest share of global medical gas analyzer market. On the basis of gas sensing technology single gas analyzer are further classified into electrochemical, optical and infrared gas sensing technology. Owing to specific application of electrochemical gas sensing technology towards analysis of oxygen and nitrogen gas and its economic cost, electrochemical gas sensing technology dominated the global medical gas analyzer market. This segment is projected to gain its market share with highest growth rate during given forecast period. By end-user, medical gas analyzer market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, pharma and food industry and others. Medical gases have wide applications in hospitals which represents the high potential for medical gas analyzer. Hospital segment dominated the global medical gas analyzer market whereas pharma and food industries are projected to grow at exponential growth rate during forecast period. Both hospitals and pharma & food Industries represents the most attractive market for given forecast period owing to increasing expenditure on healthcare infrastructure and increasing number of hospitals and pharma and food industries, especially in developing countries.Browse Full Report With TOC:Global Medical Gas Analyzer Market: Geographical and Competitive DynamicsGeographically, the global medical gas analyzer market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa. These regions have been further segmented by countries, analyzer type and End-user segments. The competition matrix section included in the report is likely to assist the existing players to increase their market shares and new companies to establish their presence in the global medical gas analyzer market. The report also profiles major players in the market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, SWOT analysis, key business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Major companies competing in the medical gas analyzer market, and profiled in the report include Fluke Inc., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Servomex Group Limited, Geotechnical Instruments (UK) Ltd., TSI Incorporated, Maxtec LLC, WITT-GASETECHNIK GmbH & Co KG, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Sable Systems International, Systech Instruments Ltd. & Illinois Instruments, Inc., Critical Environment Technologies Canada Inc., and VISCIANO s.a.s.The global medical gas analyzer market has been segmented as follows:Global Medical Gas Analyzer Market, by Analyzer TypeSingle Gas AnalyzerElectrochemicalOpticalInfraredMultiple Gas AnalyzerGlobal Medical Gas Analyzer Market, by End-userHospitalsAmbulatory Surgery CentersPharma and FoodOthersGlobal Medical Gas Analyzer Market, by RegionNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSend An Enquiry:Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.State Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite: Global RFID Market To Grow At A CAGR Of 8.99% During The Period 2017-2021 Key Vendors Datalogic, Honeywell International, Zebra Technologies http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1059745 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-rfid-market-2017-2021-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1059745 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global RFID Market 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.RFID technology uses the electromagnetic signature that accompanies the radio frequency in a specific spectrum to communicate information, which is mostly one way. This process is carried out by the RFID microchip. The reader reads the information from RFID tags, and RFID middleware uses the data to create analytical insights. RFID technology uses the electromagnetic signature that accompanies the radio frequency in a specific spectrum to communicate information, which is mostly one way. This process is carried out by RFID microchip (RFID tag), RFID reader, and RFID middleware components.Technavios analysts forecast the global RFID market to grow at a CAGR of 8.99% during the period 2017-2021.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global RFID market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers RFID tags (passive and active RFID tags), RFID systems (passive and active RFID systems), and middleware solutions.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEAGlobal RFID 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 vendorsDatalogicHoneywell InternationalZebra TechnologiesBrowse Detail Report With Full TOC @Other prominent vendorsAcreo Swedish ICTAlien TechnologyAvery DennisonCheckpoint SystemsCipherLabCoreRFIDFEIG ELECTRONICFujitsuGAO RFIDImpinjORBCOMMQuantum ResourcesMojixMobile AspectsNedapRFID4URF IDeasSkytronJADAK TechnologiesSolstice MedicalSmartracStanley InnerSpaceSATO VICINITYTAGSYS RFIDTerso SolutionsTellagoTIBCO SoftwareTyco Retail SolutionsThinfilmThingMagicUnitech ElectronicsWaveMarkXterpriseMarket driverIncreasing number of software solution vendors entering the RFID market.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeUpcoming technologies that use magnetic or inductive waves instead of radio waves.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIntroduction of cloud-based RFID solutions.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?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 @ Analog To Digital Converter Market Forecast Research Reports Offers Key Insights http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4085 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4085 www.futuremarketinsights.com Analog to digital converters (ADC) is an electric component that translates analog signals, physical world signals such as pressure, temperature, current, voltage, distance or light intensity into a digital representation of that signal which can be stored, manipulated, computed, and processed. Analog to digital converters are used to convert signals from analog to digital signals so that the signals can be read by the digital devices.As the global analog to digital converter market is among typical semiconductor market, it is expected to have a steady growth for the forecast period. Next generation communication systems and various other advanced consumer electronics are expected to influence the growth in deployment of analog to digital converter devices influencing a steady rise in the revenue of the global analog to digital converter market.Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Drivers and ChallengesWith increasing government initiative to digitize working processes and encouraging smart living, and increasing disposable income of the population in growing economic countries is rising the adoption of consumer electronics among the people. Innovation in technology is also making use of analog to digital converters in various devices including consumer electronics and automotive equipment. Hence, these factors have a positive impact on adoption and penetration of analog to digital converters driving the revenue growth of global analog to digital converter market.To Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @However, few challenges faced by the analog to digital converter devices manufacturers while designing an analog to digital converter device are pressure for product differentiation, continuously improving efficiency of the product or having better performance goals, fast time-to-market and others.Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: SegmentationGlobal analog to digital converter market can be segmented into product type, resolution, application and regions.On the basis of product type, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into pipelined ADC, display ADC, dual slope ADC, delta-sigma ADC, and others.On the basis of resolution, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into 8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit, 14-bit, 16-bit and others.On the basis of application, global analog to digital converter market can be segmented into consumer electronics, IT and telecommunication, automotive and industrial.Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of regions, global Analog to Digital Converter Market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and Africa.Visit For TOC@North America accounts for largest market share in the global analog to digital converter market owing to the advanced technology and easy adoption in the countries such as the U.S. The expansion in the industrial and automotive sectors are offering lucrative growth opportunities for Western Europe analog to digital converter market. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to have maximum potential for the revenue growth of global analog to digital converter market during the forecast period. Latin America, Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe are among the regions which are expected to witness positive growth during the forecast period.Global Analog to Digital Converter Market: Competition LandscapeSome of the key players for analog to digital converter market are Texas Instruments Incorporated, Analog Devices, Inc., Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, Microchip Technology Inc., Intersil Americas LLC, Sony Corporation, National Instruments, Maxim Integrated, Diligent Inc., and Adafruit Industries.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: Wireless Intercom Market - Asia Pacific (APAC) Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2023 MRRSE http://www.mrrse.com/sample/1619 http://www.mrrse.com/asia-pacific-wireless-intercom-market https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrrse https://twitter.com/MRRSEmrrse A wireless intercom enables wireless transfer of audio signals between a base station and end terminals (handheld headset, belt pack, speaker station) in any application. Wireless Intercom has one base station and multiple belts packs or substations. These belt packs communicate with one another through the base station. Wireless intercom provide such as single, dual, and multiple channels for communication through which the belt packs are connected to one another. The report covers wireless intercom systems that have a base station connected with an analog, digital, or IP-based communication medium in order to connect with other intercom systems. Hence, the report only considers the wireless base stations in the segment.Request for Sample Report:The market is segmented on the basis of technology and industrial verticals where wireless intercoms are used. Wireless intercoms communicate through the radio frequencies (RF), Wi-Fi, and other technologies, such as Bluetooth, providing mobility to the end-user. The RF and Wi-Fi segments are further divided on the basis of frequency range, providing the revenue and volume distribution for APAC. Furthermore, recent technological developments have helped wireless intercom manufacturers increase the range of their and accommodate more belt packs in a system.The industry vertical segmentation provides a complete range of end-use industries in which wireless intercoms are commonly used. Wireless intercoms mainly find their application in the area of security and surveillance to facilitate internal communication. Security authorities are carrying the belt packs and communicating with each other through the base station as managing the flow of people in and out of a facility is gaining importance owing to the increasing threats. Further, with increases in investment in the areas of hospitality and transportation, the application of wireless intercoms is expected to increase in these areas in the coming years.The report provides an in-depth analysis of the APAC wireless intercom market based on application/end-use industry, technology, price, and geography. In terms of geographical regions, the report segments the Asia Pacific wireless intercom market into China, ASEAN, Rest of Asia Pacific and Oceania, which are analyzed in terms of revenue generation and volume. ASEAN is further segmented into the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and others, while Oceania is divided into Australia and New Zealand.The report also segments the wireless intercom market on the basis of application/end-use industry into retail, event management, hospitality, security and surveillance, and logistics. Segmentation of the market on the basis of technology is into Wi-Fi by frequency, RF by frequency, and RF by channel. Furthermore, the report analyzes the factors that drive and restrain the growth of the wireless intercom market. The report also discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies increasing the popularity of wireless intercom systems. It also provides the market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue. Also provided is the market positioning of key players, distribution channel analysis and top brands in the Asia Pacific wireless intercom market.Browse Full Report with TOC:Additionally, the report includes competitive profiling of the major players engaged in offering wireless intercoms to particular industrial verticals. Major business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and various recent developments have also been identified in the research report. The major manufacturers providing wireless intercoms profiled in the report include Clear-Com (HME Company), ZENITEL GROUP, Telephonics Corporation, Sena Technologies, Panasonic Corporation, Riedel Communications GmbH & Co KG, RTS Intercom (part of Bosch Security Systems, Inc.), and Commend International GmbH.About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comFollow Us on LinkedIn-Follow Us On Twitter- Waterborne Coatings Market Segmentation and Competitor Analysis Report https://www.scalarmarketresearch.com/request-sample.php?id=1069 https://www.scalarmarketresearch.com/market-reports/waterborne-coatings-market www.scalarmarketresearch.com www.linkedin.com/company/scalar-market-research Waterborne Coatings are eco-friendly as they use water as the base, which makes it very easy to use and safe for the environment. They are highly beneficial as they are corrosion resistant, stain resistant, and offer flexibility, adhesion and hardness to the surface. Waterborne coatings are applied in appliances, automotive, architectural structures, marine, and general industrial setups. This report studies the current and future aspects of waterborne coatings market.The report tracks the major market events including product launches, technological developments, mergers & acquisitions, and the innovative business strategies opted by key market players. Along with strategically analyzing the key micro markets, the report also focuses on industry-specific drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges in the world waterborne coatings market. The scope of this report covers the world waterborne coatings market by its major segments, which include the types, applications, and the major geographic regions.Download Free Sample:The waterborne coatings market is divided into five major geographical segments which are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America. The Asia-Pacific region holds the highest market share and is the largest revenue contributor of the waterborne coatings market. The region is bound to grow at a steady pace during the forecasted period due rise in population and increasing awareness of industries regarding the environmental regulations. The stringent regulation of some industries like automotive, marine and architectural is promoting the growth of the market in this region. Next in line is the North America region which is witnessing a steady growth of the market during the forecasted period due to increase in product launches and mergers and acquisitions.MARKET SEGMENTATIONThis report analyzes the world waterborne coatings market by the following segments:Waterborne Coatings Market, by Resin Type1. Epoxy2. Polyester3. Acrylic4. Polyurethane5. Alkyd6. Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC)7. Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)8. OthersWaterborne Coatings Market, by Application1.Appliances2. Automotive3. Architectural4. Marine5. Packaging6. Wood7. General IndustrialBrowse Report:About Scalar Market ResearchScalar Market Research Inc. aspires to assist organizations from around the world to achieve their business goal with premium market research reports and consulting services. Our real-time industry tracking with the help of advanced analytics offers a crystal clear view of all the activities in niche markets. Our team, with thorough global understanding, works relentlessly to gather the necessary market insights, including customer analysis, competitions and global forecast.Find out more about our services at:Contact:8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave.,Suite 1300Chicago, IL 60631Tel.: +1-800-213-5170 (U.S./Canada Toll-free)Email: sales@scalarmarketresearch.comFollow us on LinkedIn: Global Kombucha Market Research Report 2017 KeVita, Reeds, Buchi Kombucha, Kosmic Kombucha http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=906851&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-kombucha-market-research-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Kombucha Market Research Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.This report is a key analysis of all the factors boosting the growth of the global Kombucha market. The factors hampering or restricting the growth of this market have also been studied in detail, thus helping readers to equip themselves better for facing the many challenges and competition in the global Kombucha industry. The report takes into account the present market figures and also the historical data, for predicting the future forecast of the Kombucha market. The trends in the Kombucha market have been discussed in detail. The key opportunities lying ahead in the global Kombucha industry have also been disclosed. Thus, the report is a valuable asset for new entrants as well as those established.The report is an analysis of the degree of competition, the bargaining supplier power, and bargaining buyer powers have been included in the report. The threat of new substitutes has been discussed in detail. The threat of new entrants is also given in this report. Thus, the report contains valuable data which will help companies and potential investors to clearly understand and comprehend which segment to invest on and why. The segments and sub segments of the global Kombucha market have also been included in the report. The report predicts the segment which is most likely to expand at the fastest CAGR as well as the segment which will lead in the years to come. Similarly, the segment witnessing the most sluggish growth is also pointed out. Key players are studied in the report along with their useful data such as business and financial overview and business strategies adopted.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of Contents1 Kombucha Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Kombucha1.2 Kombucha Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Kombucha by Type in 20151.2.2 Bacteria1.2.3 Yeast2 Global Kombucha Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Kombucha Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Kombucha Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Kombucha Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)3 Global Kombucha Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global Kombucha Production and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global Kombucha Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global Kombucha Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.4 North America Kombucha Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)Browse Complete Report with TOC @4 Global Kombucha Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Global Kombucha Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 North America Kombucha Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)4.3 Europe Kombucha Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2011-2016)List of Tables and FiguresFigure North America Kombucha Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Europe Kombucha Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure China Kombucha Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Japan Kombucha Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Southeast Asia Kombucha Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure India Kombucha Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Figure Global Kombucha Revenue (Million UDS) and Growth Rate (2011-2021)Table Global Kombucha Production of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)Table Global Kombucha Production Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact UsBrooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Dysmenorrhea Pipeline Review on Effective Drugs and Therapeutic Assessment: 2017 Study Market Research HUB http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1214092 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/dysmenorrhea-pipeline-insight-2017-report.html http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1214092 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Increase in incidence of dysmenorrhea, which is attributed to changing lifestyle, addiction to smoking and alcohol, hormonal changes and physical and mental stress, has created the need for effective treatment methods which favors the growth of this market. Several pharmaceutical companies are introducing medications and prescribed drugs for the treatment. Considering this fact, a study titled Dysmenorrhea- Pipeline Insight, 2017 has been added to the broad archive of Market Research Hub (MRH), which provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline drugs across this Dysmenorrhea. Also, this report provides information on the therapeutic development for Dysmenorrhea, dealing with all the pipeline drugs and relative analysis at various stages covering all clinical, pre-clinical as well as discovery products.Request Free Sample Report:Having menstrual cramps is one of the most common and annoying parts of the period. Pain associated with menstruation is termed as dysmenorrhea. Some women may experience cramping in or after menstrual periods in the lower abdomen as resulting of over production of certain hormones in the prostaglandins family. There are two types of dysmenorrhea, such as primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea typically occurs in adolescents and usually begins 2 to 3 years following their first period. Secondary dysmenorrhea occurs mainly in women in their 30's or 40's.The research study starts by defining the pipeline therapeutics of dysmenorrhea. It has been analyzed that the introduction of the innovative drugs and government initiatives with respect to women's health are fuelling the growth of the dysmenorrhea treatment market. On the basis of treatment, the market is segmented into non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), hormonal, and combined oral contraceptive. Flurbiprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent prescribed for pain arising from dysmenorrhea. On the other hand, CATAFLAM is a drug used for treating primary dysmenorrhea.Browse Full Report With TOC:Further, the pipeline study contains details on dormant products and discontinued products. In addition to this, the report tracks the major market events including product launches, technological developments, mergers & acquisitions, and the innovative business strategies opted by key market players. Therapeutic assessment of all the active products by route of administration (RoA) and molecule type is also analyzed in this report. This subsequent section on pipeline products features product description, mechanism of action, Chemical details and research & development progress.For the clear understanding of the market, the report provides data and information largely sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by the team of industry experts. Some of the secondary sources utilized in the study include trade journals, news websites, search engines, magazines, industry portals and others.Make An Enquiry:About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News At: Global Pet Insurance Market Share, Industry Analysis and Forecast Report 2017-2021 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1221362 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/1221362 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1221362/global-pet-insurance-research-report-market-research-reports In this report, the global Pet Insurance 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 Pet Insurance in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Pet Insurance market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingPetplan UK (Allianz)NationwideTrupanionPetplan NorthAmerica(Allianz)Hartville GroupPethealthPetfirstEmbraceRoyal & Sun Alliance (RSA)Direct Line GroupAgriaPetsecurePetSureAnicom Holdingipet InsuranceJapan Animal ClubOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoLifetime CoverNon-lifetime CoverAccident-onlyOthersOn 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 Pet Insurance for each application, includingDogCatOtherRequest To Get The Sample Copy Of This Report :Table of ContentsGlobal Pet Insurance Market Research Report 20171 Pet Insurance Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Pet Insurance1.2 Pet Insurance Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Pet Insurance Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Pet Insurance Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Lifetime Cover1.2.4 Non-lifetime Cover1.2.5 Accident-only1.2.6 Others1.3 Global Pet Insurance Segment by Application1.3.1 Pet Insurance Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Dog1.3.3 Cat1.3.4 Other1.4 Global Pet Insurance Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Pet Insurance 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 Pet Insurance (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Pet Insurance Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Pet Insurance Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Pet Insurance Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Pet Insurance Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Pet Insurance Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Pet Insurance Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Pet Insurance Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Pet Insurance Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Pet Insurance Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Pet Insurance Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Pet Insurance Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Pet Insurance Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, ExpansionSend An Enquiry :3 Global Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Pet Insurance Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Pet Insurance Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Pet Insurance Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Pet Insurance Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Pet Insurance Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Pet Insurance Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Pet Insurance Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Pet Insurance Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Pet Insurance Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia Pet Insurance Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Pet Insurance Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Pet Insurance Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Pet Insurance Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Pet Insurance Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Pet Insurance Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Pet Insurance Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Pet Insurance Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Pet Insurance Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Pet Insurance Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries7 Global Pet Insurance Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Petplan UK (Allianz)7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Petplan UK (Allianz) Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Nationwide7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Nationwide Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Trupanion7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Trupanion Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Petplan NorthAmerica(Allianz)7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Petplan NorthAmerica(Allianz) Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Hartville Group7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Hartville Group Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Pethealth7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Pethealth Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Petfirst7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Petfirst Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Embrace7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Embrace Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Royal & Sun Alliance (RSA)7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Royal & Sun Alliance (RSA) Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Direct Line Group7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Pet Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Direct Line Group Pet Insurance Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Agria7.12 Petsecure7.13 PetSure7.14 Anicom Holding7.15 ipet Insurance7.16 Japan Animal ClubBrowse Full Report :8 Pet Insurance Manufacturing Cost Analysis8.1 Pet Insurance Key Raw Materials Analysis8.1.1 Key Raw Materials8.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials8.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials8.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials8.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure8.2.1 Raw Materials8.2.2 Labor Cost8.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses8.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Pet InsuranceMRRbiz supports your business intelligence needs with over 700,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Safes and Vaults Market in Banking Sector Shows Positive Signs, Growth Forecast at 6.17% CAGR during 2017-2021 Market Research HUB http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1249667 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-safes-and-vaults-market-in-banking-sector-2017-2021-report.html http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1249667 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ The increasing crime rates, combined with the extravagance of individuals require the implementation of safes and vaults frameworks at the global scale. Moreover, the growing innovation has resulted in complex safes and vaults, focusing on varied issues of the various clients and hence increasing the market growth. To discuss in-depth, Market Research Hub (MRH) has lately added a report titled as Global Safes and Vaults Market in Banking Sector 2017-2021 to its vast report database. The detailed report highlights a CAGR growth of 6.17% for the safes and vaults market in the banking sector during the forecast period 2017-2021.Request Free Sample Report:Safes and vaults are secure capacity frameworks used for the protection of assets from threats like fire breakouts and criminal assaults. The main highlighted point of the report is to determine the market size in the year 2021 and the estimated growth rate that helps in determining the future perspective of the discussed sector.The research study commences with the executive summary, scope, research methodology and market outline for safes & vaults market. Furthermore, the market is segmented by product and region. Based on safes & vaults product type, the report is segregated into global cash management safes and vaults market in banking sector, global depository safes market in the banking sector and global other safes market in the banking sector. Further, as per the geographical analysis, the global safes & vaults market is segmented into EMEA, APAC, and Americas.Browse Full Report With TOC:In the next section the market drivers, market challenges, and market trends are evaluated. The market drivers focused at innovations in safes and vaults, whereas the market challenges described in the report are related to the highly complex security projects that are difficult to manage and resource. Moreover, the market trend featured in the report varies from the introduction of smart vaults, expansion of intelligent locking solutions and customizations from products to solutions and lastly, onsite assembled vault doors. Finally, the key vendors are analyzed by competitive scenario, inclusive of Assa Abloy, Diebold Nixdorf, Dormakaba, and Gunnebo. The other vendors discussed are American Security, Brown Safe, FireKing Security Group, Gardex, Hayman Safe, Liberty Safe, Schwab Files, and SentrySafe. The research suspends with the determination of percent revenue of the banking safes and vaults by type and region from the year 2016-2021.Make An Enquiry:About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News At: 2017-2022 Life Insurance Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1121741 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/1121741 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1121741/life-insurance-report-on-market-research-reports This report studies the Life Insurance market status and outlook of global and United States, from angles of players, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and United States market, and splits the Life Insurance market by product type and applications/end industries.The global Life Insurance market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.The Asia-Pacific will occupy for more market share in following years, especially in China, also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions.North America, especially The United States, will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Life Insurance. United States plays an important role in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2016 and will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of XX.Request To Get The Sample Copy Of This Report :Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Life Insurance in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe major players in global and United States Life Insurance market, including AIG , Prudential , MetLife., Voya Financial., Mutual of Omaha., Genworth Financial., New York Life Insurance Company., Transamerica, Banner Life, Northwestern Mutual, Lincoln Financial Group, John Hancock Financial, State Farm, Pacific Life.The On the basis of product, the Life Insurance market is primarily split intoWhole Life InsuranceUniversal Life InsuranceVariable Life InsuranceOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversB2CB2BPublic ServicesOthersSend An Enquiry :Table of Contents2017-2022 Life Insurance Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Life Insurance Market Overview2.1 Life Insurance Product Overview2.2 Life Insurance Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Whole Life Insurance2.2.2 Universal Life Insurance2.2.3 Variable Life Insurance2.2.4 Variable Universal Life Insurance2.3 Global Life Insurance Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Life Insurance Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Life Insurance Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Life Insurance Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Growth by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.4.2 United States Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.3 United States Life Insurance Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)2.4.4 United States Life Insurance Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)3 Life Insurance Application/End Users3.1 Life Insurance Segment by Application/End Users3.1.1 B2C3.1.2 B2B3.1.3 Public Services3.1.4 Others3.2 Global Life Insurance Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.2.2 Global Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)3.3 United States Life Insurance Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.3.2 United States Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)4 Life Insurance Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1 Global Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1.1 Global Life Insurance Market Size and CAGR by Regions (2012, 2016 and 2022)4.1.2 North America4.1.3 Asia-Pacific4.1.4 Europe4.1.5 South America4.1.6 Middle East and Africa4.1.7 United States4.2 Global Life Insurance Sales and Revenue by Regions4.2.1 Global Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.2.2 Global Life Insurance Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.2.3 Global Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.4 North America Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.5 Europe Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.6 Asia-Pacific Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.7 South America Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4.2.8 Middle East and Africa Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.9 United States Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Browse Full Report :5 Global Life Insurance Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers5.1 Global Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Players (2012-2017)5.2 Global Life Insurance Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2012-2017)5.3 Global Life Insurance Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2012-2017)5.4 Players Life Insurance Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types5.5 Life Insurance Market Competitive Situation and Trends5.5.1 Life Insurance Market Concentration Rate5.5.2 Global Life Insurance Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Players5.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion6 United States Life Insurance Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers6.1 United States Life Insurance Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Players (2012-2017)6.2 United States Life Insurance Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2012-2017)6.3 United States Life Insurance Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2012-2017)6.4 United States Life Insurance Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Players7 Life Insurance Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 AIG7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 AIG Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Prudential7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Prudential Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 MetLife.7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 MetLife. Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Voya Financial.7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.4.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Voya Financial. Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Mutual of Omaha.7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.5.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Mutual of Omaha. Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Genworth Financial.7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.6.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Genworth Financial. Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 New York Life Insurance Company.7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.7.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 New York Life Insurance Company. Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Transamerica7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.8.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Transamerica Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Banner Life7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.9.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Banner Life Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Northwestern Mutual7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.10.2 Life Insurance Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Lincoln Financial Group7.12 John Hancock Financial7.13 State Farm7.14 Pacific LifeMRRbiz supports your business intelligence needs with over 700,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market Region, Analysis and Forecast To 2021 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001858528/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/world-pharmaceutical-blister-packaging-market-forecast-to-2021 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001858528/buying Publisher's Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.The Players mentioned in our reportLotte AluminiumHydroCatty CorporationOracle PackagingAnchor PackagingRUSALLoftenAlcoaMitsubishi AluminumUACJ Foil CorporationNovelisSchott AGOwens-IllinoisSGDRequest Sample Copy At:Global Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market: Product Segment AnalysisAluminum Foil TypeGlass Packaging TypeBlister Packaging TypeGlobal Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaFor More Information About This Report:Table of ContentChapter 1 About the Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging IndustryChapter 2 World Market Competition LandscapeChapter 3 World Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market shareChapter 4 Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 5 Company ProfilesChapter 6 Globalization & TradeChapter 7 Distributors and CustomersChapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major CountriesChapter 9 World Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging Market Forecast through 2021Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market OverviewInquire For This Report At:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Steam Sterilizer Market by Manufacturers Steam Sterilizer Introduction, Laboratory,Market Opportunities, Type and Applications,Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin https://www.reportsandmarkets.com/reports/north-america-steam-sterilizer-market-by-to-2022-1476113 https://www.reportsandmarkets.com/sample-request/north-america-steam-sterilizer-market-by-to-2022-1476113 https://www.reportsandmarkets.com/check-discount/north-america-steam-sterilizer-market-by-to-2022-1476113 Browse full table of contents and data tables at :This report is about the global steam sterilizer market. Steam sterilizer is a pressure chamber that is used to sterilize equipment and supplies. When placed inside the steam sterilizer, these items are exposed to high temperature steam (usually around 132 degrees Celsius or 270 degrees Fahrenheit) for about twenty minutes. This hot steam will kill germs that simple detergent or boiling water could not.Request a sample copy at :Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Steam Sterilizer in North America market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Order a Purchase Report Copy at :Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversSTERISShinvaGetinge GroupBELIMEDTuttnauerFedegariMidmarkThermo Fisher ScientificSakuraYamato ScientificSteelcoPRIMUSConsolidated Stills and SterilizersMATACHANADE LAMAHP MedizintechnikSteriflowPriorclaveSystecMarket Segment by Countries, coveringUnited StatesCanadaMexicoMarket Segment by Type, coversGravitySFPPPre-VacMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoMedical & HealthcareLaboratoryOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the North America Steam Sterilizer market.Chapter 1, to describe Steam Sterilizer Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Steam Sterilizer, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the North America market by countries, covering United States, Canada and Mexico, with sales, revenue and market share of Steam Sterilizer, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the segment market in United States, Canada and Mexico, by manufacturers, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Chapter 10, Steam Sterilizer market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 11, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 12, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 13, to describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 14 and 15, to describe Steam Sterilizer Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceTable of Contents1 Market Overview1.1 Steam Sterilizer Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Gravity1.2.2 SFPP1.2.3 Pre-Vac1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Medical & Healthcare1.3.2 Laboratory1.3.3 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Countries1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Mexico Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Canada Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 STERIS2.1.1 Profile2.1.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 STERIS Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.1.4 Business Overview2.1.5 STERIS News2.2 Shinva2.2.1 Profile2.2.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Shinva Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2.4 Business Overview2.2.5 Shinva News2.3 Getinge Group2.3.1 Profile2.3.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Getinge Group Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3.4 Business Overview2.3.5 Getinge Group News2.4 BELIMED2.4.1 Profile2.4.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 BELIMED Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4.4 Business Overview2.4.5 BELIMED News2.5 Tuttnauer2.5.1 Profile2.5.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Tuttnauer Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5.4 Business Overview2.5.5 Tuttnauer News2.6 Fedegari2.6.1 Profile2.6.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Fedegari Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6.4 Business Overview2.6.5 Fedegari News2.7 Midmark2.7.1 Profile2.7.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Midmark Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7.4 Business Overview2.7.5 Midmark News2.8 Thermo Fisher Scientific2.8.1 Profile2.8.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Thermo Fisher Scientific Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8.4 Business Overview2.8.5 Thermo Fisher Scientific News2.9 Sakura2.9.1 Profile2.9.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Sakura Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9.4 Business Overview2.9.5 Sakura News2.10 Yamato Scientific2.10.1 Profile2.10.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.10.2.1 Type 12.10.2.2 Type 22.10.3 Yamato Scientific Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.10.4 Business Overview2.10.5 Yamato Scientific News2.11 Steelco2.11.1 Profile2.11.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.11.2.1 Type 12.11.2.2 Type 22.11.3 Steelco Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.11.4 Business Overview2.11.5 Steelco News2.12 PRIMUS2.12.1 Profile2.12.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.12.2.1 Type 12.12.2.2 Type 22.12.3 PRIMUS Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.12.4 Business Overview2.12.5 PRIMUS News2.13 Consolidated Stills and Sterilizers2.13.1 Profile2.13.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.13.2.1 Type 12.13.2.2 Type 22.13.3 Consolidated Stills and Sterilizers Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.13.4 Business Overview2.13.5 Consolidated Stills and Sterilizers News2.14 MATACHANA2.14.1 Profile2.14.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.14.2.1 Type 12.14.2.2 Type 22.14.3 MATACHANA Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.14.4 Business Overview2.14.5 MATACHANA News2.15 DE LAMA2.15.1 Profile2.15.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.15.2.1 Type 1.2.2 Type 22.15.3 DE LAMA Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.15.4 Business Overview2.15.5 DE LAMA News2.16 HP Medizintechnik2.16.1 Profile2.16.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.16.2.1 Type 12.16.2.2 Type 22.16.3 HP Medizintechnik Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.16.4 Business Overview2.16.5 HP Medizintechnik News2.17 Steriflow2.17.1 Profile2.17.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.17.2.1 Type 12.17.2.2 Type 22.17.3 Steriflow Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.17.4 Business Overview2.17.5 Steriflow News2.18 Priorclave2.18.1 Profile2.18.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.18.2.1 Type 12.18.2.2 Type 22.18.3 Priorclave Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.18.4 Business Overview2.18.5 Priorclave News2.19 Systec2.19.1 Profile2.19.2 Steam Sterilizer Type and Applications2.19.2.1 Type 12.19.2.2 Type 22.19.3 Systec Steam Sterilizer Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.19.4 Business Overview2.19.5 Systec News3 North America Steam Sterilizer Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 North America Steam Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.2 North America Steam Sterilizer Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2017)3.3 North America Steam Sterilizer Price by Manufacturers (2016-2017)3.4 Market Concentration Rate3.4.1 Top 3 Steam Sterilizer Manufacturer Market Share3.4.2 Top 5 Steam Sterilizer Manufacturer Market Share3.5 Market Competition Trend4 North America Steam Sterilizer Market Analysis by Countries4.1 North America Steam Sterilizer Sales Market Share by Countries4.2 North America Steam Sterilizer Sales by Countries (2012-2017)4.3 North America Steam Sterilizer Revenue (Value) by Countries (2012-2017)5 North America Market Segmentation Steam Sterilizer by Type5.1 North America Steam Sterilizer Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.1.1 North America Steam Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.1.2 North America Steam Sterilizer Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Gravity Sales Growth and Price5.2.1 North America Gravity Sales Growth (2012-2017)5.2.2 North America Gravity Price (2012-2017)5.3 SFPP Sales Growth and Price5.3.1 North America SFPP Sales Growth (2012-2017)5.3.2 North America SFPP Price (2012-2017)5.4 Pre-Vac Sales Growth and Price5.4.1 North America Pre-Vac Sales Growth (2012-2017)5.4.2 North America Pre-Vac Price (2012-2017)6 North America Market Segmentation Steam Sterilizer by Application6.1 North America Steam Sterilizer Sales Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Medical & Healthcare Sales Growth (2012-2017)6.3 Laboratory Sales Growth (2012-2017)6.4 Others Sales Growth (2012-2017)7 United States Steam Sterilizer Sales, Revenue, by Type, Application and Manufacturers7.1 United States Steam Sterilizer Revenue, Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)7.2 United States Steam Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Type7.3 United States Steam Sterilizer Sales by Application (2012-2017)7.4 United States Steam Sterilizer Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer7.4.1 United States Steam Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer7.4.2 United States Steam Sterilizer Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer7.5 United States Steam Sterilizer Export and Import (2012-2017)8 Canada Steam Sterilizer Sales, Revenue, by Type, Application and Manufacturers8.1 Canada Steam Sterilizer Revenue, Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)8.2 Canada Steam Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Type8.3 Canada Steam Sterilizer Sales by Application (2012-2017)8.4 Canada Steam Sterilizer Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer8.4.1 Canada Steam Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer8.4.2 Canada Steam Sterilizer Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer8.5 Canada Steam Sterilizer Export and Import (2012-2017)9 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Sales, Revenue, by Type, Application and Manufacturers9.1 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Revenue, Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)9.2 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Type9.3 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Sales by Application (2012-2017)9.4 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer9.4.1 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer9.4.2 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer9.5 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Export and Import (2012-2017)10 Steam Sterilizer Market Forecast (2017-2022)10.1 North America Steam Sterilizer Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate (2017-2022)10.2 Steam Sterilizer Market Forecast by Countries (2017-2022)10.2.1 United States Steam Sterilizer Forecast (2017-2022)10.2.2 Canada Steam Sterilizer Forecast (2017-2022)10.2.3 Mexico Steam Sterilizer Forecast (2017-2022)10.3 Steam Sterilizer Market Forecast by Type (2017-2022)10.4 Steam Sterilizer Market Forecast by Application (2017-2022)11 Steam Sterilizer Manufacturing Cost Analysis11.1 Steam Sterilizer Key Raw Materials Analysis11.1.1 Key Raw Materials11.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials11.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials11.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials11.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure11.2.1 Raw Materials11.2.2 Labor Cost11.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses11.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Steam Sterilizer12 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12.1 Steam Sterilizer Industrial Chain Analysis12.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing12.3 Raw Materials Sources of Steam Sterilizer Major Manufacturers in 201612.4 Downstream Buyers13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers13.1 Sales Channel13.1.1 Direct Marketing13.1.2 Indirect Marketing13.1.3 Marketing Channel Future Trend13.2 Distributors, Traders and Dealers14 Research Findings and Conclusion15 Appendix15.1 Methodology15.2 Analyst Introduction15.3 Data SourceReports And Markets is part of the Algoro Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.Are you mastering your market? Do you know what the market potential is for your product, who the market players are and what the growth forecast is? 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Jones Blvd, #3299,Las Vegas, NV - 89107USA : +1 702-425-8599Email : Sales@1MarketResearch.comWeb : Global Champagne (Grape) Market Research Report 2017 - Industry Shares, Trends, Consumption, Production, Revenues, Demands, Sales & Products http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1279434&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-champagne-grape-market-research-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com In this report, the global Champagne (Grape) 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 Champagne (Grape) in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeAsiaOceaniaSouth AmericaAfricaGlobal Champagne (Grape) market competition by Country, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingCalifornia (US)FranceSwitzerlandGermanyUnited KingdomSpainItalyTurkeyOn 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 Champagne (Grape) for each application, includingMaking WineEating DirectlyTo Get a Sample Copy of this Report Visit @Table of ContentsGlobal Champagne (Grape) Market Research Report 20171 Champagne (Grape) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Champagne (Grape)1.2 Champagne (Grape) Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Champagne (Grape) Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Champagne (Grape) Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.3 Global Champagne (Grape) Segment by Application1.3.1 Champagne (Grape) Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Making Wine1.3.3 Eating Directly1.4 Global Champagne (Grape) Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Champagne (Grape) 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 Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Oceania Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 South America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Africa Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Champagne (Grape) (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Champagne (Grape) Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Champagne (Grape) Market Competition by Country2.1 Global Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production and Share by Country (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Champagne (Grape) Capacity and Share by Country (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Champagne (Grape) Production and Share by Country (2012-2017)2.2 Global Champagne (Grape) Revenue and Share by Country (2012-2017)2.3 Global Champagne (Grape) Average Price by Country (2012-2017)2.4 Country Champagne (Grape) Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Champagne (Grape) Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Champagne (Grape) Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Champagne (Grape) Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Country2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Champagne (Grape) Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Champagne (Grape) Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Champagne (Grape) Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 Asia Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Oceania Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 South America Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 Africa Champagne (Grape) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Champagne (Grape) Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Champagne (Grape) Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Champagne (Grape) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Champagne (Grape) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 Asia Champagne (Grape) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Oceania Champagne (Grape) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 South America Champagne (Grape) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 Africa Champagne (Grape) Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Champagne (Grape) Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Champagne (Grape) Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Champagne (Grape) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Champagne (Grape) Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Champagne (Grape) Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Champagne (Grape) Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Champagne (Grape) Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Champagne (Grape) Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesExplore Research Report with TOC @QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Medical Device Technologies Market by Device Type - In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Devices, Cardiology Devices, Diagnostic Imaging Devices & Orthopedic Devices - Industry Analysis, Size & Share 2017 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1279327 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1279327 http://www.researchmoz.us/medical-device-technologies-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketinfo247.wordpress.com/ Albany, New York, August 8, 2017 : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Medical Device Technologies Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025" globally.This report on the global medical device technologies market 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.Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn for the period between 2015 and 2025 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2017 to 2025 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 increase in prevalence of cancer and rare diseases, rise in demand for regenerative and cell-based therapies and historical year-on-year growth have been taken into consideration while estimating the market size.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Medical Device Technologies Market: Research MethodologyThe research is a combination of primary and secondary research. Primary research formed the bulk of our research efforts along 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 2015 to 2025, considering the macro and micro environmental factors. Growth rates for each segment within the global Medical device technologies 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 market growth and future opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. This section of the report also includes market attractiveness analysis that provides a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global medical device technologies market.Medical Device Technologies Market: SegmentationThe medical device technologies market has segmented into three categories, namely by device by end-user and by region.Geographically, the global Medical device technologies market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In addition, the regions have been further segmented by major countries from each region. These include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brazil, and Mexico.Medical Device Technologies Market: Competitive DynamicsThe report also profiles major players in the medical device technologies market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, SWOT analysis, key business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Key companies profiled in the report include as Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific Corporation, Baxter International, Inc. Medtronic plc, Cardinal Health Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, Siemens Healthineers, Smith & Nephew plc, Stryker Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., and other prominent players.Make an Enquiry about TOC @The global medical device technologies market is segmented as follows:Global Medical Device Technologies Market, by Device TypeIn Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) DevicesCardiology DevicesDiagnostic Imaging DevicesOrthopedic DevicesOphthalmology DevicesEndoscopy DevicesDiabetes Care DevicesWound Management DevicesKidney/Dialysis DevicesAnesthesia and Respiratory Care DevicesOthersGlobal Medical device technologies Market Revenue, by End UserAcademics And ResearchHospitalsClinicsDiagnostic CentersAmbulatory Surgical CentersOthersBrowse Report @Global Medical device technologies Market Revenue, by GeographyNorth AmericaUSCanadaEuropeUKGermanyFranceItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanAustralia & New ZealandRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaSouth AfricaGCC CountriesRest of Middle East & AfricaResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on : Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales Market 2017 Industry Trend and Forecast 2022 : Nestle, Caprimo Market Research Reports http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1267701&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-non-dairy-creamer-sales-market-2017-industry-trend-and-forecast-2022.htm Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales Market 2017 Industry Trend and Forecast 2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The new market report details in-depth current and past analytics and statistics about the global Non Dairy Creamer market. The report elaborates upon the global Non Dairy Creamer market in detail in terms of the factors that are currently shaping the markets growth trajectory, the segmentation of the global Non Dairy Creamer market by key relevant criteria, and an analysis of the markets value and supply chains.The study presents an analysis of data gathered and collated through primary and secondary research exploring the various aspects of the global Non Dairy Creamer market. The analytical data given in this report has been collated by experienced market experts and is supplemented by visual representation of the information in the form of helpful infographics. The detailed analysis provided in the report and the standard and reliable analytical tools used to analyze it make this report a vital tool for all participants in the global Non Dairy Creamer industry. It thus fulfills a need that not many companies can satisfy on their own: detailed and accurate analysis of the market they are operating in.The major players in global market include Nestle, WhiteWave, FrieslandCampina, DEK(Grandos), DMK(TURM-Sahne GmbH), Caprimo, Super Group, Yearrakarn, Custom Food Group, PT. Santos Premium Krimer, PT Aloe Vera, Suzhou Jiahe Foods Industry, Wenhui Food, Bigtree Group, Zhucheng Dongxiao Biotechnology, Jiangxi Weirbao Food Biotechnology, Hubei Hong Yuan Food, Fujian Jumbo Grand Food, Shandong Tianmei Bio, Amrut International.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Micro- and macroeconomic factors affecting the growth trajectory of the United States Non Dairy Creamer market both positively and negatively have been studied in the report. The impact of these key factors on the global Non Dairy Creamer market in the forecast period is explained and, with the help of this qualitative and quantitative analysis, accurate forecasts are presented for the United States Non Dairy Creamer markets development in the given forecast period. The changing trends and dynamics of the global Non Dairy Creamer market, following on from those observed in the historical study period, are charted from 2017 to 2022.Segmentation of the United States Non Dairy Creamer market by various relevant criteria is elaborated upon in the report; each segment is examined in terms of its historical performance and the growth potential it offers in the coming years to provide a detailed analytical view of the market to the reader. The rigorous analysis of the global Non Dairy Creamer market will help emerging and established market players devise beneficial plans for the forecast period based on their current position in the market hierarchy.Browse full table of contents and data tables of Report @Table of Contents1 Non Dairy Creamer Market Overview11.1 Product Overview and Scope of Non Dairy Creamer11.2 Non Dairy Creamer Segment by Types21.2.1 Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales (K MT) and Growth (%) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)21.3 Non Dairy Creamer Segment by Applications51.4 Global Non Dairy Creamer Market by Regions101.5 Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales and Revenue (2012-2022)162 Global Non Dairy Creamer Competition by Players, Type and Application192.1 Global Non Dairy Creamer Market Competition by Players192.1.1 Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales (K MT) and Market Share (%) of Key Players (2012-2017)192.2 Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales and Revenue by Type252.3 Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales and Revenue by Regions292.4 Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales by Application339 Global Non Dairy Creamer Players Profiles and Sales Data779.1 Nestle779.1.1 Company Profile779.1.2 Non Dairy Creamer Product Category, Application and Specification779.1.3 Nestle Non Dairy Creamer Sales (K MT), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/MT) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)789.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview799.2 WhiteWave809.2.1 Company Profile809.2.2 Non Dairy Creamer Product Category, Application and Specification809.2.3 WhiteWave Non Dairy Creamer Sales (K MT), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/MT) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)819.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview829.3 FrieslandCampina839.3.1 Company Profile839.3.2 Non Dairy Creamer Product Category, Application and Specification849.3.3 FrieslandCampina Non Dairy Creamer Sales (K MT), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/MT) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)849.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview85List of Tables and FiguresFigure Product Picture of Non Dairy Creamer1Table K35 Non-dairy Creamer for Coffee1Table Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales (K MT) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)2Figure Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales Market Share (%) by Types in 20162Table Global Non Dairy Creamer Sales (K MT) Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)5Table Non Dairy Creamer Consumption Market Share by Applications in 20165Table Global Market Non Dairy Creamer Revenue (Million USD) Comparison by Regions 2012-202210Figure United States Non Dairy Creamer Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)11Figure China Non Dairy Creamer Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)12Figure Europe Non Dairy Creamer Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)13QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Market Research Report 2017 : iRobot, Ecovacs, LG Market Research Reports http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=929772&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-high-pressure-laminate-hpl-market-research-report-2017.htm Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.A recent research report added to the vast research reports database of QYResearchReports.com studies the overall state of the global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) market, along with a detailed analysis of the impact of a number of factors affecting the markets development. High Pressure Laminate (HPL) report provides a comprehensive overview of the market by analyzing markets key elements and segments.The report presents an analysis of the impact of the factors driving the market, restraining its growth, and the key trends that are impacting consumer preferences. Details regarding the key trends that are picking up momentum in the global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) market allows the reader an understanding of market areas that can prove to be most lucrative for companies.This report studies High Pressure Laminate (HPL) 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, coveringiRobotEcovacsProscenicMatsutekNeato RoboticsInfinuvoMetapoLGSamsungSharpMamirobotFunrobotMSI)Yujin RobotVorwerkPhilipsFmartHanool RoboticsMieleTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report categorizes the global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) market on the basis of numerous criteria and analyzes the segments in great details based on recent market figures and historical performances of these segments. Based on the historical data, the report projects the future growth prospects of the market with respect to market driver and restraints.The report also presents a detailed overview of the global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) markets regulatory scenario and aids the reader with detailed data about the major rules, regulations, plans, and policies affecting a number of business decisions.The report also gives a detailed overview of the markets competitive landscape. Business profiles, details regarding revenues, price structure, cost, production capacity, actual production over the past few years, and SWOT analysis of some of the major players of the global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) market are included in the report. Feasibility analysis of major projects in the market allows the reader an understanding of the factors that work in favor of companies or may not work in the market.The report included numerous tables and a variety of other graphical data elements for making the data easy for comprehension.For more information on this report @Table of Content1 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of High Pressure Laminate (HPL)1.2 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of High Pressure Laminate (HPL) by Type in 20151.3 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Segment by Application1.4 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Market by Region1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of High Pressure Laminate (HPL) (2012-2022)2 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Market Competitive Situation and Trends7 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 iRobot7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.1.2 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Product Type, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Single Function7.1.2.2 Multifunction7.1.3 iRobot High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Ecovacs7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.2.2 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Product Type, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Single Function7.2.2.2 Multifunction7.2.3 Ecovacs High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Proscenic7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.3.2 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Product Type, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Single Function7.3.2.2 Multifunction7.3.3 Proscenic High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview12 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Market Forecast (2017-2022)12.1 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Capacity, Production, Revenue Forecast (2017-2022)12.2 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Production, Consumption , Import and Export Forecast by Regions (2017-2022)12.3 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Production, Revenue and Price Forecast by Type (2017-2022)12.4 Global High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Consumption Forecast by Application (2017-2022)QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States Global Rare Earth Metals Market To Grow At A CAGR Of 13.67% During The Period 2017-2021 Key vendors - Alkane Resource, Arafura Resources, Avalon Advanced Materials, China Minmetals Rare Earth, Lynas Corporation http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1059739 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-rare-earth-metals-market-2017-2021-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1059739 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Rare Earth Metals Market 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Rare earth metals comprise 17 chemical elements in the periodic table, which include fifteen elements of the lanthanide series, and scandium and yttrium. Scandium and yttrium are also considered rare earth metals as they are found in the same mineral ore deposits as the other elements of the lanthanide series. Rare earth metals have unique physical and chemical properties, which make them suitable to alloy with other metals in applications that require properties such as enhanced magnetic strength and high-temperature resistance.Technavios analysts forecast the global rare earth metals market to grow at a CAGR of 13.67% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global rare earth metals market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:ChinaRest of AsiaROWUSTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Technavio's report, Global Rare Earth Metals 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 vendorsAlkane ResourceArafura ResourcesAvalon Advanced MaterialsChina Minmetals Rare EarthLynas CorporationOther prominent vendorsBaogang GroupCanada Rare Earth CorpChina Rare Earth HoldingsFrontier Rare EarthsGreenland Minerals and EnergyIndian Rare EarthsJiangxi Copper CompanyMontero Mining and ExplorationNamibia Rare EarthsNeoQuest Rare MineralsRare Element ResourcesShowa Denko K.KUcore Rare MetalsBrowse Detail Report With Full TOC @Market driverElevated usage in direct-drive turbines for wind energy production.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeDemand-supply outages and the rise of substitutes.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendMassive consolidation of the rare earth metal mining industry in China.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?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 @ Demand of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in India, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1277399 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1277399 http://www.researchmoz.us/solar-photovoltaic-pv-in-india-market-outlook-to-2030-update-2017-capacity-generation-levelized-cost-of-energy-lcoe-investment-trends-regulations-and-company-profiles-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketinfo247.wordpress.com/ Albany, New York, August 8, 2017 : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of " Research of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in India : Market Overview, Size, Share and Trends 2017 " globally."Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in India, 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 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market in India.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in India (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 hydro, small hydro, biopower and Solar Photovoltaic (PV)) and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in India Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. A detailed coverage of renewable energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to Solar Photovoltaic (PV) 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.ScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market, India power market, India renewable power market and India Solar Photovoltaic (PV) 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 2017-2030.- Renewable power sources include wind (both onshore and offshore), Solar Photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), small hydro power (SHP), biomass, biogas and geothermal.- Detailed overview of the global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by major Solar Photovoltaic (PV)power countries in 2016 and key owners information of various regions.- Power market scenario in India 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 India 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 India Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming Solar Photovoltaic (PV) projects.- Deal analysis of India Solar Photovoltaic (PV) 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 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in particular.- Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.Make an Enquiry about TOC @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 India Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market.- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) 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.Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 41.2 List of Figures 62 Executive Summary 82.1 Fall in OECD Countries Carbon Emission despite a Global Rise during 2010-2015 82.2 Technological Advancements and Government Support Driving Global Renewable Power Installations 82.3 Thermal Power is the Dominant Source in the Power Mix 82.4 India to Rely on Renewable Sources for a Secure Energy Supply 93 Introduction 103.1 Carbon Emissions, Global, 2001-2016 103.2 Primary Energy Consumption, Global, 2001-2025 123.3 Solar Photovoltaic (PV), Global, Technology Definition and Classification 143.4 Report Guidance 15Browse Report @4 Renewable Power Market, Global, 2006 - 2030 164.1 Renewable Power Market, Global, Overview 164.2 Renewable Power Market, Global, Installed Capacity, 2006-2030 174.2.1 Renewable Power Market, Global, Cumulative Installed Capacity by Source Type, 2006-2030 174.2.2 Renewable Power Market, Global, Cumulative Installed Capacity Split by Source Type, 2016 and 2030 194.2.3 Renewable Power Market, Global, Net Capacity Additions by Source Type, 2016-2030 21ResearchMoz 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.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on : 3D cell culture market Size is projected to be around $1.8 billion by 2025: Crystal Market Research http://bit.ly/2hF3Dxx http://bit.ly/2vgTRod http://bit.ly/2veKnf2 http://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/customization/HC0516 http://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report/2d-cell-culture-market https://blog.crystalmarketresearch.com http://www.crystalmarketresearch.com A research study titled, 3D Cell Culture Market by Technology, Application, and End User - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2025 published by Crystal Market Research, states that the 3D cell culture market is projected to be around $1.8 billion by 2025.3D cell culture is synthetically-created environment in which cells are allowed to grow in all three dimensions unlike 2D cells. 3D cell culture is one of the fastest growing segments in life sciences industry, due to its wide range of applications in cancer research, regenerative medicines, and in-vitro cell assays. This can be attributed to the fact that these cell culture systems have replaced animal models in certain clinical experiments as these cells closely resemble cells in vivo. These 3D cells from natural cell-to-cell interactions as well as facilitate exchange of ions and electrical signals resembling those occurring in vivo. 3D cell cultures are increasingly replacing 2D cell culture as they help to overcome problems associated with the use of 2D cell cultures. However, 3D cell culture is emerging field providing tremendous opportunities for the market growth. High demand for organ transplantation and tissue regeneration, and increasing need of regenerative medicines for diseases such as cancer and diabetes will play vital role in the market growth.Browse full research report with TOC on 3D Cell Culture Market by Technology, Application, and End User - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2025 at:Scaffold-based cell cultures have unique property of adjusting biochemical and mechanical property due to which these are widely used in regenerative medicine and 3D printing. Micro patterned surfaces are expected to witness highest growth during the forecast period owing to its high drug reactivity and enzyme activity.Stem cell-based culture systems are expected to witness highest growth in the forecast period, due to their application in tissue and organ regeneration. This leads to large scale adoption of 3D cell culture systems by biotech & pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and diagnostic centers, which further contributes to the market growth. Besides, rise in prevalence of cancer will increase need for cancer research and development of regenerative medicines that will drive the market during forecast period.North America accounted for almost two-fifth of the global share of 3D cell cultures market in 2016. This is primarily attributed to a number of factors such as large number of research laboratories, collaboration of biotech and Pharma companies for developing advance technology, and various government initiatives to support research and development of 3D cell culture systems in North America.Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period, due to increase in stem cell research in countries such as India, China, and Japan. Many key players are focusing on Asia-Pacific regions due to low cost of operations in this region. Companies are focusing on developing technologies tailored for particular research activity. For instance, in 2014, Japan based company, Reprocell acquired Human Tissue supplier Bioserve for integrating pluripotent stem cell technology and 3D cell culture technology to enhance efficiency of drug testing and cancer research.Request a sample copy of 3D Cell Culture Market Research Report @Some of the major companies include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Nano 3D Biosciences, Promocell GmbH, Corning Inc., Biomatrix, Lonza, VWR International, LLC, Tecan Trading AG., 3D Biotek LLC., Global Cell Solutions, Inc., and InSphero AG.Key Findings of the Research Study: Scaffold-based 3D cell culture segment accounted for two-fifth of the global market in 2016, due to their unique property of adjusting biochemical and mechanical properties. Stem-based cell culture is projected to be the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period, due to their extensive use in tissue and organ regeneration. Based on end-user, biotech and pharmaceutical companies segment is projected to dominate the overall market during the forecast period, primarily due to increase in adoption of 3D cell culture by large number of biotech and pharmaceuticals companies. U.S. dominated the global market in 2016. Large number of research laboratories and government initiatives supporting R&D in the field of 3D cell culture systems are set to drive the market growth during forecast period. Countries such as India and China will register maximum growth during forecast period due increasing use of 3D cell culture technology, developing healthcare infrastructure, and rise in demand for regenerative medicines developed through 3D cell culture systems to treat various diseases.Inquire more about this report at:3D Cell Culture Market is Segmentation as follows: By Technology:o Scaffold-Based Solid Scaffolds Micro patterned Surfaces Hydro gels/ECM Analogs Otherso Scaffold Free Suspension Cultures Attachment Resistant Surfaces By Application:o 3D Printing/Micro fluidicso Cell-based Assays/Toxicity Screeningo Regenerative Medicineo Cancer Cell Researcho In Vivo Applications for Stem Cell By End User:o Hospitals & Diagnostic Centerso Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Industrieso Research Laboratories & Instituteso OthersBy Region: North Americao U.So Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo UKo Italyo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia-Pacifico Japano Chinao Australiao Indiao South Koreao Rest of Asia-Pacific Rest of the Worldo Brazilo South Africao Saudi Arabiao Turkeyo United Arab Emirateso OthersGet Customization in the Report At:Related Reports:2D Cell Culture Market by Product, Application, and End User - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2025:About Crystal Market ResearchCrystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.comBlog:Website: Traffic Safety Products Market Growth & Forecast to 2020 with CAGR 5.24% Including Key Players 3M, Honeywell, Ergodyne Traffic Safety Products Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/205225-traffic-safety-products-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=205225 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/205225-traffic-safety-products-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/205225-traffic-safety-products-market HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 56 pages on title 'Traffic Safety Products Market in the US 2016-2020 with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions and important players such as 3M, Honeywell, Ergodyne etc.Request a sample report @SummaryAbout Traffic FatalitiesIn 2015, the US witnessed the highest increase in traffic fatalities in the last 50 years. With over 38,000 deaths, 2015 recorded the highest percentage increase in the number of traffic fatalities in the country. Among high-income countries, the US has the highest traffic fatalities rate worldwide. While countries such as France, the UK, and Australia have witnessed a sharp decline in annual traffic fatalities and fatality rates (per mile of travel) over the period of time, the US has shown limited improvement in this regard in the last 20 years.Research analysts forecast the traffic safety products market in the US to grow at a CAGR of 5.24% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the traffic safety products market in the US for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the retail sales of traffic safety products in the market.The market is divided into the following segments based on products: Traffic vest and rainwear Tube Delineators Barricades Cones OtherThe report, Traffic Safety Products Market in the US 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 3M Honeywell Ergodyne The Traffic Safety StoreBuy this report @Other prominent vendors Emedco Fastenal Global Industrial Highway Signals MCR Safety MSC Industrial Direct Pexco Davidson Traffic Control Products RoadSafe Traffic Systems Roadtech Manufacturing Safety Cones USA Safety Smart Gear SA-SO STHIL Tamis The Cortina Companies Traffic Safety and Supply Company W.W. GraingerMarket driver Increased rate of law enforcement fatalities For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Decrease in recruitment of police officers For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Introduction of technologically advanced safety vests For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key Market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Enquire for Discount @PART 01: Executive summary HighlightsPART 02: Scope of the report Market overview Top-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodology Research methodology Economic indicatorsPART 04: Introduction Key market highlightsPART 05: Market landscape Market overview Traffic safety products market in US Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by product Market overview Traffic vest and rainwear market in US Traffic barricade, cone, delineator, and others market in US.. ContinuedRead Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218 Marine Propulsion Engines Market with Key Companies Profile (Scania, Wartsila Corporation), Trends, Cost Structure, SWOT Analysis to 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/627212-global-marine-propulsion-engines-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/627212-global-marine-propulsion-engines-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=627212 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/627212-global-marine-propulsion-engines-market-1 A new research document with title 'Global Marine Propulsion Engines Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & Applications covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia & Pacific, Southeast Asia, Africa & Middle East and important players/vendors such as Scania (SE), Wartsila Corporation (FI), Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (UK), Yanmar Co. Ltd (JP), CNH Industrial (UK) The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryThe global Marine Propulsion Engines market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.This report offers an overview of the market trends, drivers, and barriers with respect to the Marine Propulsion Engines market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market of different regions across United States, Europe, China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and Others. The report categorizes Marine Propulsion Engines market by By Power Source, By HP Range, and application. Detailed analysis of key players, along with key growth strategies adopted by them is also covered in this report on Marine Propulsion Engines market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Request a sample report @This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Key PlayersCaterpillar (US)Brunswick (Mercury Marine) (US)MAN SE (DE)Scania (SE)Wartsila Corporation (FI)Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (UK)Yanmar Co. Ltd (JP)CNH Industrial (UK)Cummins Inc. (US)GE Transportation (US)John Deere (US)Daihatsu Diesel MFG. Co. Ltd (JP)GM Powertrain (US)IHI Corporation Ltd (JP)Mitsubishi (JP)Sulzer (CH)Deutz (NO)Volvo (SE)Weichai (CN)Yuchai (CN)Beta Marine Limited (UK)Doosan (KR)Niigata (JP)Zhenjiang Siyang Diesel Engine Manufacturing (CN)Kobe Diesel Co., Ltd (JP)The Hanshin Diesel Works, Ltd (JP)Dresser-Rand (Siemens) (US)Henan Diesel Engine Co Ltd (CN)CSSC-MES diesel Co (CN)CSR Ziyang Locomotive (CN)Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsMarine Propulsion Engines Market, by Power SourceGas TurbineSteam TurbineDieselNatural GasOtherMarine Propulsion Engines Market, by HP RangeUp to 20,000 HPFrom 20,001 to 40,000 HPFrom 40,001 to 60,000 HPFrom 60,001 to 80,000 HPAbove 80,000 HPMarine Propulsion Engines Market, by Key ConsumerPassenger ShipsCargo ShipBulk CarrierTankerOffshore VesselsOtherGet customization & check discount for report @Table of ContentsGlobal Marine Propulsion Engines Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & ApplicationsChapter One Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source1.2.1 Secondary Sources1.2.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerChapter Two Marine Propulsion Engines Market Overview2.1 Market CoverageBuy this report @2.2 Global Marine Propulsion Engines Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-2017Chapter Three Marine Propulsion Engines by Key Players 2012-20173.1 Global Marine Propulsion Engines Sales Volume Market Share by Key Players 2012-20173.2 Global Marine Propulsion Engines Revenue Share by Key Players 2012-20173.3 Global Key Players Marine Propulsion Engines Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Key Players Marine Propulsion Engines Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Four Marine Propulsion Engines by Regions 2012-20174.1 Global Marine Propulsion Engines Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20174.2 Global Marine Propulsion Engines Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20174.3 Global Marine Propulsion Engines Price by Regions 2012-20174.4 North America4.4.1 United States4.4.2 Canada4.5 Latin America4.5.1 Mexico4.5.2 Brazil4.5.3 Argentina4.5.4 Others in Latin America4.6 Europe4.6.1 Germany4.6.2 United Kingdom4.6.3 France4.6.4 Italy4.6.5 Spain....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Worldwide Conductive Inks Market From 2017 - 2025: Price Differentiation and Product Innovation to Fuel Competition Among Players Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1279326 http://www.researchmoz.us/conductive-inks-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Worldwide Conductive Inks Market From 2017 - 2025: Price Differentiation and Product Innovation to Fuel Competition Among Players" to its huge collection of research reports.Conductive ink is applied on an object which primarily conducts electricity. Conductive inks for printed and flexible electronics are one of the prime materials. Growing proliferation of printed electronics in different industries is one of the major driving factors for the market. Printed electronics can be used in a wide range of applications which include organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs), and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) among others. With technological advancement, different sort of nano-patterning methods have been developed for instance nano-imprinting and nano-contact printing to improve light extraction from OLEDs which is also contributing on the positive development of the conductive inks market. Rising demand for barcode and RFID scanner is influencing the growth conductive inks market globally. With increasing technological advancement conductive inks are adopted extensively across various digital cameras, smart phones, laptops and various AIDC devices among others. Growing application of printed circuit boards, circuits, antennas, biosensors, sensors, printed heaters, touch screens and touch switches in different industries are also acting as a major driving factor for the conductive inks globally. Grooming demand for smaller compact devices in semiconductor industry as well as advanced consumer electronics is increasing the application of conductive inks in order to replace the bulky, heavy, energy-consuming wires. Technological developments are a major driver of the conductive inks market in different developing countries. Increasing application of RFID tags in different industries along with rising demand for printed circuit boards in different equipment is acting as a major driver for the conductive inks market globally.Global Conductive Inks Market: Market SegmentationBased on type, the market conductive inks has been segmented into the market for conductive inks has been segmented into silver conductive inks, copper conductive inks, conductive polymers, conductive nanotube ink, and graphene / carbon ink among others. On the basis of application, the market has been segmented into the market for conductive inks have been segmented into photovoltaic cells, displays, RFID (radio frequency identification), printed circuit board, and biosensors among others. By geography, the market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America and Middle-East & Africa (MEA). By revenue, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share in the conductive inks market in 2016.Global Conductive Inks Market: Scope of StudyThe key players in the conductive inks market have been competitively profiled across the five broad geographic regions. This competitive landscape is inclusive of the various business strategies adopted by these major players and their recent developments in the field of conductive inks. Further, the report includes the market attractiveness analysis of different type and application of the conductive inks.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report also offers assessment of different drivers that is impacting the global market, along with the restraints and opportunities that has also been covered under the scope of this research. For each segment (such as type, and application), market dynamics analysis has been provided. All these factors help in determining different trends that has been impacting the overall market growth. Moreover, after taking into consideration all this factors, an extensive analysis of the region wise growth parameters of conductive inks market along with the overall assessment for the forecast period of 2017-2025 has been also been provided within this report. Moreover, the report includes the patents analysis is also included in the scope of the research.Global Conductive Inks Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the leading players in the conductive inks market are E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (The U.S.), Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), NovaCentrix (The U.S.), Vorbeck Materials Corporation, Inc. (The U.S.), Intrinsiq Materials, Inc. (The U.S.), Heraeus Holding GmbH (Germany), Johnson Matthey PLC (The U.K.), Sun Chemical Corporation (The U.S.), Creative Materials Inc. (The U.S.) and Applied Ink Solutions (The U.S.) among others.The global conductive inks market has been segmented as follows:Global Conductive Inks Market by TypeSilver Conductive InksCopper Conductive InksConductive PolymersConductive Nanotube InkGraphene/ Carbon InkOthersGlobal Conductive Inks Market by ApplicationPhotovoltaic CellsDisplaysRFID (radio frequency identification)Printed Circuit BoardBiosensorsOthersGlobal Conductive Inks Market by RegionNorth AmericaThe U.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeThe U.K.GermanyFranceItalyBrowse More Details @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 @ Pharmaceutical Market During 2017: Partnerships and Acquisitions Shift Focus Towards Early Stage Development, Emerging Markets, and Biologics http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1277493 http://www.researchmoz.us/pharmaceutical-deal-trends-2017-factbook-partnerships-and-acquisitions-shift-focus-towards-early-stage-development-emerging-markets-and-biologics-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Pharmaceutical Market During 2017: Partnerships and Acquisitions Shift Focus Towards Early Stage Development, Emerging Markets, and Biologics" to its huge collection of research reports.Although the pharmaceutical market is continuing to witness global growth, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are facing challenges due to disruptive events in the healthcare market, such as increasing costs of production and R&D, shifts in patent laws, and challenges in the economy. Companies are considering various strategies to overcome these challenges, with deal making being foremost among these as a means of boosting revenues over a short period of time.Small companies that primarily carry out early-stage research, development and production activities are entering into agreements with key industry leaders to out-license the rights to their products, utilizing the strengths of the larger companies in terms of commercialization expertise, manufacturing, distribution and marketing capabilities and global presence. Additionally, many companies have successfully implemented deal-making strategies to secure extended protection for their products from generic competitors. Deal activity can help pharma companies to enhance their research and regulatory approaches, and can aid portfolio expansion and diversification, geographic expansion, entry into niche markets, commercialization, and sales.This report analyzes the importance of deal making in the pharmaceutical and healthcare market. It covers key factors that encourage deal activity in the pharmaceutical industry, and the key strategies being implemented when companies strike deals. An overview of recent deal activity from 2010 to May 2017 is also included.Scope- What deal making strategies have been used in recent years to boost R&D productivity and allow the successful commercialization of pharmaceutical products?- In which geographical markets and disease areas has deal activity been focused since 2010?- At which stage of development did deals most frequently occur, and attract the highest value?- How have pharma companies been using deal making to strengthen their product portfolio and bottom line?- What are the most significant Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As), licensing deals and partnership deals to have been announced since 2016?- Who are the major players in pharmaceutical deal making, and what has been their recent and key deal activity?To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Reasons to buy- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the most recent healthcare deal trends.- Understand the most significant M&As, licensing deals and partnerships to have occurred in recent years.- Comprehensively analyze the trends of deal activity from 2010 to May 2017, with respect to aggregate deal value, geography, and the therapy area and stage of development of the products involved.- Understand the deal-making strategies that have been historically implemented by companies, and identify the most suitable strategies for boosting R&D portfolio and bottom line performance.- Identify the key deal terminations that have occurred in recent years, and understand their effect.Table of ContentsIntroductionOverviewFactors Promoting Deal ActivityKey Strategies Implemented in DealsGeographical ExpansionPortfolio EnhancementMarket ConsolidationImproving Research and DevelopmentProduct Lifecycle managementEntry into Rare disease MarketsDeal TypesMergers and Acquisitions (M&As)Browse More Details @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 @ India's Wind Power Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017- Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1277398 http://www.researchmoz.us/wind-power-in-india-market-outlook-to-2030-update-2017-capacity-generation-levelized-cost-of-energy-lcoe-investment-trends-regulations-and-company-profiles-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "India's Wind Power Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017- Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles" to its huge collection of research reports."Wind Power in India, 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 India.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 India (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 India 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.ScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global wind power (Onshore and Offshore) market, India power market, India renewable power market and India 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 India 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 India 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 India wind power market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming wind projects.- Deal analysis of India 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.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @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 India 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.1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 51.2 List of Figures 72 Executive Summary 92.1 Fall in OECD Countries Carbon Emission despite a Global Rise during 2010-2015 92.2 Technological Advancements and Government Support Driving Global Renewable Power Installations 92.3 Top 10 Countries Account for Over 85% of Wind Power Capacity 92.4 Thermal Power is the Dominant Source in the Power Mix 102.5 Wind Power Market to Witness Significant Growth during Forecast Period 113 Introduction 123.1 Carbon Emissions, Global, 2001-2016 123.2 Primary Energy Consumption, Global, 2001-2025 14Browse More Details @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 Automotive Drive Shafts Market Is Expected To Be Worth US$8.9 Bn By The End Of 2024 At A CAGR Of 6.1% http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=950656 http://www.researchmoz.us/automotive-drive-shafts-market-global-industry-analysis-trend-size-share-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=950656 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Automotive Drive Shafts Market - Global Industry Analysis, Trend, Size, Share and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.The automotive drive shafts market across the globe is anticipated to witness a stable growth during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. Automotive drive shafts are mechanical components used for transferring torque from the engine to the other end of the vehicle before it reaches the wheels. These components are automotive drive shafts made up of steel, aluminum and carbon fiber. Automotive drive shafts made of aluminum are light and sturdy at the same time which enables the drive shafts to be balanced, produce more rotating speed and also reduces the overall weight of the vehicle. Aluminum drive shafts are light and sturdy, enabling the overall weight of the vehicle to be light and require less fuel. Aluminum drive shafts are also more balanced and produces more rotating speed. Steel drive shafts are very heavy and requires a lot of horsepower to transmit torque and rotate. It makes the overall weight of the vehicle very heavy, requiring more fuel to run.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Automotive Drive Shafts Market: SegmentationBy types, the market has been segmented into hotchkiss drive shafts, flexible drive shafts and torque tube drive shafts. Hotchkiss drive shafts are the most popular form of shafts used for rear axle suspension and are commonly found in heavy commercial vehicles and passenger cars. Flexible drive shaft types have high longevity and permits continuous rotation in vehicles even at high speed. These are mostly found in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Use of torque tube drive shaft is comparatively less widespread than hotchkiss drive shaft system and flexible drive shaft system. It is mostly found in heavy commercial vehicles with front engine and rear drive. Torque tube drive shaft types are typically heavier and produces greater up sprung weight on the vehicle. The automotive drive shafts can also be judged based on their position which in turn depends on whether the vehicle is Front Wheel Drive (FWD) or Rear Wheel Drive (RWD). Front Wheel Drive vehicles are always the preferred choice since they are more fuel efficient and weigh less enabling the vehicle to be aerodynamic. The FWD vehicles also cost less compared to RWD vehicles, therefore their production and use is higher. In recent years, all the passenger cars and light commercial vehicles are FWD and their drive shafts are placed likewise. This positioning also protects the vehicles in case of accidents.Global Automotive Drive Shafts Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe report also discusses the demand inducing and demand restraining factors. The main drivers have been identified to be the rise in production of vehicles and depreciation of drive shafts whose replacement is supported by an efficient after sales services sector. The global automotive industry is in a reviving phase and is expected to show promising performance over the forecast period. APAC is the largest producer of automotive and is likely to maintain its dominance the forecast period. In recent years the APAC region has witnessed notable performance in terms of its GDP and development of its automobile and automotive parts industry. India, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, among other countries in APAC have high growth potential. This region has also experienced a sudden rise in disposable income, enhancing the affordability of passenger cars.Use of electric vehicles however, is expected to reduce the need for drive shafts since they run on battery which are charged by electric power. Therefore, this factor is anticipated to pull down the growth of the automotive drive shafts market.Browse Detail Report With Full TOC @Global Automotive Drive Shafts Market: Research MethodologyThis report provides the future anticipated market growth of automotive drive shafts during the period from 2016 to 2024 along with a current market synopsis. The report also provides in-depth analysis of the automotive drive shafts market across various vehicle types, shaft types and position types. Various economic factors predicted to affect the demand and supply of automotive drive shafts across the globe are also highlighted in this report. In addition, the report also sheds light on the detailed industry structures, market share of the leading manufacturers and future predictive demand and supply in terms of revenue in order to provide a detailed analysis of the market.By geography, the global automotive drive shafts market has been further classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America. The present market size in terms of revenue (USD Mn) along with forecast from 2016 to 2024 is also provided in this report.Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:Some of the key players operating in the automotive drive shafts market across the globe are, GKN PLC. (U.K.), American Axle Manufacturing Inc. (U.S.), Dana Incorporated (U.S), Xuchang Yuangdong (U.S.), Neapco Holdings, LLC. (U.S.) and The Timken Company (U.S.), among others.The global automotive drive shafts market has been segmented as follows:Global Automotive Drive Shafts Market, By Vehicle Type- Passenger Cars- Heavy Commercial Vehicles- Light Commercial VehiclesGlobal Automotive Drive Shafts Market, By Shaft Type- Hotchkiss Drive Shaft- Flexible Drive Shaft- Torque Tube Drive ShaftGlobal Automotive Drive Shafts Market, by Position Type- Front Wheel Drive Shaft- Rear Wheel Drive ShaftGlobal Automotive Drive Shafts Market, By Geography- North America- The U.S.- Canada- Mexico- Europe- U.K.- Germany- Italy- France- RoE (Rest of Europe)- Asia Pacific- India- Japan- China- RAPAC (Rest of Asia Pacific)- Middle East and Africa (MEA)- U.A.E- South Africa- RMEA (Rest of Middle East and Africa)- Latin America (LATAM)- Brazil- Argentina- Rest of Latin America (RLATAM)Table of ContentSection 01 Preface1.1. Research Scope& Market Segmentation1.2. Research Highlights1.3. Research Objectives1.4. Key Questions AnsweredSection 02 Assumptions and Research MethodologySection 03 Executive SummarySection 04 Market Overview4.1. Product Overview4.2. Market Indicators4.3. Drivers and Restraints Snapshot AnalysisSection 05 Market Dynamics5.1. Drivers and Restraints: Snapshot AnalysisSection 06 Global Automotive Drive Shafts Market Outlook6.1. Global Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis: By Vehicle Type6.2. Global Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis : By Shafts Types6.3. Global Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis : By Position TypeSection 07 North America Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis and Revenue Forecast (2016-2024)7.1. North America Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Vehicle Type7.1.1. Heavy Commercial Vehicles7.1.2. Passenger Cars7.1.3. Light Commercial Vehicles7.2. North America Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Shaft Type7.1.1. Hotchkiss Drive Shaft Type7.1.2. Flexible Drive Shaft Type7.1.3. Torque Tube Drive Shaft Type7.3. North America Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Position Type7.1.2. Front Wheel Drive Shaft7.1.2. Rear Wheel Drive Shaft7.4. North America Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Country7.1.2. U.S.7.1.2. Canada7.1.2. MexicoSection 08 Europe Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis and Revenue Forecast (2016-2024)8.1 Europe Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Vehicle Type8.1.1. Heavy Commercial Vehicles8.1.2. Passenger Cars8.1.3. Light Commercial Vehicles8.2 Europe Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Shaft Type8.2.1. Hotchkiss Drive Shaft Type8.2.2. Flexible Drive Shaft Type8.2.3. Torque Tube Drive Shaft Type8.3. Europe Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Position Type8.3.1. Front Wheel Drive Shaft8.3.2. Rear Wheel Drive Shaft8.4 Europe Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Country8.4.1. Germany8.4.2. France8.4.3. U.K.8.4.4. Italy8.4.4. Rest of EuropeSection 09 Asia Pacific Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis and Revenue Forecast (2016-2024)9.1 Asia Pacific Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Vehicle Type9.1.1. Heavy Commercial Vehicles9.1.2. Passenger Cars9.1.3. Light Commercial Vehicles9.2. Asia Pacific Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Shaft Type9.2.1. Hotchkiss Drive Shaft Type9.2.2. Flexible Drive Shaft Type9.2.2. Torque Tube Drive Shaft Type9.3. Asia Pacific Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Position Type9.3.1. Front Wheel Drive Shaft9.3.2. Rear Wheel Drive Shaft9.4. Asia Pacific Automotive Drive Shafts Market Analysis, By Country9.3.1. China9.3.1. India9.3.1. Japan9.3.1. Rest of Asia PacificMake 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 Green Packaging Market Expected To Reach At A CAGR Of 7.83% During The Forecast Period 2017 - 2021 Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1059713 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-green-packaging-market-2017-2021-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Green Packaging Market Expected To Reach At A CAGR Of 7.83% During The Forecast Period 2017 - 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Green packaging is the use of manufacturing methods and materials for packaging of goods that have a low impact on the environment and energy consumption. Green or sustainable packaging uses environment-sensitive methods, including energy efficiency, recyclable and biodegradable materials, down-gauging, and reusability. The term biodegradation refers to the process of decomposition by the action of naturally occurring microorganisms over a period. Biodegradable polymers are derived from renewable sources such as potatoes, vegetable oil, rice, pea starch, tapioca, corn starch, sugarcane, wheat, grains, and cellulose from wood.Technavios analysts forecast the global green packaging market to grow at a CAGR of 7.83% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global green packaging market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:APACEuropeNorth AmericaROWTechnavio's report, Global Green Packaging 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 vendorsAmcorDuPontMondiSealed AirTetra LavalTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Other prominent vendorsAirlite PlasticsArdagh GroupBe Green PackagingBemisBerkley InternationalBioMass PackagingCascadesClondalkinCrownDairi-PakDS SmithEcologicElopakEmerald PackagingEnviroPAKEvergreen PackagingFabri-KalGeorgia-PacificGerresheimerGraham PackagingGraphic PackagingGreen PackagingHuhtamakiSonocoWinpakWipakNampakOwens-IllinoisPlastipakPolyoak PackagingRexamReynoldsInnovia FilmsIntraPacWestrockSmurfit-Stone ContainerMarket driverGovernment emphasis on efficient plastic waste management and biopolymers.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeComplexities in adoption of bioplastic over conventional plastic.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendGradual shift from conventional plastic to bio-plastic packaging.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse More Details @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 @ At A CAGR Of 16.28%, Global Timing Devices Market Will Expand Over The Period 2017 - 2021 Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1059711 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-timing-devices-market-2017-2021-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "At A CAGR Of 16.28%, Global Timing Devices Market Will Expand Over The Period 2017 - 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Timing device products include quartz crystal devices and integrated circuits (ICs) as well as microelectromechanical system (MEMS) timing devices. Crystal oscillators are crucial in electronics design. However, this technology is being replaced with MEMS devices and CMOS oscillators. Other timing ICs include clock synthesizers, PLLs, clock distribution devices, and clock synchronization devices. Timing devices are the semiconductor components responsible for the timely performance of electronic products. Timing devices can be further subsegmented into semiconductor clocks, oscillator, and resonators.Technavios analysts forecast the global timing devices market to grow at a CAGR of 16.28% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global timing devices market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global timing devices market for 2017-2021.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Timing Devices 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 vendorsSeikoOscilentSTMicroelectronicsNXP SemiconductorTexas InstrumentsTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Other prominent vendorsIntegrated Device TechnologyIQD Frequency ProductsTXCMarket driverIncreased adoption of smartphones and tablets.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeCyclical nature of semiconductor industry.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendGrowing miniaturization of semiconductor clock ICs.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse More Details @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 @ Foundry Service Market to reach $75.2 billion by 2020 growing at a CAGR of 7.45% Foundry Service Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/205232-global-foundry-service-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=205232 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/205232-global-foundry-service-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/205232-global-foundry-service-market HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 68 pages on title 'Global Foundry Service Market 2016-2020 with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions that includes Americas, APAC, EMEA and important players such as GlobalFoundries, Samsung Semiconductor, SMIC etc.Request a sample report @SummaryAbout Global Foundry Service MarketThe global foundry service market was valued at $52.5 billion in 2015 and is likely to witness healthy growth during the forecast period, despite being affected by the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry. The market is likely to be valued at $75.2 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 7.45% during the forecast period.Research analysts forecast the global foundry service market to grow at a CAGR of 7.45% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global foundry service market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the sale of foundry services to fabless companies.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: APAC Europe North America ROWThe report, Global Foundry Service Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors GlobalFoundries Samsung Semiconductor SMIC UMC TSMCBuy this report @Other prominent vendors Tower Jazz Semiconductor Vanguard International Semiconductor Power chip Technology Shanghai Huahong Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Dongbu HiTek MagnaChip Semiconductor WIN SemiconductorsMarket driver Rising demand for smartphones For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Inconsistent foreign exchange rates For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Increasing adoption of FinFET architecture For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key Market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Enquire for Discount @PART 01: Executive summary HighlightsPART 02: Scope of the report Definition Source year and forecast period Market overview Market size computation Market segmentation Geographical coverage Vendor segmentation Common currency conversion rates Top-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodology Research methodology Economic indicatorsPART 04: Introduction Key market highlightsPART 05: Semiconductor industry overviewPART 06: Market landscape Market overview Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 07: Market segmentation by end-user Global foundry service market by end-user 2015 Global foundry service market by end-user 2020 Communications Consumer electronics Computer OthersPART 08: Market segmentation by business type Global foundry service market by pure-play foundries Global foundry service market by IDMsPART 09: Geographical segmentation.. ContinuedRead Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact Us:HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218 Global Blockchain Technology Market Is Expected To Reach US$20 bn By The End Of 2024 At A CAGR Of 58.7% http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=950655 http://www.researchmoz.us/blockchain-technology-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=950655 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Blockchain Technology Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Blockchain technology offers a secure, fast, and cheaper medium of carrying out online transaction and online transfer of information without the need of third party verification. The adoption of blockchain technology in financial services sector has gained traction. Banking sector is willing to explore opportunities which would make the banking transactions more transparent and easy to process. Increased penetration of digital technology in the banking sector has resulted in the development of easy to use online platforms and applications. This drives the need to carry out the online transactions in a secure manner. Blockchain technology eliminates the frauds due to errors and identity theft to a large extent. Hence the financial services sector has been keen in exploring the technology before undertaking a wide scale deployment of this technology. This technology can benefit industries such as music and healthcare by offering easy access and exchange of digital data of these industries over the Internet.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Blockchain Technology Market: Drivers and TrendsThe demand for blockchain technology is expected to increase in the coming years owing to the investments in blockchain technology startups, partnership between blockchain technology providers and financial organization, FinTech investments, and digitization across various industries globally. North America is expected to lead the blockchain technology market during the forecast period. Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate of blockchain technology during the forecast period.The Middle East and Africa and South America are in the early phases of adoption of the technology. The anticipated growth of banking sector in Africa is expected to support the market growth of blockchain technology during the forecast period. The blockchain technology market is compressive of a large number of startups. The growth of blockchain technology startups was aided by huge venture capital investments during the period from 2013 to 2015. The market is expected to be hit by a huge wave of mergers and acquisitions in the coming years.Browse Detail Report With Full TOC @Global Blockchain Technology Market: Research MethodologyThis research report provides an in-depth analysis of the global blockchain technology market based on type, application, and geography. The global blockchain technology market is categorized based on types into public blockchain, private blockchain, and consortium blockchain. The application segment for the global blockchain technology market are financial services and non-financial sector. The report analyzes each of these segments for the various geographies considered under the scope of the study.The report also provides technology evolution and Porters Five Forces Analysis for the global blockchain technology market. The report includes analysis of the factors that drive and restrain the growth of the blockchain technology market. It discusses the prevailing market trends and prospective growth opportunities in the global blockchain technology market. It provides market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue. Also provided in the report is a competitive landscape and market share analysis of the major players in the blockchain technology market.Global Blockchain Technology Market: Regional OutlookBased on geographical regions, the report segments the global blockchain technology market into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America, which are analyzed in terms of revenue generation. The report provides country level revenue for blockchain technology. The U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, India, Chain, Japan, Australia, GCC, South Africa, Brazil, and Argentina are the countries covered in the report.Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:Major business strategies adopted by key players, their SWOT analysis, and competition matrix has also been identified in the research report. The key market players profiled in this study include Microsoft Corporation, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, IBM Corporation, R3, Chain Inc., Consensus Systems (ConsenSys), Ripple, Digital Asset Holdings LLC, and Credits. The report has also profiled two major contributors such as Hyperledger project and Ethereum Foundation in the report.Global Blockchain Technology MarketBy Type- Public blockchain- Private blockchain- Consortium blockchainBy Application- Financial services- Non-financial sectorBy Geography- North America- The U.S.- Canada- Europe- The U.K.- Germany- France- Asia Pacific- India- China- Japan- Australia- Middle East and Africa- GCC- South Africa- South America- Brazil- ArgentinaMake 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 Market For Baby Food And Infant Formula Will Grow At A CAGR Of 8.77% During The Forecast Period 2017 - 2021 Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1059703 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-baby-food-and-infant-formula-market-2017-2021-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Market For Baby Food And Infant Formula Will Grow At A CAGR Of 8.77% During The Forecast Period 2017 - 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.Baby food is any soft food (other than breastmilk or infant formula) that is made specifically for babies between the ages of four to six months and two years. Infant formula is a processed food for babies and infants under 12 months of age, usually prepared for bottle-feeding or cup-feeding. There are two types of infant formula: powder (need to be mixed with water) or liquid (can be consumed with or without adding water).Technavios analysts forecast the global baby food and infant formula market to grow at a CAGR of 8.77% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global baby food and infant formula market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEuropeMEATechnavio's report, Global Baby Food and Infant Formula 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 vendorsAbbottDanoneHiPPKraft HeinzNestlReckitt BenckiserTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Other prominent vendorsArla FoodsAmara OrganicsBaby Gourmet FoodsBeingmate GroupElla's KitchenFrisoGreenZooHealthy SproutsHero GroupMORINAGA MILK INDUSTRYMeiji HoldingsOne Earth FarmsParent's ChoicePlum, PBCSPROUTStonyfield FarmMarket driverIncrease in health concerns among parents and breastfeeding limitations.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeRising health concerns about processed baby food and infant formula.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendGrowing popularity of organic baby food products.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse More Details @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 Antimicrobial Packaging Market - Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=950654 http://www.researchmoz.us/antimicrobial-packaging-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market - Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.This report covers the analysis and forecast of the antimicrobial packaging market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with forecast for the period between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$ Mn).The study provides a decisive view of the antimicrobial packaging market by segmenting it based on material, technology, antimicrobial agents, package type, application, and regional demand. Material segmentation includes analysis on types of materials used in antimicrobial packaging and their future projections. Technology segment includes analysis on controlled released packaging and active packaging and their current and future trends. Antimicrobial agents segments have been analyzed based on current trends and future potential. The market has been estimated from 2016 to 2024 in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (kilo tons). Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. These have been further sub-segmented into countries and regions with relevance to the market. The segmentation also includes demand for material, technology, antimicrobial agents, package type and applications in all regions.Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market: Scope of the StudyThe report provides the size of the antimicrobial packaging market in 2015 and the forecast for the next nine years up to 2024. The size of the global antimicrobial packaging market is provided in terms of revenue and volume. Market revenue for regions is defined in US$ Mn and volume in kilo tons. The market size and forecast for each package type segment is provided in the context of global and regional markets. Numbers provided in this report are derived based on demand generated from different material, technology, antimicrobial agents, package type and application. Market dynamics prevalent in North America and Asia Pacific have been taken into account for estimating the growth of the global market.The study covers the drivers and restraints governing the dynamics of the market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes potential opportunities in the antimicrobial packaging market on the global and regional level.The market has been forecast based on the amount of different types of packaging in demand. Demand for antimicrobial packaging vary in each region as a result of the food habits of consumers & healthcare industry trends of each region and climatic conditions that prevails in each region. Individual material, technology, antimicrobial agents, package type and application have been taken into account while estimating and forecasting overall revenue and volume.Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market: Research MethodologiesMarket estimates for this study have been based on revenue and volume. The factors for use of antimicrobial packaging in each application have been considered in calculating the revenue of the market. Demand for antimicrobial packaging has been derived by analyzing the global and regional demand for antimicrobial packaging in each application. The antimicrobial packaging market has been analyzed based on expected demand. Market data for each segment is based on corresponding revenues and volume. Factors considered for calculation of revenue and volume is drivers, restraints, and opportunities. Forecasts have been based on the expected demand from antimicrobial packaging applications. We have used the top down and bottom - up approach to estimate the market, split into regions. The application split of the market has been derived using a top-down approach for each regional market separately, with the global application segment split being an integration of regional estimates. Companies were considered for their product portfolio, revenue, and manufacturing capacity. In the absence of specific data related to the sales of antimicrobial packaging of several privately held companies, calculated assumptions have been made in view of the companys product portfolio and regional presence along with the demand for products in its portfolio.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market: Competitive LandscapeWe have included competitive landscape of the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein all the segments have been benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness for future growth.The report covers a detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and company profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Takex Labo Co.Ltd, Sciessent LLC, BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Barr Brands International, Mondi PLC, LINPAC Senior Holdings Limited, PolyOne Corporation, BioCote Limited and Dunmore Corporation among others.Global Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by MaterialPlasticPolyethylene (PE)Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)BiopolymerPaperboardGlassTinOthersGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by TechnologyControlled Release PackagingActive PackagingGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Antimicrobial AgentsOrganic AcidBacteriocinsEssential OilsEnzymesMetal Ion & OxidizersOthersGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Package TypePouchesBottles & CansCarton PackagesTraysBagsCups & LidsOthersGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by ApplicationFood & BeveragePersonal CareHealthcareOthersGlobal Antimicrobial Packaging Market, by Geography: The market is broadly segmented on the basis of geography into:North AmericaU.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeU.KGermanyFranceItalyRest of EuropeBrowse More Details @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 @ EMEA(Europe, Middle East and Africa) Eye Drops & Lubricants Market Size - Industry Analysis And Forecast https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1268538 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1268538/emea-europe-middle-east-and-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiryBuy/1268538 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: EMEA(Europe, Middle East and Africa) Eye Drops & Lubricants Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGeographically, this report split EMEA into Europe, the Middle East and Africa, With sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Eye Drops & Lubricants for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast)Europe: Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Benelux;Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE and Iran;Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria.Request For Sample Report @EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Eye Drops & Lubricants sales volume (K Units), price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingBausch + LombAbbottClear EyesSager PharmaALCONAllerganRohtoSIMILASANTheraTears?Johnson & Johnson Services, IncComplete Report Details @On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoAntibioticsHormone?Artificial tearsOthersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume (K Units), market share and growth rate of Eye Drops & Lubricants for each application, includingEye DiseaseEye CareOthersHave Any Query? Ask Our Expert @EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Eye Drops & Lubricants Market Report 20171 Eye Drops & Lubricants Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Eye Drops & Lubricants1.2 Classification of Eye Drops & Lubricants1.2.1 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Antibiotics1.2.4 Hormone?1.2.5 Artificial tears1.2.6 Others1.3 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-20221.3.2 Eye Disease1.3.3 Eye Care1.3.4 Others1.4 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Market by Region1.4.1 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)2 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Competition by Manufacturers/Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers2.1.1 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Sales Volume and Market Share of Major Players (2012-2017)2.1.2 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Revenue and Share by Players (2012-2017)2.1.3 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Sale Price by Players (2012-2017)2.2 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants (Volume and Value) by Type/Product Category2.2.1 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.3 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Sale Price by Type (2012-2017)2.3 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants (Volume) by Application2.4 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants (Volume and Value) by Region2.4.1 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4.2 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4.3 EMEA Eye Drops & Lubricants Sales Price by Region (2012-2017)About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz N-Methylaniline Market Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunities, and Forecast to 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/627165-global-n-methylaniline-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/627165-global-n-methylaniline-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=627165 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/627165-global-n-methylaniline-market A new research document with title 'Global N-Methylaniline Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & Applications covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia & Pacific, Southeast Asia, Africa & Middle East and important players/vendors such as MOSINTER GROUP LIMITED(CN), Finetech Industry Limited(UK), Sigma-Aldrich(CH), Merck(DE) The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryThe global N-Methylaniline market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.This report offers an overview of the market trends, drivers, and barriers with respect to the N-Methylaniline market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market of different regions across United States, Europe, China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and Others. The report categorizes N-Methylaniline market by by Purity, by Production Process, and application. Detailed analysis of key players, along with key growth strategies adopted by them is also covered in this report on N-Methylaniline market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Request a sample report @This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Key PlayersAARTI INDUSTRIES LIMITED(IN)AOPHARM(CN)MOSINTER GROUP LIMITED(CN)Finetech Industry Limited(UK)Sigma-Aldrich(CH)Merck(DE)Chemicalland21(KP)Santa Cruz Biotechnology(US)Alfa Aesar(US)LANXESS(DE)Sisco Research Laboratories(IN)Jiangsu.Changzhou Baolong Chemicals(CN)ChemService(US)DuPont(US)TCI(JP)Acros(BE)Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry(CN)Hangzhou Dayangchem(CN)Key RegionsUnited StatesEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceOthersChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOthersMain types of productsN-Methylaniline Market, by Purity99%N-Methylaniline Market, by Production ProcessLiquid Phase Synthesis MethodGas Phase Synthesis MethodN-Methylaniline Market, by Key Consumers (End User)SolventDyesAgrochemicalsOthersGet customization & check discount for report @Table of ContentsGlobal N-Methylaniline Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & ApplicationsChapter One Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source1.2.1 Secondary SourcesBuy this report @1.2.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerChapter Two N-Methylaniline Market Overview2.1 Market Coverage2.2 Global N-Methylaniline Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-2022Chapter Three N-Methylaniline by Key Players 2012-20223.1 Global N-Methylaniline Sales Volume Market Share by Key Players 2012-20223.2 Global N-Methylaniline Revenue Share by Key Players 2012-20223.3 Global Key Players N-Methylaniline Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Key Players N-Methylaniline Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Four N-Methylaniline by Regions 2012-20224.1 Global N-Methylaniline Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20224.2 Global N-Methylaniline Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20224.3 Global N-Methylaniline Price by Regions 2012-20224.4 United States4.5 Europe4.5.1 Germany4.5.2 United Kingdom4.5.3 France4.5.4 Others in Europe4.6 China4.7 Japan4.8 India....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Pannier Market (Material, Production, Geography) 2017 Analysis and Forecast to 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/627179-global-pannier-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/627179-global-pannier-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=627179 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/627179-global-pannier-market A new research document with title 'Global Pannier Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & Applications covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia & Pacific, Southeast Asia, Africa & Middle East and important players/vendors such as Altura(UK), Arkel(CA), Axiom(CA), Blackburn(US), Brooks(UK) The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryThe global Pannier market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.This report offers an overview of the market trends, drivers, and barriers with respect to the Pannier market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market of different regions across United States, Europe, China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and Others. The report categorizes Pannier market by By Material, By Price, By Caparcity, By Additional Features, and application. Detailed analysis of key players, along with key growth strategies adopted by them is also covered in this report on Pannier market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Request a sample report @This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Key PlayersAltura(UK)Arkel(CA)Axiom(CA)Blackburn(US)Brooks(UK)Carradice(UK)Chrome(US)Crosso(PL)Fairweather(JP)Hyalite(US)Lone Peak(US)Mainstream(DE)Mixed Works(PL)Ortlieb(DE)Overboard(UK)Richard Jones(US)Salsa(US)Swift(ZA)Thule(US)Vaude(DE)Sannow(JP)Velo Transit(US)Ravanello(JP)YNOT(CA)Jakroo(US)Polaris(JP)MOON(US)EasyDo(CN)kingsir(CN)DEROACE(CN)Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsPannier Market, by MaterialNylonPolyesterCorduraPannier Market, by PriceUnder $30$30-$50$50-$70$70-$90$90 & UpPannier Market, by CaparcityUnder 10L10-15L15-20L20-25L25L & UpPannier Market, by Additional FeaturesWaterproofHookReflective trimPannier Market, by Key ConsumerTravelCommutingCommercialGet customization & check discount for report @Table of ContentsGlobal Pannier Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & ApplicationsChapter One Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source1.2.1 Secondary SourcesBuy this report @1.2.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerChapter Two Pannier Market Overview2.1 Market Coverage2.2 Global Pannier Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-2017Chapter Three Pannier by Key Players 2012-20173.1 Global Pannier Sales Volume Market Share by Key Players 2012-20173.2 Global Pannier Revenue Share by Key Players 2012-20173.3 Global Key Players Pannier Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Key Players Pannier Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Four Pannier by Regions 2012-20174.1 Global Pannier Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20174.2 Global Pannier Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20174.3 Global Pannier Price by Regions 2012-20174.4 North America4.4.1 United States4.4.2 Canada4.5 Latin America4.5.1 Mexico4.5.2 Brazil4.5.3 Argentina4.5.4 Others in Latin America4.6 Europe4.6.1 Germany4.6.2 United Kingdom....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Ethylene Glycol Market: Professional and Technical Industry Insights 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=482 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=482 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=D&rep_id=482 Ethylene Glycol Market: SnapshotOne of the key factors boosting the growth of the Chinese ethylene glycol market is the increasing demand for PET bottles from the packaging industry. As food brands are seeking safer and healthier packaging alternatives, demand for PET packaging is increasing, which in turn is driving the growth prospects of the Chinese ethylene glycol market. PET containers can help retain the food aroma, flavor, and appearance. As PET bottles are easy to handle, light in weight, and can be re-sealed without any inconvenience, their demand will continue to grow, which in turn will boost the growth of the ethylene glycol market. The lead author of the report has stated that the flourishing growth of the automotive industry will also be a driving factor for the growth of the ethylene glycol market in China.The demand for polyesters fibers for coated fabrics, seat belts, conveyor belt fabrics, in China will boost the growth of the market. This is because ethylene glycol is required for the manufacturing of polyester fibers. The Chinese ethylene glycol market is fragmented with the presence of small and large players. This is expected to create intense market competition among players. China has feedstock advantages and closer proximity to end-user markets, and this will drive the ethylene glycol in the country. The demand for ethylene glycol will rise from the downstream applications and textile industries. Fabrics made using polyester are extensively used in home furnishings, apparels, blankets, computer mouse pads, bed sheets, and upholstered furniture.Request Sample Copy of the Report @China Ethylene Glycol Market: OverviewThe China ethylene glycol market is likely to experience a tremendous growth, primarily due to the burgeoning demand for polyester fibers across the globe. Polyester fibers are widely used in the textile industry in the manufacturing of carpets, upholstery, conveyer belts, and seat belts. Ethylene glycol is an organic compound primarily used in the manufacturing of polyester fibers and polyethylene terephthalate. Globally, Asia Pacific is one of the key consumer as well as manufacturer of ethylene glycol. China is one of the important growth sites of the Asia Pacific market.At present, China uses conventional processes for the production of ethylene glycol. Manufacturers are shifting their focus from conventional petrochemical route to coal. The country is expected to commercialize its coal-based manufacturing processes in the forthcoming years across all projects. Several manufacturers in the country produce ethylene glycol using syngas, a mixture of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.Request TOC of the Report @The report is a complete, professional study for existing as well as new manufacturers in the China ethylene glycol market. It provides essential insights into the industry chain structure along with an extensive understanding of the upstream raw materials and downstream demand chain and import and export statistics. It also sheds light on the currently available production capacities and the efficiency at which they are utilized. The competitive landscape of the market has been derived using tools such as Porters five force analysis and market attractiveness analysis. It offers a detailed overview of drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends of the China ethylene glycol market.China Ethylene Glycol Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growing demand for PET resin from the food and beverage industry for the manufacturing of water bottles and food containers is driving the China ethylene glycol market. The rising demand for antifreeze agents is also bolstering the growth of the market. Ethylene glycol is used as antifreeze in the automotive industry. Moreover, it is extensively used in medical sterilization and as heat transfer agent and coolant in geothermal pumps and air conditioning systems. The increasing production capacity for ethylene glycol is favoring the growth of the market.On the flip side, the efficiency of the existing production setups is low and therefore, the output has not increased as significantly as production capacities have increased. Volatile prices and transportation of raw materials, particularly ethylene dioxide are primary concerns for players in the market.Get a discount @China Ethylene Glycol Market: Regional SegmentationEast China will be a prominent regional segment during the forecast period. Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangsu are the major revenue contributors to the growth of the region, primarily due to high ethylene glycol consumption in these provinces. Hebei province located in North China also serves as a major hub for the China market. Shijiazhuang Lanyang Chemicals Co. Ltd. and Shijiazhuang Panjiang Chemicals Ltd. are among the major producers of ethylene glycol in the province.China Ethylene Glycol Market: Key Manufacturers Mentioned in the ReportSome of the prominent players in the China ethylene glycol market are Jiangsu Tianyin Chemical Co. Ltd., Hebei Qilong Chemicals Co. Ltd., Royal Dutch Shell, Sinopec, China National Petroleum Corporation, and Anhui XinYuan Chemical Co. Ltd.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 DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA - Product Pipeline Analysis, 2017 Update https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1149982/diasource-immunoassays-sa-product-pipeline-analysis-2017-update-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1149982 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/1149982 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA - Product Pipeline Analysis, 2017 Update provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA (DIAsource), formerly BioSource Europe SA, a subsidiary of Anteo Diagnostics Ltd is a diagnostics company that develops, manufactures and markets clinical diagnostic products. The companys products comprise immunoassays, antibodies, instruments and RUO products. Its antibodies comprise osteocalcin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, adiponectin, aggrecan, calcitonin, alpha-fetoprotein, parathyroid hormone, carcino embryonic antigen, placental lactogen and thyroid stimulating hormone. DIAsources instruments comprise neptune instrument, automated system, ELISA reader, shaker, and washer. The company offers products in the fields of cardiovascular and salt balance, auto-immunity, gastrointestinal metabolism and fertility. It markets products in Belgium and abroad. DIAsource is headquartered in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.View Full Report :This report is a source for data, analysis, and actionable intelligence on the companys portfolio of pipeline products. The report provides key information about the company, its major products and brands.The report enhances decision making capabilities and help to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage.Download Sample copy of this Report at :Scope:- The report reviews detailed company profile with information on business description, key company facts, major products and services, key competitors, key employees, locations and subsidiaries and recent developments- The report analyzes all pipeline products in development for the company DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA- The report provides pipeline analysis on all pipeline products of the company (by equipment type, by indication, by development stage, and by trial status)- The report covers detailed information on each pipeline product with information on pipeline territory, stage of development, device class, regulatory path, indication(s), application(s) and estimated launch date- The report provides detailed description of products in development, technical specification and functions- The report also covers ongoing clinical trials (wherever applicable) with information on trial name, trial objective, sponsor, trial design , trial status and phase, estimated start and end date.Reasons to Buy:- Develop business strategies by understanding the trends and developments driving the medical devices pipeline and technology landscape- Design and develop your product development, marketing and sales strategies by understanding the competitor portfolio- To formulate effective Research & Development strategies- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies- Exploit in-licensing and out-licensing opportunities by identifying products, most likely to ensure a robust return- Plan mergers and acquisitions effectively by identifying key players of the most promising pipeline- Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage- Develop competition strategies by identifying the status and likely launch of the competitors pipeline products through review of the clinical trials, stage and of development, etc- Identify, understand and capitalize the next high-value products that your competitor would add in its portfolioSend An Enquiry Request :Table of ContentsTable of Contents 2List of Tables 3List of Figures 3DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA Company Overview 4DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA Company Snapshot 4DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA Pipeline Products and Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 4DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA Pipeline Analysis Overview 7DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA - Key Facts 7DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA - Major Products and Services 8DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA Pipeline Products by Development Stage 10DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA Pipeline Products Overview 121,25(OH)2 Vitamin D ELISA Kit 121,25(OH)2 Vitamin D ELISA Kit Product Overview 1225-OH Vitamin D Total ELISA Test 1325-OH Vitamin D Total ELISA Test Product Overview 13Cytomegalovirus IgG Torch Panel 14Cytomegalovirus IgG Torch Panel Product Overview 14Cytomegalovirus IgM Torch Panel 15Cytomegalovirus IgM Torch Panel Product Overview 15Rubella IgG Torch Panel 16Rubella IgG Torch Panel Product Overview 16Rubella IgM Torch Panel 17Rubella IgM Torch Panel Product Overview 17Toxoplasma IgG Torch Panel 18Toxoplasma IgG Torch Panel Product Overview 18Toxoplasma IgM Torch Panel 19Toxoplasma IgM Torch Panel Product Overview 19DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA - Key Competitors 20DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA - Key Employees 21DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA - Locations And Subsidiaries 22Head Office 22Recent Developments 23DIAsource ImmunoAssays SA, Recent Developments 23Jan 30, 2017: DIAsource Outperforms Expectations for CY2016 23Aug 02, 2016: Anteo & DIAsource launch new products at AACC 2016 23Mar 22, 2011: DIAsource ImmunoAssays Launches New 25OH Vitamin D Total RIA Test 24Appendix 25Methodology 25About GlobalData 27Contact Us 27Disclaimer 27About 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 Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Analysis, Segments, Growth and Value Chain 2017-2027 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4174 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4174 www.futuremarketinsights.com Plastic packaging can be defined as a casing of any products by bags, pouches, plastic containers or jars which can be used for industrial goods, food & beverages, personal care products, and household products. PET (polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (High-density polyethylene), LDPE (low-density polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride) are largely used for plastic packaging. Plastics can be simply altered or molded in any shape as per required in packaging for goods. Flexible plastic packaging is the fastest growing segments of the packaging industry which combines the good qualities of plastic to deliver an extensive range of useful properties while using the minimum amount of material. Plastic packaging is largely used in industrial applications and in consumer products which help the product the products.Flexible plastic packaging is a type of packaging where plastics that are used is thin, light, and which are simply stretchable but yet retain the obstacle properties and tear and puncture resistant features that are why it is used for packaging products. Flexible plastic packaging is cheap, visually appealing and chemically inert which increases the brand demand of the products that are used in packing. Mostly Flexible plastic packaging are used for fast moving unit loads and to pack non-durable which has limited bulk industrial use with the exemption of FIBCs.Request Report Sample@Flexible packaging helps in reducing the waste of food as the shelf life of the food product is increased according to Industry Council for Research and Packaging on the Environment (INCPEN). Advanced packaging for milk pouches is helping the transportation easy and without nay refrigeration possible.Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market: SegmentationBased on the pack type, Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market can be segmented into:PouchesFlat PouchesStandup PouchesRetort PouchesBagsGusseted BagsWicketed BagsOthersSleeve LabelsBased on the material, Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market can be segmented into:PlasticPoly PropylenePolyester FilmPoly EthyleneLow-Density Poly Ethylene (LDPE)High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE)Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)Aluminum FoilPaperOthersBased on the application, Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market can be segmented into:Food PackagingReady-to-eat foodsProcessed foodsBakery foodsPet FoodsFruits and VegetablesOthersBeverage PackagingWaterDrinksJuicesOthersCosmetics PackagingHealthcare Product PackagingBlood bagsSaline BottlesBased on the Printing Technology, Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market can be segmented into:Digital PrintingFlexography PrintingOffset PrintingScreen PrintingRotogravure PrintingBased on the end-use industry, Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market can be segmented into:Food and BeverageHealthcarePersonal and HomecareOthersGlobal Flexible Plastic Packaging Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of the geographical market segment, Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market is segmented into seven different regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia-Pacific region, Japan and the Middle East and Africa.In regional segments, Asia-Pacific is the leading market for the global flexible plastic packaging market and is anticipated to continue its position during the forecast period. The expansion is mainly attributed to increasing of the packaging industry due to emerging markets in China and India followed by North America. Moreover, the flexible plastic packaging market in Europe is also rising during the forecast period as the application of flexible plastic packaging in food packaging industries is increasing.Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market is expected to witness sustained growth over the forecast period. Flexible plastic packaging has made the life of the consumers easier due to its functionality and sustainability which is the major factor for the growth of flexible plastic packaging market growth across the globe. Nowadays, a variety of pouches can be easily found in the supermarket, grocery stores, and various other stores.Rising Demand of flexible plastic packaging market from Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Industry is also boosting the flexible plastic packaging market.Furthermore, the fluctuating prices of raw materials are the major restraints in the growth for flexible plastic packaging manufacturers.Visit For TOC@Global Flexible Plastic Packaging Market: Key PlayersSome of the players operating in the Flexible Plastic Packaging Market includes Amcor, BASF S.E., AEP Industries, Amcor, Bemis Company, Constantia Flexibles, Berry Plastics, DS Smith, Sealed Air, Sonoco, Bischof + Klein SE & Co. KG and few other regional players. As the plastic Packaging is being accepted in most of the products. Manufacturers of flexible plastic packaging are improving their packaging to attract the consumers.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Red Wine Market by top key players Chateau Lafite, Chateau Latour, Romanee-Conti forecast to 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/627206-global-red-wine-market-5 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/627206-global-red-wine-market-5 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=627206 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/627206-global-red-wine-market-5 A new research document with title 'Global Red Wine Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & Applications covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia & Pacific, Southeast Asia, Africa & Middle East and important players/vendors such as Chateau Lafite(FR), Chateau Latour(FR), Romanee-Conti(FR), Petrus(FR), LePin(FR) The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryThe global Red Wine market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.This report offers an overview of the market trends, drivers, and barriers with respect to the Red Wine market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market of different regions across United States, Europe, China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and Others. The report categorizes Red Wine market by By Still Wine, By Glucose Content, By Carbon Dioxide, and application. Detailed analysis of key players, along with key growth strategies adopted by them is also covered in this report on Red Wine market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Request a sample report @This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Key PlayersChateau Cheval Blanc(FR)Mouton Rothschild(FR)Chateau Rayas(FR)Chateau D'yquem(FR)Chateau Ausone(FR)Chateau Lafite(FR)Chateau Latour(FR)Romanee-Conti(FR)Petrus(FR)LePin(FR)Domaine Leroy(FR)Chateau Ste.Michelle(US)Coppola(US)Silerado(US)Ochagavia(Chile)Rawsons Retreat(AU)Penfolds(AU)Monopole(Spain)Baron Rouge(Spain)Tomillar(Spain)Piccini(IT)Alois Lageder(IT)Pinino(IT)Changyu Group(CN)Great Wall red wine(CN)Dynasty(CN)MOGAO(CN)Niya(CN)Grand Dragon(CN)Tonhwa(CN)Key RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain types of productsRed Wine Market, by Still WineRed WineWhite WineRosewineRed Wine Market, by Glucose ContentDry WineHalf Dry WineHalf A Sweet WinesSweet WinesRed Wine Market, by Carbon DioxideStatic WineSparkling WineRed Wine Market, by Key ConsumerHealth MaintenanceBeautyDelaying SenescenceDressingKeep The Tumors At BayGet customization & check discount for report @Table of ContentsGlobal Red Wine Market Research Report 2017-2022 by Players, Regions, Product Types & ApplicationsChapter One Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data SourceBuy this report @1.2.1 Secondary Sources1.2.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerChapter Two Red Wine Market Overview2.1 Market Coverage2.2 Global Red Wine Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2012-2017Chapter Three Red Wine by Key Players 2012-20173.1 Global Red Wine Sales Volume Market Share by Key Players 2012-20173.2 Global Red Wine Revenue Share by Key Players 2012-20173.3 Global Key Players Red Wine Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Key Players Red Wine Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Four Red Wine by Regions 2012-20174.1 Global Red Wine Sales Market Share by Regions 2012-20174.2 Global Red Wine Revenue Market Share by Regions 2012-20174.3 Global Red Wine Price by Regions 2012-20174.4 North America4.4.1 United States4.4.2 Canada4.5 Latin America4.5.1 Mexico4.5.2 Brazil4.5.3 Argentina4.5.4 Others in Latin America4.6 Europe4.6.1 Germany4.6.2 United Kingdom....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Grasp wearable app development today and reap profits for time to come http://canopusinfosystems.com/mobile-development/ The technology aims at simplifying life and standout amongst the most influential technological advancements have been the development of wearables. Wearable innovation is not just about being your personal fitness buddy anymore. They do a ton more than that. Consolidating the capability of the Internet of Things and wearables have been changing lives in a lot of ways.Now, why wouldnt it? Imagine, if you could fit the greater part of the functionalities of a smartphone on a little wearable gadget, if you could make your accessories more practical than only decorating your outfit, would that not make life simpler?Read More:Wearable innovation is the developing trend of fusing electronics with standard accessories, for example, glasses, watches, and wrist bracelets. These gadgets can offer various advantages to organizations by expanding efficiency, enhancing customer experiences, and lowering human error. These advancements can be utilized over multiple industries including retail, healthcare, finance, education, and gaming. Canopus' Wearable Technology team implemented solutions for the Wearable Technology Industry belonging to the clientele around the globe. Canopus separates itself in giving industry specific expertise combined with its economical cost, high productivity model.One of the key factors that will decide the achievement of such wearable technologies is the associated software of the gadget. It is completely basic to have a consistent integration and synchronization between software and hardware. The designed software should accurately capture the data sent by hardware, analyze the information, and present it to the end user such that they can derive knowledge and take significant decisions. For instance, the information captured by sensors of a wearable gadget has to be recorded, synced and investigated by its associated programming software like a mobile app or a web-based dashboard. If this can not be achieved properly, the wearable technology will simply remain a cool fashion accessory and won't be effective for its real purpose.Canopus Infosystems Pvt. Ltd. is good to go to help you to take a monster walk for the future of technology with a scope of wearable application development services. Right from strategy, design, development to deployment, Canopus is your trusted partner in Wearable app development process. Regardless of whether you are searching for smart watches app development, for example, Apple Watch & Android Wear or fitness tracker apps, we can take your wearable app thought to the next level.As an expert mobile app development company, Canopus specialize in building customized wearable apps that run effectively on advanced wearable gadgets like glasses and smart watches. Our well versed app developers personally have a belief in staying ahead of time and thus, consistently update our insights and expertise to give the best solutions to our clients. Be it a health app for Apples iWatch or an enterprise application for Google Glass; we give end-to-end solutions to help our client conceptualize, design and develop apps that are robust, interactive and engaging.Canopus Infosystems is an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company that specializes in providing outsourced web & mobile development and testing services to clients worldwide. We are a full software services provider creating best in class web and mobile solutions for some of the most exciting startups and progressive enterprises.303-304, Airen Heights, PU 3Scheme 54, A. B. Road, Opp. OrbitMall,Indore M.P.INDIA 452010Phone: +91 731-2551963Email: sales@canopusinfosystems.com Animal Feed Micronutrients Market: Objective Assessment of the trajectory of the Industry http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=21863 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/animal-feed-micronutrients-market.html The global animal feed micronutrients market has witnessed a major transition in terms of quality control and demand, over the past few years. They are considered to be an important animal feed additive and are widely used for improving feed quality in order to enhance yield and the overall health of the cattle. Animal feed micronutrients support complex functions in animal production and help in the improvement of enzyme system operation which is expected to exhibit a positive influence on the growth of the market.Download Research Brochure For More Information@Rising demand for protein food due to nutritional deficiencies is one of the key factors influencing the growth of the market at present. Increasing pet adoption is another key factor influencing the growth of the animal feed micronutrients market. According to the ACSPA, and approximate of 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted every year in the U.S. Further, according to the American Pet Products Association, an approximate of 78 million dogs and 85 million cats are owned in the U.S. This has called for an increase in expenditure on animal care combined with the success of animal feed micronutrients in fertility and growth in the animals has shown a positive effect on the growth of the market. Moreover, escalating demand of animal protein from meat and milk producing cattle combined with the recent disease epidemic in cattle is another major factor fuelling the demand for animal feed micronutrients market, globally.However, the market is likely to be restrained by the lack of awareness about such products and the benefits associated with them among poor and uneducated farmers. Critical dosage application is yet another major factor restraining the growth of the market at present.However, rising meat export and rapid urbanization rising export of meat is expected to retain the growth of the market in the coming years. Further, innovations taken up by the leading manufacturers operating in the field of animal feed micronutrients is yet another opportunity for the growth of the market.Based on micronutrients, the market is classified into zinc, iron, copper and manganese. Based on livestock, the market is classified into poultry, ruminant, swine, aqua and equine. Ruminant and poultry are expected to be the dominant segments and are expected to retain market dominance throughout the forecast period due to rising demand for the same from farm owners. Further, rising meat consumption coupled with a rapid shift towards poultry food is anticipated to complement the growth of the market.Based on geography, the market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period. This is due to the large population of cattle in Asia Pacific. North America and Europe are expected to project fair growth during the forecast period. U.S. is the major market for animal feed micronutrients in North America while Argentina and Brazil are two of the major markets in Latin America. Asia Pacific however is the fastest growing region due to the increasing demand for the same from India and China. China and India are the major contributors to the growth of the animal feed micronutrients market in Asia Pacific.Browse Report@The global animal feed micronutrients market is marked by some intense competition from the major players operating in this market. Frequent mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships, product innovations and expansions are some of the key strategies adopted by these players in order to ensure sustenance in this market. Major players include Archer Daniels Midlands Company, Cargill Inc., Lallemand Inc., Novus International Inc., Nutreco N.V., Zinpro Corporation and Kemin Industries among others.About Us:-Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact Us:-State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Welding Helmet China Market by Top Manufacturers Lincoln Electric, Illinois Tool Works, Kimberly-Clark, ESAB forecast to 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/624222-china-welding-helmet-market-by-manufacturers-regions https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/624222-china-welding-helmet-market-by-manufacturers-regions https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=624222 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/624222-china-welding-helmet-market-by-manufacturers-regions A new research document with title 'China Welding Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Regions (Province), Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like South China, Southwest China, East China, Northeast China, North China and important players/vendors such as Lincoln Electric, Illinois Tool Works, Kimberly-Clark, ESAB (Colfax Corporation), Optrel AG The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryWelding helmets are a type of headgear used while performing welding in order to protect you from harmful radiations emitted during the process; welding helmets also protect your face, neck against the flame and flashes generated during the welding.Request a sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Welding Helmet in China market, to split the market based on manufacturers, Regions (Province), type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversLincoln ElectricIllinois Tool WorksKimberly-ClarkESAB (Colfax Corporation)Optrel AG3MSellstrom Manufacturing CompanyHoneywellArcOneKEMPER AMERICASave Phace, Inc.Market Segment by Regions (Province), coveringSouth ChinaSouthwest ChinaEast ChinaNortheast ChinaNorth ChinaMarket Segment by Type, coversPassive Welding HelmetAuto Darkening Welding HelmetsMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoAutomotiveHeavy EquipmentAerospaceElectronics, Medical, Precision InstrumentsEnergy and ChemicalThere are 18 Chapters to deeply display the China Welding Helmet market.Chapter 1, to describe Welding Helmet Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by Region (province), market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Get customization & check discount for report @Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Welding Helmet, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4,to show the China market by Regions (Province),covering South China,East China,Southwest China,North China,Northeast China,Northwest China and Central China,with sales, price,revenue and market share of Welding Helmet,for each region,from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7,8,9,10,11,12 and 13 to analyze the key Province by Type and Application,covering South China,East China,Southwest China,North China,Northwest China,Central China and Northeast China,with sales,revenue and market share by types and applications;Buy this report @Chapter 14, Welding Helmet market forecast, by Regions (Province), type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 15, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 16, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 17, to describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 18, to describe Welding Helmet Appendix, methodology and data source....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Global Surgical Lamp Market Is Expected To Boost, Driven By Rapid Improvements In Variant Market Research https://www.variantmarketresearch.com/report-categories/life-sciences/surgical-lamp-market https://www.variantmarketresearch.com/report-categories/life-sciences/surgical-lamp-market/sample-request www.variantmarketresearch.com Global Surgical Lamp Market Report, published by Variant Market Research, forecast that the global market is expected to reach $859 billion by 2024 from $602 billion in 2016, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2016 to 2024. By geography, Asia-Pacific and North America are expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% and 4.5%, respectively, during the forecast period.Increasing need for advanced applications of cost-saving surgical light lamps, rise in number of surgeries, rapid improvements in healthcare facilities, and rising technological advancements are the various factors supporting the growth of the global surgical lamp market. However, high costs of these lamps may hamper the market growth. Government initiatives supporting the implementation of energy-efficient surgical lamps would provide new business opportunities for the market players in the coming years.Browse Complete Report @The global surgical lamp market has been segmented on the basis of product type, technology, type of light, and geography. By product type, the market is categorized into ceiling mount surgical lamp, surgical headlight lamp, dental light lamp, laser light, and others. Technology segment is sub-segmented into LED surgical lamps, CFL surgical lamps, and halogen surgical lamps. By type of light, the market is bifurcated into colour rendition light, homogenous light, special germicidal ultraviolet ray, vein light, and others. Ceiling mount surgical lamp and surgical headlight lamp accounted for majority of the share in the overall product type segment in 2016. LED surgical lamps dominated the technology segment accounting for the largest market share in 2016.Download Free Sample of this Report @North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the world (RoW) are the geographical classifications of surgical lamp market. In 2016, North America accounted for the largest market share of 41.3% followed by Europe which accounted 28.4%. In terms of growth, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period 2016 2024. The growth would be majorly driven by growth in geriatric population, and rising demand for energy-efficient and cost-effective lamps.Major companies operating in the global surgical lamp market include, Steris Corporation, KLS Martin Group, DRE INC., Integra LifeSciences Corporation, Stryker Corporation, Skytron, A-dec, Inc., Waldmann GmbH & Co. KG, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Welch Allyn, and Herbert, among others.About Variant Market Research:Variant Market Research LLP was delineated in 2015 and to launch our business and website it grabbed more than a year. Our head office is based in Pune and we also have branch in San Francisco, California, the U.S. The long time was generally used to build up a talented team of experienced professionals and analysts, to generate client satisfying exact market analysis data. The company aims to be a specialist in delivering reports on various domains with precise analysis, keeping a virtuous relationship with our consumers. Our vision says, "We would like to grow with you, making your paths simpler yet solidest" and our mission is to "Implementing our analytical, technical and marketing skills to set a new goal for our consumers, dedicatedly helping them take their next strategic moves.Contact Us:Variant Market ResearchWebsite:Email: help@variantmarketresearch.comAddress: 649 Mission St, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, United States.Tel: +1-415-680-2785Fax: +1-415-680-2786 Forecast the Global Gonorrhea Testing Market Size, Status 2022 - Top Players are Alere, Bayer, DiaSorin, Biomerieux, Danaher Corporation etc. http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1040475 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-gonorrhea-testing-market-size-status-and-forecast-2022-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG http://healthcare-research-report.blogspot.in/ ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Global Gonorrhea Testing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 " to it's Large Report database.This report studies the global Gonorrhea Testing market, analyzes and researches the Gonorrhea Testing development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeAbbott LaboratoriesBayer AGMerck and Company IncAgilent TechnologiesBiomerieuxDanaher CorporationThermo Fisher ScientificAlere IncDiaSorinBristol-Myers SquibbF. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Gonorrhea Testing can be split intoNucleic Acid Amplification (NAA)Gram StainEnzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)Browse more details @Table of ContentsGlobal Gonorrhea Testing Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Gonorrhea Testing1.1 Gonorrhea Testing Market Overview1.1.1 Gonorrhea Testing Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Gonorrhea Testing Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Gonorrhea Testing Market by Type1.3.1 Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA)1.3.2 Gram Stain1.3.3 Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)1.4 Gonorrhea Testing Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Hospitals1.4.2 Pathology Lab1.4.3 Point of Care TestingAbout 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: Airbus and UK MoD discuss next steps for Skynet 6 at Global MilSatCom 2017 www.globalmilsatcom.com/openpr www.globalmilsatcom.com/openpr http://www.globalmilsatcom.com/openpr http://www.smi-online.co.uk SMi Groups 19th Global MilSatCom Conference will showcase exclusive presentations from the UK Ministry of Defence and Airbus.This comes at a relevant time with the UK MoD recently granting Airbus a contract to oversee the manufacture, assembly, integration and launch of Skynet 6. This acquisition will fill the capacity gap as the Skynet 5 constellation approaches its end-of-life, and will deliver sovereign and secure satcom capability for the UK.In an exclusive host nation address Air Commodore Nick Hay, Head of Capability C4ISR & SRO, HQ Joint Forces Command will provide the Ministry of Defences Perspective on MilSatCom. Opening the three-day event, Air Commodore Hay will touch on the current space policy, lessons learned from Wargaming and Skynet 5, as well as next steps on Skynet 6.Concurrently, Airbus will be presenting three exclusive talks at the event.Richard Franklin, Head of Secure Communications, will explore Ubiquitous Communications where he will discuss the exploitation of networks, big data, and the importance of security.Hughes Boulnois, Head of SpaceDataHighway, will hold a session on The Importance of Airborne Connectivity and Enabling Assets. This explores the benefits of laser communications for aircraft and EO satellites, as well as enhanced defence applications.Dr Tanvir Ahmad of Airbus MilSatCom Space Systems will talk about recent innovations and future trends to combat complex military needs.Airbus will also be hosting a networking drinks reception on Day 2 of Global MilSatCom 2017.More information can be found onSMi Groups Global MilSatCom 2017, which takes place on 7-9 November 2017 will bring together 500 international senior military and key industry representatives to network, benchmark, and learn about the latest developments and issues in SatCom technology. Key themes will include the GovSatCom initiative, the Wideband Analysis of Alternatives, satcom-on-the-move, addressing commercial challenges, and updates on future military capabilities.Esteemed speakers this year will include a high calibre of military representatives from nations including Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nigeria, New Zealand, Spain, UK and USA.The event will also see the presence of senior decision makers within the industry including SES, Advantech Wireless, Aerospace Corporation, Boeing, ComTech, Cubic|GATR Technologies, ETL Systems, Eutelsat, GovSat, Hughes, IAI Elta, Inmarsat, Inster, Intelsat, Kratos, L3 Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Newtec, Raytheon, Scisys, Thales, Unique Broadband Systems, ViaSat, XTAR and more.The full roster of speakers and exhibitors for Global MilSatCom 2017 can be found onThose interested in attending are advised to register on the event website, or contact SMi Group to secure participation.19th Global MilSatCom Conference and Exhibition7-9 November 2017Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, London, UK---ENDS---Contact Information:For queries on military bookings, contact James Hitchen on jhitchen@smi-online.co.uk. For sponsorship and exhibition details, contact Alia Malick on amalick@smi-online.co.uk. For media enquiries contact Honey de Gracia on hdegracia@smi-online.co.uk.About SMi Group:Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the worlds most forward thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found at1 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7XW Cost Structure of Manuka Honey Market (Top Manufacturers, Key Features, Material, Production & Geography) Strategic Assessment and Forecast Till 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/449573-global-manuka-honey-market-3 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/449573-global-manuka-honey-market-3 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=449573 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/449573-global-manuka-honey-market-3 HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 108 pages on title 'Global Manuka Honey Market Research Report 2017 with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions that includes North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and important players such as Manuka Health, Arataki Honey, Watson & Son, Streamland.SummaryIn this report, the global Manuka Honey 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 Manuka Honey in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaRequest a sample report @Global Manuka Honey market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingComvitaManuka HealthArataki HoneyWatson & SonStreamlandPure Honey New ZealandKirksBees HoneyCapilanoNature's WayOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoUMF 5+UMF 10+UMF 15+UMF 20+OthersOn 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 Manuka Honey for each application, includingDigestion and inflammation treatmentWound-care & skincare productsOther usesIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Get Customization in the Report, Enquire Now @Table of ContentsGlobal Manuka Honey Market Research Report 20171 Manuka Honey Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Manuka Honey1.2 Manuka Honey Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Manuka Honey Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Manuka Honey Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 UMF 5+1.2.4 UMF 10+1.2.5 UMF 15+1.2.6 UMF 20+1.2.7 Others1.3 Global Manuka Honey Segment by Application1.3.1 Manuka Honey Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Digestion and inflammation treatment1.3.3 Wound-care & skincare products1.3.4 Other uses1.4 Global Manuka Honey Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Manuka Honey 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)Buy this report @1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Manuka Honey (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Manuka Honey Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Manuka Honey Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Manuka Honey Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Manuka Honey Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Manuka Honey Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Manuka Honey Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Manuka Honey Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Manuka Honey Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Manuka Honey Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Manuka Honey Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Manuka Honey Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Manuka Honey Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Manuka Honey Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Manuka Honey Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Manuka Honey Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Manuka Honey Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Manuka Honey Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Manuka Honey Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Manuka Honey Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Manuka Honey Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Manuka Honey Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Manuka Honey Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Manuka Honey Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Biostimulants Global Market by Crop Type, Data Validation, Trends, Analysis and Forecasts to 2023 Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/biostimulants-global-market-outlook-2017-2023 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001888463/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001888463/buying According to Publisher, the Global Biostimulants Market is accounted for $1.50 billion in 2016 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.1% to reach $3.79 billion by 2023. The market is expected to grow gradually due to growing importance for organic products in agriculture industry. Rising government funding and increasing concerns regarding sustainable agriculture has broaden the scope for biostimulant manufacturers. On the other hand, huge R&D costs and lack of awareness about biostimulants products are inhibiting the market growth.Foliar application segment accounted for the largest market share throughout the forecast period. Acid-based biostimulants segment commanded the largest market share, because raw materials for these biostimulants are obtained easily and highly efficient compared to other ingredients. Based on crop type, Row crops segment dominated the market followed by fruits & vegetables segment. Europe accounted for the largest share of the global market followed by North America. Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market due to the strong demand to improve crop productivity of cereals and oilseeds within the agricultural practices.For more information @Some of the key players in Global Biostimulants Market are Agrinos AS, Atlantica Agricola, Biostadt India Ltd, Brandt Consoliated Inc, Ilsa SPA, Isagro S.P.A., Italpollina SPA, Koppert B.V., Laboratoires Goemar S.A.S, Micromix Plant Health Ltd, Omex Agrifluids Ltd, Taminco, Tradeecorp Internationals, Valagro SPA, Arysta Lifescience Corporation and Lallemand Plant Care.Crop Types Covered:-Fruits & Vegetables-Turf & Ornamentals-Row Crops & Cereals-Other Crop TypesActive Ingredients Covered:-Extract-Based- Seaweed Extracts- Other Plant Extracts-Acid-Based- Amino Acid- Fulvic Acid- Humic Acid-Other Active Ingredients- Chitin & Chitosan- Microbial Soil Amendments- B-Vitamins- Protein HydrolysatesRequest Sample CopyApplications Covered:-Soil-Seed-FoliarForms Covered:-Liquid formulation-Dry formulationBrands Covered:-Auxym-Italpollina SAP-Ratchet-Novozymes A/S-Maxicrop-Valagro SAP-Pilatus-Arysta Lifescience Corporation-T-Wave-Valagro SAP-Torque-NovozymesRegions Covered:-North America- US- Canada- Mexico-Europe- Germany- France- Italy- UK- Spain- Rest of Europe-Asia Pacific- Japan- China- India- Australia- New Zealand- Rest of Asia Pacific-Rest of the World- Middle East- Brazil- Argentina- South Africa- EgyptMake an enquiry: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 Four effective methods used by network monitoring outsourcing services www.sumasoft.com Texas (USA), Canada (Toronto) & India (Business Network)- 2nd August 2017:According to Research and Markets, network monitoring market to grow at a CAGR of around 6.7% from 2015 to 2025. Many organizations deal with network related outages problem. One solution for this problem is using network monitoring tools for in-house. Unfortunately not all the organizations have proper knowledge of using the tools and end up in dead investments. 34% of organizations with 11+ tools experience several network-related outages everyday.What is Network Monitoring Outsourcing?It is not feasible for organizations to have a network monitoring team of expert resources in-house with all latest technology and tools. Network monitoring outsourcing includes using a system to monitor network and notifying network administrator about the slow or failing components in case of outages or other issues. It measures CPU utilization of hosts, utilization of network bandwidth links, etc.It also uses various methodologies to maintain security and integrity of an internal network. Due to the bitter truth that small organizations do not apply security measures, hackers are attacking more on these organizations. It is high time small as well as middle level organizations start network monitoring outsourcing.What are the 4 methods of Effective Network Monitoring Outsourcing?Intrusion detection: It includes monitoring local area networks for unauthorized access by hackers. Some organizations conduct intrusion detection manually but most of them prefer automated process. These automated intrusion detection identifies viruses, malware, backdoors, network vulnerabilities and security threats.Packet sniffing: It includes inspection of every packet of information transferred from one network to another. Packet sniffing is done to avoid information stealing and hacker spying. It detects unauthorized network monitoring software.Vulnerability scanning: It periodically scans the network to detect vulnerabilities and weakness which may lead to exploit. It is different from intrusion detection since it detects weakness before it attacks or affects the network.Firewall monitoring: It monitors the traffic coming inside and going outside the network. It tracks firewall activities to check incoming and outgoing connection are functioning properly and securely.Network monitoring outsourcing engineers monitor and manage the working and performance of routers, servers, websites, applications, networks, etc.About Suma Soft: Suma Soft is one of the top companies that offers network monitoring outsourcing to leading IT, Healthcare, Insurance and BFSI companies across the world. We offer intelligent remote monitoring solutions, security monitoring and offers real time reports.Suma Soft has been an industry leader for over 17 years. We provide advanced BPO Solutions in USA-based environment, Software Development Solutions across USA and India, Technical Support Services, IT Security Audit Solutions USA and IT Security Consulting and Implementation Services.For Free Consultation, please leave message here...Name: Rick CooperCall or Whatsapp : +1 281 764 1825Email : info@sumasoft.comwebsite:7880 San Felipe Street,Ste 120,Houston TX 77063-1647 Bunker Fuel Global Market by End User, Data Validation, Trends, Analysis and Forecasts to 2023 Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/bunker-fuel-global-market-outlook-2017-2023 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001888465/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001888465/buying According to Publisher, the Global Bunker Fuel Market is expected to grow from $98,111.00 million in 2016 to reach $1,47,008.89 million by 2023 with a CAGR of 5.9%. Growing demand in oil & gas sector for offshore exploration and extraction activities, raise in ocean-borne field and increasing support from government are some of the key factors propelling the market growth. However, policies like fuel reduction and replacement of fuel by LNG are the major factors restricting the market size.Based on the end user, container vessels segment is estimated to lead the market during the forecast period as the container vessels require less manpower than cargo vessels. The European region is witnessing high growth rate due to existence of busiest trade routes and choke points in the region.For more information @Some of the key players in Global Bunker Fuel Market include Royal Dutch Shell Plc, KPI Bridge Oil A/S, Gazpromneft Marine Bunker LLC, GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Chemoil Energy Limited, Bunker Holding A/S, BP PLC, Bomin Bunker Oil Corp, Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc., Lukoil-Bunker LLC and World Fuel Services Corporation.End Users Covered:-Oil Tanker-General Cargo-Gas Tanker-Fishing-Container-Chemical Tanker-Bulk Carrier-Other End UsersTypes Covered:-Residual Fuel Oil-Distillate FuelFuel Grades Covered:-Marine Diesel Oil (or) Marine Gas Oil(MDO/MGO)-Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 180-Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 380-Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 500-Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 700-Low Sulfur (LS) 380-Low Sulfur (LS) 180Request Sample CopyCommercial distributors Covered:-Small Independent-large Independent-Major Oil CompaniesRegions Covered:-North America- US- Canada- Mexico-Europe- Germany- France- Italy- UK- Spain- Rest of Europe-Asia Pacific- Japan- China- India- Australia- New Zealand- Rest of Asia Pacific-Rest of the World- Middle East- Brazil- Argentina- South Africa- EgyptMake an enquiry: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 2017 Coffee Machine Europe Market by Top 5 countries Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/510189-europe-coffee-machine-market-4 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/510189-europe-coffee-machine-market-4 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=510189 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/510189-europe-coffee-machine-market-4 A new research document with title 'Europe Coffee Machine Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy and important players/vendors such as Delonghi, Philips Senseo, Bosch, Melitta, Illy The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryCoffee machine is cooking appliance used to brew coffee. Common commercially available coffee machine contains different types using different brewing principles. Its application includes household, office and commercial consumption.Request a sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Coffee Machine in Europe market, especially in Germany, UK, France, Russia, and Italy. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversNespressoDelonghiPhilips SenseoBoschMelittaIllyMorphy RichardsRussel HobbsElectroluxGaggiaLavazzaJuraKrupsLa CimbaliDualitMarket Segment by Countries, coveringGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyMarket Segment by Type, coversDrip Coffee MachineSteam Coffee MachineCapsule Coffee MachineMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoCommercial Coffee MachineOffice Coffee MachineHousehold Coffee MachineThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the Europe Coffee Machine market.Get customization & check discount for report @Chapter 1, to describe Coffee Machine Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Coffee Machine, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers in Europe, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Europe market by countries, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Coffee Machine, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type and application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key countries by manufacturers, Type and Application, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Buy this report @Chapter 12, Coffee Machine market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe Coffee Machine sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Coffee Machine Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Global Heavy Oil Market 2017 Industry Trends, Growth, Analysis and Overview: QYResearchReports http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1055670&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-heavy-oil-market-research-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Heavy Oil Market Research Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the global Heavy Oil market, providing the market players with all the major trends in the market. In this report, growth of the global Heavy Oil market is estimated for the forecast period 2017-2022 in terms of CAGR % and the estimated value by end of the forecast period is included. The present scenario of this market is explained along with the projected future outline of the market. The various trends affecting the global Heavy Oil market are comprised in this report. This report is compiled with extensive primary and secondary research, which has resulted in precise estimations of the market scenario. The report also features an in-depth quantitative and qualitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from market participants and industry analysts across key points in the industrys value chain.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @This report includes the trajectory of the global Heavy Oil market, assessment of the parent market, historical, current, and projected size of the market, market segmentation up to the second or third level, and important changes in market dynamics all with a motive to provide the readers with complete knowledge of the market. In this report, the global Heavy Oil market is segmented for various categories such as product types, geographical regions, applications, services, technology, and others, whichever application. The geographical segmentation includes the market shares by each major region and the projected growth for forecast period.Trends that are shaping this market are analyzed and their effect on the global Heavy Oil market are evaluated. The effects of technological advancements in this industry are described and the strategies of prominent players to cope up with the changing scenarios are included. Basic information of prominent players, hurdles faced by them, opportunities present in the future, and their major competitions are incorporated in this report.Table of ContentsGlobal Heavy Oil Market Research Report 20171 Heavy Oil Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Heavy Oil1.2 Heavy Oil Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Heavy Oil Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Heavy Oil Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Heavy Crude Oil1.2.4 Viscous Crude Oil1.2.5 Coal Tar Creosote1.3 Global Heavy Oil Segment by Application1.3.1 Heavy Oil Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Metallurgy1.3.3 Fuel1.3.4 Machine Manufacturing1.4 Global Heavy Oil Market by Region (2012-2022)Browse Complete Report with TOC @2 Global Heavy Oil Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Heavy Oil Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Heavy Oil Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Heavy Oil Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Heavy Oil Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Heavy Oil Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Heavy Oil Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type3 Global Heavy Oil Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Heavy Oil Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Heavy Oil Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Heavy Oil Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Heavy Oil Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Heavy Oil Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Heavy Oil Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Heavy Oil Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Heavy Oil Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Heavy Oil Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Heavy Oil Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Heavy Oil Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Heavy OilFigure Global Heavy Oil Production (K MT) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Heavy Oil Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of Heavy Crude OilTable Major Manufacturers of Heavy Crude OilFigure Product Picture of Viscous Crude OilTable Major Manufacturers of Viscous Crude OilQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Calling all captains: on demand boating app HOBA expands down the east coast https://www.hobarides.com/ https://www.facebook.com/hobarides/ https://twitter.com/HOBA_Rides HOBA, the 'Hop on a boat anywhere' mobile app is expanding its reach from its roots in Charleston, S.C., further up and down the east coast. Taking it to great locations like Myrtle Beach, Beaufort, and Hilton Head, SC, plus Savannah, Lake Lanier and Lake Norman, HOBA aims to connect charter passengers with boat captains on a ride-hailing app for fun on the water.Would-be passengers can download the app to find the best boat captains near them, book a trip now or at any time in the future, pay within the app and hop onboard. HOBA is also committed to helping more potential captains get their captain's license by offering to pay for the captain's license fee after $4,000 in bookings with HOBA. Boat owners working exclusively in lakes won't need a captain's license.HOBA founder, David Yates said, "We're delighted to confirm the expansion of HOBA along the east coast as requests have been flooding in all over the U.S. Our app is unique and this growth means that we can help more users experience the luxury of a private charter, while also giving boat captains and boat owners who want to get their license a flexible, easy way to generate more revenue from their crafts.""It was a sticker on the door at Seaschool which sparked my interest in HOBA back in February. At first, I wasn't sure what I'd do with my Captain's License; would I set out on my own, or work exclusively with HOBA? It's been nearly a month since I got my first ride, just a trip for four from Bristol to Shem Creek for dinner. It turned out to be something they'd remember forever. This is why I continued with the app because I can give folks memories, and I can continue to do what I love, boating and fishing around Charleston," said HOBA Captain Kelly Floresperger.With over 6800 downloads of HOBA in 3 months, and HOBA's latest expansion, captains will now find it easier than ever to earn great income when they sign up. Travelers will likewise be able to connect with boat captains in their area and experience an incredible trip out on local waters that they might not have found otherwise.Find out more and download the HOBA app for both Apple and Android atConnect with HOBA on social media:Facebook:Twitter:HOBA is a ride-hailing app for boat captains and passengers, based in Charleston, South Carolina. Connecting boat owners and travelers, HOBA gives passengers the unique opportunity to charter a boat with friends and family and lets boat captains set their own rates and earn extra money.1312 Bluebird Drive, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 2017 Colloidal Silica Europe Market by Top 5 Manufacturers in Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/621180-europe-colloidal-silica-market-2 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/621180-europe-colloidal-silica-market-2 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=621180 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/621180-europe-colloidal-silica-market-2 A new research document with title 'Europe Colloidal Silica Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy and important players/vendors such as Grace, Nalco, Fuso Chemical, Nissan Chemical The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryColloidal silica is silica particles that are suspended in a liquid. The liquid is denser than water and has been stabilized electrostatically to allow the particles to stay suspended in the solution. The silica particles are also very small and do not have a large density. If the particles are too large, they will settle out of the solution. If the silica particles are too small, they are difficult to stabilize in a solution. Colloidal silica is not only available in bulk deliveries, but also in plastic drums and IBCs.Request a sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Colloidal Silica in Europe market, especially in Germany, UK, France, Russia, and Italy. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAkzoNobelGraceNalcoFuso ChemicalNissan ChemicalEvonikKlebosol(Merck KGaA)AdekaBIYOTEZ Machinery and ChemicalsRemetNyacolChemiewerk Bad K?stritzSterling ChemicalsDKICGuangdong Well-SilicasolQingdao KidoYinfeng SiliconZhejiang Yuda ChemicalQingdao Haiyang ChemicalFuzhou Sanbang Silicon MaterialQingdao FSK Foundry MaterialsQingdao Bangsen Silica Gel DesiccantOtherMarket Segment by Countries, coveringGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyMarket Segment by Type, coversAlkaline Colloidal SilicaAcidic Colloidal SilicaModified Colloidal SilicaOrdinary Colloidal SilicaMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoInvestment CastingCatalystsTextiles & FabricsRefractoriesPolishing (Electronic)Paints and CoatingsOthersThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the Europe Colloidal Silica market.Chapter 1, to describe Colloidal Silica Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Colloidal Silica, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers in Europe, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Get customization & check discount for report @Chapter 4, to show the Europe market by countries, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Colloidal Silica, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type and application, from 2012 to 2017;Buy this report @Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key countries by manufacturers, Type and Application, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Chapter 12, Colloidal Silica market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe Colloidal Silica sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Colloidal Silica Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Global Omega 3 PUFA Sales Market 2017 ! Examine the Worldwide Market Size, Pricing, Demands http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=768857&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-omega-3-pufa-sales-market-report-2021.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Omega 3 PUFA Sales Market Report 2021 to its huge collection of research reports.This report of the international Omega 3 PUFA market has been created by research analysts of the industry, with a primary goal to put forth the present market scenario for the global Omega 3 PUFA. It aims to shed light on the growth prospects of the market and target a range of audience such as government agencies, manufacturers of Omega 3 PUFA, and other consultancy services. The research report provides comprehensive analysis of the key driving factors that will have an impact on the global Omega 3 PUFA market. It also examines the hindrances or challenges, latest trends in the Omega 3 PUFA market which the prominent players should consider to stay on top of their game.The report of the global Omega 3 PUFA market gives out the market size estimation in terms of its value (USD million). Both bottom-up and top-down approaches are used in the report to predict and corroborate the size of the global Omega 3 PUFA market and of multiple other sub-segments. The research report also extensively discusses the opportunities that may open in the market for Omega 3 PUFA by type and application of manufacturing countries, and provides forecast for the period of 2017-2022.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @Some of the major players in the global Omega 3 PUFA market has been mentioned to target the market shareholders. The mentioned companies are profiled individually in order to present their product portfolio, recent tactical decisions, and market share. The chapter also tries to understand the potential of the entry of emerging players in the Omega 3 PUFA market. The leading players of the market have been detected with the help of secondary research and their superiority in respective areas have been analyzed through detailed primary as well as secondary research.Table of ContentsGlobal Omega 3 PUFA Sales Market Report 20211 Omega 3 PUFA Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Omega 3 PUFA1.2 Classification of Omega 3 PUFA1.2.1 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (Epa)1.2.2 Docosahexaenoic Acid (Dha)1.2.3 Alpha Linolenic Acid (Ala)1.3 Applications of Omega 3 PUFA1.3.1 Pharmaceutical And Clinical Nutrition1.3.2 Infant Foods1.3.3 Fortified Foods And Beverages1.3.4 Nutritional Supplements1.3.5 Pet Foods1.4 Omega 3 PUFA Market by RegionsBrowse Complete Report with TOC @2 Global Omega 3 PUFA Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Omega 3 PUFA Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Global Omega 3 PUFA Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Omega 3 PUFA (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2021)2.2.2 Global Omega 3 PUFA Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2021)2.3 Global Omega 3 PUFA (Volume and Value) by Regions3 North America Omega 3 PUFA (Volume, Value and Sales Price3.1 North America Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Value (2011-2021)3.1.1 North America Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)3.1.2 North America Omega 3 PUFA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)3.1.3 North America Omega 3 PUFA Sales Price Trend (2011-2021)3.2 North America Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 North America Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 North America Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Applications4 China Omega 3 PUFA (Volume, Value and Sales Price4.1 China Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Value (2011-2021)4.1.1 China Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)4.1.2 China Omega 3 PUFA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)4.1.3 China Omega 3 PUFA Sales Price Trend (2011-2021)4.2 China Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Applications5 Europe Omega 3 PUFA (Volume, Value and Sales Price5.1 Europe Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Value (2011-2021)5.1.1 Europe Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)5.1.2 Europe Omega 3 PUFA Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)5.1.3 Europe Omega 3 PUFA Sales Price Trend (2011-2021)5.2 Europe Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Omega 3 PUFA Sales and Market Share by ApplicationsList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Omega 3 PUFATable Classification of Omega 3 PUFAFigure Global Sales Market Share of Omega 3 PUFA by Type in 2015Figure Eicosapentaenoic Acid (Epa) PictureFigure Docosahexaenoic Acid (Dha) PictureFigure Alpha Linolenic Acid (Ala) PictureTable Applications of Omega 3 PUFAFigure Global Sales Market Share of Omega 3 PUFA by Applications in 2015QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Concrete Mixers Europe Market Insights by SANY, Oshkosh Corporation, ZOOMLION, LiuGong Forecast to 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/621181-europe-concrete-mixers-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/621181-europe-concrete-mixers-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=621181 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/621181-europe-concrete-mixers-market A new research document with title 'Europe Concrete Mixers Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy and important players/vendors such as SANY, Oshkosh Corporation, ZOOMLION, LiuGong, TORO, TEREX The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryA concrete mixer (often mistakenly called a cement mixer) is a device that homogeneously combines cement, aggregate such as sand or gravel, and water to form concrete. A typical concrete mixer uses a revolving drum to mix the components. For smaller volume works portable concrete mixers are often used so that the concrete can be made at the construction site, giving the workers ample time to use the concrete before it hardens.Request a sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Concrete Mixers in Europe market, especially in Germany, UK, France, Russia, and Italy. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversSANYOshkosh CorporationZOOMLIONLiuGongTOROTEREXXuzhou Construction Machinery GroupHITACHILiebherrSinotrukAltradVOLVOMultiquip Inc.Shandong Hongda Construction MachineryShanghai Hua Dong Construction MachineryELKONFangyuan Group CoSHANTUIRexConAmmann Elba Beton GmbHMarket Segment by Countries, coveringGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyMarket Segment by Type, coversBelow 2 m3 Type2-10 m3 TypeAbove 10 m3 TypeMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoConstruction SitesRoads & Bridge ProjectsIndustrial UsedThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the Europe Concrete Mixers market.Chapter 1, to describe Concrete Mixers Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Get customization & check discount for report @Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Concrete Mixers, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers in Europe, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Europe market by countries, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Concrete Mixers, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type and application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key countries by manufacturers, Type and Application, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Buy this report @Chapter 12, Concrete Mixers market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe Concrete Mixers sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Concrete Mixers Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Healthcare Automation Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025 Healthcare Automation Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/healthcare-automation-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=23888 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The healthcare industry has witnessed severe amount of changes with automation paving the way for newer approaches characterized by efficiency. Automation is likely to help medical professionals focus on better patient care and improved outputs. Additionally, it is also expected to reduce the cost incurred by healthcare providers on repetitive work. Implementation of automation in healthcare is projected to bring out better healthcare facilities, improved efficiency, and increase healthcare delivery quality. 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.Increasing demand for wearable technology is an important trend in the global healthcare automation market. It is expected to bring in convenience and accuracy while gathering medical data of patients. Furthermore, easy accessibility to this data is expected to result in better faster availability of healthcare, thereby decreasing the costs. Additionally, this technology helps in remote monitoring and clinical care.Increasing technological advancement is an important factor responsible for the growth of the global healthcare automation market globally. Technologies are changing and are getting advanced with various new features due to the increase in demand for automation. The dynamic technological advancement is bolstering the demand for healthcare automation globally during the forecast period. Automation can be employed in various ways in the healthcare sector, thereby reducing the expenses.This 119 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Healthcare Automation Market. Browse through 18 data tables and 61 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market:The global healthcare automation market is bifurcated on the basis of application into therapeutic automation, lab and pharmacy automation, logistics and training automation and diagnostics and monitoring automation. In 2016, therapeutic automation market accounted for the highest market revenue share. Therapeutic automation is the computerized therapy system that are completely automated. This automation technology embraces devices and instruments that provide therapy to patient such as regulating physiological process. Need for accuracy and rising cost of labor are some of the major factors bolstering the demand of this segment globally during the forecast period. Against this background, the segment is expected to rise at a CAGR of 8.1% between 2017 and 2025.Moreover, on the basis of end use the market is bifurcated into pharmacies, research institutes and labs, home care and others. Research institutes and labs held the highest market revenue globally during the forecast period as they are implementing automation to reduce erroneous work. In the coming years, use of automation is expected to lower the lab process cycle times, improve productivity, and enhance experimental data quality.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Healthcare Automation Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market:The geographical split of the global healthcare automation market encompasses North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North America holds the highest market share followed by Europe and Asia Pacific in 2016. Rising clinical research activities is one of the important factors bolstering the demand of healthcare automation in the region of North America. This regional market is slated to account for a share of 39.5% by the end of 2025. The growing government expenditure on healthcare and increasing research activities across North America has expected to keep this regional market in the lead.Some of the principal players in the global healthcare automation market are Stryker Corporation, Siemens AG, Swisslog Holding AG, General Electric Company, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic PLC, Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Danaher Corporation, and Tecan Group Ltd. among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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.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: 2017-22 Cone Crusher Europe Market by Top 5 Manufacturers in Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/621182-europe-cone-crusher-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/621182-europe-cone-crusher-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=621182 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/621182-europe-cone-crusher-market-1 A new research document with title 'Europe Cone Crusher Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy and important players/vendors such as Metso, Sandvik, Terex, Astec Industries, ThyssenKrupp The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryA cone crusher is similar in operation to a gyratory crusher, with less steepness in the crushing chamber and more of a parallel zone between crushing zones. A cone crusher breaks rock by squeezing the rock between an eccentrically gyrating spindle, which is covered by a wear-resistant mantle, and the enclosing concave hopper, covered by a manganese concave or a bowl liner. As rock enters the top of the cone crusher, it becomes wedged and squeezed between the mantle and the bowl liner or concave. Large pieces of ore are broken once, and then fall to a lower position (because they are now smaller) where they are broken again. This process continues until the pieces are small enough to fall through the narrow opening at the bottom of the crusher.Request a sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Cone Crusher in Europe market, especially in Germany, UK, France, Russia, and Italy. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversMetsoSandvikTerexAstec IndustriesThyssenKruppShanghai Shibang MachineryWeirFLSmidthKleemannLiming Heavy IndustryShuangjin MachineryShunda Mining MachineryChengdu DahongliNorthern Heavy IndustriesNMS IndustriesMarket Segment by Countries, coveringGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyMarket Segment by Type, coversElectric Motor Cone CrusherDiesel Engine Cone CrusherMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoMining IndustryAggregate IndustryConstruction IndustryThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the Europe Cone Crusher market.Get customization & check discount for report @Chapter 1, to describe Cone Crusher Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Cone Crusher, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers in Europe, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Europe market by countries, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Cone Crusher, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Buy this report @Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type and application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key countries by manufacturers, Type and Application, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Chapter 12, Cone Crusher market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe Cone Crusher sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Cone Crusher Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Global Diamond Mining Market 2020 | Market Research Report & Industry Analysis https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/279944 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/279944/global-diamond-mining-to-2020-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiryBuy/279944 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Diamond Mining Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsTimetric's 'Global Diamond Mining to 2020' report comprehensively covers global reserves of diamonds and reserves by country, historical and forecast data on global rough diamond production, and production by country and trade. The report also includes demand drivers affecting the global diamond mining industry, profiles of major diamond mining companies, and information on the major active, exploration and development projects by region.Download Sample copy of this Report @Executive summaryTimetric estimates global rough diamond production at 131.5 million carats (Mct) in 2014, marginally up from 130.5Mct in 2013. The market for rough diamond production centers around the top eight producing countries - Russia, Botswana, the DRC, Australia, Canada, Zimbabwe, Angola and South Africa which collectively account for 97% of global production. The Argyle, Orapa, Jwaneng, Diavik, Catoca and Nyurbinskaya are some of the major diamond producing mines while Alrosa, De Beers SA, Rio Tinto Plc, Dominion Diamond Corporation and Petra Diamonds are the worlds largest diamond mining companies, collectively accounting for 70% of global production.Complete Report Details @ScopeThe report contains an overview of the global diamond mining industry together with the key demand drivers affecting the industry. It also provides information about reserves, historic and forecast production, reserves and production by country, major exporting and importing countries, competitive landscape and major active, exploration and development projects.Reasons to buyGain an understanding of the global diamond mining industry, the relevant demand drivers , reserves, historic and forecast production, major exporting and importing countries, active, exploration and development projects and the competitive landscape.Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @Key highlightsDiamond mainly occurs in kimberlite, lamproite and alluvial deposits. The worlds largest kimberlite reserves are found in Botswanas Orapa region and in South Africa, while alluvial deposits are found mainly on the Atlantic coasts of South Africa and Namibia.The Australian Argyle mine in Kimberley region hosts lamproite deposits. Global diamond reserves were 730 million carats (Mct) as of January 2015, with Australia, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) collectively accounting for 72% of the total.Globally, the accessibility of diamond deposits and the depth of occurrence are increasing challenges to the expansion of global diamond mining operations, with projects becoming more capital intensive, necessitating substantial investments, especially in technology.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Contact Center Europe Market by top key players Sykes Enterprises Inc., Transcom, Atento Forecast to 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/621183-europe-contact-center-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/621183-europe-contact-center-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=621183 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/621183-europe-contact-center-market A new research document with title 'Europe Contact Center Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy and important players/vendors such as Sykes Enterprises Inc., Transcom, Atento, Arvato The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryA contact center (also referred to as a customer interaction center or e-contact center) is a central point in an enterprise from which all customer contacts are managed. The contact center typically includes one or more online call centers but may include other types of customer contact as well, including e-mail newsletters, postal mail catalogs, Web site inquiries and chats, and the collection of information from customers during in-store purchasing. A contact center is generally part of an enterprise's overall customer relationship management (CRM).Request a sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Contact Center in Europe market, especially in Germany, UK, France, Russia, and Italy. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversTeleperformanceConvergys (Stream)Sykes Enterprises Inc.TranscomAtentoArvatoWest CorporationActicall (Sitel)TeleTech Holdings Inc.Comdata GroupSercoConcentrixMarket Segment by Countries, coveringGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyMarket Segment by Type, coversType 1Type 2Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoTelecommunicationBanking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)Government and Public SectorHealthcare and Life SciencesRetail and Consumer GoodsOthersThere are 17 Chapters to deeply display the Europe Contact Center market.Chapter 1, to describe Contact Center Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Get customization & check discount for report @Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Contact Center, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers in Europe, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Europe market by countries, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Contact Center, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type and application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key countries by manufacturers, Type and Application, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Buy this report @Chapter 12, Contact Center market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe Contact Center sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Contact Center Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 New Study Significant Opportunities in UV Infection Control Device Market Forecast to 2022 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/621144-global-uv-infection-control-device-market-2 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/621144-global-uv-infection-control-device-market-2 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=621144 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/621144-global-uv-infection-control-device-market-2 A new research document with title 'Global UV Infection Control Device Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 covering detailed analysis, Competitive landscape, forecast and strategies. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa and important players/vendors such as 3M Company, Severn Trent Services, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Trojan Technologies, Xylem Inc.The report will help user gain market insights, future trends and growth prospects for forecast period of 2017-22SummaryInfection control is the discipline concerned with preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection, a practical (rather than academic) sub-discipline of epidemiology. It is an essential, though often underrecognized and undersupported, part of the infrastructure of health care. Infection control and hospital epidemiology are akin to public health practice, practiced within the confines of a particular health-care delivery system rather than directed at society as a whole. Anti-infective agents include antibiotics, antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals and antiprotozoals.Request a sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the UV Infection Control Device in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers3M CompanySevern Trent ServicesCalgon Carbon CorporationTrojan TechnologiesXylem IncAtlantium TechnologiesAquionicsAtlantic Ultraviolet CorporationFirst Light Technologies IncEvoqua Water TechnologiesGreenway Water TechnologiesXenex Disinfection Services LLCAdvanced UVEnaquaKoninklijke Philips N.V.American UltravioletSTERIS CorporationMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversClosed systemOpened systemMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoWater TreatmentAir TreatmentSurface DisinfectionThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global UV Infection Control Device market.Get customization & check discount for report @Chapter 1, to describe UV Infection Control Device Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of UV Infection Control Device, with sales, revenue, and price of UV Infection Control Device, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of UV Infection Control Device, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Buy this report @Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, UV Infection Control Device market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe UV Infection Control Device sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Contact Us:CRAIG FRANCIS (PR & Marketing Manager)sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Pathology Imaging Systems Market: Upcoming Trends and Growth Analysis 2027 Pathology Imaging Systems Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pathology-imaging-systems-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22718 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Pathology imaging system uses the latest technology of scanners and software for digitizing the slides for pathological examinations. It has replaced the traditional pathology workflow of slides and microscope. By digitizing slides, pathologists are able to examine high resolution digital images of the pathology workflow with the help of precision tools. Using these system, images can be stored in a computer, send to another person and thus improve the pathology workflow. This technology helps in more precise diagnosis by facilitating accurate and timely diagnosis, patient-centric information, eliminate time consuming analog tasks and enhancing the overall lab performance. These systems helped the patients to receive better care and transforming healthcare organizations. With the growing cases of chronic diseases like cancer, it has become important to visualize each and every molecular aspect. Pathology imaging systems have finds its use in all the phases of drug discovery, education, clinical and research and thus has made the anatomic pathology workflow more efficient and effective.These pathology imaging systems are instinctive solution that benefits various pathologists, healthcare professionals and entire healthcare enterprise. Shift from glass to the digital system opens the way for next generation tools such as advanced image analysis & algorithms. It also helps in new data integration like genomic and molecular testing thus leading to precise and personalized treatment plans.This report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Pathology Imaging Systems Market:Rising cancer incidences, increasing demand of improved diagnostic techniques, increasing spending on healthcare, government funding, rising R&D efforts are some of the factors driving the overall market of pathology imaging systems. Popularity of pathology imaging systems in hospitals, diagnostic centers and research organizations are surging the market. Rise in the tele-pathology trend also fuels the market growth. High capital investment and maintenance cost curbs the growth. Less number of highly skilled operators, stringent regulatory compliance, sampling error also limits its expansion.A large number of key players in the market and established brands increasing the competition. New technologies in this sector are cutting edge for the market. Strategic mergers and partnerships between companies and academic institutions are also booming the growth. Significant technology gains led to the adoption of innovative imaging systems technology in pathology. Rising demand by various end users because of increasing adoption of this technology increases its market. Diagnosis applications is accounted to be the largest segment in terms of revenue generating.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Pathology Imaging Systems Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market:With high technological advancements, and research activities in the molecular diagnostics, North America dominates the world market followed by Western European nations. Quality diagnostics, favourable reimbursement scenario, government funding, established players in the market, availability of trained technicians in these regions creates the established market for pathology imaging systems. . Japan is expected to be the next lucrative market for digital pathology companies. With respect to growth rate, Asia Pacific is leading because of growing economies, increasing molecular research activities, increasing patient pool and improving healthcare opportunities.Some of the key players for Pathology Imaging Systems Market include GE Healthcare, Leica Biosystems, Perkin Elmer, Siemens, Olympus Corporation, Philips Healthcare, Sakura Finetek, DigiPath, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Hamamatsu Photonics, 3D-Histech Ltd and others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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.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: Hysterosalpingogram Market Research Report Forecast to 2027 Hysterosalpingogram Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/hysterosalpingogram-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22703 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Hysterosalpingogram also named by the name uterosalpingography is a radiographic diagnostic study of the shape of fallopian tubes and uterus used to evaluate infertility. Uterine abnormality is a factor contributing to 50% of women with early pregnancy loss and 10% of infertile women. Hence, the assessment of uterus and fallopian tubes is a standardized approach towards infertility assessment. The radio-opaque material injection fills the uterus and fallopian tubes to indicate any spillage of material in the peritoneal cavity and tubal rupture.Hysterosalpingogram is used in the workup of infertile females and diagnosis of uterine malformations, pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal occlusion and Asherman's syndrome. The chances of pregnancy increases after hysterosalpingogram as the trained radiographer or an interventional radiologist opens the proximally occluded fallopian tubes. Hysterosalpingogram test can be painful and hence an analgesic may be given before or after the procedure to reduce pain. Some doctors prescribe antibiotics before proceeding with the procedure to reduce the chances of infection.This report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Hysterosalpingogram Market:The changing lifestyles and delayed marriage have all resulted in the increased chances of infertility. Infertility affects around 10% to 15% of couples in the U.S. The diagnosis of infertility is given to a couple who havent conceived in a year. The cause of infertility ranges from problem such as hormonal imbalance, fibroids, and cysts to some genetic disorder. The increasing fertility is expected to increase the need for procedures such as hysterosalpingogram bringing in more revenue. In Britain, one in six couple in the country has difficulty in conceiving and the number of couples seeking medical help has also increased dramatically.The reach of contraceptives is really less in under developed countries such as Uganda and Zambia but in recent years international firms are focusing their attention to reach out to these countries. Moreover, injections are out of reach to many women of rural area as the health clinics providing these facilities are far off. Pfizer along with several global aids group is trying to make a new version of the drug making it available to 69 nations throughout Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Hysterosalpingogram Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market:In terms of geography, the hysterosalpingogram market has been divided into five regions including North- America, Asia- Pacific and Middle-East & Africa, Latin America and Europe. North America region dominated the hysterosalpingogram market owing the favorable reimbursement policies and government support. Moreover, the United States Equestrian Federation is conducting a public workshop to discuss the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate to clarify the various concerns raised on its use. In developing countries, there is a gap between demand and supply of contraceptives. Many initiatives are taken to supply these countries with the required contraceptives so as to address the rising need of birth control.Some of the market contributors to the hysterosalpingogram market are Fairview Health Services, Atlantic OB-GYN, TRA-MINW, Shady Grove Fertility, Southwest Medical Center, Summit Medical Group, Reproductive Medicine Institute, Crozer-Keystone Health System, South Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Lake Imaging.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.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: Automotive Starter And Alternator Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth through 2027 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2575 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2575 www.futuremarketinsights.com Modern day automobiles widely use starters and alternators. These are generally used in diesel and gasoline engines. The rising investments on R&D by key players in the market coupled with acquisitions and mergers is expected to make the global automotive starter and alternator market flourish in near future. The manufacturers of automotive starters and alternators are expanding their businesses to emerging economies like China, India, Russia, etc. as these countries are focused on development of automotive sectors in order to serve the rising demand across the globe.Electric starters are expected to dominate the segment during the forecast period. The different types of electric starters used in automotive sector are gear reduction, inertia starter, folo-thru drive and moveable pole shoe. Based on alternator type, the claw pole alternators are projected to witness significant growth in near future.Request Report Sample@Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: DriversOne of the major factors driving the growth of the global automotive starter and alternator market is increase in production of vehicles across the globe. According to OICA, the total vehicle production increased by around 1% in 2015. Moreover, increasing adoption of electric vehicles due to environment concerns such as rising air pollution, is further expected to escalate the demand for automotive starter and alternator market during the forecast period. Additionally, increasing preference for light weight and fuel efficient vehicles is further projected to escalate the demand for automotive starters and alternators in near future.Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: RestraintsThe increasing production of hybrid vehicles is anticipated to hamper the growth of the global automotive starter and alternator market. The hybrid vehicles use one or more motors which ignite with the help of internal combustion engine. Due to this reason, these vehicles have eliminated the use of automotive starters and alternators which, in turn, is expected to restrict their demand in near future.Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: SegmentationThe global automotive starter and alternator market can be segmented on the basis of starter type, alternator type and vehicle type. On the basis of starter type, the market can be segmented into electric, hydraulic and pneumatic. On the basis of alternators, the market can be further segmented into claw pole alternator and cylindrical alternator. On the basis of vehicles, the global starter and alternator market can be further segmented into light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles and passenger cars.Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: Region wise OutlookBased on regions, Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the automotive starter and alternator market over the forecast period. Asia Pacific, led by emerging economies like China and India, is projected to be the dominant region during the forecast period due to the presence of continuously increasing automobile manufacturing companies in this region. North America, led by U.S. is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The increasing demand for starters and alternators in North America, owing to rising production of vehicles, coupled with continuous investment in this market is expected to fuel the demand for automotive starters and alternators in near future. The automotive starter and alternator market in Middle East & Africa and Latin America is anticipated to witness steady growth due to sluggish demand in this region. However, increasing demand for vehicles is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for automotive starters and alternators in near future.Visit For TOC@Automotive Starter and Alternator Market: Market ParticipantsSome of the market participants identified in the global automotive starter and alternator market are mentioned below:Valeo SADenso CorporationRobert Bosch GmbHNingbo zhongwang auto fittings Co.,LTDHitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Mitsubishi Electric CorporationASIMCO Technologies LtdHella KGaA Hueck & Co.BBB IndustriesUnipoint Electric MFG Co., Ltd.Remy International, Inc.Lucas Electrical LimitedMitsuba CorporationAbout Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Rotomoulding Powder Market size and Key Trends in terms of volume and value 2017-2027 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2601 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2601 www.futuremarketinsights.com Rotomoulding, also called as rotational moulding is a process used to manufacture plastic moulds without application of pressure as compared to other moulding processes. It is cost effective method and the end products are used to manufacture hollow articles. The major difference between rotomoulding and other method is that plastic or resin powders are used to form the moulds. The rotomoulding powder melts in the mould, which is rotated in biaxial direction. Polyethylene rotomoulding powder accounts for major share in terms of consumption in the global rotomoulding powder market. They are available in different grades, each varying in melt flow and density. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) based rotomoulding powders are used in flexible packaging, moulding, extrusion coating applications. High density polyethylene (HDPE) based rotomoulding powders are used in heavy industrial packaging, telecom ducting, woven sacks, blow moulding etc. The applications of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) include insulated containers, automotive components, tanks etc. DuPont, a leading U.S. industrial chemicals manufactures product portfolio includes high performance resins with trade name Hytrel. Among the different grades, Hytrel 4056P is used in rotomoulding and are available in powdered form.Rotomoulding Powder Market: Drivers and RestraintsIn rotomoulding no pressure is applied and the moulds used are less expensive, hence this method is cost effective method, which is a major driver for the growth of global rotomoulding powder market. The availability of wide variety of rotomoulding powders depending on the requirements of end-use application is expected to boost the consumption of rotomoulding powders. The diverse applications of rotomoulding in industrial packaging, flexible packaging, telecom ducting, blow moulding etc. is anticipated to increase the demand for rotomoulding powders. The availability of rotomoulding powders with advanced features such as UV resistant and flame retardant properties is anticipated to boost the growth of global rotomoulding powders market. The rise in demand for plastic storage tanks is expected to contribute to the growth of rotomoulding powders market.Request Report Sample@Rotomoulding Powder Market: SegmentationOn the basis of material,the global rotomoulding powder market can be segmented as follows:-PolyethyleneLow Density Polyethylene (LDPE)Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE)High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)PVC PlastisolsPolycarbonate Nylon PolypropyleneOn the basis of application,the global rotomoulding powder market can be segmented as follows:-Consumer ProductsStorage TanksAutomotive ComponentsIndustrial PackagingRotomoulding Powder Market: Region Wise OutlookThe global rotomoulding powder market can be divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Western Europe accounts for major share in global rotomoulding powder market. This is attributed to the strong presence of manufacturing industries in the region. The adoption of rotomoulding technique in manufacturing automotive components and industrial packaging products is expected to drive the growth of rotomoulding powders market in this region. North America contributes a significant share in rotomoulding market, due to increasing demand for plastic based products such as medical equipment and automotive fuel tanks. APEJ is expected to account for major share in global rotomoulding powder market over the forecast period. The increasing demand for water storage and water treatment tanks in emerging economies is anticipated to contribute to the growth of rotomoulding market in the region.Visit For TOC@Rotomoulding Powder Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global rotomoulding powder market are as follows:Broadway ColoursGreen Age IndustriesPACIFIC POLY PLASTDuPontMatrix PolymersReliance Industries LimitedA. Schulman, Inc.PHYCHEM TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Hair Care Market to Significant Growth Foreseen by 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/hair-care-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3042 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Hair care products help to protect and nourish the hair and reduce hair damage. They keep hair healthy by enhancing the texture and quality of the hair. Hair care products can be made of synthetic or natural ingredients, combined with other additional substances such as preservatives, agents, surfactants and emulsifiers. Hair care products are used by hair care professionals in salons and by individual at home. According to the type of hair and its requirements there are different types of hair care products are available in the market such as shampoo, conditioner, hair styling gels, colorants, serums, hair spray, glazes, hair growth products and hair accessories. Modern hair care products provide multiple treatments for damage include split ends, rough, weak, dull and dehydrated.North America has the largest hair care market followed by Europe, due to increasing hair related problems among consumers, new hair care products innovations and increasing demand for natural and organic hair care products in these regions. Asia is expected to experience high growth rates in the next few years due to emerging economy, improvement in living standards, rising hygiene awareness and increasing hair related problems due to unhealthy lifestyle, seasonal and climatic factors.Increasing hair and scalp problems, intelligent advertising campaigns of hair care products, growing popularity of herbal hair care products, technology innovations in product manufacturing, rising disposable income and increasing spending on hair care are some of the key factors driving the growth for global hair care market. In addition, attractive packaging, increasing consumers awareness about the hair care and shifting towards hair care and styling products are driving the market for hair care. However, high cost involved and economic slowdowns are some of the major factors restraining the growth for global hair care market.To access full report @Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries such as India and China are expected to offer good opportunities in hair care market. However, threat from counterfeit hair care products is a challenge for hair care market. Various trends that have been observed in the global hair care market include growing popularity of hair care treatments such as hair spa and deep nourishment, increasing number of product launches. In addition, rising number of mergers and acquisitions between companies, increasing focus on personal grooming and online retail for hair care products are some of the latest trends for global hair care market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Some of the major companies operating in the global hair care market are LOreal USA, Unilever, Goody Products Inc., CONAIR CORPORATION, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Diamond Products Company, Aveda Corp, REVLON, Kao Brands Company, Avon Products, Inc. and Neutrogena Corporation.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 PC Power Supply Market 2017 - Delta, Liteon, FSP, AcBel, Hipro and Seasonic PC Power Supply https://goo.gl/dcYTHg https://goo.gl/BuFavy Global PC Power Supply MarketThe PC Power Supply report Announced by QYResearch Group provides an in-depth exploration of the PC Power Supply market and offers insights such as scope, historical data, statistical data, and significant approaches of the worldwide market. The report also encompasses projected information that is evaluated with the help of a suitable set of methods and postulations. The report, with all its invaluable data, brings to light the factual information and comprehensive study of the PC Power Supply market.The report encompasses exact statistics, contributions from the industry professionals, information provided by industry analysts and industry participants involved in the whole value chain, and qualitative & quantitative analysis of data. The report is intended to assist the reader with better comprehension and decision-making.CLICK HERE to Request Sample Report @Global PC Power Supply Market key Manufactures are:1. Delta2. Liteon3. FSP4. AcBel5. Hipro6. Seasonic7. Enhance8. CWT9. SevenTeam10. Topower?11. Andyson12. Etasis13. Zippy14. HEC15. Super FlowerThe report assesses the scope of the PC Power Supply market that comprises several components such as production, demands, size, analysis, supply, sales, classification, definition, application, specification, forecast trends, news, and industry policy. The report also covers the value chain analysis of the PC Power Supply market consisting of numerous factors accountable for the growth and limitations of the market along with the key players in the market. The report also comprises the worldwide segmentation of the market on the basis of end-users, applications, regions, and technology.The report highlights the wide-ranging exploration of the key markets and their up-to-date trends together with related market segments. The report also provides data encompassing the number of market factors and the impact they have on the overall market as well as the individual segments of the market. The report also focuses on the regional and worldwide market along with an in-depth analysis providing growth prospects for the market.Inquiry Here @Furthermore, the report evaluates the major market components, comprising revenue, price, growth rate, capacity utilization rate, gross, capacity, consumption, supply, market share, cost, import, demand, export, gross margin, and much more. The PC Power Supply report is an expedient documentation that assists the manufacturers, investors, suppliers, customers, distributors, & individuals who are concerned in this market.The worldwide PC Power Supply report is a vital resource report, predominantly for industry administrators. If a report is requested by anyone for the worldwide PC Power Supply market, they will be presented with wide-ranging data about the specific market covering all its facets in the report.About Us:QYResearch Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. QYResearch Group also carries the capability to assist you with your customized market research requirements including in-depth market surveys, primary interviews, competitive landscaping, and company profiles. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics. QYResearch Group is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651 Home Medical Equipment Market to Perceive Substantial Growth by 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/home-medical-equipment-market.asp http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3054 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Home medical equipment (HME) refers to the medical devices that help to provide safe, convenience, cost effective and familiar environment to the patients. This helps in easy recovery of patients and improves their quality of life. Type of home medical equipment includes therapeutic equipment, patient monitoring equipment, mobility assist equipment and other patient support equipment. The home therapeutic equipment market is increasing at a high growth rate due to increasing incidence of chronic diseases such as respiratory disorder, cancer and kidney failure. Home therapeutic equipment includes products such as home dialysis products, home respiratory therapy equipment, home IV equipment and another home therapeutic equipment. Home medical equipment helps in reducing time spent in hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.To access full report @North America, followed by Europe, has the largest market for home medical equipment due to technological advancement, high disposable income, better healthcare infrastructure and good reimbursement policies in the region. Asia is expected to experience high growth rates in the next few years due to increasing awareness and shortage of professional medical providers in the region.Increase in ageing population, cost saving advantages, technological advancement, rise in disposable income of consumers, growing incidence of chronic diseases and rising healthcare expenditure are some of the key factors driving the growth for global home medical equipment market. In addition, increasing awareness about the conveniences and cost effectiveness offered by home medical equipment and shifting of treatment cases from hospitals to home, due to high hospital expenditure are expected to drive the market for home medical equipment. However, safety and effectiveness issue are some of the major factors restraining the growth for global home medical equipment market.Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries such as India and China are expected to result in the growth of home medical equipment market in Asia. In addition, technological advancement and innovation of some new products are expected to offer good opportunities in the global home medical equipment market. An increasing number of mergers and acquisitions and new product launches are some of the latest trends have been observed in the global home medical equipment market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Some of the major companies operating in the global home medical equipment market are F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, B. Braun Melsungen AG, GE Healthcare, AstraZeneca, Abbott, Baxter, CareFusion Corporation, ResMed, Hospira, Inc., Stryker, Philips Healthcare., Sunrise Medical (US) LLC and Medline Industry, Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: 3-Methoxypropylamine Market: Global Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2022 Reports Monitor https://www.reportsmonitor.com/2017-global-3-methoxypropylamine-mopa-cas-5332-73-0-industry-research-report/ https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request-sample/?post=254699 www.reportsmonitor.com The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) industry market by types, applications, players and regions. This report also displays the production, Consumption, revenue, Gross margin, Cost, Gross, market share, CAGR, and Market influencing factors of the 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) industry in USA, EU, China,India, Japan and other regions, and forecast to 2022, from 2017.Browse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Market Analysis by Players BASF Huntsman Univar IRO Group ZORANOC Raybon Chemicals Zhejiang Xinhua Chemical Kunshan Xianghe Fine Chemicals Lianyungang Hondia ChemicalMarket Analysis by Regions: North America Europe China Japan OthersMarket Anaysis by Types: MOPA 99.0% MOPA 99.5% OtherMarket Analysis by Applications: Dye (Disperse Blue 60) Pharmaceutical Intermediates Corrosion Inhibitor & Detergents OtherFor Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @Table of Contents1 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview of 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0)1.2 Classification of 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) by Product Category1.2.1 Global 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Sales (Volume) and Growth (%) Comparison by Types (2012-2017)1.2.2 Global 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Sales Market Share (%) by Types in 20161.2.3 Type 11.2.4 Type 21.2.5 Type 31.2.6 Type 41.2.7 Type 51.3 Global 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Market by Applications/End Users1.3.1 Global 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Sales (Volume) Comparison by Applications (2012-2017)1.3.2 Application 11.3.3 Application 21.3.4 Application 31.3.5 Application 41.3.6 Application 51.4 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Industry Development Factors Analysis1.4.1 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Industry Development Opportunities Analysis1.4.2 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Industry Development Challenges Analysis1.5 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Industry Development Prospects1.5.1 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Industry Development Status (2012-2017)1.5.2 3-Methoxypropylamine (MOPA) (CAS 5332-73-0) Industry Development Forecast (2017-2022)About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite: Ulnar Nerve Entrapment Market is Driven by Increasing Investment in Research and Development by Pharmaceutical Csompanies http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ulnar-nerve-entrapment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=27032 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The ulnar nerve is one of the major nerves in a human arm and travels from neck down to the hands. It controls movement and provides feeling for parts of hand. However, at times, ulnar nerve becomes compressed or physically trapped, resulting in pain, numbness, or weakness. This condition is known as ulnar nerve entrapment.Depending on the location of entrapment, there are two types of ulnar entrapment: cubital tunnel syndrome and ulnar tunnel syndrome. Entrapment at the elbow in the cubital tunnel is termed as cubital tunnel syndrome. Ulnar tunnel entrapment occurs in anatomical space in the wrist. The common causes of ulnar nerve entrapment are forceful exercising and strain involving the elbow, bench pressing, and sleeping with the arm folded behind the neck. Weakness in hand, sensitivity to cold, and muscle wasting are the common symptoms of ulnar nerve entrapment.Obtain Report Details @In the other hand treatment part, which includes there is no specific treatment for ulnar nerve entrapment but joint mobilizations, stretching exercises, neural flossing can be effective in ulnar nerve entrapment. If ulnar nerve pain is mild to moderate, then surgery is not required. Physicians prefer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen and others for treatment. However, when pain associated with ulnar nerve is quite severe, physicians advice surgery. Before surgery, physicians suggest physiological tests such as X-ray. These imaging tests provide detailed pictures of dense structures, like bone, and nerve conduction studies this test helps to identify where it is being compressed, and determine how well the nerve is working.The global ulnar nerve entrapment market is expected to grow substantially due to increasing investment in research and development by pharmaceutical companies, rising incidence rate of vascular diseases, and development of innovative products and advanced technology for the treatment of ulnar nerve entrapment. In addition ignore the pain associated with ulnar nerve, and high cost required for surgery fuel the growth of the market. However, long duration of treatment and limited budget of small and medium sized companies restrain the market.The global market of ulnar nerve entrapments are quite limited because it is still emerging at global level. The market has been segmented based on type of treatment, end-user, and region. In terms of type of treatment, the ulnar nerve entrapments market has been categorized into surgical and non-surgical. Non-surgical treatment includes medicines such as amitriptyline, NSAIDs, and vitamin B6 supplement, and devices such as supporter or splint. Based on end-user, the market has been segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgical clinics, chronic & acute care, and sports.Make an Enquiry @In terms of region, the ulnar nerve entrapment market has been segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. North America dominates the market as the U.S. is the major contributor in this region due to invention of advance technology, research & development in this area, rising prevalence of disorders, and other chronic diseases. Asia Pacific is also a fast growing market due to growing health care expanse and high patient base.Key players operating in this market are Pfizer, Inc., Alkem Laboratories, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Apotex, Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Aurobindo Pharma, and Mylan N.V., among others. In order to gain high market share in the industry, the key players are actively involved in variation in products, services, and periodic new product launches. Collaborations, partnerships, are agreements are some of the important strategies followed by the market players.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Electric Power Substation Automation Market ize & Share to See Modest Growth Through 2021 https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/electric-power-substation-automation-market-global-industry-perspective https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/electric-power-substation-automation-market-global-industry-perspective https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/electric-power-substation-automation-market-global-industry-perspective http://www.zionmarketresearch.com https://zionmarketresearch.wordpress.com/ Electric power sub station automation is a revolution for the management of networks. The substation is a base for some of the most important functions of the utility and is a part of the electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Electric power sub station automation is a combination of numerous control and data acquisition functions on an automated platform with a minimum number of units to augment the reliability and thereby reducing the cost of operation of the substation automation system.Electric power sub station automation is one of the major developments in a substation technology and also a leading aspect of the smart grid revolution. Electric power substation deals with the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. Substation automation increases the level of convenience of operations, as it enables an electric utility to remotely monitor, control and coordinate the distribution component installed in the substation.Request Free Sample Report @The electric power sub station automation market is mainly driven by the rising demand of smart grid solution. Demand for electric power sub station automation increases due to the advancement in smart grid technology. However, some factors such as shortage of skilled workforce and high investment cost are expected to hamper the growth of electric power sub station automation industry.The study segments the global electric power sub station automation market on the basis of the module, automation stage, type, applications and regional segment. The different module includes in electric power sub station automation markets such as hardware, communication network technology, and SCADA. The automation stage segment of electric power sub station automation market is categorized into retrofit and new construction automation stage. Transmission, distribution, and collector substation are the types of the electric power substation. Based on application, electric power substation automation market is segmented into utilities and industry.Major regional segments analyzed in this study include North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, further bifurcation of the region on the country level, which includes U.S., Germany, UK, France, China, Japan, and India. Asia Pacific dominated electric power sub station automation market owing to rising number of smart grid projects in this region.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Some of the key players in electric power sub station automation include Schneider Electric, ABB Ltd., Eaton Corporation, Siemens AG, Alstom S.A, CISCO Systems (U.S), Amperion (U.S), and Ingeteam.This report segments the global electric power sub station automation market as follows:Global Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Module Segment AnalysisHardwareCommunication Network TechnologySCADAGlobal Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Automation Stage Segment AnalysisRetrofitNew construction automation stageGlobal Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Type Segment AnalysisTransmissionDistributionCollector SubstationBrowse detail report @Global Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Application Segment AnalysisUtilitiesIndustryGlobal Electric Power Substation Automation Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Our Blog: Global Learn details of the solar cooker market Surge Towards Solid Growth by 2021 https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/solar-cooker-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/solar-cooker-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/solar-cooker-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com https://zionmarketresearch.wordpress.com/ The energy obtained due to the nuclear fusion of hydrogen and helium in the inner core of the sun is called as solar energy. The solar energy is considered to be safe, green and renewable energy. Solar cookers are the application of solar energy used to cook, bake, and fry food. Solar Cookers can also be used for pasteurization. Solar cooker converts the radiant energy to the heat energy which is used for cooking food.Growing awareness for the use of renewable energy along with escalating prices of on renewable energy drives the solar cooker market. Government support and funding for the use of solar energy also stimulates the growth of solar cooker market. Also, development of new technologies utilizing solar energy along with an introduction of cost efficient technologies compared to conventional energy sources fosters the demand for the solar cooker market. However, lack of awareness among the developing countries and maturation of the solar cooker market in the developed countries may inhibit the growth of solar cooker market. Nevertheless, untapped opportunities from the emerging economies are likely to open the new avenue in the near future.Request Free Sample Report @The report provides a comprehensive view of the solar cooker market we have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the solar cooker market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness. The report also analyzes several driving and restraining factors and their impact on the market during the forecast period.Various types of solar cooker are designed according to the intensity of exposure to the sun and according to the type of food to be cooked in. Solar panel cooker, solar parabolic cooker, and solar box cooker are the types of solar cooker. Solar box cooker is the most widely known and used cooker due to easy and safe operating with no regulation required. The solar panel cooker consists of the vessel kept in the center of the reflective panel to concentrate the radiations on the vessel. The solar panel is highly efficient as compared to solar box cooker. For obtaining high temperatures for grilling and frying food solar parabolic cooker is utilized. The only drawback for using of parabolic cookers is, they need to be adjusted according to the sun rays frequently for achieving high temperature and efficiency.Asia Pacific and Latin America are the fastest growing market for the solar cooker market and is expected to accelerate the growth rate in the coming years. This is mainly attributed to the factors such as rising awareness along with accomplishment from the government for developing techniques for the use of solar energy. To meet the unmet demands for petroleum products such as a use of LPG for cooking food from the escalating population, solar cooker is used on large scale. However, due to the saturated market, North America and Europe are expected to exhibit steady growth during the forecast period. However, the U.S. is the largest producer for solar box cooker followed by China.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Solar Cookers International, Sunrise Global Solar Energy, Sun Fire Rudra Solar Energy, and Sun Oven are some of the key participants for the solar cooker market.The report segments of the solar cooker market into:Solar Cooker Market: Type Segment AnalysisSolar panel cookerSolar parabolic cookerSolar box cookerSolar Cooker Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaBrowse detail report @About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Our Blog: Clear Labels Market - Emerging Niche Segments and Regional Markets http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18641 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/clear-labels-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Clear Labels Market: IntroductionThe packaging industry globally is witnessing an impressive growth, primarily driven by the changing needs of packaging buyers, trying to serve more consumers by offering customization. The role of packaging and labelling today is not only restricted to preserve and protect the product, but rather communicate brand image and convey information to its large customer base. The format and design of labels is a key marketing tool for marketers in projecting the brand image for the products. One of the most widely used labels serving the purpose for most of the brand owners is clear labels. Clear labels are of the most versatile products as they are now being used in most markets and designed in a variety of ways.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Clear labels are more transparent in nature as compared to other form of labels and offer no label look, trend which is gaining traction from various end use industries, looking to offer luxury packaging for their product offerings. Clear labels give the illusion that the print is direct on the container while at the same time, they allow the consumer to have a transparent look at the contents. Clear labels are moisture resistant, making them an exceptional option for product packaging in the food & beverage industry, healthcare and homecare industry that face wet conditions. Clear labels, while growing in popularity is modern and attractive making it a clear winner for labelling of food products.Clear Labels: Market DynamicsThe demand for clear labels is anticipated to witness an above average growth over the forecast period. Clear labels are stickers that can be applied on any packaging as well as sheets and rolls, creating value addition for any business in terms of marketing and branding. Label manufactures are constantly focusing to add innovative offerings to their portfolio, striving to meet the diverse needs from large end use industries. The transparent property of clear labels makes the product visible for consumers, making the product more attractive. Clear labels takes of the pressure of creative packaging and place emphasis on natural quality and appeal which has help to boost the sales of clear labels. In addition to this, clear labels meet the regulations as it enables the inclusion of all regulatory norms and also provide clear visibility of the product its end users.Moreover, the design of clear labels to blend into the containers surface, also enhances the overall packaging for the product, and is one of the key drivers for the global clear labels market. When it comes to bottom line, printing clear labels is more economical than printing directly on the container, as it saves the total shipping cost of transporting the container to and from the printing company. Moreover, customized offering for clear labels with different matte and glossy finishes is the ongoing trend observed in the global clear labels market. Increasing demand of clear labels from the food and beverage industry is one of the key drivers of the global clear labels market. The trend to adapt transparency in packaging is gaining traction and is likely to propel the demand for clear labels in the next half of the decade. Despite growth momentum, high cost of printing on clear labels, lack of awareness amongst end users are some of the challenges faced by the global clear labels market.Browse Market Research Report @Clear Labels: Market SegmentationThe clear labels market is segmented on the basis of material, application and printing technology. On the basis of material type, the global clear labels market is segmented into polyester, vinyl, polycarbonate, polypropylene and others. On the basis of application, the global clear labels market is segmented into food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, homecare, personal care and cosmetics, consumer durables and others. Demand clear labels from food packaging application segment is anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities to the global clear labels market in terms of growth prospects. The food and beverage segment in the global clear label market is further sub-segmented into frozen food, snacks, dairy products, bakery & confectionary, microwaveable food products, others and beverages. On the basis of printing technology, the global clear label market is segmented into lithographic printing, flexographic printing, digital printing and others.Clear Label Market: Regional outlookClear label market has been segmented on the basis of region into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. Among these region, North America and Europe are expected to collectively dominate the market throughout the forecast period. However, many food and beverage companies in Asia Pacific are exploring innovative options to make the product look more attractive, positively impacting the sales of clear labels market. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness maximum CAGR over the forecast period primarily driven by China, Japan and India. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to witness sluggish growth and over the forecast period.Clear Label Market: Key playersSome of the players in the global clear label market are Consolidated Label Co, Hub Labels, Premier Label Company Inc, and A & S Labels Pvt Ltd.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Crane Market Volume Forecast and Value Chain Analysis 2017-2027 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2922 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2922 www.futuremarketinsights.com Despite the average performance of construction industry in 2016, predictions for the performance in 2017 remains positive.an positive growth of the associated industries is expected in the forthcoming years of the month. The global construction industry is anticipated to witness an annual growth rate, ranging between 5-10% in this year. The construction industry is a major end user of cranes, thus its performance has a notable impact on the growth of crane market. Though, the existing uncertainty in the global construction market could affect the demand for cranes in construction application, but the robust growth of automotive industry and steady revenue increment from mining are expected to fuel the growth of the global crane market. Global crane market is anticipated to witness noteworthy growth in developing parts of Asia Pacific, while a moderate growth will be foreseen in the America, Europe and the Middle East. Small sized equipment, affordable price, reliability and improved productivity will remain key concerns in the global crane market. The global crane market covers a vast number of products serving various requirements, including wheel mounted cranes, crawler cranes, side boom, straddle crane, railroad crane, and aerial cranes. These cranes are further bifurcated into telescopic, hydraulic, articulated etc.Global Crane Market: Market DynamicsThe ongoing demand for construction of smart cities across geographies and various mega construction particularly in developing countries will rise demand for the cranes. Increasing investments made by governments as well as private sector companies in infrastructure development projects is the major factor driving growth of the global crane market. Within these infrastructure projects the key demand drivers going forward are road construction, urban infrastructure, irrigation and mining operations. Investments in infrastructure can be classified into investments for roads, ports, airports, railways, pipelines, irrigation, waterways and urban infrastructure. Further, increasing demand for high capacity lifting is boosting the demand for some specialized products such as mobile cranes.Increasing focus of customers towards procuring used cranes due to avoid high cost new equipment is a crucial factor which can obstruct the market growth. Some of the key trends witnessed in the market are shifting focus towards compact and remote operated cranes and changing consumer towards crane that ensures drivers comfort and safety.Request Report Sample@Global Crane Market: Market SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the Crane market can be segmented into;Mobile CranesTruck CranesAll Terrain CranesCrawler CranesSide BoomStraddle CraneAerial CranesFloating CraneRailroad CraneFixed CranesTower CranesOverhead Track-mounted CranesLevel Luffing CranesUnderhung CranesStiff-leg DerrickMarine CranesHarbor CranesShip CranesOthersOn the basis of supply type, the Crane market can be segmented into;Construction IndustryMining IndustryOil & Gas IndustryShipping & Port BuildingAutomotiveOthersGlobal Crane Market: Region-wise OutlookAsia Pacific is expected to dominate the volume demand for Crane over the forecast period owing to increasing construction activities in the region. China and India are expected to emerge as the major contributor to the overall revenue in Asia Pacific. Europe and Japan are expected to be the next big market for cranes. Western Europe contributes for majority of the demand of cranes in the Europe and Eastern Europe hold nominal market share in the Europe. Followed by Asia Pacific, Europe and Japan is the North America, which is a matured market for cranes. The market is expected to witness steady growth as compared to robust growth in the developing region such as Asia Pacific. Middle East and Africa region is anticipated to witness moderate to steady growth in the annual sales of cranes. GCC countries will remain one of the major contributor in the growth of the market. Long term outlook for the market in South Africa remains positive.Visit For TOC@Global Crane Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants identified in the global Crane market are;Liebherr GroupTerex CorporationTadano Ltd.Altech IndustriesZoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd.XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Sany Heavy Industry Co., LtdKATO WORKS CO., LTD.Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd.FURUKAWA UNIC CORPORATIONColumbus McKinnon CorporationAbout Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: New Research Report on Radiology Information System RIS Market, 2015-2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-825 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-825 www.futuremarketinsights.com Radiology Information System is a software which manages the data for physicians, hospitals radiology department and clinics in an electronic form. Data could be in any form like billing, scheduling and medical imaging. Radiology information system is very useful to track radiology imaging orders and to track reports of patients. Patients entire radiology history, from admission to discharge could be track. Statistical reports for a patient or for a group of patients can be generated. The radiology information system also allows the staff to make appointments for outpatient and inpatients. Radiology Information system also provides the detailed financial recording, electronic payments and automated claims.Recently, Singapore based healthcare groups called SingHealth and Eastern Health Alliance (EH alliance) and Singapore Health Ministrys IT arm, IHis purchased Carestreams Vue Radiology (Radiology Information System) and Vue PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) for better result, access and management of radiology results and patient imaging data. Almost 4 million patients visits every year in SingHealth Group. Carestreams Vue RIS+PACS are in few other hospitals too in Singapore like Singapore General Hospital, KK Womens and Childrens Hospital, National Cancer Centre Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore and SingHealth Polyclinics. By this software, one can access data from any location and create one unified imaging of patient file.To Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @Radiology Information System Market: Drivers & RestraintsTechnological advancement, rising ageing population, consolidation of healthcare providers, innovation, improved efficiency and better results, increasing demand for better healthcare systems, cost-effectiveness, increase usage of cloud computing and web based solutions, increase number of chronic diseases, are the most important driving factors in radiology information system market. Since radiology information system maintains the data for physicians and hospitals to get access form anywhere, the demand for radiology information system has increased.With so many advantages and splendid features of radiology information system, it has few disadvantages too. Lack of inexperienced professionals and interoperability issues are acting as a barrier for radiology information system market.Radiology Information System Market: SegmentationRadiology Information System Market is broadly classified on the basis of the following segments By Deployment:Web based RISCloud based RISOn-premise RISBy Product:Integrated RISStandalone RISBy End-User:HospitalsEmergency Healthcare Service ProvidersOffice Based PhysiciansRadiology Information System Market: OverviewThe radiology information system has grown substantially at a healthy CAGR due to increasing need of integrated healthcare system and rise in demand of diagnostic industry. With rapid technological advancement and innovation, radiology information system market is expected to grow globally. North America and Europe region will be dominating radiology information market in the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Radiology Information System Market: Region-wise OutlookThe radiology information system market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, radiology information system market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America has the largest market for radiology information system and is contributing the most as compare to other regions. This is due to the increase demand of diagnostic industry go get better, fast and effective results.Radiology Information System Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in radiology information system market are Cerner Corporation, Siemens Healthcare, Carestream Health, Mckesson Corporation, GE Healthcare, Merge Healthcare, Allscripts and Epic Systems.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: Nafion Market Global Industry Size, Share, Analysis, Trend & Forecast 2017 Reports Monitor https://www.reportsmonitor.com/2017-global-nafion-industry-research-report/ https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request-sample/?post=254721 www.reportsmonitor.com The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Nafion industry market by types, applications, players and regions. This report also displays the production, Consumption, revenue, Gross margin, Cost, Gross, market share, CAGR, and Market influencing factors of the Nafion industry in USA, EU, China,India, Japan and other regions, and forecast to 2022, from 2017.Browse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Market Analysis by Players Dows Asahi Chemica Asahi Glass Dupont Solvay Dongyue Tianjiayi The Chemours Company Perma Pure LLCMarket Analysis by Regions: North America Europe China Japan OthersMarket Anaysis by Types: Membrane Dispersions ResinMarket Analysis by Applications: Chemical Processing Energy Analytics and Instrumentation CoatingsFor Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @Table Of Content7 Imports and Exports Market Analysis7.1 USA Nafion Imports and Exports Analysis (2012-2017)7.2 Europe Nafion Imports and Exports Analysis (2012-2017)7. 3 China Nafion Imports and Exports Analysis (2012-2017)7. 4 Japan Nafion Imports and Exports Analysis (2012-2017)7. 5 India Nafion Imports and Exports Analysis (2012-2017)8 Global Nafion Players Profiles and Sales Data8.1 Company one8.1.1 Company Basic Information8.1.2 Nafion Product Category8.1.3 Company One Nafion Sales (Volume), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Volume) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)8.2 Company Two8.2.1 Company Basic Information8.2.2 Nafion Product Category8.2.3 Company Two Nafion Sales (Volume), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Volume) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)8.3 Company Three8.3.1 Company Basic Information8.3.2 Nafion Product Category8.3.3 Company Three Nafion Sales (Volume), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Volume) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)8.4 Company Four8.4.1 Company Basic Information8.4.2 Nafion Product Category8.4.3 Company Four Nafion Sales (Volume), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Volume) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)8.5 Company Five8.5.1 Company Basic Information8.5.2 Nafion Product Category8.5.3 Company Five Nafion Sales (Volume), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Volume) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)8.6 Company Six8.6.1 Company Basic Information8.6.2 Nafion Product Category8.6.3 Company Six Nafion Sales (Volume), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Volume) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)8.7 Company Seven8.7.1 Company Basic Information8.7.2 Nafion Product Category8.7.2.1 Product A8.7.2.2 Product B8.7.3 Company Seven Nafion Sales (Volume), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Volume) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)8.8 Company Eight8.8.1 Company Basic Information8.8.2 Nafion Product Category8.8.3 Company Eight Nafion Sales (Volume), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Volume) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)About UsReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact UsJay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite: Plywood Market Growth, Trends, Absolute Opportunity and Value Chain 2017-2027 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3463 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3463 www.futuremarketinsights.com Plywood is a type of wood product, an engineered wood. It is a panel made of wood, manufactured from thin sheets of wood veneer that are stuck together. Due to its improved qualities, such as resistance to shrinkage, splitting, cracking and twisting, it finds application as a substitute for wood. Plywood also displays high strength as compared to plain wood and it is flexible, workable, reusable and inexpensive.Rising construction activity worldwide, increase in the number of homes and the rising application of plywood in the interior designing of home floorings, walls, and ceilings, especially in high-cost residential spaces, along with a growing furniture industry are expected to drive the global plywood market for the next few years.The advantages of using plywood as a low-cost yet durable substitute for raw wood, along with its growing demand make it imperative to study the global plywood market.Request Report Sample@Market SegmentationThe global plywood market can be segmented in several ways, two of the prominent ones being on the basis of product type and application type.On the basis of product type, the global plywood market is segmented as follows:Commercial plySemi-waterproof plyWaterproof plyOn the basis of application type, the global plywood market is segmented as follows:Softwood plywoodHardwood plywoodTropical plywoodDecorative plywoodKey Trends, DriversIn recent times, manufacturers of commercial vehicles require increasing quantities of chequered plywood for applications in automotive flooring. This is expected to propel global plywood market growth in the near future.Plywood also finds applications in the marine industry for the construction of decks. The structural panel industry has also been a major consumer of plywood, thereby driving the market.However, the cost associated with plywood is relatively high as compared to oriented strand board (OSB), which provides similar features to that of plywood. Thus, growth rate of the plywood market could be hampered as a result of a shift of usage from plywood to oriented strand board (OSB).It should be noted that the North American region has been consistently dominant globally, in terms of the market demand for plywood. This has been primarily due to high plywood consumption by the construction sector. In terms of plywood demand, North America is followed by the European region, which is mainly driven by the high demand from Germany and the U.K. However, the region displaying a relatively high market growth is Asia Pacific, as China, India and Japan have been witnessing massive construction, thereby driving the demand for plywood applications to a considerable extent.It could be observed that countries with rich forest resources and wood plantations, such as India, Brazil and South-East Asian countries have a potential to be key suppliers of plywood in the near future, as they could look at possible vertical integration to produce plywood after making relevant infrastructural investments for the same, thereby driving the supply side of the plywood market. For instance, the rich and varied forest wealth of India with a variety of deciduous, coniferous, tropical and evergreen trees could be an important resource for the wood panel industry in the future. Also, the growing indigenous demand for plywood in India as a result of rising disposable income among the growing middle and affluent class and the growing infrastructure in recent times is expected to make India an important consumer of plywood in the near future.However, it should be noted that the plywood demand growth has been facing resistance from the packaging industry, which has been finding preferences of other materials, such as metals, plastics and cardboards.Visit For TOC@Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the global plywood market are as follows:Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd.Boise Cascade LLCAtlantic Plywood CorporationEksons Corp. BhdCentury Plyboard (India) Ltd.Greenply Industries Ltd.Georgia-Pacific CorporationUniply Industries Ltd.Weyerhaeuser CompanyJaya Tiasa Holdings BerhadRoseburg Forest Products Co.About Us Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: U.S. Painting Tools Industry to reach $1800 Million by 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1843 https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1843 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/painting-tools-market https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/fire-door-market Global Painting Tools Industry production of paint brushes surpassed 440 million units in 2016. Plastic handle brush are extensively used in emerging countries, while high quality wooden handle is more popular in North America and Europe. Brushes are the largest selling and widely recognized product.Asia Pacific painting tool industry is set to witness growth over 6% through 2024. Infrastructural advancement in China, Japan and India positively stimulates product penetration in the regional industry.Germany accounted over 15% of Europe painting tools industry in 2016. Presence of major automobile brands including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Porsche, Opel and Audi in the country makes it a substantial contributor in European automotive industry. Russia is expected to surpass 20% of the regional industry share by 2024.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Growing urbanization along with increasing infrastructure spending is anticipated to drive painting tools market growth. Increase in government spending in tourism, commercial & building renovation coupled with rise in retail industry has positively influenced the product demand.Construction applications is projected to surpass USD 10 billion by 2024. Rising population, ongoing industrialization, expanding foreign investment funding across developing economies will fuel the painting tools industry. Globally, construction industry is projected as one of the most lucrative industries in the coming years and is forecast to have 4.5% growth rate in next five years.Rising demand for corrosion resistant and attractive textures in residential & commercial building are the preliminary factors driving painting tools demand. Increasing architectural paint & coatings application in commercial buildings to enhance aesthetic appearance will boost product penetration.Rise in the global purchasing power parity from USD 13,100 in 2013 to USD 15,800 in 2015 provides a positive outlook for consumer goods industry. Increasing application of coatings on consumer electronics products will stimulate demand.High painting tools industry price trend along with limited consumer awareness regarding the product usage may hamper business growth.Request for a sample of this research report @Rollers accounted more than 25% painting tools market demand in 2016. Construction industry is the major consumer of rollers as it provides enhanced paint layoff and reduce bristle loss. Offering unique design to the walls is among the key factor driving product demand in modern wall designs.Knives and scrapers will witness a substantial growth owing to rising demand for high-class paint & coating application in residential and commercial construction. The segment accounts over 17% demand in LATAM painting tool market by 2024.Demand from automotive industry contributed over USD 550 million in 2016. Rising demand for luxury vehicles including Cadillac, Infiniti, Maserati Ghibli, Jaguar, Range Rover, Rolls-Royce, Porsche and Bentley has encouraged vehicle manufacturers to utilize spray guns for vehicle coatings. Additionally, appealing finishing of vehicles is accredited to usage of modern coating tools including trowels and sanding coat equipment.Global painting tool Industry share is fragmented owing to presence of large number of industry players. Mergers and acquisition plays a crucial role in gaining industry share.Prominent manufacturers in painting tools industry include Gordon Brush, Braun Brush, Purdy, Anderson Products, Mill-Rose Company and Milton Brushware. Other significant manufacturers are Allway, Nespoli Group, Harbor Freight, EPOS Egypt, Shawky Brush & Roller Factory, Makinah, Dura Paints, MAAN and Nour Egypt.Browse key industry insights spread across 210 pages with 199 market data tables & 12 figures & charts from the report, Painting tools industry Size By Product (Brushes, Rollers, Scrapers, Knives, Trays, Spray Gun, Masking Tapes), By Application (Construction [Residential, Commercial, Industrial], Automotive, Appliances, Furniture, Industrial Machineries & Equipment, Packaging) Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S, Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, South Africa), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Browse Related Reports:Fire Door Market Size By Material (Glass, Steel, Timber, Gypsum, Aluminum, Vermiculate Boards), By Product (Hinged, Double Action, Sliding, Flush Glazed), By Application (Residential, Commercial), By End-Use (Internal, External), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa), Growth Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.29L Atlantic Avenue, Suite L 105, 2025 Network Analytics Market Analysis and Forecast by Component, Deployment Type and Industry Vertical The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000290 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000290 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/network-analytics-market Global Network Analytics Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Network Analytics industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Network Analytics market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Network Analytics market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Network Analytics players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Request a Sample Report atNetwork Analytics Market Players:- DIC Corporation- T&K TOKA CO LTD- Royal Dutch Network Analytics Factories Van Son- Flint Group- Sun Chemical Corporation- Altana AG- Sakata INX Corporation- Wikoff Color Corporation- Toyo Ink Group- Huber GroupThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Network Analytics market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Network Analytics market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying atAlso, key Network Analytics market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Network Analytics market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.View Complete Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 2017 Global Natural Cheese Market Trend Analysis and Industry Forecast to 2022 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request-sample/?post=257617 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/global-natural-cheese-market-research-report-2017/ www.reportsmonitor.com ReportsMonitor.Com Adds Global Natural Cheese Market Research Report 2017 to Its Database.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Natural Cheese in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Natural Cheese market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingArla FoodsBongrainDevondale Murray GoulburnFonterraLeprino FoodsFriesland CampinaGroupe LactalisAlmaraiCalabro Cheese CorporationBega CheeseBletsoe CheeseBrunkow Cheese FactoryBurnett DairyCady Cheese FactoryDupont CheeseEmmiHook'S Cheese CompanyKraftMother DairyParag Milk FoodsSaputoSargento FoodsBeijing SanyuanYiliMengniu DairyBright DairyInner Mongolia LichengKnight DairyShandong Tianjiao BiotechGET SAMPLE REPORT @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSoft CheeseSemi-soft CheeseMedium-hard CheeseHard CheeseOn 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 Natural Cheese for each application, includingBakery & ConfectionerySweet & Savory SnacksSauces, Dressings, Dips, and CondimentsReady MealsOtherTable of ContentsGlobal Natural Cheese Market Research Report 20171 Natural Cheese Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Natural Cheese1.2 Natural Cheese Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Natural Cheese Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Natural Cheese Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Soft Cheese1.2.4 Semi-soft Cheese1.2.5 Medium-hard Cheese1.2.6 Hard Cheese1.3 Global Natural Cheese Segment by Application1.3.1 Natural Cheese Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Bakery & Confectionery1.3.3 Sweet & Savory Snacks1.3.4 Sauces, Dressings, Dips, and Condiments1.3.5 Ready Meals1.3.6 OtherBROWSE FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS and REPORT DESCRIPTION @About Us:Reports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Contact Us:Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite: Market Trends in Medical Radiation Detection, Monitoring & Safety http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/medical-radiation-detection-monitoring-safety-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=25526 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ There are various areas where radiation power has been applied for the benefit of humans, one of them being the medical segment. Numerous benefits availed by patients due to the appropriate usage of radiation for improved diagnosis and treatment are evident. It has become a key part of the modern medical treatment, especially in treating cancer. Protection from radiation for doctors, other healthcare professionals, and patients is constantly evolving in the ever-developing modern medical environment. Radiation-producing technology such as X-ray diffraction equipment and X-ray machines are employed in various hospitals and diagnostic centers. Many handle intensive treatment procedures where risk of high levels of radiation exposure exists. Therefore, for the optimal safety from radiation, the medical radiation detection, monitoring and safety market offers radiation detection and monitoring products for real-time dosimetry monitoring.Obtain Report Details:According to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in 2014, seven out of every 10 Americans underwent diagnostic X-rays and radiation therapy. Furthermore, 10 million nuclear medicine procedures are performed in hospitals and radiology centers in the U.S. each year. Radiation is commonly employed to detect injuries, generate 3D images, as teletherapy, brachytherapy, and afterloading to treat tumors. Thus, the major factors which are anticipated to act as drivers for the medical radiation detection, monitoring, and safety market growth are increased usage of nuclear medicine and radiation therapy for diagnosis and treatment, rising cancer prevalence, and increase in the population of the persons with insurance. However, delay in new product approvals due to strict regulatory guidelines and scarcity of skilled professional to handle radiation related procedures are anticipated to act as restraints for this market.The medical radiation detection, monitoring and safety market can be segmented into safety products, monitoring, detection and detector products, and end-users. In terms of detector, the medical radiation detection, monitoring and safety market can be segmented into solid-state detectors, gas-filled detectors, and scintillators. Due to the wide application in medical imaging and favorable cost-performance ratio of gas-filled detectors it had acquired the major share of medical radiation detection, monitoring and safety market in recent years.In terms of product type, the market can be segmented into area process monitors, personal dosimeters, environment radiation monitors, environment radiation monitors, radioactive material monitors, surface contamination monitors, and others. Personal dosimeters accounted for a major share of the medical radiation detection and monitoring market due to their high demand in the medical field in recent years.In terms of modality, the market can be segmented into hand safety products, face protection products, full-body protection products, and others. The full body protection segment is anticipated to expand in the near future due to the increased usage of radiation in various treatment procedures and rising awareness among healthcare professionals and patients.In terms of end-user, the market can be segmented into hospitals and non-hospitals. Rising number of hospitals around the world is a key factor fuelling the expansion of the market in the end-user segment.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report:In terms of geography, the market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the world. Expansion in the North America market is mainly due to the rise in usage of radio-diagnostic instruments and new technological advancements in radiation detection, monitoring and safety products. The market in Asia is anticipated to expand in the near future due to increase in number of hospitals in the region, increased cancer incidences, and rise in number of installations of radiological imaging instruments.Key participants in the medical radiation detection, monitoring, and safety market are Arrow-Tech, Inc., Amray Medical, Biodex Medical Systems, Inc., Fluke Biomedical, IBA Worldwide, Infab Corporation, Landauer, Inc., Ludlum Instruments, Inc., Mirion Technologies, Inc., PTW Freiburg GmbH, Radiation Detection Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Unfors Raysafe AB.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Haptic Touchscreen Market Analysis and 2025 Forecasts by Device, Application, Type of interaction and Components The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000286 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000286 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/haptic-touchscreen-market According to The Insight Partners, Global Haptic Touchscreen Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Haptic Touchscreen industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Haptic Touchscreen market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Haptic Touchscreen market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Haptic Touchscreen players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Request a Sample Report atHaptic Touchscreen Market Players:- Alpine Electronics- Apple- Densitron Technologies- Haption S.A.- Immersion Corporation- Johnson Electric- Samsung Electronics- Cypress Semiconductor Corporation- Elo Touch Solutions- Renesas Electronics CorporationThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Haptic Touchscreen market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Haptic Touchscreen 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 and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying atAlso, key Haptic Touchscreen market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Haptic Touchscreen market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.View Complete Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Infertility Treatment Market 2017 Technology Sector Market Opportunities, Market Size, News, Region of Operations, Advancement, Strategies Forecast to 2025 Infertility Treatment Market https://www.progressivemarkets.com/industry-research/infertility-treatment-market https://www.progressivemarkets.com/enquiry-about-report/infertility-treatment-market https://www.progressivemarkets.com/get-discount/infertility-treatment-market https://www.progressivemarkets.com According to a recent report published by Progressive Markets on the health sector, which titled, Global Infertility Treatment Market- Size, Trend, Share, Opportunity Analysis & Forecast, 2014-2025, the industry is expected to increase at a CAGR of 11.7% during the period, 20172025. It is suitable for manufacturers and stakeholders owing to comprehensive analysis it offers of factors that increase or decrease growth of the market.The research gives a brief introduction of the global infertility treatment market in terms of its scope. It offers summary which includes significant findings, market attractiveness, competitive landscape, recent developments, and trend analysis. It incorporates research methodology, such as Porters Five Forces Analysis (PFFA) to understand rivalry in the industry. This also includes bargaining power of the supplier & buyer and threat from substitutes & new entrepreneurs. It divides the industry into procedures, products, patients, end-users, and geographies.Continue to Report Description and Full ToC:Based on procedure, the study segments the global infertility treatment market into assisted reproductive technology (ART), fertility surgeries, and artificial insemination (AI). According to it, products of the industry include instruments, accessories, and media & consumables. Geographically, it segments the market into Europe, North America, Latin America Middle East & Africa (LAMEA), and Asia-Pacific. It splits the industry on the basis of patients into women and men.The report includes end-users of the global infertility treatment market, such as fertility centers, research institutes, hospitals & clinics, and cryobanks. It analyzes share of the industry by types, procedures, patients, end-users, and geographies during the period, 20142025. It assesses market size of each product, procedure, patient, and end-user by region for the historic period and forecast period, 20142016 and 20172025, respectively. In addition, it evaluates market size of all nations of the industry during the aforementioned period.Inquire About Report:The study discusses big market players of the global infertility treatment market, such as Cooper Companies Inc. (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S.), Cook Group Incorporated (U.S.), Vitrolife AB (Sweden), Genea Limited (Australia), Esco Micro Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), IVFtech ApS (Denmark), Irvine Scientific (U.S.), Baker Company, Inc. (U.S.)., and Ihmedical A/S. It offers brief introduction of every manufacturer. Further, it analyzes business and finance segment of each company. It also evaluates recent advancements made by every firm. The experts describe various factors that vendors adopt to evolve market trends. These include product development, acquisition, product approval, and collaboration. The report explores factors that accelerate growth of the industry which include technological development. It discusses alternate aspects that propel demand of the industry, such as increase in awareness and public- private investment.The experts describe features that cause slow progress of the global infertility treatment market, such as high procedural cost. Moreover, the study provides certain key takeaways of the industry, such as it provides great competitive edge to manufacturers, stakeholders, and new entrants. It provides comprehensive evaluation of aspects that have potential to restrict or drive the industry.Discount on Full Report:Table of Content for Infertility Treatment Industry1. Executive summary1.1. Key Findings1.2. Market Attractiveness and Trend analysis1.3. Competitive Landscape and recent industry development analysis2. Introduction2.1. Report Description2.2. Scope and Definitions2.3. Research Methodology3. Market landscape3.1. Growth Drivers3.1.1. Impact Analysis3.2. Restrains and Challenges3.2.1. Impact Analysis3.3. Porters Analysis3.3.1. Bargaining power of buyers3.3.2. Bargaining power of suppliers3.3.3. Threat of substitutes3.3.4. Industry rivalry3.3.5. Threat of new entrants3.4. Global Infertility Treatment Market Shares Analysis, 2014-20253.4.1. Global Infertility Treatment Market by Procedure 2014-2025ContinuedList of TablesContain 68 TablesList of FiguresContain 64 FiguresAbout ProgressiveThe company makes use of primary corporate research and secondary inputs from trusted sources to build its own reference base. It maintains consistency in quality as it keeps itself updated with changes in market dynamics and gauging its net effect on global business trends.Reach UsAntviews Global, Serve No. 721/1Flat No 404, Sudhanshu Society,Shastri Road, Near Kalavati Mandir,Fatak Baug, Pune 411 030Us: + 1-888-906-9222GMT: + 35-376-680-1176help@progressivemarkets.com Medical Gauze Market by Product Type, Market, Players and Regions- Global Forecast to 2021 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/182448-global-medical-gauze-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/182448-global-medical-gauze-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=182448 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/182448-global-medical-gauze-market HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 118 pages on title 'Global Medical Gauze Market by Product Type, Market, Players and Regions-Forecast to 2021' with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions that includes ............. and important players such as ...........Request a sample report @SummaryThe Medical Gauze market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Medical Gauze Market: Product Segment AnalysisGauze PadsGauze TapeGauze BandageGlobal Medical Gauze Market: Application Segment AnalysisGlobal Medical Gauze Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaThe Players mentioned in our reportJohnson & Johnson3MDynarexSmith & NephewBDFHartmannKawamotoMedlineDerma SciencesMedtronicMake an enquiry before buying this Report @Table of ContentChapter 1 About the Medical Gauze Industry1.1 Industry Definition1.1.1 Types of Medical Gauze industry1.1.1.1 Gauze Pads1.1.1.2 Gauze Tape1.1.1.3 Gauze Bandage1.2 Main Market Activities1.3 Similar Industries1.4 Industry at a GlanceChapter 2 World Market Competition Landscape2.1 Medical Gauze Markets by Regions2.1.1 USAMarket Revenue (M USD) by Types, Through 2021Market OverviewMajor Players Revenue (M USD) in 20152.1.2 EuropeMarket Revenue (M USD) by Types, Through 2021Market OverviewMajor Players Revenue (M USD) in 20152.1.3 ChinaMarket Revenue (M USD) by Types, Through 2021Market OverviewMajor Players Revenue (M USD) in 20152.1.4 IndiaMarket Revenue (M USD) by Types, Through 2021Market OverviewMajor Players Revenue (M USD) in 20152.1.5 JapanMarket Revenue (M USD) by Types, Through 2021Market OverviewMajor Players Revenue (M USD) in 20152.1.6 South East AsiaMarket Revenue (M USD) by Types, Through 2021Market OverviewMajor Players Revenue (M USD) in 20152.2 World Medical Gauze Market by TypesGauze PadsGauze TapeGauze Bandage2.3 World Medical Gauze Market by Applications2.4 World Medical Gauze Market Analysis2.4.1 World Medical Gauze Market Revenue and Growth Rate 2011-20162.4.2 World Medical Gauze Market Consumption and Growth rate 2011-20162.4.3 World Medical Gauze Market Price Analysis 2011-2016Buy this report @Chapter 3 World Medical Gauze Market share3.1 Major Production Market share by Players3.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players3.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2015, Through 20213.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2015, Through 2021Chapter 4 Supply Chain Analysis4.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis4.2 Raw material Market Analysis4.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2012-20164.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis4.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis4.3 Production Process Analysis4.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks4.5 End users Market Analysis......ContinuedRead Detailed Table of Content @HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :Nidhi Bhavsar (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Global HD Recorder Market 2017: Industry Expected to Experience a Positive Growth before 2020 Global HD Recorder Market http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/global-hd-recorder-market-2017-production-sales-supply.html http://bit.ly/2vhYmPK Global HD Recorder Market 2017 Includes Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Demand, Supply, Application, Segmentation, Opportunity, Market Development, Production, Capacity Utilization, Supply, Analysis and Forecast by 2022The MRS Research Group report by QY Research Global HD Recorder Market 2017-2022 provides an essential information and statistically evaluated data about the HD Recorder. The research report provides a detailed study of the HD Recorder market, enlightening the major areas such as future market scenario, market growth factors, market growth restraints, and others. The advanced technological trends and various new opportunities are also provided in this research report.Read Complete Report with TOC @Each and every segment of the HD Recorder industry isevaluatedin a qualitative as well as quantitativeway so that the customers get an exact estimation of the market. The MRS Research Group HD Recorder report by QY Research covers important informations such as definition, the major players in the market, and also the demand for new opportunities.The research report provides the HD Recorder markets classification in detail. The HD Recorder market is bifurcated into a number of segments on the basis of materials,types,applications,and end-users. The geographical analysis of the global HD Recorder market is also coveredin the report. The vital information mentioned in the research report helps in significantly predicting the future scope of the global market.The various segmentation of the global market is based on the overall product profit, costing, global market growth, and manufacturing processes. The report covers a region-wise analysis which provides the customer with different market studies that give a detailed analysis of the product and its impact on the global market. The HD Recorder report also highlights the growth statistics depending on the supply and demand in the different regions.Get Free Sample Copy Of Report @Highlights of The Report :A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market.Important changes in market dynamics.Market segmentation up to the second or third level.Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume.Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments.Market shares and strategies of key players.Emerging niche segments and regional markets.The HD Recorder report covers the precisely studied and evaluated data of the global market players and their scope in the market using a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such asinvestment return analysies, SWOT analysis and feasibility studyare used to analyze the keyglobal market players growth in the HD Recorder industry.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 Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) Market Forcasted for Accelerated Growth by 2024 Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) Market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/next-generation-sequencing-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/next-generation-sequencing-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/next-generation-sequencing-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/next-generation-sequencing-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com The next-generation sequencing is also acknowledged as high-throughput sequencing; it includes a number of several sequencing technologies that are new and modern such as Roche 454 sequencing, SOLiD sequencing, Illumina (Solexa) sequencing, and Ion torrent: Proton/PGM sequencing. These advanced technologies help in sequencing the RNA and DNA speedily and this method is cheaper and affordable than the Sanger sequencing method, which was used previously. Thus, next-generation sequencing has revolutionized the study of molecular biology and genomics.Request Free Sample Report @The next-generation sequencing market is globally segmented into product and services, technology, application, and end-user. On the basis of product and services, the global market is segregated into pre-sequencing products and services market, sequencing services market, NGS platforms, consumables, reagents, and services, and NGS data analysis, storage, and management (bioinformatics) market. Based on the technology, the market is categorized into ion semiconductor sequencing, nanopore sequencing, sequencing by synthesis (SBS), and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. Depending on the application, the market is divided into drug discovery, precision medicine, marine research, forensic medicine, phylogeographic & phylogenetic studies, diagnostics, biomarker discovery, agriculture and animal research, and research in bio-fuels. Based on the end user, the market is fragmented into hospitals & clinics, agrigenomics organizations, research centers, academic & government institutes, NPOS, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and consumer genomic companiesThe advancements that are made in the technology vertical of sequencing platforms and the growing number of next-generation sequencing applications will encourage the global next-generation sequencing market growth in the future. Besides, the increasing adoption of the next-generation sequencing technologies in the research laboratories and research academic institutes projects to supplement the improvement of the market in the coming years. Nevertheless, the growing awareness amongst the consumers concerning the advantages of next-generation sequencing with the help of conferences and workshops are contributing to the growth of the market. In contrast, the growing issues such as the lack of skilled professionals and the storage of sequencing data are affecting the market growth negatively.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) Market: Regional AnalysisThe geographical segmentation of the next-generation sequencing market is diversified into Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. The major market share is held by the North American region and will be the same in the coming years. The key factors that are contributing to this market growth are the existence of a large number of market players in the U.S. and the encouraging government schemes. Additionally, Asia Pacific region will grow substantially in the coming few years. Factors that attribute to this regional market growth are the development of the healthcare sector in the emerging nations and the positive initiatives that are taken by the government. Other factors such as the launch of developed and improved next-generation sequencing products and services anticipate contributing considerably towards the market growth.Some of the key market players that are involved next-generation sequencing market include Gatc Biotech AG, Perkinelmer, Inc., Qiagen N.V., Macrogen, Inc., Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Ltd., Eurofins Scientific, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Illumina, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Beijing Genomics Institute, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.Browse detail report @Global Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) Market by Geographical Analysis: North America( U.S.), Europe( UK, France, Germany), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India), Latin America( Brazil), Middle East and AfricaOur value reports provide full, in-depth analysis of the parent market including most significant changes in market dynamics; the report also presents the detailed overview on segmentation of this market. We managed to present as many important pieces of information in essential form thanks to our report You will learn more about former, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and value, assessment of niche industry developments and Market share analysis. We have not forgotten to present key strategies for major players, emerging segments and regional markets and last but not least, testimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.Inquire more before buying this report @About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market Hit at 40% CAGR to 2024 https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/448839/?utm_source=OPR-PSR https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/448839/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-artificial-intelligence-emotional-recognition-market-size-status-and-forecast-2022//?utm_source=RR-PSR https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ MaketStudyReport.com adds a New Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market Research Report for the period of 2017-2024 that shows the growth of the market is rising at a 40% CAGR to 2024.Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market size is forecast to exceed USD 10 billion by 2024.AI has revolutionized the healthcare industry by designing treatment plans, medication management, assisting in repetitive tasks, and drug discovery. Rising adoption of precision medicine has made enabled simplicity of management and cost reduction. Increasing application in genomics research coupled with incremental innovation in robotic personal digital assistants should boost industry growth.Medical imaging & diagnosis will witness more than 40% growth with expectations to surpass USD 2.5 billion by 2024. It has gained acceptance owing to its capability to detect cancer at early stage, track tumor development and improve the patients life expectancy. Increasing application of artificial intelligence in diagnostics and imaging industry will further growth.Increasing big data volume and the ever-increasing need to effectively store and manage the healthcare data will drive healthcare artificial intelligence market growth. Advent of innovative technologies for effective diagnosis & treatment should further accelerate business penetration.Get Sample Copy on this Report:Huge initial investment, complex ROI structure and significant maintenance & repair costs should hamper industry growth. Rising concerns that healthcare AI adoption could lead to unemployment on a large scale can impede expansion over the forecast timeframe.U.S. healthcare artificial intelligence market was valued over USD 320 million in 2016 and is estimated to witness more than 38% CAGR over the coming years. Favorable government initiatives for promoting big data analytics adoption along with other innovative healthcare technologies will propel business growth.Europe healthcare artificial intelligence market size was valued over USD 270 million in 2016, with expectations to witness more than 39% growth over the forecast years. Increasing AI application should encourage industry players in extensive R&D to develop effective and cheaper healthcare solutions in this region.Japan held over 35% of regional industry share with expectations to witness more than 40% growth. Presence of large number of technology based companies and universities developing healthcare artificial intelligence solutions should fuel industry growth. Rising number of start-ups in the region should further accelerate business expansion.Get Discount on this Report:Some of the companies operating in healthcare artificial intelligence market space include AiCure, Cyrcadia Health, Google, IBM, and Microsoft. Increasing investments by industry players and growing interest of venture capital firms will spur revenue growth. Healthcare artificial intelligence industry is witnessing growth in startup units in recent years and the trend is anticipated to continue over the forecast period.Healthcare artificial intelligence market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD million from 2013 to 2024, for the following segments:Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market by Application:Medical Imaging & Diagnosis, Drug Discovery, Therapy Planning, Hospital Workflow, OthersThe above information has been provided on a regional and country basis for the following:North America, U.S., Canada, Europe, Germany, UK, France, Italy, RussiaRelated report:-Global Artificial Intelligence- Emotional Recognition Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022This report studies the global Artificial Intelligence- Emotional Recognition market, analyzes and researches the Artificial Intelligence- Emotional Recognition development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News: TCD Alcohol DM Industry size is expected to exceed USD 20 million by 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1116 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/tcd-alcohol-dm-market http://bit.ly/2fpZA7l https://www.gminsights.com/ TCD alcohol DM market is monopolistic due to the patented technology for hydrogenating the hydroformylation products of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) used in the manufacturing process.TCD Alcohol DM Market size is slated to cross USD 20 million by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.It is a specialty raw material for a varied range of polymers including polyesters, polyurethanes, polyols, and acrylates. These polymers are further used in the manufacture of paints & coatings, inks, resins, and lacquers. The global TCD alcohol DM market will be driven by its extensive application in the manufacturing of UV cured inks and coatings, which look set to grow at over 10% in the near future. Depleting petroleum reserves and increasing environmental concerns will be major influences on the global demand.Request for a sample of this report @Strong UV cured adhesive demand trends for flexible packaging business will also catalyze the overall growth. Flexible packaging demand in FMCG and pharmaceutical applications will likely have a beneficial impact on adhesive consumption, to it prevents microbial growth and arrest contamination. Global flexible packaging industry accounted for more than USD 80 billion in 2015 will remain a key avenue for TCD alcohol DM market demand.UV cure coatings accounted for over 40% of the total TCD alcohol DM market size in 2015 and it will likely grow at more than 7% CAGR with rapidly increasing technologically aware population and increasing popularity of sophisticated and innovative portable electronic devices.Developments in optoelectronics will also offer growth opportunities up, increasing product application in synthesizing methacrylate monomers, which are used in optoelectronic devices including optical fibers, photoresists, and display boards, will stimulate demand. These devices have better performance and cost effectiveness than the traditional devices and will likely substitute them in the coming years.Browse key industry insights spread across 92 pages with 83 market data tables & 12 figures & charts from the report, TCD Alcohol DM Market Size by Application (UV Cure Coatings, UV Inkjet Inks), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, GCC), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Mature print industry will drive product growth in UV inkjet ink application, which already generates more than USD 5 million revenue for the TCD alcohol DM market as of 2015, with growth driven by superior properties over petrochemical inks.Asia Pacific accounted for a notable market share due to high tech-savvy juvenile population in countries such as Japan, China, India, Taiwan, and South Korea. The region recorded a revenue above USD 4 million in 2015. North America and Europe TCD alcohol DM market will have slower growth because of maturity of the end-use industries. However, novel and innovative optoelectronic products may enhance regional potential.Product exclusiveness and manufacturing technology will hinder global TCD alcohol DM market growth. Possession of intellectual property rights by manufacturing companies will restrain new companies from entering in the business. All new entrants must purchase the patented technology, making the industry monopolistic.Purchase This Report @About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb: Tooth Positioner Market Outlook by Product Overview, Application and Regions 2022 Reports Monitor https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request-sample/?post=257476 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/global-tooth-positioner-market-research-report-2017/ http://www.reportsmonitor.com ReportsMonitor.com has added a new report to its database Global Tooth Positioner Market Report 2017.This report identifies the Tooth Positioner market size for the years 2012-2017, and forecast of the same till the year 2022. It also highlights the market drivers, restraints, growth indicators, challenges, and other key aspects with respect to the Tooth Positioner market.Tooth Positioner Market tracks the major market events including product launches, technological developments, mergers and acquisitions, and the innovative business strategies opted by key market players. Along with strategically analyzing the key micro markets, the report also focuses on industry-specific drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges in the Copper Strips market. This research report offers in-depth analysis of the market size (revenue), market share, major market segments, and different geographic regions, forecast for the next five years, key market players, and premium industry trends. It also focuses on the key drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges.For Requesting a Sample Copy of This Report, Please Visit @This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringTP OrthodonticsAlignDentaurum GmbH & Co. KG3M Unitek CorporationTOP-Service fur Lingualtechnik GmbHLM-Instruments OyMyofunctional Research CompanyThe competitive landscape of the global market for Tooth Positioner is determined by evaluating the various market participants, production capacity, Tooth Positioner markets production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Tooth Positioner market worldwide.This report segments the Tooth Positioner marketMental TypeAlloy TypeOthersOn the basis of application:HospitalDental ClinicFor comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, the Tooth Positioner market is analyzed across key geographies namely:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaEach of these regions is analyzed on basis of market findings across major countries in these regions for a macro-level understanding of the market.Browse Full Table of Contents and Report Description @Some points from TOC:Global Tooth Positioner Market Research Report 20171 Tooth Positioner Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Tooth Positioner1.2 Tooth Positioner Segment by Type (Product Category)8 Tooth Positioner Manufacturing Cost Analysis8.1 Tooth Positioner Key Raw Materials Analysis8.1.1 Key Raw Materials8.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials8.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials8.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials8.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure8.2.1 Raw Materials8.2.2 Labor Cost8.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses8.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Tooth PositionerReports Monitor (ReportsMonitor.com) is a platform to meet the market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.008, Mihir Co-operative,Above Bharat Suzuki showroom,Fatima Nagar,Pune,Maharashtra,IndiaIndia: +91 2069535353Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite: Variable Data Printing Labels Industry: Remarkable Expansion CAGR of 14% By 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1856 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/variable-data-printing-labels-market Global Variable Data Printing Labels Market Information Report by Type (Release Liner, and Linerless Labels), by Composition (Facestock, and Topcoat), by Application (Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care, Consumer Goods, and others) and Region - Global Forecast To 2022Variable data printing is a form of digital printing where elements such as text, graphics and images are changed from one printed piece to another by using information from an external database. Variable data printing labels allows personalizing the printing requirements according to a specific set of data. The growth of the market is expected to be driven by the ability of variable data printing labels to generate customized product information and serialized number printing at low cost and in less time. The variable data printing label is gaining importance with the rapid increase in the use of printing barcodes in various industry verticals such as pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and food & beverage. With the increase in the concept of barcode scanning for generation of invoices and the increase in demand for huge volume inventory tracking, the variable data printing labels market is growing significantly. The growth of packaging industry is also contributing significantly to the growth of the market. Global variable data printing labels market is expected to grow at around 14% CAGR during the forecast period.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players: HP Inc. (U.S.), WS Packaging Group, Inc. (U.S.), Canon Inc. (Japan), Cenveo, Inc. (U.S.), 3M Company (U.S.), Quad/Graphics Inc. (U.S.), Xerox Corporation (U.S.), Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.), R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (U.S.), Mondi Plc. (South Africa), and others.Study Objectives of Variable Data Printing Labels Market To give definite examination of the market structure alongside figure for the following 5 years of the different portions and sub-sections of the Global Variable Data Printing Labels showcase To give experiences about elements influencing the market development To Analyze the Global Variable Data Printing Labels showcase in view of different components, for example, store network examination, and Porter's five constrain investigation To give verifiable and gauge income of the market fragments and sub-sections as for areas and their individual key nations To give nation level investigation of the market regarding the present market size and future planned To give nation level examination of the market for portions by sort, organization, application and area To give vital profiling of key players in the market, extensively investigating their center skills, and drawing an aggressive scene for the market To track and dissect aggressive improvements, for example, joint endeavors, key partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, new item advancements, and research and advancements in the Global Variable Data Printing Labels MarketBrowse Full Report Details @Regional Analysis of Variable Data Printing Labels Market:The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow the highest in the forecast period due to the presence of developing nations such as China and India, increase in the health & safety concerns among people, and the rapid increase in demand for consumer goods and lifestyle products. China is a leading manufacturer and supplier of printing materials and equipment. Thus, the region showcases huge growth opportunities for the variable data printing labels market.The report for Variable Data Printing Labels Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Variable Data Printing Labels Market Research Report - Global Forecast to 2022 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Massive Augmentation of Sepsis Diagnostics Market: valuation USD 710 Million, at CAGR of 8% by 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2110 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sepsis-diagnostics-market Market Research Future published a research report on Sepsis Diagnostics Market Research Report- Global Forecast to 2022 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Global Sepsis Diagnostics Market Information, By Technology (Molecular Diagnostics, Biomarkers, Immunoassays and others), By Type of Product (Kits, Instruments, Blood Culture Media and others), By End Users (Pathology Laboratories, Specialty Clinics, Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers and others)- Forecast Till 2022Sepsis is a type of life-threatening organ dysfunction arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It can be caused due to weakened immune system, chronic illness, kidney or liver disease, cancer and severe wounds. It can be of two types severe sepsis when theres organ failure and other is septic shock in which there are the symptoms of severe sepsis includes a low blood pressure. The hospital-acquired infections and rising prevalence of sepsis has led to a growing need for its early diagnosis, which is one of the driving factor for sepsis diagnostics market.Get a Copy of Sample Report @The global market for sepsis diagnostics is expected to reach USD 710 Million by the end of the forecasted period and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8%.Key Players for Global Sepsis Diagnostics Market: bioMerieux, Inc. (US), EKF Diagnostics (UK), Immunexpress (US), T2 Biosystems, Inc. (US), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Axis-Shield Diagnostics Ltd. (Scotland), Cube Dx GmbH (Austria), Sandstone Diagnostics, Inc. (US) and others.Study Objectives of Global Sepsis Diagnostics Market: To provide detail analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of various segments and sub-segments of the global sepsis diagnostics market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the market based on various factors which includes price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force Analysis etc. To offer past as well as estimated future revenue of the markets segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries; these includes Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and estimated future growth of the market. To give country level analysis of the markets segments which includes by technology, by type of product, by end users and other sub segments. To provide overview about key players and their strategic profiling in the market; comprehensively analyzing their core competencies and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, along with research and developments that is taking place globally.Access Report Details @Segments:Global sepsis diagnostics market has been segmented on the basis of technology which comprises molecular diagnostics, biomarkers, immunoassays and others. On the basis of type of product product types; the market is segmented into kits, instruments, blood culture media and others. On the basis of end users the market is segmented into pathology laboratories, specialty clinics, hospitals, diagnostic centers and others.Regional Analysis of Global Sepsis Diagnostics Market:Globally North America is the largest market for medical tourism. The North American market for sepsis diagnostics is expected to reach USD 320 million by the end of the forecasted period.Europe is the second largest market for sepsis diagnostics which is expected to grow at the CAGR of 6.8%. Asia Pacific is expected to be fastest growing region in sepsis diagnostics market.The report of global sepsis diagnostics market by Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with detail analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts and key opinion leaders to gain a deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of the current market scenario which includes past and projected future market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. Along with all these detail information and strategies about top key players in the industry is also given. Further a broad study of different markets segments and regions is also provided.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Sepsis Diagnostics Market Research Report- Global Forecast to 2022 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Remarkable Expansion of Medical Device Packaging Industry: Worth USD 30 Billion at CAGR of approximately 6% by 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1934 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/medical-device-packaging-market Market Research Future published a research report on Global Medical Device Packaging Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.Global Medical Device Packaging Information by Material (Plastic, Paper & Paperboard and others), by Product (Pouches, Trays, Bags, Clamshell Packs and others), and Region - Forecast to 2022The key drivers for the growth of the medical device packaging market are the growing healthcare industry. There is an increased demand for such packaging by the medical device manufacturers on a large scale. The packaging industry on the other hand are seen investing heavily on various technological advancements. On the basis of product type, Pouches contributes the largest to the market, majorly due to its cost-effectiveness and infection resistant specification. Cost sensitiveness and declining healthcare costs are hampering the growth of the global medical device packaging market. North-America contributes largely to overall market share. The global medical device packaging market size is expected to cross USD 30 Billion at CAGR of approximately 6% by 2022.Get a Copy of Sample Copy@Key Players Amcor Limited, Bemis Company Inc, Chesapeake Limited, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Klockner Pentaplast Group, 3M Company, WestRock Company, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, and Oliver-Tolas.Study Objectives of Global Medical Device Packaging Market To give point by point examination of the market structure alongside estimate for the following 10 years of different portions and sub-sections of the Global Medical Device Packaging Market To give experiences about components influencing the market development To Analyze the Global Medical Device Packaging Market in view of different components value investigation, inventory network examination, doormen five compel examination and so on. To give authentic and gauge income of the market portions and sub-fragments as for four primary geologies and their nations North America, Europe, APAC, and Rest of the World (ROW) To give nation level examination of the market as for the present market size and future forthcoming To give nation level examination of the market for section by Material, Type and by Region. To give vital profiling of the key players in the market, thoroughly dissecting their center skills, and drawing a focused scene for the market To track and investigate aggressive advancements, for example, joint endeavors, vital unions, mergers and acquisitions, new item improvements, and research and advancements in the Global Medical Device Packaging MarketBrowse Full Report Details @Regional Analysis of Global Medical Device Packaging MarketAsian countries, especially India, China are expected to grow fastest over the forecasted period due to expansion of the healthcare industry and stricter government and non-governmentRegulations to support healthcare sector. However, North America dominates the market due to advancements of medical technology and infrastructure.Target Audience Manufactures Raw Materials Suppliers Aftermarket supplier Research Institute / Education Institute Potential Investors Key executive (CEO and COO) and strategy growth managerProduct Analysis Product matrix which gives a detailed comparison of the market for different recycled product typesAdditional Information Regulatory Landscape Pricing Analysis Macroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic Analysis Geographical analysis across 15 countriesCompany Information Profiling of 10 key market players In-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report title Competitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesThe report for Global Medical Device Packaging Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Medical Device Packaging Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Global Automotive Gear Market: Sturdy Expansion USD 28.40 Billion in 2015, at a CAGR of 6.4% by 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2794 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-gear-market-2794 Market Research Future published a research report on Global Automotive Gear Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Global Automotive Gear Market, By material (metallic and plastic) By product type (Planetary, Bevel, Helical, Non-Metallic and other), By vehicle type (Passenger vehicle, Commercial vehicle) and Region - Forecast 2016-2023.The high demand for automotive gears is due to the growth in the automotive industry. An automotive gear helps give an automobile, a smooth start to and allows the outer wheel to rotate faster than the inner wheel for safer turns. Smooth gear shifting enhances the driving experience as well as the growing demand for low-carbon-footprint technologies fuels the growth of the global automotive gears market. Moreover, rising disposable incomes and vehicle-ownership boosts the market growth. Lightweight and highly durable aluminum and composite gears are estimated to gain higher popularity during the forecast period. Focus towards high-quality products & the changing lifestyle of consumers and increasing spending power, enhance the growth of the gear market for automotive sector.However, the high cost of advanced gear system than the conventional gear system acts as a barrier for the growth of automotive gear market.Global Automotive gear market was valued at USD 28.40 Billion in 2015 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period.Get a Copy of Sample Report @Key Players: Eaton, Linamar Corporation, NSK Ltd, Bharat Gears Ltd, Neapco Inc, Mitsubishi Group, Dana Holding Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, ZF TRW and GKN plc.Study Objectives of Automotive Gear markets Market. To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the automotive gear market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the automotive gear markets market based on tools such as Porters Five Forces Analysis. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies, North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) and their 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 segment by material, product type, vehicle type and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the automotive gear market.Browse Report Details @Regional Analysis:Asia-Pacific market is dominating the market of automotive gear market due to growth in automotive sector. Development of automotive manufacturing industries in developing economies such as China and India are driving the market for automotive gears. The market in the developing countries is largely driven by economic growth and ongoing industrialization, which helps in production of motor vehicles and other manufacturing output.North America is referred to as the second-largest automotive gears market due to factors such as large customer base and high disposable income of end-users have fueled the demand for vehicles in the country.Target Audience: Organizations Manufacturer Research Institute / Education Institute Potential InvestorsProduct Analysis: Product matrix which gives a detailed comparison of the market for different recycled product typesAdditional Information Regulatory Landscape Pricing Analysis Macroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic Analysis: Geographical analysis across 15 countriesCompany Information: Profiling of 10 key market players In-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report title Competitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesThe report for Global Automotive Gear Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Automotive Gear Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023 chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Global Laser Cutting Equipment Market 2017 by Top Manufacturers - Truking group, Golden Laser, Rofin-Baasel, Coherent, Spectra-Physics https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/82640/request-sample https://goo.gl/AsVPdt www.fiormarkets.com http://www.albaniantimes.com/ The Global Laser Cutting Equipment Market is latest trending report by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022. Whats more, the Laser Cutting Equipment industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. The industry analysis have also been done to examine the impact of various factors and understand the overall attractiveness of the industry.Download Sample Report @Covered in This Report:In this report, the global Laser Cutting Equipment market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Laser Cutting Equipment in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Laser Cutting Equipment market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingTruking groupRofin-BaaselCoherentSpectra-PhysicsIPGGSITrotecGolden LaserHanslaserChutian LaserHgtechGet Full Report With TOC @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCNC Cutting EquipmentManual Cutting EquipmentOn 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 Laser Cutting Equipment for each application, includingShipping IndustryAutomobile IndustryEquipment Manufacturing IndustryOtherIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.ABOUT USFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerOffice - 102, Sanskriti Aspirations,Near Post 91, Baner Road,Pune, MH, India - 411045Phone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: Global GRE Pipes Market 2022 Major Manufacturer - Future Pipe Industries, Pipex Limited, National Oilwell Varco, Tamdid pipes https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2507 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/gre-pipes-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2507 Market Research Future adds new report of Global GRE Pipes Market Research Report- Forecast to 2022 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentMarket Segmentation:The market for GRE pipes is segmented on the basis of end-user and by the region; On the basis of End-User the GRE pipes market is segmented as like petrochemicals, oil & gas, power & energy and other industries. Moreover On the basis of the Region of global GRE pipes market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.Market Highlight:The Global GRE Pipes is expected to witness a significant growth by 2022 with CAGR of ~4.2% between 2016 and 2022. GRP pipe can be used as pressure as well as gravity pipelines for water, industrial outflow, and sea water pipelines. These pipes are in use in cross country pipelines, sewerage disposal systems, sea water intake & return lines in power plants globally. This is a unique system of thermal & chemical resistance and have high mechanical properties which is made by the preference of highly performing components and acute designed structure.The global GRE pipes market has witnessed a positive growth over the recent past and is expected to keep rising over the forecasted year. Unique properties of GRE pipes such as light weight, high performance and cost effective products in various end user industries like petrochemicals, oil & gas, power & energy and other industries have driven the global market for GRE pipes.Request a Sample Report @Key Players:Key players of the global GRE pipes market are Pipex Limited (UK) Future Pipe Industries (India) Tamdid pipes (Saudi Arabia) Epp Composites Pvt. Ltd. (India) Acwapipe (Saudi Arabia) Smithline Reinforced Composites (UAE) National Oilwell Varco (US)Intended Audience: GRE pipes manufacturers Traders and distributors of GRE pipes Production Process industries Potential investors Raw material suppliers Nationalized laboratoryBrowse Report Details @Study Objectives of GRE Pipes Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global GRE pipes Market To understand the supply and demand dynamics including supply and consumption concentration mapping To provide region level market analysis and future outlook for North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) and their countries To provide competitor positioning of the market To provide company profiling of major players in the market along with their production and capacity To provide regional trade analysis To evaluate historical market trends, patents and technologies, and current government regulatory requirements that are relevant to the marketRequest Table of Contents for this Report @Regional Analysis:Asia-Pacific has dominated the largest share in GRE pipes market. Major growth in Asia-Pacific GRE pipe market is due to the growth opportunities demands from end user industries like petrochemicals, oil & gas, power & energy and other industries followed by North America and Europe. Latin America and Middle East and Africa also witnessed in growth of GRE pipes market due to demand in various applications.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 Organic Milk Replacers Market Reflecting a CAGR of 6.4% during 2016 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3946 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/organic-milk-replacers-market-3946 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/3946 Market Research Future adds new report of Global Organic Milk Replacers Market Research Report- Forecast till 2023 it contains Company information, geographical data and Table of ContentMarket Synopsis of organic milk replacers:Market Scenario:Milk or Milk Replacer is one of the most critical components in the successful rearing of orphaned or hand reared livestock. It is liquid nutrition comparable to mothers milk, which is given to young animals. Organic milk replacer is naturally made without the use of any chemical, offering extra micro-nutrients including different vitamins & minerals. Organic milk replacers offer diverse range of products, enriched with various nutrients.The global organic milk replacers market is anticipated to be driven by the increasing awareness of nutrients such as fats, proteins, vitamins & minerals and others. Adoption of chemical-free products is considered to be one of the major drivers for this market. Increased awareness about the organic milk replacer has raised the bar for quality and in turn, the market share for organic milk replacers on a global level. Mass market penetration is leading to the introduction of new products and their retail across various regions. High focus on Research & Development has led to innovations and in the product line which has fueled up the market share of organic milk replacers in global market. High benefits obtained from organic products is also supporting the sale of organic milk replacers globally. Among the various type of medicated and non-medicated milk replacers, they are evaluated to hold a major share as wide range of products are available in this category attracting consumers towards the product line. Additionally, the advancement in product development coupled with the technological advancements is considered to be one of the significant reasons for the increasing growth of organic milk replacers market during the review period of 2017-2023.Request a Sample Report @Key Findings: The milk based replacers is projected to be the largest and fastest growing. Europe has the highest market growth followed by Asia Pacific region.Market Segments:Organic milk replacers market has been segmented on the basis of livestock type such as cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horse, and others. Organic milk replacer dominates the market, because of its enrichment in various ingredients. On the basis of Specialty Type, the market is segmented into protein rich, energy booster, fiber rich, lactose rich On the basis of Form, this market is segmented into powder, liquid On the basis of Fortification, this market is segmented into vitamins, minerals, medication, probiotics, organic acid, yeast, electrolytes On the basis of Distribution Channel, this market is segmented into store based such as hyper and super markets, specialist retailers, convenience stores, and others, and non-store basedBrowse Report Details @Study objectives of organic milk replacers market: Deep dive study of the market segments and sub-segments To estimate and forecast market size by livestock type, specialty type, form, fortification, distribution channel and region To analyze the key driving forces influencing the market Region level market analysis and market projections for North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (RoW) and their countries Value Chain Analysis & Supply Chain Analysis Company profiling of major players in the market Competitive strategy analysis, mapping of key stakeholders in the market Analysis of historical market trends, and technologies, and current government regulatory requirementsKey Players:The key players profiled in the organic milk replacers market are as Kent Nutrition Group (U.S.) Royal Milc Inc. (U.S.) Manna Pro (U.S.) S.I.N. Hellas (Greece) Biocom Ltd (Belarus) KGM Ltd (Latvia) Sav-a-Caf (U.S.)Intended Audience: Organic milk replacers manufacturers Agriculture Industry Retailers, wholesalers E-commerce companies Traders, importers and exportersRequest Table of Contents for this Report @Regional Analysis:Global organic milk replacers market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Among these, European region has the major market share followed by Asia Pacific. Increased production of organic milk replacers in India and China is projected to generate a high revenue from Asia Pacific region during the given forecast period. Changing consumer preferences for natural and authentic products will support the sale of organic milk replacers in various region during the forecast period. Strong emphasis on the organized farming practices in the livestock industries and increase in awareness about precision nutrition techniques have been the driving factors in these regions. However, Asia Pacific region is estimated to witness a maximum growth in the global organic milk replacers market during the forecast period of 2017-2023.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 Calcium Carbonate Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2013 - 2019 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/calcium-carbonate-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1478 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Calcium Carbonate Market: SnapshotThe global calcium carbonate market is prophesied to make progress with the rise of the paper industry and growing demand from the plastic sector. Calcium carbonate is also used in other industries such as rubber, architectural materials, paints and additives, coatings, and light chemicals. Besides this, the inorganic mineral and commercial and functional filler supports the light scattering and brightening qualities of paper. Since calcium carbonate is used as an extender in paints and coatings and a major raw material in cement, an elevating demand from the building and construction sector is also predicted to boost the global market.Browse Market Research Report:According to the latest figures procured through extensive primary and secondary research by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global calcium carbonate market is projected to reach 112.0 mn tons by 2019. A significant growth is expected to be witnessed by the global market, relying on the growing number of applications in end-use industries. In 2016, the market had attained a volume of 99.0 mn tons.Precipitated Calcium Carbonate More Promising than Ground Calcium CarbonateGround calcium carbonate (GCC) and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) are the two principal product type segments, out of which GCC holds a significant share in the market. However, the GCC market is anticipated to lose its share while growing at a lower CAGR than that of PCC. With a wide array of applications in coated papers and improved physical properties, the PCC segment is envisaged to touch 23.8 mn tons in 2019 from 20.5 mn tons in 2016.Calcium carbonate finds applications in various end-use sectors such as paper, plastic, building and construction, pharmaceutical, and agriculture. The paper market held a gigantic share of 40.4 mn tons in 2016 and is expected to reach 45.9 mn tons by the end of the forecast period. High priority for education which is fueling the production of books and articles in Asia Pacific countries such as India has created large opportunities for paper manufacturers. The plastic market is envisioned to grow hand in hand with the paper market, increasing its share at a 0.5% rate by 2019.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Calcium Carbonate market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Asia Pacific Pushes Down Market Share of North America and EuropeBy geography, the global calcium carbonate market is foretold to be dominated by Asia Pacific throughout the forecast period. With a whopping percentage share of 50.8% in 2019, the Asia Pacific region will ride on easy availability of raw materials and low cost of production. Moreover, different industries such as education, packaging, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) demanding paper at a substantial rate are expected to drive the market in Asia Pacific.The Rest of the World market, including Latin America and the Middle East and Africa, is foreseen to exhibit a stallion growth while accounting for a promising 6.9% share by the end of the forecast period.Other segments such as North America and Europe are analyzed to decline their market share by 1.0% each in 2019. North America could suffer from the volatile economic conditions in the region and emergence of the rising markets in Asia Pacific countries. Europe is predicted to be on the back foot due to the closure of paper mills and effects of recession.Innovations in technology is one of the key factors for ensuring sustained growth amidst a highly competitive scenario. For instance, CalciTech Ltd. has developed and patented synthetic calcium carbonate (SCC), which finds usage in the manufacture of specific food and pharmaceutical products. Some of the prominent players operating in the global calcium carbonate market are Mississippi Lime Co., Imerys, Maruo Calcium Co. Ltd., and Schaefer Kalk GMBH & Co. KG.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Window And Door Market Showing 5.6%CAGR Growth to 2024: Company Profiles & Trends Analysis https://marketsizeforecasters.com/get-sample/188071/?utm_source=opr-SL https://marketsizeforecasters.com/enquire-for-discount/188071/?utm_source=pd-SL http://marketsizeforecasters.com/ https://marketsizeforecasters.com/news Worldwide Window And Door market report of 2017 provides a detailed market overview as well as industry analysis for / of companies, manufacturers and distributors covering data on gross margin, cost structure, consumption value, sale price and more.Positive construction spending and renovation in existing constructions are expected to drive industry demand. Rising population would support the global window and door market share for new constructions serving residential, commercial and commodity requirements. Commercialization, improving government & state finances and public funding in emerging economies such as Indonesia, Thailand, and India will further enhance business growth.Window And Door Market size is expected to reach USD 137.2 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Introduction of latest technologies such as use of uPVC instead of aluminum and wood would propel the demand for these systems owing to its lower weight, fully recyclable property, lesser maintenance, and thermal insulation. UK window and door market size is expected to grow at 4.7% CAGR, owing to the regulatory reforms promoting the use of energy efficient insulations to minimize carbon footprints. Rising awareness among the people and regulatory bodies may negatively impact the uPVC window and door market share over the forecast timeline.Request a sample copy of Window And Door Market Research Report @Substandard housing in emerging markets will bring in huge investments in the trending smart homes and quality housing in the coming years, which will provide a stable growth platform for the industry over the forecast timeline.Moreover, the residential construction market growth will draw consistent demand for the industry. India is set to witness strong increases, which can be traced largely owing to the rise in middle class income and more rapid industrialization. Carpenters and craftsmen still do much fabrication at building sites, due to a lack of standard product sizes.Wood profiles are comparatively more environmental friendly than aluminum and uPVC counterparts, which are also featured with attributes such as better aesthetics, longer life cycle, better insulation, lesser carbon emissions, optimized waste generation, and high performance. However, owing to its high costs, the cost sensitive construction industry and other consumer applications may not witness significant adoption rates..Enquire about this report @Technology innovation, integrated with security sensors for safety concerns would fuel the demand for new profiles over the forecast period. Infrastructural development in emerging economies would draw huge demands for window and door market share over the forecast timeframe. Increasing constructions in healthcare, education, and retail sector would offer potential growth opportunities from 2016 to 2024.uPVC has developed into the preferred material for door and window profiles due to its lightweight, recyclability and low maintenance. The segment was valued at USD 27.5 billion in 2015 and would reach USD 47 billion by 2024.Wood window and door market size accounted for over 28% of the overall revenue in 2015 and would grow at 5.7% from 2016 to 2024. High thermal resistance, aesthetic looks and easy availability of timber would support the growth over the forecast period.Residential window and door market size was valued at more than USD 45 billion in 2015. Increasing expenditure on construction activities to improve residential, infrastructure, and aesthetic beauty in the developed economies of Europe and North America are expected to support the future growth of the industry.The Chinese government has issued various laws to minimize the use of wood, which has played a significant role in the development of uPVC profiles. The country accounted for over 50% of the overall Asia Pacific door and window system market share in 2015.Rising awareness regarding benefits of uPVC and lesser maintenance would trigger its use in the new residential construction market.Major players are Andersen, Atrium, Corialis, Eurocell, Masco, Pella Corporation, Reynaers and YKK Corporation. Focus on new product development and mergers & acquisitions, to enhance regional presence and product portfolio are the key strategies applied to retain window and door industry share.MarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter Specialty Fuel Additives Market 2016 to 2023 Top Manufacturers BASF, Infineum, Innospec, Albemarle, Afton, Angus, Clariant International, Baker Hughes, Chevron Oronite https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/467665//?utm_source=OPR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/467665//?utm_source=OPR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/2017-global-and-regional-specialty-fuel-additives-market-research-report-forecasts-2022//?utm_source=RR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ MarketStudyReport.com adds a new Specialty Fuel Additives Market research report for the period of 2016-2023 that focuses on the major drivers and restraints for the Global key players providing analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market. The report spread across 130 pages with tables and figures in it.Upsurge in demand for high fuel performance in to attain efficiency and control emissions along with biodiesel industry expansion will escalate the specialty fuel additives market demand. Increasing stringent environment regulations in U.S., EU and China, for sustainable resources adoption will positively influence specialty fuel additives industry growth. Enhancing power output, emphasize on limited energy consumption and prevention from corrosive effects are key beneficial properties encouraging product usage.Specialty Fuel Additives Market size will surpass USD 10 billion valuation by 2023; according to a new research report.Request a Sample Copy of Global Specialty Fuel Additives Market Research Report @Diesel applications is anticipated to witness over 6% over the forecast timespan. Increasing usage of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) in China and U.S. will fuel the industry growth. India and China markets will be driven by extensive diesel usage coupled with advancements will further fuel the specialty fuel additives market growth.Gasoline additives market will be worth over USD 4 billion by 2024. Consistent innovations in Top Tier Detergent Gasoline (TTDG) associated with its effective detergency and inhibit deposit formation will support growth in this segment.Cetane improvers market will be worth over USD 950 million by 2023. Enhancement in cetane number for better performance and in economy measures will drive the specialty fuel additives market growth in this segment. Increasing LPG and CNG consumption along with government promotions and subsidies to promote ecofriendly products may impose threat to global specialty fuel additives market demand.Request Discount for Global Specialty Fuel Additives Market Research Report @Deposit control specialty fuel additives demand was over 600 kilo tons in 2015. Increasing technological innovations in engines and injection systems are driving the product penetration. The product is extensively used in prevention from deposits including sludge and soot in gasoline and diesel.Cold flow improvers market is poised to witness gains at over 8% by 2023. Surge in demand for low sulfur content diesel will drive the product demand, as cold flow improvers reduce the sulfur content on addition in diesel.North America industry volume was over 25% of the global consumption in 2015. Regulatory initiatives by the EPA, U.S. along increasing diesel and gasoline consumption will trigger the industry growth. North America specialty fuel additives market from gasoline will surpass USD 1 billion.Europe specialty fuel additives will witness gains at over 5% by 2024. Additive production expansion to meet regulatory agencies standards will facilitate regional industry growth. Middle East & Africa will register over 6% CAGR. Euro IV standard busses launch in Dubai to promote sustainable environment are key trending factors.Global specialty fuel additives market share is competitive and moderately consolidated in nature. NewMarket, BASF, Infineum and Innospec were among the key industry participants. Other companies include Albemarle, Afton, Angus, Clariant International, Baker Hughes, Chevron Oronite, Chemtura, Evonik, EURENCO and Lubrizol.Related Reports: -2017 Global and Regional Specialty Fuel Additives Market Research Report Forecasts 2022This report focus on Global and regional market, providing information on major players like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and etc., major types, major applications from Global and major regions such as Europe, North American, South American, Asia (Excluding China), China and etc. Data type include capacity, production, market share, price, revenue, cost, gross, gross margin, growth rate, consumption, import, export and etc.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News: Fluid Power Systems Market 2016 Share, Trend, Segmentation and Forecast to 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fluid-power-systems-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3817 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Fluid Power Systems Market: OverviewFluid power has a massive downstream economic impact. The ever-growing population and improving living standards in emerging countries are leading to a surge in energy and infrastructural demands. Such countries are trying to enhance their infrastructure in order to provide their people the basic amenities. This is likely to work in favor of the global fluid power systems market. Due to its superior properties and cost savings in heat transfer operations, this cross-cutting technology has emerged as a primary choice for hundreds of industries and applications. These systems are broadly classified into hydraulic and pneumatic.The report by Transparency Market Research offers insights into both size and economic impact of the global fluid power systems market and its affiliated industries. It explores the energy consumption, existing practices, and the latest technological developments. It also presents a detailed description of the competitive landscape of the market.View Report @Global Fluid Power Systems Market: Drivers and RestraintsFluid power has an active industry. Recent breakthroughs have been made in boosting these systems energy efficiency and energy storage capabilities and minimizing the size of these systems and their associated components. Therefore, continuous research and development activities and technological breakthroughs have fuelled the global fluid power systems market over the past few years and will continue to drive the market in the near future as well. Moreover, the increasing stringent environmental regulations and the rising production of oil and gas are augmenting the market.On the flip side, the operation of fluid power systems requires highly-educated workforce. Therefore, the lack of skilled labor is hampering the growth of the market. This factor is compounded by the need of significant investments in new fluid power education and training. Furthermore, the huge maintenance cost of these systems is restraining the global market. Nevertheless, the future of the market looks bright as the end users will focus on its use in off-highway vehicles, advanced manufacturing, and human scale systems.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Fluid Power Systems Market Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Global Fluid Power Systems Market: Regional OutlookThe regional markets studied in this report are Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World (RoW). The Asia Pacific market for fluid power systems is estimated to experience robust growth during the forecast period. The rapidly growing population in the region is leading to incessantly increasing demand for energy. This, along with the rising concerns related to waste heat recovery and rapid industrialization, is providing a significant boost to the region. Moreover, the flourishing growth of various sectors including construction and chemical is propelling the growth of the region. Developing countries such as India and China are likely to emerge major contributors in the growth of the Asia Pacific region. The presence of favorable government policies is fuelling growth of the North America region. Governments in the region are supporting the adoption of technologically advanced systems, thereby contributing to the growth of the region.Key Companies Mentioned in the Report:The diverse product portfolio and continuous advancements in technology through extensive research and development are aiding prominent players in the global fluid power systems market in strengthening their market position. The development and launch of novel products are expected to assist the market in evolving in more application segments and help manufacturers in expanding their market share. Some of the key players operating in the market are Ernst Fluid Power Company, FPS Fluid Power Solutions Inc., Flowtech Fluidpower plc., Fluid Power Solutions Ltd., Furness Fluid Power Ltd., Fluid Power Solutions Wales Ltd., Sirus Fluid Power Ltd., and Stansted Fluid Power Ltd.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: Smart Transformers Market SWOT Analysis Of Top Key Player Forecasts To 2021 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/smart-transformers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=8770 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Smart transformers are transformers which integrates a general transformers features with monitoring software and communication technology among others. Power transformers are one of the most important and complex component of the electricity generation and transmission process. An owner of a power transformer has to face certain challenges such as high maintenance cost for extending life of a transformer among others. Failure of a power transformer can lead to dire consequences such as revenue loss, life loss and legal consequences among others.View Report @Such challenges have led to the advent of smart transformers. This new-age transformers are designed to allow the maintenance of the power load independently. They can regulate the voltage constantly, while maintaining contact with the smart grid infrastructure, and deliver the optimal amount of power as and when required. They are programmed to allow remote monitoring and can act on any power fluctuations instantly. Provision for remote monitoring of critical components of the transformer, through in-built sensors, increases reliability of continuous power distribution and reduces chances of transformer failure. Faults can be recognized remotely on a real-time basis and actions can be taken faster. The smart transformers are also more environment friendly as they reduce energy consumption and thus reduce the emission of green house gases. They are also equipped to protect electrical equipments by safeguarding them from voltage fluctuations leading to increase in longevity of those equipments.The market for smart transformers is still nascent but has tremendous potential of growth. Currently the market is mainly driven by the up gradation of aging power distribution networks across the globe. As part of development initiatives, governments in developing countries are undertaking huge investments to expand the reach of electrification across different villages and cities. Smart transformers are being utilized in such projects and thus their implementation is leading to the growth of the market. Demand for safer and more efficient power transmission coupled with environmental concerns on power generation has led to development of many international and nation-specific regulations such as European Commissions Ecodesign regulation among others. Such regulations are also boosting the smart transformers market. The market is also positively impacted by the huge increase in utility (transformers) and industrial infrastructure development in the emerging markets such as China and India among others.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Smart Transformers Market Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.The global smart transformers market can be segmented, based on types, into distribution transformer, instrument transformer, power transformer and specialty transformer. On the basis of components, the market can be segmented into converters, high-frequency transformers, switches and others. On the basis of applications, the market can be segmented into electric vehicle charging, smart grid, traction locomotive and others. Furthermore, smart transformers market can be geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and rest of the world.Some of the key companies leading the distribution voltage regulator market are ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Alstom SA (France), Cree Inc. (US), Crompton Greaves (India), Eaton Corporation Plc. (Ireland), General Electric Co. (US), Howard Industries Inc. (US), Mitsubishi Electric (Japan), Schneider Electric (France) and Siemens AG (Germany) among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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: Polyol Esters Market 2017 Share, Trend, Segmentation and Forecast to 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polyol-esters-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=24059 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Polyol Esters Market: OverviewPolyol esters are a form of esters formed by the esterification of fatty acids. The term polyol esters is an acronym for neopentyl polyol esters, which are obtained by the reaction of monobasic acids such as HNO3 and HCl along with polyhedric alcohols which have neopentyl structure. Polyol esters are named after the alcohol which is utilized as its starting material. Polyol esters are known to be highly stable compounds due to their chemical structure. Their high thermal stability enables these compounds to be employed in applications which involve high temperatures.Polyol esters possess more ester groups as compared to diesters, increasing their viscosity, which makes them suitable to be utilized in lubricants. Their increased viscosity coupled with superior thermal stability make them a perfect substitute for various diesters, specifically in the field of lubricants. Various forms of polyol esters are available, as various acids can be reacted to obtain polyol esters having different length of fatty acid chains. Common types of polyol esters include trimethylolpropanes (TMPs), pentaerythritols (PEs), neopentyl glycols (NPGs), and di-pentaerythritols (DiPEs).View Report @Polyol Esters Market: Market TrendsPolyol esters are employed extensively in jet engine lubricants. Polyol esters are being utilized in this field for the last 40 years. No other compound has been used as its substitute since it would affect the lubricity, and this is likely to eventually hamper the working of the component. Polyol esters are employed along with Polyalphaolefin (PAO) Synthetic Oils in passenger car motor oils. Polyol esters are utilized as synthetic refrigeration lubricants in industries. Other applications of polyol esters include fire resistant transformer, high temperature grease, textile lubricants, and fire resistant hydraulic fluids.Superior qualities of polyol esters such as thermal stability, high lubricity, and better viscosity makes them a sought-after compound. Rise in population in developing countries and their demand for better transport facilities and automotive sector are key factors driving the expansion of the market of polyol esters. Furthermore, the simultaneous expansion of the automotive industry is anticipated to increase the demand for polyol esters as lubricants in the near future, which is projected to boost the expansion of the market in the near future. However, higher price tag of polyol esters as compared to other diesters may prove to be a major restraint for the market of polyol esters in the near future.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Polyol Esters Market Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Polyol Esters Market: Region-wise OutlookAsia Pacific is a prominent and rapidly expanding market for polyol esters. The major reason for the development of the polyol esters market in Asia Pacific is due to increase in domestic usage in the automotive as well as industrial sector. The market in Europe is developed since the utilization of synthetic lubricants has increased over the last few years, making it a potential market during the forecast period. The scope for expansion of the market in North America is considered to be high due to its demand in industries and the automotive sector.The expansion of the market in Middle East & Africa is considerable due to the expansion of the automotive sector in the region. Expansion of the polyol esters market in Latin America is slow as compared to other regions due to presence of limited industries and manufacturing units which are likely to require lubricants.Polyol Esters Market: Key PlayersKey players operating in the global market for polyol esters include INOLEX, Purinova Sp. z oo, Ultrachem Inc., Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., Vantage Performance Materials, KLK OLEO, Dow Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, Chemtura Corporation., and Shell Chemicals Ltd.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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/global-wind-turbine-composite-materials-market-professional-survey-report-2017 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001887405/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001887405/discount http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001887405/buy/3500 ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Wind Turbine Composite Materials 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 Wind Turbine Composite Materials 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, coveringCytec IndustriesTeijin LimitedGurit Holding AGToray IndustriesTPI CompositesRoyal Tencate NVMore information about this report atBy types, the market can be split intoGlass FiberCarbon FiberOthersBy Application, the market can be split intoEpoxyPolyesterPolyurethaneVinyl EsterOtherBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaRequest a sample copy atTable of Content1 Industry Overview of Wind Turbine Composite Materials2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Wind Turbine Composite Materials3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Wind Turbine Composite Materials4 Global Wind Turbine Composite Materials Overall Market Overview5 Wind Turbine Composite Materials Regional Market Analysis6 Global 2011-2017E Wind Turbine Composite Materials Segment Market Analysis (by Type)7 Global 2011-2017E Wind Turbine Composite Materials Segment Market Analysis (by Application)8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Wind Turbine Composite Materials8.1 Cytec Industries8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 Cytec Industries 2016 Wind Turbine Composite Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Cytec Industries 2016 Wind Turbine Composite Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Teijin Limited8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Teijin Limited 2016 Wind Turbine Composite Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Teijin Limited 2016 Wind Turbine Composite Materials Business Region Distribution AnalysisDiscount on report purchase at9 Development Trend of Analysis of Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market10 Wind Turbine Composite Materials Marketing Type Analysis11 Consumers Analysis of Wind Turbine Composite Materials12 Conclusion of the Global Wind Turbine Composite Materials Market Professional Survey Report 2017Purchase Complete 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.Pune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Aerospace Nanotechnology Market to Grow at a Remarkable Pace in the Coming Years http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aerospace-nanotechnology-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=29270 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Nanotechnology refers to structures that are smaller than 100 nanometers. This technology is proficient as it is capable of altering the way in which materials are manufactured and the functionalities involved can be augmented or retained. Aerospace nanotechnology comprises three types of nanomaterial, namely, polymer nano composites, anti-corrosion coatings, and nano structured metals. Nano structured materials are also used for developing traditional energetic materials that are used for ammunitions.Development of carbon nanotube composites in the manufacturing of airframes is likely to be one of the crucial driving factors impacting the growth of nanotechnology in aerospace over the forecast period. Increasing responsiveness toward global warming and climatic changes owing to the rise in greenhouse gases emissions is driving vendors to promote alternative ways to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and save energy. Increasing investment on nanotechnology to adopt the use of lightweight materials that have multifunctional and high mechanical properties is expected to drive the aerospace nanotechnology market over the forecast period.Application of aerospace nanotechnology in maritime warfare is likely to gain traction for the growth of this market in the near future. Aerospace nanotechnology is likely to improve the competency of marine and submerged combat platforms by strengthening its defense sector that will allow for the development of nano sensors which will help todetect enemy submarines. Aerospace nanotechnology is an emerging trend that helps to manufacture energetic materials expected to influence the manufacturing processes of the defense aerospace industry.Obtain Report Details @On the basis of application, the aerospace nanotechnology market is segregated into space & defense, and commercial aviation. Space & defense held majority of the market share of the aerospace nanotechnology market in 2016 and is expected to retain its position during the forecast period. Nano and macro satellites are used for various kinds of applications such as wireless communication networks, global positioning systems, effectual disaster relief operations, and scientific observations. This in turn is likely to increase the adoption of nanotechnology to manufacture propulsion systems, nano-sensors, and multiwall carbon nanotubes. Increasing usage of nanotechnology for the development of radar penetrable structures to safeguard good stealth capacity of aircrafts is expected to facilitate the growth of this market segment.Geographically, the aerospace nanotechnology market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. North America held majority of the market share in 2016 and is expected to retain its dominance over the forecast period. Factors such as engine manufacturers, increasing focus of OEMs and wireless communication networks is likely to boost the growth of aerospace nanotechnology in this region. Increase in use of miniaturized satellites is likely to increase the adoption of aerospace nanotechnology over the forecast period in this region.Brochure With Latest Advancements With Application @The U.S. is likely to account for dominant market share of the aerospace nanotechnology market in North America at the end of the forecast period due to significant global presence of nanotechnology vendors. Asia Pacific is one of the most attractive markets in aerospace nanotechnology owing to the rapid development in space research. A considerable amount of investment has been made on the defense sector by developing countries of this region such as China and India. Europe is likely to hold a fair market share at the end of the forecast period owing to the deployment of nanotechnology for the improvement of its capability in marine and submerged combat platforms.The aerospace nanotechnologies market is highly competitive with a large presence of local and regional vendors. Key players in the aerospace nanotechnology market are Airbus, Flight Shield, Glonatech, Lockheed Martin, Lufthansa Technik, tripleO Performance Solution, Zyvex Technologies, General Nano, HR TOUGHGUARD, CHOOSE NanoTech, and Metamaterial Technologies, among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Market to Witness Healthy Growth in the Coming Years http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/voice-over-lte-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=29249 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) is a digital packet voice service which is delivered over internet protocol (IP) via LTE network access. The technology also empowers the network operators for providing rich video and voice calling services. It allows the operators to optimize their spectrum efficiency and utilize their IMS infrastructure thereby adding value to their existing plans. It allows the telecom operators to offer new standards based on various services such as Rich Communication Services (RCS). It includes voicemail, video, instant messaging, real time language translation and video calling. The RCS reduces the timing interval to connect VoLTE calls and improve the devices battery life over other applications.Increasing demand for richer and more reliable voice services is expected to drive the VoLTE market. Increased spectrum efficiency is expected to support the industry demand from 2017 to 2025. The declining revenue of SMS and traditional voice calling owing to cheaper internet packs and new upcoming technologies have driven the demand for the VoLTE services in recent years. Increased deployment of LTE networks and high speed package access (HSPA) has attracted varied telecom operators to enter into this industry.Obtain Report Details @The necessity of receiver and transmitter (communication devices) supporting VoLTE technology, high pricing structure and limited 4G coverage is expected to restrain the industry growth over the forecast timeline. As voice calling, internet surfing and video streaming will be considered under same data plan, the customers will eventually consume more data ending up paying high for the data charges.However, increasing competition amongst telecom operators to acquire 4G space, growing adoption of VoLTE supported devices and stabilized prices is expected to influence the market dynamics over the forecast timeframe. For instance, in June 2017, Sprint announced an unlimited data plan for a year in the U.S. for the customers who switch from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile. Earlier this year, the major U.S. cellphone carriers have launched unlimited data plans of which Sprint has launched this plan as a strategy to target maximum subscribers on their network.Indian telecom operator Reliance has launched free introductory Jio 4G net services for 6 months in India as a strategy to acquire the maximum market share. This introductory offer has benefited Reliance Jio to acquire the maximum market share in its launching phases of Indian telecom industry. Moreover, the company is also offering its LYF smart mobiles for about US$ 46 by integrating the business vertically thereby forcing other operators to slash their existing data prices. As an effect, Bharti Airtel, Idea and Vodafone are planning to roll out VoLTE services in the country by the end of September 2017.Brochure With Latest Advancements With Application @Key industry participants are AT&T Inc, Verizon Wireless, Mitel Networks Corporation, Ericsson, LG Uplus, and Alcatel-Lucent. Mergers and acquisitions are the key competitive strategies adopted by the industry players. For instance, in February 2016, Mitel Corporation has deployed voice and video over LTE in Indonesia through Smartfren telecom operator. Indonesia is the fifth country where Mitel has introduced its VoLTE services after North America and Europe by collaborating with telecom operators T-Mobile in US and 3UK in Europe.In March 2015, Nokia Networks has implemented first VoLTE implementation in Columbia and Latin America. In Columbia, Avantel has selected Nokia for deploying VoLTE services thereby starting the small cell LTE networks in the country.AT&T is also focusing towards expanding VoLTE roaming coverage in the Asia Pacific region. For instance, in February 2017, it has launched its VoLTE services in Hong Kong and South Korea. The company has provided these services with collaboration with telecom operators SK Telecom in South Korea and SmarTone and CSL in Hong Kong. It has also launched VoLTE services by collaborating with NTT Docomo in Japan and is focusing towards collaborating with additional service providers.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: Fiberscopes Market | Analysis & Key Trends 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fiberscopes-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28355 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Fiberscope, a type of a remote visual inspection device, is a flexible fiber optic bundle with an eyepiece at one end and lens on the other. Fiberscopes are used for exploring inaccessible areas. Fiberscopes are used when reaching the inspected area includes bending around corners or going further than a rigid scope can reach. Fiberscopes are available with probes of different functionalities, lengths, and diameters that feature a tip, which is usually articulated in two or four directions for extra maneuverability. A fiberscope can be inserted into the item without destroying or disassembling it.A fiberscope consists of components such as intelligible fiber optic image guide, fiber optic light guide, relay lens at one end and an objective lens at the other, and light source to illuminate the target being inspected. Typical specifications of fiberscope include diameter of 0.35 to 10.0mm, length of 15m, tip articulation with 2 or 4 way tip articulation, and Sheathing of tungsten, stainless steel, nylon, Teflon or polyimide.Increase in usage of fiberscopes in minimally invasive surgeries is anticipated to drive the fiberscopes market during the forecast period. Rise in preference for minimally invasive surgeries is expected to boost the demand for fiberscopes during the forecast period. Advancement in hysteroscopes is also anticipated to drive the market growth. On the other hand, the high cost of fiber optic networks is expected to hamper the market growth. Growth in usage of hysteroscopes in ambulatory surgical centers is the current trend in the fiberscopes market.Based on application, the global fiberscopes market can be divided into arthroscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, enteroscopy, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, laryngoscopy, mediastinoscopy, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Among these, the endoscopy segment is estimated to account for large share of the market due to its advantages such as low risk of infection and blood loss.View Report-In terms of end-user, the global fiberscopes market can be split into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, clinics, and others. The ambulatory surgical centers segment is anticipated to constitute major share of the fiberscopes market during the forecast period, owing to the increase in trend of minimally invasive surgeries.Based on geography, the global fiberscopes market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America accounts for key share of the global fiberscopes market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Adoption of novel technologies is faster in the U.S. and countries in Europe; therefore, North America and Europe are anticipated to hold major share of the global fiberscopes market during the forecast period. Application of minimally invasive procedures results in minimal scarring and offers improved outcomes. Patients usually prefer minimally invasive procedures over other traditional procedures largely due to the shorter operating times. This drives the need for flexible endoscopes, which are widely used in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for disease diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, the demand for fiberscopes also increases that allows flexible insertion. The usage of fiberscopes is higher in North America and Europe than in other regions owing to the prevalence of advanced health care infrastructure. Adoption of fiberscopes is also likely to increase in Asia Pacific in the near future. This is projected to drive the fiberscopes market in the region.Manufacturers are focusing on HD fiberscopes, as these provide high-quality images when used with compatible processors. For instance, Olympus offers CYF-VH cysto-nephro videoscope with narrow-band imaging technology that provides high-quality HD images in comparison to conventional flexible endoscopes. Major players operating in the fiberscopes market include Edmund Optics Inc., GE Healthcare, B. Braun Melsungen, Optomic, orlvision GmbH, Maxerendoscopy, Stryker Corporation, AMD Global Telemedicine, Inc., and Rudolf Riester GmbH.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.Request a brochure of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Fiberscopes 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: Respiratory Disposable Devices Market | Analysis & Key Trends 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/respiratory-disposable-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28415 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Respiratory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and lung cancer are some of the major chronic diseases affecting millions of people around the world. There is an alarming rise in the incidence of respiratory diseases, especially in the Asia Pacific, and the prevalence of respiratory diseases is higher in Western countries including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, and Russia. Respiratory disposable devices include inhalers, masks, and other aids which help the patients suffering from different types of respiratory diseases. There has been a marked increase in the number of patients admitted to the hospital inpatient and outpatient settings suffering from respiratory diseases, and there has been an observed shift toward the usage of disposable respiratory devices from the traditional reusable ones.A major factor driving the disposable respiratory devices market includes the elimination of risk of cross contamination associated with the usage of reusable respiratory devices, especially in the hospital settings, as most respiratory diseases are contagious and improper sterilization processes usually lead to cross contamination and increased spread of the disease. Other factors that are anticipated to drive the respiratory disposable devices market include increasing number of domestic and global players entering the market with new products, which has substantially led to the decreasing prices of disposable devices, along with increasing hospital admissions due to chronic respiratory diseases, and rising average length of hospital inpatient stay. However, some factors such as preference for reusable products in homecare settings and independent clinics due to high cost-efficiency, and expected rise in the outpatient treatment of respiratory diseases are projected to restrain the market during forecast period.View Report-The global respiratory disposable devices market can be segmented on the basis of type, disease indications, end-user, and regions. In terms of type, the respiratory disposable devices market can be segmented into masks, tubes, inhalers, and others. In terms of disease indications, the global respiratory disposable devices market can be segmented into asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and other chronic respiratory diseases. The asthma segment accounted for a prominent share of the global respiratory disposable devices market in 2016, due to increasing prevalence of asthma and rising demand for inhalers, masks, and other respiratory devices, especially from emerging economies such as China, Brazil, and India. In terms of end-user, the market can be segmented into hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care centers, and others.In terms of regions, the global respiratory disposable devices market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is projected to dominate the global respiratory disposable devices market during the forecast period. According to World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 26 million people in the U.S., and 350 million people were suffering from asthma, globally, in 2014. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of smoking and decreasing quality of air, especially in developing countries such as China and India has led to increasing prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).Moreover, WHO statistics state that an estimated 384 million people around the world were suffering from COPD in 2012. However, the incidence of asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases is increasing in Asia Pacific due to increase in smoking, poor air quality, and a large patient population. This, in turn, is anticipated to fuel the demand for cost-effective disposable respiratory devices. These factors are projected to drive the respiratory disposable devices market in Asia Pacific between 2017 and 2025.Key players operating in the global respiratory disposable devices market include Becton, Dickinson and Company, Smiths Medical, Medline Industries, Inc., Teleflex Incorporated, Ambu, and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited.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.Request a brochure of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Respiratory Disposable 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: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) Market | Key Trends and Opportunity Analysis 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28145 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by muscle degeneration and weakness. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cause due to lack of protein known as dystrophin which causes muscles deterioration and break down, leads to difficulty in walking and general mobility. DMD is a one of the most progressive childhood neuromuscular disorders. It affects mostly boys, but occasionally girls are affected. According to Muscular Dystrophy Australia, in 2016, Duchenne muscular dystrophy affected approximately 1 in 3500 male births across the world. Symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy are frequent falls, muscle pain and stiffness, trouble running and jumping, and difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position, among others. DMD can be caused due to cardiac, neuromuscular, and orthopedic disorders.Increasing research and development, introduction of novel disease therapies, rising demand for effective therapies among patients, and increasing disease prevalence are projected to fuel the growth of the global Duchenne muscular dystrophy market. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, prevalence of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DBMD) was 1 in every 7,250 males aged 5 to 24 years. Rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, neurovascular, and arthritis, and increasing health care insurance coverage are the other factors likely to accelerate the growth of the global Duchenne muscular dystrophy market. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases accounted for 17.7 million deaths in 2015, representing 31% of all global deaths. However, stricter regulation for product approvals and high product cost are likely to restrain the Duchenne muscular dystrophy market.The Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) market has been segmented based on treatment type, diagnosis, end-user, and region. In terms of treatment type, the market has been classified into drug therapy and novel therapy. The drug therapy segment has been sub-segmented into corticosteroids and others. The novel therapy segment has been categorized into gene therapy, stem cell therapy, utrophin, and others. In terms of diagnosis, the Duchenne muscular dystrophy market has been classified into blood tests, gene tests, and muscle biopsy. Based on end-user, the market has been classified into hospitals, specialty clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers.View Report-Geographically, the Duchenne muscular dystrophy market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominates the global Duchenne muscular dystrophy market due to new product innovation, high health care expenditure, and government awareness programs. The United Parent Projects Muscular Dystrophy initiated World Duchenne Awareness Day. The aim of Duchenne Awareness Day is to raise awareness about Duchenne muscular dystrophy across the globe and September 7 has been declared as Duchenne Awareness Day. Europe is the second largest market for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at higher rate due to rapid rise in population, growing prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing health care coverage, and rising investment in research and development. Emerging regions such as Latin America and Middle East & Africa will create a large opportunity in the global Duchenne muscular dystrophy market due to growing awareness among people, increasing public and private health care insurance coverage, etc.Major players operating in the global Duchenne muscular dystrophy market include Pfizer, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Nobelpharma Co., Ltd., Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., Tivorsan Pharmaceuticals, Acceleron Pharma, Inc., BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc., Asklepios Kliniken GmbH, FibroGen, Inc., and Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding.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 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 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) 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: If California sea lions continue their underwater buffet below Willamette Falls, they could push winter steelhead trout to the brink of extinction, state officials warned Monday. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife highlighted the threat in a population feasibility study released Monday. Without federal intervention, they said, there's an 89 percent probability that least one population of the iconic fish species will go extinct in the near future. "It's pretty dire," Shaun Clements, the agency's senior fish policy adviser said in an interview from a Clackamas County park just down river from the state's largest waterfall, where sea lions have been setting up shop around the time the trout try to make their trek to spawning grounds up river. "If we don't deal with this near-term risk, there might not be fish," he said. The state's report comes as two Pacific Northwest congressional leaders are trying to give Oregon and Washington broader authority to kill sea lions at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. The bill would also apply to the sea lion logjam at Willamette Falls in Oregon City. But the state's dire warning doesn't reflect the true scope of the problem, according to the Native Fish Society, a nonprofit advocacy group based in Oregon City. Conrad Gowell, the nonprofit's river steward program director, said in a statement that the problems facing steelhead and chinook protected under the Endangered Species Act go far beyond sea lion predation. "River Stewards in the upper Willamette Basins have been calling on fisheries managers to shut down harvest on these ESA-listed fish, reform hatchery practices, restore access to historical habitat, and invest in solutions to the systemic problems of wild fish decline," he said. "Finger pointing at a singular cause is counter-productive to addressing the underlying problems and are just temporary and emergency measures." For years, lawmakers have pushed for more latitude to intervene at Bonneville and prevent sea lions from snacking on spring Chinook salmon there. But state officials say the threat to steelhead on the Willamette River now poses a much greater risk. In 2017, just 512 native steelhead made it past Willamette Falls on their journey to spawning grounds on the North and South Santiam, Molalla and Calapooia Rivers. That's the lowest winter steelhead run ever recorded, according to Clements. In the early 2000s, the winter steelhead run was close to 15,000. They believe sea lions have consumed one-quarter of the 2017 steelhead run. If fewer than 100 fish make it past the falls for four consecutive years, a run will be deemed extinct. The population study in Oregon incorporated fish counts dating back decades, and projected two scenarios over the next century: One with sea lions remaining on site and one with them gone. Without sea lions, the risk of extinction was negligible, at just 6 percent. But if the marine mammals continued eating 25 percent of the run, the risk of extinction would rise to 89 percent. According to Clements' analysis, the Willamette River populations have trended down while the Clackamas River's steelhead run rebounded. The big difference? Sea lions. In the past decade, sea lions have increasingly chosen to swim the 128 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River to the falls. Thousands congregate in Astoria for months at a time, but others swim up river for food. According to an ODFW report, the state started monitoring sea lions at the falls in 1995. Through 2003, the population numbered fewer than one dozen. But the numbers soon ballooned, and in 2010, the state briefly started hazing the animals by shooting non-lethal rounds and other tactics. Today, Clements said, the population is around 40 animals when the sea lions swim up river. Under the current exemption carved out under the 1974 Marine Mammal Protection Act, Oregon can legally kill up to 92 animals at Bonneville. In 2016, the states removed and euthanized 59 sea lions at Bonneville, the most in any single year since the program began in 2008 (two additional sea lions were accidentally killed). Clements said Oregon recently filed a permit seeking the ability to kill sea lions at the Willamette Falls site for the first time. The bill introduced by Reps. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, R-Washington, and Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon -- would allow removal of up to 920 sea lions at Willamette Falls or Bonneville. Clements compared the Willamette Falls situation to Seattle's Ballard Locks, the manmade gateway to Lake Washington where sea lions were blamed for eliminating the native steelhead run there. The Humane Society of The United States has said that killing sea lions is a distraction from more important projects such as addressing fish habitat and dams that prevent fish passage. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen Not every police agency provides a log of its responses, and few do it with the finesse of the Forest Grove Police Department. Every week, we post the goings on as provided by this community 25 miles west of Portland, not because it's earth-shatteringly important, but because it provides a glimpse into the world of modern small-town policing. July 30 * A woman called police after her mother reportedly attempted to set her garage and herself on fire. A small fire in the garage had been extinguished by the time officers arrived. The mother did not sustain injuries, but was taken to the hospital for evaluation. * A caller reported their two birds had been killed by toxic fumes from a neighbor who was cutting tires to make sandals, further claiming the vet bill for treating the birds had cost them a month's rent. Officers advised a civil compromise. * Police responded to a report of an elderly man passed out in a vehicle with the door open. The man was simply taking a nap. July 31 * A citizen reported that an unknown person from Alabama used his credit card to purchase pizza. * A man called and yelled at a dispatcher refusing to answer questions about the issue he was calling about. The man later yelled at officers and called back to report to dispatch that he was a better cop and had a higher IQ than the officers he spoke to. In a conversation later in the evening, the man calmed down and thanked police for treating him with respect and offering good advice. * A man stopped for a traffic violation ran from officers. Officers pursued the man and caught him. It was learned he had a warrant for his arrest. August 1 * A citizen reported a man in his 70s who seemed disoriented and was asking for food. The man was also observed eating dandelions. Officers contacted the man, who assured them he was OK. Officers gave him a courtesy ride home. * Officers were able to diffuse a situation involving an elderly resident of an assisted living center armed with a steak knife and allegedly threatening staff. A family member transported him to the hospital. * An intoxicated man was transported to a Portland detox center after he was found passed out in the parking lot of a local establishment. August 2 * A woman contacted police to report that library staff members were worshiping Satan. Officers found no explicit evidence of occult activity occurring at the library. * A man was arrested after allegedly attempting to fill fraudulent prescriptions at multiple pharmacies. * Officers assisted deputies and two tracking K-9s in searching for a man who ran from a traffic stop outside city limits. The suspect was found in a tree. August 3 * Police looked for a man who reportedly was "wobbling" through the street and giggling to himself. * After contacting a juvenile male on the street, officers noticed what appeared to be the shape of a gun under his shirt. An officer grabbed the boy's hand while the other officer took hold of the weapon and ejected a round from a loaded chamber. A fully loaded 16 round magazine was taken from the boy's pocket. Further investigation resulted in charges of burglary, theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. The boy was lodged at a detention center. August 4 * A City parks truck was stolen from a parks employee. The truck was recovered in Portland and probable cause exists for arrest of the suspects. * A man requested a welfare check on his wife and child after hearing they were kidnapped. He later learned it was not true. * A woman reported a UFO in the western skies along with some unusual star activity following five nights of star gazing. The caller told police she would call the UFO hotline and did not need assistance after all. August 5 * A woman called to vent her displeasure with Forest Grove officers who kept entering her home at night and upsetting her intestines. The woman hung up on the officer who called to assist. * A citizen complained that her dogs were annoyed because of screaming neighbor kids playing in a bouncy house. * Pacific University Campus Public Safety officers reported a vehicle that sped towards them on 21st Avenue with a possibly intoxicated driver. Officers located the car and arrested the driver for suspected DUII. WENATCHEE, Wash. Authorities say two climbers were rescued from Mount Stuart in the Cascade Mountains after one suffered a life-threatening injury in a fall caused by a boulder that broke free. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office says 59-year-old Jim Schiller of Happy Valley called authorities Sunday evening saying his climbing partner had been leaning on a rock that dislodged, causing him to fall nearly 50 feet. The sheriff's office says 64-year-old Tim Pate of Camas was unresponsive when Schiller traversed down to him. A Naval Air Base helicopter from Whidbey Island was requested by the sheriff's office and crews hoisted Pate into the aircraft Sunday night. The sheriff's office says Pate was unconscious and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he remains in critical condition. Schiller called authorities Monday saying he was exhausted and later was also rescued by Navy helicopter. The Associated Press A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers joined legislators from across the country on Monday in calling for the federal government to remove marijuana from the list of controlled drugs. If the federal government were to heed the request, it could ease restrictions on cannabis research and banking in states that have legalized the drug. Yet it comes at a time when the U.S. Department of Justice is increasing its scrutiny of states with legal marijuana markets. Oregon lawmakers have been pushing for a similar resolution since last year. "As more states continue to legalize either medical or adult use cannabis, it is imperative that we allow legal cannabis businesses to access the banking system," Oregon Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, said in a statement. The lawmakers' vote to pass the resolution took place in Boston, at the National Conference of State Legislatures' annual summit. Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, was not at the summit but has worked with Burdick to implement Oregon's legal marijuana system in recent years. "We are asking the federal government to remove cannabis from scheduling so that we can forge ahead with life-changing cannabis medical research," Ferrioli said in a statement. It comes at a time when Oregon and other states that have legalized marijuana face additional scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice under Attorney General Jeff Sessions. On July 24, Sessions asked Gov. Kate Brown how she plans to address problems outlined in a report by the Oregon State Police earlier this year, including Oregon's ongoing role exporting marijuana to the black market in other states such as Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Idaho. Sessions has said a U.S. Department of Justice memorandum issued under President Barack Obama remains valid. That document, known as the Cole memo, reassured states with legal marijuana that federal prosecutors would focus on drug trafficking and other priorities, as long as the states thoroughly regulated cannabis to prevent it from leaking into the black market. The attorney general pointed to revelations in the state police report that there is "pervasive illicit cannabis cultivation in the state ... [and] a strong indication that surplus cannabis is not discarded, but is in fact trafficked out-of-state and sold for a huge profit margin." Sessions also cited other concerns, including a 55 percent increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits from March 2015 through September 2016. He asked Brown to "please advise as to how Oregon plans to address the serious findings in the Oregon State Police report, including efforts to ensure that all marijuana activity is compliant with state marijuana laws, to combat diversion of marijuana, to protect public health and safety, and to prevent marijuana sue by minors." -- Hillary Borrud 503-294-4034; @hborrud A man accused of setting his ex-girlfriend's apartment on fire and killing her two roommates now faces additional charges, including murder, domestic abuse charges and animal abuse. Ryan Thomas Monaco Ryan Thomas Monaco, 28, initially was charged with first-degree arson and aggravated murder after police say he started a fire in an apartment on Northeast Glisan Street. Taher Ali Alhaji, 24, and Jason Miller, 42, were killed in the fire. Monaco was indicted on 17 charges Monday: four counts of aggravated murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of murder, three counts of first-degree arson, four counts of aggravated animal abuse, strangulation and fourth-degree assault. The murder, aggravated murder and felony murder charges all stem from Alhaji and Miller's deaths, but the different charges lay out different theories and levels of intent in the crimes. Monaco also was charged with strangling and assaulting his ex-girlfriend on Feb. 12. The animal abuse charges are for a dog and three snakes that died in the fire, according to court documents. In the hours before the fire, police say Monaco and his ex-girlfriend went out to a few bars, then went back to her apartment in the early hours of July 23. They got into a fight, and the ex-girlfriend left. Monaco called and texted her several times, telling her to come back. Then, police say, he doused a couch in her apartment with gasoline and lit it on fire. When firefighters arrived at 3:20 a.m., the apartment was engulfed in flames. Monaco's ex-girlfriend told police Monaco was not supposed to be at her apartment because she had restraining order against him. She said he was familiar with her apartment and knew Miller and Alhaji would be sleeping there. Monaco was arrested four days after the fire. He told police he soaked the couch with gas, but he started the fire inadvertently when he lit a cigarette outside. An arson investigator said Monaco's description of how the fire started was unlikely. Monaco pleaded not guilty to all charges Monday. Samantha Matsumoto 503-294-4001; @SMatsumoto55 Mayor Ted Wheeler announced Monday that Danielle Outlaw, a deputy police chief in Oakland, will become Portland's police chief. Here's a list of chiefs over the last two decades: Penny Harrington, 1985-86: Mayor Bud Clark named Harrington the nation's first woman to lead a major police department. He asked her to resign 17 months later after a special commission concluded she demonstrated defects in her leadership. Robert Tobin, 1986 (Interim) James Davis, 1986-87: Mayor Bud Clark appointed Davis chief, then fired him during a breakfast in Multnomah Village's Fat City Cafe. Davis had fought for more police and wanted to sue the city over it; the mayor said Davis didn't have the authority. Richard Walker, 1987-90: Mayor Bud Clark brought in Walker as a calming influence after the turbulent tenures of Harrington and Davis. Walker preferred to stay out of the limelight and left after 3 1/2 years. Tom Potter, 1990-93: Mayor Bud Clark selected Potter, then a 24-year veteran of the force. After 2 1/2 years, Potter retired, saying he would travel and pursue his hobby of archaeology. He later became Portland mayor. Charles Moose, 1993-99: Mayor Vera Katz hires Moose, Portland's first African American police chief. After a sometimes tumultuous tenure, Moose left in 1999 to become chief in Montgomery County, Md. Lynnae C. Berg, 1999 (Interim) Mark Kroeker, 1999-2003: Mayor Vera Katz brought in Kroeker from Los Angeles. As Portland's first outside chief in 25 years, Kroeker had a style that critics considered as not well suited to Portland. He resigned under pressure. Derrick Foxworth, 2003-2006: Mayor Vera Katz named him to step in following Kroeker's forced resignation. Mayor Tom Potter removed Foxworth after Foxworth's sexually explicit e-mails to a police desk clerk became public. Rosie Sizer, 2006-May 2010: Mayor Tom Potter suddenly tapped her for the top job upon the demotion of Foxworth. She had joined the Portland Police Bureau in 1985. Sizer was Portland's second permanent female chief after Penny Harrington. She started as acting chief in April 2006 and was sworn in as chief three months later. Mike Reese, May 2010-January 2015: Mayor Sam Adams appointed Reese after firing Sizer, who had criticized his budget. A Portland native and graduate of Roosevelt High School, Reese joined the Portland Police Bureau in 1994 and served as a sergeant, lieutenant, captain and commander. He's now serving as Multnomah County's sheriff. Larry O'Dea, January 2015-June 2016: Mayor Charlie Hales picked O'Dea without conducting formal interviews or doing a national search after Reese announced his retirement. O'Dea had spent 28 years rising through the ranks after joining Portland police in 1986. He retired amid a scandal caused when he shot a friend during an off-duty camping trip in eastern Oregon and didn't disclose it publicly for more than a month. A grand jury indicted him on a negligent wounding charge, but a Harney County judge agreed to a civil compromise that allowed the charge against O'Dea to be dismissed. Mike Marshman, June 2016-August 2017: Mayor Charlie Hales introduced Marshman as the new chief as he announced O'Dea's retirement. Marshman had been hired by San Diego Police after college graduation and worked there for two years before Portland police hired him April 25, 1991. He worked as a sergeant, lieutenant and captain in Portland before becoming chief. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive A Portland jury has awarded a $5.4 million verdict to a married Oregon couple after the husband was stricken with a terminal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos decades ago. But the verdict could amount to no more than $1.4 million for Robert and Bonnie Sprague of Eugene, before attorneys fees and costs, because Oregon law allows the state to take a 70 percent chunk of the punitive damages awarded. What's more, the U.S. Navy -- which was found partially responsible for Robert Sprague's cancer -- is immune from having to pay. Robert Sprague, 75, was exposed to asbestos-laden insulation on ships while serving in the Navy from 1960 to 1964 and to asbestos-containing gaskets and packing material made by John Crane Inc. while working as a pipefitter from 1965 to 1987 in Oregon and Massachusetts, his attorneys say. Robert Sprague was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs, in 2015. Doctors say he now has about six months to 1 years left to live. Bonnie Sprague, 69, was awarded part of the verdict for her loss of consortium and economic damages. In a three-week trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court that ended Friday, jurors determined that John Crane Inc. must pay $3 million in punitive damages. Under Oregon law, the Spragues will get 30 percent of that. Jurors also determined that the Spragues were due $813,000 in economic damages and $1.63 million in noneconomic damages for pain and suffering. For those damages, the jury said the Navy was 65 percent at fault; John Crane Inc. was 20 percent at fault; another company that settled before trial was 10 percent at fault; and Robert Sprague was 5 percent at fault for not wearing a respirator on the job at times when one was available. That would leave the Spragues with a total of about $1.4 million, paid out by John Crane Inc. But Judge Stephen Bushong could further reduce that amount to a total of $1.16 million if he determines a $500,000 state cap on noneconomic damages applies. During trial, attorneys for the Spragues -- Jennifer Alesio and Meredith Boyden Good -- contended that John Crane Inc. was aware that asbestos was deadly in the 1930s, but didnt run tests or warn the public for more than 50 years. Today, such lawsuits against various companies are relatively common for people who were exposed to asbestos dust in the 1960s, '70s and '80s. It can take decades for mesothelioma to manifest. But an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive last September found that people are still being exposed to the dangerous dust as hundreds of aging Portland-area homes are demolished with asbestos inside. Experts say some people can acquire mesothelioma after a single exposure. But 90 to 98 percent of people including those who were exposed to asbestos for years wont get the disease despite past exposure, according to The Mesothelioma Center. Roughly 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma per year in the U.S. and by far, most people who sue -- are at least in their 60s. In 2016, a Multnomah County jury awarded $8.75 million to a Beaverton man dying from mesothelioma, and his wife. -- Aimee Green Danielle Outlaw, a 19-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department who started as a police explorer when she was in high school, will serve as Portland's next chief, only the third outsider named to lead the Police Bureau. Her appointment Monday by Mayor Ted Wheeler comes at a critical time when community and police relations are strained and the force faces a daunting list of federally mandated reforms. The mayor said Outlaw shares his goals of improving bureau relationships with Portland's communities of color, increasing diversity on the 950-member force and embracing equity. Outlaw, 41, who has served as a deputy chief since 2013, rose to the top of a pool of 33 candidates who applied for the job. She becomes the first African American woman to head the bureau. The mayor selected Outlaw after a national search that lasted less than three months and was conducted largely behind closed doors with input from a select group of community members. "I have concrete goals for the Portland Police Bureau, all of them challenging to achieve," Wheeler said in a statement. "I need a partner. I need a leader. More than that, I need someone with a passion for this work who will be in it for the long haul. Danielle Outlaw is that person.'' The mayor highlighted Outlaw's leadership skills, ability to work with diverse populations and a commitment to community policing and police accountability that set her apart. Outlaw, who has two teenage sons, intends to find a place to live within the Portland city limits. Wheeler will introduce her at a news conference Thursday. She'll earn $215,000 annually and is expected to start no later than Oct. 2. The details of her hiring were ironed out over the weekend. "My life's passion is policing. I want to make a positive difference in the lives of my fellow officers and the residents of the community,'' Outlaw said in a prepared statement released by the mayor's office. "Portland is an amazing city. I am humbled by the tremendous opportunity in front of me, and am ready to get to work.'' The applicants were quickly pared to 11 based on reviews of their resumes and written applications. Barbara Buono, the mayor's senior policy adviser, Michael Alexander, the former president of the Urban League of Portland, and Joseph Wahl, the city's manager of the Office of Equity and Human Rights, interviewed the 11 by Skype and recommended six. Three community panels selected by the mayor then interviewed the candidates. The panels made recommendations to the mayor, who narrowed the six to four finalists. Two weeks ago, Wheeler interviewed the four, including current Chief Mike Marshman. Each candidate spent about two hours with the mayor. Outlaw will take command of a bureau that has struggled with a staffing shortage, problems complying with a federal settlement agreement over excessive use of force against people with mental illness, ongoing controversies about the police handling of large protests and a breakdown in trust with community members. The pick brings Marshman's yearlong tenure at the helm to a close, to the dismay of the rank-and-file union that came out in strong support of him. Marshman learned of the selection when he met with the mayor at 2:30 p.m. and less than two hours later said he will retire with Assistant Chief Chris Uehara becoming the interim chief until Outlaw arrives. Portland Police Chief Mike Marshman headed to City Hall Monday afternoon to meet with the mayor. He learned during that meeting that he wasn't selected to remain as chief of the Portland Police Bureau. Wheeler's spokesman, Michael Cox, said Marshman had the option to stay. He described Marshman as a "total professional'' when informed of the mayor's selection. Marshman, 51, joined the bureau in April 1991. "I want to thank the members of the Portland Police Bureau for their support and the incredible work they do every day to keep Portland safe,'' Marshman said in a release. "It has been an honor to serve as chief of police and to serve this community throughout my career. I'm confident that the Portland Police Bureau will continue to be a leader in 21st Century Policing and the community should rest easy knowing they have one of the best police departments in the country.'' Wheeler praised Marshman's brief tenure. "Mike Marshman made tremendous strides in key areas during his time as chief,'' Wheeler said. "I enjoyed a positive working relationship with him and have the highest respect for him as a leader and as a person. He is a good man.'' Officer Daryl Turner, president of the Portland Police Association, said he wanted to focus on Marshman's accomplishments. "We wish he was the one who would lead us,'' Turner said. "There will be big shoes to fill.'' Turner participated in a community panel that interviewed the six candidates, but wouldn't comment on his reaction to Outlaw during the process. Outlaw started with Oakland police as an explorer while she was a student at Holy Names High School. She eventually became the second female deputy chief in the history of the Oakland Police Department. She is also the first woman in the history of the department to lead the Bureau of Field operations Two, which includes East Oakland. She has worked in various assignments, including patrol, community services, the chief's office, criminal investigation division, public information, internal affairs and the office of inspector general. Most recently, she's led the department's Bureau of Risk Management that includes internal affairs, personnel, training and forensics. She earned a bachelor of arts in sociology from the University of San Francisco and a master's degree in business administration from Pepperdine University. She's a member of the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives and is vice president of the San Francisco Bay Area National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. She's also a graduate of the Major Cities Chiefs' Association Police Executive Leadership Institute and is involved in civic advocacy through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, according to her resume. In 2015, she received the annual Gary P. Hayes Award from the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, D.C., given to a single police executive who shows initiative in improving the quality of police services. The national award is based on character, record of leadership and commitment to better policing, according to the forum. Outlaw's contributions to the Oakland department and the law enforcement field including her work on community trust-building, officer wellness and enhanced accountability measures led to the honor, according to minutes from an Oakland City Council meeting recognizing her achievement. Oakland Councilman Dan Kalb said Monday he's sorry to see Outlaw leave. "She's the real deal. She's honest. She's always been very personable and forthright and genuine,'' Kalb said. "She's established a great relationship with the community here.'' Civil rights right lawyer John Burris, who recently won a large settlement against Oakland police and is a founder of National Police Accountability Practice, called Outlaw "a progressive thinker'' on police use of force and recruitment of officers. "I think she'll be an excellent chief. She certainly has the ideas and thoughtfulness to do it,'' Burris said. "She's a commanding person. She might be slightly built but she has a strong voice.'' The Rev. T. Allen Bethel, chairman of the Albina Ministerial Alliance who sat on one of the candidate interview panels, said he supported the mayor's choice "100 percent.'' "Personally, I believe we needed someone from the outside to come and look at the bureau with a fresh eye,'' Bethel said. Though Outlaw may be younger than some of the other candidates, Bethel said he was impressed with her experience in working to improve police accountability and connect with the Oakland community. The Portland bureau has had a rough ride over the last year in its top management ranks. Former Mayor Charlie Hales appointed Marshman as chief in late June 2016 after Chief Larry O'Dea retired amid a criminal investigation into his off-duty shooting of a friend during a camping trip in southeastern Oregon. Turner credited Marshman for improving morale and setting the bureau on a positive course after O'Dea's controversy. "He took a ship in troubled waters, in danger of running aground, and turned us back towards the horizon,'' he said. "His leadership stabilized this organization and improved morale.'' Marshman immediately named his own assistant chiefs and demoted those who served under O'Dea. He worked to speed up recruitment and hiring of new officers to fill vacancies and revamp police policy directives. Under his watch, police in riot-control gear responded with flash-bang grenades and tear gas to multiple large protests after one got out of hand and turned into a riot with significant property damage. Shortly after he was named chief, Marshman released police reports stemming from an abuse allegation in 2006 involving his stepson at the time. He was accused of grabbing the stepson around the neck, but said he pushed the teenager against a wall during a dispute. A family services detective investigated the complaint. No criminal charges were filed. For nearly three weeks this year, Marshman also was placed on paid leave while he and his executive assistant were under investigation for a complaint about an inaccurate training log that showed Marshman attending a training class though he never went. His executive assistant, Lt. Mike Leasure, signed Marshman in. Initially, Leasure told investigators that the chief had instructed him to sign his name in on a class log, but then Leasure changed his account. Both officers returned to work, yet Leasure was moved to North Precinct. -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian While the worst of the heat wave is behind us, we're still far from returning to the more mild summer temperatures that Portland residents typically enjoy, National Weather Service forecasters say. To recap: The blistering temperatures shattered daily records. Wednesday: 103 at Portland International Airport (breaking the previous mark of 96 in 1986) and 105 in Hillsboro (surpassing 99 in 1939). Thursday: 105 at the airport (previous record 99 in 1952) and also 105 in Vancouver and Hillsboro (previous records 100 and 104 respectively, both also in 1952.) Streaks: While Portland's string of days 90 degrees or higher was broken Saturday with an 89, Salem today tied with the previous record of 10 days, set in July 1938 and again in August 1967. As the heat wave boiled the region, a spot check of hospitals showed an influx of heat stroke and other heat-related health issues. Kaiser Permanente's two metro-area hospitals reported three people brought in for heat-related issues in the past week two at Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas and one at Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro. Providence Medical Center's emergency departments also treated multiple patients with heat illnesses. Rain hasn't offered any relief Portland's dry spell is in its 51st day. The record of 71 consecutive days without rain was set in 1967. We can expect much of the same this week, said weather service hydrologist Andy Bryant. The heat and hazy skies will stay put with highs in the low 90s and upper 80s through Friday. But this weekend, the forecast calls for a weak cold front and some onshore winds that could cool Portland down, push out the smoke from forest fires and even bring a little precipitation our way into next week, Bryant said. While conditions could change, the National Weather Service is predicting highs in the low 80s maybe even 70s for next week. --Olivia Dimmer 503-708-8630; @DimmerOlivia It's 9 p.m. on a Saturday. Your neighbor's dog is barking. How do you react? If it involves gunfire, you might want to stand by for a visit from police. That's what happened this weekend in Homer Township, where a man's eye-for-an-eye solution prompted a neighbor to call police. A 38-year-old woman reported her neighbor, a 54-year-old man, had yelled at her dog for barking. He then fired a couple shots off into the woods at his home, across the street, according to a report from the Midland County Sheriff's Office. When a deputy arrived at the man's house, the man admitted to yelling at the dog -- and said that every time the dog barked, he would shoot his gun. "He figured if they wanted to make noise, so could he," the report states. The man was advised to "be civil" and next time ask that his neighbor put the dog inside. The man agreed. Another animal complaint was reported about 15 minutes later, in Edenville Township, where a 62-year-old woman reported her neighbor's dog was coming onto her property. That issue was resolved a bit more quietly: after speaking with a deputy, the 38-year-old owner agreed to keep the dog on her property. But what if a barking dog's owner isn't home? That was the case in Midland Township about 90 minutes later, when a deputy responded to a report of a barking dog. No one was home, and and no one had a phone number for the owner, so a deputy left a business card regarding the dog. The residents were in the process of moving out, according to a report. The sheriff's office on Sunday continued to take calls for barking dogs, loose dogs, and dogs being aggressive in several townships. Midland County Habitat for Humanity is partnering with The Dow Chemical Co. this week to tackle the rehabilitation of 15 homes in the city of Midland. The annual partnership takes place this week with Dow Chemical products and more than 600 volunteers. "Midland County Habitat for Humanity is thankful for The Dow Chemical Company's continued support of the Habitat mission. Not only does Dow provide funding for this project, they provide their greatest assets, their employees, to volunteer on the project," stated Jennifer Chappel, executive director of Midland County Habitat for Humanity. The identified homes are located in neighborhoods surrounding Midland High School. No matter where they are located, the partnership demonstrates one of the best ways that a business can give back to its community. Find a project that needs help, identify the work, and get on with it. "Dow is proud to partner with the Midland County Habitat for Humanity," said Rich Wells, vice president of operations, Canada and USA North, and site director, Michigan Operations. "And, I am incredibly proud of our employee volunteers who participate in this program by giving their time and talent to help families in Midland." The work also sets an example for other businesses and service groups to follow -- although, sure, on a smaller scale. These projects can be examples of communities that move forward to help their people without waiting for government approval or a check to get the job done. Our hats tip to the volunteers of Habitat for Humanity and Dow Chemical and the many silent contributors to the job. And we're sure we speak for many residents who say thank you for improving the shelter over our heads. To the editor: Sometimes its just not enough to say Thank you for your service. Our military veterans are dying by suicide at unprecedented rates. It is estimated that 20 veterans commit suicide each day. Michigan legislators are considering a bill that, if passed, would form a task force for the sole purpose of researching the causes and possible solutions for this tragic trend: House Bill 4217. HB 4217 would focus on Michigan specific barriers and solutions for our veterans. HB 4217 is sitting in the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, and waiting for review. A Facebook page is dedicated to following the progress of HB 4217 and informing readers of all that they can do in advocating for our military veterans, who are suffering in ways that are reprehensible. You can find this page at https://www.facebook.com/MIHB4217/# Saying thank you for your service isnt enough. Right now veterans need our actions to validate our words. As voters, let our support for Michigan veterans be the first issue our representatives are called to attend to when they return from their summer recess. Please watch for important information, which will assist you as you advocate for our veterans. Every voice matters. ROXANNE AFFHOLTER Coleman Paducah, KY (42003) Today Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low 23F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low 23F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. CHENOA It was USDA Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue who was asking the questions Monday afternoon, as he met several Central Illinois farmers on a five-state tour of the Midwest. During a stop at the Evergreen FS Plant, Perdue was introduced to Stanley Weeks, a 90-year-old farmer from the Chenoa area. How long have you been digging in the dirt with your hands? Perdue asked. Weeks answered that he remembers farming back in the days where horses did most of the work and not tractors. Still, it was Weeks who walked away impressed. Its a real honor to meet him, Weeks said. Thats a real thrill. Hes a real friendly man. Weeks was one of about 75 farmers on hand in Chenoa, as part of Perdues Back to Our Roots recreational vehicle tour. He made previous stops in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. On Tuesday, he will visit Indiana. We have ridden the roads and as a Georgia boy, I am a little jealous the way these corn and beans look out here, he said. Perdue said one of his main projects this year will be to work with Congress on the next five-year farm bill that will set the direction for agriculture policies and food programs. The legislation is expected to be voted on in 2018. I like principle-centered legislation, he said. The principle of a Farm Bill that I would advise Congress to pass, is a balanced approach where farmers are given the freedom to farm, but not farming for programs. Give us a safety net for what they do as far as crop insurance, but let them farm for the market and let them base their decisions on where they see the direction of the markets going and let them do what they do well. We have beef back into China for the first time in 13 years and we signed a rice protocol in the last few weeks, he said. I think China wants a relationship, but it makes it somewhat difficult with some of the other unfair trading practices they are using. Those of us in agriculture fear that sometimes, agriculture products are used in retaliatory measures, but everyone in the administration understands not to use agriculture as a sacrificial lamb. Evergreen FS Manager Kendall Miller said having the ag secretary on site was a special thrill. It was very important for us and we really enjoyed the opportunity to share the message of agriculture with Secretary Perdue and to share some of our thoughts and concerns on various topics that are important to our membership, such as the management of fertilizer and chemicals used in the business, he said. Perdue took a tour of the Chenoa plant before meeting area farmers and speaking with the media. BLOOMINGTON A bus trip to see a new Chicago musical based on the life of Saunemin's Albert D.J. Cashier is being planned by the McLean County Museum of History. "The Civility of Albert Cashier," an original musical drama chronicling the odyssey of a Central Illinois Civil War soldier who defied contemporary gender roles, premieres a six-week run Sept. 7 at Stage 773 in Chicago. The trip is set for Sept. 17, departing the museum in downtown Bloomington at noon for the show's 4 p.m. matinee. Tickets are priced at $65, and include the round-trip bus transportation and show ticket. For reservations, call the museum at 309-827-0428. A limited number of scholarships to members of the gay/straight alliances at local high schools will be available courtesy of the trip's co-host, Prairie Pride Coalition. During the ride to Chicago, museum librarian Bill Kemp will present his program, "From Jenny to Albert: Pvt. Cashier and the Civil War." It charts the history of the woman born Jennie Irene Hodges, an Irish-born immigrant who moved to Illinois and lived as a man before enlisting in the 95th Illinois infantry during the Civil War. Cashier maintained his secret throughout the war and for most of his subsequent adult life living and working in Saunemin until treatment for an injury revealed his true gender. In a Pantagraph interview, the musical's author, GLAAD-nominated playwright and screenwriter Jay Paul Deratany, said he stumbled upon the Cashier story three years ago on a history web site and was immediately taken with it, noting its relevancy to current transgender rights issues. "I was fascinated when I was kid as why we didn't have these stories ... we only had stories about white men, and women were sort of pushed to the edge in history books," said Deratany. In the title role are two actresses, "America's Got Talent" finalist Dani Shay as the youthful Albert and Broadway actress Katherine Condit as the older Albert recalling his life. The bus trip also will include a post-show commentary and discussion led by Dave Bentlin of Prairie Pride Coalition. For information on the student scholarships, email Bentlin at davebent62@hotmail.com. CLINTON A Monday night crash near Clinton has sent multiple victims to local hospitals, according to the DeWitt County Sheriffs Department. The two-vehicle crash happened around 9:40 p.m. on Illinois 10 between Jemima Road and Revere Road southeast of Clinton. One person was airlifted to a hospital, and others were transported by ambulance, said authorities. Their names and conditions have not yet been released, officials said Tuesday. Illinois 10 was closed until 4:38 a.m. Tuesday. The Illinois State Police were called in to assist with the accident investigation. Also assisting were Clinton police, Clinton fire, Kenney fire, DeWitt County EMS, Heyworth EMS, and AirLife. In a post on social media, the DeWitt County Sheriffs Department asked for prayers for the victims. SPRINGFIELD Lawyers for Alan Beaman will ask the Illinois Supreme Court to review an appellate court ruling in favor of the Town of Normal and three former police officers accused of conspiring to frame Beaman on murder charges that were later dismissed against him. "Alan Beaman suffered a terrible injustice. He spent his youth in prison for a crime he manifestly did not commit. We plan to ask the Illinois Supreme Court to review the decision," David Shapiro, one of Beaman's lawyers, said on Monday. Thomas DiCianni, one of the lawyers for the town and its former officers said "on behalf of the officers sued in this case, we are very pleased that the Appellate Court agreed with our position. We hope this is the end of the litigation for all involved. Beaman was exonerated in 2008 of murder charges in connection with the strangling death of his former girlfriend, Jennifer Lockmiller, whose body was found in her apartment near Illinois State University in August 1993. Beaman was convicted two years later and served about 13 years of a 50- year sentence before the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the conviction based on what the court found to be "tenuous" evidence against the Illinois Wesleyan University graduate. Beaman, now married with two children and living in Rockford, also was given a certificate of innocence and pardoned by former Gov. Pat Quinn. So far, efforts by Beaman's Chicago legal team to bring Beaman's accusations of malicious prosecution to court have been unsuccessful at both the federal and state court levels. Several civil lawsuits filed since his release have been rejected in rulings that favor the town and the three former officers. McLean County and former prosecutors James Souk and Charles Reynard, who both went on to serve as judges, were dropped from federal lawsuits filed by Beaman. Friday's ruling by the Fourth District Appellate Court leaves in place a ruling by Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Richard Broch Jr. to dismiss the lawsuit against Normal and now-retired officers Tim Freesmeyer, Dave Warner and Frank Zayas. Beaman alleged the officers failed to adequately consider evidence against another potential suspect, instead focusing all of their attention on Beaman. The appellate court found no evidence that the three investigating officers pressured or tried to influence Souk and Reynard's decision to prosecute Beaman. The court also rejected the most serious allegation made by Beaman's lawyers against Freesmeyer, including that he lied to a grand jury and provided prosecutors with false information from two time trials he performed to show how long it may have taken Beaman to travel from Rockford to Lockmiller's apartment. As to Warner, the court concurred that Beaman's claims were insufficient to support an accusation that the former officer deliberately withheld inconclusive polygraphs results from a second suspect. Mosquito pool tests positive BLOOMINGTON A mosquito pool near Bloomington, in the 61705 zip code, has tested positive for West Nile Virus, an indication that the disease is in McLean County, the county health department reported Monday. McLean County residents should reduce their risk of getting bit by an infected mosquito by wearing insect repellent containing DEET when outdoors, repairing torn window screens and eliminating stagnant water outside. While most people who get West Nile experience mild symptoms, including a slight fever and headache, severe infections can cause paralysis and death. So far this year, two people in Illinois have tested positive for West Nile. Model airplane club sets open house FUNKS GROVE The Bloomington/Normal Sentral Illinois Radio Society (SIRS) model airplane Club will be celebrating 2017 National Model Aviation Day with an open house Saturday at its airfield. The field, located two miles north west of Funks Grove, on Illinois 36, will be open to visitors from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. SIRS was founded in 1964. Members of the club who will be available to answer questions, show off their models and give advice about the hobby of model aviation. There also will be flight demonstrations, model rocket launches, displays of model aircraft, and more. RANSOM A Dwight man has been killed after being struck by a train near Ransom. Chad Sandeno, 42, was killed after being struck by a train around 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the crossing of the BNSF Railway at North 17th Road and East 29th Road, north of Ransom, said LaSalle County Coroner William Wujek. It remains unknown why Sandeno was walking near the tracks, said Wujek. Allen Township Fire and EMS responded to the scene. The incident remains under investigation by the LaSalle County Sheriffs Office, coroners office, BNSF Railway Police and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, Wujek said. The education funding reform bill that passed the House and Senate in May and was sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk in July was the product of four years of research, endless listening tours and lots of hard bargaining. House Democrats changed some things at the last minute to benefit Chicago and the governor didn't like it, but his own education czar claimed the governor still approved of "90 percent" of the legislation. However, when Rauner issued his amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1 last week, he introduced a bunch of new ideas that had never been on the table, including during endless discussions among members of his own education funding reform commission. These new ideas are poisoning the already putrid Statehouse water and are prompting some folks to suspect the governor's new top staffers from the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) are attempting to sabotage the bill. The far-right group is on record opposing the whole idea of the "evidence-based" school funding formula contained in the SB1 and endorsed by Rauner's funding reform commission and by Republicans in both legislative chambers. Historically in Illinois, the best way to keep suburban and downstate Republicans from voting for a bill is to label it a "Chicago bailout." Rauner and the Illinois Policy Institute have done so repeatedly with SB1, even though Politifact has rated the claim "false." Rauner's amendatory veto would change the way school districts currently calculate how much property tax revenue they can no longer capture after other local governments create Tax Increment Financing districts. Existing state law recognizes the reality that school districts won't receive that money, but the governor's proposal would order the State Board of Education to ignore that reality. Doing that would put enormous financial pressure on schools, which might then lead to some reforms of the TIF laws. The IPI wants to get rid of TIFs. I don't disagree, but I'd rather that we not use school kids' education as the hammer to do it. Keeping it Chicago-centric, the institute pointed last week to Cook County Clerk David Orr's claim that Chicago's TIF money accounts for almost 10 percent of all property tax revenue billed within the city. Nobody involved with the funding reform negotiations has ever publicly proposed changing the way the State Board of Education projects school districts' potential property tax revenue collections by essentially wishing away the impact of the state property tax cap law (known as PTELL). Nobody, that is, until the governor issued his amendatory veto. Partly because Chicago is so large and has so much property wealth, it benefits more than anywhere else from the property tax cap school "subsidy," as the Illinois Policy Institute calls it. The group wants to get rid of that "subsidy." But the political danger here is clear. By going after Chicago so hard and making its school district look "wealthier" than it really is by officially pretending that it can capture more tax money than it really can, Rauner's amendatory veto also would create collateral damage throughout the state. TIF districts have been created in a ton of communities, downstate and in the suburbs. And lots of school districts also fall under the property tax cap. Sen. Andy Manar, the Senate Democrats' lead education funding negotiator, claimed last week that the governor had gutted "the whole purpose" of SB1 by changing what's known as the "adequacy calculation." The bill as passed calculates need by factoring in the actual costs of things schools do. That calculation, Manar said, is the "most profound difference" between the status quo and what his bill tries to fix. The basic premise is the Illinois Policy Institute wants to kill this bill and Rauner's proposed changes could conceivably lead to that result if the governor sticks to his guns during negotiations. Google has reportedly fired James Damore, the employee whose ten-page internal memo decrying the company's diversity policies went viral. In his ten-page screed, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," Damore complained that Google was alienating conservative employees by focusing on diversity initiatives like lessening the wage gap. The memo also included claims that women are biologically ill-equipped to work in the high-stress tech industry, and that there are more men than women in leadership positions simply because men have a "higher drive for status." "On average, men and women biologically differ in many ways," Damore wrote. "These differences aren't just socially constructed because [for one thing] they often have clear biological causes and links to prenatal testosterone...they're exactly what we would predict from an evolutionary psychology perspective." Damore's lame attempts at using pseudoscience and borderline eugenics to implore that Google focus less on empathy and leveling the playing field and more on hiring men did not go over well with the Internet or his fellow employees. After a firestorm of criticism, Google fired the engineer. Damore confirmed his firing in an email to Bloomberg, saying that he had been dismissed for "perpetuating gender stereotypes" and that he's "currently exploring all possible legal remedies." [h/t Bloomberg] Image via Getty James Franco and his lesser-known brother, artist Tom Franco, are putting on an art show together at the Ceramics Research Center at the Arizona State University Art Museum. The show, called, "Pipe Brothers: Tom and James Franco," will feature enormous painted ceramic sewer pipes that the brothers created from vitrified clay. Tom's mentor, Bay Area ceramicist John Toki, told ASU Now. "Tom Franco is an up-and-coming, dynamic Renaissance man who has tremendous drive and talent. He also has a unique artistic bent." Tom said working in Arizona was a challenging experience, as not only is the weather in the state extremely hot, but he and other artists involved had to work in a sauna-like room flooded with water to keep the clay from drying too quickly. "We would just sweat all day long, doing 12- to 16-hour days on our feet. It gets pretty intense," Tom told the State Press. Back in Phoenix!!! Mission Clay ceramic pipe art A post shared by Tom Franco (@tom__franco) on Jan 7, 2017 at 4:21pm PST A post shared by Tom Franco (@tom__franco) on Jan 7, 2017 at 4:21pm PST Tom had to go it alone in that regard, though, as James was not actually on site to work with him. Unable to travel to Arizona (likely due to his many other commitments), James sent the specifications for the two pieces he designed and had them made by other artists. "Pipe Brothers: Tom and James Franco" is on view at Arizona State from June 17September 23, 2017, and will travel to different venues before eventually becoming public art. [h/t ArtNet] Images via Instagram Today's MCM Juan Carlos Mont is proof positive that video game nerds can be sex bombs too. The New-York-based animator and artist gets more excited watching cartoons than porn. We did a sexy costume-inspired shoot and talked about his favorite video games, the dearth of "gay nerds," and why he admires the hero of Adventure Time. How did you get started in animation? I always loved animation but I didn't think it was a "real job" when I was younger. My family was pretty broke growing up in Puerto Rico so I really had to give myself permission to even consider studying animation. I applied for a merit scholarship at SVA and I told myself then that if it was meant to be, I'd get in. I DID! I didn't finish SVA though because I got an offer to be a partner at a start-up company my third year. I was with them for two years, but it didn't really take of. I started to doubt everything I was doing -- again. But then when I applied to a fairly large media company for 3D animation the first job they gave me was Marvel! So I really felt like I was a "real animator" after that point. You love the cartoon and video game world. Do you meet many gay people in that world? I think I can count on one hand the "gay nerds" that I have met in this industry. But one thing is for sure with us gays, they do stand out . How do you find dates? Are you on any dating apps? I think I have downloaded and deleted Grindr around 100 times by now. To be honest only 1 out 10 experiences I have through hook-up apps ends up being fun. The rest is all ghosting and catfishing. I find meeting people organically to be way more exciting. Living in NYC you are constantly surrounded with gay people: in the supermarket, the locker rooms, at the free clinic What is a dream date for you? I'm in a VERY open post-Dan-Savage relationship. I like dates that feel effortless. Meeting in parks, walking around the city, kicking their ass in Super Smash using Zelda. Hopefully, if we're both feeling it, it leads to second base...and some cosplay (but not in bed--literally Comic-Con-nerdy cosplay.) You did a very sexy shoot for us. How do you feel about posing nude? In this magical golden age of the selfie, being nude doesn't feel so out of the ordinary. But clearly these photos are way more artful than the raunchy ones I take in front of the mirror. What are your favorite video games and why? Wow! There are so many awesome games. I know it's a cliche but I would have to say "The Legend of Zelda" franchise. I'm one of those people that thinks Link (the elfish main character) is a hottie. And it's the classic hero's story: a regular dude that discovers that he has to save the world. I love to live the fantasy that I'm that guy. It's such a rich, believable world. If you were a cartoon character who would you be? I would have to say Finn from Adventure Time. The show is like being high on mushrooms - I MEAN - it's a very creative vision of a world a constantly changing. Finn adapts to every situation with a very optimistic attitude and I admire that. How do you feel about the future of the LGBTQ community in Americawhat are you worried about? What makes you hopeful? We have new enemies in powerful positions, not only here in America but around the globe. Social media has let us glance at how much worse things could be if we don't resist. I think all this chaos has been an awakening for the LGBTQ community - especially the youngest in the community who thought we had no more battles to be won. We can't wait for someone to save us, we need to take ACTION. Do you think social media has made it easier, in some ways, to be open about sexuality and find supportive communities? For sure! It doesn't matter what you are into, you can always find your tribe online. I've never been a bar/club kind of guy, so the internet is my friend for finding people. But at the same time I feel that some of the mystery and "the chase" has been lost. On an app or in real life, I think it's important to be sex-positive and nice to everyone. I can safely say I'm occasionally a slut but always a gentleman. U.S. violations of JCPOA destructive, warns Iran's President Rouhani 08/07/17 Source: Press TV Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned that the United States' repeated violations of the landmark nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), would have a "destructive" impact on the deal's implementation. "The recurrent breaches of commitments by the US government and its move to impose new sanctions on Iran have had negative impacts on Iran's public opinion," Rouhani said in a meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Tehran on Saturday. "They can be destructive in the course of the implementation of the JCPOA," he added. He emphasized that the Iranian Parliament would certainly pass legislation to reciprocate the new US measures. He said the JCPOA played a leading role in promoting regional stability and improving Iran's relations with world countries and added that all sides shoulder a heavy responsibility to safeguard this agreement. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always remained committed to implementing the JCPOA and will fulfill its commitments as long as the opposite side does not violate it," Rouhani said. He stressed the importance of the "immediate and complete" implementation of "an important part" of the JCPOA that facilitates Iran's economic, banking and trade relations with other countries. "There are very appropriate grounds for investment in Iran in various sectors such as energy, oil, gas and petrochemistry and we can have good cooperation with Europe in all fields in line with the expansion of relations," the Iranian president pointed out. Rouhani further said Iran saw no obstacles to promotion of relations with the EU and expressed hope the two sides would further boost cooperation on various regional and international issues. "Iran and the European Union took positive and important steps to expand relations and cooperation over the past four years and these ties will be very important at a time that different parts of the world, particularly the Middle East region, are experiencing concerns, tensions and numerous complicated problems," he stated. All sides must safeguard JCPOA: Mogherini Mogherini, for her part, said all the negotiating sides to the JCPOA and the international community are duty-bound to make efforts to fully and properly implement the deal, stressing that the agreement does not belong to only one side. She added that the JCPOA has had very good outcomes for Iran and the EU and said the bloc seeks to draw up a comprehensive plan to fully implement the deal. Federica Mogherini meeting with Iranian FM Javad Zarif (photo by Mehr News Agency) The JCPOA was inked between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, France, Britain, China and Russia - plus Germany in July 2015 and took effect in January 2016. Under the deal, which was later endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution, limits were put on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the removal of all nuclear-related bans imposed on the Islamic Republic, among other things. The administration of US President Donald Trump, which took over in January 2017, one year after the JCPOA came into force, has, however, slapped sanctions on Iran in violation of the nuclear deal. Mogherini arrived in Tehran Friday night to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Rouhani. On Saturday, she held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. British delegation meets family of jailed British-Iranian woman 08/08/17 Source: Tehran Times TEHRAN - A delegation from London has met with the family of Nazanin Zaghari, a British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran since April 2016, Tehran confirmed on Monday. "The British delegation which had visited Tehran to participate in the swearing-in ceremony (of President Rouhani) met the family of Zaghari," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi told a press conference in Tehran. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her daughter Gabriella The spokesman also rejected claims that Tehran and London were mulling a prisoner swap. The British delegation was headed by the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt who had reportedly met Zaghari's husband Richard Ratcliff prior to his trip to Tehran. The Guardian quoted Ratcliffe, an accountant who lives in north London, as expressing hope that Alistair Burt would hold talks with senior Iranian politicians about her wife. Upon his return to England, Burt tweeted: "Pleased to meet family of detained #Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe while in Tehran and present Gabriella with gifts from her family in the UK." Burt also posted a photo with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The spat between London and Tehran over Zaghari has been on since her detention in April 2016 when she was arrested with her two-year-old daughter at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport for security reasons while she was about to return to the UK. Zaghari, previously a project assistant at the BBC's Media Action who worked for the Thomson Reuters Foundation until her arrest, was sentenced to five years in jail in September 2016, a conviction upheld in the January appeals court. While Zaghari is imprisoned at Evin jail, her daughter Gabriella, now three, has been placed in the care of her Iranian grandparents and is allowed to see her mother twice a week. Initial details after Zaghari's arrest cited implication in post-election unrests in Tehran and some other cities in 2009. According to Yadollah Movahed, Zaghari was among the suspects who "conducted activities against the security of the country by designing websites, and carried out campaigns in the media" during the post-election "sedition". Later on, two fresh allegations were brought against her. One was that she used to act chief recruiter for the BBC's Farsi service when it was launched in 2009, the broadcaster's Persian-language news service, which is banned in Iran. The other charge was that the man she tied the knot with, Ratcliffe, was a British spy. However, in a statement Ratcliffe said the precise charges against her remain secret and the new accusations were made in a secret hearing on January 4, belatedly announced on January 22. During a meeting of the House of Lords in January, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State Joyce Anelay voiced concerns for the family of Zaghari, accusing Iran of breaching human rights. The January comments coincided with the second anniversary of an international nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers in 2015, including England. In 2011, England endorsed stronger international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program which caused a group of angry protestors to storm the British embassy in Tehran. As a result, England closed the embassy and ordered the Iranian embassy in London to be closed. Diplomatic relations were never entirely severed but instead reduced to the lowest level possible. The two countries eventually restored diplomatic relations in September 2016 by exchanging ambassadors. Now, Ratcliffe hopes for the release of Nazanin under the incoming Rouhani administration. "Nazanin voted for President Rouhani this time, she voted for President Rouhani last time, that really was with a view that his promises of improving civil rights," he was quoted as having said. In his inauguration comments, Rouhani promised to fight for the rights of all Iranian nationals. Intels response to AMDs disruptive Ryzen processors is soon to get its time in the sun. Well, sort of. On Tuesday, Intel announced plans to livestream the launch of its 8th-generation (presumably Coffee Lake) processors on August 21the same day that the great American solar eclipse casts its shadow across the United States. Intels throwing shade. Eighth-gen Coffee Lake chips will be built using a revised version of Intels 14nm process technology for an unprecedented fourth time, following in the footsteps of Broadwell, Skylake, and Kaby Lake architectures. Youll probably also need a new motherboard to use them. But most notably, Intel claims 8th-gen Core chips will be up to 30 percent faster than todays Kaby Lake processors in some applications. Intel chips havent seen a performance leap like that in years. Beyond that, little is officially known about Coffee Lake, though the churning internet rumor mill thinks that Intel will up the core counts this time around to combat the threat of Ryzen. Weve heard rumors of six-core chips and quad-core Core i3 chips finally cracking into Intels mainstream lineup, which the Full Nerd crew discusses in-depth in the video below. If those whispers wind up being true, it could help explain Intels expectations for such a lofty performance jump, as ramping up the core count could quickly improve Coffee Lakes performance in thread-sensitive tasks. Ghana's cash-strapped Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) is seeking at least $300 million to repay debt and to buy beans upfront to feed the 64,500-tonne plant, its managing director told Reuters on Thursday. CPC, noted for its flagship 'Golden Tree' brand, is currently operating at under 20 per cent of its throughput due to lack of funds to purchase beans for grinding, Frank Asante said. "It's all because of our weak financial situation...the fact that we are not able to provide the necessary guarantees to buy our own beans," Asante said. The company relies on cheaper light crop beans from state-owned industry regulator Cocobod, which it grinds into chocolate, liquor, butter and cake for export and local consumption. "We are seeking at least $300 million to pay our debts and turn the company around and we have made a request to our parent company, Cocobod, for help," Asante said on the sidelines of a visit by African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina. The AfDB is willing to provide $1.2 billion to finance plans by Ivory Coast and Ghana to process more of their cocoa under a joint initiative to guarantee stable revenues from the commodity, Adesina told Reuters on Wednesday. Asante is hopeful that part of Ghana's share of the $1.2 billion loan will come to CPC. He said CPC owed about $122 million, including $100 million in unpaid beans supplied by Cocobod. The company also needs working capital of around $200 million mainly to restock beans that will cover at least a three-month cycle. CPC, formerly wholly owned by Cocobod, was listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange in 2003. Cocobod, the Finance Ministry and the state-run SSNIT pension fund own a total of 94.1 percent. The government of President Nana Akufo-Addo, who took office in January, is seeking to double local processing of cocoa to 50 per cent of its average yearly output of around 800,000 tonnes. Source: Reuters 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 I am still struggling to get my head around Franklin Cudjoes recent defence put up for the embattled Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Charlotte Osei, saying that, shes been unnecessarily persecuted due to her resolve to clean the rot at the election management body. Juxtaposing Franklin's previous comments about Charlotte Osei to this, shows an ugly inconsistency which depicts Franklin Cudjoe's Think Tank as a flipflop, artificial and fake on most national issues, he doesn't deserve to be taken seriously at all. In all his previous comments about Charlotte Osei as I have catalogued below, he has sought to portray Charlotte Osei as awfully incompetent and ineffective Chairperson at the EC. Therefore, it is quite unimaginable to see the same Franklin Cudjoe appear to be defending the same person he described as incompetent when some workers at the EC have filled a petition to get her impeached. On 12 November 2016, Citifmonline.com carried a news item with headline: CHARLOTTE OSEI HAS MESSED UP EC Franklin Cudjoe. In that report, the President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe accused the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei of hurting the reputation of the commission with some of her decisions. According to him, Charlotte Osei performed creditably well at the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) where she headed till her new role at the EC. At the NCCE she did a stellar job, Im not one of those who sit from afar and criticize just for criticizing, we went closer and we understood that she did really well at the NCCE but she is messing up at the EC, Franklin Cudjoe said on the Big Issue today (Saturday, November 12, 2016). On the same date, 12 Nov. 2016, Classfmonline.com, also published another aspect of his comment headlined: SACK EC BOSS OVER AYARIGA COMMENTS Cudjoe. In that news report, Franklin suggested that the chairperson of the Electoral Commission should resign or be fired over comments she made to the effect that the presidential aspirant of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, would lose the December 7 polls". Franklin further argued that, In any serious jurisdiction, immediately, she should be resigning. These are serious matters. Even though she tried to laugh over it when she (Charlotte) came to Ghana and was talking over it, in some respect she should have been probably sacked, he told Umaru Sandah on Citi FMs The Big Issue show. The report continued, "for him, somebody has been bruised badly by your own incompetent conduct and going ahead to make such pronouncements leaves a lot to be desired" - Franklin added. Describing Charlotte posture, Mr Cudjoe said, Mrs Osei had typical of African behaviour rather adopted a posture of I will show them, they said they will take me to court so lets find more errors and pile them up to settle personal scores with such aspirants. That is completely disrespectful of the Supreme Court, he noted. These were comments made by Franklin Cudjoe just 8 months ago to describe Charlotte Osei as extremely incompetent. The question is, What has actually changed today? On 13 Nov. 2016, another news item by Newsghana.com, with headline: IMANI GHANA CALLS FOR THE DISMISSAL OF EC CHAIR. (A comment made by the President of IMANI Africa) Now, on 2 August 2017, Peacefmonline.com and Ghanaweb.com published a news item with strange headline: LEAVE CHARLOTTE ALONE TO CLEAN 'ROT' AT EC Franklin Cudjoe. Shockingly and interestingly in this report, the Owner and Founding President of the so-called policy think tank IMANI Africa, was reported to have said "the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, is being unnecessarily persecuted due to her resolve to clean the rot at the election management body. He added, It is not even constitutionally sensible to be saying she (EC boss) should step down. That Franklin held a strong view that Mrs Osei is being unnecessarily antagonised, reckoning that there was a lot of rot there already before she went to meet the rot and she is cleaning the rot, allow her to clean the rot. I guess the question is, who caused the mess at the EC? Where are the indications suggesting that indeed Charlotte Osei is cleaning any mess She met at the EC? As Franklin argued that it doesn't make constitutional sense to ask Charlotte Osei to step aside, yet when he saw that Charlotte Osei was incompetent and messing up at the EC, he called for Charlotte to be sacked. My question to Franklin is, did it make sense constitutionally when he called for Charlotte to be sacked? I guess he can call for Charlotte to be sacked but no one else's view about the happenings at the EC should matter, isn't it? Woow, really interesting! To me, I think Franklin is just an empty-headed arrogant ignoramus think tanker, an inexperienced idiot who doesn't measure his previous comments against his current. Look, Charlotte Osei in her response to the petition filed by some workers at the EC for her impeachment, she alleged that, her deputy Commissioner, Amadu Sulley, has stolen over GHC6.00 million from the institution she heads, the moneys collected from the political parties primaries. What did Charlotte do about this financial malpractice by her own Co-Commissioner? She again averred in her response that, Amadu Sulley created over 200 Ghost polling stations for the 2016 general elections. Such a treasonable offence committed by her deputy Commissioner. What did she do about this issue? Why tell us today? Again, Charlotte at a press conference when Ghanaians were anxiously waiting for the 2016 general election results, told the whole world that, the ECs IT system has been compromised (hackers infiltrated the EC IT system). This caused undue delay and unnecessary anxieties waiting for the announcement of the results. A situation which could have plunged the whole country into serious pandemonium. The question is, why hasnt the EC boss, Charlotte, instituted an investigation with the BNI into the cause of this infiltration by the hackers, so that such a thing never happens again in the future? The mess that Franklin Cudjoe claims the EC boss, Charlotte met at the EC and fot that matter she should be left there to clean the rots, I would like to ask, who will also clean Charlotte Osei's mess at EC if she's still going to be there? To be honest, I started having my serious doubts about this empty-headed Franklin Cudjoe guy when I heard him vehemently arguing that, the Akufo-Addos Free SHS is a mirage, something illusory, without substance and not feasible. Laughing and mocking the Free SHS idea, Mr Cudjoe wrote in his statement published on Ghanaweb, on 5th March 2014 with Headline: FRANKLIN CUDJOE'S THOUGHTS ABOUT FREE SHS PROMISE, wherein he wrote, Mr. President, I have noticed that you are very unhappy with the recent debate over the FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. Please relax, ours is a democracy and so please brace yourself for more of such healthy debates. Don't get angry that some and especially IMANI are subjecting your sudden free High school (Free SHS) announcement to analytical rigor. The last time I checked you and your political party rode on our (IMANIs) analysis, publications and vehement advocacy against the NPP's trumpets on free SHS in 2012. IMANI wrote 6 major reports against the policy. The NDC instead paid for 36 very humorous media adverts against the NPP promise of Free SHS and I believe it worked." Sounding delightful about mocking and taking credit in their achievements in bastardising the Free SHS idea in his statement, Franklin wrote: IMANI made 32 media appearances against the NPP policy much to the partys disgust. Today, I want to ask this Franklin Cudjoe guy and his IMANI Africa, what is their current position on the Free SHS which is about to be introduced fully from September 2017? Is it still remaining a mirage in their calculations or they have revised their position on the idea looking at it now? In all these, the worrying aspect about the IMANI Ghana is that, I have never heard any single substantial policy idea ever offered by this so-called policy think tank IMANI Africa or Ghana. They're only best in criticising people's ideas and views. This one too be Credible Think Tank? Chaiiiii!! In fact, I do wonder why people see these empty-headed guys as policy think tank gurus. Policy Think Tanks who cannot even see creditably feasible and tangible policy idea from afar. Such too are called policy think tank? In Ghana, nobody scrutinises anybody, people commit murder and are allowed to go free. You see, when there is an issue, instead of sitting down, analyse the issue, reflect over it before making public pronouncement about the matter, they always want to be heard first. They are so quick to make comments about issues which their myopic eyes cannot see from afar. First to comment' with the aim of luring people to tow their direction of argument, and by so happening generate unnecessary controversial argument in the media, just to make cheap headlines. They only speak in the direction of their stomach, no proper thinking. Thats what some of them do to generate their income. After-all, what does IMANI do to survive, and how do they generate their income to pay for their rent and workers? Attention seekers!! Like I keep saying, the spirit of Ghanaian youth today is so awakened, that we will not countenance anyone who tries to hide behind so-called policy think tank or any organisation to defend and protect the corrupt and unscrupulous individuals anymore. The stakes are extremely high now. For we believe our motherland must work again. Watch Franklin Cudjoe and his so-called policy think tank, IMANI Ghana or Africa with eagle eyes. They are barren in producing any ideas. Source: PETER ANTWI BOASIAKO, LONDON 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 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. The Education ministry has reiterated its commitment to sustaining the yet to be rolled out Free Senior High School Programme to ensure quality of education. The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational training /Senior High School, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum said in a media briefing in Sunyani that government has been collaborating with various partners to implement programmes to see to the success of the flagship education policy. He mentioned the secondary education improvement project (SEIP), expansion of physical infrastructure, free supply of textbooks and enhancement of teacher education as the key drivers to sustaining the Free SHS policy. Dr. Adutwum indicated that government would continue to put in place pragmatic interventions to motivate teachers and students to work harder, adding that "quality would not be sacrificed" as government rolls out the policy. The minister further assure that there was no way fundsfor the schools would delay since a paperless special IT system had been built to take care of all subventions for all public Senior High schools. Aside the 400 million cedis that had been earmarked in the 2017 budget to take care of the funding of the programme for the 2017/2018 academic year, the minister said heads of the schools and other stakeholders had been met on the progress of the Free SHS where possible challenges were tackled. According to Dr Adutwum, the policy will help give eligible pupils access to quality education, meals and other education materials that enhances teaching and learning. "Parents will not pay any fees because government has taken that burden. Headmasters know it is a crime to bill students," he added. Under the Free SHS, admitted students in boarding houses will be fed thrice while day students also enjoy a hot meal daily every term till they complete the three year programme. The Ministry of Education believes the policy is a step in the right direction since 120,000 Junior High school leavers who hitherto would not have had access to free tuition will be able to have secondary education. Mr Adutwum said the policy will give a new definition to basic education in Ghana because no student will be left out. He said "even those who will not qualify to enjoy the Free SHS will have chance to resit the Basic Education Certificate Examination the following year." He also revealed the ministry will build 500 kindergarten schools(KGs) this year out of 1500 KGs government has planned to construct. This, he said, would strengthen the basic education system to change the face of Ghana education under the Akufo-Addo led government. Source: Henryson Okrah 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 Executive Chairman of GLICO GROUP, Dr. Kwame Achampong-Kyei, has been awarded a special commemorative award for his outstanding contribution in the field of insurance to the economic development of Ghana. This award was conferred on him at a special Diamond Jubilee Business Leaders Excellence Awards ceremony, organized by Top Brass Ghana under the auspices of the National Planning Committee of Ghanas 60th Independence anniversary. In the accompanying citation, Dr. Achampong-Kyei was recognized for his outstanding contribution in business and entrepreneurship over the past thirty years, which has led to the growth of insurance in Ghana. An astute and passionate businessman, Dr. Kwame Achampong-Kyei established GLICO in 1987, as a specialist life insurance company. Today, GLICO has grown into a group of companies consisting six (6) reputable companies operating in the insurance and financial services industry namely: GLICO LIFE; GLICO CAPITAL; GLICO HEALTHCARE; GLICO PROPERTIES; GLICO GENERAL and GLICO PENSIONS. The award was received on his behalf by the Group Head, Legal, Mr. Andrew Achampong-Kyei and the Group Head, Corporate Affairs & Marketing, Nana Efua Rockson. On receipt of the award in his Office, Dr. Achampong-Kyei was elated and expressed gratitude to the organizers and the Ghana @ 60 Planning Committee for the special recognition. He noted that many successful individuals receive posthumous awards for national contributions, so it feels humbling to be acknowledged at Ghanas 60th Independence. I will not rest on my oars until Ghanas insurance sector is vibrant and insurance penetration doubled. I am still passionate and committed as I was thirty years ago, to bring insurance to the doorstep of every Ghanaian household, he enthusiastically stated. Dr. Kwame Achampong-Kyeis instrumental leadership has led to making the GLICO brand a household name in Ghana. GLICO continues to maintain its leadership position in the financial and insurance industry and has recently revolutionize operations in line with digitalization to deliver value to its growing customers. 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 Head of the Ahmadiyya Mission in Ghana, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih says so far, one of themost admirable things undertaken by President Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo following his inaugural statement urging citizens, not to be spectators but citizens has been the appointment of Dr. Edward Nasigri Mahama as the Ambassador-at-large. Speaking on the sidelines of the 51st Jalsa Salana in the UK, the Head of the Ahmadiyya Mission in Ghana, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih admonished he president to extend an invitation to people who are willing to be participants, if hes still committed to his inaugural statement. So far we havent seen much of it. But I believe its early yet to see; what I have seen so far is that, for instance, only recently one opposition leader was brought into the government. The president appointed him as the Ambassador-at-large for Ghana. This is the head of an opposition party. And because of the all-inclusiveness, maybe he decided to bring him on board. It is also a sign that possibly many other positive things will come. Dr. Edward Nasigri Mahama who was the flagbearer of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) in 2016 general elections is one of the presidents recent appointments as Ambassador-at-large. His appointment followed some disagreement from his party, who described his decision to accept the appointment as unlawful. Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, charged President Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo to create a level playing field which would accommodate varied views and opinions of the people. This according to him is the one way to have people as participants and not spectators, adding that the Ghanaian has become politically matured an indicator which encourages optimism. If you want people to be participants and not spectators, you at the helm of affairs, should put in measures to ensure that you invite them, you get them onto the playing field. If you dont invite me into the playing field to be part of the team, then I will end up being a spectator sitting there and watching you, he stressed. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A 7-month-old daughter will never know her mother. Such is the tragedy in western Pennsylvania, where the 26-year-old mother, identified as Nicole Dailey, was shot dead Sunday night while holding her baby on a Pittsburgh street. According to TribLive.com, the little girl, named Nia, wasn't injured. The 7-month-old child was found next to the woman's body and was unhurt at the scene of the shooting. A good Samaritan had found and picked up the child, TribLive.com reports, adding: Police said Dailey was standing near her car when the shooting happened at North Charles and Strauss streets in Pittsburgh's North Side. Responding officers found Dailey lying in a grassy area near the intersection following the shooting at 11 p.m. Sunday. Dailey was pronounced dead of multiple gunshot wounds at a nearby hospital. The infant has been turned over to the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families. Meanwhile, the community is mourning Dailey's loss: "She just got along with people. She was beloved by all." Malcolm Minnekhekh Thomas, who taught Dailey at the former Oliver High School and worked alongside her in various community outreach groups, told TribLive.com. The investigation continues. However, police have not identified any suspects in the shooting. Investigators ask anyone with information to contact the Violent Crime Unit at 412-323-7800. In 1994, Doug Duncan was standing on the Bolivian Altiplano with of group of fellow astronomers. The scientists had come to witness a total solar eclipse, and as such, most of their gazes were turned skyward as the totality approached. That is, until a woman starting shouting, "Look down! Look down!" "I can still hear her voice," said Duncan, the director of the Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado. "So, we look down and . . . llamas. Llamas all over the place." They were surrounded by llamas, but not for long. After a few minutes, the moon's 70-mile-wide shadow passed on and light returned to the plateau, at which point the llamas formed a sort of procession and marched away. Duncan, who has witnessed 10 total solar eclipses, said he still has no idea where the animals came from or what their behavior meant, if anything. But even as a scientist who knows more about space than camelids, he thought the way the llamas' behaved was certainly weird. Another time, in the Galapagos Islands, Duncan watched as a bunch of whales and dolphins surfaced and started cruising back and forth in front of the ship he was on about five minutes before a total eclipse. A few minutes after the sun had come back out and it was clear the world was not ending, the marine mammals disappeared, just as the Bolivian llamas had. There are lots of these kinds of stories - anecdotal reports of animals behaving strangely in the moments leading up to and after a solar eclipse. Some say that when the moon scoots in front of the sun and the world goes dark, as it will across the United States on Aug. 21, birds stop singing and cows and horses start returning to their barns as though it were time for bed. These are pretty common and consistent observations, said Angela Speck, director of astronomy at the University of Missouri. "And it doesn't seem to matter whether it's happening in a rural area or a city," she said. But when you start looking for rigorous research on animal behavior during eclipses, the pickings are slim. One study found that colonial orb-weaving spiders appeared to start deconstructing their webs during an eclipse in Mexico in 1991. Another study, from 1984, noted that a group of captive chimpanzees in Georgia all seemed to congregate on a climbing structure during the totality. But a study of rumination and grazing behavior in cattle during Europe's 1999 eclipse found no effect. Similarly, a group of captive baboons in Chile seemed decidedly meh about the eclipse in 1994. The thing is, the world only gets a total solar eclipse approximately every 18 months, and the path of totality varies depending on where and when the moon crosses the sun's rays. This makes studying animal behavior during an eclipse rather difficult. The best experiments require scientists to control for variables and repeat the test many times to evaluate its validity. So even if we get some really good observations this time around of, say, moose, the next total solar eclipse won't be until July 2019, and its path of totality drifts over Chile and Argentina, neither of which is home to moose. All of that said, scientists are well accustomed to making the best out of imperfect study conditions. And this year, technological advances may help us gather data about eclipse-experiencing critters like never before. In fact, scientists are hoping you might donate a little data to the cause. All you have to do, they say, is whip out your smartphone and download the iNaturalist app. Created by the California Academy of Sciences, iNaturalist allows anyone to take a picture of an animal (or plant or fungi or whatever) and make an attempt to identify it. Then others, including experts, weigh in on whether your ID is correct or not. Think of it as a bit like Pokemon Go, only you're trying to "catch" real creatures instead of Charizards and Vaporeons. On the day of the eclipse, the app will feature a special drawdown menu that allows you to record observations leading up to, during, and after the astronomical event. Simply keep an eye out for any interesting or unusual behavior and snap a few pics while you enjoy the show. "We're hoping this is a way for people to be curious and make observations and think about how animal behavior is related to the sun," said Rebecca Johnson, citizen scientist research coordinator for the California Academy of Sciences. What's more, Johnson said, all of the thousands of notes resulting from this project, which they are calling Life Responds, could allow researchers to establish a baseline of behavior that they can measure future eclipses against. It's only through this massive aggregation of data - which has never before been possible - that they can start to recognize patterns and draw conclusions. "The whole idea of science, of course, is to turn something from anecdote into real data that you can study," said Michelle Thaller, deputy director of science for communications at NASA, which is including the Life Responds project as part of its citizen science outreach in conjunction with the eclipse. If you're looking for places to find animals during the eclipse, here's a list of more than a dozen wildlife refuges within the path of totality. If getting outdoors isn't really your thing, you can participate by going to places like the Nashville Zoo, which is encouraging visitors to log observations by using the iNaturalist app or tagging the zoo on social media with the hashtags #NashvilleZoo or #NZooEclipse. While the zoo is home to plenty of big animals like primates and giraffes, it's the birds that might be the most interesting. "I don't think anybody knows for sure what the animals will do," said Jim Bartoo, the zoo's marketing and public relations director, "but my bet would be to watch the flamingoes and the rhinoceros hornbills." Bartoo said the zoo's avian staff thinks the birds may be more affected than other animals because they're used to being brought inside as the sun sets. And while zoo animals obviously aren't perfect substitutes for understanding the behavior of their wild counterparts, the eclipse offers an opportunity to study animals that have become used to the rhythms of captivity. The zoo's rhinoceroses, for instance, come outside each day at 9 a.m. and return to their paddock each night at 6 p.m. Who knows how they'll react to a few minutes of unscheduled darkness? Of course, it's entirely possible that the squirrel, blue jay, rattlesnake or rhino you're watching doesn't do a darn thing when the big moment comes. Don't worry, but do take notes. After all, logging the absence of weird behavior is important to science, too. (Good news: You don't even have to be in the line of totality to log animal behavior observations.) One thing all the experts agree on is that if you're going to attempt to watch the solar eclipse this month, be sure to wear proper eye protection. But don't worry about getting a pair of glasses for Fido. "Animals are actually quite a bit smarter than we are when it comes to looking directly at the sun," says Thaller. NEW YORK (AP) -- Silicon Valley's efforts to promote workforce diversity haven't yielded many results -- unless you count a backlash at Google, where a male engineer blamed biological differences for the paucity of female programmers. His widely shared memo, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," also criticizes Google for pushing mentoring and diversity programs and for "alienating conservatives." Google's just-hired head of diversity, Danielle Brown, responded with her own memo, saying that Google is "unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success." She said change is hard and "often uncomfortable." The dueling memos come as Silicon Valley grapples with accusations of sexism and discrimination. Google is also in the midst of a Department of Labor investigation into whether it pays women less than men, while Uber's CEO recently lost his job amid accusations of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. Leading tech companies, including Google, Facebook and Uber, have said they are trying to improve hiring and working conditions for women. But diversity numbers are barely changing. Google gender and ethnicity diversity at issue The Google employee memo, which gained attention online over the weekend, begins by saying that only honest discussion will address a lack of equity. But it also asserts that women "prefer jobs in social and artistic areas" while more men "may like coding because it requires systemizing." The memo, which was shared on the tech blog Gizmodo, attributes biological differences between men and women to the reason why "we don't have 50% representation of women in tech and leadership." The employee, whose identity hasn't been released, was described in news reports as a software engineer. While his views were broadly and publicly criticized online, they echo the 2005 statements by then-Harvard President Lawrence Summers, who said the reason there are fewer female scientists at top universities is in part due to "innate" gender differences. Brande Stellings, senior vice president of advisory services for Catalyst, a nonprofit advocacy group for women in the workplace, said the engineer's viewpoints show "how ingrained, entrenched and harmful gender-based stereotypes truly are." "It's much easier for some to point to 'innate biological differences' than to confront the unconscious biases and obstacles that get in the way of a level playing field," Stellings wrote in an email. Google, like other tech companies, has far fewer women than men in technology and leadership positions. Fifty-six percent of its workers are white and 35 percent are Asian, while Hispanic and Black employees make up 4 percent and 2 percent of its workforce, respectively, according to the company's latest diversity report. Tech companies say they are trying, by reaching out to and interviewing a broader range of job candidates, by offering coding classes, internships and mentorship programs and by holding mandatory "unconscious bias" training sessions for existing employees. But, as the employee memo shows, not everyone at Google is happy with this. Written by Barbara Ortutay, AP Technology Writer. All students at Central Dauphin East High School will be able to get a free meal this year if they want, regardless of whether their parents signed up for the free lunch program or not. The district has enrolled in the General Community Eligibility Provision under the federal school lunch program, which allows all students in schools that have low-income students making up at least 40 percent of their population to receive free lunches, regardless of their financial situation. But students must select the components in the National School Lunch Program in order for the meal to qualify as free. All East High students will receive free lunches this year under the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). pic.twitter.com/0gIIjwfjbr CD East High (@CDEastHigh) August 7, 2017 Incomplete meals will be charged to the student's lunch account as an a la carte purchase. Also, students may not charge any purchase that would cause their account to go into the negative. Last year questions arose regarding lunch policies and "lunch shaming" at Central Dauphin East High School, which differed from those at Central Dauphin High School. Lunch shaming: Will it be on the school menu this fall? While students at Central Dauphin High School who couldn't pay for a lunch could borrow from a fund supplied by a donor, those at CD East were only allowed three free lunches before they were denied free lunch. Some parents said students were denied even a few free lunches. Superintendent Carol Johnson said he policy was not intended to be punitive, but noted that a total of $91,000 was owed districtwide by students in their lunch accounts. She also said some staff members would "routinely" give students money for lunch. District officials also said last school year it was enrolling in the Community Eligibility Program, a federal program that provides for free breakfast and lunch programs to schools that have 40 percent or higher of low-income students. The CD East feeder schools will qualify for the program, as well as two CD feeders - Mountain View and Northside. Parents at these schools cannot opt out of the free meal status, but students can bring their own lunches from home or buy a la carte food items if they wish. If they wish, parents can make a donation to the cafeteria account by contacting the district business office. Students visiting CD East from a building that is not in the free meal program should be offered a free meal, and vice versa. But if students transfer from a qualifying school to one that does not, their meal status does not automatically transfer. If the student is not otherwise eligible for free meals, the district must process a household income application within 10 days and give free meals to the student until an eligibility determination is made. Among midstate districts in which all schools qualify for free lunches are Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York. The topic of school lunch has recently prompted lawmakers to weigh in on the practice of lunch shaming, which in some school districts includes singling out children by making them wear wristbands or tending to chores in order to receive lunch. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., this past week sponsored a bill to prohibit lunch shaming. The legislation -- which has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives -- would forbid schools from discriminating against or stigmatizing children who have outstanding credit or don't have enough money to pay for meals. A similar bill was introduced in the state General Assembly. A suspect in a York County bank robbery was arrested after an hours-long standoff and fire at a home Monday afternoon, according to police at the scene. James Brown, 49, of Hanover, was apprehended at around 5:30 p.m. after the incident on the 400 block of Pleasant Street in Hanover Monday, Hanover police said. An unnamed woman was also arrested after the incident. Brown was wanted in connection to a robbery at a business on the 600 block of Broadway before midnight Sunday as well as a bank robbery at around 9:30 a.m. Monday at Members 1st Credit Union on the 1200 block of Carlisle Street in Spring Grove Township. He barricaded himself in the home at around 1:55 p.m. before reportedly setting fire to the home in Hanover, which police said was not his. No shots were fired and no police or civilians were injured. Brown was taken to a local hospital for treatment of moderate to severe burns, police said. RAW VIDEO: Hanover Police speak to media on incident https://t.co/k1o13cl7Y2 The Evening Sun (@theeveningsun) August 7, 2017 MARCY, N.Y. -- On a summer night 26 years ago, Laurie Kellogg drove four teens from Pennsylvania to a camp on Cayuga Lake to kill her husband, Bruce Kellogg. Laurie Kellogg, 26, wanted out of her marriage to the 43-year-old man and had been hunting for months for someone to kill her husband, prosecutors said. She convinced an 18-year-old neighbor, Denver McDowell, to do the deed for her by becoming his lover, they said. At the camp, McDowell jumped out of the truck with another teen, went in and shot a sleeping Bruce Kellogg four times in the head, killing him. Laurie Kellogg and the teens were quickly caught, leading to a sensational 13-day trial of Laurie Kellogg in 1992 that included testimony about sex, sex abuse and murder for hire. The case made headlines across the nation and later became a made-for-TV movie. Laurie Kellogg was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for masterminding the murder. McDowell was sentenced to 50 years to life, which was later reduced on appeal to 25 years to life. Now, a judge has ordered Laurie Kellogg released, overturning a parole board's decision. (The state is appealing.) McDowell - who pleaded guilty and testified against Laurie Kellogg for the prosecution - is still in prison, facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life locked up. He's been denied parole once and won't get another chance to ask for parole until 2018. McDowell, in a lengthy interview in prison with Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard, clearly isn't happy that he could remain in prison while the purported mastermind, Laurie Kellogg, gets out. "Lady, you were convicted of murder and conspiracy, convicted by a jury of your peers...And you're still telling the world you had nothing to do with it?" he said. "Take that to your maker, because when I meet my maker I'll be ready. I know what I've done and I've asked for my forgiveness." McDowell, now a 44-year-old bald man who wears glasses, sat down for the nearly three-hour interview in a visiting room at the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy in Oneida County. He talked about the events that led to the murder, his feelings about Laurie Kellogg and the real reason he says he shot Bruce Kellogg in those early morning hours so long ago. McDowell entered the visiting room in the prison wearing baggy inmate green pants held up by a tightly cinched belt around his waist. There is little left of the swaggering 18-year-old with 1980s hair who flipped off press photographers and calmly testified in a Seneca County courtroom about how he killed Bruce Kellogg. At the beginning of their investigation, New York State Police said Laurie Kellogg and McDowell were lovers. That lurid detail lead to comparisons to another murder case that made the headlines the year before: A New Hampshire woman, Pamela Smart, threatened to stop having sex with her 15-year-old lover unless he killed her husband. McDowell disputes the authorities' claim over why he shot Bruce Kellogg "I didn't kill Bruce Kellogg for Laurie. I killed Bruce Kellogg for somebody else," he said. "I know what I did and I know who I did it for." Who did you kill for? McDowell wouldn't answer the question directly, but he stopped just short of admitting he did it for someone else he loved, his then 16-year-old girlfriend, Nicole Pappas. "I don't know if I want to talk with you about that. That's 26 years of silence," he said, his voice choking with emotion. He then took a five-minute break before coming back to the interview. McDowell went on to discuss how he came to be in that lakeside camp with a gun the early morning of June 9, 1991 to kill Bruce Kellogg. How the murder went down McDowell, the Kelloggs, and four teens involved in the killing all lived near each other in Linglestown, a suburb of Harrisburg, Pa. A day before the murder McDowell said he learned upsetting news from his girlfriend. "Nicki told me that Bruce sexually molested her when she was being babysat at Laurie's place," McDowell said. "Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time between her telling me this and us committing this crime for me to substantiate whether or not it was true. But I believed it." That weekend, Laurie Kellogg sent her two youngest sons to her mother's house, authorities said. She allowed her step-daughter to sleep over at a friend's house, and her teenage step-son to have friends over at her house, while she hung out with teens from the neighborhood, they said. Laurie Kellogg and four teens - McDowell, Nicki, Charles Sebelist, 16, and Kristi Mullins, 15 - went to a roller skating rink and returned to the Kellogg home to party and change vehicles, switching from an Astro van to her husband's pick up, McDowell said. McDowell said he walked up to a second-floor room where Bruce Kellogg kept a handgun. He then tossed the gun though a window to Sebelist who was waiting outside. Laurie Kellogg drove the teens in her husband's truck from Linglestown to his cottage in Romulus, about a 4-hour drive. McDowell said he and Nicki jumped out of the truck. Nicki, who had been to the cabin before, opened the door because they didn't want McDowell's fingerprints on anything. He pumped four shots into Bruce Kellogg's skull before the teens jumped back into the truck, he said. On the way back to home, they tossed the gun in Cayuta Creek, 30 miles south of the cottage in Schuyler County, authorities said. At 2 p.m. that Sunday, a Pennsylvania man swimming in the creek found the gun and turned it over to sheriff's deputies. Some 90 minutes later, neighbors in Romulus found Bruce's body and called authorities. The next day, Mullins, Pappas and Sebelist went to school. By Tuesday morning, Laurie Kellogg and the teens were all under arrest. The teens all pleaded guilty to various charges, setting up a trial of Laurie Kellogg that packed the courtroom and brought reporters in from scores of newspapers and TV stations. The crime shows "A Current Affair" and "Hard Copy" covered it. Laurie Kellogg told a Seneca County jury that she was abused by her husband. She also said that after Pappas and another girl said Bruce Kellogg had sexually abused them, she and the teens drove up to New York in the middle of the night to confront her husband, not to kill him. The jury didn't believe her and convicted her of murder. Laurie Kellogg has consistently maintained her innocence, saying in the press, in Youtube interviews and on the witness stand that she was a battered wife. She never intended to kill her husband, she has said. McDowell admitted during his interview that he was naive about the trial. His public defender held news conferences and the television show "Current Affair" interviewed him. "I didn't know what the hell I was talking about. I thought I was telling my side of the story. But nobody wanted to hear my side of the story. They wanted to manipulate what I had to say," he said. Before he was sentenced, McDowell told the reporters he hoped to get a shorter sentence for his testimony against Laurie Kellogg. Then he wanted to marry Nicki, his 16-year-old girlfriend, once she got her high school diploma. McDowell didn't get a shorter sentence. He was sentenced to 50 years to life, more than Laurie Kellogg, who received 25 years to life. After an appeal, McDowell's sentence was reduced to 25 years to life. Life behind bars During his first years in prison, McDowell said he tried to commit suicide several times. He has been placed in solitary confinement for fighting and other prison infractions, he said. With his mother's help, he met a girl from Kansas through an online dating site. She moved to Pennsylvania near his family and they married in a prison ceremony. They had a few conjugal visits before she vanished, McDowell said. He would like to divorce her, if he could only find her to serve the papers. McDowell said he works on the prison's grounds crew, cutting grass in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter. He said he likes it because he's alone, away from everyone else. When he was denied parole in 2016, McDowell said the board based its decision on his lengthy Pennsylvania juvenile record. McDowell admits he was no choir boy. His first juvenile offense was as a 10-year-old, when he got caught throwing stolen stink bombs at moving cars, he said. Prior to the murder, all his offenses were property crimes, he said. By the time he was 18, McDowell said he had a reputation for being the neighborhood "bad ass." Now he waits for his next parole board hearing in February 2018. His mother, Vicki McDowell, believes her son, who was just graduating from high school at the time of the murder, was manipulated into killing Bruce Kellogg by an older married woman, Laurie Kellogg, who was a college graduate. "If they let Laurie out because she served the 25 years and she's done her time to pay society, then so has Denver," his mother said. "Denver's paid his time to society and it's time to let him get on with his life. " McDowell, who said he's not mad at Laurie Kellogg, did express frustration that she could get out while he remains in prison. He doesn't think it's fair that a judge overturned the parole board ruling. His fate remains in the hand of the parole board. "I'm not justified because I killed Bruce. I was wrong," McDowell said. "I shouldn't have did it. It's not my place. Whether he did anything to Laurie, or whether he did anything to Nicki, it still wasn't my place. No matter what he was accused of he was never given a chance to defend himself." A Montgomery County resident is the first person in Pennsylvania this year to be infected with West Nile Virus, state health officials announced Tuesday. The state has previously detected West Nile virus in thousands of mosquito samples in 36 counties, and has found the virus in a few dozen birds, but this case is the state's first probable human case of West Nile Virus infection this year. It may not be the last. In 2016, 16 people were confirmed to be infected with West Nile Virus. In 2015, the number was 30. Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms. About one in five people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Fewer than 1 percent of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness. The state has posted a map of West Nile Virus "hot zones." That map shows Dauphin, Lancaster, and Lebanon counties are considered high-risk areas; Cumberland and York are considered to be an "above average risk," while Perry County is rated as remote risk. Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levin used the announcement to recommend that everyone The Departments of Health and Environmental Protection strongly recommend that all residents minimize their exposure to mosquitoes. The department offered these recommendations: A man killed in a motorcycle crash in Harrisburg last week died while riding in a funeral procession for a friend who died in a motorcycle crash. Luis Arroyo, 21, was among about 15 friends on motorcycles directly following the hearse containing the body of their friend Gerald "Chucky" Soto, on Aug. 3 when another tragic accident occurred, killing Arroyo. According to witnesses: Arroyo had lagged behind the group of motorcycles on Paxton Street as the funeral procession was headed to the Paxtang Cemetery to bury Soto, 29, a popular Harrisburg barber. Arroyo sped up in the right lane to catch up the procession, which was headed east on Paxton Street and stopped at 19th Street. That's when a westbound driver turned her car during a gap in the procession to get onto Dean Street. Arroyo didn't have time to stop and slammed into the passenger door of the car at full speed. When the traffic signal at 19th Street turned green, the funeral home vehicles with flashing lights, flags and placards pulled forward but the pastor and funeral officials quickly noticed no one else was following. The hearse had to pull over to the side of the road and wait for about 30 minutes until police could clear the wreckage to allow the rest of the procession, which included about 30 vehicles, to continue. Shell-shocked funeral-goers then had to proceed to the cemetery to a delayed interment for Soto knowing they had just lost another young friend. Soto's widow, meanwhile, was riding in a car just behind Arroyo and the rest of the motorcyclists, potentially witnessing a motorcycle fatality just as she was preparing to bury the father of her two young children. Two days after the crash that killed Arroyo, Harrisburg police released a photo of Arroyo and asked for the public's help to identify him. Police Capt. Gabriel Olivera on Monday would not say where police got the photo of Arroyo or why other funeral goers could not have identified Arroyo. Olivera said the accident that killed Arroyo was still under investigation and he would not answer additional questions. The accident that killed Soto in the 1500 block of Paxton Street, just a few blocks away from the accident that claimed Arroyo, also remains under investigation, Olivera said. Soto died July 25, two days after his motorcycle slammed into a bridge abutment on Paxton Street under Interstate 83 about 6:20 p.m. Police released no details about Soto's wreck, including direction of travel, whether any other vehicles were involved or what may have caused the wreck. Soto and Arroyo ran in the same circles, both originally hailed from Puerto Rico and both cut hair. Soto owned a barber shop, VIP Style Barber Shop on South 13th Street, while Arroyo simply cut hair for friends and relatives in garages or houses so they could have fresh, clean cuts. Friends say Arroyo moved to Harrisburg from Texas about 10 months ago to live with his brother, who has been living in the area for four and a half years. The brothers were very close and trying to find a better life together in Pennsylvania, according to friends. They worked trimming trees and branches near overhead power lines. Arroyo had a young son who still lived in Texas. Arroyo was planning to visit him soon for the boy's upcoming birthday. Arroyo was a "good kid" according to people who knew him. They described him as fun-loving and an adrenaline junkie, happiest when he was riding a dirt bike or four-wheeler or driving his Suzuki Samurai jeep in the woods. He liked to tinker with dirt bikes, tell jokes and make his friends laugh. He was good at everything he did, friends say, and he taught his friends how to pull wheelies on their dirt bikes and 4-wheelers. Now his friends are preparing to attend another funeral. Details for Arroyo's funeral had not yet been arranged. Dr. Wendy Ross is the lead physician at the Penticton cancer clinic and The Heralds health columnist.To contact the writer, feel free to email: drwendyross@gmail.com, and on the Web: drwendyross.com. Dennis Oland heads from a bail hearing after being released from custody in Fredericton on Oct. 25, 2016. Lawyers for Dennis Oland are to appear in a New Brunswick court today for a hearing to set a date for a new second-degree murder trial. It's expected they'll ask for more time to prepare, likely bumping the scheduling hearing to Sept. 5. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan FILE - In this July 30, 2017 file photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping stands on a military jeep as he inspects troops of the People's Liberation Army during a military parade to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the PLA at Zhurihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The threat to Japan from North Korea has reached a Aunew stageAu now that the country is capable of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile and its nuclear weapons program has advanced, a defense ministry report said Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. The 532-page defense report also raised concerns over ChinaAos ongoing assertiveness in air and maritime activity in the regional seas, and raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the countryAos military buildup with its budget making triple increase over the past decade. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP, File) CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAST NAME TO MONNETT FROM MONETTE - Attorneys Charles Monette, left and Justin Bamberg, chat prior to a citizens review board hearing in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. The attorneys represent the estate of Keith Lamont Scott, who was shot and killed by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer last September. The board said it found potential error in the departments decision that the shooting was justified and convened a second hearing to address the finding. (AP Photo/Skip Foreman) Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Turnbull says Parliament could legalize gay marriage this year if the nationAos voters endorse it in a rare but nonbinding poll in November. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk) Rebecca Crofts, right, is given a previously lost Purple Heart belonging to her father, WWII army air corps Staff Sgt. Bernard Snow, during a ceremony reuniting families with previously lost Purple Hearts belonging to war veterans, on National Purple Heart Day, Monday Aug. 7, 2017, at Federal Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) FILE - In this April 28, 2014 photo, original Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima, who has played his role as the monster, speaks during an interview at his home in Sagamihara, near Tokyo. Nakajima, the actor who stomped in a rubber suit to portray the original 1954 Godzilla, has died on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017. He was 88. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa, File) FILE - In this July 31, 2017, file photo, national security adviser H.R. McMaster listens during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington. A long-simmering dispute between two top White House aides has boiled into a public battle over the direction President Donald TrumpAos foreign policy, as a cadre of conservatives groups are pushing for the ouster of McMaster.(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) FILE - This Dec. 27, 2016, file photo provided by the Aiken County, S.C., Detention Center shows South Carolina Rep. Chris Corley. Attorneys for Corley have informed state prosecutors their client is planning to change his plea to guilty Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, to a domestic violence charge in an attack on his wife during a hearing in Aiken, according to Robert Kittle, spokesman for the state Attorney GeneralAos Office. (Aiken County Detention Center via AP, File) FILE - In this July 21, 2017, file photo, Vice President Mike Pence speaks to a group of grassroots organizations calling on the Senate to take action on health care legislation, during a meeting in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Pence has been a loyal messenger for President Donald Trump. At the same time, he has been carving out his own political identity as the steady understudy to a mercurial president. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Democrats seal control of Senate after Cortez Masto defeats Laxalt in Nevada Democrats will retain control of the U.S. Senate after incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada defeated Republican Adam Laxalt. Chevron, Statoil, Total, pull all expats staff in Venezuela Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg Political crisis fueling violence in nation reliant on crude. Repsol also says it's removed all remaining foreign staff By Rodrigo Orihuela, Mikael Holter, and Lucia Kassai MADRID/OSLO/HOUSTON Petroleumworld 08 08 2017 Repsol SA pulled all foreign workers from its oil fields in Venezuela amid a deepening political crisis, while Chevron Corp. and Total SA have removed a small number of employees, said people with knowledge of the companies. Norway's Statoil ASA has withdrawn its expatriate staff. Repsol field workers left the country in the past few weeks, two people said, asking not to be identified discussing a confidential matter. A skeleton staff remains in Caracas, one of the people said. Chevron has removed fewer than 10 foreign employees and retains a substantial expatriate workforce there, said people with knowledge who weren't authorized to discuss the operations. Statoil withdrew its last three foreign workers before the July 30 election, Erik Haaland, a company spokesman said. The departure of workers will be a concern to the government because oil output, which has tumbled over the past two years, accounts for 95 percent of Venezuela's foreign-currency earnings. Repsol gets about 10 percent of its production from the country, where it owns a stake in the Carabobo heavy-oil field. The Spanish company also is a partner in the Perla project, Latin America's largest offshore gas deposit, together with Eni SpA . A spokesman for Rome-based Eni said the company is keeping only essential expatriate personnel in the country. It isn't currently considering an evacuation but continues to monitor the situation, he said. Several Chevron expatriates who were traveling outside of Venezuela have been told not to immediately return, according to one of the people. Employees whose assignments were scheduled to end within the next six months had their contracts cut short, and some were asked to do Venezuela-related work remotely from the U.S. or other countries, the person said. Chevron, in an emailed statement, said it doesn't comment on security or personnel issues. Return Possible Total, the French oil giant, removed more than 10 staff members, including five managers, the person said. Employees will be allowed to return to Venezuela if the situation improves, the person said. The company didn't immediately return an email seeking comment after business hours. Violence escalated ahead of the July vote to elect members of the constituent assembly, with the opposition denouncing the move as a power-grab by President Nicolas Maduro. While the election faced accusations of fraud, including from the company that provided voting machines for the ballot, the new assembly convened last week. One of its first actions was to remove the chief prosecutor, who had been critical of the government. Repsol still has Venezuelan citizens working at its operations, one of the people said, without specifying how many foreign staff had been in the country. Statoil also still has Venezuelans at its sites, Haaland said. Story by Rodrigo Orihuela, Mikael Holter, and Lucia Kassai; With assistance by Dan Liefgreen, and Joe Carroll from Bloomberg . bloomberg. com / 08 07 2017 YPF CEO sees turning point in Argentina oil, gas output Alberto Raggio/Reuters Gutierrez said weather issues will hurt YPF's 2017 output, forecast to contract by 3 percent. But he has "no doubt" of positive 2018 production for YPF. By Caroline Stauffer and Juliana Castilla BUENOS AIRES Petroleumworld 08 08 2017 Argentina's state-run petroleum company YPF SA forecasts that its production will increase in 2018 after contracting this year, as the number of rigs operating in the country rises, the company's chairman said on Monday. Despite a wave of investment announcements in the Vaca Muerta shale area, one of the world's largest, Argentina's oil output has continued to fall since President Mauricio Macri took office in late 2015 while natural gas output rose marginally thanks to government price supports. "For me the adjustment process is over and looking at 2018 this situation will change, I think we have seen the floor of rigs," Miguel Gutierrez said in an interview at the Reuters Latin American Investment Summit. There were 49 active oil and gas drilling rigs in Argentina in April and 60 in June according to Baker Hughes, about half the number two years earlier as companies adjusted to lower global prices and changing government policies. Gutierrez last year took the helm of YPF, which accounts for between 35 to 45 percent of the country's petroleum output each month. Previously, he held high-level positions at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Telefonica SA. He forecast oil prices of between $50 and $60 per barrel for the next two or three years. "We don't see much change... companies have to see how they can modify costs so production is profitable," he said in the interview at his office in Buenos Aires. 'TWO YEARS' FOR NEW FIELDS Gutierrez said weather issues will hurt YPF's 2017 output, forecast to contract by 3 percent. But he has "no doubt" of positive 2018 production for YPF. He said it would take around two years for new shale fields to move beyond pilot phases to development. Two fields are currently producing in Vaca Muerta. YPF is "accelerating pilots we believe have interesting opportunities, that's why we have partnered with (Royal Dutch) Shell in Bajada de Anelo and with Schlumberger in Bandurria Sur," Gutierrez said. He said YPF has made "good progress" in forming partnerships with oil majors and more could be announced. Attracting investment to Belgium-sized Vaca Muerta is a priority for Macri. In January he announced a deal with labor unions and energy companies to lower costs and extend a subsidized price of $7.50 per million British thermal units for natural gas. Gutierrez said the labor agreement had been "more than 80 percent" implemented and progress made toward deals with unions in Santa Cruz and Chubut provinces in addition to Neuquen, home of Vaca Muerta. He reiterated that better infrastructure is also needed to lower costs. The break-even price of $43 per barrel YPF has given for Loma Campana, a shale field it operates with Chevron Corp, is "similar" to other areas, Gutierrez said. "We know there are opportunities to improve," he said. RISING INVESTMENT, ASSET SALES Gutierrez said "in theory" 2018 investments in Vaca Muerta would be more than the $2.3 billion it plans to invest this year. He said the company does not need to sell assets in order to invest and would "surely not" issue another bond this year. "We have established financial discipline,' he said. "We do not want to increase our debt." Gutierrez said YPF is looking for a partner to operate its electricity subsidiary, but he declined to comment on reports it was in talks to sell 49 percent of it to General Electric Co. "We don't want to take capital from our program of oil and gas development, and therefore we are seeking a partner," he said. YPF is analyzing downstream opportunities, Gutierrez said, though he declined to comment on a Reuters report of YPF's interest in Royal Dutch Shell Plc's refinery and gasoline stations in Argentina. Gutierrez also said YPF would sell its Metrogas unit when "the price was right" but was not in a hurry. He said YPF had hired consulting firm Deloitte to analyze contracts with Brazilian engineering conglomerate Odebrecht from 2010 to 2015, but ruled out a corruption write-off. Deloitte declined to comment. Brazil's state-run oil firm Petrobras wrote off $2 billion in corruption losses in 2015 to corrupt deals with contractors including Odebrecht. "There is no chance (of a write-off). This has already been seen by an internal audit but we think from the corporate governance perspective an independent entity should participate," Gutierrez said. Follow Reuters Summits on Twitter @Reuters_Summits Story by Caroline Stauffer and Juliana Castilla ; Editing by W Simon from Reuters . reuters .com / 08 07 2017 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. Tony Danna, vice president of international development at Three Square Market, poses in front of the companys logo at its headquarters in River Falls, Wis. The software company is offering to microchip its employees, enabling them to open doors, log onto their computers and purchase break room snacks with a simple wave of the hand. Read more The cyborgs are coming. And a Bucks County lawmaker is arming the state for a battle she foresees between flesh-and-bones workers and corporate bionics. State Rep. Tina Davis (D., Bucks) recently introduced a bill that would prohibit private employers and government entities in Pennsylvania from requiring employees to have microchips implanted in their bodies as a condition of their employment. Davis floated her bill in response to news stories of a Wisconsin vending machine company asking its employees to voluntarily have an encrypted microchip inserted in their hands to log in to computers, use copiers, open office doors, and operate snack machines while at work. Davis' proposed Employee Subdermal-Microchip Protection Act would allow surgically implanted microchips only if workers made their own decision. It would require the state Department of Labor and Industry to investigate workers' claims that they were victims of retaliation for refusing to get a chip. It also would impose fines for companies that violate the would-be law. "My legislation will require that any employer that offers a microchip, or any kind of subdermal device to be implanted for use during the employee's work, must make it a voluntary decision," Davis wrote in a July 28 memo to the House of Representatives. "An employee's body is their own and they should have the final say as to what will be added to it. My bill will protect employees from being punished or retaliated against for choosing not to have the subdermal microchip or other technological device implanted. As technology advances, we need to make sure we provide employee protections that keep up with these advances and do not allow employers to have control over their employees' bodies." The Wisconsin company, Three Square Market or 32M made international news late last month when it announced it was asking employees to get the chips and a bunch of them did it. The chips are inserted via a needle like Martin Short's character in the 1980s movie Inner Space. Company officials could not be reached. Published reports show at least 40 of 32M's 85 employees agreed to get the chips. According to 32M's website, the chips use radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology that the Food and Drug Administration approved for use in 2004. The technology works like a surgically implanted serial number, but the chips don't use GPS to track workers' movements. But could the chips record how long it took a worker to get Snickers from a vending machine and then log back into his work computer, and then use that information to gauge the worker's effectiveness and weaken his rights? Five states California, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin have enacted employee microchip protection laws, said Bryan Allen, Davis' chief of staff. A bill in Nevada failed, he said. "The technology is out there and already being implemented so, if anything, Pennsylvania is playing catch-up," Allen said. "It is definitely a workers' rights issue." Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said he doesn't know the Wisconsin company's rationale for asking employees to use the chips. But technology is moving so fast and companies need to stay abreast of it for their protection and that of their employees, he said. The Wisconsin company has raised a lot of corporate ethics questions, said James A. Craft, a professor emeritus of business administration at the University of Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. The ethical questions don't just center on the possibility of tracking workers, he said. There also is a dilemma of workers feeling pressure to sign up for a "voluntary" chip, he said. If a worker likes her job or needs her job, she may feel obligated to get a chip if the employer asks her for fear she could lose her job down the road, he said. So if Davis' bill becomes law, Craft said, it may not protect workers. "You may not get an immediate discharge" for refusing a chip, Craft said. "But how is it going to affect you in the future? So there is concern that you agree to the chip but are not willing to get it." A question of choice is a long-standing policy issue, said John Budd, a professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. For example, he said the Fair Labor Standards Act makes it illegal for private employers to give workers the option of comp time or overtime pay for working extra hours. Now, the Wisconsin company's voluntary chips have led to more ethical questions for workers who may think they are only making their lives easier by waving their hand to open a door rather than rummaging for a swipe card, and the corporate manager who can track them now or in the future, he said. "What's truly free choice?" Budd asked. "The sci-fi nature of [chips] has magnified the ethical concerns." steve.esack@mcall.com | Twitter @sesack | 717-783-7309 Proposed microchip law TechGirlz brainstorm at at 2013 summer camp designed to get middle-school girls interested in careers in in technology. Read more Tracey Welson-Rossman, founder of TechGirlz, wanted to run her thoughts by a public relations person before she started venting about the 10-page internal memo that got a Google employee fired Monday night and has raised a ruckus in the tech world. Why? Because the memo made her really angry, and she wanted to respond reasonably. In the memo, posted last week on an internal company message board, Google engineer James Damore says the company has a blind spot when it comes to diversity and that it encourages women to enter technology even though they tend to be more empathetic and less suited for the solitary, technical nature of coding. Also, he wrote, women tend to "neuroticism," with less tolerance for stress, meaning they are more likely to avoid the long hours and anxiety that lead to promotions for executives. Damore confirmed his dismissal in an email, saying that he had been fired for "perpetuating gender stereotypes." Google's Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai wrote employees on Monday saying that parts of the employee's memo "violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." Damore's post had Welson-Rossman fuming. "For every example he'll put out there, I'll put out 12- and 13-year-old girls who are already learning about coding and who, in 10 years, will out-code him," said Welson-Rossman, chief marketing officer at Chariot Solutions Inc., a software development firm in Fort Washington, who, in 2007, founded TechGirlz to encourage middle school girls to choose technology careers. To her, coding is a key, but narrow, function. "There's user design, there's website design, anything to do with hardware. Hardware is becoming more and more important. Five years from now, we have no idea the path technology is going to take, but it's not just about developing code." The issue is hot enough that the head of the Northeast regional office of Accenture, senior managing director Kathleen O'Reilly, declined comment, even though the software development and consulting company announced recently that it would reach a worldwide gender-balanced workforce by 2025, with women comprising one in four managing directors by 2020. O'Reilly did say a diverse workforce provides a breadth of views necessary for innovation. On Saturday, a few days after the memo appeared internally, Danielle Brown, Google's new diversity vice president, reiterated the company's commitment to diversity, saying that memo "advanced incorrect assumptions about gender." She also said Google valued a safe environment for sharing all points of view, but that discourse needs to comport with the principles of equal employment in the law and Google's code of conduct. The ruckus arises as the tech sector continues to face criticism that its workforce is skewed white, or Asian, and male. Uber's chief executive was forced to resign after stinging allegations arose about how female employees were treated. And several female tech leaders have gone public complaining about gender discrimination in technology. Google has been the subject of a federal Department of Labor probe into whether it is paying female employees less than male counterparts. The company has said its audits show no disparities. So what does the memo signify about Google? "The fact that he wrote 10 pages this is incredibly well-meaning and I think he loves Google," said Katherine Nelson, who teaches human resources at Temple University's Fox School of Business. "Companies that don't listen [to employees] go down the tubes pretty quickly." But, she said, she disagrees with the gender-stereotypes on technical jobs and leadership positions. She said Google has used mountains of internal data to create eight points of leadership. Only one references technical skill and the rest point to empathy and communication. Yet the memo writer suggests that Google "de-emphasize empathy," which he associates with women. "If Google plays its cards right, this will turn into a win," said Bob Moul, chief executive of Cloudamize, a Philadelphia technology company acquired by London-based Cloudreach last week. "They ought to engage the guy and find out what his concerns are," said Moul, a former chairman of Philly Startup Leaders. "If he feels [Google] programs are discriminatory because he's not the right race or gender to participate in them, that certainly seems to be fair game for discussion. He was pretty brave for writing it. I don't agree with the stereotypes and I certainly don't believe it applies to technology or to leadership. That's a bunch of hooey." Nelson said the employee would have been savvier to take his concerns to a top executive. WHAT HE SAID: Google has a left-leaning political mono-culture that imbues its beliefs with the cloak of morality and shames dissenters, particular conservatives. One "moralized" belief is the value of diversity. Women may not advance because men are more willing to put up with the greater stress and longer hours that lead to promotions. Women tend to be more empathetic and agreeable, meaning they may not be as happy in the more solitary work of coding. Google should stop restricting programs to certain sexes or races and should openly discuss the value of all programs, including diversity. HOW GOOGLE'S VICE PRESIDENT OF DIVERSITY RESPONDED: What happens when adult children with disabilities become senior citizens? It's a growing reality that Judith Creed Homes for Adult Independence (JCHAI) is grappling with as its adult clients become seniors, some in their late 70s. While trusts remain one of the best planning techniques for families with means, many adults with disabilities have more immediate needs, such as finding jobs and places to live, and learning new skills. Started in 1987 as a residential group home for adults with developmental disabilities, JCHAI now helps clients who live in apartments around Philadelphia as well as offering one-on-one in-home programs providing social networks and jobs for people with developmental disabilities, brain injury, and autism. Stacy Jarett Levitan, JCHAI's executive director, based in Bryn Mawr, explains that clients live "as full a life as possible. What's changed is life expectancy." Those with Down syndrome can expect to live a normal life, vs. a previous lifespan only into their 40s, she noted. Pennsylvania ranks 16th in the nation for Americans with disabilities, with 13.9 percent of the population qualifying as disabled. And there are 276,185 students in the state listed as receiving special-education benefits, or 15.9 percent of students. That's up from 268,466, or 15.2 percent, in 2011-12. JCHAI serves about 130 adults, ranging in age from 23 to the late 70s. About 80 of its clients live in their own apartments. "Our residents come and go as they please," Levitan said. The staff assists with paying bills, laundry, grocery shopping, and teaching skills. Staffers visit apartments between noon and 8 p.m. Clients wake themselves, go to work, and often eat together upon returning home. "They don't have to sit down for meals together at the same time, although many times they do, because they enjoy it," she said. JCHAI charges about $60 an hour for in-home services, and clients pay for their own housing. The total cost is $40,000 to $60,000 a year, which can be offset by Social Security payments, salaries from working, and scholarships. "Clients can get apartments with Section 8 housing. Plus, for our residential services, we do fund-raising and scholarship on a sliding scale. The cost is kind of like paying for college tuition for the rest of your child's life," Levitan said. Other options include living with parents; in state-licensed boarding and groups homes; at nursing homes for those with severe intellectual disabilities; in shared-living arrangements, similar to foster care; or in housing through such state contractors as Kencrest, JEVS, or ARC in Chester County. Leon, 68 and a JCHAI resident, retired from 35 years of working in food service at Drexel University. He and others make and serve lunch at the Perelman Jewish Day School in Wynnewood and Elkins Park. "I never missed a day of work and I had six months of vacation unused when I left," he said. He's also a Phillies season ticket holder: Three seats behind home place, Section 122, Row 33. "I go to almost every game." Phyllis, 70, lives in a nearby apartment, and JCHAI staff helped her learn to cook. "Now I make enough for each day, and I have leftovers," she said, showing off her spotless living space, which she cleans. Her neighbor Harriet, 62, used to work at a hotel laundry service and is now retired. Phyllis, Harriet, and another neighbor Debby, 50, volunteer about four days a week and are planning a group trip to Virginia Beach. For more on JCHAI, call 610-922-2480 or visit www.jchai.org. For those adults with disabilities living into old age, there are special estate planning options, said Peter Johnson, senior vice president with Pennsylvania Trust in Radnor. He specializes in financial planning and creating what are called "special-needs trusts" for those with intellectual and other disabilities. A special-needs trust protects any assets the adult children might inherit, as well as making sure they aren't disqualified from medical and Social Security benefits. This population is living longer, partly due to the end of warehousing in institutions and better care, "but they also experience medical issues at an earlier age," said Johnson. Many with Down syndrome are now expected to develop Alzheimer's. The kids who were beneficiaries of these special-needs trusts are now turning 30, 40, and even older, Johnson added. He has helped clients with disabilities who lived well into their 80s, and urges parents of adult children with disabilities to set up a special-needs trust as soon as possible. Before the age of 65, people with disabilities can set up their own trust. "Federal law doesn't allow you to create a special-needs trust for yourself after the age of 65, because at that point you receive Social Security," he added. For more, see http://specialneedsanswers.com. Fred Behrend (left), 90, of Voorhees, with his co-author, Larry Hanover. Behrends Holocaust memoir, Rebuilt From Broken Glass, was published in July. Read more Fred Behrend was 12 when the Nazis burned down the synagogue at his school in Cologne, Germany. He saw the flames and heard the screams as the parents of two classmates with whom he was staying were dragged away by storm troopers. "The innocence of youth was stolen from me," says Behrend, 90, whose memoir, Rebuilt From Broken Glass: A German Jewish Life Remade in America, was published in July by Purdue University Press. "My life changed." Or, as he writes: "Little did I realize that the insanity had already arrived at our front door I would only learn the details years later." His powerful book is the story of a boy whose sheltered childhood gave way to hell; of a hard-working family finding refuge, first in Cuba and then in the United States; and of growing up to become a businessman and author with a voice as empathetic on the page as in person. "I had absolutely no intention of writing a book," Behrend tells me. "But I decided for the sake of my children and grandchildren to let them know the history of where they came from." It's quite a history; A Behrend family chronicle, written in old German, dates back to 1490. The author's father, Herman who survived his relatively brief internment also kept a diary. And Fred Behrend's vivid vignettes of German-Jewish emigre life in Cuba and New York, of being an instructor at an Army camp for German POWs (some of them vicious anti-Semites), and of meeting celebrities through his Manhattan appliance business are affecting glimpses of struggle and success. He writes: "My parents and other members of my family saw the need to flee before the noose got so tight it would be too late. All settled in the United States as far away from Germany as possible." "This story is not something that happened only to me," Behrend says, his German accent mellifluously intact after more than 70 years in the United States. "I didn't have it as bad" as many others. I chatted with Behrend last month at the Lions Gate rehab unit in Voorhees, where he was staying after a fall. The father of two and grandfather of three has since returned to his home in the township's Centennial Mill development; more than 100 people attended his book-signing event there Sunday. "Our big event will be Sept. 14 at Congregation Beth El, because it brings the book full circle to where it began," says co-author Larry Hanover, who explains that he suggested Behrend write a book in 2010 after hearing him speak to Hebrew-school students at the Voorhees synagogue. "I know a good story," says Hanover, 50, an adjunct journalism professor at Temple University and former newspaper colleague of mine. "This was a good story." I'll say. But telling it in book form was complicated. "The way I wrote it was, if I got up in the middle of the night and thought of something, I would make myself a note, and the next day, type it up," Behrend explains. "Larry had the arduous task of [arranging] my father's stories," says Evelyn Behrend, 49, a tax consultant who lives in Cherry Hill. "My father is a raconteur. If he's got an audience, he tells stories." In the book, many of these tales a black boy sharing a kite with the author in Havana, a reunion in New York with one of the classmates whose parents were dragged away are poignant. Others, about sharing a single pair of roller skates with his first Jewish friend in Cuba, and running errands for some nice ladies at a Manhattan address that turned out to be a house of ill repute, are priceless. And those about postwar American anti-Semitism (like the "no Jews allowed" banner he saw at a Maryland beach) startled me; growing up Irish Catholic in 1960s New England, I was insulated from, if not clueless about, that sort of ugliness. But Rebuilt From Broken Glass is, after all, not simply a memoir about family and faith, but a work of history, written by an eyewitness. A copy of the book has been presented to the library at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Behrend was unable to attend the presentation because of his fall, but Hanover said the occasion underscored the significance of the contribution. "Books written by survivors or families of survivors are important first-person accounts of the Holocaust, and are valuable for researchers," Lenore Bell, library director, says from the museum in Washington. Closer to home, Behrend has long volunteered to speak at schools on behalf of the Esther Raab Holocaust Museum and Goodwin Education Center at the Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill. "I speak once or twice a month about the Holocaust," Behrend says. "Wind me up and the spring unwinds. But every once in a while something brings tears to my eyes. "One of the kids came over to me and said, 'Would you mind giving me your blessing?' And I said, 'What brought this on?' "He said, 'I would like to have a blessing from somebody who survived.' "And I cried." Packaging for syringes litter the ground near the Conrail railroad tracks at Second and Indiana Streets. Read more Deaths from heroin and other opioids are far higher than federal statistics indicate in New Jersey and even more in Pennsylvania, according to a new analysis that examined information that was missing from records and estimated what it likely represented. Nearly 50 percent of Pennsylvania's drug overdose deaths in federal data carried no indication of the types of drugs involved, as did 30 percent of those in New Jersey. The new study examined 2008 and 2014 drug mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which receives data from counties via the states. When information on drug type was missing, it applied a formula based on those that were complete, weighted by various demographic information. Reporting by most states improved over that time period but still varied widely, with information missing from 0.4 percent of cases in Rhode Island vs. 52.4 percent in Alabama in 2014. Nationally, nearly 20 percent of reports were incomplete. That translated to 24 percent more deaths than reported from all opioids and 22 percent more from heroin. Opioids include heroin, most prescription painkillers, and fentanyl, which can come in both pharmaceutical and illicit forms. "The most striking example was Pennsylvania," study author Christopher Ruhm, a health economist at the University of Virginia's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy in Charlottesville, wrote in the online version published Monday in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The state's adjusted ranking for opioid deaths went from 17th to sixth; heroin went from 20th to fifth. The new rankings were more in line with the overall drug overdose fatality rate, which in 2014 had put the state in seventh place. New Jersey was better than average in overall drug deaths that year. But the study's corrected data showed its opioid-death-rate ranking moved from 14th to 10th and for heroin, from 15th to 12th. But the practical meaning of the finding, while dramatic, was unclear. County coroners and medical examiners for several years have been reporting disturbingly high numbers of deaths due to opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone information that apparently has not made it into federal databases. The Drug Enforcement Administration's Philadelphia Division, for example, which collected statistics directly from coroners throughout Pennsylvania, came up with very different numbers than the CDC did in 2014. The local division found 1,293 heroin-related deaths statewide while the federal CDC database showed 503 an even greater gap than what the University of Virginia study calculated. The new study did not include county data but a query of the same CDC database it used illustrates the issue. It shows 11 heroin deaths in Philadelphia in 2014. The city Medical Examiner's Office reported 349, according to the DEA's local division. Still, it was not at all clear why the local and CDC data would be so different. Both originate at the county level. Among the possibilities: "We typically don't put toxicology reports on death certificates. There's not enough lines to list all those drugs," said Lycoming County Coroner Charles Kiessling Jr., president of the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association. Death certificates are the best source of data for cause of death but are notoriously imprecise. How they are filled out and by whom varies widely from state to state, as does the design. Pennsylvania's contains just four lines for contributing causes of death when often there would be far more than that, Kiessling said. A drug overdose is fairly easy to determine but the toxicology tests needed to find heroin, fentanyl, or hydrocodone can take months. Carol Gifford, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, said she could only guess at the reasons for the missing information, but pointed out another possibility: Testing is expensive. Ruhm, the health economist, said he was concerned that federal policy and possibly funding might be based on incomplete information. Native Americans, Mark Soldier Wolf and Nelson White Eagle at right are part of the visiting Northern Arapaho delegation at the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Read more CARLISLE, Pa. Nelson White Eagle, gray and stiff at 78, needed time to make his way across the wet grass to the graves of the children, but when he got there, he didn't hesitate: The Northern Arapaho elder sang a song of gratitude and honor, of thanks and remembrance and healing. No answer came from the rows of white headstones in the cemetery on the grounds of the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School, now the campus of the Army War College. And none was expected. "I felt better after I sang the song," White Eagle said. "We need to hang on to one another, love one another." He arrived on the grounds Monday, joined by about 15 other tribe members, come from Wyoming on a mission both sacred and sorrowful: to reclaim the remains of three Northern Arapaho children who died at the school, and who lie among nearly 200 native students lost in a brutal, turn-of-the-century experiment in forced assimilation. Shortly after 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, after private native prayers and ceremonies, an Army team put the first shovel to the earth, beginning what's expected to be a five-day process of exhuming the three boys. They're to be reburied next week in their rugged mountain home, the Wind River Reservation. The aim of the nation's first federal off-reservation boarding school, founded in 1879 by former cavalry officer Richard Henry Pratt, was to rid natives of their "savage nature" by erasing their names, languages, customs, religions, and family ties. Braids were cut off, and boys were put into military-style uniforms. Beatings were common punishments, and epidemics proved deadly. Even as children succumbed to tuberculosis and flu, Carlisle became the model for dozens of Indian schools that spread across the United States and Canada. Little Chief, the eldest son of Chief Sharp Nose, arrived at Carlisle on March 11, 1881, a boy of 14 accompanied by two young friends, Horse, 11, and Little Plume, 9. Within two years, all three were dead. "It's going to be very emotional for us," said Yufna Soldier Wolf, a great-niece of Little Chief's and leader in the push to return him and his compatriots to their tribe. Family members of Horse and Little Plume were there, too, some stunned to silence by the enormity of a cemetery full of native children. To them, and to many native peoples, Carlisle is not simply a small town in central Pennsylvania it's the place where the federal government set out to destroy their way of life, and where their children died in the process. By mid-afternoon on Tuesday, the day had turned hot and steamy as sweating Army staff pressed on with their digging under the watchful gaze of the Northern Arapaho, who rarely strayed far from the cemetery. The first child had yet to be exhumed, but Army officials said plans remained on schedule. Several tribal elders, some on canes, returned to their hotel for rest, while young people embarked on a tour of the grounds, learning about a place they knew from tribal lore but had never seen in person. "This is paving the way for everyone else," Loveeda White Eagle, 20, said of the repatriation. "The other tribes can learn from it." The Rosebud Sioux in South Dakota say they want children returned from Carlisle, and so have native families in Alaska. The day was historic for all those across Indian Country who want the tragedy of the boarding-school era to at last be aired fully and publicly. Some researchers say the collective damage inflicted on children at boarding schools has contributed to the addictions and dysfunctions that plague many tribes today. This week, the neat, roadside cemetery has been cut off from public view, hidden behind tall chain-link fences draped with black cloth. Lighted signs on the military base warn, "Cemetery closed, please respect Native American privacy." Like other students at Carlisle, the three Northern Arapaho boys were forced to accept new English names. Little Chief became Dickens Nor. Horse was renamed Horace Washington, and Little Plume was called Hayes Vanderbilt Friday. Little Plume, buried under a headstone marked "Hayes, Son of Friday," was to be exhumed first, from his resting place near the center of the cemetery. Army officials outlined the process for each grave: The 240-pound headstone would be removed. Then the grave would be opened, a job undertaken with shovels, trowels, and hands no machinery. The dirt from the grave was to be sifted through a series of mesh screens, to capture cloth, shirt buttons, jewelry, coffin pieces, and small bits of bone. Bones and teeth will be examined by Elizabeth DiGangi, a forensic anthropologist at Binghamton University and an Army consultant, to determine whether the remains are the correct gender and age. DNA testing will not be undertaken. The remains will be kept in an on-site vault until the disinterment is complete. At that point, control of the children will be transferred to the tribe. "It's a special mission," said Art Smith, chief of Army National Military Cemeteries. "We're in the process of disinterring children." On Monday evening, members of a native group called Circle Legacy, who for decades have washed and cleaned the headstones here, put on a potluck dinner for the Northern Arapaho. Elders leaned on the arms of helpers, while children young, native children once again roamed the grounds of Carlisle, laughing and chasing one another. "When you see the graves, it's a heavy heart," said Crawford White Sr., 76, brother of Nelson White Eagle, both of whom were sent to boarding school as children. "Healing, it's a process. I need it to begin, not just for me, but for the families. There's a lot of healing to be done." Khepera Charter School in North Philadelphia, which ended the school year early because of financial problems, insists that it will open for students next month, but it's facing daunting odds. Its landlord has asked Common Pleas Court to kick the K-8 school out of its building on Sedgley Avenue for unpaid rent. Teachers complain that the school still owes them wages from the last school year. And a company that provides special education teachers, substitutes and counselors sued Khepera last week, saying the charter owes it money, too. General Healthcare Resources Inc., based in Plymouth Meeting, said in a court filing that the school had not made any payments since April and owed the firm about $86,683 for staffing services. The school's problems are not new. It's the only charter school among more than 80 citywide that faces revocation of its charter. Officials at Khepera did not respond to email or phone calls Monday seeking comment. Located at 926 W. Sedgleym the charter had 450 K-8 students in the last academic year. The school opened in 2004 and has an African-centered curriculum. "I know that every signal that the school is sending at this point is that they are intending to open," said Dan Dueholm, a staff representative with the Alliance for Charter School Employees, the union that represents 16 Khepera employees. "But where and how has not been established." Lee Whack, a Philadelphia School District spokesman, said Khepera has told the charter school office that it plans to open in September. He said the charter submitted a school calendar for the 2017-18 year, requested busing services for its students "and maintains that it will be open." Whack said that Khepera was set to receive its full payment from the district for August of $399,350. He said that the district's charter office has been assisting Khepera parents who have asked for help finding new spots in district schools for the fall. But Whack said the district cannot contact parents directly about enrolling their children in other schools as long as Khepera says it will be opening. Khepera received no payment from the district for June and only a partial payment in July because it owed the district money for contributions to the state teachers' pension system. When a charter school fails to make pension payments, the amount is deducted from funds the district receives from the state. The district recovers the money by withholding that amount from monthly charter payments. The loss of June's payment caused Khepera to end the school year early. Charter officials said at the time that the school closed only a few days early and that students missed out on some end-of-the-year activities but not instruction. Later in June, the School Reform Commission voted to begin the process of revoking Khepera's operating charter for declining academic performance and financial instability. Among other things, the SRC noted that the charter had failed to submit annual financial reports for 2015 and 2016, which are required by state law. The school also failed to make more than $1 million in payments to the state teachers pension system in the last fiscal year. A public hearing on the revocation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at district headquarters. The hearing is expected to last several days. State law allows a charter to remain open pending a final vote by the SRC. Law enforcement officials investigate an explosion at the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minn., on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017. Read more Since a makeshift bomb tore through a Minnesota mosque early Saturday morning, President Donald Trump has used Twitter, his preferred platform for communicating with the American people, to rail about "fake news," attack a Democratic senator from Connecticut, and insist that he's working hard while vacationing in New Jersey. One topic Trump has yet to address: the mosque attack at the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in the Twin Cities suburb of Bloomington, where several people were gathering for prayer. Nobody was injured, authorities said, but the attack has left the Muslim community feeling unsettled. And Minnesotans and others are still waiting for the president to condemn the attack. "Silence on the part of public officials at the national level only serves to empower Islamophobes," Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement calling for Trump to condemn the attack, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We are wondering why President Trump has not tweeted about this," Asad Zaman, director of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, told BuzzFeed News. "He seems to want to tweet about security and terror issues." On Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security released a statement saying that Acting Secretary Elaine Duke was "aware" of the explosion and that the agency was in "close contact" with investigators and community leaders. "The Department of Homeland Security fully supports the rights of all to freely and safely worship the faith of their choosing and we vigorously condemn such attacks on any religious institution," the statement said. "We are thankful that there were no injuries, but that does not diminish the serious nature of this act." New York Times White House correspondent Glenn Thrush tweeted an email statement from the White House Monday. According to Thrush, it read: "The President has been and is continuing to be updated and we are monitoring situation for now." Also Monday, FBI Special Agent in Charge Rick Thornton reassured the community his agency was thoroughly investigating the attack. "While it is fortunate that no lives were lost, and the physical damage is reparable, the FBI recognizes the pain and anger of our communities anytime a place of worship is attacked and we will work hard to hold those responsible accountable," Thornton said in a statement. But many Muslims and others want Trump to denounce the attack. Mohamed Omar, executive director of targeted mosque, invited Trump to "come and see to come and see what happened," reported BuzzFeed News. "He is the president of this country, and this happened to us," Omar told the publication. "He has to come here and at least express his feelings and say this is bad." That sentiment has been echoed across social media. Silence after attacks where Muslims are the victims is not uncharacteristic for the president, who has been previously lambasted for a perceived double standard that critics claim he applies when denouncing terrorism. Attacks perpetuated by Muslims draw his attention and sharp tongue, they argue, while violence targeting Muslims is overlooked. "President Trump has to date not expressed any significant opposition to Americans turning on Americans of the Islamic faith," Corey Saylor, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told the Huffington Post. "Through his Muslims ban and comments from the campaign trail, he has instead painted the entire American Muslim community as suspect." A Pew Research Center survey released last month revealed that 48 percent of Muslims in the United States said they had faced discrimination in some form over the past year. The results showed that nearly 75 percent of those surveyed considered Trump "as unfriendly toward Muslims in America." While Trump's Twitter feed remained mum on the Minnesota mosque bombing as of early Tuesday morning, other local, state, and federal leaders had been quick to address the attack. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said the "terrible, dastardly, cowardly act" was "an act of terrorism" while visiting the center Sunday, reported the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "The destruction done to this sacred site is just unthinkable, unforgivable," he said. "I hope and pray the perpetrator will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law." Dayton was joined by the state's lieutenant governor, the mayor of Bloomington and state Rep. Andrew Carlson and state Rep. Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to the Legislature. Also in attendance was Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat and the first Muslim elected to Congress, who said he was heartened by how the community had rallied around the mosque, reported the Star-Tribune. "This is the right spirit and there is no better way to condemn the person who would throw a bomb into this mosque than to react in a loving, kind, inclusive way," Ellison said. Rich Cordisco, a Bristol Borough native, boards his 31-foot SunRay Corsaro at the revitalized towns new $3M Delaware River waterfront docks. Read more Paulette Kasmer opened Polka Dot Parlor vintage-to-hipster women's clothing and a kitschy cornucopia of wooden bow ties, 10-cent Squirrel Nut Zippers candies, and plastic donkeys that smoke tiny cigarettes in sleepy Bristol Borough in October. The purple-haired, irrepressibly upbeat Kasmer was gambling that Mill Street, the once-bustling, long-battered main drag in the ancient Delaware River town, would somehow spring to life and support a boutique for "everyone with a sense of humor and a little edge," she said. Last week, she proudly pointed to a black corset-back tank top held together with red ribbon laces and said she had only one in each size, small to 3X, because, "I don't want you to see another girl walking down the street in the same black corset with the same red ribbon." Before this year, there was no danger of that ever happening on Mill Street. Despite having the waterfront Lions Park, a sycamore-lined riverbank trail, spring-to-autumn gazebo concerts, and Irish, Italian, Puerto Rican, and African American festivals, Bristol Borough's business district was dormant for decades. Too many vacant storefronts on Mill Street gave silent testimony to persistent hard times. And then, suddenly this year, Bristol Borough's ship came in. Twice. In February, it beat out 14,000 other small towns in 50 states to win a $500,000 makeover in Deluxe Corp.'s "Small Business Revolution: Main Street" contest. The beleaguered business district is already showing signs of what half a million dollars in professional physical and marketing revitalization can do. Bill Pezza, a tireless Bristol Borough booster, and Raising the Bar, his nonprofit civic organization, got out the online vote to deliver the little-engine-that-could victory. Then, just before July Fourth weekend, the long-awaited, $3 million floating day-docks and new fishing pier opened, a godsend for boaters and merchants alike. Bristol's riverbank breakwater of big boulders protects the town from flooding but also prevented boaters from cruising in and coming ashore for meals and shopping. The 25 new day-docks government-funded, privately maintained by Bristol's Grundy Foundation, and free to all boaters have been bustling, as they were on a recent weekend. Wearing his weathered Eagles cap and sitting near his Eagles cooler, Robert Dorr from East Torresdale in Philly relaxed in his 19-foot Maxum Runabout. Dorr, who has cruised the Delaware River for 13 years, was awaiting his family's return with Mexican takeout from the Mill Street Cantina. "Before these docks opened, there was nowhere to tie up in Bristol," he said. "We've been coming here every weekend since they opened. Ain't nothing like being on the river." Rich Cordisco, a Bristol native, tied up his 31-foot SunRay Corsaro, the good ship "Suck It Up!" "It sucks up gas and I'm always telling my kids to 'Suck it up!' so it works for me" and said he and his party of five were headed ashore for dinner and drinks. "Before these docks, we would just drop anchor in the river and listen to the music," Cordisco said as a local rock band played oldies in the gazebo. He said he was happy to finally be able to come ashore in his hometown after a day cruise on the river. "Stores would come here and last a year and close down," Cordisco said. Now, he said, they have a chance to survive. At Polka Dot Parlor, Kasmer agreed, saying, "Winning the Small Business Revolution contest put the wind underneath our wings and we're flying now." She looked around at her wildly colorful women's clothing. "I help women set up outside their comfort zone," she said. "I want you to have an 'Aha!' moment when you walk in." Talk about "Aha!" moments. Bucks County's oldest town settled by English Quakers in 1681 and claiming the county's first post office, courthouse, public school, paved road, mill, and African American church now has the Noble Earth wellness teahouse offering so-21st-century kombucha, and the equally hip Calm Waters Coffee Roasters. Already attracting a loyal following, the newcomers seem to signal better days ahead for Bristol Borough, where, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, population has declined since 2010 from 9,726 to 9,534, the median household income has fallen from $47,693 to $41,701, and the poverty rate among families with related children under 18 has increased from 13.6 percent to 15.9 percent. The 2017 main street makeover is too new for statistical data, but Bristol Borough Manager James Dillon said business owners were reporting 300 percent sales increases, and Bruce Lowe, co-owner of the waterfront's historic King George II Inn, established in 1681, said the influx of weekend sailors in his dining areas had been "extraordinary." "A younger crowd, the 21-to-30 set, is coming into town," said Megan Hems, who has co-owned Hems Truck & Auto service center with her husband, Roland, for 10 years. "We're getting trendy down here." Hems credits Bristol's rebirth to the makeover and technical advice from Deluxe Corp., a national check-printing and small-business consulting firm. She said the first-prize package included a personal session with Robert Herjavec, star of Shark Tank, the reality show where self-made millionaires give wannabe entrepreneurs the chance to realize their business dreams. "I sat down with Robert Herjavec and he wasn't a shark that day," Hems said. "During our interview, I kept going back to the fact that I only have a degree in psychology, and I must've said it too many times. Finally, he said, 'Wait! Stop! I only have a degree in literature. But I'm not Robert the literature degree. I'm Robert the business owner.'" Hems said Herjavec told her to remember she had 10 years' experience in the auto and truck repair business so she should stop putting herself down with the just-a-psych-degree talk. "He told me, 'Own it, lady!' " Hems said, "That was an 'Aha!' moment for me." TV crews are filming Hems, Kasmer, and other Bristol Borough entrepreneurs for an eight-part Small Business Revolution Main Street Hulu TV series, co-hosted by Herjavec, to be shown in September. Hems said Bristol Borough "has always been fighting this stereotype that it's a poor area. Finally, there's good news to celebrate here. We can rival New Hope and Yardley. We can be New Hope. We can be Yardley. We have the same waterfront." Bristol native Robert Angelaccio, for 14 years chef and owner of Annabella's Italian Restaurant on Radcliffe Street, just off Mill Street, said he hoped his little town's big infusion of new visitors show up in his remodeled dining room to eat the home cooking he learned from his mother, the late Annabella, whose photos grace the walls. "We were decently busy until about 2008, which began a long stretch of trying to stay alive," Angelaccio said. "At one point, it was down to just me in the kitchen. I guess somebody else would have closed the doors, but that's just not in my makeup." Now, he said, more people are coming into town from the boats that are finally able to dock along the waterfront. "There are new businesses on Mill Street instead of empty buildings," Angelaccio said. "There's more foot traffic than I've seen in a long time. People are coming into town wanting to see what all the scuttlebutt's about. We're still not there yet, but people are interested in Bristol again." Last Friday, the sequel to Al Gore's 2006 An Inconvenient Truth, An Inconvenient Sequel, was released in theaters across the country. As the film reminds us, scientific evidence demonstrates that climate change poses an extraordinary threat to human well-being around the globe. In light of President Trump's announcement that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, leaders in civil society can no longer remain on the sidelines. College and university presidents are uniquely positioned to educate and to advocate for an informed discussion about our collective options. For this reason, we must act. Along with leaders of 125 cities, nine states, 902 businesses and investors, and 183 colleges and universities, I recently signed an open letter committing to concrete emissions reductions that align with the Paris agreement goals. These institutional commitments to reducing emissions are crucial, but to be effective, they must be part of a more comprehensive strategy that works toward systemic change. Putting a price on carbon has the potential to create meaningful policy and behavioral changes nationwide. More than 30 college and university presidents the Leadership Circle have announced our public support for the "Put a Price on It" campaign, an initiative that advocates for carbon pricing as a fair, achievable, and powerful policy response to climate change. Carbon pricing is premised on the belief that putting a price on carbon will incentivize consumers to reduce their carbon footprints. The Leadership Circle, early adopters of the campaign, have signed a letter calling upon elected officials to act decisively in the face of climate change by putting a price on carbon emissions. This letter signals a commitment on the part of higher education leaders to take a strong stance on solutions to climate change for the good of our students, institutions, and communities. Climate scientists have argued that in order to mitigate some of the most extreme impacts of climate change, we must keep global average temperatures from rising over two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Aligning the global economy with this goal will require a transformation of our electric, heating, transportation, industrial, and food systems. A price on carbon is a fair, feasible, and powerful way to make successful decarbonization possible. It offers a market-based solution that has the bipartisan support of prominent public figures, including James A. Baker III, Jerry Brown, Al Gore, and George Shultz. Carbon pricing is a policy mechanism that has broad support in the climate justice movement and is gaining traction across the country. Rather than promoting any particular version of carbon pricing, the "Put a Price on It" campaign leaves questions of implementation open for debate: What are the possible consequences of the existing carbon pricing proposals? What model would best serve low-income families and under-resourced communities? Which is the most likely to garner the consensus necessary to pass into legislation? How can we best balance a predictable market price with a predictable emissions reduction path? Without strong policies to address climate change at the state and national levels, campus sustainability alone cannot preserve a livable world for future generations. I am proud to join the other presidents in the Leadership Circle in advocating for carbon pricing, and I hope that our statement will encourage others to take a stand alongside us. Together, we can demonstrate to our elected officials the political will necessary to enact effective policy to combat climate change. We have a moral duty to care for the conditions of life on Earth and a civic responsibility to demand action from our government. Valerie Smith is president of Swarthmore College. president@swarthmore.edu "I never knew there was affirmative action for terrorists!" Coming from the Ramallah Friends School, a Quaker institution that has been in Palestine since the 1800s, I had not expected such remarks as a freshman at Swarthmore College, particularly considering our Quaker ethos. Overall, I loved my college experience, and such challenging moments ultimately shaped me into a stronger person who vowed never to be silenced again. After earning a doctorate at Harvard and postdoc at Brown, I am back at Swarthmore, as a professor in the Peace and Conflict Studies program. One of my closest friends at Swarthmore was a Jewish classmate. He supported me after the "terrorist" comment and on many occasions. I broke bread with his family during Jewish holidays. I was a groomsman in his wedding. This dear friend had graduated from Friends' Central School, so when Friends invited me to speak in February, I did not hesitate to accept. The invitation came from teachers Ariel Eure and Layla Helwa, who were advising the Peace and Equality in Palestine club, which was started by a Jewish student. I prepared an uplifting presentation, tailored to a high school audience, about Israeli and Palestinian heroes of mine who advocate for nonviolence, human rights, equality, and coexistence in Israel/Palestine. I also planned to speak about my experiences at Seeds of Peace, a camp in Maine for teenagers from conflict zones, including Israeli and Palestinian youth. Several days before the talk, Friends Head of School Craig Sellers decided to cancel the event. He had received complaints from some parents who objected to the school's hosting a Palestinian speaker. As a Quaker, I am deeply committed, as a matter of faith and practice, to pacifism and seeing the light of God in every human being. Thus, it came as a shock that a Quaker school was backpedaling in its invitation to a Quaker speaker who is a professor of peace studies at a historically Quaker college. After 65 students and the two teachers silently walked out of Quaker meeting for worship in protest of the cancellation, the school suspended the teachers. Though this was all covered extensively in the media, I remained silent. But now, according to Mark Schwartz, the teachers' attorney, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is investigating the treatment of the teachers, and I believe it is time to break that silence. The media portrayed this controversy as a "Jewish vs. Palestinian" dispute, ignoring the many Jewish Friends' Central community members who disagreed with the administration and supported the teachers. And I was disheartened by the anti-Semitic responses to this coverage. We must unequivocally disavow and dismantle all forms of anti-Semitism. And we must recognize the heterogeneity of Jewish voices and listen deeply to progressive Jewish individuals and communities who are asking us not to perpetuate the false notion that the most reactionary voices speak on their behalf. It is possible, and imperative, to simultaneously critique Israeli policies while working against anti-Semitism. Jewish progressives have modeled that beautifully. Refusing to recognize this blinds us to Jewish-Palestinian solidarity, with which I have had intimate experience. That solidarity is fundamental to achieving peace, security, rights, and justice for all the inhabitants of Israel/Palestine and ensuring that American involvement in the conflict is as ethical as possible. Quaker schools, like many institutions, are not immune from the broader political environment in the United States. We must all address stereotyping and marginalization, including that which stems from anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia. As a gay Palestinian Christian, I am accustomed to my personhood being dismissed in discourses on the conflict, yet I understand the inextricably interlinked nature of all struggles for dignity. That is why, after receiving an apology and reinvitation from Friends' Central, I graciously declined and explained that I could not, in good conscience, speak there until the teachers were reinstated. Though there has been an outpouring of love and support from the Quaker world to the former Friends teachers and myself, there have been frustrating moments. I tried to respond to a fellow Quaker, for example, who believes the fired teachers' identities as queer women of color are irrelevant to how they were treated. I patiently ask such individuals how they would feel if they were outside of the proper Quaker decision-making process stripped from their workplace and community overnight and then had to deal with unemployment, stigmatization, and all the media coverage and misinformation that resulted from acting upon caring for their students. The most difficult moment for me since the talk's cancellation came after speaking at an American Friends Service Committee event. A Friends' Central student approached me, sharing that she had come imagining a "monster" based on what she was told about Palestinians. She was genuinely surprised to see that was not the case and felt comfortable approaching me. It took a lot for me to restrain my tears. That student and the many people who have responded to Friends' Central embody our precious Quaker testimonies. The former Friends teachers are an inspiration, and I proudly stand with Ariel Eure and Layla Helwa. They are all part of what makes America great: building robust institutions and communities, including faith-based movements, to affirm and protect pluralism and democracy in the face of creeping authoritarianism, regardless of where it emanates from on the political spectrum. Quakers know very well that our deep silence grounds us spiritually and it is from the depth of that silence that we are able to speak truth to power with love and compassion. Writing this piece was an attempt to bring together prayer and activism, the inward and outward, silence and the breaking of silence. Sa'ed Atshan is a professor at Swarthmore College. You can reach him at satshan1@swarthmore.edu. I was very fortunate to return again this summer. This time, The Planetary Society had grown once more with the addition of Matt Renninger. Jason explained to me Matt was to be the Senior Government Relations Manager, and was a former staffer on the Hill. He was there to give us the connections and know-how of taking the research Jason did and putting it into use in forming comprehensive policy in Congress. Throughout the summer I got to know Matt well, and from him I would learn an entirely different set of skills and information that I had never considered. Within a week of knowing Matt, he was kind and trusting enough to allow me access to his calendar. He told me I was welcome to attend anything I saw and that all I had to do was ask. I didnt know what to expect from his schedule but I soon discovered Matt was a busy man. Just before I had arrived to Washington, The Planetary Society had released its white paper, Mars in Retrograde, and the advocacy team was in full swing to get it into the hands of anyone who would listen on Capitol Hill. Taking Matt up on his offer, I asked to sit in on any of the next dozen meetings he had that week. Matt and I met on an early morning outside the Rayburn Office building, one of the office buildings for House Representatives, on a typical Washington, D.C. summer day, hot and muggy. We went to three meetings, back-to-back-to-back. By the end of those three meetings it was clear that Matt was an expert. He shared the conclusions of the white paper with grace, he knew every building like the back of his hand, and he stopped numerous times to talk to former colleagues and friends nearly everywhere we went. The Planetary Society had scored another good representative; that was certain. I made it my goal to put myself under his wing and learn as much as I possibly could. Throughout the summer I attended many more events, and as I did I soaked up the ins and outs of space policy. I attended House budget hearings, meetings with offices in the House and Senate, lunches with seemingly endless intelligent and interesting people, and worked on small projects, continued the research from last summer, and more. Every day I spent with Jason and Matt was different and informative, and from it I gained perspective. I began to understand that three things mattered when it came to achieving your goals in Washington. The first was that it is crucial to your pitch to have sensible and holistic solutions to the problems you are presenting. The second was that it mattered to be strategic in whom you present your pitch to and when you present it. The third was that the way to hearts and minds of the people making decisions was through the benefit of their constituents. Our Congressional representatives listen a little bit harder when a member of their district reaches out and speaks to them about the issues dear to them. That struck me, and it made me think, what do I believe in? When would I ever get a chance like this again to talk to those who represent me? One afternoon early during the summer, Jason and I attended the House Subcommittee on Space and Technology Budget Hearing with acting NASA administrator Robert Lightfoot, where I learned the FY18 presidents budget request included defunding NASAs Office of Education. The Office of Education, among other things, houses the National Space Grant Consortium and Fellowship Program (NSGCFP). For those unaware, the NSGCFP, according to their website, has the project goal of funding education, research and public engagement projects through a national network of university-based Space Grant consortia. Additionally, they had awarded me the grants I needed to make my internship with The Planetary Society these last two summers a reality. I was heartbroken to hear that a program that had given me so much was threatened. I talked to Matt and Jason about my worries and what could be done. The response was simple: Go tell your representatives. It was an unnerving prospect. Doors away, national headlines were being made. Healthcare and budget deals dominated the news cycle. Would my efforts actually be heard? I kept the idea in the back of mind for a couple weeks, unsure of what I should do. That was when we had a breakthrough in the white paper. We had achieved getting a new start for a Mars telecommunications satellite in the House Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations base bill. It was no sure thing, but it was a huge step forward. It was an exciting time, and we celebrated by starting work on the Senate. Theres never time to stop and pat yourself on the back in the nations capital. It reminded me of one my favorite quotes, attributed to many, but true none the less: Decisions are made by those who show up. The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel We have more newsletters Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Get the stories that matter to our community straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter Locals have finally secured the future of a popular youth centre in an effort that saw them raise more than 40,000. The people of Ernesettle rallied together to save the initiative, known as SPACE Shot, after its funding was cut by the National Lottery earlier this year. Now the man behind the centre, Richard Marsh, has spoken to The Herald about the importance of SPACE Shot and the communitys fight to save it. What is SPACE Shot? (Image: Millicent Cooke) SPACE Shot is a youth project that supports young people aged between 10 and 19 in Ernesettle. Over the past three years it has helped cut anti-social behaviour in the area by a third. The project, which is run by the charity Barefoot, offers a safe space and three open access sessions a week. Youth workers Jon Dingle and Claire Best support local kids with a range of issues including mental health, drugs and alcohol, employment, safe sex and teenage pregnancy. Why was the funding for the centre cut? (Image: Millicent Cooke) In April 2017, the National Lottery decided to withdraw its funding to the project. A Big Lottery Fund spokesperson told The Herald: "Big Lottery Fund grants are highly sought after, and as such it is a competitive process, with demand exceeding the money available. "Unfortunately, this means that difficult decisions have to be made as we are simply unable to fund all worthwhile projects we receive applications from." How was the centre saved? (Image: Millicent Cooke) Richard told The Herald that the community immediately pulled together after receiving the dreaded news. He said: The initial feeling on receiving the letter was obviously crushing disappointment. But what do you do? Sit there and feel sorry for yourselves? No. We were absolutely determined to carry on. He added: Almost immediately that was the attitude and everyone just pulled together. All the staff, our supporters, members of the board, locals and young people. (Image: Millicent Cooke) The group started with a Crowdfunder for 5,000 and then set themselves a colossal target of 35,000. Along with the local community, there were also many supporters outside the area. Plymouth City Council donated more than 17,000 through the council's City Change Fund, which funds local projects through a partnership with Crowdfunder. Former Lord Mayor Councillor Pauline Murphy donated a further 3,000 and Councillors Mark Lowry, Peter Smith and John Riley all added 500 from their community grants. Councillor Terri Beer, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, said: SPACE Shot is so very important to the community of Ernesettle and I'm so glad that as a council we have been able to support them financially so that their sterling work continues into the future. (Image: Millicent Cooke) Other local supporters included Plutus PowerGen, who donated 5,000, Plymouth Marjon University, who donated 800 and Plymouth Citybus, who donated 500. A spokesperson for Plymouth Citybus, said: We are always on hand to support local community projects on our routes. With our OrangeFlash buses serving Ernesettle and being the transport provider to the area this project stuck out. Community and being a good community partner is one of our key values at Citybus, plus it is key we safeguard youth projects in the city, making sure we look after the future. How will the money be used? (Image: Millicent Cooke) Richard explained that the hard-earned cash will be used in a variety of ways. He said: The money will go towards many things including accounts costs, utility bills, insurances, and any other necessary spending. It also covers our salaries, so it is four part-time members of staff, myself, Julie, and our two youth workers Jon and Claire. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Make sure you're staying in (or going out, when we can) in style with our FREE weekly newsletter covering the best of food, drink, music, theatre, TV and more As a new mum it can sometimes be a struggle to find a welcoming public place to breastfeed an infant. In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week we've published a list of venues and organisations across the city who have lent their support to breastfeeding mums via Plymouth Latch-On, a city-based breastfeeding group. The 42 companies below have been kite-marked by the group as having a positive attitude to breastfeeding and welcome women to come and feed there. World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 7 supports the benefits that breastfeeding can bring to people all over the planet. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is calling on advocates and activists, decision-makers and celebrants across the globe to forge new and purposeful partnerships as part of the week. The Latch-On kitemarked business list Al's Kitchen Brickfields Burger King The Cabin Childcare centre Curious Kittens Nursery Dartmoor Zoological Park Debenhams Eva's World First Buses First Stop Fort Stamford Il Pezzettino Irene's Pantry Jakes Limited Jasmin's Jennycliff Cafe Jump Meet and Eat Cafe Monty's Mothercare Mount Edgcumbe House Mount Wise swimming pool National Trust National Marine Aquarium Plymbridge Nursery School and Children's Centre Plymouth Arts Centre Plymouth CityBus Plymouth Gin Plymouth Life Centre Plympton Pool Rock A Tots Sainsbury's Starbucks St Paul's Preschool Stroll-on-baby Tinside Lido Tesco The Stannary Court Theatre Royal Plymouth The Gog and Magog The Royal Oak Waterstones Welcome Hall Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Want all the latest cases and top crime stories from Plymouth? Sign up for our new email updates on Crime & Punishment A Plympton mum has spoken of the terrifying moment she and her two young children scrambled for safety while a man was stabbed at Plymouth Railway Station. Nicola Walker and her children, Eloise and Austin, hid in the WH Smith store as the drama unfolded at about 10am this morning. Police have confirmed that a man in his 40s has died following the incident. A murder investigation is now under way. (Image: Penny Cross) The Walkers arrived at the station looking forward to a family day trip. Mrs Walker said: "We arrived at the station just before 10am and met my family there. "We were going to go to Paignton and I popped into WHSmiths with my four-year-old daughter and son, who is two next month. As we were coming out of Smiths a lady was running towards the barrier saying people are being stabbed outside and a commotion was happening at the door." Mrs Walker ran back into the shop with her children and crouched behind some shelves. She said: "Another lady with her son ducked behind a notice board and we said let's get somewhere safe. "We rushed into Smiths again telling some other people walking out what was happening and asked the man on duty in the shop to shut the shutters. It was about five minutes before it was apparent it was safe and just an incident with a few people rather than people being stabbed randomly. The police arrived fairly quickly and station staff were trying to help a man who was bleeding on the floor. (Image: Penny Cross) Earlier today police confirmed a man has died following the incident. Speaking at the scene, Chief Superintendent Dave Thorne, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "Unfortunately the man has died at hospital despite treatment, so we are dealing with this as a murder inquiry." The attack followed a dispute between two men. Ch Supt Thorne added: All we know is they have turned up here at the railway station earlier this morning. "Some kind of dispute has taken place and then an attack has followed." (Image: Penny Cross) British Transport Police, which is investigating alongside Devon and Cornwall Police, said the two men are believed to be known to each other. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Paul Langley said: This was an attack on a man in broad daylight at a busy station in Devon. "We are now working to identify the man and inform his family. At this time, it is believed the two men knew each other and had an argument at the station, which resulted in one of the men assaulting the other." (Image: Penny Cross) Police are urging anyone who witnessed what happed to come forward. DCI Langley added: We are now asking anyone who may have been at Plymouth station this morning and witnessed what happened to come forward and speak to us. "Any information, no matter how small, could prove vital in our enquiries. Together with Devon and Cornwall Police, we will have extra officers in the area in the coming days, so please do speak to them if you have any concerns at all. "Thankfully, assaults such as this are very rare and we are doing everything to establish what has happened. (Image: Penny Cross) A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He was initially taken to hospital for treatment to a hand injury. You can pass information to police by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 159 of 08/08/2017. Alternatively, you can ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Vermont State Trooper Dan Marcellus was honored at Fenway Park Saturday night. The trooper has terminal cancer. (Photo: ABC22 Screenshot) Saturday night was Vermont Day at Fenway Park. Vermont State Police trooper, Dan Marcellus, was there with his family to throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Nine months ago, the 14 year VSP trooper was diagnosed with a grade four brain cancer. His speech was limited, so his wife Jessica spoke to Local 22 & Local 44 on his behalf. "We're here and it's amazing. And it's pretty amazing to have Dan be able to take his little boy to his first Red Sox game," said Marcellus. Marcellus adds recently, doctors told them they were not optimistic about Dan's prognosis, MyChamplainValley.com reports. "He has been doing pretty well until a few weeks ago, and now I think we might be getting near the end soon," said Marcellus. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Two days after a mosque in Minnesota was bombed, officials for the religious center are wondering why Donald Trump has yet to utter a single syllable about the attack. As BuzzFeed reported on Monday, the mosques executive director, Mohamed Omar, is asking Trump to visit the center and denounce the attack even though the President of the United States should volunteer to do that on his own. He is the president of this country, and this happened to us, Omar said. He has to come here and at least express his feelings and say this is bad. Another official, Asad Zaman of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, said this, according to BuzzFeed: We are wondering why President Trump has not tweeted about this. He seems to want to tweet about security and terror issues. As Zaman noted in his remarks, Trump has never shied away from exploiting terrorist attacks, sometimes even as they happen. In an earlier tweet this year, the president had no problem attacking Muslims after an attack in Paris. A new radical Islamic terrorist has just attacked in Louvre Museum in Paris. Tourists were locked down. France on edge again. GET SMART U.S. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2017 The difference, of course, between the Minnesota attack and the incidents Trump likes to tweet about is that Muslims were the victim. That doesnt comport with the presidents narrative that all terrorist acts are carried out by Muslims. In Trumps eyes, those who practice Islam couldnt possibly be the victims of such violence, even as anti-Muslim hate crimes continue to be on the rise in the age of Trump. Its also not as if Trump doesnt have the time to release some type of statement about the recent attack. Not only is he currently in the midst of a 17-day vacation in Bedminster, New Jersey, but he unloaded a series of tweets this morning, attacking the media, polls, and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Would it have killed the president to sneak in a tweet about an act of terrorism that occurred over the weekend in Minnesota? For a guy who has fought to ban Muslims from the country and has repeatedly denigrated and isolated those who practice Islam, both at home and abroad, Trumps silence is certainly not surprising. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The New York Times shattered one of Donald Trumps favorite myths on Monday, responding directly to one of the presidents tweets by revealing that it currently has a record number of paid subscribers. The Times said they are extremely proud of their coverage of Trump and that its business is thriving. That is incorrect. NYTs business is thriving. Most ever paid subs: 3.3 million; and growing profit, income and revenues. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/NE5fqu8RVW NYTCo Communications (@NYTimesComm) August 7, 2017 The swift and strong response from the newspaper comes after Trump went on an unhinged Twitter rant early Monday, lashing out at many things but specifically targeting the failing New York Times. How much longer will the failing nytimes, with its big losses and massive unfunded liability (and non-existent sources), remain in business? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 Despite Trumps constant tantrums about The New York Times and its factual coverage of his presidency, it continues to do well. In fact, the more the president whines about the newspaper, the more successful it seems to be. In the age of Trump when the White House shamelessly lies about anything and everything the American people are looking to the media to hold the administration accountable, and the president doesnt like it. Not only is Trump clearly unwilling and unable to do his own job, but he lashes out journalists for doing theirs. 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. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Despite Donald Trumps childish and deeply personal attacks on Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Monday, the Connecticut senator refused to lose focus of the special counsel investigation into Trumps campaigns ties to Russia during last years election. In an interview with MSNBCs Chris Hayes, Sen. Blumenthal a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Trumps Monday morning attacks will not distract him from the investigation. Video: .@SenBlumenthal on Trumps petty Twitter attacks: I wont be distracted by these bullying tweets. pic.twitter.com/DcDFeXjZ7R Sean Colarossi (@SeanColarossi) August 8, 2017 Blumenthal said: I wont be distracted by these bullying tweets. If anything, they strengthen my resolve and determination to work for protecting the special counsel against exactly these tactics of bullying and intimidating, and thats the reason that I have joined with two other Republicans and four of us Democrats in sponsoring bills that would protect the special counsel, require judicial review a three-judge panel who would have to find good cause before Donald Trump could fire Bob Mueller. And there are growing, ominous threats, tweets and warnings that weve seen the world has seen that were heading toward a collision between Bob Mueller and the President of the United States. The Democratic senators renewed commitment to focusing on the Russia investigation and other key issues comes after Trump released several tweets on Monday targeting Blumenthal. Tweets: Interesting to watch Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam con artist! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 Never in U.S.history has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal. He told stories about his Vietnam battles and. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 conquests, how brave he was, and it was all a lie. He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child. Now he judges collusion? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 I think Senator Blumenthal should take a nice long vacation in Vietnam, where he lied about his service, so he can at least say he was there Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 Despite Trumps latest unhinged tantrum, Sen. Blumenthal is clearly not taking the presidents bait or stooping to his level. Instead, the Democrat is digging in his feet and doubling down on the ongoing and increasingly serious investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia and hes working with Republicans to protect Robert Muellers special counsel investigation. The more this president takes to Twitter to bully those running the investigation into his ties to Russia, the more guilty he looks and the more determined those investigating him become. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trump may be enjoying his 17-day vacation to Bedminster, New Jersey, but the American people are clearly not enjoying his presidency. According to a new IBD/TIPP Poll released on Monday, the presidents support is in an utter free fall with just 32 percent of Americans offering their approval of Trumps job so far the worst rating hes received in any poll since taking office. Whats behind his collapse in approval? His own supporters including white men, Midwesterners, Republicans, and high school educated all who are fleeing from team Trump in droves. According to the survey, the presidents low support among Democrats and independents remained steady. More from the poll: Trump lost significant support across the board, but saw big declines among areas of core support, including Republicans, Midwesterners, middle-income families, white men and the high-school educated. The results come in the wake of the Senates failure to repeal ObamaCare, upheavals in the White House staff, the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the election, and the daily beatings administered by the mainstream press. Among Republicans, for example, Trumps approval rating fell from 83% in July to 71% in August. Trumps already low approval ratings remained relatively unchanged among Democrats (4%) and independents (30%). In terms of income, Trump lost the most support from those with household incomes between $30,000 and $50,000. Among this group, Trumps approval rating dropped from 40% in July to 27% in August. Trumps support among white men the one demographic group who approved of Trump dropped from 51% in July to 44% in August. According to RealClearPolitics, the presidents average approval rating now stands at 37.8 percent, and there are no signs that it will stop declining anytime soon. The stunning collapse in Trumps support among his own voters comes on the same day the president took a break from his vacation to fire off 13 tweets throughout the day on Monday. In one post, Trump bragged about his support, saying that his base is far bigger and stronger than ever before. The Trump base is far bigger & stronger than ever before (despite some phony Fake News polling). Look at rallies in Penn, Iowa, Ohio. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017 But like most of Trumps claims especially those made from the comfort of his Twitter page this one is completely false; his support is neither big nor is it strong. With the special counsel investigation escalating and Trumps own incompetence embarrassing and endangering the country on a daily basis, its no longer just Democrats and independents who feel the president is completely unfit its many of the same people who cast a ballot for the grade-schooler-in-chief last fall. Trump will likely continue attacking the media or Democrats in Congress who seek to hold him accountable, but its his own supporters who are now abandoning him. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print By Yeganeh Torbati and Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) U.S. diplomats should sidestep questions from foreign governments on what it would take for the Trump administration to re-engage in the global Paris climate agreement, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters. The cable, sent by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to embassies on Friday, also said diplomats should make clear the United States wants to help other countries use fossil fuels. In the wake of President Donald Trumps announcement in June that the United States would withdraw from the accord, the cable tells diplomats to expect foreign government representatives to ask questions like: Does the United States have a climate change policy? and Is the administration advocating the use of fossil fuels over renewable energy? If asked, for example, What is the process for consideration of re-engagement in the Paris Agreement?, the answer should be vague: We are considering a number of factors. I do not have any information to share on the nature or timing of the process, the cable advises. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the cable. Trump, a Republican, had campaigned on a promise to cancel the Paris deal, saying he believed it would cost the U.S. economy trillions of dollars, while leaving developing nations such as China unfettered. In a sharp difference with the previous administration of President Barack Obama, a Democrat, Trump has several times called climate change a hoax. In June, Trump left the door open to re-engagement if terms improve. The United States will start to negotiate, and we will see if we can make a deal thats fair, he said. The State Department guidance clarifies that right now, there are no plans to seek to re-negotiate or amend the text of the Paris Agreement. But it adds: The President is sincere in his commitment to look for a path to re-engage that takes into account his concerns for U.S. economic growth and energy security. The Paris accord, agreed by nearly 200 countries in 2015, seeks to limit planetary warming by curbing global emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that scientists believe drive global warming. The United States, under the Obama administration, had promised to cut emissions as much as 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. Separate from the diplomatic cable, the Trump administration is reviewing a draft report written by scientists across 13 federal government agencies that shows the effects of climate change pose dire, near-term threats to the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency declined to comment on the draft, which The New York Times published on Monday. The report puts the White House in the awkward position of either clearing the reports findings or editing them. CLEAN AND EFFICIENT FOSSIL FUELS The diplomatic guidance makes clear that the United States intends to attend global climate summits during the prolonged process of withdrawing from the Paris deal, to protect U.S. interests. The next summit is in November. A U.S. official said a major U.S. priority in these talks would be to beat back attempts to have separate standards in the guidance on emissions cuts for rich and poor nations long a sticking point in negotiations. Theres certainly nothing in the policies of this administration that would make us think that we should be acting differently, the official said on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal memo. The cable also anticipates questions over why the United States has changed its policy to make it easier for global development banks such as the World Bank to finance coal-fired power projects. In 2013 the Obama administration said the United States would oppose most coal projects, guidance since altered by the Trump administration. The new principles will allow the (United States) the flexibility to approve, as appropriate, a broad range of power projects, including the generation of power using clean and efficient fossil fuels and renewable energy, the cable said. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and Valerie Volcovici; editing by Rich Valdmanis and Grant McCool) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The weakening of Trumps base of support can be profoundly seen in the departure of Rust Belt white college educated voters away from the president. White college educated voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are all turning away from Trump. CNN reported on state data provided by Gallup: The most striking trend is the erosion of Trumps standing among college-educated white voters. Many of these voters have been ambivalent about Trump from the outset. In the general election he carried only 48% of them, down sharply from Mitt Romneys 56% in 2012. Yet, aided by widespread doubts about Clinton among these voters, Trump still bested her with them in nine of these 13 states while tying her in another (Pennsylvania). .. But in the Gallup results, Trumps approval rating among college-educated whites has declined relative to his 2016 vote in all 13 states. In seven of those states, his approval rating stands at least 10 points lower than his vote a list topped by North Carolina and Florida (both 19 points lower), Georgia (18 points lower), Ohio (15 points), Virginia (12 points), and Michigan and Minnesota (11 points each.) His approval rating among these white-collar whites reaches above 50% only in Texas and Georgia, and exceeds 45% in just two other states, Nevada and Arizona. In seven states, his approval among these well-educated white voters has tumbled to 40 percent or less. (That includes four states essential to his victory: North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.) The data reveals that Trump won, not on the strength of any support, but because of the doubts that Republicans and the Russians were able to put in the minds of voters about Hillary Clinton. When the Clinton factor is removed, and Trump is forced to stand on his own, he is the least popular political figure in the history public opinion polling. Trump and his White House have been making blatant appeals to white college educated voters in these states. Trump and the White House thought the transgender military ban was a great idea. Trumps support for RAISE Act immigration crackdown was supposed to be an appeal to these voters. It didnt. As the President is losing college educated whites in the Rust Belt, he is also dipping with non-college educated whites in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Trump won the White House by 78,000 votes in three states, but in all three of the states, his support among non-college educated whites has dropped 7-10 points. We are watching the wheels come off of a presidency that was held together with tweets, Russian election attacks, and duct tape. The Rust Belt is leaving Trump, and if this trend continues, hell be a dead president walking by 2020. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trump receives two folders of screen grabs, transcripts, and pictures of himself looking strong each day as the White House using the communications office to compile propaganda that makes Trump feel better. Vice News reported: Twice a day since the beginning of the Trump administration, a special folder is prepared for the president. The first document is prepared around 9:30 a.m. and the follow-up, around 4:30 p.m. Former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and former Press Secretary Sean Spicer both wanted the privilege of delivering the 20-to-25-page packet to President Trump personally, White House sources say. These sensitive papers, described to VICE News by three current and former White House officials, dont contain top-secret intelligence or updates on legislative initiatives. Instead, the folders are filled with screenshots of positive cable news chyrons (those lower-third headlines and crawls), admiring tweets, transcripts of fawning TV interviews, praise-filled news stories, and sometimes just pictures of Trump on TV looking powerful. This White House has gone to extreme lengths to try to lift Trumps depression over his failing presidency. The White House staged a cabinet meeting where all the members of Trumps cabinet heaped praise on the President and told him what an honor it was to serve him. There have been multiple reports over Trumps first 200 days in office of the President being depressed and longing to return to his life in New York City. Last week, Trump called the White House a dump. Officials from previous administrations have called the need for Trump to have a twice daily propaganda folder abnormal, but the behavior of those around demonstrates why removing Trump via 25th Amendment is never going to happen. Trump is surrounded by enablers in the Republican congressional leadership and the White House. This president is so mentally broken that he requires looking pictures of himself to feel strong. Donald Trump isnt fit to be president, but as long as Republicans maintain control of Congress and continue to enable him, America will be stuck with him until at least 2020. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Taipei, Aug. 8 (CNA) Although home prices in Taiwan declined slightly over the past few quarters and are likely to fall by 1 percent for the whole of this year, most people in the country still cannot afford to buy a home due to a high housing price-to-income ratio, according to a research report issued Tuesday. What is skyTran? The personal rapid transit system uses proprietary software to run a network of small, jet-like vehicles on a magnetized track thats suspended about 20 feet above ground. The electric system is estimated to cost about $15 million per mile to implement, which is a fraction of the cost of building roads and other types of transit systems, according to Bill Ferguson, skyTrans vice president for North American development. The company expects to build its first system after the testing period in Israel in mid-2018. Its now in the process of conducting feasibility studies in nine locations around the country, but Ferguson couldnt specify where. It was probably just a matter of time before this happened, but when I heard that Just Rite Market was closing the end of this month, I felt very sad. Still another Rochester landmark is falling victim to changing times changes that are not favoring small business owners. Just Rite has been a fixture in the neighborhood for decades, even providing the late Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun with steaks. That quirky little building on Sixth Avenue Southwest is a mother lode of memories for thousands of folks who shopped there not just for essentials like bread and milk, but for their meats. Holiday hams, turkeys and prime rib roasts came from there. Original owner William Just opened its doors in 1946, just after World War II. During those early years and well through the 50s, there were nearly 50 neighborhood groceries scattered around town, true mom-and-pop operations. Then, in the '60s, the big boy supermarkets started coming to town, offering more varieties at cheaper prices. For small business owners, that proved to be a challenge, one that eventually closed nearly all of them, leaving Just Rite the survivor. ADVERTISEMENT In its 70 years there have been just three owners: the senior Just, his son Jack, and Pat Schulte, the current owner. Schulte's history with Just Rite goes back to his high school years at Lourdes from 1969 until he graduated in 1973. "I loved working there," he said. He did it all, stocking shelves, carrying out groceries, being the cashier and eventually working behind the meat counter boning and grinding meats. Then came a stint in the Navy in San Diego, and a computer job there. Returning home for a Lourdes reunion, he approached Jack Just about selling the market. Just was adamant: No. Schulte, never one to give up, went back several times during the week, finally convincing Just that it was a good time to sell. A bird in the hand. The year was 1994. Since then, Schulte's wife Sandra and children Kristina and Matthew have been involved as well. His goal right from the start was to keep it small, going back to advice that William Just's father had given him when he first opened: "Keep it small. A smaller store will always look slightly crowded and will tempt people passing by to come in to see what they might be missing." Its reputation right from the beginning was the meat counter at the back. Customers came from all over Rochester, including nearby towns. In fact, sales there made up half of the business. I've especially liked their ground beef, which Schulte explains they ground fresh every day using all solid muscle meat, no pre-ground trim. In recent years, Schulte was also known for his lunchtime grilling, which quickly became a tradition for neighbors, students, visitors and Mayo personnel. This happens in front of the store on Wednesdays and Fridays, while Thursdays you'll find him in front of St.John's Church. He starts at 11 a.m. and continues until he either runs out or everyone has been taken care of. Some days he serves as many as 160. Big sellers were his prime rib sandwich, brats, and a variety of hamburgers. This, too, will be coming to an end. ADVERTISEMENT So what does the future hold for him? "I've got half-finished projects at home that need tending to," Schulte said. "And we are looking for a little cabin up north that needs some TLC. We'll be leaving Rochester when we find it." Highlights of his years here? "Definitely the customers. I might not remember all of their names, but I definitely know what they eat." Rochester Public Schools officials say they anticipated at least part of the decline shown in Monday's release of Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment scores. A new reading curriculum for elementary school students adopted during the 2016-17 school year was expected to cause an initial setback, though officials expect a quick rebound. Other than that, the Rochester results were disappointing, said Superintendent Michael Munoz. He added, "We also understand that test scores are just one piece of the puzzle to understand how well our students are doing." The schools' test scores dipped below the state average in reading, math and science this year. The 2017 MCA scores, a statewide assessment used to measure student proficiency in reading, math and science, were released by the Minnesota Department of Education on Monday. The results showed RPS student math and reading scores were slightly lower than last year, and science scores saw a 4 percent drop. ADVERTISEMENT Proficiency on the assessment is measured by the number of students who "meet" or "exceed" state standards, according to MDE. Compared to the state average: Science proficiency in Rochester is 7.2 percent below, with 46.7 percent of students proficient. Reading is 2.6 percent below, with 57.5 percent of students proficient. Math was 4.3 percent below the state average, with 54.3 percent of students proficient. Dips below the state average Scores that fell below the state average echo student performances on the assessment last year . But Munoz said one of the drops didn't come as a big surprise to the district. RPS anticipated reading scores would see some decline because of a new curriculum that was adopted during the 2016-17 school year. ADVERTISEMENT The new curriculum the Lucy Calkins for grades kindergarten through second, and C.I.A., or "Collect, Interpret, Apply," for grades three through five likely will cause an initial setback. "I think any time you adopt a new reading curriculum and you're training in the teachers as they're delivering that instruction, you're probably going to see a little bit of a drop," Munoz said. "This year is expected to be better." For math instruction, the district is still conducting a two-year curriculum review, and hopes to bring a recommendation of which curriculum to purchase to the school board this spring. The district is also considering purchasing a software program to help teachers more easily get, and analyze, data on students. Since this time last year, RPS has been considering purchasing software that would act as a "one-stop shop" for all district data including test scores, discipline data and attendance data. "We have all that data, but it's all in different locations," Munoz said. "What we're trying to find is a program that can pull of the data from the different places into one place." This would allow teachers to consider factors like attendance and office referrals when looking at grades and achievement on assessments. "So you can look at not only the achievement, but different factors that may contribute to that all in one place," Munoz said. Achievement gap persists ADVERTISEMENT Though the achievement gap remains between white students and students of color at RPS, the district pointed to American Indian, Asian and black students, who scored above the state averages for those populations in math and reading. Munoz said the district's equity work, which largely stems from a finding of discipline disparities, will continue not only for discipline, but also for academics. This year, the district is working with Sharroky Hollie, an assistant professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, who is training teachers in the school district on "culturally responsive classrooms," an approach to teaching that helps teachers understand the culture of their students. It also focuses on building a relationship with kids, and bringing activities that are relevant to them into the classroom, Munoz said. He thinks it will help with both behavior and academics. This week, the district will hold a two-day "data retreat" where school leaders will gather to look at the assessment data and create plans to address where the weaknesses are in each building. "There's a lot of work our staff is doing, but we understand there's still a lot of work we have to do, and when the school year starts we'll roll up the sleeves and get after it," Munoz said. Mayo Clinic retained the top spot in U.S. News & World Report's 2017-18 Best Hospital rankings, but the annual report included a historic first that gave Mayo officials another reason to celebrate. Mayo's Rochester facility earned the coveted No. 1 ranking for the second straight year and the third time in four years. This year, Mayo officials also celebrated out west as the Phoenix campus finished No. 20 in a report that examined more than 4,500 medical centers across the country. It's the first time in the 28-year history of the U.S. News rankings that Mayo has placed more than one campus on the Honor Roll, and the first time any Arizona facility has landed in the Top 20. "The key is this is all about the patients," Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy said. "We have the best staff in the world. We take this very seriously, and we're not going to rest on our achievements." While the Phoenix campus continues its rise up the ranks, Mayo's flagship campus in Minnesota was again recognized for its "breadth of excellence," according to U.S. News. It was ranked within the Top 7 in 15 of 16 specialties, including No. 1 in six different areas geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, GI and GI surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, and neurology and neurosurgery. It also finished No. 2 in four other specialities: orthopedics, pulmonology, urology, and cardiology and heart surgery. ADVERTISEMENT Those highlights allowed Mayo to again easily outdistance its highly regarded national competition. Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts General and UCSF Medical Center rounded out the Top 5. Noseworthy said Mayo actually finished closer to a perfect score than it did to the Cleveland Clinic, which came in at No. 2; the final numbers weren't yet available to the public. "The 50-point spread between our closest peer group that was (tightly grouped) at No. 2-4 was what really jumped out at me," Noseworthy said. "That really shows the array of excellence across a wide range of care." U.S. News tweaked its ranking formula this year, causing a seven-day delay as officials pored over the data to ensure the list was accurate. The rankings remain focused on objective measures such as risk-adjusted survival and readmission rates, volume, patient safety and quality of nursing, but the methodology expanded for the 2017-18 review. For example, five years of Medicare data was examined rather than the traditional three years. Socioeconomic status and transfer patients were considered more carefully to "avoid penalizing hospitals for treating low-income patients or for accepting high-risk cases transferred from other hospitals," according to U.S. News. Patient volume data was also refined to make for easier comparisons. Mayo spokeswoman Rhoda Madson said U.S. News actively solicits feedback from medical providers in order to "be transparent and provide information to consumers." "Covering nearly every hospital in every U.S. community, U.S. News offers deep, rich data that patients can use to help them make informed decisions about where to receive surgical or medical treatment," said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. "We know outcomes matter most, which is why U.S. News is committed to publishing as much data as possible on patient outcomes." In an interesting twist, Noseworthy was the keynote speaker at the U.S. News annual meeting in the fall of 2015. After Mayo had finished No. 2 in rankings released weeks earlier, Noseworthy said he spoke with the CEO and publisher about their methodology, which had installed Massachusetts General at No. 1 that year. ADVERTISEMENT Mayo has finished atop the rankings both times since that conversation as U.S. News continues to tinker with its methodology. "That caused them to reflect on their methodology because there was no additional acknowledgement or recognition first, second or third were treated equally," Noseworthy said. "I just made the comment that if this was the Olympics, we had (better medals). "Over the years, they've adjusted the reputation piece (and) they are turning more to outcomes and outputs." Omar Duran, 38, prepped himself for the next leg of the Great Lakes Challenge at the Centerstone Plaza Hotel in Rochester Monday afternoon. The Texas native would be one of about 100 veterans riding 500 miles from Minneapolis to Chicago for seven days on a bicycle. "It's a mental struggle every day," Duran explained as he adjusted himself in his wheelchair. "This ride is about seeing what America is about. ...it's so exhilarating to be out on this ride. It's been very exciting." More than just a bike ride, the veterans view the seven-day excursion as time to heal and build camaraderie with those who are undergoing similar experiences. This was a collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and Project Hero, a national nonprofit organization helping veterans and first responders affected by injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery and resilience in their daily lives. "Our goal is to help heal our heroes, and serve those who have served us," said Peter Bylsma, Project Hero director of marketing and communications. Pat Ryan, 58, of Seattle, has been retired from the military for about two decades. Ryan was a cyclist before a recent surgery made it difficult for him to get back into riding. However, he joined a "hub" of fellow veterans who trained as a group, and eventually pushed himself to start tackling challenges. ADVERTISEMENT This wasn't just limited to just working out for the challenge. This meant a full commitment from those who looked to get better and to find ways of coping with their injuries. However, having someone else who went through similar trauma makes the support that much more genuine, he said Instead of readying and training themselves for one event, it's for their lives. "We help each other," Ryan said. "It's fun, and it's healing." After a year of "suffering" from the surgery, Ryan started finding peace and joy in riding with fellow veterans. He felt that now he was in a good place, he'd be able to help "push" others to continue taking care of themselves by going out into the world. "When we get together, that's where the real healing happens," he said. "That's the good stuff. I'm hoping to encourage others, to keep pushing them up hills. That's why I do it." Last week we noted here how the move to ban the box of criminal convictions on employment application forms actually increased discrimination against blacks, and with its decision to fire the author of the infamous diversity memo, Google has just done its women employees a huge disservice, likely leading to more discrimination against women. David Bernstein of the Scalia Law School at George Mason University offers this shrewd observation: How Googles decision may harm its female employees: there is a coterie of female employees who want Google to fire not just the engineer, but anyone who expressed agreement with him, and who want to police political correctness among Google employees more generally. Now lets say you are a man picking a team to go to a three week long tech conference/expo in Hong Kong. Are you more or less likely to want to put women on your team, knowing that if you or someone you like inadvertently says something offensive regarding gender, a woman on your team may call for termination? And guess what? Theres some social science evidence for this in the journal Politics, Groups, and Identities: The unintended effects of political party affirmative action policies on female candidates nomination chances Angela L. Bos, College of Wooster Abstract Some state political party organizations that hold nominating conventions implement affirmative action (AA) policies to encourage the nomination of women and minority candidates. This paper assesses whether these policies help or hinder female candidates seeking statewide office. On the one hand, these policies could benefit female candidates since they demonstrate an organizations commitment to diversity. On the other hand, diversity and AA policies may have negative, unintended consequences for female candidates such as promoting gender stereotype activation or creating a stigma of incompetence for female candidates. I examine whether and how delegates awareness of these policies shapes candidate evaluations, gender stereotypes, and nominee choice. I test this by analyzing unique survey data from Democratic state nominating convention delegates who evaluate candidates in statewide nominations in four states. The results suggest that while evaluations of the female candidate are not downgraded, focus on AA leads Democratic delegates to inflate their views of her male opponent. Furthermore, when delegates perceive that their party focuses on AA, they are less likely to choose the female candidate, in part because this perceived focus highlights that female candidates might lack masculine strengths. The resulting implications for female candidates and political party organizations are discussed. Nice going liberals. Reminds of the old cliche, Why is it we only hurt the ones we love? Maybe the answer will come up in a Google search. The Nigerian National Petroleum corporation, NNPC, says its four most recent investments with key upstream joint venture partners can increase Nigerias revenue by over $30 billion in the next decade. The Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Corporation, Maikanti Baru, disclosed this on Monday at the inauguration of the reconstituted NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee in Abuja. According to a statement on Tuesday by the corporation, Mr. Baru said: These four projects alone are going to raise incremental revenues to Nigeria of over $30 billion over the life of the projects in less than 10 years. They will also serve as part of the vehicle for exiting JV Cash Calls. We have to pay our arrears of about $6 billion that were incurred pre-2016 and we are also paying up a tranche of about $1 billion 2016 arrears. We started in April 2017 with the payment of $400 million and we will pay the balance before the anniversary of the first payment, Mr. Baru said. He said the investments, which attracted close to $3.8 billion worth of foreign direct investments, would be a vehicle to speed up the prevailing post Cash-Call exit era. The $1.2 billion multi-year drilling for 36 offshore/ onshore oil wells under the NNPC/ Chevron Nigeria Limited, code named project Cheetah and the NNPC/First E and P JV and Schlumberger tripartite $800 million alternative funding agreement for the development of the Anyalu and Madu fields in the Niger Delta, were listed by the GMD as the critical Joint Venture alternative financing Upstream Investment. The agreements executed in London last week for the $1billon NNPC/SPDC JV Project Santolina and the NNPC/Chevron $780 million Project Falcon on Sonam, previously financed through JV Cash Call, were also listed by Mr. Baru. The NNPC finance and technical teams were commended by the GMD for successfully attracting the needed foreign investment as it became increasingly difficult to attract foreign credit facilities. According to Mr. Baru, the arrangement would allow the NNPC to subsequently function from the production revenue, less the first line charge to government, which are the royalties and petroleum profit tax. He said whatever profit accrues subsequently, would be remitted to the government after the deduction of the cost of production. The GMD traced NNPCs participation in the anti-corruption campaign to year 2000 when the federal government directed all its Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs to inaugurate in-house Anti-Corruption Committees, stating that the NNPC was the first to put one in place, which he chaired in October 2000. Mr. Baru, on the anti-corruption campaign in relation to the quest for revenue, urged members of staff to never allow corrupt practices to distract them from the great task ahead. He noted that through organising workshops, sensitisation campaigns, seminars and federal government publications on issues concerning corruption and economic crimes, the NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee had consistently carried out its mission of eradicating corruption within the commission. The GMD further urged the new members being inaugurated to exceed the achievements of the past committees in line with the present administrations anti-graft agenda. He emphasised that the prevailing global economic reality was to change from old ways of doing business and embrace the best practice of transparency, accountability and honesty with integrity. He also thanked the former committee members for a job well done The newly inaugurated head of the NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee is Group General Manager in the Finance and Account Directorate and veteran anti-corruption crusader, Mike Balami. Mr. Balami pledged the readiness of the newly inaugurated committee members to work harmoniously towards achieving a corruption-free NNPC. He urged the reconstitution and inauguration of the anti-corruption units by heads of Strategic Business Units and Corporate Services Units in order to work closely with the Corporate Anti-Corruption Committee to ensure a corruption-free NNPC. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Addax Petroleum Company on Tuesday confirmed the proposed closure of its corporate offices in Geneva, Aberdeen and Houston in the United States of America. Douglas Chene-Bougeries, the Public Relations Officer, Geneva, Switzerland branch of the company, made this known in a statement made available to journalists in Lagos. Chene-Bougeries said the Chinese-owned oil firm, a subsidiary of Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Petroleum Corporation (SIPC), was streamlining its business management model. According to him, this is directly in response to the continued downturn in the oil and gas industry caused by low oil prices. SIPC is the shareholder in Addax Petroleum and this rationalisation is designed to reduce management duplication, improve efficiency and secure long-term business sustainability. This will see Addax Petroleums Geneva office integrated with SIPCs Headquarters in Beijing and the Geneva office to be closed by the end of this year. Addax Petroleums corporate offices in Aberdeen, UK and Houston, U.S will also be closed. As part of the integration process, SIPC will establish an Addax Technical Centre in Beijing that will provide technical services to Addax Petroleum and SIPC operating companies, he said. Chene-Bougeries said that in view of the closure of Addax Petroleums corporate offices in Geneva, Aberdeen and Houston, Addax Petroleums operating companies and joint ventures would start reporting directly to SIPC Headquarters. As from Aug. 9, 2017, and during the entire month of August, Addax Petroleum will conduct a consultation process to engage with its 174 affected staff in Geneva. Through this process, Addax Petroleum will seek to mitigate the impact of these organisational change on its staff and provide them with the necessary support, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Addax was bought by Chinas state-owned Sinopec, Asias largest oil refiner in 2009. On March 24, the companys Chief Executive Officer, in its Geneva Office, Zhang Yi, and the Legal Director were arrested and charged with alleged millions of dollars payments to an unnamed company and some lawyers in Nigeria. On June 6, Addax Petroleum Ltd. reached an agreement to pay a 31 million Swiss francs (about N11.5 billion) fine in Geneva, Switzerland to settle the bribery charges against some officials in Nigeria. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook A paramilitary Hashd Shaabi unit on Tuesday said that the U.S. forces pounded its posts near the border with Syria and killed dozens of its militants, warning that the attack will not go without punishment. The U.S. forces carried out heavy bombardment on Monday morning on the posts of Sayyd al-Shuhadaa Brigades in Akashat area near the border with Syria. It left large number of martyrs and wounded fighters, the unit said in a statement emailed to Xinhua. It said that group holds the U.S. forces the responsibility for the consequences of the action. We declare that it will not go without punishment. According to the statement, the Shiite paramilitary unit also called on the Iraqi government to launch a probe into the incident, and urged the government of Iraq to protect its border with Syria. This is in order to deprive the Americans from using the border line to pass their malicious agendas. Local media reports said that over 40 fighters from the paramilitary unit were killed and some 30 others wounded by U.S. artillery bombardment on the units posts in western Iraq. The incident came as the Iraqi forces, including the predominantly Shiite Hashd Shaabi units and Sunni tribal fighters, are preparing to liberate the IS-held town of Tal Afar, some 70 km west of Mosul. On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared Mosuls liberation from IS after nearly nine months of fierce fighting to dislodge the extremist militants from their last major stronghold in Iraq. (Xinhua/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook Ahead of Tuesday Kenyas presidential election, the UN and former U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday called for peaceful polls, urging respect for the outcome of the polls. The UN urged whoever is dissatisfied with the outcome of the polls to use legal channels to address grievances, according to Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general. We urge the leadership of the various political parties to respect the outcome of the elections and to use the existing legal channels to address grievances. We also call for impartial and human-rights compliant conduct of the police and security forces as a cornerstone of peaceful elections, he said. Mr. Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, said there has been too much incitement and appeals based on fear from all sides. The former president warned that the Kenyan people will be the losers if there is a descent into violence. I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people; urge security forces to act professionally and neutrally; and work together no matter the outcome. The choices you make in the coming days can either set Kenya back or bring it together, Mr. Obama said. As a friend of the Kenyan people, I urge you to work for a future defined not by fear and division, but by unity and hope, Mr. Obama added in a statement. Tuesdays election has been predicted as a battle between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta battling to secure a second five-year term and his opponent and long-time rival opposition leader, Raila Odinga. Mr. Odinga alleged voting irregularities after losing to Mr. Kenyatta in the 2013 election and took his case to the Supreme Court, which ruled in Mr. Kenyattas favour by saying the election was valid. Mr. Odinga was also a candidate in the 2007 election, which was followed by deadly violence fueled by ethnic rivalries. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is among international observers who will be monitoring the election. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The House of Representatives said about N6.1 billion had been earmarked for new Peugeot 508 cars that will be distributed to all the 360 members. The House spokesperson, Abdulrazak Namdas, told reporters that 200 lawmakers have taken deliveries of their cars within the last few months, at the cost of N17 million per unit. Others are still anticipating their deliveries, which are expected to be met before the year runs out. Over 200 cars have been supplied out of 360, and we are still getting more. Every member will get their car by the end of this year, Mr. Namdas said. The car purchase binge, which is the latest in a culture that has persisted for decades, was criticised by Nigerians when it was first made public last year. In December, a lawyer dragged the parliament to court in Lagos after it was discovered that lawmakers budgeted N3.6 billion for the cars. At the time, it was estimated that the cars would cost N10 million each. But Mr. Namdas said the exchange rate crisis that beset the country for almost two years had taken its toll on the budget of the parliament and warranted an upward review of procurement. Taxpayers will now pay more than 70% more for the cars, based on Mr. Namdas new estimates of N17 million per unit. But, the payment for the vehicle is being done in instalments, Mr. Namdas said, implying that lawmakers would be made to pay back all the expenses from their respective salaries and benefits. But critics said the tactics had often been deployed to deceive Nigerians as lawmakers would be allowed to go with their cars at auction price when their tenures expire in 2019. This is a worn-out strategy that theyre bragging about, Victor Okhai, a social critic, told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday morning. We know they would pay little to nothing from their pockets and still walk away with the car at a ridiculously cheap amount. Mr. Okhai said the purchase was insensitive and gutsy when past lawmakers embarked on it, and even more distasteful now. At a time when barely a fraction of Nigerians could afford to comfortably feed themselves, these lawmakers are buying cars that they dont need, he said. Of what use is a 508 Peugeot to Speaker Yakubu Dogara who already has some of the most exotic cars in his convoy? he added. They hold Nigerians in disdain and theyre not even pretending about it. But Mr. Namdas said the House entered an understanding with Peugeot Automobile Nigeria for lawmakers to settle the cost on their own over a few years. Besides, Mr. Namdas said the purchase would further stimulate the countrys struggling economy, which has been in recession for a year, through employment opportunities in the supply chain. Share this: Twitter Facebook Officials of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad, RRS, have arrived the scene where four suspected kidnappers were caught and two of them burnt alive. The officials are being shown the various exits around the tunnel by some of the youth and residents of the area. The RRS officials are led by the Commander, RRS, Lagos state, Tunji Disu. Earlier, a group of volunteers believed to be of the local vigilante group had plunged into the tunnel after the soldiers exited without trace of the alleged victim. Mr. Disu said that the police would comb the underground tunnel with dogs and other experts. He said this while addressing journalists at the scene of the incidence. He appealed to residents to be calm and cooperate with the police and other security operatives, adding that two police officers had been injured. Similarly, he disclosed that three suspects had been arrested so far and would be interrogated. Read our earlier story below: Another kidnap suspect in the ongoing saga at Ojokoro has been set ablaze. The atmosphere is tense as police and other security operatives have been overpowered. A new suspect who allegedly ran out the hole has been set on fire as police couldnt contain the mob. Earlier, two other suspects had been caught and whisked away by police officials. The suspects caught thus far are four; two set ablaze and two whisked away. The search is still ongoing and atmosphere tense. The first suspect had been finally killed after he was set ablaze. Earlier, we reported: Another kidnap suspect has been found while security officials search for a kidnap victim in Ojokoro, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The latest suspect allegedly ran out of the other end of the hole being searched by security operatives including soldiers. He was subsequently caught by the mob. The mob was bent on setting him ablaze too, but he was rescued by soldiers who took him away. Soldiers are trying to control the mob while the pandemonium persists. There is heavy traffic as vehicular movement on both sides of the highway has been slowed down by the heavy crowd. The first suspect who was burnt by the mob is yet to be evacuated. Search is still on for the victim, whose cry for help witnesses said they heard. Earlier, we reported: The alleged kidnapper who was arrested on Tuesday morning has been burnt alive by an angry mob. PREMIUM TIMES reported the pandemonium caused by the arrest of the kidnapper after passers-by said they heard a cry for help by a female victim. Officials of the Nigerian Army have arrived the scene and made efforts to control the mob. Fire fighters have also arrived to control the fire, while pandemonium still pervades the area. Search for the suspected victim is still ongoing as some soldiers and other security operatives plunge into the dark passageway underneath the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. Read our first story below: There is pandemonium at Obadeyi bus-stop, Ojokoro axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, as an alleged ritualist was apprehended by residents in the area. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the suspect was caught when passers-by overheard the voice of a woman allegedly kidnapped by the suspect and his accomplices. Police officers at the scene could not control the crowd who are bent on lynching the suspect. A witness, Adesola John, said passers-by overheard the voice of the allegedly kidnapped woman and began to comb the bridge on the expressway where the suspect was found. A woman was crying for help and people heard her voice and searched under the bridge before they found this man, he said. The woman has not been found and, as you can see, we are still searching. Another witness who pleaded anonymity said there may be many victims trapped underneath. PREMIUM TIMES correspondent at the scene reports that search was ongoing at the time of this report. Share this: Twitter Facebook President Jacob Zuma faces a no-confidence vote by secret ballot in South African Parliament on Tuesday, as opponents express confidence that lawmakers in his African National Congress, ANC, could vote to oust him from office. Mr. Zuma, who assumed office in 2009, has faced heavy backlash for alleged corruption and economic mismanagement. Hed defeated eight previous motions of no confidence that since then. But opposition figures, who are currently holding a protest outside the countrys parliament in Cape Town, say todays exercise will be different from the previous ones. This is largely due to the last-minute decision of the Speaker, Baleka Mbete, to conduct the exercise using the secret ballot system as against the open ballot used in the past attempts. It was believed that Mr. Zuma survived the previous efforts because many of his party members were not courageous enough to openly vote against him. Mr. Zumas African National Congress controls the parliament with 249 seats out of 400. Opposition parties hold the remaining 151 seats. The opposition would need 50 votes from ANC lawmakers for the no-confidence motion to succeed with a simple majority of 201 votes. What would happen Should Mr. Zuma lose, he would be compelled to resign, alongside members of his cabinet. Next, Ms. Mbete will assume presidential duties for the next 30 days starting from the date of Mr. Zumas resignation, after taking oath of office as acting president. South African Chief Judge, Mogoeng Mogoeng, will fix a date within the 30 days for the parliament to elect a new president from its members, an exercise that would be presided over by either himself or another judge he would nominate. After the election, whoever the parliament elects will be the next president. Ecstatic atmosphere Outside Cape Town, protesters are also marching in Johannesburg and Pretoria, chanting anti-Zuma slogans. Echoes of Fire Zuma! could be heard from the crowd. Mr. Zumas supporters argue for his continued stay in office despite lingering economic crisis. South Africas economy is currently in a recession, and its credit rating was downgraded to junk status by rating agency, Standard & Poors. The supporters further argued that since Mr. Zuma was elected by a resounding majority in a democratic system, it was only appropriate that he be allowed to complete his tenure and not be stampeded out of office by the opposition. The police have cordoned off roads near the parliament building to keep protesters from disrupting activities of workers in the area. Voting is expected to commence at exactly 2:00 p.m. local time, 1:00 p.m. in Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES will bring you live updates as soon as the proceeding kicks off. Stay with us! 1.21pm: The Parliament has now commenced with opposition figure Mmusi Maimane making the case for Mr. Zumas ouster. What is more tragic is that more and more South Africans are finding it difficult to find work If we fail to vote out Jacob Zuma today, history may not forgive us. I hope there are members in this house who will put politics aside and do what is right for this country. So that we can fulfil the aspirations that Mandela and other founding fathers had envisioned. 1.23pm: A lawmaker rose to have Mr. Maimane restricted to only discussing issues of the day, but the Deputy Speaker, who presided over the votes, asked the opposition leader to continue. Mr. Maimane has led the Democratic Alliance since 2015. Mr. Zumas ANC has been dominated government at the centre since the end of apartheid in 1994. Nelson Mandela was elected in 1994 with 62 per cent of the vote. Mr. Maimane made heavy case for Mr. Zumas ouster by appealing to lawmakers across the political spectrum to vote against the president and allow todays motion to succeed. 1.27pm:A female ANC lawmaker argues against the use of secret ballot system as approved for todays motion, saying it would allow for money politicians to hijack democracy in South Africa. She added that the open ballot would allow the people to know how their lawmakers voted in real time rather than being done in secret. 1.30pm: The ANC rejects this motion with the contempt it deserves the female ANC lawmaker concluded. 1.35pm: Julius Malema speaks, says vote not against ANC, but against Zuma. He asks ANC lawmakers to support the vote of no confidence. 1.41pm: The female lawmaker is ANC Deputy Chief Whip, Doris Dlakude. She urged the members to vote to retain Zuma in power, saying dissidents will not be allowed to kill the interest of the South African masses. Julius Malema, the leader of Economic Freedom Fighters, urged his colleages in the parliament to abandon party sentiments and vote Mr. Zuma out, describing the president as the most corrupt person alive in South Africa. Other parliamentarians are also speaking on the motion 1.58pm: A lawmaker, Mosouia Lekota, said dont vote for anybody who lied to our people and stole their money. 2.00pm: The ANC will not yield to the opposition parties, especially yourselves, says Pule Mabe a member of the ANC. Mr. Mabe added that President Zuma will lead the charge to establish a judicial commission of inquiry into a series of allegations about looting of state agencies under his watch. Mr. Mabe says court of public opinion should not be used instead of Constitution and rule of law in the debate. This motion is nothing but a test of character. We will not be led by the Democratic Alliance, he added. If you fail to remove the president today, then the people will know that the problem is not the president, the problem is the ANC, an opposition lawmaker said in his contribution. 2.04pm: Phumzile van Damme of the opposition DA asks ANC members not to disappoint millions of their members who want President Zuma kicked out. 2.07pm: Phumzille Van Damme decried the sufferings of the people of South Africa. These the people who live in dire poverty, she said, adding that Zumas removal would set the country on the right to recovery and prosperity. Ms. Van Damme said the parliament has no excuse to reject todays no-confidence vote against Zuma. She added that todays vote is aimed as removing Jacob Zuma as an individual and not his party ANC from power. 2.17pm: The Deputy Speaker issued a final warning to Ms. Van Damme to stop addressing Mr. Zuma as Jacob Zuma, she must use President Zuma or Mr. Zuma in order to remain within the confines of House rules. She would be ruled out of order if she fails to appropriately address the president, the Deputy Speaker said. Ms. Van Damme corrected herself, accordingly. But not before she fumbled it for one last time. Sorry, I mean President Zuma, she said. Ms. Van Damme concluded her speech with strong case for Mr. Zumas ouster. 2.34pm: Julius Malema, during a point of order, described Mr. Zuma as a crook. He was then compelled by the Deputy Speaker to withdraw the comment or be thrown out. He withdrew the comment. The parliament was in a rowdy session for some minutes, with members shouting down at each other. A female lawmaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, canvassed for the wishes of the ANC as a preeminent South African political entity to prevail at the end of todays proceeding. We should not use other tactics to get rid of a governing party, she said while making a case for Mr. Zumas continued stay in office. 2.42pm: Removing President Zuma is not an option but a must, said Andries Tlouamma, leader of Agang. He said: I cant tolerate this president in this National Assembly anymore. President Zuma is beyond redemption.President Zuma is a weapon of economic destruction. He rallied all opposition leaders and members of ANC to join hands and drive Mr. Zuma out. 2.45pm: Themba Godi, a member of African Peoples Convention, said: We will vote in support of good governance and against corruption. We will vote in support of the motion. But Nathi Mthethwa, a member of the ANC and serving minister, accused Mr. Zumas opponents of being disingenuous. This motion is like a coup detat to overthrow a sitting government, he added. Mr. Malema fired back, saying the minister was wrong in describing a democratic process as a coup detat. Another lawmaker also added his voice, describing the process as constitutional. 2.56pm: Debate concluded. House set to vote after brief break. 3.00pm: The Speaker reaffirmed that the quorum will be 201 votes, even though there are empty seats in the 400-seat total Parliament. This means that no matter the number of lawmakers present, 201 of them must be present to vote. Lawmakers are expected to resume shortly after preparation for the votes 3.40pm: Voting set to begin as lawmakers reconvene. 3.42pm: Members have now returned from short adjournment. The Speaker starts by explaining that any issues that may arise from quorum or threshold of todays vote would be decided by the court. We will seek legal opinion about everything later, Ms. Mbete said. All parties have now received details of proceeding and voting is expected to commence momentarily. President Zuma is said to be watching the proceeding from home. 3.46pm: Voting commences. Each MP is being called in alphabetical order. Options are Yes, No, Abstain . 4.20pm: Reporters and cameramen present in the chambers are not allowed to use their devices to take footage of lawmakers as they cast their ballots one after the other. The Speaker warned of grave consequences for any media practitioner caught in such acts since everyone was aware beforehand that the process would be a secret ballot. This was done in order to protect the sanctity of the process. Scores of lawmakers have now voted and the process continues. Voting continues as at 5:15 p.m. local time (4:15 p.m. in Nigeria) South Africa has a 400-seat Parliament. A quorum requires 201 votes in total. Members can vote for, against or abstain. The ANC has 249 members while the remaining 151 seats are held by opposition lawmakers, some of whom spoke during debates earlier today. 5.06pm: Votes are currently being counted after lawmakers concluded voting. Total votes: 384 Yes: 177 No: 198 Abstention: 9 The vote of no confidence fails. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Senate on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari had not violated any law by not returning from medical vacation after 90 days. The Senate made this known in a statement by its spokesman, Aliyu Abdullahi, in Abuja. It was reacting to protests by a coalition of civil society organisations, operating under the aegis of OurMumuDonDo, demanding the resignation of the president over his long medical vacation in London. It urged the protesters to stop heating up the polity, saying that it was creating unnecessary tension in the country. The upper chamber said that the protest was an attempt to divert the attention of the Presidency from the economic and security issues, which were already being tackled. It explained that Mr. Buhari had complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that he must handover to the Vice President and duly inform the two chambers of the legislature about his medical vacation. The president has broken no law and therefore we do not see any justification for this diversion and noise-making. The sponsors are merely seeking cheap publicity at the expense of the peace of Nigeria. We, in the National Assembly, are satisfied that there is no vacuum. The Federal Government is working. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is providing the required leadership. So, there is no reason for the protests. All Nigerians now should focus on praying for the safe return of the President. We in the Senate are happy about the report by the governors and party leaders, who recently visited President Buhari in London and we know he will soon return to continue to provide leadership to our people and the rest of Africa. We therefore call on the protesters to stop all these demonstrations and let their sense of patriotism overshadow the zeal for activism by joining other Nigerians to pray for the president. We should also pray for the acting president and Nigeria as a country at this critical period, it stated. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook A peace committee of Hausa and Igbo leaders on Monday suspended sitting for another 10 days to allow for more consultations. The bi-partisan committee was set up on August 4 to proffer solution to growing tribal tentions sparked by a quit notice to Igbo people in the North has postponed. It was scheduled to hold talks in Abuja on Monday as part of its self-imposed terms of reference. The meeting adjourned to reconvene in the next 10 days, where a final resolution on the contentious issues will be achieved, a joint statement signed by representatives of Hausa and Igbo peacemakers said. Igbo leaders were represented by Chi Nwogu; while Dauda Shamakiri of Coalition of Northern Groups represented the Hausa. The 10-man panel is evenly split between the two tribes. Members are expected to debate all issues generated by a recent warning issued by a coalition of youth-based groups in the North that Nigerians of Igbo extraction living in the region must vacate by October 1. The panel said its activities would resume in 10 days and that all resolutions shall be forwarded to relevant channels for implementation. The June 6 provocative and divisive demand has been strongly condemned by leaders across the country, and Governor Nasir El-Rufai demanded prompt arrest of leaders of the Northern groups behind the call. But Yerima Shettima and other elements in the fringe organisations remained defiant, with some of them stating as recent as last week that their demand had not been withdrawn. They accused separatists elements in South-East, especially Nnamdi Kanu, of provoking them into making the demand. Share this: Twitter Facebook There was drama at an Idi-Ogungun Customary Court , Agodi-Ibadan on Tuesday when a woman, Suriat Adewale, rejected custody of her three children including a 12-month-old baby. Mrs. Adewale had protested the decision of the court, granting her custody of the children in a divorce suit instituted by her husband, Suleiman Adewale, saying she had no means of livelihood and would not be able to cater for them. The two other children are aged five and three. The court did not, however, entertain her plea, a situation which made her to attempt to abandon the kids in court but was prevented. Earlier, Mukaila Balogun, the president of the court, had dissolved the union and ordered the three kids of the couple to be in the custody of Mrs. Adewale. Mr. Balogun said the kids were too young to be left in the custody of the husband, stressing that at that age, the mother was in the best position to take care of them effectively. He also ordered the plaintiff to pay N10, 000 monthly to Mrs. Adewale for the upkeep of the three children and for both parties to take responsibility of the kids welfare. In the suit, the husband asked the court to dissolve the 15-year-old union on the grounds that Mrs. Adewale was disrespectful and had abandoned her matrimonial home for five months, leaving behind the three children. Mr. Adewale told the court that Mrs. Adewale packed out of her matrimonial home sometimes in September 2016 with the kids but returned them last February. I pleaded with her to allow the children stay with her for proper care but she refused and asked me to look for a nanny who would take care of the children. It has not been easy for me since, because the third child was just seven months old when she abandoned the kids for me. I pray the court to dissolve the union and also give her custody of the children so that I would be able to face my business and have money to take care of the children, he pleaded. In her defence, Suriat prayed the court not to dissolve the marriage, saying she was forced to leave her matrimonial home nine months ago to avoid untimely death due to inhuman treatment by her husband. Adewale was in the habit of beating and accusing me of committing adultery; I decided to stay away from him, I intend going back to him when I see changes in his character, the woman said.(NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, on Tuesday ordained 2,236 Assistant Pastors of the church at its 65th Annual Convention holding in Lagos. On Monday, 8,230 deacons and deaconesses were ordained. They were so many that the General Overseer of the church, Enoch Adeboye, had to call them to the altar in batches for the ordination. But that is not surprising of a church that has tens of thousands of members in Nigeria; and has branches in most Lagos streets. From 40 parishes, including the headquarters parish, in 1981, RCCG has spread to over 195 countries, with over 32,000 parishes in Nigeria alone. There are at least 732 branches in the UK and Ireland. The church is still rapidly expanding, utilizing evangelism as a core tool. On Tuesday, ministrations by Mr. Adeboye and others at a welcome service from 8 a.m. were preceded by the ordination of assistant pastors in the morning, and meeting and group seminars. Lunch and dinner at the Redemption Camp will be served free to the thousands of people who had already gathered there for the Convention. The ordination ceremony was simple. After the opening remarks and prayers, the candidates for the various positions were officially presented by the National Overseer of the Mission, J. Obayemi to Mr. Adeboye, who prayed his usual way of kneeling at the pulpit, then welcomed and congratulated them. Thereafter he invited them to the altar where they were prayed for and hands laid on them by elders and leaders of the church. After the formal ordination of assistant pastors, Joel Olaiya, in a message titled The God of all Flesh, charged them not to disappoint God but be led by His spirit always. He warned that those who choose to operate with other spirits would be rejected by God. On Monday, a pastor, Charles Achonwa, who started with message by playing guitar in a solo, said God would raise from among the deacons and deaconesses spiritual General, reminding them that God had called them to warfare. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday in Kaduna unveiled five Super Mushshak trainer aircraft acquired by the federal government to boost the capacity of Nigeria Air Force personnel in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the five aircraft are among the 10 acquired by the government from Pakistan. Mr. Osinbajo, who was represented by Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said Nigeria would welcome more support from friendly nations in its efforts to mow down Boko Haram insurgency. I will not fail to mention that the decision to acquire the Super Mushshak aircraft from Pakistan has greatly promoted the existing bilateral relationship between the two sister countries. It is our hope that we will continue to have the support and collaboration of other friendly nations, especially as we continue to combat insurgency and other security challenges in our country. The Acting President, who also witnessed the graduation of 16 young student pilots from 401 Flying Training School, for the first time in 30 years, pledged that the administration would continue to invest in the countrys air arsenal. He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had two years ago pledged to build the capacity of the armed forces to effectively address Boko Haram insurgency and other national security threats. These achievements are a demonstration of the commitment and visionary leadership of the administration, he said. Mr. Osinbajo stressed that the administration had remained committed to its desire of ensuring a peaceful country. This has been a major security policy thrust of this administration. We have since embarked on qualitative training and acquisition of new platforms and other supporting equipment for the Armed Forces and security agencies. We have also sanitised the procurement process of military hardware with a view to eliminating corruption and inefficiency. I make bold to say that we have achieved remarkable savings and infused quality into the system. This has contributed in no small way to the acquisition of these new aircraft without any encumbrances. It is now your responsibility to make good use of the aircraft as we await the delivery of the last batch by the end of the year. I have no doubt that the acquisition of the Super Mushshak aircraft would add impetus to the training efforts of 401 FTS. He lauded the achievements and transformations taking place in the military, linking the feat to focused and visionary leadership. It is heart-warming to see the Nigerian Air Force striving to meet the nations security needs through the sacrifices, dedication of the officers, airmen and airwomen, he added. Earlier, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar said the NAF has attained 70 per cent aircraft serviceability as against 30 per cent two years ago. He said that the training of several combat pilots and other capacity building initiatives had raised the morale of air personnel and their efficiency. We now have the capability to embark on and sustain major operations simultaneously within and beyond our national boundaries, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Jigawa Command, says it has arrested four students of Government Science and Technical College, GSTC, Karkarna, in Yankwashi Local Government Area of the state, for allegedly stealing 18 new mini Samsung laptop computers. The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Muhammad Durmin-Iya, stated this while presenting the suspects to journalists in Dutse on Tuesday. Mr. Durumin-Iya said the students (names withheld) allegedly stole the items from the colleges computer room. He explained that about 25 of such laptop computers were donated to the college by the Federal Government out of which the suspects stole 18 pieces. The laptop computers were about 25 in number donated to their school by the federal government for the enhancement of ICT education in their school. Unfortunately, these final year students decided to steal them, he said. The commandant added that the suspects were arrested after the school management lodged formal complaint in its office in Yankwashi Local Government Area about the stealing of the items. According to him, the students stole 12 of the computers on a date not known. Mr. Durum in-Iya further said the suspects stole another set of six of the items on July 1. He added that they were caught red-handed by men of the command operating in the area. The first time they stole 12 of the computers, and that was when the school authorities noticed and reported to our office in the area. So, upon receipt of the complaint, we sent our intelligence officers to the area. And fortunately for us, we were able to arrest all of them while stealing another six sets of the computers on July 1, he added. The commandant said that the students were not immediately taken to court since they were final year students, and so, they were allowed to compete their examination. We did not immediately take them to court since during their arrest, they wrote their fifth paper in WAEC. It was also to enable us conduct thorough investigation into the matter, he explained. According to Mr. Durumin-Iya, the suspects took advantage of the period when students were on Sallah break to steal the first set of the items and also used July 1 when council elections were conducted in the state to steal another second set of the computers. Mr. Durum in-Iya said they allegedly used iron rod and removed some blocks of the building to gain access into the computer room. He further revealed that six of the computers were recovered from the suspects, adding that the suspects had already sold 12 of the items. During their arrest, six of the computers were recovered and they told us that they sold the other 12 at the rate N10,000 each at Farm Centre GSM market in Kano. And each of the computers is valued at N70,000 in the market, he added. According to him, the suspects, aged 17, would be charged to juvenile court. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Sadique Abubakar, has said that the Nigerian Air Force is expecting the supply of more aircraft purchased by the federal government to boost the fight against insurgents in the North-east. Speaking in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Yola, Mr. Abubakar said that NAF had already received some, including helicopters, and had repaired 12 aircraft. We have inducted additional aircraft in the combat, including M35 helicopters. We are expecting more aircraft which government had already paid for to add value and improve our performance in the North-east. Mr. Abubakar, an air marshal, was in Yola to interact with officers and men of the air component of `Operation Lafiya Dole in line with the directives of the Acting President to security chiefs. He said that his interaction with NAF personnel in Maiduguri and Yola revealed that their morale was high and that they were fully committed to the fight against Boko Haram. I am very satisfied with their morale and level of commitment to do the job. I also tasked them to re-double their effort to make sure that we have a secured environment. Mr. Abubakar thanked the executive and legislative arms for their support to the armed forces. He further reiterated the commitment of NAF to make maximum use of available resources to achieve results. For the support we are getting from government, we have to be grateful to the Commander-in-Chief and the National Assembly. He solicited more public support in providing relevant information to security agencies to check the latest surge in suicide bombing and kidnappings by the insurgents. He described the recent development as desperate attempts by the remnants of the degraded insurgents to create fear in the public. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it had recovered over N328.9 billion out of N349.8 billion debts from nine major petroleum marketers within the last one year. Adamu Hamisu-Danmusa, the EFCC Head of Operation, North West Zone, Kano, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Kano on Tuesday. He said the debts, which included legacy/bad debts and current debts, were recovered following report from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to the commission. The IPMAN reported to the commission that there are some major marketers that connived with NNPC officials and received fuel allocation but refused to pay the money into the Treasury Single Account (TSA). So, after investigation, we were able to find out that there is N349.8 billion as legacy/bad debts and debts on current transactions. The commission was able to make recoveries of N328.8 billion from the nine major marketers from July 2016 to July 2017, he said. He said the commission was still making effort to ensure that all the remaining debts were recovered from the marketers and remitted into the Federal Governments Consolidated Account. Mr. Hamisu-Danmusa said the commission had also recovered huge amount of money from the cases reported by individuals, corporate bodies and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The money includes N364.4 million, 4.7 million dollars, 60,050 pounds, 59,200 euro and 70,500 Saudi Riyals. The money was recovered from January to date, Mr. Hamisu-Danmusa said. He said the commission recovered N305,000 from a Chinese national arrested at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on July 25. He added that the Chinese, Ma Youngin who could not speak English language, was apprehended by Customs officials with the money while on his way to Dubai. One other suspect was also arrested at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 849 different ATM (debit) cards. He said investigation was still ongoing into the two cases, adding as soon as the investigations were concluded, the suspects would be charged to court. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook Senator Ben Murray-Bruce on Tuesday condemned a police assault on a journalist working with one of his media outlets. Uyi Amadin, a reporter with Silverbird Television, was brutalised by officers who cracked down on a group of anti-Buhari protesters on Tuesday afternoon PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the attack on Mr. Amadin, alongside entertainer, Charley Boy. The police said they moved to disperse about a dozen citizens who camped at Unity Fountain in downtown Abuja, protesting President Muhammadu Buharis indefinite stay abroad on medical grounds. The president has not stepped inside the country since May 7, 93 days ago. The protesters had on Monday commenced the sit-out efforts, which they used to demand that the president either return to the country or resign immediately. The protesters returned to the venue Tuesday morning. Mr. Amadin, who covered the events, told PREMIUM TIMES he was brutally attacked by the police, alongside his cameraman. Their camera was then snatched and its content was tampered with, he said. The police accused the protesters of constituting public nuisance by disrupting vehicular traffic and harbouring individuals with criminal intents. But Mr. Murray-Bruce, reacting to the development on Twitter, said his reporters, whom he described as family, were only executing their lawful duties. I condemn the police brutality on @SilverbirdTVs Amadin Uyi. I dont have staff. I have family and an attack on them is an attack on me. Uyi was doing his duties as provided by the law. Why should my family member be thus treated! This is an an attack on press freedom, he added. The senator admonished police Inspector-General, Ibrahim Idris, to launch a thorough probe of the violent attack against the reporter. Share this: Twitter Facebook Some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated what they described as the South-West office of Buhari Campaign Organisation in Ibadan. The supporters also named new coordinators for the organisation in the region, some of whom vowed to campaign for the president even if he remains unfit to hit the campaign trail when electioneering season opens for 2019, Daily Trust reported. The paper reported that the group also aimed to register new members whose names would be forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria for agricultural and other loans. President Buhari has been receiving medical care for unknown ailments in London since May 7, drawing knocks from some civic groups. On Monday, some Nigerians demonstrated against the presidents prolonged absence in a simultaneous exercise that held in Abuja and London, demanding his resignation and disparaging him for leaving the country in a state of uncertainty. The presidency fired back at the critics Monday night, calling on Nigerians to ignore calls for the presidents resignation because they were unnecessary and unjust. Mr. Buharis fragile health has made it difficult for analysts to predict his prospect for a second term run, and the presidency has avoided making any public comments about the issue. His tremendous recovery must be celebrated by giving glory to God. We would continue to pray for his safe return, Danladi Pasali, national coordinator of Buhari Campaign Organisation, was quoted as saying by Daily Trust. Mr. Pasali described Mr. Buhari as a pious leader whose aimed to reshape Nigerians from all forms of unpatriotic activities and set the country to a proper and realistic system for the future generation. Leaders and selected members of the group from Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Ondo States participated at the event. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, FMMSD, on Monday urged all duly licensed dredgers in Lagos to go about their legitimate duties without hindrance by the Lagos State government. A statement released in Abuja by Mohammed Abass, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that dredgers should disregard any instruction seeking them to stop their lawful operations. The statement said the ministrys attention was drawn to a recent ruling of the Court of Appeal in Lagos and several reports ascribed to various officials of the Lagos State government regarding a purported order issued to duly licensed dredgers operating in the state. Mr. Abass said while the legal officers of the FMMSD were studying the judgment of the Court of Appeal relating to the case in question, in the interim, the dredgers should continue with their day-to-day activities. The Lagos State government had on August 1 issued a seven-day ultimatum to boat operators, dredgers and stakeholders in the inland waterways sector to comply with laws, rules and guidelines concerning their operations or face stiff sanctions. The government said it was reacting to the judgement of a Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal which handed over to it power to control the inland waterways within the state. The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, had noted that the state government was pleased with the clear judgment which he described as unambiguous and a victory for resource control and fiscal federalism in Nigeria. Looking at the import of these laws which you can find in the constitution is that the federal government controls maritime and international navigation which is to clear the high seas for international carriers to be able to move freely, Mr. Kazeem had said. In so far as bodies of water within a state do not obstruct those international routes, those bodies of water within the exclusive preserve of the state are left to their control and that is what that Appeal Court judgment affirmed. It said clearly that the Lagos State House of Assembly has powers to legislate on its intra-inland waterways and the LASWA Law is very clear about its powers and authority to control boat operation. You can imagine that a federal government agency in Abuja intend to control how boat operators operate here. This is just the same thing as saying that the federal government agency should control the buses that ply your road. If you say you have a right to control land transportation, should you not have right to control water transportation? But Mr. Abass in the FFMSDs statement on Monday said the ministry frowns at the way some officials of the Lagos government have gone about deliberately distorting the pronouncement of the appeal court. It is trite to state that by virtue of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), federal laws in respect of administration of mining activities and utility of inland waterways supersede those of states; in the instance as it affects issues on the exclusive legislative list, he said. A cursory review of the ruling of the learned justices of the Court of Appeal indicates a clear recognition of the powers and responsibilities of the various arms and organs of government with respect to administration of mining and inland waterways. Mr. Abass said the ministry was therefore at a loss as to why some officials would wilfully attempt to inverse the ruling of the court to suit their anticipated outcome. The permanent secretary noted that the learned justices were clear about the extent and limitation of powers of the various arms of government, adding that the ministry took the development with all seriousness and solemn commitment. The FMMSD had already commenced the process of consultations on the issue with all relevant and affected arms and agencies of the government, he disclosed. The statement, however, added that the ministry was confident that an amicable resolution would be reached in no time. Earlier, the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, had described the Lagos State Governments claim as untrue. According to the NIWA, the appellate court only gave the government power to legislate on intra-state waterways, which are waterways that originate and end within the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arraigned a police officer, Musa Musa, for alleged involvement in the looting of the residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The FCT police command confirmed the arraignment to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday. They were arraigned at a magistrate court in Wuse, Abuja. Mr. Musa, a sergeant, was one of those arrested for burgling the property at No. 89 Fourth Avenue Gwarimpa district, Abuja. Three officers were arrested following the incident, but only Mr. Musa has so far been arraigned. The items stolen include sets of furniture, plasma television sets, refrigerators, air-conditioner units and box-loads of clothes such as designer suits imprinted with the former presidents name, male and female Ijaw traditional attires, lace materials and bowler hats. After hearing arguments by respective counsels, the court granted Mr. Musa bail with a bond of N7 million. The law is clear about right to liberty. Bail is granted to allow the accused attend trial. Where it is perceived that the accused may jump bail, he may be denied, the magistrate, Mabel Segun-Bello, said. The prosecution had said that Mr. Musa was a flight risk as he had earlier jumped police bail. But the magistrate said the prosecution had not provided enough grounds for bail to be denied. She further said the matter was not of national importance as alleged by the prosecution counsel, Stanley Nwodo. She granted the defendant bail with a bond of N7 million and one surety in like sum. The surety should be civil servant of any cadre resident in Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Labode Popoola, on Tuesday, said that Nigerian universities are training students for jobs that no longer exist. Mr. Popoola made the assertion in a lecture delivered in Kaduna at the maiden Postgraduate Lecture Series of Kaduna State University, KASU. The vice chancellor said that the development was in sharp contrast with what obtained in world class universities which were training students for future jobs. The don said that the absence of meaningful research in the universities has crippled the quest for creativity and innovation required to unleash sustainable development. He said contemporary Nigerian universities and research systems cannot contribute to national development due to absences of academic culture that drives process for good governance. According to him, graduates of world class universities are sought after because they carry out leading-edge research and are engaged in technology transfer. This can only be obtained where there is high concentration of talented lectures and students, abundant resources and favourable governance. But what do we see in Nigerian universities; poor funding, poor planning, collapse of academic culture, corruption and blurred vision among others. He advised the academia in Nigeria to come up with new ideas and engage the rest of the world through inter and multidisciplinary research collaboration. The chairman of the occasion, A.S. Nwankwo, of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, described the lecture as crucial in the discourse on the relevance of the Nigerian universities to the society. On his part, Abubakar Saddique, of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who was the lead discussant, traced the root cause of challenges in the education system to poor service delivery at the basic level. He said that students were poorly prepared at primary and secondary school levels for university education. According to him, the business of universities is to identify societal problems and conduct research to solve them. Since Nigerian universities cannot adequately prepare their students to effectively address contemporary problems, how can they prepare them for challenges of the future? The country needs a bottom up approach; from the basic to the tertiary institutions to be able to address the rot in our education system. Earlier, the Dean, Post Graduate School, KASU, Abdullahi Ashafa, said that post graduate students represent the pool for the next generation of academicians. Mr. Ashafa explained that the lecture was designed to address the issue of quality of training in the university system, to ensure competitiveness of graduates in the continuously changing world. In a related matter, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has urged Nigerian universities to introduce anti-corruption courses for their undergraduates. The Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, made the call on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Adamu Rasheed. Mr. Magu said the EFCC has decided to sponsor over the next 10 years up to 20 Ph.D researches on any aspect of corruption, beginning from 2018. The EFCC wants NUC to lead in the introduction of anti-corruption curricula in all Nigerian universities to be taken by all fresh undergraduate students regardless of course or discipline, he said. Whether one is studying Accounting or Building Engineering, Food Sciences or Marine Biology, Political Science or Pharmacy, being exposed to a rigorous and evidence-based knowledge of corruption and its consequences on polity and economy as well as individual self-esteem would be beneficial to the nation, the community and individual Mr. Magu said. He said the EFCC would also support the publication of manuscripts relevant to the teaching of the anti-corruption course. Mr. Magu said the commission wants everyone to join in the fight against corruption, adding that the university system is very important and that the youth remain the commissions target. We want everybody to join in the fight against corruption, because the university system is very important and we want to target the youth because they are the beneficiaries of whatever we are doing, which is better life for the next generation. I am not saying the NUC has not been fighting corruption but I want to intensify the fight. Our request is course units that will address the fight against corruption, he said. Responding, the Executive Secretary of the NUC said the commission would soon begin consultation with academics, critical stakeholders and other specialists on the best way the curriculum on fight against corruption can be put together. Share this: Twitter Facebook An eminent scholar and author, Abdulraufu Mustapha, Professor of African Politics at the Department of Government, University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, has passed on according to family sources. Mr. Mustapha, 63, succumbed to stomach cancer after months of courageous battle at about 3 p.m. London time on Tuesday August 8, 2017. He is survived by his wife, Kate and three children. He was author of many well-regarded works including, Turning Points in African Democracy; and Sects and Social Disorder, Muslim Identities and Conflict in Northern Nigeria. Mr. Mustapha who hails from Ilorin, Kwara State, studied at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, for his Bachelors and Masters degree in Political Science, and proceeded to the University of Oxford in London where he earned his doctorate degree and stayed back to lecture till his death. He was a member of the Premium Times Editorial Board. Mr. Mustaphas research focusses on the politics of rural societies in Africa, ethnicity and identity politics and the politics of democratisation in Africa. He has held teaching positions at Bayero University, Kano, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He is a member of the editorial advisory groups for the Review of African Political Economy, Africa, and the Board of Trustees of the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), Kano, Nigeria. Mr. Mustapha is the lead researcher on the Islam Research Project, IRP-Abuja, funded by the Dutch Foreign Ministry. The project is a policy-oriented study of interfaith relations in northern Nigeria. The IRP project is executed by ODID through the Nigeria Research Network, NRN, a loosely-structured research group with members within ODID and affiliated academics from Europe, North America, and Nigeria. In the recent past, the professor also worked on the report on ethnic minorities for the Working Group on Ethnic Minorities, UN Commission on Human Rights, and the project on Ethnic Structure and Public Sector Governance for the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) in Geneva. He was the Senior Researcher (West Africa) at the Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity (CRISE) at ODID. Share this: Twitter Facebook Two patients being treated for Lassa fever at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, have been confirmed dead. Both patients whose cases were presented late were said to have died within few days of admission despite all efforts to save them. The Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Chris Bode, while confirming the incident on Tuesday, said no less than 100 hospital workers from different hospitals who had been exposed to the patients are currently under close monitoring. One of the dead victims, a 32 years old pregnant woman with bleeding disorder, died after a still birth and already had a post-mortem examination conducted on her before her Lassa status was confirmed. This had exposed a lot of people to the disease especially the pathologist who performed the post-mortem. A resident doctor on the pathological team from the Department of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology is also believed to have been infected with the disease and is currently under admission at the LUTH isolation centre. Mr. Bode, who visited the isolation centre, urged all LUTH workers to maintain heightened level of alert in the wake of this outbreak and observe universal precautions in handling all suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever. He said the teaching hospital has been working closely with officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health in handling a number of diseases of pubic importance such as rabies, cholera, Lassa fever and the recent diarrhoea disease at the Queens College, Lagos. Both the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Health have responded swiftly to contain this present Lassa fever outbreak by mobilising human and material resources to trace the sources and extent of the disease, follow up on potential contacts, identify early and test suspected cases, he said. The doctor said the health facility has adequate materials for containment of the disease while drugs have been made available to treat anyone confirmed with the disease. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Nigeria has also been contacted. Two other suspected cases from Lagos State are also presently admitted and quarantined while undergoing confirmatory laboratory tests, he added. Signs and symptoms for the diseases include fever, general weakness, muscle and joint pains, prostration and malaise headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, facial swelling, fluid in the lung cavity, bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure may develop. There is currently no vaccine that protects against Lassa fever. In case of suspected cases in Lagos, the following numbers can be notified -08058019466, 08058744780, 07035521015 and 08023299445. Share this: Twitter Facebook The police on Tuesday gave reasons why officers attacked participants at a rally protesting President Muhammadu Buharis indefinite medical vacation in London. An entertainer and rights activist, Charlie Boy, and Uyi Amadin, a security correspondent with Silverbird Television, as well as his cameraman, sustained injuries during the clampdown, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. Tuesdays exercise marked the second day of the action, which began on Monday morning at Unity Fountain, Abuja. The demonstrators are calling on the president to either return to the country or resign. The president has been away since May 7, 93 days ago, with citizens having only a sparse idea about his well-being other than a few pictures distributed by his office which showed him meeting visiting leaders from the country. On Tuesday, the protesters, numbering only about ten, according to witnesses, returned to the park, which is located opposite Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Maitama. The ground has been used by BringBackOurGirls campaigners for their daily sit-out since 2014. Anjuguri Manzah, spokesperson for the FCT Command, said officers moved to disperse some miscreants, hoodlums and other criminal elements that have infiltrated the protest. Mr. Manzah accused the protesters of blocking major roads adjoining the area, thereby preventing citizens from free passage. But those who witnessed the attack contradicted the polices account. Mr. Amadin, who said he arrived early to cover the event, said the police moved against the protesters, who were not more than 10. The reporter told PREMIUM TIMES that the officers informed the protesters that they had orders from above to crack down on the protesters when they return to Unity Fountain today. They even unleashed fighter dogs against the protesters, including Charlie Boy, he said. When they started beating me despite identifying myself as a journalist, they saw my cameraman filming the whole scene from afar and they swooped on him too and severely injured him. They seized our camera and did what they wanted with it, the reporter added. He said the protesters were clearly not violent. When PREMIUM TIMES sought polices explanation for the attack on Mr. Amadin, force spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, said the reporter should go and report the assault at the police station. Were not aware that any journalist was caught in the confrontation, Mr. Moshood said. But the person can go to the station to lodge a complaint. On Monday, the protesters marched under the supervision of the police, which was confirmed by Mr. Manzah in his latest statement. Deji Adeyanju, convener of Concerned Nigerians which was amongst the coalition of civic groups that put together the exercise, said the Buhari administration was clearly uncomfortable with the success of the protest on Monday. One thing is: The government cannot deal with us so ruthlessly for the past two years and still tell us that we cannot wail, he added. This is just the beginning because we will not allow a sick old man to continue to hold the collective destiny of 180 million people to ransom, he said. The presidency defended the rights of the protesters to assemble and vent their grievances as emblematic of a democratic system, but faulted demands for Mr. Buharis resignation. The President has complied 100 per cent with the constitution by handing over power to the Vice-President before proceeding on his vacation, Mr. Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said. He has not breached any law or the constitution by staying away from office to take care of his health. Share this: Twitter Facebook The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Makarfi, on Tuesday inaugurated the partys National Convention Planning Committee headed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, with a charge that the panel immediately devote itself to the preparations for the Special Non-Elective National Convention on August 12. Speaking at the brief ceremony held at the Chida International Hotel, Abuja, Mr. Makarfi said members of the National Convention Planning Committee has exhibited high level of commitment and loyalty to the party stressing that the national leadership has confidence in their ability to organise a hitch-free convention. We appreciate your commitment towards ensuring that we are back to power at the Centre and in more states, I urge you all to work together as a team to ensure the success of the convention and be rest assured of the partys support where necessary, the spokesperson to the Delta State Governor quoted the PDP chairman as saying. The chairman said with the inauguration of the committees, the party is officially set to recover its lost grounds. In his response, Senator Okowa, Chairman of the Committee, thanked the party for the opportunity to serve, promising that the members would immediately devote themselves to the onerous task of making the special non-elective national convention a successful one. The Committee is comprised of eminent Nigerians and party chieftains with vast experience. We shall organize a convention that will not only positively shake Abuja but the entire country, The task before the committee is a daunting one as we have barely 48 hours to plan and this requires that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the Committee delivers on its mandate, he said. Present at the inauguration were party chieftains including former Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan, Liyel Imoke, Babangida Aliyu and Celestine Omehia, former PDP Governors of Delta, Cross River, Niger and Rivers States. Share this: Twitter Facebook Five Nigerians were arrested on Tuesday in Savar, Bangladesh, for alleged fraud and cyber-crime. According to a report published by Bangla News 24, a news portal in Bangladesh, a team of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) apprehended and detained the suspects after raiding their house at Alamnagar Sugandhya Housing at Hemayutpur area. Following a tip-off, the PBI team led by additional superintendent of police, ARM Alif, conducted the raid in the house in the afternoon. The police also seized four laptops, 11 mobile phones, 20 SIM cards, some pen-drives and cash. The detained Nigerian citizens have been residing in the rented flat for a year. They are members of a syndicate who snaffled a huge amount of money alluring people with fraud, the police said. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has confirmed the death of five persons in a ghastly accident on the Okene-Lokoja Road in Kogi State. Suleiman Mohammed, Head of Operations, FRSC state sector command, who confirmed the accident to journalists on Tuesday in Lokoja, said that four other persons sustained injuries. He said the accident occurred on Monday at a spot in Osara village in Adavi Local Government Area around 4 p.m. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Mondays accident occurred barely two weeks after 13 persons lost their lives on the same road from head on collision between a petrol tanker and a commercial bus. Mr. Mohammed said that Mondays accident involved a truck and the bus. He said that two vehicles were coming from Lokoja on a high speed. He said the truck hit the bus from behind and knocked it off the road into the bush. He said the victims were market women going to Okene from Lokoja where they had gone to buy foodstuffs. The FRSC official said the driver of the bus, who was identified by the villagers as Egbunu survived the crash. Mohammed said that the remains of deceased and passengers who sustained injuries were taken to the state Specialist Hospital in Lokoja. He said that the FRSC had started contacting the relations of the victims. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ata, on Tuesday administered oath of allegiance on Abdullahi Mohammed, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member representing Kura/Garum Mallam constituency. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Mohammed became a member of the assembly following the sack of Hayatu Dorawar-Sallau of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by the Supreme Court. The PDP had warned the speaker not to disobey the Supreme Court on the matter. Speaking to journalists after taking the oath, Mr. Mohammed, who is the only PDP member in the assembly, pledged to work together with his colleagues towards moving the state forward. He also pledged to do everything possible to be a good representative of his constituents and assured them of excellent representation. Mr. Mohammed applauded the Supreme Court for its recent judgment that brought him to the assembly and also commended the assembly for adhering to the instruction of the apex court. He also commended the judiciary for exercising its responsibilities as an independent organ of government. NAN recalls that the Supreme Court recently ordered the swearing in of the PDP candidate who came second during the 2015 State Assembly Election. Before the 2015 general election, an APC aspirant, Danladi Karfi, had instituted an action before the Federal High Court, Kaduna, challenging the emergence of Dorawar-Sallau as the partys candidate in the election. When Mr. Karfi approached the Court of Appeal Kaduna Division over the judgment of the Federal High Court, it upheld the decision of the trial court with a consequential order that fresh primaries be held. Dissatisfied with the judgment of the appellate court, Mr. Dorawar-Sallau went to the Supreme Court, which upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal. But the Supreme Court ordered that the runner-up in the general election be sworn-in instead. Mr. Dorawar-Sallau was also ordered to refund all the salaries/allowances and/or emoluments he had collected while occupying the seat in the House of Assembly. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook A retired university professor and former scribe of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Nduka Eya, has narrated his ordeal during the three days he was held by kidnappers in Enugu State, South-east Nigeria. The octogenarian, who was kidnapped from his home in Enugu on Thursday, was rescued on Saturday morning after a police team stormed the den of the kidnappers at a forest in Emene, near Enugu. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES shortly after he regained his freedom, Mr. Eya said he tried to counsel the kidnappers to repent from what they were doing but got more beatings. When our correspondent visited the home of Mr. Eya shortly after his release, it was filled with sympathisers and well-wishers rejoicing with the family over his rescue. In high spirit, he regaled the audience with the account of how he was kidnapped at about 9.30 p.m. when he was about to take his coffee before going to bed, and the ordeal he went through for three days before his rescue. He said the kidnappers apparently working with his driver, came into the compound through the main gate. He said the gateman had wanted to bolt the gate but was told by the driver not to as they were expecting some visitors. According to him, three of the kidnappers then walked into his main building through the kitchen door with the driver who they were beating to give the impression that he was not part of the plot. He said when they got in the kidnappers pointed a gun at him and forced him to follow them to his car which they asked his driver (who usually keeps the car key) to drive to Emene, before one of the kidnappers took over from him and meandered into the forest. Mr. Eya said he later discovered in the forest that the number of the kidnappers increased to between 14 and 20, and that they moved him from one location to another. He said the hoodlums demanded N25 million initially until the ransom was negotiated down to two million, as he kept reminding them that he was a poor retiree and had no such money. I was rescued by the police. My driver was part of it; they said he brought the business, Mr. Eya told his crowd of sympathisers. I can tell you, the Police when they want to work, they work. After all the rigmarole, I was tortured, I was beaten but I just said why do you strike me? The driver was there, they beat him too but I dont know if it is the same type of beating they gave me. But one funny thing is that for three days I was blindfolded, but they didnt blindfold the driver. He was the driver who took us out to the bush, he was driving. And this is a young man, he had no job, I just employed him. Speaking on the development, state police spokesperson, Ebere Amaraizu, said Mr. Eya was rescued by operatives of the anti-kidnap Unit of the Enugu State Police Command through intelligence information and coordinated operation. The police in the early hours of 5/8/17 rescued Prof Nduka Eya who was allegedly abducted on 3/8/17 at Ezillo Street Independence Layout Enugu. He was rescued unhurt by the operatives following an operation carried out in a forest along Enugu/Abakiliki Expressway in which one suspect identified as one Amadi was arrested. Recovered from him is a locally made gun and he is helping the operatives in their investigations. Meanwhile, the rescued victim has re-united with the family while manhunt on other suspects is intensified. It could be recalled that the state command has assured that measures have been put in place to rescue the victim as well as arresting culprits following the report about his abduction on 3/8/17, a statement by the spokesperson said. Share this: Twitter Facebook A yet-to-be identified motorcycle rider and many others were injured in a road crash that occurred at the Toll-gate end of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway Tuesday. The incident happened a few minutes past 6 pm. PREMIUM TIMES reporter at the scene said tragedy struck when a truck conveying cement rammed into a car and dragged it through the road up till the toll-gate end. Some of the occupants of the car who spoke with our correspondent, however, came out unhurt. But the motorcycle rider who was standing on the side of the road was hit by the car and sustained injuries. He has since been taken to the hospital. The truck driver was apprehended by security officials while other road users who sustained various degrees of injury were also rushed to the hospital. One of the car owners who sustained minor injuries but whose vehicle was damaged, said the incident occurred due to speeding. He (truck driver) has been speeding all the way from Sango. Only God helped me and others in my car, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook New Business Initiatives as a Part of Its Vision for 2020 ( Read 4966 Times) 08 Aug 17 Share | Print This Page Udaipur : Hindware, Indias leading bathroom products company, redefined its brand identity with a new promiseStart with the Expert, and a new azure symbol of expertise HW. The company also unveiled their super-premium brand ALCHYMI curated by Indias leading designer Manish Malhotra. Further, the brand inaugurated its state-of-the-art revolutionary concept store Lacasa in the upscale area of Vile Parle, Mumbai. Hindware, through constant innovation and reinvention, continues to grow ahead of market. The brand is further strengthening its presence with new business initiatives aligned with its 2020 visionto stay relevant, make an impact and steer the consumers in the right direction in this rapidly evolving market. The company undertook extensive research and reached out to 20,000+consumer and 100+architects. This research suggested that modern consumers seek expert advice to validate their choices and make their hectic lives easy. The positioning of an Expert Companionembodies the trust and faith of the consumers which Hindware has assimilated over the past 57 years. Theazure symbol HW symbolizes expertise in bathrooms which is rendered through 7 pillars, i.e.,Expert Helpline (1800 2000 7577) to address consumer queries in various language;DreamBath App 2.0 that helps to visualize the bathroom using oculus without actually making it;DreamBath Visualization Book having exquisite bathroom themes;Hindware Design Studio state of the art design center; Expert website (www.hindwarehomes.com) that assists the consumers with beautiful bathroom themes, coordinated products and expert content; Expert stores to provide best in class experience;and specially trained Hindware in-store experts in select stores.Hindware will be stepping up investmentsacross ATL and BTL platforms to promote this new brand identity to engage consumers across multiple touch-points, including the digital media, to enhance visibility. With the consumers becoming increasingly well-traveled and style-conscious, bathrooms have evolved from being functional to more sensorial.Consumers are looking at super-premium solutions which can help them to personalize their bathrooms. Alchymi, Hindwares latest super-premium brand, stands for Style meets craft and is a design expert and has been created in the Hindware Design Studio using FloSense technology. Featuring four unique bath suites especially curated by celebrated designer Manish Malhotra, the brand will be available at 200+ Hindware brand stores stores pan-India. The suites will comprise of an exclusive range of WCs, basins, shower, faucets and accessories, etc. Manish Malhotra and Hindware Design Studio are developing new suites which will be introduced every quarter. This will help the consumers to get discerning designer bathrooms for themselves. Hindware has been at the fore front of innovation for close to six decades. We have given many firsts to India, be it EWC couple closet Unitas, EWC one piece water saving star rated products, Rimless, Nano WC with 1.5 liters flushing, etc. Today with the rapidly changing times, improved technology and product innovations coming into the category, bathrooms are becoming more personalized yet complex, said Mr. Sandip Somany, VCMD, HSIL Limited. He further added, Consumers are looking out for experts who can handhold them through their journey to create dream bathrooms. Hindwares repositioning as an expert brand will fill that space and be a companion to consumers on their bathroom design journey. Mr. Manish Bhatia, President, Building Products Division, HSIL Limited, commented, Hindware has long established itself as an expert in the business of what we do. To reinforce this amongst our consumers and to aid them in their journey with our brand, we decided the time was ripe to strengthen ourselves further based on our long legacy of excellence. He further added, The seven new pillars through which this expertise will be brought alive include the Expert Helpline, Hindware DreamBath App 2.0, Expert website, State of the art Hindware Design studio, Digitally integrated brand stores, Hindware in-store consultants and HindwareDreamBath Book V2. Through these initiatives, we are not only expanding our footprint, but creating a space for our consumers to explore, with our expert help, the perfect fit to their tastes, preferences and lifestyles. HSIL inaugurated its digitally integrated Lacasa store in Mumbai today to offer one stop place for architects, interior designers, business buyers as well as homeowners a real time experience of the offerings by all the brands under HSIL Queo, Alchymi, Hindware and Amore. The 4000 sq. ft. showroom will have digital Integration at every point for easy selection of products where consumers will be provided a smart device to capture their favorite products and then drop all of them into a smart screen for consultancy and building a bathroom of choice. The specially designed stores will take consumers on an exhilarating journey with multiple alluring bathroom suites displaying beautiful combinations of the products. Apart from the other brands from the house of HSIL Limited, the Lacasa store will also showcase and offer the 4 suites curated by designer Manish Malhotra from the latest super-premium brand Alchymi. The company will invest aggressively in setting up 10 new Lacasa and 200+ Galleria stores across the country by 2020. Source : This Article/News is also avaliable in following categories : Business News Your Comments ! Share Your Openion Atlantic County WATERCOLOR CLASS: 3 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 13; by Stephanie Segal Miller; bring supplies or use those provided for $5; Noyes Arts Garage, 2200 Fairmount Ave., Atlantic City, $30. StephanieSegal.com. JACOB LAWRENCE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION: exhibited through September; presented by the Atlantic City Arts Commission; commemorates the 100th birthday of the famed Atlantic City-born artist; features 14 pieces of Lawrences art; 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 7, reception; Public Library, 1 N. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City. ACFPL.org. FOUR WEEK WATERCOLOR SERIES: 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10, 17, 24; learn basic watercolor techniques; taught by Stephanie Segal Miller; Noyes Arts Garage Stockton University, 2200 Fairmount Ave., Atlantic City, $100. StephanieSegal.com. FLOWER POWER EXHIBIT: through Aug. 18; features photography, paintings, jewelry, writings, and more celebrating the 1960s; Nashville North Studios, 210 New Road, Suite 8, Linwood Greene, Linwood. NashvilleNorthStudios.com. A TRIBUTE TO THE TRIBUTARIES: exhibited through Sept. 2; Great Bay Gallerys Summer Project A Tribute to the Tributaries; works depicting streams, runs and creeks of the Great Egg Harbor River watershed; Great Bay Gallery, 829 Bay Ave., Somers Point. GreatBayArtGallery.com. BRIGANTINE ART WALK: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 2; artists and works to browse; portion of proceeds benefit local charities; Haneman Park, South 15th Street and Revere Boulevard, Brigantine. BrigantineArtWalk.com. Cape May County A FISH OUT OF WATER: exhibited through August; works by fabricator Karen Yates; 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 12, Meet the Artists reception, light refreshments; Cape May Artists Cooperative Gallery, 122 Sunset Blvd., West Cape May. CapeMayArtistCoop.com. ST. BARNABAS 56TH ART SHOW: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 11-13; 10 local artist will be showing a selection of artwork in a variety of mediums; hosted by the St. Barnabas Art Group of Lower Township; light refreshments; Fury Feraco home, 2723 Bay Drive, Villas. 609-886-8337. THROUGH OUR IMAGERY EXHIBIT: exhibited through Aug. 31; 7 p.m. Aug. 11, meet the artists reception, free; features seascapes, boardwalk images and photographs of Ocean City landmarks by LoraLea Kirby and son Zachary Kirby; Ocean City Arts Center, 1735 Simpson Ave., Ocean City, free. OceanCityArtsCenter.org. PLEIN AIR PAINTING CLASSES: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through August; join artist Michael Terenik for a relaxed session painting on location; Cape May Artists Cooperative Gallery, 122 Sunset Blvd., West Cape May, $35. CapeMayArtistCoop.com. REFLECTIONS OF CAPE MAY: exhibited through Aug. 30; collection of new works by award winning photographers Tina Giaimo and Don Merwin; Chalfonte Hotel, 301 Howard St., Cape May. 609-884-5144. SUMMERTIME SHOW: exhibited through August; Ocean City Fine Arts League, 608 Asbury Ave., Ocean City. OceanCityFineArtsLeague.org. VICTOR GRASSO AND GREG BENNETT: both artists exhibited through Sept. 4; exhibit Ten features new paintings by Victor Grasso; A Life By The Sea features new paintings by artist Greg Bennett; SOMA NewArt Gallery, 31 Perry St., Cape May. SomaGallery.net. ART PARTY CLASSES: two-hour paint lessons, led by teacher Juliana Jost, create your own artistic reproduction; 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays adult classes, $35; 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays Mommy & Me and Daddy & Me classes for kids, $40; 106 S. Decatur St., Cape May. 609-364-5304. Cumberland County A PASSION FOR GLASS: THE ART OF COLLECTING: through Aug. 13; explores different contemporary art glass works; inspired by the Musuem of American Glass exhibit; Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center Inc., 1501 Glasstown Road, Millville. WheatonArts.org. BIG HICKORY STUDIO ARTISTS RECEPTION: through August; works by 11 local artists/students at Big Hickory Studio; includes original paintings created in acrylics, watercolor and oil; Public Library, 1058 E. Landis Ave., Vineland. VinelandLibrary.org. Ocean County GETTING DIRTY IN THE CERAMICS STUDIO: 7 to 9 p.m. first Fridaysh, BYOB, instructor walks participants through a few introductory projects, LBI Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, 120 Long Beach Blvd., Loveladies, $45. 609-494-1241. View complete listings at AtTheShoreOnline.com Items for Artsy Attractions should be placed in our calendar at PressOfAC.com/calendar. Items for consideration of a story can be emailed to pdollak@press ofac.com. The New Jersey Education Association this week endorsed legislative candidates from both parties in the upcoming November election. The 200,000-member, statewide teachers union endorsed the Democratic incumbents in the 1st Legislative District, state Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Bob Andrzejczak and Bruce Land. The district includes all of Cape May County and parts of Cumberland and Atlantic counties. In Atlantic Countys 2nd Legislative District, the union picked Republican Senate candidate Chris Brown and Democratic Assembly candidate Vince Mazzeo, but expressed no preference among Assembly candidates Democrat John Armato and Republicans Vince Sera and Brenda Taube. As we finally exit the Christie era and work to rebuild our state, it is imperative that we elect pro-public education and pro-public employee candidates, said association President Wendell Steinhauer. NJEA members have always been active participants in the political process, but now more than ever, we all realize the consequences of electing politicians who do not share our priorities or our values. These endorsements are in addition to the backing of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy in the spring. In the 9th Legislative District, covering parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean counties, the association backed Republican incumbents state Sen. Christopher Connors and Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Democratic Assembly candidate Jill Dobrowansky. Other endorsements included Republican Fran Grenier for the state Senate in the 3rd Legislative District, covering parts Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, and Democrat George Youngkin for the state Senate in the 8th Legislative District, covering parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties. In June, the American Federation of TeachersNew Jersey endorsed Democrats Colin Bell for Senate (running against Brown) and Mazzeo and Armato for Assembly. The union represents faculty at several colleges and universities in the state, including Stockton University. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Tucked in the back of the Cardiff Plaza on the Black Horse Pike sits a 10-year-old dance studio that has been closed for the summer season while kids enjoy their time off from school. Set to reopen for a new dance season in the fall, Miss Margots Ensemble Arts studio could soon go down as one of the most famous studios in the country: as the home of Miss America 2018. In one month, 51 contestants will descend on Atlantic City for the 97th annual Miss America Competition at Boardwalk Hall. The contestants hail from every corner in the union, including Puerto Rico, and represent the best their states have to offer. For Miss New Jersey Kaitlyn Schoeffel, life in the next month will consist of keeping up her appearances and spending hours in the Ensemble Arts studio, owned by her mother, perfecting her dance for the biggest competition of her life. But Schoeffel, 23, of Egg Harbor Township, said that after six years of competing in the Miss New Jersey competition, her last competition will be about having fun and celebrating a fantastic run to the biggest stage of its kind: Miss America. This summer has been by far the fastest summer of my life, and thats something I want to hold onto forever, Schoeffel said. Im really just living in the moment because I know (the next month) is going to fly by. In the last month, Schoeffel has made countless appearances around New Jersey and also flew to Orlando for Miss America Orientation and to cheer on Miss New Jerseys Outstanding Teen at the national competition. Her favorite appearance so far was returning home to Egg Harbor Township for the National Night Out celebration, where she got to ride a fire truck, take a ton of pictures and sign autographs, she said. It was the first time I saw everyone in my community since being crowned Miss New Jersey, she said. Seeing everyone my teachers, my friends and my family everyone from our community out at one event supporting our town was really awesome. At orientation, all the contestants got to meet each other for the first time. They spent the week together filling out paperwork, attending the Miss Americas Outstanding Teen Competition and filming short videos with the Miss America Organization that will run during competition week. The trip was the moment Schoeffel realized she was really going to Miss America. Until then, the appearances, meetings and workouts had all felt like a dream, she said. Despite all the duties that come with being a state title holder, Schoeffel said she cant put her finger on what a typical day in the life of Miss New Jersey is. Some days she will wake up at 6 a.m. and have a day filled with appearances up and down the state and meetings with sponsors. Other days, she will have ample time to practice her talent at the studio a quick dance to the hit pop song Shut up and Dance. Schoeffel performed the dance in both the 2016 and 2017 Miss New Jersey competitions. Going into 2017, she changed her dance shoes to a hard-tipped model that keeps her up on her toes but requires an abundance of core strength and discipline in the hopes of impressing the judges. It worked, and now Schoeffel hopes the Miss America judges will also realize the difficulties of performing in her shoes. Even if they dont, and Schoeffel is not crowned Miss America, she said the weeks of preparation, including long hours in her mothers studio, will be some of the fondest memories of her life. Having fun, Ive been told, is the most important thing I can do, Schoeffel said, adding that she got that advice from former Miss Americas Suzette Charles and Vanessa Williams. I got to meet (Charles and Williams) as Miss New Jersey and I asked them for some advice going into Miss America and they told me to make sure Im having fun. MARGATE Several inches of rainwater have collected again in the drainage areas behind a new sand dune, where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pumped out water last week after a severe storm July 30, residents and city officials said Tuesday. Mayor Michael Becker was surveying the beach at 8 a.m. Tuesday and reported 4 to 6 inches of standing water on the bulkhead side of the dune from Mondays 1.35-inch rainfall. His observations came about two hours before U.S. District Court Judge Renee Bumb, the same judge who ruled against Margate and homeowners efforts to stop the project, was scheduled to hear arguments in a conference hearing at 10 a.m. in Camden. They tried to make the argument that the first storm was some type of once-in-a-hundred-year event, said Dan Gottlieb, executive director of Margate Citizens Questioning the Beach Project. You know, it can rain here sometimes for three days and we dont believe that was a once-in-a-hundred-year storm, so even if they were right ... look what happened here after a very minor rainfall. Gottlieb was at the Franklin Avenue beach, where water pooled once again behind the recently constructed dune. City officials have been meeting with the state Department of Environmental Protection in court-ordered closed sessions since last Friday to hammer out an agreement on how to correct the problem that has developed on Margates beach since a sand dune was built at elevation 12.75. Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez, who also ruled against the city previously, called the ponding horrendous and said it must be corrected. He ordered the parties to meet every day to work out a solution and report back to him Aug. 11. We cannot divulge the details of those meetings, Commissioner John Amodeo said before Tuesdays session. Whats hard is that we are under a gag order from the judge until we get to a point where everyone is happy. We are negotiating to find a solution. The meetings, attended by the city, DEP and Army Corps, lasted 2 hours Friday and 1 hours Monday. They are not long, but its all work, said Amodeo, who is out of town, but attending the meetings via conference call. Becker said the DEP and Army Corps attended the meeting Friday, but the Army Corps was absent Monday. I dont know why they werent in attendance, he said. The Army Corps on Monday petitioned to have the case heard in federal court, Becker said. Hopefully, Judge Bumb will see things our way, he said. Whether Margate gets its wish to stop the project until a drainage system can be designed and implemented remains to be seen. Friday will be the tell-tale when we get before the judge, Amodeo said. We feel we have a good case proving what we said would happen happened. We live there, we know our island, and we know the solutions. Mendez ordered an eight-day work stoppage at a hearing last Thursday so the parties could meet daily on a solution. They are to report back to him at a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 11 in his Atlantic City courtroom. Amodeo said although the project has been halted, Mendez permitted the Army Corps to continue building elevated walkways through the ponding areas from street ends to the dune crossovers, so our beach is fully accessible by the weekend. They will also be permitted to pump out standing water. Design engineers said any water that collects behind the dune should percolate into the sand within 24 to 36 hours, but that has not happened. Instead, each rainfall left standing water that stagnated and became contaminated, prompting residents to gather atop the dune in protest. They also attended two public hearings held in Margate to express their disgust for the project.{div class=asset-content subscriber-premium}Amodeo said residents who have been quite vocal on social media need to remain calm. They need to know we are working in their best interest, Amodeo said. I believe we have a rock-solid case against the Army Corps and their design. Amodeo said the Corps one-size-fits-all dune plan simply will not work in Margate, where the city has a border-to-border bulkhead and where much of its stormwater drains onto the beach. Meanwhile, in Longport, public officials last week expressed concern that if the project is delayed further in Margate, the hopper dredge would move south and start building the dune in Longport during the height of the summer vacation season. Mayor Nicholas Russo said he spoke with an Army Corps official Friday who said no decision has been made to move the project along while Margate resolves its drainage problem. Ventnor or Longport could be receiving sand if things are not resolved in Margate. However, we do not know which one will be first, Russo said. If the project moves to Longport before the early September timeframe the DEP and Army Corps announced earlier this summer, Russo said, Longport would deal with it. We got through Memorial Day, then we got through June and July and the first couple of weeks in August. If it comes here, we will be flexible, he said. {span style=mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;}Contact: {/span}{span style=mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;}609-601-5196 {/span}{span style=mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;}nanette.galloway@shorenewstoday.com Link_izezascoTwitter @DBCurrent{/span} {/div} ATLANTIC CITY The sound of drums reverberating through the city Tuesday afternoon drew people out of their homes to help save a local community centers efforts. LaToya Dunston, director of the Atlantic City Xclusive Drill Team, led drummers and residents on a 20-minute walk from Browns Park to the ACX Multicultural Community Center. Some joined in on the walk, and others nodded with the beat. The group of about 40 people hoped to raise awareness and funding for the centers programs to stay afloat. Keeping something like this in the heart of Atlantic City would be truly a blessing, Dunston said of the center. We serve the youth thats forgotten out here. The community center, located on North New York Avenue, has been the new home to the grassroots team and its programming for city youth since August 2016. But now, a year later, the payments and rent of nearly $4,000 each month to stay in the center are getting tough, Dunston said. Program leaders are unsure theyll be able to keep the facility and their programming running, which serve more than 300 children. Were in a real financial crunch right now, said Allen Thomas, a consultant with the group. The goal of the group and the services they provide was to help bring children out of the streets, parking lots and courtyards and into a place they could call home, Thomas said. The drill team has more than 150 members involved and has been in the city since 2008. The center is also home to feeding programs and services such as grief counseling for area youth and parents. Dunston said the feeding program, in conjunction with the South Jersey Food Bank, provides free breakfast and lunches for children under age 17 at the center during the summers. Were open to whoever comes, Dunston said. On Tuesday, Dunston and organization leaders said they hoped to get public attention about what they do and maybe inspire someone to help out. The sounds of the drum beats from the Philadelphia-based drill team Extreme Kre8tionz who practice with Atlantic City members traveled with the group. They went down Kentucky Avenue, onto Adriatic Avenue and later turning onto New York Avenue, ending at the community center. The group already does its own fundraising through programming and events, but its not enough, Dunston said. She added theyre looking to apply for grants to help fund their programming. Marquan Oliver, 19, is a member of the Philadelphia-based drill team who was drumming through the streets Tuesday. He said teams like his are important for city youth, and help keep them safe. Its positive. It keeps a lot of the kids out of trouble, he said. Congress out of touch Its pretty ironic that the U.S. Senate was waiting for a senator to return so it could vote on reforms that would result in 21 million fewer people having health coverage. Im sure Sen. John McCain didnt even give it a thought when he had to go to the hospital. Congress has medical benefits for life with not even a co-pay. The enemy is not Democrats or Republicans. The enemy is Congress. They have set themselves apart from the rest of us. I doubt any of them have any idea what it takes to just get by in this country. Time to demand they get on the same page as us. John Planer Little Egg Harbor Township Dubious social changes I wonder what prompts changes, not of necessity, in social matters. For instance, years ago when kids were leaner, if a group engaged in supervised competition, at the end of the contest everyone dispersed. Today, these competitions seem incomplete if not topped off by a distribution of calories to winners and losers. Among fading customs is standing aside to allow another to go into a building or at a checkout line (often accompanied by you can go ahead, I have many items). Surely headed for extinction is the pleasant phrase once commonly uttered in response to a store clerk asking, What can I do for you. No more is heard May I have . Now its the demanding Give me . Ray Lewis Corbin City Partisan divide excesses The Democrats cannot get over the fact that Donald Trump is president. They have stooped so low that they are suppressing speeches made by Republicans. Paid agitators (with faces covered) are attending rallies and instigating physical violence. Leftist college students are blocking freedom of speech on college campuses and destroying property. Now we have a group known as Antifa, the militant fringe of the anti-Trump movement, calling for a physical confrontation against Republicans. We have entertainers calling for the burning of the White House or the assassination of the president. Dont forget the shooting by a Bernie Sanders supporter who was targeting Republican congressmen. Given these uncivilized actions, is it any wonder the country is divided? If these actions by Democrats and their supporters continue, I fear that Trump followers will exercise their Second Amendment rights and carry guns for protection. Ted Hesser Mays Landing Editor: On July 17, the Plattsmouth Lions Club hosted an American Red Cross blood drive celebrating our 100th year in the state of Nebraska. This drive came at a time when the Red Cross is facing an emergency need for donors; blood donations are going to hospitals as fast as theyre coming in. The Plattsmouth community responded to our need in force, donating 49 pints of blood. There's always a great sense of community at the Plattsmouth blood drives. Everyone is so giving whether it be giving blood, donating their time to help prepare for the day, volunteering during the blood drive or serving delicious snacks. It's especially fun to help save lives in Plattsmouth! It is with sincere appreciation that I say thank you, on behalf of the American Red Cross, to the Plattsmouth community. The Red Cross has only been able to serve Nebraskans for a century because of our volunteers and donors. We look forward to serving you for another 100 years. Sincerely, Teri Vitallo Account Manager, Donor Recruitment Midwest Blood Services Region American Red Cross Thomas brings nearly 25 years of experience to this role including Managing Director of Nature Publishing Group, Chief Executive Officer of Macmillan Science and Education and most recently Chief Scientific Officer and global head of Springer Nature's research business. She also serves as a Trustee and board member of The Yale Corporation, the governing board and policy-making body for Yale University. Thomas will focus on expanding the company's leadership position in the scientific and academic research market. No stranger to this task, she has spent her career building businesses in scientific and educational publishing, technology and analytics, beginning as a cell biology editor for Nature. For more than 15 years, she was at the helm of Nature, transforming it from a handful of print-based scientific magazines into one of the most highly regarded, digitally-focused research information groups in the world. While at Nature and Macmillan, Thomas expanded the group globally and diversified the business, including the launch of Digital Science, a technology and analytics company. She was also an early advocate of open access, driving Nature's developments in this area. "Annette has consistently built and led teams that have out-paced the market in terms of growth, by being customer-focused, brand-led and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a scientific publisher. Her advocacy for open access and dedication to improving the researcher ecosystem has already influenced and benefitted our strategy at Clarivate," said Jay Nadler, CEO of Clarivate Analytics. "She played an integral role in our recent acquisition of Publons and our partnership with Impactstory." "Annette has been a valuable member of the Clarivate Analytics board since she joined in March," said Kosty Gilis, Managing Director at Onex Corporation and Chairman of the board. "As she transitions to her new executive leadership role within Clarivate, her vision and expertise will clearly benefit the Scientific and Academic Research business and the Web of Science brand." "It is an exciting time in the research community and specifically at Clarivate Analytics," said Thomas. "There is a tangible opportunity to transform the way in which the discovery, evaluation and impact of scientific research occurs, and Clarivate Analytics, with world-renowned brands such as Web of Science, extensive reach across the market and its independent and neutral status, is the best positioned organization to do so. It will be a pleasure working with the shareholders, who have demonstrated their commitment to invest in transformational opportunities, and leading this exceptional team, as they pioneer new approaches to become the trusted arbiter of quality and impact for researchers, funders and the entire research community." Clarivate Analytics Clarivate Analytics accelerates the pace of innovation by providing trusted insights and analytics to customers around the world, enabling them to discover, protect and commercialize new ideas faster. Formerly the Intellectual Property and Science business of Thomson Reuters, we own and operate a collection of leading subscription-based businesses focused on scientific and academic research, patent analytics and regulatory standards, pharmaceutical and biotech intelligence, trademark protection, domain brand protection and intellectual property management. Clarivate Analytics is now an independent company with over 4,000 employees, operating in more than 100 countries and owns wellknown brands that include Web of Science, Cortellis, Derwent, CompuMark, MarkMonitor and Techstreet, among others. For more information, please visit clarivate.com. Media Contact Heidi Siegel Clarivate Analytics Director, External Relations +1 215 823 5646 (o) +1 215 356 4504 (m) heidi.siegel@clarivate.com Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/542953/Clarivate_Analytics_Annette_Thomas.jpg Related Links http://www.clarivate.com SOURCE Clarivate Analytics BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The SRI Conference announced today that the 2017 event will put more focus on equipping investment advisors with tools, knowledge, and connections that will help them grow their sustainable, responsible, impact (SRI) investing practices. The 28th annual SRI Conference will be held on the West Coast for the first time, running from November 13, 2017 at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California. Conference organizers anticipate a record attendance, with 800 investment professionals expected, and with a substantial portion of the increase being client-facing advisors. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with thought leaders, executives, and product providers to expand their knowledge around today's most salient SRI issues. The Conference program will feature issue experts who will simplify complex themes and guide advisors as they navigate the flood of evolving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data and analysis. ESG factor analysis and integration is at the core of most responsible investment strategies. Industry experts will host sessions that provide actionable advice on how to operate a successful practice serving socially conscious investors, identify trends in ESG integration, determine materiality within ESG data, and evaluate future investment options in the SRI/ESG space. Upon the Conference's completion, advisors who attend will be able to: Understand how SRI/ESG is integrated across mainstream asset management. Help clients align issues they're most passionate about with investments designed to guide their financial future. Develop stories that effectively convey how client investments can have a positive impact. Market their services to the growing population of purpose-driven investors and grow their practices. "Demand for SRI products from institutions and individual investors continues to grow significantly, bringing us to an important juncture for advisors," said Steve Schueth, President of First Affirmative Financial Network and Producer of The SRI Conference. "Advisors see the trend gaining steam, but often struggle with how to make SRI a successful part of their practice. Our goal is that attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of the issues their clients care about most deeply." This year's Conference will offer 9 to 12 hours of continuing education (CE) credits for CFPs, CFAs, and CIMAs, including a three-hour Fundamentals of Sustainable and Impact Investing course offering from the US SIF Foundation (separate registration fee). To register for the event, please visit: http://www.sriconference.com/register/ About The SRI Conference The 28th annual SRI Conference will be held November 13, 2017, at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, CA. Produced by The SRI Conference and Community, LLC in collaboration with many organizations working to direct investment capital toward the creation of a truly sustainable future, The SRI Conference is the premier annual forum for investment professionals and investors engaged in sustainable, responsible, impact (SRI) investing. Conference participants include investment professionals, institutional investors, and related organizations. The program features educational sessions and opportunities to network with hundreds of like-minded individuals, organizations, and leaders in the field of sustainable, responsible, impact investing. SOURCE SRI Conference Related Links http://www.sriconference.com "Comcast Business offers the premium services, cloud connectivity and bundles that enable high growth enterprises to excel in today's marketplace," said Steve Weaver, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at 365 Data Centers. "Our Nashville area customers have asked for connectivity to Comcast's vast network, so we are thrilled to provide this great resource to them." "As the technology leader in Nashville, Comcast has a long history of investing in the region's business community," said Michelle Pluskota, VP of Business Services for Comcast. "We are thrilled to work with 365 Data Centers to help their customers access data storage, and take advantage of our advanced network." Comcast Business also has existing PoPs in 365 Data Centers' Detroit and Philadelphia locations. About 365 Data Centers 365 Data Centers is a leading provider of data center solutions for strategic edge (Tier 2) markets. Our robust, carrier neutral ecosystem and secure, reliable edge colocation services help organizations reduce costs, speed innovation and improve their customer experience. 365 Data Centers supports mission-critical application infrastructure by providing 100% uptime and adhering to industry compliance mandates such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, SSAE 18 (Type 2 SOC 1), SOC 2, and ISAE 3402. 365 Data Centers is based in Norwalk, Connecticut, and operates eight geographically diverse data centers across the eastern half of the United States. Visit www.365datacenters.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Comcast Cable Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. Comcast has invested in technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video, communications and home management offerings. Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. SOURCE 365 Data Centers Related Links http://www.365datacenters.com NEW YORK and ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Investment Group ("ABDIG"), a private investment group from Abu Dhabi, announced today an investment to acquire 62.5% of Fiber Prime Telecommunication's (FPT) shares. ABDIG is planning to invest up to $5 billion in subsea cable projects and will restructure FPT to become a top tier worldwide subsea cable company. FPT is proven leaders in providing fast, affordable, and reliable data services. "We look forward to partnering with the Abu Dhabi Investment Group management team to invest in critical global communications infrastructure," said Mr. Luiz Fuschini, who will serve as the President & Chairman of FPT. After careful consideration and deliberation, FPT's board concluded that the sale of FPT to ABDIG was in the best interest of FPT. "This transaction provides the opportunity for immediate and substantial value to FPT, while also allowing FPT greater flexibility to execute on its long-term strategic vision," said Mr. Fuschini. The combination between ABDIG and FPT would create a market leader managing more than $10B of subsea, IT and telecom assets worldwide. The new company would operate under the FPT brand with Samir Auedd as CEO. "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with FPT and see tremendous benefit in ABDIG's acquisition and comprehensive offering heritage of technological innovation," said Mr. Auedd. "The breadth and depth of our combined product and service capabilities, delivered on a global scale, should enable us to provide a compelling value proposition to our customers," added Mr. Auedd. "We look forward to working closely with FPT's leadership to develop world-class solutions and drive customer success," said Omar Jawhal, president of ABDIG. About ABDIG Abu Dhabi Investment Group is a private investment firm founded in 2000 with over $36 billion of assets under management and offices in the Americas and EMEA. ABDIG's investment platforms are across a wide range of asset classes, including private equity, growth venture and real estate. ABDIG aims to build dynamic products and options for its investors while also instituting discipline and operational excellence across the investment strategy and performance of its portfolio. About FPT Founded in 2015, Fiber Prime Telecommunications (FPT) is an One-Stop-Shop independent telecommunications carrier, with extensive experience, capable of delivering advanced "tailor-made" data networking solutions. FPT has direct presence in more than 15 countries and extensive network partnerships covering any location in the Americas and Europe, with expansion plans to extend capabilities to Asia. As a One-Stop-Shop carrier, FPT offers a seamless and integrated experience to supply the increasing demand globally, providing a full suite of products and services such as VPN, Carrier Ethernet, Colocation, Logistics, and Professional Services. SOURCE Fiber Prime Telecommunications DALLAS, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ACE Cash Express, Inc. announced that on August 10, 2017, it will provide financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the trustee under the Indenture dated as of February 10, 2011 governing the Company's 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2019. The Company also announced it will host a conference call for Noteholders on Friday, August 11, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the financial results. Noteholders should contact David Sternblitz, Vice President, Treasurer of ACE Cash Express, Inc. to obtain access to the Company's financial statements and information concerning the conference call. About ACE ACE Cash Express, Inc. is a leading financial services provider serving consumers online and through a network of over 1,000 retail store locations. ACE provides a range of retail financial products and services including short-term consumer loans, check cashing, prepaid debit cards, money transfers, bill payments and money orders. ACE Cash Express, Inc. is the largest owner and operator of check cashing stores in the United States. SOURCE ACE Cash Express, Inc. Related Links http://www.acecashexpress.com SEGUIN, Texas, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) announced that effective today it has acquired R.P.M. Tech Inc. ("R.P.M."), a manufacturer of heavy duty snow removal equipment, mainly mechanical snow blowers and associated parts. The primary end-users of R.P.M. products are governmental agencies, related contractors, airports and other industrial users. R.P.M. is located in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, and had sales of approximately C$25.0 million in their last fiscal year ending May 31, 2017. The purchase price for all of the outstanding shares of stock was approximately C$16.7 million, subject to adjustment in accordance with terms of the Share Purchase Agreement. R.P.M. will become part of Alamo's Industrial Division and will work closely with the Company's nearby Tenco operations located in St. Valerian, Quebec. Ron Robinson, Alamo Group's President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "R.P.M. is a company we have known and worked with for many years and we feel they will be an excellent addition to Alamo. Their range of snow throwers will be a nice complement to our existing range of snow removal products." R.P.M. was owned by Fiducie Familiale Piamvic, Fiducie Familiale Pouanneli and Gestion Iamvic Inc. and led by Pierre Bernard. Pierre commented, "We are pleased to be joining our company with Alamo as we feel they will continue on the same path of building high quality equipment and they can provide the resources to take R.P.M. to the next level." About Alamo Group Alamo Group is a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and service of high quality equipment for infrastructure maintenance, agriculture and other applications. Our products include truck and tractor mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, snow removal equipment, excavators, vacuum trucks, other industrial equipment, agricultural implements and related after-market parts and services. The Company, founded in 1969, has approximately 3,225 employees and operates 25 plants in North America, Europe, Australia and Brazil as of June 30, 2017. The corporate offices of Alamo Group Inc. are located in Seguin, Texas and the headquarters for the Company's European operations are located in Salford Priors, England. Forward Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market demand, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date. SOURCE Alamo Group Inc. Related Links http://alamo-group.com SEATTLE, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines' board of directors have elected Shane Tackett senior vice president of revenue management and e-commerce, and Andrea "Andy" Schneider vice president of people. Tackett will continue to oversee pricing, yield management, revenue analysis and e-commerce. He began his career with Alaska Airlines in 2000 as an analyst and has since held several positions of increasing responsibilities including vice president of revenue management and e-commerce and previously vice president of labor relations. "Shane has led some of our company's largest, most complex and successful initiatives, helping to deliver a premium experience to guests onboard and at alaskaair.com," said CEO Brad Tilden. "His expertise and analytical acumen have made impactful and long-lasting improvements in every area of the company that he's led over the past 17 years." Tackett studied at Pacific Lutheran University and holds an executive MBA from the University of Washington. He also sits on the board of Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington. Schneider will help the company achieve its stated purpose of "creating an airline people love" by further developing its people and culture. She will oversee employee benefits, compensation, training and development, recruiting and employee travel for Alaska and Horizon Air. "Andy's hands on approach to leading one of Alaska's largest and most important workgroups will serve her well in her new role as the vice president of people," said Tilden. "She understands that employees are what makes Alaska and Horizon special and they are critical to our future success." Previously, Schneider served as vice president of inflight and call center services, leading Alaska's 4,000 flight attendants and 1,300 customer care and reservations agents. Before that, Schneider was senior vice president of people and customer services at Horizon. Prior to her time at Horizon, she led more than 3,000 employees at Alaska as staff vice president, station operations and cargo Services. Schneider began her career at Alaska in 1989 as the manager of financial accounting. Schneider earned a bachelor of business administration degree from Gonzaga University and an executive MBA from the University of Washington. Her community involvement has included a seat on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of King and Kitsap Counties, and advisor for the Milgard Business School at the University of Washington Tacoma. Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, flies 40 million guests a year to 118 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners , guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the J.D. Power North America Satisfaction Study for 10 consecutive years from 2008 to 2017. Learn more about Alaska's award-winning service and unmatched reliability at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK). SOURCE Alaska Air Group Related Links http://www.alaskaair.com ALBANY, New York, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent intelligence study by Transparency Market Research (TMR) has detected that the global Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment Market is divided among a vast number of global and regional players. The report anticipates that this fragmented scenario of the market for alpha-1 antitrypsin will prompt an increase in the number of mergers and acquisitions that can benefit both parties. Some of the key companies in the global alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency treatment market identified by the report are: Baxter, Pfizer Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, AstraZeneca, Grifols S.A., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc., Shire plc, CSL Behring LLC, LFB Biomedicaments S.A., and Kamada Ltd. As per the projections of the TMR report, the demand in the global Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment Market will augment at formidable CAGR of 10.3% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025, estimated to reach a valuation of US$2,908.1 mn by the end of 2025, remarkably up from its evaluated worth of US$1,224.5 mn in 2016. In the near future, a number of new biotechnology companies are expected to have a foray in the alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency treatment market, developing novel treatment processes, personalized medicines for genetically inherited disorders, and invest on the research and development of stem cell based therapeutics. Browse Market Research Report @ http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-treatment-market.html Based on treatment type, in 2016, the augmentation therapy segment served the maximum demand, whereas bronchodilator treatment earned a strong second position in terms of volume of demand. Parenteral route of administration is leading over oral and inhalation methods, while hospital is the most important end-user category. Geographically, North America the most profitable region for the stockholders of the global alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency treatment market, with prevalence of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, increasing diagnosis rate, high plasma yield, and high per capita health care expenditure. High Unmet Demand in Emerging Economies to Boost Market Prevalence of respiratory disease worldwide, recent advancements in the diagnosis of apha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, increased government support in several emerging economies for the improvement of healthcare facilities, high unmet demands in both developed and developing regions, and novel product opportunities are some of the key factors driving the demand in the global apha-1 antitrypsin deficiency treatment market. As per estimation of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), more than 200 million people are affected by COPD, which is emerging as the fourth leading cause of death across the world by 2030. On the other hand, asthma is detected in about 235 million people globally. With technological improvements, production and purification processes of alpha-1 antitrypsin are now much safer and free from virus, protein, and other contaminants. This has increased clinician preference for usage of plasma products. This in turn is expected to boost demand for plasma-derived products such as alpha-1 antitrypsin and IVIG. Inquire for a sample of the report @ http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=13214 According to the Alpha-1 Foundation, up to 3% of all people who are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have undetected alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. As a result, AlphaKit QuickScreen has been developed by Grifols, a diagnostic kit that aids in quick identification of the mutated Z gene. Stringent Regulations Hindering Prosperity of Market On the other hand, stringent regulations, limited plasma fractionation capacity, shortage of alpha-1 antitrypsin supply, and high cost of drugs are a few factors challenging the global anti-trypsin deficiency treatment market from attaining its true potential. The vendors of this market are expected to gain new opportunities via strategic alliances, patient assistance programs, and increasing awareness about therapy. The information presented in this review is based on a Transparency Market Research report, titled, "Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment Market (Treatment Type - Augmentation Therapy, Bronchodilators, Corticosteroids, and Oxygen Therapy; End-user - Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, and Pharmacies; Route of Administration - Parenteral, Inhalation, and Oral) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025." Browse Press Release: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-treatment-market.htm Key Segments of the Global Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment Market Global Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment Market, by Treatment Type - Augmentation Therapy Aralast Prolastin Zemaira/Respreeza Glassia - Bronchodilator - Corticosteroids - Oxygen Therapy - Others Global Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment Market, by Route of Administration Parenteral Inhalations Oral Global Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment Market, by End-User Specialty Clinics Hospitals Pharmacies Global Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment Market, by Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Browse Related Research Report: Oxygen Therapy Devices Market (Product Type: Oxygen Source Equipment & Oxygen Delivery Devices; Applications: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Pneumonia) - North America Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/north-america-oxygen-therapy-devices-market.html Alpha Mannosidosis Market (Treatment - Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT); Indication - Type I, Type II and Type III; End Users - Hospitals and Specialty Clinics) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/alpha-mannosidosis-market.html Ophthalmic Drugs Market (Disease Indication - Dry Eye, Glaucoma, Infection/Inflammation, Retinal Disorders (Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration, Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration, and Diabetic Retinopathy), Allergy, and Uveitis; Therapeutic Class - Anti-inflammatory Drugs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Steroids), Anti-infective Drugs (Anti-fungal Drugs and Anti-bacterial Drugs), Anti-glaucoma Drugs (Alpha Agonist, Beta Blockers, Prostaglandin Analogs, and Combined Medication), Anti-allergy Drugs, and Anti-VEGF Agents; Product Type - Prescription Drugs and Over-the-Counter Drugs; Distribution Channel - Hospital Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies, and Independent Pharmacies and Drug Stores) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ophthalmic-drugs-market.html About Us: Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S. based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMR's global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations. Contact Us: Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/ http://www.editiontruth.com/ SOURCE Transparency Market Research ROSEVILLE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, today announced the reopening of its Burlington, North Carolina franchise, by Samantha Loy. The agency, located at 2260 South Church Street, Suite 603, provides senior care services in Alamance-Guilford, Caswell, and Person counties. Loy will be working with her mother Joanne Pizzuto, vice president of sales and marketing. "My mother has been involved with the senior care industry for nearly two decades, and naturally I have immersed myself within her work and the community for the last five years," said Loy. "When the opportunity arose to purchase the territory, I didn't think twice. I've always had a passion for helping others, and being able to carry on the family business in such a special way is something I take great pride in." The first-time franchise owner has been working at Always Best Care of Burlington since 2012 where she held various administrative roles, with her most recent position being director of operations. Since joining the company, Loy has overseen many of the agency's day-to-day operations, which will assist in her new role as owner. Through her work with the agency, Loy has also established a strong network within the local healthcare industry. "Samantha has been a true asset to the Always Best Care of Burlington location as an employee for many years, and we are thrilled to have her join as the newest franchise owner in our growing network," said Jake Brown, CEO of Always Best Care Senior Services. "We look forward to the agency's continued involvement with the local Alzheimer's Association, among other charities, while she continues to provide the highest level of care to the residents in her territory." Always Best Care is one of the nation's leading providers of non-medical in-home care, assisted living placement services and skilled home health care. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 200 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada. By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client's particular physical or social needs. The hallmark services of the Always Best Care include non-medical in-home care and assisted living finder and referral services, with skilled home health care now being phased in throughout the country. For additional information on services available through Always Best Care of Burlington, or for a free evaluation, please call (336) 270-4352, email [email protected] or visit http://www.alwaysbestcare.com/NC/Burlington. About Always Best Care Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care assists seniors with a wide range of illnesses and personal needs, and currently provides more than 4 million hours of care every year. Franchise opportunities are available to individuals interested in leveraging the company's clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas. Always Best Care also offers an exclusive program called Always in Touch, a telephone reassurance program that provides a daily phone call to seniors and disabled adults who are living alone and have limited contact with the outside world. Always in Touch is the only absolutely free national telephone reassurance program of its kind anywhere in the USA and Canada. For more information on Always in Touch, or to request an application, visit www.Always-in-Touch.com. CONTACT: Chelsea Bear Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Always Best Care Senior Services Related Links http://www.alwaysbestcare.com CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association is saddened by the death of country music legend Glen Campbell. He and his family bravely revealed his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2011, and embarked on a final "Goodbye Tour" that was documented in the award-winning documentary "I'll Be Me." Since that time, Campbell and his family continued to advocate on behalf of the cause, including sharing their story on Capitol Hill and speaking out on behalf of the millions of families in the U.S. facing the disease. "The Alzheimer's Association extends sincere condolences to Glen Campbell's family, friends and fans. Glen was a courageous advocate on behalf of Alzheimer's, not only bravely sharing his diagnosis with the world, but continuing to bring joy to his fans through his music while facing the disease so publicly," said Harry Johns, president and CEO, Alzheimer's Association. "Glen and his family helped to bring Alzheimer's out of the shadows and into the spotlight with openness and honesty that has rallied people to take action on behalf of the cause. In this spirit, we will continue to work aggressively to pursue greater awareness, provide support to families, and accelerate research to slow, stop and ultimately cure Alzheimer's disease." According to the Alzheimer's Association 2017 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, Alzheimer's disease is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the only cause among the top ten that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed. An estimated 5.5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease, with more than 15 million friends and family providing unpaid care. These numbers will escalate rapidly in the coming years and by 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease may nearly triple. About the Alzheimer's Association The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org or call the 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900. SOURCE Alzheimer's Association Related Links http://www.alz.org "It's so important for people to know what to do if a person is experiencing a life-threatening emergency," said Deborah C. Mandell, VMD, DACVECC, member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council , and professor at Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. "Now, the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course provides owners, pet-sitters and dog walkers with an easy and convenient way to learn life-saving skills for their pets." People can access the course on their desktop or tablet at redcross.org/catdogfirstaid and go through the content at their own pace. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete the course. Participants can stop and pick up where they left off if Fluffy needs a treat or it's time to take Fido out to the dog park. The interactive course includes: How to determine a pet's normal vital signs so that owners can notice if there are any irregularities; Step-by-step instructions and visual aids for what to do if a pet is choking, needs CPR, has a wound, or is having a seizure; and Information on preventative care, health and tips for a pet's well-being. DOWNLOAD THE PET FIRST AID APP The Red Cross Pet First Aid App complements the course by providing cat and dog owners with instant access to expert advice, an animal hospital locator, pet-friendly hotels, content on how to include pets in family emergency preparedness plans and more. The app can be downloaded for free in mobile app stores or by texting 'GETPET' to 90999. American Pet Nutrition is a proud sponsor of the Pet First Aid App. About the American Red Cross The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. SOURCE American Red Cross Related Links http://www.redcross.org ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampronix is expanding its line of offered displays with the newest 8MP clinical monitor from LG Electronics. Ampronix will be promoting the monitor at the upcoming FIME 2017 summer trade fair in Florida. As a leader in the medical imaging field, Ampronix sees LG's advanced medical monitors as key elements of their growing product portfolio, bringing customers a new level of performance. LG's Latest Clinical Review Monitor LG's new 8mp 4k Clinical Review Monitor The LG 8MP Clinical Monitor 27HJ712CS-W is a 27-inch display that offers outstanding picture quality while boasting an impressive 178 degree wide viewing angle Thanks to LG's In-plane switching (IPS) technology. This 4K monitor delivers 3840x2160 pixels, and aids in discerning minute details in analysis compared to dull, blurred regions in conventional monitors. The LG clinical review monitor is compliant with DICOM Part 14, ensuring the most accurate and consistent shading in grayscale imagery. Additionally, the color gamut covers over 99% of the sRGB color space for the most vibrant depiction of color without shift. Other features include low input lag, quick response times, and a dynamic sync mode that allows the monitor to receive signals quickly and display images without distortion. Stephen Hu, head of commercial monitors for LG Electronics USA Business Solutions, said, "As a worldwide leader in the premium display industry, we are confident that LG medical imaging devices like our clinical and surgical monitors will help medical professionals improve the accuracy, quality, and efficiency of their procedures." Brightness stabilization is an essential feature of the LG clinical monitor. The backlit brightness stability sensor auto adjusts for variations caused by aging images, certifying consistent and reliable images throughout usage. Lastly, the Flicker Safe and Reader Modes ensure surgeons work comfortably by lessening eye fatigue through the elimination of on-screen flickers and harmful blue light. Coming August 2017 Ampronix is pleased to highlight its collaboration with LG Business Solutions at the FIME 2017 conference, August 8-10 in Orlando, Florida. Described as 'The Largest Medical Trade Fair Across the Americas,' this trade fair is an annual must-see with over 1,650 exhibitors from over 40 countries. This year, FIME is introducing a laboratory zone with access to over 160 dedicated medical lab products and services from China, Germany, Korea, and various others. FIME also provides CME accredited conferences and seminars open to all attendees. Michael Thomas, Director of Marketing at Ampronix, says he is excited to work with LG at the upcoming FIME conference to showcase their new monitor. "LG's latest clinical display has really impressed us in regards to the image quality and overall durability," stated Thomas. To experience the functionality of these displays in person, contact Michael Thomas with Ampronix at [email protected], or visit their booth at FIME 2017, booth #B.J19. Contact Ampronix: Email: [email protected] International Sales:+1949-273-8000 Domestic Sales: 1800-400-7972 for US and Canada Follow Us: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn About Ampronix Ampronix is a renowned authorized master distributor of the medical industry's top brands, as well as a world-class manufacturer of innovative technology. Since 1982, Ampronix has been dedicated to meeting the growing needs of the medical community with its extensive product knowledge, outstanding service, and state-of-the-art repair facility. Ampronix prides itself on its ability to offer tailored, one-stop solutions at a faster and more cost-effective rate than other manufacturers. Ampronix is ISO 13485:2003, ISO 9001:2008, and ANSI/ESD S20.20-2014 certified. Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GHOsnnnH-Y SOURCE www.Ampronix.com BRUSSELS, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrew De Niese is a Belgian psychologist who has studied and researched Asperger's syndrome for over 15 years, and has been traveling throughout Europe to share his findings and knowledge on the topic. His latest destination was Romania, which is notorious for having a culture that stigmatizes and questions the credibility of psychological disorders and new research findings. Andrew De Niese, Andrew De Niese Bakersfield, Andrew De Niese California Andrew De Niese says, "The culture of Europe is very different to that of the United States. Generally speaking, people here have a very dismissive attitude towards such medical findings which lead to a plethora of undiagnosed cases and deterioration of the quality of life of those who suffer from the disorder. Even today there is so much controversy surrounding Asperger's. Well firstly, as of 2014, the medical community's holy bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, no longer diagnose Asperger's separately but rather considers it a part of Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. What causes the onset of this disorder is still inconclusive, but we have found that it usually sets in by the age of 2 years. "Don't buy into the myths that fly around; they all stem from unawareness. ASD is not a disease that needs to be treated, it's more of a difference. It's been called high-functional autism to differentiate it from the general umbrella of Autism. People with ASD are well-developed language and cognitive skills, with most displaying exemplary and in-depth knowledge of particular areas of high interest to them. However, their social skills and motor development largely lag behind the rest of the world. They have trouble reading social situations and cues and often lack the ability to empathize with others. ASD manifests physically as well through repetitive motions and gestures." Andrew De Niese held educational seminars and workshops at schools, colleges, and mental health hospitals in Romania to shed light on the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. "Well, I had to get through so much bureaucratic rigmarole to get the permission to do it, but in the end, it was well worth it. My talks with the students were limited compared to the time I spent with the counselors and mental health care professionals. But they all got to learn about the recommended services that could support those with ASD to live a healthier and more fulfilling life. I taught them at length about the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy to combat the issues that are a result of emotions and obsessions. I also gave instructions on how to use physical therapy, speech therapy, as well as methods for training proper social and adaptive skills. "Apart from behavioral training, the use of prescribed medication such as SSRIs or antipsychotics is also recommended. With proper therapy and positive reinforcement, many of those who suffer from ASD learn to face their challenges in a healthier way. Although their interaction skills and relationships might not see much improvement, they do manage to have successful careers. In fact, the number of people with ASD who have jobs is twice the number of people who suffer from autism." Andrew De Niese's seminars had a far reaching impact in Romania as was evidenced by the myriad of social media posts acknowledging his ground-break research and work regarding ASD. Ana Botezatu, a well-respected Romanian psychologist, attended De Niese's workshops and was left very impressed. She said, "My daughter has ASD. I, myself being a psychologist with so many years of experience, could put my finger on what was different about her. We took her to America and that's where we learned about ASD. "Andrew's vast knowledge and research in this field gives me hope that my daughter and several others like her who never get the correct diagnosis, will eventually be able to cope with this communication disorder. It's great that there are people like Andrew who spend their lives working on something that can essential gift a better life to others." With all this praise and appreciation coming De Niese's way, his contribution to society is clearly evident. Raising awareness about this disorder in various parts of the world that might not have made advancements in the field of medicine and neurological disorders can go a long way to giving people with ASD a shot at a healthier and happier life. Press Contact: Eric Blankenship 786-332-6554 SOURCE Andrew De Niese The Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City is dedicated to hosting single-theme exhibits of digital and print photography. Cuba Is features acclaimed photographers who have focused their cameras on Cuba and also introduces several emerging Cuban photographic talents. More than 120 photos feature subjects ranging from the defiant youth known as "Los Frikis" to the hard-partying children of the top 1% from the underground system of sharing digital content from the U.S. called "El Paquete" to Miami's Chonga girls. The goal is to reveal the complexities of Cuban life both on and off the island, while exploring aspects of it not easily accessed by foreigners or even Cubans themselves. "Cuba is a country torn between past and future, between old ideology and new horizons, between a culture that stands out of time, and a need to move forward in time," said Annenberg Foundation Chairman of the Board, President and CEO Wallis Annenberg. "Cuba has had an outsized influence on our shores through waves of immigrants and through the music and art and politics they've carried with them. That's why this exhibit is so compelling and so urgently important. Cuba has changed America and now it's changing itself, before our very eyes." Like all exhibits at the Annenberg Space for Photography, Cuba Is features a documentary film that runs throughout the day on 12-foot screens in the central gallery. Filmmakers followed three Cuban photographers commissioned by Annenberg to shoot pictures for this exhibition, giving viewers a rare look at how photographers react in real-time to what they're shooting. The filmmakers also visited iconic Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt, who captured Fidel Castro and Che Guevara not long after the Revolution. In addition to this film, a virtual reality experience brings viewers directly into Cuba's current and dynamic street music scene. The exhibit opens to the public on the evening of September 8th, 2017 from 7PM to 10PM with a celebration featuring free Cuban cuisine, cocktails, music, live performances and more. On August 17th, in advance of the opening of Cuba Is, the Annenberg Space for Photography and CNN Films will host the West Coast premiere of ELIAN a new documentary from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and director Tim Golden, director Ross McDonnell, and producer Trevor Birney. The CNN documentary explores a pivotal moment in the US-Cuban relationship: the 1999 sea rescue of five-year-old Cuban Elian Gonzalez and the international custody battle and cultural fallout that followed. In addition to hosting ongoing programming, workshops, screenings and the acclaimed Iris Nights Lectures, the Annenberg Space for Photography's Skylight Studios will offer an interactive exhibition highlighting curated artworks and collected stories from Cuba, exhibited for the first time in the United States. For more information, please visit annenbergphotospace.org/events. Cuba Is remains on display through March 4th, 2018. Visitors can see it Wednesdays through Sundays from 11AM to 6PM at the Annenberg Space for Photography (2000 Avenue of the Stars Los Angeles, CA 90067). Admission is free, and there is validated parking. For more information on Cuba Is: https://www.annenbergphotospace.org/exhibits/cuba-is For more information on Annenberg Space for Photography: https://www.annenbergphotospace.org For more information on Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA: http://www.pacificstandardtime.org SOURCE The Annenberg Space for Photography Related Links https://www.annenbergphotospace.org IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- appLariat, provider of the industry's only enterprise-grade continuous delivery platform, today announced general availability of a self-service SaaS version and the appointment of Jonathan Chadwick to the company's Advisory Board. "With the release of the SaaS version of appLariat, development teams of any size can quickly migrate existing apps to automated CI/CD using containers on Kubernetes in the cloud," said Mazda Marvasti, CEO, appLariat. "The appLariat SaaS version provides automated containerization and continuous delivery of apps to Kubernetes on Amazon Web Services and Google Container Engine without the learning curve associated with these technologies, while easily integrating to existing development and continuous integration tools and processes. We encourage developers to come to appLariat.io, sign up and try out the platform to see the benefits they can get delivering their apps in containers on Kubernetes in the cloud." The newly released SaaS version of appLariat has these capabilities: Automated CI/CD and developer sandboxes with any CI tool (Travis CI, Jenkins, etc.) Automated containerization of an existing application in just minutes appLariat provides a simple, wizard-like interface to convert an existing application to containers. Automated deployment and policy-based management of the Kubernetes container runtime appLariat silently installs and configures the Kubernetes orchestrator. With policy-controlled application deployments and clusters, customers save 30-50% on cloud infrastructure costs. Basic and Pro monthly subscription plans are available for different size teams and both come with a 30-day free trial, requiring no credit card at sign up. Pricing for the Basic plan is $39/month, while pricing for the Pro plan is $288/month. Details of the subscription plans are available at appLariat.com/pricing. Enterprise subscription plans are available for multiple teams as well priced based on cluster size requirements. appLariat also announced today that Jonathan Chadwick has joined the company's Advisory Board. Leveraging over 25 years of executive-level operational experience at leading global ISVs and startups, Chadwick has invested in appLariat and will serve as an advisor assisting with its go-to-market strategy and partnerships. Over the course of his career, Chadwick has held executive-level operational roles and board seats at both the largest global ISVs and innovative startups. Chadwick currently serves on the board of directors of ServiceNow, Tanium, Cognizant, and F5 Networks. He previously served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at VMware. "To bring applications and services to market faster and gain competitive advantage, companies are starting to leverage container technology, but the steep learning curve means that the technology has not made it to the mainstream," said Chadwick. "appLariat's approach democratizes container technology by eliminating the learning curve, making it easy for any company to leverage this technology to deliver software faster and with better quality. appLariat's software solves a real business problem and I look forward to helping them grow." About appLariat appLariat provides the industry's only enterprise-grade continuous delivery platform that enables cloud-based CI/CD for existing applications without time consuming and costly re-architecture efforts. Enterprise customers select appLariat to automate containerization, deployment and ongoing management of their applications and modern application runtimes (e.g., Kubernetes), across private, public and hybrid cloud environments. appLariat provides powerful policy control capabilities to ensure enterprise-class governance, compliance and security. With appLariat, customers reduce their cloud infrastructure costs by up to 50% through efficient management of application deployments throughout the development lifecycle. appLariat allows enterprises to deliver applications and services at the speed of market change, transforming IT into a strategic business enabler and competitive advantage. To learn more, visit www.applariat.com. Media Contact: Steve Henning appLariat Corporation [email protected] (949) 616-0819 SOURCE appLariat Corporation Related Links http://www.applariat.com ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of American Educators, a non-union, non-profit, professional association serving teachers in all fifty states, enthusiastically congratulates Sydney Chaffee on her being recognized as the 2017 National Teacher of the Year. In a survey of AAE members, 95.8% support "recognizing and congratulating Sydney Chaffee as an example of the many great educators nationwide and as an example to the many young people who should consider becoming an educator." Over 70% of the survey respondents are public district teachers and 16% are public charter school teachers. In honor of Sydney's tremendous accomplishment, AAE's Chairman and President Gary Beckner released the following statement: "Throughout the country, educators tirelessly, creatively, and passionately serve our nation's schoolchildren. It would be impossible to individually recognize each for his or her contributionsalthough it would be worthwhile for us to tryand so the National Teacher of the Year program identifies phenomenal examples of excellent teachers. I have been fortunate enough to know several previous winners, each of whom is an impressive example to the country's teaching corps. Sydney is an inspiration and AAE members wholeheartedly congratulate their colleague. She will undoubtedly inspire more young people to consider education as a career path. The fact that Sydney is from a public charter school is a reminder that great educators serve students in all environments, and we at AAE are honored to serve them." Sydney's extraordinary accomplishment was not without controversy. Unfortunately, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the teachers union in Sydney's home state, voted to not congratulate the first national teacher of the year to come from Massachusetts. Sydney teaches at Codman Academy Public Charter School near Boston, which is not unionized. AAE's Executive Vice President Colin Sharkey noted the controversy in the following statement: "I'm proud but not surprised that AAE's members so emphatically recognized Sydney's achievement. AAE members see a fellow educator who shares their devotion to students, not a political opportunity. That the union chose to snub a fellow educator due to their politics reveals more about their agenda and values than they even realize. Fortunately, Sydney did not let the insult distract her from her effort to encourage educators of all backgrounds to serve our nation's students. In fact, the grace and class with which she weathered the slight was one of her first opportunities to illustrate what educators nationwide must face on a regular basisthe shortsighted politics of adults trying to distract from a noble purpose: educating our nation's children." The Association of American Educators (AAE) is the largest national, non-union, professional educator organization and is committed to a teaching profession that is student-oriented, well respected, and personally fulfilling. AAE has members in all 50 states and welcomes all education professionals. Membership is $16.50 per month which includes $2 million professional liability insurance, employment rights coverage, professional resources and many other benefits. Visit aaeteachers.org. SOURCE Association of American Educators Related Links http://www.aaeteachers.org PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger & Montague, P.C., a national plaintiffs' law firm with a long history of successfully prosecuting complex mass tort and class action cases, has filed class action lawsuits in federal courts located in New Jersey, Colorado, and Delaware on behalf of its clients. The cases allege claims on behalf of all individuals in the United States who have been harmed by their purchase or pending purchase of homes containing TJI Joists with Flak Jacket Protection manufactured by Weyerhaeuser Company. Berger & Montague, P.C. anticipates that it will file additional lawsuits on behalf of consumers affected by the TJI Joists in other states including Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and others. The class action complaints filed in federal court in New Jersey, Colorado, and Delaware allege that Weyerhaeuser's TJI Joists with Flak Jacket Protection manufactured after December 1, 2016 are defective. The TJI Joists' "Flak Jacket" fire-protection coating includes a formaldehyde-based resin that results in the "off-gassing" of high levels of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. The formaldehyde fumes build up quickly and invade consumers' homes with a pickle-like odor, which can cause families, visitors, and workers to suffer from headaches, stinging and tearing eyes, dizziness, nausea, coughing, wheezing, and asthma-type symptoms. The TJI Joists' defective nature is so severe that class members' homes are uninhabitable, and the TJI Joists require immediate repair or removal. Berger & Montague, P.C. is helping its clients evaluate their possible remediation options and is working with leading experts in the United States on formaldehyde pollution and indoor environmental engineering and testing. The TJI Joists with Flak Jacket Protection were installed between December 2016 and July 2017, including in many new housing developments by major builders. Berger & Montague has assembled a large team of lawyers, investigators and experts who are providing counsel and representation to affected individuals across the United States. "Learning that your new home contains toxic levels of formaldehyde, a cancer-causing pollutant, is just horrible," said Berger & Montague, P.C. Managing Shareholder, Shanon J. Carson, who leads the Firm's Consumer Protection Group. "Our firm is proud to represent these families, and we intend to make sure that they are compensated for all of the damages caused by this product, including the inconveniences of being forced to temporarily or permanently move. We are also committed to ensuring that any proposed repairs will safely and permanently solve this problem, will not expose families to further health risks, and will not further diminish the value of these homes." Plaintiffs and the proposed class members are seeking to recover all expenses caused by the defective TJI Joists with Flak Jacket Protection, including repair, removal, replacement, relocation, and delayed closing expenses. They also seek to ensure that repairs do not expose homeowners to any risks of long-term formaldehyde exposure. Plaintiffs are also seeking all available statutory damages and penalties, and punitive damages. Affected homeowners and homebuyers should contact Shanon J. Carson at [email protected] or (215) 875-4656 for a free evaluation of their potential case. Additional information about the lawsuits is available at www.bergermontague.com/weyerhaeuser. Berger & Montague, P.C. is a national plaintiffs' law firm based in Philadelphia with additional offices in Minneapolis and Washington D.C. The Firm litigates consumer protection cases in federal and state courts throughout the United States and employs over 65 attorneys. The Firm has played lead roles in major cases for over 47 years, resulting in recoveries of over $30 billion for its clients. The Firm's attorneys have extensive experience representing injured parties in product liability disputes. Further information about the Firm can be found at www.bergermontague.com. Please Contact: Shanon J. Carson Managing Shareholder Berger & Montague, P.C. Telephone: (215) 875-4656 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Berger & Montague, P.C. Related Links http://www.bergermontague.com Rodriguez will be responsible for advancing J.D. Power's digital transformation with responsibility for new product development, branding, marketing and mergers and acquisitions. In this role, Rodriguez will be responsible for the design and content of J.D. Power's digital interface with clients and consumers, reporting directly to Finbarr O'Neill, Chief Executive Officer and President . "Bernardo is an accomplished business leader with proven experience to accelerate transformation of businesses through the development of data and analytics, strategic products and capabilities that drive growth opportunities," O'Neill said. "Bernardo has the ideal background to integrate various data sources into a holistic view of the consumer." Rodriguez joins J.D. Power from Huge, the global full-service digital agency, where he served as Managing Director of Strategy, partnering with Fortune 100 companies on the design and execution of product and brand strategies, enterprise transformation and innovation. At Huge, he led projects on digital transformation and experience strategy for a $12 billion Canadian telecom company, product strategy for a $30 billion global financial institution, and a small business segment digital strategy for a $120 billion U.S. telecom company. "I have always admired the spirit of innovation that J.D. Power brings to the industry through its continued technological advancements and unmatched data and analytics capabilities," Rodriguez said. "I look forward to bringing my digital expertise and vision to my new role and contributing to the future successes of J.D. Power." Previously, Rodriguez served as a Managing Director at Accenture, the global management consulting and professional services company, where he led the firm's North American Digital Strategy Practice for telecommunications, media and technology. His client work included a $140 billion global industrial company, a $68 billion global financial institution and a $30 billion U.S. telecom company. His engagements focused on user-centric transformations and IOT strategy, leading teams in mergers and acquisitions, operating model transformations, digital strategies and innovation. Earlier, Rodriguez served as Chief Digital Officer at Kaplan Test Prep, a top provider of educational and career services, where he was responsible for digital transformation in technology, data science, user experience, online learning, Kaplan publishing and innovation. "Bernardo is joining J.D. Power at a critical time of digital and technological expansion of the business," said Joseph Pacini, Chief Executive Officer of XIO Group. "I am confident that his perspective and capabilities will further boost J.D. Power's digital footprint as an industry leader and quickly build new growth opportunities for the platform." Rodriguez holds a bachelor's of science degree in electrical engineering from Universidad Rafael Urdaneta in Venezuela and a master's degree and Ph.D. in computer engineering from the University of Colorado. He is fluent in English and Spanish. See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2017163. J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. Those capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has offices serving North/South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. J.D. Power is a portfolio company of XIO Group. XIO Group is a global alternative investments firm headquartered in London with more than $3.2 billion of committed capital that employs an international team of more than 70 professionals. Representing more than 15 nationalities among its employees and its network of advisors, the firm has operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong and mainland China. With a seasoned international investment team that includes professionals with experience working at many of the world's leading private equity firms, XIO Group seeks to deploy its capital for global transactions. XIO Group's strategy is to identify and invest in market-leading businesses located across North America and Europe and help these companies to capitalize on untapped opportunities in fast growing markets, particularly in Asia. XIO Group is led by its four founders: Athene Li, Joseph Pacini, Murphy Qiao and Carsten Geyer. For more information, visit: www.xiogroup.com. Media Relations Contacts J.D. Power Geno Effler; 714-621-6224; [email protected] XIO Group Brian Shiver; 212-850-5683; [email protected] About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/about-us/press-release-info SOURCE J.D. Power Related Links http://www.jdpower.com "Alexa, let's walk to the kitchen" combined technologies to enhance mobility for individuals with severe lower body impairments, as well as growing global aging population TORONTO and BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (OTCQX:BNKL) ("Bionik" or the "Company"), a robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and assistive technology solutions to individuals with neurological and mobility challenges from hospital to home, today announced it has integrated Amazon's Echo ("Echo") technology and Alexa Voice Service ("Alexa") into its ARKE lower body exoskeleton. The ARKE exoskeleton utilizes Bionik's proprietary transmission and actuation system, making it one of the most powerful robotic devices compared to similar systems. It will now include device control, utilizing multiple sensors located throughout the device in combination with Alexa. Users will be able to activate different activity modes, such as Standing and Walking, by saying "Alexa, I'm ready to stand" or "Alexa, I'm ready to walk." Most movements including walking and standing are initiated by the upper body. As such, sensors in the feet, angle sensors in the joints, and inertial measurement units feel how the body weight is distributed and, combined with upper body information and movements, allow you to take a step. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to translate information from all this sensor information intelligently activates the ARKE for those paralyzed from the waist down, as it mimics movements that would generally allow an able person to take steps. "We are excited to complete the integration of Amazon's Echo and Alexa into our ARKE exoskeleton, combining the power of Amazon's voice-activated technologies with our powerful assistive robotic solutions for the next evolution in treating consumer immobility," said Michal Prywata, co-founder, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Bionik. "In building ARKE, we had one goal in mind to empower the user to take back their mobility and regain the ability to complete tasks that the rest of us deem normal, like walking to the refrigerator or going to get the mail. This pairing of our robotic technologies with the power of Amazon's Alexa further pushes the boundaries of what technology can do within the home healthcare industry, and we believe we will help many impaired individuals regain the mobility they once lost." Bionik's current ARKE product is in clinical development and aimed toward use by those who have suffered a spinal cord injury or are otherwise severely impaired in their lower body due to stroke, traumatic brain injury, or some other incident. Further opportunity also exists within the aging population, approaching a billion people globally, who rely on unstable walkers or other wheeled devices for mobility. Following its recent partnership with Wistron Corporation, the Company is seeking to produce a home-type exoskeleton product with a lower price point that is more accessible to the average consumer. The goal will be to make these devices financeable, so the user pays a smaller monthly fee than normal cost of care building a ramp, paying for nurses, wheelchair rental would be for someone with a mobility injury. "The continued evolution of our ARKE exoskeleton is important for our Company, as the market for assistive mobility products continues to grow at a rapid pace across the globe," said Peter Bloch, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Bionik. "Aside from the large number of citizens who have suffered injury, the global population is also aging rapidly, and those citizens will be in need of a home-based assistive product that can truly provide them the mobility that a wheelchair, cane, or crutches currently can't. We will continue to seek out partnerships and technological advancements that will enable us to serve that population on a mass consumer scale." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly nine million people in the United States have a mobility challenge that requires assistive products an estimated 2.2 million depend on a wheelchair, while an estimated 6.5 million use a cane, walker, or crutches. Globally, that market expands significantly, with The Wheelchair Foundation estimating that almost 132 million people globally have a physical disability and require a wheelchair for mobility. About Bionik Laboratories Bionik Laboratories (OTCQX:BNKL) is a robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and mobility solutions to individuals with neurological and mobility challenges from hospital to home. The Company has a portfolio of products focused on upper and lower extremity rehabilitation for stroke and other mobility-impaired patients, including three products on the market and four products in varying stages of development. The InMotion Systems the InMotion ARM, InMotion Wrist, InMotion Hand and InMotion AnkleBot are designed to provide intelligent, patient-adaptive therapy in a manner that has been clinically verified to maximize neuro-recovery. Bionik is also developing a lower-body exoskeleton, ARKE, designed to allow paraplegics as well as other wheelchair users the ability to rehabilitate through walking. ARKE is designed to continually adapt to a patient's ability and provide real-time feedback to the physiotherapist. For more information, please visit www.bioniklabs.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words "may," "should," "would," "will," "could," "scheduled," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," "seek," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the design, development and commercialization of human exoskeletons and other robotic rehabilitation products, (ii) a projection of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items, (iii) the Company's future financial performance, (iv) the market and projected market for our existing and planned products and (v) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in points (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances, and may not be realized because they are based upon the Company's current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, many of which the Company has no control. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, the Company's inability to obtain additional financing, the significant length of time and resources associated with the development of our products and related insufficient cash flows and resulting illiquidity, the Company's inability to expand the Company's business, significant government regulation of medical devices and the healthcare industry, lack of product diversification, volatility in the price of the Company's raw materials, and the Company's failure to implement the Company's business plans or strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company's filings with the SEC. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. SOURCE Bionik Laboratories Corp. Related Links http://www.bioniklabs.com NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AI media company Blackwood Seven today announced the latest appointment to its leadership team. Hitesh Dholakia, a data science veteran with extensive product leadership experience, joins Blackwood Seven as Chief Product Officer. Dholakia will be overseeing all aspects of Blackwood Seven's global product offerings, reporting to Carl Erik Kjrsgaard, the company's CEO and co-founder. "Our work is laying the foundations for a new and transparent industry, based on a simple subscription model and running on A.I. Our mission is to disrupt the media agency value chain and its antiquated operating model," said Kjrsgaard. "Hitesh has overseen the product development at some of the world's largest companies, and his expertise in machine learning will be crucial in expanding our AI platform. We're sending a clear signal that we will continue to attract and retain the best talent in order to fulfill our vision." The appointment marks the latest addition in a series of new hires for Blackwood Seven's leadership team. Last month, the company announced new hires from marketing veterans Nick Stoltz and Stanlei Bellan, who joined the company from Market Share and GroupM, respectively; Stoltz now serves as COO, while Bellan is now the company's General Manager, West Coast. Dholakia joins Blackwood Seven with nearly two decades worth of product development and management, setting visions for product roadmaps and technology infrastructure. Most recently, he served as SVP of Product Management and User Experience with Sysomos, a company focused on offering AI-based products to brand marketers. At Sysomos, he used machine learning products to provide actionable intelligence for Fortune 500 enterprises. Previously, Dholakia has held product leadership positions at eBay, Yahoo! and Siebel. "Blackwood Seven is a true innovator within the media industry, and its focus towards making artificial intelligence common place within the industry represents a tremendous opportunity to create much needed change," said Dholakia. "I'm incredibly excited to oversee such an incredible product and vision as we begin to increase our footprint across the globe." About Blackwood Seven Blackwood Seven brings artificial intelligence to media planning. With its proprietary media platform, the company calculates each client's "media effect formula", which allows attribution of all channels online such as search, YouTube and Facebook as well as offline such as TV, print and OOH. This algorithm optimises the media mix and predicts an exact forecast of expected results, in real time. Blackwood Seven has 175 employees in Munich, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, New York and Barcelona. For more information please visit www.blackwoodseven.com Media Contact United States: North 6th Agency for Blackwood Seven [email protected] 212.334.9753, ext. 117 United Kingdom: Propeller Group for Blackwood Seven [email protected] +447982631355 SOURCE Blackwood Seven Related Links http://www.blackwoodseven.com SEATTLE, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) have finalized an order for 12 737 MAXs first announced at the 2017 Paris Air Show. The agreement also includes two new orders for the 787-9 Dreamliner. "These additional orders reflect ALC's highly successful placements to date of our MAX and 787 order book and the need to fulfill the incremental demand we are experiencing for these aircraft across both existing and new customers for ALC," said John L. Plueger, Chief Executive Officer and President of Air Lease Corporation. The deal includes five 737 MAX 7s and seven 737 MAX 8s, bringing ALC's total MAX orders to 130. The leasing company has now ordered a total of 49 Dreamliners. "ALC understands the value and flexibility these airplanes will bring to their customers all over the world," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister. "We're excited to grow ALC's order book and look forward to continuing our strong partnership." The 737 MAX is the fastest selling airplane in Boeing history. The MAX family incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The 787-9 will provide ALC's airline customers with long-range performance capabilities and excellent operating economics. About Air Lease Corporation ALC (NYSE: AL) is an 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 partners worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. For more information, visit ALC's website at www.airleasecorp.com. Contact: Doug Alder Boeing Communications +1 206-660-2978 [email protected] SOURCE Boeing Related Links http://www.boeing.com DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bouncie, a developer of innovative products and applications for the automotive industry, announced the launch of a connected vehicle device that helps improve teen driver safety while giving parents peace of mind every time their teenager gets behind the wheel. The unfortunate reality is that teenagers have the highest crash rate per mile traveled of any drivers. The good news is that teen driving accidents are preventable when parents have regular conversations about safety with their teen drivers, practice safe driving together, and use a connected vehicle device such as Bouncie. The Bouncie smart-device plugs into the On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD) of a vehicle, through which the smartphone app provides a clean, simple way to view the information it retrieves. Bouncie collects useful information such as trip histories, driving habits, and vehicle location, while monitoring the status of vehicle maintenance and diagnostics. Parents can use the information as a conversation starter about responsible driving habits and safety. Here are four critical teen driving risk factors, and how Bouncie can help parents understand those risks and work to improve teen driver safety. The Crash Risk for Teen Drivers is the Highest During the First Year After Receiving License - Crashes happen because teenage drivers lack experience, making them more likely to underestimate dangerous situations and commit critical decision errors leading to accidents. Bouncie delivers real-time insights into driving habits, such as hard braking events, rapid acceleration, average speed, and trip history. These insights can reinforce good behavior or be used to correct any risky behavior. - Crashes happen because teenage drivers lack experience, making them more likely to underestimate dangerous situations and commit critical decision errors leading to accidents. Bouncie delivers real-time insights into driving habits, such as hard braking events, rapid acceleration, average speed, and trip history. These insights can reinforce good behavior or be used to correct any risky behavior. The Crash Risk for Teen Drivers is the Highest at Night - Driving at night is more hazardous for drivers of all ages, but the risk for crashes is highest amongst teenage drivers. Parents can address this risk by establishing driving curfews and using Bouncie to enforce this curfew by sending alerts when a teen driver uses the vehicle past a certain time of day. Driving at night is more hazardous for drivers of all ages, but the risk for crashes is highest amongst teenage drivers. Parents can address this risk by establishing driving curfews and using Bouncie to enforce this curfew by sending alerts when a teen driver uses the vehicle past a certain time of day. The Crash Risk for Teen Drivers is the Highest on the Weekends and During the Summer Months - Teenagers spend more time driving on the weekends and during the summer, but more time on the road increases the crash risk. Parents can address this risk by limiting the amount of time a teenager can spend behind the wheel and creating a list of off-limit locations, roads, and highways. Parents can create driving zones called Geo-Circles and the Bouncie app can send alerts anytime a vehicle enters or leaves the zone. - Teenagers spend more time driving on the weekends and during the summer, but more time on the road increases the crash risk. Parents can address this risk by limiting the amount of time a teenager can spend behind the wheel and creating a list of off-limit locations, roads, and highways. Parents can create driving zones called Geo-Circles and the Bouncie app can send alerts anytime a vehicle enters or leaves the zone. The Crash Risk for Teen Drivers Increases When Teens Drive with Other Teens - Distracted driving is a common problem for all drivers, but the problem is greatly amplified for teenage drivers when other teenagers are in the vehicle. While Bouncie cannot monitor the number of passengers in the vehicle, it can alert parents to risky behavior such as speeding, abrupt braking, and sudden acceleration. When parents use the Bouncie connected vehicle device to have informative conversations about safety with their teen drivers, they are taking critical, positive steps to ensuring that their youngster will be a responsible driver when hitting the open road. Bouncie is available for purchase on www.bouncie.com. The smartphone app is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play. About Bouncie The Bouncie smart-device is compatible with nearly every vehicle manufactured during the past 20 years. The smartphone app is compatible with both iOS and Android and is available for download in the app marketplaces. Bouncie is a division of Tail Light LLC, a Dallas-based technology company that has delivered innovative products and applications for the automotive industry since 1998. For pricing and additional information, please visit www.bouncie.com. SOURCE Tail Light Related Links http://www.taillight.com LONDON, Aug.8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- How is Ibrance faring? Is Kisqali expected to be a threat? Having dominated the HER2-positive breast cancer space for many years, Roche's blockbuster drug Herceptin is likely to face the threat of biosimilar trastuzumab in the coming years; KOLs weigh in on how biosimilar trastuzumab may be accepted by physicians and patients, its potential usage in different settings, as well as its chances to become the preferred agent in the HER2-positive space. Meanwhile, KOLs discuss how Roche's Perjeta is setting itself up for expanded use. Experts also give their views on how Pfizer's Ibrance is faring in the HER2-negative/HR-positive space and what challenges lie ahead for this drug, including the arrival of Novartis' Kisqali and Eli Lilly's abemaciclib. The potential usage of PARP inhibitors and PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors in triple-negative breast cancer is also explored. Twelve US and EU KOLs offer their candid insights on these issues and more. In this 6 US and six EU KOLs offer their candid insights on 6 marketed therapies and 12 pipeline drugs. Take a tour of the report now: The table of contents > The key business questions answered > The key KOL quotes > See the therapies covered > Find out who the 6 EU & 6 US KOLs are > Review an extract from the report - 1 drug profile > Top Takeaways Several biosimilar trastuzumab versions are under regulatory review. How do KOLs view these products and how do they envisage their future use? Perjeta is under investigation as an adjuvant therapy for HER2-positive disease. What impact will the APHINITY study results have? Neratinib is awaiting approval in the extended adjuvant setting. How do KOLs view this agent and is uptake likely to be significant? What are Ibrance's chances of approval in other settings? And can Pfizer fend off competition from Kisqali and abemaciclib? How do the alpha specific PI3 kinase inhibitors, alpelisib and taselisib shape up against the CDK4/6 inhibitors? KOLs offer their views on these agents and how they could be positioned. Kisqali has received US approval for HER2-negative/HR-positive breast cancer. What benefits does this product need to show in order to compete effectively? KOLs discuss how PARP inhibitors and checkpoint inhibitors may be used in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). What are KOLs' thoughts on these agents and how do they envisage TNBC to be treated in the future? Quotes "Alpelisib is clearly more selective or alpha specific. This should allow for better targeting but we'll see if that pans out clinically. I think we need to be careful with the toxicity of these drugs."EU Key Opinion Leader "There are still studies that need to be completed to address the issue of sequencing of different therapies. The bulk of the evidence does support first-line use with a CDK4/6 inhibitor, but then after you get beyond first-line therapy, it starts to become a bit more confusing." US Key Opinion Leader Sample of therapies covered Marketed Therapies Herceptin (trastuzumab; Roche) Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine; Roche) Perjeta (pertuzumab; Roche) Tykerb/Tyverb (lapatinib; Novartis) Plus 2 more - download the full list now > Phase III neratinib (PB 272; Puma Biotechnology) margetuximab (MGAH 22; MacroGenics) Gilotrif/Giotrif (afatinib; Boehringer Ingelheim) Kisqali (ribociclib; Novartis) Plus 8 more - download the full list now > Sample of KOLs interviewed KOLs from North America Dr. Charles L. Vogel, MD. Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Haematology/Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Florida. Dr. Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD. Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Joyce O'Shaughnessy, MD. Specialises in medical oncology with board certification in both internal medicine and medical oncology. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, with subspecialty certification in medical oncology. KOLs from Europe Dr. Thomas Bachelot, MD. Head of the Breast Cancer Unit and the Clinical Trial Unit at the Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France. Dr. Adrian L. Harris, MD, DPhil. Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Oxford and Director of the Cancer Research UK Medical Oncology Unit, London, England. Dr. Ahmad Awada, MD. Head of Medical Oncology Clinic at Jules Bordet Cancer Institute, Brussels, Belgium. Money Back Guarantee Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4967737/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com BOSTON, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit, Charvat v. Resort Marketing Group, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:12-cv-05846, about automated telephone calls offering a free cruise with Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Lines. You are included in the Settlement if at any time between July of 2009 and March of 2014, you were the owner, subscriber, or user of a residential or cellular telephone line that received pre-recorded telephone calls initiated by Resort Marketing Group, Inc. ("RMG") during which you were offered the goods or services of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian and your phone number is contained in the Call Records (a database containing all the numbers dialed) of RMG, the third party travel agency that made the calls at issue. Defendants will create a Settlement Fund of $7,000,000$12,500,000, depending on the sum of eligible claims filed. The Fund will be used to pay Class Counsel's attorneys' fees (up to 1/3 of the Fund) and expenses, an incentive award to the Class Representative (up to $50,000), and notice and administration costs before making payments to Settlement Class Members who filed a valid Claim Form. Each eligible call you received will have a maximum value of up to $300 per phone number. You may file a claim for up to three calls per telephone number. This means that your maximum payment amount could be up to $900 per phone number, but it may be less. Actual payment amounts will depend on the total number of valid Claim Forms received. All submitted claims are subject to verification by the Settlement Administrator. All persons who submit a claim with a telephone number not found in the records of the party making the calls are ineligible for distribution from the class settlement fund. To determine if you are included in the Settlement, a web site has been established at www.RMGTCPASettlement.com where you can check to see if your phone number is included in the Call Records. If it was, then you will be given further instructions as to how to file a claim. SOURCE Broderick & Paronich, P.C., The Law Offices of Matthew P. McCue and Burke Law Offices, LLC ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambium Networks, a leading global provider of wireless networking solutions, today announced the availability of the ePMP Force 190 wireless broadband module. When configured for a point-to-point wireless link, the system provides up to 200 Mbps of connectivity for streaming video, voice and data applications. When deployed in a point-to-multipoint configuration with the ePMP 2000 or ePMP 1000 Access Point (AP), the Force 190 Subscriber Module (SM) provides up to 200 Mbps of bi-directional throughput to a long range with its 22 dBi antenna. "The ePMP Force 190 is designed to support rapid deployment of wireless connectivity in noisy RF environments," said Sakid Ahmed, Vice President of Engineering at Cambium Networks. "With the high gain antenna, narrow beamwidth and compact form factor, the Force 190 provides a quality connection that performs in a high-interference environment and is easy to install." Key Force 190 features include: 200 Mbps bi-directional throughput bi-directional throughput 4.9 - 5.9 GHz frequency configurable for 5, 10, 20 and 40 MHz channel widths configurable for 5, 10, 20 and 40 MHz channel widths 22 dBi gain antenna for long-range connectivity antenna for long-range connectivity Low 2 3 msec latency for sensitive streaming video and voice connectivity for sensitive streaming video and voice connectivity Small footprint and easy to install "The Force 190 design is based on input from wireless ISP service providers around the world," said Scott Imhoff, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Cambium Networks. "The solution provides an affordable, quality connection that is interference-tolerant and can be rapidly deployed to provide a high-speed link almost anywhere in a matter of hours." Cambium Networks is hosting a free webinar ePMP Solutions on August 8 at 9 a.m. CDT. The ePMP Force 190 is available now through Cambium Networks resellers. About Cambium Networks Cambium Networks is a leading global provider of trusted wireless solutions that connect the unconnected People, Places and Things. Through its extensive portfolio of reliable, scalable and secure wireless narrowband and broadband platforms, Cambium Networks makes it possible for all service providers and industrial, enterprise and government network operators to build affordable, reliable, high-performance connectivity. The company currently has over six million radios deployed in thousands of demanding networks in more than 150 countries. Headquartered outside Chicago and with R&D centers in the U.S., U.K. and India, Cambium Networks sells through a range of trusted global distributors. For more information, visit www.cambiumnetworks.com. Media Contact: Sara Black 1-213-618-1501 [email protected] SOURCE Cambium Networks Related Links http://www.cambiumnetworks.com/ "On behalf of Canon, I am honored that the Oce Colorado 1640 will be named among the products that are 'Must See' Ems' at this year's PRINT 17 tradeshow," says Toyotsugu Kuwamura, executive vice president and general manager, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "This recognition validates our strong efforts to develop technology that meets market demands. With print volume continuing to grow and turnaround times shrinking, we are delighted to fill the current gap in the roll-to-roll category and help offer a competitive edge for Printer Service Providers to continue to thrive or enter into the multi-billion dollar graphic arts market. I strongly encourage all PRINT 17 guests to take the time to visit the Canon booth and experience the power of the Oce Colorado 1640 up close." Announced at an exclusive event this past spring, the Oce Colorado 1640 is designed to transform 64-inch roll-to-roll sign and display printing with its ability to deliver breakthrough productivity for high-quality indoor and outdoor applications. Users are able to handle peak periods with fully automated media loading of multiple online rolls and confidently print unattended with on-the-fly quality assurance to produce instantly cured prints on a wide variety of applications, including heat sensitive media. At the heart of the new Oce Colorado 1640 is Canon's recently announced UVgel technology. This technology combines a radically new UV curable ink from Canon that instantly gels on contact with the media, an advanced "self-aware" piezoelectric printhead technology, an LED-based UV system that cures without adding any damaging heat to the media, and continuous, on-the-fly, printhead nozzle monitoring and performance compensation. These unique technologies come together to create a 64-inch roll-to-roll printer that sets new standards for quality, productivity, automation, application range, and operating costs. For more information on the Oce Colorado 1640, please click here. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $29 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2016. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes in the United States. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office. Canon U.S.A. Web site: http://www.usa.canon.com For sales information/customer support: 1-800-OK-CANON SOURCE Canon U.S.A., Inc. Related Links http://www.usa.canon.com SYDNEY, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CDN, leader in RIS-PACS and cloud-based IT software for physicians and hospitals, today announced a new partnership agreement with DiA Imaging Analysis Ltd, Makers of next generation imaging analysis technology. CDN have integrated DiA's breakthrough automated tools into its CardioMotion (PACS/CardioSR web), Cloud based solutions and other products to provide customers with quick, accurate reproducible Imaging Analysis to improve their work flow from anywhere, anytime. "Implementing RIS, PACS, Web and Cardiology solutions often leads to a compromise in functionality through attempting to integrate and support systems from multi-vendor providers" said Robert Zanier, CDN's Managing Director, "With Dia's software Applications integrated into our CardioMotion Solution, clinical users no longer have to make these compromises as we provide a single vendor solution. We at CDN have partnered with many world leading Cardiac software companies to provide the best solution there is to offer". "By adding DiA's advanced automated toolbox into our CardioMotion Diagnostic product suite, we are about to present hospitals and physicians with a unique workflow solution, enabling quick, accurate, reproducible clinical interpretation of the heart`s condition, and by that improving patient care while saving valuable time and money." DiA's VP of Business Development, Arnon Toussia-Cohen added, "We are excited about this new partnership. We view this collaboration with CDN as a strategic one for expanding our utilization into Australia and New-Zealand. This is also an important step in our strategic mission in continuing to establish a strong presence in China". About CDN CDN Central Data Networks was formed in 1994, to focus on the evolving IT business in the areas of communications/networking and Radiology. Since then RIS, PACS and WEB solutions for Radiology and Cardiology has become the major business drivers. CDN works with world class Radiologists and Cardiologists throughout the Asia Pacific region and in particular Australia, to provide the very latest Medical Imaging solutions to major Hospitals, teaching Hospitals, private clinics and private and public radiology businesses throughout the region. The company's focus is on delivering optimal World Class Radiology/Cardiology workflow. http://www.cdnpacs.com About DIA Imaging Analysis DiA Imaging Analysis Ltd (Formerly DiACardio) is a medical imaging analysis software company, providing fully automated, easily implemented supporting tools that enable quick, objective and accurate image interpretations with initial focus on ultrasound of the heart (Echocardiography). DiA's cognitive image processing technology is based on advanced pattern recognition and machine learning algorithms that automatically imitate the way the human eye identifies borders and motion, and produce data and scoring, physicians are looking for. Headquartered in Beer-Sheva, Israel and present in the US, DiA is led by medical industry veterans, experienced entrepreneurs and supported by key opinion leaders from top medical facilities in the USA and Israel. http://www.dia-analysis.com Media Contacts: Jon Wye National Cardiology Manager Central Data Networks Pty Ltd [email protected] Tlalit Bussi Tel Tzure, VP Marketing DIA Imaging Analysis Ltd [email protected] SOURCE DIA Imaging Analysis LTD and CDN GOLDSBORO, N.C., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter School Capital, the nation's leading provider of growth capital and facilities financing to charter schools, announced today that its facilities arm, American Education Properties (AEP), has purchased the building located at 600 Tommy's Road in Goldsboro, N.C., from American Charter Development for $9.2 million. Funded earlier this summer, the acquisition provides a long term home for current tenant, Wayne Preparatory Academy, a charter school currently serving grades K-6. Acquisition of the Wayne Preparatory Academy property is the first facilities funding transaction by the company in the state of North Carolina. It was made possible through a $500 million pool of capital launched in 2014 designed specifically for charter school facilities needs. Currently there are 41 charter school properties under management, $450 million, and the company continues to increase its pool of available capital earmarked specifically for charter school facilities financing. "We are very pleased to empower Wayne Preparatory Academy with a permanent home, and fully intend to allow the school's administrators complete access and full control of their building," said Stuart Ellis, CEO of Charter School Capital and AEP. "With a student body that is at capacity, and a healthy waiting list, Wayne Preparatory Academy is by all accounts growing, and we look forward to expanding its facility to accommodate that growth." A 31,469 square foot complex situated on a 50-acre parcel, the Wayne Preparatory Academy facility was built in 2014. The school has 17 years remaining on a 20-year lease, which the company will assume and reconfigure as part of the transaction. The company will begin an expansion of the Wayne facility to accommodate growth of the middle school population through the 8th grade, which is planned for the 2018/19 school year. Wayne Preparatory Academy will also add a high school to its program once the facility is built out. "There is more to this transaction than simply financing. It is Charter School Capital's testament of support for the growth and future of Wayne Preparatory Academy," said Taft Morley, chief operating officer of American Charter Development. "We have been delighted to support the school through its growth thus far, and are heartened in knowing that the school facility will be a top-notch environment fostering excellence in education for many years to come." Today, more than 1 million students find themselves on waiting lists for their local charter schools. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools continues to highlight the lack of facilities options available to charter schools as a major issue charter leaders face. To meet this demand, charter schools require facilities that address the unique growth needs of each school and community and require access to capital to expand. Charter School Capital focuses solely on charter school needs, providing customizable facilities financing options to charter schools. Charter leaders retain control of their buildings and are afforded the flexibility to make the modifications necessary to expand their enrollment and academic programs. About Wayne Preparatory Academy: Founded in 2014, Wayne Preparatory Academy is a charter school serving students in grades kindergarten through 6th grade. A leadership school that teaches the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to its scholars and staff, Wayne Preparatory Academy provides an accelerated program to all its students. For more information, visit http://www.wpanc.org or call (919) 734-8085. About Charter School Capital: Launched in 2006, Charter School Capital delivers access to growth capital and facilities financing to charter schools nationwide, opening the funding options charter schools historically have not had. Charter School Capital has provided more than $1.5 billion in funding to 550+ charter schools providing high-quality education to more than 650,000 students across the United States. For more information, visit charterschoolcapital.org or email [email protected]. SOURCE Charter School Capital Related Links http://charterschoolcapital.org NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Synthetic rubber is one of important strategic materials, mainly used in tyres and other industries. In 2016, the global output and consumption of synthetic rubber reached 14.822 million tons and 14.936 million tons, respectively, up 2.2% and 2.0% year on year. Driven by the steady development of automobile and tyre industries, the world's output and consumption of synthetic rubber are expected to hit 16.975 million tons and 17.725 million tons by 2021 respectively. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p089692/China-Synthetic-Rubber-Industry-Report.html China, the world's largest producer of synthetic rubber, boasted the output of 5.458 million tons in 2016, accounting for 36.8% of the global output. China's synthetic rubber output is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.2% from 2017 to 2021 and reach 7.032 million tons in 2021, equivalent to 41.4% of the world's total output. In 2016, the combined capacity of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and cis-polybutadiene rubber (BR) which are the two most popular products in China shared 60.1% of China's total capacity. Ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) and Isobutylene Isoprene Rubber (IIR) saw the fastest growth rates in the past five years, with the respective capacity CAGR of 69.5% and 37.7% during 2012-2016. With the continuous optimization of the rubber product (such as tyres) structure in China, the demand for solution polymerized styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR), halogenated butyl rubber (HIIR), neodymium polybutadiene rubber (Nd-BR), low cis-polybutadiene rubber (LCBR) and other environment-friendly rubber products will increase significantly in future. In terms of prices, the rising price of the raw material butadiene and other factors spurred the explosive growth in the prices of China's major synthetic rubber products from 2016 to February 2017. Later, the synthetic rubber price fell with the lower butadiene price, but it may restore limited growth in fluctuations after July. As for the enterprise pattern, there were more than 50 synthetic rubber manufacturers in China with the total capacity of 6.475 million t/a as of the end of 2016. Among them, the top two giants Sinopec and PetroChina contributed 46.2% to China's total synthetic rubber capacity together in 2016. In addition, Huizhou LCY Chemical, Shandong Huamao New Materials, Shenhua Chemical, Yuhuang Chemical, Germany LANXESS, TSRC-UBE and other Taiwanese, foreign and private companies have also entered the field. As new entrants mostly focus on medium and low-end styrene butadiene rubber and cis-polybutadiene rubber (BR) products, China witnesses serious structural overcapacity of synthetic rubber with the release of new capacity. In the past two years, given the low prosperity index and depressed price of synthetic rubber as well as the tight supply of raw materials, some enterprises have sped up the reform of their product mix, while some other companies have shut down and dismantled facilities. In September 2016, Sinopec Shanghai Gaoqiao announced the removal of the 120,000 t/a cis-polybutadiene rubber (BR) plant which had run for many years; Yuhuang Chemical proclaimed the conversion of the 80,000 t/a cis-polybutadiene rubber (BR) facility into SBS facility. In the next few years, China's de-capacity trend will be more apparent and the new capacity will center on SBS and environment-friendly rubber. The report covers the following: Supply and demand, product structure, regional structure, development trend, etc. of global synthetic rubber market; Supply and demand, import and export, product structure, regional structure, enterprise pattern, development trend, etc. of Chinese synthetic rubber market; Market supply and demand, import and export, enterprise pattern and other market situations of major Chinese synthetic rubber products (BR, SBR, IIR, EPR, NBR, etc.); Development of main raw materials of synthetic rubber (butadiene, styrene, rubber additive, etc.) in China; Development of global and China tyre (downstream sector of synthetic rubber) industry; Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p089692/China-Synthetic-Rubber-Industry-Report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com "The traditional Chinese educational system was designed and built for the industrial age," says Dr. Pengkai Pan, MIT graduate and CEO of ALO7. "Teaching needs to progress to foster critical thinking and the creative curiosity that fuels imagination and innovation." Many in China agree. A recent HSBC survey reports that more than half of Chinese parents want their child to attend university abroad. Additionally, China's college entrance exam is being updated to reflect global trends. ALO7's programs, which follow Chinese national guidelines, US Common Core standards, and European English-language recommendations meet this demand for progressive learning that respects Chinese educational culture. The cross-cultural content includes custom exercises and games, music, Chinese folktales, essay writing, US publisher Zaner-Bloser's grammar practice adapted for Chinese students, and more. It provides an interconnected suite of classroom and at-home apps and books accompanied by teacher training and seamless digital support, including personalized student reports. Language used to inspire students to love learning is combined with big data and technical knowhow to give schools better tools and student outcomes. ALO7 students also reach beyond borders by studying English online. Nearly 1,000 teachers in the US and abroad provide small-scale classes via the Internet for more than 40,000 Chinese students. Chelsea Fields, an ALO7 long-distance teacher, has seen Chinese students benefit from these East-West style of classes. For example, Fields says that her students are sometimes "in a state of panic when asked to offer an opinion on a topic." But after a few lessons, "they eventually come to enjoy it." The appeal of ALO7's education extends beyond the classroom to the boardroom. Qualcomm Inc., Vickers Venture Partners, and New Oriental Education & Tech Group are among the companies that have invested a combined total of $50 million in ALO7, whose major clients include New Oriental, Only Education, and TPR. As China's educational system changes to match its global ambitions, what will students and corporations learn next? www.alo7.com/en/ SOURCE ALO7 Related Links http://www.alo7.com TAIPEI, Taiwan, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. ("CHT", "Chunghwa Telecom" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2412, NYSE: CHT) today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Shui-Yi Kuo as the Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Mr. Ronald Song as the Chief Investment Officer ("CIO"), and Mr. Fu-Kui Chung as the Chief Audit Executive. Prior to his new role as Chunghwa Telecom's CFO, Mr. Shui-Yi Kuo, served as the CIO & Senior Executive Vice President, and Vice President of the Investment Department and Accounting Department in the headquarters of Chunghwa Telecom. He was also the President of Light Era Development Co., Chunghwa's real estate subsidiary. Mr. Kuo has extensive experience and strong expertise in best practice financial implementation and strategic investment planning. He holds a Master's degree of Accounting from National Chengchi University. Mr. Ronald Song, Chunghwa Telecom's new CIO, previously held the position of President at Chunghwa Investment Co., a subsidiary company of Chunghwa Telecom. Before that, he assumed various senior management roles at several global investment banks in the areas of strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions. He holds an MBA degree of University of Iowa. Mr. Fu-Kuei Chung, the newly-appointed Chief Audit Executive, is the Chairman of Taiwan International Standard Electronics, a subsidiary company of Chunghwa Telecom. Prior to the Chairman position, Mr. Chung had overseen several major business and operational functions at Chunghwa Telecom including Senior Executive Vice President at its corporate headquarters, President of the Northern Taiwan Business Group, and President of the Data Communication Business Group. Mr. Yu Cheng, Chairman of Chunghwa Telecom said, "I believed these new senior management team members will bring fresh perspective to the company's financial operation and strategic investment. By leveraging their professional experience and strategic vision, they will provide strong financial and operational support to our business." About Chunghwa Telecom Chunghwa Telecom (TAIEX 2412, NYSE: CHT) is Taiwan's leading telecom service provider. Chunghwa provides fixed line, mobile, broadband access, and internet services. The Company also provides information and communication technology services to corporate customers. For inquiries: Fu-fu Shen Investor Relations +886 2 2344 5488 [email protected] SOURCE Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. Related Links http://www.cht.com.tw SAN DIEGO and NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CI Capital Partners ("CI Capital"), a New York-based private equity firm, and AlliedPRA, a leading destination management company, announced today that an affiliate of CI Capital has acquired a majority interest in AlliedPRA from UK private equity firm Core Capital Partners LLP. The management team of AlliedPRA will continue to lead the company and has a significant equity ownership in the company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The destination management sector is a sub-segment of the $280 billion business events industry. The business events industry is comprised of corporate meetings and events, incentive travel programs, conventions and conferences. AlliedPRA supports its clients' off-site business events by providing activity and transportation solutions, and other destination-specific services. AlliedPRA works closely with its clients, which include Fortune 100 companies, to ensure their business events are successful. "Since its founding over 30 years ago, AlliedPRA has become the leading destination management company in the United States," stated Tony Lorenz, Chief Executive Officer of AlliedPRA. "Together with CI Capital, we believe there is an opportunity to extend AlliedPRA's scale and scope, creating more value for our customers in this critical area." "AlliedPRA is an impressive business, which we believe is well-positioned to consolidate the fragmented destination management industry," said Timothy Hall, Managing Director, CI Capital. "We look forward to working with Tony and his team to execute their plan for AlliedPRA and help shape the future of this industry." Jordan Edmiston Group acted as sell side advisor to AlliedPRA. About AlliedPRA: Founded in 1981, AlliedPRA, is the leading destination management company in the US, with a reach to over 100 destinations, serving many of the most respected brands in every major industry sector. Learn more at alliedpra.com About CI Capital Partners: CI Capital Partners LLC, a leading North American private equity investment firm with approximately $2.4 billion in assets under management, has been investing in middle-market companies since 1993. Since inception, CI Capital and its portfolio companies have made over 230 acquisitions representing over $8 billion in enterprise value. About Core Capital Partners: with 218m funds raised to date, Core Capital Partners LLP is a UK private equity manager investing up to 25m per deal in the UK lower-mid-market. Core Capital partners with fast-growing businesses and ambitious management teams looking to scale their operations. For more information, please see: www.core-cap.com Media Contact: Daniel Yunger, Kekst & Co., 212.521.4800 SOURCE CI Capital Partners Related Links http://www.cicapllc.com ZAGREB, Croatia, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent market research firm Common Sense Advisory recognizes Ciklopea as a leader in $43.08 billion global translation and localisation, and interpreting services industry. Ciklopea announced its official ranking as one of the largest language services providers (LSPs) in the global language industry. Issued July 2017 by CSA Research, the report "The Language Services Market: 2017" ranked Ciklopea as a top-grossing LSP in the US$43.08 billion global market for outsourced language services and technology. Ciklopea was named as the 17th largest LSP in Southern Europe. CSA surveyed providers from every continent to collect actual reported revenue for 2015, 2016, and expected revenue for 2017. CSA Research, which has published market size estimates and global rankings for the past 13 years, found that the demand for language solutions continues and is growing at an annual rate of 6.97%, increasing over last year's rate of 5.52%. Comments the Chief Strategy Officer of Ciklopea, Mladen Stojak, "Our ranking among the largest LSPs in Southern Europe - the region stretching from Portugal to Turkey - is the result of years of quality work and smart investing in people, technology and processes. There will be more good news from Ciklopea in the near future." CSA predicts the language services industry will continue to grow and that the market will increase to US$47.46 billion by 2021. Factors driving this demand include mobile, wearables, and the internet of things (IOT); on-demand offerings to support live chat and other short-shelf content bits; and legislation. "The sheer number of countries, people, and languages - many of them in markets experiencing tremendous economic growth - assures that demand for language services will only increase over time. As our research conclusively demonstrates, people are much more likely to purchase products in their own language. In addition, localization reduces customer care costs and increases brand loyalty," explains Don DePalma, CSA Research's founder and Chief Strategy Officer. About Ciklopea Ciklopea is an industry-focused provider of linguistic solutions enabling companies to reach, engage and support global clients. Our linguistic products have been developed to accommodate the requirements, dynamics and prospects of the life sciences, IT & software and technology and manufacturing industries. www.ciklopea.com About Common Sense Advisory Common Sense Advisory is an independent market research company specializing in translation, localisation, interpreting, globalization, and internationalisation analysis and consulting. http://www.commonsenseadvisory.com / @CSA_Research CSA Research Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Ciklopea KANSAS CITY, Kan. and CINCINNATI, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingulate Therapeutics, LLC, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new and innovative products for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), today announced that it has entered into service agreements with Camargo Pharmaceutical Services, LLC ("Camargo"). Camargo will provide end-to-end regulatory consulting and strategic development services including pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting planning and preparations through New Drug Applications (NDA) submissions, for Cingulate's two (2) proprietary, first-line stimulant medications for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), CTX-1301 and CTX-1302. After receiving data from initial proof of concept trials in humans, Cingulate plans to implement full clinical plans for both CTX-1301 and CTX-1302 in 2018. CTX-1301 and CTX-1302 utilize FDA-approved active pharmaceutical ingredients formulated in innovative, multi-cored tablets that have target product profiles designed to deliver a rapid onset and last the entire active day while minimizing the afternoon crash and impact on sleep and appetite. Camargo is a highly experienced global strategist specializing in drug and combination device product development and approval utilizing the regulatory pathway provided for in Section 505(b)(2) of the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Over the last decade, Camargo has established an unrivaled track record with 505(b)(2) IND and NDA preparations and submissions, including participation in more than 1,100 FDA meetings and more than 200 FDA, NDA, and ANDA approvals. Shane J. Schaffer, PharmD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cingulate Therapeutics, said, "Camargo's deep experience in 505(b)(2) strategy and execution combined with their expertise in navigating regulatory agencies worldwide provides a tremendous advantage to our ambitious pre-IND and overall regulatory strategy. We believe that CTX-1301 and CTX-1302 will become once-daily ADHD medications with the potential to enhance patient care and improve outcomes." "Our goal at Camargo is to guide our clients with the most cost- and time-effective strategy to navigate the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, while driving commercial success for our partners," said Ken Phelps, President and CEO of Camargo Pharmaceutical Services. "We are excited to work with Cingulate on regulatory strategy employing innovative technologies with FDA-approved pharmaceuticals to reach unmet needs in the ADHD market." About Cingulate Therapeutics Cingulate Therapeutics, LLC is a privately held clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new and innovative products for the treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Cingulate is developing two (2) proprietary, first-line medications, CTX-1301 (Dexmethylphenidate) and CTX-1302 (Dextroamphetamine), for the treatment of ADHD intended for all patient segments: children, adolescents and adults. CTX-1301 and CTX-1302 utilize an innovative, flexible core tableting technology with a Target Product Profile designed to deliver a rapid onset and last the entire active day while minimizing the afternoon crash and impact on sleep and appetite. The Company has completed a Proof of Concept Phase I clinical trial and plans to implement the full clinical plan for both CTX-1301 and CTX-1302 in early 2018. Cingulate anticipates filing INDs for both products in the first quarter of 2018 and will pursue approval via the accelerated 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. The company has offices in Kansas City, KS and Morristown, NJ. For more information visit www.cingulatetherapeutics.com. About Camargo Pharmaceutical Services Camargo Pharmaceutical Services is the most experienced team of experts providing comprehensive drug development services specialized for the 505(b)(2) approval pathway and global equivalent processes. By assessing the scientific, medical, regulatory, and commercial viability of product development opportunities, Camargo systematically builds and executes robust development plans that align with business strategies and ensure Agency buy-in every step of the way. With alignment through pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting planning and preparations, Camargo maintains and ensures consistency throughout the drug development program, which increases the likelihood of NDA and future market success. Routinely holding three to six Agency meetings a month, Camargo works with product developers across more than 25 countries. For more about Camargo Pharmaceutical Services, visit https://CamargoPharma.com For Investors & Media: Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. on behalf of Cingulate Therapeutics Jonathon Brzezinski, Ph.D.: [email protected]; (212) 375-2681 Janine McCargo: [email protected]; (646) 604-5150 Camargo Pharmaceutical Services, LLC. Jennifer King: [email protected], (513) 561-3329 SOURCE Cingulate Therapeutics, LLC Related Links http://www.cingulatetherapeutics.com BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ClickBank, a global Internet Retailer, announced the appointment of David Lewis as Chief Strategy Officer. Lewis, highly experienced in ecommerce, affiliate marketing, business development and digital advertising, joins ClickBank's senior leadership team after holding executive positions at several high-profile, venture-backed companies such as Overture, Shopzilla and Ebates. "The addition of an executive at David's caliber is going to rapidly expand opportunities for ClickBank and our partners," said Kevin Strawbridge, Chief Executive Officer. "With David's deep vertical knowledge and robust career experience, ClickBank is poised to build a broader foundation and a stronger future." Serving as ClickBank's Chief Strategy Officer, Lewis brings close to two decades of affiliate marketing experience along with deep knowledge in advertising, digital promotions, syndication, and fraud protection. Lewis' skill set will bolster the execution and development of the company's short and long term strategic initiatives. "I have been impressed by ClickBank's impressive reach and products. I am thrilled to join a team that has empowered entrepreneurs around the world to sell and market their products and services," said Lewis. "My passion is to impact ecommerce businesses, and I look forward to working with ClickBank and its clients and partners." Prior to joining ClickBank, Lewis served as high-level product, business development, and strategy executive and consultant for prominent ecommerce entities Ebates (acquired by Rakuten for $1 billion), CupoNation (part of Rocket Internet) and CouponCabin. As a manager and leader, Lewis has also built and led teams in business development, sales, marketing, customer service, software development and search marketing. Lewis holds a BA in Economics from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School. About ClickBank Founded in 1998, ClickBank has established itself as a top global internet retailer powered by one of the world's leading performance marketing platforms for both digital and physical products. The ClickBank platform meets at the intersection of ecommerce, fintech and adtech, enabling entrepreneurs to drive consumer traffic and sales through a commissioned marketer network. With over 200 million customers, six million platform users and distribution in 190 countries, ClickBank's powerful e-commerce and mobile ecosystem provides entrepreneurs with an easy to use, secure online marketplace to help them sell their products and services. To learn more, visit www.clickbank.com. SOURCE ClickBank Related Links http://www.clickbank.com SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which is sustaining and integrating open source technologies to orchestrate containers as part of a microservices architecture, today announced the public availability of the CNCF Community Infrastructure Lab for open source projects advancing cloud native computing. The on-demand infrastructure resource is contributed and managed by New York City-based Packet, a leading bare metal cloud for developers, as part of its commitment to the cloud native and open source communities. The lab is located in multiple locations across the globe; including New York City, Silicon Valley, Amsterdam, and Tokyo. Cloud native computing is a new paradigm based on relying on an open source software stack to enable identical infrastructure on public, private and hybrid clouds. The Community Infrastructure Lab that Packet is enabling provides provisioning of bare metal infrastructure in mere minutes, enabling on-demand access to high performance compute and storage nodes in over 15 global locations. The Lab supports multiple hardware architectures and advanced network features, including allowing networking tests across a diversity of locations and latencies. The infrastructure will provide the CNCF community the provisioning experience of the cloud with the performance characteristics of bare metal servers. "Packet is thrilled to help accelerate innovation in the cloud native community with our donation of $25,000 per month of resources from our on-demand platform. Thanks to Packet, CNCF is able to offer this computing resource to the community for free," said Zachary Smith, CEO at Packet. "Cloud native is spreading to all areas of technology; including virtual reality, self-driving cars, embedded devices, and IoT - all of which are dependent on the network. Providing developers free access to test advanced networking will help further innovation." Access to the on-demand infrastructure from Packet allows developers extended testing or the ability to build out continuously integrated infrastructure with the automation and consistency of big public clouds without needing to use virtualization. Based on their testing needs, developers can choose from five server configurations offering different sizes, platform features and architectures (e.g. x86 and ARMv8). Each bare metal configuration is API driven, cloud native friendly and takes less than 10 minutes to deploy. Packet does not impose multi-tenancy, virtualization, or an overlay network by default - enabling users to bring the tooling of their choice. Carrier-grade features like the ability to announce your own IP space, BGP/Anycast, and native IPv6 support are also included. Apply to Use the On-Demand Infrastructure To use the infrastructure, fill out the application in detail and adhere to the usage requirements including: code being run is 100 percent open source; allows developers extended testing or the ability to build out continuous integrated infrastructure with the automation and consistency of big public clouds without forced virtualization; testing involves containerized workloads, if appropriate. "Packet has already been donating their on-demand infrastructure to support kernel.org, so it is great to see the company expand its Linux Foundation support to CNCF and the cloud native community," said Dan Kohn, executive director of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "Several of our members, projects and groups, including CoreDNS, Prometheus, and the Continuous Integration working group, are already making great use of the infrastructure. If you are developing cloud native open source software and want to ensure that it functions at scale, please apply to run it on the CNCF Community Infrastructure Lab." To be used by open source projects, this infrastructure can be leveraged to curate server configurations for different use cases, test new protocols without layers of complexity, and integrate with leading cloud and developer tools. Developers will also have the ability to bring their own image or operating system and have complete control of the cluster, enabling them to test across different environments simultaneously. Additional Resources About Cloud Native Computing Foundation Cloud native computing uses an open source software stack to deploy applications as microservices, packaging each part into its own container, and dynamically orchestrating those containers to optimize resource utilization. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of those software stacks including Kubernetes, Fluentd, Linkerd, Prometheus, OpenTracing, gRPC, CoreDNS, containerd, rkt and CNI; brings together the industry's top developers, end users and vendors; and serves as a neutral home for collaboration. CNCF is part of The Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization. For more information about CNCF, please visit: https://cncf.io/. The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contact Natasha Woods The Linux Foundation (415) 312-5289 [email protected] SOURCE CNCF Related Links https://cncf.io/ WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Clutch announced the leading web design companies in Seattle and Portland. The research takes into account new industry data and client feedback to rank the leading companies in these cities. The top Seattle web design companies are: Top Web Designers Seattle 2017 Top Web Designers Portland 2017 Jordan Crown, Sayenko Design, ESPRESSO Digital, Fingerprint Marketing, Forix, Smashing Ideas, iLocal, Inc., States of Matter, Fuse IQ, Inc., Efinity Tech, Y-Designs, Inc, Hansen Belyea, Celebrate Drupal, Black Antelope, and Bonsai Media Group. The top Portland web design companies are: ILLUSIO, Speak!, ArtVersion, FINE, Nelson Cash, Forix, Experience Dynamics, Murmur Creative, Vadimages, Stellaractive, Dorey Design Group, and Aha Consulting. "A company website is the best resource a business has to build up their online presence and reputation," said Eleonora Israele, Senior Analyst at Clutch. "The highlighted companies have proven their ability to design websites based on their clients' brand and business objectives." Clutch analysts evaluated dozens of companies in the Pacific Northwest. They assessed the companies' previous work, client feedback, industry recognition and awards, among other factors. Clutch's effort to identify top web design companies is ongoing, and the firm encourages companies to apply to participate in Clutch's coverage. Upcoming publications will highlight web design companies in Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Denver. The full research can be found below: https://clutch.co/web-designers/seattle/leaders-matrix https://clutch.co/web-designers/seattle https://clutch.co/web-designers/portland/leaders-matrix https://clutch.co/web-designers/portland About Clutch A B2B research firm in the heart of Washington, DC, Clutch connects you with the agencies and software solutions that can help you enhance your business and meet your goals. Our methodology maps agencies and software solutions based on consumer reviews, the type of services offered, and quality of work. Contact: Eleonora Israele [email protected] 202-540-9093 SOURCE Clutch CHICAGO, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA) today announced that it has priced $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.450% senior notes due August 15, 2027 in a public offering. The notes are being offered to the public at 99.773% of the principal amount with a yield to maturity of 3.477%. CNA expects the offering to close on August 10, 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. CNA intends to use all of the net proceeds from the offering, which are estimated to be approximately $495 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses, to repay at maturity the $150 million outstanding aggregate principal balance of its 6.950% senior notes due January 15, 2018 and to repurchase, redeem, repay or otherwise retire the $350 million outstanding aggregate principal balance of its 7.350% senior notes due November 15, 2019. Pending such application, CNA intends to invest the net proceeds of this offering in short term interest-bearing securities. Barclays and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. An electronic copy of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus will be available at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to this offering may also be obtained, when available, from: Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, telephone (888) 603-5847; or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: WFS Customer Service, 608 2nd Avenue, South Minneapolis, MN 55402, telephone (800) 645-3751 or email [email protected]. The offering is being made solely by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities. About CNA Serving businesses and professionals since 1897, CNA is the country's eighth largest commercial insurance writer and the 14th largest property and casualty company. CNA's insurance products include commercial lines, specialty lines, surety, marine and other property and casualty coverages. CNA's services include risk management, information services, underwriting, risk control and claims administration. For more information, please visit CNA at www.cna.com. "CNA" is a registered trademark of CNA Financial Corporation. Certain CNA Financial Corporation subsidiaries use the "CNA" trademark in connection with insurance underwriting and claims activities. Follow CNA (NYSE: CNA) on: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube Forward-Looking Statement This press release may include statements which relate to anticipated future events (forward-looking statements) rather than actual present conditions or historical events. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and generally include words such as "believes", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to a variety of inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected. Many of these risks and uncertainties cannot be controlled by CNA and include CNA's successful completion of the offering and the satisfaction of other customary conditions to the closing of the repurchase, redemption, repayment or retirement of its 6.950% senior notes due January 15, 2018 and its 7.350% senior notes due November 15, 2019. For a detailed description of these risks and uncertainties please refer to CNA's most recent 10-K on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.cna.com. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release are made by CNA as of the date of this press release. Further, CNA does not have any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this press release, even if CNA's expectations or any related events, conditions or circumstances change. CONTACTS: MEDIA: ANALYSTS: Brandon Davis, 312-822-5167 James Anderson, 312-822-7757 Sarah Pang, 312-822-6394 Emma Riza, 312-822-5960 SOURCE CNA Related Links http://www.cna.com SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cold Stone Creamery (www.ColdStoneCreamery.com) has announced the signing of a Master Franchise Agreement with Srivijaya Sdn. Bhd. to bring the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience to Malaysia, with 20 stores expected to open over the next five years, beginning with a location in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. "Cold Stone Creamery is a well-known ice cream brand that is enjoyed and loved all over the world and we are extremely excited to introduce and develop the brand in Malaysia," said Syed Haizam Jamalullail, director of Srivijaya Sdn. Bhd. "Customers are anxiously awaiting the opening of Cold Stone Creamery stores in the country and I am looking forward to the Malaysian market experiencing our super-premium ice cream in a fun and exciting manner that only Cold Stone Creamery can deliver." Srivijaya Sdn. Bhd., whose shareholders and management include investors of local Food & Beverage outlets such as Las Vacas Meat Shop and Torii Yakitori Restaurant, as well as shareholders with experience developing the Cold Stone Creamery brand in another market, are eager to introduce the premium ice cream concept to Malaysia and expect the first location to open by the end of 2017. "We are delighted at the opportunity to bring The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience to the Malaysian market," said Eddy Jimenez, sr. vice president of international operations and development at Kahala Brands. "Srivijaya Sdn. Bhd.'s impressive F&B experience and comprehensive knowledge of the market make them the perfect fit to develop the brand in Malaysia. They share our passion for making people happy every day and have demonstrated a tremendous commitment towards the future growth of Cold Stone Creamery. We are confident that together, we will do amazing things as we bring the brand to the ice cream lovers of Malaysia." Cold Stone Creamery has continued to make strong key moves into the international market in recent years. The international growth of Cold Stone Creamery began in November 2005 when the first international store opened in Tokyo, Japan. Today, stores are operating in approximately 300 international locations and over 28 international markets, including the Philippines, Kuwait, India, Nigeria, Egypt and Indonesia. About Cold Stone Creamery Cold Stone Creamery delivers the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience through a community of franchisees who are passionate about ice cream. The secret recipe for smooth and creamy ice cream is handcrafted fresh daily in Cold Stone Creamery stores, and then customized by combining a variety of mix-ins on a frozen granite stone. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cold Stone Creamery is owned by parent company Kahala Brands, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world, with a portfolio of 22 quick-service restaurant concepts. The Cold Stone Creamery brand operates approximately 1,500 locations in over 28 international markets. For more information about Cold Stone Creamery, visit www.ColdStoneCreamery.com. For more information about Kahala Brands, visit www.KahalaBrands.com. About "Made Fresh" Cold Stone Creamery ice cream is hand-crafted in small batches one flavor at a time. Cold Stone Creamery starts with the highest quality ingredients and makes its ice cream fresh every day. This small batch process ensures every customer receives rich, creamy, delicious ice cream at each Cold Stone Creamery store around the world. SOURCE Cold Stone Creamery Related Links http://www.ColdStoneCreamery.com LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Acuant, a leading provider of data capture and authentication solutions, today announced a partnership with Boston-based digital identity company, CONFIRM. The partnership will create one of the industry's most comprehensive cloud-based ID verification and authentication solutions, combining best-in-class technologies that support robust identity and document verification solutions to enterprises seeking remote identity proofing. CONFIRM will tap Acuant's unparalleled global document library to enable CONFIRM's ID authentication capabilities to drive safer transactions for its customers operating in a global environment. Acuant has the industry's largest ID document library with over 6,000 global documents for credential management, including identity documents from over 200 countries. "CONFIRM has a passion for making the mobile user experience simpler, safer and more secure, a passion that we share," said Steve Maloney, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Strategy of Acuant. "Identity fraud is a serious threat and now that companies are conducting more transactions online, it is imperative that every transaction is conducted securely. Our partnership with CONFIRM is a great representation of our preferred partnership model." CONFIRM allows for secure transactions between businesses and people by linking physical ID documents to digital identities through mobile SDKs and RESTful APIs. CONFIRM's software uses advanced machine learning and computer vision technologies to dynamically authenticate identity documents by inspecting hidden microprint and advanced security patterns, such as holograms, watermarks, and perforations. CONFIRM has deep experience and focus on mobility and payment solutions. "Enterprises need to make it a priority to provide a secure environment for their customers," said Bob Geiman, CEO and Co-Founder of CONFIRM. "We are confident that our partnership with Acuant will ensure that businesses can build a community of security and trust with their customers." About CONFIRM Inc. CONFIRM enables organizations to rapidly validate customer identity from a driver's license or ID. The company uses advanced machine learning and computer vision technologies to dynamically normalize images, classify, extract and authenticate identity document data. CONFIRM's technology is used by a number of Fortune 50 companies including financial institutions, healthcare providers, insurance carriers, retailers and shared economy companies. For more information, please visit confirm.io. Twitter: www.twitter.com/confirmio LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/confirmio Blog: www.confirm.io/blog About Acuant Acuant Inc. is a global technology company that provides comprehensive Identity Verification solutions responding to various levels of risk and assurance requirements. Utilizing patented technology Acuant transforms data intake into a business-enhancing proposition while instantly reducing the risk of fraudulent transactions. Acuant's intelligent engineering is made to work in any industry in any environment with compatibility for Windows, iOS, Android, Hybrid and HTML 5- and built to allow meeting the highest level security requirements and regulations such as KYC, PII, HIPAA and AML. Partners include start-ups, Fortune 500 and FTSE 350 organizations. For more information, please visit acuantcorp.com Follow Acuant Twitter: https://twitter.com/acuantcorp Blog: http://www.acuantcorp.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acuant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acuantcorp/ PR Contacts: For Acuant: Mike Gallo Lumina Communications 212-239-8594 [email protected] For Confirm.io: Kyle Kilcoyne Marketing, PR [email protected] SOURCE Acuant Related Links http://www.acuantcorp.com PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cornerstone Discovery announced the national release of Docfol.io SM, the only digital exhibit management and identification system on the market today. Designed as a secure, cloud-based web application, Docfolio automates exhibit management so attorneys, law firms, and litigation support staff can quickly and accurately produce exhibits and exhibit lists for trial. This affordable and innovative solution saves law firms, litigation support teams valuable time and money while improving their overall trial readiness. Docfol.io: Exhibit Management. Streamlined. "Lawyers, paralegals, and litigation support staff have been Bates stamping, physically placing exhibit stickers on documents and updating exhibits lists manually for decades. Worst of all these support tasks are time intensive, cost money and frequently change leading up to the start of a trial," said Jason Silva, Director of Operations at Cornerstone Discovery. "We've eliminated that pain including the need for purchasing exhibit stickers. Our technology streamlines these steps by simply dragging and dropping files to begin the process. From there you can manage and produce 100s of exhibits with digital exhibit stickers in seconds." Docfolio is trial tested and proven by veteran Cornerstone Discovery Trial Technicians on matters of various sizes including large federal criminal cases. Docfolio transforms the way legal professionals prepare, manage, and produce exhibits before and during a trial. "What used to take days or hours, can now be done in seconds with 100% accuracy," said Sean Morgan, designer of Docfolio. "Best of all, Docfolio is easy-to-use and can be accessed anywhere." Product highlights include: Uploading files before trial and during trial and automatically updating exhibit lists Automatically bates stamping & marking exhibits (i.e. Defense, Plaintiff, Government) Renaming, renumbering exhibits (i.e. bulk, individual files) and making changes to exhibit lists on the fly Sharing exhibits and exhibit lists effortlessly and producing marked exhibits within seconds Exporting or downloading exhibits to seamlessly upload to trial presentation software such as TrialDirector or Sanction Whether you're a solo-practicing attorney, boutique firm, medium or large law firm including enterprise level institutions such as state and federal government, Docfolio offers affordable plans for individual cases and flexible yearly subscription plans starting at $995 for firms and teams that handle more than five cases per year. "At Cornerstone Discovery, we are constantly looking at ways technology can improve productivity and collaboration for the legal industry," said Jason Silva. "And Docfolio does just that." To learn more about Docfolio, visit our website at www.docfol.io or contact Sean Morgan at (267) 639-6900 or email, [email protected]. Cornerstone Discovery, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA is an award-winning litigation support firm that provides comprehensive criminal & civil litigation support and consulting services in areas such as digital forensics, e-Discovery, litigation, and trial support. Cornerstone Discovery also develops and provides innovative web-based e-Discovery and trial support solutions in Junto and Docfolio. Cornerstone Discovery helps today's legal professionals revolutionize their cases in and out of the courtroom with direct access to certified technical experts and experienced trial technicians that offer strategic consulting services, dedicated project management, and innovative solutions. For more information on Cornerstone Discovery, visit cornerstonediscovery.com. For Press Inquiries Contact: Grady Walters, Director of Marketing Cornerstone Discovery [email protected] (267) 639-6900 Related Images image1.jpg image2.png image3.png image4.png Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnksMvZZggg SOURCE Cornerstone Discovery Related Links https://www.cornerstonediscovery.com SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CORPORACION NACIONAL DEL COBRE DE CHILE (the "Company" or "CODELCO") announced today the results as of 5:00 P.M., New York Time on August 7, 2017 (the "Early Tender Date") of its previously announced offer to purchase for cash (the "Maximum Tender Offer") up to an Aggregate Maximum Principal Amount of its outstanding 3.000% Notes due 2022, 4.500% Notes due 2023 and 4.500% Notes due 2025 (collectively, the "Maximum Tender Offer Notes"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated July 25, 2017 and the related Letter of Transmittal (the "Offer to Purchase"). The "Aggregate Maximum Principal Amount" is U.S.$2,750,000,000, less the aggregate principal amount of notes purchased pursuant to CODELCO's previously announced offer to purchase any and all of its outstanding 7.500% Notes due 2019, 3.750% Notes due 2020 and 3.875% Notes due 2021 (the "Any and All Tender Offer"). A total principal amount of U.S.$1,413,144,000 of notes had been validly tendered pursuant to the Any and All Tender Offer, all of which were purchased by CODELCO on August 1, 2017 and August 3, 2017. CODELCO has been advised by the tender agent that, as of the Early Tender Date, the amounts set forth in the table below of each series of Maximum Tender Offer Notes had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn. CODELCO intends to accept for purchase all Maximum Tender Offer Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Date. The "MTO Total Consideration" payable per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of each series of Maximum Tender Offer Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase was determined by the Dealer Managers based on a spread over a reference US Treasury Security, as set forth in the table below, in accordance with standard market practice as of 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 7, 2017. The MTO Total Consideration payable by CODELCO per $1,000 principal amount of Maximum Tender Offer Notes accepted for purchase has been set at $1,011.14 for its 3.000% Notes due 2022, $1,081.57 for its 4.500% Notes due 2023 and $1,073.44 for its 4.500% Notes due 2025. Title of Security CUSIP and ISIN Numbers Principal Amount Tendered Acceptance Priority level Early Tender Payment (Per U.S. $1,000 principal amount) Fixed Spread (bps) Reference U.S. Treasury Security Reference Yield (Determined on August 7, 2017 a t 2:00 p.m.) MTO Total Consideration (Per U.S. $1,000 principal amount) 3.000% Notes Due 2022 CUSIP: 21987BAQ1 P3143NAP9 ISIN: US21987BAQ14 USP3143NAP98 U.S.$404,564,000 1 U.S.$ 30 95 1.750% U.S. Treasury Notes due June 2022 1.807% $1,011.14 4.500% Notes Due 2023 CUSIP: 21987BAS7 P3143NAR5 ISIN: US21987BAS79 USP3143NAR54 U.S.$162,002,000 2 U.S.$ 30 120 1.750% U.S. Treasury Notes due June 2022 1.807% $1,081.57 4.500% Notes Due 2025 CUSIP: 21987B AV0 P3143N AW4 ISIN: US21987BAV09 USP3143NAW40 U.S.$374,953,000 3 U.S.$ 30 120 2.375% U.S. Treasury Notes due May 2027 2.253% $1,073.44 It is anticipated that payment for the Maximum Tender Offer Notes that were validly tendered and accepted for purchase as of the Early Tender Date will be made on August 8, 2017, the first business day after the Early Tender Date. Additional Information HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and MUFG Securities Americas Inc. are the Dealer Managers for the Maximum Tender Offer. Global Bondholder Services Corporation has been appointed as the tender agent and information agent for the Maximum Tender Offer. Persons with questions regarding the Maximum Tender Offer should contact HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. at (212) 525-5552 (collect) or (888) 472-2456 (toll-free), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1 (212) 8347279 (collect) or (866) 8462874 (toll-free), Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at (646) 8558988 (collect) or (888) 2920070 (toll-free) and MUFG Securities Americas Inc. at (212) 405-7481 (collect) or (877) 744-4532 (toll-free). This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The Maximum Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. The Maximum Tender Offer does not constitute, and the Offer to Purchase may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not permitted by law or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. This release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainty and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance or achievements. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking and the words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "plan" and similar expressions are generally intend to identify forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in the Offer to Purchase. SOURCE Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile "Charles brings extensive experience advising clients in a variety of industries and will add new transactional capabilities to our already thriving Energy Group," said Angela B. Styles , chair of Crowell & Moring. "He will be a tremendous asset to our clients." In addition to his 30 years of experience in private practice, Schwenck has held senior positions at major firms in the energy and construction industries, including as General Counsel of Fluor Corporation, Division Counsel of Bechtel Group's largest division, and as Chief Legal Officer of a significant energy and construction conglomerate. He has handled more than $100 billion in major project transactions, including the 1,960-mile Bolivia-to-Brazil natural gas pipeline and several large power plants in Brazil served by the pipeline. He joins the firm most recently from Gordon & Rees. Larry F. Eisenstat, chair of Crowell & Moring's Energy Group, said: "Charles' addition not only deepens the firm's project development, finance, and general transactional capabilities, most particularly on the West Coast and Latin America, but also expands our service offerings in the rapidly changing and increasingly competitive energy sector, which will be of great value to our clients no matter how you slice it." Schwenck's energy industry experience includes developing and negotiating innovative contractual structures for financing, constructing, and operating energy generation projects; products and services, including energy service performance contracts; synthetic power purchase agreements; and tolling agreements relating to electricity, natural gas, and petroleum and petrochemical products. His infrastructure project experience includes roads, highways, bridges, rail (including high-speed intercity and light metropolitan rail), water and waste treatment facilities, airports, seaports, and cargo terminals, many of which projects involved private ownership, operation, and financing of public facilities. His mining and metals experience includes matters relating to the purchase of rights and extraction, processing, and sale of coal, base metals, precious metals, oil sands, gypsum and potash. Schwenck's construction experience extends from representing project sponsors, investors, contractors, and lenders in the development of bidding documents and procedures to the negotiation of contractual and financial arrangements and to the implementation of project construction structures and delivery methods. "I have worked alongside Crowell & Moring lawyers for many years and have great respect for the firm," Schwenck said. "The firm's transactional and regulatory capabilities align perfectly with the needs of my clients in the energy and infrastructure space. I am excited to help further grow the firm's energy industry capabilities both on the West Coast and elsewhere." Schwenck received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and his B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley. About Crowell & Moring's Energy Group Crowell & Moring's Energy Group lawyers and other professionals focus on power generation, renewable energy, transmission, market access and operations, distributed energy, energy storage, climate and environmental markets, and energy litigation and dispute resolution. The group provides value-based services directed at helping clients navigate the constantly changing regulatory landscape; secure successful outcomes in transactional matters; obtain federal and state permits and environmental approvals; understand energy markets and opportunities; mitigate performance risks; resolve federal and state investigations; and litigate major disputes. About Crowell & Moring LLP Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, London, and Brussels. Media Contact: An Pham Manager, Media PR & Communications +1 202.508.8740 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP Related Links http://www.crowell.com FALLS CHURCH, Va., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CSRA Inc. (NYSE: CSRA) announced today it has become one of the first systems integrators to add Microsoft Azure products and services under General Services Administration (GSA) IT Schedule 70. It is now listed under the Cloud Computing Services Special Item Number (SIN) 132-40. Microsoft is a CSRA Strategic Alliance Partner, a relationship that enables CSRA to deliver solutions on the Microsoft cloud platforms, such as Microsoft Office 365, Azure, and Microsoft Dynamics 365. "By achieving GSA Schedule 70 certification, CSRA becomes one of the first systems integrators to provide Microsoft Azure products across the federal government," said George Batsakis, CSRA's Executive Vice President for Growth. "This will dramatically expand our offerings and allow our customers across all federal agencies to purchase Azure cloud infrastructure as a service." Greg Myers, Microsoft's Vice President, Federal said, "With CSRA's breadth of expertise in developing unique solutions for federal programs, we believe this development will make it easier for federal agencies to access all that the Microsoft Cloud has to offer. We are excited to see CSRA include Microsoft technologies on their GSA Schedule." Azure is one of the most secure federal cloud offerings available in the market. It meets Department of Defense (DoD) requirements for Impact Level 4 and 5 with multiple regions within the United States. Microsoft currently has two defense-only regions and four Azure government data centers across the United States. CSRA has added Azure for all GovCloud regions. Federal customers can now buy full cycle cloud services from CSRA using GSA's IT Schedule 70. GSA's Cloud SIN 132-40 was created to provide federal agencies with faster access to high-demand cloud solutions. GSA IT Schedule 70 is the largest, most widely-used acquisition vehicle across the federal government. CSRA is a Gold Partner in the Microsoft Partner Network. CSRA recently became the first government system integrator to migrate its own workloads to the Azure Government cloud platform. Earlier this year, CSRA announced the signing of a three-year Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft to enable CSRA to utilize Microsoft's products, such as Office 365 for Government Contractors, and the Azure Government Cloud platform. About CSRA Inc. CSRA (NYSE: CSRA) solves our nation's hardest mission problems as a bridge from mission and enterprise IT to Next Gen, from government to technology partners, and from agency to agency. CSRA is tomorrow's thinking, today. For our customers, our partners, and ultimately, all the people our mission touches, CSRA is realizing the promise of technology to change the world through next-generation thinking and meaningful results. CSRA is driving towards achieving sustainable, industry-leading organic growth across federal and state/local markets through customer intimacy, rapid innovation and outcome-based experience. CSRA has over 18,000 employees and is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. To learn more about CSRA, visit www.csra.com. Think Next. Now. Forward-looking Statements All statements in this press release and in all future press releases that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements represent CSRA's intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs, including statements about the actual duration, services delivered, and total value realized by CSRA under customer contracts, the effects of customer contracts on our business, and our ability to enhance mission capabilities of our customers. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of CSRA. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements. For a written description of these factors, see the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in CSRA's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updating information in subsequent SEC filings. CSRA disclaims any intention or obligation to update these forward-looking statements whether as a result of subsequent event or otherwise. SOURCE CSRA Inc. Related Links http://www.sra.com CHONGQING, China, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) ("Daqo New Energy", the "Company" or "we"), a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2017. Second Quarter 2017 Financial and Operating Highlights Record-high polysilicon production volume of 4,993 MT in Q2 2017, increased from 4,927 MT in Q1 2017 Record-high polysilicon external sales volume (1) of 4,497 MT in Q2 2017, increased from 4,223 MT in Q1 2017 of 4,497 MT in Q2 2017, increased from 4,223 MT in Q1 2017 Polysilicon average total production cost (2) of $8.53 /kg in Q2 2017, compared to $8.41 /kg in Q1 2017 of /kg in Q2 2017, compared to /kg in Q1 2017 Polysilicon average cash cost (2) of $6.77 /kg in Q2 2017, compared to $6.68 /kg in Q1 2017 of /kg in Q2 2017, compared to /kg in Q1 2017 Average selling price (ASP) of polysilicon was $13.58 /kg in Q2 2017, compared to $16.66 /kg in Q1 2017 /kg in Q2 2017, compared to /kg in Q1 2017 Solar wafer sales volume of 27.0 million pieces in Q2 2017, increased from 22.4 million pieces in Q1 2017 Revenue of $76.0 million in Q2 2017, compared to $83.8 million in Q1 2017 in Q2 2017, compared to in Q1 2017 Gross profit of $24.2 million in Q2 2017, compared to $35.9 million in Q1 2017 in Q2 2017, compared to in Q1 2017 Gross margin of 31.9% in Q2 2017, compared to 42.8% in Q1 2017 Non-GAAP gross margin (3) of 32.6% in Q2 2017, compared to 44.0% in Q1 2017 of 32.6% in Q2 2017, compared to 44.0% in Q1 2017 EBITDA (non-GAAP) (3) of $29.8 million in Q2 2017, compared to $41.7 million in Q1 2017 of in Q2 2017, compared to in Q1 2017 EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) (3) of 39.2% in Q2 2017, compared to 49.8% in Q1 2017 of 39.2% in Q2 2017, compared to 49.8% in Q1 2017 Net income attributable to Daqo New Energy shareholders of $12.1 million in Q2 2017, compared to $22.9 million in Q1 2017 and $19.8 million in Q2 2016 in Q2 2017, compared to in Q1 2017 and in Q2 2016 Earnings per basic ADS of $1.15 in Q2 2017, compared to $2.18 in Q1 2017 and $1.90 in Q2 2016 in Q2 2017, compared to in Q1 2017 and in Q2 2016 Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) (3) attributable to Daqo New Energy shareholders of $13.8 million in Q2 2017, compared to $24.8 million in Q1 2017 and $22.0 million in Q2 2016 attributable to Daqo New Energy shareholders of in Q2 2017, compared to in Q1 2017 and in Q2 2016 Adjusted earnings per basic ADS (non-GAAP)(3) of $1.31 in Q2 2017, compared to $2.36 in Q1 2017 and $2.10 in Q2 2016 Three months ended US$ millions June 30, March 31, June 30, except as indicated otherwise 2017 2017 2016 Revenues 76.0 83.8 71.0 Gross profit 24.2 35.9 29.4 Gross margin 31.9% 42.8% 41.4% Operating income 20.2 32.2 26.1 Net income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders 12.1 22.9 19.8 Earnings per basic ADS ($ per ADS) 1.15 2.18 1.90 Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)(3) attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders 13.8 24.8 22.0 Adjusted earnings per basic ADS (non-GAAP)(3) ($ per ADS) 1.31 2.36 2.10 Non-GAAP gross profit(3) 24.8 36.9 31.2 Non-GAAP gross margin(3) 32.6% 44.0% 43.9% EBITDA (non-GAAP)(3) 29.8 41.7 34.7 EBITDA margin(3) (non-GAAP) 39.2% 49.8% 48.9% Polysilicon sales volume (MT) (1) 4,497 4,223 2,931 Polysilicon production cost ($/kg)(2) 8.53 8.41 9.43 Polysilicon cash cost (excl. dep'n) ($/kg)(2) 6.77 6.68 7.42 Notes: (1) Our polysilicon external sales volume excludes internal sales to our Chongqing wafer manufacturing subsidiary, which utilizes polysilicon as raw material for the production of solar wafers. The sales volume is the quantity of goods that have been received by customers, and thus the corresponding revenue has been recognized during the period indicated. (2) Production cost and cash cost only refer to production in our Xinjiang polysilicon facilities. Production cost is calculated by the inventoriable costs relating to production of polysilicon in Xinjiang divided by the production volume in the period indicted. Cash cost is calculated by the inventoriable costs relating to production of polysilicon excluding depreciation expense in Xinjiang, divided by the production volume in the period indicated. (3) Daqo New Energy provides non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders and adjusted earnings (loss) per ADS on a non-GAAP basis to provide supplemental information regarding its financial performance. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the tables captioned "Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to comparable US GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this press release. Commentary "We are pleased to report that the second quarter of 2017 was a solid quarter with new records on both polysilicon production volume and external sales volume. During the quarter, we produced 4,993 MT of polysilicon and sold 4,497 MT to external customers. We also conducted various experiments to improve polysilicon quality, particularly for the mono-crystalline grade polysilicon, which had a slight impact to overall production cost and volume. However, we are seeing meaningful quality improvements. Production volume as well as shipment of mono-crystalline quality polysilicon hit a record high in June," said Dr. Gongda Yao, Chief Executive Officer of Daqo New Energy. "Due to downstream customer inventory management at the end of the first quarter, ASP fell in April, but ASP started to recover in May. Demand and pricing improved throughout the second quarter, with the ASP in June approximately 15% higher than that in April. So far in the third quarter, customer demand has remained robust with pricing continuing to improve." "In terms of the PV end market, China installed 24.4 GW of solar PV in the first half of 2017, representing a new record high and a 9% increase from the first half of 2016. For the full year of 2017, China's annual PV installation forecast is currently expected to exceed 35GW. Based on discussions with our customers, we believe that China's PV market demand continues to be strong, driven by top-runner projects as well as distributed generation. Globally, the U.S. and Indian markets are also seeing strong PV product demand. Starting in late July, we have seen a fairly significant shortage of polysilicon in the China market and continued improvements in polysilicon pricing. With a much stronger than expected solar PV installations in China, the annual total global solar installation in 2017 is likely to exceed 80 GW for the first time ever. " "During the second quarter of 2017, the company generated $12.1 million in net income attributable to Daqo New Energy shareholders and $29.8 million in EBITDA with an EBITDA margin of 39.2%. In particular, our operating cash flow remains strong. In the first half of 2017, we generated $73.6 million in net cash provided by operating activities." "Going forward, we will continue our efforts to improve quality throughout the year. With our high product quality and stable supply capabilities, we continue to be a supplier of choice with strong demand for our high quality polysilicon from our diverse customer base." Outlook and Q3 2017 guidance The Company's annual maintenance for the Xinjiang polysilicon facility is scheduled for late September and October. The annual maintenance is anticipated to impact production volume by approximately two weeks. As a result, the Company expects to produce 4,200 MT to 4,500 MT of polysilicon and sell approximately 3,700 MT to 4,000 MT to external customers during the third quarter of 2017. The above external sales guidance excludes shipments of polysilicon to be used internally by our Chongqing solar wafer facility, which utilizes polysilicon for its wafer manufacturing operation. Wafer sales volume is expected to be approximately 25.0 million to 25.5 million pieces in the third quarter of 2017. This outlook reflects our current and preliminary view as of the date of this press release and may be subject to change. Our ability to achieve these projections is subject to risks and uncertainties. See "Safe Harbor Statement" at the end of this press release. Second Quarter 2017 Results Revenues Revenues were $76.0 million, compared to $83.8 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $71.0 million in the second quarter of 2016. Revenues from polysilicon sales to external customers were $61.1 million, compared to $70.4 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $50.5 million in the second quarter of 2016. External polysilicon sales volume was 4,497 MT, increased from 4,223 MT in the first quarter of 2017 and 2,931 MT in the second quarter of 2016. The average selling price (ASP) of polysilicon was $13.58/kg in the second quarter of 2017, compared to $16.66/kg in the first quarter of 2017. The decrease in polysilicon revenues as compared to the first quarter of 2017 was primarily due to lower ASPs, partially offset by higher polysilicon sales volume. Revenues from wafer sales were $14.9 million, compared to $13.4 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $20.5 million in the second quarter of 2016. Wafer sales volume was 27.0 million pieces, compared to 22.4 million pieces in the first quarter of 2017 and 25.0 million pieces in the second quarter of 2016. Gross profit and margin Gross profit was approximately $24.2 million, compared to $35.9 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $29.4 million in the second quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP gross profit, which excludes costs related to the non-operational polysilicon assets in Chongqing, was approximately $24.8 million, compared to $36.9 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $31.2 million in the second quarter of 2016. Gross margin was 31.9%, compared to 42.8% in the first quarter of 2017 and 41.4% in the second quarter of 2016. In the second quarter of 2017, total costs related to the non-operational Chongqing polysilicon assets including depreciation were $0.5 million, decreased from $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2016. Excluding costs related to the non-operational Chongqing polysilicon assets, the non-GAAP gross margin was approximately 32.6%, compared to 44.0% in the first quarter of 2017 and 43.9% in the second quarter of 2016. Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4.5 million, compared to $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2016. Research and development expenses Research and development expenses were approximately $0.3 million, compared to $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2016. The research and development expenses vary from period to period reflecting the R&D activities that occur in such period. Other operating income Other operating income was $0.8 million, compared to $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2016. Other operating income was mainly composed of unrestricted cash incentives that the Company received from local government authorities, the amount of which varies from period to period. Operating income and margin As a result of the foregoing, operating income was $20.2 million, compared to $32.2 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $26.1 million in the second quarter of 2016. Operating margin was 26.6%, compared to 38.4% in the first quarter of 2017 and 36.8% in the second quarter of 2016. Interest expense Interest expense was $ 5.3million, compared to $4.3 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $3.5 million in the second quarter of 2016. EBITDA EBITDA was $29.8 million, compared to $41.7 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $34.7 million in the second quarter of 2016. EBITDA margin was 39.2%, compared to 49.8% in the first quarter of 2017 and 48.9% in the second quarter of 2016. Net income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders and earnings per ADS Net income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders was $12.1 million in the second quarter of 2017, compared to $22.9 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $19.8 million in the second quarter of 2016. Earnings per basic ADS were $1.15 in the second quarter of 2017, compared to $2.18 in the first quarter of 2017 and $1.90 in the second quarter of 2016. Financial Condition As of June 30, 2017, the Company had $49.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, compared to $61.2 million as of March 31, 2017 and $42.9 million as of June 30, 2016. As of June 30, 2017, the accounts receivable balance was $3.8 million, compared to $13.1 million as of March 31, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, the notes receivable balance was $10.5 million, compared to $11.7 million as of March 31, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, total borrowings were $219.3 million, of which $123.1 million were long-term borrowings, compared to total borrowings of $236.0 million, including $129.2 million long-term borrowings, as of March 31, 2017. Cash Flows For the six months ended June 30, 2017, net cash provided by operating activities was $73.6 million, increased from $66.6 million in the same period of 2016. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, net cash used in investing activities was $36.0 million, compared to $37.6 million in the same period of 2016. The net cash used in investing activities in 2017 was primarily related to the capital expenditure of Xinjiang Phase 3A polysilicon projects. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, net cash used in financing activities was $23.4 million, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $13.5 million in the same period of 2016. The increase was primarily due to repayment of related parties loans. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement Daqo New Energy's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("US GAAP"), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures that are adjusted for certain items from the most directly comparable GAAP measures including non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and EBITDA margin; adjusted net income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders and adjusted earnings per basic ADS. Management believes that each of these non-GAAP measures is useful to investors, enabling them to better assess changes in key elements of the Company's results of operations across different reporting periods on a consistent basis, independent of certain items as described below. Thus, management believes that, used in conjunction with US GAAP financial measures, these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with meaningful supplemental information to assess the Company's operating results in a manner that is focused on its ongoing, core operating performance. Management uses these non-GAAP measures internally to assess the business, its financial performance, current and historical results, as well as for strategic decision-making and forecasting future results. Given management's use of these non-GAAP measures, the Company believes these measures are important to investors in understanding the Company's operating results as seen through the eyes of management. These non-GAAP measures are not prepared in accordance with US GAAP or intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with US GAAP; the non-GAAP measures should be reviewed together with the US GAAP measures and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin includes adjustments for costs related to the non-operational polysilicon assets in Chongqing. Such costs mainly consist of non-cash depreciation costs, as well as utilities and maintenance costs associated with the temporarily idle polysilicon machinery and equipment, which will be or are in the process of being relocated to the Company's Xinjiang polysilicon manufacturing facility. The Company expects a majority of these costs, such as depreciation, will continue to occur as part of the production cost at the Xinjiang facilities subsequent to the completion of the relocation plan. Once these assets are placed back in service, the Company will remove this adjustment from the non-GAAP reconciling item. The Company also uses EBITDA, which represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and EBITDA margin, which represents the proportion of EBITDA in revenues. Adjusted net income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders and adjusted earnings per basic ADS exclude costs related to the non-operational polysilicon assets in Chongqing as described above. Adjusted net income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders and adjusted earnings per basic ADS also exclude costs related to share-based compensation. Share-based compensation is a non-cash expense that varies from period to period. As a result, management excludes this item from its internal operating forecasts and models. Management believes that this adjustment for share-based compensation provides investors with a basis to measure the company's core performance, including compared with the performance of other companies, without the period-to-period variability created by share-based compensation. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to comparable US GAAP measures is presented later in this document. Conference Call The Company has scheduled a conference call to discuss the results at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on August 8, 2017 (8:00 PM Beijing / Hong Kong time on the same day). The dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: Participant dial in (U.S. toll free): +1-888-346-8982 Participant international dial in: +1-412-902-4272 China mainland toll free: 4001-201203 Hong Kong toll free: 800-905945 Hong Kong local dial in: +852-301-84992 Participants please ask to be joined into the Daqo New Energy Corp. call. Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. You can also listen to the conference call via Webcast through the URL: http://mms.prnasia.com/DQ/20170808/default.aspx A replay of the call will be available 1 hour after the conclusion of the conference call through August 15, 2017. The dial in details for the conference call replay are as follows: U.S. toll free: +1-877-344-7529 International dial in: +1-412-317-0088 Canada toll free: 855-669-9658 Replay access code: 1011073 To access the replay using an international dial-in number, please select the link below. https://services.choruscall.com/ccforms/replay.html Participants will be asked to provide their name and company name upon entering the call. About Daqo New Energy Corp. Founded in 2008, Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) is a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry. As one of the world's lowest cost producers of high-purity polysilicon and solar wafers, the Company primarily sells its products to solar cell and solar module manufacturers. The Company has built a manufacturing facility that is technically advanced and highly efficient with a nameplate capacity of 18,000 metric tons in Xinjiang, China. The Company also operates a solar wafer manufacturing facility in Chongqing, China. 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 terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the third quarter of 2017 and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Daqo New Energy's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the demand for photovoltaic products and the development of photovoltaic technologies; global supply and demand for polysilicon; alternative technologies in cell manufacturing; our ability to significantly expand our polysilicon production capacity and output; the reduction in or elimination of government subsidies and economic incentives for solar energy applications; and our ability to lower our production costs. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the reports or documents we have filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Daqo New Energy does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Daqo New Energy undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. Daqo New Energy Corp. Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (US dollars in thousands, except ADS and per ADS data) For the three months Ended Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Jun 30, 2016 Revenues $76,002 $83,808 $71,021 Cost of revenues (51,757) (47,914) (41,640) Gross profit 24,245 35,894 29,381 Operating expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses (4,514) (4,060) (3,675) Research and development expenses (279) (448) (148) Other operating income 751 775 583 Total operating expenses (4,042) (3,733) (3,240) Income from operations 20,203 32,161 26,141 Interest expense (5,288) (4,344) (3,487) Interest income 111 75 171 Foreign exchange gain (loss) 2 1 (3) Income before income taxes 15,028 27,893 22,822 Income tax expense (2,768) (4,742) (2,802) Net income 12,260 23,151 20,020 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 135 257 176 Net income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders $12,125 $22,894 $19,844 Net income 12,260 23,151 20,020 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation adjustments 4,904 2,166 (8,116) Total other comprehensive income (loss) 4,904 2,166 (8,116) Comprehensive income 17,164 25,317 11,904 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest 167 270 130 Comprehensive income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders $16,997 $25,047 $11,774 Income per ADS Basic 1.15 2.18 1.90 Diluted 1.14 2.14 1.87 Weighted average ADS outstanding Basic 10,529,730 10,519,425 10,457,105 Diluted 10,678,845 10,691,911 10,596,753 Daqo New Energy Corp. Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet (US dollars in thousands) Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Jun 30, 2016 ASSETS: Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $30,443 $44,651 $29,659 Restricted cash 19,403 16,596 13,201 Accounts receivable, net 3,796 13,121 10,061 Notes Receivable 10,540 11,702 14,798 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 7,011 6,069 6,630 Advances to suppliers 1,688 1,283 1,072 Inventories 15,981 16,268 9,539 Amount due from related parties 1,386 345 4,514 Total current assets 90,248 110,035 89,474 Property, plant and equipment, net 554,062 559,900 546,227 Prepaid land use right 25,125 24,871 26,205 Deferred tax assets 600 591 612 Investment accounted for under cost-method 596 586 182 TOTAL ASSETS 670,631 695,983 662,700 Current liabilities: Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term borrowings 96,158 106,842 109,494 Accounts payable 20,972 23,130 18,665 Notes payable 26,080 23,749 26,092 Advances from customers 10,483 1,025 3,408 Payables for purchases of property, plant and equipment 25,839 39,367 39,681 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 9,426 11,417 11,973 Amount due to related parties 12,162 32,925 41,100 Income tax payable 6,386 7,095 3,411 Total current liabilities 207,506 245,550 253,824 Long-term borrowings 123,145 129,198 118,368 Other long Term Liabilities 23,509 23,304 24,414 TOTAL LIABILITIES 354,160 398,052 396,606 EQUITY: Ordinary shares 27 27 26 Treasury stock (1,749) (1,749) (1,749) Additional paid-in capital 242,372 240,996 238,484 Retained earnings 75,451 63,326 25,107 Accumulated other comprehensive income (1,697) (6,569) 2,717 Total Daqo New Energy Corp.'s shareholders' equity 314,404 296,031 264,585 Noncontrolling interest 2,067 1,900 1,509 Total equity 316,471 297,931 266,094 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 670,631 695,983 662,700 Daqo New Energy Corp. Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (US dollars in thousands) For the six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 Operating Activities: Net income 35,411 28,410 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Share-based compensation 1,985 1,737 Provision/(reversal) of allowance for doubtful accounts (3) (849) Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 19,208 17,205 Loss on disposal of assets 23 - Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 1,161 10,180 Notes receivable 2,800 (3,945) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,211 5,323 Advances to suppliers 76 (67) Inventories (3,403) 930 Amounts due from related parties 182 (4,303) Amounts due to related parties 275 517 Prepaid land use rights 285 291 Accounts payable 1,776 1,577 Notes payable 8,302 8,367 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 904 3,555 Income tax payable 958 2,470 Advances from customers 2,782 (4,586) Deferred government subsidies (334) (256) Net cash provided by operating activities 73,599 66,556 Investing activities: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (32,894) (42,840) Investment accounted for under the cost-method - (188) Decrease/(Increase) in restricted cash (3,125) 5,422 Net cash used in investing activities (36,019) (37,606) Financing activities: Proceeds from related party loans 39,697 69,508 Repayment of related party loans (59,565) (74,222) Proceeds from bank borrowings 32,953 41,309 Repayment of bank borrowings (36,800) (50,488) Cash received from exercises of options 275 389 Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (23,440) (13,504) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 316 (277) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 14,456 15,169 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 15,987 14,490 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 30,443 29,659 Daqo New Energy Corp. Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to comparable US GAAP measures (US dollars in thousands) For the three months ended Jun. 30, 2017 Mar. 31, 2017 Jun. 30, 2016 Gross profit 24,245 35,894 29,381 Costs related to the non-operational Chongqing polysilicon operations 544 1,003 1,775 Non-GAAP gross profit 24,789 36,897 31,156 For the three months ended Jun. 30, 2017 Mar. 31, 2017 Jun. 30, 2016 Gross margin 31.9% 42.8% 41.4% Costs related to the non-operational Chongqing polysilicon operations (proportion of revenue) 0.7% 1.2% 2.5% Non-GAAP gross margin 32.6% 44.0% 43.9% For the three months ended Jun. 30, 2017 Mar. 31, 2017 Jun. 30, 2016 Net income 12,260 23,151 20,020 Income tax expense 2,768 4,742 2,802 Interest expense 5,288 4,344 3,487 Interest income (111) (75) (171) Depreciation 9,621 9,587 8,598 EBITDA (non-GAAP) 29,826 41,749 34,736 EBIDTA margin (non-GAAP) 39.2% 49.8% 48.9% For the three months ended Jun. 30, 2017 Mar. 31, 2017 Jun. 30, 2016 Net income attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders 12,125 22,894 19,844 Costs related to the non-operational Chongqing polysilicon operations 544 1,003 1,775 Share-based compensation 1,104 882 393 Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) attributable to Daqo New Energy Corp. shareholders 13,773 24,779 22,012 Adjusted earnings per basic ADS (non-GAAP) 1.31 2.36 $2.10 Adjusted earnings per diluted ADS (non-GAAP) 1.29 2.32 $2.08 For further information, please contact: Daqo New Energy Corp. Investor Relations Phone: +86-187-1658-5553 [email protected] SOURCE Daqo New Energy Corp. DALLAS, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) today reported second quarter 2017 results. Highlights Q2 net income per diluted share was $0.19 and adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.21 and adjusted net income per diluted share was Productivity initiatives across commercial and supply chain expected to continue to ramp up through balance of year Retail dynamics and focus on private label impacting volume performance Company announces an expansion of its cost productivity program targeting an incremental annual cost reduction of $40 to $50 million to Lowering full-year 2017 adjusted earnings expectation to $0.80 to $0.95 per diluted share(1) Chief Executive Officer Ralph Scozzafava said, "In the second quarter, we faced a challenging and rapidly evolving retail environment. We experienced volume pressure from both a macro and competitive perspective that impacted our total volume performance within the quarter, and we anticipate this will carry forward for the remainder of 2017. Our financial results came in well below our expectations. We are not satisfied with our performance and are determined to improve our execution. We are accelerating and expanding an aggressive set of commercial and cost productivity initiatives to address volume and mix. We expect these actions will better position our company for the future." Second Quarter 2017 Operating Results Chief Financial Officer Chris Bellairs said, "For the second quarter, we continue to generate positive net cash from operating activities. We have used our internally generated cash flow to fund working capital and fixed asset investment and to improve the funded status of our pension plans. Our year-to-date cash flow has also been utilized to pay our dividends, invest in Good Karma Foods and acquire Uncle Matt's Organic. We continue to maintain a sound balance sheet with all cash netted leverage at 2.25 times as of the second quarter of 2017." Financial Summary * Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 (In millions, except per share amounts) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Gross Profit GAAP $ 467 $ 493 $ 930 $ 997 Adjusted $ 460 $ 490 $ 925 $ 995 Operating Income GAAP $ 45 $ 73 $ 48 $ 151 Adjusted $ 47 $ 70 $ 82 $ 153 Interest Expense GAAP $ 16 $ 17 $ 34 $ 34 Adjusted $ 16 $ 17 $ 33 $ 33 Net Income GAAP $ 18 $ 33 $ 8 $ 73 Adjusted $ 20 $ 35 $ 32 $ 76 Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) GAAP $ 0.19 $ 0.36 $ 0.09 $ 0.79 Adjusted $ 0.21 $ 0.38 $ 0.35 $ 0.83 * Adjustments to GAAP due to the exclusion of expenses, gains or losses associated with certain transactions and other non-recurring items are described and reconciled to the comparable GAAP amounts in the attached tables. (1) Please refer to "Forward Outlook" and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for additional information. We provide guidance on a non-GAAP basis and are unable to provide a full reconciliation to GAAP without unreasonable efforts as we cannot predict the amount or timing of certain elements which are included in reported GAAP results, including mark-to-market adjustments of hedging activities, asset impairment charges, and other non-recurring events or transactions that may have a significant impact to reported GAAP results. Total volume across all products was 615 million gallons for the second quarter of 2017, a 2.7% decline compared to total volume of 632 million gallons in the second quarter of 2016. Based on fluid milk sales data published by the USDA through May, U.S. fluid milk volume decreased 2.9% year-over-year quarter to date in the second quarter of 2017 on an unadjusted basis. On this same basis, Dean Foods' share of U.S. fluid milk volume decreased by 30 basis points year-over-year. Raw milk costs in the second quarter of 2017 of $15.52 per hundred weight decreased roughly 9% from the first quarter of 2017 but increased 15% from the second quarter of 2016. Cash Flow Net cash provided by continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017 totaled $79 million. Free cash flow provided by continuing operations, which is defined as net cash provided by continuing operations less capital expenditures, was $45 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, a $35 million decrease as compared to the prior year period. Capital expenditures totaled $35 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Debt Total outstanding debt at June 30, 2017, net of $32 million cash on hand, was approximately $880 million. The Company's net debt to bank EBITDA total leverage ratio, on an all-cash netted basis, increased slightly on a sequential basis to 2.25 times at the end of the second quarter 2017. Forward Outlook "As we look to the third quarter and the balance of 2017, our volume and mix challenges are occurring at a higher rate than planned. While we are on track to deliver our cost productivity estimate of $80 million to $100 million for the full year, our volume shortfall will drive lower financial results than our previous expectations. We are therefore reducing our full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to $0.80 to $0.95 and expect full-year free cash flow in the range of $50 million to $75 million. In addition, we are aggressively addressing our cost structure and are targeting an incremental annual cost reduction between $40 million to $50 million across our general and administrative functions. We expect to complete this process by the end of this year," concluded Scozzafava. We provide guidance on a non-GAAP basis and are unable to provide a full reconciliation to GAAP without unreasonable efforts as we cannot predict the amount or timing of certain elements which are included in reported GAAP results, including mark-to-market adjustments of hedging activities, asset impairment charges, and other non-recurring events or transactions that may have a significant impact to reported GAAP results. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to the results prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), we have presented certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted gross profit, adjusted selling and distribution expenses, adjusted general and administrative expenses, adjusted total operating costs and expenses, adjusted operating income, adjusted interest expense, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share, adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and total leverage ratio, each as described below. This non-GAAP financial information is provided as supplemental information for investors and is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP. Additionally, these non-GAAP measures may be different than similar measures used by other companies. We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with our GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides investors with a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business than could be obtained absent these disclosures. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating our performance, when making decisions regarding the allocation of resources, in determining incentive compensation for management, and in determining earnings estimates. A full reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, is set forth in the tables herein. Adjusted Operating Results We have supplemented the presentation of our reported GAAP gross profit, selling and distribution expenses, general and administrative expenses, total operating costs and expenses, operating income, interest expense, net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per diluted share, with non-GAAP measures that adjust the GAAP measures to exclude the impact of the following (as applicable): asset impairment charges; incremental non-cash trademark amortization triggered by the launch of a national fresh white milk brand; closed deal costs; facility closing, reorganization and realignment costs; debt issuance costs; costs associated with the early retirement of long-term debt; gains (losses) on the mark-to-market of our derivative contracts; separation costs; gains or losses related to discontinued operations and divestitures; litigation settlements; income tax impacts of the foregoing adjustments; and adjustments to normalize our income tax expense at a rate of 38%. We believe these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors by excluding expenses, gains or losses that are not indicative of the company's core operating performance. In addition, we cannot predict the timing and amount of gains or losses associated with certain of these items. We believe these non-GAAP measures provide more accurate comparisons of our ongoing business operations and are better indicators of trends in our underlying business. In addition, these adjustments are consistent with how management views our business. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and evaluating the Company's ongoing performance. Further, adjusted gross profit and adjusted operating income are used by management to evaluate key performance indicators of brand mix and low cost, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, as further adjusted to exclude the impact of the adjustments discussed under "Adjusted Operating Results" above (other than the incremental trademark amortization and normalized income tax rate, as Adjusted EBITDA excludes the full amount of these expenses). This information is provided to assist investors in making meaningful comparisons of our operating performance between periods and to view our business from the same perspective as our management. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure for analyzing the performance of our business and is a widely-accepted indicator of our ability to incur and service indebtedness and generate free cash flow. We also believe that EBITDA measures are commonly reported and widely used by investors and other interested parties as measures of a company's operating performance and debt servicing ability because such measures assist in comparing performance on a consistent basis without regard to capital structure, depreciation or amortization (which can vary significantly) and non-operating factors (such as historical cost). Total Leverage Ratio Our total leverage ratio is calculated as net debt divided by Bank EBITDA for the trailing four quarters. Net debt is calculated as consolidated funded indebtedness in accordance with our credit agreement, except on an all cash netted basis. Bank EBITDA is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA, as further adjusted to exclude certain non-cash and non-recurring or extraordinary expenses as permitted in calculating covenant compliance under our credit agreement. Management believes analysts and investors commonly use our total leverage ratio as an indicator of our ability to service existing debt and our liquidity. Free Cash Flow We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations less cash payments for capital expenditures. We believe Free Cash Flow is a meaningful non-GAAP measure that offers supplemental information and insight regarding the liquidity of our operations and our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to, among other things, repay debt, invest in our business and repurchase shares of our common stock. A limitation of Free Cash Flow is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance for the period. Conference Call/Webcast A webcast to discuss the Company's financial results and outlook will be held at 9:00 a.m. ET today and may be heard live by clicking the earnings button on the Company's website at http://www.deanfoods.com. A slide presentation will accompany the webcast. About Dean Foods Dean Foods is a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fresh fluid milk and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Dean Foods portfolio includes DairyPure, the country's first and largest fresh, white milk national brand, and TruMoo, the leading national flavored milk brand, along with well-known regional dairy brands such as Alta Dena, Berkeley Farms, Country Fresh, Dean's, Friendly's, Garelick Farms, LAND O LAKES* milk and cultured products, Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms, Mayfield, McArthur, Meadow Gold, Oak Farms, PET**, T.G. Lee, Tuscan and more. In all, Dean Foods has more than 50 national, regional and local dairy brands as well as private labels. Dean Foods also makes and distributes ice cream, cultured products, juices, teas, and bottled water. Almost 17,000 employees across the country work every day to make Dean Foods the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, great-tasting dairy products at every occasion. For more information about Dean Foods and its brands, visit www.deanfoods.com . *The LAND O LAKES brand is owned by Land O'Lakes, Inc. and is used by license. **PET is a trademark of Eagle Family Foods Group LLC, under license. Some of the statements made in this press release are "forward-looking" and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to: (1) our financial forecast, including projected sales (including specific product lines and the Company as a whole), total volume, price realization, profit margins, net income, earnings per share, free cash flow, our leverage ratio, and debt covenant compliance, (2) the Company's regional and national branding and marketing initiatives, (3) the Company's innovation, research and development plans and its ability to successfully launch new products or brands, (4) commodity prices and other inputs and the Company's ability to forecast or predict commodity prices, milk production and milk exports, (5) the Company's commercial and cost productivity initiatives, including plant closures and route reductions, and its ability to achieve expected savings, (6) planned capital expenditures, (7) the status of the Company's litigation matters, (8) the Company's plans related to its capital structure, (9) the Company's dividend policy, (10) possible repurchases of shares of the Company's common stock, and (11) potential acquisitions. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in this press release, including the risks disclosed by the Company in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Financial projections are based on a number of assumptions. Actual results could be materially different than projected if those assumptions are erroneous. The cost and supply of commodities and other raw materials are determined by market forces over which the Company has limited or no control. Sales, operating income, net income, debt covenant compliance, financial performance and earnings per share can vary based on a variety of economic, governmental and competitive factors, which are identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q. The Company's ability to profit from its branding and marketing initiatives depends on a number of factors including consumer acceptance of its products. The declaration and payment of cash dividends under the Company's dividend policy remains at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon its financial results, cash requirements, future prospects, restrictions in its credit agreement and debt covenant compliance, applicable law and other factors that may be deemed relevant by the Board. All forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any changes in the events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based except as required by law. CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Jamaison Schuler, +1-214-721-7766; or Investor Relations, Sherri Baker, +1-214-303-3438 DEAN FOODS COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net sales $ 1,926,722 $ 1,848,788 $ 3,922,408 $ 3,727,616 Cost of sales 1,459,342 1,355,535 2,992,903 2,730,295 Gross profit 467,380 493,253 929,505 997,321 Operating costs and expenses: Selling and distribution 338,144 331,150 683,340 664,037 General and administrative 73,100 86,614 172,636 171,765 Amortization of intangibles 5,155 4,120 10,310 10,445 Facility closing and reorganization costs, net 5,817 (1,400) 15,103 (234) Total operating costs and expenses 422,216 420,484 881,389 846,013 Operating income 45,164 72,769 48,116 151,308 Other (income) expense: Interest expense 16,419 16,830 33,883 33,706 Other income, net (805) (2,210) (1,761) (3,207) Total other expense 15,614 14,620 32,122 30,499 Income before income taxes 29,550 58,149 15,994 120,809 Income tax expense 11,903 24,778 8,106 48,237 Net income $ 17,647 $ 33,371 $ 7,888 $ 72,572 Average common shares: Basic 90,882 91,245 90,797 91,407 Diluted 91,369 91,680 91,366 91,995 Basic income per common share: Net income $ 0.19 $ 0.37 $ 0.09 $ 0.79 Diluted income per common share: Net income $ 0.19 $ 0.36 $ 0.09 $ 0.79 DEAN FOODS COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (In thousands) June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 31,509 $ 17,980 Other current assets 936,574 1,040,650 Total current assets 968,083 1,058,630 Property, plant and equipment, net 1,124,089 1,163,851 Intangibles and other assets, net 402,076 383,746 Total $ 2,494,248 $ 2,606,227 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Total current liabilities, excluding debt $ 655,298 $ 706,981 Total long-term debt, including current portion 904,298 886,051 Other long-term liabilities 326,441 402,639 Total stockholders' equity 608,211 610,556 Total $ 2,494,248 $ 2,606,227 DEAN FOODS COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (In thousands) Six Months Ended June 30 2017 2016 Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities $ 79,180 $ 125,319 Investing Activities Payments for property, plant and equipment (34,551) (45,752) Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (21,596) (157,321) Proceeds from sale of fixed assets 2,481 10,711 Other investments (9,000) Net cash used in investing activities (62,666) (192,362) Financing Activities Net proceeds from debt 16,368 72,405 Payments of financing costs (1,764) Repurchase of common stock (25,000) Cash dividends paid (16,357) (16,514) Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes (1,232) (646) Other 699 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (2,985) 30,944 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (825) Change in cash and cash equivalents 13,529 (36,924) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 17,980 60,734 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 31,509 $ 23,810 DEAN FOODS COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES* (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 Asset write- downs and (gain) loss on sale of assets Closed deal costs Facility closing and reorganization costs, net Mark-to- market on derivative contracts Other adjustments Income tax GAAP (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Adjusted* Gross profit $ 467,380 $ $ $ $ (7,717) $ $ $ 459,663 Selling and distribution 338,144 (872) 337,272 General and administrative 73,100 (322) 1,111 73,889 Amortization of intangibles 5,155 (3,935) 1,220 General and administrative, including Amortization of intangibles 78,255 (3,935) (322) 1,111 75,109 Total operating costs and expenses 422,216 (3,935) (322) (5,817) (872) 1,111 412,381 Operating income 45,164 3,935 322 5,817 (6,845) (1,111) 47,282 Interest expense 16,419 16,419 Net income 17,647 3,935 322 5,817 (6,845) (1,111) (131) 19,634 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.19 $ 0.04 $ $ 0.06 $ (0.07) $ (0.01) $ $ 0.21 Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Asset write- downs and (gain) loss on sale of assets Closed deal costs Facility closing and reorganization costs, net Mark-to- market on derivative contracts Other adjustments Income tax GAAP (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Adjusted* Gross profit $ 493,253 $ $ $ $ (3,120) $ $ $ 490,133 Selling and distribution 331,150 5,564 336,714 General and administrative 86,614 (4,083) 82,531 Amortization of intangibles 4,120 (3,384) 736 General and administrative, including Amortization of intangibles 90,734 (3,384) (4,083) 83,267 Total operating costs and expenses 420,484 (3,384) (4,083) 1,400 5,564 419,981 Operating income 72,769 3,384 4,083 (1,400) (8,684) 70,152 Interest expense 16,830 (218) 16,612 Net income 33,371 3,384 4,083 (1,400) (8,684) 218 3,592 34,564 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.36 $ 0.04 $ 0.05 $ (0.02) $ (0.09) $ $ 0.04 $ 0.38 * See Notes to Earnings Release Tables DEAN FOODS COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES* (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Asset write- downs and (gain) loss on sale of assets Closed deal costs Facility closing and reorganization costs, net Mark-to- market on derivative contracts Other adjustments Income tax GAAP (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Adjusted* Gross profit $ 929,505 $ $ $ $ (4,510) $ $ $ 924,995 Selling and distribution 683,340 (2,014) 681,326 General and administrative 172,636 (322) (13,139) 159,175 Amortization of intangibles 10,310 (7,870) 2,440 General and administrative, including Amortization of intangibles 182,946 (7,870) (322) (13,139) 161,615 Total operating costs and expenses 881,389 (7,870) (322) (15,103) (2,014) (13,139) 842,941 Operating income 48,116 7,870 322 15,103 (2,496) 13,139 82,054 Interest expense 33,883 (1,080) 32,803 Net income 7,888 7,870 322 15,103 (2,496) 14,219 (11,278) 31,628 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.09 $ 0.09 $ $ 0.17 $ (0.03) $ 0.15 $ (0.12) $ 0.35 Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Asset write- downs and (gain) loss on sale of assets Closed deal costs Facility closing and reorganization costs, net Mark-to- market on derivative contracts Other adjustments Income tax GAAP (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Adjusted* Gross profit $ 997,321 $ $ $ $ (2,587) $ $ $ 994,734 Selling and distribution 664,037 8,242 672,279 General and administrative 171,765 (4,083) 167,682 Amortization of intangibles 10,445 (8,973) 1,472 General and administrative, including Amortization of intangibles 182,210 (8,973) (4,083) 169,154 Total operating costs and expenses 846,013 (8,973) (4,083) 234 8,242 841,433 Operating income 151,308 8,973 4,083 (234) (10,829) 153,301 Interest expense 33,706 (436) 33,270 Net income 72,572 8,973 4,083 (234) (10,829) 436 1,405 76,406 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.79 $ 0.10 $ 0.04 $ $ (0.12) $ $ 0.02 $ 0.83 * See Notes to Earnings Release Tables DEAN FOODS COMPANY RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES* (Unaudited) (In thousands, except ratio data) Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 Trailing Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Bank EBITDA Net income $ 17,647 $ 33,371 $ 7,888 $ 72,572 $ 55,245 Interest expense 16,419 16,830 33,883 33,706 66,972 Income tax expense 11,903 24,778 8,106 48,237 41,903 Depreciation and amortization 41,989 41,403 83,872 85,029 171,458 Closed deal costs (b) 322 4,083 322 4,083 1,165 Facility closing and reorganization costs, net (c) 5,817 (1,400) 15,103 (234) 24,056 Mark-to-market on derivative contracts (d) (6,845) (8,684) (2,496) (10,829) (4,463) Other adjustments (e) (1,111) 13,139 25,388 Adjusted EBITDA $ 86,141 $ 110,381 $ 159,817 $ 232,564 381,724 Non-cash share-based compensation expense 8,815 Bank EBITDA $ 390,539 June 30, 2017 Reconciliation of net debt and total leverage ratio Total long-term debt, including current portion $ 904,298 Unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs 7,150 Cash and cash equivalents (31,509) Net debt $ 879,939 Bank EBITDA 390,539 Total leverage ratio 2.25 Six Months Ended June 30 2017 2016 Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow provided by continuing operations Net cash provided by operating activities $ 79,180 $ 125,319 Payments for property, plant and equipment (34,551) (45,752) Free Cash Flow provided by continuing operations $ 44,629 $ 79,567 * See Notes to Earnings Release Tables Notes to Earnings Release Tables For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the adjusted results and certain other non-GAAP financial measures differ from the Company's results under GAAP due to the exclusion of expenses, gains or losses associated with certain transactions and other non-recurring items that we believe are not indicative of our core operating results. For additional information on our non-GAAP financial measures, see the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in this release. (a) In conjunction with our decision to launch DairyPure in the first quarter of 2015, we reclassified certain of our indefinite-lived trademarks to finite-lived, resulting in a triggering event for impairment testing purposes. The related adjustment reflects the elimination of amortization expense recorded on these finite-lived trademarks of $3.9 million and $3.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $7.9 million and $9.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. (b) The adjustment reflects the elimination of expenses related to completed acquisitions and other transactional activities of $0.3 million for each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, and $4.1 million for each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. (c) The adjustment reflects the elimination of severance charges and non-cash asset impairments, net of (gains) losses on related asset sales, for approved facility closings and restructuring plans. (d) The adjustment reflects the elimination of the (gain) loss on the mark-to-market of our commodity derivative contracts. All of our commodity derivative contracts are marked to market in our statement of operations during each reporting period with a corresponding derivative asset or liability on our balance sheet. (e) The adjustment reflects the elimination of the following: i. A charge related to litigation settlements reached in the six months ended June 30, 2017; ii. The write off of unamortized deferred financing costs of $1.1 million in connection with the January 4, 2017 amendments to our senior secured revolving credit facility and receivables securitization facility in the six months ended June 30, 2017; iii. A $1.1 million reduction to separation charges recorded in the three months ended June 30, 2017 in connection with the Company's previously disclosed CEO succession plan; and iv. Interest accretion in connection with the settlement of a previously disclosed dairy farmer class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The Court granted final approval of the settlement agreement on June 15, 2012 and the final installment payment was made in June of 2016. (f) The adjustment reflects the income tax impact of adjustments (a) through (e) and an adjustment to our income tax expense to reflect income tax at a tax rate of 38%, which we believe represents our normalized long-term effective tax rate as a U.S. domiciled business. SOURCE Dean Foods Company Related Links http://www.deanfoods.com ISELIN, N.J., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Direct Energy Business has been selected to be a Qualified Real Time Energy Management (RTEM) Vendor for its Panoramic Power technology by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). NYSERDA's RTEM program offers incentives for the installation of systems and the post-installation information services that collect energy usage data and can be used to optimize the building's energy usage. "We are proud to be supported by NYSERDA in our efforts to provide customers with simple solutions to track, understand and control their energy usage," said John Schultz, president, Centrica North America and Direct Energy Business. "Through Panoramic Power we provide customers actionable insights that they can use to reduce their use." NYSERDA's RTEM program supports the installation of energy systems and information services. Direct Energy Business will work with customers throughout the program's process including project scoping, submission of the NYSERDA application and installation. In addition, Direct Energy Business will provide real time energy monitoring and quarterly reports that will be presented to customers. Eligible buildings include office buildings, health care facilities, and state and local governments. NYSERDA has dedicated $30 million to this program and it will be open until June 2021, or until all funds have been allocated. For more information on the program and eligibility, please see NYSERDA's website. Program eligible customers that purchase Panoramic Power from Direct Energy Business through June 2018 will receive a 30 percent project cost-share funded by NYSERDA. Working in partnership with Centrica's Distributed Energy & Power business, Direct Energy Business offers businesses and other large energy users the latest distributed energy solutions, designed to help customers manage energy costs, boost site resilience and reduce carbon emissions. About Direct Energy Direct Energy is one of North America's largest retail providers of electricity, natural gas, and home and business energy-related services with over four million customers. Direct Energy gives customers choice, simplicity, and innovation where energy, data, and technology meet. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), an international energy and services company, Direct Energy, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, operate in 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 4 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, please visit www.directenergy.com SOURCE Direct Energy Related Links http://www.directenergy.com LONDON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In the middle of the 20th century, at a time when many manufacturers began to face the problem of overproduction and surplus stocks of products, an actual and extremely important issue was the construction of such a marketing strategy that would allow developing not only the market itself but also the product. On the way of increasing consumer demand for goods there were two main obstacles: Dmitry Leus Talking About the Aspects of the "Lean-Approach" Business Trend Sufficiency or almost complete satisfaction of the consumers by the previous acquisitions. This is the case when it is important for the family to have a TV. Standardization or improvement of product quality, when the product was practically deprived of individual characteristics. That is when the concept of client-centered approach was born (founded by the well-known American psychologist Carl Rogers) and the ideas that business does not start with a good or product, but with a client, began to develop intensively. It starts with the client's needs, his desires, motives, and interests. This important and relevant topic has been discussed during the last interview with a businessperson, entrepreneur, and investor - Dmitry Leus. The first question dealt with Dmitry's observations concerning the change of the approach to the client and the problems that companies face while working with clients. Dmitry Leus admits that the client-orientation theme is one of his favorite ones, thus he tried to explain why. Before going into details, Leus suggested to return to the 1990s, when many companies in the post-Soviet area faced extremely difficult conditions. A great era of stability and sluggishness had ended, and it was necessary to take quick steps that would allow people to somehow stay afloat and simply survive in new conditions. It was a challenge and a test of strength. At that time, no one was thinking about customers - there was a deficit in the country and any filling with a product or service was met by the market "with a bang." The principle was simple - buy low, sell high! As the market became saturated, many companies began to realize that the mere availability of "goods in stock" is not enough. It was needed to stimulate sales channels, conduct advertising campaigns and win the hearts of customers. At the beginning people fought for all clients, then they fought for their customers and gradually came to the fact that it was necessary to build relationships with customers and enhance the impressions of the product, of communication with the company, the market segment in general. And if in the US the client-centered theory was spoken already in the 60s, then in our country this topic began to develop actively approximately after 2000. This 50-years-gap had to be cut very quickly. At the same time, many companies have faced (and still face) three main problems: The first problem is the cognitive mistake "I know." Perhaps this is the most common and most dangerous mistake that companies face. Check yourself and answer directly and honestly to the question (appealing to the reader) - "Do your customers really want what you think about your product/service?" Dmitry noted that in his career, many years ago, he met some entrepreneurs who built their own business and brought a product to the market, solely on their inner understanding of what is "valuable or not valuable". Many of them "burned down". Because they simply misunderstood true needs of customers. As a consequence of the first reason, many companies began to perceive the notion of customer-centricity as good customer service or first-class service. That is it! Behind the scenes, often remained the fact that the price of the product was overstated or clearly stood out of the market; that the quality of the product itself left much to be desired. In this situation, no high-quality service could help - on the contrary, the client had a cognitive dissonance when he bought a frankly not high quality or expensive product, but with an artificially high level of service. And not the last role here played the first head of the company, who often built a "template service" based on his view of the world. Although the solution to the first problem is very simple and effective - "CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CLIENTS!" Dmitry shared some rules that he adheres to in life, and one of them sounds like "Not a day should go by without communicating with the client!" It helps a lot to feel customers and keep, as they say, a hand on the pulse! However, there is one secret here, without which it is hard to succeed. The secret is that it is extremely important to intent to understand the client! It is needed to understand the client without an expert position, without complex marketing research and focus groups. Just listen to customers and understand what they actually need and what is valuable to them! is the cognitive mistake "I know." Perhaps this is the most common and most dangerous mistake that companies face. Check yourself and answer directly and honestly to the question (appealing to the reader) - Dmitry noted that in his career, many years ago, he met some entrepreneurs who built their own business and brought a product to the market, solely on their inner understanding of what is "valuable or not valuable". Many of them "burned down". Because they simply misunderstood true needs of customers. As a consequence of the first reason, many companies began to perceive the notion of customer-centricity as good customer service or first-class service. That is it! Behind the scenes, often remained the fact that the price of the product was overstated or clearly stood out of the market; that the quality of the product itself left much to be desired. In this situation, no high-quality service could help - on the contrary, the client had a cognitive dissonance when he bought a frankly not high quality or expensive product, but with an artificially high level of service. And not the last role here played the first head of the company, who often built a "template service" based on his view of the world. Although the solution to the first problem is very simple and effective - "CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CLIENTS!" Dmitry shared some rules that he adheres to in life, and one of them sounds like "Not a day should go by without communicating with the client!" It helps a lot to feel customers and keep, as they say, a hand on the pulse! However, there is one secret here, without which it is hard to succeed. The secret is that it is extremely important to intent to understand the client! It is needed to understand the client without an expert position, without complex marketing research and focus groups. Just listen to customers and understand what they actually need and what is valuable to them! The second problem is "wishful thinking." What does it mean? Regularly, companies, fearing to reveal their worse side to the client, on the one hand, and trying to entice a large number of new customers with their inflated promises, on the other, find themselves in a situation when the client's expectations concerning the company's level are much higher than the level of the service provided. It is sort of a self-trap, which many people come across. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to satisfy the client by 100%, and even if the success was achieved, it does not mean that the client is completely satisfied and loyal! The client will always have new requirements - higher and higher. It is necessary to simply accept it and take into account in the future. So what is the solution? Tell the client what can be expected honestly! It would be even better to slightly lower client's expectations, and do more in fact. In this case, the client loyal to your business and your customer product could be acquired. It could be a cup of coffee, free taxi, availability of good Wi-Fi, etc. Dmitry again appeals to the head of the company, who may not know about all the problems of the client due to "business and workload". How to fix it? Dmitry Leus encourages leaders to "join to customers", work as a seller once a month (or a quarter); review and respond to customer's complaints that hotline receives; analyze competitors and become a consumer of their product or service; be the consumers of your services or products yourself and just keep the eye on the customers. Sometimes simple observation is much better than any words! is "wishful thinking." What does it mean? Regularly, companies, fearing to reveal their worse side to the client, on the one hand, and trying to entice a large number of new customers with their inflated promises, on the other, find themselves in a situation when the client's expectations concerning the company's level are much higher than the level of the service provided. It is sort of a self-trap, which many people come across. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to satisfy the client by 100%, and even if the success was achieved, it does not mean that the client is completely satisfied and loyal! The client will always have new requirements - higher and higher. It is necessary to simply accept it and take into account in the future. So what is the solution? Tell the client what can be expected honestly! It would be even better to slightly lower client's expectations, and do more in fact. In this case, the client loyal to your business and your customer product could be acquired. It could be a cup of coffee, free taxi, availability of good Wi-Fi, etc. Dmitry again appeals to the head of the company, who may not know about all the problems of the client due to "business and workload". How to fix it? Dmitry Leus encourages leaders to "join to customers", work as a seller once a month (or a quarter); review and respond to customer's complaints that hotline receives; analyze competitors and become a consumer of their product or service; be the consumers of your services or products yourself and just keep the eye on the customers. Sometimes simple observation is much better than any words! The third problem is "treating the symptoms, but not eliminating the reasons." This is the situation when the front office is tried to be made client-oriented. If something goes wrong within the sales department, it is their fault. Later, of course, it turns out that the logistics department could be partially blamed for it, due to not delivering the goods on time; accounting department could be blamed for messing up the documents and wrong invoicing; and no one is picking up the phone in the call center due to the failure in the system, etc. This is what Dmitry calls "treatment of symptoms." Therefore, it is very important for the front office to act as a client's lawyer and be an internal customer of the service (the concept of "internal customer / internal supplier"). This emphasizes confidence in the company, in the product and, ironically, in yourself. In addition, this gives an increase in revenue of about 25%. In addition, speaking of figures, it is important to assess the effectiveness of the actions in specific KPIs (increase LTV, reduce the cost of working with complaints, increase the level of recommendations and repeat purchases, etc.), otherwise, this activity may be abstract and uncontrolled. Besides, it is important to observe limits, and not to go headlong into "narrow optimization". Companies that overcome these problems are today market leaders and show a steady increase in revenue, despite the crisis moments and all sorts of internal and external constraints. There is no magic or secrets in it! This is the result of a step-by-step and very hard work. Thus, if they succeeded, everyone can do it either. The second point of discussion considered the importance of the client's impressions of contact with the company or its product. Dmitry claimed that having a great product does not mean having loyal customers. He shared a quote, which reflects the essence of the situation: "The company should look at the world through the eyes of its customers! This is tantamount to a feat. Many companies do not react to feedback from their customers, avoid it, fearing that it might cast doubt on the most valuable thing - their product! " Impression is an emotion, which is associated with our purchase! The impression can be measured. Moreover, it needs to be divided and managed by each element separately: Overall impression of the niche or segment Impression of consumption or use of the product/service. Impression of the brand, company (marketing) Impression of the product or service itself. Each of these areas can be managed, thereby increasing the overall level of the client's impression. If the client-oriented issue is considered a little deeper, today appears the situation when management replaces marketing. This may sound a little strange, but those companies that build customer service strategies and build (this is a purely managerial function) through the whole company a client-centered approach, are in a better position due to the fact that: Goals are clearly defined and all the departments move in one direction The company's resources are correctly redistributed and used effectively Orientation on the values and understanding of the client All points of the client contact with the company are traced and the emphasis is made on the process of interaction, and not only on the result There is an understanding that not all potential buyers can become customers Such companies have several variants of scenarios, they are mobile and can quickly adjust to constantly changing needs of customers. This is where their strength comes from! The last question dealt with the relevance of so-called lean-approach on the Russian market. Dmitry claims that this is the trend! Not taking it into account means losing the competitive advantage. It will directly affect your business and result in overpricing, un-optimized business processes, not user-friendly service or an outdated technology. In the context of this conversation, the lean approach is a precise and well-adjusted attitude to the client. This is a constant monitoring and continuous actions aimed at improving communication with customers and improving their impressions. This is a sort of "small steps" technique, which allows constantly improving the efficiency of business and having a high competitive advantage in the market! Dmitry noticed that the lean-approach appeals to him. Because of these 4 simple steps that will help to improve business: Make a plan properly, based on the needs of customers and market trends, and not based on your capabilities. Perform the job in a good way! Give the customers a little less information, but do more in fact - manage the impressions! Constantly monitor the conformity of the product to customer's expectations. Adjust the product/service in time and strengthen competitive advantage. In conclusion, Dmitry encourages everyone to adhere to these principles and the results are pleasantly surprising. Media Contact: Dmitry Leus [email protected] SOURCE Dmitry Leus BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A former Southern Company engineer that reported safety concerns and falsification of operational reports at the company's troubled "clean coal" Kemper Project filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit against the company and its chief executive officer, lawyers at Doyle LLP and Heninger Garrison Davis LLC said today. The legal team for Brett Wingo, a resident of Alabama, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Birmingham, Ala., alleging that company officials, including Southern Company chief executive officer Thomas A. Fanning, repeatedly misled investors and the public about the "commercial operations date" (COD) of the plant in Kemper County, Miss. Mr. Wingo, who worked for the company from 2007 to 2016, alleges violations of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the federal Dodd-Frank Act, and Mississippi state law by Southern Company after he repeatedly alerted company management in 2013 and 2014 about concerns, including several warnings that the reported COD was unjustifiably optimistic. According to the complaint, "In a continuing effort to capture hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies; inflate short-term stock prices; ensure continued payment of unjustifiable executive compensation packages; and impose billions of dollars for decades to come in higher electricity costs for captive consumers in their monopoly utility market, Southern Company management again and again offered false promises about the feasibility, schedule, and safety" of the Kemper Project. Mr. Wingo is represented by Michael Patrick Doyle, Patrick M. Dennis and Jeffrey I. Avery, of Doyle LLP, of Houston; and Stephen D. Heninger, Erik S. Heninger and Jeffrey P. Leonard of Heninger Garrison Davis LLC, of Birmingham, Ala. Michael Patrick Doyle, of Doyle LLP, said, "The Kemper Project stands as a monument to the consequences of concealment of the truth, and what too often happens to those who step forward to reveal the truth: they are retaliated against, rather than embraced and protected. Southern Company and its management, including Mr. Fanning, focused on neutralizing Mr. Wingo instead of the alleged fraud. Mr. Wingo, who has paid a terrible price professionally and personally, looks forward to confronting Southern Company and Mr. Fanning in the courtroom." The lawsuit alleges that, before Southern Company retaliated against him, "Mr. Wingo excelled at his project management initiatives, leadership and results, and Southern Company provided positive performance reviews, including the Southern Company's prestigious Southern Excellence Award for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014. Mr. Wingo also was appointed to join Southern Company's leadership program, intended to further develop the corporation's most promising managers." In January 2017, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concluded after investigating Mr. Wingo's allegations that he had been subjected to a "continuing pattern of retaliatory treatment" by Southern Company after he alerted managers, executives and compliance officers to Kemper Project problems. The company was found to have violated the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act. OSHA ordered Southern Company to reinstate Mr. Wingo and pay him backpay and damages because of its "callous and reckless disregard" for his rights, and its "irresponsible disregard to the whistleblower protections enforced by OSHA." It ordered that Southern Company reinstate him immediately. To date, the company has refused to do so. The Kemper project was purported to be a first-of-a-kind power plant that promised to deliver cleaner, more affordable electricity while using proprietary "clean coal" and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology, the lawsuit asserts. Southern Company recently reported that shareholder losses from the Kemper Project exceed $6 billion. The defendants in the case are Southern Company, Southern Company Services Inc., and Mr. Fanning. The case is "Brett Wingo v. The Southern Company, et al.," Case No. 2:17-cv-01328-MHH in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division. Media Contact: Erin Powers, Powers MediaWorks LLC, for Doyle LLP, 281.703.6000, [email protected]. SOURCE Doyle LLP Related Links http://doylelawfirm.com eMarketer research found that 80% of marketers who undertook campaigns collaborating with social media influencers found them to be beneficial for driving both engagement and awareness. With this in mind, eBags' YouTube influencer campaign features five vloggers from the U.S., Canada and Scotlandall real-life high school or college studentswho call out their favorite backpacks, including brands such as Fjallraven, Jansport and The North Face. YouTubers taking part include Kailee Elise , Tasha Farsachi , Alice Elizabeth , Maddy Hayes , Dylan Brotherton and MyaNicole . "I chose this North Face backpack (Women's Recon Laptop Backpack) because it looks nice and it's basic and it's amazing quality, and I just know that this will never really go out of style," said YouTuber Tasha Farsachi. "If you are on the hunt for a backpack for back to school and you want a wide variety, and you want the best price, check out eBags...they have really really good quality backpacks so you know the ones you get are going to last you a long time." "Searching for the perfect backpack is part of the excitement of the back-to-school season," said Mike Edwards, eBags' CEO. "With YouTube being the world's second-largest search engine, we understand how important it is to reach our customers where they liveonline. eBags offers a wide variety of options not commonly found elsewhere, and we make it easy for customers to find what's perfect for them with our annual backpack Buying Guide, as well as our helpful Backpack Finder tool." And, while 65% of back-to-school shoppers say their purchases are direct results of their children's influence, moms do still hold the purse strings in most familiesso eBags is working with a variety of mommy bloggers to connect directly with that unique shopper demographic. Bloggers include A Mom's Take, Parenting in Progress, Peyton's Momma, and Kelly's Thoughts on Things. Engaging with bloggers about their experience is a natural for eBags; the company pioneered peer-to-peer marketing by adding unfiltered customer reviews to the shopping experience. Today, more than 3.5M unbiased customers provide shoppers with invaluable insight into their search for the perfect bag. In addition to peer expertise and an unparalleled selection, eBags' Extreme Deals for back to school offer up to 80% off hundreds of styles. Additional perks of shopping with eBags this back-to-school season include their free Rewards Program, which gives shoppers at least 5% back on all purchases. Customers also receive free shipping on orders over $49 and easy returns. About eBags: With 18 years in the travel goods industry and more than 29 million bags sold, eBags is the leading online retailer of luggage, backpacks and travel-related accessories. The company is devoted to helping its customers find the perfect travel gear for any journey. Ranked a top luggage retailer in 2016 by Consumer Reports, eBags features more than 90,000 products from more than 900 brands including Samsonite, Tumi, Bose, Kenneth Cole, Patagonia, The North Face, PrAna and more. On May 5, 2017, Samsonite International, the global leader in travel luggage, completed its acquisition of eBags.com, Inc., making eBags a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsonite International. SOURCE eBags Related Links http://www.ebags.com SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Business Journal today honored Edmunds, the leading car information and shopping platform, as one of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles. The Santa Monica-based company officially placed 14th in the large company category (250+ employees), and the honor marks the eighth year in a row that Edmunds has been recognized by LABJ as a top workplace in Southern California. "The best investment that Edmunds has ever made and continues to make is in our people," said Avi Steinlauf, Edmunds CEO. "This award is a testament to our team's commitment to creating a work environment that fosters collaboration, innovation and employee well-being. We are excited to continue to push the envelope in developing an exceptional work culture as Los Angeles' burgeoning tech and startup scene continues to flourish." Edmunds functions as a Results-Only Work Environment, where employees are given the freedom to set their own hours and take the time off they need as long as they deliver results for the company. Other unique benefits at Edmunds include extended parental leave; TripCa$h, which reimburses each employee up to $500 in vacation expenses; robust personal and professional development programs; and internal recognition programs such as Bonusly, a program that empowers employees to recognize one another's work and accomplishments with spot bonuses. Edmunds recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the opening of its corporate offices in Santa Monica, an award-winning 143,000-square-foot space located two miles from the beach. Employees enjoy amenities including free breakfasts and lunches, a frozen yogurt bar, a game room, on-site yoga and meditation, and bright, colorful, open workspaces and informal meeting places that encourage collaboration. Interested candidates can see available positions and submit applications at http://www.edmunds.com/careers/. To be considered for LABJ's Best Places to Work in Los Angeles, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements: Be a for-profit, not-for-profit business or government entity; Be a publicly or privately held business; Have a facility in Los Angeles County; Have at least 15 permanent employees in Los Angeles; Be in business a minimum of one year. Companies from across the Los Angeles area entered the two-part survey process to determine the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles. The first part evaluated each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience and accounted for approximately 75 percent of the evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the registration and survey process in Los Angeles, analyzed the data and determined the final rankings. The full rankings will be published in the August 21, 2017, issue of the Los Angeles Business Journal. About Edmunds, Inc. Edmunds is the leading car information and shopping platform, helping millions of visitors each month find their perfect car. With products such as Edmunds Your Price, Your Lease and Used+, shoppers can buy smarter with instant, upfront prices for cars and trucks currently for sale at more than 13,000 dealer franchises across the U.S. Edmunds' in-house team of unbiased car-shopping experts provides industry-leading vehicle reviews and shopping tips, as well as welcomes all car-shopping questions to the free Shopper Advice line at 1-855-782-4711, via email at [email protected], via text at ED411, and on Twitter and Facebook. The company is regarded as one of America's best workplaces by Fortune and Great Place to Work. Edmunds is based in Santa Monica, California, and has a satellite office in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Contact: Talia James 310-309-6336 [email protected] SOURCE Edmunds Related Links http://www.edmunds.com WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolent Health, Inc. (NYSE: EVH), a company providing an integrated value-based care platform to the nation's leading health systems and physician organizations, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. Highlights from the second quarter of 2017 announcement include (all comparisons are to the quarter ended June 30, 2016): GAAP revenue of $107.1 million , an increase of 89.4%; Adjusted Revenue of $107.3 million , an increase of 89.9% , an increase of 89.4%; Adjusted Revenue of , an increase of 89.9% Net income (loss) attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. of $(16.9) million , Adjusted EBITDA of $(3.6) million , Adjusted EBITDA of Lives on platform of approximately 2.8 million, an increase of 98.2% New partnership agreement with Crystal Run Healthcare in New York , providing third-party administration services and population health management Chief Executive Officer of Evolent Health, Inc. Frank Williams commented, "We are pleased with our second quarter results and our continued strong performance in the market as we build upon our solid reputation for adding value to patients and providers. Entering our sixth year of operations, we continue to see results that prove providers can deliver high-value care when they have built-for-purpose technology and predictive analytics, engaged physicians, and measurable and effective clinical programs." Mr. Williams continued, "We are excited to announce our partnership with Crystal Run Healthcare in New York, a multi-specialty group medical practice with nearly 50 medical specialties represented across 20 practice locations. Evolent will provide third party administration services and population health management for Crystal Run's Medicaid and commercial lines of business, including a plan for lower-income residents who do not qualify for Medicaid but need the same essential benefits as other health plans at a lower cost. This focus on providing access, high quality care and coverage for the underserved aligns directly with our mission and our investment in establishing a national Medicaid Center of Excellence." Mr. Williams concluded, "For the remainder of this year, we are focused on delivering value for our partners, continuing to expand the Evolent network and continuing to innovate our platform and approach to maintain our leadership position in a large and growing market." Financial Results of Evolent Health, Inc. In our earnings releases, prepared remarks, conference calls, slide presentations and webcasts, we may use or discuss non-GAAP financial measures. Definitions of the non-GAAP financial measures, as well as reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in this earnings release. See "Financial Statement Presentation" and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information. Reported Results Evolent Health, Inc. reported the following United States of America generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") results: Revenue of $107.1 million and $56.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, an increase of 89.4%; and for the three months ended and 2016, respectively, an increase of 89.4%; Cost of revenue of $68.0 million and $32.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, an increase of 107.4%; and for the three months ended and 2016, respectively, an increase of 107.4%; Net income (loss) attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. of $(16.9) million and $(8.4) million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively; and for the three months ended and 2016, respectively; Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders, basic and diluted, of $(16.9) million and $(8.4) million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively; and and for the three months ended and 2016, respectively; and Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders, per basic and diluted share, of $(0.28) and $(0.20) for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Total cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2017, were $124.0 million. Adjusted Results Adjusted Revenue of $107.3 million and $56.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, an increase of 89.9%; and for the three months ended and 2016, respectively, an increase of 89.9%; Adjusted Cost of Revenue of $66.2 million and $32.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, an increase of 105.8%; and for the three months ended and 2016, respectively, an increase of 105.8%; Adjusted EBITDA of $(3.6) million and $(3.9) million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively; and for the three months ended and 2016, respectively; Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available for Class A and Class B Shareholders of $(8.8) million and $(7.2) million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively; and and for the three months ended and 2016, respectively; and Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available for Class A and Class B Shareholders of $(0.13) and $(0.12) for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Business Outlook For the three months ended September 30, 2017, Adjusted Revenue is expected to be in the range of $103.0 million to $105.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be approximately breakeven. For the full year 2017, we expect Adjusted Revenue to be in the range of $424.0 million to $428.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $(8.0) million to $(4.0) million. This "Business Outlook" section contains forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations are set forth in "Forward Looking Statements - Cautionary Language" and Evolent Health, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Web and Conference Call Information As previously announced, Evolent Health, Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter performance this evening, August 7, 2017, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The conference call will be available via live webcast on the Company's Investor Relations website at http://ir.evolenthealth.com. To participate by telephone, dial 855.940.9467 or 412.317.6034 for international callers, and ask to join to the Evolent Health call. Participants are advised to dial in at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register. The call will be archived on the company's website for one week and will be available beginning later this evening. Evolent Health invites all interested parties to attend the conference call. About Evolent Health Evolent Health partners with leading health systems to drive value-based care transformation. By providing clinical, analytical and financial capabilities, Evolent Health helps physicians and health systems achieve superior quality and cost results. Evolent Health's approach breaks down barriers, aligns incentives and powers a new model of care delivery resulting in meaningful alignment between providers, payers, physicians and patients. Learn more at: www.evolenthealth.com. Financial Statement Presentation Evolent Health, Inc. is a holding company and its principal asset is all of the Class A common units in its operating subsidiary, Evolent Health LLC, which has owned all of our operating assets and substantially all of our business since inception. The financial results of Evolent Health LLC are consolidated in the financial statements of Evolent Health, Inc. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with GAAP, we present and discuss Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Transformation Revenue, Adjusted Platform and Operations Revenue, Adjusted Cost of Revenue, Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Adjusted Depreciation and Amortization Expenses, Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders, Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders and Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares, which are all non-GAAP financial measures, as supplemental measures to help investors evaluate our fundamental operational performance. The adjusted results also include certain other adjustments. Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Transformation Revenue and Adjusted Platform and Operations Revenue are defined as revenue, transformation revenue, and platform and operations revenue, respectively, adjusted to exclude the impact of purchase accounting adjustments. Management uses Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Transformation Revenue and Adjusted Platform and Operations Revenue as supplemental performance measures because they reflect a complete view of the operational results. The measures are also useful to investors because they reflect the full view of our operational performance in line with how we generate our long term forecasts. Adjusted Cost of Revenue and Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses are defined as cost of revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively, adjusted to exclude the impact of stock-based compensation expenses and transaction costs related to acquisitions and business combinations, securities offerings, as well as one-time adjustments. Management uses Adjusted Cost of Revenue and Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses as supplemental performance measures which are also useful to investors because they facilitate an understanding of our long term operational costs while removing the effect of transaction costs that are one time and costs that are non-cash (stock-based compensation expenses) in nature. Additionally, these supplemental performance measures facilitate understanding a breakdown of our Adjusted Total Operating Expenses. Adjusted Depreciation and Amortization Expenses is defined as depreciation and amortization expenses adjusted to exclude the impact of amortization expenses related to intangible assets acquired through acquisitions and business combinations. Management uses Adjusted Depreciation and Amortization Expenses as a supplemental performance measure because it reflects a complete view of the operational results. The measure is also useful to investors because it facilitates understanding a breakdown of our Adjusted Total Operating Expenses. Adjusted Total Operating Expenses is defined as the sum of Adjusted Cost of Revenue, Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses and Adjusted Depreciation and Amortization Expenses, and reflects the adjustments made in those non-GAAP measures. Adjusted Total Operating Expenses is adjusted to exclude the impact of one-time adjustments, such as goodwill impairment, and items arising from acquisitions and business combinations, such as (gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is defined as Adjusted Revenue less Adjusted Total Operating Expenses, and reflects the adjustments made in those non-GAAP measures. Adjusted Gross Margin is defined as Adjusted Revenue less Adjusted Cost of Revenue, and reflects the adjustments made in those non-GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA (net income (loss) attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. before interest income, interest expense, (provision) benefit for income taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses), adjusted to exclude goodwill impairment, (gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration, income (loss) from affiliates, other income (expense), net, net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests, purchase accounting adjustments, stock-based compensation expenses, transaction costs related to acquisitions and business combinations, such as (gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration and securities offerings, as well as one-time adjustments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure because the removal of transaction costs, one-time or non-cash items (depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expenses) allows us to focus on operational performance. We believe that this measure is also useful to investors because it allows further insight into the period over period operational performance in a manner that is comparable to other organizations in our industry and in the market in general. Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders is defined as earnings (loss) available to common shareholders adjusted to exclude goodwill impairment, income (loss) from affiliates, (provision) benefit for income taxes, (gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration, purchase accounting adjustments, stock-based compensation expenses and transaction costs related to acquisitions and business combinations, such as (gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration, securities offerings, as well as one-time adjustments. Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares is defined as weighted average common shares (diluted) adjusted to include, in periods of net loss, the dilutive or potentially dilutive effect of the assumed conversion of Class B common shares to Class A common shares. Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available for Class A and Class B Shareholders is defined as Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available for Class A and Class B Shareholders divided by Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares, and reflects the adjustments made in those non-GAAP measures. Management uses Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders, Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares and Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders because these performance measures represent our core operating performance distributed amongst all of our investors which is not represented by the GAAP results across time due to our complex equity structure. We believe that these measures are also useful to investors for the same reason. These adjusted measures do not represent and should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measurements, and our calculations thereof may not be comparable to similarly entitled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of these adjusted measures to their most comparable GAAP financial measures is presented in the tables below. We believe these measures are useful across time in evaluating our fundamental core operating performance. Evolent Health, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data) For the Three For the Six Months Ended Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenue Transformation $ 5,361 $ 10,388 $ 15,596 $ 18,502 Platform and operations 101,710 46,130 197,714 87,465 Total revenue 107,071 56,518 213,310 105,967 Expenses Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expenses presented separately below) 67,994 32,779 135,523 61,390 Selling, general and administrative expenses 51,090 32,756 104,641 64,702 Depreciation and amortization expenses 6,904 3,612 13,519 6,983 Goodwill impairment 160,600 Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration 200 200 Total operating expenses 126,188 69,147 253,883 293,675 Operating income (loss) (19,117) (12,629) (40,573) (187,708) Interest income 218 272 403 551 Interest expense (947) (1,901) Income (loss) from affiliates (555) (14) (1,077) (14) Other Income (expense), net 3 1 5 2 Income (loss) before income taxes and non-controlling interests (20,398) (12,370) (43,143) (187,169) Provision (benefit) for income taxes (700) (371) (295) (1,359) Net income (loss) (19,698) (11,999) (42,848) (185,810) Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests (2,793) (3,612) (7,930) (54,683) Net income (loss) attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. $ (16,905) $ (8,387) $ (34,918) $ (131,127) Earnings (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders Basic $ (16,905) $ (8,387) $ (34,918) $ (131,127) Diluted (16,905) (8,387) (34,918) (131,127) Earnings (Loss) per Common Share Basic $ (0.28) $ (0.20) $ (0.62) $ (3.09) Diluted (0.28) (0.20) (0.62) (3.09) Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding Basic 59,478 42,594 56,057 42,390 Diluted 59,478 42,594 56,057 42,390 Evolent Health, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (in thousands) As of As of June 30, December 31, 2017 2016 Cash and cash equivalents $ 99,975 $ 134,563 Investments, at amortized cost 24,027 44,341 Total current assets 192,620 264,966 Intangible assets, net 254,460 258,923 Goodwill 628,653 626,569 Total assets 1,138,352 1,199,839 Long-term debt, net of discount 120,935 120,283 Total liabilities 243,903 287,725 Total shareholders' equity (deficit) attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. 859,769 702,526 Non-controlling interests 34,680 209,588 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit) 1,138,352 1,199,839 Evolent Health, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) (in thousands) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 2016 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ (44,712) $ (21,918) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 7,739 (18,466) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 2,385 (204) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (34,588) (40,588) Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning-of-period 134,563 145,726 Cash and cash equivalents as of end-of-period $ 99,975 $ 105,138 Evolent Health, Inc. Adjusted Results of Operations (unaudited) (in thousands) For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Evolent Health, Inc. Evolent Health, Inc. Evolent Evolent Evolent Evolent as Reported as Adjusted Health, Inc. Health, Inc. Health, Inc. Health, Inc. Change Over Prior Period Change Over Prior Period as Reported Adjustments as Adjusted as Reported Adjustments as Adjusted $ % $ % Revenue Transformation $ 5,361 $ $ 5,361 $ 10,388 $ $ 10,388 $ (5,027) (48.4) % $ (5,027) (48.4) % Platform and operations (1) 101,710 244 101,954 46,130 46,130 55,580 120.5 % 55,824 121.0 % Total revenue 107,071 244 107,315 56,518 56,518 50,553 89.4 % 50,797 89.9 % Expenses Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expenses presented separately below) (2) 67,994 (1,837) 66,157 32,779 (636) 32,143 35,215 107.4 % 34,014 105.8 % Selling, general and administrative expenses (3) 51,090 (6,370) 44,720 32,756 (4,475) 28,281 18,334 56.0 % 16,439 58.1 % Depreciation and amortization expenses (4) 6,904 (2,383) 4,521 3,612 3,612 3,292 91.1 % 909 25.2 % Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration (5) 200 (200) 200 % % Total operating expenses 126,188 (10,790) 115,398 69,147 (5,111) 64,036 57,041 82.5 % 51,362 80.2 % Operating income (loss) $ (19,117) $ 11,034 $ (8,083) $ (12,629) $ 5,111 $ (7,518) $ (6,488) (51.4) % $ (565) (7.5) % Total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue 117.9 % 107.5 % 122.3 % 113.3 % (1) Adjustments to platform and operations revenue include deferred revenue purchase accounting adjustments of approximately $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, resulting from our acquisitions and business combinations. (2) Adjustments to cost of revenue include $0.4 million and $0.4 million in stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense includes the value of equity awards granted to employees and non-employee directors of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries. Adjustments also include transaction costs of approximately $1.4 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, resulting from acquisitions and business combinations. (3) Adjustments to selling, general and administrative expenses include $5.0 million and $4.3 million in stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense includes the value of equity awards granted to employees and non-employee directors of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries. Adjustments also include transaction costs of $1.9 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, resulting from acquisitions and business combinations and costs relating to our securities offerings. These adjustments for the three months ended June 30, 2017, were offset by a one-time benefit of approximately $0.5 million related to a lease termination in conjunction with the Valence Health acquisition. (4) Adjustments to depreciation and amortization expenses of approximately $2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, relate to amortization of intangible assets acquired via asset acquisition and business combinations. (5) The adjustment represents a loss of $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, due to a change in the fair value of contingent consideration related to our Passport transaction. Evolent Health, Inc. Adjusted Results of Operations (unaudited) (in thousands) For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Evolent Health, Inc. Evolent Health, Inc. Evolent Evolent Evolent Evolent as Reported as Adjusted Health, Inc. Health, Inc. Health, Inc. Health, Inc. Change Over Prior Period Change Over Prior Period as Reported Adjustments as Adjusted as Reported Adjustments as Adjusted $ % $ % Revenue Transformation (1) $ 15,596 $ $ 15,596 $ 18,502 $ 87 $ 18,589 $ (2,906) (15.7) % $ (2,993) (16.1) % Platform and operations (1) 197,714 775 198,489 87,465 87,465 110,249 126.0 % 111,024 126.9 % Total revenue 213,310 775 214,085 105,967 87 106,054 107,343 101.3 % 108,031 101.9 % Expenses Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expenses presented separately below) (2) 135,523 (2,860) 132,663 61,390 (1,090) 60,300 74,133 120.8 % 72,363 120.0 % Selling, general and administrative expenses (3) 104,641 (14,882) 89,759 64,702 (8,412) 56,290 39,939 61.7 % 33,469 59.5 % Depreciation and amortization expenses (4) 13,519 (4,708) 8,811 6,983 6,983 6,536 93.6 % 1,828 26.2 % Goodwill impairment (5) 160,600 (160,600) (160,600) (100.0)% % Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration (6) 200 (200) 200 % % Total operating expenses 253,883 (22,650) 231,233 293,675 (170,102) 123,573 (39,792) (13.5) % 107,660 87.1 % Operating income (loss) $ (40,573) $ 23,425 $ (17,148) $ (187,708) $ 170,189 $ (17,519) $ 147,135 78.4 % $ 371 2.1 % Total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue 119.0 % 108.0 % 277.1 % 116.5 % (1) Adjustments to platform and operations revenue include deferred revenue purchase accounting adjustments of approximately $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, resulting from our acquisitions and business combinations. As part of the Reorganization and as a result of gaining control of Evolent Health LLC, we recorded the fair value of deferred revenue resulting in a $4.9 million reduction to the book value. This resulted in an adjustment of less than $0.1 million to transformation revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2016. (2) Adjustments to cost of revenue include $0.7 million and $0.9 million in stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense includes the value of equity awards granted to employees and non-employee directors of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries. Adjustments also include transaction costs of approximately $2.1 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, resulting from acquisitions and business combinations. (3) Adjustments to selling, general and administrative expenses include $9.7 million and $8.2 million in stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense includes the value of equity awards granted to employees and non-employee directors of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries. Adjustments also include transaction costs of $5.7 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, resulting from acquisitions and business combinations and costs relating to our securities offerings. These adjustments for the six months ended June 30, 2017, were offset by a one-time benefit of approximately $0.5 million related to a lease termination in conjunction with the Valence Health acquisition. (4) Adjustments to depreciation and amortization expenses of approximately $4.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, relate to amortization of intangible assets acquired via asset acquisition and business combinations. (5) Represents a write down of goodwill of $160.6 million during the first quarter of 2016. (6) The adjustment represents a loss of $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, due to a change in the fair value of contingent consideration related to our Passport transaction. Evolent Health, Inc. Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. (unaudited) (in thousands) For the Three For the Six Months Ended Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. $ (16,905) $ (8,387) $ (34,918) $ (131,127) Less: Interest income 218 272 403 551 Interest expense (947) (1,901) (Provision) benefit for income taxes 700 371 295 1,359 Depreciation and amortization expenses (6,904) (3,612) (13,519) (6,983) EBITDA (9,972) (5,418) (20,196) (126,054) Less: Goodwill impairment (160,600) Income (loss) from affiliates (555) (14) (1,077) (14) Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration (200) (200) Impact of lease termination 496 496 Other income (expense), net 3 1 5 2 Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests 2,793 3,612 7,930 54,683 Purchase accounting adjustments (244) (775) (87) Stock-based compensation expense (5,360) (4,709) (10,464) (9,045) Transaction costs (3,343) (402) (7,774) (457) Adjusted EBITDA $ (3,562) $ (3,906) $ (8,337) $ (10,536) Evolent Health, Inc. Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders to Earnings (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data) For the Three For the Six Months Ended Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Earnings (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders - Basic and Diluted (a) $ (16,905) $ (8,387) $ (34,918) $ (131,127) Less: Goodwill impairment (160,600) Income (loss) from affiliates (555) (14) (1,077) (14) (Provision) benefit for income taxes 700 371 280 1,359 Loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration (200) (200) Impact of lease termination 496 496 Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests 2,793 3,612 7,930 54,683 Purchase accounting adjustments (2,669) (5,569) (87) Stock-based compensation expense (5,360) (4,709) (10,464) (9,045) Transaction costs (3,343) (402) (7,774) (457) Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders (b) $ (8,767) $ (7,245) $ (18,540) $ (16,966) Earnings (Loss) per Share Available to Common Shareholders - Basic and Diluted (a) (1) $ (0.28) $ (0.20) $ (0.62) $ (3.09) Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders (b) (2) $ (0.13) $ (0.12) $ (0.27) $ (0.28) Weighted-average common shares - basic 59,478 42,594 56,057 42,390 Weighted-average common shares - diluted 59,478 42,594 56,057 42,390 Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares (3) 68,155 60,119 68,051 59,915 (1) For periods of net loss, shares used in both the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation represent basic shares as using diluted shares would be anti-dilutive. (2) Represents Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Available to Class A and Class B Shareholders divided by Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares as described in footnote 3 below. (3) Represents the weighted-average common shares (diluted) adjusted to include, in periods of net loss, the dilutive or potentially dilutive effect of the assumed conversion of Class B common shares to Class A common shares. See the reconciliation of Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares to diluted weighted-average common shares on the following page. Evolent Health, Inc. Reconciliation of Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares to Diluted Weighted-Average Common Shares (unaudited) (in thousands) For the Three For the Six Months Ended Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Weighted-average common shares - diluted 59,478 42,594 56,057 42,390 Assumed conversion of Class B common shares to Class A common shares 8,677 17,525 11,994 17,525 Adjusted Weighted-Average Class A and Class B Shares 68,155 60,119 68,051 59,915 Evolent Health, Inc. Guidance Reconciliation (unaudited) (in thousands) For the Three For the Twelve Months Ended Months Ended September 30, December 31, 2017 2017 Revenue $ 103,500 $ 425,000 Purchase Accounting Adjustments 500 1,000 Adjusted Revenue $ 104,000 $ 426,000 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Evolent Health, Inc. $ (15,100) $ (63,000) Less: Interest income 200 800 Interest expense (1,000) (4,000) Depreciation and amortization expenses (7,000) (27,500) EBITDA (7,300) (32,300) Less: Income (loss) from affiliates (500) (2,000) Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests 500 6,700 Stock-based compensation (5,300) (21,000) Transaction costs (2,000) (10,000) Adjusted EBITDA $ $ (6,000) The guidance reconciliation provided above reconciles the midpoint of the respective guidance ranges to the most comparable GAAP measure. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE Certain statements made in this release and in other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"). A forward-looking statement is a statement that is not a historical fact and, without limitation, includes any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words like: "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "aim," "predict," "potential," "continue," "plan," "project," "will," "should," "shall," "may," "might" and other words or phrases with similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, trends in our businesses, prospective services, future performance or financial results and the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings. We claim the protection afforded by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the PSLRA. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results contained in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary materially, some of which are described within the forward-looking statements, include, among others: the structural change in the market for health care in the United States ; ; uncertainty in the health care regulatory framework; the uncertain impact the results of the 2016 presidential and congressional elections may have on health care laws and regulations; our ability to effectively manage our growth; the significant portion of revenue we derive from our largest partners, and the potential loss, termination or renegotiation of customer contracts; our ability to offer new and innovative products and services; risks related to completed and future acquisitions, investments and alliances, including the acquisitions of Valence Health, Inc., excluding Cicerone Health Solutions, Inc. ("Valence Health") and Aldera Holdings, Inc. ("Aldera"), which may be difficult to integrate, divert management resources, result in unanticipated costs or dilute our stockholders; certain risks and uncertainties associated with the acquisition of Valence Health, including future revenues of Valence Health may be less than expected, the timing and extent of new lives expected to come onto the platform may not occur as expected and the expected results of Evolent may not be impacted as anticipated; the growth and success of our partners, which is difficult to predict and is subject to factors outside of our control, including premium pricing reductions and the ability to control and, if necessary, reduce health care costs; our ability to attract new partners; the increasing number of risk-sharing arrangements we enter into with our partners; our ability to recover the significant upfront costs in our partner relationships; our ability to estimate the size of our target market; our ability to maintain and enhance our reputation and brand recognition; consolidation in the health care industry; competition which could limit our ability to maintain or expand market share within our industry; our ability to partner with providers due to exclusivity provisions in our contracts; restrictions and penalties as a result of privacy and data protection laws; adequate protection of our intellectual property, including trademarks; any alleged infringement, misappropriation or violation of third-party proprietary rights; our use of "open source" software; our ability to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary information; our reliance on third parties and licensed technologies; our ability to use, disclose, de-identify or license data and to integrate third-party technologies; data loss or corruption due to failures or errors in our systems and service disruptions at our data centers; online security risks and breaches or failures of our security measures; our reliance on Internet infrastructure, bandwidth providers, data center providers, other third parties and our own systems for providing services to our users; our reliance on third-party vendors to host and maintain our technology platform; our dependency on our key personnel, and our ability to attract, hire, integrate and retain key personnel; the risk of potential future goodwill impairment on our results of operations; our indebtedness and our ability to obtain additional financing; our ability to achieve profitability in the future; the requirements of being a public company; our adjusted results may not be representative of our future performance; the risk of potential future litigation; our holding company structure and dependence on distributions from Evolent Health LLC; our obligations to make payments to certain of our pre-IPO investors for certain tax benefits we may claim in the future; our ability to utilize benefits under the tax receivables agreement described herein; our ability to realize all or a portion of the tax benefits that we currently expect to result from past and future exchanges of Class B common units of Evolent Health LLC for our Class A common stock, and to utilize certain tax attributes of Evolent Health Holdings and an affiliate of TPG; distributions that Evolent Health LLC will be required to make to us and to the other members of Evolent Health LLC; our obligations to make payments under the tax receivables agreement that may be accelerated or may exceed the tax benefits we realize; different interests among our pre-IPO investors, or between us and our pre-IPO investors; the terms of agreements between us and certain of our pre-IPO investors; the potential volatility of our Class A common stock price; the potential decline of our Class A common stock price if a substantial number of shares become available for sale or if a large number of Class B common units are exchanged for shares of Class A common stock; provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws and provisions of Delaware law that discourage or prevent strategic transactions, including a takeover of us; law that discourage or prevent strategic transactions, including a takeover of us; the ability of certain of our investors to compete with us without restrictions; provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees; our intention not to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock; our ability to remediate the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting; our status as an "emerging growth company"; and our lack of public company operating experience. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Our 2016 Form 10-K and other documents filed with the SEC include additional factors that could affect our businesses and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a rapidly changing and competitive environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors. Further, it is not possible to assess the effect of all risk factors on our businesses or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release. SOURCE Evolent Health, Inc. Related Links http://www.evolenthealth.com ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Five mediators from Upchurch Watson White & Max have formed unique teams to present cutting-edge programming for the 25th annual conference of the Florida Dispute Resolution Center this week at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes Orlando. Mr. Max arranged the panel and is the author of the article on which the "Mediation in Public Policy" discussion is based. Firm principals Rodney A. Max and Lawrence M. "Larry" Watson Jr. will discuss "Mediation in Public Policy" with state Sen. Gary Farmer of Fort Lauderdale in two 75-minute sessions on Friday. "Mediation in the last quarter of a century has proven itself as an effective process for resolving cases within the judicial branch of our government at the federal state, and local levels." The presentation makes the case for extending the benefit of mediation effective and efficient decision-making to the legislative and executive branches as well, conference organizers explain. A third UWWM principal, Kimberly Sands, and ADR counsel Howard R. Marsee plan to make attendees a big part of both of their 75-minute sessions. As food for thought, Ms. Sands and Mr. Marsee are prepared to share a dozen scenarios, sparking open discussion of "the perplexing, serious, not-so-serious, and sometimes bizarre problems that vex, test and entertain the busy mediator." Their topic, "How Do You Deal with This? Ethical Dilemmas and Practical Quandaries During Mediation," invites proposed solutions and further questions. For a 75-minute session early Friday afternoon, "De-escalating Potentially Dangerous Mediation Proceedings," UWWM mediator Brandon Peters has invited veteran hostage negotiator Rick Salcedo to join him in discussing ways to enhance mediator awareness and maximize participant safety during highly emotional mediations. The team will focus on "actual scenarios including discussing Detective Salcedo's role in directing communications with barricaded hostages during the tragic Pulse nightclub massacre in 2016." This year's conference theme is "Passion, Purpose & Peacemaking." Although some of its 47 sessions are full, registrations are still being accepted; for full details, click here. It is possible to earn 13.2 hours of Continuing Mediator Education (CME) by attending. Additionally, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit is available as follows: 13.0 General hours 3.0 Bias Elimination 6.0 Ethics 13.0 Civil Trial Certification Credit 13.0 Marital and Family Law Certification Credit All sessions featuring UWWM panelists are scheduled for Friday, as follows: 10:30-11:45 a.m. and 1-2:15 p.m. : "How Do You Deal with This? Ethical Dilemmas and Practical Quandaries During Mediation," offering 1.5 credits of Ethics CME. and : "How Do You Deal with This? Ethical Dilemmas and Practical Quandaries During Mediation," offering 1.5 credits of Ethics CME. 10:30-11:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. : "Mediation in Public Policy," offering 1.5 credits of Circuit CME. and : "Mediation in Public Policy," offering 1.5 credits of Circuit CME. 1-2:15 p.m. : "De-escalating Potentially Dangerous Mediation Proceedings," offering 1.5 credits of Interpersonal Violence CME. About Upchurch Watson White & Max A nationally leading mediation specialty firm, Upchurch Watson White & Max is known for facilitating reasonable agreements to resolve complex issues. From eight offices in Florida and Alabama, Supreme Court certified attorney mediators with wide-ranging specialties serve as court-appointed and privately employed mediators, arbitrators and third-party neutral case managers, implementing innovative methods of alternative dispute resolution across the country. On the Web: uww-adr.com Media Contact: Catherine Klasne (386) 253-1560 [email protected] Related Files Mediation in Public Policy (003) Final.pdf Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg image3.jpg image4.jpg SOURCE Upchurch Watson White & Max Leading shopping app ignites online program giving $15,000 to teachers NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flipp, the go-to shopping app used by tens of millions of shoppers to find deals and save money each week, today announced a program to ease the back-to-school burden for parents and teachers across the U.S. and Canada. According to AdoptAClassroom.org, a not-for profit organization dedicated to giving teachers a hand by providing needed classroom materials so their students can succeed, one in five teachers spend $1,000 or more of their own personal income on school supplies for their classroom. In partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org in the U.S. and My Class Needs in Canada, Flipp is announcing a program to award fifteen teachers with $1,000 to be used to purchase necessary back-to-school supplies for their classrooms. "It's common knowledge that the back-to-school season can be a stressful and expensive time for parents looking to find all of the items their kids need while staying on budget," said Charmaine D'Silva, VP of Marketing Communications at Flipp. "However, what many people don't realize is that this time of year can be equally stressful for teachers who are tasked with setting up safe and stocked classrooms for their incoming students - often on their own dime. Flipp wants to help out." The ultimate tool for back-to-school shopping and saving, Flipp brings weekly ads from more than 1,000 retailers, leading coupons and an interactive shopping list to your fingertips to help consumers find deals and save time and money. With Flipp, shoppers can find deals on everything they need for the back-to-school season including tech, clothes, backpacks, dorm essentials, groceries to restock the kitchen, and more. How the program works: Visit app.flipp.com/backtoschool and nominate your child's teacher by telling us how they go above and beyond. 15 deserving teachers will be randomly chosen from the nominations to receive $1,000 through Flipp's partnerships with AdoptAClassroom.org and My Class Needs towards setting up their classroom for the new school year, courtesy of Flipp. This Giveaway will be subject to the rules and regulations available at http://f.wishabi.ca/creative/BTS/Flipp_BTS-2017.pdf. Download Flipp for free download at the App Store or Google Play to start saving today. Lauren Greutman, Flipp App Savings Expert, conquers back-to-school with her top tips for How to Save Money at Back-to-School Shopping. Lauren is available to share her budget-friendly, sanity-saving tips upon request. About Flipp Flipp Corporation is a leading mobile consumer marketplace that is reinventing the weekly shopping experience. The Flipp app is a go-to destination for millions of consumers to access digital circulars and coupons from more than 1,000 retailers and CPGs to help plan weekly shopping and find the best local deals. Flipp (formerly Wishabi) was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Toronto. For more information, visit http://corp.flipp.com. SOURCE Flipp Corporation SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This August 14-16, global leaders in the footwear industry will convene at FN PLATFORM in Las Vegas. A subsidiary of UBM Fashion Group, FN PLATFORM continues to be where buyers and sellers converge to shop and shape the industry. In just six years, FN PLATFORM has grown from 100 exhibitors to over 1,600 exhibiting brands, representing over 30 countries. Always an exciting and important three days for the industry, this year's FN PLATFORM will be a truly innovative overall experience. Show initiatives will reach beyond transactional lines to integrate interactive activities that will touch all the senses for a modern and all-encompassing feel all under one roof. "It's a vital component for success in today's business environment to make sure you're in the room. Face-to-face conversations are forging the business deals for our changing times," said Leslie Gallin, President of Footwear at UBM Fashion. "Our trade event is, as I like to say, the 'Davos Summit' for the footwear and fashion business. This is the only event in the world where key leaders and decision makers of the footwear industry convene twice yearly in one place." CONCERT: Rockers from Steppenwolf, Journey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana, Boston This season's Opening Night concert will feature the band World Classic Rockers made up of original band members: Nick St. Nicholas and Michael Monarch from Steppenwolf, Aynsley Dunbar from Journey, Randall Hall from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Greg Walker from Santana, Fran Cosmo from Boston , along with David Colye , Mark Hoyt and Juan Del Castillo as Back-up. and from Steppenwolf, from Journey, from Lynyrd Skynyrd, from Santana, from , along with , and as Back-up. This concert will take place Monday, August 14 th from 6-7pm on the FNP show floor. ACTOR BLAIR UNDERWOOD LAUNCH Q by Blair Underwood will launch at FN PLATFORM. The collection is a collaboration between renowned footwear designer, Pasquale, and actor Blair Underwood. The line focuses on designing well-made, yet accessible luxury footwear that allows men to express their personal style. Featuring a modern design with an edge, Q by Blair Underwood is made in Italy and exemplifies Italian craftsmanship. In honor of the collection debut, Blair Underwood will host a meet-and-greet at the Pasquale booth (#83119) on Tuesday, August 15 from 1-2pm . ART Several installations and interactive experiences will add to the show. 'How Espadrilles Are Made:' Artisans from Carvacas, Spain will be crafting Espadrilles by hand in ZEN Lounge. will be crafting Espadrilles by hand in ZEN Lounge. Famed French artist, Huit, will create a live painting on site in the IN PLAY lounge. PENSOLE Academy will host a student workshop showcasing a special onsite display of graffiti shoe art, featuring sneakers created by students from last season's competition. Renowned brand, Hush Puppies celebrates 60 years with a historic footwear installation retrospective. PITCH YOUR PRODUCT to HSN The Home Shopping Network (HSN) is coming to FN PLATFORM On Tuesday, August 15th. As part of their American Dreams Initiative, a panel of executives, producers and presenters will hear live product pitches from MAGIC exhibitors. The pitches will take place from 9-6pm in the FN Cafe. This is open to all MAGIC exhibitors but those interested in participating must apply to give their pitch pre-show. EMERGING DESIGNER SHOWCASE FN PLATFORM will debut its first Emerging Designers Showcase this August. It will feature six promising designers hand-selected by FN PLATFORM executives. Participating designers include: Tiannia Barnes, Becki Coackley, Anniel, Frou Frouz, Fringe by Ella & Rubi and Chelsea Paris. GIVE BACK Make-A-Wish and National Shoe Travelers will be launching a charitable campaign on show site. Representatives will be accepting donated airline miles to further support Make-A-Wish's mission. To donate air miles, stop by IN PLAY lounge on August 15th from 2-4pm or donate online at www.wish.org.nst. FIVE-ON-FIVE WITH FOOTWEAR NEWS Footwear News brings together five footwear industry influencers for an open discussion about what's happening in fashion, embracing the new consumer and where the footwear industry is going. Tuesday, August 15 2-3pm, FN PLATFORM, Bond Lounge. Participants include: Eileen Tetreault , Sr. Director of Fashion Strategy Zappos.com , Sr. Director of Fashion Strategy Zappos.com Gillian Meek , President Keds USA , President Keds Andrew Kiernan , Global Director, SVP, President United Nude , Global Director, SVP, President United Nude Seth Campbell, Sr. Vice President of Business Development BBC International LLC Vice President of Business Development BBC International LLC Albin Johansson , Co-Founder & CEO Axel Arigato SEMINARS National Shoe Retailers Association kicks off with 'Retail Isn't Dead' and 'Where Ideas Come From.' Beginning Sunday, August 13 th the NRSA opens with inspiring and educational programs topical to the footwear industry. Register online at www.nsra.org. the NRSA opens with inspiring and educational programs topical to the footwear industry. Register online at www.nsra.org. FDRA returns with their live podcast "Shoe In." Seminars from Susquehanna Financial Group, the NPD Group and California Fashion Association. Last season's trend forecaster Wendy Bendoni who had a standing room only seminar will return to brief us on top footwear trends for the upcoming season. INTERNATIONAL BRANDS Top names from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, UK, and Turkey will be sending their best of the best to the show. NEW BRANDS New brands to FN PLATFORM include Danner, Chie Mihara, Les Tropeziennes, Hotter, Reef, Castaner, Vionic Beach, SeaVees, and Frances Valentine. NAVIGATE THE SHOW Broken into six distinct lifestyle neighborhoods for all footwear categories: BLACK DIAMOND - Luxury Women's Footwear Collections COSMO - Women's Fashion Footwear CAMP - Women's and Men's Casual Lifestyle & Advanced Contemporary Footwear BOND Bespoke Footwear for the Modern Man IN PLAY- Children's and Junior's Footwear ZEN The Crossroads of Footwear Style and Comfort CAN'T MISS FN PLATFORM is the pillar for branded footwear featuring men's, women's, junior's and children's footwear from more than 20 countries. For additional information, please visit www.ubmfashion.com/shows/fn-platform. About FN PLATFORM Launched in February 2010 under the direction of UBM Fashion Group, President of Footwear Leslie Gallin, FN PLATFORM is North America's most influential footwear business forum - where the leaders and innovators converge to shape the industry, shop and sell shoes. Connecting the global fashion community at a single gathering, FN PLATFORM showcases the full spectrum of branded footwear for men, women, juniors and children, across all categories, price points and trends. The carefully curated selections of established and emerging brands segmented into easy-to-navigate lifestyle neighborhoods offer attendees a comprehensive one-stop shop opportunity that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. For more information, please visit www.ubmfashion.com/shows/fn-platform. About UBM Americas UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc, delivers events and marketing services in the fashion, technology, licensing, advanced manufacturing, automotive and power sports, healthcare, veterinary and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Through a range of aligned interactive environments, both physical and digital, UBM Americas increases business effectiveness for customers and audiences through meaningful experiences, knowledge and connections. The division also includes UBM Brazil's market leading events in construction, cargo transportation, logistics & international trade, and agricultural production; and UBM Mexico's, construction, advanced manufacturing and hospitality services shows. For more information, visit: www.ubmamericas.com. SOURCE FN PLATFORM MANITOWOC, Wis., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Forefront Dermatology is pleased to announce the addition of Heartland Dermatology and Heartland Skin Wellness to its expanding regional group practice. Heartland is the third practice that Forefront has added in Iowa this year. Heartland Dermatology has been providing medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology services for over 20 years. Heartland is led by board-certified dermatologists and American Society for Mohs Surgeons certified physicians, Dr. Ava Feldman and Dr. Vince Angeloni, who are supported by four dermatology-trained physician assistants and one nurse practitioner. Dr. Feldman oversees all cosmetic services and serves as the Director for the wellness center. The wellness center is staffed by three full-time aestheticians and one part-time aesthetician. Heartland provides dermatology services in three locations with its main office and wellness center co-located in Clive and satellite locations under the leadership of Dr. Angeloni in Pella and Newton. "Dr. Angeloni and I have been evaluating partners for an extended period of time. Ultimately, we chose Forefront based on its physician-centric model, its commitment to long-term flexible operating structures, and its proven track record of integrating practices. We look forward to the next phase in our professional lives," said Dr. Ava Feldman. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Each year in the U.S., over 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are treated in more than 3.3 million people. It is also the easiest to cure, if diagnosed and treated early. Access to board-certified dermatologists with expertise in diagnosing and treating skin cancer is critical to early detection. According to research conducted by Vitals.com, Iowa is one of the top-five states in terms of skin cancer risk. Expanding patient access to board-certified dermatology care has been a priority for Forefront Dermatology since establishing its first Iowa dermatology practice in Cedar Rapids in 2013 under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Pietras. Forefront has focused on expanding patient access in its Cedar Rapids location and added Dr. Ashlynne Clark, a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs Surgeon in 2015. Dr. Matthew Landherr, a board-certified dermatologist, and Katie Duffy, an experienced dermatology physician assistant, will be joining the Cedar Rapids practice in August and October of 2017, which will double available appointments and create greater availability for patients. With the additions of Heartland Dermatology and Heartland Skin Wellness, Skin Solutions Dermatology, and Associates in Dermatology, and the provider expansion in Cedar Rapids, Forefront Dermatology now has seven locations and 15 providers in Iowa from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids. "Heartland Dermatology has been a leading provider of board-certified dermatology care and we are thrilled with their decision to join Forefront Dermatology. Enabling greater access to dermatology care for Iowans has been a particular focus of mine since assuming my leadership role at Forefront Dermatology. Having completed my dermatology residency in Iowa, I understand the challenges Iowans face in obtaining access to expert dermatology care. We believe there is more opportunity in the region and our team continues to focus on identifying dermatology practices that are attracted to the Forefront value proposition," said Dr. Betsy J. Wernli, board-certified dermatologist and Deputy President of Forefront Dermatology. Forefront Dermatology provides its dermatologists access to a scaled and efficient shared services support system that is field tested and proven. The support system includes a robust operational infrastructure, centralized support services and advanced information technology, which enable dermatologists to focus on delivering exceptional care to their patients. About Forefront Dermatology Located throughout the Midwest and Midatlantic, Forefront Dermatology is a network of 100+ dermatology practices comprised of community-based, caring, board-certified dermatologists and specialists providing best-in-class general, surgical and cosmetic dermatology care along with related laboratory services. Headquartered in Manitowoc, Wis., Forefront's board-certified dermatologists and medical specialists are dedicated to providing the very highest standard of care for conditions of the hair, skin, and nails to people of all ages and stages of life. Using innovative and proven solutions, these caring, board-certified dermatologists and medical specialists treat the total patient to help improve not only the condition of their skin, but also their quality of life. To learn more, visit http://forefrontdermatology.com. Contact: Scott Goss Chief Marketing Officer 920-482-0671 ext. 6215 [email protected] SOURCE Forefront Dermatology Related Links http://www.forefrontdermatology.com Most notably, Assistant Secretary Hammack was responsible for public-private partnerships (PPPs) on Army installations. The US Army noted that partnerships were said to have increased more under her leadership than at any other time in recent history. This included a majority of Army housing completed restructuring and improved quality housing under the Residential Communities PPP. Army lodging in the continental United States was also privatized, improving the quality of temporary lodging for all service members. Privatization of utilities (electric, gas, water and sewer) was accelerated. Energy efficiency PPPs were streamlined with more than $1 billion in contracts executed. Renewable energy power purchase arrangements were implemented under her leadership, with over 350MW installed to date and another 700MW in development, resulting in lowered energy costs. Prior to her appointment, Hammack was a leader in Ernst & Young LLP's Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice in Phoenix, Arizona. In that capacity she assisted clients with obtaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification for their buildings and identification of sustainability strategies. "We have seen a dramatic increase in the desire for performance improvement and organizational change to deliver sustainable benefits," said Mike Herrinton, Partner and US Government & Public Sector Federal Leader at Ernst & Young LLP. "Katherine's experience will be crucial in helping our clients drive change and deliver on policy intentions. We are thrilled that she has chosen to return to EY in this thriving area of focus for our organization." "EY is made up of exceptional strategic talent, I'm very excited to be a part of the EY Government practice team," said Katherine Hammack. "I look forward to bringing my 35 years of experience in both the public and private sector, helping maintain EY's high standard of client service and further improve how we help clients strategically drive change to achieve their potential." Hammack is a graduate of Oregon State University, where she received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. She later received her master's degree from the University of Hartford in Connecticut. About EY's Global Government & Public Sector Services practice Around the world, governments and not-for-profit organizations are continually seeking innovative answers to complex challenges. They are striving to provide better services at lower costs and to create sustainable economic development, a safe environment, more transparency and increased accountability. EY combines private sector leading practices with an understanding of the public sector's diverse needs, focusing on building organizations' capabilities to deliver improved public services. Drawing on many years of experience, we can work with you to help strengthen your organization and achieve lasting improvements. Our Global Government & Public Sector brings together teams of highly skilled professionals from our assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. 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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member of the global EY organization that provides services to clients in the US. SOURCE EY Related Links http://www.ey.com (in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted) Warrant Exercise Adds $356 million to Treasury TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - "Franco-Nevada's diversified portfolio continues to perform very well" commented David Harquail, CEO. "We are now expecting to finish 2017 at the higher end of our original gold equivalent ounce guidance. The exercise of our 2017 warrants during the second quarter has raised $356 million. That brings our cash and cash equivalents to over $600 million and we have another $1.1 billion in available credit facilities. Franco-Nevada is very active in both precious metals and Oil & Gas investment opportunities and I am confident we can add further assets in each category before year end." Q2/2017 Financial Highlights 122,541 Gold Equivalent Ounces 1 (GEOs) sold (GEOs) sold $163.6 million in revenue in revenue $125.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA 2 or $0.69 per share of Adjusted EBITDA or per share $45.6 million of net income or $0.25 per share of net income or per share $46.1 million of Adjusted Net Income 3 or $0.25 per share of Adjusted Net Income or per share $614.3 million in cash and cash equivalents at quarter-end and no debt, reflecting proceeds of $356.4 million from the exercise of share purchase warrants Revenue and GEOs by Asset Categories Q2/2017 Q2/2016 GEOs Revenue GEOs Revenue # (in millions) # (in millions) Precious Metals Gold 92,706 $ 116.5 85,724 $ 108.2 Silver 18,139 22.8 18,523 23.6 PGMs 8,801 11.0 7,053 9.4 Precious Metals - Total 119,646 $ 150.3 111,300 $ 141.2 Other Minerals 2,895 3.7 1,487 1.9 Oil & Gas 9.6 7.8 122,541 $ 163.6 112,787 $ 150.9 For Q2/2017, revenue was sourced 91.9% from precious metals (71.2% gold, 13.9% silver and 6.8% PGM) and 82.2% from the Americas (15.8% U.S., 19.9% Canada and 46.5% Latin America). Operating costs and expenses increased year-over-year due to the increase in the number of GEOs sold during the quarter. Oil & gas revenue increased 23.1% year-over-year, reflecting higher prices as well as the addition of the STACK and Midland portfolio of royalties. Cash provided by operating activities was $126.5 million, an increase of 22.2% compared to Q2/2016, reflecting increased gross profits as well as positive changes in non-cash working capital. Corporate Updates 2017 Warrants: Franco-Nevada received proceeds of C$479.1 million , or approximately $356.4 million , from the exercise of 6,388,528 common share purchase warrants in the first half of 2017. The warrants had an exercise price of C$75.00 per warrant and were due to expire on June 16, 2017 Franco-Nevada received proceeds of , or approximately , from the exercise of 6,388,528 common share purchase warrants in the first half of 2017. The warrants had an exercise price of per warrant and were due to expire on Midland Oil & Gas Royalties: Franco-Nevada reported on this $110.0 million purchase in the West Texas Permian Basin in our last quarterly update. Following completion of title due diligence, the first part of the portfolio was acquired for $89.8 million and was closed on May 24 , 2017. The second part of the portfolio is expected to close shortly bringing the adjusted total purchase price to approximately $107 million . Franco-Nevada reported on this purchase in the West Texas Permian Basin in our last quarterly update. Following completion of title due diligence, the first part of the portfolio was acquired for and was closed on , 2017. The second part of the portfolio is expected to close shortly bringing the adjusted total purchase price to approximately . STACK Oil & Gas Royalties: Franco- Nevada has agreed to purchase, for $27.8 million , a second package of mineral titles in the core of the STACK shale play in Oklahoma from a private company. This will complement our existing position acquired in late 2016. This transaction will have an effective date of June 1, 2017 and is expected to close in November 2017 . Q2/2017 Portfolio Updates Precious Metals U.S.: GEOs from U.S. precious metals assets increased by 15.8% year-over-year with increases at South Arturo, Gold Quarry, Stillwater , Fire Creek/Midas and Bald Mountain more than offsetting the decrease from Goldstrike. 19,350 GEOs were received from the U.S. precious metal assets. GEOs from U.S. precious metals assets increased by 15.8% year-over-year with increases at South Arturo, Gold Quarry, , Fire Creek/Midas and Bald Mountain more than offsetting the decrease from Goldstrike. 19,350 GEOs were received from the U.S. precious metal assets. South Arturo (4-9% royalty) This project, operated by Barrick and Premier Gold, represented an increase of 2,366 GEOs year-over-year. Premier Gold stated that mining from the current phase has been extended into Q3/2017 and processing at Goldstrike could continue to early 2018. A further phase of open pit mining is under detailed review for which development could begin in early 2019. Drilling of the El Nino underground deposit is expected to begin later this year. Stillwater (5% royalty) In May, Sibanye Gold successfully acquired Stillwater Mining and is now the new operator. Sibanye continues to advance the Blitz project which it expects to add between 270,000 and 330,000 PGM ounces of incremental production per annum by 2021. (5% royalty) In May, Sibanye Gold successfully acquired Stillwater Mining and is now the new operator. Sibanye continues to advance the Blitz project which it expects to add between 270,000 and 330,000 PGM ounces of incremental production per annum by 2021. Hollister (3-5% royalty) Klondex reports that it is ramping-up mining rates at Hollister and expects to begin processing ore at the Midas mill in the second half. An initial reserve was reported for Hollister and drilling is reported to be ongoing, notably at the Hatter Graben area. Bald Mountain (0.875-5% royalty) Kinross expects production at Bald Mountain to be higher in the second half of the year with overall 2017 production to be double that of 2016. expects production at Bald Mountain to be higher in the second half of the year with overall 2017 production to be double that of 2016. Rosemont (1.5% royalty) Hudbay released results of a feasibility study for the Rosemont project which outlined a 19 year mine life with annual copper production over the first 10 years of 127,000 tonnes. The final Record of Decision was received from the U.S. Forest Service in June 2017 . Franco- Nevada's 1.5% royalty covers all commodities. (1.5% royalty) Hudbay released results of a feasibility study for the project which outlined a 19 year mine life with annual copper production over the first 10 years of 127,000 tonnes. The final Record of Decision was received from the U.S. Forest Service in . Franco- 1.5% royalty covers all commodities. Goldstrike (2-4% royalty & 2.4-6% NPI) Barrick is integrating the Cortez and Goldstrike mines in an effort to reduce all-in sustaining costs which would benefit the profit royalties. Precious Metals Canada : GEOs from Canadian precious metals assets increased by approximately 14.6% to 17,097 GEOs compared with Q2/2016, primarily from its interests in the Hemlo property and the Sudbury assets. : GEOs from Canadian precious metals assets increased by approximately 14.6% to 17,097 GEOs compared with Q2/2016, primarily from its interests in the property and the assets. Brucejack (1.2% royalty) Brucejack poured first gold on June 20, 2017 and declared commercial production on July 3 , 2017. Franco-Nevada's royalty begins after approximately 500,000 ounces have been produced. Brucejack poured first gold on and declared commercial production on , 2017. Franco-Nevada's royalty begins after approximately 500,000 ounces have been produced. Hemlo ( 3% royalty & 50% NPI) Barrick filed a Technical Report for Hemlo outlining the life of mine plan and providing additional detail of the increased reserves previously announced. ( Barrick filed a Technical Report for outlining the life of mine plan and providing additional detail of the increased reserves previously announced. Hardrock (3% royalty) Joint venture operators Centerra Gold and Premier Gold submitted the Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Assessment to initiate the formal environmental review process for the Hardrock project. Joint venture operators Centerra Gold and Premier Gold submitted the Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Assessment to initiate the formal environmental review process for the Hardrock project. Dublin Gulch/Eagle (1.5-2% royalty) Victoria Gold has obtained a $220 million debt financing commitment for the construction of the Eagle gold project. has obtained a debt financing commitment for the construction of the Eagle gold project. Positive exploration news since our last quarterly update was provided by operators at Macassa (various royalties) , Timmins West (2.25% royalty) , Taylor (1% royalty) , Canadian Malartic Odyssey project (1.5% royalty) , Dublin Gulch/Eagle (1.5%-2% royalty) and on part of the Cariboo/Barkerville play (3% royalty) . , , Taylor , Canadian project , Dublin Gulch/Eagle and on part of the Cariboo/Barkerville play . Precious Metals Latin America : GEOs from Latin American precious metals assets were flat year-over-year, with 60,548 precious metal GEOs earned in Q2/2017, as increased deliveries from Candelaria were offset by decreases from Guadalupe, Antapaccay and Antamina. GEOs from Latin American precious metals assets were flat year-over-year, with 60,548 precious metal GEOs earned in Q2/2017, as increased deliveries from Candelaria were offset by decreases from Guadalupe, Antapaccay and Antamina. Antapaccay (gold and silver stream) Antapaccay delivered 17,364 GEOs in Q2/2017, a decrease of 11.3% year-over-year, in line with the 2017 life of mine plan. Antapaccay delivered 17,364 GEOs in Q2/2017, a decrease of 11.3% year-over-year, in line with the 2017 life of mine plan. Antamina (22.5% silver stream) 11,081 GEOs from Antamina were sold during the quarter, a decrease compared to 11,898 GEOs in Q2/2016. The year-over-year decrease was expected, as 2016 was an exceptionally strong year of silver production for Antamina. 11,081 GEOs from Antamina were sold during the quarter, a decrease compared to 11,898 GEOs in Q2/2016. The year-over-year decrease was expected, as 2016 was an exceptionally strong year of silver production for Antamina. Candelaria (gold and silver stream) Candelaria earned 21,981 GEOs, compared to 16,247 GEOs in Q2/2016, as expected according to its mine plan. The Los Diques tailings facility construction is progressing on schedule and conceptual studies to increase production from five underground deposits to optimize life-of-mine plan are advancing. Candelaria earned 21,981 GEOs, compared to 16,247 GEOs in Q2/2016, as expected according to its mine plan. The Los Diques tailings facility construction is progressing on schedule and conceptual studies to increase production from five underground deposits to optimize life-of-mine plan are advancing. Guadalupe (50% gold stream) The Guadalupe agreement, which became effective in Q3/2016, delivered 9,683 GEOs in Q2/2017, compared to 12,501 under the Palmarejo agreement in Q2/2016. Under the Guadalupe agreement, Franco-Nevada pays an ongoing cost of $800 per gold ounce received versus the inflation adjusted cost of $400 per gold ounce under the prior Palmarejo agreement. The Guadalupe agreement, which became effective in Q3/2016, delivered 9,683 GEOs in Q2/2017, compared to 12,501 under the Palmarejo agreement in Q2/2016. Under the Guadalupe agreement, Franco-Nevada pays an ongoing cost of per gold ounce received versus the inflation adjusted cost of per gold ounce under the prior Palmarejo agreement. Cobre Panama (gold and silver stream) During the quarter, Franco-Nevada contributed $52.4 million of its share of construction capital for the Cobre Panama project, or $102.6 million for the first half of 2017, for a cumulative total contribution of $564.8 million of its maximum $1 billion commitment as of the end of Q2/2017. First Quantum reported that the project is now over 58% complete as of the end of Q2/2017 and that all aspects of the project remain scheduled for phased commissioning during 2018, with continued ramp-up over 2019. Franco-Nevada expects to contribute $200-$220 million to the project in 2017. During the quarter, Franco-Nevada contributed of its share of construction capital for the Cobre Panama project, or for the first half of 2017, for a cumulative total contribution of of its maximum commitment as of the end of Q2/2017. First Quantum reported that the project is now over 58% complete as of the end of Q2/2017 and that all aspects of the project remain scheduled for phased commissioning during 2018, with continued ramp-up over 2019. Franco-Nevada expects to contribute to the project in 2017. Cerro Moro (2% royalty ) Yamana reports that the mine construction is proceeding on schedule with production expected in 2018. ) Yamana reports that the mine construction is proceeding on schedule with production expected in 2018. Precious Metals Rest of World: 22,651 GEOs from Rest of World precious metals assets were sold during the quarter, an increase of 20.6% year-over-year, primarily due to an increase in the fixed ounce deliveries from Karma. 22,651 GEOs from Rest of World precious metals assets were sold during the quarter, an increase of 20.6% year-over-year, primarily due to an increase in the fixed ounce deliveries from Karma. Sabodala (fixed gold deliveries and stream) Teranga Gold announced that, as at June 30 , 2017, Sabodala has increased its Mineral Reserve to 2.7 million ounces of gold representing an increase of more than 400,000 ounces. Teranga Gold announced that, as at , 2017, Sabodala has increased its Mineral Reserve to 2.7 million ounces of gold representing an increase of more than 400,000 ounces. Subika (2% royalty) Newmont announced plans to begin underground mining and expand plant capacity at its Ahafo operation in Ghana. Together, the two projects are forecast to add incremental gold production between 200,000 to 300,000 ounces per year during the first five years of production. Franco-Nevada estimates that the majority of underground reserves are covered by its royalty. Newmont announced plans to begin underground mining and expand plant capacity at its Ahafo operation in Ghana. Together, the two projects are forecast to add incremental gold production between 200,000 to 300,000 ounces per year during the first five years of production. Franco-Nevada estimates that the majority of underground reserves are covered by its royalty. Tasiast (2% royalty) Kinross reports the Tasiast Phase 1 expansion remains on schedule for full production in Q2/2018. Kinross expects to provide a feasibility for a possible Phase 2 expansion in Q3/2017. This is expected to add an additional 18,000 tonnes per day for a total combined throughput capacity of 30,000 tonnes per day. Encouraging drilling in the Tasiast Sud area (located immediately south of the Tasiast mine) has accelerated an infill drilling program and initiation of a pre-feasibility study. reports the Tasiast Phase 1 expansion remains on schedule for full production in Q2/2018. expects to provide a feasibility for a possible Phase 2 expansion in Q3/2017. This is expected to add an additional 18,000 tonnes per day for a total combined throughput capacity of 30,000 tonnes per day. Encouraging drilling in the Tasiast Sud area (located immediately south of the Tasiast mine) has accelerated an infill drilling program and initiation of a pre-feasibility study. Karma (fixed gold deliveries and stream) 4,453 GEOs were sold in the quarter, an increase compared to 2,500 in Q2/2016, due to a scheduled increase in the fixed ounce deliveries. Q2/2016 also only included two months of deliveries. 4,453 GEOs were sold in the quarter, an increase compared to 2,500 in Q2/2016, due to a scheduled increase in the fixed ounce deliveries. Q2/2016 also only included two months of deliveries. Agi Dagi (2% royalty) Alamos Gold has tabled a positive feasibility report for the project projecting annual production of 177,600 ounces of gold over 5 years. A positive PEA was also completed for the neighbouring Camyurt project on which Franco-Nevada also holds a royalty. Alamos Gold has tabled a positive feasibility report for the project projecting annual production of 177,600 ounces of gold over 5 years. A positive PEA was also completed for the neighbouring Camyurt project on which Franco-Nevada also holds a royalty. Duketon (2% royalty) Gloster and Erlistoun, two satellite deposits at Duketon, commenced operations to provide additional mill feed. Regis Resources continues to actively explore the extensive land package. Gloster and Erlistoun, two satellite deposits at Duketon, commenced operations to provide additional mill feed. Regis Resources continues to actively explore the extensive land package. At Sissingue (0.5% royalty) , Perseus Mining reports that construction remains on schedule and first gold is expected in early 2018. At Ity (1.5% royalty) , Endeavour Mining has reported an additional 1 million ounces of M&I resource compared to the year end 2016 estimate. , Perseus Mining reports that construction remains on schedule and first gold is expected in early 2018. At Ity , Endeavour Mining has reported an additional 1 million ounces of M&I resource compared to the year end 2016 estimate. Oil & Gas: Revenue from Oil & Gas assets increased to $9.6 million in Q2/2017 compared to $7.8 million in Q2/2016, reflecting higher prices and higher production levels year-over-year on the Company's Canadian assets, as well as the addition of the STACK and Midland portfolio of royalties. The contribution from the new U.S. royalty assets is expected to become more significant after 2017. Dividend Declaration Franco-Nevada Corporation is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.23 per share. The dividend will be paid on September 28, 2017 to shareholders of record on September 14, 2017 (the "Record Date"). The Canadian dollar equivalent is to be determined based on the daily average rate posted by the Bank of Canada on the Record Date. Under Canadian tax legislation, Canadian resident individuals who receive "eligible dividends" are entitled to an enhanced gross-up and dividend tax credit on such dividends. The Company has a Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP"). Participation in the DRIP is optional. The Company will issue additional common shares through treasury at a 3% discount to the Average Market Price, as defined in the DRIP. However, the Company may, from time to time, in its discretion, change or eliminate the discount applicable to treasury acquisitions or direct that such common shares be purchased in market acquisitions at the prevailing market price, any of which would be publicly announced. The DRIP and enrollment forms are available on the Company's website at www.franco-nevada.com. Registered shareholders may also enroll in the DRIP online through the plan agent's self-service web portal at www.investorcentre.com/franco-nevada. Beneficial shareholders should contact their financial intermediary to arrange enrollment. This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer of securities. A registration statement relating to the DRIP has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and may be obtained under the Company's profile on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Shareholder Information The complete Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis can be found today on FrancoNevada's website at www.franco-nevada.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Management will host a conference call tomorrow, Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review FrancoNevada's Q2/2017 results. Interested investors are invited to participate as follows: Via Conference Call: Toll-Free: (888) 231-8191; International: (647) 427-7450 Conference Call Replay until August 16 th : Toll-Free (855) 859-2056; Toronto (416) 849-0833; Pass code 54013459 Webcast: A live audio webcast will be accessible at www.franco-nevada.com Corporate Summary Franco-Nevada Corporation is the leading gold-focused royalty and stream company with the largest and most diversified portfolio of cash-flow producing assets. Its business model provides investors with gold price and exploration optionality while limiting exposure to many of the risks of operating companies. Franco-Nevada is debt free and uses its free cash flow to expand its portfolio and pay dividends. It trades under the symbol FNV on both the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Franco-Nevada is the gold investment that works. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, respectively, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, management's expectations regarding Franco-Nevada's growth, results of operations, estimated future revenues, carrying value of assets, future dividends and requirements for additional capital, mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, production estimates, production costs and revenue, future demand for and prices of commodities, expected mining sequences, business prospects and opportunities. In addition, statements (including data in tables) relating to reserves and resources and gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") are forward looking statements, as they involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no assurance can be given that the estimates and assumptions are accurate and that such reserves and resources and GEOs will be realized. Such forward looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Franco-Nevada to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any forward looking statement, including, without limitation: fluctuations in the prices of the primary commodities that drive royalty and stream revenue (gold, platinum group metals, copper, nickel, uranium, silver, iron-ore and oil and gas); fluctuations in the value of the Canadian and Australian dollar, Mexican peso, and any other currency in which revenue is generated, relative to the U.S. dollar; changes in national and local government legislation, including permitting and licensing regimes and taxation policies and the enforcement thereof; regulatory, political or economic developments in any of the countries where properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest are located or through which they are held; risks related to the operators of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such operators; influence of macroeconomic developments; business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by Franco-Nevada; reduced access to debt and equity capital; litigation; title, permit or license disputes related to interests on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; whether or not the Corporation is determined to have "passive foreign investment company" ("PFIC") status as defined in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; potential changes in Canadian tax treatment of offshore streams; excessive cost escalation as well as development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; actual mineral content may differ from the reserves and resources contained in technical reports; rate and timing of production differences from resource estimates, other technical reports and mine plans; risks and hazards associated with the business of development and mining on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including, but not limited to unusual or unexpected geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or cave-ins, flooding and other natural disasters, terrorism, civil unrest or an outbreak of contagious disease; and the integration of acquired assets. The forward looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation: the ongoing operation of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest by the owners or operators of such properties in a manner consistent with past practice; the accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the owners or operators of such underlying properties; no material adverse change in the market price of the commodities that underlie the asset portfolio; the Corporation's ongoing income and assets relating to determination of its PFIC status; no material changes to existing tax treatment; no adverse development in respect of any significant property in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; the accuracy of publicly disclosed expectations for the development of underlying properties that are not yet in production; integration of acquired assets; and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. However, there can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Franco-Nevada cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward looking statements and investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. For additional information with respect to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of Franco-Nevada's most recent Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on www.sedar.com and Franco-Nevada's most recent Annual Report filed on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on www.sec.gov. The forward looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only and Franco-Nevada does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. NON-IFRS MEASURES: Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently. For a reconciliation of these measures to various IFRS measures, please see below or the Company's current MD&A disclosure found on the Company's website, on SEDAR and on EDGAR. Comparative information has been recalculated to conform to current presentation. 1 GEOs include our gold, silver, platinum, palladium and other mineral assets. GEOs are estimated on a gross basis for NSR royalties and, in the case of stream ounces, before the payment of the per ounce contractual price paid by the Company. For NPI royalties, GEOs are calculated taking into account the NPI economics. Platinum, palladium, silver and other minerals are converted to GEOs by dividing associated revenue, which includes settlement adjustments, by the relevant gold price. The gold price used in the computation of GEOs earned from a particular asset varies depending on the royalty or stream agreement, which may make reference to the market price realized by the operator, or the average for the month, quarter, or year in which the mineral was produced or sold. For Q2/2017, the average commodity prices per ounce were as follows: $1,257 gold (Q2/2016 - $1,259), $17.26 silver (Q2/2016 - $17.17), $940 platinum (Q2/2016 - $1,004) and $819 palladium (Q2/2016 - $568). For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the average commodity prices were as follows: $1,238 gold (H1/2016 - $1,220), $17.34 silver (H1/2016 - $16.00), $960 platinum (H1/2016 - $959) and $793 palladium (H1/2016 - $546). 2 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per share are non-IFRS financial measures, which exclude the following from net income and EPS: income tax expense/recovery; finance expenses; finance income; depletion and depreciation; non-cash costs of sales; impairment charges related to royalty, stream and working interests and investments; gains/losses on sale of royalty interests; gains/losses on investments; and foreign exchange gains/losses and other income/expenses. 3 Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share are non-IFRS financial measures, which exclude the following from net income and earnings per share ("EPS"): foreign exchange gains/losses and other income/expenses; impairment charges related to royalty, stream and working interests and investments; gains/losses on sale of royalty interests; gains/losses on investments; unusual non-recurring items; and the impact of income taxes on these items. Reconciliations to IFRS measures For the three months ended For the six months ended June 30, June 30, (expressed in millions, except per share amounts) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net Income $ 45.6 $ 42.3 $ 91.2 $ 72.3 Income tax expense 11.1 11.3 21.5 19.4 Finance expenses 0.8 0.8 1.6 2.1 Finance income (1.1) (1.0) (2.0) (2.1) Depletion and depreciation 67.2 68.2 138.7 133.7 Non-cash costs of sales 2.3 1.7 4.1 3.5 (Gain) on investments (2.8) (4.3) Foreign exchange (gains)/losses and other (income)/expenses (0.4) (1.1) 0.1 Adjusted EBITDA $ 125.5 $ 120.5 $ 254.0 $ 224.7 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 181.6 177.8 180.1 175.2 Adjusted EBITDA per share $ 0.69 $ 0.68 $ 1.41 $ 1.28 For the three months ended For the six months ended June 30, June 30, (expressed in millions, except per share amounts) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net Income $ 45.6 $ 42.3 $ 91.2 $ 72.3 Foreign exchange (gains)/losses and other (income)/expenses (0.4) (1.1) 0.1 (Gain) on investments (2.8) (4.3) Tax effect of adjustments 0.1 0.8 0.6 Other tax related adjustments Valuation allowance 0.8 (0.6) 0.8 (0.7) Impact of tax increases 0.3 Adjusted Net Income $ 46.1 $ 40.0 $ 90.9 $ 68.0 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 181.6 177.8 180.1 175.2 Adjusted Net Income per share $ 0.25 $ 0.22 $ 0.50 $ 0.39 FRANCO-NEVADA CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (unaudited, in millions of U.S. dollars) At June 30, At December 31, 2017 2016 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents (Note 4) $ 614.3 $ 253.0 Receivables 55.1 71.1 Prepaid expenses and other (Note 6) 50.1 37.1 Current assets 719.5 361.2 Royalty, stream and working interests, net (Note 3) 3,752.9 3,668.3 Investments (Note 5) 140.8 147.4 Deferred income tax assets 22.4 21.3 Other assets (Note 7) 19.9 23.4 Total assets $ 4,655.5 $ 4,221.6 LIABILITIES Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 20.5 $ 21.0 Current income tax liabilities 18.2 16.6 Current liabilities 38.7 37.6 Deferred income tax liabilities 43.6 37.5 Total liabilities 82.3 75.1 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Note 14) Common shares 5,078.9 4,666.2 Contributed surplus 16.1 41.6 Deficit (327.5) (336.8) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (194.3) (224.5) Total shareholders' equity 4,573.2 4,146.5 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 4,655.5 $ 4,221.6 Subsequent events (Note 3) The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements and can be found in our Q2/2017 Report available on our website FRANCO-NEVADA CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited, in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts) For the three months ended For the six months ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenue (Note 10) $ 163.6 $ 150.9 $ 336.3 $ 282.9 Cost of sales Costs of sales (Note 11) 33.9 27.7 73.8 52.1 Depletion and depreciation 67.2 68.2 138.7 133.7 Total cost of sales 101.1 95.9 212.5 185.8 Gross profit 62.5 55.0 123.8 97.1 Other operating expenses (income) Corporate administration 5.8 5.7 11.1 11.1 Business development 0.8 0.3 1.6 0.6 Gain on sale of gold bullion (Note 16) (0.1) (1.6) (0.1) (2.1) Total other operating expenses 6.5 4.4 12.6 9.6 Operating income (Note 16) 56.0 50.6 111.2 87.5 Foreign exchange gain (loss) and other income (expenses) (Note 16) 0.4 1.1 (0.1) Realized gain on investments 2.8 4.3 Income before finance items and income taxes 56.4 53.4 112.3 91.7 Finance items Finance income 1.1 1.0 2.0 2.1 Finance expenses (0.8) (0.8) (1.6) (2.1) Net income before income taxes 56.7 53.6 112.7 91.7 Income tax expense (Note 13) 11.1 11.3 21.5 19.4 Net income $ 45.6 $ 42.3 $ 91.2 $ 72.3 Other comprehensive income (loss): Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss: Unrealized (loss) gain in the market value of available-for-sale investments, net of income tax recovery of $1.8 (2016 - income tax expense of $0.3), income tax recovery of $1.6 (2016 - income tax expense of $0.5) (Note 5) (11.7) 10.8 (10.2) 26.6 Realized change in market value of available-for-sale investments (Note 5) (2.8) (4.3) Currency translation adjustment 30.7 (4.0) 40.4 45.5 Other comprehensive income 19.0 4.0 30.2 67.8 Total comprehensive income $ 64.6 $ 46.3 $ 121.4 $ 140.1 Basic earnings per share (Note 15) $ 0.25 $ 0.24 $ 0.51 $ 0.41 Diluted earnings per share (Note 15) $ 0.25 $ 0.24 $ 0.51 $ 0.41 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements and can be found in our Q2/2017 Report available on our website FRANCO-NEVADA CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited, in millions of U.S. dollars) For the six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 Cash flows from operating activities Net income $ 91.2 $ 72.3 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depletion and depreciation 138.7 133.7 Non-cash costs of sales 4.1 3.5 Share-based payments 3.1 2.4 Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss (0.6) 0.2 Gain on investments (4.3) Deferred income tax expense 6.0 2.3 Other non-cash items (0.7) (0.8) Acquisition of gold bullion (Note 16) (12.1) (33.7) Proceeds from sale of gold bullion (Note 16) 9.4 46.1 Operating cash flows before changes in non-cash working capital 239.1 221.7 Changes in non-cash working capital: Decrease in receivables 16.0 8.7 Increase in prepaid expenses and other (9.3) (4.3) Increase in current liabilities 0.5 1.4 Net cash provided by operating activities (Note 16) 246.3 227.5 Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of royalty, stream and working interests (198.2) (555.7) Acquisition of oil & gas well equipment (0.9) (1.3) Proceeds from sale of investments 23.6 Acquisition of investments (1.6) Net cash used in investing activities (Note 16) (199.1) (535.0) Cash flows from financing activities Net proceeds from issuance of common shares 883.5 Repayment of Credit Facility (460.0) Credit facility amendment costs (1.0) Payment of dividends (62.2) (57.5) Proceeds from exercise of warrants 356.4 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 7.8 15.6 Net cash provided by financing activities 301.0 381.6 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 13.1 2.5 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 361.3 76.6 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 253.0 149.2 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 614.3 $ 225.8 Supplemental cash flow information: Cash paid for interest expense and loan standby fees $ 1.2 $ 1.8 Income taxes paid $ 29.4 $ 21.4 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements and can be found in our Q2/2017 Report available on our website SOURCE Franco-Nevada Corporation Related Links www.franco-nevada.com MRO inventory optimization Maintenance optimization Procurement optimization Equipment optimization The IQ Optimization Suite extracts the existing master data and history from a customer's enterprise resource planning (ERP) and enterprise asset management (EAM) systems and segments it by lead times, part usage, criticality, and other information. This enables it to present recommendations for spare part decisions based on the thresholds set during software customization and business rules definition. "The biggest differentiating feature of the IQ Optimization Suite is its advanced analytics capabilities that were specifically intended to manage oil and gas MRO issues such as the slow-moving, non-seasonality nature of spares," said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Sankara Narayanan. "Unlike traditional ERP or EAM applications that lack capabilities such as inventory optimization, Oniqua's solution determines the levels of inventory by taking into account several variables such as average value, size, and lead times, which affect planned and unplanned demand." This solution does not simply help save money but also ensures that performance and service levels remain top-notch by presenting a comprehensive portfolio of master data services, opportunity assessments, and rapid value services. The company's highly efficient resource pool (the Professional Services team) can identify a customer's specific MRO problems and immediately remedy them. "Being technology agnostic, the solution is designed to work with all major ERP systems, EAM systems, and data warehouses to synchronize data. Additionally, the company offers both cloud and on premise solution deployment," Narayanan said. "It eliminates the need for system experts as it has a host of user-friendly functionalities such as what-if analysis, multi-dimensional inventory forecasting algorithms, dynamic inventory segmentation, intuitive visualizations, and drag and drop. Furthermore, it has leading-edge reporting and interactive dashboards that not only enrich user experience, but also provide the visibility required to effectively manage inventory." The Oniqua IQ Optimization Suite is in use in more than 30 countries, supported by offices in North America, South America, South Africa, Europe, and Australia. Oniqua's IQ Optimization Suite has attracted the attention of leaders from a range of other industries including mining, petrochemicals, utilities, manufacturing, and transportation. Oniqua's ability to work across a range of industries and its strong product strategy are expected to boost its growth potential in the coming years. "We are honored by this award and recognition," said Carlos Fairgray, Oniqua's executive vice president of technology and innovation. "Oniqua is proud to have attained a near-perfect score on each of Frost & Sullivan's customized decision support scorecard criteria. The team's dedication and relentless pursuit of delivering on best-in-class products are making a real difference in the industry. We are pleased our efforts have been recognized by such an esteemed research and analysis firm as Frost & Sullivan." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a product with innovative features and functionality, gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it supports. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Oniqua Oniqua provides Intelligent MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) capabilities that are transforming the way Oil & Gas, Mining, Utilities, and Manufacturing companies manage their capital-intensive assets. The company's unique cloud-based offering combines the world's most advanced MRO analytics technology with analyst services, consulting, master data cleansing, and industry expertise to optimize the performance of materials management and operations and maintenance activities. Oniqua does the heavy lifting on behalf of customers so they can achieve rapid benefits in the form of reduced waste and costs, minimized risks, greater efficiencies, and smarter decisions across their MRO operations. Oniqua is proud to serve many of the world's largest energy and resources companies, including ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, BP, Phillips 66, New Gold, Occidental (OXY), ADMA, BHP Billiton, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), American Electric Power (AEP), Nebraska Public Power District, Rio Tinto, Newmont Mining, Lundin Mining, Freeport McMoRan, and many others. To learn more, visit www.oniqua.com. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Samantha Park P: 210.247.2426 F: 210.348.1003 E: [email protected] Alisson Moore/Oniqua Intelligent MRO P: 303 525 5994 E: [email protected] SOURCE Frost & Sullivan Related Links http://www.frost.com South Beachs newest boutique hotel, The Julia, opened its doors this month and to celebrate its grand opening, is extending 15% off best available rates for any bookings made throughout August 2017 for travel through December 15, 2017. Situated in the South of Fifth SoFi neighborhood, a growing enclave of restaurants and shops, the property is adults-exclusive and was built from the foundation of the third oldest hotel in Miami Beach. Located between 3rd and 4th Streets on Collins Avenue, its just one block from the beach. Named after the iconic founder of Miami, Julia Tuttle, and owned by SMS Lodging, a family-owned company that operates hotels in Miami and Key West, The Julia features 29 guest rooms, each outfitted with memory-foam mattresses, custom-designed furnishings, coral and grey accent colors, solid oak plank flooring, as well as original artwork from local and international artists throughout the rooms and common areas. The interior of the hotel, designed by Stephen Busto, boasts a charming lobby with stylishly mismatching decor inspired by ideas of what Julia Tuttles own living room might have looked like. Features from the buildings original design, including the authentic Cuban tile flooring and restored fireplace, complement the updated common areas, adorned with Turkish throw pillows and rugs, rocking chairs and modern art, in an eclectic combination. The Julias exterior has been meticulously restored in order to retain its history with a facade that traces back to its original build in the 1930s, now accentuated with outdoor patio seating. The property offers several value-added complimentary amenities to enhance guests experience, including a French-inspired continental breakfast with fresh croissants, Brioche, Pain au Chocolat, yogurt, fruit, juices, coffee and tea, beach chairs reserved on the shores of South Beach, custom beach totes for guest use, wi-fi, and daily wine and cheese happy hour. The SoFi neighborhood is an ideal area for The Julia, as it offers the best of South Beach with a neighborhood vibe, said Gustaf Arnoldsson, CFO of SMS Lodging. We are confident that the hotels price point coupled with its prime location just steps from the beach and within walking distance to great shopping, nightlife, and cuisine will be a significant draw for travelers. With more than 20 years of experience in hospitality and real estate, brothers Gustaf and Jesper Arnoldsson founded SMS Lodging in 2010. Having doubled in size every year over the past six years, and building upon their success managing several award winning boutique hotels in Key West and Miami, SMS Lodging looks forward to expanding their presence in the SoFi neighborhood with The Julia. Rates begin at $189 a night. To book the grand opening special, use promo code GRAND. Promotion subject to availability. For more information, visit www.TheJuliaHotel.com or call 888-336-9841, alternatively you can see and book thru Booking.com. "We are delighted to be working with One Energy and Prudential Capital in directly powering industrial facilities for some of the largest companies in the United States," said David Halligan, Chief Executive Officer of Goldwind Americas. "With their exceptional performance, reliability, and high-power quality, Goldwind's Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) turbines are equally well-suited for utility-scale and distributed generation projects." The first four turbines will be installed for Wind for Industry projects to supply wind energy to Whirlpool Corporation facilities in Marion and Ottawa, Ohio. "Manufacturers are taking control of their energy future. They want clean energy, they want low fixed rates, and they want it now; and that is exactly what we give them. Goldwind has earned their seat at the table for this emerging Commercial & Industrial (C&I) market over the last five years. We know their technology and their management team very well and they continue to demonstrate a worldwide commitment to support these direct-to-load projects," expressed Jereme Kent, Chief Executive Officer of One Energy Enterprises. "We look forward to continuing to grow our fleet of Goldwind turbines." As part of this order and continued growth, One Energy plans to start stocking turbines at its yard in the United States in order to shorten the project delivery time for Wind for Industry projects. This turbine agreement was designed to create a framework where One Energy can work towards delivering wind projects in 90 days. "We aren't there yet, but we are headed that way as fast as we can," said Jereme Kent. One Energy's Wind for Industry model is designed to achieve a significant reduction of an industrial facility's electrical consumption from the grid as well as provide manufacturers with 20 years of electricity-rate certainty through installing one or more utility-scale wind turbines and interconnecting them on the facility's side of its utility meter. About Goldwind Americas Goldwind Americas, headquartered in Chicago, is a world-leading wind turbine technology and energy solutions provider. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 002202) (HK: 2208), Goldwind's revolutionary Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) technology is shaping a new standard in wind energy. Goldwind Americas offers a full suite of innovative renewable energy solutions, including equipment sales, service, and capital. To learn more, visit www.goldwindamericas.com. About One Energy Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, One Energy is a trusted expert in on-site wind energy generation, and is responsible for the largest commercial net-metered wind projects in the United States. One Energy provides Wind for Industry solutions for large electricity consumers. The One Energy family of companies delivers project assessment, development, engineering, procurement, construction, finance, and operations. Learn more at www.oneenergywind.com. GOLDWIND AMERICAS MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren La Marche Senior Manager, Corporate Communications E: [email protected] O: +1.312.948.8049 SOURCE Goldwind Americas Related Links http://www.goldwindamericas.com PHOENIX, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Great Hearts Academies will welcome students to their first day of school on August 10th at its newest campus in Phoenix. The campus serves as a new home to two of the network's growing academies, Archway North Phoenix and North Phoenix Prep, which opened in the fall of 2012 on the leased campus of Dream City Church. The new campus is on the other side of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve at the northwest corner of 32nd St. and Hearn, between Greenway and Thunderbird. "Our new campus opens its doors after more than 2 years of work and planning, and is made possible by generous donations from our parents and community leaders," said Paul Weinhold, Headmaster of North Phoenix Prep. "The new campus meets the precise needs of our students and our educational model. We are excited about the design, and eagerly anticipate welcoming our students to school this week." The new campus serves students in grades K-12 in co-located academies and will accommodate approximately 1,280 students on opening day, and 1,600 students at full capacity. The educational space includes science labs, student library, art studios, music and drama rooms and a full-size gymnasium, in addition to other amenities. "We are truly excited to be able to serve more students in the North Phoenix area than ever before," shared Joy Hanks, Headmaster of Archway North Phoenix. "The start of a new school year is a time of boundless energy and excitement, especially with a brand-new campus, and we look forward to serving all of our young scholars." With the additional capacity, Great Hearts North Phoenix will welcome additional students in the 2018/2019 school year. The enrollment period for the 2018/2019 school year is from November 13th through December 11th, 2017. For more information about enrolling please visit the Great Hearts enrollment web page. About Great Hearts Academies: Great Hearts is a non-profit network of public charter schools dedicated to cultivating the minds and hearts of students through classical preparatory K-12 academies. As the largest provider of classical education in the country, Great Hearts academies serve more than 15,000 students at 28 public schools in greater Phoenix, Ariz. and San Antonio and Irving, Tex., with waitlists that typically exceed enrollment. Learn more at www.greatheartsamerica.org. Contact: Bill Odell Director of Communications, Great Hearts [email protected] (602) 889-5034 SOURCE Great Hearts Academies Related Links http://www.greatheartsamerica.org NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Excavations this summer on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee have uncovered what may be evidence of the ancient city, Bethsaida-Julias, home to three of Jesus' apostles: Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1:44; 12:21). It was also a location for Jesus' ministry (Mark 8:22), and is near the land where Luke's gospel reports the miracle of Jesus feeding five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17). Aerial view of excavations at El Araj. Photo credit: Zachary Wong The excavations were conducted under the auspices of the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology at Kinneret College (Israel), and directed by Dr. Mordechai Aviam together with Dr. R. Steven Notley from Nyack College (New York), who is the excavation's academic director. Students and faculty from Nyack College joined volunteers from the U.S. and Hong Kong to excavate for two weeks in July. Because of its importance in Christian tradition, scholars have tried to identify the site. Historical sources suggest that it was located near the Jordan River, in the large valley between Galilee and the Golan Heights. For the last 30 years, popular opinion identified Bethsaida with the site of et-Tel where archaeologists found settlement in the late Hellenistic (2nd cent. BCE) and Roman periods (1st-2nd cent. CE), including two private houses. However, traces of the Greco-Roman developments reported by historical reports are lacking. Now evidence has been discovered indicating that Bethsaida-Julias was located at another site, El Araj in the nature reserve of the Beteiha Valley on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Flavius Josephus, the first century historian tells us that in 31 CE, Herod Philip, son of Herod the Great, transformed the Jewish fishing village of Bethsaida on the Kinneret Lake (Sea of Galilee) into a Greco-Roman polis (Ant. 18:28). As governor of the region, he renamed the city Julias, after Julia Augusta (nee Livia Drusilla), mother of Roman Emperor Tiberius. Decades later, Josephus himself was responsible for fortifying the city's defenses in preparation for the Jewish Revolt against Rome (66-70 CE). In 68 CE he was wounded in battle on the swampy marshlands near Julias (Life 399-403). The Byzantine (4th-7th centuries CE) and Roman (1st-3rd centuries CE) period remains both point to el-Araj as the site of the city of Bethsaida-Julias. Under the Byzantine floor of a structure discovered during the first season were 30 coins that date to the 5th century CE. It is possible that these walls are the remains of a monastery which was built around a church. Combined with the many gilded glass tesserae (stone or glass cubes that are used for mosaics) that were found in the first and second season, they indicate the existence of a wealthy and important church. A Byzantine eyewitness, Willibald, the bishop of Eichstatt in Bavaria, visited the Holy Land in 725 CE, and describes a visit to a church at Bethsaida that was built over the house of Peter and Andrew. It may be that the current excavations have unearthed remains from that church. Roman pottery that dates between the 1st - 3rd centuries was uncovered under the Byzantine level. A bronze coin of the late 2nd century CE and a beautiful silver denarius of the emperor Nero from the year 65-66 CE that reads, "Nero, Caesar Augustus" were also found. This alone could disprove speculation that there was no human presence at el-Araj in the Roman period. Furthermore, a Roman wall was discovered at a depth nearly 693 feet (211.16m) below sea level. Adjacent to this wall was a large portion of mosaic flooring with a white and black meander pattern still attached to its original plaster and similar to other mosaics known from first-century sites around the lake. Along with the discovery of clay bricks and ceramic vents (tubuli), which are typical to Roman bathhouses, these finds are evidence of urbanization. Another important contribution from this season is the elevation of the remains. Most scholars agree today, following the excavators of Magdala that the level of the lake was 209 meters below sea level, and so they assume that the site of el-Araj was under water until the Byzantine period. The current excavations have demonstrated that the level of the lake was much lower than previously thought, and el-Araj most certainly was not under water in the first century CE. Two geologists, Professor Noam Greenbaum from Haifa University and Dr. Nati Bergman from the Yigal Alon Kinneret Limnological Laboratory, studied the layers of the site and pointed out that there are layers of soil which indicate that the site was covered with mud and clay that were carried by the Jordan River in the late Roman period, and which corresponds to a gap in material remains from about 250 CE to 350 CE, but in the Byzantine period, the site was resettled. The El-Araj Excavations Project was made possible through the generous support of the Center for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins, Nyack College, the Assemblies of God, and HaDavar Yeshiva (Hong Kong). The excavations will continue next year, June 17-July 12, 2018 with the expectation to uncover more evidence for the Roman period settlement and the lost city of Jesus' apostles! The Center for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins (CS-AJCO) seeks to foster greater understanding of the cultural, linguistic and physical setting for Second Temple Judaism and nascent Christianity, the relationship of these faiths and their shared socio-religious milieu, and to support efforts that will make current research about these topics more widely available. Our programs and resources support scholarly endeavors with the intention of making current research available to underrepresented students, clergy and wider public audiences. Contact: Constance L. Diggs CSAJCO 646.378.6148 [email protected] Related Images image1.jpeg image2.jpeg image3.jpeg image4.jpg SOURCE The Center for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HER Realtors is announcing the expansion of its operations to include their newest office in Leipsic, Ohio. The new HER community office located at 135 East Main Street will be led by Amber Mangas, a community leader and local resident of Leipsic. This office represents an expansion of HER Realtors' footprint in the northern half of Ohio, as they continue their expansion plans into the northeast and northwest corners of the state. Mangas has been part of HER Realtors since 2016 and plans to use her local knowledge of Leipsic and the surrounding areas to make homebuyers and sellers dreams a reality. "I love the small-town community we have here," said Mangas. "I knew fairly quickly I wanted to open an office in the area, so I can have a face in the community, as well as give other agents an opportunity to utilize the tools HER offers. Mangas is looking to grow the HER team and plans to hire additional sales associates for her office." "Mangas' focus will be on bringing new agents to the area and into Leipsic and I think with her strong drive to grow she will do it," states Buffy Walling, District Sales Manager of the Troy, Sidney and Greenville HER offices. "We know Amber's knowledge of this market is going to have a big impact on our efforts," said Matt Watercutter, Senior Regional Vice President and Broker of Record for HER Realtors. "With the tools, technology and statewide support services HER offers, Amber is well positioned to assist consumers with their housing needs throughout Leipsic and the surrounding communities." About HER Realtors Founded in 1956, HER Realtors is the country's largest agent-owned real estate firm and is consistently recognized as one of the most innovative, technologically advanced, and award-winning firms in the country. With 1,250 agents and 75 offices throughout Ohio and Northern Kentucky, HER Realtors offers a full-range of services to its clients including residential and commercial real estate sales, property management and rental services, mortgage, title services, insurance, home warranties, and other home-related, lifestyle services. To learn more, visit www.HERRealtors.com. Contact: Leanne Chylik Chief Marketing Officer | HER Realtors (614) 273-8570 SOURCE HER Realtors Related Links http://www.herrealtors.com MUMBAI, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware Technologies Ltd, the fastest growing automation-led, next-generation provider of IT, BPO and consulting services, today announced a strategic partnership with Zynx Health, part of the Hearst Health network and a market leader in providing evidence and experience-based clinical improvement solutions. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/530945/Hexaware_Rebranding_Logo.jpg ) The announcement highlights Hexaware's ongoing efforts to create a next-generation population health management platform that spreads across the entire continuum of care and enables providers, payers and employers to deliver better health outcomes. "The current status quo of a reactive healthcare system based on episodic acute care is ripe for disruption," said Milan Bhatt, Global Head of Healthcare, Hexaware Technologies. "We believe that no single vendor in the current healthcare IT market meets all the requirements of population health management. Our endeavor is to partner with innovators like Zynx Health to help providers to deliver better health outcomes by effectively identifying and engaging at-risk patients, designing personalized programs and eliminating care gaps." The collaboration will involve the integration of Zynx Health's managed care services for evidence-based and vital interventions, clinical workflows and care-coordination with Hexaware's CarrotCube population health management platform. "Hexaware is driven by a mission to ensure payers, providers, employers and wellness platforms can successfully cross the chasm from fee for service to pay for value," said Zynx Health President, Kevin Daly. "We are pleased that Hexaware recognized the value of integrating Zynx content into the CarrotCube platform to guide all disciplines in the care planning process and ensure compliance with current evidence-based best practices. We look forward to working together to help providers deliver better health outcomes." About Hexaware Hexaware is a fast growing IT, BPO and Consulting Company focusing to help customers Shrink IT to eliminate costs and improve delivery of commodity IT, using automation and technology. http://www.hexaware.com. About Zynx Health Please visit http://www.zynxhealth.com About Hearst Health The Hearst Health network includes FDB (First Databank), Zynx Health, MCG, Homecare Homebase, MedHOK, Hearst Health International, Hearst Health Ventures and the Hearst Health Innovation Lab (http://www.hearsthealth.com). Its mission is to help guide the most important care moments by delivering vital information into the hands of everyone who touches a person's health journey. Safe Harbor Statement http://hexaware.com/investors/ Contact: Sreedatri Chatterjee [email protected] SOURCE Hexaware Technologies Ltd. WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, September 13, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) will be hosting a Leadership webinar to explore key questions about leadership in student-centered learning environments. To better understand the impact of school leadership and how the role is changing in student-centered learning environments, iNACOL conducted a discovery process to identify key elements that are essential or different about leadership for student-centered learning. Join this webinar to focus on one of the essential questions being explored during this discovery process: What is essential or different about leadership in schools and learning communities that have been successful in moving forward to student-centered learning environments and in sustaining that forward movement? Gain insights on early findings in this important work and some potential areas of further investigation needed to understand how to best support leadership for equitable, student-centered learning environments. iNACOL COO Bruce Friend said, "Across the world, educators are transforming their schools to create more student-centered, equitable environments. Effective leadership is critical to the success and sustainability of this transformation." This webinar is free to attend participants are invited to register here for final details and login information. Webinar Title: Exploring Key Questions about Leadership in Student-Centered Learning Environments Presenters: Barbara Treacy, Harvard Graduate School of Education Liz Glowa, Glowa Consulting About iNACOL The mission of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is to catalyze the transformation of K-12 education policy and practice to advance powerful, personalized, learner-centered experiences through competency-based, blended and online learning. iNACOL is a non-profit organization focusing on research, developing policy for student-centered education to ensure equity and access, developing quality standards for emerging learning models using online, blended, and competency-based education, and supporting the ongoing professional development of school and district leaders for new learning models. Visit our website, like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn and follow us on twitter. SOURCE International Association for K-12 Online Learning Related Links http://www.inacol.org The Value Report is an instantaneous automated valuation model (AVM) to determine single-family home and condo values. The increased use and acceptance of AVMs has created demand for higher quality, more accurate residential property valuations. Home equity lenders are utilizing AVMs for property valuation, when possible, to minimize cost of origination and to decrease loan closing time. Independent is focused on delivering accurate real estate information services and adding value as a vendor partner to real estate lenders nationwide. The Value Report provides instant property valuation, market risk assessment and real estate market data for a single property or entire portfolios, leveraging HouseCanary's proprietary algorithms that draw on more than 1 billion U.S. historical home transactions. "HouseCanary is delivering a much more informative and transparent automated property valuation to the real estate lending industry," said Christopher Seymour, SVP, Director of Sales. "The Value Report provides lenders with supporting comparable sales data and other drivers of home value to make better, more confident real estate decisions." The Value Report produces comprehensive property details, including sales history, and a suitability score to measure valuation confidence. Lenders gain an understanding of the local market with the report's three-year value forecast for the subject property's market. The Value Report also ranks the subject property against its 10 closest, algorithmically selected comparables, providing lenders the comfort of knowing their valuation is validated against the market context. "Working with Independent, HouseCanary is excited to offer valuation models with unprecedented accuracy and coverage, which is what ultimately appeals to lenders," said HouseCanary CMO, Martin Morzynski. "Our algorithms analyze over 1 billion residential transactions over the last 40 years against macroeconomic drivers of demand, incorporating schools, crime and other current drivers at the block level to achieve this level of accuracy. The result is a modern AVM that helps lenders originate and close loans with confidence." About Independent Settlement Services: Independent Settlement Services has been dedicated to serving our clients in the real estate finance industry since 2005. Independent delivers national appraisal and title management services with a promise of outstanding service and the highest standards for compliance and quality. The company's commitment to add value to their customers extends beyond our comprehensive product and service offering, by combining industry-leading technology with an experienced staff and an extensive vendor network to deliver superior results. The company implements flexible solutions to accommodate processes around their client's service expectations. Independent is helping companies meet strategic goals while saving time, money and resources in the order fulfillment process. About HouseCanary: Founded in 2014, HouseCanary's mission is to help people make better real estate decisions. Built on a foundation of great data, powerful models and predictive analytics, the HouseCanary platform aggregates millions of data elements, including more than four decades of property data and a rapidly expanding arsenal of proprietary data calculations and analytics, to accurately define and forecast values and market influences. HouseCanary is financed by a $33 million Series A. Its notable investors include Hillspire (Alphabet Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt's family office), Alpha Edison, ECA Ventures, Raven Ventures and other top investors including Egon Durban and Nikesh Arora. The company is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.housecanary.com. SOURCE HouseCanary Related Links http://www.housecanary.com BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- InfoBionic, a digital health company focused on creating superior solutions for outpatient cardiac arrhythmia monitoring, has announced significant company growth spurred by rapid adoption of its lead product, MoMe Kardia, within the strategic markets it has been launched. The MoMe Kardia remote cardiac monitoring system, used to diagnose and manage patients that are suspected of having or are experiencing cardiac arrhythmias, is the first and only deep learning Software as a Service (SaaS) remote cardiac monitoring platform that replicates in-hospital monitoring with full disclosure cardiac data delivered direct to physicians for 24/7 on-demand review. Since introducing their disruptive model in key USA territories at the start of 2017, InfoBionic has averaged a month over month subscription growth rate in excess of 35% and recently surpassed the 7,000 mark for patients monitored using MoMe Kardia. Initial feedback from the physicians and patients using the system has been very positive, and connotes the potential it has to shift the market away from traditional approaches that use third party service providers to provide the monitoring and reporting and which typically only include data on detected events. "For me, it's the control over all the data that I think is the most compelling, and the biggest game changer," said Dr. Michael Mazzini, who has been using MoMe Kardia at his North Suburban Cardiology Associates practice since it was introduced to the market. "You can choose what you want to get notified for, what you want to see, and when you want to see it. Full disclosure is also helpful because you can scroll back and look at hard data trends, such as when a tachycardia might be 'warming up', or to see if anything was missed on a report. We have had some very good luck detecting new-onset atrial fibrillation with this monitoring as well." Another noted benefit has been enhanced patient compliance, resulting from the lightweight, ergonomic construction of the one-piece MoMe Kardia monitor. Patients have indicated that they are able to wear the device comfortably during the course of their monitoring period, which enables the physician to collect all the data needed to make an effective diagnosis. "I've used a different heart monitor before that was so bulky and frustrating that I couldn't complete my doctor's request to wear it for two weeks," said K. Yost, a patient recently monitored with MoMe Kardia. "I'm so thankful that this time I was given the MoMe Kardia monitor, because it was both comfortable and effective. Many times I forgot I even had it on, and I credit it with providing the answers that allowed me to get proper treatment so that I can now be back to my normal activities." Additionally, InfoBionic believes that its SaaS-based solution positions practices to better adapt to and compete in a value-based system. "Our model allows the practice without adding additional staff resources to be the place of service instead of relying on a third party, creating a significant reimbursement advantage," said Stuart Long, CEO of InfoBionic. "The practice can bill for both the professional and technical portion of service, while eliminating the redundant processes currently experienced when using a third party to provide monitoring services. It simplifies delivery to improve the physician and patient clinical experience, while also transforming the practice's economics. We feel that it is a true win-win-win for all involved, and the incredible adoption we've achieved thus far shows that the market agrees." About InfoBionic InfoBionic is a digital health company focused on creating superior patient monitoring solutions for chronic disease management with an initial market focus on cardiac arrhythmias. InfoBionic's lead product, MoMe Kardia, is the only remote cardiac arrhythmia detection and monitoring system that replicates in-hospital telemetry data, right in the office, by giving physicians 24/7 on-demand access to full disclosure Holter, Event, and MCT data via a HIPAA-compliant portal app. For more information, visit www.infobionic.com. Media Contact: Carla Nieser 610.240.0400, ext. 108 [email protected] SOURCE InfoBionic Related Links https://infobionic.com Providing a personal touchboth in serving their own customers and in guiding their downline team membersis key to the success of every direct sales distributor. Direct sellers are responsible for informing and encouraging their contacts, while also searching for new customers and team members. Many spend their own resources on web conferencing tools to make all this communication as collaborative and personal as possible, and most havent unlocked the personal engagement that high quality video can add to their virtual interactions. With the Zoom video communications platform now bundled with Evo Engage for no additional cost, it's easy and affordable for distributors to keep in touch with their contacts. Zoom video meetings and webinars give them a way to encourage, demonstrate, and educate their teams: Video Meetings are live one-on-one or group meetingsas effective as meeting in a conference or living roomconducted from a distributors computer or device. All participants can freely converse and can share information from their screens. are live one-on-one or group meetingsas effective as meeting in a conference or living roomconducted from a distributors computer or device. All participants can freely converse and can share information from their screens. Video Webinars are live online seminars for larger numbers of people, also led from a distributors computer or device. The designated presenter(s) can speak to the audience and share on-screen information such as slide presentations and video. Meanwhile, the audience can use their keyboards to comment, ask questions, and respond to polls in real time. Distributors welcome the convenience of conducting these activities directly from Evo Engage in a live setting. The Zoom integration adds significant value to Evo Engage and provides additional benefits to the already feature-rich Zoom platform, says Scott Smith, President of InfoTrax. We already see distributors using Evo Engage with Zoom and experiencing growth in their businesses, and that is exciting! About InfoTrax InfoTrax Systems provides a complete suite of products and services essential to building a global direct selling enterprise. Our premier transaction management system includes an innovative direct selling commission engine backed by proven direct selling software infrastructure and services. Our distributor tools provide unparalleled marketing, communication, and reporting functionality for distributors. InfoTrax supports organizations from pre-launch start-ups to international direct selling corporations with millions of distributors. www.infotraxsys.com Contact: Kajsia McCoy [email protected] 801-431-4900 SOURCE InfoTrax Related Links http://www.infotraxsys.com/ LONG BEACH, New York, August 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ipsidy Inc. (http://www.ipsidy.com) (OTC: IDGS), (formerly known as ID Global Solutions Corporation), a provider of secure, biometric identification, identity management and electronic transaction processing services, today announced its results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. Financial Highlights for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2017 Total revenue for the quarter was $0.6 million, compared to $0.3 million for the quarter in 2016. Net loss for the quarter was $8.7 million, compared to net income of $7.7 million for 2016 (The net income in 2016 was driven by a $12.9 million gain on the reduction of the derivative liability). Basic and diluted net loss per share for the quarter was $0.03 cents, compared to basic net income per share of $0.04 cents and diluted net loss per share of $0.02 cents for 2016. Adjusted EBITDA loss for the quarter was $1.6 million, compared to $1.0 million in 2016, as the Company invested in people, infrastructure and technology to support on-going and future operations. Converted outstanding debt and accrued interest in the amount of approximately $6.3 million into approximately 84.8 million shares of common stock. Repaid an additional $0.3 million of outstanding debt, cancelled 3.6 million warrants and cancelled 2.5 million shares of the Company's common stock. Secured $7.0 million of additional debt and equity financing. Total liabilities reduced to $4.5 million compared to liabilities of $25.8 million as of December 31, 2016 and stockholders' equity increased to $12.9 million compared to a stockholders' deficit of $13.3 million as of December 31, 2016. The combination of the above events is reflected in the substantial improvement in the Company's balance sheet and provided near-term working capital. Refer to Table 1 for reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure). Operational Highlights Announced the appointment of Philip Beck as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive and President and Stuart Stoller as CFO on January 31, 2017 . as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive and President and as CFO on . Continued process improvements to the Company's MultiPay bill pay transaction platform in Colombia . . Continued development of the Ipsidy identity transaction platform Continued development of a digital payment processing platform comprising modules for payment card issuance, HCE, tokenization, and a consumer mobile wallet as well as a merchant acquiring gateway and mobile point of sale, and mobile-commerce, beacon marketing and loyalty products. "Ipsidy is redefining identity as a transaction so that it can be managed as easily and securely as a payment transaction," said Philip Beck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ipsidy. "We are enabling our identity transaction platform to provide our customers with reimagined solutions that let a user authenticate their identity to their own device. Our platform facilitates the processing of diverse electronic transactions, be they payments, votes, or physical or digital access, embedded with the participant's identity." In a world that is increasingly digital and mobile, but also fraught with account breaches and stolen identity information, our vision is to offer solutions that provide pre-transaction verification of identity as well as embed identity verification within every electronic transaction message processed through our platform, or other electronic systems. We believe that it is essential that businesses and consumers know who is on the other side of an electronic transaction and have an audit trail, proving that the identity of the other party was duly verified. Ipsidy is therefore developing solutions intended to provide our customers with the next level of transaction security, control and certainty operating in both physical and digital environments leveraging mobile eco-systems. We are building upon our existing capabilities in biometric identification and multi-factor identity management solutions to develop an identity transaction platform for our customers. The platform enables mobile users to easily authenticate their identity to a mobile phone or portable device of their choosing (as opposed to other identity solutions requiring dedicated hardware). Our system allows participants to complete transactions with a digitally signed authentication response, including the underlying transaction data and embedded attributes of the participant's identity, accessible to the business. Our strategy is to leverage our identity transaction platform to support a variety of vertical markets. These vertical markets include but are not limited to border security, public safety, public transportation, enterprise security, electronic payments transactions and banking. In addition, our platform is designed to be highly available and language agnostic thereby accessible to customers around the world. We believe that the various technologies that Ipsidy is developing and has acquired can be combined into a unified offering. Ipsidy's digital mobile wallet application, or electronic account holder, will contain different services and accounts that enable users to conveniently and securely authenticate and authorize a variety of electronic transactions, using their identity. For example, our closed-loop payment account and digital issuance platform is intended to offer secure and cost-effective methods of conversion of cash and paper to electronic payments. Consumers accessing this system, using their mobile phones, electronic devices, or smart card payment tokens will be able to participate in the digital economy thereby facilitating financial inclusion for the un-banked and under banked population around the globe. Another example is for consumers and employees to use their mobile application to verify identity, in order to access secure, digital or physical environments. Additional analysis of the Company's performance can be found in 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' included in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended March 31, 2017 filed at http://www.sec.gov and posted on the Company's investor relations website. About Ipsidy: Ipsidy is a provider of secure, biometric identification, identity management and electronic transaction processing services. Ipsidy is headquartered in New York and has operating subsidiaries: MultiPay in Colombia http://www.multipay.com.co and Cards Plus in South Africa. http://www.cardsplus.co.za. In a world that is increasingly digital and mobile, our vision is to enable solutions that provide pre-transaction verification of identity as well as embed identity verification within every electronic transaction message processed through our platform, or other electronic systems. We believe that it is essential that businesses and consumers know who is on the other side of an electronic transaction and have an audit trail, proving that the identity of the other party was duly verified. We are therefore developing solutions intended to provide our customers with the next level of transaction security, control and certainty. Further information on Ipsidy can be found at http://www.ipsidy.com or contact us at [email protected]. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Information contained in this announcement may include "forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical facts included herein, including, without limitation, those regarding the financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations of both Ipsidy and its business partners, net revenue, net income, Adjusted EBITDA, diluted earnings per share, future service launches with customers and new initiatives and customer pipeline are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions regarding Ipsidy present and future business strategies, and the environment in which Ipsidy expects to operate in the future, which assumptions may or may not be fulfilled in practice. Implementation of some or all of the new services referred to is subject to regulatory or other third party approvals. Actual results may vary materially from the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risk factors, including the risk that implementation, adoption and offering of the service by customers, consumers and others may take longer than anticipated, or may not occur at all; changes in laws, regulations and practices; changes in domestic and international economic and political conditions and others. Additional risks may arise with respect to commencing operations in new countries and regions, of which Ipsidy is not fully aware at this time. See the Company's Annual Report Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2016 filed at http://www.sec.gov for other risk factors which investors should consider. These forward-looking statements speak only as to the date of this announcement and cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Ipsidy expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any changes in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Non-GAAP Financial Information. The Company provides certain non-GAAP financial measures in this statement. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, when viewed with our results under GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations, provides useful information about our period-over-period results. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because management believes it provides additional information with respect to the performance of our fundamental business activities and is also frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of comparable companies. We also rely on Adjusted EBITDA as a primary measure to review and assess the operating performance of our company and our management team in connection with our executive compensation. These non-GAAP key business indicators, which include Adjusted EBITDA, should not be considered replacements for and should be read in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures. We define Adjusted EBITDA as GAAP net loss adjusted to exclude: (1) interest expense, (2) interest income, (3) provision for income taxes, (4) depreciation and amortization, (5) stock-based compensation expense (5) derivative income (expense) and (6) certain other items management believes affect the comparability of operating results. Please see "Adjusted EBITDA" below for more information and for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Table 1 Reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA Quarter Ended March 31, 2017 2016 Net Loss $ (8,669,092) $ (7,692,510) Interest Expense 604,015 926,752 Conversion of debt, etc. 4,106,651 - Gain on derivative liability - (12,941,663) Depreciation and amortization 109,534 147,052 Taxes - - Stock compensation 2,294,160 3,214,732 Adjusted EBITDA $ (1,554,732) $ (960,617) IPSIDY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS March 31, December 31, 2017 2016 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash $ 4,946,012 $ 689,105 Accounts receivable, net 112,634 138,359 Current portion of net investment in direct financing lease 48,734 44,990 Inventory 147,816 150,679 Other current assets 388,200 166,479 Total current assets 5,643,396 1,189,612 Property and Equipment, net 268,386 115,682 Other Assets 693,872 358,343 Intangible Assets, net 3,388,149 3,474,291 Goodwill 6,736,043 6,736,043 Net investment in direct financing lease, net of current 658,877 674,015 Total assets $ 17,388,723 $ 12,547,986 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 2,089,020 $ 1,687,900 Convertible notes payable, net - 250,000 Derivative liability - 8,388,355 Capital lease obligation, current portion 25,071 - Notes payable, net, current portion 45,646 109,819 Deferred revenue 255,657 398,680 Total current liabilities 2,415,394 10,834,754 Long-term Liabilities: Convertible notes payable, net, less current maturities - 2,245,596 Notes payable, net, less current maturities 1,943,526 3,051,603 Capital lease obligation, net of current portion 136,379 Derivative liability, net of current portion - 9,668,276 Total long-term liabilities 2,079,905 14,965,475 Total liabilities 4,495,299 25,800,229 Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity (Deficit): Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 344,093,411 and 234,704,655 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 34,409 23,470 Additional paid in capital 70,952,037 35,341,669 Stock subscription receivable (830,000) - Accumulated deficit (57,595,085) (48,925,993) Accumulated comprehensive income 332,063 308,611 Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 12,893,424 (13,252,243) Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) $ 17,388,723 $ 12,547,986 IPSIDY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the three months ended March 31, 2017 2016 Revenues: Products and services $ 565,545 $ 320,746 Lease income 19,144 - Total revenues, net 584,689 320,746 Operating Expenses: Cost of Sales 149,129 118,110 General and administrative 4,255,382 4,392,886 Research and development 28,948 29,072 Depreciation and amortization 109,534 103,079 Total operating expenses 4,543,115 4,643,147 Loss from operations (3,958,422) (4,322,401) Other Income (Expense): (Loss) gain on derivative liability (452,146) 12,941,663 Gain on extinguishment of debt 2,802,235 - (Loss) on conversion of debt (5,978,643) - (Loss) on modification of warrant(s) (158,327) - (Loss) on modification of derivatives (319,770) - Interest expense (604,015) (926,752) Other income (expense), net (4,710,666) 12,014,911 Income loss before income taxes (8,669,092) 7,692,510 Income Taxes - - Net (loss) $ (8,669,092) $ 7,692,510 Net (loss) income per share - Basic $ (0.03) $ 0.04 Net (loss) income per share - Diluted $ (0.03) $ (0.02) Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic 295,596,151 210,816,797 Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted 295,596,151 270,712,051 IPSIDY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the three months ended March 31, 2017 2016 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING: Net loss $ (8,669,092) $ 7,692,510 Adjustments to reconcile net loss with cash used in operations: Depreciation and amortization expense 109,534 103,079 Stock-based compensation 2,294,160 3,214,732 Common stock issued for services 42,376 270,000 Amortization of debt discount 235,985 655,817 Amortization of debt issuance costs 268,954 167,700 Loss (gain) on derivative liability 452,146 (12,941,663) Gain on extinguishment of notes payable (2,802,235) - Loss on modification of derivatives 319,770 - Loss on modification of warrants 158,327 - Loss on conversion of debt 5,978,643 - Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 25,725 731,004 Lease receivable 11,394 - Other current assets (226,174) (32,200) Inventory 2,863 (74,261) Accounts payable and accrued expenses 736,535 (284,877) Deferred revenue (143,012) (70,116) Net cash flows from operating activities (1,204,101) (568,275) CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING: Purchase of property and equipment (4,563) (11,307) Investment in other assets including work in process (343,655) (20,157) Cash acquired in acquisitions - 419,042 Net cash flows from investing activities (348,218) 387,578 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING: Proceeds from issuance of notes payable and common stock 3,000,000 100,000 Payment of debt issuance cost (86,331) - Proceeds from sale of common stock 2,880,710 - Principal payments on capital lease obligations (1,957) Principal payments on notes payable (14,173) (16,372) Net cash flows from financing activities 5,778,249 83,628 Effect of foreign currencies 30,977 57,229 Net Change in Cash 4,256,907 (39,840) Cash, Beginning of Period 689,105 349,873 Cash, End of Period $ 4,946,012 $ 310,033 Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: Cash paid for interest $ - $ - Cash paid for income taxes $ - $ - Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities: Issuance of common stock for conversion of debt and related interest $ 21,609,673 $ 21,122 Issuance of common stock for debt issuance costs $ 224,460 $ 76,000 Reclassification of derivatives upon removal of price protection in warrants $ 7,614,974 $- Reclassification of derivative liabilities upon conversion into common stock $ - $ 316,734 Acquisition of equipment due to a capital lease $ 163,407 $ - Acquisition of FIN Holdings (2016): Issuance of common stock as consideration $ - $ 9,000,000 Assumed liabilities - 914,218 Inventory - (112,408) Accounts receivable - (311,867) Property and equipment - (100,339) Intangible assets - (8,970,562) Cash acquired $ - $ 419,042 Contacts: Ipsidy Inc. +1-407-951-8640 Philip D. Beck, Chairman, CEO & President [email protected] Stuart P. Stoller, CFO [email protected] SOURCE Ipsidy Inc. Turkish Cargo continues to prove its service quality to customers in 120 countries of the world by receiving Accreditation of Qualified Enviromental Suppliers (QEP) from more thermally controlled container provider Envirotainer for five different stations as well as Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST), which is the carriers motion hub. Turkish Cargo, together with Istanbul now has the credibility of managing Envirotainer containers and cold chain shipments at Frankfurt (FRA), Tel Aviv (TLV), Seoul (ICN), Bombay (BOM) and Hyderabad (HYD) stations. Turkish Cargo, which will deliver medical products that require cold chain transportation to the world's largest pharmaceutical companies in six acreditic stations, will also be able to increase the current business potential. Turkish Cargo demonstrates its credibility in handling Envirotainer containers and cold chain shipments. Envirotainers QEP Accreditation is proof of our reliability within the temperature-controlled freight industry, and the result of hard work and dedication to our customers. We are proud to receive this acknowledgement and are determined to keep performing at an industry leading standard, said Turkish Cargo Special Cargo Chairman Seref Kazanc. Turkish Cargo Pharmaceutical is a premium, quality-driven service that the healthcare industry can rely on when shipping healthcare products, said Chris Fore, Compliance Manager of Envirotainer. I am especially pleased to recognize Turkish Cargo as a Qualified Envirotainer Provider. Bourji Mourad, Global Head of Partner Management of Envirotainer, said, This accreditation is another positive step forward with our Partner Turkish Cargo. Our mutual pharma customers and forwarders around the globe can benefit from such development since everyone in the supply chain needs to mitigating risks when handling such vital products. Turkish Cargos special product dedicated to handling pharmaceuticals and life science products, growing its services to more than 300 locations throughout Turkish Cargos international network. Turkish Cargo has been handling Envirotainer containers since 2015, enhancing the quality of shipments to the worlds largest pharmaceuticals companies. PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Janrain, the company that pioneered the Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) category and market leader in Privacy by Design, today announced the hiring of Alan Elliot to serve as the company's vice president of worldwide sales and alliances. Elliot brings more than 25 years of senior-level experience selling to Global 1,000 companies on behalf of identity management, marketing technology, and most significantly cybersecurity enterprisesan extensive and diversified background that aligns well with Janrain's core offerings and a needed shift in focus around security. Elliot will lead Janrain's global efforts to strengthen its leadership position in a market that is expected to see triple-digit growththe Identity and Access Management market will grow to $14.82 billion by 2021, according to MarketsandMarkets. CIAM sits at the axis point where cloud computing enabled identity will scale digital application development time-to-value, marketing technology effectiveness, data and analytics ROI, and an improved ability to secure the consumer's most important asset--their customer identity. Global brands need a way to provide their customers a secure and seamless experience across all digital channels, including traditional web and mobile, as well as the many new internet-connected "things" proliferating in the mainstream marketplace. Moreover, brands need a way to get to know their consumers deeply in a way that adheres to tighter privacy and data governance restrictions worldwide, so that they can continue to drive deeper engagement without incurring massive penalties. "In 2009, analysts were defining cloud computing. Now the global 3000 are all driving a cloud-first strategy," said Elliot. "In 2017, I believe these same companies are becoming 'identity-first', embracing a consumer identity strategy that makes CIAM indispensable in our highly digital and connected world. Janrain was first to market with CIAM and continues to offer the best identity solutions for enterprises that seek scalability with the cloud, higher levels of security, and mission-critical capabilities." Janrain pioneered the CIAM category in 2002 and today provides an easy multichannel experience for 1.5 billion online customer accounts on behalf of more than 3,500 companies, including Pfizer, Samsung, Whole Foods, Consumer Reports, Hershey's, McDonald's, Philips, Marvel and Dr Pepper. Prior to joining Janrain, Elliot served as senior vice president of worldwide sales at cybersecurity software company PAS. This followed leading North and Latin America sales as vice president of sales for Fidelis Cybersecurity. He has also held sales leadership positions for APAC and Latin America markets for Proofpoint, a provider of SaaS and on-premises solutions for email security, archiving and data loss prevention, and Critical Path, a collaboration and identity management software company. "Janrain has the tools to help brands navigate the tightrope of delivering a painless, highly personalized digital experience in an increasingly strict regulatory environment, and Alan Elliot has the unique skillset needed to turn this into value for enterprises," said Jim Kaskade, CEO of Janrain. "We look forward to benefitting from his security focus, coupled with his well-rounded experience including marketing technology and identity management." About Janrain Founded in 2002, Janrain pioneered Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) and is widely recognized by industry analysts as a global CIAM leader. The Janrain Identity Cloud provides identity management, security and activation solutions that enable seamless and safe customer experiences across their digitally connected world, while providing enterprise organizations with deep customer insights. Janrain's identity capabilities include social and traditional login and registration, single sign-on, customer profile data storage and management, customer segments, customer insights and engagement solutions. The company powers brands like Pfizer, Samsung, Whole Foods, Fox News, Philips, McDonald's and Dr Pepper. Janrain is based in Portland, Oregon, with offices in London, Paris and Silicon Valley. For more information, please visit www.janrain.com and follow @janrain. Media Contact: Chris Blake MSR Communications Phone: 1-415-989-9000 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Janrain Related Links http://www.janrain.com NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Round features renewed participation from previous Jetty seed investors: Ribbit Capital, SV Angel, BoxGroup, and Red Swan Digitally-native novel suite of finance and insurance products redefines the process of renting a home Helps renters easily meet expensive or complex landlord requirements, such as posting an expensive security deposit, finding a lease guarantor, and obtaining renters insurance coverage Enables landlords to quickly qualify tenants, decrease unit vacancies, manage risk, and generate additional revenue Munich Re relationship provides unparalleled portfolio strength and quality State National relationship enables rapid scalability and capital efficiency Jetty, the financial services company that designs products and solutions to help people navigate the obstacle course of life, today announced that it has closed a $11.5 million Series A round of financing, led by Valar Ventures, the New York-based fund backed by Peter Thiel and known for its FinTech focus. The round featured renewed participation from original Jetty seed investors, including Ribbit Capital, SV Angel, BoxGroup, and Red Swan. Jetty's initial product suite, offered in combination or a la carte, focuses on solving the problems both consumers and landlords experience during a home rental process. Jetty Passport Deposit, Jetty Passport Lease, and Jetty Renters Insurance products empower consumers to easily meet the requirements of posting an expensive security deposit, finding a lease guarantor, and obtaining renters insurance. The novel combination of Jetty Passport Products with Jetty Renters Insurance offers both sides of the rental equation the most comprehensive solution to renting and protecting a home. The Company offers an unparalleled experience in terms of speed, convenience, and results, at a fraction of traditional costs and with vastly-reduced complexity. The Jetty Renters Insurance product is designed to address the realities and risks inherent to modern life. Through Jetty, consumers are for the first time able to protect their wine collections, expensive fashion accessories, and personal electronics, as well as to insure themselves from the risks of bed bugs, or theft that may occur during a home-sharing experience. Landlords are particularly taken with Jetty Passport products, which allow tenants to quickly meet their security deposit and lease guarantor requirements; the offering allows landlords to rely upon a single, institutional source of risk management. As of today, Jetty offers all three products in 131 states; Jetty Renters Insurance and Jetty Passport Deposit products are available in California. Jetty Passport Products are available in 25 states; and Jetty is in the process of making the all three products available nationwide by the end of the year. Jetty Co-Founder and President Luke Cohler said, "Part of the inspiration for Jetty stemmed from the experience I had trying to rent an apartment in New York City after a few years living in Brazil. The process was a complete nightmare and I couldn't understand why I had to deal with endless phone calls, faxes and photocopies to do something as simple as pay someone to let me live at their property." Jetty Co-Founder and CEO Mike Rudoy said, "We're not trying to fix insurance just for the sake of it, we're trying to fix real-world problems. As a first step, we've combined existing financial services and insurance products in a new way to create an all-encompassing solution for renters and landlords alike. Looking ahead, we consider the intriguing possibility that building a successful insurance company may not rely upon selling insurance alone." Valar Partner Andrew McCormack said, "Jetty is exciting because they are building new products and providing a beautiful experience for their customers in an industry notorious for commodity products and one of the worst customer experiences a person can have. Let's face it, most people hate their insurance company. Jetty is setting out to change that." ABOUT JETTY Jetty is a financial services company that designs products and solutions that help people reach their life goals faster by removing obstacles and risks. Currently, Jetty focuses on solving the problem of renting a home through a novel offering of financial services and insurance products that solve major headaches for consumers and landlords. Offered in combination or a la carte and accessible over any digital device, Jetty products are widely available across the United States; the Company aims to release its offering nationwide by the end of 2017. Ready to Jetty? Visit us at www.jetty.com 1 For the purposes of insurance products the District of Columbia is counted as a state. PRESS CONTACT Deborah Roth [email protected] Please visit jetty.com/press for more information. SOURCE Jetty Related Links https://www.jetty.com TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Kerr Mines Inc. ("Kerr" or the "Company") (TSX: KER, OTC: KERMF, FRA: 7AZ1) is pleased to announce that it has completed the tender process and has awarded the three key contracts to support the execution of the 2017 Copperstone Mine exploration program and pre-feasibility study. Hard Rock Consulting ("HRC") of Colorado, has been appointed to conduct the Copperstone Mine pre-feasibility study, which is estimated to be completed by Q1 2018. The pre-feasibility study will be the basis for the decision to proceed towards production of the Copperstone Mine. In addition, Godbe Drilling LLC ("Godbe") of Arizona, has been awarded the drilling contract, which includes both the surface and underground drilling programs. DMC Mining Services Corporation ("DMC") of Utah, has been awarded the contract for underground development. The inclusion of the underground development allows the 2017 Copperstone Mine exploration program to access high-priority targets previously unavailable. HRC is recognized for delivering expertise and providing value added service directly from the highly experienced principals to a variety of mining clients ranging from due diligence to full feasibility studies. This allows HRC to take a hands-on role in providing a cost-effective and prudent move forward strategy. Both Godbe and DMC have extensive experience in their core businesses and share a proven ability to achieve safe performance and deliver excellent results under a variety of conditions. These appointments establish a key milestone in the Company's development strategy by employing strong expertise in engineering, drilling and mine development, in order to advance the Copperstone Mine project towards a production decision. A competitive bidding, evaluation and selection process was carried out by senior management, which led to these awards. "We are very pleased to have completed the process of selection of the engineering, drilling and mine development contractors, enabling Kerr to execute the 2017 Copperstone exploration program and pre-feasibility study. Detailed planning of the program is well underway and contractors are preparing to mobilize," said Martin Kostuik, President, Kerr Mines. About Kerr Mines Inc. Kerr Mines is a North American gold development and exploration company currently advancing the fully permitted past-producing Copperstone Mine project. Copperstone is a high-grade gold project located along the Walker Lane mineral belt in mining-friendly Arizona. The project demonstrates significant upside exploration potential within 12,000 acre a land package which includes a production history of over 500,000 ounces of gold. The Company's current focus is on maximizing Copperstone's potential by defining and expanding current resources and strengthening the mine's economics leading to a production decision. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements, including current expectations on the timing of the commencement of production and the rate of production, if commenced. These forward-looking statements entail various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations, are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such statements. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the Canadian economy; the price of gold; operational, funding, and liquidity risks; the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; and the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks and hazards associated with underground operations. Risks and uncertainties about Kerr Mines' business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials, including its annual information form and MD&A, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedar.com and readers are urged to read these materials. Kerr Mines assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements unless required by law. Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and no stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. SOURCE Kerr Mines Inc. Related Links www.kerrmines.com ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Honeywell (NYSE:HON) announced today that KidSmartz, the abduction prevention program, will now be available in English and Spanish. The new Spanish resources are being released just in time for children heading back to school, which NCMEC cites as a critical time in child safety. A ten-year analysis by NCMEC of attempted abductions and related incidents found that most occurred when children were on their way to or from school. The KidSmartz program focuses on keeping the lines of communication open between parents and children, helping children identify trusted adults and avoid potentially dangerous situations. "We want to stop crimes against children before they happen and education is the key," said NCMEC President and CEO, John Clark. "In the past five years, 15 percent of the missing children reported to NCMEC were Hispanic with many of them speaking only Spanish at home. With these translated resources, we can help protect more children." The KidSmartz program, developed by NCMEC in partnership with Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company's corporate citizenship initiative, uses videos, music and classroom activities to teach personal safety to children in grades K-5. It was the recipient of the 2016 Teacher's Choice Award from "Learning Magazine." The program, focuses on four basic safety rules: Check First Take a Friend Tell People "NO" Tell a Trusted Adult "Safety is one of the most critical areas of focus for Honeywell's corporate citizenship initiatives, and reaching as many families and schools through this program is essential in preventing abduction," said Mike Bennett, president, Honeywell Hometown Solutions. "Offering KidSmartz's resources in Spanish fits our strategy to reach an even greater number of communities where conversations about kids' safety can take place." The KidSmartz materials are available in English and Spanish for free download at www.KidSmartz.org. For more information, visit KidSmartz on Facebook and Twitter. About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Since 1984, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has served as the leading private, nonprofit organization helping to find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation and prevent future victimization. As part of its work as the clearinghouse and resource center on issues relating to missing and exploited children, NCMEC operates a hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted in the recovery of more than 237,000 missing children. NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline, a mechanism for reporting suspected child sexual exploitation, which has received more than 16.5 million reports since it was created in 1998. To learn more about NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.org or see NCMEC on Twitter and Facebook. About Honeywell Hometown Solutions KidSmartz, the "next generation" of Got2BSafe!, is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company's corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com/. About Honeywell Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. SOURCE The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Related Links http://www.kidsmartz.org/ TORONTO, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX: KFS, NYSE: KFS) Kingsway Financial Services Inc. ("Kingsway" or the "Company") today announced its operating results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless indicated otherwise. Management Comments Larry G. Swets, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our segment operating income continued to improve. The Extended Warranty segment recorded another quarter of improved results, which it has consistently demonstrated during the past year. Our Leased Real Estate segment contributed another steady quarter of earnings. And, in the Insurance Underwriting segment, we continue to make progress on the implementation of multiple initiatives under our new insurance management team. "On the other hand, our results this quarter were negatively affected by several non-cash items. We recorded a $2.7 million loss on change in the fair value of our subordinated debt, primarily driven by a reduction in the assumed credit spread used in our valuation model. We recorded a $2.1 million fair value loss for our investment in 1347 Investors LLC, which reflects a mark to market in the Limbach common shares held by 1347 Investors. Our net investment income reflected a $1.0 million loss related to the one-time impairment of an investment held by one of our limited liability company investments. And, we recorded $1.0 million of income tax expense related to contingent consideration benefits arising from our prior business combinations with IWS and Trinity." Operating Results The Company reported net loss attributable to common shareholders of $7.9 million (including a non-cash loss of $2.7 million attributable to change in fair value of debt), or $0.37 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2017, compared to net loss attributable to common shareholders of $0.6 million (including a non-cash gain of $1.1 million attributable to change in fair value of debt), or $0.03 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2016. Following are highlights of Kingsway's second quarter 2017 results. Operating loss reflects the Company's core operating activities, including its reportable segments, passive investment portfolio, merchant banking activities and corporate operating expenses. Operating loss was $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $1.1 million for the second quarter of 2016. for the second quarter of 2017 compared to for the second quarter of 2016. Insurance Underwriting segment operating loss was $0.4 million , inclusive of $0.8 million of unfavorable development for property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses from prior accident years, for the second quarter of 2017 compared to segment operating income of $0.2 million , inclusive of $0.0 million of favorable development for property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses from prior accident years, for the second quarter of 2016. , inclusive of of unfavorable development for property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses from prior accident years, for the second quarter of 2017 compared to segment operating income of , inclusive of of favorable development for property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses from prior accident years, for the second quarter of 2016. Extended Warranty segment (formerly Insurance Services segment) operating income was $0.7 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to segment operating loss of $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2016. for the second quarter of 2017 compared to segment operating loss of for the second quarter of 2016. Operating income attributable to the Leased Real Estate segment was $0.9 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to zero for the second quarter of 2016. for the second quarter of 2017 compared to zero for the second quarter of 2016. Net investment loss of $2.4 million was reported for the second quarter of 2017 compared to net investment income of $1.1 million for the second quarter of 2016. was reported for the second quarter of 2017 compared to net investment income of for the second quarter of 2016. Net realized gains of $0.7 million were reported for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $0.1 million for the second quarter of 2016. were reported for the second quarter of 2017 compared to for the second quarter of 2016. Other operating income and expense was a net expense of $2.8 million , inclusive of $0.9 million of compensation expense related to 2016 activities, for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $1.7 million for the second quarter of 2016. , inclusive of of compensation expense related to 2016 activities, for the second quarter of 2017 compared to for the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted operating loss was $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $0.5 million for the second quarter of 2016. for the second quarter of 2017 compared to for the second quarter of 2016. Book value decreased to $2.17 per share at June 30, 2017 from $2.65 per share at December 31, 2016 . The Company also carries a valuation allowance, in the amount of $13.08 per share at June 30, 2017 , against the deferred tax asset, primarily related to its loss carryforwards. About the Company Kingsway is a holding company functioning as a merchant bank with a focus on long-term value-creation. The Company owns or controls subsidiaries primarily in the insurance, extended warranty, asset management and real estate industries and pursues non-control investments and other opportunities acting as an advisor, an investor and a financier. The common shares of Kingsway are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "KFS." Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenues: Net premiums earned $ 33,518 $ 31,813 $ 66,440 $ 61,240 Service fee and commission income 6,873 5,394 13,435 10,716 Rental income 3,341 6,682 Net investment (loss) income (2,366) 1,072 (1,663) 1,000 Net realized gains (losses) 734 67 1,132 (104) Other income 2,815 2,791 5,630 5,165 Total revenues 44,915 41,137 91,656 78,017 Operating expenses: Loss and loss adjustment expenses 27,468 24,838 53,878 48,335 Commissions and premium taxes 6,475 6,103 12,753 11,701 Cost of services sold 1,291 770 2,595 1,543 General and administrative expenses 11,380 10,826 22,652 20,377 Leased real estate segment interest expense 1,569 3,143 Amortization of intangible assets 289 307 580 602 Contingent consideration benefit (212) (657) (212) (657) Impairment of intangible assets 250 Total operating expenses 48,260 42,187 95,639 81,901 Operating loss (3,345) (1,050) (3,983) (3,884) Other expenses (revenues), net: Interest expense not allocated to segments 1,216 1,108 2,375 2,201 Foreign exchange losses, net 9 4 10 Loss (gain) on change in fair value of debt 2,702 (1,068) 4,591 (3,596) Equity in net loss (income) of investees 145 874 (2,240) 943 Total other expenses (revenues), net 4,063 923 4,730 (442) Loss from continuing operations before income tax expense (7,408) (1,973) (8,713) (3,442) Income tax expense 1,251 26 1,430 52 Loss from continuing operations (8,659) (1,999) (10,143) (3,494) Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes 1,017 1,124 1,017 1,124 Net loss (7,642) (875) (9,126) (2,370) Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries 100 (361) 205 (400) Less: dividends on preferred stock 123 82 244 164 Net loss attributable to common shareholders $ (7,865) $ (596) $ (9,575) $ (2,134) Loss per share - continuing operations: Basic: $ (0.41) $ (0.09) $ (0.49) $ (0.16) Diluted: $ (0.41) $ (0.09) $ (0.49) $ (0.16) Earnings per share - discontinued operations: Basic: $ 0.05 $ 0.06 $ 0.05 $ 0.06 Diluted: $ 0.05 $ 0.06 $ 0.05 $ 0.06 Loss per share net loss attributable to common shareholders: Basic: $ (0.37) $ (0.03) $ (0.45) $ (0.11) Diluted: $ (0.37) $ (0.03) $ (0.45) $ (0.11) Weighted-average shares outstanding (in '000s): Basic: 21,458 19,818 21,458 19,764 Diluted: 21,458 19,818 21,458 19,764 Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share data) June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 (unaudited) Assets Investments: Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost of $57,172 and $62,136, respectively) $ 56,965 $ 61,764 Equity investments, at fair value (cost of $16,699 and $19,099, respectively) 19,441 23,230 Limited liability investments 25,533 22,974 Limited liability investment, at fair value 8,220 10,700 Other investments, at cost which approximates fair value 7,550 7,975 Short-term investments, at cost which approximates fair value 151 401 Total investments 117,860 127,044 Cash and cash equivalents 33,776 36,475 Investment in investee 5,355 3,116 Accrued investment income 893 790 Premiums receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $115 and $115, respectively 30,113 31,564 Service fee receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $276 and $274, respectively 1,408 1,320 Other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $806 and $806, respectively 6,765 4,692 Reinsurance recoverable 569 784 Deferred acquisition costs, net 13,709 13,609 Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $12,894 and $10,603, respectively 114,809 116,961 Goodwill 71,061 71,061 Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $7,761 and $7,181, respectively 88,187 89,017 Other assets 4,539 4,588 Total Assets $ 489,044 $ 501,021 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities: Unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses: Property and casualty $ 45,874 $ 53,795 Vehicle service agreements 2,794 2,915 Total unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses 48,668 56,710 Unearned premiums 40,770 40,176 Reinsurance payable 87 100 Note payable 188,328 190,074 Subordinated debt, at fair value 48,210 43,619 Deferred income tax liability 49,726 48,720 Deferred service fees 37,883 35,822 Income taxes payable 2,352 2,051 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 19,912 20,487 Total Liabilities 435,936 437,759 Class A preferred stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 262,876 and 262,876 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively; redemption amount of $6,572 6,444 6,427 Shareholders' Equity: Common stock, no par value; unlimited number authorized; 21,458,190 and 21,458,190 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively Additional paid-in capital 354,422 353,882 Accumulated deficit (307,328) (297,668) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,467) (208) Shareholders' equity attributable to common shareholders 45,627 56,006 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries 1,037 829 Total Shareholders' Equity 46,664 56,835 Total Liabilities, Class A preferred stock and Shareholders' Equity $ 489,044 $ 501,021 Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures Segment Operating Income (Loss) Segment operating income (loss) represents one measure of the pretax profitability of Kingsway's segments and is derived by subtracting direct segment expenses from direct segment revenues. Please refer to the section entitled "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a detailed description of this non-U.S. GAAP measure. Adjusted Operating (Loss) Income Adjusted operating (loss) income represents another measure used by the Company to assess the profitability of the Company's segments, its passive investment portfolio and its merchant banking activities. Adjusted operating (loss) income is comprised of segment operating income (loss) as well as net investment (loss) income, net realized gains (losses), equity in net (loss) income of investees and merchant banking transaction expenses, net. A reconciliation of segment operating income (loss) and adjusted operating (loss) income to net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 is presented below: (in thousands) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Segment operating income (loss) $ 1,140 $ (599) $ 1,902 $ (994) Net investment (loss) income (2,366) 1,072 (1,663) 1,000 Net realized gains (losses) 734 67 1,132 (104) Equity in net (loss) income of investees (145) (874) 2,240 (943) Merchant banking transactions expenses, net (199) (202) (361) (266) Adjusted operating (loss) income (836) (536) 3,250 (1,307) Equity in net loss (income) of investees 145 874 (2,240) 943 Corporate operating expenses and other (1) (2,577) (1,738) (4,375) (3,575) Amortization of intangible assets (289) (307) (580) (602) Contingent consideration benefit 212 657 212 657 Impairment of intangible assets (250) Operating loss (3,345) (1,050) (3,983) (3,884) Equity in net (loss) income of investees (145) (874) 2,240 (943) Interest expense not allocated to segments (1,216) (1,108) (2,375) (2,201) Foreign exchange losses, net (9) (4) (10) (Loss) gain on change in fair value of debt (2,702) 1,068 (4,591) 3,596 Loss before income tax expense (7,408) (1,973) (8,713) (3,442) Income tax expense (1,251) (26) (1,430) (52) Loss from continuing operations (8,659) (1,999) (10,143) (3,494) Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes 1,017 1,124 1,017 1,124 Net loss $ (7,642) $ (875) $ (9,126) $ (2,370) (1) Corporate operating expenses and other includes corporate operating expenses and stock-based compensation expense. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. Words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "seeks" and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect Kingsway management's current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional Information Additional information about Kingsway, including a copy of its 2016 Annual Report and filings on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, can be accessed on the Canadian Securities Administrators' website at www.sedar.com, on the EDGAR section of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov or through the Company's website at www.kingsway-financial.com. For a current review of the Company and a discussion of its plan to create and sustain long-term shareholder value, management invites you to review its Annual Letter to Shareholders, which may be accessed at the Company's website or directly at http://bit.ly/kingsway2016. SOURCE Kingsway Financial Services Inc. Related Links http://www.kingsway-financial.com NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Kiwi Energy, a retail energy provider of electricity and gas supply services for New York State has partnered with The City Parks Foundation, the only independent non-profit organization that offers programs in parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The partnership promotes sustainability and the environmental education programs the City Parks Foundation offers to the many communities across New York City. It emphasizes the importance of further development in environmental education for future generations of New Yorkers. Founded in 1989, The City Parks Foundation is one of the oldest and largest City Parks organizations in the country, offering a broad range of free arts, sports, and education programs. Their mission is to invigorate and transform city parks into vibrant centers of urban life for all New Yorkers to enjoy. City Parks Education, connects teachers, students, and families by turning parks, schools, and recreation centers into hands-on classrooms for learning. Through their educational programs, students and community members can learn about New York City's complex ecosystem, urban ecology and how to make the environment healthier for the benefit of all living things. City Parks Foundation's Coastal Classroom is a great example of hands-on learning. The program's basis is around teaching New Yorkers about waterways, the species that live in them and the role humans play in these delicate ecosystems. This program also lets students "get their feet wet" in some of New York's coastal hot spots while studying New York City's dynamic, aquatic ecosystem. Students get the opportunity to delve into New York's waterfront and explore the world beneath the waves. Kiwi Energy's partnership with the City Parks Foundation shows its ongoing effort to support organizations that align with its own values of environmental accountability and sustainability. The City Parks Education programs serve as a great learning opportunity for students and communities to develop their environmental education and awareness of urban ecology in New York City. "Kiwi Energy is pleased to partner with the City Parks Foundation and provide support towards Coastal Classrooms. City Parks Education's Coastal Classroom is a unique opportunity for students and provides a foundation for environmental education and awareness. Kiwi Energy is proud to support this initiative," says Richard Booth, President of Retail Operations, Kiwi Energy. About Kiwi Energy Kiwi Energy is an energy retailer dedicated to providing innovative energy solutions for electricity and natural gas supply. We focus on environmentally conscious products backed by friendly and efficient customer service. As a company, Kiwi Energy always prides itself on transparency and its team is always happy to help with any questions about the energy industry or its services. About City Parks Foundation City Parks Foundation (CPF) is the only independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer programs in public parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. At CPF, we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community development, and education programs for all New Yorkers. Our programs and community building initiatives - located in more than 350 parks, recreation centers, and public schools across New York City - reach 425,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks reflect thriving communities. Media Contact: Nikki Clark Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.jpeg image2.jpg image3.jpg Related Links Kiwi Energy SOURCE Kiwi Energy TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Korean Beauty (K-Beauty) has been dominating recently among the 18 to 24-year-old market with leading players like Memebox, Tony Moly & Innisfree offering fun and cheaper alternatives to traditional beauty brands. The 25+ year old demographic however has been slower to respond to the growing K-Beauty trend. A new entrant into the North American beauty space is making some serious inroad targeting the more mature consumers. Saranghae (which means I love you in Korean) recently launched 3 new products that make up 3 steps of their Complete 5 Step Anti-Aging System. Saranghae Firm & Lift Regeneration Cream with 15% Sang Hwang mushroom With over 3,000% growth in the last 12 months, Saranghae is currently poised to become the fastest growing Korean skin care brand in North America. "We've been active in the Korean market place for some time but we're fairly new to North America. Current Korean skin care brands in the US mostly target Asian expatriates or consumers who already know and understand Korean Beauty but we're looking to build relationships with North American consumers that are new to K-Beauty. We didn't anticipate so much demand so quickly. We sold out 3 times in 12 months," says Peter Lee President & CEO of Saranghae. The 3 new products, Saranghae Firm & Lift Cellular Regeneration Cream, Focus Renewal Eye Cream & Deep Radiance Essence & Serum are powered by the Sang Hwang (Phellinus linteus) mushroom, an ingredient with over 1,500 years of history. Popular in most of Asia, many still drink this mushroom in tea form for its supposed anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Koreans call it the "healing mushroom." Asked why Sarangahe would improve on the formulation that already seems to be extremely popular with consumers, Peter Lee responds: "Innovation is part of our DNA. We're constantly looking to improve for greater efficacy and better customer experience. To properly extract and stabilize the Sang Hwang mushroom we worked with the University of Seoul in Korea to create 2 new extraction technologies that took us over 5 years to perfect. It was challenging but I'm sure the results will speak for itself." About Saranghae Saranghae is an innovative & award winning 5 Step Korean Anti-Aging Routine designed to directly address the root causes that lead to unhealthy, damaged and visibly aging skin. Saranghae achieves this in 3 distinct steps: Heal, Regenerate and Protect. For More information on Saranghae visit their website at: www.lovesaranghae.com Consumer Contact: [email protected] 1.855.895.4344 Media Contact: Lauren Greenberg [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg image3.jpg Related Links Facebook Instagram SOURCE Saranghae Related Links http://www.lovesaranghae.com CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Landmarks Illinois, a membership-based nonprofit helping people save historic places that matter to them in their neighborhood, has partnered with the place-based storytelling platform Vamonde to share the inspiring stories included in a recent video project produced in collaboration with Kennedy-King College students. The video project, "People Saving Places: Stories About the Importance of Place," is a series of short films that feature local preservationists telling their own inspiring stories of preserving historic and special places within their communities. From Chicago to Carbondale, four Kennedy-King College students traveled more than 1,800 miles alongside Landmarks Illinois staff throughout the state during their spring semester to capture on film people dedicated to historic preservation and cultural heritage. The Kennedy-King College students created eight short videos on each preservation story. These stories are now part of an interactive adventure called "People Saving Places in Illinois," available for free on the Vamonde mobile app. The adventure uses video, text and images to take users on a multimedia tour of the eight communities highlighted in the Landmarks Illinois and Kennedy-King College video project. "Through digital storytelling, we can showcase the passion behind people saving places and hopefully inspire more people to do the same within in their own communities," said Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. "These stories illuminate why places mean so much to our individual and collective identity and why they are part of what makes a place feel unique and livable." The partnership with Kennedy-King College and Vamonde marks many firsts for Landmarks Illinois. This was the first time the organization collaborated with college students for a video project of this scale. Through Vamonde, Landmarks Illinois is also able to present these stories through a new, fun digital medium that will introduce more people to Landmarks Illinois' mission. "We continue to be pleasantly surprised by this unique collaboration with Kennedy-King College and Vamonde," said McDonald. "Landmarks Illinois was able to demonstrate the power of creative partnerships and the latest technology to achieve and even exceed our objectives. We received great digital content, Kennedy-King College students obtained real-world experience and the Vamonde app made it simple for us to share the stories of people saving places." The Landmarks Illinois Vamonde adventure "People Saving Places in Illinois," is now available for free through the Vamonde app, which can be downloaded on both iOS and Android mobile devices. "Vamonde empowers organizations to make visible that which is invisible," said Anijo Mathew, an Associate Professor at IllinoisTech Institute of Design and the Founder of Vamonde. "By connecting these stories to a physical place, Vamonde helps you understand both the context of the story and why it means so much to these communities. Ultimately, the stories make the most sense when you visit these places, so we encourage you to visit these communities it will completely change your perspective." Landmarks Illinois' video project with Kennedy-King College was made possible with generous funding from Illinois Humanities and the Richard and Julia Moe Family Fund, a fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Marking another first, Landmarks Illinois was among the initial organizations that received a Multiplier Grant from Illinois Humanities, which aims to support collaborative projects. About Landmarks Illinois Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based nonprofit organization serving the people of Illinois. We inspire and empower stakeholders to save places that matter to them by providing free guidance, practical and financial resources and access to strategic partnerships. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org. About Vamonde Vamonde is a highly curated network of storytellers who connect to the cultural explorer through hyper-local adventures. Vamonde empowers organizations like Landmark Illinois to extend their reach into neighborhoods and communities by embedding their stories in physical place. For more information, visit www.vamonde.com. Contact: Kaitlyn McAvoy, 1-312-9221742, [email protected] SOURCE Landmarks Illinois Related Links http://www.Landmarks.org SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical systems, today announced that it has entered into a new credit agreement to refinance its existing credit facilities. The new credit agreement consists of a $1.75 billion revolving credit facility and a $250 million term loan facility. Lear initiated these financing actions to extend the maturity of its existing agreement, increase its financial flexibility and take advantage of attractive market conditions. The revolving credit facility and the term loan facility will mature on August 8, 2022. In addition, the new credit agreement contains revised covenants, providing Lear with greater operating flexibility than its previous credit facility. Lenders under the new credit agreement include JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., HSBC Securities (USA), Inc., Bank of America, Barclays Bank PLC and Citibank, N.A. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding anticipated financial results and liquidity. The words "will," "may," "designed to," "outlook," "believes," "should," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts" and similar expressions identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The Company also may provide forward-looking statements in oral statements or other written materials released to the public. All statements contained or incorporated in this press release or in any other public statements that address operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and its other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Future operating results will be based on various factors, including actual industry production volumes, commodity prices and the Company's success in implementing its operating strategy. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date hereof. About Lear Lear Corporation was founded in Detroit in 1917 as American Metal Products. In 2017, the Company will celebrate its 100th year anniversary. Lear is one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive seating systems and electrical distribution systems (E-Systems). Lear serves every major automaker in the world, and Lear content can be found on more than 400 vehicle nameplates. Lear's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of approximately 156,000 employees located in 38 countries. Lear currently ranks #151 on the Fortune 500. Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan. Further information about Lear is available at http://www.lear.com or follow us on Twitter @LearCorporation. SOURCE Lear Corporation Related Links http://www.lear.com BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Mutual's new proprietary Premier Property Protector all-risk policy can accommodate all of a broker's single carrier and shared and layered property coverage needs with contract certainty. "The Premier Property Protector form blends broad coverage, an intuitive structure and easy to understand language, helping brokers quickly pinpoint, compare and explain coverages, limits and terms and conditions," notes Mike Fallon, president, National Insurance, Liberty Mutual's business unit that provides a range of commercial insurance products and services to brokers handling mid-size and large accounts. "And it is supported by Liberty Mutual's consultative property risk engineers who play an important role in how we underwrite complex risks, identify potential exposures and develop loss mitigation strategies." The new property form continues Liberty's drive to be more comprehensive and solution oriented for its broker partners and their policyholders. The company broadened its fire and natural catastrophe appetite, and enhanced its risk-taking culture where underwriting account teams have the expertise, authority and now the products to help brokers develop property programs that meet the specific coverage and service needs of individual risk managers. Premier Property Protector is currently available in 49 states and pending approval by Texas regulators. More information on the new form is available at https://business.libertymutualgroup.com/business-insurance/coverages/premier-property-protector?extcmp=pr_propertyform. About Liberty Mutual Insurance Liberty Mutual Insurance helps people preserve and protect what they earn, build, own and cherish. Keeping this promise means we are there when our policyholders throughout the world need us most. In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Mass., today we are a leading global insurer with operations in 30 countries and economies around the world. We are the fourth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2016 direct written premium data as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. We also rank 75th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2016 revenue. As of December 31, 2016, we had $38.3 billion in annual consolidated revenue. We employ more than 50,000 people in over 800 offices throughout the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, accident & health, commercial automobile, general liability, property, surety, workers compensation, group disability, group life, specialty lines, reinsurance, individual life and annuity products. You can learn more about us by visiting www.libertymutualinsurance.com. CONTACT: Richard Angevine, 617-833-0926, [email protected] SOURCE Liberty Mutual Related Links http://www.libertymutualinsurance.com PLYMOUTH, Mich., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan-based Loc Performance Products, Inc. (Loc) has been awarded a $417 million defense contract to restore lost mobility to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command issued the contract as a follow-on effort to its $161 million dollar contract awarded in 2014. Together, they represent the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle Engineering Change Proposal One (ECP-1) production and fielding program. Loc began fielding in the summer of 2015 and continues today at a rate of 36 vehicles per month. The new contract award includes scope for fielding upgraded Bradley final drive systems, in addition to the suspension and track systems being upgraded under the original 2014 contract. It also includes scope for fielding at Army fort locations in Kuwait, Germany and South Korea in addition to numerous sites within the continental United States. The follow-on award adds 2,264 vehicles to the 1,080 vehicles from the original contract, bringing the total to 3,344 in the United States' global Bradley fleet. "This award validates Loc as the Best Value provider of suspension, driveline and track systems for combat tracked vehicles. The Army is driving hundreds of millions of dollars out of the system for upgrades like this through competition. Loc is well positioned to win and deliver on competitive solicitations like this Bradley ECP1 program," said Lou Burr, President, Loc Performance. Jason Atkinson, Loc's Chief Operating Officer said, "Loc has built its sound reputation through decades of winning business competitively and exceeding performance to contract, including business for commercial customers such as Caterpillar and General Electric where we compete on a global scale. Loc is able to support the warfighter through this ECP1 effort to obtain more capability at significantly lower prices. The funds freed up through Loc's competitive cost structure allow reallocation of funds to other warfighter needs." Chad Darr, Loc's Chief Program Officer said, "A key success factor for winning this award is Loc's pro-active management approach for executing its programs. This approach has allowed Loc to be at or ahead of schedule at all times, to accelerate when the Army requested it and to save the Army an additional $5,000 per vehicle by refurbishing removed suspension arms into their updated configuration." To learn more about Loc Performance Products, Inc., visit http://www.locperformance.com Loc Performance Products, Inc. provides full services for complex mechanical products, fabricated structures and systems that range from complete design services to prototype manufacturing, testing, production launch, full rate production and product service and sustainment. Loc provides quality products at affordable prices through a lean organizational structure and two Michigan based manufacturing facilities that span 580,000 square feet. The Plymouth facility serves as corporate headquarters and specializes in suspension, driveline and track systems and the Lansing facility specializes in fabrications and armor product solutions. Contact: Tom Lietz, MessageMakers, 517-482-3333 ext. 101 SOURCE Loc Performance Products, Inc. Related Links http://www.locperformance.com STAINES-UPON-THAMES, United Kingdom, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017. Unless otherwise noted, all comparisons are to the prior year comparable three-month and six-month periods ended June 24, 2016. Net sales were $824.5 million in the second quarter, down 4.9%, or 4.6% on a constant-currency basis. GAAP gross profit was $416.1 million with gross profit as a percentage of net sales of 50.5%, compared with 56.4%, impacted by continued pricing pressure within the Specialty Generics segment. Adjusted gross profit was $591.9 million, compared with $666.0 million. Adjusted gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 71.8% versus 76.9%. "Mallinckrodt delivered another solid quarter, executing against our strategy to become a high-performing, specialty pharmaceutical company," said Mark Trudeau, Chief Executive Officer and President, Mallinckrodt. "We have made notable progress this quarter in advancing our organic pipeline in Specialty Brands and Specialty Generics. In addition, most recently we announced our planned acquisition of InfaCare and its new chemical entity stannsoporfin, a unique drug in late-stage development for treatment of severe hyperbilirubinemia, or jaundice, in newborns." "Mallinckrodt continues to build a differentiated, durable portfolio of branded therapies and with this addition, in particular, we are further benefiting fragile pediatric patients and the healthcare system today and in the future," Trudeau concluded. GAAP selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $232.1 million, compared with $224.9 million, representing 28.2% and 26.0% of net sales, respectively. Adjusted SG&A expenses were $226.3 million or 27.4% of net sales, compared with $226.6 million or 26.1%. Research and development expenses in the second quarter were $69.2 million or 8.4% of net sales, compared with $74.8 million or 8.6%. Income tax benefit was $40.1 million versus $98.1 million, resulting in GAAP effective tax rates of negative 131.5% and 124.8%, respectively. The adjusted effective tax rate was 15.0% in the second quarter compared with 17.2%. GAAP diluted earnings per share results from continuing operations were $0.72 in the second quarter compared with $1.62. The reduction in earnings per share from continuing operations reflects continued weakness in the Specialty Generics business impacting both net sales and gross margin, partially offset by $6.6 million of gain in other income related to debt repurchases. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.85 versus $2.03. Six-Month Fiscal 2017 Results Net sales were $1.635 billion, down 2.8% compared with $1.682 billion. The decrease came primarily from continued pressure in the Specialty Generics segment. On a GAAP basis, income from continuing operations was $99.5 million, compared with $275.2 million. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.98 compared with $2.48, reflecting the impact of various transactions including legal settlements and defined benefit pension termination expenses, offset by a gain on the divesture of the Intrathecal Therapy business. On an adjusted basis, adjusted net income was $356.4 million, compared with $424.6 million. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $3.52, compared with $3.83. The company is reiterating its adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance of $7.40 to $8.00 for fiscal 2017. BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS Specialty Brands Segment Net sales for the Specialty Brands segment were $594.5 million in the second quarter, compared with $589.3 million, or an increase of 0.9%, or 1.2% on a constant-currency basis. H.P. Acthar Gel net sales were $319.4 million in the second quarter period, a 7.1%2 increase over $298.3 million. INOMAX (nitric oxide) gas, for inhalation, generated net sales of $125.5 million, up 3.6%2 over $121.1 million. OFIRMEV (acetaminophen) injection net sales were $75.7 million compared with $70.7 million, an increase of 7.1%2. Net sales of the Therakos immunology platform were $51.2 million compared with $52.5 million, a decrease of 2.5%; an increase of 1.2% on a constant-currency basis. While the kit supply issue was resolved in the first quarter, the company underestimated the complexity of the conversion from the XTS to Cellex devices, resulting in lower than anticipated net sales. These transitional issues will likely continue for the next several quarters; however, longer term the company believes the product will return to its normal expected growth range. Specialty Generics Segment Net sales in the second quarter decreased 18.0% to $216.0 million, compared with $263.4 million, better than expectations due to continued solid performance by the active pharmaceutical ingredients products, as well as the segment's other controlled substances and other products categories. On a constant-currency basis, segment net sales declined 17.8%. LIQUIDITY Mallinckrodt's cash provided by operating activities was $319.9 million in the second quarter with free cash flow of $270.9 million. During the second quarter, the company continued share repurchases, buying 2.4 million ordinary shares for $100.7 million, bringing the total shares repurchased in the six-month period to 8.0 million ordinary shares. In addition to normal debt service, the company reduced its accounts receivable securitization by $25.0 million and repurchased $53.9 million in debt during the second quarter, resulting in a $6.6 million gain in other income. The company has repaid $292.8 million in debt during the six-months ended June 30, 2017. Despite the significant capital allocation activities undertaken in the quarter, Mallinckrodt's cash balance increased from the prior quarter to $330.2 million at the end of the second quarter, and its $900.0 million revolver remains undrawn. CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST Mallinckrodt will hold a conference call on Tuesday, August 8, 2017, beginning at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time. This call can be accessed in three ways: At the Mallinckrodt website: http://www.mallinckrodt.com/investors . website: . By telephone: For both listen-only participants and those who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the telephone dial-in number in the U.S. is (877) 359-9508. For participants outside the U.S., the dial-in number is (224) 357-2393. Callers will need to provide the Conference ID of 44423295. Through an audio replay: A replay of the call will be available beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 , and ending at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 . Dial-in numbers for U.S.-based participants are (855) 859-2056 or (800) 585-8367. Participants outside the U.S. should use the replay dial-in number of (404) 537-3406. All callers will be required to provide the Conference ID of 44423295. ABOUT MALLINCKRODT Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. Areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; and analgesics and hemostasis products. The company's core strengths include the acquisition and management of highly regulated raw materials and specialized chemistry, formulation and manufacturing capabilities. The company's Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines and its Specialty Generics segment includes specialty generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and external manufacturing. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com . Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES This press release contains financial measures, including adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted gross profit, adjusted SG&A, net sales growth on a constant-currency basis, adjusted effective tax rate, and free cash flow, which are considered "non-GAAP" financial measures under applicable SEC rules and regulations. Adjusted net income, adjusted gross profit and adjusted SG&A represent amounts prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) and adjusted for certain items that management believes are not reflective of the operational performance of the business. The adjustments for these items are on a pre-tax basis for adjusted gross profit and adjusted SG&A and on an after-tax basis for adjusted net income. Adjustments to GAAP amounts include, as applicable to each measure, restructuring and related charges, net; amortization and impairment charges; discontinued operations; acquisition-related expenses; changes in fair value of contingent consideration obligations; inventory step-up expenses; significant legal and environmental charges; pension settlement charges; recurrent cash tax payments to the IRS associated with internal installment sales transactions; and other items identified by the company. Adjusted diluted earnings per share represent adjusted net income divided by the number of diluted shares. The adjusted effective tax rate is calculated as the income tax effects on continuing and discontinued operations plus the income tax impact included in Mallinckrodt's reconciliation of net income, divided by income from continuing and discontinued operations plus the pre-tax, non-income, tax-related adjustments included in its reconciliation of adjusted net income (excluding dilutive share impact). The income tax impact item included in its reconciliation of adjusted net income primarily represents the tax impact of adjustments between net income and adjusted net income as well as deferred tax benefits recognized upon pay down of intercompany installment notes created by internal sales of acquired intangible assets. Net sales growth on a constant-currency basis measures the change in net sales between current- and prior-year periods using a constant currency, the exchange rate in effect during the applicable prior-year period. Free cash flow for the second quarter represents net cash provided by operating activities of $319.9 million less capital expenditures of $49.0 million, each as prepared in accordance with GAAP. Free cash flow for the six-month period represents net cash provided by operating activities of $222.5 million less capital expenditures of $101.6 million, each as prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company has provided these adjusted financial measures because they are used by management, along with financial measures in accordance with GAAP, to evaluate the company's operating performance. In addition, the company believes that they will be used by certain investors to measure Mallinckrodt's operating results. Management believes that presenting these adjusted measures provides useful information about the company's performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that the company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance. These adjusted measures should be considered supplemental to and not a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company's definition of these adjusted measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by others. Because adjusted financial measures exclude the effect of items that will increase or decrease the company's reported results of operations, management strongly encourages investors to review the company's consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety. A reconciliation of certain of these historical adjusted financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included in the tables accompanying this release. Further information regarding non-GAAP financial measures can be found on the Investor Relations page of the company's website. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements in this document that are not strictly historical, including statements regarding future financial condition and operating results, economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Mallinckrodt's businesses and any other statements regarding events or developments that we believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, may be "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. These factors include risks and uncertainties related to, among other things: general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which Mallinckrodt operates; the commercial success of Mallinckrodt's products; Mallinckrodt's ability to realize anticipated growth, synergies and cost savings from acquisitions; conditions that could necessitate an evaluation of Mallinckrodt's goodwill and/or intangible assets for possible impairment; changes in laws and regulations; Mallinckrodt's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of operations, technology, products and businesses generally and to realize anticipated growth, synergies and cost savings; Mallinckrodt's ability to successfully develop or commercialize new products; Mallinckrodt's ability to protect intellectual property rights; Mallinckrodt's ability to receive procurement and production quotas granted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; customer concentration; Mallinckrodt's reliance on certain individual products that are material to its financial performance; cost containment efforts of customers, purchasing groups, third-party payers and governmental organizations; the reimbursement practices of a small number of public or private insurers; pricing pressure on certain of Mallinckrodt's products due to legal changes or changes in insurers' reimbursement practices resulting from recent increased public scrutiny of healthcare and pharmaceutical costs; limited clinical trial data for H.P. Acthar Gel; complex reporting and payment obligations under healthcare rebate programs; Mallinckrodt's ability to navigate price fluctuations; future changes to U.S. and foreign tax laws; Mallinckrodt's ability to achieve expected benefits from restructuring activities; complex manufacturing processes; competition; product liability losses and other litigation liability; ongoing governmental investigations; material health, safety and environmental liabilities; retention of key personnel; conducting business internationally; the effectiveness of information technology infrastructure; and cybersecurity and data leakage risks. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" sections of Mallinckrodt's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law. CONTACTS Investor Relations Coleman N. Lannum, CFA Senior Vice President, Investor Strategy and IRO 314-654-6649 [email protected] Daniel J. Speciale, CPA Director, Investor Relations 314-654-3638 [email protected] Media Rhonda Sciarra Senior Communications Manager 908-238-6765 [email protected] Meredith Fischer Chief Public Affairs Officer 314-654-3318 [email protected] MALLINCKRODT PLC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited, in millions, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 Percent of Net sales June 24, 2016 Percent of Net sales Net sales $ 824.5 100.0 % $ 866.6 100.0 % Cost of sales 408.4 49.5 377.8 43.6 Gross profit 416.1 50.5 488.8 56.4 Selling, general and administrative expenses 232.1 28.2 224.9 26.0 Research and development expenses 69.2 8.4 74.8 8.6 Restructuring charges, net 0.6 0.1 14.0 1.6 Loss on divestiture and license 2.1 0.3 Operating income 112.1 13.6 175.1 20.2 Interest expense (92.2) (11.2) (95.6) (11.0) Interest income 0.6 0.1 0.4 Other income (expense), net 10.0 1.2 (1.3) (0.2) Income from continuing operations before income taxes 30.5 3.7 78.6 9.1 Income tax benefit (40.1) (4.9) (98.1) (11.3) Income from continuing operations 70.6 8.6 176.7 20.4 (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (7.8) (0.9) 22.6 2.6 Net income $ 62.8 7.6 % $ 199.3 23.0 % Basic earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.72 $ 1.63 (Loss) income from discontinued operations (0.08) 0.21 Net income 0.64 1.84 Diluted earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.72 $ 1.62 (Loss) income from discontinued operations (0.08) 0.21 Net income 0.64 1.82 Weighted-average number of shares outstanding: Basic 98.5 108.6 Diluted 98.7 109.4 MALLINCKRODT PLC NON-GAAP MEASURES (unaudited, in millions except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 June 24, 2016 Gross profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Net income Diluted net income per share Gross profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Net income Diluted net income per share GAAP $ 416.1 $ 232.1 $ 62.8 $ 0.64 $ 488.8 $ 224.9 $ 199.3 $ 1.82 Adjustments: Intangible asset amortization 172.4 (2.3) 174.7 1.77 174.0 (1.8) 175.8 1.61 Restructuring and related charges, net (1) 0.5 (0.4) 1.5 0.02 0.6 (0.7) 15.2 0.14 Inventory step-up expense 2.9 2.9 0.03 2.6 2.6 0.02 Income from discontinued operations 7.8 0.08 (22.6) (0.21) Change in contingent consideration fair value (2.0) 2.0 0.02 4.3 (4.3) (0.04) Acquisition related expenses (1.1) 1.1 0.01 (0.1) 0.1 Intrathecal divestiture 2.1 0.02 Income taxes (2) (72.3) (0.73) (144.3) (1.32) As adjusted $ 591.9 $ 226.3 $ 182.6 $ 1.85 $ 666.0 $ 226.6 $ 221.8 $ 2.03 Percent of net sales 71.8 % 27.4 % 22.1 % 76.9 % 26.1 % 25.6 % (1) Includes pre-tax accelerated depreciation. (2) Includes tax effects of above adjustments as well as the elimination of deferred tax benefits recognized upon pay down of intercompany installment notes created by internal sales of acquired intangible assets. MALLINCKRODT PLC SEGMENT NET SALES AND CONSTANT-CURRENCY GROWTH (unaudited, in millions) Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 June 24, 2016 Percent change Currency impact Constant- currency growth Specialty Brands $ 594.5 $ 589.3 0.9 % (0.3) % 1.2 % Specialty Generics 216.0 263.4 (18.0) (0.2) (17.8) 810.5 852.7 (4.9) (0.3) (4.6) Other(1) 14.0 13.9 0.7 0.7 Net sales $ 824.5 $ 866.6 (4.9) % (0.3) % (4.6) % (1) Represents net sales from an ongoing, post-divestiture supply agreement with the acquirer of the CMDS business. Amounts for periods prior to the divestiture represent the reclassification of intercompany sales to third-party sales to conform with the presentation of the ongoing supply agreement. MALLINCKRODT PLC SELECT PRODUCT LINE NET SALES (unaudited, in millions) Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 June 24, 2016 Percent change Currency impact Constant- currency growth Specialty Brands Acthar $ 319.4 $ 298.3 7.1 % % 7.1 % Inomax 125.5 121.1 3.6 3.6 Ofirmev 75.7 70.7 7.1 7.1 Therakos immunotherapy 51.2 52.5 (2.5) (3.7) 1.2 Hemostasis products 13.5 13.9 (2.9) (0.1) (2.8) Other 9.2 32.8 (72.0) (0.1) (71.9) Specialty Brands Total $ 594.5 $ 589.3 0.9 % (0.3) % 1.2 % Specialty Generics Hydrocodone (API) and hydrocodone-containing tablets $ 23.0 $ 38.2 (39.8) % % (39.8) % Oxycodone (API) and oxycodone-containing tablets 25.1 30.6 (18.0) (18.0) Methylphenidate ER 20.2 24.3 (16.9) (16.9) Other controlled substances 107.7 124.7 (13.6) (13.6) Other products 40.0 45.6 (12.3) (1.4) (10.9) Specialty Generics Total $ 216.0 $ 263.4 (18.0) % (0.2) % (17.8) % MALLINCKRODT PLC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited, in millions, except per share data) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Percent of Net sales June 24, 2016 Percent of Net sales Net sales $ 1,635.4 100.0 % $ 1,682.4 100.0 % Cost of sales 800.7 49.0 768.5 45.7 Gross profit 834.7 51.0 913.9 54.3 Selling, general and administrative expenses 540.2 33.0 434.2 25.8 Research and development expenses 131.4 8.0 132.9 7.9 Restructuring charges, net 17.8 1.1 22.4 1.3 Non-restructuring impairments 16.9 1.0 Gains on divestiture and license (57.0) (3.5) Operating income 202.3 12.4 307.5 18.3 Interest expense (186.4) (11.4) (192.8) (11.5) Interest income 1.5 0.1 0.6 Other income (expense), net 2.5 0.2 (2.0) (0.1) Income from continuing operations before income taxes 19.9 1.2 113.3 6.7 Income tax benefit (79.6) (4.9) (161.9) (9.6) Income from continuing operations 99.5 6.1 275.2 16.4 Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes 362.5 22.2 42.4 2.5 Net income $ 462.0 28.2 % $ 317.6 18.9 % Basic earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.99 $ 2.50 Income from discontinued operations 3.59 0.39 Net income 4.58 2.89 Diluted earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.98 $ 2.48 Income from discontinued operations 3.58 0.38 Net income 4.57 2.87 Weighted-average number of shares outstanding: Basic 100.9 109.9 Diluted 101.2 110.8 MALLINCKRODT PLC NON-GAAP MEASURES (unaudited, in millions except per share data) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 June 24, 2016 Gross profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Net income Diluted net income per share Gross profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Net income Diluted net income per share GAAP $ 834.7 $ 540.2 $ 462.0 $ 4.57 $ 913.9 $ 434.2 $ 317.6 $ 2.87 Adjustments: Intangible asset amortization 345.2 (4.6) 349.8 3.46 347.2 (3.6) 350.8 3.17 Restructuring and related charges, net (1) 1.0 (1.4) 20.2 0.20 1.2 (1.8) 25.3 0.23 Inventory step-up expense 5.9 5.9 0.06 4.7 4.7 0.04 Income from discontinued operations (362.5) (3.58) (42.4) (0.38) Change in contingent consideration fair value (0.2) 0.2 10.6 (10.6) (0.10) Acquisition related expenses (1.1) 1.1 0.01 (2.0) 2.0 0.02 Non-restructuring impairment charges 16.9 0.15 Debt refinancing 10.0 0.10 Pension settlement charge (69.2) 69.2 0.68 Intrathecal divestiture (57.0) (0.56) Income taxes (2) (142.5) (1.41) (239.7) (2.16) As adjusted $ 1,186.8 $ 463.7 $ 356.4 $ 3.52 $ 1,267.0 $ 437.4 $ 424.6 $ 3.83 Percent of net sales 72.6 % 28.4 % 21.8 % 75.3 % 26.0 % 25.2 % (1) Includes pre-tax accelerated depreciation. (2) Includes tax effects of above adjustments as well as the elimination of deferred tax benefits recognized upon pay down of intercompany installment notes created by internal sales of acquired intangible assets. MALLINCKRODT PLC SEGMENT NET SALES AND CONSTANT-CURRENCY GROWTH (unaudited, in millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 June 24, 2016 Percent change Currency impact Constant- currency growth Specialty Brands $ 1,151.7 $ 1,124.3 2.4 % (0.4) % 2.8 % Specialty Generics 454.6 527.8 (13.9) (13.9) 1,606.3 1,652.1 (2.8) (0.3) (2.5) Other(1) 29.1 30.3 (4.0) (4.0) Net sales $ 1,635.4 $ 1,682.4 (2.8) % (0.3) % (2.5) % (1) Represents net sales from an ongoing, post-divestiture supply agreement with the acquirer of the CMDS business. Amounts for periods prior to the divestiture represent the reclassification of intercompany sales to third-party sales to conform with the presentation of the ongoing supply agreement. MALLINCKRODT PLC SELECT PRODUCT LINE NET SALES (unaudited, in millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 June 24, 2016 Percent change Currency impact Constant- currency growth Specialty Brands Acthar $ 591.2 $ 546.7 8.1 % % 8.1 % Inomax 253.9 236.6 7.3 7.3 Ofirmev 149.1 141.8 5.1 5.1 Therakos immunotherapy 102.4 102.7 (0.3) (4.3) 4.0 Hemostasis products 26.6 25.3 5.1 (0.1) 5.2 Other 28.5 71.2 (60.0) (0.1) (59.9) Specialty Brands Total $ 1,151.7 $ 1,124.3 2.4 % (0.4) % 2.8 % Specialty Generics Hydrocodone (API) and hydrocodone-containing tablets $ 53.3 $ 79.0 (32.5) % % (32.5) % Oxycodone (API) and oxycodone-containing tablets 47.2 68.5 (31.1) (31.1) Methylphenidate ER 43.9 48.9 (10.2) (10.2) Other controlled substances 215.1 246.6 (12.8) (12.8) Other products 95.1 84.8 12.1 (0.1) 12.2 Specialty Generics Total $ 454.6 $ 527.8 (13.9) % % (13.9) % MALLINCKRODT PLC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited, in millions) June 30, 2017 December 30, 2016 Assets Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 330.2 $ 342.0 Accounts receivable, net 482.1 431.0 Inventories 339.4 350.7 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 134.0 131.9 Notes receivable 154.0 Current assets held for sale 310.9 Total current assets 1,439.7 1,566.5 Property, plant and equipment, net 940.7 881.5 Goodwill 3,446.2 3,498.1 Intangible assets, net 8,604.7 9,000.5 Other assets 189.9 259.7 Total Assets $ 14,621.2 $ 15,206.3 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current Liabilities: Current maturities of long-term debt $ 519.4 $ 271.2 Accounts payable 113.9 112.1 Accrued payroll and payroll-related costs 92.8 76.1 Accrued interest 54.1 68.7 Income taxes payable 122.0 101.7 Accrued and other current liabilities 460.2 557.1 Current liabilities held for sale 120.3 Total current liabilities 1,362.4 1,307.2 Long-term debt 5,338.5 5,880.8 Pension and postretirement benefits 67.7 136.4 Environmental liabilities 73.6 73.0 Deferred income taxes 2,254.4 2,398.1 Other income tax liabilities 67.5 70.4 Other liabilities 361.1 356.1 Total Liabilities 9,525.2 10,222.0 Shareholders' Equity: Preferred shares Ordinary shares 23.7 23.6 Ordinary shares held in treasury at cost (1,296.9) (919.8) Additional paid-in capital 5,459.7 5,424.0 Retained earnings 917.5 529.0 Accumulated other comprehensive income (8.0) (72.5) Total Shareholders' Equity 5,096.0 4,984.3 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 14,621.2 $ 15,206.3 MALLINCKRODT PLC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited, in millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 June 24, 2016 Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Net income $ 462.0 $ 317.6 Adjustments to reconcile net cash from operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 406.0 419.0 Share-based compensation 31.8 22.1 Deferred income taxes (157.6) (215.4) Non-cash impairment charges 16.9 Gain on divestitures (419.1) (2.1) Other non-cash items 32.4 18.6 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions: Accounts receivable, net (52.6) (17.2) Inventories (8.5) 8.0 Accounts payable (10.7) 4.4 Income taxes 12.5 58.4 Other (73.7) 52.7 Net cash from operating activities 222.5 683.0 Cash Flows From Investing Activities: Capital expenditures (101.6) (84.5) Acquisitions and intangibles, net of cash acquired (169.5) Proceeds from divestitures, net of cash 576.9 3.0 Other (9.9) 4.6 Net cash from investing activities 465.4 (246.4) Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Issuance of external debt 40.0 36.3 Repayment of external debt and capital leases (332.8) (177.5) Debt financing costs (13.0) Proceeds from exercise of share options 3.9 4.9 Repurchase of shares (380.8) (326.6) Other (19.5) (23.0) Net cash from financing activities (702.2) (485.9) Effect of currency rate changes on cash 1.6 2.1 Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (12.7) (47.2) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 361.1 588.4 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 348.4 $ 541.2 1 Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States 2 The as-reported and constant currency growth percentages are identical for H.P. Acthar Gel, INOMAX and OFIRMEV. SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc Related Links http://www.mallinckrodt.com VANCOUVER, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Mason Resources Corp. (TSX:MNR "Mason Resources" or the "Company") reports that Mantos Copper (Bermuda) Limited ("Mantos") has filed an early warning report (the "Early Warning Report") as required by National Instrument 62-103 The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bids and Insider Reporting Issues, regarding the acquisition of common shares of Mason Resources. The Early Warning Report discloses that on August 4, 2017, Mantos agreed to purchase an aggregate of 13,664,757 common shares of Mason Resources (the "Purchased Shares"), at a price of C$0.20 per Purchased Share in cash, for an aggregate purchase price of C$2,732,952 pursuant to a private agreement among Mantos, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited ("Rio Tinto") and Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill"). The Purchased Shares represent all of the shares of Mason acquired by Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill pursuant to the May 9, 2017 spin-out of the Ann Mason project and Lordsburg property into Mason Resources through a plan of arrangement with Entree Resources Ltd. (formerly Entree Gold Inc.). The Purchased Shares collectively represent approximately 17.54% of the 77,911,286 outstanding common shares of Mason Resources (15.74% on a fully diluted basis). The Early Warning Report states that the Mantos investors are Audley Mining Advisors Limited, a special purpose vehicle advised by Audley Capital Advisors LLP, and Orion Fund JV Limited, a company managed by Orion Mine Finance Management I Limited. Audley Capital Advisors LLP and Orion Mine Finance Management I Limited are joint actors with Mantos. The acquisition of the Purchased Shares is aligned with the long term strategy of Mantos to invest in attractive copper opportunities in low risk jurisdictions. Depending on market conditions, Mantos' view of Mason Resources' prospects and other factors considered relevant by Mantos, Mantos may acquire additional securities of Mason Resources from time to time in the future, in the open market or pursuant to privately negotiated transactions, or may sell all or a portion of its securities of Mason Resources. Stephen Scott, President and CEO of Mason Resources stated, "We are pleased that Mantos recognizes the tremendous potential to surface value through an investment in our Ann Mason copper-molybdenum project in Nevada, and Lordsburg copper-gold property in New Mexico. We look forward to meeting with Mantos in the days ahead to better understand their long-term goals for the assets." On July 19, 2017, the Company adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the "Rights Plan") to ensure, to the extent possible, that all shareholders of the Company are treated fairly and equally in connection with any take-over bid or other acquisition of control of the Company. The Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any specific take-over bid or other proposal to acquire control of Mason and Mason is not aware of any such pending or contemplated proposals. A copy of the Rights Plan agreement is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. A copy of the Early Warning Report is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. ABOUT MASON RESOURCES CORP. Mason Resources Corp. is a well-funded Canadian company focused on copper exploration and development in the U.S.A. The Company's key asset is its 100% owned Ann Mason Project an extensive, prospective land package located in the Yerington District of Nevada. The Ann Mason Project hosts two copper-molybdenum porphyry deposits, Ann Mason and Blue Hill, as well as numerous earlier-stage or untested priority targets. The Ann Mason deposit is currently at a PEA level and is among the largest undeveloped copper porphyry resources in Canada/U.S.A. The excellent infrastructure, year-round access, strong community support and clear permitting process are all factors that contribute to making Yerington, Nevada one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world. Mason also holds a 100% interest in the Lordsburg property, an exciting earlier-stage copper-gold porphyry project, located within an historic mining district in New Mexico. Mason's strong financial position and high-quality asset portfolio provide it with a solid foundation and flexibility for growth, by advancing development of Ann Mason towards Pre-Feasibility, introducing one or more strategic development partners, exploring high priority targets or considering strategic acquisitions. More information on Mason Resources can be found at www.MasonResources.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of the Company's future performance and are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies, local and global economic conditions and the environment in which Mason Resources will operate in the future, including the price of copper, gold, silver and molybdenum. Uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, unanticipated costs, expenses or liabilities; discrepancies between actual and anticipated production, mineral resources and metallurgical recoveries; the size, grade and continuity of deposits not being interpreted correctly from exploration results; the results of preliminary test work not being indicative of the results of future test work; fluctuations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchange rates; actions by government authorities; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, royalties and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; the availability and cost of necessary items such as power, water, skilled labour, transportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; and misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. In addition, there are also known and unknown risk factors which may cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources to Indicated or Measured mineral resources; inability to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; future prices of copper, gold, silver and molybdenum; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining government approvals, permits or licences or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; environmental risks; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage; as well as those factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws. SOURCE Mason Resources HOUSTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital holds the No. 2 spot for the third consecutive year as one of the country's top rehabilitation hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospital rankings for 2017-2018. TIRR Memorial Hermann has been included in the prestigious rankings since the report's inception in 1989. "TIRR Memorial Hermann continues to transform lives with innovative, results-driven rehabilitation. We are honored once again to be ranked the No. 2 rehabilitation hospital in the United States," said Carl Josehart, Senior Vice President and CEO, Post-Acute Care Services at Memorial Hermann. "Every patient's rehabilitation journey is unique; our team of experts is committed to providing the best care possible focused around the individual needs and goals of each of the people we serve, anchored in leading-edge research and innovation." In addition to TIRR Memorial Hermann's recognition, specific Memorial Hermann service lines were also honored nationally by U.S. News and World Report, including: And Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery. The prestigious recognition of Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Institute at the Texas Medical Center and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in addition to the rehabilitation services at TIRR Memorial Hermann is evidence of the System's enduring commitment to high quality, exceptional patient care. "I am proud to be part of an organization that is honored nationally, year after year, for delivering exemplary healthcare services to the Greater Houston community," said Chuck Stokes, President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System. "This recognition could not be achieved without the patient-centered work and tireless dedication of our employees and affiliated physicians every day throughout the System. These rankings are a testament to their efforts." The annual U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, now in their 28th year, are designed to help inform and guide patients to hospitals that deliver outstanding care across a number of clinical specialties, procedures and medical conditions. The U.S. News methodologies include risk-adjusted survival and readmission rates, volume, patient experience, patient safety, quality of nursing care and other care-related indicators. "For nearly three decades, we've strived to make hospital quality more transparent to healthcare consumers nationwide," said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. "By providing comprehensive data gathered by analyzing nearly 5,000 hospitals across the country, we hope to give patients the information they need to find the very best care available to them." For the 2017-2018 rankings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. In the 16 specialty areas, 146 hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty. In rankings by state and metro area, U.S. News recognized hospitals as high performing across multiple areas of care. Media contact: Kathryn Williams [email protected] 713.242.2397 SOURCE Memorial Hermann Health System Related Links http://www.memorialhermann.org MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Parallel Technologies, an industry-leading reliable data center and intelligent building solutions company, was selected by Internet, networking, cable TV, phone, data center and managed services, home automation and advertising services provider Midco to design/build its new state-of-the-art data center in Fargo, North Dakota. Construction on the 16,000-square-foot dual-path, concurrently maintainable facility will begin in August and is slated to be operational in early 2018. Built with future expansion in mind, the $12 million data center will host, store and monitor data services for regional and local business customers. The facility will have immediate capacity for 250 cabinets with another 28,000 square foot available for expansion. "With Data Centers in such high demand in the Dakotas, the future-looking design of the new data center demonstrates Midco's commitment to advanced technology and its customers," said Tim Kittila, director Data Center Strategy, Parallel Technologies. "This colocation data center facility will meet the needs of the most sophisticated cloud providers and enterprises and provide the region with capacity to grow and expand economically." Designed and constructed to deliver the exacting reliability requirements for Midco's Data Center customers, the facility is also being built to withstand the weather of the Northern Plains. Additionally, the facility is being built in close proximity to sub-station and power infrastructure and has capacity to provide at least 24 hours of power if there is a catastrophic power outage in the region. "The standards we are building this data center to is a testament to our commitment to our customers to provide the highest level of IT performance and reliability," said Scott Smidt, Vice President of Business Engineering and Operations, Midco. "Through this data center, businesses can have the highest confidence in the protection of their critical data while at the same time interconnecting with local, regional and national providers." For this project, Parallel Technologies is being tasked with the design and build responsibilities specific to the IT infrastructure and data center requirements. Parallel Technology has also been engaged to provide services in support of upgrade projects at Midco's two other data centers in Sioux Falls, SD, and Yankton, SD. About Midco Founded in 1931, Midco is the leading provider of Internet and networking, cable TV, phone, data center and managed services, home automation and advertising services in the Upper Midwest. More than 380,000 residential and business customers count on Midco services in 342 communities in Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Midco will deliver advanced gigabit Internet technology to most customers by the end of 2017. Visit Midco.com to learn more about Midco and how the company gives back to the communities it serves. About Parallel Technologies Founded in 1983, Parallel Technologies has evolved into an industry leader in facilities and IT infrastructure. A single-source provider of complete solutions for reliable data centers and intelligent buildings, Parallel Technologies helps clients define their needs and delivers results through superior engineering and technology. Named to the Star Tribune's list of the "Top Workplaces in Minnesota" in 2016, Parallel Technologies also received recognition from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal as a "Fast 50 Growing Private Companies" in 2007, 2013 and 2015. The privately-held company has 120 employees and is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. with an office in Omaha, Neb. Media Contact: Eva Keiser, APR plural i 612.940.4254 [email protected] SOURCE Parallel Technologies Related Links https://www.ptnet.com -- Collaboration furthers both parties' commitment to advance research and development for neglected diseases -- Agreement focuses on optimizing vaccine process development and formulation and exchanging know-how BILLERICA, Mass., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MilliporeSigma today announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, and its vaccine product development partnership (PDP), Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development (Texas Children's CVD), to advance vaccine research and development for neglected and emerging infections. The collaboration focuses on bringing vaccines through development to efficiently deliver them to societies in need. MilliporeSigma's experts in process development and formulation are working with Texas Children's CVD scientists at Baylor to optimize the vaccine manufacturing process to increase vaccine stability and yield. Initially, these activities are targeting schistosomiasis, a deadly parasitic disease that affects millions of people a year in tropical and subtropical regions. "Our purpose is to solve the toughest problems in life science by collaborating with the global scientific community," said Udit Batra, CEO, MilliporeSigma. "The alliance with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the premier research universities in the world, is the ideal partnership to advance vaccine development and manufacturing. Together, we will support the fight against infectious diseases." The collaboration includes training and exchange of technical know-how in process development and formulation, filling knowledge gaps that exist from research and development to manufacturing, with a focus on neglected and emerging diseases. Dr. Peter Hotez, founding Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the PDP, recently presented on the topic at an Access to Medicine event earlier this year in Darmstadt, Germany. "We are excited to partner with MilliporeSigma in order to advance this important vaccine. Today, schistosomiasis is considered one of the world's most devastating neglected tropical diseases, affecting hundreds of millions of the world's poorest people. We are excited about our new collaboration with MilliporeSigma to advance this lifesaving vaccine," said Dr. Hotez. Dr. Maria-Elena Bottazzi, Deputy Director of Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, said, "The scientific knowledge exchange from this partnership will catalyze and accelerate the product development of much-needed vaccines against the diseases of poverty. It will serve as a framework for capacity building and will establish self-reliance in vaccine development and manufacturing around the globe." This collaboration, together with the recently announced public-private partnership with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (James Cook University, Queensland), the Australian Government's investment promotion agency, and Baylor College of Medicine, furthers both parties' commitment to advancing research in neglected diseases globally. About Baylor College of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine (www.bcm.edu) in Houston is recognized as a premier academic health sciences center and is known for excellence in education, research and patient care. It is the only private medical school in the greater southwest and is ranked 21st among medical schools for research and 8th for primary care by U.S. News & World Report. Baylor is listed 19th among all U.S. medical schools for National Institutes of Health funding and number one in Texas. Located in the Texas Medical Center, Baylor has affiliations with seven teaching hospitals and jointly owns and operates Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, part of CHI St. Luke's Health. Currently, Baylor trains more than 3,000 medical, graduate, nurse anesthesia, physician assistant and orthotics students, as well as residents and post-doctoral fellows. In 2011, Baylor launched the National School of Tropical Medicine, which together with Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development is leading an innovative product development partnership model for the research & development of new vaccines to combat the world's neglected tropical diseases. All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service. About the Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 19,000 employees and 65 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $125 billion global life science industry. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six businesses Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Life Science and Performance Materials and generated sales of 15 billion in 2016. Around 50,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. The company holds the global rights to the name and the trademark "Merck" internationally except for the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. SOURCE MilliporeSigma ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Morgan & Morgan is proud to announce their second annual scholarship for law students. Beginning on September 1st, 2017, the national law firm will be accepting submissions for their "For the People" scholarship. After the overwhelming success of last year's inaugural scholarship, the firm is once again accepting applications from law students for a $2,000 scholarship to be put towards tuition or other education expenses. Law students can apply to the scholarship by submitting a 3-5 minute video or an 800-1000 word essay answering the following questions: "What does standing up for the 'little guy' mean to you? How will you stand up for the 'little guy' as an attorney?" The scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who best demonstrates Morgan & Morgan's "For the People" values of protecting the people, not the powerful, in their submission. The topic was inspired by Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan's philosophy in practicing law, which he summed up in one recent tweet: "Do what is right, not what is easy, nor what is popular #believe." By offering this scholarship to students pursuing a career in law, Morgan & Morgan hopes to give the next generation of attorneys the tools to thrive in their field and most importantly deliver justice to the people. Applicants must be currently accepted or enrolled in an accredited law school in order to be eligible. To apply, applicants can email their video or essay submissions to [email protected]. (For detailed instructions, please visit the firm's scholarship page.) The deadline for submission is December 1st, 2017. The winner will be announced on December 31st, 2017. ABOUT MORGAN & MORGAN Morgan & Morgan, a national plaintiff's law firm fighting for the people, not the powerful, has recovered more than $4 billion for more than 200,000 clients. The firm has more than 350 attorneys in about 40 offices in 11 states. With the support of nearly 2,000 employees, the firm's attorneys represent clients in a wide range of practice areas from personal injury, workers' compensation, and medical malpractice cases to labor and employment, mesothelioma, and product liability lawsuits to national mass torts and class actions. For more information, contact: Laila Keliani / Erika Nedwell Morgan & Morgan, P.A [email protected] / [email protected] 212-738-6254 SOURCE Morgan & Morgan Related Links http://www.classaction.com PHOENIX, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mosaic451, a bespoke cybersecurity services provider and consultancy, is pleased to announce it has appointed United States Marine Corps. Chief Prosecutor Veteran Ray Ramella as General Manager. Ray Ramella will be leading the company's efforts in non-engineering operations including Legal, Finance, and Human Resources. In addition to managing Mosaic451's internal operations, Ray will play a pivotal role guiding our clients through the ever evolving complexity of Cyber Security Governance, Risk and Compliance. Mosaic451 has appointed United States Marine Corps. Chief Prosecutor Veteran Ray Ramella as General Manager. Ray Ramella will be leading the company's efforts in non-engineering operations including Legal, Finance, and Human Resources Ramella is a Marine Corps. Veteran with over 24 years of law experience. In addition to his degree from Creighton University School of Law, Ramella holds a BS in Business Administration. He served as a Civil Law Officer and later as a Chief Prosecutor for the United States Marine Corps. During and after his time practicing law in the Marine Corps, Ramella practiced in private law firms. Following his roles in the private sector, he moved on to the Office of the Arizona Attorney as the Chief Counsel of the Civil and Criminal Litigation and Advice Section, Child and Family Protection Division, which provides legal services to all programs and business operations of the Arizona Department of Economic Security ("DES"). Ramella's family has been in Arizona for three generations and he is deeply involved with legal and pro bono work that impacts US Veterans. Before joining Mosaic451, he operated his own firm, specializing in commercial and general civil litigation, business law, administrative law, employment, environmental and real estate. "We are incredibly appreciative of Ray joining the Mosaic451 team," said Mosaic451 Managing Director Mike Baker. "Mosaic451 is dedicated to providing superior professional services. Having Ray leading our legal, financial, and human resource departments greatly increases our operational efficiency." Mosaic451 recognizes that while adoption of advanced and emerging technology is an important part of sound security strategy, no amount of technology can secure an environment without a strong foundation of smart, experienced, operationally minded humans to design, operate, and optimize the technology. Mosaic Hybrid is an industry first solution, providing specialized staff onsite to work alongside clients' own in house technology and security staff, developing tailored security solutions for its customers. "I am very pleased with my choice to come onboard with Mosaic451. This company does great work and has gone above and beyond to welcome me as a new addition. It will be very rewarding to streamline operations so that Mosaic451 can enhance its engineering first focus and continue to protect some of the most critical networks in the world." About Mosaic451 Headquartered in Arizona, Mosaic451 is a bespoke cyber security service provider and consultancy with expertise in building, operating and defending some of the most highly-secure networks in North America. Its Mosaic Hybrid is an industry first solution, providing monitoring service through its operations centers as well as specialized staff onsite during business hours to work alongside clients' in-house technology and security staff. This hybrid model gives Mosaic451 the unique ability to empower security analysts to provide advanced data analysis and determine threat vectors, threat actors, and intelligent root causes for every incident. Mosaic451 aggregates and empowers intelligent humans in the service of information security and IT operations excellence for our clients. For more information, visit www.mosaic451.com. Media Contact: Lisa Wang, [email protected], 1-888-317-4687 ext. 703 SOURCE Mosaic451 Related Links http://www.mosaic451.com NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), the premier organization focusing on cultural diversity in the communications industry, is expanding its national footprint with the installation of two new chapters NAMIC-Virginia and NAMIC-Detroit. The chapters will be led by Vonya Alleyne, vice president, human resources, Cox Communications, Virginia Region, and Mikel D. Slater, vice president, human resources, Comcast, respectively. "With a membership of more than 3,500 professionals across 18 chapters nationwide, we are dedicated to driving and developing a pipeline of diverse talent," said Eglon E. Simons, NAMIC president and CEO. "Our chapter additions in Virginia and Detroit reaffirm our mission to educate, advocate and empower for multi-ethnic diversity in the workplace." Incorporated on May 31, 2017, NAMIC-Virginia will provide events and programs for communications industry professionals located in the Hampton Roads and Richmond markets, including Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Williamsburg and Newport News. The chapter is also committed to engaging local universities, technical community colleges and local media companies, as well as offering leadership, business and strategic development opportunities to its membership. More information is available on the chapter's website at namicvirginia.com and LinkedIn, as well as @NAMICVirginia on Facebook, and @namic_va on Twitter and Instagram. NAMIC-Virginia's inaugural executive leadership team and advisory council comprise a diverse team of leaders with 100+ years of collective professional experience: NAMIC-Virginia: Executive Leadership Team President: Vonya Alleyne , VP, Human Resources, Cox Communications, Virginia Region , VP, Human Resources, Cox Communications, Virginia Region Vice President: Lakysha Laing , Director, Customer Care, Cox Communications, Virginia Region , Director, Customer Care, Cox Communications, Virginia Region Secretary: Shinese Collins, Sr. Manager, Marketing, Cox Communications, Virginia Region Manager, Marketing, Cox Communications, Virginia Region Treasurer: Kenneth Rand , Business Manager, Cox Communications, Virginia Region , Business Manager, Cox Communications, Virginia Region Project Manager: Lakiesha Jones , Project Manager II, Cox Communications, Virginia Region NAMIC-Virginia: Advisory Council Stephanie Dewald , VP, Sales Centers, Cox Communications, Virginia Region , VP, Sales Centers, Cox Communications, Virginia Region Ramcess Jean-Louis, Director of Workforce Diversity and Inclusion, Comcast JD Myers, SVP and Region Manager, Cox Communications, Virginia Region Kimberly Voxland , Director of Public Relations and Office Operations, Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association NAMIC-Detroit was incorporated on June 12, 2017. The chapter is dedicated to providing innovative professional and leadership development programs and initiatives, and establishing mentoring and professional networking opportunities to the Detroit area. NAMIC-Detroit will also educate, develop, empower and advocate for communication industry professionals and entrepreneurs. Additional chapter information is available on NAMIC's website at namic.com/membership/detroit/. (NAMIC-Detroit website/social media channels coming soon.) NAMIC-Detroit's inaugural executive leadership team and advisory council include the following industry professionals: NAMIC-Detroit: Executive Leadership Team President: Mikel Slater , VP of Human Resources, Comcast , VP of Human Resources, Comcast Vice President: Mark S. Lee , President & CEO, The LEE Group LLC , President & CEO, The LEE Group LLC Secretary: Jackie Underwood , Sr. Director of Human Resources, Comcast Heartland Region , Sr. Director of Human Resources, Comcast Heartland Region Treasurer: Abhijeet Kumar , Manager of Product Sales Support and Analysis, Comcast Heartland Region NAMIC-Detroit: Advisory Council Andrea Agnew , VP of Human Resources, Comcast Spotlight , VP of Human Resources, Comcast Spotlight Pamela Dover , Sr. Director of Business Development, Comcast , Sr. Director of Business Development, Comcast Michelle Gilbert , VP of Public Relations, Comcast Heartland Region , VP of Public Relations, Comcast Heartland Region Maria Holmes , Director of Community Investment, Comcast Heartland Region NAMIC's 18 chapters are the heart and soul of the organization and constitute the most accessible opportunity for members to cultivate the relationships and knowledge to leverage career growth. NAMIC chapters are also learning labs for leadership competencies most sought after in the industry. To join, visit http://namic.com/membership/. For more information on NAMIC, please visit www.namic.com. To stay connected, join the conversation on LinkedIn and follow us @NAMICNational on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. ABOUT NAMIC NAMIC (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications) is the premier organization focusing on cultural diversity, equity and inclusion in the communications industry. More than 3,500 professionals belong to a network of 18 chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that target leadership development, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC collaborates with industry partners to grow and nurture a workforce that reflects the cultural richness of the populations served. Please visit www.namic.com for more information about NAMIC and its many opportunities. NAMIC MEDIA CONTACTS: Wanita Niehaus: 202-643-2765 or [email protected] Brandii Toby-Leon: 865-963-2418 or [email protected] SOURCE NAMIC (National Association of Multi-ethnicity in Communications) Related Links http://www.namic.com NEW YORK, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Neudata Limited has released the much-anticipated Version 2 of its very popular online Neudata Scout digital data intelligence platform. The company provides hedge funds and other institutional investment managers with metadata about the vast array of alternative datasets available toward the goal of selecting and back testing the most appropriate sources for alpha generation. "We listened carefully to feedback from our audience of quantitative investment managers and greatly enhanced the functionality and new features available on the Neudata Scout platform," said Rado Lipus, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Neudata, headquartered in London, UK. "We expanded the navigation and filtering components so that managers can more easily pinpoint relevant data sources for a specific investment universe, or search for specific stocks, products or even brands. Also among the new features, is a robust content management capability for users to add relevant and useful notes. All of this makes it easier for investment professionals to perform critical functions such as discovering, assessing and selecting the best sources of datasets for their particular investment research needs." Many of Neudata's clients log in to the Neudata Scout platform on a daily basis in order to identify the latest alternative datasets and source providers that are continuously being added. Data providers span the universe from early-stage, still below-radar data providers compiling unique data, to established data providers assembling novel datasets for a limited number of investment management clients, to larger 'exhaust-data' providers who often incidentally collect and aggregate less mainstream data that can be incredibly useful to investors. About Neudata Neudata Limited is headquartered in London, with offices in New York City, USA and Geneva, Switzerland. Neudata helps sophisticated investment managers find, evaluate and select new and alternative data sources that can provide unique, timely and granular records of often imperceptible economic activity. Neudata's alternative data expertise lies in uncovering unique datasets from non-conventional sources that are not available on established and commonly used data platforms. Neudata partners with investment managers to help tame big data, uncover overlooked information and focus on global equity, currency, commodity, fixed income and derivatives market intelligence. Visit: http://www.neudata.co You can also follow us on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/neudatalab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neudata SOURCE Neudata TUSTIN, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- New American Funding, a leader in the mortgage industry, has expanded its Midwest territory to include a new location in St. Louis, MO, that will function as a retail branch and regional operations center. The location will celebrate with a grand opening on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 6:00 P.M. CST. Tremendous market growth prompted the mortgage lender to open the new full-service branch, which is located at 12312 Olive Blvd. Suite 240 in St. Louis. Since 2014, the region has grown from generating $42 million dollars in loan volume to a projected $400 million dollars by the end of this year. Senior Regional Vice President, Hamid Hamrah, oversees the branch and has been a driving force behind the market's expansion. "When people see our welcoming environment, they want to join our team; so we're extremely excited for our incredible growth and this prime new location," said Hamrah. "Build the right culture and the right people will come." Hamrah has established a regional team of more than 100 mortgage professionals and plans to continue expanding by growing operations, increasing local sales, and forming strategic partnerships with real estate agents to bring educational resources and workshops to the community. The branch will offer a variety of products from conventional to government loans and looks forward to providing the area with industry-leading close times and high-level customer support. "We're more than a mortgage company, we're a team, and a family with a shared passion of helping people as they achieve their dream of homeownership," said Krista Russo, Area Operations Manager. "Not to mention, our technology is among the most advanced in the industry so we're thrilled about leveraging our innovative mobile resources to continue solidifying relationships with our real estate partners." About New American Funding New American Funding is a national mortgage banker licensed in 48 states with approximately 130 branches that offer a variety of home loan options including: Conventional, FHA, Cash Out, Fixed Rate and Adjustable Rate Mortgages, VA, HARP 2.0, Jumbo, and Reverse Mortgages. The company is a Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae Direct Seller/Servicer, FHA Direct Endorsement, and VA Automatic mortgage lender. SOURCE New American Funding Related Links http://www.newamericanfunding.com DENVER, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A new law that aims to crack down on repeat drunk-driving offenders formally takes effect on August 9th, 2017. Under a recently enacted new law, a fourth-strike DUI offender can be charged with a Class IV felony, receive up to a six-year prison sentence and face $500,000 in fines. Now, a person convicted of a fourth or subsequent offense must serve at least 90 days in jail upon conviction. Colorado DUI Defense Book, by Jay Tiftickjian Denver DUI lawyer Jay Tiftickjian "I applaud the state's effort to make our roads safer. Stricter penalties, however, won't necessarily keep drunk drivers off the road and alleviate the state's DUI problem," stated Jay Tiftickjian, founding attorney for Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C. Colorado is the 47th state to enact a felony DUI law. While the legislation is designed to curb drunk driving, Tiftickjian has stressed that there is no conclusive evidence that a felony DUI law actually deters repeat offenders. Other states that already have felony DUI laws have proven that, he added. "In North Dakota, a state with felony DUI laws for repeat offenders, accidents have increased the most over 50% from 2002-2012. In 2012, Texas and North Dakota states with felony DUI laws for repeat offenders had some of the highest alcohol-related DUI fatalities in the nation. Colorado was below the national average," stated Tiftickjian. "We believe substance abuse and mental health are much more important strategies to combat repeat DUI offenders," stated Tiftickjian. Under Colorado's new law, if a driver is found guilty of a fourth DUI, he or she will be considered a convicted felon and forced to serve: 90 to 180 days in jail with no time off for good behavior. 120 days to 2 years if serving a work release sentence. 48 to 120 hours of useful community service, which may not be suspended. Complete alcohol and drug driving safety education or treatment program at one's own expense. "We certainly believe that Colorado should do something to prevent repeat DUI offenders, but more incarceration is not the answer," stated Tiftickjian. "The state needs to fund the mental health system, and revise the DUI education and therapy curriculum instead of funding prisons." Under Colorado's felony DUI law, prior convictions for DUI, DWAI (driving while ability impaired), vehicular assault, and vehicular homicide all count toward the four-strike felony DUI threshold. For purposes of counting convictions, the law considers not only Colorado DUIs, but drunk driving or impaired driving convictions from any state in the country. To learn more about the new felony DUI law and what it means for Colorado residents, click here. About Jay Tiftickjian: Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C. is a Colorado law firm with a focus on DUI defense, drug related charges and major traffic offenses. Criminal defense attorney Jay Tiftickjian has written numerous books on DUI and drug law, and has been voted "Best DUI Lawyer" in Colorado by the state's official bar journal every year since 2013. Visit us at: https://www.criminallawdenver.com/. Media Contact: Jay Tiftickjian [email protected] 303-991-5896 SOURCE Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C. Related Links https://www.criminallawdenver.com DUBLIN, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The "North America Travel Insurance Market by Distribution Channel: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2016-2022" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. The North America travel insurance market was valued at $4,930 million in 2016, and is estimated to reach $8,165 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 8.8% from 2016 to 2022. In 2016, the single trip insurance cover segment dominated the North American market. The primary driver of the North America travel insurance market is the increase in number of outbound travelers in the region, wherein baby boomers have witnessed highest growth in terms of traveling. Moreover, baby boomers focus on secure travel, thus creating growth opportunities for the North American travel insurance market. Additionally, a notable increase in business travelers would also have a significant impact on the travel insurance market in the region. U.S. is the market leader, accounting for nearly 43% share of the market in 2016, followed by Canada. U.S. dominates the North America travel insurance market, owing to the rise in multi-generational family travel. In addition, higher disposable income of the populace in the country supplements the demand for weekend getaways and trips. From a growth perspective, Mexico is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period. The market growth in the country is attributable to the rise in number of initiatives by Mexican government, insurance companies, and the insurance regulatory bodies to create awareness about travel insurance among the masses and thereby increase the travel insurance adoption rate. By insurance cover, single trip insurance policy is identified to be the most purchased insurance policy. The growth in executive travel for cross border business is a key factor for the adoption of single trip travel insurance policy. However, annual multi-trip insurance segment is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period (2016-2022), owing to the rise in number of number of business travelers and backpackers who opt for annual multi-trip insurance policy. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1. Report Description 1.2. Key Benefits 1.3. Key Market Segments 1.4. Research Methodology Chapter 2 Executive Summary 2.1. Cxo Perspective Chapter 3 Market Overview 3.1. Market Definition And Scope 3.2. Key Findings 3.3. Porters Five Forces Analysis 3.4. Market Positioning, 2016 3.5. Market Dynamics Chapter 4 North America Travel Insurance Market 4.1. North America Travel Insurance Market, By Distribution Channel 4.2. North America Travel Insurance Market, By Insurance Cover 4.3. North America Travel Insurance Market, By End User Chapter 5 North America Travel Insurance Market, By Country 5.1. U.S. Travel Insurance Market 5.2. Canada Travel Insurance Market 5.3. Mexico Travel Insurance Market Chapter 6 Related Industry Insights 6.1. Usage Based Insurance Market 6.2. Cyber Insurance Market Chapter 7: Company Profiles Seven Corners Inc. (U.S.) Travel Safe Insurance (Chester Perfetto Agency, Inc.) (U.S.) Usi Insurance Services, Llc. (U.S.) Mh Ross Travel Insurance Services, Inc. (U.S.) American International Group Inc. (U.S.) Travel Insured International (U.S.) Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (U.S.) Travelex Insurance Services Inc. (U.S.) American Express Company (U.S.) Generali Global Assistance (U.S.) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/v2627n/north_america Media Contact: Research and Markets 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 WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One thousand young African leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., last week for the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit. Representing 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the diverse group of leaders immersed themselves in activities to strengthen their leadership skills and to build connections with each other and U.S. leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Held July 31 - August 2 and hosted by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with support from IREX, the Summit marked the culmination of the Fellows' six-week Academic and Leadership Institutes at colleges and universities across the United States. Fellows now return home to apply the skills they have gained and utilize the networks they have created to enhance peace and security, spur economic growth, and strengthen democratic institutions to the benefit of Africa and the United States. Mandela Washington Fellow Peo Pinkie Sebotho from Botswana commented on collaborating with other Fellows. "We were excited to share our experiences and our dreams for Africa. I made friends, I made business partners. We were planning what we would do together in the future." Mark Taplin, then Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, said: "I don't think of this as just a Mandela Washington Fellows Summit. This may be the biggest gathering all year here in D.C. of the up-and-coming, the leading and creating, the dreaming and doing, the sharing and caring. You are the future in business and entrepreneurship, in civil society and governance of the world's most up-and-coming continent." Wade Warren, then Acting Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development, also addressed the Fellows, calling on them to use the full power of the networks the Fellowship has helped them forge, and to think of challenges as opportunities. Wednesday highlighted U.S. and African perspectives on leadership with remarks from Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation; Dr. Helene Gayle, CEO of McKinsey Social Initiative; Norman Moyo, Author and CEO of New Enterprise Business DPA & CUMII at ECONET; and General (Retired) Richard Myers, President of Kansas State University and 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "I've studied why leaders are successful and I've seen a common thread: legacy. So as young leaders, you must think legacy. You must think long-term. The age you're creating is the age of empowerment," Elumelu declared. In his address, General Myers emphasized courage and risk-taking. "If you're trying to make a difference, you have to persevere. It takes more than a heroic leader to make a difference, it takes all of us," urged Myers. Wednesday also featured a Congressional forum on investing in the next generation of Africa with U.S. Senator from Delaware Chris Coons discussing advocacy, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, human rights, and U.S.-Africa relations. IREX President and CEO Kristin M. Lord notes: "The Mandela Washington Fellowship creates a network of leaders advancing peace, prosperity, and more effective governance. That benefits not only people on the African continent, but forges people-to-people and government-to-government relationships that benefit both the United States and Africa." Photos and videos of the Summit are available online. The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. government and is supported in its implementation by IREX. Alex Cole, Director of Strategic Communications, IREX [email protected] 202-628-8188 SOURCE IREX Related Links http://www.irex.org DENVER, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Oniqua Intelligent MRO, the leading provider of MRO inventory optimization solutions for asset-intensive organizations, today announced it has been awarded Frost & Sullivan's North American Asset Performance Management Solution Oil & Gas Product Leadership Award. "Leveraging its expertise in developing technologically advanced asset performance management solutions, Oniqua's IQ Optimization Suite addresses industry complexities by optimizing the management of critical maintenance spares and materials across the full asset lifecycle," stated Sankara Narayanan, Senior Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. "What largely differentiates the IQ Optimization Suite is that its advanced MRO-specific algorithms and analytics capabilities balance both cost and risk." Frost & Sullivan analysts determine award winners based on a variety of benchmarking criteria in two main categories: product family attributes (match to needs, reliability/quality, product/service value, positioning, and design) and business impact (financial performance, customer acquisition, operational efficiency, growth potential, and human capital). "Oniqua has secured a competitive edge over its peers by providing a solution with prescriptive analytics, multi-dimensional inventory forecasting algorithms, and reporting capabilities that fill gaps in leading ERP and EAM systems," added Narayanan. "Designed as a cloud-based solution specifically for complex, asset-intensive MRO environments, the flexible configuration, interactive dashboards, advanced reporting, and intuitive visualizations clearly enhance the value proposition to its customers. With its strong overall performance, Oniqua has earned Frost & Sullivan's 2017 Product Leadership Award." To support its evaluation of best practices across multiple business performance categories, Frost & Sullivan employs a customized decision support scorecard. This tool allows its research and consulting teams to objectively analyze performance according to key benchmarking criteria, and to assign ratings on that basis. The tool follows a 10-point scale that allows for nuances in performance evaluation. Oniqua scored a lead rating of 9.5 in both the product family attributes and business impact categories, compared to average scores of 8.0 and 7.0 received by its two closest competitors. "We are honored by this award and recognition," said Carlos Fairgray, Executive Vice President Technology & Innovation, Oniqua. "Oniqua is proud to have attained a near-perfect score on each of Frost & Sullivan's customized decision support scorecard criteria. The team's dedication and relentless pursuit of delivering on best-in-class products are making a real difference in the industry. We are pleased our efforts have been recognized by such an esteemed research and analyst firm as Frost & Sullivan." Download a complimentary copy of the award report at http://oniqua.com/sites/default/files/resources/frostsullivanleadershipaward.pdf To learn more about Oniqua Intelligent MRO and their award-winning solutions, visit www.oniqua.com About Oniqua Oniqua provides Intelligent MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) capabilities that are transforming the way Oil & Gas, Mining, Utilities, and Manufacturing companies manage their capital-intensive assets. The company's unique cloud-based offering combines the world's most advanced MRO analytics technology with analyst services, consulting, master data cleansing, and industry expertise to optimize the performance of materials management and operations and maintenance activities. Oniqua does the heavy lifting on behalf of customers so they can achieve rapid benefits in the form of reduced waste and costs, minimized risks, greater efficiencies, and smarter decisions across their MRO operations. Oniqua is proud to serve many of the world's largest energy and resources companies, including ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, BP, Phillips 66, New Gold, Occidental (OXY), ADMA, BHP Billiton, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), American Electric Power (AEP), Nebraska Public Power District, Rio Tinto, Newmont Mining, Lundin Mining, Freeport McMoRan, and many others. To learn more, visit www.oniqua.com | LinkedIn Media Contact: Alisson Moore Director, Global Marketing Oniqua Intelligent MRO +1 303-525-5994 [email protected] SOURCE Oniqua Intelligent MRO Related Links http://www.oniqua.com REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle announced the worldwide release of its Oracle Banking Payments solution. The offering was built from the ground up leveraging ISO 20022 and is designed to help banks compartmentalize payments messaging, message transformation and payment processing while providing high fidelity insight. Using the Oracle Banking Payments API, banks can also innovate within the Internet of Payments, collaboration with 3rd parties or curate new business models in collaboration with Fintechs. "As a core banking vendor we have been supporting payments for over two decades. We run payments for over 500 banks across 140 countries. In many instances our applications cater to a significant proportion of a country or a jurisdiction's volumes, for example we enable over 20% of the inward and 22% of the outward real time settlements in India," said Chet Kamat, senior vice president, Oracle Financial Services. "With Oracle Banking Payments, financial institutions can improve straight through processing, support real-time and immediate payment settlement and reduce time-to-market while driving innovation." Digitization has brought banks to a payments arena tipping point where customers demand constant availability for real-time, frictionless payments. Grappling with increasing levels of operational complexities, banks have increasingly adopted siloed structures and multiple messaging standards leading to a disharmonized payment landscape. At the same time, new players are challenging incumbents by offering personalized products, exemplary efficiency and security. To remain competitive, financial institutions need to adopt a transformational approach that addresses the changing dynamics of the payments marketplace. With Oracle Financial Services Analytical Applications (OFSAA), Oracle Banking Digital Experience, Oracle FLEXCUBE, Oracle Banking Platform and Oracle Financial Services Revenue management and Billing, today's announcement of Oracle Banking Payments makes Oracle the most comprehensive solution provider for the payments industry. Additional Information Oracle Banking Payments supports global as well as local payment standards like SEPA, SWIFT 2017, Fedwire, US ACH and SWIFT GPI. Banks can easily extend the system themselves to comply with any local and international clearing and settlement messages. About Oracle The Oracle Cloud offers complete SaaS application suites for ERP, HCM and CX, plus best-in-class database Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) from data centers throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Safe Harbor The preceding is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for Oracle's products remains at the sole discretion of Oracle Corporation. SOURCE Oracle Related Links http://www.oracle.com WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ORM) (the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors and the Company's external manager, Owens Financial Group, Inc. (the "Manager") have agreed to adjust the methodology used to calculate the annual fee payable to the Manager. Pursuant to the details contained within the Form 10-Q filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the management fee would be reduced (but not increased) based on a calculation utilizing 1.5% of the Company's stockholders' equity, as adjusted, if this results in lower fees, as opposed to 2.75% of the average unpaid balance of the Company's loans. As part of the revised calculation, stockholders' equity is equal to the sum of the capital raised from all Company stock issuances (including the book value of the Company's Common Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital at inception of the Company), less stock repurchases, plus Retained Earnings and not including any unrealized gains and losses, one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain other non-cash charges. This adjustment is effective as of July 2017, and will remain in effect until the Company's next stockholders' meeting is held. During this interim period, the compensation committee of the Board of Directors, along with leading independent consultant, FTI Consulting, will continue to analyze and evaluate additional strategic options related to the Company's current external management structure. Dennis G. Schmal, Lead Independent Director, stated: "We are pleased to reach agreement on the revised fee structure, reflecting the continued execution of our strategy of liquidating real estate assets, investing proceeds into commercial real estate loans, and delivering a consistent, competitive riskadjusted yield to shareholders. Furthermore, this interim fee calculation more closely aligns us with industry standards and is expected to provide better terms to our stockholders while enhancing their returns." There will be no change to the loan servicing fees or expense reimbursements payable by the Company to the Manager, and the Manager would also continue to receive the fees paid by the Company's borrowers to the Manager. PremierCounsel LLP and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. are representing Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc. About Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc. Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc., a Maryland corporation, is a specialty finance mortgage company organized to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") that focuses on the origination, investment, and management of commercial real estate mortgage loans. We provide customized, short-term acquisition and transition capital to small balance and middle-market investors that require speed and flexibility. Our primary objective is to provide investors with attractive current income and long-term shareholder value. Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc., is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and is externally managed and advised by Owens Financial Group, Inc. Additional information can be found on the Company's website at www.owensmortgage.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements about Owens Realty Mortgage Inc.'s plans, strategies, and prospects are based on current information, estimates, and projections; they are subject to risks and uncertainties, as well as known and unknown risks, which could cause actual results to differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, readers should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "target," "assume," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believe," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or matters attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. SOURCE Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc. Related Links http://www.owensmortgage.com VALENCIA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is an open letter from Pacific Lock Company. On July 25, 2017, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) snubbed small business manufacturing by awarding a part of a contract worth $589,565 annually to a large business to recognize only 2.6% in savings. "For the past ten years, I've been telling people that if the government could save one penny buying from a big business producing Mexican products versus buying from a small business producing US products, then they'd do it. The DLA just proved me right," says Gregory Waugh, President of Pacific Lock Company. The contract in question had an award split between three companies: a big business historically supplying a Mexican end product, a small business historically supplying Chinese end products, and Pacific Lock Company a small, woman-owned company that historically supplies domestic end products. The total contract value is $777,551 on an estimated annual basis. Had Pacific Lock been awarded the entirety of the contract, the federal government would have paid a premium of only 4.7% or $38,152 on an annual basis. In one particular item's case, Pacific Lock was 0.5% higher priced than the large business and the DLA awarded the item to the large business. Pacific Lock blames the culture at the DLA for such an apparent lack of caring for small businesses and U.S.-based production. "For ten years we've worked extremely hard to earn the trust and respect of the DLA only to see them once again thumb their noses at us," says Jennifer Waugh, Vice President and part owner of Pacific Lock. In 2009 Pacific Lock partnered with Lockheed Martin to become the preeminent low-security padlock supplier to the DLA. Since then, Pacific Lock has delivered more than five million padlocks on more than one hundred and four thousand unique orders all without a single return for quality. It earned Lockheed's "Supplier of the Year" award in 2014. "We are a great supplier to the DLA so there is no way the DLA can say that they made this award because of past performance issues," says G. Waugh. Without Pacific Lock, the DLA would find itself in the same troubles it was in years ago without any real competition because there was only a single, large manufacturer bidding for the contracts. "It is a shame that the DLA has such a culture, and our goal in sending this letter to the president, contacting our legislators, and posting to social media is simply to bring this sort of thing to light so that change can happen," says J. Waugh. The sentiments expressed herein are those of Mr. Waugh and Pacific Lock Company. A link to Mr. Waugh's open letter to President Trump can be viewed here: http://www.paclock.com/assets/letter-to-pres.pdf About Pacific Lock Company Pacific Lock Company was founded in 1998 and is one of the last family- operated manufacturers of physical security products for consumer, commercial, and industrial end users. Its U.S.-based manufacturing allows the company to be innovative and nimble while, at the same time, producing high-quality products its customers can depend on for protection. Pacific Lock Company is a woman owned and operated small business headquartered in Valencia, California, that supports employment of people with disabilities and disadvantages. For more information about Pacific Lock visit www.paclock.com. Media Contact: Greg Waugh, President, [email protected] Related Files PACLOCK-Letter-to-Pres-Printable.pdf SOURCE Pacific Lock Company Related Links http://www.paclock.com PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Peirce College, a 152-year-old Philadelphia institution for working adults, has received its first grant from United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) to develop a program that delivers work and life skills to improve the lives of the participants and their families for generations to come. The $60,000 grant will support a 12-to-14 week workforce training program. Slated to launch in February 2018, the program will teach the skills under or unemployed individuals need to succeed in front-line, customer service roles in the non-clinical healthcare industry. Additionally, Peirce will partner with experts in financial literacy and human services to help participants build the economic assets and social networks they need to put their families on a path toward self-sufficiency and emotional well-being. Plans for the Peirce program call for an inaugural class of 25-30 individuals over 18 years old with at least one child in their household. Everyone who completes the program will be presented interview opportunities in the healthcare industry, access to college credit, and guided pathways to degree completion. "We are thrilled that United Way has provided us this support so we can expand our mission to help working adults of the Philadelphia region advance their lives and, by extension, their children's future," said Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Partnerships Uva Coles. "We view this grant as a vote of confidence as we continue to find new ways to support non-traditional learners on a mission of personal and professional development." Jim Cawley, UWGPSNJ president and CEO, said the Peirce program fills a need in the Philadelphia workforce. "Our United Way is committed to ending poverty by equipping adults with the critical skills they need to find jobs and thrive in the workplace," said Cawley. "It takes all of us working together to ensure everyone in our community has the supports and resources they need to put themselves and their families on paths to self-sufficiency, and we're grateful to have partners like Peirce College who are invested in helping our neighbors break the cycle of poverty." Largely championed by the Aspen Institute and other national thought leaders, this two-generation approach will work with each participant to improve his or her education, social network, health and finances. The participants will identify the needs of their families, such as transportation, housing or food security, to develop a life plan and work toward a set of family goals. Participants will be connected with parent resources and provided exposure to healthcare industry employment opportunities that provide sustaining wages that yield a positive, two-generation family impact. "Research shows that parents' success is directly aligned with their children's success," Coles said. "If they are able to pursue higher education and to model strong financial practices and a healthy lifestyle, it's more likely that their children will follow in their footsteps." More information about the program is available by contacting Malik Brown at [email protected] or 215.670.9056. About Peirce College Founded in 1865, Peirce College has been providing working adults with affordable education, flexible classes, and personalized support for more than 150 years. Peirce offers bachelor and associate degree programs in the areas of Business, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Legal Studies, and Master of Science degrees in Healthcare Administration and Organizational Leadership & Management. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Peirce is a non-profit institution that specializes in serving the unique needs of working adults through both online and on campus education. In 2015, Peirce took life-friendly learning and degree attainment to the next level with the creation of Peirce Fit, a revolutionary learning format that allows students to choose each week whether to attend class in person or online. Through competency-based education in Peirce's IT program, students may also choose a faster, more affordable path to a degree. Peirce College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). Additionally, select programs are accredited by The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the American Bar Association and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. For more information about Peirce College, call 888.467.3472, or visit www.Peirce.edu. Visit Peirce's blog, Peirce Connections, at http://blog.Peirce.edu. Become a fan of Peirce College on Facebook. Follow @PeirceCollege on Twitter. View the Peirce College YouTube Channel. SOURCE Peirce College Related Links http://www.peirce.edu ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Department of Justice announced today that PHH Mortgage Corporation (PHH) has agreed to pay the United States over $74 million to settle claims that loans originated by PHH that were insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and for loans sold by PHH to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac failed to meet the required underwriting regulations. Portions of the settlement resulted from a lawsuit filed under the qui tam whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Mary Bozzelli, a former employee of PHH. Ms. Bozzelli worked for PHH from 1992 to 2011 as an underwriter and underwriting supervisor. "It is great to see PHH finally held accountable for its actions," said Bozzelli, who filed the lawsuit in 2013. "Mortgage fraud is hardly victimless. Not only did PHH defraud taxpayers, but instead of helping deserving borrowers obtain home loans through the government loan programs, I witnessed firsthand the ways in which PHH abused the programs to line its own pockets." Ms. Bozzelli is represented by Nelson Thomas, Michael Lingle, and Jonathan Ferris of Thomas & Solomon LLP in Rochester, New York. The firm also represented a whistleblower in a case against M&T Bank that resulted in a $64 million settlement last year for similar violations. As part of the settlement agreements, the United States is awarding Ms. Bozzelli over $9 million for the role she played in blowing the whistle on PHH's mortgage fraud. "Mary is a great example of someone who was willing to step forward and do the right thing," said her attorney, Nelson Thomas. "Today shows that there are indeed individuals can make a big impact on stopping corporate fraud. The reward that she is receiving is completely appropriate given that she has saved the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars." Thomas said that PHH's settlement is one of several dozen settlements with mortgage lenders for similar conduct in the past several years. "Unfortunately, even almost a decade after the mortgage financial crisis, lenders are still trying to find ways to cheat the government," Thomas said, noting that even in 2013, a PHH executive characterized one of PHH's defect rates for FHA loans as 'shocking.' "We can only hope that there are more people like Mary that are willing to step forward to make sure these companies are held accountable." Ms. Bozzelli and her attorneys also expressed their gratitude for the hard work of the United States Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and the District of Minnesota in prosecuting this action. About Thomas & Solomon LLP Thomas & Solomon LLP is an employment law firm in Rochester, New York regularly representing qui tam whistleblowers in False Claims Act litigation. To date, the firm has represented whistleblowers in actions leading to more than $100 million in recoveries for the United States. The firm also regularly represents employees in all types of employment litigation, including workplace retaliation actions. Media Contact: Nelson Thomas, phone: 585-272-0540 [email protected] SOURCE Thomas & Solomon LLP BROOKLYN, N.Y., Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gerard Longo, Principal of Madison Estates, and his team announce today a merger with Joseph Sciulara, Founder of Best Seller #1 Properties. Mr.Sciulara brings his 30+ years of real estate experience and his strong reputation within the real estate industry to Madison Estates. "Knowing the team at Best Seller and their commitment to the highest level of professional standards, in addition to their stellar reputation, they will be a strong addition to Madison Estates. Their ethical beliefs are compatible to that of our company and together we will continue to strengthen our roots in the community," said Joseph Baglio, Managing Partner for Madison Estates. Madison Estates has dual offices serving the Brooklyn community; Mr. Sciulara will continue his leadership of his elite group of brokers at the Madison Estates office located at 2922 Avenue R, Brooklyn, NY. Best Seller #1 Properties will increase the Madison Estates roster by an additional fifteen associates, including Helen Defontes, Mr. Sciulara's long-time sales manager. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Best Seller #1 Properties is added to the list of mergers for Madison Estates, inclusive of which is Coldwell Banker Sure Homes Sale, which merged with Madison Estates in 2011. "We had many options in deciding what direction to take our team in next and with having such a long-standing relationship with Gerard and the team at Madison, it was an obvious decision for me to make. We look forward to a long and beneficial relationship for all," said Mr.Sciulara. "Having a great working relationship for many years with the Best Seller team makes for an easy transition. We have done business alongside their agents and have come to know them very well, so we feel they are a great addition to our team," said Lisa Lilker-Reich, Sales Director for Madison Estates. About Madison Estates: Madison Estates, founded 1953, is a boutique brokerage firm serving the Brooklyn, NY community with dual offices in Marine Park and Cobble Hill. Gerard Longo is the Principal of Madison Estates and has been its driving force since its acquisition in 1992. In 2007 he partnered with Joseph Baglio and expanded the company into Cobble Hill. Together they lead their distinguished team as they are recognized for their hands-on methodology and meticulous attention to detail. Mr. Longo is a well-recognized leader in the real estate industry and has been featured in many leading media outlets, including as MSNBC, Squawk Box, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New York Post, The Daily News and The Real Deal. For additional information Madison Estates, please contact the sales team at 718.645.1665 or visit www.MadisonEstates.com Press Contact: Jenna Guarneri JMG Public Relations 212-206-1645 [email protected] SOURCE Madison Estates Related Links http://www.jmgpr.com MORGANTOWN, W. Va, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. (OTCQB: PRGB) ("Protea") announced today that it had entered into a Collaboration Research Agreement with the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center (VIC), Division of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School. The goal is to co-develop a new diagnostic methodology that will provide cancer cell molecular profiles, including the distribution of drugs within cancer cells and molecular response indicators, to improve patient treatment and outcomes. "This is a very exciting opportunity for our scientists at VIC to gain access to an advanced molecular imaging technology and collaborate with Protea's scientists to bring that technology to clinical relevance for our patients", stated Mark Poznansky, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the MGH Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center and the Principal Investigator for the joint research program. "We are delighted to be undertaking the development of this groundbreaking diagnostic technology with the VIC Team", commented Steve Turner, Protea Chairman & CEO. He added, "Our collective goal is to improve the molecular information rapidly available to patients and their physicians from tumor samples, which can be used as the basis for decisions regarding both the initiation and modification of specific immunotherapies for their treatment". Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts the body's natural defenses to fight the cancer. It uses substances made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore the function of the body's natural immune system. Immunotherapies can alter the immune environment of the tumor, leading to better therapeutic outcome. The total Immunotherapy market is estimated to be worth approximately $14 billion by 2019, rising to $34 billion by 2024, as the treatment of cancer patients undergoes drastic changes over the next decade, Immunotherapies are increasingly being integrated into treatments for solid tumors - drugs that have great promise for some patients but are expensive and come with some significant adverse events. However currently, standard clinical measurements only provide serum levels of drug and provide little or no information on changes within the tumor. Patients currently undergo costly therapy with significant potential side effects but without a robust means to evaluate the impact of the therapy in the tumor microenvironment. For new immunotherapies to have maximum impact in a cost-effective way, it will be essential to generate more molecular information from tumor samples that can support medical decision making at the start of, and throughout the process of, treatment of the cancer. Developing the technology to provide this molecular information is the goal of this joint research collaboration. About Protea Biosciences Group, Inc.: Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. (OTCQB:PRGB) is a molecular information company providing innovative bioanalytical solutions to the pharmaceutical and life science industries. The Company has developed next gen technology that enables the rapid and direct identification, mapping and display of the molecules present in all living cells and tissue samples. Protea applies its technology to the development of new molecular tests for the differential diagnosis of cancer, and the comprehensive molecular profiling of human disease. "Molecular information" refers to the generation and bioinformatic processing of very large data sets, obtained by applying the Company's technology to identify and characterize the proteins, metabolites, lipids and other biologically-active molecules which are the byproducts of all living cells and life forms. The company provides proprietary molecular information services to its clients in the pharmaceutical and life science industries. Forward-Looking Statements; This press release may contain statements relating to future results or events, which are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import may identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further, information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's business and financial and other results, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware. Protea is a registered trademark of Protea Biosciences Group, Inc SOURCE Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. Related Links http://www.proteabio.com Cleeve joins PSEG from Conduent Inc., the world's largest provider of diversified business services. In her role as Head of Communications and Citizenship, she led strategies to create the Conduent brand, corporate reputation and culture, and drove communications efforts of corporate transformation initiatives to more than 90,000 employees globally. Prior to Conduent, Cleeve was Vice President, Communications at NRG Energy, where she led strategic internal and external communications teams and was responsible for positioning NRG by elevating corporate reputation, thought leadership and employee engagement. "Karen brings nearly 20 years of communications leadership for corporate, product and thought leadership programs at leading technology enterprises, early-stage companies and public relations firms," DiRisio said. "We look forward to seeing her put that diverse experience to work here at PSEG." Before joining NRG, Cleeve was Vice President at Ketchum in New York, and Vice President of Corporate Communications for Vonage. Previously, she served as Director at Burson-Marsteller, a public relations agency, and as Group Manager, Corporate Communications at Intuit Inc. Cleeve was a co-founder, Principal and Account Supervisor at Peppercom Inc., a mid-sized, New York-based public relations agency focused on strategic communications. Cleeve graduated from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG) is a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of $9.1 billion. Its operating subsidiaries are: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), PSEG Power, and PSEG Long Island. Want to know what's new at PSEG? Go to www.pseg.com/getnews and sign up to have our press releases sent right to your inbox. Visit PSEG at: www.pseg.com PSEG on Facebook PSEG on Twitter PSEG on LinkedIn PSEG blog, Energize! SOURCE PSEG Related Links http://www.pseg.com Even with the varying opinions there has been a clear trend, with home values on the rise across the country. The Quicken Loans National Home Value Index (HVI) reported that appraised values increased an average of 0.33 percent from June to July. The growth is even stronger on a year-over-year basis, with home values rising 4.21 percent nationally from July 2016's findings. Home Price Perception Index (HPPI) The HPPI shows appraisers' opinions fell short of homeowners' expectations by 1.55 percent, in July. This shows a narrowing gap, as homeowner estimates in June were 1.70 percent lower than appraised values. HPPI tracks differing trends across the country as real estate often fluctuates on a local basis. On average, appraisals were higher than owner expectations - the inverse of the national trend in some of the fastest growing housing markets, including Dallas and Denver. However, some metro areas in the Northeast and the Midwest regions reported appraised values lower than owner estimates at a higher rate than the national trend. "The home appraisal is one of the most important data points in the mortgage process. It determines the level of equity the homeowner has and, if the owner's estimate is too far from how the appraiser views the property, it can cause the mortgage to be restructured," said Bill Banfield, Quicken Loans Executive Vice President of Capital Markets. "Our hope is that this index is eye-opening for homeowners. Their home equity could be thousands of dollars higher, or lower, than they realize. If they are aware of the perceived trends in their area it could help them better prepare for their home purchase or refinance." Home Value Index (HVI) The National HVI, based solely on appraisal data, reported home values rose an average of 0.33 percent in July. The positive momentum was even more substantial for the annual measure, showing a 4.21 percent increase year-over-year. All of the areas measured also reported annual home value growth ranging from a 2.65 percent annual increase in the Northeast to a 5.64 percent annual rise in value in the West. "The regional differences in home value growth mirror the perception difference across the country. Areas with slower growth were more likely to have owners overestimating their home value, and areas with much stronger growth had higher appraisals than owners realized they would be," said Banfield. "With home values constantly changing, and the rates of change varying across the country, this is one more way to show how important it is for homeowners to stay aware of their local housing market." HVI July 2017 January 2005 = 100 HVI July 2017 vs. June 2017 %Change HVI July 2017 vs. July 2016 % Change HPPI July 2017 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* HPPI July 2016 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* National Composite 103.78 +0.33% +4.21% -1.55% -1.69% *A positive value represents appraiser opinions that are higher than homeowner perceptions. A negative value represents appraiser opinions that are lower than homeowner perceptions. Geographic Regions HVI July 2017 January 2005 = 100 HVI July 2017 vs. June 2017 % Change HVI July 2017 vs. July 2016 % Change HPPI July 2017 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* HPPI July 2016 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* West 125.17 +0.28% +5.64% -1.30% -1.50% South 105.93 +0.67% +4.34% -1.53% -1.65% Midwest 86.54 +0.23% +3.63% -1.68% -1.81% Northeast 98.36 +1.60% +2.65% -1.73% -1.87% *A positive value represents appraiser opinions that are higher than homeowner perceptions. A negative value represents appraiser opinions that are lower than homeowner perceptions. Metropolitan Areas HPPI July 2017 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* HPPI June 2017 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* HPPI July 2016 Appraiser Value vs. Homeowner Perception of Value* Dallas, TX +2.83% +2.49% +2.16% Denver, CO +2.60% +2.54% +3.10% Seattle, WA +2.00% +1.65% +0.71% San Francisco, CA +1.37% +1.30% +2.36% San Jose, CA +1.37% +1.28% +2.52% Portland, OR +1.14% +1.09% +1.57% Los Angeles, CA +1.02% +1.01% +1.06% Charlotte, NC +0.82% +0.66% -0.65% San Diego, CA +0.78% +0.78% +0.35% Boston, MA +0.68% +0.70% +0.43% Sacramento, CA +0.42% +0.47% +1.13% Miami, FL +0.41% +0.53% -0.02% Minneapolis, MN +0.36% +0.36% -0.18% Kansas City, MO +0.35% +0.00% -1.16% Phoenix, AZ +0.16% +0.09% -0.77% Riverside, CA -0.02% -0.20% +0.51% Houston, TX -0.06% +0.13% +1.18% Las Vegas, NV -0.12% -0.14% -0.81% Detroit, MI -0.59% -0.82% -3.24% Tampa, FL -0.80% -1.16% -1.24% Atlanta, GA -1.03% -1.14% -1.12% Washington, D.C. -1.08% -1.11% -0.27% New York, NY -1.69% -1.78% -1.62% Cleveland, OH -2.63% -2.64% -2.04% Chicago, IL -2.65% -2.71% -2.37% Baltimore, MA -3.04% -3.09% -3.05% Philadelphia, PA -3.04% -3.26% -3.40% *A positive value represents appraiser opinions that are higher than homeowner perceptions. A negative value represents appraiser opinions that are lower than homeowner perceptions. About the HPPI & HVI The Quicken Loans HPPI represents the difference between appraisers' and homeowners' opinions of home values. The index compares the estimate that the homeowner supplies on a refinance mortgage application to the appraisal that is performed later in the mortgage process. This is an unprecedented report that gives a never-before-seen analysis of how homeowners are viewing the housing market. The HPPI national composite is determined by analyzing appraisal and homeowner estimates throughout the entire country, including data points from both inside and outside the metro areas specifically called out in the above report. The Quicken Loans HVI is the only view of home value trends based solely on appraisal data from home purchases and mortgage refinances. This produces a wide data set and is focused on appraisals, one of the most important pieces of information to the mortgage process. The HPPI and HVI are released on the second Tuesday of every month. Both of the reports are created with Quicken Loans' propriety mortgage data from the 50-state lenders' mortgage activity across all 3,000+ counties. The indexes are examined nationally, in four geographic regions and the HPPI is reported for 27 major metropolitan areas. All indexes, along with downloadable tables and graphs can be found at QuickenLoans.com/Indexes. About Quicken Loans Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation's second largest retail home mortgage lender. The company closed more than $300 billion of mortgage volume across all 50 states between 2013 and 2016. Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010, and now more than 17,000 team members from Quicken Loans and its Family of Companies work in the city's urban core. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Primary Mortgage Origination" in the United States by J.D. Power for the past seven consecutive years, 2010 2017, and highest in customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers the past four years, 2014 2017. Quicken Loans was ranked #10 on FORTUNE magazine's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list in 2017, and has been among the top-30 companies for the past 14 consecutive years. The company has been recognized as one of Computerworld magazine's '100 Best Places to Work in IT' the past 13 years, ranking #1 for eight of the past twelve years including 2017. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rock Holdings, Inc., the parent company of several FinTech and related businesses. Quicken Loans is also the flagship business of Dan Gilbert's Family of Companies comprising nearly 100 affiliated businesses spanning multiple industries. For more information and company news visit QuickenLoans.com/press-room. Twitter: @QLnews Facebook.com/QuickenLoans SOURCE Quicken Loans Related Links http://QuickenLoans.com LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Infusionarium is a fully immersive interactive treatment space in a hospital environment where children can decide what is their 'best healing place' and then experience it while in the hospital," said Dr. Mark Mogul, Member of the Baycare Pediatric Cancer Team. Great Day Tampa Bay Report The New St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Infusionarium Isabella Ramirez, one of the hospital's adolescent cancer patients, adds that she was treated in standard chemotherapy rooms first, and then got to experience swimming underwater and flying without wings in the Infusionarium. Isabella says, "It's a life changing experience that we want to give all kids when they come into the hospital." Reimagine Well currently has an extensive library of patient requested immersive healing experiences, live events, and rich media learn guides that patients and families are able to share with one another and experience as a community. Scott Fink, one of St. Joseph's Hospitals Foundation board members, met the former Disney Imagineer that created the Infusionarium while watching patients connect live to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The patients were escaping the walls of the hospital and the harsh challenges of their chemotherapy. He decided he would bring the idea to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa. Dr. Mogul acknowledges that keeping your spirits up and being positive plays a big part in the recovery process. "Cancer affects the entire family. It's more than just physical, it's very emotional. And having a very safe and supportive place where nothing medical has to happen is great for us as caregivers." About Reimagine Well Reimagine Well provides a proprietary platform and programs that are designed for chemotherapy, dialysis, physical therapy, assisted living, radiation therapy and more; and has compiled an extensive library of patient-requested immersive healing experiences and disease specific 'Survival Guides' hosted by clinicians, scientists, and medical experts. Each guide provides segmented instructions and resources for patients designed to educate and support them through the patient journey. Roger Holzberg and Leonard Sender, MD, founded Reimagine Well. Dr. Sender is a specialist with the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children's Hospital in Orange County, California, is board certified in both Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and is a clinician and a researcher. Roger Holzberg is the founder of My Bridge 4 Life, a former award-winning Disney Imagineer, the first consulting Creative Director of the National Cancer Institute and a 13-year cancer survivor. Contact: Pam Carstens Phone: 805-990-1965 Email: [email protected] Website: reimaginewell.com SOURCE Reimagine Well Related Links http://reimaginewell.com LONDON, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- B2B Relationship marketing technology firm Concep is consolidating its 15-year experience providing CRM-integrated relationship marketing software to legal, financial and professional services firms by launching a new commercial offering. Aimed at firms who rely on high-value relationships to do business, the new offering is designed to be easily accessible, scalable and cost effective. Concep offers a comprehensive marketing solution for teams who want to send, track and measure personalised email campaigns. Users benefit from a 360 view of a contact's activities eliminating any marketing and sales silos. Another advantage is the engagement scoring that highlights the strength of client relationships. Concep's other options take full advantage of Microsoft's intelligent cloud, displaying insights pulled in from different data sources. This gives marketing and business development teams the business intelligence to identify new opportunities and know where their most profitable relationships are. Concep will continue to offer its clients a fully serviced, configurable toolkit for all their Dynamics 365 relationship marketing requirements including a dedicated account manager, yearly health checks to ensure firms are getting the most out of their relationship marketing system, as well as best practice and knowledge sharing. The offering supports the growth and needs of global legal, financial and professional services firms where marketing is decentralised, while enabling brand owners to protect the brand. Freddie Hustler, Concep Global Head of Sales says: With offices and a 250-strong client base in Australia, North America and Europe, we are in an excellent position to support a growing network of global integration partners like Barhead, Thomson Reuters Elite, Hitachi Solutions and 360 Vertical Solutions. We have worked hard to understand our mutual clients' needs, adding real value to their businesses. This new offering builds on our expertise to offer firms a 'plug and go' solution for marketing that is cost-effective and grows with their business. Mauricio Alves, Global Head of Product Marketing says: As a Microsoft Gold Partner, we have had a relationship with Microsoft since 2012 and have worked closely with them to develop a Dynamics 365 integration that is seamless, easy-to-use and simple to access. We have added a sophisticated layer of functionality to Dynamics 365 creating a powerful relationship marketing tool that helps firms identify new opportunities, build stronger connections with clients and gain efficiencies. For more information, visit http://www.Marketing4Dynamics.com Contact: Freddie Hustler, Head of Global Sales, Concep Direct + 44(0)7436-886-366 Concep +44(0)207-952-5570 http://www.dynamics.concep.com SOURCE Concep TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Renew Spinal Care, Inc., has retained a prominent national law firm and lobbying group, to form a Management Services Organization (MSO). Renew Spinal Care, Inc. has shown steady growth in recent years as it has quietly amassed one of the largest networks in the United States of board certified physicians comprised of neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and interventional pain doctors who specialize in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (M.I.S.S.). Renew's Network of Board Certified Doctors treat most all back or neck pain issues such as:Bulging or herniated discs, spinal stenosis,degenerative disc disease, scar tissue, nerve impingements, nerve root inflammation, previous failed open back surgery, bone spurs, facet disease, foraminal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and sciaticaall through minimally invasive approaches. Why this is Revolutionary: When asked about the creation of the MSO, Renew CEO Sam Bailey said, "A prominent nationwide legal team establishing a Managed Services Organization that links one of, if not the largest network, of MISS surgeons in the United States together is another step forward in the rapid rise of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. Renew's approach is somewhat unique in that we are laying the groundwork for the capacity for the surgeons to service large contracts for self-insured companies and other significant patient population groups across the national geographical spectrum Coast to Coast through Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery." Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (M.I.S.S.) is becoming a burgeoning field that is capturing the interest of many physicians and payors, including self-insured companies due to the following benefits: M.I.S.S. is covered by practically all major medical providers and utilizes mainstream equipment and ambulatory surgery centers. The patients do not spend time in a hospital, during or after the surgery, which is indicative of the lack of damage done to the core of the body through these specialized procedures. These components are of great interest to payors who are searching for improved evidenced-based outcomes. The Renew Difference: Renew Spinal Care's network of board certified physicians is a unique company that offers all of the following: No hospital stay, Patients leave the Same Day with just a band-aid, No Stitches, No hardware, Doctors can treat multiple vertebrae or discs and operate bilaterally in one anesthetic experience (including the thoracic region), Pain Mapping, and overall faster recovery as many patients return to work within one to two weeks. About Renew Spinal Care, Inc: Renew Spinal Care, Inc. is the premier physician network specializing in treating the patient's back and neck pain through Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS). Renew is a patient education, logistics, marketing, and research and development company. The contracted physicians utilize tiny incisions as a surgical alternative for patients who were previously simply managing their pain through medications, epidural steroid injections and physical therapy (also known as palliative care). Often these patients do not know that a curative permanent surgical alternative, that incurs little, or no more risk, than their current pain management approach, is available. Renew is a member of both the Prime Health Services and Three Rivers Provider Network allowing the company access to thousands of self-insured companies' spine patients. Renew is also a member of the 100% Veteran owned Exclusive Provider Network, and has conducted three meetings in Washington D.C. with members of the Senate discussing the opportunity of providing MISS to the nation's Veterans. Concluding Remarks: Renew Spinal Care, Inc. is constantly adding new locations nationwide, as it continues to review highly recommended M.I.S.S. physician candidates who are board certified and interested in becoming a part of America's premier network of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons. To learn more about Renew Spinal Care, Inc., as a doctor, law firm, provider, or the media, contact: Ashley Furst, Vice President of Business Development; [email protected] (212) 519-9990 www.RenewSpinalCare.com SOURCE Renew Spinal Care, Inc. DUBLIN, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Research Report on China Sewage Treatment Industry, 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. It is estimated that China's sewage discharge has kept growing for many years and the discharge exceeded 75 billion tons in 2016. Domestic sewage discharge accounted for over 70% of the total sewage discharge and the growth rate of industrial sewage discharge has slowed down. China's urbanization accelerates with the development of economy. Major subsectors of sewage treatment industry include design and construction, equipment manufacture, operation and services. With fewer technical barriers and lower capital turnover, the design and construction business is conducive to market development. Recent years have witnessed many enterprises accessing construction sector of sewage treatment industry with ever-increasing concerns on environmental protection. In recent years, EPC projects have decreased, and generally sewage treatment plants adopt the BOT projects, which raise the gross profit of sewage treatment business compared to that of the EPC projects. According to this research, 70% of 1.3 billion Chinese population use groundwater and more than 400 of 660 Chinese cities rely on groundwater. According to relevant statistics, about 90% of China's municipal groundwater is polluted. Unprecedented attentions are paid to sewage treatment and recycle industry with the deteriorating situation of water pollution. There is large development potential in sewage treatment industry, for the gross profit rate was high in various regions in the two years. According to this research, the sewage treatment rate is high, generally over 90% in developed cities including Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang and Shanghai. The sewage discharge is determined by sewage treatment capacity and growth rate and the sewage treatment markets there are mature. These sewage treatment plants have good prospect in upgrading & reconstruction, sludge disposal and reclaimed water. Sewage treatment efficiency is generally low in China's central and western regions, at a treatment rate less than 80%. There is a severe supply shortage in China's sewage treatment industry, especially in regions such as Yunnan and Inner Mongolia where growth rate of sewage discharge exceeds the treatment rate. On the whole, the key construction projects of China's sewage treatment industry will be gradually transferred from large cities and eastern regions to central and western regions and middle and small cities. The Chinese government has issued some policies to regulate strictly the sewage treatment industry in order to guide China's sewage treatment market. However, China's municipal sewage discharge keeps growing with the rapid urbanization and growing urban population. Daily municipal sewage discharge reached 140 million cubic meters while 150 million cubic meters in 2016. It is estimated that China's domestic sewage discharge will keep growing during 2017-2021 with the ever-increasing urban population. The Chinese government plans to raise the efficiency of collecting sewage by increasing sewage pipe network by 125,900 kilometers, which helps raise the capacity utilization ratio of sewage treatment plants. Besides, the Chinese government encourages non-state-owned investment in China's sewage treatment industry. It is estimated that, during 2017-2021, China's sewage treatment industry will keep developing under the influence of government policies and market demand. Readers Can Obtain the Following Information or More Through This Report: Economic Environment of China's Sewage Treatment Industry Sewage Treatment Industry Government Policies to Promote Sewage Treatment Industry Analysis on Supply of China's Sewage Treatment Industry Sewage Treatment Industry Analysis on Demand of China's Sewage Treatment Industry Sewage Treatment Industry Analysis on Market Competition of China's Sewage Treatment Industry Sewage Treatment Industry Market Opportunities and Driving Forces of China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2017-2021 Sewage Treatment Industry, 2017-2021 Threats and Challenges Confronted by China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2017-2021 Sewage Treatment Industry, 2017-2021 Development Trend of China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2017-2021 Key Topics Covered: 1 Relevant Concepts in Sewage Treatment Industry 1.1 Definition and Classification of Sewage Treatment 1.2 Research Methods 2 Analysis on China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2012-2016 2.1 Development Environment of China's Sewage Treatment Industry 2.2 Analysis on Supply of China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2012-2016 2.3 Analysis on Demand of China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2012-2016 3 Competition Status of China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2015-2017 3.1 Barriers to Entry in China's Sewage Treatment Industry 3.2 Competition Structure of China's Sewage Treatment Industry 4 Analysis on Major Sewage Treatment Enterprises in China, 2015-2017 4.1 Beijing Enterprises Water Group Limited 4.2 Chongqing Water Group Co., Ltd. 4.3 Beijing Originwater Technology Co., Ltd. 4.4 Beijing Capital Co., Ltd. 4.5 Chengdu Xingrong Environment Co., Ltd. 4.6 Tianjin Capital Environmental Protection Group Co., Ltd. 4.7 Zhongyuan Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. 4.8 Chongto Environmental Group Limited 4.9 Grandblue Environment Co., Ltd. 4.10 Heilongjiang Interchina Water Treatment Co., Ltd. 5 Analysis on Cost and Prices of China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2014-2017 5.1 Analysis on Cost of China's Sewage Treatment Industry 5.2 Analysis on Prices of China's Sewage Treatment Industry 6 Prospect of China's Sewage Treatment, 2017-2021 6.1 Factors Influencing Development of China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2017-2021 6.2 Forecast on Supply of China's Sewage Treatment Industry, 2017-2021 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/g8qr3d/research_report Media Contact: Research and Markets 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 BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of Frank NaClerio Agency, headquartered in Dunedin, Fl. Serving all of Florida for over 28 years, Frank NaClerio and team have been offering the right combination of personal and commercial insurance with stellar customer service as their cornerstone. The addition of FNA will add a solid book of quality client relationships to the Seeman Holtz portfolio throughout Florida. Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc. remains focused on targeting high-quality independent agencies for geographic expansion and continued growth. With the addition of Frank NaClerio Agency, Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc. closed its tenth agency acquisition for 2017. SHPC looks to continue to reach new and current clients by helping them protect their most important valuables with not only the right insurance, but with the right service for each client. SHP&C offers: Private Client Homeowner's Policy Automobile Insurance Renter's Policy Umbrella Coverage Commercial and Employee Coverage Personal Liability Coverage Marshal Seeman, President of Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty stated, "We are thrilled to have Frank join our organization. He has built an incredible book of business." Eric Holtz, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, commented, "We have had our eye on Frank for a long time. We quickly identified his talents and look forward to having him help our team grow as a Regional Manager in Florida." About Our Company: The Seeman Holtz family of companies provides comprehensive financial and insurance advice to clients across the country. Contact: Eric Holtz Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty 844.255.6639 [email protected] SOURCE Seeman Holtz Property and Casualty, Inc. Shareholder Conference Call and Webcast on August 16, 2017 TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX:SMT) (NYSE American: SMTS) (BVL:SMT) ("Sierra Metals" or the "Company") will release its 2017 second quarter consolidated financial results on Monday, August 14, 2017 after market close. Senior Management will also host a webcast and conference call on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 10:30am EDT. Details of the Conference Call and Webcast are as follows: Via Webcast: A live audio webcast of the meeting will be available on the Company's website: http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1399286/985DD49599B87B7C418537015F320D08 The webcast along with presentation slides will be archived for 180 days on www.sierrametals.com. Via phone: For those who prefer to listen by phone, dial-in instructions are below. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the call. Participant Number (Toll Free Peru): 0800-53-840 Participant Number (Toll Free North America): (877) 201-0168 Participant Number (International): (647) 788-4901 Conference ID: 50896411 About Sierra Metals Sierra Metals Inc. is Canadian based growing polymetallic mining company with production from its Yauricocha Mine in Peru, and its Bolivar and Cusi Mines in Mexico. The Company is focused on increasing production volume and growing mineral resources. Sierra Metals has recently had several new discoveries and still has additional brownfield exploration opportunities at all three mines in Peru and Mexico that are within or close proximity to the existing mines. Additionally, the Company has large land packages at all three mines with several prospective regional targets providing longer term exploration upside and mineral resource growth potential. The Company's Common Shares trade on the Bolsa de Valores de Lima and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "SMT" and on the NYSE American Exchange under the symbol "SMTS". Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws related to the Company (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's operations, including anticipated developments in the Company's operations in future periods, the Company's planned exploration activities, the adequacy of the Company's financial resources, and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be considered to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if and when the properties are developed or further developed. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof, or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the mining industry including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological formations, floods, labour disruptions, explosions, cave-ins, weather conditions and criminal activity; commodity price fluctuations; higher operating and/or capital costs; lack of available infrastructure; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks associated with the estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and the inability to replace reserves; fluctuations in the price of commodities used in the Company's operations; risks related to foreign operations; changes in laws or policies, foreign taxation, delays or the inability to obtain necessary governmental permits; risks relating to outstanding borrowings; issues regarding title to the Company's properties; risks related to environmental regulation; litigation risks; risks related to uninsured hazards; the impact of competition; volatility in the price of the Company's securities; global financial risks; inability to attract or retain qualified employees; potential conflicts of interest; risks related to a controlling group of shareholders; dependence on third parties; differences in U.S. and Canadian reporting of mineral reserves and resources; potential dilutive transactions; foreign currency risks; risks related to business cycles; liquidity risks; reliance on internal control systems; credit risks, including risks related to the Company's compliance with covenants with respect to its BCP Facility; uncertainty of production and cost estimates for the Yauricocha Mine, the Bolivar Mine and the Cusi Mine; and other risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which filings are available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking information. Forward looking information includes statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and the Company's actual achievements or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. The Company's statements containing forward-looking information are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, one should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Continue to watch our progress at: Web: www.sierrametals.com Twitter: sierrametals Facebook: SierraMetalsInc LinkedIn: Sierra Metals Inc SOURCE Sierra Metals Inc. Related Links www.sierrametals.com ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SolAero Technologies Corp. (SolAero), a leading provider of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and composite structural products for satellite and aerospace applications, announced today that it has been awarded a contract by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL) for the design, manufacture and testing of solar array panels for the proposed Europa Clipper Mission. NASA's planned Europa mission will conduct detailed reconnaissance of Jupiter's moon Europa and investigate whether the icy moon harbors conditions suitable for life. The solar panels for the proposed Europa Clipper will be populated with SolAero's high-efficiency ZTJ triple-junction solar cells that have been demonstrated to exhibit superior performance under demanding Low Intensity sunlight and Low Temperature (LILT) conditions of interplanetary missions like this one. The Europa Clipper will further extend SolAero's long history of powering satellites and spacecraft for NASA and JPL, including the MAVEN mission to Mars, the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission and the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission, among others. The ZTJ solar cell is currently powering over 185 Earth orbiting satellites and interplanetary spacecraft and possesses the industry's most extensive qualification and flight heritage in applications beyond Earth orbit. "SolAero is proud to support NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory with solar panels for this extraordinary mission to Europa," said Brad Clevenger, CEO of SolAero Technologies. "For two decades, we have consistently been able to meet the challenges posed by NASA's most demanding missions and we remain committed to ensuring that they can rely on SolAero for the highest quality, most affordable satellite and spacecraft solutions available." About SolAero Technologies Corp. SolAero Technologies is a leading provider of satellite solar power solutions and precision aerospace structures to the global space markets, encompassing a wide array of applications including civil space exploration, science and earth observation, defense intelligence and communication, and commercial telecommunications industries. The business was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. For more information about SolAero, visit https://solaerotech.com/ About NASA/JPL California Institute of Technology The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a unique national research facility that carries out robotic space and Earth science missions. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America's first Earth-orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to study all the planets in the solar system as well as asteroids, comets and Earth's moon. In addition to its missions, JPL developed and manages NASA's Deep Space Network, a worldwide system of antennas that communicates with interplanetary spacecraft. JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech. For more information about JPL, visit https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ Contact: Ms. Maggie Smith Marketing Communications Manager (505) 559-2685 [email protected] SOURCE SolAero Technologies Corp. Related Links http://www.solaerotech.com Staron surfaces require no sealing and little maintenance to stay in superior condition. There is virtually no risk of permanent stains from common contaminants such as coffee, juices and wine. While common cleansing agents may be used on Staron surfaces, daily cleaning can be done by simply wiping the surface with a damp cloth and an over-the-counter anti-bacterial cleaning solution. Staron's ultra-hygienic, easy-to-clean surfaces are ideal for hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities where bacteria is common and sanitation is paramount. Staron is registered with the Health Product Declaration (HPD) Collaborative and is certified by NSF International for use in food service environments, ensuring Staron as a safe and hygienic option. Additional certifications include ASTM Class A / Class I fire rating and GREENGUARD Gold (sustainable manufacturing). Other applications where Staron surfaces are ideally suited include both commercial and residential work and living spaces, as well as restaurant and hotel interiors. The durability of Staron surfaces significantly reduces the risk of permanent damage from scratches, marring, physical impact and high temperatures, allowing the surface to remain unblemished and beautiful for years. Moreover, Staron is a renewable surface that can be refurbished to a new condition at any time during its life-cycle. "Fighting the spread of germs and disease, and maintaining a healthy environment starts at the surface," said Dale Mandell, director of business development, LOTTE Advanced Materials USA, Inc. "Staron surfaces are the ideal material for commercial environments, especially in healthcare and food service, because of its inherent hygienic qualities and color-through, homogeneous composition." Unlike other surface products, Staron surfaces can be thermoformed, a heating and bending process that forms the material into unique, customized shapes. Extensive design flexibility makes Staron the optimum material for interior environments where hygiene, aesthetics, durability and repairability are requisites. About LOTTE Advanced Materials LOTTE Advanced Materials manufactures and markets high-performance decorative surfacing materials for homes and businesses around the globe. Originally part of the Samsung family of companies, LOTTE Advanced Materials is rapidly expanding its North American presence through the company's solid-surface brand, Staron, a seamless and thermo-formable, acrylic product suitable for a wide range of commercial applications. The quartz surface brand, Radianz, is a premium, color-controlled countertop alternative that is designed and engineered to be ultra-durable. Through cutting-edge technology and insights into worldwide market trends, LOTTE Advanced Materials continues to excel in today's surface industry. Contact: Ray Vincenzo (206) 290-4431 [email protected] SOURCE LOTTE Advanced Materials RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Startup Virginia (SVA) announced it has hired the first two members of its senior leadership team. Bryan Bostic, will serve as interim Executive Director and Richard Wintsch will serve in a senior leadership role focusing on programs and engagement. Mr. Bostic currently serves on Startup Virginia's Board of Directors and has been part of the search for an Executive Director. "We had a number of candidates with wonderful attributes, but no one had exactly the right mix of attributes," said Brad Cummings, founding Board member and head of the Executive Director search. "With this role being so pivotal - being the very first Executive Director of SVA - we didn't want anything short of perfect. We are therefore beginning a national search for our ongoing Executive Director. In the interim, founding Board member Bryan Bostic has graciously offered to step in as SVA's interim Executive Director. I can't think of a more well-suited person for the role as Bryan is not only a multiple-time entrepreneur but also has been a force in shaping our Richmond startup ecosystem." Bostic will see SVA through the hire and move back to his Board and mentor roles at that point. Richard Wintsch will join SVA's senior leadership team after serving more than 14 years at ChamberRVA, most recently as Vice President of Leadership Programs. In his new role Richard will focus on creating strong programming for Richmond's local entrepreneurial community while helping the SVA Board launch its incubation space in partnership with Capital One in Shockoe Bottom. "While finding an Executive Director has been challenging, this decision to make Richard part of SVA's leadership team was easy," said Cummings. "He is the ideal candidate to serve as a liaison between Startup Virginia, the growing companies it supports and the community. Richard's experience will allow him to put programs and resources in place to educate startups and potential investors alike, thus enhancing the likelihood of success for our start-up founders." Based in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom, Startup Virginia is a new business incubator dedicated to providing best in class offerings, including programs, mentors, workspace and investments, for high-growth companies. For additional information visit startupvirginia.org SOURCE Startup Virginia TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicopure Labs, LLC, the leading manufacturer of American-made e-liquids, releases a statement from CEO Jeff Stamler on the anniversary of the FDA's Deeming Rule taking effect. "August 8 marks the one-year anniversary of the FDA's Deeming Rule. In 2016, this was a historic day for the vaping industry. A day that a rule took effect that will eventually cost adult Americans their freedom to choose between deadly cigarettes and an alternative that the Royal College of Physicians said is 95% safer. Friday, July 21, 2017 was another day that will forever change the lives of millions of Americans. A day when a Federal Judge decided that her allegiance to politics was far more important than helping millions of adult smokers who struggle with tobacco cigarette addiction every day of their lives, as they slowly poison their bodies until their untimely deaths. A day that came and went with little notice, on a Friday, the perfect day for a story to break in the world of politics. On this day, Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled in favor of the FDA versus Nicopure Labs on all counts, as Nicopure Labs fought for the rights of the American adult smoker and their families. Nicopure Labs challenged the FDA's Deeming Rule in May 2016, which has the potential to destroy the vaping industry for companies other than Big Tobacco. Judge Jackson waited 9 months to make a decision on this case after having all of the required information since October 2016Why the delay? In my opinion, her political motivations played a role, because why decide on a case in favor of adult smokers when deciding against them puts the responsibility on politicians to save the industry instead? If they decide to do so, the anti-tobacco community will go on the attack, putting all adult smokers struggling with tobacco cigarette addiction at risk of never finding an alternative to the thousands of chemicals and tar that they are currently putting into their bodies every day. One week later on July 28, 2017, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb held a press conference where he announced a new comprehensive plan for tobacco and nicotine regulation with the goal of significantly reducing tobacco-related disease and death. He acknowledges the importance of taking a fresh and new look at the non-combustible side of nicotine and has directed the Center for Tobacco Products to reconsider aspects of the final deeming rule. With this he extended the PMTA deadline for vaping products until 2022, an extension of four years. While this is hopeful, it's not enough to save the lives of Americans who struggle with cigarette addiction. It doesn't change the grandfather date that will destroy the industry and shutter many small businesses around the nation, and it doesn't allow for new products to be introduced to the market, killing innovation in America, as the rest of the world will continue to evolve and break free from the grasps of Big Tobacco and their death sticks. Nicopure's challenge against the FDA was the first, and it put a relentless amount of pressure on the FDA to reevaluate its position. Nicopure argued for science-based, reasonable regulation as opposed to being stuck under the umbrella of the Tobacco Control Act which designated smoking and vaping as the same. Dr. Gottlieb's announcement on July 28 was a direct result of our relentless pressure and advocacy efforts. As a company, we will continue leading the way by being at the forefront of our industry and putting an emphasis on reasonable regulation, conducting business through responsible manufacturing, and not marketing to children. The regulatory climate is very different in Europe. European regulations have helped legitimize the vaping industry for more than a year now, leading to safer products for the adult consumer and resulting in millions of people continuing to give up smoking, while the FDA regulation all but serves up the vaping industry to the Big Tobacco companies on a silver platter, putting the future of so many Americans back into the hands that have tricked and poisoned them for years. On August 8, 2017, I'm forced to question when will politics stop interfering with an adult's right to choose? There is no doubt that vaping products, that have been proven to help so many adult smokers kick the habit of smoking tobacco products, should still be studied but not destroyed as there are many benefits and even more success stories. I am a true believer in the greater good, in helping those in need and generally speaking, karma itself. I'm not in the business of politics, but I am in the business of helping others and there are many others just like me. I will no longer stand silent and hope after witnessing firsthand a judicial system, that is designed to work in the best interest of the American people through the brilliant words of the Constitution of the United States of America, fall victim to the political machine of America, as addiction continues to spread and good people continue to be poisoned and die, as families lose loved ones, and for the loved ones who spend their last days on earth struggling to survive, instead of reflecting on the wonderful memories they've built over a lifetime. You've heard my voice AmericaNow let me hear yours!" About Nicopure Labs, LLC Operating since 2009, Tampa-based Nicopure Labs, LLC is an industry leading e-liquid manufacturer with operations in the U.S. and Europe. Nicopure Labs has recently upgraded its 110,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and distribution operations in Gainesville, Florida to include a 10,000 sq. ft. ISO 7 cleanroom. Distributing to over 90 countries worldwide, Nicopure Labs has also expanded its presence with the recent addition of a European headquarters in the Netherlands and offices in England. For more information about Nicopure Labs, please visit nicopure.com. For information regarding their premium American-made e-liquids and innovative line of vaporizer devices, please visit halocigs.com. Media Contact: Jessica Wyland 888-270-2449 ext.7777 [email protected] SOURCE Nicopure Labs, LLC Related Links http://www.nicopure.com HONOLULU, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Ciccone, CEO of Steep Hill Hawaii, the first state-licensed cannabis testing lab in Hawaii, announced today it received ISO/IEC 17025:2005 certification by Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation Inc., an international accrediting agency recognized by governments and industry participants around the world as the standard of excellence for the operation of a quality laboratory management system. Ciccone said in making the announcement on the achievement of the Certificate of Accreditation, "We are proud not only to be the first cannabis lab to be licensed in the State of Hawaii, but also now the first lab to achieve ISO certification, as well. Industry businesses, medical professionals, state regulators, and patients can be confident that our lab and its testing standards will operate to the highest international standards. This is a turning point for the industry we have moved very quickly to raise the industry standards in Hawaii to internationally recognized certification. I am very proud of our scientific team's professionalism and hard work to achieve this certification." Steep Hill Hawaii will run full-service testing for cannabinoid profiles (potency), terpenes, pesticides, heavy metals, biological screening, and residual solvents, testing for 17 cannabinoids and 43 terpenes. The company will test for industry businesses and in-state patient cardholders, and it has been structured to provide services to be affordable, with quick turn-around times. Steep Hill Hawaii is a locally owned and operated company. Steep Hill Hawaii is open for business Monday to Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and is located at 1150 South King Street, Penthouse Suite, Honolulu, HI 96814. Tel: +1 (808) 735-5227. For more information about Steep Hill Hawaii visit: http://steephill.com/hawaii ABOUT STEEP HILL HAWAII Spectra Analytical, LLC d/b/a Steep Hill Hawaii, a locally owned and operated Hawaiian company, is the first cannabis testing laboratory to be licensed in the State of Hawaii and the first in Hawaii to achieve ISO/IEC certification. It is a licensee of Steep Hill, the global leader in cannabis science and technology, with extensive expertise in lab testing, remote testing, genetics, R&D, and the licensing of intellectual property to strategic partners across the globe. Steep Hill Hawaii officially opened for business on August 1, 2017 and is located at 1150 South King Street, Penthouse Suite, Honolulu, HI 96814. Tel: +1(808)735-5227 Contact: Dana Ciccone | Cell: +1 (808) 735-5227 | [email protected] SOURCE Steep Hill Hawaii Related Links http://steephill.com/hawaii Both Ultimate Hits editions feature Steve Miller Band's biggest worldwide chart-toppers, including "Take The Money And Run," "Rock'n Me," "Jet Airliner," "The Joker," "Abracadabra," "Jungle Love," and "Fly Like An Eagle." The 1CD and digital edition adds two previously unreleased live recordings, "Living In The USA" and "Space Cowboy," as well as a never-before-released Steve Miller solo recording of "Seasons." The 2CD and digital deluxe edition also features those rarities, plus five more previously unreleased studio and live recordings, including a demo for "Take The Money And Run." Ultimate Hits ' stunning cover art was designed and photographed by StormStudios in collaboration with Miller. Preorder Steve Miller Band Ultimate Hits: 1CD; Digital; 2LP Vinyl - https://ume.lnk.to/SMBUltimateHits 2CD; Digital; 4LP Vinyl (Deluxe Edition) - https://ume.lnk.to/SMBUltimateHitsDeluxe It was recently announced that Steve Miller has brought his entire catalogue of recorded music to Capitol, where he originally began his recording career in 1967. Miller has opened his vault/warehouse of music, footage, photos, memorabilia, artwork, handwritten notes, journals, and more to Capitol/UMe to include in his upcoming releases. Steve Miller Band's new Ultimate Hits collections, produced by Miller, launch the initiative. "Selecting material to include in these two collections and revisiting the creation of these recordings I'm reminded of how I learned to make multi-track recordings from Les Paul and play lead guitar from T Bone Walker. I've been blessed to work with so many wonderful musicians and engineers and friends over the years. Mostly I want to thank you our fans who come out to our shows and listen to our records. I hope you enjoy this as much I did putting this together for you." -- Steve Miller Running through Miller's distinctive catalog is a combination of virtuosity and song craft. His parents were jazz aficionados - not to mention close friends of Les Paul and Mary Ford - so, as a budding guitarist, Miller absorbed valuable lessons from that musical tradition. When the family moved to Texas, Miller deepened his education in the blues, eventually moving to Chicago, where he played with Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy and Paul Butterfield. One of the world's most commercially successful and acclaimed artist/bands in the history of popular music, Steve Miller was a mainstay of the San Francisco music scene that upended American culture in the late '60s. The Steve Miller Band released two LPs on Capitol Records in 1968: Children of the Future, and Sailor,which included "Living In The USA," which became a staple on the new rock radio format. Next came Brave New World, the band's third album including the hit "Space Cowboy," and "My Dark Hour," which Miller recorded in London with fellow label-mate, Paul McCartney, who is credited as Paul Ramon. After the band's next few albums, Your Saving Grace (1969), Rock Love (1971), Recall The Beginning (1972), and Number 5 (1970), Miller made some changes to the band, went to Los Angeles and produced his own record in 19 days. That album was The Joker. The title track became a Number One worldwide smash hit. Miller had crafted a brand of pure pop that was polished, exciting and irresistible that dominated radio in a way that few artists have ever managed. His next two albums, Fly Like an Eagle (1976) and Book of Dreams (1977), both went multiplatinum, and the hits they generated are among the most recognizable songs in pop music history. Hit followed hit in what seemed like an endless flow: "Take The Money And Run," "Rock'n Me," "Fly Like An Eagle," "Jet Airliner," "Jungle Love," and "Swingtown," to name a few. In 1978, Capitol released Greatest Hits 197478, which has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide. Miller's had a worldwide hit with "Abracadabra," the title track of his 1982 album and in 1986, a #1 Billboard Rock Album Track with "I Want To Make The World Turn Around." To this day, his songs are instantly recognizable when they come on the radio. Their hooks are the very definition of indelible. In recent years, Miller has immersed himself in the blues once again. And, as always, whether he was riding the top of the charts or exploring the blue highways of American music, he is playing and singing with conviction and precision, passion and eloquence. At this stage of his life, in 2017, Miller feels more fulfilled than ever. He recently moved to New York, where he is on the Board of Jazz at Lincoln Center and on the Board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Musical Instrument Department. And, of course, he continues to record and is currently on tour. stevemillerband.com STEVE MILLER BAND: ULTIMATE HITS [1CD; Digital; 2LP] Harmony Of The Spheres 2 Steve Miller at age five talking to his Godfather Les Paul Take The Money And Run Rock'n Me The Stake Threshold Jet Airliner The Joker Abracadabra Jungle Love Swingtown Dance, Dance, Dance Serenade From The Stars Space Intro Fly Like An Eagle Wild Mountain Honey Living In The USA (Live Previously Unreleased) Space Cowboy (Live Previously Unreleased) Seasons (Previously Unreleased) I Want To Make The World Turn Around Winter Time The Window STEVE MILLER BAND: ULTIMATE HITS (DELUXE EDITION) [2CD, Digital; 4LP] CD 1 Steve Miller at age five talking to his Godfather Les Paul Gangster Of Love (Live Previously Unreleased) The Joker Baby's Callin' Me Home (Previously Unreleased) My Dark Hour Little Girl Living In The USA (Live Previously Unreleased) Space Cowboy (Live Previously Unreleased) Seasons (Previously Unreleased) Journey From Eden Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma Going To Mexico Kow Kow Calculator (Live Previously Unreleased) Come On In My Kitchen (Live) Sugar Babe (Live) The Lovin' Cup (Live) Dance, Dance, Dance Take The Money And Run Rock'n Me Space Intro Fly Like An Eagle CD 2 Wild Mountain Honey The Window Take The Money And Run (Demo) (Previously Unreleased) In The Midnight Hour (Previously Unreleased) Jungle Love Threshold Jet Airliner The Stake Swingtown Serenade From The Stars True Fine Love Heart Like A Wheel Abracadabra I Want To Make The World Turn Around Italian X Rays Don't Cha Know Cry Cry Cry Stranger Blues Behind The Barn SOURCE Capitol/UMe Subaru has supported Meals on Wheels for the last nine years through Share the Love , contributing more than $12 million to Meals on Wheels America and providing more than 1.7 million nutritious meals, friendly visits, and safety checks to seniors in communities nationwide. Subaru announced the donation to its 630-strong retailer body at the company's National Business Conference in Denver, CO. This was particularly appropriate as Subaru retailers participate in the company's annual Share the Love event and donate to causes in their local community. The company's '50 Cars for 50 Years' vehicle donation will enable Meals on Wheels programs to deliver more nutritious meals and moments of companionship, expanding its reach to seniors in need. "This generous vehicle donation will have an immediate and indelible impact on local Meals on Wheels programs and the seniors they serve many of whom live in rural, remote and difficult to reach places," said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO, Meals on Wheels America. "This latest act of care and kindness further underscores Subaru of America's longstanding commitment to giving back to communities large and small." The Subaru and Meals on Wheels partnership is part of Subaru Loves to Help, a pillar of the automaker's larger Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment effort dedicated to making a positive impact on local communities across the country. Each 2018 Subaru Outback donated will be delivered to local retailers and wrapped with Meals on Wheels America and 'Subaru Loves to Help' co-branding. "We were pleased to break this announcement to our retailers as they do so much to help their local communities and showing them the first of 50 vehicles in the metal really brings the program to life," said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. "We wanted to celebrate our 50th anniversary in America in a way that is appropriate for our brand and are delighted to donate vehicles that will support local communities by combatting threats of isolation and hunger affecting seniors across the country. At Subaru, we believe in providing safe and reliable vehicles for all of life's journeys and are honored to partner with Meals on Wheels to help people live more nourished lives." SUBARU '50 CARS FOR 50 YEARS' RECIPIENTS City of Kenai /Kenai Senior Services, Kenai, AK Homer Senior Citizens, Inc., Homer, AK United Way of Central Alabama , Birmingham, AL Senior Activity Center of Elkins , Elkins, AR CareLink , North Little Rock, AR , Coconino County Community Services Department , Flagstaff, AZ , Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services , Walnut Creek, CA , Service Opportunity for Seniors , San Leandro, CA , Gray Gourmet , Grand Junction, CO , Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc., Jewett City, CT Meals on Wheels, Etc. , Sanford, FL , Athens Community Council on Aging , Athens, GA , Senior Citizens, Inc. , Savannah, GA , Metro Meals on Wheels , Boise, ID , Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois , Lincoln, IL , REAL Services, Inc. , South Bend, IN , Meals on Wheels Nemaha County , Seneca, KS , Tri-County Community Action Agency, Inc. , LaGrange , KY , , KY St. Martin Council on Aging , Breaux Bridge, LA , Ethos, Boston, MA Boston, MA Eastern Area Agency on Aging , Bangor, ME , SeniorsPlus , Lewiston, ME , Benzie County Council on Aging, Inc. , Honor, MI , CEAP Meals on Wheels , Brooklyn Center, MN , Putnam County Senior Citizens , Unionville, MO , Senior Services, Inc. , Winston Salem, NC , Meals on Wheels of Durham , Inc ., Durham, NC ., Tabitha, Inc. , Lincoln, NE , Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada , Reno, NV , Foodnet Meals on Wheels , Ithaca, NY , Meigs County Council on Aging, Inc. , Pomeroy, OH , Pomeroy, OH Westlake Meals on Wheels , Westlake, OH , Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa , Tulsa, OK , FOOD for Lane County , Eugene, OR , Meals on Wheels of Northampton County , Bethlehem, PA , Berks Encore , Reading, PA , East Cooper Meals on Wheels , Mount Pleasant, SC , Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota , Rapid City, SD , Smoky Mountain Meals on Wheels , Maryville, TN , Meals on Wheels of Johnson & Ellis Counties , Cleburne, TX , Meals on Wheels San Antonio, San Antonio, TX Brigham City Senior Center Meals on Wheels , Brigham City, UT , Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens , Cedar Bluff, VA , Waterbury Area Senior Citizens Association, Waterbury, VT Whatcom Council on Aging, Bellingham, WA Senior Life Resources, Meals on Wheels , Richland, WA , Independent Living, Inc. , Madison, WI , Pendleton Senior and Family Services, Inc., Franklin, WV Tucker County Senior Citizens, Inc. , Parsons, WV , Uinta Senior Citizens Inc., Evanston, WY About Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. About Meals on Wheels America Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org. Media Contacts: Michael McHale Subaru of America, Inc. 856-488-3326 [email protected] Diane Anton Subaru of America, Inc. 856-488-5093 [email protected] Jenny Bertolette Young Meals on Wheels America 571-339-1603 [email protected] SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc. Related Links http://www.subaru.com WASHINGTON and OTTAWA, Ontario, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) announced today the opening of its annual request for proposals (RFP) for the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program. The grants program supports SFI's work to promote sustainable forest management through partnerships with conservation groups that are contributing to the understanding of critical links between forests and communities across the range of American and Canadian forests, and community groups working at the intersection of sustainable forestry, responsible procurement and thriving communities. "SFI is proud to stand with so many partners that lead the way on positively impacting the future of our forests. This new grant cycle allows us to reassert our role as a sustainability leader that is working beyond supply chain assurances to elevate conservation value and foster community engagement," said Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of SFI Inc. "We look forward to this round of proposals and how they will contribute to our scientific understanding, long-standing commitment to forest research, and shared quality of life." Since 2010, SFI has awarded more than 100 grants to foster conservation and community-building projects across North America. When leveraged with project partner contributions, the combined investment exceeds $13.2 million. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 pm EST, Tuesday, October 10, 2017. SFI grants are available to academic institutions, non-profit organizations and Indigenous groups. Download this year's RFP instructions and criteria. For SFI Conservation Grant applications, SFI Inc. is placing a priority on projects that measure, demonstrate, or establish methodologies to demonstrate, the conservation-related values of SFI-certified forestlands, or values promoted by the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. Particular attention will be paid to applications focused on conservation values in the areas of water, climate change (including both carbon attributes and forest resiliency), and biodiversity. SFI's Community Partnerships Grant Program is focused on elevating and enriching the links between people and forests. SFI awards grants to collaborative community-based projects, activities or events that support SFI's core mission to connect communities to forests. Applications that feature creative partnerships or high degrees of leverage (e.g., matching funds, scale of impact, etc.) are preferred. In 2016 and 2017, SFI provided 13 conservation grants to academic and non-profit institutions, including the American Bird Conservancy, Foothills Research Institute, Laval University Faculty of Forestry - Geography and Geomatics, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Saskatchewan Research Council, The Nature Conservancy - Georgia Chapter, University of Georgia, University of Northern British Columbia, The Boreal Avian Modelling Project, GreenBlue, Manomet, NatureServe, and Saskatchewan Research Council. And, in 2016 and 2017, SFI provided 16 community grants to partners including Cornell University, Earth Rangers, Muckleshoot Tribe, National Wild Turkey Federation, San Carlos Apache Forest Resources Program, Black Family Land Trust, Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, Forests Ontario, Fraser Basin Council Society, Maine SFI Implementation Committee, Scouts Canada, South Carolina Forestry Foundation, South Dakota Project Learning Tree, The Greening of Detroit, Trees for Tomorrow, and Whitefish Montana School District. Several highlights of these grants include: The Canadian Forest Carbon Assessment, led by the Saskatchewan Research Council, is building a roadmap to conduct a comprehensive carbon-stock assessment for well-managed forests, including those certified to SFI. This project will quantify carbon storage in different forest ecosystems using national and regional data and examine forest management practices that influence carbon stocks. is building a roadmap to conduct a comprehensive carbon-stock assessment for well-managed forests, including those certified to SFI. This project will quantify carbon storage in different forest ecosystems using national and regional data and examine forest management practices that influence carbon stocks. The Conservation Values of Forests Project, led by NatureServe, will help consolidate and illustrate the biodiversity-related conservation value of forests certified to SFI, ultimately helping stakeholders to understand and communicate conservation outcomes. Findings will also help forest managers improve wildlife habitat across large landscapes. will help consolidate and illustrate the biodiversity-related conservation value of forests certified to SFI, ultimately helping stakeholders to understand and communicate conservation outcomes. Findings will also help forest managers improve wildlife habitat across large landscapes. A Tree, Is A Tree, Is A Tree 101, led by the Black Family Land Trust , is engaging African Americans in Southside Virginia to turn family forest assets into performing assets for today, tomorrow and for generations to come. , is engaging African Americans in to turn family forest assets into performing assets for today, tomorrow and for generations to come. Marten Monitoring and Youth Knowledge Transfer Program, is an effort led by the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi in Quebec to evaluate the impact of wildlife management guidelines on marten populations and transfer knowledge to Cree youth in the community by combining science and traditional knowledge. in to evaluate the impact of wildlife management guidelines on marten populations and transfer knowledge to Cree youth in the community by combining science and traditional knowledge. A Guide to Harvesting Family Woodlands, being developed by the Maine SFI Implementation Committee, will be a key tool to conserve forests, educate forest owners and build partnerships among family woodland owners and forest managers. Learn more about the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program, read about current and past grant projects, and review the RFP process on our website. For additional questions, please contact Rocco Saracina, Manager of Conservation Partnerships. About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a sustainability leader that stands for future forests. SFI is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting forest sustainability and supporting the links between sustainable forests and communities through grant programs, carefully targeted research, youth education, supply chain assurances, and partnerships that effectively contribute to multiple conservation objectives. Forests certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard cover 285 million acres/115 million hectares, while millions more acres benefit from the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. SFI's Forest Management, Fiber Sourcing and Chain of Custody Standards facilitate good purchasing decisions, and help to ensure the health and future of forests. SFI works collaboratively with conservation groups, brand owners, local communities, Indigenous communities, youth, resource professionals, land managers and countless other organizations and individuals who share our passion for and commitment to healthy forests, responsible purchasing and sustainable communities. Project Learning Tree (PLT) became a program of SFI in 2017, bringing over forty years of experience in developing students' awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the environment. SFI Inc. is governed by an independent three-chamber board of directors representing environmental, social and economic sectors equally. SOURCE Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. Related Links http://www.sfiprogram.org MISGAV, Israel, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ApiFix, a portfolio company of The Trendlines Group, received TGA certification through its distributor Orthotech Pty. Ltd. to begin marketing the ApiFix system in Australia for the treatment and correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) using an innovative, minimally invasive surgical approach. Orthotech logo The ApiFix system represents a breakthrough treatment for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) as it is a minimally invasive, non-fusion spinal implant system which dramatically improves the quality of life of patients who undergo scoliosis surgery. Additionally, it saves hospitalization and OR time, and is considerably more cost-effective than current scoliosis surgery. "Incorporating the ApiFix system into our portfolio of products fits our mission to bring exceptional, unique, state-of the-art orthopedic products into the Australasian market. The ApiFix system provides game-changing technology for AIS patients and surgeons alike and we're proud to include them in our suite of products," commented Sam Scott-Young, Managing Director of Orthotech. Standard scoliosis surgical correction is a highly invasive, lengthy procedure involving a long recovery period, and resulting in a rigid spine due to fusion of the vertebrae. The ApiFix approach brings an ingenious solution with its minimally invasive, non-fusion spinal implant system, inserted in a short procedure, followed by a brief recovery period, and maintains spine flexibility. ApiFix CEO Eran Feldhay, M.D. remarked: "The certification for the ApiFix product by the TGA through our distribution partnership with Orthotech allows us to expand our reach and provide treatment for AIS patients in Australia too. We look forward to working with a company like Orthotech who are committed to innovative orthopaedic solutions for their customers." About ApiFix ApiFix is an innovation-driven medical device company focused on providing less invasive solutions for scoliosis patients. ApiFix's leading product for non-fusion treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is used today in Europe. ApiFix is led by a team of highly-regarded spine surgeons and veteran spine specialists. The company has CE clearance and is marketed in Germany, Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, Spain and Israel. ApiFix principals will attend the annual meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society, (SRS) in Philadelphia, USA on September 5-8 to present the ApiFix system, clinical cases and their follow-up to potential users from all over the world. Contact: Saar Wollach, ApiFix Sales & Marketing Manager, +972-54-4511512, Philadelphia [email protected] SOURCE ApiFix LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Help Group's STEM3 Academy (pronounced STEM Cubed Academy), the first school in the nation to provide a STEM curriculum to students with special needs located in Valley Village, CA, is launching a K-12 school in Culver City, CA and a middle school program in Sherman Oaks, CA for the 2017-18 academic year. The expansion is part of a bigger initiative called STEM3 and comes on the heels of a successful first two years, community demand, and a global need for STEM talent. STEM3 Academy offers a comprehensive and integrated college preparatory curriculum, focusing on the long-term development, strength and needs of each student. Many of these students are bright, have a passion for STEM fields and benefit from nontraditional teaching methods, such as project-based learning. "Our STEM3 initiative provides a powerful early STEM education for students K-12 with a therapeutic residential option, vocational training for young adults, community events for families, and conferences and workshops for educators," says Dr. Susan Berman, COO of The Help Group. "We're focused on developing strategies and programs for young people with special needs that encourage inclusion and a passion for STEM." According to Dr. Ellis Crasnow, Director of STEM Academy and STEM Education at The Help Group, "There is a high demand and need for qualified STEM talent, and a STEM education is the key to remaining competitive in a global economy. Our students have exceptional talents, and our goal is to develop those gifts into excellences while supporting their unique needs." According to the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35% of students on the spectrum choose a STEM major in comparison to 23% of the general population. "We want to help nurture those natural talents early on," says Crasnow. To read the full press release, click here. About The Help Group: Founded in 1975, The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States serving children, adolescents and young adults with special needs related to autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional challenges. www.thehelpgroup.org. SOURCE The Help Group Related Links http://www.thehelpgroup.org ATLANTA, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the Latin American Association (LAA), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Cox Enterprises partnered to bridge the digital divide in the Hispanic community by opening a new Technology Center in Atlanta. The new technology center is part of LULAC's Empower Hispanic America with Technology (EHAT) initiative which ensures Hispanic communities have access to dependable technology and useful resources that will empower them to succeed. As part of the grand opening, the LAA's Executive Director Anibal Torres, LULAC's CEO Brent Wilkes, Cox Communications' Vice President Gaston Vaneri and key elected officials made remarks regarding the positive impact the new technology center will have on Georgia's Latino community. "We are here to celebrate another exciting chapter for the Latin American Association, one that will continue to enhance our mission to empower Latinos to adapt, integrate and thrive," said LAA Executive Director, Anibal Torres. "The LAA is proud to join a network of 67 centers in the U.S. that will give our Latino community access to technology, classes and training services that are critical to the community's advancement. We are extremely grateful to have partnered with LULAC and Cox Enterprises in order to offer such an invaluable resource of advancement to our Latino community." As the only location in Georgia and one of 67 facilities throughout the U.S., the technology center will provide students, parents and low income Latino individuals access to free high-speed internet, state-of-the art computer equipment and a technology curriculum. The center will also offer office applications and computer training courses, access to GED preparation, financial aid and job searches, among other services. Overall, the EHAT technology center will offer a hub where Latinos can develop leadership skills and access resources that will help them achieve educational and economic advancement. "With the Latino population rapidly increasing in the state of Georgia, it is now more important than ever that they have access to the resources that will improve their economic and educational outcomes," said LULAC CEO Brent Wilkes. "We are thrilled to partner with Cox Enterprises and the LAA to bring these important technology resources to Georgia's Latino community so that they can take advantage of the opportunities that will allow their community and state to thrive." "Innovation and inclusion are both essential for our state to thrive, which is why Cox jumped at the chance to partner with LULAC and the Latin American Association to open this tech center. We are proud to help bridge the digital divide for Georgia's Hispanic community," expressed Gaston Vaneri, Vice President of Brand Strategy at Cox Communications, a division of Cox Enterprises. About the Latin American Association (LAA) Founded in 1972, the Latin American Association (LAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the Latino community in metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia. The mission of the LAA is to empower Latinos to adapt, integrate and thrive. Our vision is 'Opportunity for All'. Core programs and services include family services, youth programs, workforce development programs and employment services, immigration legal services and advocacy programs among others. For more information, visit www.thelaa.org. About The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC's programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org. About Cox Enterprises Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company. With revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees, the company's major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications (cable television distribution, high-speed internet access, telephone, home security and automation, commercial telecommunications and advertising solutions); Cox Automotive (automotive-related auctions, financial services, media and software solutions); and Cox Media Group (television and radio stations, digital media, newspapers and advertising sales rep firms). The company's major national brands include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Manheim. Through Cox Automotive, the company's international operations stretch across Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. For more information, visit www.coxenterprises.com. SOURCE Cox Enterprises; Latin American Association (LAA) ORANGE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The makers of the WHOLLY GUACAMOLE brand announced today that the nation's first-ever guacamole-themed lounge, officially known as The Guac Stop, will be coming to Seattle August 9 August 13 at the Seattle Center. With 79 percent of U.S. households consuming guacamole*, The Guac Stop will make avo-loving dreams come true, spreading guacamole love as well as the WHOLLY GUACAMOLE brand's mentality Live Wholly. "The Guac Stop is designed to give guacamole lovers and brand fans a fun way to enjoy WHOLLY GUACAMOLE products," said Diana Pusiri, brand manager of MegaMex Foods. "Sometimes we all need to slow down and appreciate life's special moments, and enjoying guacamole and chips with friends is a great way to do it!" To showcase the versatility of WHOLLY GUACAMOLE foods, The Guac Stop will feature a customizable guacamole bar including all the fixings to create a limited-edition Seattle- inspired "apple" guacamole. Visitors will also have the chance to sample a variety of WHOLLY GUACAMOLE products, including newer innovations, like Layered Dips, and enjoy a hands-on experience that celebrates real food made with simple ingredients. While guacamole is the main attraction, it's certainly not the only thing on the menu. In addition to customizing personal guac creations, people will be invited to participate in a series of ongoing "happenings" ranging from latte art creation, hula hooping, chalkboard art, live music and more. These daily "happenings" will spotlight five key WHOLLY GUACAMOLE brand values of Well Being, Connections, Real Food, Personal Style and Feeling Good. All events (including the guacamole tastings) are free and open to the public, but space is limited, according to Pusiri. "And no, guacamole doesn't cost extra at The Guac Stop," she adds. "We just want to share the goodness." To learn more about WHOLLY GUACAMOLE products or The Guac Stop, visit www.eatwholly.com/guac-stop. About the WHOLLY GUACAMOLE Brand The WHOLLY GUACAMOLE Brand is a brand of MegaMex Foods, one of the largest manufacturers of pre-prepared Mexican food across the country. A global leader in food safety, quality and innovation, the WHOLLY GUACAMOLE Brand uses High Pressure Processing (HPP) to create Wholly products. In addition, each product is made with hand-scooped Hass avocados and is gluten free and kosher certified. All WHOLLY GUACAMOLE products are available nationwide in the produce or deli section of grocery stores. For more information, visit www.eatwholly.com/guac-stop. * September 2015, MegaMex Internal Research SOURCE WHOLLY GUACAMOLE Related Links https://www.eatwholly.com WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $1.5 billion of its common stock. Thermo Fisher also intends to grant the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to $225.0 million of additional shares of its common stock. All of the shares in the offering are to be sold by Thermo Fisher. Thermo Fisher intends to use all of the net proceeds of the offering to fund a portion of the consideration payable for its acquisition of Patheon N.V. (NYSE: PTHN), including the repayment of indebtedness of Patheon N.V. to be assumed by Thermo Fisher. As announced in a separate press release issued today, Thermo Fisher now expects to complete the transaction around the end of the third quarter of 2017, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and completion of Thermo Fisher's tender offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Patheon N.V. The offering is not conditioned upon the completion of the acquisition of Patheon N.V. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as lead book-running manager for the offering. BofA Merrill Lynch and Citigroup are acting as joint book-running managers. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. The offering is being made pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-3, as amended by the post-effective amendment thereto (including a prospectus), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Prospective investors should read the prospectus forming a part of that registration statement and the preliminary prospectus supplement related to the offering and the other documents that Thermo Fisher has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Thermo Fisher and this offering. These documents are available at no charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Thermo Fisher, the underwriters or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at 1-866-471-2526 or by email at [email protected]; BofA Merrill Lynch, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by e-mail at [email protected]; or Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or telephone at 1-800-831-9146. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the shares of common stock, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of the shares of common stock in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements about the company's intended use of proceeds and the expected closing of the acquisition of Patheon N.V. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from currently anticipated results, including risks and uncertainties relating to capital markets conditions and completion of the offering. Additional important factors and information regarding Thermo Fisher's business that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in the prospectus, which is on file with the SEC and available in the "Investors" section of our website under the heading "SEC Filings," and the documents incorporated by reference into the prospectus and prospectus supplement. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if circumstances change and, therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to today. Media Contact Information: Karen Kirkwood Investor Contact Information: Ken Apicerno Phone: 781-622-1306 Phone: 781-622-1294 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Related Links http://www.thermofisher.com SAN FRANCISCO and MALVERN, Pa., Aug. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thoma Bravo, a leading private equity investment firm, today announced that it will acquire Frontline Education ("Frontline"), an integrated insights partner serving more than 12,000 educational organizations across America. The transaction is expected to close late in the third quarter of 2017, subject to usual and customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Insight Venture Partners, a prior investor in Frontline, will retain a minority stake in the company. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Frontline, with its awarding-winning administrative and HR software solutions, serves more than 12,000 educational organizations across America, and enables them to make evidenced-based decisions that drive better outcomes for both educators and students. Across North America, major educational organizations rely on Frontline's trusted solutions, with more than 5 million education employees and 1.2 million substitutes logging into its systems on a daily basis. "This investment by one of the nation's most astute evaluators of technology companies is extremely gratifying," said Tim Clifford, President and Chief Executive Officer of Frontline Education. "We are a company of people passionately devoted to K-12 education, and our partnership with Thoma Bravo will allow us to become even more valuable to educators, school districts, communities and, most importantly, students." "Under Tim's leadership Frontline has become one of the preeminent technology solutions providers focused on the human capital needs of K-12 school districts," said Holden Spaht, a Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo. "We look forward to supporting the company's growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions, while maintaining the high level of customer service for which Frontline is known." Brian Jaffee, a Vice President at Thoma Bravo, added: "Frontline is an incredible organization. We are thrilled about the partnership and the opportunity to work with the management team to help enhance Frontline's market-leading platform of HR and administrative software solutions for the K-12 market." In the past three years, Frontline Education has significantly expanded its solutions-based portfolio through organic growth and 10 strategic acquisitions. The businesses acquired by Frontline Education have been similarly mission-driven to improve outcomes in K-12 education. "Our relationship with Insight Venture Partners has built incredible momentum for Frontline in our efforts to better serve the education community, and we look forward to continuing that momentum via our partnership with Thoma Bravo," said Mr. Clifford. Frontline has approximately 650 employees in five locations around the U.S. The acquisition by Thoma Bravo is not expected to change the corporate headquarters, management team or employee base of the company. UBS Investment Bank served as the lead investment advisor and Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP and Cooley LLP served as legal advisors for Frontline Education. Thoma Bravo was advised by Kirkland and Ellis LLP. About Thoma Bravo, LLC Thoma Bravo is a leading private equity firm focused on the software and technology-enabled services sectors. With a series of funds representing more than $17 billion in capital commitments, Thoma Bravo partners with a company's management team to implement operating best practices, invest in growth initiatives and make accretive acquisitions intended to accelerate revenue and earnings, with the goal of increasing the value of the business. Representative past and present portfolio companies include industry leaders such as Blue Coat Systems, Deltek, Digital Insight, Global Healthcare Exchange, Hyland Software, iPipeline, PowerPlan, Qlik, Riverbed, SailPoint, SolarWinds, SonicWall, Sparta Systems and TravelClick. The firm has offices in San Francisco and Chicago. For more information, visit ThomaBravo.com. About Frontline Education Frontline Education is an integrated insights partner serving more than 12,000 Educational Organizations and millions of educators, administrators and support personnel in their efforts to develop the next generation of learners. With nearly 20 years of experience serving the front line of education, Frontline Education is dedicated to providing actionable insights that enable informed decisions and drive engagement across school systems. Bringing together the best education software solutions into one unified platform, Frontline makes it possible to efficiently and effectively manage the administrative needs of the education community, including their recruiting and hiring, employee absences and attendance, professional growth and special education and interventions programs. Frontline Education corporate headquarters are in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with offices in Andover, Massachusetts, Rockville Centre, New York, Salt Lake City, Utah and Chicago, Illinois. Learn more at FrontlineEducation.com Media Contacts Thoma Bravo Media Contact: Matthew Gorton Hiltzik Strategies 212-776-1161 [email protected] Frontline Education Media Contact: Andrea Fitzpatrick 484-983-8688 [email protected] SOURCE Thoma Bravo Related Links http://ThomaBravo.com GITEX Technology event, #gitex2017, the world's largest technology event is an impressive exhibition of the best solutions, ideas, and modifications that could transform the world. Featuring over 4,000 exhibitors from every corner of the world, GITEX is the best tech event that one should visit to discuss project ideas with prominent business clients and decision makers. Whether it's a start-up or a multinational, GITEX is the best platform. The 37th GITEX Technology Week 2017 will be held between 8 to 12 October at Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160309/794763 ) Latest sectors that will be covered in GITEX 2017: - Augmented Reality app development - Virtual Reality app development - Digital Marketing - Smart Living and Wearables - 3D Printing - I Cities - Drones - Robotics Some of the existing but important sectors that proceed to increase at GITEX 2017: - Cloud - Mobility - Security - Enterprise Software - Enterprise Hardware In GITEX Technology Week, numerous mobile app development companies will participate and present their product/service strength. Top mobile app development company - Hyperlink Infosystem is also participating in the GITEX 2017 mega event. Visitors of the GITEX 2017 shall have an opportunity to meet skilled representatives of Hyperlink Infosystem. GITEX visitors can discuss the new trends of mobile and web solutions, gaming sector, VR-AR technology, IoT, AI development and best enterprise solutions which are the main focus area of Hyperlink Infosystem. "Every year, GITEX gives the best opportunities to present our technological powers and digital expertise. And so to grab those opportunities Hyperlink Infosystem is on its way to present at GITEX Technology Week for increasing the boundaries with our creative and unique ideas and business-changing digital solutions," says Harnil Oza, Founder and CEO of Hyperlink Infosystem. Every start-up needs good technical guidance and cost-effective solutions. The representatives of Hyperlink Infosystem will assist visitors with an extensive variety of IT services. So anyone who is going to visit Hyperlink Infosystem at GITEX 2017 will surely get unique and affordable solutions for their business. So visit Hyperlink Infosystem at GITEX DUBAI 2017 and explore business horizons with the latest technology world. The delegates of Hyperlink Infosystem will present their IT solutions at Dubai World Trade Centre from 8 to 12 October 2017. 1) Stand MAC6-27 of Hall 6 2) Stand No SRE 10 of Sheikh Rashid Hall India Pavilion Visitors can schedule a meeting with the Hyperlink Infosystem: https://www.hyperlinkinfosystem.com https://www.hyperlinkinfosystem.com/gitex-technology-week-2017.html About Hyperlink Infosystem Hyperlink Infosystem is one of the best mobile app development companies in USA, India and UAE that provide best services in various parts all over the world with its development center established in India. They have developed and successfully delivered more than 2000+ projects over the world with the help of their talented team. Since 2011, they have been working with the aim to raise the standard of innovation of IT solutions for their valuable clients. Contact Details: Hyperlink Infosystem Harnil Oza +1-805-744-1224 [email protected] Address: 607 Arcadia Terrace Unit 201 Sunnyvale, CA 94085 United States SOURCE Hyperlink Infosystem CLEVELAND, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG), a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components, today reported results for the third quarter ended July 1, 2017. Highlights for the third quarter include: Net sales of $907.7 million , up 13.8% from $797.7 million ; Net income of $169.1 million , up 5.2% from $160.6 million ; Earnings per share of $3.08 , up 6.9% from $2.88 ; EBITDA As Defined of $442.9 million , up 15.4% from $383.9 million ; Adjusted earnings per share of $3.30 , up 6.8% from $3.09 ; and Reaffirms previously stated fiscal 2017 financial guidance. Net sales for the quarter rose 13.8%, or $110.0 million, to $907.7 million from $797.7 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. The favorable contribution from the businesses acquired in the last twelve month period was $87.1 million. Organic net sales growth was up approximately 3%. Net income for the quarter increased 5.2% to $169.1 million, or $3.08 per share, compared to $160.6 million, or $2.88 per share, in the comparable quarter a year ago. The increase in net income primarily reflects the increase in net sales described above, lower refinancing expenses and improvements to our operating margin resulting from the strength of our proprietary products and continued productivity efforts. This growth in net income was partially offset by higher interest expense and a higher effective tax rate. Adjusted net income for the quarter rose 5.1% to $181.1 million, or $3.30 per share, from $172.3 million, or $3.09 per share, in the comparable quarter a year ago. EBITDA for the quarter increased 23.1% to $424.2 million from $344.6 million for the comparable quarter a year ago. EBITDA As Defined for the period increased 15.4% to $442.9 million compared with $383.9 million in the comparable quarter a year ago. EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales for the quarter was 48.8%. "We are pleased with our operating results for both the fiscal third quarter and year-to-date periods," stated W. Nicholas Howley, TransDigm Group's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our overall performance was in-line with our expectations with some modest puts and takes across our markets. Fiscal third quarter commercial transport aftermarket revenues were up in the mid to high-single digit percentage range despite ongoing weakness in our interior businesses. This was partially offset by continuing weakness in our business jet and helicopter aftermarket revenues. Our defense revenues continue to grow more than originally anticipated. We stayed focused on our value drivers and continued to expand our EBITDA margins. All in all, a good quarter for intrinsic shareholder value creation." During the thirteen week period ended July 1, 2017, TransDigm repurchased 205,800 shares of its common stock with a weighted average per share price of $243 at an aggregate cost of approximately $50 million. As previously reported on June 1, 2017, during the thirteen week period ended July 1, 2017, TransDigm acquired three add-on aerospace product lines for a purchase price of approximately $105 million. All three product lines consist primarily of proprietary, sole source products with significant aftermarket. The products include highly engineered aerospace controls, quick disconnect couplings, and communication electronics. Year-to-Date Results Net sales for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2017 rose 13.0% to $2,594.9 million from $2,296.2 million in the comparable period last year. Organic net sales growth was approximately 2.5%. Net income for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2017 increased 2.7% to $443.4 million, or $6.23 per share, compared with $431.7 million, or $7.63 per share, in the comparable period last year. Earnings per share were reduced in both 2017 and 2016 by $1.72 per share and $0.05 per share, respectively, representing dividend equivalent payments made during each fiscal year. The increase in net income primarily reflects growth in net sales described above and improvements to our operating margin resulting from the strength of our proprietary products and continued productivity efforts. This growth in net income was partially offset by higher interest expense due to an increase in the level of outstanding borrowings to $11.3 billion from $8.5 billion outstanding in the comparable period last year, higher refinancing costs, higher acquisition-related costs and higher effective tax rate. Adjusted net income for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2017 rose 7.8% to $497.1 million, or $8.91 per share, from $461.1 million, or $8.20 per share, in the comparable period a year ago. EBITDA for the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2017 increased 15.9% to $1,144.9 million from $988.2 million for the comparable period a year ago. EBITDA As Defined for the period increased 16.5% to $1,249.0 million compared with $1,071.9 million in the comparable period a year ago. EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales for the period was 48.1%. Please see the attached tables for a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, and adjusted net income; a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined, and a reconciliation of earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share for the periods discussed in this press release. During the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2017, TransDigm repurchased 1,723,624 shares of its common stock with a weighted average per share price of $226 at an aggregate cost of approximately $390 million. Fiscal 2017 Outlook Assuming no additional acquisitions and based on current market conditions, the fiscal 2017 financial guidance remains as follows: Net sales are anticipated to be in the range of $3,530 million to $3,570 million compared with $3,171 million in fiscal 2016; compared with in fiscal 2016; Net income is anticipated to be in the range of $605 million to $619 million compared with $586 million in fiscal 2016; compared with in fiscal 2016; Earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $9.16 to $9.40 per share based upon weighted average shares outstanding of 55.6 compared with $10.39 per share in fiscal 2016; per share based upon weighted average shares outstanding of 55.6 compared with per share in fiscal 2016; EBITDA As Defined is anticipated to be in the range of $1,693 million to $1,713 million compared with $1,495 million in fiscal 2016; and compared with in fiscal 2016; and Adjusted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $12.09 to $12.33 per share compared with $11.49 per share in fiscal 2016. Please see the attached table 6 for a reconciliation of EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined to net income and reported earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share guidance mid-point estimated for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. Additionally, please see the attached table 7 for comparison of the current fiscal year 2017 guidance versus the previously issued fiscal year 2017 guidance. Potential Financing TransDigm Group today announced its intention to issue a new $1.8 billion first lien term loan. TransDigm intends to use the proceeds, together with cash on hand, to repay $1.2 billion of its existing tranche C term loans and to fund a potential special dividend in the range of $1.0 billion to $1.25 billion. In connection with the senior credit facility refinancing, TransDigm will make a presentation to its lenders on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 beginning at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Additional information will be available via Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC. Earnings Conference Call TransDigm Group will host a conference call for investors and security analysts on August 8, 2017, beginning at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call, dial (888) 558-9538 and enter the pass code 61153185. International callers should dial (760) 666-3183 and use the same pass code. A live audio webcast can be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com. A slide presentation will also be available for reference during the conference call; go to the investor relations page of our website and click on "Presentations." The call will be archived on the website and available for replay at approximately 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time. A telephone replay will be available for two weeks by dialing (855) 859-2056 and entering the pass code 61153185. International callers should dial (404) 537-3406 and use the same pass code. About TransDigm Group TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, NiCad batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, rods and locking devices, engineered connectors and elastomers, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized cockpit displays, aircraft audio systems, specialized lavatory components, seatbelts and safety restraints, engineered interior surfaces and related components, lighting and control technology, military personnel parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, and cargo loading, handling and delivery systems. Non-GAAP Supplemental Information EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, EBITDA As Defined Margin, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release as supplemental disclosures to net income and reported results. TransDigm Group defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and defines EBITDA As Defined as EBITDA plus certain non-operating items, refinancing costs, acquisition-related costs, transaction-related costs and non-cash charges incurred in connection with certain employee benefit plans. TransDigm Group defines adjusted net income as net income plus purchase accounting backlog amortization expense, effects from the sale on businesses, refinancing costs, acquisition-related costs, transaction-related costs and non-cash charges incurred in connection with certain employee benefit plans. EBITDA As Defined Margin represents EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of net sales. TransDigm Group defines adjusted diluted earnings per share as adjusted net income divided by the total shares for basic and diluted earnings per share. For more information regarding the computation of EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined and adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, please see the attached financial tables. TransDigm Group presents these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that they are useful indicators of its operating performance. TransDigm Group believes that EBITDA is useful to investors because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to measure operating performance among companies with different capital structures, effective tax rates and tax attributes, capitalized asset values and employee compensation structures, all of which can vary substantially from company to company. In addition, analysts, rating agencies and others use EBITDA to evaluate a company's ability to incur and service debt. EBITDA As Defined is used to measure TransDigm Inc.'s compliance with the financial covenant contained in its credit facility. TransDigm Group's management also uses EBITDA As Defined to review and assess its operating performance, to prepare its annual budget and financial projections and to review and evaluate its management team in connection with employee incentive programs. Moreover, TransDigm Group's management uses EBITDA As Defined to evaluate acquisitions and as a liquidity measure. In addition, TransDigm Group's management uses adjusted net income as a measure of comparable operating performance between time periods and among companies as it is reflective of changes in pricing decisions, cost controls and other factors that affect operating performance. None of EBITDA, EBITDA As Defined, EBITDA As Defined Margin, adjusted net income or adjusted earnings per share is a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and such financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, earnings per share, cash flows from operating activities or other measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, TransDigm Group's calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to the calculation of similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Although we use EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined as measures to assess the performance of our business and for the other purposes set forth above, the use of these non-GAAP financial measures as analytical tools has limitations, and you should not consider any of them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results of operations as reported in accordance with GAAP. Some of these limitations are: neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined reflects the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest payments, on our indebtedness; although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined reflects any cash requirements for such replacements; the omission of the substantial amortization expense associated with our intangible assets further limits the usefulness of EBITDA and EBITDA As Defined; neither EBITDA nor EBITDA As Defined includes the payment of taxes, which is a necessary element of our operations; and EBITDA As Defined excludes the cash expense we have incurred to integrate acquired businesses into our operations, which is a necessary element of certain of our acquisitions. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements under the heading "Fiscal 2017 Outlook," are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.Words such as "believe," "may," "will," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "predict," "anticipate," "estimate," or "continue" and other words and terms of similar meaning may identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which could affect TransDigm Group's actual results and could cause its actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, TransDigm Group. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the sensitivity of our business to the number of flight hours that our customers' planes spend aloft and our customers' profitability, both of which are affected by general economic conditions; future geopolitical or worldwide events; cyber-security threats and natural disasters; our reliance on certain customers; the U.S. defense budget and risks associated with being a government supplier; failure to maintain government or industry approvals; failure to complete or successfully integrate acquisitions; our substantial indebtedness; potential environmental liabilities; increases in raw material costs, taxes and labor costs that cannot be recovered in product pricing; risks and costs associated with our international sales and operations; and other risk factors. Further information regarding the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results can be found in TransDigm Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports that TransDigm Group or its subsidiaries have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, TransDigm Group undertakes no obligation to revise or update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Contact: Liza Sabol Investor Relations 216-706-2945 [email protected] TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED Table 1 JULY 1, 2017 AND JULY 2, 2016 (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Thirteen Week Periods Ended Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended July 1, 2017 July 2, 2016 July 1, 2017 July 2, 2016 NET SALES $ 907,667 $ 797,692 $ 2,594,917 $ 2,296,188 COST OF SALES 385,896 354,177 1,137,803 1,052,444 GROSS PROFIT 521,771 443,515 1,457,114 1,243,744 SELLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 110,561 94,244 314,868 271,511 AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS 23,570 18,629 71,235 53,474 INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 387,640 330,642 1,071,011 918,759 INTEREST EXPENSE - NET 152,227 120,812 446,073 344,083 REFINANCING COSTS 345 15,654 35,936 15,654 INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 235,068 194,176 589,002 559,022 INCOME TAX PROVISION 66,015 33,554 145,573 127,276 NET INCOME $ 169,053 $ 160,622 $ 443,429 $ 431,746 NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK $ 169,053 $ 160,622 $ 347,458 $ 428,746 Net earnings per share: Basic and diluted $ 3.08 $ 2.88 $ 6.23 $ 7.63 Cash dividends paid per common share $ $ $ 24.00 $ Weighted-average shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 54,890 55,832 55,773 56,263 TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA, EBITDA AS DEFINED TO NET INCOME FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED Table 2 JULY 1, 2017 AND JULY 2, 2016 (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Thirteen Week Periods Ended Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended July 1, 2017 July 2, 2016 July 1, 2017 July 2, 2016 Net income $ 169,053 $ 160,622 $ 443,429 $ 431,746 Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization expense 36,924 29,564 109,851 85,101 Interest expense, net 152,227 120,812 446,073 344,083 Income tax provision 66,015 33,554 145,573 127,276 EBITDA 424,219 344,552 1,144,926 988,206 Adjustments: Acquisition-related expenses and adjustments (1) 6,192 9,849 32,864 34,696 Non-cash stock compensation expense (2) 11,580 11,371 32,707 33,819 Refinancing costs (3) 345 15,654 35,936 15,654 Other, net (4) 547 2,451 2,615 (480) Gross Adjustments to EBITDA 18,664 39,325 104,122 83,689 EBITDA As Defined $ 442,883 $ 383,877 $ 1,249,048 $ 1,071,895 EBITDA As Defined, Margin (5) 48.8 % 48.1 % 48.1 % 46.7 % (1) Represents accounting adjustments to inventory associated with acquisitions of businesses and product lines that were charged to cost of sales when the inventory was sold: costs incurred to integrate acquired businesses and product lines into TD Group's operations, facility relocation costs and other acquisition-related costs; transaction-related costs comprising deal fees; legal, financial and tax due diligence expenses; and valuation costs that are required to be expensed as incurred. (2) Represents the compensation expense recognized by TD Group under our stock incentive plans. (3) For the thirteen week period ended July 1, 2017, represents debt issuance costs expensed in conjunction with the additional 2025 Notes. For the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2017, represents debt issuance costs expensed in conjunction with the incremental term loan (tranche F), refinancing of the 2021 Notes and the additional 2025 Notes. (4) Primarily represents foreign currency transaction gain or loss on intercompany loans to be settled and gain or loss on sale of fixed assets and payroll withholding taxes related to dividend equivalent payments. (5) The EBITDA As Defined margin represents the amount of EBITDA As Defined as a percentage of sales. TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE TO ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED Table 3 JULY 1, 2017 AND JULY 2, 2016 (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Thirteen Week Periods Ended Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended July 1, 2017 July 2, 2016 July 1, 2017 July 2, 2016 Reported Earnings Per Share Net income $ 169,053 $ 160,622 $ 443,429 $ 431,746 Less: dividends on participating securities (95,971) (3,000) Net income applicable to common stock - basic and diluted $ 169,053 $ 160,622 $ 347,458 $ 428,746 Weighted-average shares outstanding under the two-class method Weighted-average common shares outstanding 51,932 53,076 52,718 53,339 Vested options deemed participating securities 2,958 2,756 3,055 2,924 Total shares for basic and diluted earnings per share 54,890 55,832 55,773 56,263 Basic and diluted earnings per share $ 3.08 $ 2.88 $ 6.23 $ 7.63 Adjusted Earnings Per Share Net income $ 169,053 $ 160,622 $ 443,429 $ 431,746 Gross adjustments to EBITDA 18,664 39,325 104,122 83,689 Purchase accounting backlog amortization 6,805 4,387 21,345 11,385 Tax adjustment (13,397) (32,079) (71,768) (65,682) Adjusted net income $ 181,125 $ 172,255 $ 497,128 $ 461,138 Adjusted diluted earnings per share under the two- class method $ 3.30 $ 3.09 $ 8.91 $ 8.20 Diluted Earnings Per Share to Adjusted Earnings Per Share Diluted earnings per share $ 3.08 $ 2.88 $ 6.23 $ 7.63 Adjustments to diluted earnings per share: Inclusion of the dividend equivalent payments 1.72 0.05 Non-cash stock compensation expense 0.15 0.15 0.41 0.42 Acquisition-related expenses 0.16 0.18 0.67 0.58 Refinancing costs 0.20 0.45 0.20 Reduction in income tax provision net income per common share related to the adoption of ASU 2016-09 (0.10) (0.35) (0.60) (0.67) Other, net 0.01 0.03 0.03 (0.01) Adjusted earnings per share $ 3.30 $ 3.09 $ 8.91 $ 8.20 TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH Table 4 PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO EBITDA, EBITDA AS DEFINED FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED JULY 1, 2017 AND JULY 2, 2016 (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Thirty-Nine Week Periods Ended July 1, 2017 July 2, 2016 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 555,216 $ 482,176 Adjustments: Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions of businesses 82,507 100,344 Interest expense - net (1) 430,543 332,372 Income tax provision - current 145,303 122,787 Non-cash stock compensation expense (2) (32,707) (33,819) Refinancing costs (4) (35,936) (15,654) EBITDA 1,144,926 988,206 Adjustments: Acquisition-related expenses (3) 32,864 34,696 Non-cash stock compensation expense (2) 32,707 33,819 Refinancing costs (4) 35,936 15,654 Other, net (5) 2,615 (480) EBITDA As Defined $ 1,249,048 $ 1,071,895 (1) Represents interest expense excluding the amortization of debt issue costs and premium and discount on debt. (2) Represents the compensation expense recognized by TD Group under our stock incentive plans. (3) Represents accounting adjustments to inventory associated with acquisitions of businesses and product lines that were charged to cost of sales when the inventory was sold; costs incurred to integrate acquired businesses and product lines into TD Group's operations, facility relocation costs and other acquisition-related costs; transaction-related costs comprising deal fees; legal, financial and tax due diligence expenses and valuation costs that are required to be expensed as incurred. (4) For the thirty-nine week period ended July 1, 2017, represents debt issuance costs expensed in conjunction with the incremental term loan (tranche F), refinancing of the 2021 Notes and the additional 2025 Notes. (5) Primarily represents foreign currency transaction gain or loss on intercompany loans to be settled and gain or loss on sale of fixed assets and payroll withholding taxes on dividend equivalent payments. TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - BALANCE SHEET DATA Table 5 (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) July 1, 2017 September 30, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents 970,556 1,586,994 Trade accounts receivable - net 606,005 576,339 Inventories - net 743,579 724,011 Current portion of long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs and OID 64,090 52,645 Short-term borrowings-trade receivable securitization facility, net of debt issuance costs 199,978 199,771 Accounts payable 147,080 156,075 Accrued current liabilities 319,569 344,112 Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs and OID 10,828,200 9,943,191 Total stockholders' deficit (1,895,445) (651,490) TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA, EBITDA AS DEFINED TO NET INCOME AND REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE TO ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE GUIDANCE MID-POINT Table 6 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Year Ended September 30, 2017 (guidance mid-point) Net income $ 612 Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization expense 144 Interest expense - net 600 Income tax provision 225 EBITDA 1,581 Adjustments: Acquisition-related expenses and adjustments (1) and other, net (1) 42 Non-cash stock compensation expense (1) 44 Refinancing costs (1) 36 Gross Adjustments to EBITDA 122 EBITDA As Defined $ 1,703 EBITDA As Defined, Margin (1) 48.0 % Earnings per share $ 9.28 Adjustments to earnings per share: Inclusion of the dividend equivalent payments 1.73 Non-cash stock compensation expense 0.55 Acquisition-related expenses and adjustments and other, net 0.80 Refinancing costs 0.45 Reduction in income tax provision net income per common share related to the adoption of ASU 2016-09 (0.60) Adjusted earnings per share $ 12.21 Weighted-average shares outstanding 55.6 (1) Refer to Table 2 above for definitions of Non-GAAP measurement adjustments. TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2017 GUIDANCE VERSUS PRIOR FISCAL YEAR 2017 GUIDANCE Table 7 (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Current Prior Fiscal Year 2017 Fiscal Year 2017 Guidance Guidance Change at Reaffirmed August 8, 2017 Issued May 9, 2017 Mid-Point Sales $3,530 to $3,570 $3,530 to $3,570 GAAP Net Income $605 to $619 $605 to $619 GAAP Earnings Per Share $9.16 to $9.40 $9.16 to $9.40 EBITDA As Defined $1,693 to $1,713 $1,693 to $1,713 Adjusted Earnings Per Share $12.09 to $12.33 $12.09 to $12.33 Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding 55.6 55.6 SOURCE TransDigm Group Incorporated Related Links http://www.transdigm.com SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Triple-S Management Corporation (NYSE:GTS), a leading managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced quarterly consolidated revenues of $745.9 million and net income of $12.7 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, versus net income of $3.9 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, last year. The adjusted net income for the quarter was $9.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, versus adjusted net income of $2.8 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, a year ago. Quarterly Consolidated Highlights Consolidated operating revenues were $741.2 million , a 0.8% decrease from last year, reflecting lower premiums in the Managed Care segment; , a 0.8% decrease from last year, reflecting lower premiums in the Managed Care segment; Consolidated operating income was $11.2 million ; ; Consolidated loss ratio was 84.6%; Medical loss ratio (MLR) was 87.5%. Commenting on the company's financial performance, Roberto Garcia-Rodriguez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Triple-S Management, said, "We are pleased with our quarterly results. Once again our Commercial business experienced additional MLR improvement due to the strict underwriting discipline we have been following for several years now. The Medicare and Medicaid operations are making adjustments to compensate for lower premiums and higher drug costs, but trends are positive." He added, "A key recent development was the agreement between Triple-S and the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration, or ASES by its Spanish acronym, to extend the contract to provide health care services through the government's health insurance program in the Metro North and West regions. The extension, which covers a three-month period that began on July 1, is designed to allow for continuity of services as we conclude negotiations on the contract renewal for the remainder of the current fiscal year. ASES has agreed to new rates that incorporate cost and utilization trends for fiscal 2016-2017. The rate increase should lead to a better second-half showing, further aided by cost saving initiatives implemented by both parties." Mr. Garcia-Rodriguez concluded, "While facing the headwinds of the government's fiscal austerity measures and their broader impact on Puerto Rico's economy, our strategic transformation remains on course. This quarter's results reflect the steady progress of our operational improvements, clinical initiatives and investments in technology. Meanwhile, premiums in the Medicare and Medicaid businesses are poised to improve as we move into 2018. We firmly believe these efforts will create incremental value for all of our constituencies, including our loyal shareholder base." Selected Consolidated Quarterly Details Consolidated premiums earned were $722.9 million , down 0.9% from last year. The decrease was principally due to lower premiums in the Managed Care business, mostly reflecting lower Medicare risk score adjustments and a decline in the Commercial and Medicaid fully-insured membership. These decreases were partially offset by higher life insurance premiums and last year's Medicaid 2.5% excess profit sharing accrual which reduced prior-year premiums. , down 0.9% from last year. The decrease was principally due to lower premiums in the Managed Care business, mostly reflecting lower Medicare risk score adjustments and a decline in the Commercial and Medicaid fully-insured membership. These decreases were partially offset by higher life insurance premiums and last year's Medicaid 2.5% excess profit sharing accrual which reduced prior-year premiums. At 84.6%, the consolidated loss ratio was down 70 basis points from a year ago, reflecting a lower loss ratio across all our segments. Excluding the impact of prior-period reserve developments and moving the Medicare risk score revenue adjustments and other premium adjustments to the corresponding period, the consolidated loss ratio would have been 87.9%, 130 basis points above last year. Consolidated operating expenses decreased $2.4 million and the operating expense ratio fell 20 basis points year over year, to 16.3%. The reduction in operating expenses reflects the $10.7 million decrease in the HIP fee due to the 2017 moratorium, offset by an increase in general administrative expenses of approximately $8.1 million . Selected Managed Care Segment Quarterly Details Managed Care premiums earned were $661.7 million , down $7.6 million , or 1.1%, year over year, largely reflecting a decrease in fully-insured membership. , down , or 1.1%, year over year, largely reflecting a decrease in fully-insured membership. Commercial premiums were down 5.4% when compared with the second quarter last year, to $203.3 million , resulting from lower fully-insured member month enrollment offset by higher average premium rates. The membership decrease was also impacted, in part, by the discontinuation of the US Virgin Islands business in September of the prior year. Also contributing to the premium decline was the suspension of $3.6 million in HIP fee pass throughs in 2017. , resulting from lower fully-insured member month enrollment offset by higher average premium rates. The membership decrease was also impacted, in part, by the discontinuation of the US Virgin Islands business in September of the prior year. Also contributing to the premium decline was the suspension of in HIP fee pass throughs in 2017. Medicare premiums of $266.6 million fell 2.4% year over year, primarily reflecting lower risk score revenue adjustment and a reduction in the Medicare reimbursement rates. These decreases were partially offset by an enrollment increase of 12,000 member months. fell 2.4% year over year, primarily reflecting lower risk score revenue adjustment and a reduction in the Medicare reimbursement rates. These decreases were partially offset by an enrollment increase of 12,000 member months. Medicaid premiums rose 5.8%, to $191.8 million . The increase primarily reflects last year's $14.6 million 2.5% excess profit sharing accrual, which reduced last year's premiums, and $11.6 million in additional premiums related to our compliance with the program's quality incentive metrics. Offsetting this increase was a membership decline, lower average premium rates that went into effect July 1, 2016 and $2.6 million associated with the 2017 HIP fee suspension. . The increase primarily reflects last year's 2.5% excess profit sharing accrual, which reduced last year's premiums, and in additional premiums related to our compliance with the program's quality incentive metrics. Offsetting this increase was a membership decline, lower average premium rates that went into effect and associated with the 2017 HIP fee suspension. Managed Care MLR of 87.5% was down 70 basis points from the prior year. Excluding the impact of prior-period reserve developments, and moving the Medicare risk score revenue adjustments and other premium adjustments to the corresponding period, the Managed Care MLR would have been 91.3%, 170 basis points higher than the comparable metric a year ago. The increase mainly reflects higher pharmacy claim trends in the Medicaid and Medicare businesses, lower premiums in the Medicare and Medicaid operations and the enhancement of benefits in our 2017 Medicare product offerings to take advantage of the HIP fee moratorium. Offsetting these increases is the improvement in the Commercial business MLR. Managed Care operating expenses were $89.5 million , down $3.3 million , or 3.6%, year over year, primarily reflecting the changes discussed above. Consolidated Six-Month Recap For the six months ended June 30, 2017, consolidated operating revenues decreased 2.8% year over year, to $1.5 billion, primarily reflecting a $45.7 million decline in Managed Care segment premiums. The premium decrease is mainly due to lower membership in the segment's Medicaid and Commercial businesses and lower Medicare risk score adjustments. Consolidated claims for the six-month period were $1.2 billion, down 1.3% over last year, reflecting lower fully-insured Managed Care enrollment. The consolidated loss ratio was up 140 basis points, to 86.5%, and the MLR rose 160 basis points, to 89.6%. Consolidated operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were $229.7 million and the operating expense ratio was 16.0%. Pro-forma net income for the six-month period was $4.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, based on weighted average shares outstanding of 24.2 million, compared with $6.1 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, based on weighted average shares outstanding of 24.7 million at the same time last year. 2017 Outlook Garcia-Rodriguez commented, "In our last earnings release, we provided directional guidance for our Commercial and Medicare businesses, given the proposed changes in the Government Health Plan (GHP) and the broader economic impact of the fiscal control measures required under PROMESA. Although the fiscal control measures have not been entirely implemented, our 90-day extension of the GHP contract gives us more visibility into the outlook of that business, so now we are also providing directional guidance for the GHP. "In the Commercial business, we expect full-year at-risk member month enrollment to be approximately 4.0 million, plus or minus 5%, reflecting some attrition as well as the addition of new groups. Our MLR now should be in the 83% to 85% range. "In the Medicare Advantage business, we anticipate full year member month enrollment of about 1.5 million, plus or minus 5%. The expected MLR should be between 90% and 92%. "Assuming the GHP contract is renewed through the remainder of the year, we expect a member month enrollment of 2.3 million, plus or minus 5%, and an average MLR of 91% for the second half of the year in that business. "Our ancillary segments are expected to continue showing stable results. In 2017 Life insurance and Property and Casualty premiums are expected to reach $162 million and $90 million, respectively, plus or minus 5%. "Investment income should be at the same level as in 2016 and administrative expenses now should be in a range of $460 million to $475 million. "We will continue offering directional informationsuch as estimates, targets or trendsas appropriate to help guide market expectations. As time progresses and the environment stabilizes, we will consider when and if it makes sense to provide consolidated earnings estimates on a regular basis." Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Following our filings for the periods ending December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017, and as the result of an inspection from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), our independent registered public accounting firm requested that we re-evaluate certain internal controls related to the review process of the Managed Care claims paid data input in our incurred but not reported (IBNR) actuarial models. Based on this re-evaluation, the Company determined that controls were not appropriately designed to validate that the claims paid information in the lag triangles used in the IBNR models was reviewed with enough precision to ascertain data is accurately presented by incurred date, causing a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting. The identification of this issue does not change our consolidated financial statements for those periods. Management has concluded, however, that disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting were not effective as of those dates. We have taken steps to address the situation and will amend our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2016 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as of March 31, 2017 accordingly. Conference Call and Webcast Management will host a conference call and webcast on August 8, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results for the three months and the six months ended June 30, 2017. To participate, callers within the U.S. and Canada should dial 1-855-327-6837 and international callers should dial 1-631-891-4304 about five minutes before the call. To listen to the webcast, participants should visit the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.triplesmanagement.com several minutes before the event is broadcast and follow the instructions provided to ensure they have the necessary audio application downloaded and installed. This program is provided at no charge to the user. An archived version of the call, also located on the "Investor Relations" section of Triple-S Management's website, will be available about two hours after the call ends and for at least the following two weeks. This news release, along with other information relating to the call, will be available on the "Investor Relations" section of the website. About Triple-S Management Corporation Triple-S Management Corporation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. It is one of the leading players in the managed care industry in Puerto Rico. Triple-S Management has the exclusive right to use the Blue Cross Blue Shield name and mark throughout Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Costa Rica. With more than 50 years of experience in the industry, Triple-S Management offers a broad portfolio of managed care and related products in the Commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid markets under the Blue Cross Blue Shield marks. It also provides non-Blue Cross Blue Shield branded life and property and casualty insurance in Puerto Rico. For more information about Triple-S Management, visit www.triplesmanagement.com or contact [email protected]. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This earnings release presents information about the Company's adjusted net income, which is a non-GAAP financial metric provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). A reconciliation of adjusted net income to net income, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, is provided in the accompanying tables found at the end of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future sales, results of operations, developments, regulatory approvals or other circumstances. Sentences that include "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "may", "will", "shall", "should" and similar expressions, whether in the positive or negative, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this news release reflect management's current views about future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed here as a result of various factors, including all the risks discussed and identified in public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In addition, the Company operates in a highly competitive, constantly changing environment, influenced by very large organizations that have resulted from business combinations, aggressive marketing and pricing practices of competitors, and regulatory oversight. The following factors, if markedly different from the Company's planning assumptions (either individually or in combination), could cause Triple-S Management's results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements shared here: Trends in health care costs and utilization rates Ability to secure sufficient premium rate increases Competitor pricing below market trends of increasing costs Re-estimates of policy and contract liabilities Changes in government laws and regulations of managed care, life insurance or property and casualty insurance Significant acquisitions or divestitures by major competitors Introduction and use of new prescription drugs and technologies A downgrade in the Company's financial strength ratings A downgrade in the Government of Puerto Rico's debt debt Litigation or legislation targeted at managed care, life insurance or property and casualty insurance companies Ability to contract with providers consistent with past practice Ability to successfully implement the Company's disease management, utilization management and Star ratings programs Ability to maintain Federal Employees, Medicare and Medicaid contracts Volatility in the securities markets and investment losses and defaults General economic downturns, major disasters, and epidemics This list is not exhaustive. Management believes the forward-looking statements in this release are reasonable. However, there is no assurance that the actions, events or results anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on the Company's results of operations or financial condition. In view of these uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. In addition, forward-looking statements are based on information available the day they are made, and (other than as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States) the Company does not intend to update or revise any of them in light of new information or future events. Readers are advised to carefully review and consider the various disclosures in the Company's SEC reports. Earnings Release Schedules and Supplementary Information Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Exhibit I Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings Exhibit II Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Exhibit III Segment Performance Supplemental Information Exhibit IV Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Exhibit V Exhibit I Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (dollar amounts in thousands) Unaudited June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Assets Investments $ 1,495,532 $ 1,433,392 Cash and cash equivalents 172,526 103,428 Premium and other receivables, net 320,548 286,365 Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired 200,034 194,787 Property and equipment, net 69,083 66,369 Other assets 147,645 134,658 Total assets $ 2,405,368 $ 2,218,999 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Policy liabilities and accruals $ 1,230,816 $ 1,102,237 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 256,893 219,191 Long-term borrowings 33,667 35,085 Total liabilities 1,521,376 1,356,513 Stockholders' equity: Common stock 24,445 24,272 Other stockholders' equity 860,225 838,891 Total Triple-S Management Corporation stockholders' equity 884,670 863,163 Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary (678) (677) Total stockholders' equity 883,992 862,486 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 2,405,368 $ 2,218,999 Exhibit II Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data) Unaudited For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenues: Premiums earned, net $ 722,891 $ 729,049 $ 1,425,164 $ 1,467,583 Administrative service fees 4,548 4,520 8,927 9,603 Net investment income 12,698 12,875 24,714 24,233 Other operating revenues 1,121 915 2,086 1,727 Total operating revenues 741,258 747,359 1,460,891 1,503,146 Net realized investment gains (losses): Total other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities - (1,434) - (1,434) Net realized gains, excluding other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities 4,054 2,954 4,390 3,012 Net realized investment gains on sale of securities 4,054 1,520 4,390 1,578 Other income, net 587 3,859 3,112 4,734 Total revenues 745,899 752,738 1,468,393 1,509,458 Benefits and expenses: Claims incurred 611,297 622,087 1,232,160 1,248,781 Operating expenses 118,720 121,112 229,666 244,092 Total operating costs 730,017 743,199 1,461,826 1,492,873 Interest expense 1,721 1,954 3,407 3,836 Total benefits and expenses 731,738 745,153 1,465,233 1,496,709 Income before taxes 14,161 7,585 3,160 12,749 Income taxes 1,456 3,707 (5,202) 5,416 Net income 12,705 3,878 8,362 7,333 Less: Net loss attributable to the non-controlling interest - 2 1 3 Net income attributable to Triple-S Management Corporation $ 12,705 $ 3,880 $ 8,363 $ 7,336 Earnings per share attributable to Triple-S Management Corporation: Basic net income per share $ 0.52 $ 0.16 $ 0.35 $ 0.30 Diluted net income per share $ 0.52 $ 0.16 $ 0.34 $ 0.30 Exhibit III Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (dollar amounts in thousands) Unaudited For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 2016 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 133,705 $ (10,565) Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from investments sold or matured: Securities available for sale: Fixed maturities sold 88,141 163,150 Fixed maturities matured/called 8,938 14,301 Equity securities sold 21,499 32,252 Securities held to maturity - fixed maturities matured/called 703 700 Acquisition of investments: Securities available for sale: Fixed maturities (141,116) (150,005) Equity securities (20,424) (136,104) Securities held to maturity - fixed maturities (703) (609) Increase in other investments (731) (1,383) Net change in policy loans (152) (400) Net capital expenditures (8,704) (2,716) Net cash used in by investing activities (52,549) (80,814) Cash flows from financing activities: Change in outstanding checks in excess of bank balances (8,545) 4,074 Repayments of long-term borrowings (1,212) (820) Repurchase and retirement of common stock - (14,560) Proceeds from policyholder deposits 8,166 7,942 Surrenders of policyholder deposits (10,467) (6,935) Net cash used in financing activities (12,058) (10,299) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 69,098 (101,678) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 103,428 197,818 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 172,526 $ 96,140 Exhibit IV Segment Performance Supplemental Information (Unaudited) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, (dollar amounts in millions) 2017 2016 Percentage Change 2017 2016 Percentage Change Premiums earned, net: Managed Care: Commercial $ 203.3 $ 215.0 (5.4%) $ 408.4 $ 430.5 (5.1%) Medicare 266.6 273.1 (2.4%) 524.3 534.0 (1.8%) Medicaid 191.8 181.2 5.8% 369.5 383.4 (3.6%) Total Managed Care 661.7 669.3 (1.1%) 1,302.2 1,347.9 (3.4%) Life Insurance 40.0 38.8 3.1% 80.5 77.9 3.3% Property and Casualty 21.8 21.7 0.5% 43.5 43.0 1.2% Other (0.6) (0.7) 14.3% (1.0) (1.2) 16.7% Consolidated premiums earned, net $ 722.9 $ 729.1 (0.9%) $ 1,425.2 $ 1,467.6 (2.9%) Operating revenues (loss): 1 Managed Care $ 671.6 $ 679.2 (1.1%) $ 1,321.6 $ 1,367.6 (3.4%) Life Insurance 46.3 45.2 2.4% 92.9 90.2 3.0% Property and Casualty 23.9 24.0 (0.4%) 47.6 47.3 0.6% Other (0.6) (1.0) 40.0% (1.2) (2.0) 40.0% Consolidated operating revenues $ 741.2 $ 747.4 (0.8%) $ 1,460.9 $ 1,503.1 (2.8%) Operating income (loss): 2 Managed Care $ 2.9 $ (3.8) 176.3% $ (15.7) $ (4.4) (256.8%) Life Insurance 5.0 5.1 (2.0%) 8.9 10.6 (16.0%) Property and Casualty 3.7 3.4 8.8% 5.8 5.5 5.5% Other (0.4) (0.5) 20.0% 0.1 (1.5) 106.7% Consolidated operating income (loss) $ 11.2 $ 4.2 166.7% $ (0.9) $ 10.2 (108.8%) Operating margin: 3 Managed Care 0.4% (0.6%) 100 bp (1.2%) (0.3%) -90 bp Life Insurance 10.8% 11.3% -50 bp 9.6% 11.8% -220 bp Property and Casualty 15.5% 14.2% 130 bp 12.2% 11.6% 60 bp Consolidated 1.5% 0.6% 90 bp (0.1%) 0.7% -80 bp Depreciation and amortization expense $ 3.5 $ 3.6 (2.8%) $ 6.5 $ 7.3 (11.0%) 1 Operating revenues include premiums earned, net, administrative service fees and net investment income. 2 Operating income or loss include operating revenues minus operating costs. Operating costs include claims incurred and operating expenses. 3 Operating margin is defined as operating income or loss divided by operating revenues. Managed Care Additional Data Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, (Unaudited) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Member months enrollment: Commercial: Fully-insured 1,001,638 1,063,422 2,014,843 2,159,704 Self-insured 501,500 540,221 1,008,667 1,083,247 Total Commercial 1,503,138 1,603,643 3,023,510 3,242,951 Medicare Advantage 363,257 351,108 726,984 715,535 Medicaid 1,169,089 1,206,345 2,342,363 2,428,237 Total member months 3,035,484 3,161,096 6,092,857 6,386,723 Claim liabilities (in millions) $ 371.4 $ 349.1 * Days claim payable 57 54 * Premium PMPM: Managed Care $ 261.13 $ 255.37 $ 256.13 $ 254.15 Commercial 202.97 202.18 202.70 199.33 Medicare Advantage 733.92 777.82 721.20 746.29 Medicaid 164.06 150.21 157.75 157.89 Medical loss ratio: 87.5% 88.2% 89.6% 88.0% Commercial 80.6% 89.2% 82.1% 86.0% Medicare Advantage 90.9% 86.6% 92.4% 88.3% Medicaid 90.3% 89.3% 93.9% 89.7% Adjusted medical loss ratio: 1 91.3% 89.6% 90.9% 89.4% Commercial 83.1% 87.6% 82.8% 86.7% Medicare Advantage 94.3% 91.3% 94.1% 92.0% Medicaid 96.0% 90.2% 95.4% 89.2% Operating expense ratio: Consolidated 16.3% 16.5% 16.0% 16.5% Managed Care 13.4% 13.7% 13.0% 13.6% *Information provided as of December 31, 2016. 1 The adjusted medical loss ratio accounts for subsequent adjustments to estimates, such as prior-period reserve developments and Medicare premium adjustments, and presents them in the corresponding period. Managed Care Membership by Segment As of June 30, 2017 2016 Members: Commercial: Fully-insured 331,989 349,281 Self-insured 166,404 179,621 Total Commercial 498,393 528,902 Medicare Advantage 121,240 116,215 Medicaid 386,070 402,661 Total members 1,005,703 1,047,778 Exhibit V Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Adjusted Net Income (Unaudited) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, (dollar amounts in millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net income $ 12.7 $ 3.9 $ 8.3 $ 7.3 Less adjustments: Net realized investment gains, net of tax 3.3 1.2 3.5 1.3 Private equity investment income, net of tax - (0.1) 0.2 (0.1) Adjusted net income $ 9.4 $ 2.8 $ 4.6 $ 6.1 Diluted adjusted net income per share $ 0.39 $ 0.11 $ 0.19 $ 0.25 Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial metric and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that the use of this adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share provides investors and management useful information about the earnings impact of realized investment gains and other non-recurring items impacting the Company's results of operations. This non-GAAP metric does not consider all of the items associated with the Company's operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. As a result, one should not consider these measures in isolation. SOURCE Triple-S Management Corporation Related Links http://www.triplesmanagement.com ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Way Worldwide, the world's largest privately funded nonprofit, fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. When it comes to education, some of our most critical efforts focus on supporting school readiness, early grade reading and quality childcare and pre-K. "United Ways around the world fight for our children every day. As we all know, the early years are a time of rapid brain development. Providing learning experiences that promote growth and help children start school on time is the greatest step that families and communities can take towards achieving a successful future for the next generation," said Ayeola Fortune, Director of Youth Success at United Way Worldwide. United Way believes that all children deserve a strong start in life. We make that possible by empowering parents to support their children, improving the quality of early learning environments, and offering solutions to challenges outside the classroom. We are able to do this by creating products, influencing public policy, and developing relationships with corporate partners and other key allies to create the building blocks to early childhood success in communities worldwide. A few highlights: 1. School Readiness: United Way is committed to helping children develop a solid foundation for success in school and in life. Some examples: Born Learning: Since 2005, United Way's national early learning initiative has given more that 15 million families in the U.S. the essential tools they need to make the most of their children's early years. It has proved so successful that the program has expanded to China , Australia and 11 other countries throughout Latin America. This global initiative consists of two key products that are available to families for free: Since 2005, United Way's national early learning initiative has given more that 15 million families in the U.S. the essential tools they need to make the most of their children's early years. It has proved so successful that the program has expanded to , and 11 other countries throughout Latin America. This global initiative consists of two key products that are available to families for free: Born Learning Academies: To help families prepare their children for kindergarten, United Way provides educational workshops in community centers or in the elementary schools their children will attend. These workshops, available in English and Spanish, are making a difference - in Kentucky , 98 percent of families attending the workshops have reported applying what they've learned in their daily lives. To help families prepare their children for kindergarten, United Way provides educational workshops in community centers or in the elementary schools their children will attend. These workshops, available in English and Spanish, are making a difference - in , 98 percent of families attending the workshops have reported applying what they've learned in their daily lives. Born Learning Trails: These innovative trails are comprised of a set of interactive signs that help turn everyday experiences into teachable moments. As a result of the work of more than 10,000 volunteers, close to 1,000 co-branded trails have been installed at parks, museums, playgrounds and company campuses. The installation process offers fun and educational volunteer opportunities for employees. Learn more at: https://www.bornlearning.org 2. Early Grade Reading: United Way is committed, through its initiatives and policy efforts, to ensure that communities provide a quality education that begins with reading. For example: ReadingPals: More than 15 United Ways across Florida have developed an early literacy initiative in partnership with Publix Super Markets that are helping children discover the joy of reading. In 2016, more than 2,300 Publix employees volunteered as reading buddies to support children in low-performing centers and Pre-K classrooms, contributing more than 44,000 hours of instruction in 159 locations. The result: 2,141 struggling readers had a mentor for a full year, resulting in improved reading grades and school readiness scores. More than 15 United Ways across have developed an early literacy initiative in partnership with Publix Super Markets that are helping children discover the joy of reading. In 2016, more than 2,300 Publix employees volunteered as reading buddies to support children in low-performing centers and Pre-K classrooms, contributing more than 44,000 hours of instruction in 159 locations. The result: 2,141 struggling readers had a mentor for a full year, resulting in improved reading grades and school readiness scores. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): United Way fights for accountability provisions, implemented at the state level, to protect disadvantaged groups. United Way works with families and communities that are engaged in these efforts and works to secure and increase funding for the critical programs authorized in ESSA that address literacy, out-of-school time and wraparound supports. 3. Quality Childcare and Pre-K: United Way is committed, through its initiatives and policy efforts, to ensure that communities provide quality and affordable childcare. Such as: The Milwaukee Succeeds Kindergarten Readiness Program : http://milwaukeesucceeds.org/, a partnership with United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County. Quality childcare promotes early development, preparation for kindergarten, and enables parents to go to work with the peace of mind that their children are being cared for and developing a foundation for future success. : http://milwaukeesucceeds.org/, a partnership with United Way of and Waukesha County. Quality childcare promotes early development, preparation for kindergarten, and enables parents to go to work with the peace of mind that their children are being cared for and developing a foundation for future success. Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG): Through our national and local policy efforts, United Way fights to increase funding to improve access to high quality child care and increase access to high-quality early learning opportunities via Early Head Start, Head Start, and state-sponsored Pre-K programs. Through our national and local policy efforts, United Way fights to increase funding to improve access to high quality child care and increase access to high-quality early learning opportunities via Early Head Start, Head Start, and state-sponsored Pre-K programs. Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) Reauthorization: As a member of the home visiting coalition, United Way is working to reauthorize MIECHV to give pregnant women and families the necessary resources and skills to raise children who are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy and ready to learn. As a member of the home visiting coalition, United Way is working to reauthorize MIECHV to give pregnant women and families the necessary resources and skills to raise children who are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy and ready to learn. Left Behind Children in China - One in every five children in China is left behind in rural villages when their parents leave to seek jobs in the cities. United Way and the China Charity Federation have come together to create Love and Care Children's Home to help fill the void and provide quality care and support. Built to support children in need, these "homes" are safe and welcoming resources areas largely existing inside schools and community centers; a place where children can receive help with their emotional problems, experience regular communication with their parents and discover additional learning. For over 130 years, United Way has been the unifying force that brings together community leaders, organized labor, faith-based groups, corporations, nonprofit organizations and governments. Together we create sweeping change that lifts up entire communities around the world, and together we fight for early childhood success. About United Way Worldwide United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. Supported by 2.8 million volunteers, 9.8 million donors worldwide, and more than $4.7 billion raised every year, United Way is the world's largest privately-funded nonprofit. We're engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our communities. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit www.UnitedWay.org , Read our annual report: https://www.unitedway.org/annual-report/2015 Follow us on Twitter: @UnitedWay and #LiveUnited. Media Contact: Southerlyn Reisig, [email protected] Tel. 703.836.7100 ext.321 Christine Sanchez, [email protected] Tel. 703.836.7100 ext.564 SOURCE United Way Worldwide Related Links http://www.liveunited.org "It is an honor to be recognized as the best in the region yet again," said Stuart Markowitz, M.D., president, Hartford Hospital; senior vice president, Hartford HealthCare. "Our commitment and reputation for excellence is cemented in the region thanks to the dedication of each Hartford Hospital staff member. Every day this team delivers the best possible care in the safest and most compassionate way. Our journey to excellence is a team effort, and we are so thankful to our staff and the patients who trust us with their care." U.S. News & World Report recently changed its methodology making it much more difficult to achieve a rank in "High Performing" banners. The new methodology recognizes the best of the bestthe top ten percent and Hartford Hospital ranks high-performing in six specialties and nine procedures: High Performing Specialties: Diabetes & Endocrinology Gastroenterology & GI Surgery Geriatrics Nephrology Orthopedics Pulmonology High Performing Procedures: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Aortic Valve Surgery Heart Bypass Surgery Heart Failure Colon Cancer Surgery Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Hip Replacement Knee Replacement Lung Cancer Surgery A complete outline of how the new methodology works can be found here. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is ranked # 2 in the nation among the top the hospitals specializing in cancer care. This marks the 27th year that MSK has been recognized as one of the nation's top 2 cancer hospitals. The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute is proud to be the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. The Cancer Institute is comprised of five cancer centers one at each of Hartford HealthCare's acute care hospitals across Connecticut. The rankings, available at www.usnews.com/best-hospitals, will appear in the U.S. News "Best Hospitals 2018" guidebook (ISBN 978-1-931469-678), available in August from the U.S. News Store. About Hartford Hospital Hartford Hospital, founded in 1854, is one of the largest teaching hospitals and tertiary care centers in New England with one of the region's busiest surgery practices. It is annually ranked among America's Best Hospitals by US News & World Report and has been recognized nationally for the quality of many of its programs, including cardiology, cancer, stroke and joint and spine care. The 867-bed regional referral center provides high-quality care in all clinical disciplines. Among its divisions is The Institute of Living, a 114-bed mental health facility with a national and international reputation of excellence. Jefferson House, a 104-bed long-term care facility, is also a special division of Hartford Hospital. The hospital's major centers of clinical excellence include cardiology, oncology, emergency services and trauma, mental health, women's health, orthopedics, bloodless surgery and advanced organ transplantation. Hartford Hospital owns and operates the state's only air ambulance system, LIFE STAR. About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. 30 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C. SOURCE Hartford Hospital Related Links https://hartfordhospital.org LAVAL, Quebec, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Second-Quarter 2017 Financial Results Revenues of $2.233 Billion GAAP Net Loss of $38 Million Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) of $362 Million Year-to-Date GAAP Cash Flow from Operations of $1.222 Billion Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Sequential Increase of 10% to $951 Million Delivered Strong Organic Growth 1 (non-GAAP) in Bausch + Lomb/International Segment and Salix Business Expects to Exceed $5 Billion Debt Reduction Commitment Early Updates 2017 Full-Year Revenue Guidance Range and Maintains 2017 Full-Year Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Guidance Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX) (TSX: VRX) ("Valeant" or the "Company" or "we") today announced its second-quarter 2017 financial results. "The investments we are making in our core business are delivering results," said Joseph C. Papa, chairman and chief executive officer, Valeant. "The Bausch + Lomb/International segment and Salix business, which together represented 73 percent of our revenue in the quarter, delivered strong organic growth1, and we are continuing to reduce debt and resolve legacy issues." "Additionally, we confirm that we are maintaining our 2017 full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance range despite the impact of divestitures we've made this year," added Mr. Papa. Company Highlights Strengthening the Balance Sheet Completed sale of Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC and used net proceeds to pay down $811 million of senior secured term loans of senior secured term loans Announced that Valeant will redeem the remaining $500 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 6.75% Senior Notes due 2018, using cash on hand, on Aug. 15, 2017 . Upon redemption, the Company expects to: aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 6.75% Senior Notes due 2018, using cash on hand, on . Upon redemption, the Company expects to: Have reduced total debt by more than $4.8 billion since the end of the first quarter of 2016 since the end of the first quarter of 2016 Have no debt maturities and no mandatory amortization requirements until 2020 Announced agreements to sell iNova Pharmaceuticals and Obagi Medical Products businesses for $930 million and $190 million in cash, respectively; both remain on track to close in the second half of 2017 and in cash, respectively; both remain on track to close in the second half of 2017 Generated $268 million and $1.222 billion in cash flow from operations in the second quarter and for the six months that ended June 30, 2017 , respectively and in cash flow from operations in the second quarter and for the six months that ended , respectively Delivered GAAP net loss of $38 million and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of $951 million and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of Achieving positive outcomes in resolving and managing litigation and investigations, including settling the Salix securities class action litigation Expects to exceed commitment to pay down $5 billion in debt from divestiture proceeds and free cash flow before February 2018 Executing on Core Businesses Grew revenue in the Salix business by 13% compared to the second quarter of 2016 and organically grew 1 revenue in the Salix business by 16% compared to the second quarter of 2016 revenue in the Salix business by 16% compared to the second quarter of 2016 XIFAXAN (rifaximin) revenues rose by 16% compared to the second quarter of 2016 Strong XIFAXAN growth, with prescriptions up 6% sequentially and 2% versus the second quarter of 2016, and extended Rx unit volume up 4% versus second quarter of 2016 APRISO (mesalamine) prescriptions grew by 7% compared to the second quarter of 2016 RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) prescriptions grew by 33% compared to the second quarter of 2016 Revenue of the Bausch + Lomb/International segment decreased by 3% compared to the second quarter of 2016; however, the segment revenue increased organically 1 by approximately 6% compared to the second quarter of 2016 by approximately 6% compared to the second quarter of 2016 Grew revenue in the Bausch + Lomb business in China by 4% compared to the second quarter of 2016 despite currency headwinds and organically grew 1 revenue in this business by 9%, compared to the second quarter of 2016, driven by volume by 4% compared to the second quarter of 2016 despite currency headwinds and organically grew revenue in this business by 9%, compared to the second quarter of 2016, driven by volume Advanced Bausch + Lomb business Introduced Bausch + Lomb AQUALOX bi-weekly contact lenses in Japan in June in June Introduced Bausch + Lomb renu Advanced Formula multi-purpose contact lens solution Received filing acceptance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the New Drug Application (NDA) for Luminesse 2 (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.025%) with a PDUFA action date of Dec. 27, 2017 (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution, 0.025%) with a PDUFA action date of Received FDA 510(k) clearances for Vitesse and Stellaris Elite Vision Enhancement System Continued to focus on stabilizing the dermatology business Launched SILIQ (brodalumab) injection in July as the lowest-priced injectable biologic for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in the United States Rebranded the business as Ortho Dermatologics in July Received FDA filing acceptance for the NDA for PLENVU2 (NER1006), a novel, low volume polyethylene glycol-based bowel preparation for colonoscopies Second-Quarter Revenue Performance Total revenues were $2.233 billion for the second quarter of 2017, as compared to $2.420 billion in the second quarter of 2016, a decrease of $187 million, or 8%. The decrease was primarily driven by decreases in volume and price in our U.S. Diversified Products segment, attributed to the previously reported loss of exclusivity for a basket of products, and the dermatology business. The decline also reflects the unfavorable impact of divestitures and discontinuations, primarily the skincare divestiture within the Bausch + Lomb/International segment.3 Revenues by segment for the second quarter of 2017 were as follows: $ in millions 2017 2016 Reported Change Reported Change Change at Constant Currency4 Organic Growth1 Segment Bausch + Lomb/International $1,241 $1,277 $(36) (3%) 1% 6% Branded Rx $636 $653 $(17) (3%) (3%) 0% U.S. Diversified Products $356 $490 $(134) (27%) (27%) (27%) Total Revenues $2,233 $2,420 $(187) (8%) (5%) (3%) Bausch + Lomb/International Segment The Bausch + Lomb/International segment revenues were $1.241 billion for the second quarter of 2017, as compared to $1.277 billion for second quarter of 2016, a decrease of $36 million, or 3%. Excluding the impact of the skincare divestiture and foreign exchange, the Bausch + Lomb/International segment organically grew1 by approximately 6% compared to the second quarter of 2016, driven by performance in China, Europe and Africa/Middle East and the Global Ophthalmology business. Branded Rx Segment The Branded Rx segment revenues were $636 million for the second quarter of 2017, as compared to $653 million for second quarter of 2016, a decrease of $17 million, or 3%. The decrease in sales primarily was due to lower volumes in the dermatology business and the impact of divestitures and discontinuations in the Salix business. The decline was largely offset by 13% revenue growth in the Salix business compared to the second quarter of 2016, despite the impact of the divestiture of Ruconest, and organic growth1 in the Salix business of 16% compared to the second quarter of 2016. U.S. Diversified Products Segment The U.S. Diversified Products segment revenues were $356 million for the second quarter of 2017, as compared to $490 million for second quarter of 2016, a decrease of $134 million, or 27%. The decline was primarily driven by decreases in volume and price attributed to the previously reported loss of exclusivity for a basket of products. Operating Income Operating income was $175 million for the second quarter of 2017 as compared to $81 million for the second quarter of 2016, an increase of $94 million. The increase in operating income primarily reflects lower asset impairments and amortization charges partially offset by a decrease in contribution margin as a result of the decline in product sales from existing businesses. Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $38 million, as compared to $302 million for the same period in 2016, an improvement of $264 million. The decrease in net loss primarily reflects the increase in recovery for income taxes, increase in operating income and the net change in foreign exchange. Cash provided by operating activities was $268 million for the second quarter of 2017. Cash flows from operations were negatively affected by $190 million of net payments made in resolution of the Salix securities class action litigation.5 Excluding these payments, the Company generated a normalized cash flow of $458 million. GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) Diluted for the second quarter of 2017 came in at $(0.11) as compared to $(0.88) in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was $951 million for the second quarter of 2017, as compared to $1.087 billion for the second quarter of 2016, a decrease of $136 million, primarily due to lower revenues attributed to the previously reported loss of exclusivity for a basket of products, divestitures and discontinuations, and declines in our dermatology business, partially offset by strong organic growth1 in the Bausch + Lomb/International segment and the Salix business. Adjusted EBITDA grew by 10% sequentially versus the prior quarter. 2017 Guidance Valeant has updated guidance for 2017, as follows: Full-Year Revenues in the range of $8.70 - $8.90 billion from $8.90 - $9.10 billion The Company confirms we will maintain our full-year Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) guidance range of $3.60 - $3.75 billion despite the impact of divestitures that have closed in 2017. This updated guidance reflects the impact of the sale of the CeraVe, AcneFree and AMBI skincare brands and the sale of Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC. This guidance does not reflect the impact of the sales of the iNova Pharmaceuticals and Obagi Medical Products businesses, which are both expected to close in the second half of the year. Other than with respect to GAAP Revenues, the Company only provides guidance on a non-GAAP basis. The Company does not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) to GAAP net income (loss), due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation. In periods where significant acquisitions or divestitures are not expected, the Company believes it might have a basis for forecasting the GAAP equivalent for certain costs, such as amortization, which would otherwise be treated as non-GAAP to calculate projected GAAP net income (loss). However, because other deductions (such as restructuring, gain or loss on extinguishment of debt and litigation and other matters) used to calculate projected net income (loss) vary dramatically based on actual events, the Company is not able to forecast on a GAAP basis with reasonable certainty all deductions needed in order to provide a GAAP calculation of projected net income (loss) at this time. The amount of these deductions may be material and, therefore, could result in projected GAAP net income (loss) being materially less than projected Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP). Additional Highlights Valeant's cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $2.025 billion at June 30, 2017 at The Company's availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $930 million at June 30, 2017 at Valeant's corporate credit ratings remained unchanged during the second quarter of 2017 John Paulson , president of Paulson & Co., Inc., a New York -based investment firm, joined the Company's Board of Directors Conference Call Details Date: Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 Time: 8:00 a.m. EDT Webcast: http://ir.valeant.com/events-and-presentations Participant Event Dial-in: (877) 876-8393 (North America) (443) 961-0178 (International) Participant Passcode: 35736021 Replay Dial-in: (855) 859-2056 (North America) (404) 537-3406 (International) Replay Passcode: 31833 (replay available until Oct. 8, 2017) About Valeant Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE/TSX:VRX) is a multinational specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of pharmaceutical products primarily in the areas of dermatology, gastrointestinal disorders, eye health, neurology and branded generics. More information about Valeant can be found at www.valeant.com. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information and statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including, but not limited to, statements regarding Valeant's future prospects and performance (including the Company's updated 2017 full-year guidance), the expected date for the completion of the redemption of certain of the Company's senior notes and the anticipated impact of such redemption, the Company's expectations with respect to debt paydown, the anticipated timing of the closing of the divestitures of the iNova Pharmaceuticals and Obagi Medical Products businesses and the Company's plans and expectations for 2017. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "will," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements, including the Company's updated full-year guidance, are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are provided for the purpose of providing additional information about such expectations and beliefs and readers are cautioned that these statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's most recent annual and quarterly reports and detailed from time to time in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which risks and uncertainties are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, certain material factors and assumptions have been applied in making these forward-looking statements (including the Company's 2017 full-year guidance), including that the risks and uncertainties outlined above will not cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements, and additional information regarding certain of these material factors and assumptions may also be found in the Company's filings described above. The Company believes that the material factors and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Valeant undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law. Non-GAAP Information Recent Evaluation of Financial Performance Measures Recently, the Company's new management team undertook an evaluation of how it would measure the financial performance of the Company going forward. In evaluating its financial performance measures, the Company considered its recent changes to its strategy (which included a transition away from growth by acquisition with a greater focus on R&D activity, strengthening of the balance sheet through the paydown of debt and rationalization of the product portfolio through divestitures of non-core assets) and sought to identify performance measures that best reflect the Company's current business operations, strategy and goals. As a result of that evaluation, new management identified the following primary financial performance measures for the Company: GAAP Revenues (measure for both guidance and actual results), GAAP Net Income (measure for actual results), Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) (measure for both guidance and actual results) and GAAP Cash Flow from Operations (measure for actual results). These measures were selected as the Company believes that these measures most appropriately reflect how the Company measures the business internally and sets operational goals and incentives. For example, the Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) focuses management on the Company's underlying operational results and business performance, while GAAP Revenue focuses management on the overall growth of the business. In addition, in connection with this evaluation of financial performance measures, the Company assessed the methodology with which it was calculating non-GAAP measures and made updates where it deemed appropriate to better reflect the underlying business. For example, commencing with the first quarter of 2017, Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) no longer includes adjustments for Foreign exchange gain/loss arising from intercompany transactions. The Company began to use these new non-GAAP measures, and the new methodologies used to calculate these non-GAAP measures, commencing with the first quarter of 2017. For the purposes of the Company's actual results for the first half and second quarter of 2016, the Company has calculated and presented the non-GAAP measures using the historic methodologies in place as of the applicable historic dates; however, the Company has also provided a reconciliation that calculates the non-GAAP measures using the new methodologies, to allow investors and readers to evaluate the non-GAAP measures (such as Adjusted EBITDA) on the same basis for the periods presented. Use of Non-GAAP Generally To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures including (i) Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), (ii) Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) and (iii) organic growth. These measures do not have any standardized meaning under GAAP and other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate such measures. Accordingly, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar non-GAAP measures. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on such non-GAAP measures, but instead to consider them with the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation. They should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The reconciliations of these historic non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are shown in the tables below. However, for guidance purposes, the Company does not provide reconciliations of projected Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) to projected GAAP net income (loss), due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations. In periods where significant acquisitions or divestitures are not expected, the Company believes it might have a basis for forecasting the GAAP equivalent for certain costs, such as amortization, that would otherwise be treated as a non-GAAP adjustment to calculate projected GAAP net income (loss). However, because other deductions (e.g., restructuring, gain or loss on extinguishment of debt and litigation and other matters) used to calculate projected net income (loss) may vary significantly based on actual events, the Company is not able to forecast on a GAAP basis with reasonable certainty all deductions needed in order to provide a GAAP calculation of projected net income (loss) at this time. The amounts of these deductions may be material and, therefore, could result in GAAP net income (loss) being materially different from (including materially less than) projected Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP). Management uses these non-GAAP measures as key metrics in the evaluation of Company performance and the consolidated financial results and, in part, in the determination of cash bonuses for its executive officers. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in their assessment of our operating performance and the valuation of our Company. In addition, these non-GAAP measures address questions the Company routinely receives from analysts and investors and, in order to assure that all investors have access to similar data, the Company has determined that it is appropriate to make this data available to all investors. However, non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, as they exclude certain items as described herein. Therefore, the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies and should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Specific Non-GAAP Measures Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is GAAP net income (its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) adjusted for certain items, as further described below. The Company has historically used Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate current performance. As indicated above, following an evaluation of the Company's financial performance measures, new management of the Company identified certain new primary financial performance measures that it is now using to evaluate the Company's financial performance. One of those measures is Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), which the Company uses for both actual results and guidance purposes. As described above, management of the Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), along with the other new measures, most appropriately reflect how the Company measures the business internally and sets operational goals and incentives, especially in light of the Company's new strategies. In particular, the Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) focuses management on the Company's underlying operational results and business performance. As a result, the Company is now using Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) both to assess the actual financial performance of the Company and to forecast future results as part of its guidance. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is a useful measure to evaluate current performance. Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is intended to show our unleveraged, pre-tax operating results and therefore reflects our financial performance based on operational factors. In addition, commencing in 2017, cash bonuses for the Company's executive officers and other key employees will be based, in part, on the achievement of certain Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) targets. Adjusted EBITDA reflect adjustments based on the following items: Restructuring and integration costs : Prior to 2016, the Company completed a number of acquisitions, which resulted in operating expenses which varied significantly from period to period and which would not otherwise have been incurred. The type, nature, size and frequency of the Company's acquisitions have varied considerably period to period. As a result, the type and amount of the restructuring, integration and deal costs have also varied significantly from acquisition to acquisition. In addition, the costs associated with an acquisition varied significantly from quarter to quarter, with most costs generally decreasing over time. Consequently, given the variability and volatility of these costs from acquisition to acquisition and period to period and because these costs are incremental and directly related to the acquisition, the Company does not view these costs as normal operating expenses. Furthermore, due to the volatility of these costs and due to the fact that they are directly related to the acquisitions, the Company believes that such costs should be excluded when assessing or estimating the long-term performance of the acquired businesses or assets as part of the Company. Also, the size, complexity and/or volume of past acquisitions, which often drove the magnitude of such expenses, were not necessarily indicative of the size, complexity and/or volume of any future acquisitions. In addition, since 2016 and for the foreseeable future, while the Company has undertaken fewer acquisitions, the Company has incurred (and anticipates continuing to incur) additional restructuring costs as it implements its new strategies, which will involve, among other things, internal reorganizations and divestiture of assets and businesses. The amount, size and timing of these costs fluctuates, depending on the reorganization or transaction and, as a result, the Company does not believe that such costs (and their impact) are truly representative of the underlying business. In each case, by excluding these expenses from its non-GAAP measures, management believes it provided supplemental information that assisted investors with their evaluation of the Company's ability to utilize its existing assets and with its estimation of the long-term value that acquired assets would generate for the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items provided supplemental information with regard to the sustainability of the Company's operating performance, allowed for a comparison of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance and, as a result, provided useful supplemental information to investors. : Prior to 2016, the Company completed a number of acquisitions, which resulted in operating expenses which varied significantly from period to period and which would not otherwise have been incurred. The type, nature, size and frequency of the Company's acquisitions have varied considerably period to period. As a result, the type and amount of the restructuring, integration and deal costs have also varied significantly from acquisition to acquisition. In addition, the costs associated with an acquisition varied significantly from quarter to quarter, with most costs generally decreasing over time. Consequently, given the variability and volatility of these costs from acquisition to acquisition and period to period and because these costs are incremental and directly related to the acquisition, the Company does not view these costs as normal operating expenses. Furthermore, due to the volatility of these costs and due to the fact that they are directly related to the acquisitions, the Company believes that such costs should be excluded when assessing or estimating the long-term performance of the acquired businesses or assets as part of the Company. Also, the size, complexity and/or volume of past acquisitions, which often drove the magnitude of such expenses, were not necessarily indicative of the size, complexity and/or volume of any future acquisitions. In addition, since 2016 and for the foreseeable future, while the Company has undertaken fewer acquisitions, the Company has incurred (and anticipates continuing to incur) additional restructuring costs as it implements its new strategies, which will involve, among other things, internal reorganizations and divestiture of assets and businesses. The amount, size and timing of these costs fluctuates, depending on the reorganization or transaction and, as a result, the Company does not believe that such costs (and their impact) are truly representative of the underlying business. In each case, by excluding these expenses from its non-GAAP measures, management believes it provided supplemental information that assisted investors with their evaluation of the Company's ability to utilize its existing assets and with its estimation of the long-term value that acquired assets would generate for the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items provided supplemental information with regard to the sustainability of the Company's operating performance, allowed for a comparison of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance and, as a result, provided useful supplemental information to investors. Acquired in-process research and development costs : The Company has excluded expenses associated with acquired in-process research and development, as these amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing, size and nature of acquisitions. Furthermore, as these amounts are associated with research and development acquired, they are not a representation of the Company's research and development efforts during the period. : The Company has excluded expenses associated with acquired in-process research and development, as these amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing, size and nature of acquisitions. Furthermore, as these amounts are associated with research and development acquired, they are not a representation of the Company's research and development efforts during the period. Asset Impairments : The Company has excluded the impact of impairments of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangibles, as well as impairments of assets held for sale, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions and divestitures. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes intangible impairments from its non-GAAP expenses, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. : The Company has excluded the impact of impairments of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangibles, as well as impairments of assets held for sale, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions and divestitures. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes intangible impairments from its non-GAAP expenses, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. Share-based Compensation : The Company excludes the impact of costs relating to share-based compensation. The Company believes that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense assists investors in the comparisons of operating results to peer companies. Share-based compensation expense can vary significantly based on the timing, size and nature of awards granted. : The Company excludes the impact of costs relating to share-based compensation. The Company believes that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense assists investors in the comparisons of operating results to peer companies. Share-based compensation expense can vary significantly based on the timing, size and nature of awards granted. Acquisition- related adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets and depreciation expense : The Company has excluded the impact of acquisition-related contingent consideration non-cash adjustments due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates, and the amount and frequency of such adjustments is not consistent and is significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Company's acquisitions, as well as the nature of the agreed-upon consideration. In addition, the Company has excluded the impact of fair value inventory step-up resulting from acquisitions as the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of its acquisitions. : The Company has excluded the impact of acquisition-related contingent consideration non-cash adjustments due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates, and the amount and frequency of such adjustments is not consistent and is significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Company's acquisitions, as well as the nature of the agreed-upon consideration. In addition, the Company has excluded the impact of fair value inventory step-up resulting from acquisitions as the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of its acquisitions. Loss on extinguishment of debt : The Company has excluded loss on extinguishment of debt as this represents a cost of refinancing our existing debt and is not a reflection of our operations for the period. Further, the amount and frequency of such charges are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of debt financing transactions and other factors in the debt market out of management's control. : The Company has excluded loss on extinguishment of debt as this represents a cost of refinancing our existing debt and is not a reflection of our operations for the period. Further, the amount and frequency of such charges are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of debt financing transactions and other factors in the debt market out of management's control. Other Non-GAAP Charges : The Company has excluded certain other amounts including integration related inventory and technology transfer costs, CEO termination costs, legal and other professional fees incurred in connection with recent legal and governmental proceedings, investigations and information requests respecting certain of our distribution, marketing, pricing, disclosure and accounting practices, litigation and other matters, net (gain)/loss on sale of assets, acquisition-related transaction costs and certain costs associated with the wind-down of the arrangements with Philidor Rx Services, LLC ("Philidor"). In addition, the Company has excluded certain other expenses that are the result of other, non-comparable events to measure operating performance. These events arise outside of the ordinary course of continuing operations. Given the unique nature of the matters relating to these costs, the Company believes these items are not normal operating expenses. For example, legal settlements and judgments vary significantly, in their nature, size and frequency, and, due to this volatility, the Company believes the costs associated with legal settlements and judgments are not normal operating expenses. In addition, as opposed to more ordinary course matters, the Company considers that each of the recent proceedings, investigations and information requests, given their nature and frequency, are outside of the ordinary course and relate to unique circumstances. The Company believes that the exclusion of such out-of-the-ordinary-course amounts provides supplemental information to assist in the comparison of the financial results of the Company from period to period and, therefore, provides useful supplemental information to investors. However, investors should understand that many of these costs could recur and that companies in our industry often face litigation. Finally, to the extent not already adjusted for above, Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) reflects adjustments for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). As indicated above, in addition to identifying new primary financial performance measures, the Company also assessed the methodology with which it was calculating these non-GAAP measures and made updates where it deemed appropriate to better reflect the underlying business. As a result, commencing with the first quarter actual results of 2017, there are certain differences in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) between the current presentation and the historic presentation. In particular, Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) no longer includes adjustments for Foreign exchange gain/loss arising from intercompany transactions. For the purposes of the Company's actual results for the first half and second quarter of 2016, the Company has calculated and presented the non-GAAP measures using the historic methodologies in place as of the applicable historic dates; however, the Company has also provided a reconciliation that calculates the non-GAAP measure using the new methodology, to allow investors and readers to evaluate the non-GAAP measure (such as Adjusted EBITDA) on the same basis for the periods presented. Please also see the reconciliation tables below for further information as to how these non-GAAP measures are calculated for the periods presented. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) (non-GAAP) Historically, management has used adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP) (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for which is GAAP net income (loss)) for strategic decision making, forecasting future results and evaluating current performance. This non-GAAP measure excludes the impact of certain items (as further described below) that may obscure trends in the Company's underlying performance. By disclosing this non-GAAP measure, it was management's intention to provide investors with a meaningful, supplemental comparison of the Company's operating results and trends for the periods presented. It was management belief that this measure was also useful to investors as such measure allowed investors to evaluate the Company's performance using the same tools that management had used to evaluate past performance and prospects for future performance. Accordingly, it was the Company's belief that adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP) was useful to investors in their assessment of the Company's operating performance and the valuation of the Company. It is also noted that, in recent periods, our GAAP net income was significantly lower than our adjusted net income (non-GAAP). As indicated above, following an assessment of the Company's financial performance measures, new management of the Company identified certain new primary financial performance measures that will be used to assess Company financial performance going forward. As a result, the Company no longer uses or relies on adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP) in assessing the financial performance of the Company. However, a reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP) is presented in the tables below for the information of readers to provide readers comparable information for prior periods. Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) reflects adjustments based on the following items: Acquisition- related adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets : The Company has excluded the impact of acquisition-related contingent consideration non-cash adjustments due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates, and the amount and frequency of such adjustments is not consistent and is significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Company's acquisitions, as well as the nature of the agreed-upon consideration. In addition, the Company has excluded the impact of fair value inventory step-up resulting from acquisitions as the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of its acquisitions. : The Company has excluded the impact of acquisition-related contingent consideration non-cash adjustments due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates, and the amount and frequency of such adjustments is not consistent and is significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Company's acquisitions, as well as the nature of the agreed-upon consideration. In addition, the Company has excluded the impact of fair value inventory step-up resulting from acquisitions as the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of its acquisitions. Amortization of intangible assets : The Company has excluded the impact of amortization of intangible assets, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes amortization of intangible assets from its non-GAAP expenses, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. Amortization of intangible assets that relate to past acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Any future acquisitions may result in the amortization of additional intangible assets. : The Company has excluded the impact of amortization of intangible assets, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes amortization of intangible assets from its non-GAAP expenses, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. Amortization of intangible assets that relate to past acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Any future acquisitions may result in the amortization of additional intangible assets. Restructuring and integration costs : Prior to 2016, the Company completed a number of acquisitions, which resulted in operating expenses which varied significantly from period to period and which would not otherwise have been incurred. The type, nature, size and frequency of the Company's acquisitions have varied considerably period to period. As a result, the type and amount of the restructuring, integration and deal costs have also varied significantly from acquisition to acquisition. In addition, the costs associated with an acquisition varied significantly from quarter to quarter, with most costs generally decreasing over time. Consequently, given the variability and volatility of these costs from acquisition to acquisition and period to period and because these costs are incremental and directly related to the acquisition, the Company does not view these costs as normal operating expenses. Furthermore, due to the volatility of these costs and due to the fact that they are directly related to the acquisitions, the Company believes that such costs should be excluded when assessing or estimating the long-term performance of the acquired businesses or assets as part of the Company. Also, the size, complexity and/or volume of past acquisitions, which often drove the magnitude of such expenses, were not necessarily indicative of the size, complexity and/or volume of any future acquisitions. In addition, since 2016 and for the foreseeable future, while the Company has undertaken fewer acquisitions, the Company has incurred (and anticipates continuing to incur) additional restructuring costs as it implements its new strategies, which will involve, among other things, internal reorganizations and divestiture of assets and businesses. The amount, size and timing of these costs fluctuates, depending on the reorganization or transaction and, as a result, the Company does not believe that such costs (and their impact) are truly representative of the underlying business. In each case, by excluding these expenses from its non-GAAP measures, management believes it provided supplemental information that assisted investors with their evaluation of the Company's ability to utilize its existing assets and with its estimation of the long-term value that acquired assets would generate for the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items provided supplemental information with regard to the sustainability of the Company's operating performance, allowed for a comparison of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance and, as a result, provided useful supplemental information to investors. : Prior to 2016, the Company completed a number of acquisitions, which resulted in operating expenses which varied significantly from period to period and which would not otherwise have been incurred. The type, nature, size and frequency of the Company's acquisitions have varied considerably period to period. As a result, the type and amount of the restructuring, integration and deal costs have also varied significantly from acquisition to acquisition. In addition, the costs associated with an acquisition varied significantly from quarter to quarter, with most costs generally decreasing over time. Consequently, given the variability and volatility of these costs from acquisition to acquisition and period to period and because these costs are incremental and directly related to the acquisition, the Company does not view these costs as normal operating expenses. Furthermore, due to the volatility of these costs and due to the fact that they are directly related to the acquisitions, the Company believes that such costs should be excluded when assessing or estimating the long-term performance of the acquired businesses or assets as part of the Company. Also, the size, complexity and/or volume of past acquisitions, which often drove the magnitude of such expenses, were not necessarily indicative of the size, complexity and/or volume of any future acquisitions. In addition, since 2016 and for the foreseeable future, while the Company has undertaken fewer acquisitions, the Company has incurred (and anticipates continuing to incur) additional restructuring costs as it implements its new strategies, which will involve, among other things, internal reorganizations and divestiture of assets and businesses. The amount, size and timing of these costs fluctuates, depending on the reorganization or transaction and, as a result, the Company does not believe that such costs (and their impact) are truly representative of the underlying business. In each case, by excluding these expenses from its non-GAAP measures, management believes it provided supplemental information that assisted investors with their evaluation of the Company's ability to utilize its existing assets and with its estimation of the long-term value that acquired assets would generate for the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items provided supplemental information with regard to the sustainability of the Company's operating performance, allowed for a comparison of the financial results to historical operations and forward-looking guidance and, as a result, provided useful supplemental information to investors. Acquired in-process research and development costs : The Company has excluded expenses associated with acquired in-process research and development, as these amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing, size and nature of acquisitions. Furthermore, as these amounts are associated with research and development acquired, they are not a representation of the Company's research and development efforts during the period. : The Company has excluded expenses associated with acquired in-process research and development, as these amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing, size and nature of acquisitions. Furthermore, as these amounts are associated with research and development acquired, they are not a representation of the Company's research and development efforts during the period. Asset Impairments : The Company has excluded the impact of impairments of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangibles, as well as impairments of assets held for sale, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions and divestitures. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes intangible impairments from its non-GAAP expenses, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. : The Company has excluded the impact of impairments of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangibles, as well as impairments of assets held for sale, as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions and divestitures. The Company believes that the adjustments of these items correlate with the sustainability of the Company's operating performance. Although the Company excludes intangible impairments from its non-GAAP expenses, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that intangible assets contribute to revenue generation. Other Non-GAAP Charges : The Company has excluded certain other amounts including integration related inventory and technology transfer costs, CEO termination costs, legal and other professional fees incurred in connection with recent legal and governmental proceedings, investigations and information requests respecting certain of our distribution, marketing, pricing, disclosure and accounting practices, litigation and other matters, net (gain)/loss on sale of assets, acquisition-related transaction costs and certain costs associated with the wind-down of the arrangements with Philidor. In addition, the Company has excluded certain other expenses that are the result of other, non-comparable events to measure operating performance. These events arise outside of the ordinary course of continuing operations. Given the unique nature of the matters relating to these costs, the Company believes these items are not normal operating expenses. For example, legal settlements and judgments vary significantly, in their nature, size and frequency, and, due to this volatility, the Company believes the costs associated with legal settlements and judgments are not normal operating expenses. In addition, as opposed to more ordinary course matters, the Company considers that each of the recent proceedings, investigations and information requests, given their nature and frequency, are outside of the ordinary course and relate to unique circumstances. The Company believes that the exclusion of such out-of-the-ordinary-course amounts provides supplemental information to assist in the comparison of the financial results of the Company from period to period and, therefore, provides useful supplemental information to investors. However, investors should understand that many of these costs could recur and that companies in our industry often face litigation. : The Company has excluded certain other amounts including integration related inventory and technology transfer costs, CEO termination costs, legal and other professional fees incurred in connection with recent legal and governmental proceedings, investigations and information requests respecting certain of our distribution, marketing, pricing, disclosure and accounting practices, litigation and other matters, net (gain)/loss on sale of assets, acquisition-related transaction costs and certain costs associated with the wind-down of the arrangements with Philidor. In addition, the Company has excluded certain other expenses that are the result of other, non-comparable events to measure operating performance. These events arise outside of the ordinary course of continuing operations. Given the unique nature of the matters relating to these costs, the Company believes these items are not normal operating expenses. For example, legal settlements and judgments vary significantly, in their nature, size and frequency, and, due to this volatility, the Company believes the costs associated with legal settlements and judgments are not normal operating expenses. In addition, as opposed to more ordinary course matters, the Company considers that each of the recent proceedings, investigations and information requests, given their nature and frequency, are outside of the ordinary course and relate to unique circumstances. The Company believes that the exclusion of such out-of-the-ordinary-course amounts provides supplemental information to assist in the comparison of the financial results of the Company from period to period and, therefore, provides useful supplemental information to investors. However, investors should understand that many of these costs could recur and that companies in our industry often face litigation. Loss on extinguishment of debt : The Company has excluded loss on extinguishment of debt as this represents a cost of refinancing our existing debt and is not a reflection of our operations for the period. Further, the amount and frequency of such charges are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of debt financing transactions and other factors in the debt market out of management's control. : The Company has excluded loss on extinguishment of debt as this represents a cost of refinancing our existing debt and is not a reflection of our operations for the period. Further, the amount and frequency of such charges are not consistent and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of debt financing transactions and other factors in the debt market out of management's control. Tax : The Company has included the tax impact of the non-GAAP adjustments using an annualized effective tax rate. As indicated above, in addition to identifying new primary financial performance measures, the Company also assessed the methodology with which it was calculating these non-GAAP measures and made updates where it deemed appropriate to better reflect the underlying business. As a result, commencing with the first-quarter results of 2017, there are certain differences in the calculation of adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP) between the current presentation and the historic presentation. In particular, adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP) no longer includes Foreign exchange gain/loss arising from intercompany transactions and amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts In addition, as of the third quarter of 2016, adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP) no longer includes adjustments for the following items: Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions and Previously accelerated vesting of certain share-based equity adjustments. For the purposes of the Company's actual results for the first half and second quarter of 2016, the Company has calculated and presented the non-GAAP measures using the historic methodologies in place as of the applicable historic dates; however, the Company has also provided a reconciliation that calculates the non-GAAP measure using the new methodology, to allow investors and readers to evaluate the non-GAAP measure (such as adjusted net income (loss)) on the same basis for the periods presented. Organic Growth Organic Growth is growth in GAAP Revenue (its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) adjusted for certain items, as further described below. Organic growth provides growth rates for businesses that have been owned for one or more years. The Company uses organic revenue and organic growth to assess performance of its business units and operating and reportable segments, and the Company in total, without the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations and recent acquisitions, divestitures and product discontinuations. The Company believes that such measures are useful to investors as it provides a supplemental period-to-period comparison. Organic Growth reflects adjustments based on the following items: Foreign Exchange : To assist investors in evaluating the Company's performance, we have adjusted for changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Change at constant currency is determined by comparing 2017 reported amounts adjusted to exclude currency impact, calculated using 2016 monthly average exchange rates, to the actual 2016 reported amounts. : To assist investors in evaluating the Company's performance, we have adjusted for changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Change at constant currency is determined by comparing 2017 reported amounts adjusted to exclude currency impact, calculated using 2016 monthly average exchange rates, to the actual 2016 reported amounts. Acquisitions, Divestitures and Discontinuations : The Company has excluded revenue from businesses and products that have been acquired within the last year and that have been sold or discontinued. Please also see the reconciliation tables below for further information as to how these non-GAAP measures are calculated for the periods presented. 1 Organic growth, a non-GAAP metric, is defined as an increase on a year-over-year basis in revenues on a constant currency basis (if applicable) excluding the impact of divestitures and discontinuations. 2 Provisional name 3 In March 2017, Valeant sold the CeraVe brand, which had been reported within the Bausch + Lomb/International segment, as part of the skincare divestiture to L'Oreal. 4 To assist investors in evaluating the Company's performance, we have adjusted for changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Change at constant currency, a non-GAAP metric, is determined by comparing 2017 reported amounts adjusted to exclude currency impact, calculated using 2016 monthly average exchange rates, to the actual 2016 reported amounts. 5 On Feb. 8, 2017, the Company agreed to settle the Salix securities class action litigation for $210 million. The settlement has been approved by the court. Reflective of insurance refunds received as of June 30, 2017, the Company made $190 million in net payments during the second quarter of 2017. The Company expects to receive a total of $60 million of insurance refund proceeds related to this matter. FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Table 1 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited) (In millions) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Product sales $ 2,200 $ 2,389 $ 4,276 $ 4,725 Other revenues 33 31 66 67 Total revenues 2,233 2,420 4,342 4,792 Cost of goods sold (excluding amortization and impairments of intangible assets) 635 648 1,219 1,268 Cost of other revenues 11 10 23 20 Selling, general and administrative 659 671 1,320 1,484 Research and development 94 124 190 227 Amortization of intangible assets 623 673 1,258 1,351 Asset impairments 85 230 223 246 Restructuring and integration costs 18 20 36 58 Acquired in-process research and development costs 1 2 5 3 Acquisition-related contingent consideration (49) 7 (59) 9 Other income (19) (46) (259) (21) 2,058 2,339 3,956 4,645 Operating income 175 81 386 147 Interest expense, net (456) (470) (927) (896) Loss on extinguishment of debt - - (64) - Foreign exchange and other 39 12 68 6 Loss before recovery for income taxes (242) (377) (537) (743) Recovery of income taxes (205) (73) (1,129) (66) Net (loss) income (37) (304) 592 (677) Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 1 (2) 2 (1) Net (loss) income attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. $ (38) $ (302) $ 590 $ (676) Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Table 2 Reconciliation of GAAP Net (loss) Income to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited) (In millions) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net (loss) income attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. $ (38) $ (302) $ 590 $ (676) Non-GAAP adjustments: (a) Acquisition-related adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets (b) (d) (49) 19 (59) 53 Amortization of intangible assets 623 673 1,258 1,351 Restructuring and integration costs 18 20 36 58 Acquired in-process research and development costs 1 2 5 3 Asset impairments 85 230 223 246 Other non-GAAP charges (c) (d) (6) (17) (236) 85 Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts - 36 - 57 Loss on extinguishment of debt - - 64 - Foreign exchange and other (d) - (13) - (15) Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments (272) (161) (1,246) (232) Total non-GAAP adjustments 400 789 45 1,606 Adjusted net income non-GAAP attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (As Reported) (d) $ 362 $ 487 $ 635 $ 930 Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions (5) (8) Previously accelerated vesting of certain share-based equity adjustments 1 (23) Foreign exchange loss/gain on intercompany transactions 13 15 Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts (36) (57) Adjusted net income non-GAAP attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (Revised basis) (e) $ 362 $ 460 $ 635 $ 857 (a) The components of (and further details respecting) each of these non-GAAP adjustments and the financial statement line item to which each component relates can be found on Table 2a. (b) Due to the nature of Acquisition-related adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets, the components of this non-GAAP adjustment are reflected in various financial statement line items, as follows: Cost of goods sold, Selling, general and administrative, Research and development, and Acquisition-related contingent consideration. (c) Due to the nature of Other non-GAAP charges, the components of this non-GAAP adjustment are reflected in various financial statement line items, as follows: Product Sales, Cost of goods sold, Selling, general and administrative, Research and development, and Other expense. (d) This subtotal reflects the Adjusted Net income(loss) (non-GAAP) reported by the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 using the methodology for calculating Adjusted Net Income(loss) (non-GAAP) as of that date. (e) As of the third quarter of 2016, Adjusted net income(loss) (non-GAAP) no longer includes adjustments for the following items: Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions and Previously accelerated vesting of certain share-based equity adjustments. Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions was a component of Acquisition-related adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets. Previously accelerated vesting of certain share-based equity adjustments was a component of Other non-GAAP charges. As of the first quarter of 2017, Adjusted net income(loss) (non-GAAP) also no longer includes adjustments for Foreign exchange loss/gain on intercompany transactions and Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts. For the purpose of allowing investors to evaluate Adjusted net income(loss) (non-GAAP) on the same basis for the periods presented, these adjustments have been removed from the results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Table 2a Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited) (In millions) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Total Revenues reconciliation: GAAP Revenues $ 2,233 $ 2,420 $ 4,342 $ 4,792 Philidor Rx Services, LLC sales through deconsolidation as of January 31, 2016 (a) - - - (2) Adjusted revenues (non-GAAP) $ 2,233 $ 2,420 $ 4,342 $ 4,790 Cost of goods sold and other revenues reconciliation: GAAP cost of goods sold and Cost of Other revenues $ 646 $ 658 $ 1,242 $ 1,288 % of GAAP total revenues 29% 27% 29% 27% Fair value inventory step-up resulting from acquisitions (b) (k) - (7) - (36) Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions (b) (k) - (3) - (6) Integration related inventory and technology transfer costs (a) - (6) - (9) Adjusted cost of goods and Cost of Other revenues (non-GAAP) (k) $ 646 $ 642 $ 1,242 $ 1,237 % of Non-GAAP total revenues 29% 27% 29% 26% Selling, general and administrative reconciliation: GAAP selling, general and administrative $ 659 $ 671 $ 1,320 $ 1,484 % of GAAP total revenues 30% 28% 30% 31% Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions (b) (k) - - - (8) CEO termination costs (a) - - - (35) Legal and other professional fees (a) (j) (13) (9) (23) (38) Philidor Rx Services, LLC expenses through deconsolidation as of January 31, 2016 (a) - - - (5) Previously accelerated vesting of certain share-based equity instruments (a) (k) - 1 - 2 Adjusted selling, general and administrative (non-GAAP) (k) $ 646 $ 663 $ 1,297 $ 1,400 % of Non-GAAP total revenues 29% 27% 30% 29% Research and development reconciliation: GAAP research and development $ 94 $ 124 $ 190 $ 227 % of GAAP total revenues 4% 5% 4% 5% Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions (b) (k) - (1) - (1) Settlement of certain disputed invoices related to transition services (a) - (16) - (16) Adjusted research and development (non-GAAP) $ 94 $ 107 $ 190 $ 210 % of Non-GAAP total revenues 4% 4% 4% 4% Amortization of intangible assets reconciliation: GAAP Amortization of intangible assets $ 623 $ 673 $ 1,258 $ 1,351 Amortization of intangible assets (c) (623) (673) (1,258) (1,351) Adjusted Amortization of intangible assets (non-GAAP) $ - $ - $ - $ - Restructuring and integration costs reconciliation: GAAP Restructuring and integration costs (See Table 4.2) $ 18 $ 20 $ 36 $ 58 Restructuring and integration costs (d) (18) (20) (36) (58) Adjusted Restructuring and integration costs (non-GAAP) $ - $ - $ - $ - Acquired in-process research and development costs reconciliation: GAAP Acquired in-process research and development costs $ 1 $ 2 $ 5 $ 3 Acquired in-process research and development costs (e) (1) (2) (5) (3) Adjusted Acquired in-process research and development costs (non-GAAP) $ - $ - $ - $ - Asset Impairments reconciliation: GAAP Asset Impairments $ 85 $ 230 $ 223 $ 246 Asset Impairments (l) (85) (230) (223) (246) Adjusted Asset Impairments (non-GAAP) $ - $ - $ - $ - Acquisition-related contingent consideration reconciliation: GAAP acquisition-related contingent consideration $ (49) $ 7 $ (59) $ 9 Acquisition-related contingent consideration (b) 49 (7) 59 (9) Adjusted acquisition-related contingent consideration (non-GAAP) $ - $ - $ - $ - Other income reconciliation: GAAP other income $ (19) $ (46) $ (259) $ (21) Legal settlements and related fees (a) (31) 35 (108) 33 Net gain/(loss) on sale of assets (a) 50 11 367 9 Acquisition related transaction costs (a) (k) - - - (2) Other (primarily loss recognized upon deconsolidation of Philidor Rx Services, LLC as of January 31, 2016) (a) - - - (19) Adjusted other (income) expense (non-GAAP) $ - $ - $ - $ - Interest expense, net reconciliation: GAAP interest expense, net $ (456) $ (470) $ (927) $ (896) Amortization of debt discounts (f) (k) - 30 - 48 Amortization of deferred financing costs (f) (k) - 4 - 6 Write-down of deferred financing costs (f) (k) - 2 - 3 Adjusted interest expense, net (non-GAAP) $ (456) $ (434) $ (927) $ (839) Loss on extinguishment of debt reconciliation: GAAP loss on extinguishment of debt $ - $ - $ (64) $ - Loss on extinguishment of debt (g) - - 64 - Adjusted loss on extinguishment of debt (non-GAAP) $ - $ - $ - $ - Foreign exchange and other reconciliation: GAAP foreign exchange and other $ 39 $ 12 $ 68 $ 6 Foreign exchange loss/gain on intercompany transactions (h) (k) - (13) - (15) Adjusted foreign exchange and other (non-GAAP) $ 39 $ (1) $ 68 $ (9) Recovery of income taxes reconciliation: GAAP Recovery of income taxes $ (205) $ (73) $ (1,129) $ (66) Effective GAAP tax rate 85% 19% 210% 9% Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments (i) 272 161 1,246 232 Adjusted Provision for income taxes (non-GAAP) $ 67 $ 88 $ 117 $ 166 Effective Non-GAAP tax rate 16% 15% 16% 15% (a) Represents a component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Other non-GAAP charges" (see Table 2). The identified components, in the aggregate, represent all components of this non-GAAP adjustment. (b) Represents a component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Acquisition-related adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets" (see Table 2). The identified components, in the aggregate, represent all components of this non-GAAP adjustment. (c) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Amortization of intangible assets" (see Table 2). (d) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Restructuring and Integration costs" (see Table 2). (e) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Acquired in-process research and development costs" (see Table 2). (f) Represents a component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts" (see Table 2). The identified components, in the aggregate, represent all components of this non-GAAP adjustment. (g) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Loss on extinguishment of debt" (see Table 2). (h) Represents a component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Foreign exchange and other" (see Table 2). The identified components, in the aggregate, represent all components of this non-GAAP adjustment. (i) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments" (see Table 2). (j) Legal and other professional fees incurred in connection with recent legal and governmental proceedings, investigations and information requests related to, among other matters, our distribution, marketing, pricing, disclosure and accounting practices for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017. (k) As of the third quarter of 2016, Adjusted net income(loss) (non-GAAP) no longer includes adjustments for the following items: Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions and Previously accelerated vesting of certain share-based equity adjustments. Depreciation resulting from a PP&E step-up resulting from acquisitions was a component of Acquisition-related adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets. Previously accelerated vesting of certain share-based equity adjustments was a component of Other non-GAAP charges. As of the first quarter of 2017, Adjusted net income(loss) (non-GAAP) also no longer includes adjustments for Foreign exchange loss/gain on intercompany transactions and Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts. For the purpose of allowing investors to evaluate Adjusted net income(loss) (non-GAAP) on the same basis for the periods presented, these adjustments have been removed from the results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016. See reconciliation on Table 2. (l) Represents the sole component of the non-GAAP adjustment of "Asset Impairments" (see Table 2). Asset impairments were $85 million and $230 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, a decrease of $145 million. We continue to critically evaluate our businesses and product portfolios and as a result identified assets that are not aligned with our core objectives. Asset impairments for the three months ended June 30, 2017 includes (i) impairments of $44 million, in aggregate, to certain product/patent assets associated with the discontinuance of specific product lines not aligned with the focus of the Company's core business, (ii) an impairment of $17 million reflecting a decrease in forecasted sales for a specific product line and (iii) impairments of $16 million to assets reclassified as held for sale. Asset impairments for the three months ended June 30, 2016 includes an impairment loss of $199 million associated with the Ruconest business which was reclassified as held for sale as of June 30, 2016. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Table 2b Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited) (In millions) Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net (loss) income attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. $ (38) $ (302) $ 590 $ (676) Interest expense, net 456 470 927 896 Recovery of income taxes (205) (73) (1,129) (66) Depreciation and amortization 666 720 1,340 1,451 EBITDA 879 815 1,728 1,605 Adjustments: Restructuring and integration costs 18 20 36 58 Acquired in-process research and development costs 1 2 5 3 Asset impairments (d) 85 230 223 246 Share-based compensation 23 33 51 97 Acquisition-related adjustments excluding amortization of intangible assets, net of depreciation expense (49) 14 (59) 45 Loss on extinguishment of debt - - 64 - Foreign exchange and other - (13) - (15) Other non-GAAP charges (a) (6) (14) (236) 56 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) (As Reported) (e) $ 951 $ 1,087 $ 1,812 $ 2,095 Foreign exchange loss/gain on intercompany transactions 13 15 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) (Revised basis) (f) $ 951 $ 1,100 $ 1,812 $ 2,110 (a) Other non-GAAP charges include: $ (6) $ (14) $ (236) $ 56 Integration related inventory and technology transfer costs - 6 - 9 CEO termination costs (cash severance payment) - - - 10 Legal and other professional fees (b) 13 9 23 38 Settlement of certain disputed invoices related to transition services - 16 - 16 Litigation and other matters 31 (35) 108 (33) Net (gain)/loss on sale of assets (c) (50) (11) (367) (9) Acquisition related transaction costs - - - 2 Philidor Rx Services, LLC net loss through deconsolidation as of January 31, 2016 - - - 3 Other - 1 - 20 (b) Legal and other professional fees incurred in connection with recent legal and governmental proceedings, investigations and information requests related to, among other matters, our distribution, marketing, pricing, disclosure and accounting practices. (c) For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, Net (gain)/loss on sale of assets of $50M and $367 million respectively were primarily due to $73M gain on the Oncology sale and $319 million gain on the Skincare sale. (d) Asset impairments were $85 million and $230 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, a decrease of $145 million. We continue to critically evaluate our businesses and product portfolios and as a result identified assets that are not aligned with our core objectives. Asset impairments for the three months ended June 30, 2017 includes (i) impairments of $44 million, in aggregate, to certain product/patent assets associated with the discontinuance of specific product lines not aligned with the focus of the Company's core business, (ii) an impairment of $17 million reflecting a decrease in forecasted sales for a specific product line and (iii) impairments of $16 million to assets reclassified as held for sale. Asset impairments for the three months ended June 30, 2016 includes an impairment loss of $199 million associated with the Ruconest business which was reclassified as held for sale as of June 30, 2016. (e) This subtotal reflects the Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) reported by the Company for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016 using the methodology for calculating Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) as of that date. (f) As of the first quarter of 2017, non-GAAP adjustments no longer include adjustments for Foreign exchange gain/loss arising from intercompany transactions. For the purpose of allowing investors to evaluate Adjusted EBITDA on the same basis for the periods presented, this adjustment has been removed from the results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Table 3 Organic Growth (non-GAAP) - by Segment For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (In Millions) As reported For the Three Months Ended June 30, (1) Q2 2017 (2) Q2 2016 (3) Currency impact (a) (4) 2017 excluding currency impact (b) (5) % Change (6) Divestitures / Discontinuations Organic Growth 4/(2-6) (c) Global Vision Care 187 196 (3) 190 -3% 3 -2% Global Surgical 178 180 (3) 181 1% - 1% Global Consumer Products 379 410 (1) 380 -7% 40 3% Global Ophthalmology RX 167 162 (2) 169 4% - 4% International 330 329 (45) 375 14% 8 17% Other revenue - - - - 0% - 0% Bausch + Lomb / International (d) 1,241 1,277 (54) 1,295 1% 51 6% Salix (GI) 387 341 - 387 13% 8 16% Dermatology 130 188 - 130 -31% - -31% Dendreon 83 77 - 83 8% 5 15% Dentistry 35 45 - 35 -22% 1 -20% Other revenue 1 2 - 1 -50% - -50% Branded Rx 636 653 - 636 -3% 14 0% Neuro 248 344 - 248 -28% - -28% Generics 82 122 - 82 -33% - -33% Solta 9 6 - 9 50% - 50% Obagi 16 14 - 16 14% - 14% Other revenue 1 4 - 1 -75% 4 100% U.S. Diversified Products 356 490 - 356 -27% 4 -27% Total revenues $ 2,233 $ 2,420 $ (54) $ 2,287 -5% $ 69 -3% As reported For the Six Months Ended June 30, (1) Q2 2017 (2) Q2 2016 (3) Currency impact (a) (4) 2017 excluding currency impact (b) (5) % Change (6) Divestitures / Discontinuations Organic Growth 4/(2-6) (c) Global Vision Care 357 368 (4) 361 -2% 5 -1% Global Surgical 335 348 (7) 342 -2% - -2% Global Consumer Products 754 778 1 753 -3% 54 4% Global Ophthalmology RX 310 303 (4) 314 4% 1 4% International 635 626 (81) 716 14% 12 17% Other revenue - - - - 0% - 0% Bausch + Lomb / International 2,391 2,423 (95) 2,486 3% 72 6% Salix (GI) 689 681 - 689 1% 14 3% Dermatology 322 403 - 322 -20% - -20% Dendreon 164 149 - 164 10% 5 14% Dentistry 63 83 - 63 -24% 1 -23% Other revenue 2 2 - 2 0% - 0% Branded Rx 1,240 1,318 - 1,240 -6% 20 -4% Neuro 491 766 - 491 -36% - -36% Generics 167 242 - 167 -31% - -31% Solta 17 12 - 17 42% - 42% Obagi 33 24 - 33 38% - 38% Other revenue 3 7 - 3 -57% 4 0% U.S. Diversified Products 711 1,051 - 711 -32% 4 -32% Total revenues $ 4,342 $ 4,792 $ (95) $ 4,437 -7% $ 96 -6% (a) Currency impact for constant currency sales is determined by comparing 2017 reported amounts adjusted to exclude currency impact, calculated using 2016 monthly average exchange rates, to the actual 2016 reported amounts. (b) To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures. For additional information about the Company's use of such non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the body of the press release to which these tables are attached. (c) Organic Growth Definitions: This measure provides growth rates for businesses that have been owned for one year or more. ((Current Year Total sales acquisitions within the last year - YoY FX impact)- (Prior Year Total sales divestitures & discontinuations))/( Prior Year Total sales divestitures & discontinuations) (d) Includes China and Europe, Africa/Middle East Organic Growth: (1) Q2 2017 (2) Q2 2016 (3) Currency impact (a) (4) 2017 excluding currency impact (b) (5) % Change (6) Divestitures / Discontinuations Organic Growth 4/(2-6) (c) China 81 78 (4) 85 9% - 9% Europe, Africa/Middle East 459 457 (47) 506 11% 2 11% Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Table 4 Consolidated Balance Sheet and Other Data (unaudited) (In millions) As of As of June 30, December 31, 2017 2016 Cash Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,214 $ 542 Restricted cash 811 - Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 2,025 $ 542 Debt Revolving Credit Facility $ 525 $ 875 Series A-3 Tranche A Term Loan Facility - 1,016 Series A-4 Tranche A Term Loan Facility - 658 Series D-2 Tranche B Term Loan Facility - 1,048 Series C-2 Tranche B Term Loan Facility - 805 Series E-1 Tranche B Term Loan Facility - 2,429 Series F Tranche B Term Loan Facility 6,472 3,815 Senior Notes 21,450 19,188 Other 14 12 Total long-term debt 28,461 29,846 Less: current portion (813) (1) Non-current portion of long-term debt $ 27,648 $ 29,845 Three Months Ended June 30, GAAP Cash Flow 2017 2016 Cash provided by operating activities $ 268 $ 448 Restructuring and integration costs Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 by project type Cash Paid Expense Restructuring initiatives $ 15 $ 7 Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. 2 5 Other 4 6 Total $ 21 $ 18 by expense type Cash Paid Expense Consulting, duplicative labor, transition services, and other $ 13 $ 3 Severance payments 3 4 Facility closure costs 5 11 Total $ 21 $ 18 SOURCE Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Related Links http://www.valeant.com OCEAN CITY, Md., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Vantage Resort Realty, a vacation rental management company in Ocean City, is pleased to announce its new initiative "Wave Goodbye to Hunger" at the Summer Beach building on 35th Street. Vantage is encouraging its vacation rental guests and property owners to donate left-over food and supplies to Diakonia of West Ocean City which operates a homeless shelter, food pantry, and thrift store to supports area families in need. Vantage is collecting a wide variety of items such as canned goods, toiletries, beach gear, and furniture. By simply donating left-over vacation items, guests and property owners will contribute to an amazing cause. Locally operated since 1972, Diakonia provides housing, food, counseling and assistance to residents of Worcester County. In 2016, Diakonia served 52,000 meals and assisted more than 10,000 people through its emergency food pantry. Partnering with Diakonia was the idea of Robert Corbey, who is Senior Business Development Coordinator overseeing Vantage's rentals at Summer Beach. "Last winter I volunteered at Diakonia to help in the food pantry," says Corbey. "I learned about their operation and the needs of our Worcester County residents. When I noticed that our guests were leaving behind food and usable items at Summer Beach, we set up a box in the lobby and encourage all to drop off anything they do not want to take home. We have already filled up the box twice!" Corbey has seen remarkable results since launching the initiative in late June. From boogie boards to coffee tables, more than 60 items have been collected, in addition to multiple monetary donations. Vantage Resort Realty is excited to support this effort and interested in expanding it to other Ocean City properties. Vantage invites the public to Wave Goodbye to Hunger at Summer Beach. Robert Corbey can be reached at (410) 213-5469, or via email at [email protected]. To help further, please consider volunteering or donating to Diakonia. For more information, please call (410) 213-0923 or visit their website at DiakoniaOC.org. About Vantage Resort Realty Celebrating 10 years of exceptional customer service in the vacation rental industry, Vantage Resort Realty manages more than 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: Jennica Kwiecien Vantage Resort Realty| Phone: 302.853.2784 [email protected] SOURCE Vantage Resort Realty Related Links http://www.VantageOceanCity.com SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This month Aquarium on the Bay at PIER 39 launches three new exhibitions. August 4th, they installed a sculptural series of Ocean Pioneers on loan from Google and DOER (Deep Ocean Exploration Research). Monday August 14th, the aquarium will open exciting new AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) interactive attractions. Ocean Pioneers Arrive The Ocean Pioneers, exhibit was commissioned by Artist Viktor from Google for their Google Ocean Project. Each of the 11 Busts weighs in excess of 1,500 lbs and portrays a researcher whose expertise has contributed to the greater understanding of our Oceans. Among those pioneers are: Carl Brashear - U.S. Navy Diver, Lloyd Bridges - Bridge to the Oceans, Jacques-Yves Cousteau - Technician, Sylvia Earle - Her Deepness, and many others. "We are honored to be hosting the Ocean Pioneers at the aquarium. These impressive works of art will help us better connect our conservation message with aquarium guests...," noted George Jacob, President and CEO of bay.org, dba Bay Ecotarium. Augmented Reality Reaches San Francisco The Augmented Reality attraction, launching Monday August 14th and sponsored by Big Bus Tours, will be shown in the Farallon Room and will allow kids and adults alike to get up close and personal with two different shows: The Ocean Adventure and The Arctic Explorer. The interactive films, developed by London based, INDE BroadcastAR, are projected onto a 20 ft screen above guests as they reach out and seemingly touch the projected images of Whales, Dolphins, Walrus, Polar Bears, Penguins and Seals. High resolution images of guests interacting with the AR will also be available for sale from Snapshare. Ocean Adventure: https://vimeo.com/166933839 Arctic Adventure: https://vimeo.com/125507237 Dive with Whales in Virtual Reality The Virtual Reality Micro Theater (VRMicrotheaters) was developed specifically for museums, zoos, planetariums, and aquariums by tech veteran Andrew Bleiman and LumiereVR co-founder Travis Wu. They tackled the problems of inferior technology when trying to broadcast VR to large audiences, overheating headsets, and short battery life. Custom hardware and software allows synchronous play on headsets allowing viewers a shared experience. The first VR film experience at Aquarium of the Bay was created by veteran filmmaker, Sandy Smolan and best-selling author James Nestor, who in 2016 shot the award winning, 'The Click Effect' about the secret language of whales and dolphins. Released in 2016, by the New York Times, 'Click Effect', has become one of the most successful VR experiences to date. 'Click Effect' takes you on a free-dive down to 100 feet in the depths of the ocean to swim with dolphins, pilot whales, and giant sperm whales. In 2016, it was featured at the Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, among others, and won the prestigious Lumiere Award for Best VR Documentary. About Aquarium of the Bay Aquarium of the Bay is part of bay.org dba Bay Ecotarium, a not-for-profit nature center with a mission to protect, restore, and inspire conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed, from the Sierra to the sea. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), designated as a Smithsonian Affiliate, and certified as a Green Business by the city of San Francisco. Located on PIER 39 known for the Sea Lions, Aquarium of the Bay is the city's only waterfront aquarium. Dedicated to diverse marine life and ecosystems of the Bay, it is home to more than 23,000 local animal species. Visit aquariumofthebay.org SOURCE Aquarium on the Bay Related Links http://aquariumofthebay.org/ BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Waylens, an automotive camera leader that puts advanced vision and information into driving, today launched a Kickstarter campaign for a security camera that protects your vehicle and its contents in real-time through your smartphone. This is the second time Waylens has engaged a crowd-source funding community. The first campaign, to develop the Horizon performance camera that captures vehicle data and overlays it into video, was an overwhelming success; Waylens raised a whopping 1100% of its goal before putting the product into production and fulfilling orders. The Horizon has since enjoyed growth and expanded North American retail presence. "Where our first product amplified the thrill of driving for auto enthusiasts, our new Secure360 puts peace of mind in every driver's hands," said Haowei Zhang, CEO. The Waylens Secure360 with 4G is an automotive security camera that captures everything going on in and around a vehicle, even when it's turned off and the driver is nowhere nearby. It relies on a suite of advanced low-power sensors to watch for abnormal movement or motion outside the car. If an unusual event is detected, the camera instantly turns on and starts capturing everything that's happening, streaming video to the Waylens Cloud and pushing a notification to the owner's smartphone in real-time. The first and only consumer automotive camera to use 360-degree imaging technology, the Secure360 is destined to be the best dash cam money can buy. The Secure360 packs amazing technology into a beautifully-designed enclosure. The Secure360 relies on radar, a 3-axis accelerometer and GPS to detect unusual events. But what makes the Secure360 truly incredible is its ability to capture important events, even when the car is turned off for an extended period of time. With the custom battery pack, the Secure360's low-power sensors allow the camera to sleep with one eye open, protecting an unattended vehicle for an unprecedented 360 hours or 15 days. The Secure360 with 4G appeals to all drivers who want to protect their cars, themselves and their loved ones from threats and misinformation. Car owners receive an alert when something happens to the parked vehicle, with a real-time alert delivered to their smartphone. In the event of collision, evidence is instantly uploaded to the cloud to eliminate any confusion about what occurred. The camera's integrated GPS helps owners find a car if it they happen to forget where it's parked. Parents can monitor teen drivers in real-time to make sure they're driving safely. Adult children can even locate and attend to elderly drivers. The Kickstarter community will enjoy real benefits with early adoption. Super Early Bird backers will get the greatest deals. For a pledge of $249 , a $100 savings off the retail price of $349 , Super Early Bird 4G backers receive one Waylens Secure360 4G with a GPS mount, power cord, the Waylens Secure app and six months of service with estimated delivery in March 2018 . This offer is limited to the first 500 backers. , a savings off the retail price of , Super Early Bird 4G backers receive one Waylens Secure360 4G with a GPS mount, power cord, the Waylens Secure app and six months of service with estimated delivery in . This offer is limited to the first 500 backers. For a pledge of $149 , a $100 savings off the retail price of $249 , Super Early Bird WiFi backers receive one Waylens Secure360 WiFi with a GPS-equipped mount, power cord, and the Waylens Secure app with estimated delivery in November 2017 . This offer is limited to the first 500 backers. Other special Kickstarter deals are available with significant discounts. Beginning August 8, 2017 check out the Waylens Secure360 Kickstarter page for details. "We believe strongly in going to a community that recognizes extraordinary technology, and that's why we're back with Kickstarter," Zhang said. "The community helped launch a breakthrough product and it showed confidence in the Waylens vision of improving drivers' lives." Contact: Eric Pylvanainen 424-903-3685 [email protected] SOURCE Waylens NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lithuanian State Department of Tourism awarded its integrated marketing communications campaign in the U.S. to Wayne's World Media Group, a New York-based destination marketing agency. Says agency president Wayne Lee, "We're thrilled to be working with the Lithuania tourism team to put the growing spotlight on the many attractions of destination Lithuania at the crossroads of Scandinavia and Central Europe." The "Lithuania: Real Is Beautiful" brand story will convey the allure of the country's great outdoors, distinctive culture and proud people, active vacations and evolving culinary scene. It will integrate media relations, social media, event and content marketing and travel agent training to boost the visibility of the southernmost of the Baltic states to U.S. travelers. "The objectives are increasing the popularity of Lithuania in the U.S. as an attractive and safe country for travelers with a compelling image of the Lithuania travel experience today," said Indre Slyziute, a chief specialist in the Lithuanian State Department of Tourism. Europe is one of the world's top destinations for Americans and Lithuania rewards its visitors with fresh discoveries. Popular resorts close to its major Baltic Seaport of Klaipeda are Nida to the south on the Curonian Spit (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Palanga to the north. These areas are home to white sand beaches, majestic sand dunes, undisturbed forests and waterways that are a haven for storks, swans, cormorants and many species of migratory birds. Capital city Vilnius (another UNESCO site boasting Europe's largest Old Town), and charming Kaunas, are vibrant, cosmopolitan cultural centers with deep historical roots. In 2016 Lithuania welcomed more than 35,000 U.S. tourists, up almost seven percent from 2015, with room nights increasing by more than 25 percent and average length of stay rising by more than 17 percent. During the first quarter 2017, U.S. travelers staying in Lithuanian accommodations rose 25 percent. Wayne's World Media Group, established in New York in 2010, has worked for such clients as LOT Polish Airlines, the European Travel Commission, the tourism boards of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Australis Cruises and others. http://www.lithuania.travel http://waynesworldmediagroup.com SOURCE Waynes World Media Group Related Links http://waynesworldmediagroup.com Reiko's aspiration was a fashion shoot in a zero-gravity environment with the fashion muse of her choice, top international model Stav Strashko. Fashion stylist Mimi Fisher, and hair and makeup artist Ronnie Peterson, were on hand to create a gravity-defying look that captured the futuristic tone of the shoot. "Wix made the impossible possible. As a commercial photographer, your objective is to accomplish someone else's vision and goal, but Wix provided an entire team to help me capture my dream photo," said winner Reiko Wakai. "I take elements of what I love into each shoot, and this one captured what I saw to be a really fun experience in zero gravity. It was a chance to both challenge myself, a well-known model in Japan, and an element that was not within our control: zero gravity." Stav Strashko, model and rising fashion star said, "When I was asked to participate, I was so happy and honored that Reiko had chosen me to be part of her dream. It was humbling: my job is to look beautiful for the camera, and in this situation I also had to be graceful in zero-gravity - an element I was completely unfamiliar with and it was a challenge. Leading up to and on the day of the shoot was surreal. We became one big family working together to accomplish one crazy beautiful dream." View the behind the scenes video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgScc_ryL0&feature=youtu.be Learn more about the Capture Your Dream Photo Campaign: www.wix.com/blog/2017/08/08/photographer-dream-zero-gravity About Wix Wix is a leading global software platform for small businesses to operate online with over 110 million registered users worldwide. Wix was founded on the belief that the Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute. Through free and premium subscriptions, Wix empowers millions of businesses, organizations, professionals and individuals to take their businesses, brands and workflow online. Wix ADI, the Wix Editor and a highly curated App Market enable users to build and manage a fully integrated and dynamic digital presence. Wix's headquarters are in Tel Aviv with offices in Be'er Sheva, Berlin, Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, and Vilnius. Visit us: on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Google+ Visit some of our stunning Wix customers here: http://www.wix.com/stories/ Download: Wix App is available for free on Google Play and in the App Store. Media Contact: Vivian Hernandez [email protected] +1-415-517-6539 SOURCE Wix.com Ltd. CARLISLE, Pa., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine, Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller, and Executive Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Dr. David Volkman visited Carlisle Area High School to remind parents to have their children vaccinated before the new school year. "It's very important for all young people to receive immunizations on time," said Dr. Levine. "This includes being up-to-date on age-appropriate immunizations within five days of the start of the new school year. I thank Carlisle Area High School for giving us the chance to talk about immunizations and their importance to the community." A recent change in state regulations altered the provisional period in which students could attend school without their vaccinations from eight months to five days. Children in grades K-12 need the following immunizations for attendance: tetanus, diphtheria, polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), hepatitis B, and chickenpox. Children entering the seventh grade also need additional immunizations of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) and tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap). If a child does not have at least one dose of the above vaccinations, he or she risks exclusion from school. "In order to learn, grow, and achieve, students need to be healthy and well. Immunizations help ensure those conditions exist for all children in our schools," said Dr. Volkman. "The departments of Education, Insurance, and Health encourage Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated before the school year begins, so classrooms can remain safe and supportive spaces for students to learn." These requirements allow for the following exemptions: medical reason, religious belief, or philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction. Even if your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be excluded from school during an outbreak of vaccine preventable disease. Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans, including those bought through the federal Marketplace, are required to cover school vaccinations as a free preventive service without charging a copayment or coinsurance, regardless of whether or not you have met your yearly deductible. "When a new school year starts, there are many costs parents have to consider with textbooks, school supplies, and other expenses," Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller said. "Thankfully, immunizations aren't one of them, as most insurance plans cover school vaccinations with no cost to the consumer." It is important to make sure that the doctor or provider who administers the immunization is within your health insurance plan's network, or you may be responsible for the cost. More information on preventive services is available at HealthCare.gov . The Department of Health regularly schedules immunization clinics year-round across the state. If a child doesn't have any insurance coverage or if insurance does not cover back-to-school immunizations, children who meet the requirements can get all of the vaccines listed above at one of the commonwealth's state health centers or local health departments. Immunizations are provided at little or no cost for children through 18 years of age who are Medicaid eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian or Alaska Native. The cost is $5 per child (payable by check or money order) for families above income guidelines; however, no child will be turned away because of an inability to pay. Parents whose children meet the immunization requirements must call 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) to schedule an appointment. Parents should have their vaccination records available when they call to make an appointment. A parent/legal guardian must accompany the child receiving immunizations. DOH staff must be notified before the appointment if someone other than the child's parent/legal guardian will be accompanying him/her. For more information, visit www.dontwaitvaccinate.pa.gov or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH. MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, DOH, 717-787-1783 or [email protected] Ron Ruman, Insurance, 717-787-3289 Casey Smith, Education, 717-783-9803 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health; Pennsylvania Department of Education; Pennsylvania Insurance Department Related Links http://www.state.pa.us NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Overview Wood preservative chemicals are chemicals that are applied on wood for preserving it from various organisms such as termites, ants, insects, fungi and other microbes. The product prevents the wood from decay, decomposition and degradation problem. The major products which are available as wood preservative chemicals are chromated arsenicals, creosote, copper based, zinc based and others. The wood preservative chemical is also available by various technologies such as waterborne, oil borne, organic solvent borne and others. Wood preservative chemicals find application in various industries from furniture's to construction, etc. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p05048436/Wood-Preservative-Chemicals-Market-Global-Industry-Analysis-Size-Share-Growth-Trends-and-Forecast.html Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Scope of Study The report estimates and forecasts the wood preservative chemicals market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2017 and 2025 based on volume (Kilo Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2016 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the wood preservative chemicals market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the wood preservative chemicals market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. The report includes Porter's Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the wood preservative chemicals market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein applications and countries have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for wood preservative chemicals between 2017 and 2025. Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Research Methodology Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report. In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players' product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis team's expertise and market understanding. Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Market Segmentation The study provides a comprehensive view of the wood preservative chemicals market by dividing it on the basis of end-use and geography segments. The wood preservative chemicals market has been segmented into furniture & decking, marine, construction and others based on end-use. End-users segment have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for wood preservative chemicals in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Additionally, the report comprises country-level analysis in terms of volume and revenue for application segments. Key countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, India, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil have been included in the study. Market segmentation includes demand for individual applications in all the regions and countries. Global Wood Preservative Chemicals Market: Competitive Outlook The report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report includes BASF SE, Koppers Inc., Lonza Group, Lanxess, Troy Corporation, Safeguard Europe Ltd., Rutgers Organics GmbH, Rio Tinto Borates, Kurt Obermeier GmbH and others. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable). The global wood preservative chemicals market has been segmented as follows: Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Product Analysis Chromated Arsenicals Creosote Copper Based Alkaline Copper Quarternary Ammoniacal Copper Arsenite Copper Azole Copper Napthenate Others Zinc Based Others Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Technology Analysis Waterborne Oil borne Organic Solvent borne Others Wood Preservative Chemicals Market End-user Analysis Furniture & Decking Marine Construction Others Wood Preservative Chemicals Market Regional Analysis North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia & New Zealand ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Latin America Brazil Mexico Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p05048436/Wood-Preservative-Chemicals-Market-Global-Industry-Analysis-Size-Share-Growth-Trends-and-Forecast.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com BEIJING, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yirendai Ltd. (NYSE: YRD) ("Yirendai" or the "Company"), a leading fintech company in China, today announced that it will meet with institutional investors at the following upcoming investment conferences in August and September 2017. On August 30-31, Yirendai will meet with investors at Morgan Stanley's China Technology, Media & Telecoms Conference 2017 at the Rosewood Hotel in Beijing, China. On August 31 and September 1, Yirendai will meet with investors at Credit Suisse's 5th Annual China Internet C-Level Conference at the Credit Suisse office in Hong Kong. On September 6-7, Yirendai will meet with investors at Credit Suisse's 16th Annual Global Emerging Markets One-on-One Conference at the Lotte Palace New York Hotel in New York City, the U.S. On September 11-12, Yirendai will meet with investors at the 24th CLSA Investors' Forum at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong. On September 30, Yirendai will meet with investors at Citi's 12th China Investor Conference 2017 in Macau. Investors who are interested in attending these conferences and meeting with Yirendai should contact their sales representatives at the respective institutions mentioned above. About Yirendai Yirendai Ltd. (NYSE: YRD) is a leading fintech company in China connecting investors and individual borrowers. The Company provides an effective solution to address largely underserved investor and individual borrower demand in China through an online platform that automates key aspects of its operations to efficiently match borrowers with investors and execute loan transactions. Yirendai deploys a proprietary risk management system, which enables the Company to effectively assess the creditworthiness of borrowers, appropriately price the risks associated with borrowers, and offer quality loan investment opportunities to investors. Yirendai's online marketplace provides borrowers with quick and convenient access to consumer credit at competitive prices and investors with easy and quick access to an alternative asset class with attractive returns. For more information, please visit yirendai.investorroom.com. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Yirendai Hui (Matthew) Li Director of Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Christensen In China Christian Arnell Phone: +86 (0) 10-59001548 E-mail: [email protected] In U.S. Linda Bergkamp Phone: +1 (480) 614-3004 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Yirendai Ltd. MAYNARD | A fish kill in a Fayette County River has been traced to an empty hog confinement building, the DNR said in a news release Monday. The DNR received a call reporting dead fish on a tributary of the Little Volga River east of Maynard in Fayette County on Aug. 5. DNR staff on Sunday found dead fish and elevated ammonia levels in the unnamed creek. The fish kill was traced to an unused hog confinement building owned by Raymond Forsyth Farms Corporation of Maynard. A contractor demolished the building Friday, allowing manure to flow into the creek, the DNR said. Despite the building being empty for four years, ammonia levels were high enough in the remaining liquids to kill fish, Tom McCarthy, of the Manchester DNR field office, said in the news release. The main message is to know what you are pumping and make sure its not toxic. Any liquids from an unused feedlot or confinement should be tested and properly land applied. The building owner had contractors excavate contaminated soil and remove contaminated water. By mid-day Monday, about 350,000 gallons of contaminated water had been pumped from the stream. Mostly dead minnows, suckers, dace and darter with a few game fish were found along the small creek. DNR found live fish and no dead fish downstream in the Little Volga River. Live fish were noted in the unnamed tributary after pumping ended. The DNR is conducting a fish count Monday and continues to monitor the cleanup. It may seek appropriate enforcement action and fish restitution. CEDAR FALLS The City Council on Monday night voted 4-2 to ban the discharge of fireworks inside the city limits. One member was absent. The council acted during a committee of the whole work session. Members must still approve an ordinance formally enacting the ban. City Attorney Kevin Rogers indicated that ordinance likely will be ready in September. It will require council approval on three readings at successive meetings for final adoption. The ban does not prohibit the sale or possession of fireworks in the city, only their discharge. The ordinance would allow permits from the city for commercial fireworks displays. Council members supporting the ban said they received numerous complaints during the weeks fireworks were permitted after the Legislature approved their sale and discharge, unless proscribed by city ordinance, for the first time in about 80 years. Council member Dave Wieland said his phone rang off the hook. This is a highly emotional issue for people in Cedar Falls, Wieland said, for people with pets or veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. He said half of the residents he spoke with wanted fireworks discharge banned or the time period drastically constrained. But theyre looking for action from us now, Wieland said. Ive gotten more calls on this than Ive gotten on University Avenue, said council member Mark Miller, referring to the controversial University reconstruction project. Im more than cognizant of everybodys peace of mind in their homes, number one. But number two, its litter. I dont know under what other scenario its all right for you to put something on somebody elses yard. Because a bottle rocket isnt going to land on your (own) property 90 percent of the time. To me a ban makes more sense than anything, Miller said. It takes the variables out for our police department. Im really concerned about the veterans, council member John Runchey said. I think some of them suffer and are probably reluctant to come forward. I would have no problem banning these from Cedar Falls. Public Safety Diretor Jeff Olson made no recommendation but offered options. He said it is his understanding other cities in Black Hawk County, such Waterloo and Evansdale, were considering uniform ordinances limiting the days and times for fireworks. Council members Tom Blanford and Susan deBuhr voted against a ban. Blanford said he felt a ban was unenforceable and would place an undue burden on police. He, like deBuhr, favored severely limiting fireworks discharge, possible to July 4 or New Years Eve only. Council member Nick Taiber was absent. The Iowa Legislature legalized the sale and use of consumer fireworks this year, allowing them to be shot off on private property from June 1 through July 8 and again from Dec. 10 through Jan. 3. Waterloo councilmen voted 6-1 in May to only allow fireworks use from June 30 through July 4, while some cities like Cedar Falls allowed the full state time frame and others banned them entirely. New Delhi, Aug 4 : Chinese smartphone maker Gionee is set to launch its mid-range smartphone 'A1 Lite' in India next week. 'A1 Lite', which is a new addition to Gionee 'A' series, will be available starting August 10, industry sources told IANS. As far as camera specifications are concerned, 'A1 Lite' is likely to feature 20MP selfie camera and 13MP primary snapper. It could sport 5.3-inch HD IPS display with dual SIM connectivity and 4G. The smartphone could also come with a 4000mAh battery and run Android 7.0 Nougat OS. The smartphone was introduced in Nepal for 26,999 Nepalese rupees in June this year. However, the price for the Indian market is yet to be announced. Gionee recently introduced 'A1' and 'A1 Plus' smartphones in its 'A' series of smartphones. 'A1 Plus' with dual rear cameras was launched at Rs 26,999 while its smaller sibling 'A1' was launched at Rs 19,999 in the country. 'A1 Plus' has dual (13MP+5MP) camera system at the rear with LED flash and 20MP front camera. Powered by 4,550mAh battery, Gionee 'A1 Plus' features a Helio P25 Octa-core processor coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. The memory can be further expanded up to 256GB. New Delhi, Aug 4 : With India, the US and China forming a "very combustible mixture right now", the fate of the ongoing Doklam standoff would largely depend upon events in the South China Sea, noted commentator on international affairs, Meghnad Desai has said. If a war is to break out in the two theatres, which he predicted will begin very soon, it will see the US and India on one side and China on the other. Desai, a Labour Peer in the British House of Lords, did not consider the Doklam standoff a mere India-China issue but rather equated it to the geo-political tensions across the globe, primarily in the South China Sea. "Even today, nobody is contemplating that the whole Doklam thing could break anytime. We could be in a full scale war with China within a month. At that stage it will not be controllable. It may come as a surprise, but that is when the defence co-operation of India (with various countries) will bear fruit," Desai told IANS in an interview. But is a war really likely to break out? "I am not a jyotisi (astrologer). I cannot say what day or date but I think at this time it is very likely that we will be in a state of full-scale war with China very soon. And mind you, on several fronts, not just Doklam. It is just one frontier, they will start from all places, across the northern Himalayas," Desai, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour, claimed. He said that India and the US have an "implicit defence relationship" and that the two countries can safely rely on each other. When asked specifically on the expected reaction of the United States in case there is a war between India and China and whether Washington would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with India, Desai responded: "Absolutely". "Ultimately, you have to understand that India cannot stand up to China without American help and support. America cannot stand up to China without Indian help. That is the symmetry in this relationship," he elaborated. Desai maintained that "China is the central problem" in the way the American vision is constructed. When asked about the possibility of any backchannel discussions with the US on the Doklam standoff, Desai said that there were not just backchannel negotiations in play but it was being dealt with at the highest level by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who talk directly to each other. "All things that follow now will have a lot to do with what happens in the South China Sea. The US has sent out enough signals. If there is war, it will be a US-China war, with India on the US side, in the South China Sea and in the Himalayas. This trio is a very combustible mixture right now," he contended. He said that it is important to understand the Chinese thought process because they are "much more nationalistic, militaristic and aggressive" this time. "I am sure we are not told everything that is going on. But my worry is even though India will not openly become militaristic but have we got the preparedness for it? We may have things in place. I just wish and hope that we are prepared for a very tough war which may last for a long time," he predicted. Desai also suggested that India should not make the mistake of equating the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) with the Pakistani Army. "I think, from past experience, we always assume that we are well prepared but you will be fighting one of the finest armies in the world. It is a very powerful army and I think they also have (much) training in mountain warfare. So, according to me, it will be a very tough fight for India. Don't be mistaken that this will be easy. It is not Pakistan. The Pakistani Army is the same set of people. They come from the same army traditions and they have the same thinking but the Chinese are very different," he reiterated. Desai also expressed his disappointment over "the lack of talent on the top" of the ruling NDA government. "Arun Jaitley is a very good friend of mine but you can't have a person handling both the finance and the defence ministries," he said and suggested that it is perhaps high time that the defence ministry was again made an exclusive portfolio, so that the concerned minister could focus entirely on it. The Doklam stand-off began in mid-June near the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan when Indian troops moved in to prevent China from constructing a road on Bhutanese territory on the Doklam plateau. China claims the Doklam plateau is a part of South Tibet. Earlier this week, China claimed India had partially withdrawn its troops, which New Delhi firmly denied. (Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in) Beijing, Aug 5 : Raising the rhetoric, a Chinese expert has claimed that China might launch a military offensive against Indian troops in Doklam within two weeks, and that New Delhi will be told about the operation in advance. The expert at a Chinese think tank said the Indian soldiers deployed at Doklam, in the Sikkim sector, will either be captured or expelled from the area. Hu Zhiyong, research fellow at the Institute of International Relations of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said Beijing's patience was wearing thin as India has not withdrawn troops from Doklam despite repeatedly being told to by the Chinese government and think tanks. "If India refuses to withdraw, China may conduct a small-scale military operation within two weeks," he said. "The series of remarks from the Chinese side within a 24-hour period sends a signal to India that there is no way China will tolerate the Indian troops' incursion into Chinese territory for too long," Hu was quoted as saying by state-run Global Times. China has stepped up its anti-India tirade over Doklam with its state media warning of baneful consequences. India wants to resolve the dispute over the standoff between their armies in the Sikkim sector diplomatically, but China says it won't talk unless India withdraws troops from Doklam. Hu said the military operation would aim to seize Indian personnel "illegally" lingering in Chinese territory or expel them. "The Chinese side will inform the Indian Foreign Ministry before its operation," Hu said. Doklam is a disputed region between China and Bhutan. The dispute arose after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the region in mid-June. The expert's view comes as the Chinese Defence Ministry said on Thursday that India should not test its patience over Doklam and that "restraint has a bottom line". The Ministry told India to "give up the illusion of its delaying tactic, as no country should underestimate the Chinese forces' confidence and capability". While China continues to raise the ante over the Doklam standoff, India says it will engage with Beijing diplomatically to resolve the border standoff and that war is not a solution. "Our stand is that we maintain restraint in language and keep patience and engage in diplomacy. No solution will be gained out of war because even after war, talks are required. A solution cannot be derived out of war," India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in Parliament on Thursday. "Times are changing and it is economic power and not strategic power that decides strength of a nation...If there is a dialogue there will be a solution," she said. New Delhi, Aug 5 : Hours after an AAP legislator was remanded in judicial custody, a court here on Saturday granted him bail in a case related to defacement of public property as he "dramatically" furnished a surety bond. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ashu Garg granted bail to Delhi Cantonment's Aam Aadmi Party MLA Surender Singh on a surety bond of Rs 20,000. In the morning, the legislator had failed to furnish a surety and told the court he was ready to go to jail. "Since the accused has refused to furnish a bail bond, the court has no other option but to take him into custody," the court said while remanding him in judicial custody till August 17. The court was irked by his behaviour, including his non-appearance in the case, despite repeated warrants. The court, on April 17, had issued a bailable warrant after Surender Singh failed to appear. The court also noted that the politician had not filed any application till date regarding cancellation of bail. Surender Singh was granted bail by the Delhi Police in the instant case till November 20, 2016. Later, the legislator did not apply for extension of bail, the court said. The AAP leader is accused of putting up posters and hoardings as well as defacing public property in south Delhi in 2014. The court has listed the matter for November 6 for consideration of framing of charges. New Delhi, Aug 5 : The Congress on Saturday mounted a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over the "potentially fatal" attack on party Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat, saying the violence was the "style of politics pursued by the BJP and RSS". Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders attacked the BJP and RSS even as hundreds of Congress workers, led by Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, staged a march from Teen Murti to Gujarat Bhawan here, raising slogans against Prime Minister Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Yesterday (Friday) such a large stone was thrown by the BJP workers. It hit one of my PSOs (Personal Security Officer) and he was hurt. This is the style of politics of Modiji, BJP and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)," Rahul Gandhi said outside Parliament House. He also said that Prime Minister Modi would not condemn Friday's attack on his convoy in Banaskantha in Gujarat as it involved his own party workers. "When they have themselves done it, how will they condemn it?" he asked. Condemning it as a "potentially fatal" attack on Gandhi's cavalcade in Gujarat, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the Congress was a 130-year-old party that had seen many ups and downs and its leaders won't be scared by such tactics. "This stone could kill a human. What was the police doing? Let me say that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress won't be intimidated by such tactics," Sharma said as he showed a piece of concrete allegedly hurled at Gandhi's car in Gujarat on Friday. "It deserves the strongest condemnation, and exposes the intent, ideology, and character of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which believe in violence, intimidation, and physical assaults on political opponents or leaders. "It is integral to their thinking and their political philosophy and their actions." Sharma said that the BJP was using every possible means to capture power everywhere. Blaming the state government for lack of proper security, the Congress leader said: "It cannot just wash off its hands by saying a bullet proof car was offered." He said the Congress Vice President had every right to go and stand in solidarity with those affected by floods. Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala accused Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani of shielding the goons behind the attack. "We have lodged a complaint of 'murderous assault' against four BJP workers, but police has not registered an FIR," Surjewala said. He alleged that Gujarat's BJP government deliberately ignored the protocol followed in the case of the Special Protection Group protectee Rahul Gandhi. "There is an abject failure on the part of Rupani and his administration." Earlier in the day, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) workers staged a protest outside the BJP headquarters in central Delhi and raised slogans against the party. The protests came as a BJP youth wing leader was arrested and the Dhanera City BJP president named as an accused on Saturday in connection with the attack on Rahul Gandhi's car. On Friday, Rahul Gandhi faced hostile crowds waving black flags and shouting slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tour of flood-hit Dhanera town in Banaskantha district. His car was pelted with stones, shattering some windowpanes and injuring his personal security officer. Tokyo, Aug 7 : Typhoon Noru, the fifth this year, made landfall on Monday in Japan's Wakayama prefecture, the weather agency said. The typhoon, with central atmospheric pressure at 970 hectopascals, had winds at a speed of 30 metres per second near its centre, with gusts reaching nearly 45 metres per second, Xinhua news agency quoted the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as saying. Heavy rains battered western Japan and the JMA has warned about possible flooding, mudslides, violent winds and high waves. As of 3 p.m. (local time), a total of 73,000 people in 32,000 households in western Japan's five prefectures were ordered to evacuate. On Sunday, two people were killed and 15 others injured as typhoon Noru drew near the main islands of Japan, bringing violent winds and torrential rains with it. New Delhi, Aug 7 : The Congress on Monday accused the Union Home Ministry of trying to protect the son of Haryana BJP President Subhash Barala, accused of stalking and trying to abduct a young woman. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Chandigarh Police, which comes under the Home Ministry, diluted the charges and booked Vikas Barala under bailable offences. Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah should say why the BJP leader's son was being protected and sought the Haryana BJP President's resignation. "He (Vikas) followed the woman for seven kilometres, tried to stop the car. They even tried to open the door and enter the car. Is it not a case of attempted kidnapping and abduction? Is it not a case of molestation and outraging the modesty of a woman? If it is so, why were these charges not pressed against the accused?" asked Surjewala. "The Home Ministry and the police is conspiring to hush up the entire matter to protect the Haryana BJP president and his son," he added. He said the police initially said it was a case of abduction and outraging the modesty of a woman, both of which are non-bailable offences. However, the police booked the FIR under different sections which were bailable offences. "The police changed its statement. They said we have only enforced the offence of stalking, not even that of outraging the modesty. They said it was forceful restraint but omitted abduction... She said there was an attempt to abduct her, why was it not written in FIR? This is dereliction of duty." "Does it not prove that between 2.30 p.m. and 5 p.m., the message from the Home Ministry and the Centre reached the Chandigarh Police? Why are they going out of the way to hush up the matter instead of punishing the guilty?" He accused Modi and Amit Shah of trying to save the BJP leader's son. "Five CCTV footages from five different cameras out of seven have gone missing. How is it that suddenly all those CCTV cameras have stopped functioning and have gone missing," asked Surjewala. Accusing the BJP of adopting double standards, he said a few years ago a Haryana Congress leader was made to resign after an incident involving his son. "When a similar incident had happened involving the son of a senior minister in the Haryana government a few years ago the BJP had demanded the minister's resignation holding him accountable." "Will the BJP now adhere to the same standards as the Congress had accepted the demand and the minister had resigned from his post and his son faced trial. Why are double standards being adopted by BJP now?" Chandigarh's Deputy Superintendent of Police Satish Kumar said Barala and a friend were booked under Section 354D (stalking a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. Section 341 (wrongful restraint) was later added in the FIR. WATERLOO Authorities are continuing to investigate a grain bin accident that took the life of a Waverly man on Monday. Rand Eugene Renner, 68, became trapped in soybeans after entering one of the storage towers at the East Central Iowa Co-Op facility on Broadway Street, although the reason he entered wasnt immediately clear. Capt. Ryan Mahood with Waterloo Fire Rescue said other employees apparently realized he was trapped almost immediately and summoned help at about 11:18 a.m. Firefighters were on the scene within four minutes and found Renner unconscious with soybeans over his head, Mahood said. He said the bins auger was still on when authorities arrived and had to be turned off. Renner was at the bottom of a 30- to 40-foot funnel of beans, and crews inside struggled to dig him out while outside co-op workers used a vacuum and firefighters sliced holes in the bins steel side to release soybeans and lower the funnels walls. The tower can hold up to 100,000 bushels, and about 30,000 bushels were inside at the time of the accident. Mahood estimated they removed about 15,000 bushels during the operation. Mahood said the grain appeared to be crusty and didnt flow easily. Earth-moving equipment from the city of Waterloo and nearby Alter Metals was brought in to shovel away mounds of released soybeans that began blocking the holes. Inside, firefighters were in danger of becoming trapped themselves and had to constantly work to keep ahead of the grain, Mahood said. The Broadway Street facility didnt have a rescue tube, which is a set of interlocking pieces that can be used to build a cylinder around a trapped victim. Once in place, rescue workers can remove grain from the tube and pull the victim free. Even if the site did have a tube, Renner was submerged too deep for it to be used when firefighters arrived, Mahood said. New Delhi, Aug 7 : The Congress on Monday said it was confident of party nominee Ahmed Patel's win in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha polls from Gujarat, despite the BJP's attempts to lure MLAs through money, power and threats. "BJP, by adopting cheap methods, is conspiring to turn minority votes into majority in Gujarat," the Congress said. "They can make all attempts to insult the people's mandate... But we are confident that Ahmed Patel is going to be victorious...," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala while briefing reporters. "People have rejected them. It will be proven in the assembly elections. BJP is worried about the loss in Gujarat, therefore they are trying their best to further lower the level of politics. "However much they (BJP) try to conspire, Congress will walk the path of truth and will win," he added. Asked about NCP leader Praful Patel's comment about his party yet to decide about its support in Gujarat, Surjewala said: "When NCP chief (Sharad Pawar) had already made it clear then we don't think we should comment further on any other leader's remarks." Surjewala said: "Congress MLAs and other MLAs, who belong to the ally parties will vote in favour of Ahmed Patel." Patel, political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, is seeking a fifth consecutive term. Forty four Congress MLAs from Gujarat, who were flown to Bengaluru to prevent "poaching" by the BJP ahead of Tuesday's polls, returned to Gujarat on Monday. They were then lodged in the Nijanand Resort near Anand. They will directly go to state capital Gandhinagar to vote on Tuesday. Of the 57 party legislators in the 182-member Gujarat assembly, six quit the party on July 26 and three of them joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on July 28. Chandigarh, Aug 7 : Under criticism from over its flip-flop in the case of the stalking of a senior IAS officer's daughter by the son of Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala, Chandigarh Police on Monday said that it was investigating the case with an "open mind" and more sections could be "added at a later stage" if required. Chandigarh's Senior Superintendent of Police Eish Singhal told media here that the incident was being investigated thoroughly and legal opinion was being taken in the matter. "We are investigating the case with an open mind. If any section has to be added at a later stage, we will do it," he said, while trying to evade direct questions on the role of the Chandigarh Police in trying to shield the main accused, Vikas Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar. "We are not doing anything under pressure. We are a professional investigating agency and we are doing our job," Singhal said. He blamed the media for conducting a "media trial" in the matter. "We have reconstructed the scene of the crime. We are trying to get the CCTV footage. We will get the technical analysis of this done. We have been investigating it only for three days.," he said. Defending the police action in this matter, Singhal said that the police officials immediately booked the accused and arrested them though they were later released on bail. Chandigarh Police on Saturday booked and arrested Vikas Barala and his friend, both of whom were drunk, on charge of stalking the young woman after chasing her car on their SUV. The victim alleged that the youth tried to intimidate her and abduct her. Earlier, police said there was no CCTV footage of the incident. Deputy Superintendent of Police Satish Kumar told the media that they tried to get CCTV footage from nine CCTV cameras along the route, from Sector 7 to Housing Board traffic light point, but all were found to be "non-functional". The route along which the two accused stalked Varnika Kundu, daughter of Haryana Additional Chief Secretary V.S. Kundu, passes through some prominent and busy parts of Chandigarh including the Sector 26 Police Lines. "It is strange that the CCTV cameras of such high-profile areas were not working. This seems to be a cover-up," a junior police officer told IANS. The victim and her family have said they will fight the case to its "logical conclusion". New Delhi, Aug 7 : Former Union Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela said on Monday that he was not in touch with Congress MLAs ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat on Tuesday. He also said his relations with Congress leader Ahmed Patel were "very cordial". Vaghela, who resigned from the Congress in July, told NDTV in an interview that there was no question of getting any offer from the BJP. Asked if he was in touch with Congress MLAs, who returned to Gujarat on Monday after being in Karnataka for almost 10 days to prevent "poaching" by the BJP, Vaghela said: "On moral grounds, I should not be in touch. I am not." Asked about his vote, Vaghela said voting was the "property of a MLA". I don't want to expose it." Vaghela said Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who is in the fray for the third Rajya Sabha seat from the state, had telephoned him on Monday and will again talk to him on Tuesday. Vaghela, who was the Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly before he resigned, said he had known Patel for about four decades and their relationship was beyond political affiliations. . "Even today, our relations are very cordial," he said. Asked about speculation that he had been offered the post of Governor by the BJP, Vaghela said there were no talks between him and the Bharatiya Janata Party. "There is no question of any offer," he said and added that BJP leaders were not in touch with him. He said Balwantsinh Rajput, who had been put up by the BJP for the third Rajya Sabha seat in the state, was a friend of Ahmed Patel before he became his relative. Rajput was the Congress Chief Whip in the assembly and was named BJP candidate soon after resigning from the party in July. Vaghela said he had been asked what he will do for the victory of his relative but it was the BJP's outlook. "Where I find it necessary, I will speak," he said. Forty four Congress MLAs from Gujarat, who were flown to Bengaluru on July 29, returned to Gujarat on Monday. They were taken to Karnataka after six party MLAs resigned from the party in July with some of them joining the BJP. Ahmed Patel faces a tough contest in the Rajya Sabha election on Tuesday. BJP President Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani are also in the fray for the three seats from the state. Sanaa, Aug 8 : A top United Nations official in Yemen said on Monday that a total of 201 children have been killed in the Yemeni ongoing civil war since the beginning of 2017. "In 2017, 201 children have been killed in Yemen: 152 boys and 49 girls," UNICEF resident representative in Yemen Meritxell Relano said in her twitter account on Monday, Xinhua reported. Relano's remarks came three days after an airstrike by a Saudi-led coalition hit a family's home in Mahdha area in the Yemeni northern province of Saada, killing six children and three women. Commenting on Friday's airstrike, Relano condemned the attack but did not accuse any party behind it. Relano also said that "377 boys have been recruited and used in the conflict since the start of 2017. We know there are many more...unfortunately." Relano did not provide further details about which cities the children were recruited from nor parties behind the recruitment. According to UN agencies, more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed during more than two years of war in Yemen that also displaced over 3 million. In March 2017, UNICEF put the death toll of children from the war at 1,546, and other 2,450 injured. The country has also been hit by a deadly cholera outbreak and is on the edge of famine. The war started in March 2015, after Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict by launching a large-scale air campaign to back internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who invaded the capital Sanaa militarily and seized most of the northern Yemeni provinces. New Delhi, Aug 8 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had violated the security protocol during his visit to Gujarat last week when he was attacked with a stone, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that Gujarat Police was informed about Gandhi's visit two days before he travelled to the state. "Rahul Gandhi is under SPG protection. The state police had made adequate arrangement for the visit. He was even provided a bullet-proof car. But he opted for a non-bullet proof vehicle. He should have listened to the advice of security personnel. But he did not," he said. The minister said some unknown person threw a stone at Gandhi's car and the incident would not have occurred had the Congress leader used the vehicle the police had provided. The matter came up in the Lok Sabha after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the "potentially fatal" attack on Gandhi in Gujarat on August 4. Kharge said the government was saying terrorists were throwing stones in Kashmir and asked "which terrorist threw stones in Gujarat". Congress members shouted slogans even as the Minister said the accused had been arrested and further probe was on. The din forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for half hour at 11.30 am. Pretoria, Aug 8 : Protesters on Tuesday took to the streets of South Africa's main cities ahead of a no-confidence motion against President Jacob Zuma who is facing accusations of corruption. In Johannesburg, a group of protesters blockaded the streets with burning tyres and stones. It was unclear if they supported Zuma or were demonstrating against his administration, reports Efe news. Johannesburg metropolitan police spokesperson Edna Mamonyane said the protests spreading across the city "appeared to be coordinated". Meanwhile, more than 25,000 demonstrators were expected to join the marches both against and in support of Zuma in Cape Town, where South Africa's parliament is located. In the capital Pretoria, a similar situation was expected to take place, with authorities warning that the protests were likely to cause traffic chaos. Lawmakers were, for the first time, set to vote through secret ballot on a no-confidence motion against the 75-year-old president, who has survived six similar votes, although they were all held in public, since he assumed office in 2009. To oust Zuma, at least 50 of the 249 lawmakers of the country's ruling party, the African National Congress, must vote against Zuma, in addition to all opposition MPs in the 400-seat parliament. The no-confidence vote was proposed back in April when Zuma controversially fired finance minister Pravin Gordhan. New Delhi, Aug 8 : It's been a while since reports of "Andaz Apna Apna 2" started doing the rounds. Veteran actor Viju Khote, who played Robert in "Andaz Apna Apna", feels somebody needs to coax its director Rajkumar Santoshi to make the 1994 comedy film's sequel, which could probably star actor Varun Dhawan. "Someone would have to push him (Santoshi) to do 'Andaz Apna Apna 2'. Somebody needs to really coax him. I've not gone to his place for sometime. Maybe he is thinking of something else, but not this picture," Viju told IANS over phone from Mumbai. "He also has to get good actors for that. Salman Khan and Aamir Khan were good, they were young and nice," he added. Varun, who stepped into the shoes of Salman with the forthcoming film "Judwaa 2", could be a good option for "Andaz Apna Apna 2", Viju felt. "About a year and a half ago, Rajkumar and I had a casual discussion about its sequel. We thought of Varun. Ranveer Singh was good when he entered Bollywood, but he looks much older than Varun now. He won't be able to match him," said Viju, 75. "It was just a suggestion. He (Rajkumar) was not into it... The type of comedy has changed. What we did in that film was different. Comedies are now different. We wonder if it will even work now," he added. "Andaz Apna Apna", which saw two men competing for an heiress' love and attention, didn't do good business when it hit the screens in 1994. The actor blames poor publicity for it. "Publicity was not done enough. I didn't see big banners in Mumbai that time. There were just small posters. So, the public probably didn't know that the movie was coming out. Back then, we didn't promote films on TV or by talking to media so much like it's done now, but when it came on TV it became a big craze. It is Rajkumar Santoshi's best comedy," he said. Earlier this month, movie buffs got a chance to catch "Andaz Apna Apna" at a theatre in Mumbai as part of Zee Classic's property 'Retro In A Metro'. The line-up of films also includes "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron", "Amar Akbar Anthony" and "Karz". But "Andaz Apna Apna", which later gained a cult status, had almost got shelved. "After the second schedule, the whole thing started getting uneasy. The actors were not turning up, dates were different. So, Rajkumar said 'Pack up. We are not shooting like this.' Then a big meeting was held at Aamir's house," Viju recalled. "I was looking after them like a spot boy... getting tea and all. I was asked why I was running around like that. I said 'It's such a good film. I don't want it to go waste. So, complete it.' We had shot a couple of sequences with Tinnu Anand, but he was not there for the next schedule." That role, Crime Master Gogo, finally landed in actor Shakti Kapoor's kitty. Asked about the evolution of comedy, Viju said: "You have to go with times. You can't help it. People might not like situational comedy now. Deven Varma never did comedy. He acted on the basis of the situations." "People might laugh at it (sex comedies), but I might not be able to do that," added Viju. (Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalia.n@ians.in) New Delhi, Aug 8 : The Election Commission on Tuesday night ordered rejection of the votes of two rebel Congress MLAs in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections, giving a new twist to the outcome involving Congress President's political secretary Ahmed Patel. The order by Chief Election Commissioner A.K.Joti and Election Commissioner O.P.Rawat came after a high-pitch battle between the BJP and the Congress over the votes of Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghavji Bhai Patel, who had voted for the BJP and showed their ballots to BJP President Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti irani, who are also candidates. Lucknow, Aug 8 : A 17-year-old girl, on way to her school, was stabbed to death by four youths in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district on Tuesday after she resisted their attempts to molest her, police said. Class 12 student Ragini Dubey was rushed to a nearby hospital in Ballia but had succumbed to her excessive blood loss. The four assailants escaped after the incident even as onlookers stood dazed by the turn of events. The girl belonged to Bajaha village and was studying at a private school. Passersby later told police that she was intercepted by four boys, including the son of the village head, near the Kali temple in Shankarpur village. When she resisted their attempts to molest her, the boys kicked her cycle and she fell. They then attacked her with a knife many times and fled. Additional Superintendent of Police Vijay Pal Singh said a team has been set up to nab the culprits, while the girl's body of the girl has been sent for post-mortem. Bengaluru, Aug 8 : Calling for unlocking public data for free access, technocrat Nandan Nilekani on Tuesday said the government should empower users with data for solving the country's hard problems. "Data is empowering when it is in the hands of the people. We must invert data to ensure freedom of choice as it defends privacy, enables completion and innovation," said Nilekani at the 6th C.K. Prahalad Memorial Lecture here. Organised jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Ananta Aspen Centre, the event commemorates the noted Indian economist and an influential global business thinker Prahalad, who was a professor of corporate strategy at the University of Michigan. Nilekani, the former Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Chairman, said as the new kind of resource, data would dominate the 21st century as oil did in the 20th century. "Unlike oil, however, data is unlimited. Platforms that accumulate user data rapidly disrupt industries, outgrow competition and create silos," asserted Nilekani in his hour-long talk on the theme 'Does the data explosion give India a strategic opportunity?' Noting that data was the fuel of the new innovation economy, the Infosys co-founder said though India would go from data poor to data rich quickly, its users have to think what was the right strategy to adopt for the "new oil". "As time is running out, we have to take a strategic view on data colonisation, privacy and data dominance and how data is used for public good. It's a policy issue and not a technology issue that has to be addressed soon," he said. Predicting that the next 100 years would be decided by who had the data and how it was to be used, Nilekani said ultimately it should be available to its creator to use for empowerment. "To usher in data democracy, the government should make public data accessible to the people, implement standard protocols and formats for release of bank statements, loans, mutual funds, stocks, investments, insurance etc. and liberate private data via policy. Stating that data was the fuel the new innovation economy to help develop better products, he said in the last six years, data had become more powerful with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI). "Data along with AI disrupt adjacencies with great speed as it provides companies with core competencies to enter adjacent markets. This new age of data when combined with AI and Machine Learning (ML) can help build businesses rapidly at scale and can be threatening and disruptive to incumbents in that space," he said. Claiming that India had a unique digital infrastructure to invert data with platforms such as the India stack, national platforms for businesses like GST and FASTag, Nilekani also said the country also had the world's only robust authentication infrastructure wherein one can digitally verify on any device the authenticity of the user. BRITT | A Britt woman has been charged with entering an apartment at Summit House Assisted Living and stealing cash. Randi Jo Chipman, 35, was arrested Saturday on a felony charge of third-degree burglary and a misdemeanor charge of dependent adult abuse. While employed as a caregiver at the Britt assisted living facility, Chipman entered one of the apartments and took cash from a resident's purse while she wasn't there, according to a criminal complaint. The Britt Police Department, with assistance from the resident and staff at the Summit House, set up a surveillance camera on July 13 after the resident reported money had been stolen from her purse in the past. Police say money was marked, photographed and placed in the purse, which was set on a table in the apartment. The police were contacted on July 15 and told money had been taken from the purse. While reviewing recording from the surveillance camera, police observed Chipman walk into the apartment, go to the table, take money from the purse and put it in her back pocket, according to the complaint. Chipman allegedly admitted to also taking a $50 bill the resident had noticed missing on June 28. Chipman was released Sunday from the Cerro Gordo County Jail after bond was posted. Her next court appearance is on Aug. 16. Kolkata, Aug 8 : The CPI-M West Bengal state committee on Tuesday recommended punitive action against party Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee over lifestyle-related allegations. Briefing media persons after a two-day session of the committee, state party secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said the three-member commission formed to look into the allegations found basis in the charges, though the final decision would be taken by the Central Committee. "The commission has submitted its recommendations to the state committee. The state committee feels he needs rectification. The allegations have some basis. "We don't want to give him the maximum punishment that is spelt out in our constitution. But punitive action will be taken. The rectification process will continue," he said. But Mishra said the exact corrective step has to be approved by the Central Committee. He also categorically said the three-month suspension slapped on Banerjee would continue. "He has to rectify. He is a young comrade. We have also considered his contribution in various fora like parliament at such a young age." In June, the CPI-M placed Banerjee under three-month suspension over the allegations and asked the commission to give its report by August 2. The party had in February issued a "public warning" to Banerjee for threatening a party supporter who had raised questions in the social media about the source of funds of the young leader's expensive watch and pen. The issue related to a Facebook post by a party worker who pasted a photo of Banerjee with a MontBlanc pen and Apple smartwatch and questioned how - despite being a party wholetimer - he could afford such expensive gadgets. As the post became viral, Banerjee took umbrage, and threatened to lodge a police complaint against the worker for making "hate speeches" and maligning him on social media. The MP further mailed the human resource department of the Bengaluru-based start up where the worker was employed and asked them to "look into the matter". Banerjee's e-mail also got leaked on the social media, triggering a wave of protests against his behaviour. An embarrassed CPI-M central leadership asked the state committee - of which Banerjee is a member - to deal with the issue. As the matter raised a storm, Banerjee apologised to the party's state secretariat for shooting off a mail to the party worker's employer. Rome, Aug 9 : The United Nations must take "very strong" leadership to end the crisis in chaos-wracked Libya, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said on Tuesday. "The UN must show very strong leadership on Libya," he told journalists after a meeting with the new United Nations envoy Ghassan Salame here. "Up until today there have been too many deals, too many negotiators and zero results. The instability in Libya is not a Serie B game, it is an absolute priority," Alfano said. He reemphasised his support for the UN-backed government of national accord in Tripoli in its struggle to rule the country split by a myriad of armed groups and several rival administrations that have vied for power since the 2011 ouster of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Alfano also stressed the need for economic aid to Libya as well as measures to tackle people smugglers operating out of the country, where Italy this month launched a naval mission to give technical and logistical support Libyan coastguard at the request of UN-backed Premier Fayez al Sarraj. Salame, meanwhile, said that it would be "unrealistic" to ignore Khalifa Haftar, a powerful military strongman based in the east of the turmoil-hit country. "Haftar has an impact on a part of Libya and supporters among the Libyan people," Salame told journalists after the meeting with Alfano. "He could have political as well as military ambitions. So it would be unrealistic for the UN special envoy to ignore such a force in that part of the country," said Salame, a former Lebanese Culture Minister. He also praised the controversial naval mission launched this month by Italy to help Libyan Coastguard fight human trafficking, allegedly at the request of the UN-backed government in Tripoli, saying the mission was the "right way" forward. "Cooperation and transparency between Italy and Libya," would lead to the best results, Salame said. Haftar last week threatened to attack Italian navy vessels if they entered Libyan waters without permission from his Libyan National Army. The Haftar-allied parliament based in Tobruk in the east of the country, also slammed the Italian naval mission as an act of aggression. In widespread social media posts, Libyans also protested the naval mission in a reflection of broader anger in Libya over the intervention of Italy, a former colonial power that ruled the oil-rich North African country for the first half of the 20th century. Sarraj and Haftar - Libya's main rival leaders - signed an accord on a ceasefire, elections in 2018 and other political steps at a meeting last month in Paris hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron and attended by Salame. Pune, Aug 9 : Tyre major Bridgestone India on Tuesday announced its expansion plans which entail an investment of $304.3 million (Rs 1,900 crore). According to the company, investment will enable its plants located at -- Pune (Chakan) and Indore (Kheda) -- to meet increased demand owning to growing vehicle population and production. "The investment will be done in a phased manner over the next five years starting 2017," the company said in a statement. BKV group photo in outside courtyard. Much of the credit goes to our super-smart staff, who continue to make BKV an exciting and fun place to work. Atlanta-based advertising agency BKV was named a winner by the Top Workplaces in Atlanta competition for the second consecutive year. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) hosts this survey-based competition each year to showcase the top workplaces in the Atlanta area. The AJC Top Workplaces competition involves an employee survey within each organization nominated, as well as a review of companies policies, procedures and benefits. Winners are selected according to benefits, employee satisfaction, office culture and general practices. The AJC then publishes their list to the Atlanta area. Were thrilled to be recognized as a top place to work in Atlanta for the second year, notes Virginia Doty, EVP, Director of Marketing at BKV. Much of the credit goes to our super-smart staff, who continue to make BKV an exciting and fun place to work. The agency first opened its doors in 1981 and has grown to more than 100 employees working with well-known client brands such as AT&T, Aflac, SPANX and American Red Cross. BKV prides itself on its employee retention, relaxed atmosphere and team-oriented culture. BKV team members enjoy exceptional benefits, including paid healthcare, flexible work-from-home days and a pet-friendly office. For those interested in learning more about BKV and joining the agencys ever-growing team, visit bkv.com/careers. The agency is currently hiring across multiple departments. About BKV Atlanta-based full-service direct and digital advertising agency BKV specializes in using data-driven strategies that make brands work harder. BKVs client portfolio includes local, national and global brands. The agency provides digital and traditional media services, as well as creative, web development, email marketing, CRM, SEO, social media, digital PR, direct mail, DRTV, database management, analytics and data modeling. For more information, visit bkv.com. BKV is a part of unified.agency, which has offices in Atlanta, New York, Chicago and Princeton, NJ. Rosh Hashana 2016 at the Bitter End Jazz Up your Holidays with Sim Shalom Rabbi Blane and other JSLI trained Rabbis across the country and Canada. Rabbi Steve Blane spreads the love as JSLI (Jewish Spiritual Leaders' Institute) ordained Rabbis and Cantors are making an impact and serving Jews across the country and globe. Sim Shalom, the online synagogue is the mainliner offering in personJazz High Holiday services at the iconic Bitter End Club in New York. Rabbi Steve Blane, JSLI Founder and Dean, and a quintet have transformed the High Holiday liturgy into a magical and moving experience. Sim Shalom services will be streamed live to the world as always. Rabbi Mark Getman will be leading High Holiday Services at Temple Emanu-El of Canarsie (Brooklyn) New York on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Additionally on Sukkot Oct 6th they will have a pot Luck Dinner with a Guest Cantor for Musical Friday Night Service. All are welcome! In Louisiana, Rabbi Judy Caplan Ginsburgh will be leading services at her congregation in Monroe, Louisiana. This will be the first time in 28 years she will be able to be with her family for the High Holy Days. For the past 28 years she has served as cantor at some congregation far from her home. It will also be her first year serving as Rabbi. Rabbi Laura Golub Boenisch is leading services (RH, Kol Nidre, YK) at a rented space in Falmouth, Maine. She has rewritten the services this summer. She plans to have some of this years Bnai Mitzvot kids come to Torah for an aliyah to chant a few lines. Upstate New York Rabbi Ellen Franke will be leading services @ Temple Beth El in Niagara Falls for RH and YK. Then for Sukkot TBE will join with Congregation Havurah for a potluck and apple-picking. There are also joint services with 4 other congregations for both Sukkot and Simchat Torah. In sunny Florida, join Cantor Nina Fine who will be davening at Temple Beth El in Ormond Beach with Rabbi Berman for all services as well as leading a special family service for Rosh Hashana and one for Yom Kippur and also Rabbi Karen Becker Marcelo will be joining Rabbi Art Silvertone at his services in Lake Worth, Florida. Newly ordained in JSLIs 14th Class this July Rabbi Jennifer Rudin of Massachusett has services for both days of Rosh Hashana, Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur where her classmate Rabbi Daniel Betzel from Ohio will join her and additionally, Rabbis Anibal Mass and Matthew Leibl will be leading services at their congregation in Winnipeg, Canada. They lead lovely musical services together. And finally Cantor Joanna Lind will join Rabbi Nancy Landsman at Congregation Ahavat Olam in Illinois. Both were ordained by Jewish Spiritual Leaders' Institute. To join the host of JSLI Rabbis a new class is forming for September 11th. Visit JSLI.net to learn more. About Sim Shalom and JSLI Sim Shalom is an interactive online Jewish Universalist synagogue which is liberal in thought and traditional in liturgy. Created in 2009 by Rabbi Steven Blane on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Sim Shalom offers a means of connecting the unconnected. Rabbi Blane leads accessible and short Shabbat services every Friday night using a virtual interface and additionally Sim Shalom provides online education programs, Jazz concerts, conversion and life-cycle ceremonies along with weeknight services at 7:00PM EST led by Rabbis and students of this online community. Rabbi Blane is also the founder and director of the Jewish Spiritual Leader's Institute, the online professional rabbinical program. Sim Shalom, a non profit 501 (3) tax-exempt organization, nurtures a Jewish connection through its mission of innovative services, creative education and dynamic outreach to the global community. Pharmaceutical services provider TrialCard recently accepted the corporate chair position for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, with the mission of accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. At TrialCard our mission is to help patients gain access to lifesaving treatments and medications, and JDRF was founded on a vision of the world without T1D. Teaming up with them is a natural fit and were very excited about this opportunity to positively impact our community and the world around us, said TrialCard President and CEO Mark Bouck. Since its inception, TrialCard has placed a strong emphasis on giving back, and as a company supported more than 30 different local and national charitable causes in 2016. The company was honored with a spot among the Triangle Business Journals 2017 Corporate Philanthropy Award winners as a leader in volunteerism and charitable giving among Raleigh-Durham area businesses. TrialCard has set a goal of raising $22,500 in support of JDRF throughout the remainder of 2017. To reach this goal, TrialCard is hosting multiple events for their employees, clients and vendors to enjoy while raising awareness and funds for T1D research. Among the activities are TrialCard Game Days on Friday afternoons during the summer, an End of Summer Celebration, and fielding a company team for the JDRF One Walk scheduled for October 28, 2017. Making a positive impact in the lives of patients is the cornerstone of our work, said Joe Abdalla, Division President of TC Market Access, TrialCards HUB services division. By applying that same passion to causes like supporting JDRF, were furthering our commitment to helping achieve better health outcomes through all we do. About TrialCard TrialCard Incorporated provides product access, medication adherence, and patient support services on behalf of pharmaceutical manufacturers. Founded in 2000, TrialCard has become the largest provider of patient access programs in the industry, connecting patients with over $1.7 billion in annualized branded drug savings. In 2016 the company established TC Market Access as its dedicated HUB services division. TrialCard holds nine U.S. patents related to the processing and marketing of patient access programs. The company is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. For more information about TrialCard, please visit http://www.trialcard.com or follow TrialCard on Twitter: @trialcard. About JDRF JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Its mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2 billion in research funding since its inception. It is an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. JDRF collaborates with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. JDRF staff members and volunteers throughout the United States and its six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and the vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow JDRF on Twitter: @JDRF. Dr. Steve Coleman, D.O., medical director of MedicalMasters.org recently returned from a ground-breaking mission to Honduras with fellow U.S. physicians to treat disadvantaged communities suffering from age-related conditions, (including knee joint pain), using cellular therapies such as ProloTherapy. The trip offered far-reaching benefits for local Bonita Springs residents back home in the U.S. as MedicalMasters.org continues pioneering new stem cell treatments for aging Americans using the very same injection technology. This was the 47th annual two-week trip to Honduras organized by the Hackett Hemwall Patterson Foundation, in association with the University of Wisconsin, consisting of a large international group of dedicated physicians, nurses and assistants. The one common denominator shared by the entire medical team was a deep desire to help people that are less fortunate and in need of care, particularly a concern for older patients suffering from -osteoarthritis and other age-related joint pain conditions. The work we have done in Honduras was humbling, to say the least. People came to us by bus, car or bicycle, from as far as 6 hours away, just to see our team for a single prolotherapy treatment, said Dr. Coleman For many of these patients, this would be their only chance to see a doctor for at least another year. Dr. Coleman and the others physician volunteers literally saw hundreds of patients each day, most of which were treated using a powerful cellular technology called prolotherapy, which involves injecting sterile sugar water into affected joints, including the knee, hip and shoulder. The experience was humbling on both a professional and personal level. Walking through the streets, people stop, look at us and thank us spontaneously, said Dr. Coleman. The experience also allowed him to perfect complex injection techniques that also apply to stem cell procedures he has introduced to his Bonita Springs Clinic, MedicalMasters.org. Not many physicians get the opportunity to obtain such a high level of field training that involve treating dozens of patients each day. The most patients that the team of 7 Doctors treated in one day was 204. The steep learning curve helps patients back home in the U.S. who get the benefit of Doctors who have been able to do this procedure hundred or thousands of times, before performing it on you or a loved one. The patients in Honduras benefit since they may not ever get to see a doctor outside of this mission, and the people back in the USA get the benefit of such stringent and painstaking training. I now apply these advanced injection techniques to my Stem Cell patients here in Bonita Springs. It is a true win-win for everyone Typically, local residents would begin lining up at 6 a.m. each day with first consults beginning at 8 a.m. Patients are registered, triaged and then examined by our physicians to determine if prolotherapy is going to be helpful for their condition. Prolotherapy is performed by experienced physicians, often with a novice prolotherapist observing and assisting. Patients will continue to be seen until about 6:00 pm - but often much longer depending on the need. We would never turn away a patient who has taken a six hour trip to see us, and who sometimes has waited all day just to see a doctor. Imagine getting in line at 6AM and not being able to be treated until 6PM. That is the level of need that we saw every day. After the last patient is treated, the clinic is cleaned up and made ready for the next day. The entire group meets for dinner together in the evening and then after dinner, the physicians have a lecture on prolotherapy. The assistants often have set up work to do to prepare for the next day. After a long day of hard work, our group then heads to their lodging for a well-deserved rest.... to get ready for the next day of more hard work! Even though my Spanish is still evolving, I can almost be brought to tears by the warm thanks people give us. Its extremely humbling to be able to make such a difference in a persons life who you really don't yet know, said Dr. Coleman. There is an incredible amount of pre-planning that goes into making it all happen. Mary Doherty, who is the executive director of the foundation, does much of the work herself, and with the help of several very dedicated staffers. The benefit to my medical practice has been to be trained by true masters and thought leaders like Dr. David Rabago MD and many other very talented physicians. You just cant get training like that here in the USA, Dr. Coleman said. The inspirational trip to Honduras has already redefined some of the workflows and strategies used within MedicalMasters.org to treat U.S. patients. In particular, Dr. Coleman has introduced a customized hybrid package of cellular technologies to treat joint pain including prolotherapy, PRP and stem cell therapy. He has also used the organizational and operational skills learned in Honduras to speed up treatment times and train staff to more efficiently handle patient concerns and treatment plans. In an effort to give back to the local Bonita Springs community, MedicalMasters.org is offering a $1000 promotional stem cell therapy discount to residents between August 23-30, 2017. This limited Summer promotion is also an important vehicle to educate local residents on the benefits of same-day stem cell treatments which offer great promise for treating joint pain. Please contact Dr. Coleman or the University of Wisconsin if you would like to volunteer or even to just support the future medical missions to Honduras which take place in March each year. CLEAR LAKE | A Clear Lake man was arrested Friday for strangling a known woman, among other charges. Joshua Diekhuis, 36, was charged with felony domestic abuse assault impeding air/blood flow and two misdemeanors, operating while under the influence and interference with official acts. Cerro Gordo County deputies were called to a residence on the 9700 block of Wheelerwood Drive for a domestic disturbance shortly after midnight Aug. 4, according to the criminal complaint. Diekhius allegedly punched a known woman, causing a laceration on her lip, and bruising and swelling on her cheek, the criminal complaint states. He then allegedly pushed the woman to the ground and placed his hands around her neck. When deputies arrived, Diekhuis was found operating a farm tractor on his driveway. According to court documents, deputies say Diekhuis smelled strongly of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes. Diekhuis admitted to law enforcement he consumed a "half of a fifth of whiskey" and was operating the tractor, the complaint said. His blood alcohol content was .153. Diekhuis was also charged with interference with official acts for attempting to hit a deputy's leg, resisting and attempting to flee, the documents said. He is scheduled to appear in Cerro Gordo County District Court at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 11. 3rd Cassava World Africa summit presents cassava market business prospects across Zambia, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania. Among key speakers is Dick Siame, Country Programme Officer, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) sharing on Commercialisation of Smallholder Cassava Production in Mozambique and Zambia: Opportunities and Challenges. Also invited to comment on the commercial cassava processing initiatives are Union Dicon Salt on its Investment in Commercial Cassava Plantation & Downstream Projects in Nigeria and Flour Mills of Nigerias account of its Cassava Bread Initiatives pinpointing how it overcame constraints of inadequate equipment for flour production to impact of cassava flour inclusion in bread formulations. Presenting its successful case study is Zambian Breweries describing its Processing and Brewing Cassava Beer and how it worked with smallholder farms and managed the supply chain. The summit also has Ugandas Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries sharing details of the countrys Smart Incentives and Policies to Promote Cassava Investment via land availability and new land models and developing basic infrastructure from farm to processing facilities. Another highlight at the Lusaka meet is a Panel Discussion led by Rafael Flor, Director, The Rockefeller Foundation and Edward Furaha, CEO, Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF). The panelists analyze how to develop improved market access for cassava products through better marketing channels and overcoming logistics and distribution challenges while also promoting plus encouraging consumers to accept cassava value added products. The program also features: Panel Discussion: Financing Cassava Projects & Downstream Investments - Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission Latest Updates on New Cassava Varieties International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Processing Challenges & Market for Starch & Syrup in West Africa Psaltry International Corn vs. Cassava for processing in Africa Commoditia Cassava Project Update & Development Tanzania Agriculture Export Process Zone Cassava Based Ethanol Projects Praj Industries Improved Weed Management Practices in Cassava Plantations Bayer CropScience Organised by Centre for Management Technology (CMT), the summit has The Context Network as Coffee Break Reception Sponsor. Visit 3rd Cassava World Africa for more details or contact Ms. Grace at +65 6346 9147. Journey Under the Sea by R. A. Montgomery YOU are a deep-sea diver on a solo mission, searching for the lost city of Atlantis. In one story line, you confront hungry sharks, the bends in another, and you might end up in an Atlantean zoo... for life. Chooseco, publisher of the world-famous Choose Your Own Adventure(R) interactive book series, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its title Journey Under the Sea by R. A. Montgomery. You remember that one, right? YOU are a deep-sea diver on a solo mission, searching for the lost city of Atlantis. In one story line, you confront hungry sharks, the bends in another, and you might end up in an Atlantean zoo... for life. Montgomery originally published Journey Under the Sea via independent publishing house, Vermont Crossroads Press, in 1977. He wrote under the pen name Robert Mountain, and imagined it as the first in a series of books that drew on Montgomerys experiences with role-playing simulations and working with reluctant readers at a summer camp. The original title of the series was The Adventures of You. It later became Choose Your Own Adventure after Montgomery brought the project to Bantam Books and became the first title on their new childrens list. The series went on to sell over 270 million books in the following forty years, making it the 4th-bestselling childrens series of all time. Journey Under the Sea is one of the most iconic titles from the series, Shannon Gilligan, Chooseco CEO & Publisher, explains. This is the YOU character who leads the Choose Your Own Adventure series, and what made this book different than the other early works that contributed to the series was that the YOU was identifiable to a child but also very powerful. This book is entirely driven by action, and that separates it from the other early entries in the series which were experimenting more with format. In the early 2000s, R. A. Montgomery and Shannon Gilligan took the leap to establish their own publishing house and revamp the beloved childrens book series through their purpose-built publishing company Chooseco. The small company ran from a converted farmhouse in Vermont and by 2006, the original series 18 bestselling titles returned to bookstores, with new artwork and updated text. Journey Under the Sea was released as the second title in the Classics series and has remained on the bestsellers list since the relaunch. To date, Chooseco is responsible for bringing 2 million copies of Journey Under the Sea into print in 15 languages and 20 territories. To celebrate the milestone, Chooseco has released a Special 40th Anniversary Edition (http://www.cyoa.com/products/journey-under-the-sea) and will be selling the book for its original price of $1.25 for one day only, Wednesday, August 9th. Additionally, the company is giving away a 40th Anniversary poster (http://www.cyoa.com/journey), charting the books journey over time. About Chooseco Founded in 2003, Chooseco publishes the Choose Your Own Adventure series and has recently expanded its list to include linear YA with the release of the WEREGIRL trilogy last year. Widely commended for its appeal to reluctant readers, the Choose Your Own Adventure series is the 4th bestselling book series of all time, with more than 270 million copies sold in over 40 languages. Each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main characters actions in response to the plot and its outcome. Find out more at http://www.cyoa.com. To find out more about Chooseco, please contact Elizabeth Adelman at webmail(at)chooseco(dot)com or by telephone at 802-496-2598. I am excited to be on the Cultivate team and to support those in need in our community. Before becoming executive director, Kelly Hofferth was a board member of Cultivate Culinary School & Catering (Cultivate). After a visit to Catalyst Kitchens in Seattle, a social enterprise that works to break the cycle of joblessness and hunger, she came back inspired and ready to take Cultivate to the next level. When Hofferth learned that Cultivate was looking for an executive director, she jumped at the opportunity. What we really wanted in an executive director was someone with deep ties to the community, first and foremost, explains Jim Conklin, treasurer of Cultivate. We were also looking for someone with teaching experience to build relationships with partners in the community. Hofferth has lived in South Bend for more than 25 years. A graduate of the ACE program at Notre Dame, she taught middle school math and science for five years. She then worked at Press Ganey as a patient advocate and most recently worked at Notre Dame in development and at the Morris Inn. I am so thrilled to lead this innovative organization here in South Bend, Hofferth says. It is estimated that Americans throw away 40% of their food, and 20% of families in Indiana are food insecure. Clearly there is a need for what we do at Cultivate in bridging the gap between food waste and food insecurity. I am excited to be on the Cultivate team and to support those in need in our community. Cultivate hopes to increase its impact in the community through its adult and youth education programs, developing community partnerships to support food rescue and delivering food to those in need. With fresh vision and perspective from the new executive director, Cultivate anticipates more sustainable growth and service within the community. To learn more about the mission of Cultivate Culinary School and how you can get involved, visit http://www.cultivateculinary.com or call 574-440-2214. Business Management Red Comet is introducing a new high school course in Business Management. For the 2017-18 school year, students may enroll in this course which will prepare the student to effectively manage an organization or own & run their own enterprise. Management is the cornerstone of any successful organization. No company can expect to reach its stated goals unless the staff is skilled in managing various aspects of the organization. Red Comets Business Management course will teach the student the fundamentals of managing resources, finance management, raising investment for their business, project management techniques, Goal-Setting, Organizational Structure, Risk Management Strategies and Supply Chain Management. This course offers students the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of Entrepreneurship, Business Basics and Management Techniques. Red Comet (http://www.redcomet.org) is a Fully Accredited (NWAC, AdvancED) organization that has been offering online courses for credit since 1999. Students have over 175 courses to choose from. Many of these courses are also approved by the NCAA organization. In the State of Washington, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has approved the Red Comet program as a Multi-District Online Provider, Online Course Provider, and Online School Program. In a statewide survey, Red Comet received high ratings for student satisfaction. Students use the Red Comet online program for original credit, credit retrieval, and credit recovery. For Immediate Release Contact Information: Ms. Sapna Ganeshan President, Red Comet 1-888-730-1101 Sasmit Deshmukh Associate Scientist at SGS Canada and Sanofi Pasteur Ltd.; Marina Kirkitadze Head of Biophysics and Conformation Unit, Biochemistry Platform, Analytical R&D North America, Sanofi Paste This webinar, as part of the Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Virtual Trade Show Virtual Event, will discuss Phase Analysis Light Scattering (PALS) and Raman spectroscopy methods to characterize the H4-IC31 vaccine formulation. The PALS method can be used to assess vaccine product quality and consistency regarding particle size, zeta potential and conductivity. These parameters can differentiate between the IC31 adjuvant and the H4-IC31 vaccine candidate; hence, the method can serve as a control during vaccine formulation. A tuberculosis (TB) vaccine consisting of a recombinant fusion protein combined with a novel synthetic cationic adjuvant, is in development. Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has selected two speakers for this event; Dr. Sasmit Deshmukh, an associate scientist at SGS Canada and Sanofi Pasteur Ltd., and Dr. Marina Kirkitadze, Head of Biophysics and Conformation Unit at Sanofi Pasteur Ltd, will both present during this webinar. Deshmukh received his doctorate in chemistry from Concordia University in Montreal. With more than 10 years experience, his work has focused on extensive multidisciplinary research experience in chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics. He currently serves as an associate scientist at SGS Canada and Sanofi Pasteur Ltd. As a 15-year veteran of the vaccine industry, Kirkitadze currently is the Deputy Director and Head of Biophysics and Conformation Unit of Analytical R&D Biochemistry at Sanofi Pasteur. She received her doctorate in biological sciences from the Institute of Protein Research at the Russian Academy of Sciences. LabRoots will host the educational webinar on August 31, 2017, commencing at 7:00 a.m. PDT, 10:00 a.m. EDT. To read more on this event or to register for free, click here. About Beckman Coulter Beckman Coulter serves customers in two segments: Diagnostics and Life Sciences. The company develops, manufactures, and markets products that simplify, automate, and innovate complex biomedical testing. More than 275,000 Beckman Coulter systems operate in both Diagnostics and Life Sciences laboratories on seven continents. Scientists use Beckman Coulters Life Science research instruments to study complex biological problems, including causes of disease and potential new therapies or drugs. About LabRoots LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website and producer of educational virtual events and webinars. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning, and is a primary source for current scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences, and more. LabRoots has grown into the worlds largest series of virtual events within the Life Sciences and Clinical Diagnostics community. Eric Levens, M.D., of Shady Grove Fertility's Annandale, VA, office The primary message we wish to convey to people trying to get pregnant is to seek a fertility assessment early in order to have the best chances of pregnancy. Identifying and treating potential problems early puts more time on your side. Shady Grove Fertility, the largest fertility center in the nation, partnered with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association to host a national patient survey to better understand how patients access fertility treatment and ascertain if patients realize that, in the vast majority of cases, they can self-refer to a fertility specialist, rather than wait for a primary care physician to refer them. Findings of the national survey of nearly 200 respondents revealed that approximately 40 percent of patients did not realize they could see a fertility specialist without the referral of an OB/GYN or primary care physician. With this information, Shady Grove Fertility hopes to raise awareness that couples who are trying to have a baby dont need to wait, they can take action into their own hands and schedule a consultation with a reproductive endocrinologist directly. Patients are often surprised to learn that Shady Grove Fertility does not require a referral from an OB/GYN or primary physician to be seen by a reproductive endocrinologist in one of our offices. I should mention, while a referral is not needed to be seen by an SGF physician, some insurance providers do require a physician referral for reimbursement. For patients who are unsure if they need a referral, a general rule of thumb is the following: HMO plans from any provider, along with United Healthcares MDIPA and Optimum Choice and Kaiser, will likely require a referral in order for the consultation to be covered by insurance. Patients, in these cases, can receive a referral by simply calling their primary care physician or OB/GYN, says Angela Tablada, Shady Grove Fertilitys Patient Financial Services Manager. The MD Mandate also creates access for patients to seek fertility care. The Maryland Insurance Article Section 15-810, "Benefits for In Vitro Fertilization," requires health and hospital insurance policies issued within the state that provide pregnancy benefits to also cover the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF). There is a limit of three IVF attempts per live birth; not to exceed a maximum lifetime benefit of $100,000. Shady Grove Fertility participates with a large network of over 30 insurance providers. The financial service representatives at Shady Grove Fertility are integral members of the patient care team and their core mission is to enhance the patient experience. Their goal is to make the financial aspects of the process as manageable, understandable, and transparent as possible. Financial counselors at Shady Grove Fertility, in particular, are dedicated to helping patients fully understand and maximize their insurance benefits. At Shady Grove Fertility, in accordance to guidelines set forth by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), recommends females under the age of 35 who have regular cycles and have not conceived after 12 months of unprotected sex, to see a fertility specialist. Women 35 to 39 who have regular cycles and have not conceived after 6 months of unprotected sex are advised to see a fertility specialist, and women age 40 and older who have regular cycles and have not conceived after 3 months of unprotected sex are advised to see a fertility specialist. Conditions that warrant seeing a fertility specialist earlier than these guidelines state include: Irregular menstrual cycles (a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS), severely painful periods, or no period on a regular basis (monthly) A history of pelvic surgery (such as the removal of an ovarian cyst, ablation of endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, tubal surgery, or ruptured appendix) Diagnosis of endometriosis When basic treatment, often clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene), has not resulted in pregnancy after 3-4 failed Clomid cycles When known male factor exists; including if the male has trouble achieving or maintaining an erection, or is unable to ejaculate in the vagina Known sterilization procedures (tubal ligation or vasectomy) Two or more miscarriages If a complex medical condition exists, we recommend counseling about the risks of pregnancy prior to conceiving. While the condition may not preclude pregnancy, its best to discuss. If the male or female has a family history of a genetic disorder, it may affect the couples ability to conceive. While individuals in a same-sex relationship may not necessarily be infertile, the couple should still have an evaluation and will often need assistance building their families. The primary message we wish to convey to people trying to get pregnant is to seek a fertility assessment early in order to have the best chances of pregnancy. Identifying and treating potential problems early puts more time on your side, says Dr. Eric Levens, of Shady Grove Fertilitys Annandale, VA office. About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) Shady Grove Fertility is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence offering patients individualized care, innovative financial options, and pregnancy rates among the highest of all national centers. 2017 commemorates more than 25 years of Shady Grove Fertility providing medical and service excellence to patients from all 50 states and 35 countries around the world, including its newest expansion to Santiago, Chile in August 2017. Today, with 41 physicians supported by a highly specialized team of more than 750 Ph.D. scientists, geneticists, and staff caring for patients in 28 offices throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, and Washington, D.C., we celebrate over 40,000 babies bornmore than any other center in the United States. Shady Grove Fertility physicians actively train residents and reproductive endocrinology fellows and invest in continuous clinical research and education to advance the field of reproductive medicine through numerous academic appointments and partnerships such as Georgetown Medical School, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the University of Maryland, and the National Institutes of Health. Nearly 2,000 physicians refer their patients to Shady Grove Fertility each year. For more information, call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com. About RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, established in 1974, is dedicated to ensuring that all people challenged in their family building journey reach resolution through being empowered by knowledge, supported by community, united by advocacy, and inspired to act. RESOLVE exists to provide: Access to Care; Advocacy for Coverage; Access to Support & Community; Access to Education; Awareness of All Family Building Options. A. Van Moore JR, MD (left) and John Nichols, MD Each of these physicians has a natural ability to lead. John Nichols, MD Strategic Radiology CEO Arl Van Moore Jr., MD, and three other radiologists from Charlotte Radiology were inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolinas highest honors. Along with Moore, Robert Lackey, MD, Dale Shaw, MD, and Christopher G. Ullrich, MD, were recognized for their dedication to patients, their role in educating future radiologists, and for improving health care for the citizens of North Carolina. Building a medical practice here with my colleagues over five decades has woven our lives into the community in countless ways, said Moore, who joined Charlotte Radiology in 1983. It is humbling to have our efforts recognized by Governor Roy Cooper. The 108-radiologist Charlotte Radiology is among the largest private radiology practices in the United States. It is a founding member of Strategic Radiology, a national coalition of 26 private radiology practices let by Moore that represents 1,600 radiologists. Each of these physicians has a natural ability to lead, said John Nichols, MD, vice president of the North Carolina Radiological Society (NCRC), which advocated for the honorees. Their long-term support and senior roles in both organizations, including roles as councilors and presidents in the NCRS, resulted in major support and guidance for North Carolina health care and governmental organizations during decades of major advancements in the field of radiology. Moore served as president of Charlotte Radiology for 15 years and as chairman of the board of the American College of Radiology; a founding member of Charlotte Radiology in 1967, Lackey helped develop the radiology department at Charlotte Memorial Hospital, now Carolinas Medical Center; Shaw led the NCRS Annual Breast Imaging Conference for 25 years, educating physicians across the state on breast imaging innovations; and Ullrich, a national advocate for excellent radiologic patient care, recently served as Chair of the North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council. About Strategic Radiology Strategic Radiology is a national coalition of 26 private radiology practices that seek to achieve higher quality patient care and more cost-efficient medical imaging through shared data and clinical expertise. Members have access to the only Patient Safety Organization dedicated specifically to the improvement of medical imaging and listed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. SR Core Members: Advanced Radiology Services; Grand Rapids, MI Austin Radiological Association; Austin, TX Central Illinois Radiological Associates; Peoria, IL Charlotte Radiology; Charlotte, NC Diversified Radiology; Denver, CO Huron Valley Radiology; Ann Arbor, MI Integra Imaging; Washington State (Inland Imaging and Seattle Radiologists) Jefferson Radiology; Hartford, CT Mountain Medical Physician Specialists; Salt Lake City, UT Northwest Radiology; Indianapolis, IN Quantum Radiology; Atlanta, GA Radiant Imaging, Inc.; Pasadena, CA including The Hill Medical Corporation and Arcadia Radiology Medical Group divisions Radiology Associates of North Texas; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Radiology Associates of South Florida; Miami, FL Radiology Ltd.; Tucson, AZ Southwest Diagnostic Imaging; Phoenix, AZ and affiliates EDVI Medical Imaging and Scottsdale Medical Imaging and Valley Radiologists University Radiology; East Brunswick, NJ SR Affiliate Members: This seminar will show family lawyers and personal injury lawyers how to attract more lucrative cases. River Edge, NJ-Lawyers who want to build their firms, attract more clients and increase their profits with cost effective advertising, marketing and public relations are invited to attend a seminar on Monday, September 18 at 7:00 PM in River Edge, New Jersey. The seminar will be conducted by Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. Dr. Granat has consulted with thousands of attorneys and his articles have appeared in The National Law Journal, The New York Law Journal, The New Jersey Law Journal, Legal Economics, The Pennsylvania Lawyer, The Canadian Law Journal, The Texas Bar Journal and other prestigious legal publications. Granat has lectured to the New Jersey Institute For Continuing Legal Education and has authored How To Expand Your Personal Injury Practice With Cost Effective Advertising, How To Expand Your Law Practice: 101 Ways To Attract More Clients and Persuasive Advertising For Entrepreneurs And Small Business Owners. Attorneys who attend will learn how to use advertising, marketing and public relations tools, strategies and techniques to grow their firms. A New Directory And Referral Service For Family Lawyers Dr. Granat has recently developed a new marketing tool for top family lawyers, divorce attorneys, mediators and matrimonial lawyers. Lawyers can get exclusive listings in their county and attract high net worth divorce cases by being part of http://www.HighNetWorthDivorces.com. High Net Worth Divorce cases allow lawyers to earn more money while they see fewer clients. This site is already on page one of Google and sixty law firms from around the country have joined already. HighNetWorthDivorces.com has also already been featured in hundreds of media outlets. Here is a link that explains fourteen benefits of joining this site. https://www.highnetworthdivorces.com/join/ Low Cost Marketing For Personal Injury Lawyers Dr. Granat will also outline a simple and inexpensive technique to help personal injury lawyers to get more lucrative auto accident cases into their firms. One Simple Technique To Get More Clients Without Spending Any Money On Advertising, Marketing Or Public Relations Dr. Granat will outline one simple method to improve lawyers relationships with clients and enhance their images in their communities. This technique that will require just five minutes of your time and it will not cost you anything to implement. Register For The Seminar To reserve your spot for the seminar in New Jersey, call Dr. Granat at 201 647-9191 or email him at Dr.Granat(at)HighNewWorthDivorces(dot)com Attorneys Who Are Too Busy To Attend Lawyers who cant attend the New Jersey Seminar can call Dr. Granat at 201 647-9191 with any questions or concerns they have about building their law firm in a cost effective manner. ## Scott Malone TRC Services TRC Services, Inc. today announced that Scott Malone, former rod lift and corrosion control specialist for Dover Artificial Lift, has joined the TRC Services of Texas technical team. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Scott Malone to our technical group, said Ralph Stark, President, TRC Services of Texas, Inc. We could not be more thrilled and honored to have Scott become part of the TRC team. His extensive experience in the artificial lift industry will bring an important new perspective and dimension to our company. Scotts background in the industry will benefit our strategic efforts as we continue to navigate through this challenging time. Scott was employed by Phillips Petroleum / Conoco Phillips for 25 years and Dover Artificial Lift / Norris Rods for 14 years as a rod lift and corrosion control specialist. Scott has served in various capacities for NACE International (formerly National Association of Corrosion Engineers), holding several positions for the organization. Scott is also currently a member of the American Petroleum Institute SC11 Committee for the Standardization of Oilfield Equipment and Materials. He has extensive experience and proficiency in sucker rod manufacturing, string design, failure analysis, and artificial lift systems. He serves as an instructor for the Southwest Petroleum Short Course seminar event held annually in cooperation with the Petroleum Engineering Department at Texas Tech University. About TRC Services, Inc. TRC is a leader in the sucker rod industry. TRC is uniquely positioned to manage its customers entire sucker rod programs. Their product and service lines include new and remanufactured steel sucker rods, new Fiberflex Fiberglass sucker rods, sucker rod string designs, failure analysis, and well optimization services. TRC services its customers throughout the United States through its three plants in Midland, TX, and plant in Oklahoma City, OK. For more information, please contact Ralph Stark at rstark(at)trcsuckerrods.com Authentic Human Proteins From Human Cells We are proud to be the only commercial supplier of high-quality, tag-free recombinant human Interferon beta expressed in human cells for research purposes. HumanZyme Inc., a leading supplier of novel recombinant human proteins and growth factors expressed in human cells, today announced the launch of HumanKine Interferon beta (IFN beta) expressed from HEK293 cells. IFN beta is a member of the type I family of interferons that activate Th1-type innate immune responses against viral and bacterial infection, and have antiproliferative and immunomodulatory functions. IFN beta is currently FDA-approved in injectable form as a treatment for multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease, and has been investigated for use in cancer therapeutics for its anti-tumor activity. According to Scott Coleridge, CEO at HumanZyme, We are proud to be the only commercial supplier of high-quality, tag-free recombinant human Interferon beta expressed in human cells for research purposes. Our proprietary HEK293 expression system allows us to express difficult proteins in a human cell line to provide the most authentic recombinant products possible. The new IFN beta further expands our animal component-free HumanKine product line, and the product is priced competitively and also available in bulk. Glycosylation of the IFN beta protein by a single asparagine-linked sugar chain is essential to its activity and stability, both in vitro and in vivo. IFN beta purified from human cells has been shown to have the highest biologic activity and stability compared to recombinant human IFN beta produced in non-human expression systems. HumanZymes recombinant human IFN beta expressed in human cells assures native processing, glycosylation and folding of the purified protein compared to bacterial, mammalian cell lines, or insect cell expression systems, preserving its biologic function and activity. HumanZymes HumanKine proteins are also animal-derived product free, xeno-free and carrier-free. For more information, see our Interferon beta product page. About HumanZyme, Inc.: HumanZyme, Inc. is the global leader in providing highly authentic recombinant human proteins from human cells. Our process is cost-effective and scalable making our proteins suitable for the research, diagnostic, drug discovery and biopharmaceutical markets. HumanZyme leverages its proprietary engineered human cells, expression vector, and cell culture media to ensure high-yield production of recombinant proteins with native human post-translational modifications. We are a leading provider of cytokines and growth factors and a preferred outsourcing supplier of human protein production. Our products and services support a broad range of customers worldwide, from academic and government research institutions to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. CEDAR RAPIDS | A Marble Rock man has been indicted in federal court for selling a number of weapons to a convicted felon living in Mason City. Jonathan Ralph Duncomb, 41, is accused of selling Levi J. Andersen a Taurus 738 TCP .380 caliber pistol, Walther P22 .22 caliber pistol, Ruger SR22 .22 caliber pistol, Glock 42 .380 pistol, Glock 17 9 mm pistol, a Mossberg 715 .22 caliber pistol and a Ruger 10/22 .22 caliber rifle, according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court. Duncomb is accused of selling the weapons between May 2015 and October 2015, the indictment says, and had "reasonable cause" to believe Andersen had been convicted of a crime. Andersen was arrested during a high-profile, multi-agency raid at Gracious Estates in December 2015 that involved the Iowa Narcotics Task Force Special Operations Group. Andersen was charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession of firearms by a felon. Mason City man sent to federal prison for meth trafficking MASON CITY A man arrested during a high-profile raid at a Mason City mobile home park in D He pleaded guilty to the first two charges, and the third was dismissed. In July 2016, Andersen was sentenced to 12 years and four months in federal prison. Duncomb has not entered a plea to the charges. Coin Pouch Features CoinPouch was born from seeing the need for a secure and user-friendly mobile wallet that supports multiple cryptocurrencies, said Kirk Ballou, CEO of Touch Titans. Touch Titans (http://touchtitans.com) today announced the release of CoinPouch (http://getcoinpouch.com), a new Blockchain wallet featuring a built-in exchange that securely stores Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash, Ethereum and Doge, while also supporting conversions to 48 different altcoins powered by Changelly (https://changelly.com/). Many current crypto-wallets are not using best practices on security, resulting in reported large amounts of stolen funds. Recognizing these cryptocurrency issues, CoinPouch is designed with the highest-grade industry-standard secure storage and transaction protocols for the most secure mobile Blockchain experience possible. Users private keys are encrypted directly to their device using RSA plus Apple Keychain native encryption instead of an unencrypted web app that leaves crypto-wallets vulnerable. Several other crypto apps currently use one key to unlock all wallets within an app, so if one key is cracked, all user funds are lost. In addition, exchanges have not scaled well. On high volume days, there have been several outages resulting in lost funds by users. Several exchanges have been hacked, losing large amounts of user funds as well. CoinPouch has a built-in exchange; so, rather than an external exchange creating a wallet and holding the private key to that wallet, CoinPouch users private key is installed on their own device and they can send from their own wallet. This initiates the exchange directly with Changelly, avoiding leaving funds sitting on a central server that is vulnerable to attack. CoinPouch is not only incredibly secure, but also one of the fastest Blockchain interfaces on the market, allowing users to send cryptocurrency anywhere around the world in seconds just like sending an email. CoinPouch allows for easy conversion to 48 different altcoins directly through the Changelly API, allowing higher exchange amounts at lower rates. Users can send over 10 BTC at a better rate. And, if the server is down for any reason, users funds are automatically returned. CoinPouch was born from seeing the need for a secure and user-friendly mobile wallet that supports multiple cryptocurrencies, said Kirk Ballou, CEO of Touch Titans. About Touch Titans Touch Titans are mobile UX, design and development specialists based in Dallas, Texas who provide innovative solutions for the worlds leading brands. They have created award-winning mobile apps for notable clients that include CNN, Microsoft, Nokia, Red Bull, and many more. To learn more about Touch Titans, please visit: touchtitans.com. For media inquires contact: sales(at)touchtitans.com (L-R): Matt Perelman, Cambridge Auto Group; Dominic Bardos, Cambridge Auto Group; Jose Costa, Driven Brands; Uri Kenig, Cambridge Auto Group; Alex Sloane, Cambridge Auto Group Cambridge Automotive Group (CAG) recently donated $4500 to the Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. The check was presented in Los Angeles on July 27, 2017. These funds will support the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles as a part of Maacos 45th Anniversary fundraising campaign. As the largest Maaco franchisee in the US, Cambridge Automotive Group owns close to 40 locations in the Southwest and is proud to support their local communities. About Cambridge Automotive Group Cambridge Automotive Group (CAG) was formed in 2015 to pursue a growth strategy in the car care industry. CAG is the largest Maaco franchisee in the world. The company has attracted a best-in-class management team and continues to invest significant capital to grow in the Macco system through remodels and new center development. The group is seeking to open additional Maaco locations with growth targeted in California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. About Maaco Maaco Auto Painting & Collision Repair -- a part of the Driven Brands, Inc. family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands based in Charlotte, NC -- is America's #1 Bodyshop. Maaco provides automotive paint and cosmetic repair services for nearly 500,000 drivers annually. With more than 500 independently owned and operated franchises across the United States and Canada, Maaco has restored the safety and appearance of more than 20 million vehicles over 45 years. Maaco ranked #106 on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2015 Franchise 500 Rankings, and is currently #1 in the automotive appearance services category. For more information, visit Maaco.com. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit MaacoFranchise.com. Dr. Monica Kieu She shares our focus on continually seeking the most advanced treatments available for our patients' conditions. Del Rey MD, home to leading medical clinics which specialize in conditions of the head, neck and sinuses, announced today that Monica Kieu, D.O. has joined the staff of the growing practice. A graduate of Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, Dr. Kieu joins the Del Rey team from Toronto, Canada, where she completed her facial plastics and reconstructive fellowship. She will focus on general otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat or ENT); facial plastic and reconstructive surgery; and surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation and hair restoration treatments. The announcement was made by Farhad Sigari, M.D., founder of Del Rey MD. "We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Kieu to the practice," said Dr. Sigari. "She combines very strong clinical education and training with a true passion for providing the highest standard of care to the community. She shares our focus on continually seeking the most advanced treatments available for our patients conditions. A native of California, Dr. Kieu received her medical degree, with honors, from Western University of Health Sciences. She completed her residency in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Michigan State University/Detroit Medical Center, where she was chief resident. She currently serves as assistant clinical professor for the Department of Surgical Services at Michigan State University. Most recently, she completed a prestigious fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto. She has authored numerous papers and presentations for peer-reviewed medical journals and conferences. The daughter of an anesthesiologist and a pediatrician, Dr. Kieu is a skilled practitioner with a broad range of academic and clinical interests in head and neck conditions. She is also a committed humanitarian-physician, having performed facial reconstructive and head and neck procedures in underserved provinces of Vietnam and Malawi. In her many medical missions, she has performed general otolaryngology procedures as well as cleft lip and palate correctional surgeries, which restore appearance, dignity, and function to her patients. Dr. Kieu is a member of many major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery; American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery; American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery; American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; and the American Rhinologic Society. About Del Rey MD Comprised of Del Rey ENT Associates, Del Rey Sinus & Allergy Institute, and Del Rey Aesthetics Center, Del Rey MD is an advanced otolaryngology medical practice. Del Rey MD offers a full range of advanced medical services to treat conditions of the head, neck and skin. The medical group offers the latest techniques and technology to deliver patients an unparalleled level of care, with exceptional service. The physicians of Del Rey MD are board-certified surgeons and Fellows of the American College of Surgeons. The practice was founded by Farhad Sigari, M.D., FACS, a graduate of University of San Diego and Chicago Medical School, where he also completed surgical internship and residency. The clinics areas of expertise include: sinusitis and sinus surgery including balloon sinus dilation; head and neck plastic surgery; snoring and sleep apnea; ear and hearing disorders including aviation and dive medicine; allergy and immunotherapy; head, neck and throat oncology; facial feminization surgery, microdermabrasion, facial masks and contouring and many other surgical and non-surgical treatments. Known for its adoption of the most innovative and advanced techniques, Del Rey MD draws patients from California, across the United States and foreign countries. For more information, visit http://www.delreymd.com. It also allows us the opportunity to instill the highest standards of safety for our team while they are driving in our community. Bill Howe started his San Diego plumbing company in 1980 with just one truck. In the past 37 years, he has grown the company into one of the largest family-owned and operated companies serving the community in plumbing, heating & air, and restoration & flood remediation with over 175 employees across their three divisions. In 2016, they were chosen as San Diegos Best Plumbers, HVAC company, and Contractor by the Union Tribune Readers Poll. Since his first hire, Bill Howe has focused on safety and training within the company. The company has a long history with the San Diego Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors Association and Academy (PHCC-SD) where they send their plumbers through the 4-year Journeyman Program, and they are proponents of all plumbers having the proper training and license to ensure safety and the highest level of care for their customers. They also have a rigorous safety training schedule that is mandatory for every field employee and they have implemented safety inspections for every field employee each month. In addition to plumbing education and training, the company has also implemented an onboarding driving program for all drivers ensuring that they begin employment with an experience that establishes safety, expectations, and creates connections. The Advanced Onboarding Driving Program is the first step before a new driver is given the keys to a Bill Howe vehicle. The Risk Manager has the opportunity to set up the basic expectations for safety, company policies while promoting communication between management and the drivers. From the beginning, it is important to set up the connection and family environment that Bill Howe has created in the company; this makes the new driver feel welcomed from the very beginning. It also sets up procedures for driving policies including what will happen in the event of a violation. In addition to the onboarding driving process, each driver is monitored with a telematics device measuring efficiency and driving habits, with all reporting going to division managers and the owners. Each year, the company invites the California Highway Patrol to present on new laws, distracted driving, and they address any driving feedback from the community immediately. Safety in our community is a top priority for our company, said Tina Howe Vice President of Bill Howe Family of Companies. The Bill Howe Driving Program builds our family connection from the very beginning and establishes trust among the community and our employees, said Rhett Wheeler, Risk Manager, Bill Howe Family of Companies. It also allows us the opportunity to instill the highest standards of safety for our team while they are driving in our community. For more information about San Diegos Best Plumbers or other services offered, visit http://www.billhowe.com, or to speak with Bill or Tina Howe regarding this announcement, contact Bill Howe Marketing Director, Julie Riddle at Julie(at)billhowe(dot)com. About Bill Howe Family of Companies Bill Howe Family of Companies is comprised of Bill Howe Family of Companies, Inc.; Bill Howe Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.; Bill Howe Restoration & Flood Services, Inc. The family-owned and operated company began in 1980 with the plumbing division and has grown into San Diego Countys largest low-cost one-stop-shop for service, repairs and installation, offering both residential and commercial services. 9085 Aero Drive, Suite B, San Diego CA 92123. Call 1-800-BILL-HOWE because We Know Howe! The Readers for Life Literacy Autographing fundraiser for ProLiteracy in Orlando, Florida. ProLiteracy is thankful to the authors, readers, publishers, and literacy partners who have supported us and helped RWA to improve so many lives through literacy. Romance Writers of America (RWA) hosted its annual book-signing event recently in support of adult literacy. At the Readers for Life Literacy Autographing in Orlando, Florida, hundreds of romance authors met and signed books for fans, with the proceeds from book sales going to literacy organizations. The proceeds from this years Readers for Life Literacy Autographing raised more than $44,000 to benefit ProLiteracy and the Florida Literacy Coalitionbringing the total donations to literacy programs since 1990 to over $1 million. These donations are enabling more than 40,000 adults to improve their literacy skills. RWAs donations to ProLiteracy have helped break the cycle of poverty, elevate workforce skills, and improve the quality of life for adults worldwide, says Kevin Morgan, president and CEO of ProLiteracy. ProLiteracy is thankful to the authors, readers, publishers, and literacy partners who have supported us and helped RWA to improve so many lives through literacy. Allison Kelley, CAE, Executive Director of Romance Writers of America said, "RWA began working with Laubach Literacy in 1991, and we are very proud of our long-standing relationship with the combined organization now known as ProLiteracy Worldwide. Storytelling is fundamental to the human experience, and romance fiction explores issues of universal and eternal human interest, thus RWA and its members support the axiom that literacy is individually and culturally vital. We are proud not only of the money that we have raised through our partnership with ProLiteracy Worldwide, but how lives have been changed." ProLiteracy, the largest adult literacy and basic education membership organization in the nation, believes that a safer, stronger, and more sustainable society starts with an educated adult population. About 36 million adults in the U.S.and almost 800 million worldwidestruggle with basic reading, writing, and math skills. These individuals struggle to read a menu, fill out a job application, or read a bedtime story to their children. ProLiteracy removes the hurdles that stand in the way of their goals. Romance Writers of America is a trade association with the mission to advance the professional and common business interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy and by increasing public awareness of the romance genre. ### About ProLiteracy For more than 60 years, ProLiteracy has been working across the globe to create a world where every person can read and write. ProLiteracy promotes adult literacy through content development, programs, and advocacy. Our goal is to help literacy programs increase the quantity and quality of services provided. ProLiteracy has 1,000 member programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and works with 52 nongovernmental organizations in 34 developing countries. For more information about ProLiteracy, please visit http://www.proliteracy.org. ProJet GM Julie O'Brien and Controller Tina Gray We are thrilled to promote these two dynamic leaders in our organization - Shye Gilad, ProJet Aviation CEO. ProJet Aviation, a fixed base operator (FBO) at Leesburg Executive Airport, announced two major promotions on their leadership team: Julie OBrien to the position of General Manager, and Tina Gray as Controller. OBrien and Gray will share the primary responsibilities for managing the daily operations of ProJet's flight support activities at Leesburg Executive, which is the second busiest General Aviation (GA) airport in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located 35 miles from Washington DC, Leesburg Executive Airport is a designated reliever airport for Washington-Dulles International Airport. "We are thrilled to promote these two dynamic leaders in our organization," said Shye Gilad, ProJet Aviation CEO. "Julie and Tina have complementary strengths, and display a commitment to hospitality that is a hallmark of our culture and the ProJet brand." Julie OBrien began her 19-year aviation career with Whirlwind Aviation and held numerous positions in scheduling, dispatch, marketing, sales, and public relations at Frederick Aviation, Encore, and Landmark Aviation before joining the ProJet team as Director of Marketing in 2008. Julie was promoted to ProJets Director of FBO Operations in 2010, and will continue to oversee marketing activities as part of her new role as General Manager. I am looking forward to this upcoming year. We are coming into some fantastic opportunities for growth, and I am committed to our success," said O'Brien. "This award winning FBO team is well trained and very enthusiastic! Their level of hospitality is unmatched. OBrien is the co-founder of the Aviation Education & Career Expo, which has been hosted and sponsored by ProJet annually since 2008. ProJet started a scholarship program in 2009, and together with many co-sponsors will award over $200K in aviation scholarships and flight training awards at the Expo this fall. Tina Gray has more than 17 years of aviation experience at Leesburg Executive Airport, serving in several leadership roles in account management and finance with Piedmont Hawthorne and Landmark Aviation, before joining ProJet as the Accounting Manager for FBO Operations in 2012. As controller, she will have oversight of facilities and revenue management in addition to financial accountability. We are all working towards the same goal. I love the client interaction aspect of my job, and I am looking forward to the next growth phase of ProJet. The addition of US Customs at Leesburg will change our landscape quite a bit. That opportunity alone should bring us a more diverse transient client list. About ProJet Aviation ProJet Aviation is the DC metro region's premier private aviation hospitality company, dedicated to helping people accomplish extraordinary things through the wonder of flight. ProJet provides an award winning flight support/FBO experience including plane-side arrival and departure services, fueling, and hangar lease at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO), the closest private jet airport to Washington DC, the Dulles Technology Corridor, and Virginia's Horse & Wine Country. Founded in 2007 as a partnership between former airline pilot entrepreneur Shye Gilad, and noted entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, ProJets aviation hospitality mindset combines the operational integrity of the worlds best airlines with the refined service of a world class resort. ProJet is the host sponsor of the annual Aviation Education & Career Expo, which provides an aviation and aerospace forum for thousands of students in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships since its inception. ProJets numerous accolades include recognition as one of the top FBOs in the country in the fltplan.com Pilots Choice Awards, a Washington Business Journal Best Place to Work, and an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company. The Fourth Annual Texas Women Rainmakers (TWR) event aims to break the mold of longstanding legal industry professional associations and continuing legal education events that rarely address womens specific career struggles. The founders started TWR to fill this void, seeking to help better female trial lawyers professionally in all aspects, not just in the courtroom. The exclusively female Steering Committee is comprised of lawyers hailing from across the state, including Sofia Bruera, Stacey Burke, Erin Copeland, Christina Feller, Caryn Papantonakis, and Shalimar Wallis. Gold headline sponsor Robin Young-Ellis, MSSC continues her support for the fourth year. Robin is a prolific philanthropist and humanitarian across many causes, including her service on the Board of Directors of the Houston Childrens Charity and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, as well as the Baylor College of Medicine Partnership Board. As a successful female entrepreneur in the male-dominated legal industry, she chose to support TWRs mission of educating and encouraging female trial lawyers. Young specializes in settlement planning that includes structured settlements and knows firsthand the challenges women in the legal world face. Despite being involved in many professional associations, every single year I attend our event, I meet new Texas women of all career levels in our industry. It continues to amaze me how disconnected women can feel and how far we have left to go to reach equality in our career paths, adds Dallas-based Steering Committee Member Christina Feller. This year the group is thrilled to award its first-ever Rainmaker of the Year Award to Lisa Blue Baron. As a jury consultant, mother of three, political activist, well-known Dallas trial lawyer, philanthropist through the Baron and Blue Foundation, and former president of the American Association for Justice, Mrs. Baron exemplifies how women can change the world and succeed in their personal and professional lives, all with grace and poise. Texas Women Rainmakers (TWR) is a 501c3 non-profit that charges no membership fees and asks for no political donations or contributions aside from covering its event costs. This makes the event the only one of its kind for female trial lawyers. Women lawyers across the country have sought advice and help from the group in efforts to host similar local events. Tickets are $65.00 for the full day event featuring Keynote Speakers J. Kelly Hoey and Anne Grady. The conference concludes with a networking happy hour. Tickets may be purchased via EventBrite. Rod Farrow, co-owner of Fish Creek Orchards in Waterport, NY, has been named the 2017 Apple Grower of the YearSM by American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines, published by Meister Media Worldwide. Farrow will receive his award during the USApple Outlook and Marketing Conference, August 24, in Chicago, IL. The Apple Grower of the Year award program, sponsored by Valent U.S.A., honors apple growers who have gone beyond the confines of the orchard and have, through their involvement and leadership, made a real impact on the apple industry. Farrow was honored for developing a creative succession plan so the farm will continue to flourish, leading volunteer grower organizations, and hosting numerous trials to boost the knowledge level for all growers in the apple industry. Farrow is well-known in the industry for encouraging fellow growers to adopt modern, high-density, intensively farmed orchards. He is currently president of the prestigious International Fruit Tree Association and has hosted countless Cornell University research trials. Mark Mason, Tree Fruit Crop Manager at Valent U.S.A. the award sponsor says he finds Farrow to be an inspiration. The Apple Grower of the Year celebrates the tenacious spirit of the American apple industry today and tomorrow, Mason says. Growers face a host of challenges every day. Its growers like Rod Farrow who face these challenges head-on, look for proactive solutions and inspire the rest of us to do the same. Farrow is a first-generation apple grower, and the first honoree to be born outside the U.S. Growing up in England, he decided on a career in fruit growing, and did internships in France, Japan, and New Zealand, in addition to the U.S. In this country, he was fortunate to live and work with the family of George Lamont. Besides being a big believer in sharing horticultural knowledge freely across the globe, Lamont was the 1997 Apple Grower of the Year. That makes Lamont Fruit Farm, now called Fish Creek Orchards, the only farm to be operated by two honorees exactly two decades apart. Lamonts own children were not interested in following in their fathers footsteps, so he and his brother worked with Farrow to develop a plan so the ambitious Brit could eventually succeed them. It worked so well that two decades later, when Farrows own children said they werent interested in farming, Farrow developed a similar strategy. Two young go-getters who initially worked for him, Jason Woodworth and Jose Iniguez the latter having started as a picker are now his partners. It's a great honor to be the Grower of the Year and receive such a prestigious award. It's also very humbling to see yourself on a list of previous winners that includes the likes of Grady Auvil and Bill Zirkle, Farrow says. Individuals usually receive the award but teams earn it. I am very proud of the amazing team we have put together on the farm over the last 15 years, from my wife Karyn to partners Jose and Jason all the way through to our full-time and H-2A employees. Everyone on the farm contributes to the vision we have and they are the reason for our past, present, and hopefully future success. Jim Bair, President & CEO, USApple, salutes Farrow for being self-made. Most apple growers were born to it, but Rod wasnt. He chose growing apples as his career, and that passion shows in everything he does, he says. Because he had influential mentors along the way, he pays it forward by sharing every bit of technical knowledge hes learned. The apple industry is richer for his generosity. "A member of the award selection committee, David Eddy, Editor of American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower, notes Farrow received by far the most nominations of any grower in the country. It is with great pleasure we honor Rod Farrow, a fine horticulturist and industry leader, as Apple Grower of the Year, he says. He as did his mentor, George Lamont has shown fellow growers how they can give a helping hand to the next generation, helping ensure their farms will continue to succeed for decades to come. About The Award The Apple Grower of the Year SM award is presented annually by American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines and honors apple growers who have gone beyond the confines of the orchard and have, through their involvement and leadership, made a real impact on the apple industry. American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower are published by Meister Media Worldwide. About Meister Media Worldwide Empowering Global Agriculture Meister Media Worldwide, founded in 1932 with headquarters in Willoughby, Ohio, USA, produces integrated business solutions for worldwide specialized agriculture. A leader in the industry, the company provides information and networking opportunities to communities including fruits, nuts, and citrus; vegetables; cotton; ornamental horticulture; horticulture in Mexico; precision agriculture; custom application of crop inputs; and the manufacturing, formulation, and distribution of crop protection and plant health products in the U.S. and globally. Meister Medias stable now includes 12 major brands whose portfolios include print publications, digital products, conferences and tradeshows, and Connect hosted-buyer events. In addition, Meister Direct produces custom print and digital products, and strategic business development services from concept planning through development and delivery. Contact us at info(at)meistermedia(dot)com. Eric Delente, DrugDev President of Patient Solutions Eric Delente's progressive thinking and achievement in improving the informed consent process exemplifies the best in our industry as we all work together to improve clinical research. DrugDev President of Patient Solutions Eric Delente has been chosen for the celebrated PharmaVOICE 100 list of the most inspiring and influential people in life sciences for creating technology that transforms the informed consent process for all stakeholders, especially patients. Eric was chosen as a top Technologist for this years group. Read his full profile here. Taren Grom, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of PharmaVOICE, said, Were delighted to welcome Eric Delente to this years PharmaVOICE 100. His progressive thinking and his achievement in improving the informed consent process exemplifies the best in our industry as we all work together to improve clinical research. DrugDev President and CEO and PharmaVOICE 100 alumnus Ibs Mahmood said, Were thrilled to see Eric earn this well-deserved recognition. Hes a brilliant technologist whose passion to educate and improve healthcare has always shattered convention. Hes constantly broken new ground in an extraordinary career that spans from music to education to medicine. And hes one of the nicest guys in the business! As Eric leads our portfolio of patient solutions and works with customers to deploy the definitive eConsent solution he pioneered, its awe-inspiring to see his vision and ideas put into practice every day by more and more sponsors and CROs who want to change the way we run clinical trials. For over 20 years Eric has worked in the academic, medical and scientific communities, designing and developing award-winning educational portals and tools for healthcare and science. He sprang into action when he learned there was a 35% dropout rate among patients who found informed documents too confusing, and that 10-15% of audit findings are related to consent. In 2003 Eric and his colleague Dr. Susan Brink founded SecureConsent to help sponsors, sites and patients pilot informed consent. Their eConsent mobile app was revolutionary, enabling investigators to help patients volunteer for clinical trials by replacing fear and uncertainty with knowledge and confidence. DrugDev acquired SecureConsent in 2016 after incubating the technology in its Innovation Lab for several years. Today, as a keystone of the DrugDev Spark clinical operations suite, the eConsent technology is a familiar and device-agnostic app with advanced multimedia and accessibility features. eConsent ensures patients understand all aspects of the trial, while also building trust with the site, before deciding whether to enroll. This has been consistently demonstrated to increase patient satisfaction and ultimately retention as a direct result of a more educational and collaborative experience. It has become the backbone of informed consent on over 100 trials, in more than a dozen countries at organizations including hospitals, pharma companies, CROs, and research institutions. Eric and his team also contributed to the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative at Duke University, advancing the field of eConsent for the entire industry. Eric Delente said, Im so honored PharmaVOICE has welcomed me into this remarkable group of people who are dedicated to improving healthcare. I share this recognition with our customers and my DrugDev colleagues who go to work every day to improve the clinical trial experience especially for the patients who make so much vital research possible. About DrugDev DrugDev, a QuintilesIMS company, helps the world do more trials through industry-wide collaboration, standardization and a beautiful technology experience. DrugDev Spark, the unified clinical operations suite, is comprised of proven solutions used by 85 sponsors and CROs on nearly 2,000 clinical trials to transform the quality and efficiency of clinical trials from startup through closeout. DrugDev Spark is powered by the DrugDev Golden Number, the award-winning universal identifier for global site facilities and investigators used by TransCelerate and the Investigator Databank. Learn why 9 of the top 10 sponsors and 4 of the top 5 CROs trust DrugDev by scheduling a demo of DrugDev Spark at drugdev.com. OneButton's Founders [Left to Right: Dave Nugent, Michael Izatt, Matthew Emmi] We were able to take an entirely new approach to home technology design. - Matt Emmi, Founder OneButton, a New York based technology firm, is excited to announce and to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of its formation as a company. OneButton specializes in high-end residential and commercial design and installation of audio-visual, home theater, motorized lighting and shading, and home automation control systems. COMPANY HISTORY Founded in Boulder, Colorado in 2007 by Matthew Emmi, Michael Izatt, and Dave Nugent, OneButton began as a service-based firm, consulting clients on the latest technology and installing televisions and speakers. After cultivating a client base throughout the Boulder area in the residential market, OneButton became the preferred technology provider for Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant audio systems. In 2011 OneButton realized the opportunity to take on unique NYC projects and work alongside prestigious architect, Annabelle Selldorf. After moving business operations to New York in 2011, OneButton has assembled a strong portfolio of projects working with several AD100 top architecture and design studios. With a headquarters in Brooklyn, OneButton also shares a showroom on 5th Avenue in Manhattan with Ernest, a collective of Belgian lighting design and interiors firms. Today, OneButton is both a design and build organization with an in-house team of architecture, lighting, and installation specialists. OneButton has been fortunate to become a Diamond Dealer with Sony and a Platinum Level partner with Lutron Electronics. Our partners, manufacturers like Lutron, played a big part. Weve worked with them from the very beginning. Its been a really important relationship. Were now top tier Dealers of Lutron, Sony, and Sonos. - Matt Emmi, Founder More info on Ernest and Lutron: Ernest: 255 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10016; ernestny.com Lutron New York Experience Showroom: 973 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; lutron.com EARLY BEGINNINGS Matthew Emmi and Michael Izatt are alumni of Westminster College in Salt Lake City, where the two met. Emmi is a graduate of the Physics department, and Izatt of the Fine Art department. With a collective background in physics, mathematics, photography and art, the two formed a unique perspective on design and aesthetics when founding their business, setting them apart from competitors in the industry. [Michael] was looking into design elements that no one in the industry had explored yet Its what really made what we do resonate, and one of the things that makes us successful in working with clients and architects was Michaels attention to detail. We were able to take an entierly new approach to home technology design. - Matt Emmi, Founder 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OneButton marked its ten-year anniversary with a cocktail party attended by close friends and family, staff, clients, and professional colleagues. The reception was hosted at Project Farmhouse, a venue designed by architecture firm, ORE Design + Technologies, for GrowNYC, New York Citys leader in sustainability resources. Project Farmhouse was furnished with audio video systems designed and installed by OneButton in partnership with ORE Design. More info on ORE and Project Farmhouse: ORE Design + Technology: 588 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231; ore-design.com Project Farmhouse: 76 E. 13th Street, New York, NY 10003; projectfarmhouse.org EXPANSION TO LOS ANGELES OneButtons Founders proudly shared an exclusive announcement saved for the night of the party: OneButton is expanding into the Los Angeles market. With several projects in negotiation and a lineup of planned special events, OneButton is charging into the California home automation and design industry. We have decided that this is the next step for us to bring what we do to a whole new audience. - Michael Izatt, Founder For updates from OneButton, please visit onebtn.com or OneButtons showroom at 255 Fifth Ave. in NYC. Segolene Xavier Segolene is a picture of dedication, professionalism and keen insight, and she is truly an inspiration by example for all who have the pleasure of working with her. Faircom New York today announced that Segolene Xavier has been named to a new position as Vice President of Global Philanthropy. In her new role as Vice President of Global Philanthropy, Ms. Xavier will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Faircom New York Major Giving and Institutional Fundraising team, as well as developing strategy to grow the department and enhance service offerings while promoting greater integration with the direct and digital marketing teams. Segolene is a picture of dedication, professionalism and keen insight, and she is truly an inspiration by example for all who have the pleasure of working with her, said Faircom New York President Corinne Servily. Her years of living and working overseas have been an incredible asset to our team, and her experience will be invaluable to translating messages from foreign markets to the US for our clients. Ms. Xavier joins fellow Vice Presidents Sally Frank, responsible for business development, and Stacey Fellone, responsible for administration and finance. Ms. Xaviers new position announcement coincides with the appointment of Barbra Schulman to a new position as Vice President of Integrated Marketing. Ms. Xavier joined Faircom New York in 2009, serving as Director of Communications as part of the agencys Major Giving and Institutional Fundraising department. Prior to this, Ms. Xavier has been steeped in international marketing and communications, having worked in Switzerland for a major multinational marketing group. Ms. Xavier received her degree in Communications in France. This latest accreditation evaluation from CAAM-HP is another great vote of confidence for us and our students, but more importantly, its another opportunity for Trinity and its graduates to elevate the quality and availability of critical medical care. Upon accreditation reassessment by The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), the internationally recognized governing body of medical accreditation in the Caribbean, Trinity School of Medicine has been elevated to Accredited with Conditions, 2016-2018, the current highest level of determined status of medical schools accredited by CAAM-HP. After a recent recognition by the state of Indianas medical board, similarly enjoining Trinity as a top tier institution joining only four other schools, as well as the Medical Council of Indias recognition of the Trinity, and last years US Department of Educations NCFMEA recognition of St. Vincents CAAM-HP accreditation process, this is another in a long list of testaments to the schools quality. It also aligns with Trinitys stated vision, To improve access to scientifically-based quality health care and enhance the health status of the residents of the communities served by our graduates. Trinity chancellor W. Douglas Skelton, MD noted, We couldnt be more proud of the work our faculty, staff, students, and administration. Trinity dean Dr. Linda Adkison also added, The latest evaluation by CAAM-HP is one of many major projects weve undertaken over the past two years. Were proud and honored to see the hard work pay off for our students through this evaluation. Were never idle here on campus, so we look forward to using this result to further raise the bar for ourselves. Trinitys president, Steven R. Wilson, added, Were dedicated to not just the success of our individual students, but in constantly improving as a school and moving the needle on global healthcare however we can. He continued, This latest accreditation evaluation from CAAM-HP is another great vote of confidence for us and our students, but more importantly, its another opportunity for Trinity and its graduates to elevate the quality and availability of critical medical care for communities in need. This latest recognition is particularly noteworthy because of the ECFMGs 2023 rule. Many of the states within the USA will require students to attend a school that has been properly accredited throughout all four years of their medical education to be eligible for licensure, thus making 2019 the first class to graduate in 2023 and applicable for the 2023 rule. Students that want to practice in the United States should strongly consider only attending a medical school in the Caribbean that has the proper accreditation credentials in 2019. Bill Proudman, co-founder of WMFDP, stresses the importance of discussing race in the workplace. The Center for Talent Innovation (CTI), a NYC-based think tank focused on global strategies related to race, gender, orientation and culture, released a study last month called Easing Racial Tensions at Work. The report concluded that when employees of color feel they cannot talk about race relations at work, the company can suffer. (1)(2) A total of 3,570 college-educated professionals (374 black, 2,258 white, 393 Asian, 395 Hispanic) were surveyed on their experiences with racial discrimination, being allowed or prohibited to discuss race at work, and how this affected them professionally and personally. Seventy-eight percent of black employees, 52% of Asian employees, and 50% of Hispanic employees stated they had experienced discrimination and/or fear for themselves or their families outside of work, compared to 28% of white employees. Percentages were high of those who felt isolated or alienated when race was off-limits. Black employees who felt censored in the workplace were three times more likely to plan to leave and 13 times more likely to feel disengaged. (3) In June, as part of a pledge to support diversity & inclusion, more than 150 CEOs, including those from American Express, IBM and Wal-Mart, agreed to encourage employees to more freely discuss race in the office. Working with thousands of senior leaders and managers for 20 years, we consistently find that employees will not engage on these topics unless encouraged to do so by top management within their companies. The responsibility uniformly falls upon those in charge, says Bill Proudman, CEO of diversity & inclusion consultancy White Men As Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP). In his early work Proudman came to realize that white men were not engaging in diversity discussions, leaving the work to people of color and white women. Based on his experiences in post-Apartheid South Africa, co-founder, author and speaker Michael Welp played a key role in shaping what would become firms innovative approach and mission: focusing first on white male leaders when launching diversity programs. The result was a leadership development firm that created the innovative approach that impacts culture change in an organization. WMFDPs list of clients is a roster of Fortune 500 companies that includes MassMutual, Dell, Alaska Airlines, Eastman Chemical, and Intel. (4) The firms innovative process involves engaging the dominant group, i.e., white male leadership, to foster change and equality across lines of diversity. Many companies, both large and small, have a policy of not openly discussing racial or other discriminatory issues. While the impulse is to make the workplace all business, it fails to acknowledge the fact that ANY issue in society will inevitably make its way into the workplace, whether one wants it to or not, Proudman said. The study also reported that a majority of black, Hispanic and Asian employees stated it was important for companies to make public statements concerning societal racial issues, compared to less than half of white employees. CTI concludes that a primary challenge is to convince white employees that conversations are necessary within an employee resource group (ERG) or discussions with managers. While simply pledging to do better is an important step, a lack of structure could hinder the best of intentions. The question is one of structure, Proudman said. How do we create a structured yet inviting environment to deal with issues of diversityone that simultaneously benefits morale, teamwork, innovation and productivity? The answer is never cookie-cutter and always involves hard work. About White Men As Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP): White Men As Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP) is a diversity and leadership development firm founded in 1996 by Bill Proudman, Michael Welp, Ph.D., and JoAnn Morris in Portland, Oregon. WMFDP takes an innovative approach towards eradicating bias and discrimination in the workplace. Its client list includes Alaska Airlines, Dell, Lockheed Martin, Northwestern Mutual, Chevron Drilling & Completions, The Nature Conservancy, Mass Mutual, and others. The majority of C-level executives are white and male, and they are frequently omitted from a vital role in diversity and equality. Proudman and Welp observed that these critical subjects were not being taken to the doorstep of these leadersall to the detriment of struggling minorities and the economy. With a background that includes extensive field work in post-Apartheid South Africa in the early 1990s, Proudman and Welp have dedicated the last two decades to educating and engaging leaders of any race, color, gender or orientation. Welp is the author of the book, Four Days to Change. With an insightful foreword by Proudman, the book chronicles the journey from rural South Africa to the boardrooms of Americaall to lay the groundwork of a global paradigm shift. 1. Innovation, Center for Talent. Silence on Societal Racial Tensions Carries Costs for Businesses, According to Study. PR Newswire: News Distribution, Targeting and Monitoring, 8 June 2017. 2. Center for Talent Innovation, http://www.talentinnovation.org/. 3. Holman, Jordyn. Talking About Race at Work Might Not Be the Worst Idea After All.Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 23 June 2017 4. wmfdp.com/clients/. On Monday, August 14, The Henry Ford will host Pulitzer Prize-Winning historian and University of Michigan history professor, Heather Ann Thompson for a conversation on the 50th anniversary of the tumultuous summer of 1967 in Detroit. The event is in collaboration with The Detroit Historical Society in its significant community engagement project, Detroit 67: Looking Back to Move Forward. Facilitated by Pulitzer Prize-Winning journalist and radio host Stephen Henderson, the conversation will provide Professor Thompsons perspective on the 1967 uprising and Detroits slow-motion economic collapse in the decades following. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. inside Henry Ford Museum of American Innovations plaza, with a book signing immediately following at 11:30 a.m. Copies of her book, Whose Detroit? Politics, Labor, and Race in a Modern City will be available for purchase. Heather Ann Thompson is a Pulitzer-Prize winning historian from Detroit, on faculty at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the departments of Afro-American and African Studies, History and the Residential College. Her latest book, Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy has been profiled on television and radio programs across the country and has won numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize in History. She is also the editor of Speaking Out: Activism and Protest in the 1960s and 1970s Admission to the event is free for members. Non-member ticket prices include admission to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors 62 and up and $16.25 for youth 3-11. Children two and under are free. For more information, call (313) 982-6001 or visit http://www.thehenryford.org. About The Henry Ford The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan is an internationally-recognized history destination that explores the American experience of innovation, resourcefulness and ingenuity that helped shaped America. A national historic landmark with an unparalleled Archive of American Innovation, The Henry Ford is a force for sparking curiosity and inspiring tomorrows innovators. Nearly 1.8 million visitors annually experience its five attractions: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford Giant Screen Experience. A continually expanding array of content available online provides anytime, anywhere access. The Henry Ford is also home to Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school which educates over 500 students a year on the institutions campus. In 2014, The Henry Ford premiered its first-ever national television series, The Henry Fords Innovation Nation showcasing present-day change-makers and The Henry Fords artifacts and unique visitor experiences. Hosted by news correspondent and humorist, Mo Rocca, this Emmy-winning weekly half-hour show airs Saturday mornings on CBS. For more information, please visit our website thehenryford.org. Woolpert will conduct its third lidar data training session in the state of Tennessee this week hosted by the GIS lab at Roane State Community College's Oak Ridge, Tenn., campus. This two-day, hands-on software training is part of a series performed in coordination with the Tennessee Geographic Information Council (TNGIC) and GeoCue Group. These training sessions are designed to help government agencies and state and local officials most effectively leverage high-resolution lidar elevation data to benefit their constituents. Woolperta national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firmdeveloped the curriculum for the series in conjunction with the state of Tennessee and GeoCue. We want municipalities, GIS professionals and students to understand how to apply this data to serve their specific needs, and to be able to create and share web applications using the lidar data, said Sam Moffat, Woolpert project manager and geographic information system (GIS) specialist. Thats why it makes sense to not just collect the data and deliver a final product, but to also provide clients with tools, knowledge and training as part of a comprehensive lidar data service. Woolpert has been contracted by federal, state and local government parties to collect lidar data for multiple projects in Tennessee. These projects have supported the U.S. Geological Surveys (USGS) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and several initiatives throughout the state. The data has been used to address many needs, including the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservations (TDEC) reclamation efforts from coal mining using mountaintop removal practices, impervious surface mapping for stormwater management systems, asset management for facilities, and extracting planimetric features such as building footprints to improve GIS for public safety, emergency and flood management, and property valuation. GIS Analyst Paul Dudley from the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administrations Strategic Technology Solutions-Geographic Information Systems (STS-GIS) wrote and conducts training exercises for the series. STS-GIS provides applications, data and information on geospatial technologies for the Tennessee government, and coordinated the project and funding between the USGS and the states GIS community. Dudley said the training provides a stepping stone for everyone from geospatial stakeholders to engineers to GIS professionals to get what they need from the rich information available. It enables people to use the data and go over many use-case scenarios for different types of projects, Dudley said. In Tennessee, the data has been beneficial throughout many disciplines. Weve found that the applications are kind of endless. Moffat said the coordination between multiple Tennessee agencies and the USGS has increased the impact of this data exponentially, and this training is the next logical step. Not only does this training take the lidar data off the shelf and put it into action, but it also helps illustrate the benefits of its usage to state and federal colleagues and bosses, Moffat said. It allows connections to be made. And, as more people understand what this data can do, the more it can do for more people. About Woolpert Woolpert is a national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm that delivers value to clients by strategically blending engineering excellence with leading-edge technology and geospatial applications. With a dynamic R&D department, Woolpert works with inventive business partners like Google and Esri; operates a fleet of planes, sensors and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); and continually pushes industry boundaries by working with advanced water technologies, asset management, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainable design. Woolperts mission is to help its clients progressand become more progressive. For over 100 years and with 26 offices across the United States, Woolpert serves the needs of federal, state and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the United States Armed Forces. The firm currently is doing business in all 50 states and in six countries. For more information, visit woolpert.com or call 937-531-1258. The passion of our faculty and staff, along with a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and individualized patient care has made this recognition possible. --Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) has again achieved Honor Roll status in this years U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mount Sinai was ranked No. 18 in the nation on the Honor Roll a distinction awarded to centers that perform at the highest levels in three or more specialties. Six Mount Sinai specialties were ranked in the top 20, and four others were among the top 50. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai was also ranked nationally in two specialties: No. 12 in Ophthalmology and No. 50 in Ear, Nose, and Throat. "The passion of our faculty and staff, along with a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and individualized patient care has made this recognition possible," said Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System. "We are extremely proud to be on the Honor Roll and among the nations best centers as we continue to shape health care delivery, develop groundbreaking therapies and treatments, and recruit and retain elite physicians, researchers, and medical staff." The Mount Sinai Hospital received Top 20 rankings in the following specialties: Cardiology/Heart Surgery (No. 9), Diabetes/Endocrinology (No. 19), Gastroenterology/GI Surgery (No. 8), Geriatrics (No. 3), Gynecology (No. 23), which went from a high performing specialty to its current rank, Nephrology (No. 10), and Neurology/Neurosurgery (No. 16). Ranking in the top 50 were; Cancer (No. 44), Orthopedics (No. 44); and Urology (No. 48). The hospital was also recognized as high performing in Pulmonology and Psychiatry. Mount Sinai continues to push the boundaries of scientific discoveries, improving methods of diagnosing and treating human disease, said Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System. The exceptional physicians, scientists, and staff provide high-quality care for our diverse communities. "I am honored to work with the fine team of physicians, nurses, and staff of The Mount Sinai Hospital and grateful for their dedication to quality, safety, and clinical excellence," said David L. Reich, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Horace W. Goldsmith Professor of Anesthesiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. To be recognized among the nations best hospitals truly reflects the innovation and quality care that Mount Sinai provides. Additionally, The Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked second regionally in both the New York City and New York metro areaone point better than in previous years. Go to http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals to view the 2017-2018 edition of Best Hospitals. About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is New York Citys largest integrated delivery system encompassing seven hospital campuses, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinais vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation. The System includes approximately 7,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 10 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked as one of the nations top 20 hospitals in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Nephrology, and Neurology/Neurosurgery, and is in the top 50 in four other specialties in the 2017-2018 Best Hospitals issue of U.S. News & World Report. Mount Sinais Kravis Childrens Hospital also is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 12th nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Lukes and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. # # # Stand Up Pouches, projected to command an impressive $33.4 Billion in market cap by 2020, are the fastest growing flexible display packaging style across the CPG industry. We strive to become a trusted partner of all of our clients, ultimately helping them grow to heights they may have never imagined. -Apurva Batra, Founder & CEO at FlexiblePouches.com FlexiblePouches.com, an industry leader in the flexible packaging space, is proud to announce the addition of an e-commerce portal featuring wholesale reclosable stand up pouches, flat pouches or vacuum seal bags, and child resistant packaging. All packaging products are constructed out of high barrier specialty films laminated in a sandwich-like structure, engineered to prevent moisture, oxygen, and odor ingress. The company also custom manufactures flexible pouches including printing the clients artwork using rotogravure presses. Gravure printing is the most sophisticated printing technique available to flexible packaging products like stand up barrier bags, resulting in graphics where colors look particularly rich and vibrant on plastic film and kraft paper substrates. Stand Up Pouches are the fastest growing segment of the global flexible packaging market, projected to reach a market cap of about $33.4 Billion by 2020. This high-stakes playing field has historically meant a competitive disadvantage for many newer brands that cant afford to custom run 50,000 or 100,000 units of packaging for a singular design or SKU. For FlexiblePouches.com, clients have ranged in size from international corporations to mom-and-pops like food startups. Despite the wide range, founder and CEO Apurva Batra emphasizes the importance his company gives to the smaller brands. Custom printed flexible packaging has historically been out of reach for the masses due to unreasonably high setup costs and MOQs that simply dont make sense for startups and small businesses, says Batra. He adds, Packaging is arguably the most crucial yet most overlooked aspect of new product design, and poor packaging is considered the reason for why nearly 95% of all new products fail within their first year of launch. At FlexiblePouches.com, we want to remove as many barriers as possible so that all brand ownersregardless of sizehave the opportunity to effectively convey their message. Currently, his company offers the lowest minimum runs in the industry for a fully customized flexible packaging product starting at just 5,000 units per SKU. With the addition of wholesale pouches available for purchase online, FlexiblePouches.coms reach for the smaller brands has gone a step further. The company now stocks plain pouches in bulk quantities for customers who need an immediate and affordable packaging solution. Pouches are available in various sizes, finishes, and materials like aluminum foil and nylonoffering ultra-high barrier properties and extreme resistance to tear and puncture. Bag styles available include the extremely popular resealable stand up pouches, flat vacuum storage bags or three side seal pouches, as well as ASTM D3475-compliant child resistant bags and marijuana packaging for storing cannabis, pharmaceuticals, and other products harmful for children. Unlike other distributors who batch most products in cases of 1,000 or more, FlexiblePouches.com wholesales almost all products in cases of 500 or less showing the industry yet again their commitment to serving small and large brand owners alike. Inventory is centrally located at the companys warehouses in Houston, Texas. The strategic location coupled with same day shipping (offered at no additional charge for most orders) allows FlexiblePouches.com to quickly and affordably reach customers coast to coast spanning both the United States and Canada. Batra says he doesnt want brand owners to think of FlexiblePouches.com as simply another packaging supplier, but rather as a partner in their own business. His company cites a number of cases where a client starts out ordering the minimum quantity, but then experiences a spike in sales often due to a surprise order from a big name retailer. As exciting as this situation is for the brand owner, it can cause panic because of hard deadlines that translate into an immediate need for packaging volumes several fold greater than the first order. Thats where we shine, says Batra, adding, Whether its 5,000 units or 1,000,000 units, our job is to make sure that our clients have their packaging ready to go when its needed. We strive to become a trusted partner of all of our clients, ultimately helping them grow to heights they may have never imagined. About FlexiblePouches.com: FlexiblePouches.com, a division of APBA Global, Inc., is a premiere manufacturer of flexible packaging products that helps brands tap into their potential through innovative, sustainable, and cost effective packaging. They specialize in wholesale as well as custom manufacturing of stand up pouches, flat pouches or three side seal bags, vacuum seal bags, coffee bags, child resistant packaging, and printed roll stock, serving a variety of markets across the consumer packaged goods (CPGs) industry including retail food & beverage, pet food, cannabis, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics & hygiene. Website: https://www.flexiblepouches.com Upload Your Artwork for a Free Quote! Online Store: https://store.flexiblepouches.com Same Day Shipping Offered at No Extra Cost! To get in touch, please email: info(at)flexiblepouches(dot)com AccentCare, Inc. and UCLA Health are creating a jointly owned home health services agency, AccentCare UCLA Health, to serve patients in Los Angeles and surrounding communities. The new agency is designed to provide a comprehensive continuum of care after patients have been discharged from the hospital to facilitate efficient provider network communication, improved safety and faster healing. Under the agreement, UCLA Health will be responsible for clinical oversight of post-acute services provided by the new joint venture agency, while AccentCare will provide day-to-day operational management, including patient intake, staffing and home health services such as physical therapy, medical social work and skilled nursing. We are excited to begin this valuable partnership with UCLA Healths award-winning team, said Steve Rodgers, CEO, AccentCare. Patients will benefit from the health systems extended reach and our commitment to achieving comprehensive care and exceptional health outcomes. The formation of the new post-acute care agency aligns with the shared strategic vision of AccentCare and UCLA Health to develop innovative approaches to manage and deliver high-quality care across the healthcare continuum. The partnership will further extend AccentCares reach in California and is similar to partnerships that AccentCare has formed, or is pursuing, within its 11 states of operation. UCLA Health is committed to ensuring that our patients have access to a complete continuum of high-quality care, even after they leave our hospitals, said Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health, CEO of UCLA Hospital System, and Associate Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences. This new service will help improve the overall patient experience as they transition home. The new service will enhance UCLA Healths ability to more efficiently improve patient outcomes by providing patients with post-acute services that link to their UCLA Health physicians, providing optimal clinical oversight. The partnership with AccentCare will also position UCLA Health to better serve diverse populations of patients with chronic diseases. About AccentCare, Inc. AccentCare, Inc. is a nationwide leader in post-acute healthcare as well as specialized care management prior to acute episodes. Its wide variety of innovative services ranges from personal, non-medical care to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice and care management. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, AccentCare has over 19,000 compassionate professionals in over 140 locations. The company operates in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington under regional brands including AccentCare, AccentCare Health Management Services, AccentCare of New York, Alliance For Health, Guardian Home Health & Hospice, Sta-Home and Texas Home Health. AccentCares mission is to deliver consistently exceptional care for its expanding list of clients/patients and their families. The agency is committed to improving the quality of living for more than 85,000 individuals each year. About UCLA Health UCLA Health includes four hospitals on two campuses Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica; Mattel Childrens Hospital UCLA; and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA and more than 160 primary and specialty clinics throughout Southern California. UCLA Health is consistently ranked as one of the top five hospitals, and the best in the western United States, in the national rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Habitat Build Day with Milgard Windows A big thank-you to our long-time supporters from Milgard for spending time with us, said Sami Head, Habitat Community Engagement Coordinator. We love any window of opportunity to work with them. Employees at Milgard Windows & Doors donated their time to Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity by participating in their annual Build Day, preparing homes for low-income families to move in. The Milgard team spent a Saturday working together at The Woods at Golden Given, which is Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity's largest neighborhood to date. Homes in this community are sold by Habitat to partner families who do sweat-equity hours working alongside volunteers to help build their home and those of their neighbors. Milgard volunteers installed window screens, laid bathroom tiles, hung doors and added trim. They also worked outside on laying sod, weeding and digging fence post holes. My son and I had a great day taking part of this amazing project of building a home, said Jennifer Reed, Recruiting & Talent Management for Milgard. The staff who trained us to do the work were patient and did a great job of showing us what to do. We learned how to lay tile like a professional! I enjoyed seeing my son develop confidence in learning new skills as well as being part of the community. Milgard has provided sponsorships and participated in Habitat Build Day projects since 2012. Milgard Style Line Series vinyl windows were used at The Woods at Golden Given due to their ENERGY STAR certification, durability and low maintenance requirements. A big thank-you to our long-time supporters from Milgard for spending time with us, said Sami Head, Habitat Community Engagement Coordinator. We love any window of opportunity to work with them. (Pictured: Tim Large, Jeanne Large, Cheryl Jones, Zachary Reed, Jennifer Reed, Dave Hall, Kevin Vilhauer) About Milgard Windows & Doors Milgard Windows & Doors, a Masco company based in Tacoma, Washington, offers a full line of vinyl, wood, fiberglass and aluminum windows and patio doors for builders, dealers and homeowners, backed by a Full Lifetime Warranty, including parts and labor. The company has been recognized as Builders Choice for vinyl and fiberglass windows in the Western United States, in a yearly survey sponsored by Hanley-Wood Inc., publishers of BUILDER Magazine. Milgard is the highest online rated window and patio door brand, as measured by the 2016 NRS consumer sentiment study conducted by MetrixLab and commissioned by Masco. Milgard has approximately 3,800 dealer locations nationwide. For more information, visit milgard.com or call 1.800.MILGARD. About Masco Corporation Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), parent company of Milgard Windows & Doors, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded home improvement and building products. Our portfolio of industry-leading brands includes Behr paint; Delta and Hansgrohe faucets, bath and shower fixtures; KraftMaid and Merillat cabinets; Milgard windows and doors; and HotSpring spas. We leverage our powerful brands across product categories, sales channels and geographies to create value for our customers and shareholders. For more information about Masco Corporation, visit Masco.com. About Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that works with low-income families in Pierce County to build and own simple, decent, affordable homes. Partnering with a variety of corporate, community, and faith-based organizations, as well as numerous individual volunteers, Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity develops affordable communities of both rehabbed and new construction housing. # # # MASON CITY | A man suspected of participating in a Mason City home burglary where $80,000 in jewelry was stolen has pleaded guilty to several charges. Jason I. Bendickson, 43, Mason City, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and was sentenced to prison time not to exceed two years, as well as a $625 fine. This sentence is to be served concurrently with his probation revocation, which involves a prison sentence of not to exceed five years and a $750 fine. Bendickson also pleaded guilty to absence from custody, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which will run consecutively with his other sentences. He was also fined $315. Bendickson was initially charged with first-degree theft and third-degree burglary, both as a habitual felony offender. Courtney Fiorini CloudCraze, a B2B commerce solution built natively on Salesforce, has added two Principal Architects to its professional services roster to strengthen its consumer packaged goods (CPG) and engineering expertise. The pairs impressive technology backgrounds will drive the development of market-leading commerce capabilities on Salesforce that meet the complex needs of the B2B buyer. Doug Nichols brings 16 years of experience working across business technology consulting, digital product management and corporate retail technology to his new role at CloudCraze. Previously, Nichols served as VP of Business Solutions and Architecture for Tommy Bahama, where he led the development, technical design and implementation of enterprise applications across major business functions. As the digital demands of B2B buyers continue to merge with their B2C counterparts, Nichols retail expertise will be a critical factor in engineering solutions that satisfy those needs. Hergert will leverage his 20 years of experience in information systems design and development, including six years at SAP Hybris, to lead technical innovation. Previously a Product and Innovation Domain Architect at SAP Hybris, Greg Hergert is a critical addition to the engineering team at CloudCraze. His experience driving the technology strategy, vision and blueprints for Hybris as a Service (YaaS) will be a major asset as CloudCraze continues to expand its native Salesforce architecture. Doug and Greg are essential pieces of the puzzle to round out the skillsets of our talented engineering team, said Chris Dalton, CEO of CloudCraze. As we continue to build on our momentum in the second half of 2017, were excited to capitalize on their extensive industry knowledge in CPG and software to drive CloudCrazes growth. To learn more about CloudCrazes continued expansion plans, visit http://www.cloudcraze.com. About CloudCraze CloudCraze delivers robust B2B commerce native on Salesforce. It allows businesses to generate online revenue fast and easily scale for growth. Its Customer-First Commerce model puts the customer at the core, informing every interaction with data across commerce, sales, marketing, service and more. With the trusted Salesforce infrastructure and core capabilities, CloudCraze provides infinite flexibility to extend functionality, add products and channels, and conduct billions of dollars in transactions anywhere. CloudCraze powers Customer-First Commerce for industry leaders such as AB InBev, Coca-Cola, Ecolab, GE, Hallmark, Kaplan, Kelloggs, Land O Lakes, LOreal, Symantec, Tyco. CloudCraze is funded by Insight Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures. CloudCraze is recognized in The Forrester Wave: B2B Commerce Suites, Q1 2017 and as a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce 2017. CloudCraze is a Salesforce Platinum ISV Partner. "Hello World" Book Creates Video Time Capsule of Earth Today, there are billions of videos stored on the Internet. Those videos capture the thoughts, ideas, emotions, beliefs, and memories of mankind. The Internet is like a global brain that stores the collective consciousness of humanity." When NASA launched Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 in 1977, it mounted a Golden Record on each spacecraft; the Golden Record was a time capsule containing images and sounds from the Earth. NASA said that if extraterrestrials ever discover a Voyager spacecraft, they could play the Golden Record to learn about us. This year will be the 40th anniversaries of the launching of the two Voyager spacecrafts on Aug. 20th and Sept. 5th. A new book, Hello World (published by PlayVM, LLC, $19.99), was inspired by the Golden Record and is being created to take a look at the current state of our planet. It is a traditional print book, enhanced with links to videos that can be watched on any device with access to YouTube. The book shares "video montages" which are collections of videos that are arranged to feel like you are watching a movie. Ken Katuin, founder of PlayVM, watched more than 40,000 videos while doing research for this book. The best videos from around the world were used to create the montages. The book has over 100 montages and the various montages show the creative accomplishments of more than a billion people from every country on Earth. The video montages also cover a variety of topics such as the environment, narcissism, prejudice, politics, religion, war, peace, society, pop culture, empathy, love, and more. Hello World will help people see and understand the world in new ways. This book will inform, entertain, challenge and inspire people to come together and change the world. Here is a video that explains how the book works: http://www.BookHelloWorld.com/Explained Today, there are billions of videos stored on the Internet, Katuin said. Those videos capture the thoughts, ideas, emotions, beliefs, and memories of mankind. The Internet is like a global brain that stores the collective consciousness of humanity. Hello World harnesses the power of our global brain. Here are some free samples of video montages from Hello World. When you go to a montage link, be sure to click the play all button so that all the videos are played. These sample montages each include from 20 to 70 videos. These links can also be shared with others. The Life video montage shows the effects of climate change and it encourages people to come together and solve this issue: http://www.BookHelloWorld.com/Life The Around montage takes you around the world in 80 minutes: http://www.BookHelloWorld.com/Around The Nature montage shows how fascinating our natural world is: http://www.BookHelloWorld.com/Nature The Racism montage explores how prejudice and injustice affect people: http://www.BookHelloWorld.com/Racism The Creativity montage illustrates the imagination of mankind: http://www.BookHelloWorld.com/Creativity The book can be pre-ordered now and will ship on Earth Day, April 22, 2018. The company has set up a Kickstarter campaign for people to pre-order the book. The campaign also offers rewards for supporting the project. Heres a link to the Kickstarter campaign: http://www.BookHelloWorld.com/Rewards That link also provides additional information about the book, as well as the history of NASAs attempts to represent humanity to extraterrestrials and how a previous attempt caused controversy. Creators of time capsules, like the Golden Record, often show a nostalgic view of their world. NASA was careful to only show the good aspects of Earth on the Golden Record because they wanted to avoid controversy. Rarely does a nostalgic view of our world cause people to want to change things. Katuin said. This book helps us to appreciate what is amazing about the Earth, while at the same time recognize there are problems to address and solutions to consider for improving our world. Hello World will cover important global issues and show concern for the environment and compassion for people and animals. More information, including the first chapter of the book and an additional video montage, is available at: http://www.BookHelloWorld.com For the first time since its founding in 1991, Wing Zone, the fast casual restaurant uniting Flavorholics around the world with its signature flavored wings and burgers, announced a global brand refresh to further its mission of creating a fun, relatable dining atmosphere offering guests the best chicken wings in the universe. Core elements of the updated Wing Zone brand include Bigger Tenders, Better Boneless, Jumbo Wings, a modernized menu, stronger alignment between domestic and international locations, as well as a revamped guest promise: We promise your meal will be right, if not, we will replace it with no questions asked. When we founded Wing Zone in our fraternity house in the early 90s, our brand was full of energy and fresh ideas, said CEO Matt Friedman, who co-founded Wing Zone with Adam Scott, Wing Zones CFO. We want to bring our identity back to its roots and better align with our customer base, which is young and entrepreneurial just like we were when we tossed our first wings in the frat house. To us, that means creating a cheeky, laid back brand persona, as well as offering the best of the best product available which is why were switching to Bigger Tenders, Better Boneless, Jumbo Wings. Wing Zone is all about fun and flavor. Thats why the brand is revamping its tone to better relate to its fans with a clever, expressive community of Flavorholics across the country and the world. The Wing Zone community includes not only current college students and active military but also young professionals who crave Wing Zone and the nostalgia of their college days. Additionally, the brand will be using a more premium chicken supplier in order to ensure meatier wings, bigger tenders and a tastier product. Wing Zone will continue to carry its popular chicken sandwich, angus burger and 14 craveable flavors that the brand is well known for. We felt that it was important to invest in switching to a top supplier that will give us the best chicken on the market, said Friedman. We are incredibly proud of our famous flavors that fans keep coming back for, so we want to also make sure were giving customers a truly premium product. The rebranding efforts come shortly after Wing Zone announced a massive expansion into the Philippines. The expansion will be led by Philippine-based Viva Food Group, who has signed on to open 50 new Wing Zone locations over the next 10 years. Today, the brand boasts more than 100 units open or in development across the U.S., Panama, Singapore, Malaysia and beyond. The revamped Wing Zone brand standards will bridge the gap between domestic and international restaurants, creating a similar look and feel and offering a consistent menu with Bigger Tenders, Better Boneless, Jumbo Wings in every location around the world. Wing Zone also continues to push aggressive expansion plans in the U.S., including recent openings in Illinois, Texas and California. Wing Zone believes its customers have been the reason behind each franchisees success, and as the brand continues through 2017 with even bigger flavors, they are also searching for passionate franchisees to expand the fresh, forward-thinking restaurant into the Southeast U.S. Wing Zone has always been serious about delivering great tastes and an unforgettable experience, and this rebrand is just the beginning of where were going, said Friedman. Not only have we repositioned ourselves to better connect with franchisees and customers, but weve created a concept that is friendly and relatable worldwide. Were going big literally and were definitely not going home. ABOUT WING ZONE Wing Zone was founded in 1991 at the University of Florida by Matt Friedman and Adam Scott, who dubbed themselves Flavorholics because of their love of great wings and amazing flavors. The Wing Zone franchise was born in their fraternity house kitchen, and the concept quickly flourished through delivery to their fellow college students. After opening several more Wing Zone locations in college markets across the country, Scott and Friedman began offering franchises in 2000. Wing Zone now has nearly 100 locations open across the U.S. and a strong international presence, including Panama, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Malabo, Singapore and Guatemala. For more information about Wing Zone visit http://www.wingzone.com. Piranha Branding, LLC, the producer of Piranha Tank Live (http://www.piranhatank.com), has named DiliVer LLC of Annapolis, Maryland (http://www.diliver.com) the official due diligence partner of Piranha Tank. As part of this new business relationship, Piranha Branding will invest in DiliVer's current funding round. DiliVer will perform all preliminary and confirmatory due diligence work on behalf of Piranha Tank using the MAST Enterprise Performance Scorecard software. The Scorecard will assess the investment readiness of all Piranha Tank applicants and Entrepreneur-Contestants. Gore Bolton, founder and CEO of Piranha Branding, said, "We are pleased to add DiliVer as a Piranha Tank strategic partner. We are confident in DiliVer's disruptive market positioning and growth potential in the FinTech software space. Using DiliVer's Scorecard will enable Piranha Tank to review applicants more efficiently and accurately, which will support Piranha Tank's rapid growth in new geographic markets." "We are very excited about our new relationship with Piranha Tank." said Neil Kleinberg, founder and CEO of DiliVer. "We believe that this team will be a catalyst for Piranha Tank to become an investment anchor for early-stage companies in the innovation economy. DiliVer pitched on the Piranha Tank stage in Baltimore in December 2016. Although we did not accept the deal we were offered by the Piranha Investors, we were really impressed with the Piranha Tank experience. We stayed engaged, and that led to this agreement." About Piranha Tank: Piranha Tank is a live event with a local audience that brings together successful Piranha Investors seeking investment deals and entrepreneurs with great ideas seeking investment. Piranha Tank is changing how angel investing is done and demystifying the process for entrepreneurs. For us, its about responsible investing and local business growth built on the Piranha Bottom Line: Profits for People and the Planet -- true sustainability. About DiliVer: DiliVer is a venture-funded financial technology (FinTech) mergers and acquisitions (M&A) software company with specialized due diligence solutions that yield better combined entity outcomes based on advanced analytics for enterprise performance and growth potential. DiliVer's industry-specific, data-driven scorecard applications drive a new due diligence paradigm that improves the quality and reduces the risk of M&A transactions for strategic/financial buyers, all growth stages of sellers, and their intermediaries, when forming new combined entities. Grand Prize Winner & Runner Up During a special ceremony yesterday at the Isagenix Global Celebration 2017 event in Las Vegas, Helen Costa-Giles of San Antonio was named the grand prize winner of the 2017 IsaBody Challenge. The IsaBody Challenge and the annual Global Celebration event are both hosted by Isagenix International, a global health and wellness company providing sustainable nutrition and lifestyle solutions. Helen, 38, was one of 15 finalists and one of more than 35,000 individuals from the U.S. and Canada to complete this years IsaBody Challenge. Her personal transformation story, which included completing five IsaBody Challenges, releasing 90 pounds, and gaining an impressive amount of lean muscle, was the top choice by a panel of Isagenix judges. Winning the grand prize is a huge honor, especially when you consider all the amazing transformation stories the judges had to choose from, said Helen. A lot of hard work, determination and excuse dropping has gone into getting where I am today, and being recognized in front of my peers definitely makes my personal transformation and journey rewarding. Most importantly, this now means I have a bigger platform to help inspire others and share the impact Isagenix has had on my life. It just took one person to believe in me before I did. As the 2017 IsaBody Challenge Grand Prize Winner, Helen receives a $25,000 prize as well as an all-expenses-paid vacation to Costa Rica in honor of her IsaBody Challenge achievements. At the same ceremony, Jim King of Kingston, New York, was named IsaBody Challenge Runner-Up and receives a $10,000 prize, along with a trip to Costa Rica with all the other contest finalists. This is a big moment for our IsaBody Challenge winners, but it is also a huge moment for us. We are so pleased to have Helen and Jim represent Isagenix as this years IsaBody Grand Prize Winner and Runner-Up, respectively, said Jim Coover, Isagenix co-founder and chief executive officer. With more than 35,000 completions this year, it is an amazing accomplishment to be an IsaBody Challenge Finalist. Being chosen as the top two from this tremendous group of 15 speaks volumes about the hard work Helen and Jim have undertaken to successfully bring about positive changes in their lives. They are an inspiration to all of us. To learn more about Helens grand prize-winning transformation, you can read her finalist profile at Isafyi.Com/From-Overweight-Mom-To-Spartan-Beast-And-Isabody-Challenge-Finalist/ and her recent profile in People Bodies Online people.com/bodies/mom-of-two-90-lb-weight-loss-weightlifting/. For more details about Jims journey, go to isafyi.com/IsaBody+2017+Runner+Up. To learn more about Isagenix, visit our website at Isagenix.com, subscribe to our blog at IsaFYI.com, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Isagenix, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Isagenix. About the IsaBody Challenge This 16-week contest rewards participants for their total-body transformations. Each participant is judged on their before and after photos as well as a personal essay describing their journey. The contest looks for the most inspirational and motivational stories about how participants have made healthy body and life transformations. The IsaBody Challenge, which is open to anyone over the age of 18, has been entered by more than 240,000 people from the U.S. and Canada since 2011. For more information on entering the next Challenge, visit IsaBodyChallenge.com. About Isagenix International Established in 2002, Isagenix provides systems for weight loss, energy, performance, health aging, and wealth creation. With more than 550,000 customers worldwide and more than 100 life-changing products, packs, and systems globally, the company is committed to producing Solutions to Transform Lives. In 2017, Isagenix surpassed $5 billion in cumulative global sales through an independent network of associates in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Colombia, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. Isagenix is a privately owned company with headquarters in Gilbert, Arizona. For more information, visit Isagenix.com. SparkLabs Taipei Advisors, Venture Partners and Managing Partner Why dont we see more Taiwanese startups moving onto the international stage? They have the know-how and they have the ability, so whats holding them back? These are questions that keep me up at night and make me restless, Edgar Chiu SparkLabs, a network of accelerators in Asia, is launching in Taipei after recently launching in Beijing. The first accelerator was launched in Seoul in 2012 with 79% of its 74 graduates receiving follow on funding and over $195 million in venture capital. SparkLabs has expanded to Songdo, South Korea with an IoT & Smart City accelerator, Beijing, and early next year a FinTech accelerator in Hong Kong. Edgar Chiu has joined SparkLabs Taipei as the Managing Partner who will oversee its operations. He was previously the COO of Gogolook where he was responsible for developing global partnerships in Japan, Korea, the Middle East and Southeast Asia for the Whoscall app, a global caller ID service which accumulated more than 50 million downloads. Gogolook was subsequently acquired by Naver (Koreas leading Internet company with a US$24.4 billion market cap) in 2013, and Edgar took on the role as the founding General Manager at Camp Mobile Taiwan, Navers mobile group. Why dont we see more Taiwanese startups moving onto the international stage? They have the know-how and they have the ability, so whats holding them back? These are questions that keep me up at night and make me restless, explained Edgar. This is why Im excited to be working with my colleagues at SparkLabs, accessing their global network, and numerous startup experiences. With our help, more Taiwanese startups will be able to go global. SparkLabs Taipei will target startup companies in IoT (Internet of Things), AI, VR/AR, mobile, fintech, healthcare, and others verticals. The mentorship-driven program will be three months in length and will provide funding, office space, a structure program and access to a top-tier network of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors and executives from Silicon Valley and across the globe. Im estatic that we were able to recruit Edgar to head up SparkLabs Taipei. From his experiences at IBM and Gogolook, which was one of a handful of successful exits in Taiwan. Hes perfect to help the founders utilize SparkLabs Taipei to scale and impact Taiwan and beyond, explained Eugene Kim, a partner at SparkLabs. Edgar is joined by two Venture Partners, Alex Wu and Tony Ling, who are part-time partners. Alex and Tony will be providing support to SparkLabs Taipeis startups and sharing their experiences from Silicon Valley. Alex is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Newsela, and was previously at Quora, Facebook and Obama for America. While at Facebook, he was a product marketer where he managed over $50 million in media placements, accelerated adoption of products like Facebook Pages and Facebook for Android, and led global marketing initiatives with Facebook's mobile operator and device partners. Tony Ling is a former Managing Director at Silver Lake Partners, a technology-focused private equity firm with $39 billion under management. While at Silver Lake, Tony led investments across a range of technology sectors including internet, semiconductor and hardware-related companies. Steve Chen, Co-founder and CTO of YouTube, and Kevin Chou, Co-founder and CEO of Kabam, join SparkLabs entry into Taiwan on their advisory board. Steve sold YouTube to Google for $1.65 billion and Kevin recently sold Kabam to Netmarble, a South Korean online gaming company, for $800 million. Also joining are Charles and Kai Huang, the two brothers who sold Red Octane (Guitar Hero) to Activision. Guitar Hero was the fastest video game to reach $1 billion in sales, and was the best selling video game in the world in 2007 and 2008. Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Attorney Sherry D. ONeal has been selected as a 2017 Women in the Law Honoree by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Ms. ONeal is a Member in the firms Detroit office and serves as the firms Pro Bono Coordinator. She focuses her practice on labor & employment litigation, commercial & business litigation, and insurance & ERISA litigation. She has represented clients in federal and state court with respect to unlawful discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful discharge, FLSA, defamation, breach of contract and ERISA claims. As Dickinson Wrights Pro Bono Coordinator, Ms. ONeal is the liaison between the firm and several organizations in our efforts to serve our communities through pro bono service. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigans Pro Bono Initiative and Co-Chair of the Pro Bono Committee for the Federal Bar Association. Ms. ONeal is a member of the American Bar Association, the Detroit Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Wolverine Bar Association, and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. She received her B.S. from Wayne State University and her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School. Each year, Michigan Lawyers Weekly selects 30 lawyers to honor as Women in the Law. Women in the Law honorees are lawyers who are committed to excellence in the practice of law while inspiring and serving as mentors to other women in the profession. The 2017 Women in the Law will be honored at an annual luncheon and awards celebration on September 7, 2017 at the Detroit Marriott in Troy. About Dickinson Wright PLLC Dickinson Wright PLLC is a general practice business law firm with more than 450 attorneys among more than 40 practice areas and 16 industry groups. Headquartered in Detroit and founded in 1878, the firm has 18 offices, including six in Michigan (Detroit, Troy, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Saginaw) and 11 other domestic offices in Austin and El Paso, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Lexington, Ky.; Nashville and Music Row, Tenn.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Washington, D.C. The firms Canadian office is located in Toronto. Dickinson Wright offers our clients a distinctive combination of superb client service, exceptional quality, value for fees, industry expertise and business acumen. As one of the few law firms with ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, Dickinson Wright has built a state-of-the-art, independently-verified risk management controls and security processes for our commercial transactions. Dickinson Wright lawyers are known for delivering commercially-oriented advice on sophisticated transactions and have a remarkable record of wins in high-stakes litigation. Dickinson Wright lawyers are regularly cited for their expertise and experience by Chambers, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and other leading independent law firm evaluating organizations. Aptech Computer Systems, a leading provider of hotel accounting software, hospitality enterprise accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and business intelligence systems, announced three hotel companies selected Aptechs PVNG Enterprise Back Office System. PVNG is a browser-based next generation enterprise hospitality accounting solution with a simple menu structure and easy to navigate platform. Click here for more on Aptechs products and services. Companies installing PVNG Enterprise Accounting include Stagewest Hospitality and The Colony Palm Beach. The companies operate a total of 10 properties. Stagewest Hospitality is implementing PVNG hotel accounting software at four hotels and its winery in British Columbia, Canada. PVNG helped us reduce labor costs because it is easy to use and simple to learn. We realized a significant cost savings by creating a more efficient operation with a reduced accounting staff. Our guests are the most important part of our company. If I can move two people to our front desk from accounting it benefits our guests and our company, said Azaz Ahmed, MBA, controller of Stagewest Hospitality. Aptech hosts our PVNG installations. We are hospitality professionals. With Aptech hosting our system we dont worry about our system operation, data security, and backups. Stagewest Hospitality properties include Stage West Calgary, Medicine Hat Lodge, and the Camrose Resort Casino. The Colony Palm Beach in Florida is live with PVNG this month. We installed PVNG because it is easy to learn and use and developed specifically for hotel companies. This is a big advantage over generic financial systems. I have experience with Aptechs systems at other properties and trust its solutions, said Tammy Shoffstall, finance director of The Colony Palm Beach. Cam Troutman, Aptech vice president, said, We leveraged 45 years of hotel accounting experience to build PVNG specifically for hotel companies. It supports one property or a large multi-brand, multi-property portfolio. PVNG uses the most current technology platform incorporating AP, GL, Statistics, Financials, and a Bank Reconciliation, all with easy to use, familiar browser navigation. We can also make it simple to become 11th Edition compliant by implementing our packaged chart of accounts and financial statements. Aptech Computer Systems is an IBM Premier Business Partner that offers Execuvue web-enabled Business Intelligence, Targetvue Budgeting and Forecasting, and PVNG Enterprise Back Office systems that are 100% hospitality specific. Aptech is the only company that provides a complete suite of financial management and analysis solutions for the hotel industry. Aptech systems can be deployed in the cloud, or on-premise at the client location to support an entire hotel companys portfolio via the Internet for individual and consolidated back office operations and financial reporting. About Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement. The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry, and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider and a Prophix Premier Business Partner. Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties - including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue and Profitvue are registered to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information please visit http://www.aptech-inc.com. No one knows for sure what reforms are coming from Capitol Hill. The consensus hints at a once-in-a-generation overhaul and reduction in corporate tax rates, wrote tax attorney Janathan L. Allen, of Allen Barron, Inc. and Janathan L. Allen, APC in a recent blog. This will obviously be packaged with financial reforms impacting many areas of business, including tax and financial issues remaining from healthcare. A substantial reduction in corporate tax rates will impact the balance of international taxation and associated multinational business structures. A lower U.S. corporate tax rate will impact a multinational business and those who do business across borders in many ways. Business owners should ask themselves, How is my constellation of companies presently structured? What is the relationship between these entities and how and where is income realized across these companies? How are transfer pricing-related transactions conducted between these entities presently and how will this be impacted by changing corporate tax models? In addition to the rumblings in Washington D.C., here in California our legislature is working to remove many of the advantages of the waters edge election, noted Allen. This year is shaping up to have historical significance on business here in California, the United States and around the world. The integration of tax, legal, advisory and accounting services results in answers reflecting a much broader perspective, balancing impacts of decisions upon operations, strategy, business entity structures, accounting procedures, transactions and relationships. It will also have a profoundly positive impact upon local, state, federal and international taxation, added Allen. Integrated services provide insight into corporate tax reform and all of the California, U.S. and international business challenges and opportunities while leveraging economies of scale. You pay less than you would to four or five separate business professionals, such as a business attorney, CPA, business consultants, tax attorney, tax preparers and accountants, concluded Allen. You gain a much broader and complete insight into the challenges you face and the impact each decision will have upon every aspect of your business. About Janathan L. Allen, APC, Allen Barron, Inc. The law practice of Janathan L. Allen, APC provides insightful business, legal and tax-related services for San Diego and U.S. businesses which require experienced and insightful counsel in order to remain competitive in an ever-changing U.S. and global business environment. The firm helps clients to assess the impact of changes in U.S. business law, tax codes and regulatory requirements, in addition to legal services such as business contract, business formation, employment and operational legal services. When combined with the business advisory, accounting and tax preparation services of Allen Barron, the firm provides a single-source business partner resulting in a more extensive and valuable advisory and service offering while leveraging economies of scale. For more information, please call (866) 631-3470 or visit http://www.allenbarron.com. Its main offices are located at 16745 West Bernardo Drive, Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92127. About the NALA The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361. InfraSteels cost-effective and environmentally friendly culvert rehabilitation solutions. Chapel Hill engineers inspected the just installed InfraSteel slip liner and were pleased with the performance of the rehabilitated structure, which has a new life expectancy of 75 to 100 years. After Hurricane Matthew in 2016, a group of engineers from the Town of Chapel Hill inspected the just installed InfraSteel steel slip liners and were pleased with the performance of the rehabilitated culvert. Before the hurricane, the town had installed the culvert rehabilitation solution after the North Carolina Department of Transportation discovered three large failing corrugated metal plate arches under nearby Elliott Road on the heavily traveled US Highway 501. The 190 x 120 inch corrugated metal arch culvert was near structural failure and needed immediate repair. The Town of Chapel Hill is the home of the University of North Carolina. The college town is sensitive to the environmental impact of construction projects. Elliott Road has a traffic count of 7,000 vehicles per day and Booker Creek is prone to flooding. The city hired Hydrostructures, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, to determine the best solution to repair the failing culverts. Hydrostructures determined rehabilitating the existing culvert structure was the best solution. They started looking for a culvert rehabilitations solution that had low environmental impact, maximized hydraulic capacity, improved structural integrity and avoided traffic disruption. Based on this criteria, Hydrostructures chose InfraSteel from Precision Pipe and Products in January, 2016. According to Cullom Walker, partner at Precision Pipe and Products and co-founder of InfraSteel Culvert Rehabilitation, Hydrostructures asked us to inspect the failing structure in January 2014 because they knew that InfraSteels Smooth Wall Carbon Steel liner would match the radii of the existing structure and would provide a large cross-sectional area for flow capacity. They also realized that the slip liners smooth steel surface would increase flow capacity. Hydrostructures was impressed with InfraSteel's impressive material testing data. Curtis Contracting of West Point, Virginia, performed the work. Load bearing calculations were done to determine the wall thickness, and InfraSteel contacted its manufacturing plant to start slip liner production immediately. Curtis Contracting began the project in July of 2016. Once the steel liners were in place and the welding was completed, the annular space between the liner and the existing corrugated metal pipe was grouted by pumping grout around the steel structure to ensure that all gaps were filled. The project was completed for $736,830 and was finished in 90 days without any traffic interruption. Walker adds, After the Elliott Road culvert rehabilitation project was completed, North Carolina was hit by Hurricane Matthew. The hurricane caused more than $1.5 billion in flood damage and there were 26 deaths in North Carolina attributed to the storm. Chapel Hill was not hit as hard as other areas, but the heavy rains tested the flow of the rehabilitated culverts and the stream banks of the finished construction site. Chapel Hill engineers inspected the just installed InfraSteel slip liner and were pleased with the performance of the rehabilitated structure, which has a new life expectancy of 75 to 100 years. Millions of culverts in the U.S. have already exceeded their design life. Although each culvert location is different due to its unique conditions, over time corrugated metal pipe culverts are attacked by abrasion and corrosion until failure is inevitable. For more information about InfraSteels cost-effective and environmentally friendly culvert rehabilitation solutions, contact Cullom Walker at (205) 613-0072. The Chapel Hill Project was featured in an article in the Trenchless Technology magazine. For a copy of the article, please click here. MASON CITY | The "Lipstick 'N Lashes" Scholarship Benefit will be at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 12 in the Salsbury Room of the MacNider Art Museum. Proceeds go to the Craig W. Hickok Memorial Scholarship Fund which helps finance college and post-graduate education for Iowa residents who have been involved in LGBT advocacy. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling Dean Genth at 641-583-2024 or Davie Welsher at 641-425-8099. MC Assembly, a leading electronic manufacturing service provider, has partnered with KT Technical Sales Inc. MC Assembly, a leading electronic manufacturing service provider, has partnered with KT Technical Sales Inc., a vertical market representative, to expand the companys sales presence in the Southwest region of the United States. Under a recently finalized contract, KT Technical Sales will now offer MC Assembly services to Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) customers. This will in effect open the door as in introduction to MC Assembly capabilities which can support high volume electronic manufacturing service operations. Its a pleasure to add KT Technical Sales Inc. with their vast experience and business relationships to our team, said David Prunier, MC Assembly Vice President of Business Development. Were looking forward to mutual growth opportunities with Ken and his team. Prunier calls this partnership a good fit and said working with them should shorten the sales cycle times significantly. At the same time working with MC Assembly expands KT Technical Sales Inc.s service offerings to include high volume services like system integration services and box build; opening the door for both companies to grow new business. We hope this new partnership will increase value to our customers by being able to provide additional resources they can use to build products with high quality low cost assembly solutions, said Ken Thompson, President and CEO of KT Technical Sales, Inc. MC Assembly has a pretty broad scope of strong capabilities. Between their three facilities, they can provide a wide range of capabilities to serve the needs of our customers. KT Technical Sales Inc. first worked with MC Assembly in 2009 in a supplier role. At the time, MC Assembly used some of their cables in box builds for medical screening machines. Since then the relationship between the two companies has grown. Were looking forward to expanding our relationship with MC Assembly and helping them build a larger presence in the Southwest region, Thompson said. KT Technical Sales Inc.s focus is to be An Engineering Design & Manufacturing Solutions Provider. The company has a very diversified customer base that is very strong with defense and military, but also includes medical, communication and industrial customers. Our company offers a variety of products and services and is focus on every aspect of the process from concept to design to full production, Thompson said. Our talent pool is made up of industry veterans, each boasting 20 plus years of experience with established long term relationships with customers and suppliers. About MC Assembly MC Assembly (http://www.mcati.com), based in Melbourne, Fla., with additional operations in Billerica, Mass., and Zacatecas, Mexico, is a national leader in the contract manufacturing arena with annual revenues of approximately $200 million. It provides turnkey solutions to original equipment manufacturers and focuses on assembly of medium volume, medium mix printed circuit boards assemblies (PCBAs) and box builds. MC Assembly's capabilities include surface mount and pin-through-hole interconnection technologies, PCB and box build, DFM, DFT, DFA engineering, in-circuit, functional and environmental testing, and full box-build direct order fulfillment. About KT Technical Sales KT Technical Sales, Inc. (http://www.kttechsales.com) adds value to your efforts in a seamless manner. We employ a WIT (whatever it takes) approach, ensuring we meet, and ultimately exceed your expectations. We maintain a worldwide network of business partners that allow us to develop and foster relationships with both customers and suppliers. We handle the pressures of coordinating the design and movement of your products from NPI to Production worldwide. Our mission is to be an extension of your companys procurement and engineering teams, providing you with quality low cost solutions. We offer a variety of products and services from design to production, allowing our customers to focus on what they do best. At KT Technical Sales, Inc. were ready and equipped to support your unique challenges. The Joseph Phelps Culinary Team "Joe Phelps gathered family and friends in his home over great wine and food that he had prepared for everyone to share. Our family is pleased to welcome winery guests in that same spirit, said Bill Phelps, Executive Chairman of Joseph Phelps Vineyards Joseph Phelps Vineyards is pleased to announce the launch of its first culinary program, led by new winery Executive Chef Brian Sutton and Sous Chefs Ryan Seal and Allie Phelps, granddaughter of winery founder, Joe Phelps. The Joseph Phelps Culinary program offers winery visitors the opportunity to savor seasonal cuisine paired with the latest Joseph Phelps Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast wine releases in a beautifully appointed dining room setting overlooking estate vineyards. The program highlights three separate experiences: Wine & Cheese Pairing explores how local and regional cheeses pair and contrast with Joseph Phelps wines, an interactive food and wine pairing known as Playful Plates, and the ultimate culinary journey, a multi-course Bountiful Table lunch to delight the senses. A native of Colchester, England, Brian Sutton is a graduate of the renowned Colchester Institute of Culinary Arts and has an illustrious culinary background that has led him to some of the most celebrated food and wine destinations throughout the world. Most recently, Brian was the Executive Sous Chef at Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley before joining Joseph Phelps Vineyards in spring 2017. Knowledge is the greatest gift you can give to another. To be able to share my knowledge of food with exceptional wines is the ultimate gift," stated Sutton. Sutton is joined in the kitchen by Sous Chefs Ryan Seal and Allie Phelps. Ryan Seal is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and came to Joseph Phelps Vineyards in the summer of 2017 following positions at Morimoto Napa as well as Carneros Resort and Calistoga Ranch. Allie Phelps, granddaughter of Joe Phelps, is the third member of her generation to work for the family wine business. Allie joined Joseph Phelps in the summer of 2016 as a Wine Educator following a decade of living in San Francisco, CA where she earned a Culinary Arts degree from the Art Institute of San Francisco, worked as an event planner and taught cooking classes at Cavallo Point. Allie moved more fully into the kitchen in spring 2017 to help launch the winerys culinary program. Joe Phelps lived life to the fullest. He gathered family and friends in his home over great wine and food that he had prepared for everyone to share. Our family is pleased to welcome winery guests in that same spirit, said Bill Phelps, Executive Chairman of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Joseph Phelps Vineyards Culinary Offerings: Wine & Cheese Pairing: Learn how food and wine interact with one another and discover your own pairing preferences. Join us for a guided wine tasting and pairing of local and regional cheeses along with house-made delicacies during this fun and educational experience. $100 per person. This is a semi-private seated tasting that lasts 90 minutes and is offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Playful Plates: Join us for a unique interactive food and wine pairing experience. Guests will enjoy a flight of five Joseph Phelps Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast wines, including Insignia, paired with seasonally inspired bites that contrast and complement our wines. A dedicated Wine Educator will lead guests through the tasting, inviting each person to share their individual experience in relaxed convivial conversation. Please allow two hours to enjoy this experience. $195 per person. This semi-private seated event is offered each Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Bountiful Table: Savor the bounty of our region through a wine and food journey. Join us in our picturesque dining room for a multi-course lunch featuring seasonal ingredients paired with the extraordinary wines of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Begin your visit with passed canapes on our Redwood Terrace overlooking estate vineyards, followed by an unforgettable lunch to delight your senses. Each course will be thoughtfully paired with Joseph Phelps Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast wines, including the latest vintage of Insignia. Please allow 3 hours for this lunch. $275 per person. Bountiful Table lunches are offered each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Further details and Culinary reservation requests are available through the winerys http://www.josephphelps.com/pages/culinary or by calling 800-707-5789. About Joseph Phelps Vineyards Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery committed to crafting world class, estate-grown wines. Founded in 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena, the winery now controls and farms 390 acres of vines in Napa Valley on eight estate vineyards in St. Helena, the Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford, Oak Knoll District, Carneros and South Napa. In pursuit of an ideal location to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, in 1999 the Phelps family purchased land near the town of Freestone on the western Sonoma Coast, planted 100 acres of vineyards, and built a dedicated winery. Phelps is best known for its flagship wine, Insignia, a Napa Valley blend of red Bordeaux varieties first produced in 1974. The winery offers a variety of tasting experiences seven days a week by prior appointment. More information can be found at http://www.josephphelps.com. About Executive Chef Brian Sutton A native of Colchester, England, Brian Sutton worked at a local pub from an early age before he enrolled in the Hospitality Program at the renowned Colchester Institute of Culinary Arts, choosing to spend an extra year in the Pastry Department to further round out his expertise. Upon graduation, Brian was recruited to work at the Keswick Hall resort in Charlottesville, Virginia. This appointment was followed by positions in France and Switzerland to further refine his culinary skills. Brian returned to the United States to join The Point Resort, a Forbes Five Star, Relais & Chateaux property in New York, achieving the rank of Sous Chef. Since then, he has continually built his repertoire working at premier restaurants with notable chefs. Most recently, Brian was the Executive Sous Chef at Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort in Napa Valley, before accepted the Executive Chef position at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in spring 2017 to launch the winerys first culinary program. About Sous Chef Allie Phelps Granddaughter of winery founder Joe Phelps and daughter of winery Executive Chairman Bill Phelps, Allie Phelps is the third member of her generation to join the family wine business. Allie grew up in Napa Valley surrounded by people passionate about food and entertaining. Following graduation from Vanderbilt University, Allie spent ten years living in San Francisco where she earned a Culinary Arts degree from the Art Institute of San Francisco, worked as an event planner for a luxury special events company and taught cooking classes for curious home chefs at Cavallo Point. In 2016, Allie joined Joseph Phelps Vineyards and assisted in the development of an expanded educational wine and food program. Today, she is enthusiastic about honoring her grandfathers love for food and wine as Sous Chef for the winerys new culinary program. About Sous Chef Ryan Seal Born in Los Angeles and raised in Sacramento, CA, Ryan Seal is passionate about fine dining. Through the combination of local and international ingredients and techniques, he strives to create an amazing guest experience. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Ryan has worked in the kitchens of noted restaurants Morimoto in Napa Valley, SPQR in San Francisco, as well as the Four Seasons Resort at Westlake Village. Most recently he worked as Banquet Chef at the Carneros Resort as well as Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort in Napa Valley, before joining Joseph Phelps Vineyards as Sous Chef in the summer of 2017 to help launch the winerys new culinary program. Pendleton Woolen Mills announces the opening of a new flagship store in the Park Avenue West building of downtown Portland, OR. Pendleton at Park Avenue West embraces a curated collection of iconic product connecting the American Heritage brand to the retail heart of the city. The new store echoes the brands rooted Born in Oregon history, emphasizing Pacific Northwest style that reflects American fashion across the country and globe. Pendletons flagship store pays tribute to Portland as an epicenter of the Maker Movement. As a company operated by a family that has been making woolen fabrics in Oregon since 1863, Pendleton proudly considers itself a leader of the local maker movement. To celebrate that claim, the store will feature elements handmade by a new generation of local craftsman, including LR Design Lab, Esque Studio, AD Busch and Ramsay Signs. These makers are producing custom, one-of-a-kind fixtures, signage and lighting to bring the Oregon experience to life. In store, visitors will learn about the wool manufacturing process of the mills, collaboration with local wool growers, history and relationship with Native American tribes, Pendletons commitment to community involvement, philanthropic partnerships, and the preservation of the relationship to American fashion, music, industry and culture. The company has long sought a flagship in the heart of Portlands retail core, said John Bishop, Pendleton CEO and President, and we knew we had found our new home at the Park Avenue West Tower. This store is situated in vibrant Director Park, with terrific neighbors, great street presence and high visibility for both local consumers and visitors to Portland. It is a perfect fit for Pendleton. Pendleton at Park Avenue West, with a footprint of approximately 2,500 square feet, is refocusing the selection of apparel offered by responding to the casual and contemporary styling of todays shoppers. Pendletons vision for a new and emerging younger consumer modernizes the brands outdoor and western design while maintaining the quality and authenticity that Pendleton is known for. Were making important brand decisions to engage the millennial customer. They love Pendletons authenticity; its the genuine article. They want the real thing to intersect with their lifestyle, still classic yet more innovative designs and even new fabrics. said Bob Christnacht, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Designing product, especially apparel, to resonate with this age group is a significant part of our brand strategy and is reflected in the new store. Robin Crowell, Pendleton VP of Stores, says, Were excited to build on our establishment in retail, with our first flagship store in Portland. Pendleton at Park Avenue West will share Pendletons history, mission, and values and offer the best of Pendleton for men, women, home and accessories. The new Pendleton flagship store is located at 825 SW Yamhill St., Portland, OR 97205. Store hours are Monday Friday 10:00 am 8:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am 9:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am 7:00 pm. Phone: 503.242.0037 About Pendleton: Setting the standard for classic American style, Pendleton is a lifestyle brand recognized worldwide as a symbol of American heritage, authenticity and craftsmanship. With six generations of family ownership, since 1863, the company celebrates 154 years of weaving fabric in the Pacific Northwest in 2017. Known for fabric innovation, Pendleton owns and operates two of Americas remaining woolen mills, constantly updating them with state-of-the-art looms and eco-friendly technology. Inspired by its heritage, the company designs and produces apparel for men and women, blankets and accessories, home decor and gifts. Pendleton is available through select retailers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Korea and Australia as well as Pendleton stores, company catalogs and direct-to-consumer channels, including the Pendleton website: http://www.pendleton-usa.com Democrats keep control of Senate for 2 more years, dashing Republican hopes of a wave sweeping them into majority, reports AP. MASON CITY | Two Mason City residents received awards at fine arts competition judged prior to the start of the Iowa State Fair. Tonja Ihlenfeldt received third place in the adult mixed media category, while Emma Davison received honorable mention in the youth category. A three-judge panel evaluated more than 560 pieces of art. Of those, 380 were accepted into the art show. Those entries will be on display on the third floor of the Patty and Jim Cownie Cultural Center 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the fair. Ashley Miller Trump's fiery statement followed a Washington Post report that said US intelligence had acknowledged that North Korea could make nuclear warheads small enough to fit on missiles and that the country may have as many as 60 nuclear devices. "He has been very threatening beyond a normal state," Trump said of Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, while looking straight into the camera. "As I said they will be met with fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before." After the UN Security Council voted to impose hefty sanctions on North Korea following its test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, North Korean media responded with a harsh threat, saying the country would exact "thousands-fold" revenge on the US. The Trump administration has stressed that it doesn't seek regime change in North Korea, but not every voice appears to be on the same page. Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, told MSNBC's Hugh Hewitt that Trump had been clear that "he's not going to tolerate North Korea being able to threaten the United States." In June, Secretary of Defense James Mattis told the House Appropriations Committee that war with North Korea would be "more serious in terms of human suffering than anything we've seen since 1953," when the Korean War ended, and result in "the massive shelling of an ally's capital, which is one of the most densely packed cities on earth." The US has long made clear that it would retaliate against North Korean aggression with appropriate force. But Trump's statement differs from those of past presidents' by appearing to extend that to North Korean media issuing threats. The meal-kit company is spending more than $400 to recruit each new customer, despite making only $236 a customer a quarter, Eater reporter Whitney Filloon said in an interview on Cheddar on Monday. When Blue Apron filed for its initial public offering in June, the company said its cost of acquiring a subscriber on average was $94. At this point, the vast majority of Blue Apron's marketing costs which include things like ads to get the word out about the company and free food to get new users hooked is going toward customer acquisition. But as Recode pointed out in June, that figure was based on the time frame of 2014 to the first quarter of 2017. If you use the marketing figures from the past 12 months dividing marketing costs by customers added the company was spending roughly $460 for each new customer. Blue Apron told Business Insider that Recode's interpretation of the numbers was "overly-simplistic." For example, the company said, this figure does not correctly interpret how Blue Apron classifies "active" and "inactive" customers. "The calculation also assumes that our marketing spend is solely devoted to the acquisition of new customers, when in reality our marketing spend is not solely focused on customer acquisition, but also retaining and engaging our customers once acquired," the statement continued. In the first quarter of 2017, Blue Apron made $236 a customer on average. In Blue Apron's filing to go public, the company said cumulative net revenue per customer for the six months after a customer's first order was $402 for people who joined in 2014, $451 for 2015, and $387 for 2016. Blue Apron has struggled since its disappointing IPO in June. An estimated 12% of men and 0.30.7% of women in the general population are psychopaths. However, the number of people who have psychopathic traits is probably a lot higher. Psychopathy is a spectrum, and we all fall on it somewhere, according to neuroscientist and psychiatrist Tara Swart. The traits of a psychopath include ruthlessness, narcissism, persuasiveness, and the inability to feel guilt. What separates most of us from people with psychopathic disorder, though, is the ability to feel empathy, says therapist Perpetua Neo. Usually, if someone shows unfavourable traits in a way that is pushing other people away, they will stop when they learn they are acting inappropriately. They may even choose to go to therapy to learn why they behave in such a way, and adjust accordingly. However, a true psychopath will never choose to go see a therapist because they don't think there's anything wrong with the way there are. They will also never change, according to Neo. A true psychopath will never change. "People with traits, they're going to be okay," Neo told Business Insider. "[But] from what I've read, what I've heard, what I've seen and experienced so far, people with dark triad personality disorders cannot and will not change." Neo has worked mainly with women who have come out of abusive relationships with narcissists and even psychopaths. She usually works with them on their own while they are still with the abuser, or after they have been discarded. Sometimes, though, a psychopath and their partner will go to counselling to try and fix their broken relationship. Neo says the only time a psychopath will agree to do this is if they can see how it will benefit them, and if they still have some use for their partner. Even therapists can be fooled by them. Psychopaths are often masters of manipulation, and by this point they have already managed to skew the whole relationship. They are very charming, and know how to tug at your heart strings, according to Neo. Unfortunately, even therapists can be fooled by them too. "They orchestrate this show, put on a false self in front of the therapist, and they know how to push the buttons of their partner, so their partner looks extremely unstable in these situations," she said. "The therapist may collude unknowingly with the dark triad person against the partner who really has been the one suffering." The psychopath may say that their partner is the "mad" one, gaslighting them into believing that it's true. "It's very difficult for you to realise, because they can seem so stable and so rational," Neo said. Psychopaths dont think theres anything wrong with them. It's also difficult for therapists to know how to treat narcissists and psychopaths, because the research and knowledge on the topic is fairly limited. There are several tests to help diagnose psychopathy such as the Hare Checklist but these are far from perfect. To further complicate matters, psychopathy is a wide-ranging personality disorder, and those who have it don't tend to think there is anything wrong with them. Also, their traits can mimic many other problems, such as substance abuse, domestic abuse, or a gambling addiction, making them hard to identify. "The psychopath or narcissist, anyone who is very abusive, they tend to be the master of smoke and mirrors," Neo said. "It could look like something else it could be the fact he has a difficult mother, so he drinks, and after he drinks he hurts me. Or he has a drug problem. Or he has this convoluted history of paranoia, because people are unfaithful to him and hurt him. So you're always jumping from one thing to another." They could also be misdiagnosed as having a different personality disorder, because the therapist could pick up on something else. Depending on how cunning and manipulative the psychopath is, they may only show the therapist what they want them to see. "I've met quite a few who learn symptoms and pretend to have them," Neo added. "And a lot of therapies are about believing in a person's ability to change their lives. If you build a relationship with somebody, you don't want to believe they are bad. And if they have narcissistic personality disorder, or they're a psychopath, they are a bad person. So there is this inherent conflict." A cure might not be the answer. With violent and criminal psychopaths, their lack of empathy and care for themselves means they have no guilt about what they've done and do not have any problems going to prison. According to the work of Kent Kiehl, a neuroscientist who has studied psychopaths for over 20 years, if you think going to therapy for a "cure" is the answer, you're probably asking the wrong question. In his book "The Psychopath Whisperer," he outlines some treatment options for highly dangerous psychopaths. In these cases, they are already incarcerated, and so haven't opted in for therapy, but are forced to go. For example, at the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center in Wisconsin, high risk youths are taken in and treated with intensive programs to try to reduce the chance they'll re-offend. The treatments are based on positive reinforcement rather than punishment, such as being given a reward, like a video game in their cell for the weekend, if they respond positively. "The treatment doesn't necessarily cure individuals with psychopathy, but it helps provide insight on how to reduce impulsivity and/or poor decisions that contribute to relapse to crime or antisocial behavior," Kiehl told Business Insider. "This program reduces violent recidivism by over 50%, which is a huge decrease and evidence that scientific-based treatment can effect positive outcomes in individuals with these traits." According to Kiehl, though, 10 to 15% of kids still re-offended violently, so the psychological treatment isn't always effective. After all, there is still a lot we don't know about the psychopathic brain. In fact, some forms of therapy can actually make psychopaths commit more crimes than if they had none at all, Kiehl writes in his book. This means research into the brain patterns, upbringing, and behaviour of psychopaths is needed to better understand the chance somebody will become a psychopathic abuser, criminal, rapist, or murderer. MRI scans could also help to determine whether treatment is really working, by looking at whether the brain activity in areas that regulate emotions, impulses, and morality increases over time. The most important thing is to help the victims. Whether somebody becomes a psychopath or is born that way is still a grey area, so the way they are treated is going to be a work in progress for a long time. Neo says that right now, the most important thing in her own work is to help the people who are the victims, and aid them with getting out of dangerous situations. "When I see there is clearly abuse going on, regardless of whether it's emotional, financial, or physical, I will call it out," she said. 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 Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison made this known at the Ghana Economic Forum held in Accra. Explainer: Regulatory capital is the minimum amount a bank must have in order to operate. READ ALSO: FDA says Ghana is safe Currently, the minimum capital requirement is GHC 120 million. However, Dr Addison said some banks have still not met the minimum capital requirements but are still functional. New capital requirements will be announced. We expect all banks to meet the requirement. Some banks have not met the old requirement but we are not going to allow that going forward. The new requirements will be accompanied with measures to ensure compliance. We will do this in an orderly manner, he assured. This is an assertion made by the Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana Mrs Patience Akyianu. She said this at the 2017 edition of the Ghana Economic Forum in Accra on Tuesday (August 8, 2017). She argued that the regulator the Bank of Ghana (BoG), must rather strengthen the existing banks so they function to their ultimate best. For a population of 26 million, GDP just around 40 billion with 36 banks and counting, I think we must rather focus or strengthening the existing banks by ensuring that they are well capitalised. She rather suggested that the BoG supports the activities of the existing banks instead of licensing more banks. The Bank of Ghana must instead support some of the projects that we do to move this country forward. In addition to that, we must actually focus on ensuring that existing banks are capable of serving their customers more efficiently and include the large unbanked population. The argument of the number of banks in Ghana has been raised several times. Some industry players have often compared Ghana to Nigeria where they have a higher population than Ghana but have about 26 banks, and South Africa also has only seven banks with a population of more than 55million people. Others have said that it allows for competition in the industry. This will be done by the Japanese government. This was disclosed when a delegation of Japanese investors from CDC Company held a meeting with authorities and other stakeholders of Denkyembour. READ ALSO: FDA says Ghana is safe The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to allow for the beginning of the project. An Economic Advisor from the office of the President Dr Kwadwo Samuel Frimpong led the Japanese delegation to Akwatia. He said government focuses on creating private partnerships which will create jobs for the growing unemployed youth. The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Denkyembour District signed the MoU on behalf of the District. It was witnessed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Mercy Adu Gyamfi. All stakeholders present were happy a project from the government initiative was to be implemented in the area. The chief of Akwatia Osabarima Kofi Boateng III said the land was available for the project to be implemented. The DCE was optimistic the factory will ensure residents in the district make more income after completion. Volta Finance Limited (VTA) - Issue of shares NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES ***** Guernsey, 8 August 2017 Volta Finance Limited (the "Company" or "Volta") announces that it has made an application for admission to listing on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange of 4,510 newly issued Ordinary Shares of no par value in the Company in relation to the part-payment of Directors' fees for the quarter ended 31 July 2017. An application will also be made for the admission of these Ordinary Shares to trading on Euronext Amsterdam. In accordance with the announcement made on 29 March 2017, each Director will receive 30 per cent of his or her Director's fee for any year in the form of newly issued shares at a per share price equal to the most recently available Estimated NAV. The Directors are required to retain those shares for a period of no less than one year from their respective dates of issuance. The applicable Estimated NAV was 8.37 per share as at 30 June 2017. Following the issue of 4,510 Ordinary Shares, the Company's issued share capital comprised 36,552,976 Ordinary Shares and 1 Class B Share. Accordingly, as at today's date, and in accordance with Rule 5.6.1 of the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules the total number of voting rights in the Company is 36,552,977. Shareholders may use this total voting rights figure as the denominator for the calculations by which they may determine whether they are required to notify the Company or the AFM of their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company. For further information, please contact: Company Secretary and Portfolio Administrator Sanne Group (Guernsey) Limited voltafinance@sannegroup.com +44 (0) 1481 739810 Corporate Broker Cenkos Securities plc Alan Ray Oliver Packard Sapna Shah +44 (0) 20 7397 1916 For the Investment Manager AXA Investment Managers Paris Serge Demay serge.demay@axa-im.com +33 (0) 1 44 45 84 47 ***** ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities. Volta's home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands. Volta's investment objectives are to preserve capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its shareholders through dividends. Volta seeks to attain its investment objectives predominantly through diversified investments in structured finance assets. The assets that the Company may invest in either directly or indirectly include, but are not limited to: corporate credits; sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt; residential mortgage loans; and, automobile loans. The Company's approach to investment is through vehicles and arrangements that essentially provide leveraged exposure to portfolios of such underlying assets. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets. ***** ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 679 billion in assets under management as of the end of June 2016. AXA IM employs approximately 2,399 people around the world. ***** This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are "U.S. persons" for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. The company does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States. ***** This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. ***** Dont shiver, Darko said when a member of the committee expressed frustration over drugs being imported into Ghana. READ ALSO: Lotto operators accuse pastors of decline in patronage I can beat my chest and tell you that the regulatory body is one of the best on the continent. Her response follows the report that some drugs imported into the country and sold on the local market are unregistered. These drugs include Coartem, Procold, Zentel, and Amodiaquine Suspension. Officials of the Food and Drugs Authority disclosed this when they met the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament in connection with their operations on Monday, August 7. The drugs mentioned are part of a list of 72 drugs the FDA said were imported into the country between 2012 and 2013, without authorisation. The suspects, Desmond Appleton and Elvin Boakye Agyemangwere reported by parents of the victims to the Cyber Crime Unit of the Police service for allegedly posting the nude pictures of the underage students. The victims are students from the ages of 14 to 16 in unnamed Junior High Schools in Accra. READ ALSO: Tipper truck kills student of St Louis College of Education According to a report from Daily Graphic, one of the suspects, Elvin Boakye Agyemang became friends with one of the victims after he came to sell T shirts in her school. They started communicating on social media app, Telegram through which he convinced the victim to send him nude pictures of herself which she obliged. After the victim sent the pictures, Elvis leveraged on it to demand even more pictures, call credits and other items threatening to post the pictures online of she didnt. Out of the fear of been exposed, the victim agreed to his demands until she decided not to and deleted the application. The suspect apparently posted the nude pictures online and eventually was seen by one of the teachers of the victim who reported the case to their parents. Benedicta, was rumoured to be in a romantic relationship with Bishop Obinim after the latter delivered the former late 2016 from alleged marine spirits. The assertion was echoed by On Air Personality, Afia Schwarzenegger who called Benedicta out on social media. However, the actress has debunked the rumours in a conversation with JoyNews MzGee. Me, myself, I am a bit confused. I dont know where all those stories are coming from but I am not dating him. Yes, I am dating, I have a boyfriend who I love very much and I will never leave him for anything in the world and he is not Bishop Obinim, she stressed. Bishop Obinim cautioned the actress never to go close to the pool after she was exorcised of the alleged marine spirit which according to Obinim, sought to destroy Benedictas life. However, few days after the session, actress Benedicta shared photographs of her time at the pool. The development got the showbiz fraternity asking if she did not trust Obinims prophecy. Benedicta revealed that he (Obinim) prayed for me and I believe everything was cancelled because honestly I love swimming and I cannot do without swimming. I am not afraid of the pool but maybe sea side, I dont know, but I love swimming. I believe God reveals to redeem. READ MORE: Ghanaians blast Juliet Ibrahim for going for a Nigerian boyfriend Benedicta Gafah, who has featured in more than one music video of Highlife artiste Bisa Kdei, claims that her relationship with the musicians is nothing beyond friendship. We are very close. We are very good friends, good friends supporting each other. Many people think that. Most times I get those questions, people can send me messages like hey you and Bisa whats up? But honestly, there is nothing going on. When asked if she felt attracted to Bisa, she said: No, not at all. You know Bisa used to be an editor so I have known him since his movie editing days. I like him as a good friend, as a brother and he likes me as a sister too. He always calls me his kid sister. Miss Gafah added that she is tired of the controversies surrounding her claiming she doubts many of the things she reads about herself. The family of the late musician announced this at the one-week celebration of the Highlife legend adding that the burial will be followed by the final funeral rites which will happen in Accra on the same day, Nkonkonsa.com reports. His one-week celebration which came off last Friday, August 4, at the Dansoman Keep Fit Grounds was graced by family, friends and musicians alike; some of whom performed at the event. READ MORE: Rapper Kwaw Kese talks smoking weed for 20 years Musician, Akosua Agyapong and Highlife great Nana Kwame Ampadu were amongst musicians who performed. The King Shabo Band backed the performances. Other musicians who showed up to show their support were A.B Crentsil, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Alhaji Sidiku Buari, Diana Hopeson, Della Hayes, Lady Talata, Bessa Simons and Rex Omar. A.B Crenstil, and Nana Kwame Ampadu paid glowing tributes and shared some fond memories of Paapa Yankson. The actress was previously married to Kwadwo Safo Jnr, son of Apostle Kwadwo Safo Snr, but their marriage ended on the rocks after just a year and half. Juliet Ibrahim has subsequently moved on and is now in a relationship with Nigerian rapper Iceberg Slim. TWEET On Monday the actress posted a series of tweets wishing her new found love all the best, as well as to celebrate their one year anniversary since getting into a relationship. Celebrity blogger Ameyaw Debrah exclusively reported the story on his website, ameyawdebrah.com, but it appears some Ghanaians were not too enthused about Juliet Ibrahims choice of boyfriend. TWEET And the matter was made even worse after Iceberg Slim also tweeted a picture which showed him grabbing the actress bum, claiming it was his birthday cake. The case was presided by Mr. Frank Addo Ashitey, who sentenced the culprit to one and half years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the charge. However, his accomplice, Stephen Baah was remanded after he denied committing the offense to be arraigned before the court again on Wednesday, August 9. Prosecuting, Detective Sergent Richard Ackumey told the court that the complainant, Mr. Francis Kaku, a small scale miner in Prestea noticed that he had been robbed of 20 full and half pieces of cloth all valued GHc 8,100.00. and GHc 1,500.00 cash in his room after work at about 9 pm. READ ALSO: Nana Addo pays respect to Major Mahama at site where he was killed Sergeant Richard proceeded that the complainant told his neighbors about the robbery if they had any knowledge of someone loitering around his house. According to the complainants report, Sylvester was seen around his house with a bag fully loaded with certain items. Afterward, the suspect was apprehended and detained as investigations were underway to ascertain the truth. Whilst the two were in police custody, the convict fell sick and he was sent to the Prestea Government Hospital. Detective Sgt Ackumey said when the convicts father visited him at the hospital, he pleaded with him to reveal every truth about the robbery. He said Armah admitted the offense and led the police and his father to the house of one Agatha Anokye, who was allegedly given 11 half pieces of cloth from the stolen items. READ ALSO: Tipper truck kills student of St Louis College of Education The Prosecution said another accused person also claimed that about two months ago, Armah gave her one full piece and four half pieces of cloth and she pledged to offer him GHc500 Ghana but settled on GHc 390. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Balmoral Resources Ltd. (TSX:BAR) ("Balmoral" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with PI Financial Corp. as lead agent on behalf of a syndicate of agents (collectively the Agents), pursuant to which the Agents have agreed to offer 4,225,000 national flow-through common shares of the Company (the National FT Shares) at a price of C$0.71 per National FT Share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$2,999,750 (the Offering). In addition, the Company will grant the Agents an option (the Over-allotment Option) to place up to an additional 633,750 National Flow-Through Shares (the Over-Allotment Shares and together with the Flow-Through Shares, the Offered Securities), exercisable in whole or in part, at any time prior to the Closing Date (as defined below). The gross proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company to continue exploration of its Detour Gold Trend Project and for the exploration of other gold properties held by the Company in Canada, such exploration work to constitute Canadian exploration expenses (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) with the expenses to be renounced for the 2017 taxation year. Closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or before August 29, 2017 (the Closing Date). Closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including the receipt of regulatory approvals, such as the acceptance of the Offering by the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Offered Securities will be subject to a four month hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada. In consideration of the Agents services, the Company has agreed to pay the Agents a cash commission of 5.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. The Offering is being made on a best efforts private placement basis to be offered for sale in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario and such other Canadian jurisdictions as the Company and the Agent may agree. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to the account or benefit of a U.S. person absent an exemption from the registration requirements of such Act. About Balmoral Resources Ltd. www.balmoralresources.com Balmoral is a well-funded, Canadian-based company actively delineating and expanding a series of gold deposits on its Martiniere Property located within the prolific Abitibi greenstone belts in Quebec, Canada. The Martiniere Property is just one of several large, highly prospective properties comprising the Companys wholly owned, 1,000 km2 Detour Gold Trend Project. Employing a drill focused exploration strategy in one of the worlds preeminent mining jurisdictions, Balmoral is following an established formula with a goal of maximizing shareholder value through discovery and definition of high-grade, Canadian gold and base metal assets. On behalf of the board of directors of BALMORAL RESOURCES LTD. Darin Wagner President and CEO For further information contact: John Foulkes, Vice-President, Corporate Development Tel: (604) 638-5815 / Toll Free: (877) 838-3664 E-mail: jfoulkes@balmoralresources.com This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements regarding the anticipated closing date and approval of the Offering by the Toronto Stock Exchange, the existing funding of the Company being sufficient to fund, the anticipated content, commencement, duration and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the timing of the receipt of assay results, and business and financing plans and trends, the potentially open nature of the mineralized zones on the property and the potential for future discoveries of additional mineralization on the property are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include those related to weather, equipment and staff availability; related to the existing funding of the Company being sufficient, performance of third parties; risks related to the exploration stage of the Companys projects; market fluctuations in prices for securities of exploration stage companies and in commodity prices; and uncertainties about the availability of additional financing; risks related to the Companys ability to identify one or more economic deposits on the properties, and variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located on the properties; risks related to the Companys ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities on the properties; and risks related to the Companys ability to produce minerals from the properties successfully or profitably. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. All of the Companys public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the latest technical reports filed with respect to the Companys mineral properties. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulatory Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For the owners and parents of the pupils of Obek Preparatory and Young Royals Academy Schools, the location of fuel station could cause damaging repercussions for both them and the close residents of the area. READ MORE: UG student wins 3rd place in ARSO Essay competition They complained that all their efforts to halt the construction of the station have proved futile. Therefore, the stakeholders have sent a petition to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) seeking for the immediate closure of the establishment. In the two-page petition copied to the chief of Manhean, Assembly member for Manhean Electoral Area, Municipal Chief Executive of Ga West Municipal Assembly and Council of Elders of Manhean, they expressed their grievance over the situation of the fuel station right in front of the two schools which is also close to residential facilities. They complained that the danger posed by the filling station under construction was not only limited to the pupils but more so, residents whose houses are close to it. READ ALSO: Mahama Ayariga threatens to sue universities over new fees hike They warned that the threat of the fuel station was not only limited to the immediate students of the school but the community at large. Maxwell Adam Mahama, an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, was lynched on Monday, May 29, 2017, by residents of Denkyira Obuasi on suspicion that he was an armed robber. A total of 60 suspects arrested in connection with the murder has since made an appearance at the Accra Central District Court. READ ALSO: Case adjourned as police hunt for 13 more suspects The town of Denkyira-Obuasi has since received condemnation from several people. But the president said in spite of the unfortunate incident, the government had not left them out of development initiatives as life must still go on. He was, however, not pleased with the fact that the killing of the army officer happened during his presidency. Ghana is a peaceful country and we should not do things that would bring the name of Ghana into disrepute. We are not like some other countries where after elections, we hear all sorts of bad news. So this should be the last time that such an incident should happen in this country, President Akufo-Addo said. Reports indicate that the incident happened on Monday August 7 at a market near the St Louis College of Education in Kumasi when the said student was in the process of withdrawing money from a mobile money vendor to pay her fees. READ MORE: Kotoko involved in fatal road accident at Nkawkaw An eye witness told Pulse.com.gh that efforts by an idle driver to halt the self-driven car proved futile. The car was parked at the top of the hill with no driver in it. All of a sudden it took off and one driver who was sitting around ran to steer it into the bushes. It dragged off a woman who sells her wares beside the road. A student of St Louis who had just been offered admission was also standing by the mobile money vendor waiting for some money she was cashing to go pay her fees and she was also killed, the eye witness narrated. According to him, the initiative will spur the economy and also aimed at making local contractors vibrant and highly competitive against their international counterparts. The initiative is part of efforts by the government to make local contractors globally competitive. He made this known at the Ghana Economic forum in Accra on Monday. Dr. Bawumia said "The whole mindset will need to be re-oriented in building a strong economy. "As far as governments contracts are concerned, we are making sure that at least 70 percent of taxpayer-funded contract are awarded to local entities and that will really help us in the Ghanaian ownership of the economy." The acting president of the council, Nana Agyei Nkyere II said the change of name is to give the town a whole new lease of life. The town of Denkyira-Obuasi received condemnation from several people following the unfortunate incident. READ ALSO: Denkyira Obuasi assemblyman denies killing major Mahama But speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people during a visit by President Akufo-Addo Monday, Nana Adjei said the people of Denkyira-Boasi have regretted their actions and hence must be given another chance. We have just ended our 3-day fasting and prayer session, where we asked God for forgiveness and so we believe the Lord has forgiven us. And we also want to ask Ghanaians to forgive us for everything. The people have regretted their actions and require another opportunity. I have met with my council and we have agreed to go back to our old name which is New Obuasi so henceforth we want the town to be called New Oboasi and not Denkyira Obuasi, he said. Meanwhile, the President who visited the scene of the crime said government will ensure that the law deals with people involved in the murder. Kwabena Agyemang was a victim of governments effort to combat galamsey in the country, shot by one of the over 400 armed police and military personnel deployed to various mineral mining areas while exploring for gold in Obuasi. According to the family, the deceased was the sole dependent for all their financial needs and his deliberate murder means that they have on one to depend on. They have therefore asked government to compensate them for their loss to help the family survive. We believe they did that because of the Denkyira Obuasi incident, the military are over reacting. They should also take care of all the expenses for the funeral. President Akufo-Addo should treat our brother the same way Major Mahama was treated else they will face our wrath, a member of the family told journalists. Major Gariba Pabi, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Operation Vanguard, the team deployed by the government to end the reign of illegal mining in the country said, Weare in the Ashanti regiontocarry out His ExcellencyPresidentAkufo-Addos initiative against galamsey. Today, our personnel from Ashanti region on patrols around Wawase area chanced upon galamseyers who threw stones at them and fired gunshots. He further explained that in defense against the hostility of the illegal miners, they were forced to fire warning shots to scarce them away. It was not after they had scattered them and searched the area that they found a wounded man. Mr Samson Lardy Anyenini of A-partners@Law in the said letter said that the suspension of his client is in violation of the partys constitution and hence the party must rescind the decision. READ ALSO: Atik Mohammed suspended He was charged with bringing the party's name into disrepute. He was also accused of criticising the partys 2016 flagbearer, Dr Edward Mahama. But Atiks lawyer in the letter to the PNC dated Tuesday August 8, stated that: We hold the instruction of the lawfully elected and constitutionally recognised General Secretary of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed to reply your letter of 24th July 2017 on the above subject matter. We start by stating categorically that the decision by a few members of the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) to indulge in the action purporting to suspend our client was/is completely alien to the PNC Constitution and due process of the law generally. READ ALSO: Atik Mohammed fights suspension The purported actions were/are absolutely not in compliance with the PNC constitution and due process. A statement by the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid said the decision over who is best fit to lead the East African country is a reserve of Kenyans. We wish to make it clear that Government of Ghana has no interest whatsoever in who emerges winner in Tuesdays poll, the statement read. Peter Mac Manu, leading a team of Democratic Union of Africa International Observers to Kenyas elections, was denied entry into the country. The government of Ghana has since denied claims that it intended compromising the polls, saying that Mr Mac Manu was in Kenya in his own accord, and not on behalf of the State. The Ghanaian Constitution guarantees every citizen of Ghana the freedom to participate in political activity inside or outside of the country, within the laws of Ghana and wherever they find themselves, the Information Minister said in the statement. READ ALSO: NPP blasts Kenya government over Mac Manu saga According to Ms Sawyerr, Mr Amidus pomposity, over-bloated ego and sense of self-importance constitute his Achilles heel, and those attributes caused him his job in the John Atta Mills-led government in 2012. and what is Comrade Martin Amidu also babbling about? Martin, did I not tell you that your pomposity, over-bloated ego and sense of self-importance constitute your Achilles heel? Remember, when I told you (years ago) after a presidential press conference, that a directive had been issued that no appointee should grant a press interview in order to avoid any contradictory statements on air and you screeched who are you small girl like you where were you when I was Attorney General etc etc? Remember I told you that it is your Achilles heel that would destroy you? Barely a week or so after that, you were relieved of your post as Attorney-General after attempting to assault a sitting Head of State? Since then you have become a so-called crusader, sinking lower and lower in the NDC as you seem to rise higher and higher in the NPP. I am not a soothsayer, neither am I a harbinger of gloom and doom but once again I say to you this time with a nation full of witnesses that your Achilles heel will destroy you!" Ms Sawyerr wrote in her latest epistle. She further dared Mr Amidu to resign from the NDC since he no longer promotes the cause of the party. Respectfully Martin, cut the crap! You have achieved your aim the NDC is in Opposition. I challenge you to resign from the NDC since you no longer promote the cause of the NDC. Or do you also subscribe to the agenda to destroy to take over? The agenda that is based on the premise that it is easier to take over the NDC when it is in Opposition!, Ms Sawyerr wrote. Below is her full article: They say he booms I say he buzzes like an agitated mosquito looking for his next victim. Again, he heads for other Heads of State describing their governance as riddled with corruption. Is he trying to say that his reign was unblemished or that his twin brothers (President Akufo-Addo) reign is unsullied? Really? Who born dog in fact who born monkey? I could go on and on JJ oooo JJ the great Papa JJ the one and only Junior Jesus the great saint who never does wrong you are still flogging a dead horse the NDC is in Opposition in case you have not noticed, while a living raging bull is moving around with reckless abandon destroying everything it finds in its path including the assets and citizens of this nation. but I guess you really cant see it or you are waiting for it to raise its tusks in avenging rage to gore your eyes out. I hope when the tusks are raised, the bond or pact you have made with the brass band conducting President will be strong enough to cause the tusks to be lowered before they pierce your eyes that see only what you want to see in line with whatever agenda you deem fit. By the way, did you see the President conducting the brass band? Was that the police band or army band? Was it in Ghana or overseas? Ei, Mr. President, what was that? Papa Stone, I hear you saidWhen I talk they say I dont like NDC, no! I dont like stealing, I dont like disgrace so if NDC does good I will praise them if they are bad I will say it as well. Who has said you dont like the NDC? Are you setting your own questions and answering them please? Nobody has said you do not like the NDC. Stop putting words in our mouths. Indeed, some think you crave for the NDC so much that you are prepared to destroy anyone and anything in the NDC if that will suit your agenda to always be in control of the NDC. but I dont blame you Papa J I blame the NDC after you taught us probity, accountability and transparency, why cant we rise to demand same of you? After you taught us to be fearless in upholding the truth, why dont we rise to demand same of you? When you twist and manipulate us, why dont our leaders ask you why you are breaching your own so-called rules? With all due respect, have you named those you KNOW to be involved in corruption? Maybe they will explain to you that the Head of State put the money in a bag and placed it on the plane and that it was used for the good of the country the same way the US$5m (oops US$2m) was placed in a briefcase and put on the plane and was used for the good of the country. Maybe they will explain to you that the luxury car you see in their yard was given to them as a gift by unnamed friends the same way the black convertible Chevy Coupe sports car was given by unnamed friends as a birthday gift. You never know what their explanations would be. It is therefore important thatyou name them and allow them to have a hearing in line with the rules of naturaljustice. NDC, where are our men and women? NDC where are our leaders? I challenge you to rise and speak the truth unblemished and fearlessly!!! The truth can be told by all no man or woman is the sole repository of truth! and what is Comrade Martin Amidu also babbling about? Martin, did I not tell you that your pomposity, over-bloated ego and sense of self-importance constitute your Achilles heel? Remember, when I told you (years ago) after a presidential press conference, that a directive had been issued that no appointee should grant a press interview in order to avoid any contradictory statements on air and you screeched who are you small girl like you where were you when I was Attorney General etc etc? Remember I told you that it is your Achilles heel that would destroy you? Barely a week or so after that, you were relieved of your post as Attorney-General after attempting to assault a sitting Head of State? Since then you have become a so-called crusader, sinking lower and lower in the NDC as you seem to rise higher and higher in the NPP. I am not a soothsayer, neither am I a harbinger of gloom and doom but once again I say to you this time with a nation full of witnesses that your Achilles heel will destroy you! Respectfully Martin, cut the crap! You have achieved your aim the NDC is in Opposition. I challenge you to resign from the NDC since you no longer promote the cause of the NDC. Or do you also subscribe to the agenda to destroy to take over? The agenda that is based on the premise that it is easier to take over the NDC when it is in Opposition! Hahahahaha!!! I am waiting for the surrogate groups that will spring up suddenly like jacks in the box (I understand the plural is either jack in the boxes or jacks in the box) to lambast me and everyone or everything that is connected with me the modus operandus is always the same I am waiting for the NDC men and women who will suddenly find their voices and go on air and call me unprintable names the modus operandus is always the same I am waiting for the NDC leadership who will summon me because all of a sudden they have found their disciplinary tongues having been whipped in line by bullies who seek to terrorise those around them the modus operandus is always the same Buzz buzzzzz buzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Papa J, what happened to the anti-malaria crusade you were supposed to have embarked on after you left office? We have not heard much about it. Did you not find enough minions to work on it for you to ensure that you could take the glory? Is it true that you fell out with a majority of those who worked diligently for you at different stages of your journey the Ahwois, the Tsikatas, the Peprahs, the Abodakpis, the PV Obengs (blessed memory), the Sherry Ayiteys, the Kwesi Botchweys, the Martha Tamakloes, the Sipa Yankeys, the Ibrahim Adams, the Mould Iddrisus, the Herbert Mensahs and a whole host of others? I guess the anti-malaria crusade was too calm a crusade for you. Then with all due respect, please look for something more exciting The galamsey problem is still in existence despite the fact that the Government is trying to pretend that it has gone away. I am sure you are needed in places like Denkyira Obuasi to help clamp down on the menace. This will help your twin brother President Akufo-Addo fulfill his anti-galamsey promise. Even though he did promise the galamseyers before the 2016 elections that he would leave them to ply their trade. Hmmm confusion here, there and everywhere! The army worms have destroyed a lot of our crops, signaling some level of food shortage in the country in the not too distant future. Under better regimes, the Ministry of Defence and the army were brought in quickly to deal with the problem anytime the worms reared their heads. This Government was busy doing paperwork to request millions of Cedis to enable them bring the situation under control. Then, finally, the amazingly incompetent Minister for Agriculture lied to the people of Ghana, telling us that the worms had been eradicated when it was not true. He should keep on lying till he wakes up one day to find the worms crawling in his hair but I guess the dye is strong enough to kill them oops! I promised Kwesi Botchway that I would behave myself hehehe after 50 years, most of us women are dying our hair anyway, so why not the men? President Akufo-Addo where are your men and women? Do not be deceived by JJs recent rantings that seem to favour your cause. Your Government in seven months is reeking of corruption. Rise up and do something about it instead of waving that baton with that uninspiring look on your face to the left, up and down to the right, up and down! A man is only as good as his word! and for your information, the primary responsibilities of a conductor is to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble, and to control the interpretation and pacing of the music (Wikipedia). With all due respect, is that what you were doing in the conducting video I saw? Is that what you are doing in governance today? Years ago, we used to have some kind of insect spraying equipment that looked like a pump it had a can which contained the insecticide and a long arm for pumping the insecticide towards the target. Nowadays, we have a simple tall can with a spray nozzle at the top. Maybe it is time to stop the gentle puffs with the modern cans and find one of the old bazookas! The buzzing sound still continues I am going back into hibernation what I choose to call Peaceful Opposition! but before I leave Mr. President, is it true that Peter Mac Manu (former NPP Chairman) was deported from Kenya where he was going to consult for the National Super Alliance (Nasa), Kenyas Opposition Coalition, on control of electoral data? hmmm! He said his 7 month old government is already fulfilling the promises and commitments made to the Ghanaian people despite the economic mess inherited by his administration. According to him, "when we came into office, we were met with huge debts and no money. It is for this reason that we put in place the appropriate measures to strengthen our monetary system, so the development we promised the people can be met." President Akufo-Addo made this known on Monday, August 8, 2017 in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai, at the commencement of his 3-day tour of the Western Region. He noted that the Asempa budget read in Parliament by the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, in March, has ensured that the countrys finances have been placed on a solid footing, and are gaining strength to ensure the fulfilment of his governments promises. READ MORE: Legal practitioner drags Chief Justice to court over petition against EC boss He added that the Free SHS policy will commence in September 2017, made possible by the sound economic policies his government has put in place. "I have been bastardised by several persons who claim the Free SHS policy is a misplaced priority, a lie, and cannot be done. The Free SHS policy, I wish to assure them, will start from September. The first students in the history of our country who are going to benefit from the Free SHS will be doing so as from September this year," he said. Speaking on the cocoa sector, President Akufo-Addo noted that the policies and programmes instituted by former President John Agyekum Kufuor ensured that the cocoa production hit 1 million tonnes in 2010/2011. However, cocoa production has since declined, with the 2015/2016 crop season recording a production of 778,000 metric tonnes. From court-packing solidarity events to activist training, here's our roundup of some of the most notable opportunities for activism in NYC this week. As always, feel free to leave anything we've missed in the comments. TransAlt's Activist Training: How to Overcome Campaign Hurdles Transportation Alternativesan advocacy group for cyclists, pedestrians, and public transitwill host this training session for activists of all stripes hoping to learn how to overcome campaign hurdles. "Whether youre advocating for safer streets, food justice, environmental justice, or equitable housing and civil rights, the organizing skills that weve worked on developing in our Your City Your Voice Activist Training series can help you win real change in your neighborhood," Trans Alt's event description promises. This training will take place at TransAlt's downtown office space, and attendees are asked to RSVP here. If you can't make it, the group will host several other activist trainings later in the month, including a 101 workshop and a more advanced session on cultivating leadership. Tuesday, August 8th, 6:30 - 8 p.m. // 111 John Street, Suite 260, Manhattan Shut Down Goldman Sachs Pipeline Conference Several grassroots environmental groups will band together to protest an upcoming private conference between Goldman Sachs and pipeline and fossil fuel corporations. According to the event description, the focus of the protest "will be to tell Goldman Sachs to stop financing oil, gas, coal, and pipelines and expose the banks control over Trump and the federal government." Those interested in attending are encouraged to meet outside the Goldman headquarters in the financial district at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. Thursday, August 10th, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. // 200 West Street, Manhattan Pack the Court! Support Transit Worker Arrested on False Charges Darryl Goodwin, the MTA clerk who was arrested for allegedly refusing to open a subway gate for a cop chasing a suspect, will appear in court for the second time on Thursday, and activists and supporters plan to show up en masse to register their objections to his arrest. Goodwin faces charges of obstruction of governmental justice, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrestcharges that are "absurd" according to the NYC Workers Defense Committee, "because all NYPD members are equipped with MetroCards that give them unlimited subway access." Those who can't make it can support a fundraising campaign and learn more about the case here. Thursday, August 10th, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. // 100 Centre Street, Manhattan Justice 4 Pedro Rally The case of Pedro Hernadez, a 17-year-old who was arrested in connection with a 2015 shooting outside a Bronx grocery store, has drawn renewed media attention since Daily News columnist Shawn King referred to him as "Riker's Island new Khalief Browder." Though Hernandez is now set to be releasedthanks to the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights group, which announced last week that they'd be posting his $100,000 bailcriminal justice advocates still want to see the charges against him dropped. Those supporters will rally outside the Bronx District Attorney's Office on Thursday morning to demand justice for the Bronx teenager. Thursday, August 10th, 11 a.m. // Bronx District Attorney's Office, 198 E 161st Street, Bronx Remembering Michael Brown August 9th marks the third anniversary of a white police officer shooting teenager Michael Brown, kicking off nationwide protests that helped catalyze the nascent Black Lives Matter Movement. On Saturday, activist group Black Elevation will commemorate the occasion with a rally and memorial at Union Square Park. Organizations, activists, community leaders and artists who want to be involved are encouraged to sign up here. Saturday, August 12th, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. // Union Square In an epistle addressed to the NDC founder, Ms Sawyer believes Rawlings would be better of going to Denkyira-Obuasi to fight the illegal mining menace in the area. The galamsey problem is still in existence despite the fact that the Government is trying to pretend that it has gone away. I am sure you are needed in places like Denkyira Obuasi to help clamp down on the menace. This will help your twin brother President Akufo-Addo fulfill his anti-galamsey promise. Even though he did promise the galamseyers before the 2016 elections that he would leave them to ply their trade. Hmmm confusion here, there and everywhere!,"she wrote. READ ALSO: Valerie responds to faceless NDC attackers Ms Sawyerr also heavily descended on the former Attorney General Martin Amidu, asking him to stop the unnecessary attacks on members of the opposition National Democratic Congress. She dared him to resign from the NDC if he is dissatisfied. Below is the full letter from Valerie Sawyerr They say he booms I say he buzzes like an agitated mosquito looking for his next victim. Again, he heads for other Heads of State describing their governance as riddled with corruption. Is he trying to say that his reign was unblemished or that his twin brothers (President Akufo-Addo) reign is unsullied? Really? Who born dog in fact who born monkey? I could go on and on JJ oooo JJ the great Papa JJ the one and only Junior Jesus the great saint who never does wrong you are still flogging a dead horse the NDC is in Opposition in case you have not noticed, while a living raging bull is moving around with reckless abandon destroying everything it finds in its path including the assets and citizens of this nation. but I guess you really cant see it or you are waiting for it to raise its tusks in avenging rage to gore your eyes out. I hope when the tusks are raised, the bond or pact you have made with the brass band conducting President will be strong enough to cause the tusks to be lowered before they pierce your eyes that see only what you want to see in line with whatever agenda you deem fit. By the way, did you see the President conducting the brass band? Was that the police band or army band? Was it in Ghana or overseas? Ei, Mr. President, what was that? Papa Stone, I hear you saidWhen I talk they say I dont like NDC, no! I dont like stealing, I dont like disgrace so if NDC does good I will praise them if they are bad I will say it as well. Who has said you dont like the NDC? Are you setting your own questions and answering them please? Nobody has said you do not like the NDC. Stop putting words in our mouths. Indeed, some think you crave for the NDC so much that you are prepared to destroy anyone and anything in the NDC if that will suit your agenda to always be in control of the NDC. but I dont blame you Papa J I blame the NDC after you taught us probity, accountability and transparency, why cant we rise to demand same of you? After you taught us to be fearless in upholding the truth, why dont we rise to demand same of you? When you twist and manipulate us, why dont our leaders ask you why you are breaching your own so-called rules? With all due respect, have you named those you KNOW to be involved in corruption? Maybe they will explain to you that the Head of State put the money in a bag and placed it on the plane and that it was used for the good of the country the same way the US$5m (oops US$2m) was placed in a briefcase and put on the plane and was used for the good of the country. Maybe they will explain to you that the luxury car you see in their yard was given to them as a gift by unnamed friends the same way the black convertible Chevy Coupe sports car was given by unnamed friends as a birthday gift. You never know what their explanations would be. It is therefore important thatyou name them and allow them to have a hearing in line with the rules of naturaljustice. NDC, where are our men and women? NDC where are our leaders? I challenge you to rise and speak the truth unblemished and fearlessly!!! The truth can be told by all no man or woman is the sole repository of truth! and what is Comrade Martin Amidu also babbling about? Martin, did I not tell you that your pomposity, over-bloated ego and sense of self-importance constitute your Achilles heel? Remember, when I told you (years ago) after a presidential press conference, that a directive had been issued that no appointee should grant a press interview in order to avoid any contradictory statements on air and you screeched who are you small girl like you where were you when I was Attorney General etc etc? Remember I told you that it is your Achilles heel that would destroy you? Barely a week or so after that, you were relieved of your post as Attorney-General after attempting to assault a sitting Head of State? Since then you have become a so-called crusader, sinking lower and lower in the NDC as you seem to rise higher and higher in the NPP. I am not a soothsayer, neither am I a harbinger of gloom and doom but once again I say to you this time with a nation full of witnesses that your Achilles heel will destroy you! Respectfully Martin, cut the crap! You have achieved your aim the NDC is in Opposition. I challenge you to resign from the NDC since you no longer promote the cause of the NDC. Or do you also subscribe to the agenda to destroy to take over? The agenda that is based on the premise that it is easier to take over the NDC when it is in Opposition! Hahahahaha!!! I am waiting for the surrogate groups that will spring up suddenly like jacks in the box (I understand the plural is either jack in the boxes or jacks in the box) to lambast me and everyone or everything that is connected with me the modus operandus is always the same I am waiting for the NDC men and women who will suddenly find their voices and go on air and call me unprintable names the modus operandus is always the same I am waiting for the NDC leadership who will summon me because all of a sudden they have found their disciplinary tongues having been whipped in line by bullies who seek to terrorise those around them the modus operandus is always the same Buzz buzzzzz buzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Papa J, what happened to the anti-malaria crusade you were supposed to have embarked on after you left office? We have not heard much about it. Did you not find enough minions to work on it for you to ensure that you could take the glory? Is it true that you fell out with a majority of those who worked diligently for you at different stages of your journey the Ahwois, the Tsikatas, the Peprahs, the Abodakpis, the PV Obengs (blessed memory), the Sherry Ayiteys, the Kwesi Botchweys, the Martha Tamakloes, the Sipa Yankeys, the Ibrahim Adams, the Mould Iddrisus, the Herbert Mensahs and a whole host of others? I guess the anti-malaria crusade was too calm a crusade for you. Then with all due respect, please look for something more exciting The galamsey problem is still in existence despite the fact that the Government is trying to pretend that it has gone away. I am sure you are needed in places like Denkyira Obuasi to help clamp down on the menace. This will help your twin brother President Akufo-Addo fulfill his anti-galamsey promise. Even though he did promise the galamseyers before the 2016 elections that he would leave them to ply their trade. Hmmm confusion here, there and everywhere! The army worms have destroyed a lot of our crops, signaling some level of food shortage in the country in the not too distant future. Under better regimes, the Ministry of Defence and the army were brought in quickly to deal with the problem anytime the worms reared their heads. This Government was busy doing paperwork to request millions of Cedis to enable them bring the situation under control. Then, finally, the amazingly incompetent Minister for Agriculture lied to the people of Ghana, telling us that the worms had been eradicated when it was not true. He should keep on lying till he wakes up one day to find the worms crawling in his hair but I guess the dye is strong enough to kill them oops! I promised Kwesi Botchway that I would behave myself hehehe after 50 years, most of us women are dying our hair anyway, so why not the men? President Akufo-Addo where are your men and women? Do not be deceived by JJs recent rantings that seem to favour your cause. Your Government in seven months is reeking of corruption. Rise up and do something about it instead of waving that baton with that uninspiring look on your face to the left, up and down to the right, up and down! A man is only as good as his word! and for your information, the primary responsibilities of a conductor is to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble, and to control the interpretation and pacing of the music (Wikipedia). With all due respect, is that what you were doing in the conducting video I saw? Is that what you are doing in governance today? Years ago, we used to have some kind of insect spraying equipment that looked like a pump it had a can which contained the insecticide and a long arm for pumping the insecticide towards the target. Nowadays, we have a simple tall can with a spray nozzle at the top. Maybe it is time to stop the gentle puffs with the modern cans and find one of the old bazookas! The buzzing sound still continues I am going back into hibernation what I choose to call Peaceful Opposition! but before I leave Mr. President, is it true that Peter Mac Manu (former NPP Chairman) was deported from Kenya where he was going to consult for the National Super Alliance (Nasa), Kenyas Opposition Coalition, on control of electoral data? hmmm! The influential magazine, Forbes, showed on August 8, 2017 that Dangotes wealth has appreciated by $2 billion from $12.2 billion as at March 20, 2017. Thus pushing him up from 105 to 93 richest man in the world. Though, the African richest man loses about 0.4% ($5.2 million) to profits taking on its companies' shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Aliko Dangote is the founder and chairman of the Dangote Industries Limited. He has diverse investments in sugar, cement, flour and beverage among others across Africa. Dangote sold 416 million shares (2.3%) of its cement subsidiaries to a foreign investor for $236 million in July 2017. This is one of the reasons noted for increasing in his wealth and Forbes ranking. Dangote Cement is the most capitalized stock on the NSE. Its stock value is one-third of the market's total capitalization. Some of these projects are currently under-construction and poised to shape the future of their respective countries and Africa. The list is below. The Eko Atlantic City Lagos, Nigeria Eko Atlantic city is being built on a reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean. The city is next to Victoria Island, Lagos the biggest and fastest growing city in West Africa. The city is to become the new financial epicentre of West Africa by 2020. Eko Atlantic city is of the size of the Manhattan district of New York City and planned to be Africas first modern smart city. The development of the 10 million square metres of land is being financed by South Energyx Nigeria Limited. The reclamation and construction of the city begin in 2010, and the first residential pearl towers are expected to be completed by 2017. New Cairo Capital Cairo, Egypt The New Cairo Capital is an estate development at the East of downtown Cairo. The project is a 270-square-mile hub with 21 new residential districts enough housing for five million people. The project cost is estimated at $45 billion and is being financed by the China Fortune Land Development Company. New Cairo Capital is to feature 1250 religious centres, 2000 schools and colleges, 600 medical facilities and world largest park. The construction begins in 2015 and expected to be completed by 2022. The King City Western Region, Ghana The King City project is a 2500 acres commercial cum residential land development in Western Region of Ghana. The project is estimated at $600 million and it is being financed by the Renaissance Group. The discovery of major oil fields just 60km offshore of Takoradi is transforming the region into a new metropolis. Hence, this project to meet the housing and facilities needs from the boom in the mining and energy sector boom in the region. The King city project is planned to change the holistic lifestyle of people in the region. 80,000 residents are expected to be able to live, work and play in one geographical location. The project commenced in 2015 and expected to be completed by 2022. The Tatu City Nairobi Kenya The Tatu city project is another massive development that aimed at decentralizing Kenyas urban centre to the north of Nairobi. Tatu city would be sited on 1,035 hectares of land, 25 kilometres from the capital, Nairobi. 77,000 residents, alongside mixed-use for schools, commercial activities and a manufacturing complex, are planned to live in the city. Schools and businesses are already operational in the Tatu city. The project is estimated to $337 million and financed by the Rendeavour Group. The project commenced in 2013 and expected to be completed by 2022. The Kpone-Appolonia City Accra, Ghana The Kpone-Appolonia city is a 2300 acres mixed-use land development outskirt of Accra. Just like the Tatu city of Nairobi, it is expected to shift/ease commercial activities in the capital city, Accra. The project is also christened the city of Light, and it is being financed the Rendeavour Group. The estimated cost of the project is $600 million. The project is expected to be completed in 2022. An image of Putin was emblazoned on a wall above the hotel's signage. It showed Putin standing in front of a Russian flag and giving a thumbs-up with the phrases, "HAPPY TO HELP, BRO," "FOLLOW THE MONEY," and "LAUNDERING SERVICES AVAILABLE" projected onto the building. Actors wearing military-like uniforms appeared to be standing at attention in front of the hotel. One of them was holding a Russian flag. The display happened nearly a week after it was announced that special counsel Robert Mueller impaneled a grand jury in the FBI's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election and its possible ties to the Trump campaign. In May, the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. was defaced with a similarly styled projection, with the words "PAY TRUMP BRIBES HERE" and "EMOLUMENTS WELCOME" an apparent reference to the emoluments clause that became a point of contention amid arguments about Trump's financial conflicts of interest during the early days of his presidency. Igor Volsky, deputy director of Cap Action, said on Twitter that Robin Bell, a video journalist based in Washington, D.C., was responsible for the display. Stretching back to 1953, the average number of laws presidents signed in their first 200 days was 111, according to an analysis from legislative database GovTrack. That's mostly because former Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy signed an enormous amount of legislation in their second 100 days. GovTrack Founder Josh Tauberer said "a lot has changed" since Trump's 100-day mark, when the president had signed 29 bills into law. Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, by comparison, respectively signed 14, seven, and 22 laws in their first 100 days. "Most presidents have signed more legislation than Trump by this [200-day] point," Tauberer told Business Insider. "Trump signed some large legislation, including an early appropriations bill, significantly bringing up his page count." Tauberer found the total number of laws signed and total number of pages those bills were from Trump all the way back to Ike. He excluded Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Gerald Ford because their first 200 days weren't normal (Johnson took office after Kennedy was shot, and Ford became president after President Richard Nixon resigned). Here's what he found: 100 days, 200 days Franklin D. Roosevelt is the reason people focus on a president's first 100 days. Signing a dizzying number of laws and executive orders that made up the monstrous New Deal, FDR got more done in his first 100 days in office than any president before him or any since. Part of the reason was because he took office in the depths of the Great Depression, and used his "honeymoon period" with Congress to stabilize the economy. Of course, presidents don't have total control over their time in office. "It helps to keep in mind that neither Trump nor Obama wrote the laws they signed," Tauberer told Business Insider at the 100-day mark. "They can only sign the bills that Congress gives them, and although presidents like to take lots of credit, they actually have an insignificant role in the passage of most of them." Notably, Trump couldn't sign a bill repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, because Congress couldn't pass one for him to sign in his first 200 days. But the overall number of bills signed into law is just part of the story. The vast differences between the number of pages or words those bills contained start to reveal what types of laws they were and what effects they ultimately had. Tauberer explained that, generally speaking, bills with more words usually create government programs, while those with fewer are often rolling back regulations or programs. Obama's stimulus package to keep the government funded had 358,113, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act had 294,307. This is coming on the heels of the quit notice issued to Igbos by the coalition of Northern youths. Agu condemned the call, saying that if Igbos leave the North, the Hausas will go hungry. The actor also criticised the continued harassment of farmers by Fulani herdsmen. He criticised President Muhammadu Buahri for not doing anything to curb the action of the cattle rearers. According to BN, Agu said You the northerners, where were you when Igbos were building hotels and different things. Where were you, people? You people were asleep, busy eating money gotten from Niger Delta and you have the mouth to say Igbo should leave, if it is done that way, Hunger will kill you people. If you want to know who you are oppressing, compare us to the Israelites. We are the people of God. Pharaoh was begged to leave the Israelites to go, Pharaoh refused, what happened later? There are insinuations that the Anambra church killing was allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen. The desecration of God's house by the mindless attackers have left Nigerians with so much anger with many wondering what they had in mind and the audacity and temerity they had in carrying out such a senseless massacre. The massacre has shown that we have completely thrown away respect or lives and the sanctity of humanity. It is quite unbelievable that gunmen can go into a church and kill people who were praying to their God. According to information making the rounds, the attack was a result of a war between rival drug barons over a business gone sour in South Africa. Though, the story is far from being concerned, many things beg for answers. In truth, there is no justification or rationale for taking a private war to God's house and killing innocent people who were just worshipping their God. No matter what the rivals had, they should have battled it out without involving innocent lives and throwing their families into mourning. Another rumour that came after the attack was that the church was built and donated to the Nnewi Catholic Diocese by a suspected drug baron who had defrauded his business partners and fled South Africa with the loot back to Nigeria. There have been so many stories surrounding the man in question identified as High Chief Aloy Ikegwuonu also known as Bishop, who is said to be a philanthropist and has been doling out money to the church. The question that comes to mind is whether collecting the monies and taking donation from Bishop if the church had done a background check on him or bothered to find out the source of his money and wealth. Also, did his community and the people of his domain care to find out how he made his money before he was given chieftaincy titles? It also goes to show how we place too much emphasis on money and its acquisition without caring to find out how such money is made. If the story about Bishop is true, it is a true reflection of who we really are, where money and wealth are celebrated and the youths would do anything to make money including drug trafficking, kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices. It has also laid us bare in the eyes of the world especially South Africans who have continued to label Nigerians who are resident in their country as drug traffickers, armed robbers, and fraudsters. The Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians stem from this mistrust where the average Nigerian is not trusted because they are all seen as criminals, a clear case of one finger with palm oil soiling the rest of the fingers. The massacre is also a pointer to the failure of the government and the various security agencies in the country and calls for a revamping of the security system. It is also a systemic failure beginning from the home, society and the religious organizations. Most parents place so much weight on their children and anyone who fails to meet up to his peers is seen as a failure. The pressure then makes them go all out to get money so that they will gain the respect of their family and society. While we pray for the souls of the departed to find peace in God's bosom and wish the families fortitude at this time, it is also imperative to implore the police to be up and doing in making sure the perpetrators of that dastardly act are arrested and prosecuted. It will not just be enough to give out statements that they have been arrested but painstaking investigations must be carried out and seen to be done. The Anambra State Government should also make sure compensation are paid to the families of the victims as well as taking up the medical bills of those injured. Usher in autumn and the return of sweater weather with a big taco and tequila party taking place in Williamsburg on September 23rd and 24th, days two and three of the new season. The Taco Takeover promises tasty tacos from a dozen local restaurants, tequila and tequila-based cocktails, and even a guac bar for VIP tickets, which are only $69 (nice) compared with $55 GA. The Well Brooklyn in East Williamsburg plays host for the New York City version of the Fest. Empanada Papa, Mexico Lindo, Oaxaca Taco and El Luchador are four of the confirmed food vendors, who will be serving tons of tacos plus elote, boozy paletas, and churros. The alcohol component of the Fest includes tequila samples, margaritas, micheladas and beer. Both food and alcohol are unlimited for the duration of the two and a half hour entry time (three hours for VIP). The Taco Takeover will take place September 23rd and 24th at The Well Brooklyn (272 Meserole Street). There are five sessions spread out over the two days. The event is a multi-stakeholder meeting now in its 6th year, organised by young Nigerian, Bekeme Masade, along with other passionate youth in her employ, who believe that ethical management of our resources will yield great benefit for all stakeholders resulting in reduced conflict and equitable division of resources regardless of creed or stature. A major highlight of the 2-day event was the attendance of the two most senior officers for the industries, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, and the Honourable Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi; both delivering key insights into the ministries plans for the oil & gas and the mineral sectors, respectively. The multi-stakeholder event enjoyed active support from industry partners Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (FMPR), Federal Ministry of Mines & Steel Development (FMMSD), Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Zenera Consulting; and notable sponsors Aiteo, Ford Foundation, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Petrolex Oil & Gas, Access Bank and Lafarge Africa Plc. Some of the victims are being identified with one of them being a very pretty young lady whose name has been given as Uchenna by her friends who took to social media to lament her sad demise. A Facebook user, Chukwuka Gabros who described the late Uchenna as a very close friend, she was one of the first persons who was shot as she sat close to the front pews where the attacker started shooting from. Other friends of the deceased have not been able to come to terms with her sudden death and have been praying for the repose of her soul while also praying that the killers be caught and made to face the full wrath of the law. Read what some of them wrote: "Really short of words. I pray their souls rest in peace especially #Uchenna my own person. I weep so much for my people. Farewell, my friend. May your killers never go unpunished." where do you think you are going na? Please, can you come back? We the new Jerusalem guys still need you. We can't lose two members of Jerusalem just like that but God knows the best. We all love you. R.I.P." May her soul rest with the Lord while hoping that her killers would soon be arrested and brought to book. According to her, President Buhari is a private citizen and no one has any right to want to know what is wrong with him or whether he is coming back to the country anytime soon. Hear her: For the life of me, I have no idea why anybody should disrespect another by asking for the details of their health status. As we speak, we have an acting president. As we speak, President Buhari seems to be like a private citizen at the moment. We have no right and it is very disrespectful for anyone to ask for his health status. In the UK where I came from, nobody would release anybodys health record to another, not even the members of their family unless the person decides to approve. The prerogative to speak on his ailment lies only on President Buhari. If he chooses, it is a choice. It is very disrespectful and very intrusive. We are intruding into his private rights. He has rights too as a citizen of Nigeria. It is not right, not appropriate. Anybody can get sick at any particular time. Expressing his dismay and disbelief over what he called the mindless barbarism that took place at the church on Sunday, August 6, 2017, Obi said such an act is alien to the Igbo people and must be condemned by all men of good will. Obi, in a statement released by his media office, noted that Igbo people are known for their respect for the sacredness of human life and advised that they must not allow the culture of violence and mindless killing among them. The former Governor condoled the immediate families of the deceased, the Ozubulu community, the Catholic Church and the entire Anambra State, describing the act as the highest exemplification of barbarism. Obi, who said he received the news with shock while he was in Lagos for a speaking engagement, assured Ozubulu community and the Catholic Church of his solidarity with them at this period of intense grief. He revealed that though, not being available in the state at the time the dastardly act took place, he is abreast of developments in connection with the tragedy, having asked his former Commissioner, Dr. Patrick Obi, to visit the scene and report to him accordingly. Reports say sources on the First Ladys entourage disclosed she left Nigeria on Sunday, August 6, 2017. Buhari went to London on May 7, 2017 to receive treatment for an undisclosed illness. From all indications, the President is recuperating, as he has played host to several visitors in his London residence. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently paid Buhari a courtesy visit, where the duo discussed extensively on issues affecting Nigeria. Meanwhile, protesters have taken to the streets in Abuja to call for the Presidents resignation. Buhari has been out of the country for over 90 days as a result of his illness. The Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr. Maikanti Baru said this at the inauguration of the members of the corporations re-constituted anti corruption committee in Abuja. He said : In the upstream, we have also been making strides in the stability and security in the Niger-Delta and production is coming back steadily. At one point, we have reached the level of almost 2.35 million barrels per day, including condensates, which accounts for about 400,000 barrels per day." Baru said it was cherry that petroleum products supply in the country was being sustained. He attributed the steady supply to conscious plan by the management, with support from staff and other stakeholders in the industry. I want to thank each member of staff and our clients involved in the supplies of petroleum products and other services in the country, for sustaining the supply of petroleum products across the country; the status quo has been restored. We are in the period of ease, it is not too long ago in December, January and February, when NNPC was a sole importer of petroleum products in this country with the challenges associated with distribution and the caped price of N145 to a liter of petrol. We got some ease when the international price went down and the importers decided to come back to import because they can make some margin; they have raised the importation level to about 30 per. He said it was important to keep the stability of the supply of petroleum products ongoing. The NNPC GMD also said the corporation was committed to exiting the cash call, noting that the Federal Government had provided the required support. As you are aware, we have committed to exiting the cash calls process and government has been very supportive and they have given us all approval and endorsement in that direction, particularly the economic council and the entire three tiers of government have endorsed this project, and we have started the implementation. He said that the four Joint Venture Projects NNPC signed with its JV partners would result into incremental revenue for the country within the less than 10 years of the lifespan of the projects. He said that the projects were attracting the inflow of foreign direct investments in the nations oil and gas sector. ALSO READ:NNPC crashes price of diesel to N175 The NNPC GMD said: In our joint venture project with Chevron, we have attracted an over subscribed 1.2 billion dollars Foreign Direct Investment. The E and P joint venture with NNPC attracted 800 million dollars foreign direct investment which was signed up in May. Last week in London, the NNPC, Shell Agip and Total joint venture attracted over 1 billion dollars foreign direct investment. The Chevron, NNPC Joint venture project is 780 million dollars worth of investments. Baru also said that the projects would serve as an avenue for the corporation to exit the JV cash call. The JV cash call has components; we have to pay arrears of about six billion dollars that were incurred in 2016 in JV operations. We are paying up about one billion dollars 2016 arrears we started in April; we have paid in 400 million dollars and we hope to pay the balance before the anniversary of the first payment. He said We hereby demand immediate relocation of all oil companies operating in Niger Delta to the region on or before October 1, 2017, as we shall ensure the shutting down of further operations in our territory at the expiration of this notice if they fail to act on our directive. Speaking with journalist at his office in Osogbo on Monday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa revealed that the sum of N5,131,680,567.59 was expended on full salaries and pensions up till this July 2017 for Level 1 to 7 Staff being the most vulnerable, balance of full salaries for the remaining staff up till August 2015, and balance of 2015 leave bonus. It will be recalled that the state government had, in agreement with labour unions in the state, agreed to use the second tranche of the Paris Club Loan Refund for the payment of salaries and pensions. Whilst giving a detailed analysis of the payments, Mr. Baderinwa stated that workers from Levels 1-7, which constitute majority of the workers, were never owed in the state. They have always received their full salaries contrary to popular opinion. "Workers in level 1-7, being the most vulnerable and the largest chunk of the state civil service, have received their full salaries and entitlement up to July 2017. "Likewise, workers in grade level 8-11 comprising of 21,624 workers showed understanding with the government to accept 75% of their salaries and full leave bonus. "It is only workers in grade level 12-17 that receive 50% of salaries and full leave bonus, and so far, they have also showed maturity and understanding with the state government. The same formula applies with our pensioners," Baderinwa stated. The commissioner also revealed that the payment formula was jointly agreed with the labour-led Revenue Apportionment Committee which consists of all the labour union leaders and representative of government chaired by veteran labour leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu. According to Baderinwa, the Apportionment Committee reviews in a transparent manner, all revenues of Government, and agrees on how these are apportioned to pay salaries and pensions, a model unprecedented for governments in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the state's chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Babatunde Jacob Adekomi, has given a pass mark to the state government on the disbursement of the Paris Club Loan Refund. Comrade Adekomi gave the commendation on a radio programme monitored over the weekend. The union leader said, "The state government has paid the salary of all workers in the state up to July, 2017 in line with the agreement made between it and the labour union." Adekomi disclosed that the leadership of the union reached a compromise with the state government on the disbursement of the second tranche of Paris Club Refunds to offset parts of the balance of the modulated salaries. Comrade Adekomi told listeners that the state government and the labour union had met on Wednesday 26th July, 2017 where it was decided that the state should pay July and August, 2015 balance of the modulated salaries of workers whose pay had been on modulation since 2015. Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said this in a statement made available to on Tuesday, August 8, 2017. Sabi warned individuals operating under the aegis of , and demanding President Buhari's resignation over his medical vacation in the United Kingdom to stop heating up the polity with their unreasonable demands. The Senate said the protesters were only creating unnecessary tension in the country and seeking to divert the attention of the Presidency from the economic and security issues.The Senate noted that President Buhari had complied with the provisions of the Constitution, which stipulated that he must handover to the Vice President and duly inform the two chambers of the legislature about his medical vacation. "The President has broken no law and therefore we do not see any justification for this diversion and noise making. The sponsors are merely seeking cheap publicity at the expense of the peace of Nigeria. We, in the National Assembly, are satisfied that there is no vacuum, Sabi said. The Federal Government is working. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is providing the required leadership. So, there is no reason for the protests. "All Nigerians now should focus on praying for the safe return of the President. We in the Senate are happy about the report by the Governors and party leaders who recently visited President Buhari in London and we know he will soon return to continue to provide leadership to our people and the rest of Africa. "We therefore call on the protesters to stop all these demonstrations and let their sense of patriotism overshadow the zeal for activism by joining other Nigerians to pray for the President, the acting President and Nigeria as a country at this critical period", he added. The Army will not rename General Lee Avenue in Brooklyn, despite a push from a handful of elected officials to strip the street of its association with the Confederate general. In June, U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke spearheaded an effort to change the name of General Lee Avenue, which runs through Fort Hamilton in Bay Ridge. Clarke, along with local Congressional representatives Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velazquez and Hakeem Jeffries, sent a letter to Army Secretary Robert Speer to ask the army to rename both the avenue and the smaller Stonewall Jackson Drive in Fort Hamilton. "To me it should be a no brainer, particularly on a military installation, that it's inappropriate to commemorate individuals who were part of the Confederacy in New York," Clarke told Gothamist. "When you think about, for quite some time now, there have been people who are fighting in our wars, who are part of our military, that there are people of color who were stationed at Fort Hamiltonit's really disrespectful to have these individuals who would deny their humanity, commemorated somewhere they're fighting for the liberties of all Americans." But the Army has declined Clarke's request, claiming the streets were named after the Confederate generals "in the spirit of reconciliation" and that "[a]fter over a century, any effort to rename memorializations on Fort Hamilton would be controversial and divisive," per a letter to Clarke from Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff Diane Randon. Randon also noted that "[t]he great generals of the Civil War, Union and Confederate, are an inextricable part of our military history," and that Lee and Jackson "were honored on Fort Hamilton as individuals, not as representatives of any particular cause or ideology." Clarke told Gothamist in a statement that she was "disappointed" by the Army's decision: The news report had quoted Afenifere chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo, as saying Osinbajo lambasted advocates of restructuring. A statement issued on Tuesday, August 8, said the report is "blatantly inaccurate." The statement issued by the Acting President's media aide, Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo's speech at the event is publicly available for verification. He said, "The video, audio tapes and full text of his speech at the National Security summit organised last week by the Department of State Services, DSS are publicly available. "While several newspapers and media outlets reported Prof. Osinbajos said speech last Wednesday, not one of the publications made such a blatantly inaccurate claim that he said those asking for restructuring were political jobbers, the statement said. "Besides, the debate on restructuring is an important one and the calls for restructuring cover a wide range of legitimate and constitutionally valid issues. Indeed all Nigerians have both a right and a duty to advance their arguments on the subject." ALSO READ: Invest in Nigeria or regret later - Osinbajo tells foreign investors The protesters had been participating in a second day of protests against President Buhari's continued absence from the country's seat of power. According to The Punch, they were having a sit-out protest at the Millennium Park opposite the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja, when the canisters were fired to disperse them. Former social media director of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Deji Adeyanju, claimed on his Twitter account that the group was attacked by "over 120 policemen" who shot at them with teargas, water cannons, as well as set dogs on them. He posted on his Twitter handle "Over 120 policemen attacked about 10 of us. They used teargas, water cannon & dogs but there's NO GOING BACK. We continue tomorrow." The injured protester was rushed to the Federal Staff Clinic Federal Secretariat, with the extent of his injury unknown. On Monday, August 7, protesters of the Our Mumu Don Do movement, led by entertainer and activist Charles Oputa (Charly Boy), marched from Unity Fountain in the Federal Capital Territory down to the Presidential Villa. The group demanded that the absentee president, who left the country 93 days ago, should return home soon or resign from his position. The protesters' full demands are that, "the president either personally or through his aides make the true detail of his health known to all Nigerians; that president should address all Nigerians in a language we can all understand on the true state of his health and other national issues; that he returns to the country and resume work as president of Federal Republic of Nigeria in order to lead us out economic and security quagmire we have been pushed into as a nation; if President Buhari fails, refuses and/ or neglect to do any of the above , then he should resign from office; if he fails to honourably resign, then he should be impeached from office by the national assembly." President Buhari left the country on May 7 to resume treatment in London for an undisclosed illness, leaving Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in charge of the country's affairs. 77 days after he left the country, pictures of him finally surfaced online when he met with state governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on July 23, at the Abuja House in London. Since then, he has met with another delegation of Nigerian governors, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on Friday, August 4. THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER Buharis return date shrouded in secrecy as wife returns to UK The exact date of President Muhammadu Buharis return to the country is still a top secret of the presidency. This is just as the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari at the weekend travelled to London where her husband is said to be recuperating. Alison-Madueke forfeits $37.5m Banana Island property,others to FG A Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday ordered a permanent forfeiture of the $37.5m mansion in Banana Island, Lagos linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government. Militants set October 1 deadline to declare Niger Delta republic Niger Delta militants under the aegis of the Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV) have stated that arrangements have reached an advance stage with other agitators to declare a Sovereign Republic of Niger Delta (SRND) on October 1, 2017. __________________________________________________ VANGUARD NEWSPAPER Atiku, Balarabe Musa, Junaid, Shettima condemn anti-Igbo song Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned a song he said wished the people of Igbo ethnic group dead, warning that the country should not be allowed to slide into genocide like Rwanda. Ozubulu horror attack: How gunmen killed my three relations SHOCK and grief still pervaded Amakwa village, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday, as the residents narrated their experiences, during the attack at St. Philips Catholic Church in the area. Naira depreciates as CBN injects $195m The Naira, yesterday, depreciated in the parallel market, Investors and Exporters (I&E) window even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) injected $195 million into the interbank market. __________________________________________________ THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER Protesters invade Villa, demand medical panel on Buharis health status A coalition of civil society groups on Monday in Abuja demanded the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical leave in the United Kingdom, saying he should resume in office or resign. Anambra massacre: Man loses wife, baby, uncle The Sunday devastating attack on the St. Phillips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State, has left many families bereaved in the state, while a large number of Nigerians on Monday continued to express their displeasure. Soldier stabs Ogun trader over faulty television, flees The Ogun State Police Command says it is on the trail of a soldier, who allegedly stabbed a trader in Oke-Aje Market, Ijebu Ode, over a faulty television. __________________________________________________ THISDAY NEWSPAPER Genocide Looms, Atiku Warns as Igbo Leaders, Northern Youths Meeting Over Quit Notice Ends in Deadlock Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned peddlers of a trending hate song denigrating Igbos, warning that the country risks relapsing into genocidal war, akin to what occurred in Rwanda in 1994. Anxiety Envelops Ozubulu as Community Fears Reprisals Palpable fear of further violence Monday pervaded Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, which was violated by a gunman who killed scores of worshippers at the communitys St Philips Catholic Church last Sunday morning. Protesters Storm Abuja, Ask Buhari to Return Home Controversial entertainer, Charles Oputa (Charley Boy), Monday led a group of protesters, composed mainly of youths, to demand the immediate return of President Muhammadu Buhari to the country. __________________________________________________ THE BUSINESSDAY NEWSPAPER FGs Pioneer Status Incentives to boost foreign investment The Federal Government yesterday, took a bold step to boost investment into the economy by enlisting 27 industries, to enjoy the new Pioneer Status Incentive (PSI). Cash crunch hits FGs N500 billion Social Investment Scheme Inadequate funding in the 2017 financial year could mar the Federal Governments Social Investment Scheme (SIP), as the government suffers from acute revenue shortage, BusinessDay findings show. Investors show interest in FGs Special Economic Zones The purpose of the visit was to assist the committee assess the project implementation plan for the recently approved loan request by the Federal Government from the China Exim Bank for the purpose of completing various railway rehabilitation/construction projects across the country. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, SenatorGbenga B Ashafa, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, led the delegation from the Senate. Other members of the Joint Committee who were present include Senator Yahaya Abdulai and Senator Philip A. Gyunka. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Alhaji Sabiu Zakari, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr. Fidet Okhiria and the representative of the Managing Director of CCECC, Mr. Leo Yinv received the Senators. In his speech, Ashafa stated, "The focus of this visit is to immediately set in perspective our commitment to ensuring a high level of accountability in public expenditure. This is in line with our constitutional responsibility to carry out periodic oversight functions to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies under the supervision of the Joint Committee." Speaking further, the Senator called on the project contractor, CCECC, to ensure that they maximize the local materials and manpower in order to have direct impact on the Nigerian Economy. In his words, "We are confident that the Lagos to Kano, and Calabar to Lagos railway modernization projects would in no small way further reinvigorate the Nigerian economy through the creation jobs. We therefore call on CCECC to maximize local content in the in the area of raw materials and labour force." In similar vein, Senator Sanni stated that with the recent approval of the Railway Loan by the Senate, the contractor has no excuse but to deliver on its mandate. On his part, the representative of the contractor, Mr. Leo Yinv took the members of the committee through the Project Implementation Plan for the completion of the Lagos to Ibadan Segment of the Lagos to Kano Railway modernization project and assured that while all pre-fabrication works was being done in the interim, substantial earthwork would commence on the project towards the end of November 2017. The protesters, under the aegis of Concerned Nigerians, marched to the Villa on Monday demanding the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari who has been in London on medical leave. In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, the command said the police intervened when criminal elements infiltrated the protest. "It will be recalled that Our-Mumu-Don-do Movement carried out their protest on Monday 7th August, 2017 at the same venue and were accorded necessary Police presence to safe guard public safety and public peace, and protect their rights to freedom of expression, rights to peaceful Assembly and Association, and right to freedom of movement as provided for in sections 39, 40, and 41 of the 1999 constitution as amended," Manzah said. "However, today 8th August, 2017 the same group assembled at the same venue but allowed miscreants, hoodlums and other unruly individuals to infiltrate the protests, who started blocking the major roads adjoining the Unity fountain, obstructing traffic and preventing movements of other innocent citizens from going to their means of livelihood, and thereby exhibiting unruly behaviors and other violent acts very likely to cause the breakdown of law and order and disturbance of public peace. "The Police personnel intervened at the point that the concerned Nigerians Group lost control of the crowd and prevented miscreants, hoodlums and other criminal elements from hijacking the protest to cause mayhem and chaos. "It is pertinent to state here that the FCT Police command is fully aware and recognizes the constitutional rights of every citizen including Our Mumu Don Do group to assemble and move freely in any part of the Federal Capital Territory, but the command will not allow any protest under any guise to turn violent and jeopardise the prevailing peace, law and order currently being enjoyed in the FCT. "The command wishes to assure all residents and visitors to the territory of adequate security and protection of lives and property of everyone including those who choose to express their constitutional rights of protest with decorum." ALSO READ: Police attack protesters against Buhari with teargas, water cannon The Police, however, urged parents to caution their wards so as not be instrumental in the breakdown of law and order in the society. "Members of the public, parents and guardians, religious/opinion leaders and other interest groups are advised to prevail on their children and wards, followers and adherents not to allow themselves to be used by any group to cause disturbance of public peace and break down of law and order," the statement read. The protesters had asked the President to resume or resign while demanding details of his health status. Unlike the battle between Ramsay Bolton and Jon Snow in season six, two loved characters engaged in a tough battle in the last episode of the show, "The Spoils of War." And just like Tyrion Lannister who watched the battle from afar, viewers were torn between taking sides with Daenerys or Jaimie Lannister. The epic clash saw Daenerys unleash fire and dragon for the first time in Westeros; an action that got Twitter excited. HBO has released a behind the scenes featurette that explains how the battle was created [the video can be watched below]. Speaking to EW, Showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff explained what went in to bring the much talked about sequence to life. "We wanted to make sure that the size of Drogon was reflected in the impact on the ground. Hes the size of a 747 this year. The cone of fire that comes out of his mouth is 30 feet in diameter." "It was really different from, say, Daznaks Pit, where he first shows up to save Daenerys from the Sons of the Harpy. There, you see him burn people and theyre half caught on fire, running around. This is a much larger dragon. When he unleashes his fire on the Lannisters, the people in the center of that cone of fire are carbonized almost immediately, like Pompeii." "Theres almost nothing left of them. As you get progressively to the edges of the cone, people are partially on fire and cooking in the armor as they rush to the water. We really wanted to show the horror of what it was to be like to be on the ground during something like that." "Burning a lot of stunt men was essential to that, in terms of both the scope and the humanity, as Jaime watches these guys die. In one particular shot, we burned 20 stuntmen completely for about 15 seconds, which is the most you can do. Its a very long 15 seconds as they hold their breath." According to the showrunners, about 63 stuntmen were burned for the sequence. "I understand that is a record. I would refer you to our stunt coordinator, for confirmation, but thats what he said. In total in the sequence, I remember when we wrapped, there was a count of around 63 people burned. "I also heard online someone say 73, but I remember 63 as the total number of people burned in the sequence. Yeah, I think that was essential to telling the story and the scope of what it was like to be in a dragon battle. The episode was directed by a first time "Game of Thrones" director Matt Shakman, who is popular for "The Good Wife" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Titled "The Spoils of War," the episode ended with Jaime Lannister's uncertain fate. Jaime made a bold run at Daenerys while she was trying to pull out the sword from her injured dragon. The episode ended on a cliffhanger as Jaime was pushed into the water by Bronn as the angry dragon unleashed fire. Speaking to EW, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who plays Jaime spoke about the epic scene and his fate. Even though Daenerys is the hero and the Lannisters are the villains, being burned alive is not great, he told EW. Its a terrifying thing when this monster flamethrower comes along and incinerates thousands and thousands of men who are just doing their job. On why Jaime decided to attack a grounded Drogon, the actor said, Jaime is such an idiot that he thinks for a second, If I can do this, I can win the whole thing in a Hail Mary." Speaking to New York Times about the fate of his character, the actor said, "It seems impossible to survive that. Luckily, hes not wearing the Kingsguard armor, which is made of brass. "But oh my God, dont get me started on the water! We had a full day of going to the bottom, and that was not nice. I got a little sick, after. "You have to go down, you have to equalize the pressure, and Im not very good at that. It was just a tough, tough day." Earlier, EW had asked Coster-Waldau about his incestuous relationship with his twin sister Cersei, the actor simply said, Its not going to end well for Jaime Lannister, I cant imagine. As expected, the cliffhanger had viewers reacting on social media. Unlike other satellites launched by other African countries (read: Nigeria), this particular satellite is built by Ghanaians at the All Nations University, a private Ghanaian university. The institution is also the first ever in Africa to communicate with the International Space Station (ISS). Like most African governments, the project did not receive official Ghanaian government support, although President Nana Akuffo-Addo congratulated and applauded the team directly on the historical feat. Instead, the Japanese national space agency, JAXA, provided majority of the funding and training to develop the satellite. The satellite is a cubesat, a miniature kind of satellite for space research, and it was delivered to the US space agency, NASAs, international space station after being launched from the Kennedy Space Center via a SpaceX rocket. According to a Techcrunch report, project manager Richard Damoah says the satellite has two missions: Detailed monitoring of Ghanas coastlines and a platform with which the team intends to incorporate satellite technology into Ghanas high school curriculum. The GhanaSat-1 will also send signals to All Nations Universitys Space Systems and Technology Laboratory the same place where it was developed by a team of engineers which include Benjamin Bonsu, Ernest Teye Matey, and Joseph Quansah. ALSO READ: African filmmakers are exploring Virtual Reality to tell compelling stories This looks like more focused approach to entering the space race. In contrast, Nigeria has launched over five satellites (none of which have been built by Nigerians) into orbit with nothing to show for it. In fact, a Nigerian satellite reportedly got lost in space back in 2008 and earlier this year, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), announced that the Nigerian government believes the country will need an international space station by 2030. He also said this, while making that announcement in New York: Those nanosatellites, each time they are within the Nigerian territory, would be singing National Anthem. So those who carry UHF radio would be able to receive it and all these are part of Nigerias efforts. How can a country that cant even pass a budget on time hope to build a fully functional international space station in 13 years? We havent even built a nanosatellite yet. Mohammed also said the satellites will play the national anthem and provide UHF bandwidth. How does any of that make any sense? It is this kind of unchecked inability to properly prioritize its needs that has led Nigeria to this point where it is taking a backseat on huge engineering accomplishments like the Ghanaian team has managed. Despite the fact that Nigerias tech scene is more vibrant two major global tech CEOs have visited in less than a year than Ghanas, the nearby country seems to be doing way better at focusing its efforts on the things that matter. Things like working infrastructure, an enabling business environment, and a laser-focused strategy are some of the things that Nigeria needs to put in place if it wants to achieve laudable feats like the Ghanaians have. When will we start taking these important lessons from our neighbours and implementing them for our benefit? When will Nigeria become truly worthy of the Giant of Africa tag? There is probably no bigger pointer of what the Nigerian internet public is interested in at a particular time than trending Google searches. From the good people at Google, here are the topics Nigerians were most interested in over the previous week: Held at the universitys Julius Berger Hall, the program, tagged Consumer Conversations: Campus Voices, is part of the NCCs Year of the Telecom Consumer campaign but with a focus on the academic community. Represented at the event by Kenneth Uzoekwe, Controller of the NCCs Lagos Zonal Office, Umar Danbatta (Head of the NCC) restated the reason for the NCCs Year of the Telecom Consumer campaign. The NCC boss said the regulator is trying to amplify its regulatory duties with the aim of improving the telecom consumers experience. ALSO READ: MTN walks as Senate berates CBN over $14 billion tax drama For his part, Uzoekwe, an engineer, talked to the students about Electromagnetic Fields (EMF), radiation emitted from Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), an issue which has attracted a lot of controversy and misinformation amongst the general public. This event also served as the launch of the NCCs Campus Voices aspect of its Consumer Conversations programme. The idea is to use the platform to push the NCC message in various campuses across the country an initiative that should help the regulator ramp up its sensitization efforts. By tapping into the university community, the NCC is taking an approach not often considered by other regulatory agencies and government institutions to spread its messages to a largely uninformed Nigerian populace. President of the Associations board, Sunday Folayan made the prediction in the latest edition of NiRAs newsletter stating that the domain count for Nigerias top-level country domain has continued to grow, month-on-month. It is heart-warming that the number of domains in the registry continues to grow in excess of 2,000 domains monthly. This is due to the hard work of the Registrars and the Resellers, in making sure that .ng continues to be the domain of choice for all Nigerians. Thank you for your hard work in this regard, Folayan said, according to a Nigeria CommunicationsWeek report. At the current rate, the number of active .ng domains will cross the 100,000 mark between October and November 2017. It is a milestone that we will celebrate, and is worthy of being celebrated. Apart from the increased online presence and visibility, this kind of milestone is also an economic win for Nigerias fledgling tech ecosystem, especially in these times of forex uncertainty. NiRA board member and host of Channels TVs Tech Trend show, Chukwuemeka F. Agbata, in an email comment given to Pulse Tech puts its better: In terms of saving our scarce foreign reserves, this is also good news. Assuming there was no option of .NG, it will simply mean 100,000 X $10 (average cost of .com) = $1,000,000 saved annually. This may appear insignificant now but it becomes scary as the numbers go higher. There is also the thing about Nigerias online identity, which its domain name also plays a major role in fostering. It means that more and more Nigerians and even foreigners are learning more about the .NG brand and opting for it. Imagine, how much value 100,000 domain names brings to the Nation, the number of businesses and individuals owning ventures online and imagine the potential when we hit say, 1,000,000 domain names which I hope happens soon, Agbata told Pulse Tech. However, the work doesnt stop there. According to NiRA president Folayan, more Nigerians need to be aware of the .ng brand. When you see such hybrid domain names like distro-ng.com or distronigeria.com, please drop them an email and ask them whether they have heard of .ng before? Let us now get the word out there. .ng is for us all, and Nigerians should not hesitate to claim their identity and use it. Let us step up the campaign, the NiRA boss said. Agbata also agrees, saying, Every Nigerian should be proud of the .NG brand because its our identity on the Internet. The court in Aix-en-Provence gave activist Cedric Herrou a four-month suspended sentence -- half the length the prosecutor had asked for, but more than his initial sentence. "This is a warning sentence," the court's senior judge told him. "If you are convicted again, you risk having this sentence applied." "They'll just have to put me in prison, it'll be simpler," he said. "I will continue to fight from prison." He would be appealing the sentence to the country's top court, he added. Earlier, just before entering court to receive his sentence, he told reporters: "It is the role of a citizen in a democracy to take action when the state fails to." Herrou, an organic olive farmer, is a leading figure in Roya Citoyenne, an association dedicated to helping migrants. At his original trial in February, he received a suspended 3,000-euro fine for helping migrants on the Italian side of the border cross the border. But he was acquitted on another charge of sheltering around 50 Eritrean illegal migrants at a disused railway building. The appeals court Tuesday confirmed the first conviction but reversed the acquittal. Hailed as a hero by some, irresponsible by others, Herrou was in no mood to compromise Tuesday. "I say to all the families I helped that I do not regret anything, that I did it with pleasure," he said. "If the immigration was coming from the north of Europe, the courts wouldn't be acting this way, this is state racism," he added. Herrou is one of several people to appear in court in southern France charged with illegally assisting migrants who have travelled up through Europe after crossing the Mediterranean in rickety boats. His home is just a few kilometres from the border with Italy and despite the court case he continues to help migrants who turn up on his doorstep prepare their applications for asylum. Last month he was arrested and charged as he accompanied 156 migrants to Marseille to help them file their asylum requests. Since the beginning of 2017, more than 117,000 people have made the perilous Mediterranean crossing into Europe from north Africa -- more than 96,000 of them arriving in Italy. The newly-elected 39-year-old president had promised in March on the campaign trail to create "a real status" for his wife Brigitte, who is his former schoolteacher. The issue has become a new political headache for Macron after an online petition against creating the role garnered around 270,000 signatures and an opinion poll showed a majority of French people were also opposed. The presidency will clarify Brigitte Macron's position in the coming days, a source told AFP late on Monday, adding that there were would be no change to the constitution to create a First Lady position. Instead, the presidency will make clear the resources at Brigitte Macron's disposal and the cost to the public purse. "The idea is for the French people to know how much this role costs," Aurore Berge, a senior lawmaker from Macron's Republic on the Move party, told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday. The new status would have seen France copy the American tradition of a prominent public role for the First Lady. Neither country has ever had a female head of state. Public role The wife of the French president has historically always played a public role at official functions, welcoming heads of state or other VIPs at meetings or dinners. She has a small security and secretarial staff paid for by the presidential budget, but she has no formal job title -- like the partners of the British prime minister or German chancellor. The staff of Valerie Trierweiler, the former partner of ex-president Francois Hollande, cost 400,000 euros (470,000 dollars) in 2013, according to public figures. The focus on the First Lady proposition comes at a bad time for Macron as opinion polls show his popularity slipping badly only three months after the young centrist clinched a sensational victory in May. One survey published last week showed just 36 percent of respondents held a positive view of him. Series of scandals As well as pushing through cuts to public spending, parliament is also preparing to vote for a new ethics law this week which will prevent MPs from employing their partners or family members as assistants after a series of scandals. "But I see that sometimes one can create a role for one's partner," opposition MP Ugo Bernalicis from the far-left France Unbowed party said sarcastically during a debate in late July. He criticised the idea of according resources to Brigitte Macron "even though she has never been elected". Macron had always made clear that Brigitte would not be paid in the proposed role as First Lady, arguing that creating the position would make it more transparent. "Paid by the Republic, no. Having a role, a real status, a real capacity to act, yes," Macron said in March when asked about his vision for the future position on RTL radio. Brigitte would "have the role that she's always had. That's to say that she is at my side because it balances me. We've always worked like that," he added. "She will have a role, she won't be hidden because she's part of my life," he said. Brigitte Macron, who at 64 is 25 years older than her husband, married her former pupil after they fell in love while writing a play together at school in their home town of Amiens, northern France. Reports say she is preparing to take an active role supporting mental health and handicap charities. "This evening 235 people including women and children were released from Mirzawalang as a result of mediation by the local elders and provincial officials,"Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. "They have been safely evacuated to Sar-e Pul city, but there are still an unknown number of people being kept hostage there," he added. An Afghan security source said he thought there were still around 100 people being held hostage in Mirzawalang, situated in the Sayad district of Sar-e Pul province, after insurgents captured it at the weekend. Taliban and IS fighters killed around 50 men, women and children in the mainly Shiite village on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials, who also said they took a number of residents captive. "Despite the efforts of elders the bodies of the victims have not been recovered," Mohammad Zaher Wahdat, the provincial governor, told Tolo News, an Afghanistan television news channel. "Two hundred and thirty-five hostages have been released. They are so shocked they can't even speak to tell us about anymore other hostages," he added. Amani, the provincial spokesman, has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) after a 48-hour battle before massacring civilians, he claimed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Most were shot or beheaded, he said. Special forces Afghan defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP that 34 civilians were known to have been killed. The discrepancy highlights the difficulty of verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications. AFP was not able to access the village. Before confirmation of the release of hostages Amani said that 150 families were being held while Waziri said "an unknown number of people" had been taken hostage. "Since the villages is cut off, we can't confirm any new killings by the terrorists," Amani told AFP. The Taliban confirmed capturing Mirzawalang but said it did so alone. It has also denied allegations it had killed civilians. Taliban and IS fighters have regularly clashed in Afghanistan over the past two years but security sources say they have teamed up in the past to strike Afghan forces in certain areas. "Commando forces have been deployed to the area, air strikes are being carried out as we speak, and commanders on the ground are busy planning the recapture of the valley," said Waziri, the defence spokesman. "The operation to retake the valley will happen soon, and the terrorists will pay for their crimes," he added. After three years adriftand a couple of subpar imitationsthe Seaport Music Festival will make its triumphant return to Lower Manhattan next month to celebrate its 15th anniversary with four straight days of waterfront music and more. The free, all-ages concert series kicks off on September 7th, and features artists such as Ted Leo + The Pharmacists, Big Huge, The Make-Up, James Chance & The Contortions, Martin Rev (the surviving member of Suicide) and more. There will also be film screenings and comedy, and something called Wet Clutch, described as an immersive drive-in dance experience that reinterprets and remixes movie heroines from the last four decades of American film. As theyve done in the past, the Village Voice and South Street Seaport Museum will partner with festival founder Stephen Dima to present the series. This year, each night is curated by an individual tastemaker (schedule tbd), with at least one lineup selected by Seaport veteran Ted Leo. Leo, who has a very promising new album out on September 8th, has played six separate Seaport Festivals, bringing with him some sort of extreme weather/power grid event on almost every occasion. So bring an umbrella, or a back-up generator, and enjoy! Residences used by humanitarian organisations in Batangafo were plundered after the fighting, medical charity Doctors without Borders (MSF) told AFP. The other deaths occurred in a southern village near Alindao where fighting on August 4 claimed about 10 lives and left seven others wounded, OCHA said. Fighting in Ngaoundaye, near the borders with Cameroon and Chad, killed at least 10 others and forced around 7,000 people to flee the area, several sources told AFP. Alexandre Sarr, head of the UN refugees agency UNHCR in Meiganga, Cameroon, said at least 6,885 people had arrived from CAR since July 10. "Many are in poor health and many are malnourished children," he told AFP. At a UN meeting in New York on Monday, OCHA chief Stephen O'Brien urged immediate action to contain the crisis in CAR before it's too late. "The early warning signs of a genocide are there. We must act now, not pare down the UN's effort and pray we don't live to regret it," he said. "It is all too clear to those on the ground: it is time to authorise an increase in troops and police personnel to enable MINUSCA to deliver on its critical protection mandate," he added, referring to the UN's peacekeeping force. UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix last week said he was considering sending a request to the UN Security Council for more troops for MINUSCA, currently 12,350 strong. One of the world's poorest nations, CAR was pitched into a war between Muslim and Christian militias in 2013 after President Francois Bozize was overthrown by a coalition of Muslim-majority rebel groups called the Seleka. They in turn were ousted by a military intervention led by former colonial ruler France. Those events sparked some of the bloodiest sectarian violence in the country's history as mainly Christian vigilante groups sought revenge. The neglected northern Rif region of Morocco has been shaken by weeks of protests and violence with demonstrators demanding jobs, development and an end to corruption. On July 20, Imad Atabi was hit in the head in clashes in the main Rif city of Al-Hoceima, and taken to a military hospital in Rabat after falling into a coma. At the time the official MAP news agency, quoting the authorities, said Atabi had been wounded by "stone throwing". The Al-Hoceima prosecutor said he died on Tuesday, and said an investigation was still under way to determine the circumstances that led to his death and who was responsible for it. The Rif protests erupted last October after a fishmonger was crushed to death in a rubbish truck as he tried to retrieve swordfish confiscated for being caught out of season. Demands for justice later snowballed into a wider social movement named Al-Hirak al-Shaabi, calling for jobs, development and an end to graft. Leaders of the grassroots movement were arrested at the end of May and the July 20 demonstration was called by Hirak supporters t9o demand their release. At the end of July, King Mohammed VI pardoned more than 1,000 detainees, including 40 people arrested for taking part in the Rif protests. Yyacheslav Gulevich, 57, headed up the Kemerovo organisation which dealt in drugs, weapons and human trafficking, as well as prostitution in Estonia. He was arrested on August 2 in the Spanish seaside resort of Mijas where he lived. On the same day, three other group leaders were also detained in the Estonian capital Tallinn, where Kemerovo was was based, police said in a statement. Estonian authorities had for two years been investigating the gang, which they said had been gripped by a fierce internal turf war which saw the previous boss Nikolai Tarankov shot in the head in September. Gulevich was Tarankov's right-hand man and took over the organisation when he died, but feared for his life and fled to Spain. In his home in Mijas, police found "an axe and a large knife hidden under his pillow," police said. His fears appear to have been justified, as a member of the organisation was arrested in June in Catalonia in northeastern Spain, and "it appears he was in Spain to find Gulevich and murder him," the Guardia Civil police force said. Surrounded by three tanks with raised barrels and hundreds of soldiers, the defense minister and head of the armed forces, General Vladimir Padrino, insisted that the armed forces were "united and with very high morale." Padrino gave an updated report on Sunday's attack on the base in the northwestern city of Valencia by 20 men in uniform, an incident that fueled fears the country's worsening crisis could tip into armed conflict. Padrino said that ex-National Guard captain, Juan Carlos Caguaripano, and a former lieutenant, Jefferson Gabriel Garcia, were behind the raid. He said that two attackers died and three soldiers were wounded. Padrino insisted that it was a "terrorist attack" carried out by some 20 "mercenaries paid from Miami by far right-wing groups." Eight men were detained following three hours of combat, he said. Just before the raid, Caguaripano posted a video online declaring it part of a "legitimate rebellion... to reject the murderous tyranny" of president Maduro. Appearing with more than a dozen uniformed men, some armed, Caguaripano demanded a transitional government and "free elections." Maduro said on state television Sunday that the attack saw a three-hour firefight in which two of the rebels died and eight were captured, including another lieutenant who was involved. Ten other attackers made off with an unspecified arsenal. Padrino said that a "special operation" has been deployed to capture them and recover the weapons. He said Garcia had been in charge of the base's weapons depot and acted as an accomplice from the inside, while Caguaripano had been discharged from the army in 2014 after multiple disciplinary offenses. "Growing discontent" The opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, said the country's crisis dividing Venezuela's society "is being seen... in the barracks of our armed forces." The head of the opposition-controlled congress, Julio Borges, has demanded the "truth" from the government about what happened on Sunday. Analysts said discord could be seen in the lower ranks of the security forces. "There are indications of growing discontent in the middle ranks of the police and soldiers, even though military commanders remain allied to the government," said Diego Moya-Ocampos, of IHS Markit Country Risk in London. "You can expect new incidents to occur as this unease grows," he said. Venezuela isolated On Monday, hackers calling themselves The Binary Guardians hijacked the home pages of several government bodies and private companies in support of the rebel raid. In several websites, they posted excerpts from Charlie Chaplin's movie "The Great Dictator." Venezuela's opposition has repeatedly urged the military to abandon Maduro, so far to no avail. The crisis in the oil-rich country is rooted in large part in the collapse of its economy due to a plunge in global oil prices. Public anger is spreading as people struggle for basics like food and medicine. Maduro, however, blames an economic "war" that he says is fomented by the right-wing opposition in cahoots with the United States. Venezuela has become increasingly isolated internationally as Maduro tightens his hold on power through a contested loyalist assembly that started work last week. Opposition leaders are under increased threat of arrest after protests -- fiercely countered by security forces -- left 125 people dead in the past four months. The new "Constituent Assembly" has moved quickly to clamp down on dissent. Its first act was to dismiss the attorney general, Luisa Ortega, who had broken ranks with Maduro to become one of his most vociferous critics. jpegMpeg4-1280x720It has also created a "truth commission" that Maduro wants to use to prosecute opposition lawmakers and leaders for alleged "crimes." Then, lawmakers in the opposition-controlled legislature said late Monday their chamber was stormed by officials from the rival assembly loyal to Maduro with the backing of soldiers. The legislature posted photos on its Twitter account of a group of people in the chamber it uses in the Legislative Palace in Caracas. The people who invaded its chamber, it said, included the leader of the Constituent Assembly, Maduro's former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez. The United States accuses Maduro of installing an "authoritarian dictatorship" that has turned Venezuela into an international pariah. The United States, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Peru have slammed the "illegal" sacking of Ortega. Japan, which lies across the sea from North Korea, has been wary for decades over its missile development as well as Pyongyang's history of abducting Japanese citizens to train its spies. North Korea has increasingly been firing missiles into the waters between the two countries and last month launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICMBs), with leader Kim Jong-Un boasting the entire United States was within reach. While experts and officals doubt the North's missile technology is really that advanced, the country has made steady progress in recent years under Kim. "Especially since last year, when it pushed ahead with two nuclear tests and launched more than 20 ballistic missiles, it has posed a new level of threat," Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said in the white paper. Onodera, reappointed to the post last week after having served in the position 2012-2014, also reiterated phrasing from past reports calling the danger from North Korea "significant and imminent". "It is conceivable that, over time, the risk will increase for the deployment of ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads that put our nation within their reach," the Japanese-language paper said. The UN Security Council at the weekend unanimously approved tough new sanctions against North Korea that could cost Pyongyang $1 billion a year. Japan's white paper also reiterated Tokyo's concerns about China's efforts to expand its military influence and territorial claims, particularly in waters around Japan. The government has long complained about Beijing's routine dispatch of coastguard ships to Japan's territorial waters surrounding disputed islands in East China Sea. Tokyo controls the islands as the Senkaku while Beijing claims them as the Diaoyu. Coastguards from the two sides have engaged in maritime standoffs, while their militaries have also had close calls. Experts fear such situations may lead to unplanned clashes. Pravit Rojanaphruk, a senior writer for the local news outlet Khaosod English, told AFP he faces up to 14 years in prison over two cases filed by police. The first is linked to his Facebook posts from February 2016 that criticised a junta-drafted constitution. The second case concerns Facebook posts from last month that criticised junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha's handling of floods and the trial of ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra, whose elected government was toppled in a 2014 military coup. "I have seen the content and I insist this an abuse of the sedition law," Pravit told AFP after meeting police to hear the charges. "The law is being used to silence criticism on social media." The writer also faces charges under the Computer Crime Act -- another tough law used by the junta to stamp out online dissent. Since the coup Pravit has twice been detained by soldiers for "attitude adjustment" sessions. But he has continued his criticism of the military regime, detailing the surge in prosecutions of government and monarchy critics. Last month he was named winner of a international press freedom award from the Committee to Protect Journalists. The International Commission of Jurists, which sent a representative to accompany Pravit to the police station, slammed the charges as part of an "alarming regional trend of criminalising online speech". Tensions are rising before the verdict in Yingluck's negligence trial on August 25. The former premier may face up to a decade in jail if found guilty. Any harsh sentence could reignite conflict between her fervent supporters and the regime, which has suppressed all political activities for the past three years. The junta has defended its clampdown as an attempt to heal bitter political rivalries which have fuelled a decade of unrest. But critics say the junta is chiefly bent on crippling the political camp loyal to Yingluck and her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in a 2006 coup. Thailand is one of a raft of Southeast Asian countries that hosts a North Korean embassy and enjoys valuable bilateral trade with the reclusive regime. In 2014 the two countries shared trade worth $126 million, according to Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nearly a three-fold increase since 2009. America's top diplomat will press Thailand to crack down on North Korean firms that open fronts in Bangkok and use the capital as a trading hub, said acting US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Susan Thornton. He will also lean on the kingdom to tighten visa requirements for North Koreans entering Thailand and squeeze its diplomatic mission, Thornton added. Tillerson's one-day visit follows a regional forum in Manila, where the former ExxonMobil CEO hailed a tough new UN sanctions regime on North Korea over its growing nuclear arsenal. Those sanctions could cost North Korea $1 billion a year. They were levied -- with the agreement of North Korean lifeline China -- in response to the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missile tests last month. 'Ups and downs' The US envoy will also urge Thailand to take in more North Korean refugees, said Thornton. The kingdom has long been a transit route for defectors who make the arduous journey through China, then into Laos or Cambodia and Thailand, where they seek sanctuary at the South Korean Embassy. Thailand does not grant official status to refugees. After landing in Bangkok Tillerson, who visited Thailand often as an executive for ExxonMobil, told US embassy staff he wanted to "grow" the relationship between America and its oldest Asian ally, "even in its ups and downs". President Donald Trump's administration is reshaping America's approach to the Thai junta after relations hit the buffers following the 2014 coup. The US condemned the takeover and distanced itself from the regime, trimming back military aid. But relations are on a better footing under Trump, with the US president extending an invitation to junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha. The thaw also comes amid Washington's growing concerns over rival superpower China's clout in the region. Beijing entices its smaller neighbours by offering massive investment decoupled from human rights concerns, which appeals to leaders weary of US pressure. Thailand is a lynchpin country in China's massive trade and infrastructure 'One Belt, One Road' strategy. It was not immediately clear how firmly the former oilman would push the junta government on its crackdown on political rights. The US wants Thailand to "emerge as a strengthened democracy that respects and guarantees human rights and fundamental freedoms," said US embassy spokesperson Steve Castonguay. Tillerson is also due to pay respects to Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has been lying in state at the Grand Palace since his death in October 2016. CAIRO, Ill. (AP) U.S. Housing Secretary Ben Carson is expected to visit a far southern Illinois community where two public housing complexes are being torn down, forcing hundreds of residents to find new homes. Carson told The Southern Illinoisan he wants to visit Cairo (KEHR'-oh) to see if anything can be done to "salvage the situation." The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered the buildings demolished earlier this year due to "deplorable living conditions." HUD says the buildings are infested with rodents and bugs and plumbing and heat don't work properly. About 200 families have been forced to relocate. That's particularly difficult in the town of about 2,600 residents in a rural area and has prompted fears the once-thriving city could be endangered if hundreds of people move elsewhere. CHICAGO (AP) Lawyers for the University of Chicago's Exoneration Project are seeking the release of two men serving life sentences for a 1994 rape and murder. According to a petition filed in Cook County Circuit Court, new forensic testing show DNA from the victim's underwear matches that of a serial rapist. Nevest Coleman and Darryl Fulton were convicted in the rape and murder of Antwinica Bridgeman. Court records show at the time of the slaying, Coleman worked as a member of the grounds keeping crew at Comiskey Park. Fulton lived near Coleman in Englewood. Both the then 25-year-old Coleman and 27-year-old Fulton confessed to the crime. The two later said their confessions were coerced. Mark Rotert of the Cook County State's Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit says the office remains uncertain about the claims and asked for more time to gather facts. Judge Dennis Porter set a hearing for Aug. 18. MOLINE -- New images have been released offering a side-by-side comparison of the current and planned Interstate 74 bridges. Images Inc. -- a strategic communications firm that specializes in public involvement, marketing and planning -- released the image to illustrate that the new bridge will be taller and wider than the existing span. "The current bridge sits a little over 159 feet above the water and the new bridge will sit about 242 feet above water," the Moline Planning and Development Department noted in a Facebook post Friday. "That is a staggering 83-foot difference! "Who's excited? We sure are!" The current I-74 Mississippi River bridge is the combination of two spans built 25 years apart. The westbound bridge, from Illinois to Iowa, was opened in 1935 while the eastbound bridge was opened in 1960. Last year, daily traffic over the bridge exceeded 74,000 vehicles, according to the Iowa and Illinois departments of transportation. The Bi-State Regional Commission projects that daily vehicle count will reach about 99,900 by 2035. A June 26 groundbreaking ceremony for the $1.2 billion bridge project included Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. Since then, Lunda Construction Co., of Black River Falls, Wis., has placed a barge with a large crane in the river near the bridge and work has begun for the new span's footings in Bettendorf. The new bridge will be built east of the existing one, with two spans of four lanes and full shoulders, a recreation trail and an overlook. The new bridge is expected to open in 2020, with the current bridge scheduled to be demolished in 2021. The project also includes a new roadway and aesthetic lighting underneath the bridge and an elevator in Bettendorf to the bridge's recreation trail. The new bridge will eliminate existing ramps at State Street and Kimberly Road in Iowa. The project will maintain the current Holmes Street/Mississippi Boulevard underpass but the northbound Kimberly Road underpass will be closed. Grant Street in the vicinity of I-74 also will be converted to a two-way, six-lane street. Middle Road will have its I-74 interchange improved. In Moline, an improved full-access interchange with ramp connections is planned at 7th Avenue/19th Street and at 6th Avenue (Illinois 92 eastbound). There also will be a partial interchange with ramps to and from the north at River Drive. The I-74 Avenue of the Cities interchange also will improved. For more project information, visit I74RiverBridge.com or follow it on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn at @I74RiverBridge. Stakeholders also can call 866-474-4255. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) A heavy storm with strong winds, hail and rain has hit the Balkans and elsewhere in Europe as the weather changed on Monday following a week of record-high temperatures in the region. Temperatures dropped significantly in some areas, bringing relief after reaching more than 40 C (104 F) last week. Slovenia's STA news agency reported that the storms "caused havoc" across the country overnight Sunday to Monday. Thousands of households were left without electricity, as hail and winds flooded dozens of houses, collapsed trees and damaged cars and crops and crops. In Serbia, sudden heavy rains hit a mountainous region in the west late Monday before spreading to other parts of the country. On Sunday, two men were killed in separate incidents in northern Italy when strong winds toppled trees which crushed them. In another incident, a hiker slipped to her death from a muddy path. A lightning strike killed a man walking in a forest in a fourth incident Sunday. Meanwhile, officials in neighboring Romania retrieved the bodies of two teenage boys who drowned while bathing in a river to cool off during the heat wave. Officials in the northeast county of Neamt said they pulled out the bodies of a 15-year-old on Sunday and a 16-year-old on Monday morning. They had been swimming in the Siret river. Emergency services spokesman Adrian Rotaru said that "these teens went into the river to cool off due to the heat wave.... we do not recommend bathing in unsupervised areas." Romanian authorities issued a flood warning for parts of western Romania on Monday after heavy rain following a weeklong heat wave. Officials say at least two people died last week. The National Hydrology Institute issued a "yellow warning" for the Mures River in western Romania that will last until Monday evening. A statement said the heavy rainfall could produce torrents and flooding along the river. In Croatia's Istria peninsula, stormy winds late Sunday uprooted trees and damaged roofs. Temporary traffic restrictions were imposed in some areas along the Adriatic coast late Sunday and early Monday. A wildfire broke out Monday in the coastal Makarska area of central Croatia despite the cooling trend, engulfing pine trees and low shrubbery and halting traffic on a key road. Authorities briefly halted traffic on the main road along the coast, sending travelers to smaller routes. They say a firefighting plane has been engaged to help put out the blaze. Dozens of wildfires have erupted in Croatia and elsewhere in Europe during an extremely hot and dry summer. Meteorologists say the heat wave will return later in the week. At the other end of Europe, Portugal's airport management company said that almost 15,000 passengers had their travel plans disrupted by strong winds that forced the cancellation of 101 flights to and from the Madeira Islands over the weekend through Monday. Winds gusting up to 80 kph (50 mph) battered the island over the weekend. Some flights diverted to nearby Porto Santo island and travelled to Madeira by ferry. Madeira and its airport are particularly exposed to bad weather in the Atlantic. Celebrating Our Service Members Friday, November 11 is Veterans Day, when we honor and show gratitude to all members of our Armed Forces those currently serving, those who... Transit Equity Starts With QueensLink For decades Queens has seen a disinvestment in the necessary transit infrastructure the borough needs to promote equity and sustainability. Most of the time, transformative... Former Bombardier Transportation executive Andrew Robbins has been named executive director and chief executive of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. The agencys board voted to hire Robbins August 7, to oversee construction of the troubled $10-billion Oahu rail transit project. Robbins starts Sept. 5. Robbins is HARTs first permanent executive director and CEO since Dan Grabauskas resigned in August, 2016. K.N. Murthy has been serving as interim executive director since late October. I fully realize the challenges that lie ahead for this project and the community concerns that come along with them, Robbins said in a statement. Having previously been involved with this project, I also believe strongly in its merits. Residents, visitors and future generations will not only benefit from this project but will also view it as an integral part of Honolulus transportation infrastructure. Robbins began his career with Bombardier in 1980 and worked on its bid to build the Honolulu transit cars. He most recently served as senior director and head of automated transit systems business development. Robbins was spokesman when the company lost an appeal of its disqualification in the bid for the Honolulu projects $1.4-billion core systems contract in 2011, according to local reports. The total cost of the 20-mile elevated rail project doubled, to around $10 billion, from initial estimates of $5.26 billion in 2012. The Honolulu City Council plans to issue $350 million in bonds this month, when HART said it would run out of money. The state Legislature expects to agree to a funding deal to complete the project in a special session Aug. 28-Sept. 1. MOSCOW, August 8 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov) The Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow will begin hearings in the case against former Russia's Economy Minister Alexey Ulyukayev, who stands charged with extorting a $2 million bribe, on August 16, the courts press-service told RAPSI on Tuesday. Earlier today the court extended house arrest for Ulyukayev until January 27. The defendants motion to return the case to a prosecutor was dismissed. While proceeding to a courtroom, Ulyukayev told journalists that he does not plead guilty. Ulyukayev was arrested while receiving a bribe in mid-November 2016. He allegedly demanded Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosnefts representative to pay him $2 million for lawfully providing a positive review and evaluation of a deal that allowed Rosneft to acquire governments share in mid-sized producer Bashneft. According to the Investigative Committee, the former minister threatened to create obtrusions for Rosneft with the use of his position. On November 15, the ex-minister was put under house arrest. Later in the evening, President Vladimir Putin relieved Ulyukayev of his post because of loss of trust. The Basmanny District Court has seized Ulyukayevs property valued at over 564 million rubles (about $9.5 million). Moscow anticorruption rally participant pleads not guilty to assault charges MOSCOW, August 8 (RAPSI, Nikolay Merkulov) - Dmitry Krepkin, who had participated in the unauthorized anticorruption rally in Moscow on March 26, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer, RAPSI reported from the Tverskoy District Court on Tuesday. Krepkins detention was earlier extended until September 8. Investigation into the activist was completed in late June. According to investigators, the defendant resisted police officers and kicked one of them. Two other rally participants, Yury Kuliy and Alexander Shpakov have been already sentenced for violence against a law enforcement officer. Kuliy was given 8 months in a penal colony settlement. Shpakov received a 1.5-year prison sentence. They have pleaded guilty. The Interior Ministry reported that about 500 people had been arrested during the unauthorized rally on March 26. Overall number of people present in the area at the time was estimated at as high as 8,000 people. One of the police officers received injuries; a criminal case was launched over this incident. According to the Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny, arrested during the rally, Moscow authorities refused to greenlight the rally in the citys center and proposed alternative areas only a day before it was to take place. Navalny said that in this case Russian legislation allows organizers to hold an event at the area, which was listed first. Appeal against bankruptcy of Russian tycoon Ismailov dismissed MOSCOW, August 8 (RAPSI) The Tenth Commercial Court of Appeals has dismissed an appeal filed by Russian tycoon Telman Ismailov against a lower courts ruling declaring him bankrupt, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday. On March 9, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Ismailov bankrupt and initiated procedure for sale of his property. The businessman appealed this ruling on July 11. On March 22, the court ruled to recover $331 million from Praga-AST, a firm owned by Ismailov, in favor of BM-Bank (formerly Bank of Moscow). The debt restructuring procedure against the tycoon was initiated by the bank in August 2016. This is not the first bankruptcy claim against Ismailov. In December 2015, the Moscow Region Commercial Court declared Ismailov bankrupt, according to the petition by a Russian citizen Boris Zubkov. The court ruled to begin the sale of Ismailovs property but the Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals cancelled this ruling based on the lack of evidence for transfer of money from Zubkov to Ismailov. Higher courts, including the Supreme Court, upheld the decision cancelling bankruptcy procedure. Telman Ismailov, who controls AST Group and is one of Russias richest men, clashed with law enforcement authorities in 2009 over the Cherkizovsky outdoor market, which evolved from a mere flea market into an industrial-scale distribution hub for Chinese imports during the oil boom. The market was closed after sanitary authorities found major violations. Antimonopoly cases against top Russian mobile operators set for September Context Russian antimonopoly watchdog launches case against largest mobile operators MOSCOW, August 8 (RAPSI) - The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) will consider cases against four Russian largest mobile operators over alleged violation of competition legislation on September 26, 28 and 29, the watchdog announced on Tuesday. The watchdog opened antimonopoly cases against MTS, MegaFon, VimpelCom (Beeline brand) and T2 Mobile (Tele2 brand) in late July. Earlier, the watchdog announced that actions of MTS, MegaFon, VimpelCom (Beeline brand) and T2 Mobile (Tele2 brand) may have violated the competition law by setting different prices for mobile phone service in customers home region and in roaming on the territory of Russia. The watchdog issued warnings to the mobile operators prompting them to eliminate unreasonable difference in prices within two weeks. As critical drought conditions plague North Dakota, producers in Michigan are stepping in to lend a hand. North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Agricultural Experiment Station have teamed up to organize relief efforts for struggling livestock producers within the state. A location near the Fargo campus has been designated as a hay donation drop-off site. Later, producers will be able to participate in a hay lottery that will determine who gets the donated hay. We have been contacted by a Michigan organization called Ag Community Relief which, along with other groups, is organizing a large-scale hay donation convoy to North Dakota in mid-August for the hay lottery, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says. We are so grateful to our friends in Michigan for everything they are doing for our producers. Ag Community Relief is a nonprofit organization based out of western Michigan and Michigans Thumb region that brings relief to farmers in need by assembling volunteers and donations. Called the Red Cross for farmers, this organization has garnered support for disasters such as the Southern Plains wildfires earlier this spring and other local tragedies. In order to participate in the lottery, North Dakota producers must own at least 25 animal unit equivalents of dairy cattle, beef cattle, or sheep, and be from a county experiencing D2, D3, or D4 drought based on the Drought Monitor designations. The first drawing for semi loads of hay will begin in early September. There will be two age categories for drawings, ages 35 and under, and ages 36 and above. Selected producers will be expected to arrange transportation of their hay from the NDSU site. Additional drawings will take place if more donations are made. We are thankful to NDSU for providing the space and staffing to make this possible, Goehring says. Producers looking to apply for the hay lottery can find applications on NDDAs website at www.nd.gov/ndda. To find out if an area qualifies, go to www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu. Questions about the application may be directed to 701-328-4764. The application deadline is August 31, 2017. Donations of hay or trucking services for the hay lottery are being accepted. Organizations or individuals willing to donate can call NDDAs Drought Hotline at 701-425-8454 for more information about delivery to the drop-off site. NDSU is trying to help our states ranchers and farmers in many ways, so the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station is pleased to help with this hay donation effort, says Greg Lardy, NDSU Animal Sciences Department head. To learn more about Michigans Ag Community Relief efforts, visit their Facebook page. Lauren Peterson Lauren Peterson is serving as the 2017 Hay & Forage Grower summer editorial intern. She is from Wyanet, Ill., and currently attends Kansas State University where she is pursuing a degree in agricultural communications and journalism. While at school, Lauren works at the KSU dairy farm and is an active member of the Horsemans Association. When President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change, California Gov. Jerry Brown, one of the agreements staunchest defenders, went straight to the capital. Only it wasnt Washingtonit was Beijing. Once there, Brown met with Chinese president Xi Jinping in the ornate Great Hall of the People and discussed the possibility of linking California to Chinas massive cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions. In both form and substance, Browns visit looked more like that of the leader of a country than an American state. And while the governors trip to China is not the first case of subnational involvement in foreign affairs, it highlights more clearly than most the pitfalls of devolving diplomacy below the national level. Many states, and several cities, including New York, established offices to promote trade and investment abroad as early as the 1970s, and often sponsor trade-promotion trips to foreign countries. These limited dealings with foreign countries have provoked little controversy. But in recent years, subnational diplomatic activity has expanded far beyond trade, and now includes much more contentious political issues that pit subnational against national policy positions. Climate change is perhaps the best example: since at least the early 2000s, mayors and governors in the United States, Europe, Brazil and elsewhere have pushed for much more aggressive climate policies than their own national governments, and subnational leaders were widely credited for building support for the Paris Agreement itself. Despite these achievements, the growing global ambitions of state and local leaders risk competing with, rather than complementing, traditional nation-state diplomacy. This is especially true for the United States, where subnational diplomacy has recently come into vogue as a counterweight to the Trump administrations isolationism. Governors ranging from Virginia Democrat Terry McAuliffe to Arkansas Republican Asa Hutchinson have carried messages abroad, usually promoting free trade, that run at least gently against the White House line. But despite their best intentions, in the world of diplomacy mayoral and gubernatorial assurances are a poor replacement for presidential ones. For American states, the problem is partly constitutional. In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that states cant pass laws that have even an incidental or indirect effect on foreign affairs, an area the constitution reserves mostly for the federal government. These legal limits mean recent subnational agreements are inherently weak: in order to pass constitutional muster, Californias climate accord with China, for instance, is explicitly nonbinding. The Congressional Research Service, meanwhile, recently cautioned that the Hawaii legislatures statement of support for the Paris Agreement might raise constitutional issues. Other countries have raised similar concerns about the involvement of subnational actors in foreign affairs. A 2014 Canadian government report warned, for example, that existing multilateral institutions, forums and agreements may be undermined by uncoordinated subnational diplomacy on the global stage. On a practical level, most subnational governments lack the expertise and resources needed to tackle complex international issues. Even for those that do, like California, implementation can be a real challenge. Despite hopes that Californias attempt to link its carbon market with Quebecs would raise carbon prices in both regions, prices remain stuck near the floor of $13 per ton of carbon dioxide, and the effort has been hobbled by different regulations, trade barriers, and other cross-border challenges. Sacramentos proposal to join Chinas much larger, more complex, emissions-trading system is likely to encounter even higher regulatory hurdles that it cant overcome without support from Washington. These barriers mean subnational actors are limited in their ability to address complex global challenges on their ownand it would be reckless to believe that they can. Instead, mayors, governors and other local leaders need to continue to work through national governments to build support for global initiatives, rather than around them. Subnational diplomacy is most effective when it supplements, rather than substitutes for, concerted national policies. This means that even when faced with an isolationist administration, mayors and governors concerned about climate change and other global issues cant simply side-step Washington. Rather, they should appeal to the Trump administrations stated goal of increasing exports, and press the economic case for federal assistance in forging clean-energy partnerships abroad, leveraging U.S. technology and expertise in the process. The administration, for its part, should recognize the value that subnational leaders can add to diplomacy, and restore Obama-era efforts to directly engage local leaders in foreign affairs. Devolving diplomacy to cities and states carries plenty of appeal, particularly when national capitals seem dysfunctional. But even in a globalized world, subnational diplomacy is no substitute for the real thing. When Kremlin proxies in eastern Ukraine declared the foundation of Malorossia in mid-July, most people laughed. This bizarre attempt to replace Ukraine with a Little Russian vassal state was seen as one more indication of how hopelessly out of touch Russian policymakers are with Ukrainian public opinion. However, at least one man in Moscow failed to see the funny side. Key Putin aide and Ukraine curator Vladislav Surkov called it a way of sparking debate within Ukraine while emphasizing that the Donbas is not fighting to separate from Ukraine but for the countrys future. Kyiv wants a pro-European utopia, he commented. The Donbas responds with Malorossia. Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced similarly optimistic sentiments during the July G20 summit in Hamburg, where he accused the Ukrainian leadership of trading in Russophobia and blamed a handful of Kyiv politicians for driving an artificial wedge between Russia and Ukraine. I am absolutely convinced the interests of Ukraine and Russia, of the Ukrainian and Russian people, fully match, he claimed, before accusing the West of preventing Ukraine and Russia from moving closer together at any cost. These developments provide insight into Moscows apparent delusions over the catastrophic loss of Russian influence in Ukraine since 2014. The Kremlin clings to the idea that a silent majority of pro-Russian Ukrainians lies ready and waiting, poised to take over the reins in Kyiv at the right moment and steer Ukraine back into the Kremlin orbit. Such wishful thinking is nothing new. On the contrary, it is consistent with Moscows historic characterization of the Ukrainian independence movement as the work of an extremist minority and their foreign backers. However, the events of the past few years have left Kremlin notions of Slavic solidarity looking more anachronistic than ever. Although Putin refuses to admit it, the sun is setting on centuries of Russian preeminence in Ukraine, and he has only himself to blame. When historians look back at the collapse of Russia-Ukraine relations, they will likely pinpoint the invasion of Crimea as the decisive moment. The 2014 military takeover of Ukraines southern peninsula and the subsequent Kremlin-led hybrid war in the east have forced Ukrainians into a fundamental reassessment of their attitudes toward Russia. It has poisoned bilateral ties and transformed what was essentially a trade dispute into the geopolitical divorce of the century. On a personal level, the impact has been particularly painful. Thousands of extended families living on both sides of the border are no longer on speaking terms. Lifelong friendships have fallen victim to the polarization of propaganda. As the conflict has dragged on, rivers of hate have created an entirely new topography, obliterating the blurred borders and casual sense of community that once drew Russians and Ukrainians together as kindred spirits in a wider world. On the national level, survey after survey has reflected a massive shift in Ukrainian public opinion. Formerly solid support for closer ties with Russia has evaporated, while membership of the European Union and NATO have become increasingly appealing. The war has proved a watershed moment in Ukraines nation-building experience, forcing Ukrainians to address issues of national identity after decades of post-Soviet ambiguity. Record numbers now self-identify as Ukrainians, with the rising profile of Russian-speaking Ukrainians one of the major social breakthroughs since 2014. Nobody talks about Russian fraternity anymore, except in the most bitterly sarcastic of terms. Many in Moscow will no doubt hope this violent swing in public opinion is reversible. After all, history is full of warring nations that rebuilt ties once the bloodletting stopped. France and Germany fought two world wars in the twentieth century before going on to serve as the twin engines of a united Europe. Britain and America came to blows in the late eighteenth century before eventually returning to the common ground that had once united them. Time will also eventually heal the wounds of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, but when the relationship does finally resume, it is likely to be on a strikingly different footing. One of the key problems facing the Kremlin in Ukraine is the loss a pro-Russian electorate. Moscow-leaning former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych relied heavily on voters from Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This electorate now finds itself disenfranchised by Putins hybrid war. Even if it proves possible to reintegrate Donetsk and Luhansk into the Ukrainian political system, these regions are unlikely to remain as uniformly pro-Russian as they once were. With almost two million internally displaced people currently experiencing different regions of Ukraine for the first time, the post-war political landscape in the Donbas is likely to be far more pluralistic. Generationally, the clock is also ticking against any future Ukrainian return to the Russian orbit. In both business and politics, Ukraine is currently in the hands of the last Soviet generation, many of whom were born in Russia, studied in Moscow, or did their Red Army service alongside Russians. This shared Soviet experience is foreign to the emerging generation of young Ukrainians. For them, the current conflict will serve as the definitive point of reference for all things Russian. Beyond politics, Russia finds itself without many of the levers it traditionally used to maintain its position in Ukraine. The Ukrainian governments ability to wean the country off its addiction to Russian gas has denied the Kremlin its weapon of choice, while Russias own embargo policies have robbed Moscow of the incentives inherent in blossoming bilateral trade. Losing access to Russian markets has been a painful and expensive experience for the Ukrainian economy, but there are signs that the worst is over. Ukrainian exporters are finding new partners in the EU and beyond. As they broaden their economic horizons, they will be in no hurry to return to Russian partners who operate as the business wing of the Kremlin. Russias political and economic reach in Ukraine are both in freefall, but the greatest setback for the Kremlin has come in the soft power sphere. Until the outbreak of war in 2014, Russia enjoyed enormous soft power influence in Ukraine. Ukrainians watched Russian TV channels and Russian-made TV serials. They flitted between Russian and Ukrainian websites while favoring Russian email and social media services. The Russian and Ukrainian celebrity worlds functioned as a single entity. Pop stars from both countries would perform on the same concert circuit before starring together in joint New Year gala celebrations. In this sense more than any other, Kremlin assertions that Ukraine was part of a wider Russian world were largely accurate. Over the past three years, this situation has changed dramatically. Ukraine has banned Russian TV channels and social media platforms, while Ukrainian channels face severe restrictions on the Russian-made content they can broadcast. Many Kremlin-friendly Russian pop stars are no longer welcome in Ukraine, while Ukrainian stars who choose to continue touring Russian cities risk pariah status at home. None of these bans is absolute, of course. For example, many Ukrainians continue to access Russian social media and Russian TV content through online resources. However, the boundary between Russian and Ukrainian media landscapes is now clearer than ever, while the prevailing mood in Ukraine is encouraging more people to opt for homegrown media. It is not difficult to imagine why Moscow is so reluctant to recognize the decisive decline of Russias position in Ukraine. Since assuming the presidency in 1999, Putin has sought to reassert Russias superpower status and the regional dominance lost during the 1990s. Losing control over Russias most important imperial outpost does not fit into this narrative. Nevertheless, the odds appear stacked against any Russian revival in Ukraine. In the short term, this will mean a continuation of the low-level fighting in eastern Ukraine. In the longer term, the eclipse of Russian domination offers Ukraine the opportunity to reach its true potential as a sovereign nation. Russia may have lost the war of Ukrainian independence, but Ukraine has yet to win. Two recent stories out of Washington reinforced the impression that U.S. President Donald Trumps administration will not promote democracy abroad. First came word that those redrafting the State Departments mission statement are cutting out any language about democracy as a foreign-policy goal. Second, it was revealed that the departments leadership is dragging its feet about hosting the long-planned ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies in Washington next month. The United States for two years has presided over this organization of countries committed to supporting democratization and was instrumental in its creation in 2000, but Washington appears to have lost interest since January. These stories reinforce the narrative that the president would rather side with authoritarians of all stripes. Considering the news from the State Department, it is safe to say that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is aligned with Trump on this. (It will be interesting to see what the administrations National Security Strategy will say on this topic when it is eventually released.) A lot hangs on the administrations requested budget cuts, in addition to its plan to fold the U.S. Agency for International Development into the State Department. Indications are that the U.S. Congress will defend foreign assistance spending, but this will likely still take a hit. The administration also might slow-roll the use of any mandated democracy spending. The revelation that the State Departments leadership is not willing to spend $80 million allocated by Congress for countering Russian and other propaganda shows how this would happen. In recent weeks, news stories from around the world have also accused President Trump of effectively giving the green light to different regimes to up their undemocratic game. This trend paints Trump as the anti-Gorbachev, a president whose foreign trips embolden governments from Egypt and Bahrain to Poland and Vietnam to crack down on opposition groups, civil society, and independent judiciaries. But while a complete U.S. abandonment of democracy promotion and the rhetoric of the president will certainly give comfort to authoritarian or illiberal leaders everywhere, Donald Trumps real damage to democracys worldwide prospects is being done at home. Just as it is naive to give America too much credit for democratic breakthroughs, there is no determinant effect to the words Trump speaks in Riyadh, Warsaw, or Washington. Of course, authoritarians everywhere note what the president says and take comfort. They like that he speaks of sovereignty and that he says he will not tell others what to do at home. Authoritarian leaders sense that America First can live comfortably next to their versions of Russia First, China First, and Turkey First. It is no surprise that the poster boy for illiberal democracy in Europe, Hungarys Viktor Orban, notes approvingly that America now has a leader who shares his ideas. But this is just icing on the cake for such regimes. They do not need to be encouraged to do what they do, and in most cases they would do it (and were doing it) regardless of who sits in the White House. Trumps words may affirm them in their sense of impunity, but they are more than capable of deciding by themselves how and when to pursue their undemocratic goals. To best understand the damage Trump is doing to global democracy, focus on Washington itself. During his inaugural address, the president said: We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow. It would perhaps not be too cynical to see this as lip service to an idea as old as the United States itself. But actually Trump should be taken at his word and judged exactly for what example his presidency sets for others around the world. Like Americas ability to directly shape politics abroad, the notion that the country can help bring about change by the strength of its example can often be overstated. Yet there is no doubt that the conduct of the greatest powers in their own domestic affairs shapes the global climate within which others make their own choices. That being the case, it is hard to escape the conclusion that the actions of the president and many of those closest to him have greatly devalued the American example in the eyes of the world. It is not just a question of the internal administrative chaos that brings mocking comparisons to banana republics. The erosion of rule-of-law norms around the Russia affair, the secrecy and expediency of the legislative maneuvers to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the ethical challenges and conflicts of interest, the presidents politicized talk in nonpartisan forums, such as in addressing the military -- all of these things are noted abroad. And by tarnishing the image of American democracy, these measures tarnish that of democracy in general. Whether through carelessness, incompetence, or intent, Donald Trump is doing more than making his presidency a laughingstock abroad. His tenure so far -- an unsettling mix of authoritarian parody and serious corrosion of democratic norms -- devalues the United States claim to set an example to others. It also makes it much easier for autocrats everywhere to reject the notion that democracy leads to better government. Property details: NO RESERVE!!! 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Several local delegates to the tribes legislature joined Tribal Chairman Alvin A.J Not Afraid in strongly condemning an epidemic of meth and related violence plaguing the Crow Reservation, which they blamed for the Friday shooting that left three tribal members from Lodge Grass dead and two other people injured. Theres still lots of respectable people in the Lodge Grass community, and this event has tarnished us, Not Afraid said. The town hall meeting took place less than a day after an early-morning fire destroyed the one-story house where tribal officials have said a meth-related dispute ended in the killing of three people who entered the home. Leslie Frank Nomee Jr., 27, his wife Denise Stewart Nomee, 25, and Nehemiah Brokenrope, 30, were killed in a gunfight Friday. Two other people were injured, one of whom was still hospitalized Monday. The fire, which started late Monday night or early Tuesday, was reported to the Big Horn County rural fire department at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. It happened during a 9 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew imposed by tribal authorities following the shooting that remains in effect. I think that each one of us is affected one way or another, either by a family member or a friend on meth, Tribal Sen. Tyson GrosVentre, whose district includes Lodge Grass, told the crowd. Its getting to the point where its getting out of control. Theyve got guns, they steal from their family to get money. He was joined in condemning the reservations drug problem by another local representative, Sen. Tom Yellowtail, who introduced a proposal to enter into negotiations with state and federal agencies and Montanas congressional delegation to request resources to add officers to the tribes police department. Yellowtail said that at times, only two or three officers are on duty to patrol the roughly 2.2-million acre reservation. If an arrest is made, he added, that leaves only one or two law enforcement officials while the arresting officer drives the suspect to the detention facility in Lame Deer, located on the adjacent Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The legislature is your voice, Yellowtail told the residents. But we cant speak for you if no one comes to our meetings, if not one talks to us. Not Afraid also focused on growing law enforcement presence on the reservation and suggested diverting more money from the tribes general fund to that end. He said he had spoken with Gov. Steve Bullock about possibly bringing the National Guard in to the reservation to assist what he characterized as meth-fueled violence on the reservation, where a 9 p.m. curfew remains in place following last weeks shooting. But he also urged increased community involvement in combating crime, asking more residents to join a community watch task force his administration has begun organizing in response to the slayings. He added that the tribe needs to be compassionate toward those addicted to meth and other drugs. The end result is rehab, he said. The end result is a life for those people, because they are Crow. FBI Senior Supervisory Agent Travis Burrows said the investigation the agency is conducting into the shootings was ongoing, with no suspects publicly identified or arrested, but that the FBI was not investigating the fire. He did not know the cause of the fire. The Big Horn County Sheriff's Office said any investigation into the fire would be led by the county fire department. The county's fire chief, Matt Redden, was responding to a wildfire on Tuesday and was unavailable to comment. Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott are open to having a sixth child. ADVERTISEMENT The 44-year-old reality star and 50-year-old television personality discussed the possibility of baby No. 6 during son Beau's red carpet debut at the Big City Moms Biggest Family Shower Ever event on Sunday in Los Angeles. "Everything is so good," Spelling told E! News. "It's been a blessing having baby Beau. I think not just for our family but for us. Our love has grown stronger. My husband definitely has a lot of patience." "Never say never," McDermott said of having more kids. "Our hands are pretty full right now, so we'd like to just enjoy the little ones we have right now. It's absolute insanity ... It's a happy, crazy, loving chaos." Spelling and McDermott share 10-year-old Liam, 9-year-old Stella, 5-year-old Hattie, 4-year-old Finn and 6-month-old Beau, while McDermott is also dad to 18-year-old Jack. Spelling previously discussed the possibility of another child following Beau's birth in March. "All my kids have their little pair, so I could be open to one more," the star told People the next month. "Hey, if people call you the Brady Bunch, you have to complete the Brady Bunch." "I forgot how much I loved being pregnant," she shared. "I love the connection. You are never alone." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Spelling is known for playing Donna Martin on "Beverly Hills, 90210," and has since starred on the reality show "True Tori." McDermott portrayed Renfield Turnbull on "Due South," and now hosts "Chopped Canada." Want to make a difference and take care of natural resources while living in a dorm, but not quite sure how? Follow these nine tips that will help you reduce, reuse and recycle, college-style. Many say N R Narayana Murthy returned to Infosys only because it was floundering. Ironically, that itself can be interpreted as the great man's biggest failure. It's inconceivable that he wasn't able to groom a single leader in his two decades at the helm. Shyamal Majumdar on the pitfalls of 'Founder's Syndrome'. IMAGE: N R Narayana Murthy with Infosys CEO and MD Vishal Sikka, left. Photograph: PTI Photo. Why Narayana Murthy is angry with Infosys N R Narayana Murthy never ceases to surprise -- the latest was his comment that leaving Infosys in 2014 was the biggest regret of his life. This was a disappointing statement from a man who had, in the past, spoken endlessly about the need for India Inc to have truly independent boards and an empowered professional management. Infosys has a board, comprising some of the leading names in Indian industry, and a managing director whom Murthy hand-picked -- yet, the co-founder chooses to make a public statement about his 'regret' of leaving early. The signal that goes out to the world outside is his lack of confidence in the board and the management. Murthy has already made sure that the world knows about his unhappiness with the current Infosys chairman and the way the company is being run, following which the company took a series of actions to address his concerns. But just when everybody thought the issues had been resolved, Murthy dropped another bombshell, making it obvious he remains extremely unhappy. It's not that Murthy had left Infosys in 2014 in a hurry. It was his second coming (he had retired in 2011 as non-executive chairman) after a desperate Infosys turned to him for guidance and made him executive chairman in 2013. In the process, he joined a long list of founders such as Michael Dell, Steve Jobs and Howard Schultz in the entrepreneurial hall of fame. Like Murthy, all of them returned to the companies they had started after either retiring or being ousted from them. But in the process, Murthy, who was known for his obsession with following the company's rules, returned to the company in an executive capacity even though he was well past the age of 65, Infosys's official retirement age. The moot point is what exactly Murthy is trying to achieve with his public outbursts against the board and the management, apart from forcing them to be on the defensive. Infosys co-chairman Ravi Venkatesan, who is said to be close to Murthy, has been working hard to get the promoters and the management working together as 'one Infosys' and not operating in different pockets. One wonders whether those efforts have yielded any result. Also read: The other problems at Infosys Many say Murthy came back to Infosys in 2014 only because the company was floundering at that point. Ironically, that itself can be interpreted as the great man's biggest failure. It's inconceivable that he wasn't able to groom a single leader in the two decades that he was at the helm. And finally, when a managing director is brought in from outside, the founders wait for two years, and then go all out to issue a series of public statements about their concerns with the way the company is being run. The point is that making yourself indispensable is a skill that a large number of leaders seem to have perfected into a fine art. Corporate history has shown us how founders are great at starting and building, but usually terrible at letting go and allowing the organisation to grow into a second phase of life without them, with a different leader at the helm. And it's not about Murthy. Research has found that a majority of leaders love to think -- and force others to think -- that they are simply indispensable. What's worse, after they leave, they have zero tolerance for any deviation from the norms set by them. In the process, they ignore the momentous changes in the external environment. It's nobody's case that these leaders haven't done much -- they are all super brilliant, have given everything to work, and have left a huge impact on their respective organisations. One only wishes they also learnt how to let go. It's called Founder's Syndrome, which occurs when an organisation operates primarily according to the personality of a key person such as the founder, rather than focused on its overall mission. It's tricky if the founder is a visionary, highly charismatic and has a strong personality. And a strong founder in the background is even more problematic -- the CEO he has helped appoint will all the time try to second-guess the founder. An organisation can't be run in the belief that the founder will be around forever. So, the questions the founders should ask are: Have they prepared the organisation to survive and thrive without their presence? Can they think of leaving? If the answer is 'no', then the founders have somehow made the organisation about themselves, rather than about the mission. The government plans to construct cruise terminals in Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Kochi and Chennai. Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore reports. Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin J Gadkari blamed the bureaucrats -- apart from the media, a "microscopic minority of NGOs" and court cases -- for causing delays in the completion of development projects. "We have only five years, you have 58," the minister berated top-ranking bureaucrats present at the preview of 'The Dawn Of Cruise Tourism In India' in Mumbai on Tuesday, August 8, which the minister said has the potential to generate Rs 35,500 crore (Rs 355 billion) in revenue in the next five years. "We have to make decisions on such projects and get them up and running within five years," Gadkari added, looking at Maharashtra's Chief Secretary Sumit Mullick; Sanjay Bhatia, chairman, Mumbai Port Trust; Rashmi Verma, secretary, minister of tourism, and Ravi Kant, secretary, shipping. "Bureaucrats are responsible for delays, not ministers," Gadkari said, citing his experience as the public works minister in Maharashtra between 1995 and 1999 when he successfully oversaw the completion of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and 55 flyovers in Mumbai, each at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion), but could not get the Bandra-Worli Sea Link done because of opposition to the project from local fishermen, environmentalists and court cases that led to escalation of costs by several thousand crore rupees when it was finaly completed in June 2009. Not limiting himself to castigating the bureaucrats, Gadkari, who, ironically, a few minutes earlier had berated the media for writing "six column reports" against development projects, urged the media to "expose the bureaucratic system." Asked if berating public servants from a public platforms could demoralise bureaucrats, Gadkari said, "It is your job to do that. You do it." The government, Gadkari said, will construct cruise terminals at five ports -- Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Kochi and Chennai. Quoting from a project report prepared by consultants Bermelo & Ajamil and Ernst & Young, Gadkari said, India's cruise tourism would bring 4 million international tourists to India against just 200,000 today. According to this report, once the infrastructure is in place, 955 cruise liners will visit India every year compared to just 158 now, the passengers per ship will jump from 1,250 to 4,200 and would be able to generate Rs 35,500 crore of revenue against just Rs 712 crore (Rs 7.12 billion) today. Besides, hundreds of thousands of young Indians will get employment in the tourism industry and these figures are for just five ports. 80 per cent of the cruise liners will dock in Mumbai and this will immensely benefit the financial capital of the country. "In the next 15 days we will begin construction of a Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) cruise terminal in Mumbai with the provision to make three cruise liners dock at the same time in future," Gadkari said. The Mumbai cruise terminal will be completed in two years, he added. "According to this report any international tourist visiting Mumbai via these cruise liners will have the potential to spend at least $100 and if 40 lakh tourists, each, were to spend this amount on an average in Mumbai, then just imagine the revenue potential of this project," Gadkari said. "We studied the Singapore tourism cruise model to find solutions for problems of immigration, customs, health, security," the minister added. The company responsible for creating 80 per cent of global project reports for cruise tourism was given the contract. "Based on its report," Gadkari said, "we have solved almost every possible problem that could obstruct the growth of cruise tourism in India." Photograph: Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters Persistent, L&T Technology and TechM named among leading service providers Indian information technology (IT) services companies now own about two-fifth of the global Internet of Things (IoT) market. In all, about 43 per cent or $1.5 billion of the global $3.5 bn market, says a report by research and strategy consultancy Zinnov Zones. The share in Western Europe and North America is 27 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. The report listed TCS, Wipro, Infosys, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Persistent, Genpact and L&T Technologies among the global leading innovators and market leaders in IoT. Companies were classified into nurture, breakout, execution and leadership zones, based on various competencies. The rankings were also based on which companies chose to respond to the survey queries within the mandated time frame. Managed IoT services are expected to see the fastest growth, at a compounded annual rate (CAGR) of 23.5 per cent. Translating to Rs 2,036 crore of annual business for Indian companies. Product engineering has the largest share of Indian IoT services, with Rs 4,168 crore (Rs 41.68 billion) business in 2017. "Companies not in the list don't necessarily mean they aren't good but there could have been issues in responding to the survey. Most of the big names in the IoT space from the services standpoint have been covered," said Sidhant Rastogi, partner at Zinnov. L&T Technologies, TATA Elxsi, Persistent Systems, L&T Infotech and Happiest Minds have moved significantly over the past year in rankings among Indian providers, he added. The three top Indian IT service firms -- TCS, Infosys and Wipro -- garner less than 20 per cent of their revenue from digital technology-based services, including IoT. The report says 76 per cent of total IoT revenue is generated by the top 20 of its service providers globally. Growth of Asian markets is likely to lessen over the next five years, with an expected CAGR of 17 per cent; the North American market is expected to show 21 per cent. While HARMAN Connected Services leads the overall list, TCS, HCL, Wipro and Tech Mahindra remained neck to neck across categories. Pune- based Persistent Systems broke into the leadership zones for Platform and Application Competency', 'Big Data Management' and 'Analytics Services'. "The Persistent Flywheel framework is accelerating development and adoption of IoT systems by focusing on end-to-end solutions, including aspects like ecosystem development and monetisation," said Sanjeev Srivastava, senior vice-president, IoT, at Business Persistent. L&T Technologies broke into five new categories compared to the 2016 ratings, with presence across platform and application competency, advisory and consulting, system integration, communications competency and big data. Bengaluru was the top location in India for IoT processes. Photograph: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters The strike call is over privatisation, mergers, and also due to write-off of corporate NPAs, criminalisation of willful default Around one million bank employees and officers will go on strike on August 22, following a call by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which consists of all the nine bank unions. The UFBU is criticising the government's decision to privatise public sector banks, mergers and consolidation of banks, and write off corporate Non-Performing Assets(NPAs) and demanding to declare willful default of bank loans as a criminal offence, implement recommendations of the parliamentary committee on the recovery of NPAs. The Union also wants the government to ensure accountability of top Management/executives for bad loans and put in place stringent measures to recover bad loans and withdraw proposed Financial resolution and deposit insurance (FRDI) Bill, abolish Banks Board Bureau and not to pass on the burden of corporate NPAs on bank customers by hiking charges. C H Venkatachalam, general secretary, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) said UFBU has observed that instead of taking urgent remedial measures to recover the alarmingly increasing bad loans which are threatening to drive the banks into a serious crisis, the steps like MOU, PCA, FRDI Bill, NPA Ordnance, IBC, etc. are only aimed to clean the balance sheets at the cost of the banks which represent the hard earned savings of the people rather than to recover the money, he alleged. While denying the Public Sector Banks of adequate capital thus restricting their business expansion, licences are freely being given to the corporate houses to open private banks, small banks and payment banks, thus weakening the Public Sector Banks, Venkatachalam said. The Union urged for tough measures, including criminal action on willful defaulters to recover the huge bad loans given to the corporate houses, big business and top industrialists. "It is also observed that the burden of the corporate NPAs are put on the shoulders of the common public and banking clientele in the form of hike in fees, charges, penalties, etc. for every type of normal banking services. Recently, SBI and Bank of Baroda have reduced the rate of interest on savings deposits," said the Union. Photograph: PTI Photo Congratulations to Attorney General Tim Fox for his 11 percent raise and new annual salary of $137,000. At the same time however, the budgets for the Montana Historical Society and the Montana State Library have been cut severely. The Historical Society is slated to lose $1.2 million in support over the next biennium, forcing the layoff of eight employees and curtailing the hours of many more. The Republican legislature could have avoided these cuts to basic services by instituting increased taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and the bed tax, but they refused. Because of their inaction local libraries around the state will be forced to cut services and the primary work of documenting our states history and assisting local museums will suffer. Why are the salaries of some of Montanas highest paid officials being afforded additional compensation while basic statewide programs are slashed? It may be 2017, but the thumb rule 'uska baap kaun hai, maloom hai kya?' still dominates India, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com As a teenager I wanted to learn swimming, but there were few opportunities available. There was no swimming pool in the area where I lived and the closest pool was 5 kilometres away. That pool was run by the municipality and I had heard it handed out a measly number of entry passes for people to swim. When I arrived at the pool with a friend there were no passes available. I pleaded with the man at the counter, but he turned me down, saying, "The passes are exhausted." My friend and I waited at the gates of the swimming pool for three hours, but no luck. We could hear people enjoying themselves in the pool. Later, we saw affluent children emerge from the pool in their swimming trunks. My friend and me, our swimming trunks stayed in the plastic bag. We never got an opportunity to wear them. I realised that day how India operates. If you are someone with clout, you are 'in' the system. If not, you are 'out' of it. "Why can't we be like those teenagers who are coming out of the pool?" I asked my friend. His reply is something I have remembered all my life: "Uska baap kaun hai, maloom hai kya? (Do you know who their fathers are?)" Those rich kids, he said, had either used their parents' clout or money to corner the limited passes available at the swimming pool, denying us access to the municipal-run aquatic facility. That was the India of the 1980s. During the 1990s, I once saw a police constable with a weapon outside my college classroom. I wondered what the policeman was doing there. I discovered later that Pankaj, a class mate of mine, was being guarded thus. Chhagan Bhujbal, Pankaj's dad, had defected from the Shiv Sena to join the Congress party and Pankaj was being given protection lest Sena reprisals ensued. A college friend reiterated the line I had heard at the swimming pool some years earlier: "Uska baap kaun hai maloom hai kya?" When I became a journalist, I discovered that a television channel was hiring children of well connected bureaucrats. These hires had easy access to the capital's babus courtesy their parents, helping them get quickly ahead in their careers. The 'Uska baap kaun hai, maloom hai kya?' Syndrome in action. During my forays into film journalism, I met a beautiful actress. She was very sweet, and -- unlike her haughty peers -- humble. She had come in from New York and was not of Indian origin. A year later, I heard she was dating an actor, the son of a leading movie mogul. "Uska baap kaun hai, maloom hai kya?" a colleague explained when I asked how she -- one of the prettiest women I have known -- could have fallen for an unsuccessful actor. In show business, the thumb rule to get the big break is the 'baap kaun hai maloom hai kya?'. Everyone knows it. Everyone bows down to it. That is why I for one was not surprised when Karan Johar, Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan made fun of Kangana Ranaut at an awards function overseas. Kangana is an outsider. Her parents are not Bollywood aristocracy like the father-mother-father of the Johar-Khan-Dhawan trio. Would J-K-D take on the as-outspoken-as-Kangana Sonam Kapoor? No chance! You know why? 'Uska baap kaun hai, maloom hai kya?.' Sonam's dad is Anil Kapoor, the enduring Bollywood legend. With Narendra Modi's Lincolnesque rise to the prime ministership in May 2014, I thought that Indians would no longer give a crap for this 'Uska baap kaun hai maloom hai kya' business. Has anyone seen a photograph of Damodardas Mulchand Modi, the prime minister's late father? I haven't seen one yet. You may wonder why I keep reiterating the 'Uska baap kaun hai, maloom hai kya' line. The reason being, this weekend, my belief in it was confirmed yet again. When Vikas Barala tried to stop a young woman in the middle of the night, presumably with dubious intentions. Vikas's father is Subhash Barala, president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Haryana. BJP President Amit Shah was in Haryana last weekend and he extolled the virtues of the Manohar Lal (nee Khattar) government, citing how different it was from the Congress and Indian National Lok Dal governments that preceded it. Maybe Amitbhai was right, I thought when I heard of the dark incident. Maybe Manohar Lal's BJP government would not be daunted by Vikas' links to the party and deliver justice to the young woman. But no. At least not yet. No serious charges have been filed against Vikas, who has already been freed on bail. Why, you ask? Surely, you know the answer. 'Uska baap kaun hai, maloom hai kya?.' The bogey of the 1962 defeat must be laid to rest with a finality that is unquestionable. The myth of Chinese invincibility is a tall tale that belongs to an era gone by, argues Vivek Gumaste. China appears to have taken its symbolic representation as a scary, fire-breathing dragon a tad too seriously, full of the the belief that the moment it arches its body upright and spews verbal tinder, its neighbours including India will cower in fear and do its bidding. The incessant and frenzied drumbeats of war emanating from China vis-a-vis the Doklam dispute are becoming shriller by the day; a vituperative, self-serving narrative that is a strange admixture of sanctimonious hectoring, crude outright bullying that seeks to demoralise India by repeated references to India's humiliating military defeat of 1962, and a military bluster that is more speculative than tested. An editorial in the official Chinese newspaper the Global Times ('Modi mustn't pull India into reckless conflict,' August 4, 2017) upped the ante even further by threatening to 'annihilate all Indian troops in the border region' and re-emphasised its supposedly overwhelming dominance. 'India is publicly challenging a country that is far superior in strength. It is a war with an obvious result.' 'The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be aware of the PLA's overwhelming firepower and logistics, the PLA is perfectly capable of annihilating all Indian troops in the border region.' 'The Modi government should stop lying to its people that "India in 2017 is different from India in 1962". The gap in national strength between the two countries is the largest in the past 50 years.' But is the hiatus between the two countries 'the largest in the past 50 years'? The answer is resoundingly in the negative; more a reflection of China's own delusions of grandeur than an objective assessment. The military debacle of 1962 sparked a comprehensive overhaul of India's army. Today India is a nuclear armed power with the third largest army in the world and an air force and navy comparable to world standards. The military disparity of 1962 has all but vanished. The India of 2017 is no pushover. China's supposed military superiority is merely a play of numbers; a simplistic inference that equates surfeit of weaponry with military advantage, failing to factor in other vital elements like combat experience, functional capabilities and logistic geographical advantage. In terms of combat experience India holds the edge. The Indian Army has been engaged in two full-fledged wars and one limited but significant conflict with Pakistan since 1962; in two of these three India scored decisive victories, with the 1971 War being a magnificent display of India's military prowess and execution. Compared to this China's forays into the battlefield since 1962 have produced mixed if not disappointing results. Barely five years after 1962, Indian forces inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chinese army during a border skirmish at Nathu La and Cho La; over 400 Chinese soldiers died compared to 80 to 100 Indian casualties; a clear reflection of the changing military equation between China and India that was noticed by several China watchers. M Taylor Fravel, an associate professor at MIT, refers to 'the declining claim strength in China's decision to initiate the use of force' against India after the Nathu La and Cho La clashes in his book, Strong Borders, Secure Nation (Princeton University Press, 2008). More telling is the story of the 1979 Sino-Vietnam war. It was a military debacle of gargantuan proportions, both in terms of casualties as well objectives as this report in The Diplomat indicates (Nguyen Minh Quang, The Bitter Legacy of the 1979 China-Vietnam War, February 23, 2017): 'Scholars like Gerald Segal, Bruce Elleman, and Carlyle Thayer agreed that China's 1979 war was a complete failure. First, Deng (Xiaoping) and his generals failed to induce Vietnam to withdraw regular forces from Cambodia. Second, Beijing also sought to engage main force Vietnamese units near the border.' 'But Vietnam largely held its main forces in reserve and mainly used its militia and local forces to defend against China; thereby China further failed to dispel its image as a paper tiger'... Even the death toll underlined China's frailty: Over 28,000 Chinese died and 43,000 were wounded, compared to less than 10,000 Vietnamese fatalities. A comparison of current military strength reveals mixed results: More gray than the black and white China would like us to believe. China's superiority in missiles and land warfare is more than offset by India's advantage in other areas. World experts are of the view that the Indian Air Force, despite having a smaller number of aircraft, is more than a match for China. India's air force is in a better position to contest the skies than their Chinese counterparts. India'air fleet of 230 Su-30Mk1 Flankers, 69 MiG-29s and even its Mirage 2000s are competitive to or even better than most of China's aircraft in theatre, at least until the J-20 fighter becomes operational. India likely has enough aircraft to deal with a two-front war, facing off with Pakistan's air force at the same time. (Kyle Mizokami, The National Interest, May 27, 2017). India's trump card is its logistic geographical advantage that has the potential to strangle China's military thrust and disrupt its economy. China imports over half of its oil from Venezuela and oil-rich nations in Africa and the Middle East; 80 percent of this oil transits the Indian Ocean and the Straits of Malacca -- a 'choke point' that India has the ability to exploit with its powerful naval base in the Andaman islands. Kyle Mizokami, writing in The National Interest (If 2.6 Billion People Go To War: India vs China, May 27, 2017) warns: 'The war at sea would be the decisive front in a conflict between the two countries. Sitting astride the Indian Ocean, India lies on China's jugular vein. The Indian Navy, with its force of submarines, aircraft carrier the INS Vikramaditya and surface ships could easily curtail the flow of trade between China and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 'It would take the Chinese navy weeks to assemble and sail a fleet capable of contesting the blockade. Even then, the blockade would be hard to break up, conducted over thousands of square miles of the Indian Ocean.' It may sound like a stretch, but India does possess the hypothetical ability to bring China's much vaunted economy to a grinding halt. India is less vulnerable and stronger than what it was in 1962. The bogey of the 1962 defeat must be laid to rest with a finality that is unquestionable. The myth of Chinese invincibility is a tall tale that belongs to an era gone by. So, India need not be overtly nervous about China's jingoistic sabre-rattling. India must take a pragmatic approach and stand firm; a stance that sends a clear message to China that its days of trampling over a meek, acquiescent India is over, with the disclaimer that India does not wish to rival China or engage in a military conflict with it. To defuse the situation, China must instead demonstrate its goodwill by facilitating India's entry into the NSG group, endorse the UN designation of Masood Azhar as a terrorist (as recently as August 2, China continued its technical hold on the matter) and tone down its proxy war with India via Pakistan. A military clash between the two nuclear Asian giants will not be a replay of 1962. In fact it will be a disastrous entanglement of apocalyptic proportions for both countries, the region and even the world if allies and other competing interests become a part of that equation; not to speak of its impact on world economy and humongous casualties on both sides. But it will not the one-sided walkover without any repercussions that China envisions. To avert such a scenario, China must heed the reality of 2017 and speak the language of the new world order: Mutual cooperation that benefits both countries. Photograph: Reuters. With the presidential elections over, the time has come for Prime Minister Modi to show Tamil Nadu that the state's interests are safe under him, says R Rajagopalan. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami gifts a bouquet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photograph: PTI Photo Tamil Nadu politics has become very difficult to analyse these days, as it is fast changing not only day by day, but hour by hour. For the first time in the history of the state, the ruling party has split into three factions -- one headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, one by former CM O Panneerselvam and a third led by T T V Dinakaran. All these three groupings are formidable forces. Interestingly, each is spying on the other two. Therefore, politicking has become more of a business than to run the government and administration or to concentrate on strengthening the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Whether these three factions are able to keep their vote bank intact should be left on an election. But right now, all three have prostrated before Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After party supremo Jayalalithaa's demise, leaders of the three factions have made frequent visits to New Delhi, to be seen with Modi. Officially, the answer could be the presidential and vice-presidential elections, in which they were supporting the National Democratic Alliance candidates. Since the elections are now over, Modi will be obliged to return the favour to Tamil Nadu. But, lets leave these probabilities here and focus on the AIADMK factions. AIADMK: A divided house Let's first talk about the strength of each faction. Chief Minister Palaniswami heads the state government and controls over 95-100 MLAs. They are with him simply because he wields power. Panneerselvam, on the other hand -- due to his simplicity and for raising his voice against Sasikala -- has much of the AIADMK cadre and district units with him. Dinakaran, meanwhile, as the deputy general secretary of the party, controls party funds that run into crores. So, EPS has power, OPS controls the cadre, and Dinakaran is sitting over huge party funds. The late chief minister Jayalalithaa dented Dravidian culture. She not only ensured that her partymen prostrate before her, but also encouraged the worship of deities in temples. She could do this because of her strong leadership. She was the only leader who could win votes for AIADMKs alliance partners. DMK: A weak Opposition? The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which was once a strong political outfit and a formidable opposition, is losing its strength after party patriarch M Karunanidhi's hospitalisation and a feud within the family. That is why M K Stalin and the DMK were unsuccessful in rising to the occasion and dislodging the weakest AIADMK government so far. Despite having 90 MLAs in the state assembly, the DMK failed in politicking. Public sympathy is not with Karunanidhi or the DMK due to various corruption charges against the party. The AIADMK might have split in three camps, but so far, after the demise of Jayalalithaa, not one of the senior AIADMK leaders has crossed over to the DMK. Though the AIADMK leaders fight among themselves, they are not ready to give a leverage to Stalin, because the party was born on an anti-Karunanidhi sentiment. Other opposition parties Lets talk about other political parties who are supposed to be strong at the district-level. Pattali Makkal Katchi, a Vanniyar caste outfit, is powerful in six districts. But Jayalalithaa, in the 2016 assembly polls, trounced it to zero. Similarly, Captain Vijayakant's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam was also crushed by the Jayalalithaa wave that swept the state in 2016. Now these two parties are finding it difficult to hold their ground. The situation of the two national parties -- the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress -- is also not very good. These two parties have no roots in the state. Nor do they have an organisation at the district-level. The result is the BJP is not in a position to capitalise on the Modi wave. Can AIADMK rely on Modi? The combination of Modi and Jayalalithaa has always been a forceful one. Jayalalithaa was one of the first non-BJP leaders to support Modi in the aftermath of the 2002 Godhra train-burning incident and the subsequent riots. Modi hasnt forgotten this. Thats why he not only attended Jayalalithaas funeral but was also present at her swearing-in ceremonies in the past. Similarly, Jayalalithaa also went to Gandhinagar to participate in Modis swearing-in ceremonies. This combination worked very well for Tamil Nadu. They had a common enemy in the Congress and its chief Sonia Gandhi. Modi as prime minister supported Jallikattu and a special ordinance was promulgated to facilitate the bull-taming sport. Modi also tried to resolve the NEET examination controversy when thousands of students were outraged over a technical and legal hitch. As things stand, with the presidential elections over, the time has come for him to show Tamil Nadu that the state's interests are safe under him. R Rajagopalan is a senior journalist in New Delhi who has been reporting on Tamil Nadu affairs for decades. Lalu also said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has committed political suicide by joining hands with the BJP. M I Khan reports from Patna. Days after an attack on Rahul Gandhis convoy in Gujarat, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lau Prasad Yadav on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of trying to kill the Congress vice-president. "The BJP-RSS want to get rid of Rahul Gandhi. They wan to kill him," Lalu said in a press conference in Patna. However, Lalu refused to divulge more over his serious charge against the RSS-BJP by saying that he will say more in coming days. Lalu further said the RSS-BJP have a single agenda to target opposition. As a part of this conspiracy, me and my family have been targeted by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) , the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and the I-T (Income Tax) departments, the former Bihar chief minister said. Lalu also attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for walking out of the Grand Alliance government and said the Janta Dal-United leader has committed "political suicide" by joining hands with the BJP. Tejaswi Yadav, who is now the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, will lead the RJD campaign 'Janadesh Apman Yatra' from Motihari in East Champaran along with his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav across Bihar from Wednesday. Nitish Kumar was talking about RSS-free India till few months back. But now he is sitting in the lap of the RSS-BJP, Tejashwi said. Tejashwi will tell the people about betrayal of Nitish. He will also invite people to attend the RJDs August 27 rally in Patna against the BJP, Lalu said. CHENOA It was Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue who was asking the questions Monday afternoon, as he met several Central Illinois farmers on a five-state tour of the Midwest. During a stop at the Evergreen FS Plant, the U.S. Agriculture Department head was introduced to Stanley Weeks, a 90-year-old farmer from the Chenoa area. How long have you been digging in the dirt with your hands? Perdue asked. Weeks answered that he remembers farming back in the days where horses did most of the work and not tractors. Still, it was Weeks who walked away impressed. Its a real honor to meet him, Weeks said. Thats a real thrill. Hes a real friendly man. Weeks was one of about 75 farmers on hand in Chenoa, as part of Perdues Back to Our Roots RV tour. He made previous stops in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. He will visit Indiana today. We have ridden the roads and as a Georgia boy, I am a little jealous the way these corn and beans look out here, he said. Perdue said one of his main projects this year will be to work with Congress on the next five-year Farm Bill that will set the direction for agriculture policies and food programs. The legislation is expected to be voted on in 2018. The 2014 five-year Farm Bill set spending for $489 billion, of which nutrition/food security makes up 80 percent. Crop insurance is 8 percent. I like principle-centered legislation, he said. The principle of a Farm Bill that I would advise Congress to pass is a balanced approach where farmers are given the freedom to farm, but not farming for programs. "Give us a safety net for what they do as far as crop insurance," he added. "But let them farm for the market and let them base their decisions on where they see the direction of the markets going and let them do what they do well. Perdue was nominated for the post by Donald Trump shortly after the presidential election in November and said he and the administration will continue to work hard on agriculture and trade matters. We have beef back into China for the first time in 13 years, and we signed a rice protocol in the last few weeks, he said. I think China wants a relationship, but it makes it somewhat difficult with some of the other unfair trading practices they are using. "Those of us in agriculture fear that sometimes, agriculture products are used in retaliatory measures, but everyone in the administration understands not to use agriculture as a sacrificial lamb. Evergreen FS manager Kendall Miller said having the agriculture secretary on site was a special thrill. It was very important for us, and we really enjoyed the opportunity to share the message of agriculture with Secretary Perdue and to share some of our thoughts and concerns on various topics that are important to our membership, such as the management of fertilizer and chemicals used in the business, he said. Perdue took a tour of the Chenoa plant before meeting area farmers and speaking with the media. Its an impressive facility, Perdue said, and were happy to be here. I am an old grain guy, and I look at this facility and around the area and see great means for corn and bean production. "Its good to get out here and see the crops," he continued. "I hope the yield turns out to be as good as they looked today. The beans could use a little more water to finish out, but I think they will be fine. Israel: Plans to shut down Al Jazeera an attack on media freedom Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 7 August 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Israel: Plans to shut down Al Jazeera an attack on media freedom, 7 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5989814c4.html [accessed 13 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. In response to the announcement by Israel's communications minister, Ayoub Kara, that the Israeli government has decided to close Al Jazeera' s office in Jerusalem and take the channel off air, Amnesty International's Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director, Magdalena Mughrabi said: "This is a brazen attack on media freedom in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The move sends a chilling message that the Israeli authorities will not tolerate critical coverage. "By acting to suppress Al Jazeera the Israeli government joins a host of other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, which have demanded the channel's closure in the wake of the dispute between Gulf countries and Qatar. "All journalists should be free to carry out their work without facing harassment or intimidation. Instead of initiating a repressive clampdown on freedom of expression the Israeli authorities must halt any attempt to silence critical media." Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Burma: National Commission Denies Atrocities Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 7 August 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Burma: National Commission Denies Atrocities, 7 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/598981d34.html [accessed 13 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 Burmese government commission has dismissed allegations of serious human rights violations by security forces in Rakhine State without a credible basis, Human Rights Watch said today. On August 6, 2017, the National Investigation Commission on Rakhine State, headed by Vice President Myint Swe, held a news conference on their findings into alleged abuses against ethnic Rohingya, following a nine-month domestic inquiry. The commission's wholesale rejection of grave abuses despite considerable evidence from independent sources, coupled with the Burmese army's earlier inadequate investigation, demonstrates the urgent need for the government to allow full access to the United Nations-mandated, international fact-finding mission, Human Rights Watch said. "The commission's findings are just the latest attempt to sweep under the rug the massive abuses against the Rohingya last year," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "These atrocities aren't going to disappear, so the sooner the UN fact-finding mission is allowed into Burma, the sooner those responsible can be identified and redress provided to the victims." In a summary of its report obtained by Human Rights Watch, the commission concludes it could not confirm cases of rape, gang rape, torture, and killings in the villages it visited. The commission found that 1152 buildings were destroyed in 13 villages, but said it was too difficult to establish who set fire to the buildings. The report noted that in February and March, 21 cases were filed in court for murder, rape, arson, destruction of evidence, loss of property and wrongful death, but every complaint was dismissed after an investigation, saying that some complaints were fabricated. Swe reportedly told journalists, "There is no possibility of crimes against humanity, no evidence of ethnic cleansing, as per UN accusations." He also rejected the possibility that genocide had occurred. The commission in its summary conceded that there could have been security force abuses that have not been exposed and others that needed further investigation. The 13-member commission used investigative methods that produced incomplete, inaccurate, and false information, Human Rights Watch said. According to reports by local groups, witness accounts, and publicly released footage, the commission's investigators badgered villagers, argued with them, told them not to say things, accused them of lying, and interviewed victims - including rape survivors - in large groups where confidentiality was not provided. The commission's mandate encompassed an investigation into allegations of abuses in northern Rakhine State following the attacks on three police outposts by alleged Rohingya militants on October 9, 2016. The report summary criticized the UN for not taking into consideration these attacks by militants and for focusing on the actions of the security forces. The commission's findings follow an interim report issued on January 3, 2017, that also dismissed allegations of rights violations by government forces. The UN, Human Rights Watch, and others have reported on numerous serious human rights violations committed by Burmese security forces against the Rohingya in Rakhine State following the October 9 attacks on police outposts. Human Rights Watch has documented extrajudicial killings, the rape of women and girls, and the burning of at least 1,500 structures. Rohingya villagers told Human Rights Watch that security forces burned the structures. The commission's summary noted that grenade launchers were used during the fighting, effectively corroborating accounts by Rohingya that "launchers" were used by the military to destroy homes. The security force operations caused massive displacement, with more than 70,000 Rohingya fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh and temporarily displacing another 20,000 within Burma. A report issued by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on February 3, concluded that the attacks against the Rohingya "very likely" amounted to crimes against humanity. The conclusion of the commission's investigation follows the May 23 release of the Burmese army's inquiry into alleged abuses in Rakhine State, which also denied abuses and uncovered no wrongdoing except two minor incidents. Altogether, the Burmese government established four separate investigations into the violence, none of which have been credible or impartial. In March, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution establishing an independent international fact-finding mission with a mandate to investigate allegations of recent human rights abuses in Burma, especially in Rakhine State. The government has indicated it will deny visas to the three experts appointed to the fact-finding mission, but to date it has not done so. Kyaw Tin, the deputy minister of foreign affairs, told parliament on June 30, "We will order Myanmar embassies not to grant any visa to UN fact-finding mission members." A commission led by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan is due to release its final report detailing its recommendations for Rakhine State this month, but it does not have the mandate to investigate human rights abuses. "The Investigation Commission on Rakhine State's inept inquiry provides the strongest case yet for Burma letting in the UN fact-finding mission," Robertson said. "Burma's donors and diplomatic friends should tell the government to end their tactics of denial and obfuscation, and cease denying victims their right to the truth." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Cambodia: Quash Conviction of Rights Land Activist Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 8 August 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Cambodia: Quash Conviction of Rights Land Activist, 8 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5989843c4.html [accessed 13 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. Cambodian authorities should quash the conviction and release land rights activist Tep Vanny, who has been imprisoned for nearly a year for defending her community from unlawful evictions, Human Rights Watch said today. On August 8, 2017, an Appeals Court in Phnom Penh rejected Tep Vanny's appeal of her conviction on February 23 for "intentional violence with aggravated circumstances." She was sentenced to 30 months in prison following a summary trial in which the prosecution failed to present any witnesses - preventing any possible cross examination by the defense. The Cambodian government routinely misuses the courts, which lack independence, to target members of the political opposition and civil society activists, Human Rights Watch said. "The case against Tep Vanny is a blatant misuse of prosecutorial power to punish her for her peaceful activism," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "This prosecution is intended to silence Tep Vanny and intimidate other Cambodian activists." The charges against Tep Vanny relate to her participation in a peaceful protest in front of Prime Minister Hun Sen's house in 2013, during which she and other activists called for the release of a detained fellow community member. She was found guilty under article 218 of the Cambodian Criminal Code for assaulting Hun Sen's security guards. No credible evidence was presented during the trial to substantiate these charges. The court refused to hear testimony from witnesses supporting Tep Vanny's account that she and other protesters did not commit any violence during the protest. During the trial, para-police kicked, shoved, and dragged activists who had gathered outside the court, resulting in injuries to two activists and a pregnant woman. Video footage of the incident shows para-police chasing demonstrators into a neighboring mall, and guards cornering one protester and repeatedly punching and kicking him. Tep Vanny is also being held on spurious charges of "public insult" and "death threats" brought against her and five other members of the Boeung Kak Lake community dating back to the "Black Monday" protests on behalf of detained activists in 2012. Since August 15, 2016, she has been held at CC2 Prey Sar facility prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and has now served a total of 358 days in detention. Tep Vanny is one of Cambodia's leading land rights activists. She has worked to combat unlawful evictions and corruption by mobilizing affected communities in the Boeung Kak Lake area of Phnom Penh, where more than 4,000 families have had to vacate their homes for a private development project. In 2013, she received a Vital Voices Global Leadership Award for her work on land rights. Tep Vanny has been an important voice on behalf of fellow activists, and has been active in urging an independent investigation into the July 10, 2016 shooting death of Kem Ley, a popular social commentator and frequent government critic. Cambodian authorities should drop all politically motivated charges against Tep Vanny, quash her February conviction, and immediately release her, Human Rights Watch said. The government should also cease persecution of human rights defenders and others exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. "Cambodia's international donors should be outraged by the government's harassment of peaceful activists through the courts," Robertson said. "Together, they should publicly call for an end to the politically motivated and unsubstantiated charges against Tep Vanny and other detained activists in Cambodia." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Israel: Jerusalem Palestinians Stripped of Status Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 8 August 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Israel: Jerusalem Palestinians Stripped of Status, 8 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/598984c44.html [accessed 13 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. Israel's revocations of the residency status of thousands of Palestinians from East Jerusalem over the years illustrates the two-tiered system Israel maintains in the city, Human Rights Watch said today. The residency system imposes onerous requirements on Palestinians to maintain their status, with significant consequences for those who don't. Between the start of Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967 and the end of 2016, Israel revoked the status of at least 14,595 Palestinians from East Jerusalem, according to the Interior Ministry. Authorities have justified most revocations based on a failure to prove a "center of life" in Jerusalem but, in recent years, they have also revoked status to punish Palestinians accused of attacking Israelis and as collective punishment against relatives of suspected assailants. The discriminatory system pushes many Palestinians to leave their home city in what amounts to forcible transfers, a serious violation of international law. "Israel claims to treat Jerusalem as a unified city, but the reality is effectively one set of rules for Jews and another for Palestinians," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Entrenched discrimination against Palestinians in Jerusalem, including residency policies that imperil their legal status, feeds the alienation of the city's residents." Human Rights Watch interviewed eight families in Jerusalem whose residency has been revoked between March and July 2017, reviewed status revocation letters, court decisions, and other official documents, in addition to speaking to their lawyers. The identity of several interviewees has been concealed to protect their privacy and prevent possible reprisals from authorities. One man whose residency Israel had cancelled said he had to scale Israel's separation barrier to attend a family wedding in another part of the West Bank. Another said Israeli authorities refused to issue birth certificates to his five children, all born in Jerusalem. Other Jerusalem residents without residency status interviewed described being unable to legally work; obtain social welfare benefits; attend weddings and funerals; or visit gravely ill relatives abroad, for fear Israeli authorities would refuse to allow them to return home. Residency revocations, alongside decades of unlawful settlement expansion, home demolitions, and restrictions on building in the city, have increased unlawful settlement by Israeli Jewish citizens in occupied East Jerusalem while restricting growth of the occupied Palestinian population. This reality reflects the Israeli government's goal of "maintaining a solid Jewish majority in the city," as stated in the Jerusalem municipality's master plan ("Jerusalem Outline Plan 2000"), and limiting the number of Palestinian residents. Originally setting a target "ratio of 70% Jews and 30% Arab," planners later acknowledged that "this goal is not attainable" in light of "the demographic trend" and adjusted to a 60-40 target. Palestinians constituted 37 percent of Jerusalem's population in 2015, according to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics. After occupying East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel annexed and began applying its domestic law to the area. It applied the 1952 Law of Entry to Palestinians from East Jerusalem and offered them permanent residency, the same status afforded to a foreigner who wants to live in Israel. Permanent residents may live, work, and receive benefits in Israel, but that status derives from their presence, which can be withdrawn if one settles outside of Israel. It does not automatically pass to one's children or non-resident spouse and can be revoked at the Interior Ministry's discretion. A path to citizenship exists for Palestinian Jerusalemite permanent residents, but the vast majority chose not to pursue it, as it involves pledging allegiance to Israel, the occupying power. And not all of those who apply are granted citizenship. Since 2003, only about 15,000 of Jerusalem's 330,000 Palestinians have applied for citizenship; Israeli authorities have approved fewer than 6,000 of them. For decades, Israeli authorities revoked residency when Palestinian Jerusalemites settled outside Israel for seven or more years without renewing their exit permits or obtained permanent residency or citizenship in another country. Most revocations, though, have taken place since 1995, after the Interior Ministry reinterpreted the 1952 Law of Entry to permit revocations of residency for those who did not actively maintain a "center of life" in Jerusalem. Under the new interpretation, Israeli authorities began to also revoke residency when Palestinian Jerusalemites lived in other parts of Palestine outside Jerusalem's municipal borders or studied or worked abroad for extended periods of time. Jerusalemites who are Israeli citizens do not have to prove that they maintain a "center of life" in the city in order to safeguard their legal status. Israeli authorities have also in recent years revoked the status of Palestinians in East Jerusalem under the Law of Entry for violating their "minimal obligation of loyalty to the state of Israel." First used against four Hamas members elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006, authorities have, following an October 2015 government decree, invoked this justification against individuals accused of physically attacking Israelis and against the suspects' families. Residency revocations often effectively force Palestinians from East Jerusalem, who are protected by virtue of Israel's occupation under the Fourth Geneva Convention, to leave the territory they live in. This constitutes forcible transfers when causing displacement to other parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and deportations when displacement takes place outside the country. The convention allows such measures only on a temporary basis for "imperative military reasons." Failing to maintain a "center of life" in Jerusalem does not meet the convention's restrictive standard. Deportation or forced transfers of any part of the population of an occupied territory could amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The prohibition on forcible transfer extends beyond cases in which a military force directly relocates a population under its control, to cases in which the military force makes life so difficult that people are essentially forced to leave. Human rights law also protects the right to freely leave and return to one's own country. International humanitarian law also expressly forbids an occupying power from compelling people under occupation to pledge loyalty or allegiance to it. In a March 2017 decision, the Israeli High Court of Justice ruled that Palestinians from East Jerusalem enjoy "special status" as "native-born" residents that authorities should account for in determining their status. Consistent with the strict international law prohibition on forcible displacement or deportation, Israeli authorities should grant Jerusalem residents the right of residency that they are entitled to as the population of an occupied territory as well as under international human rights law. Palestinians should not have to pursue citizenship while under occupation to secure their status and rights. "As part of its quest to solidify a Jewish majority in Jerusalem, Israeli authorities force Palestinian Jerusalemites to live as foreigners in their own homes," Whitson said. "The status of Palestinians only remains secure so long as they do not exercise their right to travel abroad to study or work, move to the wrong neighborhood or obtain status in another country." Israeli Policy in Jerusalem After seizing the West Bank in 1967, Israel unilaterally annexed 72 square kilometers, including the eastern part of Jerusalem and 28 surrounding West Bank villages, to the Jerusalem municipality. This area, commonly called East Jerusalem, had 66,000 Palestinian residents, 24 percent of the new municipality's population. Whereas Israeli military orders apply to the rest of the West Bank, Israel applies its own civil laws to East Jerusalem. Human Rights Watch is not aware of any other country that recognizes Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem, which remains occupied territory under international law. Israel has since transferred thousands of its own Jewish citizens to East Jerusalem, a war crime under international law, while refusing to approve most zoning plans in Palestinian neighborhoods that would allow expansion. Left with no choice but to build and expand their homes without permits, Palestinians live under threat of home demolitions. Since January 2012, 617 structures, including residences, have been demolished for lack of a permit, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA. In addition, the government discriminates in budget allocation. According to the Israeli rights organization Ir Amim, only 10.1 percent of the 2013 municipal budget was allocated for projects and spending in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, though Palestinians are 37 percent of the population. As a result, most Palestinian neighborhoods have poor infrastructure and inadequate health, recreation, and educational services, compared with Israeli neighborhoods, which have well-paved roads, numerous parks and playgrounds, adequate refuse collection, and sufficient places for children in schools. Seventy-six percent of East Jerusalem Palestinians live below the poverty line, according to the Israeli organization Association for Civil Rights in Israel. "Center of Life" Revocations Nearly 80 percent of permanent residency revocations during Israel's 50-year-occupation according to Israeli government figures have taken place since 1995 when the Interior Ministry, based on a 1988 High Court of Justice decision, began requiring Palestinians to show that their "center of life" is in East Jerusalem in order to maintain their residency. Losing that status forces Palestinians either to leave Jerusalem or to remain in violation of Israeli domestic law. The Law of Entry authorizes arrest and deportation for those found without legal status. Without legal status, Palestinians cannot formally work, move freely, renew driver's licenses, or obtain birth certificates for children, needed to register them in school. They could also lose benefits under Israel's national insurance program, which provides social welfare benefits such as health care, unemployment benefits, and support payments for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Palestinians from East Jerusalem said that the fear of losing this status weighs on their daily life, determining where families live and blocking educational and professional opportunities. Those who lose their residency may challenge the revocation as unlawful or petition the Interior Ministry to recover their status, during which time they can obtain a temporary status to remain in Jerusalem. Some Palestinians have succeeded in reinstating their status, but often after protracted legal and administrative processes that many cannot afford. "Ramy," Shuafat "Ramy," whose family moved to Jerusalem in 1948 after being displaced from their village in what became Israel, grew up in the Shuafat neighborhood of East Jerusalem and obtained his permanent resident card, as is customary, when he turned 16 in 1987. As a result of closures at his high school during the first Intifada in the late 1980's, he spent time in the United States and relocated to California in 1989, traveling on an Israeli laissez-passer, or permit, he told Human Rights Watch. He stayed for six years, finishing his studies and working, and obtaining US citizenship in 1993, documents Human Rights Watch reviewed show. Ramy moved back to Jerusalem in July 1995. Officials at Ben Gurion Airport gave him a three-month tourist visa instead of allowing him entry as a Jerusalem resident, but the Interior Ministry apologized for a "mistake" and reissued his Jerusalem identification days later, he said. But Ramy says he has faced repeated challenges since. Israeli authorities refused to issue birth certificates for his five children, all born in Jerusalem between 1997 and 2006, saying he did not have status. In 2002, he sought to re-establish his residency with the Interior Ministry, but officials told him that he could not since his center of life was in parts of the West Bank outside Jerusalem. After he showed evidence that he maintained his center of life in Jerusalem, officials said the rejection stemmed from living abroad and having status in the US, he said. Unable to register his children at school without birth certificates, Ramy ultimately obtained West Bank and American birth certificates for them, based on his wife's West Bank ID and his American citizenship. Ramy said that in 2007, he retained a lawyer to help him recover his permanent residency, but the Interior Ministry told him his American citizenship made him ineligible. In 2011, the Israeli National Insurance Institute refused to reinstate his social security, health insurance, and other social welfare benefits, saying he lacked legal status, which he needed to resolve with the Interior Ministry, according to documents Human Rights Watch reviewed. Ramy said that his modest salary as a laborer in Israel and having to pay for his children's education made it virtually impossible for him to finance a costly and protracted legal challenge to his revocation. Having only an expired ID from July 1995, Ramy said, he sometimes faced difficulties crossing checkpoints between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank. In May 2016, a soldier at a checkpoint confiscated his driver's license and told him only the Interior Ministry could reinstate it. There, they told him that his name was not in the system and that his residency had been revoked in 2007. He applied to recover his Jerusalem residency then and sought to obtain a three-month visa in the interim, but the Interior Ministry denied it on the grounds that his illegal stay in Israel had made him ineligible. Ramy today lives in limbo, not legally able to work, regain his social welfare benefits, or move or travel freely while he remains in Jerusalem without status. "Ibrahim," Ras al-Amoud "Ibrahim," a 43-year-old from the Ras al-Amoud neighborhood of East Jerusalem, left home in 1990 to join family in Finland, where his father had sought political asylum. Possessing only Jerusalem residency, he traveled on an Israeli lassez-paisser. He worked in Finland as a chef, married in 1996, and had a son in 1999. He said that he opted not to obtain Finnish citizenship for fear of losing his status in Jerusalem. Instead, he visited Jerusalem about once a year on Israeli or Finnish laissez-passers, obtaining three-month visas upon returning to Finland. In 2004, however, the Israeli Embassy in Finland told him that it would not renew his laissez-passer, saying "this is what's available - go apply for Finnish passport and visit on a tourist visa." In reaction, he said he reapplied for Finnish laissez-passers and obtained a permanent resident visa. In 2006, Ibrahim flew into Ben Gurion Airport with his wife and 7-year-old son, both Brazilian nationals. He said that airport officials told him he needed a visa to enter, confiscated his Jerusalem ID, and asked him what proof he had that he was from Jerusalem. Airport authorities detained him for two days after permitting his wife and son entry, then deported him to Finland, where police awaited him at the airport. He managed to obtain an Israeli entry visa the next year, after his brother signed a commitment at the Interior Ministry that he would not stay more than a week. Ibrahim was able to enter Israel shortly thereafter, and filed papers to recover his Jerusalem residency. The arduous process involved submitting comprehensive paperwork, including a certificate of good behavior from Finnish police, renouncing Finnish residency and all rights there, and legal action lasting eight years, until Israeli authorities restored his residency in 2015. From 2007 to 2015, the only identification Ibrahim had was an expired laissez-passer; whenever asked for ID, he had to explain that he was awaiting Interior Ministry renewal. During this period, Ibrahim could only work informally and never left Jerusalem, except once, to attend a family wedding in the West Bank city of Abu Dis. To return, he scaled Israel's Separation Barrier, fearing he would be turned back at an Israeli checkpoint. "Abu Yahya," Beit Hanina "Abu Yahya," a Palestinian permanent resident and US national from the Beit Hanina neighborhood of East Jerusalem, left Jerusalem after high school in 1994 to attend college in the US. Although he visited Jerusalem without incident in 1995, he said that when he visited again in 1996, Ben Gurion Airport officials gave him a three-month tourist visa, instead of allowing him entry as a Jerusalem resident. A few days later, Interior Ministry officials told him that he could not concurrently hold Jerusalem residency and US citizenship, although the law permits Israelis to have dual citizenship or residency. During periodic visits between 1996 and 2012, airport authorities permitted him entry each time, though at times on a time-limited visitor visa. After moving permanently back to Jerusalem in 2012, he sought to restore his social security, health insurance, and other social welfare benefits with Israel's National Insurance Institution, but they told him that he did not appear in their system as a citizen or resident. Later that year, an Interior Ministry official told him, when he requested a birth certificate for his daughter, that he is not a resident, but like "a Thai or a tourist," and issued his daughter a birth certificate without an ID number. He said it felt "absurd" to be "born and raised here and have someone come tell you that you don't belong." In 2014, Abu Yahya filed paperwork, including an FBI background check, to regain his status. After he obtained a conditional temporary ID, which he renewed several times, and stayed in Jerusalem for two years, the Interior Ministry informed him in July 2017 that his application for permanent residency had been approved and that he would receive his ID within 20 days. His daughters, though, remain without legal status, so he anticipates the administrative process will continue. Abu Yahya estimates that he has spent over 100 hours dealing with his ID status during this time and, despite having pro-bono counsel, has paid over 5,000 NIS (US$1,400) in legal and administrative fees. Over the last three-and-a-half years, while his status remained uncertain, he did not travel and had to forego the funeral of a close friend outside the country and other important events. "Bassema," Shuafat "Bassema," a Palestinian whose parents come from the Shuafat neighborhood in East Jerusalem, was born and raised in the US and thereby held no status in Israel or Palestine growing up. She moved to Jerusalem in 1992 to marry a Palestinian permanent resident, through whom she obtained temporary residency in 1994 via a family reunification petition. In 2003, she moved back to the US to obtain a graduate degree and obtain medical treatment for her son, who had hearing and speech impairments, she said. She ended up getting a divorce and staying in the US for a decade. Bassema arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in 2013, intending to move back to Jerusalem. Airport officials gave her a three-month visa after briefly questioning her and her two sons, both born in Jerusalem, and requiring her to sign a document in Hebrew that they had told her said she needed to go to the Interior Ministry to recover her Jerusalem status. She hired a lawyer to pursue reinstating her and her sons' statuses. Since then, her and her sons have gone long stretches without any status, making it impossible, she said, to "maintain any kind of normal life." Her sons re-obtained their residency in 2016; while she remains on a visitor's visa, which she has renewed seven times since March 2016 - having to go to court the last two times after initial refusals. She estimates that the administrative process has cost her over 10,000 NIS (US$2,800), in addition to stress and anxiety. During this time, she said, she has not wanted to risk her status by leaving the country, leaving her unable to attend her brother's wedding or to visit a sick relative outside the country. Wael Kawamleh, Kufr Aqab Wael Kawamleh, born in 1962, obtained residency shortly after Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967. He moved to Abu Dhabi after graduating from high school in 1980 to work for a petroleum company. He married there and had four children, periodically visiting Jerusalem. He said that in 1999, he decided to move back to Jerusalem to "protect my status and to start the family reunification process for my family," afraid that his time away and ongoing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations might jeopardize his status. Kawamleh now lives with his family to Kufr Aqab, an overcrowded neighborhood within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries but east of Israel's Separation Barrier. Palestinian Jerusalemites often choose to live there since it allows them to maintain a "center of life" in Jerusalem, while living with family members who have West Bank or no residency status. While Kawamleh has maintained his own residency status, the Interior Ministry rejected residency applications for his two eldest children, Fayez and Khulood, in 2003 and 2004. When he pressed for an explanation, they offered various reasons, including that they lived in the West Bank. In 2012, though, the Interior Ministry granted his two youngest children Jerusalem residency. Fayez and Khulood, now 31 and 29 respectively, have no status anywhere. Kawamleh sought West Bank residency for them from the Palestinian Authority, but failed. They are effectively stateless, confined to small pockets of the West Bank, where they do not need to pass a checkpoint where they could be stopped and subjected to criminal charges or deportation. Kawamleh's wife Faheema al-Saedi, a Jordanian national, initially obtained an entry visa from Israeli authorities, but that lapsed and she has not been able to obtain status by applying on the grounds of family reunification. Kawamleh says he regrets moving back: "I left everything to hold onto my ID and what did we get back? No IDs for two of my kids and no visa for my wife, meaning they can't work or move freely." Punitive Revocations Abed Dawiat, Sur Baher On January 19, 2016, Israeli authorities revoked the residency of then 18-year-old Abed Dawiat, from the Palestinian neighborhood of Sur Baher in East Jerusalem, for his alleged involvement in a stone-throwing incident several months earlier that led to the death of an Israeli citizen, Alex Leblovitch. In a letter to Dawiat's lawyer, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said that the revocation stemmed from "the murderous terror attack" in which Dawiat "deliberately threw stones" at cars on a Jerusalem road, leading to Leblovitch's death and the serious injury of another Israeli. Deri further said that "the residency status requires basic commitment and loyalty," including the obligation "not to act against the [Israeli] state or take action which undermines its existence," for which Dawiat's actions constituted a "brazen and severe violation." The Dawiats have lived in Jerusalem since well before 1967, said Abed's mother, Sarah Dawiat. She said that she first heard of the revocation of her son's residency in the media, several months before she received the formal Interior Ministry letter. In addition to revoking his residency, Israeli forces sealed off the family's home with metal sheets, making it unusable and displacing the family. Dawiat accepted a plea bargain for a 100,000 NIS fine (US$2800) and an 18-year jail sentence, which he is serving in Nafha Prison. He has challenged his residency revocation in front of the High Court of Justice; if that petition fails, he will not be permitted to live with his family in Jerusalem when he finishes serving his sentence. Abu Rajab Family, al-Issawiya In 1992, Maysa Herbawi, a Jerusalem resident, married Kassaf Abu Rajab, a West Bank ID holder, and they lived in the West Bank outside of Jerusalem because of Abu Rajab's status. Abu Rajab's family is from Jerusalem's Old City, but they had been outside Jerusalem when Israeli authorities conducted the census in 1967 that served as the basis for granting residency. Abu Rajab was born in 1969 and raised in Anata, a town four kilometers east of the Old City. In 2013, though, Herbawi and Abu Rajab entered East Jerusalem with their seven children at the time - Abu Rajab without a permit - and applied for family reunification under Herbawi's residency. They spent the next two and-a-half years pursuing their application. That all changed on March 8, 2016, when their son Fuad opened fire on Israeli forces in East Jerusalem, wounding two officers before dying in the resulting firefight. In the aftermath, Israeli Public Security Ministry Gilad Erdan instructed police to investigate the legal status of the Abu Rajab family, declaring, "My instructions to the police were clear: whoever is here illegally will be deported." The day of the attack, Herbawi said, police raided the family home in al-Issawiya, turning it upside down and telling them, "if you remain at the house, we will expel you to Syria or Gaza." They also detained Abu Rajab for 11 days - initially accusing him of buying weapons for his son, then pointing to his illegal stay in Jerusalem - and interrogated all members of the family. Herbawi said the police compelled them all to sign a document written in Hebrew, which she said she did not understand, and which she later learned prohibited everyone but her - a Jerusalem permanent resident - and her two youngest children, 2-year-old twins born in Jerusalem, from being in Jerusalem. Police then dropped her and the rest of the family - except for Abu Rajab, who was detained for several more days - at the Qalandia checkpoint, which separates Jerusalem from Ramallah. The family of 10 now lives in a two-bedroom apartment belonging to Abu Rajab's mother, in the West Bank village of al-Judeira. Only Herbawi has visited Jerusalem since. Abu Rajab told Human Rights Watch that, "my children are not happy here, they refuse to accept our current situation, don't feel they belong here and want to go back to Jerusalem." Two have dropped out of school and another is coping with depression, he said. Qunbar Family, Jabal al-Mukabar On January 8, 2017, Fadi Qunbar, a 28-year-old from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabar, drove a truck into a group of Israeli soldiers, killing four before he was killed. Within days, the Interior Ministry sent letters to 13 members of the Qunbar family, notifying them of its intention to revoke their Jerusalem statuses. A January 10 letter to Diaa Qunbar, Fadi's nephew, reviewed by Human Rights Watch, bases the revocation on "information suggesting a number of people of your extended family are suspected of having a connection to ISIS and involvement in terrorist activity," making "your continued presence in Israel" a "security concern." HaMoked, an Israeli nongovernmental organization that represents several Qunbar family members, said that the Interior Ministry sent identical letters to 11 other relatives. The letter to Minwa Qunbar, Fadi's mother, also grounded the revocation on the claim that she had falsely stated 30 years earlier that her marriage was not an act of bigamy, when in fact her husband had still been married to another woman. Several days later, the Interior Ministry interviewed all those who had received a letter and, on January 25, announced that it had formally revoked the status of 13 members of the Qunbar family: Minwa (permanent residency), Mohamad (temporary residency), Salah (temporary residency), Ahmed (temporary residency), Diaa (stay permit), Manal (stay permit), Riyad (stay permit), Hassan (stay permit), Bassam (stay permit), Younis (stay permit), Zakariya (stay permit), child (stay permit), and child (stay permit). Lawyers for members of the Qunbar family appealed the next day to the Appeals Tribunal, which issued temporary orders the same day to suspend the Interior Ministry's decision. The legal challenge remains pending in the courts and the relatives each have a document saying they can remain in Jerusalem in the interim. Israel's security-based justification belies statements made by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri. On January 9, the day after the attack, he declared a "new era against terror and terrorists with a status that they exploit to carry out terrible attacks against civilians," citing the Qunbar attack and saying, "from now on, anyone who plots, plans or considers carrying out an attack will know that his family will pay a heavy price for his deed." Deri added in the official January 25 ministry announcement, that "only immediate and practical acts will deter assailants. I am convinced that the revocation of family members' status will serve as a warning for others." Minwa Qunbar said that, although her husband had been concurrently married to her and his previous wife for a time, he divorced his previous wife before registering her marriage and that she has been in Jerusalem for over three decades without Israeli authorities raising this as a concern. In addition to revoking their residency, Israeli authorities sealed Fadi Qunbar's home with concrete, which Human Rights Watch observed, leading his wife and four children, the youngest of whom is a year old, to move in with Minwa Qunbar. Home demolitions imposed as a collective punishment in occupied territory, which accompanied residency revocations in two of the cases Human Rights Watch documented, are war crimes. Israeli authorities also brought a civil suit against the family for damages and Minwa Qunbar said that Israeli authorities cut her national insurance benefits in March. Hind Qunbar, Fadi's half-sister and mother of Diaa Qunbar, whose status was revoked after the January attack, said that the revocations undermined years of her efforts, including family reunification applications to obtain status for her sons, submission of documents to the Interior Ministry, and home visit inspections every two years by National Insurance Institute, which oversees social welfare benefits, to safeguard her family's status in Jerusalem. Israeli authorities revoked the status of her other son, Bahaa, in 2015 after arresting him with a knife in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mubakar and accusing him of planning to attack Israelis. She said that the uncertainty surrounding Diaa Qunbar's Jerusalem status has made it difficult for him to find work and imperiled the family's economic situation. Other Discriminatory Residency Revocations Israel also effectively controls the Palestinian population registry in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority issues identification documents to Palestinians in these territories, but can only do so in coordination with Israel, which has cancelled or refused registration, residency, and family unification requests for more than 230,000 Palestinians since 1967, many on grounds of remaining outside the West Bank and Gaza for too long. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Morocco: Prominent Journalist Jailed Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 8 August 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Morocco: Prominent Journalist Jailed, 8 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/598985424.html [accessed 13 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 Moroccan court on July 25, 2017, sentenced a prominent journalist to three months in prison on a charge that violates his right to peaceful speech, Human Rights Watch said today. The journalist, Hamid Mahdaoui, is in prison in Casablanca and is under investigation on other charges. A court of first instance in Al Hoceima sentenced Mahdaoui, who directs the news website badil.info, to the prison term and a fine of 20,000 dirhams (US$2,000) for helping to organize and inciting people to participate in an unauthorized protest. The case was based on comments he made in a public square in Al Hoceima on July 19, supporting the "Hirak" protest movement over government neglect of the central Rif region and condemning the government's decision to ban a Hirak demonstration planned for July 20. "Disagreeing with a state policy and applauding public protest shouldn't land anyone in prison," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Instead of banning protests and imprisoning journalists, Morocco should enforce its own constitution, which guarantees free speech and free assembly." Mahdaoui became popular in Morocco from the many videos on social media that feature him offering political and social commentary and interviewing public figures. He had previously been convicted for disseminating "false news" in cases involving the then-minister of justice, a governor, and the head of the national police. In the first two cases, the court sentenced Mahdaoui to suspended prison terms; those verdicts are still on appeal. The third case was settled after the plaintiff dropped the charges. On the evening of July 19, while Mahdaoui was walking in one of Al Hoceima's main squares, fans stopped him, asked to take selfies with him, and pressed him to comment on the Hirak movement, his lawyer, Lahbib Hajji, told Human Rights Watch. A video of the gathering filmed by a police officer was used as evidence in Mahdaoui's trial. According to a transcript of the video, Mahdaoui criticized the government's decision to ban the July 20 protest, saying, "It is our right to protest in a peaceful and civilized manner; () I am oppressed and looked down upon, it is my right to express myself and demonstrate." Human Rights Watch watched the video and read the transcript and found nothing in either that contains a direct incitement by Mahdaoui to others to participate in the banned July 20 protest. Hajji, the lawyer, said that the court did not provide any other evidence than the video and transcript. Plainclothes police agents arrested Mahdaoui on July 20 in Al Hoceima, as described by a friend accompanying him. After Mahdaoui spent three days in pretrial detention, a prosecutor charged him with "inciting people to commit a serious or minor offense by means of speeches and shouting in a public place" and "participating in the organization of an unauthorized protest" (article 299-1 of Morocco's penal code and article 14 of the Law on Public Assemblies, respectively). The appeals trial has yet to begin. Morocco's 2011 constitution guarantees the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and peaceful protest. The Law on Public Assemblies requires organizers only to notify officials of an upcoming demonstration, rather than to obtain prior authorization. But the law allows local authorities to ban the event if they believe that it could disturb the public order. Officials announced the ban on July 17, justifying it on the basis that the organizers of the march lacked the legal status that the Law on Public Assemblies requires of demonstration sponsors. The police dispersed the hundreds of people who attempted to demonstrate on July 20 despite the ban. On July 28, authorities transferred Mahdaoui from Al Hoceima prison to Casablanca's Oukacha prison, at the request of an investigative judge in Casablanca who was examining another case against him. The case is based on investigations into the Hirak protests conducted by the National Brigade of the Judiciary police, according to a communique issued July 28 by the office of the prosecutor attached to Casablanca's Court of Appeals. The second case is based on evidence collected from tapping Mahdaoui's phone. On December 1, 2016, the president of Rabat's Court of Appeals granted the Judiciary Police the authorization to tap 30 telephone lines, including Mahdaoui's, as part of an investigation into the Hirak protests. Authorities produced a transcript, dated June 2, 2017, of a phone conversation between Mahdaoui and a man identified as "Noureddine," purportedly a Moroccan anti-monarchy activist based in the Netherlands. According to the transcript, Noureddine mentioned that he and others intended to smuggle weapons in Morocco and "purchase tanks" to create armed strife in support of the Hirak movement. The transcript shows that Mahdaoui repeatedly urged Noureddine to abandon any such notion, highlighting that the Hirak protests were peaceful and should remain so. According to the July 28 communique, the prosecutor asked the investigating judge to keep Mahdaoui in custody and look into whether he had failed to report an attempt to harm the state's internal security, an offense that could bring up to five years in prison under article 209 of the penal code. The investigative judge accepted the prosecutor's request. The court rejected a petition for provisional release filed on August 2. The Hirak protest movement in the Rif sprang from an incident in October 2016, in which a fishmonger was killed while trying to rescue his goods that authorities had just confiscated. The movement has staged mass protests to end what they consider to be the government's discrimination against the region in terms of economic development. "A journalist has the same right as any Moroccan citizen to criticize the prohibition of a protest rally without being sent to jail for incitement," Whitson said. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Pakistan's new NGO tax will hurt those most at risk, say humanitarians Publisher IRIN Author Aamir Saeed Publication Date 8 August 2017 Cite as IRIN, Pakistan's new NGO tax will hurt those most at risk, say humanitarians, 8 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5989a1694.html [accessed 13 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. Pakistan's new tax on non-profit groups will force humanitarian agencies to cut back on services to some of the most vulnerable people in the country, NGO workers say. Pakistan imposed a tax in June on non-profits that spend 15 percent or more of their budget on administrative costs. Those costs would be taxed at a rate of 10 percent, as would any money left over at the end of the fiscal year if it totals more than 25 percent of the organisation's budget. Critics see the new tax as part of an ongoing crackdown on civil society, which has seen NGOs stripped of their charity status and shut down, accused of promoting blasphemy and pornography, and forced into a labyrinthine registration process. The government denies that there is a crackdown and says the new law is simply intended to cut down on waste in order to make sure the money provided to charities makes it to those in need. "We have imposed taxes on the NGOs to stop misuse of the funds," said Ishaq Dar, a senator who was finance minister until cabinet was dissolved after a 28 July Supreme Court ruling that Nawaz Sharif should step down as prime minister amid corruption allegations. "If the NGOs keep working in the prescribed limits, they won't have to pay the taxes," he said in an interview. "Instead, they will actually have more money to spend on humanitarian programmes." [The new amendments to the tax law can be found here on pages 152 and 153.] Complications It's not that simple, according to Aisha Khan, CEO of the Mountain and Glacier Protection Organisation, which works to mitigate the risks to people in rugged northern areas that are vulnerable to natural disasters like floods from melting glaciers. For example, some administrative costs go into paying staff salaries during the sweltering months from December to March when labour-intensive projects like building flood walls need to be put on hold. "It is a mountainous area and we have to keep administrative cost of the projects over 40 percent to ensure their timely completion," she said. Khan said the government's imposition of a tax on agencies that spend less than 75 percent of their yearly budgets on programmes would also be damaging. Her organisation puts aside some money for planned projects as well as to keep in reserve for natural disaster reponse. "The government's taxes will definitely force us to abandon numerous projects in the area," she said, adding that some donors have already suggested they may cease their funding as they do not want it to be used to pay the new tax. That's also a concern for the Society for Human Rights and Prisoners' Aid, which provides legal assistance to refugees and says it has has trained more than 10,000 law enforcement officers, public prosecutors, and judges since 2002. Mudassar Javed, director of the group's legal assistance programme, said the NGO will now need to cut by half the number of lawyers who staff legal aid centres in eight districts. "We know the refugees in jails are suffering, but we can't exceed our administrative expenses over 15 percent," he said. "If we pay taxes to the government on donors' funds, we will be violating our mutual agreement and risking future funding for our projects." Lawsuits looming? Muhammad Habibullah Khan, a lawyer and tax expert at the Supreme Court, told IRIN that non-profit groups will likely challenge the new tax law in court before the end of the fiscal year on 30 September. While Pakistan's tax code defines salaries as administrative costs, he said, the new tax contravenes contracts that NGOs have with donors, which will probably form the basis of any lawsuits. "There is no dispute about administrative and management expenditures as they are clearly defined," he said, explaining that they are spelt out in Pakistan's income tax code to include staff salaries, fuel, rent, and utility bills. "The only dispute that is highly likely to arise is the limitation of administrative costs defined by donors and the government." Dar, the former finance minister, said that if national and international organisations prioritise their spending better, they won't need to cut back on staff or violate contracts with donors in order to pay the tax. "We want to make the NGOs and INGOs spend maximum of their funds on welfare projects instead of using them to pay extravagant salaries to their staff, air travel, board and lodging in the five-star hotels," he said. Dar also denied the government has been cracking down on civil society in order to silence critics. Civil society leaders beg to differ. Among the major incidents they point to in addition to the latest tax move: an investigation launched earlier this year into allegations that NGOs were promoting blasphemy and pornography, orders to NGOs to cease their work, and the forced closure of Save the Children in 2015. 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. Schoolteacher among latest victims of Egypt's chilling wave of extrajudicial executions Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 8 August 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Schoolteacher among latest victims of Egypt's chilling wave of extrajudicial executions, 8 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5989acae4.html [accessed 13 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. Information gathered by Amnesty International suggests that Egyptian security forces forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially executed a schoolteacher who went missing after his arrest on 9 April, in the latest evidence of a chilling pattern of unlawful killings in the country. Testimony from eyewitnesses, colleagues and family members, as well as documentary evidence, indicates that Mohamed Abdelsatar was arrested by security forces at the school where he worked in Behira Governorate. This evidence contradicts a statement from Egypt's Ministry of Interior on 6 May which claims he was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces. "The disappearance and death in custody of Mohamed Abdelsatar is the latest in a string of harrowing extrajudicial executions in Egypt. These unlawful killings are routinely celebrated as the successful 'liquidation of terrorists' by police, safe in the knowledge that they need not fear investigation for their crimes," said Najia Bounaim, North Africa Campaigns Director at Amnesty International. "The Egyptian authorities must conduct a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the disappearance and death of Abdelsatar. They must bring those responsible to justice and signal an end to the green light they have given to security forces to commit horrific crimes without fear of punishment." Amnesty International interviewed two of Abdelsatar's relatives and three work colleagues and reviewed 10 documents including letters from his work place, the school attendance registry and complaints submitted by his relatives about his arrest and disappearance. The evidence gathered indicates that he was arrested from the al-Azhar affiliated Abdel Samie Saloma school on 9 April, before being forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially executed. Abdelsatar's brother, Ahmed, said the last time the family saw him was when he left for work the morning he was disappeared. They went to the local police station and the office of the public prosecution several times but received no further news of him until his death was announced by the interior ministry. Despite the fact that the police had arrested Abdelsatar from his workplace, the ministry of interior claimed in its statement that Abdelsatar had been killed along with a second victim, Abdallah Ragab, in an exchange of fire with police in Tanta, Gharbia governorate, after resisting arrest. The statement further claimed that the men belonged to the armed groups, "Hasm" and "Liwaa Al-Thawra" and were wanted on charges of assisting "terrorist groups". Amnesty International is not aware of any evidence provided by the Ministry of Interior to support these claims. Since 2015 the Egyptian authorities have made a series of similar announcements but have repeatedly failed to disclose the circumstances these operations or the exact circumstances of the deaths. One of Abdelsatar's colleagues, who witnessed his arrest, told Amnesty International that he saw a red car stop in front of the school gates at 10:30am on 9 April. He saw several individuals in plainclothes inside the car. He said one man, who was wearing a suit, entered the school building and ordered Abdelsatar to get into the car. Officers from the National Security Agency regularly wear plain clothes and use civilian vehicles during their operations. Another colleague, who did not see Abdelsatar's arrest, but was present at the school at the time, said several other employees and students told him they had also witnessed the arrest at around 10:30am. Amnesty International also examined a series of documents, including letters sent by the director of the school to the Abu Elmatamer police station and the local al-Azhar office, confirming his arrest from the school on that date and requesting further details. Copies of the school's attendance registry - which is signed by staff upon arrival and departure each day -seen by Amnesty International, records Abdelsatar's arrival at the school that day but not his departure. Instead, the comment "arrested from the school during working hours" was written beside his name. The organization also examined Abdelsatar's teaching notebook, which is updated daily day, and also confirms the last day he was present at the school was 9 April. Ahmed Abdelsatar told Amnesty International that when he received his brother's body from the morgue on 8 May, he saw large scratches on his right hand, and two gunshot wounds in his back. "Abdelsatar was in police custody for at least 27 days while his family desperately searched for him only to find his bullet-ridden corpse in the morgue," said Najia Bounaim. "Such abhorrent crimes are clear evidence that Egypt's security services currently have free rein to commit abuses with impunity. The authorities must put a halt to the recent surge in enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings immediately." Amnesty International also examined complaints submitted by the family to the public prosecutor on 9 April, and to the Behira office of Al-Azhar and the local public prosecution office on 24 April. Although Ahmed Abdelsatar said the public prosecutor summoned him for questioning on 11 April but he heard nothing further about the investigation. Amnesty International has documented several suspected cases of extrajudicial executions by security forces in 2017. Most recently it called for an investigation into the killing of four men on 20 and 23 June, who according to their families, were forcibly disappeared and tortured for up to four weeks. In another incident in April 2017, a leaked video analysed by Amnesty International showed military forces in North Sinai extrajudicially executing seven unarmed individuals, including a 17-year old child. On 13 January police extrajudicially executed six men in Sinai who had been held in incommunicado detention for up to three months before being killed. ENDS Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Press freedom violations recounted in real time January 2017 Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 8 August 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Press freedom violations recounted in real time January 2017, 8 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5989ae8a4.html [accessed 13 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. 07.08.2017 - Imprisoned citizen-journalist's wife arrested Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the arrest of Nastaran Naimi, the wife of the imprisoned citizen-journalist Soheil Arabi. Plainclothesmen arrested her at her home on 31 July after searching it. Her family has still not been told why she was arrested or where she is being held. Arabi has been detained for the past three and a half years. Arrested by Revolutionary Guards in December 2013, he was incarcerated in Security Section 2a of Tehran's Evin prison, where he was isolated and mistreated for two months to get him to confess to helping to create a Facebook network that blasphemed Islam and criticized the government. The confession led to the imposition of a death sentence in August 2014, which - following protests by his lawyer and the intercession of UN special rapporteurs - was eventually overturned. At a retrial in September 2015, he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison starting with two years under observation, during which time he must prove he has repented to avoid reimposition of the death sentence. ---------- 02.08.2017 - A journalist and four Telegram group administrators bailed Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has learned that four administrators of a group that used the instant messaging service Telegram to circulate information - Seid Mojtaba Bagheri, Said Naghdi, Javad Jamshidi and Nima Keshvari - were freed on bail of 500 million toman (410,000 euros) on 30 and 31 July. Held in Tehran's Evin prison after their arrest by Revolutionary Guards on 16 March, they are due to be tried on 12 August. Two other members of the group who were arrested at the same time, Sobhan Jafari Tash and Ali Ahmadinia, will be freed as soon as their bail is paid, their lawyer, Ali Mojtahad Zadeh, said. RSF has also learned that the journalist and photographer Assal Esmaeilzadeh was freed on bail of 300 million toman (270,000 euros) on 13 July pending trial. She was arrested without charge at the behest of the Tehran prosecutor's office for culture and media on 20 June. ---------- 30.06.2017 - Two months after release, journalist sentenced again Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the six-month jail sentence that was imposed on Issa Saharkhiz, the former editor of several, now-closed reformist newspapers, on 19 June, just two months after his release. His lawyer, Mahmoud Alizadeh-Tabatabaie, said he was convicted of insulting the head of the judicial system. 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. His lawyer reported at the time that two other charges against Saharkhiz - publishing false news and insulting the head of the judicial system - would be tried separately as political crimes before a court of assizes. After the latest sentence was passed on 19 June, Alizadeh-Tabatabaie pointed out that the court had accepted that his client's criticism of the head of the judicial system had been personal in nature. It therefore could not be regarded as a political crime meriting a six-month jail sentence, he added, announcing that they planned to appeal. Saharkhiz was released on 15 April after being deemed to have completed the first sentence. While held, he staged several hunger strikes in protest against his imprisonment and had been serving his sentence in a Tehran hospital since March 2016. ---------- 26.06.2017 - Newspaper journalist freed provisionally Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has learned that, after payment of 300 million toman (270,000 euros) in bail, Borna News social affairs editor Tahereh Riahai was released provisionally on 24 June pending trial. Arrested by plainclothes intelligence officers on 27 December 2016, she had been kept in isolation in Section 209 of Tehran's Evin prison for months. ---------- 23.06.2017 - Ahmadinejad's former press adviser arrested Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has learned that Abdol Reza Davari, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's onetime press adviser, who also once ran the newspaper Shahrvand and the government news agency Irna, was arrested on 31 May in order to serve a three-year jail sentence. Davari was convicted in September 2013 of "insulting" Supreme Leader AliKhamenei in three comments posted on Facebook and was given a six-year jail sentence that was reduced to three years on appeal. He was arrested two days after posting an open letter criticizing Ebrahim Raisi and Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, two members of a commission that passed death sentences in 1988 on thousands of political prisoners who refused to renounce their beliefs. ---------- 01.06.2017 - Narges Mohammadi back in prison two days after operation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is very concerned about the health of Narges Mohammadi, an imprisoned journalist and human rights defender who has been returned to prison just two days after undergoing an operation. Rushed to hospital with severe uterine bleeding on 28 May, Mohammadi was operated on the next day and was taken back to prison yesterday. Held since May 2015, Mohammadi was deemed to have completed an initial six-year sentence on 17 March and immediately began a second, ten-year one. She has several ailments including muscular paralysis but is being denied the medical care she needs. Her health is in danger and she should not be in prison. We call for her immediate release. ---------- 24.05.2017 - Magazine editor Morad Saghafi released on bail Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has learned that Morad Saghafi, the editor of the magazine Goft o Gu (Dialogue in Persian), was released on payment of bail on 20 May pending trial. He had been arrested at his Tehran home on 16 March. ---------- 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) China: RSF press freedom laureate gets four years for blogging about protests Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 8 August 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, China: RSF press freedom laureate gets four years for blogging about protests, 8 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5989af044.html [accessed 13 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the Chinese government's war against citizen-journalists, whose latest victim is Lu Yuyu, the winner of the 2016 RSF-TV5 Monde Press Freedom Prize. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the Chinese government's war against citizen-journalists, whose latest victim is Lu Yuyu, the winner of the 2016 RSF-TV5 Monde Press Freedom Prize. He was sentenced last week to four years in prison for documenting China's growing social unrest on a blog. A court in Dali, in the southwestern province of Yunnan, imposed the sentence on 3 August after convicting Lu of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," a deliberately vague charge used by the regime to silence critics. "Lu Yuyu committed no crime and should have been given a medal for his extraordinary work of documenting and contextualizing the scarce information about social unrest and labour protests, which was the very essence of citizen-journalism," said Cedric Alviani, the head of RSF's East Asia bureau. "This verdict is the latest episode in a Chinese government crackdown on all those who defend the people's rights, including the freedom to inform, against the violence of the state apparatus." 30,000 protests nationwide What with land seizures, factories going bust and appalling work conditions, China has seen a wave of strikes and protests in recent years that testify to growing social and economic tension. But in this continent-sized country, it is hard for protesters to coordinate or even keep abreast of what is happening in other cities and provinces. Born in 1979 in Guizhou province and a onetime migrant worker himself, Lu was briefly arrested at a demonstration in 2012 about local government corruption. Thereafter he began compiling an exhaustive picture of social unrest in China, posting the information on a blog he called "Not News" (wickedonna.blogspot.com) and on linked social network accounts. From 2012 to 2016, Lu and his partner, Li Tingyu, posted information about 30,000 strikes and protests throughout China on their website, for which they were awarded the Reporters Without Borders-TV5 Monde Press Freedom Prize in the Citizen-Journalist category in 2016. Abducted by plainclothesmen Kidnapped by plainclothes police in Dali on 16 June 2016, Lu and Li were held incommunicado for a week and were denied the services of a lawyer for three weeks in violation of China's criminal law. It was later reported that Lu was beaten in prison and went on hunger strike in protest. In theory, Lu can appeal against his conviction but his chances of success are infinitesimal. In China, one person in a thousand is acquitted in a criminal trial and the percentage approaches zero for citizen-journalists. Lu's partner Li, who was born in 1991, was tried secretly on 20 April after being forced to recuse her lawyer, but the court did not announce any verdict. After the trial, she was placed under house arrest. China is ranked 176th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index. RSF decries Israeli decision to close Al Jazeera Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 7 August 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, RSF decries Israeli decision to close Al Jazeera, 7 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5989afc94.html [accessed 13 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges the Israeli authorities not to go ahead with their plan to shut down Al Jazeera's operations, as it would amount to censorship of the Qatari TV news broadcaster and would reduce news media pluralism in Israel and the surrounding region. The move was announced yesterday by Israeli communications minister Ayoub Kara, who said he intended to close Al Jazeera's bureaux in Israel, revoke its journalists' press passes and cut off its cable and satellite broadcast links in the country. Israel has for years been accusing Al Jazeera of biased coverage of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. During last month's clashes around the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu accused Al Jazeera of "continuing to stir violence" and said he wanted it removed from Israel. At a press conference yesterday, the communications minister said almost all countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, had concluded that "Al Jazeera supports terrorism" and that, under these circumstances, it was "ridiculous" that it continued to broadcast from Israel. "What is ridiculous is that a country that boasts of being a democratic model for the regions falls into line with countries that are notorious enemies of media freedom," RSF said. "Instead of taking advantage of the desire of certain Gulf states to censor Al Jazeera for purely political reasons, the Israeli authorities could instead set an example by defending media pluralism, which is essential." Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and United Arab Emirates - the countries that have been demanding Al Jazeera's closure as a condition for ending the unprecedented two-month- old regional diplomatic crisis - are ranked 168th, 164th, 161st and 119th respectively in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index. Israel is ranked 91st. Leading Thai journalist facing possible sedition prosecution Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 7 August 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Leading Thai journalist facing possible sedition prosecution, 7 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5989b0ad4.html [accessed 13 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Thai authorities to abandon any plan to prosecute Pravit Rojanaphruk, a well-known journalist and free speech advocate who is to be questioned by police tomorrow about a complaint accusing him of sedition in five Facebook posts. A leading critic of Thailand's military junta and its lese-majeste law, Pravit could face a possible 20-year jail sentence if prosecuted on a sedition charge under article 116 of the criminal code as a result of the complaint brought against him by a police lieutenant-colonel. This is just the latest of many attempts to silence Pravit, who has often been targeted by the authorities in connection with his reporting for the Khaosod English news website and (previously) for The Nation newspaper, and the views he expresses. As well judicial harassment, he was banned from leaving the country in 2016 to stop him attending a UNESCO event to mark World Press Freedom Day. In 2015, he was subjected to an "attitude adjustment" session in an undisclosed location. He was detained for a week in 2014. "We call on the authorities to immediately drop any criminal proceedings against Pravit Rojanaphruk," RSF said. "This forthright journalist has been harassed repeatedly just for expressing his opinions and defending the freedom to inform, to the point that he had to leave his former position with The Nation. It is time the authorities realized that free speech and media freedom are fundamental rights that cannot be attacked in this way, and especially with complete impunity." Announcing last month that Pravit is to be one of the recipients of its 2017 International Press Freedom Award, the Committee to Protect Journalists described him as "a critical reporter and press freedom advocate in Thailand, who was harassed by the government and detained twice in recent years over his coverage of Thai politics and human rights." The Thai authorities have constantly violated media freedom ever since the May 2014 coup d'etat that brought the military-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to power. Both Thai and foreign journalists and citizen-journalists who dare to criticize the government are often prosecuted on defamation charges, imprisoned or forced to flee the country. In April, the government prohibited any online contact with three political dissidents accused of lese-majeste. Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, a citizen-journalist, was arrested in February just for sharing a BBC article on Facebook. After eight months in detention, he is now facing up to 15 years in prison in a trial that has just begun. Thailand is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index. DECATUR Freight trains are blocking traffic for 18 hours every week, and over the course of five years, police responded to 52 crashes at the intersection of Brush College Road and Faries Parkway. Any commuter who sits bumper-to-bumper there every day knows why the city of Decatur has put a new overpass at the top of the list of projects it's trying to win federal grant money for. But local governments like Decatur looking for federal help on major infrastructure improvements are adrift, waiting for either President Donald Trump's administration to follow through on its promises of a major infrastructure plan or Congress to take matters into its own hands. The Decatur City Council took a step forward Monday when it voted to spend $2 million to buy some of the land needed for an overpass that would carry Brush College over Faries Parkway, the intersection where city traffic studies have revealed the long train wait times and traffic crashes. The money comes from a state grant awarded in 2010 through the Illinois Jobs Now! program. "We do not have enough cash to buy all of the properties," said Public Works Director Rick Marley, but appraisals and negotiations will get underway with some of the businesses and property owners in the area. City leaders have been working for more than five years on the Brush College Road Improvement Project, which Marley said has four components: the overpass at Faries Parkway; an overpass just a few blocks south to take vehicles over a Norfolk Southern-owned rail yard; a state project to widen the intersection with East William Street Road; and a plan to expand Brush College Road from two lanes to four lanes. The cost for all that work could exceed $80 million, with the Faries Parkway overpass alone estimated at $40 million, Marley said. The Brush College project is separate from the Macon County Beltway, a long-discussed effort to build a loop around the city's east side, although the beltway would connect to Brush College Road at its intersection with Illinois 48. Both major transportation projects are considered key to the city's economic development efforts and were the subject of a trip to Washington D.C. in June where city, Macon County and labor leaders lobbied for federal funds. With U.S. lawmakers now in summer recess, it's uncertain whether any decisions about a federal transportation grant program will be made before next year. The TIGER grant program, under which Decatur sought $20 million under President Barack Obama, was discontinued under Trump's administration. In the meantime, all city officials can do is carry on and try to build their case for major federal money for the first item of a larger vision of Decatur as a regional trade powerhouse. They decided to move forward with the land acquisition after Federal Highway Administration officials critiqued Decatur's federal grant application. "One of their comments was, 'You're not far enough along,'" Marley said. Marley said the city can still go forward with any grant applications while land negotiations commence. But as far as when that next application process might happen, "I don't think the folks in Washington even know," Marley said. While the Brush College corridor has long been targeted for improvements, Marley said it was only in the last few years that officials decided to prioritize the persistent traffic problems at the Faries Parkway intersection. The years of talk, plans, and studies have some nearby residents and businesses confused about what's going to happen at Brush College Road, and when. Debra Benton's home would be demolished if and when the city finds funding to widen a large section of Brush College from two lanes to four. Benton, a retired florist who's lived on Brush College Road for more than 30 years, said the last time the city had a meeting for area residents was in 2014, "and it sounded like it was going, you know?" Benton said she now doesn't want to repair to a 25-year-old leaking roof and a garage in need of structural work. "I could put the money I'd have to spend on that and maybe use that for a lawyer when things get going," she said. "I'm 61 years old. Ten years from now, I'll be 71 years old and it's going to be hard moving out (at that point)," Benton said. Marley said the city has been in talks with the Illinois Department of Transportation about making improvements to East William Street Road, which is a state highway, while efforts to secure grant money for the overpass project continue. But Marley said the stretch of road in-between, where Benton's home is located, is local, not state-owned. IDOT spokesman Guy Stirgill said the East William Street project is not on their six-year repair list. "We will work the city going forward, as we have up to this point, to coordinate on timing," he said. Tami Heiser, owner of the New Back Door and Pour House, is one of the businesses part of the city's land acquisition agreement for the Faries Parkway intersection. Heiser, who does not own the property at 3925 East Faries Parkway, said she has not yet heard anything about the city's plans, and whether she will be able to relocate her business. "Actually I heard (the plan's) called off right now," she said. Body cameras for the Mooresville Police Department have arrived. Find out when they will be used. DECATUR A wounded person was taken to a local hospital by ambulance after a shooting in the 700 block of West Decatur Street on Monday, the Decatur Fire Department confirmed Monday. The incident took place about 1:37 p.m., according to the fire department. Decatur police did not respond to multiple messages seeking more information Monday afternoon and evening. Witnesses in the area told a Herald & Review reporter that they heard multiple gunshots around 1:30 p.m. Traffic was diverted from the intersection of West Decatur and North Monroe streets for more than an hour. Police marked several spots in the roadway that appear to be key to the investigation. UPDATED at 10:30 A.M. on 2017-08-09 A court in Cambodias capital Phnom Penh on Tuesday rejected an appeal by land activist and rights campaigner Tep Vanny of her conviction on charges of aggravated intentional violence, drawing condemnation from rights groups who demanded she be freed. On Feb. 23, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Tep Vanny to two years and six months in prison on charges of aggravated intentional violence in connection with a 2013 protest she held in front of Hun Sens home that ended in violence. While the protest occurred in 2013, the court prosecutor reactivated the case and charged Tep Vanny in August last year after she was arrested for participating in another demonstration. On Tuesday, Cambodias Appeals Court upheld the Municipal Courts ruling, which was issued following a trial in which the prosecution failed to produce any witnessespreventing cross-examination by the defenseand which is widely seen as politically motivated. Defense witnesses maintain that security forces launched an attack against Tep Vannys group in 2013, leaving some protesters wounded, knocked unconscious, or with lost teeth, while others suffered broken arms. Tep Vanny was also injured in the confrontation. Around 50 people affected by forced eviction had gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the decision, calling for Tep Vannys release. The Phnom Penh Post quoted Presiding Judge Pol Sam Oeun as saying that he found no fault in the lower courts decision. The council sees that there was violence that happened and complied with the charge of violence with aggravating circumstances, and that decision of the municipal court was correct, he said, referring to the three-judge panel. As she was led from the court, Tep Vanny condemned the decision as unjust, according to the Post. Put me in jail if you think this would bring benefit to the nation Today, I am in jail, but tomorrow it will be your turn, she yelled, as she was shoved into a prison van. After the Appeals Court ruled, Kong Chantha from Phnom Penhs Boeung Kak Lake community told RFAs Khmer Service that Cambodias judiciary caters to the whims of the wealthy and politically powerful. The courts lack professionalism and court officials are operated by remote control, she said. No witness was heard [in her February trial]. The term remote-control court is regularly used by the public to refer to what they say are biased courts operated by those in power. Rights groups react The ruling was met with frustration from Soeng Senkarona, a senior investigator with local rights group ADHOC, who said he was saddened that the Appeals Court sided with the original verdict without providing any evidence to support its decision. I consider the Appeal Courts decision unfair, he told RFAs Khmer Service. In a statement, New York-based Human Rights Watch urged Cambodia to release Tep Vanny, who has been in the capitals Prey Sar Prison since Aug. 15, 2016, and slammed the government, which it said routinely misuses the courts to target members of the political opposition and civil society activists. The case against Tep Vanny is a blatant misuse of prosecutorial power to punish her for her peaceful activism, said Phil Robertson, the groups deputy Asia director. This prosecution is intended to silence Tep Vanny and intimidate other Cambodian activists. Robertson also urged Cambodias international donors to pressure the government to end the politically motivated and unsubstantiated charges against Tep Vanny and other detained activists. Tep Vanny came to prominence as an activist fighting the Boeung Kak Lake land grab, when some 3,500 families were evicted from a neighborhood surrounding the urban lake in Phnom Penh. The lake was later filled with sand to make way for a development project with close ties to Hun Sen and the CPP. She has also been active in urging an independent investigation into the July 10, 2016 shooting death of Kem Ley, a popular social commentator and frequent government critic. Concerns over rights Tep Vannys appeal verdict came as Rhona Smith, the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia met with Keo Remy, the head of the government-run Cambodian Human Rights Committee, in the capital as she began an 10-day visit to Cambodia. Following their discussion, Keo Remy told reporters that he acknowledged Smiths concerns over the human rights situation in Cambodia, referring specifically to comments made recently by Social Affairs Minister Vong Sauth, who threatened to beat anyone that protests the results of general elections set for July next year with bamboo poles. The most important thing to remember is that his remarks are not threatsthey are just part of a message to educate people on the legal grounds [of the governments potential reaction to protests], he said. Such remarks may raise some concerns regarding human rights. However, the minister is a gentle person and people shouldnt be intimidated by his words. Speaking at a promotion ceremony in the capital last week, Vong Sauth slammed what he called a bid by the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to poison society and undermine Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to local media reports. The opposition says that the CPP, and especially Hun Sen, just does whatever he wants to do, the Phnom Penh Post quoted Vong Sauth as saying, before proceeding to suggest that doing so is the prime ministers right. He does whatever he wants to doin compliance with the law, and the law gives him that power. And everyone who breaks the law will be arrested and put in prison. Smith told reporters after her meeting with Keo Remy that she had specifically brought up Vong Sauths comments during their discussion on Tuesday, adding that the rights committee chairman had agreed the statement "wasn't helpful before the [2018] elections." Smiths visit, which was organized by the U.N.s local human rights office, will help her take the pulse of the human rights situation in Cambodia, with a special emphasis on the rights of childrenpart of her focus on discrimination and marginalized groups. She is also set to meet with Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana on Thursday, a ministry spokesman told the Cambodia Daily. Reported by Vuthy Tha and Maly Leng for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Smith had not raised the issue of Vong Sauth's comments during her meeting with Keo Remy. Authorities in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen have ordered small guesthouses to stop taking in guests in a city-wide security operation ahead of a new Silk Road summit in September, local residents told RFA on . Police in Xiamen, which will hold the ninth summit of large developing BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- from Sept. 3-5, have ordered business owners to put such businesses on hold until well after the meeting, a guesthouse employee said. "You can't [book a room here]," the employee said. "I don't know the exact details, but you probably can't until October; no privately run guesthouses are being allowed to operate now." "They sent us a directive ordering us to close." A Xiamen resident surnamed Zhang said traffic controls are also being implemented across the city ahead of the summit. "Everywhere you go, it's all messed up," he said. "The traffic wasn't too bad before, but now they have put in diversions everywhere, as well as blocked off some streets entirely." "The entire population is being put out by this, and yet the whole thing, this new Silk Road, is all about the government and its pursuit of profit," Zhang said. "It has nothing to do with ordinary people. What benefit will we get out of it?" Massive public works A business owner surnamed Yang said her business has been hard hit by massive public works aimed at sprucing up the city for the summit. "It is having a huge impact," she said. "They haven't bothered with it for so long, and now my customers are being inconvenienced." "The government hasn't compensated business owners for any of this." And a resident surnamed Wang said there is a strong police presence on the city's streets. "It seems as if there are security personnel in the [inner] lane who are subjecting passing cars to stringent security checks, so there are fewer cars about on the streets," Wang said. Xiamen-based rights activist Pan Xidian said local police had issued him with a verbal warning not to "give shelter" to any activists from out of town. "There are very tight security requirements as the ... BRICS summit approaches," Pan said. "I heard that they are checking all vehicles from out of town, pulling them into checkpoints, stopping and searching them." "All roads in and out [of the city] are being checked, as well as the tunnel [to Gulangyu Island]." Complaints from Xiamen residents were also visible online, in spite of government censorship targeting any comments critical of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Dogs under threat? One online comment said courier services have also been suspended within the city, out of security concerns. "The police came to our door and told us to shut down all operations for one month," the commentator said. "This is a total slap in the face." Residents in housing compounds are also being ordered to get rid of their dogs, the comment said. "If they don't do it, then the authorities will come and do it for them, so don't tell me this BRICS summit doesn't affect local people," the comment said. Another online comment hit out at a requirement that the entire population living within two kilometers of the summit venue is being forced to vacate their homes. "The guesthouses have been shut down, and the hotels have ratcheted up their prices, and anyone staying in a room has to go through ID checks," the second comment said. Other comments said the roadblocks had made it impossible to order a takeout. "Didn't they promise that BRICS wouldn't be a burden on ordinary people?" a third comment complained. "They are fixing the roads right through the night, and the noise is so loud. How do they expect people to get any rest?" Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Hei Na for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. As Japan warned that the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program has entered "a new stage," China has come down on the side of economic sanctions against the isolated Pyongyang regime. But political analysts in China and Taiwan said the move may not be enough to ensure Pyongyang's return to the negotiating table. In a report released on , Japan's defense ministry warned that North Korea may already have achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons necessary to launch a long-range nuclear missile strike. "Since last year, when it forcibly implemented two nuclear tests and more than 20 ballistic missile launches, the security threats have entered a new stage," it said in its annual defense white paper. North Korea under supreme leader Kim Jong Un has carried out a string of missile tests since the beginning of the year, including two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) which landed off the west coast of Japan. Japan's warning comes after the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted through a new round of sanctions against Pyongyang at the weekend. North Korea slammed the new U.N. sanctions as "fabricated" and warned there would be "strong follow-up measures." The sanctions, which include a ban on coal and other North Korean exports worth over U.S.$1 billion, also had the backing of Beijing, which said that they were a "price worth paying." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China, as North Korea's closest trading partner, will pay the biggest price for the new United Nations sanctions, but vowed to enforce them. The sanctions could slash Pyongyang's U.S.$3 billion annual export revenue by a third, analysts said. Vested interests Analysts said Wang Yi's comments weren't only directed at North Korea, but also at vested interests in the ruling Chinese Communist Party's own ranks, however. "[President] Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump may have agreed that mainland China will reduce trade with North Korea when they met back in April, but according to video sent by internet users in [the border city of] Dandong, there is a never-ending stream of transportation crossing the Yalu River Bridge, and Sino Korean trade is still increasing daily," journalist Zhao Yan wrote in a commentary for RFA's Cantonese Service on . Video of the Yalu River Bridge posted to YouTube by user Xi Tianqi showed a line of trucks moving slowly across the bridge. According to the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Corporation (KOTRA) North Korea's foreign trade dependence was at a record high of 92.5 percent in 2016. By comparison, North Korean trade dependence on Russia was 1.2 percent. "There is no way that Fatty Kim can run the North Korean economy without the support of the Chinese government," Zhao said, using an online nickname commonly used in China for Kim Jung Un. "But what is worth noting is that Sino-Korean trade has continued to expand ever since ... President Hu Jintao came to power [in 2002]." Zhao said recent corruption probes into Wang Min, former party secretary for the northeastern province of Liaoning, which borders North Korea, could be linked to Xi's bid to reduce trade with North Korea. "But [Chinese] officials are driven by vested interests, and Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign seems powerless to stem the temptation of skimming off some of Fatty Kim's cash on the part of mainland Chinese officials," Zhao wrote. "If this weren't the case, then we wouldn't have a ceaseless flow of trucks crossing that river." But To-hai Liou, foreign policy expert at Taiwan's Chengchi University, said the stakes are high for Xi's central government in Beijing, too. "If the United States were to launch an attack on North Korea, this would diminish China's authority," Liou said. "It goes without saying that it would probably start another Korean war, or instability in northeast Asia, not to mention the possible collapse of the North and a flood of refugees in China." The sanctions raise the possibility that North Korea could be forced to return to the negotiating table. But Wang Sheng, a Korean expert at Jilin University in northeastern China, said he isn't optimistic about that prospect. "There will need to be three-party talks between China, the U.S. and the North, or four-party, between the U.S., China and both North and South Korea, before they can move to six-party talks [including Russia and Japan]," Wang said. "But it is pretty clear that North Korea won't be curbed by China." "What the North really wants is for formal diplomatic ties to be set up with the United States, and a [bilateral] dialogue. This has been its position all along," he said. Military exercises But he said progress could be hampered by demands from Pyongyang for a halt to joint exercises between U.S. and South Korean forces. "I think North Korea might decide it wants to talk if the U.S. and South Korea agreed to a temporary halt to those exercises, or even just to reduce their size and scope, but if not, I'm not optimistic," Wang said. Meanwhile, Japan's defense ministry also highlighted "provocative acts" by China in the East China Sea and South China Sea as an area of concern. The complaint comes after the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) indirectly criticized Beijings territorial expansion there in an unusual statement on. In a reference to Chinas building of artificial islands, air strips and other installations in the disputed waters, the ministers noted "concerns expressed by some ministers on the land reclamations and activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region." "We emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states," the communique, which came as Beijing and ASEAN signed a code of conduct for the South China Sea, said. Liou said Japan's comments were squarely aimed at ensuring a continued U.S. military presence in the region. "When it comes to the South China Sea, of course Japan doesn't want to see a diminished U.S. presence," he said. "[They] don't want to see China become the dominant power in the Asia Pacific." Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Zhao Yan for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. DECATUR A burglar police said was a man caught in the act of stealing from a Decatur home is now facing multiple charges. The 39-year-old man was arrested Aug. 4 after patrol officers chased him from the yard of a house in the 2200 block of East Main Street, the affidavit said. Police said the man broke into the house and was getting ready to remove two televisions, the remotes for which were in his pockets. A search of his van with a police dog also found 1.5 grams of cocaine in five small bags packaged for resale, the affidavit said. The man was jailed on preliminary charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, resisting police and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Preliminary charges are subject to review by the Macon County States Attorney's Office. The man remained in the Macon County Jail in lieu of posting $150,000 bond. Chinese President Xi Jinping may be gearing up to abolish a system of collective leadership and return to the strongman politics of the past at a major political congress later this year, analysts said on. Last month, the ruling Chinese Communist Party's anti-graft arm announced that rising political star Zhengcai, a man once tipped to be Xi's successor, is under investigation for "serious disciplinary offenses," in a move which analysts said is an indicator that Xi wants more power concentrated in his own hands. 's political downfall comes ahead of the 19th Party Congress, at which Xi is expected to further consolidate his personal power, possibly at the expense of the more collective form of leadership wielded by the seven-man Politburo standing committee in recent years. Political commentators say the selective nature of the anti-corruption campaign waged by Xi since he took power in indicates that the president's political rivals are most likely to be targeted, however. Chinese constitutional scholar Zhang Lifan said there is no turning back for Xi, who has already succeeded in making himself a "core" party leader in a bid for the sort of supreme power wielded by late supreme leaders Deng Xiaoping and Mao Zedong. "When the Mao era ended, there was no obvious strongman to emerge, so Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yun ruled together," Zhang said. "Now, Xi looks likely to shrug off any form of collective leadership altogether, or the influence of party elders, and run the whole show himself." "From his point of view, I don't think there's any going back now; he will have to go for all-out dictatorship now for the rest of his life. He won't be able to retire," he said. "All of the power and all of the political risk will be concentrated in his hands." 'Xi Jinping Thought' Hong Kong political commentator Liu Ruishao said the declining health of former president Jiang Zemin had led to a power vacuum that Xi is keen to fill. "Xi Jinping has been continually bolstering his status as core leader, and we are even starting to see [references to] Xi Jinping Thought lately," Liu said. "He has made amendments to laws and to the party constitution to shore up his personal position." "No other person or political force has emerged that can moderate Xi's influence, or balance his power," he said. Liu said reports are emerging from China's secretive political establishment that Xi is getting ready to expand the membership of the existing Politburo from 25 to 35, and abolish the Politburo standing committee, which has wielded a form of collective leadership since Deng's era of economic reforms during the 1980s. "In that scenario, you would have a president wielding enormous power," Liu said. "But many other possibilities exist too." Political commentator Wei Pu said Xi appears to be encouraging a cult of personality in the style of Mao Zedong. "Why would Xi Jinping accept, support or encourage a cult of personality, when he himself and his own parents have suffered so much because of the cult of personality under Mao Zedong?" Wei wrote in a recent commentary for RFA's Cantonese Service. "It is clear that Xi Jinping needs this sort of adulation, to ensure loyalty among the party and the military," he wrote. "He also needs the loyalty of intellectuals and the whole of society." "But the real question here is why? Perhaps he is using it to further consolidate his personal position and power, and to become a leader in the style of Mao Zedong, where everyone has to sing along, and any opponents die." New internet rules for cadres Commentator Liang Jingping, also writing for the Cantonese Service, said the rise of Xi's strongman image and his sloganeering about the "Chinese dream" may have been influenced by the leadership style of Russian president Vladimir Putin. "This means that those in power use the power of the state to frighten and bamboozle people, so they no longer know which way is up, and what is true and what is false," Liang wrote. "Under the Chinese Dream, no speech or truth-telling can be permitted that challenges the rhetoric of the dream." "And we are beginning to see that modern information technology doesn't necessarily enable people to challenge their leaders." As the Communist Party gears up for the all-important 19th Party Congress, expected in November, the administration of President Xi Jinping has issued new rules aimed at limiting what party members can do online. In an "opinion" issued last week, the party's powerful Central Propaganda Department warned its more than 60 million rank-and-file members not to engage in any "illegal" online behavior. In a hint that the president is concerned about dissent within party ranks, forbidden online actions include not organizing or participating in any form of political opposition, including via forums, social media, or live chat. Party members are also to stay away from any form of online religious or "cult" activities, as well as refrain from "conniving" with religious extremists, separatists, and terrorists, it said. Government censors have recently moved to crack down on any form of online satire targeting the president, including any social media tweets containing a reference to Winnie the Pooh, after a satirical image drawing parallels between the cuddly bear and Xi circulated online. The image showed the Disney version of Pooh and Tigger alongside a photograph of Xi and former U.S. President Barack Obama during their "shirtsleeves summit" in . Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. An investigation by authorities in Laos into more than two dozen trucks seized at the border with Vietnam after they were found to be hauling illegally logged timber is likely to be indefinitely delayed if the contraband is linked to the governor of Attapeu province, according to a local civil society official. Twenty-seven trucks of logs allegedly owned by governor Nam Viyakeths wife Seng Viyaketh have been held since May at the Phoukeua International Border Checkpoint, which regulates crossings into western Vietnams Kon Tum province. Both the governor and his wife have denied involvement with the timber. On Monday, an official with a Lao civil society organization (CSO) told RFAs Lao Service on condition of anonymity that an investigation into the ownership of the timber could be never-ending, because if the governor is connected to the shipment, he will use his authority to obstruct justice. Its serious that Nam Viyakheth, who is a member of [the ruling Communist] partys central committee, and a son of former Lao revolutionary hero Lieutenant General Samane Viyakheth, is alleged to have become involved in smuggling timber, the official said. This will prevent the government or the Lao Politburo Committee from taking measures against him if he is found guilty. The late Samane Viyakheth was also formerly the Lao deputy minister of national defense and president of the National Assembly, the countrys rubber stamp parliament. The CSO official noted that despite authorities impounding the timber trucks three months ago, an investigation into the case appears to have gone silent. At this point, my observation is that the investigation is being delayed as a way out, or investigators are searching for scapegoat in this case, because Nam Viyakheth has publicly rejected his familys collusion in the timber issue, the official said. They are taking plenty of time to investigate, because the timber case in Attapeu province is related to a powerful person. But my viewpoint is that he should be punished if he is guilty, which would provide a warning to others [who may seek to abuse their position], he added. My concern is that the investigation is being delayed and will become never-ending, so that the public simply forgets it. Claims reasserted The CSO official voiced his concerns about the investigation as a source who inspects timber in the southern provinces of Laos under the State Inspection Authority, reasserted his claim from June that Nam Viyakheth and his family are involved in smuggling and linked to the 27 trucks. The State Inspection Authority ordered the seizure of 27 logging trucks because the governor of Attapeu has not implemented Decree 15 [ban on timber exports], even though it has otherwise been strictly enforced nationwide, he said. A detailed plan was used and a gang deployed to smuggle the timber with the 27 logging trucks. According to the inspector, Nam Viyakheths family had initially become involved in smuggling, while the governor had abused his power to threaten and remove officials who challenged him. Two years ago, he said, a saw mill illegally run by businessman Kham Rattanaphone was shut down by the authorities, but the governor had since authorized his family to use the mill and it is now the only one registered to operate in the province. Additionally, at least 20 other trucks were used to smuggle timber across the border to Vietnam prior to the seizure of the trucks in May by using a fake list of wood products to exhibit in the country, he added. Another State Inspection Authority official, who also asked to remain unnamed, told RFA on Sunday that if timber was being exported from Attapeu province across the border into Vietnam, the governor would know about it. The first step of exporting timbers is that the exporter must request permission from the provincial cabinet officeparticularly the governor, he said. After that, the cabinet office will issue permission from the relevant departments, including agriculture and forestry, finance, industry and commerce, because these departments dare not issue approval of timber exports without first receiving the agreement of the governor. Additionally, the official noted Nam Viyakheth told RFA last week that he had closed all checkpoints along the highway used by the 27 trucks to drive towards Vietnam, so authorities would not have been able to inspect them until they arrived at the border. [In the interview] Nam Viyakheth said he had closed the checkpoints on Route 18B to the border, but I still see three checkpoints in operation, all within 100 kilometers (62 miles) on Route 18B, he said, suggesting that the governor would have been informed that the trucks were on their way to Vietnam. One of 27 trucks seized at the border with Vietnam is returned to the provincial headquarters in Attapeu, June 16, 2017. Credit: RFA listener Involvement denied In June, Seng Viyaketh dismissed the accusation that she owned the illegally harvested timber seized in Attapeu in an interview with RFA. I confirm that I am not involved in the seized timberthat is a rumor and disparaging me, so I am willing to be interviewed [to deny it], she said at the time, calling the allegation groundless and demanding that her accuser come forward with evidence to prove that she runs a timber business. And on Aug. 2, Nam Viyakheth told RFA that while his family does other business, including tourism, we are not involved in the timber business and have never been. He noted that he had publicly opposed timber smuggling while previously Minister of Industry and Commerce. While Nam previously suggested on Facebook that the 27 trucks belong to a company operated by Kham Rattanaphone, he added in his interview with RFA that provincial and central authorities have not completed their investigation of the timber trucks, which he said he is awaiting the results of. Two days later, RFA spoke with minister to the Prime Ministers Office Chaleun Yiapaoher, who said the investigation would require more time. It is not easy to fact check 27 trucks with so much timberin particular, collecting information, and loading and unloading the timber is a long process, while cooperation is required between several relevant departments using a variety of approaches, he said. [The investigation] is taking a long time, but we are making sure it is correct and doesnt include any fraudulent results. If we rush to do it, it wont be accurate because we lack modern equipment. Whether it is slow or fast matters less than that it is correct. According to Chaleun Yiapaoher, authorities will not be in a position to determine who is behind the timber smuggling until the investigation has concluded. High-ranking officials in Attapeu are regularly involved in illegal logging and cross-border sales, despite a ban on the export of timber issued by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in May last year as part of a bid to end rampant smuggling to China and Vietnam, where the wood is used to make high-end furniture. Deforestation has been a major problem in the last two decades for Laos, where forests now cover less than 40 percent of the countrys land, according to the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. Much of the illegal timber is obtained through conversion forestryclearing areas marked for the development of infrastructure projects such as hydropower dams, road building, and mining operationswhich is used as an excuse for large-scale logging that otherwise would not be permitted under Lao law. Reported and translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi holds a public round-table meeting on the countrys peace process in Myaetinekan village in central's Myanmar's Mandalay region, Aug. 7, 2017. Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi held a public roundtable meeting on the countrys peace process in a Mandalay region village on Monday, though residents used the opportunity to question her about the lack of electricity in the area and other issues thataffect their livelihoods. Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also state counselor and foreign affairs minister, is spearheading peace negotiations with the government military and ethnic armed groups in a bid to end decades-long civil war and foster national reconciliation. She has made the achievement of peace the primary goal of the National League for Democracy government, which has been in power for 16 months. Two rounds of discussions have been held since the talks began almost a year ago, though no significant progress has been made, and rebel militias continue to engage in clashes with the Myanmar army. Zaw Myint, chief minister of Mandalay region, told Reuters that Aung San Suu Kyi selected Myaetinekan village for her visit because it is situated at the geographical center of Myanmar and is a typical Myanmar village. The villages residents and rice farmers belong to the countrys majority ethnic Bamar Buddhist group, Reuters said. Aung San Suu Kyi told villagers that the peace negotiations, known as the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference, must be a priority for the country. But the eight village representatives with whom she met were more concerned about issues that are affecting residents livelihoods, including the availability of electricity in some areas in and around the village, land grabs, and irrigation problems. May Than Yee from the areas Nyaungbin Thar village said of the 250 houses in the village, only 85 have access to electricity. The only power source is about 400 to 500 feet away, we have to pay a user fee of 700,000 kyats (U.S. $502), and we have to connect the supply line by ourselves, she said. Its very unaffordable, she said. Some people are getting their power like that, but Im not yet. It is very disheartening. In response, Aung San Suu Kyi said the government is trying its utmost to provide electricity to remote towns and villages. I know the entire country needs electricity, she said at the roundtable discussion. I just talked to some of your leaders about this issue. I dont know about other countries what they do or dont, but here the government and people will have to join hands to find ways to solve the problems. Aung San Suu Kyi told the villagers that she would talk to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy about resolving the issue. During a brief tour of Myaetinekan, Aung San Suu Kyi saw a Japanese-made transformer installed in March to connect the village to the national power grid for the first time, Reuters reported. She also toured weaving factories with machines powered by the transformer. Only about 38.5 percent of Myanmars 53 million people have access to electrical power, though those who do have it experience frequent outages. Other grievances The villagers also told Aung San Suu Kyi about instances of local officials illegally appropriating land, a major cause of social tension throughout developing Southeast Asia. Myaetinekan resident Aung Thway said the village head had cheated some residents by selling their farmland to a third party. The incident was reported to authorities at the township and district levels, but after they summoned the villagers affected and heard their cases, they failed to issue a fair verdict, he said. Aung San Suu Kyi told Zaw Myint to investigate the issue and ensure that justice is rendered. The villagers who participated in the meeting also told Aung San Suu Kyi about their difficulties obtaining enough water for their crops through irrigation. In response, she instructed Zaw Myint to look into the issue. After the discussions, some well-wishers pledged to contribute 12 million kyats (U.S. $8,600) to make electrical power accessible to all villagers. Aung San Suu Kyis meeting with the villagers is the fourth round-table discussion on peace that she had held with ordinary people since taking office in April 2016. Reported by Kyaw Thu for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Myanmar security forces patrol an area of Maungdaw township in western Myanmar's Rakhine state in an undated photo. Myanmar security forces on Monday stepped in to prevent a fight between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslims in a village in Rathedaung township in the latest incident of communal animosity in volatile Rakhine state, a village official said. Tensions rose in Zedibyin village after some Muslims used slingshots to shoot at ethnic Rakhine villagers in a cemetery. I went there as a village chief to check out reports that some Muslims were using slingshots on Rakhine villagers, said Maung Aye Tin, chairman of Zedibyin village. It was nothing much though, he said downplaying the incident. It wasnt a big deal. Ethnic Rakhine guards were put on sentry duty after rumors spread in the village that trained militant Muslims were operating in the vicinity, he said. Though both ethnic Rakhine people and Rohingya Muslims live in the same village across divided lines, they have been at peace since security forces moved into the area in October 2016, Maung Aye Tin said. Rathedaung and two other townships in northern Rakhine state Maungdaw and Buthidaung have been in a state of upheaval since deadly attacks on three border guard stations on Oct. 9, which were blamed on a group of Rohingya militants. Myanmar security forces conducted a violent four-month sweep of the region during which an estimated 1,000 people were killed and about 90,000 Rohingya fled, with most going across the border to neighboring Bangladesh. Some Rohingya have accused the security forces of committing atrocities against them, including indiscriminate killings, rape, and arson, though the Myanmar government has denied the allegations and refused to grant visas to members of an independent fact-finding commission appointed by the United Nations to investigate the incidents. On Aug. 6, a Myanmar government commission on Rakhine state headed by Vice President Myint Swe dismissed allegations of human rights violations by security forces, despite what some rights groups have said is credible evidence from independent sources. The commissions findings are just the latest attempt to sweep under the rug the massive abuses against the Rohingya last year, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement issued on Tuesday. These atrocities arent going to disappear, so the sooner the U.N. fact-finding mission is allowed into Burma, the sooner those responsible can be identified, and redress be provided to the victims, he said, using the former British colonys previous name before a ruling military junta changed it to Myanmar in 1989. New police outposts in Rathedaung In the meantime, security forces continue to patrol the tri-township area where disappearances, murders, attacks on security forces, and periodic killings by troops continue to occur. Since June, they have reported finding terrorist training sites, tunnels, weapons, and food supplies along the Mayu mountain range in the Maungdaw-Buthidaung township area. Myanmars Rakhine state government said on Tuesday that it has set up new police outposts in four villages in Rathedaung township, from where 700 ethnic Rakhine residents fled to safety out of fear of attacks by Muslim militants. The four villages are Chootpyin, Padaukmyaing, Pyinshay, and Paukpinyin, the state government said in a statement. A police outpost was also set up in Kinegyi village, in Maungdaw township, where eight farmers from the ethnic Myo minority group were killed last week by militants, it said. Kinegyi village has about 50 households, and its residents are all Myo, a sub-ethnic group of the states ethnic Rakhine people. The village was burned during communal violence between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in 2012 that left more than 200 people dead and displaced about 140,000 Rohingya who were then placed in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. The statement also said that Rakhine officials will ask the central government to place all international nongovernmental organizations that operate there under the state governments supervision to ensure that the groups are not providing supplies to local militants. On July 30, guards and villagers found five temporary camps along the Mayu mountain range thought to be used by Muslim terrorists, along with tents, rice, cooking oil, plates, pots, blankets, and high-energy biscuits provided by the World Food Programme to Muslims who live in the IDP camps. The Rakhine state government said it has asked the central government to speed up the citizenship examination process for the Rohingya in accordance with 1982 Citizenship Law, which effectively renders them stateless by prohibiting them from holding Myanmar citizenship. The policy also denies the Rohingya who are seen as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh though many have lived in Myanmar for generations basic rights, freedom of movement, and access to social services and education. Reported by Min Thein Aung for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. At least seven people were killed on Tuesday when a 6.5-magnitude earthquake shook a largely Tibetan region of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and the government warned as many as 100 were feared dead, according to local residents and Chinese state media. The quake hit near the Jiuzhaigou nature reserve, a popular tourist destination a UNESCO World Heritage Site, trapping some tourists and injuring scores of people, Chinese media said, quoting the Sichuan government. Reuters news agency quoted Chinese state television as saying seven people had been killed and 88 were injured, 21 of them seriously. The official People's Daily said five of the dead were tourists. The epicenter was in a township of 20,000 people called Kyangtsa, in Ngaba (in Chinese, Aba) prefecture, a remote part of Sichuan Province, a local source said. "Under the impact of the tremor, power was disrupted in the entire county. In the same county, some structures built for tourists were also damaged and landslides were reported at different parts of road in the county," a source in Tibet told RFA's Tibetan Service. "The tremor was very frightening and we are scared to sleep now, the source added. "Many places in Qinghai and Gansu experienced the tremor of this earthquake, said the source, referring to neighboring provinces, also mostly populated by Tibetans. AFP news agency quoted the China's National Commission for Disaster Reduction as estimating that as many as 100 people may have died, based on 2010 census data of the area. Reuters news agency quoted a Sichuan government official social media site as saying more than 38,000 tourists were visiting Jiuzhaigou. The region hit by Tuesday's temblor was the site of a major earthquake in May 2008 that killed almost 70,000 people. Reported by Chakmo Tso and Lhuboom for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Phnom Penh is set to repatriate 13 Montagnard asylum-seekers to their native Vietnam after they failed to meet requirements for gaining refugee status in Cambodia, a nongovernmental organization that monitors hill tribes said Tuesday. Grace Bui, a volunteer with the U.S.-based rights group Montagnards Assistance Project, told RFAs Vietnamese Service that the 13 who would be sent back on Wednesday were among 16 whose requests for asylum are were denied by the Cambodian government in June. "The Cambodian government wanted to deport all 16 people, but I heard they had to postpone this because of public disapproval, Bui told RFA. But this morning, August 8, a refugee in Cambodia wrote to me and said that there would be 13 people deported to Vietnam tomorrow and that the UN is working on the procedure because the UN is responsible for returning anyone who was deported back to their home. I dont know when the other three will be deported," Bui added. The Cambodia Daily reported on Monday that opposition from the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which has representatives based in Cambodias capital Phnom Penh, prompted Cambodia to delay the repatriation of the 16. We had planned to send the 16 people to Vietnam, but the plan was suspended because the U.N. protested against our decision to not offer refugee status for those people, the English-language daily quoted Houl Sarith, head of the Cambodian Interior Ministry's application office for asylum-seekers. Bui told RFA that if all 16 Montagnards are returned to Vietnam, there will only be about 20 of the refugees from the Central Highlands of Vietnam left in Cambodia. Other sources have said that 49 Montagnards remain in Cambodia awaiting their fate. The Montagnards living in Phnom Penh are among hundreds who have fled their country and crossed the border into Cambodia seeking help from UNHCR, citing oppression by the Vietnamese government, religious persecution of the mainly Christian minority and expropriation of their land. Since 2001, at least three thousand Vietnamese Montagnards have crossed the border into Cambodia via Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces to seek refugee status, including a large wave that came in 2014.Roughly 30 tribes of indigenous peoples, known collectively as Montagnards or the Degar, reside in Vietnams Central Highlands. Early in the last decade, thousands in the region staged violent protests against the confiscation of their ancestral lands and religious controls, prompting a brutal crackdown by Vietnamese security forces that saw hundreds of Montagnards charged with national security crimes. More than 50 Montagnard asylum seekers, many of whom are Christian, fled Cambodia to Thailand in early 2017 amid fears of forced repatriation to Vietnam, according to the Montagnards Assistance Project. It said some 250 Montagnards had gathered in Thailand as of April. Reported by RFA's Vietnamese Service. Translated by Emily Peyman. Written in English by Lillian Andemicael. Hanoi Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung (3rd R) is greeted by Vietnamese residents of Dong Tam village, My Duc district, in Hanoi, April 22, 2017. A court in Vietnams capital Hanoi is set to try more than a dozen officials accused of abusing their authority to manage land deals in My Duc districts Dong Tam commune, state media reported Monday, where a property dispute sparked a rare standoff between farmers and authorities in April. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the My Duc District Peoples Court will hear the cases against 14 former officials from the My Duc and Dong Tam governments charged with taking advantage of position or power while performing duties and irresponsibly causing serious consequences, according to a report by the official Vietnam.net. A conviction for such charges could result in more than 10 years in prison. According to the indictment, 10 of those accused are former cadres of the Dong Tam commune People's Committee, and four are former officials from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Office of Land Registration of My Duc district, the report said. Between 2002 and 2013, some of the defendants abused state management of land and allocated parcels to 29 households in Dong Tam commune in return for billions of dong (1 billion dong = U.S. $44,000) in profit, while those with the Department of Natural Resources signed documents related to the land without verifying its ownership. Farmers in Dong Tam say the government is seizing 47 hectares (116 acres) of their farmland for the military-run Viettel Groupthe countrys largest mobile phone operatorwithout adequately compensating them. At the end of a week-long standoff in April, during which farmers detained dozens of police officers and officials, Hanois mayor pledged not to prosecute residents and to investigate their claims in the land dispute regarding the boundaries of Dong Tams Mieu Mon Airport. But on July 25, the Hanoi Inspectorate announced that after conducting a comprehensive inspection on the management, use, and handling of the land area, it had determined that the military administers all airport land, which it said encompasses 236.7 hectares (584.9 acres). On Monday, a resident of Dong Tam told RFAs Vietnamese Service that the court hearings scheduled for Aug. 8 and 9 are unrelated to the Mieu Mon Airport land dispute. The people of Dong Tam are not invited to join the court proceedings [because] these [defendants] didnt do anything related to the disputed land of Mieu Mon Airport, said the resident, speaking on condition of anonymity. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that for the land dispute in Dong Tam, the authorities need to be handled first and the residents later. But, obviously, these people are not related to that dispute. They are charged with violations in the management of land from 2002-2013 in a [nearby] area called Rang Truc. After the announcement of by the Hanoi Inspectorate in July, the residents of Dong Tam submitted a complaint to the central government over the decision, but have yet to receive a response. Severity of sentence Lawyer Nguyen Kha Thanh, a member of a legal group in central Vietnams Phu Yen province, told RFA that the severity of the sentences facing the 14 defendants depends on how much money they took. The sentence [for these charges] can be up to more than 10 years in prison, but in cases like this, only some people will be put in prison, while most will receive a suspended punishment, Thanh said. There are many details in the case that they can use to have their sentence reducedfor example, if theyre a government official, they can leverage their contribution to the state, or say they dont have any criminal records, or that they are from a family that has made great contributions to the country. Thanh added that a few of the defendants could be handed tougher sentences to set an example for other officials. Hanoi-based lawyer Ha Huy Son told RFA that the defendants are likely to receive leniency because of their political position. Officials with powers get prioritythats why they usually get lighter sentences than normal people, he said. Both lawyers told RFA that, if convicted, the court would require the defendants to return the money they earned through their abuse of management, according to Vietnamese law. Standoff Police arrested several farmers from Dong Tam on April 15 for allegedly causing social unrest during a clash between authorities and commune residents over the airport land. Other farmers responded by detaining 38 police officers and local officials, and threatened to kill them if security personnel attacked them a second time. Two days after the clash, police released some of the farmers they had arrested. In return, the farmers freed 15 riot police, but continued to detain 20, while three others escaped. On April 20, the farmers boycotted a meeting with Hanoi Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung who was ordered to negotiate the release of the 20 police officers and local officials. He traveled to the My Duc district Peoples Committee building about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from central Hanoi to discuss the hostage situation, but the farmers wanted him to visit with them directly in Dong Tam, according to a local media report issued at the time. The standoff ended on April 22 when the farmers freed the 20 officers and officials after the mayor pledged to investigate their complaints and not prosecute the villagers. In June, police opened a criminal investigation into the farmers of Dong Tam, despite Chungs promise, focusing on the illegal detention of the 38 police officers and officials and acts of vandalism allegedly committed during the clash. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Emily Peyman. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. DECATUR The Decatur detective investigated after he shot and wounded a suspect this spring has been cleared by Macon County State's Attorney Jay Scott, who said Tuesday that the shooting was a justifiable use of force. Detective Jeffrey Hockaday was placed on administrative duties after wounding Donald Redmon in the back after firing at him three times during a foot chase May 31. Police have said Redmon, 33, was armed with a 9 mm handgun. In a statement, Scott said Hockaday reasonably believed that the force he used was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another when he shot Redmon. Scott said he could not reveal more details because of pending criminal charges against Redmon. Police said both Redmon and Dallas C. Vorties, 30, had handguns when they were stopped near the 800 block of South Webster Street in a car holding 26 bags of crack cocaine. Both men ran from the vehicle and were taken into custody after a short pursuit, according to police statements. Scott cleared Hockaday based on information gathered in a report into the shooting prepared by Illinois State Police investigators. It is standard procedure for the state police to investigate officer-involved shootings. Jeanelle Norman, NAACP Decatur Branch president and one of the community leaders working with police to provide accurate information about the case, said there are still questions about how Redmon came to be shot in the back. Scott said he had outlined all he could say in the printed statement accompanying his decision on the shooting investigation, which also included copies of sworn police affidavits relating to the charges against Redmon and Vorties. He said he did not hold a press conference because he could not answer questions about the shooting circumstances until the pending cases are resolved. Police Chief Jim Getz said Hockaday was covered by the same legal restrictions the state's attorney had cited and would not be able to make any comment. Getz said he is looking at the feasibility of taking action in another area: equipping his officers with body cameras. I am a supporter of body cameras, Getz said. I think, overall, they are helpful to everybody. Pretrial scheduled Recovering from his wound, Redmon was arrested as he was released from HSHS St. Marys Hospital on June 4. He pleaded not guilty June 28 to charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, armed violence and being an armed habitual criminal. Vorties, who police say was driving the car involved in the traffic stop, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, armed violence and possession of a weapon by a felon. He also pleaded not guilty to all charges on June 28. Both Redmon and Vorties are being held in the Macon County Jail. Redmon's pretrial is scheduled for Aug. 14, and Vorties' pretrial is scheduled for Aug. 15. Redmon's lawyer, Scott Rueter, said Tuesday evening he was not free to comment on the case and its developments because of legal rules. An attorney for Vorties could not be reached for comment. Patrol officer Todd Cline, president of the Police Benevolent & Protection Association Unit 39, said he cannot comment on any department-related issues, especially one involving an ongoing case involving the state's attorney's office. The Herald & Review filed a request through the Freedom of Information Act seeking video footage of the incident from police vehicle cameras, but the request was denied because of the pending investigation. Melvin Cox, 45, who lives across the street from where Redmon was shot said his family recently moved to Webster Street. Cox described the neighborhood as quiet and said he and his family enjoy their friendly neighbors who always say hi and wave. He said his opinion of the neighborhood hasn't changed after the incident. This is a good neighborhood, a great neighborhood, no problems, he said. Me, my wife and three kids mind our business. More questions ahead Scott and Getz praised the efforts of a community group called the Area Leaders Educators Response Team (ALERT), which was formed in 2015 to spread accurate information in the event of high-profile incidents involving police and the black community. Hockaday is white; Redmon is black. Norman, who helped form the ALERT team, said she accepted the pending court cases imposed legal barriers on what could be revealed now. But, she said, important questions will have to be answered at some point. We have an interest in knowing where the bullet wounds occurred, and whether there was excessive force used. We very much want to know why (Redmon) was shot in the back, but we didn't get an answer to that, Norman said. The state's attorney stressed that he couldn't have those discussions with us. Norman said members of the team had not been given any information beyond what has been released to the public. Another team member, Caring Black Men founder Jeffrey Perkins, said ALERT will continue to respond as the case develops. He expects all of the information that team members and the public want to know will come to light during legal proceedings for Redmon and Vorties. We have issues regarding officer-involved shootings all over the country," Perkins said. "We just want to stay on top of it when these things happen, and we want to adjust in the best way that we can." Norman and the Decatur Police Department had founded ALERT in 2015 after several high-profile police-involved shootings nationwide that sparked civil unrest, including the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. ALERT members are notified when incidents such as the officer-involved shooting occur, allowing them to hear some details of what happened and spread those to their schools, churches and neighborhoods. Norman said the group will be looking for more information in this latest case. We will continue to seek answers, she said. She said that meant being willing to wait until the court cases against the suspects are heard and to see they get a fair hearing. We want the process to be fair on both sides, but we do have questions we want answers for, she added. In the meantime, Norman said she wanted to see the police equipped with body cameras: That's something our community should push for; I understand the cost, but having body cameras would clear up what actually happened at the scene and there wouldn't be any questions about it, she added. The ALERT team was also heavily involved in the response to Decaturs last officer-involved shooting, on July 11, 2016. Officer Andrew Wittmer shot and wounded Lonnie D. Mitchell, 40, who police said was armed with a knife strapped to his wrist and a BB gun that looked like a semiautomatic handgun. No charges had been filed against Mitchell after he recovered from his wounds, and the Scott said he therefore had been free to talk about that case. After that incident, Getz had said he was considering body cameras for his department. He said Tuesday that his concern remains the cost, which may be as much as $200,000 to equip all his officers. He said it's not just the price of the cameras, but also information storage, software and maintenance agreements. But towards the end of the year, as I put my 2018 budget together, I definitely want to look at that (cameras) and see where I go from there, he added. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe praised ALERT team members for helping to spread accurate information and the community for having patience at the state police investigation progressed. "We've seen in other cities that misinformation gets out and resulted in violence and damage," she said. "The police department strives to be as transparent and open as possible, and I think the ALERT group makes a big difference. Reporters Justin Conn, Jaylyn Cook, Claire Hettinger and Tom Lisi contributed to this story. The former Martins Food Markets store at 253 N. Washington Highway in the Ashland Hanover Shopping Center in Ashland will reopen as a Food Lion on Aug. 16. The nearby Food Lion, at 135 Junction Drive in the Ashland Junction Shopping Center, is moving into the Martins space, a Food Lion spokesman said. The Martins in Ashland closed last Saturday just over a year after the merger of the parent companies of Martins Food Markets and Food Lion was completed to form grocery conglomerate Ahold Delhaize. For antitrust reasons, the merged company had to divest itself of stores in markets where their business interests overlapped. Ahold Delhaize chose to divest itself of Martins stores in the Richmond area. Florida-based Publix Super Markets bought 10 of 19 area Martins stores and is renovating and reopening them on a rolling basis. The unsold Martins Food Markets stores were closed; the last five, including the one in Ashland, were shuttered last week. Ahold Delhaize also operates stores under the banners Giant Food (of Landover), Giant Food Stores (of Carlisle), Hannaford, and Stop & Shop. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned at the new Food Lion at 7:45 a.m. Aug. 16 prior to an 8 a.m. grand opening. The Food Lion in the Ashland Junction center, located primarily off U.S. 1 just south of state Route 54, is approximately 36,000 square feet, according to commercial leasing data. It opened in 1989. Richmond-based Kaleo pharmaceutical company is offering free Auvi-Q epinephrine auto-injectors devices used to treat severe allergic reactions to more than 67,000 public elementary schools in the United States. The new program is called Q Your School and will provide up to four Auvi-Q cartons with each carton containing two epinephrine auto-injectors and a trainer device per school per academic year. Auvi-Q was invented by twins Evan and Eric Edwards, who grew up in the Richmond area. The brothers developed the device because of their own history of life-threatening food allergies. Auvi-Q has voice-activated prompts that guide patients or their caretakers on how to use the device to deliver the medicine. It is also compact in size. Virginia lawmakers in 2012 passed legislation requiring schools to keep a supply of epinephrine on hand to administer to students in the event of a severe allergic reaction. The law was prompted by the allergic reaction death in January 2012 of Chesterfield County elementary school student Amarria Johnson at school. Other epinephrine auto-injectors for treating allergic reactions include Mylans EpiPen and Impax Laboratories Adrenaclick, plus generic versions. There are nearly 6 million children, under 18, living with life-threatening allergies. We are proud to offer the Q Your School charitable donation program offering free Auvi-Q auto-injectors to all public elementary schools across the nation, said Spencer Williamson, Kaleos president and CEO, in a statement. Tonya Winders, president and CEO of the Allergy and Asthma Network, called the announcement exciting because it helps schools to be more aware of the various epinephrine auto-injector options now available to students at risk for a life-threatening allergic emergency and know how to use them in an emergency. Not all kids with food allergies are the same. They may have different needs and preferences, Winders said in a statement. Students and teachers will return to George Mason Elementary School for the upcoming school year after the Richmond School Board opted Monday night for short-term fixes to what is widely considered the worst building in the district. The board approved a recommendation from interim Superintendent Thomas Kranzs administration to complete repairs and clean up the building before students return to the Church Hill school on Sept. 5. In addition to the repairs, the division will conduct monthly air quality tests to ensure safety, Kranz said. The board also directed Kranz to revisit the districts comprehensive facilities plan approved by the former School Board and present an updated version, prioritizing a new building for Mason, in October. Mason is nearly a century old and was last renovated in 1980. I dont think its acceptable to send students back to George Mason, but I do think weve missed our opportunity this year to do the best option, whatever that option might be, said Cindy Menz-Erb, the 3rd District representative. The school system will spend $105,000 to fix the air conditioning and clean and repaint the bathrooms, Kranz said. The short-term fix wont change what administrators, teachers and parents say is the preferred solution: a new building. The decision comes a week after parents, teachers and community advocates gathered at the school to decry conditions that include rat feces, a persistent stench of urine, and air quality that prompts some staff members working in the building to wear surgical masks. An online petition calling for the administration to address the situation garnered more than 10,000 signatures. Rose Ferguson, the elementary schools incoming principal, told board members Monday that her eight years experience as an administrator made clear the correlation between a school buildings environment and its students academic achievement. Ive done my tour, Ive walked around Mason, and what Ive observed I believe is not acceptable for children at any place in the nation, Ferguson said. Im very disappointed, Im very disheartened. ... If you want to see achievement increase, there needs to be a plan to address conditions. One School Board member, Jonathan Young, made a motion to close the school, relocate its students to the nearby Franklin Military Academy and relocate Franklin Militarys students to Richmond Community High School in North Side. Im not OK with students at George Mason continuing to be in the conditions that they are, said Young, who represents the 4th District. None of his colleagues seconded the motion, killing it. With less than a month before the upcoming school year, shuttering Mason or shuffling students at one or more buildings would have put the districts administrators in a pinch, Kranz said. Replacing Mason would take two years and cost $30 million, but work could begin immediately if the city ponies up the capital funds to construct it, Kranz said. No one no one on the facilities team or in the administration would say that George Mason Elementary School is an ideal building. We need a new building, Kranz said. In the meantime, the administration will revisit the school divisions comprehensive facilities plan, known as option 5, which was approved by the former School Board. The plan called for closing several schools, combining others and building new ones at an estimated cost of more than $560 million. It was not funded in full in either of the past two budget cycles. Our community has put a lot of work into developing option 5 so theres a lot we can build off of, and I hope we will, said 2nd District representative Scott Barlow. Kranz cautioned against considering a single building without thinking of the needs of other facilities throughout the district, a piecemeal approach that could cost the school system as much as $700 million in the long run, he said. We have to tackle this from a comprehensive standpoint, not on an individual school-building standpoint, Kranz said. Dawn Page, the boards chairwoman, echoed Kranz. A Henrico County School Board member accused of driving under the influence early Saturday is also facing a charge of refusing to take a breath test to determine the alcohol content in his blood, according to court documents. Roscoe D. Cooper III, the School Boards vice chairman, made no statements during a brief arraignment Monday morning in Henrico General District Court. After the proceedings, Cooper did not address the allegations after being approached by a reporter. The DUI is a misdemeanor. The breath-test charge is a civil violation that accuses Cooper, 43, of unreasonably refusing to provide a breath sample, according to court records. According to Sgt. Steve Vick with Virginia State Police, Cooper was stopped just before 1 a.m. on Saturday on westbound Interstate 64 just west of the Gaskins Road exit. After Coopers arrest, he was taken to Henrico County Jail, where he posted bail at 4:30 a.m. that day. Cooper, who represents the Fairfield District, was elected to the board in 2015 after winning a recount by 42 votes. Board members are aware of Mr. Coopers personal situation, said Beverly Cocke, School Board chairwoman, in a statement released Saturday. Well be better able to respond once more details are available. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cooper family at this time. In an email Monday, Cocke said she didnt have any additional information to share. Cooper, who is the pastor at Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church in Henrico, has other driving-related charges pending in Henrico General District Court. Theres a pair of charges from June 30 that accuse him of driving 43 mph in a 25 mph zone and of driving without a license, according to court records. Cooper also faces a charge of driving 38 mph in a 25 mph zone on July 19. Regarding the DUI-related charges, a state trooper said in a court document that he read Cooper a form about the consequences of unreasonably refusing to provide authorities a breath sample. Court records show that a test of Coopers breath yielded a deficient sample that did not provide insight into the defendants blood alcohol level. Chris A. Bain, Coopers attorney, said Monday that he couldnt comment at length about the charges against his client, noting that the case is in its early stages. Were working through the process, Bain said. A Nov. 16 court date has been set on the DUI-related charges. Cooper remains out on bond. The Legal Aid Justice Center, along with the Black Movement Law Project, co-presented a know-your-rights event to the public Monday night, just days ahead of the Unite the Right rally planned for Saturday in Charlottesville. The purpose of the event, held at the Central Library downtown, was to give anyone interested in counter-protesting or observing Saturdays rally information on how to interact with local and state law enforcement. Much of the event was in reference to the Ku Klux Klan rally at Justice Park on July 8 and law enforcements response, which included placing 22 people under arrest. The room was packed with community members. Local attorneys helped to discuss some of the topics at hand. We had a lot of questions after July 8 that we heard repeatedly from lots of community members, and really wanted to just, as a legal community, provide a space where folks could ask those questions and learn from one another, and really as a community, prepare the best we can for the coming weekend, said Kim Rolla, an attorney in the civil rights and racial justice program with the Charlottesville-based justice center. On July 8, 22 people were arrested, and three tear gas canisters were deployed by law enforcement. Charlottesville Police Chief Al Thomas defended authorities actions and pushed back against criticism that police force was excessive. The Legal Aid Justice Center and Black Movement Law Project, a group that does legal observations and know-your-rights training sessions for the public, used Mondays event to go through different scenarios people might find themselves in Saturday and how to lawfully interact with law enforcement. I think what was clear from July 8 was that police-community interactions are something that if you dont know what your rights are and responsibilities and what remedies there are, it could lead to a lot of confusion, said Adeola Ogunkeyede, legal director for the civil rights and racial justice program with the Legal Aid Justice Center. It could lead to a lot of frustration, it could lead to people feeling like theyre not heard and not being treated fairly, and we want people to make informed decisions based on what we understand the law to be. Among the topics of conversation were what to do if confronted by a law enforcement officer, what to do if asked to disperse from the area and what to do if detained or arrested. This is really about giving folks information to make their own informed decisions about staying safe and safety planning for Aug. 12, Rolla said. Earlier Monday, Charlottesville officials announced the permit for pro-white activist Jason Kesslers rally will be granted, but that it must take place at McIntire Park instead of Emancipation Park due to the anticipated size of the crowd. Kessler said in a Facebook Live video that he still plans to hold the rally in Emancipation Park. Bruce Williamson, a local criminal defense attorney who spoke at Mondays informational event, said hes not sure what law enforcement response will be like Saturday. Its hard to predict because with the City Councils decision today to tell the alt-right individuals that they cant use Emancipation Park, but rather they have to go to McIntire Park, and their organizer stated immediate comment that theyre going to hold it there anyway, I dont know whats going to happen on Saturday, or where, he said. Another event will be held Tuesday to continue the conversation on what to do in the case of an arrest and the courts process. Williamson and Jeff Fogel, a local city attorney and community activist, will hold the event at 414 E. Market St. from 7 to 8 p.m. CHARLOTTESVILLE Citing concerns for security and safety, Charlottesville officials on Monday said they will approve a demonstration permit for Saturdays Unite the Right rally organized by pro-white activists if the rally is moved to McIntire Park. But Jason Kessler, who is organizing the rally, says he wont accept the condition because McIntire Park lacks the symbolism provided by the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that has stood in Emancipation Park, recently renamed from Lee Park, since the 1920s. The whole thing is in support of the Lee monument, Kessler said after the citys news conference announcing the decision to change the location. The fact that theyd try and move it away from the statue is, in itself, a violation of our free speech rights. Kessler said he would seek legal recourse rather than move the rally. At the news conference, City Manager Maurice Jones said the size and nature of the demonstration for which Kessler submitted a permit application on May 30 has changed as more protesters and counterprotesters signed on. Based on information provided to me by law enforcement officials, the city has decided to approve Mr. Kesslers application for a permit to hold a demonstration on the day and at the times requested, provided that he use McIntire Park, rather than Emancipation Park, for the demonstration, Jones said, reading from a prepared statement. There is no doubt that Mr. Kessler has a First Amendment right to hold a demonstration and to express his views. Nor is there any doubt that we, as a city, have an obligation to protect those rights, the people who seek to exercise them and the broader community in which they do, Jones said. We have determined that we cannot do all of these things effectively if the demonstration is held in Emancipation Park. Jones and other city officials declined to answer any questions during or after the news conference. The rally in Emancipation Park promised multiple planned protests and possibly thousands of protesters vehemently opposed to each other all crammed into a four-block area of downtown. That had city officials worried about public safety. The Unite the Right rally, scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, is expected to be attended by members of the National Socialist Movement, the pro-secessionist League of the South and hundreds of their allies in the Nationalist Front and alt-right movement. According to permits acquired from the city by University of Virginia professor Walt Heinecke, counterprotesters are expected to gather at the park and at nearby McGuffey Park and Justice Park, recently renamed from Jackson Park. The alt-right groups indicated they would try to bring as many as 1,000 protesters to the park, and local chapters of Showing Up for Racial Justice and Black Lives Matter also have posted calls on social media for people to join them in counterprotest. Congregate Charlottesville, a multi-denominational clergy group, made a July call for 1,000 clergy, especially white clergy, to attend the rally in protest. Officials on Monday declined to estimate the number of protesters they expect, but estimates bandied about by local businesses and organizers range from 2,000 to 8,000. Police said the anticipated number of protesters would make it difficult to ensure public safety if the Unite the Right rally were held at Emancipation Park. Having the demonstration at McIntire Park is safer because the park is large enough to accommodate the size of the anticipated crowd, said Charlottesville Police Chief Al Thomas. It also avoids a situation whereby overflow crowds spill into the streets, as would likely occur at Emancipation Park. Thomas, who also read from a prepared statement, said the larger park will allow more security, better emergency medical care and other services. Law enforcement also will have the room needed to maneuver and direct crowds toward safety in case of a disturbance, he said. Additionally, we can more effectively stage other public safety resources that would allow for immediate response, if needed. Social activists said they question the safety of relocating to McIntire Park because it has limited entrances and exits should something happen. One referred to the park on Twitter as a potential battlefield. McIntire Park has limited ingress and egress points and has natural choke points, said Emily Gorcenski, a Charlottesville social activist who questioned whether the relocation would provide more safety. If youre out in the heat at McIntire, forget it. There is no shade. Saturdays events come in the wake of a July 8 Ku Klux Klan rally that brought about 50 Klan members and 1,000 counterprotesters to Emancipation Park. That rally was loud, but nonviolent until the Klan members left after about 45 minutes. Protesters derided both Klan members and police as the Klan exited. Video taken at the protests shows some protesters hurling bottles and objects at police. Police declared an unlawful assembly and shot three tear gas canisters to break up the crowd. By the end, 23 people had been arrested. Police and protesters disagreed about whether the tear gas was necessary, with police saying that at least one officer was doused with a protesters pepper spray and the protesters denying that it happened. Thomas said police support the right to demonstrate, but said the demonstrations need to be peaceful. I would remind everyone who plans to participate in these demonstrations or counterdemonstrations that you have a right to do so peacefully, Thomas said. Thomas noted that the approaching rally has many in town worried for their safety. Citing that possibility, U.Va. President Teresa A. Sullivan last week advised staff, students and faculty to avoid the rally. There is a credible risk of violence at this event, and your safety is my foremost concern, she wrote. The potential conflict has caused concern among businesses, especially on the Downtown Mall. Business owners say they have discussed with police whether to be open as usual that day. Some have decided to close. Brazos Tacos and the McGuffey Art Center previously announced they would be closed Saturday. The Virginia Discovery Museum announced Monday that it will be closed Saturday. In a statement, the museum said the road closures expected downtown will make it too difficult for people to visit the childrens museum. VDM is a resource for all children of our community, as we understand that children learn best in an inclusive environment, the statement read. We seek to meet the interests, needs and abilities of all the children we serve and to create an environment in which differences are celebrated. Susan Payne, a spokeswoman for the Downtown Business Association of Charlottesville, on Monday said the association supports the citys move. This decision protects the safety of the community, as well as downtown properties, due to the anticipated increase in the size of the crowd, Payne said in a statement. The size of the McIntire Park location provides more adequate parking and space for individuals attending the rally. Thomas asked that protesters from both camps to pledge to remain nonviolent. I urge groups on both sides to publicly commit to a nonviolent assembly, he said. Your commitment may influence the small minority that may seek to jeopardize public safety and will also serve to strengthen bonds throughout our community, reduce a growing cloud of fear, and emotionally disarm those who would delight in provoking others towards violent actions. Mayor Mike Signer said the City Council backs the decision to move the rally while supporting the right of opposing sides to demonstrate. Democracy can be noisy, and it can be messy, he said. But by ensuring we protect both public safety and the Constitution through the city managers decision, I firmly believe that we will emerge from the weekend of Aug. 12 a stronger community than ever. The two men accused of killing Spotsylvania County resident Heather Ciccone are now scheduled to have separate trials, court records show. Joshua Christopher Williams, 29, and Jonathan Julian Vejarano, 28, are both charged with first-degree murder and other offenses in connection with the Dec. 5, 2015, slaying of the 21-year-old Ciccone. Ciccone was shot in the back of the head while sitting in a stranger's driveway on Piney Branch Road. A joint five-day trial was initially scheduled for next week in Spotsylvania Circuit Court, but was moved to Oct. 23. Vejarano's trial is still set for that week, but Williams' trial has now been moved to the week of Dec. 4. John Spencer, Vejarano's attorney, said the trials were separated after it was decided that statements attributed to one defendant could be prejudicial to the other if both were tried together. Spencer declined to elaborate, though he added there were other procedural reasons as well. According to an affidavit for a search warrant filed recently in circuit court, a key part of the prosecution's case are statements Vejarano supposedly made in the Rappahannock Regional Jail. An inmate called Spotsylvania Sheriff's Detective Donnie Reid and claimed that Vejarano had told him repeatedly that he shot and killed Ciccone and that Williams had told him to do it, according to the affidavit. Reid and another detective went to the jail and found other inmates who supported what the first inmate had told Reid. The affidavit states that Williams was having a romantic relationship with Ciccone that Williams' live-in girlfriend at the time had found out about. CLINTON A Monday night crash near Clinton sent multiple victims to local hospitals, according to the DeWitt County Sheriffs Office. The two-vehicle crash happened about 9:40 p.m. on Illinois 10 between Jemima Road and Revere Road southeast of Clinton. One person was airlifted to a hospital, and others were transported by ambulance, said authorities. Their names and conditions have not yet been released, officials said Tuesday. Illinois 10 was closed until 4:38 a.m. Tuesday. The Illinois State Police were called in to assist with the investigation. Also assisting, were Clinton Police Department, Clinton Fire Department, Kenney Fire Department, DeWitt County EMS, Heyworth EMS, and AirLife. In a post on social media, the DeWitt County Sheriffs Office asked for prayers for the victims. Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie today released a thorough plan to address sea level rise, recurrent flooding and land subsidence, his campaign said in a recent news release. But that wasnt quite true. While the plan covers much ground from community rating for flood insurance to flood-proofing military installations it leaves out one big piece: climate change. This might not matter if Gillespie had included climate change in his environmental policy but Gillespie does not have an environmental policy, at least not yet. So while he has laid out detailed proposals regarding the states business climate, its tax climate, its regulatory climate, and its legal climate, he has yet to address its climate climate. To be fair, Gillespie could argue that climate policy and dealing with sea-level rise are two separate questions. The U.S. has been responsible for roughly one-fourth of greenhouse gas emissions. Virginia is responsible for only a fraction of that total and the share of emissions the state government can influence is only a fraction of that fraction. Whats more, NASA reports that the effects of greenhouse-gas emissions last not just for decades, but for centuries. So any action a governor takes on climate change now will have only a minuscule effect on global warming or sea-level rise in the near or intermediate future. Finally, in Hampton Roads much of the sea-level rise is driven not by rising global temperatures but by sinking land. As the U.S. Geological Survey has explained: Bedrock in the mid-Atlantic region is moving slowly downward in response to melting of the Laurentide ice sheet that covered Canada and the northern United States during the last ice age. ... When the ice sheet still existed, the weight of the ice pushed the underlying Earths crust downward and, in response, areas away from the ice sheet were forced upward. The retreating of the ice has reversed that teeter-totter process, which has led to sinking land in the lower Cheseapeake Bay region. And yet. Global warming does exacerbate sea-level rise in Hampton Roads, and Virginias limited contribution to the dilemma should not be an excuse for complacency. That is the very nature of collective-action problems: Efforts by one party alone cannot solve them and if every party uses that as an excuse not to act, the problem never gets solved. Addressing climate change is possible without heavy-handed, big-government solutions. The best approach is a revenue-neutral carbon tax, pegged to the estimated economic harm caused by C02 emissions and offset by lower personal and corporate income taxes. Carbon trading credits, reduced subsidies for fossil fuel ventures, and similar measures also are worth exploring. While millions of Americans are getting ready to witness their first total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, it could be the eight brush with totality for Ken Wilson of Hanover County. Ken and his wife Betty have traveled as far as Australia, Japan and the Mediterranean Sea to take in the surreal sight and even made a honeymoon trip out of the heavenly alignment. He has been retired for ten years after a career teaching astronomy at local colleges and at the Science Museum of Virginia. I asked him some questions about the logistics of getting into the path of the moon's shadow and what it feels like when things go dark. How many eclipses have you observed: total, partial and otherwise? What's the farthest you've gone for one? Ive lost track of the number of lunar and partial solar eclipses Ive seen over the years, probably a couple of dozen. Its the total solar eclipses that I keep track of because they are so memorable. Ive seen seven total solar eclipses, so far. The most recent total solar eclipse was on Nov. 14, 2012. Ive traveled to eight total solar eclipses. [The 1991 Hawaii eclipse was not visible due to clouds; more on that below] The most distant one was the one in 2012 that we saw from Australia. Describe the moment of totality: sights, sensations, emotions or social experiences. What makes it unique and memorable? The experience of each total solar eclipse is unique due to several factors including location, climate, length of totality, the weather, the people who are with you, and so on. The combination of stars and planets visible during totality varies and the shape of the suns corona is different each time. The appearance of the suns crimson prominences and Baileys Beads also change with each eclipse. However, there are certain aspects that are common to all total solar eclipses. Assuming the sky is clear, the eclipse begins with whats called first contact the moment when the moons dark disk begins to intrude on the suns bright disk. Unless you are watching for this moment (only with proper safe filters, of course) you probably wouldnt notice this start of the eclipse. But slowly over the next hour and a half that dark moon slowly chews a bigger bite out of the sun until its almost gone. As it does so, the sky gradually darkens and what sunlight is left takes on an eerie quality. As the sun dwindles away and becomes a crescent shape, the shadows it casts are sharp in one dimension but soft in the direction 90 degrees away. Eventually, just before the sun is totally eclipsed, a small bit of the sun shines like a diamond and it is now dark enough to start seeing the corona, the fainter outer atmosphere of the sun. This fuzzy circle of light around the dark moon creates, along with that last bit of sunlight, the brief but spectacular diamond ring effect. As the moon finishes covering the sun and extinguishes the diamond ring we reach whats called second contact. The eclipse is now total. The temperature has dropped as much as 20 degrees. The next few seconds or minutes are the only time when it is safe to look at the eclipse directly without special filters. The sky is now as dark as it is in deep twilight. Planets and brighter stars are now visible. Nocturnal animals and insects may stir and emerge. If you look closely at the eclipsed sun you may see some tiny crimson spots around the edge of the dark spot of the moon. These are concentrations of hot solar gas, called prominences, in the suns lower atmosphere. And you will now be able to fully see the suns corona extending out in all directions. It makes the totally eclipsed sun look like pale cosmic sunflower. All too soon, the rare, awe-inspiring phenomenon of totality comes to an end with third contact as the moon continues its orbital journey and slowly uncovers the sun, first with another brief diamond ring, followed by a reverse playback of the partial phases that led up to totality The moment the moon has completely uncovered the sun is called fourth contact and the eclipse finally over. No one who has seen a total solar eclipse will ever forget it. No photograph or video does it justice. For a brief moment in time you are in a very special spot in the cosmos, positioned in exact alignment between the Earth, sun, and moon, witness to one of natures rarest spectacles. Some people cheer at the sight. Some applaud. Others cry. Many just stand in stunned silence. Do you go alone, with family or with groups? Have you made friends out of it? Ive been a part of a group for all of them. My first total solar eclipse, in 1972, included about a dozen young amateur astronomy friends from Michigan who drove for 24 hours to Quebec and camped out in Cap Chat for an eclipse that was clouded out except for a brief hole in the clouds during totality. Im still friends with several people in that group. Since I got married, Ive traveled to eclipses with my wife Betty who shares my passion for being in the moons shadow. In fact we took our honeymoon in Hawaii to see a total solar eclipse which was, unfortunately clouded out. Weve been lucky with all the eclipses since that one. We usually join up with small organized tour groups who travel for eclipses and make a vacation out of the trip. That way, even if the eclipse is clouded out, you still have a nice vacation. Weve made many friends on these trips. What are some obstacles to eclipse chasing? Do you have a story about that? Well there are the usual obstacles to any long distance travel, such as delayed or cancelled flights, cramped airline seats, lost or damaged luggage. One of our trips required a cruise ship to get to the eclipse path in the Mediterranean Sea. Just before we arrived at the dock, we discovered that ship we were booked on had been impounded due to some legal action against the owner. At the last minute, our tour organizer had to arrange for a replacement ship and ad hoc crew. The replacement ship had a different floor plan and fewer rooms. In spite of the chaos, we saw a magnificent eclipse in clear skies. Do you take photographic equipment every time or sometimes is it just a naked-eye viewing experience? I've always taken photo gear with me, but many folks enjoy just watching an eclipse. In fact, for first-timers, I recommend not taking photos because you might miss a lot of the experience if you're distracted by a camera. What's your background in astronomy? I trace this back to the mid-1960s when the space program was in its early days. My parents took me to the Michigan State Fair where the Detroit Astronomical Society had telescopes set up for public viewing at night. All it took was a clear view of the moon and Saturns rings and I was hooked! I studied astronomy and education in college. I have a masters degree in astronomy. Ive spent most of my professional life working in planetariums, including the one at the Science Museum of Virginia where I worked for almost 25 years until retiring. Ive also taught astronomy as an adjunct in San Francisco and here in Richmond VCU, University of Richmond, J. Sargeant Reynolds, and Randolph Macon. So now Id describe my astronomy involvement as mainly a hobby. What are your plans for the upcoming eclipse on Aug. 21? My wife and I plan to go to the path of totality to see the eclipse. Exactly where will depend on the weather forecast closer to the day of the eclipse. What would you say to someone who is on the fence about whether its worth the travel? Well its a rare opportunity to have a total eclipse so close to home. There hasnt been one this close to Virginia since 1970. However, if you miss this one, there will be another in 2024. I think its worth the effort. But you must be well prepared. Most hotels and camp grounds are already fully booked. Its also getting harder to get eclipse glasses. If you plan to drive to the path of totality, leave well in advance of the eclipse and bring proper eclipse glasses, food, lots of water, good road maps, sun block, insect repellent, toilet paper, and lots of patience for the inevitable traffic jams. Personnel decisions are the concern only of a business and its employees. Unless we're discussing jobs funded by our taxes, as much as we might want to know details of the inner workings of a business, it's really none of our concern. That said, the layoffs announced by Archer Daniels Midland Co. seem like a cruel joke at the expense of their employees and, by extension, the entire city of Decatur. We are more than two weeks past the day ADM announced they would be laying off employees. But since then, officials from the agricultural giant have been non-existent. They are declining to say how many employees will be laid off, or which areas and which cities will take the brunt of losses. The silence may be necessary, but it would be nice to get a few details. No employee can be fully productive when wondering daily whether their job will still exist by the end of their shift. Observers here and around the country are left guessing about the potential impact, which could range from non-existent to negligible to catastrophic. With the deafening silence from the ADM decision-makers has come a raft of rumors, each as possible as the previous one. Squashing rumors is not ADM's job or concern. But the company's decision-makers could make life much easier for thousands of people with a handful of straight answers. How many workers will be dismissed, and where are those workers based? Delaying the inevitable announcements produces no positives. It merely prevents workers facing the chopping block from moving on with their lives and careers. To treat the announcement as off-limits or as a company secret shared with only a select few is an insult to the workers affected. In Decatur's circumstance, the knife has multiple edges. We are a town accustomed to the yo-yo of increases and decreases in factory production and the subsequent economic ripple. But to hold an entire city hostage just because you don't want to make a painful announcement borders on cruel, albeit all too typical, punishment. Come on, ADM. It's really not too much to ask. Decatur and Archer Daniels Midland Co. have given one another a lot throughout the history of their symbiotic relationship. Why not be fair and give us at least a little information? A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Angie Koestline said shell never have another best friend like Felicia Poindexter. She had a heart of gold, and Ill never forget her, Koestline said. No one will ever replace her. In the few days since her best friend was fatally shot outside a Family Dollar on Orange Avenue Northwest, Koestline has been walking down their Roanoke street to Poindexters house to water her flowers and make sure no one messes with the house that Poindexter liked to keep in pristine condition. She turns on the porch lights at night just like Poindexter did to ward off potential burglars. Felicia, she was my rock. She didnt deserve this, Koestline said. She didnt do anything wrong. Poindexter, 46, died at the hospital Saturday night after being shot shortly after 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Family Dollar store. Kimberly Jeanette Gollop, 48, of Roanoke was indicted by a grand jury Monday on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in Poindexters death. David Lee Gravely, 50, was shot in the leg during the same incident. He has been released from Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Koestline said Poindexter met Gravely a few months ago. She said they hung out and that their relationship was platonic. Koestline said Poindexter knew that Gravely and Gollop, who had been in a previous domestic relationship, were having issues. Gravely and Gollop had obtained protective orders against each other in the days prior to the shooting, Roanoke police Capt. Eric Charles said Monday. The police department received the orders on Thursday and entered them into the Virginia Criminal Information Network and National Crime Information Center, but officers had not served them before the shooting. Gollop remained at the scene of the shooting. Police recovered a gun. Gollop is being held at the Roanoke City Jail without bond. Police are continuing to investigate the incident, and anyone with information can call the Roanoke Valley Crime Line at 344-8500. Tips can be anonymous. Koestline wonders if things would have turned out differently had those protective orders been served. Perhaps shed still be receiving texts each morning from Poindexter wishing her good morning. Theyd still be shopping for clothes and groceries together. Theyd be laughing by the pool. Poindexter leaves behind four children, including 4-year-old twin girls, who Koestline said were in a car at the scene of the shooting. Those little girls meant everything to her, Koestline said. Koestline has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses. Donations can be made at http://bit.ly/2vJ8aW2. Poindexter was the kind of person who wanted to help others and gave freely, friends and neighbors said. Koestline said she would offer the construction workers outside her home water. She gave her next-door neighbors a cactus. When she went to the store, shed ask if I needed anything, said Lillie Penn, sitting on her porch next to the cactus. Shed bring it back, and Id ask how much I owed her, and shed say, Nothing. Dont you worry about it. Penns husband, Charles Penn, said Poindexter was the kind of person you just wanted to be around. They would watch her maintaining her yard, which encouraged others to do the same. Flowers and plants surrounded her front porch. If there were more people like her in the world, it would be a better place, Koestline said. Anthony Dillard, another one of Poindexters close friends, said Poindexter texted him Thursday to see when hed be in Roanoke next. Dillard told her Monday. Its just so shocking, Dillard said. Shes the last person youd think this would happen to. You hear about shootings at places where bad things happen, but Felicia never went where those things went on. On Monday, Dillard showed up to Poindexters house with more than a dozen pink and purple balloons and tied them to her front porch. Koestline watched, wiping away tears. God had us cross paths for a reason, and we both knew that, she said. Its a huge loss. A North Carolina developers fourth concept drawing for an apartment development on part of the former Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. site uses less of the wooded parcel by consolidating nearly 200 apartments into just two large buildings. Previous preliminary drawings submitted by Berkley Hall to Roanoke planning officials for feedback showed nine or 10 buildings with a total of 238 apartments spread out over most of 17 steep and wooded acres. But the city rejected those plans because engineers could not provide a required public road that did not exceed 500 feet without a connection to another public road. This latest plan addresses that stumbling block by showing only two massive buildings covering about the same footprint as the existing office building on the site fronting Brambleton Avenue, eliminating the need for a public road. According to correspondence between city planning and zoning officials and Berkley Halls local engineer, while some details are unknown, the concept doesnt violate city zoning requirements. The emails were obtained via the Freedom of Information Act. Details such as building heights no higher than 45 feet and plans for stormwater, grading and landscaping also must be approved by city planners. Berkley Hall holds a purchase option on 17 acres of the 26-acre site former Shenandoah Life campus, which Carilion Clinic bought in 2015 for $4.6 million. The developer has been conducting a due diligence assessment for several months. According to Carilion spokeswoman Hannah Cline, under its agreement with Carilion the developer had the unilateral right to extend due diligence at its sole discretion by 90 days, which it has done. Berkley Halls leaders, Mark Reynolds and Mike Murray, and their local engineer, Tom Dale of Lumsden Associates, did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. From the outset, Carilions decision to sell to a developer, and Berkley Halls plans for a large-scale apartment complex, have angered neighbors in Grandin Court and Raleigh Court. For a half-century, neighbors have treated the mostly wooded, undeveloped portions of the property as a de facto park all with the apparent permission of the owner. Organized as Save the Woodlands, opponents of the development have railed against Berkley Halls plan, which would disturb a popular network of trails on the land. Opponents remained unmoved by Berkley Halls latest drawing. They found the size of the two buildings troubling, saying each is larger in footprint than the Verizon building on Franklin Road in downtown Roanoke. According to a scale on the drawing itself, each is shown as 162.5 feet wide and 275 feet deep. Initially, this concept drawing is less ridiculous than the outrageous concepts prior, the Save the Woodlands group said via an emailed statement. But the group wonders about how much parking area the drawing shows. That much impervious surface replacing lush, woodland habitat seems excessive and egregious, the statement said. While apparent preservation of undeveloped land is appealing, the statement said, we have little faith that Berkley Hall wouldnt want to eventually develop all of the land. Ideally, the statement continued, what undeveloped land remains needs to be protected as greenspace. Meanwhile, another development proposal about which Carilion was contacted appears to be off the table. Rodger Provo, a Fredericksburg real estate agent, contacted the city economic development office about the Shenandoah Life site in its search for a location for a senior living facility, city emails show. Provo said Tuesday, however, that his client has made no offer on the property should it come available, and his clients plans are undeveloped. Were not far enough along to know whether we would take that property, Provo said. Cline said, Carilion Clinic has not solicited and is not considering any other purchase offers from developers for this property. The Roanoke City Council has agreed to sell its historic Compton-Bateman House and surrounding 3.4 acres to a small nonprofit that wants to lease the building to a program that serves youth. Isabel Thorntons Restoration Housing will buy the house for $1 but will be required to spend $868,000 on renovations. Thornton said the money will come from $234,000 in insurance proceeds the city received after a 2011 fire at the house, tax credits from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and various grants for which she has yet to apply. The circa-1827 house, off Lafayette Boulevard in northwest Roanoke, for decades served as the Villa Heights recreation center but was seriously damaged in the 2011 fire and has been on the market for several years. The council is partial to Thorntons idea to lease the house to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia, benefiting the community while preserving the houses history. This is a true win, win, win for everybody, council member John Garland said. Its a win for the old house, its a win for the users of the house and its a win for the community. While Thornton is still in preliminary discussions with the Boys and Girls Clubs, she said theyve discussed working together with the architect so the house meets the groups needs. Were both optimistic and hopeful that the partnership will work, Thornton said. Theyre an ideal tenant for the use of the building. They want to serve the community around Villa Heights. Roanoke Councilwoman Michelle Dykstra is the Boys and Girls Clubs executive director, so she recused herself from participating in the citys vote. Under the contract, Thornton must begin construction within 12 months of closing, but she said she wont know until March whether she will receive the tax credits. Construction ideally would begin next summer, according to Thornton, who said she is thankful for how supportive the council has been through the process. Historic property in northwest Roanoke is just as deserving of preservation and restoration as historic property in any other part of Roanoke, council member Bill Bestpitch said. On Tuesday, Macon County State's Attorney Jay Scott determined that a Decatur police detective was justified when he shot an armed, fleeing suspect. It's the second time in a year that Scott has been asked to make such a determination and the second time he sided with the police officer involved. While we're not going to pass judgment on his latest finding (like the rest of you, we haven't seen all the evidence) we'd like to see one more thing remain the same the community's reaction to the latest news. In July 2016, while tensions around the country were at their peak in the wake of other officer-involved shootings, Decatur rose above the rest and showed restraint and faith in the system. Much of the calm stemmed from advance communication local law enforcement had with community stakeholders and the formation of the Area Leaders Educators Response Team (ALERT) to deal with these types of situations. This same group was called into action in May after Donald Redmon was shot by Decatur police Detective Jeffrey Hockaday. ALERT requests that we all respect the judicial process and await the final outcome, the group wrote in a prepared statement following Tuesday's announcement. I believe the city of Decatur is a community that has shown other communities how to respond during tough times. I believe we can be a model for other communities as we move forward, Decatur police Chief Jim Getz said in a news release. We couldn't agree more. All we know at this point are the details released in a sworn affidavits immediately following the May 31 incident. The statement, which provides the police officers' recollections of the events leading up to the arrest, provide a basis for filing charges. Redmon is charged with armed violence, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and armed habitual criminal. Redmon, as are all defendants, is deemed innocent until proven guilty. By releasing the details supporting his findings regarding Hockaday, Scott could prejudice a potential jury pool against Redmon, taking away a right that makes up the foundation of our great country. We're sure there are those in the community questioning Scott's findings. All we ask is that you reserve final judgment until all the details are released. Its taken 60 years and billions of dollars, but mass transit is finally coming to Dulles International Airport outside the nations capital. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is ready to open the second and final phase of its Silver Line Metrorail extension on Nov. 15. The six new stations will for the first time connect the airport and the outer suburbs of Loudoun County to the regions flagship mass transit system. But the Silver Line extension comes at a time when ridership on Metro remains at roughly half of what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Metro officials say the long-term vision of those who pushed for the line will be vindicated as riders return. CHARLOTTESVILLE Citing concerns for security and safety, Charlottesville officials on Monday said they will approve a demonstration permit for Saturdays Unite the rally organized by pro-white activists if the rally is moved to McIntire Park. But Jason Kessler, who is organizing the rally, says he wont accept the condition because McIntire Park lacks the symbolism provided by the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, which has stood in Emancipation Park, recently renamed from Lee Park, since the 1920s. The whole thing is in support of the Lee monument, Kessler said after the citys news conference announcing the decision to change the location. The fact that theyd try and move it away from the statue is, in itself, a violation of our free speech rights. Kessler said he would seek legal recourse rather than move the rally. At the news conference, City Manager Maurice Jones said the size and nature of the demonstration for which Kessler submitted a permit application on May 30 has changed as more protesters and counter-protesters signed on. Based on information provided to me by law enforcement officials, the city has decided to approve Mr. Kesslers application for a permit to hold a demonstration on the day and at the times requested, provided that he use McIntire Park, rather than Emancipation Park, for the demonstration, Jones said, reading from a prepared statement. There is no doubt that Mr. Kessler has a First Amendment right to hold a demonstration and to express his views. Nor is there any doubt that we, as a city, have an obligation to protect those rights, the people who seek to exercise them and the broader community in which they do, Jones said. We have determined that we cannot do all of these things effectively if the demonstration is held in Emancipation Park. Jones and other city officials declined to answer any questions during or after the news conference. The rally in Emancipation Park promised multiple planned protests and possibly thousands of protesters vehemently opposed to each other all crammed into a four-block area of downtown. That had city officials worried about public safety. The Unite the Right rally, scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, is expected to be attended by members of the National Socialist Movement, the pro-secessionist League of the South and hundreds of their allies in the Nationalist Front and alt-right movement. According to permits acquired from the city by University of Virginia professor Walt Heinecke, counter-protesters are expected to gather at the park and at nearby McGuffey Park and Justice Park, recently renamed from Jackson Park. Officials on Monday declined to estimate the number of protesters they expect, but estimates bandied about by local businesses and organizers range from 2,000 to 8,000. Police said the anticipated number of protesters would make it difficult to ensure public safety if the Unite the Right rally were held at Emancipation Park. Having the demonstration at McIntire Park is safer because the park is large enough to accommodate the size of the anticipated crowd, said Charlottesville Police Chief Al Thomas. It also avoids a situation whereby overflow crowds spill into the streets, as would likely occur at Emancipation Park. Thomas, who also read from a prepared statement, said the larger park will allow more security, better emergency medical care and other services. Law enforcement also will have the room needed to maneuver and direct crowds toward safety in case of a disturbance, he said. Additionally, we can more effectively stage other public safety resources that would allow for immediate response, if needed. Social activists said they question the safety of relocating to McIntire Park because it has limited entrances and exits. McIntire Park has limited ingress and egress points and has natural choke points, said Emily Gorcenski, a Charlottesville social activist who questioned whether the relocation would provide more safety. If youre out in the heat at McIntire, forget it. There is no shade. Thomas noted that the approaching rally has many in town worried for their safety. Citing that possibility, UVa President Teresa A. Sullivan last week advised staff, students and faculty to avoid the rally. There is a credible risk of violence at this event, and your safety is my foremost concern, she wrote. The potential conflict has caused concern among businesses, especially on the Downtown Mall. Business owners say they have discussed with police whether to be open as usual that day. Some have decided to close. Susan Payne, a spokeswoman for the Downtown Business Association of Charlottesville, on Monday said the association supports the citys move. This decision protects the safety of the community, as well as downtown properties, due to the anticipated increase in the size of the crowd, Payne said in a statement. The size of the McIntire Park location provides more adequate parking and space for individuals attending the rally. Thomas asked that protesters from both camps to pledge to remain nonviolent. I urge groups on both sides to publicly commit to a nonviolent assembly, he said. Your commitment may influence the small minority that may seek to jeopardize public safety and will also serve to strengthen bonds throughout our community, reduce a growing cloud of fear, and emotionally disarm those who would delight in provoking others towards violent actions. Mayor Mike Signer said the City Council backs the decision to move the rally while supporting the right of opposing sides to demonstrate. Democracy can be noisy, and it can be messy, he said. But by ensuring we protect both public safety and the Constitution through the city managers decision, I firmly believe that we will emerge from the weekend of Aug. 12 a stronger community than ever. RICHMOND Pools of mosquitoes along the boundary of Richmond and Henrico County have tested positive for the West Nile virus, and health officials are warning residents throughout the region that they need to protect themselves. Though the mosquitoes were found along the northern and western boundary between the county and city, the general thinking is, if we test mosquitoes and theyre positive in those sites, the likelihood is well have positive mosquitoes all over the region, said Dr. Danny Avula, director of the Richmond City Health District. West Nile isnt new to the Richmond region or to Virginia in general. Last year, the state saw eight cases, and so far this year there has been one. Avula said there have not been any cases in the Richmond region so far this year. He said the health department views the detection of the virus in local mosquitoes as a red flag. It says, Hey, West Nile is here, he said. Its been a few years since we had our last serious documented case here in Richmond, but its something people need to be aware of. Between 2010 and 2016, there were zero to two cases of West Nile in the Richmond area annually. The good news is most people who get it have a pretty mild course, Avula said. You get a fever and a little headache and achiness. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website states that 8 out of 10 people infected with West Nile will not show symptoms. Most who do recover quickly, but weakness can persist for weeks or months. Fewer than 1 percent who are infected develop neurological illnesses like encephalitis or meningitis. Fatalities can happen, but they are rare, said Melissa Viray, deputy director of the Richmond City Health District. She said only about 10 percent of those who develop serious illness die, and typically those are people whose immune systems are compromised by another health issue. That risk subset is really people who are over the age of 60 and typically have other underlying conditions like diabetes or kidney disease, Avula said. There is no specific treatment for West Nile, and symptoms typically appear two to 15 days after exposure. Avula said the city and health district already have programs in place for mosquito control, many of which are being carried over from work last year to prevent local transmissions of the Zika virus. Also a mosquito-borne virus, Zika is found largely in the Caribbean and Latin America. It causes only mild, flulike symptoms, but can be dangerous for pregnant women because it can cause birth defects. There have been transmissions of the virus in Florida and Texas. Since April, the Department of Public Utilities has been treating various locations throughout the city with larvicide to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. We just came off the year with Zika, where we went hard and heavy with mosquito messaging, Avula said. All the same things pertain here: Even though its a different species of mosquito, they breed in similar habitats shallow water that builds in tires or flower pots or childrens toys. Zika is largely spread by Asian tiger mosquitoes, which bite throughout the day. West Nile is primarily carried by Culex mosquitoes, which usually bite from dusk to dawn though they can still bite anytime, so Avula recommended residents use prevention techniques throughout the day. In a public health notice, the health district encouraged city residents to eliminate stagnant water where mosquitoes might breed. Additional protections include wearing insect repellent that contains DEET or another EPA-registered active ingredient, wearing light-colored long sleeves and pants, or staying indoors during those times. Turning over objects that collect rainwater to eliminate areas where mosquitoes can breed is also a good way to lower possible exposure to mosquitoes, as is equipping open windows and doors with screens to keep them out of the home. Dr. Gonzalo Bearman, chairman of the division of infectious diseases at VCU Health, called these tactics common-sense interventions that he encouraged everyone in the Richmond region to employ. There is no epidemic of West Nile Virus in Virginia right now, so the likelihood of getting infected with West Nile virus is low, he said. But that doesnt mean the risk is not real. CAMBRIA A little more than two months have gone by since the May 31 fatal explosion at Didion Milling, and officials are no closer to knowing what caused it. Nobody, said company president Riley Didion, wants to know the answer more than he does. But when Didion appeared at Mondays Cambria Village Board meeting, he had answers to many of the trustees questions. Yes, the ethanol operation is up and running. Yes, farmers have been hauling their corn to Cambria, where it is ground in a different part of the plant than the damaged Didion Milling facility for extraction of ethanol from the grain. And yes, officials from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Agency are still on the premises from time to time, though theyre doing most of their work off-site as they seek to determine what made the plant blow up at about 11:30 p.m. May 31 a Wednesday night while 16 employees were on duty. Five of those employees died, and more than a dozen were taken to hospitals. What, exactly, OSHA workers are doing off-site to determine the explosions cause is a question that Riley Didion said he couldnt answer. But by law, the agency has six months to report its findings, and Didion said he isnt surprised that OSHA workers are being so thorough in their search for the cause that they do not, as yet, have anything to report. As has been the custom for several years, a Didion update was on the Village Boards agenda Monday. As was announced last week, Didion said again, Our entire team is back to work, although he acknowledged then that some workers are limited in what they can do. The grain operation was up and running as of two weeks ago, with a gradual startup to ensure that the workplace is safe. Some Didion employees are working at other area businesses, with Didion picking up the cost of their wages and benefits. Didion said an External Projects Team, consisting of about 50 employers, offered more positions than there were available Didion workers. In a year, maybe two, there will be a new Didion Milling up and running in Cambria. Didion said he has no estimate of the rebuilding cost, as the design process is just now starting. And the actual construction cant start until OSHA officials clear the scene. Were going to take 30 years of knowledge, he said, to build the most technologically advanced, efficient mill, we believe, in the world for sure in the United States. Meanwhile, demolition continues at the milling facility, where two segments are almost completely razed and two more are being analyzed before theyre removed. Cambria Village President Glen Williams said many Didion workers are still experiencing hardship, because Didion is no longer offering workers unlimited overtime, and many workers depended on their overtime earning. I know youre keeping your employees employed, Williams said, but there are still economic problems. Didion said some of the employers who have taken on displaced Didion employees are offering overtime, which Didion will pay for but not as much overtime as employees have become accustomed to. Cambria Village Trustee Wade Smith asked whether temporarily displaced Didion workers might be available to help the village with some of its projects, which entail tasks like cleaning up wooded park areas. Village Clerk Lois Frank said the village is not ready to start that work, and might not be for several months. Riley Didion came to Mondays meeting wearing a bright red T-shirt with the slogan Cambria Has Heart. The village is selling those T-shirts for $20, to raise money for the Old Mill Foundations Didion Benefit Fund. Asked to name the most helpful way in which the community has responded, Didion Marketing Coordination Manager Aisha Bachlani said every response aids in healing especially the personal responses. The overall response, the prayers, the thoughts theyve all made a difference, she said. DAVIS Roger Clayton May 22, 1951 August 6, 2017 Roger Clayton Davis, 66, from Pearisburg, Va., went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 6, 2017. He was born in Richlands, Va. on May 22, 1951 and lived in Pearisburg all of his life. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Patsy Sutherland Davis; his beloved son, Travis Clayton Davis; and his nephew Jeremy Barna. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted daughter, Angie Davis (husband Dean) of Pearisburg, Va.; his father, Hubert Clayton Davis of Narrows, Va.; his two brothers, Steve Davis and John Davis (Stephanie) of Narrows; his two sisters, Rebecca Davis Barna Smith (Gary) of Waterford, Conn., and Beth Davis Ellis (Jimmy) of Narrows; his six grandchildren, Skyler, Cameron, Brennen, Zoe, Emmalin, and Adalee; and several special aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces. Also, two special friends, Walter "Bucky" Havens and Roger "Razor" Runions. A special thanks to Dr. Melton and all caregivers along the way. A 1969 graduate of Giles High School, Roger loved to hunt and fish, fast cars and big trucks and was well- known throughout Giles County where he worked at several gas stations. He loved drag racing and used to run his corvette at Cedar Bluff in his younger years. For the past several years he has been ill with stomach problems and mainly stayed at home with his faithful dog, Savage. Roger will be sadly missed by his family and many friends who will always remember him for his friendliness and his willingness to help others. The family will receive visitors at Riffe's Funeral Service on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 from 5 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Narrows, Virginia. Pastor Shaun Wilburn and Pastor Jerry Sawyers will be officiating. An artist's impression of the plant AEROSPACE giant Boeings plan for a multi-million pound plant in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District has been granted planning permission. The manufacturing and research building will create 30 jobs and offer supply chain opportunities to businesses in the area. The plans, passed by Sheffield Council, are for a site next to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, which Boeing co-founded over a decade ago. Sir Nigel Knowles, chairman of Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: This further endorses the regions credentials as a global centre for innovation-inspired advanced manufacturing. Stellar Diamonds and Octea Mining have agreed to another extension to the longstop date to satisfy certain conditions precedent of the binding tribute mining and revenue agreements of Tongo-Tonguma mine development project in Sierra Leone. The companies made a similar extension last month. The purpose of the extension was to ensure that certain conditions within the signed tribute mining and revenues agreement are satisfied. Stellar inked a tribute mining and revenue share agreement with Octea for the project last April, which allowed for mining the combined and adjacent Tongo and Tonguma concessions, with capital expenditure development at the mines estimated at $32.0 million in the first two years. Meanwhile, Stellar it was also in discussions with BDG Capital regarding an extension to the exclusivity period related to the disposal of its Guinea projects and assets to allow for completion of the remaining project and financial due diligence tasks and drafting of the required share purchase agreement. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished MMTC Ltd, India's largest trading company, aims to double its top line in the next five years by revamping its business operations. The company will foray into retail jewellery sale, export of minor minerals, setting up of warehouses, online sale of gold coins and jewellery, and aggregation of import consignments of smaller companies, according to a report in smartinvestor. MMTC plans to open 250 gold retail outlets across the country on a franchise model to save on the cost and will emulate the gold jewellery retailing model of the Tatas, which sells jewellery under the Tanishq brand. According to sources, it might be sold under the brand of "MMTC jewellery" to capitalise on the MMTC name's trust value. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished The total demand for gold jewellery in India surged to 126.7 tonnes in the second quarter of 2017, rising 41% as compared to the previous corresponding period, according to the latest report by the World Gold Council titled 'Gold Demand Trends Q2 2017'. World demand for gold jewellery in the second quarter surged 8% year-on-year to 480.8 tonnes. The strong recovery had been widely expected after exceptional import figures, hitting an all-time high of 104.6 tonnes in May as the market stockpiled gold ahead of the goods and services tax (GST) rate announcement. "India's gold demand in Q2 2017 was robust, as seasonal demand & improved rural sentiment contributed to year-on-year rise. In Q2 as consumers & trade adapt to new tax & compliance regime, growth will remain range bound even with good monsoons," said PR Somasundaram, MD-India, WGC. Expecting a punitive GST rate, jewellers and consumers alike crammed their purchases into the first two months of the quarter, slowing down once the government confirmed that a 3% rate would be applied. The rise in gold jewellery demand is also attributed to the festival of Akshaya Tritiya a key gold-buying festival in the Hindu calendar. The timing of the festival this year and a dip in gold prices saw sales rise nearly 30% y-o-y. WGC expects the demand for gold jewellery in India to remain muted in the second half of 2017. Even though the 3% GST rate was lower than expected, WGC sees the new tax to cause short-term disruption as manufacturers, retailers, importers and consumers adapt to the new regime. As the market adapts to GST, the market environment should become more settled towards the end of the year. This should be helpful for gold demand particularly as the key October festival season approaches. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished 18 companies joined the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) in the course of july 2017, it reported. Among them - Antwerp Brilliant BVBA, Asahi Pretec Corp, C.J. Exporters, Dehres Limited, Evosigne SA, FIMM SA, Karp Impex HK Ltd, KGK Diamonds Botswana Pty Ltd, Lili Diamonds USA, M.Livi & Sons Inc, O N PRO Diamonds Ltd, Quality S.R.L., S. Weissbart, Sishu International Pvt Ltd, Societe Duchene, Someco SA, Varin-etampage SA, Wala Gems Ltd. RJC covering all parts of the jewellery supply chain from mine to store, is developing standards and providing certification, which confirms the compliance of companies with social, environmental and ethical standards. RJC, established in 2005 with the participation of major jewellery companies and associations, including Rio Tinto, Tiffany & Co, Zale Corporation, Cartier and BHP Billiton has more than 1,000 member companies. Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels Rescue teams continue their operation at Mir 08 august 2017 News Several rescue teams, each containing 60 people, continued their search for the eight missing miners this morning, the press service of ALROSA says. The pace and scope of rock-tunneling works will depend on the weather conditions and geological situation in the quarry. In total, more than 330 people and over 30 units of equipment take part in the rescue operation. Seven industrial climbers have started their new descent along the sidewalls of the quarry this early morning. Today they will try to find new ways of approach to the signal wells. At the moment, the descent is going as planned. If the geological situation will be stable and there will be no rain, they plan to pass 450 meters down the quarry slope and reach the middle portal on the steep wall of the quarry. There are the main outlets of ventilation wells there, through which the climbers will continue to give signals to the miners trapped underground. The company also reports that, depending on the degree of risk, the course of emergency rescue operations is promptly adjusted. "Wherever there was physical access, and where we could get through the rubble under the water at levels 368, 340, 327 and 310 - the miners were not found," said Radik Fayzukhanov, CEO of Paramilitary Mine Rescue Units belonging to the Ministry for Emergencies, commenting the progress of search operations. Monitoring and reconnaissance of mine sites are continuing to determine the directions for further rescue operations. At the moment, on the mines level 210, three additional pumps are being installed on the cage and skip shafts to pump water into the main dewatering chamber of the mine. The capacity of each pump is 1250 cubic meters of water per hour. Two of them will be mounted today and ready for work. Additional pumping systems are installed to minimize the risk of flooding of search sites. According to the instrument readings, all ventilation units in the mine operate in normal mode. KC Streetcar has plans to expand. With increased ridership and the need to provide additional service and track, the KC Streetcar Authority (KCSA) says that it is working on a Streetcar Southern Extension Project. In coordination with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and the city of Kansas City, Mo. (KCMO), KCSA issued a notice to being planning work for the Southern Extension Project. A team led by HDR Engineering will provide the planning and engineering services with support from Burns & McDonnell, HNTB, Trekk Design Group, Hg Consult, Parson + Associates, VSM Engineering and Architectural & Historical Research. With the communitys support, KCSA formed a Transportation Development District (TDD) to fund a southern streetcar line to the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). KCSA and KCATA are jointly funding the estimated $1 million cost of this phase of planning, which is estimated to take nine months to complete. We are thrilled to be working hand-in-hand with our partners with the KCATA and KCMO, to detail specific plans for a southern streetcar extension and related bus improvements connecting downtown to University of Missouri, Kansas Citys campus, said Tom Gerend, executive director, KC Streetcar Authority. This effort is a critical step towards advancing the regions transit vision and completing the due diligence that will be required to make this vision a reality. Planning for the extension will focus on data collection, refining alignment details, station stop locations and terminus configuration, plans for coordinated regional transit service integration, updated cost estimates and the initiation of the federal funding process. Fuegos, a new steakhouse in town with a vegan twist, had its official opening Wednesday, at 904 Williamson St. The restaurant says its chef, O CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) announced the company now expects its 2017 adjusted earnings per share in the range of $1.52 to $1.56, compared to prior guidance range of $1.50 to $1.56. Adjusted for special items, net income in the second quarter of 2017 was $45.8 million, or $0.39 per share compared to adjusted net income in the second quarter of 2016 of $57.9 million, or $0.49 per share. Total revenue was $436.4 million compared to $463.3 million in the second quarter of 2016. The company said the decrease in revenue was attributable to the previously disclosed amendment to the contract for South Texas Family Residential Center resulting in a reduction to revenue of $28.3 million from the prior year quarter, and the expiration of contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at Eden Detention Center in April 2017. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Vacation exchange company RCI, part of Wyndham Worldwide (WYN), announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with vacation group Beneficium to acquire DAE Global Pty Ltd. The companies did not reveal the terms of the deal. DAE is the operator of Dial An Exchange, a timeshare exchange company headquartered in Australia, and @Work International, a software company also based in Australia. The deal is subject to customary conditions precedent, including receipt of applicable regulatory approval. Following the completion of the acquisition, DAE's offices in Australia, New Zealand, US and Egypt will become part of RCI. DAE, which has established a strong loyal consumer base, will continue to run as an independent brand and be marketed separately from RCI. DAE will continue to be led by co-founder Francis Taylor as managing director while Peter Vanderhorst will continue to serve as managing director and lead @Work. RCI expects the deal to complement its existing , broaden its appeal to a new base of travelers and strengthen its position as a major within the global alternative holiday accommodation sector. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News McDonald's Corp. (MCD) announced Tuesday its growth plan for China following completion of a strategic partnership with CITIC Limited, CITIC Capital Partners, and The Carlyle Group (CG). The new partnership, which will operate and manage McDonald's businesses in mainland China and Hong Kong, announced a series of development initiatives for mainland China. The "Vision 2022" strategy aims to drive double-digit sales growth in each of the next five years by increasing the number of restaurants from 2,500 to 4,500. This includes delivery hub coverage of over 75% of restaurants, by the end of 2022. Opening pace of new McDonald's restaurants in mainland China is expected to progressively ramp up to 500 per year in 2022 from approximately 250 per year in 2017 under the new partnership. In addition, Vision 2022 includes plans to increase significantly McDonald's restaurant portfolio mix in tier 3-4 cities to approximately 45% of all McDonald's restaurants in China. Vision 2022 also includes an increase of "Experience of the Future" restaurants to over 90%, which will enable the brand to offer digitalized and personalized dining experience to more customers. The transaction has obtained China's regulatory approval and was completed on July 31, creating the largest McDonald's franchisee outside of the United States. The sale to the new McDonald's China franchisee includes McDonald's existing businesses in Mainland China of approximately 2,500 restaurants and Hong Kong of approximately 240 restaurants. Steve Easterbrook, McDonald's President and CEO, said, "China will soon become our largest market outside of the United States. We are excited to join forces with CITIC and Carlyle for better localized decision-making to meet changing customer demands in this dynamic market." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Hungary's foreign trade surplus decreased in June from a year ago, as imports grew faster than exports, preliminary figures from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office showed Tuesday. The trade surplus fell to EUR 1.06 billion in June from EUR 1.16 billion in the corresponding month last year. Economists had expected the surplus to drop to EUR 1.04 billion. Both exports and imports climbed by 4.5 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively in June from last year. The share of EU member states was 79 percent in exports and 78 percent in imports. During the first half of this year, total trade surplus of the country was EUR 5.38 billion versus EUR 5.41 billion in the same period of 2016. 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. After the City of Chicago filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's plan to withhold federal funding from so-called "sanctuary cities," Attorney General Jeff Sessions responded on Monday with a strongly worded statement accusing the city of maintaining a "culture of lawlessness." Sessions claimed the political leadership of Chicago has chosen to deliberately and intentionally adopt a policy that obstructs the country's lawful immigration system. "They have demonstrated an open hostility to enforcing laws designed to protect law enforcement Federal, state, and local and reduce crime, and instead have adopted an official policy of protecting criminal aliens who prey on their own residents," Sessions said. "This is astounding given the unprecedented violent crime surge in Chicago, with the number of murders in 2016 surpassing both New York and Los Angeles combined," he added. "The city's leaders cannot follow some laws and ignore others and reasonably expect this horrific situation to improve." Sessions stated the administration will not give grant dollars to city governments that violate the rule of law and protect criminal aliens at the expense of public safety. The comments from Sessions came after Chicago filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Justice Department policy that would withhold public safety grants from cities that decline to cooperate with federal immigration agents. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel argued the philosophy of community policing cannot succeed when a segment of the community is afraid to cooperate or communicate with the police. "Chicago is a welcoming City and always will be, and we will not be blackmailed by President Trump's Justice Department," Emanuel said. He added, "Forcing us to choose between our values and our Police Department's philosophy of community policing is a false choice, and it is a choice that would ultimately undermine our public safety agenda." Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson also disagreed with the suggestion that undocumented immigrants are driving violence in the city, and argued officers should be focused on community policing and not trying to be the immigration police. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News President Donald Trump offered praise for the international community in a post on Twitter on Tuesday after the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously over the weekend to impose tough new sanctions on North Korea. "After many years of failure, countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!" Trump tweeted. The tweet by Trump comes three days after the U.N. Security Council voted to strengthen sanctions on North Korea in response to the communist nation's recent ballistic missile launches. The new sanctions, which were supported by China, include a full ban on the export of coal, iron and iron ore from North Korea. While past sanctions packages have not been fully enforced by China, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has expressed confidence that North Korea's biggest trade partner will comply with the latest sanctions. "China stepped up and not only said they were going to vote for this, they announced that they were going to enforce and they encouraged every other country to enforce. So, this was serious," Haley said Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show. She added, "You have to remember that for China the last missile launch took place right next to their border. Their ground actually shook. The Chinese people felt it. They know this is serious." Despite widespread media coverage of the new sanctions, Trump continued his attacks on the media in an earlier tweet, accusing the "fake news" of ignoring the U.N. Security Council vote. "The Fake News Media will not talk about the importance of the United Nations Security Council's 15-0 vote in favor of sanctions on N. Korea!" Trump tweeted. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled against patent troll company Personal Audio on its attempt to patent podcasting. The CAFC decision affirmed a Patent and Trademark Office's decision to invalidate the "podcasting patent" that Personal Audio used in lawsuits against big-name podcasters. Personal Audio had used its broad patent for a "System for Disseminating Media Content Representing Episodes in a Serialized Sequence" to file lawsuits against a number of podcast providers, including Adam Corolla, HowStuffWorks, CBS, and NBC. In 2015, after receiving petition from the Electronic Frontier Foundation to review the patent, the US Patent Office had invalidated the intellectual property rights it had previously granted to Personal Audio in 2012. "We're glad that the IPR process worked here, that we were allowed to go in and defend the public interest," Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Vera Ranieri said in a statement to ArsTechnica. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Freshtex Produce of Alamo, TX announced the recall of "Valery" brand Maradol Papayas grown and packed by Carica de Campeche, due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall was initiated after FDA notified the company that other brands of Maradol Papayas from the farm, Carica de Campeche, had tested positive for Salmonella. Few days back, Agroson's LLC of Bronx, NY also recalled 2,483 boxes of Maradol Papaya Cavi Brand, grown and packed by Carica de Campeche. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, while healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The Maradol Papayas was distributed to the State of Illinois from July 10 to July 13, 2017, and may have been further distributed outside the state of Illinois. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News (Agencia CMA Latam) - Colombia's Agriculture Minister Aurelio Iragorri said that a recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak was restrained to the municipalities of Cucuta, Tame, and Yacopi and is currently under control. In a statement at the end of a ministers' meeting in Bogota, Iragorri said that the last steer would be slaughtered on Friday, which would complete "a little more than three thousand animals killed. It does not mean that all had the foot-and-mouth disease." Iragorri added that if the containment strategies continue to give the expected result, the country will send a notification to the World Organization for Animal Health after 28 days - or the equivalent of two incubation cycles of the virus. A week after being notified, the entity should determine if Colombia will once more be considered as a territory free of foot-and-mouth disease by vaccination. by Agencia CMA Latam For comments and feedback: 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. (Agencia CMA Latam) - Onshore oil exploration and production are no longer the focus of Petrobras, the Brazilian state-owned oil company. "We are not the better onshore operators, so it is best to leave it to smaller companies, which can contribute more to the local economies," said Pedro Parente, Petrobras' chief executive officer. Last month, Petrobras said it would sell its stake in seven sets of shallow water fields. The oil company had an average production of oil and natural gas in these areas of 73 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) during the first half of 2017. The state-owned company controls all these concessions, except for Pescada and Arabaiana, where it has a 35% stake. by Agencia CMA Latam For comments and feedback: 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. (Agencia CMA Latam) - Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) banned the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), the main opposition political alliance in the South American country, from taking part in state elections in seven provinces. In a statement, the CNE said that the MUD would not be able to compete in Zulia, Apure, Monagas, Bolivar, Trujillo, Aragua and Carabobo states due to "decisions are taken by local courts related to the trial that is under development since 2016." The CNE also argued that bparties can submit their nominations, and listed 22 organizations that qualified, including MUD. The elections will be held on October 10. by Agencia CMA Latam For comments and feedback: 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. (Agencia CMA Latam) - Brazil's Transport Minister Mauricio Quintella denied that the government is considering privatizing the Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Company (Infraero). While attending a hearing in the Senate Infrastructure Committee, he admitted, however, the possibility of allowing private investors in the company. The Brazilian government is studying a model for the restructuring of Infraero given its intention to transfer more airports and - according to rumors - the company's employees to the private sector. Infraero's restructuring comes amid a two-year economic recession in Brazil that had adverse effects on freight and passenger traffic in the South American country's airports, forcing the government and management companies to renegotiate concession terms. The most notorious case involves the Viracopos airport, in Campinas, the third largest city in the Sao Paulo state. ABV, the Viracopos' administrator, decided to return the airport to the government after facing financial difficulties. Official estimates at the time when the Viracopos concession was auctioned pointed that 17.9 million passengers would use the airport in 2016, but the real number was equivalent to half of this projection. Cargo movement was also below expectations, at 40% of the 409 thousand tons expected. At the Guarulhos airport, the largest in Brazil, the management wants to renegotiate payments deadlines with the government. Those payments should total R$ 1 billion by the end of this year. So far, however, only R$ 115 million was disbursed. In 2015, Brazil experienced the peak of air travel. Airlines transported 96,164 million people on domestic flights. In 2017, under the impact of the most severe economic recession to hit the country in the last century, there was a 7.8% decline in that traffic, to 88,648 million. Demand for air travel remained weak in the first half of this year, with a 0.6% decline in the number of passengers compared to the same period of 2016. by Agencia CMA Latam For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. President receives head of EU Delegation to Yemen SANA'A, Aug. 08 (Saba) - President of the Supreme Political Council Saleh al-Sammad received on Tuesday the head of the European Union Delegation to Yemen Ms. Antonia Calvo Puerta . Al-Sammad pointed out the promising results of the EU delegation's visit and the negative impact of temporarily suspending the work of embassies and diplomatic missions in Yemen since more than two years for political purposes. The President confirmed the readiness for peace and work for it and the continued to deal seriously and responsibly with any initiative so as to achieve peace in Yemen. He further stressed for real and effective international efforts to achieve peace without wasting time and exacerbate the situation that do not take a path of the UN envoy for Yemen which seeks "throwing dust on the eyes" or " withdrawal of the peace process". He pointed to the importance of the European Union's contribution over its influential on countries in the Security Council. The United Nations should play its role in a positive, constructive and free of pressure, he said. the head of the European Union mission stressed that the EU countries believe in political solution and the absence of a military solution in Yemen. She pointed out that the humanitarian situation in Yemen has reached a high degree of tragedy that prompted the EU countries to adopt a three-pronged program to reduce the deterioration of the humanitarian situation. Ms. Calvo expressed the high appreciation of the Union countries for the constant response of the General People's Congress and the Ansar Allah movement to dialogue initiatives. She pointed out the importance of reopening Sana'a International Airport. The continued closure of the airport harms the interests of the Yemeni people and the actions and programs of international organizations working in Yemen in the humanitarian side, she said. The head of the European Union Mission stressed the seriousness of targeting the port of Hodeidah. She explained the EU countries seek to increase support to Yemen in the humanitarian programs field. HA Saba Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Telegram Email Email Print Print [08/August/2017] 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. The election to three Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat has turned into a high-stake battle. Where BJP has fielded party chief Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput for the three seats in Gujarat, Congress leader Ahmed Patel is contesting against Rajput. The polling for the Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat will take place on Tuesday and each candidate needs 45 first-preference votes to enter the upper house. A candidate needs the support of 45 legislators to win straightaway. The 182-seat Gujarat assembly was reduced to 176 after six Congress legislators quit recently. Three of them joined the BJP. The Saffron party is confident of winning all the three seats and after loosing three of its MLAs, Patel will now need at least 46 votes of the 51 Congress MLAs to win. The Congress is wary of cross-voting. "If anyone cross-votes tomorrow, they will face action from party or even disqualification," Patel, confidence that he will win Tuesday's poll and will return for a sixth term, said a day ahead of the polling. "I have full confidence in my victory tomorrow despite the BJP's attempts and the numbers will surprise everyone. Besides the 44 Congress legislators, we have the support of Janata Dal-United, Nationalist Congress Party and Shankersinh Vaghela," Ahmed Patel said. All the 44 Gujarat Congress legislators, who were camping at a private resort near Bengaluru for 10 days, returned to Ahmedabad on Monday morning. They were shifted to a resort on the outskirts of the city fearing poaching by the BJP ahead of today's Rajya Sabha election. The National Investigation Agency officials on Tuesday questioned Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons, Naeem and Naseem, as part of its probe into a money trail to expose how Pakistan sent cash to separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley. NIA officials said the Geelani brothers arrived at the headquarters here around 11 a.m. after evading the counter-terror agency's earlier summons. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a doctor who was once based in Pakistan, on July 27 and August 1. He failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. The NIA has arrested eight separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there. The arrested separatists include Shabir Shah and Altaf Ahmad Shah, who is Geelani's son-in-law. They have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. When Sen. Bernie Sanders sought the Democratic nomination for president, he proudly touted his socialist credentials, and evidence indicates that he has sparked a resurgent interest in socialism across the nation. Last October, about 1,200 people filled a meeting room at Monona Terrace to hear him supporting Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. A century ago, Wisconsin and Milwaukee in particular was a stronghold for socialists in this country. PHOTO BY SAIYNA BASHIR Dear Editor Re: Why Im staying in Samoa Well said, Wendy! Youve always has a passion for whats right. As youve seen it done in other places. You get the likes of others bumping their gums week in and week out about whats wrong with Samoa (exactly what you say) and nothings done about the problems; revolving editorials. You say something about all the wrongs but youre not supposed to in their eyes. The contradictions in that place were so far apart we couldnt live there. Its a dangerous place. Full of thugs that make you live in a cage and as you found out, youre still not safe anywhere in that country. There seem to be no pockets of complete harmony and goodness. Keep it up dont let them grind you down. Watch them change their tune if you start to bring tourists in to the place that bring money with them. They wont care if you rob the tourists blind, youll be protected because of the money youre bringing into the country. Theres a great twisted mentality in that place and Im glad Im not there anymore. Dangerous religious fanatics. Anyone who contradicts that statement, I say have a good look in the paper daily! Same old, same old! Democracy? What democracy? Corruption, maniacs with bush knives, incest, thefts at all levels of society, fathers doing things to daughters, some very young daughters, people bashed to death, rapes by the score, pressure from fathers to make their children steal in the work place. Its a sick place. Contradiction - most certainly with the things you said. The south coast; lots of good people, but not enough incentive to stop the bad. As I heard one day in a hotel from a visiting businessman to another Its a pity Samoans own the place, as it is so beautiful, I wonder whats wrong with them to be so violent and backward. And you cant keep blaming the poor. Most poor people dont steal or maim others. Having said that, the existing government is a disgrace for being in power for so long, ignoring the poor and not improving their lot, Heartless, selfish b******s! They should be taking more notice of you, not rubbishing you, as outsiders can see more clearly than they can. We should all give up. The place will never change just get worse. Larry Murphy China continues to put its money where its mouth is to help the Pacific protect its environment. China did this yesterday with its annual donation of US$150,000 (T$345,000) to the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P) at Vailima. The money was presented by the Chinese Ambassador, Wang Xuefeng, to the Director General of S.P.R.E.P, Leota Kosi Latu and Deputy Director General, Roger Conforth during a brief meeting where the Chinese Ambassador was briefed about the work of S.P.R.E.P. Ambassador Xuefeng congratulated S.P.R.E.P for their work in combatting climate change and supported their ongoing initiatives to fulfill their obligations to the Paris Agreement. We are very impressed by the presentation, we congratulate the achievements you have made and we express our thanks for your work, he said. The programmes are very helpful in making more and more people be aware of the importance of S.P.R.E.Ps work in making others aware of the challenges we are facing in combatting climate change. The Ambassador noted that S.P.R.E.P continues to play a critical role in addressing climate change and dealing with other environmental issues in the region. What you are doing is widely recognised and significant regionally and globally. The Pacific Island Countries have been taking a great lead in the world on climate initiatives. We congratulate the recent success of the Oceans conference in the United Nations. We look forward to seeing even greater contributions made by the Pacific islands countries in this regard. Lastly, the Ambassador reminded that addressing climate change is a global challenge and all nations of the world have a role to play. China has actively participated in promoting and signing the Paris agreement, he said. China was also one of the first countries to submit its intended national determined contributions to the United Nations. We believe that the Paris Agreement embodies the broadest international consensus on climate change and all the parties should cherish and maintain this hard won outcome. Leota expressed S.P.R.E.Ps gratitude to China for their assistance. Senior members of S.P.R.E.P took turns to give small snapshots of their four main areas of priority, which are Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Climate Change, Environmental Monitoring and Governance, and Waste Management and Pollution Control. (M.P.M.C. Press Secretary); Palemia Memoirs-co-authored by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi contains a plateful of food for thoughts. For this first time since the publication was launched in Apia last month, Tuilaepa has been coy in talking about his Memoirs and the message behind it until this week when he was forthcoming in sharing his personal views on his book believed to be the first in a series. Perhaps the most valuable message relayed in my travels (in Palemia Memoirs) is that anything is possible if you are fortunate to have had a quality education. There is no reason why a young boy from kua-back, (rural villages) cannot become a Prime Minister. There is every reason for a young street vendor selling ulas and what not on the streets to support his family to become a Prime Minister, says Tuilaepa remembering the year 1952 when he was living at Saluki. We were all street vendors back then including me. Electricity was scarce as most families relied on kerosene lamp. Times were hard but it helped shaped my character and cemented my resolve to succeed in whatever the Almighty chooses me to do. We did not have the luxuries that the generation of today is enjoying and I have no regrets, he continued. In my view, the most important message in Memoirs is for our young people, born in Samoa, and grew up in Samoa. Never give up. Whatever life throws at you take it, deal with it. Theres a saying that I use for self-motivation and encouragement. Its better to give up trying than giving up altogether without trying at all. Recalling his first years in school while attending the Marist Brothers at Mulivai, Tuilaepa was not ashamed of his first year in school. I should hold a gold medal as the first Samoa to repeat Primer 1 four times back in the day. Who would have thought that someone like me could overcome those challenges. Palemia Memoirs is also a public record that Tuilaepa hopes for future Samoan politicians to use as a pathway. Entering parliament in 1981, Tuilaepa reminisces on the troubling times that greeted him. There was no honeymoon. It was my first year there were four Prime Ministers in and out of office in a period of 12 months, he recalled. And with the leadership at crossroads, Tuilaepa says the Human Rights Protection Party, (HRPP) at the time knew that for Samoa to recover from its menacing situation, the HRPP needed to be in charge continuously in order to salvage the economy and restore public confidence. You only need to say 1981 and the miserable memories of the PSA strike come to play. Our political stability was in chaos, recalls the Prime Minister. Our credibility was in shams but when HRPP took over we started to make changes. In essence, over the past 37 years, Tuilaepa has been in politics, his modus operandi is pragmatism coupled with commitment and never ending perseverance. What Im trying to say is that were working all the time, the government is not sitting still. We are looking at all different options. Time is not on our side. We cannot wait; our children are finishing school every year so we need to look at all kinds of options and possibilities of employment all the time. Incredibly and one of the important things that come out from the book is the political stability that Samoa has had for the last two decades, says co-author Dr. Peter Swain. He added that Samoa was in a period of turbulence, when Tuilaepa first came into parliament in 1980 and there were four prime ministers in the first 12 months. So there was a period of change going on there when he came in as leader to succeed Tofilau there was a turbulence as he settled into his position, added Dr. Swain. Subsequently Samoas political stability its economic development has been on a strong upward plane since that time. So that is an important factor in his leadership Tuilaepa on the other hand remains convinced that party politics is one of the most important achievements architected by his administration. The political party system today is designed to protect our political stability. Per say, its like an insurance policy to guarantee that mistakes influenced by a few greedy party hoping politicians will not be repeated. Tuilaepa is Samoas longest-serving Prime Minister. His premiership has been marked by political and economic crises, natural disasters, regional tensions and local challenges. Tuilaepas political career started during turbulent times but has resulted in an unprecedented period of political stability and economic development through his leadership in modernizing the economy, improving education and health and reducing poverty in Samoa. The Prime Minister left for New Zealand this weekend to launch Palemia Memoirs in Wellington and Auckland next week. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Neioti Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi (born 14 April 1945) is a Samoan politician who has been Prime Minister of Samoa since 1998. Born at Lepa, Samoa, Malielegaoi is an economist by profession. He attended high school at St Josephs College in Lotopa; he then obtained a masters from the University of Auckland, becoming the first Samoan to receive a masters degree in commerce.[1] He worked for the European Economic Community and Coopers & Lybrand before being elected to the Samoan parliament in 1980. Tuilaepa was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance under Tofilau Eti Alesana following the Human Rights Protection Partys return to power after the coalition government of Vaai Kolone and Tupua. For a while he was both Prime Minister and Minister of Finance after Tofialu stepped down from the Premiership. However, following a Cabinet reshuffle after the following elections in which he led the HRPP for an additional term, Tuilaepa relinquished the post of Minister of Finance to Misa Telefoni Retzlaff who also became the new Deputy Prime Minister. The reason given for Tuilaepas relinquishment of the Ministry of Finance was the amount of responsibility and work involved being both Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and to do the job properly required a full-time Minister. Tuilaepa has twice reassigned the Finance portfolio since that time. Tuilaepa first won election to represent his Lepa district in 1980, after the death of the previous representative. He has been re-elected for Lepa since that time. He served as finance minister in the Tofilau government of 1991 and 1996. In 1996, he was appointed deputy prime minister. In 1998, Tofilau retired from parliament (and hence the prime ministership) due to ill-health. Tuilaepa then became the 6th Prime Minister of Samoa. He has successfully led his HRPP party to re-election in the 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 general elections. LAS VEGAS (AP) A British cybersecurity researcher has a date in federal court on Tuesday in Milwaukee, but he was still being held Monday at a U.S. lockup in Nevada, authorities said. Marcus Hutchins, a hacker who won acclaim after helping in May to curb the spread of WannaCry ransomware during an attack that crippled thousands of computers worldwide, is at the Southern Nevada Detention Center in rural Pahrump, facility spokeswoman Kayla Gieni said. Hutchins faces charges that he created and distributed malicious software designed to steal banking passwords. Hutchins' attorney in Las Vegas, Adrian Lobo, didn't immediately respond to telephone and email messages. U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe in Las Vegas set Hutchins' bail on Friday at $30,000. Koppe said she expected that he could be released Monday. The judge decided Hutchins was not a danger to the community and isn't a risk not to appear for future court proceedings. But Koppe ordered Hutchins to surrender his passport and said Hutchins could fly to Wisconsin without identification. It's not clear if he couldn't raise bail or if he would be transported Monday to Wisconsin in custody. Hutchins, 23, did not enter a plea at Friday's hearing. He faces six charges dating to 2014, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, distributing and advertising an electronic communication interception device, attempting to intercept electronic communications, and trying to access a computer without authorization. He could face decades in federal prison if he is convicted. An indictment filed last month in Milwaukee was unsealed after Hutchins' arrest last Wednesday at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Hutchins was returning home following Def Con, a convention in Las Vegas for computer security professionals, according to a friend. The charging document says Hutchins and another defendant, whose name was redacted, conspired between July 2014 and July 2015 to advertise, sell and profit from the Kronos banking Trojan malware. The indictment accuses Hutchins of creating the malware and enabling cybertheft by spreading a program that can infect web browsers and capture usernames and passwords. Hutchins has support in the information-security community, where some call him a principled, ethical hacker. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital civil-liberties nonprofit, was helping Hutchins obtain legal counsel. Karen Gulllo, a spokeswoman for the foundation, declined Monday to comment. Hutchins lives with his family in the town of Ilfracombe, England, and worked out of his bedroom. His mother, Janet, called it "hugely unlikely" her son was involved in illegalities because he spends much of his time combatting malware attacks. In May, the curly-haired computer wiz and surfing enthusiast discovered a so-called "kill switch" that slowed the unprecedented WannaCry outbreak. He then spent three days fighting the worm that crippled British hospitals and factories, government agencies, banks and other businesses around the world. Though Hutchins had previously worked under the alias MalwareTech, cracking WannaCry led to the loss of his anonymity and propelled him to cyber stardom including public appearances and a $10,000 prize for cracking WannaCry. He said he planned to donate the money to charity. "I don't think I'm ever going back to the MalwareTech that everyone knew," he told The Associated Press at the time. The truth is simple enough. The question being asked on the front page of your newspaper today by concerned local businesses is not an uncommon one. As sensitive as it sounds, the question has been asked before and will continued to be asked given the developments we are witnessing on these shores. You see it, I see it. Everyone sees what is going on. The concerns therefore are not new. In fact, they are not confined to these shores. The same question could be asked by the people of Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and believe it or not New Zealand and Australia to an extent. Which pretty much point to a global trend on the struggles between local people and foreigners. Indeed these concerns are being expressed all over the world as people wake up to an unstoppable wave of foreign businesses. No matter the country; youll find that the issues are pretty much the same. It has everything to do with locals becoming increasingly alarmed by the influx of foreigners taking opportunities that should otherwise be reserved for them. And they have every reason to be alarmed. It is difficult to deny that small businesses are especially worried about those opportunities in the retail sector. They involve shops, supermarkets and small village stores that are supposed to be an avenue for our people to earn a living. Yet they are slowly and surely being pulled from beneath their feet. The problem is that as we all know, over the years, our people have been hugely disadvantaged with the arrival of new Chinese. They simply cannot compete. Looking at history, some countries have reacted better than others. While some have adopted a welcoming attitude, which allows them to take advantage of the benefits and utilise the skills this influx of people have to offer, others have been less welcoming. In the Pacific, we dont need to look further than Tonga, Fiji and Solomon Islands to see how such tensions can easily escalate into chaos and suffering. The riots there can teach us a very good lesson. We dont want the same to happen here. Which is why the government needs to pay attention to what is happening. Dont forget that these foreign businesses are established here because there is a need for them. Its a known fact that if it werent for these new Asian businesses, the cost of living in this country would simply be too expensive for the poorest of the poor to afford. Not so long ago, the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Fio Purcell, addressed the issue. We feel his response is worth revisiting today with the idea that cool heads and rational thinking are needed. I feel for those (local business) people because its quite obvious. It doesnt take long for a Chinese shop to come in then (local) business goes out, he said. That said, the Minister assured that he would meet with the commerce sector to discuss the issue. The government wants to attract foreign investors to provide services and employment but at the same time we dont want to develop an environment where local businesses or entrepreneurs just cannot compete. From his observation, Lautafi described Asian retailers as ruthless in business. They are in your face suggesting things you should buy, he said. They are business orientated people. They make sure you will not go out of the shop without buying something and its part of their business ethics that draws people to their shops. That is the philosophy that has not clicked on our people. As opposed to our shops you go inside and they look at you as if they dont want you there. The Minister could not have been more accurate about this point. So what advice would he give to local business people? This is the modern world. We need to look at ways we can improve our service, presentation and make people feel welcome to the shops. Service can turn one person from another shop seeing that you are happy. The other thing is profit. Chinese go for the marginal profit but if you sell thousands of those goods, your profit becomes very big but our people want to sell one thing and get that much profit from it. Lautafi added that the Asians are gifted business people and they have been doing this for thousands of years. But our people are still learning to grow, he said. It doesnt mean that our people should be disadvantaged because personally I still want to see more of our businesses up there. We couldnt agree more with the Minister. Love them or loathe them, we know the Asians are naturally gifted with business skills and acumen. It is something they are born with. And whether we like it or not, they are here to stay. Just like how our people have made other countries their home. We repeat. What we need is a conciliatory attitude, one where we can use the gifts they have to make our lot better. Lets be realistic though, with everything in life, something will have to give, it will come at a cost but we must open our eyes to minimize the costs and maximize the benefits. For us and our people. Its not going to be easy but this is one of the challenges of our time. We have to navigate it with extreme caution and eyes wide open. What do you think? Have a wonderful Wednesday Samoa, God bless! First time visitors to Samoa, Peter and Kris Genet from Cambridge, New Zealand, are excited to be here. For one thing, the weather is paradise compared to the freezing temperatures of their home land. The couple caught up with Dear Tourist while enjoying their second day in Samoa, shopping at the Savalalo markets. Kris shares with the Samoa Observer why they decided on Samoa as a destination. This is our first visit to Samoa, we thought it would be nice and relaxing and warm, he said. We are looking forward to the beaches. We are booked in at Tanoa and the rooms are lovely. A little bit noisy with the kitchen staff late at night and then early in the morning, but other than that, its a nice place. They also have plans to explore other parts of the country. We are heading south and we will be staying at the Samoana Resort for three nights. Well be going to Savaii for one night and well be doing a tour of the south of the island So far, Peter has been enjoying the relaxing environment that Samoa has provided for them. Its pretty relaxed and cruisey here so its been really good. Getting out of the cold weather in New Zealand has been a bonus for the couple and they are looking forward to swimming and doing some snorkeling at the beaches when they head to their next destination in Samoa saying so far they have just been enjoying the pool at their hotel. When the Samoa Observer asked the couple if they had tried some local foods, they said that their favourite dish has been the Samoan beers. Peter perks up when discussing Samoan brews and says that his favourite is Taula beer. Its very nice, Id say its a 10 out of 10. I sort of know my beers, he laughs. Kris added: Oh yeah we like that beer, its very easy to drink. And with that, Dear Tourist left the beer connoisseurs as they headed back to their hotel for some more Taula beersies. Mark Stevenson, a Carlsbad-based senior executive at Thermo Fisher Scientific, has been promoted to chief operating officer of the scientific and medical equipment giant. Formerly the companys executive vice president and president of its Life Sciences Solutions division, Stevenson is now also responsible for the companys Laboratory Products and Analytical Instruments businesses. I have a role throughout the company, Stevenson said. Those three groups of businesses represent a little more than half the revenues of the company. Advertisement Publicly traded, Waltham, Mass.-based Thermo Fisher is valued at nearly $70 billion. The company brought in a little over $18 billion revenue in 2016. Stevensons Aug. 1 promotion, and the companys continued growth in Carlsbad, indicates San Diego Countys importance to the future of Thermo Fisher since the companys 2014 purchase of Carlsbads Life Technologies for $13.6 billion. Thermo Fisher is the worlds leader in serving science, but has chosen to make San Diego its life sciences headquarters, Stevenson said. It shows the power of collaboration here in the community. From just under 1,400 employees at the time of the purchase, the Carlsbad location is now staffed with nearly 1,600 employees, the company says. The promotion also illustrates how Stevenson has accumulated more responsibilities as corporate mergers and acquisitions put him in progressively larger companies. Stevenson had been previously president and chief operating officer of Applied Biosystems before a 2008 merger with Carlsbads Invitrogen Corp. created Life Technologies. As part of the promotion, Stevenson will work closely with the companys senior vice president and chief information officer, Joe Beery, also based in Carlsbad. Together, theyre to lead Thermo Fishers push to become the worlds leading digital science company, by developing its digital science capabilities. Stevenson said he and Beery have been working together for nearly a decade, since both were at Life Technologies. He had been president of the company, a diversified research products company particularly strong in genomics. Themo Fishers chief scientific officer, Alan Sachs, M.D., will help develop the companys plans. Specific areas of focus include precision medicine, along with cell therapy and immunotherapy. That scientific office will drive future innovations for the needs of our pharmaceutical and academic customers, Stevenson said. Precision medicine, cell therapy and immunotherapy are three areas of focus in the scientific office. By using digital technology, Beery will develop more ways for customers to leverage the information from their laboratory instruments, Stevenson said. Instead of having to handle data piecemeal, customers will transmit and integrate data from their instruments automatically. Well bring those capabilities to our customers to provide a much more connected laboratory, to help them bring the data out of their instruments together to make decision making, Stevenson said. Im going to help guide that work to bring value to our customers. Beery, the chief information officer, said he and Stevenson have drawn on their long history at Life Technologies to create the digital technology capability. This links not only instruments within a lab, but labs in different cities and countries, by transferring and storing data through cloud based systems. San Diego is one of our largest software development centers of excellence, Beery said. We do a lot of this capability work here for e-commerce, for our cloud, for a lot of our connected labs and our connected instruments. By ensuring automation and easy flow of information to where it needs to be, Thermo Fisher aims to help customers increase their productivity and free up time for innovation, Beery said. We all get our information over mobile phones right in front of ourselves, Stevenson said. Thats not been the case in the laboratory. The instruments have typically been disconnected, or youve got to be in front of it to see whats going on. So our vision is launching instruments that are connected to the cloud, sharing data, Stevenson said. Scientists can go to a coffee break, have lunch, even go home, and be able to view on their iPhone the instrument. So thats where they get their personal productivity, to be able to see the data from the phone. We just launched the first of the instruments doing that, and well be launching a series in the future as Joe and I build up the vision together. For more reading Increased NIH funding helps find cures Thermo Fisher completes Life Tech buy Life Tech to be sold for $13.6 billion Invitrogen to buy Applied Biosystems for $6.7 billion, take its name Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1020 A neighborhood-based social media platform has bet on real estate listings as the next step in its business. Nextdoor, a Facebook-like website and mobile application, launched a home listing section Tuesday in San Diego and nine other cities, which it hopes will be a hit with advertisers. The 5-year-old website separates users into neighborhoods, such as Grant Hill and Logan Heights, where they can sell things, talk about lost pets, noise disturbances, suspicious people seen on their block and connect with neighbors they would not normally meet. Users need to use their real name and address. Advertisement Real estate stories and listings are already popular on the platform, said Ali Jafari, a vice president at Nextdoor, making it a natural next step in its buisness. He said referrals from users for real estate agents can be a way for agents to build their brand and get clients. We are able to leverage recommendations and neighborhood conversations, Jafari said, to help real estate agents or local businesses get customers. Nextdoor is in 1,400 neighborhoods in San Diego County, but the company does not release the number of users. The new real estate section features local and nearby home listings (populated by Realtor.com and others) and a neighborhood sponsor that is a local real estate agent occupying the right corner of the screen. The company is guarded about costs. It says the price to be a monthly sponsor, or have branded listings, depends on the neighborhoods home values, number of users in the area and demand. It said the cost for the services is from the low hundreds to low thousands. Jafari said the company does not release revenue expectations for the real estate venture but are very happy about the amount of demand weve seen from real estate agents. Nextdoor already has advertisements, meaning sponsored content from real estate agents may not be an issue for long-time users. In general, when advertising has been introduced to any service that has never had it before, there is always some type of backlash in the beginning, said Brian Blau, a social media analyst with Gartner. But that backlash is usually short-lived and only from a minority of the users. Blau said the challenge for Nextdoor is that there is plenty of websites for potential homebuyers to search. However, he noted advertisements on Nextdoor could be more targeted if that is what an agent is aiming for. Real estate agents are already using the website, latching onto local pages that area businesses can claim and maintain. Real estate agents have claimed about 24,000 local pages nationwide more than any other business. Pet sitters rank No. 2, claiming roughly 10,000 pages. The users of Nextdoor represent an affluent demographic for any advertiser. The company said average household income for its users is $100,000, 60 percent are women and 72 percent are homeowners. Nextdoor is valued at $1.1 billion with lead investors like Insight Venture Partners, Comcast Ventures and Redpoint. The other cities getting a real estate section on the website Tuesday are Atlanta, Austin, San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland and Sacramento. Business phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar ALSO The vanishing San Diego single-family home Julie Franco freely admits she has made some major mistakes in her life. But the 54-year-old is doing everything she can to prevent a return to her current home, the Las Colinas Womens Detention and Re-entry Facility in Santee. I have a long history of doing time starting back in 1994 for possession and sales of drugs, Franco said by phone from the jail. Ive been in and out of prison at least five times with a long history of coming here. But once I leave here in November of 2018, I am not planning on coming back. Advertisement Franco is using education as a way to ensure she stays on the right path, with plans to earn a college degree in her future. She is one of more than two dozen inmates who are taking college courses being offered at the jail by Grossmont College. The community colleges Pathways to Success Academy is a joint pilot program of the college and the jail. It finished its first semester in June, with a summer program currently in session. Pathways provides college credits, tutoring and financial aid information to inmates who succeed in a five-month regimen of instruction, including homework and tests. Although the jail offers several adult education courses through a partnership between the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and the Grossmont Union High School District, the Pathways program is the jails first time offering inmates an opportunity to earn credits toward a higher-education degree. Students are screened to make sure they are low-risk inmates with a high school education. Only those with jail sentences long enough to complete the classes are considered. Students also receive college catalogs and academic advising. The college is tasked with making sure college information is in place for the students upon their release. The program is funded by the county Sheriffs Department, which provides books, supplies and laptop computers used by the instructors at the 1,200-inmate jail. Las Colinas was renovated in 2014, and with its updated look came a renewed emphasis on inmate that included academic and pre-employment classes. A 2013 study by the RAND Corporation found that inmates who took in correctional education programs were 43 percent less likely to become repeat offenders than inmates who did not. During the spring, Grossmont College instructors who taught the classes were Linda Thomas (college reading, plus tutoring); Denise Schulmeyer (interpersonal communication) and Pearl Lopez (counseling). This summer, Sally Ades has been teaching a writing class. Lopez said her students impressed her time and time again with their thoughtful comments and leadership skills as well as with their growing self confidence as the semester progressed The course she taught, Counseling 120 College and Career Success incorporates keeping a journal, group discussions and debates, presentations and interactive activities. It uses a textbook that helps build students from the inside out with sections on self-esteem, motivation, self responsibility, emotional intelligence and more. She said all of those topics are especially important for the inmates. Lopez said the students were surprised that her class wasnt like a typical lecture-style class. They kept asking me if this was the way I taught at Grossmont or whether I was doing something special for them, she said. I explained to them that learning can be fun and interactive and doesnt have to be traditional. The group discussions allowed them to discuss their personal circumstances and reflect on the choices they have made in their lives, which led them to Las Colinas. They were able to recognize that they were responsible for their life choices and that moving forward, they could make better ones. Their success in their courses made them realize they could, in fact, go to college and be successful. For many, this was an option they never even considered. Lopez said she feels the students at Las Colinas are hungry for education. This partnership will change lives, she said. For Franco, who grew up in the South Bay, she plans to move closer to Grossmont College to continue her education when she is released. I am a college student, said Franco, who works at the library on the Las Colinas campus. Im already enrolled at Grossmont. Youre never too old to learn. I know Im going to succeed this time. I want to become a drug and alcohol counselor. If I can help one person stay away from the lifestyle I had, I will feel like I have accomplished something. The next classes for inmates start Aug. 21 and will include science and history classes with other courses planned to begin in October and next Spring. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com A young California gray whale swimming near Tamarack Beach Monday afternoon slowed traffic and drew more than 300 spectators before it disappeared in the waves a few hours later. The healthy juvenile whale was first sighted around 2 p.m. and was estimated by SeaWorld San Diego researchers to be about 15 feet long and about 2,000 pounds. SeaWorld scientists told Carlsbad officials that the whale was likely making its annual journey back north from Baja California. They said it is common for the marine mammals to take a break along the Southern California coastline to rest for up to a day in their journey north. Advertisement People line up on the bank of Agua Hedionda Lagoon to see a gray whale on Monday afternoon. (Phil Diehl / San Diego Union-Tribune) The whale could be seen from about 2 to 4 p.m. swimming back and forth under the bridge that crosses the entrance to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Just over 300 people lined the shoreline to watch and photograph the whale. Some of the spectators attempted to wade into the water to swim with the whale, but police and lifeguards told them get away because it was too dangerous, Carlsbad Fire Chief Mike Davis said. To control traffic, a team of Carlsbad traffic police arrived to keep the flow moving until the whale swam out to sea around 4 p.m. and traffic returned to normal. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com Lux Art Institute has announced the five artists who will be modeling creativity there in the coming season. Each will live on-site for a month, developing a new project in public view during open studio hours. An exhibition of each participants work will be presented in the studio space, providing a context for the residency project, and strengthening the visible connection between what the artists make and how they make it. Reesey Shaw, founding director of the Encinitas institution, aims for variety when programming each season, she said, but most of all she hopes to introduce art that is memorable. Advertisement You especially want to show kids something theyll never forget. If the kids are wowed, everybody will be wowed. Lux presented a particularly ambitious slate of international artists for its 10th season, which just concluded. I was worried how season 11 would measure up to that, Shaw said, but Im very proud to present this group. The artists charged with demystifying the creative process in the coming year hail from as far as London and as near as Los Angeles. They explore mythology and art history, geometry and popular culture, through painting, sculpture, and inventive combinations of the two. The 2017-18 Lux roster: Shelley Reed Based in Boston, Reed paints dramatic allegories of human and animal life, set within pastoral and architectural environments derived from art historical sources. She works exclusively in black and white, asserting a cool distance from subjects that nonetheless reflect instincts, behaviors and tensions that resonate with the world today. In studio: Sept. 9-Oct. 6. On exhibit: Through Nov. 4. Andy Harper Harper, based in Cornwall, U.K., makes vibrant paintings that draw upon observations of nature, a visual archive of diverse cultural references, and the imaginations free associations. He takes a sculptural approach to paint, pushing and scraping the medium to form an exuberant amalgam of disparate images and geometric patterns. In studio: Nov. 18-Dec. 16. On exhibit: Through Jan. 13. Francis Upritchard Born in New Zealand and based in London, Upritchard focuses on the intersection of the foreign and familiar, creating a community of undersized, misfit figures in rubber, plastic, paint, cloth, metal and more. Her sculptures are part cultural anthropology, part theater, part found-object assemblage. In studio: Jan. 27-Feb. 24. On exhibit: Through Mar. 24. Gabrielle Bakker Bakker, based in Seattle, paints updated, remixed versions of characters from myth and history. Her style of representation draws from the classical, while her method of sampling feels postmodern. In a single painting by Bakker, one might find both a surfer in bikini and a geisha in traditional dress. In studio: April 7-May 5. On exhibit: Through June 2. Tomory Dodge Living and working in Los Angeles, Dodge paints animated fields of patterns, networks, circuits and constellations. His compositions are vibrant with color, light, and the mark of the hand, while referencing forms of technology and the energy of the contemporary urban landscape. In studio: June 16-July 14. On exhibit: Through Aug. 4. Lux will also be presenting the work of two additional artists in the Education Pavilions Brandes Gallery: Matthew Rosenquist, L.A.-based sculptor of rough-hewn wooden figures in insistently contemporary poses (Sept. 8-Nov. 18); and Santiago Quesnel, a painter of lush, memory-driven landscapes from Buenos Aires, Argentina (Dec. 2-closing date to be determined). Ollman is a freelance writer. RELATED Its one thing to get stared down by a stranger, but its another thing entirely when that stranger is a mountain lion. Thats what hikers Brian McKinney and Sam Vonderheide learned recently when they came face to face with a mountain lion in Sequoia National Park. The hiking buddies recorded cellphone video of the heart-stopping encounter as it unfolded July 23 on the High Sierra Trail. Advertisement Its definitely a reminder to keep your cool, when everything is jumping inside you, said Vonderheide, a 40-year-old Templeton resident. The friends had ventured out on an 11-day journey to climb Mt. Whitney. They had stocked up on the necessary camping gear and researched every possible encounter that could put them in danger. A mountain lion encounter wasnt one of them, said Vonderheide, a calculus and computer science high school teacher. As the first day of hiking wound down, he and McKinney made their way to their campsite when they spotted the animal on the trail. McKinney quickly started filming, not thinking I would see anything. The friends carefully rounded a blind corner when they unexpectedly spotted the lion as it stood on a rock above them and glared. Thats when my heart really started racing, said McKinney, a 45-year-old Atascadero resident. As the video recorded and the friends contemplated their next move, the muscular lion with golden fur continued to stare never flinching. Thats when they decided to back away slowly. The cat eventually climbed off the rock and stretched out in the middle of the trail. McKinney, a software project manager, said his instincts were to get away as quickly as possible. But the friends quickly abandoned their instincts and opted for the general rule for wildlife encounters: Make a lot a noise to scare the lion off. The friends threw small rocks and sticks toward the big cats direction. They tried to make themselves look larger than they are. They even blew on a bear whistle. But nothing seemed to do the trick. The lion was not budging. When the cat finally stood up and appeared to be walking in the opposite direction, McKinney and Vonderheide decided to march forward to their campsite. At least that was the plan. The friends spotted the lion again on the rock above them. This time, the cat appeared to be standing on its hind legs. They decided to cut their losses and hike back two miles to look for another campsite to sleep for the night. The next several hours were restless. Every noise in the vast forest was magnified. Your imagination runs wild, McKinney said. After a sleepless night, dawn broke and the friends headed out again, hoping to steer clear of the lion. They never saw the big cat again, except for its paw prints along the trail. But the sighting was unusual enough to trigger a reminder from the park service on what visitors should do when they see a mountain lion. First, visitors should not act like prey, wildlife biologist Daniel Gammons said. The big thing these visitors did right was that they didnt panic and run, even after they were surprised by seeing the mountain lion perched above them, he said in a statement. Visitors should be mindful of their surroundings and not approach animals, regardless of size, the park service said. Observe wildlife from a distance, avoid hiking alone and be sure to tell friends or family your plans and when you plan to return, the park service advised. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare in California. There have been 14 mountain lion attacks statewide since 1986 and three of them fatal, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In Southern California, mountains lions have taken on their own kind of celebrity. Their sightings become a spectacle, and photographs of their young brood garner public admiration. But the cats challenge to survive in Los Angeles Countys ever-changing environment has gained the most attention. Roads have become major barriers for lions that are trying to move around and look for food in the Santa Monica Mountains. Wildlife researchers have documented 17 known cases of mountain lions being killed while crossing freeways or roads near the Santa Monica Mountains. There are only four known cases of lions that successfully crossed the 101 Freeway. The most recent example occurred last week when a male mountain lion crossed the freeway near Thousand Oaks. The animal is believed to be roaming the Santa Susana Mountains. veronica.rocha@latimes.com Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA ALSO Which puppy will be a good guide dog? Ask mom! A wet winter makes some California hikes more treacherous than usual From spectacular vistas to the pits: A decades-long public land battle continues in the California desert A highly-watched national report ranks Scripps hospitals in La Jolla slightly ahead of UC San Diego facilities for the first time since 2011. In its annual best hospitals edition, U.S. News & World Report lists Scripps in the No. 1 spot for its San Diego County regional rankings, pushing UCSDs hospitals in La Jolla and Hillcrest to No. 2. Though neither organization made the publications honor roll, reserved for the 20 hospitals judged the best in the nation, the top spot in town is still a very valuable honor capable of driving marketing campaigns in a region where a handful of big health systems compete for well-insured patients. Advertisement Nationally, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore topped the honor roll. In California, UC San Francisco, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Stanford Health Care and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles made it into the top 20. In addition to choosing the top five hospitals in 46 different metro markets, U.S. News also lists the top 50 hospitals nationwide in 16 different specialties from cancer to rheumatology. This year, Scripps and UC San Diego tied with eight national rankings each. Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Green Hospital, whose performance is combined into one set of rankings in the report, climbed further up the rankings while the universitys scores, which include UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest and Thornton Hospital in La Jolla, slipped a bit in several areas. U.S. News also changed the way it ranks hospitals in specific geographic regions. Quality calculations used five years, instead of three years, of data on a range of conditions. The local horse race also leaned more heavily on how well hospitals did treating more commonly-performed procedures such as aortic valve surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, colon cancer and heart failure. Ben Harder, chief of health analysis at U.S. News, said in an email that the decision to emphasize less complex procedures is a pragmatic attempt to make the rankings more relevant for the average consumer. The shift reflects our judgment that patients looking for a hospital within their communities are more likely to need the sort of care evaluated in the procedures and conditions ratings than they are the higher-complexity, higher-acuity care evaluated in the specialty rankings, Harder said in an email. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps chief executive, said Monday that the organizations two La Jolla hospitals maxed out their scores in these more bread-and-butter types of care which probably pushed them into first place. But he noted that UC San Diego was only eight points lower out of a possible 108. So, at the end of the day, he said, San Diegans should be happy that both organizations did well as have others, especially Sharp Memorial and Sharp Grossmont hospitals, which have consistently had better-than-average results even with fewer national rankings. Were proud of the score, but I think the message to the community is that there is really great health care in San Diego, and you dont have to leave to get great care, Van Gorder said. Patty Maysent, UC San Diego Healths chief executive, sounded a similar note. To have two organizations each nationally ranked in eight different specialties what a great market we have in San Diego, Maysent said. As to why UC San Diego lost the No. 1 spot, Maysent cited the reports increased emphasis on the volume of procedures performed, and also the universitys tendency to treat the most severe and complicated patients, as possible reasons why scores decreased. When you get the Hail Mary types of patients, you may tend to have a little bit higher mortality rate, and if you have a slightly lower volume than others that may hurt you a little more, Maysent said. U.S. News uses statistical methods to adjust scores for the severity of patient illness before hospitalization to try and make sure that hospitals serving the sickest dont end up at a disadvantage. Maysent acknowledged this adjustment, but said it is not a panacea. That adjustment is never perfect, Maysent said. UC San Diego Hospitals have also recently suffered criticism for hospital-acquired infection rates. According to a petition filed with the state in February by the advocacy group Consumers Union, UC San Diegos hospitals led their peers in California with higher-than-predicted levels of three different types of infections. Other well-known hospitals on the list included Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Stanford Health Care. Its not clear exactly how much, if at all, the infection rate data affected the ratings. But what is clear, said Dr. Bruce Spurlock, president and chief executive of Cynosure Health, a consulting company that works on health care ratings for the California Health Care Foundation, is that hospitals tend to care more than patients. Hospitals use these rankings the most, especially their marketing departments, Spurlock said. Patients, from what the evidence suggests, are loyal more to a physician than they are to a hospital. Van Gorder agreed. While this kind of recognition is nice, he said, he is under no illusions about whats on patients minds. I dont think they really care that much about what list we happen to be on. They just hope that the individual care they receive is going to be of high quality, he said. For many years, U.S. News has been criticized by experts who have questioned the publications long-standing use of doctor opinion surveys to help determine rankings. This year, 27.5 percent of most specialty ranking scores were determined by an opinion survey of more than 125,000 doctors nationwide. That percentage, Spurlock said, is much lower than it used to be when U.S. News first started publishing its rankings in 1990. While there remains debate as to whether it is valid to include doctors opinions about which hospitals are the best, he said that there is no question there is much more objective data in play than there used to be. I would say the rankings we see today are much more objective than they were, he said. Much has also been made recently of the fact that many organization, from the Leapfrog Group and Health Grades to Hospital Compare and Consumer Reports, grade hospitals and publish the results. The results seldom line up. A hospital can get three stars on one site and five on another. Does this mean that consumers should ignore all of the information and simply go with what their neighbor or friend tells them? Spurlock said no. Its informative to look at the various ratings and rankings, just dont treat them as absolute truth. Its a place to start a conversation, Spurlock said. Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1850 Twitter: @paulsisson A man was stabbed outside a Normal Heights bar early Tuesday as his ex-girlfriend and her companion served him with a restraining order, police said. The woman and her companion ran off and were not immediately found. The victim is expected to survive his wound, San Diego police Officer John Buttle said. The violence broke out along Adams Avenue, between Felton and 34th Streets, shortly before 12:30 a.m. The woman wanted to serve her ex-boyfriend with a temporary restraining order and brought along another man, police said. Advertisement During an argument between the two men, the companion pulled a knife and stabbed the other man in the back, Buttle said. Police and medics found him in front of the Ould Sod Irish pub. Medics took him to a hospital. He described his attacker as a Latino man in his 30s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 pounds and dressed in black. San Diego police officers are searching for a couple who sexually assaulted and robbed a woman in a brazen, mid-morning attack in University Heights on Tuesday. The woman, in her 30s, was taking out her trash about 10:10 a.m. when a man she didnt recognize grabbed her by the neck, pushed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her, San Diego police Sgt. Tu Nguyen said. Meanwhile, an accomplice went into the victims home, which is on Texas Street near Polk Avenue, and stole prescription drugs. When she was done, the two assailants fled, Nguyen said. Advertisement Its unclear if they fled on foot or used a car to get away. It also isnt known what direction they went. The victim was taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries. Some things you just cant prevent, Nguyen said. All she did was take her trash out. Investigators later determined the woman accomplice knocked on the victims door about 20 minutes before the assault and asked for an individual who doesnt live at the address. Nguyen said that may suggest the attackers were looking for someone specific, but added its too early to say what led to the attack. The victim told officers she didnt know her assailants. She described the man as black, in his late 30s, about 6 feet tall and with a thin build and with dreadlocks pulled back into a pony tail. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and white shorts. The woman was described as white, in her 40s, about 5 feet 5 inches tall with a heavy build. He had her brown hair in a pony tail and was wearing a baggy sweatshirt. Anyone with information about the attack was asked to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com A 24-year-old prison inmate who cut off his GPS tracking device and walked away from a San Diego facility last Thursday was taken into custody in New Mexico on Monday, officials said. Quincy Crawford was supposed to be attending college classes when he walked away from a community re-entry program in Barrio Logan, state prison officials said. Officials knew he had gone missing after they were notified that his GPS device had been tampered with. The device was found ditched near a trash can in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in North Park, not far from the Male Community Re-Entry Program facility, officials said. Advertisement Crawford had been serving a six-year sentence for first-degree burglary and pimping since January 2015. He was scheduled to be released on probation in April. Officials did not say how they tracked Crawford down in Albuquerque. He will be transported back to California and his case is being referred to the San Diego County District Attorneys Office, state prison officials said. karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com La Crosse police arrested a woman twice in three days for drunken driving. A witness spotted Heidi Alberts, 38, driving over a concrete parking block at 1241 La Crosse St. about 12:45 a.m. Thursday. She told police she was just hanging out before picking up her son and admitted drinking vodka while driving, according to police reports. She quit field sobriety tests because she was pissed off and had a 0.38 percent preliminary alcohol level. Police arrested Alberts for second-offense drunken driving and transported her to jail. She was later released on a $1,000 signature bond and ordered to report to court on Aug. 31. About 9 p.m. Saturday, police stopped Alberts for driving without headlights at 921 S. Losey Blvd. She told police she was driving to Kwik Trip for bananas before officers found four empty cartons of wine in the car. Alberts had a 0.28 percent preliminary alcohol level, according to reports. She is free on a $3,000 signature bond and facing charges of second-offense drunken driving and bail jumping. Alberts on May 20, 2014, was driving with a 0.49 percent blood-alcohol level when she hit a vehicle parked outside the Arterial Bar & Grill, 1003 S. 16th St., and fled, according to La Crosse police reports. La Crosse County Circuit Judge Ramona Gonzalez met her outside a restaurant and drove Alberts car when the judge deemed her too impaired to drive, reports stated. Officers stopped the car about 25 minutes after the crash in an alley on Madison Street and cited Alberts for first-offense drunken driving and hit-and-run of an unattended vehicle. When Roy Heringer learned of a neighborhood shooting that left a young man and fellow church member dead, he was brought back to the fateful day, decades earlier, when his own brother was murdered. The Sheriffs Department in Sacramento County had little to go on, and the 1995 slaying soon went cold. He didnt want the family of 23-year-old Cyniace Vilsaint to suffer the same fate. So the retired sheriffs captain decided to start a reward fund. He donated $6,000 in the hopes that someone with information might be motivated to come forward. Since then, community members have helped bring the total to about $8,000. Advertisement I knew that this was something that needed to be done to prompt anyone out there who has information to step forward, 57-year-old Heringer said. If it brings to justice the people who killed this man, thats a very small price to pay. Vilsaint was shot multiple times in the street in front of his house on Park Ridge Boulevard near Wandermere Drive on Friday about 10:50 p.m. A family member found him and rushed him to a hospital where he died. Investigators have few leads in the case. They know of no witnesses or video footage of the incident, and the shooter left behind little evidence. It mirrored almost exactly what happened to my brother, Heringer said. John Heringer, 38, had just arrived home when a vehicle pulled up behind him. A driver and a passenger got out and words were exchanged. Heringer angrily told the pair to leave, and he was shot. A bullet severed the artery to his heart and he died in his driveway. Investigators found little to no evidence in the case, which remains unsolved. People say time heals all wounds. I dont believe that, Heringer said. Theres seldom a day that passes that I dont think about my brother and the tragic way he was removed from our lives and the fact that his killers remain at large. Hes hopeful the reward will help investigators track down Vilsaints killer and bring him to justice so the young mans family might have the closure he never got. Vilsaint immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti 11 years ago, friends said. His accent was so thick when he first arrived that he would often look up how to pronounce words on YouTube so his friends could better understand him. Daniel Viets was one of Vilsaints first friends. Over the years, the two became like brothers, spending much of their time together. He said Vilsaint tried to better every moment he was in. He was quick to set aside differences, especially if it meant, making friends and family members happy. He never liked to waste the day. Viets said after the mans death, his friends took a sort of pilgrimage to his favorite spots, like Sunset Cliffs and Lake Murray, in homage to his memory. He was a great boxer, Viets said, and loved Mixed Martial Arts. Vilsaint didnt have any enemies and he stayed away from gangs, the friend said. When Vilsaint lived in Haiti, he saw firsthand how quickly gang activity could destroy a neighborhood. When he moved to the United States, he wanted nothing to do with it, Viets said. Many of the mans friends suspect that his death was a case of mistaken identity. It shouldnt have been him, Viets said. Someone saw the wrong person and thought the wrong thing. It was all wrong. Heringer, who is a facilities manager at St. Dunstans Episcopal Church, didnt know Vilsaint personally, but he saw the man every now and then at church. His friends said though Vilsaint never pushed his faith on anyone, he was very religious, and always had a cross around his neck. He was involved with the St. Dunstans youth group and regularly volunteered during church events such as rummage sales or clean-ups. The church, on Park Ridge Boulevard, is across the street from Vilsaints home. Police investigators said any information, even if it seems inconsequential, might help detectives crack the case. Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call police at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (858) 580-8477. Those who wish to donate to the reward fund can send a check payable to St. Dunstans Episcopal Church with the word Reward in the memo field. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez A man who pulled a gun on another man and later crashed a stolen vehicle into the victims car evaded arrest in downtown San Diego Monday, police said. Officers swarmed the suspects apartment building on Fourth Avenue near Ash Street the spot where he was last seen but he was not inside when they entered his apartment. The victim told police the suspect pointed a gun at him in the parking lot of the apartment building. Police Lt. Steve Behrendt said the two men know each other. Advertisement The victim then got into his car and left, but the suspect drove after him and chased him around downtown San Diego, Behrendt said. The suspect rammed the vehicle he was driving into the victims car near Laurel Street and First Avenue. The suspect did not stop, and the victim called 911 about 4:15 p.m. Witnesses told police they saw the suspect ditch the car he was in on Third Avenue near Grape Street. Officers found the vehicle and discovered it had been stolen, police said. Officers went to the suspects apartment building, set up a perimeter and called in SWAT officers. Police called out the suspect for nearly three hours. Rod Spencer, who lives in the apartment building, said he was about to cook when officers knocked on his door and asked him and other fourth-floor residents to evacuate. About 7 p.m., police determined the suspect was not inside his apartment. Bahrendt said the suspect had been identified. His name was not released. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez A Pacific Beach artist whose colorful, spray-painted portrait of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka was stolen in broad daylight last month says he would like his artwork back, no questions asked. The 6-by 8-foot painting, which depicted a scene from the 1971 movie that became a popular Internet meme, was hanging for more than a year outside Ben Jays home on Felspar Street where it was visible from the alley. The 30-year-old artist said it was not only one of his favorites, but that several of his neighbors had told him they liked seeing the whimsical work and that sometimes people driving by would stop and ask about it. The painting was hanging on an east wall of Jays home in an outdoor area he uses as a gallery for his other large works and it was secured to wooden beams with zip ties. On July 26, Jay and a friend went out for lunch, and when they came back around 3 p.m. it was gone. Advertisement The yard is fenced off and also has a heavy, rolling gate. Jay said he is not sure how the thief got into the yard. It was definitely breaking and entering, he said. He filed a stolen property report and received a notice it had been received, but he said he had not heard anything more from police. Jay said the painting would likely sell for $2,000 to $3,000. The artist, whose business is called Blank Space Removal, is a big fan of Gene Wilder and finished the work right after the actor died. He wanted to pay tribute to him by painting the meme photo and make it as big and loud and colorful as he could. He also did a similar large portrait of David Bowie, which he has since moved along with his other displays inside. He said if he could talk to the person who stole the artwork he would tell them he was disappointed and ask why they did it. Jay posted the theft on Reddit and he hopes that someone will come forward with information. He said he has a far distant hope that the painting will be returned. Im not out for blood, I just want it back, he said. Until then, Jay said with a laugh, part of me cant help but feel complimented that someone either wanted to hang the art in their home or thought it was valuable. Anyone with information is asked to call the San Diego police or email the artist at blankspaceremoval@gmail.com. 619-293-1710 debbi.baker@sduniontribune.com twitter.com/Debbi_Baker For too many California Democrats, opposing anything and everything President Donald Trump does is job No. 1. But Gov. Jerry Brown, Californias top Democrat, is showing appropriate caution when it comes to challenging the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, which laws, regulations and court decisions clearly establish as a federal responsibility. Brown, of course, has had his attorney generals back on immigration issues. In March, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra joined a lawsuit over the Trump administrations bid to impose a travel ban on visitors from mostly Muslim nations. And last week, The Sacramento Bee reported that Becerra is poised to sue the federal government following U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announcement that funds from a federal grant program would be withheld from local and state governments with sanctuary city policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Becerra contends that Congress, when it set up the grant program, did not give the Justice Department discretion to withhold funds from states with policies it disapproved. California could lose up to $18 million. But while raising concerns about abuse of federal power this Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press, Brown also said Senate Bill 54, from state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, needs very important changes. The sanctuary state measure would ban all police agencies, including school police, from using their resources to aid in federal immigration enforcement. If the bill is enacted as is, it invites a much stronger response from Trump and Sessions than withholding relatively small federal grants. Advertisement California believes it has the moral high ground in defending unauthorized immigrants from federal authorities. But history does not suggest it has the legal high ground. De Leon and other state legislators need to join Brown in grasping that fact. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Hold Wells Fargos board accountable Regarding Wells Fargos latest scandal a sign fines, lawsuits not enough (Aug. 1): Somewhere in the back of my mind I recall that the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations are people. If this is so, I have a question. When a corporation creates a plan to steal from its customers, as in Wells Fargo, and its has been fined millions for its actions, why then is the board of directors of Wells Fargo not looking at jail time? It is the members of the board of directors of any corporation that decide the policies of a company. They are the last word of a company. The 15 board members of Wells Fargo should, in my estimation, be called before a federal judge to answer for their decisions. If Wells Fargo is guilty of stealing from its customers and the court has so found, its board members should be in jail. Advertisement Tim Jenkins San Diego 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. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. This whole issue with North Korea is getting ridiculous. This dictator will never stop developing nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the U.N. sanctions have no meaning. China will not hurt North Korea economically because its does not want a collapse of the regime. China does not want to risk having a democratic government on its border. The only possibility is if the U.S. government tells China to quit supporting North Korea or we will declare all out war on North Korea. Advertisement This terrifies China because they dont want millions of Korean refugees streaming across the border into China. Of course, such a war would be one of the most devastating in all of human history. Joseph W. Kraatz Oceanside The Stalinist-led North Koreans have been brainwashed since 1948. They have been taught to hate Americans. Indoctrinated from childhood, the U.S. is their enemy and only wants to harm and kill them; Americans are responsible for everything bad in their lives (not their government). Nothing is going to change the ignorance of the population nor the intent of the hate-filled dear leader and his minions. They want to bomb U.S. and kill us. There are no alternatives for dealing with North Koreas blatant aggression in light of yet their second successful ICBM launch this week. Living in San Diego, home of the Pacific Fleet, the only action that is going to protect San Diegans and U.S. is a strong preemptive act. The inevitable is happening now. I am certainly praying our leadership and military along with Japan and South Korea are putting together a plan to stop these hate-filled aggressors now. Time is no longer on our side. K. Potter Tierrasanta Regarding China calls on N. Korea to suspend testing of missiles (Aug. 8): What a bunch of hooey. China did not say it would cut off some of its aid to North Korea. What is Russia going to do the North Koreans? The U. S. said that they would cut their aid to North Korea by about a billion dollars. So what! That little fat tyrant will still be eating his kim chee and rice as will his closest of friends. The military will still be well fed and the building of nuclear weapons will continue. The only people hurt will be the poor starving majority of the country. Kim is quoted as saying that the U. S. will suffer a hundred fold for their action in another article. Does that sound like person willing to talk about ceasing his quest for nuclear power? When is the U. S. going to stop putting up with this maniacs rhetoric and threats and take some real action. Stop all aid of any kind to North Korea would be a good start. If that doesnt work maybe blow up a couple of their missile sites, which have the capability to reach parts of the U. S. Arm Japan and the Philippines with nuclear capabilities. No matter what we have said or done in the past has not worked. The time of talking has played itself out. Time for some show of armed force. Bob Kim Carlsbad 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. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. There has been a steady stream of new developments amid growing tension between the U.S. and North Korea this year, but the U.S. militarys assessment that the country has successfully produced a nuclear warhead that can fit in a missile may be the most alarming yet. That combined with consistent missile launches coming from Kim Jong Un s regime and the countrys self-described stern warning about newly imposed U.N. sanctions makes it feel like tension may be too benign a word to use as the situation escalates. To be clear: North Koreas threats are no longer hollow, according to analysts and U.S. officials. On Tuesday, the U.S. and North Korea began trading threats. North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States, President Donald Trump said Tuesday. Shortly after, a spokesman for the Korean People's Army reportedly said the country is carefully examining a plan to strike the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. Here are the three most recent developments you should know about. The North Korean nuclear threat The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency believes North Korea now has a miniature nuclear warhead that can fit inside a missile, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday. In addition, intelligence officials reportedly believe Kim Jong Un currently controls up to 60 nuclear weapons. Neighboring country Japan has made a similar assessment, saying security threats have entered a new stage. "It is conceivable that North Korea's nuclear weapons program has already considerably advanced and it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads," Japans Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. The mini-nuclear warhead would be delivered by an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). U.S. officials confirmed in July that North Korea had begun testing ICBMs for the first time. Since the discovery of North Koreas intercontinental capabilities, U.S. officials have said Pyongyang may be able to reach most of the continental U.S, including California. North Koreas latest military action In response to the ICBM tests, the United Nations unanimously voted to impose new sanctions on North Korea last week. They are projected to have a $1 billion economic impact. The countrys leaders are livid and have threatened a resolute action of justice in response. What would that look like? Perhaps this: Intelligence officials in the region have detected North Koreas military loading two anti-ship cruise missiles onto a patrol boat in recent days, according to Fox News. That could mean more missile tests are on the way, despite Secretary of State Rex Tillerson s pleas to stop the tests to pave the way for diplomatic talks between the two countries. If they can demonstrate they are ready to sit with the spirit of finding a way forward in these talks by no longer conducting these missile tests so this is not a give me 30 days and we are ready to talk it's not quite that simple, Tillerson said on Monday. So what does this maneuvering mean? White House national security adviser H.R. McMaster says the possibility of nuclear weapons that can threaten the U.S. is intolerable to Trump. "Its impossible to overstate the danger associated with this, he said last week in an interview with MSNBC. I think its impossible to overstate the danger associated with a rogue, brutal regime, I mean, who murdered his own brother with nerve agent in an airport. McMaster also said his team has provided all the possible options for dealing with the regime to Trump, including the military option. On Tuesday, at an event in New Jersey, Trump vowed fire and fury if North Korea makes any more threats. They will be met with the fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before, he said. Soon after, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency stated that the countrys plan to strike Guam could be put into practice in a multi-current and consecutive way any moment once leader Kim Jong Un makes a decision, according to Reuters. Tillerson has insisted that the U.S. would be willing to negotiate with North Korea. But, according to North Koreas foreign minister after the U.N. sanctions, the countrys stance is that it wouldnt stop its nuclear program unless the hostile policy and nuclear threat of the U.S. against the D.P.R.K. are fundamentally eliminated. Meanwhile, cities in Japan next to which North Koreas latest missile launches have landed in the Pacific Ocean have begun holding evacuation drills, according to Reuters. At least one expert is warning that overestimating the threat from North Korea is particularly dangerous, however. Siegfried Hecker, director emeritus of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, predicted that the number of nuclear weapons in North Korea is likely closer to 20, according to The Washington Posts report. The real threat is were going to stumble into a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula, Hecker said. To read The Washington Posts full report, go here. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin ALSO North Korea threats draw mixed reactions After tough U.N. sanctions, North Korea says it won't use nukes on any nation 'except U.S.' N. Korea's latest missile test shows it could reach SoCal easily If you havent already seen Kayleigh McEnany on CNN, youre likely to start seeing her everywhere else. McEnany has been hired as the new spokesperson for the Republican National Committees, and shes expected to be seen on television a lot. On many kinds of media, actually. On Sunday, one day after announcing her departure from CNN, she was seen reading the news of the week on President Donald Trump s personal Facebook page and the Team Trump Twitter page. The RNC announcement followed a day later. Kayleigh will be an integral part of our party's ongoing commitment to promoting the Republican message to Americans across the country, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in the announcement on Monday. Her wealth of experience will be invaluable to the RNC as we continue to support President Trump and build on our majorities in Congress as we head into 2018. Heres what you need to know about her, and why shes the talk of social media this week. McEnany could be seen on debate nights, election night and many days and nights in between as one of the conservative pundits on CNN panels. Shes a 29-year-old Georgetown and Harvard Law School graduate who started out as a producer for Fox News. Her political commentary can be seen in outlets like The Hill and Above the Law. In July, for example, she wrote a column for The Hill titled Forget Don Jr.'s email it's Hillary Clinton who 'colluded' with Russia. Shes also writing a book that The New York times said would analyze the populist movement manifested through the popularity of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, and Trumps subsequent election. But its the Trump news of the week feature that has caught the most attention. The program is paid for by Trumps 2020 reelection campaign and is filmed in Trump Tower in New York City. McEnany read several pro-Trump messages, calling them, the real news. CNN political analyst Jeff Greenfield called the clip political campaign propaganda but said such an effort is nothing new. Campaigns have been trying to do news-like videos ever since there was video. In the scheme of things that doesnt strike me as a particularly bothersome problem, Greenfield said of the video. Another of her former colleagues, Andrew Kaczynski also pointed out the similarity. Trump supporters cheered her on. Others were bothered by Trumps efforts to circumvent as he long has with his Twitter account the conventional national press. Have thoughts to share about McEnany after seeing her on CNN or elsewhere? Send them to @sdutideas on Twitter and we may add them to this page. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin Richard Blumenthal is best known for being a Democratic senator from Connecticut, but President Donald Trump used a different description for him on Twitter on Monday, calling him a phony Vietnam con artist and blasting him in a series of tweets that started in the morning and continued into the afternoon. Trump attacked Blumenthals military record and even suggested the senator should spend a vacation in Vietnam. Trumps tweets may have had something to do with remarks the senator made on CNN that morning. Im very concerned that the Justice Department is weaponizing these laws for its personal and political ends, and specifically for the White Houses purposes, Blumenthal said on Monday in reference to the U.S. attorney generals recent crackdown on leaks. It is not the first time Trump has criticized Blumenthals military record on Twitter hes done so at least seven times now since February. And it is not the first time Blumenthals military record has come under scrutiny, either. To wrap our heads around Trumps tweets, which come amid his 17-day vacation, heres a breakdown of the facts: Who is Sen. Richard Blumenthal? Blumenthal is currently serving his second term as a U.S. senator from Connecticut, first elected in 2010 and then re-elected in 2016. He was born in New York but has spent 40 years in public office in Connecticut as a state legislator, a U.S. attorney and an attorney general. What is Blumenthals military record? Blumenthal served as a Marine Corps Reservist in his mid to late 20s from 1970 to 1976 during part of the Vietnam War, the Connecticut Post reported. Did Blumenthal fight in the Vietnam War? No. A 2010 report by The New York Times found that Blumenthal had obtained at least five military deferments that helped him avoid service overseas when he was in his early 20s between 1965 and 1970. He obtained those deferments to finish his education and take on other jobs in Washington, D.C., the Times reported. Trump had five deferments of his own during the Vietnam War, four for college, one for bad feet., as a headline in the Times reported last year. What has Blumenthal said about his service in Vietnam? The Times reported that Blumenthal may have exaggerated his military record in remarks he had given between 2006 and 2008. Those remarks had left many people with the impression that he served in the Vietnam War. I served during the Vietnam era, Blumenthal was quoted saying at a ceremony in 2008. I remember the taunts, the insults, sometimes even physical abuse. Blumenthal was also often referred to or quoted in newspaper articles as a Vietnam veteran but he never sought to correct the record, the Times wrote. After the report surfaced, Blumenthal confirmed that he had never fought in Vietnam. "On a few occasions I have misspoken about my service, and I regret that and I take full responsibility," he said. What else has Trump said about Blumenthal? Trump dedicated at least four tweets to Blumenthal on Monday, but his attacks on him span as far back as February and May whenever the senator would appear on television. How have Blumenthal and others reacted? The same morning, Blumenthal pushed back on Twitter where he told Trump, Your bullying hasnt worked before and it wont work now. No one is above the law. Others, including progressive veterans group VoteVets, blasted Trump for going after Blumenthals record. Side note: Blumenthal in 2010 won the U.S. senate seat by defeating his Republican opponent, Linda McMahon , by almost a 10 percentage point difference. Who is McMahon? She is the co-founder and former CEO of WWE and a Trump supporter. She now serves as a Trump appointee as the 25th administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Was Trumps attack on Blumenthal too personal or is it just politics? Share your reactions and tell us what you thought of the presidents tweets. 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. Main events Warwicks Bookstore presents Adam Schell, author of Tomato Rhapsody, to discuss and sign copies of his book at 6 p.m. June 26 at Isabels Cantina, 966 Felspar St., Pacific Beach. Cost is $55 and includes a book and dinner. Reservations: (858) 454-0347. 1500 OCEAN at the Hotel del Coronado presents a Farmers Market Sustainability Celebration featuring products from local farmers and food artisans, 6 p.m. June 30 on the Dels Windsor Lawn, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado. $95 includes wine pairings. Reservations: (619) 552-8490. Wine and beer tastings Wine Steals Point Loma offers sauvignon blancs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at 2970 Truxtun Road. $5. (619) 221-1959. Advertisement Wine Steals Cardiff offers New Zealand wines from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at 1953 San Elijo Ave. $5. (760) 230-2657. Bacchus Wine Market & Tasting Room presents Bourdeaux blends from 4 to 8:30 p.m. June 26 and 2 to 8:30 p.m. June 27, 647 G St. $15. (619) 236-0005 or bacchuswinemarket.com. The San Diego Wine Co. presents German wines with Paris Driggers of Terry Theise Imports, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 27 at 7080 Miramar Road, Suite 100. $10. (858) 586-9463. ENO Wine Room welcomes Brendan Malm of Malm Cellars who will pour selections from his cellars as part of the ENO-Versity series, 4 to 5:30 p.m. June 27 at ENO in the Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave. $35. Reservations: (619) 522-8546. Grape Connections presents Central Coast pinot noirs, noon to 5 p.m. June 27 at 1130 Scott St., Point Loma. $5. (619) 523-6441. Elis Wine & Food presents ZD Wines from Napa, 2 to 5 p.m. June 27 at 12875 El Camino Real, Del Mar. $10. (858) 481-2323. The 3rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro offers Austrian and Australian wines, 2 to 5 p.m. June 27 at 897 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. Cost is $10 for 10 wines, $15 for three-course lunch. (760) 924-2104. The School for the Service Arts presents Beer, Bar & Brawlers!, a class for bar and beer professionals to expand their knowledge, create a professional personality, how to maintain and manage tips, and more, 4 to 10 p.m. June 29 at Elijahs Restaurant, Training Room, 8861 Villa La Jolla Drive. Cost is $149 and includes beer and ale tasting. Reservations: (760) 716-5509. Wine Steals Hillcrest offers Chilean wines from 5:30 to 7 p.m. June 30. $5. (619) 295-1188. Loews Coronado Bay Resort, 4000 Coronado Bay Road, offers a Modern Mixology cocktail class with appetizers from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the bar at Mistral. Reservations are due by 1 p.m. the day of. $15. Reservations: (619) 424-4000, ext. 6300. Karl Strauss Brewing presents Cask Night with special releases, seasonals and tricked-out versions of current beers at 5 p.m. Thursdays at its La Jolla, downtown San Diego, Sorrento Mesa and Carlsbad Brewery restaurants. (858) 273-2739 or karlstrauss.com. Cooking classes Intermediate French Cooking, a four-week, hands-on cooking class with Jenn Felmley offered through San Dieguito Adult School, meets from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays July 1-22 at La Costa Canyon High School, One Maverick Way, Room 201, Carlsbad. $135 includes materials fee. Reservations: (760) 753-7073, ext. 5103 or sdadulted.com. Basic Italian, a two-part, hands-on class with Jenn Felmley offered through San Dieguito Adult School, meets from 6 to 9 p.m. July 2 and July 9 at La Costa Canyon High School, One Maverick Way, Room 201, Carlsbad. $78. Reservations: (760) 753-7073, ext. 5103 or sdadulted.com. Sweet Shop, a weeklong, hands-on class for kids offered by Palomar College for Kids in cooperation with Ro Zs Sweet Art Studio, meets from 9 a.m. to noon July 6-10 at Ro Zs, 277 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, Suites N & O, San Marcos. $200 for 15 hours of instruction. Reservations: (760) 744-1150, ext. 2702. Mirogreens Kids Cooking Camp, a five-day cooking camp for kids ages 7 to 11 offered by Tender Greens, meets from 9 to 10:30 a.m. June 22-26 at the restaurant in Liberty Station, 2400 Historic Decatur Road. Cost is $75. Reservations: (619) 226-6254. Captain Cooks Culinary Academy offers interactive cooking classes for ages 3 to 14 at 6986 El Camino Real, Carlsbad. Prices start at $25. captaincooksculinaryacademy.com or (760) 431-2278. LaJollacooks4u offers ongoing hands-on cooking classes in which students prepare a six-course meal and dine with wine pairings. Reservations: (858) 752-4980, or lajollacooks4u.com . Do It With Icing, 7240 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. offers: Sweet Summer Meal Workshop with Nancy Linstead, 10:30 a.m. June 27. $65. Kids Class: Lemonade Stand Party with Heather Hazen, 3 p.m. June 27. $30 admits one child and one adult supervisor. Beginning Cake Decorating, a six-week class with Linda Bills, 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays beginning July 1. $60. Reservations: (858) 268-1234. Great News! Cooking School, 1788 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, offers: An Evening With Kensington Grill with chef Hanis Cavin, 6 p.m. June 29. $49. Fast, Fresh and Easy Everyday Dishes with Phillis Carey, 10:30 a.m. June 30. $49. Keeping It Simple: Full Flavor With Few Ingredients with Katherine Emmenegger, 6 p.m. June 30. $49. We All Scream for Ice Cream! with Emmenegger, 10:30 a.m. July 2. $44. Reservations: (858) 270-1582, ext. 3, or great-news.com . Kitchen Witch, 127 N. El Camino Real, Suite D, Encinitas, offers: All Thaied Up! with Dee Biller, 6 p.m. June 26. $59. Margaritaville with Phillis Carey, 6 p.m. June 30. $59. Speedy Grilled Entrees with Carey, 6 p.m. July 1. $59. Summer Dinner Party with Biller, 6 p.m. July 2. $59. Reservations: (760) 942-3228 or kitchenwitchonline.com . Outside legal experts say Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister was incorrect and acted improperly when he determined that criminal allegations against a member of his social circle were not worthy of investigation. In a June 16 letter, Meister advised the countys top administrative official that a law enforcement probe into employee allegations against former Sauk County Highway Commissioner Steve Muchow was not necessary. Two county employees who requested anonymity because they feared retaliation said the sheriff had a conflict of interest. They said Meister and the former highway czar are members of a social group that meets monthly for breakfast, which proved to be correct. On Friday morning, Meister and Muchow were seated at a table with several other men inside a North Freedom diner. The group was eating breakfast and talking. The sheriff did not act as though his social outing with Muchow was a concern. When approached outside the restaurant and asked about his meal with the retired highway commissioner, Meister laughed. We do that every month, he said. When the discussion turned to his decision to discourage a criminal investigation of the man he had just dined with, the sheriff ended the conversation. Whatever, he said as he rolled up the window of his vehicle and drove off. La Crosse attorney Jim Kroner, who has practiced law since 1979 and has expertise in criminal cases, said law enforcement officials should err on the side of recusal in matters that involve public employees within their governmental orbit. The proper procedure often is to forward the matter to an outside agency for consideration, Kroner said, especially if the official has a personal relationship with the accused. People who know each other well enough to meet for a regularly scheduled monthly meal and socializing among friends should not be making recommendations about whether to investigate or prosecute each other for criminal activity, Kroner said. It creates the appearance if not the reality of impropriety. If the person accused of wrongdoing is exonerated by a friend, Kroner said, the public is left to wonder whether they escaped accountability. And that leaves both individuals under suspicion. Mauston attorney Daniel Berkos, a former prosecutor and current chair of the Wisconsin State Public Defender Board, said sheriffs almost always refer criminal allegations against fellow county officials to outside agencies. It is possible that an outside agency could come to the same conclusion, but it eliminates any appearance of impropriety, Berkos said, adding that he believes Meister should not have made an investigatory decision regarding the highway commissioner. Attorneys: Probe is warranted In April, county administrative officials opened a personnel investigation into allegations against Muchow. Highway department staff alleged he misrepresented financial information, manipulated bids, used county resources for personal reasons, misused county business relationships, falsified timecards and mistreated employees. The 25-year highway commissioner gave notice in late April that he would retire, prompting officials to drop the personnel probe. Muchow has denied any wrongdoing. On June 12, Sauk County Administrative Coordinator Alene Kleczek Bolin asked the sheriff to review the allegations for potential criminality. And four days later, Meister had concluded there should be no law enforcement investigation. Meister focused on allegations outlined in a report prepared by a private accountant that the county hired as part of its personnel investigation. In a letter to Kleczek Bolin, he said only two allegations both which involved employee timekeeping manipulation constituted potential criminal behavior. The sheriff determined that evidence gathered during the incomplete personnel investigation was not enough to substantiate the claims, so a law enforcement investigation was unnecessary. The Baraboo News Republic asked Berkos and Kroner, the two out-of-county attorneys, to review the accountants report as well. Both disagreed with the sheriffs determination, and said they saw multiple allegations worthy of a criminal probe. That report suggests possible violations of the Wisconsin statute prohibiting misconduct in public office that are worthy of further investigation, Kroner said. The behavior may or may not be criminal, but warrants further investigation. Kroner said employee claims that Muchow manipulated information to get around financial policies and used county material for personal reasons are particularly worthy of review by law enforcement. He also pointed to information in the report that alleges Muchow did not pay sales tax on personal purchases made under the guise of highway department business. If that allegation is true, its clear to me that sales tax is owed, Kroner said. Whether or not that means a crime has been committed, I dont know. Berkos said he also saw possible violations of the states misconduct in public office statute. And he questioned portions of the sheriffs letter in which he said the county would need to audit billings and review past policies to prove allegations. That is exactly what investigations do, Berkos said. What he is saying is that he is not going to look beyond the face of the complaint to find facts that either support or debunk the claims. Sheriff defends decision In an email Thursday less than 24 hours before he met with Muchow for breakfast the sheriff defended his decision. He said most of the allegations against the former highway commissioner represented possible ethical or personnel infractions, but were not criminal. Miester said he and his chief deputy reviewed documents separately, and both reached the same conclusion. They would have asked for an outside review of the matter if they believed the criminal allegations could be substantiated, Meister said, but other law enforcement agencies are not going to investigate policy violations or poor management practices. Sauk County District Attorney Kevin Calkins said none of the allegations contained within that accountants report had been referred to his office. And he would not comment on whether he saw any potential criminality. I would need to see full investigative reports before coming to any conclusion, Calkins said in an email. If the sheriff and the district attorney are not willing to pursue the matter, it could be taken up by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Anyone can contact DOJ and ask them to investigate, Berkos said. I think (the accountants) report gives them plenty to go on. Late Sunday and definitely Monday preparation had startedTropical Storm Franklin was heading through the Caribbean and northwest along the Central American coast. Northern Belize was in the dreaded CONE OF UNCERTAINTY. With only a year between us and unexpectedly powerful Hurricane Earl, preparation began. Boats were moved or pulled from the water, beach furniture and loose items cleared from outdoor space a ban was put on alcohol sales and the countrys National Emergency Management team issued a Tropical Storm Warning. (See pictures from yesterday) But late afternoon yesterday, the path shifted more aggressively northward. And last night around 9pm, Franklin made landfall in Pulticub, Mexico. What? You havent heard of it? I hadnt either. Its a village of 37 people in Quintana Roo. 85 miles from San Pedro town, Belize; only about 25 miles north of Mahahual the town frequented by many cruise ships and called the Costa Maya Port. (Pulticub is about 80 miles south of Tulum and 150 miles south of Cancun) Pulticubs address is The South end of the Sian Kaan Biosphere at the end of the paved road A relatively near miss but a MISS! And since we were on the south side of the storm, the ocean rise was mitigated. Very grateful. This morning, you can tell that the water came up higher than usual last night there is beach erosion in spots. The wind is blowing from the south still up and into this storm. (Cool wind monitoring on this site) The weather still looks to be a bit stormy for a few days in the forecast but our island is breathing a bit sigh of relief. And on a positive note, the sargassum that was coming in fast and furious for the last week or two has washed away. Soback to our regularly scheduled programming. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join For more of Alyssha Eve Csuks photography, see our online gallery. The rustiest place in America is not open to the public. Patrolled by private security guards and town police, the site is enclosed by a tall chain-link fence, which bears these warnings: PRIVATE PROPERTY NO TRESPASSING VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED NOTICE: THIS AREA UNDER SURVEILLANCE DANGER KEEP OUT PELIGRO Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today The place is the Bethlehem Steel Works in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Once the worlds second-largest steel producer, it has been rusting since the middle of the Civil War, when iron was first made there. Until the mid-1970s, when dust filters arrived, rust from the Steel coated the surrounding city, too. It settled on windshields and windowsills and prevented residents from hanging laundry out to dry. Old steelworkers, correlating more rust with more steel production, swear they could tell from the thickness of the rust how big their paychecks would be. In 1995, with the American steel industry in shambles, the paychecks stopped, and the last blast furnace shut down. Since then, the place has done nothing but rust. Now, from the air, the abandoned complex looks like a decrepit brown castle in an otherwise green city. One woman is exceptionally familiar with the place. Her name is Alyssha Eve Csuk. (Her last name rhymes with book.) The granddaughter of a steelworker, she is a photographer. She photographs rust. She is, as far as I know, the only person who makes a living finding beauty in rust. As such, I joined her at the motherlode which she calls her playground on a snowy late-November day to see how she does it. Her work, which has been featured in photo magazines and The New York Times, hangs in galleries and private homes and corporation lobbies. Corrosion, as Csuk sees it, isnt brown and dreary, nor does it suggest age and decay. When she zooms in on metal, she captures speckled reds, lumpy yellow waves, green crests, serrated blues, orange slashes. Making art requires bending rules, and the same goes for Csuk and her rust art. Technically, she has permission to enter the fenced-off steelworks property now owned by the Bethlehem Sands Casino Resort as long as she stays on the ground level. When this does not appeal to her, which is often, she sneaks in. With me, she snuck in. Csuk drove us over the Lehigh River and parked near the New Street Bridge. Under the bridge, we crossed five sets of railroad tracks, then ascended the grassy levee separating the tracks from the river, and took a right. A half-mile ahead, five 200-foot blast furnaces loomed. Csuk walked toward them with purpose. Five minutes afterward, in the shadow of the Steel, a few obstacles stood in our path. The first was a train, stacked two high with containers, parked on the middle track. Fortuitously, it blocked us from sight. Csuk looked both ways and then slid down the slippery levee and climbed up and over it. I followed close behind. She looked both ways again, and jogged over to the second obstacle, the chain-link fence. When she realized that we had left footprints in the snow, she stepped back and tried to brush them away, which only made them worse. From there, we walked along the fence in gravelly spots, so as not to leave footprints. I followed her a bit farther past the no-trespassing signs and then, just before noon, we climbed up and over. In 1995, with the American steel industry in shambles, the last blast furnace shut down. Since then, the place has done nothing but rust. Over the next five hours, I watched Csuk wander around a maze-like industrial complex calmly and boldly, without a map, in search of aesthetic minutiae that most people miss entirely. To reach good vantage points, she scampered atop a large pipe, 30 feet up, and along a giant crane, even higher. She set up her tripod seven times and took 69 exposures. First, she hurried through a courtyard overgrown with shrubs and vines and littered with glass shards and old buckets. Massive brown tanks loomed above. She hurried because she was not comfortable out in the open, where she was visible. She made her way to blast furnace D, her favorite. Then she climbed a few steep flights of rusty stairs. Immediately, on the streaked wall of an enormous gas stove, she saw something appealing. A layer of metal pipes had been removed from the stove and tossed into a huge pile on the ground, and now a new rusty surface was visible. She said, Theres something beautiful here. I dont know if itll fit my format. Ill have to see it with my camera. This is probably just gonna be a sketch. She opened the tripod and placed it on a metal grate. She put her camera a 24105 millimeter on the tripod and zoomed to 100 millimeters and raised the tripod a hair. Just like I thought, this really doesnt fit my format. Theres the potential for something. The image is just a square, but Im trying to make it fit. Csuk might spend 15 to 45 minutes fiddling with a composition. In this case, she could tell it wasnt worth it. Before she packed up, she looked at me and asked, Did you hear that? I told her I thought it was the sound of a motorcycle somewhere in town. She said, Sometimes, things fall here. She told me later that 30- or 40-pound objects heavy enough to guarantee death rain down regularly. Csuk climbed another flight of stairs and walked to a spot where more light struck the stove. She walked slowly, with her head tilted a bit to the left. She said, I wish we had more of this going on, like a whole brigade of this. Over here is beautiful. I gotta shoot this. I looked, saw no formation brigade or platoon or even a mere patrol. She continued, This was stuff I never got to see before, because it was all covered up. And thisll weather more, cause its all exposed. Positioning the tripod back a few feet, she hunched on both knees. Then she moved the tripod a few inches. She looked through the viewfinder and moved the camera a few more inches. She looked again, and moved the camera a bit to the right. Then a few inches back. Then up a hair. Then to the right a hair. Then up a bit. Finally, with a shutter-release cable on a 3-foot cord held in her right hand, she took a shot. Its funny bringing life from something so lifeless, she admitted, Csuk has had plenty of run-ins and close calls at the Steel. Shes nearly bumped into all kinds of vagrants and wanderers, and always spotted them before they spotted her. Once, up on a crane with only one way down, she heard voices in the room below her. She stood still for a half hour until the men left. On a different occasion, she nearly crossed paths with a lunatic from West Chester, who shortly thereafter was arrested and found to be in possession of many guns. While poking around with another photographer in 2005, she suffered her closest call. In blast furnace E, she encountered a handful of people, and the pair ran to hide in a dark corner of blast furnace D. On her way through the cavernous room, she fell through a rectangular hole where casts of molten iron were once drained from brick channels into railroad cars below. According to the other photographer, one moment Csuk was there, and the next she was mostly gone. Had it not been for her backpack and camera and tripod, shed have fallen down to the bottom, he told me, far enough to kill her. The photographer grabbed Csuk by the armpits and pulled her out. Shed smashed an expensive Linhof lens and scraped her left leg, but suffered no other injuries. The other photographer now calls her Indiana Jane. Csuk told me to follow her. She led the way down dark staircases, around corners none of it familiar. From a ledge, she looked west, pointed to a giant exhaust valve inside a cage of beams, and said, Oh wow. I wish I could photograph that. She couldnt get it because her tripod needed to be stationary, on terra firma. Csuk made her way higher, to a perch with an expansive view. She looked out at snowy roofs, admiring the way snow collected on different surfaces, angles, features. Off of one spot, the wet snow avalanched, leaving stripes. On another, the snow caught drips and appeared speckled. Im just taking it all in, she said. She has no problem standing somewhere and looking and looking and looking. Shes patient. Halfway down a ramp, Csuk saw something. Wow, its beautiful. If you just shift your angle, all these colors come out. She positioned her camera, took a few frames, and said, A lot of people would say, I got it. I dont feel like I got it. Then: Im never done with it. I just keep coming back. Csuk was first officially granted access to the Steel in 2004 by a local developer. When the Sands acquired the land, the new owners were impressed. They just never knew that rust could be beautiful, Csuk said. They say, I just never saw rust that way before. Recognizing the obsessed visionary in their presence, the casino hired Csuk to document the redevelopment of the steelworks. Redevelopment meant destruction of the place that had enthralled her for years. From 2007 through 2009, all but one of the buildings surrounding the blast furnaces the mills, the foundries, the forges, the tool shop, the machine shop, the basic oxygen furnace, open hearth furnace, the electric furnace, the Bessemer converter, the sales office were gutted, destroyed, and leveled. Parking lots were paved in their place. Unobtrusive landscaping was installed. Around the blast furnaces the only sacred thing remaining, according to Csuk a fence was erected. Csuk documented this massive transformation, thinking a book would come out of it. She says it was like watching a slow death. Many of these images, in her collection Industrial Steel, seem reverential, as if the steelyard were an iconic peak or pristine canyon. The environs and their contents are clear: walls, rooms, cranes, coils of wire. Theyre shot like landscapes, at dawn, at dusk, under moonlight, in fog, under a blanket of snow. Csuk says she spent hours just watching how the light changed on the yards. Documenting the demolition of the place where shed become a photographer was just as difficult to reconcile. It forced her to focus on more than just steel and rust and to branch out into slate and scrap yards and trees. She did this so that her spirit wouldnt die. Then the economy tanked, and the Sands put the book idea on the back burner. Now that the blast furnaces are all that remain, any further damage is traumatic. Trespassers have vandalized parts of it. Copper thieves have stolen bits and pieces of it. Set producers on the movie Transformers 2 have transformed part of it. Death, as the poet Wallace Stevens wrote, is the mother of beauty, but only to a point. Hours before, when she climbed to the fourth floor of blast furnace D and noticed that metal pipes had been removed from the stove, shed looked down, and said, Oh my gosh, look at that pile. Thats the guts being ripped out. Its sad. She wants the Steel to suffer a natural death, not an accelerated, assisted, man-made one. Depending on their size, Csuks images sell for $800 to $3,200. She sold somewhere between 100 and 200 prints in 2012. She sold one, 42 inches by 96 inches and printed on metal, for $30,000. When I first held one, at her studio, I was almost convinced the image was 3-D, on account of its richness. This makes you think of a kite of color, of shapes, she said. A lot of people look at my stuff, and they know its rust, but they never think its rust. It cant be too literal. Now, with me, Csuk had gotten excited about a long, cavernous space beneath the elevated track, because in the winter the space harbors huge icicles, and she led the way down to it. Before the final staircase, she warned, You gotta be careful. People can see you here. Like an old sage, she walked casually through a dark room with black paint peeling off a maroon-and-yellow patch of metal. This at one time was cobalt blue, she said. Cobalt blue. Its just amazing how its changed over the years. She walked around a furnace and behind massive slag cars now cauldrons full of green, slushy water. She jumped down a three-foot ledge, and then proceeded into a courtyard, where she looked up at the side of a building. A flock of geese flew overhead, following the river. For a second, their squawking sounded like voices. All of a sudden, the Bethlehem Steel Works seemed like a historical artifact, as impressive as a pyramid. A few hundred feet away stood blast furnace A, the oldest standing blast furnace of its kind in America. Of Bethlehem, its president in the early 20th century, Charles M. Schwab, used to say he wasnt in business to make steel but to make money. Bethlehem made plenty of money, but it also made bank vaults, battleships, rail ties, and the enormous 140,000-pound axle at the center of Ferriss famous wheel. The company built the USS Lexington, Americas second aircraft carrier. That beam captured in the iconic 1932 black-and-white photo, with 11 workers sitting on it, eating a carefree lunch 800 feet above New York City: thats Bethlehem Steel steel. By 4:30, there was time for only one more shot. She made her way toward the formerly cobalt panel. The best vantage point, she determined, was tricky to get to: up a flight of stairs, down a 10-foot ladder, over a grate, and onto a 4-foot pipe. From there, shed traverse 40 feet out, using smaller gas pipes as railings, and then follow the pipe where it bent up at 30 degrees. Following behind Csuk, I reached down from the top of the ladder to pass her the tripod. The big pipe reminded me of the Alaska pipeline. It was the same size, about as snowy, but it was 30 feet up above concrete and steel instead of 4 feet above tundra. Getting out turned out to be tougher than getting in. I climbed over the fence first. Once over, Csuk passed me her backpack and then climbed over. She made it fewer than 10 feet before she said, Did you hear that? It was the sound of a car on gravel which meant a security patrol. Though Csuk couldnt see anything where the sound had come from, she decided to hustle. She skirted along the fence, and then across the tracks, and onto the levee. I followed. Suddenly Csuk froze. A train was stopped under the bridge, exactly where we wanted to cross. Beside the train, guiding it into position, were two railroad employees. You do not wanna mess with those guys, Csuk said. Alyssha Eve Csuk so experienced in patiently extracting beauty from this unfriendly, forsaken place decided that the most prudent thing to do was make a beeline for terra publica. She slipped down the snowy grass, crossed the tracks, and looked both ways. Then she ran. From Rust: The Longest War by Jonathan Waldman. Copyright 2016 by Jonathan Waldman. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Jonathan Waldmans writing has appeared in Wired, Slate, Outside, and The New York Times, among others. This article is featured in the July/August 2017 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Subscribe to the magazine for more art, inspiring stories, fiction, humor, and features from our archives. Deerfield Beach, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/08/2017 -- Global Chocolate Powdered Drinks: Overview To prepare instant chocolate drinks the chocolate powdered drinks are mixed with milk or water. Soft drinks and energy drinks are the cold drinks which have chocolate powdered drinks mixed with the water. Protein shakes, chocolate drinks, and cappuccino mixes are the milk-based chocolate based drinks. According to the consumer demands, the chocolate powdered drinks can be served in hot and cold form. Chocolate powdered drinks are consumed by the consumers of all age groups such as teenagers, kids, and youngsters; it has several health benefits and it has attractive flavors available and tastes good. Global Chocolate Powdered Drinks: Segmentation The global market for the chocolate powdered drinks is fragmented into the distribution channel, types, and end use. Based on the distribution channel, the market is segregated into convenience stores, online and grocery stores, supermarket/hypermarket, and specialty stores. In terms of revenue, hyper/supermarket segment is the leading one. The recent trend of online shopping will positively contribute to the market growth. Depending on the product type, the market is categorized into milk chocolate powdered drinks, dark chocolate powdered drink, and white chocolate powdered drinks. According to the end user, the market is bifurcated into milk beverages, protein shakes, energy drinks, chocolate drinks, and cappuccino mixes. Request Free Sample Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/chocolate-powdered-drinks-market Global Chocolate Powdered Drinks: Growth Factors The key factor that is driving the chocolate powdered drinks market includes the increasing demand from the consumers of different regions. The other major factors are the change in the lifestyle, the rise in the disposable income, and changing food habits. There has been an increasing trend of following the western culture which is affecting the growth of the market in a positive way. The increase in the population is also a factor that contributes to the market growth as the consumption of the product increases rapidly. The improvements and innovations that are made in the chocolate powdered drinks such as the addition of dry fruits, natural flavors, natural herbs, and DHA; this adds on the health benefits of the chocolate powdered drinks thus triggering the growth of the market. There are attempts being made for the development of the organic powdered drinks which may open up new market opportunities and will show new manufacturers entering the market. Global Chocolate Powdered Drinks: Regional Analysis Based on the geographic regions, the chocolate powdered drinks market is diversified into North America, Eastern Europe, South America, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. More than half of the world's cocoa is produced in the West African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon. These regions produce the maximum amount of cocoa seeds in the world. The largest market for the chocolate powdered drinks is in the country of Brazil. The countries that are dominating the chocolate powdered drinks market are Ghana, The U.K., Belgium, and Switzerland. The regions such as North America, Middle East, and Asia Pacific are also having a huge demand for the chocolate powdered drinks and an increased consumption of the product is expected from the developing regions such as India, China, and Brazil. Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/chocolate-powdered-drinks-market Global Chocolate Powdered Drinks: Competitive Players Some of the major market players that are involved in the chocolate powdered drinks market include Nestle S.A., Mars Inc., PepsiCo Inc., Mondelez, Gatorade, GlaxoSmithKline Plc., Kanegrade Ltd., and others. Global Chocolate Powdered Drinks: Regional Segment Analysis - North America - U.S. - Europe - UK - France - Germany - Asia Pacific - China - Japan - India - Latin America - Brazil - The Middle East and Africa Browse detail report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/chocolate-powdered-drinks-market About Zion Market Research Zion Market Research is an obligate company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a 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 client's 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. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 4283, Express Lane, Suite 634-143, Sarasota, Florida 34249, United States Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651 Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.com Website: http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Visit Our Blog: https://zionmarketresearch.wordpress.com/ Genetically modified salmon finally landed in the market of Canada without labels of warnings. This fact has created concerns among the environmentalists. The environmentalists want the withdrawal of this genetically modified salmon from the market. According to Thibault Rehn of the group Vigilance OGM, the said salmon is the first genetically modified animal that has landed in the Canadian market. Thibault Rehn has suggested the Canadian consumers as the first guinea pigs, CTV News reported. The known AquaBounty Technologies is the key developer of this genetically modified salmon. This U.S. company announced on Aug. 4 that it sold 4.5 tonnes of salmon in Canada. The company has sold the product only after receiving the green signal from the food and the health authorities. In May the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Health Ministry said that this genetically modified salmon is safe for consumption and nutritious. Lucy Sharratt from the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network revealed that the U.S. company only knows where it has sold the said salmon filets. But, the company is not ready to disclose anything about it. She also says that it is a shocking fact to know the salmon filets have already landed in the market. According to Scientific American, the AquaBounty Technologies first raised the genetically modified salmon in Panama. Later the company plans to start producing this salmon on the Prince Edward Island in Canada. The company has already penned a deal with the local authorities. But, the company has so far not received the Health Ministry's permission. AquaBounty Technologies has recently acquired a fish farm located in Albany, Indiana. The company now waits for the permission of the U.S. regulators to start production there. The FDA approval for the salmon consumption came in November 2015, while the same decision from the Canadian authorities came six months later. The interesting fact is neither country needs to label the genetically modified salmon. The genetically modified salmon by the AquaBounty contains a specific growth gene that helps salmon to grow faster compared to the conventional one. This genetically modified salmon can acquire the adult size within 16 to 18 months. But, the natural born Atlantic salmon needs 30 months to acquire the adult size. Notably, the U.S. company has modified the Atlantic salmon with the growth gene from the Pacific Chinook salmon. Activists in Canada and the U.S. have already demanded the regulators to reconsider their decisions regarding this genetically modified salmon. Some even filed lawsuits. Last year a known environmental-advocacy group, The Center for Food Safety, sued the FDA and tried to overturn its decision regarding salmon. The U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has even called this genetically modified salmon of AquaBounty as "fake fish". Vacationers to Wisconsin hoping to whisk a case of Spotted Cow across state lines may want to plan ahead. There is no shortage of the popular farmhouse ale from New Glarus Brewing Co. but the price can vary widely depending on where it is purchased and, in at least one instance, is nearly $15 more than a nearby grocer. The 46,000-square-foot Mars Cheese Castle along Interstate 94 in Kenosha, about 8 miles from the state line, is a major tourist draw and often a last stop for out-of-state travelers before they cross into Illinois. The business, founded in 1947, sells a wide variety of cheese from around Wisconsin and the world, has a bakery, restaurant, bar and a gift shop. The store, with six check-out lanes, also has an impressive craft beer department anchored by cases of Spotted Cow, which is famously sold only in Wisconsin. But the price for 24 bottles of what has turned into the state's signature craft beer is eye-popping. On a visit to the store last weekend, a case of Spotted Cow was going for $44.99 and appears to be one of the higher price-points around for the bovine-themed brew. In fact, less than four miles to the south, at the corner of I-94 and Highway 50, Woodman's Food Market sells a case of Spotted Cow for $30.79. But what about other retailers at major state exit points? At Keyport Liquors in Superior, a case of Spotted Cow sells for $34.79, while it goes for $32 a case at the Family Fresh Market in New Richmond, northwest of the Twin Cities. Historic Casanova Liquors in the I-94 border city of Hudson sells a case of Cow for $39.99. In Beloit, the Cornellier Superstore, another popular tourist spot that sells cheese and souvenirs at the interchange of I-90 and I-43, a case of Spotted Cow retails for $37.99, while at the nearby Badger Spirits it's $36.98 a case. Over in Prairie du Chien, a case at the Piggly Wiggly sells for $34 and at the Woodman's in Onalaska it retails for $29.99. In the Madison area, Steve's Liquor on University Avenue sells a case for $34.06, tax included, while Star Liquor on Williamson Street retails it for $33.99 and Costco in Middleton for $30.75. But the Mars Cheese Castle price of $45 a case pales in comparison to the price of Spotted Cow in the Local to Go section at the Metcalfe's Market in the terminal at the Dane County Regional Airport. A six-pack of bottles is $19, which would equate to $76 a case, while a 12-pack of cans is $26.99. Like I said, plan ahead. Two people who allegedly stole large amounts of baby formula from several Wisconsin stores including a Wal-mart in Sparta are being sought by law enforcement. Sparta police issued surveillance video images of a man and a woman suspected of taking the formula from Wal-marts in Sparta, Sturgeon Bay and Portage. Your first reaction might be sympathy for these poor folks who are just trying to feed their hungry baby, Sparta police said on Facebook. Stop it! That is not what is happening here! They are thieves! Baby formula theft is a national problem, and not just for use as baby food. The powdered formula is used by drug dealers to cut cocaine and heroin. The cans can fetch up to $30 each. Often these are organized retail theft rings who steal vast amounts of formula, sometimes leaving bare shelves, the Facebook post said. The two suspects shown in the images hit the Sparta Wal-mart not once but twice. It would take 25 years for state taxpayers to see a return on the billions Gov. Scott Walker wants to invest in a project that would bring Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn to Wisconsin, new state estimates show. Walker has proposed giving Foxconn nearly $3 billion in refundable tax credits as part of an incentive package state lawmakers are considering to convince the company to build its first U.S. plant in the southeastern part of the state a campus that is projected to employ 13,000 and create a supply chain that could employ more than 30,000 statewide. A new analysis released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau shows taxpayers would pay to Foxconn Technology Group about $1 billion more than the state received in tax revenues during the first 15 years of the project, and that the state would start to recoup those payments starting in 2043 or a quarter of a century after the project starts. That estimated break-even date assumes the workforce produced by Foxconn is 13,000 employees and entirely composed of Wisconsin residents. The more out-of-state workers that commute to the plant, the further away the break-even date will be, according to the analysis. The analysis also shows that the tax incremental financing district created for Foxconn would have a multibillion-dollar value after the project is fully developed. Foxconn has said it plans to invest $10 billion in the project and is looking at sites in Dane County for a second potential campus. Tom Evenson, spokesman for Walker, said after the analysis was released that the project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that brings high-tech manufacturing back to America, right here in Wisconsin, and adds 13,000 good paying jobs. And Walker in a tweet said, Foxconn is bigger than just future tax revenues and that the project would add more than $10.5 billion in payroll to the state economy over 15 years plus construction & indirect jobs. A Foxconn-commissioned analysis shows that once the plant is up and running, for every 10 jobs created there, 17 jobs would be created elsewhere in the state and that the facilitys operations would support more than 35,000 jobs statewide a figure that includes the 13,000 planned to be at the campus itself. Fiscal bureau director Bob Lang, who authored the analysis, noted the review focuses only on the impacts of the Foxconn project on the states finances, and does not account for other benefits to the states economy and residents. Foxconn would spend $6.70 for each public dollar, for example. But Lang also warned that any cash-flow analysis that covers a nearly 30-year time frame must be considered highly speculative, especially for a manufacturing facility and equipment that may have a limited useful life. Technological advances and changes in Foxconns market share, operating procedures, or product mix could significantly affect employment and wages at the proposed facility over time, Lang wrote. Some lawmakers supporting the package have said the Foxconn project would barely affect the 2017-19 state budget, which lawmakers are more than a month late in passing. But the fiscal bureau analysis shows the Foxconn project would likely take $15 million out of the next two-year spending plans general fund and more than $522 million in the following two-year state budget. Democrats, including Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca who represents the area Foxconn is considering developing, said the analysis raises questions that need more time to be answered than the quick timetable some Republican lawmakers are pushing. Budget-writing committee member Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, said the memo shows taxpayers are assuming 100 percent of the risk of the Foxconn proposal and that more vetting of the incentive packages impact on future state budgets is needed. Taxpayer funded assistance this massive in size will certainly create budget problems for the state, and likely result in another round of cuts to our most valued priorities, Hintz said in a statement. When considering this multibillion-dollar legislation, we must also consider the far-reaching impacts it will have on every budget for the next 15 years. And Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said shes not convinced that handing over $3 billion in state subsidies to a foreign corporation is the best deal for Wisconsin families and small businesses. Walker introduced a bill nearly two weeks ago that would give Foxconn the nearly $3 billion in refundable tax credits and another $150 million in sales tax exemptions. The company also would not be required to abide by environmental regulations during construction, and even after, of a proposed 20 million-square foot campus in southeastern Wisconsin, and would be eligible to pay lower utility rates. Lawmakers in the state Assembly held a hearing on the bill last week and plan to advance the package for a floor vote as soon as Thursday. Evenson said because Foxconn has promised to invest $10 billion, that the project is an excellent investment for our entire state. Wisconsin is offering $3 billion for a $10 billion investment, $10.5 billion in new payroll, and 13,000 direct jobs, Evenson said. A spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, did not respond to a request for an interview. Myranda Tanck, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said Fitzgerald is reviewing the fiscal bureau analysis. Tanck said Senate Republicans will meet with Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Mark Hogan to discuss the proposal on Thursday and Fitzgerald will meet with Walker this week to discuss Foxconn and the state budget. Under fiscal estimates from state agencies released Tuesday, the states payments to fulfill the incentive package would reach their peak by fiscal 2023, when the state would annually be sending $119.5 million in income tax credits and $192.9 million in capital expenditure credits to the Apple iPhone manufacturer that wants to build LCD panels in Wisconsin. The estimate from the Department of Revenue also shows annual payroll for the proposed campus would reach $703.4 million annually nearly $100 million less than what Department of Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel estimated at the bill hearing last week. Fiscal estimates from state agencies released on Tuesday also show provisions exempting Foxconn from sales taxes on construction materials and equipment would result in $139 million the company would not need to pay. Local governments would have gotten about $10.7 million in revenue if the exemptions were not in place and Foxconn created the same campus at the same size investment, the estimates show. Another bill provision to rebuild and expand I-94 in the area of the proposed campus would cost about $408 million in principal and interest re-payments between 2019 and 2042, according to an estimate from the state Department of Administration. Walkers bill proposes to use $252 million in bonding for the project. That was followed by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, then Norwegian Cruise Line's subsequent 11 Cuba sailings on Norwegian Sky in the second quarter earned 'very healthy ticket premiums' over the ship's regular Bahamas deployment. NCLH is doubling its Cuba program in 2018 to 4% of its capacity, primarily driven by the addition of Norwegian Sun's Havana cruises from Port Canaveral. Del Rio said the Norwegian brand will offer 59 Cuba cruises in 2018, while Oceania will operate 21. The company is earning 'meaningful premiums' on its Cuba program, which Del Rio thinks will be sustained given the lack of infrastructure on the island which will limit access for some time. Sheehan, whose background includes work in private equity and on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch, dad Kevin (now ceo of Scientific Games Corp. in Las Vegas), mom Lauraine and sister Caitlin acquired a majority stake in Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line in December for an undisclosed amount. Sheehan said he'd been looking for an opportunity for some time and entrepreneur Oneil Khosa presented a convincing case. Khosa holds the minority stake and serves as ceo, heading operations at the Florida office. Kevin Sheehan Sr. is chairman. Other cruise industry veterans who've joined the team include Maria Miller as chief marketing officer and David Sprechman as cfo (both were senior officials at Norwegian Cruise Line), and Richard Coombs as director of information technology (he was with Royal Caribbean International). 'They have been a huge boost to help us grow the business,' Sheehan Jr. said. He added the line has 'plenty of demand today,' though he hopes to 'continue building out [the business] in a big way.' Sources told Seatrade Cruise News Costa neoClassica, which is leaving the Costa Cruises fleet in March 2018, is joining the line, but Sheehan declined to address that. 'Adding a second ship doubles our business so we will be very thoughtful about how we grow,' he said. It would take a great deal of marketing ramp-up, however, from an operational perspective it could be done 'pretty quickly.' Curently, the line's Grand Celebration turns around at the Port of Palm Beach every other day, so that leaves the berth and the cruise terminal unused during the off days. 'Yes, we could accommodate other cruise ships every other day. As far as we know, BPCL has no plans to replace [Grand Celebration]. We are not able to comment at this time regarding plans for other vessels,' a port spokeswoman said in an email. The 47,000gt Grand Celebration is the former Costa Celebration, which previously sailed as Grand Celebration for Iberocruceros. The ship was built in 1987 as Celebration for Carnival Cruise Line. The younger and slightly bigger 53,000gt Costa neoClassica was built in 1991 as Costa Classica and has been extensively modernized in recent years. Grand Celebration sails overnight to Freeport, where it stays for the day, then returns to Palm Beach the following morning. The company markets resort stays on Grand Bahama Island that can be paired with a cruise. A 'significant' number of people choose the cruise and stay package. The line is on track to carry 250,000 passengers in 2017, and Sheehan believes BPCL is the largest provider of guests to its resort partners on Grand Bahama Island. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line doesn't aim to go head to head with brands like Carnival or Norwegian, he said. Instead, it has its own niche: short, value-packed vacations for people who might not think of taking a seven-night cruise. They're seeking a short getaway. Most customers are from South Florida. Since this market segment tends to book online, BPCL has updated its website and continues to refine it. There's a stronger focus on the resort partners and the Bahamas as a destination. Sheehan said BPCL is 'very excited' about Carnival's plans to build a destination port on Grand Bahama Island since that will create more awareness and interest. 'We are a West Palm Beach-Bahamas ship. We love these ports,' Sheehan said. 'We want to be embedded in the community.' That's why BPCL supports local projects and emphasizes Bahamian culture. The line wants to maximize its economic impact in the Bahamas and expects to be more prominent there over time. See also subsequently posted 'Palm Beach to weigh Paradise Line's addition of neoClassica service' Powers co-founded and directed CruiseMaineUSA and was a founding member and immediate past chair of the Cruise Canada/New England Alliance, where she helped drive the launch of an ambitious new long-term strategy. Powers said she founded MaineCruisePro with the mission of being 'the most professional, creative and helpful cruise industry consulting agency in Maine.' She has nearly 20 years of cruise industry experience. Maine, the cruise lines and many stakeholders have benefited from Powers' work over the years. 'Amy has been a relentless advocate for her states cultivation of the cruise business,' said Adam Goldstein, president and chief operating officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 'In recent years she has been the foremost ambassador for cruising at state level in the US. She is up to speed on everything the industry wants to do in Maine plus she gives us ideas for more advances we could make. Amy has been a real asset to the cruise industry through her leadership of CruiseMaineUSA.' Powers looks back with satisfaction on numerous accomplishments and highlights, including working to help gain voter approval to secure bonds to build the Ocean Gateway terminal in Portland, working with management at ResidenSea to bring The World to Eastport and then 'watching the awesome people in the port community welcome the ship and owners.' The port won an award from the residents for excellence in customer service. Other highlights were the arrival of the first large cruise ship, Jewel of the Seas, at Rockland Harbor, and working with Bar Harbor's lobstermen and Holland America Line to put fresh Maine lobster directly on the ship, expanding the cruise industrys purchases of Maine lobster from that day forward. Maine also had the honor, Powers said, of hosting the Cruise Canada/New England Symposium three times during her tenure at CruiseMaineUSA. She cited the importance of long-term preparation and local teamwork for the successes. 'Our ports have the hardest working people and I admire what they have all done and will continue to do to improve the local port services and land programs for passengers to enjoy,' Powers said. Moving forward, she aims to create business opportunities for all stakeholders and maximize her knowledge to 'help address the challenges that arise from the growth that we are experiencing throughout the region. It is vitally important,' Powers added, 'that we focus on maintaining, protecting and preserving the quality of the natural and cultural resources in our cruise destinations; it is these attributes that make the destinations so attractive.' MaineCruisePro offers consulting services for ports, cruise lines and industry stakeholders in Maine and beyond. Dane County is moving forward with a planning process that is examining future development and the long-term health of its Alliant Energy Center. A county oversight committee on Monday heard the results of the most recent study to guide its development of a master plan for the South Side expo center. The strategy implementation study, by Madison-based Vandewalle & Associates, lays the groundwork for creating the master plan, suggests the creation of a multi-jurisdictional development plan and recommends a range of options to fund potentially millions of dollars worth of investment into the 164-acre campus. We started this because we were looking at the long-term economic sustainability of our Alliant Energy Center, said County Board Chairwoman Sharon Corrigan. But then, we also wanted to look at whats the best use of this land and how can we best benefit the whole county. The study recommends breaking down future work into six processes. The first three creating a campus master plan, exploring a multi-jurisdictional plan for the areas south and north of the campus and figuring out funding sources would best be conducted in tandem, said Scott Harrington, a principal planner at Vandewalle. A multi-jurisdictional plan could make the area more pedestrian-friendly while guiding development, transportation and design to turn the John Nolen Drive corridor to Downtown into a destination district. Build a bigger vision and certainty, youre going to have more people invest in the future, Vandewalle principal planner Rob Gottschalk said. Harrington acknowledged potential difficulties in crafting a district plan to satisfy the town of Madison, city of Madison and Fitchburg, all of which have property near the county-owned Alliant Energy Center. As far as project funding, the study suggests the county explore public-private partnerships, creation of a tax increment district, selling or leasing land for private development and the potential to create a semi-autonomous taxing authority. The study recommends three long-term initiatives of developing an updated business plan, a new market strategy and a robust public engagement process after initial planning steps. The Vandewalle report is the second phase in the countys master planning process, following a market analysis by Chicago-based Hunden Strategic Partners. Hundens report also included proposals on how to maximize the campus economic impact, with renovation of buildings and new developments totaling $240 million. The consultant suggests a renovation of the Dane County Coliseum including widening concourses, improving bathrooms and concessions and increasing loading space that could cost about $87 million. Hunden also suggested doubling the size of Exhibition Hall, adding a ballroom, building out kitchen space and other improvements for a projected construction cost of $97 million. The county oversight committee will meet on Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m. to gather public input on the Vandewalle study and vote on possible recommendations. Development of the actual master plan is set to start next year. Captain Anthony Baker, 53, pleaded guilty in Whangarei District Court on Monday to contravening the blood alcohol limit under New Zealands Maritime Transport Act. Baker was found to 1,345 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath compared to limit for a seafarer of 250mcg. The Master of the Shansi was breath-tested on Friday after docking at Northport when the vessels pilot suspected he was drunk. Baker's lawyer Nick Leader told the court his client has been suspended by his employer and it would be difficult for him to find work in a similar profession in future, the New Zealand Herald reported. A British national Baker expressed remorse in court and accepted he has to get over his drinking problem. Baker could have been fined up to NZD10,000 or jailed for a maximum of 12 months. More than 600 JICT workers had been on a strike since last Thursday which was supposed to last till Aug 10 to demand bonus payments, disrupting operations at the main terminal of Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port and causing some 20 vessels to be redirected to other terminals at the port. We have issued the first warning letter ( SP1 ) to call on workers to return to work, because the strike does not favour any party, JICT vice president director Riza Erivan said. The SP1 is the first of three warning letters that could eventually end with the workers dismissal. The workers had questioned the payment of $80m in rental fees to state-owned port operator Pelindo II, which they claimed had caused a drop in their annual bonuses. The chairman of the union, Nova Sofyan Hakim, claimed he had ordered members to stop the strike on Monday afternoon "for the sake of our interests, our dreams and for the greater national interests". He added workers faced intimidation during the strike and JICT clients were forced to bear losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars. "Let's follow the rules and not sacrifice public and national interests because we all know Tanjung Priok is the gate of our economy and a vital national object," Riza said. After making it to the ABC shows season 13 finale, Madison personal trainer Peter Kraus did not take home the final rose on The Bachelorette Monday night. Instead, bachelorette Rachel Lindsay chose to spend the rest of her waking days with Bryan Abasolo, a chiropractor from Miami, after she and Kraus had previously ended their relationship. Eric Bigger, another one of the final candidates, also lost out. In past episodes leading up to the finale, Kraus expressed doubt about marrying Lindsay, calling the idea of getting down on one knee as (expletive) terrifying. The last time audiences saw Lindsay and Kraus together, the leading lady told Kraus that she didnt come this far... to just have a boyfriend at the end of this. That led Kraus and Lindsay to break off their relationship prior to the final rose ceremony. Abasolo, the lone suitor, asked Lindsay for her hand in marriage. You need more time. You need to, like, see things through, Lindsay told Kraus during Monday nights broadcast. Youre sincere, and youre genuine, and its beautiful. But I think you need more time when it comes to these things. Kraus acknowledged he would have needed more life experience with her to make such a commitment. You proved to me that throughout all of it I could develop feelings of love, and well maybe things didnt end the way that I hoped, I have you to thank for the feelings that I did have, he said. I wish you nothing but the best, and I really just want happiness for you. But no need to lament! Kraus, owner of the local fitness company Worth Personal Training, may be considered for the leading role in The Bachelor. Often the top also-rans from The Bachelorette go on to star in its parent show. Early Monday, Kraus took to Instagram to post a suave model shot of himself in a royal blue sport coat the picture he submitted to the show in 2016 for casting. The posts caption refers to his time on The Bachelorette as the experience of a lifetime, filled with highs and lows...and experiences I will never forget. Kraus has not posted a picture with or of Lindsay since mid-July. Next weekend he will host a boot camp at Breese Stevens field on Madisons Near East Side, which Kraus anticipates will be the biggest bootcamp Madison, WI has ever seen!! according to another Instagram post. He will donate a portion of the funds raised to the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. Michael Johnson, who has been communicating with Kraus for the event, described Kraus as amazing, and foresees doing more work with the celebrity down the road. State Journal reporter Logan Wroge contributed to this report. Press Release August 8, 2017 STIFFER PENALTIES AWAIT CORRUPT OFFICIALS UNDER NEW CUSTOMS LAW -ANGARA Senator Sonny Angara has called for the full implementation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) which, among others, imposes harsher penalties against delinquent officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs (BOC). During Monday's hearing of the House of Representatives on the smuggling of P6.4-billion worth of shabu from China, a customs broker revealed the names of BOC officials who allegedly received "tara" or grease money in exchange for the release of a cargo. "Kapag napatunayang nagkaroon nga ng suhulan, dapat ay agad na panagutin ang mga tiwaling opisyal at empleyado ng Customs na responsable sa anomalyang ito. We increased the outdated amount of fines and penalties under the CMTA to make the law a stronger deterrent to smuggling," said Angara, who sponsored CMTA or Republic Act 10863. Under Section 1431 (d) of CMTA, any BOC officer or employee who conspired or colluded to defraud the customs revenue will be penalized with imprisonment of not less than six years but not more than 12 years, and a fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P1 million. Guilty officials and employees will also be perpetually disqualified to hold public office, from exercising right to vote, and to participate in any public election. "Apart from improving trade facilitation and border protection, one of the main objectives of CMTA is to ingrain transparency and accountability into the Bureau. This law seeks to overhaul and modernize the BOC which, our investigations have shown, continues to be one of the most corrupt and underperforming government agencies in the country," the chairman of the ways and means committee said. The law also mandates assessment officers to transfer ports every three years to avoid any collusion and complicity of BOC personnel. The BOC is mandated to conduct a compensation study so as to develop and recommend to the President a competitive compensation and remuneration system. "Kapag tinaasan natin ang sweldo ng mga empleyado ng BOC, tiyak na mas makaiiwas sila sa anumang uri ng korapsyon. But before we make any increase in their pay scale, there should be improved qualification and performance benchmarks in place to professionalize its ranks," the senator said. The CMTA primarily seeks to implement full automation of customs procedures that would facilitate ease of doing business, and to streamline customs valuation and inspection procedures to make them more transparent. The passage of the law, which further raised the tax exemption of balikbayan boxes, was prioritized by Angara after the reported tampering of balikbayan boxes that sparked outrage among overseas Filipino workers and their families. "With the computerization of the BOC, less human contact would be required. We want to minimize the discretion of officials in order to eliminate the alleged rampant corrupt practices in the bureau," he said. Press Release August 8, 2017 Bam to schools: Prepare workforce for AI job termination With the advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the labor industry, a number of existing jobs in the market is at risk. During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology on the effects of AI to current jobs, the Union Network International-Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC) told committee chairman Sen. Bam Aquino that around 60 percent of work, especially in the business process outsourcing industry, will be affected. However, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) mentioned that around 40,000 workers in the contact center industry will be lost. "The best way to protect ourselves is to move our workers up the skill ladder. This is best done by having opportunities for education and by upgrading skills, retooling and retraining industry workers," said Sen. Bam. "We cannot wait for this downturn in jobs to happen before we prepare. Kailangang handa na tayo ngayon," stressed Sen. Bam as he called on education institutions to check if the skills they're providing are the ones needed by industry workers to upgrade their abilities to the next level. "This way, we can ensure that we will able to maximize opportunities presented in Artificial Intelligence," said Sen. Bam, adding that around 250,000 to 300,000 fresh jobs will be created once contact center workers are given the capability to perform higher-level jobs, such as data analysis and data programming. "Mahalaga ring matiyak na mayroong academic-industry linkage. Kaya ba ng ating mga eskuwelahan na itulak ang kakayahan ng ating mga kababayan upang gawin ang mga bagong trabahong ito?" Sen. Bam questioned. Sen. Bam said the BPO industry must work hand-in-hand with concerned government agencies, such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to ensure that the country is prepared for any eventuality if the implementation of AI goes into full swing. Sen. Bam: Tertiary education law also provides scholarships and loans to students The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act offers more than just free education in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and vocational schools under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). "Hindi lang libreng edukasyon sa SUCs at LUCs ang hatid ng batas na ito kundi ang pagpapatibay ng scholarship programs at student loan programs ng gobyerno para sa kapakinabangan ng ating mga estudyante," said Sen. Bam Aquino, principal sponsor and co-author of the measure in the Senate. Sen. Bam said one of the salient features of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or Republic Act 10931 is the new and improved student loan program. While undergraduate students in LUCs and SUCs are covered by free tuition, students taking post-graduate studies can avail of the new and improved student loan program and scholarships. "Through the student loan program, students can apply for financing for other education expenses outside of their miscellaneous and mandatory fees that will be shouldered by the government under the law," said Sen. Bam. In addition, Sen. Bam said the law also provides scholarship grants to students of both public and private college and universities by strengthening the existing Student Financial Assistant System (StuFAP) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). After gathering dust in the legislative mill for years, the law was passed during Sen. Bam's short stint as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. It was Sen. Bam's 19th law in his four years as senator. Sen. Bam also assured that lawmakers will make the necessary moves to ensure that the law will be properly funded and effectively implemented. "With a more efficient use of our budget, there is more than enough fiscal space for this landmark reform," said Sen. Bam. Earlier, Sen. Bam thanked President Duterte for signing the important measure into law, saying that millions of Filipinos are the real winners with this revolutionary education reform. "Pagkatapos ng ilang dekada, batas na ang inaasam-asam ng napakaraming pamilyang Pilipino na libreng kolehiyo," said Sen. Bam, "Estudyante, magulang at pamilyang Pilipino ang tunay na bida ng batas na ito." Press Release August 8, 2017 De Lima concern over smuggling of mercury-laden skin whiteners Senator Leila M. de Lima has expressed alarm over the continuous proliferation of dangerous contraband skin care products in the country despite government's attempt to stop the illegal trade. De Lima raised her concern after watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition reiterated its warning that there is still an illegal sale of imported skin whitening cosmetics that are heavily laden with mercury, especially in budget shopping areas in Quiapo and Divisoria. "This is a threat to public health. It's alarming that people who are looking for low-cost alternatives to the popular and expensive brands can easily be fooled into buying the cheap products without knowing that these goods can endanger their life," she said. Based on reports, Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition's Project Protect, confirmed that the smuggling of mercury-laden skin care cosmetics persists despite previous attempts by the government and civil society to stop the illegal trade. On July 22 and 23, Dizon led a consumer awareness campaign about the hazards of mercury in cosmetics by purchasing different skin care goods in Divisoria and Quiapo, and found that most of the products contain excessive concentrations of mercury. Due to the disturbing results, Dizon called out the Duterte administration, saying there is an urgent need to ratify the Minamata Convention on Mercury which bans the production, export and import of skin lightening cosmetics with mercury above the required one part per million (ppm). De Lima, a known human rights defender, said this public health concern is not something the Duterte administration should take for granted because it poses a serious risk to the safety of any person. "Instead of simply focusing on his unorthodox war on drugs, the President can do better by remembering that there are other important issues that require his attention. Health is a top concern that often gets neglected," she said. The Senator from Bicol added it is about time for the government to prioritize the health and safety of Filipino citizens. The Food and Drug Administration banned over 135 mercury-containing and unnotified skin whitening products since 2010. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to mercury can have serious health consequences, including kidney damage, skin rashes, discoloration, among others. De Lima is currently detained on trumped-up drug charges fabricated by the Duterte administration, but she continues to do her Senate duties while in detention. Press Release August 8, 2017 Senate Approves ILO Convention 151 on Second Reading The Senate, on Monday (August 7), has approved on Second Reading the Committee Report seeking its concurrence in the ratification of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the Right to Organise and Procedures for Determining Conditions of Employment in the Public Service (ILO Convention 151). Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and sponsor of the Committee Report, said that the Senate is expected to pass on Third Reading and concur in the ratification of the treaty next week. "I am optimistic that the Senate will concur in the ratification of ILO Convention 151 to give our 2.3 million civil servants the same rights available to private sector employees. If we ratify this Convention, we will be the first Asian country to do so. This will bolster the domestic and international status of the Philippines as a leader in promoting and protecting labor and civil rights," Legarda said. "Compared to the workers in the private sector, government employees have less opportunities to negotiate terms and conditions of employment, among other rights which are available to private sector and other workers. This is the inequality that the treaty seeks to address," she added. The Senator explained that the rights of public sector employees are specified in the Convention as five types of guarantees: (1) Protection of the right to organize, (2) Facilities to be afforded to public employees' organizations (3) Procedures for determining terms and conditions of employment, (4) Settlement of disputes arising in connection with the determination of terms and conditions of employment, and (5) Civil and political rights. All persons employed by public authorities--the civil servants employed in the National Government Agencies (NGAs) and its attached agencies, bureaus, local government units (LGUs), and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs)--are covered by this Convention. "This Convention is important to public employees. They will enjoy better working conditions, have the opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment, and have proper avenues to voice out their grievances. Civil servants have waited for 39 years for the ratification of this Convention. The Senate's concurrence is a vote in upholding and promoting their labor rights," Legarda concluded. Poe Condemns Killing of Journalists Senator Grace Poe condemned the recent killing of two journalists in Mindanao and exhorted authorities to conduct a thorough investigation for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. Rudy Alicaway was on his way home on August 6 in Molave town, Zamboanga del Sur when he was shot by two motorcycle-riding gunmen. Alicaway, 46, was a radio anchor of Tigmo-Tigmo program at DXPB 106.9 (Radyo ng Bayan Molave). He was reportedly also a village councilman of Miligan in Molave. Leo Diaz died from multiple gunshot wounds after being shot by a motorcycle-riding gunman after leaving his house in President Quirino town in Sultan Kudarat. Diaz is a reporter of Radio Mindanao Network and columnist of Sapol Newspaper. "The incidents bring to fore the violence and culture of impunity in the attacks against Filipino journalists," Poe said. "The people are counting on the police and law enforcers to keep our streets safe; that criminals will be immediately hunted down and prosecuted," she added. Poe, advocate and sponsor of the Freedom of Information bill at the Senate, said journalists should be able to work freely in an environment free from danger. "They should be able to report stories and issues relevant to the Filipinos, and we know that journalists have risen to the occasion despite the odds," she said. Aside from the police, the senator also called on the Presidential Task Force on Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of the Members of the Media to act with dispatch on the cases. Press Release August 8, 2017 Students must finish course on time Recto : Walang 'forever' sa Free Public College Tuition law The newly-signed Free Public College Tuition Law sets stringent conditions for the enjoyment of free matriculation, such as mandating the student to complete the course during the prescribed period. "Walang forever na student sa batas na ito," said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, an author of Republic Act 10931. "Those who are magnas (italicized) or magna na-nine years na sa isang kurso, hindi pwede mag-avail ng free tuition," Recto said. The law even sets a "one-strike rule" for public technological-vocational students, Recto said. Under Section 6 of RA 10931, a student in a state-run technical vocational institutes (TVIs) loses the privilege if he fails "in any course." For students in national government-run state universities and colleges (SUC) and local government-funded local university and colleges (LUCs), they must finish the course "within a year after the period prescribed in their program," Recto said, quoting the law. "So kung four-year course, may elbow room pa na isang taon, subject to the situations which can be invoked by the students, and if an extension is granted, conditions will apply," Recto said. "This means a student must maintain good academic standing at all times," he said. Recto said students who have already attained a bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree from any higher education institution, whether public or private, are also barred from the program. "The same exclusion rule applies to students of state TVIs. Those who have received a certificate or diploma for a tech-voc course equivalent to at least National Certificate III and above can no longer qualify for free tuition," Recto explained. But most important, Recto said, is that before a student can avail of free tuition, he must pass the test and admission requirements imposed by the government school, he said. "One must hurdle the qualifying exam, among others in the acceptance checklist. Free tuition should not be loosely interpreted as it is free to all," Recto said. Government schools have also requirements to meet before they can receive funds to cover tuition waivers, Recto stressed. "Kailangan they must follow implementing rules and regulations. There are budgeting, accounting and auditing rules that must be satisfied prior to fund release," he said. One provision requires schools to establish a learner information system in accordance with the guidelines to be developed by CHED in order to facilitate the tracking of students and their performance, Recto said, citing Sec. 9 of RA 10931. They must also submit relevant information as determined by CHED on school quality and performance, Recto added. Pati yung 10-year development plan dapat i-submit para alam ng DBM ang forward-estimates sa gastusin sa equipment at building na kailangan, Recto said. Kasi nga ang title ng law speaks of Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education. Hindi lang free, dapat fantastic pa, Recto said. Press Release August 8, 2017 Villanueva: ILO Convention 151 ratification strengthens our commitment to empower our civil servants Senator Joel Villanueva lauded the recent concurrence of the Senate to ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 151, an international treaty that will finally give adequate protection to the country's 2.3 million civil servants, specifically, against acts of anti-union discrimination in respect of their employment. Villanueva, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources Development, co-sponsored and endorsed the Senate concurrence on the ratification of the said treaty. The senator said that the approval of ILO Convention 151 serves as a fitting recognition to the dedication of our country's public servants and to the people they dutifully serve. Prior to the ILO Convention 151, the Philippine government has ratified several ILO treaties in the past such as the ILO Convention 87 on "Freedom of Association", ILO Convention 98 on the "Right to Organize and Collectively Bargain" and ILO Convention 144 concerning "Tripartite Consultation". It likewise complements Executive Order 180, serving as a model in improving labor relations in government. The Philippines has also recently made history as it becomes the first country in the Asia-Pacific to concur in the ratification of ILO Convention 151. "We thank our colleagues in the Senate for their overwhelming support to ratify this important treaty for the benefit of our civil servants who have selflessly devoted their career in public service," Villanueva said. "No country has ever developed without a strong, professional, and modern government bureaucracy. We need them now, more than ever, as we wish to transition to an upper middle-income economy," Villanueva stressed. Villanueva further underscored the importance of the said treaty in enabling the public servants to be effective partners in development. Through the convention, civil servants are now armed with rights to collective bargaining and negotiation which they hardly had before compared to their counterparts in the private sector. As of January 2015, data from the Civil Service indicate that of the 1,944 registered unions in the public sector, only 992 or less than half have achieved accreditation status, while only 813 have collective negotiation agreements. "This situation deprives many civil servants of rights enjoyed by their private sector counterparts. The main reason for this is that union registration and accreditation has been subjected to various policy changes over the years, thereby making some employees unable to meet the requirements to establish unions. We know that like some workers, civil servants can also experience unfair working conditions and practices by management." Adding to the said problem is the confusion between workers and management's understanding of "management prerogative." One example is in the Public Sector Labor Management Council (PSLMC) wherein workers are mere observers with no right to vote on cases lodged in the body, and more recently, they are relegated to the technical working group level participation. Union activities are also stifled given the lack of definitive mechanisms on conciliation and mediation and dispute resolution in the public sector, leading to demoralization and unresolved issues between management and workers. "Our concurrence to ILO Convention 151 is not an end in itself. It is merely continuing our avowed commitment to strengthen and protect our workers which include the civil servants. A vibrant collective bargaining in the public sector encourages workers to design their standards and codes of conduct." Aside from the safeguards the ILO Convention 151 will afford to the right of the civil servants, Villanueva also believes that the treaty's ratification will help prevent the abuse of contractualization or 'endo' in the public sector. Clear weather allowed Wisconsin farmers to make good progress in field work during the first week of August. The crop report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sunday showed 4.8 days suitable for field work, with rain on Thursday the only thing stopping farmers from heading out. The rain did help in some parts of the state that needed it. Crops have recovered from moisture stress with a nice all-day rain, a St. Croix County report said. Corn was reported to be 80 percent silking or beyond, eight days behind last year and 17 percent in the dough stage, four days behind last year. The corn crop was rated 70 percent good to excellent. Soybeans were 87 percent blooming, two days ahead of average, and 61 percent setting pods, one day ahead of average. The drop was 75 percent good to excellent. Oats turning color was at 90 percent, one week behind last year. Oats harvested for grain was 28 percent complete, nine days behind last year and eight days behind the average. The oats crop was 80 percent good to excellent. The potato harvest was 15 percent complete, with the crop 80 percent good to excellent. Winter wheat harvesting was 74 percent complete, five days behind last year, with 77 percent of the crop rated good to excellent. Pasture land was 78 percent good to excellent, three points lower than the week before. The second cutting of alfalfa was 95 percent complete, and the third cutting was 53 percent complete, with a fourth cutting starting in some areas. All hay was reported at 81 percent good to excellent. Soil moisture continued to be in very good shape, with subsoil moisture at 99 percent adequate or surplus and topsoil moisture at 96 percent adequate or surplus. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle A voter-approved limit on the height of new buildings alongside San Francisco Bay is going to trial next month after a court ruling that was at least a preliminary victory for supporters of the ballot measure. Proposition B, passed by 59 percent of the citys voters in June 2014, was challenged by the state Lands Commission, which argued that California law authorizes only the state and not local governments or their voters to regulate waterfront development. But San Francisco Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bolanos ruled last week that the law does not ban all local regulatory measures, only those that subjugate statewide concerns to local interests. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Northwestern University microbiology professor who surrendered to Bay Area police in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in Chicago, waived extradition in court in Dublin on Monday, clearing the way for him to be taken back to Illinois to face justice, authorities said. Wyndham Lathem, 42, and Andrew Warren, 49 according to jail records, an employee of the University of Oxford in England, separately turned themselves over to Bay Area authorities on Friday night after being on the run for eight days, officials said. They are both suspects in the slaying of Trenton James Cornell-Duranleau, a 26-year-old cosmetologist and hair stylist whose body was found stabbed repeatedly in Lathems high-rise apartment in the River North neighborhood of Chicago on July 27. The attack was so violent the knife broke, according to Chicago police. Prior to his arrest Friday, Lathem sent a video to friends and family apologizing for his involvement in the slaying, calling it the biggest mistake of his life and prompting concern that Lathem might try to harm himself, Chicago police told The Chronicle. Since the beginning of this case, the defense has received dozens of calls and letters in support of Dr. Lathem, from friends and colleagues who have known him for decades, Lathems attorney, Kenneth Wine, said outside the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin Monday. They all describe him in the same way a kind, intelligent and gentle soul, and a loyal and trusted friend. Authorities said both Lathem, an associate professor of microbiology at Northwestern since 2007, and Warren, a senior treasury assistant at Oxford Universitys Somerville College, have no prior criminal histories. What he is accused of is totally contrary to the way he has lived his entire life, Wine said of Lathem. Lathem appeared in court in a dark-red jail jumpsuit looking mildly panicked, with graying stubble on his face and his hands cuffed in front of him. A small group of Lathems friends attended the hearing, but declined to comment. Lathem is not eligible for bail. His attorney told Judge Stuart Hing that Lathem had run out of solution for his contact lenses and asked the judge for glasses. He is being held under intense observation at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. Prosecutors in Chicago have charged Lathem with murder and a charge related to fleeing the scene, but he waived the right to an arraignment until he is transferred back to Chicago, which should happen in the next two weeks, according to Wine. Warren surrendered to police in San Francisco, and Lathem turned himself in at an Oakland courthouse. Warren is being held at San Francisco County Jail and is scheduled to go before the court on Friday, according to the San Francisco district attorneys office. Wine was questioned by reporters about Lathems mental health, but the lawyer said his client appears fine. Hes OK, Wine said of Lathems mental state. Hes OK. Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi After a controversial memo by a Google engineer about diversity programs at the company and gender differences went viral over the weekend, sparking an explosive reaction on social media, the search giant did not dispute media reports late Monday that the employee had been fired. The memo - in which the author suggested, among other things, that biological factors were part of the cause for the gender gap in the tech industry and that Google should "stop alienating conservatives" - prompted a fiery outcry on social media in recent days. Critics pounced on statements about biological differences such as women, on average, having "lower stress tolerance" or how Google needs to "de-emphasize empathy." Others, including fellow Googlers, according to the author, defended his remarks, leaving Google's human resources shop between a rock and a hard place regarding how to respond. Yet on Monday, following an email from Google chief executive Sundar Pichai that "portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace," Bloomberg News reported that the employee had been terminated. A spokesman said the company does not comment on individual employees but did not dispute that the memo's author was fired. Earlier Monday, human resources experts said the situation was a volatile one that risked angering people on both sides. "I'm glad when I woke up this morning I wasn't the head of HR at Google," said Brian Kropp, who leads the human resources consulting practice at CEB. "If you think about the continuum of the workforce, you've got one end where people are going to say this person should be fired," Kropp said, while on the other end, there appear to be employees who may agree with his remarks. "Whatever Google decides to do, they're going to be potentially disappointing somebody along one of those groups or making them angry." Danielle Brown, who became the company's vice president for diversity, integrity and governance just weeks ago, and other Google executives put out a statement expressing their disagreement with the essay. Brown wrote in an internal response that "like many of you, I found that it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender" and that "we are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company." Ari Balogh, vice president of engineering at Google, wrote in a statement that "sharing different perspectives is an important part of our culture," but "one of the aspects of the post that troubled me deeply was the bias inherent in suggesting that most women, or men, feel or act a certain way. That is stereotyping, and it is harmful." Other Google leaders commented, too. By late Monday, Pichai had added his name to the executives weighing in publicly against the memo. With the subject line "our words matter," he opened by saying that "we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it." But "to suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to work is offensive and not OK. It is contrary to our basic values and our Code of Conduct." He went on: "Our co-workers shouldn't have to worry that each time they open their mouths to speak in a meeting, they have to prove that they are not like the memo states, being 'agreeable' rather than 'assertive,' showing a 'lower stress tolerance,' or being 'neurotic.' " He also said that "at the same time, there are co-workers who are questioning whether they can safely express their views in the workplace (especially those with a minority viewpoint). They too feel under threat, and that is also not OK." Human resources experts said Monday that keeping the engineer would have made it harder for managers to assign him to collaborative work teams. "He can think what he thinks, but he can't say things like that in a workplace and not expect others to be uncomfortable with working with him," said Jonathan Segal, a Philadelphia-based employment lawyer. Yonatan Zunger, a former Google executive who wrote a widely read post about the memo published on the platform Medium, addressed the memo's author by saying, "Do you understand that at this point, I could not in good conscience assign anyone to work with you?" He added: "I certainly couldn't assign any women to deal with this, a good number of the people you might have to work with may simply punch you in the face, and even if there were a group of like-minded individuals I could put you with, nobody would be able to collaborate with them." Others suggested it could have been a distraction. "In the hallways, people are going to chatter about whose side are you on," said Patty McCord, a former head of human resources at Netflix who is now a consultant on leadership and culture issues. "It will drive a wedge even deeper into what they're trying to do." Google was the first major tech company to publicly share its diversity statistics, a practice many companies followed, but growing those numbers has been slow, and the company faces a Labor Department investigation about its gender pay practices. It recently began trying to boost its number of black engineers through a partnership with historically black colleges and universities. The important thing, McCord said, is that the company do something in response. "We can sensitivity-train until hell freezes over," she said. "But unless there's consequences to it, it doesn't matter." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Canopy Health, the Bay Area accountable care organization co-founded by UCSF in 2015, is adding three Dignity Health hospitals to its growing list of in-network providers. With the new Dignity additions St. Marys Medical Center and St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, and Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City the Canopy network will have 4,000 physicians, 16 hospitals and about 15,000 patients, or members. This means that any Dignity patient who gets insurance through Health Net Blue & Gold HMO the approved insurance plan for the Canopy network will have access to UCSF doctors, and vice versa. The Canopy network currently has health providers in six Bay Area counties and intends to be in all nine in the next two years. It plans to add a second insurance provider, Western Health Advantage, in January 2018. That is expected to expand the network to 200,000 members. Accountable care organizations are groups of hospitals and doctors that coordinate patient care and assume shared financial responsibility for that care. They essentially join many independent doctors offices and hospital systems as part of one large network that can more easily share records, among other benefits. The model has been on the rise since the Affordable Care Act enacted new payment incentives, rewarding providers for improving overall quality of patient care rather than whats known as fee for service paying providers for each service they order for patients. We all realize the days of fee for service are over, said Dr. Todd Strumwasser, senior vice president of operations for Dignity Health Bay Area. Were going to be paid for providing value, which means keeping a population healthy. To do that, you have to partner with the right groups to take care of entire populations. The expansion of the Canopy network is part of a broader push by providers to better compete with Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, the two dominant health systems in the Bay Area. Kaiser, an integrated network, has about 4 million members in Northern California. Sutter and its affiliates have about 3 million Northern California patients, and recently started introducing insurance products. Canopy is far smaller. Nationally and in California, independent providers are moving toward the integrated Kaiser model, said Dan Mendelson of the health care consulting firm Avalere Health. The Bay Area market is much more evolved than most areas of the country, Mendelson said. The strong presence of Kaiser, where you have close integration between provider and payer, means that the physicians practicing in the Bay Area are probably more accustomed to the concept of taking accountability for quality. Michael Macor/The Chronicle Shelby Decosta, senior vice president of UCSF Health, said Canopys model is distinct because, unlike Kaiser and Sutter, it is a network of independent providers. As part of the agreement, UCSF doctors will work to bring some of the health systems programs and practices including robotic surgery, acute rehabilitation, vascular podiatry and cardiology to Dignity hospitals. Formerly called the Bay Area Accountable Care Network, Canopy Health was co-founded in 2015 by UCSF and John Muir Health, which operates hospitals in Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties. The 16 hospitals that are now part of Canopy are: Alameda Hospital, Highland Hospital, John Muir Medical Centers in Concord and Walnut Creek, Marin General Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, San Ramon Regional Medical Center, Sequoia Hospital, Sonoma Valley Hospital, St. Francis Memorial Hospital, St. Marys Medical Center, UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus and Washington Hospital. The network also includes three medical groups: Meritage Medical Network, Hill Physicians and Muir Medical Group IPA. Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 24-year-old Concord man has been charged with arson after admitting to a police officer that he used a cigarette lighter to start a fire in the East Bay hills last week, authorities said Tuesday. Alameda County prosecutors charged Alfredo Bautista with arson, attempted robbery, assault and vehicle theft in connection with a string of incidents that began last Wednesday morning with road rage and ended with a confession next to a stolen car as a wildland fire burned nearby. Police said Bautista, armed with a rifle, tried to rob two people along Grizzly Peak Boulevard, then followed and repeatedly rammed their vehicle as they drove away, before they crashed into a parked car. Bautista pointed the gun at the couple, then fled the scene, police said. A few hours later, a UC Berkeley police officer was called to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory campus on reports of a car theft in progress. A UC police affidavit released Tuesday said Bautista had broken into a vehicle and started driving away before witnesses stopped him. The officer detained Bautista and, during a search, found the cigarette lighter in his pocket. The suspect freely admitted to starting eight separate fires in the area, the affidavit said, including one inside the fenced-off UC Berkeley field station, where researchers study ecology and animal behavior. Bautista matched the description of both the road rage suspect and that of someone seen hopping the fence into the research area earlier in the day, the affidavit said. On Tuesday afternoon, Bautista pleaded not guilty in Alameda County Superior Court, and a pretrial hearing was scheduled for Aug. 15. The fire devoured 20 acres of rough terrain and took five days and more than 150 firefighters to fully contain. 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 blaze spread from UC property to land in Oaklands jurisdiction and required the assistance of 12 local fire agencies as well as the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. One Cal Fire member suffered minor injuries when he fell 50 feet down a hillside while working to extinguish the flames. A motive in the case has yet to be determined, said Lt. Marc DeCoulode of the UC Police Department. Bautista is not a student, and his connection to the campus is unknown, DeCoulode said. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov Garcia, Enrique A 47-year-old San Jose man who purported himself to be a doctor, but who lacked a license to practice medicine, was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman during an unlicensed examination, police said Monday. Ezequiel Aaron Dureo-Carvajal, the owner of a holistic pharmacy called Iridologia Farmacia, was arrested at the business on Friday, according to the San Jose Police Department. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Once again, the sun may be setting on the Gangway (841 Larkin St.), San Franciscos oldest gay bar. Based on a pending liquor license transfer, the Tenderloin gay bar which opened in 1910 and began publicly identifying as a gay bar in 1961 is in the process of being sold to Sam Young, the man behind the quirky and sometimes controversial bar Kozy Kar several blocks away. A Gangway bartender working the morning shift confirmed the news. The business name listed by Young on the new liquor license is Youngs Kung Fu Action Theater & Laundry. Gangway staff was notified about the potential changes a few weeks ago, but everything is business as usual until the license transfer and the sale of the business are complete. The Gangways fate has been the subject of much worry for its regulars for well over a year now. In early 2016, a similar license transfer showed showed the bar was being sold to a group called Breaking Chad LLC. At the time, Gangway owner Jung Lee said that he wanted to sell the bar after a wage-related lawsuit and the death of a longtime manager. That deal eventually fell apart. Though theres nothing definitive yet about this latest Gangway closure timeline, its worth noting just what this potential loss could mean not only for the citys shrinking LGBT-friendly bar scene, but also the neighborhood it has called home for over 100 years. Since 1910, the Gangways Larkin Street address has been home to some type of bar, though it didnt become known as a gay bar until 1961. Regularly filled by a working class, diverse clientele, the Gangway is a treasure, especially among the citys older gay crowd. Now that Young is in the ownership conversation, the Gangways throwback style could potentially be replaced by a an owner whose other establishment is known for having 70s porn playing on a loop, pin-up girls hanging on walls, waterbeds as seats and no discernible intent on being politically correct. There are no details yet about the Kozy Kar teams plans for the Gangway location outside of the cumbersome name. Young has not yet responded to Chronicle inquiries. Gangway: 841 Larkin St., San Francisco Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips Workers have been laboring hard to get the spillway at Oroville Dam fixed in time for the winter rainy season. There has been intensive construction to repair a hole in the spillway, as well as to shore up the dams emergency spillway with a new underground retaining wall. The state Department of Water Resources, which owns the dam, is confident that the construction repairs for the spillway are on target. It will be good news indeed if the dam repairs are completed on time. But outside dam experts and local residents have concerns about the dam that go beyond immediate repairs. Theyre right to have them. Two separate teams of independent investigators have noted defects in the dams original construction in the early 1960s. There also appear to be long-standing problems with maintenance and official oversight. Considering the struggles both reporters and the public have had in accessing information about the dam repairs, the problem of oversight may not be going away anytime soon. In June, the state Legislature voted to keep emergency action plans for dams secret. We understand that dams are crucial infrastructure and must be kept safe from terrorists. But considering the recent emergencies, its indefensible to deny the public access to safety information. This is especially true in the face of growing public skepticism over the state of Californias dam infrastructure. California water officials have ordered inspections of spillways at 93 dams they believe could pose a risk to downstream communities. While many of those dams are likely to be fine, the list includes some older, larger dams that may warrant more scrutiny. If an older dam like Oroville had construction defects and maintenance problems, how many other problems are out there? Outside experts have already suggested that California needs to dramatically upgrade its dam infrastructure. A nervous public would certainly agree. However, its an open question as to whether state and federal officials will agree. The price tag for the Oroville repairs alone is expected to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The matter of who pays for the states badly needed infrastructure upgrades, and how much, is a question that goes beyond Californias many aging dams. The one thing thats for sure is that Orovilles disaster could happen again. This commentary is from The Chronicles Editorial Board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. If Senate Bill 231 (Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys) becomes law, property owners would be saddled with thousands of dollars in additional, annual property taxes. Whats worse is that this bill would allow these tax increases to be implemented without a vote of the people. Political sleight of hand? Yes, and heres how. SB231 redefines the word sewer to include storm-water and storm drains, thereby allowing local governments to evade Proposition 218 taxpayer protections. That 1996 initiative requires that all new property-related taxes and most fees proposed by a local government or agency be approved by two-thirds of voters. If SB231 is enacted, local governments can assess property owners to fund storm-water infrastructure projects without voter approval. Proponents argue the law needs to be tweaked for communities to fund improvements that will capture storm water that they claim is flushed out to sea. This may be true, but local governments should simply make the case to voters and follow the law. Suggesting that voters should not have a voice is disrespectful and degrading. Heres the reality of the situation. California faces an unprecedented housing shortage and affordability crisis. As Californias median home price soared past $555,000 ($908,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area) earlier this summer, the states homeownership rate of 54 percent ranked last in the nation. A prospective homeowner in California would need an annual income of more than $100,000 to afford a median-priced home, well above the states median income of $63,570. Giving local government the ability to increase property taxes by thousands of dollars annually, without a public vote, would only make the housing affordability crisis worse. We need to reduce the cost of owning a home, not make it worse. For example, the City of Glendora (Los Angeles County) has calculated that the additional property tax levy to home and business owners would be on average $1,200 a year to meet regulatory storm-water requirements. This, at a time when Glendoras median home price of $575,000 and average rent of $1,912 are significantly higher than state and national averages. SB231 would hurt the very people who can afford it the least: Millennials and first-time home buyers who would be hampered by yet another property tax levy. Existing homeowners, as well as tenants, many of whom have already absorbed additional levies, or add-ons, to their property tax bills, would be at the mercy of local jurisdictions to impose more property taxes on a wide range of storm water-related infrastructure projects. In short, SB231 sets a terrible precedent by using a political sleight of hand to allow local governments to impose new taxes without state constitutionally-required voter approval. California cannot further burden property owners with more taxes and pass along fees that will affect tenants and exacerbate a housing crisis that threatens Californias overall economic health. SB231 simply just doesnt hold water. Geoff McIntosh is the president of the California Association of REALTORS. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Democrats have a growing problem when it comes to abortion, one that risks alienating some of the largest progressive organizations at a time when the party needs their grassroots energy to revive itself. Democrats still almost universally agree that a woman should have the right to choose an abortion. But theyre arguing about whether the party should fund Democratic candidates who dont share that view. The battle ignited recently when Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., who heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the party wouldnt withhold funding from candidates who dont share the partys view on abortion. There is not a litmus test for Democratic candidates, Lujan told the Hill, a Washington, D.C., publication. As we look at candidates across the country, you need to make sure you have candidates that fit the district, that can win in these districts across America. Abortion-rights advocates and other progressive groups howled, describing it as the latest in a series of statements from party leaders that make Democrats look like they are willing to compromise womens health issues for change that would help them pick up a seat or two in Congress. In April, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez were criticized for appearing at a rally for Heath Mello, a Nebraska Democrat running for mayor of Omaha who had an anti-abortion-rights record as a state legislator. (Perez later backed off, saying, abortion rights are not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state.) But Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has said that while she was strongly pro-choice, she recognized that not all of my colleagues agree with me ... and thats just how it is with the Democrats. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, has argued against a litmus test, saying, This is not a rubber-stamp party. They see the move as politically pragmatic at a time when the party needs 24 seats to retake the House next year, has several Democratic Senate seats to defend in states that President Trump won and has lost more than 1,000 seats in state legislatures over the last decade. Its another sign of how Democrats are trying to downplay the social issues they fear might alienate conservative working-class white voters who backed Trump. That economy-only focus was evident in the policy road map called A Better Deal that Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and other top leaders released last month. Some Capitol Hill insiders say the fight is overblown, pointing out that there are few potential Democratic candidates who totally oppose abortion rights. Nowadays, the issue is more nuanced than just being for or against abortion, making a youre-with-us-or-youre-against-us purity test shortsighted for a minority party. Some potential candidates may oppose late-term abortions, for example, while generally supporting a womans right to choose. But some abortion-rights supporters dont read it that way. Theyre saying that womens rights are negotiable, said Charles Chamberlain, executive director of the political action committee Democracy for America, which joined a list of progressive organizations such as MoveOn Political Action, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Emilys List, Daily Kos, the Indivisible Project and the American Federation of Teachers in writing a joint statement affirming their commitment to abortion rights. Drew Angerer As progressives, we know we cannot have a real conversation about economic security that does not include the ability to decide if, when, and how to raise a family; that being able to plan a pregnancy has a powerful effect on educational attainment, career trajectory, and chance to define our own destinies, the groups statement of principles read. They say Lujans statement makes little political sense at a time when women are driving the anti-Trump resistance, starting with the more than 4 million people nationwide who participated in Womens March events in January. Abortion rights are the second-most-important issue (next to health care) to women who are drop-off voters voters who cast ballots in presidential elections but are not likely to vote in next years midterms, according to a survey by Priorities USA, the liberal advocacy group that supported Hillary Clinton. Besides, abortion-rights advocates argue, most Americans agree with them. More than 75 percent of Democrats, 57 percent of all Americans and 53 percent of Catholics say abortion should be legal, according to a July report from the nonpartisan Pew Research. Even 49 percent of those who have a high school education or less a sweet spot of Trump supporters feel that way. There is not a single district in this country that you cant win with a pro-choice candidate if you teach your candidates how to talk about this issue, said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, formerly known as the National Abortion Rights Action League. The solution that theyre trying on doesnt match the problem. And the risk in losing support from the lefts top grassroots groups is potentially greater for the party, said Hogue. Were seeing that the grassroots and rank-and-file is completely united on this issue. But leading pro-choice Democrats are divided. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., has said she will campaign for all her Democratic Senate colleagues seeking re-election this year, including those, like Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., who oppose abortion rights but support other aspects of womens health care. My primary focus in 2018 is to re-elect my Senate Democratic colleagues who have stood together this year to protect Planned Parenthood and access to affordable health care, Harris said. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, on the other hand, said she personally would not support anti-abortion-rights candidates. All I know is for myself. The party is pro-choice; there may be some exceptions to it, but by and large, I think thats the case, Feinstein told the Huffington Post. Gov. Jerry Brown, a former Catholic seminarian who supports abortion rights, said the partys only litmus test should be intelligence caring about, as Harry Truman or Roosevelt used to call it, the common man. Were not going to get everybody on board, Brown said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press. And Im sorry, but running in San Francisco is not like running in Tulare County or Modoc, California, much less Mobile, Ala. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The changes to Californias climate since 1980 higher temperatures, with more extreme swings between droughts and floods are caused directly by human activity and will accelerate rapidly unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut sharply, according to a new federal climate report that is awaiting action by the Trump administration. The fourth National Climate Assessment, a federal synthesis of climate science required every four years by law, says temperatures have risen rapidly since the last report was published in 2014. After setting a record that year, global temperatures shot to a new record by a wide margin in 2015, the report says, followed by another record last year. The report, produced by 13 federal agencies and approved by the National Academy of Sciences, is unequivocal in ascribing the warming to human activity, a finding that the Trump administration and many Republicans in Congress have disputed. One of the clearest signals that is summarized in this report is that California is already a warmer place than it used to be, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA whose work is cited in the report. Thats not a future prediction anymore. Its the reality were living, and the warming were seeing so far pales in comparison to what were likely to see in the future on our current carbon emissions trajectory. Although the report does not directly attribute the states recent five-year drought to climate change, California scientists whose work the report cites said hotter temperatures vastly increase the chances of drought by drying soils and plants, as well as causing more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, and melting the Sierra snowpack earlier. Its very clear that temperatures in California are increasing the risk of severe drought, said Noah Diffenbaugh, a climate scientist at Stanford University. During this recent drought, we had the warmest years on record, the warmest winters on record, the most severe combination of low precipitation and high temperature on record, the lowest snowpack on record, the most drought indicators on record. These are all physically very closely linked with high temperatures. The draft report was published by the New York Times on Tuesday from publicly available information. The Times followed with publication of the final report. In the past, the reports have been published by the 13 agencies at globalchange.gov. The report predicts that U.S. temperatures will rise at least 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit over the next few decades, with cities experiencing much hotter temperatures. The East will get wetter, and the Southwest drier. The hydrology of the Colorado River Basin, on which the Wests big cities such as Phoenix, Los Angeles and Las Vegas depend, has already undergone profound change, the report says. Atmospheric rivers that bring extreme precipitation to the West Coast, like the ones last winter that ended Californias drought, are projected to increase in frequency, but will fall more as rain than snow, the report says. That would disrupt Californias highly engineered plumbing system, which relies on the Sierra snowpack to store water for the dry summers. Forest fires have already increased sharply in the West, the report says, and will increase more as the region continues to dry, bringing major ecosystem changes. The report says a sharp reduction in carbon emissions could limit the global average increase in temperatures to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. The climate has warmed 1.2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1986, the report says. Without a major reduction in emissions, warming may rise 9 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, a level that would make parts of the world uninhabitable and cause an extraordinary rise in sea level, the report says. The report is without doubt alarming, said Peter Gleick, chief scientist and co-founder of the Pacific Institute, an Oakland think tank that researches water issues. Gleick predicted the effects of rising heat on Californias water supply 30 years ago. This has been alarming for a long time, Gleick said. Humans are fundamentally changing the climate of the planet. It should be alarming to everyone, because the impacts are going to get worse and worse if the politicians dont act on what the science is telling them. Richard Alley, a geoscientist at Penn State University, called it good, solid, well-accepted, carefully vetted science. ... Theres nothing over the top, nothing outside the pale. Its what we knew, written up. Alley said the changes in the climate that have already occurred are small compared with what will happen if emissions are not reduced sharply. At some point, flooding goes from being a nuisance to building a new levee or retreating from the shore, he said. We could make a world in which it starts to become fatal in some places to be outside, and well before that, it gets hard to work outside for a lot of people in a lot of places. Alley said the cost of reducing emissions now pales beside the cost of dealing with future climate change. As the change gets bigger, the costs go up faster than the temperature, he said. If we stabilized concentrations in the atmosphere today we cant, but if we did warming would continue, sea level would continue to rise, so we have to deal with some change. Right now, he said, the decision is whether the change becomes a lot bigger. Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The sun may be the scorching center of our solar system and the most vital energy source for our planet of 7.5 billion people, but in 1978 a collection of activists, poets, organizers and ahem stars deemed it necessary to bring attention to the celestial sphere and the power it held. Sun Day was a grass-roots push for solar power that became a mini-movement focused on creating change at the highest levels of government. San Francisco and the Bay Area, as could be expected, were all-in. Thirty-nine years later, on a recent trip to The Chronicles archive, I found photos from the event that hadnt been seen in years. President Jimmy Carter and Congress designated May 3, 1978, as Sun Day it was a Wednesday, mind you, not a Sunday calling on citizens to observe the day with events to demonstrate the potential of solar energy. Observances were loosely organized, but excitement grew, with Sun Day events springing up the weekend before in San Francisco and elsewhere. The Solar Fest at Fort Mason on Sunday, April 30, was an educational event that featured a concert and demonstrations of the latest in solar technology, including a sun-powered cooking surface that wowed attendees. The following Wednesday, the festivities ramped up, with a Sun Day sunrise ceremony atop Twin Peaks followed by a gathering at Civic Center Plaza. Jane Fonda showed up there for a news conference to boost the campaign, proclaiming: Solar energy can liberate consumers from the umbilical cord of utilities that can raise rates willy-nilly. The outspoken actress then headed across San Francisco Bay to Sproul Plaza in Berkeley, where she drew cheers when she called for a movement to prevent solar energy from being taken over by the same monopolies that control our energy now. Then- and future Gov. Jerry Brown got into the spirit of the day by saying he had just rinsed off in a nice, hot shower powered by a solar water heater. He then announced the creation of a solar power agency for California, naming Tom Hayden then Fondas husband as solar advocate for the state. Carter, meanwhile, flew to Colorado to visit the Solar Energy Research Institute and participate in Sun Day activities. There he ordered the Energy Department to shift $100 million to renewable energy projects. The president, however, had to cut the speech short because of a steady rain. Bill Van Niekerken is the library director of The San Francisco Chronicle, where he has worked since 1985. In his weekly column, From the Archive, he explores the depths of The Chronicles vast photography archive in search of interesting historical tales related to the city by the bay. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Three South San Francisco police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man wielding a shotgun outside his home were justified in their use of lethal force, the San Mateo County district attorney announced Tuesday. Officers Chris Devan, Andrew Constantino and John Paulo were cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the shooting death of 59-year-old John Wayne Eno, District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said. The officers fired 16 shots in the confrontation in May, hitting Eno five times, an investigation determined. In a letter to South San Francisco Police Chief Jeff Azzopardi, Wagstaffe said his investigation concluded that use of deadly force was justifiable. The shooting unfolded about 11:50 p.m. on May 23 when officers responded to Enos home on a cul-de-sac in the 3700 block of Cork Place for a welfare check, Wagstaffe said. Eno had made a series of 911 calls, Wagstaffe said, telling dispatchers that there were people in his house trying to give him drugs. During the 911 calls, Eno said he shot at someone and gunfire could be heard over the phone, Wagstaffe said. When Constantino and another officer arrived at the Cork Place home, Eno was in front carrying a shotgun, Wagstaffe said. As Constantino yelled at Eno to drop his gun, multiple officers heard the unmistakable sound of Eno racking the firearm, according to the district attorney. Both officers feared for their lives at this time, understanding that the racking of a shotgun enables it to be fired, Wagstaffe wrote. Constantino opened fire on Eno, who dropped his gun, fell to his knees and appeared to be searching for something in the vegetation, Wagstaffe wrote. Suspecting Eno was reaching for a firearm, Paulo, who had just arrived, fired his weapon as Eno began to stand, wrote Wagstaffe, adding that a broken windshield wiper was later found in the area Eno was searching. Due to confusing radio transmissions from multiple officers, Devan believed his colleagues were pinned down by the gunman, according to Wagstaffe. Armed with a rifle, Devan fired at Eno, Wagstaffe wrote. As soon as he got the decedent in his sights, he fired several times, believing that if he did not shoot the decedent, the decedent would have shot him or other officers, Wagstaffe wrote of Devan. Officers attempted first aid while calling paramedics. Eno who was shot five times, including in the chest, leg and head was pronounced dead at the scene. A search later found in the street a Mossberg 500, 12-gauge shotgun that was registered to Eno, according to Wagstaffe. Officers also found several spent shotgun shells in the street. A subsequent search of Enos home determined that a shotgun had been fired in the second-floor master bedroom, damaging a television and a wall, Wagstaffe said. Constantino fired his weapon four times, Paulo fired three times and Devan fired nine times, Wagstaffe said, adding that the fatal shots were fired by Devan. Only one officer captured body-camera footage of the shooting. Investigators from the district attorneys office interviewed Enos family and friends and determined that he had been depressed since his wifes death two years ago. Family members said Eno suffered from anxiety and had lost a considerable amount of weight, Wagstaffe said. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani A federal appeals court has revived the political asylum claim of a Bay Area couple from India, advocates of an independent Sikh state, who said police in their homeland threatened to have the wife arrested and jailed if she returned. Baljinder Kaur and her husband, Gurbir Singh, have been fighting deportation orders since 2002, when they overstayed their U.S. travel visas. They say they would face persecution and possibly torture in India because of their familys support for creation of a breakaway Sikh nation in India, a predominantly Hindu country, and Pakistan, which is largely Muslim. An immigration judge ruled against them and said Kaur lacked credibility because of inconsistencies in her accounts of instances in which she said she had been arrested in India. The couple sought to reopen their case after receiving an affidavit from Kaurs sister in India. The sister said police had raided a family ceremony in 2011 looking for Kaur, arrested the sister, and released her only after ordering her to notify them if Kaur returned to India. The sister said police also told her Kaur would be arrested and imprisoned if she returned. The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals ruled against the couple, saying the affidavit came from a relative who had an interest in the outcome of the case. The board also said Kaur had shown herself not to be credible in her earlier accounts, so her current claims were untrustworthy as well. On Monday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the immigration board had overstepped its role and ordered the case reconsidered. The affidavit by Kaurs sister was not inherently unbelievable, and the board was required, at this stage of the case, to assume she was being truthful and decide whether her account was a potential basis for asylum, the three-judge panel said. Likewise, the court said, the fact that the sister was an interested witness should not matter at this stage. The panel returned the case to the immigration courts for a new look at the facts. The 3-0 ruling was issued by Judges Carlos Bea and N. Randy Smith and visiting U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno of Pennsylvania, all appointees of Republican presidents. This is a sweet victory, Andrew Kaufman, a lawyer for the couple, said Tuesday. He said the evidence from the couple and Kaurs sister should be enough to show that they would face persecution because of their religion and political views if they were deported. Because of privacy concerns, Kaufman said, he could reveal little about the couple, except to say they lived in the Bay Area, had received work permits while seeking asylum, and were caretakers of a relative with a serious medical condition. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate After a heated, two-plus hours of public comment, the Brisbane City Council pushed to at least the end of the month its vote on a proposed mixed housing and commercial development that has pit proponents of the citys small-town feel against those who say the region desperately needs more housing. The Brisbane Baylands project is a huge mixed-used development that over the next 30 years could more than triple the tiny citys population of about 4,600. Just south of San Francisco, the property owned by S.F. developer Universal Paragon Corp. rests along a high-tech, job-saturated corridor stretching to Silicon Valley. The sprawling plan would fill 684 acres of former rail yards and bay fill with 7.5 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space, and most controversially 4,434 homes, apartments and condos. Brisbane officials reluctance to approve the housing they continue to delay the decision has sparked a heated debate over the regions housing crisis, with housing groups and advocates weighing in. At the meetings start, housing activists passed out neon green stickers reading Build housing. About half of the 100 people in the audience refused to take them. Youre ruining our home, one man in the audience said to a volunteer handing out the stickers. No Homes? No shops! Boycott Brisbane! read another sign in capital letters. Those protesting came from across the region, including Berkeley, Oakland and Mountain View, to share their opinions. The Bay Area Council, a business advocacy organization, and a handful of state legislators also released statements Thursday in support of the proposed thousands of units of housing. The Bay Area and California are in this housing crisis for a long list of reasons, but the fundamental issue is that we simply do not have enough housing that our residents can afford, said a joint statement released by state Sen. Scott Wiener and assemblymen David Chiu and Phil Ting, among others. California got here as the result of thousands of decisions, one of them being by the City Council, they said. But at the meeting, some residents pushed back, saying that increasing the citys housing stock would destroy its identity and that it wasnt their responsibility to solve the regions housing issues. They said they worried that an influx of housing units and their occupants would negatively impact the citys health, environment and traffic. In a recent city-commissioned survey, 16 percent of Brisbane residents said that the Baylands should be developed as housing. All these moral arguments about how Brisbane owes the rest of the region are hollow, said resident Tony Verreos. San Francisco decided not to become Hong Kong. They put a moratorium on housing in the city. They could lift that tomorrow. Talking about Brisbane like we are in a vacuum is a big mistake. This housing development should not even be up for discussion. Another resident agreed. We would like to exist as we have existed in the character of our community, said Brisbane resident Clara Johnson. At the evenings end, the City Council again pushed the date for a decision back, this time until at least Aug. 31. And everyone filed out of the room, ready to come back another time in another week. Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: LJohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The man killed by a Santa Rosa police officer Saturday morning while allegedly holding a 12-inch kitchen knife has been identified, officials said. The victim was identified as 35-year-old Pablo Garcia Garcia by the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office. Officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department were called to a multifamily home on the 2400 block of West Steele Lane in Santa Rosa just before 6 a.m. Saturday on reports that someone was acting erratically in the house. The Spanish speaking caller, with the use of a translation line service wasnt able to tell dispatchers too much information other than asked for a rapid response. A second person got on the phone with dispatch and was crying, the Sheriffs Office said in a statement. At least two children were home when officers responded, the Sheriffs Office said. Responding officers found Garcia hiding under a mattress holding a 12-inch kitchen knife and tried to use pepper spray and a stun gun to subdue him without success, the Sheriffs Office reported. It remains unclear how many times the stun gun was used in the attempt to subdue Garcia. The investigation by the Sheriffs Office found that Santa Rosa police tried to negotiate with Garcia, but he moved toward them with the knife, and one officer shot him several times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The three officers who responded to the call were identified by the Santa Rosa Police Department as Nicholas Vlahandreas, Jeffrey Badger and Park McAllister. Vlahandreas has worked as a police officer since September 2014, and McAllister has worked in law enforcement since July 2005, while Badger was hired in July 2015. The department did not specify which of the officers discharged his weapon. The investigation is ongoing, according to the Sheriffs Office. Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi A federal judge in San Francisco has refused to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Wells Fargo bank of denying loans to immigrants who came to the U.S. as youngsters and have been allowed to remain here. Denial of loans based on citizenship status violates a federal law, passed in 1870, and a California civil rights law, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney said Thursday in rejecting the banks attempt to dismiss the proposed nationwide class-action suit. Wells Fargo, according to the suit, has a policy of granting loans only to U.S. citizens or to noncitizens who have become permanent legal residents and have a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen. The plaintiffs are among more than 750,000 immigrants who entered the United States before age 16, without legal documentation, have gone to high school and were granted work permits and reprieves from deportation by the Obama administration. The program is called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and has an uncertain future under President Trump. This is a very significant ruling, said attorney Victor Viramontes of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. Wells Fargo argued that they could discriminate against DACA recipients, and the judge rejected that. Viramontes said other national banks have similar policies. The entire industry should take note of this ruling and how they are treating people who are not yet permanent lawful residents, he said. Wells Fargo, in a statement, said, While the courts decision to allow the lawsuit to proceed is disappointing, we are prepared to defend our record as a responsible lender. In seeking dismissal of the suit, the bank argued that its policy was allowed by a 1976 federal law, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibits discrimination in lending based on race, sex, religion or national origin but does not mention citizenship. But Chesney said the 1976 law did not repeal additional protections of an 1870 statute enacted mainly to protect Chinese immigrants in California that required businesses such as lenders to grant equal contract rights to all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States. That meant they could not discriminate against noncitizens, she said. For California residents, Chesney said, the federal credit law does not supersede the protections of the states Unruh Civil Rights Act, which requires businesses to provide equal treatment to all customers and clients, regardless of their immigration status. The bank also argued that noncitizens might not be good credit risks because they might not remain in the U.S. Chesney said the law recognizes the benefits of a stable economy, but she noted that the lawsuit alleged that Wells Fargo had denied a loan to an immigrant who was part of the DACA program and had a U.S. citizen cosigner. Even if the borrower was deported or disappeared, the judge said, the cosigner would remain responsible for repayment. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko When Jeff Bezos, then a New York hedge fund employee, decided to start Amazon in 1994, he quickly moved to the West Coast. So did Mark Zuckerberg, who moved from Harvard to Palo Alto in 2004 to find the technology talent and financing needed to build up Facebook. Today, the West Coast exerts a similar tidal pull for startup companies in finance. Nine of the 15 U.S. financial technology unicorns private companies worth $1 billion or more, as tracked by CB Insights are in the Bay Area. These companies include online payments processor Stripe, online lender Social Finance and finance website Credit Karma. For seven years, a New York business-backed program the FinTech Innovation Lab has been working to stem that West Coast tide by helping financial services startups sell their services in New York in an industry where the city clearly dominates: big banks and other finance companies. The programs backers include Henry Kravis, a co-chief executive of the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts; Fred Wilson, a co-founder of the venture capital firm Union Square Ventures; and James D. Robinson III, a former chief executive of American Express. Theres no reason New York should not be the fintech capital of the world, said another program backer, Internet entrepreneur Kevin Ryan. He is a former CEO of DoubleClick and a founder of flash-sale service Gilt Groupe and Business Insider. The term fintech covers a group of startups, often funded by venture capitalists, that aim to apply new technology in areas like online lending, investing and payments. These startups have surged in popularity among investors as banks have had to focus on complying with regulations and rebuilding capital. The FinTech Innovation Lab is an accelerator that annually gives a half-dozen startups the chance to interact with top financial firms, hone their products and learn how they can fit into what Accenture, a management consultant, estimated was a $270 billion technology budget for banks worldwide. Tim Estes, the president of Digital Reasoning in Nashville, which uses artificial intelligence to spot compliance and reputational risks for banks in routine employee emails, said that going through the lab program in 2012 was transformative for the company, opening up doors across Wall Street as advertised. As Digital Reasoning won business from Wall Street, it opened a New York office near Union Square, which now has about 30 employees and is the firms second-largest office. Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse Group have become investors. Estes said Goldman was an early customer, two years after the investment banks chief executive was attacked in televised congressional hearings over a subprime debt sale that one Goldman staff member had described in an email as a bad deal. As firms like Goldman realized other such time bombs might be in their email files, everyone wanted a better bomb detector, Estes said. Another startup that won business through the lab, in 2012, was True Office, which turns compliance training into a game experience for employees. Adam Sodowick, the chief executive of True Office, had first met Maria Gotsch, a lab co-founder, at a dinner event at a Flatiron district loft. Morgan Stanley signed as a client and invested in True Office, which eventually moved its headquarters from Boston to New York and was acquired in 2014 by the New York Stock Exchange. The exchange resold it this year. The best-known firm to go through the program, in 2015, was the blockchain startup Digital Asset, shortly after it recruited Blythe Masters, a former JPMorgan Chase derivatives pioneer, as its chief executive. Accenture soon invested in the company, which aims to improve Wall Street trade processing. The New York lab is one of hundreds of incubators and accelerators that have sprung up throughout the country to help startups, such as Y Combinator in Mountain View; Techstars in Boulder, Colo.; and Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale. Though many programs require startups to give them an equity stake of 5 percent or more, the New York lab gets only 0.5 percent. The lab began in 2010 as a way to bolster the New York City economy after the 2008 financial crisis. It is co-sponsored by Accenture and the Partnership Fund for New York City, an arm of the nonprofit Partnership for New York City a business-backed civic group formed in 1979 by David Rockefeller. The lab is designed for companies that want to become partners with big financial institutions, rather than compete with them. One goal, said Robinson, an investor at RRE Ventures since 1994, is to expose the big banks and insurers to early-stage companies doing interesting things in this area. Jean Donnelly, the executive director of the Boston accelerator FinTech Sandbox, said, New York has come up pretty quickly as No. 2 behind Silicon Valley in fintech venture investments. Accenture says data from CB Insights indicates that Silicon Valleys lead in fintech debt and equity financing has narrowed. In 2012, the gap was 4.5-1, as valley fintechs raised $1 billion against $225 million for New York fintechs. In 2016, the gap was just 1.1-1, with $2.65 billion for Silicon Valley and $2.41 billion for New York. Some West Coast venture investors acknowledged the citys progress. The gap between Silicon Valley and New York has narrowed, said Pat Grady, a partner who focuses on fintech at Sequoia Capital in Menlo Park. But he added: If you want to build the next Apple or Airbnb, you come to Silicon Valley. The unmatched talent, risk-taking culture and relentless optimism mean that you have a better chance of outsized success here than anywhere else in the world. New York can be fertile ground for business to business startups selling to banks, Grady said. But some of the largest United States fintechs, like Social Finance and Credit Karma, cater directly to consumers and have potentially larger markets, he said. So how does the FinTech Innovation Lab work? Every year, the staff and a sponsor committee choose 20 to 25 startups from more than 100 applicants to meet with about 35 banks and other sponsoring institutions. The sponsors, in turn, collectively choose six to eight winners for the three-month program. Banks that once had to be browbeaten to participate in the lab are now waiting in line to check out the startups, said Matt Harris, a partner in Bain Capital Ventures. Lately, out-of-town banks like KeyBank in Cleveland and U.S. Bank in Minneapolis have joined. Companies selected to participate this year included Cutting Edge, Nova Credit and BehavioSec. Cutting Edge, a cybersecurity firm, helps protect customers locations and identities on the internet. Nova Credit processes and provides credit data from foreign institutions on individuals so banks can lend more readily to immigrants. BehavioSec helps confirm customer identities by analyzing how they type, click and swipe on their devices. Randall Smith is a New York Times writer. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The cautionary words of U.S. regulators have done little to chill a red-hot market for new virtual currencies sold by startups. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued its first warning late last month for the many entrepreneurs who have been raising money by creating and selling their own virtual currencies in what are called initial coin offerings. At that point, hundreds of projects had raised more than $1 billion. Yet even after the commission said it was looking closely at projects that may violate its rules, programmers are still embarking on new offerings at a torrid pace. Most of the offerings have little legal oversight, and some appear to conflict with the commissions basic advice. The broader detail and the silences in the report should give many people pause, and that doesnt seem to have happened yet, said Emma Channing, the general counsel at the Argon Group, which helps projects in the industry raise funds. I dont understand why everyone isnt as concerned as I am. Since the guidance was released July 25, 46 new coin offerings have been announced, and an additional 204 are moving toward fundraising, according to data from Tokendata.io. In contrast, only three projects have said they are canceling or postponing the sale of coins because of the warning. July was the biggest month for coin offerings, with 34 projects raising $665 million, Tokendata.io data shows or twice as much money as was raised in the first five months of the year combined. For investors, the most immediate risk is less likely to be the regulators, and more likely to be the many projects that are proceeding without a credible plan for putting out successful software something that many sophisticated investors have warned about. Many coin offerings have also had security vulnerabilities that have led to big losses for investors. But even projects that build successful software could be punished if the commission carries through with its warning. The agency said that it would focus on coins that should be categorized as securities. People selling securities to U.S. investors are generally required to register themselves and their investments with the securities regulator. So far, almost none of the coins being sold to investors have been registered with regulators. Many entrepreneurs creating virtual currencies have argued they are not securities because they are intended to be used as the internal method of payment in the software that the entrepreneurs are creating. The DMarket token, for instance, is expected to be used to pay for video game points and products on a new marketplace being built by the tokens creators, and those creators have said that they do not consider it a security. But many lawyers in the industry have been warning entrepreneurs that just because a coin is intended to serve as a payment method does not mean that it cannot also be categorized as a security. Nick Morgan, formerly a lawyer in the SECs enforcement division, said the security label was likely to apply to any coin an investor buys with the expectation that it will increase in value as a result of the efforts of the entrepreneurs who created it. That definition could be a problem for many coins because the excitement around initial coin offerings has been driven almost entirely by investors who have bought coins in the hope that they will become more valuable over time as the underlying software is improved. The values of many coins introduced in the last year have skyrocketed as speculators have entered the market. Morgan, now a defense lawyer at Paul Hastings, said he expected the commission to save its fire for the most egregious, fraudulent cases, sparing most initial coin offerings, even if they are not properly registered. But he said he expected more problems for the virtual currency exchanges that allowed investors to trade coins that should be categorized as securities, even if the securities are not fraudulent. Im sad to say that I think we will see one or more exchanges get hit by a fairly significant SEC enforcement, Channing of the Argon Group said. If exchanges are punished, it is likely to drive down prices throughout the market because it will make it harder to buy and sell all virtual currencies. A handful of coming coin offerings have hired lawyers to carefully devise investments that play by the rules. The creators of Filecoin, which is being built to pay for file storage in a new cloud computing network, have worked with the law firm Cooley to structure their offering. When the coin goes on sale Thursday, it will be available only to accredited investors, which allows the coin to be exempt from many SEC regulations intended to protect smaller investors. Other projects have tried to work around regulators by prohibiting U.S. investors from buying their coins, which they have done by barring anyone who tries to buy the coins from an Internet address associated with the United States. But those measures generally do not prevent eager U.S. investors from using foreign Internet addresses to place orders, a relatively easy workaround. Several lawyers said that the commission is unlikely to care about the steps taken to keep out U.S. investors if Americans still end up buying the coins. Just blocking IP addresses is irrelevant, said Patrick Murck, a partner at the law firm Cooley, referring to Internet protocol. Theres only one thing that is relevant, and that is whether a U.S. investor bought in your sale. The projects barring U.S. investors could also get in trouble with regulators from other countries. Last week, Singapores central bank announced that it was also scrutinizing coin offerings and applying a framework similar to the U.S. regulators. Murck said that even teams that do make an effort to comply with the regulators are going to be in treacherous waters because of the lack of clear definitions and law regarding virtual currencies. There are still open questions after the SEC report, he said. Theres uncertainty and risk in the space, even for people who are taking a professional approach to it. Nathaniel Popper is a New York Times writer. Uber Technologies Inc. is trying to unload its costly U.S. subprime car-leasing program. The ride-hailing companys board determined Xchange Leasing, a wholly owned subsidiary, is unsustainable and should be sold or consolidated into a smaller unit within Uber, according to a person familiar with the plans. The board decided last month to wind down the program, which provides subprime car leases to drivers in its service, after discovering it was significantly more expensive than originally thought. Xchange had been estimating losses of about $500 per car, but they are actually closer to $9,000 per car, the person said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. A 19-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department will become Portlands first female, African American police chief, the Oregon city announced Monday. Danielle Outlaw, who has served as deputy chief of the embattled Oakland Police Department, since 2013, will take the top job in early October, according to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. She will be one of the first outsiders to assume the role in Portland. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 24-year-old Concord man has been charged with arson after admitting to a police officer that he used a cigarette lighter to start a fire in the East Bay hills last week, authorities said Tuesday. Alameda County prosecutors charged Alfredo Bautista with arson, attempted robbery, assault and vehicle theft in connection with a string of incidents that began last Wednesday morning with road rage and ended with a confession next to a stolen car as a wildland fire burned nearby. Police said Bautista, armed with a rifle, tried to rob two people along Grizzly Peak Boulevard, then followed and repeatedly rammed their vehicle as they drove away, before they crashed into a parked car. Bautista pointed the gun at the couple, then fled the scene, police said. A few hours later, a UC Berkeley police officer was called to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory campus on reports of a car theft in progress. A UC police affidavit released Tuesday said Bautista had broken into a vehicle and started driving away before witnesses stopped him. The officer detained Bautista and, during a search, found the cigarette lighter in his pocket. The suspect freely admitted to starting eight separate fires in the area, the affidavit said, including one inside the fenced-off UC Berkeley field station, where researchers study ecology and animal behavior. Bautista matched the description of both the road rage suspect and that of someone seen hopping the fence into the research area earlier in the day, the affidavit said. On Tuesday afternoon, Bautista pleaded not guilty in Alameda County Superior Court, and a pretrial hearing was scheduled for Aug. 15. The fire devoured 20 acres of rough terrain and took five days and more than 150 firefighters to fully contain. The blaze spread from UC property to land in Oaklands jurisdiction and required the assistance of 12 local fire agencies as well as the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. One Cal Fire member suffered minor injuries when he fell 50 feet down a hillside while working to extinguish the flames. A motive in the case has yet to be determined, said Lt. Marc DeCoulode of the UC Police Department. Bautista is not a student, and his connection to the campus is unknown, DeCoulode said. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Pregnant women who suffer from common sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea are at greater risk of delivering a baby before full term, according to a UCSF study released Tuesday that points to the need for better diagnosis and treatment of the conditions. About 1 in 10 births are premature or delivered at less than 37 weeks of gestation but for women with diagnosed sleep disorders, the researchers found, the rate was closer to 1 in 7. The odds of delivering before 34 weeks were found to be roughly double the rate of women without a sleep disorder. The study of California births, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, offers hope as the medical community confronts the high rate of preterm deliveries in the U.S., which is worse than in most industrialized nations, said Jennifer Felder, a postdoctoral fellow in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and one of the studys lead authors. Premature birth, which is more common among African American mothers, can lead to difficulties in breastfeeding, neurological disorders like cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and vision and hearing problems. It is the leading cause of death globally for children under age 5. Its really critical to identify risk factors, Felder said. Its possible that by treating sleep disorders during pregnancy, we might be able to reduce the preterm birth rate. The study, funded by Salesforce founder Marc Benioff and his wife, Lynne Benioff, looked at 2,265 pregnant women diagnosed with sleep disorders from 2007 to 2012 and compared them with the general population. Researchers noted that many more pregnant women may suffer from sleep disorders, but without a diagnosis. Only 1 percent of the women in the data set had a diagnosed disorder. The women who had a diagnosis of a sleep disorder recorded in their medical record most likely had more severe presentations, said Aric Prather, an assistant professor of psychiatry at UCSF and the senior author of the study. Its likely that the prevalence would be much higher if more women were screened for sleep disorders during pregnancy. Because sleep problems among pregnant women are fairly common, symptoms can be discounted as an expected part of pregnancy. Felder said she hopes the study will ignite greater awareness among medical providers. We hope this will start the conversation between caregiver and patients instead of brushing this off as a normal thing, she said. Like many pregnant women, San Francisco resident Hope Williams had trouble sleeping. She worried through the nights of her pregnancy. She had high blood pressure and stayed awake fearing shed have to go to the hospital, miss work and be fired. She fretted about her unstable housing situation. But her insomnia was undiagnosed. Its hard to get the support you need, she said. I was on my doctors table crying. Her daughter, Kyndahl, was born at just over 34 weeks at 4 pounds, 9 ounces. Now 3, Kyndahl struggled with health issues for her first two years. Williams is on an advisory committee for UCSFs preterm birth initiative, hoping to address the needs of all women during pregnancy, especially those with less support and resources, including African American women, whose preterm birth rate is 1.5 times that of white women. You cannot tell me to get eight hours of sleep or 10 hours of sleep when I dont have a bed, said Williams. How do I get sleep when I have to commute an hour and a half to get to work? While the UCSF study concludes that sleep disorders increase the risk of preterm births, identifying practices that can help is a significant challenge. A variety of options exist to treat sleep disorders, including oxygen masks for apnea, but pregnant women might prefer to avoid other interventions, like medication for insomnia. The UCSF researchers are now conducting a study to determine whether cognitive behavioral therapy can address insomnia. Daphina Melbourne, another San Francisco resident, had a less common disorder. She slept too much, something called hypersomnia. The researchers said the condition also appears to increase the risk for preterm births, although the number of women included in the study with this rarer disorder was considered too low to provide definitive results. More for you US wont require sleep tests for train, truck drivers Melbournes condition was undiagnosed during her pregnancy, even though she fell asleep one day while driving home from work. While thats alarming on a lot of different levels, it was an exhaustion that wasnt explainable, she said. I honestly just assumed, like everyone else, it was normal pregnancy. She went into labor at 28 weeks, but with bed rest delivered at 37 weeks. Her son, who was healthy, is now 16. Melbourne is also on the universitys advisory committee and seeks to provide a voice for black women and others who often face inequities in prenatal care. Some work two jobs or at night, and suffer stress, resulting in a lack of sleep. But they dont feel they have the support to address their issues, she said. A lot of women just suffer through because they cant afford to lose their jobs, she said. Thats where doctors and medical providers and lawmakers can really come together and support these moms. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker Preterm birth study For more information about the UCSF Research on Expecting Moms and Sleep Therapy (REST) study, go to rest.ucsf.edu. HARTFORD, Conn. A convicted felon who graduated from Yale Law School and won acclaim as a poet is being asked by a Connecticut committee to prove his good moral character before he is allowed to practice law. Reginald Dwayne Betts passed the state bar exam in February, but a panel of judges and lawyers that decides who joins the state bar flagged his file because of three felony convictions for a carjacking he committed two decades ago as a teenager. The Connecticut Bar Examining Committee will investigate and hold a hearing on Betts bid for admission to the bar. Like most states, Connecticut does not prohibit felons from becoming attorneys, but a felony conviction creates a presumption that the applicant lacks good moral character and/or fitness to practice law. Such applicants must prove otherwise by clear and convincing evidence. A lawyer for Betts, William Dow III, said people from many walks of life who know Betts have indicated they are willing to support him and testify on his behalf if necessary in the Bar Examining Committee proceedings. Its an honor to represent this young man, Dow said. He has a resume that is absolutely breathtaking. He personifies what people talk about when they speak of second chances. Betts, 36, has been working for the state public defenders office in New Haven. He declined to comment. Bar Examining Committee officials also declined to comment on Betts, saying the review process is confidential. Betts grew up in Suitland, Md., and was convicted of a carjacking at a Virginia mall when he was 16. He served eight years in prison. He went on to graduate from the University of Maryland, win a Harvard University fellowship and earn a Yale law degree. Along the way, he has written two books of poetry that received good reviews. A third book, A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison, won a 2010 NAACP Image Award. He is now married with two children. Only three states Kansas, Mississippi and Texas ban felons from becoming lawyers, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Dave Collins is an Associated Press writer. Governor Rauner can hold the line on this war on young and less-skilled workers by vetoing the $15 minimum wage legislation thats currently on his desk. Last month, the state legislature overrode Gov. Bruce Rauners veto to pass a 32 percent tax increase on all earned income. For a family earning $40,000 -- two-thirds of the states median income thats an extra $480 in annual tax that could have gone to cover rising healthcare, childcare, and housing costs, which are inflated by the highest property taxes in the country. As a major new University of Washington study examining Seattles $15 minimum wage demonstrates, a $15 minimum wage reduces jobs, hours, and wages for the working class. Minimum wage research and common sense have long shown that minimum wage increases cost jobs for entry-level workers because they force some employers to cut back or forgo expansion because of the associated costs. A 2014 review by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found up to one million jobs would be lost nationwide at a $10.10 minimum wage. This job loss would be supersized at a $15 wage floor. But a minimum wage increase that reduces wages as well? How does that happen? As the University of Washingtons team of unbiased researchers explain: Employee hours were cut by three times as much as their wages were increased, leaving them with less wages overall. In fact, the researchers found that those earning less than $19 an hour, which is about $40,000 a year full-time, saw their annual income fall by the equivalent of $1,500 a year because of this effect. With one pocket already lightened by state and local tax increases, the states entry-level workforce cant afford their other pocket to be attacked by the minimum wage hike. Minimum wage proponents of course argue that businesses could absorb the costs of a $15 minimum wage without cutting back on jobs, hours or benefits. But private employers like my clients are generally small business owners who use their slim profit margins to reinvest, hire and grow, which would be curtailed by this new wage mandate. Larger businesses, including national firms are launching automated alternatives to replace entry-level positions. A 2015 research study done by Citi Research and the Oxford Martin School found that many critical industries will face job losses due to automation. The current minimum wage proposal will accelerate this growing trend, hurting young and entry-level employees who are most vulnerable. Some minimum wage proponents say that small businesses could absorb the minimum wage costs through small price increases. But the demand curve is downward sloping. In other words, because consumers are price sensitive, price increases reduce sales, which reduce jobs. And even if businesses could offset minimum wage costs through price increases, who would this hurt the most? The states entry level workers and new entrants into the labor force. Main Street Illinois is already struggling, with downtown cores being ravaged by a mixture of taxes, regulations, and secular economic trends like e-commerce. An 82 percent increase in the state minimum wage would only compound this damage. It would also exacerbate the trend of residents moving away to states with more economic opportunity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 300,000 people on net have left the state over the past few years -- the biggest exodus in the nation. Rather than pursuing a counterproductive and divisive minimum wage increase, the state should pursue economic growth and training programs, both of which directly help entry-level employees. Lets come together around bipartisan initiatives that encourage employers to educate employees, provide stronger paths of career development and introduce employees to entrepreneurship programs. But in the meantime, Gov. Rauner can stop the attack on entry-level employees by vetoing the proposed $15 minimum wage. It may just mark the turning point in the states ongoing war on hardworking taxpayers and families. Kris Garlewicz is the President of Prosperifi, a member of the Job Creators Network, and a member of Entrepreneurs Organization Chicago. RJ Muna/World Arts West To recognize and showcase the contributions of deaf and hard of hearing artists, the Urban Jazz Dance Company presents the fifth annual Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival. Deaf artists from across the world such as 2016s So You Think You Can Dance Germany winner Kassandra Wedel will travel to the Dance Mission Theater to perform Friday-Sunday, Aug. 11-13. A range of sign languages will accompany each performance. The three-day event also includes workshops, running Tuesday-Wednesday, Aug. 8-9, and Sunday, Aug. 13, in jazz, hip-hop, ballet, American Sign Language dance and more led by both deaf and hearing artists. The youth workshop on Sunday will feature award-winning deaf dancer, choreographer and the founder of Urban Jazz Dance Company, Antoine Hunter. Contributed Photo/Contributed photo Steve Martin and Martin Short managed to miss each other at Saturday Night Live. Martin was introduced in the mid-1970s, and Shorts term from 1984-85 was one of the few seasons Martin didnt appear as a guest star. But they became good friends on the set of Three Amigos in 1986, have found ways to work together since then and will be coming to the Concord Pavilion together on Friday, Aug. 11. To stage one of Shakespeares so-called problem plays is to give yourself a mighty hurdle to leap over. The fate of your production will hang not just on the usual suspects like acting and design but also on to what extent you mitigate a central problem: trying to unify a hodgepodge of tones, to make sense of a script that straddles comedy and tragedy. In some problem plays, obsolete gender, racial or religious politics exacerbate the problem; in others, a central implausibility makes the whole story difficult to accept. The problem in Measure for Measure is a little bit of all of these, and director Tyne Rafaeli gets closer than most in solving it, in a coproduction between Santa Cruz Shakespeare (where I saw the show Saturday, Aug. 5) and California Shakespeare Theater (where the show will transfer, with performances beginning Sept. 13). This coproduction marks the first time the two Shakespeare companies have collaborated in this manner. The basic premise of Measure strains credulity. The Duke (Rowan Vickers), in order to rid Vienna of vice, runs away and instates another, Angelo (David Graham Jones), with full leave to enforce long-ignored moral codes. This is all so that the Duke, in disguise as a friar, might observe how things play out. He keeps up this grand, whimsical social experiment long after it would seem to do him or his state any good, long after hes begun playing god with his subjects families, with their beliefs about life and death, in order to subject them to still further loyalty and purity tests. Yet the Duke isnt all caprice. His right-hand man, Escalus (Tristan Cunningham), describes the Duke as a man who above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself and as a gentleman of all temperance. In Vickers boyish, earnest rendering, the Duke is roiled by his perceived mistakes as a ruler. Philosophical questions are to him earthbound emergencies. He opens the show in a panic, scarcely able to make eye contact with anyone as he hurries to abscond. His performance helps make the incredible credible: He fidgets like a criminal thats how he sees himself so it makes sense that he would steal away as one. Many other members of Rafaelis cast triumph as well. As Isabella, the nun offered a chance to save her brothers life in exchange for her virginity, Lindsay Rico pursues humility with such towering strength and sharp focus that she seems more CEO or warlord than sister of the abbey. You yearn to see a play with Isabella as the protagonist. Annie Worden slays in variety of comic roles; in particular, her antsy performance as the dimwitted Constable Elbow its as if hes afflicted by a great permanent itch, maybe a psychological one, from deep within would be worthy of its own cartoon show. The Duke gets some laughs, too; Rafaeli wisely doesnt try to smooth over his clownishness, his insouciance. If he plays god with his duchy, hes also eminently real and human. Rafaelis production reminds us that, while Measure might not drive forward with the inexorable force of Shakespeares tragedies, it gives us a protagonist who might more closely mirror us. Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak Measure for Measure: Written by William Shakespeare. Directed by Tyne Rafaeli. Through Sept 2. $25-$55. Grove at DeLaveaga Park, 501 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz. (831) 460-6399. www.santacruzshakespeare.org; Sept. 13-Oct. 8. $20-$72. subject to change. California Shakespeare Theater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. (510) 548-9666. www.calshakes.org. Two hours, 25 minutes. To see an interview with director Tyne Rafaeli: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApyE_NWvm-U&feature=youtu.be Haruo Nakajima, the Japanese actor who played the movie monster Godzilla in a dozen films and whose booming steps in a 200-pound rubber suit sent the denizens of Tokyo running into cinematic history, died Monday. He was 88. His daughter, Sonoe Nakajima, said the cause was pneumonia. Mr. Nakajima was a 25-year-old stunt actor with just four movies to his credit when he was cast in what are perhaps Japans two most famous films of that era: Akira Kurosawas masterpiece Seven Samurai, in which he had a bit part, and Godzilla, both released in 1954. In Godzilla he played the titular character: a gigantic, irradiated lizard whose mutated form and destructive power wreaks havoc on Tokyo. The first movie in the Godzilla franchise, it was released nine years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a not-so-thinly veiled fable about the dangers of nuclear weapons. One might regard him as a symbol of Japanese hate for the destruction that came out of nowhere and descended upon Hiroshima one pleasant August morn, the New York Times wrote of the monster in a 1956 review of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the English-dubbed version of the film released in North America. But we assure you that the quality of the picture and the childishness of the whole idea do not indicate such a calculation. Godzilla was simply meant to scare people. Mr. Nakajima would eventually put on the heavy rubber monster costume 12 times from 1954 to 1972 in a series of movies that became an international phenomenon. The success of Godzilla kicked off Japans golden age of tokusatsu, or special-filming movies, in which rubber-costumed actors portraying colossal, terrifying creatures typically destroyed scale-model sets, creating illusions of reality that would one day be generated even more spectacularly by computers. We had to improvise and make it all look real on screen, Mr. Nakajima told the Times in 2013. He recalled Godzillas creator, Eiji Tsuburaya, struggling amid Japans postwar shortages and rationing to find enough rubber and latex to construct the costume. You dont learn this from a textbook but by doing, Mr. Nakajima said of those early days. There is no chance to learn now. Wearing a hot, heavy suit beneath the soundstages bright lights had him sweating so much, he said, that at the end of a days shooting he could wring enough perspiration from his undershirt to fill half a bucket. To perfect the monsters destructive gait, Mr. Nakajima spent hours at the zoo studying how elephants and bears walked. He wanted the monster to be believable, he said in interviews. Mr. Nakajima was born on Jan. 1, 1929, in Yamagata, Japan. He was 16 when Japan surrendered to the Allies, ending World War II. His first credited acting role was in Sword for Hire, in 1952, when he was 23. As a contract actor for the Japanese studio Toho, Mr. Nakajima starred in dozens of other monster movies, including King Kong Returns, a 1967 Japanese production in which he again played the title character, this time in an ape costume. He retired from acting in 1973. Beginning in the 1990s, he made frequent appearances at conventions of comic book and movie fans. He lived in a suburb of Tokyo. There was no immediate information on survivors. Mr. Nakajima was the first iteration of Godzilla but not the last. Toho produced 27 more Godzilla films after Mr. Nakajima hung up his rubber suit in 1972. Since then, Hollywood has produced three Godzilla movies. The next in the franchise will star Ken Watanabe and is scheduled for release in 2019. Russell Goldman is a New York Times writer. BEIRUT Lebanons U.S.-backed military is gearing up for a long-awaited assault to dislodge hundreds of Islamic State militants from a remote corner near Syrian border, seeking to end a years-long threat posed to neighboring towns and villages by the extremists. The campaign will involve cooperation with the militant group Hezbollah and the Syrian army on the other side of the border although Lebanese authorities insist they are not coordinating with Syrian President Bashar Assads government. But the assault could prove costly for the under-equipped military and risk activating Islamic State sleeper cells in the country. The tiny Mediterranean nation has been spared the wars and chaos that engulfed several countries in the region since the so-called Arab Spring uprisings erupted in 2011. But it has not been able to evade threats to its security, including sectarian infighting and random car bombings, particularly in 2014, when militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State overran the border region, kidnapping Lebanese soldiers. The years-long presence of extremists in the border area has brought suffering to neighboring towns and villages, from shelling, to kidnappings of villagers for ransom. Car bombs made in the area and sent to other parts of the country, including the Lebanese capital, Beirut, have killed scores of citizens. Aided directly by the United States and Britain, the army has accumulated steady successes against the militants in the past year, slowly clawing back territory, including strategic hills retaken in the past week. The planned operation follows a six-day military offensive by the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah that forced al Qaeda-linked fighters to flee the area on the outskirts of the town of Arsal, along with thousands of civilians. In a clear distribution of roles, the army is now expected to launch the attack on Islamic State. In the past few days, the armys artillery shells and multiple rocket launchers have been pounding the mountainous areas on the Lebanon-Syria border, where Islamic State held positions, in preparation for the offensive. Drones could be heard around the clock, and residents of the eastern Bekaa Valley reported seeing army reinforcements arriving daily in the northeastern district of Hermel to join the battle. The offensive from the Lebanese side of the border will be carried out by the Lebanese army, while Syrian troops and Hezbollah fighters will be working to clear the Syrian side of Islamic State militants. Hezbollah has been fighting alongside Assads forces since 2013. On Tuesday, the armys top brass conferred with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and interior and defense ministers at the Presidential Palace to plan operations in the eastern Bekaa Valley. Experts say more than 3,000 troops, including elite special forces, are in the northeastern corner of Lebanon to take part in the offensive. Bassem Mroue is an Associated Press writer. WAIMANALO, Hawaii Compared with other marine mammals, 40-year-old Kina has lived a particularly well-traveled and high-profile life. She went from the open ocean off Japan, to a Hong Kong amusement park, to a classified U.S. Navy program, to a Hawaii research lab. Along the way, studies using Kina, a false killer whale a dark-gray member of the dolphin family with a big, round beak led to major discoveries on whale hearing and aided in the development of modern military sonar. Now Kina is again making waves, this time with her latest move to an Oahu marine park. Animal-rights activists say the 13-foot-long, toothy mammal deserves a peaceful retirement but is instead being traumatized as an attraction confined to concrete tanks. But Kinas handlers maintain she has excellent care, receiving the best food, veterinary attention and stimulating training, all while continuing to contribute to important science. And park officials say she wont take part in any acrobatic shows like other dolphins in their care. Kinas journey started in the wild over 30 years ago, when she was captured during a Japanese dolphin hunt. The fishermen sold her to a Hong Kong amusement park, where the U.S. Navy acquired her in 1987. For the next six years, the Navy used Kina for classified research on sonar, the use of sound to communicate, maneuver and detect objects underwater. When that program ended, Kina went to a University of Hawaii lab, where her science career continued for over 20 years. In 2015, amid serious funding problems, the school was forced to auction off Kina. Sea Life Park, a family attraction just outside Honolulu, put in the highest bid, and she has been living there ever since. Caleb Jones is an Associated Press writer. 1 Plane crash: The submerged wreckage of a U.S. military aircraft was found Monday, two days after it crashed into the sea off the east coast of Australia and left three U.S. Marines presumed dead. An Australian navy ship arrived in Shoalwater Bay in Queensland state Sunday night to help the U.S. military search for the MV-22 Osprey, which the Marines said was conducting regularly scheduled operations on Saturday when it crashed. Three Marines remain missing. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps called off a search and rescue operation for them on Sunday and launched a recovery effort instead. Twenty-three other personnel who were on board the Osprey were rescued. 2 South Africa politics: South Africas parliament will vote by secret ballot on a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday. The surprise announcement of the vote, which could bring an end to Zumas presidency, was made by National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete at a press conference in Cape Town. Opposition parties have lobbied for months for an anonymous no-confidence vote to provide cover to disgruntled members of Zumas African National Congress who may fear voting against their leader in an open ballot. Zuma, dogged by corruption scandals and waning popularity, has faced public calls for his resignation by leading members of his own party. Zuma has survived six no-confidence attempts since becoming president in 2009. The New Zealand dollar fell on a trade-weighed index basis ahead of what is expected to be a dovish statement from the Reserve Bank on Thursday. The TWI was at 77.43 at 5pm from 77.93 late yesterday in Wellington. It traded at 92.90 Australian cents from 93.20 cents late yesterday and at 73.53 US cents versus 73.99 US cents yesterday. The central bank is widely expected to keep rates on hold at 1.75 percent at Thursday's rate review but is now expected to signal rates on hold for longer than prior forecasts. In May it said rates would be on hold until 2019 and it could now signal 2020, according to economists. "I think people are realising the RBNZ will be a bit more dovish so the New Zealand dollar has been under a bit of pressure," said ANZ Bank New Zealand senior economist Phil Borkin. "We certainly think they are going to flatten the official cash rate profile and certainly not talk about rate hikes anytime soon and they might even be a bit more explicit in terms of a few nerves about the currency. But we don't expect them to come out with an explicit easing bias by any means." Across the Tasman investors were cheered when the strong run shown by the Australian business sector continued in the July NAB business survey, with business conditions hitting their highest level since 2008. The data weighed on the kiwi and Borkin said it could ease further, in particular ahead of Thursday's monetary policy statement. Borkin also said the kiwi may also be faltering against the crosses on some pre-election jitters after the shakeup in the Labour Party that saw Jacinda Ardern replace Andrew Little as leader of the opposition. "The market may be reacting to some election uncertainty," after being largely complacent, he said. "It's become more interesting but what we really need is another poll." The kiwi declined to 56.37 British pence from 56.65 pence and was at 4.9250 yuan from 4.9740 yuan. It dipped 62.26 euro cents from 62.72 cents and fell to 81.33 yen from 81.90 yen. New Zealand's two-year swap rate fell 1 basis point to 2016 percent while the 10-year swaps fell 5 basis point to 3.16 percent. (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. 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Related News: The Warehouse Group FY23 First Quarter Sales Update PEB - Interim Financial Results to be Announced 24 November 2022 EROAD H1 FY23 Results and Conference Call Details MFB - Appointment of Chief Executive Officer HFL - Annual report for the year ended 31 August 2022 November 11th Morning Report 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 Headwinds are building for New Zealand exports of beef, the country's largest meat export, according to AgriHQ. The outlook for beef prices is weakening in the US, the largest market for New Zealand beef, after a United States Department of Agriculture report showed cattle numbers at a nine-year high as farmers rebuild their herds following heavy culling in 2014 and 2015, with most of the increase in beef cows rather than dairy cows. Elsewhere, Japan has temporarily lifted the tariff on frozen beef from New Zealand, rival exporter Australia has increased supplies, and a rise in the New Zealand dollar is hurting margins, according to AgriHQ's monthly Sheep & Beef report for August. "Sentiment in the US towards imported beef has turned negative, largely on the belief that US domestic prices will weaken in the next few months," AgriHQ analyst Reece Brick said in his report. "Importers are very reluctant to buy on the current market, with exporters reporting very limited interest over the past fortnight. "This view is predominantly driven by weaker beef futures as well as production forecasts which paint a picture of increased supplies through the back-end of this year." The price for 95CL imported bull beef dropped to US$2.27 a pound this month, from US$2.38/pound last month, according to AgriHQ data. The price for imported 90CL cow meat slipped to US$2.18/pound from US$2.20/pound. Still, prices remain above year-earlier levels with 95CL last year at US$2.25/pound and 90CL at US$2.10/pound. AgriHQ's Brick noted that the rising value of the kiwi dollar was "an extra thorn" in the side of exporters, with the local currency recently hitting its highest value against the US dollar since May 2015. "The appreciation of the New Zealand dollar has eaten into processor margins, and there's an active attempt throughout New Zealand to decrease slaughter prices as a result," he said. In Japan, the tariff on frozen beef has been lifted to 50 percent from 38.5 percent until the end of March next year after "exceptionally high" sales of imported beef, with beef imports in the year to June at the highest level for the country since 2003, Brick said. This means New Zealand exporters will be forced to find alternate markets to divert product into, he said. ASB Bank senior rural economist Nathan Penny noted that the Japanese tariff change was likely to put a spanner in the works for local beef prices, as Japan is New Zealand's highest paying export market for beef. The average beef export price in the Japan market for the September 2016 year was almost 20 percent higher than the next-best market, and around 45 percent higher than prices in the US, he said. Australian beef is exempt from the tariff hike on the back of its trade agreement with Japan, so New Zealand and the US will bear most of the brunt of the increase, Penny said. In Australia, the national beef kill is continuing back towards its five-year average at a steady pace as the country rebuilds its herds following droughts. (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: The Warehouse Group FY23 First Quarter Sales Update PEB - Interim Financial Results to be Announced 24 November 2022 EROAD H1 FY23 Results and Conference Call Details MFB - Appointment of Chief Executive Officer HFL - Annual report for the year ended 31 August 2022 November 11th Morning Report 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 (Recasts to focus on irrigation, updates shares) PGG Wrightson says it will probably take a few years for its water business to return to the levels of profitability enjoyed in 2013-14 after recording a loss in the 2017 year in the face of lower demand and increased environmental concerns. The Christchurch-based company declined to detail the size of the loss from its irrigation activities. The business has been restructured, with an impairment against inventory. In the 2017 accounts, Wrightsons rural services division was split into two segments agency and retail and water. Retail and water earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell to $18.3 million from $20 million in the full year, while sales gained to $562 million from $550 million. Chief executive Mark Dewdney said on a conference call that the companys irrigation pipeline has more forward activity than this time last year but it was back on levels of activity in the pipeline three or four years ago. Back then, South Canterbury irrigation projects were at full speed, there was slightly less focus on environmental issues and dairy farmers were enjoying higher milk prices, he said. Wrightson was confident water would be back in profit in the current year but probably not back to the levels of 2013-14 for a few years. He noted that the Ruantaniwha project, for example, looked increasingly unlikely. So far this year, the government's irrigation project funding agency Crown Irrigation Investments has provided $7.4 million of funding for irrigation schemes, the largest being up to $3.4 million in the Hurunui Water Project, which aims to irrigate up to 21,000 hectares on the south side of the Hurunui River in North Canterbury and has a total estimated cost of $200 million. Wrightson today posted a 5.7 percent gain in full-year profit, meeting its guidance, as the rural services company benefitted from lower interest costs, offsetting stalled growth in revenue. Profit rose to $46.3 million in the 12 months ended June 30, from $43.8 million a year earlier, it said in a statement. Sales fell to $1.13 billion from $1.18 billion. The company warned investors in June that earnings would be at the low end of guidance thanks to wet autumn conditions that hampered the harvest in New Zealand and weighed on the performance of Wrightson's seed and grain business. Today chairman Alan Lai said the company had been bracing for the impact of lower commodity prices but hadn't banked on unfavourable weather. "We thought this year was going to be more challenging than FY2016 as we expected lower commodity prices to lead to reduced farmer spending," Lai said. "What we could not foresee was the impact of the very wet conditions in New Zealand over the final quarter." Still, he was upbeat about the current 2018 year, saying market conditions "are improving", with higher pretax earnings, although net profit "should reduce to a more normalised level as we will not have gains from the divestment of properties." Full-year operating ebitda fell to $64.5 million from $70.2 million, slightly better than its June forecast for ebitda to be in the bottom half of its earlier guidance for earnings of between $62 million and $68 million. Operating ebitda for seed and grain, its biggest business, fell to $37 million from about $42 million as sales slid 5.4 percent to $428.7 million. Agency ebitda fell to about $18 million from $18.2 million as sales dropped to $197 million from $228 million. The company will pay a fully imputed dividend of 2 cents a share on Oct. 4, bringing total payments for the year to 3.75 cents, unchanged from 2016. Its shares rose 1.7 percent to 61 cents and have gained 21 percent this year. Wrightson is 50.2 percent owned by Agria Corp. (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: The Warehouse Group FY23 First Quarter Sales Update PEB - Interim Financial Results to be Announced 24 November 2022 EROAD H1 FY23 Results and Conference Call Details MFB - Appointment of Chief Executive Officer HFL - Annual report for the year ended 31 August 2022 November 11th Morning Report 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 On Saturday, July 29, 2017 9:08 AM, Rasha Almarsoomi < hsbc_gldheadoffice@mail2Consu ltant.com> wrote: Hello Mr Young. Your file just got to my table. Accept my deepest condolences for your loss. I am fully ready to release the reference account to you. We would begin the transfer process of account to you as the next of kin to Kellan Young. The reference account has quite a huge closing balance with a high interest gained over time. It took us some time locating account because it has not been used for a while but this account still remains valid. Our policy demands that the listed documents be made available by you before we can complete the account transfer/ funds to you. The required documents are: 1: Police Report of Kellan Young. 2: Sworn Affidavit of truth and claims. 3: Death certificate of Kellan Young. 4: United Kingdom next of kin identity Letter. 5: Scanned copy of either your International passport/National identity card. Documents are for official use only. On receiving these documents, we will then legally transfer account & account's backup file to you. Expecting your quick response to serve you better. All documents should be processed by a Legal Counsel practicing in the United Kingdom. All documents must bear the seal of the United Kingdom to proof authentic. Regards, Mrs Rasha Shallal Farhan Al-Marsoomi(Snr.Director Gld), A Head,General Ledger Department. On Jul 29, 2017 11:14 PM, " nadim ragi" < nadimragi22@gmail.com > wrote: Hello I received your email with response from bank. These documents are requested here on a day to day basis. I would get back to you shortly on how we can go about processing the necessary documents. I believe you have the requested ID. Everything seems good so far and I am glad. Best Regards On Jul 31, 2017 9:52 AM, " nadim ragi" < nadimragi22@gmail.com > wrote: Hello Thanks for your understanding, optimism and without wasting any more time, I had to search for a good and reputable lawyer. The documents requested by my bank are normally prepared or obtained here on a daily basis but only by UK law practitioners. My expectancy, for getting better contacts sooner did not materialize in my search for lawyer; as such, we must now take deal as first priorities in other to beat the escheat date. The lawyer had lots of recommendation thus will be fully responsible for preparing and authenticating of all documents requested by my bank on time. Do take note of the following when contacting the lawyer: A The lawyer must process all documents that you are the next of kin to Kellan Young. A Do not disclose the amount involved to the lawyer. Assume you do not know this information. A Make the lawyer understand how this is important to you and ask for speedy processing of documents. A The lawyer is not part of our deal as such, He is only preparing documents for you. Things necessary for him to know are the details for obtaining requested documents. Below is the contact information of the lawyer. Name: Barrister Harry Barrett Esq. Legal practitioner, Solicitor & Consultant. Email: harry@harryalfiechambers.com Office: Wellington House, 31-34 Waterloo Street, Birmingham, B2 5TJ - UK. Send an email to the lawyer requesting for the speedy processing and release of police report, sworn affidavit of claims, death certificate, and the next of kin identity letter. All documents to be prepared are real, authenticated from the various agencies in charged (Queens's court, Scotland Yard. .) The logic we are using here is: - The lawyer will use his good office to obtain the requested documents. - Your Second name would be his key tool for authentications from the various agencies involved. - These agencies already recorded the death of Engr. Kellan Young. By now, my bank will be expecting documents for the release of funds to you. I've already signed your request as the next of kin of Kellan Young. I am excited that everything is looking good here, going as planned. The bank will be under obligation to transfer the funds/ account to you when you summit the requested documents. Contact the lawyer at once and let me know his reply/ response. I await your response. Best Regards On Monday, July 31, 2017 5:08 AM, nadim ragi < nadimragi22@gmail.com > wrote: Hello Just in case you have problems on how to write the lawyer, here are guidelines. Dear Sir, My Name is Miss Young and I want your service with regards to official documents which I am suppose to file out to Honkong& Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), UK. I am the available next of kin and heirs apparent to the late Engineer Kellan Young. I applied to the bank my request as the next of kin to late Engineer Kellan Young. The bank policy demands that the listed documents must be available by me before completing the account transfer/ funds to me. The required documents are: 1: Police Report of Kellan Young. 2: Sworn Affidavit of truth and claims. 3: Death certificate of Kellan Young. 4: United Kingdom next of kin identity Letter. Documents are for official use only. I will appreciate speedy processing as soon as possible (in 2-3 days) because I am already very much late with my request to the bank about the fund release. Waiting for your prompt reply. On Monday, July 31, 2017 6:11 PM, nadim ragi < nadimragi22@gmail.com > wrote: Hello I mentioned something about confidentiality in my earlier mails to you. I can't be negligent in such a matter . The lawyer came highly recommended so I sent his details to you. I can't be associated with this deal never, do you know how much risk is involved if my bank finds out?. I go to jail, I can't afford that. Please if you are still interested in this deal, then you have to follow my instruction. I have planned this deal for a while and I know what I am doing. Contact the lawyer and get back to me . Best Regards On Wednesday, August 2, 2017 7:38 AM, nadim ragi < nadimragi22@gmail.com > wrote: Regards Have you contacted the lawyer? On Thursday, August 3, 2017 12:24 AM, nadim ragi < nadimragi22@gmail.com > wrote: Hello What investigations did you do?, can I have proof of that?. I am surprised you, get back . Best Regards On Thu, Aug 3, 2017 at 5:16 AM, nadim ragi nadimragi22@gmail.com > Hello What investigations did you do?, can I have proof of that?. I am surprised you, get back . Best Regards On Monday, August 7, 2017 4:31 PM, nadim ragi < nadimragi22@gmail.com > wrote: i asked you a question On Monday, August 7, 2017 5:09 PM, nadim ragi < nadimragi22@gmail.com > wrote: What investigation did you make? And from who? So you want to let this opportunity go? If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) AAP MLAs today criticised Leader of Opposition (LOP) Vijender Guptas appeal to Lt Governor Anil Baijal to dismantle house committees of the Delhi Assembly and moved a resolution to send the matter to the Privilege Committee. Hitting out at Gupta over the issue on the first day of the Monsoon Session, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia suspected "mala fide" intention behind the demand of the LOP. advertisement "Being part of the executive, I do not have any objection over the functioning of house committees. I am not able to understand as to why the BJP is making such a baseless demand. It indicates theres something wrong," Sisodia said. It is "strange" to know that an MLA, who is a member of the House, is demanding to "curtail the power" of its committees, the deputy chief minister said. "There are several Lok Sabha committees which fix responsibility of executives on various issues. Like the Lok Sabha, the Delhi Assembly has similar committees whose members step out to check desilting of drains, availability of medicines at hospitals and others. "The BJP does not believe in democracy and thats why Gupta is demanding the dismantling of assembly committees," Sisodia alleged. AAP MLA Sourabh Bhardwaj, who is the chairperson of the Petitions Committee, which had recently slammed the PWD Secretary over desilting of drains, moved a resolution seeking to send Guptas demand to the House Privilege Committee. He said the Lt Governor, who reportedly sought the Additional Solicitor Generals opinion over the functioning of such committees, "is not above the House". The AAP MLA said there are several cases, including those relating to desilting of drains, preparedness of chikungunya and dengue, being heard by various courts, but house committees are separately looking after these issues which is not against the laid down rules. The resolution was adopted by a voice vote in the absence of Gupta and the two other BJP legislators -- Jagdish Pradhan and Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Other AAP MLAs Adharsh Shastri, ALka Lamba, Rituraj Jha, Somnath Bharti, Madan Lal were among those who demanded action against Gupta. In a press note last week, Gupta, an MLA from Rohini, had said, he "will expose how the government formed unconstitutional house committees in the Delhi Assembly such as special inquiry committees and the department-related standing committees". "These committees are taking over the executive, judicial, investigative functioning of the government. The fact is that these committees have been constituted primarily to settle score with senior IAS, DANICS, allied services and other officers," he had alleged. PTI BUN GVS --- ENDS --- advertisement Her relationship with ex-boyfriend Vivek Oberoi might have come back to haunt Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as far as the casting of her upcoming film Fanney Khan is concerned. By India Today Web Desk: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is supposed to romance a younger actor in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's upcoming film Fanney Khan. She made our jaws drop in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, in her role as Saba opposite Ranbir Kapoor's Ayan. The makers of Fanney Khan, Aishwarya's next film, were planning on recreating that chemistry with another younger actor, and they were said to have zeroed in on Akshay Oberoi. advertisement However, if a report in DNA is to be believed, Akshay has turned down Fanney Khan. A source told the newspaper, "Akshay Oberoi was approached for the film. Talks were initiated with the actor but it didn't work out eventually. Now, they are still hunting for a young actor." Masaan actor Vicky Kaushal and Trapped actor Rajkummar Rao were the others being considered for the role opposite Aishwarya. While there is no specific reason in the vine as to why Akshay refused a film opposite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, there are rumours that it all might lie in Aishwarya's relationship with Vivek Oberoi. Akshay Oberoi is Vivek's cousin. Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi were in a relationship after she broke up with Salman Khan. Aishwarya and Vivek dated for a while before a drunk Salman called him up one night and threatened to kill him if he were to continue with his relationship with Aishwarya. How can one forget that infamous press conference that Vivek Oberoi called to tell the media about Salman's late-night phone call. The press conference, and locking horns with Salman, ended up taking a toll on Vivek Oberoi's career pretty much. Now, seems like the once-bitten-twice-shy Oberois are in no mood to have a re-run of the ugly Salman saga. Who knows what can rub Bhai the wrong way? As for Fanney Khan, the makers are back to looking for a younger actor to cast opposite Aishwarya. The film is slated for an April 2018 release. ALSO READ: Some people are stuck in a time warp, says Vivek about his fight with Salman ALSO READ: Salman and Aishwarya's ex-flame Vivek were at the same party. Here's what happened next ALSO WATCH: Vivek speaks about Aishwarya and Salman --- ENDS --- STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Another 10 years in prison? No, thanks. Ex-convict Allah Sears, who has spent most of his adult life behind bars, rejected prosecutors' offer on Tuesday to plead guilty to a felony drug-sale charge in exchange for a 10-year sentence. Sears, 38, was among 15 defendants busted in June on drug charges and other crimes, resulting from a yearlong wiretap-driven probe dubbed "Final Kut," prosecutors said. Many of the defendants were alleged gang members who ran a distribution network that peddled heroin, fentanyl, suboxone and cocaine on the North Shore, said prosecutors. Fentanyl, a synthetic drug, is 50 to 100 times stronger than the heroin it is typically mixed with. However, some of the defendants sold straight fentanyl, allege prosecutors. Individuals associated with the network have been involved in 18 separate shootings on Staten Island and have a combined total of 19 gun-related arrests, authorities said. One defendant, Stephen Cummings, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter for allegedly selling the illegal drugs that caused another man's fatal overdose in December. Before he did so, Cummings, known as "EZ," warned the 52-year-old buyer about the "strength and potency" of the narcotics he was purchasing, prosecutors said. Cummings is the first person charged in New York City with second-degree manslaughter for allegedly providing the drugs that caused another person's overdose death. He has denied the charges, and his case is pending in state Supreme Court, St. George. At Tuesday's conference, prosecutors said Sears, a violent predicate felon, faces between six and 15 years in prison if convicted at trial of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, the top charge against him. The case was adjourned to Sept. 25 for a conference in state Supreme Court, St. George. Sears has served two prior prison stints. In August 2001, he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars after being convicted of criminal weapon possession, stemming from a fatal shooting in May 2000 in New Brighton. Sears was accused of slaying Damon Henderson on Jersey Street. Prosecutors alleged Sears killed Henderson in retaliation for a failed attempt on the life of Sears' older brother. Jurors told the Advance they acquitted Sears of murder because they couldn't determine who the aggressor was. More recently, in November 2013, Sears was sentenced to four years in prison for a criminal drug-possession conviction. Then living in Graniteville, the defendant was among 39 suspects arrested earlier that year who comprised a drug-and-gun ring that trafficked cocaine from Mexico to Staten Island, said prosecutors. Police and prosecutors dubbed the takedown "Operation Mayberry." It was so named because one of the lead suspects went by the moniker "Opie," a character in the "Andy Griffith Show," set in the fictional town of Mayberry, N.C. Prosecutors allege Sears possessed "large quantities of cocaine." The defendant stuffed 70 plastic bags of crack cocaine down his pants and bolted when cops came to arrest him, said a law enforcement source. Sears was released on parole in December of last year, according to online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Lawmakers in California are considering requiring schools to start after 8:30 a.m. because teenagers literally do not function before that time. The move, which is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, would have a positive impact on teenagers well-being and grades. Critics say moving the start time would make it harder for parents who drop off their children before school and may not actually address why teenagers aren't sleeping enough. What do you think? PERSPECTIVES The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends schools start later so teens can get more sleep. Studies show sleep deprived teens have worse academic performance and have a higher risk for depression and being overweight. Schools and governments can't tell teens when to sleep, but they can move the start of school to a later time to give teens more time to sleep. According to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, 87 percent of high schoolers in the U.S. were getting less than 8.5 hours of sleep on school nights. This is a widespread public health problem that's easy to fix. Critics say shifting start times to later in the day would upend schedules and would generally be unworkable. Many parents use the early start time to drop off their children at school before work. Moving it later in the day changes everything. According to NPR, some parents oppose the move because they're skeptical that teens would actually get more sleep. A later start time for school could lead to teens just staying up an hour later the night before. Others worry moving the start time would reduce time for extracurricular activities--or just push them back entirely, meaning little would actually change. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. Associated Press photo Total solar eclipse On Monday, Aug. 21, the United States will be in the path of a total solar eclipse, which will stretch for about 70 miles and be visible from coast to coast. Millions are expected to watch the astronomical event, which will cross 14 states, from Oregon to South Carolina. All of North America -- weather-permitting -- will be able to view a partial eclipse. Here's what you need to know about this incredible celestial event. Don't Edit What is an eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, and as a result, the moon appears to completely cover the sun. The moon creates a shadow on Earth, making it seem like twilight during the day. When the moon completely blocks the sun, the solar corona becomes visible. The corona is the upper atmosphere of the sun, which appears as a halo during a total eclipse. Don't Edit Path of totality The path of totality -- in which the moon will completely cover the sun, creating a total eclipse -- will stretch from Oregon to South Carolina. NASA reports that the lunar shadow will enter the West Coast at 9:05 a.m. Pacific Time. Lincoln City, Oregon, will be the first place in the continental United States to see the total solar eclipse. Charleston, S.C., will be the last place in the country to see the total solar eclipse, which will end at 2:48 p.m Eastern Time. Fourteen states are in the path of totality. The rest of North America -- weather-permitting -- will view a partial eclipse. Don't Edit Video courtesy of NASA What will the eclipse look like here? While New York is not in the path of totality, Staten Islanders will see a partial eclipse, which is when the moon passes in front of the sun off-center, and only a portion of the sun is obscured. The Eclipse Simulator -- designed by Google and the University of California Berkeley -- makes it possible to preview what the eclipse will look like, from any spot in the United States. Watch the NASA video above to get an idea of what to expect. Don't Edit Safety glasses If you're planning to view the solar eclipse -- whether total or partial -- you'll want to make sure you protect your eyes. Special glasses will enable you to view the eclipse safely. Without proper eye protection, you can suffer "eclipse blindness" -- a serious injury in which the eye's retina is damaged by solar radiation, according to the American Optometric Association. Don't Edit Don't Edit Video courtesy of NASA When in the path of a partial eclipse, NASA states that an alternative for safe viewing is the use of pinhole projection. Using this method, you dont look directly at the sun, but at a projection on a piece of paper. Watch the NASA video above to learn how to make your own pinhole projector using a cereal box. Don't Edit NASA livestream NASA will provide a livestream of the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21. According to the agency, viewers will be provided images captured before, during and after the event by 11 spacecraft, at least three NASA aircraft, more than 50 high-altitude balloons, and the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Don't Edit Photo courtesy of NASA When will the next total solar eclipse take place? The United States will experience another total solar eclipse in just seven years -- which is remarkable. The last total eclipse in the United States took place in 1979, and the last total eclipse that crossed the entire continent occurred in 1918. The next U.S. total solar eclipse will take place April 8, 2024. The path of totality, which will include New York State, will stretch from Texas to Maine. The photo above shows the shadow of an eclipse on Earth as seen from space. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As New York City celebrated National Night Out Against Crime last week, the community came together to denounce violence and crime. Unfortunately, over the last year, Staten Island has seen an increase in two disturbing categories of crime -- rape and shootings. Make no mistake about it. Our men and women in blue, who risk their lives daily to protect our city, are the greatest in the world. The rise in crime is not the fault of our NYPD. It is a direct result of the policies coming from City Hall that have tied their hands and marred our community, which has always taken pride in being New York's City's safest borough. Mayor de Blasio tells us that we should feel safe because major crime is down. However, in 2017 there's been a significant rise in rape, misdemeanor sex crimes, and shootings on Staten Island. In 2016 there were 24 cases of rape on Staten Island, including a 33-year-old man from Tompkinsville who raped a 10-year-old girl on at least five separate occasions. In 2017 the number has risen by over 29 percent. The number of misdemeanor sex crimes has also risen by almost 11 percent, from 55 cases in 2016, which includes a 36-year-old man working as a handyman in Mariners Harbor who was recently sentenced for exposing himself and inappropriately touching a client's 9-year-old son, to 61 cases to date in 2017. These crimes destroy the lives of their young victims and their families. Staten Island has also experienced a 15 percent increase in shootings, which is directly impacting the lives of everyone in and around the borough. When our Mayor tells us that New York is safer than it ever was, we must ask ourselves -- "Do I feel safe?" More often than not, the answer is "no" because the aforementioned crimes have become more common in all parts of the city. During the past few years, crime in New York City has become more rampant. Deplorable incidents involving children, such as Daniel Nieto who was recently convicted of sodomizing a 7-year old on Staten Island, are on the rise. Misdemeanor sex crimes increased 22 percent across the city from 2013-2016, and another 9.7 percent this year. Felony sex crimes also increased by 25 percent from 2013-2016 but, suspiciously, felony sex crimes are not available on COMPStat this year. Our city is not as safe as Mayor de Blasio is leading us to believe, mainly because his judicial appointments are allowing criminal suspects to go free without bail in a misguided effort to close Rikers Island. Instead, we must have judges who keep trial calendars moving forward with less adjournments so the accused receive their constitutional right to a speedy trial. As mayor, I will appoint judges who will protect the public and respect the recommendation of district attorneys when it comes to holding suspects with extensive criminal histories, or those being charged with violent crimes or threatening acts of violence. I will also scrutinize this mayor's supervised release program as it relates to such suspects. I will also overturn this mayor's directive that prohibits law enforcement from complying with federal immigration detainer requests for individuals who commit crimes such as sex abuse, grand larceny, patronizing a child for prostitution, and other serious crimes. The mayor of New York City must set an example by providing the public with accurate crime statistics, allowing our Police Department to responsibly patrol our city, and appointing judges who are committed to protecting the public while dispensing justice. I will be that mayor. (Ms. Malliotakis is a Republican representing Staten Island's East Shore and part of Brooklyn.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Are you ready for another debate over congestion pricing? We could be headed there. Staten Islanders have to make sure they don't get hosed. There are reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is looking at congestion pricing as a way to pump money into the city subway system. There's nothing definite yet. Just a couple of tweets from reporters at the New York Times and NY1. And there was an article on the Curbed New York site. We won't know for sure, apparently, until Cuomo makes his State of the State speech in January. The topic also came up when Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled his "tax the rich" plan for fixing the subways. So it could be that the ground is being softened for another go-round on congestion pricing. And Staten Islanders should brace themselves. Because it would be all too easy to harm Staten Island if congestion pricing moves forward and the wrong plan is adopted. Congestion pricing proposals have been kicking around for years. The most recent was one pitched by the advocacy group Move NY. It looked to charge a fee to motorists entering Manhattan at 60th street and would have added tolls to the currently toll-free East River bridges. Tolls would be slashed on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and other spans and tunnels under the plan. The proposal garnered support amid a publicity push in 2015 but lasting traction was elusive. It was a grand idea, and Move NY was smart to propose slashing tolls on bridges and tunnels as a way to deepen support. But it's hard to envision lawmakers in the other boroughs going to their constituents and selling them on the idea of paying for bridges that they now cross for free. That was always the stumbling block. We Staten Islanders would recoil similarly if a plan was floated to start charging us to ride the ferry. So who knows what any new congestion pricing plan would look like? Like Move NY, a failed plan from former Mayor Michael Bloomberg would have also charged drivers a fee to enter Manhattan at 60th Street. Bloomberg's plan died in the state Assembly, thanks for then-Speaker Sheldon Silver. Congestion pricing has never been an easy sell no matter who's pushing it. Car-reliant Staten Islanders will be very wary of any congestion pricing plan that comes down the pike. You get that way when you have to pay a toll for the privilege of returning every time you leave your home borough. And to then be told that we'll have to pay yet more money to enter Manhattan? Please. And while Move NY was smart enough to throw Staten Island a couple of bones in their plan, there's no guarantee that anybody else with a congestion pricing proposal is going to feel the need to be so generous. Staten Islanders have the most to lose in any congestion pricing program. After all, it would be easy enough for folks in the other boroughs to avoid any new bridge tolls or congestion pricing levies. They can take the subway. We Staten Islanders don't have that option. We don't even have those city fast ferries that de Blasio has bestowed on other boroughs. But here's the real question: Is throwing more money at the problem going to solve the city subway crisis? It's the same question that occurred when de Blasio pitched his "tax the rich" plan. What about the billions of dollars that are already being spent? Is the money being spent wisely? Are there any cost saving to be had? Expenses that can be cut? Too often, it seems that the only solution to our transit problems is generating more income, reaching into the wallets of New Yorkers, either through taxes or through higher fares and tolls. But here we are, still in a mess. And we're not even talking about adding new service. We're just talking about propping up the old system. There has to be another way. By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The CBI has sent judicial requests to four countries in connection with its probe into alleged corruption in the Antrix-Devas deal. The agency wanted details of Devas Multimedia and its parent company, financial facts and alleged investments routed through Singapore and Mauritius, among other information, CBI sources said. Letters Rogatory, which are judicial requests, were recently sent to France, the United States, Mauritius and Singapore, they said. advertisement An investment in Devas Multimedia Pvt Limited from four companies--one based in Singapore and three based in Mauritius -- amounting to USD 130 million is under the scanner of the CBI, the sources said. The case relates to the leasing of the S-Band, restricted wavelength of INSAT satellites for delivering videos, multimedia and information services to mobile receivers to a private company, Devas Multimedia, by Antrix, the commercial arm of the governments space body, ISRO. It was alleged in an FIR that the lease was given in violation of rules, causing an undue gain of Rs 578 crore to Devas Multimedia and a corresponding loss to the exchequer. The CBI filed its charge sheet in the case last year. Letters Rogatory are issued by courts on the request of an investigation agency when it wants information from another country. Once a court issues such a request, it is delivered to the competent court through diplomatic channels in the country from where the agency needs information. The court in that country may direct its investigation agency to gather and furnish the information sought. PTI ABS BDS --- ENDS --- BJP candidate Ved Prakash, who had recently switched from AAP to the party, submitted incomplete set of papers for nomination and thus could have been disqualified. By Mail Today Bureau: The Delhi BJP saved a major embarrassment on Saturday when it somehow managed to ensure nomination of its candidate for the Bawana Assembly by-polls. Its candidate Ved Prakash, who had recently switched from AAP to the BJP camp, submitted incomplete set of papers for nomination and thus could have been disqualified. However, the BJP managed to arrange the missing documents minutes before the deadline of 3PM. All this happened while Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, MPs Pravesh Verma and Udit Raj and leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta were present in the SDM's office in Bawana. advertisement The drama unfolded on Saturday afternoon when Ved Prakash reached SDM office to file his nomination with incomplete set of papers around 2.15PM. During the process, it was noticed that some crucial documents were missing from the nomination papers that could have resulted into his disqualification. However, party president Manoj Tiwari immediately set his men in action and asked them to arrange the papers immediately. All this while, Tiwari was seated in the SDM office along with Verma and Udit Raj. A well placed source said the papers were arranged barely five minutes before the nomination process ended This assumes significance as the BJP had lost five seats in MCD polls due to disqualification of candidates owing to incomplete documentation. As a result the BJP had contested the civic polls on only 266 wards out of the total 272 seats. However, the party learnt no lesson from the episode and was about to face the embarrassment again. The Bawana by-elections is crucial for the BJP which is on a winning streak while the Aam Admi Party will be sparing no effort to retain its assembly seat. "While submitting nomination papers it was noticed that some important documents were missing, which could result into disqualification of the candidate. "Noticing the loophole, the BJP leaders swung into action and managed to arrange the required documents at the last moment," a BJP leader said. "Five minutes before the deadline it was arranged and submitted to the SDM," the leader added. A senior leader, however, sought to downplay the development saying the nomination was filed well in time but admitted that there were certain loopholes that took more than usual time. But even as the party managed to save embarrassment, a section within the party became vocal about the lack of coordination and demanded fixing the accountability. Sources said West Delhi MP Pravesh Verma, who is BJP's election in-charge for Bawana bypolls, must respond to the goof-up. "It was the duty of election incharge to check nomination papers in presence of lawyers well before filling it at the last moment. "The incident is also a failure of the legal department. Party leadership should act against those responsible for frequent goof-ups," said a party office bearer.ALSO READ advertisement Manoj Tiwari on Delhi CM ambitions: Did you see how BJP selected Kovind for president? Delhi BJP stages protest against Kejriwal government over water, power crisis --- ENDS --- In a high-profile divorce case, former Karnataka minister's wife deposed in favour of her daughter-in-law and stated that her son married another woman against the wishes of the family and even had a child with her. By Nolan Pinto: A woman sided with her daughter-in-law, and not her son, in a high-profile divorce case in Bengaluru family court. The woman who deposed in favour of her daughter-in-law is the wife of former Karnataka minister S R Kashappanavar. The family court directed Devanand Shivashankarappa Kashappanavar to pay a permanent alimony of Rs 4 crore to his wife. Additional Principal Judge K Bhagya pronounced the order after granting decree of divorce to the petitioner, Devanand's wife. advertisement The petitioner and Devanand had tied the knot on May 22, 2011 at Ilkal in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The judge said that Devanand should pay the amount to the petitioner within 60 days from the order dated July 24, 2017. Judge K Bhagya pronounced the verdict after allowing the petition filed by Devanand's wife under Section 13 (1)(ia)(ib) (cruelty and desertion) of the Hindu Marriage Act seeking decree of dissolution of her marriage. THE CASE HISTORY The petitioner is Devanand's niece (sister's daughter). In her petition, she stated that Devanand married her against her wishes when she was still pursuing her Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA). After marriage, she stayed in a joint family with her parents and in-laws and continued her education. After the wedding, the petitioner alleged that her husband's attitude changed dramatically and he began to treat her like a stranger. A few months later, the petitioner found out that Devanand had an alleged illicit affair. The petitioner alleged that when she confronted Devanand, he assaulted her. Later, Devanand married for a second time and claimed that he married the petitioner only to fulfil the last wish of his late father. This is when the petitioner decided to divorce him. MOTHER DEPOSES AGAINST SON Devanand's mother deposed against her son by filing an affidavit stating that he married another woman against the wishes of the family and even had a child with her. She claimed that her son has vast tracts of lands, drives a Mercedes Benz SUV worth over Rs 1 crore, and runs a quarry business. The judge decided that an amount of Rs 4 crore as permanent alimony to the petitioner would be just about appropriate. Devanand, however, did not appear before the court to contest the case despite a notice served to him. ALSO READ: Women to get family pension even if divorce case is on: Govt Triple talaq: How it affects lives of India's 90 million Muslim women Hyderabad: 2 Muslim women divorced over WhatsApp by US-based husbands ALSO WATCH: Triple talaq: Supreme Court reserves verdict as 6-day hearing ends --- ENDS --- 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 By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) State-owned power equipment maker BHLE has further consolidated its global presence with two more countries added to its export list -- Chile and Estonia. "BHEL has achieved yet another milestone in expanding and consolidating its footprint in the international market by securing export orders from Chile and Estonia," BHEL said in statement today. advertisement According to the statement, with maiden orders for transformer bushing from Niquel Electric, Chile, and Electronic cards from SCANFIL OY Vana Sauga, Estonia, BHEL has now expanded its global imprint to 82 countries across all the six inhabited continents. BHEL is continuously aligning its export strategy in line with global dynamics. Persistent efforts towards globalisation have led to BHEL securing the highest ever export orders of over Rs 10,000 crore from 23 countries in 2016-17. The company secured its largest ever export order for setting up the 1,320 mw (2x660 mw) Maitree Super Thermal Power Project in Bangladesh, winning against stiff international competitive bidding. This is BHELs largest power project order in the international market. Recently, BHEL also forayed into two other countries in Africa -- Togo and Benin. BHEL is making concerted efforts to tap available opportunities in the overseas market. Currently, the company is focusing on expanding its global presence through market expansion and penetration. It is favourably placed in opportunities in Africa, including a combined cycle power plant in Tanzania and a hydro power plant in Zimbabwe. These projects are nearing financial closure and BHEL expects to secure these orders soon. The company is also focusing on providing after-sales support to its customers in existing overseas projects. As an integrated power plant equipment manufacturer with over 50 years of experience and having installed over 170 gw capacity globally, BHEL is engaged in the execution of all types and ranges of power equipment, in addition to supplying products and systems to other major infrastructure sectors of the economy. PTI KKS ARD --- ENDS --- Several people were injured when a bomb went off in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train near Jabri station in Madhya Pradesh on March 7. A blast occurred in a passenger train when it was on its way to Ujjain from Bhopal on March 7. (PTI Photo) By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today filed a chargesheet against four men associated with self-radicalised ISIS module based in Kanpur in connection with the March 7 blast in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train. The four men named in the chargesheet include the leader of the group Atif Muzzafar. Others named in the chargesheet are Mohammad Danish, Syed Mir Hussain and Ghaus Mohammad Khan, who all took an oath of allegiance or 'bayah' to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and planned to carry out attacks in India. advertisement Hussain hails from Kannauj while other three belong to Kanpur. Saifullah was killed in an ecounter carried out by the UP ATS. "During investigation, sufficient oral, documentary, technical, forensic and material evidence have been collected which establishes the criminal conspiracy and the terror act committed by four accused," IG NIA Alok Mittal said. India Today has learnt that the module members attended Ahl-e-Hadith program at various places and were influenced by the ISIS after watching online publications of the terror organisation. According to the chargesheet, the accused planted the bomb on Bhopal-Ujjain Passenger train on March 7. As soon as the train reached Jabri Railway station the bomb went off injuring several passengers. The four fled from the spot in attempt to reach Lucknow but were nabbed by the MP ATS at Pipariya in District Hoshangabad. ALSO READ: Bhopal-Ujjain train blast a terrorist attack, says Madhya Pradesh top cop Hours before last phase of voting in UP, encounter between suspected terrorist, ATS in Lucknow Exclusive: Over 16 cases of rail sabotage so far in 2017 --- ENDS --- Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! 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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0231d58)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f00bcea8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0231d58)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f00bcea8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f036a668)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f00bcea8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f00bcea8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e8e97db0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f03648e0)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f03648e0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f023bf28)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f011d128)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f023bf28)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f011d128)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f02311d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f011d128)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f011d128)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e8e97be8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612e6bb1640)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612e6bb1640)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f021c7e8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f02207d8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f021c7e8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f02207d8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f025fb08)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f02207d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f02207d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e8e97ae0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f011c380)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f011c380)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 China's top diplomat on the boundary issue, Wang Wenli, told a visiting Indian media delegation that Bhutan has conveyed to Beijing through the diplomatic channels that the area of the standoff is not its territory. By Press Trust of India: In a stunning-but unsubstantiated claim, a senior Chinese official said today that Bhutan has acknowledged that the Doklam area where the Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a standoff does not belong to it. China's top diplomat on the boundary issue, Wang Wenli, told a visiting Indian media delegation that Bhutan has conveyed to Beijing through the diplomatic channels that the area of the standoff is not its territory. advertisement She provided no evidence for the claim, which is at the complete variance with Bhutan's stated position and actions. Bhutan had protested to the Chinese government, accusing it of violating a bilateral pact after its troops tried to construct a road in the Doklam area on June 16. "After the incident, the Bhutanese made it very clear to us that the place where the trespassing happened is not Bhutan's territory," said Wang, who is the Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. She went on to say that "Bhutanese find it very strange that the Indian border troops are on the Chinese soil," and implied that her views have been gleaned from Bhutanese state media and legal blogs which have "more convincing information". A statement issued by India's External Affairs Ministry on June 30 said, "On June 16, a PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) construction party entered the Doklam area and attempted to construct a road. It is our understanding that a Royal Bhutan Army patrol attempted to dissuade them from this unilateral activity." India had also cited the Bhutanese Foreign Ministry as emphasising that "the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between these two countries. They have urged a return to the status quo as before June 16, 2017." India also conveyed to the Chinese government that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for it. India says both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place. Wang said Bhutan is observing the actions being taken by both Indian and Chinese troops from its territory. Bhutan has no direct diplomatic relations with China and maintains contacts with Beijing through its diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Bhutan and China have held 24 rounds of talks to resolve boundary dispute while India and China have completed 19 rounds of talks. advertisement Wang said India and Bhutan are two countries out of the 14 countries China is yet to sort out boundary disputes. China has settled boundary dispute approximately of 20,000 km with 12 countries out of the 22,000 km and is yet to settle about 2,000 km of boundary involving India and Bhutan. ALSO READ: Beyond Doklam standoff, a look at 5 areas where India is well ahead of China Doklam: What China stands to lose if it goes to war with India China's 'salami slicing': Why Doklam must unite world leaders against Beijing Don't underestimate resolve to defend territorial sovereignty: Chinese media WATCH: Modi govt pushing India into war: Chinese paper blames 'reckless' leadership for Doklam standoff --- ENDS --- ACT workers are making more claims for injuries than employees interstate as the work safety authority makes fewer visits to businesses. While the ACT had the second-highest rate of serious work injury claims, its workplace inspectors made fewer visits to businesses and gave fewer notices to those ignoring employee safety, a Safe Work Australia report has found. Unions ACT secretary Alex White has called for Canberra businesses to take workplace safety more seriously. Credit:Graham Tidy The ACT's rate of serious injury claims dropped from 12.7 per 1000 employees in 2010-11 to 11.3 in 2014-15, the most recent year data was collected in the report. But the figure was well above the Australian average of 9.8, equalled by Tasmania and surpassed only by Queensland on 11.5, prompting calls for WorkSafe ACT to enforce laws and hold bosses to account. Michael Snare is kind of secretly pleased that his life has taken a turn back into the creative arts. As a young student he was identified as a talented artist and had his sights set on architecture as a career, but his journey took him into the army, an honours degree in civil engineering and ultimately a career in project management and property development. Michael Snare, new chairman of the Canberra Glassworks. Credit:Jamila Toderas On Tuesday he was named as the new chairman of the Canberra Glassworks, taking over from long-standing chair Nola Anderson for a three-year term. "I did move away from the arts but I'm really happy to come back in and support the Glassworks and the arts scene as I do love the arts and what they provide to the community," Snare said. A Griffith man who used bolt cutters to break into the Russian embassy while he was high on ice was in search of a spot to have a quick nap, court documents said. Luke Gray, 25, was arrested after he allegedly sliced a hole in the wire mesh fence at the rear of the Canberra Avenue compound and went inside about 5.20am on Saturday. The Russian embassy in Griffith. Credit:Facebook He was charged with burglary, attempted theft and going equipped for theft. He has yet to enter pleas. Court documents said CCTV footage captured Mr Gray take an orange children's BMX bike from a shelter near the fence and search the embassy grounds. Hundreds of Ukrainians gathered outside the Russian embassy in Canberra on Sunday in protest against the Putin governments occupation of the Crimean Peninsula and other eastern regions of Ukraine. Coinciding with the Ukrainian presidential elections, the demonstration was just one of many happening worldwide. The protesters voice their anger in front of the Russian embassy in Canberra. Credit:Jeffrey Chan About 500 people travelled from Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane to demonstrate, with Ukrainian citizens taking the opportunity to cast their vote at the Ukrainian embassy before staging a peaceful protest outside Russias embassy in Griffith. One of the protesters, who asked not to be named, has lived in Sydney for five years but remains a Ukrainian citizen and was keen to vote in the presidential elections. None of Commonwealth Bank's top management, including chief executive Ian Narev, will receive a short-term bonus this year, as a result of the bank's alleged mass breaches of anti-money laundering laws. Chairman Catherine Livingstone on Tuesday said the board had decided to cut short-term incentives for the year to June 30, 2017 for the group executives, and fees paid to the board of directors would also be cut by a fifth. "In reaching this conclusion, the overriding consideration of the board was the collective accountability of senior management for the overall reputation of the group," she said in a statement. "The board also recognised that it has shared accountability and therefore has decided to reduce non-executive director fees by 20 per cent in the current 2018 financial year." The Commonwealth Bank is getting better at crisis management. Plenty of practice can do that for you. The board is no longer in complete denial, as it was through the Storm Financial and inhouse financial planning scandals. By the time Comminsure erupted, the bank was at least capable of admitting mistakes had been made though, again, the problem apparently was isolated, not systemic and not really the bank's fault. Well, that's what the report the bank commissioned found anyway. Of course, whistleblowers could still expect to be shafted, no senior heads rolled, those in charge of the empire, those who were happy to be held responsible for the bank's successes, still raked in millions. In the CEO's case, $12.3 million last year. Private property fund manager Primewest has expanded its footprint with the acquisition of Lisarow Plaza on the NSW Central Coast for $29.1 million. The deal comes as more assets change hands among investors looking for higher yields than they can generate holding cash in the sharemarket or in the bank. Lisarow Plaza on the NSW Central Coast was bought in a deal brokered by Colliers International. Credit:Airphoto Australia The sale was brokered by Colliers International's director of retail investment services James Wilson on behalf of a private vendor, on a yield of 6.22 per cent. Mr Wilson said the campaign "demonstrates the ability of prudent retail investors to constantly review their hurdle rates based on the quality of the centre", adding the strata-titled nature had little impact on investors' appetite for the centre. Motorists tipped a bumper $2.1 billion into the coffers of toll road operator Transurban last financial year, boosting its profit by $187 million, the company has revealed. Transurban's annual report, released on Tuesday, shows revenue from its network of roads grew by 10 per cent, or $207 million, in the 2016-17 financial year. Net profit surged from $22 million to $209 million - a jump of 850 per cent but lower than the market expected. The consensus analyst forecast compiled by Bloomberg was for net profit of $246 million. Transurban's shares had fallen 2.6 per cent to $11.63 by 2pm. Unions and employer organisations have been warned they face fines of up to $105,000 if they fail to meet new financial reporting guidelines in time. The new federal regulator, the Registered Organisations Commission, is urging unions and employer organisations to ensure they meet strict deadlines. Registered Organisations Commissioner Mark Bielecki. Credit:Penny Stephens Many registered organisations will need to submit a statement by September 28 disclosing details of loans they have made and donations including ones made to political parties. Financial reports must be presented by December 31 and have been audited by an auditor who has registered with the new commission. More National Geographic finds (C8) (though John Christie of Oatley argues the vintage variety could be better described as National Historic). On visiting the Eye Hospital in Macquarie Street, Graham Beirman of Lane Cove North found that "the only magazine in the rack was a National Geographic from May 1983. I thought it went quite well with the payment I made with their cashier. They wrote out the receipt by hand, then photocopied it. One for me and one for her. Business practice circa 1983, I'd say". Time to think outside the box. Graham Lum of North Rocks writes: "I appeal to C8 regulars for a solution. I am never able to get the first tissue out of the box without taking a handful." Sympathy for Murray Hutton in regards to the "bespoke" issue (C8) from John Lees of Castlecrag: "There have been no new ideas in advertising for over 50 years. Hence my use of the mute button when watching commercial TV and avoiding commercial radio altogether." Stewart Fist of Lindfield blames ABC TV's Grand Designs, adding: "It illustrates how even pretentiously tailored words and ideas can be unconsciously absorbed by constant repetition in the media." Peter Craig of Alexandria thinks: "Only a custom-made bicycle can be bespoke." MotoGP viewer Paul Wilson of Winston Hills wonders if he's being pedantic: "Watching Channel 10's coverage, I was struck by two things said by the local studio guy. Opening with 'Welcome to the MotoGP in Czechoslovakia', he then marked the passing of a legend who died 'in a road accident off the coast of Spain'. Crossing to the international commentators improved things." More on the "4" number plate for sale that got Tim Crawshaw's attention (C8). Pauline Jeyes of Turramurra writes: "The Morris Minor belonged to Mr Bradley of Northbridge who made pushbikes with the trade name 'Koala'. He had a special Triandem and was generous in letting us use it. Tim Crawshaw, was your father Mr Crawshaw the pharmacist who wrapped our purchases in white paper with pink string and sealing wax and sent handwritten monthly accounts? Those were the days." By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Parsvnath Developers, SQS India, J Kumar Infra and Prakash Industries figure among 331 "suspected shell companies", referred to market regulator Sebi by the government and facing probe for alleged tax evasion and other frauds, even as they denied any wrongdoing on their part. The regulator has asked the exchanges to restrict trading in shares of 331 such companies, some of which have investments by several well-known domestic and foreign investors and the move spooked overall market sentiments on fears about possible action against more such firms. The benchmark Sensex slumped 260 points while the Nifty cracked below the crucial 10,000-mark. advertisement While trading has already been restricted to just once a month (on first Monday of the month) in shares of 162 companies from the list, others may soon face similar or even stricter curbs, the regulatory and market officials said. In addition to the curbs imposed by the capital market regulator and the stock exchanges, these companies may face further action depending on the outcome of the probes by the income tax department and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), among other agencies. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said 37,000 shell companies indulging in tax evasion had been detected and more than three lakh firms were under the scanner for suspicious dealings, post demonetisation announced in November last year. West Bengal (127) accounts for the largest number of companies on the list of 331 suspected shell firms, referred by the corporate affairs ministry to Sebi. Besides, Gujarat and Delhi also account for a large number of such firms, against which the capital market regulator Sebi has recommended trading restrictions by the stock exchanges. While at least 124 companies are believed to be under scanner for alleged tax evasion, further 175 firms were being investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). Reacting to Sebis action, realty firm Parsvnath Developers and SQS India BFSI Ltd expressed shock on finding their names in the list of suspected shell companies. Some other companies from the list also issued statements to deny any wrongdoing. "We are shocked to find our companys name amongst the list of suspected shell companies as a result of which, our equity shares...are being shifted to GSM VI on the stock exchanges. "As a result, our companys securities may be traded only once in a month on a trade to trade basis and Sebi has envisaged a "financial audit" thereby implicitly castigating us and tarnishing our reputation," Parsvnath Developers said in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. Parsvnath said that it is not a shell company by any "stretch of imagination". J Kumar Infraprojects said it is not a shell company and suspicion of the regulator is uncalled for. "Our companys compliance track record both with the exchanges and Registrar of Companies have been impeccable". The company said that majority of its clients consist of government authorities and listed out Delhi Metro, Mumbai Metro and JNPT Port connectivity as some of the projects underway. advertisement Prakash Industries said that directions issued by Sebi are "totally devoid of merit and uncalled for. Besides, there has never been a occasion when our company has indulged in any kind of malpractices in stock market". SQS India BFSI Ltd has expressed shock that it has been placed under the surveillance list even as it has been complying with all the norms under Companies Act and Sebi regulations. "... we would provide all the necessary details and extend all assistance to cooperate with the authorities and get the matter resolved quickly," the company said. Pincoin Spirit, also identified under suspected list, categorically stated that the company has been following all the rules and regulations stipulated under Companies Act and Sebi norms. "We are ready to provide all the necessary information and extend all cooperation to the regulator to resolve the issue so that the name of the company is excluded from the shell companies list at the earliest on merit basis," it said. advertisement As part of efforts to curb the black money menace, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has already cancelled the registration of more than 1.62 lakh companies that have not been carrying out business activities for long. The ministry is implementing the Companies Act and firms are required to be registered under this law. While the term shell company is not defined under the Companies Act, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley, last month, told the Lok Sabha that many such entities have been found to be indulging in large scale tax violations. PTI SP BJ MR --- ENDS --- When confronted with people sleeping in Martin Place, or anywhere else, we need to do two things. Forcibly moving people who have no housing from public space would be a deeply concerning regression into Australia's disturbing history. Moving people on will do nothing whatsoever to address the problem. People are camping in Martin Place because we have insufficient affordable housing for them. The people may be inconvenient, but we need to respond to them by redressing the injustice that having no home represents. Bringing in the police to respond to poverty constitutes a threat to the values we hold as Australians. A 24-hours "safe-space" facility is not a solution to homelessness; this facility is another form of homelessness accommodation. More homeless accommodation is manifestly inadequate. Unless secure and affordable housing can be provided, people's homelessness will endure and they will make that homelessness visible to and uncomfortable for the public. I feel encouraged that the so-called homeless camps in Martin Place make our leaders feel uncomfortable. I am deeply disappointed, however, that being confronted by homelessness is not sufficient to motivate political and policy action directed towards housing solutions. Lanz Priestley, the unofficial mayor of the homeless tent city camp in Martin Place. Credit:Janie Barrett First, we need immediate responses that involve secure and affordable housing, not temporary homeless accommodation, or more charity. More trials and pilots are not needed. Temporary fixes that maintain homelessness are not needed. Instead we need to institutionalise access to affordable housing. People need access to housing as a right not through their status as a client of a pilot program. Second, we need to demonstrably improve the supply and availability of housing that is affordable. Scholars have already outlined impressive ways forward: Peter Phibbs has identified key planning changes that would enhance the supply of housing that is affordable in new developments; Hal Pawson has articulated how the community housing sector and not-for-profit organisations could increase the supply of affordable housing through innovative taxation and financing models. And on Tuesday the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has released a report on the value of social impact investment in expanding the affordable housing supply. Our leaders lament the recalcitrant homeless for not taking up the kind offers of homeless accommodation. The argument goes: they are without shelter, so any shelter will do; not taking offers of shelter means that they are choosing homelessness. Once we have rationalised their homelessness as a choice, we can then gloss over the problems with our housing systems and forcibly remove the problem from our view. Although popular, this type of reasoning ignores why people do not want to live in homeless accommodation. People reject homeless accommodation because it does not provide them with the critical elements of a home, where we can control the day-to-day functioning of our lives. People will say that those living in Martin Place or other areas of public space have significant health and social problems. They will argue that these problems have been lifelong, that their problems (i.e., mental illness, addiction) caused their homelessness, and we must provide temporary homeless accommodation and wraparound support to address their problems. Then, and only then, can we think about housing. Have you seen the movie Chicken People? It's a charming documentary about people who breed chickens and show them at agricultural fairs. There's plenty in it about chickens, but it's really a movie about people and their passions. Scene from the movie Chicken People. A passion for poultry drives aficionados to spend 24 hours straight washing and blow-drying their charges. What else but passion, or perhaps obsession, would drive people to spend 24 hours straight washing and blow-drying chickens without being paid? Or to hold the breeding details of a family tree of four generations of chickens in their heads so they can select just the right mating pair to hatch babies with the perfect comb, wing span and feather pattern? I've always found it endearing how humans are endlessly diverse and creative and fixated on fields of study that are boring or obscure to others. The Turnbull government has set up a high-stakes court battle and a brutal two-month campaign on same-sex marriage by backing a $122 million postal vote to commence in five weeks. If the change is supported by a majority of voters, the government will facilitate a vote on same-sex marriage before December 7, sparking the prospect of gay weddings before Christmas. If a majority of voters oppose change, there will be no parliamentary vote. But so-called "rebel" Liberal MPs are already canvassing the possibility of ignoring a "No" vote if the turnout is low. It is understood they are eyeing a participation rate of 70 per cent for the poll to have legitimacy. Liberal MP Warren Entsch said he would watch the process and the turnout, but reserved his right to put up a private member's bill even if the majority vote is "No". Denver: An attorney for Taylor Swift has told jurors that his superstar client is "absolutely certain" she was sexually assaulted and will prove it in court during the civil trial of duelling lawsuits filed by Swift and a former radio host. In his opening statement on Tuesday, lawyer Douglas Baldridge asked what possible reason Swift would have to make up an allegation that former Denver radio host David Mueller touched her backside during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. "That's the one and only story we have to tell you - that Mr Mueller grabbed her rear end," Baldridge said. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job at a country music station. He is seeking at least $US3 million ($3.8m) in damages. A small Australian fashion label has drawn condemnation from a leading Hindu body after it produced an outfit that featured an image of the religious deity, Ganesha. Melbourne-based Soulan Zee said on Tuesday afternoon it would withdraw the outfit from sale and its website after it received a complaint from the Universal Society of Hinduism. An outfit by Melbourne label Soulan Zee that has been pulled from sale after the designer received complaints from the Hindu society. The hot pink outfit included an off-the-shoulder top with flared sleeves and a pair of hotpants, both of which featured a print of Ganesha, whose elephant head makes it one of the most easily recognisable Hindu gods. The Society's Rajan Zed, a Hindu cleric based in the US state of Nevada, accused Soulan Zee of producing a "highly inappropriate" design on his personal website. The first Lauren Poole had heard of epithelioid sarcoma was the day she was told her thumb had to be amputated to save her life. The tiny lump on the tip of her thumb had been innocuous enough. But her instincts told her to have it removed and tested. Lauren Poole was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma when she was 22 years old. Credit:Brook Mitchell She was diagnosed with the rare soft tissue cancer, and 17 hours later a surgeon was severing her thumb at the main knuckle. "It was all fast and terrifying," the 23-year-old said. A man accused of murdering his teenage wife and burying her in a shallow grave was financially motivated to later uncover her body so it would be found, a Sydney jury has been told. Steve Frank Fesus could not get a pension while his wife was missing but was approved for one after her body was found, crown prosecutor Greg Smith SC said in the NSW Supreme Court. Steven Fesus. Credit:Edwina Pickles Fesus, 46, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jodie Fesus, 18, between 9pm on August 11 and 5 am on August 12, 1997 at their Shellharbour home, on the NSW south coast, before burying her body in a shallow grave at Seven Mile Beach, near Gerroa. The Crown alleges their relationship had deteriorated, Fesus was unhappy and resentful, and strangled her during an argument. A man caught driving more than 50km/h over the speed limit at Yass allegedly told police he was in a hurry to catch a Parliament House tour. NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said the international driver was clocked doing 162km/h on the Hume Highway near Yass just after 2pm on Tuesday. Police recorded the driver traveling at 162km/h. Credit:NSW Police Force/Facebook Police said the man had told officers he was in a hurry to catch a 3pm tour at Parliament House in Canberra, about 65 kilometres away. It is the oil-rich Middle Eastern monarchy that has long attracted fraudsters, fugitives and shady characters. But the United Arab Emirates' status as a safe haven for criminals may have been smashed following the arrest of five Sydney men allegedly behind the importation of 1.9 tonnes of narcotics. Mick and Fadi Ibrahim, brothers of Kings Cross nightclub tsar John Ibrahim, were arrested after a dinner with associates in Dubai on Tuesday as part of a massive organised crime operation across three continents. Their dining companions underworld gang member Steven Fawaz Elmir, infamous Telopea Street boy Mustapha Dib and heroin smuggler Hakan Arif were also arrested by Dubai's anti-narcotics police department, who worked in close tandem with Australian police. By PTI: Srinagar, Aug 8 (PTI) Police today recovered a bullet- riddled body of a vendor in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. Ishtiyaq Ahmad Wagay was shot dead by suspected militants last night, an official said. The body of Wagay, a resident of Bijbehara town in Anantnag district, was found at Alamgunj in Shopian, the official said. advertisement A case has been registered in this regard and investigations set in motion, he added. PTI MIJ DV --- ENDS --- The Scots College was forced to cancel one of its trial HSC exams on Tuesday morning after two papers were stolen in a late-night break-in hours before the exam was due to begin. The eastern suburbs boys' school is under pressure to expel students if they are found to have been behind the heist, which saw two physics papers go missing from a storage cupboard in the school's Bellevue Hill grounds on Monday night. Scots College is reviewing its procedures for the storage of trial exam papers. Credit:Edwina Pickles. Scots is one of about 480 NSW schools, public and private, that use trial HSC papers written by the Catholic Schools Secondary Association (CSSA) and it was one of these papers that was stolen. Developed in 1967, the association's papers are recognised as some of the most rigorous exam papers and are seen as good preparation for the HSC. NSW Police are investigating the break-in and college staff told students on Tuesday morning that the test would be rewritten and rescheduled for next week. It was Monday night and plans were made for dinner out in Dubai for the two younger brothers of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim and three major players of Sydney's underworld. Michael Ibrahim, who was with older brother Fadi Ibrahim, had been in the United Arab Emirates for just over a week the Middle Eastern monarchy long regarded as a safe haven for criminals to do business and hide out. But Australian police had been making plans of their own for more than two years and after dinner Dubai police's anti-narcotics unit swooped, arresting all five in one of the largest crackdowns on organised crime in Australia. Michael Ibrahim is understood to allegedly be the common link between two long-running syndicates helmed by warring, violent factions of Sydney's underworld who had allegedly been flooding Sydney with ecstasy, cocaine and ice for years. Two major, long-running international drug syndicates, allegedly run by rival Sydney crime figures, have been smashed after the arrest of 14 people, including three members of the notorious Ibrahim family. In one of the largest, most significant organised crime stings in Australian history, the brothers of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim Michael Ibrahim and Fadi Ibrahim were arrested in Dubai, alongside Sydney underworld figures Steven Fawaz Elmir, Haykan Arif and Mustapha Dib. In simultaneous raids in Sydney, police searched 28 properties across the city, including eastern suburbs homes belonging to John Ibrahim, and arrested his son Daniel Ibrahim and nine others. Arrests were later made in the Netherlands where local police arrested two men. John Ibrahim is not known as "Teflon" John for nothing. In the past, the 46-year-old Ibrahim has quipped he has much in common with TV's famous crime boss Tony Soprano, who spent much of his time negotiating the dangerous shoals of the underworld and sorting out endless conflicts created by family members. And so it has been for Ibrahim. For the past 25 years, Ibrahim has been the titular head of both Kings Cross and his own troublesome crime family. Older bother Sam is a crazed, violent, cocaine addict and former bikie boss, whose latest stint behind bars is for supplying guns. Ex-Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Credit:Tammy Law The court heard the former counsellor remained in a mental health facility and was not in a fit state to be questioned by authorities. Embattled former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale has missed his first court date on fresh charges of attempting to pervert justice and been ordered to show up next month. Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale is due to face court on Tuesday over two counts of attempting to pervert justice. Last week, the Crime and Corruption Commission issued the legal representative of a 65-year-old Ipswich man with a notice to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court court over the charges, the CCC said in a statement. Fairfax Media understands one of the charges relates to calls Mr Pisasale made to his former driver Steve Potts, allegedly offering to help Mr Potts find a job if he recanted his allegations that Mr Pisasale had misused his mayoral car. Last month, Fairfax Media revealed claims by Mr Potts that Mr Pisasale had used his official car and driver for chauffeur-driven trips to brothels and frequent visits to massage parlours. Mr Pisasale is already on bail on one charge of extortion and two other charges. A young father and husband has died after an incident at a mine west of Mackay in Queensland. Daniel Springer, 31, died following an incident at the Goonyella Riverside mine on Saturday. Tributes have been posted following the death of Daniel Springer. Credit:Facebook He left behind a wife and young child. Natural Resources and Mines Minister Anthony Lynham confirmed the death on Monday night and said investigations were under way. The third marine killed when a US military aircraft went down in waters off the central Queensland coast has been identified as 19-year-old Ruben Velasco from California. A GoFundMe page has been started by Mr Velasco's family to fund his funeral arrangements. Ruben Velasco, the third marine identified as missing after an aircraft crash off the coast of central Queensland. Credit:GoFundMe His father Ray Calzada shared a tribute on Facebook saying the family was in disbelief and couldn't "fathom the loss of our son". "My heart is broken for our families loss," he wrote. Increased revenue from heavy vehicles helped south-east Queensland's toll roads reap Transurban an extra $72 million in the 2016-17 financial year. More truck drivers are using Brisbane's tollways in 2017 than 2016, according to the latest figures released by Transurban. More truck drivers are using Brisbane's toll network, according to Transurban figures. Credit:Justin McManus However, Transurban's figures also show traffic on the Go Between Bridge has fallen 4 per cent to 11,000 vehicles a day, from 12,000 a day 12 months ago. Figures released on Tuesday showed that while overall commuter car traffic increased by 2.3 per cent, "large car vehicle traffic" had increased by 5.1 per cent. Brisbane bus drivers will refuse to collect fares for the rest of the working week after the council and union again failed to negotiate a new enterprise agreement. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union met with Brisbane City Council on Tuesday to discuss a resolution a lengthy dispute over pay, rostering and safety issues. Union-aligned bus drivers will not collect fares this week. Credit:Michelle Smith RTBU spokesman Tom Brown said there had been some progress made but there was not enough "advancement" to stop this week's industrial action. Unionised drivers had originally planned to offer free to travel to commuters all day on Wednesday and Thursday. When AusRegistry's contract was renewed in 2008 AusRegistry's media statement documented "new pricing that sees a drop in AusRegistry's wholesale price to $14 (for a two-year licence) for .com.au and .net.au domains and further drops as volumes increase." Adrian Kinderis says more volume means increased costs for AusRegistry. However this price decrease has not eventuated with AusRegistry's prices staying stable despite large increases in volume. "It is evident that AusRegistry and several parties have continued to profit above and beyond fair market pricing competition and extreme profit levels with little if any real competitor pricing modelling for too long," Fogarty says. "Domain name consumers have been basically overcharged since 2008." Governance concerns Fogarty says pricing has been driven up by the conflicting interests that result from having members of AusRegistry as members of the auDA board. "[auDA]'s been stacked at the board level by people with conflicts of interest who have made hundreds of millions of dollars out of this," he says. When you show two graphs on a page with one going up in terms of volume and the other staying stable in terms of cost I agree it would be natural to say these guys are price gouging and it's a natural monopoly and they're walking out with wads of cash in their pockets. Adrina Kinderis auDA has also been dogged by governance concerns, with chair Stuart Benjamin resigning last week ahead of an extraordinary general meeting that was to consider a vote of no confidence in him. As reported by Fairfax earlier this week, auDA members, led by former auDA board member Josh Rowe, objected to the removal of board minutes from the organisation's website, the introduction of a code of conduct that sought to allow the board to judge how members were publicly representing the organisation and a push by auDA to in-house its previously outsourced registry, which some said was the organisation trying to be both a regulator and wholesaler of domain names "Over the last year it has just been an ongoing mess of policy changes," Fogarty says. Move to introduce the direct .au domain name auDA is also under fire for pushing to introduce a direct .au domain name to Australia within the next year. Jim Stewart, owns digital marketing company StewArt Media and says more domain owners need to be worried about the role auDa plays in this. Stewart is particularly concerned about auDa's push to the .au domain name, which he sees as a money grab that will devalue existing domain names. "The move to direct .au registrations will have a significant impact on a lot of businesses even if it is just lessening the value of their assets," Stewart says. "Most businesses will just go and register [.au] and shelve it and that will be just another fee they will have to pay so a competitor won't get it. The .com.au is devalued as there is another domain in the market. There is 20 years in building up the .com.au brand and now it's about to get trashed. The only winners out of this are the registrars." 'Walking out with wads of cash' Cameron Boardman, chief executive of auDA, defended the charges levied by the organisation. "These agreements are four-year agreements and the agreement that was executed in 2010 had a volume-based reduction," he says. "This agreement expired on 30 June 2014. A new agreement was put in place in October 2013 for the period July 2014 to July 2018. The wholesale price paid for domain names is internationally competitive, however, we are currently in the middle of a tender to test the market." Adrian Kinderis, chief executive of AusRegistry, claims an increase in volume in domain names brings with it an increase in costs for service, marketing and security. Kinderis says the price for a .au domain name is cheaper than .com, which is "the most popular domain space on the planet" and it is "dangerous" to compare wholesale rates. "When you show two graphs on a page with one going up in terms of volume and the other staying stable in terms of cost I agree it would be natural to say these guys are price gouging and it's a natural monopoly and they're walking out with wads of cash in their pockets," he says. "But we are wanting to offer a service that is world class and it has been 15 years without having a DNS outage and keeping .au at the forefront in the global industry." Kinderis says there is value in charging more for domain names. "No one wants to see, quite frankly, domain names commoditised when they become $1 or $2, they are a service that we are offering. With the advent of the new domain names you see different business model with charges from $1 to $1000. There is no one set price that a domain name should be. What you see with the cheaper domain names is they get filled with junk. The people with spam and pirate websites all participate in the cheaper domain names. A healthy price keeps out those that want to do ill in the domain name space." By Mail Today Bureau: The Central Bureau of Investigation is going to probe the role of "corrupt" officials of East Delhi Municipal Corporation who failed to keep a check on toxic industries operational in residential areas which has taken two lives recently. The CBI has filed the case against unidentified officials of the EDMC and the Delhi government on August 4. advertisement It will probe how the illegal industry was running from residential area of Shiv Vihar in east Delhi and causing pollution. It is alleged that due to water pollution, the drinking water in the area got contaminated which was leading to severe problems like cancer to the people living there. The case followed directives from the Delhi High Court which took cognisance of a news report about the death in May of two residents, allegedly from toxins discharged by a denim washing process, which was the main work of many of the units. Residents allege that chemicals released from these industries are getting with ground water and causing several health issues. Maximum pollution in these areas relies on borewell for water. ILLEGAL UNITS OPERATIONAL However, experts claim there are several illegal commercial units working from residential areas. Even some hazardous and polluting commercial units are running unchecked. East Delhi is fill of illegal factories including those are related to plastic melting, colouring of jeans, making spray paints and melting brass. Irked over the menace of unauthorised industrial units running in residential areas here, the NGT had earlier directed the centre and the Delhi government to close all such units immediately and to cut electricity and water supply to such units. But, nothing much has happened on the ground as the illegal factories are thriving with the nexus with government officials. The CBI filed the case under stringent charges of criminal conspiracy and causing grievous hurt by acts endangering the life or personal safety of others and for acts of corruption. The FIR focuses on running of unauthorised dyeing industry in Karawal Nagar since 2000. In its order, the HC had asked CBI to ascertain the industrial/commercial use of residential properties. It said, "The CBI shall ascertain as to how many people have died in the area in the last five years and the cause of their deaths. It shall also find names and full particulars of the assistant engineer, executive engineer and the superintending engineer of the MCD who were posted in Shiv Vihar when the illegal activity commenced and who remained their till the date of closure of such activity." RUNNING WITHOUT LICENSE However, it would be a tough task for the agency to scan such units as several illegal factories and industries were operation in entire east Delhi which is also known as hub of garment factories. It also said CBI should find out whether any licence for the user to which the properties have been issued by the department of licensing of the MCD and detail of such officer who allowed running of these kind of industrial and commercial activities in the residential houses shall also be ascertained. advertisement Even East Delhi MP Maheish Girri has raised the issues of illegal factories and had recently written letters to Delhi pollution control department, district collectors, respective SDMs of the area and also to the MCD and requested them to take urgent action on these illegal factories. He has also requested the L-G Anil Baijal for his intervention. ALSO READ Four men die after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning septic tank in South Delhi Andhra Pradesh: Five workers killed after inhaling toxic gas at aqua food processing plant --- ENDS --- The Walt Disney Co. secretly collects personal information on some of their youngest customers and shares that data illegally with advertisers without parental consent, according to lawsuit filed late last week in California. The class-action suit targets Disney and three other software companies - Upsight, Unity and Kochava - alleging that the mobile apps they built together violate the law by gathering insights about app users across the Internet, including those under the age of 13, in ways that facilitate "commercial exploitation." The plaintiffs argue that Disney and its partners violated COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, a federal law designed to protect the privacy of children on the Web. The lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the District of Northern California, seeks an injunction barring the companies from collecting and disclosing the data without parental consent, as well as punitive damages and legal fees. The lawsuit alleges that Disney allowed the software companies to embed trackers in apps such as "Disney Princess Palace Pets" and "Where's My Water? 2." Once installed, tracking software can then "exfiltrate that information off the smart device for advertising and other commercial purposes," according to the suit. The producer behind a controversial anti-vaccination film which has been touring Australia has been banned from returning to the country for three years, she claims. British anti-vaccination campaigner, Polly Tommey, who believes the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine caused her son's autism, sparked outrage when she told audiences around Australia that 'doctors were murderers'. Ms Tommey spearheaded a sold-out national roadshow of the documentary Vaxxed: From Cover-up to Catastrophe organised by the Australian Vaccinations-Skeptics Network. Directed by Andrew Wakefield a former doctor whose debunked study played a key role in the anti-vaccination movement the film reignites false claims about a link between the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine and autism. Lord mayor Robert Doyle's home has been damaged in an early morning paint-bomb attack, the second time the South Melbourne property has been targeted by protesters in six months. Anarchist group Street Artists for Doyle Collective have claimed responsibility for the attack which occurred about 1.30 on Monday morning. Melbourne lord mayor Robert Doyle's vandalised Melbourne home on Tuesday. Credit:Courtesy of Channel Nine Cr Doyle told 3AW the attack was an "intrusion and invasion" of his family's privacy and said the front and side of his home was covered in paint. He said his wife, Emma, and three-year-old son were asleep when the group attacked his home. When Anne Ferguson began practising law, not one woman was serving on the bench of the Supreme Court. Now, the former commercial solicitor and Appeal Court Justice will be the state's next chief justice. Appeals Court judge Anne Ferguson will be Victoria's next Supreme Court chief justice. Victoria made history when it became the first state to appoint a female chief justice, Marilyn Warren, in 2003. It is leading the way again with the announcement that Justice Ferguson will be the second. Triple murder accused, Henri van Breda, had DNA belonging to his mother and brother under his fingernails following their brutal death, a South African court heard on Monday. The former Perth student is on trial for murdering his father Martin, mum Teresa, and brother Rudi, with an axe in their Stellenbosch home. Henri van Breda arriving at the High Court in Cape Town in April. Credit:AP And South African news outlet news24.com reported on Monday that in addition to the DNA found under his nails, there was no unknown DNA found elsewhere in the family's luxury De Zalze Estate home. The 22-year-old's trial resumed more than a month after proceedings were adjourned with the testimony of Lieutenant Colonel Sharlene Otto, the police's chief forensic analyst. Two experienced fisherman who were never heard from again after going missing off the WA coast were probably hit by a large wave that sank their boat, an inquest has heard. The coroner is investigating the deaths of Rockingham men Nigel Kitchen, 50, and Andrew Hinds, 57, who failed to return from a fishing trip off Coral Bay north of Perth last year. Nigel Kitchen and Andrew Hinds. Credit:Coastlive.com.au The key evidence of the men's fate was the discovery, by a diver two days after they were last heard from, of a human arm that was confirmed to be Mr Kitchen's and had been bitten off by sharks. The men had gone fishing in Mr Hinds' 8.2 metre boat on May 29 last year in rough seas, including swells of up to three metres. Premier Mark McGowan is refusing to bow to pressure from the WA Police union despite a poll finding that more than half of voters support a pay rise. A union-commissioned ReachTel poll of 3000 voters, published in The West Australian, found 56 per cent believed the one-off $1000 pay increase was unfair and the government should return to its original 1.5 per cent wage deal. Police officers are set to rally at parliament to fight for a bigger pay rise. Union president George Tillbury said it proved the public were unimpressed the McGowan government had broken an election promise of a 1.5 per cent pay increase. When it won the election and took government, that was changed to a $1000 flat increase, which 88 per cent of union members rejected. The strange case of a Perth marriage celebrant who failed to get an "I do" from a terminally ill and unconscious bride is something Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants president Anthony Burke says he has never heard of before. Diane Caratozzolo-Waddington pleaded guilty in the Rockingham Magistrates Court last month to purporting to solemnise a marriage in October 2015. Diane Caratozzolo-Waddington pleaded guilty to purporting to solemnise a marriage. Credit:Facebook She had carried out the marriage of a Rockingham couple - a man and his wife, who was dying from cancer - in 2015. But the woman was unconscious at the time, never woke up and died soon after the ceremony. Brigitte Macron, wife of French president Emmanuel Macron. Credit:AP "The drop is serious. It's a warning signal," Fourquet said in an interview. "The causes of this discontent are deep. It is touching on some important elements in Macron's agenda," he added, pointing out that Macron had angered all sides of the political spectrum. Nobody denies that Macron, 39, already has a roster of accomplishments, even before the coming summer break. French President Emmanuel Macron poses for selfies as he visits the MSC Meraviglia cruise ship at the STX shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France. Credit:AP Parliament -- in his hands and largely beholden to him -- has given him the go-ahead to proceed with an overhaul of France's stultifying labor code, which Macron and many economists say is necessary to break high unemployment. The representatives, elected on his ticket, have passed a significant ethics law that bars deputies from employing family members and regulates parliamentary expense accounts. And he has set in motion a tough new anti-terrorism law, widely criticised by civil libertarians. While opposition politicians have pounced gleefully on the shrinking poll numbers, much of the drop may simply have been waiting to happen. Macron avoided crowd-pleasing promises during his campaign, with one significant exception, a cut in the housing tax. He did not promise lavish spending initiatives or to hire thousands of new civil servants, like several of his opponents. "The problem with a very presidentialised system is that the president takes everything on his shoulders, and he pays the price," said Gerard Grunberg, an emeritus political scientist at Sciences Po, a university in Paris. "Discontent fixes itself very quickly on the president," Grunberg added. "It's even more for Macron because he's had this image of being the providential man. So that at the first disappointment, it all shrinks very quickly." His vow to pare down the French state was bound to anger significant constituencies in a country where state spending is 56 per cent of gross domestic product, the highest among the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's advanced economies. Then the discovery after his election of a $US9.5 billion budget shortfall left by his predecessor, combined with Macron's vow to make the deficit conform to European Union norms at 3 per cent of gross domestic product, led inevitably to promises of further cuts, including $US1 billion in military spending. But some of the wounds are self-inflicted. Previous vulnerabilities are coming to the fore. A product of France's elite schools, the Olympian Macron doesn't have the common touch, was never previously elected to anything, and since his election has preferred high-tech salons to trips to France's struggling provinces. He was booed by workers when he visited a threatened auto-parts factory in central France, not helping himself there by proclaiming that he was no "Father Christmas." His abrupt handling of de Villiers, a man nearly 30 years his senior -- the president let it be known that he was furious at the general's criticism of cuts to the military budget -- was seen as "authoritarian," a word that recurred in French press accounts. Bewilderment greeted the government's vagueness about when the promised housing tax cut, destined for nearly 80 per cent of French households, would be put in place: The prime minister first said it would be phased in gradually, but the outcry prompted officials to correct themselves a week later, promising a rollout by 2018. "This was one of Macron's signature issues. And then it was announced that this cut would only happen slowly. People said, well, it was just a campaign promise after all," Fourquet said. A 5-euro aid cut to low-income renters was met with groans and cries of unfairness. Then, the president coupled television images of himself posing with military -- on a submarine and with French troops in Mali -- with the military budget cut. "The risk is that an excess of Hollywood-style communication produces an opposite result to the one intended," Fourquet said. Le Monde wryly noted that the Assemblee canteen, used to doling out glasses of wine at night sessions, now had to get used to orange juice and Coca-Cola. But these young men and women are now the ones in the driver's seat. "It's normal, when you're at the controls, that expectations are very high. Plus there is a very strong desire to change France," said Matthieu Orphelin, a newly elected member of parliament in Macron's movement, La Republique en Marche, or the Republic on the Move. "This should encourage us to persevere in what we are trying to do, to go fast in transforming the country," Orphelin said. Besides, he said, "Our work is not based on the polls. We are working on the program." Francois Patriat, a senator from Burgundy in Macron's political movement, said: "He went up very high, and now he is back to normal. The French are coming back down to the nitty-gritty." Loading But Macron's progress so far "proves that breaking the left-right barrier, which he wanted, is finding results." Subhash Barala, BJP leader and father of Vikas Barla who is accused of stalking Varnika Kundu, today said that Kundu was like his daughter. By India Today Web Desk: Days after the horrific incident of stalking of Varnika Kundu by Haryana BJP chief's son Vikas Barala came to light, the state party chief today broke his silence. Subhash Barala, Haryana BJP chief, said that his party believes in women's rights and freedom. Barala added that the law should take its own course. While addressing media persons, the BJP leader also said that Kundu was like his daughter. advertisement "Varnika is like my daughter and there is no pressure to influence the investigation," said Barala. The incident that took place on Friday night made headlines after Kundu filed a police complaint. The police also bore the brunt after they were accused of fudging crucial details from the FIR. On Tuesday, India Today accessed a copy of the FIR in which it was clearly mentioned that there was an attempt to abduct her by the accused. On Monday, the Chandigarh police, while denying the accusations of lapse in probe, said that they recovered footage from five CCTV cameras installed on the highway stretch. The Haryana BJP chief's comments come in the wake of ongoing reports that there has been efforts to influence the investigation. Also Read: Chandigarh stalking case: CCTV video shows Vikas Barala's SUV following Varnika Kundu's car Why Chandigarh stalking is not a shocker: A look at crime against women in numbers WATCH | India Today accesses CCTV footage in Chandigarh stalking case --- ENDS --- An assessment this week by the Japanese Ministry of Defense also concludes there is evidence to suggest that North Korea has achieved miniaturisation. Kim Jong-un is becoming increasingly confident in the reliability of his nuclear arsenal, analysts have concluded, explaining perhaps the dictator's willingness to engage in defiant behaviour, including missile tests that have drawn criticism even from North Korea's closest ally, China. On Saturday, both China and Russia joined other members of the UN Security Council in approving punishing new economic sanctions, including a ban on exports that supply up to a third of North Korea's annual $US3 billion earnings. The nuclear progress further raises the stakes for President Trump, who has vowed that North Korea will never be allowed to threaten the United States with nuclear weapons. In an interview broadcast Saturday on MSNBC's Hugh Hewitt Show, national security adviser HR McMaster said the prospect of a North Korea armed with nuclear-tipped ICBMs would be "intolerable, from the president's perspective." "We have to provide all options... and that includes a military option," he said. But Mr McMaster said the administration would do everything short of war to "pressure Kim Jong-un and those around him, such that they conclude it is in their interest to denuclearise." The options said to be under discussion ranged from new multilateral negotiations to reintroducing US battlefield nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, officials familiar with internal discussions said. Determining the precise makeup of North Korea's nuclear arsenal has long been a difficult challenge for intelligence professionals because of the regime's culture of extreme secrecy and insularity. The country's weapons scientists have conducted five nuclear tests since 2006, the latest being a 20- to 30-kiloton detonation on September 9, 2016, that produced a blast estimated to be up to twice that of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. But producing a compact nuclear warhead that can fit inside a missile is a technically demanding feat, one that many analysts believed was still beyond North Korea's grasp. Last year, state-run media in Pyongyang displayed a spherical device that government spokesmen described as a miniaturised nuclear warhead, but whether it was a real bomb remained unclear. North Korean officials described the September detonation as a successful test of a small warhead designed to fit on a missile, though many experts were skeptical of the claim. Mr Kim has repeatedly proclaimed his intention to field a fleet of nuclear-tipped ICBMs as a guarantor of his regime's survival. His regime took a major step toward that goal last month with the first successful tests of a missile with intercontinental range. Video analysis of the latest test revealed that the missile caught fire and apparently disintegrated as it plunged back toward Earth's surface, suggesting North Korea's engineers are not yet capable of building a reentry vehicle that can carry the warhead safely through the upper atmosphere. But US analysts and many independent experts believe that this hurdle will be overcome by late next year. "What initially looked like a slow-motion Cuban missile crisis is now looking more like the Manhattan Project, just barreling along," said Robert Litwak, a nonproliferation expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars and author of "Preventing North Korea's Nuclear Breakout," published by the centre this year. "There's a sense of urgency behind the program that is new to the Kim Jong-un era." While few discount North Korea's progress, some prominent US experts warned against the danger of overestimating the threat. Siegfried Hecker, director emeritus of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the last known US official to personally inspect North Korea's nuclear facilities, has calculated the size of North Korea's arsenal at no more than 20 to 25 bombs. Hecker warned of potential risks that can come from making Kim into a bigger menace than he actually is. "Overselling is particularly dangerous," said Mr Hecker, who visited North Korea seven times between 2004 and 2010 and met with key leaders of the country's weapons programs. "Some like to depict Kim as being crazy - a madman - and that makes the public believe that the guy is undeterrable. He's not crazy and he's not suicidal. And he's not even unpredictable." A group of influential retired Thai generals, politicians, academics and businessmen with close links to China have revived plans to construct a US$28 billion ($35 billion) and 135 kilometre canal across southern Thailand to link the Indian and Pacific oceans. Seen as an Asian equivalent of the Suez or Panama canals, the so-called Kra canal would save at least 1200 kilometres, or two to three days sailing time, for ships bypassing the narrow, traffic-choked and piracy-prone Malacca Strait, which links China, Japan and other Asian nations to the oil fields of the Middle East and markets in Europe, Africa and India. A record 84,000 ships passed through the Malacca Strait last year, close to its capacity. The Nikkei Asian Review reports that a group called the Thai Canal Association of Study and Development is trying to persuade Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to approve a feasibility study. The plan would be one of the most ambitious mega-projects ever undertaken in Asia that could be funded through China's multi-billion dollar Belt and Road and New Maritime Silk Road initiatives, aimed at reshaping trade across Asia. PHILIPSBURG:--- Recently staff representing the majority of St. Maarten school boards attended the ISTE conference in San Antonio, Texas. This conference focused on innovative integrated technology in education. Every year more than 20,000 educators from all over the world come together sharing good practices and showing the newest developments in the area of education and technology. The local school boards SVOBE , FAVE, SKOS, Public Schools, Seventh Day Adventist and Hillside Christian schools acknowledge the wealth of information available at ISTE and invested in sending representatives to San Antonio. Foresee Foundation, an independent non-profit foundation supporting innovative educational projects also attended and was delighted to see how the number of local St. Maarten participants has grown over the years. As often said these days, in education, we are training young people for jobs who do not exist as yet. A clear example is the role that a number of these St. Maarten educators preparing for new tasks. To successfully implement technology throughout the schools is a very challenging job whereby educational leaders have recognized the necessity of creating new job roles where specialist educators guide schools, students, and staff to become better equipped. With projects in schools, such as the public school iStep project , the DigiKidz and DigiTeenz programs and the C-TEC conference, everybody is encouraged to get engaged in the use of technology in the classroom and even bring it also beyond the four walls of the building as learning can take place in a very flexible manner at any time and at any place. This will allow for more flexibility in terms of planning, personalizing learning and equal opportunities for students. The ISTE conference was a big eye-opener whereby lots of valuable ideas were taken along to be implemented at the respective schools. Out of the more than 500 exhibitors displaying their products and over 1,500 workshops to choose from, the most popular themes focused on innovative active learning, creating and designing learning with an emphasis on coding/programming/robotics, virtual learning and augmented reality, 3D printing, collaboration through social media, digital literacy, citizenship and safety, gamification in education and BYOD/ 1:1 devices (one device per student). The latter discusses the implementation, the pros, and cons of students bringing their own devices and/or the alternative of school boards/school districts investing heavily in purchasing computers, laptops, tablets, and setting up strong and secure networks which can guarantee the amount of data traffic while securing privacy. This all needs to be done within the context of preparing and training staff and students in digital citizenship, literacy and internet safety. All attendants employed by the St. Maarten school boards and Foresee are keen on moving forward St. Maarten education bringing 21st-century learning skills further into their local school's upcoming school year. James Krauseneck maintained his innocence at the sentencing Monday and was supported by his daughter, Sarah, who was 3 at the time and saw her deceased mother, Cathleen Cathy Krausneck, 29, a Macomb County native. Everything you need to know about No. 20 Notre Dame's game vs. Navy Saturday in Baltimore Vikas Barala was arrested on Saturday and released on bail the same day. Later, in an interview with India Today, Varnika Kundu said there had been an attempt to abduct her. By India Today Web Desk: A CCTV video accessed by India Today shows Vikas Barala's white SUV trailing Varnika Kundu's car at high speed, providing a major breakthough in the Chandigarh stalking case. Vikas is the son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala. This revelation comes close on the heels of BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's announcement, reported by the news agency ANI, that he's prepared to seek a CBI inquiry in the case if necessary. The BJP leader is filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the report said. advertisement "The reason I have to file the PIL is because the police had already done the somersault in the FIR. They have listed only bailable offences. The police succumbed to some pressure. In the court monitor I will seek CBI inquiry, if necessary, with the SIT so that justice is done ," ANI's report quoted Swamy as saying. The veteran leader had on Monday stated his intention to file the petition. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CASE Subhash Barala's son Vikas was arrested on Saturday and booked for stalking (a bailable office) a Chandigarh woman, after hours of confusion about the nature of charges to be brought against him. A friend of his was booked as well. He was granted bail the very same day. Section 341 (wrongful restraint) was added to the FIR only later. His alleged victim, Varnika Kundu, told India Today's Preeti Choudhury that there was even an attempt to abduct her. Both she and her father, senior IAS officer Virender Kundu, have vowed to fight for justice. They've said they won't bow down to any kind of political pressure. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday seemed to suggest it was inappropriate to punish the father for the son's alleged crime. Despite mounting pressure, Subhash Barala has refused to step down as the president of the Haryana BJP. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Police have recovered CCTV footage from five cameras, seen as crucial evidence needed to establish that Varnika Kundu was indeed stalked. The recordings may help police tighten their case against Vikas Barala. Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Eish Singhal said: "We are investigating the case with an open mind. If any section has to be added at a later stage, we will do it." A Haryana BJP leader, Ramveer Bhatti, asked what Varnika Kundu was doing out so late at night. ALSO READ Why Chandigarh stalking is not a shocker: A look at crime against women in numbers CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Chandigarh stalking: Can't punish Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala for his son's crime ALSO WATCH Chandigarh woman stalked by Haryana BJP chief's son narrates ordeal to India Today --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: It's not been even 24 hours since a tweet from Bharatiya Janata Party Maharashtra spokesperson Shaina NC's verified Twitter account led to uproar on the social media platform. The tweet from Shaina's account, that was lifted from a Supreme Court lawyer's tweet, said, "So called victim Beti with Vikas Barala'' and that the now famous Chandigarh stalking case of Varnika Kundu, who accused Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala's son Vikas Barala of stalking her at midnight in the streets of Chandigarh is only as true as the news about Jasleen Kaur and Rohtak Sisters. advertisement The tweet that was made with the intention to prove that Varnika Kundu knew Vikas Barala from before and thereby hinting that Kundu could be framing Barala was soon deleted. Shaina then claimed that her Twitter account was hacked and requested all to ignore the tweets from her handle. Twitter users believe her account was not hacked and that her claim was just a damage-control attempt. Instead of condemning the incident, Haryana BJP Deputy President Ramveer Bhatti said, "The girl should not have gone out at 12 in the night," and wondered "Why she was allowed to stay out so late." Now, Union Minister Babul Supriyo has made a series of tweets defending Baralas. In the first tweet, he said, "Guys, think rationally?? A guy chases a girl- he's drunk! Deplorable???? But why charge him with 'Abduction' etc without investigation? (sic)" In the second tweet, Supriyo wondered why Subhash Barala is dragged into the issue for his son's "mischief". He tweeted, "Why drag his father in2 it? Just cuz a Neta's son's mischief make better headlines? "Desh ki Beti ko insaaf chahiye?" etc etc! Why? (sic)". The union minister, who seem to be urging people to think rationally, forgot he is normalising stalking calling it a mischief. In the third tweet, Babul Supriyo said, "If investigations reveal the guy guilty of nonbailable offences, law exists and it wil prevail but taint the men in uniforms prematurely? (sic)". Supriyo is hinting at the Chandigarh Police being blamed of losing footages from CCTV cameras in the city and of dropping two non-bailable charges leading to Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar getting bail on the day they were arrested. In the next tweet, Supriyo raised the "what about" argument that is employed on social media often. He asked why the social media justice seekers standing up for Varnika were silent when a youngster was hacked to death in Kerala or when a 61-year-old woman was raped and killed in West Bengal. In what looked like the last tweet in the series, Supriyo said whatever he tweeted is him using his freedom of speech and warned those who would retort to him not to use unparliamentary language. advertisement ALSO READ: How fake photos became a part of the BJP's social media narrative Chandigarh stalking: After SC lawyer, BJP spokesperson Shaina NC shares photo to spread fake narrative We shall NOT back out: Chandigarh stalking victim's father makes stand clear in Facebook post WATCH : Chandigarh woman stalked by Haryana BJP chief's son narrates ordeal to India Today --- ENDS --- Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. The BRAP 2017 proposed 40 new services that require a new Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act (PSDGA) or an equivalent legislation. By Ashish Pandey: The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu has approved the launch of important reforms for the government to become more industry friendly and guarantee efficient public service. The Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Committee presented the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) 2017 and analysed the preparedness of all the departments. Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act The BRAP 2017 proposed 40 new services that require a new Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act (PSDGA) or an equivalent legislation. advertisement This Act will define the competence of authorities, timelines for delivery of service (clearances, approvals, licenses, renewals) and compensation to applicants in case of delay and mechanisms to appeal. Compensation to applicants will be a penal provision, when officers or departments miss their deadlines. "Such a provision is unheard of, and I want the people to have nothing less than a 100 per cent efficient government", said the Chief Minister parsing the move of his government. INDUSTRY-FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT The EODB committee also proposed that the Single Window Act (2002) will be amended and named Industries Services Delivery Right and Guarantee Act. "Our government has a long list of industries associated with us, and it will henceforth be our responsibility to maintain good relations with them. All stakeholders must be sensitised to the new reforms, using comprehensive brochures," said the Chief Minister. He requested all the departments to share flowers, sweets or savouries over a pleasant conversation with the companies, and renew their relationship with the government. EODB REPORT The Ease Of Doing Business reported the status of implementation of the reforms. Out of 373 reforms, 245 have been implemented, and 128 are under implementation. There are 33 reforms that are yet to be expedited. Automated service restoration in industrial areas will ease the process of obtaining electricity connection; paper-less courts including e-summons, e-filing, e-cause lists and e-payment of court fees and process fees; and commercial dispute resolution enablers are among the many reforms that were discussed. The chief minister said that all departments must work towards implementing the reforms as soon as possible. "All officers of all departments must be made aware of our new and strict deadlines. By 25th August, all reforms must be implemented, and the EODB committee must meet once in fifteen days to discuss the extent and quality of implementation" added the chief minister. --- ENDS --- Bir Lehlu (Liberated Territories from SADR), August 08, 2017 (SPS) - the member of the National Secretariat of the Frente POLISARIO, Speaker of the Saharawi National Council, Jatri Adduh sent a congratulatory message to the President of the National Assembly of Ecuador, Jose Serrano Salgado on the occasion of celebrating the Anniversary of the First Cry of Independence. It is an honor for me to address to his Honorable my cordial greeting and the pleasure of sending my most cordial congratulations and that of the National Saharawi Council on the occasion of the celebration of the Anniversary of the First Cry of the Independence of the Republic of Ecuador, expressions which I extend to the entire Ecuadorian people. expresses Jatri Aduh in his letter to his Ecuadorian counterpart. The Speaker of the Saharawi National Council expressed as well the will and determination of the Saharawi National Council to strengthen the excellent ties and relations of friendship and cooperation existing between our two parliamentary institutions and our sister nations. SPS 125/090/TRA In 2015, two American sisters were arrested in Cambodia for using their visit to Angkor Wat, an ancient temple and major tourist destination, as an opportunity to strip down for a nude photoshoot. Really. And it wasn't even the first time this has happened. Most people visiting another country would know that taking your clothes off at a sacred temple is a really bad idea, but there are plenty of other mistakes made by sane, non-exhibitionist travelers who don't know any better. In fact, it's practically unavoidable: part of the tourist experience is getting things wrong. Opposition parties in Maharashtra have come out against the BJP state government over the education ministry's decision to remove a chapter on Mughals from class VII and IX textbooks. By Mayuresh Ganapatye: From this year onward, Maharashtra state board students will be studying history that focuses majorly on Marathas and Shivaji the king. The state board has revised the history textbooks of classes VII and IX and has removed the chapter on Mughals. The Removal of the chapter on Mughals from the text books has become the hot topic in state. Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and Samajwadi Party are among those who have criticsed the move by the state board. advertisement "The Removal of the Mughal chapter from text book is nothing but the saffron agenda of BJP and RSS. It's a pre-planned conspiracy... We are proud of Maratha history but this is not a good sign that we are going to teach students only selective history," the SP's Abu Azmi said. The NCP, on the other hand, said that taking out the chapter amounted to keeping facts from students. "Students should know against whom Shivaji fought. [But] giving only Maratha history and removing Mughal chapters is not good. History is [about] facts and if we are not telling students what the facts are then what we are going to teach them?" the NCP's Jitendra Awhad questioned. Naseem Khan of the Congress reacted by saying that the Mughal's contribution should not be forgotten. "How can we forget the contribution of Mughals in art and architecture? In the fight against the British it was the Mughal and Indian emperors who came together. We should teach students what has happened in history. Removing chapter of Mughals or their contribution is a really unfortunate move by this government," Khan said. The new standard VII textbook has no chapters on the Mughals, or the Muslim rulers in India before the Mughals, such as Razia Sultana and Muhammad bin Tuqhlaq. The revised version of book has no mention of the great monuments built by Mughal rulers, like the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort either. There were two entire chapters on the Mughals and their empire in class VII history textbooks editions of the previous years. Those editions introduced emporer Akbar as the king who stopped the practice of sati and give new life to widows by allowing them to remarry. Akbar was also described as "liberal and tolerant administrator who was a patron of learning and art" and a king who abolished the religious tax, jaziya. The next textbook focuses on Maratha history, with a special chapter called 'Ideal Ruler' dedicated to Shivaji. The chapter explains the Maratha warrior's role and talks about his families and his generals in detail. While controversy rages on the Maharashtra government's move to axe the chapter on Mughals, state Education Minister Vinod Tawade avoided answering journalist queries on the matter. ALSO READ | History of Mughals, western countries 'irrelevant': How state education boards create 'nationalist' textbooks advertisement ALSO READ | Rajasthan rewrites history: Maharana Pratap, not Akbar, won Battle of Haldighati --- ENDS --- These days it's rare for someone to go on a trip without posting on social media. Using data from Facebook, The New York Times found the overseas destination people from each state are more likely to visit compared to every other state. "The results don't necessarily reflect the most popular destinations outside the United States those are overwhelmingly Mexico and Canada but instead show which locations are unusually popular with people in a given state, compared with where most Americans travel during the summer," The New York Times writes. T he publisher of illustrated books such as The Sex Bible for People over 50 and Cooking with Cannabis has revealed it is in talks about a takeover amid a slide in revenues. Quarto, which was founded in London in 1976, said it had received an approach from an unnamed bidder at a price the board considers to be attractive and reflective of the inherent value of the business. The company said discussions were worthy of due consideration but still at an early stage. Because it is incorporated in Delaware and not bound by UK takeover rules, Quarto was not obliged to disclose the identity of the interested party. Its largest shareholder, at 15%, remains founder Laurence Orbach who was ousted as chief executive in 2012 after a bust-up with an activist investor. News of the bid interest caused the shares to surge 30.5p, or about 22%, to 170p today. They have lost nearly half their value this year. The bid came as the company revealed a disappointing performance in the first half of the year, with publishing weaker than expected. Revenues fell by 13% to $50.2 million (38.5 million), pushing the company to a greater pre-tax loss of $9.2 million and forcing it to scrap the dividend. Chief executive Marcus Leaver said he expects the soft retail environment to continue. E amon de Valera, dominant figure in Irish politics for much of the 20th century, devout Catholic and resolute puritan, must have spun in his grave last week when his latest successor as Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, turned up at the Gay Pride festivities in Belfast. Varadkar came out as gay in a remarkably unfussed way, before taking over as leader of the Fine Gael party; it didnt get in his way, and nor did his half-Indian ancestry. More interesting to the Irish political world is the extent to which he will define a new identity for his party. He may well shift it further to the Right: early on, he said he was in politics to represent people who get up in the morning. More immediately, his own form of early rising seems to mean a new approach to diplomatic relations, British-Irish and North-South. Varadkars Friday speech in Belfast followed hard on a carefully primed statement expressing impatience with the shambolic nature of the British Governments approach to Brexit, especially as it affects the Irish border. In contrast to the gentler approach of his predecessor Enda Kenny, who gave the impression that he would like to help get Britain off the hook, Varadkar has sharply said that the British have created this mess and its not his job to oblige them by suggesting a way out of it: though on Friday he outlined some possible forms of customs union, or the prospect of rejoining EFTA. Closer to home, Varadkars plainspokenness has infuriated Mrs Mays backwoods allies in Northern Irelands DUP. (Irritating them may also have been in Mr Varadkars mind when he supported the gay festivities, as the DUP have consistently blocked any steps to equal marriage which was decisively embraced by the Irish electorate, against all the jeremiads of their own ayatollahs.) DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson has already written an article ticking off Varadkar and telling him that the Republic will have to wait until the Brexiteers reveal their plan for a frictionless border. Given the dearth of specific suggestions and the mental incapacity displayed by the floundering trio of Davis, Fox and Johnson, this may be some time. Moreover, since Donaldson apparently believes that speed-trap technology for photographing car registrations is a useful and relevant precedent for searching trucks, checking visas, confirming import/export documentation and all the endless complications attendant upon the restored hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, his animadversions will not carry much weight in Dublin. The considerable intellectual firepower of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs knows it will have to look elsewhere for a reasonable and constructive approach to the question. As several Irish diplomats warned early on, an inevitable knock-on effect of Brexit would be a threat to Anglo-Irish relations, as well as upon the North-South relationships forged with so much effort through the peace process. Mrs Mays shoddy bargain with the DUP has brought this into sharp focus, and it seems that Varadkar has decided to play hardball. In articulating his growing impatience with British havering, the Irish leader is falling into line with the recent remarks by Romano Prodi, Michel Barnier, Angela Merkel and other European figures who have stressed that in the interests of the EUs future, Britain cannot be given an easy ride. The asinine promise of having ones cake and eating it has long been exposed for what it was. And another rhetorical Brexiteer assumption, that the EU was a failed entity anyway, has also been exploded, as French and German politics restabilise under Macron and Merkel, and the eurozone economy markedly improves. Meanwhile British growth struggles at a much lower level and the pound is still well down on pre-Brexit levels, which has already had an adverse impact on Irelands vitally important export trade to the sterling area. Here, too, Varadkar is aligning Ireland with its EU co-members, as Irish growth figures are now the highest in Europe, emigration is reversing, and Dublins commercial property boom is fuelled by international financial institutions transferring operations there. Last week a Eurobarometer poll showed that Irish people declare an astonishingly high level of commitment to Europe, and identify strongly as Europeans despite the traumas of the austerity policies imposed by the European bail-out of the Irish economy 10 years ago. This pro-Europeanism reflects deeper cultural and historical affinities than just doing well out of the CAP and European inward investment since 1973 (though that record is not irrelevant). This is an identity that members of the DUP would find hard to understand, or to stomach; their political DNA is after all rooted in a claim on Britishness. (This is one reason why the idea of a sea border around Northern Ireland for EU purposes rather than the land border with the Republic, floated by one of Varadkars colleagues, is utterly unacceptable up North.) The relationship between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, like the border itself, was creatively adapted and diluted by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Sadly, it becomes clearer by the day that this is another kind of freedom of movement that will be removed by the politics of Brexit. Leo Varadkar has recognised this, and decided not to facilitate it. Early on in the post-Brexit fall-out, some maverick Irish voices declared that Ireland too might have to follow Britain out of the EU, but they are rarely heard now. Varadkars hard line charts the future; if he were succeeded by a Fianna Fail administration under Michael Martin, things would look little different. Varadkar has refreshingly confounded the usual stereotypes of the Irish politician; he is following this through by not bothering to do what the Irish call plamas, a strategy of getting your way through flattery and charm. It is to be hoped that the closeness of Anglo-Irish relations highlighted by the remarkable royal and presidential visits a few years ago will remain. But we are in a different world now. Roy Foster is Emeritus Professor of Irish History at Oxford and Professor of Irish History and Literature at Queen Mary University of London, and author of Vivid Faces: the Revolutionary Generation in Ireland, 1890-1923 (Penguin). T his is not a good time to be a London commuter, especially not one whose destination is Waterloo. Between now and the end of August, regular station users would be better off on holiday alas, not an option for everyone. This month, there will be fewer train services, those that run at all will be busier and more crowded than usual, journeys will take longer, some stations will be shut, the Tube will be more crowded too and there will be queues for trains. But the alternative is worse, which is for the station improvement works to drag on in perpetuity. Its better to get the works done during the main holiday month than for it to stretch into the distant future. And the reason for the disruption is very good news for passengers, namely, the lengthening of station platforms to accommodate longer trains with more carriages. There is no single measure that will do more to ease overcrowding on the busiest routes; it matters more to most commuters than more high-profile rail infrastructure projects. The sheer disruption of the works will, all going well, be more than repaid by swifter, less crowded services. So, this is a time for the stoicism for which the London commuter is famous. We shall keep going, as we always do. But God help us if the works dont finish on time. Waterloo Station Upgrade - In pictures 1 /24 Waterloo Station Upgrade - In pictures Morning commuters face major disruption with half the station platforms closed as Waterloo station undergoes an ugrade which will last several weeks Rex Features Commuters arriving at Waterloo during the upgrade with half the platforms in use Alex Lentati Passengers and commuters using old Eurostar platforms at Waterloo Station in London as engineering work continues in a major overhaul of the travel hub PA Morning commuters face major disruption with half the station platforms closed as Waterloo station undergoes an ugrade which will last several weeks Rex Features So far so good, on a train to Weybridge even earlier than usual. Warnings must have worked as Waterloo station and train quiet @LucieSpeciale Surbiton station is usually packed at this time @BethanyArmorel Commuters walk past closed platforms at Waterloo Station in London as engineering work continues in a major overhaul of the travel hub PA Engineering work continues at Waterloo Station in London in a major overhaul of the travel hub PA Engineering work is carried out at Waterloo Station in London in a major overhaul of the travel hu PA Engineering work is carried out at Waterloo Station in London in a major overhaul of the travel hu PA Waterloo station this morning was far emptier than normal A commuter walks past signs at Waterloo Station in London as engineering work continues in a major overhaul of the travel hub PA Commuters arriving at Waterloo during the upgrade with half the platforms in use Alex Lentati Commuters arriving at Waterloo during the upgrade with half the platforms in use Alex Lentati Commuters arriving at Waterloo during the upgrade with half the platforms in use Alex Lentati Commuters arriving at Waterloo during the upgrade with half the platforms in use Alex Lentati Engineering work continues at Waterloo Station in London in a major overhaul of the travel hub PA Engineering work continues at Waterloo Station in London in a major overhaul of the travel hub PA Judges need clarity Clarity is everything when it comes to the law, but the most senior judge in England, Lord Neuberger, is complaining that the situation of the judiciary post-Brexit is anything but straightforward. Parliament should be very clear in telling the judges what to do, he said in an interview, because if it doesnt express clearly what the judges should do about decisions of the European Court of Justice [ECJ] after Brexit ... then the judges will simply have to try and do their best... The more guidance Parliament gives us, and the clearer the guidance, the better. The Great Repeal Bill is at the root of the problem. At present, our judges have to take account of the decision of the ECJ. The Bill says that they dont have to do so after Brexit, but then goes on to say that a court may do so if it considers in appropriate. This is not particularly helpful. Does that mean that judges may, if they feel like it, follow ECJ judgments? So what happens if some do and some dont? Lord Neuberger is not an uncritical admirer of the ECJ; in the past, he has observed that sometimes judgments of the ECJ are unclear, are internally inconsistent, or even fail to answer the question which has been referred. But his point is an important one. He wants Parliament to make clear how the judges should approach that sort of issue [ECJ judgments] after Brexit, and to spell it out in statute. He is right. This is the responsibility of Westminster, and it is for government to define the rules. The judges can hardly be blamed for overstepping the mark if their boundaries arent set out clearly in the first place. Happy London Quentin Blake, the greatest living illustrator, has produced captivating pictures of Londoners at work and play for an illustration to go on display across the Underground as part of the Mayors London is Open for Summer campaign. It is designed to encourage tourists to the capital and to bring home to visitors that this is a welcoming city. Other celebrities will be doing their bit for the campaign, but it is Sir Quentins picture that will cheer us up while making an important point about London. I remember my very first visits to London as a child with my parents. Coming from Glasgow, I couldnt get over the number of black and brown faces I saw in London. I also remember asking my mum why all the people who cleaned the toilets in Heathrow were brown and if that was a special rule. Obviously, things have changed. We now drive the Ubers in this town. Im so used to getting in a Prius with a nice brown driver, I accidentally rated my dad when he last picked me up. I gave him five stars, naturally. Couldnt believe he only gave me three. Terrible conversation, apparently. What jobs, opportunities and living standards different ethnic groups have remains an important snapshot of where affluence and inequality lie across society especially with shifting immigration. The Resolution Foundation think-tank published a report that shows there are huge gaps in living standards between different ethnicities living in Britain. A typical Bangladeshi household earns 8,900 less than a white British household; a Pakistani household earns 8,700 less; and a black African family earns 5,600 less. The report found that while incomes for these ethnic groups were beginning to grow for men, the unemployment rates for black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men (eight to 12 per cent) remain higher today than was the case for white men even during the recession. So the picture is still pretty bleak. There is also still a large degree of conscious and unconscious bias when it comes to hiring people with funny- sounding foreign names, especially Muslim ones. A caller to Stig Abells show on LBC told his story. Zach wasnt getting any interviews and decided to stop using his fathers Muslim-sounding name and tried his Christian mothers maiden name. Guess what? He got an interview straight away from a place that had rejected him. After complaining to the HR department, they offered him an interview but he turned them down, as working for a slightly racist company didnt really do it for him. A big part of the story here is women. Much of the disparity between different ethnic households comes down to the rate of female employment. Although the rate of women going to work in Bangladeshi and Pakistani households was increasing, it is still around half the rate in white households. Factors like education, health, English language skills and cultural issues are crucial, and supporting womens participation in work would go a long way to help tackle poverty and encourage greater social cohesion. This report shows the scale of inequality between typical ethnic households is still too large. But we also see these gaps at the top across every sector. The BBC rich list shone a light on gender but the lack of BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) talent was a depressing reveal and its the same across every bastion of power and influence. Yes, there are small and important gains but we still have a way to go. I am pleased there are more BAME MPs, but not so long ago, Brent MP Dawn Butler was assumed to be a cleaner. Appearances and assumptions matter. Getting talented people from different backgrounds into those plum high-profile positions makes them visible, and that creates the unstoppable force that is aspiration. If he or she can do it maybe I could too? Never underestimate ambition and possibility as a force for change. But the quest for equality is still as raw and contentious as it ever was. An angry bloke at Google has railed against gender equality in the most manly way possible a huffy anonymous internal memo. And Twitter exploded with fury last weekend when Mary Beard said it was possible a Roman leader could have had dark skin. Funny how none of these people cared about historical accuracy when Angelina Jolie played a black woman in a film. Poldark the musical? Sounds dodgy Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson in Poldark Its the series that gripped the nation. Love, lust, heartbreak, lies and betrayal. No, not Love Island (which I loved). The epic BBC period drama Poldark. Such is the popularity of the smash hit series, which drew in millions of viewers on Sunday night for the finale, that theres now talk of Poldark the musical. Debbie Horsfield, the shows scriptwriter, is confident that it could rival Les Miserables and has been in talks with composer Anne Dudley, who wrote the music for the 2012 movie adaptation of Les Miserables. Horsfield feels it would need some big fat show-stopping tunes to tell the story of Ross Poldark and his complicated love for Demelza. The chemistry between Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson sizzles on screen but would it work on stage? And who could carry those lead roles? Many of the scenes on telly were very windswept, intense and brooding. Im not sure if I can see those being done with jazz hands. Especially that love scene involving what looked like a surgical stocking.. A teacher has been banned from the profession after she took a female pupil to see a West End show during the half term holidays and then had sex with her in a hotel. Sarah Barton, 36, a drama teacher at a school in Essex, admitted taking the girl to see Matilda at the theatre in London and having a sexual relationship with her in the academic year from September 2015. Mrs Barton has been banned from teaching indefinitely after the professional conduct panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) met for a hearing in June this year. The teacher admitted having sex with the female pupil at a hotel after the theatre trip in London and in her car and in fields in the Essex area. She repeatedly texted the pupil using the Whatsapp messaging app and also had a picture of herself and the pupil kissing stored on her phone, the teaching panel heard. The panel also heard how other teachers had expressed concern over the amount of time Mrs Barton was spending with the pupil in her school office. She also attended the pupils birthday party, had dinner at her house and met up with her in pubs and restaurants. The panel, who found Mrs Barton had committed unacceptable professional misconduct, said: Whilst there was no evidence that Mrs Bartons actions began in any deliberate manner, in light of the length of time that the relationship developed and the emotional benefit gained by Mrs Barton, the panel had to conclude there was planning by her to some degree. There were numerous opportunities for the relationship to be terminated by her. This was a sexually motivated relationship that continued despite warnings from her colleagues. It was not a one-off spontaneous event. The NCTL panel accepted that Mrs Bartons behaviour was out of character and that she was an experienced teacher of previous good history. Mrs Barton had worked at the school in Essex since September 2007 and was head of the department for drama and dance when she resigned in July 2016. The Secretary of State ruled on July 16 she should be banned from teaching indefinitely and can seek a review of the decision in five years. On behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, Alan Meyrick, of the NCTL, said: In my view a five year review period is proportionate and in the public interest. I am therefore taking the decision to impose a prohibition order with a provision for an application to be made to set the order aside after a minimum of five years. This means that Sarah Barton is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or childrens home in England. The demand for additional money comes at a time when the face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam in Bhutan has entered the 8th week and the borders with Pakistan remain unusually active. By Sudhi Ranjan Sen: The Ministry of Defence has sought an additional Rs 20,000 crore from the Centre to meet its capital and revenue budget needs. The demand for additional money comes at a time when the face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam in Bhutan has entered the 8th week and the borders with Pakistan remain unusually active. In 2017, the Government had allocated Rs 2,74,113 crore - about 1.62 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product - for defence sector. The annual allocation for defence in 2017 was just 6 per cent more than the previous years. advertisement "Of the initial annual allocation about 50 per cent of Capital and more than one third of the Revenue budget has already been spent," Defence Ministry sources told India Today. A few weeks earlier, the Defence Ministry had allowed the Vice-Chief of Army Staff to make emergency purchases of ammunition, mines and spares that are considered crucial for war fighting. Delegating financial powers to the army was done to cut the red-tape and speed up purchases. The Indian Army is required to be battle-ready to fight a 10-day short intense war. There are, however, gaps and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India too have raised the issue of shortage of ammunition and spares. Early this year the custom duty exemption for imports made by the Defence Ministry was removed. "The ministry have had to pay large amount as customs duty," a source said. The decision to remove the custom duty exemption was taken give a level playing field to domestic defence manufacturers. ALSO READ: After 130 years, government decides to shut down all 39 military farms India doesn't have ammunition for a long war, key concerns in CAG report explained Indian Army's ammunition stock will exhaust after 10 days of war: CAG report Amid tensions with India, Pakistan hikes defence budget by 7 per cent ALSO WATCH | Doklam standoff: Will conflict with India be disastrous for China? --- ENDS --- T he daddy of all beer festivals is back, and this time theres extra reason to celebrate. The Great British Beer Festival returns to Londons Olympia today and is marking 40 years since it first started annually administering ales back in 1977. Hosted by CAMRA aka The Campaign For Real Ale it is biggest festival of its kind by some distance, with around 55,000 beer-lovers expected to glug their weight in the brewed stuff across its five-day run. And theres plenty to go round. The festival will stock more than 800 real ales, ciders and perries across more than 20 bars. The focus, as the name suggests, is always on Brit brews, but there are plenty of options from further afield too in the past Germany and Belgium have always had a good showing. The best craft beer pubs in London 1 /26 The best craft beer pubs in London The Old Red Cow Smithfield A hefty range of interesting beers spans two bars at this Long Lane pub, with significantly more keg than cask on offer. Should the 10-15 on tap not suffice, there are countless more available in bottle. Decent pub grub also features, while the wine list is notably excellent by craft beer pub standards. theoldredcow.com The Queens Head Kings Cross Tucked away around the corner from the station, just off Grays Inn Road, this charming old pub does more than just good beer. On top of three rotating, interestingly stocked hand pumps and more taps it also offers more than 12 whiskies, several ciders, serves platters of cheeses and cured meats, and has board games galore. queensheadlondon.com The Earl of Essex Islington Around 18 beers feature at this pub near the Regents Canal, including many from local London breweries such as Beavertown and Redemption. The pub food menu, which comes with recommended beer pairings, is also decent. Theres a small but sweet beer garden to boot. earlofessex.net Crown and Anchor Brixton Set almost equal distance between Stockwell, Brixton and Oval, this pub offers 20-odd beers on keg and cask. The beers are eclectic, but south London brews feature particularly prominently. Its fairly bustling of an evening, and youll also find a decent roast dinner. crownandanchorbrixton.co.uk The Understudy South Bank This relative newcomer from the National Theatre is the South Banks best pub bar none. Its package includes in excess of 10 beers on tap, a tank of brewery fresh Meantime lager, a decent spirit, wine and cocktail offering, and some pretty sweet views over the Thames to boot. nationaltheatre.org.uk Cock Tavern Hackney Central Originally the home of Howling Hops brewery (before they outgrew the space and launched their own tank bar), this Hackney Central boozer is now home to Maregade Brew Co.. As well as serving their brews, it also specialises in great beer generally. More than 20 lines of it in fact, including a fair bit of Howling Hops stuff. Be aware that its cash only. thecocktavern.co.uk Old Fountain Old Street Theres usually upwards of 15 craft beers on the taps at this comfy (unless its rammed) Old Street boozer, and it has the added bonus of a rather nice terrace. A decent number of the beers available tend to be London brews, with Five Points, Hammerton and Kernel among the regulars. Looking for another point of difference? It has a fish tank. oldfountain.co.uk The Southampton Arms Kentish Town This pub set about equal distance between Gospel Oak, Tufnell Park and Kentish Town stations has resisted going too craft despite stocking around 20 varieties just that it still feels like a local boozer. Theres a particular prevalence of brews from Londons smaller breweries as well as those from around the UK, while fans of craft cider are also well catered for with five or six on tap at all times. thesouthamptonarms.co.uk The Harp Covent Garden This characterful but cramped old pub a stones throw from Charing Cross station offers a rotating selection of 20 or so brews, main focusing on real ales. And as a regular CAMRA award winner, you can rest assured theyre in good condition. Only problem? It gets absolutely rammed. harpcoventgarden.com Mother Kellys Bethnal Green This Paradise Row beer bar from the team behind The Queens Head in Kings Cross has over 23 numbered taps which correspond to a changing selection of brews like a Chinese restaurant for beer. Its inspired by a New York taproom, so dont expect a cosy pub but if the weathers nice, you can count on an outdoor barbecue and plenty of atmosphere on the terrace. motherkellys.co.uk The Lyric Soho The best thing about this characterful pub near Piccadilly Circus is the way it merges the music, fun and frivolity youd expect from a Soho boozer with a surprisingly stunning selection of beers theres never far off 20 on tap. Oh, and there are open fires. lyricsoho.co.uk Hack and Hop City The latest pub from the team behind The Dean Swift and The Old Red Cow (also in this list), this decent-sized venue just off Fleet Street has more than a decent beer list more than 20 split between cask and keg. Theres also a gastropub-style food menu, though thats not what brings most people in. thehackandhop.com The White Horse Parsons Green This west London institution affectionately(ish) known as The Sloaney Pony due to its location and clientele serves a lot of great British beer, but really comes into its own when it comes to foreign imports particularly from Belgium, Germany and the USA. Options include Pilsner Urquell tank beer alongside eight hand pumps and around 10 taps, plus more than 130 bottles. The gastropub food is good quality and it boasts a particularly sizeable beer garden along with a calendar packed with beer festivals. whitehorsesw6.com Euston Tap Euston Housed in a teeny stone building just in front of Euston station which was built in 1870 as a form of passenger information kiosk, the Euston Tap is not blessed when it comes to space. Neither is it in any way comfy. However, it does stock an impressive range of beers 20 keg, 8 cask and 150 by bottle, to be exact. Those with an affection for apples should also check out sister site Cider Tap across the road. eustontap.com Dean Swift Bermondsey A rotating selection of more than 15 cask and keg beers are almost always available at The Dean Swift. What makes the place particularly great is that despite this great beer selection, and some very good Sunday roasts served upstairs, it maintains a real local boozer vibe. thedeanswift.com The Fox Haggerston This east London longtimer offers a regularly-changing selection of between 15 and 20 beers on tap at all times, plus some very decent booze-absorbing pizzas. Brews from London makers such as Kernel, Beavertown and Pressure Drop tend to get top billing alongside plenty of international offers. Theres a beer garden out back, too. Cask Pub & Kitchen Pimlico Theres a constantly changing selection of 25 beers on tap at this tucked-away Pimlico pub, not to mention multiple fridges full of interesting bottles. Its the original from the group behind the Craft Beer Co chain, and we reckon its still the best. caskpubandkitchen.com Craft Beer Co Various locations The original Clerkenwell branch of this mini-chain was one of the first proponents of craft beer in London. Its still going strong, while there are now also sites in Brixton, Islington, Clapham, Covent Garden and the City. The Islington branch, which comes with a large beer garden and comfier seating, is a favourite. thecraftbeerco.com BrewDog Various locations Youll no these guys. They do beer for punks, apparently. Whatever you make of BrewDogs marketing gimmicks, they make some bloody good beer. Find it at their bars in Camden, Clapham Junction, Clerkenwell, Angel, Shepherds Bush, Shoreditch and Soho, along with plenty of guest beers from other brewers. The Shepherds Bush branch usually has the biggest selection of beers, totalling more than 30. brewdog.com Draft House Various locations The Draft House group is far removed from the kind of minimalist, vaguely uncomfortable craft beer pub where its all about beer. Expect quirky design, good music and burgers, hot dogs and pub staples served throughout the day. Find sites in Battersea, Fitzrovia, Hammersmith, Tower Bridge, the City and Bethnal Green. drafthouse.co.uk There are dozens of food stalls on hand to line stomachs to help you get through as much of the good stuff as possible. If youve got a pal who cant put away too much pints, they can come along too this years festival is breaking new ground by featuring an English wine section for the first time. Tickets start at 11 and can be bought at gbbf.org.uk/tickets. Entry is for sessions running from 5-10.30pm on Tuesday, midday-10.30pm from Wednesday to Friday, or 11am-7pm on Saturday. Visit gbbf.org.uk. T he team behind Londons popular Salvation In Noodles restaurants will open a new venue in Notting Hill this autumn that shines the light on Vietnamese barbecue. The groups founder Colin Tu who was also behind the pop-up Big Dirty Burger, as it happens will open MAM, pronounced mum, on All Saints Road in September. It will be inspired by the barbecue street food stalls found across Vietnam and will focus on skewered meat cooked on a robata-style grill, served with Colins mums homemade fermented dipping sauce made with shrimp paste, chilli and pineapple. Colin has worked with family recipes as well as inspiration from his own travels in Vietnam but says he has ramped up the flavours so that it really hits you in the face. The dining room at MAM Chicken skewers will feature alongside specials such as rare-breed beef and seafood, plus accompaniments including rice noodle parcels, lettuce leaves, rice paper wrappers, chopped veg, homemade pickles and Vietnamese herbs. Diners will be encouraged to find their own way of eating of them, being left to choose how to wrap and flavour them. Some Vietnamese staples will also feature on the menu, including a Hanoi-style pho which boasts a more umami-rich stock than other pho and rice bowls topped with braised beef or pork belly and egg. The fish sauce chicken wings which have become a favourite at the Salvation In Noodles restaurants in Dalston and Finsbury Park will also be on hand. The restaurant will be divided between a bar area serving cocktails up front and a dining room at the back, while its style is designed to be reminiscent of the Vietnamese riverside town of Hoi An. MAM is due to open on September 6. Visit mamlondon.com. T he chief suspect in the alleged kidnap of British model Chloe Ayling in Milan has said he did not knowingly take part in any crime. Lukasz Pawel Herba, 30, said his involvement stemmed from wanting to raise money to treat his leukaemia and that he was hired by a group of Romanians to rent properties around Europe to store garments they were selling, according to reports. He is also said to have told investigators he posed as a photographer and met the 20-year-old model. He said he was paid 500,000, found out the Romanians intended to kidnap her, and backed out of the plan. His side of the story has emerged as Ms Ayling's representatives dismissed doubts about the ordeal, saying it was real and terrifying. 'Kidnap ordeal' model recalls terrifying experience Italian police said she was snatched last month by a group calling itself Black Death. She claims to have been drugged and transported in a bag to an isolated village near Turin, where she said she was held for six days as her captors tried to auction her online. As more details emerged about the episode, including that she went shopping for shoes and groceries with her captor, her lawyer and an agent spoke out to defend her. Lawyer Francesco Pesce said it is "evil" to suggest she was involved while Phil Green, of Supermodel Agency, said what took place was "real and very frightening for all concerned". Ms Ayling left her house in Coulsdon, south London, on Tuesday morning wearing black leggings and a gold-coloured jacket. Model Chloe Ayling, from Coulsdon / Instagram Pulling on a white helmet and black coat, she climbed on to the pillion seat of a motorbike before it set off in the direction of Purley. Speaking previously, Ms Ayling said she had feared for her life "second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour" during the incident and thanked the Italian and UK authorities "for all they have done to secure my safe release". A friend of Ms Ayling's said the young model said she was doing a Page Three photo shoot on Tuesday. Carla Bellucci, who runs a modelling agency, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "I wouldn't say she's the wisest of girls. "She can be a little bit naive, she's young. To us it's new but for her she's had a few weeks to get used to it." Ms Bellucci said the decision to pose so soon after the incident was "maybe... her way of dealing with what's happened to her, to get back out there". Ms Ayling was informed she was going to be sold to somebody in the Middle East for sex and complied with her captor during the alleged kidnap because she was told she would be killed if she tried to flee, Mr Pesce said. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "So she thought that the best idea was to go along with it and to be nice in a way to her captor because he told her that he wanted to release her somehow and sometime and she thought that the best thing to do was not to go in conflict with him. "So she abided to his request, 'let's go and buy groceries' and 'you need shoes, let's go buy shoes', and she didn't try to flee. "But I believe she was terrified at the moment and even if she could've asked for help she didn't because she was subjugated to this person, or people as she was given to understand." The Sun reported she told police she had developed a trusting relationship and even shared a bed with her kidnapper, who gave her chocolate and underwear, but she said he had not sexually assaulted her. Mr Green, of Supermodel Agency, said: "I can assure everybody that it was real and very frightening for all concerned." He also said, as reported by the Associated Press, that the person who made the booking for the photo shoot had "a website, previous pictures, details of his studio, details of what the shoot was going to be, times, locations, fee - everything". Mr Green said Ms Ayling was taken to the British Consulate in Milan after the alleged kidnap but was not allowed to return home for almost three weeks, arriving back in the UK on Sunday. A Polish man who lives in Britain was arrested on July 18 on suspicion of kidnap and extortion, Italian state police said. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said it has been assisting with the investigation and that a house in the Oldbury area linked to Herba had been searched and computer equipment seized. It is alleged the men tried to sell Ms Ayling online for more than 300,000 dollars (230,000) and demanded Mr Green pay to secure her release. She was kept handcuffed to furniture in the village of Borgial but was freed after six days and taken to the British Consulate in Milan, despite the ransom not being paid, police said. It has been reported the captor demanded 50,000 on her release and threatened to kill her if she told police about the incident. Milan police spokesman Lorenzo Bucossi told reporters the group the suspect was allegedly working for offered "mercenary services" on the dark web. Additional reporting by Press Association. A lawyer representing the London model allegedly kidnapped in Milan has dismissed evil claims that she was part of the plot. Chloe Ayling, 20, was allegedly abducted in Milan and detained for six days while her captor tried to auction her online. Italian police suspect she was drugged and transported in a bag to Borgial, an isolated village near Turin, before being released on July 17. The 20-year-olds lawyer, Francesco Pesce, said on Tuesday that was told people were watching her and she would be killed if she tried to flee. 'Kidnap ordeal' model recalls terrifying experience He told Radio 4's Today programme: "She was told that she was going to be sold to somebody in the Middle East for sex. Model Chloe Ayling near her home in Coulsdon "She was told that people were there watching her and ready to kill her if she tried anything. "So she thought that the best idea was to go along with it and to be nice in a way to her captor because he told her that he wanted to release her somehow and sometime and she thought that the best thing to do was not to go in conflict with him. Model Chloe Ayling leaving home on a motorbike today "So she abided to his request, 'let's go and buy groceries' and 'you need shoes, let's go buy shoes' and she didn't try to flee. "But I believe she was terrified at the moment and even if she could've asked for help she didn't because she was subjugated to this person, or people as she was given to understand." Chloe Ayling, right, was allegedly kidnapped in Milan to be sold into sex slavery / PA Mr Pesce dismissed suggestions Ms Ayling may have somehow been in on the kidnap, describing it as "evil". The model declined to answer questions when she left her mothers home by motorcycle shortly after 9am this morning. Ms Aylings mother would not answer any questions and simply said: You need to ask Chloe. The inside of the house in Italy where police say the kidnapped British model was held / Reuters The Sun reported she told police she had developed a trusting relationship and even shared a bed with her kidnapper, who gave her chocolate and underwear, but she said he had not sexually assaulted her. On Monday, Phil Green, of Supermodels Agency, said Ms Ayling was taken to the British Consulate in Milan after the "horrific ordeal", but could not return home to London for almost three weeks. "Chloe had her passport detained by Italian police who would not let her return to the UK until she gave evidence at a pre-trial hearing on August 4," he said in a statement. A photo from the Italian police shows the inside of the house where the British model was held captive / AFP/Getty Images He added she was able to fly back to the UK on Sunday after attending the crime scene with police and her lawyer the day before. Ms Ayling said: "I've been through a terrifying experience. I feared for my life, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour. "I am incredibly grateful to the Italian and UK authorities for all they have done to secure my safe release." Model Chloe Ayling was allegedly kidnapped in Italy by a sex slave gang / Instagram A Polish man who lives in Britain was arrested on July 18 on suspicion of kidnap and extortion, state police said. Officials released a mugshot of the suspect, named as 30-year-old Lukasz Pawel Herba. Polish man Pawel Lukasz Herba, who was arrested in Milan on suspicion of orchestrating the abduction of a British model. / AFP/Getty Images The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said it has been assisting with the investigation. A spokesman said: "The NCA and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (Emsou) have been working closely with the Italian authorities since the kidnap was reported. "NCA officers in Italy and specialists from our anti-kidnap and extortion unit are also providing support to the Polizia di Stato as part of the ongoing investigation. "A house in the Oldbury area linked to Lukasz Pawel Herba was searched on July 18 by Emsou officers with assistance from West Midlands Police. "Computer equipment seized is being forensically examined." British Model Kidnapped in Milan It is alleged the men tried to sell Ms Ayling online for more than 300,000 dollars (230,000) and demanded the model's agent pay to secure her release. She was kept handcuffed to furniture in the village of Borgial but was freed after six days and taken to the British Consulate in Milan, despite the ransom not being paid, police said. It has been reported the captor demanded 50,000 on her release and threatened to kill her if she told police about the incident. Milan police spokesman Lorenzo Bucossi told reporters the group the suspect was allegedly working for offered "mercenary services" on the dark web. Italian police said they are working with officials in Britain and Poland as they continue to investigate. N otorious M25 killer Kenneth Noye is being transferred to an open prison, the Government announced today. The 70-year-old gangster is serving a life sentence for savagely murdering Stephen Cameron in a road rage incident in 1996. Noye gained notoriety when he was acquitted in 1985 of murdering a police officer. He was convicted in 1986 of handling stolen goods, and served eight years in prison. Then in 2000 he was convicted of the murder of 21-year-old Mr Cameron, an electrician, on a slip road of the M25 in Swanley, Kent. He claimed he stabbed Stephen in self-defence but the judge recommended he serve a minimum of 16 years. Two years ago it was revealed that former Justice Secretary Michael Gove had blocked an application by Noye to be moved to an open prison. One of the factors was that Noye had fled to Spain after the killing in an attempt to avoid being tried. Todays decision was recommended by the Parole Board and approved by Justice Secretary David Lidington. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: Public protection is our top priority and transfers to open conditions are made after a thorough, expert, risk assessment carried out by the independent Parole Board. In February the High Court overturned the Governments previous decision to block his rransfer to an open prison. F ive people have been arrested after a teenager was stabbed to death during the night on the Old Kent Road. Police were called to a disturbance on the busy road in south east London at around 2am on Tuesday. The found a 19-year-old man suffering from stab injuries and he was pronounced dead by paramedics less than an hour later. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command have launched a murder investigation following the incident at the junction with Ilderton Road. Police believe he had been involved in an altercation with a large group of people outside the Afrikiko bar. Five people were arrested on suspicion of murder near the scene of the crime. They were two 23-year-old men, a 21-year-old man and two 25-year-old women. The group were taken to a south London police station and remained in custody on Tuesday. Officers believe they know the identity of the victim but await confirmation that his next-of-kin have been informed. A picture from the scene showed police cars and paramedics blocking off the road, with a small crowd gathered at the end of the street. Ilderton Road, which leads to Millwall FCs stadium, was closed in both directions while police combed the scene. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or via Twitter @MetCC. To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. P eople from the north of England are more likely to die from so-called diseases of despair, according to an alarming new analysis. Poverty and lack of opportunity are factors behind the growing geographical health gap which is most dramatic in early adulthood, researchers say. People aged 35-44 in the north are 49 per cent more likely to die than in the south a disparity that has grown from just three per cent in the 1960s. Those aged 25-34 are 29 per cent more likely to die early up from two per cent 50 years ago. The findings in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggest that 2,698 people aged 25-44 died in the north in 2015 but would have survived had they lived in the south. Drugs, suicide and liver disease caused by alcohol so-called diseases of despair are among the biggest killers. Lead researcher Iain Buchan, from the University of Manchester, told The Times: It is unprecedented. From the 1960s through the 1970s and 1980s there was no difference in the death rates of young people but a large gap opens up in the mid-1990s. There's a stagnation of progress in the north." F riends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Not literally. The Londoner was at the Longines Global Champions Tour over the weekend, a showjumping event in Chelsea, where we horsed around with Trish Simonon. The ex-wife of The Clash bassist Paul and close friend of Kate Moss was in attendance and told us she was glad to be back in the saddle after an unpleasant incident. I was on a ride going cross-country earlier this year, she said, and as I came down the hill another horse converged with mine. There was this lovely big hedge slightly ahead. All I can remember is going straight off. I fell in the ditch, he trod on the side of my head and severed my ear. My head was gushing with blood but I didnt notice: I was quite stunned. Simonon, who was maid of honour to Kate Moss at her wedding to Jamie Hince in 2011, is back in one piece now, though, after an extensive search for the missing appendage. It took them about 30 or 40 minutes to find the ear, which was in the mud, but they took it to the hospital and sewed it back on, she said. Although, when I got to the hospital, there was no one who had any experience of sewing an ear on. After about three hours I said, Listen, you must have done needlework at some point in your life: just give it your best shot. Despite some soreness, Simonon feels as right as rain. Not a story for the squeamish, but we were all ears. --- The New Statesman has a new anonymous civil servant reporting on the Brexit negotiations. Who could it be? Theres a first clue when someone in the meeting mentions Stoke. Everybody sheepishly looked down at their papers they write. We dont know where Stoke is. We did classics and as far as we can recall the Third Punic War never got as far as the Potteries. A civil servant who studied classics? That should narrow it down a bit. Tulip feels some of the fringe benefits Tulip gears up for the Edinburgh Fringe (Photo by Nicola Tree/Getty Images) / Getty Images The parliamentary recess turned into a bit of a busmans holiday for Labours Tulip Siddiq. The Hampstead and Kilburn MP is at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, but shes still supporting her locals. When comedian Robert Webb invited Siddiq to see his wife Abigail Burdesss show, Abigails Party Comedy Cabaret, she couldnt help but oblige: the couple live in her constituency. It felt good being in the audience rather than in front of the crowd, Siddiq told The Londoner. I was just pleased she didnt stop halfway through to ask me about Brexit. Quote of the Day Our first female Dr Who talks to radio (Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) The people we look up to dont always have to tick the same box Jodie Whittaker, the new Doctor Who, gives her first broadcast interview to BBC 6 Music Catherine's keeping up with the Joneses Showing her Welsh roots: Catherine Zeta-Jones on the QVC shoot (@catherinezetajones) Who'd live in a house like this? Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is about to launch a range of luxury homeware with QVC, and yesterday posted a video from a publicity shoot. Glamour hasnt always been a byword for Catherine. The Londoners South Wales correspondent recalls that her rise began when her parents won 100,000 at bingo, and used some of the proceeds to send her to drama school. QVC states that the range, called Casa Zeta-Jones, is influenced by her Welsh heritage and the elegance of old Hollywood. You can take the girl out of Swansea... --- If viewing the private tapes of Princess Diana werent enough, you can now buy the car that she rode around America in. The car, a 1987 silver Rolls Royce Spur, was commissioned by the British Embassy in Washington DC, and was used by Diana on two separate occasions during a trip in 1990. The Balmoral green, Kevlar-coated car is going under the hammer for an estimate of 35,000 to 42,000. Theres room for three in this carriage... A black mark from Zsa Zsa John Simpson may never know how his Pa ended up with a black eye (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) / WireImage Did John Simpsons father get beaten up by Zsa Zsa Gabor? The veteran BBC correspondent has had many adventures in his time, but it seems his old man taught him a thing or two about getting out of a scrape. Simpson writes a piece in this months BA High Life magazine about his first trip abroad, when he and his father could stand the English winter no longer. How about Casablanca? Simpson recalls his father asking. Great, I said brightly, Wheres it showing? Come New Years Eve the pair were seated in a restaurant in Morocco, metres away from Hungarian screen goddess Zsa Zsa Gabor. She was sitting beside a dark young chap in evening dress, who didnt take to my father. She on the other hand clearly did... You stay here for a bit, said my father. And if Im gone for a while, just head back to the hotel. His dad returned two days later, with a fading black eye. Did Zsa Zsa...? I began. Dont, he said. John has got out of plenty of dodgier scrapes. Tweet of the Day It is a truth universally acknowledged that THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS! Hodder & Stoughtons Melissa Cox despairs at news that ITV is working on a new adaptation of Pride & Prejudice Loss of the day: US media reports that Malia Obama, daughter of former POTUS Barack, mislaid her phone while at a music festival. Imagine the A-listers in her phonebook David's horsing around on hols David Furnish camping it up on a carousal in the South of France (David Furnish Instagram) / David Furnish Camp, moi?, David Furnish wrote on Instagram yesterday. He has been on holiday in the south of France with his husband Elton John and comedian and actor David Walliams, and took a quick ride on a carousel. Good to see them all having such a Nice time. Follow The Londoner on Twitter and Facebook here. T he countrys most senior judge has told the government to provide greater clarity over how UK law will change after Brexit. Ministers have made it clear that the jurisdiction of the EUs highest court, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), will end after the UK leaves the European Union. But they have also said that UK courts should continue to interpret ECJ case law around legislation derived from the European Union, on issues such as workers' rights. Lord Neuberger, who stands down as president of the Supreme Court next month, said because Parliament has failed to provide a clear stance it would be "unfair" to blame judges when it comes to adapting UK law. Brexit: Article 50 Triggered - In pictures 1 /26 Brexit: Article 50 Triggered - In pictures Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May's formal notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels AFP/Getty Images Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Common PA Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May's formal notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels AFP/Getty Images European Council President Donald Tusk holds a news conference after receiving British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit letter in notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters Prime Minister Theresa May takes her seat after announcing in the House of Commons PA The time 12:20pm shows on Big Ben on March 29, 2017 in London, England. The British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the Houses of Parliament as Article 50 is triggered and the process that will take the United Kingdom out of the European Union begins Carl Court/Getty Images D-day: pro-EU protesters outside of the Houses of Parliament today as Theresa May prepares to trigger Article 50 AFP/Getty Images EU Council President Donald Tusk holds British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit letter which was delivered by Britain's permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow (not pictured) that gives notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters PMQ's in The House of Commons PA Jeremy Corbyn speaking at PMQ's in The House of Commons Sky News Theresa May leaving for the House of Commons Jeremy Selwyn Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at the headquarters of Vivendi in Paris where he took part in TV interviews to discuss the imminent triggering of Article 50 by the UK to leave the EU Stefan Rousseau/PA Britain's permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow arrives at the EU Council headquarters for as meeting before hand delivering British Prime Minister Theresa May's notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow arrives at the British representation of the European Union in Brussels Aurore Belot/AFP/Getty Images A giant headed Theresa May in Parliament Square, London during a protest by Avaaz after PM signed a letter to trigger Article 50 that starts the formal exit process by the UK from the European Union David Mirzoeff/PA British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson walks down Whitehall Jack Taylor/Getty Images Britain's PM Theresa May signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, invoking Article 50. AFP/Getty Images He told the BBC: "If (the Government) doesn't express clearly what the judges should do about decisions of the ECJ after Brexit, or indeed any other topic after Brexit, then the judges will simply have to do their best. "But to blame the judges for making the law when parliament has failed to do so would be unfair," he added. The Government's Repeal Bill says no UK court will need to have regard to decisions of the ECJ post-Brexit, but may do so if it considers it appropriate. Lord Neuberger said all judges "would hope and expect Parliament to spell out how the judges would approach that sort of issue after Brexit, and to spell it out in a statute". Vince Cable: I don't think Brexit is going to happen He said he was more concerned about rulings the ECJ made after Brexit, adding: "If the UK Parliament says we should take into account decisions of the ECJ then we will do so. "If it says we shouldn't then we won't. Basically we will do what the statute says." A government spokesman said: "We have been clear that as we leave the EU, the direct jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK must come to an end. "However, we want to provide maximum certainty so the Repeal Bill will ensure that for future cases, UK courts continue to interpret EU-derived law using the Court of Justice of the European Union's case law, as it exists on the day we leave the EU." By PTI: Chennai, Aug 8 (PTI) The AIADMK camp led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami continues to keep its doors open for the rebel leader O Panneerselvam-led faction to facilitate a rapprochement. The former chief minister-led camp is, however, firm in opposing the government even as sidelined deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran continues to strengthen his support base within the AIADMK by meeting party functionaries. advertisement "It is my humble request that we (AIADMK factions) should be united and not give room for others to mock or criticise Ammas (J Jayalalithaas) government led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami," Finance Minister and senior Amma faction leader D Jayakumar said today. Disagreeing with his view, senior Panneerselvam faction leader K P Munusamy said the incumbent regime was not Ammas government. "Had it been the real Ammas government there would not have been a split or announcement for a protest," he told reporters here. The Panneerselvam-led faction had announced a protest demonstration on August 10 here on various issues faced by the people. However, it has now been deferred to a later date, tentatively August 18. Munusamy, who was a minister in late Jayalalithaas 2011-16 regime, said opposition parties "should not mock at this government which was ushered in by Amma and people should not weep... that is why we have announced a protest." The Panneerselvam camp has been maintaining that a patch-up was not possible. Panneerselvam had on June 11 disbanded a seven-member party (AIADMK-Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) to facilitate a merger with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) faction. AIADMK comprises factions led by chief minister Palaniswami, rebel leader Panneeerselvam and party deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran. Meanwhile, several functionaries who were days ago appointed by Dhinakaran continued to call on him at his residence here, reassuring him of their support. When Dhinakaran made the appointments on August 4, the Palaniswami camp had questioned the move and the Panneerselvam faction had kept aloof, saying "Dhinakaran is an outsider" and hence it did not matter. Dhinakaran loyalist and sitting MLA Thanga Tamilselvan, to a question, said those who opposed (minister Jayakumar and others) the present appointments were themselves appointed by party general secretary V K Sasikala. He demanded to know why they have not come forward to quit such party posts. He said according to the plan, Dhinakaran would begin his state-wide tour from Madurai District on August 14. On August 7, Palaniswami had said he expected to see the much-anticipated but delayed merger of the factions "soon." PTI VGN APR KIS --- ENDS --- advertisement S cottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson today challenged Theresa Mays vow to slash immigration levels below 100,000, calling for a rational discussion instead of easy slogans. She urged a rethink of the Prime Ministers goal of cutting net levels to the tens of thousands, pointing out it had never been achieved. Brexit is a big reset button and should in theory make that much easier to do so, said Ms Davidson. But we have to ask whether the target continues to be the right one? Business leaders backed her call to improve the current system, including by stripping student numbers out of the overall immigration figures. At the same time, European diplomats were indicating that the EUs top Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, believes Britain is heading for a Norway-style deal, which would involve free movement of European citizens. Skirmishing over Britains exit settlement continued, with leading Brexit backer Owen Paterson, the former environment secretary, denouncing a reported 36 billion bill frankly barmy. Today website ConservativeHome announced Ms Davidson was more popular with grassroots members than any Cabinet minister, with a net satisfaction score of 81 per cent. She wrote in the Telegraph: We could get the message out more clearly that there is nothing so Conservative as pulling your loved ones close and striving to build a better future for your family, which is what so many immigrants do. A clothing brand has sparked a backlash after it launched a range of t-shirts and hoodies emblazoned with swastikas in a move to reclaim the symbol as one of love. KA design said it wanted to reclaim the symbol used by the Nazis and return it to its original meaning of peace and love. But the move sparked a backlash on social media with critics branding the company's idea "pathetic and disgusting". The clothing featured a white swastika set against a rainbow background, which the company, which is based in Europe, said was designed to symbolise the LGBT movement. In a launch video titled The New Swastika, the company said the Nazis took the swastika, rotated it by 45 degrees, and turned it into hatred, and turned it into fear, and turned it into war, and turned it into racism. In an interview with Dazed and Confused, KA defended the launch claiming the designs were totally innovative and original and called the final result eye-catching. The 5,000-year-old swastika symbol was once said to have represented good fortune in almost every culture in the world. But in the 1930s the emblem became the most recognisable icon of Nazi propaganda after it was adopted by Adolf Hitler who transformed it into a symbol of hate associated with the Third Reich. Critics blasted the design company and branded the move as "disgusting". One wrote on Facebook: "KA - you're disgusting and pathetic. How's that for hate?" Another wrote: "You know perfectly what this sign represents. You are so supporting racism; barbarism and genocide. Your enterprise perhaps thought that a free pub shocking campaign was possible using these low aggressive values. "You deserve and certainly obtain a boycott of all reasonable people. Your image will last associated with the Nazi barbarians and their heirs and collaborators longtime. Stupid idea of yours." After thousands of angry tweets and posts on Facebook, Teespring an online platform being used to sell the line took the page down and stopped selling the clothes. Teespring would like to apologise for this incident and is taking action to ensure this does not happen again in the future, the company told Al Jazeera, adding that no swastika t-shirts were sold. The company said it would make a donation to Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center, in solidarity with those who were offended. But KA design responded by saying the criticism brought out the worst in people. It wrote on Facebook: Hatred and Nazism has won. We brought out the worst in people. We believe in a world of infinite forgiveness. "We forgive everyone. And we hope to be forgiven. Let Love Prevail. Teespring and KA Design have been contacted by the Standard for comment. A gay teenage couple were allegedly told by a lifeguard to stop hugging in the pool at a beach resort in southern Italy. The 18-year-old man and his boyfriend, 17, claimed they were intimidated by the lifeguard and told to stop embracing because there were children present. The couple, who have not been identified, said they were approached by the lifeguard while swimming at the Lido Arcobaleno Salerno beach resort in Caserta, Campania last week. One of the young men told the Italian news site Repubblica: We were in the pool like everyone else. While we were in the water, like everyone else present, we also embraced, a spontaneous embrace, but we are two men and it was not appreciated. He said the lifeguard then approached them and asked them to refrain from hugging because there were children present and asked that they remain more composed. The couple later told another local newspaper Fatto Quotidiano that the lifeguard had approached them again and said he would have asked the same restraint from heterosexual couples. But the two young men said there were dozens of heterosexual couples in the pool who were not asked to refrain from hugging. The President of the Caserta regional branch of Rain Arcigay, an Italian LGBT activist group, said that discrimination is rife in the countrys tourism industry, despite laws ensuring equal rights for gay couples. She urged the Italian government to introduce new legislation to protect the LGBT community. The beach resorts owner told Repubblica the lifeguard had applied the rules of good habit that apply to everyone regardless of their sexual orientation and that his staff respected the sexual orientation of others entirely. He said: There was no discrimination, no rude way, no homophobia or racism but only the request from our employee to behave properly in a public place attended by families and children. H arvard University is under investigation over claims it discriminates against Asian-American applicants. The US Department of Justice has confirmed it is investigating the Ivy League university after a complaint filed by a coalition of Asian-American groups in 2015. The complaint alleges that the school was capping the number of high-achieving Asian-American students as part of "racial balancing" that favours African Americans and Hispanics. Asian-American applicants, who were applying in greater numbers than ever before were held to a tougher academic criteria, it claimed. Harvard has denied the allegations. The news comes amid reports the Trump administration is preparing to direct its focus on affirmative action policies, targeting universities whose admissions policies are deemed to discriminate against white applicants. According to The Times, a group calling itself Students for Fair Admissions began legal action against Harvard, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2014. It alleged that admissions officers were deploying the same brand of invidious discrimination against Asian-Americans that it formerly used to limit the number of Jewish students in its student body. The Coalition of Asian-American Associations submitted a letter to the Department of Education in May 2015. That complaint has now been taken up by the Department of Justice. Edward Blum, the president of Students for Fair Admissions and a long-time campaigner against affirmative action, said that his group had gathered evidence that African-Americans and Hispanics and whites all benefit from the quotas and discrimination that Asians suffer at Harvard. Melodie Jackson, a Harvard spokeswoman, said in a statement last week: "Harvard remains committed to enrolling diverse classes of students. Harvard's admissions process considers each applicant as a whole person, and we review many factors." T he mayor of New York has proposed a millionaires tax to fix the citys crumbling subway system. Bill de Blasio said he wanted to raise $800 million (613 million) a year from raising taxes on married couples who make more than $1 million a year and individuals on more than $500,000. The mayor said people do not want to see this madness continue on the subways and that part of the money raised would be used for half-price Metrocards for poorer New Yorkers. New York governor Andrew Cuomo also suggested reviving the idea of congestion pricing on traffic, an idea which former mayor Michael Bloomberg tried but failed to implement. The measures are designed to solve the worst public transport crisis facing New Yorkers in a generation. Delays have tripled to 70,000 a month after years of under-investment and the city is going through a summer of hell amid widespread engineering work. At a press conference, Mr de Blasio, 56, said he wanted to raise the citys top state income tax rate from about 3.9 per cent to 4.4 per cent. In 2018 alone, this would bring in $700 million, rising to $820 million by 2020 and would affect an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 New Yorkers, less than one per cent of the citys population. Some $250 million of the money would fund half-price Metrocards for 800,000 of the poorest people in the city. Mr de Blasio, a Democrat who came to power promising to tackle inequality, said: Rather than sending the bill to working families and subway and bus riders already feeling the pressure of rising fares and bad service, we are asking the wealthiest in our city to chip in a little extra to help move our transit system into the 21st century. The plan would have to be approved by state lawmakers and is likely to be opposed by Governor Cuomo. He and Mr de Blasio can barely stand each other and the dispute over New Yorks transport system has worsened their relationship. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is owned by New York state, meaning that Mr Cuomo is technically responsible, but he and the mayor have been blaming each other over its problems. Mr Cuomos aides said he was examining raising tolls on traffic on bridges over the East River and the Midtown Tunnel into Manhattan to raise around $1.3 billion. The governor is expected to unveil more details during his re-election campaign next year. MTA chairman Joe Lhota has said any extra money would be spent on fixing signals, securing power sources and maintaining track and possibly removing seats on subway trains to make room for more passengers. In the long term, he wants $8 billion in capital investment to avert another transport crisis, a sum that would be met after several years of Mr de Blasios millionaires tax. Mr Lhota said in a statement: We need short-term emergency financing now. Emergency train repairs cant wait on what the state legislature may or may not do next year. T he British IT "hero" who helped stop May's catastrophic NHS cyber-attack faces a delay to answer charges that he created and sold a separate malware. Marcus Hutchins, 23, from Ilfracombe, Devon, had been expected to deny all six counts in court in Milwaukee on Tuesday, but the hearing was pushed back to August 14. Civil liberties group the Courage Foundation said that Mr Hutchins has been bailed after the bond of $30,000 (23,000) was raised. Courage's Naomi Colvin said: "It's a testament to the effectiveness of Marcus' friends and family that they've managed to get him released on bail, which is unusual for a UK citizen in this situation. "I share their sense of relief that Marcus is no longer in a US prison and able to communicate with legal counsel, friends and family." A spokeswoman for Nevada Southern Detention Centre said he had been released from the facility on Monday but was unable to say whether he had been released on bail as a judge had ordered. Supporters are due to meet at Newspeak House, in Shoreditch, east London, on Wednesday to discuss how to support Mr Hutchins, who is also known as MalwareTech. His lawyer Adrian Lobo said they would fight the case and Mr Hutchins would enter not guilty pleas to all the counts regarding the malware known as Kronos, which date between July 2014 and July 2015. The NHS system was badly affected by a targeted cyber attack in May / PA A prosecutor has said that Mr Hutchins admitted to investigators after his arrest in Las Vegas last week that he wrote the code and hinted he sold it. Strict bail conditions were set for Mr Hutchins, who works for Los Angeles computer security firm Kryptos Logic, that include him having no access to the internet, surrendering his passport and being monitored by GPS. Family, friends and cyber security colleagues had been trying to raise enough money to meet the $30,000 dollar bail. Mr Hutchins was lauded back in May for finding a "kill-switch" that curbed the WannaCry ransomware that infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries. The malicious software demanded a ransom from users so they could regain control of their machines. Reporting by Press Association T wo police officers have been sacked after it was revealed they faked claims that they were the first Indian couple to climb Everest. Dinest and Tarakeshwari Rathod said they had reached the 8,850m summit in May last year. But, they had faked photographs allegedly showing them at the mountains peak, police in Maharashtra state said. An inquiry was launched into the couples claims after fellow climbers questioned their success. One mountaineer, based in Bangalore, told reporters that the photographs shared by the couple belonged to him. Fake claims: Dinest and Tarakeshwari Rathod doctored pictures to make it look like they had reached the summit Some people questioned the speed with which the couple made the ascent while others noticed they had changed their clothes and boots after leaving base camp. Additional Commissioner Sahebrao Patil told the PTI news agency that the couple "shared misleading information" and "brought disrepute to the Maharashtra Police department", the BBC reported. The couple were handed a 10-year mountaineering ban by Nepalese authorities last year over the fake claim. The country's tourism department had initially certified their ascent but changed their decision following an investigation. S cientists behind a damning new report on climate change fear it will be suppressed by the White House because it contradicts President Donald Trumps views on global warming. The draft paper from 13 US government agencies shows that recent decades have been the warmest for 1,500 years and the average temperature in America has risen rapidly and drastically since 1980. Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, says the report, according to a copy leaked to the New York Times. The report is awaiting approval by the Trump administration for public release but the authors are concerned it may never see the light of day because the president and members of his Cabinet claim the human effect on climate change is unclear and difficult to forecast. Earlier this year, Mr Trump said the US would withdraw from the Paris accord, claiming the deal to cut fossil fuel emissions was bad for America. In the study, the scientists insist the Paris agreement involving Britain and nearly 200 nations is a key step to keeping global warming at manageable levels. They insist that research by tens of thousands of their colleagues supports the conclusion that humans are largely to blame for climate change. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate change, they wrote. The US National Academy of Sciences has already signed off on the report, which has been compiled as part of the National Climate Assessment, which is mandated by US Congress every four years. Katharine Hayhoe, a professor of political science at Texas Tech University, called the conclusions among the most comprehensive climate science reports to be published. How much more the climate will change depends on future emissions and the sensitivity of the climate system to those emissions, the report is thought to say. The paper found that even if humans immediately stopped emitting greenhouse gases temperatures could rise by an additional 0.30 degrees Celsius (0.50 degrees Fahrenheit) within the next century. The projected actual rise, says the report, will be as much as 2C. Such an increase could result in longer heat waves, more intense rainstorms and the faster disintegration of coral reefs. According to the report, it is extremely likely that more than half of the global average temperature rise since 1951 could be linked to humans. It also found that it was possible to attribute some extreme weather to climate change. Extreme cold waves happen less often since the 1980s, while extreme heat waves are more common. It cites the 2003 European heat wave and the record heat in Australia in 2013 as times where relatively strong evidence showed that man played a part in causing the temperature extremes. Its a fraught situation, Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geoscience and international affairs at Princeton University who was not involved in the study told the newspaper. This is the first case in which an analysis of climate change of this scope has come up in the Trump administration, and scientists will be watching very carefully to see how they handle it. Concern over the Trump administrations response to the report mounted as it was revealed that US Department of Agriculture staff have now been told to avoid using the term climate change and substitute it with weather extremes. Instead of climate change adaption employees have also been asked to use resilience to weather extremes and build soil organic matter, increase nutrient use efficiency in place of the term reduce greenhouse gases. The suggestions are revealed in emails obtained by the Guardian from Bianca Moebius-Clune, the US director of soil health. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal today showed copies of two kinds of Rs 500 notes in Rajya Sabha. Kapil Sibal with a copy of the two kinds of Rs 500 notes in Rajya Sabha. Photo: PTI. By India Today Web Desk: The Congress today alleged that two types of Rs 500 notes were being printed, with senior leader Kapil Sibal demonstrating copies of the two variants in Rajya Sabha today. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad called it the century's biggest scam. "The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) prints two types of currency notes. These are of different sizes and different design... How is it possible," Sibal asked. advertisement Later speaking to reporters, Kapil Sibal said, "The country should know the truth, if the Reserve Bank of India knew that there are different types of notes (in the market), why did it not mention it on its website". "I have found two kinds of Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes whose dimensions and design differ. How is it possible that two different kinds of notes are printed," asked Kapil Sibal. "Finance Ministry should ensure that only one type of notes are printed. The RBI will say return us (the notes)... do they want people to stand in queues again," the Congress leader said. He said that the government and the Prime Minister must answer the people as to how this has happened. As per RBI standards, the size of a Rs 500 note is 150mm by 66 mm, and that of the Rs 2000 note is 166 mm by 66mm. Dimensions of a Rs 500 note, as per RBI standards. Dimensions of a Rs 2000 note as per RBI standards. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE While the Congress led the charge against the government over alleged printing of two kinds of Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes, other Opposition leaders like Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien supported the Congress. Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and Samajwadi Party's Naresh Agrawal also backed the Congress' charge. As Opposition members created a ruckus and the treasury benches members shouted back, the Chair adjourned the House for 10 minutes. After the break, the Congress members again trooped to the Chairman's podium and raised slogans against the government. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that if members want a discussion on the issue, they can give a notice. The Opposition, however, continued to raise slogans, forcing the House to be adjourned again. ALSO READ: New Rs 500 notes don't survive a round in washing machines, claims Twitter user 25 per cent jump in ITR filed, govt credits note ban, Operation Clean Money PM Modi's demonetisation move gave economy Rs 5 lakh crore advantage ALSO WATCH: Arun Jaitley lists 3 benefits of demonetisation WATCH VIDEO: Congress attacks government over discrepancies in new 500, 2000 rupee notes advertisement --- ENDS --- By PTI: By Lalit K Jha Washington, Aug 8 (PTI) High profile British Indian actor Dev Patel has been selected for the prestigious Asia Game Changer award in recognition of him using celebrity to place a spotlight on India?s poor. The awards, now in their fourth year, recognize those making a transformative and positive difference for the future of Asia and the world. advertisement This year?s eight honorees include young woman Sonita Alizadeh using rap music to fight a trauma in Afghanistan; Jean Liu, a trailblazing CEO changing urban life in China, an environmentalist Leng Ouch from Cambodia. Aga Khan, spiritual leader to the world?s 15 million Ismaili Muslims, will receive the Asia Game Changer Lifetime Achievement Award, a media release said Tuesday. ?In a world of challenges, it is important to honor the dreamers and leaders, those who take action and those who inspire us to build a better world,? said Asia Society president Josette Sheeran. Sheeran added. Among other recipient of this year?s award are Aisholpan Nurgaiv from Mongolia, nonprofit organization Sesame Workshop and musician Wu Tong from China. The awardees would be honored at the United Nations on November 1. In less than a decade, the 26-year-old Patel has emerged as a full-blown movie star, delivering acclaimed performances in an impressive range of films and television shows, said the Asia Society in a media release. ?But his work has done more than just entertain. It has also built bridges of understanding between India, a country so frequently reduced to stereotype, and audiences in the West,? it said. In Lion, based on a remarkable true story, Patel?s Saroo is a carefree young man who becomes consumed with finding his birth mother in India, from whom he had accidentally separated as a child before being adopted by an Australian family. The performance ? which garnered Patel acting nominations from the Academy Awards and Golden Globes ? was his most noteworthy since his star turn as Jamal Malik, a skinny teenager from the Mumbai slums on the cusp of striking it rich on a televised game show in 2008?s sensational Slumdog Millionaire. Both roles challenge audiences to view India?s poor not as teeming, desperate masses but as individuals imbued with hopes, dreams, and opportunities, the media release said. ?I want the world to embrace stories from India,? the British-born Patel has said. Indians, he has also noted, ?are appreciative that we?re spreading stories from their culture to an international audience.? advertisement According to Asia Society, Patel has also turned his attention and star power to philanthropy. His #lionheart campaign has raised over USD250,000 in support of India?s millions of homeless children. And so an actor who refers to himself as just a ?guy from London? has established lasting ties with his ancestral homeland, Asia Society said. ?They feel a strong ownership over me,? Patel said, referring to the people of India. ?Which is more than welcome in a big way.? Previous honorees include Pratham CEO Madhav Chavan, actor Aasif Mandvi, ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar, Impact Investment Exchange Asia CEO Durreen Shanaz, as well as Alibaba CEO Jack Ma and education activist Malala Yousafzai. PTI LKJ SSN --- ENDS --- At least 13 people have been killed and 175 injured after an earthquake of 7 magnitude struck China's Sichuan province. By AP: At least 13 people have been killed and 175 injured after an earthquake of 7 magnitude struck China's Sichuan province, according to Chinese daily Global Times. The government in Aba prefecture in Sichuan province says 28 of the people are seriously injured. The quake shook a mountainous region in southwestern China near a famous national park on Tuesday evening, causing residents to run into the streets and knocking out some phone networks. advertisement Xinhua said five tourists were among the dead. The agency said that more than 30,000 tourists at Jiuzhaigou, or Jiuzhai Valley, were relocated to safety with help from tourist buses and private vehicles. The magnitude 7 quake struck a region bordered by the provinces of Sichuan and Gansu at a depth of just 9 kilometers (5.5 miles), according to the US Geological Survey. Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage than deeper ones. The China Earthquake Networks Center measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.0 and said it struck at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles). The quake occurred at about 9.20 pm near Jiuzhaigou, or Jiuzhai Valley, a national park known for spectacular waterfalls and karst formations, the Chinese agency said. The area is located on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau in northern Sichuan province, home to many Tibetan and other ethnic minority villages. EARTHQUAKES COMMON IN CHINA's WEST Earthquakes are common in China's west, although the low population density there often means casualties are low. China's deadliest earthquake this century, a magnitude 7.9 temblor with a depth of 19 kilometers (12 miles), struck Sichuan province in May 2008, killing nearly 90,000 people. The epicenter in Tuesday's quake was about 39 kilometers (24 miles) from the county of Jiuzhaigou, which has a population of around 80,000, in an area that's 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) above sea level. It was 285 kilometers (177 miles) from Chengdu, the densely populated capital of Sichuan province, according to the Chinese center. The Sichuan provincial government's news website said a number of train services to Chengdu and other cities were suspended following the quake. SCALE OF DAMAGE CAUSED INDETERMINABLE FOR NOW A report on the news site's official microblog also cited Zhao Wei, the party secretary of the Communist Youth League's Jiuzhaigou division, as saying some telephone communications networks were down, making it difficult to determine the scale of the damage caused. Another Jiuzhaigou government official was quoted as saying that many people had run onto the streets after the earthquake struck, but that there were no immediate signs of any major damage to houses or other buildings, and that the situation was orderly. advertisement The China Earthquake Networks Center said the quake was followed about 20 minutes later by a temblor measuring 3.3 in magnitude at a depth of 9 kilometers (5.5 miles). ALSO READ | Chile rocked by 6.9-magnitude quake; no major damage reported Magnitude 7.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula triggers tsunami warning 5.5-magnitude quake hits China, 8 casualties reported ALSO WATCH VIDEO: This quake-resistant dome village is made almost entirely from foam --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The government today said it is fully seized of the security needs of the country and regularly reviews the threat perception to secure the borders. Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre stated this in the Rajya Sabha in response to a query on whether the countrys defence capability needs to be enhanced in view of the ongoing standoff with China in Doklam. advertisement "The government is fully seized of the security needs of the country. Government regularly reviews the threat perception to secure our borders and protect national interest," Bhamre said. He said appropriate measures are taken from time to time to maintain the defence preparedness along the borders to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India. "Military capacity enhancement is a dynamic and continuous process and is done in consonance with our threat perception," he said. India and China have been locked in a face-off in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector for 50 days after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the area. China claimed it was constructing the road within their territory and has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Doklam plateau. Bhutan says Doklam belongs to it but China claims it to be its territory and says Thimphu has no dispute with Beijing over it. To a separate question on incidents of incursion by Chinese helicopters in Chamoli region of Uttarakhand and in other areas, Bhamre said there is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between the two countries. "There are areas along the LAC including Uttarakhand where both sides have differing perception of the LAC. The government regularly takes up any transgression/air space violation along the LAC with the Chinse side through established mechanism," said Bhamre. Replying to another query, he said force structure of the Army depends on contemporary security environment and dynamic geo-political realities so as to ensure its relevance as a formidable force against potential adversaries. PTI MPB RT --- ENDS --- GERING On Aug. 8 and 9, Mikah Meyer will travel to the Scotts Bluff National Monument and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. He is on the second half of his trek to visit every national park service site in the nation. When Meyer was 19, he left home for what was supposed to be a trip away from home. He had just attended his fathers funeral and felt a quick trip away would help him find some perspective. That trip transformed his life and Meyer learned how road trips can help bring positive changes in life. It was calming in a way, leaving Lincoln, the town where my dad had undergone treatment for the past three years, he said. Everything he saw in Lincoln had a cloud of cancer and death. Leaving the physical space allowed me to mentally think about things. Since that first trip in 2005, Meyer has taken one road trip per year. Those trips have turned into a 260-day, 16,400 mile dream road trip in 2011-2012 through 46 North American states and provinces. I realized the power of travel, to physically separate ourselves, to mentally move on and change our perspective, he said. On April 26, 2016, the 11th anniversary of his fathers passing, Meyer deciding to honor his father by taking a journey to visit all 417 units in the National Park Service system. He began his journey at the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. for a reason. When he lived in the nations capital, he learned all of the monuments, Washington, Lincoln, Korean War, etc., are all separate units of the National Park Service. The Washington Monument is iconic, but a lot of people dont know its part of the park service, he said. There are also all these national seashores. Meyer said he knows its cliche, but everywhere he goes, he has met people who have not been to a National Park Service site in their own state. He hasnt visited any in his home state of Nebraska either. I think no matter who we are, we feel that we have to go halfway around the world to have our minds be opened in a new way, he said. We forget, just like my first trip, there is so much to offer in our backyard. We tend to not look at our immediate surroundings. Traveling, in general, often reminds us of how we get in a rut in our normal lives. We dont need to leave the country to see things in a new way, he said. Las Vegas is nothing special, he said. What makes it different is everyone comes there with an open mind. Dinosaur National Monument is one site that Meyer planned to return to before coming to western Nebraska to raft on the Green River. He had planned only a single day to see it all. It was so stunningly out of my radar that I only planned one day, he said. Meyer is more than halfway done with his journey. Its a weird feeling, he said. "Im one step closer to finishing, but I still have 209 to go. When completed, he will be the youngest person to visit every unit as well as the only person to do the visit on one continuous trip. But there have been many times hes thought about quitting. About once a month, I realize the enormity of what Im doing, he said. This is the longest road trip Ive ever done and there are moments I want to crack, have life be easy. For each site he visits, he spends about three times as much time in a library on a computer planning logistics. Those moments are tough to keep going, he said. Then I remember, Im not doing this for myself. Im doing this for my dad. Im doing this for the park service that struggles to get their message out. After visiting the sites in western Nebraska, he will be heading to two more sites near Valentine. Meyer is still fundraising his trip. He said despite the warnings, he started the journey without enough money to finish. He has learned several tricks along the way to finish with the trip costing about one-fifth what was expected. Meyer expects to be at the Scotts Bluff National Monument later in the day on Aug. 8 and at Agate on Aug. 9. The fun thing for me as a Lincolnite, I spent my whole childhood hearing about western Nebraska, knowing it was there, but never getting out there, he said. So theres a part of me thats excited to finally be going out there. You can follow Meyers journey at http://www.tbcmikah.com/. SCOTTSBLUFF An ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned land east of Scottsbluff on Highway 26 to Iowa-based concrete company Croell for a proposed concrete and asphalt plant will go to a third reading after neighboring farmers and their supporters continued to voice their opposition to the sale at the city council meeting Monday night. At the start of the public comment period, citizens in the packed city council chamber held up yellow signs saying, We Support Meadowlark Hearth Farms. Louis West, a farmer at Meadowlark Hearth, said that in the event the third reading passes, hes ready. Im kind of aware of the process, and if you guys do pass this, Ive got the remonstrance petition prepared and Im ready to start doing the signatures, West said. I came to this state to be apart of this farm. If you put an asphalt plant next to our farm, we cant be a farm anymore. Scot Mosher, whose fourth generation farm is just east of County Road 27, expressed concerns about the zoning and the fact that neighboring landowners werent notified by the city before the ordinance was to be introduced. Given the small number of immediate landowners, I think those immediate landowners should have been contacted, because this is a big change, Mosher said. Its like if you owned a nice home in a nice part of town, and finding out that a neighboring landowner wants to move in a feedlot into the block next door, and they just railroad it in. Mosher expressed concern about the potential impact to his land values, as well as the potential impact the emissions from an asphalt plant being nearby could have on his grandchildrens health. Whos going to compensate me for my lost property value? Mosher said. If youre going to try to tell me that having a concrete plant and an asphalt plant half a mile away, upwind and upstream from me, is not going to affect my property values youre blowing the wrong way. I think its morally and ethically wrong to take this property this grassland, and some farm land out there and put this industrial plant right in the middle of it. There has to be better places to put it. However, not everyone at the city council meeting, expressed opposition. Michael Ickowski, vice president and chief financial officer for Regional West Health Services who moved to Scottsbluff from New York nine months ago, discussed the impact of employment and what he called spin-off revenue. I know from a hospital standpoint, were in challenging times for financing the services that are provided at the hospital, Ickowski said. Were a trauma center a very costly service. To provide those services we have to have high-tech equipment, and to get that high-tech equipment we have to have patients that ideally have health insurance, and that health insurance would help us invest in that equipment and help us pay our employees at a higher standard than they are today. Ickowski asked if there was a study conducted to determine the impact a company like Croell could bring to Scottsbluff. City Manager Nathan Johnson said that Croells payroll would be about $53,000 per month for 10 employees. These are not low-paying jobs, these are high-paying jobs with benefits, Johnson said. Starr Lehl, Scottsbluffs newly minted economic development director, spoke about Croells environmental regulations. Theyre one of the most highly regulated businesses in the country, Lehl said. They have to follow very strict air, water and light leakage and ground leakage permits. Lehl said the land purchase is just over half a million dollars, and that new construction costs is about $2.5 million, which would require local labor. The real estate taxes would be about $5,000, and would run utility costs of about $3,700 per month, and bring in about $9,000 per month in local purchases. Lehl also said she had toured Meadowlark Hearth with Scottsbluff Mayor Randy Meininger. I think (the farm) is a great asset to our community, and I think they can co-exist, Lehl said. Croell was very willing to do several things to maybe alleviate some of the possible noise and fumes and those types of things. I think that Croell will be a good corporate citizen, not only to their neighbors, but also to the city. Brian Marchant, general manager for Croell Redi-Mix, said they follow dust control measures mandated by the EPA and the State of Nebraska. We send our guys to school to go through an opacity training so they can measure the dust by visually looking at it, Marchant said. If we do get complaints, we can tell and the state governing agency can come out and look. Billy Estes, executive director of the Midwest Theater in Scottsbluff, said he also farms in Morill County and is in the process of having his farm certified as organic. Ive known Beth and Nathan [Corymb of Meadowlark Hearth] for about eight or nine years since theyve moved to the community, Estes said. They manage about 30 to 40 crops, as well as seed production, and I think it would be a shame if the council looked at yanking that rug out from under them without looking at that environmental impact. Estes explained that becoming certified organic is a lengthy process. He said he has a 40-page application for 80 acres and two crops, with a five-year audit trail. Without looking at that, Id advise the council to continue looking for spaces because I do think theres probably a need for a concrete plant, he said. My day job says we need economic development, and we need community members that have good-paying jobs that support community projects, but we need to keep looking for another place. Beth Corymb Everett, who grew up on her familys fourth generation homestead, which is now Meadowlark Hearth, said it took 37 years for her to realize her dream. She said she is not so much worried about the impact to her and her husbands property values, because when they die she intends to turn the farm into a community resource. For her and her husband, it is not about money. We feel that economy is something different than just only making money, she said. We see the suffering around us. We see drug addiction. We see suffering. We see problems of various kinds for mental health, and we really wanted to bring something to this area. Everett said she studied the industry, and was grateful to Croell and Simon Contractors for allowing her and her husband Nathan Corymb to tour their facilities in Torrington, Wyoming, and Scottsbluff, respectively, but continued to raise questions about why the deal to place the plant in the Gering industrial park fell through. I think you need to really consider whats going on, Everett said. You talked about economic development and we are developing something thats very unique. Weve had people from all over the United States visit our farm because of the seed. This is something unique. This is something we can teach people about. Its something that needs to be in Scottsbluff and youre darn lucky its here. Everett urged the city to continue searching for a new location for the plant. Alaska-based PenAir has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization. PenAir, the airline company that services Western Nebraska Regional Airport has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization with the state of Alaska. The company said in a press release it will not affect scheduled air service in Alaska or Boston. Their hubs in Portland, Oregon, and Denver, Colorado, will soon begin the process of closing service over the next 90 days. Airport Director Darwin Skelton said the airport in Scottsbluff has a leg up due to their Department of Transportation (DOT) request last month to get out of its contract with PenAir. That process has already started with the DOT, he said. Its something we were going through anyway. In June, the airport board approved sending a request for proposal to the DOT. Skelton said he expects the proposal to come out later this week. Then the airlines that want to bid on it will, he said. In a statement, PenAir CEO and Chairman Danny Seybert said the filing will allow the airline to emerge as a stronger airline. The filing was initiated to focus on their employees, safe operations, retiring debt and taking care of their customers. PenAir announced the closing of the Denver hub and are awaiting approval from the DOT. PenAir already announced termination of services in the Portland, Oregon, area as part of a cost-cutting plan in the Pacific Northwest. The airline plans to file a request with the DOT to end essential air service (EAS) routes between Crescent City, California, and Portland, Oregon, and all regional routes served from its Denver hub. Those routes to Denver are Liberal and Dodge City, Kansa,s and North Platte, Kearney and Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Skelton said the morning flight on Monday was canceled and the afternoon flight was late. Other flights should take off as scheduled until PenAir receives permission from the DOT to end service. They will continue until we get a new carrier in, Skelton said. Just like when Great Lakes was in, we expect the same type of transition. Once the DOT approves the request, PenAir said the transition typically takes 30 to 90 days before a new carrier will be in the vacated markets. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, said the news was concerning, especially for Nebraskans who live in rural areas and the Panhandle. Reliable air service connects our families, businesses and communities to the rest of our country and the world, Fischer said in a press release. As Congress considers the FAA reauthorization this year, I will continue to shore up support for the Essential Air Service program. I will also work to reduce burdensome regulations that harm Nebraskas small and community airports by reducing the number of available pilots and increasing service costs. PenAir did not return a call for comment at press time. By PTI: Nagpur, Aug 8 (PTI) Social activist Tusharkranti Bhattacharya was arrested from Gondia railway station in east Maharashtra today by the Gujarat Police for his alleged links with Naxalites and in connection with a case pending against him in Surat since 2010. While Bhattacharyas wife told reporters that her husband was arrested from a train at the railway station when he was returning from Kolkata, Nagpur Joint Commissioner of Police Shivaji Bokde said the police are not aware about the activists arrest. advertisement Bhattacharya (62) was arrested when he was returning to Nagpur from Kolkata in the morning hours, his wife Shoma Sen said. Sen teaches English at the Nagpur University here. "My husband was arrested by the Surat Police and was taken to Gujarat by a flight. He will be produced in a session court there tomorrow. I was informed about his arrest by a lawyer after he got the call from my husband from airport," she said while addressing a press conference here this evening. Terming her husbands arrest "illegal and shocking", Sen said it was akin to "abduction". Bhattacharya was reportedly wanted in connection with the naxalite activities in tribal areas of Gangs, Surat and Navsari districts in Gujarat. "The 2010 case against my husband was of promoting naxalite ideology, but the charges against him were vague in nature. All co-accused in that case are on bail. Why is he arrested all of sudden after so many years?" she questionned. Bhattacharya was a student leader during the naxal movement in Andhra Pradesh in 1970s. "He was lodged in the Cherlapally Prison in Hyderabad from 2007 to 2013 in connection with certain old cases. After his acquittal by a court in February, 2013, he returned to Nagpur," Sen claimed. She said Bhattacharya was not involved in any "activism" anymore and has been pursuing freelance writing and other hobbies from their home here. Sen said the case registered against him in Surat in 2010 was "general in nature". "A number of activists and people from various NGOs were arrested in 2010 for spreading revolutionary propaganda under various various sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act," she said. Activist and film actor Vira Sathidar, who was also present at the presser, said Bhattacharyas arrest is akin to "kidnapping" by the police. "The police knew that he has been living in Nagpur since his release from the jail in 2013, but chose not to arrest him in all these years. Suddenly the Surat Police arrested him from a compartment of a train when it entered Maharashtra..." he said. PTI CLS NSK --- ENDS --- By MARK EVANS mevans@stegenherald.com Westover and Smith roads, on the far western edge of the county, will get paving priority for 2023. Country commissioners and Scott Schmieder, county road and bridge foreman, decided at last Thursdays commission meeting to go ahead and seal up that corner of the county. That way, graders will not have Romania is interested in Saudi Arabia's expertise in political and security developments in the Middle East, Romania's Defence Minister Adrian Tutuianu told Director of the Intelligence Committee and Military Security of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces Major General Abdulaziz Ibrahim Alswailem at a meeting in Bucharest. "We have all the resources to build a solid partnership relationship, especially when we talk about a complex area like the Middle East," said Tutuianu, according to a press statement released by Romania's Defence Ministry (MApN). Discussed at the meeting were recent security developments in the Middle East, the refugee crisis, the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, and the identification of new ways to extend cooperation in the field of military intelligence. The Director of the Intelligence Committee and Military Security of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces was on an official visit to Romania at the invitation of the Chief of Romania's General Defence Intelligence Department. agerpres. Minister of Justice Tudorel Toader on Tuesday announced, after his meeting with the unionist leaders from the National Administration Penitentiaries (ANP) that he will coordinate this institution personally, the same as all the other penitentiaries in the country, in order to stay in direct touch with the managers and leadership of these institutions. "I will personally coordinate the National Administration of Penitentiaries and all penitentiaries. This does not mean that I will replace and do the job of the managers of such penitentiaries. This means that, from the Ministry of Justice, I will personally be in charge, directly, of ANP, for, one the one hand, I want to stay in direct touch with all the managers and the leadership of penitentiaries, and not through intermediaries and, on the other hand, they can discuss with me personally about any issue," said Tudorel Toader. He also specified that he has monthly meetings scheduled with the representatives of the trade unions, to discuss what it is to be done further. "We established that, once a month, we will meet as we did today. This means that I will meet the representatives of the trade unions in the first Monday of every month, in the afternoon, right here, at the Ministry of Justice. We will see what it is to be done and what both parties should do next, the Ministry, on the one hand, and them, on the other hand. Thus we shall have continuity and there will also be new elements that will appear, for sure," said Toader. agerpres. Deputy Victor Ponta claims that Romania's energy system is in danger, and that the current minister is actually guilty of this situation, given his "incompetence". "Yesterday, August 7, Romania imported almost 1,000 MW of energy (mostly from Hungary - a country that has neither coal, nor gas, nor a nuclear power plant)! Throughout 2016, we have warned the technocrat government that the energy system is in danger - but there was no one to talk to. However, I told people that if they voted for PSD - ALDE [Social Democratic Party - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats - ed.n] things will get better - unfortunately it's worse than before! The current Energy Minister is even more incompetent, more of a liar, more arrogant and destructive than the 'technocrats' (although I thought something like that was impossible)," the former prime minister wrote on his Facebook page. He argues that energy imports and the prices' tripling represent a failure of the current governing. "Only scams - at Cernavoda only talks with Groups 3 and 4, at the CEO [Oltenia Energy Complex] all former democrat-liberals are back to 'plundering', at Hidroelectrica nothing is being done because Liviu Dragnea hasn't decided who will get it in exchange for pictures and handshakes! That's how we have reached triple prices and energy imports! And it will get even worse!" Victor Ponta said. The Congress and the BJP are engaged in a high voltage drama as the war over Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections result has reached the Election Commission's door in New Delhi. Congress rushed in its top leaders including P Chidambaram to put forth its case at the EC's door. (Photo/ANI) By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: The Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections have turned unprecedented and dramatic. The counting of votes have been suspended following complaints by both Congress and BJP to the Election Commission. GUJARAT RAJYA SABHA ELECTION WAR: LATEST UPDATES At least never in the recent political history of Gujarat, Rajya Sabha elections have acquired such proportions. In the normal process, the results would have been announced by 7 pm. However, it is taking a long time for the Gujarat results to be declared. advertisement Here are the reasons why: DOWN TO THE WIRE Congress candidate Ahmed Patel's victory or defeat now hinges on just one vote. He needs votes of 45 MLAs to emerge victorious. However, some cases of cross-voting have taken place. Out of 51 Congress MLAs, at least six have voted for BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput. Moreover, one of the two NCP MLAs and the lone JD(U) MLA may also have indulged in cross-voting by defying party whip. While the NCP MLA voted for Rajput, JD(U) MLA claimed he had voted for Patel. However, even this would not have stopped the Election Commission to go ahead with counting and declare the result. But two Congress allegedly went against the rules and showed the voting slips to unauthorised persons. Congress has taken objection to it and moved the Election Commission demanding cancellation of the two votes. It is still not clear whether these two votes would be the clincher but given the tight situation where each and every vote matters, neither Congress nor BJP wants to take a chance. DELEGATIONS So far, BJP and Congress delegations have visited the Election Commission's office on at least three occasions after voting got over and counting process had already started. The counting stands suspended since then. The Congress delegation included Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister P Chidambaram. The heavyweight BJP delegation included Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan. Coincidentally, all these ministers are Rajya Sabha members. While Prasad is the Law Minister, Jaitley has held the portfolio in the past. The Congress delegation demanded that votes of two party MLAs be quashed. However, BJP is against this. It said Congress was late in raising the objections. They should have petitioned the poll panel in the morning. But the Congress replied that they had raised objection at 9.30 am, but the returning officer in Gujarat did not respond. The BJP delegation argued that once votes are cast then nothing can be done. The votes have been cast and it would be impossible to distinguish the slips which have already been dropped in the box. Claiming that the voting process was fair, they said now with defeat staring in their face the Congress leaders are making desperate attempts to stall the process. advertisement Congress has requested the Election Commission to go by precedents. One of their MLAs had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana and his vote was rejected. Same was done in Gujarat earlier. Hence, it said, the votes should be rejected this time too. WILL CONGRESS MOVE SUPREME COURT? The matter may now reach the Supreme Court. If EC rejects the Congress' plea, the main Opposition party is likely to move the apex court to obtain stay on the results. In that case, it would take some time before the matter is finally settled and results are announced. ALSO READ: The lakhs Congress may have spent on that one elusive Rajya Sabha seat for Ahmed Patel Why Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat isn't just a personal battle between Ahmed Patel and Amit Shah Can Congress keep reputation intact in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls? How numbers add up Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections: Ahmed Patel's seat rests on knife's edge advertisement WATCH: Congress demands votes of its 2 MLAs, who cross-voted in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls, be cancelled --- ENDS --- The U.S. retirement system works pretty well for folks whose employer offers a 401(k) or pension plan. The problem is, around 40 percent of workers have no such plan. They work for a small business, or they work part time and arent eligible for benefits, or they work in the gig economy and essentially are their own employer. They could open Individual Retirement Accounts, but most people dont save unless the money automatically comes out of their paychecks. Theres been a movement to offer more workers a convenient, automatic savings option, but the federal governments modest experiment in that direction, called myRA, came to an abrupt end last month. A few states are trying to help their workers plug the retirement savings gap, but theyre getting pushback from Congress and President Donald Trumps administration. MyRA had attracted only $34 million in savings since it was launched by President Barack Obama in 2014. The Treasury spent $70 million to launch and run the program, so the cost-benefit ratio wasnt good. The concept was. MyRA invested in ultra-safe Treasury bonds, charged no fees and was available by payroll deduction at participating employers. It wasnt meant to compete with the private sector: Once an account grew to $15,000, you were required to roll it into a Roth IRA. Mark Muro, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, thinks myRA met a need. Theres a massive gap that will become more acute as the nature of our economy continues to transform, he said. It really creates the need for some kind of portable, low-cost alternative to organized employer benefit programs. Alicia Munnell, director of Boston Colleges Center for Retirement Research, believes that myRA wasnt given a chance to succeed. It was not heavily marketed, she said. It would have been a handy tool, and I view it as a big loss. MyRA would have been useful, she said, as a starter account or safe investment option within states auto-IRA programs. California and Oregon had planned to use it that way. Theyre among five states, including Illinois, Connecticut and Maryland, that have passed legislation requiring all but the very smallest employers to offer a payroll-deduction retirement savings plan. The plans have been controversial: Small-business groups call them an unnecessary mandate, and the financial industry see them as unfair competition. In May, Congress passed and Trump signed a resolution aimed at killing the state auto-IRA programs. It reversed an Obama-era regulation that exempted the plans from the 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The states say theyre going ahead anyway. A pilot version of OregonSaves began in July, and Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs hired Ascensus, a Pennsylvania company, to run the Secure Choice program, which he hopes to launch next year. The legal status of the state plans will probably be determined in court, Munnell says. Meanwhile, were left to ponder some odd political thinking. Conservative Republicans in Congress generally portray themselves as favoring states rights, yet theyre trying to block a state initiative. And the financial industry may be shortchanging itself by fighting a pro-savings program. The workers the states are trying to help are saving little or nothing now, so theyre unlikely to do business with the Fidelitys or Merrill Lynches of the world. Give those workers a few years to accumulate assets in a workplace-based plan, though, and they could become prize prospects for those same firms. Between Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel and BJP's third Rajya Sabha candidate Balwantsinh Rajput, Gujarat Congress leader Shankerinh Vaghela was supposed to choose the latter. And this is what he exactly did today. By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: The jury was never out over former Gujarat Congress leader Shankerinh Vaghela's preference of voting in today's Rajya Sabha elections. There was hardly any doubt which way his vote would go. Between Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel and BJP's third Rajya Sabha candidate Balwantsinh Rajput, Vaghela was supposed to choose the latter. And this is what he exactly did today. advertisement The wily politician from Gujarat himself spilled the beans after exercising his franchise. "I have not voted for Ahmedbhai. Congress party lacked in homework," said Shankersinh Vaghela, and added that Congress should have not put Ahmed Patel's reputation at stake. Calling Balwantsinh Rajput his "friend", Shankersinh Vaghela affirmed that he had voted for him. Another reason, as Shankersinh Vaghela himself claimed, was that Congress had told him that he was free to vote for anyone. Therefore, he did not vote for Ahmed Patel. Vaghela also said that he did not vote for Ahmed Patel as Congress was not going to win the Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat. He said of the 44 Congress MLAs, whom the party leadership had flown to a Bengaluru luxury resort last week, three-four lawmakers were likely to vote for the BJP. In that case, Vaghela said, Congress would not even get 44 votes for Ahmed Patel. Whether or not Ahmed Patel wins, it is certain that Shankersinh Vaghela's political fortunes would not remain the same. Sooner than later, he would be expelled from Congress or he may himself tender his resignation from the party. Subsequently, these are the options available to him now: 1. FLOATING PARTY Shankersinh Vaghela may form his own party as the third force in the hitherto largely bipolar politics in the western state which is home to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Vaghela is planning to rope in activists such as Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani. Hardik is spearheading the agitation to demand quota for Patels and Patidars in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category. Mevani is leading the stir over atrocities against Dalits. Congress was hoping to derive political mileage out of the agitations. However, if Vaghela succeeds in including these activists in his third front, it would frustrate the hopes of the Congress leaders. 2. JOINING NCP Shankersinh Vaghela may join Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party which (NCP) has two MLAs in Gujarat. Vaghela may lead the party and rope in Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani and other disgruntled leaders and workers of Congress. advertisement Despite being a part of Congress-led UPA, NCP has dealt a blow to the principal opposition party in the Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat. It has ended up opposing Ahmed Patel. NCP's Majeed Memon said Ahmed Patel could end up losing his Rajya Sabha election. "He (Ahmed Patel) is in a risky situation, half of his people might end up voting for BJP," the NCP leader said. Of the two NCP MLAs in Gujarat, one of them may not have voted for Ahmed Patel. "Our vote is for UPA," NCP MLA Jayant Patel said. However, when asked about his fellow NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja, he said, "Jadejaji is first time MLA, he is innocent." The script seems to have already been written. By leading NCP in Gujarat, Shankersinh Vaghela would only harm Congress. Just as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, NCP would also eat into Congress' pie in Gujarat. 3. JOINING BJP Vaghela may even rejoin BJP, though its chances are bleak. Though he has said it a number of times, including today, that he is not going back to the BJP, he may actually rejoin his old party. Bapu, as he is fondly called, may not be trusted on this. advertisement On July 21, while speaking in a public function to celebrate his 77th birthday in Ahmedabad, Vaghela had said he had been expelled from Congress 24 hours ago. However, he has not been expelled from Congress as yet. In case, Vaghela goes back to BJP, it would further weaken the Opposition. On the other hand, he would strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. In all the three events, the loser would be Congress while the beneficiary would be the ruling BJP. The Congress party has already suffered a huge embarrassment with 12 party MLAs indulging in cross-voting in the presidential elections. With Vaghela's expulsion, Congress would also lose whatever little chances it had to unseat BJP in the state. In the Assembly of 182 seats, while BJP has 121 MLAs, Congress had 57 till July 26. However, three Congress MLAs each resigned on the next two consecutive days, taking the party's tally to 51. One of those who resigned yesterday was Congress' chief whip in the Assembly Balwantsinh Rajput. The same evening, BJP declared Rajput as the party's third Rajya Sabha candidate. With his supporters joining BJP, Vaghela may also not remain behind. Also read: All eyes on Vaghela as BJP seeks to checkmate Ahmed Patel in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls advertisement Why Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat isn't just a personal battle between Ahmed Patel and Amit Shah Gujarat Rajya Sabha election: Shankersinh Vaghela votes for friend Balwantsinh Rajput, puts Ahmed Patel in a spot Shankersinh Vaghela continues to sulk, skips Congress event in Ahmedabad Speculation of Vaghela leaving Congress as he skips meeting with Rahul --- ENDS --- CVS Health Corp. said federal and state authorities have ordered the drugstore chain to cooperate with investigations into possible false claims submitted to a government health care program and pricing of insulin and epinephrine drugs. The company's shares fell 2.4 percent in morning trading to $77.17. Attorney General for the Southern District of New York has sought information from the company on possible false claims submitted in connection with reimbursements for Medicare Part D prescription drugs, CVS Health said on Tuesday. The company also said Minnesota's attorney general has sought information from it regarding a probe into pricing of insulin and epinephrine drugs. Sanofi SA, Eli Lilly and Co. and Novo Nordisk were named in a proposed class action lawsuit, which alleged the firms simultaneously hiked insulin prices by over 150 percent in the past five years. Mylan NV, the maker of emergency epinephrine injectors EpiPen, is facing investigations after it doubled the cost of its syringes used to treat severe allergic reactions. On Monday, a class-action lawsuit was filed against CVS Health, which alleges the company colluded with third-party PBMs to raise generic drug prices. Q2 profit beats CVS Health's profit beat Wall Street estimates on Tuesday, as the pharmacy benefits management (PBM) business serviced more claims and demand for its specialty pharmacy services rose. Revenue in the health pharmacy services business, which includes its PBM business and specialty pharmacy services, rose 9.5 percent to $32.3 billion in the second quarter ended June 30. This was helped by a 10.3 percent rise in claims processed by the PBM business and higher demand for specialty pharmacy services, which provides expensive drugs to people with chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. The gains helped the company more than offset a 2.2 percent drop in its retail pharmacy business. Net income attributable to CVS Health rose about 19 percent to $1.1 billion, or $1.07 per share, in the quarter. Excluding items, the company earned a profit of $1.33 per share, beating the average analyst estimate of $1.31, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Net revenue rose 4.5 percent to $45.69 billion, higher than the average analyst estimate of $45.37 billion. CVS Health also raised the lower end of its adjusted profit forecast range for 2017 and said it now expects profit to be between $5.83 per share and $5.93 per share. Confluence Life Sciences, a seven-year-old St. Louis bioscience company founded by former Pfizer researchers, is being acquired by Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. in a deal worth up to $100 million. Following the sale, Confluence plans to add new lab space next year in the citys Cortex tech district. In addition to $20 million in cash and stock, Confluences shareholders stand to receive up to $80 million after the sale closes, based on development and regulatory milestones and potential royalty payments on drug sales, the company said Tuesday. Aclaris is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies to address dermatological disease. It is based in Malvern, Pa., a Philadelphia suburb. Neal Walker, Aclaris chief executive, said his company began working with Confluence on molecular research last year and soon realized it would be a good acquisition. The talent here in St. Louis is quite impressive, he said at a news conference. Confluence plans to retain its 40 employees based at BioGenerator Labs at 4320 Forest Park Parkway and add more jobs. BioGenerator, the investment arm of BioSTL, was a co-financier of Confluence when the company was formed in 2010, helping the startup build labs, buy instruments, develop a business plan and raise capital. BioGenerator said the return on its $1.4 million investment will be reinvested into new St. Louis companies. Were thrilled to be among the first exits from the BioGenerator portfolio and even happier to be able to continue doing our work in St. Louis, Confluence CEO Walter Smith said. He and Joe Monahan, Confluences chief scientific officer, formerly worked at Pfizer and became entrepreneurs after Pfizer downsized its St. Louis operations. We built a team of proven drug hunters, successfully advanced multiple product candidates to the stage where they are appropriate to partner, and leveraged our profitable service business unit to achieve a financial exit after relatively modest dilutive investment, Monahan said. Aclaris, founded in 2012, has licensed drugs that it is putting through clinical trials and planning to commercialize, but didnt do its own basic research until now. This plugged a big gap for us, Walker said of the acquisition. Its better to own that capability in-house. Confluence had raised a total of $7.5 million in capital, including $1.4 million from BioGenerator and a similar amount from the state-funded Missouri Technology Corp. Other investors included St. Louis Countys Helix Fund, members of the St. Louis Arch Angels and venture capital funds from Houston and Bethesda, Md. Walker said he expects to expand Confluences research staff by at least 10 people. Smith said the company would look for new offices with triple the space it occupies within BioGenerator Labs. Dennis Lower, Cortexs CEO, said at least three nearby developments could accommodate the growing company. He mentioned a redevelopment planned for the Crescent Electric site east of Vandeventer Avenue, Lawrence Groups City Foundry project on Forest Park Avenue and a Koman Group site at Duncan Avenue and Sarah Street. By India Today Web Desk: It is no secret that the release date of Shraddha Kapoor's Haseena Parkar has been pushed forward. Fearing stiff competition from Jab Harry Met Sejal and Toilet Ek Prem Katha, filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia postponed the release of Haseena Parkar. And if latest buzz is to be believed, Shraddha, who is playing Dawood Ibrahim's sister on the big screen, wants to hold a special screening for rumoured boyfriend Farhan Akhtar. advertisement Shraddha wants to show the film to Farhan, before anyone else. According to a report in Asian Age, Shraddha is keen to know Farhan's reaction on her performance, and wants him to see Haseena Parkar. A source was quoted as telling the daily, "Shraddha wants Farhan to look at her performance in the film, and give his reaction on how she has done in the film." "Shraddha has given her best performance till date in the film, and wants Farhan's opinion on the film, now that it's been delayed. She thinks Farhan will give a fair and honest opinion on her film, being an actor and a director himself," added the source. On the work front, Farhan Akhtar will be next seen in Lucknow Central. ALSO READ: Are things getting serious between Shraddha Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar? ALSO READ: Shraddha Kapoor finally opens up on relationship with Farhan Akhtar ALSO WATCH: Rock On 2's Farhan-Shraddha-Arjun in an EXCLUSIVE interview --- ENDS --- ST. LOUIS Former St. Louis police Officer Jason Stockley testified Tuesday that he feared Anthony Lamar Smith was going to shoot him after a high-speed chase in 2011. Prosecutors say Stockley declared that he was going to murder Smith and planted a revolver inside Smiths car to justify the killing. On Wednesday, lawyers on both sides will give closing arguments in Stockleys first-degree murder trial that began Aug. 1 before St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson. And because Stockley waived his right to a jury trial, Wilson will decide Stockleys guilt or innocence. Tuesday delivered the trials most compelling testimony thus far as Stockley took the stand and gave his first public account of how and why he took Smiths life. Stockley, 36, who now lives in Houston, testified Tuesday that he believed Smith was an imminent threat to him, his partner and the residents of St. Louis. I was rattled, to say the least, Stockley said of his mindset immediately after the shooting. I just had to shoot someone. Whatever the normal human response to that would be, its not a good one. Stockley, who answered questions for about four hours, testified that he and his partner, Officer Brian Bianchi, were in a parking lot at Churchs Chicken, at Thekla Avenue and Riverview Boulevard, about 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2011, when he saw what he believed to be a hand-to-hand drug deal between two people. One of them was the 24-year-old Smith. When they tried to block Smiths silver Buick, Stockley said he heard his partner yell Gun! as Smith backed into the police car twice. Stockley said Smith drove toward him and nearly knocked his gun from his hand. He said he saw Smiths left hand on the steering wheel and his right hand holding a silver revolver resting on the passenger seat. On cross-examination, First Assistant Circuit Attorney Robert Steele questioned how Smith could have had steered the car with his left hand, shifted the car with his right while clutching a gun in his right. Stockley insisted he saw Smiths hand on a gun. After Smith maneuvered out of the parking lot with what Stockley described as a five-point turn, Stockley fired seven 9 mm rounds at the car with his Beretta pistol, testifying that he felt justified in using deadly force. Steele asked Stockley why Bianchi holstered his duty pistol at that point, suggesting that Smith was unarmed. Stockleys lawyer objected, saying Stockley couldnt know the answer. Because he dont like living, I guess, Steele quipped. Your partner did not pull his weapon back out. We see (on video that) Bianchi still does not draw his weapon out. He chose not to. Smith led the officers on a three-mile chase at speeds that reached at least 87 mph before a crash at West Florissant and Acme avenues. Stockley then fatally shot Smith, claiming he believed Smith was reaching for a gun. Prohibited weapon on duty Stockley was carrying his personal Draco AK-47 pistol on the day of the shooting, in violation of department policy. During a tense cross-examination Tuesday afternoon, Steele focused on police department rules that Stockley ignored. Stockley said that he knew having his AK-47 was a violation but said he felt outgunned after observing military-grade shell casings at several recent shootings in the Walnut Park neighborhood; he also said the 2010 mass shooting at ABB Inc. in St. Louis had been on his mind. Asked why he knowingly violated the policy, Stockley said: Because I valued the lives of my and the other officers more than the policy. Stockley testified he did not fire the AK-47 at Smiths fleeing vehicle either at the Churchs Chicken or after the crash because he knew its power could endanger his partner or innocent bystanders. Steele also repeatedly asked why Stockley himself and not at least 10 other officers at the crash scene searched Smiths car. That would have been great, to avoid all of this nonsense, Stockley said, gesturing at the courtroom. To which Steele retorted, To avoid all of this nonsense after you killed a man. Chase needed to end Stockleys attorney Neil Bruntrager questioned Stockley while playing surveillance, police dash camera and bystander cellphone videos in the courtroom. During the chase, the police SUV crashed into a street sign and a tree; Bianchi then nearly turned the wrong way. Stockley testified that he yelled multiple commands at Bianchi, who at the time had just 1 years on the force, because he felt the pursuit was not going well. Previous evidence has revealed that during the chase, Stockley reported shots fired several times to dispatchers over a police radio. He says something about shooting Smith, which court records reveal as Going to kill this (expletive), dont you know it. Stockley said he has no recollection of saying that during the chase. I dont deny that I said it, Stockley said. Im not saying its not me. During a vehicle pursuit, there are many things that are said. Bruntrager asked if he had at that point made the decision to kill Smith. Stockley said no, adding that its hard for me to elaborate even what the context was, because I dont even know. Stockley said he does remember telling Bianchi to hit him right now! when Smith swerved into oncoming traffic on West Florissant Avenue. After Bianchi and Stockley rear-ended Smiths car, both officers got out and Stockley approached it. Stockley said he recalled lifting up the deployed drivers-side airbag and not seeing a gun. Smith appeared to be reaching for something between the center console and the passenger seat. At one point, Stockley said, Smiths facial expression changed. That was the moment where I believed the suspect retrieved the weapon that was in the car, Stockley said. I thought his gun might come up and shoot at me. Stockley fired several shots into the car, killing Smith about 15 seconds after the crash. Stockley said he believes it was Bianchi who shut off the dashboard camera shortly after the shooting. Denies planting weapon Stockley testified that Smiths hands werent moving. He said he returned to the police SUV and put his AK-47 inside. Stockley said he returned again to the police SUV to retrieve a quick clot pack, which he stuffed in his left breast pocket. He said after police pulled Smiths body from the car, he climbed in to search for the gun. He said he found a revolver stuffed between the center console and passenger seat. Stockley said he never applied the clot pack to Smith because of the severity of his gunshot wounds. It was futile, Stockley said. Police reports and testimony from crime lab scientists say Stockleys DNA but not Smiths was on the .38-caliber Taurus revolver that police said was found in Smiths car. Stockley doesnt deny touching the gun and said he removed his gloves before going into Smiths car because they would have hindered his ability to search. The first time I ever touched that gun was inside the suspects vehicle, Stockley said. Bruntrager asked him, Did you place (the revolver) in the Buick? Absolutely not, Stockley said. During cross-examination, Stockley said he decided to search the Buick because he had spotted the gun earlier and knew where to look. He said he assumed unloading the revolver is how he left his DNA on it. DNA is a very bizarre substance, Stockley said. Very bizarre ha, ha, Steele responded. Very bizarre. Stockley is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point who was injured while serving in the Army in Iraq. He testified Tuesday that he graduated from the police academy in 2007 with awards for best overall officer, best academics and best in defensive tactics. ST. LOUIS More than 50 motorcycle riders and dozens of others lined up Tuesday outside the Michel Funeral Home in St. Louis to say goodbye to a man almost none of them knew. But they knew he was a veteran. And, on Tuesday, that was all that mattered not the demons he faced after returning from the Vietnam War, or the circumstances that ultimately led to the separation from his wife of 17 years and homelessness he faced for most of his last year on Earth. Dozens of people, including children from day care centers, lined the procession route for John Beard, 67, who died July 23 after a two-month battle with cancer that had spread to his lungs, bones and brain before he ever knew he had it. Some got out of their cars to hold their hand over their hearts, salute, or stand at attention as the procession rumbled southbound along Hampton Avenue and on through south St. Louis County to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Beards widow, Betty Beard, wiped tears from her eyes upon seeing all of the support. She said Beard was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in the Air Force, which she believes caused his cancer. The couple had been estranged for almost a year when he called her to tell her the news of his cancer. The diagnosis came on the same day that AMVETS secured medical benefits for a separate service-connected injury, said Rich Hogan, a national service officer for the organization who, along with Jacqueline Ingoldsby, a veteran service officer, oversaw his case. At the time, Beard was a member of the Homeless Veterans program, living at Jefferson Barracks. Hogan organized a Celebration of Life banquet for Beard to also raise money for funeral expenses. The venue, Tenbrook Tavern, donated its space. There, local funeral directors Calvin and Chris Whitaker met Beard and volunteered to host his funeral for free. All the money raised at the banquet went back to the Veterans in Need program, which works to prevent veterans from becoming homeless. The Whitakers met with Beard to make final arrangements twice before he died. He asked that Frank Sinatra music be played during the visitation. And for military honors at the funeral. Hogan said when he and Beard spoke in the final months of his life, he would often give a thumbs-up to show his approval and appreciation when words became too hard to find or too difficult to speak a gesture his widow said he was still giving during the six days he spent back in his home before he died. Betty Beard rode on the back of Hogans Harley-Davidson during the procession something she was somewhat reluctant to do given her inexperience with motorcycles. But being out in the open gave her a chance to give everyone lining the route a clearly visible thumbs-up. ST. LOUIS Vacant property, a new police chief and bids to privatize the citys airport are some of the next items on St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewsons to-do list. Describing the period since her April inauguration as a whirlwind, Krewson has spent much of her early months in office responding to crises or controversies. Among them was an effort to remove a Confederate monument in Forest Park that led a local museum to sue the city in June, with the two parties eventually reaching a settlement to ensure the structures dismantling. After a fire at the historic Clemens House a building owned by Paul McKees redevelopment organization, NorthSide Regeneration sparked concerns in nearby neighborhoods of asbestos exposure, Krewson and state officials enlisted the EPA to test the air and the windblown debris from the blaze. A recent heat wave reinvigorated protesters to call for the closure of the citys medium security jail, which was operating without air conditioning and houses more than 700 inmates, most of whom are awaiting trial. The city opted to lease temporary air conditioning units, something Krewson said was possible this year because of electrical upgrades. But questions about other allegations of abuse and abhorrent conditions within the St. Louis Medium Security Institution have been left largely unanswered. And an announcement from St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger that a voter-approved half-cent sales tax would be used to raise police salaries by up to 30 percent has led Krewson to push for a similar proposal in the city, which voters will decide on in a special election in November. Should it pass, St. Louis sales tax rate will jump to at least 9.7 percent, one of the highest in the country. Theres been a lot of hustle, Krewson said of her first 100 days, in a recent meeting with the Post-Dispatchs editorial board. I think thats a good word to use. There has been progress, too, she says, citing a push toward community policing and other crime-prevention initiatives. Garbage pickup soon will improve, she said, after the passage of a proposal to raise trash fees from $11 to $14 to pay for new trash trucks. Other achievements she lists include successful negotiations to put Highway Patrol officers on city freeways and meetings to hear public comment on proposed tax incentive reforms and a new leader for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Public safety Public safety remains the top priority every single day, Krewson said. She will need support from both the public and the city police officers union to get voter approval for a half-cent sales tax increase to hire more St. Louis Metropolitan police officers and pay them more money. The unions executive board has expressed reservations with the proposal she has backed, calling for the revenue generated to be allocated to police pay, rather than divided up among other initiatives, such as recreation programs. Do they really want to oppose $10,000 more (in salary and benefits) on average per officer? I would hope not. My belief is, cooler heads will prevail, Krewson said. But the St. Louis Police Officers Association maintains that there's no guarantee that any of the $13 million dedicated to the police department in the proposal would be used for raises. An amendment to earmark that $13 million solely for salary increases was defeated in the Board of Aldermen in July, with the union supporting it and Krewson lobbying against it. As for a new police chief, Krewson expects the city to hire a search firm to assist in the recruitment of candidates in August. I think a fresh view is good for a lot of reasons. However, I think we have to make that decision based on who is before us at the time, she said. Krewson also said shes convened meetings with judges, the circuit attorneys office and corrections officials to explore ways to reduce the population at the Medium Security Institution, known more informally throughout the city as the workhouse. The parties are discussing bail policies and whether there is any flexibility in holding more than 100 inmates who are in the jail for technical probation violations. Krewson has pushed back on persistent accusations that conditions at the workhouse are unsanitary or deplorable, but she told the editorial board that moving people more quickly through the criminal justice system will be a priority. Other priorities in the next 100 days include a vacant property initiative Krewson hopes to launch in the next two to three months. An idea she floated in the editorial board interview would involve the Land Reutilization Authority selling vacant properties inexpensively to individuals or small developers, who would have two years to rehab the structures and get them occupied, in exchange for a 10-year property tax abatement, as well as new sidewalks or street trees. Otis Williams, who heads the citys economic development office, said theres been no direction to do that yet, but that it could be an idea to discuss in upcoming meetings. Were not getting any money on them now, Krewson said. The idea would be that there would be five houses on a block that we get somebody to do, so we dont get one here, one there. Privatization The city intends to hire a financial adviser and seek proposals from entities who want to lease and operate St. Louis Lambert International Airport, the mayor said, adding that potential bidders already have emerged. Privatization is an idea Krewson says is worthy of consideration, but it was spearheaded by her predecessor, Francis Slay. The citys successful application to enter the Federal Aviation Administrations privatization program was paid for by Grow Missouri Inc., backed by St. Louis financier Rex Sinquefield. The goal is, can we have a better airport? Can we have more flights? Can we have better service? Can the city get a good stream of money ... are we satisfied with the bidder, that they can perform whatever all their promises would be? If we can do that, then well move forward with it. If we cant, then we wont, Krewson said. Krewson has also publicly supported the idea of more coordination between city and county governments, particularly in the areas of law enforcement and economic development but said future plans depend on the outcome of a cooperation study she and Stenger have asked a small committee to conduct. The Missouri Legislature might not wait that long. In May, Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard said he wanted the state to consider proposals to privatize the citys airport and consolidate St. Louis municipalities during its 2018 legislative session. Gov. Eric Greitens called the Legislature into a special session this summer in part to combat a St. Louis ordinance banning discrimination in employment and housing based on reproductive health decisions. The Legislature passed the bill into law, although many in St. Louis dont believe it will have much practical effect. Krewson maintains that despite the states tendency to bigfoot Missouris urban areas, she remains open to working with state officials as well as Stenger going forward. Theres not anything to be gained by not getting along with them, she said. And while the Legislature may have preempted a citywide minimum wage increase, Krewson said she still counts its implementation as an early victory, since some businesses will still keep the new $10 wage, which can be reverted this month. Its not the benefit that I would like for it to be, its not as much, but it was still worth it to go ahead and implement this in the city and give working folks a better wage, she said. Students of a school in Thiruvotriyur near Chennai held a protest inside its premises and refused to attend classes on Tuesday demanding action against a pastor who allegedly attempted to sexually harass their colleague. The pastor has been absconding. By Pramod Madhav: Students of a school in Thiruvotriyur near Chennai held a protest inside its premises and refused to attend classes on Tuesday demanding action against a pastor who allegedly attempted to sexually harass their colleague. The victim Sudhakar is a class 11 student at St Paul's Mahajana High School at Kaladipettai in Thiruvotriyur. He was transferred to this school after his father Bhaskar died three years ago. advertisement Sudhakar almost discontinued his education, but Jagan, physical instructor of the Kaladipettai school, came to his help considering that Sudhakar was a good volleyball player. Unfortunately, Jagan was unable to support Sudhakar this year and because of that he couldn't buy the latter a new uniform. Sudhakar then stated that Pastor Arokiyam once called him while he was in the playground and enquired why he was wearing an old uniform. After Sudhakar narrated his ordeal, Arokiyam apparently gave him Rs 1,000 and asked him to buy new clothes. Hesitantly, Sudhakar took the money and got himself a new uniform. After this, Sudhakar claimed that Arokiyam started calling him often, something Sudhakar didn't mind since he felt that he was indebted to Arokiyam. WHAT MADE SUDHAKAR SUSPICIOUS OF AROKIYAM But later, Sudhakar felt that something was wrong with the way Arokiyam spoke to him. Once he noticed that his conversations with Arokiyam were not proper, Sudhakar began recording their phone calls. In a certain audio produced as evidence, the alleged voice of Arokiyam was seen speaking indecently to Sudhakar and inviting him for homosexual activity. Scared about this, Sudhakar informed his classmates about the same and all of them decided to back him. Students immediately began to protest inside the school premises demanding action against Arokiyam and seeking his removal. A few students also alleged that this was a second such incident from the school involving a staffer. Police finally arrived at the scene and informed Sudhakar to bring his mother and register a case. Police have been unable to arrest Arokiyam, who is absconding. Also Read : From Facebook to Delhi hotel: Woman, teenage boy accuse each other of rape After TVF's Arunabh Kumar, ScoopWhoop co-founder Suparn Pandey accused of sexual harassment ALSO WATCH VIDEO | Chandigarh stalking case: BJP MP Saini lauds victim for showing courage and speaking out, condemns harassment --- ENDS --- The SeaBOS initiative Starting in 2012 these centre researchers, together with additional colleagues, identified the largest corporations of the global seafood industry, and dubbed them keystone actors in marine ecosystems. Inspired by the classical ecology study on keystone species, keystone actors are thought to have a disproportionate influence on the structure and function of the ocean. Based on this work, the researchers engaged with these powerful actors to develop a unique collaboration to address unsustainable practices, such as overfishing, modern slavery, and destructive impacts on habitats and non-target species. The result was major companies from Asia, Europe, and North America forming the SeaBOS initiative. If private corporations, which are critically dependent on a healthy ocean for their long-term prosperity, take on a leading role in ocean stewardship, it is good for business and good for the planet, says Osterblom, lead author of the study and a driving force behind the SeaBOS initiative. SeaBOS is unique in that no other initiative connects: wild capture fisheries and aquaculture; science and business; and companies from three major global markets, Asia, Europe, and North America. It aims to tackle many important hurdles, such as transparency, antibiotic use in aquaculture, and climate change, in a voluntary commitment from these companies. SeaBOS is supported by HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, who is an advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Crown Princess has been involved with the SeaBOS dialouges between researchers and scientists, and has also supported the initative at a number of important events, such as the 2017 United Nations Oceans conference. From words to action The PNAS study describes the process of how SeaBOS came to be. The initial intention was not to coproduce a global coalition of seafood companies and scientists. However, as this initiative emerged, the authors took note, and highlight the processes and implications for global sustainability in their study. They also provide evidence for how a science-business partnership might function, an area where few scientific case studies exist. While substantial literature has focused on how science interacts with policy, relatively little is known about interactions between science and business. The strength of our study is to report in detail on such an interaction while putting it into the broader context of sustainability science, says Jean-Baptiste Jouffray, PhD student at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, who together with Osterblom has been instrumental in the establishment of the initiative. In this study, the authors highlight the importance and challenges of building relationships and trust between all the actors. Without trust and cooperation among the keystone actors, the SeaBOS initiative would have been an unlikely outcome. Being able to respect different norms and knowledge, as well as translating conversations across cultures and languages, are cited as fundamental in the collaborative process. However, this does not come without challenges. Osterblom notes that, The most challenging and time-consuming aspects involved establishing trust with CEOs and convincing them that this could add value not only to their operations, reputation, and brands, but also in terms of clarifying their responsibility as global actors and the significance of ocean stewardship for sustainability and prosperity. The authors also highlight that in the past, voluntary environmental commitments have produced mixed results. While SeaBOS is voluntary, the fact that it is trust-based, and that members are committed to continue meeting face-to-face, could help its odds in success. In addition, the authors point out that this unique network, connecting industries, business and science, as well as regions, will increase the interactions among keystone actors. Theoretically, a more connected network is more likely to undergo transformative change. Furthermore, SeaBOS increases interactions between major companies and sectors, thereby promoting sharing of knowledge and technology, which could benefit their business. The importance of science-business collaborations Major sustainability challenges facing humanity will increasingly require scientists to take on larger and more active roles in connecting knowledge to action. By demonstrating how scientists and industry can collaboratively develop solutions to major sustainability issues, this study presents a unique method and case-study, which can potentially be replicated in other sectors. The initiative and approach we describe certainly sets an interesting precedence for others to follow, not only for the ocean but also in other sectors, adds Rockstrom, co-author and centre executive director. As the world works towards the SDGs by 2030, the authors point out, Given the magnitude of the challenges associated with the ocean, the slow pace of progress, and the obvious interconnectivity with other SDGs, we regard our work with companies engaged in production as a relatively unexploredyet a critically needed nicheto complement efforts focusing on consumption and public policy. The new ocean frontier Explorers once set out across the globe in search of new coastlines, markets, and trading partners. However, maintaining a marine environment that can support humanity and the planet should be thought of as the oceans newest, and most essential, frontier. Osterblom concludes that, Some researchers are trained to explore the frontiers of space, and others are trained to explore the depths of the ocean. However, sustainability scientists need to be adequately trained, and provided with the space, to go deep into processes associated with global transformative change. Their work with SeaBOS clearly demonstrates that science and business can engage with one another towards a more sustainable planet. Carl Folke, co-author of the study and centre scientific director, adds that scientific integirty is essential when working so closely with high-level, business-orietned companies: Sustainability science is a use-inspired approach, where scientists can both be embedded in, and learn from change processes. Our ambition has been to be impartial knowledge brokers in this process and facilitate a new direction for ocean stewardship. We have more newsletters Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Want Stoke-on-Trent news emailed to you direct from our journalists? Sign up to our newsletter Taxi driver Abdul Manuf has been jailed after buildings were converted into large-scale drugs factories including a former leisure centre and bank. The 46-year-old and co-defendant Mohammed Nawaz were part of a huge conspiracy that saw police carry out raids across England and Wales during a three-year investigation. Manuf, of Alexandra Road, Normacot, leased properties from Nawaz, including a leisure centre and community centre in South Wales. Police raided the buildings and found significant quantities of cannabis being grown in some of them. Now Manuf who had a lesser role has been locked up for 37 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis. Cardiff Crown Court heard the offending occurred between June 2011 and November 2014 and involved five sites. Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said: This case concerns the large-scale production of cannabis. Mr Griffiths said more than 2,000 cannabis plants with a potential street value of 1.65m were found at Underwood Leisure Centre in Newport. He added specialist growing equipment worth 28,000, including lighting and fans, had been installed in the main gym inside the premises. Judge Neil Bidder QC noted the operation there was on an industrial scale. The court heard 457 plants were found by police at the property in Leicestershire, while a raid at an old bank in Grimsby revealed cannabis with a potential yield of 66kg. Police also raided a former dentist surgery in Cumbria and found scorch marks on the walls, suggesting there had been another factory there. The court heard officers did not find an operative factory at a community centre in South Wales but uncovered evidence the conspirators were planning to grow cannabis Nawaz, aged 68, of Broadfields Avenue, Middlesex, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to produce cannabis and was jailed for seven years for a significant role. Judge Bidder said he was satisfied the defendants were not the organisers in the conspiracy. Their profits will be confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act and an order was made for the drugs and paraphernalia to be destroyed. Speaking after the hearing Detective Constable Simon Reed, who led the investigation, said the investigation took three years of thorough and detailed work. (Image: Gwent Police) He added: These two individuals were part of an organised crime group that used widespread criminality for their own gain. We are pleased with these sentences and hope they reinforce to others hoping to profit from illegal cannabis factories that we are committed to tackling illegal drug activity. He said such activity can have a negative and far-reaching impact on communities. Iwan Jenkins, head of the complex casework unit for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, said they worked closely with police to organise strands of evidence, enabling them to present a strong case to the jury. He added: These two men were involved in the illegal drugs business, whether they actually grew the plants or not, and have now been dealt with for their criminal activities. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Want Stoke-on-Trent news emailed to you direct from our journalists? Sign up to our newsletter Bosses at pottery firm Portmeirion are calling for a trade deal with South Korea as part of Britains Brexit negotiations. The Stoke-based company currently exports its products to 60 different countries around the world. At the moment, Portmeirions largest market is the UK, followed closely by the United States and South Korea. Now the firm is hoping for a deal to be agreed between the UK and its two largest export markets as it looks to increase its focus on international sales and new trade customers. Chief executive Lawrence Bryan said: We export to 60 different countries and trade significantly in 10 different countries which means we are less exposed to risks such as Brexit, but it is another thing that we have got to think about. Our markets in America and Korea have had a slow start to the year this year, but our focus still very much remains on export. We continue to monitor the impact of Brexit and potential economic uncertainty, but what we would like to see is a British-Korean trade agreement as Korea is our second largest export market. Mr Bryan added: Quite oddly, since Brexit, our business in mainland Europe has increased so it doesnt look to be a significant issue. The only issue for us is the confidence of the English consumer and potentially European visitors to London who want to buy our products as gifts to take back home. The call comes just days after the company which employs around 600 people at its London Road factory, in Stoke announced its financial results for the first six months of the year. Revenue climbed to 33.1 million for the first six months of 2017 this compares to 28.5 million for the same period last year. Pre-tax profit also grew to 1.6 million up from 1.4 million while net debt fell by 8 million to 1.7 million. Among the companys operational highlights was the ongoing integration of scented candle retailer Wax Lyrical which contributed 5.4 million in revenue for the first six months of the year. Mr Bryan added: Our focus for the next six months or so is on fulfilling our strong order book. In total, 147 home fragrance products have been developed in the first half and we have visibility of a good order book for the second half against these new ranges. We have secured some strong orders in America and South Korea, so we expect the business to meet market expectations. By India Today Web Desk: Anybody whose ever had a barbecue party in their backyard would know just how costly charcoal is. Given the fact that most fuels are non-renewable and scarce, their rising prices shouldn't be a wonder. Even now, in Indian villages, gobar gas is the common fuel source and it's quite cheap, because it's readily available. Researchers across the world have been looking for alternative sources of fuel, and a startup in Kenya has actually made great strides in this regard. Picture courtesy: Instagram/sanivation advertisement Sanivation, a social enterprise operating in East Africa, has combined Kenya's biggest human waste issue into an affordable cooking-fuel. Yes, your poop can be treated and turned into a form of charcoal you can cook with! Picture courtesy: Instagram/sanivation Also Read: Doughnuts inspired by Pokemon Go? Yes, they exist According to the New York Post, Sanivation is creating charcoal briquettes out of human faeces that apparently burn longer than charcoal or firewood. The poop charcoal also creates less smoke and has no smell. Picture courtesy: Instagram/sanivation Picture courtesy: Instagram/sanivation The company "collects sludge from around the Rift Valley region" and transforms it into charcoal: the sludge is sundried for two-three weeks, then heated in a kiln, and mixed with sawdust and molasses. This gets rid of the harmful gases and volatile matters. Picture courtesy: Instagram/sanivation Not only is this system safe, but also cheap. A kilo of this poop charcoal costs a mere 50 cents (Rs 64), making this a very viable and eco-friendly fuel source. Sanivation is producing two tonnes per month, but hope to be able to increase production up to 10 tonnes per month by the end of 2017. Picture courtesy: Instagram/sanivation And we dearly hope they succeed, and share their methods throughout the world. You might have thought turning man's trash into treasure was impossible, but this company is proving the world wrong, while saving the planet! --- ENDS --- AA20 notes Police are warning people to be on the lookout for counterfeit bank notes after several were seized in the town recently. Businesses are being advised that those trying to pass counterfeit notes will often try to buy a low value item using a high value note such as a 20 note. Criminals often employ this technique as it enables them to get away with stock from the retailer and money from the till given in change. Claire and Jim Alexander, landlords of the Ebrington Arms, celebrate their AA Rosette Award for culinary excellence 2016/17 with head chef Chris Ellis. This award was presented last October. GOOD things have come in pairs for a North Cotswold pub recently as The Ebrington Arms was voted the The Times UK Number one Village Pub 2017 and Number two in the UKs Top 30 Best Pubs for Summer. The two accolades have arrived in a very special year for The Ebrington Arms as Claire and Jim Alexander are celebrating their tenth anniversary at the pub this year. Further, 2017 also marks the 300th anniversary year of The Ebrington Arms being in the licensed trade as the pubs first landlord, William Kyte was registered back in 1717. Claire said: Its a hugely special year for all of us at The Ebrington Arms, there arent many pubs that get to celebrate a decade and 300 year anniversary in one go. It such a gorgeous village and we have the best team around us. Thanks to all of our regular supporters from near and far that make the pub what it is. When our guests say that they wish our pub was in their village we feel immensely proud." The pub is no stranger to awards, having won the CAMRA North Cotswolds Pub of the Year three times and four times runner-up. The Ebrington Arms has also been awarded two AA Rosettes for seven years running. In 2016 Green Traveller awarded The Ebrington Arms Escape of the Year for its quintessential Cotswold pub feel. The One Stop shop in Drayton Avenue. A MAN has appeared in court charged with a series of convenience store robberies, including one at the One Stop on Drayton Avenue in Stratford. Jamie Considine stole an unknown quantity of cash from the store on 14th May this year, Warwickshire Magistrates Court heard. The 24-year-old, of Beachamp Road in Kenilworth, was also charged in connection with robberies at Cannon Hill News in Coventry thre day after, Tesco Express in Kenilworth three days later, and a One Stop in Leamington on 30th May. Considine did not enter a plea when he appeared before magistrates last Friday and was remanded in custody and will appear at Warwick Crown Court on 7th September. At the time police said that a man went into the store at around 9.40pm and pointed a weapon believed to be a knife at a staff member and demanded money. A quantity of cash was handed over, police confirmed. The officer fell overboard after the fishermen's boat collided with the Navy vessel. By Pramod Madhav: Indian fishermen on Monday rescued a Sri Lankan Navy officer off the coast of Tamil Nadu, mistaking him for the boat-owner's son - who had jumped overboard in a panic after the officer's vessel theatened to fire at them if they tried to escape. The officer, Vijaya Singa, had tripped and fallen into the sea after the Navy vessel collided with the boat, whose crew - led by proprietor Ganesan - was fishing with banned double fold nets. advertisement The fishermen had agreed to surrender. But after helping Vijaya Singa climb aboard (thinking he was Ganesan's son Balamurugan) they began to speed away. As the Navy vessel gave chase, its crew realised Vijaya Singa was on the Indian boat, and immediately alerted the Intelligence Bureau at Rameswaram. CREW DETAINED It wasn't until Ganesan's boat was surrounded nearly three hours later that he and his men realised who they'd rescued. They were detained at Kangesam. Balamurugan was arrested on Nayina, a Sri Lankan island. Charges of damaging a Sri Lankan Navy vessel and illegal fishing were brought against Ganesh and his men, and Balamurugan was charged with illegal entry. The Lankan Navy hasn't official confirmed the incident, presumably to avoid embarrassment. However, it has admitted that Vijaya Singa fell into the sea, and said he's being treated in a medical camp at Kangesam Naval port. ALSO READ Sri Lanka leases Hambantota port to China for non-military use. Should India worry? Modi government got 251 fishermen released from Sri Lankan custody in 2017 ALSO WATCH PM Modi has consistently flagged India's concerns over detention of fishermen with Sri Lanka: Sushma Swaraj --- ENDS --- Ali was deployed with Mirwaiz for eight years. He worked on building the separatist network and facilitated several activities of Mirwaiz. Ali was deployed with Mirwaiz for eight years when he worked on building the separatist network and facilitated several activities of Mirwaiz. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: While the media attention outside NIA headquarters on Jai Singh road focused on Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons Nayeem and Naseem, Deputy Superintendent of Police Faheem Ali, deployed with Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was grilled through the day by the agency sleuths. According to documents accessed by India Today, Ali was deployed with Mirwaiz for eight years. He worked on building the separatist network and facilitated several activities of Mirwaiz. advertisement The security cover provided to Mirwaiz was reduced by the Jammu and Kashmir government in the first week of July following Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ayub Pandith's lynching on June 23. Mirwaiz occasionally delivered sermons in the Nowhatta area near Jamia Masjid where Pandith was lynched. Sources said that DSP Ali was then removed and posted out to Shopian since his proximity to the leader had been exposed. Ali, who worked in the security facility of the Hurriyat Conference leader, operated from two cell phones. While the BSNL number was for public domain, he held a private Aircel number from which he made contacts, arranging secret meetings and dealings. His name has figured in a number of conversations. The sources said, "The DSP (Ali) acted on the behest of Mirwaiz, rather than serve as a police officer." Through influential channels, Ali was supposed to have inducted a team of young men from downtown and other areas, who took the oath of Indian Constitution but served the interests of the separatists. All the Special Police Officers (SPOs) deployed with him are under the scanner of security agencies. An inspector deployed for his security has been retained by Mirwaiz as a secretary. Many of these cops are now under scanner, but NIA believes that Ali seems to be the man who worked with separatists with a camouflage of uniform. Also Read : India Today Impact: NIA questions Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons Naeem, Naseem over terror funding NIA gets 10-day custody of 7 Hurriyat leaders: 10 Developments Also Watch : Arrested Hurriyat leaders produced in Patiala House Court, NIA demands 20-day custody --- ENDS --- By PTI: Indian interests: US expert By Lalit K Jha Washington, Aug 8 (PTI) Chinese President Xi Jinping sees Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader who is willing to stand up for Indian interests and to work together with other countries in the region that are looking to impose constraints on China, a top American Chinese expert has said. advertisement "I think that Xi Jinping sees Prime Minister Modi as a leader who is willing to stand up for Indian interests and to work together with other countries in the region that are looking to impose constraints on China, and particularly the US and Japan, and thats something, I think Beijing is worried about," Bonnie S Glaser from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) told PTI in an interview. Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project at CSIS, a top American think-tank, based in Washington DC, felt that China does not sees itself as benefitting from a tense relationship with India. "Very early on Xi Jinping went to Delhi and tried to engage with Prime Minister Modi. I think he had hoped that India would have a policy that would not challenge Chinese interest. But I think it has really not worked out that way as hes continued to be involved in the South China Sea," she noted. "There are obviously differences between the two countries, in the Indian Ocean and other maritime areas. China doesnt see itself as benefiting from a tense relationship with India. After all, the two countries share a long border," said Glaser, who is keeping a close watch on the developments in Doklam. India and China have been locked in a standoff in Doklam since June 16 after Chinese troops began constructing a road near the Bhutan trijunction. Glaser, who has served as a member of the Defense Departments Defense Policy Board China Panel in 1997, said China sees India as a major challenger to it in the long term. "China sees India as the biggest rising developing power that in the longer run, ? could pose challenges. In the near term, China worries most about Indias cooperation with other countries, forging coalitions with other countries like Japan, Australia, and the US, to counter Chinese power influence in the region, so that is a negative set of developments," she noted. India, she said, is the only country in the world that opposes explicitly Chinas One Belt and One Road Initiative. "China doesnt see India as posing very much of a military threat. China hasnt taken Indias nuclear arsenal, for example, as a major threat to its security, but increasingly sees India as a political threat to China, in part because it is cooperation with lots of other powers to constrain China," she said. advertisement While Doklam standoff continues, Indias position and its end result could have large implication on other countries in the region, especially those who have border dispute with China, she noted. "If China succeeds in having its way with other countries, and certainly with India, this could embolden China to be even more extrapolous, more unbending in dealing with countries with which it has territorial disputes," Glaser said. China, thinks that its economic power, growing political power and military power, is giving it enough clout to be able to turn these disputes and differences with countries in its own favor, she said. "Thats worrisome to me because weve seen China over the last couple of years use economic coercion against countries, South Korea being the latest example of that. Its worrisome if China draws the lesson that it can use economic coercion, military power, political pressure in order to have its way," she said. advertisement "If China ends up winning, or in other words, if India pulls back its troops, China is able to go ahead and build this road and ultimately India and Bhutan are forced to accept it even though they believe its against their national interest, particularly India," Glaser said. "That could embolden China further in dealing with territorial disputes with other neighbors," she said in response to a question. "China already had a bit of a win with the Philippines with the election of Duterte. Theres now discussion underway of joint development between China and the Philippines, and I think that has emboldened Beijing in dealing with Vietnam, basically forcing the Vietnamese to stop the drilling that has been underway off of Vietnams coast," she observed. Responding to another question, Glaser said US will avoid getting directly involved because any US involvement really would only make the crisis worse. "China would dig in its heels even more if the United States is seen as explicitly backing India. The strongest US interest is in de-escalation of the crisis," she said. She, however, did not rule out further escalation of the border standoff. "Clearly China and India do not have an interest in having a military conflict. But one cannot rule it out," she said. advertisement One possible outcome, she said, is that this standoff just continues through the winter when the weather deteriorates and then both sides have to pull out their troops and then there is a sort of gradual stand down. "China probably cannot build this road during the winter so it would have to wait until next spring, and that might provide a breather, an opportunity for both sides to actually talk about it," she said. "Another possibility is that Bhutan steps up, and not necessarily plays the role of mediator, but takes a position that enables China and India to move back their troops," she added. "For example, Bhutan could thank India very much for its assistance and say for the time being that India can pull back its forces and perhaps even replace some of those troops with its own troops. Thats another possible face-saving way out. But again I dont rule out that there could be a military conflict," Glaser said. PTI LKJ AJR --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Karan Johar and Kajol's fallout made headlines early this year. While Kajol remained tight-lipped about her equation with KJo, Karan went onto dedicate a chapter on his not-so-good equation with Kajol in his biography An Unsuitable Boy. Since then, the two have avoided each other at various events. But KJo's twins Yash and Roohi played the perfect peacemakers between the ex-besties. On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Karan posted the first picture of his twins on Instagram, and keeping aside their differences, Kajol liked the picture. 6 months old today....#roohiandyash #happyrakshabandhan #lovesofmylife?? A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) on Aug 7, 2017 at 2:56am PDT advertisement Instantly, Karan started following her ex-bestfriend on Instagram. Karan and Kajol had a major fallout in 2016 when the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actor sided with her husband over Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shivaay clash. This did not go down too well with Karan, and he even spoke about it openly in his autobiography. In the book, Karan had said, "She can never come back to my life. I wouldn't like to give her a piece of myself to her at all because she's killed every bit of emotion I had for her for 25 years. I don't think she deserves me. I feel nothing for her anymore." But it seems the two are ready to bury the hatchet with each of them taking a step towards reconciliation. ALSO READ: Is this what Karan Johar has to say about his relationship with Kajol? ALSO READ: Relationships are difficult, says Kajol on rift with Karan Johar ALSO WATCH: Five explosive confessions from Karan Johar's biography --- ENDS --- A unique international conference opens in Tauranga today, bringing together scientists and researchers from across both the planet and marine bioscience disciplines. Conference chair and Chair of Coastal Science at Waikato University Professor Chris Battershill says the Blue2Green Marine Biotechnology Convention is the first where biotechnology and aquaculture researchers have met. It is probably the first internationally, as aquaculture scientists dont mix with marine natural products chemists, so at this meeting we wanted to bring them all together because we know they can share ideas and make breakthroughs, says Chris. Its about fast tracking and stimulating innovation, but in a sustainable sense. So our colleagues from China who are actually from our sister city Yantai are here, and colleagues from Ansan South Korea are also here, and of course across the Tasman, scientists from all around Australia are here as well. All up its about seven countries represented, including Norway. We have speakers who are famous in their field from all those places, and what we wanted to do is show case the opportunities not only for the city but for the region - and the science we can facilitate. A local focal point is the sea lettuce, says Chris. Making something good out of a problem. The blue to green logo is about solutions from the sea that have applications on land. Delegates received a traditional Maori welcome and powhiri for the opening of the conference this morning, with the guests being called on to the venue at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club. Speakers include Professor Ben Hankamer, Director of the Centre for Solar Biotechnology at University of Queensland; Dr Eva Anderson from the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Norway; Professor of Aquaculture Rocky de Nys (James Cook University) and Professor Song Qin (Chinese Academy of Science) who is the vice chairman of the International Marine Biotechnology Association (IMBA). Professor Chris Battershill. The Americas Cup will be on display in Tauranga, accompanied by Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling, in just over two weeks time on Sunday August 27. The date has been confirmed by the Cups custodians The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, whose diary places the Auld Mug in Tauranga on that date. We had a number of dates floating around, says RNZYS general manager Hayden Porter today. The 27th is the date thats been settled on and it will be heading down on that date from here. Hes unsure if the cup is in Tauranga from morning until evening or if it will remain overnight. Were still working through all that side of things. We are just making it available on several peoples request and we have come up with that date that works for everybody. Tauranga City Council could not confirm the date when SunLive made enquiries, with staff saying it is going to be communicated to the public early next week, along with detailed plans which are being confirmed in coming days. With Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club member Peter Burling at the helm, Emirates Team New Zealand beat Oracle 7-1 to claim the cup in Bermuda on June 27. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is the club behind New Zealands Americas Cup campaigns, under the guises of New Zealand Challenge and Team New Zealand. It held the Americas Cup from 1995 until 2003, becoming in 2000 the first non-American holder to successfully defend the trophy. After Team New Zealands victory in the 2017 event, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron are the current holders of the Americas Cup. The club was established in 1871 in Auckland with the name of the "Auckland Yacht Club". Its name was changed to "Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron" when it was granted royal patronage in 1902. After several dramatic twists and turns, veteran Congress leader Ahmed managed to win the Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat. By India Today Web Desk: Never has the fight for one Rajya Sabha seat witnessed such political twists and turns. In a pitched battle between Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat, the fate of veteran leader Ahmed Patel was undecided till the last minute. It was well past midnight when Ahmed Patel tweeted 'Satyamev Jayate', announcing his victory in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha election. advertisement It all started with the BJP deciding to nominate a third candidate from Gujarat to the Rajya Sabha. While nomination of Union minister Smriti Irani and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah from Gujarat was along the expected lines, the decision to name former Congress leader Balwantsihn Rajput for the third seat in Gujarat stumped the Congress. Fraught with infighting and desertion of its MLAs, particularly Shankersihn Vaghela, the Congress' strength in the Assembly was reduced, with many questioning if the Congress would muster enough numbers to see veteran leader Ahmed Patel sail through the Rajya Sabha election. The grand old party decided to fly 44 of its Gujarat MLAs to Karnataka, a Congres-ruled state, and shepherded them to a luxury resort in Bengaluru. The Gujarat Congress MLAs at the Eagleton Resort in Bengaluru. Photo: India Today. Ahmed Patel has won the Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat, but to secure that one seat, the Congress, it seems, may have spent lakhs of rupees. The Eagleton luxury resort, where the 44 Congress MLAs were housed, charges Rs 7,000 approx. per night for a room. The Congress MLAs stayed at the luxury resort for 10 days. If two MLAs shared a room, the cost of their stay at the resort would come to an estimated Rs 15.5 lakh, which excludes the money spent on food and beverages. The accommodation cost doubles to an estimated Rs 30 lakh if one MLA occupied one room. The 44 Gujarat MLAs returned to Ahmedabad on August 7, a day before the crucial Rajya Sabha election. Moments after they landed at the airport, the MLAs were whisked away to a luxury resort in Anand. Congress MLAs arrive in Ahmedabad a day prior to the voting. Photo: ANI. The MLAs stayed at the luxury Neejanand Resort in Anand district for a night, whose per day tariff is Rs 6,500 approx. Considering, two MLAs shared the room, the total accommodation cost comes to Rs 1.43 lakh approx, which excludes charges on food and beverages. The spending on accommodation will be twice as much (Rs 3 lakh approx.) if each MLA occupied a single room. advertisement Coming to air tickets, a ticket from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru costs roughly Rs 4,000 per person. For 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs, this would come to Rs 1.8 lakh approx. Considering the ticket cost to be the same for a flight back to Ahmedabad from Bengaluru, the total round-fare cost would be an estimated Rs 3.6 lakh. As per conservative estimates, just the cost of accommodation and travel for the 44 Gujarat MLAs would be anywhere between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 40 lakh. After all this, Ahmed Patel eventually managed to win that one elusive Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat. ALSO READ: Why Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat isn't just a personal battle between Ahmed Patel and Amit Shah Can Congress keep reputation intact in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls? How numbers add up Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections: Ahmed Patel's seat rests on knife's edge ALSO WATCH: Gujarat Congress MLA getting weary of confinement after 4 days inside Eagleton Resort --- ENDS --- Bird watching at Pukorokoro-Miranda is now wheelchair friendly and accessible in winter thanks to a major upgrade of a walking track from East Coast Road to a bird viewing hide. The hide is maintained by the Pukorokoro-Miranda Naturalists Trust which runs the Pukorokoro-Miranda Shorebird Centre, two kilometres from the site, in the Hauraki District. It overlooks mudflats and shell banks that are a seasonal home for around 40 species of shorebirds, including bar-tailed godwits and red knots, which breed in Alaska and Siberia. These birds fly from Pukorokoro-Miranda to their breeding sites and back again every year, with a stopover in China. The track upgrade was funded by Living Water, a partnership between Fonterra and the Department of Conservation thats working in five catchments in significant dairying regions, including the Pukorokoro-Miranda catchment. The upgrade of the 400-metre long track includes widening, flattening and making the surface smoother to accommodate wheelchairs. It is also designed to stay dry in all weathers so the hide is easily accessible all year round. Pukorokoro-Miranda Naturalists Trust chair Gillian Vaughan says the trust is thrilled with the track upgrade because its made the bird viewing hide far more accessible to a wider range of people. One of our main objectives is to raise public awareness of these amazing shorebirds and their habitats, and this will help us do that, she says. Pukorokoro-Miranda is recognised as an internationally significant habitat for migratory birds by the Wetlands Convention, established at Ramsar in Iran in 1971. Hauraki District Mayor John Tregidga says its fantastic to see initiatives like this come out of collaboration between the public and private sector. Better access to the bird viewing hide will not only allow access to more people, but enhance and add to the experience of those using the new section of the Hauraki Rail Trail, due to be officially opened in September. You only need to look around and listen to the birdlife, to see why this site is so important to the community, and internationally. Tourism in Hauraki is growing and Im not at all surprised. This coast, the Karangahake Gorge, great food, great communities, proximity to large populations, and the Hauraki Rail Trail linking it all together its a winning formula. I expect this track will become one of the more popular tracks in the district. By PTI: Mumbai, Aug 8 (PTI) Lakhs of people from across Maharashtra are expected to attend a protest march in Mumbai tomorrow, seeking reservations in jobs and education for the Maratha community. This will be the 58th - and the largest - protest march of the Maratha community, exactly a year after the first march was held in Aurangabad, the organisers told reporters here. advertisement So far, 57 protests, in the form of mook morcha (silent rallies), have been held in various parts of the state following the brutal rape and murder of a 14-year-old Maratha girl in Kopardi in Ahmednagar district in July 2016. Tomorrow, the morcha will begin at 11 am from the BMCs Jijamata Udyan and culminate at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, the organisers said. Social media platforms like Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter have been used to spread the morcha message to community members, they said. The JJ flyover will be closed for traffic tomorrow in view of the morcha, police said. Schools in south Mumbai will remain closed tomorrow as a precautionary measure, an official said. The silent protest is a peaceful way to press demand for reservation in jobs and educational institutions and punishment for culprits in the Kopardi case, the organisers said. Their other demands include Amendment in SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) to stop its misuse, loan waiver to curb farmer suicides, and remunerative prices for agricultural produce. The morcha has been organised by the Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella organisation of several Maratha groups. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to use the Bombay Gymkhana ground adjacent to the Azad Maidan, to handle the large number of people expected to participate in tomorrows morcha, an official said. BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta and Commissioner of Police Datta Padsalgikar had met last week to discuss preparations and necessary arrangements from a security point of view, he said. PTI VT NRB BAS --- ENDS --- From elementary to high school, teachers all across Smyth County have been honored with the title of Teacher of the Year for 2018 at their respective schools. They were treated to a luncheon Friday at Hungry Mother State Park, where the Smyth County Teacher of the Year for 2018 was introduced. Chrystle Gates, a music teacher based at Chilhowie Elementary School but who visits other elementary schools to work with students, has been chosen for the county title. She and the other teachers were presented plaques of appreciation. Gates, who has also taught fifth grade, said, In my experience I have been in awe of what I see going on in Smyth County schools. She said she feels honored and privileged to receive the award. What I teach is my passion and I truly believe in the importance of what I teach, Gates said, adding that she is honored by the school system recognizing her music program. You are all a special breed of people. Congratulations to all of you, said Susan Williams, vice-chairperson of the Smyth County School Board. We have fantastic teachers, said Dr. Dennis Carter, superintendent of schools. It is refreshing to see the interaction between the teachers and the students, he added, and the willingness to do that means a lot of him and the staff. Congratulations to all of you. Williams presented plaques to all the teachers of the year. They are: Lynn Robinson at Atkins Elementary; Chrystle Gates at Chilhowie Elementary; Kelly Russell at Chilhowie High; Mary Lynn Lawson at Chilhowie Middle; Jamie Pike at Marion Elementary; Mollie Ailey at Marion Middle; Lindsay Surber at Marion Senior High; Stephanie Holmes at Northwood High; Sherry Mullins at Northwood Middle; Ryan Nutter at Oak Point Elementary; Karen DeBusk at Rich Valley Elementary; Jamie Hayden at Smyth Career & Technology Center; Terri Totten at Saltville Elementary; and Cherie Sturgill at Sugar Grove Elementary. The luncheon included appreciation from Del. Israel OQuinn, who thanked the teachers and school administration for their efforts on behalf of the students and their collaboration with state government on education needs. Richmond doesnt know all, OQuinn said, thanking the teachers for their input. Thank you all for what you do. The group also heard a special address from Abram Clear, a 2017 graduate of Chilhowie High School. Carter said the previous Teacher of the Year normally makes this address but this year he thought it would be good to hear a students perspective from a recent graduate. Clear spoke about his experiences in Smyth County schools and how the teachers he had were all willing to see students as individuals rather than just a student in a classroom. There was a certain level of investment in each student beyond the classroom to understand where he or she came from and their personal interests. This attention to their students is what Clear called the exceptional norm in Smyth County teachers. It taught him, he said, the basics of being a kind and impactful individual and he hopes these teachers will realize their impact on students lives beyond the classroom. By PTI: Pune, Aug 7 (PTI) Maharashtra Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot was today expelled from his party, the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna (SSS). Dashrath Sawant, who headed enquiry committee set up by the SSS to look into the complaints made by party workers against Khot, announced his expulsion in Pune. "Allegations questioning his morality recently came to the fore which is causing harm to the partys image, so taking everything into consideration, we have come to the conclusion that he should be removed from the party," said Sawant. advertisement Doubts were raised about Khots loyalty towards the farmers cause, he said, demanding that Khot should now resign as the minister, as it was the SSS which had chosen him for that office. "Raju Shetti (Lok Sabha member and SSS chief) has been apprised of the decision. We were given complete freedom to take the decision. Shetti never interfered with our functioning," Sawant said. Khot told reporters in Mumbai that the decision as to whether he should stay in the ministry will be taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Asked about his next course of action, Khot said he will take a decision after consulting his supporters. Relations between Khot and Shetti were strained for quite some time, and speculation was rife that Khot may join the BJP which heads the ruling alliance of which SSS is a part. Khot was accused of indulging in anti-party activities. He had last month appeared before the partys enquiry committee to put forth his side. When asked if he would join the BJP, he said, "I will discuss it with my associates. "I have given everything to this organisation, so I am hurt (by expulsion)," the minister added. PTI SPK ND KRK --- ENDS --- A 27-year-old woman in Maharashtra was abused and paraded naked after arranging her brother's love affair with a minor girl. By India Today Web Desk: A 27-year-old woman was dragged out of her house and paraded naked in Beed, Maharashtra. The incident occurred on August 4 when eight people shoved into the woman's house, threatened, abused and assaulted her. The perpetrators were allegedly enraged after she arranged her brother's love affair with a minor girl. The minor is daughter of Babban R Satale. advertisement According to Chaklamba village police official BA Gade, when the love affair came to light a few days earlier, the victim and her husband were ordered to tender a public apology for playing Cupid. After the apology, the victim thought the matter was resolved but soon after her husband left the village, the she was attacked. The eight alleged transgressors pulled the woman out of her house, threatened her, abused and assaulted her with slippers when she was alone at home. They tore off her clothes and paraded her nude. They hurled abuses as bystanders watched the display of atrophy. After the incident, the distraught victim registered a complaint with the police who arrested all the accused - Babban R Satale, his minor daughter Surekha, Maruti R Satale, Lanka M Satale, Sanjay A Ingole, Rekha S Ingole, Angatram A Ingole and Indu S Datal. They were charged with rioting, dishonouring and disrobing a person, unlawful assembly and trespassing. A magistrate remanded them to police custody. FYI || Haraamkhor re-run: Assam teacher posts intimate photos with students online, doesn't get arrested || FYI || Tamil Nadu farmers are running naked near PM Modi's office. Here's why || --- ENDS --- 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. Increased use of open source software could fortify U.S. election system security, according to an op-ed published last week in The New York Times. Former CIA head R. James Woolsey and Bash creator Brian J. Fox made their case for open source elections software after security researchers demonstrated how easy it was to crack some election machines in the Voting Machine Hacking Village staged at the recent DefCon hacking conference in Las Vegas. Despite its name, open-source software is less vulnerable to hacking than the secret, black box systems like those being used in polling places now, Woolsey and Fox wrote. Thats because anyone can see how open-source systems operate, they explained. Bugs can be spotted and remedied, deterring those who would attempt attacks. Open source software has proven to be so reliable and secure that its being used by the U.S. Defense Department, NASA and the U.S. Air Force, noted Woolsey and Fox. Microsoft Resistance Despite the benefits of open source software, Microsoft and other companies selling proprietary voting systems have lobbied aggressively against moving to open source, Woolsey and Fox contended. If the community of proprietary vendors, including Microsoft, would support the use of open-source model for elections, we could expedite progress toward secure voting systems, they suggested. Microsoft did not respond to our request to comment for this story. Theres a role for proprietary software, said Lawrence Rosen, an intellectual property attorney with Rosenlaw & Einschlag and former general counsel for the Open Source Initiative. Everything doesnt have to be open source, he told LinuxInsider, but when were talking about elections software that requires the confidence of the voters, thats different from whether my car radio is proprietary or open. Cracking Fest Woolsey and Foxs Times piece was particularly timely, coming as it did on the heels of the cracking fest at the Voting Machine Hacking Village. They confirmed what we already knew, said James Scott, a senior fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology. These are extremely vulnerable machines. Think of what a voting machine is, he told LinuxInsider. Its a 1980s PC with zero endpoint security in a black box where the code is proprietary and cant be analyzed. Although the researchers at DefCon impressed the press when they physically hacked the voting machines in the village, there are more effective ways to crack an election system. The easiest way to hack an election machine is to poison the update on the update server at the manufacturer level before the election, Scott explained. Then the manufacturer distributes your payload to all its machines for you. Security Through Obscurity Advocates for open source elections software argue that more transparency is needed in the systems. With closed source systems, you really have no idea what theyre doing, said Nicko van Someren, executive director for the core infrastructure initiative at The Linux Foundation. Diligent states will do some sort of auditing of their own, but we know from history that any sort of security audit on any sort of code seldom shows up everything, he told LinuxInsider. The more people you have examining the code, the more vulnerabilities youre likely to find, van Someren added. Although largely discredited, a belief persists that keeping source code secret is more secure than open sourcing code. Thats wrong-minded, van Someren said. In practice, hackers can look at binaries and still find vulnerabilities. Still, an ostrich attitude about security still prevails at some businesses, according to Brian Knopf, senior director of security research at Neustar. There are still some companies that have the idea that if they bury their head in the sand, if I ignore everyone else and dont provide access, then no one will find anything, he told LinuxInsider. Clearly, thats not the truth. Cant Hack Paper If elections systems makers arent willing to go the open source route, they at least need to open their code to expert eyes outside their organizations, maintained Mark Graff, CEO of Tellagraff. The source could be placed in escrow so an expert panel could look at it, he told LinuxInsider, but I dont think thats worked in the past, and I dont know if you could line up the commercial interests to agree to do what the experts say. A simpler solution to the security problem involves paper ballots and post-election ballot auditing, said Barbara Simons, president of VerifiedVoting. After all the votes are cast, a sampling of paper ballots would be compared manually to the electronic tally to determine the accuracy of the vote. Open source is good thing we support it but there are always bugs that are not going to be caught, Simons told LinuxInsider. What we need are paper ballots and manual post-election ballot audits, she said. If we have those, even with proprietary software, we can protect our election from being hacked, Simons maintained. You cant hack paper. With September fast approaching, speculation has begun to roil about the next generation of iPhones, particularly the iPhone 8, or whatever Apple decides to name its special 10th anniversary edition of its smartphone. However, fans aching to get their hands on the iPhone 8 may have to ache longer than those upgrading to the expected new iPhone 7s and 7s Plus models, if Mondays report in DigiTimes is correct. The iPhone 8 wont ship until the November-December time frame, the Taiwan-based trade newspaper reported, and even then it will be available only in low numbers. Yield rates at the companies manufacturing the phones have not yet reached levels to warrant mass production runs, DigiTimes said. Production of the more conventional 7s and 7s Plus models is one to two months behind schedule, it added, with full-scale production not expected until August. Plausible Delays While documenting the delays may be difficult, the reasons suggested for them make sense. The issues that are rumored to be causing delays shortages of the new OLED display components and troublesome fingerprint-recognition technology are both plausible, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. If there are delays, it wont be surprising unless the iPhone 8 misses the holiday shopping season, he told TechNewsWorld. A normal upgrade cycle for two new iPhone models can be daunting, but this time Apple is planning to launch three new models. The big challenge Apple has with the iPhone is its a product that its trying to ship in very large volumes, noted Ian Fogg, senior director at IHS Markit. There are few products that go from being announced in one week and 10 days later being shipped in millions, he told TechNewsWorld. Thats an incredibly hard thing to do. Big Bang Theory If the rumors about the iPhone 8 prove to be true, Apple will be packing a lot of new tech into the special edition smartphone. The iPhone 8 is a technology stretch goal for Apple, and with all these new technologies, theres bound to be manufacturing challenges, observed Kevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research. Delaying shipments of the iPhone 8 may not be a bad thing for Apple, maintained Andreas Scherer, managing partner at Salto Partners. From a sales and marketing perspective, it makes sense to stagger the actual product shipment dates, he told TechNewsWorld. Clearly, it is most advantageous for Apple to get the s models out earlier and finish the year with a big bang, Scherer said. With this strategy the company will be able to have additional time to get the last kinks out of their highly anticipated product. Edge-to-Edge Display Prior to DigiTimes report on the delay, Forbes contributor Gordon Kelly on Sunday claimed he had obtained documents confirming the final design of the iPhone 8. The phone has an edge-to-edge display with a cutout area at the top for a front-facing camera, speaker and sensor array, he said. To me the edge-to-edge dislay is the main reason for the iPhone 8 to exist, Tirias Krewell told TechNewsWorld. On the back of the phone, the dual camera, which was in a vertical orientation on the iPhone 7, is now in a horizontal orientation, based on Kellys report. The power button is larger, which has prompted speculation that it could be used as a fingerprint sensor. Lightning Connection Staying Like other Apple products, the iPhone 8 is expected to have a Lightning connector, not a USB-C port and, of course, theres no 3mm headphone jack. I really, really hoped Apple would go with USB-C, Krewell said. The Lightning port has problems. It collects lint, which makes it hard to keep a cable plugged into it. Sticking to its Lightning port would be consistent with Apples past behavior, however. It has a tendency to abandon industry standards for its own proprietary tech, Pund-ITs King noted. Rumors of other features believed to be in the iPhone 8, like wireless charging, also persist. Wireless charging hasnt become a killer feature for Samsung, but it would help promote the iPhone 8 as the cutting-edge phone, Krewell said. Wireless charging makes sense but requires the company to develop a glass-backed case, King pointed out. Purposeful Leaks Another topic thats drawn widespread speculation is the possibility that the iPhone 8 will take augmented reality to a new level. Will Apple add some additional hardware capability in the new models to make AR even better? I think thats quite likely, said IHS Fogg. AR is going to be important not only for the new iPhones but for existing iPhones, he continued. Thats a significant technical achievement, because the competition requires an additional camera or sensors to enable augmented reality. If it seems a lot is known about the iPhone 8 before its release, that may not be an accident. The general consensus of most rumors supports the notion that Apple is willingly leaking details about the iPhone 8, Pund-ITs King said. It may be to pique interest in the phone, he continued, but it could also help lessen the sting of the iPhone 8s rumored high price starting at $1,200, or nearly twice the cost of a current entry iPhone 7. Ghanas first satellite, the GhanaSat-1, has recently started to orbit around Earth. Launched into space back in June, the cubesat is now operational and heralds Africas entry into the space race. Details Of Historic Mission The satellite was built by a team of engineers at the countrys All Nations University. It was sent to the International Space Station back in June onboard a SpaceX rocket, and blasted into orbit from the outpost in July. The GhanaSat-1 has a twin mission. It has cameras on board for detailed monitoring of the coastlines of Ghana, Richard Damoah, project manager and NASA assistant research scientist, told TechCrunch. Then theres an educational piecewe want to use it to integrate satellite technology into high school curriculum. The satellite, the end product of a two-year project costing $500,000, will transmit a signal to the university space and technology laboratorys ground station, where it was also created by a team of engineers including Benjamin Bonsu, Joseph Quansah, and Ernest Teye Matey. Significance And Prospects Ghanas president Nana Akufo-Addo sent his congratulations to the team for their recent feat, but the initiative did not get official government support. Instead, Japans space agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), offered the training and resources necessary for the satellite development. The satellites deployment marked the growing interest in Africa to join space exploration. Nigerias first cubesat, for instance, also launched on the same mission, while Angola has expressed an intent to launch a satellite in the coming year. Ghana is one of the non-spacefaring nations supported by Japans satellite project, joining Mongolia, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. Today, the 2.2-pound GhanaSat-1 produces power from solar cells as well as built-in batteries. It broadcasts the countrys national anthem and accommodates song requests for playing in space when its cameras are not snapping images of the nations coastline for monitoring. The goal now is to train the upcoming generation to apply satellite technology in various activities around the region, Damoah said in a BBC report. It will, for example, allow them a closer look at illegal mining activities. Damoah is confident that GhanaSat-1s launch could catalyze government support for a second satellite program. GhanaSat-2 is planned to house high-resolution cameras that seek to capture a glimpse of things like illegal mining in the African nation. Last May, NASA launched the smallest satellite aboard a rocket from its Wallop Island facility. The 3D-printed KalamSat, just 1.5 inches in size and weighing 2.25 ounces, was the brainchild of Indian teen Rifath Sharook using lightweight carbon fiber. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) A man has been arrested for allegedly attempting to rape his sister-in-law, then stabbing her and trying to throw her off the second floor of a building in northwest Delhis Bharat Nagar, as she had resisted his advances, the police said today. The woman, in her 20s, was being harassed by her husbands brother, who tried to get close to her and would touch her inappropriately, they said. advertisement Around a fortnight ago, she told her husband about it. Her husband then scolded his brother and told him to stay away from his wife, the police said, adding he even slapped his brother and threatened to send him back to their native village if he did not mend his ways. The accused, however, told his elder brother that he was being wrongly accused, the police said. The accused was enraged by this and before leaving his elder brothers home had threatened his sister-in-law that he would teach her a lesson, they said. On Sunday, when the womans husband, who works as a private taxi driver, had gone to Gorakhpur, and she was alone at home, the accused allegedly forced himself on her, a senior police officer said. When she resisted his attempts, he punched her and attacked her with a knife. She sustained around seven to eight stab wounds on her hands and face, the officer said. The woman tried to escape but the accused caught hold of her and tried to throw her off the window of the second floor house. On hearing her cries, two people, living on the first floor of the building rescued her, the police said. The neighbours caught hold of the accused and handed him over to the police, they said. PTI SLB NSD --- ENDS --- The CBI FIR states that those arrested were arranging funds to be given to officials of the health ministry to regularise their colleges. Four people, including two officials of two medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh, have been sent to CBI custody by a special CBI court in Ghaziabad on charges of trying to bribe health ministry officials. The four were trapped by CBI's anti corruption unit late on Thursday night at a house in Noida. They were produced before the CBI court on Saturday. The CBI FIR states that those arrested were arranging funds to be given to officials of the health ministry to regularise their colleges. advertisement Acting on a tip-off, CBI sleuths had filed an FIR against unknown entities on Thursday and laid traps at Noida and elsewhere. Those arrested include two officials of a World College of Medical Sciences and Research and Hospital, Jhajjar in Haryana and two residents of sector 44 in Noida. They had been under CBI surveillance for a while. According to sources, this was the first tranche of payment that the college officials were making to get irregularities in their medical colleges regularised. The CBI is still ascertaining for whom the money was meant. FIR copy with India Today names the accused On Thursday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had conducted a hearing for medical colleges following a Supreme Court order after 46 colleges from across the country moved the court. The colleges had challenged a thumbs down given to them by both the MCI and the health ministry. The health ministry stand was that it had already heard these colleges out after setting up a five-member panel comprising experts from the Director General Health Services. This panel had suggested that certain relaxations could be made for these colleges in terms of infrastructure. At the same time, the Justice RM Lodha panel too had recommended the MCI and the health ministry to look at permissions afresh for these colleges. Based on these recommendations, the Supreme Court had on August 1 asked the ministry to give these colleges a fresh hearing. The hearing was conducted on Thursday and medical college owners were hoping the ministry would use its discretion to give the go ahead and regularise the drawbacks. Meanwhile, the Union health ministry has written to UP additional chief secretary (medical education) to take action against erring colleges following an India Today/Aajtak sting operation. The ministry has pointed out that despite being debarred from taking admissions for two years, the colleges were misleading and defrauding students by "offering admissions through counseling held at college level". The sting was conducted on four medical colleges of UP including KM Medical College, Mathura, Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Gajraula and Glocal Medical College Super Speciality Hospital and Research Centre, Saharanpur. The MCI had earlier this year withdrawn permission to several colleges for poor infrastructure and fictitious staff on the rolls and misrepresentation of facts. advertisement ALSO READ | India Today exposes rot in medical education: Pay Rs 80 lakh and become a doctor Delhi Police uncovers Munna Bhai-style entrance scams in medical colleges ALSO WATCH | India Today impact: Health Ministry to act against debarred medical colleges selling MBBS seats --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) "You are making fun of us," the Supreme Court today said, pulling up the Jammu and Kashmir government for reasons put forward by it for not attending meetings convened by the centre to discuss the issue of majority Muslims getting minority benefits in the state. "This is a disastrous affidavit. The affidavit of the Jammu and Kashmir government is making fun of us," a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices A K Goel and D Y Chandrachud said. advertisement Snubbed, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the state government, said he wanted to withdraw the affidavit which was allowed. "You (state government) are in good hands that is why you are safe. Otherwise...," the bench said while permitting the state government to withdraw the affidavit. The affidavit, filed through Secretary of Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, said the state government was pursuing the matter with utmost seriousness and since the issues involved required deliberation between the highest authorities at the level of the Centre and the state another meeting between the authorities was imminent. "However, due to various reasons beyond the control of the state authorities, the Central and state governments have unfortunately not been able to convene a second meeting. "It is submitted with utmost deference to this court that the concerned state officials and the administrative machinery have all been occupied inter-alia due to fragile law and order situation, peculiar security issues, preparation and conduct of the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra," it said. The affidavit further said that the issue of dealing with the difficulties of minorities in the state of Jammu and Kashmir requires further deliberation with the Union of India so as to reach at a just, fair and equitable solution. The apex court today granted three months time as the last opportunity to the Centre to discuss with the Jammu and Kashmir government and find a solution to a host of issues including whether over 68 per cent Muslims in the state can be regarded as minority and avail benefits under the category. Earlier, the court had issued notices to the Centre, the state government and the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on the plea filed by Jammu-based advocate Ankur Sharma, alleging that benefits accruing to minorities were being taken away by Muslims, who were in majority in the state. PTI SJK SKV PKS MNL SK --- ENDS --- When Christy Nielsen was searching for a new dog, she didnt go to a pet store, or a breeder or even a shelter. Instead, Nielsen found her Pomeranian, Tinker, at the Omaha Correctional Center. Tinker is one of hundreds of dogs that has been fostered by inmates at the prison as a part of their Canine Compassion program. I see the closeness the inmates have with the animals. They really take good care of them, said Nielsen, an associate director of nursing at the prison. Across the country, prisons and animal shelters are forming partnerships that put inmates in charge of training unruly dogs, giving both parties a chance at a fresh start. Inmates at the Airway Heights Correction Center in Spokane, Washington, during an obedience class for prisoners and their dogs. Carol Byrnes is a professional animal trainer based in Spokane, Washington. Once a week she volunteers with local shelter Spokanimal, leading obedience classes for inmates and their dogs at Airway Heights Corrections Center. A lot of the dogs come from high kill shelters. Sometimes its life or death for these dogs that get to come here, she said. Byrnes was initially hesitant to get involved, but she developed a passion for the program after seeing the transformative effect it had on participants, both human and canine. For inmates and dogs who start off as distant or hard to reach, as the program progresses, they open up, they blossom, they gain confidence, they gain social skills and the ability to problem solve and negotiate difficulties, she said. Prison animal programs have been gaining traction in recent years, though the first documented account of a dog used for inmate rehabilitation can be traced back to 1925. The details of each program differ but most follow the same basic guidelines. Dogs with behavioral issues who are not yet ready to be adopted are sent to live in a cell with their caretakers. For up to 16 weeks, the inmates are responsible for walking, feeding and playing with their dogs. Inmates also take part in formal obedience classes, teaching their animals the basic commands like sit and heel. In order to take part in the program, inmates have to exhibit good behavior for at least one year prior. "I enjoy the challenge of training them. I like having the hard cases, said Chris Williams, an inmate dog handler at Southern New Mexico State Correctional Facility in Las Cruces. In this April 16, 2015 photo, Sean Like, who is serving a 25-year sentence for second-degree murder, sits with Petey during a ceremony at the Missouri prison in Bonne Terre marking the 3,000th dog adoption through the Missouri Department of Corrections' Puppies for Parole program. For Williams, the Prisoners and Animals Working Toward Success program, or PAWS, has provided an incentive to stay on the right path. I spent most of my time locked up in maximum security before coming to this state. I used to be a big trouble maker and then I got here and got involved in the program and Ive been doing pretty good, he said. Renee Waskiewicz, a hearing officer who oversees PAWS at the prison, said it has helped the inmates correct some of the behaviors that may have landed them in jail in the first place. The men in our pods have created so much loss, not only in their lives but in their families lives and lots of victims lives, she said. These dogs have really shown them compassion for other living things. Empathy. Kimberly Collica-Cox, associate professor of criminal justice at Pace University in New York, has studied how the symbiotic relationship between humans and dogs can be useful in prisons. Collica-Cox helped develop a program through Pace that uses animal assisted therapy to teach incarcerated mothers better parenting skills. What we find is that dogs can trigger feelings of safety in humans, which will allow them to sort of open up and communicate more, which can be very helpful in a correctional setting, she said, adding that theres a great deal of research to support these findings. One study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine showed that human-animal interactions can actually lead to lower blood pressure and heart rate, two physiological indicators of stress. Psychologists studying a prison-based animal program in the UK concluded that working with animals helped inmates develop a deeper sense of responsibility and trust. This resulted in enhanced communications between peers as well as with staff. Since they started bringing dogs from the SPCA for Monterey County into Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, California, Lt. David Lopez said hes seen a significant decrease in conflicts. Theres a lot less incidences, a lot less crime and a lot of inmates are trying to stay out of trouble so they can meet the prerequisites to become an inmate dog handler, he said. The dogs have brought humanity into this prison setting. Although working with the dogs can be difficult at times, for Justin Chinn, an inmate at the Omaha Correctional Center, saying goodbye is always the hardest part. Even though its been nearly two years since they parted ways, Chinn said he still misses the first dog he ever trained, a black lab named Maisy. She was a handful. It was tough with her but after about a week it was wonderful, he said. It felt good to know that I brought out the good in the dog and she brought out the good in me. And to know that she went to a good home with kids. Shes living a good life. On November 11, the EU announced the renewal, until November 14, 2023, of the sanctions against officials linked to the Administration of Nicolas Maduro. | Read More The hawkish Chinese daily Global Times has once again slammed India with regards to the India-China Doklam standoff, calling the Modi government naive and warning of war if New Delhi ignores Beijing's warnings. By India Today Web Desk: In a fresh editorial, the hawkish English-language Chinese daily Global Times has once again warned of war over the ongoing Doklam standoff and slammed the Narendra Modi dispensation in New Delhi for being as "naive" as the Jawaharlal Nehru government of 1962. The editorial was accompanied by a two-minute edition of 'Hu Xijin' a video blog run by the editor-in-chief of Global Times, Hu Xijin. In the video, available on Twitter, Hu largely repeats the commentary published in the hard-line state-backed daily. However, in a more direct message than in the editorial, Hu expresses his belief that war would be "inevitable" if India continues ignoring China's warning. advertisement The editorial starts off by saying that "of course China doesn't want to risk a war" but says "it will be quite another matter" if Indian troops continue to remain on the Doklam plateau. Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Indian Army have for nearly two months now been in a non-violent standoff on the Doklam plateau sparked by Chinese attempts to construct a road in the region, which is contested between China and Bhutan. The face-off was sparked after Indian troops intervened of their Bhutanese counterparts to stop the road-construction. Like it has done in its previously editorials on and about the Doklam standoff, the Global Times brought up the 1962 Indo-Sino war that saw India suffer a humiliating defeat. "India made constant provocations at the China-India border in 1962. The government of Jawaharlal Nehru at that time firmly believed China would not strike back," the daily says in the latest article. "However, the Nehru government underestimated the determination of the Chinese government to safeguard China's territorial integrity even as the country was mired in both domestic and diplomatic woes," the article adds, going on to say that the current Narendra Modi government is as naive as Nehru's was in 1962. "Fifty-five years have passed, but the Indian government is as naive as it ever was. The lessons of the 1962 war didn't last for half a century." The article then goes on to claim that Indians have "become clear that Indian troops cannot defeat the Chinese People's Liberation Army" and that they believe that the US would interject on India's behalf in case of a conflict. "It seems that New Delhi does not comprehend the nature of the Sino-US rivalry and the meaning of strategic containment. It thinks Washington can influence the situation along the China-India border simply by issuing a pro-India statement or sending warships to the Indian Ocean," the editorial reads. The end of the Doklam standoff is "fixed", Global Time further warns, but does not elaborate on what the "fixed" outcome would be. advertisement "If New Delhi really keeps the faith that China will not take military action under any circumstances, then its analysis is not based on the principles of international politics and military science," the article says. "If the Narendra Modi government continues ignoring the warning coming from a situation spiraling out of control, countermeasures from China will be unavoidable." CHINA MUM ON 'SHORT WAR' THEORY In a related development, the Chinese government seemingly distanced itself from media reports of the PLA undertaking a "small-scale military operation" to evict Indian soldiers from the Doklam standoff site. "This kind of reports represents the view of the media and think-tanks. For official information please refer to the statements of foreign ministry and defence ministry spokespersons," China's Defence Ministry's spokesman Sr. Col. Ren Guoqiang was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Ren was responding to questions from Indian journalist about a Global Times article that quoted a think tank to say that China was contemplating launching a "small scale military operation" to dislodge Indian troops from Doklam within two weeks. Meanwhile, The standoff continues with no end in sight. However, the Indian government has indicated, officially and otherwise, that diplomatic parlays are on to resolve the crisis. advertisement ALSO READ | Beyond Doklam standoff, a look at 5 areas where India is well ahead of China ALSO READ | Doklam border standoff: Will there be an India-China war? ALSO WATCH | Doklam standoff: Will conflict with India be disastrous for China? WATCH VIDEO | Military action inevitable if Indian troops don't vacate Chinese soil: Global Times editor --- ENDS --- By PTI: By Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Aug 8 (PTI) Nepals Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara has said his country will not take any sides in the ongoing Sikkim standoff between India and China. Nepal wants India and China to use "peaceful diplomatic means" to resolve the issue, said Mahara, who is also the Foreign Minister. "Nepal will not get dragged into this or that side in the border dispute," he told reporters yesterday. advertisement "Some media reports are attempting to drag us in favour of one or the other side, but I want to make it clear that we have not taken any side in this matter," Mahara said. He said that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will pay an official visit to India from August 23 to 27 and necessary preparations are going on for the same. However, detailed itinerary of the visit is yet to be finalised, Mahara said. He also told media persons that Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will arrive in Nepal on August 14 on an official visit. The Chinese leaders visit will be development-centric, and it cannot be linked with the prime ministers visit to India in any way, he added. India and China have been locked in a standoff in Sikkim sections Doklam area since June 16 after Chinese troops began constructing a road near the Bhutan trijunction. Bhutan has protested to China, saying the area belonged to it and accused Beijing of violating agreements that aim to maintain the status quo until the boundary dispute is resolved. India says the Chinese action to lay the road was unilateral and changes the status quo. It fears the road would allow China to cut off Indias access to its northeastern states. Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. PTI SBP CPS ASK CPS --- ENDS --- 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 The grass snake is among the most common and widespread snakes in Europe yet relatively little is known to date about the genetic identity of these non-toxic reptiles, which can reach a length of up to one metre. By India Today Web Desk: Scientists have identified a new type of barred snakes, taking the number of European grass snakes species to four. The grass snake is among the most common and widespread snakes in Europe yet relatively little is known to date about the genetic identity of these non-toxic reptiles, which can reach a length of up to one metre. advertisement "We studied two areas where different genetic lineages of the grass snake come into contact. We discovered that the barred grass snake, previously considered a subspecies, is in fact a distinct species (Natrix helvetica)," said Uwe Fritz, Director of the Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Germany. "The barred grass snake is widely distributed throughout Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy and France, and also occurs in the western part of Germany. Thus, the number of European snake species has increased by one," Fritz added. Researchers examined the genetic identity of more than 1,600 grass snakes and many of them are scientific museum specimens. "This showed once again how valuable these are. Modern methods such as genetics make it possible to gain entirely new insights from the collection specimens," Fritz said. Two "contact zones" of grass snakes were examined closely. One of the zones is located in the Rhine region, the other extends from Central Germany down to the southern Balkans. In these zones, different genetic lineages of the grass snake meet, which in part had previously been thought to represent different subspecies. Such contact zones are viewed as natural laboratories for evolution, since they allow the study of hybridisation and speciation, researchers said. The two contact zones examined in this study represent different stages in the speciation process: The eastern contact zone reveals a complete mixing of the involved genetic lineages over hundreds of km, they said. Researchers found that in the Rhine region, on the other hand, the hybrid zone is less than 50 km wide, and the admixture is very limited and unidirectional, primarily with barred grass snakes cross-breeding with Eastern Grass Snakes, but rarely the other way around. "This indicates the presence of reproductive barriers. They arise during the speciation process to prevent mismatched pairings among different species. These reproductive barriers and the narrow hybrid zone show that the barred grass snake constitutes a distinct species" said Fritz. FYI || Goes down in hissstory: Woman ends up with a snake in her ear piercing || FYI || Watch: Deadly python swallows man, police cuts open snake's stomach to retrieve his body || --- ENDS --- advertisement After an India Today special report exposed Pakistan's role in fomenting unrest in Kashmir in connivance with Hurriyat leaders, the NIA has already made several arrests. By India Today Web Desk: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today questioned hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons, Naeem and Naseem, as part of its probe into a money trail to expose how Pakistan sent cash to separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley. This comes weeks after India Today broadcast a special report, 'Operation Villains of Valley,' that exposed Pakistan's role in fomenting unrest in Kashmir in connivance with Hurriyat leaders. advertisement It showed how Pakistan's state and non-state actors, including 26/11 attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, were choreographing anarchy in the Valley through their agents. The NIA has already arrested several Hurriyat leaders, including Naeem Khan, Bitta Karate, and Altaf Ahmad Shah, Geelani's son-in-law. They've been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. EVASION NIA officials said the Geelani brothers arrived at the NIA headquarters at around 11 am after evading the counter-terror agency's earlier summons. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a doctor who was once based in Pakistan, on July 27 and August 1. He failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. Geelani's younger son Naseem, who works at an agricultural university in Srinagar, was summoned to appear before NIA on August 2. He also did not come saying the notice should be served through Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Agriculture Science so that he was permitted to take leave. (Inputs from IANS) ALSO READ India Today Impact: Naeem Khan, Bitta Karate, 5 other separatists arrested by NIA over Pak funding of terror JuD's Hafiz Saeed launches his political party Milli Muslim League, eyes 2018 Pakistan general elections ALSO WATCH Can the arrest of 7 separatists push back the villains of Valley? --- ENDS --- Father Frank Reale, S.J. Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church and Good Shepherd school board member blesses a groundbreaking site for a new Good Shepherd School campus at 1839 Agriculture Street in the Gentilly neighborhood in New Orleans, La. Wednesday, April 5, 2017, that also coincided with the 16th anniversary of the passing the founder of Good Shepherd School, Fr. Harry Tompson, S.J. GSS, a Catholic school, targets students in the lowest socio-economic neighborhoods and their tuition is paid by donors and vouchers. By PTI: Mumbai, Aug 8 (PTI) A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a peon inside a renowned ICSE Board school in suburban Malad following which the accused was arrested, police said today. The peon allegedly sexually assaulted the girl inside a washroom of the school between August 1 and 4, Senior police Inspector of Dindoshi police station, Rajaram Vhanmane said. advertisement Her mother filed a complaint on August 5. A case on the charge of rape and under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered, said the officer. "We subsequently identified and apprehended the accused yesterday," Vhanmane said, adding the accused was produced in a local court which remanded him in police custody till August 11. This morning, parents of other students gathered outside the school and staged a protest. "The parents want assurance of safety of their children," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-12) Vinay Rathod said. PTI DC NRB DIP --- ENDS --- There seem to be aerial maps of Canberra combined with images of people and nature and the whole is subjected to surface patterns and spreading fans of soft pastel colours. Within this process of deliberate disorientation, we catch glimpses of objects that seem to be embedded within these abstractions. As a printmaker, Langer employs a fairly conventional screenprint technology, but his input of imagery is anything but conventional. As I understand it, he digitally maps his environment in which he combines the physical, the imagined and the observed and then these digital records undergo what appears to be a painstaking pixel manipulation designed to interrupt any coherent reading. Jimmy Langer graduated from the Canberra School of Art and then shifted to Melbourne. This year he returned to Canberra for his second residency at the Megalo Print Studio. Red Ellipse is one of Jimmy Langer's more engaging and intriguing screen prints on paper. These complex images are screen printed on to large sheets of paper or transparent sheets of acrylic creating a fanciful reality where there is little present to guide us to read the work. Langer's world seems out of joint and we are invited to navigate a path through images that we cannot quite decipher as to whether we are observing the world from an aerial or ground level perspective or a real or imagined environment. It is a world that is made up of many and varied incidents that have been accumulated over a period of time, but then twisted, juxtaposed and pulled apart, so that invariably each viewer will have a different impression of what he or she is observing. A highlight of the exhibition is the sizeable installation Looking glass, where Langer has incorporated physical space into his constructed spaces. There are two screen printed sheets of Perspex, or acrylic glass, and when I viewed it with the strong afternoon light streaming in through the windows, the imagery gained a kinetic quality and seemed to move and glow. Of the more regular screen prints on paper, Centrifugal, Day walk and Red Ellipse are some of the more engaging and intriguing compositions where there is a combination of what can be seen and what we imagine we can see. The attractive thing about Langer's work is that he loves to demolish boundaries, not only in his mediums and techniques, but also in his modes of thought. His invitation is for us to walk with him on the wild side, where he introduces us to a world in which the public space of observable reality merges with the private space of the imagination and meaning is no longer fixed or stable. It's not that I'm suggesting some kind of nationwide cover-up of flesh-eating fleas (which have already been reported overseas). But for the good of tourism, we need to refer to these fleas in the same ironic tones as we would refer to drop bears. We will tell the story to tourists in Australia. We will tell it on our own travels abroad. When we're on our European backpacking trips or when we sit in a New York City bar, or when we lie on Kuta Beach and someone asks, "So, that deadly Australian wildlife though?" This should be our response: We will mention with comic deadpan those flesh-eating fleas, and how they "once took an entire bloke's leg without him even noticing", or some other hyperbole that takes our fancy. We will wait for the listener to recoil. We will say, "A bit of Aussie humour for you" (which is vague enough to not technically be a lie). The danger that is Australia will seem like a joke they're in on. Paul Miller, Box Hill South Money to better use This plebiscite is going to cost a lot of money. I wonder what the homeless and people struggling to pay their utilities and educate their children think? Sheridan Rogers, Berwick It's all very exciting Suddenly I find myself excited for the future. The meticulous attention to upholding an election promise, the plebiscite, augers well. The persistent need to uphold this election promise is surely a watershed moment in time to launch us into a future with certainty and faith in our politicians. Peter Berenyi, Howes Creek Double dissolution, anyone? If the motion to hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage fails to pass the Senate a second time, will the Coalition take the issue to the people in a double dissolution of the Parliament? John Mosig, Kew A novel way to keep the post busy Ironically, to make a decision, the Coalition has decided on a non-legislated, voluntary postal vote, to inform elected officials on their opinion, and for them to vote in the way they were going to, without the postal vote. If it weren't true, one would think it's a government stimulus project to keep Australia Post busy. Sadly, for democracy, this decision affects everyone, not just those that want to get married to the one they love, like I do, to my future husband. It sets a concerning precedent our elected officials can use to cherry-pick decisions to delay, in the vaporous hope that it disappears. Daniel Syrus, Clayton South FORUM The union . . . In my opinion Isabel Schofield ('Don't call it marriage', Letters, The Age, 8/8) has given the views of many people when she explains that they are not against a couple of the same sex pledging commitment to each other and living together as a loving couple. Many people, particularly in a traditional marriage, are simply against such a union being called a marriage. Sylvia Gill, Altona . . . and the split Tony Abbott demands immediate action about a plebiscite on equal marriage, and his party overwhelmingly agrees with him. Malcolm Turnbull, well-known to have a more sympathetic view on same sex marriage, remains silent. Remind me, just who is Prime Minister? Bob Muntz, Ascot Vale In other words . . . I agree with Isabel Schofield. It seems that anyone who dares to oppose the term "marriage" for same-sex couples is thought to be either a religious bigot or homophobic. I am neither, and have no problem with same sex or any sex couples living in a long-term monogamous relationship, but please don't call it a marriage. I believe that the quality of a person is not determined by their sexual orientation, but by the quality of their character. But please use a descriptor other than marriage. Lance Sterling, Burwood . . . Defining rites . . . The idea that we should deny the fundamental right to marry to a segment of the community, for no better reason than their sexuality, should be anathema to Australians in 2017. After all 22 other countries have managed the change without chaos and collapse. Yet here, gays and lesbians and supporters of marriage equality are held hostage to the whims of the Liberal and National parties and the ambition of the astonishingly craven Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. They are the country' Luddites, smashing its cohesion to cling to a fading bigoted past. Umberto Torresi, Fitzroy North . . . . Devaluing the terms I agree with Isabel Schofield that heterosexual marriages differ in essential ways from same-sex commitments. What I can't get my head around is that the main differences seem to include: higher rates of intra-relationship violence; the highest probability of sexual abuse of children; and far higher rates of separation/divorce. I therefore struggle to understand how changing the law to allow "same-sex marriage" devalues the term. Richard Jamonts, Williamstown Cuts to the core The Coalition states the reason for not allowing a free vote on same-sex marriage is the importance of keeping their election promises. What about "no cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and no cuts to the ABC or SBS"? Jason McCutcheon, Malvern Time wasted I can't imagine spending as much time thinking about other people's personal lives as the opponents of same-sex marriage seem to. Siobhan Simper, Warrnambool I can wait . . . As a 48-year-old gay man who knows marriage equality is coming, I can wait for the government to do its job. I am used to fighting and waiting for equality and acceptance. I was foolish to think that those generations of same-sex attracted below me might have got a more timely, respectful and inclusive outcome in this day and age than the one that drags on in Canberra in 2017. Michael Dalton, Yarraville . . . I'm disgusted As a person who believes in equality for all Australians, I am thoroughly disgusted with the Coalition federal government over the same-sex marriage issue. Jim Banks, Pottsville Beach The writing is fading I have to challenge Anabela Malpique's assumption ('This skill is being written off at our children's peril', The Age, 7/8) that writing is virtually part of everything we do. I taught English for many years. Malpique fails to persuade me of the importance of writing beyond the end of the formal education process for most people. I know of many adults who would go for long periods without constructing a full sentence. The popularity of texting and tweeting would support that. So with many students I would focus more on reading, and probably many teachers also do that. For many, computers and mobile phones have replaced the need to write well. While this may not be entirely desirable, how much of the teachers' time must be spent on a exercise that is frustrating for so many students, particularly boys, when there are so many skills they need to acquire to cope adequately with life. Marilyn Moffatt, Parkdale Sacrificial lamb It all becomes clear. The Liberals are prepared to sacrifice this government at the next election, to get rid of Malcolm Turnbull, and maintain its stance on social reform. Then we will have Tony Abbott back, who will spend the next three years promoting a conservative position, and bashing the new government and its leader, as he did to Labor and Julia Gillard. John Marks, Werribee We are a republic The response to Mark Kelly's questions (Letters, 7/8) is both simple and disturbing. Australia is a banana republic but doesn't realise it. The only bit he missed was why we allow the influence of donors and big money over major political parties and self-serving politicians, which possibly helps answer many of his 10 questions. Rod Eldridge, Derrinallum Economy in the black Surprise taking cash-only payments is "almost a national sport", according to the Black Economy Task Force chair Michael Andrew ('Work bans and restrictions fuelling illegal cash economy', The Age, 4/8). The real surprise is that the estimated loss in revenue is only $15 billion; surely it is much more. The GST was meant to stamp out the black economy. Well the GST came and the same year tradies started a dual quote system 10 per cent more if you wanted a receipt or were not paying cash. Pretty soon the more expensive option was not even mentioned. Once a black economy becomes the norm it's difficult to eliminate. We could make the first step by exempting small business from it. That might even revive the dying strip shopping centres. Tom Peachey, Glenroy The deep scars The Iranian asylum seeker who has died on Manus Island has been described by media firstly as "suffering from mental illness". The incremental cruelty of detention: grief, isolation, loneliness, rejection, fear, harassment, homelessness and hopelessness is the deep scar on our national psyche we acquiescently bear. Jenny Lobato, Coburg Head cases The AFL is simply taking a cause and effect attitude to injuries on field. Two weeks concussion = two weeks suspension. However, taken to its logical extension, would player A with a nasty horrible tattoo who deliberately scares player B and player B misses four weeks for therapy, does player A also miss four weeks? Darren Grindrod, Glenroy Reputation lost Jessica Irvine (An F for economic literacy, The Age, 7/8) laments the big decline in students studying economics. I wonder if one factor is the way politicians have devalued the reputation of the discipline. They trashed Ken Henry's tax review. We never got a proper tax on minerals when the sector was booming.We never got a carbon tax. Instead we have had 20 years of non-stop indoctrination about budget deficits, trickle-down economic policies that don't "trickle" and short-term tax cuts. David Fry, Moonee Ponds Poor taste Lobster and Grange? Matthew Guy and his associates fail the gastronomy test. Kevin Summers, Bentleigh Let's go postal So we are likely to have a voluntary postal vote on whether to allow same-sex marriage. It is simply a further delaying tactic by those opposed to some people having equal rights to the rest of us. How much disharmony and distress will be stirred up during the campaign? Why would the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull think that this was a good idea? Why don't we have postal votes on other matters such as the treatment of refugees, the government support for the Adani mine, the need for action on climate change, sending troops to the Middle East? As to the results of these postal votes, the Coalition could then ignore them as well if they didn't like the outcome. Stuart Kelly, Ballarat AND ANOTHER THING The politics Insanity is attempting to enact a plebiscite on same-sex marriage over and over again and expecting a different result. Nicholas Melaluka, Fairfield Simple solution Malcolm. Claim the plebiscite was a non-core promise. It's been done before, and successfully. Roger Simon, Research Tony Abbott wins again. Poor old Malcolm. Geoff Charles, Mount Waverley If the Senate rejects the plebiscite bill a second time can we have another double dissolution election? Hans Paas, Castlemaine Would the Coalition please promise another double dissolution if the Senate again rejects the plebiscite. Vince Corbett, Glenroy Malcolm Turnbull is the richest Prime Minister we have ever had; he is also the poorest. Brian Moynihan, Castlemaine Mr Turnbull, sometimes it's acceptable to break an election promise. Annie Wilson, Inverloch Dining with Guy I am not a wine snob, but Grange with lobster? Brian Fletcher, Brighton Matching lobster with Grange? What poor taste. And whatever happened to crayfish? Greg Hardham, Albury Yes we know, Mr Guy; you only chewed the lobster, you didn't swallow it. Henry Herzog, St Kilda East As Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull prepares to browbeat big electricity retailers in Canberra, the Greens have unveiled their own plans, calling for a price cap on soaring power bills. The government has touted Wednesday's meeting in Canberra as a chance to pressure major retailers to increase pricing plan transparency to give consumers a clearer path to the cheapest options and avoid some of the pain of huge tariff hikes. The Greens' plan, though, would have the government go much further, giving states where retail electricity prices are currently deregulated Victoria, NSW, South Australia, parts of Queensland until the end of 2017 to re-regulate prices. States would be able to set up public retailers to boost competition. Should the states fail to act, the Commonwealth could order the Australian Energy Regulator to set prices. The Greens believe they have the numbers to have One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts sent to the High Court, putting his political future in doubt. Greens leader Richard Di Natale is planning to move a Senate motion on Wednesday asking the court to scrutinise Senator Roberts' citizenship status following weeks of uncertainty about whether he was constitutionally entitled to be elected last year. Labor and cross-benchers Jacqui Lambie and Derryn Hinch are likely to support the motion, putting it within a couple of votes of success. The Turnbull government has indicated it will not support the motion, citing a lack of evidence that Senator Roberts is in the wrong. Former prime minister Tony Abbott has kicked off his campaign for a 'no' vote in a postal plebiscite, urging Australians to reject same-sex marriage if they want to protect religious freedom and reject political correctness. "Obviously I will be voting no. But in the end this is not about the politicians, this is about the people, it's about your view," he said on Wednesday morning. "And I say to you if you don't like same-sex marriage, vote no. If you're worried about religious freedom and freedom of speech, vote no, and if you don't like political correctness, vote no because voting no will help to stop political correctness in its tracks." The Turnbull government on Tuesday agreed to hold a $122 million non-compulsory, non-binding plebiscite on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. Ballots will likely be posted from September, should the plan survive a likely High Court challenge. The government's attempts to force a postal plebiscite to help it settle the same-sex marriage debate "looks like a bit of a stretch" to Constitutional expert George Williams, who described it as a "poorly constructed vote for which they don't have the correct procedures". Finance Minister Mathias Cormann plans to appropriate the 'Finance Minister's advance' to obtain the $122 million the government needs for the postal vote, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics nominated as the agency to hold the ballot. For that to be used, Mr Cormann has to prove an "urgent" need for the expenditure, which either "has not been for, or has been insufficiently provided for" in the existing budget. With the government having gone to the election with $170 million set aside for its original plebiscite, funding which it carried over in the last budget despite failing to pass the necessary legislation in the Senate, lobby group The Equality Campaign is seeking advice on whether the move would stand up in the High Court. By PTI: Panaji, Aug 8 (PTI) A Panaji resident today filed a complaint with the Election Commission against BJP candidate and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for "whipping up religious sentiments" by launching his campaign at a place of worship. Parrikar had addressed a gathering of BJP workers outside Mahalaxmi Temple on August 2, the day he filed his nomination papers, after seeking the blessings of the deity. advertisement He had also visited Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji before submitting his documents. In his complaint, Sanjay Sarmalkar has demanded that an FIR be registered against Parrikar, who should be barred from contesting the August 23 by-election from Panaji seat. "I lodge my complaint against CM Parrikar for committing gross violation of the model code of conduct on August 2 by indulging in the malpractice of whipping up religious sentiments by using religious places and priests like (at) Mahalaxmi temple and Immaculate Conception Church," Sarmalkar has said in the complaint. He has demanded that the returning officer for the poll or the states chief electoral officer (CEO) probe the matter, lodge an FIR and disqualify Parrikar from contesting the election. When contacted, a senior official from the CEOs office said the complaint would be investigated as per the law and necessary action taken if it was found that the model code of conduct was violated. Parrikar is contesting from Panaji constituency, where election was necessitated after BJP MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar resigned to pave way for the chief ministers entry into the Assembly. Congress has fielded senior leader Girish Chodankar against Parrikar. PTI RPS RMT SK --- ENDS --- Poor you! JOURNALIST: Well, indeed, however I never heard you promise a postal plebiscite. I never heard you mention a plan B so it is not really an election promise. Isn't this an issue where the country is crying out for leadership? Isn't a postal plebiscite just a way to have the Parliament follow? Why aren't you leading? Why are you following? PRIME MINISTER: Strong leaders carry out their promises. Weak leaders break them. I'm a strong leader. I made that promise again and again, as you lamented, on the campaign trail, on that long campaign. And you heard me, again, say again and again that every Australian will have a say on this issue. Now, we have sought to have a compulsory attendance plebiscite. The only reason it has not been held is because of Bill Shorten's opposition. This is the same Bill Shorten, Mark, that went to the Australian Christian Lobby in 2013 and said he favoured a plebiscite. Bill Shorten has a habit of telling any audience he goes to what they want to hear and he went to the ACL in 2013 and he said the people should make up their minds on this. Yes, he said he supported a plebiscite, you've all got the video, you've all run it - JOURNALIST: But you also promised - PRIME MINISTER: And in the campaign he did not say whether he would support or oppose our plebiscite proposal. So in the campaign the only statement of his on the record about a plebiscite was supporting one, so voters were entitled to expect that he would be consistent those that didn't know him as well as everyone in this room does. So he's come back and for purely political reasons he has opposed the plebiscite. If he had not opposed it, it would've been held in February and in my view it would have been carried, in which case same-sex marriage by now would have been legal for some time. Bill Shorten is the barrier to that. So the postal vote, however, will give everybody their say. Everyone will get a say. ACTING SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE: Let me make a very important point in response to your question, too, Mark. The commitment that the government made in the lead up to the last election and the commitment that the Prime Minister made in the lead up to the last election was to give the Australian people a say on whether the definition of marriage should be changed through a plebiscite. We did not actually determine the specifics on what form that plebiscite would take until after the election. It is true that we determined after the election that our preferred approach would be a compulsory attendance plebiscite. But there is absolutely no doubt that a postal plebiscite still keeps faith with the commitments that we made in the lead up to the last election on this point. JOURNALIST: You must be very confident that same-sex marriage would be legalised had that plebiscite gone ahead do you remain as confident as you were? PRIME MINISTER: Yes, that is my sense of it Mark, of public opinion but ultimately that's just an opinion. The important thing is that every Australian gets their say. So every Australian, as Mathias said, on the electoral role will get a ballot paper and they will be to fill that in and express their say and their vote will be counted. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, if we could stop talking about Bill Shorten for a moment and actually talk about the issue you support same-sex marriage, why? And will you campaign for it and campaign for change during this plebiscite? PRIME MINISTER: Well I have explained why I support it because I believe that relationships, marriages should be available to people like Lucy and me, people of different sex, different men and women and also to people of the same sex. Look, other people have different views on that fundamental issue and I respect their views and they're entitled to them and I will certainly, as I've said before in respect to the plebiscite that is before the Senate, that I will be voting yes, as will Lucy, and I'd encourage others to do so. JOURNALIST: Why subject the gay and lesbian community to two, nearly two months of people commenting on their relationships and saying hurtful things? PRIME MINISTER: There are arguments against having a plebiscite, I understand that. There are arguments against it but the weakest argument of all, which I think has no basis, is that the Australian people are not capable of having a respectful discussion on this issue. I mean, do we think so little of our fellow Australians and our ability to debate important matters of public interest that we say: 'You're not able to have a respectful discussion about the definition of marriage', which is a very significant, important, fundamental element in our law and in our culture. Australians are able and have demonstrated that they can have a respectful discussion. I am committed to that. Now, there are plenty of other arguments about plebiscites for and against, but that one that you've just described, Sam, is the weakest of them all. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, your own office has brought in this device into this press conference called a Mevo, apparently it live streams to Facebook. PRIME MINISTER: Yes. JOURNALIST: The Facebook community - PRIME MINISTER: Are you offended by that? Is this because you're from the ABC? You're offended by that? Does the internet threaten you? JOURNALIST: The Facebook generation - PRIME MINISTER: Yes? JOURNALIST: - are classically and very typically people who have moved on in the debate. They might not have ever posted a letter. PRIME MINISTER: I think they'll all be looking forward to having their say. JOURNALIST: What do you say to the Facebook generation who say: "How do we vote? Should we vote?" PRIME MINISTER: Have your say. Have your say. I mean, I am encouraging them to have their say. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister if the plebiscite returns a "no" vote and your government decides not to pursue the issue in Parliament, do you have any reason to believe that the MPs who've expressed support for a conscience vote won't still follow through on their threat to cross the floor? PRIME MINISTER: Well we obviously, we always encourage I, our leadership, the party - we encourage all of our members always to vote in accordance with government policy, with the decisions of the party room. So that is the answer to that. JOURNALIST: PM can I just ask for some specifics, could you give us the dates for both the plebiscite and the dates for the postal ballot? Will there be public funding for a postal ballot for the "yes" and "no" cases if it is a postal ballot? And just personally, will you personally campaign for the "yes" vote? PRIME MINISTER: I will answer the last one I have many other calls on my time as prime minister but I will certainly support a "yes" vote, as I've said I would in the past, but I have many other calls to my time. I just make this point and Sarah Martin knows this well because she accompanied me on my trip to Western Australia recently in the course of that trip, I would think, Sarah, I would have met close to 1000 people, hundreds of people, all the time, in many different environments, some of them organised, most of them not. In the course of that visit, to the best of my recollection one person raised the issue of same-sex marriage other than journalists. So I have many calls on my time national security, energy, the economy, ensuring that Australians have the security and the opportunity they deserve. There's a very, one of the newspapers, I think it was The Courier-Mail on the front cover today said, referring to the anticipated decision of the party room, gave us the advice: "Now get back to running the country". Can I tell you, that is my focus running the country, securing Australians' security, keeping them safe and ensuring they and their children have great opportunities to get ahead. JOURNALIST: Can I get the details? ACTING SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE: If the Senate supports the government's preferred option of a compulsory attendance plebiscite, that would take place on the 25 November, the Saturday before the final sitting fortnight. In the case of such a compulsory attendance plebiscite, if it returned a majority yes vote, as the government has indicated we would then facilitate the consideration of a private members' bill in the final sitting fortnight. If that is not successful and we pursue the alternative postal vote option, our timetable is to secure a final result by the 15 November, which equally would facilitate consideration for the final sitting fortnight of the relevant private members' bill should the plebiscite vote be positive. The intention would be to have ballot papers arrive in people's letterboxes from 12 September onwards. All of the relevant timetables will be published in the usual way. JOURNALIST: On enrolments, will young people who have turned 18 since the last election have the time by the 12th of September to enrol to vote? Is there a chance for them to enrol and vote? ACTING SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE: There will be appropriate provision consistent with the provision that usually applies for electors and potential electors to update their enrolment details and all the specific announcements will be made in the usual way. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister and Minister, can I ask both how you would feel about a "no" vote in the public? PRIME MINISTER: Just from my own I will respect the decision of the Australian people. As I've said to you, I'll be voting "yes", as will Lucy. I'm very open about that. But if the Australian people vote, the Australian people are never wrong. You know, when they vote, whether it's for governments or on matters like this, their vote will be respected. We've been very clear about this, we will facilitate a private members' bill to change the law with respect to same-sex marriage so that same-sex couples can be married if there's a "yes" vote. And if it is a "no" vote, we won't. Mathias, do you want to add to that? ACTING SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE: I am on the public record as indicating that I will respect whatever the verdict of the Australian public through this process. I will respect the yes or the no vote. JOURNALIST: Can I just talk about the turnout? I mean, how many people need to vote for this to have any legitimacy? I mean less 50 per cent? If you get 10 per cent it will be seen as a fizzer, won't it? PRIME MINISTER: Well, a vote in which every Australian is given an opportunity to vote - ACTING SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE: 100 per cent. PRIME MINISTER: Is 100 per cent - everyone on the electoral roll will be getting a ballot paper and that is where its legitimacy comes from. Compulsory voting which as you know, we have in Australia, obviously, and a number of other countries have it, it is not the norm, it is the exception to the norm. Most countries have voluntary voting systems and in fact there are people that advocate it here. And postal voting is very common in Australia for many organisations, unions, companies and local government. JOURNALIST: How much is a full plebiscite as opposed to $122 million? PRIME MINISTER: Mathias? ACTING SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE: It is a matter of public record. A full compulsory attendance plebiscite is up to $170 million. A postal plebiscite and it does depend on participation, is up to $122 million. Loading PRIME MINISTER: Jean Claude Perrottet's family and friends describe him as caring, virtuous and empathetic. His nature is at odds with allegations that he committed a "violent and nasty" sexual assault at the St John's College ball in October 2015, his barrister Alissa Moen told the NSW District Court in her closing address on Tuesday. Jean Claude Perrottet, centre, outside the Downing Centre Local Court. "He's a young man ... with quite an unusual level of empathy, that's just part of who he is," Ms Moen said. "When you look at what the complainant actually accuses him of, particularly what she's alleging involving two to three minutes where she's making it quite clear she's suffering in an act that would be incredibly barbaric and distressing my submission is it's very, very improbable." The NSW state government will seek to change the law to give it the power to send in police to dismantle the homeless camp in Martin Place, effectively bypassing the City of Sydney and its bid to resolve the issue amicably. The move will pave the way for the eviction of dozens of homeless people who have established a tent city in Martin Place, following a long-running stoush between the government and the City. At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the proposed legislation would be introduced to Parliament today, and was expected to pass within days, to be enforced by the end of the week. The legislation would give the government the power to authorise the police "to be able to move in, take property and also ask people to move on if it's deemed to be a public safety issue", she said. Three men have been found guilty of gang raping a teenage girl at a western Sydney house party after police found footage of the assault on a GoPro camera. A jury at the Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday found Tristan Carlyle-Watson, 26, Kurt Stevenson, 26, and Andrew Waters, 25, guilty of aggravated sexual assault in company. During the trial, crown prosecutor Sharon Harris said the 16-year-old girl was drunk and believed she had been drugged before the assault at the St Clair house in May 2015. In a 17-minute-long video, Ms Harris said a group of men sexually assault the girl, "sometimes... simultaneously, sometimes taking turns." As aged-care providers take up a Brisbane City Council incentives to deliver new facilities, city planning chairman Julian Simmonds has warned there is no "development free for all" and applications will be assessed against strict guidelines, including that of building height. The rate of aged care rooms and retirement units in Brisbane has doubled since the council introduced incentives for developers in September 2016, with many developers proposing medium to high-rise accommodation as the future of aged care. TriCare has proposed high rise aged-care development at several Brisbane sites. Credit:Louie Douvis On Monday, Fairfax Media reported residents' fears that a proposed three-tower TriCare development, of up to 16 storeys, at Taringa would destroy the suburb and was not appropriate for the site. Another proposed TriCare development at Nathan Avenue, Ashgrove, has also attracted negative feedback from both residents and the council. New Zealand's trade minister is set to skip George Street and head to Canberra to receive a briefing on the Queensland's new procurement policy. Trade Minister Todd McClay will head to Canberra on Wednesday for urgent talks with Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo about the Queensland government's "Buy Queensland" policy. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay. Credit:John Hawkins/Fairfax NZ The New Zealand Herald reported Mr Clay had refused to rule out responding with protections on Queensland companies operating in New Zealand. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged Mr Clay to visit Brisbane to receive a briefing on her government's policy. Building wall cracking south east Queensland in home at Eaton's Hill. Credit:Tony Moore Mr Miethke, represented by Peter Shield Lawyers, was not required to enter a plea this morning and the matter was adjourned until September 4. The BPEQ confirmed it had received "another two complaints" about retaining walls and a third complaint involving shed companies and "is now assessing these complaints". "BPEQ has invited submissions from a person of interest about one of these complaints related to a site in the Logan area," their statement reads. A BPEQ spokesman said in the first additional complaint a Logan retaining wall business was now being investigated, but no charges at this stage have been recommended to police. In the second additional retaining wall complaint, walls across "various sites across Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast and Ipswich areas" are now under the BPEQ spotlight. The board said it was reluctant to put a figure to the swelling number of complaints, although Mr Bennett last week said complaints "had grown from 200 to 700". The BPEQ also confirmed it had received information about poor building standards about several shed companies operating in southeast Queensland. "It's more than one shed company," the spokesman said. "We've received some advice and we are still collecting information in this area." The Queensland Building and Construction Commission was designed to enforce building standards in Queensland. The QBCC's entire board was dismissed and replaced in December 2016 by incoming Housing Minister Mick de Brenni, because of its poor performance. On a fourth, separate front, the QBCC disputed claims it had never inspected a home at Eatons Hill where the owner has complained for 18 months that serious cracks had emerged in his house walls because his concrete slab has collapsed seven centimetres. Since January last year, wide cracks have appeared on the garage wall, the front wall and windows and the side windows at the house. Fairfax Media has recently interviewed the owner of the home, who on July 28 wrote to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, after for several years raising his concerns with the QBCC. "It is a repeat of the same problem that first occurred in 2010, which could have been dealt with properly at the time, but wasn't," the owner told Fairfax Media. The QBCC on Tuesday night said it inspected the home in 2010 and QBCC commissioner Ben Bassett has tried several times in May to meet with the owner, only to have the owner cancel the meeting. Mr Bennett said he now believed the range of complaints were "the tip of the iceberg" and called for an urgent taskforce into the problem. "As I said, 200 cases are in the public domain and I understand there is another 500 that are going through some sort of processes at the moment and I believe in the next few weeks they will go up for further charges," he said. Mr Bennett again questioned the effectiveness of Queensland's building watchdog, the Queensland Building Construction Commission. "This opens the door to how much more is out there," he said. "The QBCC seem to be keep a lot of this stuff close to their chests, but my heart tells me that this sort of stuff should be disseminated because people should be able to make choices made on safety." However, Mr de Brenni said Mr Bennett did not raise these issues with him during the recent Parliamentary Estimates debate. "Mr Bennett failed to ask a single question about retaining walls," he said. "He didn't mention retaining walls even once." The Congress leader was on an indefinite hunger strike in Karimnagar demanding sanction of a government medical college as promised by CM K Chandrashekar Rao. By Ashish Pandey: The indefinite hunger strike launched by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee vice president and former Lok Sabha MP Ponnam Prabhakar was foiled by police on its third day in Karimnagar of Telangana. The veteran Congress leader was on an indefinite hunger strike in Karimnagar town demanding sanction of a government medical college as promised by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. advertisement Ponnam was taken into the custody on Tuesday morning and shifted to Karimnagar Government Hospital. After examining him, doctors on Monday stated that the hunger strike may affect his health after which the state government ordered the police to put an end to the strike. However, the former MP has declared that he will continue with the hunger strike from the hospital till his demand is met. Meanwhile, Congress has called for a district shutdown protesting against the police action, against the state government for disrupting the strike and also against the arrest of Prabhakar. The hunger strike, which was launched on August 5, had attracted a large support from Opposition leaders of Telugu Desam Party, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), Left parties, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Lok Satta. Many voluntary organisations had also extended solidarity to Poonam Prabhakar. Chief Minister and Telangana Rastra Samiti chief K Chandrashekhar Rao, who has represented the district thrice in the Parliament, had promised to establish a medical college in the district headquarters three years ago. ALSO READ | Sardar Sarovar protest: Medha Patkar removed from protest site, admitted to Indore hospital Farmers' stir: Rahul Gandhi mocks Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan over indefinite fast Kapil Mishra, on hunger strike outside his Delhi house, attacked by man claiming to be AAP worker --- ENDS --- A sleek and solid handset with a $399 price tag, the Nokia 6 is the easiest of the bunch to recommend. Like all three phones it runs a virtually untouched current version of Android, with the promise of immediate software updates whenever they're issued by Google. The Nokia 6 looks and feels cold and utilitarian, but also looks much more expensive than it is. The Nokia 6, 5 and 3 are the first phones from HMD global, a company created to carry on the legacy of the once-beloved Nokia name, and while there's talk of a Nokia 8 on the horizon with true flagship specs and Carl Zeiss optics these less expensive phones compromise on some luxury features to deliver a pretty attractive value proposition. Well, at least two of them do. Running pure Android, coming in at reasonable prices and outperforming many of their mid-to-low-range contemporaries, a trio of new Nokia smartphones look to pick up the mantle dropped by Google's erstwhile Nexus brand. With a minimalist aluminum facade in black or silver, the 6 bucks the budget phone trend of looking like an imitation iPhone or Galaxy, appearing instead somewhere between a Lumia and one of Google's own phones. Nokia and Google both have a thing for blue circles. Credit:Tim Biggs In fact it's almost the exact same size, weight and shape as Google's Pixel XL, with a 5.5-inch screen on the front, sandwiched top and bottom with some decently-sized bezels. The fingerprint scanner doubling as a capacitive home button and sitting between light-up back and recent buttons is a bit low and makes one-handed unlocking perilous, but it works well. Of course the Nokia 6 is a third of the price of Google's flagship, and it's not hard to see where money was saved. The 1080x1920 LCD here is nowhere near the quality of a Sony LCD, let alone an OLED you might find on the Pixel or Samsung's Galaxy S8, and out of the box it's quite blue (although you can fix that with some tinkering). The body might be physically similar to Google's phone, but it feels less refined albeit just as sturdy in the hand with sharp chamfered edges. The Nokia 6 also doesn't sit flush on a horizontal surface, with its slight camera bulge allowing it to rock from side to side. Internally the Snapdragon 430 is an understandable choice of chipset for mixed use, but its age is starting to show and it won't set any records as far as performance goes. The 3GB of RAM is similarly middling. Noodling around the operating system is smooth and snappy on the Nokia 6, but the lack of grunt is noticeable when playing games or during quickfire multitasking. The man accused of killing a father-of-three Marcus Rowley at a Melbourne train station is mentally unwell and withdrawing from drugs, his lawyer says. Mr Rowley was the cousin of Australian soldier Natasha Rowley, who was found dead in a shower at a hotel buck's party in Melbourne's CBD last month. Mr Rowley, 24, had returned from his cousin's Perth funeral only three days before he was attacked at Tottenham station in West Footscray on Saturday night. The circumstances surrounding the attack on Mr Rowley remain unclear even after a court hearing on Tuesday. One man has died and another in is hospital after two shootings in Melbourne's north overnight. Police are hunting a gunman after a 21-year-old man was shot dead at Roxburgh Park at 12.45am on Wednesday morning. A number of men were seen in Coronet Avenue around the time multiple shots were fired, police said. The Roxburgh Park man died at the scene. It is believed there may have been an altercation between a group of men before the shooting. Detectives have closed off the residential street. Police are investigating the assault of a nine-year-old girl in Ballarat on Monday afternoon. The girl told police she was waiting to be picked up by a family member on Victoria Street before she was approached by a man who pushed her to the ground about 5.45pm. A male witness intervened and the offender got back into a black Mazda 3, speeding off. The girl reported the incident to her mother, who then contacted police. She was not injured during the incident. If you are an opposition leader campaigning hard on being tougher on crime than the other mob, revelations that you dined with the alleged head of the Melbourne mafia could never come at a good time. But for Coalition leader Matthew Guy, the timing was worse than bad. On Monday night, Fairfax Media broke the news that Guy, the alternative premier, attended a dinner at the Lobster Cave with alleged Mafia kingpin Tony Madafferi and other operators in the state's fruit and vegetable industry. The news emerged just days after a series of Liberal Party billboards were unveiled on roadsides and public phone boxes across Melbourne that very much signalled that the election campaign has begun, and that crime will be perhaps its key battleground topic. Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill mining project in WA shipped 4.45 million tonnes of iron ore in July, its chief executive says, meaning the company has nearly touched its nameplate capacity of 55 MT on an annualised basis for the first time. Australia's newest large iron ore project has produced 45 MT so far since it started operations in December 2015, but has been beset with operational ramp up issues that have kept production below capacity. Gina Rinehart and daughter Ginia on a pink mining truck at the Roy Hill iron ore mine. Chief executive Barry Fitzgerald on Monday said it was now well on the path to overcoming these issues. "Fundamentally, we are getting to a point where we are now comfortable that the project has capacity," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Diggers and Dealers mining conference in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Netflix may get another workout across Perth households as the city prepares for yet another winter deluge over coming days. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts heavy rainfall to start on Tuesday afternoon, with up to 35 millimetres possible across the metropolitan area. Wet wet wet: Not the 80s band, but the weather in Perth. Busselton Airport rain gauges had already received a whopping 60mm of rain in the 24 hours to Tuesday. BOM duty forcaster James Ashley said the current weather system, unlike others we had seen this year, would also deliver rain through the Wheatbelt, boosting local agriculture. By India Today Web Desk: 75 years ago on August 8, 1942 a meeting of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) was organised in Bombay (now Mumbai). The agenda of the meeting? To launch a movement urging the British government to leave India. As the world was engulfed in the World War II, India was fighting an internal battle. After repeated promises by the British government to grant independence, India was still under the colonial rule. Thus, on July 14, 1942, a resolution was passed by the Congress Working Committee declaring the "urgent" need for ending the British rule in India. advertisement The declaration stated that free India "will assure the success by throwing his great resources in the struggle for freedom and against the aggression of Nazism, Fascism and imperialism". To pacify the increasing anger among Indians, Sir Stafford Cripps was sent to India in March 1942. The Cripps Mission aimed at arriving at a common ground with the Indian National Congress to obtain India's co-operation during the war. The talks were a failure. In the AICC meet held on August 8, the historic decision to launch the 'Quit India Movement' was passed. Indians wanted independence, and they wanted it without delay. A lot of deliberation went into the slogan 'Quit India'. Initially, the words 'Get Out' were suggested but were rejected by Mahatma Gandhi as they seemed to rude. 'Retreat' or 'Withdraw' were then suggested by C Rajagopalachari, which were also rejected. Yusuf Meheraly, a socialist Congress leader and also the Mayor of Bombay at that time came up with the slogan 'Quit India' which immediately got the nod. Thousands of people from across the country rose in support of the Quit India Movement. Congress leaders were arrested and put in jail for the next three years, till the World War ended. Meanwhile, the anger among the Indians had grown manifolds and uprisings from all parts of the country could be seen. Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the Indian national flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai where the resolution to launch the Quit India movement was passed by the Congress. --- ENDS --- On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement on Tuesday, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi accused the Modi government of encouraging and empowering the "anti-social elements or self-appointed vigilantes". By India Today Web Desk: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has come down heavily on the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, which she alleged was encouraging and empowering the "anti-social elements or self-appointed vigilantes" to "flout the rule of law and unleash oppression". Speaking at the special Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting convened to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement in New Delhi today, Sonia said the country had travelled a great distance since 1942. "As we pause and take stock of the situation on the 75th anniversary of the launch of the Quit India movement, we are deeply anguished by the assault on the freedoms that our people have enjoyed since." advertisement The Congress president further alleged that today many sections - none more than the minorities, the Dalits, the tribals and women - live in fear. "Not a day passes without an incident where the liberty of the individual has been trampled upon by anti-social elements or self-appointed vigilantes," she said. Sonia said far from curbing their onslaught, the government was encouraging and empowering them to flout the rule of law and unleash oppression. LIBERTY FACING THREAT UNDER MODI REGIME "All this taken together is the biggest threat to liberty, and is the enemy of pluralism and diversity," she added. She said the Congress party must always remain on the frontline in defence of liberty and numerous values associated with liberty, and the institutions that go with it. "We must never bow before those who assault the liberty of the individual and of society. This is the task history enjoined upon us, to fight every inch of the way until we prevail and re-establish the values on which free India was founded and built since 1947," she said. The Congress chief added, "For the Congress, the Quit India Movement is a reminder that brute force can and must be resisted in the name of freedom. Even when the odds appear to be against us, and the adversary appears all-powerful, we can succeed if we persevere in fighting for the India we believe in and cherish." Talking about the Quit India Movement, Sonia said it is a very special day for the Congress party. It was on this day, 75 years ago, that Mahatma Gandhi gave the call, at Gawalia Tank, in what was then Bombay, to launch the final and decisive phase of the struggle for independence. His call, "Do or Die", was a clarion call to the party and to the freedom fighters, and from that day onwards, the momentum of the freedom movement was unstoppable, she said. SONIA PAYS HOMAGE TO CONGRESS WORKERS WHO FOUGHT UNDER QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT "Let us remember that the entire leadership of the Indian National Congress, and the whole Working Committee, was arrested and imprisoned shortly after August 8, 1942. Many of the leaders and thousands of Congress workers remained in prison until World War II ended three years later in 1945. Let us also pay homage to the thousands of loyal and devoted Congress workers, men and women who sustained the movement from underground in spite of brutal repression inflicted on them by the British authorities," she said. advertisement Sonia further said millions of people threw themselves into the Quit India movement. They bravely opposed the oppression that was unleashed by the colonial government. In a direct reference to the BJP and its parent organisation RSS but without naming them, Sonia accused them of opposing the Quit India Movement and conniving with the Britishers then. "While we salute the patriots who were at the forefront of the struggle, we must not forget that there were organisations and individuals who opposed the 1942 movement and actually collaborated with the colonial government. Their political descendants are the very people who today hold high office and have arrogated to themselves the role of torch-bearers of our freedom," she said. She said liberty was the lifeline of democracy. "Liberty takes within its sweep, freedom of speech; freedom to dissent; freedom of choice; freedom of worship; the rule of law; equality; and social justice. If any of these values is impaired, liberty itself will be diminished and curtailed," she added. advertisement ALSO READ | Sonia-led Congress to protest against suspension of MPs PM Modi at all-party meet: Have asked states to act against cow vigilantes WATCH VIDEO | Vigilante violence backed by those who are supposed to enforce the law, says Sonia Gandhi --- ENDS --- Rajnath said the nation wants to know "what Rahul Gandhi wants to hide" by not taking SPG protection along, when he left India on six occasions totalling 72 days. By India Today Web Desk: Blaming Rahul Gandhi himself for the attack in Gujarat last week, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today turned the tables on the Congress vice-president and asked what he is hiding when he keeps the SPG in dark during his foreign tours. "Rahul Gandhi was away from India on six occasions for 72 days without taking any SPG security along, posing a grave threat to himself. We want to know what is Rahul Gandhi trying to hide by not taking SPG along on foreign tours when he is a SPG protectee," Rajnath said in Lok Sabha today. advertisement Responding to allegations made by Congress MPs that Gandhi could have been killed in Gujarat when stones were pelted on his car, Rajnath said, "Rahul Gandhi is under SPG protection. The state police had made adequate arrangement for the visit. He was even provided a bullet-proof car. But he opted for a non-bullet proof vehicle. He should have listened to the advice of security personnel. But he did not." Last Friday, Rahul Gandhi faced hostile crowds waving black flags and shouting slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tour of flood-hit Dhanera town in Banaskantha district. His car was pelted with stones, shattering some windowpanes and injuring his personal security officer. The attack on Rahul's convoy rocked the Lok Sabha today, with the Congress alleging their vice-president could have been killed when a stone was pelted at his car on August 4. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the "potentially fatal" attack in Gujarat. He said the government keeps saying terrorists throw stones in Kashmir and asked "which terrorists now threw stones in Gujarat". "Have the BJP workers turned into terrorists?" he asked. The Congress has been accusing the BJP of orchestrating the attack on Rahul Gandhi in poll-bound Gujarat. Congress members continued to raise slogans even as Rajnath said the accused has been arrested and a probe is on. The din forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn Lok Sabha for half an hour at 11.30 am. ALSO READ | After mob attack in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi says not scared of Modi's stone-pelters BJP leader arrested for attack on Rahul Gandhi's convoy in Gujarat WATCH | Rajnath Singh accuses Rahul Gandhi of violating SPG Act, Tharoor calls it irrelevant --- ENDS --- The posters carry the Gandhi scion's picture, written below which is a reward for anyone who could trace their missing MP. By Indo-Asian News Service: Dozens of posters describing local MP and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as "missing" have come up in his Amethi parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The posters carry the Gandhi scion's picture, written below which is a reward for anyone who could trace their missing MP. The posters, however, are not attributed to any individual or organisation. advertisement Gandhi has not visited his parliamentary constituency for six months now, leading to anger and disappointment among the voters, people here said. The posters also said that Gandhi has insulted his voters with his behaviour. While Congress workers in the district accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other political opponents for the sudden coming up of the posters, mostly in Gowriganj area; many rue that Gandhi has lost interest in Amethi after the humiliating state assembly poll defeat in March. The posters also blame the Congress leader's absence for the slowing down of development work initiated from the MP Local Area Development fund. A large section of Congress workers have sent an SOS to the party leadership to ask Rahul Gandhi to visit Amethi soon. ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi face of Opposition in 2019: Twitterati congratulate PM Modi in advance Rahul Gandhi's failure to deliver lead to loss of food plant in Amethi, says Harsimrat Kaur Badal After mob attack in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi says not scared of Modi's stone-pelters BJP leader arrested for attack on Rahul Gandhi's convoy in Gujarat ALSO WATCH | BJP president from Dhanera arrested for attack on Rahul Gandhi's convoy --- ENDS --- Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu COLLEGE STATION A record 2,200 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course participants heard about potential export market opportunities and the outlook for cattle markets, as well as practical information to take to the ranch and become more profitable. The short course, which kicked off Aug. 7 on the campus of Texas A&M University amid heavy rain in the Bryan-College Station area, was welcomed by attendees representing ranches and beef cattle operations throughout Texas, the U.S. and the world. Young and old, the beef cattle short course attracts beef producers from all walks of life, said Dr. Jason Cleere, conference coordinator and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist in College Station. In addition to the latest on cutting-edge research, theres a lot of information that is taken back to the ranch and put immediately to work. That economic benefit not only helps with producers bottom lines but also helps fuel the Texas economy. Texas is the No. 1 beef cattle producing state in the U.S. The short course, one of the largest beef educational events in the U.S., according to organizers, features a variety of production and management presentations as well as hands-on demonstrations. It includes presentations on price trends and an outlook for the year ahead. The general session focused on export beef markets and opportunities for beef cattle producers. Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University livestock economist, said cattle prices last fall had been beaten down. As we look back, 2016 was a big transition year, he said. As we bottomed in prices, beef production started to grow in 2016. There was a lot of psychological turmoil in the industry as a result of that. So far this year, we have continued to have strong markets, stronger than expected. The fed cattle market has seen some seasonal adjustments, and Peel said that will continue through the remainder of 2017. Fed cattle prices at $117-$118 (per hundredweight) are significantly a lot better than most folks suggested months ago, he said. A big part of the story this year has been strength in demand. The run up in choice beef prices has led to several indications that domestic and international beef demand has been strong. That will be key going forward. During the research session, Dr. Cliff Lamb, department head for animal science at Texas A&M, highlighted some of the beef research initiatives that will be taking place among 35 faculty members. They include a new international beef initiative, which includes support from Texas A&M AgriLife Research, to study development of production systems in both sub-tropical and tropical environments that can be applied to Texas operations. We want to continue to help Texas beef cattle producers be at the forefront and help give them the competitive edge, Lamb said. Lamb said two new faculty members will be hired to fulfill the enhanced international initiative. Other general session speakers included Erin Borror, U.S. Meat Export Federation economist, who discussed export markets and what they mean to cow-calf producers; Kelley Sullivan, co-owner of Santa Rosa Ranches, beef exports from a producers perspective; and Brian Bledsoe, Southern Livestock Standard meteorologist, weather outlook. During the prime rib dinner, the 2017 short course event was dedicated to Dr. Russell Cross, who served as the head of Texas A&Ms department of animal science for eight years. Cross, who has returned to faculty in teaching and research roles, was recognized for his administrative and government roles throughout his career. He served as executive vice president for operations and chief of staff to former Texas A&M President Elsa Murano. Prior to that appointment, he was deputy vice chancellor and associate dean for agriculture and life sciences. He also served as head of the department of animal science and the meat and muscle biology section, the E.M. Manny Rosenthal Chair in Meat Science, and was the founding director of the Texas A&M Institute of Food Science and Engineering. Cross service in government included the role of administrator of the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. At the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska, Cross served as research leader within the meat research group. He also pioneered the International Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Alliance, serving as its founder and executive director. The alliance represents 24 food associations, 40 universities and the governments of 13 countries. The short course is coordinated by AgriLife Extension and the department of animal science at Texas A&M. It continues through Aug. 9, concluding with live cattle, tractor and implement, and fence building demonstrations. Carcass evaluation and business management sessions are also scheduled. For more on the short course, visit http://beefcattleshortcourse.com. -30- Baloch women tied Rakhis to the Indian male members to express their gratitude for raising voice against the injustice being committed by Pakistan on Balochis. By Sneha Agrawal: While Indians celebrated Raksha Bandhan with much fervour on Monday, Sameena Rakhshani, a 20-year-old Baloch woman living in the Capital who is waiting to reunite with her brothers and sisters back home in Afghanistan, spent the day in gloom. Born as a refugee in Iran and having dealt with the atrocities there, Sameena went back to Afghanistan in the hope of a better future. But finding unfortunate living conditions even there, she came to India along with her family, and now lives in West Delhi. advertisement Like Sameena, several other Baloch women are waiting to go back to their land and unite with their families. In a symbolic gesture, some of these women tied Rakhi to Indian brothers at Baloch-Hind forum, seeking their support to raise voice for the freedom of Balochistan from the atrocities of Pakistan. Mahkan, a 25-year-old student of Jamia Millia Islamia, who left Afghanistan two years ago, said that people have been forced to leave their own land and families. "People have lost their family members in front of their own eyes. Nothing can replace the warm memories of being with our own people. The Indian government has been very kind to us and allowed us to stay here. I hope India would raise the issue of Balochistan's freedom even at the international platform," she said. On Independence Day last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech had raised the issue of violence being committed by Pakistan on Balochis. Three days after the speech, a student leader from Balochistan took the occasion of Raksha Bandhan to express her gratitude to the Prime Minister. In a video, Karima Baloch, the chairperson of Baloch Student Organisation, had asked Modi to be a brother to Baloch women who have lost their brothers in the atrocities inflicted by Pakistan army in the region. Meena, another 23-year-old Baloch woman, told Mail Today that the treatment Pakistan is meting out to Baloch people is awful. "The (Pakistan) government is worse than the terrorists. They are killing their own people. The human rights violation of Baloch people has crossed all limits. They are not just feeling entrapped by Pakistan but also by Iran," she said. In the Raksha Parv event organised by Hind-Baloch forum, Baloch women tied Rakhis to the Indian male members of the forum to express their gratitude to Modi for raising voice against the injustice. Ever since PM Modi's speech on August 15 mentioned Balochistan, several Baloch leaders have showered praise for his stance. ALSO READ: President Ram Nath Kovind greets people on Raksha Bandhan advertisement Raksha Bandhan Special: Indians choose Swadeshi rakhis over Chinese --- ENDS --- Bryan school district trustees approved a 2017-2018 budget Monday that would dip into $3.5 million of reserves under the current tax rate, with a caveat: the district will also seek voter approval for a tax maneuver that would generate more than $4 million for the district while lowering the overall tax rate by 1 cent. Bryan property owners pay $1.35 per $100 valuation toward public schools -- 31 cents of this is called the I&S rate and goes toward paying off the district's debt, while $1.04 is called the M&O rate and goes toward district maintenance and operations. Citing a culture of aggressive debt payment, trustees say the district is at a place where it can lower the I&S rate by 3 cents. But citing a growing number of unfunded mandates and an increasing dependence on local property taxes to pay for public education, trustees hope to get voter approval to raise the M&O rate by 2 cents. Raising the M&O by 2 cents would generate millions more in state funding with what are called "golden pennies." "Golden pennies are the six cents from one dollar to a dollar six that will be funded at Austin ISD's level," said Amy Drozd, the district's assistant superintendent of business services. "Currently Bryan ISD is only at 4 cents of that, so there are two cents left on the table that we could be earning, not only our tax base from that, but also some state revenue." Drozd, whose financial management is largely credited as the reason the district is able to lower the I&S rate, said in a public presentation Monday that the increase of two cents on the M&O tax rate would bring in $3.06 million from the state and another $1.4 million from local property taxes. She said the district would have to raise the tax rate by 5 cents to bring in an additional $3 million if golden pennies were not an option. The district is required by state law to seek voter approval to raise the M&O rate. The tax ratification election will take place in October. Trustees Ruthie Waller and Douglas Wunneburger said the ballots will have the state's wording, which they feel does not provide the context that the district is lowering the I&S rate. "Regardless of what we do in terms of the total tax rate, we have to go out for an election that says we are raising your taxes," Trustee Douglas Wunneburger said. "We are raising your taxes by minus 1 cent, so when you read the ballot and it says we are raising taxes, all and all, that's not really true, that's what the Legislature said we had to say." Nearly every trustee reiterated that the tax rate would not increase next year. "For whatever reason, the state came up with this rather bizarre system, but if it's to the benefit of our district, it's silly not to take advantage of it if we can do it without harming the taxpayer," Trustee David Stasny said. "It's so important that we get that point across, because when this gets out and people are actually voting on it, they may still be thinking in terms of the 2-cent increase." Board president Trey Moore said the common misconception he finds when talking with neighbors and constituents is the belief that the 12 percent property value increase in Bryan means the district is earning 12 percent more in funding. Drozd said the state funding model is such that an increase in property value translates to a decrease in state funding. She cited Texas Legislative Budget Board figures that show a shift of public education funding onto the local level. While the state funded more than 48 percent of public education money in 2008, according to the figures, the state only funded 42 percent in 2017. According to the information in Drozd's presentation, 39.5 percent of the district's general fund revenue next year would be funded by the state with the 2 additional cents. Without the golden pennies, the state would fund 38.5 percent. The increasing burden on local property taxes, she said, comes while the district is saddled with more unfunded mandates. Superintendent Christie Whitbeck noted at the public hearing that, as an example, trustees would be asked to approve funding reading and math programs previously funded by the state at the board meeting that followed. Whitbeck said both programs were widely used in Bryan and in her former district with success. "That's $230,000," she said. "In the scheme of budget as large as ours, that's not a tremendous amount, but it adds up. We are also seeing less funding for pre-kindergarten -- some of the grants that have been available in the past are no longer going to be funded -- and this is only the beginning." The public hearing was only attended by district employees and media representatives, but anticipating criticism of a higher M&O rate, Stasny said staff who work directly with students need the resources for students to be effective. "To anybody who thinks -- because I've heard this so many times -- you need to solve a problem instead of just throwing money at it, whatever that is supposed to mean, if you really believe that, you need to talk to some teacher about the resources they need," Stasny said. A man possibly suffering a medical condition crashed his truck into the College Station Medical Center's emergency room Monday morning. College Station police say hospital staff members treated the driver following the accident around 8:30 a.m. Monday. No one in the hospital emergency room was injured in the crash. About 10 minutes before the accident, police dispatchers received a call from the OnStar vehicle emergency notification system that the driver of a truck needed medical help. Officers were attempting to locate the pickup when hospital personnel reported a truck drove through the front doors of the emergency room. Police declined to release the name of the College Station man or provide details on his health. The hospital's emergency room continued to operate without interruption, according to a statement from the hospital. While the main entrance is being repaired, patients are asked to enter through the ambulance bay. Vernon was born August 27th, 1931 in Harrisburg (now a part of Houston), Texas, to Vernon Bailey and Bryan-native Gladys Ruth Bailey (nee Broach). Vernon graduated from Milby High School in 1949 and earned a degree in Physics from Rice University in 1953. He later went on to earn a degree in Geology from UT Austin in 1962. He worked at the Radiological Laboratory of UT and USAF before starting his 23-year career with NASA in Houston in 1964 (with employee number 00123). His career began at the beginning of the Gemini program, through all of the Apollo moon missions, Skylab Space Station, the ApolloSoyuz Test Project and the beginning of the Space Shuttle program. During many of these historic missions, he would be found either working at the Space Environment Console next to Mission Control or at Cape Canaveral, always monitoring crew safety from radiation during the mission. He was in Mission Control for the historic missions of Apollo 8, the moon landing of Apollo 11, and the ill-fated Apollo 13 among many others. It was for his participation in the successful effort to bring the crew of Apollo 13 home that lead to his being one of the ground team award the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It was during his NASA career that Vernon was the then free-world expert on space radiation dosimetry, attending a number of conferences to speak about his experiences. Navy Cruisers provided good music to a lot of proud Texans With flags flying and breezes flowing, lots of proud Texans were treated to a great night of music at Veterans Park this weekend featuring the Navy Cruisers. Thanks to the College Station Parks and Recreation staff and the Veterans Park Board, College Station-Bryan was the first stop in the Navy Cruisers' nationwide tour and hundreds took advantage of a cool (it was not 100 degrees) night, free rides for the kids and outdoor seating. Dolly Parton never sounded so good and Justin Bieber would have been proud. The highlight had to be standing with fellow veterans and fellow Americans singing God Bless the USA and watching the faces of our fellow residents. Bryan-College Station is a great place to live and we are glad the Navy saw fit to share some time with us. GERRY MAY HINCE Bryan It is time ot get rid of all the politicians in Austin and D.C. A representative is an individual who accepts a seat in the Legislature or Congress in order to protect his constituents and their best interests, not his own. A politician is an individual who manipulates an election by lying to the people or deceiving them into electing him, Once in office, this individual represents only himself and his hidden group of financial supporters. He not only neglects his constituents rights, but he uses his position to manipulate the system and steal his constituents' money and launder it through the system back into his own pocket and those of his well-to-do campaign contributors. Far more dangerous then any terrorist, drug dealer, drunk driver, or anyone locked up in prison, the politicians in America have gutted the country from the inside out for decades now. They have time and time again sold us out to the highest bidder and placed the priorities of the rich and powerful over those of their constituents every time. They cost the American taxpayers billions annually. It's time we had a war on politicians. We need a branch of the military to monitor the actions of these people, and arrest them when need be for lying, stealing, laundering the taxpayers' money, or for selling out the taxpayers' best interest. The system of government is being manipulated and the Constitutions being trampled everyday, and we have no one who represents us anymore in Austin or Washington. The entire system has been taken over by politicians, and representation is a thing of the past. We were promised no taxation without representation. The Constitution doesn't even give the government the right to tax your income. Politicians gave themselves that power. It's time to start eliminating politicians by any means. ALBERT GONTER Bryan Developing technology One of the main challenges Trevalyan found in setting up the library was the tendency for many practical products of the type it loans to not be designed for regular use and prone to breakage. Were starting to fill an internal database of go-to products, she said, mentioning tools manufacturer Bosch, cleaning equipment manufacturer Karcher, and outdoors companies Berghaus and Patagonia as good examples. After a year in operation, the library has 650 members who borrowed more than 1,000 items, with a 35% month-on-month increase in borrowing. A new Library of Things is due to open in nearby Crystal Palace, which has raised more than 8,000 of the 9,000 it needs including donations from the Mayor of London, B&Q and local businesses. Other projects are under development at the Westway in West London and in a community hub in a housing estate in Peterborough. Having had hundreds of requests from around the country and abroad for help setting up Libraries of Things, the West Norwood team is also developing technology to help people learn from their experience of setting up the first one, which Trevalyan admits was a year-long slog. Their ambition is for a network of libraries around the country, with products available 24-7 via lockers using smart technology that people can access on their phones. If we get it right, you could borrow a drill where you live, but if you visit your grandmother in another city you can borrow one there too, so its all linked up through one platform, you just join the library of things as you would join car share club Zipcar, she said. Allowing people to borrow products in such a way will not only be more convenient for them, but will also free up limited resources of library organisers for other activities such skills sharing events, she added. Thats increasingly become our mission, to make borrowing better than buying more affordable, more convenient and more socially rewarding, she said. This Author Catherine Early is a freelance environmental journalist and the former deputy editor of the environmentalist. She can be found tweeting at @Cat_Early76. Gurugram women cops tied rakhi to traffic violators and celebrated the day as aSuraksha Bandhana By Mail Today: On Raksha Bandhan, the women traffic cops of Gurugram came up with a unique idea to minimise road accidents. They tied rakhi to traffic violators and celebrated the day as 'Suraksha Bandhan'. In return, as a ritual and token of gift, the women cops asked violators to follow traffic rules under all circumstances in the future. Gurugram registered 60 fatal accidents till July 15, 2017, and over 160 people lost their lives. advertisement On Monday, the police found 1,001 violators at city's 10 intersections. They were found guilty of not wearing helmets, triple loading, red light jumping and over speeding. ALSO READ: President Ram Nath Kovind greets people on Raksha Bandhan Raksha Bandhan Special: Indians choose Swadeshi rakhis over Chinese --- ENDS --- Ranbir Kapoor is currently busy with the Sanjay Dutt biopic and he said that they were portraying a very fraud man on screen. By India Today Web Desk: A lot is being spoken about the kind of preparations that Ranbir Kapoor is undergoing for his upcoming film with Rajkumar Hirani, the biopic on Sanjay Dutt. Along with beefing up to resemble Dutt, Ranbir Kapoor seems to be taking a cue from his 'honesty' too. Because what Kapoor told a newspaper recently does not exactly fall in the bracket of political correctness. advertisement Ranbir told Deccan Chronicle how there was no whitewashing involved as far as portraying Sanjay Dutt on screen is concerned. That Dutt has had many grey areas in his life is known to people who have followed the Munna Bhai MBBS star's journey. From his battle with drugs to being imprisoned in connection with the 1993 Bombay blasts, Sanjay Dutt's life has more or less been an open book. And Kapoor says they are trying to stay as close to reality as possible. "With his biopic, he's (Sanjay Dutt) been so honest about his life. He's admitting to his mistakes. We're not portraying a Gandhi-like character. We're portraying a very fraud man. He's someone who is loved and disliked. He's the most controversial (of all), and to have the ability to tell about your life so honestly, and to make a movie out of it is very brave," Ranbir said. The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil star also said how he might not have been able to do what Dutt is doing. "If I was in his position, I don't think I could be this honest about my life, and make myself look like a person who is not nice. If an audience can take something from that and learn something from his life, I think it's a very positive thing," said Kapoor. The Sanjay Dutt biopic, which is slated for a release on March 30, 2018. Apart from Ranbir in the lead role as Sanjay Dutt, the film stars Manisha Koirala as Sanjay Dutt's mother Nargis and Paresh Rawal as his father Sunil Dutt. Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor and Dia Mirza are also part of the biopic. ALSO READ: 10 events from Sanjay's life that SHOULD be part of the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Sanjay Dutt biopic ALSO READ: Sonam and Ranbir to reunite on screen after 10 years, in Sanjay Dutt biopic ALSO WATCH: My father didn't realise that I was high on LSD, says Sanjay Dutt at India Today Conclave 2016 ALSO WATCH: Feeling of freedom yet to sink in, says Sanjay Dutt at India Today Conclave 2016 --- ENDS --- advertisement This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Pro-migrant activists shouted slogans and waved signs in front of a bank branch Wednesday as part of a national day of action targeting JPMorgan Chase & Co. Shareholders and others have criticized JPMorgan for issuing loans to immigration detention center contractors. Pro-immigrant groups including Make The Road CT want to keep the pressure on companies that trade on deportation. Theyre profiting off people suffering, said Make The Road organizer Luis G. Luna, who led chants in English and Spanish in front of the Chase bank, at the corner Howard Avenue and State Street. Two JPMorgan clients in that industry Geo Group Inc. and CoreCivic Inc. got significant bumps in their stock price after the election of President Donald Trump, who promised to make deportations of immigrants in the country illegally a priority. JPMorgan did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The line linking Chase to deportations was clear for the Make The Road supporters at the bank. They could take my parents away from me, said Charlie Hernandez, 15, a Bassick High School student, as he addressed the dozen or so protesters. His parents are undocumented, according to organizers. Hernandezs parents could be deported, but if they were, its less than certain that theyd end up in a private prison. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) uses a variety of facilities in New England, all are county (jails) in which ICE uses contracted space, said Shawn Neudauer, a spokesman for ICE, part of the the Department of Homeland Security. Most migrants slated for deportation are sent to Massachusetts, according to activists and immigration lawyers, where ICE beds are contracted from Suffolk and Franklin County jails. But they can be moved out of state depending on court hearings and other factors. ICE detention centers are a different matter, Neudauer said. Those are typically operated by third-party contracted service providers. However, none are located in New England. Most are in places like California, Texas, etcetera. Before the protesters arrived, four migrant laborers waited in the shade of the banks high brick walls, hoping to be picked up by a foreman or homeowner. I hope they deport me, said a day laborer from Guatemala, who asked that his name not be used. At least Id get a free ticket. Yeah, but then youd have to spend five months in jail, said a fellow day laborer. The Guatemalan man said he had done OK living in the U.S., earning back the $10,000 paid to smugglers to get him here. But construction work has dried up, he said, and hes considering returning to his home. Other immigrants have deeper roots in the community full-time jobs and children that are American citizens. They have fought to resist deportation, sometimes with the help of politicians, church groups and pro-bono legal aid. Activists are hoping to slow down the entire deportation system, not just defend the most high-profile cases. In May, JPMorgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon told investors concerned about backing detention centers that he would look into the funding of these prisons youre talking about, but that, Im not sure we completely agree with you, according to Bloomberg News. Make the Road CT state director Julio Lopez Varona said there is some sort of power in taking on financial backers of deportation prisons. Trump doesnt care, so how do we hit (their) pockets? This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK With no end to the budget impasse in sight, Norwalk Public Schools could be shorted more than $1 million in its first Education Cost Sharing payment from the state compared to last year. Thats if Gov. Dannel P. Malloys Emergency Resource Allocation plan isnt amended or an official budget isnt passed in the near future. The executive order is very severe, said State Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton. It takes a lot of money away from Norwalk. I dont know why he picked Norwalk to take all that money away from. ECS payments are made in four installments from the state, each totaling 25 percent of the total funding allocated to each district. Norwalk Public Schools received $11.2 million in ECS funding in fiscal year 2017. The governor allocated just $6.8 million for Norwalk in his mini-budget, which would result in a $4.4 million loss over the year. The first round of funding is usually distributed around Oct. 25, but with Norwalk classes slated to start at the end of August, Norwalk schools officials are making hiring decisions, ordering supplies and developing programs now. As a result, districts throughout the state are crossing their fingers something changes sooner rather than later. Some districts are already taking precautions delaying the start of school, delaying hiring non-tenured teachers, freezing positions, putting off repairs and preparing for layoffs in the event a change isnt made to the governors budget or an official budget isnt passed. Mike Lyons, chairman of the Norwalk Board of Education, didnt respond to a request for comment Tuesday, but said in a Facebook post hes simply hoping for funding equal to last year rather than a cut. More Information Education Cost Sharing FY2017 - $11.2 million FY2018 emergency budget - $6.8 million First ECS payment FY2017 - $2.8 million First ECS payment FY2018 emergency budget - $1.7 million See More Collapse Bottom line to all of this we need the State to get a budget done, and get it done fast, Lyons wrote. At this point I've given up on getting any significant additional ECS funding, probably for years. I'm just hoping we can get level funding rather than a cut. It is unclear at this point if the difference in funding would be repaid later, once a budget is passed, if the first payment is made based on the governors existing proposal. Lavielle said its unlikely. Last week, Malloy said he is considering amending his mini-budget to shift aid from wealthier school districts to poor ones like Norwalk. His executive order cuts $515 million in Education Cost Sharing funds redistributing them to other areas but he said he would adjust the formula so that Connecticuts 30 lowest performing districts, known as the Alliance districts of which Norwalk is one, get more funding than they initially would have. I had hoped that this would be resolved in the month of August or the first few weeks of September, Malloy told reporters last week. If this is going to drag on, then quite frankly some of those assumptions will have to be adjusted to reflect the constitutional requirement with respect to public education. State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said hes been in touch with the governor regarding ECS funding distribution. Were working to mitigate any harm that would happen should a budget not exist, Duff said. In the meantime, Duff said legislators are continuing to work on an official budget, with hopes of passing it by fall, though he wouldnt say how likely that was to happen. I share (parents) concern, Duff said. Im a parent of students in Norwalk schools, too, and were working on everything we can to get this resolved. KKrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Salvation may be near for the elderly and disabled residents who have found it harder to leave the senior housing complex at 20 West Ave. since the facilitys only elevator stopped working back in mid-July. According to the Norwalk Housing Authority, the elevator is scheduled to undergo repairs starting on Thursday. Candace Meyer, the deputy director of the housing authority, said that she hopes the repairs will be completed by the weekend. We know how difficult this has been, and this is an unfortunate situation. We know that this is very problematic for many of the residents who live there, said Meyer. The nearly 40-year-old elevator, which has been in service since the complex was constructed back in the 1975, had been scheduled for a major overhaul this fall for $85,000. The last time the housing complex had its last major renovation was in 1980. Though these overhaul plans are still in place, flooding at the facility in July forced the authority to pursue a stopgap measure until then, said Meyer. The impromptu repairs, which will cost $4,297, had been delayed due to a missing part that the elevator company needed to fix it, she said. Were community-minded, and were very concerned about our residents. We try to run the property as if our family and friends lived there, added Meyer. Unlike many residents who live in the buildings upper two floors, Blanche Coleman still manages to leave the senior housing property via the stairs. But seeing her fellow residents struggle to get in and out of the 54-unit complex or, in some cases, not being able to leave at all was a cause of concern for Coleman. While she was glad to hear of the impending repairs, the 79-year-old said that shell believe it when she sees it. They sent us a notice before saying that itd be fixed in July, but here we are in August and its still not fixed, said Coleman. I really hope this is the real thing this time around. I really do. The facility, which is situated just north for the intersection of North Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in South Norwalk, has been beset by problems in the past. In addition to complaints over poor building maintenance, residents last year voiced concern with the housing authority and the citys health department over a bed bug infestation. In 2013, the Norwalk Housing Authority was awarded a $1 million grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to repair and modernize public housing in the city. The NHA used $230,000 of that money to create an Americans With Disabilities Act compliant ramp, install fencing, lighting and retaining walls, and make parking lot improvements at 20 West Ave. ptomlinson@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2570; Twitter: @Tomlinson_PE NORWALK It may still be summer vacation for most educators, but those at Roton Middle School are already planning ways to celebrate one of their own on the first day back. Roton Middle School special education teacher Robert Seferian, Ph.D., has been selected as Norwalks Teacher of the Year, and will represent Norwalk Public School teachers in Connecticuts 2018 Teacher of the Year program, which celebrates excellence in public education. To be honest, it was a surprise, Seferian said. Im a bit overwhelmed. I did fill out the application, and I found out about two weeks into the summer. Ive been doing this for 35 years, so I thought, What did I do different this year than in previous years? And I was reminded that a lot was different this year. I am honored to have this kind of accolade. Seferian was part of a team nominated by the Roton School Governance Council for Norwalks annual Excellence in Education Award, which kicked off this past year. Educators selected as part of the annual Excellence in Education initiative were invited to submit their name for consideration as Norwalk Teacher of the Year. A committee composed of administrators and community representatives from the Norwalk Education Foundation and Norwalk ACTS selected the Norwalk Teacher of the Year. Seferian has worked with special needs students throughout his nearly 30-year tenure with Norwalk Public Schools. Early in his career, along with administrators and colleagues, he led an initiative at Roton Middle School to implement co-teaching strategies for high-needs students in general education classrooms rather than self-contained settings. This year, Seferian worked with the rest of Roton Middle Schools teachers to adjust to a new block schedule, implemented as part of the middle school redesign. In his role as a special education teacher, he has worked with other teachers to do as much co-teaching as possible, meaning special education students attend class with the general population rather than separately. With the block schedule it was actually easier to get both that co-teaching and the individual time that is required in some of the individual education plans these students have, Seferian said. With 90-minute classes we had time for both, and you can do all kinds of things you cant do in shorter class periods. That feeling of I cant believe class is already over, wasnt there. Seferian also worked with team members to launch ENCORE, programming at the middle school level that provides enrichment, exploration and application of the core curriculum for students. Roton Middle School Principal Joseph Vellucci said Seferians recognition is well deserved and reflects well on the school. I think Bob is being modest, Vellucci said. This year was a really interesting year, and the work he did was really important and instrumental in adapting to the redesign ... I always know I can go to Dr. Seferian for anything, and he will change his schedule or do whatever he needs to do to meet the needs and accommodate any student. It may look easy, but its really a lot of work and it take s a lot ingenuity. Hes the go-to person. Seferian has taught at Roton Middle School for 30 years. Prior to joining Norwalk Public Schools, Seferian held special education positions with Cooperative Education Service in Trumbull, and in the Stamford and Fairfield school districts. KKrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt In this series, Leader Board, we speak with CEOs, managers, founders and others who lead organizations to learn what makes them tick, what they look for in new hires and even where they eat lunch. Imagine if the person interviewing you for a potential job asks: Whens the last time you broke the rules? You're likely to think its a trick question. But Pencils of Promises CEO Michael Dougherty wants to know the truth -- and to join his team, he wants to hear that youre willing to break the rules. That's how hes built his team of 125-plus employees at offices in New York, Guatemala, Ghana and Laos. Related: How This CEO Makes Fun a Priority While Leading a Prestigious 73-Year-Old Company In 2015, Dougherty joined Pencils of Promise, a nonprofit for purpose organization that builds schools, trains teachers and provides scholarships to students around the world. The organization's mission is help nearly 250 million illiterate kids learn to read and write. Seeing kids prosper from our work never ceases to energize us, and it's really what renews us, Dougherty shared with Entrepreneur. It takes vision, urgency and humility to accomplish Pencils of Promise's goals, Dougherty says. However, these qualities took time for him to develop. For most of his working life, Dougherty was in a completely different industry -- sales. With an MBA from Stanford, Dougherty went on to work for consulting firm Bain & Company, then held various leadership and executive positions at for-profit companies. By the end of 1996, he became chairman and CEO of music company Kindermusik International for 17 years. Early on in his career, Dougherty describes himself as more aggressive, analytical and intense, while today, at Pencils of Promise, he says he's "become more relational, more patient and more willing to lead from behind. Theres much to learn from Dougherty and his 25-plus years as a leader. From working in sales to leading a nonprofit organization that has built 418 schools across the world, affecting more than 72,000 students and counting -- he's developed a diverse set of skills that have made him a successful leader. From 25-minute meetings to building authentic relationships, we caught up with Dougherty to learn his secrets to successful leadership. On the most important leadership traits: Leadership comes in a lot of different packages. My particular package is vision, urgency, doing things well -- some people would say excellence -- and humility. I think you have to have an inspiring view of the long term that solves the question 'why' -- why are we doing this together? Why are we working 80 hours a week? Why are we bringing our life energy to this work? I think the leader's role is to put words around that and to create emotion that keeps us together and gives us a unique sense of purpose. On leadership style: I think it's evolved -- early on I was more aggressive, analytical, intense. It was my training -- I grew up on the sales side of work and then [got an] MBA at Stanford and worked at Bain and Company. So pretty intense environments. But I've become more relational, more patient and more willing to lead from behind. I aspire to be what I would call true servant leadership. On habits that help him lead: We do a morning huddle at 9:45 with my direct reports -- our senior leadership team. I think it's a really important way to just share our work, connect with what our goals are, where we're stuck and remind ourselves we're a team. Fifteen minutes, relatively informal, but a great way to launch the day. On challenges: I think it's about how to build authentic relationships with each employee, with each team member. We don't call them employees. Related: Why This Co-Founder Keeps His Calendars Public to His Employees When I was starting my career, it was more about how do you communicate to your workforce -- thinking of the workforce as a singular entity. And now I think what's most effective is having truly customized relationships with each individual -- understanding their life situation, their family, what's important to them, what they're trying to achieve in the workplace -- and really spending the time to invest in that. It's challenging because there are a lot of people, there's a lot of other kind of work, [so] putting each individual personal relationship first is the thing I'm working on hardest. About a month before I started [as CEO], I came into our New York office and spent one half hour with each person and just said, 'Tell me about you and I'll tell you about me.' Hopefully there was a strong message in that, which is: I care about you first as a person, not as a means of getting something done. On the toughest business decision: In [September] 2001, we were in the process of selling the company that I was running at the time called Kindermusik to a private equity firm. 9/11 happened and literally the value of the sale dropped overnight -- I mean the world was stunned, much more uncertainty, much more risk. I decided to pull the deal and instead create an employee stock ownership plan, basically sell the company to employees. It was the best decision we ever made because we put our employees and the future of the company first. On the most important traits in a new hire: The first is raw energy level -- how much energy somebody conveys in the interview process. And the other is a willingness to break the rules. I see that as creativity, courage. And that's what it takes to solve big problems like 250 million kids who can't read. Generally I'm after people that ask for forgiveness rather than wait for permission. On recognizing employees: We do a 'Wednesday Win,' a global e-blast that calls out work that's going on, [and] gives recognition to our wins. In addition to that, personalized feedback in the moment I think is the most important thing -- giving people specific, timely recognition of what works so they know how to do it again. And then just saying thank you. Also connecting the wins to the why. Inspiration, vision, the 'why' that we're doing things -- great that we won but how is that connected to us actually being more effective in why we exist. On team-building: We do them at the local level. Each country has a series of retreats [and] team exercises that are customized for that country. Here in New York we do them each quarter: we take about two-thirds of a day each quarter, meet as a team, reflect on the last quarter's goals [and] how we did. On unique office rituals: We do town hall meetings each month, which are basically an Ask Anybody Anything approach -- think of a true New England town hall meeting that brings people together in the community. We also have waffles on Friday where once every month or two we literally make waffles [in the office]. On managing meetings: I like the 25-minute meeting. That's my staple. It gives me five minutes to transition to the next meeting. I'm very focused on the cost of a meeting, meaning if we have a lot of people in the room it's a really costly thing because there's no other individual work being done. So we make it as short as possible and with as specific outcomes as possible. On scheduling: I tend to do donor meetings at lunch and late -- those are a first priority for me. I usually have staff meetings morning and early afternoon. I do email first thing, at lunch, last thing, as opposed to throughout the day. On office setup: There are no offices, there are pods of about six people each. I sit in one of those pods, across from my COO. I used to be in an office but I felt like I was missing a lot of organic conversation. On a strong company culture: Trust -- care for the individual top down but also among peers. We care about each other as people. [And] I would say [a] collective purpose. On cultural mistakes: Getting into solutions and the work too quickly as opposed to putting people first. I am, by nature, a problem-solver. And when I came in as CEO, I jumped right into the work and wanted to start solving problems. I think culturally it would have been more important to continue investing in people to build trust. So now Im trying to balance those much more effectively, and recognizing that you really can't move forward until you have trust in place.Stephen Covey used to say, If you want to go fast with people, start slow. And I think it's really valuable. On his biggest cultural win: Seeing kids prosper from our work. That never ceases to energize us and it's really what renews us. This is really hard work, [and] what renews us is seeing a new school open and kids screaming to get in and wanting to be in control of their lives. Related: Why This CEO Plans Out Every Minute of His Day -- Even Time to Think On his role models: Churchill. He said, 'The darkest hour is just before the dawn,' which teaches me that when things are the toughest it's actually just before things brighten. And one is a little known leader, he was my high school English teacher, Arthur Naething. He ended every single class the exact same way, with the words, 'Go forth and spread beauty and light.' I think of those words almost every day that I come to work. On his favorite leadership books: Long Walk to Freedom [by] Nelson Mandela. Here's a man who dedicated every soul of his being to helping others. Related: Why the CEO of Pencils of Promise Wants to Build a Team of Rule-Breakers How This CEO Makes Fun a Priority While Leading a Prestigious 73-Year-Old Company Why This Co-Founder Keeps His Calendars Public to His Employees Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com Rohan had received medical visa for a life saving heart surgery in India after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had intervened. Rohaan had a hole in his heart and was referred to the multi-speciality hospital for his treatment. By Praveen Shekhar: A four-month old baby from Pakistan, who underwent a heart surgery in Noida last month, died of dehydration on Monday night in Pakistan. "My Rohaan passed away last night. He fought and conquered with major heart surgery but slipped and fell in grave due to little dehydration (sic)," tweeted Kanwal Sadiq, the baby's 32-year-old father. My Rohaan passed away last night. He fought & conquered with major heart surgery but slipped and fell in grave due to little dehydration. pic.twitter.com/beI3F88Qz1 Ken Sid (@KenSid2) August 7, 2017 @SushmaSwaraj life is fragile, despite all efforts Rohan passed away to a better place. thank u and ppl of india for all efforts. God Bless pic.twitter.com/hQN0Lx710F Ken Sid (@KenSid2) August 8, 2017 advertisement Rohaan had received medical visa for a life saving heart surgery in India after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had intervened. Why my bud suffers for medical treatment!! Any answers Sir Sartaaj Azeez or Ma'am Sushma?? pic.twitter.com/p0MGk0xYBJ Ken Sid (@KenSid2) May 24, 2017 The boy had a hole in his heart and was referred to the multi-speciality hospital for his treatment. But his parents were unable to procure a medical visa owing to the cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Rohaan's father Kanwal Sadiq through twitter appealed to External Affairs Sushma Swaraj in May seeking medical visa to India for the infant's surgery. The minister responded by asking Sartaj to approach the Indian High Commission, which had been instructed to expedite the visa process. No. The child will not suffer. Pls contact Indian High Commission in Pakistan. We will give the medical visa. pic.twitter.com/4ADWkFV6Ht https://t.co/OLVO3OiYMB Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 31, 2017 The surgery was successfully performed at Noida's Jaypee Hospital on June 14. On July 18, Rohaan was discharged from the hospital. Kanwal Sadiq expressed his gratitude and thanked India, Sushma Swaraj and the doctors for the surgery. The boy's family met Sushma Swaraj on July 21 along with the baby and thanked her for facilitating his surgery in India. The minister wished Rohaan 'good health and long life'. After Rohaan went back to Lahore, he suffered from diarrhoea and died on Monday. Also read: Two days after Sushma Swaraj's assurance, Pakistani baby gets Indian visa for heart treatment 39 missing Indians in Iraq: Sushma Swaraj's statement rekindles hope of families Also watch: India issues medical visa to Pakistani infant, family --- ENDS --- The Hall County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a change order to the Federal Building at the corner of Second and Locust streets Tuesday morning, but not without controversy. The board voted 4-1-2, with Supervisors Karen Bredthauer and Pam Lancaster abstaining and Supervisor Gary Quandt voting no, to approve the change order. Supervisor Jane Richardson, who chairs the countys Facilities Committee, said the change order includes HVAC rerouting, adding a fire strobe to the breakroom and a restroom exhaust rerouting. Quandt questioned Richardson on what happened to the three change orders that were brought forward at the July 25 meeting, but were pulled from the agenda. Richardson responded the change orders were revised and combined into one change order. She also told the county board the Facilities Committee already gave the go-ahead for the HVAC portion of the change order, since it was not a big dollar amount and would further delay the project if it was not approved. The net deduction for the HVAC was $1,428. That is when Quandt let his opinion be known. So youve already given them (contractor) the approval to go ahead? he asked. On the HVAC we have because it would further delay the project if we didnt, Richardson said. Quandt said the Facilities Committee essentially gave pre-authorization to the change order without board approval. A couple weeks ago, I see a change order floating around and I believe Jane wanted the chair (Lancaster) to sign a change order. Thats a board decision, he said. Now, once again, the committee has brought it up and has done it again. Its wrong. Thats what the seven of us are here for, not the committee. I question whether its legal. You guys are going to get in trouble one of these days. Supervisor Scott Arnold called Quandts concerns silly and pointless. There are just some things we cannot all be involved in, Arnold said. In my opinion, this is something that (Hall County Facilities Director) Doone (Humphrey) would have been well within his right to say it is going to cost less (to just approve the change order). I think the fact that its a change order, we get tied up in contract things. Sometimes, weve just got to do business. Quandt responded that Arnold may call it silly, but he calls it illegal. Arnold said he would like the county board to remember this discussion when the board approves its next contract, so that it can authorize the Facilities Committee to make changes up to a certain amount. During the discussion, Lancaster said she would abstain from voting and would refer the matter to the state auditors office and let it decide what Hall Countys process should be for having a committee approve a change order to a certain amount in order to have the matter resolved. Bredthauer also abstained from voting. After the vote, Richardson asked her why she was abstaining. She said she did not want to have any dirt on her hands if the matter was indeed illegal. Technically, it was probably not legal, but realistically, the change was for less value, so we were spending less than we would have without the change, Hall County Attorney Jack Zitterkopf said in an interview with The Independent following Tuesdays meeting. I dont really think its a problem in this particular instance, but it is probably not something they should do much of again. Zitterkopf added he is in support of Lancasters idea of having the state auditor resolve the matter of whether a committee can approve a change order up to a certain amount. The net deduction for the HVAC was $1,428, the net deduction for the plumbing was $233, utilizing the existing VAV had a net addition of $2,115 and adding a fire strobe to the breakroom was a net addition of $408. The total net addition to the project contract was $862 with the approved orders. According to a document in the meeting agenda packet, the original contract sum for the Federal Building project was $324,900. The new contract sum with the change order approved Tuesday and the one approved at the July 25 county board meeting is $328,741. The county board also received an update on the overall Federal Building project from Richardson. She said the painting was to be completed by Wednesday, that contractors should finish putting up the ceiling by the end of the week and that the tiling of the restrooms has begun. Richardson added that the electrical and plumbing work is complete. In other action, the county board: Voted 7-0 to approve a training wage for the Hall County assessor/register of deeds and approved changes to a letter to be sent out to qualified applicants. Set a public hearing on rezoning of the proposed Prairie Creek Meadows Subdivision from A-1 to Planned Unit Development (PUD) for 9:30 a.m. Aug. 22. The rezoning was approved 4-3 by the Regional Planning Commission at its Aug. 3 meeting. Voted 6-1, with Supervisor Doug Lanfear voting no, to authorize the board chairwoman to sign a statement of agreement for Nebraska Historic Tax Credits. Wished happy birthday to Bredthauer, who was presented a vase of roses by former Grand Island Mayor Ken Gnadt. 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: Miguel Serrato was arrested Friday for possession of a controlled substance (meth) with intent to deliver at South Pine and East Delaware. Leticia Salpas and Bucks Rental and Storage reported a burglary to a storage unit between July 15 and Friday at 3410 W. Capital. Nathan Bush reported second-degree domestic assault Saturday night at 210 E. Koenig. Jacqulyn Bagwell reported a motor vehicle theft Monday morning at 716 W. 15th. Jerald Derr reported second-degree assault Sunday at 521 E. 20th. Kara Longland reported a burglary to a residence Monday morning at 1525 St. Paul Road. Mary Kemling reported a burglary to a residence Sunday at 1203 Cedar Ridge Court. Hall County Sheriff Law enforcement arrested 10 people on warrants in 15 cases. There were 97 calls for service. For more information visit www.hallcountyne.gov and click on the sheriff link. Court report Hall County District Court Fatima Hire Iqbal, 22, Chicago, attempt of a Class 4 felony, $500 fine (as part of a rearraignment and sentencing order). Armando Romero-Vasquez, 23, Grand Island, two counts of attempt of a Class 3 or 3A felony, sentenced for each to 18 months in jail, 12 months post-release supervision and being ordered to register as a sex offender. Sentences will be served concurrently. Defendant is given credit for 139 days already served. Hall County Court Joanna J. Madrigal, 29, Grand Island, failure to appear when on a bail for a misdemeanor, 30 days in jail. Karen K. Krueger, 52, Hastings, theft by unlawful taking totaling $0 to $500, second offense, 180 days in jail, ordered to pay $85 restitution. Steven L. Thomas, 28, Grand Island, was charged with failure to appear when on bail for a felony and two counts of failure to appear when on bail for a misdemeanor, all on June 30, 2016. Preliminary hearing set for 10:30 a.m. Oct. 4. Jose A. Sanchez, 26, Grand Island, was charged with operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest for a felony, first-offense willful reckless driving, speeding more than 36 mph municipal, no valid registration for a car, pickup or stepvan and obstructing a peace officer, all on Saturday. Taylor Sanders, 23, Grand Island, was charged with being an accessory to a non-Class 4 felony and having no proof of insurance, both on Saturday. Preliminary hearing set for 10:30 a.m. Oct. 4. James L. Jensen, 21, Cairo, was charged with tampering with physical evidence on Monday. Preliminary hearing set for 2:30 p.m. Sept. 28. Driving under the influence: Lynette A. Larchick, 47, Loup City, enhanced DUI or refusal to be tested (with one prior conviction), $1,000 fine, 90 days in jail, drivers license revoked 18 months, ordered not to drive 45 days; James D. Taylor, 34, Grand Island, third-offense DUI, $1,000 fine, 30 days in jail, 36 months probation, drivers license revoked two years, $900 probation fee. It's not over. Thousands of uncounted ballots remain in Bucks, Montco Bucks County officials do not anticipate all ballots cast Tuesday will be counted - or not - until next week. Leaving House key races in limbo During an earlier hearing, Roy had put forward a medical certificate complaining of stomach troubles. This apparently did not go down well with the court. By Vidya : Sahara chief Subrata Roy, is finding it difficult to attend court hearings in Mumbai, and has now filed a petition before Bombay High Court that he should be granted exemption from appearing in the lower court. Mumbai special court while hearing the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) case against Roy, had ordered the Sahara chief to be present before court during each hearing. During an earlier hearing, Roy had put forward a medical certificate complaining of stomach troubles. This apparently did not go down well with the court, and it issued a warrant against Roy. The lower court had then ordered Roy to be present during every hearing. advertisement In his present application before the High Court, Roy has stated that according to the Supreme Court's order, he has to arrange Rs 1500 crore which has to be deposited by him before September 7. According to the Sahara chief's lawyer, Ashok Saraogi, Roy will not be able to arrange the money if he has to keep attending court hearings. That is the reason for which he wants an exemption for hearings. In July, Roy had paid Rs 552 crore to SEBI as a part of the Rs 24000 crore that he has to pay to the investors of his two companies Sahara India Real Estate Corporation (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corp Ltd (SHICL). The Bombay High Court will be hearing this petition on Wednesday while Roy has to be present in the Sessions Court for hearing of his discharge plea from the case. His legal team will try to get relief from High Court before the hearing in the lower court starts. The allegation levelled against Roy and his company is that, Sahara India and its subsidiaries had taken deposits from general public to the tune of Rs 24000 crore between 2009 and 2011. Against the deposits made by the investors Sahara had issued debentures for 3 and 5 years to them, but this money was never returned by the company to investors. Also Read: Sasikala paid Rs 2 crore bribe to Bengaluru jail officials for exclusive kitchen, other favours: Prison report Why Sasikala's VIP treatment in jail smacks of favouritism for rich and powerful --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 08:18 1923 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abcc685 4 Editorial #Editorial,ASEAN,#ASEAN,#ASEANCommunity,Indonesia,diplomacy,international-relations,South-China-Sea,#SouthChinaSeaDispute Free Congratulations ASEAN! Today, the ASEAN celebrates its 50th anniversary. It is an amazing feat that ASEAN has been able to maintain its international presence for five decades, while also uniting the region and spurring regional economic growth. ASEAN is regarded as the worlds second most successful regional grouping after the European Union (EU), although many of its citizens tend to belittle its progress. For many Indonesians and likely other citizens of the region, ASEAN is just a toothless body with little impact on their lives even though Jakarta is the de-facto capital of the trade bloc. For this reason, ASEAN strives to make itself much more relevant through becoming an ASEAN Community in almost all spheres of life. However, ASEAN is often perceived by the international media as a weak organization, or worse, a puppet of much stronger powers, such as the United States and China. It has faced conflicts among members, and has even confronted the danger of extinction. Its two basic principles consensus and non-interference are undoubtedly its fundamental sources of weakness, but also its strengths. Critics insist ASEAN could be much more progressive if members took more democratic procedures in making decisions. Often a decision or policy could not be made or implemented just because one member raised an objection. Today, as the foreign ministers of the 10-member grouping commemorate ASEANs 50th anniversary in Manila, they must have the courage and political determination to progress much further. When foreign ministers of the five founding members Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand signed the Bangkok Declaration on Aug. 8, 1967, one of the most crucial reasons for them to unite was to block the sweeping power of communism in Southeast Asia. Today, apart from becoming the engine of multilateral economic cooperation with the outside world, ASEAN has become a key factor behind the political and security stability in this territory. Yet ASEAN must find ways to move forward. For instance, for too long members have been bogged down by differences in getting China to agree on a code of conduct in the South China Sea, given their economic interests in the northern neighbor. Without a clear code of conduct, our fishermen, for instance, are still unable to operate without fear in waters bordering Chinas claim of its vast nine-dash-line. Even agreeing to a framework for the code on Sunday is hailed as a major achievement. ASEAN should consider ending rigid consensus and non-interference practices. In selected issues, voting should be allowed, though following consultations. Indonesia, as the largest founding member both in economic size and population, should take a leading role in determining ASEANs new direction, given its status as primus inter pares (first among equals) in the grouping. Furthermore, members should contribute to ASEAN in accordance with their economic weight, and not pay equal contributions as they currently practice. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Andari (The Jakarta Post) Durham Tue, August 8, 2017 14:19 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abe01fb 3 Opinion cooperatives,islamic-finance,poverty,poverty-alleviation Free One can find many parallels between Islamic knowledge and Indonesian ideology. An economist at the Islamic Research and Training Institute of the Islamic Development Bank (IRTI-IDB), Umer Chapra, asserts that the goal of Islamic law or Maqasid al Sharia is the well-being of humans. Humans are obliged to create a just development both economically and socially. Thus, as reflected in the Pancasila state ideology and the national goal in Indonesias Constitution, economic development should strive towards balanced social development. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesias poverty rate is at 10.70 percent as of the second half of 2016. But well-being is not only about income; the United Nations Development Program states the concept of poverty also covers those lacking in education, health, and standards of living holistically. The rapid growth of Islamic finance presents an opportunity to address the social and economic gap. As of 2012, the World Bank estimated total assets in the industry reached US$1 to 1.5 trillion, with asset growth of 10 to 15 percent annually until 2010 and 8 percent per annum afterward. Recently, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) stated that Islamic finance industry assets had reached $32 million in the first quarter of 2017. However, behind the success of Islamic finance is the reality that this development is diverting from the fundamental goal of Islamic law. Mehmet Asutay, a professor in Islamic finance at Durham University, argues that the development of Islamic financial institutions have neglected Islamic social goals. Mohammed Obaidullah and Tariqullah Khan, researchers at IRTI-IDB, support this argument as world poverty is still dominated by Muslim populous countries including Indonesia. The expected function of banks in distributing idle funds to productive economic activity has yet to empower the poor. A survey by OJK noted that in 2016, Islamic or sharia financial inclusion and are still low, although their development is relatively fast in Indonesia. Thus, we should seek a second-best solution in promoting a just wealth distribution. The Baitul Maal wat Tamwil (BMT) can be one solution in empowering the poor. Under the Cooperatives and Small-Medium Enterprises Ministry, BMT is acknowledged as an institution in the form of cooperative that is influenced by and is operated in accordance with Islamic principles. As a microfinance institution, the BMT may provide better outreach as it is more accessible to the poorest people. The small amount of credit may encourage them to engage in financing activity. In addition, BMT as community-based cooperatives incorporate local wisdom and culture and can hence attract more participation of people, especially in rural areas where poverty is higher compared to urban areas. More and more villagers move to cities to work. However, urbanization increases competition. People who fail in the tight competition will find more difficulties given higher living cost in the cities. Thus, to empower local communities and control hyper-urbanization, the BMT as an accessible institution for the poor has good potential in raising awareness and literacy in finance and the economy. As a microfinance institution, BMT also faces problems in optimizing sustainability and outreach. A researcher for Bank Indonesia, Ali Sakti, emphasizes the problems in supervising, financing and providing human resources in BMT. First, the flexibility in establishing BMT in remote area cause some monitoring difficulties. The closest supervisory body is the local Cooperatives Council at the city level. In 2015, the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry recorded a little over 150,220 active cooperatives. It was unclear how many were sharia compliant cooperatives (Koperasi Jasa Keuangan Syariah). Second, the minimum source of funding for BMT limits them to financing individuals rather than business entities. As BMT cannot provide sufficient information for banks to judge an organizations profile and condition, capital providers like banks and larger financial institution cannot allocate fund in BMTs. Third, BMT is constrained by human capital issues. The above survey found the BMT still has a limited number of adequately educated personnel. The nature of BMTs in empowering society and facilitating capacity building should motivate the government to engage more in the sector. Embedded with local and religious morality, BMTs have better opportunity to spearhead poverty alleviation by encouraging entrepreneurship and wealth creation. Today, BMT still lacks formalization and supervision. The government is expected to strengthen them by linking BMT to robust capital injectors. Therefore, a robust architecture for Islamic microfinance, the BMT, should be able to support a just social and economic development. --------------- 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 community@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. If reports are to be believed, Bigg Boss 11's new theme will be called Padosis. By India Today Web Desk: Last year, it was celebrities vs commoners in Bigg Boss, this year the two teams will be pitted against each other as padosis or neighbours, according to reports. The show's latest season will have two houses, instead of one and both the houses will be treated as neighbourhood, according to TellyChakkar. Celebrities and commoners will stay in separate houses this time, but we are sure the makers will find some way or the other to create friction between them. advertisement We also hear, that commoners will enter the house in pairs--brother-sister, husband-wife et al. While the names of Niti Taylor, Vikrant Singh and Abhishek Malik are doing the rounds as celebrity contestants, internet sensation Dhinchak Pooja, Priyanka Chopra's lookalike Navpreet Banga might enter the show as commoners. Salman Khan will return as the host, in Bigg Boss 11. The show will reportedly premiere on September 24. Also read: Bigg Boss 11: Season 10's Mona Lisa's husband Vikrant Singh Rajpoot to participate in the show? Also read: 7 things we know about Bigg Boss 11 so far Also read: Bigg Boss 11: Salman Khan's look for the promo leaked; see pic --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 18:40 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abf02c4 2 Business salt,BPPT,NTT,Luhut-Binsar-Pandjaitan Free The government plans to develop salt fields on 5,000 hectares of idle land in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in an effort to address the scarcity of the commodity. State salt producers PT Garam and several private companies plan to utilize the large swath of idle land to apply technology developed by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in Jakarta on Tuesday. The technology can shorten the production process from 15 days to only four days, and with better salt quality. It can also produce industrial salt, consumption salt and salt for pharmaceutical purposes, he added. BPPT head Unggul Priyanto said his agency had offered the government use of its technology, which shakes up seawater to increase salt levels before it flows into reservoirs, where drying facilities are located. According to BPPT, NTT, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi were ideal places to introduce the technology because they offered large stretches of land and experienced low rainfall. Luhut said the projects business plan would be ready this month and the salt fields are expected to be in production within two years. The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministrys director-general for territorial sea management, Brahmantya Satyamurti, said the ministry would visit NTT after Aug. 17, Indonesias Independence Day. Among the locations officials will visit include the provincial capital of Kupang Bay and several regencies, namely Nagekeo, Rote Ndao and Sabu Raijua. (dis/bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 16:53 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abe78b9 1 City ahok,Buni-Yani Free Former Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama will not testify as a witness in a court hearing against defendant Buni Yani who is standing trial for allegedly spreading hate speech at the Bandung District Court on Tuesday. The prosecutors at the Bandung District Court previously planned to present Ahok as a witness in the case against Buni, the man who edited the subtitles of a video that showed Ahok making comments about Islam. However, the head of Cipinang prison considered the request to be not feasible because of the distance between the court and the Mobile Brigade Command (Mako Brimob) in Depok, West Java where Ahok is imprisoned, Ahoks attorney Rolas Sitinjak said. "In light of the the traffic jams from Jakarta to Bandung, it could take Ahok hours to reach the court. He won't be able to come to the hearing on time," Rolas said on Tuesday adding that the Cipinang Penitentiary head had sent a letter to the prosecutors explaining the situation. He went on to say that Ahok could not attend the hearing given his current physical condition. "Ahok feels unwell at the moment, maybe because of influenza," he said Another of Ahok's lawyer, Teguh Samudera, said even though Ahok could not attend the hearing, the prosecutors could read out Ahok's testimony stated in the police's investigation report (BAP). Prosecutors indicted Buni for allegedly spreading an edited video of a speech Ahok gave last year in which he warned residents of parties who used Quranic verses for political gains. The video triggered an uproar, which resulted in Ahok being declared guilty of blasphemy against Islam on May 9. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 11:28 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abd21e2 1 Business Asahimas-Glass-Flat,factories,relocation,Ancol,cikampek Free Publicly listed glassmaker Asahimas Flat Glass (AMFG) plans to move its factory from Ancol, North Jakarta, to Cikampek, West Java, its president director has announced. AMFG president director Takeo Takei said the factory had to be moved because Ancol could no longer be used as an industrial area. Our current production in Ancol is 500 tons of glass per day. In the spring of 2019, we will be starting new plants with a capacity of 700 tons per day, so [thats a] 40 percent increase, he said after meeting Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto at the ministry on Monday. The groundbreaking for the new plant in Cikampek had taken place about two weeks ago, he added. The CEO of parent company Asahi Glass Co Ltd., Takuya Shimamura, who joined the meeting, said the investment was part of Asahis long-term investment commitment in Indonesia, worth US$1.5 billion in the past four years. About $1 billion of the investment was used to complete a new caustic soda factory last year in Cilegon, Banten, under PT Asahimas Chemical. AMFG's sales increased in 2016 by 2.7 percent to Rp 3.7 trillion (US$277.5 million), while operating profit fell by 23.7 percent to Rp 260.4 billion. (bbn) The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is celebrating its 50th anniversary today. In connection with the Golden Jubilee celebration of ASEAN, The Jakarta Post-- the only English-language daily in Indonesia is publishing a two-page special report on ASEAN50 in collaboration with a regional news grouping called Asia News Network (ANN). In this edition you will find articles (written by ASEAN stalwarts) that will offer you insight, analysis and expectations for the direction of things to come, all about ASEAN. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Winny Tang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 16:43 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abe645c 1 Business bank-mandiri,stock-split-measure,liquidity,stock-trading Free State-owned lender Bank Mandiri is planning to conduct a stock split measure in an attempt to increase the liquidity of its stock trading. Bank Mandiri vice president director Sulaiman Arif Arianto said the bank planned to split the stocks with a ratio of either 1:2 or 1:3. We hope that the stock split will make our stocks more liquid so that more retail investors can buy our shares, he told reporters at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) building in Jakarta on Tuesday. During the early trading session on Tuesday, Bank Mandiris shares traded under the code BMRI closed at Rp 13,200 per share. The stock split will be announced during the extraordinary general shareholders meeting on Aug. 21, corporate secretary Rohan Hafas said. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Shanghai, China Tue, August 8, 2017 13:38 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abde703 2 World North-Korea,China,war,Nuclear,sanction,UnitedNations,resolution Free The Chinese navy and air force flexed their muscles in live-fire drills in seas adjacent to the Korean Peninsula, the defence ministry said, amid regional tensions over North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weaponry. The "large-scale" exercises were being conducted in the seas and skies off China's east coast in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf, and included the firing of dozens of missiles, a notice posted late Monday on the Ministry of Defence website said. Naval and air force assets including dozens of ships, more than 10 aircraft, submarines and an unspecified number of coastal defence personnel took part in the drills, which the ministry said were aimed at testing weapons and honing the military's abilities in conducting coastal assaults and intercepting air targets. The ministry did not specify how long the drills were to last but a four-day shipping ban ending on Tuesday was issued for the area where the drills were held, according to notices by the military and local authorities. It was not immediately clear whether the wargames were meant to send any sort of message. But the announcement comes just days after China backed a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution passed on Saturday that significantly stiffened sanctions against North Korea for its pursuit of nuclear and missile weapons systems. In the wake of the resolution's passing, China has reiterated its resolve to side with the international community in opposing North Korea's nuclear weaponisation and aggressive sabre-rattling. China has for some time been engaged in a modernisation of its once-backward armed forces, seeking military clout commensurate with its economic might, a drive that has caused unease among its regional neighbours. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Aman Rochman (The Jakarta Post) Malang, East Java Tue, August 8, 2017 18:38 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abefb00 1 National Paskhas,Malang,accident,exercise,drill Free Buawi, 39, a farmer from Baturetno village in Singosari district, Malang regency, East Java, died after she was accidentally shot by Indonesian Air Force soldiers during an exercise on Tuesday. She was found lying on the ground with severe gunshot wounds to her cheek at her farm, which is only a few hundred meters away from a shooting range belonging to the Air Force Special Forces (Paskhas). Baturetno village head Mufid said Buawi was still alive when she was first found by another villager. She was rushed to a hospital but passed away on the way there, he added. Singosari Police deputy chief Adj. Comr. Budi Wibowo said the police were still in coordination with the Air Forces military police. There was a shooting exercise at the time of incident, he confirmed, adding that the body had been taken to the Syaiful Anwar Hospital in Malang for autopsy. We cannot determine the cause of the death until we get the results of the autopsy, he said. Read also: Jokowi flexes muscles to maintain stability The commander of Paskhas 464 Wing II Battalion in Malang, Maj. M Misbachul Munir, said the force was ready to be held responsible for the incident. We extend out condolences to the victims family. We are still investigating the accident, he said. Our exercise was conducted based on standard procedures, which included firing warning shots into the air, combing surrounding areas and giving notice to the nearest neighborhoods before the exercise was conducted, he explained. (bbs) Topics : Paskhas Malang accident exercise drill Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8 2017 The Jakarta Police have arrested two individuals believed to have set a man on fire for purportedly stealing three amplifier units in Babelan district, Bekasi, West Java. We have arrested two suspects, and they are currently being interrogated. We will look for other perpetrators, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono told reporters during a visit to the Depok Police headquarters in West Java on Monday. Last Tuesday, a 30-year-old man identified as MA was beaten by a mob, who then poured gasoline over him and set him on fire. 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 Tue, August 8, 2017 12:50 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abd9e04 1 Politics Perppu,Jokowi,Hizbut-Tahrir-Indonesia,authoritarianism,freedom-of-expression,MK Free Responding to criticism that many of his recent policies had an authoritarian bent, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has said that he has no predisposition to turn into an autocrat. "Many people have called me authoritarian, but do I have the face of a dictator?" Jokowi said, which was greeted with chuckles by participants of the national pencak silak tournament in Lubang Buaya, East Jakarta, as quoted by tempo.co. Jokowi opened the tournament on Tuesday morning. Jokowi was responding to criticism of his recent decision to issue a presidential regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on the disbandment of mass organizations that failed to adhere to state ideology Pancasila. Following the issuance of the Perppu, the Law and Human Rights Ministry revoked the license of the Islamist organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI). Together with a number of Islamist organizations, the HTI has challenged the decision by filing a complaint with the Constitutional Court. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 18:55 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abf1b98 1 Business Indonesia,Malaysia,Mine-mouth-power-plant,Riau Free State-owned coal miner PT Bukit Asam, state-owned electricity firm PT PLN and Malaysias Tenaga Nasional Berhad are still discussing their plan to construct a mine-mouth power plant in Peranap, Riau, the agreement for which was signed in 2012. Several technical things are being discussed by the three companies, including pricing and electricity transmission, said Bukit Asam president director Arviyan Arifin during a public expose at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in Jakarta on Tuesday. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the three companies in October 2012. Initially, the power plant was targeted for construction in 2017. "Our MoU is still on and we are working on this project," Arviyan said. The Peranap power plant will have a capacity of 2x300 megawatts and Bukit Asam will supply 4 million tons of coal per year. According to the plan, the power plant will be connected with a sea cable under the Malacca Straits to supply electricity to Malaysia. (bbn) Medha Patkar, founder of Narmada Bachao Andolan, was on Monday removed from the protest site in Dhar after all efforts failed to convince her to call off the agitation. Medha Patkar, who was on an indefinite fast since July 27, was on Monday shifted to Bombay Hospital in Indore. By Rahul Noronha: Social activist Medha Patkar, who had been on an indefinite fast since July 27, was on Monday shifted to a private medical facility from Chikhalda in Dhar district after efforts to convince her to end the protest failed. Patkar, the founder of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, and her associates had launched the fast demanding proper rehabilitation and resettlement of those affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project. advertisement Eleven others activists who were protesting with Patkar have also been admitted at hospitals in Dhar and Barwani. According to sources, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan had agreed to travel to Dhar to meet Medha Patkar and convince her to call off the agitation. He, however, did not give any assurance that Patkar would call off the strike in case he visited her. A decision was taken on Monday to intervene and shift Patkar to a hospital considering her deteriorating health. Besides this, as long as Patkar was present at the protest site, politics over the issue was getting fuelled. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, on Monday evening, condemned the decision of moving of Medha Patkar from the protest site. Earlier, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann visited the dam and affected areas. Congress leaders too had been visiting Barwani and had raised the rehabilitation issue in the monsoon session of the Vidhan Sabha. CM Chouhan on Monday took to Twitter to clarify that Medha Patkar had not been arrested but had to be moved to a hospital owing to the high sugar and ketone level in her blood, as disclosed in the doctor's report. A medical team was stationed at the dharna site to monitor her health. He also said that he was committed to the relief and rehabilitation work of those displaced by the dam. For the last one week, track II efforts to get Medha Patkar to call off her indefinite fast were on but in vain. Emissaries in the form of officers from the CM Secretariat met Medha Patkar besides godman Bhaiyyu Maharaj but could not convince her to call off her agitation. Former Chief Secretary Sharad Chandra Behar also met Patkar but was unable to get her to call off the agitation. On Monday evening, a large deployment of police personnel arrived at the agitation site at Chikalda and removed Medha Patkar from there. On Monday night, she was brought to the Bombay Hospital in Indore where she was admitted at the ICU. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter relating to relief and rehabilitation of displaced people on Tuesday. advertisement ALSO READ | Medha Patkar sits on indefinite fast in Barwani over compensation for relocation Medha Patkar welcomes Supreme Court Sardar Sarovar evacuation extension The last stand: Medha Patkar is back with the Narmada Bachao Andolan --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Malang Tue, August 8 2017 A family dog is believed to have killed Ramisya Bazighah, 8, who was found lying in her houses front yard in Lowokwaru in Malang, East Java, with a severe wound to her neck on Sunday. Malang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hariudin Hasibuan said no suspect had been named as investigators were still waiting for a statement from a veterinarian. 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 Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jambi Tue, August 8, 2017 15:49 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abe2334 1 National Kerinci-Police,Kerinci,sungaipenuh,adultery,DPRD Free The Sungaipenuh District Court in Jambi has declared Kerinci Legislative Council (DPRD) deputy speaker Adi Purnomo not guilty of adultery. Prosecutors had demanded the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician be sentenced to eight months in jail for violating Article 284 of the Criminal Code on adultery. [The court] acquits the defendant of all charges, presiding judge Yudi Noviandri said on Monday. The prosecutors said they would consider appealing the verdict. Adi, who is considering running for Kerinci regent next year, had been accused of having an affair with a married woman identified as Sukasih. Read also: Kerinci deputy speaker at risk of dismissal The case was first reported in October 2015, by Sukasihs husband, Ipe Perdamaian, who initially accused the politician of raping his wife. The police, however, later charged Adi with adultery. After a lengthy investigation, Adi and Sukasih were named suspects in June last year. Adi has faced possible dismissal from the legislative council. However, the councils ethics board had not announced a decision as of Monday. (bbs) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 17:05 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abe9117 1 National village-fund,village-funds,Polri,KPK,corruption,embezzlement,graft Free The Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Police (Polri) on the monitoring and use of village funds. The step is part of the preventive efforts being made to curtail the the misuse of the funds. The MoU between the ministry and Polri aims to ensure that the village funds are used properly and are well targeted. Thats why there should be assistance and monitoring efforts, Polri spokesperson Insp.Gen. Setyo Wasisto said as quoted by kompas.com in Jakarta on Monday. Setyo said, however, that the cooperation was not related to the recent village fund embezzlement case that occurred in a village in Pamekasan regency, East Java. Its not related to the Corruption Eradication Commissions [KPK] sting operation recently. The most important thing is that village funds and state budgets are protected, he said. The police have not yet determined the exact date for the signing of the MoU. Since we [the police] do not have the authority to carry out audits, we will only be involved in monitoring activities and in supporting village heads to carry out their programs. For example, if they plan to build a road, we'll check how long the road will be and whether the specification of the materials is in line with the budget allocation, Setyo said. Early calculations show that at least 74,000 Babinkamtibnas personnel police officers assigned to villages as advisors on security and public order need to be deployed for the monitoring program in all villages across the country. (foy/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 19:41 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abf292a 1 City Idham-Azis,drugs,drug-abuse,drug-trafficking Free The newly appointed Jakarta Police chief Insp.Gen. Idham Azis has vowed to combat drug dealers, especially those from other countries, and will take responsibility for his subordinates actions if they shoot alleged drug traffickers during raids. If the drug dealers want to apologize, it is their business with God. Sending them to God, on the other hand, is my business, Idham said at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Tuesday. Idham, who was inaugurated as the Jakarta Police chief on July 26, expressed his appreciation to the team of investigators that thwarted the record-breaking smuggling attempt of one ton of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as sabu-sabu, in Anyer, Banten last month. In the raid, investigators arrested three Taiwanese nationals and shot dead another alleged to have resisted arrest. He asserted that he would also dismiss his subordinates if they failed to handle the mass drug trafficking in the capital. Under his leadership, he said he would give all drug units in all police precincts under the Jakarta Police's authority a month to crack down on drug dealers. There will be no compromises. If the drug unit chiefs cannot enforce the law against drug dealers, I will replace them, he said. Greater Jakarta has the highest demand for drugs of all provinces in the country, according to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN). The National Police announced that Indonesia had become the main target of international drug syndicates following tougher anti-drug policies imposed by neighboring countries like the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. (wnd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta Tue, August 8 2017 Twelve member countries of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC) have confirmed their participation in the AACCs upcoming regional forum on constitutional courts to be held in Surakarta, Central Java, this week. The symposium, which will take place on Wednesday and Thursday to commemorate the 14th anniversary of Indonesias Constitutional Court, will carry the theme Constitutional Courts as the Guardian of Ideology and Democracy in Pluralistic Society. We decided to carry this theme because a constitutional court plays a role in handling issues related to the state ideology and principles of democracy. Therefore, a discussion that will see different perspectives on the issue is very important, Constitutional Court chief justice Arief Hidayat said in Surakarta on Monday. 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 Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 15:14 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abe1811 1 Politics Viktor-Laiskodat,NasDem,NasDem-Party,Pancasila,hate-speech,Perppu,Gerindra-Party,mass-organizations Free The NasDem Party has insisted it does not need to apologize or impose sanctions on Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat, one of its politicians who recently made a controversial statement. The party claimed Viktor did not say anything wrong and instead warned other parties not to be overly emotional or overreact. Why should we apologize? There was no intention to defame other parties. As political actors, they should first check the source of the video and watch it in its entirety. They should listen to the full speech. If not, it will be dangerous for the country, NasDem central executive board chairman Zulfan Lindan said on Monday. (Read also: PKS joins Gerindra in legal action against Viktor's caliphate remarks) The case began when video footage of Viktor delivering a political speech in his electoral district in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, in which he mentioned the establishment of a caliphate, went viral on social media. Viktor has been accused of stating in his speech that Gerindra, the leading opposition party, supported the establishment of a caliphate because it did not support the issuance of a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on mass organizations. Viktor also apparently implied that the Democratic Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) also supported the establishment of a caliphate, a system that violates the principles of Pancasila. Why should we impose a sanction when he didn't do anything wrong? His speech was very good, encouraging us to maintain Pancasila and Unity in Diversity principles, said Johnny G. Platte, the secretary of the NasDem faction at the House of Representatives. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Julia Suryakusuma (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 9 2017 There are a number of objects in Islam that are considered sacred. The Quran obviously is the first, then there are the Kabah and the Black Stone in Mecca, the Prophets belongings (safely ensconced in the Topkapi Museum in Turkey) and Sufi relics. But I just discovered there is another: Speaker amplifiers! Otherwise, why would some zealous attendees of the Al Hidayah mushola (prayer room) in Bekasi feel the need to defend them to the extreme by beating up and burning to death a man who they suspected was stealing them? This is what happened to Muhammad Alzahra, aka Zoya, who repaired amplifiers and other electronic equipment. Accounts vary, but apparently he took three amplifiers for unclear reasons. When some people from the mushola accosted him, he ran people assumed it was because he was intending to steal the 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 Callistasia Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 9 2017 A 4-year-old boy looked at the large hole in the ground in front of him, where his father, M. Azahra, 30, was to be buried after being beaten and burned to death by an angry mob, that had accused him of stealing two amplifiers from a small mosque in Babelan, Bekasi Regency, on Aug. 1. Even though his mother, Siti Zubaidah, 25, and grandmother never told him what happened, he knew his father had been severely abused as people around his house talked frequently about the incident. 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 Htay Hla Aung and Wanna (Eleven Media Group/ ANN) Naypyitaw Tue, August 8, 2017 21:24 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abf382c 2 SE Asia #Myanmar,#MyanmarDemocracy,#PeaceTalks,#AungSanSuuKyi Free A public meeting was held on Aug. 7 morning between the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and eight villagers in Myaytaingkan village of Wantwin Township, Mandalay Region. The meeting was about the national peace process and requirements for regional development. The eight villagers, namely Ye Sein, Po Te, Kyaw Phone, Win Zaw, Htet Htet Aung, Aung Tint, Khine Swe and Tun Win were invited to the talks. During the meeting the residents discussed regional requirements such as education, business, electricity, trade, water supply, and land disputes. I came here to talk about peace and electricity. I chose this village, which recently was given access to electricity, because I want to know how your lives are affected by the access. I want to know how your lives changed with and without access to electricity. Its very important to have access to electricity in the whole country. The same is the peace. People in Mandalay may know little about the peace process as you live in peace already, b its important for everyone and everyone should work together for the peace, Suu Kyi said. Suu Kyi also said the government is working hard for peace. I was very glad to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi today. I talked about education sector in the country. We have many people uneducated in our country as theyre very poor. Another topic was about narcotics, which are widely spread in schools. I want our country to be peaceful. I wish the national peace process successful, said Htet Htet Aung. Myaytaingkan is a village about 7 miles away from Wantwin and located besides Yangon-Mandalay Road. And the village has a population of about 1,200. Topics : This article appeared on the Eleven Media Group newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Zhang Yunbi (China Daily/ANN) Manila Tue, August 8, 2017 23:31 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abf4495 2 SE Asia #ASEAN,#China,#ASEAN-China,#China-ASEAN,#community Free China is ready to bring greater closeness to the China-ASEAN Community of Shared Destiny to make it an example within the Asian Community of Shared Destiny, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday. Xi made the pledge when sending congratulations on the 50th anniversary of ASEANs founding in a message to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose country has ASEANs rotating chairmanship this year. As a sign of the booming ties between China and the 10-country group, China has been ASEANs largest trade partner for eight years. Their trade amounted to US$452.2 billion last year, and currently about 2,700 flights connect China and the 10 countries in every week. Xi said that since their dialogue partnership was built in 1991, China and ASEAN have stayed true to cooperation and development, their political mutual trust has deepened and their pragmatic cooperation has seen fruitful outcomes. China-ASEAN ties have become one of the most vigorous and enriched dialogue partnerships of ASEAN, Xi added. He noted that ASEAN has played an important role in securing regional peace and stability since its founding half a century ago, and it has become a force that represents the worlds developing multipolar nature. China expects greater development of the ASEAN community, which will contribute more to regional peace, stability and prosperity and better benefit the people of its member countries, Xi said. As next year marks the 15th anniversary of China and ASEAN establishing their strategic partnership, Xi said China would like to take the year as an opportunity to appreciate all that has been accomplished and look at what can be done over the long run. In Manila on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the grand celebration of ASEANs 50th anniversary along with his counterparts from ASEAN and other nations. Duterte said, We seek to engage with our neighbors positively in dialogue partnerships that continue to grow. Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters on Tuesday that China plays a very positive role in the region. China has shown economic strength ... in the last decades, its economy has also fueled our growth in ASEAN with tourism from China, manufacturing and infrastructure projects, he said. In regard to the South China Sea situation, Cayetano said, All the positive sides China has given to the relationship with ASEAN will not be disturbed because of disputes there. We will not allow this to disturb our good relationships, he said. Wang said on Monday night that with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has been stabilized, and pragmatic cooperation has unfolded. Topics : This article appeared on the China Daily newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking framing of a national yoga policy and making the practice compulsory for students of classes 1-8 across the country. A bench headed by Justice M B Lokur dismissed the plea and said it is for the government to take a decision on such issue. advertisement "We are nobody to say what is to be taught in schools. It is none of our business. How can we direct that," the bench said. The apex court said it was not possible for it to grant the relief as sought by petitioners - Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a lawyer and Delhi BJP spokesperson and J C Seth. "What is to be taught in schools is not a fundamental right," it said. Upadhyay had sought a direction to the Ministry of Human Resources Development, NCERT, NCTE and CBSE to "provide standard textbooks of yoga and health education for students of Class 1-8 keeping in spirit various fundamental rights such as right to life, education and equality." The apex court had on November 29 last year asked the Centre to treat the petition as a representation and take a decision. The plea had said, "State has an obligation to provide health facilities to all the citizens, especially to children and adolescents. In a welfare state, it is obligation of the State to ensure the creation and sustenance of conditions congenial to good health." It had said that right to health cannot be secured without providing yoga and health education to all children or framing a national yoga policy to promote and propagate it. PTI PKS MNL SJK AG DV --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 11:13 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abd1cfe 1 News AirAsia,Chinese-tourists,Macau,international-flights Free Flying to the gambling haven of Macau is now more affordable than ever after low cost carrier AirAsia Indonesia piloted its maiden flight to take Indonesian travelers to visit the citys bright casinos on Monday. However, that may be only part of the story as Indonesia can also expect to see more tourists arriving, not only from the casino hub, but also from mainland China. The new route has increased Jakartas international connectivity after the airline previously only flew from regional capitals, such as Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. I hope this route will open up [air connectivity] for foreign visitors, not only for those from Macau, but also from Greater China, AirAsia Indonesia Group CEO Dendy Kurniawan said during the launch of the route. Read also: Macau: A taste of both worlds in 10 must-visit places While AirAsia will fly three times a week from Macau to Jakarta with an Airbus A320 this month, the flight frequency will be increased to four times a week starting from Sept. 1. The new route adds to its newly-launched services linking Denpasar, Bali to Mumbai, India and Denpasar to Narita, Japan, with its international carrier AirAsia X. Dendy added that the airlines business expansion would also compliment the governments efforts to attract more foreign tourists, especially from China. The government expects to welcome 2.1 million Chinese tourists from a total of 15 million international tourists targeted for this year. Chinese tourists have topped the list of foreign arrivals for the past two years, boosted by the expansion of direct flights and charter flights between Chinese cities and Indonesian cities like Jakarta and Denpasar. The beach-clad cities of Denpasar and Manado have continued to charm visitors from the East Asian country. From January to June alone, the number of Chinese visitors rose by 45 percent year-on-year (yoy) to 996,574 visitors, according to the Tourism Ministry. Last year, Chinese tourists totaled 1.43 million out of 11.5 million overall inbound tourists. AirAsia made the highest contribution of all airlines to the number of international tourists flown to Indonesia, bringing in 25 percent of the total figure, the ministry has revealed. The carrier has maintained its goal to drive passenger growth from international routes, which now make up more than half of its whole services in Indonesia. It will focus on connecting Indonesia with India and China this year. Read also: Macau: A jackpot of bright city lights and heritage sites In the first half of this year, however, the local arm of the Malaysian-based airline saw stagnant growth in its number of passengers, flying around 3 million passengers, more or less the same as last year. That compared with the 10 percent to 15 percent surge it aimed to see by the end of the past year. Despite the situation, AirAsia Indonesia plans to continue opening new routes, citing Kolkata in India as the next new route to be opened in November or December after Macau, Dendy said. We have always seen the huge potential of tourism in Indonesia. We are very committed to bringing tourists to Indonesia, AirAsia Group chief executive officer and co-founder Tony Fernandes said. He also revealed the airlines plan to carry out an initial public offering (IPO) of its Indonesian unit this year as it seeks to bank further on the immense growth of its business and tap into the promising expansion potential in the future. Fernandes cited the carriers profits last year, its first after years of losses, as one of the factors leading to the IPO decision. The reason for the IPO is to bring more planes and more direct connections to Indonesia, he said, but declined to elaborate on the details about the proceeding. This year alone, it will receive at least three aircraft to add its 22 Airbus A320 aircraft and two Airbus A330 aircraft. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta Tue, August 8, 2017 15:08 1922 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97abe1381 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Krakatau-Lampung-Festival,Lampung Free Lampung Krakatau Festival 2017 has been officially launched by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and Lampung Governor M. Ridho Ficardo at Sapta Pesona Building in Jakarta on Monday. Themed The Glory of Lampung Crown, the festival will be held in Lampung from Aug. 25 to 27. Lampung's calendar of events has a total of 31 events, and its not enough. There should be a minimum of 52 events held every week. For example, Banyuwangi has up to 72 events per year and Solo has 56 events. These events will in turn bring foreign exchanges, said Arief at the launching event. The number of tourist visit in Lampung increases by 30 percent from last year. The number of foreign tourists also increases from 115,000 to 150,000, while domestic tourists has now reached 7.5 million, he added. Read also: 10 destinations to visit in Lampung Ridho said the festival is targeting to welcome 30,000 tourists and will highlight leading tourist destinations in Lampung, such as Pahawang Island, Kiluan Bay, Putri Malu Waterfall and Way Kambas National Park. Lampung is also home to 64 waterfalls and seven national parks. Visitors at the festival can sign up for a tour to Anak Krakatau, literally Child of Krakatoa, and nearby beaches such as Tangkil and Mutun. One of the three main activities at LKF 2017 is Pesona Kemilau Sang Bumi Ruwa Jurai that will run from Aug. 25 to 27 and consists of events such as opening ceremony, tourism expo, Lampung culinary exhibition, arts and cultural performances, Lampung Tempo Dulu (Lampung in the Past) photo exhibition and traditional games. The second one is Krakatau Tour from Aug. 25 to 26 where people can travel to the volcano to learn about the eruption that happened on Aug. 26, 1883. The tour starts from Kalianda and then to Sebesi Island, which is the closest inhabited island to Krakatau, then continues to Mount Krakatau Islands. The third activity is Lampung Culture and Tapis Carnival on Aug. 26, which will highlight cultural diversity in the form of cultural parade. (kes) In just over a month, theres a Democratic Primary in New York City. Were waiting for the official list of candidates from the Board of Elections (it should be published later this week). Meantime, the Campaign Finance Board last week issued its first public funds payments. We have two competitive races on the Lower East Side. In District 1, which covers most of Lower Manhattan below East Houston Street, incumbent Margaret Chin is being challenged by Christopher Marte, Dashia Imperiale and Aaron Foldenauer. As you might expect, Council member Chin has qualified for the maximum funding amount ($95,095). Marte also received the maximum dispersement, putting him on even footing, financially speaking, with the two-term Council member. Imperiale received $23,774 in matching funds. Aaron Foldenauer, who has raised about $23,000, did receive city campaign dollars. Were also keeping an eye on the battle to replace District 2 Council member Rosie Mendez, who is unable to run again due to term limits. The district covers the area above East Houston Street on the East Side, as well as developments such as Masaryk Towers and the Vladeck Houses. Carlina Rivera, a former Mendez staffer, collected the maximum amount in matching funds from the city. The same goes for Mary Silver. The other candidates in the race Erin Hussein, Juan Pagan, Jasmin Sanchez and Jorge Vasquez did not qualify for public funding. Ronnie Cho, a former White House aide in the Obama years, is not participating in the matching funds program. Hes raised about $133,000 but spent most of it. New York Citys matching funds program provides candidates with public funds at a rate of $6-to-$1 for the first $175 contributed by NYC residents. The maximum in public funds per contributor is $1,050. You can find more information about the candidates campaign fundraising and spending here. UPDATE 8/23 Since this story was published on Aug 8, additional public funds have been dispersed. See below: Mary Silver: $95,095 Jorge Vasquez: $66,679 The incident allegedly took place on July 31, when a Raksha Bandhan programme was organised by the CRPF troopers at a residential school . By PTI: The authorities have ordered an inquiry into a recent incident, in which security personnel allegedly molested the girl students of a state-run residential school during a cultural programme held ahead of Raksha Bandhan in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. The district administration has constituted a five-member panel to look into the allegation and the police too have launched a probe after lodging a case in this regard. advertisement INCIDENT TOOK PLACE DURING CULTURAL PROGRAMME The incident allegedly took place on July 31, when a Raksha Bandhan programme was organised by the CRPF troopers at a residential school in Palnar village under Kuakonda police station, Dantewada Collector Saurabh Kumar told PTI. The paramilitary force, deployed to counter Left-Wing Extremism in the area, has been organising such events at Palnar for the last nine years. Nearly 500 girls took part in the July 31 event, to be telecast on the local news channels, and tied rakhi to the CRPF personnel, said Kumar. GIRLS INFORM WARDEN "On August 1, we received a complaint from the hostel warden that three girls were searched by the security personnel on the pretext of frisking, which should not be done with kids," he added. The collector said on August 2, he went to the hostel, along with the Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) and local CRPF Deputy Inspector General, and spoke to the girls in the presence of women officials, including the warden. "The girls said they were physically searched by the men in uniform when they were returning from the toilet," he said. GIRLS PHYSICALLY SEARCHED Kumar added that according to the girls, one securityman physically searched them while another kept watching the act. "Based on their statements, a five-member committee, headed by the Dantewada zila panchayat chief executive officer, was formed to probe the matter," he said. The other members of the panel are the Dantewada additional superintendent of police (ASP), sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), district education officer (DEO) and tehsildar. Subsequently, an FIR was lodged against the two unidentified security personnel under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Kuakonda police station, said Kumar. CCTV FOOTAGE BEING ANALYSED The CCTV footage obtained from the hostel premises was also being analysed, he added. "We are in constant touch with the CRPF, which is also investigating the matter at its level, and trying our best to identify the accused, so that the harshest punishment can be meted out to them," said the collector. advertisement Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Soni Sori accused the authorities of "trying to cover up" the issue. "I was not allowed to meet the students when I went to the hostel. I spoke to the girls from the nearby villages, who study in the school. They told me that the incident had indeed taken place. Some security personnel followed the girls to the toilet, where they molested them," she alleged. ALSO READ: Azam Khan shocker: Women cut private parts of Army jawans in revenge for rape Kashmiri youth tied to army jeep as human shield will get Rs 10 lakh compensation WATCH: From Dantewada in 2010 to Sukma in 2017, has CRPF failed to learn from its mistakes? --- ENDS --- Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing is placed in a unique setting in this bright and entertaining production, directed by Matthew Dunster. This comedy follows the characters of Beatrice and Benedick, who are both a bit too stubborn to admit their love for each other, but are tricked into it by the meddling of the other characters. The role of deception and meddling within relationships is a driving force within the play and this is conveyed wonderfully in the current production at the Globe. The story is given a setting quite unusual for Shakespeare adaptations: Mexico in 1914, right in the middle of the Mexican Revolution. Despite the lack of any apparent reasoning for this choice of setting, Much Ado fits perfectly. It makes way for bright costumes and vibrant dance numbers that emphasize the entertaining and fun elements of Shakespeares comedies. The set design is beautiful and helps to set the scene. It is highly utilized by the actors and contributes to the plot, without being too ostentatious or distracting. Beatrice, played by Beatriz Romilly, and Benedick, played by Matthew Needham, have fantastic chemistry. The tension and build up to their eventual courtship is exciting and executed effectively. Needham is especially notable in his role as Benedick. In the scene where Benedick is meant to overhear Claudio and Leonato discussing Beatrices love for himin the scheme to get the two to confess their mutual loveBenedick is placed upstage in the trains window, for his reactions to the conversation to be on display. And it is Benedick that draws all of the attention here, despite not being at the forefront of the action, on stage, or saying any of the dialogue. Subsequently, his following soliloquy, after he has learned of Beatrices love, is charming and captivating and easily one of the most memorable scenes of the production. Overall, this production was highly entertaining and charming. It didnt have the wow factor that the greatest and most memorable Shakespeare adaptations have, but it was lovely and fun and left the audience content. Researchers claim their AI algorithm can detect those living with depression (jax973/Getty Images) Previous studies have shown those who live with depression are more likely to use black-and-white filters in their photos (Lizzie Lamont/Getty Images) Scientists say those who are depressed are less likely to have large group photos on their Instagram feed (Jacoblund/Getty Images) According to the researchers, the algorithms detection rate for identifying depressed people is 70% (Lauren Hurley/PA) The researchers from the University of Vermont and Harvard University claim their algorithms detection rate is 70%, adding that it is more reliable than the 42% success rate of general-practice doctors diagnosing depression in person. This points toward a new method for early screening of depression and other emerging mental illnesses, says Chris Danforth, of the University of Vermont.The research was done in two stages: the first was about identifying the clues on Instagram photos that suggest the user might be depressed, while the second stage involved teaching the computer to detect those people using machine learning algorithms. The scientists asked for access to the Instagram feed and mental health history of 166 participants, half of whom were reported to have been clinically depressed in the last three years. They analysed around 44,000 photos and used findings from well-established psychology research to look for clues in Instagram images that could reveal the users state of mind. Pixel analysis of the photos in our dataset revealed that depressed individuals in our sample tended to post photos that were, on average, bluer, darker and greyer than those posted by healthy individuals, the researchers wrote in a blog post.They also found that people without depression opted for warmer and brighter photo filters, like Valencia, while black-and-white filters, such as Inkwell, were more popular among depressed people. In other words, people suffering from depression were more likely to favour a filter that literally drained all the colour out of the images they wanted to share, the scientists continued.In addition, the researchers also looked at photos that included people and found that depressed individuals were more likely to post selfies when compared with non-depressed people. However, these photos had fewer faces on average than the healthy peoples Instagram feeds which, the scientists say, corresponds to existing research linking depression to reduced social interaction.The researchers next developed a machine learning algorithm based on established studies and pitted it against volunteers to see who was better at identifying Instagram photos posted by depressed people. The scientists claim that artificial intelligence performed better, with Danforth saying: Obviously you know your friends better than a computer. But you might not, as a person casually flipping through Instagram, be as good at detecting depression as you think. The scientists say their new study also showed that the algorithm was able to detect signs of depression before a persons date of diagnosis.Danforth points out that while their research holds promise, the technology is still far from perfect. This study is not yet a diagnostic test, not by a long shot, he said. But it is a proof of concept of a new way to help people. Figures from the mental health charity Mind show one in six people reports experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week, while one in four in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. The research is published in PJ Data Science. By PTI: Eds: Rearranging paras New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) BJP president Amit Shah completes his three years in office tomorrow, a period that saw the party rapidly expand its base and clinch states like Goa, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh through some astute political manoeuvres despite lacking majority. Seen as a master strategist and workaholic, the BJP leader is considered Prime Minister Narendra Modis alter ego, and the two have together given the saffron party political sinews it could hardly even imagine before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. advertisement A blend of Modis mass appeal and Shahs organisational skills and sagacity has resulted in BJP having 13 states under its belt and it is in power in five more with alliance partners. Under Shahs watch, the BJP and its allies won a thumping victory in Uttar Pradesh, pocketing 73 of the states 80 Lok Sabha seats. The wily Gujarat leader, a five-term MLA, was then in-charge of the BJPs campaign in the key cow belt state. "Theres no question mark on his performance. I dont see any challenge to the BJP till 2019 if nothing dramatic happens," said Sanjay Kumar, director of Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS). He termed Shahs three-year tenure as "superb" and pointed out that under him the BJP has been able to form governments in states even where it lost. As the 52-year-old leader from Gujarat begins his fourth year at the helm of the partys affairs, he is also set to make his debut in Parliament as a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat. Shah was appointed the party chief in July 2014 following the induction of his predecessor Rajnath Singh into the Modi cabinet but the BJPs national council ratified the decision on August 9 that year. If growing public support for a party is a measure of its chiefs popularity, Shah is the most successful BJP president. Party leaders are quick to point out that under him the BJP has not only won most elections it contested, it also saw its vote percentage rise even in the polls it lost, like in Bihar. Barring Bihar and Delhi, where it had to eat a humble pie, the BJP juggernaut rolled on as it formed its maiden governments in Assam, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Under Shah, the BJP jettisoned its oldest saffron ally the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and contested Assembly polls on its own, emerging as the single largest party. The two parties are again together now, both in the state and at the Centre. advertisement BJP sources, however, cite the partys win with unprecedented margin in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections this year as probably his biggest electoral achievement. Coming as it did in the wake of the demonetisation exercise, which was used by opposition parties to corner the central government, the victory put to rest any doubt over Modis charisma waning and brought the BJP to power in Indias politically most important state after a gap of 15 years, they said. "The party has expanded in all parts of the country. Shah has worked to live the vision of Jana Sangh (earlier incarnation of the BJP) founders like Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay who wanted the party be a party of all Indians," a leader said. In states like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Manipur, the BJP has tasted power for the first time. In Goa, where it finished second after Congress, Shah despatched Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, a canny practitioner of realpolitik, to cobble together a majority and form a government with smaller parties. In Arunachal Pradesh, the party under Shah engineered mass defection by 33 of the 43 MLAs of Peoples Party of Arunachal Pradesh, and formed its own government. advertisement The party also notched more than ever vote share in local bodies polls in Odisha, Kerala and West Bengal, states which Shah has marked out as it as the next potential growth regions for the party during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Shah has put in place a well-oiled mechanism that ensures the government and the party work in sync. He has used the party apparatus to create awareness about various programmes of the Modi government including beti bachai beti padhao, namami gange, ujjwala yojna and the one for crop insurance to tackle agrarian unrest. The BJP also claims to have become the largest political party in the world under him by enrolling over 11 crore members. They credit his decision to meet the common man and the partys office bearers on the first and third Monday of every month, and efforts to communicate directly with functionaries across states among reasons for enhanced cohesion in the organisaiton. "If the party president is himself undertaking a nation- wide tour of 110 days, pasting posters on walls and interacting with workers and common voters at the booth-level, then it energises the entire organisation," a senior party leader said. advertisement On an average, Shah has travelled 541 km daily as he held rallies and other programmes in virtually all parts of the country, he said. With the BJP set to face coming elections, including the next Lok Sabha poll, under him, Shah has announced that the partys golden era will arrive when it rules across the country from "panchayat to Parliament". Under him, the BJP, once considered a Brahmin-Baniya party, has reached out to the backward classes and dalits, a strategy that paid rich dividends in the UP Assembly elections. PTI KR SK SK SK --- ENDS --- The producers of Poldark and Victoria have promised a darker twist on Pride And Prejudice when they bring the classic period drama to screens again. Marking the UKs sixth TV adaptation of the story, but the first for ITV, Mammoth Screen have commissioned Consent playwright Nina Raine to take on the job of penning the script. Having never seen any televised versions of the story, Raine told Radio Times magazine: Pride And Prejudice is actually a very adult book, much less bonnet-y than people assume. I hope I do justice to Austens dark intelligence sparkling, yes, but sparkling like granite. Coming almost 25 years after Colin Firth strode onto screens as the unforgettable Mr Darcy and almost 200 years since the book was first published Mammoth managing director Damien Timmer hinted that this version would provide the definitive re-working for the 21st century. Every generation needs its own adaptation of this perfect novel, he said. In this age of the box-set with audiences loving to binge on complex, serialised dramas it feels absolutely right to reassess the great classics. Nina Raine is one of the most gifted writers working today, and her wit and emotional intelligence make her the perfect match for Jane Austen. The popular tale of the Bennett sisters and their struggle to fit their hopes for husbands with societys wishes was also turned into a hit film starring Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike and Carey Mulligan in 2005. Radio Times, out now (Radio Times/PA) Mammoth has yet to share a release date for the finished series and is currently working on a fourth series of hit drama, Poldark, on BBC1. Radio Times is out now. 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 Replica Columbus ships are making a return to Wyandotte this week. The Nina and Pinta are sailing across Lake Erie and were scheduled to arrive at Bishop Park Tuesday evening. The ships will be open for tours Thursday and theyll continue through Sunday. The media was invited to a private viewing of the ships at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Opportunity Grosse Ile and the city of Wyandotte first teamed up to bring the ships Downriver in 2012. The city and nonprofit organization continue to co-host the visit of two of the three ships that Christopher Columbus commanded when he explored the American continents starting in 1492 and set the stage for colonization of the New World. The Nina and Pinta replica ships serve as floating museums operated by the Columbus Foundation, located in the British Virgin Islands. They are considered to be the most historically accurate reproductions of the famous ships ever built. This will be their third visit to Wyandotte. The ships returned in 2014 and the plan was for them to return every other year. However, they required extended maintenance last year, so were unavailable in 2016. Craig Pilkington, president of Opportunity Grosse Ile and chief coordinator of the event, said the visit to Wyandotte will be the only stop by the ships in eastern Michigan before sailing to Traverse City. Pilkington said another nonprofit organization was supposed to host the ships this year, but that plan fell through, so Opportunity Grosse Ile stepped up to resume those responsibilities. Were committed to keeping them Downriver, he said. According to Pilkington, in 2012 the ships drew about 8,500 visitors, with that number increasing to about 11,500 in 2014. Its amazing how far people come to see them, Pilkington said. We had people from as far away as Midland, Jackson and northwest Ohio. The ships will dock at Bishop Park, 2802 Van Alstyne, located along the Detroit River, where theyll be open to public tours. The cost is $8.50 for adults, $7 for seniors 60 and over, $6 for children 5-16 years old, and 4 and under are free. Credit and debit cards will be accepted on charges of $20 or more. The ships are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day during their time in Wyandotte. No reservations are necessary. Scheduled group tours of 15 or more people pay $5 per person, weekdays only. All groups are $5 per person, regardless of age. Teachers or groups wishing to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member should call the ship directly at 787-672-2152, or visit ninapinta.org, click Take a Tour and fill in the online form. Pilkington said the cost is 50 cents more for adults than what is listed on the website. I got them to commit to making a charitable donation, he said. This year, historical societies in the Downriver area will benefit. He said the hope is that the ships will continue to return on a two-year rotation and that each time a portion of tour proceeds will benefit a local nonprofit group. The ships are expected to depart in the early morning hours of Aug. 14. By PTI: (Eds: Updating with Tamil Nadu CMs letter to PM) Chennai, Aug 8 (PTI) The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 49 fishermen from Tamil Nadu after firing in the air, prompting Chief Minister K Palaniswami to shoot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stating that the action was "totally unacceptable". In the letter to Modi, Palaniswami alleged that in a series of incidents that occurred yesterday, "the Sri Lankan Navy terrorised Tamil Nadu fishermen by ramming the boats with armoured naval vessels and arrested 49 fishermen in 12 fishing boats". advertisement The arrested fishermen, belonging to Pudukottai and Jagadapattinam districts, were taken to Kangesanthurai by the navy personnel, Fisheries Assistant Director Shivakumar told PTI. The Sri Lankan Navys completely unwarranted display of military might against poor, innocent fishermen ramming their flimsy boats with naval vessels and endangering lives of non- combatant is "totally unacceptable", he said. The apprehension of fishermen "en masse" has come as a "rude shock" at a time when the process of conversion of trawling boats to long-liners was kick-started at Rameswaram recently, Palaniswami said. The attack and apprehensions clearly point to the scant regard on the Sri Lankan side for the efforts by the governments of India and Tamil Nadu in resolving the fishing issue "peacefully", he said. Recalling his earlier request that a "strong diplomatic offensive" should be launched to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, Palaniswami urged Modi to take up the matter personally with the highest authorities in the Island Nation. "I also request you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to secure the immediate release of 113 fishermen along with 137 boats from the Sri Lankan Navy along with the latest fishermen who were apprehended," he added. PTI VIJ SMN --- ENDS --- By Vidya : Gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh's brother Rubabuddin on Monday moved the Bombay High Court challenging the discharge granted by special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court to former Gujarat top cop DG Vanzara and Rajasthan IPS officer Dinesh MN. Rubabuddin's plea states that "there is insurmountable evidence against Vanzara which undisputedly proves the existence of a prima facie case against him." It also adds that "the lower court judge not only chose to discard the testimony of more than 40 prosecution witnesses, but also completely ignored the irrefutable evidence on record, such as the phone call records between Vanzara and the other accused". advertisement The petition, which will soon be heard before Justice Aukat Prabhu Desai, states that, "The act of giving specific instructions to the policemen to go to Hyderabad in order to bring Sohrabuddin, his wife Kauser Bi and his aide Tulsiram Prajapati, the act of taking part in the fake encounter of his brother, the act of taking part in the plot of killing Kausar Bi and thereafter disposing her body, the act of being involved in the fake encounter of Tulsiram, the act of trying to influence the course of justice by intimidating/threatening witnesses to give false statements, the act of destroying evidence and the act of running an extortion racket can by no stretch of reasoning be said to be an act falling within the ambit of official duty." A special CBI court on August 1 discharged Vanzara and gave relief to Dinesh MN in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case citing lack of evidence. The special CBI court Judge SJ Sarma had discharged Vanzara considering the quality of material on record against retired DIG DG Vanzara and taking into consideration the entire prosecution story, "To my mind it is clear that there is no prima facie material against the accused to connect him to the abduction followed by killing of Sohrabuddin, Kausar Bi and Tulsi Prajapati none the less as one of the main conspirator". This is what the court has said in its 40-page order while discharging Vanzara, the accused number one in the fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin and two others. Vanzara, who is an accused in the fake encounter cases of Ishrat Jahan and Sohrabuddin Sheikh, was released on bail in February, 2015 after spending almost seven and half years in prison. There are 23 others who are still accused in the case though everyone is out on bail. The top cop was arrested on April 24, 2007 by CID crime in connection with the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. Rababuddin had earlier challenged the discharge of BJP leader Amit Shah from the case but had decided to suddenly withdraw his plea in 2016. ALSO READ | Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case: CBI court discharges Gujarat ex-IPS DG Vanzara advertisement Sohrabuddin encounter case: IPS officer RK Pandian discharged on technical ground Vanzara seeks return to Gujarat, files plea before CBI court --- ENDS --- By PTI: Lucknow, Aug 8 (PTI) The Samajwadi Party (SP) today accused the BJP government of "suppressing the voice of discontent" and said it will observe august kranti diwas tomorrow as desh bachao, desh banao diwas. As part of its programme, the SP will stage protests at all district headquarters and party chief Akhilesh Yadav will address a rally in Faizabad, a party spokesman said. advertisement "The party will observe Kranti Diwas tomorrow as Desh Bachao, Desh Banao diwas at all the district headquarters with national president Akhilesh Yadav attending a rally in Faizabad district. "On this day, we would register our protests against the BJP, which is suppressing the voice of discontent," Party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said. August Kranti Diwas is day observed to remember the historic Quit India Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. "This BJP government is anti-people and the SP would continue to protest against its policies on issues related to farmers, youths and women and its communal politics," Chowdhury said. PTI ABN SMJ --- ENDS --- The plea says that Article 370 has lapsed and urged that the separate constitution of Jammu and Kashmir be declared illegal. Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre, seeking its response to plea. By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today admitted a plea challenging the legality of Article 370. The plea challenges the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution. The plea says that Article 370 has lapsed and urged that the separate constitution of Jammu and Kashmir be declared illegal. The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre, seeking response to the plea. advertisement The plea in Supreme Court comes at a time when a debate on Article 35A of the Constitution, which entitles the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to define Permanent Residents of the state, is brewing in political circles. National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said that abrogation of Article 35A will lead to a "revolt". "When it will come to that decision, you will see this mass rising. Don't forget when the Amarnath land row happened in 2008, people rose overnight," he said. HOW ARE ARTICLE 370 AND ARTICLE 35A LINKED? The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been calling for repealing Article 370 of the Constitution. However, repealing Article 370 requires a Constitutional amendment in agreement with the Legislative Assembly of the state which may never agree to it. There is another provision that appears in the Appendices of the Constitution as Article 35A, which is considered the real force behind Article 370. As per the existing laws framed using Article 35A, an outsider cannot buy a property or settle in Jammu and Kashmir; is not allowed to vote and contest in state Assembly election; and cannot get a job in the Jammu and Kashmir government. In December 2015, a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court by an RSS-linked NGO 'We the Citizen' seeking repeal of Article 35A on the ground of constitutionality. The Centre, in its response, said that the matter involves complex issues of constitutionality and it would be appropriate for the Supreme Court to decide the matter. The Supreme Court is likely to hear the matter later this month. (Inputs from Anusha Soni) ALSO READ: Why Farooq Abdullah is angry over Article 35A and how it will impact special status of Kashmir How 2 PILs are helping RSS agenda of Uniform Civil Code, Article 370 Article 370: 10 facts that you need to know --- ENDS --- Several public meetings this week in Watertown Here's a look at who's meeting this week and what they'll be discussing. Here's how you should fight the H1N1 influenza virus while it's doing the rounds. By Shreya Goswami: Every year since 2009, when the first case of swine flu was detected, people across the world contract the disease. This year is no different, with many confirmed cases in Mumbai, including those of Richa Chadha, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, and a rising death toll. Actor Richa Chadha has contracted swine flu. Picture courtesy: Instagram/therichachadha While this particular strain of influenza--contracted from the H1N1 virus--was first detected in patients in direct contact with pigs in North America, it swiftly spread to 74 countries, including India. It now spreads like every other seasonal virus, especially through the coughs or sneezes of infected people. Actor Aamir Khan and his wife, Kiran Rao, are also suffering from swine flu. Picture courtesy: Instagram/aamirkhanturkey advertisement This year, the swine flu virus has wreaked a lot of havoc in Mumbai, where the above-mentioned actors reside. The death toll has reached up to 10, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also confirming that a total of 285 cases have been detected this year. Also Read: If you notice symptoms of chikungunya, these are the foods you should consume And while that might sound quite alarming (because it is), there are quite a few precautions you can take to avoid swine flu. 1. Homes are a safer zone If you have flu-like symptoms, it's best to just stay at home and rest up instead of spreading it around by travelling to and from work, and meeting people at work. 2. Contain, don't spread If you have a cough or are sneezing regularly, make sure you cover your mouth--but not with your hands, because the next thing you touch with them will get contaminated. Use the crook of your arm, or even better, tissues. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/WordPress.com 3. Clean hands Wash your hands regularly with soap to avoid infection. Hand sanitizers can also help with this. Basically, just make sure you don't spread germs around through your hands. Also Read: 8 possible signs of cancer that you just shouldn't ignore 4. Safe in public Don't touch public utilities like door handles and toilets to make sure you don't get infected. Use a surgical mask while travelling to minimise chances of the contagion spreading. Make sure that your utensils are clean if you're eating out. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/drchetan.com 5. Clean your produce While there are been no reports of swine flu being transmitted through fruit and vegetable sources, you shouldn't take a chance. Clean them thoroughly, and use surgical gloves to handle meat, fish and eggs. Wash your hands after you're done handling raw produce. Apart from taking these precautions, make sure that you consult a doctor if you or a loved one have any of the flu symptoms. Certain antiviral medicines have been proved effective against swine flu, even if there isn't a permanent cure yet, and your doctor can help you detect the flu and treat it ASAP. --- ENDS --- An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand. By PTI: Bhubaneswar/Baripada, Aug 8 (PTI) The swine flu toll in Odisha rose to three today with the death of two more persons, an official statement said. While one person died at SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack another succumbed to swine flu at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. Earlier, one person on July 29 had died of swine flu at a private hospital in the state capital. advertisement Meanwhile, the number of persons affected by H1N1 virus has increased to 59 with 13 fresh cases coming to light today. The swab samples of 19 patients, who were admitted to various hospitals in the twin cities, were tested at the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC). Of them, 13 tested positive for the H1N1 virus. The Odisha government has earlier issued guidelines for hospitals to tackle swine flu. The Health and Family Welfare department also issued do?s and don?ts for the general public and increased the awareness drive to prevent the spread of influenza. A report from Baripada said, the woman who died at the private hospital in Bhubaneswar hailed from Mayurbhanj district. The 36-year-old woman victim was the wife of an engineer working at the Baripada municipality. A team of physicians would soon visit the area shortly and meet her family members to ascertain if any other members of the family are suffering from the H1N1 virus, said Dr Pranab Shankar Dash, ADMO Baripada. PTI COR AAM RG LNS --- ENDS --- By PTI: Hyderabad, Aug 8 (PTI) The Telangana government today urged neighbouring Karnataka to release 15 TMC of water from Almatti-Narayanpur reservoir for the drinking water needs of Hyderabad and Nalgonda districts. Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao made the request in a letter to his Karnataka counterpart M B Patil. "Drinking water is being supplied to these places through Puttamgandi (irrigation project) under the Nagarjunasagar (reservoir). Against the minimum draw-down level of 510 feet, the current level is 500.50 feet, and we would be barely able to sustain the supply without any inflows to Nagarjunasagar," Rao said in the letter, as per an official statement here. PTI SJR KRK --- ENDS --- advertisement The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has cast doubts on the plan for public sector banks to raise Rs 1.10 lakh crore equity in four years ending March 2019 under the Central government's Indradhanush scheme. The CAG has pointed out that PSBs have only been able to mop up Rs 7,726 crore during the first two years. However, according to senior finance ministry officials, the ministry is working on the capital infusion strategy for public sector banks and a decision will be announced soon. Under the Indradhanush plan, the government had promised to infuse Rs10,000 crore each in banks every financial year. Barring State Bank of India, all state-owned banks have a price to book value below one, making it tough for them to raise capital from the market. However, small public sector banks will find it tough to raise capital through markets given the current pressure in their asset quality. Public sector lenders require capital, especially as their total bad loans rose three-fold to Rs 8 lakh crore. Of the Rs 1.8 lakh crore capital needed by these banks, the government would provide Rs 70,000 crore and the lenders would raise the rest from the markets under the Indradhanush scheme. According to rating agency Moody's, "The ordinance to tackle NPAs is positive for banks," but it added that their limited profitability and capital availability will make it tough for them to absorb haircuts stipulated by the committee. Banks are looking to sell non-core assets to shore up their capital base. CAG said the parameters based on which capital was infused changed every year, and often within different tranches issued in the same year. In 2015-16 and 2016-17, it was decided that 20 and 25 per cent of the capital infused, respectively, would be based on performance, CAG said. However, capital was released without considering performance due to poor asset condition of banks after the Reserve Bank of Indias asset quality review in 2015-16 and failure of most lenders to meet targets. Earlier, RBI Deputy Governor S S Mundra also said public sector banks will require more than the budgeted Rs 10,000 crore capital infusion from the government in the current fiscal. To gauge the impact of his government's schemes, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will begin a tour of various districts of the state from Wednesday, starting from Gorakhpur. "In the first phase, Chief Minister Adityanath will visit five districts. He will begin his tour from Gorakhpur, on August 9, followed by Maharajganj and Siddharthanagar on August 10, Ballia on August 11 and Allahabad on August 12," UP BJP spokesperson Shalabh Mani Tripathi said today. The area of review will be law and order, health, cleanliness and electricity, he added. During his stay in these districts, the chief minister is also likely to meet party workers, Tripathi said. "The tour will provide an opportunity to review the various developmental and welfare schemes at the grassroots level. This will also help in knowing the attitude of the officials towards the people," the UP BJP spokesperson said. Tripathi said that Adityanath in the past four months had heard the grievances of the people by holding 'Janata Darbars' and had also made a conscious effort to make officials sensitive and accountable. Varnika Kundu, who was stalked in Chandigarh by a BJP leader's son, slammed the party's Haryana Deputy President Ramveer Bhatti for his sexist remark on why she was out so late on the night the incident took place, saying "it's none of his business." On Saturday, the 29-year-old daughter of senior Haryana-cadre IAS officer V.S. Kundu, had alleged that Vikas Barala, son of Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party chief Subhash Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar had chased her when she was driving back home. BJP's Bhatti had on Monday blamed Kundu in the case for being out "so late at night". "Why did she step out at midnight?" he had questioned. Replying to this, Kundu told NDTV on Tuesday: "It is none of his business, it is my business and my family's what I do and where I go. If it wasn't for men like these, I wouldn't be unsafe going out whether it was 12 a.m. or 2 a.m. or 4 a.m." "If it happens at night it's my fault? Can the men not control their urges at night? Why am I being questioned? I am the one who was under attack but they are not questioned," the 29-year-old said. She added that the evidence supports her version of the incident, quelling rumours that she met with a car accident. Kundu said that she didn't stop at the petrol pump, didn't hit anybody's car but rather her car was chased relentlessly. "If there has been a collision, wouldn't there be an evidence?" she questioned. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday demanded that the Chandigarh police should be given a free hand to probe the Varnika Kundu stalking case, with no attempt to pressurise them. He also dismissed the demand for the resignation of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on moral grounds over the stalking case as "absurd". Talking to mediapersons outside Parliament House, the Punjab Chief Minister said: "Police should be allowed to investigate the high-profile case freely and independently." "No attempt should be made to dilute the charges against the accused. No political interference should be brooked in the case and police should have complete authority to probe the matter in a neutral manner, as per the due process of law," added Singh. On the demand for Rajnath Singh's resignation, the Punjab Chief Minister said: "How can Rajnath be held responsible for the incident, or for that matter for any such irresponsible behaviour involving individuals or party leaders or their kin in any part of the country, be it even Punjab." "Action needs to be taken against the accused to ensure justice for the girl and also to send out a strong signal that misuse of political power to undermine any institution, including police, was not acceptable," Singh added. By PTI: Bhopal, Aug 8 (PTI) In a weird case of tagging for identity, two minors were stamped with an entry seal on their face when they reached to meet their imprisoned relatives on Raksha Bandhan at the Bhopal Central Jail yesterday. The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) too has taken cognizance of the matter after the photographs of two children including a girl with an entry seal on their faces surfaced in a section of media here. advertisement The jail authorities, however, said the incident of stamping-seal-on-face was an unintentional goof-up and might have been done mistakenly due to surge of visitors in the jail premises to mark the festive day of Raksha Bandhan. "Couple of children might have been stamped an entry seal on their cheeks. It was unintentional and done mistakenly as over 8,500 people mostly women and children visited the jail premises on the day of Raksha Bandhan," Bhopal Central Jails Superintendent Dinesh Nargave told PTI today. Nargave said there is a practice of putting an entry seal on every visitors hand in a bid to distinguish them from the jail inmates. "The visitors mix up with the prisoners and it is hard to point them out. So, a stamp is embossed on the hand of a visitor to identify them," he added. Nargave doubted that this goof-up might have occurred as some women and girls wear burqa. "We are conducting an inquiry into the matter. We will take action against the employee concerned, if found that this was done intentionally," he assured. Meanwhile, the MPHRC has served a notice to the Director General (jails) seeking an explanation on this incident within seven days of notice. "MPHRC has taken cognizance of the incident after the photograph of two minors with stamp on face was published today in the newspapers. We have served a notice to Director General (jails) seeking explanation about the incident," Commissions public relation officer LR Sisodia told PTI. He said the Commission considered the stamp-on-the- face of child and the girl as the breach of human rights and also violation of child rights. PTI ADU MAS RMT BAS --- ENDS --- The pertinent issue is whether present day business schools are manufacturing managers programmed to make better business decisions from ethical lens as well. Ethics, sometimes known as moral philosophy, is an abstract subject and filled with grey areas. Different people interpret it differently, at times in a manner that suits them. From business school perspective, this is the study of moral values and judgments. It is about learning to spot and think through ethical dilemmas through the eyes of others. Plato the great Greek philosopher said, But if you ask what is the good of education in general. The answer is easy that education makes good men, and that good men act nobly. The dilemma isbusiness schools stress too much on imparting conceptual knowledge as well as how to apply knowledge in real life setting. But do little to prepare students on ethical aspects of life. Students are often made to believe that in business world all that matters is hitting the numbers. Also, their mindset is steered to think that to succeed in a hypercompetitive and fast paced market place, embracing give and take policy works. From these pressures comes temptation, and resultant unethical behaviour. Changing student career objectives, cost-benefit approach, focus of curriculum, and environment at campuses are factors bringing ethical in-discipline. In the past students joined courses with the explicit objective of acquiring knowledge that not only provided them the opportunity to seek decent jobs, but also equipped them to meet the challenges. However, developing ethical mindset is no more a priority. More and more students perceive business schools as a platform for placement with high pay packages. Higher education is becoming less academic, and more businesslike. Schools charge high fee and view students as consumers of education. They in turn tend to perceive unfair and unethical means, as acceptable and nothing to do with morality. Courses are increasingly being designed with undue focus on practical aspects, not to say it is not required. But that encourage deeper understandings of the human condition. Fast pace of academic and extra co-curricular activities does not allow sufficient time for reflection and the contemplation of big questions about the meaning of life. Evidence of change in educational focus can be seen in everyday schedule. Experts wonder if business schools are really developing students to be good human beings or merely producing sophisticated operators, labelled as future managers. They believe that new generations of business professionals need ethical thinking to develop better solutions for handling major corporate situations. Studying importance of ethics within business, both in theory and practice will enable to learn about real-world challenges business. Samuel Johnson aptly stated that integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. The writer is a senior professor in finance, FORE School of Management, New Delhi Actress Salma Hayek says she threatened filmmaker Ivan Reitman with legal action after he refused to see her during an audition because they "hated" her. The 50-year-old had gone to audition for a role in a film. She was originally told the lead part would be altered to suit her native language, but her representatives were later told they would be "crazy" if they thought they would accommodate her for anything other than a "bimbo" part, reports The Guardian newspaper. "I've never said this to anyone, the name of the director, but it was Ivan Reitman. I was screen-testing for the lead in a film and they said that it was not written Latin, but they wouldn't mind changing it," she said. "I learned the script but when they sent me the pages for the audition, there was none of the things I had learned, it was another role. So my agent called them and they said, 'Are you crazy? She's Mexican. We can change the race of the bimbo, but not the lead'. "And they said 'Absolutely under no circumstances'. So I said, 'Okay, you tell them that they either see, or I'm going to sue them'. "And they said 'There's no point in her coming, even if she had been the best audition she would have never gotten the part but now we hate her. Does she want to come knowing that we detest her?'" A total of 310 army personnel have committed suicide since 2014 while 11 cases of fratricide were reported during the period, the government told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Nine officers and 19 junior commissioned officers were among those who committed suicide between 2014 and July 31, this year, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre stated this while replying to a query on incidents of suicide and fratricide in the Army. Replying to another question on the issue, the minister listed implementation of the Sahayak system along with other steps to address the problem of stress among the army personnel. A senior army officer had said in June that the Army was actively considering recruiting civilian staff in peace stations to reform the colonial-era Sahayak system, in the wake of rising cases of jawans coming out openly against it. Under the system, a solider is attached to an officer for various work including protecting the officer, maintaining his weapons and helping him carrying out his responsibilities. In the course of his written reply, Bhamre also listed ensuring superior quality of clothing, food, travel facilities, recreation and establishment of grievance redressal mechanism as some other steps for management of stress among soldiers. Bhamre said 84 army personnel committed suicide in 2014 while in 2015 and 2016, the number was 78 and 104 respectively. Till July 31, the number of army men committing suicide was 44. The minister said 11 cases of fratricide were reported in the army since 2014. He said the defence institute of psychological research had conducted various studies on suicides and fratricides and their findings highlighted the need for steps to address the problem of stress. He said stress management sessions are organised at all major army stations by commanders and psychiatrists at various levels. To a separate question, Bhamre said India and Vietnam have agreed to take forward a proposal for training of Vietnam Air Force personnel on Su-30 aircraft. Rebel Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela on Tuesday asserted that he had not voted for the official party nominee Ahmed Patel in the crucial Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls being held here. Five of his supporters too stated they voted for the BJP candidate. "I have not voted for the Congress, because Ahmed Patel is not going to win and there is no point wasting a vote. We have pleaded so many times to listen to the grievances of the MLAs but it is unfortunate that they did not listen," Vaghela told reporters after polling. He claimed: "Four-five more MLAs from the 44 that the Congress is banking upon are also not going to vote for the party." Patel needs 45 first preference votes to win his seat in the present House of 176 legislators. He falls short of one vote and believes that two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs and one of the Janata Dal-United will vote for him. "I have full confidence that I will win," Patel put up a brave face. When asked about cross-voting by Vaghela and his supporters, he shrugged, "So what (we never counted them)." Pakistan on Saturday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad over fresh ceasefire violations on the Line of Control, that it said have killed two Pakistani civilians and injured three others. The Foreign Office said in a statement that Director General Mohammad Faisal (South Asia and Saarc Desk), summoned Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh and condemned the "unprovoked" ceasefire violation by Indian forces on Saturday in Chirikot and Satwal sectors. The Indian envoy was told that "deliberate" targeting of civilians was condemnable and contrary to international human rights and laws. The Indian side was urged to respect the 2003 ceasefire and probe the incident and maintain peace on the LoC. Dozens of posters describing local MP and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as "missing" have come up in his Amethi parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The posters carry the Gandhi scion's picture, written below which is a reward for anyone who could trace their missing MP. The posters, however, are not attributed to any individual or organisation. Gandhi has not visited his parliamentary constituency for six months now, leading to anger and disappointment among the voters, people here said. The posters also said that Gandhi has insulted his voters with his behaviour. While Congress workers in the district accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party and other political opponents for the sudden coming up of the posters, mostly in Gowriganj area; many rue that Gandhi has lost interest in Amethi after the humiliating state assembly poll defeat in March. The posters also blame the Congress leader's absence for the slowing down of development work initiated from the MP Local Area Development fund. A large section of Congress workers have sent an SOS to the party leadership to ask Rahul Gandhi to visit Amethi soon. Whenever there is a terror strike by militants from across the border, Indian media discussions immediately hinge on war as a means of retaliation. With increase in ceasefire violations, media speculation only increases. After the Pathankot and Uri incidents, cries for waging war increased in tempo. The Doklam standoff, which is now into its second month, has resulted in increased speculation in every form of media about a Indo-China conflict. Many strategic thinkers have also commented about a possible Chinese offensive. Some media houses even began comparing force levels of the two countries and the options in case war breaks out. The present Indian media hype has its genesis in articles published in state-controlled Chinese media, which threatens war almost daily. From the commencement of the standoff, China has attempted psychological warfare by playing on war hype but to no avail. The Indian government has rightly down played the threat and issued conciliatory statements seeking to cool down temperatures, while always suggesting a diplomatic solution. Indian media however fell for the Chinese bait and commenced playing its own war games. This surge in war hype in our media has impacted the common man. Such has been the doubt created amongst people that those unaware of military strategy and the nature of operations, and who had planned to visit Gangtok with confirmed reservations are cancelling fearing war. For the common man to understand the nature and complexities of war is difficult, but if the media continues playing the war card, it would affect the local economy, as Sikkim banks on tourism. China has begun talking of local action to remove Indian soldiers. It takes two to tango and the Chinese are aware of this. Local action implies moving in troops to capture Indian soldiers in the standoff. Opening fire is not an easy decision and could easily escalate, which neither desires. India could either bring in more troops if it continues to seek a diplomatic solution or could mirror the Chinese action if it seeks to display strength, either of which would end in a stalemate. Both options would be games of pressure with neither signalling an escalation. A war has other connotations, which need to be understood. War can never happen overnight, irrespective of how powerful a country is. The only action which a country can adopt without warning is employing air power, missile strikes or a nuclear strike. This can only happen when a nation, like the USA or Russia in West Asia, strikes an adversary in an area where it has no desire to employ its own ground troops or hold ground. The strikes are aimed at supporting an ally and are normally resorted to when the intention is to degrade military capabilities of an adversary. Between countries which share a common border and have troops deployed, employing such actions without forces readily available to occupy defences which have been struck are unlikely to produce any worthwhile results. When both nations possess near parity in capabilities, there is bound to be an immediate retaliation, escalating the situation. Thus for India and China to even contemplate war, there are certain indicators which would be visible, enabling both nations to seek options for immediate de-escalation, as war would harm both almost equally. For war to occur, one nation would need to launch an offensive, in this case it would be China. This would imply movement of sufficient forces close to the area of operations. Soldiers moving forward alone is not enough. Supporting elements including guns, ammunition and war stores have also to be deployed. This movement is time-consuming and even if conducted piecemeal or at night, is electronically visible to the adversary. If the Chinese aim is to launch localized operations, it would need to secure the border in the near vicinity to deny India from taking advantage of the situation elsewhere as the border is termed as the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This is akin to mobilisation which India resorted to after the Parliament attack in 2001, termed Operation Parakram, where it took time, permitting world powers and Pakistan to react. In the Sikkim sector due to altitude issues, troops would also need to be acclimatized to low temperatures, hence there would be additional time penalty in the preparatory phase. Neither nation has sufficient air power deployed in the region but the same can be deployed rapidly, due to its inherent mobility. However, preparation of air bases and movement of stores and ammunition would definitely be giveaways. While the emphasis of both nations is on land, the navies would also move into their areas of operation in case hostilities are imminent. Thus, while the nation seeking to take offensive action would first activate its naval power the other would soon follow. The world is watching this standoff with rapt attention as escalation could be disastrous for the region and both nations. International satellites are monitoring. In case excessive movement indicating imminent hostilities is observed, the world would immediately commence applying pressure for de-escalation. Both nations have their own surveillance equipment concentrated on monitoring the adversary, watching for any build-up or war-like deployment. In case any movement hinting towards war is visible to one, the other would immediately begin taking counter measures. India has no offensive designs, hence would only enhance its defences as a counter measure. Thus far, despite the rhetoric, engagement by diplomacy is continuing as neither nation seeks escalation. War hysteria is part of Chinese psychological warfare aimed at application of pressure through internal sources, including a dip in the stock market and opposition political parties compelling the government to withdraw unilaterally. This strategy flows from Sun Tzus teaching which states, supreme art of war is not to subdue the enemy by winning the battle, it is to subdue the enemy without fighting the battle. A war would have multiple impacts, including its effect on the Chinese economy stemming from its positive balance of payments and investments in India, international support to India etc. Further, there are other issues including the BRICS summit in September and the Chinese Communist Party Congress in October/November which would impact Chinese decision making. Thus, war is still miles away. Hence the media should refrain from continuing to build war hysteria. It should rather echo the Indian government line of diplomatic resolution. Negative war hysteria adversely affects the common Indian and in the bargain impacts the economy of Sikkim. The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army Anybody connected with political science, economics, development studies, democracy, and socialism has to willy-nilly engage in discussions on the marginalised, the deprived, the downtrodden, the destitute in a word, the poor. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi: Poverty is an insult, poverty stinks, it demeans, dehumanises, destroys the body and the mind if not the soul. It is the deadliest form of violence. Perhaps, no other problem receives greater global attention today. Poverty is indeed a multidimensional phenomenon. Hence, it is difficult to offer a suitable definition. However, what really constitutes poverty has comprehensively been asserted in the Copenhagen Declaration in 1995: Poverty has various manifestations, including lack of income and productive resources sufficient to ensure sustainable livelihoods; hunger and malnutrition; ill health; limited or lack of access to education and other basic services; increased morbidity and mortality from illness; homelessness and inadequate housing; unsafe environments; and social discrimination and exclusion. It is also characterised by a lack of participation in decision-making and in civil, social and cultural life. Poverty is not simply characterised by a lack of adequate income, it is an all-encompassing issue. The poor and the marginalised have no race, ethnicity, or nationality; their binding identity is that they suffer from deprivation and restrictions. In the words of Amartya Sen: Poverty must be seen as the deprivation of basic capabilities rather than merely as lowness of incomes, which is the standard criterion of identification of poverty. The perspective of capabilitypoverty does not involve any denial of the sensible view that low income is clearly one of the major causes of poverty, since lack of income can be a principal reason for a persons capability deprivation. Poverty reduction has the overriding objective of development planning. The country has initiated several anti-poverty programmes since the 1950s, but unfortunately the impact has been negligible. Most of the programmes and interventions seem impressive on paper, but are often deeply flawed. Lack of commitment at the highest levels and the absence of a work ethics have led to an almost endemic crisis. And the fallout is obvious ~ India remains a poor country even after 70 years of independence and holds the distinction of having around a third of the world's poor. The GDP indicates impressive growth over a period of time but the income generated by economic growth has been unequally shared, and the newly created resources have not been utilised adequately in order to address social deprivation. Economic growth has led to a very marginal increase in wages and incomes for the poorer sections of the population. The growth runs parallel to a failure to generate adequate employment, sometimes described as jobless growth. Moreover, the countrys seemingly meteoric GDP growth rate is creating economic inequality and two demarcated societies ~ one poor and another rich. The American economist Lant Pritchett has offered an interesting explanation of why things go so shockingly awry in India, and why it is incapable of implementing programmes and policies. He called this the flailing state syndrome ~ a nation state in which the head, that is elite institutions at the national (and in some states) level remains sound and functional but that this head is no longer realisably connected via nerves and sinews to its ownlimbs Pritchett described flailing as the inability to maintain sufficient control of the administrative apparatus to effectively deliver services through the government 'in spite of democracy and strong capability at the state level. In India, it is not just the hand that is not functioning, but also the head. The failure to alleviate poverty can reasonably be ascribed to the failure of policies, priorities of government and politics ~ a failure to integrate growth with development. While the economic growth measures a value of output of goods and services within a time period, the economic development is a measure of the welfare of people in society. High growth, though essential, says the India Development Report, is not sufficient for poverty reduction on a substantive basis. As Amartya Sen has remarked: We are bombarded by deafening rhetoric on the priority of economic growth, with little thought given to health, education and other aspects of the formation of human capabilities ~ reflecting a disarmingly foggy understanding of how long-run growth and participatory development can actually be achieved and sustained. Democracies are, without exception, better at avoiding catastrophes and in managing mass starvation. But the political system of democracy does not automatically guarantee equal opportunities to all. On the contrary, there is enough evidence to prove that poverty and income inequalities in most democratic countries are increasing. Professor Ashutosh Varshney, a political scientist, has shown that poverty levels are high in several poor countries that have been democratic for decades. Why are democracies so tolerant of poverty? This is because democracy favours direct rather than an indirect attack on poverty. Direct attacks include subsidies, job reservation, transfer of assets and other poverty alleviation programmes, many of which end up as mere doles. These are paraded in the name of the poor but the benefits are reaped by the creamy layer and middle class. Indeed, doles neither assuage the psychological frustrations of poverty-stricken people nor are they economically sustainable. Still these populist measures are preferred because they are far more visible to voters. Democracy today is essentially majoritarian rather than egalitarian. The middle classes, caught between the high-income group (around 15 per cent of population) and the working class (around 30 per cent of population), have more votes. There is no reason at all for a democracy to favour the bottom 30 per cent. Hence, it makes sense for politicians to encourage entitlements for the benefit of the majority instead of the poorest 30 per cent. Poverty alleviation programmes thus fail to alleviate poverty in society, and suffering of the poor gets hardly mitigated in democracies. But programmes continue to be run in the interest of the vote-bank. Apart from mismanagement and faulty development models, there are some other factors such as corruption, illiteracy, population explosion, unemployment, and caste system that are responsible for the persistence of poverty in India. Corruption is a collusive act between the bribegiver and bribe-taker. But ultimately the victim is the society as a whole. Gunnar Myrdal rightly said that the prevalence of corruption provides strong inhibitions and obstacles to development. Hence, corruption is regarded as one of the biggest reasons behind the persistence of poverty in India. Rajiv Gandhi once admitted that merely 15 per cent of the loan subsidy actually reaches the ultimate beneficiaries. Even if we discard this figure as highly pessimistic and assume that say 30-40 per cent of the welfare fund reaches the targeted beneficiaries, the rest is siphoned off by people connected to the implementing government machinery. This is a common way for the people with high connections to acquire wealth ~ of course at the cost of the poor who generally have no voice or ability to assert themselves. The end result is that the eligible poor are deprived of their basic rights and entitlements. Numerous scams revealed in recent years explain the saga of corruption. Corruption is not only all pervasive but also endemic to Indias society and economy. High level of illiteracy, particularly in rural areas and among women, has been a crucial factor not only behind economic backwardness but also for the high population growth. The persistence of illiteracy has created a situation where poverty and population are feeding each other. Education of girls is indeed the best anti-poverty tool. The caste division has also caused social inequality leading to exclusion and marginalisation. Lower caste people have traditionally been excluded from the mainstream society governed by the so-called upper castes. They have historically lived in isolation and in the periphery of villages and townships and performed only those tasks considered 'unfit' for other castes. As the Old Testament teaches us, society has to consider the least privileged within it in order to thrive: 'When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and widow.' These principles must prevail though we cannot eradicate poverty through charity. However, from the basic elements of biblical social justice an entire body of ethics has emanated. It is unfortunate that in the elation over victories in elections to high Constitutional offices, a section of the BJP leadership (ministers included) should actually lower the prestige of the President and Vice-President. Their contention after the election of Mr M Venkaiah Naidu that the advent of achche din would be accelerated by a common political philosophy binding the President, VicePresident, Prime Minister ~ and some add Speaker of the Lok Sabha ~ betrays narrow thinking. For the President and Vice President are deemed elevated above party politics, ideally the Speaker too should fall into the category but reality suggests otherwise. Particularly demeaned by that argument would be the Vice-President who presides over the Rajya Sabha, the dubious argument tends to confirm suspicions that the NDA nominated him for the appointment to address its shortage of numbers in the Upper House of Parliament. Mr Naidu has spoken in highly dignified and truly national terms after his election, whether the party leadership will facilitate his adhering to the ideals he has espoused is the question that arises in the context of the BJPs shared philosophy proposition. For both Mr Ram Nath Kovind and Mr Venkaiah Naidu would appear to be under pressure to deliver on the partys agenda. And that would inject a degree of relevance to what both Mrs Meira Kumar and Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi said after the numbers crunched against them ~ they had contested to project certain principles. The BJP argument also renders a trifle hollow all the praise that Mr Narendra Modi has been showering on the former President, Mr Pranab Mukherjee. Will the party come clean on what it perceived as hindrances to the government posed by Mr Mukherjee and Mr Mohd. Hamid Ansari? If the NDA government ran into difficulties in the Rajya Sabha it was because it did not have the numbers to carry the House (and often failed to present the numbers it did own), for which the Chairman was in no way responsible. More effective management of parliamentary affairs might have paid better dividends than the excessive focus on strength in the directly elected Lok Sabha. Managing the Upper House could prove the acid test of Mr Venkaiah Naidus claim to have relinquished (albeit with much reluctance) his formal party affiliation. It is time that the Prime Minister leads the party out of electoral-mode ~ it has won/wangled its way to little-imagined success ~ and sets about a genuine makeover ahead of 2019. For it has a long way to go, before it dispels a host of negative impressions, and becomes more widely acceptable. The veiled suggestion that it has now cleared the speedbreakers does not point to travelling in the same direction that ensured Atal Behari Vajpayee earned unlimited trust and affection. Actors Vishal and Vinay Rai suffered injuries while shooting an action sequence for upcoming Tamil investigative thriller "Thupparivaalan". However, there is nothing to worry about, a source in the know said. The team of "Thupparivaalan", being directed by Mysskin, is currently shooting in Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. "The shooting has been happening in the forest area of Pichavaram near Chidambaram. Last evening (Monday), Vishal and Vinay suffered injuries while canning an action scene," the source from the film's unit told IANS. Vishal was hurt in the knee while Vinay injured his shoulders. "Their injuries were not serious but the shoot had to be stalled for a few hours. Later in the night, they resumed shooting," he said. The film features Vishal in the role of a detective. Prasanna, Anu Emmanuel, Andrea and Simran play important roles. Had IAS officer's daughter Varnika Kundu not reported the stalking case to the police, the biggest truth about the family's wrongdoings may not have come to the fore. By Manjeet Sehgal: The Chandigarh high profile stalking case has blown off the lid of the wrongdoings of Baralas, one of the most influential family in Haryana after BJP formed a government in the state. Had IAS officer's daughter Varnika Kundu not reported the stalking case to the police, the biggest truth about the family's wrongdoings may not have come to the fore. The Chandigarh stalking case is not an isolated example which indicts Baralas. A case dates to May 7 where a case was registered against two cousins of alleged stalker Vikas Barala, Vikram Barala, alias Vicky and Kuldeep Barala. The cases was registered under Sections 323, 341, 506 and 427 of the IPC in a Tohana, Fatehabad police station. advertisement ABDUCTED A MINOR GIRL The accused Vikram Barala, alias Vicky and Kuldeep Barala allegedly abducted a minor girl and later threatened her with the help of police which did not register a case against the accused as they were Baralas, relatives of Haryana BJP Chief Subhash Barala. Fearing the wrath of police and BJP goons, the victim's family was compelled to leave Badhai Khera village, Fatehabad after the incident. This is the ancestral village of Baralas. "They were threatening us. We were compelled to leave the village," the girl who was abducted told India Today. This case came up for hearing on Tuesday. The court has directed the state government and police to file a status report about the case. YOUTH BEATEN UP AND LOCKED INSIDE VIKRAM BARALA CAR'S DICKEY Besides the abduction, the accused Vikram Barala alias Vickey is also accused of beating up a youth and then locking him inside the dickey of his car. A case under section 323, 341, 506 and 427 of the IPC was registered against Vicky at a Tohana police station last month but he is roaming free. Tohana police is yet to arrest the accused Vikram and Kuldeep Barala. Kuldeep was found shaming the Chandigarh stalking victim Varnika Kundu on social media by sharing a party picture allegedly showing her. ALSO READ: How fake photos became a part of the BJP's social media narrative Chandigarh stalking: After SC lawyer, BJP spokesperson Shaina NC shares photo to spread fake narrative We shall NOT back out: Chandigarh stalking victim's father makes stand clear in Facebook post WATCH : Chandigarh woman stalked by Haryana BJP chief's son narrates ordeal to India Today --- ENDS --- French President Emmanuel Macron has come under fire over plans to give his wife official status as "First Lady" of the country, the media reported. Macron, who took office in May, is facing accusations of hypocrisy after he was previously outspoken in his determination to rid the French political system of nepotism, reports CNN. A petition with close to 200,000 signatures has been launched in protest at the decision to give Brigitte Macron an official role with access to public funds, her own staff and office. "Brigitte Macron currently has a team of two or three aides, as well as two secretaries and two security agents. That's enough," the petition said. "It is up to the people of France and no-one else to choose their representatives." According to the French constitution, the president's spouse does not enjoy an official role, though they do have an office and advisers. During his presidential campaign, Macron said any role for his wife would not be paid for out of public funds. The controversial move comes as Macron is preparing to pass a law which would ban French parliamentarians from employing members of their own families. If Macron's law is passed, anyone convicted of such an offence could face fines and potential time in prison, CNN reported. Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers have voiced their anger at the apparently contradictory positions adopted by Macron. Ugo Bernalicis, of the far-left coalition La France Insoumise, on Monday accused Macron's party of hypocrisy for speaking out against jobs for MPs' families but backing an official status for Brigitte Macron, "who was elected by no-one". Republican National Assembly member Thierry Mariani accused the President of taking a "do as I say, not as I do" approach to politics. The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday issued a notice to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to appoint a new party leader following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court. The poll panel stated that a disqualified legislator cannot hold any position in a political party under the Political Parties Order 2002, Daily Pakistan reported. The notification also referred to the July 28 apex court ruling in the Panama Papers case in which Sharif was formally asked to step down as Prime Minister over undeclared assets. The verdict stated that he was not "honest" and "truthful" as per the country's Constitution. The poll panel said that Article 15 of the PML-N's own party constitution stipulates that if the seat of party President is vacant, it is to be filled within one week's time. Shortly after the ECP's notification, the PML-N held a high-level meeting of senior party members, including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Dawn newspaper reported. The poll panel notice comes a day before Sharif is set to travel to Lahore for a "historic" two-day rally by the PML-N to garner much-needed political mileage in the face of the challenges its government is facing, the daily reported. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan urged the PML-N to distance itself from the ousted Premier, warning that it would "ruin itself" if it did not do so. Khan had also alleged that Sharif's plan to travel to Lahore with a cavalcade was a "deliberate attempt to undermine the Supreme Court" by calling into question its verdict in the Panama Papers case. Sharif, however, said that the procession was not "a protest" but "a journey back home" that he was undertaking because "risks need to be taken for the country". The last days of the Newfie Pride There were many nights he didnt sleep. The numbers and scenarios turned over and over in his mind, making rest impossible. Id get up two, three oclock in the morning, night after night, come out to the kitchen table and work the numbers every ... By PTI: Kerala Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 7 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of "propagating lies" to "defame" the state, a day after Union minister Arun Jaitley charged the ruling CPI(M) of unleashing violence and eliminating rivals. Vijayan made the accusation even as the issue of political violence involving members of the CPI(M) and the BJP rocked the first day of the state Assembly, leading to its adjournment after the Congress-led UDF opposition stalled the proceedings. "RSS is the champion of propagating lies. And that they are doing now. People of Kerala know about RSS...because of that we have no fear of that propaganda," Vijayan told a national TV channel when asked about the proposed demonstration by the RSS on August 9 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to protest against the violence in the state. advertisement Apparently responding to Jaitley who had said the onus of ending violence rested with the state government, Vijayan said his government had taken "stringent impartial measures" to contain and prevent violence. Describing the BJP/RSS campaign as "malicious", Vijayan told NDTV that they were not against the LDF government or Left parties, "but against the people of Kerala, the most peaceful state in the country." "The propaganda is not in the interest of our state, our country and people. These people do not have any logic in using such terms or words," he said referring to remarks that brutality against BJP cadres was similar to that unleashed by the Taliban. Lashing out at the BJP/RSS, he said "they have no worries about propagating lies. It is a well planned campaign to defame the state and its people. We are aware of it, though not worried." "We have also asked all political parties to take utmost vigil to ensure that their followers are not indulging in violence. There may be criminal elements which might have crept into political parties. Political parties should deal with them," he said. "They are criminals and they should not protect such elements when government takes legal measures," he said. The people of Kerala know that the government had taken "stringent impartial" measures to contain and prevent violence. Jaitley yesterday accused the CPI(M) of unleashing its cadres for "eliminating rivals and creating en environment of violence". Pointing out that Kerala was the "most peaceful state," Vijayan said authentic data will prove the states claim. According to various surveys, the state tops with regard to law and order, was free from communal riots, lowest crime rates against adivasis and dalits, he said. Hitting out at the Congress party, he said "Congress is joining the propaganda with political motives," he said, adding it will also harm the states investment prospects and tourism industry.PTI UD JRK LGK BN GSN GSN --- ENDS --- Regarding WAPO science writer Sarah Kaplans recent review of scientific commentary on the UFO phenomenon, she seems oblivious to a basic truth: There is a distinct and fundamental difference between merely having an opinion, and having an informed opinion, on any given topic. This holds true for scientists and laypersons alike. Because very, very few scientists have actually studied the UFO phenomenon before holding forth, their pronouncements about it must be viewed for what they really are: Pontification with little or no data to support their dismissive assessments. By Robert Hastings The UFO Chronicles 8-8-17 From time to time in the history of science, situations have arisen in which a problem of ultimately enormous importance went begging for adequate attention simply because that problem appeared to involve phenomena so far outside the current bounds of scientific knowledge that it was not even regarded as a legitimate subject of serious scientific concern. That is precisely the situation in which the UFO problem now lies. One of the principal results of my own recent intensive study of the UFO enigma is this: I have become convinced that the scientific community, not only in this country but throughout the world, has been casually ignoring as nonsense a matter of extraordinary scientific importance.1 Dr. James E. McDonald Senior Physicist, Institute of Atmospheric Physics Professor of Meteorology, University of Arizona 1. McDonald, Dr. James E. Prepared Statement before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, July 29, 1968 2. [Tucson, AZ] Daily Citizen, March 1, 1967 3. http://files.ncas.org/ufosymposium/mcdonald.html 4. McDonald, Dr. James E. Prepared Statement before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, July 29, 1968 5. McDonald, Dr. James E. Oral Statement before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, July 29, 1968 UFOs and Nukes: Extraordinary Encounters at Nuclear Weapons Sites, Granted, while Kaplan mentions the investigative efforts of astronomer Dr. J. Allen Hynekwhose initial skepticism about UFOs was eventually discarded, after he analyzed a number of genuinely inexplicable sighting reports compiled by the U.S. Air Force during the 1960sshe devotes most of her article to touting the demonstrably uninformed utterances of UFO skeptics such as physicist Enrico Fermi and SETI specialist Jill Tartar.Perhaps most telling, Kaplan completely ignores (or is unaware of) the published remarks of the late Dr. James McDonald, one of only a handful of physicists who actually engaged in UFO research, who wrote,McDonald was especially unhappy with the initial skepticism exhibited by Dr. Hynek during his tenure as scientific consultant to the USAFs chief UFO project, Blue Book. After personally reviewing a large quantity of UFO reports held by the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, McDonald wrote, There are hundreds of good cases in the Air Force files that should have led to top-level scientific scrutiny of [UFOs] years ago, yet these cases have been swept under the rug in a most disturbing way by Project Blue Book investigators and their consultants.Despite, or perhaps because of, the Air Forces ongoing attempts to suppress the frequently high-quality data on UFOs it collected, McDonald began to investigate the phenomenon on his own time and at his own expense, while ignoring the very real risk to his scientific reputation.This diligence paid off and, by 1968, McDonald was widely regardedalthough not among his still-dubious peersas one of the worlds leading scientific experts on UFOs. Consequently, he was invited to address the United States Congress on the subject, during hearings held that year. McDonalds full statement before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, presented on July 29th, may be found in the U.S. Congressional Record, as well as on the Internet.While acknowledging that the overwhelming majority of UFO sightings undoubtedly had prosaic explanations, and that a great many questions about the phenomenon remained unanswered, McDonald succinctly summarized his conclusions regarding the most credible of the unexplained cases: My own present opinion, based on two years of careful study, is that UFOs are probably extraterrestrial devices engaged in something that might very tentatively be termed surveillance.Although this was merely an opinion, it was after all anopinion on UFOs, something very few other scientists could offer, then or now. Many of McDonalds published papers, private research notes, and personal letters relating to his investigations of the UFO phenomenon are now accessible at the University of Arizona, providing insight into the cautious reasoning underlying his dramatic conclusions.While most scientists (and science writers) are quick to dismiss as impossible the idea that UFOs are alien spacecraft, very few of them will ever make the effort to learn whether any evidence exists to suggest otherwise. Instead, they merely continue to assert that, as an idea, it simply does not work.This self-created impasse was mentioned by McDonald in his oral statement to Congress: We have tended to ignore [the UFO phenomenon] because we didn't think it made sense. It definitely defies any explanation, and hence the situation has evolved where we cant get going because we arent already going. The scientific community as a whole wont take this problem seriously because it doesn't have scientific data. They want instrumental data. Why don't they have instrumental data? Because the scientists dont take it seriously enough to get the scientific data. It is like the 20-year-old who cant get a job because he lacks experience, and he lacks experience because he hasnt had a job. In the same way you find the scientist wishing you would give him good hard meter readings and magnetometer traces, and so on. But we dont have [those data] yet because the collective body of scientists, including myself, have ignored UFOs.In other words, most scientists reject outright the validity of UFO research, refuse to engage in it, and deliberately ignore the intriguing data compiled by a handful of their more inquisitive, less-biased peers. If this were not enough, despite their profound unfamiliarity with the subject, many of these same intransigent individuals preach about UFOs in the most shameless and presumptuous manner. If they were to apply this same methodology to their own research, their colleagues might justifiably consider their conduct incompetent, if not fraudulent. Nevertheless, it is rare to hear a scientist speak knowledgeably about the UFO phenomenon and rarer still to find one who has actually studied it. Robert's newly revised book,is now available on Amazon Organisation: World Vision International Duty Station: Uganda Reports to: Project Manager About US: World Vision Uganda is a Christian Relief, Development and Advocacy Non-Government Organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. We currently work in over 41 districts in Uganda. World Vision is committed to the protection of children and we will not employ people whose background is not suitable for working with children. All employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of all applicable background checks, including criminal record checks where possible. Our Vision for every child, Life in all its fullness. Our prayer for every Heart, the will to make it so. About SCOPE Project: World Vision is implementing the Supporting Children Opportunities through Protection and Empowerment (SCOPE) Project funded by Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD) in collaboration with the World Bank. The project aims at enhancing response services and support violence prevention programs for child survivors and those at risk of sexual violence in Kamwenge and Kabarole Districts. The project is comprised of the following components: 1) enhancing response and prevention services for child survivors of sexual violence, and 2) supporting national and sub-national capacity for coordination and policy implementation Job Summary: The Project Officer will guide the implementation of project outputs for Supporting Community-Based Emergency Health Care and Psychosocial Support for Child Survivors of Sexual Violence project in Kamwenge and Kabarole Districts. Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities: Conduct sensitization meetings on psychosocial, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children (VAC) issues in selected communities. Hold quarterly Psychosocial and SGBV reflection meetings with stakeholders at sub county and district levels. Working hand in hand with the project manager and existing local structures, identify and recruit community Psychosocial and GBV facilitators Participate in training of community Psychosocial and GBV facilitators in psychosocial and GBV support Conduct fortnight support supervision to community Psychosocial and GBV facilitators Support project manager to organize and conduct debriefing sessions with community Psychosocial and GBV facilitators Actively participate in pre-assessment/post assessment sessions for child survivors and those at risk of sexual violence Ensure Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Groups (IPT-G) sessions with assessed child survivors and those at risk of sexual violence are conducted. Support in the orientation of district leadership and district health team (DHT) members from Kamwenge and Kabarole on SGBV and child-friendly services provision for survivors of sexual violence and those at risk. Take part in the map-out of service points and facilities in the proposed areas (5 sub counties) of operation in Kamwenge and Kabarole districts Participate in the assessment of capacity of health facilities to provide child friendly services for survivors of sexual violence Organize capacity training for health workers on SGBV, child friendly services including ethical record keeping based on standard guidelines and protocols Facilitate bi-annual coaching/mentorship for health workers on SGBV and child friendly services including ethical record keeping. Ensure that health facilities are equipped with safe spaces for child survivors of sexual violence. Identify and create/establish safe space in two health facilities Equip safe spaces with information, education and communication (IEC) materials (e.g. flip charts, TV sets and decoders etc.) Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The ideal candidate for the World Vision Project Officer SCOPE Project career opportunity should hold a Bachelors Degree in Community Psychology, community health, Social sciences, development studies, gender studies or related field. A minimum of three years experience in development work with a bias in community psychology, gender based violence, child protection community health. Previous exposure and experience in project planning and management of development projects/programs Broad knowledge and understanding of child protection systems, community based child protection, psychosocial care and support, are added advantages Self motivated with excellent leadership and time management skills How to Apply: All suitably qualified candidates are encouraged to apply online by visiting World Vision Internationals e-recruitment jobs portal at the web link below. Please follow instructions on How to Create Account and Profile at World Visions e-recruitment portal. Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. th August 2017 Deadline: 20August2017 The widows said that they requested PM Modi to take concerted steps for the uplift and empowerment of widows like them. By Siraj Qureshi: The happiness of Vrindavan widows in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh was indescribable when they returned to their ashram after getting a chance to tie a rakhi on the wrist of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Having gone to the Prime Minister's residence led by Vice-President of social service organization Sulabh International Vineeta Singh, Vrindavan widows Vrinda Dasi, Basanti, Kusum, Dropadi and Sarojini told India Today that they tied rakhis they had made with their own hands on the wrist of their 'brother' PM Narendra Modi and gave him their blessings. They said that they requested PM Modi to take concerted steps for the uplift and empowerment of widows like them. They also apprised him of the appalling condition in which most widows and elderly women were forced to live in old-age homes in the country. advertisement In response to this request, PM Modi promised to see to it at the level of the Central government that widows living in Vrindavan had access to all the basic amenities needed for a comfortable life.The widows were glad to hear this assurance. Basanti Dasi, who had gone to the PM's house, said that Modi does not make tall and empty promises, but also makes sure that the same are implemented. She said that the Vrindavan widows completely trusted the Prime Minister and believed that the central government would surely do something very soon for them. Commenting on the PM's way of working, Congress leader Mohd. Sharif Kale said that there is a vast difference between what the PM says and what he does. "Modi had promised Agra the moon when he came to this city in 2013 during his electoral campaign. But three years hence, none of his promises appear to have been implemented. How can people believe that this time Modi will honor his word to the widows. Even this promise made by Modi, like those earlier, is just another example of empty talk." Kale went on to say that it had been three years since Modi came to power and this was the first time he had promised something for the welfare of hundreds of widows living in a miserable condition in Vrindavan. "How is it possible that a 'brother' was not already aware of the conditions his 'sisters' were living in when this has been repeatedly reported by the media? It clearly appears that Modi's every move is politically motivated. By this Rakshabandhan 'stunt', he is trying to prove himself a well-wisher of the poor women and get any mileage he can from the situation." Also Read : Vrindavan widows hope PM Narendra Modi will change their lives this Rakshabandhan You do not care about widows, Supreme Court blasts Centre, imposes Rs 1 lakh fine --- ENDS --- A cafe in Melbourne announced that they were introducing an 18 per cent surcharge on their male customers to address the issue of the gender pay gap. According to the house rules in the cafe, women will get priority seating. As one would expect, Twitter reactions flew in thick and fast. Some supported the move, calling it 'progressive', while others attacked it. The discussion even veered off into justifications for the wage gap between men and women. The Congress on Tuesday moved the Election Commission demanding cancellation of votes of its two MLAs, who cross-voted in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections and allegedly showed the ballots to BJP leaders against the rules. Talking to reporters after petitioning the Election Commission, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the two MLAs had shown their votes after marking them to BJP president Amit Shah, union Minister Smriti Irani and former Congress MLA who switched to BJP Balwantsinh Rajput - all candidates in the election - against the conduct of election rules. "The votes cannot be accepted at any cost. They should be rejected. The entire event has been recorded in video. We have requested the Election Commission to reject the votes," Surjewala said. He cited the example of a Rajya Sabha election in which he claimed that the vote of the Congress Legislature Party leader was cancelled on similar grounds. Party leader R.P.N. Singh, who was also part of the Congress delegation, said the Election Commission had told them that they will seek a report from the returning officer. "We have demanded that the election should be stopped. The Election Commission should ask for the video and take a decision after examining it," he said. "We have faith that the Election Commission will act to save democracy," he added. A 'sulking' Digvijaya Singh, who was removed as the general secretary in-charge of Telangana by the Congress recently, has reportedly asked the party to relieve him from all responsibilities, so that he can go on a spiritual padyatra across Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, his home state. Known for his controversial statements, it will not be easy for Congress to deal with a leader like Digvijaya. He is an essential evil for Congress in Madhya Pradesh, if not at the national level. Digvijaya claims he is the disciple of legendary Congressman, Dwarka Prasad Mishra. Mishra used to say 'a politician's death does not come from removal or resignation from a post of power but his fading away from public memory'. Digvijaya, who was the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh 14 years back, has not adorned any post of power since. Yet, he likes to claim that he is a "front-line leader" in the oldest party of India. Digvijaya failed to install a Congress government in Goa despite getting support from maximum number of MLAs. The poor coordination among leaders of the state, when he was the in-charge general secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC), also contributed to his fall in grace from the eyes of the partys top leadership. He was in charge of Karnataka and undivided Andhra Pradesh, but these responsibilities were taken away one-by-one. Digvijaya Singh knows well that politics in Congress begins from Gandhi family. All those who have 'fallen out' with the ring of high command have never gained. There are two portraits hanging side by side in Digvijayas office in 68, Lodhi Estate of New Delhi. In one, Rajiv Gandhi is walking with his mother Indira Gandhi and listening patiently. In the other, Rahul Gandhi is talking to his mother Sonia Gandhi. Digvijaya Singh shares a unique connection with all the four. It was Rajiv Gandhi who promoted him in politics. In recent times, he was one of the main advisors of Rahul Gandhi. However, times have changed. Now, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh is planning to hit the roots again. Since, he does not find any place in Rahul Gandhi's new team, he has decided to do a religious-spritual padyatra along the banks of river Narmada. Pilgrims walk around the banks of Narmada starting from Amarkantak to Arabian Sea in Gujarat, a stretch of over 3,000 kilometres covering both banks. His yatra, despite his claim that it is a private one, has evinced keen interest in Madhya Pradesh. With elections due next year in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the Congress is finding it difficult to deal with Digvijaya. He has immense clout among the Congressmen of the states. His faction is considered to be very powerful. But many leaders in the state say that Congress is in opposition due to his 10-year-rule, which was very unpopular amongst the masses. Since Digvijaya does not have any work at national level now, he plans to explore his state. "Digvijaya Singh is the only politician in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, who is known everywhere and who knows every Congressman right down to the block level. He can speak with a Congress leader in a crowded Bastar rally on first name basis," says Satyanarayan Sharma, senior Congress leader of Raipur and former minister. Spokesperson and Congress leader from Bhopal J.P. Dhanopia says, "Digvijaya Singh is like encyclopedia of Madhya Pradesh Congress and he knows the strength and weakness of party in every pocket of the state". Though everybody in Madhya Pradesh Congress recognises the importance of Digvijaya, almost every leader, including his supporters, want him to stay behind the curtains. "The 10 year reign of Digvijaya is one of those periods in the history of state when sadak, bijli and pani were at their worst. He will be an asset to party if his role is limited as a master strategist. It will damage the prospects, if he is allowed to campaign in public asking for votes," says a former minister of Madhya Pradesh. However, Digvijaya himself has clarified number of times that he has no interest in state politics and would continue to be at the Centre. According to a senior Congress leader, the party high command is aware of the fact that Digvijaya is not very popular among masses and have handed leadership to new faces like Arun Yadav. Jyotiraditya Scindia, another leader of the state, has also openly expressed his desire to lead the Congress. However, the party is yet to take a decision as the assembly polls are due next year in November. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday met her arch rival and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah to shore up support for the defence of state subject law- Article 35Athe constitutionality of which has been challenged in Supreme Court by RSS proxy, an NGO, ''We the Citizens''. The PDP, which is in coalition with the BJP, is facing intense pressure due the BJP-ruled Centre's indifference, as opposed to the steps taken three times1956, 1961 and 1970by previous governments at the Centre. The Supreme Court, however, admitted the plea after Advocate General K. Venugopal told the bench of chief justice J.S. Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that the petition against Article 35A raised "very sensitive" questions that required a "larger debate". That left the PDP in a very precarious position. The development has caused a lot of anxiety in Kashmir across the board, among the supporters of mainstream and separatists alike. The political leaders and the people are sure the move to challenge Article 35A, which was issued under a presidential order by former president Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1956 to clarify and recognise the different status of permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, is aimed at changing the demography by of the state to tackle the Kashmir issue as per RSS plans. Mehboobas unscheduled meeting with Farooq came a day after the NC president warned of a revolt of much greater magnitude than the Amarnath land row in 2008, if Article 35A is abrogated by Supreme Court. Under Article 35A, citizens of other states cannot acquire immovable property or have the voting rights in Jammu and Kashmir. Charu Wali Khanna, a Kashmir Pandit married a non-JK resident has also challenged the legality of the Article 35A in the Supreme Court on the grounds that the law disenfranchises and takes away her succession rights. Mehbooba Mufti discussed the current political situation in the state and majority of the meeting focused on discussion article 35A, '' said NC spokesman Junaid Matto. ''The chief minister expressed her desire to have a political consensus on this issue.'' Matto said the NC president advised the chief minister to consult like minded parties on this issue to forge consensus and get the best legal support to defend the case. Farooq had chaired a meeting of all major opposition parties including Congress, CPI(M) and others on Monday to chalk out the response against any move to abrogate Article 35A. The opposition has vowed to resist any move and warned an agitation in case the provision in the constitution is scrapped Mehboobas meeting with Farooq came hours after she publicly vowed to protect the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as enshrined in the Constitution of India. The special status enjoyed by the State under the Constitution needs to be protected and preserved. We have our own flag, isnt it our great strength?'' she said at a rally in Budgam. ''We have the power to legislate, isnt it an out great power?. No outsider can buy land in J&K, isn't it our strength? Dont we have to protect it? We have to protect it. She said Jammu and Kashmir have enacted its own (GST) law which no other state in the country has. The guarantees carried in the said presidential order reflect the special status Jammu and Kashmir enjoys within the Constitution, she said Mehbooba said the opening of the historic routes along LoC in the state, frequent exchange of students, artists and other groups are the ideas which once worked, and would bring lasting peace in the state by promoting more people to people exchanges. Not only Muzaffarabad or Rawalakote roads, but all roads like Kargil-Skardu and Jammu-Sialkote should be opened. Jammu and Kashmir should be un-caged from all sides; that are what azadi is, she stressed. Social activist Medha Patkar and other protesters were hospitalised last night by police on the 12th day of the indefinite fast over rehabilitation of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) oustees, even as the Madhya Pradesh government assured to look after the well-being of the displaced people. Patkar, the leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, and her associates had been on a hunger strike at Chikhalda village of Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district since July 27. "Patkar and other protesters were removed by the police from the spot as their condition deteriorated," said Indore Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Dube. Patkar has been taken to a private hospital in Indore. "She was hospitalised because her medical report said there was danger to her life due to the fasting," Dube said, adding, "She was conscious and in a condition to speak". The protesters, including Patkar, were taken in different ambulances and admitted to different hospitals, he said. "Doctors advised immediate medical attention for @medhanarmada ji & her colleagues due to high ketone & sugar posing threat to their lives (sic)," chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan posted on Twitter. Moving them to the hospital was required to ensure their well-being and long life. The authorities had to take this decision in the best interest of the protestors, he said. "We reiterate that we have completed R&R work as per directions of Supreme Court and are committed to continuing the work wherever needed. As a Pratham Sevak of the state, it is my commitment to looking after the wellbeing of people of MP, particularly of displaced families," Chouhan said, in a series of tweets. However, Himshi Singh, an activist, claimed, "Of the 12 agitators, six, including Patkar, were taken from the protest site, while remaining six were not removed." According to Singh, Patkar, before police took her away, said in a recorded message that the MP government had replied to her agitation by arresting all of them. "This was their reply to a non-violent agitation on the issue. There is no space for serious dialogue in the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It was a murder of Mahatma Gandhi's dreams by those who don't have faith in Babasaheb Ambedkar's constitution," Singh quoted Patkar as saying. "The country has to decide that in future no development will take place by displacing people," Patkar said in the message. Singh claimed that police baton-charged the protesters and dismantled the tent where Patkar was on fast. Additional Director General of Police, Indore, Ajay Sharma said no force was used by the policemen while taking the protestors to hospitals. "However, some protesters reacted aggresively, resulting in injuries to some policemen," ADG Sharma said. Divisional Commissioner Dube said some official vehicles were also damaged as some of the protesters turned violent, adding the situation at the protest site was under control. Congress leader Ajay Singh condemned the "lathi-charge on protesters". Thousands of families along the Narmada river in MP's Barwani, Dhar, Alirajpur and Khargone districts are at risk of getting displaced with the closing of gates of Sardar Sarovar Dam in neighbouring Gujarat and the resultant rise in water level in its catchment area. The Centre recently gave the nod for closing the gates. The water level in the catchment area reached 121.90 metres, nearing the danger mark set at 123 metres. The dam is likely to be filled to its capacity by August-end. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued a notice to the PML(N) calling for removing Nawaz Sharif as party leader and appointing a new one. The ECP in the notice stated that under the Political Parties Order 2002, a disqualified lawmaker cannot hold any office in a political party, the Dawn reported. The notification also referred to the Supreme Court order on the Panama Papers case, in which Nawaz Sharif was formally asked to step down as prime minister. The ECP also observed that Article 15 of the PML(N)'s own party constitution says that if the seat of party president is vacant, it is to be filled within one week's time. The ECP asked the PML(N) to elect a new party leader and then inform the body. The notice assumes much significance as it comes a day before Nawaz Sharif is set to hod a two-days road show from Islamabad to his hometown of Lahore to garner much-needed political mileage in the face of the challenges its government is facing. His rival, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has urged the PML(N) to distance itself from the ousted premier, warning that it would "ruin itself" if it did not do so. Khan described Sharif's plan to travel to Lahore with a cavalcade on GT Road a "deliberate attempt to undermine the Supreme Court" by calling into question its verdict in the Panama Papers case. Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court on 28 July for not disclosing the salary he did not receive from his son's company. By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) West Bengal accounts for the largest number of companies on the list of 331 suspected shell firms, referred by income tax department and SFIO to regulator Sebi for further action. Besides, Gujarat and Delhi also account for a large number of such firms, against which the capital market regulator Sebi has recommended trading restrictions by the stock exchanges. advertisement The list was referred to Sebi by the Corporate Affairs Ministry on suspicion raised by various departments and agencies, as per the documents. These companies include Parsvnath Developers, J Kumar Infraprojects, Orissa Sponge Iron and Steel, Birla Cotsyn, Prakash Industries and SQS India BFSI Ltd. While at least 124 companies are believed to be under scanner for alleged tax evasion, further 175 firms were being investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). An analysis of the list shows that at least 127 West Bengal-based companies are on the list, while there are 50 from Maharashtra and more than 30 from Gujarat and Delhi each. There are also companies from Odisha, Assam, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu. In a communication sent to the BSE, the NSE and the Metropolitan Stock Exchange yesterday, Sebi has asked them to keep the 331 shares in stage six of the Graded Surveillance Mechanism (GSM) with immediate effect. These entities would be subject to independent audit and if required, forensic audits could also be initiated to check their credentials. Securities coming in stage six are permitted to trade only once a month under trade to trade category. Further, any upward price movement would not be permitted beyond the last traded price while additional surveillance deposit of 200 per cent of trade value would be collected from the buyers. This amount would be retained by the exchanges for five months. Apart from initiating a "process of verifying the credentials/ fundamentals of such companies", the exchanges have also been asked to appoint an independent auditor to carry out audit of these entities. If necessary, even forensic audit could be ordered to verify their credentials and fundamentals. On verification, if the bourses do not find appropriate credentials or fundamentals about existence of these companies, they proceeding for "compulsory delisting" would be started. Besides, these entities would not be permitted to deal in any security on exchange platform and its holding in any depository account would be frozen till such delisting process is completed. "The shares held by the promoters and directors in such listed companies shall be allowed to be transferred by depositories only upon verification by concerned exchanges," as per the communication. They would not be allowed to transact in the security except to buy shares in the particular listed company until verification of credential is completed. Out of the list of shell companies, if securities of any of the listed company are under suspension, the trading in such securities shall be placed under stage four of the GSM directly on revocation of suspension, Sebi has told the exchanges. advertisement Parsvnath Developers, J Kumar Infraprojects and Prakash Industries, the firms identified by Sebi as suspected shell companies, said they are not shell companies and the suspicion of the regulator is uncalled for. "We are shocked to find our companys name amongst the list of suspected shell companies ... We are not a shell company by any stretch of imagination," Parsvnath Developers said. "Our companys compliance track record both with the exchanges and Registrar of Companies have been impeccable," J Kumar Infraprojects said in a regulatory filing to the bourses today. Prakash Industries said that directions issued by Sebi are "totally devoid of merit and uncalled for. Besides, there has never been a occasion when our company has indulged in any kind of malpractices in stock market". advertisement SQS India BFSI Ltd has expressed shock that it has been placed under the surveillance list even as it has been complying with all the norms under Companies Act and Sebi regulations. "We therefore find it quite shocking that the company has been placed under the surveillance list and we would provide all the necessary details and extend all assistance to co- operate with the authorities and get the matter resolved quickly," the company said. As part of efforts to curb the black money menace, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has already cancelled the registration of more than 1.62 lakh companies that have not been carrying out business activities for long. The ministry is implementing the Companies Act and firms are required to be registered under this law. While the term shell company is not defined under the Companies Act, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley, last month, told the Lok Sabha that many such entities have been found to be indulging in large scale tax violations. advertisement Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said 37,000 shell companies indulging in tax evasion had been detected and more than three lakh firms were under the scanner for suspicious dealings, post demonetisation. PTI SP BJ MR --- ENDS --- For the 15th time, an elected Pakistani prime minister has found his term aborted. Usually, it is the army that is responsible. This time, it is the judiciary. The supreme court has decreed that Nawaz Sharif is neither sadiq (truthful) nor ameen (honest), qualifications that in Pakistan are somewhat hilariously considered to be constitutionally indispensable to holding high office. In popular perception, this is the playing out of Panamagate, the worldwide scandal that arose out of a host of media outlets, including The Indian Express, having been given a peek at papers leaked from a financial intermediarys office in a country hitherto known only as somewhere through which a canal was cut to link the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. It was also a country associated with drug running and dictators. After the leak, it has become a word synonymous with high-level corruption. To Sharifs chagrin, the leaked papers included a bulky sheaf pertaining to his family. That provided the opening to Pakistans highest court to determine whether the federal government was in the hands of a man who reflected the high standards of character required of him by the constitution. Oddly, the courts verdict does not touch upon anything connected with the Panama papers. The sentence that debars Sharif relates to a Dubai company, Capital FZE, with which he is involved on a retainer of 10,000 dirhams (approximately Rs 1,75,000). Sharif defended himself by saying that he had not revealed this at the time of filing his nomination for the 2013 general elections because he had never drawn this remuneration. The court retorted that as he could at some time in the future have claimed this remuneration, his failure to declare this potential income amounted to an attempt to hide germane information from the public domain. The fact that he had disclosed billions of rupees in other assets, and was known to every elector as a staggeringly rich businessman, quite possibly the wealthiest in Pakistan, was not considered to be a mitigating or extenuating circumstance. Since he had not disclosed a sum of money he had never received (and might well have considered as petty cash) the sword of judicial wrath fell on him. In India, disqualification follows the assumption of an office of profit while holding a legislative position. But holding such an office is not a disqualification if the post is held outside government; it applies only if the profit is received, or has been paid in the past, from the government treasury. When I was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in March 2010, rumour reached my ears that Arun Jaitley, then leader of the opposition in the upper house, intended to raise the question as to whether I had disqualified myself by not resigning from my earlier position of honorary adviser to the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training before my nomination was announced. While I thought the fact that the position was honorary would get me off the hook, the attorney general told me not to worry, the post was under the legislature, not the executive, and could not, therefore, be brought under the ambit of the law on office of profit, which related exclusively to posts under the government. (Jaitley himself never pursued the matter and told me he never had any intention of doing so). Therefore, the Pakistani law on the disqualification of elected legislators, in this instance, cannot be compared with the Indian law as a way of understanding the judgement of the Pakistan supreme court. Commenting on the judgment, well-known Pakistani barrister, Salahuddin Ahmed, writing in Pakistans leading newspaper, Dawn, argues that whereas in corporate returns it is normal practice to indicate receivables, even if not received, and expenses when contracted for but not yet incurred in personal tax returns, the law requires the disclosure of only what has been actually received and, if expenses are claimed for deductions, of what has actually been spent (not to be potentially spent at a later date). Since, at the time of filing his nomination, and through the entire period of him being prime minister, Sharif had not received any income from this source, he was entitled to not describe as an asset his receivables from his position on the board of the Dubai company. Family plan: Nawaz Sharifs brother Shahbaz, who is expected to take over soon as prime minister | AFP Salahuddin adds that as a lawyer himself, he has several clients who refuse to pay up. In his income tax returns, he does not disclose this incomedue, but not received from defaulters. He only includes income actually received. On this analogy, is Sharif to be damned as untruthful and dishonest because he did not disclose a source of income from which a sum of money may have been due to him, but which he never received? Another Pakistani commentator, Fakir Syed Aijazuddin, who is a chartered accountant, adds the dimension that company law requires that remuneration to a chairman or director be approved by the AGM (annual general meeting) before it is paid. Since the AGM of the Dubai company has made no decision on paying any remuneration to Sharif, he is surely entitled to not disclose, at the time of filing his nomination, the source of a future income that he might or might not actually receive. There is, therefore, something dodgy about not only the judiciarys finding of guilt, but also over whether the judiciary overstepped its jurisdiction in awarding such a harsh sentence on grounds of a lack of full rectitude. One is reminded of the Allahabad High Court judgment in the 1975 Indira Gandhi case (described at the time by The Times, London, as dismissing a prime minister for a parking offence) that brought on the Emergency. Is there a similar political crisis in the offing? Hardly. Anticipating the possibility of the court pulling him down, Sharif arranged his political succession as smoothly as, one presumes, he has arranged for the transfer of his humongous assets to his successors after he passes on. He selected his faithful minister of petroleum (as a former petroleum minister myself, I can assure you they are loyal and reliable, quite sadiq and ameen!) to follow him in the interim while his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, long-time chief minister of Pakistans largest and most populous province, Punjab, completes the formalities to take over as prime minister. A family succession has also been put into effect without a hitch in the provincial capital of Lahore. Sharif himself may, for the moment, be history, but he continues to loom over the politics of both the country and its dominant province. Moreover, the next round of general elections is due a few months from now. And, as Scarlett OHara famously said in Gone with the Wind, Tomorrow is another day! If Sharif had dug in his heels and refused to heed the supreme court verdict, a quite different scenario might have played out: a coup to bring yet another military dictator to the top. But whatever devious games the armed forces might have been up to (in collusion with the judiciary or otherwise), they have kept themselves in the background even as Sharif manages his own succession in such a manner that hitherto untainted (or, at least, unconvicted) members of his immediate family pick up the reins of office. There is no present reason or rationale or compulsion for the army to overtly take over. Of course, the army, as Pakistans largest undeclared national political party, will continue to be a decisive player in politics, especially on defence and national security issues, particularly relations with neighbours (especially India) and the major powers, but that is par for the course. Much may have changed for Sharif, but little has changed for India. As for the Panama papers, the supreme court has merely referred those to appropriate authorities for investigation. We do not know what these investigations will uncover, but it would be fair to guess that they would come to the same conclusion that the Indian Supreme Courts special investigation team arrived at on Prime Minister Narendra Modis role in the Gujarat pogrom of 2002: that the evidence secured is not prosecutable! Working arrangement: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who has been elected as interim prime minister till Shahbaz takes over | AP Also, going by the snails pace at whichboth in Pakistan and Indiacrimes are investigated and prosecuted, it would be reasonable to assume that nothing of substance will happen before the 2018 general elections are upon Pakistan. Imran Khan has been handed a splendid whip to flay his principal opponent. But does the Pakistani voter careany more than the Indian voter caresabout corruption charges? After all, eight of Modis cabinet ministers and two ministers of state have admitted to criminal charges pending against them in affidavits filed at the time of contesting the elections. Yet, they won. Why should Pakistan be any different? The widespread belief in Pakistan is that corrupt and criminal representatives are preferable to having selfdeclared sadiq and ameen military men wandering the corridors of political power. So, my best bet is that while Panamagate might make for headlines, it is not going to disrupt Pakistans desperate efforts to evolve into a credible democracy, warts and all. As for us in India, Sharifs departure may perhaps have closed what little opening there was for a resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue that Modi has so effectively stalled. And it would be an illusion to hold out any hope of current tensions being eased by his younger brother taking over. Therefore, as much for India as for Pakistan, nothing changes. We are where we were, in a cul-de-sac. Instead of being smug and sententious about everything that happens in Pakistan, we should be working on ways of initiating an uninterrupted and uninterruptible dialogue with whoever is in office in Pakistan. The alternative is of fanatical religion-drugged terrorists, backed or not by the deep state, determining the India-Pakistan agenda. We have rendered ourselves hostage to the worst elements in Pakistan, forgetting that in two successive and wholly democratic elections in Pakistan, spread over close to a decade, all mainstream political parties pledged themselves to seeking better relations with India and eschewed making Kashmir a make-or-break issuewith the exception of the Jamaat-e-Islami. And the Jamaat was rewarded both times with just two seats. Instead of prejudice and bias, it is a hard look at Pakistans ground reality that should guide and determine Indias Pakistan policy. Pakistan is a kinetic enemy, but a potential friend. If only we had the courage to talk to them instead of inflicting on them our television anchors. The Supreme Court today rejected a petition pleading that yoga be made compulsory in schools, saying the matter was for the legislature to decide. By India Today Web Desk: A petition asking for yoga to be made compulsory in schools across the country from class 1 to 8 has been rejected by the Supreme Court. The apex court told the petitioners - lawyer and BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay and JC Seth - that such matter falls within the domain of the legislature, and the court cannot decide what is to be taught in schools. advertisement "We are nobody to say what is to be taught in schools. It is none of our business. How can we direct that," a bench headed by Justice MB Lokur said. "What is to be taught in schools is not a fundamental right," it said. Upadhyay had sought a direction to the Ministry of Human Resources Development, NCERT, NCTE and CBSE to "provide standard textbooks of 'yoga and health education' for students of Class 1-8 keeping in spirit various fundamental rights such as right to life, education and equality." The apex court had on November 29 last year asked the Centre to treat the petition as a representation and take a decision. The plea had said, "State has an obligation to provide health facilities to all the citizens, especially to children and adolescents. In a welfare state, it is obligation of the State to ensure the creation and sustenance of conditions congenial to good health." The petition further said that right to health cannot be secured without providing 'yoga and health education' to all children or framing a 'national yoga policy' to promote and propagate it. Since the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, promoting yoga has been one of its pet themes. The third edition of International Day of Yoga was celebrated across the world on June 22 this year. But the drive to promote yoga has also been criticised by the Opposition, which has accused the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, of pursuing its Hindutva agenda. (With inputs from Anusha Soni in New Delhi) ALSO READ | Yoga may help to reduce symptoms of depression, says study ALSO WATCH | Every gym junkie will love Ira Trivedi's 10-minute yoga routine --- ENDS --- High street fashion chain New Look has revealed plummeting sales and earnings due to a 'difficult' market and cautioned trading will remain under pressure into 2018. The fashion retailer posted a 60.3 per cent drop in underlying operating profits to 12.1 million for its first quarter to June 24 after UK like-for-like sales slipped 7.5 per cent. On a bottom line basis, the group fell into the red with losses after tax of 15.2 million against profits of 5.8 million a year earlier. Disappointing: New Look blamed its drop in sales on tough conditions on the high street. It blamed tough conditions on the high street, but its ranges have also missed the mark in recent months. The dismal results come just a month ahead of the introduction of its new chief creative officer Paula Dumont Lopez who is set join the retailer in September and was fundamental turning around fashion brand Espirit. She will be tasked with pushing to overhaul its clothing ranges and reducing its dependence on performance on the high street. Chief executive Anders Kristiansen said: 'As expected, the UK market has remained difficult, which has resulted in a disappointing quarter of trading.' A Fashion Model wearing clothing for the New Look chain He added: 'We expect the consumer economy to remain fragile and challenging market conditions to persist into 2018. The group is reducing its 'dependence' on the UK high street and said the group is 'confident that we will see improvements, but expect these to take time'. The group saw website sales also fall in the quarter, down 0.6 per cent, while overall brand sales dropped 8.2 per cent. New Look, owned by South African investment group Brait, has 890 stores, including 593 in the UK and a further 297 globally. Ross McEwan insisted it was not the responsibility of banks when customers give their account details or money to online scammers Victims of bank fraud should accept the blame and not expect automatic refunds, the boss of RBS warned yesterday. Ross McEwan insisted it was not the responsibility of banks when customers give their account details or money to online scammers. He said it would be too costly to cover all the losses and people should be more careful. Asked whether bailed-out RBS, which owns NatWest and has 24million customers, had a duty of care to victims, he replied: No. He added: We are working very hard to help customers detect when there are difficulties, but I think this has to be in partnership with the customer and with the bank. You cant keep blaming this on an organisation where customers dont take their own duty of care as well. He said imposing the costs on banks would only drive up fees and charges. Five million RBS customers use one of the mobile phone apps that banks are touting as they shut down branches. But at the same time online fraud is soaring and yesterday the Mail revealed that banks are facing more than one cyber attack a week as hackers try to breach their systems. Financial fraud cost the UK 2million a day in 2016 with the elderly disproportionately hit. RBS, which was saved with 46billion of public money during the financial crisis and is still state-owned, said in 2015 that 70 per cent of victims of fraud got nothing back. From January to September that year, almost 5,000 RBS customers were conned out of 25million 5,000 each on average. Campaigners said the push toward the internet made it increasingly important for banks to protect victims. Five million RBS customers use one of the mobile phone apps that banks are touting as they shut down branches It doesnt feel right that were willing to stand by and let people lose their life savings, said James Daley, founder of consumer body Fairer Finance. What kind of society are we if that can happen? People have to feel they can use their online banking system safely, and that the banks are there to protect them. Huge numbers of bank customers in rural areas, many of them pensioners, are being forced to sign up to online banking as branches shut down. RBS, which is still 71.5 per cent public-owned, has axed at least 853 outlets since 2008, and in March announced plans to scrap 150 more. Rules state that banks must refund victims of fraud unless they can prove negligence. That would cover cases where customers have divulged their details to a criminal whether by transferring funds to a fake account or falling for fake bank websites or bogus staff. The consumer group Which? has been calling for a rule change to force banks to pay compensation to those tricked into transferring money. Spokesman Gareth Shaw said: Banks are still placing too much responsibility on consumers to spot and protect themselves from sophisticated online scams. Weve heard from many people who have lost life-changing amounts of money through bank transfer fraud, through no fault of their own, who are unlikely to get their money back from the banks involved. RBS has hired more than 1,200 techXperts to help customers set up online and mobile bank accounts. Other lenders have similar schemes, with Barclays training 12,000 of its staff to be digital eagles. Online scammers have a range of tricks at their disposal. Often they pretend to be police informing a bank customer of an attempt to hack their account. They ask for money to be transferred into a new account that is then plundered. In other cases, a criminal will tell a small firms debtors to make payments to a new account again stealing the money. Mr McEwan, who was paid 3.5million last year, said imposing the costs on banks would only drive up fees and charges In both cases, the banks would not have to make refunds because the victims authorised the payments themselves. Mr McEwan, who was paid 3.5million last year, said: When people are passing their iPads or laptops over with their passwords and the likes, theres got to be a care here otherwise this will just become a major issue for all and the cost will pass through. He said RBS was testing technology at its private bank Coutts which spots unusual activity. Last September the Financial Ombudsman Service found against an RBS customer tricked into transferring 11,700 to fraudsters. Although RBS was able to get 5,400 back, it refused to give her the rest as a refund. The ombudsman ruled the lender did not have to repay the money because the payment was authorised. An RBS spokesman said: Where a customer has suffered loss we review their situation, establish the facts and make a decision on a case by case basis. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry Two state lawmakers are voicing opposition at plans to build a seven-story, 22-unit residential hotel in the heart of Jackson Heights. Mohammed Aziz, the president of Delight Construction Corporation in Astoria, filed plans with the citys Department of Buildings for the hotel at 37-38 73rd St., but state Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D-Jackson Heights) is calling on the city to deny the plans. He contends that Azizs record of attempting to corrupt a government official in Brooklyn has no place in the community. In 2012, investigators found that Aziz tried to give $5,000 to then Councilwoman Darlene Mealy in exchange for the favor of getting a contract through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Aziz pleaded guilty after he was caught on tape in 2011 handing cash to a cooperating witness. We do not repair New Yorks image as a swamp of political corruption by welcoming the same criminals to return back into the community to continue their business as usual, Moya said. Mr. Aziz pleaded guilty for the one pay-to-play scheme he was caught in the act for. It is unknown whether there were more instances of corruption beforehand, and it is unknown whether there will be more in the future, but we do know he has the character for that kind of behavior. Jackson Heights does not welcome Mr. Azizs new hotel because we do not have trust in his integrity. Aziz paid a $1,000 fine for the misdemeanor, and subsequently lost contracts with the city after being charged, Moya added. Aside from the $5,000 he was caught offering in 2011, he had been a major donor to political campaigns, donating thousands under his own name and his corporation. Allowing Aziz to develop in our community sends a signal that his criminal behavior is acceptable, Moya said. The $1,000 fine he paid for his charge was nothing but a slap on the wrist, but the loss of work with the city was the true punishment for the crime. It will be no punishment at all if Mr. Aziz is allowed to return, and Jackson Heights has no stomach for abetting criminals. Aziz could not be reached for comment. State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) objected to the project itself. Plans to construct a hotel on a small lot in a very congested area of Jackson Heights has one too many unanswered questions, especially since the developer is describing the project as a residential hotel, Peralta said. Since the area already has limited public services available, bringing more people into the community will put an extra burden on these limited resources. It is my hope the developer seeks input from the community board and community-based organizations to study if a seven-story, 22-unit hotel in this overcrowded area is needed. Aziz proposes to develop the hotel as a way station for new residents entering Jackson Heights while they seek permanent living accommodations. What impact will this hotel have on the quality of life of the neighbors and the neighborhood? Peralta asked. What about extra garbage pickups once it opens its doors? Are there going to be extra cleaning services on the streets in the area? How is it going to affect traffic? Clearly, there are a lot of questions that need an answer. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Philip Newman A 38-year-old Jamaica man has been charged with the attempted murder of two police officers who pulled him over but were injured when the motorist tried to drive away from the scene with one policeman hanging on, the Queens DA said. Kyle Freitstat, 38, was arraigned July 27 before Queens Criminal Court Judge Usher Pandit-Durant on a 16-count complaint, including attempted murder, assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon unlawful fleeing from a police officer, the DA said. The judge ordered the defendant held without bail pending trial. If convicted Freistat faces up to 25 years to life in prison, the district attorney said. This case clearly illustrates how dangerous police work is and why police officers are not permitted the luxury of assuming that any routine traffic stop is a routine matter, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. According to the charges, NYPD Officers Daniel Gaspertti and Anthony Arlistico of the 109th Precinct were on patrol on the afternoon of July 26 when they observed Freistat driving a black Nissan Maxima with a defective tail light and failing to come to full stop at a stop sign in the vicinity of 173-110 Ave. in Jamaica. The complaint alleged that when the two officers pulled the vehicle over, Freistat produced a forged U.S. Virgin Island drivers license. At the time Gaspertti was standing at the front drivers side door of the vehicle and Arlistico was on the front passenger side. When Freistat refused to get out of his car and when Gaspertti opened the front drivers side, Freistat allegedly sped forward, trapping Gaspertti with the car door open and dragging him until the defendant struck a parked car. Artistic jumped out of the way. Gaspertti was hospitalized with numerous lacerations, bruises, swelling on his face and body and a broken kneecap, the DA said. In executing a court-ordered search warrant, police recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol containing eight rounds of ammunition, Brown said. A knife was also found in the car, according to the complaint. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Naeisha Rose The police were looking for a Pacific Island man with a mustache who is a suspect in the attempted rape of a 49-year-old woman who worked at the Health Foot Spa on Jamaica. He was described as being around 35 years old and was last seen wearing a blue shirt and dark colored pants, according to police. The man allegedly posed as a customer and pretended to want to use the bathroom, but instead attacked the victim who escorted him to the restroom, according to the NYPD. The suspect forced her into a room and attempted to remove her clothing, but when she fought back, he slapped her in the face and bit her chest, according to police. As other people entered the establishment, which is located at 169-06 Hillside Ave., the suspect fled, police said. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Mark Hallum President Donald Trumps childhood home in Jamaica Estates is listed on Airbnb for $725 per night and drawing visitors who want to share his birthright. The home at 85-15 Wareham Road, cited on the presidents birth certificate, appeared on the website in June and uses the propertys history as a selling point for visitors. It boasts 17 beds and mentions the locations proximity to the F train. The five-bedroom house sold at auction in March for $2.1 million. POTUS Donald J. Trumps childhood home, the listing reads. Stay in the heart of NYC in the presidents childhood home. Featured in hundreds of news articles, stay in a part of living history. The listing says guests can enjoy the company of a cardboard cutout of the president while watching Fox News in the living room. State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who has led a crusade against the rental website stemming from resident complaints about listings in their neighborhood, laughed Monday about the fact Trumps home had even fallen victim to what he believes to be an epidemic in the suburban Queens neighborhood. Avella noted that presidential homes are usually made into museums and carry strict historic preservation protections, but pointed out that the former home of the controversial developer had not drawn this reverential treatment. The comment came during a news conference on the unveiling of Avellas bill designed to hinder the unrelenting proliferation of Airbnb in Queens without the requirements designated for hotels. Airbnbs unwelcome proliferation in neighborhoods in my district, mostly by absentee commercial operators, has created a public nuisance and public safety risks that are simply unacceptable, Avella said of the measure. If Airbnb wants to act like a hotel, then it must be subject to the same basic transparency and disclosure requirements that all legal lodging establishments in the city of New York are responsible for. Trump commented on the sale of his childhood home in September 2016, when he was shown a picture of the residence on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. That is where I was born, Trump said when Fallon held up an image of the home. I had a really good childhood. Oh, thats sad to look at that. I want to buy it. The listing does not charge extra for additional people staying in the home and offers a weekly discount of 20 percent and monthly discount of 40 percent. The home is booked until Aug. 27 and throughout most of September, according to Airbnbs website. A photo of one of the rooms shows a sign on the wall that says, In this bedroom, President Donald J. Trump was likely conceived by his parents, Fred and Mary Trump. The world has never been the same. Trump lived in the home from the time of his birth in 1946 until 1950. Acris records show the property was sold in December 2016 to Wareham Holdings LLC, which CNN Money associates with real estate investor Michael Davis, for $1.3 million. The March transaction is shown to take place between this organization and another listed as Trump Birth House, LLC. If the CNN Money report is correct, Davis flipped the property for a 54 percent profit to another company, harvesting rental revenue from the presidents Queens legacy. Bridgewater looks to become a regional nightlife hub in western PA Bridgewater bars offer patrons a nightlife experience that is unique from any other in western Pennsylvania This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY Actress Cynthia Nixon isn't declaring a bid for governor but she isn't dispelling the notion either. In an appearance Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show, Nixon smiled when asked about reports that she has been approached about a run. "I've heard them," she said. "I've read them. I've heard them." Asked if she could make an announcement on the show about a bid, she smiled again and said, "I cannot." Nixon, known for her role on HBO's "Sex and the City," has been in the public advocacy game in Albany for some time, focusing on education issues, in particular. She also lobbied for marriage equality and the Women's Equality Act, a 10-point policy agenda that was broken up piecemeal in 2015. Nixon focused the bulk of her comments Tuesday on education, saying that is the top reason why she believes "there are a lot of people who would like me to run." "Gov. Cuomo likes to say that we spend more per pupil than any other state, and that is actually true," Nixon said. "But the only reason that is true is because we spend so much on the kids in our wealthiest districts and so that evens out. But there's actually between our hundred richest schools and our hundred poorest schools, there's a $10,000 gap on what we spend per pupil." Nixon also dredged up the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, which the state Court of Appeals decided in 2006, finding that New York City school children were not given the chance to receive "a sound basic education" under existing school aid formulas. The CFE case led to a statewide formula developed by then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's administration and the Legislature to provide funding to school districts based on a level of need and relative wealth. The Cuomo administration moved to change the school-aid formula in the recent state budget, though the formula ultimately was preserved in the final fiscal plan. Education advocates claim schools were entitled to $4.3 billion in aid that they would received under the formula if money wasn't diverted for other state costs in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Under a formula developed to ensure that all students have access to a "sound basic education" as guaranteed under New York State's constitution, an additional $700 million in aid was added in this year's state budget. But advocates are still holding out for another $3.6 billion they say schools are due to meet the 2007 goal of $5.5 billion in foundation aid money. "Eliot Spitzer when he was governor started to pay some of that down and narrow that gap," Nixon said. "That gap now between our richest schools and our poorest schools is wider under Gov. Cuomo than it has ever been before, and that's got to stop." State officials say any legal obligation under the CFE ruling has been fulfilled. "The court left it to the state to determine funding," Cuomo said earlier this year, according to the USA Today Network's Albany Bureau. "Eliot Spitzer then said he thinks this should be the number. They want to say: We want Eliot's number as a goal. Why? Because Eliot put an outrageously high number on the table." The newest state budget included $25.8 billion in education funding, a record level. Per-pupil spending remains high, though disparities between districts exist. Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi noted that education aid has been increased by $6.2 billion over six years, about 70 percent of which goes to high-needs schools. He said every school district is funded above the national average, and New York City aid has increased by $2.5 billion, with the city determining distribution of aid to specific schools. "The more people talking about issues that make New York State stronger, the better," Azzopardi said. "We know Ms. Nixon is a passionate advocate for education, and I would be happy to sit down with her anytime to talk about it." Nixon, whom the Wall Street Journal reported last week has been approached about a gubernatorial run, is among a few names being mentioned as possible challengers to Cuomo in 2018, when he will be up for re-election to a third term. Also discussed as possible challengers are Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and former state Sen. Terry Gipson, both Democrats, and state Sen. John DeFrancisco, a Syracuse Republican who has been a vocal critic of the governor. Cuomo has avoided commenting directly on any potential challengers. "We'll see what happens politically next year," he said last week. mhamilton@timesunion.com 518-454-5449 @matt_hamilton10 RENSSELAER It will cost $35 million to $40 million to build the 35-mile long Albany-Hudson Electric Trail from downtown to the city of Hudson, according to preliminary estimates released on the website for the proposed rail trail. The Albany-Hudson Electric Trail August 2017 Draft Concept Plan outlines the proposal for this section of the Empire State Trail. The plan is available for review online at www.ahettrail.org. The proposed trail follows the old trolley line that linked the two small cities in the early 20th century. The trolley company operated from about 1899 to 1929. The trail would be part of a 750-mile hiking/biking Empire State Trail that would run north-south between New York City and Canada and east-west from Albany to Buffalo. The state has set aside $200 million for the proposed trail network. The corridor between Rensselaer and Hudson would account for up to 20 percent of the $200 million based on the preliminary projections. 'The corridor is an important part of the Empire State Trail and has the potential to serve as a key connection for the statewide trail system, provide important transportation and recreation benefits, and help connect people to the Hudson River Valley landscape," according to the draft concept plan's executive summary. The trolley route ran through a largely rural landscape connecting population centers in the two counties. The Albany-Hudson Electric Trail will run from Rensselaer through East Greenbush, Schodack, the village of Nassau and the town of Nassau before crossing into Columbia County going through Chatham, the town of Kinderhook, the village of Valatie, the village of Kinderhook, Stuyvesant, Stockport and Greenport to Hudson. In many places, suburban development has brought backyards to abut the trolley line that the recreational biking and hiking trail would follow. East Greenbush Councilwoman Tina Tierney said she's heard from residents, who've expressed concerns about the trail running along or through their backyards. She said she has many questions about the project particularly when it comes to the issues expressed by her constituents. The proposed trail will have to deal with crossing I-90 as well as washouts and the lack of bridges that carried trolley traffic across streams but no long exist a century later. The draft plan divides the trail into seven sections to show its route. "You're lucky I can't get to you," Tyesha Murray screamed at Raekwon Stover as he was escorted out of the Schenectady County courtroom. Relatives and guards held Murray back. Stover was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for killing Medina Knowles, 17. Relatives of the girl assailed Stover for killing her after she told him she wanted out of the "shameful lifestyle" of sex work. Stover "met her demands with death," Murray told visiting state Supreme Court Justice Louise Sira on Tuesday. "I'm never going to be the same. I'm not going to be able to live like this," Murray said, urging the judge to impose the maximum sentence. Sira followed through on the request for the maximum, sentencing Stover to 25 years to life for second-degree murder and an additional 1 1/3 to 4 years for tampering with evidence in the case. After killing Knowles, Stover deleted incriminating emails and got rid of the murder weapon. That illegally owned handgun is "still out on the street now," prosecutors said Tuesday. In mid-June, a Schenectady County jury found Stover guilty of firing a bullet into Knowles' head on Sept. 15 inside 524 Schenectady St. "This wasn't a case of a momentary loss of control or a lapse in judgement," Assistant District Attorney Christina Tremante-Pelham said Tuesday. "Raekwon Stover made a series of choices and deliberate acts." Stover learned Knowles had not gone to a prearranged meeting with a john that afternoon, argued with her about why and left to get bullets before he killed her that evening, Tremante-Pelham said. Stover, who was romantically involved with the victim, shot Knowles as she yelled for her mother. At trial, a neighbor testified about hearing the shot. On Tuesday, Murray looked directly at Stover and said that, while she was startled awake by gunfire, she had not heard her child's pleas for help. "I could have been there," Murray sobbed, as Stover silently brushed away his own tears. Prosecutors said Stover shot Knowles because, among other reasons, she decided to stop being a sex worker for him. "She was a 17-year-old girl who found herself in her final months under the control of a man who used her," Tremante-Pelham said. "Her final moments were spent terrorized by him." The jury convicted Stover of all charges, which included second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with evidence. Knowles left behind a 3-year-old son, Jahsiy, who family said has struggled to understand the finality of his mother's death. "He's such a smart 3-year-old: full of life and energy, so pure, so innocent," Knowles' uncle Marcus Goodman told the judge. "We, as a family, have to sit him down and explain this all over again: how he was in the house when his mother's murder took place. Can you imagine that conversation?" Knowles, who family members described as selfless and kind, was the second oldest of five children. Her mother told the judge that the three youngest kids missed a significant amount of school in their grief and were forced to attend summer school. The family also lost their apartment and most of their possessions, Murray said, because she was emotionally unable to return to the place where her daughter died. Murray said she's been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is haunted by vivid recollections of the night her daughter was slain. In her final hours, the teen had posted on Facebook over a dozen times about relationships, spurned exes and conflict with other women, including a re-posted photo that said, "Don't waste your time on revenge. Those who hurt you will face their own karma." Green Island police GREEN ISLAND A registered sex offender was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly failing to report his social media accounts to police after being released from Saratoga County jail, police said. Village police officers arrested 42-year-old William Goodman at 7:30 a.m. and charged him with failing to register. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Railroad engineers, like airplane pilots, learn to avoid crashes inside a simulator with computer-generated challenges: terrifying storms, epic malfunctions. But many workers say that simulator seems helpless when confronted by one peril Capital Region residents see every day: long trains. At least 8,000 feet (about one and a half miles) long, they often carry toxic or explosive cargo. There is currently no federal regulation limiting the number of cars in a train or number of crew needed. "Long trains often crash or derail in the simulator," said Iowa-based Railroad Workers United officer Jeff Kurtz, a locomotive engineer for 41 years who retired in 2014. "They're a new phenomenon. The engineer driving can't even see the end of the train. Weather is now more of a challenge. We have to be aware of 'sun kinks' caused by waves of heat that make rails so hot, they buckle under a heavy train. And more than 100 cars takes quite awhile to stop when you hit the brakes even at 10 mph." A 178-car Albany-bound CSX train derailed last week in Pennsylvania. Its cargo of molten sulfur and propane ignited near tiny Hyndman, 100 miles from Pittsburgh. The blaze burned two days while 1,000 evacuees waited to return home. The U.S. Department of Transportation's speed limit for long trains is 50 m.p.h. in areas like the Capital Region, rural terrain punctuated by villages and small cities. Trains must drop to 5 mph when inside Albany city limits, said Albany city Fire Chief Warren Abriel, Jr. Albany County Executive Dan McCoy held a press conference Thursday to detail his safety concerns about such trains coming to Albany's South End rail yard. McCoy had told federal officials towns and counties along rail routes should be alerted when hazardous materials are zooming through. "That's never going to happen," JP Wright, a CSX locomotive engineer for 12 years and freight conductor for 16 years, told the Times Union from his home in Kentucky. "Railroad companies will argue that sharing information about cargo makes it too easy for terrorists to target a train." Wright retired this year due to concerns about the safety of driving long trains with crews of two workers, usually an engineer and freight conductor. "When we had crews of five and shorter trains, we could walk the entire length and make sure the car numbers and cargo correctly matched what was on the manifest," Wright said. "The only thing that regulated how many cars were in a train were union contracts." Railroad workers are only allowed to work a certain number of hours in a stretch so they can remain alert. Walking the length of a two-mile-long train to check the cargo manifest took so much time, Wright explained, the contract set a limit on the number of cars in a train. But when oil boomed in the Midwest, the industry shifted to much longer trains to get oil to markets faster. Albany County coordinator of emergency services Gerald Paris, Jr. said his responders find out what dangerous materials are on a train after an accident, not before. "We go to the locomotive engineer or the freight conductor to get the manifest," Paris said. "We have a good relationship with CSX. I won't say great, but it is very good." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Paris praised CSX for flying him and fire department leadership to a Colorado for free training in how to extinguish huge flaming tank cars and other train cargo. CSX paid their airfares and lodging. "So many long trains now come through Albany carrying hazardous materials that I'm not sure it would help me to get a heads up; I'd be on alert all the time," Paris said. While he's learned to accept long trains as the norm, he's uneasy about the trend toward smaller crews. "More crew is always better. It always helps to have that extra pair of eyes, that extra knowledge," Paris said. CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle says the company has decided a two-person crew is ideal for long trains. He did not know if CSX ever sets a maximum limit on the number of cars that can be in a train. The Federal Railroad Administration oversees rail safety but doesn't offer much guidance. "There are no FRA regulations for train length, but typically a train's equipment does have limitations (such as brake pipe air pressure, etc)," spokesperson Tiffany Lindermann said in an email. "The average train length is approximately 100 cars. FRA does not currently regulate how many people are required to operate a train." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Cohoes The $25 million Hudson Square apartment complex is nearing completion on Van Schaick Island in Cohoes. Developer Prime Companies, which already has three other developments in what's known as the Spindle City, expects the first residents to arrive in three weeks. When completed, Hudson Square will have 165 apartments with rents ranging from $1,325 to $1,675. Many will feature river views, while others will have views of a city park and the neighboring Van Schaick Island Country Club, which is offering a membership discount to Hudson Square residents. Public officials, including Cohoes Mayor Shawn Morse and Assemblyman John McDonald, a former mayor of Cohoes, toured the complex Tuesday morning as Prime Companies Vice President Todd Curley pointed out where the saltwater pool, bocce court, outdoor kitchen with pizza ovens and the putting green would go. Heat pumps heat and cool the apartments, while kitchens feature stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Underground parking is available, with elevators to take residents to their apartments in the multi-story buildings. The apartments are the latest residential development in Cohoes, once known for its textile manufacturers. One factory complex, Harmony Mills, was converted to loft apartments by developer Uri Kaufman, who took advantage of the old buildings' oversized windows and views of the Cohoes Falls and Mohawk River. Prime, meanwhile, previously developed Riverwalk Apartments, Shelter Cove Apartments and Waters View Apartments in Cohoes, as well as apartment complexes in Rensselaer, Green Island and Saratoga Springs. The Cohoes projects have helped boost the city's population at a time when other area cities are struggling to attract and hold onto residents. The Albany-based Center for Economic Growth, in an analysis of census data, found that Cohoes was the fastest-growing city in the state in both 2015 and 2016. "It is exciting that Cohoes is the fastest growing city in the state of New York and Prime Companies played a major role in that success," Morse said. Those extra residents haven't yet been able to turn the city's downtown around, however. While it has several highly regarded restaurants, many storefronts remain vacant. Many city residents instead commute to jobs in Troy, Albany, and Saratoga County. But there's a move to convert older downtown buildings into apartments, including a former hotel on Remsen Street. Officials hope that repopulating downtown will also help fill those vacant storefronts. TROY Lisa Vumbacco worked for months and was just days from holding a large benefit at the Watervliet American Legion to raise money for a friend who was getting chemotherapy for breast cancer. Then things turned strange. "I started catching her in little lies," Vumbacco of Troy said about Lee Kryszeski, 33, of 2 Cragin Ave., who told all of her friends and family she had breast cancer. For more than four months Vumbacco and a friend visited businesses in Troy, Watervliet, Latham, Albany and other areas asking for donations or gift cards to help their ailing friend. They thought the single mother may actually be dying of cancer. "I'd go to her house and sometimes she was lying on the floor crying," Vumbacco said. "She said she had to quit her job driving taxi because of the chemo and she had no health insurance." Kryszeski, it appeared to her friends, left the house every day to go to chemotherapy. "I then asked a friend of mine who is a nurse about her going to chemo every day and she said that's impossible," Vumbacco said. "That would kill her." Kryszeski's friends then contacted Troy detectives and it was confirmed that the woman did not have cancer. "She had her grandmother who lives upstairs from her believing it and her grandmother was paying her bills," Vumbacco said. "She even had her 14-year-old son believing his mother had cancer. She was quite the actress." Vumbacco was she was at least relieved the truth came out just days before a fundraiser. "We had the hall rented, a D.J., and a couple of motorcycle clubs were going to help out," Vumbacco said. "She could have gotten up to $10,000 from the event." Capt. John Cooney said Kryszeski was arrested Friday and charged with a felony count of first-degree scheme to defraud. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment and was released pending further court action. Cooney said detectives have identified at least 10 victims who contributed and that some of the money and gift certificates were already spent by the defendant. Cooney was unsure how much money was raised but it had to be at least $1,000 to support the criminal charge. "It is very unfortunate for something like this to happen because it may put people out there on guard and make them less likely to help in legitimate situations," Cooney said TROY It's no secret that the Emma Willard School has been investigating old cases of sexual abuse and misconduct, but alumnae were surprised to learn this weekend of a student-faculty "relationship" that's alleged to have occurred as recently as 2015. That allegation came from a document released Friday by Gina Maisto Smith and Leslie Gomez, child protection experts and attorneys with the firm Cozen O'Connor, who were hired by Emma Willard to investigate historical allegations of abuse at the all-girls boarding school in Troy. The attorneys say that since releasing a 96-page report of their findings in April, they have received an anonymous tip alleging that a 2015 alumna and a female administrator at the school had "engaged in a consensual relationship" during the 2014-15 school year. "We attempted to contact the 2015 alumna, but did not receive any response to our outreach," the attorneys say. "Consistent with our reporting protocol, this allegation was shared with law enforcement." More for you Emma Willard report reveals history of sexual misconduct But alumnae, including at least one survivor of abuse, say they're dissatisfied with this latest revelation, claiming it raises more questions than it answers. The revelation was included in a five page addendum to the original April report. However, unlike the April report, the document released Friday does not include statements about what happened to the alleged perpetrator. "Did they talk to this administrator? Does she still work there? That's the big question we want answers to, do they still work there?" said Kat Sullivan, whose inquiries last year into her own rape by a former teacher helped spur the Cozen O'Connor investigation. Emma Willard spokeswoman Katie Coakley said Monday that the administrator in question is no longer employed by the school, but did not respond when asked when the person stopped working for the school and whether she was disciplined in any way. School policy forbids student-faculty relationships, even if they do not violate New York's legal age of consent. A violation of the policy is grounds for dismissal. The addendum report has inspired renewed calls from alumnae for an independent investigation into historical abuse at the school. The Cozen O'Connor firm was hired by Emma Willard, and therefore subject to attorney-client privilege and not truly capable of carrying out an independent investigation, advocates say. In its April report, Cozen O'Connor detailed seven decades' worth of sexual abuse and misconduct by faculty at the school it discovered over a yearlong investigation. School officials pledged Monday to continue investigating allegations as they come to light. "Emma Willard will continue to investigate any and all cases of abuse brought forward by any member of our community," the school said in a statement. "All previous reports of sexual abuse or misconduct at the school have been reported to the Troy Police Department, and any new information brought forward will also be reported." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MECHANICVILLE -- Police found 19-year-old man shot in the driveway of a Grove Street home after being called there by neighbors who heard gunfire, police said. Police went to 42-44 Grove St. about 8:45 p.m., finding David J. Feliciano nearly dead after being shot in the torso outside his apartment, Police Chief Joseph Waldron said. Though officers administered CPR, they could not save Feliciano. Waldron said he cannot say how many times Feliciano was shot or what kind of firearm was used. He also would not say if police have a suspect or are searching for a car used in the crime. A neighbor who lives on Grove Street said he heard two or three shots and then heard a car speed off. "I believe it was drug-related," said Frank Steckler, who has lived on the street for three years. "People are always going in and out of there. It's pretty obvious." Investigators in the State Police Major Crimes Unit are working with city police. They have been on the scene since Monday night, carrying items out of Feliciano's first-floor apartment in the duplex here he lived with his girlfriend. Police also questioned neighbors. Waldron said he is hoping people with information about the shooting contact police. The chief could not say if the shooting was random or targeted, but assured residents they should not fear more shootings. Steckler said he doesn't believe that. "We have about 30 kids living in this neighborhood," Steckler said. "They are racing around on their bikes, but there is a guy out there with a gun." Another neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said there have been heroin overdoses in the neighborhood. Feliciano had not lived in the neighborhood long, Waldron said. He and his family are from Clifton Park. Waldron said it is the first homicide in the city since 1997, when an elderly woman was beaten to death. State Police forensics experts were at the home through Tuesday. Mechanicville police are being assisted by investigative units in Saratoga, Rensselaer and Washington counties. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the school where a teacher was accused of having sex with a student. The school is the LaSalle School in Albany. A judge dismissed the charges against the teacher. Albany For the second time since March an Albany judge has thrown out an abuse case brought by the state's Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs because their prosecutors are not elected by the public. In a decision late last month, Albany County Judge William Carter dismissed abuse allegations against a Guilderland man who worked as an aide at Vanderheyden Hall, a Rensselaer County residential facility for troubled or disabled youths and young adults. Justin Hope was accused of taking a resident out of the facility and engaging in oral sex with the person at his apartment. But without clear oversight from an elected district attorney, the case shouldn't be criminally prosecuted, Carter ruled. In March, state Supreme Court Justice Thomas Breslin similarly dismissed charges that a former teacher at the LaSalle School, Marina Viviani, had sex with a student. Her lawyer Michael Pollok argued that the state constitution requires elected and publicly accountable district attorneys to prosecute criminal charges. "We used a lot of the same arguments as in the Viviani case," said Lee Kindlon, Hope's attorney. "There is the constitutional belief that the prosecutors have to be elected by the people." The judges' rulings may have implications statewide since the Justice Center has oversight of youth and disabilities centers across New York and has investigated and prosecuted numerous cases involving alleged group-home abuses. If the decisions hold up on appeal, the Justice Center's operations may need a fundamental overhaul. They could need to get explicit permission and supervision from elected district attorneys or the state attorney general to prosecute criminal charges. Created four years ago in the wake of a New York Times' series about abuse and neglect of those who live in centers for the disabled, the Justice Center has a hotline where allegations of abuse are reported and investigated. In some instances, the Justice Center refers criminal charges to local district attorneys but also has used its own prosecutors in some cases. Kindlon said he believes the extent to which the Justice Center can prosecute cases may be resolved during an appeal to the state Appellate Division or the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court. In Hope's case, the suspect is also facing charges stemming from the same incident which are being prosecuted by the Rensselaer County District Attorney's office. That, however, could raise the issue of double jeopardy, Kindlon said. LAND O'LAKES, Fla. (AP) Florida officials have condemned two more homes due to a Florida sinkhole, bringing the total to six homes that are now unlivable. Authorities in Pasco County, a suburban area north of Tampa, said in a news release Sunday that the two additional homes were being condemned. Two homes were condemned Saturday and two were destroyed when the ground caved in on July 14. Despite the odd passing shower, the sun shone on the 139th North Tipperary Agricultural Show in the Showgrounds, Nenagh, this Bank Holiday Monday. The fine weather brought out the crowds, with a steady stream of visitors from the farming community and the curious townies. "Numbers are up," show chairman Conor Delaney told the Tipperary Star. "Entries are up." The former Fine Gael town councillor spent the day checking in on the various stalls, exhibitors and competitors and was extremely pleased with the turn out". He said the show committee was grateful to its sponsors and all the volunteers who give so much of their time free to the event. "This year's show is a success and we are already looking forward to next year when we hope it will be bigger and better," he said. As for the weather, Mr Delaney said it was "behaving itself". Among the many attractions was the brilliant display of several hundred vintage cars put on by Nenagh Classic Car Club, which also attracted owners from the vintage club in Clonmel. Among the vintage cars on show were Model T Fords, Minis, Hillmans, Jags and a Jensen with leather and wood finish inside, and Mercs. Spotted driving his vintage Merc home was Tipperary county councillor Michael Murphy. The Clonmel man who is hoping for the FG nomination in the next general election, has the Merc, so all he needs now are the perks! Brendan Murphy of the Nenagh Classic Car cClub described the display as "excellent". Down at the IFA stand, former Ireland and Munster legend John Hayes was throwing his weight behind the North Tipperary branch's farm safety campaign and fundraiser for Embrace FARM, the organisation that supports farmers who have been involved in an accident and the families of those who lost a loved one to a farm accident. Mr Hayes, the Munster ambassador for Embrace FARM, said it was a great cause. "You can't put enough emphasis on safety. I am always taken when I come back from the annual remembrance ceremony in Abbeyleix," he said. John, who is married to Ballinclough rugby international Fiona Steed, said his message to farmers was: "Every day you go out, make sure you come back." North Tiperary IFA chairman Tim Cullinan said the were delighted to support Embace FARM and highlighted the fact that the branch had run farm safety events at Nenagh Mart during the year. Also on the stand was Embrace FARM founder Brian Rohan, who said it was great for his group to now have the backing of the IFA. He praised Mr Cullinan for the branch's work on farm safety, saying very often farmers might just go to the mart for a social outing but then they come away having learned about safety. Attracting plenty of well-wishers at the Arrabawn sponsored Best Dress Lady, Gent and Child contests was Tipperary Rose Sheila Ryan from Toomevara. Sheila is hoping to do the Premier County proud in the semi-finals of this year's Rose of Tralee, no matter what the outcome. Indeed, the entire county will have their fingers crossed that she will come through and make it to the televised part of the competition in Tralee. Of course, agricultural shows are all about the animals and North Tipperary Show is no different, with any amount of grooming going on in the cattle area. The cattle were loving it and many would not be out of place on the catwalk with all the pampering and preening that was going on. The pony and horses were as immaculately turned out as their owners in their hacking jackets, jodhpurs and riding boots, while the younger children delighted in getting up close and personal with the hens, geese and ducks. As ever, it was tempting to reach in and snaffle a bun or slice of apple tart in the baking tent. EUROSPAR has launched a new community initiative Defibrillator at every EUROSPAR Supermarket, including their Templemore store, which aims to provide a life-saving defibrillator outside their store. RTEs Michael Lyster was on hand to help launch the initiative this week at the Radisson Blu St. Helens Hotel, Dublin with Malachy Hanberry, EUROSPAR Managing Director and David Menzies, Co Chair and Medical Director, Cardiac First Responders Ireland. Michael suffered a cardiac arrest in 2015 and had to be resuscitated by the National Ambulance Service using a defibrillator so he fully understands the importance of publically accessible defibrillators in our communities. He said, Im delighted to help launch the Defibrillator at every EUROSPAR Supermarket initiative as this equipment can really mean the difference between life and death. Having a defibrillator in a public space raises the profile of heart disease and ensures that people know where to find one when an emergency occurs. I look forward to the day when each EUROSPAR has a defibrillator in place. When a heart stops beating from cardiac arrest every second counts. The chances of recovery are reduced by 7 - 10% after each 60 seconds. Effective CPR coupled with the use of a defibrillator within the first 3 - 5 minutes of cardiac arrest can produce survival rates in the 49% - 75% range. This is the significance of the new Defibrillator at every EUROSPAR Supermarket initiative for each community in Ireland served by a EUROSPAR Supermarket. The Defibrillator at every EUROSPAR Supermarket initiative will raise funds for the installation of a publically accessible, automatic external defibrillator (AED) to be located outside of the EUROSPAR supermarket. Funds will be raised through in-store collection, community fund-raising activities and contributions from the sale of a selection of SPAR Range products. Derek Downes is delighted to launch the Defibrillator at every EUROSPAR Supermarket initiative here in Templemore. He said: Having a lifesaving defibrillator outside our store and making everyone aware of it will hopefully result in saving lives in this community. I hope you will join with our team here at EUROSPAR Templemore in order to raise the funds needed to buy a defibrillator for our area. According to Malachy Hanberry, EUROSPAR Managing Director, EUROSPAR Supermarkets are located at the heart of local communities. Therefore we wanted to come up with an initiative that looks after the wellbeing of the people in our communities and what better way than to install defibrillators outside our stores. EUROSPAR is focused, in a very tangible way, on helping to save lives in your local community. EUROSPAR in partnership with CFR Ireland will provide "chain of survival" awareness and CPR training in the local community as well as training for retailers and staff members. This training and awareness will be carried out by local Community First Responders to coincide with the installation of the AED at local stores. Each AED is automated to produce a report tracking the status of the machine and highlighting any issues on a daily basis. It is EUROSPARs intention that each AED will be registered on the National Ambulance Service (NAS), CFR Ireland and other local defibrillator databases. Gardai are advising people to be wary of rental scams, particularly at this time of year when students are returning to college. While rental scams occur throughout the year there is a spike due to a new generation of 3rd level students seeking accommodation. The scams fall into three broad categories; (1) the scammer claims to be out of the country and cant show you the property and requests a deposit, (2) the scammer is living at the property and shows a number of people around, gets a deposit from several people and disappears with the money; and (3) the transaction appears normal until the renter finds that the keys dont work and the landlord has disappeared. Therefore people need to establish that the house exists and that is available for rent and the identity of landlord /agent & is he/she authorised to rent the property. 1. Ideally only do business with established bon-fide rental agencies. 2. Always meet a prospective landlord in the accommodation to be rented. 3. Ask for identification, a drivers licence or Photo identification of landlord or letting agent. etc. (Take a photo of the document on your phone) 4. Pay the deposit to the Landlord and not the persons leaving the property. 5. Use cheques or bank drafts to pay the deposit and keep copies of receipts of payments and any correspondence. 6. Ensure keys fit, open door lock and sign rental contract, prior to payment of deposit. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) rent index provides students with important benchmark information and is an authoritative guide as to the actual rents being charged by landlords adjacent to all Universities, ITs and other Third Level colleges. www.rtb.ie. Caution is advised, if the rent sounds too good to be true. [August 07, 2017] INVESTOR ALERT: Goldberg Law PC Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action Lawsuit against MAXIMUS, Inc. Goldberg Law PC, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against MAXIMUS, Inc. ("MAXIMUS" or the "Company") (NYSE: MMS) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors who purchased the Company's shares between October 30, 2014 and February 3, 2016, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before October 6, 2017, the lead plaintiff motion deadline. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss during the Class Period, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Michael Goldberg or Brian Schall, of Goldberg Law PC, 1999 Avenue ofthe Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 800-977-7401, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at http://www.goldberglawpc.com/, or by email at [email protected]. The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Complaint alleges that during the Class Period, MAXIMUS made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: that in obtaining the Health Assessment Advisory Service ("HAAS") contract from the United Kingdom Department for Work and Pensions, the Company set an unattainable target number of healthcare professionals to recruit and an unattainable target number of assessments; that throughout the HAAS contract, MAXIMUS was struggling to recruit, train and ramp-up new health care staff to perform the assessments; that the inability to meet its target number of healthcare recruits and target number of assessments, meant the Company would not earn the performance-based incentive fees from the HAAS contract; and that as a result of the above, the Company's statements about its financial condition and business outlook lacked a reasonable basis. On February 4, 2016, MAXIMUS announced its earnings for the first quarter of 2016, again missing expectations and confirming its inability to meet HAAS contract assessment targets. The reduced earnings were based in part on weak performance of the HAAS contract, which "tempered operating margin." Following this news, the Company's stock price dropped materially, which caused investors harm. Goldberg Law PC represents investors around the world, and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807006089/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] INVESTOR ALERT: Goldberg Law PC Announces an Investigation of Molina Healthcare, Inc. Goldberg Law PC, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Molina Healthcare, Inc. ("Molina" or the "Company") (NYSE: MOH). If you purchased or otherwise acquired Molina shares, and would like more information about the investigation, we encourage you to contact Michael Goldberg or Brian Schall, of Goldberg Law PC, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 800-977-7401, to discuss your rights without cost to you. You can also reach us through the firm's website at http://www.Goldberglawpc.com, or by email at [email protected]. The investigation focuses on whether Molina and certain of its officers and/or directors violated federal securities laws. On August 2, 2017, the Company withdrew its 2017 earnings projection and revealed that it will eliminate 1,500 jobs and exit certain Obamacare markets after the health insurer posted a significant second quarter loss. Following this news, Molina's stock price dropped. If you have any questions concerning your legal rights, please immediately contact Goldberg Law PC at 800-977-7401, or visit our website at http://www.Goldberglawpc.com, or email us at [email protected]. Goldberg Law PC represents investors around the world, and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807006099/en/ [August 07, 2017] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Goldberg Law PC Announces an Investigation of Teradata Corporation Goldberg Law PC, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Teradata (News - Alert) Corporation ("Teradata" or the "Company") (NYSE: TDC). If you purchased or otherwise acquired Teradata shares, and would like more information about the investigation, we encourage you to contact Michael Goldberg or Brian Schall, of Goldberg Law PC, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 800-977-7401, to discuss your rights without cost to you. You can also reach us through the firm's website at http://www.Goldberglawpc.com, or by email at [email protected]. The investigation focuses on whether Teradata and certain of its officers and/or directors violated federal securities laws. On August 4, 2017, the Company disclosed that it discovered "questionable expenditures for travel, gifts and other expenses" at a Teradata subsidiary conducting business in Turkey. Teradata advised investors that it initiated an internal investigation, with the assistance of outside counsel and forensic accountants, to determine whether the expenditures may have violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other potentially applicable anti-corruption laws. In late February 2017, the Company voluntarily contacted the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice to alert them to the relevant events and the Company's internal investigation. Following this news, Teradata's stock price dropped. If you have any questions concerning your legal rights, please immediately contact Goldberg Law PC at 800-977-7401, or visit our website at http://www.Goldberglawpc.com, or email us at [email protected]. Goldberg Law PC represents investors around the world, and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807006100/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 07, 2017] Aigang Provides an Insight Into the Future Proof Digital Insurance Protocol on Blockchain SINGAPORE, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital insurance protocol, Aigang Network provides an insight into the future of insurance for new-age technology infrastructure, starting from mobile batteries to drones and autonomous cars. The Singapore-based leader in blockchain protocol for digital insurance, Aigang Network has unraveled its plans to revolutionize the insurance sector. The company's plans for the future is described in its latest whitepaper (v0.3). The new whitepaper version includes many new additions and an updated roadmap. Aigang offers a fully automated insurance protocol, made possible through smart contracts and IoT devices. The Aigang Network's blockchain protocol provides next-generation digital insurance for Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices using Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) and smart contracts. The company is making a huge headway into the InsurTech segment, preparing itself for the new wave of technology changes bound to happen in the near future. The company's latest demo app is built on Ethereum testnet and will be preceded by its mainnet release in the near future. Aigang's most recent update to its whitepaper sees many important new additions that help users and investors to understand better the service and all the things it has to offer after the official launch. Some of the exciting features of the platform includes: Investing in DAO Insurance and Token Model Aigang offers investors a chance to diversify their portfolio by investing in pools of different products with different risk levels and potential profit. The company has launched the demo for phone batteries, which could soon be expanded to include drones, smart cars, and many other popular products. This new model allows to directly invest in reserve pools and then trade them on the secondary market: Peer to Peer Investment Platform Currently, in Alpha stage, Aigang's peer to peer investment platform is being developed with several key targets in mind. It includes: Perform calculation and build statistical models for needed reserves and risk assessment. Tokenize the reserves. To list all insurance product pools with assessed risk, predicted profit, etc. Enable investors to purchase tokens for various insurance product pools. Display complete investor profile: funds, projected earnings, risk and the status of each pool. Allow secondary market trading. Collect and monitor premiums, process claims, and payouts. This platform will be the protocol's core, as it will enable full peer to peer insurance vision. It will cover many complex insurance parts and help automate the whole process. Devicedata tracking and claim processes. Aigang Protocol showcase: A Demo for Smartphones Battery Insurance. Insurance Pricing simulation with Machine Learning (Machine learning techniques will be used to capture the significant risk factors for pricing). Roadmap Device Data Tracking and Claim Processes Aigang's software for IoT devices is designed to alleviate a massive problem of fraud in the insurance market, which exists as a result of a lack of accurate data. The software is built for devices or product makers API's will be used to retrieve data about the device state. The software will be able to process claims automatically, and in the event of an accident, the device will automatically register possibility and accuracy of the accident. All that the policyholder has to do is to trigger the event manually. The software uses algorithms to access data validation, damage detection, historical data and machine learning to calculate the payout and finalize the claim. Initially, there will be a support team to monitor frauds until the protocol can be moved to fully autonomous insurance driven by AI and blockchain. Aigang Protocol Showcase: Demo Battery Insurance for Smartphones For a showcase of blockchain protocol for digital insurance, Aigang has selected smartphones. The most common technical issue for a smartphone is battery malfunction and a trend in decreased warranty periods has resulted in many owners facing costly repairs or battery replacement. Aigang implements risk assessment software to monitor the degradation of the phone battery and once the battery reaches a critical state, the payout is automatically processed and executed by smart contracts. Insurance Pricing Simulation with Machine Learning Insurance Pricing simulation and machine learning, in conjunction with other conditions that will be embedded in the smart contract to govern risk selection pricing, will be key in ensuring the profitability of the portfolio, and appropriate return to investors. Machine learning techniques are used to capture the significant risk factors for pricing and to make sure that the pricing structure captures the significant risk factors of each individual policy. Architecture of the Protocol Based on their vision, Aigang proposed an architectural model of whole protocol and platform they are currently in the process of building, with the main goal to implement fully autonomous insurance. The company's technical goal is to build a protocol on a blockchain which would enable community, companies, developers build insurance modules themselves, using its infrastructure. Learn more about Aigang at https://aigang.network Updated Aigang Whitepaper available at https://aigang.network/AigangWhitepaper0.3.pdf Download Aigang Digital Insurance Demo App on Google Play Store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aigang.aigangapp Request access to download the demo app on iOS at https://aigang-ios-testflight.herokuapp.com/ Join the Aigang Slack here http://slack.aigang.network Aigang on Telegram http://t.me/aigangnetwork Follow Aigang on Reddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/AigangNetwork/ Aigang on Twitter https://twitter.com/aigangnetwork Aigang's Bitcointalk Page here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1998265.0 Watch Aigang's app demo on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4U69cNPLHY Media Contact Contact Name: Augustas Staras Contact Designation: Co-Founder, Business Developer Contact Email: [email protected] Location: Singapore Aigang is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. Related Links Bitcoin PR Buzz Aigang Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4U69cNPLHY View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aigang-provides-an-insight-into-the-future-proof-digital-insurance-protocol-on-blockchain-300500712.html SOURCE Aigang [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 07, 2017] Soma to Improve the Ethereum-Based C2C Market With Its Revolutionary Patent Pending Technology and Soma Community Tokens HELSINKI, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Soma, an Ethereum blockchain based C2C marketplace that promotes social interaction between the members of trading communities has announced the launch of its crowdsale. The Soma Community Token crowdsale, scheduled later in August 2017 will follow the ongoing pre-ICO which is set to end on August 10, 2017. Soma utilizes smart contracts to enable its users to create Interactive Item Cards (IIC), a patent pending feature. The IICs allow creators to leverage the social contribution of engaging digital content, which will, in turn, result in an increase in the social value of the associated physical item. The Interactive Item Cards can be seen as a digital representation of physical items, enabling storage of information related to the item on the blockchain. The stored data could include information about the history of the goods, quality, price fluctuation over time and more. The patent-pending Interactive Item Card is one among the many features made available to the Soma Community. As a decentralized platform, Soma has an attractive incentive structure in place to promote user engagement. By encouraging cooperation, it facilitates the platform's organic expansion. The Soma Rewarding System categorizes the active participants as "value-adding actors" for their role in promoting item cards for the correct audience and performing the role of an escrow agent to secure transactions. How Does the Soma Ecosystem Work? The Interactive Item Card allows anyone to create an item card that starts to accumulate social value through various social interactions from the members of the decentralized community. Once the item card is created, it can be transferred along with a transaction involving the actual physical item. With time, the social value accumulated on the item card continue to rise, thus indicating a proportional increase in the value of the physical item. Soma Community Token ensures that such value is rewarded to the owner of the item card as it monetizes the social wealth within the community. The Interactive Item Card could be a valuable feature for the growing vintage, art and handicrafts industry. The Soma Rewarding System acts as a cenral mechanism for the decentralized marketplace. It incentivizes the members of the community to perform services that uphold the smooth and efficient functioning of the Soma Community, thus bolstering the platform's growth. The members of the community can promote IIC's that are created by other users and earn SCT as a reward for such promotion. Additionally, users can receive SCT by acting as a trusted third party in a transaction between a seller and a buyer, securing the interests of both the parties. All information in the Interactive Item Cards is recorded on the Ethereum blockchain while the trades are governed by smart contracts, thus promoting transparency by eliminating the need for trusted third parties or centralized governance. Soma Crowdsale The Soma Community Token crowdsale is set to begin in August 2017, following the conclusion of its ongoing pre-ICO. During the token sale, the platform will distribute 54 million of the total 60 million SCTs among participants. The remaining 10% of total tokens are set aside for the founding team, advisors and active community members. Investors participating in the crowdsale can buy Soma Community Token with either Bitcoin or Ethereum. Early investors who participate in the pre-sale phase will benefit from the bonus. Soma offered a 25% bonus on the first two days, which was reduced to 20% during rest of the week. The second, third and fourth week of pre-ICO carry a bonus of 15%, 10%, and 5% respectively. The Soma Community Token crowdsale participants will receive SCT in their ERC20 supported wallets soon after contributing. The purchased tokens can be used for services offered by Soma as well as other service providers within the Soma ecosystem. Interested investors and cryptocurrency community members can participate in the ongoing Soma crowdsale by visiting the Soma website. About Soma Soma is an Ethereum blockchain-based social marketplace that leverages social capital through its rewarding system and utilizes blockchain technology to create a decentralized ecosystem that incentivizes its community members to perform value-adding services for the benefit of the community as a whole. Learn more about Soma at http://soma.co/ Participate in Soma crowdsale at http://soma.co/presale/ Download Soma whitepaper at http://soma.co/documents/ Soma on Twitter https://twitter.com/SomaToken Soma on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/socialmarketapp/ Media Contact Contact Name: Joseph al Sharif Contact Email: [email protected] Location: Helsinki, Finland Soma is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to FDIC and other consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. Related Links Bitcoin PR Buzz SOMA View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soma-to-improve-the-ethereum-based-c2c-market-with-its-revolutionary-patent-pending-technology-and-soma-community-tokens-300500784.html SOURCE Soma [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 08, 2017] New X-coded Cat6a M12 Cables from L-com Support Industrial Connectivity Applications NORTH ANDOVER, Massachusetts, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- L-com Global Connectivity, a preferred manufacturer of wired and wireless connectivity products, announced today that it has launched a new series of Category 6a rated, M12 cable assemblies with X-coded connectors. https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/542597/L_com_Global_Connectivity_X_coded_Cat6a_M12_Cable.jpg L-com's premium family of M12 cables now includes X-coded assemblies rated for 10gig speeds. These assemblies were designed to address demanding industrial connectivity requirements. Built with high flex, outdoor CMX rated, double shielded, FR-TPE cable and using IP67 M12 connectors, these M12 assemblies can be used in harsh environments where exposure to oil, UV rays and weld splatter is commonplace. This new series includes the TRG626-T6T family which fature M12 male to M12 female panel mount connectors and the TRG608-T6T family that employs M12 male to M12 female connectors. "With the addition of these two new M12 cable series we have now expanded or M12 cable offering to address just about every type of industrial M12 connectivity application. Along with our M12 to RJ45 and M12 to GigE RJ45 series cables, we can now offer our customers a complete M12 cable solution," said Dustin Guttadauro, product manager. L-com's new M12 cable assemblies are in stock and can be shipped immediately. For more information about this release, please contact: Peter McNeil L-com Global Connectivity 17792 Fitch Irvine, CA 978-682-6936 x1174 About L-com Global Connectivity: L-com Global Connectivity, a leading manufacturer of wired and wireless connectivity products, offers a wide range of solutions and unrivaled customer service for the electronics and data communications industries. The company's product portfolio includes cable assemblies, connectors, adapters, antennas, enclosures, surge protectors and more. L-com is headquartered in North Andover, Mass., is ISO 9001: 2008 certified and many of its products are UL recognized. L-com is an Infinite Electronics company. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/430629/L_com_Global_Connectivity_Logo.jpg SOURCE L-com Global Connectivity [August 08, 2017] Intellicus Ranks 20th Among India's Great Mid-Size Workplaces 2017 INDORE, India, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Maintaining its position as one of India's best workplaces, Intellicus Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a leading business intelligence solutions company, has been ranked 20th in the list of India's Great Mid-Size Workplaces -2017. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/521678/Intellicus_Logo.jpg ) More than 600 organizations applied to Great Place to Work Institute to assess and benchmark their workplace culture. The study, jointly conducted by Great Place to Work Institute and MINT by HT Media, used two lenses to identify and evaluate workplaces with outstanding work cultures. The first lens is the quality of employee experience as measured through the institute's globally validated survey instrument known as Trust Index. The second lens, called the Culture Audit, evaluates people practices of an organization, coering the entire employee life cycle. Intellicus has been recognized for providing not only a stellar employee experience, but also for building a work culture that enables its employees to grow and achieve their professional aspirations. With its employee-friendly policies and open forums where employees can voice their opinions and suggestions, Intellicus has successfully built a conducive work environment. Speaking on the achievement, Sanjeev Agrawal, VP - Operations & Human Empowerment Group said, "This award is a recognition of our culture of trust, respect, and transparency at Intellicus. As an organization, we strive to further raise the bar and deliver great experience to all our employees and partners." About Intellicus Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Intellicus is one of the world's leading Business Intelligence and Analytics platforms. More than 60% of Fortune companies are using Intellicus to build powerful reports and dashboards with ease. Our interactive web and mobile platforms give users the power to access, view, and interact with corporate data anywhere. With over 50,000 installations worldwide, we are assisting organizations to make better informed decisions. To learn more, visit: http://www.intellicus.com or write to: [email protected], and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Shilpi Puri Manager, Intellicus Technologies [email protected] +91-9810802588 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 08, 2017] Wirecard and FinTech Firm Billie Launch New Online Factoring Solution MUNICH, August 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- - Billie offers online factoring for SMEs and freelancers - Wirecard supports Billie in the digitisation of payment processing Wirecard, the leading supplier of digital payment solutions and internet technology, will support the Berlin-based FinTech Billie in the digitisation of its payment processes. Billie will offer SMEs and freelancers the opportunity to pre-finance their invoices by purchasing all liabilities from third parties and settling the outstanding amount. The German factoring market is currently undergoing a revolution. According to the German Factoring Association, its members' sales rose by 3.77% in 2016 to total a current level of 216.8 billion Euro. For many SMEs, factoring is an increasingly attractive funding alternative in comparison to lending. Thorsten Holten, Executive Vice President Sales Financial Institution and FinTech Europe at Wirecard: "We are delighted to have gained another FinTech company in the form of Billie and support promising, innovative start-ups which may benefit not only from our experience in the field of FinTechs, but also from our technical solutions for payment processing and digitisation of processes. In addition to all this, our clients can take advantage of our banking licence when needed." Christian Grobe, Founder of Billie: "The special thng about Billie is that it is less complicated than conventional factoring. In just a few clicks, Billie clients can receive a monthly funding framework of up to 200,000 Euro via a traditional factoring contract but without any long-term binding commitment. Outstanding invoices can be easily uploaded with the result that the invoice amount is paid out in full immediately." He added, "There are practically no companies below the 10 Euro million sales mark in Germany which use factoring to a significant extent as a form of funding. This means that the market potential is very high and we are seeing a veritable boom in Germany at the moment. We are looking forward to unlocking this potential together with Wirecard." About Wirecard: Wirecard AG is a global technology group that supports companies in accepting electronic payments from all sales channels. As a leading independent supplier, the Wirecard Group offers outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payments. A global platform bundles international payment acceptances and methods with supplementary fraud prevention solutions. With regard to issuing own payment instruments in the form of cards or mobile payment solutions, the Wirecard Group provides companies with an end-to-end infrastructure, including the requisite licences for card and account products. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI). For further information about Wirecard, please visit http://www.wirecard.com or follow us on Twitter @wirecard. About Billie: Billie is an online factoring company headquartered in Berlin. It is one of the few German FinTechs to have a proprietary BaFin licence. As a financial technology company Billie offers an end-to-end digital factoring solution for SMEs and freelancers using modern rating technology. By accessing the data of numerous public databases, commercial data suppliers and internal corporate data, the decision as to whether to grant factoring lines is taken within no time at all. Clients only require an electronic account statement for this. Filing annual accounts or business analyses is not necessary. Wirecard media contact: Wirecard AG Jana Tilz Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363 Email: [email protected] Billie media contact: Billie GmbH Dr Christian Grobe Tel.: +49(30)311-992-51 E-Mail: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] TO BE HOPEFUL in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our livesIf we remember those times and placeswhere people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we dont have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory. --Howard Zinn I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the "isness" of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal "oughtness" that forever confronts him. --Martin Luther King Jr. True religion consisted in an inward life, wherein the heart does love and reverence God the Creator, and learns to exercise true justice and goodness...I found no narrowness respecting sects and opinions, but believed that sincere, upright-hearted people, in every society, who truly love God, were accepted of him. --John Woolman Love each other as I have loved you.. I call you friends because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father. --Jesus in John 15: 12-15 ...Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. You have answered right, said Jesus, do this and life is yours... Who is my neighbor? Jesus replied with the Parable of the Good Samaritan [heretic, outsider, enemy]. --from Luke 10:27-37 Religion has been emphatically embodied, not in speculative theories, but in practical righteousness, in active virtues, in reverence to God, in benevolence to man- the latter being the only sure test of the former. --Thomas M'Clintock ...It is safer to approach God through the Holy Spirit than through the door of theology. We can identify the Holy Spirit whenever it makes its presence felt. Whenever we see someone who is loving, compassionate, mindful, caring, and understanding, we know that the Holy Spirit is there. --Thich Nhat Hanh [August 08, 2017] NAVITIME JAPAN Launches "NAVITIME for Japan Travel" App for Taiwanese Tourists Visiting Japan, Enabling Information to Be Displayed in Traditional Chinese Characters Additionally TOKYO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVITIME JAPAN Co., Ltd. launched on August 8 its latest "NAVITIME for Japan Travel" app, which is now capable of displaying travel information in traditional Chinese characters additionally. As a result, since the NAVITIME for Japan Travel app displays travel routes, searches Wi-Fi spots offline, and offers travel articles and information in traditional Chinese characters, traveling in Japan is now even easier for visitors from Taiwan. "NAVITIME for Japan Travel" is NAVITIME JAPAN's proprietary, multilingual app that can search travel routes and maps based on the company's comprehensive Total NAVI (R) search engine, which is capable of searching sightseeing spots, free Wi-Fi hotspots, trains, buses, walking routes and other useful travel information while offline. When the NAVITIME for Japan Travel service was initially launched in October 2013, NAVITIME JAPAN continually enhanced the service based on the assumption that English-language services would be the mainstream. However, the company has since added other languages and is now pleased to launch this latest service, making it so much easier for Taiwanese visitors to travel in Japan by displaying inormation in traditional Chinese characters. Japan is improving its tourist infrastructure to better welcome the rapidly increasing number of visitors from abroad. For example, various business sectors are now displaying signs in multiple languages and offering better means of transportation to sightseeing spots. In line with this growth in tourist numbers, NAVITIME JAPAN, too, is committed to enhancing its services for foreign visitors, doing its utmost to continually enhance its service content by displaying, for example, the optimum travel routes and most up-to-date and thorough sightseeing information as possible. As NAVITIME JAPAN CEO and President Keisuke Onishi proudly stated, "We are pleased that our latest service launch now better supports our valued visitors from Taiwan, too, enabling them to have more enjoyable, more convenient and safer trips to Japan." Features of the NAVITIME for Japan Travel app designed especially for visitors to Japan: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M104492/201707264081/_prw_PA1fl_1CsBFWKO.pdf Introduction movie: https://youtu.be/UIZRdyzggMM Image: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/img/201707264081-O1-6N9mx66e NAVITIME for Japan Travel download: - iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/tw/app/navitime-for-japan-travel-transit-wi-fi-search/id686373726?mt=8&l=zh-tw - Android OS: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navitime.inbound.walk Downloads FREE About NAVITIME JAPAN Co., Ltd. URL: http://corporate.navitime.co.jp/en/profile/index.html SOURCE NAVITIME JAPAN Co., Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 08, 2017] Milrem Looking to Expand Production to the US The Estonian defense solutions provider Milrem is looking to expand the production of their first-of-its-kind unmanned ground vehicle to the US. The company will be exhibiting the UGV and meeting potential subcontractors at GVSETS in Michigan this week. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170808005591/en/ The Titan will carry all the supplies warfighters need and have had to carry themselves so fa. (Photo: Business Wire) "Milrem has been looking for potential manufacturing partners in the US for some time now. Since our first-of-its-kind unmanned ground vehicle Titan has been accepted to Phase I of the US Army's testing program SMET the activities have been accelerated," explained Kuldar Vaarsi, CEO of Milrem. The Titan is a joint product with QinetiQ (News - Alert) North America (QNA) that features the first fully modular hybrid unmanned ground vehicle THeMIS from Milrem and the Tactical Robot Controller (TRC) and Robotic Applique Kit (RAK) from QNA. The Titan is intended to provide support for dismounted troops; however, the system is capable of much more. Since it has a completely modular design the vehicle can be used to carry different remote weapon stations equipped with small and large caliber weapons. Milrem has already integrated such systems from KONGSBERG, FNHerstal, Aselsan and ST Kinetics. The UGV can also serve as an explosive ordinance detection and disposal unit, nest for tethered or non-tethered UAVs etc. Such systems have already been developed together with Raytheon (News - Alert) UK and being developed with several Estonian UAV manufacturers. "The need to support warfighters with smart unmanned systems is increasing. Milrem's UGV may be used on the battlefield in various roles while keeping life cycle management and logistics costs to a minimum," added Kuldar Vaarsi. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170808005591/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 08, 2017] A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of NCB Insurance Company Limited A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bb+" of NCB Insurance Company Limited (NCBIC) (Jamaica). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. NCBIC's direct banking parent is National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited, which is traded on the Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago stock exchanges. The rating affirmations reflect NCBIC's strong risk-adjusted capitalization and history of stable operating earnings, as well as A.M. Best's expectation that the company will continue to operate with a similar business and operating profile. NCBIC provides the Jamaica market with its core group life and creditor life products, sold through its banking parent. In addition, a modest premium volume is generated by its unit-linked annuity product. While NCBIC has demonstrated a favorable operating profile, the company's operations are concentrated in Jamaica, which is categorized as a country risk tier five (CRT-5) by A.M. Best. In addition, a majority of its invested asset portfolio is comprised of Government of Jamaica bonds. A CRT-5 ranking denotes a stressed economic environment with significant economic, financial and political headwinds that are placing a strain on wages and employment, which in turn has the potential to constrain NCBIC's potential future growth. While these challenges are clearly present, A.M Best notes that NCBIC has been able to demonstrate a history of stable financial performance to date and expects the company to maintain this stable financial and operating profile going forward. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on A.M. Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see A.M. Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and A.M. Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and A.M. Best Rating Action Press Releases. A.M. Best is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2017 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170808006344/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 08, 2017] ION expands 2D data library with new acquisition offshore Panama HOUSTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO) today announced acquisition is in progress on a new 2D multi-client program offshore Panama. Supported by industry funding, this is the first seismic survey acquired there in approximately 30 years. PanamaSPAN is designed to provide the framework to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of this unexplored area ahead of the anticipated inaugural license round. Building on recent exploration success offshore Colombia immediately adjacent to Panama's Caribbean coast, E&P companies are becoming increasingly interested in high-quality seismic data in this area to understand the potential hydrocarbon prospectivity. Initial deliverables will be available in Q4 2017 and complete interpretation of the data will be available by mid-2018 to guide investment strategies. The National Energy Secretary of Panama, Victor Urrutia, said, "Hydrocarbon exploration in Panama has identified various sedimentary basins, proving the existence of geological structures that may contain oil and gas, although there hasn't been a commercially exploitable discovery. Today, through the use of new and more sophisticated techniques, it is possible to identify prospective areas that previously were not considered economically viable, such as deep water deposits and/or those that are geologically more difficult to locate. The initiation of this seismic survey will provide high-value information to help assess Panama's oil and natural gas prospectivity. We value the geological and geopysical expertise ION is providing to this process and are confident they will deliver the products and understanding required for proper evaluation. We look forward to working with them throughout this process." "The unique survey design will provide a better understanding of the hydrocarbon potential offshore Panama," commented Joe Gagliardi, SVP of ION's Ventures group. "We will deliver the highest quality products and geologic insight to properly evaluate the exploration potential offshore Panama that our clients have come to expect from BasinSPAN programs." To learn more, visit iongeo.com/Panama. About ION ION is a leading provider of technology-driven solutions to the global oil & gas industry. ION's offerings are designed to help companies reduce risk and optimize assets throughout the E&P lifecycle. For more information, visit iongeo.com. Contacts ION (Investor relations) Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Steve Bate, +1 281.552.3011 [email protected] ION (Media relations) Vice President, Communications Rachel White, +1 281.781.1168 [email protected] The information herein contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include information and other statements that are not of historical fact. Actual results may vary materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include risks associated with the timing and development of the Company's products and services, the competitiveness of offers, pricing pressure, decreased demand, and changes in oil prices; and political, execution, regulatory, and currency risks. Additional risk factors, which could affect actual results are disclosed by the Company in its fillings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-Ks filed during the year. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ion-expands-2d-data-library-with-new-acquisition-offshore-panama-300501495.html SOURCE ION Geophysical Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Rex Early, longtime Republican leader in Indiana, has died Rex Early was chairman of the Indiana Republican Party and led former president Donald Trump's campaign in Indiana in 2016. Amgen stock hits high on earnings, prospects of obesity drug In one of the worst years for the stock market since the 2008 financial crisis, Thousand Oaksbased Amgen is showing no signs of weakness. As of Wednesdays market close, the... Council approves rules to limit self-storage growth Future self-storage facilities in the city of Thousand Oaks will be excluded from prime commercial areas, according to a new ordinance adopted by the City Council this month. In a... Dealership does Distinguished thing SPECIAL TRIPChildren from Boys & Girls clubs in Camarillo, Simi Valley and Moorpark, and Oxnard and Port Hueneme attended Misty Copelands Oct. 18 appearance in the Distinguished Speaker Series at... 404 - Page Not Found Sorry, this page was not found. Try visiting our homepage or using the search function in our menu. Clay Chastain: Ballot Question #2 still has a good chance to win voter approval. The people's petition-sponsored Ballot Question #2, to modernize the City public transportation system, stands a good chance to win Tuesday even though it did not stand a chance with the Star's Editorial Board. The reason...its not their idea and Clay Chastain is behind it. The Star said Ballot Question #2 was "a bad idea" even though the area's foremost expert transit advocacy group, the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA), has endorsed Ballot Question #2.What is a "bad idea" is that...a non-technically grounded, non-expert, transit-ignorant group of self-imposed newspaper people can impose their biased personal opinion upon the community by exploiting the power of a newspaper.Here is proof the majority of this paper's editorial board cares more about stopping Clay Chastain from accomplishing a long overdue improvement for the City, than they care about the well being of Kansas City...(1) Dave Helling...he once wrote that Kansas City would have light rail if it were not for Clay Chastain. Even though, I am the only one to ever win a light rail election. Mr. Helling said recently on "Week in Review," "don't go to sleep on Ballot Question #2." In other words, Chastain's Ballot Question #2 may pass so make sure you get out and vote against it. Mr. Helling never wrote anything in protest when the City Government over turned an election and the stated will of 75,000 voters who approved my 2006 light rail petition proposal.(2) Steve Kraske...for 11-years, he has repeatedly refused my requests to be on his "up to date" public radio show to inform the public about transit proposals before the voters. Mr. Kraske never wrote anything in protest when the City Government over turned an election and the stated will of 75,000 voters who approved my 2006 light rail petition proposal.(3) Lee Judge...he has doodled some 40-cartoons mocking me since I first began trying to improve Kansas City 36-years ago. Mr Judge never doodled a cartoon in protest when the City Government over turned an election and the stated will of 75,000 voters who approved my 2006 light rail petition proposal.(4) Mary Sanchez...My 11-year old daughter, who accompanied me to my interview with the Star's Editorial Board, said this about Ms. Sanchez and Mr. Helling..."Daddy, they (Sanchez and Helling) were not very nice to you. They were kind of rude, disrespectful and smirky." Ms. Sanchez never wrote anything in protest when the City Government over turned an election and the stated will of 75,000 voters who approved my 2006 light rail petition proposal.It matters not that we disagree. It matters how and why we disagree. The Star Editorial Board disagreed with Ballot Question #2 for the wrong reason, and for this they should be ashamed.Ballot Question #2 is a vote Tuesday not just to improve Kansas City and its public transportation infrastructure, it is also a vote against the biased Kansas City Star and a dictatorial mayor who both abuse their power.Clay Chastain##############You decide . . . Ourhas already agreed that this new airport promo endorsement has further tarnished the legacy ofAnd so, repeating a bunch of flimsy corporate promises to local biz that aren't worth the paper their written on . . . Here's a double down on the pitch and a one of the biggest corporations ruining Kansas City's long term memory in a. . .Corny website:You decide . . . This summer, renowned Argentinean artist Adrian Villar Rojas has transformed Athenss Hill of the Nymphs into a jungle, posing questions to locals and foreign tourists about disappearance and extinction, as well as the passage and volatility of time. Rojass impressive installation on the Hill of the Nymphs named The Theater of Disappearance is the first project he has been allowed to set up in an archaeological site worldwide, representatives of the Greek nonprofit organization NEON, which commissioned the work, told Xinhua. It is also the first time Greek authorities have given the green light for such a major project at an archaeological site. The Athens National Observatory, with an impressive view of the Parthenon, is a landmark in the historic center of the Greek capital. It was established in 1842 and was the first research institution in modern Greece. The Observatory is part of the citys history. Its tried recently, through various events, to highlight the link between science and art, according to its director Manolis Pleionis. 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 Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Christophe Meneboeuf License: CC-BY-SA Source: ekathimerini.com A total of 297 campgrounds are currently operating in Greece that can host about 80,738 visitors The number of foreign visitors who checked in at Greeces organized camping sites between January - September fell from 210,151 in 2015 to 196,519 last year, according to data provided by the Panhellenic Camping Association. According to the same data, the number of nights spent by foreign tourists at private campgrounds dropped from 782,981 to 770,806 over the same period. Speaking to Kathimerini newspaper, the president of the association, Kostas Papadopoulos, said the decline was a result of the authorities failure to crack down on free camping. According to the association, a total of 297 campgrounds are currently operating in Greece that can host about 80,738 visitors. Most of them are found in the central Macedonia region. 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 Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Ciell License: CC-BY-SA Source: ekathimerini.com KPMG in Bahrain today (August 8) presented a session on how its new technology - the Enterprise Accounting Solution (EAS), can help enterprises manage their financial processes effectively. The presentation on financial management and business growth at the Bahrain Chamber of Industry and Commerce was attended by around 80 representatives from small and medium enterprises (SMEs). EAS is an innovative technology that puts business owners in control of their finances. EAS users will no longer need to spend time or resources managing receipts and invoices; they can simply take pictures of expenses with a smartphone and send them to KPMG in Bahrains dedicated accountants via an online tool. This gives entrepreneurs up-to-date information about their performance, which is accessible via smartphones and portable devices at any time. Partner and head of Enterprise at KPMG in Bahrain, Harish Gopinath, said: Business owners can find it difficult to adapt a suitable accounting software that enables them to meet the local compliance requirements. Lack of technical knowledge to interpret financial reports and difficulty recruiting qualified accountants represent additional challenges for businesses. This is why we have developed the EAS to make financial management processes simple and available at a competitive price. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear views on other key challenges facing enterprises today, including the imminent introduction of Value-added Tax (VAT). Following the release of the unified agreement for VAT for the GCC countries, VAT will be levied on the supply of goods and services at a standard rate of 5 per cent by mid-2018. This leaves businesses with months only to prepare for the implementation of the new tax system scheduled to go live soon and comply with the new obligations including charging, collecting and paying VAT to the Tax Authorities in a timely manner. On the sidelines of this event, KPMG team also presented the firms new corporate training portal, KPMG Learning Hub, which offers online training modules to organizations across all sectors. TradeArabia News Service Iran and Ghana have signed a number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) including those on dam constructing dams and setting up pharmaceutical factories, a report said. The MoUs were signed by Iran's Minister of Labour Ali Rabiei and Ghanaian Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia in Tehran, Iran Daily reported, citing Fars News Agency. Iran can exchange technical knowledge in different fields with Ghana, including housing, cement production, processing cocoa, oil, gas, and medicine production, Bawumia was quoted as saying in the report. Irans exports to Ghana include tires, cement, ceramics and tiles, polymer products, medicine, agricultural produce and machinery like tractors, steel products, piles, motorcycles and spare parts, butane liquefied gas and plastic products, said Mojtaba Khosrotaj, head of Iran's Trade Promotion Organization (TPO). Fifteen of the best seed stage startups in the GCC will make presentations at the Seedstars GCC event in order gain a slot in the annual Seedstars Summit the entrepreneurship forum for emerging markets and win up to $1 million in equity investment. The Seedstars World team is coming to Manama, Bahrain, for the third time to hold a dynamic pitch event in the region on September 9, said a statement. The companies selected to pitch at the event need to be less than two years old, have raised less than $500,000 in funding and have built a minimum viable product, ideally with existing traction, it said. The team, in its search, is also focused on the startups regional and global scalability. With a strong network of international partners such as BBVA, Merck, Enel, Trecc and Standard Bank, Seedstars World is looking for smart startups that solve regional issues and develop profitable products for the global market, to support their regional businesses and growth, it added. Up to 15 of the best seed stage startups from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman will be invited to pitch for the opportunity to compete at the Seedstars Summit, that annually takes place in Switzerland, said a statement. In order to provide local entrepreneurs with this opportunity and aiming to deliver the best possible event, Seedstars World is closely working with CH9, who is representing the initiative throughout the year. CH9 is a business accelerator that envisions to enhance the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Bahrain and the GCC region by providing a platform that supports, teaches, encourages and inspires entrepreneurs to take the bold necessary steps to innovate, create and share prosperity in their respective countries. Mohamed Altawash, founder and managing director of CH9, said: The number of talented entrepreneurs in this region is phenomenal, and CH9 would like to help these entrepreneurs gain visibility in and out of this market. In Saudi Arabia, the Badir Program for Technology Incubators and Accelerators at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is at the forefront in providing support to technological startups, along with Endeavor Saudi Arabia, another non-profit organisation under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce that is credited with pioneering the concept of high-impact entrepreneurship in emerging and growth markets around the world. As a local supporter in the Seedstars GCC event, Badir is encouraging its incubated companies to participate and notifying Saudi startups as well, it said. The Seedstars GCC event is under the patronage of Zayed Bin Rashed Alzayani, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Bahrain. In line with its mission to place the spotlight on entrepreneurs from emerging markets, Seedstars World is travelling to more than 80 countries this year to identify the best seed-stage entrepreneurs and provide them with an opportunity to win up to $1 million and network with investors and mentors from around the world. Its previous participants have raised over $61 million collectively, providing employment to more than 1,000 employees worldwide. Katarina Szulenyiova, chief operating officer, at Seedstars World, said: Seedstars World is a platform connecting investors to the next generation of startup entrepreneurs, pulling the spotlight from Silicon Valley and Western Europe. As this will be our third time to organise our event in Bahrain, our excitement level and expectations are high. We have heard so much about the bustling startup ecosystem in GCC and we are now here to witness the reality, she said. We are impressed by what we have seen in the continent so far and cannot wait to add startups from GCC on our map, she added. Seedstars Summit 2018 will be held in Lausanne, Switzerland on April 12, 2018. Seedstars is a Swiss-based group of companies which has the goal of impacting peoples lives in emerging markets through technology and entrepreneurship. Seedstars connects stakeholders within these ecosystems, builds companies from scratch with public and private partners and invests in high growth startups. TradeArabia News Service Top industry experts, thought leaders and officials will gather to discuss and gain exclusive insights into the latest trends driving growth in the fertiliser market at the upcoming Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Fertilizer Convention, next month in Bahrain. The 8th edition of the convention will take place under the theme New beginnings: Return to growth, and will run from September 26 to 28 in The Ritz Carlton. As changing market dynamics in the fertiliser industry create new business opportunities, the three-day event will offer exclusive insights into the impact of current market changes on fertiliser trade, as well as key drivers behind future growth, said a statement. This year, the event will kick off with a welcome address from Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Oil for Bahrain. It will also feature senior executives from the industry including Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery, president, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) and chairman, Fertilizer Committee, GPCA; Khalid Al Mudaifer, president and CEO, Maaden; Charlotte Hebebrand, director general, International Fertilizer Association (IFA) and Peter Huang, CEO, China National Chemical Information Center (CNCIC) Consulting, among many others. In line with the GPCAs drive to equip a new generation of aspiring students and future industry leaders with the requisite knowledge and skills to succeed, as well as enabling access to industry platforms, a student seminar will also take place during the convention, as part of the GPCAs Leaders of Tomorrow initiative. During the 10-year period between 2006 and 2016, GCC fertiliser production capacity almost doubled in size, growing from 19.4 million tonnes to 37.8 million tonnes. 2017 is set to be another encouraging year, as GCC fertiliser production capacity is estimated to reach 42.3 million tonnes, with Saudi Arabia continuing to take the lead in GCC fertiliser production, raising its total capacity by almost a third to 21.5 million tonnes in 2017 from 16.8 in 2016. Against the backdrop of increasing food demand in the region, coupled with a need for more fertiliser imports, the convention will explore themes for market stabilisation, global and regional megatrends, specialty fertilisers, resolving environmental and technical challenges and competition in major supply markets, said a statement. Dr Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, secretary general, GPCA, said: As the first industry to be set up in the GCC, the fertiliser sector has grown exponentially over the years, delivering exceptional value to the Arabian Gulf region and markets across the globe. The convention has established itself as the Middle Easts leading platform to network, share best practices and exchange ideas for the future in a highly dynamic business landscape, he said. As a unique and must-attend forum for market-leading insights, the convention will open doors to future opportunities, help regional exporters establish a firm foothold in new markets and adapt to a new era of competitiveness, he added. Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery, president, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) and chairman, Fertilizer Committee, GPCA, said: We at GPCA are proud to host this important conference, focused on the latest developments of this strategic industry, for the very first time in Bahrain. The convention brings together the industrys elite and gives us the opportunity to learn more about the challenges and solutions facing the fertiliser industry regionally and globally. Like previous editions, we are dedicated to this years success, he added. TradeArabia News Service The Superior Small Lodging Association of Florida has announced the appointment of Anne Sallee as their new Executive Director (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - August 7th, 2017 - The Superior Small Lodging Association of Florida has announced the appointment of Anne Sallee as their new Executive Director. She assumed responsibilities on August 1, 2017, and succeeded Scott Rivelli who has stepped down after four years of dedicated service to the association. Anne Sallee has been active in South Florida for 22 years, working in law, government and hospitality. In 2014, after retiring from law and government, Anne was hired by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) as Regional Director of their Broward County Chapter. Under her leadership, FRLA Broward Chapter membership and community awareness of the organization grew dramatically. She was recently recognized as a Broward Hospitality Leader by the South Florida Business Journal, for her leadership and efforts advocating for one of Florida's most significant industries. She will continue to work extensively with the many industry partners across the state to promote, protect and educate the hospitality community in Florida as the Executive Director of Superior Small Lodging of Florida. "To say that we are very fortunate to have attracted a leader of this caliber would be an understatement. Anne Sallee's experience and skills will enable the Superior Small Lodging Association of Florida to better serve the traveling public and our members." said John Boutin, Treasurer and Executive Board Member. In addition, Scott Rivelli, the outgoing Executive Director of the association stated: Annes history and experience make her the perfect fit to lead SSL moving forward. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly support Anne as the new Executive Director/CEO. The Superior Small Lodging organization is the nations largest and oldest organization dedicated to serving independent, owner-operated hotels, resorts and inns with 75 rooms or less. The association was created in 1989 in Broward County when the county was going through a transition period, clamping down on the +/- 400,000 college students who arrived every season for Spring Break. Established to bring brand awareness to the smaller boutique lodgings as an alternative to the large corporate branded hotels, the Superior Small Lodging brand has come to represent a partnership of unique lodging properties offering a high level of service, comfort and cleanliness. For more information on the association, please visit www.superiorsmalllodging.com. ### U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS LAUNCHES NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS ( August 8, 2017) - The United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has debuted a new advertising campaign, named "Real Nice". In partnership with its advertising agency of record, J. Walter Thompson Atlanta (JWT), which is responsible for creative design, and local Virgin Islands company FilmVI, the popular "Virgin Islands Nice" campaign was revised to give consumers insight into Virgin Islanders' lifestyle, while capturing the attention of visitors who seek to experience a unique vacation rich in interactive cultural offerings. With more than 80 percent of the campaign development budget spent in the Territory, the production resulted in the hiring of more than 100 on-island talent and crew, as well as wardrobe, props and equipment to achieve a new level of authenticity. The refreshing new phase of the campaign, which involved creating print, television and digital assets, focuses on authentic Virgin Islands experiences, highlighting food, culture and people, along with the natural beauty of the destination. The voice-over talent of Virgin Islands artist Pressure Busspipe is featured in the television anthems, while his music can be heard in some of the digital videos, which will be shared online. "To a Virgin Islander, 'real nice' is more than a phrase; it's a feeling of positivity that speaks to the way we live and embrace each other as a people," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, the U.S. Virgin Islands' Commissioner of Tourism. "These advertisements dive deeper into showcasing the authenticity of our destination." To capture the true essence of the islands visually and emotionally, JWT and FilmVI worked seamlessly to ensure there was a local feel to all aspects of the production - from locations to props to sound design. All lighting was natural and the production team followed local talent for three weeks, capturing genuine responses to Virgin Islands experiences. Virgin Islands co-director of the project Dwight Winston of D. Winston Media said: "It is an honor to have been selected by the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism to direct their 2017 'Real Nice' promotional campaign. I am humbled by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and appreciate USVI Tourism's commitment to supporting local talent." The "Real Nice" campaign includes three television spots ("State of Mind," "Live How We Live" and "Free To Explore"), as well as 16 digital videos and more than 10 print ads. Click here to view: Startups are encouraged to participate and get featured at India International Travel Mart Mumbai in September 2017. (TRAVPR.COM) KARNATAKA - August 8th, 2017 - IITM announced the launch of Starups Pavilion, a showcase for startup companies providing forward-thinking and innovative ideas taking the future of Indian economy to a whole new level. Startups Pavilion is a new feature at the India International Travel Mart, which is the industrys most widely-attended exhibition of India. Now in its 18th year, IITM draws more than 1500 participants in India every year. Startup companies participating in Startups Pavilion will be given a standard or customized stall in the exhibition to display their services as well as a featured presentation slot to share their vision and direction with exhibition attendees. Indian start-up landscape is very vibrant as seen by the number of companies founded. With a large young and aspirational population India is today undergoing a fundamental shift towards startup friendly policies and a business friendly environment. For startups in India, past few years have proved to be the years for consolidation and transition, where entrepreneurial mindset metamorphosed from a gold rush-like mentality into an ecosystem where preference is being given to quality over quantity. The spectrum of innovation by startups expanded across many verticals of the Indian economy. Over the years, Indian startups have experienced numerous moments that made this ecosystem vibrant and tested its inhabitants for survival. Sharing his Idea and vision behind the incorporation of Startup Pavilion in IITM, Mr Rohit Hangal, Director of Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions said The impact of startups has been significant in all walks of life. In recent years, India has emerged as one of the top countries globally in terms of the number of startups founded. With a vision to realize Indias transition from a developing to a developed nation, there is an urgent need to empower our Start-ups to grow at an accelerated pace, so that they become an effective instrument for making this transformation fast and seamless. Mr. Sanjay Haku, Director of Sphere Travelmedia & exhibitions said The purpose of the pavilion is to bring every entrepreneur of the Indian Startup Diaspora on a single platform and help to provide them all support they need. To help them access the Indian market, connect with possible investors, share and promote innovative ideas and grow more new businesses. IITMs Startup Pavilion will help the entrepreneurs to access prominent delegates from national and international platforms. This will also provide them a platform to showcase and promote their products and services as well as give them major branding opportunities and huge media exposure. For more information visit www.iitmindia.com ### The nomination confirms that even though the newly built Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa has been in operation for only two years, its 300 sq.m. Spa is already regarded as one of the best in Santorini, thanks to the wide range and the unique quality of treatments, therapies and wellness services on offer (TRAVPR.COM) GREECE - August 8th, 2017 - With a longstanding tradition in the hospitality sector as part of the Metaxas Group of Companies, the Spa of Santo Maris Oia Luxury and Suites & Spa has been nominated in the category Greeces Best Resort Spa for 2017 at the prestigious World Spa Awards. Being shortlisted among the best Resort Spas in Greece is in itself an honorable distinction. At the same time, however, given that the awards program stands as a benchmark for excellence, the nomination is also a recognition and a reward for the high-quality services on offer and for the Spas remarkable facilities. The nomination confirms that even though the newly built Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa has been in operation for only two years, its 300 sq.m. Spa is already regarded as one of the best in Santorini, thanks to the wide range and the unique quality of treatments, therapies and wellness services on offer. The Spa of Santo Maris Oia reflects the hotels philosophy of personalized services rooted on the ideals of genuine Cretan hospitality and of the promotion of Greek concepts and products, as most of the treatments, techniques & ingredients are inspired by the Aegean Islands and Crete. To vote for Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa click here: http://worldspaawards.com/vote/santo-maris-oia-luxury-spa-2017 About Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa: The newly built Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, which opened its doors in 2016, is the newest addition to the Metaxas Group of Companies, which has been operating in the tourism sector since 1975. Located in a privileged setting at the edge of Oia, Santo Maris Oia offers seclusion and direct views to the renowned sunset of Oia. Accommodation is offered in 44 suites & private villas and facilities include four outdoor swimming pools, the 300 sq.m. Luxury Spa with indoor swimming pool and the Alios Ilios restaurant. About the World Spa Awards Inaugurated in 2015 by the World Travel Awards, recognized today as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence worldwide, the World Spa Awards aim to drive up standards within spa tourism by rewarding organizations that are leaders in the field. The World Spa Awards were developed in reaction to overwhelming demand from the spa industry for a program that was fair and transparent. Some of the programs categories at country level are the Best Hotel Spa, Best Resort Spa, Best Wellness Retreat and Best Safari Spa. The voting methodology is simple: votes are cast by professionals working within the spa industry - senior executives, travel buyers, tour operators, agents and media - and by the public. On the below link please find the picture of the nomination shield: https://we.tl/dw01zW2DQN On the below link please find high-resolution pictures of Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa: https://we.tl/p3tufgA0NW Contact Details: (for Media Representatives) Calliope Tsiftsi, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa Tel.: (+30) 28975 02159, Mob.: (+30) 697 266 4966 E-mail: marketing@santomaris.gr ### Sanjeev Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 The stock markets were rattled today and investors confused as the markets regulator SEBI in a sudden order put trading curbs on 331 suspected shell companies identified by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and directed the stock exchanges that these scrips will be moved to a category where trading is permitted only once in a month and audits will be carried out by bourses to ascertain the credibility of these companies. As trading curbs were immediately enforced by the stock exchanges from today in these 331 stocks, the move hurt market sentiment and the BSE Sensex ended down by 260 points. A few companies in the list which are operational and have a large investor base protested with SEBI and said the order where no prior notice was issued has tarnished their reputation and harmed their investors. The move is seen as part of the government crackdown on shell companies which are not operational and are used for money laundering. As part of the drive, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has removed 1.62 lakh companies from the Register of Companies. The government had also requested the RBI to freeze accounts of the defaulting companies who have long exceeded the stipulated time limit, for filing of financial statements and returns, under the Companies Act. The government has also asked the RBI to circulate the details of defaulting companies to all the banks with the advice to exercise enhanced due diligence while dealing with these companies. The SEBI order issued by its surveillance department late on Monday said trading in all such listed securities shall be placed in Stage VI of the Graded Surveillance Measure (GSM) with immediate effect. Under the stage VI of GSM framework, trading in these identified securities shall be permitted only once a month under trade to trade category. Therefore, as per the provisions of GSM framework, the securities shall not be available for trading from tomorrow. Trading in these securities shall be permitted once a month (First Monday of the month), the SEBI order said. In addition, stock exchanges will verify the credentials and fundamentals of such companies through an independent auditor and if necessary, even conduct forensic audit of these companies. On verification, if Exchanges do not find appropriate credentials/fundamentals about existence of the company, exchanges shall initiate the proceeding for compulsory delisting against the company, the order said. The shares held by the promoters and directors in such listed companies shall be allowed to be transferred by depositories only upon verification by exchanges concerned. Real estate developer, Parsvnath Developers which has been named in the list has written to SEBI protesting that its name and reputation has been tarnished and it is not a shell company. It said the directions given by SEBI are uncalled for and without any basis. J Kumar Infraprojects issued a statement saying it is not a shell company and the suspicion of the regulator is uncalled for. It said it has paid income tax to the tune of Rs 120 crore in the past three years and many of its infrastructure clients are government agencies. Experts said the sudden SEBI move is surprising and it has caused erosion of wealth. Rajesh Narain Gupta, Managing Partner, SNG & Partners said SEBI order has taken industry and investors by surprise. This has lead to erosion of serious wealth and if some of the companies are found to be not shell companies this order shall still be a death knell on their perception and valuation, he added. Trading permitted only once a month Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 8 The 10-year-old rape victim, who is now eight-month pregnant, was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, here, today. According to the hospital authorities, the victim will remain in the hospital till the time of delivery. The girl was taken to the hospital around 9 am. After conducting the ultrasound, doctors also checked the blood sugar (fasting) level and carried out the thyroid test of the girl. Unlike the previous visit, where the victim was made to stand in a queue, along with pregnant women, in the Gynaecology OPD of the GMCH-32, this time the child was straightaway taken to the one-stop centre (OSC) of the hospital. The GMCH-32 authorities had lodged a complaint before Harjinder Kaur, chairperson of the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights, that the Women and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) did not keep them in loop that caused inconvenience for the victim. Today, the hospital staff was informed about the victims medical check-up. Before the family could reach the hospital, all arrangements were reportedly put in place to avoid hiccups in the check-up. Sources said the GMCH-32 authorities again complained they had not received the court order or any written direction from the UT Administration or the Child Commission directing them to conduct free-of-cost treatment of the child. Delivery anytime within a month, say docs Following medical examination, doctors reportedly told the victims relative that delivery could take place within a month. The doctors asked the victims mother whether she wants to take the child home or get her admitted to the hospital, said a victims relative. However, her mother refused to take the child. She expressed fear that if her daughter would suffer from any medical complication then it would be difficult for them to rush her to the hospital immediately. Gynaecologist Dr Alka Sehgal conducted the ante-natal check-up of the victim. It was stated that both girl and child were healthy. Psychologist to assist victim The CWC had observed that the girl was putting up in an unhygienic condition with her parents in a servant quarter. Sources said from Wednesday onwards, a child psychologist will also assist the victim and prepare her to deal with the complication of pregnancy and subsequent child birth. Staff told to ensure girls privacy The girl was shifted to the private room of the hospital during the afternoon. AK Janmeja, Director-Principal of the GMCH, had reportedly directed the hospital staff to maintain strict privacy of victim and her family members. Only a few doctors and hospital staff have been allowed to visit the victims room. Besides, one family member has been told to remain with the child all time so that she should not feel isolated. Tribune News Service Panchkula, August 8 Crusaders of Ruchika Girhotra molestation case Anand Prakash and his wife Madhu Prakash today lent their support to the family of the girl, on whose complaint a case of stalking was registered against Vikas Barala, son of Haryana state BJP president Subhash Barala. While talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Anand Prakash said they met the family of the girl in Panchkula and assured their full support. Anand said as they had gone through sufferings during the Ruchika molestation case, therefore they know the condition of the parents and the girl. He said they had exchanged mobile numbers with the senior Haryana bureaucrat, the father of the girl. Tribune News Service Panchkula, August 8 Media plays the role of a medium to generate mass opinion. We all are aware of the importance of mass opinion. The need of the hour is to create a positive mass opinion. Hence, media is called the watchdog of democracy. This was stated by Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki. Solanki was addressing a one-day seminar at Government Post Graduate College, Sector 1, Panchkula, on Defence forces and media. The seminar was organised by the department of journalism and mass communication of the college. Dr KG Suresh, Director General, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), presented his views on the issue. He said, Nowadays, media is influenced by market forces. The media is competing for TRPs and in the process, committing some mistakes. It is interested in gaining more and more revenue. The media is like a bridge between defence forces and society. Its the age of specialisation and a reporter should also be up to date with technology, he said and spoke on the importance of defence reporting. It should be a sensitive reporting as the nation should come first. The participants and support groups of Sainik Samman Yatra were felicitated at the function by the Haryana Governor. Principal Dr Archana Mishra was also present on the occasion. Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 7 The UT Health Department has established that the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine administered to students of Government Model School, Mani Majra, on August 4 was safe. The UT Heath Department had launched a probe to find out why only the children of one school fell ill after being vaccinated. The department also worked on finding out whether the incident occurred due to breaking of the cold chain of the vaccine. It is important to maintain the chain of the MR vaccine otherwise it is of no use or may react. Sources said the investigation was conducted after many parents raised questions over the quality of the medicine. Panic-stricken parents were reassured that the vaccine was high quality and approved by the WHO. Dr Anu Dosanjh, Nodal Officer for the measles and rubella vaccination campaign, UT Health Department, said a detailed investigation was conducted and the vaccination was found to be safe. The incident occurred due to hysteria among students. The school authorities were informed about the minor and momentary side effects of the medicine. When one student started complaining of head ache and rashes, other students who were vaccinated panicked and rushed to a hospital on similar complaints. All students were perfectly fine and were discharged from the hospital, said Dosanjh. For the past three month, we are vigorously campaigning about the importance of the MR vaccination. This vaccine is very important for children and the parents should not hesitate from participating in the vaccination process, said Dosanjh. Momentary side effects Injection spot reactions (pain, redness, swelling or a lump), fever, rash, headache, dizziness, joint or muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Tribune News Service Panchkula, August 8 Demanding resignation of Haryana state BJP chief Subhash Barala after his son Vikas Barala was arrested for stalking a senior bureaucrats daughter on August 4 in Chandigarh, the Congress and Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Samiti today staged a protest in Panchkula. The Congress workers gathered in Sector 4 and burnt the effigy of BJP state president Subhash Barala. Haryana Congress treasurer Tarun Bhandari said Barala should immediately resign from his post on moral grounds. Raising question over the BJPs Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, Bhandari said this case had exposed the real face of BJP leaders. Meanwhile, women of the Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Samiti also carried out a protest march in Panchkula. The police stopped women protesters on the Chandigarh-Panchkula barrier at the Housing Board chowk. The protesters said they were carrying out an Aakrosh March as Haryana BJP leaders were protecting the accused, who is the son of the state BJP president. Meanwhile, the Panchkula unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also submitted a memorandum to the Haryana State Women Commission seeking justice for the girls family and strict action against accused. Women not secure under BJP rule Chandigarh: Workers of the Chandigarh Congress, while supporting a young woman who filed a case of stalking against Haryana BJP president Subhash Baralas son Vikas Barala, burnt an effigy of the BJP at Dadu Majra in Sector 25 here today. Area councillor Sheela Phul Singh accused the police of working under pressure. She said women were not secure under the BJP rule. The protesters raised slogans against BJP leaders and said they were putting pressure on the police to release the accused. The leaders said their protest would continue till the girl got justice. TNS Protest leads to traffic jam Panchkula: While the Chandigarh and Panchkula police were busy dealing with protesters, there was a huge traffic jam from the Housing Board chowk to Sector 7-8 roundabout in Panchkula during the afternoon hours. Motorists faced a tough time around 2 pm. Priya Joshi, a college student, said it took her almost 30 minutes to cross the stretch. Though police personnel were deployed on the spot, they were not able to clear the jam, she said. TNS Hasan Suroor Hasan Suroor The Americans have spoken; the European Union has spoken; the United Nations has spoken; Britain has spoken; and, of course, most of the Muslim world has spoken. But, intriguingly, India has remained silent (not even a routine statement) over the recent Israeli action at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem that led to some of the worst violence in years. Some sort of uneasy peace has returned but, three weeks later, tensions still remain with Israel seeming determined to ramp up its claim to the compound which houses sites revered both by Muslims and Jews, and has for long been a flashpoint for conflict between the two sides. The flare-up was sparked by Israel's heavy-handed security clampdown after two policemen were killed by three Palestinians, who themselves were later killed by Israeli forces in a massive retaliation. Muslim worshippers were effectively locked out of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine. Which, apart from constituting an attack on their centuries-old right to worship there, is another instance of Israels brazen expansionist policy with an eye on any final settlement over the status of East Jerusalem. While international criticism of Israeli actions was swift with even its closest ally, Washington, warning against interfering with the status quo a warning echoed by the European Union India remained conspicuously silent. This has deeply upset the Palestinians who say they feel let down by an old and trusted friend. Indias non-reaction is being interpreted as a consequence of its growing warmth towards Israel reflected in Narendra Modi's recent bonhomie-filled visit to that country first ever by an Indian prime minister. Theres concern that India's enhanced military and political engagement with Israel could lead to a shift in its traditional support for the Palestinian cause at a time when, more than ever, Palestine needs old friends as it faces an increasingly aggressive Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right administration. Indias decision to hug Israel is not a new development, but what drives Palestinian fears is the complexion of the current governments in the two countries both hardline nationalists who see each other as natural allies. This new phase of relationship is profoundly different from previous engagements, and could in the long run interfere with India's relations with Palestine. It is in this context that India's silence on the Al-Aqsa row assumes significance, and the Palestinians need assurances that they would not be dumped. The Palestinian Ambassador to India, Adnan Abu Al Haija, took the unusual step of calling a press conference to express his disappointment over New Delhi's stance arguing that Palestine expected a positive response in its hour of need. I did not hear any official response from India on the issue. Many countries reacted including Israels closest ally, the USA...We expect India to condemn Israeli violations (of Palestinian rights) in East Jerusalem and other places in occupied Palestinewe expect the Government of India to play a positive role. Mr Haija also thought that the governments stance was at odds with the Indian public opinion which, he said, was overwhelmingly supportive of the Palestinian cause as he had found on his tours across the country. A claim that should be taken with a spoonful of salt in the current climate of widespread disdain for liberal political causes, especially if associated with the Nehruvian era. Sorry, Mr Ambassador, not many Indians are likely to care if Modi were to tear up the old rule book. The 37-acre Al-Aqsa Mosque compound was seized by Israel from Jordan in the six-day war of 1967, but its annexation along with the rest of East Jerusalem is not internationally recognised. Its regarded as occupied Palestinian territory under international law, while Jordan remains the official Muslim custodian of the compound. However, Israel is given to using its security powers to entrench its hold over the Arab East Jerusalem which it eventually wants to merge with the Jewish West Jerusalem and declare a united Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The Israeli parliament is trying to push through a bill seeking to prevent the division of Jerusalem under a possible future two-state solution. The move is seen to be aimed at scuttling a two-state solution altogether. As the Palestinian news agency MNA pointed out, The proposed legislation would make it significantly harder to reach any potential agreement on a two-state solution, as negotiations have so far proposed the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel with East Jerusalem as its capital. Meanwhile, the relentless Israeli expansion of illegal Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem is radically altering its demography. Israel is trying to change the facts on the ground by forcing a change in the Muslim character of the city so that if there's ever a two-state settlement, the Palestinians will only get a highly truncated East Jerusalem. The systematic Judaisation of the Al-Aqsa compound fits a pattern of expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories despite international condemnation. Last year, UNESCO adopted a strongly-worded resolution criticising Israeli activities around the site, pointedly referring to it throughout by its Muslim names: Al-Aqsa and al-Haram al-Sharif. Jews call it Temple Mount. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Israels handling of the recent incident, calling its response disproportionate. While recognising that Israel had legitimate security concerns, it was important that the status quo at the site be retained, he was reported as saying. But Palestinians too need to take a hard look at their own tactics and avoid playing into Israeli hands. With no coherent political strategy and their leadership in disarray, frustrated youth tend to resort to aimless violence giving Israel a pretext to push its agenda under the cover of protecting national security. Besides, invariably, more Palestinians end up losing their lives without achieving anything. As for India's stance, this is not the first time that it has taken an opportunistic neutral position. Previously, it has abstained from voting on critical UN resolutions against Israel. So, its decision to look the other way on this occasion shouldn't be over-interpreted. The important thing is that so far, there has been no overt change in Indias Palestine policy; Mahmoud Abbas was warmly received by Modi in New Delhi only recently and assured of India's continued support. But, it's also true that historically the BJP has been greatly enamoured of Israel while treating the Palestinian issue as a Muslim cause. And there are BJP hawks who are only too keen to get rid of this Nehruvian legacy. For the moment, though, it remains a wish. But keep your fingers crossed. The writer is a London-based commentator Washington, August 8 An eight-year-old Indian-origin transgender girl and her family have sued a US school for allegedly forcing her to wear a boys uniform and refusing to call her by her chosen name, media reports said. Parents Priya Shah and Jaspreet Brar have sued Heritage Oak Private Education in California and its parent company, alleging that the school refused to call daughter Nikki Brar by her name, Los Angeles Times reported. The lawsuit, filed last week in Orange County Superior Court, alleges that Heritage Oak Private Education in Yorba Linda would not let Nicole, who goes by Nikki, dress as she chose, use the bathroom of her choice and go by female pronouns. The lawsuit alleges that the school violated the Unruh Civil Rights Act, a California law which outlaws discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation, the report said. When adults at a school think that they can dictate the name that a child goes by and demand she wear a boys uniform when she knows shes a girl, thats wrong. And thats what happened at Heritage Oak, Mark Rosenbaum, the lead attorney for the Shah Brar family, said in a news release from the law firm Public Counsel. As a society, we cant accept such discrimination from any quarter least of all from a school seeking to deny the identity of one of its students, Rosenbaum said. The suit is noteworthy because it is the first (transgender rights) case to use a state anti-discrimination law as one of the grounds for relief, said Rosenbaum. In light of the Trump administrations inaction on taking a stand against discrimination against trans individuals... this is a terribly important case, he said. The suit also claims that the school barred teachers from protecting her from bullying and harassment. The lawsuit alleged that Nikki experienced social isolation. The girls would not play with her because she had to dress like a boy, and she found the boys games too rough. Boys would bully the youngster, calling her a loser, it said. Nikki left the school in February 2017. We believed it was extremely important to respond... to decide when and how to inform and educate our entire elementary school community... about the mid-year change of gender identity expression of a young child... Unfortunately, these accommodations were rejected and the parents withdrew their child, according to a statement by the schools parent group Nobel Learning Communities. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has been rolling back Obama-era protections for transgender students. In February, the administration rescinded federal guidelines instructing schools to allow students to use the bathroom corresponding with their gender identities. Last month, the Department of Education told its lawyers they could feel free to dismiss complaints related to bathroom access. PTI Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service Rohtak, August 8 The state BJP leadership as well as the Union Government have come under fire from various quarters over the Chandigarh stalking case in which IAS officer VS Kundus daughter Varnika was allegedly stalked by BJPs Haryana unit president Subhash Baralas son Vikas and his friend. Members of the Kundu khap blocked the Rohtak-Jind highway near Titoli village to demand justice for Varnika. The protesters demanded action against Vikas Barala and his friend. The government is trying to save Vikas by imposing mild sections in the FIR. Varnika is our daughter and we wont let the government cover up the matter because Vikas is the son of a leader of the ruling party, said Virender Kundu, a protester, while talking to reporters. The protesters lifted the blockade after the local administrative officials reached the protest site and assured them of conveying their concern to the state authorities. However, the khap members threatened to intensify the stir if no concrete action was taken regarding the matter by August 16. In a statement issued today, veteran Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has asked the BJP government to ensure impartial investigation into the matter and justice for Varnika. Hooda, who is on a tour of Puducherry and Chennai, remarked that the way in which the IPC Sections imposed in the FIR were reportedly changed indicated that the Chandigarh Police was under pressure from the Centre. The Congress leader alleged that the BJP leadership was trying to save Vikas as he is son of the partys state president Subhash Barala. The BJP government should ensure a fair probe into the matter and provision of justice to Varnika, failing which the Congress party would launch a fight for her, he maintained. Meanwhile, Delhi Women Commission chairperson Swati Maliwal has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to intervene in the matter and direct the Chandigarh Police to add the relevant Sections of the IPC in the FIR as per the complaint lodged by Varnika. Srinagar, August 7 Five unidentified terrorists were killed in a gunfight as the Army foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Machil sector of north Kashmirs Kupwara district today. In Uri, meanwhile, an Army jawan was reportedly injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said, "A group of militants was challenged in Machil sector. They opened fire and a gunfight ensued. So far, five terrorists have been eliminated and five weapons seized." A combing operation was still underway in the forest area, he added. The identity and the group affiliation of the slain terrorists could not be established immediately. Defence sources said the group was intercepted by soldiers during the day after which they were challenged. We noticed suspected movement of terrorists near Z-Gali in Machil sector during night and soldiers kept a watch on them. A contact with them was established this evening and the exchange of fire continued for hours, sources said. This is the first infiltration bid to be foiled this month in the Kashmir region. TNS Jammu, August 8 An Indian Army jawan was killed in Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The Indian troops retaliated "strongly and effectively" to the Pakistani firing, an Army officer said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Krishnagati sector at around 2.50 pm today," the officer said. In the firing, Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries, the officer said. Sugra (21) belonged to Sugri village of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand. He leaves behind his parents. "Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the Army said. Yesterday, an Army jawan was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. PTI Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu), August 8 Nine Indian fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy along with two boats from the Palk Strait area. The fishermen belong to Pudukkottai and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu. All the fishermen have been taken to Kankesanthurai Naval camp by the Sri Lankan Navy for interrogation. Meanwhile, two Indian fishermen went missing after being reportedly attacked and pushed in mid-sea by people on board of the Sri Lankan Navy boat on Monday night. As per reports, a Sri Lankan Navy P-439 boat hit a Pudukkottai-based boat and reportedly pushed fishermen into waters in the Palk Strait area. Both the boats and the fishermen are missing. Search operations are under way to locate the missing fishermen. ANI Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 8 The Mumbai Police on Tuesday arrested a man after he followed a woman till her building and even rang her doorbell. The arrest came after the woman filed a police complaint and posted about her plight on Facebook. In her complaint to the Amboli police, the victim said she and another woman were driving home with her two children on Monday morning when the suspect, identified as Nitesh Kumar Sharma (36) a software engineer began following her car. Shortly after she went up to her flat, Sharma followed her and even rang her doorbell, the victim wrote on Facebook: 2 women and 2 kids in a car together don't stop a random man from stalking and following you upto your house and ringing your door bell at 2am! She recounted her horror in detail in her social media post. "This is shocking and nerve wrecking! .. In the last 10 years, I've always felt safe in Bombay, and in the same breath have always cursed Delhi! But last night showed me a different side to my 'not so safe anymore' city! " she wrote. In her police complaint, the victim said said Sharma left the place after she screamed at him. He then waited downstairs in his car staring at her window, she added. Aditi also posted photographs of the man sitting in his car with the door open staring at her. According to the police, they have recovered CCTV footage from the building showing Sharma waiting outside her flat. Police said Sharma was traced and arrested by encounter specialist Daya Nayak early today. Later on Tuesday, the police said Sharma hailed from Hyderabad and was visiting relatives in Mumbai. He had told the police that he was roaming around at night in a car and followed the woman to her building, an officer from the Amboli police station said. Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 8 The Mumbai police today arrested Nitesh Kumar Sharma (36), a software engineer, after he followed a woman till her building and even rang her doorbell. The arrest came after the woman filed a police complaint and posted about her plight on Facebook. In her complaint to the Amboli police, Aditi Nagpaul said she, along with another woman, was driving home with her two children on Monday morning when Sharma began following her car. Shortly after, she went up to her flat and Sharma followed her and even rang her doorbell. Aditi wrote on Facebook: 2 women and 2 kids in a car together dont stop a random man from stalking and following you up to your house and ringing your doorbell at 2 am! She recounted her horror in detail in her social media post. This is shocking and nerve wrecking! .. In the last 10 years, Ive always felt safe in Bombay, and in the same breath have always cursed Delhi! But last night showed me a different side to my not so safe anymore city! she wrote. In her police complaint, Aditi said Sharma left the place after she screamed at him. He then waited downstairs in his car staring at her window, she added. Aditi also posted photographs of the man sitting in his car with the door open, staring at her. According to the police, they have recovered CCTV footage from the building which showed Sharma waiting outside her flat. Police said Sharma was traced and arrested by encounter specialist Daya Nayak early today. Sharma hailed from Hyderabad and was visiting relatives in Mumbai. He told the police that he was roaming around at night in a car and followed the woman to her building, an officer from the Amboli police station said. Victims chilling midnight account 2 women and 2 kids in a car together dont stop a random man from stalking and following you up to your house and ringing your doorbell at 2 am! Aditi Nagpaul on facebook 18,000 Stalking cases registered in last 3 years, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday Manas Dasgupta & IANS New Delhi/Gandhinagar, Aug 8 In a jolt to the BJP, Congress candidate Ahmed Patel on Wednesday scraped through to notch a victory in a bitterly contested Rajya Sabha election against all out efforts of the BJP to check his attempt to seek a fifth term. Patel, 68, the powerful political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is said to have secured 44 votes defeating Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput. The other two successful candidates in the election were BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The counting of votes began around 1.30 am. According to reports available, Shah secured 46 votes, Irani 45 and Ahmed Patel 44 votes. Satyamev Jayate (Truth alone triumphs). This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery, Patel tweeted soon after he won. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who was part of a Congress delegation that met the Election Commission on Tuesday seeking rejection of votes of two Congress rebels said: Money, muscle and manipulation could not win in the Guarat Rajya Sabha elections. BJP can break a few weak Congress MLAs but cannot break the Congress party, he said. Patel was declared victorious after the EC invalidated the votes of two rebel Congress MLAs Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavjibhai Patel who had allegedly shown their votes to persons other than the authorised party representatives. In its order, the EC said the commission directs the Returning Officer to reject the votes cast by Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavjibhai Patel at the time of segregating the ballot paper. The EC decision came after a game of nerves between Congress and BJP, as all through the evening the delegations of the two parties comprising senior leaders met the EC twice with their claims and counterclaims, which halted the counting process. The Congress had first approached the EC demanding cancellation of votes of its two disgruntled MLAs for allegedly showing their votes to persons other than the authorised party representatives. Countering the move, the BJP too approached the EC calling the Congress allegation baseless. According to the rules, voters for the Rajya Sabha election have to show their ballots to their respective party's authorised representative before exercising their franchise. The polling had completed much before the deadline of 4 pm with all the 176 members of the state Assembly, after six Congress members resigned from both the Assembly and the party last week, casting their votes. The BJP took strong objection to the complaint, holding it as the Congress delaying tactics to avoid the inevitable after it realised that its veteran leader Ahmed Patel was losing the election, dashing his hopes of retaining the seat in the Upper House for the fifth consecutive time. The issue was referred to the EC after the presiding officer for the election, DM Patel, the secretary of the state Assembly, reportedly overruled the Congress complaint on the ground that the complaint should have been lodged before the two MLAs dropped their votes in the ballot boxes. The Rajya Sabha elections also demonstrated major changes in the political equations in the state on the eve of the state Assembly elections later this year with the rebel Congress leader and former chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela openly aligning with the BJP, even though while resigning from the Congress on July 21 he had claimed that he would not go back to his old party which he had left some two decades ago following serious differences with the present Prime Minister Narendra Modi and joined the Congress. Emerging from the polling booth, Vaghela not only openly stated that he did not vote for Patel because Congress is a lost case and he did not want to waste his vote by casting it for Patel, he also promised to go to the state BJP headquarters Shree Kamalam on the outskirts of Gandhinagar to congratulate the BJP winners if it wins all the three seats. It was also clear that all his six supporters in the Congress, who stayed away from the flock of 44 MLAs herded to Bengaluru, voted for the BJP in violation of the partys whip to vote for Patel. In addition, one of the 44, Karamsi Patel, who represented Sanand constituency in Ahmedabad district, who stayed with other Congress colleagues both at the Bengaluru and Anand resorts, also ditched Ahmed Patel and voted for the BJP. Sandeep Dikshit Tribune News Service Beijing, August 8 China has ruled out any substantive dialogue till the Indian forces unilaterally pull back from the Doklam plateau, claiming that the situation is now reaching a dangerous turn. China rejected External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs proposal for a simultaneous pullback by both sides, saying this faceoff was qualitatively different from the ones at Chumar and Demchok where similar proposals defused tensions. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) This is because India has intruded into China on behalf of a country that seems to be washing its hands of the affair. The Chinese formulation came at a time when the Communist Party is holding a meeting at the sea-side retreat town of Beidaihe where it will take broad decisions on the most pressing domestic and international issues. At the same time, China also threw in an inducement if the Indians withdrew. There was no dispute on the Sikkim border and it could be an early harvest in settling the long-running border dispute. Beijing also claimed that Bhutan on whose behalf India had claimed to intercede had washed its hands of the affair. We have made it very clear that this is not Indian territory; they are interfering in Chinas territorial sovereignty and this can be very dangerous. Under these conditions, when Indian troops are on our soil, it is impossible for China to conduct any dialogue, said Chinese diplomat Wang Wenli, an expert on boundary and ocean affairs. She suggested that India also knew there was no confusion over the boundary because its troops had put up barbed wire at some places. In a message to the Indian Government, this rarely seen diplomat wanted New Delhi to stop sending signals that everything is under control. Asked if the persisting impasse could lead to war, Weng did not give a direct reply, but underlined Peoples Liberation Armys determination to protect its territory. If India continues going down the wrong path, we have the right to use any action under international law to protect the lives of our troops, she added. In an attempt to drive a wedge between Indias foreign affairs and defence ministries, the diplomat seemed to imply that both were not on the same page: the Defence Ministry talked of aggression, while Indian diplomats were speaking the language of peaceful negotiations. The burden of the Chinese argument for turning its face away from dialogue or a simultaneous withdrawal of troops was: (a) India has not disputed that the territory belonged to China (b) Bhutan paid grass tax to China till the 60s, thus proving that it concurred with India (c) the road being built was simply an improvement over the dirt track to make it easier for Chinese grazers and troops patrolling the border (d) if the road was threatening Bhutanese positions, how come they have stayed in their tents, and; (e) Bhutan, via a diplomatic note, has told China that it was a matter between it and India. Unlike the military officers, the diplomat wrapped her frosty messaging in tones of wistfulness by recalling Prime Minister Modis statement that not a shot had been fired on the Sino-Indian border for three decades and that the existing mechanisms to ensure peace and tranquility on the border had proved their efficacy till this incident. Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 8 The opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party are demanding a probe into the sudden increase in assets declared by Housing Minister Prakash Mehta over the past several years. Mehta, who is already under fire for favouring specific builders in slum redevelopment projects in Mumbai, is under the scanner for the increase in his assets from Rs 2.01 crore in 2004 to Rs 32 crore in 2014. The opposition parties are citing the election affidavits submitted by Mehta which showed the increase in his assets from Rs 2.01 crore in 2004 to Rs 17.73 crore in 2009 and to Rs 32.03 crore in 2014. Leaders of opposition parties said on the floor of the house on Tuesday that Mehtas sources of income be revealed which resulted in the increase in his assets. Activists in the state are in the process of seeking a probe by the Anti-Corruption Bureau into Mehtas assets. Meanwhile, there are fresh allegations that Mehta used his clout to force developers in the suburb of Ghatkopar, his constituency, to include the names of his family members in properties developed by them. The name of his son, Harsh Mehta, figures in the list of beneficiaries of a development project in the area. However, the flat allotted to Harsh does not figure in the list of assets declared by the minister. Earlier, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan alleged that Mehta had illegally approved the transfer of the rights of slum dwellers living in a plot in South Mumbai;s Tardeo area. While sanctioning the proposal Mehta had used the name of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to overrule the objections of his secretary, Chavan said. Fadnavis later denied that he had agreed to Mehta sanctioning the project in favour of the builder, SD Corporation. Opposition leader Ajit Pawar of the NCP alleged on Tuesday that Mehtas decision would have resulted in benefits of Rs 800 crore to the builder. Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 The Lok Sabha was today disrupted amid massive sloganeering and was finally adjourned for the day after the Congress raised the issue of attack on Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat on August 4. Home Minister Rajnath Singh countered the issue, saying the Congress vice-president had violated the security code and put himself at risk. The matter came up in the LS after Congress Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the potentially fatal attack on Rahul. Rajnath said: Rahul was away from India on six occasions for 72 days without taking any SPG security along, posing grave threat to himself. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was informed about the violations. Kharge alleged that if one of the stones had hit their leader, he could have been killed. Rajnath said the Gujarat Police were informed about Rahuls two-day visit before he travelled to the state. Rahul is under SPG protection. The state police had made adequate arrangement. He was even provided a bullet-proof car by the SPG. But he opted for a private Toyota Fortuner. He should have listened to the advice of the security personnel. But he did not, he said. Kharge said: We are not afraid of stone-pelting. Rahul is shaheed ka beta (son of a martyr in reference to his father ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi who was assassinated in May 1991). Kharge demanded an apology from the BJP and asked if Gujarat BJP leaders had turned into terrorists and wanted to kill Rahul. To this, Rajnath reeled out number of cops put on security detail for Rahul. The stone-pelters have been arrested and are in judicial custody. We are taking the matter seriously, he said, adding: Whatever happened in Gujarat was unfortunate and stone-pelting cannot be accepted. Congress MPs rushed to the well of the House, asking the ruling combine to stop gundagardi. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for 30 minutes amid the din. On resumption at noon, Kharge wanted to respond to Rajnath and on being denied a chance the Congress again stormed the well forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day. Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 Backed by other Opposition parties, the Congress today did not allow the Rajya Sabha to function over what it called the biggest scam of this century in the printing of two different kinds of Rs500 and Rs2,000 notes. The ruling BJP in turn accused the Congress of spreading rumours and making irresponsible statements, thereby creating doubts over the credibility of the currency. Later, some BJP leaders also linked the Rajya Sabha ruckus to Congress frustration over the developments in Gujarat. The issue was raised on a day several Congress leaders privately maintained that they should have instead expended their energy on a more relevant issue the Varnika Kundu stalking case, allegedly involving Haryana BJP leader Subhash Baralas son Vikas Barala. The currency issue was raised by senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal as a point of order. He displayed different sizes of the new high denomination currency, which he alleged were being printed one for the ruling party (members) and the other for the rest. We have today discovered the reason why the government did demonetisation (of old Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes in November last year), he said. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad termed it the biggest scam of this century. Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the Congress of raising frivolous issues without giving notices to stall Zero Hour proceedings. As per Jaitley, there was no provision in the rules that anyone could flash any paper and say it is point of order. There is a misuse of Zero Hour which is going on, he said. There is no such provision that you can flash any paper at any time and say it is a point of order. There are rules under which you give notice. You start raising issues with regard to the currency of the country in this manner and such irresponsible statements are made... There is a misuse of Zero Hour going on, and it should not be permitted at all, Jaitley said. Even as the BJP said they were ready to discuss any issue under proper rules, the Congress managed to keep the House proceedings stalled with the help of parties like TMC, Samajwadi Party and also JD-U joining in as members of a parliamentary delegation from Mexico watched from the special box. Opposition leaders, including JD-Us Sharad Yadav and TMCs Derek OBrien displayed different types of new Rs500 notes. Yadav said no country in the world had two notes of different sizes. One is bigger, another is smaller. I can give signed (copies of the notes) issued after demonetisation to show the different sizes, he added. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked Opposition members to explain where they got the currency notes from. Sir, we are fully ready. Let them give notice. Let them debate. We will give them a reply... and also expose them. The Narendra Modi government is acting in a completely honest manner. Let them come for a debate. We are ready for any debate, Prasad said. Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 8 Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala, elusive since August 5 when his son Vikas Barala and his friend were booked by the Chandigarh Police for stalking Varnika Kundu, daughter of IAS officer Varinder Singh Kundu, today issued a brief statement regarding the matter. Even as senior BJP leaders remained mum about his whereabouts, ruling out his resignation, BJP media incharge Rajiv Jain released a statement on his behalf. Denying any attempt to influence investigation, the one-line statement quoted Barala as saying that Varnika is like a daughter to me. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Sources claimed Barala, who had spoken to a news agency in Delhi, was not willing to come out in the open yet. A staff member claimed he was unwell and in his house. With the Gujarat RS poll over, it is believed Barala would meet party chief Amit Shah on the latters return to Delhi. Yesterday, he had called on Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Chandigarh to enlist his support. Meanwhile, the All-India Mahila Congress, in a memorandum to Haryana Governor KS Solanki, demanded that the accused be charged with attempt to kidnapping and under the IT Act for running a vilification campaign against the complainant. It said Varnika should be recommended for an award for showing courage. In Rohtak, members of the Kundu khap blocked the Jind highway, demanding action against the accused. They threatened to step up the stir if there was no concrete action by August 16. In Chandigarh, led by state INLD chief Ashok Arora and Sheela Bhayan, womens wing president, 12 MLAs met UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, demanding a fair probe by slapping kidnap and attempt to murder charges. Rajnath singh response today? New Delhi: A senior Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) official said they were examining a detailed report they had received from the Chandigarh Administration on the stalking case and that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was likely to make a statement on the matter in Parliament in a day or two. TNS Jammu, August 8 Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra (21) of Kumaon Regiment was killed in firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of J&K this afternoon. Pakistan troops initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Krishnagati sector around 2.50 pm today, an Army officer said. In the firing, Sepoy Sugra was grievously injured. He succumbed to his injuries later. The deceased belonged to a village in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Besides resorting to heavy mortar shelling on forward posts, Pakistani troops have been using sniper rifles to target Indian soldiers manning observation forward posts at the LoC. Earlier, Rifleman Jayadrath Singh of UP, manning a forward post in Bhatal sector in Rajouri, and Lance Naik Mohammad Naseer of Poonch were killed likewise. TNS Mukesh Ranjan Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 Aiming to curb infiltration and narcotics smuggling from across Indias western border, the government is readying itself to put in place a 24x7 seamless virtual fence using electronic gadgets and sensors. Two pilot projects in the Jammu region are already in the final stages of completion. A senior official in the border management division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the two Comprehensive Integrated Border Management Solution (CIBMS) projects, each 5 km in length, are being executed by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border (IB), close to the notorious Pakistan villages of Mashroor Bada Bhai and Mashroor Chhota Bhai. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) As the two villages fall close to the fencing, they become a good facility centres for drug peddlers and terror operatives. The official said the fencing, costing around Rs 10 crore per kilometre, at the two project sites was likely to be completed by early next year. Once the two facilities become operational and their efficacy is verified, the government plans to roll it out all along the IB with Pakistan from Jammu to Rann of Kutch in Gujarat through Punjab and Rajasthan, he added. Earlier in the day, while answering a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the CIBMS includes different types of sensors, radars, day and night vision cameras, etc. On how the system will work, the MHA official said radars, sensors and CCTV cameras are being installed on the existing towers fitted with floodlights along the border. Through the radius of human eyes, as the person is standing on the surface, the surveillance range is quite limited and possibility of error cannot be ruled out. But once these gadgets are installed at a height, the range and accuracy of surveillance increase several notches. The radars and sensors will have a range of 2.5 km beyond the fence. By locating activities much beyond the human eye range, the forces can get ample time to react to a particular situation, the official said. Ravi S Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in separate meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today highlighted the weak financial condition of the state and sought central help to enable it to undertake welfare and development projects. He first met Modi. Each of the meeting lasted for about 15 minutes. A Punjab government functionary said the issues discussed on both occasions were identical. Amarinder urged the Union Government to relax norms under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, and enhance the states borrowing limit to help it to measure up to its agriculture debt waiver commitment. This includes help to families of farmers who committed suicide. He batted for the enhancement of the states borrowing limit by Rs 10,000 core. The CM requested them to direct the quarters concerned in order to bail out the state from the financial morass. He underlined that the states financial position, which had already been in the red, had become stark on account of its benevolence in providing help to farmers and their families enmeshed in a debt trap. He gave a low down of the states help to the farmers. It includes waiver of crop loan up to Rs 2 lakh for small and marginal farmers. Amarinder informed that the state had decided to take over the total debt of suicide-affected families. These exclusively concern more than 7,000 farmers who committed suicide in the last 10 years. With the total beneficiaries of more than 10 lakh families, the financial implication of these steps was to the tune of Rs 9,500 core. In this context, the CM said the current annual borrowing limit at 3 per cent of the GSDP amounted to Rs 12,819 crore, leaving a gap of Rs 10,273 between revenue and expenditure. Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has demanded that Chandigarh Police be given a free hand to probe the Varnika Kundu stalking case, with no attempt to press them in any way. Talking to mediapersons outside Parliament House before meeting the Prime Minister on the farm debt waiver issue, the Chief Minister said the police should be allowed to investigate the high-profile case freely and independently. No attempt should be made to dilute the charges against the accused, one of whom is the son of the Haryana BJP president, said Amarinder, adding that no political interference should be brooked in the case and the police should have complete authority to probe the matter in a neutral manner. The Chief Minister, in response to a question, dismissed the demand for the resignation of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on moral grounds over the stalking case as absurd. How can Rajnath be held responsible for the incident, or for that matter for any such irresponsible behaviour involving individuals or party leaders or their kin in any part of the country, be it even Punjab, he asked. However, action needed to be taken against the accused to ensure justice for the girl and also to send out a strong signal that the misuse of political powers to undermine any institution, including the police, was not acceptable, said Amarinder, while reiterating his strong condemnation of the incident. The Chief Minister also urged Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, whom he met briefly outside Parliament, that the culprits in the stalking case should be dealt with strictly, as per the law. London Challenging previous research that suggested two domestication processes led to the modern dog, a new study led by an Indian-origin scientist says that all contemporary dogs have a common origin and emerged through a single domestication process of wolves 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, are based on an analysis of the DNA of two prehistoric dogs from Germany. The researchers determined that their genomes were the probable ancestors of modern European dogs. Only last year were researchers able to sequence the genome of a 5,000-year-old dog from Ireland using the latest paleogenomic techniques. The results of the study led the research team at the University of Oxford to suggest dogs were domesticated not once but twice. The research team also hypothesised that an indigenous dogs stock domesticated in Europe was replaced by incoming migrants independently domesticated in East Asia during the Neolithic period. "Contrary to the results of this previous analysis, we found that our ancient dogs from the same time period were very similar to modern European dogs, including the majority of breed dogs people keep as pets," Krishna Veeramah, Assistant Professor at the Stony Brook University, New York. "This suggests that there was no mass Neolithic replacement that occurred on the continent and that there was likely only a single domestication process for the dogs observed in the fossil record from the Stone Age and that we also see and live with today." Veeramah and his colleagues used the older 7,000-year-old dog to narrow the timing of dog domestication to the 20,000 to 40,000 years ago range. They found evidence that the younger 4,700-year-old dog represents a mixture of European dogs and a stock that resembles current Central Asian/Indian dogs. IANS Islamabad, August 8 The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) today issued a notice to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) asking it to appoint a leader to replace former PM Nawaz Sharif as its chief. Sharif stepped down on July 28 after the Supreme Court disqualified him for not disclosing his assets. After the verdict, he ceased to be a member of parliament. He, however, continued as the PML-N president. The notice said Sharif could not lead the party (the PML-N) after disqualification under the Political Parties Order 2002. The ECP also referred to the constitution of PML-N which mandates that the party would appoint its chief within a week. It asked the PML-N to elect a president and inform the ECP. The PML-N was already holding consultations to appoint the party chief. There are reports that Sharifs younger brother Shehbaz Sharif might be appointed the PML-N chief. PTI Singapore, August 8 A prominent scholar of Chinese studies said on Tuesday that he had appealed against a decision to expel him from Singapore for allegedly working as an agent of influence for a foreign state. Huang Jing, a US citizen of Chinese descent who worked at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, had his permanent residence status revoked by authorities last week. His wife, Shirley Yang Xiuping, whom the ministry said knew he was acting for a foreign government, was also permanently banned from Singapore. Authorities did not say which government he was accused of working for but he has written extensively on China and regularly contributed to state-run media. The Ministry of Home Affairs said he was an agent of influence of a foreign country who had used his position to try to influence Singapores foreign policy. Huang, who is still in the city-state, confirmed to AFP that he had appealed against the decision to ban him and his wife from Singapore and refused to comment further. Anyone who has their permanent residence status cancelled has the right to appeal. The Ministry of Home Affairs declined to comment on Tuesday. After news broke last week of the governments decision, the professor told Hong Kongs South China Morning Post the allegations against him were nonsense. Huangs case comes at a time Singapore and Chinas historically warm ties are being tested. There were tensions earlier this year when the southern Chinese city of Hong Kong seized nine Singapore armoured troop carriers as they returned to the city-state after conducting military exercises in Taiwan. Beijing considers self-ruling Taiwan a renegade province awaiting reunification. AFP Tokyo, August 8 The threat to Japan from North Korea has reached a new stage now that the country is capable of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile and its nuclear weapons programme has advanced, a defence ministry report said on Tuesday. North Korea was the main concern cited as Japans Cabinet approved the report, less than two weeks after the North test-fired a second ICBM that analysts say has a range that could include more of the US mainland, including Los Angeles and Chicago. The security review came just a week after Itsunori Onodera, who was defence minister in 2012-2014, resumed that job when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revamped his Cabinet after a slew of politically costly scandals. Onodera told reporters on Friday that he planned to update Japans defence guidelines to reflect the threat from the North, suggesting he might seek an offensive missile capability. North Koreas missile launches have escalated tensions both in terms of quality and quantity. I would like to study if our current missile defence is sufficient just with the Aegis destroyers and (surface-to-air) PAC 3, said Onodera, who headed a ruling party study in March that called for beefing up Japans missile response capability. The ICBM North Korea tested on July 30 flew on a highly lofted trajectory and landed about 200 kilometres (120 miles) off Japans Hokkaido Island. North Korea has been increasing the range, accuracy and versatility of its missiles and diversifying its launch sites and methods. It has conducted two nuclear tests and more than 20 missile launches over the past year alone, exceeding the total of 16 missiles launched over 18 years under former leader Kim Jong Il, the report said. North Koreas development of ballistic missiles, along with its nuclear programme, are becoming increasingly real and imminent problems for the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, as well as the rest of the world, it said. The 532-page defence report also raised concerns over Chinas ongoing assertiveness in air and maritime activity in the regional seas, and raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the countrys military buildup with its budget tripling over the past decade. AP Sydney, August 8 Police in Australia, Dubai and the Netherlands have arrested 17 people and seized nearly two tonnes of narcotics in raids the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Tuesday had broken up two interlinked Middle Eastern crime syndicates. In simultaneous operations, nine men and a woman were arrested in Sydney on Tuesday and five men were arrested in the United Arab Emirates by Dubai police, according to the AFP. Authorities in the Netherlands at the same time arrested two men alleged to have been responsible for arranging the supply of drugs to an Australian-based syndicate, the AFP said. "The people we allege are part of this syndicate are Middle Eastern organised crime figures that are well-known to law enforcement, and for decades this group has flaunted their wealth and activities, telling the community they were untouchable," AFP assistant commissioner Neil Gaughan said in a statement. "Today, it should be obvious that they are not," he said. Police raided 32 homes in Sydney and issued 52 warrants on Tuesday in what they said was one of the biggest attacks on organised crime in Australian history, according to an AFP spokesman. The investigation began in mid-2016, targeting organised crime groups attempting to import large quantities of drugs and tobacco, according to authorities. A container of drugs was seized in the Netherlands in July which was allegedly bound for Australia in shipping containers, the AFP spokesman said. A total of 1.8 tonnes of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, 136 kgs (300 pounds) of cocaine and 15 kgs (33 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine were seized by authorities in the Netherlands, Australian police said. The AFP estimated the value of the drugs at up to A$810 million ($642 million) if sold on the street in Australia. A total of around A$7 million in cash and property were seized in Sydney as part of the operation, according to authorities. Reuters Paris, August 8 French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to backpedal on the issue of creating an official First Lady position for his wife in the face of attacks from left-wing opponents and a petition against the move, officials and reports said. The newly elected 39-year-old President had promised in March on the campaign trail to create a real status for his wife Brigitte, who is his former schoolteacher. The issue has become a new political headache for Macron after an online petition against creating the role garnered around 2,70,000 signatures and an opinion poll showed a majority of French people were also opposed. The presidency will clarify Brigitte Macrons position in the coming days, a source said, adding that there were would be no change to the constitution to create a First Lady position. Instead, the presidency will make clear the resources at Brigitte Macrons disposal and the cost to the public purse. The idea is for the French people to know how much this role costs, Aurore Berge, a senior lawmaker from Macrons Republic on the Move party, told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday. The new status would have seen France copy the American tradition of a prominent public role for the First Lady. Neither country has ever had a female head of state. The wife of the French President has historically always played a public role at official functions, welcoming heads of state or other VIPs at meetings or dinners. She has a small security and secretarial staff paid for by the presidential budget, but she has no formal job titlelike the partners of the British PM or German Chancellor. AFP Geneva, August 8 Venezuelan security forces have wielded excessive force to suppress protests, killing dozens, and have arbitrarily detained 5,000 persons since April, including 1,000 still in custody, the United Nations human rights office said. It called on the government of President Nicolas Maduro to rein in security forces and investigate alleged abuses, release people arbitrarily detained, and ensure the protection of the ousted Attorney-General Luisa Ortega. On Friday, Venezuela inaugurated a new legislative superbody that is expected to rewrite the constitution and give vast powers to Maduros ruling Socialist Party, defying protests and worldwide condemnation that it undermines democratic freedoms. We are concerned that the situation in Venezuela is escalating and these human rights violations show no signs of abating, U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a news briefing in Geneva. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein said in a statement: These violations have occurred amid the breakdown of the rule of law in Venezuela, with constant attacks by the Government against the National Assembly and the Attorney-Generals Office. The responsibility for the human rights violations we are recording lies at the highest levels of Government, he added. Venezuela appears to be sliding toward a more volatile stage of unrest after anti-government forces looted weapons during a weekend raid on a military base and frustration over what some see as an ineffectual opposition leadership boils over. The UN human rights office said it had investigated 124 deaths, and found at least 46 attributable to security forces and 27 to pro-government armed groups, with the rest unclear. Reuters Cape Town, August 8 South Africa's President Jacob Zuma survived a no-confidence motion against him in parliament on Tuesday by garnering 198 votes to the opposition's 177 votes as African National Congress lawmakers rallied to his support. There were nine abstentions in the secret ballot. ANC lawmakers erupted into singing and dancing in parliament even before the Speaker of the House announced the result of the vote in favour of the 75-year-old Zuma who has been dogged by allegations of corruption during his eight years in office. The motion of no-confidence is ... negative, Baleka Mbete, speaker of the 400-member parliament, said. The rand fell by 1 per cent on the announcement of the outcome. Zuma, who has held power in Africa's most industrialised economy since 2009 but whose time in office has been marked by allegations of sleaze and influence-peddling, has now survived nine no-confidence votes thanks to loyal backing from lawmakers in his ANC. Had he lost, he and his entire cabinet would have had to step down. Mbete had earlier ruled that the vote should unlike other no-confidence votes Zuma faced be by secret ballot, a decision the Opposition hoped would embolden ANC members who are unhappy with Zuma to vote against him. Zuma has upset investors, in particular by removing finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March. The country's credit rating was downgraded to junk by two of the top three rating agencies, unemployment is at a 14-year high of 27.7 per cent and the economy is back in recession. The party, which has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, is deeply divided and several ANC lawmakers have voiced criticism of the veteran leader. The ANConce all-powerful as heir of South Africas anti-apartheid strugglehas lost popularity under Zuma, underscored by its worst electoral showing in over two decades of power in local elections last year. Across the country, there were huge marches and protests as the elected leaders debated the issue of Zuma's removal. While most marches were organised by a civil society coalition calling for Zuma's removal, there were a few in support of Zuma as well, with violence erupting in a few areas. Opposition and the Future South Africa coalition of social, religious and community organisations have vowed to intensify their battle to get Zuma recalled by the ANC. Agencies Triumphant Zuma says party united against opposition bid for power At the head of much of this controversy was Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who was among the first to arrive in Tehran for Rouhanis inauguration ceremony, which took place on Saturday. The Mugabe government is under heavy international sanctions as a result of its notorious human rights abuses. Nonetheless, Rouhani praised the relationship between the two countries, thereby effectively broadening Tehrans recurring dismissals of Western criticisms regarding Irans own human rights abuses. The Iran Project reported upon Rouhanis post-inauguration calls for even closer ties with Zimbabwe, which emerged from a direct meeting between the two national executives. That report and another by Zimbabwe News pointed out that Rouhani emphasized the independence of the African state, in an apparent reference to mutual defiance of Western powers including the United States. While American and European sanctions on the Iranian nuclear program were suspended as a result of the 2015 nuclear agreement, sanctions remain in place on contributors to the Iranian ballistic missile program and the terrorist sponsorship that is headed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Donald Trump White House and more recently the US Congress have moved to expand those sanctions, resulting in strong protests from Iranian officials including Rouhani. The Zimbabwe News article indicates that Mondays meeting between Rouhani and Mugabe seemed to include plans for future violation of sanctions on both countries. The article noted that Zimbabwe owns uranium deposits for which mines could be developed with the help of foreign financing. For years, Zimbabwe and Iran have had an agreement in place for the export of that resource to the Islamic Republic for use in its nuclear program and potential nuclear weapons development. On Monday, Mugabe reportedly reinforced that agreement, thereby bolstering suspicions among Western officials who think the Islamic Republic of Iran is pursuing secretive development of the uranium supply chain and other aspects of its nuclear program, so it can quickly ramp up that program once the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action has ceased to be enforced. While Tehran denies the implication that it is violating the spirit of the nuclear agreement, Iranian officials have generally been less prone to denials regarding other illicit activities, including support of terrorist groups, although the officials deny the accuracy of that label. Delegations representing both Hezbollah and Hamas were reported to be in open attendance at Rouhanis inauguration ceremony, virtually alongside Mogherini and a other Westerners. As with Mugabe, the relationship between the Iranian government and these groups was reinforced in the immediate aftermath of the ceremony. Irans English-language propaganda network Press TV proudly reported upon a meeting that had taken place between the Hamas delegation and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Monday, in which Zarif affirmed that the mission of the Palestinian terrorist group was among the most important priorities for the Islamic Republic and that its position on the issue was unchangeable. In the same meeting, Hamas representatives called for Islamic unity around the issue of Palestine something that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has urged by calling for worldwide financial donations with the express purpose of arming Palestinian militants. Such publicly acknowledged support of terrorism highlights concerns among critics of the JCPOA, regarding the possibility of Western capital being funneled into illicit activities. These are among the concerns underlying the criticisms of Western attendance at Rouhanis inauguration. Many of those criticisms are coming from figures who are similarly critical those European businesses and policymakers that are pushing for more exploitation of the de-sanctioned business environment created by the JCPOA. Contrary to the urging of those who see these things as potential contributors to Irans terrorist sponsorship and domestic repression, there were indications on Monday that the trend toward greater European-Iranian cooperation was ongoing. The Associated Press reported, for instance, that French automobile manufacturer Renault had solidified an agreement with Iran that had first been explored last September. The report indicated that Iran would begin local production of 150,000 Renault vehicles per year, as the Islamic Republic sets its sights on increasing its overall car production from 1.35 million to 3 million units per year. While this and other deals with French companies had been in the works for some time, other developments appear to be a direct result of the bilateral talks that surrounding Rouhanis inauguration. The Science Times reports that Pio Garcia-Escudero, the president of the Spanish Senate had met with Rouhani on Sunday after attending Saturdays ceremony. In that meeting, Garcia-Escudero praised the JCPOA for positive outcomes that were supposedly visible in the economic relations between the two countries. Thus the Spanish legislator seemed to recommend the continued exploitation of the agreement and the neglect of Western criticism regarding its lack of positive impact on Iranian behavior. In that same meeting, Rouhani reportedly placed particular emphasis on the role of the European Union in keeping the JCPOA in force, even after the American President indicated that he would like to brand the Islamic Republic as out of compliance and to tear up the deal. While this may indicate that Rouhanis government intends to utilize the deal to continue expanding economic relations with the European Union, it is also possible that Tehrans emphasis is primarily on keeping the deal in force in order to exploit its benefits for Iranian relations with already-established allies like Russia and China. Although Rouhani campaigned for reelection on promises of moderation, domestic reforms, and further engagement with the world, he has already distanced himself from some campaign promises including the promise of freedom for Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, which had been a key promise of his initial 2013 campaign as well. At the same time, Rouhanis superior, Supreme Leader Khamenei has continued to emphasize the notion of resistance economy that would weaken the impact of US-led sanctions, and Khameneis leading advisor, Ali Akbar Velayati recently declared that cooperation with Russia and the European Union would serve Irans interests specifically by isolating the US. Additionally, Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted by Iranian media as saying in July that cooperation with Russia was the Islamic Republics top economic priority, as evidenced by the recent inking of a 2.5 billion Euro contract, which Aragchi called a sign of broader expansion. It is certainly true that Tehran is striving to benefit from European investment, as a great deal of foreign capital is needed for the countrys long-term plans. The National Iranian Oil Company expects 15 billion dollars worth of such investment by April, and the Iranian Oil Ministry is looking to both European and Asian countries for as much as 200 billion dollars over the long term, according to WebWire. Still, Europe may remain a lower priority throughout that process, if only because of the contrary pressures coming from hardliners who are close to the Iranian supreme leader and the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. In spite of the attendance of Federica Mogherini and other Western officials at Rouhanis inauguration, friendly gestures toward these individuals are still widely rejected within the Iranian power base. Arab News reported on Monday that conservative media in Iran had widely criticized Iranian parliamentarians for lining up to take selfies with the head of EU foreign policy. Kayhan newspaper, which is particularly close to the supreme leader, employed familiar Iranian rhetoric in referring to Western nations as enemies of the Islamic Republic and accusing parliamentarians of embracing violators through their reception of Mogherini. Such pushback from influential Iranian voices may diminish the economic benefit that Europe accrues from the JCPOA, while strengthening ties between Iran and other actual or potential adversaries of the West. But it remains to be seen whether this will raise more substantial questions among Western policymakers about the pursuit of their own economic ties with Iran. Aerospace manufacturing employment in Tulsa is poised for growth, according to a July credit opinion by Moodys for a $54 million revenue bond issue by the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust. The investor service also said there is a potential for a continued slide in the energy sector, which accounts for just under 5 percent of Tulsa employment. Mark VanLoh, airports CEO, cited this report as well as one from Standard & Poors, at the trusts August meeting. Among other points made by Moodys were: Passenger boardings at Tulsa International Airport have stabilized following five consecutive years of declines, although still about 16.5 percent below pre-recession levels. Tulsa International is the only airport providing air service in the area. The ability to adjust rates charged airlines on 30 days written notice. Importance of Tulsa International to American Airlines for maintenance and engineering. Moodys cited three reasons for the decline in passenger boardings at Tulsa International the recession, airline strategy to reduce seats and increase fares, and repeal of the Wright Amendments, which restricted nonstop airline flights in and out of Love Field in Dallas to airports in adjoining states. According to Standard & Poors report, a strong origin and destination nature, about 96 percent of boarding passengers either beginning or ending their journeys at Tulsa International are providing relatively diverse and stable air service. The airport is in a good competitive position because it serves one of states two main economic centers with good frequency, comparable fares and more destinations than most nearby airports and its financial position has been consistently stable historically. Both firms put the trust at the high end of the B rating category, just below A with a Baa1 from Moodys and a BBB+ from Standard & Poors. The trust approved supporting the citys Vision 2025 Economic Support Package for construction of a training center at Tulsa International for the Oklahoma Air National Guards 138th Fighter Wing that would house simulators for F-35, the militarys new fighter. The training center could lead to the military basing the fighters at Tulsa International, the trust was told. Accepted by the trust was a pending grant of up to $15 million from the Federal Aviation Administration for the removal, relocation and rebuilding of several taxiways from the airline terminal apron to the east-west runway. The project would be done in phases basically until we run out of money, the trust was told. Interstate Highway Construction Inc., the only bidder on the project, was awarded a $14.96 million contract for the work. A new, free Wi-Fi system for the Tulsa International terminal was approved by the trust, which will purchase the system from Sigmas Solutions Inc. at a cost not to exceed $56,000. The new system, to be operated by the airport, will replace the system that has been operated by AT&T since the 1990s. It should be in service by the end of the year. The trust was told that it may be possible to offset the operating costs by selling advertising. Iran will be put in a situation where it will have to make an ultimate decision with the adoption of the new sanction bill. Iran is experiencing widespread social dissatisfaction, economic and other serious crises. Maximizing pressure at this time may be the best course. Still, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, declared changing the regimes behavior will ultimately bring the regime down, but meanwhile, the Iranian people are keen towards overthrowing this regime. The social conditions in Iran have become untenable and the opposition movement has the potential and an upper hand. In its July 31, 2017 issue, The Resalat daily, a state-run paper, pointed to the change in the international affairs towards the Iranian regime, Behind the sanctions belies a boycott campaign. There will be an overthrowing in a soft, sophisticated and silent way. Chairman of the Guardian Council, Ahmad Jannati, also raised concerns. [Khameneis] most important concern is the fear of overthrow, and the enemy is seeking regime change from within, he said. In Iran there is an organized democratic and powerful opposition. The National Council of Resistance of Iran, a democratic platform which the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) is a powerful force. The NCRI demonstrated its strength and abilities on July 1st by gathering hundreds of thousand supporters, all seeking regime change, at its annual rally in Paris. The NCRI has demanded a boycott in international diplomatic and economic relations, the expulsion of Iranian regime representatives from international assemblies, and that the IRGC and affiliated proxies be evicted from the region. US Secretory of States Rex Tillerson recently insisted on cooperation with Russia to tackle terrorism and end the Syria war. Irans military influence, the direct presence of Iranian military forces inside of Syria, they must leave and go home, whether those are Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces or whether those are paid militias, foreign fighters that Iran has brought into Syria he said. Support of the NCRI and pressure through extensive sanctions may be the only means to have peace and stability in Iran and the Middle East. The NCRI issued a statement welcoming the new law imposing sanctions against Iran and the Revolutionary Guards, in fact, NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi underscored these sanctions must be implemented immediately against all individuals and entities involved in executing and torturing the Iranian people, especially those directly involved in the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners. Mrs. Rajavi stated that the peoples right of resistance for regime change must be recognized, and that this will ultimately result in stability and peace in the region. OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Mary Fallin abruptly replaced Adj. Gen. Robbie Asher as commanding officer of the Oklahoma National Guard on Tuesday. No reason was given for Fallins action, which was announced in a midday news release. I have chosen to go a different direction and request that (Asher) be separated in order to meet the needs of the Oklahoma National Guard, Fallin said in a letter to Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, the federal agency that acts as the link between state national guard commands and the U.S. Army and Air Force. A spokesman for Fallin said she could not comment further on her reasons for replacing Asher. Fallin appointed Brig. Gen. Louis Wilham of Edmond as interim adjutant general. He has been assistant adjutant general and executive director of the Oklahoma Military Department, which administers the Oklahoma National Guard. Wilham has been a member of the Oklahoma National Guard since 1987 and an officer since 1989. He has held command and staff positions at the company and battalion and brigade level and been a brigade commander, director of manpower and personnel, vice chief of staff and deputy chief of staff for personnel. He deployed to Iraq with the 45th Infantry Brigade in 2008. Asher became adjutant general in February 2015 after more than 35 years in the military, beginning as an enlisted man in the 101st Airborne Division. He was commissioned in 1981 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at OU. Asher commanded the First Battalion 279th Infantry Brigade and was deputy commander of the 45th Infantry Brigade when it was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003-04. He was joint staff director from December 2008 until his appointment as adjutant general. A Kialegee Tribal Town attorney told Muscogee (Creek) officials that the Kialegees will resist any interference in their development of a piece of land for a restaurant and possible casino in Broken Arrow, according to a letter sent to the Creek attorney general. Penny Coleman sent the letter Wednesday in response to a June 6 letter to landowner Bim Steve Bruner from Attorney General Kevin Dellinger warning of the legal repercussions of unlicensed gaming at the Red Creek site, south of the Creek Turnpike near 121st Street and 129th East Avenue. Dellingers letter warned that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation had jurisdiction over the land and would intervene if it learned that gaming unlicensed by the tribe was occurring at the site, which will host the Embers Grille restaurant. Given the Kialegee Tribal Towns professional and thorough approach to this project, it goes without saying that any (Creek Nation) interference with the Kialegee Tribal Towns development of the Bruner allotment will be resisted, Coleman wrote. The letter outlines Bruners membership in the Kialegee Tribal Town and says federal law denotes that the tribal town shares jurisdiction over all lands within the former Creek Reservation, including Bruners allotment. That in addition to the tribal towns federally approved gaming ordinance, its gaming compact with Oklahoma, and a to-be-submitted historical analysis of the tribal towns place in the Creek Nation and pertinent treaties proves that it has shared jurisdiction of the land and can provide gaming oversight, Coleman wrote. Muscogee (Creek) officials didnt respond to requests for comment on Colemans letter by press time. Dellinger wrote the initial letter shortly after Creek officials learned that Red Creek representatives had inquired about gaming machines and other casino-related equipment and advertised for Red Creek Casino jobs on Indeed.com. On Tuesday, Red Creek officials posted 30 new openings on the website for jobs in Broken Arrow. The jobs include casino services manager, drop count specialist, casino supervisor and other food- and drink-related positions. All job postings require the applicants to obtain a KTT gaming license, which Red Creek Holdings LCC principal Luis Figueredo said refers to the Kialegee Tribal Town. Figueredo denied that the job postings indicate the groups imminent intent to open a casino at the site. Part of the overall process of getting to that position (to open a casino) is having the right people in place, he said, reiterating that the group was seeking people with casino qualifications in case they decide to transition to gaming after they open Embers Grille. Colemans letter came a day after the Broken Arrow City Council approved a resolution opposing illegal gaming at the site. At the meeting, City Manager Michael Spurgeon said the resolution was a pre-emptive move to prepare city officials to contact Creek officials if they learn of gaming at the Red Creek facility. When asked for comment, Figueredo said that if gaming were to occur at the site, it would be legal. As far as the Kialegee Tribal Town is concerned, we are going to comply with federal law. We are complying with federal law, he said. Tulsa Public Schools is still searching for 25 teachers two weeks before of the beginning of the school year and just days before teachers are to begin work. Superintendent Deborah Gist said the number of vacancies was current as of Monday. The Tulsa school board approved dozens of new hires as part of the back-to-school hiring push Monday night. Because of an increase in resignations and retirements, the district has been forced to hire more new teachers for the coming school year than in the 2016 -17 school year. The school district has methodically whittled down the number of vacant teacher posts as the school year has approached. On July 26, the district needed 58 more teachers, and that number was down from about 95 a week earlier. Gist praised the work of district staff to hire the new teachers, which she said was a remarkably challenging job given the current circumstances in Oklahoma education. In mid-July, district spokeswoman Emma Garrett Nelson said the district had 33 vacancies at the same point in the summer the year before. Novice teacher induction, an intensive training program for the new hires, began Monday and will run through Wednesday. The district is focusing on the needs of new hires because theyre becoming a larger percentage of the workforce, and because of the attrition seen among teachers during their first three years on the job. Twitter: @samhardiman The stretch of 41st Street had already been battered, economically speaking, before this week's EF2 tornado. Macy's left Promenade Mall earlier this year. And other store fronts have sat vacant for months. So will the storm's aftermath tip this midtown shopping district into serious decline? Or spark renewed investment? "It's an opportunity, if the community looks at it the right way," said Jason Stolz, the manager of JCPenney's, which opened Tuesday morning despite part of the mall parking lot still being used as a command center for Tulsa police and cleanup crews. "If we all work together, we can rebuild this part of town into something better than it was before." Both the Tulsa mayor and the Oklahoma governor reiterated something Tuesday that has been said several times, by several officials, over the past three days: The storm hit at a fortuitous time, in the middle of the night when the hardest-hit area was mostly deserted. In another sense, however, it came at the worst possible time, Stolz said. Sunday was a tax-free holiday at the height of back-to-school shopping, when stores were counting on huge crowds and big profits. Instead, they sat empty and without electricity. Even for retailers who didn't suffer much physical damage, the financial blow will be serious, Stolz said. "We're a big store, so we're better able to absorb the loss," he said. "I'm more worried about the mom-and-pop operations and how they're going to bounce back." "Bouncing back" is exactly what businesses were trying to do Tuesday, with 41st Street reopened to traffic and power restored to the area. Chick-fil-A was erecting a temporary fence to separate it from the rest of the Southroads shopping center, most of which remains closed as construction crews work on the center's roof. The fence was to keep customers safe from the construction site, said owner-manager David Chen. Employees were busy cleaning the inside of the restaurant and making sandwiches to hand out to emergency workers. The restaurant is scheduled to reopen Wednesday. "We're trying to create some sense of normalcy for the community," Chen said, "and get back to normal for our employees too." Other businesses still didn't know when or even for sure if they would reopen. At CarTec Automotive Services, for example, engineers were worried Tuesday morning that an unstable wall might topple over at any moment and bring down more of the roof. So owner Jerry Kaminski couldn't go inside the south half of the business even long enough to retrieve equipment or to remove a damaged vehicle that was still trapped under debris. He wants to reopen at this location. But will he? Kaminski shrugs. "I think everything will work out OK," he said. "But I don't know." Gov. Fallin tours destruction Gov. Mary Fallin toured the series of damaged buildings along 41st Street on Tuesday afternoon, meeting with business owners affected by the tornado. Midway through her tour, Fallins motorcade stopped outside Remington Tower, an 18-story office building near 41st Street and Skelly Drive that received extensive damage. There she spoke with two of the buildings co-owners, who explained to her the extent of the destruction. One told her that tiles from the hotel next door were found inside Remington Tower, indicating the sheer power of the storm. That is the first skyscraper that, in my 26 years of office and going through a lot of disasters, I've seen have damage, Fallin said during a subsequent news conference. The governor promised that state agencies will help affected businesses with the long-term recovery "to help Tulsa get quickly back on its feet." Fallin said she was grateful that the tornado struck during the early morning hours instead of in the afternoon, which could have resulted in several more injuries and even some fatalities. "We got lucky on this particular disaster," she said. "Disasters are never good, but I know that where it did hit, we should be able to get things up and going." Although Fallin applauded Tulsa on its speed of recovery, saying she was very impressed by the progress made in less than two days, she also acknowledged criticism of the citys failure to activate the warning sirens before the twister landed. The lack of warning revealed the limits of current technology and does not appear to have been caused by human error, the governor said. "It was one of those freak incidents that was totally unexpected and even caught the National Weather Service off-guard," Fallin said. "By the time radars saw it, there wasn't time to react." However, she said officials are always looking for ways to make improvements and ensure better response times in the future. Officials say more than 90 percent and perhaps more than 95 percent of affected homes and businesses were insured. Damages are being assessed to determine what state and federal resources could be made available, said Albert Ashwood, director of Oklahoma Emergency Management. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, who returned early from a vacation in Hawaii this week, said the city will expedite rebuilding permits and provide job placement devices to people who worked for businesses that can't reopen soon. "We recognize that insurance is going to help the property owners, but we also want to make sure we're doing everything we can for the people who work in those places," Bynum said. The tornado, which touched down about 1:25 a.m. Sunday, reportedly damaged 129 businesses including four that were destroyed. City inspectors declared 10 businesses condemned Monday. That number remained stagnant during further inspection Tuesday, said Brant Pitchford, housing supervisor for the city. Pitchford clarified that in this context, "condemned" does not mean a building is a total loss or is subject for demolition. Rather, it's a precautionary measure that can be removed once the building is deemed secure. "In an emergency situation like this, we have ordinance that allows us to condemn something temporarily because of potential health and safety issues, or in this case buildings falling down," he said. "There were a lot of structures out there that we just didn't know if they were safe." OKLAHOMA CITY The newest member of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday quizzed a state attorney as to why a $1.50 fee on cigarettes was not a sin tax. The court heard oral arguments on three challenges to bills passed by the Legislature last session. Tobacco companies filed suit after lawmakers, facing a $878 million budget hole, passed Senate Bill 845, which put a smoking cessation fee on cigarettes. That came after unsuccessful efforts to pass it as a tax. The measure is expected to generate $257 million. The fee is scheduled to take effect Aug. 24. Tax increases must garner three-fourths support in both chambers of the Legislature or go to a vote of the people based on State Question 640, passed in 1992. Revenue-raising measures must originate in the House and cant be passed in the last five days of session. Senate Bill 845 did not secure three-fourths approval, did not originate in the House and passed in the last five days of the session. How is this not a sin tax? asked Justice Patrick R. Wyrick, former solicitor general for former Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Mithun Mansinghani, solicitor general for Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, said the measure may fit the definition of a sin tax, but the state had an overarching purpose of imposing the fee to reduce smoking rates and the costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses. Short of banning smoking, the single best way to reduce the consumption rate is to increase the cost of cigarettes, Mansinghani said. Wyrick asked Mansinghani, a former co-worker, whether or not it was his view that the Legislature could impose fees on items it disagreed with in order to make them go away. Mansinghani said even if the state burned the money the measure would generate, the fee will save 18,000 lives, which is far more important than revenue. Robert G. McCampbell, an attorney representing the tobacco companies, said nothing in the measure addresses compensating the state for treatment of tobacco-related illnesses. In addition, the state could put additional restrictions on tobacco without creating more than $200 million in revenue. They needed that money to balance their budget, McCampbell said. Justice Noma Gurich said the title of the bill doesnt make it sound like a tax. McCampbell asked the court to look past just relying on the legislative characterization, telling justices to rely on what the measure actually did. Gurich asked whether or not data supports the notion that increasing the cost will lower consumption. McCampbell agreed, but said that next year, it could be any other product. Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Gary Richardson, a Tulsa attorney, challenged three measures, making similar allegations that lawmakers did not follow the proper procedure. House Bill 2433 removes a sales tax exemption on cars, thus imposing a 1.25 percent sales tax on vehicles in addition to the 3.25 percent excise tax. In addition to Richardson, automobile dealers have challenged the law, which has already gone into effect. If allowed to stand, the measure would nullify the 1992 vote of the people on State Question 640, said Clyde Muchmore, who represents the auto dealers. Mansinghani said the bill only alters an existing exemption. Gurich said removal of an exemption is not the same as levying a tax. Chief Justice Douglas L. Combs said that for those who purchased a vehicle after July 1, the effective date of the measure, it might feel more like a tax. Muchmore said the practical effect of the measure is a tax increase. Richardson also challenged House Bill 1449, which imposes a $100 fee on electric-drive motor vehicle registration and a $30 fee on hybrid-drive motor vehicle registrations. Also challenged by Richardson is House Bill 2348, which uncouples Oklahomas annual tax deduction from the federal deduction level. One of the architects of State Question 640, Norman attorney Stan Ward, represented Richardson. Ward said if a measure raises revenue, it needs a super majority for legislative approval or must go to a vote of the people. Ward said he could appreciate the dilemma faced by lawmakers, but it did not justify a violation of the state constitution. The public deserves clarity, Ward told the court. Gov. Mary Fallin, visiting Tulsa on Tuesday, said she hopes the measures in question stand up. Im certainly considering a special session if the Supreme Court should throw out any of the measures that were passed during the legislative session on some of the fee increases that we saw, she said. Hopefully they wont. Hopefully we wont have to deal with that, we can just continue on. She said it would be a huge hit if the agencies didnt get the money promised as the fees go into effect. Her comment to state lawmakers: Youre on notice. You may have to return back to work. The Islamic Republic called allegations that it supported the Abdali cell as baseless, and blamed the expulsions on the pressure of Saudi interventionist policies. In his article for Al-Arabiya, Ali al-Shihabi writes, It is a common refrain in Western policy-making circles that the Saudi ArabiaIran cold war is driven, in part, by Riyadhs viewing the Iran issue as zero-sum: a win for the Islamic Republic is a loss for Saudi Arabia, and says that this narrative continues, Riyadh and the GCC would harvest enormous political and economic dividends, the narrative goes, if only they would put aside their suspicions and work toward normalized relations with Tehran. After all, that engagement would empower Iranian moderates at the expense of the hardliners. And the stronger Iranian moderates become, the more common ground emerges between Tehran and the GCC, and the larger the peace dividend for all parties Although this sounds reasonable, the Saudi Kingdom bases its policies for dealing with the Islamic Republic on what Tehran does, rather than on what it says. The case of Kuwait is particularly illustrative because, in light of the Abdali incident, it unequivocally demonstrates to Western supporters of the accommodationist approach what the Saudis have been trying to communicate for decades: that adopting such a policy vis-a-vis an ideologically driven revolutionary state bent on regional hegemony is flawed, dangerous, and ultimately untenable, Ali Shihabi writes. Kuwait has consistently striven to balance its loyalties to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with a policy of constructive engagement with Iran. It has worked to develop bilateral ties with the Islamic Republic and to mediate rapprochement between Iran and the GCC. After President Hassan Rouhani was elected, Kuwaits Deputy Foreign Minister commemorated the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran, and publicly rebuked the GCC policy of isolating Iran, saying, We cannot imagine not having talks with Iran considering its weight, size, and role in the region. Kuwaits Emir met with Supreme Leader Khamenei, and the Emir stated, Kuwait is completely prepared to open a new page in the relations between the two countries, adding that he would pursue closer economic and financial ties with Tehran. Kuwaiti efforts helped win support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the Iran nuclear agreement. Kuwait publicly supported Irans right to maintain a peaceful nuclear program in 2007, and publicly opposed a prospective US military strike on the Islamic Republic. In 2010, the Emir called for resolving the nuclear standoff through dialogue, peaceful means, and adherence to the principles of international legitimacy. Kuwait was the only Gulf state to send congratulatory telegrams to all seven heads of state involved in the negotiations that resulted in the nuclear deal. The Emir expressed his hope that this historic achievement would strengthen the security and stability of the area. He also promised to invest in the Iranian economy and initiated negotiations to purchase Iranian natural gas. The rest of the GCC were suspicious of Tehrans intentions, and only the UAE praised the agreement. Kuwait also refused to cut diplomatic ties with Iran following attacks on Saudi diplomatic facilities in Tehran and Mashhad, and despite publicly backing Riyadh in Yemen, Kuwait has offered virtually no material support for the coalition. It defied Riyadh by reopening its embassy in Assad-controlled DamascusIn 2014, and in 2011 it declined to participate in the SaudiEmirati operation in Bahrain. Still, with Kuwaits many gestures of goodwill toward the Islamic Republic, it has not responded in kind. After years of negations, Iranian promises of natural gas reaching Kuwait markets have not materialized. Instead, the Iranian National Oil Company published a pamphlet in 2015 that invited foreign investment in Dorra field, which it shares with Kuwait, without informing Kuwait. Worse yet, according to Ali Shihabi, The Emirs call for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue was repaid with the uncovering of an Iranian Revolutionary Guard espionage cell. Following the discovery, Kuwait expelled three Iranian diplomats, recalled its ambassador, and sentenced three of its own residents to death. But, in keeping with its policy of peace through negotiation, Kuwait restored full diplomatic ties with Iran just three months later. Following the discovery of the Abdali cell, Kuwait responded by dispatching its foreign minister to Tehran with a handwritten note from the Emir to President Rouhani. The foreign minister said that the Emir believed its necessary that the differing views and misunderstandings between the countries of the region should come to an end in a calm atmosphere and through frank dialogue. Kuwaiti news agency KUNA, reported that the note also established the elements needed for dialogue, chiefly, Iran pledging non-interference in the internal affairs of the Gulf states, respecting their sovereignty, and establishing good neighborly relations. Still, Tehran denied any role in the plot, despite the identification of an Iranian national among the Abdali cell members, as wells as evidence that several cell members trained with Irans Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, and the discovery of a huge cache of weapons. Furthemore, Kuwaits Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the trial proved that Iranian sides helped and supported the cell members. Tehran continued to deny any role even after 16 cell members who escaped left the country by way of Iranian boats that were waiting for them. It is likely that this was the last straw for Kuwait. That Iran is divided between moderates and hard-liners, and that a policy of accommodation empowers the former at the expense of the latter, is the fundamental pillar of the Iran engagement narrative, writes Ali Shihabi, who adds, It is true that there is a divide between these two camps: Iranian moderates believe that engagement with the West is necessary to end sanctions, unleash Irans economic potential, and resolve the Islamic Republics considerable financial and socioeconomic issues. Iranian hard-liners disagree, worried that any move to normalize relations with the United States, even solely on the basis of economic matters, will undercut their influence at home. However, according to the Saudis and the GCC, on matters of regional policy, the difference between these the moderates and the hardliners is one of tactics, not strategy. While Saudi Arabia supported the Emirs decision to expel the Iranian ambassador, it did not orchestrate that expulsion. Tehran has only itself to blame. SBS screens a new Scandi-noir drama, Farang, which as the title suggests is actually set in Thailand. The 8 part, which is already available at SBS on Demand has been given a late night slot, launching with a double next Monday. This premiered in Sweden in March. Set in Thailand, Farang is a thrilling new series about love, betrayal and the complicated ties that bind a father with his daughter. The series features a stellar cast, including Ola Rapace (Skyfall), Louise Nyvall (Girls Lost) and Yayaying Rhatha Phongam (Only God Forgives). Former criminal Rickard (Rapace) has vanished. Fleeing Sweden and the old friends he has testified against, he abandons his name, his life and his family to start over in Thailand. Ten years later and still with a price on his head, Rickard knows that a return home would be a death sentence. Monday August 14 on SBS Series One, Episode One (11.30pm): Rickard is living a quiet life in Thailand. One day his daughter Thyra, who he hasnt seen for over ten years, shows up looking for him and his world is turned upside down. Series One, Episode Two (12.25am): After getting his daughter out of prison, and hoping that the worst is over, Rickard expects Thyra to return to Sweden, but instead he discovers that she is hiding more secrets and he realises there is no turning back. Midnight Oil will reveal the true stories about their most iconic video clips in a two-hour special, Midnight Oil Kings of the Mountain, on MAX channel next month. Fraser Stark, Group Channel Manager of Foxtels Arts & Music Channels said, Midnight Oil is one of Australias most successful rock bands and rightly enjoys lasting iconic status. The uniquely Australian band is uncompromising in every facet of its career and, after disbanding in 2002 to reform in 2017, carries with it a legion of fans earned by its sustained intelligence, conscientiousness and musicianship. MAX is honoured to enjoy unprecedented access to the band to respectfully and thoroughly profile one of the most important retrospective videographies in Australian music history. On the eve of the Australian leg of their Great Circle 2017 world tour MAX sits down exclusively with Midnight Oil to take a look through their vast music video collection, from Armistice Day to Redneck Wonderful and all the hits in between. Viewers will be treated to never before known facts from the band, including their all-time favourite video and how it was made. Midnight Oil released their self-titled album in 1978 and have continued to shape the landscape of Australian music and social consciousness for almost four decades, with chart topping albums including 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; Red Sails in the Sunset; Species Deceases; Diesel and Dust; Blue Sky Mining; Scream in Blue (Live); Earth and Sun and Moon; Breathe and Redneck Wonderland;. In 2006, the band cemented their place in Australian music history forever when they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame. Sunday September 3 from 10am on MAX. Upcoming iview youth series Deadlock begins filming later this month in the Northern Rivers. The 5 x 12-minute series which crashes though the highs, joy, heartbreak, camaraderie, laughs and bittersweet sorrow of teen years, will also enjoy a one-hour format for ABC broadcast. Starring YouTubers Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou (aka RackaRacka), plus including Luca Sardelis (Nowhere Boys) and Darcy McGrath (My Place) this series has been created by Deb Cox and Fiona Eaggers Every Cloud Productions and is written and directed by emerging screen talent, Billie Pleffer. Every Clouds Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger said: Collaborating with younger creators has been such a rewarding experience and seems the way of the future for exciting, high-level content and working regionally has unearthed a wealth of talent were proud to connect with the wider industry. Sally Riley, ABC Head of Scripted Production, said: Deadlock embodies the ambition of our growing iview slate of scripted programming. Drawing together some of the most exciting young Australian talents both in front and behind the camera, this exciting short-form, digital series is helping to develop and nurture the next generation of screen stars. The series unique development process saw young people from the Northern Rivers region which traverses Byron Bay and Lismore contribute their stories and ideas for the series in a workshop facilitated by Bryan Elsey, internationally acclaimed creator and co-writer of the UK teen series Skins. The series was then developed by Billie Pleffer from Deb Coxs original concept. The authentic voices of young regional Australia will be represented on screen by a cast that features exciting young talent from the Northern Rivers, including Bijou Gracie Henry, Audrey Spence, Paddy Swaine, Theodore Bourgoin, Sophia Wright and Ned Sacks. Deadlock begins with a mysterious car crash that exposes the dark underbelly of an idyllic paradise, dramatically changing the lives of the teens it touches. Beating the universal anthem of youth, the story ignites their individual quests to assert who they are, what they want and the risks they take to get there. Producer is Belinda Mravicic, Executive Producers are Fiona Eagger, Deb Cox and mentor director is Tony Tilse (Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries, East of Everything). ABC Executive Producer is Que Minh Luu. We cant wait to see what the combination of the hugely successful RackaRacka brothers and the skills and expertise of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries creators Every Cloud Productions will deliver. The Philippou brothers are the most watched content creators in the country and we are confident Deadlock will set a new bar for exciting cross-platform creative collaborations, said Screen Australias CEO Graeme Mason. Create NSW CEO Michael Brealey said: Deadlock is the latest screen production to emerge from the creative hub that is the Northern Rivers. With many of the cast and crew from the local area, the series is a brilliant opportunity to showcase the depth of talent in the Northern Rivers and to tell a compelling and vivid regional story that will resonate with younger audiences regardless of where they live. Congratulations to Every Cloud Productions for developing and financing this exciting new online series, driven by an all-female team. Fiona and Deb have seized a unique opportunity which will develop new talent, including Victorian Writer and Director Billie Pleffer. Were sure Deadlock will deliver an authentic and exciting viewing experience that will resonate with younger Australian and international audiences, said Jenni Tosi, Film Victoria CEO. Deadlock was developed with the assistance of Screen Australia and Film Victoria. Produced by Every Cloud Productions in association with Screen Australia, Tthe australianhe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Create NSW and Film Victoria. Every Cloud Productions Deadlock Script Lab Workshop developed and funded by Screen Australias Enterprise Stories Program, in partnership with Northern Rivers Screenworks EXCLUSIVE: Foxtel has edited its opening episode of Common Sense on its catch-up service following comments surrounding charges levelled at Cardinal George Pell. The Gogglebox spin-off, which debuted on Foxtel on July 5 and on TEN on July 6, heard cast members openly discussing the allegations. It aired several days after Pell was charged over sexual assault offences by Victoria Police. But in the episode available at On Demand the segment has since been removed in its entirety, replaced with another item about a citizens arrest in a Perth robbery. Last month Prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC told the court, Any publication of material speculating about the strength or otherwise of the case, the prospect of a fair trial or trials being had, whether the accused should or should not have been charged, the likelihood of conviction or acquittal, or any other such matters would be in contempt of court. The Director of Public Prosecution has already had cause to write to a number of media organisations in respect of articles which appeared to be in breach of the principles. Producer David McDonald recently told TV Tonight, We have to hit the stories that everyones talking about, and has made a big splash during the week. The premiere episode of Common Sense was presumably passed by three media organisations, Foxtel, Network TEN and producers Endemol Shine Australia prior to being re-edited. Whilst it also aired on TEN, only Foxtel offers the episodes in full on its On Demand service. Cardinal Pell has vowed to fight all charges and lawyers said he intends to plead not guilty. News of these charges strengthens my resolve, and court proceedings now offer me an opportunity, to clear my name and then return to my work in Rome, he said in June. I am looking forward finally to having my day in court. A committal mention date has been set for October 6th. Foxtel declined to comment. The 28 year old ambassador commented to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on the issue of Qatar, I think Qatars policies have been a threat to our national security, especially when they interfere in our domestic politics and support extremists. In Syria, they have supported Al Qaida affiliates and some terrorist Shiite militias in Iraq. We hope Qatar will stop funding extremism. He continued, The Saudi government is on the front line of fighting terrorism. There might be people from a lot of different countries who support terrorism, but in Qatar the problem is that it is government-funded. When questioned about supporting moderate groups in Syria, he responded, There are some moderate opposition groups, for example, the Free Syrian Army. There are a lot of people in Syria who want to free themselves from the dictatorship of Bashar Al Assad. We are working with our allies to help stabilize Syria, adding that Bashar Al Assad has killed more than 500,000 people. We are working with the US to end the Syria problem. Prince Khalid explained that in regards to Irans meddling in Iraq, Sunnis and Shiites have to be treated equally as Iraqi citizens. Iran wants Iraq to obey Iran. We support the independence of Iraq. He talked about the need for bringing all parties together, saying that sectarianism always leads to terrorism. Again on Iran, he said that Saudi Arabia has been encouraging all parties to the negotiating table to discuss the war in Yemen, but the Al Houthis have refused. The ball is now in Al Houthis court. They have to drop their weapons and become part of Yemen, not part of Iran. Regarding Irans threat to close the Arabian Gulf, he said, Iran has threatened to do so on multiple occasions in the past. The whole world, including our government, is worried about that. The Strait of Hormuz is important not just to our economy, but to the international economy; the US and its allies realize how big the threat is to international security, and we are ready to work together to contain Irans actions and its expansionist policies. He was questioned about possible Saudi links to the 9/11 attacks, and explained, We had nothing to do with 9/11. In 1996, Osama Bin Laden issued a declaration of war against the United States and Saudi Arabia. In 1994, we took away Bin Ladens Saudi citizenship when he was in Sudan. We believe the same people who attacked the United States on 9/11 attacked us in Saudi Arabia multiple times. He called the 19 hijackers members of Al Qaida, and said that the reason why 15 Saudi nationals were selected was that Al Qaida wanted to create a split between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Apologies, it seems we cant find what you were looking for. The content has either moved or no longer exists. Maybe try a search Some say that the accelerated Iranian involvement in the region has been a result of the 2015 nuclear deal, and that to successfully counter Irans destabilizing activities, the U.S. also needs to end the nuclear deal. According to an article in The Hill, written by Dr. Shahram Ahmadi Nasab Emran, MA, Ph.D., who teaches at the Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University and has participated in many international policy forums, including the Policy Studies Organizations 2016 Middle East Dialogue, To be successful in keeping Iran in check, we need to understand the dynamics of the three main threats originating from the Iranian regime: its nuclear program and the joint missile development; its destabilizing regional activities and its violation of human rights at home. The regime in Tehran is undergoing domestic turmoil. It keeps its power by the suppression of dissidents, and violations of human rights by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its affiliate bodies, like Basij. Instead of investing in the economy, education and the Iranian peoples long-term demands the seeks to gain recognition by pouring tens of billions of dollars into its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Dr. Shahram Ahmadi Nasab Emran writes that the nuclear program is vital, and due to their lack of legitimacy at home, the mullahs perceive the threat of military action and sanctions against their nuclear facilities as an existential threat. Some say that the nuclear deal is working, and that ending the deal is not in Americas best interest. Still there is a concern that Iran may be cheating. Most of Irans nuclear facilities are located in military bases, which the IAEA inspectors are not allowed to access. How then can we conclude that Iran remains in compliance with the deal, as the proponents of the deal claim? The important fact is that the regimes greatest security vulnerability is at home. U.S. policy on Iran must include the organized opposition, and their supporters within the country. It is up to the Iranian people to produce the necessary change. With the support of the international community, this change is in reach. In his article for the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), Cameron Keyani, Iranian American writer and graduate of St. Marys College of Maryland, who interned at the Woodrow Wilson Center as well as the U.S. House of Representatives, and volunteers for the Organization of Iranian American Communities, writes, The IRGC was instrumental in the foundation of Hezbollah, and more recently has flexed its regional influence in sectarian conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Within Iran, the IRGC has sent countless Iranians and foreign nationals to grisly fates in the notorious Evin Prison, often on frivolous charges of espionage. The Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) held a briefing recently, in the Hart Senate Office Building, that examined the regional activities of the IRGC and possible next steps. Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad of George Mason University moderated the panel. Ambassador Robert Joseph, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, was the keynote speaker, and he discussed the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). That the Iran Deal lacks long term vision, lacks verification standards, and has not reduced the destructive regional influence of the IRGC any substantive way, were some of the factors he noted. Also on the panel was Washington Institute visiting fellow Nader Uskowi, Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council Dr. Ilan Berman, and Hudson Institute fellows Michael Pregent and Lee Smith. The recent history of the IRGC, and next steps for the Trump administration and 115th Congress were talking points. Opinions of the Iran Nuclear Deal differed, but they agreed that it had done nothing to curb the regional influence of the IRGC. Specific concern was levied at Annex ii of the Deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Program of Action (JCPOA), that delisted many members of the IRGC as targets of sanctions, including the notorious Quds Force commander, Major General Qassem Soleimani. H.R. 3364 was helpful in isolating the IRGC and curtailing its regional influence, the panelists all agreed. However, sanctions have serious limitations. As Ambassador Joseph and Mr. Smith clarified sanctions are a tool, not a strategy. Humanities Project to Highlight Wyoming Tribes Connections with Elk Bull elk spar on the National Elk Refuge near Jackson. A project to explore and highlight the relationships of the tribes of Wyomings Wind River Indian Reservation with the iconic big-game species will begin in 2018, involving the University of Wyoming and other partners. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Photo) A project to explore and highlight the relationships of the tribes of Wyomings Wind River Indian Reservation with an iconic big-game species will begin in 2018, as a result of a $150,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to the University of Wyoming. The multiyear project, titled Understanding and Communicating the Role of Elk on the Wind River Indian Reservation, is one of 245 humanities projects nationwide selected by NEH to receive a total of $39.3 million in grants announced last week. Private fundraising is underway for UW to match the $150,000 NEH Creating Humanities Communities grant. The project involves five partners, including UWs High Plains American Indian Research Institute (HPAIRI), the Wind River Native Advocacy Center (WRNAC), the Wyoming Humanities Council (WHC), and Fremont County School Districts 14 (Wyoming Indian) and 21 (Fort Washakie). This award is something we are very grateful for and excited about, says James Trosper, the new director of HPAIRI. This is a unique opportunity to capture and communicate the stories, legends and beliefs of the people of Wind River in regard to elk, and its a great way to tie the humanities with science. The grant and matching dollars will fund research and educational programs to discover, understand and communicate the ways in which Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes -- which share the 2.2 million-acre Wind River reservation -- have known and celebrated the natural world through stories, songs and traditions. Both tribes have long-standing relationships with elk, a key game animal that has played a role in tribal culture and lifestyle -- a strong tradition that continues today as represented in songs, stories and visual artistic expression. One of the objectives of the project is to capture oral histories, tribal stories, songs, chants, prayers, tribal language vocabulary and unpublished documents to create an elk cultural collection, an effort to be led by Jason Baldes, an enrolled Eastern Shoshone who heads WRNAC. By strengthening knowledge of tribal histories, cultures, contemporary hunting and resource management practices, and tribal languages for the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho people, this project will enhance tribal citizens capacity to steward and assert their tribal sovereignty, Baldes says. And, it will help assure that the elks many roles in tribal life and culture will not be lost. This cultural collection will be used to create a K-12 curriculum with the advice and guidance of tribal members, including elders. That curriculum will be deployed in the third year of the project in the Wyoming Indian and Fort Washakie schools -- and shared by WHC in a statewide tour that also will feature a video and other printed materials developed during the project. Too many of our states residents know little to nothing about the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho people, WHC Director Shannon Smith says. It is time to bring their stories into the mainstream of our educational system, and Im delighted that this project can take steps to rectify that situation. The project also will involve public gatherings on the reservation; a website and social media campaign to communicate elk cultural information within tribal communities and beyond; an internship program; and a professional development workshop for UW, community college and Wind River Tribal College faculty and students. The new grant will support the humanities elements of a larger research effort on the science and culture of elk migrations on the reservation, which includes wildlife researchers from the UW-based Wyoming Migration Initiative and the tribal wildlife management agency working collaboratively to map the migratory corridors of elk and mule deer on the reservation. The collaring work will begin this winter. The grant request was a team effort coordinated by Judy Antell, HPAIRIs founding director, who was succeeded by Trosper upon the completion of her tenure July 1. Using the tribes relationships with elk as the focal point, important classroom and community discussions rooted in humanities-based inquiry will occur, Antell says. Tribal partners will play a lead role in acquiring existing knowledge about the cultural and historical dimensions of elk -- and designing ways to incorporate that information into schools and communities on the reservation. These activities will build community and enhance the role of humanities in tribal life. Any group or individual interested in contributing toward the grant match is asked to contact Katrina McGee, the UW Foundations director of foundation development, at kmcgee1@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-4266. About the partners The High Plains American Indian Research Institute was formed to facilitate research relationships between UW researchers and tribal communities -- relationships that support and sustain tribal sovereignty and have long-term, positive results for Native peoples. The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent, grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities. Wyoming Humanities is an independent, nonprofit organization and the states affiliate of the NEH and, for over 45 years, has served the cultural organizations of the state from its offices on the UW campus. The Wind River Native Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization that works to empower Native Americans in Wyoming for a stronger voice through community organizing, education, research, legal advocacy and leadership development. [August 07, 2017] UCloud Selects ScaleFlux for Data-Driven Cloud Infrastructure ScaleFlux, Inc., the pioneer in deploying Computational Storage at scale, announced that UCloud, China's leading independent public cloud provider, has selected ScaleFlux to power its advanced UPHost (UCloud Physical Host) infrastructure for Big Data, Database, Data Warehousing, and a fast-growing list of data-driven applications. ScaleFlux provides industry's first, production-qualified Computational Storage Subsystem (CSS (News - Alert)) solutions that uniquely integrate algorithmically complex compute engines with Terabytes of 3D NAND flash storage. CSS simply integrates into standard server and storage infrastructure through an easy-to-install Linux plug-in software package combined with standard PCIe HHHL Add-In Card and 2.5" U.2 drive level form factors. "UPHost offers outstanding computing performance to meet the core application scenarios for high performance and stability, and is built to run applications at any scale for our customers," said Xianfeng Mo, CTO and Founder of UCloud. "With the integration of ScaleFlux CSS into UPHost, we are further extending UCloud's value proposition by dramatically reducing the time to complete Big Data and Database jobs, while also optimizing flash storage capacity utilization." Large pools of Computational Storage will eliminate the scaling roadblocks faced by data-driven infrastructure where: (1) traditional CPUs are highly inefficient when tasked to process modern, intense workloads (2) the latency and power to move massive datasets from storage to the CPU is too expensive (3) compute-intensive workloads can be sped up by orders-of-magnitude when parallelized across flash storage subsystems These scaling challenges are commonly faced with applications in the field of Bg Data, Database, Data Warehousing, Content Delivery, Search, Machine Learning, AI, VR, Genomics, Security, High-Performance Computing, and many others. "By taking an evolutionary and simple approach to integrating CSS into application frameworks, we are delighted to provide our revolutionary Computational Storage solutions for UCloud's UPHost infrastructure that will open new revenue generating use-cases for data-driven applications at scale with fast time-to-market," said Hao Zhong, CEO and co-founder for ScaleFlux, Inc. "One of the primary values of CSS is the ability to reprogram new hardware acceleration engines in-system, which can evolve the infrastructure in lock step with new customer demands." ScaleFlux CSS features field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and enables acceleration for compression, erasure coding, and KV store, in addition to encryption, authentication, and common compute intensive algorithms. Future application level acceleration algorithms such as database queries, machine learning, AI, media transcoding, search, and many more, can be dropped into the same hardware infrastructure. By taking a programmable hardware approach, ScaleFlux has set CSS apart from commodity SSDs through the addition of proven, application level, value-added features while facilitating mass deployment of state-of-the-art 3D NAND Flash media. ScaleFlux CSS is available for customer deployment today. More information is located at www.scaleflux.com. About ScaleFlux, Inc. (www.scaleflux.com) ScaleFlux is the pioneer in providing Computational Storage Subsystem (CSS) solutions at scale. CSS is the foundation for modern, data-driven infrastructure that provides responsive performance, affordable scaling, and agile platforms for compute and storage I/O intensive applications. Founded in 2014, ScaleFlux is a well-funded startup with leaders proven to deploy complex computing and solid-state storage solutions in volume. About UCloud (www.ucloud.cn) UCloud (Shanghai UCloud Cloud Computing Co., Ltd.) is a leading IaaS service provider in China. UCloud's own R&D solutions range from computing and storage to network resources and other fundamental IT infrastructure that enterprises need. UCloud has provided services to 50,000 enterprise customers worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005217/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Creator of style blog The WearHouse District and founder of Las Vegas Bloggers Society, Dalton Primeaux, has teamed up with Martin Lawrence Galleries to produce an incredible, one-of-a-kind live design competition in Las Vegas to raise money for charity. The event will be held in the Martin Lawrence Gallery, inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on October 3. Primeauxs event will showcase the artistic creations from up-and-coming designers, including Michelle Pointer of Mchlynn Couture, Kevin Smith of TAFALV, Lillian Love Dennis of Heavinz Lane and Haute Neon Nights, and Marisa Townsend of Marisa T Creations and Haute Neon Nights. Each piece will be designed and created live, right in front of the event attendees. Each design created at the event will be auctioned off to benefit NPHY charity. This is like the prequel to a runway show, Primeaux said. I love that we get to show the art within the actual design process, and the time and effort it takes to make any piece of clothing. Most people only get to see the fashion after it is completed, either on runways or in stores, and dont realize how extremely difficult it is to create these pieces and the beauty of the actual design process. Celebrating fashion design and techniques from all ages, the theme of the event is time and each designer will be representing a different fashionable era. The second R&B artist to sign with Def Jam Recordings, Montell Jordan known for This Is How We Do It, dined at Sugar Factory at Fashion Show on Sunday, Aug. 6th. Celebrating his new granddaughter born the day prior, the table shared popcorn shrimp, bleu cheese bacon burger, the slappy sloppy, and black angus filet, and lobster tail. Montell also enjoyed the white gummy goblet and took home a bag of sour gummy worms, sour patch kids and a Kendal Jenner couture lollipop. Local performers Mariah Rivera of FANTASY (Pictured above), The Gazillionaire from ABSINTHE Las Vegas and James Davis of Chippendales will use their love of pizza for a good cause as judges at TREVI Italian Restaurants third annual media pizza making competition on Wednesday, Aug. 16 (Photo credit: Oscar Picazo). Photo credit: Erik Kabik / www.ErikKabik.com Local media personalities will compete to raise money for their charity of choice by creating and implementing their own recipe, choice of ingredients and style to make the tastiest pizza. While cheering on their favorite participant, children 12 and under will receive a complimentary slice of cheese pizza. Photo credit: Gabriel Goldberg This years competitors include Tedd Florendo, meteorologist at KLAS Ch. 8, JJ Snyder, cohost of The Morning Blend on KTNV Ch. 13, Rob Kachelreiss, contributing author at Thrillist.com, Jason Harris, contributor at Las Vegas Weekly and Marisa Finetti, food and wine columnist at Vegas Seven, Luxury Las Vegas and DAVID Magazine. Photo courtesy of TREVI Italian Restaurant Located at The Forum Shops inside Caesars Palace, the award-winning restaurant will present the selected winner with a $500 donation to be made at their local charity of choice. Selected charities include Opportunity Village, The Shade Tree, JDRF and the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. The General Department of Taxation has ruled that from 2018, firms will have to obtain their invoices from the department instead of printing their own. - Photo tienphong.vn The move is part of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) units proposal to replace Decree No 51/2010/ND-CP and Decree No 04/2014/ND-CP on invoices for sales of goods and services. According to the MoF, the goal is to deal with obstacles while implementing Decree No 51, which allows most companies to print their own invoices instead of receiving them from tax authorities. The change will help limit the amount of printed paper invoices and prevent firms from printing too many invoices to avoid paying tax, MoF said. The new decree also stipulates that by 2020, electronic invoices must be used by 90 per cent of businesses. The regulation will apply to enterprises in industrial parks, economic zones, export processing zones, high-tech zones, non-business public units performing production or commercial activities and newly established enterprises. Besides issuing paper invoices for enterprises, tax authorities will also support firms in shifting to electronic invoices with tax codes provided by authorities to expand the application of electronic invoices among firms. From early 2019, many other types of enterprise, including household businesses with revenue of more than VND3 billion (US$133,000), will be forced to issue e-invoices with tax codes provided by tax authorities. The use of e-invoices would help reduce the time and expense relating to invoices for enterprises, while contributing to limiting fraudulence, according to the MoF. According to the ministry, the number of businesses using e-invoices has increased significantly in recent years, rising from 30 enterprises in 2011 to 331 in 2015 and 656 in 2016. The number of electronic invoices issued has also increased sharply, from 9,014 in 2011 to more than 277 million in 2016. (L to R) Thierry Bollore, deputy director of Competitiveness at Renault, Mansour Moazami, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IDRO Group, and Kourosh Morshed Solouk, deputy director of the Iranian Automobile Importers Association, at the signing ceremony in Tehran. (AFP/ATTA KENARE) (L to R) Thierry Bollore, deputy director of Competitiveness at Renault, Mansour Moazami, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IDRO Group, and Kourosh Morshed Solouk, deputy director of the Iranian Automobile Importers Association, at the signing ceremony in Tehran. (AFP/ATTA KENARE) The new deal puts Renault in partnership with Iran's state Industrial Development and Renovation Organisation (IDRO) and private firm Parto Negin Naseh. Renault will hold a 60 per cent stake with IDRO and Parto Negin Naseh 20 per cent each. "The first phase of this accord worth 660 million euros provides for the annual manufacturing of 150,000 cars," IDRO head Mansour Moazami said at a signing ceremony in Tehran. He said the first cars will roll off the assembly line in around 18 months. The new venture will produce Renault's Duster and Symbol models at a refurbished factory in Saveh, around 120 kilometres southwest of Tehran. A second, three-year phase will start in 2019 with production ramping up to 300,000 cars per year. Under the deal, 30 per cent of the cars and parts made by the venture will be exported. "We are happy to sign one of Renault's most historical contracts here," said Thierry Bollore, number two of the French carmaker, at the signing. "Within Renault, Iran is known for its great industrial potential, its automotive industry infrastructure, strong human resources and unique geopolitical position," he added. Unlike its chief competitor PSA, which makes Peugeots and Citroens, Renault never fully quit Iran during the sanctions period and already makes some 200,000 cars a year in the country. But it had to put a brake on its growth plans until Iran concluded a nuclear deal with world powers that came into force in January 2016, easing international sanctions. "Renault has proved its commitment with a nonstop presence in Iran since the beginning of its operation in 2004, and this signing confirms our strong intent and commitment for long-term operations as a strategic partner of Iran's automotive industry," said Bollore. "This is a unique agreement in terms of investment, of technology transfer... of the development of Iranian talent, and in the creation of a modern engineering and production centre," he added. Negotiations were painstaking, with Renault reportedly reluctant to meet Iranian requirements to source 40 percent of their parts from local manufacturers, which have struggled to keep up with international standards. PSA, which quit the country when international sanctions hit in 2012, has been quick to rebuild its presence in Iran, which was the company's main engine of growth last year. It signed a 400-million deal in June 2016 to build 200,000 Peugeots a year with Iran Khodro, and another with Iran's SAIPA to build a similar number of Citroens. Overall production in Iran is expected to reach two million cars a year by 2020, up from 1.2 million in 2016. French firms have been at the forefront of rebuilding trade ties with Iran since the nuclear deal, with energy giant Total signing a billion-dollar gas deal last month despite mounting pressure from Washington to isolate the country. German authorities have stepped up testing of residue on eggs since it emerged an insecticide dangerous for human consumption was used on chickens in the Netherlands and Belgium. (AFP/Guido Kirchner) German authorities have stepped up testing of residue on eggs since it emerged an insecticide dangerous for human consumption was used on chickens in the Netherlands and Belgium. (AFP/Guido Kirchner) Belgium meanwhile vowed full transparency about why it kept the scandal secret despite originally learning in June about the problem involving fipronil, a substance potentially dangerous to humans. Supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium have pulled millions of eggs from the shelves since Belgium gave the European Commission the first notification on Jul 20, while retailers in Sweden and Switzerland have followed suit. The Commission said on Monday that under its EU rapid alert system it had been determined that eggs under suspicion of contamination had also been distributed to France and Britain via Germany. "It's now up to the Swedish, Swiss, French and to the UK to check because all these eggs are traceable and trackable," European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told reporters. Britain's Food Standards Agency said it was "urgently investigating the distribution of these eggs in the UK" from farms at the centre of the scare, while adding that "the number of eggs involved is very small and the risk to public health is very low". It did not give a number but said it represented 0.0001 per cent of eggs annually imported into Britain. "We are working closely with the businesses that have received eggs from affected farms. Investigations to date indicate that any affected products are no longer on the shelves," it said. The French government said 13 batches of Dutch eggs contaminated with fipronil have been found at two food-processing factories in central-western France. The agriculture ministry said they were unable to immediately say whether any of the products had been shipped to customers. It is believed the toxic substance was introduced to poultry farms by a Dutch business named Chickfriend brought in to treat red lice, a parasite in chickens. Dutch and Belgian media reports that the substance containing the insecticide was supplied to Chickfriend by a Belgian firm have not been confirmed. The French agriculture ministry also said Monday that on Jul 28 a poultry farm at Pas-de-Calais in northern France was put under surveillance after the farmer told authorities a Belgian supplier had provided him with the tainted product in question. The ministry said no eggs from the farm have been sent to market and that the results of testing there should be known by the end of the week. Meanwhile Dutch farming organisation LTO said several million hens may need to be culled at 150 companies in the country, with 300,000 having already been killed. An LTO spokesman said they "had to be eliminated because of contamination". 'COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY' Dutch authorities have shuttered 138 poultry farms - about a fifth of those across the country - and warned that eggs from another 59 farms contained high enough levels of fipronil that they should not be eaten by children. Belgium currently has production blocked from 51 farms - a quarter of those nationwide - with fipronil found at 21 farms, although levels were ten times below the maximum EU limit, the country's food safety authority AFSCA said. Belgium's agriculture minister meanwhile said he had ordered the agency to report by Tuesday on why it failed to notify neighbouring countries until Jul 20 despite knowing about fipronil contamination since June. Denis Ducarme said in a statement he had told (AFSCA) to produce a "report on the circumstances of the agency's actions since the first information it received about the fipronil problem" Facing pressure from Germany and the Netherlands, Ducarme promised "complete transparency". He said he would speak by telephone with his counterparts in the coming days. Belgian officials admitted on Saturday they had kept the problem under wraps and failed to trigger the EU's international food safety alert system, but said it was because of a fraud probe. Germany has demanded an explanation from Belgium about why the issue was kept covered up. Fipronil is commonly used in veterinary products to get rid of fleas, lice and ticks. But it is banned from being used to treat animals destined for human consumption, such as chickens. The substance is absorbed into the skin or feathers of chickens and then passes into the eggs. In large quantities, the insecticide is considered to be "moderately hazardous" according to the World Health Organisation, and can have dangerous effects on people's kidneys, liver and thyroid glands. Odnell Ceant was deported from the Dominican Republic two years ago with his wife and five children. Since he has been unable to earn a living in Haiti, where hes facing eviction from his home because he lacks the $100 annual rent. A woman places her hand on the gravestone of Dora Brave Bull at the Indian Cemetery at the Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pa., in July 2014. Dora, a Rosebud Sioux, was among the first group of students to arrive at the school on Oct. 6, 1879. She died on April 24, 1881. [August 07, 2017] Nimbus Data Unveils ExaDrive, Powering the Next-generation of Intelligent Multiprocessor SSDs Nimbus Data today unveiled ExaDrive, a powerful software and multiprocessor solution for next-generation solid state drives (SSDs). Based on a patent-pending architecture, ExaDrive enables OEMs to offer SSDs with record-breaking storage capacity, unmatched density, superior longevity, and the lowest energy consumption per terabyte. With an interface and form factor identical to HDDs, but with vastly more capacity, ExaDrive will accelerate flash adoption in the data center. Viking Technology and SMART Modular Technologies (News - Alert) recently began shipping 50 TB and 25 TB ExaDrive-powered SSDs for cloud infrastructure, technical computing, and digital content storage. "ExaDrive's software-defined multiprocessor architecture for SSDs delivers a game-changing leap forward in capacity, density, and energy efficiency that HDDs will never be able to recoup," stated Thomas Isakovich, CEO and Founder of Nimbus Data. "ExaDrive broadens the appeal of flash memory to tier 2 and nearline use cases, enabling flash to become the dominant data center storage media." Patent-pending Multiprocessor and Software-Defined Architecture Conventional SSDs are based on a single flash controller. As flash capacity increases, this monolithic architecture does not scale, overwhelmed by error correction operations and the sheer amount of flash that must be managed. In contrast, ExaDrive is based on a distributed multiprocessor architecture. Inside an ExaDrive-powered SSD, multiple ultra-low power ASICs exclusively handle error correction, while an intelligent flash processor provides wear-leveling and capacity management in software. ExaDrive's software-defined architecture will enable SSDs as large as 500 TB by the year 2020, achieving up to 600 petabytes in a single rack. This represents a 50x increase over what is possible with HDDs today. Accelerating the Migration from HDD to SSD in the Data Center 40 million nearline/high-capacity HDDs are shipped per year, and all of them use the 3.5" form factor. HDD capacity, however, has plateaued, and performance per terabyte is in freefall. Migrating to flash is paramount, but existing SSDs do not match the form factor, interface, and power envelope of HDDs, forcing users to buy all-new systems. With ExaDrive, data centers can immediately rip-and-replace HDDs with flash. ExaDrive supports the standard SAS (News - Alert) interface and is optimized to fully utilize the volume of the 3.5" form factor. As a result, ExaDrive-powered SSDs offer 5x the capacity of nearline HDDs in the same size and powr budget, enabling a 5:1 reduction in rack space and power per terabyte. Improving Tiered Storage and Data Center Standardization For tiered storage use cases, ExaDrive-powered SSDs give users the flexibility to mix-and-match nearline HDDs and SSDs in the very same enclosure. When compared against 2.5", U.2, M.2, or NVMe SSDs, the common 3.5" form factor and SAS interface shared between nearline HDDs and ExaDrive-powered SSDs enable data centers to standardize on one design for all tiers of storage. This standardization simplifies the daunting task of capacity planning, maximizes rack utilization, and cuts cost by reducing the number of storage and server enclosure designs. Equally as important, ExaDrive supports up to 10 years of write endurance, reducing support costs, improving quality of service, and extending return on investment. Independent Lab Validation of ExaDrive Demartek, a storage industry analyst organization with its own ISO 17025 accredited test lab, performed hands-on testing of the ExaDrive technology. "ExaDrive is by far the largest capacity single drive that Demartek has ever tested, either HDD or SSD," said Dennis Martin, President of Demartek. "With a standard 3.5" form factor and SAS interface, the drive was plug-and-play in our 12 Gb/s SAS JBOD and came online immediately. Our Iometer tests found that the 50 TB ExaDrive-powered SAS SSD performed in line with Nimbus Data's claims, consuming between 14.5 and 16.5 watts under various read and write workloads and a mere 7 watts at idle." ExaDrive-powered SSDs Shipping Now Earlier this year, Nimbus Data forged strategic partnerships with leading providers of flash solutions. Viking Technology, a division of Sanmina Corporation, recently announced the UHC-Silo, a 50 TB and 25 TB SAS SSD powered by ExaDrive technology. SMART Modular Technologies, a division of SMART Global Holdings, Inc., recently announced the Osmium Drive, available in 50 TB and 25 TB capacities, also powered by ExaDrive technology. ExaDrive Reference Designs For new design partners, Nimbus Data has developed several ExaDrive reference designs. These turn-key designs help OEMs accelerate time-to-market. More Information ExaDrive-powered SSDs are now generally available from our partners Viking Technology and SMART Modular Technologies. To learn more, visit vikingtechnology.com and smartm.com, respectively. ExaDrive reference designs are available for select engagements. To learn more, contact Nimbus Data at nimbusdata.com. Nimbus Data will demonstrate ExaDrive at Flash Memory Summit 2017 in Santa Clara, California, booth #313. About Nimbus Data Nimbus Data develops advanced flash memory solutions for cloud infrastructure. ExaFlash offers infinite on-demand storage scalability, unmatched multiprotocol support, and market-leading energy efficiency. ExaDrive powers the next-generation of software-defined multiprocessor SSDs, enabling flash memory to become the dominant storage media in the data center. For more information, visit nimbusdata.com, email us at [email protected], and follow us at twitter.com/nimbusdata. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005479/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. David Letterman. Photo: Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic Netflix has won the battle to bring David Letterman out of retirement. The late-night legend will return to series television as the star of an untitled hour-long program that combines a long-form interview with a well-known public figure and, per a Netflix press release, in-the-field segments expressing [Lettermans] curiosity and humor. The first season of the show will consist of six episodes and is scheduled to debut next year. Heres what I have learned: If you retire to spend more time with your family, check with your family first, Letterman said in a release announcing the deal. Thanks for watching, drive safely. Rumors of a Letterman TV return have circulated around Hollywood for months now, and in an interview earlier this year with Vulture, Letterman himself hinted he might be interested in a series comeback as long as it wasnt what he did for three decades on NBC and CBS. My interest has shifted, the comic told our David Marchese. When Im talking about things to do now, its not like, God-dang, lets get right back into comedy. Lets call the Butterball hotline on Thanksgiving. But bring in Donald Trump or Mike Pence or somebody, and let me smother them with my ignorance. The Netflix project appears to fit right into that category, since each of the planned six episodes will feature Letterman in conversation with extraordinary people, as the Netflix release puts it. Its likely those six slots will be filled by guests the caliber of Hillary Clinton or Oprah Winfrey. I cant wait to see [Letterman] out in the wild, out from behind the desk and interviewing the people he finds most interesting, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandon said in the release. Well have to see if he keeps the beard. The format for Lettermans new show appears to be at least somewhat similar to an episode of last years National Geographic series, Years of Living Dangerously, in which the comic traveled to India and interviewed the nations prime minister about solar energy. It will be a co-production between RadicalMedia the company behind the Netflix documentary What Happened, Miss Simone? and Lettermans longtime production banner Worldwide Pants. An industry insider tells Vulture multiple outlets had discussions with producers about acquiring the new project, including Lettermans old Late Show home CBS. The Eye was interested in landing the project for the companys All Access streaming service. Preet Bharara. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images It really does seem like everybody has a podcast these days: your co-worker, your mom, your bartender, your ex, your friend on Twitter. And now you can also add to that list your former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, who was recently fired by President Trump and whos probably more famous than your friend on Twitter. Today saw the official announcement of Stay Tuned With Preet, an upcoming weekly podcast that will see the former prosecutor, famous for his work on corruption and financial malfeasance over the decades, focusing on issues of justice and fairness and providing commentary on our judicial, political and cultural systems. As is customary for podcasts hosted by such powerful individuals, the show will also feature similarly powerful guests, though no specific lineup has been provided so far. Stay Tuned will mark Bhararas first output since joining Some Spider Studios a media company founded by his brother, the entrepreneur Vinit Bharara last month as adviser, stakeholder, and content producer, not long after he was ousted from office. (Vinit Bharara, by the way, was a founder of Diapers.com, which sold to Amazon for $545 million in 2010, in case thats interesting to you.) To distribute the podcast, the company has struck up a partnership with WNYC Studios, the on-demand audio arm of the podcast arm of the venerable public radio station thats home to beloved New Yorkgrown hits like Radiolab, 2 Dope Queens, and Death, Sex, and Money. But WNYC Studios isnt actually responsible for producing the show. That duty will go to a second partner: Pineapple Street Media, the Brooklyn studio responsible for Missing Richard Simmons, the controversial breakout hit from earlier this year that they produced for First Look Media, and perhaps more notably, With Her, the official campaign podcast for Hillary Clintons doomed 2016 presidential run. Its a curious arrangement, particularly when you consider that WNYC has every means and capacity available to handle the show by themselves. One wonders if the Clinton connection is meaningful here. Bhararas podcast is the latest in what appears to be a growing trend of liberal-leaning politicians and political operatives taking up podcasting as a method of communication. Aside from Clinton, youve got Bernie Sanders with his own podcast operation (sort of), and youve also got the nascent left-wing podcast empire known as Crooked Media, whose flagship Pod Save America has consistently hovered around the top of the Apple Podcast charts and whose various machinations have seemingly energized a base of followers since the enterprise launched at the beginning of the year. A lot seems to be happening at this nexus of podcasts and liberal political media, perhaps a budding foil to the long-established right-wing talk-radio-industrial complex, which itself seems to be evolving in strange new digital directions. Anyway, Stay Tuned With Preet Bharara will debut sometime in the fall, provided that Bharara actually figures out what a podcast is. Steve Coogan, center, and Rob Brydon, right, ride horses. Photo: BBC ONE I think anyone over 40 who amuses themselves by doing impressions has to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Steve Coogan, The Trip If Michael Winterbottoms The Trip film series is a story about a pair of men constantly flailing to prove their masculinity to one another and themselves, then the celebrity impression is their ultimate currency of manhood. As U.K. funnymen Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan eat their way through a rotation of heart-stoppingly gorgeous countrysides first the north of England, then Italy, and in the latest installment out Friday, the Spanish coast theyre locked in a permanent state of one-upsmanship, and imitation is the sincerest form of dominance. They attempt to riff one another into submission, both henpecking every minute detail of the others dead-on Bond routine or Mick Jagger bit. While their female companions roll their eyes, the pair of fatuous boobs duel in the comedic equivalent of a dick-measuring competition. Related Stories The Trip to Italy Is Enjoyable, Even If It Aims Too High On the occasion of The Trip to Spains completion of this stellar trilogy, Vulture has undertaken the vital and solemn work of compiling and ranking the many impressions contained within the series. From Godfather alumni to esteemed British thespians, heres the full repertoire of the Brydon-Coogan brain trust: 18. Michael Parkinson Brydon only does this esteemed broadcast journalist and talk-show host for a brief moment before abandoning the bit, and for good reason. Forget that Parkinson never achieved the household-name status among Americans that he enjoys with his British countrymen. (Weve got no real American equivalent, which says something troubling about the state of a national late-night culture that gave us Carpool Karaoke.) But the cornerstone of these bits is the ability to instantly recognize what a personality sounds like, and if a subject doesnt have such a memorable tone of voice, youre sunk from the start. 17. Gore Vidal William F. Buckley may be the more fun character to lampoon (see Michael Sheens chain-smoking, sweaty, perpetually horny stand-in in Seven Days in Hell) but Vidal, his rival in public ideology, has a refined, mannered way about him thats all too easily mocked. Putting on an intellectual air is as easy as turning your nose slightly upward, but as ever, Brydon cuts to the man behind the tics. Truly mastering the American accent is an accomplishment that requires Zen-like focus, reliant more on absence and not doing than presence and doing. Flipping into it with no trouble speaks to Brydons mastery of his craft. 16. Humphrey Bogart Its all but impossible to say the words I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship and not slip into Bogies old-timey Nu-Yawk intonation. Brydon only does one blessed line from the screen idol of yore, and yet thats all thats needed, so powerful is Bogarts cultural shorthand. 15. Anthony Hopkins A Hannibal Lecter bit is not an Anthony Hopkins bit. There is no mention of fava beans at this dinner table, no exaggerated slurping noises, and no Hello, Clarice. In his native U.K., Hopkins isnt as defined by his Silence of the Lambs role, and Brydon conveys as much with his gentle, firm imitation. Hopkins has a tinny, commanding voice; hes his truest self in The Lion in Winter, evincing regal composure until his temper gets the better of him. Brydon goes into Hopkins mode while reading a restaurant review, elevating the adjective-heavy copy to the register of a soliloquy to the heavens. 14. John Hurt The most pleasing impressions are the ones you didnt even think could be done; a good Thomas Haden Church will always outclass another tired William Shatner. Cult-cinema fixture John Hurt wouldnt seem like an easy target, but Brydon proves otherwise with his arch, aerated sighs. Its a minor entry to this sprawling canon, yes, though its valuable as proof of Brydons skill for finding new comic ground to till. 13. Richard Burton The heir apparent to Laurence Olivier, a profligate boozer with a taste for the high life, Richard Burton was a wastrel and a great man in one. The committed compartmentalizer Brydon uses Burton as a theatrical mask, slipping into the booming, commanding voice when he has to lend some heft to the words of Samuel Coleridge. Not since Xanadu (the disco musical) has the word Xanadu (the mythic stronghold of Kubla Khan) been so heavily freighted with drama. 12. Robert De Niro As the unfunnier masses of Twitter users have so helpfully illustrated, a baseline Robert De Niro amounts to little more than squinting and mashing your mouth into an eh, not bad half-frown. Coogan and Brydon go several miles further, not just by tapping into the sinus-y menace in the actors voice, but by remaining faithful to his streams of creative obscenity. (Coogan threatens to rip off a certain body part and perform a certain bodily process down the resultant hole.) And god bless their souls, neither man even thinks about uttering the words You talkin to me? 11. Ian McKellen Brydon gives his take on the treasure of screen and stage while reciting a Wordsworth poem at an aged cemetery in Bolton. Coogan roasts him for his inability to deliver a serious poem using his own voice, and while his charges of lacking range may stick, Brydons retort that he wanted to choose a persona that could bring gravitas to the material proves valid as well. McKellens got a thunderous, room-rilling voice, the sort that can make a guy who wears a bucket on his head to augment his magical magnet superpowers sound like a Shakespearean figure of tragedy. 10. Woody Allen It is a truth universally acknowledged that all Jewish men over the age of 16 have a killer Woody Allen impression in their back pocket at all times. But Coogan and Brydon prove that goys can hang with the best of them, expertly capturing the Woodsters congested New York nebbish-ese. The keys to the perfect Woody Allen impression: a touch of well-placed stammering, the air of neurotic hopelessness, the glottal strangulation that only a boyhood spent in synagogue can provide. Brydon and Coogan manage a mock Woody that would fit in at any college-improv-team house party, that most common habitat of the amateur Woody Allen impression. 9. Roger Moore The brilliance of the Roger Moore impression is not in its accuracy, but its commitment. Both men hit the rich, full baritone of the former 007 perfectly, but insist on driving the joke through to the point of exhaustion, and then pushing it a little further, and then defibrillating it back to life and killing it again. Best realized in The Trip to Spain, Moore dovetails with jokes about the Moors, and the adage that less is more until the groans from the ladies present turn into them completely checking out of the situation. In this instance, more Moore is more. 8. Dustin Hoffman The first Dustin Hoffman impression is triggered as the result of a mix-up between the wish to work with auteur directors and autistic directors, prompting Brydon to do a lethal Rain Man. Theres a noticeable difference between the affected in-character Hoffman from that scene and the straight-up Hoffman that Brydon does a few scenes later; both men share the tight, pursed mouth and airy, nasal delivery, but the cadence of Rain ManHoffmans speech has a tripping, uneven quality, as in the film. Its a small detail, but one that speaks to the studied attention of the actors schtick all the same. 7. Mick Jagger The particulars of the Mick Jagger impression are goofy enough to have sustained an entire SNL sketch: You sort of make a duck face but open your mouth, place your wrists akimbo on your hips, and preen around with a peacockish swagger. Finger-wagging is encouraged. As Coogan generously shows, the double-clap doesnt hurt, either. The men pop into the Rolling Stones front mans flamboyant twang while playacting the Bard, filtering the musty dialogue through Jaggers randy, rock-and-roll strut. The juxtaposition really brings out the baser qualities of Shakespeares writing Jagger wouldve been a groundling. 6. Marlon Brando Everyone knows that the success of a Marlon Brando routine depends entirely on ones ability to make their mouth sound full, but full of something lumpy, like porridge. (Brando reputedly stuffed his cheeks with cotton balls to get Don Corleones signature mumble in The Godfather.) Brydon can reproduce the desired sound effect all on his own, but Coogan decides to go the direct route and jam wads of bread right in his piehole. Little bits of starchy shrapnel fly out of his mouth like buckshot, but he gets the job done and then some. 5. Sean Connery Of the many incarnations of James Bond that Coogan and Brydon affectionately parody, none matches the roguish charm of Scotlands national treasure. The brogue is as significant a component of Connerys icon status as the tuxedo or smirk curl the tongue back, flatten all the s sounds into a masculine shushing, arch the eyebrow for good measure. More than that, the elevated stature of Connery captures a certain nobility that Brydon and Coogan like to imagine in their work. They consistently gravitate toward the board-treaders, actors with a theatrical, dignified air. Connery shows just how seriously they take the work of being silly. 4. Hugh Grant Brydons channeling of Britains most rakishly handsome funnyman stands out by virtue of its intent rather than the specifics of the performance. Brydon doesnt do Grant while shooting the bull with Coogan, but rather while hes on the phone with his patient, dutiful wife whos back at home with the kids. The Love Actually star is his spouses favorite film idol, and so Brydon will do a little boyish oh, just noticed you there stutter to make her giggle. Its a disarmingly sweet moment in a franchise that speaks belittling sarcasm like a native tongue, and a succinct way to communicate how the pair might have fallen in love in the first place. 3. Al Pacino There are two Al Pacinos: the actor who gave performances of fearsome, reined-in power during the 70s, and the over-the-top madman behind his cokey, go-for-broke stretch of 90s roles. (See SHE GOTTA GREAT ASS in your index of Great Actorly Freakouts.) Unsurprisingly, Brydon and Coogan favor that second one, with his bugged-out eyes and jagged rhythms of speech. The Al Pacino impression is the thinking mans Nic Cage impression, a measured approximation of unmeasured craziness, an attempt to make sense of hoo-AH. Of course its a natural part of a comedy bit Pacino was always angling for laughs, in on the joke every step of the way. 2. David Bowie Coogan and Brydon trade Bowies over a tasting menu in Spain, just one short year after the musical trailblazer returned to the cosmos from whence he came. Their absurd imagining of Bowies decision to follow Brydon on Twitter shortly before his death leads to the single greatest laugh of the film, as Coogan flips from a high, reedy voice for Shall I follow Rob Brydon? to a weathered, wearier tone for Or shall I follow Rob Brydon in my later years? In a film obsessed with aging, death, and the legacy we leave behind, however, the impression takes on an unexpected tinge of sadness. At the end of his road, what does a man have? A little blue check mark? 1. Michael Caine If Coogan and Brydon are the Da Vinci of pretending to be famous people, then this is their Sistine Chapel. They bust out the Michael Caine at least once in each movie, forever refining the tiniest flourishes of the Cockney dialect to convey the actors working-class, street-bred background. The two men arent satisfied with merely aping Caines sound, either. Theyve got to note the evolution of his voice down an octave over the years, trace it back to a history of cigars and brandy, make the crucial distinction between Caine at rest and Caine in emotional mode. Its a surprisingly thought-through bit, opened by Brydon taking umbrage at Coogans suggestion that a Caine impression is as simple as throwing on an East London steel-and-gravel-style of speech. Some may consider it to be a low form of humor, but a professional-level impersonation depends on attention to detail, specificity, and a physical elasticity that would make Jim Carrey jealous. Maybe its a dumb one, but hey, its an art form all the same. Beware the network of whispers. Photo: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO The hackers responsible for HBOs recent data breach have demonstrated a show of force by releasing some company emails they mined during the digital attack. The Hollywood Reporter says it received a message from the culprits with nine files attached that had names like Confidential and Script GOT7, and also in that message was a publicly available link to a variety of HBO internal documents. THR is not releasing details about whats in those documents, but the publication does say there are script summaries and marketing materials for Game of Thrones, in addition to a months worth of emails from the inbox of a network executive. It is not yet known how deep into HBOs email system the hackers were able to get, since the single employees messages are the only ones to be released so far. In other words, no one knows yet if this is Sony Hack 2.0. In a very fsociety move, the hackers sent a video message to CEO Richard Plepler containing a letter animated to unfold like a scroll as ominous music played. In it, a demand was made for an undisclosed sum of money and Plepler was told, We successfully breached into your huge network HBO was one of our difficult targets to deal with but we succeeded (it took about 6 months). In response to the very dramatic message, a network representative told THR that a forensic review of the breach is in progress, and, The review to date has not given us a reason to believe that our e-mail system as a whole has been compromised. The statement added, We continue to work around the clock with outside cybersecurity firms and law enforcement to resolve the incident. [August 07, 2017] Longsys' World-First 11.5x13mm NVMe BGA SSD Drives New Mobile User Experience Longsys delivers the P900, the industry's first 11.5x13mm NVMe BGA SSD that supports the Boot Partitions function and the Host Memory Buffer feature to enable a new generation of high performance, cost effective mobile storage SHENZHEN, China and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Longsys, a world leader in consumer flash storage, today announced expansion of its DRAM-less SSD product line from Serial ATA (SATA) interface to Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) interface. Boot Partitions, an NVMe revision 1.3 feature, integrates BIOS/UEFI system inside an SSD and gives the host an option to simplify system design without SPI Flash. Host Memory Buffer (HMB) feature enables DRAM-less SSDs to use host memory and achieves performance comparable to SSD designs with embedded DRAM but at much lower cost and power consumption. Powered by Marvell's 88NV1160 SSD controller, the Longsys P900 marks the industry's first SSD that supports small 11.5mmX13mm BGA SSD with HMB. Furthermore Longsys is collaborating with other leaders in the ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of HMB-enabled SSDs for a new generation of low power, small form factor mobile computing systems. "As the world's leading Mini SDP (http://t.cn/R9h0aI0) SATA DRAM-less SSD module provider, Longsys has once again made a unique contribution to the storage industry by pioneering the integration of Marvell's DRAM-less SSD controller 88NV1160 and the new 64-layer 3D NAND into a 11.5mmX13mm BGA package," said Zhixiong Li, Chief Technology Officer of Shenzhen Longsys Electronics Limited. "Longsys' new P900 SSD takes advantage of the leading DRAM-less NVMe design from Marvell along with the high-density 64-layer 3D NAND, which greatly enhances system memory uilization, reduces total system cost, lowers power consumption and provides consumers with a new class of mobile computing devices. I am very pleased with our ongoing collaboration with leading ecosystem partners and look forward to the fast adoption of BGA SSD in the broad consumer market." "Longsys and Marvell have a shared vision of enabling a new generation of low power, small form factor mobile computing solutions for mass market adoption through our pioneering efforts to build out the integration of Host Memory Buffer technology into DRAM-less products," said Nigel Alvares, Marvell's VP of SSD & Enterprise Storage Marketing, Storage Business Group. "Longsys' announcement today is a significant milestone in accelerating ecosystem innovation by integrating Marvell's industry-leading SSD controller technology to deliver compelling performance and storage capacity in the industry's smallest BGA SSD form factor solution." Longsys' P900 is the world's first 11.5mmX13mm NVMe BGA SSD for mass market mobile computing solutions. The SSD is powered by Marvell's 88NV1160 DRAM-less controller which integrates Marvell's industry-leading NANDEdge low-density parity check (LDPC) error-correction technology supporting triple-level cell (TLC) and 3D NAND. The Longsys P900 BGA SSD enables small form factor SSD solutions with unparalleled performance for integration into low-z-height tablets, Chromebooks, new 2-in-1 hybrid/detachable mobile PC platforms, virtual reality (VR) and automotive applications, and supports PCIe 3.0X2 and the new NVMe HMB feature. By leveraging memory allocated from the host system, the Longsys P900 BGA SSD is able to scale up performance without limitations of conventional DRAM-less architectures. The P900 series can support Boot Partitions, which is equivalent to integrating BIOS/UEFI system inside SSD with no need of SPI Flash to simplify system design. The P900 SSD series will be available in 480GB, 240GB, 120GB and 60GB. Longsys will provide samples to customers in Q4 2017 and ship to major customers in Q1 2018. Longsys will be showcasing its BGA SSD P900 and other cutting-edge storage solutions at Flash Memory Summit in Longsys' booth #800, HALLS A-B at the Santa Clara Convention Center, California on Aug 810, 2017. About Longsys Established in 1999, Shenzhen Longsys Electronics Co., Ltd is a Chinese DMS company (Design, Module, Service) which focuses on NAND flash applications for software and hardware products. We are an innovation company selling exciting products across the world. Longsys aims to combine market feedback with innovative concept design that provides solutions for our customers' requirements. Our strength in R&D, IC firmware design, wafer packaging, substrate design and mobile APP design. We are confident of our ability to deliver the best product value to our customers. Longsys is extending the capabilities of flash products from just device storage to both wireless and system storage. We are a leader in the manufacturing and design of storage related products and services for our Industry. We provide easy to use information services aimed at end users, industrial users, mobile internet, and wireless home network solutions. For Further Information Contact: Longsys Media Relations Angel Feng Corporate Communications & PR +86-755-86168848 [email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/longsys-world-first-115x13mm-nvme-bga-ssd-drives-new-mobile-user-experience-300500351.html SOURCE Shenzhen Longsys Electronics Co., Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 07, 2017] A MATRIX Chain Seeking to Define Blockchain 3.0 by Incorporating Blockchain and AI BEIJING, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain is definitely a hotspot of today's cutting-edge technologies in the world, and a variety of innovations are constantly emerging. However, while most of the technology focuses on token issuance and commercial applications, those on the fundamental technology of blockchain - Data Chain are very rare. When most of the people still think that blockchain is new, there is a group of Chinese people who have already set eyes on the next generation of blockchain technology. A few days ago, a blockchain called "MATRIX Chain", in which several Chinese scientists played a leading role in the research and development, made a splash in its sector. By incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the underlying data chain, the innovation has made this blockchain smarter, easier to use, and capable of evolving constantly through self-learning. Several new points of the concept of "MATRIX Chain" have attracted broad attention in the industry since its proposal. Starting with the underlying technology of blockchain "Now, artificial intelligence is not only the most popular term in high technology, but also the most important technology that has been acknowledged as the future direction of scientific and technological development," Deng Yangdong, chief scientist of MATRIX on AI, indicated that the combination of blockchain technology with AI represents the future direction of blockchain development. Deng Yanddong is associate professor of Tsinghua University, and also a renowned artificial intelligence scholar in China. He had acted as a team leader to win the first place in Pascal Artificial Intelligence International Competition. It has always been one of his great ambitions to combine the technologies of artificial intelligence with blockchain and advance the actual application of these two technologies. For some of the currently popular blockchains, when a chain is set after research and development, its core parameters will be fixed accordingly. With the changes in service targets and in external environment, however, many parameters will have difficulties in its applications. For instance, because the size of block for bitcoin was set at 1 Mbyte, and the time for a single mining process at 10 minutes, the conditions at the initial stages were relatively relaxed. Since 2016, online transactions have become very intensive, and most of the intensive commercial transactions are not suitable to be carried out with bitcoins. As the earliest version of blockchain technology, bitcoin can be called the first generation of blockchain technology, or blockchain 1.0, but during the initial design of bitcoin, no consideration had been given to the larger-scale application of this technology later on. Mining and establishment of a distributed ledger turned to be the core of bitcoin, which resulted in a very low commercial scalability and efficiency. In order to solve the problem, Ethereum emerges. With smart contracts as its core, Ethereum provides an interface and system that is more suitable for larger-scale commercial applications of Blockchain, while enhancing efficiency. Therefore, Ethereum is widely considered by its sector as the second generation of blockchain technology, or blockchain 2.0. According to Deng Yangdong, MATRIX, as the new generation of blockchain and with the introduction of AI, it can dynamically update the parameters for various blockchains so as to create self-evolution in the industry. Furthermore, MATRIX Chain can also address the issues during the finalization of the current blockchain designs and the inflexibility in adjusting various blockchain parameters. For this, MATRIX Chain could be deemed as blockchain 3.0. Automatically discriminating against loopholes in transactions Smart contracts are the core link in the application of blockchain technology, but conventional transactions under smart contracts are still in a risky stage, with each transaction posing a "risk". This is also one of the important causes that blockchain technology is now facing difficulties to be put into mass application. "The root cause of this phenomena lies in that a blockchain is designed in a trustless environment, and this means there is no way to correct any errors that occur", Li Qinghua, chief scientist of MATRIX on chip and software architecture, was quoted as saying. Li is a renowned expert on chip design in China, and once was the head of the R & D department and chief architect in designing the first WiFi chip in China. He stated with an example that, in a current blockchain, if currency is sent to a certain address, the operation will be irreverisible. This means that if a dealer sends currency to a wrong address, the currency will be lost. Likewise, something similar to the phishing on the Internet can also happen in blockchains, in which case a hacker exploits the loopholes in contracts through setting up traps, and the transactions of this type can't be retrieved either. Moreover, if any man-made error occurs when a user is writing a contract, such as a fat-finger error in a stock market transaction or a wrong quotation in a foreign exchange transaction (for example, quotation in RMB/USD mistaken for that in USD/RMB), the above-mentioned transaction can be revoked in reality through a controlled system. However, in a decentralized system, it will only let the dealer take the risk in the same way as they do in conventional contracts. "Smart contracts for MATRIX Chain are dedicated to addressing the above issues for which the solution is a conventional centralized system," Li explained, with the introduction of AI models based on the principle of non-discrimination. The smart contracts for MATRIX Chain let the automatic judgment on the quality of transaction models, the automatic detection of loopholes in transactions, and the execution of a civilized process of transactions under contracts. Setting up a blockchain that anyone knows how to use Decentralization, openness, tamper-proofing etc. are the core features of blockchain technology, and these features determine how widely blockchain can be applied: as long as a transaction is made between multiple parties who lack trust in each other, blockchain technology can be used. The application of blockchain technology has been launched in many governmental agencies and organizations globally, as well as in large enterprises, involving many industries such as finance, communication, medical treatment, and real estate. As far as ordinary users are concerned, blockchain technology is too complicated and difficult to understand. "Specialization and complexity has always been a major obstacle to the commercial application of blockchain technology," Deng pointed out, although Ethereum provides smart contracts, it now can only address simple linear problems, but has no way to respond to more complicated contractual conditions. This significantly limits the space and scope of the transactions and applications over the chains. Instead, MATRIX, which has incorporated AI-based algorithm, is able to solve many non-linear and more complicated problems, largely lowering the problem in its application and thus significantly improving the range of blockchain technology applications. Deng said that quasi-Ethereum smart contracts are more like an exclusive application for a small group of technicians who are familiar with codes than a generic one for ordinary users. However, after AI has been incorporated, the only operation ordinary users need to do to generate a smart contract is to type in the transaction objective and textual description of transaction conditions, making the smart contract service easily accessible for everyone. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-matrix-chain-seeking-to-define-blockchain-30-by-incorporating-blockchain-and-ai-300500372.html SOURCE MATRIX [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 07, 2017] Vencore Labs To Provide American Electric Power With Continuous Monitoring Services CHANTILLY, Va., Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vencore, Inc. announced today that its innovative research arm, Vencore Labs, has been awarded a contract from American Electric Power (AEP) to pilot a continuous monitoring service of the utility's Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Under the contract, Vencore Labs will deliver its ground-breaking SecureSmart solution, a patented infrastructure monitoring technology for smart grid field networks in two operating companies within AEP. SecureSmart will provide a cost-effective monitoring and analysis solution for AEP's wireless field networks, increasing visibility into system operation and improving the ability to react more quickly to maintain and protect its AMI and distribution automation (DA) systems. AEP is the first in the industry to explore SecureSmart as a monitoring solution across multiple AMI and DA systems from different vendors. SecureSmart will help to more efficiently investigate and diagnose recurring system operation issues using the product's ground truth sensor-based architecture andits comprehensive suite of applications. SecureSmart is an integrated cybersecurity, operations and engineering solution for AMI, Distribution Automation (DA) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. SecureSmart is the industry's only wireless network intrusion detection system that provides real-time network health, anomaly detection, threat analysis and visualization. About Vencore, Inc. Vencore is a proven provider of information solutions, engineering and analytics for the U.S. Government. With more than 40 years of experience working in the defense, civilian and intelligence communities, Vencore and its transformational applied research organization, Vencore Labs, design, develop and deliver high impact, mission-critical services and solutions to overcome its customers most complex problems. Vencore has 3,750 employees and is based in Chantilly, Va. For more information about Vencore and Vencore Labs, visit www.vencore.com and www.vencorelabs.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Vencore and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Vencore undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Vencore believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vencore-labs-to-provide-american-electric-power-with-continuous-monitoring-services-300500485.html SOURCE Vencore, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The longtime administrator of Falls Community Hospital is suing a Waco hospital, claiming officials there failed to give him medication that could have prevented him from having a stroke after a medical procedure in August 2015. Willis Reese, 78, is seeking more than $1 million in his medical malpractice lawsuit, filed Friday in Wacos 170th State District Court against Providence Health Services of Waco. Providence spokeswoman Erin Rogers declined comment Monday, saying the hospital does not comment on pending litigation. Reeses attorney, Dale D. Williams, also declined comment on the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, Reese, who was 76 at the time, was admitted to Providence Health Center in Waco with symptoms of shortness of breath and a rapid pulse, which were related to a preliminary diagnosis of atrial flutter. After he was admitted following treatment in the emergency room, a doctor ordered that Reese be given the drug Lovenox, an anticoagulant to prevent the development of blood clots. The lawsuit claims it does not appear in the records that Lovenox was administered as ordered. The next day, a cardiology consultant from Austin treated Reese and again, Lovenox was ordered to be given to Reese. Again, there is no documentation in the medical records that this anticoagulant was ever given, the lawsuit contends. The doctor performed a successful procedure to restore Reeses heart to normal rhythm. Later that day, the doctor discontinued the order for Lovenox, the anticoagulant that had not been given, and replaced it with an order for Xarelto, which the lawsuit describes as a new oral anticoagulant intended to prevent stroke. The doctors order was not carried out and Reese was not given Xarelto with his evening meal, the suit claims. Reese remained in the hospital overnight and was seen by a nurse practitioner the next morning. The nurse practitioner again ordered Xarelto to prevent Reese from having a stroke. This order was not carried out, as the nurse withheld Xarelto because she had already administered a drug called Plavix. Plavix had been ordered to be discontinued prior to the administration on the morning of August 19, however, this order was not followed, according to the lawsuit. Also, the suit claims, the doctor was not contacted about the decision to withhold Xarelto. Reeses wife drove him home to Marlin later that morning and he suffered a stroke while taking a nap. It was only after he was brought back to the defendants hospital that it was discovered that plaintiff had not received the stroke preventing drugs ordered by the physicians, the suit charges. The suit claims the hospital was negligent in its care and treatment of Reese and failed to meet the proper standard of care. Reese, who still works part-time at the Marlin hospital, suffered physical impairment and weakness to one side of his body; physical pain and mental anguish; loss of earning capacity; and past and future medical expenses, the lawsuit says. The two groups vying to develop the city-owned property next to Heritage Square downtown have assembled dream teams of architects, engineers, green builders and even marketing experts to spread the word about ventures that will change the face of Wacos inner city near City Hall. Houston-based Linbeck Construction, for example, is lending its expertise to The Civic Center project that includes 550,000 square feet of Class A office space, 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, an urban park and a 1,200-space underground parking garage. They are one of the largest and most successful commercial construction companies in Texas, said Chris McGowan, a Waco-based development consultant who has joined Dallas-based Philip Williams in pushing for a land-use contract with the city of Waco to proceed. The impressive things they have built include Sundance Square and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth and the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, McGowan said, adding Linbeck also was involved in remodeling the Cashion Academic Center at Baylor University. Meanwhile, the Kinkeade Development Group, which does business as 300 Clay Avenue LLC, is proposing a multi-use complex that features a specialty grocery store, 33,000 square feet of office space, chef-operated restaurants, a shaded community gathering site and rooftop dining. Ed Kinkeade, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, and his son, Dallas atorney Brad Kinkeade, both have ties to Baylor University. In recent years, Kinkeade Development has placed apartments at 300 and at 222 Clay Avenue, the latter given the name 222 Clay Court. My dad was on a panel appointed to help design and maintain federal courthouses, said Brad Kinkeade. He is not an architect, but he is knowledgeable enough about design that they valued his opinion. Kinkeade said the group hopes to enter into a contract with Texas-based Austin Commercial, whose construction resume includes Baylors McLane Stadium, the Dallas Arts District Museum, the new Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Toyotas North American headquarters in Plano and the LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal expansion in Los Angeles. Serving as architect is Perkins and Will, a global company whose projects include the Bay Area Metro Center in San Francisco, Emancipation Park in Houston and the Greater Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital in Palo Alto, California, according to Brad Kinkeade and the company website. Philip Williams, who is affiliated with Emerson Partners, has been in the real estate investment business for 30 years, and that includes office, industrial and mixed-use developments around Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin areas, said McGowan. He has a lot of experience putting together real estate deals, better than a lot of people Ive come across, and he surrounds himself with intelligent, competent people. Williams, reached by phone, said he became intrigued by the Waco market listening to a report called Texas Standard on National Public Radio. The story, which was about 14 minutes long, had all the usual stuff. But they said a few things that really caught my ear, Williams said. First, they mentioned Waco is the fourth-most-often mentioned city in state news, which is ... unusual for a city its size. Then they mentioned brain drain, kids graduating from college and leaving Waco for Austin or Dallas. Then they mentioned walkability, and I kicked myself for not being involved in more development around major universities in the state. Williams visited Waco on a couple of occasions, monitored traffic patterns, followed delivery trucks and watched to see when restaurants and office buildings began to fill and empty. He also had an unexpected meeting with McGowan at Cafe Cappuccino downtown, where they planned strategy. I dont think I would be overstating the case to say this represents maybe the last and certainly the best opportunity to do an urban project adjacent to a first-class university near the highest-valued commercial corridor in the state, if not the United States, that being Interstate 35, he said. I think this is something that fits into the historical significance Waco has in the state, while bringing in a population of very intelligent and culturally aware people. This will be a place for people of that caliber to work, and for the city to have even more first-class restaurants and retail. Offices, restaurants and retail highlight proposals for Heritage Square The Waco City Council on Tuesday heard two proposals for developing city-owned land around H Williams said Montgomery Farm near the border of Plano and Allen in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex ranks as his favorite development to bring home. It is a mixed-use community and is a really excellent example of residential, office, retail and restaurants coming together. McGowan listed other members of The Civic Center team as follows: Sustainable Structures of Texas, owned by Lee Hall, which specializes in applying energy-efficient and green concepts to construction. Walker Partners, civil engineers who have been involved in a majority of things in downtown Waco. They know better than anybody whats underground, and are a huge asset, McGowan said. RBDR, a Waco-based architectural firm whose design work includes the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church Woodway, Doris Miller Family YMCA, the Stacy Riddle Forum building at Baylor University and Cameron Heights residential subdivision. Graham Greene, principal with award-winning Oglesby-Greene Architects in Dallas, whose projects have included Texas Discovery Gardens, Dallas Police Memorial and Montgomery Farm. BizCom Associates, Plano-based marketing firm. Team Better Block, a Dallas-based company whose motto is How to Build a Better Block, and which assists communities in improving safety, access and amenities, and in creating locations with staying power. Artist, sculptor and landscape architect Brad Goldberg, who is based in Dallas and focuses on applying art and creativity to institutional spaces. City to consider two proposals for development of Heritage Square The public and the Waco City Council on Tuesday will get their first look at proposals for d Both groups presented their plans to the Waco City Council last week, with the city staff and City Manager Dale Fisseler making a recommendation that the council enter into a land-use deal with The Civic Center group. Council members said they were impressed with both projects and would pursue public input before taking a vote. Fisseler said each proposal has merits, and he may suggest the city offer the runner-up access to another city-owned site near downtown. Three weeks after officially announcing efforts earlier this year to open Texas first Christian Academy for the Deaf, board member Kathy Bartlett was losing faith and considered giving up. The seven-member board had spent at least two years getting organized and was trying to raise $160,000 to open the school by the first week of September. But by mid-June, the group only had about $10,000 of the funding needed to secure the building it wanted and time was running out, she said. I was doubting the Lord, and I was doubting God was going to bless us and this was really what was going to happen, Bartlett said. I could not see how this was going to happen. Looking around you, there was still a lot to do. But an unexpected phone call near the end of June changed everything. An anonymous donor from California offered up the rest of the funds needed and now the Christian Academy for the Deaf will open its doors Sept. 5 as planned, she said. The academy will be at 4224 S. University Parks Drive, not far from Baylor University. He asked really poignant questions, very specific questions, and we had it all figured out, Bartlett said about the donor. Everything was in place. We had resumes. We had this building we really wanted. We had all these things figured out. I had all the curriculum in my attic. We had everything we needed, except for funding. Two hours later, Bartlett heard the news she had been praying for, she said. Board members held a parents meeting night onsite Monday to share the good news and register students in the tuition-free school. Ive been wanting this school to happen for some time. This has been a dream for Kathy Bartlett, and weve just been praying it happens, Bruceville-Eddy mother Tina Eaton said before the meeting. And it just happened. Kathys known (Eatons son) Cole since he was 3, and hes now 8. Bartlett used to teach deaf or hard-of-hearing students and has a deaf son, who is also now an educator, she said. She taught Cole Eaton for three years and remained close to the family after she retired, Tina Eaton said. He will be one of the first students to attend the academy. This school means everything, Tina Eaton said. He has some other challenges, and he just needs to succeed in life if he wants to go further. The school will focus on teaching in a way that levels the educational playing field for preschool through sixth-grade students in its first year, Bartlett said. The school will have three teachers and a cap of nine students, Bartlett said. Then, the plan is to add a grade level every year, she said. The three teachers hired will come from Arizona and Florida to focus on a Christian-based educational philosophy to build academic, social, emotional and moral skills and values, she said. Theyll teach everything in American Sign Language, including science, math, creative arts and Biblical culture. And students will also participate in different sporting events and activities, she said. Beyond that, the school will bridge a learning gap often found if deaf or hard-of-hearing students are included in public education classrooms, where the primary communication tool is talking, Bartlett said. In this environment, everybody signs. Everybody signs all the time, Bartlett said. When theyre sitting at their tables, doing their coloring and they look up, theyre in on the conversation. Theyre seeing the teacher talk. The property the school was built on also has an interesting story of faith, board member Wayne Hampton said. He spent time researching the area at the tax appraisal office recently, only to find out it once housed a strip club years ago, he said. To me, its pretty neat for me to know that a place that had been used for that purpose is now going to be used for Gods purpose and glory, Hampton said. The guy who bought this, he basically leveled it and rebuilt this structure. The whole time he did this construction, he prayed, God I want this building to be used for your purpose. He specifically asked it be used for a church or some Christian effort or outreach method. As it turns out, here we are. He told me about this personally, the day we got the lease agreement. Because of the donations, budgetary needs are completely covered for the schools first year. Once the school opens officially, board members will shift their fundraising efforts toward the next two years to make the school viable for the foreseeable future, they said. Eventually, board members want to also use the building for American Sign Language church services and open the facility for other deaf organizations, like the Waco Association of the Deaf, or activities, Bartlett said. For more information or to donate to the Christian Academy for the Deaf, visit www.christianacademyforthedeaf.org. Were definitely still looking for financial donations from individuals. Thats wide open and were going to continue to beat that drum, because you never stop, Hampton said. You never rest on your laurels for that. Financially, bring it on Waco. Beverly Ann Johnston July 19, 1928 - Aug. 6, 2017 Beverly Ann Wollard Johnston, 89, passed away on August 6, 2017. A visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 9, at Wilkirson Hatch Bailey Funeral Home, Waco, Texas. Burial will be in Missouri. Beverly, one of seven children born to Tom and Hester Wollard, grew up on a farm near Hardin, Missouri. After graduating from high school she attended business school in Kansas City, then started working for the Kansas City Ticket Company. On March 11, 1950, Beverly married Osby Edward Johnston and lived happily in the Kansas City area for over 50 years; Colorado Springs, Colorado, 10 years; and Woodway, Texas, for 10 years. Beverly and her husband were members of Broadway Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri, for over 60 years where they both taught Sunday School. She was a proud member of the Women of The Motion Picture Industry in Kansas City. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 55 years; and six siblings. Surviving are her son, Edward and wife, Marilyn, of Sierra Vista, Arizona; daughter, Deborah of Woodway; one grandson, Ward and wife, Petrika Peters Johnston; and two great-grandsons, Olson Osby and Wren Stewart of Spearfish, South Dakota. She has four sisters-in-law, five nieces and nine nephews. Beverly took great pride and enjoyment in her family and friends and never missed sending birthday cards to many. She was a very special lady that was loved by all and will be sadly missed. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com. Ella Jewel Sandifer Jan. 4, 1931 - Aug. 5, 2017 Ella Jewel Sandifer, 86, went home to be with her Lord on August 5, 2017. A celebration of her life will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 8, at Adams Funeral Home. Graveside service will follow the service at 3:00 p.m. Ella was born in Boon Prairie, Texas, to Ira and Georgia (Morehead) Ware. She married the love of her life, Dilton Sandifer, on October 19, 1947. Ella loved the Lord and was a founding and longtime member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church on Williams Road in Bellmead. She was a kind soul who made anyone feel welcome and cared for. Anytime someone was hungry she welcomed them with a warm meal. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. Ella had an infectious laugh and was very witty. If you needed a pick me up Ella was the cure. Ella was always there with a encouraging word. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 58 years, Dilton Sandifer; brothers, Henry Ware and Ira Ware; and sister, Mildred Twigg. Survivors include her children, Joe Sandifer and wife, Ann, and Vicki Freeman and husband, Kenneth; grandchildren, Jason Sandifer, Jeff Freeman and wife, Christy, Amanda Johnson and husband, Nathan, and Clay Freeman and wife, Lori; great-grandchildren, Kolton Freeman, Hannah Vasser, Abigail Vasser, Kaylee Freeman, Emily Johnson, and Dilton Johnson. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy Smith; and Larry Ware and wife Susan. [August 07, 2017] Seqirus Announces Major Advances in Pandemic Preparedness Seqirus, a global leader in the prevention of influenza, announced today that the accelerated development of cell-based manufacturing technology at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina, has delivered a four-fold increase in seasonal influenza vaccine output in just two years, strengthening the United States' capacity to respond to pandemic threats. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005950/en/ Seqirus marked the 10th anniversary of their pandemic partnership with the U.S. Government by hosting Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Tom Price at the Holly Springs, N.C. production site. From left to right: Dr. Rick Bright, Director, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA); Dr. John Anderson, Vice President, Operations, Seqirus; Dr. Tom Price, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Gordon Naylor, President, Seqirus. (Photo: Seqirus) The announcement was made on the 10th anniversary of a pandemic partnership with the U.S. Government, which was marked by a visit to the Holly Springs site by Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. Tom Price. The partnership was established in 2007 in response to the emergence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus as a serious pandemic threat. The Holly Springs facility was completed in 2012 and promptly designated as critical national infrastructure for pandemic preparedness in the U.S. It harnesses promising cell-based technology as a modern, efficient and highly scalable alternative to traditional egg-based manufacturing that also offers the potential to avoid possible mismatch scenarios in influenza seasons. Additionally, the facility produces the Seqirus proprietary adjuvant, MF59, which ca have a dose-sparing effect, thereby further boosting the output of influenza vaccine during a pandemic emergency. Seqirus acquired the Holly Springs facility in 2015 and has successfully accelerated development of the technology, quadrupling seasonal influenza vaccine output from 5 million trivalent (three-strain) doses to around 20 million quadrivalent (four-strain) doses in just two years. At this capacity, Seqirus is able to produce 150 million doses of adjuvanted pandemic vaccine within the first six months of a pandemic declaration, and is also well advanced in delivering surge capacity programs to increase output to 200 million pandemic doses. "With a global influenza pandemic remaining a real and constant threat, Seqirus is committed to continuing to work with the U.S. Government to realize the full potential of our cell-based manufacturing technology at the Holly Springs site," said Gordon Naylor, President of Seqirus. "We're proud of the advances we've made in a relatively short period of time, and are confident in our technical ability to deliver significant additional influenza vaccine capacity that can be rapidly utilized during a pandemic emergency." During his visit to the Holly Springs site, Dr. Price met with Seqirus executives, spoke with scientists and engineers and toured production areas. Following an address to Seqirus staff, the Secretary said, "The Holly Springs facility plays a critical role in our national pandemic strategy and is a real asset in U.S. biosecurity. We continue to appreciate and are reassured by the progress being made by companies like Seqirus that contribute to the nation's preparedness capabilities." Seqirus was established in 2015 when parent company, CSL Limited, acquired the influenza vaccine business of Novartis. It has a rich heritage in influenza and operates major manufacturing facilities in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Today, Seqirus is the world's second largest influenza company and a global leader in pandemic preparedness and response. "With the emergence of H7N9 and other avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential, we are seeing renewed focus on pandemic preparedness by governments around the world," said Mr. Naylor. "As a result, we are leveraging our global manufacturing network to supply pandemic stockpiles and other preparedness services to governments in multiple countries." Seqirus also recently committed to the World Health Organization in supplying 10% of its influenza vaccine output in real time for use in developing countries in the event of a pandemic. About Seqirus Seqirus is part of CSL Limited (ASX:CSL), headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. The CSL Group of companies employs more than 20,000 people and has operations in more than 60 countries. Seqirus was established on 31 July 2015 following CSL's acquisition of the Novartis influenza vaccines business and its subsequent integration with bioCSL. As the second largest influenza vaccine provider in the world, Seqirus is a major contributor to the prevention of influenza globally and a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness. Seqirus operates state-of-the-art production facilities in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, and manufactures influenza vaccines using both egg-based and cell-based technologies. It has leading R&D capabilities, a broad portfolio of differentiated products and a commercial presence in more than 20 countries. For more information, visit www.seqirus-US.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005950/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Archie was born on March 7, 1947, in Clifton, Texas, to Rev. Archie B. and Amanda (Wright) Watley. Archie professed a hope in Christ at an early age. He was a very active member in the Clifton Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. He served as Sunday school teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Church Elder, Church Treasurer, Church Program Chairman and in the church choir. He led many inspirational songs. Archie also served in offices on the local, state and national levels including the Brazos River Presbytery, Texas Synod and General Assembly. Archie attended Peabody High School in Hillsboro and graduated from Clifton High School where he was the first black graduate. After high school, he attended Navarro Junior College and later earned his BA from Tarleton State University. Archie married his sweetheart, Geneva McLennan on February 14, 1970. To this union two children were born. He served six years in the United States Air Force where he was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was later stationed in Okinawa and his last tour was in Las Vegas, Nevada. After his discharge from the Air Force, he enlisted in and ultimately retired from the United States Army National Guard. Archie worked in the auto body and paint industry and later became an instructor at Texas State Technical College. He was ultimately promoted to TSTC Auto Collision Management Program Chairman. In 2008, Archie received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award. NISOD recognizes community and technical college educators not only for what they do for their campuses and students, but for what they do for their community. He retired from TSTC in 2012. Turkey, once an admired republic now in a state of transformation into something repugnant, just bought Russias advanced S-400 surface-to-air missiles. Reportedly, delivery of the first missile batteries is expected next year. What to make of this when it comes to international relations between Russia and the United States? Good question. After all, Turkey is a NATO member and NATOs original purpose is to discourage Russian aggression. Yes, Turkey has been a member of NATO the past six decades. Yet many global affairs analysts now ask: Does Turkeys purchase of Russias surface-to-air missiles send a message to NATO that Turkey will oppose NATO policies when it comes to Ankaras interests? The answer is evident. A couple of years ago, Turkey tried to buy a similar system, only to retreat under pressure from the United States and condemnation from fellow NATO members. The United States objected because the system was to be sold through a state-run Chinese company. The United States had sanctioned that company for alleged missile sales to Iran. This time around, Turkey has moved forward with the purchase through a Russian arms export company. So whats behind Turkeys decision to buy now? The partial answer is that Ankara realizes its ability to not only challenge the United States and NATO but to send a message that Ankara intends to play a pivotal role in its own regional affairs. Turkey is also upset about U.S. support for Kurdish militias in Syria, which Ankara perceives as a security threat, given its long history of conflict with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party). Turkey considers this occasional U.S. ally a terrorist group. This could well imperil Kurdish fighters, setting back the U.S.-led battle against Islamic State. Security analysts also agree Turkey is humiliated by the European Union for its refusal to grant Ankara membership. Yet the EU bases its decision on Turkeys human-rights abuses under controversial President Tayyip Erdogan: jailing journalists, limiting political parties membership and stifling freedom of expression, to name a few offenses. The irony? Only a few years ago, Turkey was seen as a true secular model: a Muslim country with a democratic approach to governance. Gone are the days. All of which brings us back to Turkeys decision to purchase Russias advanced S-400 missiles. Make no mistake: This deal has its own challenges. The S-400 system is not built like NATO defense systems. Turkey will have to acquire considerable know-how to be able to copy and produce its own advanced system, something Russia is unwilling to share given the sensitivities of this particular technology. Moscow-based analyst Makienko argues: For Turkey to be able to copy the S-400 system, it would have to spend billions to create a whole new industry. Of note: The sophistication of the S-400 lies in its ability to detect, track and then destroy aircraft, drones or missiles. Its Russias most advanced integrated air-defense system and can hit targets as far as 250 miles away. Russia has also agreed to sell the system to China and India. This deal has two outcomes. First, Turkey will emerge politically stronger, allowing it to influence the regional political landscape to its favor. Second, noting Turkeys purchase, other countries in this volatile region and beyond will be eager to acquire similar technology from Russia, thus circumventing sanctions imposed by the West in response to Russias ruthless annexation of Crimea. Inevitable result: military buildup in a tense, wildly misunderstood stretch of the Middle East. My conclusion: Along with Iran and Russia, Turkey will be stirring up the region. To some, my prediction may be preposterous; to those apprised of recent developments in the region, it should make sense. After the failed coup last year, Turkey embarked on an assertive foreign policy aimed at cementing its position as an influential regional player, pushing forward its agenda whatever it may consist of. One other thing: It became evident to Turkey a few years ago that neither the United States nor influential NATO members (Germany, France and Britain) take Ankaras security concerns and economic interests seriously. As a result, Turkey has decided to go it alone, wooing Russia militarily and Iran economically. Turkeys policies are contrary to what Washington expects of an ally. The United States therefore must evaluate where it stands. Turkey is convinced it no longer needs to pursue a policy that fulfills Washingtons expectations but, rather, can forge one allowing it greater influence on its own terms. Turkeys new direction reflects the will of its Muslim majority while being attentive to the geopolitical shift in the Middle East away from the West. Unfit for office In six months of presidential incompetency, I am imploring all decent, honest Republicans to recognize our presidents unfitness for the job as leader of the most powerful nation in the world. Just consider one week alone: Donald Trump spoke to the Boy Scouts jamboree where he apparently believed he was attending one of his rowdy campaign rallies. He disrespected President Obama, a former Boy Scout; disrespected Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state; and bragged about all the red on the map on Election Day. He threatened to fire Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. And in telling a story of parties on a yacht, he nearly forgot he was speaking to our youth. The Boy Scouts organization subsequently apologized for his remarks. Trump dishonored active military by tweeting that he forbade transgendered soldiers from serving our country in any capacity a decision that took the Pentagon by surprise. The Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have rebuked Trumps tweet, stating that all military personnel are to be treated with dignity and respect. Trump gave a horrific speech to the police on Long Island where he encouraged police departments in the United States to use violence against those arrested. Again, his speech was repudiated by police organizations across the country, including the Suffolk County PD (site of his ill-conceived remarks) and New York Citys police commissioner. In going after Republicans via tweet when they could not eliminate the Affordable Care Act, Trump has shown us he lacks loyalty to anyone or any institution except for his family and his business ventures. Worse, he lacks an elementary understanding of how Congress works. The rudderless White House, which feeds on enmity, spite and blame-shifting, reveals, week by week, new levels of divisiveness, dishonesty and disorder. All Americans, whether Democratic, Republican or Independent, need to be concerned about an inevitable implosion in a time of crisis. Cheryl Bohde, Waco School vouchers Why shouldnt the state of Texas issue vouchers for children to go to private or charter schools? Because the concept is very detrimental for those students left behind. Districts do not provide transportation to the better school across town and often parents cant afford it either. Each student who leaves takes state funding with him or her, but expenses such as staff, utilities and equipment for the abandoned school remain the same. There is less money available for luxuries such as current books, computers and supplies for lower-income children. Public school teachers work very hard for their students. We owe them and our children our support rather than turning against them in favor of schools that get preferential treatment. Evelyn Cowart, Waco [August 07, 2017] Enhanced Vision Introduces Jordy: New Wearable Low-Vision Technology at an Affordable Price HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Enhanced Vision is pleased to introduce Jordy, the latest in wearable low-vision technology that will revolutionize how those with low vision perform everyday tasks, such as reading mail, paying bills, watching TV and playing cards. Jordy helps legally blind individuals who have macular degeneration or other low-vision conditions regain their visual independence and reclaim their lives. The National Eye Institute (NEI) defines low vision as the best-corrected visual acuity of less than 20/40 in the patient's best eye. This means a person with low vision sees at 20 feet with his or her good eye what people with healthy vision can see at 40 feet. More than 2 million people in the United States had low vision in 2010, according to statistics presented by the NEI, but that number will rise to more than 4 million by 2030 as baby boomers age. Only about 1 percent of the blind population in the U.S. is born without sight, according to the National Federation of the Blind. Most people with low vision lose their sight later in life as the result of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma and diabetes. Jordy by Enhanced Vision Helps Wearers Regain Visual Independence Worn like a pair of glasses, Jordy features a sleek, modern design that appeals to all ages. This innovative system allows wearers to see near and far, as well as to read, write and see in any environment, including home, work, and school. Weighing in at a mere 8 ounces, the Jordy headset is lightweight and portable. An adjustable nosepiece makes Jordy comfortable. Jordy is battery-operated and uses rechargeable batteries, providing the ultimate in convenience. Packed with features such as HD autofocus camera for distance, intermediate and near viewing; Jordy gives the wearer ultimate control over their visual experience. Other features include 10x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, dual viewfinders with a wide field of view, and 5-level brightness control. Optional Jordy Docking Stand Offers Even More Visual Independence The optional docking stand converts Jordy into a desktop electronic magnifier (CCTV) that features a 24" high-resolution monitor, an HD autofocus camera and 5.5x to 66x magnification. Users enjoy simple, easy-to-use tactile controls, multiple viewing modes to optimize brightness and contrast, and built-in LED lighting. Jordy even comes with a low-profile protective carrying case. Designed and assembled in the United States, Jordy comes with a 2-year warranty to ensure complete satisfaction. Users are giving Jordy high marks when it comes to helping them regain visual independence. One wearer, Ed Parker, said "Jordy gave me my life back! It not only helps me do the things I need to do like read my mail and pay my bills, it also allows me to see my grandkids, watch TV, play cards and enjoy so many other things I thought were lost to me. It is simply amazing." Jordy's manufacturer, Enhanced Vision, is the leading developer of innovative products designed specifically for people who are legally blind and have macular degeneration and other low-vision conditions. Offering the most comprehensive line of electronic magnifying solutions on the market today, Enhanced Vision has helped thousands of people regain visual independence. Jordy and other solutions offered by Enhanced Vision help users read, write, watch television, enjoy the theater and live life to the fullest again. Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, Enhanced Vision products are available in more than 70 countries worldwide. For more information about Jordy, contact Enhanced Vision by calling: (888) 811-3161 or visiting their website at www.enhancedvision.com. Media Contact: Jeri Scanlon Director Of Marketing Phone: 888-811-3161 ext. 2348 Email: [email protected] Source https://nei.nih.gov/eyedata/lowvision https://nfb.org/fact-sheet-blindness-and-low-vision Related Files jordy-brochure.pdf Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg image3.jpg image4.jpg Related Links What is Low Vision? Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLF0SQfup9w View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enhanced-vision-introduces-jordy-new-wearable-low-vision-technology-at-an-affordable-price-300500473.html SOURCE Enhanced Vision [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 1. Australia will have same-sex marriage, sooner rather than later, and there is nuttin' the Libs can do about it. The Libs can obfuscate, prevaricate and agitate 'til they're blue in the face and here's a special cheerio to you, Senator Abetz but when they decline to pursue the obvious course to simply legislate, it is all so much wasted effort. 2. A postal plebiscite with no teeth to it and of dubious legal standing is a ludicrous option and it damn nigh defies belief that this is the best option the Brains Trust of the Libs can come up with. 3. Whatever the Prime Minister says, however much he tries to sell it, once more he is seen to be pushing something that he clearly doesn't believe in. While the strength of one of his predecessors, John Howard, was that he was a "conviction politician", willing to stick by his convictions through thick and thin something the electorate respected him for, even while often strongly disagreeing with those convictions somehow, Malcolm Turnbull is once again being seen to sell something he doesn't actually believe in. Seemingly hamstrung by whatever commitment he made to the Conservative wing of his party before becoming Prime Minister, it means that once more he is not out in front of events, leading the nation forward, but jumping in front of what has just happened. 4. The Libs' once fabled "broad church" these days is not quite broad enough to accommodate so many widely differing views. The admirable Warren Entsch and Senator Abetz, I suspect, might be able to agree that it's Monday, but beyond that are likely to "only have in common, their right to trial by jury", to adapt the famous quote from Fran Lebowitz. Ditto Tony Abbott and Trent Zimmerman. It is too early to say that the Libs can no longer hold such hairy-chested Hard Line Conservatives and outspoken small 'l' liberals in the same ranks, but there has to be some chance this decision will be regarded as the moment when their broad church began to collapse. 5. Despite the derision hurled his way, and his inability to do what he clearly wants to do by taking Malcolm Turnbull's job back off him, Tony Abbott and his supporters still have the power to derail the whole Liberal program, from the course the Prime Minister actually wants them to pursue. What do Australians think of Donald Trump's presidency so far? Based on focus groups of undecided voters in marginal seats in Melbourne and western Sydney, we can say three things. First, there's scant approval of the way he's doing his job, and only one voter out of 30 thought he was accomplishing anything. "I don't agree with what he has done," said an older woman in Melbourne, "but he has done stuff." And even that one, when challenged by others in her group to name an achievement, could not. He'd built a wall, she said, but the others had to let her down with the news that he hadn't, not yet at least. Second, there's a fair bit of apprehension. "He's going to get us all bombed," said a Sydney woman who described herself as an Avon lady. Third, and despite all their criticisms, these Australians have some admiration for Trump. "Trump has balls," said a 44-year-old Melbourne electrician. "A lot of what he says is right." A young Sydney woman who works as a safety manager said: "He says what he thinks." And a western Sydney man captured the paradox Trump may not be smart or successful, but he is admirably authentic: "I don't like him either, but some of the things he said you kinda liked; and obviously he's a complete and utter idiot." The moderator who conducted the two western Sydney focus groups for Fairfax Media, Ipsos research director Laura Demasi, summarised: "Both groups brought up Trump spontaneously citing him as an albeit very flawed and reviled example of leader who says what he believes, has conviction and has the commitment to take action at any cost in contrast to 'our scripted politicians who are puppets'." Foreign intelligence attacks and data breaches against Australia's overseas embassies are not being properly assessed and some diplomatic security coordination and monitoring remains ineffective, a review has warned. A National Audit Office report on protections at overseas diplomatic installations has found strategic planning, management of security measures and some staff training is not fully effective, while comprehensive plans for implementing security reviews on the ground are needed to reduce risks to diplomats, their families and locally engaged staff. Guards outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta. Credit:Ed Wray Despite an increased focus on foreign intelligence threats including hacking and espionage in the wake of Russian interference in last year's United States presidential election, the report finds the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's current risk assessment measures for information security and data breaches at embassies and high commissions are ill-defined. Breaches of data are rated moderate, major or severe, but the report says the different ratings are not defined, reducing the effectiveness of risk assessment. The wreckage of a US Marines heli-plane that crashed during a training exercise north of Rockhampton on Saturday has been found. Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed Australian Navy ship HMAS Melville had found the missing MV-22 Osprey overnight on Sunday, submerged in waters off Queensland. Navy divers were now helping with the US recovery effort. "The Australian Defence Force has commenced its support to US-led recovery operations following the MV-22 Osprey incident in Shoalwater Bay on Saturday," the statement said. A Google employee's 10-page letter about gender at the company ripped through Silicon Valley this week, putting into writing what many feared about the sexism inherent in the technology world. James Damore, a computer engineer, drew on now-defunct gender stereotypes and pseudo-biology in a 3,000-word appeal to Google to end programmes designed to increase diversity. He argued that women were less technically minded than men, and that they were more interested in people than things. On Monday, he was fired as a result. The letter cannot be read in isolation or be written off as the opinion of one employee. It is yet another piece of evidence in the case against technology's Californian idealism, which is in fact built on foundations of sexism. Silicon Valley is idealised as a liberal and progressive centre of innovation that is dedicated to educating and connecting the world through technology. Its representatives claim their mission is to democratise access to human rights. A man fatally attacked at a train station in Melbourne's west on Saturday night was a cousin of the woman found dead at a hotel buck's party last month. Marcus Rowley, 24, had returned from his cousin's Perth funeral only three days before he was attacked at Tottenham station in West Footscray. Australian soldier Natasha Rowley was found dead in the shower of a Melbourne serviced apartment on July 16. As police on Monday took a 35-year-old Avondale Heights man into custody over the death, Mr Rowley's former partner revealed the tragic family connection. Overhead electronic signs on Perth freeways now display live travel time estimates for drivers, in a bid by the State Government to help manage congestion on the city's major roads. Signs will generally be on in peak hour periods, between 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm on weekdays. The signs depict how long it will take for commuters to get to major Perth roads. Credit:Department of Transport. The system uses existing in-road vehicle detection sensors and calculates distance and average travel speeds to estimate journey times for Perth commuters. The results are published on the overhead electronic freeway signs in real-time signs which are currently used to display Main Roads WA information regarding weather warnings, incidents and road closures. For rescue dogs Marna and Parley, the outlook was bleak. The pair were found on a Medina property in May this year, dehydrated, malnourished and riddled with fleas. The pair with their new family. Credit:RSPCA WA The two Shar Peis were assessed by an emergency vet, and it was found both dogs were on the brink of starvation and had suffered from a range of painful infections. "They arrived at RSPCA WA in July 2016, after our inspectors found them in poor condition with no access to fresh food or water," a spokesperson said. MARYVILLE -- Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) has announced the Congressional App Challenge. Officially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, this nationwide effort allows students to compete against their peers by creating and an application or app, for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. The Congressional App Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in coding and computer science. I encourage all students to explore STEM education and enter the challenge, Shimkus said. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about coding and computer science through hands-on practice. The Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in the 15th Congressional District of Illinois. Submissions will be judged on the following criteria: quality of the idea, including creativity and originality; implementation of the idea, including user experience and design; and demonstrated excellence of coding and programming skills. The winner from the 15th Congressional District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us, and the winning app will also be on display in the U.S. Capitol, honoring the winners from across the country. For more information, visit the official Congressional App Challenge website at CongressionalAppChallenge.us or contact Jenny Pruitt at 618-252-8271 or jenny.pruitt@mail.house.gov. In July, I shared information about preventing stress in children while on vacation. Well, I ran across a related article from the Family File Blog written by Extension Educator Susan Sloop that addresses family field trips. What is a family field trip? When you and your child travel into the wide world with learning as your goal, you are on a field trip! Your destination can be as close as the front porch or as distant as a museum in another town. What are the secrets of successful family field trips? Plan with care. Where will you go? Illinois and neighboring states are packed with interesting places to visit. But keep in mind that to a young child, even the back yard or the neighborhood can offer many discoveries and new experiences. What will you see, do, and find out? Any trip can be a rich learning experience if you and your child go with questions to answer, problems to solve, or a list of "things to look for." You and your child can observe, sketch, write, photograph, record audio, count, measure, or take notes about the place you visit. How will you get there? Walking and biking are good ways to get physical exercise as part of the field trip. (Be sure to wear protective gear!) Traveling by bus, boat, train, or trolley can add to the learning experience. What will you want to consider in scheduling the trip? Trips with young children may need to include mealtime and naptime. Plan ahead so your child can get both. It's a good idea to set a "rain date" with your child in case of bad weather. You might also want to avoid peak visiting times at large public places. What will you take? Maps, drinks and snacks, diapers (if needed), wipes, a change of clothes, books, paper and drawing materials, and change for parking meters are basic field trip equipment. Your trip might also call for special items such as cameras, binoculars, audio recorders, or plastic storage bags for collecting specimens or storing wet clothes. Family members can carry backpacks or "fanny packs" so their hands can be free. How will you assure your child's safety on the trip? Parking lots, trails, and large crowds call for special safety precautions. Talk with your child ahead of time about how to stay safe. Be specific and firm so that your child knows exactly what she needs to do. Additional Tips: Have a good time and do not try to do too much! You can see and do more another time! If you have to wait, try playing games or looking at books with your child. Follow up. After the trip, make time to talk with your child about the experience. Encourage her to tell you the story of the trip, and write it down while she watches you. Keep a scrapbook or collection box of specimens, photos, or other reminders of the trip. Your child might enjoy dramatic play with items from your field trip. For related Web resources, see "Learning and Fun on Family Field Trips" at http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tips.htm For a copy of the annual Illinois Travel Guide, visit http://www.enjoyillinois.com/travelguides MATTOON (JG-TC) -- A driver who was injured in a crash while fleeing Mattoon police officers has died. The obituary for Blake A. Bolen, 20, of Mattoon reported that he died at 3:44 a.m. Sunday at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Bolen was airlifted to Carle on July 26 after his pickup truck was in a head-on collision with a railway truck on U.S. Route 45 near County Road 1000N during the early afternoon of July 26. The occupants of the railway truck were not injured. According to the Mattoon Police Department, Bolen was fleeing police officers at the time of the crash. The department has reported that Bolen had been wanted on a Coles County arrest warrant for failure to appear on a charge of methamphetamine possession. The pursuit began after Bolen was located at the BP gas station at 1202 Charleston Ave. and fled an officer there, according to the department. Illinois State Police personnel were called in to handle the crash investigation due to Mattoon officers being involved in the pursuit. Mattoon police Chief Jeff Branson said he has not received a crash report yet from the state police. As students return to school for the 2017-2018 school year, the most important task they face is how to learn new material. This challenge has become ever more important as American civilization has moved into the twenty-first century. Students in the nineteenth century learned to read, write, basic arithmetic and appreciation for the founders of the nation. Aside from those who studied law and medicine, the knowledge students needed to make a living and provide for their families was provided by their parents and grandparents on the farms as agriculture was the primary occupation of the vast majority of Americans. When Americans moved into the twentieth century, the Industrial Revolution created many new and diverse occupations. Many Americans moved from rural areas of the country into the urban areas to fill the jobs in the factories and mills. Still many jobs required basic knowledge of ordinary tools that could be learned on the jobs. Industrialization created new jobs and destroyed many traditional jobs. The mass production of the Model T Ford Henry Ford began in 1908 improved the transportation of many Americans. However the wainwrights who built horse-drawn wagons and carriages and the blacksmiths who shoed the horses pulling those wagons and carriages discovered the need for their services rapidly declined. The movement from the nineteenth into the twentieth century saw Americans move from the Agrarian Age into the Industrial Age. Still Americans with a rudimentary education ending at the eighth grade could find good jobs that provided their families with a good quality of life as the American middle class expanded with a boom after World War II. The G.I. Bill allowed many veterans to complete and continue their education. By 1970, the Industrial Age was fading into the past replaced by the Post-Industrial or Information Age. That period diminished the ability of American workers to provide for their families with a limited education. Today many workers in the auto industry, steel industry and coal industry face a scarcity of jobs. Even the jobs that remain require special knowledge and skills in robotics and computer training. Technology continues to create new jobs and replace old jobs at an increasingly faster rate. For example, the VCR which seemed to be such a wonderful invention thirty years ago lasted but a brief time as the DVD arrived. The speed with which technology has accelerated change in employment is amazing. New jobs are created and become obsolete within a few years. Current high school graduates will probably have to work four to six different jobs in their lifetimes. Most of these jobs are unknown to society today, but they will require the workers to learn and perform new tasks and operate new equipment. Those students who learn how to learn now in 2017 will succeed at learning these new jobs. Those students who fail to learn how to learn now will be at a distinct disadvantage. Randy Ervin, Mattoon Advertisement By The Associated Press Aug. 08, 2017 | CAIRO, IL By The Associated Press Aug. 08, 2017 | 05:46 AM | CAIRO, IL U.S. Housing Secretary Ben Carson is expected to visit Cairo where two public housing complexes are being torn down, forcing hundreds of residents to find new homes. Carson told The Southern Illinoisan he wants to visit Cairo to see if anything can be done to ``salvage the situation.'' The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered the buildings demolished earlier this year due to ``deplorable living conditions.'' HUD says the buildings are infested with rodents and bugs and plumbing and heat don't work properly. About 200 families have been forced to relocate. That's particularly difficult in the town of about 2,600 residents in a rural area and has prompted fears the once-thriving city could be endangered if hundreds of people move elsewhere. Carson is scheduled to tour the city Tuesday with Mayor Tyrone Coleman, then have private conversations with community leaders. Then he will go to Cairo High School and listen to Elmwood and McBride public housing residents at noon. By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 07, 2017 | 09:22 PM | WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Rep. James Comer travels to Israel this week as part of a congressional delegation attending an educational seminar on critical foreign policy and national security issues facing Israel and the United States. Congressman Comer and other members of Congress will engage in discussions with members of Israel's parliament, government officials from both the U.S. and Israel, military officers, and representatives from the Palestinian Authority.While in Israel, Rep. Comer will also receive briefings on Iran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, the prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and the current terror threat in the region. "Israel and America share an unbreakable bond. Our longstanding friendship is built on our shared democratic values and close partnerships on defense, trade, agriculture and many other mutual interests. As a proud supporter of the State of Israel, I believe that efforts to strengthen the bond between our two governments, such as this Congressional delegation trip, are incredibly valuable. I look forward to meeting with Israeli leaders to discuss a number of challenges facing our two nations, as well as new opportunities for collaboration and innovation, particularly those that would benefit my constituents in the First District of Kentucky," said Rep. Comer. The trip will be led by the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), a charitable organization that is affiliated with the bipartisan American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). No taxpayer dollars will be used to fund this travel, which adheres to all House Ethics rules. Congressman Comer will return to Kentucky on August 15th. Tuesday, August 08, 2017 On The Econ Beat: Not So Fast; The Claims That The Bear Is In Retreat Put To The Test; Oil Drilling Pop Does Not Make For A New Era Blogging New Mexico The administration in Santa Fe is hailing the end of the Great Bear Market that has embraced New Mexico for nearly a decade because of a shot in the arm of economic activity primarily due to a jump in energy royalties from the heavily drilled SE Permian basin. While the worst may or may not be behind us, it sure doesn't feel like the Bear has completely retreated to his lair. While the Governor was gushing over There are green shoots appearing in the economic desert. Construction workers are finding plenty to hammer, nail and pave. That's in large part because of the Facebook data center being built near Los Lunas and construction of the controversial ART transit project in ABQ. Notably, new home construction is There are no cranes in the sky of ABQ, no reports of the city's coffers flush with new cash generated by a rush of economic activity and no reports that interest from the educated classes in moving here is now higher than their interest in getting out. The latest labor reports indicate the pop in employment is due primarily to the oil patch, low-paying jobs like those in tourism and home health care due to Medicaid expansion. Still, that is good news for those without college degrees and any jobs are welcomed. (The June state jobs report had such SAME OLD So, the GDP increase seems to signal nothing much new about the economy, but something rather old--that when the oil business does well, state revenues do well. But the macro picture for the New Mexican economy has not changed significantly. Some examples why: The jobless rate relative to other states remains historically high. Revenue collections for cities and towns remain mostly flat. Crime remains rampant in ABQ, High school graduation rates lag the region and nation. Medicaid eligibility for low income households has soared to well over 40 percent of the state population. SOME BOTTOMING Nothing goes up or down forever. And in a number of ways New Mexico has bottomed out. For example, most of those who want to move out, probably have. And local governments have raised the gross receipts tax to stabilize revenues. But the extreme damage done to the Land of Enchantment by the epic Bear Market is now evident--like smoke clearing from a battlefield. ONCE UPON A TIME Given the cellar-dwelling polling numbers of those in charge in ABQ and Santa Fe, it seems a bipartisan conclusion that the current leadership has failed and failed mightily. New leadership will soon arrive and be charged with repairing the damage from an economic earthquake. From a state buried in rubble come cries of hope from the survivors. LIVING "A LITTLE" You may not be bowled over by the 8 individuals running for mayor of ABQ in the October election, but you can take heart that we don't have Half of the eight mayoral hopefuls on Detroits primary have been convicted of felony crimes involving drugs, assault or weapons, a Detroit News analysis shows. Three were charged with gun crimes and two for assault with intent to commit murder. Some of the offenses date back decades, the earliest to 1977. The most recent was in 2008. Political consultant Greg Bowens said there are candidates with past hardships in every election cycle. Its not something unique to Detroit or the political arena in general, he said. Black marks on your record show you have lived a little and have overcome some challenges, said Bowens. . . Being charged with "assault with intent to commit murder" shows you "have lived a little?" Well, now we know how Detroit got to where it is. Today's Detroit mayoral primary is the first since the city exited bankruptcy in 2014. The field of eight will be narrowed to two who will meeting in a fall run-off election. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. ( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2017 The administration in Santa Fe is hailing the end of the Great Bear Market that has embraced New Mexico for nearly a decade because of a shot in the arm of economic activity primarily due to a jump in energy royalties from the heavily drilled SE Permian basin. While the worst may or may not be behind us, it sure doesn't feel like the Bear has completely retreated to his lair.While the Governor was gushing over an increase in the somewhat obscure economic indicator known as the gross domestic product (GDP), significant layoffs continued. The town of Estancia in Torrance County is preparing for 200 lost jobs at the privately run prison there which is being shut down. When that is fully absorbed the population in Estancia could easily return to what it was two decades ago. And a once high-flying (and heavily state-subsidized) tech firm in Rio Rancho just laid off 50 employees.There are green shoots appearing in the economic desert. Construction workers are finding plenty to hammer, nail and pave. That's in large part because of the Facebook data center being built near Los Lunas and construction of the controversial ART transit project in ABQ. Notably, new home construction is nowhere near the rate of yore, forcing an imbalance in supply and demand and giving us price increases, but only modest ones compared to our neighbors. Homebuilders don't seem to have the confidence in the economic future that the Governor does.There are no cranes in the sky of ABQ, no reports of the city's coffers flush with new cash generated by a rush of economic activity and no reports that interest from the educated classes in moving here is now higher than their interest in getting out.The latest labor reports indicate the pop in employment is due primarily to the oil patch, low-paying jobs like those in tourism and home health care due to Medicaid expansion. Still, that is good news for those without college degrees and any jobs are welcomed.(The June state jobs report had such a wild gyration that we're going to wait for confirmation of the higher employment numbers).So, the GDP increase seems to signal nothing much new about the economy, but something rather old--that when the oil business does well, state revenues do well. But the macro picture for the New Mexican economy has not changed significantly. Some examples why:relative to other states remains historically high.for cities and towns remain mostly flat.in ABQ,lag the region and nation.for low income households has soared to well over 40 percent of the state population.Nothing goes up or down forever. And in a number of ways New Mexico has bottomed out. For example, most of those who want to move out, probably have. And local governments have raised the gross receipts tax to stabilize revenues. But the extreme damage done to the Land of Enchantment by the epic Bear Market is now evident--like smoke clearing from a battlefield.The once NM monied middle class has shrunk. They wanted a Nordstrom's but they got payday loan stores. They wanted housing prices to roar again, but they whimper. They wanted local business to flourish as the Federal money spigot for the military/scientific complex flowed. Today it only trickles upward. They wanted to make a dent in crime and poverty, but the Bear (and a listless leadership) mauled that dream.Given the cellar-dwelling polling numbers of those in charge in ABQ and Santa Fe, it seems a bipartisan conclusion that the current leadership has failed and failed mightily. New leadership will soon arrive and be charged with repairing the damage from an economic earthquake. From a state buried in rubble come cries of hope from the survivors.You may not be bowled over by the 8 individuals running for mayor of ABQ in the October election, but you can take heart that we don't have this problem . .Being charged with "assault with intent to commit murder" shows you "have lived a little?" Well, now we know how Detroit got to where it is. Today's Detroit mayoral primary is the first since the city exited bankruptcy in 2014. The field of eight will be narrowed to two who will meeting in a fall run-off election.This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. 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But engineers in the citys public works department say they will not sign off on that project because engineering studies show a lower school speed zone at that location will make the intersection less safe. Engineer Lonnie Burklund, manager of engineering services for the city, told the council Monday neither he nor his engineering staff can sign the required documents that will allow a school speed zone be established at that north Lincoln intersection. "As a licensed engineer we have a duty to uphold the health and safety of the public," Burklund said during Monday's council meeting. That means he could not place his seal and stamp on the documents required to put that school speed zone into place, he said. "We can't design a culvert that causes flooding or a bridge that doesn't bear the structural load," Burklund said. Because drivers cannot see a school, because the street looks like an arterial with businesses and no houses, because the slower speed is only in effect a few hours each day, drivers are less likely to pay attention to a slower school zone, Burklund said. Instead, there is likely to be weaving from lane to lane, more hard braking, and potential rear-end crashes. Statistically, the potential of someone getting hit goes up with a school speed zone at this intersection, he said. Putting a slower school speed zone at this location would not make people safe, he said. Burklund said his staff would look for other measures to make the intersection safe, but not a reduced speed zone, based on the studies we have today. Councilman Jon Camp suggested the city may have to hire an outside consultant who would approve the school speed zone, reducing speed from 45 to 25 mph near that intersection during school crossing times. Creating a school zone takes from four to six months and is expected to cost about $100,000. What we are talking about here is engineering judgment, said Councilwoman Cyndi Lamm, who then pointed to the engineering judgment involved in putting in a multi-lane roundabout at 14th and Superior streets that led to far more accidents than expected Lamm, who has been working on the 84th and Leighton intersection with parents and school staff for months, pointed out that parents have been trying to get a safer intersection for six years and that the number of elementary children living east of 84th has gone up 62 percent to 195 children in two years. Councilman Bennie Shobe, who provided the fourth vote on the issue, said he has heard from all sides on this issue. Hes heard from people who think there should be a pedestrian bridge; from drivers who say the city should not make vehicles slow down on 84th; and from parents who believe a school speed zone will make the intersection safe enough for their children to walk or ride their bikes to school. I know Im going to make someone mad, but Im going to err on the side of putting in a school speed zone and hopefully that will help make it safe for everyone, he said. Shobe was the fourth vote in what otherwise was partisan voting on several issues. The council majority approved an ordinance that allowed the city council or mayor to override an engineers decision for a school speed zone. Then the council adopted the resolution calling for creating a lower school speed zone at 84th and Leighton, despite engineering objections. Council members also rejected a substitute resolution, from Jane Raybould, that would have put in place a study of school zones across the city, and use of crossing guards, rather than create a school zone at 84th and Leighton. The vote in every case was Lamm, Camp, Roy Christensen, all Republicans, and Shobe, a Democrat, in favor of the changes leading to the school speed zone. Democrats Leirion Gaylor Baird, Carl Eskridge and Raybould sided with the department and the engineers. Gaylor-Baird reframed the engineers' argument in simple language. Instead of helping us, of getting everyone to come to a complete stop, a school speed zone creates driver confusion that could lead to more accidents and less safety, she said. Public works has recently taken some steps to improve safety at that intersection, which children on the east side of 84th could use to get to Kahoa Elementary School and Mickle Middle School. The department increased the pedestrian crossing time, will prohibit a right turn on red for traffic going east on Leighton, and will touch up the crosswalk paint. In several months, the city and a private consultant will be improving the signal timing along 84th. But Lamm pointed out that parents have been trying to get a safer intersection for six years. Several council members suggested the council may in the future approve a study of all school crossings and the use of crossing guards. Lamm's group did look at a crossing guard program. But it would have cost an estimated $250,000, while a school speed zone will cost around $100,000, she said. BARABOO In response to a Baraboo News Republic article, Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister has asked the Wisconsin Department of Justice to review criminal allegations against the countys former highway commissioner. Meister made the announcement on the sheriffs department Facebook page Tuesday morning. In June, Meister determined that criminal allegations against former Sauk County Highway Commissioner Steve Muchow were not worthy of law enforcement investigation. The News Republic published a story Tuesday disclosing that Meister and Muchow are members of a group that meets socially for breakfast each month. The story provided a firsthand account of the two men dining together at a restaurant Friday morning, and included a photo of Meister leaving the restaurant. Two attorneys with expertise in criminal law who were quoted in the story said they disagreed with Meisters determination that the allegations were not worthy of criminal investigation. They also said Meister should have recused himself from the matter and forwarded it to an outside agency for review. In response to the Tim Damos news piece, the Sauk County Sheriffs Office has reached out to the (Division) of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to conduct an independent review of our findings, Meister wrote Tuesday morning in a Facebook post that also provided a link to the story. The announcement and link were also shared on the departments website. I honor the duties and responsibility of this agency to the citizens of Sauk County, above all else. To insure (sic) full transparency, once the independent review is complete, findings will be made available. The Division of Criminal Investigation is an agency within the Wisconsin Department of Justice. DOJ spokesman Johnny Koremenos confirmed in an email Tuesday that the agency had received Meisters request. Sheriff Meister felt strongly about having DOJ review these allegations and we will be taking the appropriate steps to address the Sheriffs request, he said. Meister met with his oversight panel, the Sauk County Boards Law Enforcement Committee, late Tuesday afternoon. The DOJ referral was not discussed. County highway employees alleged their boss had misrepresented financial information, manipulated bids, used county resources for personal reasons, misused county business relationships, falsified timecards and mistreated employees. Muchow gave notice of his intention to retire in late April, prompting county officials to drop a personnel probe into the matter. He has denied any wrongdoing, and said he was not aware of the investigation when he decided to retire. On June 12, Administrative Coordinator Alene Kleczek Bolin asked Meister to review the allegations for potential criminality. Four days later, Meister wrote back that he and his chief deputy had reviewed the allegations and determined that only two of them constituted potential criminality. However, they determined that evidence gathered during the personnel investigation was insufficient to prove the allegations, so no law enforcement probe was necessary. An intriguing book is Anu Partanens The Nordic Theory of Everything. After marriage she became an American citizen, but still longed for the freedom she had in Finland freedom from economic worries. Education there is seen as a basic human right, and the wealth and race of parents cannot be a predictor of a childs success. In America, funding schools through property taxes results in disparity because some areas are wealthier than others. Finland provides free daycare and education through college. Because Finland invests in its teachers, children perform better than in the United States in all areas of study. The Finnish have taken the best ideas from America and incorporated them in their curricula. The immense debt that college graduates face affects all economics, such as the purchase of a home, new car and other goods. Finns knowing therell be daycare and health insurance encourages new businesses and families. No younger persons must care for elderly parents unless they choose to; as elder care is also provided, making better relationships. Factor in the expenses of social benefits and persons in Finland spend less than U.S. taxpayers. What the U.S. needs is not bigger government but smarter government. Allegra Zick, North Freedom Hit and run Friday at 12:02 p.m., a man reported damage to his car in the 200 block of South Spring Street. Drugs Friday at 5:40 p.m., someone reported the odor of marijuana in the 200 block of Seippel Boulevard. Accident Friday at 5:42 p.m., a woman and a man were involved in a vehicle accident in the 100 block of Tower Drive. Theft Friday at 7:07 p.m., a bike was stolen in the 200 block of Jackson Street. Intoxicated person Friday at 9:15 p.m., someone told police that there was an intoxicated man in the hallway in the 100 block of Lakecrest Drive. Suspicious Friday at 10:11 p.m., a woman told police that someone was shining a laser pointer light at her in the 900 block of South Lincoln Avenue. Traffic Friday at 11:35 p.m., a woman reported that vehicle were driving recklessly in Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot, 120 Frances Lane. One man was given a verbal warning for speeding. Traffic Saturday at 2:22 a.m., a traffic stop near the North Center Street and Sunset Drive resulted in police arresting two 36-year-old men on probation holds. One man was cited with resisting and obstruction for providing false information. Accident Saturday at 2:35 a.m., a 29-year-old man crashed his car into a pole near the East Third Street and North University Avenue intersection. The man fled on foot. He was later apprehended and was cited with resisting arrest, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle after revocation and battery to law enforcement. The man spit into the officers face while being placed in the rear seat of the squad car. Disorderly conduct Saturday at 3:02 a.m., a man told police that another man and a woman were arguing in the 200 block of Prairie Street. Drugs Saturday at 12:54 p.m., someone at Swan City Park reported the odor of marijuana. County fairs aren't just carnival rides and food. When attendees sit in the stands at a livestock show, they see exhibitors dressed in a formal outfit; answer questions judges ask them while displaying control of their animal throughout the show. The process may look easy to attendees, but for exhibitors the process to prepare animals for shows takes months of practice. We do a lot more than making them look pretty and big and poofy, said Kendra McCann, 15, who showed her Black Angus Steer at the Sauk County Fair as a part of Reedsburg FFA. We put a lot more work into it than people think we do and they think its a piece of cake. Before the livestock judge decides and shakes the hand of the exhibitor for grand champion animal or top showman, they must prepare their animals to look like a champion a process starting long before the show begins. Acquiring animals Months before the show, participants will purchase their animals from a farmer or sale barn. If they live on a farm, they may raise them after they are born. Colby Hasheider of Sauk City, who showed sheep, beef and dairy cattle at the Sauk County Fair, bought his beef cattle from a neighbor. My neighbors raise beef and they sold me one of their calves last year, Hasheider, 16, said. We bought our market lambs but we raised our ewe lambs. Rylie Honnold acquired her horse, Gunner, from a family friend about six years ago and will show him at the Juneau County Fair later this month. She showed her pigs at the Juneau County Youth Livestock Expo July 27 and usually purchases pigs from another farmer in the winter when they are a month old and then raises them for show. Allison Ahrensmeyer, who lives on a third generation dairy farm in Baraboo, showed two animals at the Sauk County Fair last month as a part of Baraboo Valley 4-H Club. You have to look over their body make sure they stand on their feet good and make sure they are a nice tall calf, Ahrensmeyer, 12, said. Depth is the most important thing. When Allison Foster, of Portage, she would save birthday and babysitting money towards buying cattle. After 15 years of showing, she breeds and owns her own cattle. Meaning Ive bred their parents and raised the calf, Foster, who showed as a part of Montello FFA at the Columbia County Fair, said. For poultry, Tyler Schwartz, 10, who shows chickens with Lindina Busy Bees 4-H Club in Mauston will breed his chicken and insert the eggs in an incubator and wait for them to hatch to obtain their show chickens for the year. He will show six different breeds of chicken at the Juneau County Fair August 18. His sisters, Mallory and Mariah, will show rabbits at the August 15 at the Juneau County Fair. Choosing genetics can play an important role in looking for the perfect show animal. We spend a lot of time studying the mom and the dad and try to make them more predictable so you know what you buy, said Craig Green, who judged sheep and goats at the Juneau County Youth Livestock Expo. Hasheider has used genetics to fix the flaws in his herd for sheep and cattle to improve them for show. Our (sheep) are really muscly but they have bad front ends, he said. So we got a very fancy front end ram and that fixes that up so the lambs look better than the moms. Working with genetics is a hit or miss process, but can help craft what exhibitors are looking for in a show animal. Its carefully calculated on what we think is going to work the best, Foster said. We are definitely striving for that show quality. But the acquisition is the start of trying to raise a champion. Before the show To make their animals look presentable, exhibitors must practice grooming, walking, and positing their feet in a correct posture to show off certain qualities of their animal. The biggest challenge with showing animals is patience. You have to know each animal is different, Foster said. You have to learn what their quirks are and that comes from working with them everyday. Trenna Cherney and her sister, Sydney, will wake up at 5 a.m. beginning around late May or early June to begin training their animals for shows. Throughout the days of the summer well keep progressing, Trenna Cherney, said. We have a walker for our sheep and well start with five minutes on the walker. At this time in the summer we have them on for an hour. So when they are on the show ring they arent going to be tired. One of the first hurdles to overcome in larger livestock is breaking the halter and practice walking them in a position which stands out above all the other animals. That is by far the hardest part because you have to get them used to the halter and used to you, Hasheider said. Haschieder starts training his dairy cattle around March for show and uses feed to get the animals to break the halter. They were nervous at first but then we tie them up and pet them until they calm down and then you can walk them, Haschieder said. Lambs and goats are shown without a halter so participants must brace them. Because cattle are much larger animals, they will need a halter for show. Because they are more stubborn, Hasheider said. Well come up to a hayrack and well walk them real slow on that and Ill stand between them and pet on them so they arent nervous. Exhibitors who show horses will need a halter to show their animals for showmanship and a saddle, bridle and riding gear for riding classes. They will also practice a pattern they have to follow in the show ring. Pigs are shown using a whip which exhibitors will tap on the side of the neck to position and move them around the show ring. It sounds mean but its not, said Rylie Honnold of Mauston, who showed pigs at the Juneau County Youth Livestock Expo, said. You hit them on the neck to get them to (move). For rabbits, Mallory Schwartz said a bath isnt required, but animals do have to be brushed and positioned correctly to present on a judging table on show day. Each breed of rabbits and poultry will have a different pose which Mallory Schwartz and her siblings will practice with two weeks before the start of show. You dont really do much with rabbits except clean their pens, Mallory Schwartz said. Poultry will need a bath in a dish soap and vinegar solution, examined for mites as well as have their beaks and toe nails clipped before show day. Exhibitors will give their animals a haircut or clip them days before the show to make them look more presentable for the public and the livestock judge. You give them a nice top line, said Tommy Lehman, 18, of North Freedom. Spike up the hair on their back. Hasheider said it takes him around a half hour to clip his sheep. However, a Tunis lamb his sister, Libby, showed took four hours to clip because of its one inch thick wool. We rough clip them first to get most of the baby wool off, Hasheider said. Then we wet them down and we go over them with a fine blade. All the repetition of hard work and training animals prepares exhibitors and the animals for what is to come on show day at a livestock show. Show day Micah Reimer, 19, who showed as a part of Reedsburg FFA at the Sauk County Fair, described show day as hectic. A typical day for Tanner Paulsen, of the Wisconsin Dells, during show day at the Columbia County Fair is to arrive at around 4:30 a.m. to give his Jersey cows a bath, milk and feed them as well as and change the bedding. The cows dont want to move because they are still trying to sleep, Paulsen, who shows with Columbia County 4-H, said. Exhibitors do their best to keep their animals on the same routine as on the farm, especially with dairy cows which need to be milked at the fair. When preparing animals on show day, every little detail matters. For cattle, after a morning bath with special types of shampoos and oils, participants will blow their animals dry with a dryer and a brush their hair in a certain direction. Exhibitors will also have to pay close attention to their cattle to try to stop them from laying down on their bedding to prevent them from getting dirty. If they do you have to take them down and wash them again, Lehman said. Even with months of training, animals can still act in an unpredictable way. Last year during the fair it was a cooler day and every steer was acting up because they thought it was so nice outside they wanted to run around, Reimer said. Once you get one animal acting up it rubs off on another one. Because beef and pig shows were close together at the Sauk County Fair this year, Marisa Pretzborn and her brothers, Luke and Kaleb, had some help from their parents. One of our parents (is) getting our beef ready while were showing pigs and then they will call us over to the (beef show ring), Luke Pretzborn said. Since exhibitors may have multiple animals showing close together, they may turn to other competitors to help them show their animals. Foster has shown Brown Swiss and Holstein dairy cattle for other competitors at shows. Ive had many people help me over the years because we usually always have (cattle) in for champion, Foster said. Competing is a really funny thing because you really want to win but at the end of the day thats not what its all about. Judging Process Once an exhibitor enters the show ring or sets their animal on a show table, they make sure judges know certain qualities their animals. If (our pig) has a really wide front end then Id walk straight towards them (the judge) so that they can see that better, Kaleb Pretzborn said. What a judge looks for in an animal depends on the type of show. Will Coor, who judged the beef show at the Juneau County Youth Livestock Expo, said a market show will be judged different than a breeding or showmanship show. (For) Market (show) were looking for a little bit more product, a little bit more muscle because when these leave they go to slaughter and thats what feeds us, Coor said. Breeding Stock want cattle to be sound and right in terms of their feet and legs so they can go home and produce calves for them so they can continue to come back and show. The questions judges ask exhibitors vary between shows. During a showmanship show, exhibitors are asked more intense questions. For showmanship we want to ask them what they feed, what they like about the animal so they know they are knowledgeable about their projects and they (the exhibitors) are the ones thats been working (on it), Coor said. The key to finding the perfect show animal is a balance between quality of meat shown, presence and grooming. You dont want a real bully one thats really massive and fatter up front, Coor said. You want a really elegant one up front and you want one thats really good in their design. Esther Considine, of Portage, has shown goats at the Columbia County Fair for nine years and has won the showmanship division. Last year, she won Reserve Supreme Showman Champion at the state fair. For normal showing theyll feel how their ribs are how their legs look, how their utter feels, Considine said. For showmanship, they look in the ears to see if the tattoos are in the right places. They go down the legs, they lift up their hooves to see if its trimmed and if its washed, they look at its knees they look at its bellies, they look at its tails. Ahrensmeyer said she was a little intimidated by the judge when she first started showing, but now she is used to it and takes feedback from the judge to use for future shows. If I do something wrong the judge can give me pointers, Ahrensmeyer said. Future opportunities Showing animals can do more than give youth awards, it can also prepare them for a possible future career in agriculture. They learn what the expectations of their breed is, they understand muscle to fat ratio, they understand what the consumer wants when they buy a cut of meat at the grocery store, Judy Kennedy, youth development agent for UW-Extension in Juneau County, said. They know how to grow a quality product because they study. Through her time showing, Foster has decided to pursue a career working with animals. She plans to attend UW-Platteville next year to become a veterinarian. (Showing cattle) taught me hard work and this is something I want to do for a career its opened so many doors, Foster said. With many misconceptions about agriculture, exhibitors must be knowledgeable to keep the public informed and in order to answer numerous questions from the public. Some people think their meat comes from the store, Considine said. They dont think a cow is your beef. Foster said with many labels consumers find on products, such as organic and non-GMO, its important to educate others about where their food comes from. Its a chance to give people some peace of mind because they are feeding their families and their children, Foster said. You have to be versed in all aspects of agriculture because you never know what somebody is going to ask you. Hasheider wants the public to understand the animals are well taken care of on farms and at the shows. They are like family members to a lot of us the lambs are like a baby for us, Hasheider said. Its sad to see them go to market. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection website, agriculture contributes $88.3 billion to the state economy. Without agriculture I dont know how were going to feed America with the growing population, Hasheider said. It helps to be active and have a part in the economy. Lehman said if anyone is curious about how exhibitors take care of animals to ask instead of making assumptions. All of the kids are happy to answer any of the questions they have, Lehman said. (Agriculture) feeds the world. I encourage everyone to come to the fair and learn something new. A dairy industry group is suing to end Wisconsins requirement that large animal feedlots producing hundreds of millions of gallons of manure undergo state scrutiny before they begin operating. If the Wisconsin Dairy Business Association prevails, the operations would no longer need state approval for their methods of storing and disposing of the manure unless it was demonstrated they had polluted lakes, streams or drinking water wells. An association spokesman called the state rules illegal and costly. But conservationists said the industry changes would seriously disrupt a regulatory system that was already faltering. Moving to a sort of Catch me if you can regulatory scheme like this puts more water resources at risk and additional burden on local governments, said Sarah Geers, a staff attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates. Counties would assume oversight of the big concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, but many of them are even more thinly staffed than the state Department of Natural Resources, the agency that now has primary responsibility. This would just upset what is already a pretty strained system and just stress it more, said Jim VandenBrook, executive director of Wisconsin Land and Water, which represents county soil and water conservation personnel. With local ordinances that are less demanding than state rules, counties would be left alone to ensure that design and construction of CAFO manure storage systems were adequate, VandenBrook said. There is essentially no funding for monitoring of the systems function once installed, VandenBrook said. The biggest failures after installation are usually failed (or) burst pumps which can release significant amounts of manure. The lawsuit would also eliminate the state rule requiring that CAFOs file nutrient management plans showing how they will dispose of manure on farm fields without putting water at risk. The lawsuit alleges the longstanding state permitting rules became illegal in 2011 when a law was enacted placing stricter limits on the power of agencies like the DNR to interpret statutes. In order to satisfy the DNRs permitting requirements, CAFOs have had to hire professional engineers to design manure and wastewater management plans and facilities, says the lawsuit filed in Brown County Circuit Court. The implementation of these plans is expensive, time-consuming and burdensome. Law limits DNR oversight The 2011 law gave elected officials more control of administrative rules agencies write to spell out how laws are to be implemented. The law also invalidates rules with provisions not approved by elected officials or specifically authorized in statutes, the associations lawsuit argues. That law, known as 2011 Act 21, was cited by top state Republicans last year to curtail DNR authority to limit ground water withdrawals by businesses with high-capacity wells of the type that have dried up lakes, streams and drinking water. Like the regulation of high-capacity wells, state efforts to prevent water pollution have been controversial in recent years, with many businesses saying regulations are too tough and conservationists saying they are too lax. Pathogens in poorly managed manure have seeped into aquifers to create health hazards in drinking water for several communities. Across the state, rain carries nutrient-laden animal waste into lakes and streams causing unnatural weed and bacterial growth that limit swimming, fishing and boating. Alarmingly, at a time when water pollution from large farms is an increasing public health and environmental concern, the lawsuit seeks to significantly weaken oversight, said Bob Clarke, president of Friends of the Central Sands. A spokesman for the DNR, which is named as the defendant in the suit, declined to comment on the pending litigation. A spokesman for the state Department of Justice, which typically defends agencies against lawsuits, said the agency is reviewing the lawsuit. The head of the justice department, Attorney General Brad Schimel, issued a formal opinion last year that said the DNR was overstepping the constraints set by Act 21 when the agency considered the cumulative impact of all high-capacity wells in an area when deciding whether to permit new ones. In addition to challenging the DNR rules, the dairy business association wants to overturn a draft guidance document it says the agency was using to force feedlot operators to spend thousands of dollars to prevent rain from carrying pollutants from feed storage areas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told the DNR it could no longer allow the use of vegetative strips to slow runoff because that had been proven ineffective. Feedlot operators are now looking at large outlays to build roofs over storage bunkers that sprawl across an acre or more, and to build storage to collect water that runs off the areas, said dairy business association lobbyist John Holevoet. New requirements should have gone through the rule-making process spelled out by Act 21 to allow more public input and decision-making by elected officials, Holevoet said. The number of CAFOs in Wisconsin has grown rapidly. The DNR website lists over 300 of them, including about 250 dairy operations. CAFOs are defined as having 1,000 animal units or more. For dairy feedlots, thats 700 cows, although many of the operations milk thousands of animals. Citing concerns about water pollution and other problems, citizen groups in several parts of the state are fighting in courtrooms and county board meetings to stop permitting of new feedlots or expansion of old ones. University of Wisconsin System campuses should beef up their engineering programs to train workers at a planned Foxconn facility in southeastern Wisconsin by cutting funding for less popular programs not by asking the state for more money a Republican senator said Monday. Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Cedarburg, criticized UW System President Ray Cross request at a hearing last week for lawmakers to provide additional higher education funding so campuses can hire new faculty members and produce more engineers for Foxconn. Stroebel said UW should use the state funding it already has to expand engineering programs. The University of Wisconsin System needs to prioritize needs and wants, Stroebel said. UW needs to start investing current resources into increasing faculty and staff for engineering, supply chain and computer science degrees. Perhaps the System should look at decreasing capacity in certain fields that have little demand or relevance. A spokesman for the senator didnt respond to a question asking which fields he would recommend cutting to fund expanded engineering programs. We are encouraged by the conversations we are having with legislators about how the UW System can continue to provide a quality education and perform world-renowned research, UW System spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis said. The 2017-19 state budget, which remains stalled with lawmakers at an impasse over transportation funding, includes $36.2 million in new funding over two years for the UW System. That increase comes after the Systems budget was cut in five of the six prior budgets. Erik Prince founded a now-defunct company, Blackwater, whose very name evokes images of private warriors running amok in Iraq, shooting up the streets and killing civilians with reckless abandon. Prince is the last person who should be advocating for private security forces to take over the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan. But apparently the ideas of Prince and Stephen Feinberg, owner of another private-army company, Dyncorp International, have caught the attention of White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and President Donald Trumps adviser/son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Their naivete and inexperience make them sitting ducks for war profiteers like Prince and Feinberg. Its no secret that the Afghan war has gone disastrously. The 2001 invasion initially was a big success. U.S. troops quickly swept across the country and routed al-Qaida along with its Taliban hosts. By late 2002, Afghanistans U.S.-friendly government was well on its way toward quasi-democratic governance. Thats when then-President George W. Bush turned his attention to Iraq and used nonexistent weapons of mass destruction to justify a new U.S.-led invasion. Afghanistan was relegated to back-burner status, opening the door for Taliban forces to regain a footing. Dyncorp and Blackwater contractors stepped in to fill the gap. Americas military effort never fully recovered. Billions of dollars handed over to Dyncorp and other contractors to train Afghan and Iraqi security forces have produced appallingly bad results. In 2007, Blackwater contractors opened fire on civilians for no discernible reason, leaving 17 Iraqis dead and 20 wounded. Video footage is available online showing other private soldiers taking pot shots at vehicles and blowing away drivers who got too close to their vehicles. Withdrawing the U.S. military from Afghanistan would pave the way for the Talibans return to power. Al-Qaida, the Islamic State or other terrorist groups would be free to establish new bases of operations. No private security company has yet presented itself as capable of replacing the U.S. military and providing full accountability to American taxpayers. Private armies are accountable to no one. Security conditions would make it nearly impossible for U.S. government auditors to venture into the zone of operation to gauge and verify a private armys success and proper expenditure of taxpayer money. And because of the deadly nature of the work, private armies tend to recruit ex-soldiers from countries with less-than-stellar human rights records like Serbia and Russia. The prospects for another shoot-em-up disaster like Baghdad would be high. Handing over authority to private-contracting thugs would only bolster the al-Qaida assertion that America stands for murderous destruction. Who needs it? A continued U.S. military presence in Afghanistan is hardly ideal. But against the alternative of likely disaster that would accompany privatizing the war effort, using bona fide U.S. troops is the best among a lot of terrible options. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in August Find-a-Trail program at Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo. From 9 to 10 a.m. join park staff to learn about the trails the park has to offer. Meet at the Nature Center. For information contact naturalist Sue Johansen at SusanA.Johansen@wisconsin.gov or 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 9 Junior Wildlife Biologist: Wetlands, Prairies and Forests program from 10-11 a.m. at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center in Horicon. For information call 920-387-7889. Aug. 9 Explore the Night Hike at Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Use the parks thermal imagers and trail cameras to discover the secrets of the night. Meet at the Steinke Basin Parking Lot. For information contact naturalist Sue Johansen at SusanA.Johansen@wisconsin.gov or 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 10 Learn to Fish program at Devils Lake State Park from 9 to 11 a.m. if you are 16 or older, you will need a fishing license. All equipment and bait will be provided. Meet at the parks north shore boat launch. For information contact naturalist Sue Johansen at SusanA.Johansen@wisconsin.gov or 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 10 Stories at the Marsh, from 10-11 a.m. at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center in Horicon. For information call 920-387-7889. Aug. 11 Guided kayak tour of Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on three days. Registration is required as space is limited. Kayak rentals are available for $25 for a single or $45 for a double. Meet at the Chateau on the parks north shore. To register or to reserve a kayak rental, call 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 11 SMores and Perseids Program at Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo. Drop in at the north shore boat launch between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. to enjoy a campfire and see the Perseids meteor shower. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. For information contact naturalist Sue Johansen at SusanA.Johansen@wisconsin.gov or 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 12-13 Archery Days at Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo. Drop in near the north shore boat launch between 12:30 and 3 p.m. on either day and try your hand with a bow and arrow. Certified instructors will be available to help with target practice. For information contact naturalist Sue Johansen at SusanA.Johansen@wisconsin.gov or 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 12 Rope rescue program presented by the Baraboo District Ambulance Service at Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Find out what happens when theres an emergency on the bluffs of Devils Lake. Meet outside the Chateau on the north shore. For information contact naturalist Sue Johansen at SusanA.Johansen@wisconsin.gov or 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 14 Baraboo River Chapter of Kids and Mentors Outdoors (KAMO) August campfire meeting will be held at member Kevin Seymours home, located at S3529 Sand Road in Baraboo, beginning at 7 p.m. All members and anyone interested should attend. For information contact Greg Wagner at 608-477-0641. Aug. 14-17 Where available, bonus unit-specific antlerless deer tags for regular deer management units with a quota go on sale at 10 a.m. Tags can be purchased at the rate of one permit, per person, per day until the unit is sold out or the hunting season ends. Aug. 15 Early Migration Hike from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center in Horicon. For information call 920-387-7889. Aug. 15 Explore Bowhunting program from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center in Horicon. Fun activities for kids interested in bowhunting, including target archery. For information call 920-387-7889. Aug. 16 Explore-the-Night Hike at Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo, from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Meet at the Steinke Basin Parking Lot. For information contact naturalist Sue Johansen at SusanA.Johansen@wisconsin.gov or 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 17 Family Adventure Club: Intro to Archery, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center in Horicon. Equipment is provided. For information call 920-387-7889. Aug. 18-19 Guided kayak tour of Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo from 6 to 8 p.m. on both nights. Space is limited so registration is required. Kayaks are available to rent for $25 for a single or $45 for a double. Meet at the Chateau on the north shore. To register or to reserve a kayak call 608-356-8301 ext. 140. Aug. 19-20 Baraboo Bowmen archery shoot. Shooting from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Food and refreshments available. Range is located southeast of Baraboo on Neuman Road. For information, go to baraboobowmen.com. Aug. 20 Roxbury Valley Trap Club 39th Annual Bruno Raffle, Merchandise Shoot and Chicken BBQ. Shooting begins at 9 a.m. Chicken BBQ serving begins at 11:30 a.m. The club is located midway between Highway 12 and Roxbury on County Road Y. For information call 608-643-4733. Aug. 22 Deadline for successful applicants to transfer Class A Bear License to a youth hunter. Aug. 22 Butterflies and Dragonflies program from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center in Horicon. For information call 920-387-7889. Aug. 26 Fall wild turkey harvest permits remaining after the drawing will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. Turkey permit availability will be posted on the wild turkey page of the DNR Web site. Aug. 30 Lake Wisconsin and Baraboo Chapters of Kids and Mentors Outdoors (KAMO) youth fishing event from 3 to 8 p.m. at Memorial Park in Merrimac at the intersection of Highway 78 and Front Street. There is no cost for kids to participate and limited fishing gear will be available to use. Food will be provided at 5:30 p.m. All members and anyone interested is encouraged to attend. For information contact Greg Wagner at 608-477-0641. Sept. 1 Early teal season through Sept. 7. Early September Canada goose hunting season open in designated areas through Sept. 15. Mourning dove hunting season opens through Nov. 29. Wild ginseng season opens; through Nov. 1. Deadline for hunters with disabilities to apply to participate in a sponsored hunt. Sept. 2 Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters through Sept. 30. See current Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations. Sept. 6 Black bear hunting season opens. Runs through Oct. 10. See current black bear hunting regulations for zone and hunting method specific dates. Sept. 9 The Petenwell and Castle Rock Stewards annual fundraiser, from noon to 4 p.m. at Petenwell County Park, located at 2004 Bighorn Drive in Arkdale. Event includes food, raffles and music. Money goes to improving the water quality in the Petenwell and Castle Rock lakes. For information, contact Jim at 608-356-6537. Sept. 15 Early September Canada goose hunting season closes. Sept. 16 Canada goose season opens in the North Exterior Zone and runs through Dec. 16. Canada goose season opens in the South Exterior Zone and runs through Oct. 8. Season reopens in the South Zone Oct. 14 and runs through Dec. 21. Horicon Zone Canada goose opens runs through Dec. 16. Fall turkey hunting season opens through Dec. 31 in Zones 1-5 through Nov. 17 in Zones 6-7. Archery and crossbow deer season opens through Jan. 7, 2018. Ruffed grouse season opens in the Zone A through Jan. 31. (Zone B opens Oct. 15Dec. 8.). Cottontail rabbit season opens in the northern zone, runs through Feb. 28. Gray and fox squirrel season opens, runs through Jan. 31. Fall crow season opens, runs through Nov. 17. Sept. 16-17 Special two-day waterfowl duck hunt. Open to youth 10 to 15 years of age who are hunter safety certified or participating in a mentored hunt; all other state license requirements are waived except for HIP registration and Canada goose permit requirements; youths must be accompanied by adult. The bag limit and tag requirements apply for the respective zone. These days overlap with open goose season in most zones so adults will also be able to shoot geese but not duck during the youth hunt. U.S. Rep. Pocan was wrong to oppose Kates Law U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan apparently is among those who still believe that illegal immigration is a victimless crime. He voted no on Kates Law, a bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives following the July 2015 killing of Kate Steinle by an illegal alien deported five times and who has seven felony convictions. Steinle, 32, was with her father on a San Francisco pedestrian walkway when she was shot and killed by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez. Lopez-Sanchez had been in the sanctuary city awaiting his sixth deportation but was set free because of a communications breakdown between the city and the federal government. Kates Law, which has been sent to the Senate for a vote, addresses the problems that led to Steinles death, but Pocan couldnt be bothered with making the issue of public safety one of his major priorities. Dave Gorak, Executive Director, Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration, La Valle The latest leg of the Keystone XL oil pipeline's regulatory slog kicked off in laborious fashion Monday. Attorneys for landowners who are trying to keep the pipeline from running under their fields quizzed representatives of pipeline builder TransCanada for about eight hours in a hearing before the Nebraska Public Service Commission at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel. Most of their questions focused on how TransCanada plans to avoid damaging land and other natural resources if it's allowed to build the pipeline, as well as what the company would do with the Keystone XL once it becomes unusable. "Can you think of anything more important to a future generation of Nebraskans than this question: Do we have to clean up TransCanadas abandoned pipeline? asked David Domina of Omaha, an attorney for the landowners. Tony Palmer, president of a TransCanada subsidiary that would oversee management of the pipeline if it's built, said the company won't commit to removing the Keystone XL at the end of its lifetime, nor will the company agree to set aside money in advance in case removal is required. Removing a pipeline is "very rare," Palmer said. He did, however, dismiss a pair of landowners' commonly held fears about the pipeline: that it might eventually be used to carry water from the Ogallala Aquifer, and that TransCanada would avoid paying taxes on the pipeline by receiving state tax incentives. Neither is true, Palmer said. The questioning grew heated at times, with Domina and partner Brian Jorde pushing back against restrictions on what kinds of questions they were allowed to ask. TransCanada lawyer James G. Powers of Omaha repeatedly objected to their questions as irrelevant or outside the scope of the Public Service Commission's review as allowed by state law. Retired Judge Karen Flowers, who is presiding over the weeklong hearing under contract with the PSC, asked the attorneys more than once to stop speaking over each other. Lets all try and be polite to one another," she said. The PSC is tasked with determining whether the Keystone XL is in the public interest, but it is prohibited from taking pipeline safety into consideration. The $8 billion pipeline would stretch 1,179 miles from Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska. About 50 people attended Monday's hearing, leaving hundreds of empty seats in the two hotel ballrooms reserved for the week. Everyone who testified Monday had already submitted written testimony in support of TransCanada's application seeking approval of the Keystone XL route. The hearing offered attorneys for intervening landowners, environmental groups, Native American tribes and labor unions, as well as members of the Public Service Commission, a chance to cross-examine TransCanada's witnesses. Most of that time was devoted to questioning by Domina and Jorde. The pair challenged TransCanada and its supporters on whether they can or would uphold their pledges to protect the landowners' property and the state's natural resources. Domina also questioned the legitimacy of an economic impact study conducted on behalf of pipeline supporters by Creighton University economist Ernie Goss. "This is not a paper that would be submitted for peer review is it? Domina asked Goss. Goss said his paper was written for a broader audience but used sound research methodologies. Sandra Barnett, a TransCanada environmental specialist, acknowledged that building the pipeline could lead to soil erosion, compression or contamination. "If those things occurred, they would not serve the public interest," she said. Palmer, the TransCanada executive, acknowledged under questioning by Domina that the company has yet to make a final investment decision on the Keystone XL. But outside the hearing, state Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion said he received a personal assurance from TransCanada CEO Russ Girling in a phone call Friday that the company is committed to building the pipeline. "That's the business they're in," Smith said. "It makes no sense for them to give up on this project." Newport on the east and west banks of the Wisconsin River was once believed to be a boom town, but instead disappeared. Paul Wolter, director of the Sauk County Historical Society, described the rise and fall of Newport to an audience of about 50 at the Frank Fischer Center Aug. 2. Wolter showed plat maps of the town that was located on a curve of the Wisconsin River near where Dell Creek enters the river. The Dell Creek area was where rafters between 1849 and 1856 put in after making it through the rapids and the Narrows in the Wisconsin River at the Dells. Wolter said in that period about 2,000 to 3,000 rafts came down the river each year with about 4,000 to 5,000 men working on them. The rafts supplied about 30 percent of the lumber used in the country. In 1849, a dam was built on Dell Creek submerging about 25 acres under water. The current Lake Delton covers 250 acres. The dam provided power for a sawmill and flour mill. A village started to grow in the area. On the east side of the river in what is now Newport Township in Columbia County, Joseph Bailey and John Marshall filed the plat for a town. Bailey later became famous as a Civil War general who saved the Union fleet on the Red River after it became stranded in low water. John Marshall was the father of Roujet de Lisle Marshall, who became chief of the State Supreme Court. In 1850, Bailey and Marshall received a charter to build a bridge to join the two sides of the town. No bridge was ever built, although a ferry operated between the two Newports. In the same year, Bailey and Jonathan Bowman platted 400 acres for the east side of Newport. Bowman and Bailey also tried to contact the railroad to get it to commit to crossing the river at Newport. The two met with Bryan Kilbourn, a Milwaukee railroad man. Wolter said Kilbourn had been with the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad which ran to Spring Green. However, he was accused of fraud with that railroad, but went on to found the Milwaukee and La Crosse Railroad. In 1854, John Marshall and John Norris platted the village of Newport on the west side of the river, or as Wolter said, our side of the river. The new plat had more lots for homes and businesses, a canal and a railroad depot. There were said to be 2,000 people in the west side village. Lake Deltons current population is 2,914 according to 2010 census. Wolter to find prices for the lots in the village checked with the Wisconsin River Title Company which still has the cards with the details and costs of lots sold in Newport. Lots started selling for $200 but rose to $1,500 in a year. About this time, Abraham Vanderpool bought lots and built Dawn Manor, the only structure still standing from Newport, Wolter said In 1854, the Wisconsin River Hydraulic Company received a charter to build a dam, but it planned to build a dam further up the river from Newport. The charter, Wolter said, would shield the company from claims for flood dam. In 1855, more lots were platted in Newport and for three to four years it was described as a happy community with all joining in to help each other and no castes. Mary Jenkins arrived in Newport to join her father, Dr. George Jenkins, who had arrived in 1850 and established a medical practice. Mary Jenkins arrived at the home of Dr. Jones, where she was renting a room and found them eating supper. Like many others in the village, Dr. Jones took in boarders. When Mary Jenkins arrived there was no railroad, the streets were sand, but everyone was happy, Wolter said. There were frequent parties, no class lines and a reading club, Mary Jenkins reported. In 1856, disaster struck Newport when the railroad announced it would cross the river at Kilbourn. Land prices took a tumble and people started moving with their homes. Gradually, the village died, Wolter said. The first sheriffs sale of foreclosed property took place in 1857, and eventually, lots in Newport were selling for 99 cents each. Vanderpool bought 44 more lots for less than a dollar each. He said five homes from Newport were floated down the river to Prairie du Sac. Some homes, including an octagon-shaped one were pulled to Baraboo. Wolter said that the Sauk County Historical Society found the round hole where the octagon house had been several years ago. Some homes were torn down so the lumber could be used for a new home; some were taken to Kilbourn with those from the west side of Newport taken across the river on ice in the winter. The whole east side of Newport was dragged to the Dells, Wolter said. Some houses were pulled to farms in the countryside. The last building to disappear was the Steele Tavern which was demolished in 1908. In 1861, Sauk County vacated the upper and western portions of Newport. Wolter also showed maps of Newport and the current appearance of the land. He remarked on how closely the early maps of the river corresponded to the latter appearance of the river as shown by contour maps from the Sauk County Geographic Information Service. Wolter also had on display a drum that had been made in Newport, Columbia County. Gov. Pete Ricketts heralded the vital importance of Nebraska's trade relationship with Canada as he embarked Tuesday on a five-day trade mission to "express appreciation" for that partnership and seek new Canadian trade opportunities. "As Nebraska's largest export market and fourth-largest agricultural export market, Canada is vitally important to the state," the governor said. The trade mission also will "help showcase how critical NAFTA is to Nebraska and our trading partners," the governor's office stated in a news release. Nebraska beef products are the state's No. 1 agricultural export to Canada, totaling $138.2 million in 2015. Pork exports to Canada totaled $61.3 million that year. After threatening to withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement during his presidential campaign, President Donald Trump now is focused on amending, or "modernizing," the treaty that binds the United States, Canada and Mexico. This trip marks Nebraska's first official trade mission to Canada. Ricketts and other Nebraskans will meet with government, agricultural and manufacturing officials in Toronto and Ottawa. Other officials from Nebraska include Agriculture Director Greg Ibach and Courtney Dentlinger, director of the Department of Economic Development. "International trade and engagement is a crucial part of our state's long-term growth," Ricketts said. "That's why my administration is continuously pursuing new strategies for expanding international markets, attracting new investment and building the state's profile internationally. "We are committed to maintaining a competitive edge in a global economy," he said. OMAHA Prosecutors say they've charged a Nebraska prison inmate whose state-required DNA test links him to four rapes reported more than 10 years ago in Omaha. Court records say a judge ordered Monday that Brandon Weathers be held for trial on four counts of forcible sexual assault one committed in 2002 and three in 2004. Weathers already is serving 100 to 160 years for raping a 13-year-old child. A June 5 court order gave officials authority to use force to obtain Weathers' sample, which he'd refused to provide despite Nebraska law requiring it. Guards held him down and took a sample from a cheek. Authorities said the Nebraska State Patrol lab connected the sample to the four cases. 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 India awards contract for fast reactor fuel cycle facility 08 August 2017 Share India's Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) has awarded Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) a contract worth INR 7.64 billion ($120 million) to construct a fast reactor fuel cycle facility at Kalpakkam. Designer's view of the IGCAR complex (Image: HCC) The scope of the work includes the construction of nuclear safety compliant structures for fast breeder reactor fuel processing plant, plus associated civil, electrical and mechanical works. The project is to be completed in 48 months. Fast breeder reactors feature as the second step towards India's long-term goal of establishing a fuel cycle to exploit its abundant thorium resources, using the plutonium produced in pressurised heavy water and light water reactors and breeding fissile uranium-233 from thorium. Construction work began on a 500 MWe prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu in 2004. Atomic Energy Minister Jitendra Singh in July told India's lower house, the Lok Sabah, that the unit will start up this year. The PFBR is being built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (Bhavini), a government enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Two further FBRs are planned for the Kalpakkam site. India has long planned for a facility to recover the unused plutonium and uranium, to be ready in time to process the first used fuel from the PFBR. The Indian government in 2013 approved construction of such a facility at Kalpakkam to cater for the PFBR and other fast breeder reactors. The fast reactor fuel cycle facility is the fourth construction contract awarded to HCC by IGCAR, with earlier contracts covering administrative blocks, township and the metallic fuel plant. The company is also executing DAE contracts at an integrated nuclear recycle plant for the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Tarapur and two pressurised heavy water reactors under construction at Rawatbhata. "With our well experienced team, we are confident of delivering this job on time with precision in quality, safety and state-of-the-art technology," HCC president and CEO Arun Karambelkar said yesterday. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Nuclear capacity could more than double by 2050, says IAEA 08 August 2017 Share The long-term potential of nuclear power remains high, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency's latest high case projection, which sees global nuclear generating capacity increasing 123% by 2050 compared with its current level. The IAEA has provided a comprehensive report on the international status and prospects for nuclear power twice a year since 2008. However, a resolution from the IAEA General Conference last year called for the report to be produced every four years, starting in 2017. The IAEA has now published its latest report, titled International Status and Prospects for Nuclear Power 2017, which report analyses the factors that could influence the future of nuclear power, such as funding and financing, electricity markets and public acceptance. If nuclear power's potential as a low-carbon energy source grows in recognition and advanced reactor designs further improve both safety and radioactive waste management, the use of nuclear power could grow significantly, the report says. In its high case projection, global nuclear generating capacity increases from 392 GWe at the end of 2016 to 554 GWe by 2030, 717 GWe by 2040 and 874 GWe by 2050. Nuclear's share of global electricity generation would increase from the current level of about 11% to 13.7% by 2050. This projection - which assumes that current rates of economic and electricity demand growth, particularly in Asia, will continue - reflects that 30-35 new reactors are expected to be grid connected annually starting around 2025. This rate of connections was last seen in 1984, when 33 new reactors were connected to the grid, the IAEA noted. However, it says 33 grid connections by 2025 "would require immediate action today". Although all regions of the world will contribute to this expansion of nuclear power, the largest growth is expected in central and eastern Asia, where capacity increases about 3.5 times by 2050, compared with current levels. Capacity in North American is expected to decrease slightly by 2050, while in Europe (excluding eastern Europe) capacity initially dips but recovers to reach 120 GWe by 2050. The IAEA said, "The decline compared to previous projections is mainly on account of early retirement or lack of interest in extending [the] life of nuclear power plants in some countries, due to the reduced competitiveness of nuclear power in the short run and national nuclear policies in several countries following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011." Low case projection The IAEA's low case projection assumes a continuation of current market, technology and resource trends with few changes to policies affecting nuclear power. It is designed to produce "conservative but plausible" estimates". It does not assume that all national targets for nuclear power will be achieved. Under this projection, nuclear capacity decreases from 392 GWe at the end of 2016 to 345 GWe by 2030, a further decrease to 332 GWe by 2040, before recovering to present levels by 2050. Nuclear's share of global electricity generation declines from the current level of about 11% to 6% by 2050. The IAEA noted that, although this projection appears to show no net growth in installed capacity through to 2050, it does not mean there is no new construction. "In fact, even in the low case, some 320 GWe of new nuclear power capacity will be installed by 2050, making up for the loss caused by retiring reactors, albeit not necessarily in the same regions." Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA deputy director general and head of the agency's department of nuclear energy, said: "In some countries, concerns about climate change provide an incentive to support continued operation of nuclear power plants, or are part of the argument for a new build program." He added, "Over time advanced technologies may become commercially available for consideration as part of a low carbon energy mix. More than 30 advanced water cooled reactors are already under construction worldwide. In the meantime, and in light of increased demand for clean energy, maintaining an operating fleet is necessary in order to bridge the gap between existing and next-generation technologies." The IAEA report notes the World Nuclear Association's vision for the future of electricity, referred to as Harmony. This is based on the International Energy Agency's 2DS scenario which aims to avoid the most damaging consequences of climate change and requires a large increase in nuclear energy. Harmony envisages a diverse mix of low-carbon generating technologies deployed in such a manner that the benefits of each are maximised while the negative impacts are minimised. The association's target for nuclear energy is to provide 25% of electricity in 2050, requiring roughly 1000 GWe of new nuclear capacity to be constructed. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics When news broke that the Justice Department plans to investigate whether university affirmative action policies discriminate against white people, it hit late night comedians like a ball of catnip landing in a room full of kittens. Particularly excited was "The Daily Show's" mixed-race host Trevor Noah. To the notion that white people might have it worse than black people, he asked sarcastically: "Where? In the sun?" "Finally!" he exclaimed. "You know how many times I go to colleges in America and say, 'Hey, where's all the white people?' If American colleges were any whiter, Jon Snow" -- a character on HBO's "Game of Thrones" -- "would build a wall to protect us from them." But, alas, nothing kills satire like complications. On Wednesday, a Justice Department spokesman said the investigation would be narrowly tailored to a single complaint filed in 2015 that accuses Harvard's undergraduate admissions process of discriminating not against whites as much as against Asian-Americans. On average, the complaint alleges, Asian students have to have SAT scores 140 points higher than white students, 270 points higher than Hispanics and 450 points higher than black students to be admitted. That's the sort of complication that kills the laugh in late-night humor for a lot of people, especially those who fear the possibility of what conservative critics have long called "reverse discrimination." It's only fair that DOJ look into possible discrimination by race, regardless of the race of the alleged victims. However, having covered this issue for more than 30 years, I also know that college admissions rely on more than grades and aptitude test scores. I also know that the sort of program that comes to many and, perhaps, most American minds when they hear "affirmative action" actually died years ago. It has since been replaced by something so much more pleasant-sounding as to seem downright patriotic. It's called "diversity." The new era began with the double-pronged 1978 decision in white applicant Allan Bakke's case against the University of California, Davis. That decision struck down the use of hard numerical racial quotas but upheld taking race into account as only one of several factors for consideration to improve diversity. That diversity standard has since been upheld in various forms by the high court's 2003 decision in the Grutter v. Bollinger case and again last year in the case brought by Abigail Fischer, a white woman, against the University of Texas at Austin. At the same time, more than a third of the country's population lives in states like California, Florida and Michigan that have banned race-conscious admissions in state universities in recent years. Yet all American colleges continue to seek "diversity," and they have been allowed to do so, as long as their selection process can withstand court scrutiny. It is also important to remember that affirmative action only applies to the nation's most selective schools. At most colleges and universities, a diverse array of applicants shows up and is admitted on its own. Now the diversity standard is being put to the test again. After decades of debate and very close Supreme Court decisions, Asians frequently have been mentioned alongside whites as possibly being penalized by affirmative action policies. Yet studies have shown the fraction of whites and Asians who might be penalized was small enough to pass court scrutiny. But with the new court, it is easier to speculate on the political impact of this issue than the legal outcome. Although President Donald Trump has supported each side of this debate at various times, he did not campaign on it. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, by contrast, has been so conservative as to give the department's civil rights division whiplash in reversing its leftward tilt in President Barack Obama's years. The larger question politically is: How much do voters really care? After a presidential campaign cycle that saw a surprising revolt by working-class white voters against elites, it seems like a nostalgic blast from the past to be arguing about discrimination in admissions to selective colleges. The best outcome ultimately would open up more opportunities for students, regardless of race, who are disadvantaged by income and struggling public schools. That's the sort of affirmative action that I think every American of goodwill wants, even when goodwill seems hard to find. A creole language is born out of a mixture of several various languages. The language is stable and natural, and it possesses a completely developed system of grammar as well as vocabulary. Nearly one hundred creoles have developed since 1500, most of which are based on European languages including Spanish, English, Portuguese, as well as French. A Brief Overview A creole develops from a pidgin language which after it is developed by adults, is adopted by their children as their indigenous language. This process is called nativization. The bulk of the currently-known creoles were developed in the last 500 years due to European colonization. Most of the creoles which took root in European colonies are now extinct because of stigmatization. Academic and political shifts in the recent years have led to the improvement of the status of creoles. Many creoles have in turn attained semi-official or official status in specific political territories. Some scholars have pointed out that pidgins and creoles arise independently of one another. History The origin of the word creole can be traced to the Latin word "creare" which means to produce or create. The particular sense of the word arose in the 16th and 17th centuries as the vast expansion of European maritime trade and power resulted in the creation of European colonies. The words crioulo and criollo were initially qualifiers used to differentiate between the individuals of an ethnic group who grew up locally from those people who immigrated as adults in the Portuguese and Spanish colonies. The terms and their various derivatives were subsequently adopted as the name of the numerous different ethnic groups which arose from immigrant communities. The term "creole language" was initially used to refer to the languages of any of the creole societies. Geographic Distribution Of Creole Languages The colonial European trade patterns facilitated the development of European-based creoles in coastal regions of the world's equatorial belt including western Africa, Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Goa in western India. Although most of those languages are extinct, some are still in use in Australia, the eastern and northern coasts of South America, the Caribbean, western Africa, and in the Indian Ocean. The creole languages of the Indian Ocean also have elements of Malagasy and probably other Asian languages. The Atlantic Creole languages have African and Amerindian elements. Some creoles such as Sango and Nubi are based on non-European languages. Examples Of Creole Languages Jamaican Creole arose in the 17th century when Central and Western African enslaved people learned and subsequently nativized the varants of English language spoken by their slaveholders namely Hiberno-English, British English, and Scots. The language, also called Jamaican Patois, has over three million speakers and it is the primary spoken form of language in Jamaica. The Krio language is used by 97% of the population of Sierra Leone. The language is indigenous to Krios, which was a society of nearly 300,000 descendants of former enslaved people freed from Great Britain, the West Indies, and the US. The language has been adopted as a second language by the rest of the population from different native tribes. Krio is yet to be accorded official status in Sierra Leone. Minnesota is a northern and midwestern state of the United States, admitted as the 32nd state on May 1858. It was formed from the eastern portion of the Minnesota Territory. Minnesota is famous for several lakes and is popular for the slogan Land of 10,000 Lakes. It is one of the largest and most populous areas of the US, with the majority of the population living in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, known as the "Twin Cities." The rest of the state is made up of western prairies and is mostly set aside for intensive agriculture. The state of Minnesota has one of the highest rates of voter turn-out and civic participation. Saint Paul Although Saint Paul (also written as St. Paul) is not the most populous city in Minnesota, it is the states capital. With a population of over 304,000 people, it is the second most populous city in state. Saint Paul is also the county seat of Ramsey County. It was founded as a commercial and transport center by the Native Americans and became famous when it was made Minnesota Territorys capital. Although Minneapolis is more popular, Saint Paul is host to the state government and some significant institutions in Minnesota. Regionally, St. Paul is known for some of the biggest attractions in Minnesota, including Xcel Energy Center and the Science Museum. Saint Paul, together with the Minneapolis, is also known for high literacy levels. Geography Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, Saint Pauls growth is tied to water. Its defining characteristic is the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers that was formed during the ice age. Saint Paul is located in east-central Minnesota, with the Mississippi River forming a boundary on some parts of the city. The city is bordered by other cities in Minnesota, including Minneapolis, Roseville, Lauderdale, and Maplewood. St. Paul covers an area of about 56.2 square miles, 52 square miles of which is land, and the rest is water. The city experiences a continental climate characterized by frigid and snowy winters, and warm to hot and humid summers. It also experiences full range precipitation and other weather related events, such as thunderstorms. Economy and Education The Twin Cities of Minnesota, which includes St. Paul, employs about 1.6 million people in the private sector. The city is a business hub for the Upper Midwest, hosting companies such as Ecolab, 3M Company, Gander Mountain, and Securian Financial Group Inc. St. Paul is also home to the Twin Cities Assembly Plant. St Paul is known for high literacy levels. The city has the second-highest number of education facilities per capita in the US. It has three public and eight private universities and several post-secondary institutions. Government St. Paul has a council government headed by the mayor, who is also the chief executive and administrative officer of the city. The legislative body is composed of seven members. The mayor is elected directly by eligible city residents, while council members are elected from different wards within the city. The mayor and the council members serve 4-year terms. As the capital of Minnesota, Saint Paul is home to the state capitol building, governors residence, and House and Senate office buildings. Raleigh is the state capital of North Carolina and is also the administrative capital of Wake County. Raleigh covers an area of 144.8 square miles and has a population of over 450,000 residents, making it the second largest city in North Carolina. Despite being the administrative capital of Wake County, a small part of Raleighs territory lies in a different county, Durham County. Raleigh is one of the fastest growing in the United States, and in 2015 the city was named by Forbes as the best place for businesses and careers. When Did Raleigh Become Capital? Bath was the first capital of North Carolina, from 1705 until 1722, and was also the colonys oldest town. Edenton was later picked as North Carolinas capital, from 1722 until 1743, when the seat of government was transferred to New Bern, which was then the largest city in North Carolina. During the American Revolution of the mid-18th century, British troops sieged New Bern, which prompted American authorities to select a new, safer located in which to establish a new capital. Raleigh fit that description, and was chosen in 1788 for its central positioning in North Carolina. The site had no prior settlement, making Raleigh one the few US cities to be established specifically as a capital. The city was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who founded the lost Roanoke Colony in North Carolina. Demographics of Raleigh Raleighs population has grown from the 669 persons recorded in the 1800 census to over 400,000. The city has a population density of 2,800 persons per square mile. Records from the most recent census show that 57.5% of the population is Caucasian, while 29.3% of Raleighs population is described as African American. Native Hawaiians are the smallest race in Raleigh, accounting for less than 0.1% of the citys population. Raleighs population is relatively young, where 36.8% of the population is below the age of 24 years. Statistics from 2000 show that the median annual income per household in Raleigh was $46,612, and 11.5% of Raleigh residents live below the poverty line. Economy of Raleigh Raleigh has a bustling service industry, which is one of its most significant economic contributors. The finance and banking industry is another important sector of Raleighs economy. North Carolinas Research Triangle, a large research complex is located in the city, is one of the largest research institutions in the United States. The research complex was established in 1959 and immediately impacted the economy of the city, as it quickly became one of the most important sources of employment for local residents. The biotech and pharmaceutical industries are also vital economics pillar in Raleigh. Several major companies in these economic sectors have headquarters in Raleigh, including Golden Corral, Waste Industries, Martin Marietta Materials, and Red Hat. Education System in Raleigh Raleigh was named by Time in 2011 as the third most educated city in the country, which is a testament to the citys excellent education system. Several world-class institutions of high learning have campuses in Raleigh, including Wake Technical Community College, Duke University, Shaw University, and North Carolina State University. The capital city of Zambia is Lusaka. It is one of southern Africas most rapidly developing cities. The city has a population of about 1.7 million. As of 2010. Lusaka is surrounded by productive farming areas. It acts as the political and commercial hub of the nation. Where Is The Capital Of Zambia Located? Lusaka is based in the southern part of Zambias central plateau. The city is based at an altitude of about 4,198 feet. The flat grasslands forming the landscape of Lusaka supports many farms. How And When Did Lusaka Become The Capital Of Zambia? The site that is now part of the thriving city of Lusaka was originally occupied by a village whose headsmans name was Lusaka. The village was based at the Manda Hill which is close to where the National Assembly building of modern Zambia currently stands. With the construction of the railways by the British, the settlement started to expand rapidly, beginning in 1905. In 1935, the British shifted their capital of the Northern Rhodesia colony from Livingstone to Lusaka. In 1964, the city was designated as the capital of Zambia, a newly independent nation. Today, Lusaka lures a large number of Zambians, foreign immigrants, and tourists. The central location of the city and the rapidly expanding infrastructure hold great promise for the future. It is the seat of the different branches of the government and hosts a diverse population. Climate Of Lusaka The climate of Lusaka can be described as a humid subtropical climate. The city experiences hot summers and warm winters. The two major seasons are the dry and wet seasons with the former lasting from April to October. The city receives an average annual precipitation of 836mm. The Demographics Of The Capital City Of Zambia Lusaka is home to several Bantu-speaking ethnic groups who constitute the majority of the citys population. A large section of the countrys population also include foreigners from other African nations as well as other parts of the world who come to the city for business, or as diplomats. English serves as the official language. Catholicism is the major religion of Lusaka. The Economy Of The Capital City Of Zambia The capital of Zambia, Lusaka, is one of the important commercial hubs of the country. The city has cement, shoes, and textile manufacturing industries. Food processing is also a major industry here. Beef, hides, dairy products, cotton, and tobacco are the other important products. The four major highways of the country radiate from the city. How To Reach Lusaka? The Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and the Lusaka City Airport are the two major airports located in the city. The former is connected to international destinations while the latter is used by the Zambian Air Force. Bus services connect Lusaka to surrounding towns and villages. Minibuses, other buses, and shared taxis act as the chief modes of intracity communication. What is the National Airline of Zambia? Zambia Airways was the national airline of Zambia until its collapse in 1994. During its establishment in 1964, the airline was part of the greater Central African Airways and operated three DHC-2 Beaver and two Douglas DC-3 aircraft. The airline operated flights to Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mauritius. After it became an independent airline in 1967, it acquired two BAC 1-11-207s and several HS.748s aircraft. Zambia Airways also leased a DC-8 from Alitalia which operated on the Lusaka - London route twice a week via Nairobi and Rome. In 1975 the DC-8 and the BAC 1-11s were replaced by Boeing 707 and Boeing 737 respectively. Freight soars 52.8% while the number of passengers increased by 22.39%. In 1971, Simon C. Katilungu took over as the chairman of the airline and immediately began talks with the Botswana, and in 1972 the airlines began direct flights between Lusaka and Gaborone. In early 1976 two Irish Stratoliners were delivered, and in June 1976 a B-737-2M9A arrived and began operating flights from Lusaka to Frankfurt. In August of the same year, the airline faced its first pilot strike that left the airplanes grounded for four months. On May 14, 1977, the airline experienced its first airplane crash when a Boeing crash-landed in Lusaka. In July of the same year, Zambia Airways received its first wide-body aircraft, a DC-10-30, which was a move that led the British government to limit the airline flights to London. On April 1, 1988, the DC-10-30 began flights to New York via Monrovia. In April 1989, Zambia airlines signed a pact with Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIA) in which the Asian carrier would provide computerization, engineering, accounting, and technical assistance. In May of the same year, the airline leased a DC-8-61 from Nationair, Ltd to double the flights to New York through Monrovia. In 1990 the airline acquired an MD-11, and in December it became the only airline outside of the US to order a B-757-23APF after leasing one from Ansett Worldwide Aviation. The Fall of the Airline By 1991 the airline employed about 2,130 people. However, the crisis in the Middle East at the time led to an increase in operational costs, particularly related to the cost of fuel. The airline was forced to terminate flights to New York, the number of passengers fell 37.2%. Furthermore, the order placed on the MD-11 was canceled due to a weak financial position. In 1993 the airline reduced its employees to about 1,900 and disposed a B-757-23APF. The government set off a restructuring program to save the airline from bankruptcy including the sale of several assets. In 1994 the government hired more employees and set off a plan to privatize the airline. The airline showed signs of recovering but still owed about $100 million in debt. On December 3, 1994, the airline ceased operations, all employees were dismissed, and the company was liquidated. The airlines DC-10-30 planes were sold to Monarch Air Lines, Ltd. in 1995. On July 2, 2017, the Minister of Transport and Communications stated that the government had plans to re-establish the airline although no official statement has been issued by the government. Tunisia is a North African country with a total area of 163,610 sq. km and a coastline of 1,148 km on the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Despite its relatively small size that is about the size of the US state of Wisconsin, Tunisia's north-south extent lends it great environmental diversity. The country has a moderate relief. As observed on the physical map above, the Tunisian Dorsal is a mountain range that runs in a southwest-northeast direction from Tunisia's border with Algeria in the west to the Cape Bon peninsula in the east. This mountain is an extension of the Saharan Atlas Mountains. Further north from the Tunisian Dorsal, the mountains of the Northern Tell (that include the Kroumirie Mountains in the northwest and the Mogods running along the northern coastline) can be found. In between the Tunisian Dorsal and Northern Tell Mountains lies the Medjerda River valley (shown on the map above). This valley features a series of ancient lake basins and is the country's most fertile grain-producing land. The Medjerda River is the only perennial river in Tunisia and its drains into the Gulf of Tunis. The High Steppes (in the west) and Low Steppes (in the east) lie to the south of the Tunisian Dorsale. They are cut by mountains running north to south. As we go further south, there is a series of depressions called chott. Many intermittent rivers flowing through the country end up in these chotts. Extending inwards from the eastern coastline are large plains called Al-Sahil and Al-Jifara. Most of the southern part of the country is a sandy desert and much of it is part of the Sahara Desert's Sand Sea, also called the Grand Erg Oriental. Most of the wadis here remain dry all year round and hence, access to water is a major concern here. Tunisia also has several islands. The Djerba Island marked on the map above is North Africa's largest island. It is located in the Gulf of Gabes. Mount Chambi (1,544 M) is the highest point in the country. At 17 m below sea level, Chott el Djerid is Tunisia's lowest point. RACINE Racine County residents wanting to end their dropout status may take part in a new program to obtain their general educational development certificate, commonly known as a GED. The YWCA is partnering with Gateway Technical College to provide instructional hours for a high school equivalency diploma program. Gateway President Bryan Albrecht was on hand for the first class of the program Monday at Racine County Workforce Solutions, 1717 Taylor Ave., which is providing the classroom space and other support. You have made a huge choice for your future, Albrecht told the inaugural class. Albrecht, a past GED administrator for the State of Wisconsin, said he was excited about the programs kickoff. There is no more important time in our local history than right now to be preparing yourself for some of the new emerging jobs in our economy. Being a part of that conversation is really inspirational to me, Albrecht said. Racine resident Jose Mora, 23, dropped out of school when he was 17 and has struggled to raise a 6-year-old son with his fiancee. I want to get my family right, and the first step is getting my high school diploma, Mora said. Working third shift as a machine operator, Mora hopes the new HSED program he started Monday will be another step to get him on a better career path. When I was younger, school wasnt important to me, Mora said. Im older and Im applying for jobs and your high school diploma is important to you. Something you really, really need. Thats something Im going to stress with my son as he gets older. GED vs. HSED With a 94 percent graduation rate, YWCAs PI 5.09 High School Equivalency Diploma program is based on schoolwork rather than standardized testing. Students 18 years or older attend classes for 12 hours per week over a 20-week period. Omunique Monroe, 25, dropped out of Park High School when she was a junior and didnt have the right support at home to complete a GED, she said. Ive been going back and forth, studying at my own pace, and I would never get done. With a kid and other priorities, this is now a priority for me. Im tired, but I have to be here to finish the program and I like that about it, Monroe said. As a certified nursing assistant working at a Kenosha nursing home, she hopes to advance into an registered nursing program or business management and have more responsibility and income potential. In 2014, the GED program changed from a paper-and-pencil examination to an online test and became more challenging, affecting test scores in a negative way, according to Jennifer de Montmollin, the YWCA Southeast Wisconsin chief program officer. Nationwide and across Wisconsin, the test scores dropped tremendously, said de Montmollin. We knew the test was a problem. Now the HSED program the YWCA is offering with its county partners is another option for people who need a different path to complete the competency evaluation. Its a misconception that everyone knows how to use a computer because they have (smart) phones, said de Montmollin. This program is based on classroom attendance, classroom participation, assignment completion as well as test scores. Its really more like traditional high school. This is another option besides the GED. Its very different than a GED; this builds hope, said de Montmollin. Hope is something Mora feels more tangibly today. Hearing about the group activities appeals to me because I can bounce ideas off of other people and they can help me through it, Mora said. Mora and Monroe said they hope to complete the program in December. For more information on the test through the YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin, contact Katie at (262) 638-6703 or by email at katie.kasprzak@racinecounty.com, or Jake Gorges at jgorges@ywcasew.org. General Election Expenses Examined Candidate Has No Idea On 5k Donor This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 8th, 2017 The General Election may feel a long time ago however the paperwork on expenses has only just been made available for public inspection, so we have had our customary look yet a rule change means we have less detail to examine. The submitted spending return forms are in this template (PDF) and record the details of campaign spending on items or services used during the period known as the short campaign. This starts when a person becomes an official candidate and ended on polling day itself. In 2015 we delved into the reams of paperwork and invoices, with print outs from Facebook advertising detailing which specific posts were boosted for how many clicks, how much cash MOJO (also known as NWN) made from the election advertising, and who had been lending their trailers to which candidates. This gave a level of detail where we could say who spent 6 on a t-shirt and who the supplier was, or which candidate bought A-Z maps or Welsh skimmed milk. In 2017 the picture is very different, there were no invoices just a dry sanitised form with entries such as 300 as per invoice, with said invoice absent. We enquired if we were able to inspect invoices, but were told that was not possible as the documents are held locally for a couple of years before shredding, only to be passed to the Electoral Commission if there is an issue. The audience form indicates service as per invoice could be invalid, noting an entry should contain Details of the item or service used, which should include the name and address of the supplier where this not on an invoice submitted with the return. As usual there was UK wide spending by various parties that appeared on a local level in Wrexham and Clwyd South. The Electoral Commission guidance advises candidates to think of it as party and candidate spending rather than local and national. Such definitions are subject to interpretation, but generally letters from party leaders explaining policy are seen as national despite possibly benefiting a local candidate, but jackets with party emblems on worn by canvassers locally are seen as a local spend. If a party leader, senior party member or similar are transported around the UK and give general speeches or the like that can be treated as national spend rather than local. The Electoral Commission guidance points that knocking on doors or canvassing for the candidate could mean all or part of that trip should be included on a local candidate return. No information we saw on any election expense form for Wrexham or Clwyd South referred to specific trips or visits by such individuals. The forms include notional spending, which is the calculated or estimated difference in value between the commercial rate for an item or service and the price paid. Often supporters will provide a candidate with something at a discounted rate, but the real value still needs to be recorded on the forms. Due to the lack of invoices we cant give the blow by blow run down as we did in 2015, but we have noted some detail below from what we have read on the forms for 2017. There could well be further detail on invoices or the like, however the below is based on the information provided to us when requested: Wrexham Candidates The winning candidate Labours Ian Lucas declared spending of 10,169 to get elected notably donating 1,000 personally to his own campaign. Mr Lucas attributed 100 value to using House of Commons IT equipment, along with 500 for what we think was the Unite Union office on King Street for Campaign HQ Hire. Mr Lucas had a number of smaller donations under the 50 declaration limit, totally 125. The funding for the campaign came via personal donations, union support (4000) and a new More United cross party crowdfunder (2000) Mr Lucas told us: Funding was from a combination of sources, people were very generous both large and small individual donations. I am obviously very grateful to individuals who kindly donated to the campaign to support me. I am also very grateful to collective organisations be it trades unions who were very generous, or More United which is a crowdfunding source. The individuals included S Whiles who donated 1,000 and Kevin Smith who donated 5,000. Speaking of a highly competitive election, he added: Due to the supporters I have I was able to fight a well funded campaign, I was quite touched by the support I had, not just from donors giving money but volunteers who gave a huge amount of time and organisational effort. We related our frustration at the lack of invoices for inspection for any of the Wrexham or Clwyd South candidates this year to the now MP who described the situation as clearly odd, and he pointed out that if anyone wished to check anything they would have to see the invoices. Mr Lucas return also listed he had reused 150 of signage and wooden stakes with an attributed value of 150. Conservative candidate Andrew Atkinson declared total election spending of 11,849 covered by donations from the local Conservative association and national party, plus a 5000 donation from Brexit Express with an address in St Vincent House in London. Brexit Express is an entity that no longer exists, but appears to be a venture from Jeremy Hosking, a multimillionaire asset manager who offered 138 Conservative candidates 5000 each to ensure an army of pro-brexit MPs were elected. The sum had to be applied for by candidates. The Guardian quotes Mr Hosking unironically explaining his vast election spending as He said that he was prepared to spend heavily in order to secure the sovereign future of this independent-minded democracy. We asked Mr Atkinson who Jeremy Hosking was, with the initial reply of I have no idea, why?. We explained we thought he was the man behind Brexit Express and outlined the views behind the Brexit Express project. Mr Atkinson said He is someone who kindly donated to my campaign and I am very grateful. We then reminded him that the donations appear to be application based, I applied for the money and someone kindly donated the money. We asked Mr Atkinson if he had won would he have been part of a brexit army, I would not have been part of anyones army. If someone wants to donate money to my campaign because they are content with my political views then that is great. No money donated would have any bearing or influence on any decisions I would have made as the MP. Mr Atkinson spent 1,348 on unspecified various payments, with digital and social media noted at 3,213.53. Digital appeared to be the bigger spend with perhaps more traditional mail services at 2231.44. Mr Atkinsons photoshoots with a Routemaster bus was declared at a notional value of 300. Plaid Cymrus Carrie Harper had a very short form with 1,530.95 which was fully funded from a donation from the local party group. The spend was listed for leaflets, postcards and Facebook adverts (66.95). We outlined the issues regarding not being able to see invoices to her, and Carrie Harper told us: The lack of information surrounding election expenses is a serious worry because it means political parties can effectively buy elections if theyre not stringently regulated. Both Labour and Tories spent huge amounts of money and receive donations from either trade unions or large multinationals. By contrast, every penny of Plaid Cymrus spending in Wrexham was raised by our members and supporters in the constituency. Some of the figures need scrutinising more carefully and its disappointing that the actual bills werent available to examine. Many pieces of literature were sent out by the central parties in particular those letters from Theresa May and havent been put on expenses. I dont accept that its a national spend when the letters refer to Wrexham. Theres a real danger that the party with the deepest pockets will win elections and funding from outside Wales will determine who succeeds here in Wrexham. That cant be right. A yet shorter form was from Carole OToole, the Liberal Democrat candidate. The total spend was noted at 871.80 with the expenditure being almost totally on leaflets. 40 of personal expenses was also noted, 20 on travel and 20 on phone usage. The full cost of the campaign was met by a donation from the local party. We did ask Carole for comment ahead of this article and will add in any reply that is forthcoming. Conducting a very unscientific to vote polled conversion for Wrexham we make it Lucas 59p per vote, Atkinson 77p per vote, Harper 87p per vote and OToole 1 a vote. Clwyd South We also looked at the Clwyd South set of returns for all candidates, which were also entirely vanilla without the backup of invoice documentation. Winning candidate Susan Elan Jones for Labour had the highest overall declared spend out of both constituencies we looked at with 12,437.45 funded via a donation from the local party. The Conservatives and Labour were the biggest spenders by a large margin both into five figures, with Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and UKIPs candidates not reaching that total combined. The only possible issue we spotted in all the forms we examined was Conservative candidate Simon Baynes form listing total spend of 10,165.45 in section 3b of the form however did not have matching 3a entry that was 1,396.04 . The form does note Total spending for 3a should equal the total spending for 3b. The spending for the 10,165 was listed in the documentation however we could not spot detail for the 1,396 notional spending. In one quirk UKIPs Jeanette Bassford-Barton noted her deposit of 500 on the expenses document in a possible attempt at belt and braces approach although it was not required to be declared. Of course the opportunity to inspect the documents will be known to all readers due to the highly read statutory notice telling everyone buried in the back of newspaper. However it appears we are the only ones to have taken a look so far. If you have four hours to kill you can rewatch the count below Teenager Injured In Clywedog River This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 8th, 2017 A teenage boy was injured after an incident in the Clywedog River by Felin Puleston yesterday evening. Several people were in touch after ambulances and a four wheel drive vehicle arrived to assist an individual who was injured in or by the river near Felin Puleston last night, believed to have suffered a broken leg. North East Wales Search & Rescue (NEWSAR) assisted, and said: Assisted Welsh Ambulance Service to recover an injured young man from a difficult access water location near Wrexham. Get well soon from all the team. John sent us the top picture of two ambulances at the scene around 7:30pm, with the following appearing on the NEWSAR twitter feed: CALLOUT: Assist @WelshAmbulance to recover injured young man from waterside location near Wrexham. Get well soon. pic.twitter.com/RrVQ6MyJd0 NEWSAR (@newsar) August 7, 2017 The Welsh Ambulance Service told us this morning: We were called at shortly before 5.05pm yesterday afternoon to reports that a boy was injured in the river near Felin Puleston, Wrexham. We sent two crews in emergency ambulances and a teenage boy was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. The Democratic Party unveiled a new portion of its Better Deal program Wednesday, August 2, in which it adopted wholesale the economic nationalism of President Donald Trump and his fascist adviser, Steve Bannon. Many of the proposals are implicitly or explicitly directed against China, the main target of US imperialism in the Asia-Pacific region. In a supplementary document, A Better Deal on Trade and Jobs, the Democratic Party adopts the economic nationalist demands promoted by Trump, the trade unions and Senator Bernie Sanders, including cracking down on countries that allegedly manipulate their currency (mainly China) and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). A Better Deal, as the World Socialist Web Site wrote after its unveiling, is a transparent exercise in empty sloganeering and threadbare rhetorical populism. It combines the weakest reforms imaginable, such as a $15 hourly minimum wage that is unlikely to be implemented and would still be wholly inadequate, with blatant pro-business measures, including tax credits for businesses to train and hire workers. At the unveiling on July 24, progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren called the Democratic Partys new policies pro-market. In many ways, the economic-nationalist elaboration on the plan released last week is even more pro-capitalist. The concrete proposals amount to trade wars against competitorsespecially Chinaand open defiance of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and arbitration. A Better Deal on Trade calls for a supposedly independent trade prosecutor to receive petitions from businesses and unions and unilaterally punish countries without authorization from the WTO. The plan also says that the trade prosecutor would examine WTO decisions and determine to what extent the US should comply with the WTO decision. Implementing such a program would represent a dramatic breakdown in economic relations and spark the outbreak of trade wars. The other six main proposals are equally reactionary. In calling for the creation of an American Jobs Security Council, the supplement denounces Russian and Chinese state-owned enterprises (SEOs), and demands that any purchase of US assets by certain countriesmost likely including Chinabe heavily scrutinized by this council. Discussing the renegotiation of NAFTA, the plan denounces unfairly traded and dumped products from countries outside the [North American] region and calls for a more balanced trade between the three countries [the US, Canada and Mexico]. This is the language used by Bannon and Trump to justify their economic nationalism and demagogically posture as defenders of the forgotten man and the American worker. Moreover, A Better Deal on Trade adopts the longstanding demands not only of Trump, Bannon and Sanders, but also of large sections of the trade-union bureaucracy. Since Trumps election and inauguration, the trade unions have pledged to collaborate in efforts to line up American workers with the Trump administration and corporate America, including a Buy American and Hire American campaign. In December, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka urged Trump to work with the unions in enacting his right-wing America First agenda. The United Steelworkers union and its president, Leo Gerard, have demanded trade-war measures against China for alleged overproduction of steel. The Democrats Buy American campaign would apply to federal tax dollars spent on public works and infrastructure projects, requiring that the funds be spent with US firms. Given the highly integrated nature of the global economy, this proposal is both reactionary and impossible. US firms often manufacture goods in other countries, foreign firms often manufacture goods in the US and almost every product is made with a combination of US and non-US inputs and labor. It also calls for restrict[ing] the use of waivers of Buy America rules for products from non-market economies. China is the most commonly mentioned country that supposedly has a non-market economy, due to the governments residual role in the economy through some major SEOs remaining from the Maoist period. A Better Deal on Trade also proposes [a] tough currency manipulation law that punishes countries, like China, that unfairly manipulate their currency. Such a law would allow the Department of Commerce, currently led by billionaire asset stripper Wilbur Ross, to levy duties against countries supposedly manipulating the currencies, essentially announcing that the US can use currency manipulation as a pretext to start trade wars. Finally, the plan includes levying tax penalties on companies that outsource jobs while granting tax credits to companies that move jobs into rural areas or insource back into the US. This measure would include a 20 percent tax credit on the cost of relocating production and jobs back to the US. The embrace of economic nationalism by the Democratic Party, as well as sections of the Republican Party represented by Trump and Bannon, should be taken as a stark warning to workers in the US and internationally. Just as the world is more economically unified than ever before, and when workers in the US must unite with their class brothers and sisters in other countries to defend their interests, both big-business parties in the US, along with the unions, are dividing workers along national lines. The prospect of a trade war with Chinawhich could very well lead to a shooting war between nuclear-armed powerscannot be ruled out, especially now that the Democrats have signaled their support for such measures. The trade unions pioneered the economic nationalism now endorsed by the Democratic Party leadership. The supplement on trade underscores the reactionary nature of A Better Deal as a whole. The paltry reforms included in the program, including the $15 hourly minimum wage, are unlikely to be implemented by a Republican or Democratic Congress. The proposals most likely to be implemented are the right-wing ones, including tax credits for businesses and the newly announced proposals along economic-nationalist and trade-war lines. A growing number of leading left-wing websites have confirmed that their search traffic from Google has plunged in recent months, adding to evidence that Google, under the cover of a fraudulent campaign against fake news, is implementing a program of systematic and widespread censorship. Truthout, a not-for-profit news website that focuses on political, social, and ecological developments from a left progressive standpoint, had its readership plunge by 35 percent since April. The Real News , a nonprofit video news and documentary service, has had its search traffic fall by 37 percent. Another site, Common Dreams , last week told the WSWS that its search traffic had fallen by up to 50 percent. As extreme as these sudden drops in search traffic are, they do not equal the nearly 70 percent drop in traffic from Google seen by the WSWS. This is political censorship of the worst sort; its just an excuse to suppress political viewpoints, said Robert Epstein, a former editor in chief of Psychology Today and noted expert on Google. Epstein said that at this point, the question was whether the WSWS had been flagged specifically by human evaluators employed by the search giant, or whether those evaluators had influenced the Google Search engine to demote left-wing sites. What you dont know is whether this was the human evaluators who are demoting you, or whether it was the new algorithm they are training, Epstein said. Richard Stallman, the world-renowned technology pioneer and a leader of the free software movement, said he had read the WSWSs coverage on Googles censorship of left-wing sites. He warned about the immense control exercised by Google over the Internet, saying, For peoples main way of finding articles about a topic to be run by a giant corporation creates an obvious potential for abuse. According to data from the search optimization tool SEMRush, search traffic to Mr. Stallmans personal website, Stallman.org, fell by 24 percent, while traffic to gnu.org, operated by the Free Software Foundation, fell 19 percent. Eric Maas, a search engine optimization consultant working in the San Francisco Bay area, said his team has surveyed a wide range of alternative news sites affected by changes in Googles algorithms since April. While the update may be targeting specific site functions, there is evidence that this update is promoting only large mainstream news organizations. What I find problematic with this is that it appears that some sites have been targeted and others have not. The massive drop in search traffic to the WSWS and other left-wing sites followed the implementation of changes in Googles search evaluation protocols. In a statement issued on April 25, Ben Gomes, the companys vice president for engineering, stated that Googles update of its search engine would block access to offensive sites, while working to surface more authoritative content. In a set of guidelines issued to Google evaluators in March, the company instructed its search evaluators to flag pages returning conspiracy theories or upsetting content unless the query clearly indicates the user is seeking an alternative viewpoint. The WSWS will continue to expose and fight Googles program of political censorship, but we need the help of our readers. Please share this article by email and social media, donate to the WSWS, and sign up for email updates . CALEDONIA The Central Racine County Health Department reports that a dead crow found in Racine County has tested positive for West Nile virus. This is the first bird that tested positive for West Nile virus in Racine County since surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began May 1st of this year. The positive bird means that residents of Racine County need to be more vigilant in their personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites, said Margaret Gesner, health officer. West Nile virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire the virus by feeding on infected birds. Racine County residents should be aware of West Nile virus and take some simple steps to protect themselves against mosquito bites, Gesner said. The West Nile virus seems to be here to stay, so the best way to avoid the disease is to reduce exposure to and eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Precautions The Central Racine County Health Department recommends the following precautions: Limit time spent outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. Apply insect repellant to clothing as well as exposed skin since mosquitoes may bite through clothing. Make sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquito entry. Properly dispose of items that hold water, such as tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or discarded tires. Clean roof gutters and downspouts for proper drainage. Turn over wheelbarrows, wading pools, boats, and canoes when not in use. Change the water in birdbaths and pet dishes at least every three days. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs; drain water from pool covers. Trim tall grass, weeds, and vines since mosquitoes use these areas to rest during hot daylight hours. Landscape to prevent water from pooling in low-lying areas. Symptoms, odds The majority of people (80 percent) who are infected with West Nile virus do not get sick. Those who do become ill usually experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache, rash, and fatigue. Less than 1 percent of people infected with the virus get seriously ill with symptoms that include high fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, mental confusion, tremors, confusion, paralysis, and coma. Older adults and those with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of developing central nervous system illness that can be fatal. The Department of Health Services has monitored the spread of West Nile virus since 2001 among wild birds, horses, mosquitoes and people. During 2002, the state documented its first human infections and 52 cases were reported that year. During 2016, 13 cases of West Nile virus infection were reported among Wisconsin residents. West Nile virus infections in humans have been reported from June through October; however, most reported becoming ill with West Nile virus in August and September. The Wisconsin Division of Public Health will continue surveillance for West Nile virus until the end of the mosquito season. To report a sick or dead crow, blue jay, or raven, please call the Dead Bird Reporting Hotline at 1-800-433-1610. For more information on West Nile virus, visuwww.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/ArboviralDiseases/WestNileVirus/Index.htm A Socialist Equality Party team has been campaigning in Ladbroke Grove, ahead of the public meeting, Grenfell FireSocial Murder: A crime against the working class. Munira is a survivor of the fire, who escaped from Grenfell Tower with her husband and children. She lived there for nine years, while her husband and their three children were all born there. Describing how she escaped, Munira was critical of the emergency services advice for residents to stay in the burning tower: It was around 12:30 a.m. when we left, she said. We have lost a lot of people. They were told, Stay, we are coming to help. I called my friend at nearly quarter to three [more than two hours after the fire started] and I told her to calm down. Some people were told by the fire brigade they were going to bring a mask. If you are going to rescue people why dont you carry a mask with you? By telling them to go down and come back up again, how many lives are gone? Asked who she held responsible for the fire and loss of life, she said: The main people are Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Council. We were against all this [putting flammable cladding on the towers exterior]. We had meetings and signed petitions. We said no, but they didn't listen. They just went ahead and did it. We are signing a petition calling for all the cabinet to resign. They should be punished; they shouldnt do this to anybody else. We said we were not happy about the cladding. What is it for, to look good? They built a new school [with similar cladding]; they wanted to match with it. Residents faced major problems with the lifts that used to break down every day. My friend lived on the 23rd floor with two kids. She had to walk up and down every two or three days. She had to do that with the buggy and a baby. I would call the school and say I cant come in because the lift has broken down. They kept doing that for the past two years when they were doing the refurbishment. Munira lost many friends in the inferno: I know about 15 familieshusbands, wives, grandparents, children, aunties, about 30 people. A friends dad died in the lift, but the coroner said he threw himself out of the window. It was on the 18th floor. There was a family of five, but they have only found one body. Where are the rest of the bodies? We pray that whoever has done this will get punished. We know they did it intentionally to get rid of us. I am saying this because since I got married, not one single day have we called the council for benefits or anything. My husband works day and night to provide for us. The only thing we get is for my father, but he worked in this country for years. Regarding the council allowing gas pipes to be put in the stair wells, Munira said, We said, no. Some people had the boiler put right in front of the entrance [to a flat]. So if you had furniture ... they put in hot and cold water pipes, they had to box them in. ... The guy came to ask permission to put the pipes in. I asked why couldnt they be replaced where they were and they said it was too expensive. So again it is all about saving money. My father-in-law has dementia and they would come and make him sign. Thats what Rydon, the contractors, did. They made him sign papers saying he was happy with their work, even though he wasnt happy. People I know were independent, they worked like any other people. They pay taxes in this country like anyone else, so I dont know why they classed us like this. They [the government and council] are the real cheaters. Munira has no faith in the public inquiry: The public inquiry is part of them, but we will stand together. We will fight them. She thanked the Socialist Equality Party for its fight to establish the truth about the fire and its demand that those responsible be brought to justice: The support is making us stronger, and we are grateful people have come out to support us. They [the government and local council] didnt expect society, the community would come out to support us. Juliette, a retired catering manager, said, I am from Queens Park. Its about 10-minutes walk from here, along the Harrow Rd. I think people were totally ignored because they are poor. Nobody cares about what they say. So to me, this is social cleansing. Even after the fire happened, nobody came to helpsomeone to give you food and water, anything. But nothing happened. After today, the money that people have raised online has been handed over to the Red Cross. Why would you give the Red Cross money when you know the Red Cross gives money to their executives? It doesnt go to the people that it is intended for. Why is the money being given to them? Where are the survivors, how many people died? When are we going to be shown the pictures of the people who survived in the newspapers? They knew the cladding was flammable, but they wanted to cut costs to the tune of 10 million. It doesn't make sense. They could have built a new building instead of revamping the one they had already. On the public inquiry being led by ex-judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, she said: I dont understand why they have appointed rich people to lead the panel to deal with people they dont really understand. Their social status is different. The woman they appointed [as council leader, Elizabeth Campbell] has no clue about living in the tower building, what is entailed in everyday life. Asked what she thought about the fact that the police were pursuing corporate manslaughter charges, Juliette said: This was murder. They knew it was flammable, but they wanted to use the cheapest option they had. You cant gamble with peoples lives. You cant do that. On why no one had yet been arrested by the police, Juliette said, I think the people involved are also those that run the companies that made these products, so how can they be arrested? And they are selling to the same companies. They are all interlinked. So what are they investigating? Who is going to arrest them? They are all in each others pocket. I was on the bus to Edgware and you can see this tower building with same type of cladding being put on. Why are they still using it? Are they going to bring down 100 buildings in London? Its really sad. Our children are going to grow up knowing that with their social status, they dont really count in this day and age. On social cleansing in the area where she lives, Juliette said: I understand there is a gym, a council gym, that has been sold. We signed a petition to stop that happening. I think more than 100,000 signed it. But it doesnt matter what you say or what you vote for, they dont listen. Hunger is a growing problem for US children and increasingly affects their performance in school, making it more difficult for them to focus on their classes or do homework. It also contributes to behavior and discipline problems. This was the finding of a report issued last week by the anti-hunger charity Share Our Strength, based on a survey of 500 low-income parents and their teenage children in public schools. Some 325 teachers were also interviewed. Low-income was defined as at or below 185 percent of the official poverty line, or $45,417 a year for a family of four. Among children in low-income families, 59 percent said they had gone to school hungry. In the richest country in the world, with the largest concentration of billionaires, one in six children faces hunger, some 13 million in all. The survey found that 59 percent of the parents reported that their food ran out before they could buy more; 48 percent couldnt afford to buy enough food each month; and 23 percent had been forced to cut the size of their childrens meals because of a lack of money. Children were under increasing stress from hunger. Some 55 percent of children knew their parents were worried about running out of money for food, while 35 percent shared their parents fear. Among those teenagers in low-income families, 42 percent experienced sadness caused by hunger and 41 percent experienced anger for the same reason. Many teenagers reported deliberately going hungry to make sure that younger siblings could have enough to eat. One 15-year-old told the survey, I feel like real hungry is different. Its like when your stomach growls. Its like when your stomach is almost in pain for me. Thats what real hungry is. A 16-year-old said, My focus is different when Im hungry. Im gonna be thinking about which one of my classmates has food. Im gonna be thinking about which one of them might share. Among low-income families, 92 percent had at least one adult in the household working full-time, part-time or in multiple jobs. Hunger is thus the byproduct not only of poverty, but of the precarious and contingent character of so many jobs and the lack of any meaningful social safety net. Among low-income parents, 64 percent said that a single unexpected large billa $1,500 car repair or medical expensewould make it difficult to feed their children. Hunger is an increasingly serious obstacle to learning. Among teachers questioned in the survey, 92 percent said that hunger had an impact on their students learning, 80 percent saw loss of concentration, 62 percent saw behavior problems, and 47 percent saw students suffering additional health problems. Nearly three out of four teachers regularly saw students come to school hungry, and nearly two-thirds of teachers reported regularly buying food for students who were not getting enough to eat at home, spending an average of $300 a year of their own money. Children had an overwhelmingly positive response to their schools providing breakfasts and lunches. Three quarters said school meals helped them feel better, pay more attention, behave in the classroom and get better grades. Brian Minter, a spokesman for Share Our Strengths No Kid Hungry campaign, said, Hunger exists in nearly every community in America today. Its an urban problem, its a rural problem, and it has come to our suburbs. It is also a solvable problem. He noted that programs like food stamps, school meals and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) had a major impact in alleviating hunger. But these programs are targeted for severe cuts, if not outright destruction, in the budget proposals of the Trump administration and congressional Republicans. According to a report published Thursday by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), the House Republican budget plan, scheduled for a vote in early September, would slash $2.9 trillion from programs for low-income and moderate-income families over the next ten years. This includes a cut of $150 billion from food stamps alone, a reduction of 40 percent. According to the CBPP, A funding reduction of this magnitude would end food assistance for millions of low-income families, reduce benefits for tens of millions of such families, or some combination of the two. State governments would be enlisted to do the dirty work, by transferring to them the authority to reduce benefits and increase eligibility standards. The budget would also limit community eligibility, which allows schools in high-poverty areas to provide free school meals to all students without documenting the income of each individual students family. Cuts in low-income entitlement and discretionary programs account for half of all the cuts in nonmilitary programs proposed by the House Budget Committee, although these programs make up only one quarter of the federal budget. The CBPP estimated that the Republican budget would cut the proportion of gross domestic product devoted to social spending for low-income and moderate-income families from 2.1 percent to only 1.0 percent in 2027, the lowest percentage figure since 1966, when the Johnson administration launched its so-called War on Poverty. While the Trump administration and the congressional Republicans propose to deal with the deepening poverty and social misery by deliberately making the conditions worse, the Democratic Party offers no alternative. The Democrats are not demanding hearings over hunger or the impact of the proposed budget cuts. During the month-long legislative recess, when senators and representatives sponsor political events in their states and districts to highlight issues of concern, the Democrats are focusing on allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 elections and alleged collusion by the Trump campaign as part of a broader effort to whip up a war fever directed against targets of the Pentagon and CIA, in the first instance Russia. There are no events spotlighting the dire conditions of life for tens of millions of working people. As for the Democrats latest political offering, the so-called Better Deal program unveiled last week, it makes no mention of poverty, hunger, homelessness or even unemployment, proposing to use the power of the federal government to boost the interests of small business and entrepreneurs and defend Main Street against Wall Streeti.e., favor one section of business against another. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents in California have been targeting construction workers who sued their employers over unpaid wages, according to state labor department officials. Since November ICE agents have shown up at least twice at California labor dispute cases in Van Nuys and Santa Ana, both heavily immigrant areas in Southern California, looking to apprehend undocumented workers who brought claims against their bosses, the state agency said in a memo issued last month, which was cited by the Los Angeles Times. In January, ICE contacted California state officials requesting information on another investigation into labor law violations at several construction sites in Los Angeles. It is telling that ICE is showing greater interest in undocumented troublemakers than in the employers that exploit them and cheat them of their wages. The ICE agents who came to the Van Nuys and Santa Ana offices asked for the specific workers involved in the proceedings by name, and arrived within a half hour of when the meetings with employers were supposed to begin, Julie Su, Californias Labor Commissioner, told the Times. Su told the newspaper that she suspects the accused employers tipped off federal immigration agents about the status of the workers. The timing of wage hearings is not public, and generally the worker and employer are the only ones who know that information outside of the agency, the newspaper reported. Su declined to name the employers in either case, or the construction contractors involved in the investigation that ICE had called about. Saying that the ICE agents presence would have a substantial chilling effect on the willingness of workers to report violations the Labor Commissioner issued a memo last month mandating that state employees prevent ICE agents from entering the Labor Departments offices without a warrant. According to a Times report last week, staff members are being instructed to ask ICE agents to leave our office, including the waiting room, and inform agents that the labor commissioner does not consent to entry or search of any part of our office. At best, the commissioners order will only delay such actions by ICE, which has seen a vast increase in its powers under the Trump administration. In Los Angeles and other Southern California cities, construction is one of the largest employers of undocumented workers, along with garment, trucking, car washes and restaurants. Many of those workers are paid piecework rates that, when translated into hourly pay, amount to less than half of Californias $10.50 hourly minimum. In trucking, many immigrant and non-immigrant workers are cynically categorized as self-employed or independent contractors, denied benefits and forced to pay for the leasing and operating costs of their vehicles. According to the Times, at Los Angeles garment shops, piecework rates often add up to a hunger wage of $4.00 an hour. The presence of ICE agents in the California Labor Courts is part of a pattern in which ICE intervenes at courthouses, schools, churches and public places across the nation to carry out the detention of possible undocumented immigrants. In March, undocumented immigrant Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez was picked up by ICE officials, while dropping off his daughters at school in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles. On May 13, in Sacramento, California, ICE harassed churchgoers at the Vida Church, according to Pastor Alex Vaiz. One of his congregants saw ICE agents in the parking lot of the church and raised the alarm. The agents were very armed with three vehicles wanting to intimidate the community, specifically immigrant parishioners of the church, declared the pastor. The ICE agents left, after being confronted by Vaiz, only to return and remain outside of the church. This year ICE agents have also been spotted hanging around the Pasadena courthouse and in the vicinity of several Los Angeles public schools. Tom Torkaso, California Superintendent of Public Schools, has called on school districts to declare themselves sanctuaries and Tani Cantil-Sakauye, California Chief Justice, has called on ICE to stop stalking California Courts. With growing public opposition to the witch-hunting and mass deportation of immigrant workers, the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Transit System (BART), which transports tens of thousands of workers each day, discussed a resolution in June that offered sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. The BART authorities passed a more defensive resolution, which avoided the use of the word sanctuary, but mandated BART employees not to cooperate with ICE unless forced to by a court order, or state and federal laws. The presence of ICE agents in state labor courts coincides with a more aggressive campaign by employers to threaten workers with deportation if they complain about wage theft, unpaid wages and harsh working conditions. Sweatshop employers have used the courts against their own workers 58 times this year, compared to 14 during the first seven months of 2016. The 35,000 cases of so-called wage theft filed each year by documented and undocumented workers is only the tip of an iceberg. Facing constant intimidation undocumented workers forgo demanding their rights out of fear that they will be picked up and deported. In addition, workers are discouraged from filing legal action because most of the cases drag on for years in labor courts, with no guarantee of success. According to the Legal Aid Association of California, despite the abundance of wage theft claims filed in California, few workers ever end up getting the back pay that they are entitled. And even when workers do receive a judgment in their favor, many of them only receive up to 42% of the back wages they are owed. This data applies both to immigrant and non-immigrant workers. The anti-immigrant campaign by the Trump administration was prepared during Obamas eight years in office. The pace of ICE detentions and deportations under Trump is only now reaching those under Obama, the Deporter-in-chief. According to Human Rights Watch between January 2011 and June 2015, 292,221 adults entered the nine ICE detention facilities in California, a yearly average of 65,000. In November 2016, 41,000 were being held in the state, a record number, according to Bloomberg News, with only a small portion coming from other states. In 1994, in the largest march ever in Los Angeles, hundreds of thousands of Californian workers and youth, immigrant and non-immigrant, protested State Proposition 187which barred so-called illegal aliens from using non-emergency health care, public education and other state services, and mandated police to turn suspected undocumented immigrants to federal authorities. There is widespread opposition to Trumps policies. A CNN poll published in March found that 60 percent of Americans said the nations top immigration priority should be to develop a plan to allow those living in the US illegally to gain legal status, with 90 percent supporting citizenship for those who hold a job, speak English and are willing to pay back taxes they owe. New Orleans experienced flooding on Saturday across large swaths of the city after a heavy rainstorm passed over it. The system dumped up to 10 inches of rain in some portions of the city over a three-hour span. The event has demonstrated once again that New Orleanss infrastructure is in utter disarray, once again leaving the city unprepared for the years hurricane season, which began on June 1 and officially ends on November 30. Flood waters reportedly have damaged structures and vehicles in Mid-City and Treme, as well as in Lakeview to the North. All three neighborhoods are located in some of the lowest areas of the city, in large part comprising working class neighborhoods. The flooding shut down major roadways, including multiple lane closures on the citys interstate system. Many areas of the city still remained flooded into Sunday, with emergency responders and city officials towing abandoned vehicles and engaging in cleanup operations. Luckily, no deaths were reported. Though officials expected rain for both Sunday and Monday along with the possibility of additional flooding, the citys residents were spared from any further disaster. Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other city officials dragged their feet on requesting an emergency declaration from the Louisiana state government over the weekend, with Landrieu instead urging residents to stay clear of flooded areas and clean out any debris in their catch basins ahead of future rainfall. Saturdays flooding was the second such event in under a month. More than four inches of rain fell over the course of an hour on parts of New Orleans the afternoon of July 22, after which many streets in the Mid-City area were flooded as city pump systems were unable to cope. The flooding caused many businesses to close, and major intersections were shut down. The Louisiana State University Dental School was also forced to close due to basement flooding. The city of New Orleans, which is located in a subtropical climate and built predominantly on drained swampland, is highly prone to flooding, particularly in poorer and working-class neighborhoods such as Gentilly, New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward. Excepting thin strips of elevated land along the natural banks of the Mississippi River to the south, where generally wealthier neighborhoods and the citys downtown and French Quarter district are located, and along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain to the north, most of the citys neighborhoods lie significantly below sea level. This creates the infamous bowl effect that resulted in 80 percent of the city being flooded for weeks after widespread levee failures during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, killing roughly 1,500 people and displacing hundreds of thousands. Little has been done, either before or since Katrina, to adequately protect this major American city from catastrophic flooding. Flooding is so common that it has virtually become a part of the daily life of the residents of the city and the region. Even during thunderstorms that are moderate by the standards of the region, residential streets and highway underpasses throughout the city frequently become impassable and basements often flood. Because of the citys bowl-shaped geography, rainwater must be pumped out of the city by 24 pump stations operated by the citys Sewerage and Water Board (SWB). This pump system, which is more than 100 years old, can remove one inch of rain over the course of the first hour after being activated, and a half-inch over each subsequent hour. Initial claims that the pumps were fully operational during last weeks storm were contradicted today by an admission from the SWB that 7 of the 121 pumps, which are distributed throughout the 24 pump stations, were not operating during the flood. However, they claim that this had no significant impact on drainage of floodwaters In Sundays press conference, SWB Executive Director Cedric Grant dismissed any fault with the city pumping system. This is the capacity that we have, he told reporters, which is as much capacity as any pumping station in the country. Grants remark is unintentionally revealing, making clear that not a single American city has infrastructure capable of dealing with such heavy rainfall. He went on to state that the rains are part of the current climate change era and that any upgrade to the city pumping systems would cost billions of dollars in funds the city does not have. In reality, there are more than enough resources available to prevent flooding in New Orleans and other major cities. However, existing systems have suffered from decades of neglect and decay as successive administrations at the local and federal level have diverted funds to finance the profiteering of American capitalism. The decades-long postponement of planned upgrades to the citys levee system, for example, led directly to the disaster of Katrina, a disaster which was entirely preventable. In the aftermath of the near-destruction of New Orleans, the ruling class did not respond with a massive infrastructure program to rebuild the city and provide housing and good-paying jobs to workers whose lives were destroyed in the disaster. Rather, they seized upon the opportunity to convert the city into a test bed of privatization and pro-market restructuring, most notably with mass layoffs of public school teachers and the total conversion of the citys public schools into privately run charters. Today, nearly 12 years after Katrina, tens of thousands of residents have yet to return. The most recent flooding event is yet another expression of the growing threat of climate change. August of last year was the warmest month ever recorded, following July, the second warmest month ever recorded. This is significant because higher air temperatures increase the capacity of the air to store water vapor, with the greater potential downpour in the event that water vapor turns into rain. This new disaster comes only one year after the catastrophic flooding in and around the state capital of Baton Rouge last August. It occurred when a slow-moving low-pressure storm system dumped as much as two feet of rain throughout East Baton Rouge, Livingston and St. Helena parishes over the course of 48 hours. The system resulted in roughly two feet of rain being dumped on a region of 800,000 residents over two days. Massive flooding, exacerbated by inadequate and neglected drainage, killed 13 and rendered many thousands homeless. Some 146,000 homes were damaged by the flooding, many of them significantly. More than 30,000 people had to be rescued, many from their vehicles as they sought to flee the flood zone. More than 11,000 people were jammed into shelters that were hastily made available by local authorities. Tens of thousands more were without electric power, and repair efforts were hampered by inundated roads. The agricultural impact alone of the flood was at least $110 million, according to the Louisiana State University AgCenter. The worst flooding happened in predominantly rural areas without adequate access to emergency services. The greatest rain volumes were recorded at White Bayou in Zachary, with more than 26 inches and in Livingston, with more than 25 and a half inches. In Tangipahoa, East Feliciana, Washington, Ascension, Lafayette, Iberville and St. Martin parishes, where flooding occurred less, the rainfall amount was equal to a 100-year event. However, it is widely acknowledged by climate scientists that such severe weather events are likely to become much more common as a consequence of man-made climate change. Following the unilateral imposition of new sanctions by the United States against Russia, tensions between America and Europe have sharpened dramatically. The sanctions, adopted by a large majority in the US Congress, are being interpreted in Germany as a trade war measure against Europe. The sanctions take aim at energy exports from Russia, which is the largest gas exporter and second-largest oil supplier in the world. Not only will the conclusion of new deals and the building of pipelines be affected, but also the maintenance, modernisation and repair of existing pipelines, which are extremely significant for energy supplies to Germany and other European countries. Leading politicians, media outlets and business representatives are accusing the US of attempting to damage Europe economically by restricting energy imports and forcing up prices. Since Qatar, another major gas exporter, is being blockaded by the US ally Saudi Arabia, a global shortage of gas is threatened. Another charge being leveled against the US is that it is using the sanctions to bolster exports by its domestic shale gas and oil industries. German firms doing business with Russia are fearful of problems emanating from the United States. The predominant feeling is one of great uncertainty, said Martin Wansleben, chief operating officer of the German Chamber of Industry and Trade (DIHK). If the activities of German companies in the US are restricted due to the Russia sanctions, this would prove to be an Achilles heel due to the significance of US trade for Germany. The US is also being denounced for intentionally working to divide the European Union. Poland and the Baltic states are firmly opposed to the building of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, against which the sanctions are aimed. Since the pipeline would directly connect Russia with Germany and bypass their territories, these states fear a Russo-German alliance at their expense. As a result, the concern circulating in Brussels and Berlin is that in a conflict with the US, Poland and the Baltic states would side with Washington and break the EU apart. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker once again threatened the US with tough counter-measures after US President Donald Trump signed the sanctions into law last Wednesday. If the US sanctions concretely disadvantage European firms doing business with Russia in the energy sector, the EU is prepared to respond appropriately within days, Juncker said. We are prepared. We also have to defend our economic interests against the US, and that is what we will do, he declared. The conflict over the Russia sanctions is the highest point thus far of a confrontation that has been developing for some time. The economic and political interests of the US and Europe, and Germany in particular, are colliding with increased frequency. One example is the sharp differences over the measures the US intends to adopt against steel imports from China. Although the EU also accuses China of dumping steel at low prices, it fears that Washingtons punitive tariffs will also hit European producers. Rumours are circulating that the EU Commission has already developed plans to respond to US tariffs within days by imposing restrictions on agricultural imports. A study by the German government-aligned Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) published at the end of July and entitled Trade policy: Continuing confrontation with the US called for an escalation of trade war measures. It proposed restricting US imports where this would noticeably reduce the profits of US firms and affect a large number of jobs in the US. One example it identified was services, including the financial sector, in which the EU, unlike in the trade in goods, has a surplus. The confrontation is therefore being pursued not only by the United States. Germanys ruling class has been attempting for years to become the leading power in Europe so as to be able once again to play an independent role as a world power. It is engaged to this end in a major military buildup. This is bringing Berlin into conflict with US imperialism, which is defending its position as the dominant world power with brutal military force. If one follows the discussions in policy-making circles in Germany, it becomes clear that they view a confrontation with the US as inevitable and are systematically preparing for itand not just since the election of Trump and the adoption of his America First policy. It is significant that the Russia sanctions, which Trump initially opposed, were based on majority support from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. The German Society for Foreign Affairs (DGAP), which together with the SWP is Germanys leading think tank, published a 40-page dossier on foreign policy challenges for the next federal government. It reads like an instruction manual for a German militarist great power policy. Significantly, it identifies as the first of a dozen foreign policy challenges the political and economic risk factor of the US. The other chapters, which deal with German interests in Russia, Asia, the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) and Europe, repeatedly identify the US as an opponent and rival. In dealing with Russia, the US is also a significant element of uncertainty, it states, and adds, similar risks are emerging in the Asian area due to the growing competition between the US and China. The dossier begins by documenting what the German government has already accomplished in strengthening Germanys international and European role, and assuming more responsibility in the world: German engagement in the European Union, the role of a leader against Russia, German army interventions in the Middle East and as part of UN missions in Africa, the stationing of German troops on the territory of NATO allies. It describes the EU as the most important multi-lateral trading area for Berlin and sees France as a strategic partner in this. The authors obviously take the view that Emmanuel Macrons version of Make France Great Again, notwithstanding the tensions it will produce, is at least temporarily compatible with the German desire for more independence from the US, especially on the issues of a military buildup, the creation of a European army, and joint military interventions in Africa. The dossier draws two conclusions from its analysis. First: Foreign policy is being made in Germany. For this, German foreign and security policy, i.e., the military, requires more resources. In addition, using power politics requires changes in the mental coordinates of German foreign policy-makers, who must be prepared as a last resort to choose the option of national power. Second: Foreign policy is being made for Germany. The authors understand by this the necessity of mobilising a social base for German militarismor, as they do, writing in a restrained manner about the tasks of foreign policy. It must represent Germanys interests, they write, and therefore convince the public about the integrity of the operation. Another author, journalist Jorg Lau of Die Zeit, has already called on the DGAP website for the federal election to be turned into a campaign for rearmament and militarism. He sharply criticised opposition to the plan of raising the military budget to 2 percent of GDP, writing, Instead of making the federal election a referendum on an allegedly dangerous military buildup, we should clarify the German population on the new logic of German security policy: We have to spend much more on defence, not because of, but in spite of Trump, not because he commands it, but because we want to counterpose something to his aimless policy. In this, all of the established parties support Lau. Then-Social Democratic Party (SPD) Chairman Sigmar Gabriel declared immediately after Trumps assumption of power that his trade war measures towards Asia and Latin America also opened up chances for us. If US protectionism results in new opportunities emerging for Europe throughout Asia, we should take action, he said. Shortly afterwards, Gabriel moved from the Economy Ministry to the Foreign Ministry and adopted a much tougher line towards the United States. He is being outdone in this only by the Left Party. Sahra Wagenknecht recently called in Handelsblatt for countermeasures from Berlin against the US, which she described as a rogue state that is acting to gain a cheap advantage for its own gas industry. Now a clear line towards Washington [is] required, the Left Partys lead candidate said. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP) is the only party standing in the September federal election against war and militarism, placing this at the centre of its programme. Together with our comrades in Britain, France, the United States and around the world, we struggle for the international unification of the working class on the basis of a socialist programme. The SGP opposes the European Union, a tool of capital and militarism, and fights for the United Socialist States of Europe. In the face of the rapid growth of militarism and the war danger, the SGPs election campaign takes on tremendous significance. It is politically preparing the working class and youth, which will bear the brunt of militarism, for the coming class battles that will inevitably arise out of the mounting social tensions. An emergency special meeting of members of federal parliament from the ruling Liberal Party yesterday averted, for now, a split and the possible fall of the Turnbull government over the issue of same-sex marriage. Liberal MPs were summoned to Canberra a day before todays resumption of parliament after a six-week winter recess. The urgency and timing of the meeting reflect the fact that the divisions over marriage equality are bound up with deeper and broader rifts wracking the fragile government and the entire parliamentary establishment. Despite days of speculation that Liberal backbench supporters of gay marriage would potentially cross the floor of parliament and vote for a supposed marriage equality bill, only seven MPs reportedly spoke in favour of such a bill during yesterdays closed-door meeting. After a two-hour session, the majority of MPs decided to stick with the governments current policy of delaying any legislation on this basic legal and democratic right by again trying to push a bill through the Senate for a compulsory national plebiscite. If, as seems almost certain, the Senate again rejects such a plebiscite, like it did last November, the government is threatening to conduct a voluntary postal plebiscite. This would be legally non-binding, unreliable and open to bias and rigging. According to legal experts, such a ballot would be illegal also without legislation to specifically authorise it. The government cannot afford defections on this, or any other issue, because it holds only a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives and just 29 of the 76 seats in the Senate after last years double dissolution election called by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Even though the opposition Labor Party declared it would not treat a vote against the government on gay marriage as a no-confidence motion that could bring down the government, such a vote could let loose the wider tensions tearing the government apart. The lead-up to the meeting saw warnings by socially conservative Liberals, supporters of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and members of the National Party, the Liberals rural-based coalition partner, that any move for a free conscience vote in parliament would trigger a split with the Nationals and moves to oust Turnbull. National Party MP Andrew Broad made the threats public. He told the Sunraysia Daily: If the Liberals come out with a conscience vote, it wont be me only, the whole show would blow up Turnbulls leadership would become untenable and hed no longer be prime minister. Theyd push for [immigration minister] Peter Dutton or [health minister] Greg Hunt as leader and deputy leader or wed be going to a general election. Despite such threats, the issue remains fraught and the outcome unpredictable. One of the seven Liberal MPs supporting a conscience voteWarren Entschhas threatened to re-open the divisions by introducing a private same-sex marriage bill into parliament if the Senate rejects a plebiscite. Reportedly, however, a number of concerns were ventilated during the meeting about a postal vote. Speaking before the meeting, another gay marriage bill proponent, Senator Dean Smith, branded a postal vote a D-grade response to what is a defining A-grade social issue. Marriage equality is an elementary issue of democratic rights that should have been recognised long ago. Same-sex couples and their children face discriminatory limitations on the rights afforded to married couples in areas such as inheritance, parenthood, adoption, guardianship and health care benefits. Media polls show two-thirds backing for marriage equality, with higher levels of support among young people. However, the bill proposed by Entsch and Smiththe marriage amendment (definition and religious freedoms) billwould still deny equality by pandering to the homophobic prejudices of religious fundamentalists and others. It would allow ministers of religion, military chaplains and a new category of independent religious celebrants to refuse to marry couples on grounds of sex, sexuality and family status. Bodies established for religious purposes could legally refuse to provide facilities, goods or services. The impasse over same-sex marriage is just one expression of an intensifying crisis over the past decade that has confronted successive Labor and Liberal-National governments, none of which have lasted a full three-year term. At the heart of the divisions that have torn through each government since the 2008 global financial breakdown is the question of how to impose on an increasingly disaffected and hostile population the agenda of austerity and militarism demanded by the corporate elite. Millions of working class people are experiencing the destruction of full-time jobs, falling real wages, soaring prices for housing, utilities and other essentials, and deteriorating schools, healthcare and other social services. At the same time, big business is demanding a far deeper social assault. The Australian today reported that spending cuts and tax levies in the governments May budget worth at least $12 billion over the next four years could become zombie measures, blocked in the Senate. These include a 2.5 percent Medicare levy to raise $8.2 billion, random drug testing of welfare recipients, and tertiary education cuts of $3.7 billion. The reference to zombie measures recalls the cuts to education, health and welfare that the Coalition government, then led by Abbott, failed to push through the Senate from the 2014 and 2015 budgets. Now, as then, the Labor, Greens and crossbench senators, mainly right-wing populists, are terrified of committing electoral suicide themselves if they vote for the measures. There are no real differences in the political establishment on slashing social spending in order to impose the burden of the underlying economic crisis on the working class. But the rifts on gay marriage reflect divisions over how to achieve that end. Abbott and the social conservatives are competing with Senator Corey Bernardis breakaway Australian Conservatives and Senator Pauline Hansons One Nation in trying to mobilise religious forces. They are also appealing to anti-immigrant chauvinism, nationalism and militarism in a similar vein to Donald Trump in the US, as a means of diverting the immense social discontent in reactionary directions. MPs like Smith and Entsch, who have taken up the marriage equality issue, represent right-wing, pro-business elements who are seeking to build a base of support among so-called progressive upper-middle layers on the basis of gender, sexual orientation and other forms of identity. By declaring support for a marriage equality bill, Labor and the Greens are making a similar pitch. Hypocrisy abounds all round. Worried by opposition from Labors own social conservatives, the last Greens-backed minority Labor government also blocked same-sex marriage calls from 2010 to 2013. This helped prop up Prime Minister Julia Gillard as her government deepened cuts to education and other social programs and ramped up the attack on refugees. Now Labor leader Bill Shorten, a key Gillard minister, is claiming to be both a champion of gay rights and an opponent of social inequality. A Labor-led government would be no less intent on imposing the requirements of the corporate elite, regardless of whether it enacted marriage equality. Latin America Nationwide strike by educators set in Chile Following an August 5 national assembly, Chiles College of Professors union announced a strike for August 17. The nationwide stoppage will protest the recent passage of a law called New Public Education (NEP), which union president Mario Aguilar said does not resolve the great problems in Chilean education and maintains the logic of the market, further threatening public education. The walkout will also protest delays in payments of wages and benefits owed by some municipalities. About 70 teachers from one community, San Fernando, began a march August 4 to Santiago to demand an audience with president Michelle Bachelet and the education minister. Public education in Chile has never recovered from the free market policies instituted under the Pinochet dictatorship. University education is currently in Chile among the most expensive in the world. During her long tenure Bachelet has confronted a series of protests by students and educators demanding progressive educational reforms, struggles that have been betrayed and derailed by the trade union bureaucracy. 72-hour strike by Uruguayan anesthesiologists over pay dispute The Surgical Anesthesiologists Syndicate (SAQ) in Uruguay called a three-day strike August 2-4 to demand that the State Health Services Administration (ASSE) comply with agreements reached in 2007 and ratified in 2008 and 2010. According to the SAQ, the ASSE had agreed to equalize pay for the 2,000 anesthesiologists, but failed to carry out the promise. The ASSE claims that the pay adjustment has been carried out, and refused to respond to the walkout. The SAQ will meet to decide on further action. The action follows a recent 24-hour general strike July 20 by public and private sector workers to demand that the government of President Tabare Vasquez increase public investment. It was the second nationwide protest strike called this year. The first one was held in June. Colombian hospital workers strike for overdue pay Workers for the University Hospital of Santander (HUS) in Colombia walked off the job August 5 following failed talks with Darsalud, their contract employer, over unpaid wages for the last three months. Striking workers protested in front of the hospital, intermittently blocking the entrance and declaring their resolve to continue their industrial action until they have been paid. Over 1,200 HUS employeesdoctors, nurses and administrative staffare owed wages for May, June and July. Workers reps have met both with HUS and Darsalud management in the past and obtained promises and partial payments, but say that they will not return to work until they receive full payment promptly. All but emergency services have been stopped. Nicaraguan public transit workers strike over infrastructure improvement demands Public transport drivers in the city of Boaco, Nicaragua stopped work on August 3 to press their demands for infrastructure improvements. The drivers struck after having submitted several fruitless petitions to the city council of Boaco, the capital city of the department of the same name. About 50 buses were grounded by the action. Among the outstanding problems mentioned in the petitions were: the woeful condition of the roads, which become virtually impassable in times of rain, and cause severe damage to the vehicles; the state of disrepair of the municipal market terminal, which is saturated with commerce and deteriorated, according to a Nuevo Diario report; unregulated taxi traffic, which, by driving outside the city, takes business away from the interurban buses. The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure (MTI) set up a meeting with the Multiple Passenger and Cargo Cooperative of Boaco (Cootrabo) and the Mayoralty of Boaco August 4. After five hours, the parties emerged to announce that Cootrabo had called off the strike after the city agreed to repair the roads, earmark the improvements of the terminals in next years budget and regulate the taxis through a permit issued by the MTI. The parties scheduled another meeting for August 8. The United States Seattle concrete drivers give strike authorization Concrete truck drivers in the Seattle area at five sand and gravel firms are set to strike after giving unanimous thumbs down to managements latest contract proposal. The contract for the 294 drivers and support workers expired July 31. The workers are determined to gain a wage increase after enduring years of a pay freeze, putting them behind other construction workers. In a statement a management spokesman wrote, Proposals put forth by the union continue to be unrealistic and not economically sustainable. The owners have pledged to continue operations in the event of a strike. Downtown Seattle is in the midst of a construction boom fueled by the expansion of tech companies such as Apple, Google and Facebook. More than 1,000 are reportedly moving to the region each week. Some 30,000 residential units are currently under construction. While the workers are in a potentially powerful position the Teamsters have not set a strike date and done nothing to mobilize other workers behind the cement truck drivers. Canada Workers strike Thunder Bay, Ontario car dealer Thirty-six workers at Lakehead Motors in Thunder Bay, Ontario went on strike August 2 after the company refused to respond to a contract offer from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Workers including technicians, auto body and parts workers among others, voted to strike after working without a contract since March of this year. Issues in dispute include wages and pensions, but the union says it is only asking for the same terms that were agreed on with four other dealerships in Thunder Bay where a new contract provides for a wage increase of 8 percent over three years. In addition, mechanics at the dealership are asked to work up to 16-hour days including training and travel time, for which they are not compensated. The employer is having cars serviced elsewhere during the strike but the union has warned the public that this means their cars are not being repaired by certified technicians. Toronto legal aid workers set to strike Workers at West Toronto Community Legal Services (WTCLS) have voted to go on strike after the employer cut their monetary offer in half in retaliation for an appeal by their union to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB). The workers at WTCLS, which is funded by Legal Aid Ontario, provide legal and housing support to low-income and disabled people in the area. After rejecting the employers latest offer workers delivered a unanimous strike vote to their bargaining agent, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Union negotiators had launched an appeal to the OLRB to have a new paralegal position included in bargaining that the employer wanted excluded. The employer claims that the funds withdrawn from their final contract offer are needed to fight the challenge. RACINE The Racine County Sheriffs Office has identified the victim in the Saturday afternoon near-drowning at Quarry Lake. The victim is Najee I. Sherrod, 23, of Racine, according to a news release issued Tuesday morning. As of Tuesday evening, Sherrod remained in critical condition at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. Sherrod was pulled unconscious from Quarry Lake after reportedly getting entangled in a fishing line. He was originally transported by South Shore Fire Department paramedics to Ascension All Saints Hospital, then was flown to Froedtert. The call came into the county 911 dispatch center at about 4:36 p.m. The man was rescued by Garret Sustacheck and pulled to shore by bystanders at the park, who began CPR on Sherrod. A Racine police officer assisted. GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida Highway Patrol says a person died Monday as a result of a vehicle crash in Gadsden County on I-10 near mile marker 168. Trooper say Lindaura Alvarez, 48, was killed after stopping to check on her daughter, who was driving in another car in front of her and hydroplaned off the roadway. A semi truck was unable to avoid Alvarez's car and collided with her car then traveled off the roadway and into the center median. The trailer of the semi overturned onto Alvarez's car. Both cars came to their final rest in the median facing west. MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL Weather Now app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Police have arrested Adrienne Debose in relation to a firearm incident at 1833 West Tennessee Street at the Coliseum nightclub on Saturday, August 5. Officers working security detail in the parking lot were notified by a citizen that a black male was flashing around two guns. As officers approached the suspect, they saw him holding a gun as he got into a car attempting to leave the area. Realizing the threat at hand, the officer stopped the car and detained the suspect. After the police conducted an investigation, they located two loaded 9mm handguns, crack cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. One of the handguns had been reported stolen to TPD earlier in the year. The investigation also revealed Debose as a Florida Convicted Felon and could not legally possess the firearms. Debose faces the following charges: Possession of Firearm by Florida Convicted Felon pursuant to Florida Statute Carrying a Concealed Firearm pursuant to Florida Statute Possession of Cocaine pursuant to Florida Statute Possession of Paraphernalia pursuant to Florida Statute Officers transported Debose to the Leon County Jail for processing and confiscated the handguns. RACINE The Racine Education Association eked out a victory at the hands of the Racine Unified School Board, which voted 5-4 Monday to defer a vote on the proposed changes to the employee handbook. Dozens of teachers packed the board room at Mondays meeting to hear the debate among the School Board members. No timeline was set for the district to complete revisions until the superintendent establishes an authentic collaborative process with employees and union representatives, as stated in the motion. There was an attempt to have the changes completed before the Sept. 11 School Board meeting. but with the school year set to begin on Sept. 5, Superintendent Lolli Haws said it would be a difficult task for the district to complete. School Board members John Heckenlively, Steve Hooper, Julie McKenna, Michelle Duchow and Michael Frontier voted in favor of the deferment; and Matthew Hanser, Brian OConnell, Dennis Wiser and School Board President Robert Wittke voted against the deferment. Angelina Cruz, president of the REA, said the union was not involved in the revision process and shes hopeful to come to some agreement with the district to change that. I am thankful to the board members that recognize its important to have the voices of the employees involved in the major changes in this district, Cruz said. Im glad we finally have the opportunity to sit down and really get to do the work of the district with the administration. Cruz said the employee handbook is a topic parents should care about. The proposed employee handbook that they were considering severely limited teacher voice, Cruz said. Thats a concern of parents because were the first ones to speak up and speak out for their children. Issues with Act 10 There were questions regarding whether the current employee handbook complies with Act 10, which bars public employees from negotiating for benefits. Specifically, the legality of the Board of Adjustments was questioned by Wiser. The Board of Adjustments is defined by the current handbook as being comprised of equal representation of the District and the authorized representative of the teaching staff. It will convene at least quarterly (in January, April, July and October) to consider the appropriate level of benefits, plan design, structure, premium contributions and all other issues related to health, dental and disability benefits. Frontier said its important to have the employee handbook comply with state law, but recognized teachers dont feel like an equal partner in this process. Because this decision is essential to a strong teaching learning community, which were all about, we need to put this behind us in a reflective and compassionate way, a way thats not heartbreaking, Frontier said. Hanser said the School Board has been working with the district for nine months to come up with an appropriate handbook. Im extremely frustrated at this point, Hanser said, adding someone contacted his employer about this topic. Ive been in education for 24 years it is not OK to be calling my employer so that I have to take time out of my work day to address that concern. That individual who did that will remain nameless, but please know that when you do things like that, you drive the wedge further. Wittke said the School Board had an opportunity to do what the members were elected to do. If there were concerns, we had several months to voice those concerns and formulate other responses or formulate other things to put into this, Wittke said. With the vote to defer the handbook changes until a collaborative process takes place between the district and its employees, a new employee handbook could be months away and could be finalized during the school year. Wittke said the School Board was given an opportunity to lead and hes disappointed the changes werent approved. Im trying to understand where are we going now with this to do something different? What is in there that is not acceptable? Wittke said. I think we had a real opportunity here to set a totally different tone on how the board operates ... we had a chance to put in a process that meets challenges and finds solutions and instead we fell short. But thats why theres nine people elected, thats why theres a vote, you have to go through the process and go from there. Carlos Angeles, a student at Perry Technical Institute, cleans up the site of a new home construction project in West Valley during his shift with Artisan, Inc. in Yakima, Wash., Monday, Aug. 7, 2017. Angeles is working with the construction company in an externship until fall classes resume. (SHAWN GUST/Yakima Herald-Republic) The Yakima City Council could send a letter in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals after its next meeting. MADISON President Donald Trumps administration has decided to extend funding to house homeless veterans at state homes near Union Grove and at King in Waupaca County. State officials learned late Friday they would receive the money for another year to give them time to consider overhauling their programs to qualify for more permanent funding. State officials learned in June that federal reimbursements for the homeless housing programs at Union Grove (Dover) and King would end in September. The state Department of Veterans Affairs had lost a federal grant of about $500,000 for its Veteran Housing and Recovery Program at the Southern Wisconsin campus in Dover, 21425 Spring St. The program serves 28 people. The funding system was changed to make money available through competitive grants. Other states changed their operations, but Wisconsin didnt. State Veterans Affairs Secretary Daniel Zimmerman said he didnt make changes because federal officials assured him Wisconsins funding was safe. Among those questioning the cutoff of funds for homeless veterans was House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Zimmerman stated on Saturday: After significant outcry from the veterans community and pressure from legislators nationwide, USDVA Secretary (David) Shulkin ordered a one-year reprieve on grant denial enforcement. However, despite numerous reports stating that this reprieve is automatic, such appears not to be the case. Zimmerman also stated: Although the USDVAs surprising reversal is a very positive development, with such fluidity, the WDVA is moving forward with caution while aggressively pursuing precise guidance to properly inform a decision-making process that impacts the most vulnerable in the veterans community. The prime minister of the Right? Nows your time. You have at least a few more months in office. Lets see you implement a right-wing policy: revoke the citizenship of terrorists with an Israeli identity card, stop the construction freeze in Jerusalem, allow Jews to visit the Temple Mount in masses, push for the appointment of conservative judges. Show us what youve got. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter There is definitely a tough competition going on these days between the prime ministers associates over who will produce the lousiest argument. Weve already gotten used to the herd of Netanyahu sycophants (blaming the media for everything thats wrong in the world. But the voices we heard in the past weekend, which claimed that the State Attorneys Office, the legal system andmost importantlythe Israel Police have all joined forces to bring down the Netanyahu government, are sad evidence of how much they really care about what the admired supreme leader will leave behind after hes gone. You have at least a few more months in office. Lets see you implement a right-wing policy (Photo: AFP) Public trust in the bodies that are supposed to enforce order and justice here is critical. Netanyahus loyalists arent interested in that. They dont care about the scorched earth well all be walking on after hes gone. After all, the two religious officialsAttorney General Avichai Mandelblit and Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikhare extreme leftists who are willing to crush every normal procedure to get rid of the person who appointed them. These accusations have been joined in the past few days by the following statement: They have all joined forces to bring down the right-wing government. Unfortunately, though, in the 10 years Netanyahu has been in power there has hardly been any implementation of a right-wing policy. The man is definitely brilliant in managing an economic policy, and recently in foreign affairs too, but hes not the prime minister of the Right. Netanyahu is the man who signed the Hebron agreement, shook hands with Yasser Arafat, initially voted in favor of the disengagement from Gaza, released more than 1,000 terrorists in the Shalit and, only a few days ago, folded in the metal detector affair. So nows the time to make the following suggestion to Benjamin Netanyahu: come on, come and be the Rights prime minister. So far, youve specialized in categorizing bodies and peoplethose who are in favor of the Netanyahu family and those who are against usand tried to sell it to us as a distinction between rightists and leftists. Mr. Netanyahu, why dont you stop whining about the jurists rule and lead the appointment of judges who will reflect our political side. Give up your habit of checking if theyll rule in favor of you and your wife, and bring us judges who will reasonably challenge the standing. Deal with the terrorists among Israels Arabs in a serious manner. Revoke the citizenship of terrorists from Umm al-Fahm, impose real sanctions on relatives who praise them, use a firm hand against 10,000 Israeli citizens who attended the hate-filled funeral of terrorists who murdered policemen at the Temple Mount. Stop talking to us about the death penalty for the terrorist who murdered the Salomon family members in Neve Tzuf. First, present a bill requiring a death penalty, and then launch the spins around it. Lets see you stop the construction freeze. Were not dreaming of Yitzhar and Itamar. Lets start from Jerusalem. Givat Hamatos and Har Homa will be good place to start. Give Jews free access to the Temple Mount. The newspaper archives are bursting with your quotes about our historical right to Jerusalem, but in practice, only some of Abrahams sons cant visit the place where the sacrifice of Isaac took place. Start doing some things in that direction. Why even in the event of an indictment, you have at least a few more months as prime minister. The prime minister of the Right, allegedly. Shuafat refugee campa rotting stench of garbage hangs in the air here, the only refugee camp within the municipal borders of Jerusalem. But the camp is also behind the barrier that Israel calls a security fence and Palestinians call an apartheid wall. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Officially, the Jerusalem municipality is responsible for all services inside the camp. But in practice, many Israeli service providers, including garbage collectors, do not enter the Shuafat refugee camp as they say it is not safe to do so. The residents of the camp burn some of their garbage; the rest pile up where it rots in the sun and makes it hard to breathe. Shuafat refugee camp (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images) Sitting behind his desk at a local community organization, Mahmoud al-Sheikh, a large imposing man with a salt-and-pepper beard, is trying to solve the garbage problem, along with all of the other issues in this refugee camp of 80,000 people. We are caught between the Israeli occupation here and the Palestinian Authority which has marginalized Shuafat, Al-Sheikh told the Media Line. We are the eastern gate of Jerusalem and we pride ourselves on being part of Jerusalem." Then he says something surprising for a self-described Palestinian nationalist who has spent a total of eight years in the Israeli prison system starting from the age of 15, where he was arrested on charges of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. There is no security here in the camp, he said. Israel has totally withdrawn and the Palestinian Authority cannot help because they are not allowed in Jerusalem. There is shooting, guns and crime all the time. We are in desperate need of security control. We would even rather the Israeli police come here and impose order." There is a new Israeli police station which opened three months ago at the checkpoint on the other side of the barrier. It is part of a program of expanding police stations to give support to local Arab Israeli communities, Israels Police Spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld told The Media Line. Residents can make complaints in Arabic and if they need to go to a police station, they do not need to go to the other side of town." Rosenfeld said that police officers do enter the area of the camp to carry out arrests when needed. But al-Sheikh and others say that arrests are only made in attacks on Israelis, and not in cases of robberies or drug deals. But Al-Sheikh says that efforts by the municipality are too little too late. He is a member of the Popular Committee in the camp, a group associated with the Fatah movement of the Palestinian Authority. They are responsible for providing many of the local services in the communities, and coordinate with UNRWA, the UN body responsible for providing for refugees. Mahmoud al-Sheikh (Photo: Linda Gradstein/The Media Line) He said that recently he has helped form a tribal committee with representatives from all of the prominent families in the camp. He said it is an attempt to solve many of the issues in the camp including violence and unlicensed guns. The Palestinians who live here have the blue Jerusalem ID card that identifies them as Jerusalem residents. It gives them freedom of movement that other Palestinians in the West Bank do not have, as well as access to Israeli health care and social services. At the same time, since the camp is a Palestinian refugee camp, UNRWA is in charge of education and health care in the camp itself. The surrounding neighborhoods of Ras al-Khamis and Sawahre are under the control of the Jerusalem municipality. UNRWA runs three schools inside the camp as well as a host of private schools. Classes are often crowded, and the schools run two shifts per day. UNRWA puts the number of refugees at 12,000 although it has not conducted a recent census and the number is believed to be much higher. The total population of the camp and nearby neighborhoods is about 85,000. In the neighborhoods surrounding the camp, the situation is a little different. There, students either study in local schools run by the municipality, or cross the controversial barrier to attend larger schools in east Jerusalem. Recently, the Israeli Knesset gave preliminary approval to a bill to make the Shuafat camp and the neighborhood of Kufr Aqab its own local council, with closer ties to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Israeli press reports say that the PA would be responsible for local services like garbage collection. But it also effectively means cutting off the camp from Jerusalem, which some residents fear could be the first step to taking away their Jerusalem ID cards. Israel Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld Israel began building the barrier in 2002 at the height of the second intifada, with its suicide bombings and attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. Much of it is a fence, but in heavily populated areas like the Shuafat refugee camp, it is a concrete wall. About ten percent of the West Bank is on the Israeli side of the wall. In the case of Shuafat, the residents are on the Palestinian side of the barrier, which makes it harder for them to reach other parts of east Jerusalem. Poverty levels throughout east Jerusalem are high, and in Shuafat they are even higher. Residents of the camp say there have been 37 martyrs, or Palestinians killed while attacking Israelis or in demonstrations, over the past few years. The camp was first built in 1965 when Jordan controlled east Jerusalem. The population expanded in 1967 when Palestinians who lived in the Jewish quarter were brought here. In recent years, tens of thousands more have poured into the camp from other areas of the West Bank, afraid that if they are not living in Jerusalem they could lose their residency permit and their Jerusalem ID card. Israeli human rights groups say that since 1967, more than 14,000 Palestinians have lost their residency permits in Jerusalem. Prices have climbed in east Jerusalem and Shuafat is one of the areas that remain reasonable. Thousands of Palestinians with Jerusalem IDs, who had been living in the West Bank, have moved to Shuafat, fearful that Israel could take away their IDs if they are not living in Jerusalem. Al Sheikh also says that Palestinians with social problems including domestic or business disputes have fled to the camp. Camp leaders say they are also concerned about the issue of domestic violence, and the use of guns within the camp. We try to create awareness of the danger of violence both in society and within the family, Ashgan Abu Rmieleh, a female member of the Popular Committee told The Media Line. We run workshops for parents and children, and try to increase education. Jerusalem municipal officials say the unique situation in Shuafat, the only refugee camp inside Jerusalem, is especially challenging but they are working hard to improve it. A spokesman for the Jerusalem Municipality told The Media Line that the city has stepped up its police presence in the area, and is trying to impose law and order in all of east Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem is investing millions of shekels each year to improve the quality of life of the residents of the camp and the adjacent neighborhoods, both in terms of infrastructure and in social and community aspects, the spokesman told The Media Line. These include efforts to pave streets in the camp, building community centers and better treatment of garbage. One of the volunteers who was present at the deadly shooting attack at the Barnoar LGBT youth center in 2009 has yet to receive compensation from the National Insurance Institute, all due to a clerical error. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter For some unknown reason, the National Insurance Institute has yet to receive verifiable proof that Chen Langer, 29, had been volunteering at the gay youth center after being referred to do so by an authorized public body, and therefore, his injury is not covered. Chen Langer "We feel it has not been proven that an accidental event occurred during and due to your volunteer work," the institute's response to Langer's request stated. In August '09, a still unidentified assailant entered the youth center and opene fire, killing guide Nir Katz and teenager Liz Trubishi and injuring several others. Langer, who also volunteered as a guide at the Barnoar that evening, was shot by a bullet in his leg and left with a lifelong disability. Following the attack, Langer filed a lawsuit, seeking compensation and recognition of his injury as a work injury. Last week, he received a definitive rejection of his request. Prior to volunteering, Langer filled out the relevant forms with the LGBT Taskforce, which at the time housed the Barnoar's youth activities. He also interviewed with the volunteer coordinator, but apparently the form verifying all this, which was sent to the Tel Aviv Municipality, never reached its destination. "There is no doubt that I volunteered in an area recognized by law as a national necessity," said Langer. "A volunteer coordinator interviewed me, I signed insurance forms for the Tel Aviv Municipality and confidentiality forms that ensure that the information from the young members is transferred only to professionals and the social workers of the volunteer association," said Langer. The Barnoar, where the attak took place (Photo: George Ginsberg) "On the eve of the attack, I took care of LGBT boys and girls, talked to them and listened to them with great love, because I was once like them," he added. Langer received a letter last week from Inbal Segev, a work injury claims officer at the National Insurance Institute. In it, Segev wrote, "Following a review of the details of your claim and the inquiries we have conducted, it has not been proven that you were directed to carry out activity on August 1, 2009 by a public body authorized to direct volunteers. "In spite of our request, we did not receive documents that support your injury claim," added Segev. "And it was not proven that your injury was caused by your volunteer work." Former minister of social affairs and current MK, Meir Cohen, wrote a letter regarding Langer's case to the director general of the National Insurance Institute, saying, "This is a classic case of embarrassing conduct carried out by the establishment vis-a-vis the citizen. This injustice must be immediately rectified, while sticking to the facts and not asking any unnecessary questions on the unfortunate circumstances that Chen found himself in." In response to further inquiry, the National Insurance Institute stated, "We asked Mr. Langer and his attorney to bring a document that would prove he was injured while performing volunteer work. Unfortunately, we did not receive any such document or confirmation that he was carrying out volunteer work. We will reassess his case should such a document be presented." Zemenech Bililin is one of nine brothers and sisters, seven of whom immigrated to Israel in 2005 together with their parents. Her two older sisters, who married in Ethiopia, were told that they had to undergo a separate immigration process from the rest of their family because they were married. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Since then 12 years have passed and they are still awaiting immigration approval. "It's been 12 years since I saw my sisters and since my parents saw their daughters," wrote Bililin, now an IDF combat soldier in the Lions of the Jordan Valley Battalion, in a post she published. "Twelve years that my heart breaks every time I go home to see the suffering of my parents. Twelve years that I have not been able to heal the longing. Twelve years that I have not heard the laughter of my sisters and I have not hugged them. Twelve years that I have no idea how my nephews look. Twelve years that I had to fight against the system without a solution. Twelve years that I have been trying to be as strong as possible and not to lose hope. Twelve years that I wake each day with one great ache in my heart. Zemenech Bililin hugging her mother "My two married sisters did not come to Israel with us because they are considered a family in their own right and they have to immigrate alone," Bililin wrote. "We thought the immigration would be quick, because why would they be delayed in arriving at the land of their people? "Today, I am a combat soldier in the IDF. I have a brother who every six months does reserve duty, a sister who did national service and a brother in the Air Force. In my role in the army I spend many Saturdays at the base, and every time I burst with longing for my home, my father, my mother and my brothers. So how do my sisters feel that for 12 years they did not see their father, did not hug their Mother, did not laugh with the family on Friday night?" Zemenech Bililin's sister, Negest Bililin wrote that she was worried about her mother's health. "My mother is not at her best lately, and the longing for her daughters frustrates her even more and deteriorates her health. "My mother does not work and my father barely earns a minimum wage and in addition to all the family expenses they have to send money to their daughters in Ethiopia because the economic situation there is really bad. "My family meets all their civil obligations and the state violates our rights, the most basic right of reuniting with our family here in Israel. This is the country of thousands of other Jews in Ethiopia who want and yearn to immigrate to it, and unfortunately it is the one that hinders them. Zemenech Bililin's sister, Santayahu "I am hurt by the state, disappointed and angry. In the place where I have learned to help and give to othersthey only know to take from me, to exclude me, to brand me as different, to abandon my sisters in a land not theirs." "I'm asking for help" "I want to ask the state, the Interior Ministry, to come and help me, to help my sisters immigrate because they have to be here, not alone in Ethiopia. I really hope they will help," said Bililin in an interview with Ynet. How did it happen that your entire family immigrated to Israel while your two sisters were left behind? "We made Aliyah while they were married, each called a family in itself, us and them with their husbands. We thought we would immigrate and they would join us quickly afterwards, but it went on (for yearsed). It is not known why it is delayed because they are Jewish in every sense." Why was it important for you to come out with this story now? "I was in a Knesset committee and I heard the answers from the Interior Ministry and MKs. Then I saw that they really did not have a logical answer and a real reason why the immigration was delayed. I understood that I had to do something for my family. How hard is it to not to see your sisters for 12 years? "It's hard, I cannot even describe it. I really do not know how to describe it because it's one of the most difficult and depressing things that (I have experienceded). They send messages to me all the time, tell me to continue to be strong and with God's help they will join us, and to just pray for them. "They explain that the situation there is not good, they really do not feel at home there, they want to be here with their family, they suffer there. They have to come to a country that is really theirs." The Population Authority said in response: "As a rule, the criteria for obtaining status were determined by the Government of Israel and the Population and Immigration Authority, the body that examines eligibility according to these criteria. "The request for the immigration of the sisters was submitted recently and is currently being examined, in accordance with the rules that were set and in the hope that a decision will be reached as soon as possible." An Apache pilot was killed and his co-pilot was seriously injured when the helicopter crashed late Monday night at the Ramon Air Base. Maj. (res.) Dudi Zohar, 43, from Haifa was killed in the crash. His co-pilot, a lieutenant, was seriously injured. The lieutenant was rushed to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, where he underwent surgery overnight and remains in serious condition. An Israel Air Force Apache pilot was killed and his co-pilot was seriously injured when the helicopter crashed on Monday night at the Ramon Air Base. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Near 9pm, an A-model Apache helicopter from the IAF's Magic Touch Squadron was returning to base from a routine training flight when it encountered a technical malfunction. The pilots reported the malfunction to the control tower and continued approaching for landing. Shortly after that, the helicopter crashed between the two runways in the base. Maj. David (Dudi) Zohar, killed in the crash Maj. (res.) David (Dudi) Zohar, 43, from Haifa, was killed in the crash. His co-pilot, a lieutenant, was seriously injured. The lieutenant was rushed to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, where he underwent surgery overnight and remains in serious condition. The injured pilot being evacuated to the hospital (Photo: Herzl Yosef) The IAF grounded its combat helicopters fleet following the crash pending an investigation. IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel was at the Air Force's central headquarters in the Kirya base in Tel Aviv to monitor the situation as it was ongoing. He ordered the formation of a team of experts to investigate the crash. The investigation is being led by Col. A., an aircrew instructor at the IAF's Command & Staff School and the former commander of a helicopter squadron. The IAF's Apache squadron (Photo: IAF website) The head of the IAF's Equipment Group arrived at the scene shortly after the accident to gather evidence that survived the crash. The initial investigation found no connection between the technical malfunction the helicopter experienced and the crack recently discovered in the posterior rotor blade of one of the IAF's Apache helicopters during a routine check-up, which led to the grounding of two squadrons in June. While the Air Force is examining all lines of inquiry, it appears technical failure in the operations of the helicopter's back rotor was the main factor that caused the crash. Investigators are now checking whether the technical failure originated in the steering or the propulsion system. Representatives from the Apache's American manufacturer Boeing are expected to join the investigation at a later stage. According to IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis, the training flight was part of a gradual process to return the Apache fleet to service after being grounded. Due to a history of helicopter accidents, the Air Force has strict safety procedures in place. Last month, IAF Commander Eshel ordered to hold a study day in all squadrons as a preventative measure to emphasize the issue of safety weak points in flight. IDF Spokesman Manelis said the decision was made after several safety incidents have occurred. In March 2013, two Cobra helicopter reserve pilotsLt. Col. Noam Ron and Maj. Erez Flexerwere killed in a crash in the Revadim area, south of Gedera. In September 2008, two pilots were killed in a Cobra helicopter crash in the fields of Kibbutz Ginegar in the Jezreel Valley. Regardless of our political opinion, the things being published about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should hurt us on the national level. Because in the State of Israel, barely one percent of the citizensa handfulare interrogated by the police. And in that same Israel, for the past two decades, all prime ministers have been questioned by the police as suspects as part of criminal investigations. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Netanyahu has received massive doses of hatred. Its fine that the media are critical and snappish, but lines have been crossed too many times. Netanyahu has been treated much more severely than others. Moreover, Netanyahu hasnt deteriorated the country anywhere. He has an impressive list of accomplishments. Contrary to the nonsense claims, democracy is functioning and Israel has become popular in more and more countries. These achievements have his name on them. Netanyahu did it his wayand he did it quite well. Hes a rightist and a capitalist, and the attempt to turn him into a socialist white dove was pathetic. He was elected to implement his policy, not Shelly Yachimovichs policy. When I criticized him for leading Israel towards one big state, it was primarily because he didnt keep his word. He clarified that he was against one state, but this state is being created under his government. Netanyahu was at the center of attention but didnt know anything? He has eyes but he cant see? He has ears but he cant hear? (Photo: AFP) Ive had conversations with him here and there. There arent many people of his caliber. Netanyahu is a fascinating interlocutor, with amazing knowledge even in areas you wouldnt expect him to be proficient in. A French billionaire, Arnaud Mimran, said he paid him because he was a fascinating person. Its unclear whether he actually paid, but it makes sense. This talented man should have led Israel and himself to much better and higher places. He has proved he can do it. He didnt hesitate, for example, to be a very unpopular finance minister. He did what he thought was right to save Israel from a crisis and wasnt afraid of a face-off with the Haredi sector. He insisted and he implemented. Theres no need to be an ardent supporter of his policy to appreciate the leadership he demonstrated. Netanyahu has always been a hedonist, but his appetite grew. He was called Bibi the King of Israel and the magician, and he believed it. And so, the first Netanyahu turned into the second Netanyahu. Time and again, the personal interest came before the national interest. He found it convenient to give in to the Haredim in the conversion and Western Wall issues. Its not corruption, its cynicism, because there was no need for this concession. The Haredim wouldnt have left the government. Was someone waiting for them? Netanyahu created a deep, unnecessary and serious crisis with the US Jewry . He harmed Israel. Why? Because he was blinded by power. Because he could. Theres no doubt Netanyahu has cracked the genetic code of some Israelis, just like he has become increasingly detested by others. Its doesnt matter if hes indicted or not. What matters more is that its already clear his surroundings have become completely corrupt. He was at the center of attention but didnt know anything? He has eyes but he cant see? He has ears but he cant hear? Was he excluded by attorney David Shimron There may be no proof, according to the law of evidence, that Netanyahu knew his confidant was linked to one of Israels strategic purchase deals, but according to the laws of common sense, thats completely unreasonable. The claim that Communications Ministry Director-General Shlomo Fiber benefitted Netanyahus friend without the prime ministers knowledge is an insult to our intelligence too. And for dessert, we have Ari Harow , who has turned the there will be nothing chant into satire. Netanyahus decline is a blow to Israel. Theres a different Netanyahu too. But the moment the first Netanyahu was replaced by the second Netanyahu, he both harmed Israel and became the architect of his own downfall. RACINE A 17-year-old Racinian potentially faces life in prison after he was charged with the Sunday night death of Dashaun Jordan, 20, of Racine. Rytrell D. Earl, of the 1000 block of North Memorial Drive, faces one count of first-degree intentional homicide as a party to a crime and four counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide as a party to a crime. Jordan, an aspiring rapper, was killed in an alley south of 16th Street between Phillips and Murray avenues. According to the criminal complaint: While investigating the homicide, officers spotted on video surveillance a white Chevrolet Impala driving around the area at the time of the crime. One investigator was able to identify the Impala as property of Earl, a known Northside for Life gang member. Investigators searched Earls house and phone and then arrested him. On Earls phone, investigators found messages Earl allegedly sent asking for 9mm handgun ammunition; 9mm ammunition was found at the scene of the homicide, as well as a single .45-caliber casing. Earl reportedly told investigators that he and two other gang members whom Earl only identified through nicknames had been driving in rival gang territory, the 1600 block of Phillips Avenue, when they saw Jordan and his group of friends walking down an alley. They allegedly opened fire, believing the group to be members of a rival gang. Jordan was shot in the head and killed. He was not a member of any gang. If convicted of all charges, Earl faces a life sentence for the homicide charge and up to 160 additional years in prison. He made an initial court appearance Tuesday and a cash bond was set at $500,000. US Ambassador Nikki Haley urged the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon on Monday to step up efforts to prevent the spread of illegal arms in the south, which she said "are almost entirely in the hands of Hezbollah terrorists." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Haley made clear in a statement that the United States is seeking "significant improvements" to the UN force, known as UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), when the UN Security Council renews its mandate, which is due to expire August 31. Her statement was in response to a letter to the Security Council from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying he intends to look at ways in which UNIFIL could "enhance its efforts." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) and US Ambassador Nikki Haley (Photo: EPA) But the UN chief stressed the Lebanese armed forces have primary responsibility for ensuring "there are no unauthorized armed personnel, assets or weapons" in the southern area between the Litani River and the UN-drawn Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel, where UNIFIL operates. "On its part, UNIFIL, in coordination with the Lebanese armed forces, remains determined to act with all means available within its mandate and capabilities on concrete information provided regarding the illegal presence of armed personnel, weapons or infrastructure inside its area of operations," Guterres said. Israel has long complained that Hezbollah operates freely in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah Haley said the United States, a strong ally of Israel, "will continue to raise the threat posed by Hezbollah as we seek significant improvements to UNIFIL when the Security Council renews its mandate this month." The secretary-general said that despite the "long period of relative calm and stability in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line," neither Israel nor Lebanon have fulfilled their obligations under the Security Council resolution that ended the Second Lebanon War in 2006. "Israel must withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory and stop violations of Lebanese airspace," Guterres said. "The government of Lebanon must exercise effective authority over all Lebanese territory, prevent hostile actions from its territory, ensure the safety and security of the civilian population, in addition to United Nations personnel, and also ensure the disarmament of all armed groups," he said. Ensuring that there are no weapons or "authority" in the south except the Lebanese government and army is vital "in moving from the fragile cessation of hostilities to a permanent cease-fire," Guterres said. He urged all parties to use the current relative calm to take "positive steps" toward a permanent cease-fire and long-term solution to the conflict. Military Court of Appeals President Maj. Gen. Doron Piles rejected Tuesday a request by former IDF soldier Elor Azaria to postpone his prison sentence of 18 months after being convicted of manslaughter of a neutralized terrorist in Hebron in March 2016. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Last week, the Military Court of Appeals decided to uphold his manslaughter conviction and on Sunday, Azaria filed a request to the Military Court of Appeals to postpone the beginning of his prison sentence until IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot decides whether or not to commute his sentence. Azaria at court this morning (Photo: Ido Erez) Azaria is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday morning to Prison 4 in Tzrifin to begin serving his 18-month sentence. Last week, Azaria asked IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot to substitute his sentence for community service, noting, "if I had known in advance what became apparent in hindsightthat there was no explosive device on the body of the terroristI would not have shot." Eisenkot will only be able to discuss Azaria's request after September 7, when the verdict becomes peremptory. For this request to be taken into serious consideration, Azaria would need to both express remorse for his actions and take responsibility for them, neither of which he has done thus far, not even in his request to the IDF chief. Regardless, Eisenkot is obliged to consult with the Chief Military Advocate General, Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek, for a legal opinion first as well as consult with Azaria's commander before responding. Azaria entering family car decorated with Israeli flags with his picture and the text: 'Elor Azaria born to be free' (Photo: Shaul Golan) During the morning hearing Tuesday, the military prosecution expressed its objection to the request. The disagreement between the two sides revolved around the question of whether the verdict can be defined "peremptory"meaning it is considered final and cannot be appealed. Only after the ruling becomes peremptory can Azaria ask the IDF chief for clemency. Despite that, the former soldier made his plea to Eisenkot last week. Azaria leaving court with his father (Photo: Shaul Golan) Azaria's lawyer Yoram Sheftel claimed Tuesday that because this was "an extremely unusual case, the decisions in it should be unusual. There hasn't been a case in which, while the verdict is still being read out, the IDF chief issued a public statement that if Elor turns to him, he would seriously consider mitigating the punishment. This is a public invitation for Azaria to turn to him for clemency. If our request to convert the prison sentence to community service is accepted, he would not have to go to jail." He asked for a three-week delay in carrying out the verdict, with the IDF chief making his decision by September 7. The military prosecutor, Lt. Col. (res.) Nadav Weisman, argued there was a "clear distinction between the legal procedure and the clemency procedure. Azaria's verdict has not yet become peremptory. A convicted felon cannot make a verdict peremptory by announcing he would not appeal (to the Supreme Court). The verdict becomes peremptory only at the end of the period of time determined by law (between September 7 to October 7)." Military prosecutor Lt. Col. (res.) Nadav Weisman (Photo: Shaul Golan) He also rejected Sheftel's claims about the IDF chief's "invitation" to Azaria to seek clemency, saying, "The IDF chief's statement was released only after the court adjourned and not while the verdict was being read out. Azaria must not rely on anyone else and must take responsibility for his own decisions. The IDF chief's statement does not constitute a promise or an invitation." The State Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against former deputy interior minister and member of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Faina Kirschenbaum, for bribery, breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses. In addition, indictments were filed against nine other defendants in the affair, among them David Godovsky, Yisrael Beiteinu's chief of staff, Rami Cohen, former Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Effy Peles, treasurer of the former Binyamin Regional Council and Matan Dahan, chairman of the Ayalim movement. Former deputy foreign minister Faina Kirschenbaum (Yisrael Beytenu) was indicted on Tuesday for her part in a wide scale corruption affair involving other senior public figures. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter She was charged with multiple counts of receiving and asking for bribes, fraud and breach of trust, money laundering as well as tax offenses. Alongside the indictment, the State Attorney's Office has asked that NIS 5.7 million worth of Kirschenbaum's property be seized. Faina Kirschenbaum (Photo: Ido Erez) In addition to Kirschenbaum, the State Attorney's Office filed initial indictments against nine other suspects in more than 10 different cases. According to the indictment, from 2006 and until the launch of the police's open investigation against her in December 2014, Kirschenbaum has acted in a planned and systematic mannerat times even sophisticatedto commit a series of offenses. She is suspected of receiving bribes in return for allocating funds that originated in the state's coffers to different municipalities and organizations. Kirschenbaum was in charge of the allocation of the party's coalition moneysome NIS 170 million a year in taxpayer money given to parties as part of their coalition agreements to do with as they see fit. She allegedly took advantage of her position and status as a public servant, and particularly her control of the party's coalition money, to demand and receive bribes from public institutions, organizations and private individuals. These bribes were given in the form of illicit benefits to her and her family, the Yisrael Beytenu party and close associates of hers or the party's. Often, Kirschenbaum also asked, urged or demanded other public servants, heads of state institutions, heads of NGOs and private individuals to help her to carry out her criminal actions and then cover it up. The other defendants in the main indictment, which includes Kirschenbaum, are: David (Daud) Godovsky , Yisrael Beytenu's chief of staff, was charged with receiving and asking for bribes, extortion and intimidation, conspiracy to commit a crime, money laundering and other tax offenses. According to the indictment, Godovsky was Kirschenbaum's main accomplice in planning and carrying out a significant part of her criminal offenses. He worked to promote his own personal affairs as well as those of Kirschenbaum and Yisrael Beytenu. , Yisrael Beytenu's chief of staff, was charged with receiving and asking for bribes, extortion and intimidation, conspiracy to commit a crime, money laundering and other tax offenses. According to the indictment, Godovsky was Kirschenbaum's main accomplice in planning and carrying out a significant part of her criminal offenses. He worked to promote his own personal affairs as well as those of Kirschenbaum and Yisrael Beytenu. Rami Cohen , the former director-general of the Agriculture Ministry and a business consultant, was charged with giving and receiving bribes, demanding bribes, money laundering, fraudulently obtaining benefits, intimidation, forgery of a document under aggravated circumstances, obstruction of justice and other charges. , the former director-general of the Agriculture Ministry and a business consultant, was charged with giving and receiving bribes, demanding bribes, money laundering, fraudulently obtaining benefits, intimidation, forgery of a document under aggravated circumstances, obstruction of justice and other charges. Batya Cohen , Rami Cohen's wife, was charged with obstruction of justice. , Rami Cohen's wife, was charged with obstruction of justice. Efi Peles , the treasurer of Binyamin Regional Council, was charged with bribery and money laundering. David (Daud) Godovsky, Kirschenbaum's main accomplice (Photo: Shaul Golan) The second indictment deals with the officials from the Ezra Movement and the Ayalim Association who bribed Kirschenbaum. The defendants in that indictment are: Daniel Elinson , the director of the Ezra World Movement, was charged with bribery and money laundering. , the director of the Ezra World Movement, was charged with bribery and money laundering. Matan Dahan , the chairman of the Ayalim Association, was charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiring to commit a crime. , the chairman of the Ayalim Association, was charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiring to commit a crime. Danny Glicksberg , the deputy director of the Ayalim Association, was charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiring to commit a crime. , the deputy director of the Ayalim Association, was charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiring to commit a crime. Steven Levy , a lobbyist working for the lobbying firm Impact, was charged with asking, giving and offering bribes, money laundering and conspiring to commit a crime. , a lobbyist working for the lobbying firm Impact, was charged with asking, giving and offering bribes, money laundering and conspiring to commit a crime. Irena Waldberg , the director of the Entrepreneurs Association, was charged with bribery. In some of the cases, Kirschenbaum received the bribes she demanded straight away in the form of money or other benefits. In other cases, she was asked to help secure state funding for different municipalities and organizations, including the Samaria Regional Council, the Megilot Regional Council, the Ezra Movement, the Ayalim Association and private individuals promoting public activity. She agreed to provide the needed funding, and in return Kirschenbaum and Godovsky demanded bribes in the form of a significant portion of the funds received. In that way, a significant portion of the coalition funds made its way back to the pockets of Kirschenbaum, her close associates of the Yisrael Beytenu party. The bribes took different forms, such as purchasing flight tickets, computer and photography equipment or other electronics for Kirschenbaum and her family; funding Kirschenbaum or Yisrael Beytenu's private objectives, which were falsely presented as the objectives of their bribers; providing free services to the Yisrael Beytenu party; and employing close associates of Kirschenbaum or the party. Gershon Mesika, the former head of the Samaria Regional Council and chair of the Central Company for the Development of Samaria, became a state witness in the large-scale corruption affair in March 2015. Officials at the State Attorney's Office described the corruption scandal as one of the most severe in Israel's history. They are hoping to use Mesika's testimony to convict Kirschenbaum, who was a high-profile member of Yisrael Beytenu and a close associate of Chairman Avigdor Lieberman. The bulk of the party's activities went through her, and she was involved in all its parliamentary and political moves. Former tourism minister Stas Misezhnikov is also among the suspects in the case. Against the backdrop of the events on the Temple Mount and the recent terrorist attacks , the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem was very surprised to see a dramatic increase in the number of Israel sympathizers in Iraq. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Yonatan Gonen, head of Arabic-language digital diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry, who also runs the Foreign Ministry's Facebook and Twitter accounts, said that the ministry has been flooded with pictures and messages of sympathy, support and even a desire to establish relations between the two countries. 'Iraq with Israel' - Iraqis showing support of the Jewish state In addition, several new Facebook pages were opened, and even an Arabic-language website was created to bring Israelis and Iraqis together. The reactions include harsh criticism of "the hypocrisy of the Arab peoples," with an emphasis on the Egyptians and the Jordanians, whose countries have signed a peace treaty with the State of Israel. One of the main arguments raised by the respondents on the matter is that if they oppose normalization with Israel, they should act to cancel the peace treaty with Israel before they start complaining. Another central argument is based on the approach that normalization with Israel is not shameful, as long as the interests of both countries are preserved. At the same time, some respondents admit that the desire to establish relations with Israel does not stem from their love for the country, but rather from their disappointment with the Arab states and their desire to eliminate terrorism in their country For example, Zaid, from Baghdad, wrote to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, "All the Iraqis are with you, not necessarily out of love. Israel did not (even) throw stones at us while the Muslim Brotherhood sent suicide bombers and financed them to fight us." Abdullah Bassem from Baghdad wrote, "A message from Baghdad to Tel Aviv: We recognize the State of Israelthe chosen and the victorious people. Fakestinians (a derogatory term for Palestinians) are traitors and terrorists. We, as Iraqis, will be happy to visit Israel and welcome a visit by Israelis to their second homeland, the great nation of Iraq." Bader from the city of Basra wrote, "The Iraqis have suffered for years, while the Israelis have been refusing to accept terrorism for decades. The Palestinians must be expelled to countries that adopt and teach death and destruction." The scene of an attack in Baghdad, in which 55 people were murdered, carried out by a Palestinian terrorist. The Foreign Ministry's digital staff responded to Bader, saying, "We share your courageous view and know that you have suffered. We are in the same boat as far as terrorism is concerned and hope that Iraq's sons will enjoy security. As for your advice, we will never expel anyone, because we are all from the same region and there is no escape from living together. We believe in peace in the region." An interesting and recurring point in the reactions of the Iraqis who wrote to the foreign ministry is that the State of Israel is an existing reality and a fait accompli, and it is a shame to waste energy and resources in an attempt to change this reality. Quite a few even wrote that the Iraqi people are tired of killing and bloodshed, and that normalization with Israel will promote Iraq economically and help rebuild it. Many have also harshly criticized the Palestinians as "ungrateful," after reports that no less than 1,200 Palestinians have committed serious attacks on Iraqi soil and killed hundreds of Iraqi people. Individual responders even went so far as to say that if the Al-Aqsa Mosque was controlled by the Palestinians, it would become an arena of terror attacks and bloodshed. On the other hand, there are Iraqis who told the foreign ministry that every self-respecting Iraqi is committed to fighting Israel and to "liberating Palestine and Jerusalem." Bashir, for example, wrote, "I, as an Iraqi, think that hostility to Israel is a duty just as we must fast and pray. The victory of our Palestinian brothers is a must. We Sunnis and Shiites, Christians and members of all ethnic groupslove Palestine." "It seems that the Iraqi people are divided on the matter, but the very fact that such opinions are voiced openly and without fear indicates that this is not a negligible phenomenon," said Gonen. "It is clear that if such opinions were uttered 20-30 years ago, the people who expressed them would be probably hanged." Project Bright Future, calls for establishing relations with Israel A source in the foreign ministry added, "We hold on to it like breathing air, because it balances all the curses we absorb every day, hour, minute and even second." In the past month, a group of Iraqi citizens have opened a Facebook page under the name "Iraq with Israel," one of whose stated goals is to establish relations between the two countries and promote dialogue and discourse. Among other things, they wrote, "We are a group of Iraqi citizens who call for opening channels of civil cooperation between us and Israeli citizens. To this end, we launched a campaign to support the security of the State of Israel." "First and foremost, we firmly condemn all terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians," they added. "As a country that has suffered and is still suffering from terrorism, we are aware of the great pain these attacks cause. Despite the tangible risk to us in managing this campaign, thousands of Iraqi citizens have joined it so far." In addition, an Iraqi website called "Project Bright Future" was opened, calling for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Iraq, under the motto "Iraq and Israel are allies." The events of the past few weeks have caused enormous tension between Jews and Arabs in Israel. This isnt surprisingits easiest to give up on each other in this situation, but its also the most dangerous option for our lives here. If we blindly follow the voices of fear and hate coming from both of the nationalities that share this land, our lives will become hell on earth. This is the security and social nightmare incarnate. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Those who provoke conflict by telling the Jews that the Arabs are our enemies, seeking ill for us and taking every opportunity to do us harm, do not know the reality on the ground. They incite and lie. The truth is that 85 percent of Israel's Arab citizens aspire to be Israelis who live here in a shared and egalitarian society with the Jewish majority. Those who incite the Arabs, telling them that the Jews are privileged racists who seek segregation and preservation of the inherent discrimination against the Arab minority, are also lying. The reality is that the vast majority of Jews in Israel want democracy, in a country that places equal value on all human life. Jerusalems Old City. its easiest to give up on each other in this situation, but its also the most dangerous option for our lives here (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) The reality is that separation is fed by fear of the other and not the desire to preserve privileges and racist perceptions. True, there are Jews like that, but they are on the fringe of the extreme right and not at the heart of Jewish society. The common interest of the vast majority of the citizens of Israel is a shared life, which is the only thing that can ensure the security the Jewish society yearns for and the equality the Arab society yearns for. Therefore, those who submit to the feelings of fear and hatred act contrary to the interest and true will of the overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens. Following recent events, Jews and Arabs have turned to us from the southern triangle to the Jezreel Valley. People who want to discuss the difficulties and strengthen the ability of both sides to preserve their common life in times like these of tremendous security tension, fear and mutual hatred. They asked me what could be done about it. In the short term, two things must be done. The first is to isolate the extremists from the two societies, Jewish and Arab, and not to allow them to use fear to advance the agenda of hatred, which works against the common interest. The second thing is to actually increase the friction between the two nationalities: Through meetings and discourse, joint community events, sports, culture, and recreation in the shared public spaces like malls and parks, wherever we are together and can continue to demonstrate to each other our ability to live in a common society and to work through our differences. In the long run, we need to change the way we act as a country, through education for coexistence, minority participation in government apparatus, equitable allocation of land and resources, acquisition of each others national language and the creation of networks of community and municipal partnerships. I generally open meetings between Jews and Arabs with a famous Albert Einstein quote: Open your eyes, your heart, your hands, and avoid the poison your forebears so greedily sucked in from history. Then will all the earth be your fatherland, and all your work and effort spread forth blessings. This sounds to me like a much better idea than all the metal detectors in the world. The Helsingborg Police in southern Sweden is investigating an anti-Semitic demonstration during which activists from the Swedish-Palestinian Center called the Jewish people "offspring of apes and pigs." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The organization held several demonstrations last month in Helsingborg amid the tensions surrounding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, with videos and photos from the demonstrations going viral on social media. Anti-Israel protest in Helsingborg X We can see that there are elements in these protests that are worrying and serious because they contain anti-Semitic insults and anti-Semitic claims in combination with a violent rhetoric, in a really unfortunate way, Josefin Thorell, the head of the Jewish Community of Northwest Skane, told SVT, the Swedish national public broadcaster. From the organization's Facebook page The Jewish community is also reportedly planning to file an official complaint with the police against the anti-Semitic attacks by the pro-Palestinian organization. From the organization's Facebook page The Swedish-Palestinian Center, meanwhile, claims the criticism voiced during the demonstrations was not directed against the Jewish people but against the State of Israel. From the organization's Facebook page Police in Helsingborg are now investigating the nature of the calls made in the demonstration. "What I have asked for is the we carry out an investigation of what was said, what was done and how it has been spread," said Helsingborg Police Chief Sven Holgersson. From the organization's Facebook page Police in Helsingborg are now investigating what was really said there. "I ordered to investigate what was said, what was done and in what way it was published," said Helsingborg Police Chief Sven Holgersson. From the organization's Facebook page In the past, the Swedish-Palestinian Center also posted videos of demonstrations in which its activists called Israelis "murderers" and called for a boycott against Israel. Just a few days ago, the group posted an anti-Semitic post in which a photograph of Jewish immigrants arriving to the shores of Israel with their trousers folded to avoid getting wet is captioned: "This is how Zionists jews came to palestine, half naked, without anything this is how they are going to leave too (sic)." Following efforts by the Israeli ambassador to Sweden, Isaac Bachman, and hundreds of Israel supporters who heeded his call to demand Facebook removed the offensive post, it was deleted. "I am pleased to see practical evidence that the fight against anti-Semitism and hate crimes online is something that sometimes brings practical results," Bachman concluded, calling on Israel supporters to continue the fight against anti-Semitism and incitement in all its forms. A police force was called on Tuesday to disperse a group of ultra-Orthodox men who gathered outside a building in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood, where Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman was visiting. The ultra-Orthodox men hurled stones and other objects at police. An eight-year-old girl who was standing nearby was lightly injured from a stone that hit her head. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has proposed Cabinet members for his second term in office with almost no changes among incumbent high-profile portfolios, Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday. According to the report, Rouhani submitted a list of 17 nominees to Parliament. Under the proposal, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi all are to retain their posts. Acting defense minister, Gen. Amir Hatami, is expected to officially take over that portfolio. If so, Hatami will be the first defense minister selected from national army in nearly three decades. Since 1989, Iranian defense ministers were either civilians or more recently, members of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, a separate force from Iran's military that answers only to the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran and the United States frequently have run-ins in the Persian Gulf, nearly all involving the Guard's navy. The rest of the names on Rouhani's list are either current ministers or their deputies and officials. A nominee for science minister has not been announced yet. Parliament is to vote later next week on the Cabinet. Six Haredim were arrested Tuesday for assaulting policemen during riots in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood after clashes broke out when Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman visited a mourning family to offer his condolences. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter As word of Lieberman's arrival to the neighborhood quickly spread, a group of ultra-Orthodox men gathered outside the residential building he was visiting on Avraham MiSlonim Street. X A police force was called to the scene to disperse the crowd and safely escort the defense minister out of the neighborhood. When Lieberman left the building escorted by police, the ultra-Orthodox men started throwing stones and other objects at the officers. X An eight-year-old girl who was standing nearby was lightly injured from a stone that hit her head. She received initial treatment on the scene by police officers and passersby and was later taken to the hospital by Magen David Adom paramedics. Clashes at Mea Shearim (Photo: Radical Haredi Protests group) An hour after Lieberman's arrival in the neighborhood, a police officer dressed as an IDF soldier was sent to walk among the protesters for several minutes accompanied by two plain-clothed police officers. The Haredi protesters surrounded the policeman in IDF uniforms, threw water and bags of trash at him, and called him a "Nazi," a "murderer" and a "Hardak" (a derogatory term for Haredi soldiers used within their own communities). A police force had to come to extract him. Several minutes later, police returned to the scene and were pelted with chairs, trash bags and dirty diapers being thrown out windows in nearby buildings. Six rioters were arrested for assaulting the policemen. The rioters said they were protesting the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox men to the IDF and the amendments to the draft law that make it hard on yeshiva students to receive an exemption. Meanwhile, police forces raided the offices an organization responsible for arranging exemptions from IDF conscription. The police confiscated materials needed for an investigation, which included two hard drives, tablets, laptops and documents. BAGHDAD -- The U.S-led coalition fighting Islamic State denied responsibility on Tuesday for an attack near the Syrian border, which killed dozens of members of an Iraqi Shi'ite militia and, that group said, several of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards. A spokesman for the Iran-backed Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada militia said 36 of its fighters had been killed in the attack on Monday and 75 others were wounded and receiving treatment. "We hold the American army responsible for this act," the militia said in a statement late on Monday, noting that they were targeted with smart rockets. The leftist organization Molad: the center for the renewal of Israeli democracy, has filed a libel suit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son, Yair Netanyahu, demanding compensation of NIS 140,000, as well as publishing an apology and erasing a post he published on his Facebook page, in which he called the organization "the Fund for the Destruction of Israel," "anti-Zionist" and even equated them to cancer. The lawyers noted that the 26-year-old had attacked the organization obsessively to publically tarnish its public image. Yair Netanyahu has yet to respond to this suit. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu went on the offensive Tuesday, attacking a senior cabinet member, assumed to be Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, for undermining him, and allegedly planning to replace him should he be forced to resign amidst multiple corruption scandals. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter He can continue to make plans for replacing me all he wants, Netanyahu said. Weve heard about a senior Likud minister. Let him go on making plans. You all know who it is. Can we say his name out loud yet? Wheres the shame in saying his name?! Katz and Netanyahu (Photo: AFP) Public broadcast corporation Kan said Netanyahu had reportedly told party activists that political elements to his right are trying to topple his government before adding I dont know what they want from me. I dont see there is any problem here, Netanyahu said. We are talking about bribery and breach of trust with respect to Case 2000 (the accusation that he colluded with Yedioth Aharonoth publisher to promote legislation to close the Yisrael Hayom newspaper, a pro-Netanyahu competitor to Yedioth, in exchange for favorable coverage). There are 40 people who voted in favor of a bill to close the newspaper Yisrael Hayom and they are accusing me of bribery and breach of trust? Is anyone investigating them? What led them to propose this law Netanyahu said. Netanyahu spoke to party members ahead of a rally to be held Wednesday in support of the prime minister in the face of the ongoing police investigations. Earlier this week, Coalition Chairman Bitan warned Likud ministers and MKs that they must attend the rally, after warning last week that ministers who dont support Netanyahu would get hurt politically. David Bitan at a Netanyahu support rally (Photo: Motti Kimchi) Netanyahu also dispatched Bitan to defend him in a feature interview with Ynet. In a studio interview Tuesday, Bitan defended making the threat, saying that the Likud ministers have Netanyahu to thank for their jobs, and appearing satisfied that his threats had worked. (The ministers who felt Netanyahu should step down) have fallen into line, the DNA of the Likud is that you dont switch prime ministers unless he steps down. Likud members arent happy with whats going on, so yes, I was right. They (the ministers) will get hurt if they continue along that path, Bitan said. Bitan went on to attack the media for a witch hunt against Netanyahu stretching back to his first stint as prime minister. But he also offered a change from Netanyahus original claim that the investigations wont reveal anything because there is nothing to reveal. Now, however, Bitan said, Obviously, something happened if the police are investigating. And Bibi admitted accepting cigars. But the important part here is the second half of the sentence: It wont lead to anything, Bitan said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to the Yavne terror victim, who is currently recovering in hospital, Tuesday describing him as a hero who through his actions prevented a more serious disaster. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Niv Nehemiah, who was repeatedly stabbed last week by a terrorist in a supermarket in Yavneh, was hospitalized in Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot in life-threatening condition. PM Netanyahu (Photo: GPO) Niv is a hero. He simply fought with his bare hands against a terrorist consumed with hatred," Netanyahu said during his visit. He stopped and prevented a massive disaster. According to the hospital, Nehamia, a 43-year-old father of five, recently returned to consciousness and is no longer facing life-threatening danger. Niv Nehemiah We all prayed that he gets through this, and according to what we are seeing, our prayers have been answered and he will indeed get through this, Netanyahu added after meeting with Nehamia. I saw him with his family and it is simply heartwarming. I applaud him in the name of all the people of Israel. One thing is for sure The real answer lies in our courage and our willingness to fight against these murderers and those who dispatch them. That willingness and courage has been shown here today by Niv in a magnificent way. Photo: GPO Netanyahu also comment on an Apache helicopter crash Monday at the Ramon Airbase during which Maj. (res.) David (Dudi) Zohar was killed and his co-pilot seriously injured. I want to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the family of the pilot Maj. (res.) David (Dudi) Zohar. We know the scale of the pain, we also wish the navigator who is fighting for his life a speedy recovery, he said. New Israeli restrictions on Palestinians exiting the Gaza Strip, including a ban on laptop computers, hard-shell suitcases and even shampoo and toothpaste, have further disrupted travel for the few who are allowed to cross the border into Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Israel is citing unspecified security concerns as the reason for forcing engineers, journalists, business people and human rights workers to leave their electronic work tools behind. Erez Border Crossing (Photo: Roi Idan) "My work laptop that has all my work files that I can't take back with me is a big problem for me," said Ahmed Abu Shahla, an employee of an intellectual property firm in the United Arab Emirates who was returning to the Gulf after visiting relatives in Gaza. Israel has in the past stated its fears that explosive devices could be smuggled in using such electronic items. Such bans and restrictions have been enacted in the US and EU countries due to intelligence indicating that terror groups such as ISIS have used them to smuggle explosives. As Shahla boarded a bus at the border, he was forced to leave his laptop behind. He said he didn't bother to put his projects on flash drives because he feared they would be confiscated. "My loss is high because you have to move all the data by email or any other means which is almost impossible," he said. "This affects you in all directions, professionally, unfortunately." Shahla is just one of the Gaza residents paying the price for Hamas-encourgaed terror activities against Israel. The ban, which took effect on August 1, applies to all Palestinians who want to travel to Israel, or through Israel to the West Bank and neighboring Jordan. With Israel and Egypt maintaining a tight blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza, the Erez crossing is virtually the only way out of the territory. Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006 and proceeded to violently cleanse the coast territory of forces loyal to the internationally recognized government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel, the US and much of the West consider Hamas a terrorist group, and Israel says the blockade is needed to isolate Hamas and prevent it from smuggling in weapons. The Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border has traditionally been Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. But Egypt keeps the crossing closed for months at a time, also citing fears of terrorists who could penetrate into its territory. The last time it opened for travelers was in March, and tens of thousands of people are on waiting lists to travel once Egypt opens the crossing. Palestinian side of the Erez Crossing (Photo: AFP) The Egyptian closure has made Israel's Erez crossing vital to Gazans who need to travel abroad for business, medical care, studies or to see relatives. Yet Israel, accusing Hamas of trying to exploit travelers to carry money or information to its agents abroad, has imposed a series of restrictions in recent years that has limited the flow of people across the border. Israel allows only small numbers of people in special categories, such as students, aid workers and medical patients, to cross through the border, and all travelers go through a heavily fortified terminal where they pass through scanners, can have their luggage opened and can be searched. In recent years, Israel also has called in hundreds of people for day-long interviews with security agents before granting them travel permits, so high has the level of fear become. The restrictions mean that the vast majority of Gaza's 2 million residents remain trapped in the impoverished territory as its Hamas rulers use masses of funds for terror purposes, thereby neglecting their subjected population. Small numbers of merchants and aid workersthe engines of what remains of Gaza's economyalong with medical patients and other humanitarian cases are the people who usually use the Erez crossing. The new Israeli guidelines, outlined in an email obtained by The Associated Press, set out strict restrictions on electronics, baggage and personal items. For Palestinian merchants, aid workers or travelers headed to Jordan, "Personal mobile phones only, no food stuff or toiletries allowed," says the email. Food is also banned, except for medical patients that can take food for "personal consumption." Palestinians crossing into Israel (Photo: Roi Idan) The email was sent on July 19 to international aid organizations that operate in Gaza and was signed by an officer with COGAT, an Israeli defense body that enforces policies toward Palestinian civilians. An updated email the next day showed that these procedures are applicable on people exiting Gaza, not entering it. Foreigners were exempted from the restrictions. COGAT said the new rules were ordered by Israel's Shin Bet internal security service. In a short statement, the Shin Bet said travel regulations through Erez were updated recently and that exceptional cases can be tested "case by case." The agency provided no reason for the ban. Palestinians waiting to cross (Photo: Roi Idan) Shai Grunberg, a spokeswoman for Gisha, an Israeli advocacy group pushing for Palestinian freedom of movement, said there was no clear explanation for the change in policy. "Security checks are conducted, understandably, in transit stations around the world. This new directive is punitive, damaging, and must be stopped immediately," she said. About 6,500 Gazans pass through Erez each month, about half the year-earlier level, according to Gisha. The measures have caused an outcry among Palestinian too. "These restrictions are aimed at harassing people and we reject them because Israel already has the best checking and security screening technology," said Walid Wahdan, spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Affairs Ministry, which carries out civilian coordination with Israel. "These suitcases are used in all airports and terminals. Why they are banned here?" he said. A federal grand jury has indicted a Maryland man on charges of attempting to murder an FBI agent and trying to provide support to Islamic State militants, U.S. prosecutors said on Tuesday. Nelash Das, 25, of Landover Hills, was arrested by federal agents in September 2016 as he was preparing to attack a U.S. military service member. He was accompanied by a person who was a paid FBI informant, court records show. Das, a Bangladeshi citizen who is a legal U.S. resident, was indicted for attempting to provide support to the Islamic State from October 2015 to September 2016, the Justice Department said in a statement. MAIDUGURI -- Boko Haram militants killed at least 30 fishermen in raids on communities around Lake Chad in northeastern Nigeria, the governor of Borno state, residents and military sources said on Tuesday. The raids are part of renewed attacks by the militant Islamist group which, prior to the latest attacks, have led to at least 113 people being killed by insurgents since June 1. Yes, its that time again. The crops are gradually turning a familiar harvest hue as we progress into the turning of another season in Nebraska. Lifes pages turn too. As we turn on the engines of tractors, lets not forget the true fuel of a farm and nation the family. Dont allow the murmurs of the material to mute the sound of the voices around us. Harvests will come and go, machinery will rust away and governments will rise and fall. Families will remain, in some form or another, and those that speak a litany more than the list of to-dos will unfold dreams into the future. Those that do not may wonder where life really went when their own engines come to an aging halt. When I was still a reporter at the York News-Times, I covered Professor Ron Hansons presentation Fence Posts Talking to Each Other. Dr. Hanson was the guest speaker at the United Farmers Co-op Young Farmers Organization meeting on December 8, 2004. After the article appeared in the paper, I ran into the late June Moore. She told me she had seen the article and that each year, farm families should be reminded of Dr. Hansons message. The day we connected, I internally made a promise to June that each year I would remind my neighbors about Dr. Hansons presentation. Here is another reminder from Dr. Hansons Fence Posts Talking to Each Other. Sometimes rather simple misunderstandings as well as the stress of daily life on a farm can quite easily damage the personal relationships between family members. Too often, the inability to openly share personal feelings and the failure to discuss expectations can ruin any family relationship. . . . Juggling the current demands of work on the farm, family and personal needs can become quite a challenge to anyone. Persons get so wrapped up in their own individual problems; they fail to communicate effectively with others. The result is that everyone is talking to each other but no one is really listening (i.e. talking to a fence post). Fairness is the key issue in resolving any conflict situation between individuals. Learning to deal with conflict in a positive manner can actually lead to personal growth as an individual. Always look for win-win situations. Everyone needs to save face. Make a concession or two as a friendly gesture of good will. Resist having the last word or else or taking a final parting shot after things have been settled. Knowing when to stop talking and just listen is an effective strategy. Most family relationships contain a hidden reservoir of hope. . . . Even the most destructive conflicts started out with good intentions within the family. . . . It only takes one put down to do the damage. Be careful of negative behavior patterns between family members. It is often not the differences between individuals that cause problems but how these differences are actually handled when they arise. Building a feeling of family loyalty and pride is important. This common bond of being a family working together to achieve the same goals provides the inner strength for a family to face the stress and daily pressures of the farming operation itself. Remembering that the family itself is a higher priority than the farming operation is a value that each family member needs to understand and adhere to in their actions. POLK COUNTY Members of the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) SWAT team and deputies from multiple sheriffs offices and police departments worked together to arrest two men after a pursuit Saturday that involved a suspect firing several rounds at Polk County Sheriffs deputies. The pursuit began Saturday evening, Aug. 5, when a Polk County Sheriffs deputy attempted to stop a vehicle whose plates did not match the vehicle. The people in the vehicle fled and during the pursuit the passenger of the car fired several round at the deputies, striking one patrol car, according to the state patrol. The vehicle went into a ditch near 129th and B Roads in Polk County and two people fled on foot. Shortly thereafter, the driver of the vehicle, Douglas Burke, 38, of Clarks, surrendered to authorities. The vehicle was determined to be stolen and the passenger, Derek Hobbs, 25, of Omaha, had an active felony warrant from Omaha for terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking ($1,500-$5,000), and use of a firearm to commit a felony. NSP SWAT, along with deputies from the Polk, Merrick, Butler and Hamilton County Sheriffs Offices and officers from multiple local police departments, searched the area and located Hobbs in a cornfield early Sunday morning. Hobbs was in possession of a loaded weapon, the patrol said. Both men were taken to the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln. NSP is continuing to assist the Polk County Sheriffs Office with the investigation. Charges will be determined pending further investigation. The proposal for a massive, and possibly transformational, new electronics manufacturing campus by Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn in southeastern Wisconsin is still being fleshed out along with details for an equally massive state subsidy to bring the project to fruition. The Foxconn complex at a still-to-be designated site in Racine County or Kenosha County could bring an estimated $10 billion investment to the area, generate 3,000 to 10,000 jobs and generate local payrolls estimated at $800 million a year. By any stretch of the imagination, those are heady numbers. Foxconn could transform the economy of Racine County and put it in the forefront of electronic manufacturing in a newer, cleaner version of its old heavy-manufacturing heydays. Understandably, a project of such proportions has triggered broad-based enthusiasm from the governors office, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, state higher educational campuses and business leaders. Just as predictably, it has triggered some fledgling criticisms over how far the state should roll out the red carpet with regard to giving Foxconn financial incentives and smoothing the construction timetable by easing environmental regulations. Remarkably, some of that tut-tutting over environmental concerns is coming even before a site has been finally identified with some arguing a project of this size should get more environmental scrutiny, not less. That has not convinced Gov. Scott Walker, who broadcast his position last week at a stop in Eau Claire. Theres a whole lot of people out there scrambling to try and come up with a reason not to like this, Walker said, I can tell you, thats fine, but I think they can go and suck lemons. The rest of us are going to cheer and figure out how we can get this thing going forward. As proposed by the state, Foxconn would be designated as being in an electronics and information and technology zone, which would mean some air and water quality standards would be relaxed, and a full environmental impact statement would not be required by Wisconsin although a less burdensome one would have to be completed for the federal government. That would, for instance, allow Foxconn to fill in some wetlands during construction of its campus isolated bodies of water that are not connected to a stream, lake or navigable river. But, as outlined recently, the company would also be required to create off-setting new wetlands at a ratio of two to one. Thats more than required under current state law. The issue of environmental regulation will be clearer within the next few weeks, when a final site is identified. The area reportedly under consideration for the 1,000-acre campus in Racine County would seem to us highly suitable for an electronics campus and would, we hope, have a minimal impact on air and water standards here. Yes, that will need some vetting, but as state Department of Natural Resources spokesman Jim Dick said last week, the proposed legislation related to Foxconn does not give a company within electronics and information technology zone(s) a free pass on the environment. YORK The city of York, in conjunction with the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) will be conducting a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., at the Kilgore Memorial Library. According to SENDD, the primary goal of the planning process is to design a program of neighborhood revitalization efforts that improve the quality of life for low to moderate income residents in York. These efforts would target review, prioritization and planning for revitalization activities that would be designed to provide increased open green space, improve affordable housing unit quality and quantity, and provide safe public transportation infrastructure and access with minimum associated increase to the property tax base of three block group areas. SENDD says the target area has a significantly high number of low to moderate income households. The three areas of focus within the target area are: Twelfth Street/Country Club Avenue to Nobes, then south along Highway 81 to Interstate 80, then north to Lincoln Avenue and Third Street. From 12th and Third Streets between York and Iowa Avenues. From 14th Street to Sixth Street from Florida to Iowa Avenues. SENDD says one block group includes East Hill Park and much of the York College campus. Another includes much of the downtown business corridor and another group includes the country club, Harrison Park as well as undeveloped agricultural land with areas of wetlands. The meeting will be hosted by staff from SENDD, which is a community-development organization of which the city of York is a member. If someone would like more information about this upcoming town hall meeting, they can contact Rian Harkins from SENDD at 402-475-2560 or send an email to rharkins@sendd.org. NJ Collected HOW MANY Guns in its Recent Buyback Program? By Erika Haas. August 4th, 2017 New Jersey had its largest gun buyback event last weekend, collecting a total of 4,775 firearms across Camden, Trenton and Newark. Residents turned in 1,973 handguns, 1,142 shotguns, 1,025 rifles and 129 "assault weapons" as New Jersey police call them. With each firearm being handed in -- no questions asked -- in exchange for $100 to $200, the state ended up shelling out a whopping $481,620 in cash. Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced the news at a press conference at Newark Police Communication Center this week, noting that the event got 2,000 more guns off the streets than any previous buyback program in the state. Even more shocking, more firearms were collected this past weekend than have ever been collected by law enforcement officers through arrests and seizures in a single year. ....... The whole expression "gun buyback" is itself a misnomer seeing as the guns had never been sold to the owners by law enforcement! "Surrender" would be a much more valid label. So, $100 to $200 per gun was reportedly paid out which seems like a fairly good deal for someone wanting to move on their beat-up old AK or SKS. It also seems unlikely that anyone would be handing over a half decent 1911 or a mint condition trap shot gun. Being very generous, just perhaps some guns handed in might have been kept out of criminal hands - beyond that, it's little more than a ''feel good'' sop to NJ tax payers. "You don't have to be Jewish to fight by our side." 2017 JPFO All rights reserved. jpfo@jpfo.org 1-800-869-1884 Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership 12500 NE 10th Pl. Bellevue, WA 98005 USA "America's most aggressive defender of civil rights" We make the NRA look like moderates Join JPFO Back to Top News Washington, DC - Good Food Concepts, LLC., a Colorado Springs, Colorado establishment, is recalling approximately 1,290 pounds of raw intact and non-intact beef because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O26, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The raw intact and non-intact beef items were processed and packaged on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4, 2017. The following products are subject to recall: Various weights of individual packages of CALLICRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate life, Filet Mignon, with lot code 170731CC. Various weights of individual packages of CALLICRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate life, Brisket Flat, with lot code 170731CC. Various weights of individual packages of CALLICRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate life, Sirloin Tip, with lot code 170731CC. Various weights of individual packages of CALLICRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate life, Ribeye, with lot code 170731CC. Various weights of individual packages of CALLICRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate life, Stew Meat, with lot code 170731CC. Various weights of individual packages of CALLICRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate life, New York Strip, with lot code 170731CC. Various weights of individual packages of CALLICRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate life, Skirt Steak, with lot code 170731CC. Various weights of individual packages of CALLICRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate life, Top Sirloin, with lot code 170731CC. Cases of 14.60-lb of RANCH FOODS DIRECT GROUND BEEF 80/20 BEEF, with lot code 170804. Cases of 6.40-lb of RANCH FOODS DIRECT GROUND BEEF 80/20 BEEF, with lot code 170803. Cases of 6.40-lb of RANCH FOODS DIRECT PHILLY MEAT BEEF, with lot code 170803. Cases of 6.40-lb of RANCH FOODS DIRECT TOP SIRLOIN STEAK 8oz BEEF, with lot code 170803. Cases of 40-lb of RANCH FOODS DIRECT GROUND CHUCK BEEF, with lot code 170804. Cases of 6.40-lb of RANCH FOODS DIRECT GROUND BEEF (73/27), with lot code 170803. Cases of 40-lb of RANCH FOODS DIRECT FLAT IRON BEEF, with lot code 170804. Cases of FAMILY BUNDLE, 4-GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN 20% FAT, 1-LONDON BROIL, 2-PKGS CUBE STEAKS, 6-FLATIRON STEAKS, $91.99 with lot code 170804. Cases of STEAK BUNDLE, 4-RIBEYE STEAKS, 4-NEW YORK STRIP STEAKS, 4-TOP SIRLOIN STEAKS, 4-FILET MIGNON $174.99 with lot code 170804. Cases of RIBEYE STEAK BUNDLE, 10-RIBEYE STEAKS, $117.99 with lot code 170803. Cases of COLORADO BUNDLE, 4-SKIRTS STEAKS, 4-CHUCK EYE STEAKS, 4-TOP SIRLOIN, 2-CHUCK ROAST, 15-GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN 20%FAT, $199.19 with lot code 170804. Cases of 20-lb of GROUND BEED, 90% LEAN, 10% FAT $125.99 with lot code 170804. Packages of ALL NATURAL CALLIGRATE BEEF, Celebrate goodness, Celebrate Life, GROUND BEEF. The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 27316 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations, wholesale locations, and restaurants in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The problem was discovered on Aug. 5, 2017 when plant management at Good Food Concepts, LLC notified FSIS in-plant inspection personnel that they tested a production lot of carcasses they received from the Callicrate Ranch on July 31, 2017. The carcass trimmings from the N60 analysis was positive for non-O157 STEC serogroup O26. Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), such as STEC O26 because it is harder to identify than STEC O157. People can become ill from STECs 28 days (average of 34 days) after consuming the organism. Most people infected with STEC O26 develop diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended. Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is uncommon with STEC O26 infection. HUS can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately. FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - Americans for Prosperity Foundation is announcing a significant new It's Working issue education effort to tout Arizonas untold educational successes. The organization is spending six figures to tell Arizonans the facts about how charter schools, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and other policies are enabling more Arizona children to obtain a quality education. The organizations unique issue education effort entails heavy digital video and display ads, direct mail, events, and non-stop grassroots contacts at the door and over the phone. The organization intends to show the public how Arizona schools are among the best in the nation thanks in large part to policies increasing educational opportunity. Arizona schools are leading the nation, thanks in large part to charter schools, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and other policies enabling families to give their children the best possible education. The facts are clear: Arizona schools have made great strides by increasing the opportunity for all Arizonans to get a quality education. Arizona has five of the seven best schools in the nation, led the nation in academic gains for six consecutive years, and has the top charter schools in the nation. Arizona is doing something right, and families and taxpayers deserve to hear the facts. "Our It's Working initiative will tell the story of Arizona's educational success and the policies that are giving families more opportunities. Thanks to charter schools, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and other policies increasing opportunity, children are succeeding and our schools are improving. We look forward to sharing these facts with tens of thousands of Arizona taxpayers, families, and students. Increasing Educational Opportunity is Helping Arizona Schools and Students Succeed Arizona students are outperforming the nation thanks to policies giving families more educational options. Charter schools and other innovative reforms are helping children obtain a quality education, regardless of their income or zip code. Arizona has five of the top seven schools in America, according to U.S. News and World Report. Arizona charter schools are among the best in the nation, according to University of Arkansas Professor Jay Greene. Arizona schools led the nation in academic gains from 2009 to 2015 (despite decreased funding during this period) according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Arizona charter schools gained an outstanding 16 and 15 points, respectively, on fourth grade math and reading scores, while Arizona schools overall gained six and three points in each category. Nationwide gains amounted to just one point in each category, according to the NAEP. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - During the month of July, the Arizona Western College (AWC) Massage Therapy Program collected cases of water donated by clients. On Monday, August 7, 2017, over 80 cases of water were donated to the Yuma Community Food Bank (YCFB). The program also accepted a special $15 fee for massages thru the month of Julyand those proceeds collected went to the AWC Student Massage Clinic. These funds helped support scholarships and extra-curricular activities. Its an important part of our program to demonstrate giving back to our community, commented Kate Turpin, Professor/Coordinator Licensed Massage Therapy. And this was a fun project that was well received. The AWC Massage Therapy Program is a three semester program that provides students with the required training to apply for an Arizona State license. They offer advanced training opportunities in medical massage, including oncology massage. They have paid internships to build practice hours necessary for National Board Certification in their clinic which is open all year. The AWC instructors care about EACH student and will help them obtain the skills required to become a successful therapist. Students can learn: Swedish massage, seated (chair) massage, sports, hot stone, and many other techniques. The AWC Massage Therapy Program is engaged in many community events throughout the year to help students practice their skills and to give back to their community. Seats are still available for Fall 2017. Call today for more information and an application packet, (928) 317-6056 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - Today, at approximately 1:30 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 3900 block of W. 22nd Lane for a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle was located and a license plate check showed the vehicle had been reported stolen on July 30, 2017. A male subject was observed exiting the vehicle and fled into an apartment in the area. A perimeter was set and announcements were made for everyone to come out of the apartment. Eventually, several subjects came out of the residence and stated that a male subject was still inside. A K9 team was on sight and K9 announcements were made. Entry was made into the apartment and the K9 gave an indication to the presence of an odor from the A/C return. The suspect, later identified as 30 year old Richard Morales Alejandre, refused to obey commands to give up and would not show his hands. The K9 was sent and apprehended Richard Alejandre, who was pulled out and taken into custody. Richard Alejandre was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center for treatment and will be booked on theft of transportation and drug charges. Inside the recovered stolen vehicle were missing items that had been reported stolen from previous burglaries. The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this incident to please call the Yuma Police Department at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Remember, if your information leads to an arrest you may receive up to a $1,000 cash reward. Euro trades at 4.5635 lei The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorized to operate on the currency market is as follows: CURRENCY SYMBOL RON1 Euro EUR 4.56351 US dollar USD 3.86431 Swiss franc CHF 3.97221 British pound GBP 5. Citeste articolul mai departe pe stiripesurse.ro Sursa articol: stiripesurse.ro Stiri pe aceeasi tema - The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorised to operate on the currency market is as follows: Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your - The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorised to operate on the currency market is as follows: Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your - The exchange rate of the national RON currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorised to operate on the currency market is as follows: Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your - The exchange rate of the national RON currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorised to operate on the currency market is as follows: Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your - The exchange rate of the national RON currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorized to operate on the currency market is as follows: Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your - The exchange rate of the national RON currency resulting from the quotations announced on Wednesday by the banks authorised to operate on the currency market is as follows: Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help - The exchange rate of the national RON currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorised to operate on the currency market is as follows: Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your - Britain said on Tuesday that Russias Black Sea Fleet is currently struggling to exercise effective sea control, with patrols generally limited to the waters within sight of the Crimean coast, according to Reuters. The Black Sea Fleet continues to use long-range cruise missiles to support ground offensives Washington: Former US President Barack Obama called for calm in Tuesday's general elections in Kenya, where there are concerns over a possible resurgence of violence stemming from political and ethnic tensions. Obama, whose father was born in Kenya and who still has a family in the African country, issued a long statement on Monday calling on Kenyan citizens as well as its leaders to leave fear and division behind, reports Efe news. "Reject a politics of tribe and ethnicity, and embrace the extraordinary potential of an inclusive democracy" Obama said in the statement. "I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people; urge security forces to act professionally and neutrally; and work together no matter the outcome." The appeal from the former US president came as Kenyans headed to the polls this morning to cast their votes to elect a new president and a Parliament in a hotly contested election that pits incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta against former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the media reported. Over 40,000 polling stations opened at 6 am (local time) and will close at 5 pm, reports Xinhua news agency. A total of 19 million Kenyans are registered to cast their ballots. Results are expected by Tuesday night, and by Wednesday evening, the country's next President will be declared, although the electoral body will have seven days to officially announce the results. Odinga, 72, who's running for president for the fourth time, served as prime minister between 2008 and 2013. As the candidate for the National Super Alliance party, he is one of eight presidential candidates, reports CNN. Kenyatta, who leads the Jubilee Alliance and is seeking a second five-year term, is the nation's youngest president at 55. If he loses, he will make history as the only incumbent Kenyan president not to win re-election. The last election in 2007 was marred with violence with more than 1,100 deaths and 600,000 others were displaced. In a speech ahead of Tuesday's vote, Kenyatta urged the citizens to "please go back home" after casting their vote, reports BBC. "Go back to your neighbour. Regardless of where he or she comes from, their tribe, their colour or their religion. Shake their hand, share a meal and tell them 'let us wait for the results,' for Kenya will be here long after this general election." Kenyatta and Odinga originate from opposing tribes. Also on Monday, Odinga congratulated Kenyatta on his campaign, describing him as a "worthy opponent". "May the stronger candidate win tomorrow," he said. To win outright, a candidate needs 50 per cent plus one vote, and at least 25 per cent of the votes in 24 of Kenya's 47 counties. If that threshold is not met it will trigger a run-off vote between the top two candidates, with the winner requiring a simple majority. Voters are also choosing lawmakers, senators, governors, county officials and women's representatives. More than 14,000 candidates are standing in those elections. Uhuru Kenyatta's father Jomo Kenyatta, was the nation's first President (1964-78) while Raila Odinga's father Jaramogi Odinga, served as his Vice President (1964-66). With IANS inputs Rio city: Brazil's corruption saga hit a macabre new low Tuesday with allegations that a Rio city councillor forced grieving relatives to pay bribes to claim bodies of loved ones. The councillor, Gilberto de Oliveira Lima, and two other officials are accused of forming a "mafia" at Rio de Janeiro`s medical investigation center, where autopsies are performed, the state prosecutors` office said in a statement. "The scheme lasted at least from 2014 to now," the prosecutors said. De Oliveira Lima is accused of working with four hospitals to transfer bodies to the investigative center even when there was no need for autopsies. Five funeral homes would then pay bribes to the three officials in exchange for being able to do their work at the coroner`s facilities, which is against the law, the statement said. "To boost profits, the hospitals sent the (medical center) bodies of people who had had natural -- not violent or suspicious -- deaths and therefore did not require being sent there. In this way, turnover was always high." Finally, "relatives of the deceased were made to pay bribes to recover the bodies," a spokesman for the prosecutors` office told AFP. The alleged funeral home scheme was announced as Brazil staggers through the biggest corruption scandal in its history. In an operation dubbed "Car Wash," federal prosectors have uncovered an embezzlement and bribery scheme running through the highest echelons of politics and big business. President Michel Temer himself is accused of agreeing to take millions of dollars in bribes from a meatpacking company. Last week the scandal-plagued lower house of Congress voted overwhelmingly to nix prosecutors` demand for a trial. Mumbai: Ajay Devgn and Milan Luthria have dismissed reports that the latter has chopped off an intimate scene from their upcoming film "Baadshaho" to avoid the wrath of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). There were reports that the "Baadshaho" director, Luthria, had deleted an intimate sequence between Devgn and the film's female lead Ileana D'Cruz before the board could raise any object. However, Devgn said, "It's not true. We have not made a porn film." While Luthria added, "This is complete conjecture. I don't think anybody besides my core team is privy to what and how we edit the film. This is speculation. It's a straightforward film." Luthria's directorial project is set during the Emergency period. Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar's recent released "Indu Sarkar" had too covered the same topic but faced a lot of hurdles while getting clearance from the CBFC. When asked on the same, Luthria said, "Nothing has happened so far and I don't think anything will happen also. "We have seen films being made in similar genre earlier as well. That film had a political approach and ours is action adventure." Devgn said, "As a director-producer I have not faced any problem. I don't know what is the problem, I don't see a problem. If you rationalise it then everything could be understood." The film also features Emraan Hashmi, Esha Gupta and Sanjay Mishra and is scheduled to release on September 1. New Delhi: Shares of Tata Steel on Tuesday rose by over 4 percent after the company returned to profit in the quarter ended June 30, 2017. After making a positive opening, shares of the company further jumped 4.15 percent to Rs 624.95 -- its 52-week high -- on BSE. At NSE, shares of the company gained 4.24 percent to hit its one year high of Rs 625.50. Tata Steel on Monday posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 921.09 crore for the quarter ended June on the back of higher revenue from operations. The company had posted consolidated net loss of Rs 3,183 crore in the year-ago period, Tata Steel said in a filing to BSE. "Our sales were up by 28 percent on a y-o-y basis as the smooth ramp up of our Kalinganagar facility helped us increase our volumes and increase our market share," T V Narendran, Managing Director, Tata Steel India and South East Asia said in a statement. The consolidated revenue from operations during April- June quarter was at Rs 30,973 crore, registering an increase of 19 percent. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday pulled up the CBI for filing the same report regarding its probe into disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmad that was placed on record last time, saying that the case was "not transferred to the agency for fun". "There is nothing new. It is the same report of July 17. We did not adjourn matter on that date to examine this two- and-a-half page scrap today," a bench of Justices G S Sistani and Chander Shekhar said to the agency. It directed the CBI to file a fresh status report before the next date of hearing on September 6. "We have not transferred the matter to the CBI for fun," the bench said, adding that the July 17 report only showed "cosmetic steps" being taken by the agency. The bench said it lists matters for hearing "at the cost of others". "What was the idea of listing it today? Just to say the report has been filed," it asked the CBI. During the hearing, the bench asked CBI what happened in the interrogation of the persons accused of assaulting the missing student the night before his disappearance. The agency replied it will indicate the same in its status report. The CBI also said there was progress in its investigation and it was sure it will "crack the case", but added that it would take some time. It also said that as part of its probe, it was also examining the earlier investigation carried out by the Delhi Police. The high court had on May 16 ordered the CBI to take over the probe into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the student since October 2016. The order was passed on the plea of Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, who moved the court on November 25 last for tracing her son, a first-year MSc Biotechnology student who went missing from JNU hostel Mahi Mandavi. The student went missing on October 15, 2016 after he had an altercation with some students belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the campus. Later, students of the RSS-affiliated ABVP had denied any involvement in his disappearance. New Delhi: Arvind Panagariya, who abruptly resigned as vice-chairman of NITI Aayog to resume teaching in the US, on Tuesday said he did not know at the time of joining that his term will be co-terminus with that of the government even as he dismissed suggestions of two power centres forcing his exit. In an interview with PTI, Panagariya, 64, cited several examples of how western universities are very stringent about not extending leaves, which is what forced him to return to Columbia University at the end of the month even though the Prime Minister's Office wanted him to continue till 2019. Asked if knew of such rules why did he not make it clear to the government about his return to teaching when he was appointed the first vice chief of the policy body in 2015, he said he was not told that his term would run concurrently with the term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I did not know my tenure will be co-terminus with the government, how would I know? Is there a letter?" he said, adding he accepted the appointment after a phone call came from the Prime Minister's Office. On the phone, he said he was told he will be vice- chairman and "beyond that I knew nothing. I said OK. I want to do this so I accepted." Panagariya, who took over the reins of a body that was set up after dismantling the Planning Commission that used to set five-year growth roadmaps, dismissed reports of any differences or dual power centres in NITI Aayog were reasons for his exit. "No, no, no," he said, when asked if the numerous occasions NITI Aayog had difference of opinions with other wings of the government was the reason for his exit. He also dismissed existence of dual power centres in NITI Aayog saying, "You go and talk to my staff." "You have to ask those who are writing those reports ... I can only tell you (that) no institution can run with two or more power centres. There has to be one power centre," he said. The erstwhile Planning Commission, like the NITI Aayog, was headed by Prime Minister and had a vice-chairman. It, however, did not have a CEO. Also, unlike the last Planning Commission vice chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Panagariya though enjoying cabinet rank, does not attend Cabinet meetings. Panagariya is scheduled to leave Niti Aayog on August 31 and will be succeeded by well-known economist Rajiv Kumar. "You will have to ask those (who talk of differences being the reason). I can only tell you what my interaction with Prime Minister was. The whole matter was initiated by me not by the PMO and the Prime Minister's Office very keenly wanted me to stay here longer meaning till 2019. And that upon consultation with the university, I came to conclusion that leave won't be extended," he said. New Delhi: While the environmentally conscious world is calling out people over the habit of polluting the waterbodies by throwing bottles, plastic waste and industrial waste, an endangered Australian fish species is using them to protect theselves. As per reports, scientists have said that the endangered Australian spotted handfish are taking shelter inside discarded beer bottles on the river beds to save themsleves from extinction. The spotted handfish walks along the Tasmanian seabed on long fins resembling hands and is the first marine species in the world to be classified as critically endangered. The handfish like complex breeding habitats but boat moorings and invasive pest species like the North Pacific seastar are damaging their breeding grounds, said researchers from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia. However, discarded beer bottles are proving to be an ideal breeding ground for the rare fish, they said. "There are a couple of sites where there are bottle reefs which provide good habitat. Places where people have been mooring up their yachts or windjammers since the 1800s, drinking rum and throwing the bottles overboard," Tim Lynch, senior researcher at CSIRO was quoted as saying by 'ABC.' "The seastars can not eat the bottles at least, and we often find spotted handfish hiding behind discarded bottles," Lynch said. Researchers found that handfish breed well in captivity. They have created artificial spawning habitats in the river, and placed about 6,000 plastic sticks on the river bed for handfish to lay eggs on. Each fish lays up to 200 eggs after a courtship dance between the male and the female, and the female then cares for the eggs until they hatch, they said. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: The discourse on climate change and global warming has taken over a larger domain in the last few years and its rapidly growing effects have raised questions on Earth's habitability in the future. While the nations of the world are putting in their best efforts to reduce their carbon footprints in accordance with the Paris climate deal, climate change seems to be a red rag for the current American administration. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, backed out of the agreement two months ago. While this move garnered immense backlash and criticism from other countries who are a part of the deal, Trump said he's 'proud' of his action. Calling climate change a hoax created by China, Trump had recently said that, "the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive". His reasoning for backing out of the climate deal was that it undermined the country's economy, cost US jobs, and put it at a disadvantage to other nations. While the United Nations tries its best to change Donald Trump's highly condemnable views on climate change by requesting him to join the Paris agreement once again, a federal climate report says the United States is already feeling the effects of climate change, with temperatures rising dramatically over the last four decades. That's according to The New York Times, which acquired a draft copy of the report by scientists from 13 federal agencies. The report says extreme heat waves have become more common and extreme cold waves less common since the 1980s. It says emissions of greenhouse gases will affect the degree to which global temperatures continue to rise a claim President Donald Trump and some members of his cabinet have disputed. One scientist cited anonymously by the Times says he and other researchers are worried that the Trump administration, which must approve the report's release, will suppress it. The United States is the world's second largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China. (With PTI inputs) London: A 43-year-old Pakistan-born man with an Italian passport was on Tuesday found guilty of trying to smuggle a pipe bomb onto a plane at Manchester Airport. Nadeem Muhammad was convicted of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday after prosecutors presented evidence that he intended to detonate the device on a Boeing 737 flight to Bergamo, Italy. The jury did not believe Muhammad's claim in court that he had never seen the device before. He will be sentenced at the same court on August 23. "Despite extensive investigation, Nadeem Muhammads motive for attempting to take this device onto a plane remains unknown. However it is clear that the consequences, had he been successful, could have been disastrous," said Sue Hemmings from the UKs Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The court was told that Muhammad was planning to board a Ryanair flight to Italy on January 30 this year when security officers uncovered the device, made of masking tape, batteries, the tube of a marker pen, pins and wires, in the zip lining of his small green suitcase. Security officers at the airport had not initially believed the bomb was viable and, after being questioned by counter-terrorism police, Muhammad was released and allowed to board another flight to Bergamo, near Milan, five days later. The device was later passed on to counter terrorism experts for examination, who found it to be a "potentially viable" bomb containing nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose. Muhammad was eventually arrested when he returned to the UK from Italy on February 12. A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said the actions of staff had "prevented a potentially dangerous item from being taken on board an aircraft". "In this instance, the actions of our security team led to the detection of a suspicious device [and] following its detection, our team handed the passenger and the device over to the police to investigate further," he said. Muhammad was seen crying in court as the jury returned its guilty verdict, reached by a majority of 10 to two after almost 16 hours of deliberations New Delhi: In a major reprieve to the Congress, the Election Commission on Tuesday night ordered rejection of the votes of its two MLAs in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections. The order by Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti and Election Commissioner OP Rawat came after a high-pitch battle between the BJP and the Congress over the votes of Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghavji Bhai Patel, who had voted for the BJP and showed their ballots to BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani, who are also candidates. The EC has also asked the returning officer for the polls to segregate the two ballots and proceed with the counting. This is what the EC order said: Counting for elections in three crucial Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat had to be stopped on Tuesday evening with the Congress demanding cancellation of votes of the two of MLAs for displaying their ballot paper to the BJP`s polling agent. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka will visit India to take part in Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in late November. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his US visit had invited Ivanka to lead the US delegation for global entrepreneurship forum. The daughter of US President had then thanked the Indian Prime Minister for inviting her to lead the US delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in India. An American businesswomen and former fashion model, Ivanka Trump is also an assistant to her father. The 35-year-old has maintained that she tries to "stay out of 'politics'" despite occupying a key advisory role to her father along with her husband Jared Kushner. Ivanka, whose net worth is estimated to be some USD 300 million and who -- like her husband -- receives no salary for her advisory activities, emphasized that she gives her open and sincere opinion on assorted issues and is sometimes in agreement with Trump, although at other times they do not agree. New Delhi: As the stand-off between the Indian and Chinese troops along the border in Sikkim continues, India and the United States of America will conduct ''Yudh Abhyas'' joint exercise between their armies in September. The exercise Yudh Abhyas 2017, will be held from September 14-27 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the US. Over 200 Indian soldiers from the Gorkha Rifles will take part in the military exercise. The exercise will be the 13th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership programme. It had participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Indian Army. Over the years the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise. The exercise could irk China as India, Japan and the United States of America held the Malabar Naval Exercise-2017 in the Bay of Bengal in July in a bid to achieve deeper military ties among the three nations. American 100,020 tonne supercarrier USS Nimitz that can carry 90 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters (CVN68), guided-missile cruise USS Princeton (CG59), guided-missile destroyers USS Howard (DDG83), USS Shoup (DDG86) and USS Kidd (DDG100), a Poseidon P-8A aircraft as well as a Los Angeles fast-attack submarine participated in the trilateral naval exercise. Besides, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force ships 27,000 tonne JS Izumo (DDH 183), 6,300-tonne destroyer JS Sazanami (DD1 13) along with Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa and the 45,400 tonne INS Vikramaditya - a modified Russian Kiev-class aircraft carrier, also took part in the joint Naval exercise. India also deployed two Kamorta class anti-submarine warfare corvettes - the first anti-submarine warfare stealth corvettes built in India. Also participating from the Indian Navy were two Shivalik class frigates - the first stealth warships built in India, two destroyers, a Kora class 1,350-ton guided missile corvette, and tanker INS Jyoti. India and China are engaged in the standoff in the Doklam area near the Bhutan tri-junction since June after a Chinese Army's construction party attempted to build a road. Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. India has said Beijing's action to "unilaterally determine tri-junction points" violated a 2012 India-China pact which says the boundary would be decided by consulting all the concerned parties. The two countries share a little over 200 km of border in the Sikkim sector. New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah completes his three years in office tomorrow, a period that saw the party rapidly expand its base and clinch states like Goa, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh through some astute political manoeuvres despite lacking majority. Seen as a master strategist and workaholic, the BJP leader is considered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alter ego, and the two have together given the saffron party political sinews it could hardly even imagine before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. A blend of Modi's mass appeal and Shah's organisational skills and sagacity has resulted in BJP having 13 states under its belt and it is in power in five more with alliance partners. Under Shah's watch, the BJP and its allies won a thumping victory in Uttar Pradesh, pocketing 73 of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats. The wily Gujarat leader, a five-term MLA, was then in-charge of the BJP's campaign in the key cow belt state. As the 52-year-old leader from Gujarat begins his fourth year at the helm of the party's affairs, he is also set to make his debut in Parliament as a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat. Shah was appointed the party chief in July 2014 following the induction of his predecessor Rajnath Singh into the Modi cabinet but the BJP's national council ratified the decision on August 9 that year. If growing public support for a party is a measure of its chief's popularity, Shah is the most successful BJP president. Party leaders are quick to point out that under him the BJP has not only won most elections it contested, it also saw its vote percentage rise even in the polls it lost, like in Bihar. Barring Bihar and Delhi, where it had to eat a humble pie, the BJP juggernaut rolled on as it formed its maiden governments in Assam, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Under Shah, the BJP jettisoned its oldest saffron ally the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and contested Assembly polls on its own, emerging as the single largest party. The two parties are again together now, both in the state and at the Centre. BJP sources, however, cite the party's win with unprecedented margin in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections this year as probably his biggest electoral achievement. Coming as it did in the wake of the demonetisation exercise, which was used by opposition parties to corner the central government, the victory put to rest any doubt over Modi's charisma waning and brought the BJP to power in India's politically most important state after a gap of 15 years, they said. "The party has expanded in all parts of the country. Shah has worked to live the vision of its founders like Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay who wanted the BJP to be a 'party of all Indians' and 'a party with all India'," sources said. In states like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Manipur, the BJP has tasted power for the first time. In Goa, where it finished second after Congress, Shah despatched Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, a canny practitioner of realpolitik, to cobble together a majority and form a government with smaller parties. In Arunachal Pradesh, the party under Shah engineered mass defection by 33 of the 43 MLAs of People's Party of Arunachal Pradesh, and formed its own government. The party also notched more than ever vote share in local bodies polls in Odisha, Kerala and West Bengal, states which Shah has marked out as it as the next potential growth regions for the party during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Shah has put in place a well-oiled mechanism that ensures the government and the party work in sync. He has used the party apparatus to create awareness about various programmes of the Modi government including 'beti bachai beti padhao', 'namami gange', 'ujjwala yojna' and the one for crop insurance to tackle agrarian unrest. Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) Director Sanjay Kumar termed Shah's three-year tenure as "superb" and said that the party appeared set, as of now, to win the 2019 election under him. "In terms of the party's president he has been able to expand its support base," he said, adding that as a strategist too, Shah has been successful. The BJP under him has been able to form governments in states even where it lost, Kumar said, lauding Shah's political sagacity. "There's no question mark on his performance. I don't see any challenge to the BJP till 2019 if nothing dramatic happens," he said. The BJP also claims to have become the largest political party in the world under him by enrolling over 11 crore members. They credit his decision to meet the common man and the party's office bearers on the first and third Monday of every month, and efforts to communicate directly with functionaries across states among reasons for enhanced cohesion in the organisaiton. "If the party president is himself undertaking a nation- wide tour of 110 days, pasting posters on walls and interacting with workers and common voters at the booth-level, then it energises the entire organisation," a senior party leader said. On an average, Shah has travelled 541 km daily as he held rallies and other programmes in virtually all parts of the country, he said. With the BJP set to face coming elections, including the next Lok Sabha poll, under him, Shah has announced that the party's golden era will arrive when it rules across the country from "panchayat to Parliament". Under him, the BJP, once considered a 'Brahmin-Baniya' party, has reached out to the backward classes and dalits, a strategy that paid rich dividends in the UP Assembly elections. 104 test positive for swine flue in western region As many as 104 patients are found suffering from swine flue (Influenza A H1N1) in the western region. Of them, 86 patients are from Kaski alone, according to the District Public Health Office (DPHO). Beijing: In a stunning -but unsubstantiated- claim, a senior Chinese official said today that Bhutan has acknowledged that the Doklam area where the Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a standoff does not belong to it. China's top diplomat on the boundary issue, Wang Wenli, told a visiting Indian media delegation that Bhutan has conveyed to Beijing through the diplomatic channels that the area of the standoff is not its territory. She provided no evidence for the claim, which is at the complete variance with Bhutan's stated position and actions. Bhutan had protested to the Chinese government, accusing it of violating a bilateral pact after its troops tried to construct a road in the Doklam area on June 16. "After the incident, the Bhutanese made it very clear to us that the place where the trespassing happened is not Bhutan's territory," said Wang, who is the Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. She went on to say that "Bhutanese find it very strange that the Indian border troops are on the Chinese soil," and implied that her views have been gleaned from Bhutanese state media and legal blogs which have "more convincing information". A statement issued by India's External Affairs Ministry on June 30 said, "On June 16, a PLA (People's Liberation Army) construction party entered the Doklam area and attempted to construct a road. It is our understanding that a Royal Bhutan Army patrol attempted to dissuade them from this unilateral activity." India had also cited the Bhutanese Foreign Ministry as emphasising that "the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between these two countries. They have urged a return to the status quo as before June 16, 2017." India also conveyed to the Chinese government that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for it. India says both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place. Wang said Bhutan is observing the actions being taken by both Indian and Chinese troops from its territory. Bhutan has no direct diplomatic relations with China and maintains contacts with Beijing through its diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Bhutan and China have held 24 rounds of talks to resolve boundary dispute while India and China have completed 19 rounds of talks. Wang said India and Bhutan are two countries out of the 14 countries China is yet to sort out boundary disputes. China has settled boundary dispute approximately of 20,000 km with 12 countries out of the 22,000 km and is yet to settle about 2,000 km of boundary involving India and Bhutan. Washington: Chinese President Xi Jinping sees Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader who is willing to stand up for Indian interests and to work together with other countries in the region that are looking to impose constraints on China, a top American Chinese expert has said. "I think that Xi Jinping sees Prime Minister Modi as a leader who is willing to stand up for Indian interests and to work together with other countries in the region that are looking to impose constraints on China, and particularly the US and Japan, and that's something, I think Beijing is worried about," Bonnie S Glaser from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) told PTI in an interview. Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project at CSIS, a top American think-tank, based in Washington DC, felt that China does not sees itself as benefitting from a tense relationship with India. "Very early on Xi Jinping went to Delhi and tried to engage with Prime Minister Modi. I think he had hoped that India would have a policy that would not challenge Chinese interest. But I think it has really not worked out that way as he's continued to be involved in the South China Sea," she noted. "There are obviously differences between the two countries, in the Indian Ocean and other maritime areas. China doesn't see itself as benefiting from a tense relationship with India. After all, the two countries share a long border," said Glaser, who is keeping a close watch on the developments in Doklam. India and China have been locked in a standoff in Doklam since June 16 after Chinese troops began constructing a road near the Bhutan trijunction. Glaser, who has served as a member of the Defense Department's Defense Policy Board China Panel in 1997, said China sees India as a major challenger to it in the long term. "China sees India as the biggest rising developing power that in the longer run, ? could pose challenges. In the near term, China worries most about India's cooperation with other countries, forging coalitions with other countries like Japan, Australia, and the US, to counter Chinese power influence in the region, so that is a negative set of developments," she noted. India, she said, is the only country in the world that opposes explicitly China's One Belt and One Road Initiative. "China doesn't see India as posing very much of a military threat. China hasn't taken India's nuclear arsenal, for example, as a major threat to its security, but increasingly sees India as a political threat to China, in part because it is cooperation with lots of other powers to constrain China," she said. While Doklam standoff continues, India's position and its end result could have large implication on other countries in the region, especially those who have border dispute with China, she noted. "If China succeeds in having its way with other countries, and certainly with India, this could embolden China to be even more extrapolous, more unbending in dealing with countries with which it has territorial disputes," Glaser said. China, thinks that its economic power, growing political power and military power, is giving it enough clout to be able to turn these disputes and differences with countries in its own favor, she said. "That's worrisome to me because we've seen China over the last couple of years use economic coercion against countries, South Korea being the latest example of that. Its worrisome if China draws the lesson that it can use economic coercion, military power, political pressure in order to have its way," she said. "If China ends up winning, or in other words, if India pulls back its troops, China is able to go ahead and build this road and ultimately India and Bhutan are forced to accept it even though they believe it's against their national interest, particularly India," Glaser said. "That could embolden China further in dealing with territorial disputes with other neighbors," she said in response to a question. "China already had a bit of a win with the Philippines with the election of Duterte. There's now discussion underway of joint development between China and the Philippines, and I think that has emboldened Beijing in dealing with Vietnam, basically forcing the Vietnamese to stop the drilling that has been underway off of Vietnam's coast," she observed. Responding to another question, Glaser said US will avoid getting directly involved because any US involvement really would only make the crisis worse. "China would dig in its heels even more if the United States is seen as explicitly backing India. The strongest US interest is in de-escalation of the crisis," she said. She, however, did not rule out further escalation of the border standoff. "Clearly China and India do not have an interest in having a military conflict. But one cannot rule it out," she said. One possible outcome, she said, is that this standoff just continues through the winter when the weather deteriorates and then both sides have to pull out their troops and then there is a sort of gradual stand down. "China probably cannot build this road during the winter so it would have to wait until next spring, and that might provide a breather, an opportunity for both sides to actually talk about it," she said. "Another possibility is that Bhutan steps up, and not necessarily plays the role of mediator, but takes a position that enables China and India to move back their troops," she added. "For example, Bhutan could thank India very much for its assistance and say for the time being that India can pull back its forces and perhaps even replace some of those troops with its own troops. That's another possible face-saving way out. But again I don't rule out that there could be a military conflict," Glaser said. New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee meeting was on Thursday held at party headquarters in the national capital. The meet comes in the backdrop of the party demanding the Election Commission the disqualification of two of its legislators for violating norm and showing their ballot paper to Amit Shah during the Rajya Sabha polling. Party president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former defence minister AK Antony were among several party leaders ministers present at the meet. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi skipped the party meet as he is down with fever, ANI reported. Also Read: Congress Working Committee passes resolution on 75th Quit India Movement anniversary The meeting, that began by the address of Sonia Gandhi, was held a day before the special sitting of the two Houses of Parliament to mark the anniversary of Quit India Day. The Indian National Congress had launched the Quit India campaign in 1942 that called for India's immediate independence from Britain. "The Congress must always defend the liberty and freedom of individual and institutions," said Sonia adding that "she is Anguished by assault on freedom". She further asserted, "Self appointed vigilantes are a threat to liberty and enemy of pluralism and diversity". Earlier, the IANS stated that Congress meet also assumes significance in the wake of assembly polls later this year in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. It comes days after party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's car was pelted with stones while he was on tour of flood-affected areas of Gujarat. The windowpanes of his car were shattered and his personal security officer injured. More details awaited. Watch New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party, on Thursday passed a resolution on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. The CWC passed the resolution commemorating the event a day before the party joins the special session of Parliament to mark the anniversary of the decisive initiative in the freedom struggle. The CWC meet was held at the Congress headquarter in the national capital on Tuesday evening as the party saught to corner the BJP on the issue of nationalism. During the meet, the Congress highlighted the role it played during the movement and the country's freedom struggle. The Quit India movement was launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British rule in India. As per the resolution: Seventy five years ago, on this day, the Indian National Congress led by Mahatma Gandhi gave a Clarion Call for the immediate ending of British Rule in India. 75th Anniversary is an occasion to recall the historic struggle of the Indian People and the resolution adopted by the All India Congress Committee in Mumbai on 8th of August, 1942 launching the final and biggest battle for Indias freedom. The Quit India Movement, was remarkable for the unprecedented, spontaneous, mass participation of all sections of the Indian People: Students, Women, Workers, Peasants, Government Officials and even Industrialists showing enormous courage despite the severe repression by the British Government. This chapter of the glorious struggle of Indian People, is worth recounting as the CWC meets today to commemorate the epic struggle. It is worth remembering, that after the arrest of all National and Provincial leaders of the Congress, who were kept in jail for almost three years, the People of India rose as one, defied police firings and launched a mass Satyagraha and defiance Campaign that shook the foundations of the British Raj. The Indian National Congress has striven relentlessly in the seventy five years since it asked the British to Quit India and to realize the dreams of those who fought for our freedom. Many of the ideals have indeed been realised, even if not in full measure: a secular and democratic Constitution which guarantees Fundamental rights, Freedom of speech and expression, economic growth with equity and rule of law. However, much remains to be done for the Socio economic emancipation of the disadvantaged, deprived and marginalized sections of our people. Indian National Congress, has always stood for a secular, democratic and inclusive India and reaffirms its commitment to strive for the upliftment of the poor and empowerment of the weak and the vulnerable. The CWC, recalling the sacrifices of millions of our people and saluting the memory of thousands who laid down their lives, resolves to uphold, preserve and restore the ideals and values of the Indian National Movement. Taking note of and expressing its grave concern over the planned and systemic assaults on the foundational values of the country, and the constitutional rights of our citizens, the Indian National Congress, re-dedicates itself to uphold and defend the idea of India as envisioned by the leaders of the freedom movement. CWC on this historic day resolves anew to fight back and defeat the forces which seek to destroy our precious heritage. Srinagar: The cross-LoC trade on Srinagar- Muzaffarabad road resumed on Tuesday, more than two weeks after it was suspended following recovery of heroin and brown sugar from a truck coming from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Ahead of the resumption, authorities sealed the Customs Department office at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre at Uri on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route after the staff posted there "absconded" from duty, officials said. "We sealed the Customs' office for security reasons as there are official documents related to Cross-LoC trade lying there," Sub District Magistrate, Uri, Dr Sagar D Doifode, who is also the custodian of cross-loC trade, told PTI. "There were apprehensions that these documents could be stolen or damaged by mischievous elements," he said. Doifode said the absence of customs officials would not hamper the cross-LoC trade as there were representatives from other central and state agencies present at the trade facilitation centre supervising the security checks. Required checks have been carried out by police and people from other central agencies here, the official said. The trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was suspended two weeks ago following recovery of 66.5 kg of heroin and brown sugar valued at over Rs 300 crore from a truck coming from PoK on July 21. The impasse was resolved at a meeting between officials of the two sides held at Kaman Post last week. Beijing: Amid simmering border tension over Doklam, China's state-controlled media has warned the Narendra Modi government for ignoring the warnings from Beijing. The state-run Global Times, which has published several instigating articles against India in the last two months said, "The border standoff has stretched out for nearly two months. If the Narendra Modi government continues ignoring the warning coming from a situation spiraling out of control, countermeasures from China will be unavoidable." The newspaper invoked the 1962 war between both countries saying, "India made constant provocations at the China-India border in 1962. The government of Jawaharlal Nehru at that time firmly believed China would not strike back. China had just undergone domestic turmoil and natural disasters; Beijing and Washington were engaged in hostility and China's relations with the Soviet Union had begun to chill." Also Read - After Malabar Naval exercise, India and US to conduct joint military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas 2017' "However, the Nehru government underestimated the determination of the Chinese government to safeguard China's territorial integrity even as the country was mired in both domestic and diplomatic woes," the article read. In an apparent dig at the incumbent Indian government, the newspaper said, "Fifty-five years have passed, but the Indian government is as naive as it ever was." India and China are engaged in the standoff in the Doklam area near the Bhutan tri-junction since June after a Chinese Army's construction party attempted to build a road. Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Doklam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. India has said Beijing's action to "unilaterally determine tri-junction points" violated a 2012 India-China pact which says the boundary would be decided by consulting all the concerned parties. The two countries share a little over 200 km of border in the Sikkim sector. Beijing: Amid the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam, China on Tuesday upped the ante, wondering what New Delhi would do if it "enters" Kalapani region in Uttarakhand or Kashmir. Meanwhile, China also rejected India's suggestion for a simultaneous withdrawal of troops to end the stand-off at Doklam. Doklam is a disputed region between China and Bhutan. The dispute arose after Indian troops stopped the Chinese Army from building a road in the region in mid-June. China has stepped up its anti-India tirade over Doklam with its state media warning of baneful consequences. India wants to resolve the dispute over the stand-off between their armies in the Sikkim sector diplomatically, but China says it won't talk unless India withdraws troops from Doklam. "Even if there is only one Indian soldier, even for a day it is still a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wang Wenli, Deputy Director General of the Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said. Wang was briefing an Indian media delegation, whose visit was sponsored by the state-run All China Journalists Association (ACJA), on China's stand on the Doklam stand-off. "It is impossible to have a dialogue with India at this time. Our people will think our government is incompetent." "Until the Indian side withdraws from the Chinese territory, there will be no substantive talks between us," she said while reiterating Beijing's stand that the only way to end the present crisis on the border was the withdrawal of Indian troops from Doklam. Needling India, she raised the Kashmir issue and also referred to the Kalapani dispute between India and Nepal. "We think it is not doable for the Indian side to use tri-junction as an excuse," she said, referring to Indian External Affairs Ministry's assertion that the road building at the China, India and Bhutan tri-junction in the strategic narrow Chicken's Neck area changes the status quo. "The Indian side has also many tri-junctions. What if we use the same excuse and enter the Kalapani region between China, India and Nepal or even into the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan," she said. "Therefore, using the tri-junction as an excuse does not hold water at all. It will only cause more trouble," Wang said. This is the first time that a Chinese official sought to bring in the Kashmir issue even though such a remark has been made earlier by a scholar in the state-run Global Times. Asked whether China was getting ready for a war with India, Wang said, "I can only say that for the PLA (People's Liberation Army) and for the Chinese government, we have the determination. So, if the Indian side decides to go down the wrong path or still have illusions about this incident, then we have the right to use any act that is in line with the international law to protect our rights." Wang said India and China had many stand-offs before but "we haven't issued any position paper till now". "But this time we have the position paper and in the position paper, you can find clear information about our position and possible moves by us," she said, referring to a 15-page fact sheet issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry a few days ago. "The Indian border troops are sending a signal of aggression while the signals sent by the foreign ministry is for peaceful negotiations. So, we think these two signals do not match with each other," she said. Wang also rejected a negotiated solution by restoring status quo with the simultaneous withdrawal of Indian and Chinese troops to their earlier positions. India's position on the issue was made clear by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj recently, saying both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place, favouring a peaceful resolution of the border standoff. Referring to reports in the Indian media that both the countries' border troops can withdraw at the same time to restore the status quo, Wang said: "This is also unacceptable for China". "Because the facts are clear. It is the Indian troops that crossed the mutually recognised boundary into the Chinese territory. So, it is the Indian border troops that have the responsibility to withdraw," she said. Skirting any references to the shrill campaign being conducted by the official media here, Wang said China is exercising restraint and goodwill. "In fact, we have expressed many times the diplomatic channel is always open and it is so in the past 50 days but it does not mean that we will not use our power to use the acts of defence in line with the UN charter or relevant international law." (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: In yet another attempt to counter India over Doklam row, China has reportedly approached authorities in Nepal and apprise them about Beijing's stand on the border conflict. As per the reports of leading daily Times Of India, Chinese deputy chief of mission discussed the Doklam issue with his Nepal counterpart in a 'courtesy meeting'. The Chinese officials have also held meetings with their Nepali counterparts in Kathmandu and Beijing, diplomatic sources told the daily. If reports are to be believed, Beijing has briefed former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli over the Doklam row last month during his visit to Shigatse in Tibet. Meanwhile, it has also been reported that Vice Premier Wang Yang, who is likely to visit Kathmandu next week, might take up the issue with Nepal leaders. TOI reports also claimed that Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba who is expected to visit India later this month, may seek a review from both India and China of their 2015 agreement to develop Lipulekh Pass, located in the disputed area of Kalapani claimed by both India and Nepal. Earlier in 2015, during PM Modi's China visit, India and China agreed to expand border trade at Lipulekh Pass had created a furore in Nepal Parliament. Till now the authorities in Kathmandu resent the fact that Sino-Indian joint statement two year ago was against international norms. How the Doklam crisis unfolded? The stand-off emerged after Chinese troops were stopped by the Indian Army from construction roads in the Doklam border. India claims Sikkim border as part of its territory, while China has said that the area falls on their side as per the 1890 treaty signed between British and China. Consequently, China suspended the annual Kailash Manasarovar yatra and conceded that the decision to suspend the pilgrimage was due to the border scuffle. It also alleged that the Indian troops had crossed the Sikkim sector of the Indo-China border. Beijing has accused New Delhi of violating a convention signed in 1890 between Britain and China relating to Sikkim and Tibet. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday urged a Delhi court to issue production warrant against jailed INX media director Indrani Mukerjea in a case of alleged money laundering filed against her, Karti Chidambaram, son of former minister P Chidambaram, and others. Mukerjea is currently facing trial in Mumbai in connection with the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora and has been lodged in a jail there. The ED's advocate Nitesh Rana told special judge Sunil Rana that there are certain discrepancies in the income tax returns of the firm and Mukerjea was required to be confronted in that regard. The court has put up the matter for further hearing on August 16 since it needed to go through the case file. The ED has registered the case against Karti, INX media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea and others, after taking cognisance of a recent CBI FIR against them. The Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), ED's equivalent of a police FIR, was registered under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The accused have denied all the charges 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 had 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 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 and former Finance Minister had said. The CBI FIR was against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas (currently in jail on charges of murdering Indrani's daughter Sheena Bora), INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its director Padma Vishwanathan. Islamabad: Mumbai attacks mastermind and banned terrorist outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed's close aides on Tuesday launched a new political party which aims to convert Pakistan into a 'real Islamic state'. The JuD's new political outfit was launched days after the authorities extended Hafiz Saeed's "house arrest" for two months fearing threat to public order. Saifullah Khalid, a close aide of Saeed, announced the formation of 'Milli Muslim League' in Islamabad following weeks of campaign in Punjab's provincial capital Lahore. "We would soon file application with Election Commission of Pakistan for its registration," Khalid, who claimed to be the president of the new party, said. Khalid said the new party will strive to make Pakistan a "real Islamic state" and demanded the immediate release of Saeed, who is under "house arrest" since January. The party, political observers said, seems as an effort to set up a front which is acceptable to moderate Pakistanis. However, there appears to be little chance of electoral success for religious parties in Pakistan as the share of such political outfits have have gradually shrunk in Parliament. Currently, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal of Maulan Fazlur Rehman is one of the largest such party with about a dozen elected members in the National Assembly, whereas the Jamaat-e-Islami has about half a dozen in the 342-member house. In a notification issued on July 28, the Punjab Government's Home Department said that on the recommendation of the Federal Interior Ministry, the detention of Saeed has been extended for another 60 days. It said Saeed and others' detention expired on 27 July after his house arrest was extended for another 90 days. He was initially put under house arrest on 31 January. The JuD is believed to be a front for Lashkar-e-Toiba, the group behind the 2008 deadly attacks in Mumbai in which 166 people were killed by 10 terrorists who came from Pakistan. With PTI inputs 15th Bimstec Ministerial Meeting on Friday The 15th Bimstec Ministerial Meeting will take place in Kathmandu this Friday where the participants are expected to finalise the date of the 4th Bimstec Summit that Nepal, the current chair of the sub-regional grouping, is playing host later this year. New Delhi: The Supreme Court today gave the last opportunity to the Centre and asked it to take a decision within three months on a plea to grant minority status to non-Muslims in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices A K Goel and D Y Chandrachud considered the submission of the central government that it needed more time to hold consultations with the state government and other stakeholders if any. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre said the government has been holding consultations at various levels and eight weeks more time be granted to it to apprise the court about their stand on the PIL. The bench was hearing a PIL filed by Jammu-based lawyer Ankur Sharma that in a Muslim majority state like Jammu and Kashmir, non-Muslims should have been granted minority status to avail benefits of various government schemes. New Delhi: The government on Tuesday cleared the appointment of Justice Dipak Misra, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, as the next Chief Justice of India. Justice Misra, who will be the 45th Chief Justice of India, will succeed incumbent JS Khehar, who retires on August 27. An official notification announcing Misra's appointment was issued by the Law Ministry today. Justice Misra will have a tenure of nearly 14 months as the Chief Justice of India, as he is slated to retire on October 02, 2018. Know more about Justice Dipak Misra and the key verdicts he penned: - Justice Misra, who was elevated to the apex court bench on October 10, 2011, from the Delhi High Court, where he was the Chief Justice, has already presided over several key cases and verdicts. - One of the most eloquent judges in the apex court, Justice Misra, 63, headed the bench which, in an unprecedented pre-dawn hearing in 2015 when the doors of the apex court were opened at 1 am, rejected last-ditch efforts by Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon to get his execution stayed. - Justice Misra also headed a three-judge bench which upheld the Delhi High Court's verdict sentencing to death the four convicts of the sensational December 16, 2012, gang-rape-cum-murder case of Delhi. The "brutal, barbaric and diabolic nature" of the crime could create a "tsunami of shock" to destroy a civilised society, the verdict, penned by Justice Misra, had said. - He headed the apex court bench which upheld the constitutional validity of 156-year-old penal laws on defamation, holding that the "reputation of one cannot be allowed to be crucified at the altar of the other's right of free speech". - In an order, hailed by nationalist organisations, Justice Misra mandated the playing of the national anthem before the screening of films in cinema halls. - Another significant judgement by Justice Misra was the one directing states and union territories to upload FIRs on websites within 24 hours of their registration for enabling accused and others to file appropriate pleas in the courts for redress. - Justice Misra, who will have a tenure of over 13 months as the CJI after he takes over on August 28, has a sensitive assignment on hand -- the vexatious title dispute in the Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid case. - His tenure will be a busy one, for as the CJI he will be part of benches deciding on crucial issues such as, apart from the Ayodhya title case, the Cauvery waters dispute, SEBI- Sahara payment row, BCCI reforms, the Panama Paper leaks and on privacy policy. - The 63-year-old judge will be the third person from Odisha to become appointed the Chief Justice of India, after Justice Ranganath Misra and Justice GB Pattanaik. - Justice Misra, who was enrolled as an advocate in 1977, had practised in constitutional, civil, criminal, revenue, service and sales tax matters in the Orissa High Court and Tribunals before being elevated to the High Court bench. - He was appointed Additional Judge of the Orissa High Court in January 1996, after which he was transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in March 1997. - In 2009, Justice Misra became the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court and assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in May 2010. - He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on October 10, 2011. Hyderabad: Members of legislatures should function in a constructive manner without giving room for disruptions to ensure law-making bodies take up fruitful debates, Vice President-elect M Venkaiah Naidu said on Tuesday. "The legislative assemblies and Parliament are for debates. They make laws. Unfortunately, in recent times, one sees another as a foe... We can run the system only with the cooperation of all. You talk (it) out or walk out. (But) No break out... Let the government propose, opposition oppose, let the House dispose," he said here. Naidu was speaking at the release of a book, which is compilation of his speeches, writings and parliamentary writings. Chairman of Eenadu Group Ramoji Rao released the book in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker K Sivaprasada Rao, his Telangana counterpart S Madhusudanachary and political analyst S Gurumurthy. The main focus of governments and legislatures should be on elimination of poverty and development, the former Union minister said. The media should give adequate space for carrying positive stories and meaningful debates in Parliament and not sensational acts by some, the 68-year-old politician said. Naidu recalled that a 50-minute speech on agriculture made by him in Parliament, which was also appreciated by eminent agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan and some senior leaders, did not find adequate coverage in newspapers the next day. Naidu, noting that it could be his last speech in a public function before assuming the office of Vice-President on August 11, said he owed his success to his parents and his RSS background for instilling "great personal values". By virtue of being the Vice-President, Naidu will also preside over the Rajya Sabha as its chairman. Naidu said he treated the BJP, now his former party, as his mother for having made him what he is today and felt sad when he had to give up its membership to contest the vice- presidential election. His numerous friends, well wishers all over the country also helped him during his long political career, he said. Noting that he never interfered with the career of his children, Naidu said he felt sad when questions were raised on the business involving his son ahead of the vice-presidential elections. Islamabad: Lal Chand Malhi, a Hindu member of Pakistan's National Assembly, is under attack for for opposing the forced conversions of minorities in the country. According to ANI, Pir Ayub Jan Sarhandi, a Sindhi cleric, who is allegedly involved in forced religious conversions in Pakistan, has accused Malhi of being an agent of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Shumaila H Shahani, founder of All Pakistan Feminists' Association, has said that these accusations against Pakistan's religious minority are a common tool of harassment and blackmailing. "Whenever a Hindu speaks out against injustices these extremists try to shut them up by accusing them of anti-nationalism, blasphemy. Allegations of being a RAW agent is/should be considered hate speech," she said in a series of tweets Pakistan's National Assembly had last year adopted a resolution, urging the government to take necessary steps to stop forced religious conversions and marriages of women belonging to minorities. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's MNA Lal Chand Malhi had tabled the resolution and stated that the issue was more serious in Sindh. Hindus and Christians are insecure in Pakistan, as unfortunately religious minorities are worst victims of religious extremists in Pakistan as the government has so far proved unable to protect their religious minorities. Malhi has worked as a Journalist with different media organizations since 1996 before being nominated on Reserved Seat for Non-Muslim in National Assembly by the PTI in 2013. He has also been working as a member of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, also incumbent Chairman of Sami Foundation. With ANI inputs New Delhi: Hitting out at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over the convoy attack, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday alleged that the former had failed to follow security protocols. "Security personnel were deployed at the spot. Rahul Gandhi did not use the car provided by the police but took a vehicle which wasn't bulletproof. He should have followed security protocols," Rajnath Singh said in Lok Sabha today. Last week, while visiting the flood-affected Banaskantha district in Gujarat, Gandhis car was pelted with stones. The Special Protection Group (SPG) commando received minor injuries while Gandhi, who was sitting in the front seat, escaped unhurt. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress Vice-President, Singh raised questions on his foreign visits and asked, "In the last two years, Rahul Gandhi was out for 72 days on 6 foreign tours, but didn't take SPG cover. We want to know where did he go? Why didn't he take the SPG cover?" Showering praise on the Gujarat government, Singh said the state has done a commendable job and arrested one person in connection with the attack. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, following which Congress members shouted slogans, forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for half an hour. Earlier, taking to twitter, Rahul Gandhi had lashed out at PM Modi saying, Narendra Modi Ji's slogans, black flags and stones will not stop us. We will put in all our might into the service of people. New Delhi: Social activist Medha Patkar who is on an indefinite hunger strike since July 27 was forcibly removed from protest site and taken to a hospital in Indore yesterday after her health worsened. The 62-year-old Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader and 11 others were demanding rehabilitation of 40,000 families displaced due to increase in height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam. A case was earlier registered against the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan' workers by the administration for keeping a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in captivity for three hours. The administration had alleged that the workers protesting there held a team of NDRF under captivity for three hours. Refuting the allegations, Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Patkar had said, "The government is making false cases to defame the movement after the administration is has imposed a case." Earlier, on Friday Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had requested Patkar to end the fast. "I am concerned about your health and that of your mates. I politely request you to end the fast," Chouhan had tweeted. New Delhi: The Supreme Court has turned down a plea to make Yoga education mandatory for students of classes 1-8 across the country. It further added that the court cannot decide what is to be taught and only the government can take decisions on such issues. Rejecting the petition to impose yoga practice among students, a bench headed by Justice M B Lokur said, "We are nobody to say what is to be taught in schools. It is none of our business. How can we direct that." Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government told the Supreme Court that yoga cannot be enforced as a fundamental right under children's right to free and compulsory education. The top court said it was not possible for it to grant the relief as sought by petitioners - Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a lawyer and Delhi BJP spokesperson and J C Seth. "What is to be taught in schools is not a fundamental right," it said. Upadhyay had petitioned that students of Class 1-8 be provided "standard textbooks of 'yoga and health education" in spirit of "various fundamental rights such as right to life, education and equality." It had said that right to health cannot be secured without providing 'yoga and health education' to all children or framing a 'national yoga policy' to promote and propagate it. With PTI inputs New Delhi: Stating that it is confident of victory, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday asserted that it will fight tooth and nail in the upcoming Assembly poll under the aegis of the Election Commission of India. Speaking to ANI here, the BJP leader Sudesh Verma said, "BJP is confident of victory on all seats for the simple fact that BJP has numbers and we have already seen that Congress is divided house. We will fight the election tooth and nail, constitutionally and legally under the aegis of Election Commission of India." Verma further said that the Congress cannot blame the BJP for division in its own rank. "The Congress party has to look invert and find out the problem of leadership," he added. Speaking on the reports of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to extend its support to BJP in Rajya Sabha polls, Party`s national spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao appealed to all political parties to select the candidature on merit. "It is natural for the other political parties like NCP not to support the Congress candidate. We certainly appeal to all political party to select our candidature on merit and as far as Congress is concerned, it has demonstrated to Gujarat, to the rest of the country that it will enact any drama to lure it MLAs to win one RS seat." Rao said that few Gujarat Congress MLAs have joined the BJP ahead of the polls, because they find the party to be unattractive, unappealing to the people of Gujarat. After NCP leader Kandhal Jadeja announced that his party will be backing the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat today, senior leader of the party Majid Memom also hinted confirmation. Memom told ANI, "If Praful Patel ji has indeed said that our 2 NCP Gujarat MLAs will support BJP in RS polls then it must be correct." The Gujarat Rajya Sabha election is slated to be held today for three seats. The BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah, Union Minister Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput. The state has been witnessing political upheaval in the recent past. The political temperature in state had risen when six Congress MLAs joined BJP. The Congress accused BJP of horse-trading and sent its 44 MLAs from Gujarat to Bengaluru on July 29 to prevent their possible poaching by the ruling BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. The Income Tax department raided Bengaluru`s Eagleton Resort, which belonged to Karnataka`s Energy Minister DK Shivakumar. The Congress alleged resort was raided because its 44 MLAs were staying there. All the Gujarat Congress MLAs returned back to the state earlier in the day. New Delhi: The incident involving a BSF aircraft and an IndiGo plane in Jammu and Kashmir on June 30 was due to "error on part of the BSF crew," union minister Jayant Sinha told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The incident had happened over Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir. In a written reply, the minister of state for civil aviation said that on June 30, 2017, Border Security Force EMB 135 BJ aircraft was involved in an occurrence with an IndiGo aircraft while operating flight from Srinagar to Delhi. "During the flight, traffic advisory was generated due to wrong selection of QNH (Altimeter setting)," Sinha said. He also said that due to the error on part of BSF crew, "appropriate action is warranted against the crew by BSF". On that day, the two aircraft came perilously close to each other and an automatic alert went off. There were 180 passengers on board the IndiGo aircraft and 12 on the BSF plane, sources had said earlier. According to the minister, on June 30, an IndiGo airline was involved in rejected take off due to engine no 1 stall warning followed by smoke from the cabin during take off roll at Patna airport. All the persons onboard the aircraft were evacuated on the runway. There was no injury to any person during evacuation, Sinha said. For the incident at Patna, "no action is called for against personnel of the airline," he noted. The minister's reply was to a query whether major air accidents were averted in Jammu and Kashmir and Patna on June 30. 3 killed, another feared dead in Rasuwa landslide Three persons perished and another is feared dead in a Sunday nights landslide at Uttargaya Rural Municipility-4 in Rasuwa. Jammu: An Indian Army jawan was killed in Pakistani firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The Indian troops retaliated "strongly and effectively" to the Pakistani firing, an Army officer said. "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Krishnagati sector at around 1450 hours today," the officer said. In the firing, Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries, the officer said. Sugra, aged 21, belonged to Sugri village of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand. He leaves behind his parents. "Sepoy Pawan Singh Sugra was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the Army said. Yesterday, an Army jawan was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. On August 07, the Pakistani Army had violated the ceasefire by firing at Indian posts along the LoC in Baba Khori belt of Naushera sector of Rajouri district. Till August 01, there had been 285 such violations by the Pakistan Army while in 2016, the number was significantly less at 228 for the entire year, according to figures of the Indian Army. Jammu: In a big breakthrough, the security forces on Tuesday arrested three suspected terrorists from J&K's Baramulla sector. The three suspects were arrested in a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 29 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF. During primary investigation, the three suspects revealed that they are associated with Pakistan-backed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. The three men were involved in motivating young boys to join jihad for Kashmir, according to police. Two Chinese pistols and a huge cache of ammunition has been recovered from them. Earlier on Monday, the security forces had foiled an infiltration bid by Pakistan-based terrorists, killing at least five of them in the process. The incident took place in Machil sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. The troops reportedly opened fire when the militants tried to cross the border. Five terrorists were gunned down in the ensuing gunbattle, ANI reported. The security forces have also recovered weapons from the spot. The identity of the terrorists is being determined. Late last month, the army had foiled another attempt by Pakistani militants to breach the international border, killing at least three of them. The incident had taken place in Jammu and Kashmir's Gurez Sector. New Delhi: Further intensifying its ongoing investigation into the alleged cross-border funding of pro-Pakistan separatists for stoking unrest in the Kashmir Valley, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Tuesday questioned hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's two sons, Naeem and Naseem. According to IANS, the NIA officials claimed that the Geelani brothers arrived at its headquarters round 11 am after evading the counter-terror agency's earlier summons. The NIA had issued summons to Naeem, a doctor who was once based in Pakistan, on July 27 and August 1. He failed to appear because he was hospitalised in Srinagar. Geelani's younger son Naseem, who works at an agricultural university in Srinagar, was summoned to appear before NIA on August 2. He also did not come, saying the notice should be served through Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Agriculture Science so that he was permitted to take leave. The NIA has so far arrested eight separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there. The arrested separatists include Shabir Shah and Altaf Ahmad Shah, who is Geelani's son-in-law. They have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India. New Delhi: The Maharashtra State Education Board has come up with revised history textbooks for Classes 7 and 9 for the 2017-18 academic year, emphasising on the Maratha regime and the emperor Shivaji. The board has removed separate chapters on Mughals, Rajputs, Muhammad bin Tuqhlaq and Razia Sultana, putting them all in a single chapter. The revised edition reportedly has no mention of the monuments built by these rulers such as Red Fort, Qutub Minar. Instead, the books now carry chapters on Bofors scam and the Emergency of 1975-1977. The revision of the syllabus was discussed in a meeting last year chaired by the State Education Minister Vinod Tawde at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, a think-tank promoted by the RSS. "The need was felt to update history with modern events.The Mughal history has been reduced. Modern history needs to be incorporated," Mumbai Mirror quoted Bapusaheb Shinde, a member of the history subject committees for textbooks as saying. Shivaji who was earlier designated as the `People's King', now, will be termed as `An Ideal Ruler'. The roles of Shivaji, his family and Maratha generals are extensively covered in the new edition. In the previous version, the first chapter titled `India and the World' described the feudal order in Europe, role of the Arabs in the spice trade between Europe and South East Asia, the Islamic world's contribution to arts, science, and literature, and the rise of Islam. It offered a background to the first Arab invasion into the Indian sub-continent in the 8th Century AD. All of that has been removed," said Neeta Vaz a faculty of St. Anne's School in Malad who has been teaching history for the past 24 years. She further added that chapters on architectural splendour during the Mughal era, the Mughals' initiatives of starting postal service, building `serais' or inns on the highway, and measuring the highways have also been removed. Students need to know about these things, added Vaz. However, Sadanand More, chairman of the History subject committee of the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, defended the revision saying it was relevant for students in Maharashtra. Why should we not change? We have looked at history from a Maharashtra-centric point of view. Even if it is the Delhi Sultanate or the Mughal rule and the medieval history of India, we have kept Maharashtra at the centre. It is a natural course as we are from Maharashtra.What's wrong in that? In fact the Central board books have very little about our state, More said. Mumbai: Mumbaikars are expected to face a harrowing time on August 9, 2017 (Wednesday) as Maratha Kranti Morcha has planned a silent protest march to press for its various demands, including reservation. During the silent morcha tomorrow, the route from Byculla to Azad Maidan is expected to be badly affected. Lakhs of people, including men and women, students, working professionals, lawyers and doctors from the community, are expected to participate in the march. The protest march will be carried out by the outfit Maratha Kranti Muk Morcha to press for their demands, including punishment for culprits in Kopardi rape and murder case, quota in education and government jobs, Amendment in SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) to stop its misuse, loan waiver to farmers to curb suicides, and guaranteed rate for agricultural produce. The Kopardi rape and murder case, which was equated with the Nirbhaya case of Delhi in view of the grisly brutality involved, happened on July 13, 2016 evening at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district. The girl went missing for a few hours, after which her mutilated, blood-splattered body was found under a tree in a field. The crime sent shock waves through social and political circles and led to a ruckus in the Maharashtra legislature for two days during its monsoon session in July. The rally, is being organised by the Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella organisation of several Maratha groups, will organise the event. Mumbai: In a new twist in a 63-year-old woman's death case, the police on Tuesday claimed to have recovered a "suicide note" from her flat where her highly-decomposed body was found on Sunday. Police suspected that Asha Sahani might have killed herself in April last year given the condition of her body. Interestingly, residents of her building in Lokhandwala Complex in suburban Andheri never complained of any foul smell emanating from her 10th floor flat. Police yesterday sent the viscera samples of Sahani to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) at Kalina here for chemical analysis after her postmortem report remained inconclusive. The note was recovered by an FSL team from a brown envelope in her flat during a search this afternoon, an official said. "The suicide note was shown to her son Rituraj who verified that it was his mother's handwriting. We also found five diaries from the spot and matched the handwriting in them with the sucide note. It seems the woman had commited suicide last April," the official from the Oshiwara Police said. The note, purportedly written by the woman, said 'no one is responsible for my death'. The official has ruled out any foul play, saying Sahani in her last conversation with Rituraj in April 2016 had told him that she was doing fine. She had also expressed her desire to live in an old age home for company following the death of her husband in the year 2013, he said, adding that the FSL report could identify the time of her death. Sahani had been living alone in her apartment. Her only son, Rituraj, is a software engineer and is settled in the US. According to the official, Sahani was under depression since her husband's death. She had gone to the US to live with Rituraj, but returned to Mumbai after a week, he said. On Sunday, Rituraj came to Mumbai and went to his flat when he found that his mother was not responding to the door bell. After he got the door of the flat opened with the help of a key-maker, Rituraj found the decomposed body of his mother. Oshiwara police have registered a case of accidental death. According to police, Rituraj had last spoken to his mother in April 2016. Another police official said Rituraj had filed a missing person's complaint through an email in October last year, but didn't bother to take any follow-up. He said the police are investigating why Rituraj didn't visit the police station after lodging that complaint. New Delhi: Designed to meet extreme computing demands for virtual reality (VR), content creation, gaming and overclocking, Intel on Tuesday announced the availability of its faster 12- to 18-core processors in the `Core X-series` for the Indian market. Touted as most powerful, scalable and accessible high-end desktop platform offered by Intel, the 12-core processors will be available from August 28 and 14- to 18-core processors from September 25, the company said in a statment. These processors include Intel Core i9-7920X, Intel Core i9-7940X, Intel Core i9-7960X and the Extreme Edition Intel Core i9-7980XE. These processors can deliver up to 20 per cent better performance for VR content creation and up to 30 per cent faster 4K video editing over the previous generation. Gamers can experience up to 30 per cent faster extreme mega-tasking for gaming over the previous generation. The 4- to 10-core Intel Core X-series processors are already available at multiple retailers, along with more than 200 Intel X299 Chipset motherboards. Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a peon inside a renowned ICSE Board school in suburban Malad, Mumbai. The accused has been arrested, the Maharashtra Police said on Tuesday. The peon allegedly sexually assaulted the girl inside a washroom of the school between August 1 and 4, Senior Police Inspector of Dindoshi police station, Rajaram Vhanmane, said. Her mother lodged a complaint on August 05. A case on the charge of rape and under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered, said the officer. "We subsequently identified and apprehended the accused yesterday," Vhanmane said, adding the accused was produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till August 11. In the wake of the incident, parents of other students assembled outside the school and staged a protest on Tuesday morning. "The parents want assurance of safety of their children," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-12) Vinay Rathod said. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the response of the Centre on a plea challenging the validity of Article 370 of the Constitution that grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. The petition challenged the April 11 order of the Delhi High Court rejecting a plea saying nothing survives in it as the apex court has already dismissed a similar prayer on the issue. A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and justices Adarsh Goel and D Y Chandrachud issued a notice to the Centre on the petition which also sought a direction to declare the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir as "void", "illegal" and "ultravires" of the Constitution of India. The bench asked the government to reply within four weeks. In her petition, Kumari Vijayalakshmi Jha claimed that the high court had dismissed her plea by "wrongly following and misreading" the earlier judgement of the apex court. She had contended in the high court that Article 370 was a temporary provision that had lapsed with the dissolution of the state's Constituent Assembly in 1957. The petition had said that the continuance of Article 370 even after the dissolution of the state's Constituent Assembly and the J-K Constitution never getting the assent of the President of India or Parliament or Government of India, amounted to "fraud on the basic structure of our Constitution". Advocate Anil Kumar Jha, appearing for the petitioner, claimed that the high court considered only the first prayer and had not taken into account other prayers mentioned in the plea. He said that earlier judgement of the apex court in 1969 was in a different context and, hence it could not have been relied upon. "The high court kept the judgement reserved for about 13 months and on April 11, 2017 pronounced the verdict dismissing the writ petition without considering the merits/issues involved therein," the petition said. It also said the high court did not consider the judgment passed and ratio laid down by the apex court. In July 2014, the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea challenging the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir and had asked the petitioner to move the high court. Bhubaneswar: The Odisha cabinet on Tuesday approved granting land rights to slum dwellers living in municipalities and Notified Area Councils (NACs) and property rights to those living in municipal corporations. The cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, approved promulgation of two ordinances for assigning land rights and property rights to identified slum dwellers. "We have taken a historic decision today to grant land rights to the slum dwellers living in municipal councils and NACs of the state and property rights to those living in municipal corporation areas," Patnaik said after the meeting. The government said about two to three lakh families would be benefited following the decision. Under the Odisha Land Rights to Slum Dwellers Ordinance-2017, land rights shall be settled with landless slum dwellers in municipalities and NACs by the government. While land up to 30 square metres shall be settled free of cost, land above 30 square metres, subject to a maximum limit of 60 square metres in NACs and 40 square metres in municipal council areas, shall be settled at a percentage of the benchmark value of the land, said Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi. Land shall not be used for any purpose other than residential purposes, he added. "Land right shall be heritable but not transferable. It may be mortgaged for the purpose of raising finance in form of housing loan from any financial institution," said Padhi. Under the Odisha Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance-2017, all slum dwellers belonging to economically weaker sections shall be entitled to a dwelling space of 300 square metres at an affordable cost as determined by the government. "Property rights in relation to dwelling units shall be heritable and transferable after 10 years only to the eligible beneficiaries. Property rights in relation to housing sites shall be heritable but not transferable," said Padhi. A slum redevelopment and rehabilitation committee will be constituted at the urban local body level headed by the Commissioner at the corporation and Collector at the district-level to grant the certificate of property rights 4 missing in Rasuwa landslide found dead Four persons, who had gone missing in a landslide at Pairebesi in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-4 of Rasuwa district on Sunday night, have been found dead. Washington: Indian-origin actor Dev Patel is among nine individuals to be honoured by a leading educational organisation for making a "transformative and positive" difference for the future of Asia and the world. London-born Patel, who became popular with his debut film "Slumdog Millionaire", will be felicitated with the Asia Society 2017 Asia Game Changers Award at a ceremony to be held at the United Nations, New York, in November. The organisation said that Patel in less than a decade has emerged as a full-blown movie star, delivering acclaimed performances in an impressive range of films and television shows. "His work has done more than just entertain. It has also built bridges of understanding between India, a country so frequently reduced to stereotype, and audiences in the West," Patel's profile by Asia Society said. He was recently seen in Garth Davis' "Lion", which earned him an Academy Award nomination for the best actor in a supporting role. Patel will next be seen in "Hotel Mumbai", a drama centered around the 26/11 terror attacks. Asia Society noted that Patel has turned his attention and star power to philanthropy. His "#lionheart" campaign raised over USD 2,50,000 in support of India's millions of homeless children. Patel, who refers to himself as just a "guy from London", has established lasting ties with his ancestral homeland. "They feel a strong ownership over me, which is more than welcome in a big way," Patel said, referring to the people of India. Asia Society President Josette Sheeran said this year's honorees have each made a significant difference through a unique vision, perseverance and courage. "In a world of challenges, it is important to honour the dreamers and leaders, those who take action and those who inspire us to build a better world," Sheeran said in a statement. The Asia Game Changer lifetime achievement award will be given to Aga Khan, Founder of the Aga Khan Development Network for using philanthropy to lift millions of Asia's most vulnerable. Other honorees include Afghan rapper and activist Sonita Alizadeh, Chinese ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing President Jean Liu, Cambodian Environmental activist Leng Ouch, nonprofit organization Sesame Workshop, Chinese musician and composer Wu Tong and Japanese casual wear retailer UNIQLO founder Tadashi Yanai. New Delhi: Businesses can start filing their first tax return under the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime as the GST Network has started the facility for return filing and paying taxes on the portal. "The window for filing GSTR-3B has opened on August 5 and is fully functional now. Taxpayers can log into their account at the GST Portal and file their GSTR-3B return any time. They can also make tax payment using internet banking at the portal," GSTN Chairman Navin Kumar said. The GST returns for July and August will be filed on the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) portal by filling up GSTR 3B form in which the taxpayer needs to provide consolidated details of outward supplies and input credit. The taxpayer has to file a summary of self-assessed liabilities, input tax credit (ITC) and details of tax payment. The last date of the filing the GSTR-3B for July 2017 is August 20, 2017, and the same for the month of August 2017 is September 20. The GSTN, in a statement said, that in GSTR-3B a taxpayer has to provide details under three sections. In the first section, the summary details of liabilities on outward supplies and inward supplies subject to reverse charge including tax paid on zero-rated supplies are to be provided. Also, the taxpayer has to give details of interstate supplies and the integrated goods and services tax (IGST) paid. In the second section, the taxpayer has to declare self-assessed ITC available, ITC reversals and ineligible ITC. In the third section, the taxpayer has to declare the details of payment of tax with accumulated ITC and/or cash available in cash ledger. "The taxpayer is required to file his return by electronically signing either using DSC (compulsory for companies) or through Electronic Verification Code (EVC) sent on taxpayer's registered mobile," GSTN said. Later, when the taxpayer files GSTR 1 and GSTR 2, the details furnished in GSTR-3B would be compared with the details generated from the declarations in GSTR 1 and GSTR 2 and in case of short payment of tax, the taxpayer will have to pay any additional amount along with interest through GSTR 3, it added. Over 71.30 lakh excise, service tax and VAT payers have migrated to the GSTN portal and over 15 lakh new assessees have registered on the portal.? The final GST returns for July will have to be filed by these businesses by September 5 instead of August 10. Companies will have to file sale invoice for August with GST Network by September 20 instead of September 10 earlier. The sales returns for September will have to be filed by October 10. New Delhi: Beating its own record set in 2012, scientists at the University of Central Florida in the US have demonstrated the fastest light pulse ever developed a 53-attosecond X-ray flash. The previous record in 2012 was set after researchers developed a 67-attosecond extreme ultraviolet light pulse. An attosecond is unimaginably fast at one-quintillionth of a second. In 53 attoseconds, light travels less than one-thousandth of the diameter of a human hair. In the same way, high-speed cameras can record slow-motion video of flying bullets, attosecond light pulses allow scientists to capture images of fast-moving electrons in atoms and molecules with unprecedented sharpness. The pulses demonstrated by the group led by Professor Zenghu Chang are not just shorter in duration, but also in wavelength. The new light reaches an important spectral region, the so called "water window," where carbon atoms absorb strongly but water does not. "Such attosecond soft X-rays could be used to shoot slow-motion video of electrons and atoms of biological molecules in living cells to, for instance, improve the efficiency of solar panels by better understanding how photosynthesis works," said Chang. X-rays interact with the tightly bound electrons in matter and may reveal which electrons move in which atoms, providing another way to study fast processes in materials with chemical element specificity. That capability is invaluable for the development of next-generation logic and memory chips for mobile phones and computers that are a thousand times faster than those in use today. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: In a major development, the Shia Central Waqf Board on Tuesday filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in which it stated that a mosque can be constructed at a place near the birth place of Lord Ram in the Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh. As per ANI, the Board stated that a mosque can be located in a Muslim dominated area at a reasonable distance from Shree Ram Lala's birth place in Ayodhya. The Board further claimed that since Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf property, it is the only one which is entitled to negotiate and arrive at peaceful settlement with other stakeholders in the Babri Masjid-Ram Temple dispute case. The Board also sought time from the apex court to set up a committee for exploring an amicable settlement of the dispute. While the BJP welcomed the move, the AIMPLB said Shia Waqf Board's affidavit holds no value in law. According to me, this intervention by the Shia Waqf Board is god sent, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said. This is just an appeal, this affidavit has no value in law, Zafaryab Jilani, the counsel for Babri Masjid Action Committee said on Shia Waqf Board's move on the issue. The submission from the Board came days ahead of the scheduled hearing in the highly vexed case in the Supreme Court from August 11. The Board had earlier claimed that Babur was a Shia from Persia, which made Babri Masjid a Shiite structure. Uttar Pradeshs Shia Central Waqf Board had recently decided to stake claim on the demolished Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, adding a fresh twist to the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute. The decision to stake claim was taken during the two-day meeting of the Shia Waqf Board which ended in Lucknow recently. As first step towards realising its goal, the Shia Board decided to challenge a 1946 order by a Faizabad court that awarded the ownership of Mir Baki Mosque, also known as Babri Masjid, to the Sunni Central Waqf Board. The Board alleged that previous Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards worked in tandem and willfully lost the case. Chairman of the Shia Waqf Board, Wasim Rizvi, claimed that Mir Baki Mosque was a property of Shia Waqf Board, which he said was the rightful owner. Lucknow: Leaving the Congress party red faced, dozens of posters describing party vice president Rahul Gandhi as "missing" have come up in his Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh. According to IANS, the posters carry the picture of Rahul Gandhi with a caption that reads: there is a reward for anyone who could trace the missing Amethi MP. The posters, however, are not attributed to any individual or organisation. The Congress No. 2 has not visited his parliamentary constituency for six months, leading to anger and disappointment among the voters. The posters also said that Gandhi has insulted his voters with his behaviour. While Congress workers in the district accuse the BJP and other political opponents for the sudden coming up of the posters, mostly in Gowriganj area; many rue that Gandhi has lost interest in Amethi after the humiliating state assembly poll defeat in March. The posters also blame the Congress leader's absence for the slowing down of development work initiated from the MP Local Area Development fund. A large section of Congress workers have sent an SOS to the party leadership to ask Rahul Gandhi to visit Amethi soon. Lucknow: To gauge the impact of his government's schemes, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will begin a tour of various districts of the state from tomorrow, starting from Gorakhpur. "In the first phase, Chief Minister Adityanath will visit five districts. He will begin his tour from Gorakhpur, on August 9, followed by Maharajganj and Siddharthanagar on August 10, Ballia on August 11 and Allahabad on August 12," UP BJP spokesperson Shalabh Mani Tripathi said on Tuesday. The area of review will be law and order, health, cleanliness and electricity, he added. During his stay in these districts, the chief minister is also likely to meet party workers, Tripathi said. "The tour will provide an opportunity to review the various developmental and welfare schemes at the grassroots level. This will also help in knowing the attitude of the officials towards the people," the UP BJP spokesperson said. Tripathi said that Adityanath in the past four months had heard the grievances of the people by holding 'Janata Darbars' and had also made a conscious effort to make officials sensitive and accountable. Kolkata: At least eight persons were killed and 25 injured when a bus fell into a canal in West Bengal's Nadia on Tuesday. The accident occurred near Tehatta area when the bus lost control and fell off a bridge on Nadia canal. As per ANI, eight people were killed on the spot after the incident took place. Those injured with serious injuries were rushed to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, the West Bengal government announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of eight persons who died in the bus accident. Dont let them escape Nepal Oil Corporation, the state-owned petroleum monopoly, has made a mockery of the countrys laws by bypassing standard procedures whilst purchasing land to build fuel storage facilities in four different places. Kolkata: Former West Bengal Minister, freedom fighter and ten-time legislator Gyan Singh Sohanpal, one of the most respected politicians in the state, died at the state-run SSKM hospital on Tuesday following old-age problems. He was 92. Fondly called `Chacha` (uncle) by all, Sohanpal began his long march in public life by joining the Congress during the 1942 Quit India movement, and was the oldest candidate in fray during last year`s assembly polls. Making his maiden entry into the state assembly in 1969 from the Kharagpur constituency in then Midnapore district, Sohanpal kept the Congress flag high in the cosmopolitan seat on nine more occasions. Between 1972 and 1977, he served as Transport Minister during the Chief Ministerial stint of Siddhartha Shankar Ray. However, he lost in 1977, when the Left Front swept to power in the state. But Sohanpal returned to his winning ways in 1982, and went on repeating the feat till he lost out to BJP`s Dilip Ghosh last year. He remained a bachelor. Known for his honesty, frugal living and amicable behaviour, such was Sohanpal`s acceptability, that even his rivals refrained from attacking him personally during election campaigns. Expressing grief at Sohanpal`s demise, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state government would give him a gun salute during his last rites on Wednesday. "Saddened at the passing of Gyan Singh Sohan Pal ji. We have lost a veteran legislator. My condolences to his family & friends," Banerjee wrote on Twitter. "He was a very senior member of the West Bengal Assembly. Tomorrow, the Govt will give his mortal remains a gun salute," she added. Former state Congress chief and Sohanpal`s ministerial colleague Pradip Bhattacharya expressed shock over his death. "He was a thorough gentleman. He performed very well as the Transport Minister. He had deep connect with the masses, and his doors were open for them all the time even during his days as a minister. "He never let the tag of minister affect his humility. He met everybody," Bhattacharya told IANS. Bejing: China will pay the biggest price from the new UN sanctions against North Korea because of its close economic relationship with the country, but will always enforce the resolutions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday over its continued missile tests that could slash the reclusive country`s $3 billion annual export revenue by a third. Speaking at a regional security forum in Manila on Monday, Wang said the new resolution showed China and the international community`s opposition to North Korea`s continued missile tests, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. "Owing to China`s traditional economic ties with North Korea, it will mainly be China paying the price for implementing the resolution," the statement cited Wang as saying. "But in order to protect the international non-proliferation system and regional peace and stability, China will, as before, fully and strictly properly implement the entire contents of the relevant resolution." China, North Korea`s lone major ally, has repeatedly said it is committed to enforcing increasingly tough UN resolutions on North Korea, though it has also said what it terms "normal" trade and ordinary North Koreans should not be affected. The latest UN resolution bans North Korean exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It also prohibits countries from increasing the numbers of North Korean labourers currently working abroad, bans new joint ventures with North Korea and any new investment in current joint ventures. "What this is going to do is send a very strong message and a united message," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told NBC`s "Today" programme in an interview on Tuesday, adding that Washington would be watching to see the sanctions are enforced. U.S. President Donald Trump praised other nations for addressing North Korea`s missile programme. "After many years of failure, countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. Haley said Trump was keeping "all options on the table" for dealing with North Korea and speaking of its leader, Kim Jong Un, said "he has to decide if he strikes the United States, is that something he can win" North Korea has made no secret of its plans to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States and has ignored international calls to halt its nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea says its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are a legitimate means of defence against perceived U.S. hostility. It has long accused the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions by conducting military drills. DOOR TO DISCUSSIONS Wang said that apart from the new sanctions, the resolution also made clear that the six-party talks process, a stalled dialogue mechanism with North Korea that also includes Russia and Japan, should be restarted. China appreciated comments earlier this month by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the United States was not seeking to topple the North Korean government and would like dialogue with Pyongyang at some point, Wang added. The United States did not seek regime change, the collapse of the regime, an accelerated reunification of the peninsula or an excuse to send the U.S. military into North Korea, Tillerson said. Wang said Tillerson`s "Four Nos" promise was a positive signal. China "hopes North Korea can echo this signal from the United States", Wang added. Speaking at the same forum on Monday, Tillerson held a door open for dialogue with North Korea saying Washington was willing to talk to Pyongyang if it halted its missile test launches. Still, he maintained the pressure on North Korea, pressing Thailand on Tuesday for more action against Pyongyang. North Korea said the sanctions infringed its sovereignty and it was ready to give Washington a "severe lesson" with its strategic nuclear force in response to any U.S. military action. The successful testing of two ICBMs last month suggested the reclusive North was making technical progress, Japan`s annual Defence White Paper warned. "Since last year, when it forcibly implemented two nuclear tests and more than 20 ballistic missile launches, the security threats have entered a new stage," the Japanese Defence Ministry said in the 563-page document released on Tuesday. "It is conceivable that North Korea`s nuclear weapons programme has already considerably advanced and it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturisation of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads," it said. South Korea reiterated further resolutions against Pyongyang could follow if it did not pull back. "North Korea should realise if it doesn`t stop its nuclear, missile provocations, it will face even stronger pressure and sanctions," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a regular news briefing. "We warn North Korea not to test or misunderstand the will of the South Korea-U.S. alliance." Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised other nations for addressing North Korea`s missile program, days after the U.N. Security Council imposed new sanctions on Pyongyang over two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. "After many years of failure, countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. The council passed the U.S.-drafted resolution on North Korea on Saturday. Washington: An unarmed Iranian drone came within 100 feet (31 meters) of a US Navy warplane as it prepared to land on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf, a U.S. official said on Tuesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that despite repeated radio calls to stay clear of the US plane, the Iranian drone "executed unsafe and unprofessional altitude changes" close to the U.S Navy F/A-18E. The warplane was in a holding pattern and preparing to land aboard the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier. The official described the interaction as "unsafe and unprofessional." Similar incidents between the United States and Iran are not uncommon, however this appears to be the first time an Iranian drone has come dangerously close to a U.S. fighter plane in the Gulf. This was the 13th unsafe and unprofessional interaction between the United States and Iranian maritime forces in 2017, the official said. Years of mutual animosity had eased when Washington lifted sanctions on Tehran last year as part of a deal to curb Iran`s nuclear ambitions. But serious differences remain over Iran`s ballistic missile program and conflicts in Syria and Iraq. The Trump administration, which has struck a hard line on Iran, recently declared that Iran was complying with its nuclear agreement with world powers, but warned that Tehran was not following the spirit of the accord and that Washington would look for ways to strengthen it. The United States has a number of military bases in the region, including in Qatar and Kuwait across the Gulf from Iran and the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based in nearby Bahrain. Earlier this year, a senior commander in Iran`s Revolutionary Guards warned the United States that if it designated the group a terrorist organization, its action could be perilous for U.S. forces in the region. Jerusalem: Israel will allow Palestinian business executives from Jerusalem to visit the Gaza Strip for the first time in years, a defence ministry body said Tuesday. COGAT, the Israeli agency that oversees civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, said it would allow in small numbers of businesspeople from annexed east Jerusalem looking to invest in the coastal territory. Israel controls most access into and out of the Gaza Strip and has imposed a blockade on the Palestinian enclave for a decade. But in an Arabic-language Facebook post late Monday, COGAT said it would allow in "businessmen and others who want to improve and strengthen the economy, infrastructure and humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip". It said up to 150 people would be permitted to enter at a time. Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs Gaza, have fought three wars since 2008. Israel argues its blockade is necessary to control Hamas, but the United Nations and others warn the blockade amounts to collective punishment of the strip`s two million residents. Egypt also has a border with Gaza which it has largely closed off in recent years. Madhyamanchal: Hundreds of members of Nepal`s gay community marched through Kathmandu Tuesday, many wearing vibrant costumes and carrying rainbow flags and balloons, in an annual pride parade. The march is timed to coincide with the Hindu festival of Gai Jatra, which brings hundreds onto the streets to pay respects to those who have died in the past year. Historically Gai Jatra, which dates back to when Nepal was under royal rule, was also a chance for people to criticise the government -- with many people in colourful costumes satirising politicians. In recent years the gay community has started using the festival to call attention to its demands for equal rights. Around 1,500 people took part in the parade, paying tribute to members of LGBTI community who had died in 2017, including American artist Gilbert Baker who designed the rainbow flag that has become an emblem of the gay community. "Every year we celebrate a pride festival to show that we want to be recognised in this society with our different identity, that we are a part of this society," said Pinky Gurung, president of the Blue Diamond Society, a gay rights organisation in Nepal. Nepal has some of South Asia`s most progressive laws on homosexuality and transgender rights, but activists say members of the community continue to face discrimination and live in the shadows of society. "The government has recognised us but should do more. People of third gender like us should be able to come out in the open, society should accept us," said Kirti Gurung, a 21-year-old transgender woman. Last month a transgender woman and her husband were issued a marriage certificate by a district office, a first in Nepal. But the country`s laws are silent on same-sex or transgender marriages and the legality of the union is unclear. Columbia : Kayleigh McEnany, a conservative television pundit and supporter of President Donald Trump, was named the spokeswoman for the Republican Party on Monday. McEnany, 29, announced over the weekend that she had left CNN, the 24-hour cable news network where she had been working as a pro-Trump contributor. Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said that as spokeswoman, McEnany "will be an integral part of our party`s ongoing commitment to promoting the Republican message to Americans across the country." "Her wealth of experience will be invaluable to the RNC as we continue to support President Trump and build on our majorities in Congress," McDaniel said in a statement. McEnany said she was "excited to be joining the RNC at such an important and historic time in our country." "I`m eager to talk about Republican ideas and values and have important discussions about issues affecting Americans across this country," she said. Over the weekend, McEnany appeared in a 90-second video on Trump`s Facebook page touting his accomplishments. The promotional video, filmed at Trump Tower in New York, was billed as the "real news." McEnany is a graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Law School. Aden: An Al-Qaeda suicide bomber killed three Yemeni soldiers and wounded nine others in an attack on Tuesday on an army position in the country`s south, military officials said. The assailant used an explosives-rigged car to target the troops loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who had recently set up the position in the town of Loder in Abyan province in their fight against the jihadists, the officials said. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), seen by the United States as the global terror network`s most dangerous branch, has exploited years of conflict between the government and Iran-backed Huthi rebels to expand its presence in Yemen. An AQAP statement published by the SITE Intelligence Group named the suicide bomber as Abu Salih, and said Al-Qaeda members had mortared the same position two days previously. The AQAP statement did not give an estimate of casualties in the attack. Al-Qaeda`s jihadist rival, the Islamic State group, has also strengthened its control of parts of the impoverished country on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemeni special forces, trained by the United Arab Emirates and backed by the United States, on Wednesday launched a major operation against the Al-Qaeda fighters, driving them out of the oil-rich Shabwa province. The jihadists are thought to have moved farther south into neighbouring Abyan province. More than 8,000 people have been killed in Yemen since a Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to support the government against the Huthi Shiite rebels, who had seized the capital and swathes of the country`s north. Juba: About 120 Rwandan peacekeepers have arrived in South Sudan, United Nations said on Tuesday, the first detachment of 4,000 extra troops approved by the U.N. last year to help protect the capital of Africa`s newest country. The U.N. approved the deployment in August after days of heavy fighting in Juba between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing former Vice President Riek Machar. There are already 13,000 U.N. peacekeepers in South Sudan. South Sudan four-year civil war triggered by Kiir`s sacking of Machar as his deputy. The men come from rival ethnic groups and the fighting, which has uprooted a quarter of the country`s 12 million people, has been largely along tribal lines. The U.N. Secretary General`s special representative in South Sudan, David Shearer, told a news conference that the recruits, who arrived this weekend, would join a battalion from Nepal and Bangladesh attached to the regional protection force (RPF). The arrival of this contingent ... marks the beginning of the phased deployment of the RPF," Shearer said. More troops were also expected to be deployed from Ethiopia, he said. The RPF is mandated to enforce peace in Juba and protect the capital`s sole international airport and other important facilities as well as stopping anyone "preparing attacks, or engages in attacks" against U.N. sites, aid workers or civilians and would confront South Sudanese government troops if needed. "Having additional troops means we can carry out more tasks related to our mandate to protecting civilian and build a durable peace," Shearer said. Karachi: The capital of Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province on Tuesday witnessed a complete shutdown on the first anniversary of a suicide bombing at Quetta Civil Hospital in which 70 people died. All educational and commercial institutions in the city remained shut. Lawyers and civil society persons held candle-light vigils while city residents took out rallies and raised slogans against terrorists and banned outfits. Ministers and members of provincial assembly also held a prayer meeting at the Civil Secretariat. Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri had announced an official holiday for all educational institutions. At least 70 people - most of them lawyers - were killed on August 8 last year when a suicide bomber attacked the civil hospital emergency ward, where lawyers had gathered after the assassination of Bilal Kasi - the president of the Quetta Bar Association. Quetta has taken the brunt of terrorist and sectarian attacks by separatists and militants in recent years. Three days after the suicide bombing at Civil hospital, at least 14 people were wounded after the convoy of a judge was targeted in a roadside bombing in the city. On June 23 this year, at least 14 people including eight policemen were killed in a suicide car bombing in Quetta. Drug dealer dies in shootout with cops An alleged drug dealer was gunned down when he reportedly opened fire at police at Kusunti in Lalitpur on Monday. Balkh Province: The Taliban released 235 hostages from a remote village in northern Afghanistan where it allegedly massacred around 50 civilians along with Islamic State insurgents but others were still feared held, officials said Tuesday. "This evening 235 people including women and children were released from Mirzawalang as a result of mediation by the local elders and provincial officials," Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. "They have been safely evacuated to Sar-e Pul city, but there are still an unknown number of people being kept hostage there," he added. An Afghan security source said he thought there were still around 100 people being held hostage in Mirzawalang, situated in the Sayad district of Sar-e Pul province, after insurgents captured it at the weekend. Taliban and IS fighters killed around 50 men, women and children in the mainly Shiite village on Saturday after overrunning a government-backed militia in a 48-hour battle, according to local officials, who also said they took a number of residents captive. "Despite the efforts of elders the bodies of the victims have not been recovered," Mohammad Zaher Wahdat, the provincial governor, told Tolo News, an Afghanistan television news channel. "Two hundred and thirty-five hostages have been released. They are so shocked they can`t even speak to tell us about anymore other hostages," he added. Amani, the provincial spokesman, has said that dozens of Taliban and IS group fighters, under the command of a local Taliban commander who he claimed pledged allegiance to IS, launched a co-ordinated attack on the area on Thursday. They defeated the Afghan Local Police (ALP) after a 48-hour battle before massacring civilians, he claimed. The majority of those killed were Shiites. Most were shot or beheaded, he said.Afghan defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP that 34 civilians were known to have been killed. The discrepancy highlights the difficulty of verifying information from poor, mountainous areas of Afghanistan made inaccessible by fighting and with patchy communications. AFP was not able to access the village. Before confirmation of the release of hostages Amani said that 150 families were being held while Waziri said "an unknown number of people" had been taken hostage. "Since the villages is cut off, we can`t confirm any new killings by the terrorists," Amani told AFP. The Taliban confirmed capturing Mirzawalang but said it did so alone. It has also denied allegations it had killed civilians. Taliban and IS fighters have regularly clashed in Afghanistan over the past two years but security sources say they have teamed up in the past to strike Afghan forces in certain areas. "Commando forces have been deployed to the area, air strikes are being carried out as we speak, and commanders on the ground are busy planning the recapture of the valley," said Waziri, the defence spokesman. "The operation to retake the valley will happen soon, and the terrorists will pay for their crimes," he added. Sediq Sediqi, a spokesman for the Afghan government, told AFP it was difficult to know numbers of civilians concerned but said "President Ashraf Ghani has instructed everyone to do everything to safeguard those people". Bangkok: A prominent Thai columnist who has chronicled the erosion of human rights under junta rule was charged with sedition on Tuesday over Facebook posts that criticised the regime. Pravit Rojanaphruk, a senior writer for the local news outlet Khaosod English, told AFP he faces up to 14 years in prison over two cases filed by police. The first is linked to his Facebook posts from February 2016 that criticised a junta-drafted constitution. The second case concerns Facebook posts from last month that criticised junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha`s handling of floods and the trial of ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra, whose elected government was toppled in a 2014 military coup. "I have seen the content and I insist this an abuse of the sedition law," Pravit told AFP after meeting police to hear the charges. "The law is being used to silence criticism on social media." The writer also faces charges under the Computer Crime Act -- another tough law used by the junta to stamp out online dissent. Since the coup Pravit has twice been detained by soldiers for "attitude adjustment" sessions. But he has continued his criticism of the military regime, detailing the surge in prosecutions of government and monarchy critics. Last month he was named winner of a international press freedom award from the Committee to Protect Journalists. The International Commission of Jurists, which sent a representative to accompany Pravit to the police station, slammed the charges as part of an "alarming regional trend of criminalising online speech". Tensions are rising before the verdict in Yingluck`s negligence trial on August 25. The former premier may face up to a decade in jail if found guilty. Any harsh sentence could reignite conflict between her fervent supporters and the regime, which has suppressed all political activities for the past three years. The junta has defended its clampdown as an attempt to heal bitter political rivalries which have fuelled a decade of unrest. But critics say the junta is chiefly bent on crippling the political camp loyal to Yingluck and her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in a 2006 coup. The siblings dominate national elections but are loathed by a military-allied elite, which accuses them of corruption and costly populist handouts. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany on Monday of assisting terrorists by not responding to thousands of files sent to Berlin or handing over suspects wanted by Turkish authorities." Germany is abetting terrorists," Erdogan told a conference in the Black Sea province of Rize, in comments likely to further escalate tensions between the two countries. "We gave (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel 4,500 dossiers, but have not received an answer on a single one of them," he told members of his ruling AK Party. "When there is a terrorist, they can tell us to give that person back. You won`t send the ones you have to us, but can ask us for yours. So you have a judiciary, but we don`t in Turkey?" he said. In Berlin, a German government source rejected Erdogan`s latest remarks. "Everything has really been said about this," said the source. "Repeating the same accusations over and over again does not make them any more true." Already tense relations deteriorated further last month after Turkey arrested 10 rights activists, including a German, as part of a wider security crackdown. A Turkish prosecutor has accused them of links to the network of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for a failed coup in July 2016. The U.S.-based Gulen denies any involvement. Turkey accuses Germany of sheltering Kurdish and far-leftist militants as well as military officers and other people linked to the abortive coup. Berlin denies the accusations. Tensions between Berlin and Ankara were already running high after the arrest of a Turkish-German journalist and Turkey`s refusal to allow German lawmakers to visit troops at a Turkish air base. Rome: The UN's new envoy to Libya on Tuesday endorsed Italy`s drive to stem the flow of migrants leaving the north African state for Europe, despite misgivings among human rights groups. Rights campaigners fear Italy`s focus on strengthening the Libyan coastguard to ensure boatloads of migrants are intercepted before reaching international waters could place thousands of people with a right to asylum at serious risk. But Ghassam Salame, a former Lebanese culture minister appointed in June to head UN operations in Libya, described the cooperation between Tripoli and Rome as a "very constructive" way of dealing with an acute problem. "It would be absolutely unrealistic to ignore the seriousness of the challenge of irregular migration," Salame said after meeting Italian Foreign Minister Angelo Alfano in Rome. "There are hundreds of millions of them across the world. This is very serious problem." "I also believe each country has an absolute right to control its borders and that the best way of doing that is through cooperation with neighbouring countries. "We are on a good track of strengthening cooperation to meet this challenge which is a challenge for all of us." More than 600,000 refugees and other migrants have reached Italy from Libya since 2014. Italy`s centre-left government is under intense pressure from domestic opponents and EU partners to close down the route. Its navy is providing technical assistance to the Libyan coastguard, which has also been provided with new patrol boats and training by its former colonial master. Alfano said the cooperation was beginning to bear fruit, in a reference to a more than 50-percent fall in the number of migrants rescued at sea during July, when compared to the same month in 2016. Italy has also been working to stem migrant arrivals in Libya through better controls on the southern border, cooperation with countries like Niger, Chad and Mali that migrants transit on their way to the Mediterranean and a voluntary repatriation programme. Refugee agencies say Libya is too unstable for any potential refugee to be safely returned there. There is particular concern over the fate of migrants who end up in the country`s detention camps, where conditions are usually squalid and a lack of regulation means people risk torture, sexual abuse and forced labour. Alfano insisted the Italian government would not compromise on its commitment to human rights. "It is not a derby between security and humanity," he said. But he acknowledged Libya`s migrant holding facilities leave much to be desired. "Now that we have an opportunity to reduce the fluxes and organise refugee camps in Libya, we have to invest heavily in an international, multilateral humanitarian operation to ensure these camps have an acceptable standard in terms of human rights and every other respect," Alfano said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. Turkish hackers continue their criminal activity by targeting several Armenian websites. Samvel Martirosyan information security expert, told Armenpress, that the Turkish hackers, assisting the Azerbaijani hackers, attacked seven Armenian websites. They are mainly tourism websites. Among the websites under hacker attack is the official website of the Development Foundation of Armenia, he said. The hackers also breached the official website of the Civil Service Council of Armenia. YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Vardan Toghanyan, Adviser to the Minister of Economic Development and Investments Gagik Mkrtchyan and Armenias trade representative in Russia Karen Asoyan met with Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev in Moscow to discuss the opportunities to expand the cooperation between Armenia and Russia in jewelry field and diamond industry, press service of the ministry of economic development and investments told Armenpress. During the meeting the sides discussed increasing the efficiency of diamond raw material supplies. The Armenian delegation members touched upon issues on mutual recognition of state hallmarking and assertion. The officials discussed the latest approaches on solving the issues and applying new mechanisms. Agreement was reached to take practical steps within a short period of time. Gagik Mkrtchyan said the implementation of agreements will ensure the continuation of the increase of the field. YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenias government will allocate 11 million drams to the foreign ministry to compensate the fee for Armenian passport granted to ethnic Armenians in diplomatic structures of Syria and Lebanon, reports Armenpress. The draft decision is included in the governments August 10 session agenda. In the second quarter of 2017, 192 passports were granted in foreign countries with no state fee. These passports were granted in Damascus (81), Aleppo (111), in the Armenian Embassy in Lebanon (1) to the Armenian citizens and foreign nationals with Armenian origin who have acquired Armenian citizenship and applied for the first time to receive an Armenian passport. The Armenian government tries to assist those foreign nationals of Armenian origin and the Armenian citizens who live in emergency situation in the state of their permanent residence that threatens the citizens life or health. YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Defense Ministry calls on the Azerbaijani military-political leadership to refrain from new adventurisms, as well as warns that in case of any provocation the Armenian side will take tough countermeasures, reports Armenpress. The Ministry issued a statement which says: Yesterday evening the Azerbaijani media spread information according to which the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire towards an Azerbaijani Garalar village as a result of which 13-year-old child was wounded. The Defense Ministry of Armenia completely denies this information and announces that the Armenian Armed Forces didnt open fire from any weapon along the entire length of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border yesterday evening and last night. The Armenian Defense Ministry once again reminds that the Armenian Armed Forces never and in no way target the civilian settlements. The falsification of the Azerbaijani propaganda is revealed from the photos released by them which clearly shows that the childs wounds are obviously old and they cannot have anything to do with the shrapnel wounds allegedly received on August 7. Armenias Defense Ministry calls on the Azerbaijani military-political leadership to refrain from new adventurisms, as well as warns that in case of any provocation the Armenian side will take tough countermeasures. YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Hrant Poghosyan in an interview to the Korean periodical expressed hope the Korean tourists will discover Armenia as a key tourism destination, reports Armenpress. In particular, the Ambassador introduced the beautiful sites and Armenias features that can attract tourists. Armenia is called a museum under the open sky. To the visitors, Armenia opens up as a mixture of modern society with centuries-old traditions and culture, its a place where the Western lifestyle is based on Eastern traditions. Armenia is the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301, 79 years before Rome. Along with the Garni Pagan Temple there are thousands of monasteries, churches, cross-stones and temples, countless historical artifacts available to visitors. A number of Armenian monasteries and cathedrals are inscribed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO, the Ambassador told The Korea Post. For lovers of star-gazing, the Ambassador mentioned Karahunj, as well as he touched upon the capital city Yerevan. Yerevan, our Pink city, is one of the oldest cities in the world. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by king Argishti I. In autumn of 2018, Yerevan will be celebrating 2800 years since its founding, and has been recognized as the oldest continuously inhabited capital in the world. We expect extensive flow of incoming tourists to join our festivities, Hrant Poghosyan said. According to him, Armenia is also an appropriate place for wine lovers, the country is also becoming a leading destination for oenophiles. We are hosting annual wine festival in Areni. In the beginning of May, we will host the Yerevan wine festival. In 2012, an Armenian wine Zorah made of a local grape variety Areni Noir was listed in the top ten wines of the world by Bloomberg, he said. The Ambassador added that Armenia also offers tourists to discover Armenian classical and contemporary music. Armenia is the hub for Jazz lovers: Armenian Jazz traditions now are enriched by works of new names, such as Tigran Hamasyan and Mikayel Voskanyan, who mainly present the jazz style of the Armenian folk tradition, he stated. In addition to speaking about the Armenian cuisine, culture, wine traditions, the Ambassador also highlighted that Armenia is one of the safest places for tourists to visit. YEREVAN, 8 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 8 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.17 drams to 478.91 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.58 drams to 565.54 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 7.99 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.78 drams to 624.07 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price up by 11.49 drams to 19369.82 drams. Silver price down by 8.68 drams to 248.36 drams. Platinum price up by 5.28 drams to 14873.8 drams. Ghising off to Delhi to negotiate prices A Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) delegation led by Managing Director Kulman Ghising has left for New Delhi to participate in a meeting of the Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee scheduled for Tuesday. YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Russia is determined to firmly guarantee the security and independence of Abkhazia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, Armenpress reports, citing TASS. "There is a great deal for us to discuss. What is most important is we have a special relationship of trust with Abkhazia. We firmly guarantee the security and independence of Abkhazia. I am certain that it will be so further on," Putin said at a meeting with Abkhazias President Raul Khajimba on Tuesday. He pointed to the need for identifying only the optimal ways of developing Abkhazias economy for creating jobs and its own tax base. "Thats what we are going to discuss today," Putin said. Upon completion of the talks an agreement would be signed that would open Russias system of medical insurance and Russian hospitals to Abkhazian citizens. For his part Khajimba said that Abkhazia with Russias support was moving on along the road of social economic development and building infrastructures and addressing security and defense issues. "All questions we discussed at the previous meetings are being resolved to the benefit of our people," Khajimba said, adding that there had been steady progress in translating into reality the treaty of alliance and strategic partnership between Abkhazia and Russia. Khajimba pointed to pro-active cooperation between the two countries foreign ministries. "Work on the programs investment programs is proceeding as expected. This years spending on them will reach about 2.5 billion rubles ($42 million). All budget documents had been drafted, scrutinized and approved," Khajimba said. He is certain that the discussions due would produce solutions serving the interests of Abkhazias further development. "Abkhazia and its people are sincerely grateful to you for the decisions being made to develop our relations. I would like to say once again that the questions to be raised and resolved today would make our relations stronger," Khajimba said. He recalled that August 8 was a memorable date for Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "On that day the Georgian army mounted a large-scale attack and the resolute measures the Russian leadership took in response allowed South Ossetia to survive and paved the way for the further recognition of our tiny states," Khajimba said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan has received the delegation led by member of the British House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia, Premier Karapetyan highly appreciated the pro-Armenian and humanitarian activities of Caroline Cox, as well as her efforts to fairly present the Karabakh conflict in the international arena. Karen Karapetyan noted that particularly in the recent period activation in Armenian-British relations is visible and highlighted the development of economic partnership between the two states and fostering business ties in various ways, including by organizing different business forums. The Head of the Executive stated that the issue of developing bilateral economic relations has been also discussed with the Ambassador of Great Britain to Armenia and there are clear visions for future steps. Baroness Caroline Cox talked with the Armenian Premier about her numerous visits to Armenia and Artsakh and noted that she is warmly connected with the Armenian people. The Baroness also attached importance to the development of Armenian-British economic relations and highlighted deepening inter-parliamentary relations and organization of mutual high level visits. Caroline Cox expressed readiness to support the Armenian people by her activities in the future as well and foster the deepening of Armenian-British relations. YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Spokesperson of the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh Senor Hasratyan considers the information about an alleged subversive-intelligence operation by the Armenian side as another disinformation of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine. It does not correspond to the reality. Those who are more or less aware of the Defense Army, including the adversary, know very well that if the Defense Army undertakes such an operation, it is very painful for the adversary, Senor Hasratyan told Armenpress. YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. A framework agreement on the construction, funding, ownership and exploitation of Shnoghs hydroelectric power plant in Lori Province (76 MW capacity) is planned to be signed between the Government of Armenia, Debed Hydro LLC and the Investors Club of Armenia non-public contractual investment fund, Armenpress reports the issue of approving the agreement is included in Cabinets August 10 meeting. According to the justification of the project, a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the Government of Armenia (in the face of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments) and the Sponsor on April 13, 2017 for the implementation of the project. Guided by the points of the memorandum, the Sponsor has applied to the Government of Armenia with a proposal to implement the project and an initiative to involve the necessary funding for it. Its expected that the Government of Armenia will support the constructor to obtain the land for the construction of the HPP. The launch of activities of Investors club of Armenia non-public contractual investment fund was officially heralded on March 25 with the participation of the Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan and over 3 dozens of Diaspora Armenian businessmen from the Russian Federation. Back on January 25, 2017 numerous Armenian businessmen in Russia had issued a statement on their readiness to support the reform process in Armenia and to participate together with the Government of Armenia in the initiatives and business projects in Armenia. Real Good Food which last week saw its shares plunge following a profit warning has announced the departure of its founder and its finance director. The Renshaw and Haydens Bakery owner today (8 August) said founder and executive chairman Pieter Totte (pictured above) has resigned and stepped down from the board with immediate effect. Non-exec director Pat Ridgwell has taken on the role of interim chairman until a permanent chairman can be appointed, while non-exec director Christopher Thomas has become executive director. Real Good Food (RGF) also announced that Harveen Rai, previously chief financial officer at Arzyta UK Holdings, is to replace David Newman as finance director and company secretary. Newman is stepping down from the board with immediate effect, but remains the company for a changeover period. The shake-up follows RGF last week stating that it expected earnings for the financial year ended 31 March 2017 to be around 2m-3m lower than previously forecast and that profits in 2018 would be lower than expected. The company also revealed that payments for consultancy services made to Totte and non-executive director Peter Salter had not been disclosed in transaction notes for its accounts in 2014 to 2016, although the costs had been accounted for. Salter, who was chairman of the firms audit and remuneration committees, resigned and stepped down from the board with immediate effect. The companys share priced crashed from almost 34p to around 21p following last weeks profit warning, but has started to recover slightly following todays announcements. It is currently 22p (10am, 8 August). RGF today said Harveen had been involved in implementing and streamlining processes and controls in her time at Aryzta, as well as developing and strengthening the regional finance teams. Before joining Aryzta, she spent over 10 years working at Lufthansa-owned airline catering company LSG Sky Chefs. A new non-executive director, Hugh Cawley, has joined the board and will head RGFs audit committee. The company described him as an experienced finance professional with extensive public company experience with a particular focus on businesses facing a major strategic challenge or undergoing significant corporate change. Judith Mackenzie, who joined the board as a non-executive director in June, has become head of the remuneration committee. The way teachers are paid may soon change as several school districts begin experimenting with different models.The State Board of Education approved the pilot programs of six school districts to start in the 2017-18 school year.Currently, teacher pay is tied to the number of years a teacher spends in the classroom. Sometimes local school districts supplement teacher salaries.Terry Stoops, vice president of research and director of education studies at the John Locke Foundation, argued against this model, saying it can drive quality teachers away from schools.Stoops said.Essentially, a teacher who has been performing adequately for 10 years can be paid substantially more than an excellent teacher with only three years under her belt.Stoops asked.A change was needed, so in 2015 the General Assembly called for the state board to implement pilot programs in local districts to see whether an alternative teacher pay model could keep quality teachers in schools and improve student performance. Lawmakers approved $10.2 million over the next three years for the plan.Twelve districts applied for the program, but only six were chosen. Chapel Hill-Carrboro city, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Pitt, Edgecombe, Vance, and Washington county school districts all got the green light to roll out their programs Each pilot program is different but they all include linking teacher pay to professional growth and performance, with some plans including bonuses for improving student test scores.Chapel Hill-Carrboro city schools look to increase pay for teachers who take on advanced leadership positions and more responsibilities with Project ADVANCE Phil Holmes, director of Project ADVANCE told the News & Observer Project ADVANCE will focus on compensating teachers for taking on additional roles such as teacher mentor, professional development creator, and professional development facilitator.Other school districts, including Pitt County , reward teachers for improving student performance in addition to paying more for taking advanced leadership positions.The ideas behind these pilot programs are nothing new, as Stoops points out how Republicans have long supported localities experimenting with teacher pay. But this initiative offers a chance to see which model works best in what situation.Stoops said. He noted there isn't one ideal model for teacher pay when school districts are very different from one another regarding income levels, teaching staff size, and other educational needs.Stoops argued.Representatives of the State Board of Education could not be reached for comment. Contact: Attila Nemecz Attila Nemecz Attila.Nemecz@beaufortccc.edu WASHINGTON, N.C. Over the course of 36 years, the way we tell stories has changed. Print is less prevalent, and video is now at our fingertips. What has not changed is our love for storytelling. Life on the Pamlico set out in 1981 to preserve North Carolina's coastal heritage through oral history. This year, as Beaufort County Community College turns 50, the college will unveil its 50th anniversary edition of the publication. The public is invited to join the college on August 22 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. for a reception to celebrate the release of this latest edition.The ways in which Life on the Pamlico has transmitted the stories of the people of the Pamlico River has changed over the years. The publication started as a printed magazine, but now it is published exclusively online. Its format has changed throughout the years from a transcribed question and answer format to more narrative biographies and features. The widespread accessibility of video has allowed LOTP to feature student video interviews along with the written articles. Through these histories, readers can see how time, people and places in Eastern North Carolina have simultaneously changed and remained the same. Issues have contained stories of new arrivals to the area, food cultures, businesses and urban legends.Students produce LOTP as a final student project through Cultural Studies (HUM 120). With Roy Armstrong II as its initial advisor, it was available to the public for a $4 annual subscription. Dixon Boyles edited the publication after Armstrong's retirement. After a brief lapse, Bryan Oesterreich revived Life on the Pamlico in 2008 and reconceived it, along with James E. Casey, as an online digital publication in 2010. Since 2013, Suzanne Stotesbury has served as the publication's editor and Casey has continued to work as designer for the online publication and video projects.The reception will feature live bluegrass music in the library from Alan Casey, who crafted the theme to LOTP as it transitioned to incorporate video in 2013. Former editors and advisors for the publication will present a short program at 5:30 p.m. MANILA (Reuters) - A scheduled meeting between the foreign ministers of China and Vietnam was canceled on the sidelines of a regional gathering, Chinese embassy officials said, amid growing tension between the two countries over the South China Sea. Vietnam had held out for language that noted concern about island-building and criticized militarization in South China Sea in the communique on Sunday from foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Vietnam has emerged as the most vocal opponent of China's claims in the waterway, where more than $3 trillion in cargo pass every year. The Chinese embassy officials gave no reason for the cancellation of the meeting scheduled for Monday in Manila between China's Wang Yi and Vietnam's Pham Binh Minh. A Chinese foreign ministry official said they had "already met". Vietnam's foreign ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment. State media in Vietnam said the ministers had held a "pull aside" meeting and exchanged views. It showed pictures of them shaking hands. Although the language in the ASEAN communique reflected that in previous years, some countries pursuing deeper business ties with Beijing, such as Cambodia and the Philippines, had argued for dropping it. Beijing is sensitive to even a veiled reference by ASEAN to its reclamation of seven reefs and its military installations in the South China Sea, which it claims in almost its entirety despite the competing claims of five other countries. Tension has risen since June, when Vietnam infuriated China by drilling for oil and gas in an offshore block that Beijing disputes. The exploration was suspended after diplomatic protests from China. After the ASEAN meeting, China's foreign minister had called out "some countries" who voiced concern over island reclamation. Wang said that China had not carried out reclamation for two years. "At this time, if you ask who is carrying out reclamation, it is definitely not China - perhaps it is the country that brings up the issue that is doing it," he added. Satellite images have shown that Vietnam has carried out reclamation work in two sites in the disputed seas in recent years. On Tuesday, the state-run China Daily cited unnamed sources as saying Vietnam had tried to hype up the reclamation issue in the communique, pointing out that Vietnam has accelerated its land reclamation in the South China Sea. "Undoubtedly, what Vietnam has done is the trick of a thief crying 'stop thief,'" the paper quoted one of the sources as saying. Australia, Japan and the United States on Monday urged Southeast Asia and China to ensure that a South China Sea code of conduct they have committed to draw up will be legally binding and said they strongly opposed "coercive unilateral actions". China has strongly opposed what it calls interference by countries outside the region in the South China Sea issue. Meeting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Manila on Monday, Wang urged Japan to respect the efforts of China and ASEAN countries and play a more constructive role for regional peace and stability. "Don't always make trouble behind the backs of other countries and provoke quarrels," the ministry cited Wang as saying. (Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Michael Perry) Small woodlot owners must better organize if they want more clout in the forestry industry, according to the co-author of a new report that urges the province to find new markets and better track the inventory of trees in Nova Scotia forests. Digby County forester Harold Alexander was part of a group that travelled to Finland last year to look at why forestry there is booming and learn what lessons could be used to improve the industry in Nova Scotia. A final report on the trip was completed last month and highlights a variety of issues. It found two of the biggest differences between Finland and Nova Scotia are the amount of power small private woodlot owners have in the Scandinavian country and how intensely that country monitors its forests. "In Finland they know very accurately how much wood the forest is growing on an annual basis," said Alexander. "And if you're going to sustainably harvest the forest, that's very important information to know." The study comes as concerns have been rising about how much harvesting there's been on Crown land by logging companies and the ability for small private woodlot owners to compete. Nova Scotia hasn't been able to tap into the plethora of markets where Finland and other countries are doing business. Alexander said that isn't on account of ability, but rather a lack of dedicated efforts to develop those markets. "The opportunity is there, it's just in my view we're not ready to take advantage of that," he said. Andy Kekacs, executive director of the Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association, has seen Alexander's report. He said having quality inventory data available to everyone would mean people know the ages, sizes, quality, health and other factors about the species of trees in their respective jurisdictions. "That means they can plan in a pretty precise way what specific crops will be available at specific points in the future." Story continues A need to organize One of the major things holding back private owners in Nova Scotia is the lack of organization, said Alexander. The extensive organization efforts in Finland mean they can guarantee wood supply to the marketplace and are a major player in how things operate, he said. There simply aren't enough regional groups in Nova Scotia, no provincewide umbrella organization to cover them all and no common focus, said Alexander. Getting organized has been a challenge in the past, said Kekacs, because of competing views and divergent philosophies. Despite that, many people seem to agree on the idea of growing valuable trees, milling them for high-value markets and using the residue at pulp mills, he said. Taking a long-term view It's getting there that's the challenge. As Alexander's report notes, it took Finland 50 years to develop a booming industry that creates far more jobs, and produces more wood per hectare, more sustainably, than Nova Scotia. Kekacs, like Alexander, believes change is possible. He also agrees the work must begin now and it requires a longterm view from government to maximize opportunities and resilience in the forest. Developing new markets is vital because returns to landowners for direct sales of pulpwood and biomass are so low, he said. There is a need for markets built on the strength of larger, older and higher-value wood and such a forest would also benefit wildlife, recreation and other concerns. "There's a happy coincidence and I'm skeptical of those, generally but there really is a happy coincidence between growing a big old forest and all the other values humans want," said Kekacs. Alexander said the demand globally for forest products and market opportunities appear to be growing and that could mean economic stimulation for rural parts of Nova Scotia. But there isn't much of an effort right now to grow for quality, he said. "If you add it all up, we don't know what our forests are capable of on the inventory side. We don't know what's out there in the forests. But what most of us see is it's not very good. "It looks to us like we're mining our forests. We're cutting blocks of forests and we're not even looking back to see what's growing on those sites. We're assuming that nature is going to replenish on its own, and they don't take that risk in Finland." Gorkhaland protest: One Nepali arrested for enticing violence in Siliguri West Bengal Police on Tuesday arrested two persons, including a Nepali, on the charge of enticing violence in Gorkhaland protest. Research Report: Students Spending Less on Course Materials This academic year, the average cost of college students' required course materials dropped to $579, down from $602 last year and $701 in 2007-2008, according to a new report from the National Association of College Stores. The organization surveyed 24,641 students at 90 higher ed institutions across the United States and Canada on their textbook spending, preferred textbook formats, use of open educational resources and more. While students are spending less on their course materials, the number of materials purchased has held steady which NACS attributes to an increase in the use of free and digital materials. "While students report spending less on their required course materials, they're still purchasing roughly the same amount," said Jenny Febbo, vice president of marketing and strategic communications for NACS, in a statement. "Spending is down because use of open educational resources is increasing, and students are buying more lower-cost digital, used and rental materials." Other findings from the survey include: More students are accessing free content: In spring 2017, 25 percent of students reported using a free method (borrowing, sharing or downloading) to obtain their course materials, compared to 19 percent in spring 2016 and 15 percent in spring 2015. Textbook rentals are up: In fall 2016, 43 percent of students rented at least one textbook, compared to 40 percent in fall 2015. More than half of those rentals (57 percent) were through the campus store. In fall 2016, 82 percent of course materials were purchased from the campus store; 40 percent from Amazon; 8 percent from a peer/student; 7 percent from Chegg; and 7 percent from a publisher website. Students buy new print textbooks the most, but they purchase a variety of formats overall: In fall 2016, 74 percent of students reported buying new print copies; 70 percent bought used print; and 23 percent bought digital materials. That 23 percent represented an increase from 15 percent of students purchasing digital materials in fall 2015. Students also spent an additional $506 on technology and school supplies. The full report, "Student Watch: Attitudes and Behaviors toward Course Materials: 2016-2017 Report," is available for purchase from the NACS site. Policy Bill Aims to Re-Train Blue Collar Workers for Security Jobs Three Democratic representatives have introduced a bill intended to promote retraining of industrial workers to enable them to take cybersecurity jobs. The "New Collar Jobs Act" would include loan forgiveness for students, tax credits for employers and other perks. HR 3393, introduced by Ted Lieu (D-CA), Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Ann Kuster (D-NH), would be applicable in high unemployment areas, especially those that have seen big job losses in manufacturing. Citing a Cisco estimate of a million unfilled cybersecurity jobs, the legislation calls for "federal stimulus" to re-educate those workers in cybersecurity, with an emphasis on building skills to address vulnerabilities in industrial automation and control systems. The act offers several incentives: Issuing tax credits to companies that send employees to learn cybersecurity skills; Modifying school loan programs and increasing scholarships to incent people to take cybersecurity jobs in economically-distressed counties; Increasing funding to community colleges to build their cybersecurity programs; and Adding points to vendor evaluation scores for government contracts where the companies have taken advantage of the re-education tax credit. "The New Collar Jobs Act will incentivize companies to retrain their workers for excellent paying, sustainable jobs. These initiatives will generate thousands of new jobs. They will also provide growth in hard-hit areas of the country and will spawn additional training and entrepreneurial growth for new technologies, such as the Internet of Things," stated an overview of the proposed legislation. Since its introduction, the bill has been passed along to numerous committees for further consideration, including Science, Space, and Technology; Ways and Means; Education and the Workforce; and Oversight and Government Reform. MONDAY, Aug. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- If your blood pressure varies from day-to-day, you may be at higher risk for dementia or Alzheimer's disease, new research from Japan suggests. People whose systolic blood pressure (the top reading) fluctuated from day-to-day were more than twice as likely to develop any type of dementia or Alzheimer's disease compared to those with more stable day-to-day blood pressure, the researchers found. And the study -- which was based on home-monitorings -- also reported that the participants were nearly three times more likely to develop vascular dementia, caused by hardening of the arteries. "Our main findings suggest that increased day-to-day blood pressure variability, independent of average home blood pressure, is a significant risk factor for the development of all-cause dementia, vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the general elderly Japanese population," said lead researcher Dr. Tomoyuki Ohara. He's an assistant professor of neuropsychiatry at the Graduate School of Medical Sciences at Kyushu University in Fukuoka City. The association between daily blood pressure fluctuations and dementia was seen whether participants had normal or high blood pressure, he added. But Ohara cautioned that this study doesn't prove that variations in blood pressure cause dementia, only that the two appear to be associated. However, if you have fluctuating blood pressure, stabilizing it might help prevent dementia, he said. For the study, participants measured their blood pressure three times every morning for a month to track daily variations. "It could be important to have a daily habit of measuring one's own home blood pressure," Ohara said. "However, further studies are needed to clarify whether day-to-day blood pressure variation is an indicator of future dementia or a medical target for the prevention of dementia," he said. The report was published online Aug. 7 in the journal Circulation. Dr. Costantino Iadecola is director of the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell College of Medicine in New York City. "Using home blood pressure monitoring, these researchers really nailed down the connection between blood pressure variations and the risk for dementia," he said. "There is no question that blood pressure has an effect on the blood vessels in the brain," he added. Individuals whose blood pressure fluctuates might be treated to minimize the fluctuations, which in turn might keep the blood vessels in the brain healthy, Iadecola said. "For this to become relevant, it may help to monitor blood pressure for an extended period of time," said Iadecola, who coauthored an accompanying editorial in the journal. "Then we may be able to identify patients who would benefit from leveling off blood pressure," he said. "There is mounting evidence that this is what we need to be doing." Iadecola said the time to get blood pressure stabilized is not when you're old, but in midlife when dementia begins to develop. "Healthy vessels, healthy brain, healthy mind," he said. "If the vessels of the brain work, the brain is going to work fine, and if the brain works fine, your mind is going to be sharp." For the study, Ohara and colleagues looked at more than 1,600 Japanese men and women 60 and older who did not have dementia. The group included those with normal and high blood pressure. About 40 percent were taking medication to lower their blood pressure. The participants measured their blood pressure three times at home in the morning for one month. Ohara's team reviewed the month of home blood pressure readings, and looked for signs of dementia through memory and thinking tests. They also reviewed participants' medical records to see if a stroke had occurred. Over five years of follow-up, 134 individuals developed Alzheimer's disease and 47 developed vascular dementia, the researchers found. Vascular dementia results from diminished blood flow to the brain and is often related to the occurrence of small strokes, the researchers said. The editorial authors noted that there were several limitations to the study. One is that blood pressure can be variable on its own. Blood pressure readings tend to change if you're sick or if you've taken certain medications. Taking blood pressure medications inconsistently -- for example, forgetting the medication one day -- can also change day-to-day readings. The study also needs to be replicated in a larger and more diverse group of people, according to the editorial authors. More information For more on blood pressure and dementia, visit the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, August 8, 2017Egyptian authorities should stop censoring Al-Mesryoon newspaper and harassing its journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Authorities banned this weeks edition of the newspaper and summoned Al-Mesryoon Editor-in-Chief Gamal Sultan and Managing Editor Mahmoud Sultan for interrogation, according to Gamal Sultan and news reports. Employees of the state-owned Al-Ahram printing house on August 5 told an Al-Mesryoon employee that a security apparatus ordered them not to print this weeks edition of the newspaper, Gamal Sultan told CPJ. The printing house, which according to press reports prints most newspapers in Egypt, did not specify which security agency was behind the decision, and whether future issues would also be affected, the editor said. Gamal Sultan told CPJ that security officials had ordered the newspaper to remove articles prior to publication before, but that this time, after seven hours of negotiations with the printing house as an intermediary, the security officials deemed the entire edition inappropriate. The newspaper has consistently been critical of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis government. They told us they were taking a position against the newspaper and its editorial policy, Gamal Sultan said. Yesterday, National Security prosecutors summoned both Gamal and Mahmoud Sultan for questioning, Gamal Sultan told CPJ. The summons, which was sent via the Journalists Syndicate, mentioned only a case number and did not detail any allegations, according to news reports. The two editors did not attend, so the interview was rescheduled for August 12, according to Gamal Sultan and the Egyptian press freedom group Journalists Against Torture. Egypt is trying to silence what few critical and independent voices remain in the press, CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour said from Washington, D.C. We call on Egyptian authorities to stop censoring Al-Mesryoon newspaper and to stop harassing Gamal and Mahmoud Sultan. The Egyptian Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to CPJs email requesting comment. Al-Mesryoon has run afoul of Egyptian security agencies in the past. The newspapers website has been blocked in Egypt since May, alongside at least 133 others, according to Egypts Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression and news reports. In March, a Cairo criminal court ordered Al-Mesryoon reporter Iman Yehia to pay a fine of 300,000 Egyptian pounds (US$16,887) and ordered Gamal Sultan to pay 10,000 (US$563) Egyptian pounds on charges of publishing false news and defaming former Minister of Justice Ahmed al-Zend in a 2014 article, according to news reports. The article alleged that al-Zend sold state-owned land at below market rates to a relative during his tenure as head of the Judges Club, according to news reports. The journalists appeal of that verdict is pending, according to Gamal Sultan and news reports. In 2015, Al-Ahram printing house told Gamal Sultan that it would not print the newspaper unless it removed two stories about President Sisi, CPJ reported at the time. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Beirut, August 8, 2017Jordanian authorities should immediately stop blocking access to the online magazine My.Kali, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Jordanian Audiovisual Commission, a government regulator, on July 31, 2017, ordered access to the website, which describes itself as LGTBQIA-inclusive, blocked because it had not applied to the minister of information for a license in accordance with Jordans Press and Publication Law. The sites founder, Khalid Abdel-Hadi, told CPJ that Jordanian internet users have in fact been unable to access the website since July 14, 2016, following the publication four days prior of an interview Abdel-Hadi gave to the independent media platform Raseef22 headlined, How do homosexuals live in Jordan? My.Kali has since published on the online platform Medium.com, which is not blocked in Jordan, Abdel-Hadi said. Outside of Jordan, the magazines original address, mykalimag.com, redirects to the magazines page on Medium.com The order followed a complaint from Member of Parliament Dima Tahboub, the spokesperson of the Jordanian Islamic Action Front (IAF), according to news reports, Tahboubs Twitter account, and My.Kali. In a July 19 appearance on the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Tahboub said homosexuals were not welcome in Jordan when asked about her support for banning a concert in Jordan by the Lebanese band Mashrou Leila, whose songs contain lyrics about gender and homosexual relationships. Soon after the interview, Tahboub posted a picture of two men getting married and made mocking remarks about gay marriage on Twitter. My.Kali replied on Twitter by posting a picture of a Western womens rights activist and asking the MP whether she believed the picture represented the struggle for womens rights in Jordan. The petty abuse of Jordans Press and Publications Law to censor the online magazine My.Kaliwhich was in fact already blocked in Jordanin response to a Twitter spat underlines the necessity of reforming this law, CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour said from Washington, D.C. We call on Jordanian authorities to allow all media to publish freely and to amend the law to prevent similar abuses in the future. The Jordanian Audiovisual Committee did not reply to CPJs email or repeated phone calls seeking comment. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Washington, D.C., August 8, 2017Thai authorities should immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Pravit Rojanaphruk, a columnist at the news website Khaosod English, and allow the journalist to work freely and without further harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Pravit, whom CPJ will honor with its International Press Freedom Award this year, wrote on Twitter today that the Royal Thai Polices Technology Crime Suppression Division formally informed him that he faces charges of sedition, as defined under article 116 of Thailands Criminal Code, and disseminating false information online, under the Computer Crimes Act. Pravit told CPJ that the first sedition charge stems from Facebook posts he wrote on February 16 and 17, 2015, in which he raised critical questions about a military-drafted constitution that passed later that year in a national referendum and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ochas frequently delayed plans for new elections, among other topics related to the military governments legitimacy. At the time, Prayuth had said he would no longer take questions from the press. The second sedition charge, Pravit told CPJ, stems from five Facebook posts he wrote in recent weeks on various widely reported news events, including the ongoing criminal negligence trial of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose government the military coup toppled, Prayuths handling of recent floods, and a soldiers threat to confiscate a local TV news reporters equipment. The sedition charges filed today against columnist Pravit Rojanaphruk mark a new low in the Thai juntas abuse of overbroad laws to stifle press freedom, said Steven Butler, CPJs Asia program coordinator. We call on authorities to drop these charges before they do any more damage to Thailands international credibility and reputation under military rule. The charges were lodged at the Royal Thai Polices Technology Crime Suppression Division, according to Pravit. Sedition charges carry maximum jail sentences of seven years, with a maximum allowable sentence of 20 years for multiple counts. Pravits Twitter post said he faces a maximum 14 years in prison if found guilty in both sedition cases. His post from the police station today included a picture of the reporter, his hands stained with ink after police fingerprinted him. Pravit told CPJ that he must report to police again on August 18 to hear clarification of the Computer Crime Act charges that he spread false information online. Thailands attorney general must approve sedition charges before cases move to trial. CPJ last month announced that Pravit will be one of four recipients of its 2017 International Press Freedom Award, given each year to journalists for their courageous reporting. Military authorities have singled out Pravit for harassment since they seized power in a May 2014 coup. He has been temporarily detained on two occasions, once in May 2014 and again in September 2015, in retaliation for his critical commentary on military rule. Upon his release after his second detention, military officials threatened to freeze his bank account if he continued to criticize the regime, he told CPJ at the time. As a condition of his release, he was forced to sign a pledge that he would not become involved in any activities opposing military rule. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, August 7, 2017Russian authorities should credibly investigate allegations that bailiffs tortured Uzbek journalist Khudoberdi Nurmatov, and should not deport him to Uzbekistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A court in Moscow is scheduled to hear the journalists appeal of the order to deport him tomorrow, according to media reports. Moscow police arrested Nurmatov, a contributor to the independent Russian daily newspaper Novaya Gazeta better known by his pen name, Ali Feruz, near Novaya Gazetas office in Moscow on August 1, on immigration charges, according to media reports. The same day, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow ruled that the journalist had violated Russian immigration laws and ordered his deportation, whereupon the journalist tried to commit suicide in the courtroom by grabbing a pen from his lawyer and trying to gouge his wrists, according to Novaya Gazeta and media reports. The newspaper reported that bailiffs beat, insulted, and shocked Nurmatov while bringing him to a detention center for foreign nationals in a Moscow suburb. Novaya Gazeta Editor-in-Chief Dmitry Muratov, who visited Nurmatov in the detention center on August 5, reported that the journalist had bruises on his back, was unable to eat for three days, and has suffered from hypertension since the beating. The Russian Federal Bailiffs Service did not respond to CPJs phone calls requesting comment. Russian authorities should independently and credibly investigate the serious allegations that Kudoberdi Nurmatov was tortured in custody, and should refrain from deporting him to Uzbekistan, where he faces imminent risk of further torture, CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. Russia should free Nurmatov without delay and allow him to continue living in Russia and to work without interference. Nurmatov, 30, fled Uzbekistan in 2008, after Uzbek security services allegedly tried to force him to work as an informant by torturing him and threatening to harm his family, eventually arriving in Russia by way of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in 2011, according to media reports. He began contributing to Novaya Gazeta in 2014, when he reported the abduction of an Uzbek migrant from downtown Moscow. In 2015 Nurmatov first unsuccessfully applied for refugee status in Russiawhere his mother and siblings, all Russian citizens, liveon the grounds that he risked torture in Uzbekistan. Over the following years he unsuccessfully applied for residency through various routes. His appeal of a March 2017 rejection of his application for political asylum was still pending at the time of his arrest, Novaya Gazeta reported. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say the journalist is at risk of torture if Russia deports him to Uzbekistan. The Uzbek National Security Service did not respond to CPJs phone calls requesting comment. Nurmatov has regularly contributed to Novaya Gazeta since 2016, reporting on such sensitive subjects as the plight of Central Asian migrant workers in Russia and the December 2016 presidential election in Uzbekistan. On August 4, according to human rights groups and media reports, the European Court of Human Rights issued a preliminary injunction ordering Russia not to deport the journalist until the court reviews his case. Heightened security hits Nepal-India trade Indian border security personnel have put a damper on Nepals cross-border trade with India once again, as they have started conducting thorough checks of cargo vehicles entering India via the border point in the western Nepali city of Bhairahawa. Sammantha Allen In the end, the jurors felt they had no choice but to sentence Sammantha Allen to death for the brutal 2011 murder of her 10-year-old cousin, Ame Deal. The Phoenix woman had been on trial in Maricopa County Superior Court since May, one of four family members charged with disciplining the girl by forcing her to do exercise in sweltering July heat and then locking her in a 31-inch-long footlocker overnight. "The pictures of the victim stayed in our minds," said juror Ann Ospeth. "I think the thing for us was the victim and all the things her life entailed." It demanded a death penalty, the jurors agreed. "We were following what the law stated," said juror Amanda Heath. And indeed the jurors felt that Allen should be punished to the max. They also found aggravating factors for the four underlying child-abuse counts against Allen, which allowed the judge to impose harsher sentences for those charges. Superior Court Judge Teresa Sanders sentenced Allen to an additional four consecutive sentences totaling 76 years for those crimes. She was given credit for more than 2,000 days she has already spent in custody. Allen was found guilty June 26. Then the jury deliberated for a week over whether there were mitigating factors that would allow Allen to avoid the death penalty and instead be sentenced to life in prison. They considered her age, her dysfunctional upbringing and the fact that she had no prior criminal record. But they determined the horror of the crime outweighed all of those. The verdict was read late Monday morning in Maricopa County Superior Court. Upon learning her fate, Allen hung her head and wept. "I just feel sad," said John Curry, her lead defense attorney, as he left the courthouse. Allen becomes the third woman on Arizona's death row, and the first to be sentenced to death since Shawna Forde in Tucson in 2011. The last woman sentenced to death in Maricopa County was Wendi Andriano in 2004, but not for lack of trying. Maricopa County prosecutors had to settle for life sentences in the murder trials of Jodi Arias in 2015, Marissa DeVault in 2014 and Marjorie Orbin in 2010, after failing to convince juries to bring back the ultimate punishment. And in 2013, a federal court of appeals ruling threw out Debra Milke's death sentence because of prosecutor misconduct after she had spent 24 years on death row. An Arizona court ruled a year later that she could not be retried on grounds of double jeopardy. Ame Deal's short and tragic life ended on July 11, 2011, when temperatures in Phoenix were in the triple digits. After stealing a frozen treat on a hot summer day, the child was forced into physical exertion, then padlocked inside a 31- by 14- by 12-inch footlocker and left overnight, court records say. Ame was dead by the time someone went to let her out the next morning. Allen's husband, John Allen, also is charged with murder and child abuse. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 9. Prosecutor Jeannette Gallagher told the court that she needed to press for aggravating factors on Sammantha Allen's child-abuse convictions because they were relevant to John Allen's upcoming trial. Three other family members are already in prison for their roles in the case. Judith Deal currently is serving a 10-year sentence for a child-abuse conviction. Cynthia Stoltzman, who was Ame's legal guardian, is serving 24 years for child abuse in the case, and David Deal is serving 14 years for child abuse. I want to thank the members of the jury for their time and effort on this case and reaching a difficult, but just conclusion for the senseless murder of Ame, County Attorney Bill Montgomery said in a statement. In addition to death, Judge Teresa Sanders sentenced Allen to 76 years of consecutive prison sentences after the jury found aggravating factors in the remaining four counts of child abuse. Among the aggravating factors were the especially cruel nature of the crimes, the young age of the victim, the presence of an accomplice (her husband John), and the fact that the defendant was in a position of trust to the victim. Ame apparently was locked in the footlocker as punishment for taking a frozen treat from the refrigerator. Court records say that John Allen told investigators that he locked Ame in the box while his wife stood by. Then, records say, the Allens fell asleep. Before Ame was locked in, however, police believe she was forced to spend two hours doing backbends and was forced by John Allen to maintain the torturous position, court records say. She also was forced to run in the yard despite the summer heat, records say. The temperature that day exceeded 103 degrees. Then, sweating profusely and badly overheated, Ame was forcibly jammed into the footlocker, court records say. The footlocker had been used on several previous occasions to punish Ame for various offenses, including wetting the bed, according to accounts given to police by others who had lived at the home, court records say. On one occasion, adults who lived at the house said, as punishment for failing to pick up a dog's droppings, the feces were rubbed onto Ame's face and she was forced to eat them, court records say. Ame was listed as an "abused, neglected child" in Utah, where the family had lived from 2006 to 2010. Arizona Department of Child Safety, then called Child Protective Services, had no prior contact with the family or with Ame. Who are the women on death row in Arizona? Four women have been on death row in Arizona: Eva Dugan (top left), Wendi Andriano, Shawna Forde and Sammantha Allen (bottom left). There are currently three women on death row in Arizona, and one woman who was executed. Sammantha Allen was sentenced to death Monday in the killing of her 10-year-old cousin, Ame Deal. Allen is the fourth woman to be sentenced to death in Arizona. She joins Wendi Andriano and Shawna Forde, who are currently on death row. The Arizona State Prison Complex - Perryville is where female death row inmates are housed. Eva Dugan Crime: January 1927 Executed: February 21, 1930 Dugan was found guilty of killing Arthur Mathis, a rancher near Tucson. Dugan grew up a frontierswoman, floating from town to town for work. She met Mathis in Tucson, and he hired her immediately to work as his housekeeper. The Prescott Courier from May 1979 implies the relationship was a kind of arrangement. A young man named Jack moved in with Mathis and Dugan, then Mathis was never seen again. Dugan and Jack skipped town. Dugan and Jack sold Mathis' car in Amarillo, Texas, the Pima County Sheriff discovered. Dugan was tracked to New York and arrested for grand larceny. Months later, a man bought some land near the Mathis ranch. He was driving stakes for a tent when he discovered a shallow grave. The red-headed remains were identified as Arthur Mathis. Dugan was sentenced to death. "If I was a flapper with pretty legs, I never would have been convicted and given the death penalty," she reportedly said. Dugan was hanged February 21, 1930. When the gallows trap sprang, her body fell and she was decapitated. The scene caused five people to faint. Dugan's gruesome death lead to capital punishment reform in Arizona. A year after the horrific incident, Arizona stopped executions by hanging and began using the gas chamber. Wendi Andriano Crime: October 8, 2000 Andriano was found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of her husband. A jury found Adriano had killed her husband, Joe Andriano, by beating him with a barstool and slitting his throat. Joe Andriano had been diagnosed with a terminal illness when Wendi Andriano was pregnant with their second child. The night of Oct. 7, 2000, Wendi called 911 in the early-morning hours to get Joe medical help. She called a coworker in her apartment complex to help watch the kids. The coworker said he saw Joe lying on the floor in the living room. He was in the fetal position, vomiting and weak. When paramedics arrived, Wendi sent them away, saying Joe was dying of cancer and had a do-not-resuscitate order. Paramedics left. Andriano called 911 again at 3:39 a.m. Paramedics found Andriano in a bloody shirt, and Joe dead on the floor. There was a bloody barstool nearby. Joe had fatal head injuries and a stab wound to his neck. The medical examiner determined Joe had been hit on the head at least 23 times. He also had sodium azide, a pesticide, in his system. Andriano claimed she had tried to help Joe take his own life, and when the assisted suicide attempt failed, the two fought. Andriano said she hit Joe with a barstool in self defense. Andriano was sentenced to death. She is appealing. She filed a federal habeas corpus appeal in April 2016. Shawna Forde Crime: May 30, 2009 Forde was found guilty in the first-degree murders of Raul and Brisenia Flores. Forde, a rogue Minutemen leader on the Arizona border, burst into the Flores home in Arivaca, Arizona, in the middle of the night along with Jason Eugene Bush and Albert Robert Gaxiola. Dressed in camouflage, Forde, Bush and Gaxiola claimed to be agents looking for fugitives. They took jewelry, then shot Raul Flores, his daughter, 9-year-old Brisenia, and his wife, Gina Gonzales. Gonzales survived the attack by pretending to be dead. Gonzales was calling 911 when the intruders came back. Gonzales fired a shotgun at them, wounding Bush. Evidence showed Forde planned the attack, though Bush pulled the trigger. Both Forde and Bush were sentenced to death. Sammantha Allen Crime: July 12, 2011 Allen was found guilty in the killing of 10-year-old Ame Deal. Sammantha and John Allen lived in a home near Broadway Road at 35th Avenue with Ame Deal and many others. Ame faced severe abuse in the home, court documents said. Deal died after she was locked in a plastic box that was left outside overnight in the Arizona summer. Deal was being punished for taking a popsicle. She died of suffocation and heat, according to court documents. Sammantha Allen was sentenced to death. John Allen is also facing charges. His case will go to trial later this month. | 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! Hundreds of people living in the town of Hyndman, about 100 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, were put on high alert and searching for answers when over 30 cars of a freight train derailed nearby. Reports indicate that one car was carrying liquefied petroleum gas and additional cars carried other hazardous materials. If the liquefied petroleum gas had been carried in pipelines, the accident might not have occurred. The cause of the August 2nd incident has not yet been reported, but three train cars, a nearby garage, and a home all caught fire, and flames were reportedly still raging hours later. Thankfully no injuries have been reported, but people living within a one-mile radius of the incident were evacuated from their homes. A full day later, it is still unclear how long they will be forced to remain away. The derailment has already led to massive disruptions for hundreds of people and cost millions of dollars. Roads have been closed and train service between D.C. and Pittsburgh was temporarily suspended. Health officials are currently conducting air and ground studies to determine the extent of possible pollution. This is, unfortunately, becoming something of a regular occurrence in Pennsylvania. In July, another train derailment near Plainfield caused thousands of gallons of crude oil to leak and forced evacuations in the surrounding area, and six cars of another train derailed in Somerset County that same month. Rail cars are not the only option when it comes to transporting hazardous materials such as liquefied petroleum gas. The fundamental concern with transportation of these types of products is safety, specifically rates of incidents and related injuries or fatalities. Along these metrics, pipelines are a safer alternative to the other modes of transportation. In many places, the lack of pipeline capacity means that producers have to turn to road or rail to get their products where they need to go. Regulators should review and approve well-vetted proposals in order to allow pipeline capacity to accommodate increased production. In a recent report, I analyze pipeline mileage and incident reports from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). From 2007 to 2016, rail transportation of oil, natural gas, and related products had an average annual incident rate of 2.2 per billion ton-miles, compared to 0.66 for hazardous liquid pipelines. Hazardous liquid pipelines also compare favorably in terms of related injury and fatality rates. Pipeline safety has also grown better over time. The rates of serious incidentsthose resulting in a fatality or injury requiring inpatient hospitalization fell from an annual average of 0.121 per 1,000 miles of pipeline over the period 1997 to 2001, to 0.111 from 2012 to 2016. According to PHMSA, in 2016 Pennsylvania had 13 different operators and more than 3,100 miles of hazardous liquid pipelines. The state has only had one serious incident for hazardous liquid pipelines since 2000, with no fatalities and one injury. PHMSA only provides data on the underlying cause for gas pipelines, but it is still informative. For longer-range gas transmission pipelines, which would be comparable to the Hyndman train that was transporting freight from Chicago to New York state, the leading cause of accidents is excavation damage, generally the result of an agent other than the pipeline operator or a contractor excavating and damaging the pipeline. Other Outside Force Damage is tied for the second-leading cause, of which vehicular damage accounts for the vast majority. Pipeline equipment and operation are safer than the topline incident numbers would indicate. With growing domestic energy production in oil, natural gas and their related products, companies will continue to need to transport them from the source to their end destination. Pipelines have lower incident rates than other modes of transportation. Pipeline safety has improved significantly, and will continue to do so. Incidents like the Hyndman derailment are disruptive and dangerous. Pipelines could offer a safer, more reliable option. Charles Hughes is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute and author of the new report The Energy Bottleneck: Why America Needs More Pipelines. Follow him on twitter @CharlesHHughes. 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. At a briefing to reporters at the State Department, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the Trump administration continues to evaluate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear deal with Iran known as the JCPOA: In particular were working with the other parties to that agreement, our European allies in particular, to ensure that we are fully enforcing all aspects of that agreement, holding Iran accountable for its commitments, and challenging whether Iran is, in fact, living up to its commitments and the spirit of that agreement. Iran is continuing to engage in destabilizing behavior in the region, however, and Secretary Tillerson emphasized that the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran is just one of many threats posed by the Islamic Republic: "Whether it be their ongoing ballistic missile programs, their export of terrorism, their export of instability in Yemen, their export of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria. Secretary of State Tillerson said Irans leaders are persistent in their efforts to exert their influence across the Middle East, and it is our intent, working with our allies in the region to push back on Irans expansionist efforts to destabilize areas. Such push back, Secretary Tillerson said, is consistent with our efforts to stop Islamic extremism in all its forms. In support of that goal, the United States will continue its proactive approachto preventing Iran from developing nuclear weaponsand from fomenting terrorism and building influence outside of [its] borders. The post office in Santibanez de Vidriales, a town in the northwest province of Zamora with a population of 1,000 , is only open for 15 minutes a day. A photo of a sign announcing the offices change of timetable for the month of August has been shared more than 1,400 times on Facebook. Horario al publico de correos en Santibanez de Vidriales para el mes de agosto de 2017 Posted by Valle Vidriales on Monday, July 31, 2017 The sign reads: During the month of August, this office is changing its business hours. The new timetable will be from 11.15am to 11.30am. Apologies for the inconvenience. The office has opened for a quarter of an hour daily since 2014 due to scarce postal traffic in the area, explained a spokesperson for Correos, Spains national post service, over the phone to Verne. Its regular hours are 10.30am to 10.45am. Many users responded angrily to the post office timetable, assuming that employees only work 15 minutes a day The sign gained attention on Facebook after a photo of it was published by an account called Valle Vidriales (Vidriales Valley). The image was then shared by the comedy account Amanece que no es poco. Many users responded angrily to the post offices hours, assuming that employees only work 15 minutes a day. However, others explained that this is a common practice in rural areas. The person in charge of opening the Santibanez de Vidriales office has a daily route of 101 kilometers, a spokesperson from Correos explains. In addition to Santibanez, the employee has to make deliveries in six other towns, including Brime de Sog, Rionegro del Puente, Milla de Tera, Villageriz, Fuente Encalada and Mombuey. Whats more, they also open the post office to the public for 10 minutes in Rionegro, 15 minutes in Santibanez and 15 minutes in Mombuey. The person in charge of the office also services six other towns, traveling 101 kilometers a day Services depend on the postal traffic, and in rural areas it is common for one postman to make deliveries in multiple towns, the Correos spokesperson explains. In many of these towns, post offices do not even exist. The postman uses spaces allocated by the town hall as the post office sometimes this can mean distributing mail in the town square. The change in hours for the Santibanez post office is due to the postman being on vacation. The person filling in requested the delay because they need more time in the towns they attend to before Santibanez, explained Correos. This allows for more flexibility and limits any delays. In September, regular hours will return and the branch will remain open for just 15 minutes: from 10.30am to 10.45am. English version by Debora Almeida. Home Minister bemoans Valleys dismal traffic infra Home Minister Janardan Sharma has said that dysfunctional traffic infrastructure and poor state of road are hindering the works of traffic police in Kathmandu. A group of migrants on the beach at the Spanish exclave of Melilla last week. F. G. Guerrero (EFE) People smugglers have reacted to increased demand for their services by doubling their fees for migrants hoping to enter Spain illegally via the maritime route from North Africa. According to a document from the European Union border agency Frontex, criminal organizations have raised prices from an average 500 in 2016 to double that figure this year. Almost 7,500 migrants arrived in Spain using the maritime route in the first six months of this year against 3,600 for the same period in 2016, figures from Spains Interior Ministry show. People smugglers offer options ranging from trips in inflatable toy dinghies to journeys by speedboat or even jet ski Although [the situation] is unpredictable, we have to be prepared for several intense months in terms of arrivals, a Red Cross spokesperson said, noting that good summer weather would likely see more migrants making the sea crossing to Spain. In June alone, 2,200 undocumented migrants tried to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to enter Spain and people smugglers now hope to make the most of this increased demand, according to the Frontex document. These criminal groups offer different products depending on how wealthy their clients are, with some of the packages even providing for multiple crossing attempts. The options range from trips in inflatable toy dinghies to journeys by speedboat or even jet ski. The less risky the trip, the higher the cost is. They [migrants] pay between 100 and 1,500 to cross to Spain, depending on the crossing area and the type of boat used, the Frontex document states. This price can soar to 3,000 if people opt for a jet ski a trip that takes around 30 minutes. Usually the smuggler leaves the migrant on the shore and then quickly makes their way back to the African coast, says Frontex of this option. A Medecins Sans Frontieres vessel rescues people in the Mediterranean. Borja Ruiz Rodriguez MSF There are people ready to risk their life and if they lose it, we have to bear part of the responsibility when this situation repeats itself over and over again, said Socialist Party (PSOE) deputy Esther Pena during Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoidos most recent appearance in the Spanish Congress one that came after 49 migrants died in the Alboran Sea while attempting to cross to Spain from Morocco. At least 6,000 people have died trying to cross to Spain using the maritime route in the last 20 years according to Spanish human rights group Asociacion Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucia. While the number of arrivals in 2017 is still a long way down from 2006 when 39,180 people made their way to Spain by sea, there has been an uptick in the last two years. In 2016, 8,162 people arrived in Spain in this way, double the number in 2015. And in the first six months of this year, the figure was nearly 7,500 against 3,600 in the first half of 2016. Some 90.48% of people making the sea crossing from North Africa to Spain are men from sub-Saharan Africa Frontex says there are three main reasons for this increase. Despite rising costs, the Spanish route is still more affordable than entering Europe through central and eastern European because of the shorter distance involved. In addition, people smugglers have starting using speedboats, traditionally reserved for hashish shipping, meaning they can transfer more people in a shorter period. At the same time, the dismantling of makeshift migrant camps in Morocco and Algeria might act as a push factor in displacing migrants to other areas, according to Frontex. Some 90.48% of people making the sea crossing from North Africa to Spain are men from sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Spanish Red Cross. English version by George Mills. Footage captured by security cameras at the El Tarajal border post in Spains exclave city of Ceuta shows nearly 200 would-be migrants rushing through the gate in the early hours of the morning, on Monday August 7. The security video shows how, at around 4.50am, a group of people begins to crowd around the closed border gates and the police officers assigned to the post run to the street. At one point, one of the immigrants jumps the fence and instantly a large group manages to open the entrance and run through, despite efforts from border guards. One of the blows saw an officer end up with a fracture to both the tibia and fibula of his right leg The footage also shows one police officer striking several of the undocumented immigrants with his baton, but not trying to detain any of them. The other officer in the video begins to do the same by attempting to kick and trip the immigrants rushing in. One of the blows saw him end up with a fracture to both the tibia and fibula of his right leg. Government representative in Ceuta Nicolas Fernandez Curucull blamed these injuries on the violent attitude of the immigrants, who, he said, trampled the officers. However, the video shows the immigrants simply rushing the border and dodging officers in order to achieve their goal of entering Spain. In the end, 187 people managed to cross the border that night. English version by Debora Almeida. There may be light at the end of the tunnel for the ongoing strike at El Prat airport in Barcelona . This morning, Eulen, the company that employs the striking staff who operate the airports security scanners , accepted a proposal made during negotiations mediated by the Catalan regional government, albeit with some modifications. The workers themselves will ultimately have the final say about the conditions that have been proposed, which include a raise of 200 a month for those on the lowest wages and the hiring of 100 extra employees. This is the first offer to come out of the mediated negotiations, after several prior meetings between the security staff and Eulen failed. The companys latest offer included an average wage increase of 7.7% but negotiations with the regional government increased the raise to 11.5%. The workers will discuss the offer this Thursday. The proposal includes adding a fifth employee to each security line While its not the most fair option, we believe the proposal is reasonable and can be discussed, said Josep Ginesta, the general secretary of the regional labor department. While the Eulen works committee had originally called for a monthly salary increase of 350 a month for the lowest paid employees, the new offer sets that amount at 155. In addition to pay, the offer also addresses the demands regarding improvements in the organization of work at the security checkpoint and an increase in staff. The proposal includes adding a fifth employee to each security line to allow the two employees watching the scanner and the two working with the passengers to provide better service. With 17 lines running in three shifts a day, 50 additional employees would need to be hired. In addition, the proposal included adding a pool of 25 relief workers to cover any absences or breaks. While the negotiations were taking place, lines at El Prat to get through security were taking an hour to clear, despite there being no planned strikes for the day. Lines were also forming at airline counters as concerned passengers arrived early to the airport. English version by Debora Almeida. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 Trend: Consequent to the deliberate shelling, specifically targeting the civilian population, of Azerbaijani settlements on the borderline done by Armenia on Aug 7, thirteen-year-old resident of Garalar village of Azerbaijans Tovuz district Ramin Yusifov was wounded, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev said Aug. 8. "We reiterate that Armenia carries full responsibility for the actions that Azerbaijan will be forced to take in a way of deterrence and prevention of the Armenias provocations and attacks," Hajiyev said. On July 4, as a result of brutal actions of the Armenian armed forces, 51-year-old resident of Alkhanli village of Azerbaijans Fuzuli district Sahiba Allahverdiyeva and her 2-year-old granddaughter Zahra Guliyeva were killed, and 52-year-old Salminaz Guliyeva was seriously wounded. "Despite the international communitys condemnation of Armenias atrocities, the country did not draw any conclusions from its filthy actions and committed yet another barbarous act, which resulted in injuries sustained by the 13-year-old Ramin Yusifov, he said. Brutality, aimed at slaughtering the civilians, including the children, is the state policy of terrorism implemented by the Armenian military and political leadership," Hajiyev said. He added that, as a result of the ongoing war that Armenia has started against Azerbaijan more than 25 years ago, numerous war crimes, genocide and other inhumane criminal acts have been committed by Armenia. "The Khojaly genocide, one of the most horrible and bloody tragedies, can be cited as an example, Hajiyev said. Military attack along the line of contact ordered by the Armenian leadership in April of 2016, resulted in six, including children, killed and 34 civilian injured. Azerbaijan carried out counter-offensive measures, suppressed the enemy firing points and liberated from the occupation a number of the strategically important sites, he said. Armenias renewed military doctrine includes commitment of asymmetric attacks along the line of contact and shelling of civilians and civil facilities. The fact that the Armenian military leadership makes statements, openly admitting that it does not disdain from targeting civilians and civil facilities, is the result of the impunity prevailing in regards of Armenia, he said. Hajiyev emphasized that Armenias direct and deliberate attacks on Azerbaijani civilians and civil facilities are seriously violating international humanitarian laws and human rights, in particular, the Geneva Convention of 1949 and Additional Protocol #1, as well as the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. "According to the modern international law, direct responsibility for these acts, alongside Armenia as a state, lies on the persons representing countrys military and political leadership, he said. Armenia's continuous occupation of Azerbaijani territories, as well as the presence of the Armenian armed forces in those territories create serious obstacles for the negotiation process are the main reason for the inception of military risks and tension, he said. For the change of the unacceptable, occupation based status-quo, Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied Azerbaijani territories firstly, Hajiyev said. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense issued a joint statement on July 26, issuing a warning to Armenia in reference of systematic ceasefire violation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, commitment of provocations and deliberate shelling of the settlements and civilians, he said. "We reiterate that Armenia carries full responsibility for the actions that Azerbaijan will be forced to take in a way of deterrence and prevention of the Armenias provocations and attacks," Hajiyev said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 8 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: It is necessary to get a firm condemnation of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and start sanctions against Armenia, Nathalie Goulet, French senator and vice-chair of the Senates Foreign Affairs Committee, told Trend August 8. Civilians are killed every day in a lot of conflicts. It's unbearable. Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of them. We need now a peace process and probably international forces to keep the ceasefire. We also need a serious will of the international community, she said, adding that there is no need for another war, especially in the South Caucasus. Recalling that the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia is worldwide recognized by the UN, Goulet said that the US President Donald Trump, who recently increased sanctions on Russia, should take side with Azerbaijan as the victim of the occupation. Thirteen-year-old resident of Garalar village of Azerbaijans Tovuz district Ramin Yusifov was wounded as a result of Armenia's shelling of settlements on the line of contact of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, as well as along the border with Azerbaijan and deliberate shelling of civilians on August 7, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a message Aug. 8. 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. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The Armenian authorities should be held criminally responsible for shelling the peaceful population of Azerbaijan, Aurelia Grigoriu, chairperson of the Public Chamber of Moldova, told Trend Aug. 8. She was commenting on the latest attack of the Armenian armed forces on Azerbaijani civilians. Earlier, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys Spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev said that Ramin Yusifov, a 13-year-old resident of Garalar village of Azerbaijans Tovuz district, was wounded in a deliberate shelling of civilians by Armenia. The Armenians were shelling settlements on the line of contact and along the border with Azerbaijan on August 7. I think the OSCE Minsk Group should first of all speak out on the issue and condemn these actions. They must warn the side that violates the ceasefire. The world community should also condemn this, noted Grigoriu. These acts of shelling the civilians should not be left without attention of the international community. She added that the people who commit such unlawful acts must be brought to international criminal responsibility. Meanwhile, the issue of criminal responsibility should also be brought against the Armenian authorities, since such actions of the Armenian Armed Forces are carried out only with the permission of their commander-in-chief, said Grigoriu. Earlier commenting on the issue, the Foreign Ministrys Spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev said: We reiterate that Armenia bears the full responsibility for the steps that Azerbaijan will have to take to prevent the Armenian provocations and attacks. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Details added (first version posted on 19:27) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 Trend: Tovuz District Prosecutors Office has opened criminal case under the articles 116.0.10 (violation of the international humanitarian law during armed conflicts, with attacks on civilians or individuals not participating in fights), 29, 120.2.7 (attempt of intentional killing of two or more persons) of the Criminal Justice Code of Azerbaijan over the shrapnel wounds of thirteen-year-old resident of Garalar village of Azerbaijans Tovuz district Ramil Yusibov. Investigation is underway, said the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Azerbaijan, Aug. 8. The message said that Armenian Armed Forces located in Azerbaijans occupied territories, grossly violating the requirements of international humanitarian law, have continued their provocative actions once again and using large-caliber guns shelled the frontline positions of Azerbaijani Armed Forces, as well as the territories inhabited by civilian population. On Aug. 7, at about 20:00 (GMT + 4 hours), Armenian military units, dislocated on the occupied Azerbaijani territories, using large-caliber guns shelled the Garalar village of Tovuz district, thus conducting another provocation aimed at the intentional slaughter of civilians. As a result, Ramil Yusibov, while returning from grass mowing, received shrapnel wounds and in serious condition was taken to hospital. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 Trend: An official welcome ceremony has been held for President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov who is on a visit in Azerbaijan. A ceremonial guard of honor was lined up for President Berdimuhamedov in the square where national flags of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan were flying. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the president of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev greeted President Berdimuhamedov. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the president of Turkmenistan. State anthems of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan were played. Then the heads of state reviewed the guard of honor, and President Berdimuhamedov greeted the Azerbaijani soldiers. The Azerbaijani state and government officials were introduced to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, while members of the Turkmen delegation were introduced to President Aliyev. The guard of honor marched in front of the heads of state. The presidents posed for official photos. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 Trend: In accordance to the directions given by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, works related to the development of the Armed Forces are being continued, Azerbaijani Defense Ministrys press service reported on Aug. 8. Top authority of the Defense Ministry participated in the opening of the multiuse Armored vehicles Repair & Maintenance Center. It was reported that the center will carry out repair and maintenance work of the armored corps of the military, as well as the machinery and weapon systems installed on the mobile units and available in the arsenal of the Armed Forces. Necessary conditions for the training of drivers, gun-layers, operators, as well as other specialists were created at the center. The Minister of Defense Colonel General Zakir Hasanov toured the weapons storage, laboratory, as well as other office and administrative premises of the center. After the briefing on activities of the center, the minister gave appropriate instructions in connection with the expansion of its activities. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 By Kamila Aliyeva Trend: Azerbaijan-Pakistani relations, specifically, in trade and economic spheres, have significantly expanded due to a number of high-level visits held between the two countries last year, Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Saeed Khan Mohmand said at a press conference in Baku, Aug. 8. However, the trade and trade activity is not in proportion, he said. The envoy noted that, at the last meeting of the President Ilham Aliyev and Pakistanian Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the sides agreed that the trade relations and business ties should be further improved. We should increase the trade turnover for at least 10 times, he added. Mohmand also announced that, Ekspo Pakistan, the annual event, will be held in Karachi city from November 9-10 and called on Azerbaijani businessmens participation. In this regard, he recalled that, AZPROMO and Pakistans Trade Development Authority have recently signed the MoU. India police pair sacked for faking Mt Everest summit Two police officers have been sacked after an inquiry found their claim to be the first Indian couple to climb Everest was fake, BBC reported. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 Trend: Peoples of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are bound by history, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at a one-on-one meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Baku Aug. 8. We have lived together for centuries, we have been friends, and we have lived as brothers. Today we are successfully developing as two independent states, said President Aliyev. Your visit will bring new dynamics to our relations, he told President Berdimuhamedov. We have very successful cooperation in a number of areas and this cooperation will deepen. We attach great importance to your visit. I am sure that your visit will be a very important step in the development of Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan relations of friendship and brotherhood, noted the head of state. The Azerbaijani president said there are very good opportunities for development and cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian, cultural, transportation and other spheres. President Aliyev once again greeted President Berdimuhamedov and expressed confidence that his visit will be very successful. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 Trend: Ample opportunities are available for the development of cooperation in the economic, trade and humanitarian spheres between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said. Berdimuhamedov made the remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev Aug. 8. First, I would like to express my deep gratitude to you, President Berdimuhamedov told President Aliyev. You have invited me for an official visit to Azerbaijan. On my own behalf and on behalf of my delegation, I express my deep gratitude to you. I express special gratitude for the sincere reception, he added. As you noted, we are neighboring countries. I once again express my gratitude for your hospitality. Excellent conditions have been created here for joint fruitful work. I would like to note that the main goal of this official visit is to further strengthen the fraternal relations between our peoples and countries, the president said. Currently ample opportunities are available for development of ties and cooperation in the economic, trade and humanitarian spheres. As for the political sphere, I would like to say that our countries stand for preserving international and regional security, President Berdimuhamedov said. We would like the stable development of our countries to continue. This is a factor that positively influences the political processes taking place in Central Asia and the Caspian region. In the current conditions, our countries must strengthen cooperation within the authoritative international organizations, namely, UN, OSCE, OIC, CIS, ECO and other organizations," the Turkmen president said. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 8 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with the Georgian delegation headed by countrys Deputy Finance Minister Nikoloz Gagua, in Ashgabat, Aug. 8. The sides discussed issues of trade and economic relations, as well as possibilities of major strategic projects in this area. The Turkmen side expressed its commitment to the development of cooperation with the countries of the Caucasus region, the message said. In this context, the role of high-level visits and the commitment of the sides to further implementation of the agreements reached on a systematic basis were noted. Talking about bilateral cooperation in cultural and humanitarian sphere, the sides discussed the opportunities for boosting bilateral contacts for the purpose of achievement of a qualitatively new level in this sphere. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Eric Dixon, PetroChina International Americas head of domestic onshore crude trading, has left the company to join SOCAR Trading North America (representative office of trading house of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR), Reuters reported Aug. 8 citing three sources familiar with the matter. Dixon, who left the company at the end of July, primarily handled lease crude trading operations in North Dakota, Mark Jensen, vice president for PetroChina International America said. Dixons departure follows a string of exits from the oil trader across its Houston and Calgary offices in recent months, including the managing director and president in Calgary, along with the director of financial crude oil trading and director of crude in Houston. We are confident that our strategy and business plans will enhance our business and lead to continued success for the company and its stakeholders, he added. SOCAR plans to expand its activity in North America through SOCAR Trading, offices of which operate in Calgary and Houston. SOCAR Trading, headquartered in Geneva, was established in late 2007 by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 8 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan has approved its personnel of the joint Turkmen-Indian commission on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation. The relevant decree was signed by Turkmenistans President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Ashgabat and Delhi strive to elaborate on the great cooperation potential, primarily, in the fuel and energy sector. Two states are involved in the construction of the transnational Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline. Annual capacity of the gas pipeline will be 33 billion cubic meters. Total length of the TAPI will be 1,814 kilometers. The project's preliminary cost is estimated at $10 billion. The Turkmen government said earlier that the state concern Turkmengas would be the main investor for the TAPI project. Turkmenistan started constructing its TAPI section in December 2015 and the construction is expected to take three years. Time frame of the Afghan and Pakistani sections construction has not been determined yet. However, the TAPI Pipeline Company Limited, which is developing the project, has signed a contract with German ILF Beratende Ingenieure GmbH for the provision of services for preliminary design and management of the project in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Technical work in the territory of these states has already started. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug 8 By Farhad Daneshvar Trend: Despite the existing political and religious barriers between Iran and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, Shanghai-based strategic consultant believes that Arab countries would consider Tehran as a trade partner in future. The situation regarding Irans ties with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf is definitely complicated, which goes on for a long time and is difficult to resolve. One of the things that works in the favor of improving business ties between Iran and the Persian Gulfs Arab states is that, with the exception of maybe the UAE, every other country in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is looking to diversify its GDP, so they are moving from an oil based GDP to a more diversified base, Raul Heraud, head of Financial Services at strategic advisory firm Solidiance told Trend. Saying that Iran could potentially represent an avenue for investment, he added, that its obviously the largest market in terms of population in the Middle East and, therefore, when you look at the relationship between the Arab states of the Persian Gulf and Iran, in terms of trade as well as business, I would expect that there should be some sort of easing measures. We see this with Qatar, which has a closer relationship with Iran, but obviously, that has also put them in hot water and that is why Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are now boycotting Qatar. Earlier in June Saudi Arabia and its regional allies severed ties with Qatar over Dohas support for the Muslim Brotherhood, the worlds oldest Islamist movement, and also its ties with Saudis arch-rival Iran, sparking off simmering dispute in the Gulf Cooperation Council. But I think that as we move forward and as Iran becomes more solidified into the international arena and, actually we see today when many of the European Union countries say that, regardless of what Trump decides to do because Trump is talking about re-imposing sanctions and what-not now Europeans plan to stay as trade partners of Iran and so, I think that Iran becomes more relevant. In the global business scenario the Gulf countries are going to have no choice but to, at the very least, consider Iran as a trade partner. It is complicated, I think religious and cultural barriers that exist are quite strong but I do foresee stronger ties particularly between the UAE and Iran, he concluded. Tehran, Iran, August 8 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: The future Minister of Energy of Iran should take serious steps toward changing countrys energy resources from fossil fuels to renewable energy, Abdolhamid Afsari, Deputy Director General for Planning and Coordination of the Ministerial Office of the Ministry of Energy told Trend, Aug 8. The upcoming tenure should become one to shift from unrealistic to realistic tariffs on energy, Afsari said, noting that the future minister will be a minister of an era of drought and probably a minister to start changes in energy procurement procedures. President Hassan Rouhani on Aug 8 proposed his second-term ministers to the Parliament. Habibollah Bitaraf was proposed for the post of the Energy Minister. Bitaraf was Energy Minister of Iran for eight years during the Khatami presidency (1997-2005). He is remembered as a capable professional and honest person. He is a University of Tehran alumnus. During his service as the Minister of Energy, several major national projects were launched, including numerous power plants and dam construction projects. Afsari said however, that naturally Mr. Bitaraf should not be expected to be the same person that he was 20 years ago and his approach in this new tenure is yet to be seen. Afsari reiterated that the future Minister of Energy should change the mindset of key officials in the Ministry to pursue a shift to the renewable (RES) resources. To create and synchronize an energy market that promotes renewable energy, as well as to bring renewable energy chain from the policy making to developmental completion marketing scheme should be considered, the high-ranking official noted. He added that the future minister should attract publics participation, create political consensus on water and energy concerns, de-centralize and, thus, democratize policy-making in the energy sector, as well as handle water management affairs with a keen eye for political and security concerns over the major water basins of Iran. Iran had already added 29 MW to the countrys RES capabilities during the last fiscal year, ended on March 20, which brought the total volume of production up to 264 MW, or 0.34 percent of Irans total nominal power generation capacity. Iran had planned to add 490 MW to its RES capabilities during the last fiscal year, of which only 6 percent was realized. During the current fiscal year, Iran hasnt inaugurated any new RES projects. Nonetheless, according to the Energy Ministrys announcement, additional 690 MW RES will be added to the grid by the end of the current fiscal year. that Iran had taken upon itself an obligation to generate 5GW RES in five years. Tehran, Iran, August 8 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: On August 8 Iran celebrates the National Journalists Day. The day commemorates the death of Mahmoud Saremi (c. 1968 8 August 1998), IRNA reporter, stationed at the news agency's head office in Mazari Sharif. Saremi, together with eight Iranian diplomats, was killed by the Taliban when they occupied the Iranian consulate in Mazari Sharif. On August 7, Irans Foreign Ministry invited Tehran-based representatives of news agencies and newspapers to the lunch event. Mohammad Javad Zarif speaking at that event emphasized the great power and heavy responsibility carried by the journalists, attending Trend correspondent reported. On August 8, President Hassan Rouhani, in a posting on Instagram, congratulated Iranian journalists on the occasion. In his message, Rouhani renewed his call for the freedom of speech, saying Let us not break the quills and shut up mouths. Let us enjoy responsible freedom. Rouhani has been a stout critic of ultra-governmental organizations in Iran that assert pressure on the media. Tehran, Iran, Aug. 8 By Mehdi Sepahvand Trend: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has appointed Eshaq Jahangiri as the first vice president of his new administration. Jahangiri held that same position under Rouhanis first term (2013-2017). Jahangiri was the minister of industries and mines from 1997 to 2005 under President Mohammad Khatami. Before that, he was governor of Isfahan Province. He was also a member of Parliament for two terms. In April, it was announced that Jahangiri would register as a candidate for the 2017 Iranian presidential elections. He was successfully vetted and approved by the Guardian Council on April 20 and officially became a presidential candidate. Many viewed his decision to run for the presidency as a tactical decision to support Rouhani throughout the debates and then withdraw before the voting commenced. He withdrew on May 16. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 By Emil Ilgar Trend: About 5,300 drug-related criminals held in Irans prisons have been sentenced to death and are waiting for execution, Hassan Norouzi, Spokesperson of the Parliamentary Judicial and Legal Commission said Aug.8. Most of the drug-related criminals were executed during last year. 5,300 criminal are still waiting for the execution, Norouzi added during his speech in the Parliament, ISNA reported. Iranian Parliament has been discussing an amendment to the drug-enforcement law for the purpose of elimination of the death penalty for drug traffickers. Death penalty could be replaced by a long-term prison. Iran has been widely criticized by international human rights organizations for maintaining one of the highest execution rates per capita. According to the Amnesty International, Iran accounted for the 66% of all recorded executions in the Middle East and North Africa. Nonetheless, overall number of the executions carried out in Iran had dropped by 42% (from at least 977 to at least 567) in 2016, compared to the previous year, said Norouzi. Mahara unveils work plan on foreign policy Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara has unveiled a work plan of the ministry, stating that Nepals foreign policy should have two immediate missions. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Blast in gas condensate pipeline in Ahvaz city, southwest Iran, left 9 injured, Fars reported, Aug.8. According to the report, pipeline corrosion was the reason for the accident. Fire was extinguished, the report said. In February, two people were killed in a gas pipeline explosion in the Iranian southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan as well. The explosion occurred as the pipeline was undergoing some technical tests, local media reported. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 By Kamila Aliyeva Trend: North Korea and Iran will look for the ways to continue developing their missile programs in light of more sanctions aimed at preventing these regimes access to international suppliers, Amir Toumaj, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies specializing in Iranian affairs, told Trend. He noted that, ties between the Islamic Republic and DPRK go back to the 1980s and both countries are deeply hostile towards the United States. Missiles constitute the pillars of the two regimes strategic arsenals and they have not hesitated to invest in illicit capabilities. Both will look for ways to continue developing their programs in light of more sanctions to prevent these regimes access to international suppliers, the expert said. Toumaj also stressed that North Korea has made new advancements in its missile program, such as solid-propellant missile technology (like the medium-range missile KN-15) that was tested this year, which would meet Irans current needs. Such missiles are more difficult to detect and counter, and Iran has had difficulties with this type of technology, as shown in the performance of the missiles it launched toward Syria in June, while it is regaining access to its international trade partners, he added. Therefore, North Koreas nuclear-weapons program is advancing rapidly, and both Iran and Korea could potentially cooperate in this area, according to the expert. The U.S. has recently imposed a new set of sanctions against Iran, Russia and North Korea on Aug 2. A car bombing killed three government soldiers and injured five others in southern Yemen on Tuesday, according to a local military source, Anadolu reported. A bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at a gathering of soldiers in Gaheen district in Abyan province, the source said anonymously because he was unauthorized to speak to media. Eyewitnesses said heavy gunfire followed the explosion. Flames of smoke were seen rising from the area following the attack, for which no group has yet claimed responsibility. Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi has earlier ordered the deployment of extra forces in Abyan to hunt down al-Qaeda militants, who use rural areas in the province to launch attacks against government troops. Over 3 million people have fled their homes since the onset of the conflict, and more than 20 million throughout the country are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The United States has no plans to conduct strikes in the Philippines against the positions of Daesh terror group, US Department of Defense spokesperson Christopher Logan told Sputnik on Tuesday. US media reported on Monday that the Defense Department is considering a plan that includes drone strikes against the terrorists in the Philippines. "The Philippines have not requested nor is the US planning drone strikes in the Philippines," Logan stated. "We respect the sovereignty of the Philippines, and we are not pursuing unilateral action in the Philippines." The militants from Daesh and Taliban terrorist groups, outlawed in many countries, released at least 235 people taken hostage after an attack at a village in Afghanistan's Sare Pol province, the office of the provincial governor said in a statement on Tuesday, Sputnik reported. On Saturday, the militants established control over Mirza Olang village, killed dozens of civilians in the area and took hostage hundreds more. "[A total of] 235 trapped residents in Mirza Olang village were released from Daesh and Taliban custody after four days following efforts by tribal elders under the leadership of the governors office," the statement said, as cited by the TOLOnews media outlet. According to the statement, the civilians were taken to the provincial capital. Afghanistan has long been experiencing political, social and security instability, mostly due to the terrorist groups' activity. The German government signaled a willingness on Monday to normalize relations with Turkey, but also demanded changes in Ankaras rhetoric and policy towards Berlin, amid months-long tensions between the two countries, Anadolu reported. We are ready to extend a hand to Turkey. But a new beginning requires changes in Ankara, both in terms of tone and factual matters, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview with the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper. His remarks came after Turkeys government sought to tone down the current war of words between the two countries, which has escalated ahead of Germanys general election next month. Gabriel voiced concern over the detention of nine German citizens in Turkey, including a reporter and a human rights activist, who are accused of providing support to terrorist organizations. He repeated Berlins call for the release of the German nationals. Despite his sharp criticism of Ankara, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) politician did not back opposition calls to end Turkeys membership talks with the European Union. The European Union is basically a community of values. Turkey has long aspired to become a member of this community. Then it must accept our European values as its own, and also act accordingly, he said. Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic bloc (CDU/CSU) and its SDP coalition partners have come under growing pressure recently as opposition parties criticize the government for being "too soft" on Turkey. Merkel's government sharpened its tone last month, and announced several economic measures in an attempt to increase pressure on Ankara. - Strained ties Ties between Ankara and Berlin have been strained in recent months as Turkish leaders slammed Germany, accusing it of turning a blind eye to the activities of outlawed groups and terrorist organizations hostile to Turkey. Ankara has also criticized Berlin for failing to demonstrate strong solidarity with the Turkish people in the wake of the defeated coup in July 2016, that left 250 people martyred and some 2,200 injured. The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which organized the foiled coup bid, has a large network in Germany, with dozens of private schools, businesses and media organizations. Since the coup attempt, nearly 4,000 FETO suspects have come to Germany from Turkey and other countries, according to local media reports. Apart from FETO, the terrorist PKK group is also active in the country, and carries out significant propaganda, recruitment and funding activities. The group has nearly 14,000 followers among the Kurdish immigrant population in Germany, according to the BfV domestic intelligence agency. Joint Turkish-Qatari naval exercises concluded outside capital Doha on Monday, according to statements issued by Qatars Defense Ministry, Anadolu reported. The rapid-response exercises, which lasted for two days, were conducted entirely in Qatari territorial waters. Qatars Royal Air Force and Special Naval Force and the General Directorate of Coast and Border Security participated in the exercise, Lieutenant-Colonel Nawaf bin Mubarak Al Thani was quoted as saying in the statement. The maneuvers utilized several Qatari missile boats, Al Thani said, in addition to an advanced Turkish naval frigate. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Falah Mahdi Ahbabi, Qatari commander of naval formations, the joint exercises were devoted to practicing means of combating maritime terrorism and piracy and inspecting suspicious vessels. An earlier Turkey-Qatar joint military exercise was carried out on June 19 at Qatars Tariq bin Ziyad military base. That exercise was conducted only days after Turkeys parliament ratified military cooperation agreements allowing Ankara to deploy troops to Qatar to train that countrys gendarmerie forces. The agreements are intended to improve Qatars defense capabilities and support the countrys efforts to combat terrorism and contribute to regional security. This weeks joint exercises come against the backdrop of a two-month embargo on Qatar imposed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. In early June, the five-state Arab bloc collectively severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Saudi Arabia also closed its land border with Qatar, geographically isolating the tiny Gulf state. Doha strenuously denies accusations that it supports terrorism, describing attempts to isolate it as unjustified. Turkey, meanwhile, a longtime ally of Qatar, has since rushed to Dohas aid, dispatching vast amounts of humanitarian assistance -- in addition to troops -- to the beleaguered Gulf state. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Security issues were discussed between Turkey and Serbia during the visit of Head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Hakan Fidan to Belgrade, the Turkish media reported Aug. 8 citing a diplomatic source. Reportedly, Fidan met with Serbias President Aleksandar Vucic during the visit. During Fidans visit to Serbia, the migration of illegal refugees to Serbia was also discussed with President Vucic, reported the Turkish media. Prior to that, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Omer Celik said that, Turkey doesnt see the grounds for preserving the migration agreement with the EU. According to the minister, Turkey has fulfilled all obligations under the agreement, while EU hasnt fulfilled any promises so far. Turkey can change the migration agreement at any time and in any format, noted Celik. I am sure that the time has come to revise the agreement, and I dont think that there are reasons to uphold it, he added. The heads of states and governments of the EU member countries had agreed on a joint plan to battle the migration crisis with Turkey in mid-March 2016. It envisages, in particular, the return of illegal migrants arrived in Greece from Turkeys territory back to the latter and accommodation of legal migrants-Syrians entered from Turkey by EU on a one-for-one basis. As part of these arrangements, in May 2016, the European Commission offered the European Parliament and the EU Council to lift visa restrictions for Turkish citizens if Ankara would fulfill the remaining conditions for the abolition of visas by the end of June. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in turn, threatened EU with an exit from the migration agreement, if the European Union doesnt provide citizens of his country with a visa-free regime. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 8 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkish Air Force has annihilated five strongholds of militants of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist group in Turkey, said the message of the Central Command of Turkish Armed Forces, Aug. 8. According to the message, the PKK strongholds were destroyed Aug. 8 morning, within air operations executed against the terrorist organization. The number of eliminated PKK members was not disclosed. Earlier, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim both stated that military operations against the PKK will continue until its complete eradication. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for more than 30 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Iran: A Stampede Strikes in Iran's Parliament. Actually, this stampede just took a photo to draw. This incident embarrassed the country. According to the information received, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, while handling the charge, went to Mogorini Wahain of the European Union, to join the ceremony. This woman had to wear a green and white scarf on her head. Iranian MPs ran towards him. It is clear from the kind of photographs that the MPs besieged them to take Selfie along with Federica Mogerini. According to the information received, news agency informed that the running of MPs extremely dangerous. MPs can be taken to the court to take contempt of Parliament for taking photographs. This case was tweeted on Twitter. Comparison of photos is done with filming. Actually, a scene was filmed in this. In which the heroes of Monica Bellucci compete in a crowd of men to burn cigarettes. The Italian film was released in 2000. This photo was compared to the story of Snowwight and the 7 Dwarves. In this matter, President's Cultural Advisor Hesam Asheena said that this thing is not political, it is a cultural problem. It is said so far that since the posting itself, Federico Mogriri has been engaged in efforts to build closer ties between the European Union and Iran. Also Read: Vikas Barala Harassed A Girl, Chandigarh Police To Investigate After The Matter Comes In The Hands Of Media Ahmed Patel Claims To Win The Rajya Sabha Elections All 6 MLA's of TMC, Tripura Join The BJP Party NC lawmaker among 21 face music for betraying party in local polls The ruling Nepali Congress has taken action against its 21 leaders and cadres including former State Minister and lawmaker Muthi Malla for betraying the party in the local level elections. Olamides latest song Wo may be his way to be at the top of the Nigerian music food chain again. Simply put, the song is an ode to the streets. This year, Olamide hasnt really hit the heights many expected him to reach based on his track record of being a serial hit maker. I mean, Olamide was the guy who gave us hits like Who you Epp and Bobo. Those songs will always make sure he is never forgotten in the Nigerian music industry. After the release of his 6th studio album Eyan Mayweather in 2016, the dad of one has struggled to release that mega hit song that would get him to the level of Wizkid and Davido musically. In the time Davido released If, and Wizkid released Come Closer ft. Drake, the YBNL boss has released about five songs - Journey Of A Thousand Miles, Letter To Milli, Pepper Dem Gang ft. Davolee, Wavy Level, and Summer Body with Wavy Level and Summer Body being the most recent. Olamide (Image courtesy Google) READ ALSO: Wizkid and Nicki Minaj spotted hanging out together Both songs were poorly received by the public with Wavy Level garnering over 720,000 views on YouTube and Summer Body having 1.4 million. Abysmal numbers for a musician of Olamides status. But all this is about to change with the release of Wo, his latest single. So far, the song has received mostly positive reviews with many praising the fact that Olamide has gone back to his roots. He may have embraced a pop style of making music, but what made his music different from others is how he manages to blend everyday living on the streets in his lyrics. Criticise his razz style, but If you wanted to know the latest street slangs all you needed to do was listen to his songs. This was missing on his recent releases but with Wo, he has gotten his groove back. The Young John produced track has even spurned a social media challenge (the #Wochallenge). Winners stand a chance of winning N1million and a chance to appear in the video. Perhaps the song will be Olamides redemption. Listen to it below and share your thoughts in the comment section. Watch Iyanya tell NAIJ TV how he chooses the musicians he works with below: PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Nigeria Source: Legit.ng SEATTLE (7 August 2017) Suicide, homicide, and sexual assault are increasing much faster in the Eastern Mediterranean Region than any other region in the world, according to a new scientific study. These violent acts, as well as conflicts, accounted for more than 200,000 deaths in the region in 2015. Intractable and endemic violence is creating a lost generation of children and young adults, said Dr. Ali Mokdad, the studys lead author and the Director for Middle Eastern Initiatives at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. The future of the Middle East is grim unless we can find a way to bring stability to the region. In addition to violence in the region, there has been a sharp increase in non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Depression and anxiety disorders were the most common mental conditions, according to the study, published today in the International Journal of Public Health. Both affect women more than men. With globalization and urbanization of most societies, women may be exposed to numerous stressors, which have repercussions on the entire household, and children in particular, said Dr. Raghid Charara, of American University of Beirut and one of the studys more than 500 collaborators. Mental disorders contributed to nearly 11 million years lived in less than ideal health, also known as years lived with disability, or YLDs. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of both mental health practitioners and funding for services. Throughout the region, the ratio of practitioners to 100,000 people was about seven on average and was as low as 0.5 psychiatrists per 100,000 people in countries such as Libya, Sudan, and Yemen. By comparison, among European nations the ratio ranges from nine per 100,000 to more than 40. There must be a comprehensive plan to build on existing expertise and projects addressing health challenges that exist at the nexus of human health, environmental resilience, and social and economic equity, Dr. Mokdad said. In 2015, nearly 30,000 people in the region committed suicide and another 35,000 died from interpersonal violence, representing increases of 100% and 152%, respectively, over the past 25 years. In other parts of the world during the same period, the number of deaths from suicide increased 19% and interpersonal violence by 12%. The study found that hanging and poisoning are the most common methods of suicide in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The authors note that statistics on suicide likely are underestimated due to cultural and religious barriers, social stigma, and legal punishments that discourage victims, families, and governments from disclosing such information. The 15 papers and three editorials that constitute the study are based on the most recent estimates from the annual Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study (GBD), a systematic, scientific effort to quantify the magnitude of health loss from all major diseases, injuries, and risk factors by age, sex, and population. With more than 2,300 collaborators in 132 countries and 3 non-sovereign locations, GBD examines 300-plus diseases and injuries. This is the first GBD study to examine trends of HIV/AIDS-related mortality comprehensively in the region between 1990 and 2015. There was a 10-fold increase in HIV/AIDS mortality rates, with most of the cases occurring in three nations Djibouti, Somalia, and Sudan. In this region, individuals infected with HIV are dying faster than the rest of the world, said Dr. Charbel El Bcheraoui, an Assistant Professor at IHME. This is a sign that that that that HIV patients are not receiving proper treatment in an era where HIV can be well controlled with the appropriate treatment regimens. In addition, this study was the first ever to report on transportation-related deaths and injuries in the region between 1990 and 2015. In 2015, these incidents comprised the eighth leading cause of death in the region overall, but were ranked second in Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The percentage of total deaths in Qatar was the highest at 20%, followed by Oman (16%) and UAE (14%), whereas the lowest rates were in Pakistan (1.9%), Lebanon (1.8%), and Somalia (1.5%). Death rates from this cause in the region have not fallen as quickly as they have globally, and, in fact, three countries Libya, Pakistan, and Egypt had increases in death rates. Transportation-related injuries and deaths are just as much a public health issue as HIV or diabetes, said Dr. Mokdad. And like HIV and diabetes, prevention measures, combined with education and treatment, are vital to mitigating this problem. Other highlights of the report include: Ischemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in the region followed by cerebrovascular disease. Changes in total deaths ranged from a reduction of 65% for diarrheal diseases to an increase of nearly 140% for diabetes and tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer. Progress on child survival remains uneven, and total deaths for children under the age of 5 decreased at a slower rate than globally, with about 80% of under-5 deaths occurring in six countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen. Three countries Sudan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are among the 10 countries with the highest child mortality in the world. The top five causes of under-5 mortality were: neonatal preterm birth complications, neonatal encephalopathy, lower respiratory tract infections (LRI), congenital defects, and diarrheal diseases. Communicable diseases and the health consequences of natural disasters reduced substantially between 1990 and 2015. However, these gains have been offset by the health effects of war, mental health disorders and self-harm. Among adolescents, tobacco use and high body mass index were common health risks; many countries had high rates of adolescent pregnancy and unmet need for contraception. Poor diet is the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the region. People in many countries are suffering from malnutrition and at the same time from poor diet that is leading to disease. In addition, tobacco smoking and high blood pressure are among the top causes of DALYs. The region also has wide variation in per capita gross national product (GNP), ranging from a high of $134,420 in Qatar to a low of $2,000 in Afghanistan. The proportion of the population living below the national poverty line, according to World Bank data, is more than 20% in seven EMR countries: Afghanistan (36%), Egypt (22%), Iraq (23%), Pakistan (22%), Palestine (22%), Sudan (47%), and Yemen (35%). In five of these countries, approximately one-third of the population is also food-insecure: Afghanistan (34%), Iraq (30%), Pakistan (30%), Sudan (33%), and Yemen (36%). Several countries in the region face significant environmental challenges due to lack of water, rising temperatures, and sand storms. The paper calls for renewed efforts to address problems associated with ambient air pollution. In recent years, many of the health gains for some countries have slowed and several health conditions that were under control are re-emerging, said Dr. Mokdad. This study clearly indicates that the future health of the region is in danger. The Eastern Mediterranean Region is home to more than 600 million people, representing a diverse group of 22 countries: Afghanistan, Arab Republic of Egypt, Bahrain, Djibouti, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Republic of Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic (Syria), Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The complete set of papers and data visualizations are available at www.healthdata.org. ### Media Contacts: IHME Dean R. Owen, +1-206-897-2858 (office); +1-206-434-5630 (cell); dean1227@uw.edu Established in 2007, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research center within UW Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. IHME provides rigorous and comparable measurement of the world's most important health problems and evaluates strategies to address them. IHME makes this information available so that policymakers, donors, practitioners, researchers, and local and global decision-makers have the evidence they need to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources to improve population health. For more information, visit http://www.healthdata.org. Mid-summer corn on the cob is everywhere, but where did it all come from and how did it get to be the big, sweet, yellow ears we eat today? Some of the answers come from carbon dating ancient maize and other organic material from the El Gigante rock shelter in Honduras, according to a team of anthropologists who show that 4,300 years ago maize was sufficiently domesticated to serve as a staple crop in the Honduran highlands. "Staple crops provide the basis for the development of many complex societies around the world that started developing after about 5,000 years ago," said Douglas J. Kennett, head and professor of anthropology, Penn State. "They are associated with a complete commitment to agriculture." Maize, or corn in North America, is an important food and fuel crop. The evolutionary history of such a staple is important and archaeological sites with well-preserved maize are incredibly rare, according to Kennett. The abundance of artifacts and the exceptionally good preservation in the rock shelter that sits on the western escarpment of the Estanzuela River in the highlands of western Honduras make it an ideal site to explore domestication of maize and its transition into a staple crop in the New World. High-precision accelerator mass spectrometry -- radiocarbon dating -- allowed a precise chronology to be determined for the organic remains found in the rock shelter. "When you walk across the surface of the rock shelter, the floor is covered with corn cobs and lithics," said Ken Hirth, professor of anthropology, Penn State. "We have about 10,000 pieces of maize plants and 1,000 cobs from the site." Most researchers agree that maize evolved from the teosinte plant somewhere in the Balsas area of the southwestern region of Mexico and appeared around 9,000 years ago. But the original maize cobs had few rows and kernels. "The maize in El Gigante is interesting because of how large it gets very quickly," said Hirth. "Something is going on in the margins of the area. These cobs are bigger than those known from other areas of Mexico for the same time period." While a type of teosinte exists in the area of El Gigante, it is not one that hybridizes with maize. "We hypothesize that the domestication history of maize in Honduras is distinct from Mexico because Honduras is well outside the range of the wild plant that maize was domesticated from," said Kennett. "There is known introgression (hybridization and backcrossing) between teosinte and maize and this could have slowed the domestication process in Mexico." According to Kennett, based on the small cobs from Mexico, researchers thought that the transition to more complex societies in Mesoamerica 4,000 years ago occurred before maize was a fully domesticated staple crop. Data from El Gigante now suggests that maize in some parts of Mesoamerica was productive enough to be a staple 4,300 years ago, the researchers report in today's (Aug 7) issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers radiocarbon dated 88 samples of botanical material from El Gigante, creating a statistical chronology over the past 11,000 years. They directly dated 37 cobs that showed the earliest cobs with 10 to 14 rows, a higher number than typically found in Mexico at this time. Dated cobs from 2,360 to 980 years ago were similar, but had larger cobs and kernels and more rows. Logan Kistler, a researcher at the Smithsonian Institution and a coauthor on this paper, is currently working with the team on an ancient DNA study to determine if the earliest El Gigante maize was fully domesticated. Recent studies on cobs from the Tehuacan Valley dating to approximately 5,300 years ago -- 1,000 years older than the El Gigante cobs -- indicate that those plants were only partially domesticated. The researchers also are now looking at the diversification of maize at El Gigante in later time periods. ### Working on the project from Penn State are David L Webster, professor emeritus of anthropology; Brendon J. Culleton, research associate in anthropology; and Thomas K. Harper, research assistant. Also on the project are Heather B. Thakar, curator of anthropological research collections, Texas A&M University; Amber VanDerwarker, professor of anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara; and Timothy E. Scheffler, lecturer, University of Hawaii, Hilo. The National Science Foundation supported this work. Nepal adopts proposal on accession to ITT-LLDCs The Legislature Parliament has unanimously adopted the proposal on the accession of Nepal to the Multilateral Agreement for the Establishment of an International Think Tank for Land Locked Developing Countries (ITT-LLDCs). Jake Bright is a writer and author in New York City. He is co-author of The Next Africa. More posts by this contributor The GhanaSat-1Ghanas first satellitebegan its orbit recently, with a little help from some friends. The cubesat, built by a Ghanaian engineering team at All Nations University, was delivered to NASAs International Space Station in June on a SpaceX rocket that took off from pad 39a at Kennedy Space Center, a NASA spokesperson confirmed. The GhanaSat-1 deployed into orbit from the Center in July, and is now operational, according to project manager Richard Damoah, a Ghanaian professor and assistant research scientist at NASA. This particular satellite has two missions, Damoah told TechCrunch. It has cameras on board for detailed monitoring of the coastlines of Ghana. Then theres an educational piecewe want to use it to integrate satellite technology into high school curriculum, he said. GhanaSat-1 will send a signal to a ground station at All Nations Universitys Space Systems and Technology Laboratory. Thats where it was developed by a team of engineers that included Benjamin Bonsu, Ernest Teye Matey, and Joseph Quansah. While Ghanas president Nana Akufo-Addo applauded the launch and congratulated the team directly, the project did not receive official Ghanaian government support, according to Damoah. Instead, Japans national space agency, JAXA, provided the bulk of the resources and training to develop the satellite. The GhanaSat-1 deployment marks increased interest and activity in Africa toward space exploration. Nigerias first cubesat launched on the same SpaceX mission. Several nations, such as South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia have space agencies. Angola announced its intention to launch a satellite over the coming year, said Elsie Kanza, Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum. She also pointed to Pan-African efforts to coordinate space efforts, such as the African Unions African Space Policy and Strategy initiativeadopted last yearthat prompted AU members states to realize an African Outer space Programme, as one of the flagship programmes.of the AU Agenda. Damoah believes the GhanaSat-1 deployment could prompt Ghanaian government resources toward a second satellite project coordinated by All Nations University and the countrys Science Space and Technology Center. After this launch, we now have the support of the president and cabinet support, he said. We are looking to develop a GhanaSat-2, with high resolution cameras, that could monitor things such as illegal mining, water use, and deforestation in the country. Crude down in Asia Investing.com - Crude oil prices eased in Asia on Monday with a supply meeting in Abu Dhabi and monthly reports later in the week expected to set the tone. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude September contract fell 0.12% to $49.522 a barrel. Elsewhere, on the ICE Futures Exchange in London, Brent oil for October delivery dipped 0.10% to $52.37 a barrel. Later on Monday, a meeting kicks off oil ministers from some OPEC and non-OPEC countries set for Monday and Tuesday in Abu Dhabi to discuss compliance to agreed upon global production limits that run through March 2018. In the week ahead, market participants will focus on monthly reports from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Counties and the International Energy Agency to assess global oil supply and demand levels. The data will give traders a better picture of whether a global rebalancing is taking place in the oil market. Last week, oil prices settled higher on Friday, aided by signs of a possible slowdown in U.S. shale production, but they still ended the week with a small loss amid renewed concerns over OPECs compliance with the deal to curb production. Friday's gains came after weekly figures from energy services company Baker Hughes showed that the number of active rigs drilling for oil fell by one to 765 last week. It was the second decline in the past three weeks, suggesting early signs of moderating domestic production growth. Despite Friday's upbeat performance, WTI lost 13 cents, or about 0.3%, for the week, while Brent dipped 10 cents, or roughly 0.2%, amid indications that OPEC exports rose to their highest level of the year, despite the current pact to reduce output. OPEC and some non-OPEC producers have agreed since the start of the year to slash 1.8 million barrels per day in supply until March 2018. So far, the deal has had little impact on global inventory levels due to rising supply from producers not participating in the accord, such as Libya and Nigeria, as well as a relentless increase in U.S. shale output. Story continues Related Articles Oil holds near nine-week highs on jobs data, fall in U.S. drill rigs Gold dips in Asia as dollar gains weigh on sentiment Gold / Silver / Copper futures - weekly outlook: August 7 - 11 "I remember feeling disappointed a little bit, a little burned by the relationship," former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in a deposition. Google (GOOGL) and Uber mulled teaming up on self-driving car technology, but the relationship iced over, former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in a deposition published this weekend. The deposition centers on an ongoing lawsuit between Alphabet's self-driving car unit Waymo (formerly all under Google) and Uber. The tech giants are fighting over whether a star self-driving car engineer, Anthony Levandowski, stole and used a Google technology at Uber. But the hours-long deposition also sheds light on the disintegration of the relationship between Uber and one of its biggest investors, Google. Google Ventures reportedly about $250 million in Uber in 2013, one of its largest deals at the time, giving Kalanick wide range to do whatever he pleased. Since then, though, Uber and Google have shifted from partners to a "cold war." The companies are not only involved in this lawsuit, but Waymo recently agreed to team up with Uber's arch-rival, Lyft, to help bring self-driving cars to market. Here are some events that Kalanick said splintered the relationship between the two companies: Google told Uber it was getting serious about ride-sharing. David Drummond, a senior vice president at Google and former board member at Uber, agreed to "recuse himself from board meetings" around October 2014, according to Kalanick. "He said that Google is intending to compete with Uber in the ridesharing space. And that the efforts were substantive enough and serious enough that he felt compelled to tell us that that was happening." Kalanick continued, "I don't remember my exact words, but I remember feeling disappointed a little bit, a little burned by the relationship." Kalanick was concerned that a start-up called Argo AI, founded by an ex-Googler, was trying to collect intel to feed back to Google. Uber began talking to Anthony Levandowski, a star Google engineer, in late 2015, and Levandowski started spending more time with him in early 2016. Story continues During the same period, Uber was also looking at acquiring another start-up run by an ex-Google employee with the last name "Salesky," (presumably Brian Salesky of Argo AI, which later took a big investment from Ford , although the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment). "Lots of people were looking to leave Google at this time. And most of their top people were leaving," Kalanick said. But Kalanick said he was "quite worried" that Salesky was still in communication with Google co-founder Larry Page. "Because Salesky was my understanding again, I've never met him, but my understanding of the meetings they had with him, you could never quite trust him. And so he was talking to us about working with us in some way. We weren't sure if he was talking to us about working with us or talking to us and then going back to Google and telling him telling them everything that he learned by talking us," Kalanick said. Waymo exec sent an e-mail trashing the engineers Uber acquired with Otto. When Uber ultimately decided to acquire Levandowski's start-up, Otto, in 2016, Kalanick said that his then-deputy, Emil Michael, received a "lowbrow" email from Waymo CEO John Krafcik, insulting the qualifications of the former Google employees that Uber had acquired. "It's strange for a leader to talk trash on the people that he hired just because they leave and work somewhere else," Kalanick said. Waymo and Alphabet were cool to a partnership. Nonetheless, Drummond, Krafcik and Kalanick met in Mountain View during the same summer that Otto was acquired to see if they could put a partnership together between Waymo and Uber, according to Kalanick. "I think it was the first time we were meeting Krafcik. He gave us a tour of the -- some of the facility, and then we spent the conversation with us talking -- you know, myself and Emil talking about our ideas for how we could partner. And Krafcik really sort of not deeply engaging in the -- in the conversation," Kalanick said. Kalanick said he was "constantly making a pitch to partner with them," something that Drummond had advocated for. "He was a big believer it was the right thing. I was a big believer it was the right thing. I could get my company behind that. David couldn't get couldn't get, you know, Larry [Page] and other folks and just Google, essentially, behind that notion," Kalanick said. Larry Page got paranoid about Uber stealing their IP. In October of 2016, Kalanick said he asked Page to call him to talk about "flying cars," an area of technology that Uber is interested in, and that Page has invested in through a start-up called Kitty Hawk. But Kalanick said he also wanted to discuss partnering on driverless cars. Kalanick's pitch was "was very similar to all the considerations I have had over the years, which is: You guys have -- you guys have been working on this quite a while. You have great expertise. We have developing expertise, but we haven't been in this industry as long. We certainly have a lot of ridesharing things going on. There could be a really interesting .... potential in partnering those two efforts." But Page still didn't seem interested, and was a bit upset, suggesting they could discuss it again at the beginning of 2017, according to Kalanick. "[W]hat he kept talking about us taking his IP," Kalanick said. "And I kept responding and telling him that hiring his people is not taking his IP. .... And he kept not understanding that, but not explaining himself either. He wasn't getting into details or in any way sort of helping me understand his issue. .... I told him, we will open up our facility if you think we have taken IP. Like, come take a look. We will have your people take a look. We will dig deep and make sure. But we were very confident about the process of acquisition and the process we have in hiring people." It was just strange," Kalanick said. "He he kind of just kept repeating the same thing. This is what I remember. I don't remember the specific words, but it was like he was repeating the same thing over and over." By Daniel Wiessner and Jan Wolfe (Reuters) - The Google software engineer fired for writing an internal memo critical of diversity hiring policies at the company faces an uphill battle legally challenging his termination, but he could succeed in prolonging the controversy, potentially driving the tech firm to settle, legal experts said on Tuesday. James Damore told Reuters in an email on Monday that he had been fired by Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, for "perpetuating gender stereotypes" in his 10-page memo, which asserted Google had "a left bias" hostile to conservative viewpoints and argued that the lack of representation of women in leadership roles in the tech industry was due to biological differences rather than discrimination. Damore said in the email he was exploring his legal options. Neither Damore nor Mountain View, California-based Google responded to a request for comment for this article. Damore's memo and his firing have quickly become flashpoints in the culture wars with right-leaning writers and websites embracing Damore's stand against "political correctness" and those on the left decrying his "sexist" arguments. Employment lawyers mostly said Damore's potential legal case over his firing was weak though, with some noting Google would have faced potential lawsuits if it had not acted against him. If an employer is met with someone making statements that unabashedly stereotype based on gender and the employer doesnt respond, the employer may be sued by others who say that discriminatory conduct creates a harassing atmosphere, said Philadelphia-based labor lawyer Jonathan Segal of Duane Morris. Discrimination lawsuits might not directly target a Google decision not to fire Damore but could cite it as evidence of a "hostile work environment," said Segal. William Gould, a Stanford law professor and former National Labor Relations Board chairman, said Google had a strong argument its firing of Damore was justified on the grounds that his memo raised questions about whether he could fairly assess the work of female colleagues. Story continues Gould said Damore would have a tough time arguing his firing violated his right to free speech. Private employers can largely fire workers for any reason. Some states including California have laws protecting political speech by employees but that protection would probably not apply to an internal memo focused on Googles own policies, Gould said. In his email to Reuters on Monday, Damore suggested Google may have retaliated against him for filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board shortly before he was fired. The complaint claimed Google management was trying to silence his views. But several employment lawyers said this claim would likely fail because his memo would not be considered a concerted activity among Google employees protected by the National Labor Relations Act, just griping by Damore alone. Michael Willemin, a plaintiff's lawyer with employment firm Wigdor, also said Damore would have a hard time bringing a retaliation claim based on the idea that his memo constituted a complaint about discrimination against men. Willemin noted the memo contained no specific accusation of unlawful conduct. Damore may not need to prevail in a legal proceeding to win, however. Though his memo received widespread criticism for its perceived sexism, it also drew a great deal of support, especially from the political right. Such voices would likely increase during a legal case, and Jeffrey Hirsch, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, said the controversy could lead Google to settle any legal action brought by Damore. My guess is Google would rather not have people talking about this, he said. But Hirsch also said it was possible a quick settlement was less Damore's goal than publicity for his point of view. "It takes a certain personality to stick your neck out like that - to write a memo and send it to the workforce, said Hirsch. That same type of person might also embrace the martyr role. (Reporting by Dan Weissner in Albany, New York and Jan Wolfe in New York; Editing by Anthony Lin and Lisa Shumaker) The logo of Nissan Motor Co is pictured at a showroom at the carmaker's headquarters in Yokohama, Japan May 11, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai (Reuters) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co <7201.T> on Tuesday agreed to a $97.68 million settlement to resolve class-action consumer economic loss claims in the United States tied to the recall of 4.4 million vehicles with Takata air bag inflators, court records show. The settlement is similar to others reached with major automakers. In June, a federal judge in Miami granted preliminary approval to settlements with Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T>, Subaru Corp <7270.T>, BMW AG and Mazda Motor Corp <7261.T> totaling $553 million and affecting 15.8 million vehicles with Takata inflators. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler) Travis Kalanick Anthony Levandowski Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick was deposed for seven hours in late July as part of the legal battle over allegedly stolen trade secrets concerning self-driving car technology. Uber's lawyers released a lightly-redacted copy of the transcript on Friday afternoon in the latest update to the sprawling legal battle between the world's most valuable startup and the Alphabet self-driving subsidiary, Waymo. Much of the transcript focuses on whether, and when, Kalanick knew that Anthony Levandowski, a talented engineer, took files about laser sensors called lidar from Waymo. In 2016, Uber bought the startup Levandowski founded after he left Waymo for a reported sum of $680 million. That's a lot of money for a startup that was less than a year old. But in his deposition, Kalanick gives a rousing defense of the "acqui-hire," or the practice of big tech companies buying young startups for talent, and also explains why the 25-person company may have been worth that much. Waymo: Why wasn't the decision just to hire Mr. Levandowski straightaway? Kalanick: I mean, I would say though this was technically an acquisition, it was very much like hiring him. Waymo: Okay, so it was just structured as an acquisition. Kalanick: Yeah. It was like it was there are different things on acquisition. You have this thing called an acquihire. Then you have like an acquisition of a very mature company. And there's lots of stuff in between. We basically were hiring him and his team but getting some like a sort of small acquisition along with it. It was sort of it was a it was a hybrid of the two. Waymo: And what was the small acquisition? Kalanick: Well, I mean, he'd set up the company. He had, of course, recruited a team. He had he had, you know, he had trucks that were you know, let's call them self-driving trucks, of course, with a safety driver. I was in one of them. Glad there was a safety driver. Story continues You know, so he was getting down that path and building something that he had a team that was passionate about, but it was early, you know. Waymo: What was the -- what was the benefit of doing a structure where you hired him and his team through an acquisition as opposed to just hiring them directly? Kalanick: Well, I mean, one was because he wanted to -- he was -- he was -- he was building something. Like we didn't come up with an agreement until, I think, April of '16. He was building one way or the other. Right? So I would have loved to have hired him for $100,000 a year -- that would have been amazing -- and been able to recruit lots of wonderful engineers as well. But it's a two-way street. Right? The other side, of course, has to be excited about what they're doing. You know, they have to feel like they're being valued at what they're worth. You know, a lot of my understanding is a lot of Google employees had gotten very huge bonuses. So you're just going to have a tougher time just recruiting in a situation like that. ... Waymo: Why would it make any sense to do a structure where you agree that first Mr. Levandowski and his team would form a company and then later Uber would buy that company versus just hiring Mr. Levandowski and and his team? Kalanick: I mean, you would have to I think there's a couple of reasons. One is you you would have to come up with some kind of some kind of structure to bring those employees in if you wanted to. And if you didn't if they didn't if if there are a group of people who wanted to come across, but they wanted to prevent us from hiring each individual, I could imagine wanting to structure a company they were all a part of , and then requiring us to buy that structure in order to get all of them. So it was almost like kind of collective bargaining almost. Experts in autonomous vehicles and self-driving cars are known in Silicon Valley for being some of the most high-paid talent. Levandowski was paid a $120 million bonus by Google before he started Waymo, for example. It's evident that Kalanick and Uber's top leadership were concerned that they were ultimately paying a lot of money for a handful of engineers, at one point calling the talks to buy Otto "Project Dollar Sign." The prices discussed for Otto in the transcript are redacted, but Uber reportedly paid $680 million in stock as well as other considerations for the young company. "But that's a LOT of money for 25 people," says one email mentioned in the transcript. The email was purportedly sent by Emil Michael, one of Kalanick's top lieutenants. The final reported sale price for Otto would work out to about $27 million per employee. "Jeff, I think we need to do some quick work on per capita equity for these guys versus other recent hires to show them their math is wrong on not getting a sufficient premium to off-the-street folks," another Uber leader wrote in an email mentioned in the transcript. Later in the deposition, Kalanick says that the price Uber paid for the 25 Otto employees was in-line with the industry. Kalanick: I don't know if that's clear, but certainly, getting a team of people together that's worked that's some of the best experts in the world, and get them on board, working as a team as quickly as possible, is incredibly valuable. I mean, you look at the deals that were going on at this time. You have, like a Cruise deal that was in, like, the billion-dollar range. You have companies like Amazon, Apple, others sort of sniffing around, bringing on talent at, like, exorbitant rates. And to be honest, if you just look at any scan of AV acquisitions or machine learning or other types that are related, the kinds of acquisitions and the kind of premium that the talent is getting right now, it's not really disputable that that's just normal. Levandowski has been fired from Uber and Kalanick is no longer CEO of the embattled startup. A Waymo spokesperson referred us to this statement: "We believe these actions were part of a concerted plan to steal Waymos trade secrets and intellectual property. Months before the mass download of files, Mr. Levandowski told colleagues that he had plans to 'replicate' Waymos technology at a competitor. Read the entire transcript: WAYMO LLC Plaintiff, vs. Case No. UBER TECHNOLOGIES,INC. Travis Kalanick Deposition by Kif Leswing on Scribd More From Business Insider WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has offered a job to James Damore, a employee who was fired after he wrote a scathing internal memo criticizing the companys diversity policies. Censorship is for losers, WikiLeaks is offering a job to fired Google engineer James Damore, Assange wrote on Twitter Tuesday. In the same post, Assange also linked to a WikiLeaks article he wrote called Google Is Not What It Seems. 2/ Women & men deserve respect. That includes not firing them for politely expressing ideas but rather arguing back: https://t.co/Gg5qPH0lcN Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) August 8, 2017 Google: Any ideas on how we can decrease wages? Engineer: The job is lonely & stressful. Maybe women don't like it Google: You're fired Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) August 8, 2017 Damore, a now-former engineer at Google, accused the Silicon Valley web giant of suppressing conservative voices in a 10-page memo called "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber, which was circulated over the weekend. "[W]hen it comes to diversity and inclusion, Google's left bias has created a politically correct monoculture that maintains its hold by shaming dissenters into silence, the memo, which was initially published anonymously, said. He later confirmed in an email to Bloomberg that he had been dismissed for perpetuating gender stereotypes. Story continues Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees on Monday that parts of Damores memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com Indian officials say at least five suspected militants were shot dead by security forces while allegedly attempting to cross a de facto border and enter Indian-administered Kashmir. Authorities said Indian soldiers spotted the suspected militants on May 7 near the Line of Control that divides disputed Kashmir into two parts, one administered by India and the other by Pakistan. "A total of five militants were killed in the operation," a defense official said in the state capital, Srinagar. "Their weapons were also recovered from the scene. Our side did not suffer any injuries." Media reports quoting military officials say Indian forces have foiled 22 infiltration attempts, killing as many as 38 militants on the tense borders since the beginning of the year. India accuses Pakistan of sheltering militants and helping them cross over to carry out attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad denies the charges and describes the militants as freedom fighters. Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan claim the divided Kashmir region in its entirety and have fought two wars over it. Indian-administered Kashmir has faced a violent secessionist movement since the late 1980s that has resulted in the deaths of more than 44,000 people, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal -- a website on terrorism and low-intensity warfare in South Asia. Based on reporting by dpa, Firstpost.com, and Reuters Pakistani authorities say they have foiled a terrorist attack in the eastern city of Lahore, hours after a bombing wounded more than 30 people. The Counterterrorism Department (CTD) said on August 8 that it was following up information that militants from the Pakistani Taliban were planning an attack on Lahore police. A statement said that CTD forces formed a blockade near the bomb site late on August 7, where they exchanged fire with militants. "The terrorists started firing at CTD officials, who took precautions. When firing stopped, four terrorists were found dead, while the other attackers fled the scene, it added. Earlier on August 7, officials said a bomb planted inside a truck loaded with fruit exploded in Pakistan's second-largest city, wounding at least 32 people. Some reports said one person was also killed. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, and it was not clear whether the militants killed were responsible for the bomb blast. Despite the bombing, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif plans to travel with a convoy of supporters by road on August 9 from Islamabad to Lahore, where he is to hold a rally, a spokesman said. Sharif resigned as prime minister on July 28 after the Supreme Court ordered his disqualification in a case linking him and his family to offshore wealth revealed in the leaked Panama Papers last year. He has denied any wrongdoing. Lahore, Punjab Provinces capital, is Sharif's power base. The city has been hit by significant militant attacks this year. Last month, a bombing claimed by the Pakistani Taliban killed at least 26 people, including police officers. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and Dawn Nepal wont take sides on China-India row Amid the long-running India-China military face-off in Doklam plateau, Nepal will not get influenced either by India or China and get dragged into their border dispute, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara said on Monday. Confidence amongst Brazilian business leaders fades in second quarter SAO PAULO, 8 August 2017 - YPO, the premier chief executive leadership organisation in the world, reported today that confidence among business leaders in Latin America climbed to its highest level since January 2014 in the second quarter of this year (2Q 2017). The YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index for Latin America, which tracks economic confidence levels among chief executives on a quarterly basis, increased 2.1 points to 59.2. Latin America has seen a steady increase in business confidence over the past two years and has recovered strongly from its position in the third quarter of 2015, when it was down at a lukewarm 49.6. While the overall trend across Latin America was one of improved confidence, there were markedly different stories in the region's major economies. Mexico saw a sharp upturn in sentiment in 2Q 2017, jumping 6.8 points to 67.6, its highest level since January 2016. There were also significantly improved outlooks in Columbia, Ecuador and Guatemala. However, Brazil, as the largest economy in the region with the heaviest weighting, reported a drop in confidence, slipping 4.2 points to 57.6. This reverses most of the gains from the first quarter of this year, when confidence increased by 6.7 points. "Unfortunately, Brazil once again finds itself trapped in a "stagnant" mood, given that there isn't enough clarity as to whether much-needed reforms will be voted in by Congress. The attention of legislators is fully devoted to the consequences of the high-profile political scandal, which is also profoundly important to the long-term business environment," said YPO member Felipe Mendes, Managing Director of GfK, Brazil. "Hopefully we will see a quick resolution to this uncertainty, as in the third quarter most of the budget planning sessions are held, and key investments decisions are made at corporate level." Key findings in Latin America Chief executives remain confident about growth Business leaders were positive when asked about the prospects for their own organisations over the next 12 months, with confidence holding steady in each of the three key indicators in the study, tracking sales, employment and fixed investment. While the YPO Sales Confidence Index for Latin America slipped marginally, by 1.4 points to 66.4, it still remained in firmly optimistic territory. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of chief executives expected to increase revenue in the next year, while only 6% predicted a reduction in turnover. With regards to hiring, the YPO Employment Confidence Index rose 3.1 points to 55.2. More than a third (36%) of chief executives expected to increase headcount in the next 12 months, compared to only 11% who predicted cuts to staff numbers. This is a significant improvement on the previous quarter, when only 23% predicted increases to their workforce numbers, and 16% expected a reduction in headcount. The YPO Fixed Investment Confidence Index edged up 1.9 points to 58.9, its highest level since October 2014. Nearly half (46%) of respondents predicted increased levels of investment in the next year, while 45% expected investment to remain at the same level. Only 9% of business leaders forecasted reduced spending. Economic conditions set to improve in second half of the year Chief executives also painted a positive picture when asked how economic conditions are likely to change over the next six months. Half (51%) of respondents felt that economic conditions would improve, compared with only 13% who predicted that conditions would worsen. More than a third (36%) thought the economic environment would remain largely unchanged. This is a far more positive view than in the previous survey, when 43% of chief executives predicted an improvement in the economic climate and as many as 26% felt that conditions would deteriorate in the following six months. Key findings in Brazil Chief executives more concerned about short term economic conditions Business leaders in Brazil reported a more subdued outlook when asked about the short-term economic climate in the country. Only half (52%) of chief executives expected business and economic conditions to improve over the next six months, down significantly from the April survey, when 77% predicted that conditions would improve in the following six months. Sales outlook fades but hiring and fixed investment forecasts hold steady Business leaders in Brazil reported a drop in confidence when it came to sales growth over the next year. While more than half (54%) of respondents predicted their organisations would increase revenues in the next 12 months, this was significantly down from the previous survey when 80% believed they would increase turnover in the following year. This was reflected in the YPO Sales Confidence Index for Brazil, which fell 4.5 points to 62.2. There was little change when it came to hiring and fixed investment. The YPO Employment Index lost 1.0 point to land at 53.1, and the YPO Fixed Investment Index edged down 0.1 point to 57.4. Global review Globally, the YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index slipped 0.5 point to 62.0 over the second quarter, while executives in Australasia proved to be the most optimistic as confidence increased 3.6 points to 67.0. In Asia, confidence declined 1.8 points to 61.5, reversing the gains made in the first quarter of the year. Confidence in the United States remained firmly in positive territory, with a slight decline of 1.6 points to 63.3, while in Canada, business confidence rose 0.8 point to 62.9. In the European Union (EU), confidence climbed 2.1 points to 63.0, its highest level in the eight-year history of the YPO study, while executives in non-EU Europe countries indicated a dramatic improvement, up 8.5 points to 60.3, largely due a complete reversal in Swiss sentiment, which was the main detractor in the region last quarter. Elsewhere, confidence in Africa edged up 1.9 points to 56.3, but despite this being its highest level for two years, it still retains its position as the second-least confident region. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region slid 4.5 points to 50.7, its lowest rating ever, making it the least confident region in the world. YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index The quarterly electronic survey, conducted in the first two weeks of July 2017, gathered answers from 1,161 YPO chief executive officers across the globe, including 133 in Latin America. Visit www.ypo.org/globalpulse for more information about the survey methodology and results from around the world. ### About YPO The premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world. YPO is the global platform for chief executives to engage, learn and grow. YPO members harness the knowledge, influence and trust of the world's most influential and innovative business leaders to inspire business, personal, family and community impact. Today, YPO empowers more than 24,000 members in more than 130 countries, diversified among industries and types of businesses. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 15 million people and generate USD6 trillion in annual revenues. Leadership. Learning. Lifelong. For more information, visit YPO.org. Contact: YPO Linda Fisk Office: +1 972 629 7305 (United States) Mobile: +1 972 207 4298 press@ypo.org TORONTO, Aug. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lydian International Limited (TSX:LYD) (Lydian or the Company) is pleased to announce that major equipment components have arrived at its 100%-owned Amulsar Gold Project in Armenia. Howard Stevenson, Lydians President and CEO, commented, Equipment lead times and delivery logistics present unique challenges for many projects. We are very pleased that our vendors are meeting fabrication schedules and deliveries to site are being well managed. Major pieces of equipment for the crushing plant, including the jaw crusher, a secondary cone crusher, rock breaker, pan feeders, and screen liners have all arrived at site. The material handling system includes crushing and screening equipment and the overland conveyor, all supplied by Sandvik. Components have been shipping since Q2 2017 as fabrication is completed. Modular steel structures for the overland conveyer and other structural steel components are arriving on site and this will continue throughout Q3 2017. Caterpillar remains on schedule in manufacturing the primary mine mobile equipment. The first phase of equipment, consisting of a 6040 hydraulic shovel, one CAT 994 front end loader, five 789D haul trucks and other equipment, was shipped in July 2017. Deliveries to Amulsar and assembly are expected over the balance of Q3 2017. The gold recovery plant is being fabricated in South Africa by Azmet. Pre-assembled modules have been loaded for shipment later this month. Delivery is expected by late Q3 2017. ABB is suppling all major site-wide electrical and control systems. Fabrication of the main substation and distribution grid, integrated automation and process control by optimized solutions, motors and drive systems is advancing in accordance with the manufacturers planned delivery schedules. Electrical transformers are scheduled for shipment this month, with delivery anticipated during Q4 2017. About Lydian International Limited Lydian is a gold developer, focusing on construction at its 100%-owned Amulsar Gold Project, located in south-central Armenia. Amulsar presents an opportunity for a large-scale, low-cost operation with production expected to begin in mid-2018. Open pit mining and conventional heap leach processing contribute to excellent scale and economic potential. Amulsar will be Armenias largest gold mine, with estimated mineral resources containing 3.5 million measured and indicated gold ounces and 1.3 million inferred gold ounces. Gold production is targeted to average approximately 225,000 ounces annually over an initial 10-year mine life. Existing mineral resources and open extensions provide opportunities to improve average annual production and extend the life of mine. The Company is committed to good international industry practices in all aspects of its operations including production, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. For more information and to directly contact us, please visit www.lydianinternational.co.uk. Caution regarding forward-looking information Certain information contained in this news release is "forward looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "projects", "potential", "believes", targets or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to: the general development of the Amulsar Gold Project (including, but not limited to, infrastructure, mine operations, systems, facilities, plants, equipment and employment); the economic and resource potential of the Amulsar Gold Project; the realization of mineral resource estimates and the timing of development of the Amulsar Gold Project; the timing, sourcing and technical descriptions of future equipment deliveries; ability of vendors to meet delivery targets based on the current construction schedule; the current Amulsar Gold Project construction schedule; results of future exploration and drilling; the commitment to and implementation of good international industry practices; the expected gold production from, and life of mine of, the Amulsar Gold Project; and the expected mining methods at the Amulsar Gold Project. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking information to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered when the property is developed. All forward-looking statements in this news release are based on the opinions and estimates made as of the date of such statements and are made and are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, without limitation: discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated reserves and resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; changes in national and local government legislation in Armenia; taxation; changes in gold and silver prices; adverse general economic, market or business conditions; changes to the Company's mine plan; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves and resources; and failure to improve average annual production and extend the Amulsar Gold Project mine life through the evaluation of defined inferred resources and from open extensions at depth. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks) as well as "Risk Factors" included in the disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. BOSTON, Aug. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flywire, a leading provider of international payment and receivables solutions for businesses, schools and healthcare providers, is reporting strong growth in the Japanese education market. Since launching its service in Japan in April 2016, the company has achieved important milestones across multiple metrics including the number of schools deploying the service and the amount of money moved. Flywire serves both schools recruiting international students, as well as students traveling outside their home countries to study around the world. Founded in 2011, the company has processed over $5 billion in educational payments and established its platform as the preferred solution for international payments and receivables processing. Educational institutions use it to offer students and their families a highly-tailored, international payment experience customized by country, currency and institution. In addition, school financial and operations teams benefit from streamlined reconciliation and easy tracking of international payments. Since entering the Japanese market in April 2016, Flywire has: Signed on more than 90 schools in Japan to use its global payment processing platform including Yamanashi Gakuin University, Globis University Graduate School of Management, Kumamoto Gakuen University, Chuo College of Technology, eight (8) YMCA Vocational Schools, Kyoshin Group Schools, Meiko Network Group Schools, Sendagaya Japanese Language School, Arc Academy, and Akamonkai Japanese Language Schools. Moved approximately $60 million on behalf of Japanese schools and students. Recruiting international students is an important initiative in Japan. Government agencies such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) are working actively with the countrys education institutions to appeal to more international students. That effort is producing big results according to the Japanese Student Support Organization (JASSO): The number of international students studying in Japan grew nearly 10% in 2015 and 15% in 2016. In 2016, there were a total of 239,287 international students enrolled in Japanese schools. Higher education institutions accounted for 171,122 of those international students, up 12.5%. Japanese language institutes accounted for 68,165, up 21.0%. Japan is also an important source market for international students. After recent declines in the number of Japanese studying abroad, Japanese students are showing strong interest in international education. International education is thriving in Japan, and its one of the key countries in our expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, said Mike Massaro, CEO at Flywire. We have an outstanding team in place focused on serving the needs of both educational institutions and students to make the cross-border payment and receivable process easy, efficient and transparent for all involved. About Flywire Flywire is a leading provider of international payment solutions, connecting businesses and institutions with their customers on six continents. Introduced six years ago as a way for international students to pay their tuition for studies abroad, Flywire is now used by over 1,300 organizations across 18 countries around the world. The company processes billions in payments per year from 220 countries and territories, via bank transfer, credit card and e-wallet solutions, in over 120 different local currencies. Convenient, fast and secure, Flywires scalable platform provides currency conversion at exchange rates that can offer significant savings when compared to home-market banks and credit card providers. The company also supports its clients with end-to-end customer support including multilingual servicing via phone, email, and chat, as well as 24/7 online payment tracking. Flywire is headquartered in Boston, MA with international operations in London and Manchester, UK; Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore; Sydney, Australia; and Valencia, Spain. For more information, visit www.Flywire.com. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultra Lithium Inc. (TSX-V:ULI) (ULI or the Company) is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% interest in three Lithium Brine properties (the Properties) covering 22,176 hectares, located in the Antofagasta region, Province of Catamarca in Argentina. The three properties are comprised of 11 mining licenses and are in addition to the La Borita claim block acquisition announced on June 27, 2017. These properties are located within the Lithium Triangle, a region which holds over 50% of the worlds lithium resource. Below is a summary of the three properties: Amelia Property: Comprised of 3 mining licenses Amelia I-III, covering 5,400 hectares located in the northern part of Salar de Antofalla, a lithium, potassium deposit historically explored by Rio Tinto and in the vicinity of Albemarle Corporations Salar De Antofalla property. Laguna del Salitre / Laguna de Aparoma Property: Comprised of two licenses covering 5,400 hectares, located about 80 km to the south of the Salar del Hombre Muerto partly owned by FMC Lithium. Archibara / Laguna Verde Property: Comprised of six mining licenses Archibara I-III, and Laguna Verde I-III, covering 11,376 hectares located about 80 km to the north of Albemarles project. Under the terms of agreement signed on June 20, 2017 between Luis Manuel Alvarez (the Vendor) and the Company, ULI will pay the following: 2,486,040 Argentinian Pesos (approximately USD $155,378) to the Mining Secretariat of Catamarca for outstanding canon fees upon signing the agreement. USD $30,000 after due diligence is completed. USD $1,980,000 in four equal quarterly payments commencing 270 days from signing the agreement to acquire 100% rights on the Property. The Vendor will retain a 2.5 % royalty. Dr. Weiguo Lang, CEO of Ultra Lithium, stated that, The acquisition of La Borita Property opened up doors for the Company to acquire a sufficiently large area to carry out lithium exploration in a very promising and strategic region within the world known Lithium Triangle. We are very thankful to Mr. Alvarez for having confidence in Ultra Lithium to give this opportunity for acquiring his other lithium licenses. These properties are in the vicinity of a producing mine operated by FMC Corporation, and other deposits owned by Galaxy Lithium and Albemarle, a leading lithium producer in the world. We have developed a work program to complete bench scale testing on La Borita to produce lithium brine concentrate, and to carry out systematic sampling on each mining license. The sampling results will enable us to prioritize further exploration work. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., a qualified person, as defined by NI 43-101 who works as Vice President Exploration of the Company. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kiki Smith Kiki Smith, CFO About Ultra Lithium Inc. Ultra Lithium is an exploration and development company with a focus on the acquisition and development of lithium assets. The Company is currently holds brine exploration properties in Catamarca, Argentina and Nevada, USA and hard rock spodumene type lithium property in Ontario, Canada. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cuba Ventures Corp. (TSX-V:CUV) (OTCBB:MPSFF) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with AL-FAHIM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP (AFTG) which outlines the general terms and conditions of the proposed creation of a Cuba Financing system to be named CUBAFIN. The initial funding, agreed by the partner AFTG, for short to medium term loans to non-governmental, non-military or non-security force entities, is $40 million Euros (approx. $59 million CAD), Cuba Ventures Corp has identified numerous Cuba related opportunities which would benefit from the said financing. Acquisition of IBTO Florida Travel Agency Completed The Company is pleased to announce the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange acceptance to a Share Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Company acquired a 19% interest in International Business and Travel Opportunities LLC, a Florida based travel agency. Consideration under the agreement is the issuance of 500,000 shares at a deemed value of $0.05 and the payment of $10,000 CDN. Shares issued pursuant to this transaction are subject to Canadian and US hold resale restrictions. Through the Florida Licensed travel company IBTO, in which the company now owns equity, legal group travel packages, flights & cruises for Americans, can be promoted across all 432 websites owned by Cuba Ventures Corp, directly into the U.S market. Proposed creation of CUBAFIN financing platform Cuba Ventures Corp. entered into a Letter of Intent with AL-FAHIM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP , Dubai, UAE www.alfahimtechnologies.com. AL-FAHIM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP was founded by Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim and has over 300 million in current investments, with an aim to invest 5 billion USD over the next 3 years in multiple sectors including, Fintech, biotech, nontech, blockchain, energy, software, hardware, etc. AFTG intends to participate in a proprietary financing platform to facilitate short to medium terms loans for Cuba related transactions, both private and international, with an initial capitalization of $40 million Euros (approx $59 million CAD). All seed capital for loans to be provided by AL-FAHIM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP. The CUBAFIN finance platform intends to provide payment solutions for Letter of Credit (LC) holders, short term financing requirements and, to stimulate the self-employed private economy, giving Cuban entrepreneurs access to much needed capital. Through CubaFin, Cuba Ventures Corp hopes to assemble numerous deals it has identified over the past 12 months, which could directly impact the companys revenues, especially in the Cuba Travel & Media sectors associated with the wholly owned subsidiary Travelucion. Additionally, the CubaFin platform hopes to enable third party financiers to directly finance outstanding secured receivables while obtaining above market interest returns. CubaFin should appeal to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking for an improved way of working capital financing by selling their outstanding means of payment collection from sales in the Cuban market (typically LC and Secured Drafts) by transferring the credit rights to CubaFIN and, its financiers. Contrary to traditional invoice finance, CubaFin will be fast, flexible and employ transparent contract terms. The Company is working toward a definitive agreement. Tyrval partnership expected to be first benefactor of CUBAFIN As a direct result of the recent commercial mission to Cuba, Cuba Ventures partner Tyrval hopes to submit over 10 million USD in offers before year end. If these offers are accepted by the entities involved, these sales would be the first to benefit from CUBAFIN related bridge-financing. Investors are reminded that Tyrval revenue is subject to a 5% royalty payable to Cuba Ventures plus, any dividends derived from the CUBAFIN divisions bridge financing of these proposed sales. Cuba Ventures Corp Consulting Division The Companys Travel and Media division continues to grow under its separate and current specific management team, however, shareholders are mindful that Cuba Ventures Corp retains a group of professionals with a combined +60 years experience dealing with Cuba, in varied; commercial, legal and financial fields. In March 2016 the company engaged the Cuba banking expert Alfredo Manresa, initially as an advisor and, more recently, assuming the role as director. The Consulting division is spearheaded by Mr. Manresa and his team, independent of the core facets of travel and media. The premise of this Consulting Division, is to compliment the companys R&D efforts in all realms, including, future ventures which may, consequently, become directly or indirectly related to the core travel and media business. Consulting efforts, such as partnering with Tyrval, securing investments for new or refurbished hotel developments and properties or, working with partners who augment the efficiency of the hospitality industry in Cuba, invariably transmit secondary benefit to Cuba Ventures in its nucleus travel and media sectors. As a self financed division, whose income is derived through individual consulting; revenue, income or equity, the consulting division places little if any financial burden on Cuba Ventures Corps expenditures. For Cuba Ventures to expand its presence in other Cuba related activities, an active consulting division is paramount to achieving this important objective. Finally, a financial component, such as CUBAFIN, guarantees to Cuba Ventures, speedy bridge-loan approval of certain transactions while, augmenting the financial security of these. The management thus concludes that the impending advent of CUBAFIN could play a beneficial role in the efforts of the consulting division while, simultaneously, providing additional revenue in core divisions. About Cuba Ventures Corp.: Cuba Ventures Corp. interest is a TSX.V listed company capitalizing on the growth and unique opportunities in the USD $3.5 billion per year Cuban travel and tourism industry. Travelucion, a wholly owned subsidiary, is a digital media and marketing company which owns a vast portfolio of Cuba related websites and online portals providing Cuba travel information in up to six languages, featuring individual web assets for Cuba's popular cities and towns, online booking solutions and online reservations through proprietary software, catering to international visitors to Cuba. These websites generate over 35 million page-views per year. Travelucion's online travel division is a duly licensed retail travel supplier handling millions of dollars in sales annually. Cuba Ventures Corp has acquired an equity interest in a Florida, USA domiciled, licensed and bonded travel agency which specializes in travel to Cuba. This equity ownership permits the company and, its subsidiary Travelucion, to promote U.S compliant travel packages to American citizens through its equity partner International Business & Travel Opportunities, LLC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Cuba Ventures consulting division harnesses over 60 years of combined advisor experience in submitting and, obtaining approval, for joint ventures, joint production agreements, and import/export permits for foreign enterprises. More recently the company has taken a royalty approach for future agreements between third parties anxious to begin commercial operations with Cuba and, the companys Cuba Consulting Unit. Current contractual partnerships include Tyrval, a worldwide hotel industry supplier. Cuba Ventures intends to augment the amount of financially beneficial consulting related partnerships. For further information on Cuba Ventures Corp. (TSX-V:CUV) or Travelucion visit the Companys website at www.cubaventures.com or www.travelucion.com. The Company has 73,012,487 shares issued and outstanding. CUBA VENTURES CORP. Steve Marshall ______________________________ STEVE MARSHALL, CEO For further information contact myself or: Nick Findler Cuba Ventures Corp. Telephone: 604-639-3850 Toll Free: 800-567-8181 Facsimile: 604-687-3119 Email: info@cubaventures.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. The answer is straightforward C. WRONG:- Irrelevant. We are concerned with number of people moving to florida. Distance has nothing to do with the argument. WRONG:- Clever trap. "Likely to retire" is not equal to "definitely retired" ... I am likely to be a movie star does not translate to I am a movie star. Likely introduces a concept of uncertainty and thus cannot be taken as a proper answer. (C)The total number of people who retired and moved to another state for their retirement has increased significantly over the past ten years. CORRECT:- Earlier in US there were 1000 people who moved from one state of another after retirement. Out of these 50 % came to florida (meaning 500 people came to florida) Now there were 10,000 people move from one state to another and only 10 % comes to florida (meaning 10 % of 10,000=1000 people) that came to florida. As you can see the % is decreasing but the actual number has gone up (from 500 people to 1000 people ; there is an increase of 500). This weaken the argument. Infant it kills and buries the argument 6 feet deep in the ground. WRONG:- At best This tells one side of a story. It tells us nothing about the number of people coming to florida. At worst this option is just out of scope because our argument is concerned with retired people coming to florida and not about people leaving florida. WRONG:- Reverse answer. This strengthen the argument heygirl wrote: In the United States, of the people who moved from one state to another when they retired, the percentage who retired to Florida has decreased by three percentage points over the past ten years. Since many local businesses in Florida cater to retirees, these declines are likely to have a noticeably negative economic effect on these businesses and therefore on the economy of Florida. Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument given? (A) People who moved from one state to another when they retired moved a greater distance, on average, last year than such people did ten years ago. (B) People were more likely to retire to North Carolina from another state last year than people were ten years ago. (C) The number of people who moved from one state to another when they retired has increased signifi cantly over the past ten years. (D) The number of people who left Florida when they retired to live in another state was greater last year than it was ten years ago. (E) Florida attracts more people who move from one state to another when they retire than does any other state Posting an answer without an explanation is "GOD COMPLEX". The world doesn't need any more gods. Please explain you answers properly . FINAL GOODBYE :- 17th SEPTEMBER 2016. .. 16 March 2017 - I am back but for all purposes please consider me semi-retired. Signature Read More In the United States, of the people who moved from one state to another when they retired, the percentage who retired to Florida has decreased by three percentage points over the past ten years. Since many local businesses in Florida cater to retirees, this decline is likely to have a noticeably negative economic effect on these businesses.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?(A) People who moved from one state to another when they retired moved a greater distance, on average,last year than such people did ten years ago.(B) People were more likely to retire to North Carolina from another state last year than people were ten years ago.(D) The number of people who left Florida when they retired to live in another state was greater last year than it was ten years ago.(E) Florida attracts more people who move from one state to another when they retire than does any other state[/quote]_________________ souvik101990 wrote: GMAT Club Revision Project - CR Q3 Please post a detailed explanation and answer to this question to get a chance to get Kudos and your explanation posted on the GMAT Club Revision PDF Male bowerbirds construct elaborately decorated nests, or bowers. Basing their judgment on the fact that different local populations of bowerbirds of the same species build bowers that exhibit different building and decorative styles, researchers have concluded that the bowerbirds' building styles are a culturally acquired, rather than a genetically transmitted, trait. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion drawn by the researchers? A. There are more common characteristics than there are differences among the bowerbuilding styles of the local bowerbird population that has been studied most extensively. B. Young male bowerbirds are inept at bowerbuilding and apparently spend years watching their elders before becoming accomplished in the local bower style. C. The bowers of one species of bowerbird lack the towers and ornamentation characteristic of the bowers of most other species of bowerbird. D. Bowerbirds are found only in New Guinea and Australia, where local populations of the birds apparently seldom have contact with one another. E. It is well known that the song dialects of some songbirds are learned rather than transmitted genetically. Male bowerbirds construct elaborately decorated nests, or bowers. Basing their judgment on the fact that different local populations of bowerbirds of the same species build bowers that exhibit different building and decorative styles, researchers have concluded that the bowerbirds' building styles are a culturally acquired, rather than a genetically transmitted, trait. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion drawn by the researchers?A. There are more common characteristics than there are differences among the bowerbuilding styles of the local bowerbird population that has been studied most extensively.B. Young male bowerbirds are inept at bowerbuilding and apparently spend years watching their elders before becoming accomplished in the local bower style.C. The bowers of one species of bowerbird lack the towers and ornamentation characteristic of the bowers of most other species of bowerbird.D. Bowerbirds are found only in New Guinea and Australia, where local populations of the birds apparently seldom have contact with one another.E. It is well known that the song dialects of some songbirds are learned rather than transmitted genetically. Owner of Angles and Arguments Check out my Blog Posts here: Blog For Individual GMAT Study Modules, check For Private Tutoring, check KarishmaOwner of Angles and ArgumentsFor Individual GMAT Study Modules, check Study Modules For Private Tutoring, check Private Tutoring Signature Read More Lots of different answers here so let's analyze this question:Premises:Male bowerbirds construct elaborately decorated bowers.Different local populations of bowerbirds of the same species build bowers that exhibit different building and decorative styles,Conclusion: The bowerbirds' building styles are a culturally acquired, rather than a genetically transmitted, traitWe need to strengthen the conclusion.A. There are more common characteristics than there are differences among the bowerbuilding styles of the local bowerbird population that has been studied most extensively.This tells us that there are more similarities than differences. This doesn't strengthen our argument at all. If anything, it weakens it by implying that quite a bit could be genetically transmitted since there are more similarities.B. Young male bowerbirds are inept at bowerbuilding and apparently spend years watching their elders before becoming accomplished in the local bower style.If bower building were a genetically transmitted trait, young bowers would have known how to build. But they do not and instead they acquire the skill by watching elders. This strengthens our argument that bower building skill is culturally acquired. Correct.C. The bowers of one species of bowerbird lack the towers and ornamentation characteristic of the bowers of most other species of bowerbird.We are not comparing bowers of different species. We are talking about different local populations of the same species. Even if bower building were genetically transmitted, the genes of one species would be different from those of another so genetic transmission would be perfectly valid. Hence this option doesn't help us strengthen our argument that bower building is culturally acquired and not genetically transmitted.D. Bowerbirds are found only in New Guinea and Australia, where local populations of the birds apparently seldom have contact with one another.Whether they have contact or not doesn't matter. Whether they are in contact or no would have been useful to know if we were to show why there are similarities in bower building styles (Close contact with other populations could have been the reason for similarities) or if we were to prove that it is a genetically transmitted trait (far apart but similarities could have strengthened the case for genetic acquisition). The building styles are different so it doesn't matter how close or far apart the populations are.E. It is well known that the song dialects of some songbirds are learned rather than transmitted genetically.Out of scope.Answer (B)_________________ NSU urges govt to address demands of Dr KC pronto Nepal Students Union (USU), the student wing of ruling Nepali Congress, has urged the government to immediately address the demands of Dr Govinda KC. One product to protect all your devices, without slowing them down. EirGrid, which provides electricity to homes and businesses across Ireland and Northern Ireland, reportedly suffered a security breach earlier this year at the hands of state-sponsored hackers. The allegation is made in a report in the Irish Independent newspaper, which made details of the alleged attack in April 2017 public this weekend. According to the media report, the attack against EirGrids network saw hackers compromise routers used by the firm, installing a man-in-the-middle virtual wire tap on Vodafones Direct Internet Access (DIA) service at Shotton, Wales. This allowed the hackers to intercept unencrypted messages sent between the power providers Welsh and Northern Irish companies. Vodafone has reportedly told EirGrid that it currently has no idea how much data might have been snooped upon by an unauthorised third-party. However, it is believed that the attacker was able to copy firmware and files from the compromised router devices. The hack allegedly only came to light two months after the original breach, after a tip-off from Vodafone and the UKs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of the UKs intelligence agency GCHQ. In addition, the network of SONI an electricity operator headquartered in Belfast and owned by EirGrid is also said to have been compromised by the hackers. A spokesperson for EirGrid declined to comment specifically on the attack, and chose instead to underline that hacking attacks are becoming a growing issue for many in the energy industry: It is EirGrid Groups policy not to comment publicly on specific operational matters related to cyber security, however, we are aware of the currently reported focus on energy companies and national infrastructure and wish to state that our computer systems have not been breached. The big question of course is this: who was behind the attack and for what purpose? Previously, many have pointed the finger of suspicion at Russia after a series of power outages in Ukraine caused by hacking attacks on the countrys electric grid. Last month, Motherboard reported that the NCSC had warned that advanced state-sponsored hostile threat actors were targeting the energy and manufacturing sectors, and that some organisations were likely to be compromised. The warning followed closely on the heels of a private warning sent to US businesses by the FBI and US Department of Homeland Security, warning that hackers were sending emails with poisoned Word documents to infect organisations with malware. The media reports about the attack on EirGrid suggest that the IP addresses of the hacking computers were based in Ghana and Bulgaria, but its childs play for a even an unsophisticated hacker to disguise their true location. One product to protect all your devices, without slowing them down. Hacking your ex-bosses FTP server is punishable with years in prison, as one Tennessee man found out the hard way. 45-year-old Jason Needham has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars and two-years of supervised release for hacking his former employers server to obtain business information worth half a million dollars. Needham worked at engineering & design firm Allen & Hoshall until 2013, when he left to become his own boss and open a consultancy firm called HNA. He realized he could still access Allen & Hoshalls assets from his home computer, which he did repeatedly in the years to follow. Despite A&H routinely changing their FTP servers passwords, Needham could hack his way inside, court documents showed. Needhams business partner at HNA, aware of his wrongdoing, reportedly urged him to stop raiding the remote servers, but to no avail. When an Allen & Hoshall client received an unsolicited offer from Needham a the wording bearing a striking resemblance to A&Hs verbiage a the FBI were alerted and Needhams computer was seized. Pleading guilty to the charges, Needham told the court, I never had a criminal intent. It was a habit, like checking in with an extended family. I had a desire to maintain continuity of the projects I started at A&H. I can see now in hindsight that continuing to access their system could give someone a competitive advantage, but I never intended to use that to gain an advantage, he said. But authorities discovered that Needham had been hacking his former employers FTP server on a regular basis, downloading hundreds of PDF documents and AutoCAD schematics, job bids, and other intellectual property, the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) reports. Needham had also accessed the email account of an ex colleague to obtain the firms marketing plans, project proposals, company fee structures and the rotating account credentials for the companys internal document-sharing system, according to the press release. Authorities estimated the total value of the stolen proprietary business information at $500,000. In addition to serving 18 months in jail and two years supervised release, Needham has been ordered to pay A&H $172,393.71 in damages. The man has also been forced to forfeit his engineering license. 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 Passenger chaos at Nepalgunj airport The number of air passengers has swelled in Nepalgunj-Humla sector after experiencing a surge in Indian tourists travelling to Kailas Manasarovar in China via Nepali air route. Since Donald Trump was elected president, the number of churches in the United States declaring themselves sanctuaries or safe places for undocumented immigrants has more than doubled. However, few people are taking refuge in them. After Trumps victory last November, about 400 churches declared themselves sanctuaries. That brought the total number of sanctuary churches in the country to 800, according to the nonprofit group Church World Service. The rise came after Trump said he wanted to deport millions of undocumented people from the United States. However, many undocumented immigrants say they consider taking refuge in the churches a risky move. Only 12 people are known to be taking refuge in these churches. Ray Ybarra Maldonado is an immigration lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona. He represents Mexican-born Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos. She was one of the first undocumented immigrants deported under Trump. He says people who choose to take sanctuary in churches are strong willed. He calls such a decision a personal sacrifice to make a larger statement towards immigration law. It's not just about an individual staying here; it's something much bigger than that, he said. Mother granted a stay Nury Chavarria is originally from Guatemala. She has four children. She is the most recent immigrant to publicly take sanctuary in a church. This week, she was given a stay of deportation. That is when an order of deportation is temporarily delayed. She had spent six nights in the Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal in New Haven, Connecticut. Chavarria has no criminal record. She was previously given a stay of removal for humanitarian reasons, says Khaalid Walls, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Chavarria applied for asylum many years ago, but her application was denied. This June, ICE federal officials told her she had one month to leave the country and return to Guatemala. Undocumented immigrants like Chavarria who take sanctuary never have promises of safety from deportation. However, ICE policy does discourage arrests at sensitive locations. This includes churches. Immigrants resist offer The idea of sanctuary is an old one. It comes from an ancient Judeo-Christian tradition. Today, some religious communities offer refuge to protest federal immigration policy. Yet, immigrants do not always wish to accept churches offer of sanctuary. Garcia de Rayos, for example, decided against taking sanctuary in a church, her lawyer said. Maldonado, the lawyer, said taking sanctuary is almost like being incarcerated. You cant live the life you want to live. Garcia de Rayos followed the immigration rules. She knew deportation was likely. She was arrested when she arrived at her ICE check-in in February. In the past, many immigrants had regular check-in meetings with ICE. They went to such meetings without fearing deportation. Under other administrations, undocumented people were not likely to be deported if they did not have a criminal record or were important to their community. Attention brings help Chavarria decided to take sanctuary so she could stay with her children, says Kica Matos, the director of immigrant rights at the Center for Community Change. The center represents Chavarria in court. Chavarria received attention from Connecticut's two Democratic senators, Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, as well as Governor Dannel Malloy. They all wanted to support her. Another undocumented immigrant, Jeanette Vizguerra, also took sanctuary in a church. She spent 86 nights in a church in Denver, Colorado, before her application for a stay of deportation was approved in May. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet and two other Democratic congressmen introduced a law that permitted her and another immigrant to remain in the United States until 2019. While Vizguerra was in sanctuary, TIME magazine named her one of the most influential people of 2017. The media attention was helpful for Vizguerra, Maldonado says. The more high profile you can make your case, the more you can show the government that the rest of the world is watching, he said. Vizguerra and Chavarria, however, are exceptions. There are currently 12 immigrants known to be living in churches. They are all hoping for some form of relief from deportation. But so far, they have not received any. This may discourage others from taking sanctuary. Noel Anderson works on immigrants rights at Church World Service. There's a lot of fear in the community, Anderson said. The fear is that they could be stuck in a church for years on end, or if their story is public, they may be more of a target. Im Jill Robbins. Gabriella Borter originally wrote this story for Reuters. Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you think churches should offer sanctuary? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story attorney - n. another word for lawyer deport v. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country discourage v. to make (someone) less determined, hopeful, or confident incarcerate v. to put (someone) in prison Judeo-Christian adj. relating to both Judaism and Christianity priority n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first high profile adj. attracting a lot of attention in newspapers, on television, etc. relief n. a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen Intel will officially launch its 8th-gen Core processor family on August 21st. Code-named Coffee Lake, this is the fourth generation of chips from Intel to be built on a 14nm process, but according to a series of leaks in recent weeks we should be able to expect improved performance thanks to increased clock speeds and core counts, among other things. At least thats true of Intels Coffee Lake chips for desktops. Ive heard a lot less about the notebook processors. Update: It turns out the first 8th-gen Core chips are code-named Kaby Lake Refresh. Well have to wait a little longer for Coffee Lake. Intel isnt providing many details ahead of the launch time, but in addition to showcasing the new chips on August 21st, Intel says itll be providing a sneak peek at some of the amazing system designs based on 8th gen Intel Core processors. I suspect well learn more about those systems when the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin opens at the end of the month. In related news, details about Intels Core i3-8300, Core i3-8100, and Core i3-8350K chips have leaked recently. These chips are all quad-core processors, but they all lack support for hyperthreading. (HealthDay)Millions of Americans are juggling working and raising a family with taking care of an older relative. If you're facing this situation, it can be hard to figure out the best use of your time and energy for caregiving, while also meeting other home and family obligations. Here's an approach suggested by the Family Caregiver Alliance to help you prioritize and delegate responsibilities. Start by making a list of everything you do as a caregiver, big and small. Note the amount of time each one takes every day, week or month. Identify the times when you need help the most and which tasks others might be able to do for you, like making lunch for your mother when you're at work. List of the types of care needed, such as simple companionship or doing active chores, like food shopping. Write down where the care might be provided, such as at home or at a senior center. Now find out how to get the assistance you need. If you have siblings or other loved ones close by, schedule a family meeting, in person or by phone, to discuss specific tasks. See if friends, neighbors or faith group members can provide help. If you can afford it, hire someone to help with cleaning or other routine chores. Investigate resources in your parents' town. Their community may offer services like Meals on Wheels, which delivers food to seniors in need. Family care, community and senior organizations, such as the Area Agency on Aging, and even the wellness arm of the local hospital might be able to provide you with information on helpful public programs. More information: The Family Caregiver Alliance is a great resource for adult children who provide The Family Caregiver Alliance is a great resource for adult children who provide care to aging parents and need advice on juggling this responsibility. Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: University of Auckland A newborn condition affecting one in six babies has been linked to impairment in some high-level brain functions that shows up by age 4.5 years. Researchers found that children who had experienced low blood sugar levels as newborns were two to three times more likely to have difficulties with executive function (skills for problem-solving, planning, memory and attention) and visual-motor co-ordination (skills for fine control of movement, and understanding what you see) at age 4.5 years than children who had normal blood sugar levels. Overall, the lower the blood sugar levels, or the more often they dropped, the greater the impairment was. Strikingly, children who had experienced a drop in blood sugar that was not detected using routine blood sugar monitoring were four times more likely to have difficulties with these skills the first time this has been shown. There was no link with lowered intelligence as measured by IQ. The findings, published in top-ranking journal JAMA Pediatrics, are the latest from a major long-term study, dubbed the "CHYLD" study (Children with Hypoglycaemia and their Later Development), by an international research team led by Distinguished Professor Jane Harding at the University of Auckland-based Liggins Institute. The team includes researchers from the Liggins Institute, the University of Auckland, Waikato Hospital, the University of Canterbury and the University of Waterloo. They are following 614 New Zealand babies born at risk of low blood sugar levels (neonatal hypoglycaemia) into childhood to see if the condition affects their later growth and development. Low blood sugar affects up to 15 percent of all babies, and is the only common preventable cause of brain damage in infancy. At-risk babies up to a third of all born - are those born premature, smaller or larger than usual and babies whose mothers have diabetes. Health guidelines say at-risk babies should be tested with heel-prick blood tests in the first few hours after birth. If their blood sugar is too low, they are treated with dextrose (sugar) gel to return it to normal levels a breakthrough treatment pioneered in 2013 by Professor Harding and her team. Half of the babies in the CHYLD study were diagnosed with, and treated for low blood sugars, as per guidelines. Seventy percent received extra, continuous monitoring of their blood sugar levels, which detected in some babies low levels that were not diagnosed by the routine blood tests. Researchers thoroughly assessed these babies' growth and development at two years, and again at 4.5 years (477 of the original 614 babies took part in the latest follow-up). "At two years there was no relationship between blood sugar levels and later brain development, but at age 4.5 years, it's clear that the children who experienced low blood sugar levels were more likely to have specific difficulties," says Professor Harding. "We don't know yet what these impairments mean for the child in practical terms, but executive function and visual motor integration are believed to be important for learning at school, particularly for maths and reading." To investigate whether the impairments at 4.5 years translate to learning or behaviour difficulties at school, the research team are now starting to follow up the children at age 9-10 years, supported by a $1.2 million grant from the Health Research Council. "What was especially concerning in our 4.5 year results was the four-fold increase in risk of executive function difficulties in children who had experienced low blood sugars that were not detected in routine testing," says the paper's lead author, Dr Chris McKinlay, also from the Liggins Institute. "This is the first time this has been shown." Internationally, there is no agreed cut-off for safe versus unsafe levels of blood sugar in newborns, he says. The one most commonly used in New Zealand, and in the CHYLD study, is <2.6 mmol/L, but international authorities have recommended cut-offs as low as 1.4 mmol/L and as high as 3.3 mmol/L. "If we find at age 9-10 these children are more likely to have reading and maths difficulties, then we may urgently need to rethink what the diagnostic threshold should be," says Professor Harding. "And if even children who were treated are at greater risk of impairment, this raises the possibility that some damage is already done before they receive treatment." This will make the findings of another ongoing study she is leading, hPOD, all the more relevant. "In hPOD, we're looking at whether the dextrose gel treatment could be routinely given to all at-risk babies as a preventative, before they develop low blood sugars and before any damage could be done." More information: Christopher J. D. McKinlay et al. Association of Neonatal Glycemia With Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 4.5 Years, JAMA Pediatrics (2017). Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics Christopher J. D. McKinlay et al. Association of Neonatal Glycemia With Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 4.5 Years,(2017). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.1579 Prepare for both polls together, Deuba tells EC Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has asked the Election Commission to make necessary preparations for holding both the provincial and federal polls at one go. Over a four-year period, new research suggests, a program led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) in six large Nigerian cities was associated with a 10 percentage- point increase in the use of modern contraceptive methods and a similar increase in the desire of women to have fewer children. In clinics, on television programs, in brochures, the message of the CCP program was the same: Know, Talk, Go. Know the facts. Talk to your partner. Go for services. The successes come in a nation where low use of family planning has long been a seemingly intractable problem. Higher rates of maternal and infant deaths are linked to lower use of modern contraception to space or limit the births of children. And Nigeria has some of the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality in the world. For the study, published online in the journal Studies in Family Planning, researchers from the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill evaluated CCP's Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), a six-city program that ran from 2010 until 2014. CCP is based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. NURHI is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "This study demonstrates that even in a context like urban Nigeria, with high maternal mortality and low contraceptive use, targeted programs can lead to important changes in modern [contraceptive] method use and fertility desires in a short period of time," wrote the researchers, led by Ilene S. Speizer, PhD, a professor at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health. In 2010-2011, the UNC researchers conducted a baseline survey in the Nigerian cities of Abuja, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kaduna, Benin City and Zaria, surveying more than 16,000 women. Respondents were asked questions about their contraceptive knowledge and practices as well as questions about exposure to family planning programming. They found that the use of modern contraceptive methods such as condoms, oral contraceptive pills and IUDs among women of childbearing age ranged from about five percent in Zaria to 30 percent in Abuja. They surveyed more than 10,000 of the same women in 2014 and found an average increase in the use of modern contraceptive methods of 10 percentage points. A similar increase was observed among the poorest women as was seen in the whole of the population. Data were also collected from both private and public-sector health facilities in the six cities at the start and finish of the program. They found that women who lived within one kilometer of a health clinic which received support from the NURHI program were significantly more likely to use modern contraceptive methods after the program was completed. NURHI's success, its leaders say, comes not solely from improving contraceptive access at health clinics in Nigeria's cities, but from creating a coordinated campaign to create the demand for those services. Much of CCP's family planning work is based on using communication tools to help people understand the benefits of family planning and empower them to make healthy decisions. On this project, CCP also targeted health providers as audiences in need of behavior change. Before implementing the program, the team spent a year interviewing women and men, religious leaders, health providers and more, learning about the unique barriers to contraceptive use in Nigeria's cities and using that data to shape the customized program. The work was done through countering the fears and misconceptions around family planning, providing fact-based information on the safety of contraceptive methods and the benefits of their use, making it acceptable to talk to partners, friends and religious leaders about contraceptive options and training health providers with the most up-to-date evidence around the value of birth spacing and smaller families. NURHI also did "mini-makeovers" of government health clinics, cleaning up neglected facilities, fixing what was broken and raising the clinics' profiles by celebrating the makeovers with members of the community, boosting provider morale in the process. NURHI also worked to improve supply chain problems, creating a mobile app that helps clinics order new contraception supplies before they run out, a chronic problem in Nigeria. "This research confirms that an integrated family planning program focusing on both supply and demand works, at least in Nigeria," says Lisa Cobb, who leads the NURHI team at CCP. "Many places have an 'if you build it, they will come mentality' about family planning clinics. But this showed that demand generation is a real driver of increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate and not a sidecar." CCP is now working on a second phase of NURHI, remaining in Kaduna, while expanding to Oyo state which includes the city of Ibadan and also to Lagos, the capital. That work is being funded in part by the Gates Foundation and also by an anonymous donor to CCP. Based on the success of NURHI and similar projects in Kenya, India, and Senegal, the Gates Foundation has started a program called The Challenge Initiative, which is expected to build on the work of NURHI to bring these successful programs to new cities and states around Nigeria and globally. "The promise of NURHI is that we can make rapid and significant changes in the use of modern contraception," Cobb says. "We hope that promise can be realized across Nigeria." More information: "Evaluation of the Nigerian Urban Health Initiative (NURHI) Program" Studies in Family Planning, 2017. Credit: University of Nottingham The results of a research project run by the University of Nottingham which used the latest technology to track out-of-hours doctors have revealed significant improvements can be made to provide safer staffing levels and better patient care. The WayWard project, led by experts from the University of Nottingham's Horizon Digital Economy Research Institute used indoor navigation technology based on a similar principle to the 'satnav' to study the work of medical staff in hospitals during evenings and weekends. Professor Frank Joseph from the Royal College of Physicians said: "This data gives us significant intelligence as to how we manage sick people out of hours at a time when our staffing is at it's lowest. Patient safety must be driven by data. But in addition, where staff morale is low, we can use this information to capture the imaginations of staff, make sure they are doing the right jobs, as efficiently as possible, to give them value in their role". The two year project examined the way in which junior doctors deal with patient care-related tasks compared to more senior colleagues. The project has demonstrated that combining data about tasks, activity and location of clinicians in hospitals provides new evidence about staffing and care out-of-hours, which in turn helps staff make decisions about delivering that service. The task and location data gathered through unobstrusive means gives information at scale but has been supported by detailed observation and interviews to give context and form a full picture of this complex workplace. The location information was gathered via 'logger devices' worn by staff which used WiFi signals to locate them and track their movements through the hospital. The data collected was combined with work logs and used to show that a large proportion of the demand on out-of-hours staff were tasks left over from daytime shifts that had not been completed. It also showed that hospital design and lack of standard ward layout means up to 13% of clinicians' time is spent searching for notes, materials or other staff. Dr James Pinchin is an Assistant Professor in Geospatial Science at the University of Nottingham and worked on the project. He said: "Junior doctors, nurses and support workers handle a huge task load between them out-of-hours, so collecting information about how they manage the workload is difficult. Traditional 'shadowing' is expensive, time-consuming and provides only a glimpse of what's going on day-to-day. Using the latest technology we developed a reliable, unobtrusive method to reliably track the clinicians. The results of this research will be used to make recommendations on how improvements can be made to reduce doctor fatigue and improve efficiency, which will in turn improve patient care." The researchers worked on the project in partnership with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust at their City Hospital and Queen's Medical Centre campuses and with Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. The project made use of data gathered from the award-winning Hospital at Night system, which has replaced the traditional doctor paging in Nottingham. The system, which was devised by University of Nottingham academics working in the Division of Respiratory Medicine, uses wireless smart devices to log requested tasks and tracks when jobs have been completed. It also improves the quality and accuracy of handovers between doctors. Research into its effectiveness found it led to a 70% drop in 'adverse incidents' at Nottingham City Hospital over a six month period. Professor Dominick Shaw from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham said: "WayWard, which uses an indoor navigation system to allow us to study the work of doctors within hospitals, is a great example of using new technologies to improve service delivery within the NHS. The potential implications of these digital technologies are very exciting and have the ability to shape the way we provide future hospital care." The research findings are already having an impact and have been incorporated into the Royal College of Physicians Safe Staffing Guidelines as part of their Future Hospital Programme. Professor Frank Joseph said: "The data produced by WayWard ticks every single box it focusses on patient care, it supports professionalism and can address staff morale, and it can be used for improved training of future staff. I am very proud that the Royal College of Physicians worked with WayWard on this important project." More information: John D Blakey et al. Multimodal observational assessment of quality and productivity benefits from the implementation of wireless technology for out of hours working, BMJ Open (2012). Journal information: BMJ Open John D Blakey et al. Multimodal observational assessment of quality and productivity benefits from the implementation of wireless technology for out of hours working,(2012). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000701 A call by Republican Gov. John Kasich for scientific breakthroughs to help solve the opioid crisis is drawing interest from dozens of groups with ideas including remote controlled medication dispensers, monitoring devices for addicts, mobile apps and pain-relieving massage gloves. The state has received project ideas from 44 hospitals, universities and various medical device, software and pharmaceutical developers that plan to apply for up to $12 million in competitive research-and-development grants. The grant money is being combined with $8 million for an Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge, a competition similar to one spearheaded by the NFL to address concussions. Research grant-seekers in Ohio, which leads the nation in opioid-related overdose deaths, proposed solutions aimed at before or after an overdose. Tactus Therapeutics Inc., for example, seeks $2.2 million to develop an improved tamper-resistant opioid, while other applicants seek money to pursue technological advances in the administration of naloxone, a drug used as an overdose antidote. One is a "rescue mask." Other grant-seekers propose migrating away from pills altogether to find new ways of fighting pain. In the Ohio city known for innovations in rubber and plastics, the University of Akron is looking to polymers. It seeks $2 million to advance development of implantable therapeutic meshes loaded with non-opioid pain medications capable of alleviating post-surgical pain for up to 96 hours. Another company, Cleveland-based Innovative Medical Equipment LLC, seeks $810,000 to make engineering improvements to a medical apparatus that uses heat to fight head pain, headaches, muscle and joint pain and pain after surgery. Additional proposals look to neural therapies, electrical impulses, even virtual reality, as ways to overcome or outwit pain. Osteopath Benjamin Bring, of suburban Columbus, seeks $75,000 to develop a prototype of a special glove that helps relieve chronic muscle pain through massage therapy. Some proposals are specific to particular medical issues, such as chronic low back pain or amputations; others to specific groups, including mothers, children, veterans and dental patients. Many applicants propose ways of using smart technology to prevent overdose deaths by approaching the problem through the patient, doctor or community. Ideas include apps for better coordinating medical treatment or addiction care and wearable devices that would speed help in cases of a potential overdose by linking people at risk of addiction with family, emergency workers and other caregivers. Ascend Innovations Inc. seeks $1.5 million to develop an app and sensor system using technology contributed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The app would allow patients to regularly report their medications, pain levels and state of mind, while the sensor would be gathering health indicators, including respiration, heart rate, eye tracking and pupil dilation, and sending them to a central location. Another firm, iMed MD LLC, seeks $150,000 to continue development of a secure, programmable medication dispensing system that allows doctors or hospitals to remotely limit the amount of medication a patient can receive at any one time. The Third Frontier Commission selected NineSigma Inc. on Tuesday to manage the technology challenge. The Cleveland-based firm has managed similar competitions at the federal level for NASA and the Department of Homeland Security. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. (HealthDay)The photos you post on Instagram can contain telltale visual clues that help predict if you're suffering from depression, a new study reports. Computer software designed to scan photos for these hidden signals accurately diagnosed people with depression seven out of 10 times, said lead researcher Andrew Reece. He's a graduate student with the Harvard University psychology department. "Depressed individuals in our study posted photos that were bluer, darker and grayer, compared to the posts of healthy participants," Reece said. "Depressed people also tended to prefer Instagram's Inkwell filter, which turns a color image into black-and-white, whereas healthy participants preferred the Valencia filter, which gives photos a warmer, brighter tone," he noted. In other words, people with depression were more likely to choose a filter that drained all the color out of the images they wanted to share, the researchers concluded. Photos posted by depressed people also contained fewer faces, possibly because they aren't as likely to engage in lots of social interaction, the report pointed out. The computer program's detection rate proved more reliable than that of primary care doctors, according to the study authors. Earlier studies have shown that general practitioners correctly diagnose depression in patients about 42 percent of the time. "It's clear that depression isn't easy to diagnose, and the computational approach we've taken here may end up assisting, rather than competing with, health care professionals as they seek to make accurate mental health assessments," Reece said. Years of prior research have established that depressed people are more likely to prefer darker or paler colors, said Dr. Igor Galynker. He is associate chairman for research at Mount Sinai Beth Israel's psychiatry department in New York City. "There are reasons why depression is called blue, and why people associate red with raging, and why people say depression is like a dark or black cloud," Galynker said. "Patients with depression choose to wear darker colors. They generally avoid bright stimulation altogether." Given that, it makes sense that such visual clues would show up in the photos people post on social media sites like Facebook or Instagram, Reece and his co-author, Chris Danforth, reasoned. Danforth is a professor at the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. To test their theory, Reece and Danforth asked 166 people to share their Instagram feed and their history of mental health. The team wound up collecting almost 44,000 photos from these volunteers, as well as responses to individual questionnaires assessing their level of depression. The investigators then evaluated the photos using software programmed to look for known visual signs of depression. "We were looking for subtle patterns associated with depression, and that required sifting through a lot of data to be confident about what we were seeing," Reece said. "Humans just aren't very good at keeping track of information over many thousands of data points, so a computational approach was really the only feasible option for scalable and efficient analysis." The program wound up accurately assessing depression in Instagram users 70 percent of the time, the findings showed. "Our results suggest that depression quite literally makes people see their world through a darker, grayer lens," Reece said. However, Reece warned that the program still needs a lot more fine tuning. "This is preliminary work, and it needs to be more thoroughly tested, vetted and replicated before we can safely claim that an algorithm can truly identify markers of depression in Instagram posts," Reece said. The real promise held by this line of research could be in suicide prevention, Galynker said. "It is nearly impossible to predict suicide," Galynker said. "If machine learning could predict who is potentially suicidalbased on what they say, what colors they usethat would be incredibly important." However, the research also opens up thorny ethical questions revolving around privacy. More than 500 participants initially were recruited for the study, the researchers noted, but many dropped out because they would not consent to sharing their social media data. "Who is going to be accessing the data? Who is going to be scanning the data? How will it be used? These are really incredibly difficult questions," Galynker explained. "Who is going to be giving permission to study what is supposedly private information?" The new study was published Aug. 7 in the journal EPJ Data Science. More information: Andrew Reece, Ph.D., graduate student, Harvard University, department of psychology, Cambridge, Mass.; Igor Galynker, M.D., associate chairman for research, psychiatry department, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York City; Aug. 7, 2017, EPJ Data Science Andrew Reece, Ph.D., graduate student, Harvard University, department of psychology, Cambridge, Mass.; Igor Galynker, M.D., associate chairman for research, psychiatry department, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York City; Aug. 7, 2017, For more on signs of depression, visit the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. Journal information: European Physical Journal Data Science Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. In this Dec. 1, 2013 file photo, a Metro-North passenger train lays on its side after derailing on a curved section of track, killing four people, in the Bronx borough of New York. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that William Rockefeller, who was the engineer on the commuter train, had "severe obstructive sleep apnea." Safety experts say millions of lives will be at risk now that U.S. officials have dropped plans to require that truck drivers and train engineers be screened for sleep apnea. Officials say testing should be left up to railroads and trucking companies. One railroad that does test, Metro-North in the New York City suburbs, found that 11.6 percent of its engineers have sleep apnea. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) U.S. officials are abandoning plans to require sleep apnea screening for truck drivers and train engineers, a decision that safety experts say puts millions of lives at risk. The Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said late last week that they are no longer pursuing the regulation that would require testing for the fatigue-inducing disorder that has been blamed for deadly rail crashes in New York City and New Jersey and several highway crashes. The agencies argue that it should be up to railroads and trucking companies to decide whether to test employees. One railroad that does test, Metro-North in the New York City suburbs, found that 11.6 percent of its engineers have sleep apnea. The decision to kill the sleep apnea regulation is the latest step in President Donald Trump's campaign to drastically slash federal regulations. The Trump administration has withdrawn or delayed hundreds of proposed regulations since he took office in Januarymoves the Republican president has said will help bolster economic growth. Late last year, the FRA issued a safety advisory that was meant as a stopgap measure urging railroads to begin sleep apnea testing while the rules made their way through the regulatory process. Without a regulation mandating testing, which would have needed approval from Congress, regulators couldn't cite trucking companies or railroads if a truck or train crashed because the operator fell asleep at the helm. Sleep apnea is especially troubling for the transportation industry because sufferers are repeatedly awakened and robbed of rest as their airway closes and their breathing stops, leading to dangerous daytime drowsiness. Treatments include wearing a pressurized breathing mask, oral appliances or nasal strips to force the airway open while sleeping. Severe cases require surgery. "It's very hard to argue that people aren't being put at risk," said Sarah Feinberg, the former administrator of the FRA, who had issued the safety advisory in December. "We cannot have someone who is in that condition operating either a train going 70 mph or operating a multi-ton truck traveling down the interstate. It's just not an appropriate level of risk to be exposing passengers and the traveling public to." The National Transportation Safety Board said it was disappointed the agencies decided to scrap the "much-needed rulemaking." "Obstructive sleep apnea has been in the probable cause of 10 highway and rail accidents investigated by the NTSB in the past 17 years and obstructive sleep apnea is an issue being examined in several, ongoing, NTSB rail and highway investigations," NTSB spokesman Christopher O'Neil said. In this Dec. 1, 2013 photo, Metro North Railroad engineer William Rockefeller is wheeled on a stretcher away from the area where the commuter train he was operating derailed, killing four people, in the Bronx borough of New York. The National Transportation Safety Board said that Rockefeller had "severe obstructive sleep apnea." Safety experts say millions of lives will be at risk now that U.S. officials have dropped plans to require that truck drivers and train engineers be screened for sleep apnea. Officials say testing should be left up to railroads and trucking companies. One railroad that does test, Metro-North in the New York City suburbs, found that 11.6 percent of its engineers have sleep apnea. (AP Photo/Robert Stolarik, File) The NTSB has long recommended sleep apnea testing for engineers, and Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road started requiring it after finding the engineer in a 2013 Metro-North crash had fallen asleep at the controls because he had a severe, undiagnosed case of sleep apnea. The engineer, William Rockefeller, told investigators he felt strangely "dazed" right before the crash, which occurred as he sped through a 30 mph curve at 82 mph. The engineer of a New Jersey Transit train that slammed into a station in Hoboken last September, killing a woman, also suffered from undiagnosed sleep apnea, according to his lawyer. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will push the federal agencies to reconsider withdrawing the proposed regulation. "We know from recent examples that if there had been testing for sleep apnea there would be people alive walking the face of the earth today who are not, unfortunately, because the engineer had sleep apnea," he said Tuesday at a news conference on Long Island. When asked by The Associated Press in a separate interview about the government's contention that businesses could enact their own testing policies, the New York Democrat said: "Tell that to the families of the people who died in Spuyten Duyvil," referring to the neighborhood where the Metro-North train crashed in 2013, killing four people. Train engineers are currently required to undergo vision and hearing testing at least every three years. Some railroads require annual physicals, but there are no federal standards for comprehensive medical exams. Many of the largest passenger railroads, including Amtrak, require engineers to undergo sleep apnea screening. The Association of American Railroads, an industry group, said railroads are continuing to take steps to combat worker fatigue, including confidential sleep disorder screening and treatment. Marc Willis, a spokesman for the FRA, said the agency sought information from the public about sleep apnea and "believes that current railroad and FRA safety programs sufficiently address this risk." Feinberg said that isn't sufficient and the government shouldn't rely on industries regulating themselves. A notice posted in the Federal Register said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would consider updating a 2015 bulletin to medical examiners about the physical qualifications standard and respiratory dysfunction. Duane DeBruyne, a spokesman for the agency, declined to answer questions about the NTSB's concerns. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. A, Cartoon depicting CaV2.1 1 subunit distal C-terminal interaction partners. B, left: Schematic view of stereotactic surgery to inject/coinject HdAd vectors expressing Cre + eGFP and CaV2.1 constructs + mCherry into the aVCN at age P1. Right: top: Experimental timeline from virus injection at P1 to electrophysiological recordings at P9-P11 prior to the onset of hearing (P12). Middle and bottom: schematic view of the viral constructs used, expressing either Cre + eGFP or CaV2.1 constructs + mCherry, respectively, driven by individual promotors. C, Calyx of Held terminals transduced with Cre + eGFP (top) and CaV2.1 + mCherry (middle). eGFP and mCherry signals overlap with those of a calyx of Held loaded with Lucifer Yellow via a patch pipette (bottom). Credit: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience A new study conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience uncovers critical aspects of calcium channel function, overturning prevailing theories that explain variability in neurotransmitter release during neuronal communication. Approximately eight years ago, former Research Group Leader at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) and current associate professor at the University of Iowa, Samuel Young Jr., Ph.D. set out to understand voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channel function, which determines the characteristics of neurotransmitter release and ultimately how the brain operates. To do so, Young and his team had to painstakingly develop new research methods to overcome severe technical challenges which were major roadblocks in the field. In a study published in the journal eLife on August 8, 2017, Matthias Lubbert, Ph.D. and R. Oliver Goral, Ph.D., post-doctoral researchers, and others in the Young Lab, describe how they manipulated voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and directly monitor their impact on Ca2+ signals in a presynaptic terminal for the first time, to test how they influence cellular communication. Neurons communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals. An electrical signal called an action potential travels down the neuron to the synapse, a highly specialized structure at a point of contact between neurons, where information is transferred over a small space via chemical messengers. This causes voltage-gated Ca2+ channels - protein complex that form a pore in the cell membrane - to open, allowing Ca2+ to flow into the presynaptic compartment, the portion of the neuron that releases chemical messengers which impact neighboring cells. The influx of Ca2+ causes synaptic vesicles - packages of neurotransmitters - to merge with its membrane at specialized sites called active zones and release their contents. The neurotransmitters then travel across the gap and activate receptors on the second cell, influencing that cell's behavior. The likelihood that an action potential will lead a neuron to release neurotransmitters, and the speed with which they are released, can vary considerably, depending on the quantity and location of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the presynapse. If voltage-gated Ca2+ channels are abundant and found close to the vesicles, the release will be more likely and more robust. The voltage-gated Ca2+ channels are made up of several subunits which combine to form a complex. The number and position of the channels is thought to depend on proteins acting on the alpha subunit, an individual component of the protein complex of the Ca2+ channel which contains many amino-acid sequences (motifs) that proteins can bind to. A, Cartoons depicting CaV2.1 full transcript or mutants (top) with corresponding exemplary Ca2+ currents (bottom) triggered by 10ms voltage steps from ?70 mV to -40 mV in 10 mV steps and further to +60 mV in 5 mV steps. Credit: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience Currently, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the number and organization of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and their impact on information transmission in presynaptic terminals are not well-understood. "Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels are a major dictator of how information is transmitted in the brain, therefore it is imperative to understand the molecular mechanisms of Ca2+ channel function," explained Young. "Also, dysfunction of the Ca2+ channels is involved in wide array of neurological disorders such as migraine, epilepsy, and ataxia." Scientists have identified certain proteins and sequences that they believed were responsible for direct interaction with the alpha subunit to control the number and organization of the channels in the presynaptic terminal. However, without the technology to make molecular perturbations and directly manipulate the alpha subunit, the studies that identified them relied on indirect observations. Young and his team overcame these limitations. They modified Helper Dependent Adenoviral vectors (HdAd,) which are able to carry far more foreign DNA than commonly used viral vectors in the neuroscience field. These vectors express modified alpha subunit proteins while at the same time remove the endogenous alpha subunit of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. By using these vectors in a mouse model, the team was able to disrupt the function of specific voltage-gated channels at specific times, without disrupting the endogenous alpha subunit expression in other areas, with unprecedented precision. The team focused on the Calyx of Held - a particularly large presynaptic terminal, which is a model system for understanding presynaptic function. Its size gives unparalleled experimental accessibility to record presynaptic activity compared to other presynaptic terminals in neurons. Using their cutting edge HdAd vectors in conjunction with their transgenic animals, and focusing on the Calyx of Held, they generated a platform to carry out a study which could simultaneously probe both the structure and function of these channels with unrivaled accuracy. A, Cartoon depicting truncated regions in our CaV2.1 1 deletion mutants including the binding sites for CaV 4, CASK, RBP, PXXP, RIM1/2 and Mint-1 along with the effects of C-terminal truncations on ICa. B, Averaged traces of RRP and total releasable pool measurements from mice expressing Cre + full transcript CaV2.1 rescue (grey), 2365-2368 (cyan), 2212-2368 (yellow), 2061-2368 (purple), 2042-2368 (green) or 2016-2368 (blue). ICa (top) and EPSCs (bottom) triggered by 3ms and 30ms pulses, plotted on top of each other (n=10 for each group, except for 2212-2368: n=8). Credit: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience The new study overturned the popular theory which proposed crucial roles of certain proteins and binding motifs on the alpha subunit of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels for the regulation of abundance and neurotransmitter release. Moreover, it identified a completely different region of the alpha subunit which impacts positioning of the channels relative to synaptic vesicles but not the abundance, suggesting that the two characteristics are actually determined separately. The results of the study will be of tremendous importance to understanding how neurons encode a broad diversity of information as well as causes, and possible treatments of Ca2+ channelopathies. "It's exciting," said Young, "our research has overturned current paradigms and possibly opened up a new way we think about the molecular mechanisms that control neurotransmitter release." More information: Matthias Lubbert et al, A novel region in the CaV2.1 1 subunit C-terminus regulates fast synaptic vesicle fusion and vesicle docking at the mammalian presynaptic active zone, eLife (2017). Journal information: eLife Matthias Lubbert et al, A novel region in the CaV2.1 1 subunit C-terminus regulates fast synaptic vesicle fusion and vesicle docking at the mammalian presynaptic active zone,(2017). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.28412 Credit: Missouri University of Science and Technology When Yogesh Lad traveled halfway around the world to pursue a master's degree in systems engineering at Missouri S&T, he never imagined he would be spending so much time with biologists. But now Lad, a native of Mumbai, India, has become an integral member of a research group made up of mostly biology students and researchers. And thanks to his skill as a data analyst, he's bringing a valuable perspective to the research project. Dr. Matt Thimgan leads the cohort, which is researching how sleep, or a lack thereof, affects both cognitive and physical human performance, especially in physically demanding, high-risk workplaces. The goal of the research is to help employers design work schedules that optimize the cognitive performance of their workforce and reduce the likelihood of accidents or risky decisions resulting from lack of sleep, Thimgan says. "Once implemented, a business could offer educational opportunities for their employees on ways to improve their sleep," says Thimgan, assistant professor of biological sciences at S&T. "The business could suggest to particular at-risk employees ways to improve their sleep for both the employee's benefit as well as for the company's benefit. Lastly, this research could be used to design better work schedules and identify employees that might be better off working particularly difficult shifts, like the overnight." To this end, Thimgan's research team is developing a simple, objective and inexpensive test to assess an individual's sleepiness based on physiologic measures. The test can be administered in less than one minute, says Thimgan. Thimgan hopes that such a test can one day be used in industrial workplaces to prevent human-made disasters. The cohort is currently monitoring 20 volunteer test subjects, with the intention of adding 20 more by 2018. The subjects, all undergraduate S&T students, are outfitted with smart watches that monitor their hand movements, body temperatures and light sensitivity. Such physiologic features are expected to give an indication of whether someone is sleeping, resting or active, says Lad. For example, if someone's body temperature is low, her sensitivity to light is high, and her hand is resting for an extended period of time, the researchers assume that the person is either resting or asleep. For this research, test subjects are called in to Schrenk Hall twice a day, two days a week to answer a series of survey questions about how sleepy they are and other questions about their recent sleep and daily activities. The researchers also take the subjects' voice and balance measurements, key physical indicators of sleepiness, according to Thimgan. And finally, the subjects perform a number of cognitive tasks. Their survey answers, physical results and mental responses are then used to verify the data being recorded by the smart watches. During this time, Thimgan also pulls the raw data off of the smart watches and hands it over to Lad. This is where Lad's systems engineering expertise and data analysis acumen come in to play. "His engineering analysis is critical to making sense of this massive biological and sensor data set," Thimgan says. Lad runs the raw data through an algorithm that he and his systems engineering colleagues have developed. The algorithm converts the data into graphs. Looking at the data, Lad can notice trends and outliers in sleep patterns. One thing that he's already been able to identify is when someone is feeling under the weather. He says that several times he has noticed subjects with fairly consistent sleep patterns spike to 18-20 hours of sleep. "This will help us to know if someone is healthy or if they have any sleep disorders," Lad says. Once he has analyzed the data for each individual participant, Lad groups the data according to sleep patterns. "Using this method, we are clustering and grouping the sleep patterns," he says. "People generally sleep for eight hours. Using that we can classify sleep and rest." Lad then compares the physical test results for the group of participants that slept an average of eight hours against outliers that slept less, or whose sleep patterns were more sporadic. Then he can look at how the groups of participants performed when they were active in terms of balance, eyesight, vocal delivery and other physical indicators of sleep, or a lack thereof. "We want to be able to say that with this amount of sleep a person performed this well, and if they sleep for this many hours they can perform this much better," Lad says. The research aims to take sleep recommendations from the population level to understanding an individual's sleep need, Thimgan adds. Lad received a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the University of Mumbai. After working several internships at automotive companies in India, he decided to move away from the profession and toward data analytics. He chose systems engineering because it still involved industrial engineering but looked at bigger picture projects. "I like managing things, and also doing optimization," Lad says. "Using data you can do a lot of things. As I learned when I started working with this project, you can dig up any data and do anything you want with it. You can get really cool information out of it. "I never thought of doing research about sleep," he says. "Like, yeah, sleep, what is there to it? But we can look at a lot of things with sleep when we have data." Lad joined the research group after approaching his advisor, Dr. Ivan Guardiola, assistant professor of engineering management and systems engineering, about working with Guardiola on possible data analysis research opportunities. "I actually approached Dr. Guardiola because I was looking for a professor who was doing some data analysis," Lad says. "Then, we met in January and he asked me if I was interested in doing a group project. "I'm new to this field, and using a project or some real-life experience can help me learn much about it." At first, Lad wasn't sure about working on biomedical research. "I said, 'It looks more like bioscience,'" he says. "But (Guardiola) said, 'No, no, there's a lot of data.' The data can do a lot of things just by using statistics. That's what attracted me to this project. Now it's getting more interesting as it progresses." Germany withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty Is Jordan country that has not supplied arms to Armenia?: 'The press usually has reliable information' European Commission approves nationalization of Russian Gazprom's German subsidiary Pashinyan: If the state interferes with the exchange rate unnecessarily, the economy will only suffer U.S. to work with strategic coalition of Southeast Asian countries Armenian PM: To reform army, it is necessary to make military service more attractive Putin and Raisi discuss topical issues of the bilateral agenda Blinken: Ukraine must decide on timing and content of any talks with Russia Catholicos expresses hope that Russia efforts will contribute to ensuring free, safe life of Artsakh Armenians More than 50 of poorest developing countries are on brink of bankruptcy, says UN official Armenia ex-ombudsman: We are facing serious national security issues (PHOTOS) Biden has no plans to meet with Saudi crown prince at G20 summit EU offers natural gas price cap assurances amid disagreements with member countries Scholz is against establishment of ceasefire in Ukraine on Kremlin's terms Turkologist: Turkey does not support agenda of achieving peace with Armenians Sweden to not permit deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory after joining NATO Erdogan signs decree on appointing Turkey ambassador to Israel Information security expert: Some Armenia officials received letter that they were victims of national hackers attack Armenia FM meets with France minister of foreign trade Foreign Policy: US to resume nuclear arms control talks with Russia Armenia opposition MP: Artsakh army reduction is impermissible Biden to warn Chinas Xi that North Korea path could lead to increase in US military presence US Treasury chief: India can buy as much Russian oil as it wants Newspaper: Armenia authorities trying to find legal grounds for signing peace treaty Newspaper: People of Karabakh not going to tolerate final destruction of their army Texas woman sentenced to death for killing pregnant woman, removing fetus from victim Van Gogh's painting sold for a record $117 million Gentiloni: EU countries have accumulated enough gas to get through the coming winter Several dozen activists detained at protest rally in Baku: They chant slogans 'Freedom!', 'Resign!' 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Pashinyan: Azerbaijan must withdraw its troops from Armenia Pashinyan: My yesterday's speech served its purpose, Azerbaijani MFA no longer uses 'corridor' term Microsoft founder Paul Allen's collection of world masterpieces sold for $1.6 billion Public TV of Armenia hosts Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan China shows drone killer Armenian FM meets his French counterpart Rishi Sunak decides to close hole in British budget through austerity Delegation of Russian MPs visits Jermuk resort town Lavrov and Mirzoyan discuss regional agenda Harut Sasunyan: The best way to achieve peace is to be prepared for war Turkish prosecutor demands court to ban Istanbul mayor from political activities German business leaders warn against leaving China Sasunyan: Russia and US pursue their own interests in South Caucasus British economy shrinks in three months, foretelling prolonged recession Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan summoned to Foreign Ministry Euro rises above dollar for first time in long time Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister calls Council of Turkic States 'forum of peace' and praises Turkey EU embargo on Russian oil will be a boon for OPEC Armenia defense minister receives China ambassador, military attache Lemkin Institute condemns Azerbaijan president's genocidal rhetoric Dollar goes up, euro rises sharply in Armenia U.S. warns Europe that conflict over Taiwan will cause massive global economic shock EU calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to moderate their rhetoric Erdogan says Turkey has been waiting at door of EU for 52 years and will give answer when time comes U.S. fears that European support for Ukrainian strategy will begin to weaken Armenia, Iran emphasize need to quickly implement agreements reached (PHOTOS) Armenia soldier wounded by Azerbaijan shooting undergoes surgery Gas over morality: Hungary guards Azerbaijan's interests U.S. quietly seeks concessions from Saudi Arabia after Mohammed bin Salman humiliated Biden Italy's Ambassador to Armenia visits Gyumri Russian Armed Forces complete redeployment of grouping from right bank of Dnieper IRGC: Adversaries are frightened and on alert Armenia appoints ambassador to Sri Lanka Kremlin doesn't consider leaving Kherson 'humiliating' Israeli president thinks the world is concerned about Netanyahu's far-right coalition partner Chinese MFA: China is not distancing itself from Russia, as Biden believes Ukraine will seek help from its foreign partners in financing Starlink satellite internet systems Erdogan: Situation in South Caucasus remains fragile Marukyan: Azerbaijans Aliyev admitted that his country started 2nd Karabakh war, despite previously insisting opposite Azerbaijan blackmailing Armenia through Lachin corridor Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus becomes observer in Organization of Turkic States Armenia PM: In his latest speech Aliyev flagrantly violated agreement on refraining from threat or use of force World Bank official: Armenia is one of best countries in terms of credit portfolio performance Azerbaijan president makes repeated accusations, threats against Armenia Iran citizens injured in Armenia road accident China reveals new giant drone that could point to the future of air warfare US embassy in Armenia closed today Karabakh MOD: Defense Army did not fire at Azerbaijan positions located in occupied territories Israel and U.S. counter threat of hypersonic missiles together U.S. and EU plan to publish new roadmap on artificial intelligence Armenia ombudsperson meets with Belgium colleagues Newspaper: Armenia parliament opposition seats to no longer be empty Newspaper: Armenia parliament committee of inquiry into 2020 war circumstances is inactive U.S. will no longer consider Russia a country with a market economy US intends to protect Azerbaijan from threats of Iran Aliyev, Erdogan discuss results of tripartite meeting in Russias Sochi Probe commission confiscates documents from BPKIHS over irregularities Medical Education Probe Commission on Tuesday confiscated documents from the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences following complaints that claimed monetary misappropriation and leakage of question papers in the institution. RPP withdraws support to govt Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) led by Kamal Thapa withdrew its support extended to the government. Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOGL) - Get Free Report Google has fired the employee that authored a controversial memo that suggested men were better suited for tech jobs than women. The 10-page memo, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber" went viral within Google last week and was first reported externally by the tech blog Motherboard. In it, the author says that women are underrepresented in tech because of inherent psychological differences between men and women. Alphabet shares were little changed in after-hours trading at $945.10 after closing at $945.75 each in New York Monday. Google CEO Sundar Pichai Monday evening wrote to staff saying the memo violated the company's code of conduct and "cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK," Pichai wrote. "It is contrary to our basic values and our Code of Conduct, which expects 'each Googler to do their utmost to create a workplace culture that is free of harassment, intimidation, bias and unlawful discrimination.'" Google has not publicly named but Bloomberg reported that software engineer James Damore confirmed in an email that he had been let go for "perpetuating gender stereotypes" and was exploring legal action against the company. Internal discussions boards seen by Bloomberg suggest that multiple employees supported the dismissal of the employee and said they would choose not to work with him. The memo also criticized the company's diversity programs and questioned whether differing views could be said freely within Google. "Many points raised in the memo-such as the portions criticizing Google's trainings, questioning the role of ideology in the workplace, and debating whether programs for women and underserved groups are sufficiently open to all-are important topics," Pichai wrote. "The author had a right to express their views on those topics-we encourage an environment in which people can do this and it remains our policy to not take action against anyone for prompting these discussions." He added that Google needs to find a way to debate issues on which there is disagreement but within the lines of the code of conduct. To be sure, the memo has ignited a firestorm of debate on diversity in the workplace. Watch:5 Times You Were Glad That You Don't Work in P.R. Such a memo demonstrates "explicit bias and unconscious bias," said Sharon Jones, CEO of the global consulting firm on diversity and inclusion initiatives, Jones Diversity, in an interview with TheStreet. Jones said the biological claim is an explicit bias because the author is saying women are not fit biologically to be engineers or coders at Google; the author's unconscious bias stems from his reliance on stereotypes, such as female characteristics, throughout the memo. She also thought that the engineer was rehashing past views on biological differences, something that as a country "we have rejected." Danielle Brown, Google's recently installed vice president of diversity, integrity and governance, issued a statement regarding the memo saying it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender, adding that it is "not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages." "We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and we'll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul," Brown said. Google VP Ari Balogh, whom the engineer reported to, also felt compelled to respond. "One of the aspects of the post that troubled me deeply was the bias inherent in suggesting that most women, or men, feel or act a certain way," Balogh wrote. "That is stereotyping, and it is harmful." He said building an open, inclusive environment is core to Google and is the right thing to do. More of What's Trending on TheStreet: Another former Google engineer, Yonatan Zunger, said that the memo was "incredibly stupid and harmful." "The author does not appear to understand the consequences of what he wrote, either for others or himself," Zunger wrote on Medium. Jennifer Brown, the founder of Jennifer Brown Consulting, a strategic leadership, diversity and inclusion consulting firm, echoed Zunger's sentiment, telling TheStreet that the "memo feels very harmful to many people who are already doubtful as to whether they belong and question their own merits." "If the workplace is more suitable for masculine characteristics, then we have to revisit the norms of the workplace," Jennifer Brown said. "Women bring a balance to leadership skill sets that would positively impact the workplace." The male engineer also claimed that Google created discriminatory practices through its programs, mentoring and classes for people with certain gender or race, which both Jennifer Brown and Jones disputed. Jennifer Brown said the memo criticizes some of the critical support structures aimed at helping those people feeling left out. Jones, meanwhile, said affinity groups "are an inclusion strategy and a best practice." "If you are a leader in any organization, it's important that people who are isolated can find a community because they will stay with the community longer," Jennifer Brown said. "It's a retention mechanism." According to the Google website, there is a Women@Google group that is comprised of more than 10,000 female employees. Furthermore, women make up 31% of the company's overall workforce and 25% of the leadership team, Google reported citing data from January 2017. In tech, about 20% of employees are women; this percentage grows to 48% for non-tech positions. Going forward, Jennifer Brown said that companies need to operate from the premise that everyone has a diversity story, even white, straight men. Jones suggested that the company connect and tie its business goals to diversity and inclusion, "so that employees see the two as one." The controversial memo circulated across the tech company with market capitalization of $648 billion as Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., deals with a wage discrimination investigation by the Department of Labor. In mid-July, an administrative judge for the DoL issued a recommended decision and order as to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' (OFCCP) demand for data. The company said it will comply with the order, assuming the recommended decision becomes final. The Action Alerts PLUS holding disagrees with the agency's allegations. Alphabet is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells GOOGL? Learn more now. Watch More with TheStreet: Get your Milwaukee history fix this summer with OnMilwaukee's Urban Spelunking, sponsored by DearMKE. Fall in love with Milwaukee and its stories on DearMKE.com, or go on your own urban exploration and share your photos and your stories of Milwaukee with #DearMKE on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Call it the price of being a pioneer. By having the foresight to invest in a trio of vintage, hulking industrial buildings at 5th and Florida in 1995 two of which it later sold and have since been renovated into successful businesses Coakley Brothers helped spark a renaissance at that intersection. But then the moving, storage and office furniture solutions company found its own 175,000-square foot headquarters at 400 S. 5th St. falling behind the times in rapidly rising Walkers Point. While 500 W. Florida St. was transformed into the thriving Iron Horse Hotel, and The Brix Apartment Lofts occupies wonderfully buffed 408 W. Florida St., Coakleys huge, interconnected four-building complex about 120,000 square feet of which is storage still has its windows covered and its front entrance obscured by a jumble of a parking lot. Recently, Coakley Brothers announced an impressive $6 million building renovation designed by Kubala Washatko Architects that will re-paint the exterior, replace and re-open all the windows and reconfigure space inside to create a new showroom for its Brothers Business Interiors company and a showroom for West Elm Workspace. The latter will house the states only dealer and showroom for the brand launched by Brooklyn-based West Elm in 2015. The showrooms will be located in the building pictured above. The company recently released a series of renderings showing how the completed project will look: "Being here since 1995, the building itself needed an update," says Benjamin Juech, vice president of Brothers Business Interiors. "You know, deferred maintenance and a general update to the building was certainly due. "But the biggest driver, certainly, is our expansion of the Brothers Business Interiors brand. We are celebrating our fifth anniversary, so that was a nice connection to what is kind of the next step for us." The showrooms are clearly business decisions for Coakley, but much of the $6 million investment will fund improvements that will produce results more related to aesthetics and green infrastructure than direct sales. The replacement and re-opening of all the windows will make the building which is the tallest in the immediate area much more attractive and allow it to shine in its surroundings. The new parking lot will be more aesthetically pleasing for the neighborhood, too, and at the same time more useful for Coakley. It will also include green water features for stormwater management. A series of public art pieces will be added to the property, too. The plan also includes the installation of a "blue roof" on the roof, pictured above, of the seven-story 1911 "tower" section of the complex to store stormwater that can then be released after peak flow in the sewer system has eased. A pair of photos from the Milprint era, courtesy of Coakley Brothers. "I think as a company our mantra is to support the environment, support the community that's something that we are always looking at," says Juech, as we tour the Coakley complex. "Also, since we've launched Brothers Business Interiors, Walker's Point and the Third Ward have really become, as we're terming it, the design district of Milwaukee. Within a five-minute walk of this building you can hit 14 different architecture and design firms. And that's who we support, that's who we work with. "So as we were deciding what to do with the building, you have the merchandise mart in Chicago where you go to see furniture manufacturers you want for your projects we want this to be a Milwaukee mart. We want those A and B firms to come here." Juech says the plan is to have spaces where Brothers can host events, have a wide variety of samples for customers to see. And, Coakley wants to join in the neighborhood it helped to spark 22 years ago. "We want to be open to the community and we want to embrace you know the neighborhood that has evolved around us," Juech says. "Nineteen-ninety-five was a much different day for Walker's Point, so now we want to be a part of that thriving street life and thriving kind." The two new showrooms will be in the oldest building in the complex which was built for Milwaukee Printing Co. (aka Milprint, now headquartered in Oshkosh) and purchased by Coakley from C&H Distributors a two-story brick structure that faces Florida Street. Here, the interior will be gutted and its architectural features will be highlighted. The hardwood floors will be sanded and refinished (a test patch is pictured in the photo above). Drywall will be removed and the brick walls beneath will remain exposed. The wooden supports will be visible for everyone to see, as will the wood ceiling trusses: On the ground floor of the tower and a low addition to the south, a former loading area (pictured below) will be transformed into an employee gym. Next to it there will be a training room and, adjacent, facing 5th Street, a new employee lounge. The bricked-up garage door openings here will be re-opened and will access a patio space for employees. The concrete floors in the tower will also be restored and terrazzo floors are being uncovered and refinished. Here you can see some potential color options: Nearly $1 million of the project budget is slated for window replacement, which will likely be the first phase. Most of the space in the complex is without daylight, so the change inside will be quite drastic. But it will be no less so from the outside. "It will happen in stages. Weve got to do the windows before we do the parking lot," says Juech. "So, the windows will be the first big kind of exterior update and we hope that this is end of this year, beginning of next year. "But you know there's a lot of dominoes that have to fall inside the building, because it's full. When you're replacing windows in a full building you have to do it very methodically. The parking lot will really be the last piece because you know we don't want to redo the parking lot and then have all these trucks and cranes driving on the new lot." Work on the project is expected to be completed next summer. Kaszube's Park on Jones Island is the smallest park in the county, perhaps not even as large as a city lot. It is maintained by the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works and meant to commemorate the people alternatively referred to as Kaszubs, Kaszubes or Kashubes, immigrants who settled on the island after being forced from northern Poland in the 1800s. The park is located on South Carferry Drive and sits amidst shipping crates alongside a chain link fence. The park's two trees are a stark contrast to the piles of road salt towering nearby. A sign tells passersby that this is a park. A large anchor, currently adorned with the graffiti "S.S. Lisa," rests next to one of the trees and a historical marker has been placed in front of it. The marker reads, "Designated as a Milwaukee landmark in 1974 in recognition of the unique multi-ethnic fishing village that flourished on this peninsula during the late 19th and 20th centuries and played a significant role in the city's history." In addition to the Kashubes, some Germans and Norwegians lived on the island, which is actually a peninsula. What's referred to as a "straight cut" was made north of Jones Island, creating an island, as well as Milwaukee's interior harbor where the Milwaukee, Kinnickinnic and Menomonee Rivers meet. The south end of the island later filled with sediment from the rivers, reconnecting it to Bay View. The Kashubes created a fishing village on Jones Island, building homes and working Lake Michigan for decades. Most of these island residents did not own the land they lived on. When the Illinois Steel Company, which owned the island, threatened to evict them all, the city of Milwaukee came to their aid, only to later force the residents off anyway when the island was designated as the primary location for our waste water treatment facility. Most of the evictions took place in the 1920s, but sources say people continued to live on the island well into the '40s. The Kashubes are a Slavic tribe who originally settled on or near the Hel peninsula, which juts into the Baltic Sea, between 1,100 and 1,400 years ago. (Hel is not a bad place, but, rather, named after Helios, the chariot-driving sun god.) That region is known as Kaszuby and in modern Poland is in the province of Pomerania. Due to the "reorganization" of Poland by Prussia and Russia in the 1800s, attempts to displace Poles with German citizens and weaken ethnic and cultural ties, many people, including the Kashubes, left Poland. They settled across North America, including rural Ontario, where there is a historical and cultural association keeping Kashube traditions alive and where many people still speak an ancient language. Kashubes speak Kashubian (or, in Polish, "kaszubski") which some people call a dialect of Polish but that many linguists classify as its own language. The Polish government classifies Kashubian a "regional language," most likely to keep it politically contained. Donald Tusk, the current prime minister of Poland, is a fourth generation Kashube. In an interview with linguistics scholars studying the Kashubian language and its repression in Poland, Tusk remarked how there is now a "healthy snobbery" about Kashubian and that many younger Poles are adding it as a third or fourth language. Kashubes in Milwaukee maintained their traditions for generations as well and many descendants of the Jones Island inhabitants are steeped in family lore that goes back over 100 years. Julie Anne Mikolajek's grandparents lived on Jones Island. Mikolajek's grandmother Pauline Budzisz and her sister left Kaszuby about the same time John Selin, her grandfather, did. They grew up and were married in Milwaukee and then lived on the island until the city evicted them. They then moved to a house at South 9th Street and Greenfield Avenue. John Selin lived near and worked on Lake Michigan almost his entire life. One of Mikolajek's fondest memories of her grandfather is when he took her onboard the tug boat he worked when she was about 10 or 11. "He worked the third shift, so it was very late and exciting. I got a tour of the boat," says Mikolajek. Mikolajek's sister and cousin have traveled to the Kaszuby region and done extensive genealogical research. As has Rick Petrie, executive director of Urban Anthropology. The organization operates the Old South Side Settlement Museum, 707 W. Lincoln Ave., in which is a room dedicated to the Kashubes of Jones Island. "Jones Island is a piece of history where the least-known ethnic group resided," says Petrie. Urban Anthropology used to offer boat tours of Jones Island during which the Kashubes were focused on, but the boat captain the organization chartered with retired. But Urban Anthropology plans to incorporate the history of the Kashubes on a bus tour called "Lost Milwaukee," which will also cover other historic ethnic neighborhoods such as the Third Ward, Tory Hill (which is now mostly the Marquette Interchange) and Bronzeville. A trip to the park on such a tour might be in order, especially since it's difficult to find on one's own. Although tour goers will have to take turns sitting at the park's one picnic table. Mikolajek recently traveled to the park with her husband and she was very happy to see a red tug boat docked behind the park, reminiscent of the one her grandfather worked on. But when asked about an entire park, no matter how small, dedicated to her ancestors, Mikolajek is somewhat less joyous. "I'm fascinated by the story of the people and the island itself," Mikolajek says. "But a sign or something probably would have been enough." There are nearly 2 million youth who spend at least one night homeless each year in the United States. An estimated 7 percent of homeless youth are likely to be HIV positive. Researchers from the USC Center for AI for Society (CAIS), a joint research initiative between the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, have developed algorithms that are over 150 percent more effective in spreading public health information than methods currently used by many social service agencies. These algorithms help identify the most influential peer leaders to share important HIV prevention information in real-world peer networks and facilitate peer-to-peer interventions among youth who are homeless. Influence maximization is the science of how people spread information. This particular project was adopted by a team of computer scientists and social work researchers affiliated with USC CAIS in order to improve the reach of social service agencies that had limited budget and reach for distribution of important public health communiques. The interdisciplinary team was focused on the goal of changing behavior via in-person friend-to-friend influence versus online social media networkswhich the researchers believed would be less likely to change behavior versus the in-person suggestion of a friend. The results of the study, were published in "Influence Maximization in the Field: The Arduous Journey from Emerging to Deployed Application," presented at the 2017 International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-agent Systems. The study by Amulya Yadav, Bryan Wilder, Eric Rice, Robin Petering, Jaih Craddock, Amanda Yoshioka-Maxwell, Mary Hemler, Laura Onasch-Vera, Milind Tambe, and Darlene Woo, built upon previous work by the same team of researchers to maximize the impact of peer leaders from a Los Angeles homeless youth program. In this particular study, the researchers created algorithms and tested how successfully these algorithms performed in predicting which peer leaders would be most effective at spreading public health information among 173 homeless youth. Their two predictive tools known as HEALER (which stands for Hierarchical Ensembling-based Agent which pLans for Effective Reduction in HIV spread) and DOSIM (which stands for Double Oracle for Social Influence Maximization) were field tested over a seven-month period. Both algorithms HEALER and DOSIM were successful in changing behavior of those individuals who received public health messages about HIV prevention. HEALER, the first algorithm that the team developed, assumed that youth participating in the study would rate all their friends in terms of closeness and their willingness to confide in them about their sexuality and/or HIV status, and this information would be incorporated into HEALER. However, in many real-world settings, getting this information is infeasible. DOSIM removes this assumption and works even if youth participating in the study do not rate their friends at all," says the study's lead author, Amulya Yadav, a PhD student in the department of computer science at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Existing methods used by many social service agencies are akin to selecting the individuals perceived to be most popular to serve as peer leaders to share information. In doing their analyses, the researchers surmise that this popularity strategy (or centrality as the researchers call it) is less effective in getting the word out. The researchers found that this strategy spread health information to approximately 27 percent of the population. They found that among those in the center there was too much overlapthose youth who were more central remained in the same, fixed social circles so information didn't go far beyond their social groups. In contrast, applying the USC CAIS algorithms HEALER and DOSIM helped social workers to select peer leaders who spread public health information to around 70 percent of non-peer leaders compared to the nearly 27 percent reach of the current methodology. Beyond sharing information about HIV, the key to prevention is getting tested for HIV status. Existing methods of selecting the most popular or central individuals to be peer leaders did not seem to convince individuals to make an effort to get tested. The algorithms creating by the USC team did encourage testing. Youth selected by HEALER convinced 37 percent of their peers to get tested for HIV, and DOSIM selected youth convinced 25 percent of their friends to get tested for the HIV virus. Milind Tambe, a computer science professor at USC Viterbi School of Engineering who co-founded USC CAIS and an author on the study said, "This paper shows the power of interdisciplinary research. AI algorithms for influence maximization were tested in the field to show the great benefits that accrue for low resource communitiesresearch that would not get done without AI and Social Work researchers coming together to conduct it." Eric Rice, an associate professor in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, at USC who co-founded USC CAIS with Tambe, said, "It was inspiring to train these youth and watch them become such effective advocates in their community. We saw real changes in conversations about sexual health and HIV testing." Rice added, "The change in health behaviors and communication we saw were inspiring. But perhaps even more inspiring, was watching the youth who acted as peer leaders grow and thrive. For several of them, this was a turning point in their lives and they are now off the streets and have jobs." In addition, to the important real-life, human impact, the researchers are excited about the work from an academic standpoint, "It is really exciting because this is the first time algorithms for maximization has ben deployed in the real world, said Yadav. The researchers are now in the process of doing a more extensive study of these algorithms and additional variations. The study will look at the information flow among 900 homeless youth. Volunteers braved sweltering heat and humidity to comb one of the worst-affected beaches, filling black bin bags with the lumps of oil Residents in Hong Kong desperately tried to clear the coastline of greasy lumps of palm oil Tuesday as it continues to wash ashore after a huge spillage at sea. Their efforts came as the government said around 1,000 tonnes of the solidified oil had spilled from a cargo ship after a collision with another vessel near the Pearl River estuary in southern China Thursday. It was the first time authorities had confirmed how much had been spilled. Around 200 tonnes is likely to reach Hong Kong's shores, deputy environment chief Tse Chin-wan told reporters. Thirteen of the city's most popular swimming spots are closed after white clumps of the oil started appearing Sunday. Official cleaning teams have been sent to clear it from beaches and surrounding waters. But criticism of the government's response is mounting. On Wednesday afternoon a team of local volunteers from Lamma Island in the south of Hong Kong braved sweltering heat and humidity to comb one of the worst-affected beaches, filling black bin bags with the lumps of oil. A sour stench hung over the area and small numbers of dead fish were washing in. The surrounding pathways were slippery with oil that had melted as temperatures hit 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit). Updated map showing the location of beaches in Hong Kong closed after a spillage of palm oil. "The government should put in more effort to clean up. I'm here because no one else is doing it," Tony Mok, 31, told AFP. "Every morning it looks like it has snowed in Hong Kong, and every afternoon it's all melted back down under the sand," said Lamma resident Robert Lockyer, who was leading the two dozen volunteers working to remove the oily white clumps. Aleli Pena, 38, described the clean-up effort as "hard, hot and disgusting". "We're all volunteerswhere are you government?" she asked. Too little, too late? Others said government cleaners had been working hard, but questioned why more had not been done to intercept the oil before it reached the beaches. Environment campaigner Gary Stokes said the government should have installed pollution boomsa kind of floating barrierto stop the oil reaching the beaches. Contract cleanup crew for the Hong Kong Marine Department use nets to scoop up lumps of solidified palm oil from the water in Hong Kong's Lamma Island Stokes, Asia Director for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has written to the marine department asking them to install the booms to guard against more oil washing in. Tse had said earlier that he would not rule out the oil spreading to other areas. The government has repeatedly described the palm oil as non-toxic and "harmless" to humans. "You will see that many instant noodles have palm oil in them," Tse said Wednesday, although he acknowledged a large amount would affect the environment. Stokes said the oil was hazardous to wildlife because it attracts bacteria and had left a greasy film on the water which would reduce the supply of oxygen. After examining the waters by boat himself, he told AFP the fish were "going crazy" for the lumps of oil and eating it, with unknown consequences. The government has been questioned over why it was not notified by mainland authorities until Saturday of the Thursday spill. Thirteen of the city's most popular swimming spots are closed after white clumps of the oil started appearing Sunday Tse said it was only then that Chinese authorities realised it would spread to "other regions". The marine department then dispatched ships to try to recover some of the oil, he said. So far 50 tonnes had been gathered in Hong Kong and 38 tonnes in Guangdong, Tse added. 2017 AFP The Center for Astrophysics' new app, Eclipse 2017, comes with several features to prepare, learn, and watch the eclipse that will travel across the United States on Aug. 21. Credit: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Thousands of years ago, human beings reacted to solar eclipses with dismay, flooding the streets with pots and pans to scare away whatever had blotted out the sun with a cacophony of banging and shouting. When a total solar eclipse crosses the United States on Aug. 21 people will once again take to the streets with a great deal of anxiety, but most will be concerned primarily with getting a good view. With solar safety glasses available at every counter and an expected 27 million Americans traveling to the path of totalitythe nearly 3,000-mile-long arc from the coast near Salem, Ore., to Charleston, S.C., in which a view of the total eclipse is possibleit is clear that eclipse fever has swept the country. Seeing an opportunity to educate and inspire a new wave of astronomers, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) has released a smartphone app, Eclipse 2017, available on iOS and Android. "We haven't had an eclipse cross the United States like this in nearly 100 years," says CfA spokesperson Tyler Jump. "Because it's such a rare and exciting event, we wanted to create an interactive guide that everyone could enjoy. Even if you're not in the path of totality, our app allows you to calculate exactly how much of an eclipse you'll be able to see and get a preview with our eclipse simulation. It's also a great opportunity to highlight some of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's (SAO) solar research. SAO was founded in large part to study the sun, and we've been doing so now for more than a century." The suns corona is visible to the naked eye during a total solar eclipse. Credit: Luc Viatour / http://www.Lucnix.be The free app comes with a host of resources for the amateur astronomer. A comprehensive viewing guide offers a crash course in the science behind eclipses and instructions on how to safely observe the celestial phenomenon. Videos from the Solar Dynamics Observatory show the sun in different wavelengths, revealing the many layers of solar activity. Users can also access an interactive eclipse map, which gives lunar transit times and simulated views for any location in the United States. In Cambridge, a partial eclipse covering most of the sun will be visible in the afternoon from about 1:30 to 4. But along the path of totality, for up to 2 minutes, viewers will enjoy one of the astronomy's most extraordinary sights: the sun's ethereal corona. Normally invisible due to the amount of light emanating from the sun's surface, the "crown" of magnetized plasma reaches temperatures over a million degrees Kelvinnearly 2 million Fahrenheitand is best known as the site of the sun's awesome and violent flares. Monday's will be the first total eclipse to be visible from the United States since 1991, and the first to be visible from every state since 1918. Though this is the first total eclipse to cross the United States in nearly 40 years, there is a total eclipse visible from Earth about every 18 months. For those who will not have a chance to view the eclipse with their own eyes, the app will provide a live stream of the eclipse as it travels across the country. But if it has to be the real thing, in April 2024 the United States is due for total eclipse that will travel from Texas to Maine. A lucky stretch of land along the Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky borders will see two total eclipses in just seven years. This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. A sworn statement that all 350 million had been sold to the public. Credit: National archives The British government's initial efforts to pay for World War One through loans from the public was a spectacular failure, according to a new study using restricted Bank of England ledgers. The research reveals that the War Loan scheme failed to such an extent that the Bank of England had to secretly fund half the shortfall. The results are early findings from a major project on World War One finance, co-led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the Bank of England. As part of the project the research team was granted exclusive access to ledgers in the Bank of England which show that the government's first War Loan scheme of 1914 raised less than a third of its 350 million target. The 91 million that was raised publicly came mostly from a tiny group of wealthy financiers, companies, and private individuals. QMUL researcher Norma Cohen says: "The fund raising effort was such a failure that the establishment felt compelled to cover it up. The truth would have led to a collapse in the price of outstanding war loans which would have endangered future capital raising. Had it come to light, it would have been a propaganda coup for the Germansthe great patriotic project to pay for the war was mostly a myth." Secrecy The government and the Bank of England moved quickly and secretly to plug the gap. The Bank's Chief Cashier Sir Gordon Nairn and his Deputy Ernest Harvey purchased the outstanding loans in their own names with the bonds then held by the Bank on its balance sheet. To hide the fact that the Bank was forced to step in, the bonds were classified as holdings of 'Other Securities' in the Bank's balance sheet, rather than as holdings of government securities. To compound the secrecy, Sir Gordon later formally swore a statement that all 350 million had been sold to the public. This is the first time that the full scope of government efforts to hide the scale of the War Loan failure has been revealed. This failure was to haunt senior ministers for the duration of the war as it struggled to raise the capital needed by Britain and its allies to defeat Germany and dictate peace terms. The failure of the scheme was in stark contrast to the public's perception of the War Loan effort. The government led a propaganda effort to persuade the public that the scheme had been an overwhelming success. The Financial Times reported on 23 November 1914 that the scheme was "over-subscribed by 250 million...and still the applications are pouring in". Ledgers from the Bank of England archives. Credit: Bank of England War-time fundraising Alastair Owens, Professor of historical geography at QMUL and Principal Investigator on the project says the failure of the scheme had a significant impact on Britain's approach to war-time fundraising. "Faced with the possibility of an Allied defeat, Britain showed a willingness to abandon the free-trade and laissez-fair principles that were the hallmarks of Liberal and Conservative governments in the decades before 1914," says Professor Owens. Evidence from the sample of early investors in the War Loan shows that 'sacrifice' and patriotism alone were not sufficient to attract the required funds. Subsequent war financings would offer investors even higher premiums and previously unthinkable tax breaks in exchange for capital. This includes the mammoth War Loan of 1917 which raised 2.1 billion with a hefty return of 5.4 per cent. But after the war, according to Norma Cohen, the battle began over how that debt burden should be shared. "As the war unfolded, ministers were pilloried for rewarding investors far too generously for surrendering capital which should have been sacrificed gladly as a matter of patriotic principle. In the 1920s, as debt service rose to nearly 40 per cent of tax receipts, investors were cast as profiteers, idly collecting rents on War Loans while others toiled," said Ms Cohen. UK national debt Sample investors Julia Caroline Mary Mocatta Ms Mocatta was one of the early investors in War Loan, purchasing 300 in stock on 28 December 1914 through a plan to pay on instalments known as 'scrip'. On 1 October 1915, she took the opportunity to convert into the more generous 4-1/2 per cent War Loan. The ledgers identify her occupation as 'Spinster' reflecting the prevailing practice of describing women only by their relationship to a man. However, the 1911 Census reveals she was much more than that; she is a nurse at a home in Grosvenor Place, Southampton, the same address as is listed in the ledger. According to King's College London archives, Ms Mocatta, born in Bispham, Lancashire, was the daughter of a vicar who died when she was only 17. She had an accomplished career as a nurse, training first at University College Hospital in London and then at Charing Cross Hospital. By the time she became Matron at Royal Hampshire County Hospital in 1895, she was earning an annual salary of 100, well above the national median and placing her firmly among Britain's expanding middle classes. By the time war broke out in 1914, she was 55 years old - old enough to have accumulated a tidy savings potand had already developed a nursing course for women who had not had any formal training. She was active in Church circles and was honorary treasurer of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. She died in 1932, leaving an estate valued at over 21,000. Sir Iain Colquhoun-of-Luss Sir Iain was a Scottish baronet and one of a group of four well-to-do young men who clubbed together to invest in War Loan in December 1914, buying 1,000 of the 3-1/2 per cent issue. Half was sold in October 1915, but the remainder was converted into the 4-1/2 per cent War Loan. He succeeded his father to become the 7th Baronet of Luss, a title that goes back to the early 15th century. Sir Iain was an officer in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards serving on the Western Front, and was wounded, awarded a Distinguished Service Order and suffered a court martial. The details and photo can be found here. After the informal Christmas truce of 1914, British generals decreed that such an event must not happen again. However, at Christmas, 1915, during a temporary lull, Sir Iain agreed to a German request that each should have three-quarters of an hour to collect and bury their dead. "The Germans then started burying their dead and we did the same," he wrote in his diary. "This was finished in hrs time. Our men and the Germans then talked and exchanged cigars, cigarettes etc. for of an hour and when the time was up I blew a whistle and both sides returned to their trenches." Sir Ian went on to become engaged in civic and military activities after the War and in 1931, was among the founders of the National Trust for Scotland. He died in 1948 and the age of 61. Thanks to the military interventions by the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, the former presidents have effectively expanded executive authority for Donald Trump to go to war, a study from the University of Waterloo has found. The study of U.S. military interventions between 2001 and 2016 found considerable similarities in the way Bush and Obama navigated around consultation and authorization protocols with Congress and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This set a precedent that presidents could unilaterally go to war as opposed to seeking authorization from Congress, as was the practice in previous administrations. "Right now, Donald Trump has an enormous amount of power to launch military action, perhaps more than any president since the Vietnam War," says Aaron Ettinger, an assistant professor of political science at Waterloo. "Trump's predecessors left a legacy of military adventurism that suits his aggressive style." For his study, Ettinger researched official U.S government documents and surveyed the vast literature on post-9/11 U.S. foreign policy. The erosion of legal and institutional constraints on the president going to war didn't happen overnight, according to the study. Since 9/11, Bush and Obama both worked around domestic and international law in ways that tried to balance U.S. independence with respect for international order. The study also found that while both Bush and Obama appealed to Congress for authorizations for the use of military force, it was Obama who proved more willing to proceed without it and by the end of his presidency, American forces were deployed and equipped for combat across North and East Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. "Obama scrupulously resisted large or ground-based military actions, but his willingness to move forward militarily without Congressional agreement represents a remarkable expansion of executive authority," said Ettinger. "The precedents set by both Bush and Obama take on added significance, given the inconsistencies in the new administration and instabilities internationally. "Trump's first six months as president have seen tensions rise on the Korean peninsula, ongoing depravity in Syria and Iraq, the devolution of relations with Russia, strains with China, and the alienation of NATO allies," Ettinger said. "We will soon see how a president with no foreign affairs experience, an aggressive personality and few restraints will respond to the current global climate." Aaron Ettinger's study was recently published in the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal. The Large Hadron Collider at CERN is the worlds largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Credit: UCI UC Irvine/Flickr We live in a noisy world. Interference from light, vibrations, electromagnetic radiation and sound can be annoying; it messes with our sleep and can interfere with our electrical equipment. For physicists who study the very small and the very far away, noise can be a deal-breaker. To reduce it, they often need to come up with large, expensive solutions. They had to build the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator to see the tiny signal from the Higgs Boson particle, and the world's longest and most sensitive ruler to see gravitational waves. Scientists have to send telescopes into space to avoid the noise of our atmosphere if they are to see the details of the most distant galaxies. But the solution isn't always on such a grand scale. In new research published in Nature Physics, a group of physicists from the University of Melbourne have found a way to reduce the noise experienced by quantum sensors just by spinning them. Quantum sensors are highly sensitive and among their many promising applications they are ushering in a new era of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) that is making visible the tiny details inside cells and proteins. A particularly promising quantum sensor is the nitrogen vacancy (NV) centre, found in diamonds. This is an atomic-level flaw, where a nitrogen atom replaces a carbon atom, trapping electrons in a quantum state. "An electron is essentially a bar magnet," says Dr Alexander Wood from the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne, who was first author on the Nature Physics paper. "It has a north pole and a south pole. And if we put an electron in a magnetic field, it will spin very rapidly." But the electrons in NV centres aren't the only magnets in a diamond. "In a diamond you have two kinds of carbon. Most are what is called carbon-12, which is pretty boring," says Dr Wood. "However, about 1 in every 100 carbon atoms is a carbon-13. It has an extra neutron. "Like electrons, the nucleus of each of these carbon-13 atoms is like a little bar magnet. And, like a bar magnet, if you put a carbon-13 nucleus in a magnetic field, it spins." Quantum states rely on a property called coherence, which is sensitive to environmental 'noise' that can lead to a loss of the quantum state, known as dephasing. Associate Professor Andy Martin, who led the Australian Research Council funded study, says that maintaining the quantum state of NV centres is hard. For their experiments, the researchers mounted a diamond with quantum sensors (NV centres, in blue) on a rotating spindle. The grid pattern represents the atomic structure of the diamond. The diamond is mostly non-magnetic carbon-14 atoms, but contains a small number of magnetic carbon-13. A green laser is used to both create and read the quantum state. Credit: University of Melbourne "A quantum state is fragile. It's fragile to the magnetic field in particular. If you have fluctuations in the magnetic field it will dephase the quantum sensor." Maintaining the quantum state is the key to using NV systems as quantum sensors of nano-scale environments Professor Hollenberg, who leads a University of Melbourne research group on quantum sensors, likens the quantum state to a bubble. "If your environment is prickly, then the quantum state won't last very long. But if your environment is less prickly, that bubble will last a lot longer," he says. "This is the principle by which we can sense the environment around the NV centre at extremely small scales and high sensitivity." In the study, researchers sought to reduce the effect of dephasing by quickly rotating the whole system. "The spinning atomic bar magnetics of the carbon-13 atoms create prickles in the magnetic field they interact with the NV centres, affecting its coherence and ability to sense," says Associate Professor Martin. Minimising the noise from carbon-13 increases the sensitivity of quantum sensors, which should lead to greater insights into the nanoscale world. This can be achieved using synthetically engineered and expensive isotopically pure carbon-12 diamonds, or by stopping the carbon-13 atoms from spinning. The problem with stopping the carbon-13 spinning is that the NV centre electrons would also stop spinning, and this spinning is crucial to how these quantum sensors work. The solution is to trick the NV centre into thinking the atomic bar magnets of the carbon-13 atoms have stopped spinning. To do this the team, working in the laboratory of Professor Robert Scholten, used a technique from classical physics. It involves rotating the whole diamond at high speeds. "In the magnetic field that we typically use, atomic bar-magnets of the NV centres will spin about 2.8 billion times per second, whereas the carbon-13 will spin about 5,000 times per second," says Dr Wood. "Because it is already spinning so fast, if we rotate the entire diamond at 5,000 times per second, the atomic bar-magnet of the NV centre isn't affected. If the diamond rotates in the same direction (orange) as the carbon-13, the quantum sensor sees a slower spin (and lower pseudo magnetic field), while if the diamond rotates in the opposite direction (purple) the quantum sensor sees a faster spin (and larger pseudo magnetic field). Credit: University of Melbourne "But the carbon-13 atoms are affected. And because the NV centre and the carbon-13 are now in the same frame of reference, rotating at 5,000 times a second in the same direction as the carbon atoms spin, it means the NV centre sees the carbon-13 as essentially stationary. "So you can effectively cancel the magnetic fields from the carbon-13 that these sensors see by putting your sensor and the carbon-13 inside the same rotating frame." "What we have here is an environment that when you are not rotating is quite spiky. And when you rotate it, it becomes less spiky, increasing the longevity of the quantum state," says Associate Professor Martin. Based on this we would assume that the optimum precision would occur when the diamond was spinning at exactly the same rate as the carbon-13. But the researchers found that this wasn't the case. "You would expect the quantum-ness of the sensor to go up and up until the carbon-13 spins are frozen in the rotating frame, but as we get closer to the frozen frame, the coherence starts to go down, because the carbon-13s start interacting with each other, adding noise back into the system," says Dr Wood. The researchers have determined the pseudo field that gives the greatest reduction in noise from the cabon-13 spins. "The sweet spot seems to be in a total magnetic field which is the combination of the normal field and the rotating frame pseudo field of one Gauss, which equates to the sensor seeing the carbon spin about 1000 times per second," says Dr Wood. "The Gauss is a measurement of magnetic flux density, or magnetic field strength. For example, a fridge magnet is about 100 Gauss and the Earth's magnetic field strength is about half a Gauss." While this technique could soon be used to improve the precision of quantum MRI scanners, Associate Professor Martin says it may also help to answer some fundamental questions in physics. "For example, quantum sensors could assist in answering such questions as; when does a fluid become a fluid?" he says. "Take a water molecule, that's not a fluid. Take two water molecules, that's not a fluid either. At some point it becomes a fluid and it's all to do with the scale at which you are probing. And you can only look at that if you can probe down to those scales. "Now you have these sensors based on nitrogen defects in diamonds. They don't have to be a big diamond like a diamond ring, they can be nano-crystals. They can be extremely small. "So you begin to have these devices that can measure translational and, now, rotational movement. It gives you a probe on these very small scales, not just in terms of magnetic fields but in terms of the translational and rotational motion." More information: A. A. Wood et al. Magnetic pseudo-fields in a rotating electronnuclear spin system, Nature Physics (2017). DOI: 10.1038/nphys4221 Journal information: Nature Physics Truckers upset by multiple taxation Public fear that newly-formed local bodies would start imposing various taxes and fees rampantly has come true with several rural municipalities in Dhading district levying taxes on the extraction and transportation of natural resources like sand and aggregates. Life reconstruction of the newly discovered Latenivenatrix mcmasterae by Julius Csotonyi. Credit: Julius Csotonyi New research from University of Alberta paleontologists shows one of North America's most broadly identified dinosaur species, Troodon formosus, is no longer a valid classification, naming two others in its stead. The discovery by graduate student Aaron van der Reest leaves North America's paleontology community in upheaval. In June 2014, van der Reest discovered an intact troodontid pelvis in Dinosaur Provincial Park, leading him to take a closer look at previously collected troodontid cranial bones from southern Alberta. "That's when everything fell together and we were able to confirm that there were in fact two different species in the Dinosaur Park Formation, instead of just one," said van der Reest. He named one of the new species Latenivenatrix mcmasterae and resurrected another, Stenonychosaurus inequalis. Setting the record straight Up until then, the vast majority of troodontid specimens found in North America had been classified as Troodon formosus. "Troodon formosus has been found from Mexico all the way to Alaska, spanning a 15 million year perioda fantastic and unlikely feat," explained van der Reest, a graduate student of renowned paleontologist Philip Currie. "The hips we found could ultimately open the door for dozens of new species to be discovered," said van der Reest. "Researchers with other specimens now have two new species for comparison, widening our ability to understand the Troodontid family tree in North America." Aside from being a new species, Latenivenatrix is in a league of its own. "This new species is the largest of the troodontids ever found anywhere in the world, standing nearly two metres at the head and close to 3.5 metres long," van der Reest said. "It's about fifty per cent larger than any other troodontids previously known, making it one of the largest deinonychosaurs (raptor like dinosaurs) we currently recognize." Personal connection For van der Reest, naming a new dinosaur species has been an especially powerful experience. He has named his discovery Latenivenatrix mcmasterae, or L. mcmasterae, in honour of his late mother, Lynne (McMaster) van der Reest, whose encouragement was essential for his pursuit of paleontology. "Having brought my first find full circle, from discovery to publishing my research three years later, has been really incredible," he explained. "I can't think of a better way to honour her memory." The paper, "Troodontids (Theropoda) from the Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, with a description of a unique new taxon: implications for deinonychosaur diversity in North America"is published in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. More information: Aaron J. van der Reest et al. Troodontids (Theropoda) from the Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, with a description of a unique new taxon: implications for deinonychosaur diversity in North America, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1139/cjes-2017-0031 Journal information: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Credit: CC0 Public Domain (Phys.org)A team of researchers with members from several European countries has conducted a study involving tracing the spread of common folktales throughout history in Eurasia. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes using genome data to trace two common means of folktale distribution. Most people today in the Western world are familiar with a handful of folktales, including "Hansel and Gretel," "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella" and "Rumpelstiltskin"such tales typically have a moral or lesson. Those that struck a chord tended to be widely told and were passed down through the generations, first orally, then through books. The researchers with this new effort wanted to know whether such tales were distributed through the grapevine, so to speak, or whether they were carried by people moving from one place to another. To find out, they used some of the growing amount of publicly available genome data. For their study, the researchers made a list of what they deemed the 596 most famous folktales in Europe and Asiathen, they compiled another list containing titles and information about published folktales. Next, they extracted information from global genome databases that provided data regarding the movement of people over different time periods. Connecting the two types of data allowed the researchers to create flow charts that described the movement of folktales over time. The researchers were able to see that both types of distribution were involved in the spread of folktales. Some of the tales moved through populations until they reached a border, either physical or social, such as a language barrier. Others were able to make giant leaps as people traveled great distances, taking the tales with them and relating them to those they encountered. The team notes that they were also able to isolate approximately 15 of the tales that had clearly spread due to migration. The researchers report that they were also able to narrow down the origination sites of some common fables to regions as broad as Northern Africa or Central Asia. More information: Inferring patterns of folktale diffusion using genomic data, Eugenio Bortolini, PNAS, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1614395114 Abstract Observable patterns of cultural variation are consistently intertwined with demic movements, cultural diffusion, and adaptation to different ecological contexts [Cavalli-Sforza and Feldman (1981) Cultural Transmission and Evolution: A Quantitative Approach; Boyd and Richerson (1985) Culture and the Evolutionary Process]. The quantitative study of geneculture coevolution has focused in particular on the mechanisms responsible for change in frequency and attributes of cultural traits, the spread of cultural information through demic and cultural diffusion, and detecting relationships between genetic and cultural lineages. Here, we make use of worldwide whole-genome sequences [Pagani et al. (2016) Nature 538:238242] to assess the impact of processes involving population movement and replacement on cultural diversity, focusing on the variability observed in folktale traditions (n = 596) [Uther (2004) The Types of International Folktales: A Classification and Bibliography. Based on the System of Antti Aarne and Stith Thompson] in Eurasia. We find that a model of cultural diffusion predicted by isolation-by-distance alone is not sufficient to explain the observed patterns, especially at small spatial scales (up to 4,000 km). We also provide an empirical approach to infer presence and impact of ethnolinguistic barriers preventing the unbiased transmission of both genetic and cultural information. After correcting for the effect of ethnolinguistic boundaries, we show that, of the alternative models that we propose, the one entailing cultural diffusion biased by linguistic differences is the most plausible. Additionally, we identify 15 tales that are more likely to be predominantly transmitted through population movement and replacement and locate putative focal areas for a set of tales that are spread worldwide. Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2017 Phys.org Giant panda Xing Ya celebrated his fourth birthday with an ice cake in Ouwehands Dierenpark zoo. Xing Ya and Wu Wen are on loan from China and will stay in the Dutch Zoo for the next 15 years Two multi-layered "cakes" made from ice, vegetable juice and fruit greeted a pair of giant pandas at a Dutch zoo Tuesday for their first birthday party since arriving from China. Female Wu Wen (Beautiful Powerful Cloud) and her male companion Xing Ya (Elegant Star) both turn four this month and officials at the Ouwehands Dierenpark in the central town of Rheenen decided to throw a joint party. "At first they both approached the cakes with caution, with the male panda giving his an exploratory lick," said animal biologist Jose Kok. "Then they became curious and realised 'hang on, this is something nice in my enclosure' and not long after that, the cake's layers were separated," Kok told AFP with a laugh. It took a week to prepare the icy treats, which where also layered with the pandas' favourite food: bamboo shoots. The two panda "superstars" arrived in The Netherlands in mid-April after an 8,000 kilometre (5,000 mile) journey from China, following years of negotiations in what has been dubbed "panda diplomacy". Male panda Xing Ya turned four on August 5, while Wu Wen was born on August 11. Officials decided to hold their birthday on August 8, the eighth day of the eighth month, figures which according to Chinese culture means good luck, Kok said. Officials decided to hold their birthday on August 8, the eighth day of the eighth month, figures which according to Chinese culture means good luck Dozens of delighted visitors were also treated to a real birthday cake in the form of a giant panda. The two pandas will be housed at the zoo for the next 15 years and for now are being kept in two separate enclosures, specially built for them at a price of seven million euros ($8 million). But Kok said it is hoped that the two bears would mate within the next year to help replenish global panda numbers. Some 1,864 pandas remain in the wild in China, an increase from around 1,000 in the late 1970s, according to the environmental group WWF. And just over 400 pandas live in zoos around the world, in conservation projects set up with Beijing. 2017 AFP This artist's drawing shows how two CubeSats, connected by a miles-long tether, would gather measurements on the moon. Credit: NASA A novel mission concept involving two CubeSats connected by a thin, miles-long tether could help scientists understand how the moon got its mysterious "tattoos"swirling patterns of light and dark found at more than 100 locations across the lunar surface. NASA's Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies, or PSDS3, program recently selected a team at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, to further develop a mission concept called the Bi-sat Observations of the Lunar Atmosphere above Swirls, or BOLAS. The study, led by Goddard Principal Investigator Timothy Stubbs, could lead to the first tethered planetary CubeSat mission, Stubbs said. "This is an exciting concept," said Michael Collier, a BOLAS co-investigator who has studied tether-based missions for gathering difficult-to-obtain lunar measurements since 2015. "Candidly, I think it's groundbreaking. Tethered satellites are a very natural approach for targeting lunar science." As currently conceived, the mission would involve two 12-unit CubeSats, whose individual units would measure just four inches on a side. Once the pair reached a low-maintenance, quasi-stable orbit about 62 miles above the moon's surface, the two, connected by a 112-mile-long thin tether, would separate. The top satellite would climb 118 miles above the surface, while the lower, nearly identical twin would plunge to an altitude of about six miles above the surface. "The tension in the tether keeps the CubeSats in vertical alignment as they orbit," Stubbs said. "The configuration, with the center-of-mass in a quasi-stable orbit, should enable the lower CubeSat to fly for long durations at low altitudes." Without a tether system, a comparable low-altitude mission would need prohibitive amounts of fuel to maintain its orbit. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, for example, flew in a circular orbit 31 miles above the surface early in its mission. If NASA hadn't executed propulsive maneuvers to maintain this orbit, the spacecraft would have smashed into the surface. This is due to the large concentrations of mass lurking on the lunar surface. These "mascons" change the gravity field and can either pull the spacecraft or push them off course, dooming them to a mission-ending collision. "For planetary objects that lack an atmosphere, tethering is an innovative approach to the technical challenge of low-altitude measurements using minimal propellant," Collier said, adding that a CubeSat couldn't carry the amount of fuel needed to carry out periodic station-keeping maneuvers. For scientists attempting to better understand the moon's odd, airless environment, the lower they can deploy the CubeSat, the better. Lunar swirls, such as the Reiner-Gamma swirl imaged by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, are strange markings on the moon that a conceptual CubeSat mission would study. Credit: NASA Equipped with a nearly identical suite of miniaturized instruments, including spectrometers and imagers already advanced by BOLAS co-investigators and collaborators, the twin satellites would characterize the lunar hydrogen cycle from both a low and high altitude. "There is a lot of science you can do with this instrument suite," Stubbs said, adding that the team plans to leverage subsystems developed by Kentucky's Morehead State University, which is leading NASA's Lunar IceCube mission. Lunar IceCube will prospect for lunar volatiles and water during its six months in lunar orbit. During its proposed one year in orbit, the BOLAS instruments would characterize the mechanisms for hydrogen implantation on the moon's surface as well as their dependence on the moon's composition, regolith, local topography, plasma conditions, time of day, and magnetic fields within the crust. One of the mission's primary goals is understanding the formation of lunar swirlsthe odd markings of light and dark that look almost as if they were painted on the surface of the moonand the role that magnetic anomalies and space weathering could play in their creation. Observations indicate that the swirls appear where ancient bits of magnetic field are embedded in the lunar crust. They also show that the bright areas appear to be less weathered than their surroundings. Several phenomena can cause material exposed to space to change both physically and chemically, resulting in darkening over time, including solar wind and micrometeoroid impacts. Those clues have led to three prominent theories about their formation. One theory suggests that the swirls and the magnetic fields both formed from plumes of material ejected by comet impacts. Another hypothesis states that when micrometeoroid bombardment lofts the moon's fine dust particles, an existing magnetic field over the swirls sorts them according to their susceptibility to magnetism, forming light and dark patterns with different compositions. And another theory postulates that since particles in the million-mile-per-hour solar wind are electrically charged, they respond to magnetic forces. Perhaps the magnetic field shields the surface from weathering by the solar wind. Observations from NASA's LRO lend credence to the magnetic-shield hypothesis, scientists say. However, no one is ruling out anything yet. Until scientists launch a mission capable of carrying out close-to-the-ground global measurements, a definitive answer isn't likely, Collier said. However, he believes the two-satellite BOLAS mission could provide the data the scientific community needs. "This could be a paradigm shift," Collier said. "All indications show that this mission can be done with existing technology." Small satellites, including CubeSats, are playing an increasingly larger role in exploration, technology demonstration, scientific research and educational investigations at NASA, including: planetary space exploration; Earth observations; fundamental Earth and space science; and developing precursor science instruments like cutting-edge laser communications, satellite-to-satellite communications and autonomous movement capabilities. A new Stanford study suggests that American public opinion on nuclear weapons usage has not fundamentally changed since 1945, and many people would support the use of such weapons to kill millions of civilians if the U.S. found itself in a similar wartime situation. Scott Sagan, a political science professor and senior fellow at Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation, and his co-author, Benjamin Valentino, a Dartmouth College professor of government, recently published a journal paper on how Americans think about the circumstances in which a U.S. president might use nuclear weapons during wartime activity. They used a survey experiment to recreate the situation that the United States faced in 1945 in the Hiroshima nuclear bombing with a hypothetical American war with Iran today. The results showed little support for the so-called "nuclear taboo" thesis, or that the principle of "noncombatant immunity" civilian protection from such weapons has become a deeply held norm in America. This month marks the 72nd anniversary of the atomic bomb used against Japan to help end World War II. Hiroshima was bombed Aug. 6 and Nagasaki was bombed on Aug. 9, 1945. Sagan said it suggests that the U.S. public's support for the principle of noncombatant immunity is "shallow and easily overcome by the pressures of war." When considering the use of nuclear weapons, the majority of Americans prioritize protecting U.S. troops and achieving American war aims, even when doing so would result in the deliberate killing of millions of foreign noncombatants, according to Sagan and Valentino. Sagan noted, "The most shocking finding of our study is that 60 percent of Americans would approve of killing 2 million Iranian civilians to prevent an invasion of Iran that might kill 20,000 U.S. soldiers." They explain that a number of variables Republican Party identification, older age, and approval of the death penalty for convicted murderers significantly increase support for using nuclear weapons against Iran. Public support changes In August 1945, 85 percent of the U.S. public told pollsters that they approved of President Harry Truman's decision to drop two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Sagan said. Since then, however, U.S. public approval of that decision has declined significantly. And 70 years after the end of World War II, a majority of Americans no longer approved of Truman's decision. A 2015 poll Sagan commissioned found that only 46 percent of Americans still viewed the atomic bombing of Japan as "the right thing to do." But Sagan and Valentino wrote that none of these polls ever put respondents in the situation the U.S. faced in 1945: Drop the bomb and kill Japanese civilians or invade Japan, which would likely cost the lives of many U.S. soldiers. "We wondered what would happen today if Americans were faced with a similar tradeoff," Sagan said. "Has the U.S. public really changed? Or were previous polls misleading guides to real public attitudes about nuclear weapons use?" Sagan's findings from a survey experiment conducted in July 2015 involved a representative sample of the U.S. public asked about a contemporary, hypothetical scenario designed to replicate the 1945 decision to drop a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima. He and Valentino created a news story in which Iran attacked a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf, Congress declared war, and the president was presented with the option of sending U.S. troops to march into Tehran, which would lead to many American military fatalities, or dropping a nuclear weapon on an Iranian city to try to end the war. "Would the U.S. public approve of the use of a nuclear weapon against a city in Iran in an attempt to end a war that the Iranian government had started in response to the imposition of U.S. economic sanctions?" Sagan asked. Thought experiment The researchers wrote, "This type of thought experiment obviously cannot re-create the depth of urgency and emotion that many Americans felt in 1945. As such, it constitutes a conservative test of the public's willingness to use nuclear weapons and target large numbers of noncombatants in a war." Their findings demonstrate that, contrary to the nuclear taboo thesis, a clear majority of Americans would approve of using nuclear weapons first against the civilian population of a nonnuclear-armed adversary, even killing 2 million Iranian civilians, if they believed that such use would save the lives of 20,000 U.S. soldiers. In addition, contrary to the principle of noncombatant immunity, an even larger percentage of Americans would approve of a conventional bombing attack designed to kill 100,000 Iranian civilians in the effort to intimidate Iran into surrendering, according to Sagan. The research also shows that women support nuclear weapons use and violations of noncombatant immunity no less (and in some cases, more) than male respondents, they wrote. "Women are as hawkish as men and, in some scenarios, are even more willing to support the use of nuclear weapons," Sagan added. "Most polls about war show that women are more dovish than men, but this is because they are more protective of their loved ones. If they are forced to choose between killing U.S. soldiers and killing foreign civilians, those same instincts appear to lead to more support for dropping the bomb." The experiment also provides insights into how a belief in retribution and an ability to assign blame retrospectively to foreign civilians allows people to rationalize the killing of foreign noncombatants, Sagan said. "Belief in the value of retribution is strongly related to support for using nuclear weapons, and a large majority of those who favor the use of nuclear weapons against Iran stated that the Iranian people bore some of the responsibility for that attack because they had not overthrown their government," he and his co-author wrote. The conclusions are stark and disturbing, Sagan said. "These findings highlight the limited extent to which the U.S. public has accepted the principles of just war doctrine and suggest that public opinion is unlikely to be a serious constraint on any president contemplating the use of nuclear weapons in the crucible of war," Sagan and Valentino wrote. Sagan recently proposed that the U.S. adopt the principle of "nuclear necessity" in a Carnegie Council podcast interview and in 2016 co-authored an op-ed in the Washington Post on the "common-sense fix" that American nuclear policy needs. Under such a principle, the U.S. would never target civilian populations and would not use nuclear weapons against any military target that could be destroyed by advanced conventional weapons. More information: Scott D. Sagan et al. Revisiting Hiroshima in Iran: What Americans Really Think about Using Nuclear Weapons and Killing Noncombatants, International Security (2017). DOI: 10.1162/ISEC_a_00284 Credit: Shutterstock How would you feel if your right to freedom of movement was infringed because other people your age were involved in criminal activity? You would be outraged, and rightly so. Yet this is the reality facing teenagers and young people as Scottish railway network ScotRail introduces the Mosquito anti-loitering device at two of their stations. In an effort to move young people on, the Mosquito emits an unrelenting high-frequency sound which affects those under the age of 25, who have the capacity to hear high-pitched sounds in a way that older people, whose hearing is gradually declining, do not. This move is in response to recent criminal activity committed at Hamilton and Helensburgh stations by groups of youths. However, the use of such devices targets all young people, regardless of their behaviour. The device deliberately discriminates, exploiting biological vulnerabilities which young people cannot do anything about. According to the inventors, this is a "safe" sound which relies upon the irritation it causes as a way of getting rid of youngsters when they are "loitering", and therein lies its aim. Compound Security, the company which developed the device 12 years ago, maintained in an interview (listen in at 6:50) with BBC Radio Scotland that its target market is not domestic homeowners, but it is possible for anyone to go online and purchase one of these devices from as little as 345. Problem kids The company markets the device by referring to "problems with kids and teens" who are "damaging property, hanging around in rowdy groups, littering, smoking and drinking, playing music" The language used by Compound Security, such as describing the device as having the "teeth to bite back at these kids" arguably attempts to demonise young people, and suggests that only a hostile approach to them "hanging about" surely a benign act can prevent such behaviour. But the anti-social problems this device seeks to prevent are not unique to those under 25. There are plenty of adults who are guilty of such behaviour. When criminal activity is involved, the police should be called. Devices such as the Mosquito encourage people to take the law into their own hands "without confrontation", according to Compound, while inadvertently infringing the human rights of all those under 25. ScotRail maintains that the devices are having a positive effect which has led to a reduction in incidents at these two stations. But this does little to ease the disquiet of the Scottish Commissioner for Children and young people themselves, such as the Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Amy Lee Fraioli, who believe that the device constitutes indiscriminate targeting of young people. Put simply, these devices are breaching the rights of our young people. We all have human rights, regardless of race, sex or age. These include the right to a private life, free movement and peaceful assembly under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). While it would be unthinkable to have practices that hinder the exercise of such rights by black people or women, for example, the same sense of outrage doesn't appear to apply to those under 25. The Mosquito anti-loitering device emits an irritating high-pitch sound that only young peoples hearing can pick up. Credit: Compound Security, CC BY-SA Children's rights As well as being protected by wider human rights conventions, such as the ECHR, those under 18 also have additional, special protections under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The deployment of the Mosquito infringes a number of rights enshrined in the UNCRC, including: the principle of non-discrimination (article 2); the principle that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all decisions affecting them (article 3); the right to express views and influence decision making in all matters affecting them (article 12); the right to freedom of assembly and association (article 15); the right to protection from violence, abuse and injury (article 19); and the right to play, leisure and recreation (article 31). In 2010, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe found that the use of the acoustic devices to disperse children and young people is a disproportionate interference with their rights under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which includes the right to respect for physical integrity. Their use may also interfere with article 11 of ECHR which guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. The use of acoustic pain may also be a breach of their rights under article 3 of ECHR to be free from degrading treatment. The Scottish Commissioner for Children strongly condemns the use of mosquito devices. Backed by calls (see paragraph 37) from the United Nations itself, the Commissioner argues that this type of device suggests that children and young people are unwanted in society. They say loitering, we say just hanging with friends. Credit: Shutterstock The way forward There needs to be greater work done to bridge the gap between adulthood and childhood and to challenge the negative stereotypes that are perpetuated about teenagers. Deploying devices such as the Mosquito isolates an entire generation of under 25s who know that they are perceived to be a nuisance. This cannot be positive, and only widens the gulf between young people and adults in society. With 2018 designated the Year of Young People in Scotland, this would be the perfect opportunity for concerted efforts to actually engage with young people. Of course criminal activity is not acceptable in any situation, but anti-social behaviour and so-called loitering by youths suggests that young people have nowhere to go, which is the real problem here. Only with proper dialogue can we begin to address their issues and concerns. Let them tell us, in their own way, why they are "loitering", what they think would help reduce anti-social behaviour and ultimately, how we can all work together to promote a well-integrated society. A social media campaign could start the ball rolling, asking the questions and encouraging young people to participate in finding the answers. As wise old Albus Dumbledore proclaims in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban: "A child's voice, however honest and true, is meaningless to those who've forgotten how to listen." It is time to open our ears to something that we can all hear if we choose to. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. James Woodenlegs first learned to communicate using Plains Indians Sign Language from his family, when he was growing up on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. Known as "hand talk" or "sign talk," the language has been used by both deaf and hearing Indians from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico for at least 200 years, possibly much longer. Woodenlegs is working with sign language scholars Jeffrey Davis and Melanie McKay-Cody to document and preserve hand talk, one of thousands of the world's endangered languages. With help from NSF, they are conducting field research to find current users of hand talk and compile a dictionary. The three are videotaping interviews with Northern Cheyenne, Assiniboine, Sioux, Crow, and several other tribes. Credit: National Science Foundation Optical scan technology is helping researchers at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, preserve audio of 78 indigenous California languages, most of which were recorded more than a century ago. The recordings are on approximately 2,700 wax cylinders that are now barely audible due to issues such as mold. These are the only known sound recordings for several of the languages, and in many other cases, the recordings include unique speech practices and otherwise unknown stories and songs. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), linguist Andrew Garrett, digital librarian Erik Mitchell and anthropologist Ira Jacknis, all of UC Berkeley, are restoring these recordings. The researchers are using a non-invasive optical scanning technique that was developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory physicists Carl Haber and Earl Cornell. The collaboration with Haber and Cornell is enabling the NSF-funded research team to transfer all 100 hours of audio content from the wax cylinders and improve the recordings, finally making it possible to figure out which language is being spoken and what's being said. The rich Native American cultural collection will ultimately be accessible to indigenous communities as well as to the general public and scholars. The linguistic diversity of the world's estimated 7,000 languages is immense. Modern technologies like this one unlock the documentation to enable new community uses and scientific investigations. At least 3,000 of the worlds 6,000-7,000 languages (about 50 percent) are about to be lost. Why should we care? Here are several reasons. The enormous variety of these languages represents a vast, largely unmapped terrain on which linguists, cognitive scientists and philosophers can chart the full capabilitiesand limitsof the human mind. Each endangered language embodies unique local knowledge of the cultures and natural systems in the region in which it is spoken. These languages are among our few sources of evidence for understanding human history. Documentation is the key to preserving endangered languages. Linguists are trying to document as many as they can by describing grammars and structural features, by recording spoken language and by using computers to store this information for study by scholars. Many endangered languages are only spoken; no written texts exist. So it is important to act quickly in order to capture them before they go extinct. Credit: Nicolle Rager Fuller, National Science Foundation A California aerospace company says a rocket it launched from New Zealand last May did not reach orbit because a problem with ground equipment caused a loss of telemetry that forced range safety officials to terminate the flight. Los Angeles-based Rocket Lab said Monday the investigation showed its Electron rocket was operating normally. The rocket was launched May 25 from the Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island. The flight was terminated when the rocket was at an altitude of 139 miles (224 kilometers). Rocket Lab says the investigation determined there was an improper configuration in ground equipment that turns radio signals into data used by safety officials to monitor rocket performance. The company says the equipment was owned and operated by a contractor. A second test flight is planned. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Credit: University of Plymouth Scientists are warning the UK kelp biofuel industry to beware of viruses. Whilst known to infect certain types of seaweed, a new study published in the ISME Journal is the first to describe viruses in kelps, which are important both ecologically and commercially. Researchers from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and University of Plymouth examined Laminaria and Saccharina kelps commonly occurring around the British Isles, and which include target species for the emerging kelp biofuel industry. They detected viruses by searching at the molecular level for their DNA 'fingerprint', and their presence was confirmed by observation of symptoms of infection using conventional and electron microscopy. Kelps are the largest brown seaweeds, engineering temperate rocky coastlines into complex habitats comparable to terrestrial forests, which support extensive marine ecosystems. They are extremely valuable to humans foramongst many other usesdirect consumption, sources of hydrocolloids and pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. In the field, these viruses were found to have infected two thirds of their host populations; however, their biological impact remains unknown and the authors warn that this unexplored pool of viruses could have unexpected effects in cultivation conditions. Lead author of the study Dean McKeown is a University of Plymouth funded PhD student based in the MBA's Viral and Molecular Ecology group, and co-supervised by Drs. Declan Schroeder (MBA) and Murray Brown (School of Biological and Marine Sciences). The study also made use of the cutting edge technology housed within the University's Electron Microscopy Centre. Dr Schroeder said: "History has taught us the havoc caused by the destructive effects of viruses in agriculture, especially when embarking on large-scale monoculture farming practices. The kelp biofuel industry therefore needs to be aware of this virus lurking in the genome of many kelp species." The kelp species examined were oar weed (Laminaria digitata), Northern kelp or cuvie (Laminaria hyperborea) and sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima). Dr Brown added: "Our research is being extended to include commercially important kelps farmed extensively in south-east Asia. If detected in these, the multi-million dollar global kelp industry could be affected." More information: Dean A McKeown et al. Phaeoviruses discovered in kelp (Laminariales), The ISME Journal (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2017.130 Journal information: ISME Journal Yellow Canopy Syndrome (YCS) is a condition affecting sugarcane in Australia, the cause of which has not been identified. YCS causes yellowing of the mid-canopy leaves and reduces the amount of sugar that can be extracted from the cane. Researchers are using TACC's supercomputers to investigate possible clues to YCS's cause in genetic data. Credit: Annelie Marquardt, Sugar Research Australia Since 2011, a mysterious illness known as Yellow Canopy Syndrome, or YCS, has afflicted Australian sugarcane. The condition causes the mid-canopy leaves of otherwise healthy plants to rapidly turn yellow to a degree that the plant's sugar yield can decrease by up to 30 percent. In recent years, the syndrome has spread across the continent. Losses are estimated at around $40 million and growers fear it could ruin the industry in Australia. "At the start of the project, there were many possibilities but little evidence to suggest the cause," says Kate Hertweck, an assistant professor of biology at The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) and a member of the team of researchers exploring the causes of the disease. "It could be a physiological reaction caused by water or nutrients in the soil. Or it could be a biological cause, like an insect, virus or fungus." Whereas some researchers use field experiments and microscopy to investigate the disease, Hertweck and her collaborators from Sugar Research Australia and the University of Queensland are pursuing a genomic approach, using next-generation RNA sequencing to compare and analyze genetic data from affected and unaffected plants from diverse field locations over a three-year time span. "Sugarcane is an important agricultural crop," says Kate Wathen-Dunn, senior technician at Sugar Research Australia. "It also has one of the most complex genetics known, with multiple and variable numbers of each chromosome." In part because of its complexity, sugarcane did not previously have a reference genome available as a starting point of comparison for researchers, so Hertweck and Wathen-Dunn set out to create one, specifically for the plant's transcriptome: the messenger RNA molecules expressed by the genes of an organism, which determine what proteins the plant will produce. "With this transcriptome reference, we could compare the Yellow Canopy Syndrome and control samples taken at different times from different varieties and from different growing regions," Wathen-Dunn says. "As the amount of data involved was enormous, the only way to do this assembly was on a high-performance computing cluster." Hertweck and her team turned to the supercomputers at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), based at The University of Texas at Austin, to perform their large-scale investigations. TACC runs several of the largest supercomputers in the world, which support thousands of U.S. researchers each year. Transcriptome assemblies take RNA molecules that have been fragmented and sequenced, and puts them back in order. The process is always computationally-intensive, but when there are many samplesas was the case with the sugarcane researchit can be particularly unwieldy. The team gathered RNA sequence data from 70 leaf samples and used multiple algorithms and multiple subsequences to create a de novo assembly. "Even in a compressed form, the file sizes for transcriptome assemblies are enormous," Hertweck says. "I started realizing that I needed much larger computing resources than I had available." The reference transcriptome they created allowed the team to explore how different samples express different proteins, which provide clues to YCS's root cause. So far, Hertweck and her team have performed preliminary differential gene analyses on a subset of the data and are using the assemblies to assess a variety of hypotheses for what could be causing the disease. "If it's bacteria, then there are genes that might be expressed. If it's a virus, separate genes might be expressed," she says. "We've detected some differences that could be a sign of a bacteria, but these are sometimes also related to lab contaminants." Further investigations will determine whether the gene expression relates to the disease's true cause or is a false signal. A volcano plot of the change in transcript expression in YCS plants, showing the amount of expression change and its importance, with the most important transcripts shown in red. Transcripts were de novo assembled from 595 million RNAseq reads using the Stampede cluster on TACC. Credit: Kate Hertweck and Kate Wathen-Dunn They have also found several signals of physical (or abiotic) stress in the data, which require further investigation. "Abiotic stress is very important in symptom expression, and YCS-affected sugarcane plants appear to be more sensitive to these stresses," says Wathen-Dunn. "The fantastic computing resources available at TACC allowed us to pursue our research into the cause of YCS, and to make new discoveries about the metabolism of sugarcane." Hertweck and Wathen-Dunn presented their research at the 2016 Evolution Meeting the joint annual conference of the Society for the Study of Evolution, the Society of Systematic Biologists, and the American Society of Naturalists. The work was also presented at the 2016 Australian Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Society (AB3ACBS) Conference. They will present their latest results at the 2017 International Tropical Agriculture Conference in November. The ability to delve into the transcriptome of the sugarcane using TACC resources has impressed Wathen-Dunn's Australian collaborators. "They thought it was amazing that we have computers that can manage all of this," she says. "It has encouraged them to have some of their employees get trained to interact with high performance computing resources." RESEARCHING AND TEACHING WITH TACC SYSTEMS Hertweck first learned about TACC when she applied for her faculty position at UT Tyler. The job postings mentioned that researchers would be able to use TACC systems through the University of Texas Research Cyberinfrastructure (UTRC) initiative, which, since 2007, has provided researchers at any of the University of Texas System's 14 institutions access to TACC's resources, expertise and training. Hertweck attended the TACC Summer Institute in 2015 and has used TACC's advanced computing resources, including Stampede and Lonestar 5, ever since for genomic studies of grasses, lilies, irises, orchids and fruit fly genomes. "Part of the struggle for a small regional university like mine in being able to attract strong candidates is the fact that we have no clusters locally here on campus," Hertweck says. Easy access to TACC resources addresses that problem. "There is a huge desire for that type of resource. People are very interested in being able to take advantage of it," she says. "My job was posted with a desire of bringing someone in who could take advantage of those resources and open the door for other researchers to use them as well." Hertweck has done just that. In addition to her own research, Hertweck acts as a champion for high-performance computing among her colleagues and teaches Bioinformatics courses to undergraduates and graduate students using TACC's Jetstream cloud computing system. In her classes, students explore sequence data from bacteria that are being investigated for future biofuel applications and other genetically interesting species. "Entire classes of graduates and undergraduates run basic analyses on TACC systems. They do assemblies and basic analyses and see what the sequences show," Hertweck says. "They get most excited about the ability to analyze new data and find cool things. I tell them: 'You're going to have a piece of information that no one has ever seen before.'" Helping researchers and students uncover new facets of naturethat's exactly what TACC's systems are built for. UML MPs, also patrons of MMIHS, block buyout Strong lobby from CPN-UML parliamentarians and their refusal to sell the Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS) has re-stoked the controversy of party cadres vying to run a medical college inside Kathmandu Valley. There are a lot more black holes in the Milky Way than previously thought, according to a new UCI study by (from left) James Bullock, chair and professor of physics & astronomy; Manoj Kaplinghat, professor of physics & astronomy; and Oliver Elbert, physics & and astronomy graduate student. Credit: Steven Zylius / UCI After conducting a cosmic inventory of sorts to calculate and categorize stellar-remnant black holes, astronomers from the University of California, Irvine have concluded that there are probably tens of millions of the enigmatic, dark objects in the Milky Way - far more than expected. "We think we've shown that there are as many as 100 million black holes in our galaxy," said UCI chair and professor of physics & astronomy James Bullock, co-author of a research paper on the subject in the current issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. UCI's celestial census began more than a year and a half ago, shortly after the news that the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, had detected ripples in the space-time continuum created by the distant collision of two black holes, each the size of 30 suns. "Fundamentally, the detection of gravitational waves was a huge deal, as it was a confirmation of a key prediction of Einstein's general theory of relativity," Bullock said. "But then we looked closer at the astrophysics of the actual result, a merger of two 30-solar-mass black holes. That was simply astounding and had us asking, 'How common are black holes of this size, and how often do they merge?'" He said that scientists assume most stellar-remnant black holes - which result from the collapse of massive stars at the end of their lives - will be about the same mass as our sun. To see evidence of two black holes of such epic proportions finally coming together in a cataclysmic collision had some astronomers scratching their heads. UCI's work was a theoretical investigation into the "weirdness of the LIGO discovery," Bullock said. The research, led by doctoral candidate Oliver Elbert, was an attempt to interpret the gravitational wave detections through the lens of what is known about galaxy formation and to form a framework for understanding future occurrences. "Based on what we know about star formation in galaxies of different types, we can infer when and how many black holes formed in each galaxy," Elbert said. "Big galaxies are home to older stars, and they host older black holes too." According to co-author Manoj Kaplinghat, UCI professor of physics & astronomy, the number of black holes of a given mass per galaxy will depend on the size of the galaxy. The reason is that larger galaxies have many metal-rich stars, and smaller dwarf galaxies are dominated by big stars of low metallicity. Stars that contain a lot of heavier elements, like our sun, shed a lot of that mass over their lives. When it comes time for one to end it all in a supernova, there isn't as much matter left to collapse in on itself, resulting in a lower-mass black hole. Big stars with low metal content don't shed as much of their mass over time, so when one of them dies, almost all of its mass will wind up in the black hole. "We have a pretty good understanding of the overall population of stars in the universe and their mass distribution as they're born, so we can tell how many black holes should have formed with 100 solar masses versus 10 solar masses," Bullock said. "We were able to work out how many big black holes should exist, and it ended up being in the millions - way more than I anticipated." In addition, to shed light on subsequent phenomena, the UCI researchers sought to determine how often black holes occur in pairs, how often they merge, and how long it takes. They wondered whether the 30-solar-mass black holes detected by LIGO were born billions of years ago and took a long time to merge or came into being more recently (within the past 100 million years) and merged soon after. "We show that only 0.1 to 1 percent of the black holes formed have to merge to explain what LIGO saw," Kaplinghat said. "Of course, the black holes have to get close enough to merge in a reasonable time, which is an open problem." Elbert said he expects many more gravitation wave detections so that he and other astronomers can determine if black holes collide mostly in giant galaxies. That, he said, would tell them something important about the physics that drive them to coalesce. According to Kaplinghat, they may not have to wait too long, relatively speaking. "If the current ideas about stellar evolution are right, then our calculations indicate that mergers of even 50-solar-mass black holes will be detected in a few years," he said. More information: Oliver D. Elbert et al. Counting Black Holes: The Cosmic Stellar Remnant Population and Implications for LIGO, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2017). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stx1959 Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Credit: Northeastern University Brutally windy. Unfathomably cold. Disturbingly isolated. This is the Antarctic Ocean in winter. It's the last place anyone would want to beunless you're trying to solve a climate change mystery. An international crew of scientists, including Northeastern graduate student Alek Razdan, recently returned from a two-month expedition to the Ross Sea off the coast of Antarctica. Razdan works with Northeastern professor Hanumant Singh, who designed and built another member of the crewthe Jaguar, an autonomous underwater vehicle. The research group set sail from New Zealand aboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer, a type of ship called an icebreaker that's capable of smashing through glacial waters. The expedition was the first ever to deploy an underwater robot into the Antarctic Ocean during winter. "Old school" measurement gets an upgrade The goal of the trip was to study sea ice. Huge sheets of sea ice help cool the Earth by reflecting away the sun's rays. When the ice forms, it produces dense waters that sink deep into the ocean and drive underwater currents that move heat around the globe, controlling temperatures and climates. In most places on Earth, sea ice is shrinking. In the Antarctic, it appears to be expanding. This expedition sought to figure out why. But in order to get a complete picture of this enigma, researchers need to see and measure the underside of the sea ice sheets. Traditionally, this has been done by drilling a hole in the ice and dropping down a weighted cord to take measurements. Credit: Northeastern University "It's pretty old school," said Singh. "We went out and changed that a little bit." That's where the Jaguar comes in. The robotic vehicle plunged into some of the coldest waters on Earth, during the most treacherous time of year. Razdan, PhD'21, was responsible for helping to assemble, deploy, and recover the vehicle. He also generated 3-D maps from sonar data collected by the Jaguar. "It's a very high-risk project, so there is a strong chance you're going to fail," Singh said. However, the Jaguarand its handlersare cut out for this sort of thing. Singh, who has completed 16 AUV missions over the past 10 years, has a reputation for success. Finding answers and asking better questions In a paper published in Science Robotics, Singh and his colleagues describe the culmination of all the data they've collected so far, writing, "This is the most comprehensive and the only high-resolution 3-D view of Antarctic sea-ice morphology to date." The maps they are generating show a side of sea ice that has been invisible, until now. Under the water's surface, there are deformations that old-school drilling measurements couldn't account for. Researchers now know that in many areas, sea ice is thicker than previously thought. There is also much more regional variability than anyone knew. "When you talk about the increase of sea ice in the Antarctic, it's actually the wrong question. That was really driven home by this particular cruise," said Ted Maksym, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who collaborated with Singh. He explained that although some sea ice in the Antarctic is expanding, in other regions, it is shrinking. That begs the question, why are there such large and contrasting regional differences in the area? This is the mystery Maksym and Singh are working on now. They are planning to build new robots that can stay in the ocean for longer periods of time and collect more data. Like the Jaguar, these vehicles must be inexpensive, since there is a high likelihood they will get lost. But that doesn't discourage Singh and Maksym. Credit: Northeastern University "Ted always keeps pushing me," Singh said. "I tell him, 'you're giving me all my gray hair!' It's a good dynamic." Close calls in the cold Most research teams steer clear of the Antarctic Ocean during wintertime, and it's easy to imagine why. Danger lurks around every turn. "It's blowing gale force winds all the timeup to 70 knotsand we can only deploy in winds less than 25. The temperature can be as low as negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit," Singh said. With temperatures that cold, it's possible for ice to freeze around the ship, trapping everyone on board for months until help arrives. The Nathaniel B. Palmer can cut through single-year ice, but only a nuclear icebreaker can cut through multi-year ice, and there are fewer than 10 of them in the world. Razdan described a terrifying moment when another crew member stuck a probing pole into the snow and watched a massive ice crack open up beneath his feet. On a previous expedition, Singh said their ship got stuck in the ice and started heeling, or tipping toward one side. The extreme weather also requires scientists to layer up so much that basic tasks become nearly impossible. "I couldn't have imagined how hard the clothing would make everything, from walking, to talking, to screwing on nuts and bolts outside," Razdan said. But even in spite of the challenges, he added, "If I had another opportunity to go, I would jump on it in a second." More information: Inexpensive, small AUVs for studying ice-covered polar environments. Science Robotics. DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aan4809 Journal information: Science Robotics Undeclared borders The Tarai-Madhes region lies along Nepals geographical border with India. This geographical proximity to India has resulted in cultural and linguistic commonalities that the people of the Madhes share with people across the border. Ford Motor Company is the second largest US auto manufacturer by market cap and market share and ranks 4th globally. The company was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford following a series of cars that led to the introduction of the Model T. The Model T revolutionized the automobile industry not only because it made vehicles affordable for the budding middle class but it changed the way manufacturing was done. The Ford factory features the worlds first moving assembly line, an introduction that not only improved the pace of production but lowered the cost of its vehicles. Other prominent innovations made by Mr. Ford include the strict standardization of parts that allowed for easy construction and repair and the standardized workweek. Henry Fords switch to a $5 workday and 8-hour shifts allowed him to run 3 shifts per day and improve productivity while providing his employees with the power to buy their own products. Today, Ford Motor Company makes and markets a large lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs, EVs, and Lincoln luxury vehicles globally. The companys iconic F-series of trucks is the worlds best-selling pickup truck for decades running and the new all-electric Lightning is on track to dominate the top spot in the EV market. Other iconic brands in the Ford lineup include the Thunderbird introduced in 1954, the Mustang in 1964, and the Transit work van in 1965. The Mustang, notably, was created for the Worlds Fair and expected to sell 100,000 in its first year but shocked the industry with 22,000 units sold on the first day. The company operates through four segments including Ford Blue (ICE vehicles), Model e (EVs) Mobility, and Ford Credit. The Ford Blue and Model e segments sell Ford and Lincoln vehicles, parts, and accessories while the Mobility segment designs and builds advanced technologies including but not limited to self-driving autonomous car systems. The Ford Credit segment primarily offers commercial and retail loans to auto dealers and car buyers. This segment not only provides financing for new purchases and dealer inventory but makes loans for new dealerships and expansions of old ones. Ford has fully embraced the switch to EV and is planning for an all-EV future. To that end, the company pledged to spend up to $50 billion on EV infrastructure by 2026. The plans include the build-out of an entirely new campus dedicated to EV manufacture from batteries to motor platforms, manufacturing capacity, and new vehicles. In regard to total capacity, the company is targeting 2 million in total annual EV sales by that same year. The following companies are subsidiares of Pentair: ACP Pleatco Blocker Corp., APEL International LLC, Air Capital Filtration LLC, Aplex Industries Inc., Aquion, Aquion (Xi'an) Water Treatment Equipment Co. Ltd., Aquion Hong Kong Limited, Aquion Inc., Be the Change Labs Inc., Bylin Engineered Systems Inc, Century Mfg. Co., Clean Process Technologies, ClearWater Tech L.L.C., ETE Coliban Pty Limited, Enviro Water Solutions LLC, Erico Global, Everpure Japan Kabushiki Kaisha, Filter-Medic LLC, FilterDeal LLC, FilterSoft LLC, Fleck Controls Inc., Goyen Controls Co. Pty. Limited, Goyen Valve LLC, Greenspan Environmental Technology Pty Ltd, Guardian Filtration Products LLC, Haffmans B.V., Haffmans North America Inc., Hawley Group Canada Limited, Hypro EU Limited, Jung Pumpen GmbH, Ken's Beverage, Lincoln Automotive Company, MECAIR S.r.L., Manitowoc Ice, McNeil (Ohio) Corporation, Milperra Developments Pty Limited, Milton Acquisition ULC, Mobile Pool Builder Inc., Moraine Properties LLC, Nijhuis Pompen B.V., Nuheat, PES Pty Ltd, PFAM Inc., PTG Accessories Corp., Panthro Acquisition Co., Pelican Holding Corporation, Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc., Pentair Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pentair Canada Inc., Pentair Clean Process Technologies India Private Limited, Pentair Commercial Services LLC, Pentair Denmark Holding ApS, Pentair Federal Pump LLC, Pentair Filtration Sales & Service Company LLC, Pentair Filtration Solutions LLC, Pentair Finance Group GmbH, Pentair Finance S.a.r.l., Pentair Finance Switzerland GmbH, Pentair Flow Control International Pty Limited, Pentair Flow Services AG, Pentair Flow Technologies LLC, Pentair Flow Technologies Pacific Pty Ltd, Pentair Flow Technologies de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Pentair France SARL, Pentair Germany GmbH, Pentair Global Holdings B.V., Pentair Global S.a.r.l., Pentair Group (Thailand) Limited, Pentair Holdings Inc., Pentair Holdings S.a.r.l., Pentair Housing Inc., Pentair Housing LP, Pentair Inc., Pentair International (UK) Ltd, Pentair International Holding S.a.r.l., Pentair International Sarl, Pentair Investments Switzerland GmbH, Pentair Ireland Limited, Pentair Janus Holding LLC, Pentair Janus Holdings, Pentair Kenya Limited, Pentair Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Pentair Management Company, Pentair Manufacturing Belgium BV, Pentair Manufacturing Italy S.r.L., Pentair Middle East FZE, Pentair Nanosoft US Holdings LLC, Pentair Netherlands Euro Finance B.V., Pentair Netherlands Finance B.V., Pentair Netherlands Holding B.V., Pentair Pacific Rim (Water) Limited, Pentair Pacific Rim Limited, Pentair Philippines Inc., Pentair Pleatco Acquisition LLC, Pentair Residential Filtration LLC, Pentair Sales LLC, Pentair Sudmo GmbH, Pentair Tamimi LLC, Pentair Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Pentair Transport Inc., Pentair UK Holdings Limited, Pentair US LLC 1, Pentair US LLC 2, Pentair US LP, Pentair Valves & Controls del Uruguay S.A., Pentair Water (Suzhou) Company Ltd., Pentair Water Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pentair Water Australia Pty Ltd, Pentair Water Belgium BV, Pentair Water Brazil LLC, Pentair Water France SAS, Pentair Water Group Inc., Pentair Water Holdings LLC, Pentair Water India Private Limited, Pentair Water Italy S.r.l., Pentair Water LLC, Pentair Water Latinamerica S.A., Pentair Water Operations Australia Pty Ltd, Pentair Water Polska Sp.zoo, Pentair Water Pool and Spa Inc., Pentair Water Proces Technologie Holding B.V., Pentair Water Process Technology B.V., Pentair Water Purification Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Pentair Water Spain S.L., Pentair Water Treatment (OH) Company, Pentair Water Treatment Company, Pentair Water Treatment Private Limited, Pentair Water do Brasil Ltda., Pentair Water-Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Penwald Insurance Company, Pigeon Point Systems Inc., Pleatco, Pleatco Holdings LLC, Pleatco Intermediate Holdings LLC, Pleatco LLC, Pleatco Mexican Holding Company LLC, Pleatco Mexicana S. De R.L. De C.V., Plymouth Products Inc., Porous Media Corp., Procam Controls Inc., Rocean, Seneca Enterprises Co., Shupeco LLC, Sta-Rite Industries LLC, Sta-Rite de Mexico S.A. de C.V., TVS Filters Acquisition LLC, Tupelo Real Estate LLC, Tyco Flow Control, U.S. Milton Holdings Inc., Union Engineering (NingBo) Co. Ltd., Union Engineering A/S, Union Engineering Holding LLC, Union Engineering Latam Ltda, Union Engineering North America LLC, Urban Organics Pentair Group LLC, Urban Organics Schmidt Real Estate Group LLC, Urban Organics St. Paul LLC, Water Ingenuity Holdings Corp., Webster Electric Company LLC, X-Flow B.V., and delMAC Filters LLC. Read More Increased Security for U.S. Mosques after Bombing in Minnesota The act has since been named an act of terrorism. The Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Minneapolis is used to threatening emails and phone calls, but the improvised explosive device thrown through a window of their facility has really frightening. The explosive device, deemed improvised by the FBI was thrown through a window of the worship center around 5 a.m. on Sunday morning. No one was injured in the incident, but the device did blow out the window and damage a room inside the center. Gov. Mark Dayton denounced the attack saying not in Minnesota. This is an act of terrorism, Dayton said. This is against the law in America. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement on the Bloomington explosion says the department "fully supports the rights of all to freely and safely worship the faith of their choosing and we vigorously condemn such attacks on any religious institution." The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said its national office is urging Islamic centers and mosques to step up security. "If a bias motive is proven, this attack would represent another in a long list of hate incidents targeting Islamic institutions nationwide in recent months," said Amir Malik, the local chapter's civil rights director. The reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction has grown to $24,000, said Asad Zaman, director of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota. Georgia reacted furiously on Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Moscow-backed separatist region of Abkhazia on the anniversary of the outbreak of a brief war between Tbilisi and Moscow. Putin visited the Black Sea resort town of Pitsunda in Abkhazia for talks with the leader of the self-proclaimed country, Raul Khajimba, on the ninth anniversary of the start of the war on August 8, 2008. Georgia's foreign ministry condemned Putin's visit to what it called an occupied region as a "cynical action," saying it represented a continuation of Moscow's "deliberate policy against Georgia". It urged Moscow to cease "provocative actions" and called on the international community to respond to Russia's "aggressive steps." Abkhazia is internationally recognised as part of ex-Soviet Georgia but Russia sees it as a separate country -- along with another region, South Ossetia -- following the brief war with Georgia. Moscow has thousands of troops stationed in the two breakaway regions in what Georgia calls a military "occupation", and supports them financially. In televised comments, Putin stressed that Russia "firmly guarantees the security and self-sufficiency of Abkhazia, its independence. I am sure that this will continue in the future." He described Russia's military base, which is shared with Abkhazian forces, as crucial to security in the region. "The united Russian base on Abkhazia's territory continues to play a key role in providing stability in the region," Putin said. Khajimba, like Putin, is a former officer in the Soviet-era KGB spy agency. He was elected president of Abkhazia in 2014 and shortly afterwards signed a strategic partnership deal with Moscow that formalised Russian dominance in the tiny separatist region. Putin's visit came after two Russian tourists in Abkhazia were killed and dozens injured by an explosion at a munitions depot earlier this month. The region is popular with Russians as a cut-price holiday destination. - Belarus 'annexation'? - Meanwhile the exiled former leader of Georgia warned of more potential Russian dominance, saying Moscow could be preparing to annex neighbouring Belarus. "I think Russia is preparing for takeover and annexation of Belarus," Mikheil Saakashvili told AFP in a telephone interview Tuesday during a visit to Lithuania's capital Vilnius. A vocal Kremlin critic, stripped of both his Georgian and Ukrainian citizenship, he added that Russian military infrastructure deployed in Belarus for September's massive "Zapad" (West) manoeuvres "could be used for that at any time". NATO states have expressed concern over Moscow's upcoming drills in Belarus and Kaliningrad, Russia's westernmost outpost, but have not suggested the Kremlin has designs on Minsk. "Russia may be interested in having a full-fledged military base in Belarus, but an annexation means it would lose one of its last loyal allies and increase tensions with the West," said Laurynas Jonavicius, a Vilnius University analyst. "I don't think Moscow needs that," he added. Saakashvili was Georgia's president during the short war with Russia that saw his small military routed in just five days. The charismatic reformer came to power in Georgia's 2003 Rose Revolution but then fell from grace and is now wanted by Georgian prosecutors on charges of abuse of office during his nine-year rule that he insists are politically motivated. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko meanwhile called his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Margvelashvili to voice his "solidarity" on the anniversary of "the start of the aggression on Georgia's territorial integrity," according to a statement from the Ukraine leader's office. "Our hearts are with you," said Poroshenko, whose country saw its Crimea peninsula annexed by Moscow in March 2014, and which remains gripped by a pro-Russian insurgency in the east. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani put forward a new cabinet line-up on Tuesday that was immediately criticised by reformists for its lack of women or young people. The ministerial line-up, which must still be approved by parliament, also lacked minorities and actually increased the average age compared to Rouhani's first term. "The lack of women ministers shows we are treading water," Shahindokht Mowlaverdi, Rouhani's outgoing vice president for women's affairs, told the Etamad daily after news of the line-up was leaked. Many on social media said Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric who whipped up reformist support to secure re-election in May, was failing to keep his campaign promises of greater diversity. "The people's message in the last two elections has had little reflection in the proposed cabinet," tweeted Mohammad Karroubi, son of jailed opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi. "How can you speak of equality of the entire nation and ignore women and religious minorities?" he added. There were few major changes in the cabinet, with the key figures in Iran's efforts to rebuild ties with the West -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh -- retaining their positions. - Average age 58 - The one surprise was the appointment of Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, a 35-year-old engineer and by far the youngest addition, who is set to take over as telecoms minister. But even with his appointment, which puts an opponent of censorship at the heart of government, the average age of the cabinet remains at 58. Sunnis, who make up around 10 percent of the Shiite-majority nation, were also left out of the new government. Rouhani did replace the defence minister, Major General Hossein Dehghan, with his deputy, General Amir Hatami -- the first time in more than two decades that the post has been filled by someone from the regular army rather than the elite Revolutionary Guards. And the deputy economy minister, Masoud Karbasian, also replaced his boss, Ali Tayebnia. Analysts say Rouhani will stick with his general push to increase foreign investment and improve the management of the stagnant economy. Over the past week, the expected lack of women has been a focus of criticism by reformists, who say Rouhani is likely bowing to pressure from the religious establishment. In his first term, Rouhani did have three women among his large cohort of vice presidents, who do not require parliamentary approval. Ironically, the sole female minister since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution came under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rouhani's hardline predecessor, whose health minister Marzieh Dastjerdi served between 2009 and 2013. Rouhani sailed to victory in May over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi with the backing of reformists after vowing to improve civil liberties and rebuild ties with the West. With no official parties in parliament, he must negotiate among a shifting pattern of political factions, none of which holds a definitive majority of the 290 seats. He is known to have coordinated closely with other power-brokers, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary. Venezuela's top military brass appeared on state TV late Monday to show support for President Nicolas Maduro, as the government hunts for leaders of uniformed rebels who raided an army base and made off with weapons. Surrounded by three tanks with raised barrels and hundreds of soldiers, the defense minister and head of the armed forces, General Vladimir Padrino, insisted that the armed forces were "united and with very high morale." Padrino gave an updated report on Sunday's attack on the base in the northwestern city of Valencia by 20 men in uniform, an incident that fueled fears the country's worsening crisis could tip into armed conflict. Padrino said that ex-National Guard captain, Juan Carlos Caguaripano, and a former lieutenant, Jefferson Gabriel Garcia, were behind the raid. He said that two attackers died and three soldiers were wounded. Padrino insisted that it was a "terrorist attack" carried out by some 20 "mercenaries paid from Miami by far right-wing groups." Eight men were detained following three hours of combat, he said. Just before the raid, Caguaripano posted a video online declaring it part of a "legitimate rebellion... to reject the murderous tyranny" of president Maduro. Appearing with more than a dozen uniformed men, some armed, Caguaripano demanded a transitional government and "free elections." Maduro said on state television Sunday that the attack saw a three-hour firefight in which two of the rebels died and eight were captured, including another lieutenant who was involved. Ten other attackers made off with an unspecified arsenal. Padrino said that a "special operation" has been deployed to capture them and recover the weapons. He said Garcia had been in charge of the base's weapons depot and acted as an accomplice from the inside, while Caguaripano had been discharged from the army in 2014 after multiple disciplinary offenses. - "Growing discontent" - The opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, said the country's crisis dividing Venezuela's society "is being seen... in the barracks of our armed forces." The head of the opposition-controlled congress, Julio Borges, has demanded the "truth" from the government about what happened on Sunday. Analysts said discord could be seen in the lower ranks of the security forces. "There are indications of growing discontent in the middle ranks of the police and soldiers, even though military commanders remain allied to the government," said Diego Moya-Ocampos, of IHS Markit Country Risk in London. "You can expect new incidents to occur as this unease grows," he said. - Venezuela isolated - On Monday, hackers calling themselves The Binary Guardians hijacked the home pages of several government bodies and private companies in support of the rebel raid. In several websites, they posted excerpts from Charlie Chaplin's movie "The Great Dictator." Venezuela's opposition has repeatedly urged the military to abandon Maduro, so far to no avail. The crisis in the oil-rich country is rooted in large part in the collapse of its economy due to a plunge in global oil prices. Public anger is spreading as people struggle for basics like food and medicine. Maduro, however, blames an economic "war" that he says is fomented by the right-wing opposition in cahoots with the United States. Venezuela has become increasingly isolated internationally as Maduro tightens his hold on power through a contested loyalist assembly that started work last week. Opposition leaders are under increased threat of arrest after protests -- fiercely countered by security forces -- left 125 people dead in the past four months. The new "Constituent Assembly" has moved quickly to clamp down on dissent. Its first act was to dismiss the attorney general, Luisa Ortega, who had broken ranks with Maduro to become one of his most vociferous critics. It has also created a "truth commission" that Maduro wants to use to prosecute opposition lawmakers and leaders for alleged "crimes." Then, lawmakers in the opposition-controlled legislature said late Monday their chamber was stormed by officials from the rival assembly loyal to Maduro with the backing of soldiers. The legislature posted photos on its Twitter account of a group of people in the chamber it uses in the Legislative Palace in Caracas. The people who invaded its chamber, it said, included the leader of the Constituent Assembly, Maduro's former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez. The United States accuses Maduro of installing an "authoritarian dictatorship" that has turned Venezuela into an international pariah. The United States, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Peru have slammed the "illegal" sacking of Ortega. Foreign ministers from across Latin America were to meet in Peru on Tuesday to decide what joint action they could take over Venezuela. SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen's national blood bank may be forced to close due to a lack of money after an international medical charity decided to end two years of support, the director of the blood bank said. But the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) said it was trying to help by sending further supplies. Patients suffering diseases including thalassaemia, cancer and kidney failures, as well as victims of a two-year civil war in which more than 10,000 people have been killed, would be affected if the bank closed, officials said. More than three million people have been displaced in Yemen's conflict and much of the country's infrastructure including its health system has been destroyed. "If the centre stops, a catastrophe will hit the whole country," said Munir al-Zubaidi, a spokesman for the bank said. The country of 27 million is also facing a cholera epidemic that has affected some 600,000 people and killed nearly 2,000. The National Blood Transfusion Centre director, Dr. Adnan al-Hakimi, said the crisis emerged after French medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) informed the bank it was suspending its aid after more than two years of work. "The centre suffers from a complete shortage of supplies, including medical solutions, blood bags and medical needs," Hakimi said. "We have issued an appeal to all civil society groups, businessmen and anyone interested in charity work to save the lives of those who are ill, injured or wounded so the centre would not stop," he added. An MSF spokeswoman said the charity had handed over its support for the blood bank to the WHO. MSF has been doing extensive work in Yemen since the war began in March 2015, operating hospitals and clinics and providing medical supplies to various state-run facilities. In a report in January, MSF said it had provided regular blood testing kits to the blood bank since September 2015. The WHO confirmed the bank was at risk of closing. "WHO is looking into ways to support the National Blood Transfusion Centre," said Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman. "Supplies were ordered but have not reached Yemen as of now," he added without elaborating. (Additional reprting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Writing by Sami Aboudi and Tom Finn; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg) Youve already heard about some of the Buy American initiatives that are attempting to support American manufacturers. But what if buying American made products was actually required by law? Thats what one lawmaker has proposed for certain government purchases in central New York. Ted Morton is an Erie County Legislator who has proposed this new rule. The law would change the county charter to require government purchases of manufactured goods over $10,000 for Erie County to be made in America. It would also require any service that costs over $10,000 to come from an American entity. Morton told Fox News the goal of the law would be to give American businesses a leg up when trying to obtain those government contracts or purchases. But there would also be waivers available in situations where there simply arent enough options or where price is prohibitive. There might be unintended consequences of such a law though. For instance, a lack of competition, since the government would have a much smaller pool of businesses to work with, could lead to businesses having less incentive to keep prices low or deliver quality goods. Jason Chaffetz, former U.S. Representative for Utahs 3rd Congressional District and current Fox News contributor argued in the segment while the intention of the law is good, it might ignore the real problem. Chaffetz challenged Morton and other local legislators to look at their laws and regulations to identify areas where they might be hurting the ability for local businesses to compete on a global scale. If small businesses have the ability to offer products and services that are competitive with global brands in terms of price and quality, then laws like this one might seem a lot less necessary. If you are like most people, the idea of opening your own business is both exciting and a little daunting. The medical industry is likely to experience continued growth in the coming years. This means that investing in a medical franchise such as medical staffing or medical billing could be a sound decision for anyone looking to become their own boss. In this article, well talk about ten medical franchises that are worth considering. What is a Medical Franchise? Medical franchise business owners provide services to patients that are related to their health and well-being. These businesses can range from providing in-home care services to operating a walk-in clinic. Medical franchises often require that franchisees have a healthcare background, although this is not always the case. It is important to note that many medical franchises are subject to strict regulations, so it is important to do your research before investing in one. The Medical Franchise Industry in 2022 The healthcare franchise industry is worth an estimated $13 billion in 2022 and is expected to generate about $172 billion by 2030. This is a growth rate of over 26%. With an aging population and an increasing focus on preventative care, the industry is poised for continued growth. Why You Should Consider a Medical Franchise Medical franchise owners enjoy a number of benefits, including the ability to be their own boss. Here are five more reasons to become a franchise owner in 2022: Helping others. The satisfaction that comes with providing medical services that help others is hard to beat. Growing industry. As mentioned earlier, franchises in the healthcare industry are expected to continue growing in the coming years. This provides a great opportunity for those looking to get in on the ground floor. Potential for high profitability. Medical franchises can be quite profitable. This is due in part to the fact that people will always need healthcare services. Recession-resistant. The medical industry is relatively recession-resistant. This means that you are less likely to experience a drop in revenue during economic downturns. Flexibility. Many medical franchises offer a great deal of flexibility, allowing you to work around your other commitments. Top Medical Franchises Getting involved in the healthcare industry is a no-brainer of a business opportunity. Health care is one of the strongest and most stable industry verticals. If youre looking for a lucrative business with high potential returns, then consider one of these top medical franchise businesses: 1. Miracle-Ear Miracle-Ear has an initial franchise fee of $30,000 and the total investment to sell their hearing aids ranges from $119,000 to $352,500. Youll need a net worth of at least $100,000 and liquidity of at least $50,000. Miracle-Ear charges a royalty fee of $48.80 per hearing aid sold and an advertising fee of $75 per hearing aid. 2. BrightStar Care BrightStar Care is a home medical and health staffing franchise opportunity with an initial franchise fee of $50,000. The total investment for a BrightStar Care franchise ranges from $111,008 to $191,108, and franchisees are required to have at least $150,000 in liquid assets. The royalty fee is 5.25% to 6.25% of monthly net billings. 3. ATC Healthcare The ATC Healthcare franchise opportunity has a franchise fee of $50,000 and a total investment ranging from $136,900 to $223,200. This opportunity requires a minimum net worth of $250,000 and liquidity of $150,000. 4. ARCpoint Labs ARCpoint Labs is a franchise opportunity that offers veterans a $5,000 training fee discount. The total investment required to open an ARCpoint Labs franchise ranges from $103,900 to $308,750 which includes a franchise fee of $54,500. 5. The Joint Chiropractic The Joint Chiropractic, founded in 1999, is a franchise opportunity that requires a minimum net worth of $350,000 and liquidity of $100,000. Veterans can get a 15% discount on the initial franchise fee. The total investment ranges from $215,297 to $476,997. 6. Nurse Next Door The Nurse Next Door has a total investment of between $105,115 and $202,600 with a $58,000 franchise fee. This business can be started with only $30,000 down. 7. Caring Senior Service Caring Senior Service, founded in 1991, is a senior care franchise business opportunity that requires a minimum net worth of $250,000 and a minimum working capital of $150,000. The franchise fee is $39,500 and the total investment ranges from $100,899 to $160,116. The royalty fee is 5% and the ad fee is 2%. 8. CarePatrol CarePatrol is a franchise opportunity that offers a flat fee royalty structure. The initial investment ranges from $43,620 to $103,620, and the franchise fee is between $15,000 and $52,000. The minimum net worth and liquidity requirements are $250,000 and $50,000 respectively. See Also: 10 Startup Tips from Affordable Franchise Coffee News 9. American Family Care The American Family Care franchise opportunity has a minimum net worth requirement of $1.2 million, which ensures that only those who are serious about starting and running their own business will be able to participate. The total investment range is from $883,500 to $1,362,000 which includes a $60,000 franchise fee. The royalty fee is 6% of monthly gross sales. 10. Serasana The investment range for a Serasana franchise is $385,000 to $709,800 including a $45,000 franchise fee. The minimum net worth required is $500,000 with minimum liquidity of $150,000. Franchisees must be able to commit to a 6% royalty fee as well as a 1.5% brand fund fee. How to Choose the Best Franchise to Set Up Your Medical Business When choosing the best franchise for yourself, you should consider the following four things: The initial investment required. You will need to factor in the cost of purchasing the franchise, as well as any other associated costs such as leasing space and hiring staff. The franchisors reputation. It is important to research the franchisor to make sure that they are reputable and have a good track record. The franchisors support network. You should inquire about the franchisors support network and whether they provide comprehensive training and ongoing support. The franchises territory. You will need to consider the size of the franchises territory and whether it is a good fit for your needs. Is a Medical Franchise a Proven Business Model? Overall, medical franchises are a business model that is proven. When you purchase one, youre buying into an established company with a track record of success. The parent company has already worked out the kinks and created a successful formula for running its business. How Much Does It Cost to Open a Medical Franchise? Franchises usually cost between about $43,000 and over $1.3 million to open. The initial franchise fee for a franchise is typically between $15,000 and $65,000. Youll also have to pay for things like leasing space, medical equipment and supplies, hiring staff, and marketing. Are Medical Franchises Profitable? Medical franchises can be quite profitable. This is due in part to the fact that people will always need healthcare services. Franchises in the medical industry are expected to continue growing in the coming years, which provides a great opportunity for those looking to get in on the ground floor. The majority of ice cream is imported from the Czech Republic. Font size: A - | A + Slovakia does not produce much ice cream, more often importing it from abroad, an analysis based on data from Eurostat shows. While Slovakia has never belonged among the top ice cream producers, in 2009 part of the country's consumption was covered by home production. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Slovak factories produced about 1.5 litres of ice cream per inhabitant per year at that time, according to Lubomir Korsnak, an analyst with UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia, as quoted by the TASR newswire. He says it is now around 30 millilitres. Slovakia imports almost two-thirds of ice cream consumed. Customers can also find ice cream from Poland, Germany, Hungary and Belgium here. According to a survey conducted in the selected countries by the European Ice Cream Production Association, the average European consumes around seven litres of ice cream per year. In Slovakia, this is only about three litres. "European ice cream factories produce 6.2 litres of ice cream per EU citizen per year, while the remaining share of domestic consumption is covered predominantly by small ice cream makers," said Korsnak, noting that Europe is more or less self-sufficient in terms of ice cream production. Concerning ice cream consumption in Europe, various surveys and statistics have shown that Scandinavian countries top the charts, with consumption exceeding 10 litres per person per year. "Among southern European countries, only Italy posts above-average consumption figures," the analyst noted. In the world ranking, New Zealand, Australia and the US have the largest ice cream consumption. Miroslav Lajcak will assume the post of UN General Assembly President on September 12. Font size: A - | A + United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will submit three proposals for reform during the year that Slovakia is to head the UN General Assembly. One proposal concerns reform of the peacekeeping operations, the second concerns reform of the development system and the third is a reform of management to speed up several processes and give the organisations Secretary General more room for decision-making, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Lajcak said on August 7. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The minister also said that there is high demand to make the processes at the UN more efficient and dynamic. At the same time, a revitalisation of the UN General Assembly is underway to reform certain functions. There exist strong voices calling for the UN General Assembly to have a stronger position, because there are 193 members and they are all equal, said Lajcak. Of course, there is still a topic of reform of the Security Council. Read also: Read also: Lajcak elected as UN General Assembly President Read more Lajcak will assume the post of UN General Assembly President on September 12 for a one-year term. Reforms in the UN are being discussed in the long run. Lajcak too has previously said that the UN Security Council no longer reflects the reality of todays world, as neither Africa nor Latin America are represented among its permanent members. BWX Technologies, Inc. manufactures and sells nuclear components in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Nuclear Operations Group, Nuclear Power Group, and Nuclear Services Group. The Nuclear Operations Group segment provides precision naval and critical nuclear components, reactors, nuclear fuel, and assemblies for the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and other uses; missile launch tubes for United States Navy submarines; close-tolerance and equipment for nuclear applications; and converts Cold War-era government stockpiles of high-enriched uranium, as well as receives, stores, characterizes, dissolves, recovers, and purifies uranium-bearing materials; supplies research reactor fuel elements for colleges, universities, and national laboratories; and components for defense applications. The Nuclear Power Group segment offers commercial nuclear steam generators, nuclear fuel, fuel handling systems, pressure vessels, reactor components, heat exchangers, tooling delivery systems, and containers; engineering and in-plant services for nuclear power plants; designs, manufactures, commissions, and services nuclear power generation equipment; in-plant inspection, maintenance, and modification services, as well as non-destructive examination and tooling/repair solutions; and supplies medical radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for research, diagnostic, and therapeutic uses. The company was formerly known as The Babcock & Wilcox Company and changed its name to BWX Technologies, Inc. in June 2015. BWX Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia. The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Better Financial Services GmbH, Better Payment Germany GmbH, Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., Chapel Funding, China Recovery Fund LLC, Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Cartera de lnmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Impact Investment Fund I. LP., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Limited, DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Jersey) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios lnteractivos Agrupacicm de lnteres Econemico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB Print GmbH, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services (Jersey) Limited, DB Services Americas. Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB US Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a. r.l., DB Value S.a.r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita SA., DB lmmobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG i.L., DB lo LP, DBAH Capital. LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management 18 Ltd., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a. r.l., DBX Advisers LLC, DEBEKO lmmobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK AS., DI Deutsche lmmobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Shanghai Private Equity Fund Management Limited, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anenima lnstitucien Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico. S.A., Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank Polska Spelka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Societe per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche Bank. Sociedad Anenima Espanola, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur lmmobilien-Leasing mit beschrenkter Haftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.El r.l., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche India Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a. r.|., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities SA. de C.V.. Casla de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Services (Cl) Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. SA., Deutsche lmmobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsches lnstitut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.l., Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, European Value Added I (Alternate GP.) LLP, Fiduciaria Sant Andrea S.r.l., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., German American Capital Corporation, Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer LandstraBe GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Miesbaden LuisenstraBe/Kirchgasse GbR, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF l Manager S.a.r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul lnkasso GmbH, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo lll Initial GP Limited, MEF I Manager. S. a r.|., MIT Holdings Inc., Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgagelT Inc., MortgagelT Securities Corp., OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentIe", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, PADUS Grundstcks-VermietungsgeseIlschaft mbH, PB Factoring GmbH, PB Spezial-lnvestmentaktiengesellschatt mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Plantation Bay. Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank lmmobilien GmbH, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, RREEF, RREEF America LLC., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisers Private Limited, RREEF Management LLC., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables. LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermielungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sharps SP l LLC, Stelvio lmmobiliare S.r.l., Suddeutsche Vermeigensvewvaitung Gesellschaft mit beschrenkter Haftung, TELO Beleiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Umited, VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., lmmobilienfonds BuroCenter Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, lmmobilienfonds Wohn- und Gescheftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, and norisbank GmbH. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Lear: A.W. Chapman Belgium NV, A.W. Chapman Ltd., AccuMED Corp., AccuMED Holdings Corp., Arada Systems, Automotive Industries Holding Inc., Beijing BAI Lear Automotive Systems Co. Ltd., Beijing BHAP Lear Automotive Systems Co. Ltd., Borealis Industrier, Changchun Lear FAWSN Automotive Electrical Co. Ltd., Consorcio Industrial Mexicano de Autopartes S. de R.L. de C.V., Cordelia Autoparts Sweden AB, Dunlop Cox Limited, EXO Technologies, EXO Technologies Ltd., Eagle Ottawa (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Eagle Ottawa China Ltd., Eagle Ottawa Fonseca S.A., Eagle Ottawa Foreign Holdings ApS, Eagle Ottawa Hungary Kft., Eagle Ottawa LLC, Eagle Ottawa North America LLC, Gill Industries of Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Gill Management Queretaro S. de R.L. de C.V., Gill Management of Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Gill Queretaro S. de R.L. de C.V., Grote & Hartmann, Grupo Antolin's, Gruppo Pianfei S.r.L., Guangzhou Lear Automotive Components Co. Ltd, Guilford Europe Limited, Guilford Europe Pension Trustees Limited, Guilford Mills, Industrias Lear de Argentina SrL, Jiangxi Jiangling Lear Interior Systems Co. Ltd., Lear (Shanghai) Auto Parts Technology Co. Ltd., Lear Automotive Co. Ltd., Lear Automotive EEDS Honduras S.A., Lear Automotive Electronics and Electrical Products Co. Ltd., Lear Automotive Fabrics Co. Ltd., Lear Automotive India Private Limited, Lear Automotive Interior Materials Co. Ltd., Lear Automotive Manufacturing L.L.C., Lear Automotive Metals Co. Ltd., Lear Automotive Morocco SAS, Lear Automotive Operations Netherlands B.V., Lear Automotive Sdn. Bhd., Lear Automotive Services B.V., Lear Automotive Systems Co. Ltd., Lear Canada Holding S.a.r.l., Lear Changan Automotive Seating Co. Ltd., Lear Changan Automotive System Co. Ltd., Lear China Engineering LLC, Lear Corporation Ara S.L., Lear Corporation Ardasa S.L., Lear Corporation Asientos S.L., Lear Corporation Belgium B.V., Lear Corporation Beteiligungs GmbH, Lear Corporation Canada ULC, Lear Corporation Changchun Automotive Interior Systems Co. Ltd., Lear Corporation China Ltd., Lear Corporation Czech Republic s.r.o., Lear Corporation Engineering Belgium B.V., Lear Corporation Engineering Czech Republic s.r.o., Lear Corporation Engineering GmbH, Lear Corporation Engineering Hungary Kft., Lear Corporation Engineering Italy S.r.l., Lear Corporation Engineering Limited, Lear Corporation Engineering Morocco S.a.r.l., Lear Corporation Engineering Poland Sp. z.o.o., Lear Corporation Engineering Slovakia s.r.o., Lear Corporation Engineering Spain S.L., Lear Corporation France SAS, Lear Corporation GmbH, Lear Corporation Gothenburg AB, Lear Corporation Holding Spain S.L., Lear Corporation Ingenierie S.A.S., Lear Corporation Italia S.r.l., Lear Corporation Japan K.K., Lear Corporation Jarny S.A.S., Lear Corporation Limited, Lear Corporation Loire S.A.S., Lear Corporation Macedonia DOOEL Tetovo, Lear Corporation Martorell S.L., Lear Corporation Meknes S.a.r.l. AU, Lear Corporation Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lear Corporation Pension Scheme Trustees Limited, Lear Corporation Poland II Sp. z.o.o., Lear Corporation Pontevedra S.L., Lear Corporation Romania S.r.L., Lear Corporation S.r.L., Lear Corporation Seating France Feignies S.A.S., Lear Corporation Seating France S.A.S., Lear Corporation Seating Slovakia s.r.o., Lear Corporation South East Asia Co. Ltd. (Thailand), Lear Corporation Spain Alava S.L., Lear Corporation UK Holdings Limited, Lear Corporation Valenca Unipessoal Lda., Lear Corporation d.o.o. Novi Sad, Lear DFM Automotive Seating (Yancheng) Co. Ltd., Lear Dongfeng Automotive Seating Co. Ltd., Lear EEDS and Interiors LLC, Lear East European Operations S.a.r.l., Lear Electrical Systems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lear European Holding S.L., Lear Financial Services B.V., Lear Global Operations S.a.r.l., Lear Global Technology Corporation France, Lear Global Technology Corporation Germany, Lear Global Technology Corporation Spain, Lear Global Technology Corporation UK, Lear Holding Limited, Lear Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Lear India Engineering LLC, Lear India Engineering LLP, Lear Israel Engineering LLC, Lear Japan Engineering LLC, Lear Korea Engineering LLC, Lear Korea Engineering Yuhan Hoesa, Lear Korea Yuhan Hoesa, Lear LLC, Lear Mexican Seating Corporation, Lear Mexican Trim Operations S. de R.L. de C.V., Lear Morocco Engineering LLC, Lear Otomotiv Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Lear Philippines Engineering LLC, Lear S.a.r.l., Lear Seating Corp. Ltd., Lear Sewing Ltd., Lear UK Acquisition Limited, Lear do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Interiores Automotivos Ltda., M and N Plastics Inc., M&N Plastics, Mezed Inversiones S.r.l., PT Lear Automotive Indonesia, PT Lear Corporation Indonesia, Shanghai Lear Automotive Parts Co. Ltd., Shanghai Lear Automotive Systems Co. Ltd., Shenyang Jinbei Lear Auto Parts Co. Ltd., Shenyang Lear Jinbei Automotive Systems Co. Ltd., Strapazzini Resine S.r.L., Tacle Seating UK Limited, Tianjin FAWSN Lear Automotive Electrical & Electronics Co. Ltd., United Technologies Automotive, Wuhan Lear-DFM Auto Electric Company Limited, Xevo Inc., Xevo Inc., Xevo Japan LLC, Xevo K.K., and Yangzhou Lear Hulane Automotive Parts Trading Co. Ltd.. Read More Celanese Corporation, a technology and specialty materials company, manufactures and sells high performance engineered polymers in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Engineered Materials, Acetate Tow, and Acetyl Chain. The Engineered Materials segment develops, produces, and supplies specialty polymers for automotive and medical applications, as well as for use in industrial products and consumer electronics. It also offers acesulfame potassium, a sweetener for use in various beverages, confections, and dairy products; and food protection ingredients, such as potassium sorbate and sorbic acid for use in foods, beverages, and personal care products. The Acetate Tow segment provides acetate tows and flakes for use in filter products applications. The Acetyl Chain segment produces and supplies acetyl products, including acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomers, acetic anhydride, and acetate esters that are used as starting materials for colorants, paints, adhesives, coatings, and pharmaceuticals; and organic solvents and intermediates for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and chemical products. It also offers vinyl acetate-based emulsions for use in paints and coatings, adhesives, construction, glass fiber, textiles, and paper applications; and ethylene vinyl acetate resins and compounds, as well as low-density polyethylene for use in flexible packaging films, lamination film products, hot melt adhesives, automotive parts, and carpeting applications. In addition, it manufactures ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Celanese Corporation was founded in 1918 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas. Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. AQUARIUS, Mediterranean Sea - An increase in the number of migrants intercepted by Libyas coast guard whilst crossing the Mediterranean means more are now trapped in horrific conditions in the countrys notorious detention centres, a leading NGO has said. AQUARIUS, Mediterranean Sea - An increase in the number of migrants intercepted by Libyas coast guard whilst crossing the Mediterranean means more are now trapped in horrific conditions in the countrys notorious detention centres, a leading NGO has said. Ships operated by aid charities have noted a marked reduction in the number of rescues required in recent weeks which coincides with an Italian naval mission to assist the Libyan coast guard to curb the flow of migrants. The numbers making the journey had been slowing over recent months but dropped sharply during the first weekend of the operation as 1,124 people were intercepted, according to the International Organisation for Migration. But aid groups suggest the apparent stemming of one problem is exacerbating another far bigger issue. Marcella Kraay, MSF-OCA Project Coordinator currently aboard the Aquarius, told HuffPost UK: This may sound like a solution of the problem [of people-trafficking] but actually its more a case of out of sight, out of mind. What this actually means is people are being returned to Libya which is not a safe place. Around 2,230 people, most of them fleeing poverty, violence and forced military conscription, died in the first seven months of 2017 trying to make the sea crossing. Migrants make the journey to Libya from countries including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Sudan as well as sub-Saharan Africa and Syria, often on the promise of work in the country or better prospects in Europe But once there they face a host a host of abuses including arbitrary arrest, routine torture, forced prostitution and extortion. Many are openly bought and sold in markets. Kraay added: We know that people are being returned to detention centres when they are intercepted at sea, this is whats happened in the past and we assume thats whats happening today which means those centres are getting very full and the cycle of abuse, extortion and violence starts again. Story continues And sure, for the time being fewer people are getting out but at what cost? Taking away peoples only chance of escape from the horrors of Libya is not making the situation any better. If migrants are intercepted in international waters either by an NGO, the Italian coast guard or a commercial vessel, they cannot be sent back to Libya as the Italian Government has deemed it unsafe for migrants. But those intercepted in Libyan waters - 12 nautical miles from the coast - by Libyan vessels can be taken back to shore. The European Commission (EC), Frontex and the Italian Government are all working to curb people-smuggling and trafficking along the so-called Central Mediterranean route. This includes training of Libyan personnel who crew boats supplied by the Italian Government and millions of Euros given to EC development programmes in the area. Kraay said: Weve had multiple reports from the people here on the ship that weve rescued at sea that theyve tried more than once to get out and every time they were returned back to Libya and each time they had to pay. Meanwhile Europe is giving money to a country that is notoriously corrupt and lawless and the human suffering in Libya is immense. The crackdown on people-smugglers has also been mirrored by an increasing hardline on NGO boats by the Italian government with the two sides recently battling each other over a new code of conduct for rescue operations in international waters. A boat operated by Open Arms, which did not initially sign up to the new rules, was denied permission by the Italian Government to dock in Italy and Malta on Monday. It was then reported on Tuesday that it had now agreed to the code of conduct. But in Libyan territorial waters, the current instability in the country makes ascertaining who is actually in charge of coast guard operations difficult. Kraay said: We cant even speak of the Libyan coast guard - Libya is a country that is split between different governments that control different parts of the country and we see the same thing on the water. When weve encountered Libyan vessels in the past, some of them look like the Libyan coast guard but some of them look like someone has just painted [the decal] on the side and others look more formal. Its always hard to say whos who. The volatility of the situation was demonstrated yesterday when a Libyan coast guard vessel fired machine guns at an NGO ship in international waters. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Sucedio ayer 8:30am en aguas internacionales. Patrullera guardacostas Libios, formados y financiados #UE, amenaza y dispara #OpenArms pic.twitter.com/tYqeBDFclF PROACTIVA OPEN ARMS (@openarms_fund) August 8, 2017 Frontex stressed to HuffPost UK that it does not directly fund Libya or the Libyan coast guard. A spokesperson added: The topics covered by nine Frontex trainers included preparing and planning of law enforcement operations and combating of smuggling and trafficking of human beings. It also covered the protection of human rights in all coast guard activities. Meanwhile, the UN special envoy for Libya is supporting Italys contested naval mission to help the Libyan coast guard stop migrant smugglers boats, reports the Associated Press. Ghassan Salame met in Rome on, Tuesday with Italys premier and foreign minister. He praised as the right path Italys recently approved mission to help Libya turn back smugglers boats while still in Libyan waters. Libyan factions opposing the UN-backed government in Tripoli contend the mission violates national sovereignty. Salame also told reporters hell travel throughout Libya soon to speak with its many political players to report back to the UN General Assembly in September. Salame is tasked with encouraging political stability in Libya, which has been plagued by militia and other factional fighting since Moammar Gadhafis decades-long regime ended during the so-called 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. South Korean prosecutors are calling for a 12-year jail sentence for Samsung Electronics vice-chairman for his alleged role in a bribery scandal involving the countrys president. Lee Jae-yong held back tears as he told the court he had never sought anything from donations. He has been in detention since February on charges ranging from embezzlement to perjury. Lee is accused of bribing the countrys former President Park Geun-hye via a close aide, to help secure government support for a major restructuring at Samsung. The scandal led to the presidents removal from office three months ago. Four other executives also face charges. The court is due to rule on Lees case on August 25. On Monday police said they had also raided an office and seized documents relating to alleged misuse of company funds by Samsungs chairman. #UPDATE South Korea prosecutors seek 12 years jail for Samsung heir Lee Jae-Yong https://t.co/vMvGjKyXpl pic.twitter.com/q9nqgwloj1 AFP news agency (@AFP) August 7, 2017 France 24 Videos In 2014, Nadia Murad was captured, alongside many other Yazidi women, by the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in the Iraqi town of Sinjar. She was held hostage, enslaved, tortured and raped, before escaping to Mosul and making her way to Germany. After sharing the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize with Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, she is now a leading global advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence. Nadia Murad spoke to FRANCE 24 from the Paris Peace Forum. Murad said that more needs to be done to prevent sexual violence in conflict."Progress has been made on recognising survivors' right to reparations (...) but I think it's time to put political weight and resources behind the words," Murad told FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris Trent."Not much has been done to prevent what happened to the Yazidi women and girls," Murad said. More than eight years later, "we still have 2,800 women and children who are missing in ISIS [another name for the IS group] captivity in Syria, Turkey and some parts of Iraq. No effort has been made by the international community or our own government or any international organisations to look for the missing Yazidi women and children and bring them back"."Sexual violence does not go away when war is over (...) Ukraine is sadly another example of a failure to follow through on commitments to preventing sexual violence in war," Murad continued."Women's rights were never a priority for the international community to prevent the use of sexual violence," Murad said.Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Amnesty International demands urgent help for survivors of sexual violence in TigrayAllegations of mass rape by Russian troops in UkraineIraqs Yazidi community: Nadia Murads ongoing fight for justice The following companies are subsidiares of Brinker International: BI INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LLC, BI MEXICO HOLDING CORPORATION, BIPC GLOBAL PAYROLL COMPANY LLC, BIPC INVESTMENTS LLC, BIPC MANAGEMENT LLC, BRINKER AIRPORTS LLC, BRINKER ALABAMA INC., BRINKER ARKANSAS INC., BRINKER ASIA INC., BRINKER BRAZIL LLC, BRINKER CANADIAN HOLDING CO. ULC, BRINKER CANADIAN RESTAURANT CO. ULC, BRINKER CB LP, BRINKER CB MANAGEMENT LLC, BRINKER FHC B.V., BRINKER FLORIDA INC., BRINKER FREEHOLD INC., BRINKER GEORGIA INC., BRINKER INTERNATIONAL PAYROLL COMPANY L.P., BRINKER LOUISIANA INC., BRINKER MICHIGAN INC., BRINKER MISSISSIPPI INC., BRINKER MISSOURI INC., BRINKER NEVADA INC., BRINKER NEW JERSEY INC., BRINKER NORTH CAROLINA INC., BRINKER OF BALTIMORE COUNTY INC., BRINKER OF CARROLL COUNTY INC., BRINKER OF CECIL COUNTY INC., BRINKER OKLAHOMA INC., BRINKER OPCO LLC, BRINKER PENN TRUST, BRINKER PROPCO FLORIDA INC., BRINKER PROPERTY CORPORATION, BRINKER PURCHASING INC., BRINKER RESTAURANT CORPORATION, BRINKER RHODE ISLAND INC., BRINKER SERVICES CORPORATION, BRINKER SOUTH CAROLINA INC., BRINKER TEXAS INC., BRINKER VIRGINIA INC., CHILIS BEVERAGE COMPANY INC., CHILIS INC. a Delaware corporation, CHILIS INC. a Tennessee corporation, CHILIS INTERNATIONAL BASES B.V., CHILIS OF BEL AIR INC., CHILIS OF KANSAS INC., CHILIS OF MARYLAND INC., CHILIS OF WEST VIRGINIA INC., Grady's Inc., MAGGIANO'S OF ANNAPOLIS INC., MAGGIANO'S OF HOWARD COUNTY INC., MAGGIANO'S OF KANSAS INC., MAGGIANOS BEVERAGE COMPANY, MAGGIANOS HOLDING CORPORATION, MAGGIANOS INC., MAGGIANOS OF TYSONS INC., MAGGIANOS PROPERTY CORPORATION, MAGGIANOS TEXAS INC., PEPPER DINING HOLDING CORP., PEPPER DINING Inc., and PEPPER DINING VERMONT INC.. Read More The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United states and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment offers workers' compensation, commercial automobile and property, general liability, commercial multi-peril, employers' liability, public and product liability, professional indemnity, marine, aviation, onshore and offshore energy, construction, terrorism, personal accident, and kidnap and ransom insurance products. This segment operates through select accounts, which serve small businesses; commercial accounts that serve mid-sized businesses; national accounts, which serve large companies; and national property and other that serve large and mid-sized customers, commercial trucking industry, and agricultural businesses, as well as markets and distributes its products through brokers, wholesale agents, and program managers. The Bond & Specialty Insurance segment provides surety, fidelity, management and professional liability, and other property and casualty coverages and related risk management services through independent agencies and brokers. The Personal Insurance segment offers property and casualty insurance covering personal risks, primarily automobile and homeowners insurance to individuals through independent agencies and brokers. The Travelers Companies, Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in New York, New York. State Rep. Craig Hall of Utah has four redheaded children, lives in the state with the highest rate of melanoma in the country and buys sunscreen in the Costco size. He is an unabashed proponent of sun protection. But when Hall, a Republican, introduced legislation this year to allow kids to bring sunscreen to school which starts Aug. 21 in his district he said his fellow lawmakers were less enthusiastic. My colleagues first reaction to this bill was mostly Seriously? We need a bill for this? Like ibuprofen and hay fever medication, sunscreen is considered an over-the-counter drug by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore by almost all schools. That means kids cant bring it to school without a doctors note; even then, they must see the school nurse, who has to supervise its use. The result: Teachers leading a sunny field trip are free to cover themselves in a thick protective layer of sunscreen. But in most states, children cant follow suit. In Indianapolis, for instance, kids went back to school July 31 the height of summer but they must have a doctors note to bring sunscreen to school, and visit the school nurse to put it on. That is beginning to change. In the past four months, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Utah and Washington have enacted laws declaring that students may use sunscreen in school and at after-school activities, no doctors note required. Those states join California, New York, Oregon and Texas, which already have lifted the ban on sunscreen in school. The laws in Arizona, New York and Washington also stipulate that kids may bring and use sunscreen at summer camps. The legislation is designed to allow school districts to implement policies that encourage kids to use sunscreen and to wear hats and long sleeves in the sun although, in a nod to school dress codes, the legislation allows schools to ban clothes and hats deemed inappropriate. Sunscreen legislation is also in the works in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. A sunscreen bill that cleared the Senate in Mississippi died in a House committee, and a bill introduced in Georgia has stalled. District of Columbia public schools do not allow sunscreen without an authorization form signed by a doctor, according to spokeswoman Janae Hilson. In Maryland, each school district sets its own policy. For instance, sunscreen is allowed in Harford County schools without a doctors note, but only on field days and only if parents send in labeled nonspray sunscreen and teach the child how to use it beforehand. Virginia also leaves the policy to the discretion of school districts. Parents, I think, are the best decision-makers about their childrens sunscreen use, said state Sen. Terry Burton, a Republican co-sponsor of the Mississippi bill. It would have required the state education department to write a sun-safety policy for districts to follow. The school should not interfere with that decision that a parent makes to protect their child. Legislators say they are motivated by angry parents whose children suffered serious sunburns at school events where sunscreen was banned. If you just Google kid sunburned at school, Hall said, some of the stories are horrifying. In Rhode Island, state Rep. David Bennett, a Democrat, said the states 2016 law requiring daily school recess makes it more important that kids be allowed to put on sunscreen by themselves. The kids are impatient. Theyve got 20 minutes. Theyre not going to stand in line for 20 minutes while a teacher applies sunscreen, said Bennett, whose bill passed the lower house and is now in the Senate. By the time she gets done with the last kid, the 20 minutes is going to be over. But Bennett ran into opposition from the Rhode Island Certified School Nurse Teachers Association, which opposes the bill. Unlike other state sunscreen laws, Rhode Islands legislation has no language to address liability for school districts and for school employees who may apply sunscreen. The school nurses group also argues that sunscreen should be kept out of classrooms because of potential allergies among students. Diane Kowal, president of the Rhode Island association, said two children in her Coventry school district carry EpiPens because of sunscreen allergies. Parents could be sending their kids to school with sunscreen and a doctors note, which would allow her to dispense the sunscreen, she said but they dont. While she receives doctors notes from parents to administer ibuprofen and even cough drops, she has not received any to permit sunscreen use, even at field days when she alerts parents to be sure kids are protected from the sun. They all show up with the hats and water bottles, but no sunscreen, Kowal said. Were not against sunscreen, Kowal said. There just needs to be language to protect everyone, from the person putting it on to the kids sharing it. Bruce Brod, political advocacy chair for the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, said a serious allergy risk is unlikely. A kid might be allergic to hair gel, he said. The question is: Where do you draw the reasonable line? Beyond media coverage of kids with lobster-red sunburns, the legislation has been driven by an advocacy campaign from a coalition of medical groups including the lobbying arms of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, whose members decided in March to push for sunscreen legislation. The surgery group wrote model legislation and earmarked $30,000 in grants for state dermatology organizations to lobby for the bill. The academys lobbying organization also provided advocacy grants to state groups. The quick results four state laws in three months came about because its an issue that doesnt seem to be politically divisive at all, said Terry Cronin, a dermatologist in Melbourne, Florida, and head of the advocacy working group for the dermatologic surgery society. Everybody sees that kids need to be protected from skin cancer and they should be protected with sunscreen. The medical groups say they are hopeful that Illinois and Ohio will take up sunscreen legislation next. Some sunscreen laws specify that schoolchildren may put on their own sunscreen and that school personnel may volunteer to help them. Utahs law, for instance, includes a provision that if a child cant apply her own sunscreen, a teacher or school employee may do so, but only with the written consent of the parents. The school and its personnel are not liable for either a reaction to the sunscreen or for not reapplying it. The real difficulty is a lot of the teachers and nurses are uncomfortable having to apply this on children because they dont want to be seen as handling the child, Cronin said. Sunscreen bills that exempt sunscreen from being administered by school personnel as medications such as ibuprofen must be mean that teachers can show students how to put on their own sunscreen. Sunscreen legislation is appealing because it doesnt require the state to spend money: it simply tells parents they can send sunscreen to school with their children. But just because kids can wear sunscreen doesnt mean they will. Nor will school districts necessarily change their policies. California was the leader in sunscreen legislation: The state enacted a law in 2002 allowing sunscreen to be used in schools without a doctors note and requiring schools to let students wear hats and protective clothing when outdoors. Billys Bill for Sun Safety was named for Billy Graham, who died of melanoma at the age of 22; a foundation started by his mother after his death lobbied for the legislation. While many California school districts updated their sunscreen policies as a result of Billys Bill, surveys have discovered that many schools had not changed their practices even though the district had changed its policy, said Jeff Ashley, a dermatologist in Burbank and the president of Sun Safety For Kids, a nonprofit that advocates for improved school policies and that helped write the California School Boards Association sun safety policy. From passing the bill to actual student behavior there are a lot of steps in between, said Julia Berteletti of Klein Buendel, a Colorado health communications firm that is working with Ashley to study California school districts compliance with the policy. Were also finding, anecdotally, that even if a district passes a policy, that doesnt always translate into the principal knowing the policy. Why might schools be slow to adopt the new approach? This is speculative, but I think schools object a little bit to having to be babysitters. They feel a bit overwhelmed just trying to meet all the educational goals, Ashley said, even though everyone agrees that sun safety is prudent. Even if school personnel begin promoting sunscreen use with their students, gauging whether children are more protected would be tough because there is little information on how often they use sunscreen now, Berteletti says. Regardless of difficulties in implementation, the new state laws send a clear message that this is something we take seriously, said Brod, the Pennsylvania dermatologist. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that sunlight is cancer-causing. It sends that message to the parents, to the teachers. It really is something very important. Stateline is an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2017/07/11/why-more-states-are-getting-serious-about-sunscreen Navajo students aspiring to become special education teachers will now have an additional avenue to do so, thanks to a new program created jointly by the Navajo Nation, the Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship and Financial Assistance, Dine College and Western New Mexico University. Navajo officials and the educational institutions met last week at the Office of President of the Navajo Nation Russell Begaye to sign an agreement establishing the new program. This is a great opportunity for our Navajo students to become involved in special education, said Begaye, according to a news release. Many of our students have been waiting for an opportunity like this to occur. The program was created to address the great need for special education teachers on the Navajo Nation said Dine College president Dr. Charles Roessel. Starting this fall, program participants will be able to obtain a bachelors in elementary education from Dine and a masters in teaching special education from WNMU in the span of five years. Doing so would normally require an additional year of study, said Dr. Joseph Shepard, the president of WNMU. Special education is an important piece to creating an appropriate, well-balanced education system, he said. Oftentimes, we look at New Mexico and we fail to include the Navajo Nation. This allows a true partnership with institutions of higher education. Eligible Navajo students in the program will also be able to receive financial aid through the Navajo Nations scholarship office with the stipulation that they return to teach on the Navajo Nation or in Navajo-serving schools for the same number of years that they received aid. Such students will also receive $1,000 through WNMU provided that they can speak and understand Navajo, according to Shepard. Roessel said that, due to Navajo language and culture being incorporated into the classes at Dine, those who complete the program will be well-suited to teach Navajo students. Our teachers are in a prime position to be the most wanted and employable teachers on the reservation because no one else has this background, he said. Now you add that to the ability to integrate special education, and thats why this is such an amazing program. Casa San Ysidro in Corrales is celebrating the hardworking New Mexico cowboy specifically, the Western movie genre on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m., with food, drink, talks, movie clips, kids games, live music and tours of on-site cowboy residences built in 1865. New Mexicos light, landscape, climate and railroad made the state a prime location for Westerns, attracting Hollywoods greatest stars, organizers said in a news release. Film historian Jeff Berge, beginning at 1:15 p.m., will be showing New Mexico Western movie clips, such as the first movie ever shot in the state, in 1897 on Isleta Pueblo. His show will feature around 15 Westerns, including Johnny Cashs first Western feature, one with Jimmy Cagney, another with Mickey Rooney, and other stars, including Kirk Douglas and William Holden. Berg will also share some thoughts about how accurately movies bring the Old West to the big screen, organizers said. Bluegrass band Atomic Grass with guest Grey Howell will start at 2:45 p.m. Food offerings include beans from Las Ristras of Corrales. Free admission and programming are offered at Casa San Ysidro from 1 to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month. Visitors are invited to take self-guided tours of this historic property. Casa San Ysidro is at 973 Old Church Road in the historic village of Corrales. For more information, call 505-898-3915 or go to cabq.gov/casasanysidro or facebook.com/casasanysidro. We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Six inmates snatched keys from three correctional officers at a maximum security prison in Arkansas on Monday and held the officers in an area of the facility for about three hours, the second major disturbance to occur at the penitentiary in less than a month. The Arkansas Department of Correction said the inmates overpowered the officers and took the keys during recreation call at the Maximum Security Unit in Tucker, 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Little Rock. The three officers were later released with scrapes, bruises and other minor injuries, while an inmate who was not involved in the initial disturbance was taken to a hospital. Shortly after the last officer was released, corrections department spokesman Solomon Graves said the inmates surrendered and the prison began returning to normal operations. Graves said the injured inmate was in stable condition after suffering injuries that could not be treated by the prison infirmary. Graves said the inmates who had taken the keys had been moved to the Varner Supermax Unit after the incident. The department did not say how the prisoners took the keys from the officers, or whether the inmates had any kinds of weapons. The disturbance occurred a week after officials revealed that a guard at the same prison fired three warning shots into the air on July 22 after two guards and an inmate were attacked. The department said it was not informed of the shots fired until it was reported by the Arkansas Times. Arkansas State Police had been on standby outside the prison during Mondays incident and was waiting to enter to begin its investigation, said spokesman Bill Sadler. Once that occurs, our agents will enter the cellblock to begin an investigation to determine and identify any criminal activity that occurred leading up to this incident and any criminal activity that may have occurred during the course of the incident, Sadler said. Graves said the departments director and the state Board of Corrections would conduct their own investigation into the incident, including whether it was related to the July 22 attack. Graves said the incident showed the risks that the states correction officers face on a daily basis. Today is indicative of the inherent dangers of their work, but our staff performed admirably today and at this point we are just glad that the situation was resolved without any serious injuries to inmates or to our staff, Graves said. The maximum security prison has a capacity of 532 inmates and has 295 employees, according to the Department of Correction website. ___ Follow Andrew DeMillo on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ademillo Lets say you pay an annual fee into a monetary pool that pays claims filed against you, and people like you. And lets say the fee is based on the likelihood that you, and people like you, will face such claims. Would you have any interest in knowing how much those people like you pay and how their likelihood of facing claims compares to yours? If your answer is no, we have a bridge you might be interested in buying. This scenario is a simplified version of the states Patient Compensation Fund, which helps doctors and other qualified providers pay malpractice claims that exceed their $200,000 personal liability. (State law caps medical negligence claims at $600,000.) The fund is overseen by the state Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, which is headed by John Franchini. Franchini was appointed to the post by the state Public Regulation Commission in 2010. A lawsuit filed recently by the current and three former presidents of the New Mexico Medical Society alleges that Franchini and his office have allowed the Patient Compensation Fund to fall to a dangerously low level by allowing 16 hospitals and 46 outpatient care facilities to use it. The suit further states that the office has refused to disclose whether those hospitals and outpatient facilities are paying enough to cover the enormity of the malpractice liabilities they pose. It also claims this was done in a secret and surreptitious manner. The plaintiffs are: Dr. Barbara McAneny, Dr. William Ritchie, Dr. Albert Kwan and Dr. William Liakos Jr., the current president of the New Mexico Medical Society. The suit says a 2016 actuarial study found the fund to be $36.6 million short of where it should be to be actuarially sound. Before the insurance office allows a hospital or outpatient facility to participate in the compensation fund, its required to conduct a risk assessment. Trouble is, because all that is secret, its impossible for participants, much less the public, to know what the risks are or whether the new participant is paying its fair share into the fund, the suit says. As this newspaper and other open government advocates have noted forever, it seems governmental secrecy for the sake of secrecy rarely serves anyone but those keeping the secrets. Consider the secrecy that shrouds the state medical boards disciplinary proceedings. And the states hospital infection rates. Meanwhile, New Mexico, chronically short of physicians and other health care providers, cant afford to lose a single good one just because the Patient Compensation Fund cant deliver whats been promised. The only way to ensure the fund is being used properly is for the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, which has had its problems in the past, to be far more transparent than the suits plaintiffs claim it is. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. FARMINGTON The San Juan Regional Medical Center and other defendants have denied most of the allegations in a negligent care lawsuit filed by a former inmate of the San Juan County Adult Detention Center. The court document was filed on July 14 in response to a complaint filed by Oregon resident Jared West, 30, who accused the detention center and the hospital of depriving him of adequate medical care and improperly restraining him while he was incarcerated in April 2015. Wests Albuquerque-based attorney Eric Sirokin filed the complaint seeking unspecified damages on March 31 against a list of defendants that includes San Juan County, jail administrator Tom Havel, and jail and hospital employees. Ellen Kelly, an attorney representing the hospital, filed the response to Wests amended complaint. She did not respond to requests for comment. According to court documents, the defendants deny most of the claims in the complaint due to a lack of information. The response also states West failed to state sufficient enough facts to prompt the lawsuit against the defendants, and denies accusations of bodily harm and excessive force. Sirokin believes the denial of allegations from the defendants is because the lawyers havent started their investigation yet. He added that when the investigation is complete, it will demonstrate that West did not receive adequate care. Previous lawsuits have been filed against the hospital the jails health care provider at the time and the jail, claiming inmates died or suffered injuries because of substandard or denied medical care. West, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, makes several claims in the lawsuit, including that he was assaulted by corrections officers until he lost consciousness, that he was placed in a straitjacket and a restraint chair for allegedly being noncompliant and that he did not receive medical attention for a broken hand. He also claims he was never taken to the behavioral health unit at the San Juan Medical Center, that he was not adequately treated or evaluated by psychiatric personnel, and that he was deprived of food and water because he allegedly assaulted jail employees. The court filing acknowledges only a small number of claims levied against the defendants. The defendants acknowledge that three doctors named in the lawsuit work at the hospital and that Wests mother contacted law enforcement officials to advise them about Wests bipolar disorder. The defendants acknowledge West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder by a hospital employee, but deny a claim that doctors declined to treat West for what later was determined to be a fractured hand. Santiago Aveles, 31, of Las Cruces pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to charges arising out of a scheme to obtain immigration status for Chinese nationals in the U.S. illegally through fake marriages. Aveles and five co-defendants Yi Lee, 44, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Santa Fe, and Chia-Jung Chang, 39, Dan Zheng, 32, Lian Xiang Deng, 42, and Xiao-Yin Le, 50, all Chinese nationals illegally in the United States were indicted on April 19, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. They were charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. The indictment also charged Aveles and Zheng with committing marriage fraud for the purpose of evading the federal immigration laws. The scheme involved having U.S. citizens enter into fraudulent marriages with foreign nationals in return for financial gain, according to the release. Lee allegedly facilitated the conspiracy by arranging meetings between foreign nationals and U.S. citizens and assisting them in obtaining marriage licenses, working permits and green cards for the foreign nationals who paid Lee and the U.S. citizens. According to the indictment, Lee allegedly attempted to arrange fraudulent marriages between certain of his co-defendants and undercover law enforcement agents. In entering his guilty plea, Aveles admitted that from January 2016 through April 30, he and others conspired to commit marriage fraud. Aveles also admitted that he entered into a sham marriage for the purpose of evading immigration laws and in exchange for a monetary payment. Aveles faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled. Aveles co-defendants have entered pleas of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. Copyright 2017 Albuquerque Journal Members of the University of New Mexico art faculty are raising questions about a campus building reorganization they say will cost them one of their best assets and recruiting tools: art studios in a historic campus building. UNM is relocating the studios and transforming their existing space a 91-year-old building just off Central, near University, now known as the Art Annex into the Honors College. The Honors College must leave its current home at the Student Health and Counseling Center to make way for the centers own expansion. The art studios, meanwhile, will move to unused space in the Biology Annex. UNM Regent Marron Lee says discussions for these moves go back two years, and the plan represents the best use for the buildings involved. Art department leaders say that the Biology Annex, just west of Castetter Hall, is far smaller and that leaving their high-ceilinged, light-filled current home will have a dramatic impact on their programs, describing the Art Annex as a key attraction for UNMs master of fine arts students. And at least one internal UNM analysis indicates there is a better option that would cost an estimated $1 million less: moving the Honors College to the Biology Annex and leaving the Art Annex in place. Patrick Manning, associate chairman of the art department, said during a UNM regents committee meeting last week that UNM is competing for the best students the type also getting accepted at institutions like Yale and the Rhode Island School of Design. The art studios are an instrumental recruitment tool, as graduate students use them for painting, printmaking, photography and more. He called them one of UNMs main competitive advantages. The Art Annex, though it needs updates, is actually close to exactly what you would build if you wanted to build a specific studio building, he said, citing the beautiful light that comes through its many windows. Department Chairwoman Justine Andrews expressed her grave concern to the Academic/Student Affairs and Research Committee. The impact of this space restriction will reduce our enrollment, diminish our national standing and since in addition to the excellence of our faculty, our facilities for graduate students are an enormous asset the program will drop in the national rankings and be less reputable nationally and internationally, she said. But the facultys objections most likely will not change the course of action, according to Lee, who told the Journal the matter already has been decided. Lee said this plan allows for renewal of two historic UNM buildings. The moves have been mentioned at multiple public meetings, she said. That includes a fall 2016 Board of Regents meeting at which regents approved a resolution to issue bonds to pay for the Art Annex and Biology Annex renovations and a series of other campus improvement projects. The projected costs to renovate the Art Annex and the Biology Annex to suit their new purposes total $6.1 million, according to a November 2016 memo from UNMs budget officer. But a more recent feasibility study from the UNM Planning, Design and Construction division estimated the costs at $7.1 million, which includes an addition to the Biology Annex to fit the art students needs. Leaving the art students in their current facility, and moving Honors to the Biology Annex (with a new addition) would cost $6.1 million, according to the report dated April 25, 2017. The Biology Annex is ill-suited for utilization as art studio and fine arts fabrication space, the report said. It is 50 percent too small and would require extensive plumbing and building envelope changes to accommodate both darkrooms and light-filled studios. UNM already has issued a request for proposals seeking architectural analysis and design work to refurbish the space while meeting the art programs needs, according to interim Provost Craig White. The RFP lists the maximum allowable construction cost at $1.65 million. It notes that an addition may be required to fit the art activity, but it also says the current budget may not allow for full program accommodation. The Biology Annex has 5,928 square feet of available space compared with the Art Annexs 10,585, according to UNMs April feasibility study. Lee disputed some of the reports assumptions and its cost estimates. She also touted the benefits of giving the Honors College a higher-profile home it currently occupies the ground level of Student Health and putting the art studios into the Biology Annex, which she noted was designed by famed New Mexico architect John Gaw Meem. The Honors College is key to our future success at the university, she said. While we understand our arts program has been a shining example of what we do well at the University of New Mexico, moving them from the current Art Annex to the Bio Annex, where theyll have plenty of light where their concerns are not founded honestly is a win-win-win. Albuquerque mayoral candidate Tim Keller unveiled his strategy for attacking crime in the city this morning, and it includes bringing in a new police chief, creating a civilian-led department of public safety and retooling recruitment standards for police officers to bring them more in line with the states. Its unfortunate, but crime is absolutely out of control, Keller said during a news conference outside of the city clerks office. He said the city needs to deal with the problem head on and stop pointing fingers at others. This is the mayors responsibility, Keller said, calling crime the No. 1 issue facing the city. Its the mayors job to actually address crime in Albuquerque and thats what I want to do as the next mayor of Albuquerque. Keller said the city would recommit to a community policing model, try to bring back retired officers, and get rid of the bunker mentality coming from the top. He said he would work to get Department of Justice reforms completed as quickly as possible and redirect the millions of dollars being spent on those efforts to hire more officers. Keller said he would bring in a civilian chief of public safety to oversee reforms across all public safety departments, and he would create a multi-agency collaboration force to get more officers on the streets right away. As for the officer shortage, Keller said he would undertake aggressive recruitment efforts to attract well-trained officers with a goal of having at least 1,000 officers on the street within two years. The citys police force currently hovers at around 850 officers. We are going to hire every single officer that we have a dollar for, he said. To do that, Keller said, he would aggressively recruit officers from other agencies and he would look at relaxing recruitment standards to bring them more in line with state standards that every other city in New Mexico follows. And, he said, the city should give officers who fail the physical fitness test another chance, for example. Its harder to get through the APD academy than it is to get through standards, Keller said. PHOENIX A former Honeywell International Inc. employee has been charged with computer fraud after he allegedly met with FBI agents pretending to be Mexican cartel members interested in buying access to a Honeywell location-tracking system. An FBI probable-cause statement included with a criminal complaint filed Saturday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix said Robert Jeremy Miller of Phoenix was arrested Friday immediately after he met with the undercover agents. During the meeting, Miler demonstrated how to remotely log into a satellite-based system that corporate and government customers of Honeywell use to track aircraft, vehicles and vessels, the FBI statement said. Court documents filed in the criminal case and a civil case stemming from a lawsuit filed by Honeywell against Miller said the company in February terminated Miller as a senior project management specialist responsible for administering the satellite tracking system. A man who acted as an intermediary between the FBI and Miller told Miller that the intermediary believed the Mexican cartel would pay $2 million for access to the tracking system, the statement said. According to the FBI statement, Miller told agents after he was arrested that his reason for meeting with purported cartel members was to gather and share information with law enforcement. Defense attorney Loyd Tate said Tuesday it was too early to assess any basis for the allegations against Miller. The FBI statement provides few details on who allegedly said what or what they did, Tate said in an interview. Lets give Mr. Miller due process at least lets give persons like myself a chance to listen to recordings and read reports before all of these conclusions are coming out as to motive, Tate said. A judge on Monday ordered Miller to remain in custody pending a detention hearing Wednesday. The lawsuit that Honeywell filed in March against Miller alleged he stole trade secrets from the company, including a database of customers and pricing information. Miller has not responded to the lawsuit, and Honeywell on Tuesday asked the court clerk to enter a default judgment against Miller. Detectives are investigating after a woman was shot and killed in southeast Albuquerque early Tuesday morning. Celina Espinoza, a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Police Department, said around 4 a.m. police were called to Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital for a woman in her late 20s who had been shot. The woman died at the hospital. Through further investigation, officers located a scene on the 6400 block of Cochiti Road SE, Espinoza wrote in an email. Numerous casings from different firearms were located at the scene. Espinoza did not release the womans name because she said her next of kin have not yet been notified. She said detectives are serving search warrants, conducting interviews, canvassing for witnesses and processing evidence for this case. Crime Scene Investigators and APDs Mobile Crime Lab remained at the scene into the mid afternoon. Tips: Police ask anyone with information about the case to call (505) 242-COPS or contact Crime Stoppers at 843-STOP. FLORENCE, Ariz. Authorities say an Arizona prison inmate has been found dead in his cell and it appears to be a suicide. Arizona Department of Corrections officials say 31-year-old Jonathan Wilson died Monday after prison staff observed him unresponsive in his cell from an apparent act of self-harm. Details werent immediately released Tuesday. Corrections officials say the prison staff conducted life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. Wilson was sentenced out of Maricopa County in 2014 to seven years in prison for trafficking in stolen property. He was serving his sentence at the state prison in Florence. Corrections officials say all inmate deaths are investigated in consultation with the county Medical Examiners Office. A lot more local startups marketing University of New Mexico technology could emerge in the next few years thanks to a new $444,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The five-year grant will convert UNMs new Lobo Rainforest building at the Innovate ABQ research and development site Downtown into an official NSF Innovation Corps site. That NSF program pumps money into select innovation centers around the country to boost efforts to bring new university-developed products and services to market. The grant will allow the Science and Technology Corp., UNMs tech-transfer office, and the universitys Innovation Academy to offer funding to nearly 120 teams of students, faculty and business mentors over the next five years to bring new innovations to market. The program will begin this fall with $34,000 for 10 different teams, or $3,400 each, said STC President and CEO Lisa Kuuttila. Well have two cohorts of ten teams each this first year, starting with one in the fall and another in the spring, Kuuttila said. That will grow to 25 teams annually by the third year of the grant. Each team will receive business mentoring and training as they conduct intense market research and development for new products and services over a three-month period. Those that show market viability for new innovations while demonstrating the business acumen needed to move forward will become eligible to apply for NSF grants of up to $50,000 to continue their work, Kuuttila said. Innovation Academy Executive Director Rob DelCampo called it excitement funding. It will help us draw a lot more students and faculty into technology transfer, he said. The program will focus on recruiting students through the Innovation Academy, which UNM launched in 2015 to offer real-world entrepreneurial experience and training. It will also seek to increase women and minority participation, DelCampo said. This month, both STC and the Innovation Academy will move into the Lobo Rainforest building Downtown, a new six-story facility that just opened at the seven-acre Innovate ABQ site at Broadway and Central. Its perfect timing, Kuuttila said. Were trying to grow the ecosystem through broad collaboration at Innovate ABQ. Turning the Lobo Rainforest building into an NSF I-Corps site will help a lot. New Mexico State Universitys Arrowhead Center is also an I-Corps site. It won a $300,000 NSF grant last year. Weve funded 32 entrepreneurial teams so far, said Aggie I-Corp Site Director Kramer Winingham. Its a tremendous program that provides resources for early-stage technology businesses. Its awesome that UNM will now be able to leverage that program. PHOENIX Arizonas corrections director was grilled by a judge Tuesday over whether he tried to undermine a court order that prohibited retaliation against inmates who participated in a class-action lawsuit over the quality of health care in the states prisons. Charles Ryan was called into federal court to respond to questions about a July 27 email he sent to prisons employees letting them know they had to follow the order. The email also said employees deserved better than this preconceived order and that the decision was based on only the accounts of prisoners. The tone of leaders matters on this, U.S. Magistrate David Duncan told the prisons director, adding Ryans attorneys didnt challenge the retaliation allegations. Ryan denied that he was trying to undermine the orders legitimacy and said his comments about the order werent intended to be disrespectful. I followed your order, Ryan said. Duncan issued the order barring retaliation after two inmates testified at a July 14 hearing about what they said were barriers to health care while in prison. One inmate was concerned that prison officers, by forcing inmates to move to other cells after he testified, were trying to make him a target of reprisal by portraying him as being the cause of the transfer. Another inmate said her cellmate was transferred and given a new roommate who is a gang member with a reputation for violence. The retaliation allegations surfaced in a lawsuit that challenged how the state administers health care in its prisons. The lawsuit said some prisoners complained that their cancer went undetected or they were told to pray to be cured after begging for treatment. It also alleged that the failure of medical staff at one prison to diagnose the metastasized cancer of one inmate resulted in his liver enlarging so his stomach swelled the size of a pregnant woman at full term. The state denied the allegations that they werent providing adequate health care for prisoners. The lawsuit was settled in 2014 on behalf of more than 30,000 Arizona inmates, without the state acknowledging any wrongdoing. The attorneys who filed the case say prison officials have been dragging their feet in making changes they promised when settling the case more than two years ago. Duncan has threatened but hasnt actually imposed fines of $1,000 for each instance in which the state is falling short in making improvements to health care, such as ensuring that chronic-care and psychotropic medication renewals are to be made without interruption. The fines that could be imposed for month of June are estimated at more than $2 million. The two prisoners who alleged retaliation had testified about the use of open clinics at prisons that let inmates access care when they need it without having to complete a form saying they need medical care. At Tuesdays hearing, Ryan drank water from a bottle as Duncan took issue with the prison directors response to his court order, saying this wasnt the first retaliation allegation to be made against his agency during the case. Duncan said the explanations offered by the state for the actions taken against the inmates who testified at the July 14 hearing didnt even pass the straight-face test. Despite Duncans assertion that the states lawyers didnt challenge the retaliation allegation, Ryan still said he didnt believe his lawyers had an adequate opportunity to examine the witnesses. In offering critical comments about the order, Ryan said he wasnt trying to telegraph to employees that it was OK to ignore the order. Ryan also was asked about a comment he made during a conference call about the order in which he said Duncan was micromanaging the Department of Corrections. The magistrate said he doesnt want to micromanage the agency, but said the state prisons havent been able to make the changes they promised when settling the case. Unfortunately, I cant always get the full story from the Department of Corrections, Duncan said. Ryan assured Duncan he would follow the courts orders. I believe, with all due respect, I want you out of this case as bad as anybody else, Ryan said, drawing laughter and agreement from Duncan. ___ Follow Jacques Billeaud at twitter.com/jacquesbilleaud. His work can be found at https://www.apnews.com/search/jacques%20billeaud . PHOENIX A Tucson man accused of performing liposuction procedures while not having a medical license has been sentenced to nearly 39 years in prison. Arizona prosecutors say Gustavo Nunez faced up to a 178-year prison term. Nunez pleaded guilty in April to 28 felony charges that include aggravated assault, fraud and practicing medicine without a license. The state Attorney Generals Office says seven victims had procedures performed by Nunez between 2012 and 2014. Authorities say three victims were hospitalized after botched surgeries and one sustained life-threatening injuries. Nunez was arrested after two women went to hospitals with serious aggressive infections stemming from liposuction procedures performed by Nunez. After his arrest was reported, other women reported they had procedures that Nunez performed. The Albuquerque company behind a popular brand of therapeutic tape used by athletes is offering University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center $300,000 to set up a teaching clinic on its taping methods. The University of New Mexico Board of Regents Finance and Facilities Committee on Tuesday approved the creation and naming of the Center for Kinesio Taping Methods. The request now heads to the full board of regents for final approval. According to a UNM Health Sciences memo, Kinesio proposes to donate $300,000 to the Pain Center in the School of Medicines Department of Neurosurgery dedicated to the teaching of its taping method for a period of three years, ending on June 30, 2020. It is our intent to place a sign in the hallway next to the PT (physical therapy) room designating the Center, reads the memo. In partnership with UNMs Health Sciences Center, it is Kinesios wish to provide a program for innovative teaching and outstanding, compassionate patient care in the treatment of pain. In addition to the cash gift, the company will also donate Kinesio tape to be used for educational purposes. The UNM Pain Center comprises doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, myofascial pain specialists, psychologists and psychiatrists. Pain management has been a key treatment interest for Kenzo Kase, the chiropractor who pioneered the tape product and its application method, according to the memo. Kases daughter, Elisa Kase, vice president of the company, is a UNM alumnus and former collegiate athlete, according to the memo. Kinesio Holding Corp. headquarters are located at 4001 Masthead NE is next door to Cre-Med, Kinesios manufacturing center, where 50 people are employed. The company said the tape is sold in 70 countries and has been seen on the bodies of numerous Olympic and professional and amateur athletes. According to a 2016 Journal article, the company was selling about 180,000 rolls of tape each month. Bernalillo County will remain an immigrant friendly community after all, with the commission majority refusing to alter its policy despite a renewed threat by the U.S. Justice Department to withhold public safety grants from so-called sanctuary cities. Commissioner Wayne Johnson had asked his colleagues to rescind a resolution approved in March that declared Bernalillo County an immigrant-friendly community. His proposal would also have required the county to give the Department of Justice access to county-operated detention facilities. But commissioners overwhelmingly rejected the proposal Tuesday night. Johnson, a Republican who is running for mayor of Albuquerque, was the only commissioner to vote in favor. Commission chairwoman Debbie OMalley and Commissioners Steven Michael Quezada and Maggie Hart Stebbins, all Democrats, and Republican Lonnie Talbert voted against the measure. The immigrant friendly resolution that Johnson tried to rescind is largely symbolic, although it does prohibit the use of county money or personnel to ascertain anyones immigration status or to apprehend individuals based on their immigration status, unless required to do so by law. Throngs of immigrants and immigrant rights activists packed into the commission chamber to demonstrate their opposition to Johnsons proposal. Dozens of people, including undocumented individuals and representatives from immigrant rights groups, faith communities and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, asked commissioners to vote down the measure. But the harshest criticism came from former Albuquerque City Councilor Rey Garduno, who accused Johnson of playing politics. Shame on you. Shame on you for grabbing headlines to see if you can get elected, Garduno said, as the crowd erupted in applause. Shame on those who take refuge on scoundrelness. You will pay your dues. I promise you. Bernalillo County resident Diane McCash urged the commission to respect the diversity that exists in the county and to stand up to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. It would be impossible to change who we are for convenience or dollars, and it would be folly to try, she said. Dont be tempted to trade our identity for dollars. Johnson sat quietly listening to the public comment. But when his resolution came up on the agenda, he said the measure was merely designed to deal with the federal governments requirement that it have access to the countys detention center. Everybody wants to make this about immigrants, and, Ill tell you right now, this isnt about immigrants. , Johnson said. Its not even about undocumented or illegal immigrants, those that are here illegally. Its about those who are here who are undocumented or illegal who have committed a crime and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Theres nothing in this resolution that directs or implies that the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Department should in any way be enforcing federal immigration law. Everything in this resolution puts the burden on the Department of Homeland Security and on Immigration and Customs. But Quezada, who sponsored the original immigrant friendly community resolution, fired back. Youre innocent (until proven) guilty, he said, referring to those detained at MDC. Your due process is not the right of an American, it is a human right to have due process. We are not for criminals. I didnt pass this resolution to give a free pass to criminals. If youre a criminal, we are going to prosecute you like any other criminal, and I dont care what color you are. I dont care what country you come from Johnsons resolution would have required the Metropolitan Detention Center to: Provide access to Department of Homeland Security personnel to meet with detainees so they can determine the detainees immigration status. Require MDC to provide at least a 48-hour notice of the pending release of a detainee identified by Homeland Security. And, upon indemnification of liability by Homeland Security, honor a request to hold a detainee for no more than an additional 48 hours. The cover page for the resolution states that Bernalillo County and the city of Albuquerque could lose millions of dollars in federal assistance if it fails to adhere to the new requirements for participation in the DOJs Partnership Program. The vast majority of individuals who spoke during public input criticized Johnsons proposal. Felipe Rodriguez, an undocumented resident, said he came to the United States to escape violence and corruption in Mexico. Im asking you to stand with our community , he told commissioners prior to the vote. Im asking you to not sell out members of your community. Other municipalities are also grappling with the DOJs threat to withhold grant funding due to their sanctuary city policies. The city of Chicago filed suit against the Justice Department earlier this week. Goomo, Indias leading omni-channel travel-tech company, has collaborated with e-commerce giant Amazon as its exclusive travel partner for the upcoming Amazon Great Indian Sale. Under the partnership, Goomo will offer Amazon customers with special rewards and offers during the sale, which will be live between August 9 and August 12, 2017. As a part of its operational strategy, Goomo is focusing on partnership and associations with brands that will provide an opportunity to further build on their existing user base. Eligible customers who make purchases of above INR 500 on the Amazon app from their Amazon.in account will receive a promo code for an instant cash discount of up to INR 900 on domestic as well international flight bookings on Goomo. In addition, 10 lucky winners will be selected at the end of sale for a chance to win a 4-night/5-day trip to Bali, Indonesia for two. Speaking on the partnership, Varun Gupta, CEO, Goomo commented, Our partnership with Amazon is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase our newly-launched Hotels platform and provide amazing travel offers to its customers. The breadth of our partnerships with hotels and airline carriers combined with the simple user interface makes it easy for users to book flights and find hotels of their choice, both in India and internationally. Amazons massive customer base offers us a chance to promote our value proposition and establish Goomo as the comprehensive one-stop destination for all travelling requirements of Indian consumers. Goomo launched the hotel booking feature on its platform with more than 50,000 domestic and 3,00,000 international hotels available for travellers to choose from. Goomo will soon be launching Goomo recommended hotels that will be chosen based on hyper location. It will ensure guaranteed check-ins, best rates, transparency in rates and virtual tour of the property. Contract Advertising appointed Subho Sengupta as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Contract Delhi. An alumnus of IISWBM & St Xaviers Kolkata, Subho has over two decades of experience in the marketing and advertising ecosystem. He is a seasoned communications professional with a deep understanding in launching new brands, re-engineering existing ones and developing integrated marketing communications across a cross-section of brands. As a Business Head, he has demonstrated drive for new business, operational excellence and forging strong client relationships by consistently delivering value on his brands. Subho brings to the table his robust experience across a multitude of categories comprising telecom, food & beverages, media & publication, financial services, real estate, consumer electronics, FMCG, footwear, sportswear, manufacturing, hospitality and digital search engine. He spearheaded the entire marketing strategy and the national launch across 12 circles for MTS as well as instrumental in the successful launch of Airtel Digital TV and IPTV. Over the years, he has worked with some of the most high-profile companies and brands including ABP, Berger Paints, Hitachi, ITC, Reliance Telecom, The Times of India and Unilever (Nepal). Besides building brands, Shubho is a great team leader and an excellent mentor. Subho joins from J Walter Thompson where he has spent last four years. Commenting on the appointment, Raji Ramaswamy, CEO, Contract Advertising said; Delhi is an important growth market and I am confident that Shubho Sengupta will be able to deliver value to our clients though his diverse category experience. His deep understanding of building brands and his strategic skills will help us deliver the best solutions for our clients. I am delighted to have him onboard as the head of Contract, Delhi. On joining the agency, Subho Sengupta, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Contract Delhi said; I am very excited and I look forward to both the opportunities and challenges that come with the new role. Contract as an agency has an impeccable reputation and has always been driven by passion. Delivering impactful work that will move the needle for our clients businesses will be my focus. Outside of work, he has a deep passion for Indian music and he is an avid theatre enthusiast. He also is equally passionate about giving back to the industry by volunteering his services as a visiting faculty on marketing and communication across various business schools. MAXIM, the Marketing Association of XIMB organized their annual business conclave "Mercatique 2017" on 6th August 2017, Sunday, 9 am. The topic of discussion for the conclave was Marketing in a VUCA World. The speakers for the occasion were Ms. Sujata Dwibedy, Ms. Ritu Gupta, Mr. Amit Tiwari and Mr. Vijay Jacob. Prof. Mridula Mishra, the moderator for todays conclave declared the forum open for discussion by asking How well these lessons apply to todays rapidly changing environment? Ms. Ritu Gupta, Director-Marketing, Consumer and Small business at Dell India Inc., was the first speaker of the day. She started her speech by explaining the concepts of VUCA. Then by giving examples of Roger Federer and Nokia, she quoted VUCA is not same for everyone. It depends on how you choose to perceive it. Talking about PC penetration and her experiences in Dell she also cited how effects of demonetization and GST would make the VUCA sound more relatable in the marketing and business scenario. The next speaker was Mr. Amit Tiwari, Vice President, Marketing, Havells India. Putting forth his points through videos, Mr Amit Tiwari stressed on the importance of consumers in the market. He quoted Change is constant in VUCA. Change starts with Consumers, who should be the center of every marketing plan. By giving models of CDJ, he cited that the 3Ts of Marketing, Technology, Trend and Time are constantly changing. A very new concept MarTech where the traditional marketing meets technology and real time servicing was introduced by him to the audience. The third speaker of the day, Ms. Sujata Dwibedy, Executive Vice-President, Carat Media Services, gave a completely different angle to the discussion by bringing in how the term VUCA was experienced in the media and advertisement segment. She cited examples of Cadbury Silk Oreo and Maggi and how they changed their marketing strategies from time to time to deal with the dynamics of the ever changing market. She stressed on the fact how targeting is one of the most important factors of any product development. The last speaker of the day, Mr. Vijay Jacob, Sr. VP and Country Head at Commonwealth McCann, came up with very interesting case studies to validate his stand on the topic for today. Be it the Paytms strategy after Demonetization or Saffolas Hearts age movement, he brought out how these big brands had dealt with VUCA in their own way. The speeches were followed by an interactive question and answer session with the audience. The event concluded with a vote of thanks, given by Professor Mridula Mishra. The event also marked the release of MAXIPRESS marketing journal by Team MAXIM, XIMB. The Google Chrome app for Android has received a new update that now allows users in Russia to select their desired search engine once they open the mobile version of the browser on their Android phones, according to Yandex. The feature has been added to Chrome version 60, seemingly in response to a ruling by the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) in Russia last year, which concluded that the search giant violated the countrys antitrust laws by compelling original equipment manufacturers to install Google services as the default option in Android devices sold in the country. The ruling favored Yandex complaint filed with FAS in 2015, which alleged that the Mountain View, California-based company was breaking Russian antitrust laws through its monopolistic practices. The complaint asked FAS to launch an investigation on Googles business practices, which led to the search giants hefty fine amounting to 438 million rubles ($6.75 million). The FAS also ordered the company to change the terms of its contract with Android OEMs so that other search providers like Yandex are given the opportunity to conduct business in a fair environment. A year later, Google seems to be dispelling the belief of some that it is maintaining a monopoly on search by giving users in Russia a wider selection of options for search engines to be used on mobile phones there: Google, Yandex and Mail.ru are the options which users will have the ability to select from. Yandex confirmed in a blog post that this is indeed being shown to users when they open the Chrome browser for the first time, adding that in the previous setup users could only choose their preferred search tool by changing the option in the application settings. Google also settled its longstanding antitrust case with Russias anti-monopoly watchdog in April this year. Under the settlement, the search engine company vowed not to force OEMs to set Google apps and services as exclusive options for devices sold in Russia. Part of the settlement also instructed Google to introduce a tool that will expand the choice of search engines for Android users. More recent improvements that came with Chrome 60 include a faster search widget, and Google is expected to add more updates to Chrome meant to address antitrust issues. The Galaxy Note 8s announcement is still a couple of weeks away, and yet the phones wallpapers have just surfaced. There are five wallpapers included in the gallery down below, if youd like to check them out, and theres no surprise here, these wallpapers actually match with the set included on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. Now, in the first two wallpapers, you will notice a huge number 8 in the middle, if you look hard enough, while the other three are landscape wallpapers, and really nice ones at that. These wallpapers actually come with a 2560 x 2560 resolution, when they should be 2960 x 2960, having the Galaxy Note 8s display aspect ration in mind. It is unknown whats going on here, its possible that these wallpapers got resized before they were released, or something of the sort, but there you have it. Images that are included in the gallery down below have been compressed, if youd like to access these wallpapers in their full size, visit the source link down below. Now, these are definitely not all the wallpapers that will be included in the Galaxy Note 8, but they should give you an idea as to what to expect. The Galaxy Note 8 will be announced on August 23 in New York, Samsung had already announced that much, as the company is hosting an Unpacked event in New York on the said date. The Galaxy Note 8 has been leaking like crazy over the last couple of weeks, weve seen the device in eight color variants earlier today, thanks to a leaked render, while the phones real life images also leaked recently, revealing not only the design of its front side, but its back side as well, while its S Pen stylus was also pictured in several images. The Galaxy Note 8 will almost certainly sport a 5.3-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display, along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Samsungs Exynos 8895 64-bit octa-core SoC will fuel the device in some markets, while the Snapdragon 835 will be in charge of fueling the device in some other markets, like the US, for example. Android Nougat will come pre-installed on the Galaxy Note 8, while Samsungs custom UI will be included on top of it. Advertisement UPDATE: More photos have been added to the .zip file, you can now download 13 images by following this link. Danielle Mastrangel Brown, Googles new Vice President and chief of diversity and inclusion, has locked her Twitter account after suffering online harassment in the aftermath of the publication of a controversial anti-diversity memo authored by one of Googles software engineers that prompted the companys top management to fire him due to violating its Code of Conduct. As first noted by Business Insider, Ms. Brown was repeatedly targeted by derogatory comments pertaining to her gender and ethnic background, which likely prompted her to set her Twitter account to private. Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai was also the target of numerous online insults after the Alphabet-owned company decided to terminate James Damore, the author of the document criticizing its diversity policies, though the negative comments directed at him were largely aimed at his political views and claimed that his leadership suppresses free speech at the Mountain View, California-based Internet giant. Mr. Damore recently said hes considering taking legal action against his former employer which terminated him after he filed a complaint against the firm with the National Labor Relations Board, though none of Googles officials have yet issued a comment on that possibility. Parts of the right side of the political spectrum in the United States have already defended Mr. Damores stances, supporting his polarizing memo that claimed women arent as biologically suitable to be software engineers as men are, a notion that the vast majority of the companys employees labeled as sexist and generally discriminatory. The public support for Mr. Damore was previously expressed by Breitbart and Thiel Capitals managing director Eric Weinstein, and unknown individuals recently started a crowdfunding campaign to cover his potential legal expenses, seeking to raise $60,000 on WeSearchr, a platform whose Twitter account was suspended in early 2017 over online harassment claims. Ms. Brown on Sunday sent an internal email to Googlers in response to the controversial memo, stating that the company is seeking to maintain its inclusive and open work culture that allows all of its employees to express themselves as long as their beliefs arent violating the firms Code of Conduct and applicable federal laws mandating equal employment opportunities. While some of Googles supporters even labeled that diplomatic response as not strong enough, her comments seemingly still prompted a variety of insults from the other side of the political spectrum. Deleting a photo sometimes happens unintentionally, so Google is making sure you wont make that mistake with your pictures on Google Photos by adding an update to the cloud-based photo sharing and storage platform on Android devices. With the latest update, Google Photos now requires confirmation from users before it finally deletes an item. The minor improvement now displays a confirmation screen within the Google Photos app that would help prevent users from unwittingly consigning a photo to the trash if the delete button has been clicked by mistake. That means Google Photos will now start verifying your action for deleting a photo, marking significant progress from the recent setup that immediately removes an item from Google Photos once you click the trash button, all without asking you again whether deleting the photo in question is your intended action. The new interface comes in the form of a slide-up panel, which shows up with various notes above it asking whether you want to remove an item from your Google account and all devices synced with it or from all folders instead. Following this action in the app prior to the new update a panel will pop up that would let you undo the photo deletion if it was done by accident or if you changed your mind, though it proved to be of little help to users as the option vanishes quickly, thus being difficult to notice. In the past, Google Photos would also remove pictures from connected devices and other apps in which the photos are shared, including Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. That is because the service depends on the cloud for storage, meaning that removing content from your Google account will erase all other copies of that item that reside in all your connected devices. Google Photos has been gaining major improvements in recent times. In March this year, Google rolled out an update to the service that enabled users to back up their photos faster even on slower connections by supporting a lightweight preview version of the media content. In June, the Mountain View, California-based company announced that the Archive Suggestions feature was coming to Google Photos. That tool would ask users which photo they want to archive through a suggestions card appearing in the Assistant section of the cloud service. The Galaxy Note 8-related rumors and leaks are popping up constantly, and a new image has just surfaced in China, its showing off all the color variants of Samsungs upcoming phablet. If you take a look at the provided image, youll be able to see eight different color variants of Samsungs flagship phablet. As you can see, the front side of the device is not pictured here, but the front side of the Galaxy Note 8 will be black either way, no matter what color variant you get, as was the case with the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. If this image is to be believed, the Galaxy Note 8 will launch in Midnight Black, Gold, Arctic Silver, Orchid Gray, Coral Blue, Dark Blue, Pink and Deep Sea Blue color variants. Now, it is more than likely that Samsung will introduce the device in a couple of color variants first, and additional variants will be announced later on in the year, as was the case with some of the companys previous flagship offerings. The Galaxy S8 and / or Galaxy S8 Plus consumers will be quite familiar with the Midnight Black, Arctic Silver, Orchid Gray, Coral Blue and (Maple) Gold colors, though the Dark Blue, Pink and Deep Sea Blue Galaxy S8 models were not introduced, at least not yet, but it seems like well get to see such variants for the Galaxy Note 8, either later this year or perhaps in 2018, who knows. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will get announced on August 23, Samsung had confirmed that it will host an Unpacked event on that date, and its rather obvious that the Galaxy Note 8 is coming. The Galaxy Note 8 will resemble the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus quite a bit, at least if rumors are to be believed, but it will offer a less curved body than the Galaxy S8 phones, and it will also utilize a dual camera setup on the back. A fingerprint scanner will be placed next to the phones main camera sensors, and the device will sport a 6.3-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display, according to rumors. The device will be released in both Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895 SoC variants, and it is expected to utilize 6GB of RAM. Three real-life images depicting whats said to be the Nokia 8 emerged online on Tuesday, having originally been shared on Chinese social media app WeChat. The three photographs that can be seen in the gallery below show the device running a number of mobile benchmarks that seemingly confirm its previously rumored hardware specifications. According to the new leak, the Nokia 8 variant bearing the model number TA-1012 will be powered by the Snapdragon 835, Qualcomms latest high-end system-on-chip (SoC) equipped with eight Kyro 280 cores clocked at a maximum frequency of 1.9GHz and the Adreno 540 GPU. The device will apparently ship with a QHD display panel with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels that will boast 559 pixels per inch, with this particular metric indicating that the screen of the Nokia 8 will have a 5.25-inch diagonal, which isnt in line with numerous other reports on the device, as a number of insiders previously claimed that the handset will come with a 5.3-inch panel. The latter size would amount to 554 pixels per inch, though its possible that the benchmark shown below isnt listing perfectly accurate values. Other details revealed in the new leak seemingly correspond to older rumors about its specifications, with this particular model having 4GB of RAM and running Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box, coupled with the July 2017 Android Security Update. The images themselves arent of the highest quality and were taken in poor light conditions, though the device shown in them seems to be similar to the one that HMD Global Oy itself teased earlier today by discreetly inserting whats believed to be its upcoming Android flagship into a short video celebrating the International Cat Day. The Nokia 8 has been the subject of numerous rumors in recent months and the device is expected to be offered in several variants, with the model boasting 4GB of RAM reportedly being the most affordable one. Its still unclear which countries will receive the more powerful versions of HMDs first Nokia flagship, though more details on the matter will follow shortly as the device is scheduled to be unveiled next Wednesday, August 16, and should be available for purchase by September. Introduction The LG G6 and the BlackBerry KEYone were both launched earlier this year and, have received widespread praise from the media for what they represent. While the KEYone is the latest flagship smartphone from the Canadian company that was once the global leader in smartphones, the G6 is the sixth-generation G-series device from the South Korean electronics manufacturer that has been anything but boring with its smartphone designs as of late. While the former is a classic example of the physical QWERTY keypad done right, the latter is one of the most affordable flagships from LG in recent times. Both these devices have pretty much all the standard features youd expect from premium Android smartphones circa 2017, but they also include a few quirky but novel design elements that add some specific functions to them. So which one is right for you if youre in the market for a new smartphone? Lets find out! Specifications LG G6 Advertisement The latest premium smartphone from LG Electronics may not have the cutting-edge hardware that many of its competitors boast of, but its a perfectly-designed premium smartphone that ticks all the right boxes in terms of aesthetics, build quality and performance. What really makes the LG G6 stand out from many of the other flagships from tier-1 brands is its sensible price-tag thats makes it significantly more affordable than devices like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Sony Xperia XZ Premium. The smartphone features a 5.7-inch IPS LCD QHD+ (2880 x 1440) display panel with an unusual 18:9 aspect ratio and, is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC that has an integrated quad-core application processor with two cores clocked at 1.6GHz and another two running at a maximum of 2.35GHz. The SoC also includes the Adreno 530 GPU for graphics. The handset packs 4GB of DDR4 RAM and either 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of native storage thats expandable via a microSD card of up to 2TB in capacity. The LG G6 comes with a dual-camera setup on the back, with the primary 13-megapixel sensor paired with an f/1.8 lens that has 3-axis OIS and PDAF, and is supported by a dual-tone LED flash. The additional rear-camera also comes with a 13-megapixel sensor, but it features a wide-angle 125-degree fixed focus lens with an f/2.4 aperture. However, the two cameras operate independently of one another, and users have the option to choose which sensor to use for which shot. On the front, the G6 offers a 5-megapixel sensor mated to an f/2.2 lens. While the rear-facing camera module can shoot 2160p videos at 30fps and 1080p videos at up to 60fps, the front-facing selfie-cam can only do 1080p videos at 30fps. Unlike its predecessor, the LG G6 does away with the IR Blaster, but improves the battery to 3,300mAh, which is quite an upgrade over the anemic 2,800mAh unit found on the G5. You also get Quick Charge 3.0, thanks to the Snapdragon 821. Sensors include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a proximity sensor, a magnetometer (e-compass) and a barometer. The phone also ships with an NFC chip and a rear-facing fingerprint scanner, which makes it compatible with mobile payment systems like Android Pay. In terms of software, the handset ships with Android 7.0 Nougat and is expected to receive Android O going forward. The device is also one of the few smartphones apart from the first-generation Pixel phones to ship with Google Assistant out-of-the-box. The LG G6 measures 148.9 mm in length, 71.9 mm in width and 7.9 mm in thickness while weighing in at 163 grams. Advertisement The one thing you need to remember before buying the LG G6, is that the device comes with a whole bunch of different configurations for different markets, so while Qi wireless charging is a U.S.-specific feature that isnt available elsewhere around the world, the much-hyped 32-bit Quad DAC is exclusively available in South Korea and a few other countries in Asia. FM Radio is also one such feature thats only available in a few markets. The amount of native storage on offer also differs from one region to another. While the company offers a 64GB version of the phone in South Korea, Hong Kong, India and a few of the CIS nations, only the 32GB version was originally earmarked for the North American market. However, the company has since rectified that anomaly by announcing the LG G6+ that comes with 128GB of storage, alongside the Hi-Fidelity Quad DAC audio and Qi wireless charging in all markets. BlackBerry KEYone We all remember the time when owning a BlackBerry device was the ultimate status symbol. However, that changed seemingly overnight in 2007 when Apple introduced its first-generation iPhone. As if the onslaught from Apple wasnt bad enough, the subsequent rise of Android was yet another blow to the desirability factor of the BlackBerry, and the companys market-share soon started reflecting the changing world-order. Sadly, BlackBerry was slow to react to the fast-changing smartphone industry, and as a result, has suffered a phenomenal slump in market-share over the past decade. The company finally embraced Android a couple years ago with the launch of the PRIV, the very first Android-based smartphone from the company. While that device didnt quite do as well commercially as BlackBerry would have hoped for, the companys latest handset, the BlackBerry KEYone, has reportedly been faring significantly better. Advertisement The BlackBerry KEYone comes with an all-metal construction with curved edges on all four sides and a soft-touch rubberized back for better grip. However, the USP of the device is its physical QWERTY keyboard that makes it stand apart from a sea of touchscreen smartphones that come with the glass-slab form-factor. The KEYone features a relatively-small 4.5-inch IPS LCD display to accommodate the QWERTY keypad. The screen has an odd 3:2 aspect ratio and, comes with a resolution of 1620 x 1080 pixels. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 625 SoC, which comes with an integrated octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU clocked at 2.0GHz, and an Adreno 506 GPU clocked at 650MHz. The KEYone uses 3GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB of built-in storage that is expandable via a microSD card of up to 256GB in capacity. The battery on the device is a non-removable 3,505mAh Li-Ion unit with support for Qualcomms Quick Charge 3.0. On the software side of things, the device runs an almost pure version of Android 7.1 Nougat out-of-the-box. Another remarkable feature about the BlackBerry KEYone is that it uses the exact same 12-megapixel sensor that can be found on the Google Pixel and the Pixel XL. It has an f/2.0 aperture, phase detection auto-focus (PDAF) and a dual-tone LED flash. The front-facing camera comes with an 8-megapixel sensor and an f/2.2 lens.The phone also comes with a customizable Convenience Key below the volume rocker on the right side, just like the DTEK50 and the DTEK60 before it. The device also ships with a fingerprint scanner thats embedded in the space bar of the physical keypad. The phone measures 149.1mm in length. 72.4mm in width and 9.4mm in thickness, while weighing in at 180 grams. Any discussion on the BlackBerry KEYone remains incomplete without deliberating on probably the most important part of the package the physical QWERTY keypad. It is not for everybody, but it adds a novelty factor to the device and is definitely its USP in an era when smartphone vendors have moved away from physical keypads to concentrate almost entirely on the full-touchscreen form-factor. While some will still view the keypad as the symbol of a true BlackBerry smartphone, others will summarily dismiss it as a relic of the past that has outlived its utility. Whichever camp youre in, the fact still remains that there was a strong demand from a large section of the BlackBerry community for the company to get back to its QWERTY roots, and thats exactly what this device managed to do. After less-than-impressive attempts at incorporating a physical QWERTY keyboard in devices like the PRIV, the KEYone is a classic example of the QWERTY keypad done right. Advertisement And The Winner Is The Final Word The BlackBerry KEYone and the LG G6 are both excellent smartphones in terms of what they each represent. However, they are also targeted at completely different sets of buyers. Both devices have their own pros and cons, but the LG G6 wins this one because in spite of its quirks, it still appeals to a much larger target audience than its competitor. It is a nice, well-rounded smartphone that isnt completely without its flaws, but is certainly worth a look if you want a premium device from a tier-1 brand without having to pay an arm and a leg for it. On the other hand, the KEYone comes with an almost-perfect implementation of a physical QWERTY keyboard on an Android smartphone, and is a must-buy for long-time BlackBerry aficionados who have been lamenting all this while about the lack of high-quality QWERTY devices from the company. According to the latest report from Korea, the Galaxy Note 8 will ship with a transparent case. This is not that hard to believe considering that the Galaxy Note 7 FE (Fan Edition) currently ships with such a case, so it makes sense. This transparent case will cover the sides, and the back of the device, in order to protect it from scratches, and this will be the first time ever that Samsung includes a case inside a package for the Galaxy Note series, not counting the Galaxy Note 7 FE, of course, considering thats not a regular release for the Galaxy Note series of devices. According to the source, this case is already being manufactured by three or four accessory companies in Korea, and Samsung has ordered around 10 million such cases so that the company can package them inside the Galaxy Note 8 retail boxes. Now, one would think that the company will order more cases if they intend to pack them into every single retail box, as the demand for the Galaxy Note 8 will be huge as soon as the phone lands, but it seems like Samsung has other plans, as this case will not be included with units in Europe, Russia or the US, at least according to the source. Having said that, this case will cost between $17 and $27 on its own, and it will be available for purchase directly from Samsung, and we presume from Samsungs official partners as well. Samsung might change its mind and bundle in this case with phones in other markets as well, as the Galaxy Note 8 is expected to become available in South Korea first, but well see. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will be announced on August 23, that much had been officially confirmed, and the phone will be made out of metal and glass. Samsungs Exynos 8895 SoC will fuel the device in Europe, South Korea and a number of other markets, while the Snapdragon 835 will be in charge of doing that in the US. The Galaxy Note 8 will sport a 6.3-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display, along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. Android Nougat will come pre-installed on the device, and on top of it, youll be able to find Samsungs custom UI. The ride-hailing market appears to be a thriving industry in the United States, and the SoftBank Groups chief executive officer is not leaving anything on the table as Masayoshi Son has said at a news conference that he wants to invest in Uber while the company is also interested in making an investment in Lyft. The two San Francisco, California-based companies are among the largest transportation network companies in the United States, which explains Sons eagerness to take a stake in Uber or Lyft, though Son added that there is no finality just yet to the kind of investment he wants to make. Sons interest in the ride-hailing market in the United States seems to have been inspired by SoftBanks recent investment in Ola, Indias largest ride-hailing service. The money was expected to help Ola beef up its efforts to stay ahead of competition in the country, where it is in a tight rivalry with Uber, though both companies have been losing huge sums of money as they attempt to boost their levels of production while saving operational costs. SoftBanks investment, therefore, came right in time as Ola was seeking to raise funds in order to achieve economies of scale. SoftBank also has stake in other ride-hailing companies in Asia, including GrabTaxi Holdings based in Singapore and Chinas Didi Chuxing Technology. Son said he believes that expanding SoftBanks ride-hailing investment to Uber or Lyft would help incorporate the self-driving car system into those firms and eventually drive the future growth of the industry. While it remains unclear how much SoftBank is willing to invest in Lyft, it was previously reported that the Japanese telecommunications and Internet firm was pursuing a multi-billion dollar stake in Uber. According to reports, both companies are in the preliminary stage of discussion over the deal. SoftBank has been making huge investments lately following the launch of its investment fund called the Vision Fund in May of this year. Since then, the Tokyo, Japan-based company has invested in various other businesses, including Boston Dynamics, shared workspace provider WeWork, and Paytm, among others. The Sony Xperia XZ1 has just allegedly surfaced on GFXBench (source link is missing, but the image has been shared by a third-party site), and it seems like were looking at Sonys rather compact, high-end handset here. GFXBenchs listing reveals G8341, G8342 and SO-01K model numbers, all of which will share the listed specs it seems. Now, its worth noting that the Sony G8441 popped up on Geekbench quite recently as well, and that phone is also fueled by the Snapdragon 835, though that seems to the the Xperia XZ1 Compact, a device which will compete with the next-gen iPhone SE, and which is rumored to sport a 4.6-inch display. GFXBench actually revealed quite a few details when it comes to the Sony Xperia XZ1s specs, according to the source, not only will the phone ship with the Snapdragon 835 64-bit octa-core SoC, and the Adreno 540 GPU, but it will pack in a 5.1-inch fullHD (1920 x 1080) display. This device will also come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of native storage it seems, and interestingly enough, Android 8.0 is listed as a pre-installed operating system here. Google still did not release the final version of Android O (aka Android 8.0), but the company is expected to do that soon, though its hard to expect that the Sony Xperia XZ1 will ship with Android O out of the box if Sony intends to launch it in the near future. It is possible that the unit that popped up on GFXBench will ship with Android Nougat pre-installed, and that this Android 8.0 update will follow later on, it all depends on when is Sony planning to release this phone, thats for sure. In addition to everything weve mentioned, GFXBench also says that this handset will sport 19-megapixel shooter on the back, which will probably be identical to the camera this company utilized in the Xperia XZ Premium. A 13-megapixel snapper will be included on the front side of this smartphone, and thats pretty much all the info that GFXBench shared with us. Now, its worth noting that the variant that popped up on Geekbench also sported Android 8.0, while an earlier listing said that Android 7.1.1 Nougat will come pre-installed on the Xperia XZ1, which is to be expected. It is possible that Sony might launch this phone during IFA in Berlin next month, well just have to wait and see. Uber co-founder and one of its board members Garrett Camp doesnt believe that Travis Kalanick is set to return to his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the ride-hailing giant and has explicitly stated his opinion on the matter in an email sent to a number of the companys employees on Monday, sources familiar with the contents of the internal memo said. Rumors of Mr. Kalanick planning on Steve Jobs-ing his current situation emerged in late July and cast some doubt over Ubers search for a long-term CEO thats meant to replace its ousted top executive. Mr. Camp dismissed the rumors in his email, stating that the San Francisco, California-based firm is now fully committed to bringing in a new world class CEO thats meant to help Uber bounce back from its recent issues, in addition to revamping the companys corporate culture and practices that have been the subjects of numerous criticism in the past months as accusations of a predatory working environment started circulating the industry. Mr. Kalanick resigned his CEO position in June following pressure from several major investors who reportedly believed that his leadership is detrimental to Ubers goals and general business ambitions. Mr. Camp didnt elaborate on the state of the companys search for a new top executive, though recent rumors suggest that Uber is now close to hiring someone and has narrowed down its shortlist of candidates to only four names. Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman publicly rejected the idea of joining Uber last month, and many of its candidates were reportedly reluctant to even consider taking over the company during its time of crisis. Uber is still hoping that its targets will be tempted by the promise of a massive payout that they would be guaranteed if the company was ever to file for an initial public offering (IPO). Being the worlds most valuable startup, Ubers $70 billion valuation would likely ensure a significant bonus for its CEO in a scenario in which the firm goes public. Until then, however, Uber has to conclude its legal battle with Alphabets Waymo and do what it can to improve its corporate culture thats said to be the cause of many of its recent issues. BREAKING NEWS: Captive moon bear being rescued right now in Vietnam 08 August 2017 An Animals Asia rescue team is in the north-western mountains of Vietnam to rescue an adult moon bear believed to have been kept as an exotic pet. The team arrived in the town of Sin Ho today (08 August) to rescue the bear theyve nicknamed Rocky. The bear is believed to have been kept in a small cage as an exotic pet for at least 12 years. The bears gender is unknown and it is unclear yet whether bile has ever been extracted. Follow the live #RockyFree rescue timeline for updates. Sin Ho is 1,500 metres above sea level in the mountains of Lai Chau province presenting a logistical challenge for the team, who must safely make it back approximately 400km to Animals Asias Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre. With the rescue taking place within Vietnams rainy season and landslides reported in nearby areas the team are hoping for a favourable forecast for the trip. Animals Asias Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said: Rescues from remote areas are always difficult. The steep, winding roads and fast changing weather conditions mean progress is always slow, but we are hopeful of getting this new member of the family safely home as soon as possible. We know precious little at this point about the bear so well be ready for anything. Our veterinary team are hugely experienced and will be able to provide any medical care necessary on site. The rescue team expect to arrive at Animals Asias Vietnam sanctuary in Vinh Phuc province on Wednesday 9 August. Animals Asia supporters can follow the rescue live via Facebook, Twitter and the live timeline. Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson said: We dont know yet the origin of the bear but pictures show the poor conditions on site. Clearly this animals basic needs have not been met in a very long time, and we are hoping the damage to body and mind will be manageable. Right now, we need to get this bear out of that tiny cage and back to our sanctuary so she or he can begin to properly recover and leave fear and pain behind. The first job is to remove any trauma the bear is suffering. Last month, Animals Asia and the Vietnam government signed a legally binding agreement to completely end bear bile farming in the Southeast Asian country by 2023. While work to realise the agreement continues, todays rescue is not specifically part of the MOU. It is hoped the first bears to be rescued as part of the MOU will begin to move to sanctuaries next year. To date, Animals Asia has rescued over 600 bears mostly from bile farms in Vietnam and China. Nearly 400 bears continue to be cared for at the Hong Kong-based NGOs sanctuaries in China and Vietnam. Jo Pugsley Steven Klimt Leighton OBrien Two top firms have helped the New South Wales Government and a consortium of leading beverage companies in Australia establish a first-of-its-kind container deposit scheme in the country. Clayton Utz has advised the NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA) on the states container deposit scheme called Return and Earn. Allens has advised Exchange for Change, which recently won as the coordinator for the states scheme.The consortium is composed of Asahi, Carlton & United, Coca-Cola Amatil, Coopers, and Lion. In addition to coordinating the scheme, they will also be responsible for its financial management, marketing, and community education.The pioneering scheme will be the largest litter-reduction scheme introduced in the state, said Allens. It is also unique in Australia, Clayton Utz told Australasian Lawyer.Clayton Utz advised the EPA on all legal aspects of the transaction, including the development of the procurement model, drafting and negotiating all of the contractual documents, and evaluating tenders. Clayton Utz is continuing to work closely with the EPA CDS team and PwC to ensure that the NSW government is on track to commence the scheme by 1 December 2017, said Jo Pugsley, Clayton Utzs joint lead partner on the deal.The transaction is unique in Australia as no other CDS scheme has contractual arrangements between the government and the private sector scheme co-ordinator and network operators. This model was developed this way to ensure a strong level of government oversight of the scheme for the benefit of all New South Wales residents, she said.Pugsley jointly led the Clayton Utz team with partner Steven Klimt. The team also included special counsels Larissa Burnett, Angela Jeppesen, and Rodney Spitzer; lawyer Khash Kamali; and graduate Lucy Groenewegen.Allens said its multidisciplinary team advised on all aspects of the transaction, including the joint venture arrangement, project documents, and competition and regulatory issues.The Allens team was led by partner Leighton OBrien of the infrastructure and transport practice. It also included the practices senior associate Larissa Chu; planning special counsel Marcia Doheny; associates Kelvin Yu, Magda Kucharska, Judith Kelly, Krishneel Kumar, and Brydon Wang; and lawyer Anthony Tridgell.It also included Allens corporate partners Chris Blane and Marc Kemp, senior associates Sean Cole and James Nguyen, and associate Melanie Hayden. Allens fielded partner Caroline Oddie and senior associate Amanda Richman from its competition practice. Banking partner Jo Folan and tax partner Charles Armitage also worked on the deal. In theory, the aura of the twin-turbo Fezza, which has driven prices through the sky (expect to pay between $1 million and $1.5 million for a well-maintained example), should keep people away from putting this Prancing Work to sideways work. And if you're curious about how an F40 feels when the driver isn't using the side window instead of the windscreen, here's a short drive Then there's the driving experience, which should have the same effect. Sure, the handling is extremely precise, but the old-school turbo feel means that the non-linear power delivery can easily throw the supercar off balance in the middle of a stunt.Well, in real life, such obstacles mean nothing, especially when you're an Instagramer that has built his social media reputation on pulling respectable slip angles in some of the rarest supercars out there, regardless of these machines' age.As those of you who spend enough time on the automotive side of Instagram have probably figured out by now, we're talking about Powerslidelover.The gear head's latest stunt saw the man sliding an F40 in an area that is said to be located in the Italian Alps - you'll find the brief stunt in the piece of footage at the bottom of the page.And if you're looking for a drifting experience involving a new-age Ferrari, we'll remind you of the time when the steering wheel wielder pulled a similar stunt inside a LaFerrari Aperta.The camera car used to record the shenanigan happened to be a fixed-roof incarnation of the LaF, which is how we ended up with this majestic clip. That's because Nick Murray, the YouTuber who likes to fill his garage with this Zuffenhausen machine, used to own the BMW M4 in the video. So yes, the vlogger is now racing his ex-car against his current set of wheels.If you're tuned into our Neunelfer tales, you might be familiar with the fact that Nick used to own a 991.1 Porsche before going for the M4 - he gave up the rear-engined coupe due to the nine-a-lemon maintenance horror story that finally saw the automotive producer giving the owner his money back.Returning to the adventure you can find in the piece of footage below, we're looking at a manual tranny Neunelfer, while the Bimmer is gifted with a dual-clutch tranny.It's also worth noting that the twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six of the M car has received a custom air intake, but that's the only aftermarket goodie fitted to the vehicle.In theory, the superior power-to-weight ratio of the Porscha should see the Neunelfer jumping ahead of the Bavarian machine. Nevertheless, it seems that the transmission difference mentioned above has had more of an impact that one would imagine.Fortunately, both go-fast machines served as camera cars, with the drivers racing on more than one occasion. As such, you'll get to enjoy each and every detail of the highway sprint.If you happen to be in a hurry, you can jump to the 3:34 point of the video below for the promised sprinting brawl. Nevertheless, we wouldn't rush, since checking out the rest of the clip means you'll get to enjoy a respectable comparo between the two slabs of Germany. North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, according to a confidential July assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency, The Washington Post reports. The Japanese Ministry of Defense also believes North Korea has achieved miniaturization. It is unclear whether North Korea has tested the miniaturized weapon. Why it matters: That's a complex technological feat that sets Pyongyang on the path to being able to launch nuclear attacks. The U.S. assesses that North Korea is likely to have the capability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles by next year, and the country is hitting nuclear milestones much more quickly than experts had believed possible. That's a complex technological feat that sets Pyongyang on the path to being able to launch nuclear attacks. The U.S. assesses that North Korea is likely to have the capability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles by next year, and the country is hitting nuclear milestones much more quickly than experts had believed possible. Get smart: The reason miniaturization is so key is because a missile's range depends on how heavy the nuclear warhead is. The lighter the warhead, the farther it can fly. The reason miniaturization is so key is because a missile's range depends on how heavy the nuclear warhead is. The lighter the warhead, the farther it can fly. Read more: Experts weigh in on how ready the U.S. is for an attack from North Korea 8 August 2017 14:21 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenian universities are begging for wise policy, warning that the future of the nation in heading for the abyss. Armenian colleges and universities are seeing drops in applications from students amid pervasive concerns that the political and economic climate might keep more students away. Moreover, many of university students fail to complete their education for various reasons, including lack of funds. All this negatively affects the level of education of the Armenian people, while many universities get closed. Armenian sociologist Aharon Adibekyan said that 25 universities were closed over the past ten years in the country, and the figure dropped to 60. He also noted the decline in the number of people, who want to enroll at state and private universities of Armenia. The number of students dropped from 110,000 to 85,000. This is not only connected with fertility this is a much more serious problem, the expert told media on August 8. The obvious reason for such a small number of students is the constant exodus of Armenians from the country. Many Armenians cannot stand all the hard condition in the country; therefore they leave abroad to live and study there. The official data shows that this year, the universities of Armenia received 8,266 entrants, while this figure was 17,649 last year. Thus, the number of entrants to the countrys universities fell by more than twice compared to 2016. The sociologist also noted that only 12,700 of almost 18,000 people who enrolled at universities in 2016, finished the first academic year. Now there are thousands of vacant places in many faculties of the Armenian universities due to the rapid decrease in the number of entrants. In addition, Armenians do not want to study physics, chemistry, biophysics, theology, Russian language, intercultural communication, economics, international relations, international law and many other spheres. Another interesting fact is that the vacant places are for the paid system of education. That means Armenians dont have enough money to send their children to study at university. Instead of receiving education, Armenians prefer to work for bread, while the level of illiteracy increases among the Armenian population. Such a negative trend in the education sphere of Armenia promises much more serious problems for the country. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 15:09 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenias sabotage and provocative moves on the contact line aggravated since early 2016, and still the Armenian side continues to shell Azerbaijani positions and settlements located near the contact line. Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 130 times. The Armenians shelled the Azerbaijani army positions near the state border in the Agstafa, Gazakh, Tovuz and Gadabay regions, as well as the Azerbaijani positions along the Nagorno-Karabakh frontline. The Garalar village of Tovuz region, which borders Armenias Berd region, faced intense shelling on August 7. As a result Azerbaijani teenager Ramin Yusifov was wounded, Report said on August 8. The 13-year-old boy was in the yard of his house when an Armenian shell fell there. Receiving multiple shrapnel wounds, Ramin was urgently operated in the region hospital. His current health condition is assessed as moderate. The population of the Garalar village is 242 people, who live in 43 houses. The upper part of the village, which is right opposite the Armenian military positions, is often subjected to fire from the aggressors. Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade, commenting on the incident, said that Armenia does not respect neither international law nor human values. The shooting of civilians shows both wildness and weakness of Armenians, he said. The MP noted that the Armenian armed forces are afraid to come face to face with Azerbaijani soldiers. "Meanness of the enemy should not remain unpunished, they should pay for wounding the Azerbaijani boy," he added. Azerbaijans villages in many frontline regions, mainly in Fuzuli, Agdam, Jabrayil, Tartar and others, frequently face shelling and provocations by the Armenian militaries. By committing such provocations, the Armenian side deliberately seeks to cause damage to Azerbaijani people living near the frontline and tries to make their life difficult and risky. In early July, the Armenian armed forces, flagrantly violating all norms of international humanitarian law, fired the Alkhanli village of Azerbaijans Fuzuli region with heavy artillery. As a result, the aggressors killed 51-year-old Sahiba Allahverdiyeva and her toddler granddaughter Zahra Guliyeva. In addition, 52-year-old Salminaz Guliyeva suffered shrapnel wounds, and the personal property of the villagers was deliberately destroyed. The Armenian government, instead of coming to the negotiating table with Azerbaijan to resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, continues to shell Azerbaijani positions daily, thus preserving fragility in the region. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 16:02 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Consequent to the deliberate shelling, specifically targeting the civilian population, of Azerbaijani settlements on the borderline done by Armenia on Aug 7, thirteen-year-old resident of Garalar village of Azerbaijans Tovuz district Ramin Yusifov was wounded, Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Azerbaijan reported on August 8. "We reiterate that Armenia carries full responsibility for the actions that Azerbaijan will be forced to take in a way of deterrence and prevention of the Armenias provocations and attacks," the ministry said. On July 4, as a result of brutal actions of the Armenian armed forces, 51-year-old resident of Alkhanli village of Azerbaijans Fuzuli district Sahiba Allahverdiyeva and her 2-year-old granddaughter Zahra Guliyeva were killed, and 52-year-old Salminaz Guliyeva was seriously wounded. "Despite the international communitys condemnation of Armenias atrocities, the country did not draw any conclusions from its filthy actions and committed yet another barbarous act, which resulted in injuries sustained by the 13-year-old Ramin Yusifov, the message said. Brutality, aimed at slaughtering the civilians, including the children, is the state policy of terrorism implemented by the Armenian military and political leadership," the ministry said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 17:35 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The Armenian side has once again showed its unwillingness to peace by raising hands against the civilian population of Azerbaijan. The intense firing of the Azerbaijani positions and settlements on August 7 by Armenian militaries resulted in the injury of 13-year-old Ramin Yusifov. Armenia carries full responsibility for the actions that Azerbaijan will be forced to take in a way of deterrence and prevention of the Armenias provocations and attacks, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said commenting on the incident. The Armenian leadership should be prosecuted in connection with the shelling of the civilian population of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Moldovan Public Chamber, politician Aurelia Grigoriu told Trend on August 8, commenting on the recent attack of the Armenian armed forces against the civilian population of Azerbaijan. I believe that the OSCE Minsk Group, first of all, should speak out and condemn these actions. They should make a warning to the side that violates the ceasefire, Grigoriu said. She added that the world community should also condemn this incident, stressing that the shelling of the civilian population should not be left without the attention of the world community. Grigoriu noted that the people who commit such unlawful acts must be brought to international criminal responsibility. It is also necessary to raise the issue of criminal responsibility against the leadership of Armenia, as such actions of the Armenian armed forces are carried out only with the permission of the commander-in-chief, she added. Natalie Goulet, French senator and vice-chair of the Senates Foreign Affairs Committee, in turn, emphasized the necessity for a firm condemnation of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and imposing of sanctions against Armenia. Civilians are killed every day in a lot of conflicts. It is unbearable. The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of them, she told Trend. We need now a peace process and probably international forces to keep the ceasefire. We also need a serious will of the international community, Goulet said, adding that there is no need for another war, especially in the South Caucasus. Ivo Vajgl, Member of the European Parliament from Slovenia, shares the views. International community, first of all, the UN and the European Union should not tolerate continuous violation of international law in Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region occupied by Armenia, he told Trend. Obviously, the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot be solved by military means, but a diplomatic negligence and passivity does not lead to a mutually agreed peaceful solution, based upon the principles of international law, Vajgl said, adding that as long as such solution is not found, murder of innocent civilians will continue. Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day. Azerbaijan has long ago stated it is ready to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through direct negotiations with Armenia with mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. However, the Armenian side is constantly trying to make up reasons to avoid a constructive dialogue, to preserve the unacceptable status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh. Thus, the aggressor country continues to daily violate the ceasefire with Azerbaijan and to shell Azerbaijani military positions and civilian population in frontline settlements. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 10:57 (UTC+04:00) By Trend The OSCE is expected to monitor the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops on August 9, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said Aug. 8. The monitoring will be held under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative along the line of contact near the Sarijali village of Azerbaijans Aghdam district, said the ministry. On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring will be held by Andrzej Kasprzyk, ambassador and the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative, and Mikhail Olaru, field assistant of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative. On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring will be held by Ghenadie Petrica, Ognjen Jovic and Martin Schuster, who are field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative. 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 09:53 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Sunny weather is expected in Baku and on the Absheron Peninsula on August 8. Weak east wind will blow in some places. The temperature will be +23-26C at night, +36-41C in daytime in Absheron peninsula, +24-26C at night, +38-40C in the afternoon in Baku, the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry reported. Atmospheric pressure will make 758 mm Hg. Relative humidity will make 75-85% at night and 35-45% in afternoon. On Absheron beaches the temperature of sea water is expected to be 27-28 degrees in Sumgayit, Novkhani, Pirshaghi, Nardaran, Bilgah, 28-29 in Zagulba, Buzovna, Mardakan, Shuvalan, 29-30 in Turkan, Hovsan, Sahil and Shikh. Abnormally hot weather is expected in Absheron peninsula on August 8-9, which is not favorable for the majority of the population. The weather will be rainless in country's regions. Weak east wind will blow in some places. The temperature will be +20-25C at night, +35-40C in daytime, +42C in some places, +15-20C in mountains at night, +29-34C in daytime. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 13:41 (UTC+04:00) An official welcome ceremony was held for President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who is on an official visit in Azerbaijan, on August 8. A guard of honor was set up for the Turkmen President in the square decorated with the national flags of the two countries. The chief of the guard of honor reported to President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev greeted President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Turkmen President. The state anthems of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan were played. President Ilham Aliyev and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow reviewed the guard of honor. The Turkmen President saluted the Azerbaijani soldiers. State and government officials of Azerbaijan were introduced to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and members of the Turkmen delegation were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev. The guard of honor marched in front of the presidents. President Ilham Aliyev and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow posed for official photos. Following the official welcome ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow have held a one-on-one meeting. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held an expanded meeting joined by their delegations on August 8. A ceremony of signing Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan documents was held with participation of President Ilham Aliyev and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. After a ceremony of signing documents, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow made statements for the press. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 14:44 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Peoples of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are bound by history, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at a one-on-one meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Baku on August 8. We have lived together for centuries, we have been friends, and we have lived as brothers. Today we are successfully developing as two independent states, said President Aliyev. Your visit will bring new dynamics to our relations, he told President Berdimuhamedov. We have very successful cooperation in a number of areas and this cooperation will deepen. We attach great importance to your visit. I am sure that your visit will be a very important step in the development of Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan relations of friendship and brotherhood, noted the head of state. The Azerbaijani president said there are very good opportunities for development and cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian, cultural, transportation and other spheres. President Aliyev once again greeted President Berdimuhamedov and expressed confidence that his visit will be very successful. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 18:12 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova Self employment is becoming a viable alternative for more people, as over 850 people already fully benefited the recently launched self-employment program in Azerbaijan. Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Matin Karimli said that the state provided over 856 people with assets, while overall 1,385 people have joined this program. "The process of providing the individuals with assets has started since February. 856 people from 47 regions already received assets, and in some 24 regions, assets have been partially distributed," Karimli said at a press conference on August 8. Based on the assessment - the purpose, structure and content of the business plan, the relevant commission under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population provides the applicants with goods and materials, helping them to create and manage family business. Only those who are able to justify their business plan benefit the program. Encouraging self-employment has been determined as a perspective business task in Azerbaijan. In September 2016, Simplified support to family business (ABAD) under the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations operating under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN) was created in order to support the active participation of citizens in the social and economic development of Azerbaijan, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), increase of employment of the population. Deputy Minister Idris Isayev, in turn, said that entrepreneurs working on an individual basis will not be able to receive benefits in the framework of compulsory unemployment insurance, because allocations for this type of insurance must be paid by both the employee and the employer. He said that it does not mean that individual entrepreneurs will not be able to actively participate in the employment process, adding that they will be able to register to refresher courses and look for new potential jobs. He added that allocations for compulsory unemployment insurance will be accumulated in the State Social Protection Fund (SSPF) under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan. "Monthly allocations must be paid by the employer at the same time as payment of wages, and transferred no later than the 15th of the next month to the SSPF, where these funds will be accumulated," the deputy minister said. President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on application of the law "On compulsory unemployment insurance, on August 7. The insurance premiums on the part of the insured make up 0.5 percent of the salary, insurance premiums on the part of the insurer will be 0.5 percent of the calculated wage fund, in accordance with the law. Calculation of the monthly insurance payment is made as follows: 50 percent of the lost monthly salary with labor experience of 3 to 5 years; 55 percent of the lost monthly salary - with labor experience of 5 to 10 years; 60 percent of the lost monthly salary with labor experience of over 10 years. Under the law, those whose labor contracts were terminated because of the liquidation of the employer (legal entity) or because of mass reduction will be entitled to receive unemployment insurance. The law will come into force on January 1, 2018. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 19:28 (UTC+04:00) By Azertac Characterized by tensions, confrontations, a special nature and scope of problems, the first decades of the 21st century will undoubtedly go down in the history of international relations. Never previously players such as transnational corporations, various NGOs, media outlets, terrorist organizations, which got a new status in a tough global competition of superpowers in geopolitical, political, economic, cultural and other areas, have so overtly grown into larger and influential players. The problems caused by this process are very obvious: international law that is considered the code of conduct in the system of international relations is only verbally mentioned and remains on paper, the concept of justice is disappearing at the levels of human beings and states, the number of crisis-hit regions and territorial conflicts is steadily growing, the gap between rich and poor is becoming wider. One of the modern eras most obvious problems is the migration process. This topic has dominated the global political agenda recently, with the migration crisis and refugee crisis being the most commonly used terms in the media and political debates. Many people suffering from armed conflicts, terrorist attacks, severe economic and political problems especially in the Middle East and Africa are forced to leave their homes and move to foreign countries. The main destination of this mass migration is a socially and economically alluring and relatively close Europe. The mere fact of the number of migrants to Europe increasing six times from 300,000 to two millions in 2014 alone is evidence of the huge scale of the migration process. And the number grew in the following years. But these figures do not feature those who moved to non-European countries or died from famine and infections en route, and those who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. The other face of the crisis is the challenges migrants face in Europe. The cases of famine, deprivation, humiliation, inhumane treatment of migrants became common against a background of Europes reluctance to receive migrants and the increasing intolerance among the local population. Maybe, some EU member states think that it is fair to not receive migrants. But given that the EU set itself a goal to become an established political, economic and cultural system, all the responsibilities and obligations should be shared accordingly. Having continued throughout history, migration, particularly labour migration has been presented as a progressive process in the Western scientific literature. It is described as an irreplaceable resource for ensuring any societys development and renewal (countries receiving migrants). The countries facing a demographic crisis are involved in a tough competition for human resources. Although previously large-scale, migration has never reached this scale and has never sparked widespread discontent like now. On the contrary, it was welcomed. But now in many cases those who are forced to migrate from the Middle East and Africa are denied help on the grounds of ethnicity and religion. Armed conflicts are indicated as the only reason for migration, while in reality the main factors causing mass migration are political instability, social injustice, severe economic and environmental conditions. To understand the main reasons behind today`s significant scale of migration one should look at similar processes in the past, draw parallels, and determine similarities and differences. Why have the vast majority of those who left their countries and migrated over the past few centuries been Asians and Africans? Which factors force them to leave their ancestral homes? Why despite rich natural resources, the standard of life in those countries is unreasonably lower than in the West? A comprehensive study of these issues will undoubtedly be helpful in explaining modern migration processes. One of the main points worth paying attention to is that the majority of countries where migrants and IDPs come from have a common feature they are former colonies of the West. It should be noted that armed conflicts and the migration crisis in the Middle East and instability in the international system caused by all these factors have prompted a new wave of debates in political and academic circles on colonialism. On the policy of colonialism and stages of migration processes Western countries are undoubtedly at an advantage in comparison with other countries in terms of political, economic, social, scientific and technological achievements. And they seem to be capable of keeping this advantage, which formed over many years, for long. This is also confirmed by the ongoing global processes. The current political and economic situation paves the way for the expansion of the gap between rich and poor. It is no coincidence that in a number of countries globalization is considered to be a feature of a modern form of colonialism. This raises a question: At the expense of what did the West gain this advantage? It is a fact that at different stages of history the West was falling behind the East, particularly the Islamic world, in all aspects. For example, the East was home to many scientific discoveries and inventions, which played a crucial role in the development of humanity, and these discoveries and inventions were applied in the West several centuries later. Europe did not have any advantage until the 16th century. But it should be admitted that only after mastering and applying the East-made discoveries and inventions European countries succeeded in carrying out a socio-economic revolution in the society`s life. Then colonialism contributed to the development of these accomplishments. Another interesting point is why the countries, which were colonies of Britain, France, Spain, Portugal and other states for several centuries, are still living in miserable conditions. Why haven`t these countries achieved any tangible progress in the past centuries? The reason is that the great powers that colonized them exploited their natural resources to enrich themselves and ensure their own development. It is an undeniable fact that the majority of historical and cultural monuments kept in European museums and located in European squares belong to Asian and African countries. Unfortunately, European colonizers pursued only their own interests and prevented their colonies from even establishing fundamental factors necessary for ensuring their development in the years of independence. There is certainly no need to prove that this factor was among the major reasons why the former colonies are now living in poor conditions. Studying the role and impact of natural disasters (quakes, floods, droughts, etc.) is very crucial for the examination of the history of migration processes. But our goal is to study the migration process in the context of colonialism, to focus on how the migration process was subordinated to imperial and geopolitical interests. A deeper look at the migration process in the context of the policy of colonialism necessitates pointing out three different stages of this process from the perspectives of its scale and nature. And a common feature linking these three stages is that the migration process is managed to serve a single goal. The first stage, which spanned 16th-20th centuries, is remarkable for the formation of the trends capable of giving a boost to the migration process, rather than for the mass nature of the process. With the occupation of Asian, African and Latin American countries the exploitation of natural and human resources of colonies through economic, political and military methods became widespread. This led to the enrichment of the Western countries and stimulation of their political, economic, military, scientific and cultural development, while the political and economic situation in colonies started to deteriorate rapidly. It is certainly extremely difficult to maintain colonies at your own expense. This marked the beginning of the process of subordination of the migration process to colonial interests. At that stage the migration process served two goals. The first was the exploitation of the colonial population as slaves in Europe and America. The second goal was to keep control over the colonized areas and instill one`s language, culture and governance systems in indigenous people through making them play the role of a bridge between mother countries and colonies. Established at different stages with the involvement of colonies, organizations such as the Commonwealth of Nations (United Kingdom), International Organisation of La Francophonie (France), the Organization of Ibero-American States (Spain), Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Portugal) emphasize the importance of the applied mechanisms from the perspective of colonial interests. The second stage covers the years of the Cold War. Although the end of the World War Two marked the collapse of colonialism and the formation of a new system of international relations, there were not any considerable changes in the Western countries` colonial views. The fact that young independent countries are labelled by the West as countries of the third world is indicative of this. The mechanisms applied in relations with these countries were built based on the West`s political and economic interests. Instead of spontaneous exploitation of natural resources of colonies, neocolonial governance is seen as operating through indirect forms of control and, in particular, by means of the economic, financial, and trade policies of transnational corporations and global and multilateral institutions. Having gathered pace at that time, migration was a process aimed at keeping control of former colonies. After the World War Two European countries experienced a massive economic boom, with an increased demand for labour. On the other hand, the ageing local population and the abundance of cheap labour in countries outside Europe necessitated Western states encouraging migration from the countries of the third world. Interestingly, each European country gave preference to migrants from its own former colony. Migrants had to play the role of a bridge between mother countries and colonies, which helped maintain political and economic control over subject nations. It is no coincidence that the concept of multiculturalism entered the political lexicon in Europe exactly at that time. Although, prima facie, this ideology is seen as respecting values and cultural and religious differences of migrants in their new motherlands, in reality it was a scheme to ensure their assimilation and integration into the European values on the one hand, and to use them as elements of a cultural bridge when they return to their own countries. This proves that the Western multiculturalism promotes the Western values as the universal ones and serves colonial interests. The third stage embraces the period after the West`s victory in the Cold War following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Treaty Organization. This stage saw the West emerge as a sole dominant power in the world and make every possible effort to completely fulfill its geopolitical and economic interests and gain total control over global human and natural resources. Having remained in the background and in the shadow of the United States in the new international relations system, Europe managed to benefit from this system as much as the USA did. The disbandment of the Warsaw Pact allowed Europe to broaden its borders and get economic profit thanks to Eastern European countries. This stage marked Europe`s massive economic boom generated by the new markets and cheap labour coming from the countries that were forced to share the same values with Europe. When Eastern European countries were given the opportunity to join an inclusive Christian club no one asked if they were prepared for a new integration model. What happened later showed that there even was no need for any preparedness. Under the pretext of liberalization, the West privatized industrial sectors of Eastern European countries with the aim of destroying their economies and eliminating competition. National economies of less-developed new members were declared open for a free and unequal competition with stronger economies, which resulted in the collapse of many vital production areas in those countries. The new members were forced to play a primitive role of export markets. A wave of Migration caused by these processes did not catch much attention. Then the idea of free movement of labour in the European Union was put forward. In reality, the problem of unemployment, which was caused by the downturn in internal production in Eastern European countries, was solved through migration of the most educated and skilled part of their labour to Western European countries in search of a better life and employment. There were hundreds of thousands of such migrants. All the stages of the migration process have common features. At all the stages, the processes were orchestrated by European states based on certain rules, frameworks and numbers. Regardless of how it was named, the process pursued one primary goal to ensure political and economic interests of Europe. But what happened in the 21st century proved that the West`s calculations were incorrect and that this policy can no longer be pursued and ensure its political, geopolitical and economic interests. Migration against a background of geopolitical tensions: is there a way out? 2015 was called the year of the second Migration Period. And its not surprising. The number of people who are forced to leave their homes in the Middle East and Africa is enormously large. Europe is experiencing one of the most significant influxes of migrants in its history. The major difference of this migration crisis from the previous ones is that the West can no longer control it in line with its interests, including colonial ones. Scientific literature defines two forms of migration political and economic. Among the reasons behind political migration are the collapse of political regimes, military conflicts, etc. But this classification embraces a very narrow framework, and does not completely reflect ongoing migration processes. Taking into account the root causes of the current mass migration, it would be more rational to call it geopolitical migration. The overthrow of regimes, the Arab Spring, the activities of terrorist groups in countries like Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan prompted the spread of migration, paving the way for serious changes in a wider region. European leaders are now elaborating different programs in order to stabilize the situation, but these programs are temporary ones. There is considerable uncertainty about the future of migrants. Is it possible to ensure their integration into society? Or should they be sent back to their war-torn homelands? To what extent does this correspond to human rights ideals? The fact that European countries are helpless against a new wave of mass migration shows that they were unprepared for this challenge. Anyway, no one could expect that the wrong policy would have produced so many side effects. Given that the programs developed by European countries aim to eliminate the consequences of the process, rather than getting to its root causes, they are doomed to failure. In reality, it was possible to forecast that the events would take such a turn. Although initially Europeans considered migration as a temporary process that served their interests and that could solve demographic problems, it later turned out that this policy could produce a number of side effects. One of the most vital points at that time was that the fiasco of the European multiculturalism run in parallel with the growing Islamophobic trends. Unlike their predecessors, representatives of the younger generation of migrants are committed to preserving their cultural and religious values, which runs totally contrary to the concept of universal values promoted by Europe. The declining living standard and the increasing levels of poverty and unemployment encouraged Europeans` intolerance towards migrants as well as the growth of internal tension. In 2010-2011, leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom started to admit that multiculturalism, which they had been using as a pretext, did not justify their hopes. This means that liberal, democratic values, human rights principles advocated by European countries serve only their own interests and multiculturalism promoted by them was based solely on geopolitical principles. This reality is undeniable. Europe could have succeeded in promoting universal values, which became its pressure mechanism, only if the principle of justice in international relations, international law, resolutions of the UN Security Council were not ignored. Voluntaryism and what we say goes principle that have dominated in the past 30 years are major reasons behind ongoing unprecedented global tension. Europeans now live in constant fear of losing their Christian values caused by the fact that the majority of migrants are Muslims and that the number of Muslims in Europe is rapidly growing. Born as a result of the West-orchestrated scenarios in different parts of the world, terrorist groups are stepping up attacks on Europe, which encourages Islamophobic trends. This helps ultra-nationalist forces gain more influence among people by labeling Islam as a dangerous ideology and building their propaganda on anti-migrant and anti-Muslim slogans. But this is yet another source of threat to a liberal Europe. Therefore, the ongoing migration process should not be studied only in the context of Europe`s geographical borders or socio-economic situation. This process also has great significance for the credibility of the principles of democracy and human rights, which the West is trying to promote globally as universal principles. The West`s decisions on the future of migrants are a test of its commitment to the values it advocates. The migration process is one of the most important problems facing the international community. Other causes of this problem include different conflicts, which remain unresolved for many years, instability and externally-orchestrated internal conflicts in several countries. According to observations, no steps have been taken to address these problems in the past 20-30 years. On the contrary, the situation deteriorated to pose a global threat and cause global tension. Unfortunately, the great powers as well as international and regional organizations and institutions that they control have been the major players both in the emergence of important problems and in their solution. And their primary goal has been to ensure own political, geopolitical and economic interests. However difficult to be solved, there is an apparent way out of this situation. It is time to stop treating countries like former colonies and trying to ensure justice in one`s interests. These factors are certainly major reasons behind all problems facing the international community. Reviewing the policy that it has been pursuing in the Middle East and Africa for centuries, making a fair judgement about and accepting responsibility for this policy could be a good start for the West. But such a belief is characteristic of an idealistic approach. A fair attitude is possible only in a strong international relations system, which respects the rule of law, territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, and human rights principles. We will probably be forced to acknowledge the rightness of the views of French writer and philosopher Michel Onfray who said: Everyone has knowledge of the Egyptian pyramids, Greek temples and Roman forums. A deep study of the traces of ancient civilizations reveals the reasons that led to their disappearance. Apparently the 2000-year-old Jewish-Christian civilization will be no exception and suffer the same fate. Novruz Mammadov --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 12:12 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova World oil prices are down on August 8, while investors are waiting for the outcome of the meeting of the Technical Committee on monitoring of implementation of the agreement of the countries of OPEC and other oil nations. Global benchmark Brent crude futures are down 0.2 percent, at $52.26 a barrel at, after dipping 0.1 percent in the previous session, while U.S. crude futures West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are down 0.1 percent, at $49.32 a barrel, having fallen 0.4 percent on August 7, according to Reuters. Meetings in Abu Dhabi are being held on August 7-8 under the chairmanship of Russia and Kuwait, in the presence of representatives of Saudi Arabia. The Committee at the meeting plans to discuss ways to boost compliance with the deal to cut 1.8 million barrels per day in production. "Assuming that nothing comes from OPEC/non-OPEC's technical meeting in Abu Dhabi today, oil's near term fate will most likely be determined by the official U.S. Department of Energy inventory data tomorrow evening Asia time," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at futures brokerage OANDA in Singapore. Furthermore, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, part of the Energy Department, will releases its weekly petroleum status report on August 9, giving details on stockpiles and refinery runs. The American Petroleum Institute (API) will also release its report on oil reserves in the country on August 8. Reserves of oil in the U.S. for the week ended on July 28, unexpectedly rose by 1.8 million barrels, to 488.8 million. At the same time analysts had expected that stocks, on the contrary, would decline - by 2.9 million barrels. Another factor, which affects decrease of world oil prices, is an increase in production of raw materials in Libya, which is not a party to the global pact. Production from Libya's 270,000 barrels-per-day Sharara field was returning to normal after a brief disruption when armed protesters broke into a control room in the coastal city of Zawiya, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on August 7. Libya was exempted from a push to cut global production and bolster oil prices led by the OPEC and other big producers like Russia. OPEC and other major oil producers agreed in December 2016 to remove 1.8 million barrels a day from the market. The parties decided to extend the production adjustments for a further period of nine months, in May 2017. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 10:37 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Irans security services have arrested 27 people claimed to be affiliated with the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) terrorist group in Razavi Khorasan province, Intelligence Ministrys official website announced. The report added that 10 of the arrestees were apprehended outside of Iran. Prior to this, Hassan Heidari, deputy Prosecutor of Mashhad city said on July 9 that, so far 27 people, including Iranian and Afghan citizens linked with the Islamic State terrorist group, have been arrested in various cities of the province. In case if the latest reported group of arrestees is not the previously reported one, the total number that Iran has arrested would comprise of 54 people up until now. Two separate attacks rocked the capital city of Tehran on June 7, leaving at least 17 dead and 54 injured. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 10:31 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Relationship between Iran and North Korea is not of a strategic character, but is based on "the moment's needs, therefore US sanctions will not affect this relationship, Dr. Ali Pishro, expert in American and Canadian studies at the University of Birmingham, has told Trend. Political Geography of Islamic Republic, which has a massive oil and gas reserves, will make Iran's international isolation difficult. Therefore, Iran does not need to make further efforts to bring it closer to North Korea, he said. The expert noted that since 1979, the United States has been sensitive to the relationship between Iran and North Korea and the sale of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction, as well as nuclear technology to Iran. One of the important indicators of Iran-North Korea's cooperation is the collaboration between the two countries on nuclear and missile technology. It was also confirmed that, they have renovated three modified Scud missiles. This certification reflects the cooperation of Pyongyang and Tehran in the development of ballistic missiles, he said. Pishro stressed out that, one of their common points is the similar hostile stance against the United States; however, insistence on demonstrating a strategic relationship between the two countries is meaningless. This cooperation cannot be called a strategic relationship, as these communications are based on the urgent needs of both countries, he said. Furthermore, Iran's society is more open and vibrant than North Korean, according to the expert. Iran has an educated middle class and Iranians want to join the international community. Iran and North Korea have geographical, cultural and historical differences, and their government structure is different, he added. Pishro underlined that Iran, in comparison with North Korea, is a much larger country with far more advanced economy and has wider relations with the world, which would requires much more work in order to isolate Iran. Iran, like Japan, Germany and Brazil, is pursuing a nuclear program that shows to all countries of the world that, despite the ability to build nuclear bombs, it will not do so, but, if a military attack takes place or it will face a serious threat, the county can build and test a bomb in the shortest possible time, he said. While Iran is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, North Korea uses the pattern of nuclear warfare to deter the military intervention from enemies and answers every threat or embargo with a nuclear and missile test, according to the expert. A lot of efforts are being made by a number of hardliners in Iran and a number of other analysts to bring North Korea and Iran as part of a nuclear core. This is a good thing for a group of radicals in Iran, because, in order to cover their basic and root problems, they are seeking to spark Iran's nuclear threat and undermine the diplomatic approach towards Tehran, he concluded. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 11:11 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Irans untapped market of 80 million people represents a golden opportunity for the international producers, but a Shanghai-based strategic consultant suggests that, French carmakers will have better chances than their Asian rivals to reap the benefits of that market. Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) cemented a 660 million worth deal with French automaker Renault on Monday for launching a joint venture in the Middle Eastern country. "Iranians at this point are really paying a premium in order to receive premium products," Raul Heraud, head of financial services at strategic advisory firm Solidiance told Trend. "I think that in general when we talk about the business scenario there is no lack of cash and so, Iranians are not necessarily looking for the lowest price," Raul Heraud, who frequented Iran on more than dozens of occasions, gave the insight. Nonetheless, he believes that things change, when we get to the consumer side of the issue and the Asian companies still have a chance to derive benefit from the Iranian market. "There is no necessity for certain products, such as car batteries, to be of premium brand and therefore market accepts them very well." Raul Heraud suggests that French carmakers have a competitive advantage for a couple of reasons. "There is an emotional component, because Peugeot and Renault were the last two Original Equipment Manufacturers to leave, thus the Iranians regard them as two companies that stayed with them really until the very end." Most of European and international firms had to leave Iran after the West instituted new sanctions on the Islamic Republic, amid increasing tensions of Iran's nuclear program in 2011. Most of nuclear related sanctions on Tehran were removed in 2016, after the Middle Eastern nation reached a nuclear deal with the world powers in 2015. "I would say, in general, anything that is of European origin is regarded as better quality in Iran," Raul Heraud added. "The exception to this might be Japanese cars, which, of course, have a high-end, but the French cars are regarded highly in Iran." There is a strong presence of Asian companies in Iran, including Chinese, Indian and Korean as well as Japanese carmakers. Koreans particular talks concerned countrys automotive sector. KIA and Hyundai are among the two largest sellers in the terms of market share. Due to the lack of sanctions with the Asian countries, most of the latter never really left the Iranian market. As a matter of fact, it was a big opportunity for them, when European and American players were forced out of the market due to the sanctions. "Korean and Japanese products are highly regarded in Iran, but Chinese and Indian products are considered a little bit of a lower quality." Back in 2015 a campaign to boycott "substandard and expensive" Iranian-made cars fired up social media in the Islamic Republic. "We see, for example, that recently there was a boycott of locally produced cars in Iran, but they did not only boycott locally produced cars, they actually boycotted Chinese cars, as well. Iranians question: Why do we get low end products? We want to get European and American products." 8 August 2017 14:42 (UTC+04:00) By Ali Mustafayev Turkey is ready to counter any threat at its borders, said the Turkish Presidential Administration. Turkey, as the regional power, has every right to act within its state and national interests, the administration told Trend amid reports that the Turkish Armed Forces are brought to full combat readiness in connection with the expected new military operations in Syria against the YPG. Ankara accuses the YPG, which controls large swathes of Syrian territory along its border, of being an offshoot of the terrorist PKK, which is fighting the Turkish state. Ankara states that the terrorist PKK and its Syria wing are indistinguishable. However, the U.S. considers YPG/PYD a "reliable partner" on the ground in Syria and continues to support them in the field. The administration further noted that the United States makes a huge mistake in equipping the YPG ("Kurdish People's Self-Defense"), since YPG is the same terrorist organization as the "Islamic State". There are many factors confirming cooperation between YPG and ISIL, the administration said. Regular exchanges of rocket and artillery fire were observed in recent weeks between Turkish forces and YPG fighters ,who control part of Syria's northwestern border. Turkey, which has the second largest army in NATO, reinforced that section of the border at the weekend with artillery and tanks, while President Erdogan said Turkey was ready to take action. Currently, there are about 25,000 Turkish military on the border with Syria. The Turkish armys headquarters have been reinforced with arms and armored vehicles that have been sent to the region. All activities of the terrorist organization are under surveillance, with the Turkish Armed Forces unmanned aerial vehicles, against PKK/PYDs harassments. Turkish military operations are expected to be conducted in Tell Abyad, Afrin, Tell Rifaat, Manbij regions. Moreover, the Turkish government informed Moscow about possible military operations in Syria. According to the agreement between the General Staffs of the two countries, in case of new operations of the Turkish military forces in Afrin, Russian military personnel will be redeployed to another town. Turkey supports Syrian opposition and fights against ISIL. Despite disagreement with Russia in the beginning of the conflict caused by Russias support to Bashar al-Assad, later Turkey and Russia became allies in the fight against terrorist organizations acting in Syria. Turkish army started Euphrates Shield operation against ISIL militants on 24 August, 2016. With the support from the Syrian opposition, Turkey took Jarabulus city on the north of Syria, and al-Bab city. Ankara informed in March, 2017 that the operation is successfully completed. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 13:25 (UTC+04:00) Turkey and Kyrgyzstan will discuss the development of bilateral relations during a meeting in Ankara today. Meeting will be held between Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and his Kyrgyz counterpart Sooronbay Jeenbekov, a Turkish diplomatic source told Trend, Aug. 8. Discussions on regional issues, as well as the issues related to the fight against the Fethullah Gulen movement in particular, are expected, said the source. Remind that, on July 15, 2016, Turkish authorities stated that a military coup attempt took place in the country, as a group of servicemen declared the transition of power. Taking into consideration that rebelling servicemen started to surrender on July 16, Turkish authorities stated that the coup attempt had failed. Nonetheless, more than 255 Turkish citizens were killed during the attempted coup. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 15:16 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov is expected to pay a working visit to Kyrgyzstan, according to the official website of Kyrgyz government. Aripov will arrive to attend scheduled meetings of intergovernmental commissions, which will be held on August 15-17 in Cholpon-Ata. The information followed a telephone talk held between Aripov and his Kyrgyz counterpart Sooronbai Jeenbekov on August 7. The sides discussed preparations for the next meetings of the intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation and the intergovernmental commission for the delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek state border. Total length of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border is 1378.44 kilometers. Nearly 50 sections of the borderline, totaling at about 300 kilometers havent been delimitated yet. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 August 2017 19:58 (UTC+04:00) By Ali Mustafayev Ankara has approved the visit of German lawmakers to a NATO base located in Turkey's Konya province. The visit to the Konya base has been tentatively scheduled for September 8. The visit would not be headed by the Bundestag, but rather by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller will accompany the delegation to the base, where a meeting with German soldiers will be conducted, local media reported on August 8. In mid-July, Turkey banned the Bundestag Defense Committee from conducting a visit to the NATO military base in Konya, where German military personnel are stationed. The decision caused anxiety in Europe and NATO, in particular. NATO was concerned about tensions between Turkey and Germany since the Incirlik conflict with the following withdrawal of German military forces from this base. Later, the official representative of Germany Steffen Seibert announced that during the negotiations regarding visit to the military base in Konya, Turkey asked to reschedule the visit of the deputies of Defense Committee, which was planned to be held on July 17. Also in July, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg unveiled a proposal to arrange a German delegation's visit within the alliance's framework. The ties between two NATO allies have been strained since the failed coup in Turkey last July, and tensions have worsened over multiple issues including a referendum campaign to expand Turkish President's powers. German authorities banned some Turkish ministers from campaigning for ethnic Turk votes in Germany during the April referendum. The relations deteriorated further after Ankara blocked a group of German lawmakers from visiting the servicemen at the Incirlik Air Base. Berlin decided to withdraw its refueling and reconnaissance aircraft from Turkey's Incirlik base to Azraq, Jordan. However, the latest decision may be a first step in future normalizing of relations between the two countries. Turkey remains the key NATO member country in the Middle East. The Incirlik Air Base is one of the main bases of the United States and the alliance in the region. Aircrafts of the countries of the international coalition led by the United States, which participates in air operations against ISIS, are based here. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Recently, Aggad Fellowships were awarded to three undergraduates and one doctoral student that will support studies in Qatar, Lebanon, Morocco and United Arab Emirates. Associate Professor of the Practice of Political Science Kathleen Bailey, who organized the Kuwait visit and accompanied the 10 students along with a graduate assistant, said the experience was aimed at helping the seniors broaden their perspectives on citizenship, religion in public life, pluralism, national security and other issues. A major objective of the Aggad program is to encourage face-to-face diplomacy among young people, so they can better understand the differences and similarities among us all, said Bailey, who has led a BC summer program in Kuwait for a decade. Thats an idea which resonates in so much of what we do here at BC: to bring our students closer to the world at large. College, to me, has been a time to push my comfort zone as well as a way to learn at every chance I get, said Jessica Ilaria 17, a student of Bailey as a sophomore who had been disappointed at not being able to attend the summer program. Knowing Professor Bailey well at this point, I knew that it would be an invaluable experience that would help shape and perhaps solidify more of my interests moving forward. This is something I know that I will carry with me beyond my time at Boston College. Ilarias comment reflects the aims of the Aggad program, according to a member of the family whose gift helped create it. Travel is an integral part of education, said Tarek Aggad, father of a current BC undergraduate. There are significant misconceptions in the US about Arabs and Muslims, so encouraging students to travel to countries in the region will hopefully change this, one small step at a time especially at a time when there are increasing voices of division in the US. If students benefit from visiting other countries, Aggad added, then so do their hosts. Nothing is more valuable than highlighting the commonalities between the people of this world, and their hopes and aspirations. During their weeklong stay in Kuwait, the BC contingent met with the deputy prime minister, minister of interior and under-minister of information (who earned her doctorate at BC), the American, Bhutanese and Saudi ambassadors to Kuwait, and two Kuwaiti executives. They also visited with students from the American University of Kuwait, and members of the Proteges program, an initiative to help Kuwaitis aged 16-24 become community leaders (BCs Global Leadership Institute is a partner of the program). Much like themselves, the young people our students met represented a range of views, beliefs and interests, so this was a very enlightening experience, noted Bailey. The students also got to take part in a traditional staple of Kuwaiti life, the diwaniya: a gathering for dinner and conversation about politics, society and current events. The diwaniya spark ideas that are then shared in the political and government sector, explained Bailey. So these get-togethers are seen as very important in Kuwait, because they are the means through which its civil society was built. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Ramco Cements to increase grinding capacity 08 August 2017 India-based Ramco Cements has embarked on an investment project to increase its grinding capacity in West Bengal and set up a new facility in Odisha. We are doubling the capacity of grinding units in Vizag and Kolaghat (West Bengal) from 0.9Mta to 2Mta each, AV Dharmakrishnan, CEO, Ramco Cements told the business section of the Hindu (India). Besides, we are setting up a new unit in Odisha of 0.9Mta, he added. The proposed expansion will be completed in 18 months and the cost will met be through internal accruals and borrowings. After the proposed expansion, the capacity of grinding units is set to increase from 4Mta to 7.1Mta. This would further increase our presence in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, Mr Dharmakrishnan added. Published under Snap-on Incorporated manufactures and markets tools, equipment, diagnostics, and repair information and systems solutions for professional users worldwide. It operates through Commercial & Industrial Group, Snap-on Tools Group, Repair Systems & Information Group, and Financial Services segments. The company offers hand tools, including wrenches, sockets, ratchet wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, punches and chisels, saws and cutting tools, pruning tools, torque measuring instruments, and other products; power tools, such as cordless, pneumatic, hydraulic, and corded tools; and tool storage products comprising tool chests, roll cabinets, and other products. It also provides handheld and computer-based diagnostic products, service and repair information products, diagnostic software solutions, electronic parts catalogs, business management systems and services, point-of-sale systems, integrated systems for vehicle service shops, original equipment manufacturer purchasing facilitation services, and warranty management systems and analytics. In addition, the company offers solutions for the service of vehicles and industrial equipment that include wheel alignment equipment, wheel balancers, tire changers, vehicle lifts, test lane equipment, collision repair equipment, vehicle air conditioning service equipment, brake service equipment, fluid exchange equipment, transmission troubleshooting equipment, safety testing equipment, battery chargers, and hoists, as well as after-sales support services and training programs. Further, it provides financing programs to facilitate the sales of its products and support its franchise business. The company serves the aviation and aerospace, agriculture, construction, government and military, mining, natural resources, power generation, and technical education industries, as well as vehicle dealerships and repair centers. Snap-on Incorporated was founded in 1920 and is based in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Archaeologists think they have uncovered the home of three of Jesus' disciples A team of archaeologists may have located the home of three of Jesus' disciples, found in a lost Roman imperial city off of the Sea of Galilee. Researchers from Kinneret College believe they have found the Roman city of Julias, which was built as part of the town of Bethsaida, which is identified in John 1:44 as the hometown of Philip, Andrew, and Peter. "A multi-layered site discovered on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the Bethsaida Valley Nature Reserve, is the spot, the team believes," reported Haaretz on Sunday. "The key discovery is of an advanced Roman-style bathhouse. That in and of itself indicates that there had been a city there, not just a fishing village ..." Haaretz cautioned that there are "three candidates for Julias." There are two earlier discovered sites by Galilee in addition to the recently unearthed one, named el-Araj. "What the archaeologists found at el-Araj is an older layer dating from the late Roman period, the 1st to 3rd centuries C.E., two meters below the Byzantine level. That Roman layer contained pottery sherds from the 1st to the 3rd centuries B.C.E., a mosaic, and the remains of the bathhouse," continued Haaretz. "And has a major missing church been found too? The excavators found walls with gilded glass tesserae for a mosaic, an indication of a wealthy and important church." Kinneret College said in a statement that it is widely believed that a church used to be on the former site of the Apostles' home, thus adding evidence that the recent find is legitimate. "The discovery of dozens of golden glass mosaics in the previous season and the present season attests to the fact that the church was an important and magnificent place," stated the college, as reported by i24news.com. "A Christian traveler of the eighth century CE notes that in the house of Tsaida the church is in honor of Peter and Andreas two of Jesus' apostles." This is not the first major find by researchers connected to Kinneret College regarding the New Testament. Last August, researchers under Motti Aviam found a first century synagogue near Mount Tabor. "This is the first synagogue discovered in the rural part of the Galilee and it confirms historical information we have about the New Testament, which says that Jesus preached at synagogues in Galilean villages," explained Aviam last year. Cameroon bishop was killed for opposing homosexual clergy, local priest alleges A Cameroon bishop who was found dead in June was killed for his opposition to homosexual clergy, a local priest has alleged. Bishop Jean Marie Benoit Bala of Bafia was found dead on June 2, 2017, in mysterious circumstances his body discovered in a river four miles from his abandoned car after he went missing on May 31. Now it has been alleged that the 58-year-old bishop was killed for opposing homosexual priests, according to Crux. Speaking in a memorial Mass homily for the bishop on Thursday, Monsignor Joseph Akonga Essomba gestured towards government ministers and certain clergy present at the service and said: 'Shame to all those people in black suits and black spectacles always sitting in the front rows of the Church. 'Shame to all those priests who have come here, pretending to sympathise. These are the people who killed our bishop, because he said 'No" to the homosexuality perpetrated by those priests.' Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo, Cameroon said: 'The same reasons for which Christ was crucified apply to the killing of the bishop. 'He was killed because he stood for the truth. Any pastor, any bishop, any priest who stands for the truth should be ready to face the sword. It's a beautiful way to die.' A police investigation into Bishop Bala's death concluded that he had drowned. However, Cameroon bishops rejected the report, insisting he was tortured and 'brutally assassinated', according to their evidence. Iraqi Kurdish leader seeks to reassure Christians over independence vote The Iraqi Kurdish leader has sought to assure Christians in the region that they will be protected in the wake of the independence referendum coming on September 25. Masud Barzani said that as Kurdistan 'is taking steps towards independence, the needs and the rights of our Christian brothers and sisters will be protected at all levels, and so brotherhood and social harmony in Kurdistan will be strengthened,' according to the news agency Fides. The comments come after Barzani, who is president of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), announced the forthcoming vote in June. According to Fides: 'Clearly Barzani's intention is to gain the support of the Christians in those territories for the proclamation of the independence of Kurdistan.' On Sunday, Barzani issued a statement saying: 'The sole medicine for all our suffering and the only guarantee that these disaster do not happen again, is to walk towards independence.' He added: 'I repeat that the Christian brothers and sisters together with those of other different communities in Kurdistan, in the past, the present and in the future have shared and share still today bad times and good times because they have the same destiny'. Neighbouring states including Turkey, Syria and Iran, which all have large and sometimes restive Kurdish populations, have in the past resisted moves towards Kurdish independence. Mom fights school authorities in court after they provided her son with transgender medical treatments without her permission A Minnesota mother is appealing a judge's decision to dismiss her lawsuit against school authorities who gave her teenage son female hormone treatments without her permission. The Thomas More Society filed an appeal on Monday in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in St. Paul on behalf of Anmarie Calgaro, who opposes school and health officials usurping her parental rights to provide gender transition treatments to her son. "The U.S. Constitution says that parental rights of fit parents are fundamental rights, fit parents' parental rights over unemancipated minors cannot be terminated without due process," stated Erick Kaardal, special counsel with the Thomas More Society, in a statement released Thursday. Last November, Calgaro filed suit against St. Louis County, Fairview Health Services, Park Nicollet Health Services and the St. Louis County School District for treating her son as an emancipated minor and providing gender transition treatments without notice. School officials argued that the child, whom court documents labeled "E.J.K.," should be treated as an emancipated minor because he had been living on his own and had a letter of emancipation though it was not legally binding. In May, District Court Judge Paul Magnuson admitted that the E.J.K. was not legally emancipated and that Calgaro's parental rights "remain intact" but still ruled against the mother. He dismissed the mother's claims as "meritless," arguing that each of the various parties, including the teenager's school district, could not be sued for violation of parental rights. "The School District argues that Calgaro has failed to plausibly allege that the execution of a School District policy or custom caused the deprivation of Calgaro's parental rights. The School District is correct," ruled Magnuson. "Calgaro fails to provide any facts that the School District executed a policy or custom that deprived Calgaro of her parental rights without due process." In the appeal, the Thomas More Society argued, "There's a real disconnect in the District Court decision where the mother's parental rights are admitted but not honored. Then, at the same time, the District Court claims those agencies which are violating Calgaro's rights are doing nothing wrong." It also argued that since Calgaro, who is divorced, is by legal definition a "fit parent," school and county officials had no right to emancipate her child and thus overrule her parental rights. "Calgaro, the mother of E.J.K., has not been challenged nor has any evidence been shown that she is an unfit parent. She loves her child regardless of decisions made by her child," reads the appeal brief. "Calgaro seeks adjudication from this Court that as a fit parent, at the very least under the circumstances of this case, she had a pre-deprivation right to notice and an opportunity to be heard. The implications are great for every parent in Minnesota." For E.J.K's part, the teenager has argued that he wanted the treatments to transition into a female and was in no way coerced to do so. "I was not pressured in any way by my providers to consent to this treatment," said E.J.K. in court papers obtained by NBC News. "My providers had no involvement in my decision not to involve my mother in my health care decisions." This article was originally published in The Christian Post. The spiritual genius of Rowan Williams: Thoughts on the 3rd anniversary of his visit to a Jewish-Christian dialogue group When enumerating Judaism's gifts to the world at large there are various examples that come to mind. There is of course the concept of monotheism, which counters the idolatry of paganism last seen as a political force with Hitler. Then there are the Jewish ideas of past and future embodied in memory and in children our heritage and our future. Finally we have the idea of a special way of life often apart from the ways of the world, but not in parallel rather in it but not of it, so to speak. There is the emphasis on prayer, but far more on learning (studying Psalms for instance, which I do once a week with a friend we have now reached the longest, Psalm 119), on joy, on giving, and on reaching out to the world. All these attributes are encapsulated in the life of the State of Israel, the embodiment of Jewry's belated return to its rightful political space in the world of which diaspora is merely a pale shadow. But then there is something that - it seems to me at least appears to be peculiarly Jewish and which other groups (whether religious or not) show no sign of having grasped at all and it would help them immensely if they did and that is the concept of gratitude. In Hebrew the word for 'gratitude' is related to the word for 'acknowledgement'. We acknowledge the presence of G_d in our lives through showing gratitude to others. And this is why, on the whole, Jews, although very aware that our lives are constantly at risk from alien outside forces bent on destroying us, are generally content with our lot and don't tend to go in for aggression, wallowing or violence. This is of course where Jewish humour comes in the displacement activity par excellence! Rowan Williams' visit to our Broughton Park Jewish Christian Dialogue Group took place on Sunday June 22nd 2014, and I would like to acknowledge the profound influence of this event and the ensuing dialogue of the last three years. It is no exaggeration to say that Rowan's visit to the Broughton Park Jewish Christian Dialogue Group in Salford was a turning point. I had first encountered Rowan Williams in 2002 at Liverpool University's Chaplaincy a couple of days before he was due to take office as Archbishop of Canterbury. My great friend, Rev Bob, the University Anglican chaplain, invited me over from Manchester to hear Rowan speak. I remember two things his speech wasn't easy to grasp but I gleaned that a) he obviously didn't like southern Baptists and b) he regarded the Holocaust as inputting on Christianity and the world in a way that I hadn't heard from others. But it was afterwards that was extraordinary. As his Anglican flock gathered round to meet the great man, I simply had a chat with him for 20 minutes, during which I asked how he would engage as Archbishop with the Jewish community. He said, 'Through the Council of Christians and Jews I suppose', and my heart sank. Here was someone for whom the Holocaust was not really a Jewish event but transcended race, religion and creed. However, as far as Jews on the ground were concerned, he was going to work through institutions rather than through individuals, a sure sign that the old prejudices would remain and that crises would not be averted. And so it was to be. Since 2001 at least (but I would actually say from 20 years ago, 1997, and the advent of Blairism) the situation for Jews in this country has worsened and Rowan's rule as ABC between 2002 and 2012 was not exactly a time of understanding or reconciliation as far as most of us were concerned far from it in fact. How could this be? Partly the timing was to blame and the rise of all things Muslim. The decision had been made much earlier in the 20th century to start engaging with Islam in a way which excluded other considerations. And gradually over 20 years the situation for Jews in this country deteriorated. And instead of being a source of comfort and assistance, a bulwark against anti-Semitism, the established Church of this country, with the Queen as Supreme Governor, simply refused to engage and proved itself time and time again to be part of the problem. So when in February 2006 Rowan agreed with Synod to disinvest from a company in Israel (but not from the same company operating under the Palestinian Authority), I wasn't even surprised any more. What did surprise me however, is that people in the Church of England had advised us that the motion to boycott (as we saw it) wouldn't even reach Synod let alone be passed. Later that year I left this country (I thought for good) and moved to Haifa, Israel, whose university was being boycotted by Manchester University where a few years earlier I had established the new subject of Jewish history. There, the new Anglican Bishop, Suheil, who was Palestinian, invited me to his office at St George's Cathedral, Jerusalem, and asked me to engage with him on a number of projects. These included setting up a meeting between the Israelis and Hamas, which I did endeavour to do for him, but despite all the best efforts of the Israeli government, Hamas (whose main aim is the destruction of the Jewish people) simply wasn't playing ball, and in any case, more recently the Palestinians on the West Bank are in open war with their counterparts in Gaza, run by Hamas of course! Another project was to offer Hebrew lessons to staff at St George's, which I did over a number of sessions and made a number of friends there. Most people know that during the one and a half years that I lived in Haifa, I also advised the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Shear Yashuv Cohen, about the pros and cons of establishing the Anglican Jewish Commission. Whether or not to engage with the Church of England was a very difficult decision for Shear Yashuv to make, given the past history of the Church of England, the recent inexplicable vote at Synod and the fact that according to research done by the Israeli side, the Anglican Church was simply less open, less loving, less joyful and less grateful than the Catholic Church. Shear Yashuv died last September and by this time I was back in England. As I write, antisemitism in this country is at crisis point. So, knowing all this, how does one survive as a Jew in England at the present time without completely retreating inside the ghetto? One survives by knowing that enemies can become friends. Archbishop Rowan's relations with the Jewish community have been turned around and he has become an ally. After the initial Liverpool meeting of 2002, when he downplayed future relations with the Jewish community, I wrote to him again in 2011 when he was thinking of giving up his role as Archbishop and told him about our Jewish Christian Dialogue Group which met fortnightly in my home in the Orthodox Jewish area of Broughton Park. So during its 6th year, 2014, Rowan turned up to meet us. My friend Sammy and I drove down to Piccadilly Station on a gloriously warm and sunny day the train was early (a good omen, I thought) and once ensconced in the car, Rowan asked me about the health of the wife of the former Bishop of Manchester, who had retired to the Lake District. This, I thought, was what the Queen must do all the time find a point of common interest to break the ice. Next we got onto the Israeli Ambassador and then came the meal. I had really panicked about this one and taken advice from a local rabbi. 'Give him soused herring' had been the rather ungenerous suggestion 'you know he doesn't like us.' So I went with my instincts and enlisted friends celebrated in our community for their expert culinary skills one baked some challah, another (who also attended our group) made her special cake and I did the in-between bits: chicken soup, chicken with special chestnut stuffing, roast potatoes, peas and corn. Rowan loved the meal: he must have had five servings of potatoes. Another good omen was that a small boy who comes round weekly with the local Haredi rag gave it to Rowan rather than to me the beard must have done it. And then it was all the hard questions in private of course (later I had to be host, adjudicator and one half of a piano and violin team, plus I had to be seen to be gracious in public): Why did you ignore us during your time in office? Why did you privilege everyone else as if we didn't exist? Why did you appear to be boycotting us at Synod? Why did you work with outdated institutions instead of engaging with knowledgeable individuals? And most of all, why did you write hateful articles about Israel at the very time that I was a witness to Haifa's suffering in the middle of a war not of her own making, when at least a third of the city had had to be evacuated, and yet you thought you could then embark on a dialogue with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, led by the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, as if nothing had happened and he had already called me in for expert advice on your Church? And then, having posed the questions, I realised that in a way this didn't really matter any more. Well it did and it didn't. Because if it hadn't happened, I wouldn't have left at that time for Israel, would not have met the Chief Rabbi of Haifa who invited me round for guidance on the Church of England, and would not have subsequently been asked to translate his biography. And it was after the meeting with Rowan at our dialogue group here in Broughton Park that I had an epiphany which embraced all these players. In June 2014, the time of Rowan's visit to our dialogue group in Broughton Park, I was coming towards the end of my translation of the Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen biography, which I wanted to entitle Between War and Peace, as this encapsulated the person he was. And I saw that the original Hebrew version ended with Pope Benedict's invitation to Shear Yashuv to become the first Jew in history to address the Vatican. This historic first took place in 2008. Something in me said, hold on a minute, what about Shear Yashuv's engagement with the Church of England which, during his farewell gathering for Jews and Christians at Lambeth in December 2011, Rowan himself had mentioned as a highlight of his 10 years of office. So I suggested adding an extra paragraph on relations with the Church of England to the chapter on relations with the Catholic Church (which I also had to correct for serious errors), as well as a final chapter which would discuss Shear Yashuv's influence on the English-speaking world, for which I managed to obtain wonderful contributions from Rowan, Canon Guy Wilkinson (his interfaith advisor) and Emeritus UK Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. But this is to run ahead of myself. An epiphany is hard to explain but you know when you have one. I had one in Oslo 1991 for instance when the Dalai Lama bounded up to me at the Nobel Peace Prize for Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma (collected in absentia by her elder son) and begged me to help the Burmese people. Yes, just like that! And it was because he knew I was Jewish, he said. Extraordinary! You simply can't say 'No' at moments like this. I had another epiphany in September 2006 at Chief Rabbi SY's home just one month after I had left England for Haifa, when he asked me what I knew about the Church of England and whether they were worth bothering with. My head said 'How can you even think of dialoguing with a Church that has boycotted you such that the Government of the UK will also follow suit and Israel will become even more of a pariah than she is already?' My heart said, 'I thought I was here as a new immigrant for a nice Friday night meal. How kind of the CR to ask me a question he knows I will be able to answer, just to put me at my ease.' Put together, the epiphany had such an effect that I knew I had to say 'Yes'. Nothing surprises you in Israel why shouldn't I advise on a subject I know about first hand, so I replied: 'The Church of England are not as open or warm in the espousal of their Jewish brothers and sisters as the Catholic Church has been, but if they want to make overtures after their dreadful mistake, we as Jews must not be the ones to decline.' And so today I am writing this piece about the truly amazing and indescribable relationship I have enjoyed with Rowan for three years or more, especially since he accepted our invitation to be a guest at our group, to eat a kosher meal in my home, and to carry on the dialogue which has become both wider and deeper as a result. This is a relationship like no other. Of course we don't agree on everything and sometimes the dialogue becomes quite emotional. But what I have always experienced from Rowan is total commitment, respect and generosity of spirit. It is like diving into a stormy sea (as I used to do daily in Haifa first thing in the morning) and hoping that if you allow the tide to carry you along you will return to the shore rejuvenated and reinvigorated, ready to face the day ahead. Which is why I compare dialogue to swimming. No one says that the type of risk-taking that dialogue entails is easy though. After our meal in 2014, when group members arrived to meet the former Archbishop, we started off by playing him the Welsh national anthem. When he got back home to Cambridge, Rowan wrote to tell me that what had made the greatest impression on him was the warmth of our group. And this really was a compliment. The group may also be erudite, emotional, musical and northern all things in its favour and funny too. But warm is what being Jewish is all about and is also how you can describe many of the Christians who participate, once they realise that group work is a kind of therapy and that as long as we don't divulge the specifics of what goes on to the outside world, they can simply be themselves and learn how to let go. From the Jewish point of view, however, the commitment which comes from dialogue also entails action. Most Anglicans one encounters seem simply uninterested or incapable of action preferring a polite schmooze over smoked salmon and tea, or (in one case at least), scones and jam with coffee. Rowan is different. In the last couple of years he has helped us to combat all types of antisemitism, especially of the academic and university variety of which he is very aware. And hasn't in the least minded going public on this. For example, with regards to Manchester University, Rowan wrote to the Vice Chancellor, Nancy Rothwell, asking her, in line with the judgement on Irving made in a British court in 2000, to remove his books from the open shelves marked Modern History to reserve store. She has declined to do this and has also turned down a similar request from five national umbrella Jewish groups, led by the Jewish Leadership Council. It is Rowan whose understanding of the threat posed to Jewish safety by the 'David Irving as real history' issue at Manchester University led to us obtain good coverage of this story in the Jewish, Christian and secular press. Rowan is someone who understands, comprehends better than most rabbis what the Jewish community needs, and who is courteous enough to respond to e-mails and phone calls immediately. He is convinced that the small dialogue groups started in this area of Broughton Park are doing an immense amount of good and that Judaism as we live it has a positive role to play. Rowan's contribution to the biography of Shear Yashuv Cohen included the following words about the former Chief Rabbi of Haifa: We have been privileged to have so deep and serious a mind as part of our conversations. It has not meant that we have agreed about everything. Much more importantly, though, this has meant that we Anglicans ... have learned an intense respect for the lucidity and honesty, the care and devotion, out of which Rabbi Cohen's convictions come. It has been an enormously important experience. The same could be said about Rowan. We do not agree on everything, but I have come to admire his qualities of caring, attentiveness and gratitude. In February, my book launch was hosted and chaired by Rowan Williams at the Master's Lodge, Magdalene College Cambridge. After the party was over and all the guests had left, Rowan went off to his office to finish some paper work while I relaxed in his lounge, surrounded by two pianos and a harpsichord. Music by Mozart was lying around. I was tempted to play, but thought better of it! When Rowan came back in, what did we talk about? Rowan plunged into the subject of Robert Browning, my favourite Victorian poet, who founded the English Church in Lucca, where ibn Ezra had written his monumental Commentary on the Torah (the subject of my PhD thesis and the basis for my first book). Browning wrote a poem about ibn Ezra, entitled 'Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be'. John Lennon turned this poem into a song, which was published posthumously. What an amazing subject to choose what an out-of-the-box mode of thinking at the end of an exhausting afternoon and three years of concentrated endeavour on my part to bring the life and achievements of the greatest rabbi I've ever met into the homes of the English-speaking world. How grateful I felt in that moment for the life of Shear Yashuv and for the continuing dialogue with the Welshman I'd had to evaluate for him on the spot without prior notice when asked to do so at our very first meeting in Haifa. How Israeli and how apt! I for one very much hope that the dialogue continues. Dr Irene Lancaster is chair of the Broughton Park Dialogue Group in Manchester and an author who has pioneered the teaching of Hebrew and Jewish Studies at a number of universities in the UK. The truth about Christian persecution in India and it's not what you think With more than 28 million believers, India is home to one of the world's largest Christian populations. Yet in the context of the second most populous country on earth, Christians make up just 2.3 per cent. And they are a minority increasingly under pressure. The faith arrived in India 2,000 years ago, introduced by Thomas the Apostle according to legend. But despite its long history and deep roots in the country's culture and national structures, Christianity in India is under attack. Under Prime Minister Modi's Hindu nationlist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the political wing of the extremist right-wing group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Christian persecution has rocketed. A snapshot of headlines from this website in the past two months alone reveals stories of Indian Christians beaten and kicked out of village for refusing to recant their faith, and an Indian pastor murdered in drive-by shooting after receiving multiple death threats. Reflecting this reality Open Doors' World Watch List, which monitors the most dangerous countries to be a Christian, has seen India gradually climb the ranks over the past four years. The watchdog estimates a church is burnt down or a pastor beaten on average 10 times a week India in 2016 a threefold increase on the previous year. 'There is a clear pattern of rising religious intolerance across the Indian sub-continent, which affects many millions of Christians,' said CEO Lisa Pearce. 'Religious nationalists attempt to forcibly convert people to the dominant faith of their nation, often turning to violence when community discrimination and non-violent oppression do not succeed in imposing their religious beliefs on minority Christians.' Bishop Joseph D'Souza has emerged as a leading Christian voice after being consecrated as Moderator Bishop and the primate of the Good Shepherd Church of India as well as being founder of the Dalit Freedom Network and founding president of the ecumenical All India Christian Council. While critical of Hindu extremists, D'Souza is deeply respectful of the religion itself and says the faith has been hijacked. Speaking to Christian Today at New Wine, an evangelical Christian festival in Somerset, he warns violent attacks on Christians and other faiths have 'marred the image of Hinduism all over the world'. D'Souza says his main fear is mob rule with Hindu extremist factions all over India attacking pastors and burning their buildings. Modi has made several public commitments to free speech and D'Souza called on him to put this into action by prosecuting the perpertrators. But as well as fringe groups, state parliaments are India are debating controversial anti-conversion laws which would mean anyone converting someone to a different religion through 'force or allurement' could face three years in jail. Already in force in six states with Jharkhand is in eastern India due to start debating their equivalent today, Modi's BJP says it offers protection against Christian missionaries targeting poorer communities with offers of education, money or other benefits. The high-profile case of Compassion India being forced to abandon more than 50 projects and around 145,000 children and leave the country partially rested on accusations of proselytism. D'Souza says the idea Christians are forcing people to convert is nonsense. 'With all of these Christians [in India], there have been no convictions because it is impossible to show that adult people have been induced by income, profit, health or education,' he tells Christian Today. 'The state is effectively now taking a stance on a persons choice.' But he is surprisingly sympathetic to the BJP's motivations. 'While Christianity did a lot of good to India, there was the colonial Christian baggage that we have to look at,' he explains. At the heart of the BJP's Hindu nationalism is a concern for the unity and integrity of India. The overwhelming fear is of another split, like the 1947 partition to form the Pakistan-India border that left more than 1 million people dead in savage inter-communal rioting and massacres. 'At the heart of the colonial baggage is the dis-membership of India based on religion,' he says. 'Unfortunately movements for independence are in the north where there are also many Christians. 'What right-wing Hindu groups in India fear is if Christians grow there will be another Pakistan.' But he insists Indian Christians like himself want to be part of a unified India. 'We never again want another Pakistan. 'Extremist elements of Hinduism have to be very careful they themselves do not polarise India on the basis of religion.' But even if Indian Christians convince their Hindu neighbours of their patriotism, it is unclear whether the persecution will stop. In office since 2014, Modi's government has overseen the installation of Christian abuse deep within the Indian system. School textbooks contain slurs and the attacks don't stop at a highly organised, religiously motivated level but seep into local village life. Unless there is a sharp turnaround, in the long run Christianity in India is in trouble. Walt Disney World erects lighthouse memorial for 2-year-old boy of Christian family killed by alligator at Seven Seas Lagoon A lighthouse memorial has been set up at the Walt Disney World resort in Florida in memory of a two-year-old boy who was dragged into the water at the Seven Seas Lagoon last summer. Lane Graves was vacationing at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando with his family when he was snatched by the alligator as he waded in the water. Despite the desperate efforts of his father, Matt Graves, and the onsite lifeguards, the little boy could not be saved. At the time, the Graves family received the support of a priest as they received the shattering news and a special service was later held for Lane at the family's church, St Patrick's in Elkhorn, Nebraska, which also received donations on their behalf. In a statement, the family said they had decided against pursuing a wrongful death suit against Disney and instead set up the Lane Thomas Foundation in memory of their son, saying they are 'solely focused on the future health of our family.' The foundation provides financial support to cover the non-medical expenses of family with children who are in need of life-saving organ transplants in Omaha. The Seven Seas Lagoon had signage at the time of Lane's death saying 'No swimming.' Since the tragic event, Disney World has installed protective fencing around the lagoon and said it would be working on 'permanent, long-term solutions at our beaches.' The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission later found the alligator that killed Lane and put the animal down. Young Christian couple who met doing missionary work die in tragic car crash one day after their wedding A young Christian couple who got married in Kansas on Friday after meeting as missionaries earlier this year tragically died on Saturday when their car hit a tree. Austin Wesson was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near Clearwater. His wife, Rebekah, 19, died at around 12:30am on Monday morning in hospital, according to the Wichita Eagle. Sedgwick County sheriff's deputies responded to reports of a rollover crash near Clearwater at around 6:30pm on Saturday evening and found the car on its side resting against a tree. The pair only met this year while doing missionary work in Wesson's native South Africa. He proposed in April and they exchanged vows at the Sedgwick County Courthouse on Friday. They were all smiles as they posed for photos with their papers outside the courthouse, with Rebekah wearing a simple but elegant blue shirt dress and a pretty bouquet of flowers. The short ceremony was witnessed by Rebekah's mother, Rachel Bouma, who announced the tragic news of her daughter and son-in-law's death in a Facebook post on Monday. She described being 'unbearably shattered' but said Rebekah 'went peacefully into the arms of her loving Savior.' 'She is with the Lord that she loved so deeply and so joyfully and she is with her husband of just one day, Austin Wesson, whom she loved with all her heart,' she said. 'We thank God that they are together while grieving their loss so very deeply. Please keep both our families in your prayers and especially that Austin's family would be able to be here quickly.' In another post, Mrs Bouma asked for prayers for both their families as they walk through the 'valley of the shadow of death.' She shared that one of the songs that was speaking to her right now was 'What'ere My God Ordains is Right.' Wesson was from near Cape Town, South Africa, where he worked as a surfing instructor. According to the Daily Mail, the couple were planning to do more mission trips together after moving to Michigan where Rebekah was due to attend college. A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money to help Austin's family travel to the U.S. for his funeral. The goal to raise $5,000 has already been surpassed. While President Trumps economic agenda seems to have stalled in Congress, it has made gains in the regulatory arena. Most recently, in a speech to the Denver conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council, Labor secretary Alexander Acosta pressured states to eliminate needless, anti-competitive licensing laws. Licensing is almost always a state matter, and Washington can only do so much here, but federal pressure is never insignificant. Any progress on this front should heighten prospects for economic expansion and job growth. Many licensing laws are essential. Acosta and other reformers understand that some occupations require minimum standards of skill and training, and incompetence among some professionalsmedical doctors, pharmacists, or airline pilots, for examplecan be deadly. Arguments for public safety fall apart, however, when such standards are applied to less crucial fields. Many states now impose strict licensing requirements on beauticians, cosmetologists, interior designers, eyebrow threaders, hair braiders, landscape contractors, tour guides, funeral attendants, scrap-metal recyclers, and other occupations where lives are clearly not at stake. Rather than protect the public, elaborate licensing standards protect the interests of those already established in these occupations by raising barriers to entry for newcomers. The licensing requirements reflect the lobbying power of those established interests. Such laws do real economic harm in state after state by artificially limiting job prospects, often for the least-advantaged workers. To take an extreme example, Florida requires more than 2,000 days of training to license an interior designer. Assuming such instruction occurs on a normal academic calendar, it would take 11 years of specialized training to become a licensed decoratorabout as long as it takes to become a doctor, when including college, medical school, and internship. A high school graduate with an eye for design would find the required tuition and the time investment insuperable obstacles to pursuing a profession where the greatest harm might be a color clash between wallpaper and upholstery. The harm goes beyond curtailed opportunities. By suppressing competition, licensing laws let established practitioners charge higher prices for their services, and the general public bears the cost. A recent Brookings Institution study estimates that licensing laws raise the cost of services by between 3 percent and 16 percent. Moreover, because licensing standards vary greatly from state to state, and few states recognize credentials earned in another state, the requirements interfere with the efficiency of markets by discouraging the movement of businesses and individuals. The Brookings study calculates that licensing laws have reduced interstate mobility by 15 percent generally and by over 20 percent among young people. These burdens have grown over the years. According to the Labor Department, only 5 percent of jobs in the U.S. required permits during the 1950s and 1960s, decades of robust economic growth; today, one position in four requires some kind of license, and by some estimates, its one in three. At last count 1,100 occupations required a license in at least one state, and 60 jobs demand licensure in all 50 states. The implied economic and job-growth impediments have surely contributed to economic stagnation. Some signs suggest that the destructive practice of over-licensure may have peaked. For one, the push for reform has bipartisan support; it was the Obama administrations Labor Department that first framed the problem. It was also under Obama that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prevailed in the Supreme Court against North Carolinas rule forbidding anyone but a licensed dentist to whiten teeth. Though the courts decision was narrowly framed, it has prompted many states to review their licensing practices. Mississippi has led the way, pushing to transfer control of licensing boards from industry groups to the governors office. Other states have shown less zeal, but review-and-reform efforts have emerged in Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and even Illinois. Now, in the Trump administration, Labor secretary Acosta is capitalizing on the reform momentum. If his efforts bear fruit, he will advance the cause of liberty while greatly expanding opportunities for ambitious people trying to start careers. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust has announced that former Carers Trust chief executive Gail Scott-Spicer will become its next chief executive. Scott-Spicer left her job at the Carers Trust in May and will join the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust at the beginning of September. Spicer is the deputy chair of the Money Advice Trust and is a trustee at CharityComms. She joined the Carers Trust in February 2015 before that held senior roles within the youth sector, at charities including The Scout Association and Catch 22 Michael Kelly, chair at Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, said: On behalf of all the trustees, I am delighted to welcome Gail as our new CEO. We had some truly exceptional candidates shortlisted as part of a widespread selection process, however Gail stood out for her passion and innovation which will be crucial towards us reaching our ambitious 2020 vision and goals. Gail joins at an exciting time for the charity, as we celebrate our tenth anniversary next year and continue our growth into new areas across the UK. Scott-Spicer added: I am naturally delighted to be joining a charity that has had such a transformational impact on the lives of young people facing disadvantage. I have witnessed from afar the growth of the trust over the past few years and have been particularly impressed by their commitment towards impact measurement and being at the forefront of best practice in the programmes they deliver. Giles Meyer is currently interim chief executive at the Carers Trust. He joined the charity as director of fundraising and grants. Civil Society Media is hosting its Charity People & Culture Conference on 20 September 2017. For more information, and to book, click here Sinclair Broadcast Group, the nations largest television broadcaster, is set to expand its reach into nearly three-quarters of American households, a prospect that has elicited concerns both commercial and ideological. Known for pushing must-run segments of reliably conservative political commentary, Sinclairs expansion has raised hackles among media watchdog groups. In May, the Maryland-based Sinclair announced its $3.9 billion purchase of Tribune Media Co., which would expand its reach to major markets including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The deal, Politicos Margaret Harding McGill and John Hendel report, would not be possible if not for a decision by Republican FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to revive a decades-old regulatory loophole that will keep Sinclair from vastly exceeding federal limits on media ownership. By adding 42 Tribune stations to the 173 it already owns, Sinclair will be in 72 percent of American homes, a number that would far exceed the federal limit on media ownership if not for Pais action. Opposition to the deal is coalescing, if belatedly, across the media landscape. Pushback against Sinclairs growing dominance is coming in all forms, shapes and sizeseven from its ideological allies, writes Axios David McCabe. Executives from smaller conservative outlets like One America News Network to industry groups like the American Cable Association are urging the FCC to reject the merger, claiming that such consolidation would result in less competition and higher prices for consumers. Given Pais previous statements, however, resistance to the deal appears futile. Below, more on one of the most important media players that you may not know much about. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other notable stories Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon. Grand juries are in the news. Robert Mueller, a special counsel looking into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russian attempts to tamper with the 2016 election, is said to have convened at least one grand jury. ABC News and Law Street have posted convenient guides discussing the legal aspect of what grand juries can and cannot do. We, of course, are concerned with the linguistic aspects. Take care when describing the actions of grand juries. They can indict someone, signing what is called a true bill that there is reasonable evidence that the accused committed the crime at issue. Remember that defendants rarely appear before grand juries, and the only evidence presented is what prosecutors give them or guide them to collect, so they are pretty one-sided proceedings. Even so, a prosecutor decides whether to press charges as a result of the indictment. The prosecutor can decide not to bring charges; the most famous case of an indictment that did not result in a charge may be in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey. A court determines whether there is enough evidence to continue to trial. So just because a grand jury returns an indictment does not mean there will be a trial. Because an indictment is not a charge, its inaccurate to say that someone was indicted for a crime. As the AP Stylebook says, To avoid any suggestion that someone is being judged before a trial, do not use phrases such as indicted for killing or indicted for bribery. Instead, use indicted on a charge of killing or indicted on a bribery charge. You could also say the indictment accuses the suspect of the crime. In the federal system, an indictment is necessary for any criminal charge, but states vary on whether they require indictments. In states that dont use grand juries for every criminal proceeding, a prosecutor files an information with the court that lists the basis for any criminal charge. (In some places, the prosecutor is called a states attorneynot a state attorney, a states attorney, or a states attorney.) So be sure that theres actually an indictment before you write about one. And only grand juries can indict. Sign up for CJR 's daily email When the grand jury decides on an indictment, it technically returns it to the prosecutor. Many news accounts say that the indictment was handed down or handed up. Only one of those is accurate: A grand jury is low on the judicial food chain, so its indictment is handed up, to the prosecution, a judge, and the court system. The judge or court hands down a decision from the bench, the highest seat in the courtroom. But lets go back to the beginning. A grand jury is put together from a group of citizens. That creates a panel. Is that act spelled impaneled, empaneled, impanelled, or empanelled? That word leaped to the top of Merriam-Websters online lookups right after the news of the Mueller grand jury broke, and M-W has the best answer on the correct spelling: so long as you throw together some assembly of ems or ims with some verb endings you have a better than average chance of spelling it correctly. Websters New World College Dictionary, the one favored by many news organizations, prefers impaneled, but lists all the others as possible variations. The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage has a single word entry, impanel, but given its preference for canceled and traveled, probably wants impaneled. The Chicago Manual of Style doesnt list impanel at all, but says this about double consonants: In words of more than one syllable, the final consonant is doubled if it is part of the syllable that is stressed both before and after the inflection {preferpreferred} but not otherwise {traveltraveled}. In British English there is no such distinction: All such consonants are doubled. The New Yorker, with its British-leaning style guide, prefers impanelled. The form of grand jury we use today traces to the Saxons and, later, the Normans in Britain. The word describing its assembly comes from the Middle English word empanelle, which itself comes from the French empaneler, the Oxford English Dictionary says. It took only about 150 years for the e to become an i (1426 to 1577, the OED says). By reading this column, you can avoid being indicted on charges of using bad language. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Merrill Perlman managed copy desks across the newsroom at the New York Times, where she worked for twenty-five years. Follow her on Twitter at @meperl. ON FRIDAY, MELISSA BOUGHTONa journalist for NC Policy Watch, the news arm of the nonprofit North Carolina Justice Centerwas barred from a media table where she was covering a legislative hearing about redistricting. The incident, which Boughton publicized on Twitter, highlights the credentialing challenges facing contemporary news organizations that are attached to policy or lobbying entities. Capital Press Corps strikes again: Sergeant-at-Arms won't let me sit in the media section at the redistricting hearing #ncga #ncpol Melissa Boughton (@mel_bough) August 4, 2017 Nothing like being treated like 2nd-class press after working hard on this non-stop from the beginning #ncga #ncpol Melissa Boughton (@mel_bough) August 4, 2017 The Capitol Press Corps is a group of print, TV, radio and online journalists who cover the statehouse. The groups stated purpose, according to its official bylaws, is helping to facilitate the rigorous coverage of the General Assembly and state government. The group recommends to legislative leaders which reporters should receive the special credentials that permit access to the House and Senate floor. The Capitol Press Corps has denied credentials to NC Policy Watch reporters since the groups reporters began covering the legislature in 2009. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project According to the Press Corps bylaws, a person will not receive credentials if he or she works for an organization whose primary focus is the promotion of public policy, or for a trade organization whose primary purpose is to advance the cause of that trade organization before state government. Jeffrey Tiberii, Capitol bureau chief of WUNC and head of the Capitol Press Corps, says NC Policy Watch falls into the first category because its parent organization advocates for progressive causes at the Capitol. Boughton, who is a credentialed member of the North Carolina Press Association, doesnt think thats fair. The Justice Center pushes for policy and comments on it, she says, but the news arm is different and distinctlike separate news and opinion sections at a traditional news organization. You should think of NC Policy Watch just as you would a newspaper, Boughton tells the lawmakers she covers. Theres a split between the reporters and an editorial board. Questions about credentialing practices in state capitols are getting more complicated as reporters increasingly work for non-traditional news organizations. A 2011 report from the National Conference of State Legislatures recognized a changing media landscape amid newspaper retrenchment, where bloggers and social journalists have filled the gaps or holes left by reporters who covered the statehouse as a beat. In 2014, a Pew report found that nontraditional outlets make up about 16 percent of capitol coverage nationwide. As more people get their information from non-traditional sourcesthen those non-traditional sources need access [the] same as daily newspapers and TV stations. Notably, the NC Capitol Press Corps doesnt take a position on new media versus old: The online nonprofit NC Health News is a member, as is the news site EducationNC. In recent years, more online outlets with points of view have emerged and dispatched their reporters to cover the Capitol in Raleigh. John Robinson, a former editor of The Greensboro News & Record who teaches at the UNC School of Media and Journalism*, says it is likely time for media access rules to evolve in North Carolina. More media will become advocacy and it will become accepted, he says, pointing to national cable leaders MSNBC and Fox News as examples on TV. And as more people get their information from non-traditional sourcesthen those non-traditional sources need access [the] same as daily newspapers and TV stations. Boughton has been on the redistricting storya big one in gerrymandered North Carolinasince she started with NC Policy Watch last fall. Typically, she has been able to sit at a media table when covering hearings, she says. No one asked if she had Capitol credentials. But on Friday, she says, a Capitol official told her she had to sit with the general public. This is 1st time I've ever been told in 643 LOB that I can't sit in press section. Usually only applies to House/Senate floor #ncga #ncpol Melissa Boughton (@mel_bough) August 4, 2017 Sgt-at-arms event. found me a seat up front instead in back, but still feels shitty to stare at my counterparts across the room #ncga #ncpol Melissa Boughton (@mel_bough) August 4, 2017 Both Boughton and NC Policy Watch have been acknowledged by journalism organizations for their work. Boughton is a former newspaper reporter for The Charleston Post & Courier where, with her P&C colleagues, she was a Pulitzer Prize finalist last year. NC Policy Watch has won numerous awards from the state press association. In an interview with CJR, Boughton says she was embarrassed by the incident Friday at the Capitol, and calls it demoralizing. Thats the personal aspect of it, she says. But the professional aspect of it is theres no consistency. Dan Way, a journalist from The Carolina Journal, a nonprofit news outlet affiliated with the limited-government John Locke Foundation, was not asked to leave the media table, according to Boughton. While the John Locke Foundation does not receive Capitol Press Corps credentials, Way has the so-called hard pass credentials to cover the Capitol. John Hood, chairman of the John Locke Foundation, says he believes The Carolina Journal got its credentials through the legislatures director of services, a former local politician and GOP candidate for Congress named Paul Coble. (Legislative leaders can override Capitol Press Corps recommendations.) Coble did not return a voice message or email by the time this story was posted. Hood says he has dealt with press credentialing issues for The Carolina Journal at the statehouse since the 1990s, before the internet and economic forces transformed journalism. Fridays incident involving NC Policy Watch, he says, reopened the conversation. Hood plans to convene a meeting with media, public officials, and others to search for a way to provide credentials to journalists like Boughton and Way without opening the door to lobbyists or political activists. The thing thats frustrating for me is theres still no conclusion. Not having floor credentials had major consequences for one NC Policy Watch reporter in December. Protesters flooded the public gallery where Joe Killian, a former reporter for The Greensboro News & Record, was reporting. (As a NC Policy Watch reporter, Killian also is not allowed on the floor.) When police closed the public gallery of the House chamber during a debate and asked protesters and others to leave, Killian stayed to report, and was arrested. In its coverage of the arrest, The Raleigh News & Observer called the uncredentialed Killian a journalist and a reporter. (An account of the incident is detailed in Attacks on the Press, a book by the Committee to Protect Journalists.) The charges against Killian were eventually dismissed. Boughton was not arrested on Friday. She was able to work from the public viewing area of the committee room, though she couldnt easily take photos. However, she argues that she has provided more coverage in the past year on redistricting than many in the media section. The thing thats frustrating for me is theres still no conclusion, she says. Theres still not even a decision as to how to move forward, and we have the same meeting again next week. *A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that John Robinson teaches at Elon University. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Corey Hutchins is CJRs correspondent based in Colorado, where he teaches journalism at Colorado College. A former alt-weekly reporter in South Carolina, he was twice named journalist of the year in the weekly division by the SC Press Association. Hutchins writes about politics and media for the Colorado Independent and worked on the State Integrity Investigation at the Center for Public Integrity; he has contributed to Slate, The Nation, the Washington Post, and others. Follow him on Twitter @coreyhutchins or email him at coreyhutchins@gmail.com. Europeans are consuming more and more butter at a time when prices are skyrocketing, stockpiles are running low and dairy giants are warning of an imminent shortage. Chef Severine Nobis, who jointly runs a Parisian pastry school in the French capital, told CNBC that market fears of a European butter shortage cannot be ignored. "The real fear would be the expansion of global changes in eating habits. If butter demand were to explode, there could be a shortage and in this case the price of the viennoiseries (sweet baked pastries) would also explode," she said via email. Nobis explained that Patisserie a la Carte had not yet passed the increase in butter prices on to their consumers. However, she admitted the patisserie would be forced to consider doing so in a "reasonable" way if the market had not stabilized by the fall. "Today milk producers produce at a loss. We need to rethink the system so that they can make a living, avoid the closures of dairy farms and avoid the future shortage of butter." watch now Jim Cramer loves when historical patterns pop up in the stock market, especially ones like the recent concerns about FANG stocks being overvalued and emblematic of the 2000 tech bubble. "But you know that history doesn't always repeat itself. In fact, there are times when it can lead you very much astray," the" Mad Money" host said. Take one of the market's most topical technology stocks, Nvidia . Just two years ago, the chipmaker's stock was trading at just six times earnings, a valuation far too low for how rapidly the stock climbed since then. "Lots of people think NVIDIA's the most outrageously valued stock in the market" today, Cramer said. "It turned out to be the maker of the semiconductors used in gaming, artificial intelligence, machine learning. It turned out to be one of the greatest bargains of all time." When Homework Hurts Kanawa_Studio | Getty Images When Cramer was new to the stock business, he read legendary fund manager Peter Lynch's 1989 book, "One Up On Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market." The book revolved around a key piece of advice: if investors kept their eyes open to products or experiences they liked, they would have an easier time finding profitable investments. Lynch wrote that enjoying companies' offerings should lead investors to research those companies and make informed decisions about whether to buy their stocks. "But a funny thing happened since Lynch penned his seminal work," Cramer said. "The homework has, in some cases, actually kept you out of stocks that you might otherwise have owned and made fortunes in." Allergan CEO on the Business of Selfies Brent Saunders, CEO of Allergan. Adam Jeffery | CNBC The "selfie generation" could be even more of a needle-mover than you thought, at least according to Allergan Chairman, President and CEO Brent Saunders. Of the 30 million people in the United States who consider getting aesthetic treatments like Allergan's Botox, only three million people actually follow through with getting the procedures. But within that three million, "we see two new groups that are starting to emerge: millennials, which only account for maybe 10, 15 percent of the three million, and males, which also probably account for 10, 15 percent," Saunders told Cramer on Monday. Both millennials and males are relatively new to the aesthetic application space, but the groups are growing rapidly, the CEO said. Snap-On CEO: Confidence is Key Then, Cramer spoke with Nick Pinchuk, the chairman and CEO of Snap-On Tools , about the slight weakness his multifaceted toolmaker saw in its latest fiscal quarter. "Obviously, there are understandable questions about the tools group. The sales were down some," Pinchuk told Cramer on Monday. "But I think the good things about the performance, the strengths in the performance greatly outweigh the negatives." One such area of strength is Snap-On's repair systems and information business, which was up 8.3 percent this quarter thanks to its connections to software applications, the CEO said. "Every time we sell a diagnostic unit, it ignites a plume of updates in terms of software, so that's a pretty good business," Pinchuk said. "The good news is the vehicle repair market is pretty strong." Sierra Wireless CEO: Growth in Autos Finally, despite the overall weakness in the autos market, Sierra Wireless President and CEO Jason Cohenour told Cramer that his internet of things company is getting a considerable boost from automotive deals. "We already have quite a few automotive deals. It's a key secular growth opportunity for the company," Cohenour said. "The connected car is, we think, going to be very big. It's a market that's only 13 percent penetrated today. We think it's going to 100 percent penetrated." Sierra's main focus of late has been a partnership with Volkswagen to connect the automaker's upcoming model to the internet. "If you had a Volkswagen starting in 2018, you would take advantage of the Volkswagen concierge services that you access through your head unit, and we're providing the connection behind those services so that you, the driver, get connected to the suite of Volkswagen services," the CEO told Cramer. Lightning Round: Pounding the Table on Puma In a memo to employees, CEO Sundar Pichai said the employee who penned a controversial memo about how women had biological issues that prevented them from being as successful as men in tech had violated its Code of Conduct and that the post had crossed "the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." He added: "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK." More from Recode: Remember when the iPad was going to be the key to the media business? Benchmark and SoftBank are engaging in some public negotiating jiu jitsu over Uber We're in the early stages of a visual revolution in journalism Pichai's wording appears to indicate the employee is likely be fired. Google spokesperson said the company would not confirm any firing, but some sources confirmed to Recode the action was going to take place. [UPDATE: Sources told Recode that the employee has indeed been fired, but Google said it would not comment on individual employees.] Once it does happen, the move is sure to attract a firestorm of criticism on both sides, putting the search giant in the crosshairs of a wider debate about gender issues taking place in Silicon Valley and across the country. The employee memo which was up for days without action by the company went viral within the search giant's internal discussion boards this weekend, with some decrying it and others defending it. Sources said Google's top execs have been struggling with how to deal with it and the fallout, trying to decide if its troubling content crossed a line. Apparently, it did. In a memo to employees titled "Our words matter," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that the employee who has been named on Twitter, although his identity could not be verified had violated its code of conduct. (I am not publishing his name, because he and others who disagree with him have been threatened with violence online. Had the employee not belittled women's skills, I assume, he would not have been fired. That said, Pichai also noted the memo did raise some important issues, such as the need for more willingness to include more points of view at the company, including more conservative ones. Wrote Pichai: "First, let me say that we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it. However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK. It is contrary to our basic values and our Code of Conduct, which expects 'each Googler to do their utmost to create a workplace culture that is free of harassment, intimidation, bias and unlawful discrimination.'" It's not an easy line to walk. But the employee penned a piece he sent across the company that said, among other things, that women just can't do tech. Titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," it begins promisingly enough: "I value diversity and inclusion, am not denying that sexism exists, and don't endorse using stereotypes. When addressing the gap in representation in the population, we need to look at population level differences in distributions. If we can't have an honest discussion about this, then we can never truly solve the problem." But then, in what is pretty much the main premise, he went on in detail: "I'm simply stating that the distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these differences may explain why we don't see equal representation of women in tech and leadership." What followed was a list of those differences, including a claim that women were more social and artistic and could not take the stress of high-pressure jobs. Hence, neuroticism, or higher anxiety and lower stress tolerance. The author also claimed that he had no voice, even after penning a 3,000-word memo that he was able to send companywide and also was read by millions more. "Psychological safety is built on mutual respect and acceptance, but unfortunately our culture of shaming and misrepresentation is disrespectful and unaccepting of anyone outside its echo chamber," he wrote. Sources said the memo has caused a massive debate to go on inside Google, which has devolved in ways not unlike those taking place across the country. "It has been really toxic," said one person at Google. "It's a microcosm of America." But what is also true is that free speech is allowed when it comes to the government, but not within companies. In, fact, it is common for people to lose their jobs for making sexist and racist remarks. Here is the Pichai memo in total: From: Sundar Subject: Our words matter This has been a very difficult few days. I wanted to provide an update on the memo that was circulated over this past week. First, let me say that we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it. However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK. It is contrary to our basic values and our Code of Conduct, which expects "each Googler to do their utmost to create a workplace culture that is free of harassment, intimidation, bias and unlawful discrimination." The memo has clearly impacted our co-workers, some of whom are hurting and feel judged based on their gender. Our co-workers shouldn't have to worry that each time they open their mouths to speak in a meeting, they have to prove that they are not like the memo states, being "agreeable" rather than "assertive," showing a "lower stress tolerance," or being "neurotic." At the same time, there are co-workers who are questioning whether they can safely express their views in the workplace (especially those with a minority viewpoint). They too feel under threat, and that is also not OK. People must feel free to express dissent. So to be clear again, many points raised in the memo such as the portions criticizing Google's trainings, questioning the role of ideology in the workplace, and debating whether programs for women and underserved groups are sufficiently open to all are important topics. The author had a right to express their views on those topics we encourage an environment in which people can do this and it remains our policy to not take action against anyone for prompting these discussions. The past few days have been very difficult for many at the company, and we need to find a way to debate issues on which we might disagree while doing so in line with our Code of Conduct. I'd encourage each of you to make an effort over the coming days to reach out to those who might have different perspectives from your own. I will be doing the same. I have been on work related travel in Africa and Europe the past couple of weeks and had just started my family vacation here this week. I have decided to return tomorrow as clearly there's a lot more to discuss as a group including how we create a more inclusive environment for all. So please join me, along with members of the leadership team at a town hall on Thursday. Check your calendar soon for details. Sundar By Kara Swisher, Re/code.net. CNBC's parent NBCUniversal is an investor in Recode's parent Vox, and the companies have a content-sharing arrangement. JetBlue travelers will soon be able to file complaints or get answers from the airline through any communication channel they choose, including Facebook Messenger, Twitter and texts. The airline just signed a deal with a start-up called Gladly to overhaul its customer service systems. Additionally, JetBlue Technology Ventures is investing alongside GGV and other venture firms in a $36 million series C round of funding for Gladly, bringing the company's total capital raised to $63 million. When it comes to customer satisfaction, airlines consistently rank in the lowest-third of all brands. And customer complaints about airlines have spiked in 2017, following a viral video showing United Airlines workers dragging a customer off a plane. JetBlue is rated the best airline in the 2017 American Customer Satisfaction Index, so it's noteworthy that the company is making it more convenient for customers to channel their feedback. "People just don't want to call in anymore," said Bonny Simi, president of JetBlue's corporate venture group. "So we are aiming for omnichannel communication that is on at all hours, that can take advantage of AI to resolve customers' issues as quickly as possible, and that will work with all of the important messenger apps." Joseph Ansanelli, Gladly's CEO, told CNBC his start-up is an eventual "alternative to Salesforce." Unlike ServiceCloud by Salesforce , or other incumbent customer service platforms, Gladly shows agents a single view of the communications between a company and a customer. Ansanelli said Gladly enables large corporations to handle customer service via phone, email, text and Facebook Messenger. It will roll out support for mobile and web chat apps and Twitter. The company is using its funding for hiring and further software development. Last weekend as my immediate family gathered from Melbourne, Nimbin (look it up), London and Los Angeles to celebrate my sister's 30th birthday, we threw around some fun facts about the age milestone she was set to surmount. Did you know, for example, you have to go back as far as 1993 to find the last time 30 years old was the average age of marriage for a British woman (it's now 34.6) and all the way back to 1985 for a British man (now 37)? Furthermore, can you guess the company whose chief executive officer (CEO) recently told me that 30 was the average age of his clientele? Not a household Silicon Valley brandname cranking out the latest tech product sensation but Kering, the luxury goods titan which counts Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga as among the iconic marques in its stable. Note that I said "iconic" and not "classic" as these and other luxury brands have spotted a massive millennial-focused opportunity and are headed straight from the runway to take-off with it in a way which requires them to rethink their long-standing strategies. Below, we take a look at five burgeoning businesses hoping to make their mark on California's newly minted recreational marijuana market . So it's no surprise that The Profit's Marcus Lemonis , a newbie when it comes to pot, traveled to the Golden State to educate himself about an industry projected to generate $50 billion on the national level by 2026 and spend some face time with the entrepreneurs eager to dominate this impending marijuana boom. When California passed Prop 64 last November, effectively legalizing recreational marijuana in the state, savvy small business owners began gearing up for 2018's oncoming gold or, in this case, 'green' rush . To understand the buzz, you have to first consider the numbers: By 2026, California's marijuana market is expected to be valued at around $6 billion; will generate around $1 billion in taxes; and create over 100,000 jobs. CANNDESCENT watch now Founder: Adrian Sedlin Adrian Sedlin and his company Canndescent represent the new face of legal marijuana in California. Canndescent is one of many indoor, industrial-sized pot growing operations in the works in Desert Hot Springs, California, a financially challenged community hoping to be saved by cannabis-generated tax revenue. By mid-2019, Sedlin hopes his company will be earning between $70 and $75 million in gross revenue. He's also trying to rid marijuana of its stoner image, branding his product as the cannabis equivalent of premium wine, with corresponding prices. Canndescent is charging about $3k per pound for its productfrom $1,000 to $1500 more than most competitors, hoping to appeal to Californians who might be trying pot for the first time once it becomes legal recreationally. TREAT YOURSELF watch now Founders: Cindy Pinzon & Leone Posod Cindy Pinzon and Leone Posod are best friends who run a pot edibles company, Treat Yourself. They're striving to market a new and uniquely California product: vegan, gluten-free, marijuana-infused tarts. Cindy used to be an actress and Leone was a police dispatcher avoiding pot used to be part of her job. Now they're both all in. They started Treat Yourself in 2015 and haven't looked back. Cindy and Leone are still working out of a tiny home kitchen and have put $15,000 into their business everything they have hoping to make their tarts the next big thing. MEDMEN watch now Founder: Adam Bierman With the coming legalization of recreational pot in California, many cannabis entrepreneurs typically focus on a single dimension of the marijuana world: growing it, making edibles, or getting a license to operate a dispensary. MedMen is different because it covers several bases at once. It has an investment fund, a cultivation facility, and an expanding chain of fashionable, high-tech dispensaries that look more like Apple stores than stereotypical headshops. Out front, MedMen has patented display cases, gizmos to see and smell pot, and a whole "look" they will share with other dispensaries for a price. The approach is aimed far beyond California the company is positioning itself for the day recreational pot is legalized nationwide, when they want to be your go-to pot shop in every state. Behind the scenes, MedMen also grows its own weed, cutting out the middlemen where possible. While a pound costs roughly $1,000 to grow, it can eventually be sold retail for $8,000. STASHTWIST watch now Founder: Andrea Unsworth Stashtwist is a female-operated, delivery-only medicinal cannabis dispensary in the Bay Area. It's run and was founded in 2014 by Andrea Unsworth, a former financial analyst for Moody's. Most customers order products online and are able to get their cannabis within an hour. Stashtwist averages around 15 deliveries of medicinal pot, cannabis concentrates and cannabis edibles each day in and around Berkeley. CLC BRAND LABS watch now Venezuela could face a full-fledged civil war if military support for dictator Nicolas Maduro erodes. Venezuelan authorities arrested seven men over the weekend whom they claimed took part in an attack on a military base outside of Valencia, the country's third-largest city. The strike took place after a video made the rounds on social media Sunday featuring men in military fatigues calling for a rebellion against Maduro. Venezuela video tweet "The significance lies in whether this suggests that Maduro is losing his grip on the military and whether we can expect to see more mutinies to come, or if this is just an isolated incident," Stuart Culverhouse, global head of macro and fixed income research at Exotix Capital, said in an email. "Maintaining the support of the military is a key factor in Maduro's survival, and many in the military will have a vested interest in ensuring (his) survival," Culverhouse said. Venezuela's top-ranking military officials have benefited greatly from Maduro's government. They hold influential roles and have received considerable financial sums in exchange for their loyalty to Maduro. But experts say that support is waning as the country's economic and social conditions continue to deteriorate. As support for Maduro dwindles, the chances of a civil war increase. The bitcoin community appears to have resolved the in fighting over the future of the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin broke through the $3,500 mark for the first time on Tuesday hitting a fresh record high as uncertainty over the future of the cryptocurrency subsided. The digital currency hit an-all time high of $3,525.04 before pulling back to around $3,481 early on Tuesday. Bitcoin's record high marks a 264 percent year-to-date rise and comes after months of infighting in the cryptocurrency world. Within the bitcoin community, a so-called "scaling debate" has been going on. There is a big backlog of transactions on the bitcoin blockchain the technology that underpins the cryptocurrency. The debate was over the way in which the capacity of the blockchain could be increased to speed up the capability of the bitcoin network. Major infighting within the community took place which led to two separate proposals on how to expand the blockchain. Because of the two separate proposals, a "fork" took place which split the blockchain at the end of July. A new digital currency called Bitcoin Cash was created. Bitcoin Cash's market cap is just under a tenth of bitcoin's. The majority of the community backed a software upgrade called BIP 91, which would introduce something known as SegWit2X to the blockchain. SegWit is short for "segregated witness" which would move some of the data outside the main bitcoin network to increase its capacity. This was received negatively by some miners because it would lead to fewer fees for them. But miners have accepted the BIP 91 proposal which would increase the block size and the SegWit is set to be implemented today. "Segwit activates this afternoon and there is a lot of hope that the network will unclog with lower transaction fees becoming the new normal," Charles Hayter, CEO of London-based digital currency data firm CryptoCompare, told CNBC by email. "The SegWit activation opens up projects that bring some capability to the bitcoin network. Instead of bitcoin being held back by infighting, it is now blue skies of opportunity in what can be built." Once the SegWit is locked in on Tuesday, there will be a two-week grace period to allow miners to upgrade their software. But the feeling is that the worst of the fighting is over. At the same time, more regulators are continuing to make positive noises around the digital currency. In Switzerland for example, the financial market regulator gave Zurich-based Falcon Private Bank the green light on managing assets based on the blockchain technology behind bitcoin and other digital currencies. All of these factors are likely to push the price of bitcoin higher this year, experts said. "Given the technology's move towards scalability, more institutional investors are now considering to allocate funds to bitcoin, which may be exciting the market," Aurelien Menant, CEO of the Gatecoin cryptocurrency exchange, told CNBC by email on Tuesday. Netflix is one of the market's best-performing stocks and one Wall Street firm says its shares will continue to surge due to more impressive growth in foreign markets. Piper Jaffray told its clients the company's international subscriber base will nearly double in three years from the current 52 million. The firm reiterated its overweight rating on the video streaming company's shares. "International growth is clearly the primary focus of NFLX investors; one of the most consistent concerns we hear, regarding ongoing growth potential, is the challenge the service will face gaining adoption in lower-income markets," analyst Michael Olson wrote in a note to clients Tuesday. "Our analysis suggests that Netflix can reach 100M international subs by 2020, with zero or very minimal penetration in lower-income international markets." Olson raised his price target for Netflix shares to $215 from $198, representing 19 percent upside from Monday's close. Netflix is one of the market's best-performing names. Its shares have rallied 46.5 percent this year through Monday versus the S&P 500's 10.8 percent return. The analyst presented a number of scenarios where the streaming video company can reach the 100 million subscriber level by 2020. He noted if Netflix can attain only 25 percent share of upper-income segment [above $18,600 per year] in international markets, it can reach the 100 million mark with no share of the lower-income demographic. None of his analysis includes any China penetration. "Based on this, we are increasing our international subscriber estimate for 2020 (ending Q4) to 100M and believe this could still be conservative," he wrote. Netflix added a better-than-expected 5.2 million total subscribers during the second quarter compared with the Wall Street consensus for 3.2 million and now has 104 million total subscribers. Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing has announced plans to expand its business in the Middle East and North Africa. The Uber rival said it would enter into a strategic partnership with the Dubai-based car booking service Careem to strengthen its presence in the region. It follows the firm's decision last Tuesday to team up with . The company has been setting up similar deals in Latin America, and with the U.S. ride-hailing app Lyft. "Growing urban populations and economic and social diversity in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region present enormous opportunities for the ride-hailing economy," Didi Chuxing CEO Cheng Wei said in a press statement on Tuesday. "Through technology exchange and co-development, we look to support continued growth and transformation of the region's transportation industry, tap into the significant potential of the local internet economy and foster more innovative services for a broader network of communities around the world." After Intel completed its $15 billion tender offer to buy Mobileye on Tuesday, Jim Cramer wondered whether the deal was a sign that the tech giant was making a serious comeback. "For years, we watched as Intel hung out on the fringes of the great markets, great markets like mobile devices, the internet of things, anything Apple [and] the autonomous car," the "Mad Money" host said. With its purchase of Mobileye, an Israeli tech company specializing in self-driving technology and collision prevention, Intel is entering the autonomous driving space with one of its top innovators under its wing. "The tech foundation for an autonomous future: Mobileye's AI meets Intel's compute," Intel CEO Brian Krzanich tweeted. Intel is also reportedly seizing on the rift between chipmaker Qualcomm and Apple by supplying semiconductor chips and modems for Apple's tablets and, potentially, the new Apple Watch. "I cannot stress enough just how important this is for the company that pioneered the microprocessor for the personal computer," Cramer said. That said, Intel has had a "mixed" record with takeovers, Cramer said. It acquired cybersecurity firm McAfee in 2011, spinning it off this April as a standalone, $4.2 billion company. Intel also acquired high-end chip designer Altera to strengthen its artificial intelligence efforts via a Programmable Solutions Group, which struggled in Intel's latest quarter. "If you ask me, both [acquisitions] have just been OK," the "Mad Money" host said. "In fact, they spun off McAfee for a lower valuation than I thought they could get." But Intel CEO Brian Krzanich told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Tuesday that he would be directly involved in Mobileye's integration due to the high potential of the purchase. Cramer said Intel's toughest competitor will probably be Nvidia , the top-notch chipmaker involved in deals with the likes of Tesla and Apple. Krzanich suggested on Tuesday that Intel could compete with Nvidia's prices by combining its internet of things business with Mobileye to create a connected car package. "It sounds like there's a very real possibility that Intel could truly take some solid business from Nvidia, although the market's big enough for both, if you ask me," Cramer said. Krzanich also acknowledged the comeback of another semiconductor rival, Advanced Micro Devices , but said that Intel would strike back with its own competing chips later this year. So while many have been quick to label Intel as undistinguished, Cramer found that with a stock trading at 12 times earnings estimates and a 3 percent yield, Intel could actually be one of the stock market's great bargains. "Sure, it will be hard to beat Nvidia. Yes, AMD is rejuvenated. Absolutely, PCs are in decline," the "Mad Money" host said. "But Krzanich sees all that and is doing something about it. I don't know, if you ask me, for $36 bucks, it's worth a ticket to see how he does." Memo in reply to the former Google engineer who wrote that diversity memo: Don't cause a public relations crisis when the boss is trying to take a family vacation. Google fired James Damore after he posted a memo to an internal message board that started as a straightforward complaint about company practices but veered into remarks about innate biological differences between men and women that Google management later ruled were sexist and offensive to his co-workers. The memo created a firestorm the same weekend that CEO Sundar Pichai was preparing to take a family vacation after returning from a work trip to Africa. His lengthy communication also came soon after the arrival at Google of Danielle Mastrangel Brown, vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, who until June held that same post at Intel, according to her LinkedIn profile. Google hired Brown to boost its efforts to hire more women and other minorities, so few of whom work at the internet giant that the U.S. Department of Labor has taken it to court over the issue. Damore's LinkedIn profile shows that he did well enough as a Google intern in the summer of 2013 to get hired in December of that year as an engineer, a position he held until this week. He also has a notable educational and professional background, according to the LinkedIn profile, with time spent at institutions like Harvard, MIT and Princeton. He may be less familiar, though, with the Tao Te Ching, the 2,500-year-old book of philosophy revered in parts of Asia for nuggets of wisdom like this: "In action, watch the timing." At the end of his prepared remarks on a July 24 conference call, Pichai took the time to say this: "I want to express a very sincere thank you to every Googler who worked tirelessly this quarter to bring all of our technology and products to the world." That was right after he revealed that he would be traveling to Africa for a "'Google for Nigeria'" event to announce new products for Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa," a trip Pichai called "another highlight for me." Over the weekend James Damore, a software engineer at Google, shared a 10-page manifesto in which he argues that men are scientifically predisposed to being better leaders, better at technology and better Google employees. Damore confirmed in an email to Reuters on Monday that he had been fired for "perpetuating gender stereotypes," but his controversial memo and subsequent termination has sparked a contentious discussion on sexism in the workplace, drawing commentary from those in the tech industry and beyond. Here's what six leaders had to say about the arguments the former Google employee advanced: Adam Grant, Ph.D., Wharton School of Business professor, speaks onstage at The New York Times New Work Summit. Kimberly White | Getty Images Adam Grant In a LinkedIn post, Wharton's Adam Grant eviscerated the Google memo, using his academic background to deconstruct Damore's mathematical conclusions and explain that the differences between men and women are slim to none. "It's always precarious to make claims about how one-half of the population differs from the other half especially on something as complicated as technical skills and interests. But I think it's a travesty when discussions about data devolve into name-calling and threats. As a social scientist, I prefer to look at the evidence," Grant writes. "Across 128 domains of the mind and behavior, '78 percent of gender differences are small or close to zero.'" The only major differences, he says, are related to physical stature and sexual proclivities. Anita Hill David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Anita Hill In an op-ed for The New York Times, Brandeis University professor of Social Policy, Law, and Women's Studies Anita Hill characterized the Google memo as an unveiling of the true nature of the tech industry. She writes, "The recent leak of a Google engineer's screed against the company's diversity initiatives is a reminder that the notion of Silicon Valley as the seat of human progress is a myth at least when it comes to way the women behind the latest in technology are treated." Hill argues that the tech industry has been hiding behind a false veil of progressivism and that this memo serves as a revelation that should encourage class action lawsuits to fight discrimination. "The tech industry is stuck in the past, more closely resembling 'Mad Men'-era Madison Avenue or 1980s Wall Street than a modern egalitarian society. It may take the force of our legal system to change that," she writes. Glenn Beck David Calvert | Getty Images Glenn Beck Conservative radio host Glenn Beck said that critics are "ignoring basic science" and describes Google as a "Corporate Fascist." Beck argues that firing Damore for authoring the memo is a form of discrimination and equates being fired with slavery. "How do you fix discrimination with discrimination?" he asks. "That's like, 'We're going to stop all these slave owners. We're going to enslave all the slave owners. And the slaves can own the slave owners.'" Danielle Brown Matt Winkelmeyer | Getty Images Danielle Brown Google's new Vice President of Diversity, Integrity & Governance, Danielle Brown, wrote a response to Damore's memo saying that it "advanced incorrect assumptions about gender" and that "it's not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages." She also added that it is important that Google employees "feel safe sharing their opinions. But that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies and anti-discrimination laws." Emma McIntyre | Getty Images Kara Swisher Technology journalist and Recode co-founder Kara Swisher has followed the controversy closely. When Eric Weinstein, managing director of Thiel Capital, took to Twitter to complain about Damore being fired, Swisher swiftly responded. Weinstein carped that Google should, "Stop teaching my girl that her path to financial freedom lies not in coding but in complaining to HR." Swisher responded to Weinstein's tweet saying, "Stop teaching my boys that their path to decency lies not in coding but in denigrating women." https://twitter.com/karaswisher/status/894790045395173377 Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google Anindito Mukherjee | Bloomberg | Getty Images Sundar Pichai 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 Brinkmanship between the United States and North Korea around the subject of nuclear weapons has experts worldwide worried about heightened "tensions." On a practical level, just how expensive are these bombs? To determine the cost of one nuclear weapon, you have to account for the costs of their production, delivery systems and maintenance. "South Korean government analysis has put North Korea's nuclear spending at $1.1 billion to $3.2 billion overall," reported Reuters last year, "although experts say it is impossible to make an accurate calculation given the secrecy surrounding the program, and estimates vary widely." The U.S. government believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has up to 60 nuclear weapons, though some independent experts say the total is smaller. If North Korea does indeed have around 60, that puts the cost of each warhead at between around $18 million and $53 million. The U.S. nuclear program provides a more reliable picture of cost, though not all nuclear development information is public. In "Atomic Audit," published in 1998, Stephen I. Schwartz claimed the U.S. had spent $5 trillion since 1940 on developing and maintaining its nuclear arsenal. The U.S. government is now estimated to have 6,800 nuclear weapons at its disposal, but America hasn't actually built a new warhead or bomb since the 1990s. "It has refurbished several types in recent years to extend their lifetime," says Dr. Lisbeth Gronlund, a senior scientist and co-director of the UCS Global Security Program. "Damore will face a steep legal hurdle attempting to show that he was terminated because of illegal motives and not a lawful one." First, federal labor law does, indeed, bar even non-union employers like Google from punishing an employee for communicating with fellow employees about improving working conditions. The purpose of the memo was to persuade Google to abandon certain diversity-related practices the engineer found objectionable and to convince co-workers to join his cause, or at least discuss the points he raised. But no evidence has surfaced so far that Google fired Damore for engaging in this protected activity in terminating his employment. Instead, the company cited what it considered Damore's unprotected activity in making its decision. Damore may be unable to meet his challenging burden of showing otherwise. Second, Damore's memo was styled as a lament to "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber." Damore's comments about his perceived marginalization as a conservative in a predominantly liberal corporate culture arguably were protected by California law that prohibits employers from threatening to fire employees to get them to adopt or refrain from adopting a particular political course of action. Google CEO Sundar Pichai recognized that when he said in his memo to employees that "we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate. . . ." But Damore went beyond that and that the memo contained protected speech may not have precluded Google from taking action on what was not protected. Google may be expected to assert that it fired Damore not to silence a dissenter, but to expel a harasser. Third, the engineer complained in parts of his memo about company policies that he believes violate employment discrimination laws. Those policies include support programs limited by race or gender and promotional and hiring scoring policies that consider race and gender. It is unlawful for an employer to discipline an employee for challenging conduct that the employee reasonably believed to be discriminatory, even when a court later determines the conduct was not actually prohibited by the discrimination laws. In other words, the engineer doesn't have to be right that some of Google's diversity initiatives are unlawful, only that he reasonably believes that they are. All of that is true, but it also is true that there is no evidence that Google terminated Damore for those aspects of his memo. In any challenge to this termination, Google's non-retaliatory motive will matter. To be more precise, it is the motive of the people who made the decision to fire Damore, not those in the company who may have other reasons potentially tainted with illegality, that will matter. Google Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Governance Danielle Brown is correct that an employee has no right to engage in workplace discourse that offends anti-discrimination laws; employees may not engage in unlawful harassment under the guise of protected concerted activity or political grievances. If that is what motivated Google is terminating Damore, the termination may not be legally actionable. One response Google could have taken to Damore's memo was continuation of the dialogue. Google chose termination of his employment instead. Damore will face a steep legal hurdle attempting to show that he was terminated because of illegal motives and not a lawful one. Commentary by Dan Eaton, a partner with the San Diego law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek, where his practice focuses on defending and advising employers. He also is a professor at the San Diego State University Fowler College of Business where he teaches classes in business ethics and employment law. Follow him on Twitter @DanEatonlaw. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. A U.S. military official Tuesday said an Iranian drone flew about 100 feet from an American fighter jet in the Persian Gulf in a dangerous incident. The Navy said the incident involved an F/A-18E Super Hornet that was preparing to land in international airspace on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the central Gulf. "The F/A-18E maneuvered to avoid collision with the QOM-1 [Iranian drone] resulting in a lateral separation of approximately 200 feet and a vertical separation of approximately 100 feet," spokesperson Lt. Chloe J. Morgan said in a statement to CNBC. According to the statement, the U.S. military made "repeated calls to stay clear of the fixed-wing flight operations in the vicinity of USS Nimitz," but the Iranian drone still "executed unsafe and unprofessional altitude changes" close to the American F/A-18E that was "in a holding pattern preparing to land on the aircraft carrier." The Navy said the action by the Iranian QOM-1 drone "created a collision hazard and is not in keeping with international maritime customs and laws." The Navy official also indicated this incident marked "the 13th unsafe and/or unprofessional interaction between U.S. and Iranian maritime forces" so far this year. An internal memo written by a male Google engineer has reignited a heated debate about representation in Silicon Valley. Google's new diversity VP has since come out against the memo's central claims which include statements about women being biologically unsuited to engineering jobs but the debate still rages on. Here's a look at major tech companies' comparative diversity, according to their most recent reports. Women make up at most 30 percent of leadership roles and less than 27 percent of technical roles at these companies. More from Recode: Netflix is hedging against Marvel by acquiring comics publisher Millarworld One Snap metric to watch: How much money is generated by each of its users Top U.S. tech companies founded by immigrants are worth over $3 trillion Twitter, the smallest company by number of employees, has the highest rate of female leadership at 30 percent. It also has the lowest rate of women in technical positions, such as engineers at 15 percent. Racial demographics aren't much brighter. Blacks and Latinx are represented at a much lower rate than their U.S. population. Facebook, which most recently reported new diversity numbers, had the highest share of people of color, particularly Asians, in technology jobs. Asian Americans tend to be overrepresented in technical roles but underrepresented in leadership positions. "Without your family and the support of your family and what you learn from them in the good times and the tough times ... you may not have a great life," he added. "I always tell people at JPMorgan Chase: You've got to take care of your friends, your family, your spirit, your mind, your body, your soul, otherwise you won't have a fulfilling life, and those are important," Dimon said on CNBC's " Squawk Alley ." Dimon, speaking in a wide-ranging interview with CNBC on Tuesday, said when his parents passed away recently, he relied on the support of close family members. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says the secret to his successful career is putting family first and taking care of his well-being outside of work. Dimon, a graduate of Harvard Business School, became chief executive of the world's most valuable bank by market capitalization in 2005. He previously served as CEO of Bank One before JPMorgan bought it in July 2004. In 1998, Dimon was fired by former Citigroup chairman and CEO Sandy Weill, abruptly ending a 15-year partnership that saw them build a financial services empire like no other at the time. Dimon said the worst time of his life was the weekend Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in 2008, an event which intensified the global financial crisis. "I called up my management team and my board of directors, both on Friday night and Saturday night the weekend that Lehman is going bankrupt, and told them that you were going to have the worst, scariest week that you've ever seen in the financial markets or the financial system in the United States and that JPMorgan will do everything we can to help our country," Dimon said. "People would expect me to say the 'London Whale' [was the worst]. Not even close," he said. In 2012, JPMorgan derivatives traders Javier Martin-Artajo and Julien Grout were accused of hiding hundreds of millions of dollars of losses within JPMorgan's chief investment office in London by marking positions in a credit derivatives portfolio at inflated prices. The U.S. charged the traders but later decided to drop it. The "London Whale" case lost JPMorgan nearly $6.2 billion. "It was painful for the company, and I was quite worried about that because it hurts the people in the company. We are flesh and blood," he said. Dimon said he enjoys his work, that it's important in having a fulfilling life. "I've always said family first, country second, JPMorgan literally last," Dimon said. "JPMorgan is the best I can do for my country. And my family I spend a lot of time with them." Gaming hardware company Razer might be targeting up to a $5 billion listing in Hong Kong according to media reports, but one of the start-up's early backers wasn't initially delighted with its business proposition. Razer a Singapore-founded company based in the U.S is best known for its gaming mice, as well as other related gaming hardware and software. The company acquired smartphone start-up Nextbit earlier this year, but remained mum on talk it could enter the mobile space. "Initially, I wasn't particularly enthralled by the fact this was a hardware business making gaming (mice)," Credence Partners Co-founder Koh Boon Hwee told CNBC's "Managing Asia." Koh used to head the boardrooms of some of the biggest companies in Singapore, including Singapore Airlines and DBS. Now the chairman of Credence Partners, Koh invested in Razer in 2008, along with 14 other angel investors. But speaking with Razer Founder Min-Liang Tan got the two talking about extending the business from just gaming-related hardware to building an ecosystem involving software and platforms around the gaming industry, Koh said. [The stream is slated to start at 1 p.m., ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will make a major infrastructure announcement from LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens on Tuesday. Cuomo will be joined by Delta CEO Ed Bastian as well as New York state and local officials. Delta announced in late July it would directly fund and finance the costs of its LaGuardia Airport redevelopment project, which would renovate Delta's terminal. The airline will be on the hook for the majority of the $4 billion development plan, with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey still contributing up to $600 million, according to Reuters. Delta alone will be responsible for any potential cost overruns. Delta's redesigned terminal will come in addition to a separate $4 billion public-private partnership, currently under way, to rebuild the airport's central terminal, Reuters also reported. The announcement will be made from the LaGuardia Airport Port Authority Police Command Building. Marie Kondo is as perfectly put together as you would expect. Her hair falls just past her shoulders, curling gently at the ends. Her clothes are simple and elegant. Her makeup is flawless. Her voice is soothing. She is the embodiment of the movement she started: Tidying as a way of life. Kondo, now 32, has spent her life putting things in their proper places. She became infatuated with tidying when she was 5, she says. She would read lifestyle magazines and stay inside to organize school bookshelves during recess when her classmates were outside playing. Tidying guru Marie Kondo Kondo started her professional career as an organizing consultant when she was 19, she tells CNBC Make It through a Japanese translator. The first time she was paid for her expertise, she went to the home of a female CEO and helped her organize her clothes closets, she says. What started as a personal hobby quickly grew into a business. Kondo has published four books: "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," "Spark Joy," "Life-Changing Magic: A Journal," and "The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story." They have sold 7 million copies around the world in over 40 languages, according to Kondo's website. There's also an app to guide you through the process of tidying according to her methods. And she hosts seminars that cost $2,000 each and trains consultants to be ambassadors for her method. There's a primary rule for decluttering the way Kondo does, which she calls the KonMari method: Only keep items around you that "spark joy." Stung by the latest round of United Nations sanctions, North Korea is likely on the lookout to expand its illicit trade outlets. But countries who previously did business with the rogue state may now be less inclined to make new deals. People watch news report showing North Korea's Hwasong-14 missile launch on electronic screen at Pyongyang station, North Korea in this photo taken by Kyodo on July 29, 2017. Kyodo via REUTERS Pyongyang props up its nuclear program with income from the sale of various illegal goods, including weaponry, synthetic drugs, counterfeit currency and nuclear technology. Those go to a range of frontier markets across Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. And while North Korea has been under sanctions since 2006, that's never deterred buyers until maybe now. As Washington and Beijing turn up the heat on Kim Jong-un's regime, reflected by Saturday's new penalties, fewer nations may now be willing to risk the international community's wrath by engaging with Kim. "There is now a much greater effort...to cut Pyongyang's diplomatic ties in the developing world and raise awareness of various U.N. resolutions," said Karl Dewey, an analyst specialized in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear assessments at defense researcher Jane's by IHS Markit. The fresh set of penalties imposed on Kim's administration this past Saturday could subtract $1 billion from Pyongyang's coffers, the U.S. State Department estimated. "Tighter sanctions and added pressure from the U.S. could make it even more difficult for North Korea to push through some future contracts as countries could think twice about buying from North Korea at this time," echoed Omar Lamrani, senior military analyst at geopolitical intelligence firm Stratfor. A key reason behind the potential shift in mentality from previous years lies in the nitty-gritty of Saturday's resolution. watch now One of the secondary sanctions efforts deals with jurisdictions that are non-compliant with U.N. resolutions, Stephan Haggard, visiting fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics, said in a Monday note. Specifically highlighted are ports in China, Iran, Russia and Syria that "do not engage in inspections and essentially permit transshipment and trade to take place," Haggard continued. While those nations may not change their behavior anytime soon, the legislation could have more effect "with other developing countries more concerned about their reputation with the West." Will Iran pick up the slack? Speculation is high that Tehran could increase exchanges related to ballistic missiles with Pyongyang amid reports of cozier bilateral ties. Last week, the head of North Korea's parliament arrived in Tehran for a trip that was widely seen as a front for expanded military cooperation. In the past, both nations have focused on missile cooperation rather than outright transactions. "The main elements of this cooperation appear to be the transfer of North Korean liquid-fueled missile technology to Iran, but with very few reports of Iranian solid-fueled technology going the other way," said Dewey. Experts, however, told CNBC they don't believe there's likely to be any heightened activity. There is a chance the two could exchange nuclear weapons blueprints, but that wouldn't be wise for Kim as it would elicit even greater international rebuke, according to Lamrani. "North Korea's nuclear program is all about ensuring its security by deterring foreign attack. Crossing over into significant nuclear proliferation weakens that deterrence by adding pressure on the U.S. and allies to act on Pyongyang instead of simply containing it," he added. watch now So, who are North Korea's customers? After raising more than $200 million in venture funding and surpassing a $1 billion valuation, the social network Nextdoor is finally figuring out how to make money: real estate ads. The start-up, which was founded in 2010 as a way for neighbors to communicate online, launched a section on Tuesday that aims to connect real estate professionals with residents in a particular neighborhood. Agents and brokers can create official business pages on Nextdoor to build their reputation as a local expert. They can also pay to sponsor a neighborhood section and buy branded listings so their Nextdoor profile shows up alongside their listings when someone searches for homes in the area. "It's an opportunity for real estate agents to sponsor a dedicated section where they can connect and build relationships with neighbors," Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia said in an interview. According to research from Borrell Associates, the real estate industry spent $26.8 billion on advertising last year in the U.S., making it one of the largest local advertising categories. Nextdoor sends postcards to people when they move into a new place, inviting them to set up a profile, and then links them in a semiprivate group of their neighbors. The company has been called the "anti-Facebook" because it verifies users by address and connects people in their immediate vicinity. But the site has gained notoriety for allowing neighbors to stir up paranoia about crime on their streets. Last year, Nextdoor released tools to curb racial profiling within its groups. Victims of bank fraud should not expect automatic refunds and are sometimes at fault for not taking a "duty of care", the CEO of RBS has reportedly said. Chief Executive Ross McEwan said that banks could not always be blamed if customers give out their account details to online scammers, according to U.K. newspaper the Daily Mail. "We are working very hard to help customers detect when there are difficulties, but I think this has to be in partnership with the customer and with the bank," McEwan told the paper on Monday. "You can't keep blaming this on an organization where customers don't take their own duty of care as well." "When people are passing their iPads or laptops over with their passwords and the likes, there's got to be a care here, otherwise this will just become a major issue for all and the cost will pass through." The bank also owns NatWest, and is still 72 percent publicly funded by British taxpayers. White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks at the press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2017. Pickle did not go as planned. When Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the newly minted White House press secretary, began her first official briefing by reading a child's letter to President Trump "Everybody calls me Pickle, I'm 9 years old, and you're my favorite president" the backlash was swift. Reporters called it a transparent attempt to distract from numerous scandals roiling the White House. Theories surfaced that Mr. Trump, who once impersonated his own spokesman, had written the missive himself. (He didn't.) More from New York Times: Government report finds drastic impact of climate change on U.S. Google fires engineer who wrote memo questioning women in tech Want to create something? Start with a chain saw "I didn't know it was going to be such a controversy," Ms. Sanders said during an interview last week in her spartan West Wing office. "I was like, what has happened in America when a kid writes a very innocent, nice letter and it turns into, like, handwriting specialists and psychologists?" Absurd as it was, the Pickle affair offered a low-stakes microcosm of the deep distrust that has developed between the Trump administration and the journalists whose work the president derides as "fake news." And it underscored the why-would-you-want-this nature of Ms. Sanders's new job: defending a president who is at war with the news media and an administration that has repeatedly been denounced for playing loose with facts. Now Ms. Sanders, who inherited her position when her celebrity predecessor Sean Spicer quit, is stepping into the glare, trying to manage coverage of a tumultuous White House while mollifying a boss who believes he is his own best spokesman. "It's a challenging position under any president, much more so under President Trump," said Scott McClellan, a former press secretary to President George W. Bush. "She can help the president advance his agenda and broaden his appeal beyond his base, if and it's a big 'if' he will avoid undermining her." In a White House of outsize characters, Ms. Sanders, 34, has flown under the radar Mr. Trump, for all his social media logorrhea, has never posted on Twitter about her by name. If Mr. Spicer's gaffe-prone briefings mutated into an unhelpful spectacle, Ms. Sanders's sessions tend to be flat and uneventful, not necessarily a bad thing for a stormy administration. An evangelical who reads from a book of Christian devotionals before every briefing and the daughter of the pastor-turned-presidential-candidate Mike Huckabee, the former Republican governor of Arkansas Ms. Sanders is an unlikely public face for Mr. Trump, a twice-divorced connoisseur of grievance. "I certainly didn't approve of a couple of the comments," Ms. Sanders said of her time on Mr. Trump's campaign, where she served as an adviser and on-air surrogate. "But at the same time, we were looking for a commander in chief, not a pastor." "Oftentimes, people want to make politicians perfect," she added. "And that's one of the actual beauties of Christianity, is understanding that no one is." She is the first mother to serve as press secretary, and among the youngest to occupy the role. At the lectern, she is folksy, but nimble: She recently deflected questions about "chaos" in the White House by inviting reporters to visit the three preschoolers in her living room. There were laughs, even as Ms. Sanders clearly sidestepped the subject. She is also unafraid to call out reporters and news coverage that she deems unfair. Asked in the interview if the establishment media is biased against Mr. Trump, she replied, "Absolutely." "I've never seen the level of hostility that this press corps has to the president," she said. Behind the scenes, reporters who cover the West Wing say Ms. Sanders can be friendly and warm the good cop to Mr. Spicer's barking sergeant. Last week, several dozen journalists and White House aides, including Kellyanne Conway, toasted Ms. Sanders's promotion at an all-female "women of the White House" happy hour at a Washington hotel bar. But like Mr. Spicer, Ms. Sanders has drawn criticism for some dubious assertions. Confronted with Mr. Trump's call for law enforcement agents to rough up gang suspects, she said that the president "was making a joke." While denouncing CNN, she urged Americans to watch a video critical of the network by a right-wing activist, James O'Keefe, "whether it's accurate or not." When a reporter asked if Mr. Trump had lied about a laudatory phone call from the Boy Scouts, Ms. Sanders shot back: "That's a pretty bold accusation." She also conceded that the call had not happened. The president's volatility has caught her off guard. In May, Ms. Sanders, then deputy press secretary, told reporters that Mr. Trump had not made up his mind to fire his F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, until after he received a recommendation from the Justice Department. The next day, Mr. Trump said the opposite. "Her predecessor to a large degree was willingly sacrificing his credibility, and he was put in a bad position," Mr. McClellan said. "The challenge will be not to sacrifice the strength that she brings." He added, "I'm thankful my president didn't have a Twitter account." Ms. Sanders was enjoying a relatively quiet Twitter day during the interview, her last meeting before the West Wing closed temporarily for renovation. She said she was looking forward to some downtime with her husband and their three children, whose artwork hangs above her desk. Asked about Mr. Trump's unpredictability, Ms. Sanders stayed on message. "We have no two days that are alike, which I love," she said. (Mike Huckabee was more candid on a radio show in June, saying, "He makes my daughter's job very difficult with tweets like that.") Steeped in politics since grade school, Ms. Sanders remembers poring over poll results with the consultant Dick Morris at the family's kitchen table. "Looking back, that was probably not the most normal thing in the world," she recalled. At 25, Ms. Sanders helped her father win an upset victory in the 2008 Iowa caucus. In 2016, she managed his presidential bid until he dropped out; "that didn't go so well," she said, wryly. She wakes up at 5 a.m. to spend time with her children and talk with her father, who texts her feedback after briefings. "She's not easily rattled," Mr. Huckabee said of his daughter's calm demeanor at the lectern. "She's not going to throw punches just because she can." Not every reporter is pleased with her approach. "I don't want to hear anymore about the chaos in her home," said Brian Karem, a White House correspondent for the Sentinel newspapers in Maryland who has clashed with Ms. Sanders. "If she tells me one more story about how three preschoolers can be more chaotic than a hundred and some odd reporters in the White House press office, I'll even volunteer to babysit." Dana Perino, Mr. Bush's fourth press secretary, said such criticism missed the mark. "The reporters will roll their eyes," she said. "But Sarah isn't doing that for the press she's doing it for their supporters and their base. The more they make fun of it, the more she'll do it." Ms. Sanders said that talking about family came naturally "That's just kind of who I am" and she scolded some journalists for seeking "gotcha" moments. "We may from the outside seem more adversarial" than past administrations, Ms. Sanders said, "but you should see the hundred stories I deal with before going out there. Some of the most outrageous claims with no facts, no sourcing. It's like, 'an unnamed source close to the White House.' I'm like: 'What does that mean? The guy that works at the coffee shop across the street?' You have to give me more than that." White House advisers say that Ms. Sanders has grown closer with Mr. Trump, who approves of her even-keeled briefings. Still, the president's affections are fickle, and in the interview, Ms. Sanders heaped praise on Mr. Trump, calling him "a great guy" and "a fighter." Twice, she said "I love the president," echoing a favorite phrase of Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as communications director. Mr. Huckabee, asked if he had qualms about his daughter's representing Mr. Trump, said that he was proud. "I know she's doing everything she can to be straightforward and honest," Mr. Huckabee said. "I know that she is going to be loyal to a fault." Count Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker out as a presidential candidate in 2020. The Republican told CNBC on Tuesday he is "not running for anything but re-election." "I'm ready to run for governor in 2018. I'm going to fill my term out for the next four years," he said in an interview. "I love being governor. When you have a state like this, there's nothing better than being governor." Walker was elected to office in 2010, survived a recall election in 2012 and was re-elected in 2014. His state voted for Trump in the 2016 presidential race, the first time Wisconsin chose a Republican president since 1984. He's not the first prominent Republican to dismiss the idea of a 2020 bid. On Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence denied that he's preparing for a run, calling the suggestion "disgraceful and offensive." He was referring to a New York Times report that some Republicans were moving to form a "shadow campaign" for 2020. The article said multiple advisors to Pence "have already intimated to party donors that he would plan to run if Mr. Trump did not." While Pence called the article "fake news," The New York Times said it stood by its coverage. CNBC's Jacob Pramuk and Reuters contributed to this report. Pre-Eminent Summit Produced by CNBC and Institutional Investor ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., August 8, 2017 CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, and Institutional Investor, will host the seventh annual Delivering Alpha conference on September 12th at The Pierre in New York City. This leading investor conference brings together the biggest names in the hedge fund and investor communities, as well as influential political and economic figures for a high-level discussion on the critical issues facing investors in today's global economy. The event features one-on-one interviews and panel discussions led by top journalists from CNBC and Institutional Investor. Exclusive coverage of the Delivering Alpha conference will be featured on CNBC and CNBC.com. This year's agenda is packed with an all-star roster including Steven Mnuchin, The 77th United States Secretary of the Treasury; Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Raymond Dalio, Founder, Bridgewater Associates; Julian Robertson, Founder, Tiger Management; and Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Blackstone. Additional speakers include: Edward Breen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DuPont Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DuPont Jim Coulter , Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner, TPG Capital , Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner, TPG Capital Mary Callahan Erdoes, Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Morgan Asset Management Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Morgan Asset Management Leon Cooperman , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Omega Advisors , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Omega Advisors Ed Garden , Chief Investment Officer and Founding Partner, Trian Partners , Chief Investment Officer and Founding Partner, Trian Partners Marc Lasry, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Avenue Capital Group Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Avenue Capital Group Chamath Palihapitiya , Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Social Capital , Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Social Capital Boaz Weinstein, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Saba Capital Management, LP Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Saba Capital Management, LP Ashbel Williams, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer, Florida State Board of Administration, SBA Follow @DeliveringAlpha, @CNBC and @iimag on Twitter and join the conversation using #DeliveringAlpha. For more information and to purchase tickets go to: deliveringalpha.com. A portion of the conference proceeds will benefit The Council for Economic Education (CEE), the nation's leading non-profit dedicated to increasing the economic and financial literacy of K-12 students. About CNBC: With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and CNBC World, CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to more than 385 million homes worldwide, including more than 94 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries. CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms including: CNBC.com; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides live access to CNBC programming, exclusive video content and global market data and analysis; a suite of CNBC mobile products including the CNBC Apps for iOS, Android and Windows devices; and additional products such as the CNBC App for the Apple Watch and Apple TV. Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBCUniversal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/programming/cnbc. For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com. About Institutional Investor: Institutional Investor magazine is the preeminent publication capturing the emergence and growth of institutional investors since the late 1960's. Institutional Investor covers all asset owners including pension, endowment and sovereign wealth funds and their impact on global financial markets. In addition to the flagship magazine, Institutional Investor publishes newsletters, books, research products, electronic databases and academic publications, including the iconic Journal of Portfolio Management. Institutional Investor Forums and Memberships deliver the world's leading asset management firms and institutional investors to foster relationship-building and idea exchange during informal, interactive meetings as well as industry focused research in-between these meetings. Institutional Investor is wholly owned by Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (ERM.L). For more information, please visit www.institutionalinvestor.com. The asset management firm Standard Life is looking at Ireland as its European base for when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, its CEO told CNBC Tuesday. "Certainly, we are looking to put our MiFID company into Ireland," Keith Skeoch, chief executive officer of Standard Life, told CNBC, referring to the financial regulation framework under European law. It is unclear at this stage to what extent the same set of rules will apply to the U.K. once it leaves the European Union. Standard Life had previously mentioned Dublin as a potential city to move in a post-Brexit world to ensure it keeps serving its clients in countries such as Austria, Germany and Ireland. watch now According to Skeoh, Ireland and Luxembourg are the two clear homes for the asset management world trying to relocate some of their operations into Europe to continue their operations with the EU clients. Luxembourg has been a strong campaigner to attract businesses from the City of London. It has been one of the EU members also applying to host the European Banking Authority. JP Morgan, which also has an asset management arm, has suggested Luxembourg as one of the cities where it might increase staff. Skeoh said he was "quite concerned" about the British decision to leave the European Union and advised firms to prepare for a hard Brexit. watch now The Pakistani Taliban has launched a new magazine for women to encourage potential female recruits to join the militant group's ranks. While the Afghan Taliban vies for influence with the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in Afghanistan, the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) remains the most dangerous radical Islamist group operating in Pakistan. Its new English-language magazine is named Sunnat-e-Khaula, or the Way of Khaula, named after a female Muslim fighter from the 7th century. More from Newsweek: 'Game of Thrones in Russia: The real life crests of westeros A family affair: Kenya's election pits two political dynasties against each other, but who are the main contenders? What makes an isis foreign fighter? disadvantaged background and poor education The publication can be accessed widely online, according to VOA News, and is likely targeting a young, social media savvy Muslim audience in Pakistan. The first issue includes an interview with the unidentified wife of the group's leader, Fazlullah Khorasani. "I ask you why now everywhere there is a hue and cry about underage marriages We have to understand that mature boys and girls if left unmarried for too long can become a source of moral destruction of the society," she is quoted as saying. She is referring to her marriage with Khorasani at the age of 14. An editorial at the front of the magazine called on "women of Islam to come forward and join the ranks of mujahideen," or holy warriors, according to The Guardian. "Organize secret gatherings at home and invite like-minded jihadi sisters," the editorial suggests. "Distribute literature reflecting on the obligation of jihad, arrange physical training classes for sisters. Learn how to operate simple weapons. Learn the use of grenades." Women have conducted suicide attacks for ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and several have been inspired to plot attacks in Europe, particularly in France and Britain. Security services tend to suspect women less of involvement in attack plots. Frequently, media coverage refers to women as jihadi brides, rather than direct participants in violent plans. The TTP has been responsible for many mass-casualty attacks in recent years, the worst being the Peshawar school massacre in December 2014. Six gunmen affiliated with the group killed 141 people, many of them children who attended the school. In February, a suicide bomber targeted a van carrying judges in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing the driver and wounding several judges. The security situation has improved in Pakistan following the Peshawar massacre, but the threat of militant attacks remain, with the Pakistani Taliban threatening further plots against security forces and authorities. The White House is actively considering a bold plan to turn over a big chunk of the U.S. war in Afghanistan to private contractors in an effort to turn the tide in a stalemated war, according to the former head of a security firm pushing the project. Under the proposal, 5,500 private contractors, primarily former Special Operations troops, would advise Afghan combat forces. The plan also includes a 90-plane private air force that would provide air support in the nearly 16-year-old war against Taliban insurgents, Erik Prince, founder of the Blackwater security firm, told USA TODAY. The unprecedented proposal comes as the U.S.-backed Afghan military faces a stalemate in the war and growing frustration by President Trump about the lack of progress in the war. More from USA Today: Shannen Doherty debuts new 'sexy Parisian' haircut after chemo Classic Airstream trailers get innovative second lives For Millennials, there's no place like home when it's time to save for one The U.S. military has 8,400 U.S. troops there to train and guide local forces. They do not have a direct combat role, and presumably would be replaced gradually by the contractors. The plan remains under serious consideration within the White House despite misgivings by Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, an Army three-star general, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Other White House officials, such as chief strategist Stephen Bannon, appear open to using private contractors. "At what point do you say a conventional military approach in Afghanistan is not working," said Prince, a former Navy SEAL. "Maybe we say that at 16 years." Blackwater, founded 1997, worked extensively in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prince sold the company in 2010. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Prince said the plan will cost less than $10 billion a year, significantly lower than the more than $40 billion the Pentagon has budgeted this year. The prospect of accomplishing more with less money could appeal to a career businessman like Trump. Prince, who has met frequently with administration officials to discuss his plan, is the brother of Trump's education secretary, Betsy Devos. Under his proposal, private advisers would work directly with Afghanistan combat battalions throughout the country, and the air force would be used for medical evacuation, fire support and ferrying troops. Prince said the contractors would be "adjuncts" of the Afghan military and would wear that nation's military uniforms. Pilots would only drop ordnance with Afghan government approval, he said. Currently, troops from a U.S.-led coalition are stationed primarily at top level headquarters and are not embedded with conventional combat units in the field. Under the plan the contractors would be embedded with Afghanistan's more than 90 combat battalions throughout the country. The coalition sharply curtailed air support it provides Afghanistan forces by 2014, when government forces took over most war-fighting responsibilities, leaving major gaps in the Afghan military's ability to provide air support. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson acknowledged this week that the White House is looking for a new strategy to bring America's longest war to an end. "To just say we're going to keep doing what we've been doing, the president is not willing to accept that, and so he is asking some tough questions," Tillerson said Monday in Manila during an Asia trip. U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 to oust a government run by Taliban extremists who provided safe haven to al-Qaeda terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, has recommended that several thousand more troops be deployed to Afghanistan, primarily to bolster the advisory mission and help turn the tide against the Taliban. Mattis has indicated he doesn't want to make a decision on troop levels until an overall strategy has been approved. But the way forward is still under debate at the White House. "The president doesn't own the Afghan effort yet," Prince said of a war that frustrated Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. "He's about to (with) whatever decision he makes next." Prince rejects criticism that he and others would profit from it. He said it would represent a cost savings for American taxpayers. "The idea of innovation and risk taking is certainly part of America," he said. Blackwater has attracted controversy under Prince's leadership. In 2007, four Blackwater security personnel were accused of killing 14 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad. Last week an appeals court overturned a murder conviction for one of the guards and ordered the other three to be re-sentenced. Blackwater was renamed Xe Services two years after the incident that sparked international outrage. The privately owned company is now Academi. Tens of thousands of contractors were used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blackwater was hired to protect American diplomats in Iraq, while other contractors were used in support functions, such as providing food and supplies to U.S. troops. The U.S. military rarely deploys anywhere now without a contingent of contractors. A close parallel to Prince's proposal in U.S. history may be the Flying Tigers, a group formed before the United States entered World War II. The Flying Tigers were formed covertly from the ranks of U.S. military pilots, who resigned from the service and were hired by a private contractor and sent to China to defend against Japanese aggression. U.S. drillers will produce more natural gas next year than previously expected as exports rise and gas-fired plants generate more electricity, the Department of Energy reported on Tuesday. The department's Energy Information Administration hiked its output forecast by 1.2 percent, or nearly 1 billion cubic feet per day, in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook released on Tuesday. EIA projected that drillers would turn out 77.34 billion cubic feet a day in 2018, up from its prior estimate of 76.42 bcf per day. That amounts to growth of 3.9 bcf per day next year. "Forecast record natural gas production in 2018 coincides with an expected rise in electricity generation from natural-gas fired power plants and a 23% increase in U.S. natural gas exports," EIA Acting Administrator Howard Gruenspecht said in a statement. The United States will likely become a net exporter of natural gas next year, meaning it will ship out more natural gas than it imports, according to EIA. The shift is already starting: Natural gas exports exceeded imports in three of the first five months of this year. American shipments of dry natural gas by pipeline to Mexico have doubled since 2009, while the country is starting to import less gas from Canada. Going forward, EIA expects export growth to be driven by liquefied natural gas, or natural as cooled to liquid form for shipment. LNG shipments from Cheniere Energy 's export terminal in Sabine Pass, Louisiana, hit a record 1.96 bcf per day in May. Another four export terminals are expected to be completed by 2021, pushing U.S. export capacity to 9.2 bcf per day. EIA also forecast this year's output will reach 73.48 bcf per day, up from its prior estimate of 73.30 bcf per day. It raised its outlook for average prices in 2017 by 11 cents per thousand cubic feet. Last week, Morgan Stanley forecast natural gas prices would rise this winter as power plants turn to the commodity following a recent drop in prices. Though natural gas prices remain fairly weak, the lower cost of coal has made it the go-to fuel source for power generators this year. EIA expects coal's advantage to slightly narrow next year, with coal and natural gas accounting for 32 percent and 31 percent of U.S. electricity generation, respectively, in 2018. EIA's forecast for average U.S. oil output was roughly unchanged at 9.35 million barrels a day this year and 9.91 million barrels a day in 2018. The agency reduced its outlook for average U.S. crude prices by 7 cents, to $48.88. In 2015, my brother-in-law, who had been growing medical cannabis since the mid-1990s, called me to ask whether I'd finance a potential opportunity. Five months, 1,331 company names and several hundred spreadsheet lines later, we co-founded Canndescent to cater to the premium, adult-use, cannabis consumer. At the time, my brother-in-law and I felt a deep calling to build Canndescent. I was the Santa-Barbara-living, Upper-East Side-born, Hermes-wearing, Harvard MBA who had been building start-ups all his life, yet hadn't found his business unicorn. In contrast, he was the long-haired, highly tattooed, plant-growing savant with lifelong ties to the cannabis industry, who still wanted to prove he was among the best cultivators on the planet. We had basically been training independently to build Canndescent our entire lives; together, we decided to attempt to disrupt the market and deliver solutions to the high-end cannabis consumer. Back in 2015, our detailed, market audit revealed the following consumer pain points in California and much of the United States: 1) scarcity of exceptional cannabis flower 2) products with identical names delivering inconsistent outcomes 3) confusion and intimation over thousands of strains names and technical jargon 4) branding with misogynistic and counter-cultural tones 5) opacity with consumers unable to identify or know their grower 6) toxicity with a significant portion of flower testing positive for pesticides and microbials Identifying these problems, we set out to create Canndescent with a simple value proposition: 1) superior flower quality, 2) consistency, 3) ease-of-use, 4) aspirational lifestyle, 5) transparency, and 6) health and wellness. Fast-forwarding to 2017 and $10 million in investor capital later, we've aligned thousands of operating choices to deliver against this value proposition. To cultivate consistently exceptional flowers, we operate a municipally-permitted facility in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., that monitors and regiments seven environmental variables down to the electrical conductivity in the grow medium. We standardize cultivation "recipes" by strain, use six sigma techniques for quality control, and routinely update our several hundred pages of proprietary standard operating procedures. We harness organic pest management and test products to ensure they are always microbial free. Just-in-time, we harvest fresh flowers every 10 days and hand-trim all product under a jeweler's magnifying lense. Furthermore, we jar-finish flowers with humidity packs in child-resistant glass to preserve the structure and freshness. The benefits of a new Foxconn plant are worth $3 billion in incentives, according to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Two weeks ago, the Taiwanese technology company announced it will invest $10 billion to build a manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, creating 3,000 jobs. At the time of the announcement, Walker said the agreement could eventually grow to 13,000 jobs, with 22,000 indirect and induced jobs, and 10,000 construction jobs. Last week, Walker ordered the state legislature back into special session to consider a package that would award Foxconn $3 billion over 15 years in mostly cash incentives and waive several state environmental reviews. "The trade-off is $3 billion in incentives that they pay as they grow. It's a good deal. I think the state legislature is going to go along," Walker told CNBC on Tuesday. The Republican believes the vote will get done this month. "You've got Republicans and Democrats in this part of the state working together because they know when you talk about these kind of jobs, it doesn't matter what party you are, people and families benefit from it," said Walker. According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, it would take at least 25 years for the state's taxpayers to break even on the incentives. However, when asked if the state was buying growth and taking money away from schools and roads, Walker pointed out that while he's been in office, Wisconsin's unemployment rate has gone from 9.2 percent to 3.1 percent. "More people are employed in the state than ever before. And the state budget that is just starting for the next two years, we actually put more money in the schools ... than ever before," he said. And while much of the state's economic recovery happened before President Donald Trump took office, Walker said he appreciated the changes the administration has made in terms of regulation. "Ronald Reagan once said it's amazing what you can get done if you don't care who gets credit for it. We're willing to share it. We've done good things here," Walker said. CNBC's Brian Sullivan, Anita Balakrishnan, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nathaly Alban will command the the Celebrity Xploration and was today named captain of the recently revitalized catamaran, the company announced in a press release. With a total of 12 years experience sailing throughout the Galapagos, Captain Alban has worked on several ships in the region, first joining the Celebrity family in 2006 as third officer onboard the 100-guest Celebrity Xpedition, the brand said. Empowering strong women and elevating them to deserved leadership roles is a cause that is close to my heart, and one that Celebrity Cruises truly values, said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. When the opportunity presented itself to promote Nathaly, who radiates passion and love for her job and for Celebrity, to captain, the decision was easy. Alban was only one of six women in her graduating class at La Escuela de la Marina Mercante Nacional in Ecuador. Prior to graduating, she held a variety of roles in the maritime industry, most notably serving in the FLOPEC Tanker Fleet of the Ecuadorian Navy. Following her graduation, Alban worked on several ships in the region, including Celebrity Xpedition. "Simply put, Captain Nathaly Alban was the ideal candidate for the job and we believe in celebrating and advancing our brightest talent, said Patrik Dahlgren, SVP of Global Marine Operations, Celebrity Cruises. "Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best people from many different regions of the world and backgrounds. Our industry has typically been very male dominated - yet we believe in inclusiveness and opening up opportunities for all." When asked how it feels to be named captain of Celebrity Xploration, Alban responded: It is a great honor and privilege Im overwhelmed with positive emotion. I told my family many times that I would be wearing white one day and be the first woman to serve as a captain of a ship in the Galapagos, now its happening and Im committed to delivering the very best experience for all guests onboard. Alban will begin her new role on Celebrity Xploration in August of 2017. Forecasting record earnings for 2017, with adjusted earnings per share expected to be in the range of $3.93 to $4.03, Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), said on todays earnings call that both load and pricing were up for 2018, but cautioned against expecting another year-over-year earnings increase comparable to this year. 2017 is also benefitting from the full-year operation of Regents Seven Seas Explorer and Oceanias Sirena, in addition to the mid-year introduction of the Norwegian Joy. 2018 will have the full-year operation of the Joy plus the introduction of the Bliss in the Alaska market. Driving record Q2 earnings were deployment and fleet revitalization, according to Del Rio. He noted the redeployment of the Norwegian Getaway from a summer season in the Caribbean to the Baltic, and onboard improvements across the fleet encouraging more spending. Del Rio also pointed out that both ticket prices and onboard spending were up for passengers sourced in Europe, narrowing the gap to the American consumer. With all three brands sailing to Cuba, he described the Cuba programs as a home run, generating premium ticket pricing which seems to be holding going forward. For 2018, NCLHs Cuba capacity will be 4 percent of the total fleet capacity, up from 2 percent this year. Commenting on China, Del Rio said that the Norwegian Cruise Line brand has spent a year building up the brand from scratch in the Chinese market. With the first revenue cruise on June 28, he also said that after concerns with the issues between China and South Korea, cruise pricing appears to have stabilized. Under the circumstances, he said that it was surprising that the Joy has performed as well as she has. Also, as she is about to enter the shoulder season, he does not expect any near-term price increases. Instead, he said the company is cautious about its expectations for the Joy. Meanwhile, Norwegian is also waiting for the appropriate licenses to be able to sell its cruises directly to the Chinese consumer. However, Del Rio said it was too early to talk about 2019 (and deploying a second ship in China). We are committed to being in this market, he said. There have been some bumps and like in any market there will be some ups and downs. In the big picture, Del Rio described NCLH as a revenue growth story and more importantly as an earnings growth story. NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger will provide defense credit union leaders with a Washington & Industry Update during todays general session of the 54th Annual Conference of the Defense Credit Union Council in San Diego. The conference, which began Sunday, also marks the recent changing of the guard at the DCUC, which has just welcomed Anthony R. Hernandez as its new president and CEO. Hernandez, who first joined the DCUC as its chief operating officer last August, has succeeded Arty Arteaga. Arteaga retired from the groups top executive post July 31. Arteaga, who most recently participated in NAFCUs Defense Credit Union Summit this June, led the DCUC for more than 17 years and is being recognized during tonights Hall of Honor Dinner at the conference. NAFCU has enjoyed a strong working relationship with the DCUC throughout Artys tenure, and we have especially appreciated the insight he has shared during our yearly summits and in discussions of the issues affecting NAFCU members with links to the defense community, said Berger. We wish Arty all the best, and we look forward to continuing our work together as the council goes forward under Tonys leadership. Since CU Direct opened its Innovation Lab in March, credit union leaders from across the country have gathered there to brainstorm ideas for new lending technology. The new center in Irvine, Calif., about 40 miles from CU Directs headquarters in Ontario, has hosted innovation sessions for Credit Union Advisory Councils focused on the companys product lines, such as the CUDL auto lending platform and Lending Insights analytics tools. A group of credit union executives also met with CU Direct at the lab this spring to talk through the possibility of facilitating participation loan applications through block chain technology, and another group has formed to study how best to convert paper checks issued to preauthorize auto loans into a digital format that members could present to dealers via a mobile app, says CU Direct President/CEO Tony Boutelle. The Innovation Lab offers a high-tech environment with collaboration cells for breaking into smaller groups around whiteboards, he says. Our aim is to create a lot of collaboration and discussion so that we can all prioritize together a combination of new products and improvements to existing lending products and processes. The highly influential, potentially profitable, Hispanic small business owner (HSBO) is attracting more attention from the nations lenders and issuers. A growing segment, the HSBO niche is one that more credit unions should consider as they go into strategic planning season this fall. Here are a few things to keep in mind as your cooperative contemplates including this target market in its 2018 member growth and engagement strategies. HSBOs need more than money. Many HSBOs are on their own, without the benefit of boards of directors, shareholders or even executive teams. Nearly 90 percent of Hispanic-owned businesses, in fact, are without paid employees. This underscores the importance of leadership support and financial guidance for this critical segment of the Hispanic population. HSBOs are young. According to Geoscape, Hispanic entrepreneurs are more youthful, connected digitally and socially engaged than non-Hispanics overall. And their young businesses are growing at an incredible rate more than 15 times that of all U.S. firms. HSBOS are nuanced. There are HSBOs of all types. Although the largest segment (at nearly 40 percent) was born in the U.S. and is English dominant, 20 percent of HSBOs are Spanish preferring and immigrated to the U.S., retaining many of their Hispanic cultural practices. Talking with instead of at HSBOs is a key way to differentiate your expertise and brand from competitors. HSBOs are digital natives. Hispanic entrepreneurs use the Internet, including social accounts, to supplement resources and expertise they dont yet (or never intend to) have. They crave real, fast, smart answers to their problems and will look to digital resources to get them. An HSBO campaign in action. A noteworthy example of a successful marketing campaign targeting HSBOs comes from car maker Toyota. To increase focus on Hispanic communities, including small business owners looking to invest in work-related vehicles, Toyota created the Mas Que un Auto campaign. It was designed to address the deep connection many Hispanic drivers have with their vehicles. Toyota owners were encouraged to use Toyotas interactive website to create custom (and free) nameplates for their vehicles. As a result, the Toyota Facebook page received thousands of likes, and different social media platforms were buzzing about Toyotas unique car decals. The result of this and other Toyota campaigns? The car maker is now the top-selling brand for Hispanics. U.S. Hispanics are one of the most financially underserved segments on the radar of credit union marketers. This is precisely why so many have designed specific growth strategies around Hispanic membership. Those strategies are working, but they may have to evolve to become more targeted as the burgeoning Hispanic community becomes more nuanced. As you launch, adapt and evolve your credit unions Hispanic growth strategy, go deep. Evaluate the market in your area and drill down to the segments and niches that make the most sense for your capabilities and mission. Is the HSBO market waiting for you? This article is a modified excerpt from the white paper The Digital Lives of Hispanic Consumers. Albemarle Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered specialty chemicals worldwide. It operates through three segments: Lithium, Bromine, and Catalysts. The Lithium segment offers lithium compounds, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, and lithium specialties; and reagents, such as butyllithium and lithium aluminum hydride for use in lithium batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles, high performance greases, thermoplastic elastomers for car tires, rubber soles, plastic bottles, catalysts for chemical reactions, organic synthesis processes in the areas of steroid chemistry and vitamins, life sciences, pharmaceutical industry, and other markets. It also provides cesium products for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries; zirconium, barium, and titanium products for pyrotechnical applications that include airbag initiators; technical services for the handling and use of reactive lithium products; and lithium-containing by-products recycling services. The Bromine segment offers bromine and bromine-based fire safety solutions; specialty chemicals, including elemental bromine, alkyl and inorganic bromides, brominated powdered activated carbon, and other bromine fine chemicals for use in chemical synthesis, oil and gas well drilling and completion fluids, mercury control, water purification, beef and poultry processing, and other industrial applications; and other specialty chemicals, such as tertiary amines for surfactants, biocides, and disinfectants and sanitizers. The Catalysts segment provides hydroprocessing, isomerization, and akylation catalysts; fluidized catalytic cracking catalysts and additives; and organometallics and curatives. The company serves the energy storage, petroleum refining, consumer electronics, construction, automotive, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and crop protection markets. Albemarle Corporation was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA provides dialysis care and related dialysis care services in Germany, North America, and internationally. It offers dialysis treatment and related laboratory and diagnostic services through a network of outpatient dialysis clinics; materials, training, and patient support services comprising clinical monitoring, follow-up assistance, and arranging for delivery of the supplies to the patient's residence; and dialysis services under contract to hospitals in the United States for the hospitalized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and for patients suffering from acute kidney failure. The company also develops, manufactures, and distributes dialysis products, including polysulfone dialyzers, hemodialysis machines, peritoneal dialysis cyclers, peritoneal dialysis solutions, hemodialysis concentrates, solutions and granulates, bloodlines, renal pharmaceuticals, and systems for water treatment; and non-dialysis products, such as acute cardiopulmonary and apheresis products. In addition, it develops, acquires, and in-licenses renal pharmaceuticals; offers renal medications and supplies to patients at homes or to dialysis clinics; and provides vascular, cardiovascular, endovascular specialty, vascular care ambulatory surgery center, and physician nephrology and cardiology services. The company sells its products to dialysis clinics, hospitals, and specialized treatment clinics directly, as well as through local sales forces, independent distributors, dealers, and sales agents. As of February 23, 2022, it operated 4,171 outpatient dialysis clinics in approximately 150 countries. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Bad Homburg, Germany. Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC is a publicly owned hedge fund sponsor. The firm provides investment advisory services for its clients. It primarily caters to institutional investors which include pension funds, fund-of-funds, foundations and endowments, corporations and other institutions, private banks and family offices. The firm invests in equity and alternative markets across the world. It employs quantitative and qualitative analysis to make its investments. For its multi-strategy portfolios, the firm employs strategies like convertible and derivative arbitrage, corporate credit, long/short equity special situations, buyout investments, merger arbitrage, private investments, and structured credit. It also invests in real estate and traditional real estate assets including multifamily, office, hotel and retail, loans, portfolio acquisitions, loan pools, operating companies, structured debt products, public securities, and non-traditional real estate assets including gaming, distressed land and residential, cell towers, parking, golf, debt and senior housing. For private equity investments, it considers investments in a variety of special situations that seek to realize value through strategic sales or initial public offerings. The firm typically invests in the energy investments. It prefers to invest in United States. It also manages a buyout fund, Och-Ziff Energy Fund. Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC was founded in 1994 and is based New York City with additional offices in Houston, Texas, London, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Japan, Bangalore, India, Singapore, and Beijing, China. Deutsche Telekom AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated telecommunication services. The company operates through five segments: Germany, United States, Europe, Systems Solutions, and Group Development. It offers fixed-network services, including voice and data communication services based on fixed-network and broadband technology; and sells terminal equipment and other hardware products, as well as services to resellers. The company also provides mobile voice and data services to consumers and business customers; sells mobile devices and other hardware products; and sells mobile services to resellers and to companies that purchases and markets network services to third parties, such as mobile virtual network operators. In addition, it offers internet services; internet-based TV products and services; and information and communication technology systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions with an infrastructure of data centers and networks under the T-Systems brand, as well as call center services. The company has 242 million mobile customers and 22 million broadband customers, as well as 27 million fixed-network lines. Deutsche Telekom AG has a collaboration with VMware, Inc. on cloud-based open and intelligent virtual RAN platform to bring agility to radio access networks for existing LTE and future 5G networks; and partnership with Microsoft to deliver high-performance cloud computing experiences. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany. The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation. Read More The merger between Idea Cellular and Vodafone India has received conditional approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), moving it another step towards final clearance. SEBIs approval is conditional on the merger also receiving the go-ahead from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Following SEBIs announcement, Idea and Vodafone have now submitted a request for clearance to NCLT. The proposed $23.2 billion merger, which would create a new Indian mobile market leader, received approval from the Competition Commission of India in July. It also requires approval from the shareholders of both operators, and must receive certain other regulatory clearances. Ideas parent firm Aditya Birla Group is aiming to close the deal with Vodafone Group at some point within 2018. The combined entity will have around 425 million subscribers, giving it a market share of 35% based on GSMA forecasts for Q1 2018. While SEBI has granted the deal initial approval, Ideas sale of 0.23% of its shares before the announcement of merger in March has raised questions. The Indian regulator TRAI is currently investigating whether this transaction was legal. The merger between Vodafone India and Idea is aimed at allowing the firms to compete more effectively in Indias cutthroat mobile market. Newcomer Reliance Jio has been offering data and voice services for free in order to build up a subscriber base, squeezing Idea and Vodafone along with market leader Bharti Airtel. Following the completion of the merger, the resulting entity will likely retain both the Idea and Vodafone brands rather than rebranding, but will enjoy access to the combined spectrum and assets of both operators. Idea and Vodafone are expecting the deal to deliver substantial cost and capex savings derived from consolidation of network and IT development as well as reduced marketing, retail and customer service expenditure. Bangladeshs regulator has proposed cutting 4G licence fees by a third ahead of Septembers spectrum auctions. The BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) has opted to reduce both the licensing acquisition fee and the annual licensing fee by 33%. Respectively, these fees will now be set at BDT100 billion ($1.22 million) and BDT50 billion respectively. In addition, the fee for converting spectrum in the 900MHz and 1.8GHz bands to allow them to be used for different cellular technologies has been slashed from $10 million per megahertz to $7.5 million. The revenue sharing rate for 4G services will also be lowered from 15% to 5.5%. The BTRC has also decided to scrap a restriction that would have required all funding for the auction to be provided in foreign currency, following a meeting with the Prime Ministers ICT Affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy. While operators will welcome the BTRCs decisions, there was no mention of reducing the reserve prices in the auctions, which have drawn criticism from operators. Reserve prices for the 2.1GHz, 1.8GHz and 900MHz bands have respectively been set at $27 million, $30 million and $35 million per MHz. Operators have sent their recommendations that all three bands should have a reserve price of $15 million per MHz to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also in charge of the telecoms ministry. The upcoming auctions are open to Bangladeshs four operators, as well as offering an opening for a newcomer. Winning bidders will be obliged to deploy nationwide 4G services within three years of obtaining their licence. Firestone Diamonds revised its production guidance for the year to 30 June 2018 downwards on Tuesday, having recently started a review of its current life-of-mine plan in a bid to optimise mining operations at the Liqhobong Diamond Mine in Lesotho, of which it owns 75%. The AIM-traded company said it now expected to produce between 800,000 and 850,000 carats in the 2018 full year, compared to previous guidance of one million carats. It said that, while the overall life-of-mine carats was not expected to change, the lower production guidance was expected to impact revenues in the current financial year. As part of this review, Firestone will be extending the mining of the weathered kimberlite over the coming months, in order to access the lower areas of the pit that have historically yielded higher grade and higher value diamonds, its board said in its statement. The company also plans to mine additional waste rock in the coming year, in order to improve the long term mining operations. Intellectual property commercialisation specialist Frontier IP announced on Tuesday that it has received a 21% equity stake in the Vaccine Group , a spinout company from the University of Plymouth. The AIM-traded firm asserted that governments, pharmaceutical companies and supranational bodies were showing increasing concern about emerging infectious diseases. It said the Vaccine Group would exploit technology developed by Dr Michael Jarvis, associate professor in virology and immunology at the University of Plymouth, who reportedly specialises in the creative design of herpesvirus-based vaccines for the control of disease. We are delighted to support development of the Vaccine Group, said Frontier IP chief executive Neil Crabb. Emerging infectious diseases are a growing threat to economies and to the global population. A rapid response vaccine platform will be a valuable addition to current management strategies and a critical resource when new diseases emerge. Frontier IP said the Vaccine Group would aim to commercialise novel vaccine platforms for the development of vaccines for use in infection control - such as bovine tuberculosis - and for a rapid response to pathogens which unpredictably cross the species barrier and pose a significant threat to human health. Target pathogens reportedly included avian influenza A, Ebola and Marburg viruses, MERS and SARS coronaviruses and Rift Valley fever virus. Dr Jarvis' work previously received funding from a number of sources, including UK Innovate, National Institutes of Health and the Medical Research Council, the Frontier IP board reported. Initial work in the Vaccine Group would focus on herpesvirus-based platforms suitable for use in animals, to protect human health by targeting the animal species from which disease is transmitted to humans, for vaccination - termed zoonoses barrier vaccines, the board added. Future developments would include vaccines for use in humans. Frontier IP's role would be to provide commercialisation services, industry expertise and strong links to the pharmaceutical industry. Paul Mantle, a portfolio executive at Frontier IP, is also a director of the Vaccine Group with the Frontier board saying he would bring wide industrial experience of commercialising new technology. My laboratory has nearly 20 years [of] experience in the development of vaccines based on herpesvirus-based technology, Dr Michael Jarvis commented. Science is a collaborative endeavour, and the Vaccine Group provides a new vehicle by which we can interact with fellow scientists, industry and investors to prevent emergence of infectious diseases relevant to global human health and agriculture. Range Resources acquired an interest in Indonesia's Perlak field, which throughout its long history had produced close to 60m barrels, the group announced on Tuesday. The AIM-listed outfit purchased a 23% interest in Perlak, which was located in Northeastern Sumatra for $3.2m to be funded from the existing cash resources of the company, payable in tranches. Upon completion of the minimum work programme, its interest in Perlak would rise to 42%, the company said in a statement. Range estimated material remaining oil in place, covering all resoruce and reserve categories, at as much as 500m barrels. That, the company said: "demonstrates the high prospectivity of the field and substantial reserves and resources growth potential." Under the terms of the deal, the group was also granted a long term licence expected to expire in 15 years on 31 March 2032. Furthermore, the outfit was given a 'put' option, allowing it to sell its shares to the vendor at full investment cost as protection against possible underperformance. The low risk low cost work programme was aimed at re-initiating production from the existing wells, firming up the field development plan and fully exploiting the potential resources. The company's shares were flat at 0.340 by 9:20 BST UK-based big data company, Trakm8 announced it has been awarded a five-year contract by Calor Gas UK. The project will see Trakm8 supply its integrated RoadHawk 600 camera and telematics solutions with integrated driver behaviour and data analytics to Calor's reseller partner, Dakota Integrated Solutions. Valued at over 1.3m, the contract stated initial deployment of the units would commence before the end of 2017. John Watkins, Executive Chairman of Trakm8 commented: "We are delighted to be awarded this contract with Calor. It is another major customer to move forward with our latest integrated camera and telematics proposition and it provides additional visibility for current year revenues and profitability." As of 0900 BST, Trakm8 Holdings shares were little changed, trading 0.58% lower at 85.01p. The president of the UK's Supreme Court told the UK government it must provide more clarity on how British courts should interpret rulings from the European Court of Justice post-Brexit. In a BBC interview aired on Tuesday, David Neuberger stressed the need for Parliament to be "very clear" in telling the judges what to do about decisions of the ECJ after the UK's exit from the EU, and that judges should not be blamed for misinterpretations due to a lack of clarity from parliament. The president's call came as Theresa May was expected to set out a series of position papers on future customs arrangements, possibly as early as next week. InterContinental Hotels Group booked investors in for a 10% interim dividend hike to make up for slower growth in revenue per available room (revpar) to 2.1% from the 2.7% at the start of the year. The Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza operator generated underlying revenue of 788m in the first six months of the year, which was up 4% year on year at constant exchange rates, with operating profit rising 7% to $365m and adjusted earnings per share surging 27% to 111.7 cents. At the reported level, which also includes the effects of asset disposals, managed leases and significant liquidated damages, revenues were up 2%, operating profit 8% and adjusted EPS also up 27% to 113.3 cents and basic EPS up 27% to 111.7 cents. After generating free cash flow of $204m, down from $241m in the same period last year, the interim dividend was hiked to 33 cents from 30 a year ago, and follows the $2.025 special dividend and slight share consolidation completed in May. Net debt was up by $0.6bn to $2.1bn. Global revpar growth slowed to 2.1% due to 1.5% growth in the second quarter including a decline of 0.4% in the US where it was hit by the timing of Easter. Occupancy increased 0.9 percentage points and IHG increased net room growth 3.7% year on year, with roughly 23,000 room openings, up 31% year on year, which includes 3.5k rooms in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. New chief executive Keith Barr, who was promoted in July after 17 years at the company, hailed the continued progress in executing predecessor Richard Solomons' strategy to deliver high quality sustainable growth, and during the half passed the landmark of over 1m open or pipeline rooms. "My focus is on driving an acceleration in our growth rate, by increasing the resources dedicated behind the highest opportunity markets and segments, strengthening our brand portfolio, building on our leading loyalty proposition, and enhancing our competitive advantage through prioritising digital and technological innovation." Reported central overheads were cut $9m, or $4m on a constant currency basis, thanks to a $4m increase in central revenues and efficiency improvements. This and currency effects helped group fee margin increase 2.4 points to 51.0%, with full year margin growth currently expected to be in the region of the long-term average of around 135 basis points. Barr said he will continue the company's focus cost efficiency to generate funds for reinvestment. "This, combined with our cash-generative business model and disciplined approach to capital allocation, will drive superior returns to shareholders. "While we will always face macro-economic and geopolitical uncertainties, we remain confident in the outlook for 2017." IHG shares fell 4% to 4,233p by mid-morning on Tuesday. Broker Numis, which noted that underlying PBT of $330m was 3% ahead of consensus expectations of $320m, said revpar growth of 2.1% and net system growth of 3.7% were consistent with medium-term guidance but that the deceleration in the US from 1.9% in Q1 to -0.4% in Q2 was "relatively disappointing" compared to an 80 basis-point deceleration in the STR market data. On new CEO Barr's aim to accelerate growth by increasing the resources dedicated to the highest opportunity markets and segments, analyst Tim Barrett said: "In our view IHGs strategy is appropriate and already being well executed, but realistically, the hotel cycle will be the biggest determinant of earnings in the short to medium term." Barrett's forecasts currently assume 2.1% revpar growth and 3.7% system growth, giving EBIT up 6% to $744m on an underlying basis. Fund manager Steve Clayton, manager of the HL Select UK Growth Shares fund, which holds 10.4m IHG shares, likes the companys asset-lite business model for its reliability as a cash generator, allowing it to regularly return funds to shareholders, even as its grows its estate globally. "Its an appealing mixture; franchised and managed hotels generate a lot of cash, with the hotel owners stumping up the capital for the bricks and mortar. Intercontinentals new cloud-based booking system should drive further growth as it rolls out over the next year or so, suggesting plenty of growth potential remains. "A little bit of profit-taking in early trade is not that surprising to see, given the shares were already up around 20%, so far in 2017. Payment solutions provider Paysafe reported an 11% year-on-year rise in first-half revenue growth to $538.7m on Tuesday, which was down from 118% growth at the interim last year. The FTSE 250 company said organic constant currency year-on-year revenue growth was 12% for the six months to 30 June, compared to 20% a year ago, while adjusted EBITDA improved to $169.2m from $144.2m. Its adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 31.4% from 29.6%. Paysafe said its statutory operating profit was $99.6m for the period, up from $89.7m, with an adjusted profit after tax of $124m compared to $101.4m, and a statutory profit after tax improving to $73.7m from $64.5m. Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share were 25 cents, rising from 20 cents a year ago, with statutory fully diluted earnings per share of 15 cents an improvement on 13 cents in 2016. The board said adjusted cash conversion before payments working capital was 77%, down slightly from 78%, while its adjusted cash conversion after payments working capital improved significantly to 98% from 74%. Net debt reduced during the period to $259.9m from $279.8m on 31 December, with the companys net debt-to-LTM-adjusted EBITDA ratio standing at 0.8x on 30 June, compared to 0.9x at the start of the period. After exceptional trading in 2016, Paysafe Group has returned to a more sustainable level of low-double-digit revenue growth in the first half of 2017, said Paysafe chairman Dennis Jones . This reflects our increasingly diversified set of businesses as the management team continues to build a stable and robust global payments platform. To that end, we were pleased to announce the acquisition of US-based MCPS in July, which strengthens our processing business, increases Paysafe Group's scale in North American acquiring and helps us to continue re-balancing our portfolio away from online gambling. Among the companys operational highlights, the board did confirm that on 21 July Paysafe acquired Merchants' Choice Payment Solutions for $470m in an all-cash deal. The board said headcount increased by 9% to 2,299 during the period, which was driven by its platform development operation in Hyderabad, India and its operations, compliance and risk operation in Sofia, Bulgaria. It said the prepaid division launched paysafecard direct, a QR code-based e-commerce platform enabling consumers to complete online purchases with a cash payment. The company also joined forces with Google to be one of the first payment service providers to launch in-app Android Pay capabilities to Paysafe merchants in Canada. Spain's state-owned postal company Correos also chose Paysafe during the period as a recommended payment provider for businesses using Comandia, its e-commerce platform. Since the period ended, on 1 August Paysafe Group migrated its tax residence from the Isle of Man to the UK. Culture Secretary Karen Bradley has sought further clarification from regulator Ofcom over the possible 11.7bn takeover of Sky by 21st Century Fox after new evidence was raised. Having read through some of the submissions made by third parties to Ofcom, Bradley's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said "a number of these raise new evidence and/or comment on the Ofcom assessment". Bradley has delayed making a decision on whether to refer Sky's takeover to the Competition and Markets Authority, with more than eight months passing since the deal was first announced. Bradley said in June that she was minded to refer the transaction to the CMA for a deeper 'Phase 2' investigation amid concerns about the plurality of media owners in the UK. The DCMS noted on Tuesday that any referral decision by the minister "must be taken on the basis of a valid assessment of all the relevant evidence" and so the DCMS said it has asked Ofcom "to advise on a number of points arising from these representations. The Department has asked that the advice is provided as soon as possible and no later than 25 August". Earlier in the week, newspaper reports said Ofcom and Bradley were facing calls to move to a deeper investigation following allegations that Fox News colluded with the White House on a story that contained fabricated quotes. In a letter to Bradley and Ofcom chief executive Sharon White, a group of high-profile MPs, including former Conservative chancellor Ken Clarke and ex Labour leader Ed Miliband, called for Ofcom to reopen its investigation into whether the Murdoch family are fit and proper owners of Sky and pushed for Bradley to refer the deal the CMA on the grounds of broadcasting standards, the Guardian reported 21st Century Fox, which already owns 39% of Sky, made an offer late last year to gain full control of Sky, but the deal has faced extra scrutiny as Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp, is co-chairman of 21st Century Fox with his son, Lachlan Murdoch, while his younger son James Murdoch is chief executive of 21st Century Fox and chairman of Sky. Ofcom in June gave Fox the all-clear in its 'fit and proper' test of the company directors. In March Bradley issued a European intervention notice asking Ofcom to consider whether there would be "sufficient plurality of persons with control of the media enterprises; and whether the parties would have genuine commitment to the attainment in relation to broadcasting of standards objectives". The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has eliminated a backlog of more than 600 new chemicals it is reviewing under the agencys new chemical safety program. I am happy to report that the backlog of new chemical reviews is eliminated, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said. The goal of the agency is to ensure a new chemicals program that is both protective of human health and the environment, while also being supportive of bringing new chemicals to market. But environmental groups accused the Trump administration for marching to the chemical industrys orders. Richard Denison, a lead senior scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), said the move puts the industrys demands for ready market access above public health protection. Denison said the EPA sidestepped the Frank Lautenberg Act, a critical environmental law signed by President Obama in 2016 that overhauled the badly broken Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976. The Lautenberg Act resulted in a temporary backlog of hundreds of new chemical notices. But in recent months, EPA staff have faced relentless pressure from the chemical industryand internally from new industry-friendly senior managementnot only to speed up reviews, but to return the program to its pre-Lautenberg practices, Denison said. While many details of the shifts EPA is making remain murky, EDF is concerned that EPA is moving away from the laws clear requirements that: EPA rigorously review both intended and reasonably foreseen uses of new chemicals and, where EPA identifies potential risks or lacks sufficient information, it issue an order imposing conditions on the manufacturer of the new chemical sufficient to mitigate the potential risk, Denison said. The chemical industry cheered the EPAs announcement. EPA deserves our congratulations and thanks, Martha Marrapese, an attorney with the Washington office of Wiley Rein LLP, told Bloomberg BNA. Reaching this milestone reflects a lot of hard work on the part of EPA staff and industry as we all learn how to navigate the new TSCA landscape. By Lorne Stockman Hearings began Monday at the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) in Lincoln for the Keystone XL pipeline. The PSC is charged with deciding whether the pipelines route is in the interests of the state of Nebraska. If the pipeline is judged to pose unacceptable risks to land, water, wildlife, cultural resources and property values, the PSC could deny a permit to build the 36-inch pipeline carrying toxic tar sands oil through the state. No doubt TransCanada will be attempting to make its case that these risks are minimal and/or mitigable, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary. But key factors the PSC should be assessinglike whether market demand still exists for the projecthave been disqualified from the process. As a result, the PSC is in danger of issuing a permit for a pipeline that may be underutilized and possibly not built at all. While on the surface, it may sound like an underutilized pipeline would come with fewer risks, this is far from the truth. Grave risks associated with these outcomeslike increased potential for spills and the indefinite seizure of private landmust be considered in order to protect Nebraskans. Nebraska officials eager not to hear from homeowners during #KXL hearings. Oil ind. is so devious, but on we fight https://t.co/zBbcod9dTR Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) August 4, 2017 When President Trump signed the federal permit for Keystone XL in the Oval Office in March, there were some uneasy murmurs in the room from TransCanada executives as he jovially quipped that TransCanada could now go ahead and start construction. Transcanada CEO Russ Girling knew that not only did the project still need approval in Nebraska, where it had faced the stiffest opposition in the past, but that as things stood, he did not actually have any customers for the pipeline. That situation has not changed. A multi-billion dollar pipeline does not get built unless customers that will ship product in the pipeline contractually commit to using the pipeline. This usually takes the form of signing 20-year take-or-pay contracts for the majority of the pipelines capacity. So a shipper, which could for example be an oil producer, a refiner or a trader, will sign a contract committing to pay for shipping a specified amount of oil on the pipeline every day for 20 years. It is essentially a long-term reservation of space on the pipeline. TransCanada has stated that it hopes to sign up 90 percent of the projects 830,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity. So it needs to sign up nearly 750,000 bpd. This is a tall order in todays oil market and the future does not look any better. It was primarily this issue of market need about which I submitted some 13,000 words plus 33 attachments of testimony to the Nebraska PSC back in June. I was expecting to present that testimony in person at the PSC this week. However, in a last minute decision the PSC dismissed my testimony, and that of 39 others, limiting the scope of issues it will consider and thereby ignoring some of the key risks it should be considering. The key points that the PSC should be considering are this: After the projects that are currently under construction come online, ultimately by 2020, there is currently no financial commitment from Canadian tar sands oil producers for further production growth. There is already enough pipeline and refining capacity to cope with the production growth that is committed to. The future of oil demand, and consequently oil prices, is more uncertain than ever, with new technologies and environmental policies threatening to end oils stranglehold on transportation forever. As one of the most expensive to produce sources of oil in the world, the tar sands oil that would potentially fill Keystone XL has no future in a world moving toward cleaner cities and greater climate and energy security. That the pipeline may not attract enough customers is a major issue for TransCanada. The company has stated several times that it is struggling to sign up committed shippers and will not know if it has enough commitment until November at the earliest. So why should the PSC consider this? If the pipeline doesnt get built then how are Nebraskans at risk? If it does get built but then fails to meet expectations, isnt that only of concern to the company? Unfortunately, the vagaries of the land easements that would be enforced if the PSC issues the permit, and the greater risk of spills in an underutilized pipeline, mean that the risks of the project failing financially are potentially as bad or worse than if it is a success. Heres why. The land easements that TransCanada has signed with willing landowners, as well as those it would force upon unwilling landowners through eminent domain, give the company rights to the pipeline corridor in perpetuity. This means that if the pipeline is not built TransCanada can sell the easements to the highest bidder. Therefore, landowners will have no control over what happens on their land in the future. That unwilling landowners will be forced through eminent domain to hand over land for an unspecified use is an outrageous abuse of the principle of eminent domain. No public good has been proven for Keystone XL or any project that may end up in the corridor. If shippers decide to take the gamble and sign up enough capacity for the project to go aheada gamble they may take based on overly optimistic expectations of the oil marketit is highly likely that some of the contracts may not be fulfilled and the pipeline may be underutilized. The Natural Resources Defense Council reported Monday on the increasing evidence that underutilized pipelines are more prone to spills and those spills are much harder to detect and locate in pipelines operating under low pressure, known as slack line conditions. These spill risks have not been evaluated in the environmental impact assessment of the project, which has assumed the pipeline would operate at or near full capacity. The Keystone XL project has always been a risky and misguided venture designed to enrich corporate shareholders at the expense of the climate and landowners along the route. Since its original permit was denied, the case for building it, weak as it was, has evaporated. What remains is a project serving only the political goals of a vain and corrupt administration bent on reversing its predecessors achievements no matter who bears the cost. Granting a permit in the state of Nebraska risks ceding control of Nebraskan land to a corporation that has in no way demonstrated a public interest for its project. The permit should be denied and the Keystone XL pipeline finally confined to the trash can of history where it belongs. By Andy Rowell The Trump administration is getting more Orwellian by the day, but as fast as it tries to bury the truth about climate change, scientists are fighting back and showing that they will not be silenced by the climate deniers in the White House. So while the administration tries to suppress its agencies talking about climate change, a leaked report has concluded that millions of Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now. The last few years have seen record-breaking, climate-related, weather extremes, as well as the warmest years on record for the globe. So said the executive summary of a draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies, which was leaked to the New York Times after scientists felt it could be suppressed. The report is a major rebuttal and rebuke to the climate-denying president. Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, the report outlined: Thousands of studies conducted by tens of thousands of scientists around the world have documented changes in surface, atmospheric, and oceanic temperatures; melting glaciers; disappearing snow cover; shrinking sea ice; rising sea level; and an increase in atmospheric water vapor. It is explicit that humans are to blame: Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate changes, and Human activities are now the dominant cause of the observed changes in climate. The report outlines how the average temperature in the U.S. has risen rapidly since 1980, and recent decades have been the warmest of the past 1,500 years. One government scientist who worked on the report, Katharine Hayhoe, a professor of Political Science at Texas Tech University, told the Times that the conclusions were among the most comprehensive climate science reports to be ever written. Whether the Trump administration will ever officially publish the report remains to be seen. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), currently led by Scott Polluting Pruit is one of the agencies that has to approve it by mid-August. It is unlikely to be published unscathed. According to the Times, Scientists say they fear that the Trump administration could change or suppress the report. As one commentator noted, The leak of the report is a clear middle finger to Trump, Pruitt and their plan to derail federal climate research and policy, and it ensures the public has an opportunity to review it before they get their big, grubby mitts all over it. Indeed, there is new evidence that the Trump administration is trying to suppress and distort the language around climate change, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture telling staff to avoid using the term climate change and instead use the term weather extremes. Emails obtained by the Guardian reveal that one senior official listed terms that should be avoided. Instead of climate change adaption, for example, staff are asked to use resilience to weather extremes. These records reveal Trumps active censorship of science in the name of his political agenda, said Meg Townsend, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, which is currently suing several government agencies to force them to release information on censoring of climate change language. By Paul Shively Logan Kock knows what its like to depend on the ocean for sustenance. A few years after graduate school, he set off on a voyage from Japan to San Francisco in a 30-foot sailboat with almost nothing but the wind and water to sustain him. During that whole sailing thing, you are a subsistence fisherman, Kock said of his two-year journey, which also took him to numerous South Pacific islands. You arent near any stores. You dont have any money. So you fish all of the time. Today, in his role as chief sustainability officer for Santa Monica Seafood Co., he works with people and communities around the globe whose livelihoods depend on the sea. These personal and professional experiences have led to his commitment to sustainable fishing practices, including the use of deep-set buoy gear to catch swordfish. Research shows this gear allows fishermen to more accurately target swordfish while minimizing harm to whales, dolphins and other sensitive species. This deep appreciation of fish and fishing dates back to his childhood. My grandmother gave me a fish tank with guppies when I was a boy, Kock said. They were pregnant and had babies. And I was hooked. His grandmother also made sure he learned to sail during his Connecticut childhood, sealing his fascination with the ocean. A young Logan Kock runs along the beach in Boca Grande, Florida, in 1956. His grandmother instilled a love of fish and oceans in him when he was a child. Logan Kock Kocks passion for sea life quickly became more than a recreational interest. His first job was as a conch diver when he was 15. Later, he and a couple of college friends supported a yearlong Caribbean sailing trip by catching fish and selling them from port to port. He earned a bachelors degree in biology from New England College and his masters degree, also in biology, from the University of Guam. He then worked for the Guam Department of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, doing everything from seagrass research to counts of coral reef fish before setting off on his transoceanic sailing adventure in 1982. Since returning to the U.S. mainland, Kock has learned every aspect of the seafood business. His career included owning restaurants and overseeing seafood standards at a Fortune 500 company before he joined Santa Monica Seafood in 2001. Kock on deck during his yearlong Caribbean sailing trip with college friends, during which they supported themselves by catching and selling fish. Logan Kock Today, Kock said deep-set buoy gear is the most environmentally sustainable way of catching swordfish. The gear uses a hook-and-buoy system that enables fishermen to drop their hooks as deep as 1,200 feet, and, when a bite-indicator buoy is activated, respond within minutes to bring the fish to the boat or release it alive if it is not a swordfish or other marketable species. This gear has been tested extensively over the past six years by scientists and cooperating fishermen, with minimal bycatch of nontarget species. In my mind, its clearly a situation where the purchase of a deep-set buoy gear-caught swordfish opens up a new approach to fishing, he said. It does it in an ecologically sound way. And its more personal. I can have a one-on-one relationship with a deep-set buoy gear boat captain. Such familiarity is key, Kock said, because its important to connect customers to individual fishermen. Its an ethical thing: Utilize whatever you take from the sea in a way that pays reverence to the animal, the individual who caught it, and the community around him. Buoy-caught swordfish also stand apart from other swordfish because of their superior quality. When you think about it, you are catching one fish at a time and you can pay attention and provide individual care to each fish, Kock said. You arent dealing with a whole netful. Also, its the depth that the swordfish is pulled from and the fact that its alive when it reaches the boat. That pays off in higher-quality swordfish that demand top prices. Were providing our customers something pretty amazing, Kock said. People are willing to pay a premium, and so its a viable business. Paul Shively directs Pacific Ocean conservation campaigns for The Pew Charitable Trusts. The Intertribal Coalition of Nebraska and the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma met Tuesday in Lincoln, Nebraska to take a stand against the construction of TransCanadas Keystone XL pipeline by signing the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion. After the signing Tuesday, more than 150 Tribes in the U.S. and Canada, including the Nations all along the KXL route in Alberta, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and now Nebraska, will have committed to standing together to stop Keystone XL and the other three tar sands pipelines: Enbridges Line 3 pipeline through Minnesota, Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain Expansion through British Columbia and TransCanadas Energy East. Along with our Indigenous allies all along the KXL route like the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) and all over Turtle Island (North America), we recognize the grave dangers in allowing this Black Snake to enter our homelands, said Chairman Larry Wright Jr. of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. As the State of Nebraska stands poised to make a potentially life-altering decision about permitting this poisonous bitumen to be inflicted on its population, we stand poised to protect all life now and in the future. Following the signing of the treaty at the Graduate Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska, the chairmen of the Intertribal Coalition of Nebraska and other invited guests led a Prayer Walk to the State Capitol of Nebraska. This historic event took place amid the weeklong public hearing on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline before the Nebraska Public Service Commission, which is expected to make a final decision on the pipeline permit by the end of the year. We are standing together in prayer. We are aware of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and our Treaty Rights as they pertain to the permitting of the pipelines in our present and traditional territories, added Councilwoman Casey Camp-Horinek on behalf of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. In solidarity and with respect and love for our Mother Earth and future generations, we say NO to KXL. Scientists report in a new study that by imitating a natural process of cells, they prevented the formation of protein clumps associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. In lab cultures of human and yeast cells, the scientists stopped the harmful clumping of FUS proteins by exposing them to phosphorylation, a process that makes precise changes to the amino acid building blocks of proteins, increasing their negative electric charge. The research shows that the increase in charge causes the proteins to repel when they normally might aggregate. The findings could eventually have positive implications for the treatment of ALS -- commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease -- and dementia. "No one has shown that you can use charge, and phosphorylation as a way to get charge, to disrupt these ALS-associated protein aggregates," said co-corresponding author Nicolas Fawzi, an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology at Brown University. Phosphorylation occurs in cells throughout the body for various reasons. Cells perform it on FUS proteins as part of a sequence of events related to DNA damage. In the new study, the researchers examined both natural phosphorylation and artificial phosphorylation by replacing specific amino acids in FUS proteins. The study, conducted by a team of researchers at Brown, the Uniformed Services University, Johns Hopkins University, Lehigh University and the National Institutes of Health, appears in the EMBO Journal. Study steps The project began in Fawzi's lab at Brown, where he's been studying the structure and biophysics of FUS and similar proteins closely associated with neurodegenerative diseases. He and co-lead author Veronica Ryan, a Brown neuroscience graduate student, wanted to explore how and whether phosphorylation would affect the way FUS proteins can clump together, which undermines the health of neurons. The first task was to identify several specific amino acid sites in the region FUS uses to bind with other proteins where the natural enzyme DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) causes phosphorylation. Their collaborators at the Uniformed Services University, including co-lead author Zachary Monahan and co-corresponding author Frank Shewmaker, continued the work by confirming these and more phosphorylation sites in FUS derived from human cells. With more than a dozen sites identified, the team then set out to imitate the work of DNA-PK in living cell cultures. Monahan and Shewmaker's team engineered human FUS into brewer's yeast and also implemented the phosphorylation mimicry in a culture of human cells. What they observed in both cultures is that by increasing the degree of phosphorylation -- from just two sites all the way up to 12 -- they could proportionally reduce the propensity of the protein to aggregate into clumps. In the yeast cells, they showed that the more effectively they prevented full aggregation -- by adding more sites mimicking phosphorylation -- the more robustly colonies of the cells would grow. That finding demonstrated that FUS clumping is toxic to cells. Ryan, Abigail Janke and colleagues at Brown showed how phosphorylation disrupts contacts between molecules of FUS. Meanwhile, computational modeling of the effect of the phosphorylation in the structure of the protein, led by co-author Jeetain Mittal at Lehigh, showed that the change in electric charge is what led to the difference in the proteins' likelihood of aggregating. A therapeutic horizon Fawzi acknowledged that the approach the scientists used in the lab would not yet constitute a practical therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, but he said the demonstration that phosphorylation can be used to disrupt protein aggregation should motivate work to produce a treatment. "There's no therapy or cure for ALS and frontotemporal dementia," Fawzi said. "What we need are new hypotheses and new angles." Fawzi hypothesized that because phosphorylation is a natural process of cells, the key may be finding a "switch" to turn it on when needed. He also noted that many pharmaceutical companies have very active research groups dedicated to harnessing the phosphorylating enzymes known as kinases like DNA-PK. A future therapy, he said, would have to be targeted -- localized in the brain in the case of frontotemporal dementia, or focused on motor neurons in the case of ALS. Phosphorylating FUS in the body more generally could be harmful, given that it is presumed to have important roles in helping cells process RNA and may have a role in repairing DNA. For now, the collaboration is focused on testing phosphorylation specifically in a model of a neurodegenerative disease, rather than in cells in general, Fawzi said. ### The paper's other authors are Abigail Janke, Kathleen Burke, Shannon Rhoads, Guz Zerze, Robert O'Meally, Gregory Dignon, Alexander Cnicella, Wenwei Zheng, Robert Best and Robert Cole. The National Institutes of Health (R01GM118530, R35GM119790, P20GM104937), the DEARS Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation funded the research. It may not be as catchy as chains and weak links, but physicists and engineers know "a material is only as strong as its weakest grain boundary." OK, that's not catchy at all, but here's the point: grain boundaries are a big deal. They are the microscopic, disordered regions where atom-sized building blocks bind the crystals (i.e. grains) together in materials. More importantly, grain boundaries help determine the properties of metals important to humans. For example, they can influence a metal's strength (buildings!), corrosion resistance (bridges!) and conductivity (electricity!). But while researchers have studied grain boundaries for decades and gained some insight into the types of properties grain boundaries produce, no one has been able to nail down a universal system to predict if a certain configuration of atoms at grain boundaries will make a material stronger or more pliable. Enter the interdisciplinary BYU research team of Rosenbrock, Homer and Hart. The Ph.D. student (Conrad Rosenbrock) and two professors -- one engineer (Eric Homer) and one physicist (Gus Hart) -- might have cracked the code by juicing a computer with an algorithm that allows it to learn the elusive "why" behind the boundaries' qualities. Their method, published in the most recent issue of Nature journal Computational Materials, provides a technique to produce a "dictionary" of the atomic building blocks found in metals, alloys, semiconductors and other materials. Their machine learning approach analyzes Big Data (think: massive data sets of grain boundaries) to provide insight into physical structures that are likely associated with specific mechanisms, processes and properties that would otherwise be difficult to identify. "We're using machine learning, which means algorithms can see trends in lots and lots of data that a human can't see," Homer said. "With Big Data models you lose some precision, but we've found it still provides strong enough information to connect the dots between a boundary and a property." When it comes to metals, the process can evaluate properties like strength, weight and lifespan of materials, leading to the eventual optimization of the best materials. Although the group is not actually creating materials yet, they can now decipher the "why" and the "how" of the makeup. Researchers said their paper is the first to attempt to crack the code of the atomic structures that heavily influence grain boundary properties with the computer algorithms of machine learning. "It's kind of like Siri; Siri works by taking sounds and turning them into vowels and consonants and ultimately words by accessing a massive Apple database," Hart said. "We're using the same concept. We have a large database, and our algorithm is taking grain boundaries and comparing it against that database to connect them to certain properties." The end goal is to make it easier and more efficient to develop materials that can be combined to make strong, lightweight and corrosion-free metals. The researchers believe they are at the front end of what could be a 10 or even 20-year process to create innovative alloy structures that provide practical solutions to major structures. "Our nation spends $500 billion a year on corrosion," Homer said. "If you can reduce the cost of treating corrosion even a few percent by developing more resistant metals, you can save billions every year. That's not a small amount of money." ### Gabor Csanyi, a professor of molecular modeling in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, contributed to this study. Boulder, Colo., USA: A new study by scientists at Portland State University and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder has found that the effects of climate change, which are apparent in other parts of the Antarctic continent, are not yet observed for glaciers in the western Ross Sea coast. Published online ahead of print for the journal Geology, the study found that the pattern of glacier advance and retreat has not changed along the western Ross Sea coast, in contrast to the rapidly shrinking glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula. The western Ross Sea is a key region of Antarctica, home to a complex and diverse ocean ecosystem, and the location of several Antarctic research stations including the U.S. McMurdo Station, the largest on the continent. The research team compiled historic maps and a variety of satellite images (such as https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/2000/2066/seawifs_south_pole_ross_lrg.jpg) spanning the last half-century to examine glacier activity along more than 700 kilometers of coastline. The NASA-U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat series satellites were particularly useful, including the newest Landsat 8 instrument, launched in 2013. The scientists examined 34 large glaciers for details of ice flow, extent, and calving events (formation of icebergs). Although each glacier showed advances and retreats, there was no overall pattern over time or with latitude. The results suggest that changes in the drivers of glacier response to climate -- air temperature, snowfall, and ocean temperatures -- have been minimal over the past half century in this region. The study was part of a National Science Foundation and U.S. Geological Survey study and was motivated by previous work documenting significant glacier retreat and ice shelf collapse along the coastline of the Antarctic Peninsula. The region's ongoing changes were highlighted recently with the cracking and separation of a large iceberg from the Larsen C Ice Shelf. Earlier studies had documented little change in the western Ross coastline prior to 1995, and the new study both confirmed the earlier work and extended the analysis to the present time. This work underscores the complexity of Antarctic climate change and glacier response. ### FEATURED ARTICLE The changing extent of the glaciers along the western Ross 2 Sea, Antarctica Andrew G. Fountain, Bryce Glenn, Department of Geology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97212, USA; and Ted A. Scambos, National Snow and Ice Data Center, CIRES, 449 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA. The article is online at https://doi.org/10.1130/G39240.1. Media contacts Kenny Ma Portland State University 503-725-8789, kenma@pdx.edu Natasha Vizcarra National Snow and Ice Data Center +1 303.492.5624, press@nsidc.org GEOLOGY articles are online https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology. Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary articles by contacting Kea Giles at the e-mail address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOLOGY in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org. http://www.geosociety.org Patients undergoing conventional chemotherapy for certain cancers could potentially receive more effective and less toxic drug treatment. In a July issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Dong Zhang Ph.D., associate professor of Biomedical Sciences at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) and a team of researchers detail findings that suggest new synthetic lethal interactions could inhibit the growth of tumors in mesenchymal cells, cells that develop into connective tissue such as those found in bones, soft tissues, and the central nervous system. Chemotherapy, known to injure healthy cells and cause unpleasant side effects such as hair loss and vomiting, is currently the only available treatment for persistent cancers known as alternative lengthening telomere (ALT) cancers. In healthy stem cell reproduction, the enzyme telomerase prevents the shortening of linear DNA ends (known as telomeres) with each replication. The enzyme can also be re-activated to promote genetic stability and immortality in many cancer cells. While many cancers that reproduce via telomerase re-activation may be treated with therapies other than chemotherapy, ALT cancer cells lack telomerase and few treatment options have been developed to inhibit their proliferation. Although ALT cancer cells account for only an estimated ten to fifteen percent of cancer cases, these incidences include some of the most deadly cancers, for example glioblastoma. The researchers sought to better understand what conditions could inhibit the growth of ALT cancers, in the pursuit of uncovering potential new treatments. To do this they investigated three human genes associated with cancer development: FANCM (mutations of which are associated with blood cancers), BRCA1 (mutations of which are commonly found in patients with breast and ovarian cancers), and BLM (mutations of which cause a variety of cancers). FANCM, known to repair DNA damage where two DNA strands have been incorrectly linked, was removed from cells also deficient of BRCA1 or BLM. As a result, the team found that simultaneous inactivation of BLM and FANCM or of BRCA1 and FANCM resulted in dramatic increases of unrepaired DNA damages, preventing the cancerous cells from further reproducing. These findings suggest that if drugs are developed to simultaneously inhibit BLM and FANCM, or BRCA1 and FANCM, they should kill the ALT cancers without posing the same toxic effects as the conventional chemotherapy drugs. "In creating a more stressful replication environment at the site of ALT telomeres, cellular reproduction was halted, leading us to believe that there could be great potential for these novel synthetic lethal therapeutic strategies. Therefore, we recommend further exploring this possibility to target ALT cancers," said Zhang. ### Zhang intends to obtain further funding to continue his investigation with the proposed outcome of developing FANCM and BLM inhibitors. For more information about NYITCOM, visit nyit.edu/medicine. About NYIT NYIT (New York Institute of Technology) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions; management; and osteopathic medicine. A non-profit independent, private institution of higher education, NYIT has 10,000 students in programs and campuses in New York (Manhattan and Old Westbury, Long Island) and Arkansas as well as China, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. NYIT sponsors 13 NCAA Division II programs. NYIT is guided by its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, offer access to opportunity to all qualified students, and support applications-oriented research that benefits the larger world. More than 100,000 graduates have received degrees from NYIT. For more information, visit nyit.edu. Media Contact: Kim Tucker, PR Strategist, NYIT kimberly.tucker@nyit.edu A new paper published in the Journal of Crustacean Biology provides an updated classification system that includes all the known crayfishes worldwide. This makes available a single, comprehensive taxonomic summary of all the recognized species of crayfish of the world. Freshwater crayfishes are a group of decapod crustaceans that have played a critical role in a diversity of biological studies, from physiology, to ecology, neurobiology, conservation, and evolution. Central to many of these fields of study is the dependence on a robust taxonomic framework for accurate communication relating to species diversity and associated attributes. Despite a huge body of taxonomic work, there has never been a single, comprehensive taxonomic summary of all the species of crayfish of the world. There has also been an abundance of recent taxonomic work in terms of new species descriptions and taxonomic insights gained from a variety of phylogenetic studies. Here scientists gathered diverse taxonomic and phylogenetic information into a single resource. There have been many important crayfish discoveries over the last few decades. First was the discovery of much hidden diversity in Tasmania resulting in the description of two new genera. Second was the revision of East European and Asian taxa in 1996, which was not well received and has been variously integrated (more often not) into regional taxonomies. Third was the discovery of a new fossil family from China in 1999 and new fossil genera from British Columbia (2011), Argentina (1992), and Australia (2008). The remaining higher-level crayfish taxonomy has been reasonably stable over the last 50 years. Here researchers attempted to integrate, update, and revise crayfish taxonomy with insights gained through systematic and taxonomic studies. The classification of the freshwater crayfish presented herein consists of five families and 38 genera. Researchers outline their classification, including the two superfamilies (Northern and Southern hemispheres divisions). They also summarized the genera and numbers of extant species, additional subspecies, and fossil species within each genus. For each of the herein recognized crayfish families (both extant and fossil), scientists list the currently recognized genera, species, and subspecies. For each genus, they provide a reference to the original description, their type species and method of designation, as well as their gender to facilitate future work. All known synonyms are also listed. For species and subspecies, researchers list their current bi/trinomen, original name combination (if different), as well as currently accepted synonyms. The cut-off date for inclusion of names was set in June 2017, although the description of several species are in press and the present compilation will be outdated as soon as it appears in print. The data will be migrated to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) platform on publication, where researchers involved in this project will work to keep the list current. This classification results in two superfamilies (Astacoidea and Parastacoidea), five families, 38 genera, and 669 species (692 including distinct subspecies). Researchers provide a checklist of all species and include validated taxonomic authorities, type localities, figure references, and synonyms. Researchers also provide arguments for this revised classification. The updated and complete classification aims to provide a robust framework for future studies of the freshwater crayfishes of the world. "It is really exciting to finally have a single source for the world's freshwater crayfish taxonomy," said Keith A. Crandall, director of the Computational Biology Institute at the George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health. "Such a resource will impact a wide variety of fields that rely on crayfishes as study organisms. We hope it will also advance conservation efforts of these keystone species of highly endangered freshwater ecosystems." ### The paper "An updated classification of the freshwater crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidea) of the world, with a complete species list" is available at: https://academic.oup.com/jcb/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/jcbiol/rux070 Direct correspondence to: Keith A. Crandall Computational Biology Institute George Washington University 7000D 800 22nd St. NW Washington DC, 20052 kcrandall@gwu.edu To request a copy of the study, please contact: Daniel Luzer daniel.luzer@oup.com Sharing on social media? Find Oxford Journals online at @OxfordJournals HOKKAIDO, JAPAN (Aug. 8, 2017) - During a walk near a reservoir in a small Japanese town, amateur collectors made the discovery of their lives - the first and oldest fossil bird ever identified in their country. After sharing their mysterious find with paleontologists at Hokkaido University, brothers Masatoshi and Yasuji Kera later learned the skeletal remains were that of an iconic marine diving bird from the Late Cretaceous Period, one that is often found in the Northern Hemisphere but rarely in Asia. The remarkable specimen - which includes nine skeletal elements from one individual, including the thoracic vertebrae and the femoral bones - is being heralded as the "best preserved hesperornithiform material from Asia" and to be "the first report of the hesperorinthiforms from the eastern margin of the Eurasian Continent." Identified as a new species, it has been named Chupkaornis keraorum - Chupka is the Ainu word used by indigenous people from Hokkaido for 'eastern,' and keraorum is named after Masatoshi and Yasuji Kera, who discovered the specimen. The bird would have lived during the time when dinosaurs roamed the land. The scientific paper describing the find - entitled "The oldest Asian Hesperornithiform from the Upper Cretaceous of Japan, and the phylogenetic reassessment of Hesperornithiformes" - has been posted today on the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology website, an internationally renowned, peer-reviewed journal published by the Trustees of the Museum of Natural History, London. The co-authors of the report are Tomonori Tanaka, Ph.D. student, Department of Natural History Sciences, Hokkaido University; Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Ph.D., Hokkaido University Museum; Ken'ichi Kurihara, Ph.D., Hokkaido Museum; Anthony R. Fiorillo, Ph.D., Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas, Texas, USA; and Manabu Kano, Ph.D., Mikasa City Museum. To read their entire manuscript and view renderings, go to http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2017.1341960 or perotmuseum.org/press. "This amazing find illustrates the special relationship paleontologists and other scientists have with ordinary citizens who come upon interesting and unusual objects," said Tanaka. "Thanks to the wisdom and willingness of Masatoshi and Yasuji Kera to share their discovery with us at Hokkaido University, they have made a major contribution to science, and we are very grateful." The bones, estimated to be anywhere from 90 million to 84 million years old, were unearthed from the Upper Cretaceous Kashima Formation of the Yezo Group in Mikasa City, Hokkaido. The fossil bird consists of four cervical vertebrae, two thoracic vertebrae, the distal end of the left and right femora, and the middle part of the right fibula. The specimen is currently housed in the collection of the Mikasa City Museum in Hokkaido, Japan. "Hespeornithiforms is the oldest group of birds that succeeded to adapt for diving in ocean. This study provides better understanding in the early evolution of this group and the origin of diving in birds," added Tanaka. Chupkaornis has a unique combination of characteristics: finger-like projected tibiofibular crest of femur; deep, emarginated lateral excavation with the sharply defined edge of the ventral margin of that the thoracic vertebrae (those vertebrae in the upper back); and the heterocoelous articular surface of the thoracic vertebrae. Phylogenetic analysis of this study revealed that Chupkaornis is one of the basal hesperornithiforms, thereby providing details of the evolution of this iconic group of diving birds. "In Japan, many important vertebrate fossils have been discovered by amateurs because most of the land is covered with vegetation, and there are few exposures of fossil-bearing Cretaceous rocks. This research is a result of collaboration with amateurs, and I am thankful to their help and understanding of science," said Kobayashi. Hesperornithiformes were toothed, foot-propelled diving birds and one of the most widely distributed groups of birds in the Cretaceous of the northern hemisphere. These birds had extremely reduced forelimbs and powerful hind limbs, suggesting that they were flightless sea-going predatory birds. Most of hesperornithiform fossils have been discovered from North America so far. The discovery of Chupkaornis, the oldest Asian hesperornithiform, suggests that basal hesperornithiform had dispersed to the eastern margin of Asia no later than 90 million to 84 million years old. The discovery has broader aspects - and that's why Dr. Fiorillo, curator and vice president of research and collections at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, is involved. Dr. Fiorillo is considered one of the world's preeminent experts on arctic dinosaurs for his decades of research in Alaska. He has deep interest in the Beringia land bridge that connects North America to Asia. He was asked to collaborate on this discovery because several of the co-authors of the paper, including Kobayashi and lead-author Tanaka, have been members of his field team during past Alaska expeditions. "This study not only tells important new information about the evolution of this unusual group of birds, it also helps further our understanding of life in the ancient northern Pacific region, more specifically what was going on in the ocean while dinosaurs walked the land" said Fiorillo. ### About Hokkaido University and Hokkaido University Museum. Hokkaido University is home to some 4 million specimens and documents that have been gathered, preserved and studied since the Sapporo Agricultural College began more than 130 years ago. Amongst these are more than 10,000 precious "type specimens" that form the basis for the discovery and certification of new species. Opened in the spring of 1999, the Hokkaido University Museum conveys the diverse range of research carried out at Hokkaido University while also using various original materials and visual media to introduce the university's cutting-edge research. The Hokkaido University Museum offers exhibits and diversified information equal to those of any museum, facilitating conversation and creating an atmosphere that encompasses both past and future. Visitors to the museum can shift their attention at will, examining what intrigues them most and gathering information behind the individual exhibits, thus expanding their universe. About Mikasa City Museum. Mikasa City Museum is located in Mikasa City, Hokkaido. Also known as the "museum of fossils", the museum houses approximately 3,000 specimens, including many ammonites and a mosasaur, Taniwhasaurus mikasaensis, designated as a natural treasure of Japan. About the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The top cultural attraction in Dallas/Fort Worth and a Michelin Green Guide three-star destination, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a nonprofit educational organization located in the heart of Dallas, Texas, with campuses in Victory Park and Fair Park. With a mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the Perot Museum delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor and outreach experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners. The 180,000-square-foot facility in Victory Park opened in December 2012 and is now recognized as the symbolic gateway to the Dallas Arts District. Future scientists, mathematicians and engineers will find inspiration and enlightenment through 11 permanent exhibit halls on five floors of public space; a children's museum; a state-of-the art traveling exhibition hall; and The Hoglund Foundation Theater, a National Geographic Experience. Designed by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects, the Victory Park museum has been lauded for its artistry and sustainability. To learn more, please visit perotmuseum.org CONTACTS: Becky Mayad Perot Museum of Nature and Science becky@mayadpr.com 2 14-352-1881 or 214-697-7745 cell Tomonori Tanaka Hokkaido University ttanaka@eis.hokudai.ac.jp +81-90-3650-9593 Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Ph.D. Hokkaido University Museum ykobayashi@museum.hokudai.ac.jp UC Santa Barbara mechanical engineer Paolo Luzzatto-Fegiz was frustrated. Once again, the delicate tip of the instrument he was using to measure water density -- a conductivity probe -- had broken, rendering the setup useless and his work in temporary limbo. Consisting of four small platinum electrodes housed in glass, the probe tip was thin and highly sensitive, capable of making measurements in tiny volumes of water. But what good was such a precise instrument if it kept breaking? "They work very well," said Luzzatto-Fegiz, an expert in fluid dynamics. "But the tricky thing is that they are expensive in addition to being fragile, so it ends up being quite expensive to do complicated experiments in the lab." The tip's fragility also limits the kind of experiments that can be done in the field, he added, lest it bang up against something, or stray debris come in contact with the millimeter-thick platinum-and-glass end. "It also limits the kind of teaching that could be done with it, for example in oceanography," Luzzatto-Fegiz said. "It would be great to send out a bunch of undergrads in your labs to use these things but you can't reasonably afford to do that." Slightly annoyed and rather unwilling to continue spending the thousand or so dollars it would take to get another conductivity probe setup -- not to mention the lost time -- only to have it break again, Luzzatto-Fegiz engineered his own solution. The rise in maker culture -- particularly with DIY electronics -- offered some hope, and resulted in a device that would make MacGyver proud. "I'm not an expert in electronics," Luzzatto-Fegiz said. "I know about fluids, so I needed to connect with someone who knew about the electronics." Enter Marco Carminati, a microelectronics and sensors expert from the Politecnico di Milano, who also happened to be Luzzatto-Fegiz's childhood best friend. During a trip to the UCSB professor's home city of Milan, and using off-the-shelf products, the two engineers designed and built a conductivity probe that not only costs a fraction of the conventional one, but also achieved close to the same sensitivity while being more versatile and robust enough to withstand the occasional knock. Their work is highlighted in a paper titled "Affordable and high-resolution multichannel water conductivity sensor," which appears in the journal Sensors & Actuators B: Chemical. The main design challenge -- replicating the fancy probe tip with its closely spaced electrodes -- was solved by cannibalizing gear many of us already have sitting in our junk drawers: a micro USB connector plug. "What you do is you essentially peel off the outer metallic shield and expose these gold-plated electrodes and they're perfect," said Luzzatto-Fegiz, crediting Carminati for the idea. Named "Conduino," (since it measures conductivity, and is Arduino-based) the device is modular and customizable and also can be USB-powered, making it extremely portable. It also incorporates several sensors operating in parallel, as opposed to the single sensor of the commercially available device. "You can make the whole thing for a couple hundred dollars in your garage, in your free time," Luzzatto-Fegiz said. The design, which includes a stainless steel shaft and a Matlab-controlled Arduino electronic board, is open source -- so anyone can make one. "Although the Arduino microcontroller is sometimes considered a toy in the scientific community, it is a fantastic tool for rapid prototyping a digital interface controlling the high-resolution analog circuit tailored on the USB electrodes," Carminati said. "Its combination with Matlab perfectly suits the need for tweaks and integration with the precious code controlling complex experiments, common to researchers in the fluid dynamics and oceanographic fields." While some experiments and operations require conventional instruments for the finest, highest-resolution measurements, the Conduino achieves the same level of performance as the commercially available devices for most applications. "For most areas of application you don't need to get that fine. This is plenty small enough for any application I've come across, personally," Luzzatto-Fegiz said. "The Conduino, when combined in a package with small temperature and pressure sensors, would allow the measurement of salinity and water density in the ocean from a variety of autonomous platforms," said UCSB oceanographer Libe Washburn. "For example, aerial drones could fly over the ocean and then lower the sensor package to obtain vertical profiles of ocean water properties. The package could also be mounted on autonomous ocean vehicles for in-water sampling of water properties. Colleagues and I are working on these types of aerial drones and in-water vehicles for coastal oceanographic research, so we are very interested in this new sensor." Additionally, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego plans to adopt the Conduino for a course on ocean instrumentation. ### The University of Plymouth has launched a new spin out company which will address new vaccines for diseases which spread from animals to humans and for use in infection control. Governments, pharmaceutical companies and supranational bodies are showing increasing concern about emerging infectious diseases. The Vaccine Group will exploit technology developed by Dr Michael Jarvis, Associate Professor in Virology and Immunology at the University of Plymouth, who specialises in the creative design of herpesvirus-based vaccines for the control of disease. The Vaccine Group aims to commercialise new vaccine platforms for the development of vaccines for use in infection control (such as bovine tuberculosis) and for a rapid response to pathogens which unpredictably cross the species barrier and pose a significant threat to human health. Target pathogens include avian influenza A, Ebola and Marburg viruses, MERS and SARS coronaviruses and Rift Valley fever virus. Dr Jarvis' work has previously received funding from a number of sources, including UK Innovate, National Institutes of Health and the Medical Research Council. Initial work in The Vaccine Group will focus on herpesvirus-based platforms suitable for use in animals, to protect human health by targeting the animal species from which disease is transmitted to humans, for vaccination (termed zoonoses barrier vaccines). Future developments will include vaccines for use in humans. Dr Michael Jarvis, Chief Scientific Officer of The Vaccine Group, said: "My laboratory has nearly 20 years' experience in the development of vaccines based on herpesvirus-based technology. Science is a collaborative endeavour, and The Vaccine Group provides a new vehicle by which we can interact with fellow scientists, industry and investors to prevent emergence of infectious diseases relevant to global human health and agriculture." The Vaccine Group is supported by the University of Plymouth and the Frontier IP Group plc, which specialises in assisting institutions and companies in the commercialisation and exploitation of their intellectual property. ### TAMPA, FL (Aug. 7, 2017)- Medicaid does not cover hearing aids in 22 states. Coverage varies greatly in the remaining 28 states based on the degree of hearing loss and types of benefits available. Such inconsistencies exist as the federal government does not require Medicaid to cover hearing aids for adults, allowing individual states to set its own guidelines. "Medicaid Hearing Aid Coverage for Older Adult Beneficiaries: A State-by-State Comparison" published in the August issue of Health Affairs is the first comprehensive review of state-level Medicaid coverage. Lead author Michelle Arnold, Au.D.. CCC-A, University of South Florida, used six criteria to rank Medicaid's coverage policies in older adult beneficiaries. Eligibility of assessment and treatment Two hearing aids Batteries Supplies Follow-up and rehabilitation Repairs or replacement Medicaid in 12 of the 28 states (CA, IL, IN, MN, MO, NH, NV, NY, OH, SD, TX and VT) covers hearing aids if the patient is considered to have "mild" or greater hearing loss, such as difficulty understanding soft speech when there's a lot of background noise, like in a restaurant. "Moderate" or greater hearing loss is required in six states (FL, MT, NJ, ND, OR and WY), which can be problematic in most conversational settings. Six other states (HI, IA, MA, NE, RI and WI) rely on opinions from audiologists and physicians, as there aren't any standards. There's nothing in the guidelines that suggest criteria for hearing loss severity in four states (AK, CT, KS and NM). Nearly 30 million Americans over 50-years-old suffer hearing loss and that number will only increase as the population continues to age. Just 25% with moderate to severe hearing loss currently wear a hearing aid as they're cost prohibitive to those on a fixed income. Depending on the level of technology, aids cost $3,000-$6,000 out of pocket and must be replaced every 4-6 years. "Lack of hearing aid uptake is a public health concern, as untreated age-related hearing loss, with its concomitant reductions in speech understanding is associated with increased risks of social isolation, falls, hospitalizations and cognitive decline and with a disease burden of up to four disability-adjusted life years," said Arnold. Arnold concludes hearing aids and related services should be a federally mandated benefit for adult Medicaid beneficiaries in all 50 states, helping prevent additional costs and reduce the effects of adverse health conditions. ### USF Health USF Health's mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs, and the USF Physicians Group. The University of South Florida, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. USF is ranked in the Top 30 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to theNational Science Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.health.usf.edu Unmanned aerial systems are being used more often in urban and suburban areas for commercial and societal purposes like search and rescue missions and delivery services. However, the risk involved with flying over populated areas has yet to be quantified, which can lead to unease among the citizens below. Atilla Dogan, an associate professor of aerospace engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington, will use a $550,000 National Science Foundation grant to quantify risks posed by unmanned aerial vehicles, then create algorithms to reduce those risks while the vehicles perform specific tasks. UTA researchers Manfred Huber, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering; Brian Huff, UTA associate professor in the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering; Kamesh Subbarao, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; and Yan Wan, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering; are co-PIs on the grant. To use UAS to their full potential, they must be autonomous and able to operate around people while respecting safety, privacy and regulatory concerns. Dogan and his team will quantify the risks of operating the UAS with regard to these considerations, then develop dynamic risk assessment and guidance algorithms to compute flight paths that will lead to the least amount of risk while executing a task. The project will indicate how autonomous an unmanned aerial system can actually be while operating in populated areas. It also will help the Federal Aviation Administration develop regulations for UAS flight and contribute to multiple fields including autonomy, mobile networking and intelligent control, with applications in health, transportation and manufacturing. "Our objective is to increase public acceptance of UAS technology by demonstrating safe operation in various risk conditions, and to benefit commercial UAS use and the related job market," Dogan said. "The knowledge we acquire through this research will not only minimize risks, but will increase the ability of UAS to communicate with ground controllers and each other. We also hope to increase the ability of the vehicle to process information and learn from it to improve performance." Dogan and his team have worked together for several years in UTA's Unmanned Vehicle Systems certificate program, which is a multi-departmental effort to provide undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to earn multi-disciplinary skills and experience in this area. Erian Armanios, chair of the Mechanical and Engineering Department in UTA's College of Engineering, said the grant and the certificate programs are examples of UTA's commitment to sustainable urban communities and data-driven discovery within the University's Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact. "Autonomous vehicles are emerging as a way of life in accomplishing many tasks in urban society. Dr. Dogan's research would accelerate their broad implementation by ensuring safety and improving efficiency," Armanios said. ### A collaboration between UTA and the city of Arlington using an underground robot to view sewer mains has now spread to a neighboring city. Use of the robotic system in Ennis could signal signs of commercialization of the system. An Arlington Water Utilities and University of Texas at Arlington team recently used robotic technology to give Ennis city officials an eye-opening look at their sewer system. Public Water Solutions, a Texas-based utility resource provider, coordinated the examination of Ennis' critical underground assets. The results will provide community leaders the ability to prioritize millions of dollars of future infrastructure spending. Ennis City Manager R. Scott Dixon says his community is facing a tremendous backlog of sewer line improvements totaling tens of millions of dollars and resources for expensive replacements are limited. Like other public utilities, increased spending by Ennis would result in increases in water and sewer rates. Arlington's team is now preparing a full assessment on a section of sewer main that carries most of Ennis' sanitary sewer flow. "It is our hope that the outcome of this project will help the city to minimize the amount of investment required to prevent a major failure on one of its primary sanitary sewer lines," Dixon says. "If we are able to reduce the number of linear feet of the line that has to be replaced and identify areas where failure is imminent, we can better allocate our funding and address other equally high priority lines elsewhere in the system." Since October 2016, Arlington has been using the MSI HD Profiler, a multi-sensor robot that gathers information using a high definition camera, lasers and sonar, to examine large diameter sanitary sewer mains 24 to 72 inches in diameter under an exclusive agreement with the equipment supplier. The program is a partnership with the UTA Department of Civil Engineering. Data from the MSI HD Profiler and another smaller robot helps UTA and Arlington Water pinpoint areas for further structural evaluation, repair or possible replacement. More than 150,000 feet of Arlington sanitary sewer main have been inspected since the inspection program began. UTA President Vistasp Karbhari said the Ennis project - more than 50 miles away - signals the beginning for this technology and others being developed at the University. "The maintenance of sewer lines can cost cities millions of dollars in taxpayer funds," said Dr. Karbhari. "This technology is an example of how our faculty demands excellence and research that can be impactful to the communities we serve and those around the world." Ali Abolmaali, chair of the UTA Department of Civil Engineering said he believes this kind of technology could be used nationwide. "UTA and Arlington Water were able to cut the costs of the evaluations for Arlington residents and now Ennis residents by establishing this unique partnership to use the MSI HD Profiler and performing the work with in-house crews," said Abolmaali, who also is the Dr. Tseng Huang Endowed Professor in civil engineering. "The project has already gained national attention - with the American Society of Civil Engineers naming the project a 'Game Changer' in the area of public infrastructure in 2016." Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams recognized how the technology has benefited Arlington and its residents. "The partnership with The University of Texas at Arlington has created many valuable opportunities over the years that have benefitted our residents and business community," Mayor Williams said. "The sanitary sewer inspections and infrastructure research being done with these multi-sensor robots are just the latest examples of how Arlington and UTA are tapping innovative technology to make a real difference." ### The City of Arlington contributed to this article. Until now, insects have been too wriggly to make good subjects for scientists wanting to understand more about insect innards. But an interdisciplinary team of biologists and imaging specialists from Western University has worked out a novel micro-imaging solution that's leading to unprecedented new ways of viewing insect development. The team has managed to create spectacularly detailed, three-dimensional views of insects' insides -- without harming them in any way -- by using carbon dioxide to place them into a state of temporary suspended animation. The methodology and results have started making waves beyond the journal BioMed Central, where their paper is newly published. PhD candidate Joanna Konopka, an insect biologist, was interested in finding a non-invasive way to examine more thoroughly the life-cycle of live insects -- including Colorado potato beetles and true armyworms, agricultural pests that wreak havoc in crops across North America. But standard techniques -- using dead insects or killing them during the imaging process --still leave crucial gaps in scientists' understanding. "We essentially had snapshots, moments in time, when what we needed were dynamic images of insects' internal development," said Konopka. "We thought, what would happen if we tried to image them live?" She teamed up with colleague Danny Poinapen, a biophysicist at the micro-CT lab at Robarts Research Institute, and together they developed a technique that builds on insects' peculiar ability to withstand oxygen-low environments and high ionizing radiation doses. They temporarily immobilized the insects with a steady flow of carbon dioxide, for as long as seven hours at a time, and again several days later. They found it was possible to scan for, and study, tiny changes in the creatures over time -- with no effect on the insects' longevity, behaviour or reproductive abilities. "I was absolutely awed," Konopka said. "I'm familiar with pictures and drawings in books but this gives us a wholly new perspective of what they are." Said Poinapen, "I am trained as a physicist and I had no idea that I would get this 'wow' factor the first time I saw those images." The resolution shows detail to 20 microns (about five times smaller than the width of a human hair) and clearly shows the organs, reproductive system and other internal morphology. "It's a great example of how the interdisciplinary environment can benefit everyone's research," said Poinapen. "In our micro-CT lab, we know a lot about small-animal imaging -- but knew very little about insects or our capacity to live-scan them until we teamed up with our biology colleagues." The team included Konopka and Poinapen; Robarts Research Institute imaging scientist David Holdsworth, who is the Dr. Sandy Kirkley Chair in Musculoskeletal Research; and Biology Professor Jeremy McNeil, who is Helen I. Battle Professor of Chemical Ecology at Western University. The bigger picture, said Holdsworth and McNeil, is the value of collaborative process and inter-disciplinary research. "This is a great example of something that would not be possible in a typical biology lab, nor in a typical medical research lab. We were able to draw together the strength of our diverse expertise and resources," said Holdsworth, who is also a professor at Western's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. "This is the kind of thing that we're supposed to be doing at universities: cultivating the scientific curiosity that says 'what would happen if ...?' and then accomplishing something spectacular and, in many ways, unexpected," Holdsworth said. ### Video and full-colour images can be downloaded at http://mediarelations.uwo.ca/2017/08/08/new-scanning-process-allows-unprecedented-look-inside-live-insects/ with photo/video credit to Western University, London, Canada. MEDIA CONTACT: Debora Van Brenk, Media Relations Officer, Western University, 519-661-2111 x85165, or on mobile at 519-318-0657 and deb.vanbrenk@uwo.ca ABOUT WESTERN: Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals who have a broad worldview and who seek to study, influence and lead in the international community. The Cherokee Nation American Indian population is aiming to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) among its tribal citizens, where already almost half have been screened for the virus and around one quarter of those estimated to be infected have already been cured. The tribe will present its progress at the World Indigenous People's Conference on Viral Hepatitis in Anchorage, Alaska (August 8-9). Hepatitis C is a viral infection which can often remain symptomless for years. Left unchecked, it can cause extensive liver damage, including cirrhosis and ultimately liver cancer and death. Some 71 million people worldwide are thought to be infected, with at least 3 million of those in the USA. Sources of infection include injecting drug use past or present; blood transfusions that took place before 1991 when the virus could not be screened; other unsafe procedures such as unsafe tattooing in which equipment is not properly sterilised; and mother-to-child transmission. "Various factors have combined to make elimination of hepatitis C possible," explains Dr. Jorge Mera, Head of Infectious Diseases at Cherokee Nation, headquartered in Tahlequah, OK, USA. "The development of new directly acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) has made hepatitis C treatment much more successful and with fewer side effects. Alongside this, in 2015 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offered their support telling us they wanted us to aim for elimination. In collaboration with the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Health Department and the CDC, we started our HCV elimination program in August of 2015. This was possible through Gilead, one of the leading manufacturers of DAAs, who also donated $1.5 million through its Gilead Foundation to help with screening kits and research." Although there are more than 350,000 Cherokee Nation tribal citizens worldwide about 130,000 live in northeastern Oklahoma, USA, within the tribe's boundary. Rather than screen just the 'baby-boomer' generation now aged in their 50s, Dr Mera and his team are screening all people aged 20-69 years within the tribe's boundary, some 80,000 people. "Because Cherokee Nation citizens, under a treaty right with the United States Government have access to medical care, tracking them and screening them is slightly easier than might be so for other US populations," explains Dr Mera. The Indian Health Service (IHS), is an operating division within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and is responsible for providing direct medical and public health services to members of federally-recognised Native American Tribes and Alaska Native people, including the Cherokee Nation. IHS helps fund costs and the Cherokee Nation operates one central hospital (W.W. Hastings Hospital) and eight rural health care centers spread throughout the tribe's jurisdiction for easy access to tribal patients. Dr Mera has worked with them all to provide training and support to help roll out the screening and treatment. Using a program called Extended Community Health Outcomes (ECHO), each health center was trained using teleconferencing and is also able to regularly connect to Dr Mera and other team members centrally to present their cases. "Anyone entering our health centers who is in this screening age range is offered a test, and almost everyone will say yes. For the 10% or so that say no, we will continue to offer screening whenever they next visit," explains Dr Mera. "However, not everyone is coming to the doctor, of course. So we had the idea of also screening in our dental clinics, to catch our patients in all areas of health care that they might be accessing. Patients who agree to be tested will receive the result then and there and those who test positive will be referred to the hepatitis C clinical provider on the same day in most cases." In the case of mothers with hepatitis C, if they are unsure when they became infected, then a test is automatically offered to any of her children who could have been infected during the pregnancy. Another crucial screening point is emergency care, when patients come in to the urgent care or the emergency room and have a signed informed consent they will be tested for HCV unless they opt out. Some 70% of newly diagnosed cases are now coming through this route. Although it was thought that the hepatitis C prevalence in Cherokee Nation could be as high as 6%, more recent epidemiological studies have placed this estimate at 3.4%, similar to the general population across Oklahoma. This means that of the 80,000 citizens to be screened, some 2,800 would be expected to test positive for hepatitis C. However, only 70% of these would be expected to have what is termed 'active' or 'chronic' infection, with the other 30% of cases having self-cleared their infection. Thus, Dr Mera's team believes that between 1800 and 2000 Cherokee Nation citizens will require treatment for active infection. As of August 2017, just 2 years into the program, huge progress has been made. Around 46,000 people have been screened, 1076 have tested positive (antibodies) of which 760 are chronically infected requiring treatment; 605 patients had begun treatment (with the other 155 awaiting tests or to begin treatment), with 400 already completed and cured. The actual numbers cured are thought to be higher as some patients do not return to take the test required to confirm they are cured. Of those testing positive, around 60% are male and 40% female. Of course, the battle against hepatitis C in Cherokee Nation is not only about testing and treatment, but also education and awareness. "We are trying to raise awareness among our citizens to prevent further cases," explains Dr Mera. "New treatments have few or no side effects and treatment is completed in just 12 weeks in most cases." Regarding new infections, he adds: "As well as the ongoing dangers of injecting drug use, another problem we may have is that much of the tattooing in Cherokee Nation does not always take place in state-licensed facilities, and it could be a contributor." He is also hopeful that the scale up of opioid substitution programs in Oklahoma state could have an impact, although needle exchanges remain illegal in the state -- something Dr Mera believes must change to help drive down rates of hepatitis and HIV transmitted through this route. As the elimination project moves forward, cases of hepatitis C may become harder to find. "We will apply for further agency grant funding to help train community health workers to test people who may never visit the doctor or dentist and educate our tribal citizens about why this elimination project is essential. This is similar to the way Navajo Nation American Indian tribe trained their community health workers to test and deliver care for HIV in their population." "Through Cherokee Nation's successful partnership with the CDC and the state of Oklahoma, and dedicated work by our epidemiologist and health employees, it has drastically cut hepatitis C rates in our tribal population. We hope this blueprint of proactive screening and treatment can be replicated by other tribal health care systems nationwide, and even globally," said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. "Hepatitis C does not have to be the death sentence for Indigenous populations that it has historically been." "This is an inspirational initiative by a population that has been deeply impacted by hepatitis C," says Raquel Peck, Chief Executive of the World Hepatitis Alliance, London, UK. "Cherokee Nation is showing that with political will, financial support and engagement of the community, it is possible for them, and indeed other populations worldwide, to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat." ### When the West imposed economic sanctions on Russia in 2014 in response to the seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, Moscow took the punishment as an opportunity. It imposed a ban against a variety of food imports, mostly from European states, with an eye on unleashing its own farming potential. By investing in homegrown agriculture, the idea went, the country could eliminate a potential security threat by lessening its dependence on foreign products, boost employment by returning Russians in rural areas to the land, and set itself up for an organic future by providing ultra-niche crops to patriotic foodies. Three years after the counter-sanctions were announced in August 2014, those closest to Russia's black earth tell us how the country's strategic food-to-table initiative has affected their livelihoods. The Vegetable Farmers In 2010, as the United States suffered from its highest unemployment levels in decades, Chicago native Daniel Lawrence landed in Russia. The freshly minted university grad planned to teach English for six months, but soon met Olga Korogodina, a Moscow real-estate executive he describes as having a genius for "getting stuff done." As the craze for kale swept the U.S., the fit, clean-living couple was unable to find the leafy superfood in Russia, so the two set out to grow their own. In 2014, they discovered an abandoned communal cabbage farm 80 kilometers north of Moscow and set to work transforming the Soviet wasteland into an organic wonderland. Superfood Farm now grows more than 30 different boutique vegetables for high-end supermarkets and restaurants. Daniel: "When sanctions hit, a lot of people got involved in farming. So, for the average vegetable farmer it probably hasnt been a good thing. There are fewer imports, but thats just been replaced with domestic competition from people who saw an opportunity. Im hesitant to say the sanctions have brought about any big changes yet in the way Russians feel about food, but it has definitely started something." Olga: "I dont think well see a lot of Russians returning to the land. We tried to hire local people but they would just get drunk and disappear. Russians dont want to work on farms. Our five employees are from Central Asia. They know how to work. Daniel: "This patriotism regarding food is a good start, but there has to be something behind it -- it can't be just marketing, people will eventually see through it. You see this phrase everywhere now: 'fermerskiye produkty', 'farmer's products'. It's meaningless. Which farmer? It's like a restaurant advertising 'chef's food'." Daniel is skeptical about the "boom" in Russia's organic market, which reportedly grew 60 percent from 2010-16. After Russia implemented its targeted ban on foreign food imports, President Vladimir Putin said his country could become the world's leading producer of "healthy, ecologically clean, high-quality food." Daniel: "I think those numbers are probably inflated. My theory is its mostly just big companies putting a sticker saying organic on things and charging more. Theres no regulation here. The trend for organic is limited to a very small demographic. "Russia has huge potential. There are abandoned Soviet farms all over the country, and the infrastructure is still functional. Things dont need to be new. For someone who wants to get into farming, its a great way to get started. But I think the attitude here toward business can be a hurdle. In the U.S., starting a business and failing is almost a rite of passage. Whereas here, if your business fails then, well, youre a failure." The Beekeeper After a bumper season in 2013 brought in 1.5 tons of honey, beekeeper Ravil Sanzhapov found himself unsure of what to do with the excess. When his daughter Guzel, an experienced entrepreneur, came up with the idea of a honey-cream factory, the fate of tiny Maly Turysh changed in a big way. After a crowdfunding campaign brought in nearly 500,000 rubles ($7,800), Ravil and his daughter set up an operation in the village, located 200 kilometers west of Yekaterinburg, that now employs nine locals to turn honey into a boutique treat. The pair says changes in Russia's attitude to its own food began long before the sanctions. Ravil: "Maybe sanctions had an impact, but the main thing is a change in people's frame of mind. I sold clothes before we started the honey business and I noticed people were becoming blase about having access to all these foreign goods. They were no longer impressed just because something was imported." Russia's aims for agricultural self-sufficiency may be hobbled by the quality of the domestically produced machinery available. Ravil: "The quality of the Russian equipment is generally poor. Once, we bought a Russian machine for grinding berries, but we eventually just had to send it back. The foreign machines are much more expensive, but we need something reliable." Guzel Sanzhapova: "We succeeded here because the time has come; the boom in organic Russian food is not a result of the sanctions. There are plenty of niches in the market -- all the villages just produced raw materials when they were better off making a finished product. Don't just milk cows, make a cheesecake with raspberry jam! It's a normal evolution. The same thing happened in Europe, we're just very late. Guzel Sanzhapova: "Actually, I want this organic Russian food trend to end. Fashionable means a 300-percent price markup. I'm confident that we can save Russian villages, but each of them needs to create some kind of small operation that can employ locals. We'll see how things work out here. If everything goes well, I'll move on to another village." The Goat Farmer In the winter of 2013, when Sergei Balaev bought the remains of a Soviet cattle farm 130 kilometers south of Moscow, a bitter wind howled through the empty windows of the dilapidated stables. But the political storm that broke out over the Ukraine conflict the next summer gave the goat farmer's fledgling business an unexpected boost after competing Western food imports were blocked by Moscow. Sergei: "I know about 200 farmers and all of them hope the sanctions will continue -- the more the better. There are no cheap imports on the shelves anymore. We need about two to three more years for local products to take over the market from imports. Then we'll hold onto it with the quality of fresh local food." After the Kremlin earmarked billions to support Russian agriculture, Sergei received a government grant of 8 million rubles ($120,000) in 2015. But he says high lending rates present a hurdle for many people looking to get into farming. Sergei: "It's impossible for a farmer to get a loan, that's something you only see on Russian TV. At 25 percent interest you'd have to be crazy. I wouldn't be able to repay a loan like that in my lifetime." After the ban on some Western food imports was imposed, Russia laid plans to revamp its agricultural sector. It invested in infrastructure and equipment, and allocated funds for increased subsidies to individual farmer, but Sergei feels more could be done. Sergei: "It would be great if farmers were supported without needing sanctions to force people's hands, but in Russia the local official needs a kick in the pants from the higher-ups before they'll start doing something." Sergei: "It is true that Russians don't want to work on farms. I start laughing when I watch the news. They talk about unemployment, but meanwhile my farm manager can't find a dairymaid or a shepherd. Russians are like Italians, always on siesta." The Restaurateur When Boris Akimov flicked through a dusty Tsarist-era cookbook, he realized that much of Russia's culinary diversity had been lost during the Soviet era. In 2009, the former journalist teamed up with a friend to start a business sourcing seasonal produce from small farmers, championing the weird and wonderful. Today, Lavkalavka is a chain of restaurants and farmers' markets, one of several Moscow brands pushing the idea of "farm to table" organic Russian food. Boris: "I can't say that everything has been great after the sanctions. People are buying from local farmers because they don't have anything from Europe now, but the economic crisis here means that people have less money to shop with. Overall, though, I think the sanctions have done more good than harm. The government here used to only think about big corporations and help them out with subsidies. Now there's more focus on small farms and they are actually getting some money from the government. Buying Russian food from small farmers is giving a chance to villages that just a few years ago were disappearing and dying." Boris: "A while ago I was flying over Cognac in France. I remember looking down and seeing every little bit of land was being used. The farmers there have been making amazing food for centuries. If I went there what could I do?" Place Your Advert Register or sign in to advertise your job The majority of Brits believe consumers need to learn more about the origins of their food, new research reveals. The survey, conducted by Certas Energy, explored the nation's awareness around British agriculture and UK food trade. The survey revealed that more than four out of five people would like to support British agriculture, but have no idea where to start. Three-quarters of people confessed (75%) that they are unaware of how commercial farming operates. A further 77% of people said that they are unaware of how much food is imported and exported in the UK, but 86% claim they actively try to purchase British grown produce. The cities that most actively try to purchase produce from home soil were Newcastle (87%), Glasgow (87%), Nottingham (84%), Edinburgh (83%) and Bristol (81%), while the least active were Sheffield (39%) and Birmingham (34%). Getting it wrong When it came to knowing about which fruit and vegetables are in season, respondents had very mixed knowledge, with the majority of Brits getting the answers wrong. Over half of those surveyed thought that garlic (55%) was grown all year round, despite it being seasonal in summer. Only 16% of people knew that kale and leeks are typically grown in the winter, while only 13% knew that butternut squash is in season during the autumn and just one in ten (11%) knew that peas are a spring vegetable. The fruit and vegetables that most respondents guessed correctly were onions (55%), mushrooms (62%) and parsnips (40%) which are grown all year round. Sheffield and Nottingham fared worst with their fruit and veg knowledge, while the cities with most correct answers about seasonal produce were Southampton and Norwich. Cheese come from plants The study comes at a time when a recent conference said that the future of agriculture and food production lies with young people. However, even children's agricultural facilities are closing down. And according to new research by the BNF, which spoke to more than 27,500 children across the UK, cheese comes from plants, tomatoes grow underground and fish fingers are made of chicken. To top if off, research has shown that seven in ten (69%) Brits feel they are losing touch with nature, with a further 13% admitted they have not been to the countryside for more than two years. British Lion egg processors are calling on food manufacturers, retailers, and caterers to reconsider their egg sourcing. It comes as news that contaminated eggs from Dutch farms have seeped into the UK and research showing strong consumer demand for the use of British eggs in prepared foods. Prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation after millions of eggs were either withdrawn from sale or blocked in Europe following chemical contamination. However, according to new research, British consumers want increased transparency from retailers. It also revealed that more than 70% of shoppers expect prepared foods containing eggs to clearly show the eggs country of origin on pack. The independent research, commissioned by British Lion Egg Processors, showed that consumers are increasingly concerned that foreign eggs are being used in the prepared foods they buy. That concern has grown in the lead up to Brexit, with more than a third of shoppers now more likely to look for ingredients country of origin on prepared food products and to purchase foods that specify British ingredients. The research showed that 40% of shoppers say they would be less likely to support a retailer if they used imported eggs in their products. Made British Conversely, 85% would feel reassured if they saw the Made with British Lion eggs logo on prepared egg products packaging. The logo is there to ensure eggs are of high quality, safe to eat and British. Ian Jones, Chairman of British Lion Egg Processors, said: This is just the latest of a number of food safety issues connected to eggs produced outside of the UK in recent years. Consumers clearly want retailers, caterers and food manufacturers to use good quality British ingredients that are produced to high standards of food safety, but in some prepared foods this is not the case. As we approach Brexit, shoppers are growing increasingly concerned about the ingredients used in manufactured food and now more than ever want and deserve transparency on food packaging." "The egg industry believes that this is a great opportunity for retailers to listen to the concerns of their customers and reassure them by specifying the use of British eggs and using the Made with British Lion eggs logo on packs. The 'clock is ticking' for British farmers as they face a decade of uncertainty surrounding post-Brexit subsidies, according to the National Trust. The Trust's director general Dame Helen Ghosh, who will use a speech at Countryfile Live in Oxfordshire today, will say that some farmers are reverting to intensive methods for short-term profits due to growing uncertainty. There is concern that such methods are harming the environment and surrounding wildlife. "We have already seen examples of short-term decision-making, where farmers, in response to uncertainty about the future and income, have ploughed up pasture which was created with support from EU environmental money. "It's very understandable, but heart-breaking," she said. She will call on the government to maintain the EU's 3bn-a-year support package for the industry with clear incentives for nature-friendly farming. And clear guarantees for farmers that food standards and environmental protections will be maintained. "The longer we wait, the more we risk losing all the gains we have made over the last decade." 'Golden opportunity' The government has promised to keep overall subsidies at the same level until 2022, but environment secretary Michael Gove said the money would have to be earned through environmentally-friendly agriculture as part of a 'green Brexit.' Dame Ghosh will tell the event at Blenheim Palace: "We are within touching distance of a vision for the future of farming that sees thriving businesses successfully meeting the needs of the nation into the 21st century and beyond. "The longer we wait, the more we risk losing all the gains we have made over the last decade." A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Leaving the EU provides us with a golden opportunity to set up new frameworks for supporting our farmers to grow more, sell more and export more great British food. "We have committed to match the 3 billion agricultural support until 2022 and the Environment Secretary has said that support for our farmers will continue for many years to come where the environmental benefits of that spending are clear. "As we develop this new approach to food and farming outside the EU we will not compromise on our high standards of animal welfare and environmental protection." Investment The Country Land and Business Association president Ross Murray said managing the landscape, producing quality food and planting trees are benefits which require investment. "We have a unique opportunity post-Brexit to ensure farmers and landowners are better recognised for undertaking this vital work." With UK temperatures on the rise, farmers are being urged to check the temperature of their broiler and dairy sheds to avoid a loss of production. The warning has come amid a spike in reports of high temperatures in dairy sheds and broilers across the UK, due in part to outdated or faulty ventilation equipment. Duncan Burl, of ventilation and heating specialist Hydor, said: The soaring temperatures, were currently experiencing can prove a challenge to livestock. Overheating in both chickens and cows has been linked to a loss of productivity and, in extreme cases, death. Weve already seen a significant number of calls come in from farmers looking to upgrade their ventilation systems in light of the extreme heat seen in June and early July. Productivity can decline at temperatures from 25C upwards in the average cow and even lower in high yielding animals, so its essential that careful monitoring of heat levels takes place regularly during the hotter months. Fatalities For chickens, an increase in body temperature of just 4C can result in fatalities, with birds requiring approximately five days to acclimatise to high temperatures, according DEFRA. For dairy cows body temperatures of 42C and above can prove fatal, and the effects on production can be noted from an atmospheric temperature of just 25C. Mr Burl continues: Effective ventilation has been identified, as key to mitigating extreme heat in cows and chickens by both DEFRA and a number of in-depth studies. Out-dated, or underperforming equipment can have a significant impact on effectiveness, so its integral that ventilation systems are operating at their optimum performance at this time of year. To help identify the beginnings of heat stress in both cows and chickens, Hydor has outlined some of the key warning signs. Cows Increased water consumption, in extreme cases cows can drink in excess of 50 per cent more than their usual intake Excessive panting or drooling, used to increase subcutaneous blood flow Reduced food intake to lessen the impact of metabolic processes Chickens Avoidance of other birds Raised wings, used to increase the exposure of skin Panting, which increases as the heat rises Reduced feed intake Increased water consumption A man was air flown to hospital after trapping his hand in farm machinery. The man, from Anglesey, received serious injuries. Emergency services were called to Ty Croes, near Rhosneigr at 1.15pm on 7 August. A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: "We were called at shortly before 1.20pm this afternoon (7 August 2017) to reports of an industrial accident at an address near Aberffraw. "We sent the Wales Air Ambulance and a crew in an emergency ambulance and a man was airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd with serious injuries." The incident comes only days after the end of Farm Safety Week (July 24-28). The Farm Safety Partnership said many farmers never stop to consider why animals behave as they do and, more importantly, what this behaviour could mean to their personal safety. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures from the 2016/17 period showed agriculture is the most dangerous UK profession, with 27 work-related. Last year, 30 people were killed in agriculture, compared with 29 the year before. Prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation after millions of eggs were either withdrawn from sale or blocked in Europe following chemical contamination. The Dutch food safety authority, NVWA, confirmed to the Ranger that the public prosecutor had begun a criminal investigation into a company involved in treating layers against red mite. The treatment, it seems, contained a toxic chemical called fipronil, which is banned from use on animals involved in the human food chain, including chickens. Eggs in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have been destroyed, withdrawn or blocked and well over 100 Dutch egg farms are still shut down whilst investigations continue. In the United Kingdom the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has circulated guidance suggesting that egg producers seek advice from their vet if they have any concerns. Fipronil BEIC chief executive Mark Williams said in the circular: "As you may be aware, nearly 200 farms in the Netherlands have had restrictions imposed on them so they are not permitted to move eggs, manure and/or birds due to the use of DEGA-16. This is because fipronil has been mixed into the product. "BEIC has been advised that the company which has mixed fipronil into DEGA-16 is also known to have sold quantities to the UK, France, Germany and Poland as an effective product against red mite," said Mr Williams, although the Food Standards Agency says there is no evidence that any contaminated product has found its way into this country. "BEIC has been advised that the company which has mixed fipronil into DEGA-16 is also known to have sold quantities to the UK, France, Germany and Poland as an effective product against red mite," said Mr Williams, although the Food Standards Agency says there is no evidence that any contaminated product has found its way into this country. Mr Williams said in the circular: "If producers do have any concerns, it is advised that they seek further advice from their vet," he said. Warning system Eggs have been withdrawn from sale in both Germany and Belgium after the Dutch authorities raised the alarm. "We work in a warning system with Brussels," said a spokeswoman for the NVWA. "If we find something then we can use this to let other countries know." The NVWA has made a list of egg codes that may have been affected by contamination. These have been circulated to other countries to prevent them being sold to the public. The NVWA spokeswoman said that restrictions remained in place on 138 farms producing eggs in the Netherlands. "This means that they cannot sell the eggs or bring them to market. They will have to be destroyed." She said that eggs were not allowed to be destroyed by producers, themselves; the work had to be carried out officially. Criminal investigation She said it was unknown how long the restrictions would remain in place because the authorities were still trying to analyse results and understand how long the effect of the treatment would continue to contaminate eggs. She said that all the farms investigated for contamination had used the same company to treat their birds. "We know that from receipts at the farms." She said a criminal investigation had begun, although she understood that the company involved in the investigation was no longer operational. Reports suggest that the company obtained the pesticide it used from a supplier in Belgium. The Dutch egg industry organisation, Ovoned, has expressed anger at the contamination crisis. The organisation issued a statement saying that egg producers were innocent victims of something that should not have happened. It said farmers had contracted a company to treat their birds against red mite, expecting that the treatment used would be effective and safe. Restrictions Ben Dellaert, director of Ovoned, as well as chairman of the International Egg Commission, told FarmingUK: "It turns out that several farms in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium (and maybe other countries) have used a company for a treatment against red mite. "Now it turns out that the substance used contains fipronil, which is normally used against fleas on cats and dogs. Legislation forbids the use of fipronil on poultry." Mr Dellaert said that restrictions had been imposed on farms, meaning that eggs, birds and manure had to stay on the farm. He said restrictions could be lifted if the level of fipronil in eggs fell below a certain level. He said the egg sector, itself, had already blocked the affected farms, starting on July 22. This meant that packing stations would not collect eggs from these farms. NVWA told FarmingUK that treatment with the suspect chemical had been carried out on chickens over a period from January to July. It is feared that Dutch egg producers could face mounting losses as the restrictions continue. The country's biggest supermarket chain, Albert Heijn, reportedly announced that it was removing 14 different types of eggs from its shelves. 'Moderately toxic' Amongst the eggs it was removing were the companys own brand free range and organic eggs. Jumbo, the second biggest Dutch supermarket group has also removed some types of eggs from its stores. In Germany - a big export market for the Dutch egg industry - supermarkets have also been removing eggs from shelves. It is thought that nearly three million eggs from companies affected by the fipronil treatment were delivered to Germany before July 22. According to the World Health Organisation, fipronil is a "moderately toxic" chemical, although in high concentrations it can have a dangerous effect on kidney, liver and thyroid gland function. Producers see losses increase to 26-28 per pig, estimates show CVS Health (CVS -2.36%) didn't disappoint the last time the pharmacy giant announced its quarterly results. The company's profit was down in the first quarter, but still beat expectations. Still, CVS Health has referred to 2017 as "a rebuilding year." The company announced its second-quarter results before the market opened on Tuesday. Did CVS Health take another positive step in its rebuilding effort? Here are the highlights from the company's second-quarter update. CVS Health results: The raw numbers Metric Q2 2017 Q2 2016 Year-Over-Year Change Sales $45.7 billion $43.7 billion 4.5% Net income from continuing operations $1.1 billion $924 million 18.8% Adjusted EPS $1.33 $1.32 0.8% What happened with CVS Health this quarter? There was good news and bad news for CVS Health's top line. The good news was that revenue for its pharmacy-services segment, which provides pharmacy benefits-management (PBM) services to customers, increased 9.5% year over year, to $32.3 billion. This growth stemmed from higher pharmacy-claim volume, higher brand-drug prices, and increased specialty drug volume. What was the bad news? Revenue for the retail/long-term care (LTC) segment slipped 2.8% year over year, to $19.6 billion. Three key factors contributed to this decline: a 2.6% decrease in same-store sales, a higher generic dispensing rate, and continued reimbursement pressure. That decline in same-store sales was the result of a drop in both pharmacy and front-store same-store sales. Pharmacy same-store sales fell primarily because of the recent introduction of new generic drugs, which have lower prices than brand drugs. Front-store same-store sales dropped due largely to softer customer traffic, despite a positive impact from the Easter holiday falling in the second quarter instead of the first quarter as it did last year. CVS Health's net income was significantly higher than the prior-year period on a GAAP basis. However, the improvement was mainly due to the impact of a $542 million loss on early extinguishment of debt in the second quarter of 2016. The company opened 27 new retail locations during the second quarter and closed three retail locations. CVS Health also relocated 10 retail locations. As of Jun. 30, 2017, the company operated 9,700 retail locations in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Brazil. What management had to say CVS Health CEO Larry Merlo said: The second-quarter results we posted today keep us nicely on pace to achieve our full-year targets. Operating profit in the retail/LTC segment was in line with expectations while operating profit in the pharmacy services segment exceeded expectations. At the same time, we have generated substantial free cash flow year-to-date and continued to return significant value to our shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. While we are pleased to report results consistent with our expectations, we won't be satisfied until the total enterprise returns to healthy levels of earnings growth." Looking forward CVS Health now expects full-year GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance between $4.92 and $5.02. The company previously provided full-year guidance of $5.02 to $5.18. Full-year adjusted earnings per share are expected to be between $5.83 and $5.93, narrowed from the previous guidance of $5.77 to $5.93. CVS Health also maintained its full-year guidance of cash flow from operations of $7.7 billion to $8.6 billion and free cash flow of $6 billion to $6.4 billion. In the third quarter, CVS Health projects GAAP diluted earnings per share between $1.20 and $1.23, with adjusted earnings per share between $1.47 and $1.50. All of these estimates include the assumption that the company will buy back $5 billion of its stock. The company's full-year guidance underscores just how much of a rebuilding year 2017 actually is. CVS Health's projections call for, at best, only slight improvement in adjusted earnings per share from 2016 to 2017. Net revenue is expected to grow by only 3% to 4%. A big factor in the anemic earnings growth is that CVS Health is getting more sale growth from its pharmacy-services segment, but that business isn't as profitable as its retail/LTC segment. This dynamic isn't likely to change anytime soon. However, CVS Health continues to generate very strong cash flow. And it continues to reward investors through dividends and share repurchases. Despite current challenges, CVS Health's business model still appears to be solid. An MP is seeking to close a legal loophole that prevents people being prosecuted for drink-driving on private land. Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative MP for Elmet and Rothwell) has given his backing to a campaign for a Whitlams law. It follows the death of 11-year-old Harry Whitlam who was killed when he was struck by a reversing tractor and trailer on a farm near Leeds in 2013. See also: Drunk tractor driver jailed for killing boy on farm Swithens Farm in Rothwell, where the incident took place, was a working farm that had also been developed into a visitor attraction, and Harry Whitlams mother Pamela worked in the cafe kitchen. The vehicle was being driven by 51-year-old self-employed worker Gary Green, who was found to be more than twice over the legal drink-drive limit. However, Mr Green could only be prosecuted under health and safety legislation as the Crown Prosecution Service were unable to bring a criminal prosecution because the accident occurred on private, not public land. Mr Green was eventually jailed for 16 months and two weeks in December 2016 after a case at Leeds Crown Court. Change in law Mr Shelbrooke called for a change in the law during an adjournment debate in the House of Commons last month. During the debate he pointed out that if Mr Green had been prosecuted under Road Traffic Act 1988 then the maximum penalty would have been 14 years imprisonment. In addition, there was scope for an unlimited fine, a minimum two-year driving ban and a requirement to pass an extended driving test before the offender can drive legally again. Whitlams law is about changing the Road Traffic Act so that offences prescribed by it that are committed on private land are classed as criminal offences and are actionable by the police, particularly the offence of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, regardless of where that vehicle might be, he said. Whitlams law will prevent other families from having to go through Pamelas trauma of losing her only son and then being told that a prosecution for death by drink-driving could not be brought. Mr Shelbrooke has said he would be seeking a meeting with transport minister John Hayes to discuss the issue further when parliament returns after recess on 4 September. Nubia is offering upto 30% discount on its smartphones via Amazon Great Indian Sale Features oi -Harish Kumar Nubia smartphones today announced that the company will offer discounts up to 30% to consumers on its range of products for the Amazon Great India Sale starting August 9th. The discounts will be offered to consumers for both recently launched products as well as the existing devices in the portfolio. Nubia will offer discounts ranging from INR 1000 - 4000 on select category of phones, these include N1 lite at entry level, M2 lite and N2 in the middle, Flagship Z11 and the recently launched Z17 mini and the artistic nubia M2 at the upper end of the spectrum. The eight nubia devices offer a mix of everything but are consistent in their performance, imaging capabilities and with their intuitive user interface. Photography specialists and enthusiasts will have an opportunity to grab the dual camera Z17mini and sleek M2 at unbelievable prices. Both the devices have pushed the boundaries of imaging and carry performance with elan. It has always been a prerogative with nubia to offer devices that add value to the lives of people who buy them. With that view nubia has also introduced the N2 with 5000 mAh battery and a proprietary Neo Power software package that can make the phone go up to 3 days on a single charge. Price benefits are also available on nubia N1 lite, and M2 lite. While the former is an entry level product, available for 5999/- the latter is a mid-range power house. All devices are available with nubia's promise of superlative imaging, bold design and a compelling battery performance. Speaking about the promotion, Mr. Eric Hu, Country Head, nubia India said, "The Great Indian sale on Amazon is a perfect opportunity for us to invite new users into a growing nubia community in India. We are delighted with the response for our products and are confident that with this sale, we will be able to reach out to still more people and demonstrate our commitment to be a part of Indian families and helping them capture their memories." PRODUCT INNOVATION & ACHIEVEMENTS: Nubia products giving the best performance in all segments such as world's first Borderless smartphone (2015), become one of the first Dolby Atmos-certified phones (2016). Furthermore, the first phone used for professional scientific project photography: the milky way (Beijing Planetarium & China Photographers' Association, 2014), and the first phone with Independent Focus and Exposure Metering (2012). Nubia provides the best photographic experience and not just a smartphone with camera. 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 Meizu M6 Note spotted online with a dual-camera and a faster CPU News oi -Rohit Meizus next smartphone- the Meizu M6 Note will feature a dual-lens camera, a 4,000 mAh battery and a Helio P25 CPU Chinese smartphone maker Meizu is all set to unveil Meizu M6 Note smartphone in the homegrown market. Successor to Meizu M5 Note, the upcoming smartphone has been spotted online in a leak which talks about the smartphone's price and possible specifications. As per the leak spotted by Chinese website MyDrivers, the new smartphone will be launched in the first week of September 2017 (Sept 6) in Beijing. Meizu M6 Note will be priced at 1,500 Yuan that roughly translates to Rs. 15,000 in the Indian currency. The leaked report further suggests that the handset will be powered by MediaTek Helio P25 processor and will sport a metal body. No other information is provided by the Chinese website regarding the possible specs; however GSMarena reports that the handset will sport a 5.5-inch LCD screen with Full HD resolution. The information is mostly based on a leaked screenshot of the device's specs page. The smartphone is expected to arrive in two variants. One variant will have 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage and the more expensive version will offer 4GB of RAM and 64GB inbuilt storage. Meizu M6 Note is expected to have a 4,000 mAh battery unit. Looking at the specifications, we can say that Meizu M6 Note will be a lower mid-range Android handset and will fight the likes of Xiaomi, Lenovo and Motorola's sub Rs. 15k smartphones in the Indian market. The sub Rs. 15,000 smartphones from these companies offer full HD screens, fingerprint scanners and even dual-cameras. We will have to wait for a while to find out what Meizu will offer in the camera department with the upcoming handset. Stay tuned on GIZBOT for more on Meizu M6 Note. Best Mobiles in India Idea Cellular files merger application before NCLT, after getting approval from SEBI News oi -Priyanka The Idea Cellular-Vodafone merger deal will create the country's largest mobile phone operator worth more than $23 billion with a 35 percent market share. India's third largest telecom operator Idea Cellular today said that it has filed an application before the National Company Law Tribunal ( NCLT), Ahmedabad Bench, for approval of the merger with Vodafone India Ltd. and Vodafone Mobile Services Ltd. The company said, "Following the receipt of approvals from Competition Commission of India on 24 July 2017 and the Stock Exchanges/SEBI on 04 August 2017 and in accordance with the terms thereof, Idea Cellular Ltd. (the Company) has yesterday filed an application before the National Company Law Tribunal, Ahmedabad Bench, for approval of the merger of Vodafone India Ltd. and Vodafone Mobile Services Ltd. with the Company." Meanwhile, Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and exchanges have recently given a conditional approval to the merger deal between both the companies. To recall, the deal was announced in March this year to create the country's largest mobile phone operator worth more than $23 billion with a 35 percent market share. Post the transaction, Vodafone will own 45.1 percent stake in the merged entity while the Aditya Birla group, Idea's parent company, will have 26 percent share after paying Rs. 3,874 crores cash for a 4.9 percent stake. The remaining 28.9 percent will be held by other shareholders. The combined entity of Aditya Birla Group's Idea Cellular and Vodafone India will have the widest network in the country and pan-India 3G/4G footprint, the companies earlier said in a statement. "The combination of Vodafone India and Idea will create a new champion of Digital India founded with a long-term commitment and vision to bring world-class 4G networks to villages, towns, and cities across India," the release stated. 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 Haiti - FLASH : The Dominican Republic exported for $800M goods in Haiti Saturday, Alexandra Izquierdo, Director of the National Statistics Office (Oficina Nacional de Estadisticas (ONE)) revealed that in 2016, the Dominican Republic exported worldwide property worth over 8.7 billion dollars whose 800 $800 million to Haiti, which makes it the second export market for Creole products. She adds that, according to figures from the Dominican General Directorate of Customs, validated by ONE, the main products sold in Haiti were: T-shirts and underwear (15.93% for 127.44 million US); Cotton fabrics (12.26% for US $ 98.13 million) and prepared products for sauces, as well as prepared sauces (7.67% for 61.37 million). In 2016, according to the ONE, the main destination of Dominican exports remains the United States with more than $ 4.5 billion (52.57%). In general terms, Dominican exports of goods in 2016 amounted to US $ 8,744 million (FOB) and imports to US $19,582 million (CIF value). Alexandra Izquierdo, explained that 58.96% of the goods were exported by the Dominican Republic, came from the free zones, 40.59% corresponded to domestic exports and 0.45% remaining to the other customs procedures. In the Top 3 products exported in 2016 are found : gold, 1.6 billion (18.73%); Medical, electromedical, dental and vision instruments 972.64 million (11.12%) and cigarettes, with 656.84 million (7.51%). See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-21696-icihaiti-economy-dr-wants-to-triple-its-exports-to-haiti.html SL/ HaitiLibre Steigenberger Wiltchers in Brussels French-born Michel Cottray has been appointed General Manager at Steigenberger Wiltcher's in Brussels with effect from October. Mr. Cottray gained his vast experience in countries like Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia with international hotel brands such as the InterContinental Hotel Group, The Luxury Collection of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Le Meridien, Westin, Sheraton and Sofitel. "We are delighted to welcome Michel Cottray to our company," said COO Thomas Willms. "He is an extremely experienced hotelier who will enrich our hotel group portraying outstanding leadership at our Belgium flagship hotel." Mr. Cottray began his career at the "Jean Drouant Hotel Academy" in Paris. In 1998, he was appointed to his first General Manager assignment in Australia followed by continued key General Manager positions worldwide. In 2007, he obtained an Executive MBA in Tourism Management at Chur University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland. Mr. Willms also commented on the development plans pursued by the company. "Over the next few years, Deutsche Hospitality will open 26 hotels in Africa, Asia and Europe. This international expansion further strengthens our position as an attractive employer for cosmopolitan, skilled managers within the hospitality industry." Mr. Cottray will move to Brussels to replace current General Manager Johannes Oldenburger, who will now enter his well-deserved retirement. Thomas Willms stated: "We would like to thank Han Oldenburger for his outstanding work both in Brussels and previously in Cologne." Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is home to international organizations and institutions such as the European Union and NATO. Steigenberger Wiltcher's is the iconic luxury hotel centrally located on exclusive Avenue Louise shopping street. Its 267 splendidly appointed guest rooms and suites offer stylish interiors and ultimate comfort for the discerning Brussels traveler. IntercityHotel Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof Sud scheduled to open on the South side of the main railway station in 2019 The new IntercityHotel Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof Sud will open for business by the beginning of 2019. Offering 400 guest rooms, six conference rooms, a bar and a restaurant, it will become the largest hotel to operate under the IntercityHotel brand and will also feature the new interior design concept created by the Italian architect Matteo Thun. The building which will house the hotel is currently under construction as part of a major regeneration scheme for a larger site lying to the South of Frankfurt Main Station, progress on which can be viewed via a special webcam. The IntercityHotel Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof Sud will be located within the direct proximity of a new bus station offering inter-city services and near a newly constructed multi-storey public car park. "This is a special place and time for our company," explains Joachim Marusczyk, Managing Director of IntercityHotel GmbH. "The successful development of our brand began precisely thirty years ago with the founding of IntercityHotel GmbH. The very first IntercityHotel opened at Frankfurt's main train station. We are proud that we will soon be able to launch our future flagship hotel on this highly attractive site." The hotel's central position means that it will provide excellent links to various means of travel such as mainline trains and long distance bus services and will enable easy access to regional and local public transport. Both the Trade Fair Centre and Frankfurt Airport, for example, can be reached by suburban railway in a mere matter of minutes. In combination with the so-called "FreeCityTicket", which entitles guests at IntercityHotels to use local public transport free of charge, this is bound to make the hotel an attractive option for tourists and business travellers alike. Guests will be able to check in and out by using the convenient "Hotelbird" mobile app and will also have the option of using their smartphone to open the door to their room. The hotel will be operated within the scope of a lease agreement. The property owner is CA Immo Deutschland GmbH. Jakob Vowinckel, Head of CA Immo Frankfurt: "Because we already own the IntercityHotel at Berlin Central Station, this project in Frankfurt means that we now have the two largest IntercityHotels in our portfolio. We are delighted to be expanding our cooperation in this way, and wish the General Manager every success in terms of guest numbers." The position of General Manager will be filled with effect from 1 September 2017. Anton Wustefeld will be guiding the hotel through its pre-opening phase and ensuring a smooth transition to regular operations. Mr. Wustefeld brings 45 years of professional experience to the table. Most recently, he has completed a highly successful stint of many years in charge at the IntercityHotel Frankfurt Airport and thus enjoys excellent connections within the Rhine-Main region. Belmond Ltd. (NYSE:BEL), owners, part-owners or managers of 49 luxury hotel, restaurant, train and river cruise properties, including one scheduled for a 2018 opening in London, which operate in 24 countries, today announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Highlights Revenue of $165.9 million, up $11.4 million or 7% over the prior-year quarter; up $13.1 million or 9% on a constant currency basis Net losses attributable to Belmond Ltd. of $4.9 million compared with net earnings attributable to Belmond Ltd. of $8.4 million for the prior-year quarter; year-over-year decrease largely attributable to acquisition-related costs associated with Cap Juluca, Anguilla, British West Indies, and an impairment charge, partially offset by improved operating results Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations of $19.7 million, up $15.7 million over the prior-year quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $46.3 million, up $8.2 million or 22% over the prior-year quarter; up $8.5 million or 22% on a constant currency basis Same store revenue per available room (RevPAR) up 9% over the prior-year quarter; up 8% on a constant currency basis Expands global footprint with May 2017 acquisition of Cap Juluca Further strengthens board of directors with election of Demetra Pinsent in June 2017 Increases balance sheet flexibility with July 2017 refinancing of corporate credit facility Maintains full year 2017 same store, constant currency RevPAR guidance Roeland Vos, president and chief executive officer, remarked: " Our operating performance for the second quarter of 2017 was strong. We delivered solid year-over-year growth at our European hotels as they entered their peak summer seasons and drove steady gains at our North American properties. While we continued to face headwinds in certain parts of our portfolio, notably in Brazil and Myanmar, the strength that we experienced elsewhere more than offset these challenges. Overall, we are pleased with our second quarter results and expect that the strong demand we have seen for Europe and North America should continue into the third quarter, although we expect that it will be hampered by the performance of our Brazilian hotels due to the challenging comparative period resulting from the 2016 Summer Olympics. " We remain focused on laying the foundations for our 2020 strategic growth plan. We are continuing to re-invest in our existing properties, including in the types of EBITDA-enhancing projects that contributed to our success for the second quarter, as well as in our team, systems and brand. With regards to footprint expansion, we were pleased to complete the acquisition of Cap Juluca in Anguilla. This resort has long been recognized as having one of the best beaches in the Caribbean and has an established legacy and meaningful cachet among luxury travelers. Cap Juluca perfectly fits the Belmond brand and presents a compelling repositioning opportunity. With the addition of the Belmond flag, investment in the product, improvements to distribution and revenue management, and a focus on providing the ultimate service offering, we expect that we will be able to significantly enhance the resorts performance and value. The acquisition of Cap Juluca serves as an important milestone in our strategic growth plan, and I am encouraged by our new team's recent progress on both announced deals as well as those currently under consideration. " Looking ahead, we are maintaining our guidance for full year 2017 same store, constant currency RevPAR growth of between 1% and 5%." Second Quarter 2017 Operating Results Revenue for the second quarter of 2017 was $165.9 million, an $11.4 million or 7% increase over revenue for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, revenue for the second quarter of 2017 increased $13.1 million or 9% over the second quarter of 2016. Same store RevPAR for owned hotels for the second quarter of 2017 increased 9% over the prior-year quarter. On a constant currency basis, same store RevPAR for owned hotels increased 8% over the prior-year quarter as a result of a 6% increase in average daily rate ("ADR") and 1 percentage point increase in occupancy. Net losses attributable to Belmond Ltd. for the second quarter of 2017 were $4.9 million ($0.05 per common share), which compared to net earnings attributable to Belmond Ltd. of $8.4 million ($0.08 per common share) for the second quarter of 2016. The year-over-year decrease was largely attributable to $13.2 million of acquisition-related costs associated with Cap Juluca and an $8.2 million impairment charge, partially offset by improved operating results. Acquisition-related costs for Cap Juluca represented professional fees incurred in preliminary design and planning, structuring, assessment of financing opportunities, legal, tax, accounting and engineering due diligence and the negotiation of the purchase and sale agreements, and other ancillary documents, with the principal owner and leaseholder, together with three owners of villas and separate subleases, as well as a memorandum of understanding and ground lease with the Government of Anguilla. Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations for the second quarter of 2017 were $19.7 million ($0.19 per common share), a $15.7 million increase over adjusted net earnings from continuing operations of $4.0 million ($0.04 per common share) for the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2017 was $46.3 million, an $8.2 million or 22% increase over adjusted EBITDA of $38.1 million for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2017 increased $8.5 million or 22% over the second quarter of 2016. Recent Company Highlights Expands global footprint with strategic acquisition of legendary Cap Juluca in Anguilla, British West Indies On May 26, 2017, the Company completed its previously announced acquisition of the 96-key Cap Juluca resort on the Caribbean island of Anguilla for a total transaction value of $84.5 million, including all related taxes and costs. On the same date, the Company assumed management of the resort, which was previously independently managed, and began marketing the property under the name Belmond Cap Juluca. On May 26, 2017, the Company completed its previously announced acquisition of the 96-key Cap Juluca resort on the Caribbean island of Anguilla for a total transaction value of $84.5 million, including all related taxes and costs. On the same date, the Company assumed management of the resort, which was previously independently managed, and began marketing the property under the name Belmond Cap Juluca. Enhances suite offering at Belmond La Residencia, Mallorca, Spain On May 26, 2017, the Company introduced six new suites at Belmond La Residencia, increasing the hotel's key count by 9%. The new suites, four of which have private plunge pools, are nestled within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tramuntana Mountains, with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. On May 26, 2017, the Company introduced six new suites at Belmond La Residencia, increasing the hotel's key count by 9%. The new suites, four of which have private plunge pools, are nestled within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tramuntana Mountains, with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. Further strengthens board of directors At the annual general meeting of shareholders on June 1, 2017, John Campbell retired from the Company's board of directors. At the same time, Lady Demetra Pinsent, a prominent thought leader in the luxury consumer and branding space, was elected to the board as a new independent director. Lady Pinsent has served as chief executive officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd., a privately owned beauty and cosmetics company, since 2012 and was previously a partner with McKinsey & Co. At the annual general meeting of shareholders on June 1, 2017, John Campbell retired from the Company's board of directors. At the same time, Lady Demetra Pinsent, a prominent thought leader in the luxury consumer and branding space, was elected to the board as a new independent director. Lady Pinsent has served as chief executive officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd., a privately owned beauty and cosmetics company, since 2012 and was previously a partner with McKinsey & Co. Increases balance sheet flexibility with refinancing of corporate credit facility On July 3, 2017, the Company completed an amendment and restatement of its corporate credit facility, which, among other things, provided for an increase in the Company's term loan borrowings, a three-year extension of the maturity dates, and decreased interest rates. The Company's term loan borrowings increased from $500.0 million outstanding at June 30, 2017 to $603.4 million, which includes a $400.0 million U.S.-dollar-denominated tranche and a 179.0 million euro-denominated tranche ($203.4 million as of the closing date). The amended and restated agreement also includes a $100.0 million multi-currency revolving credit facility, under which there were no borrowings as of the closing date. As a result of the refinancing, the maturity dates for the term loans and revolving credit facility were extended to July 3, 2024 and July 3, 2022, respectively, and certain terms of the existing facility, including interest rates, were favorably revised. Proceeds from the refinancing were used to repay the then-outstanding term loan and revolving credit facility balances, including $45.0 million of borrowings made under the revolving credit facility in connection with the acquisition of Cap Juluca, as well as for fees and expenses related to the refinancing. The Company intends to use the majority of the balance of the proceeds for future capital needs related to the Company's 2020 strategic growth plan. On July 3, 2017, the Company completed an amendment and restatement of its corporate credit facility, which, among other things, provided for an increase in the Company's term loan borrowings, a three-year extension of the maturity dates, and decreased interest rates. The Company's term loan borrowings increased from $500.0 million outstanding at June 30, 2017 to $603.4 million, which includes a $400.0 million U.S.-dollar-denominated tranche and a 179.0 million euro-denominated tranche ($203.4 million as of the closing date). The amended and restated agreement also includes a $100.0 million multi-currency revolving credit facility, under which there were no borrowings as of the closing date. As a result of the refinancing, the maturity dates for the term loans and revolving credit facility were extended to July 3, 2024 and July 3, 2022, respectively, and certain terms of the existing facility, including interest rates, were favorably revised. Proceeds from the refinancing were used to repay the then-outstanding term loan and revolving credit facility balances, including $45.0 million of borrowings made under the revolving credit facility in connection with the acquisition of Cap Juluca, as well as for fees and expenses related to the refinancing. The Company intends to use the majority of the balance of the proceeds for future capital needs related to the Company's 2020 strategic growth plan. Receives top travel industry awards Several of the Company's properties were recently recognized by the readers of Travel + Leisure in the magazine's 2017 world's best awards. In addition to being named one of the top 15 hotel brands, the Company also received top honors in Central and South America, with Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, Cusco, Peru, awarded the best city hotel in the region, and in Venice, with Belmond Hotel Cipriani named the city's number one hotel. In total, six Belmond properties were recognized in the magazine's annual poll. Second Quarter 2017 Business Unit Results Owned hotels: Europe: For the second quarter of 2017, revenue from owned hotels was $72.1 million, an increase of $5.0 million or 7% over $67.1 million for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, revenue for the region for the second quarter of 2017 increased $5.7 million or 9% over the prior-year quarter primarily due to a $3.6 million or 9% revenue increase for the Company's Italian hotels and a $1.7 million or 18% increase at Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg, Russia. Revenue growth for the Company's Italian hotels was largely driven by the performances of Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Venice, which benefited from the Biennale Arts Festival, which takes place every other year in Venice, and Belmond Villa San Michele, Florence, which grew occupancy by 13 percentage points year-over-year due in large part to driving increased group business. Belmond Grand Hotel Europe's year-over-year growth was primarily due to increased revenue during the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum coupled with the benefit of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, which took place from mid-June 2017 through early-July 2017. In constant currency, same store RevPAR for owned hotels in the region increased 11% over the prior-year quarter as a result of an 8% increase in ADR and 2 percentage point increase in occupancy. Adjusted EBITDA for the region for the quarter of $30.9 million represented an increase of $4.6 million or 17% over $26.3 million for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, adjusted EBITDA for the region for the second quarter of 2017 increased $4.7 million or 18% over the prior-year quarter mainly due to a $1.9 million or 39% increase in adjusted EBITDA at Belmond Hotel Cipriani and a $1.6 million or 35% increase in adjusted EBITDA at Belmond Grand Hotel Europe. North America: Revenue from owned hotels for the second quarter of 2017 was $42.4 million, up $4.4 million or 12% over $38.0 million for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, revenue for the region for the second quarter of 2017 increased $4.4 million or 11% over the prior-year quarter primarily due to revenue growth of $2.2 million or 10% at Belmond Charleston Place, South Carolina, and $0.5 million or 23% at Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya, Mexico. Both properties benefited from increased group business, which resulted in solid year-over-year RevPAR and food and beverage revenue growth. In constant currency, same store RevPAR for owned hotels in the region increased 7% over the prior-year quarter due to a 5% increase in ADR and 1 percentage point increase in occupancy. Adjusted EBITDA for the region for the quarter was $9.7 million, an increase of $1.2 million or 14% over $8.5 million for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, adjusted EBITDA for the region for the second quarter of 2017 increased $1.1 million or 13% over the prior-year quarter as a result of a $0.9 million or 10% adjusted EBITDA increase at Belmond Charleston Place and a $0.4 million adjusted EBITDA increase at Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa. Rest of world: Revenue from owned hotels for the second quarter of 2017 was $25.9 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 7% over $24.3 million for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, revenue for the second quarter of 2017 increased $0.2 million or 1% over the prior-year quarter principally as a result of revenue growth of $1.4 million or 55% at Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa; $1.1 million or 53% at Belmond Safaris, Botswana; and $0.4 million or 17% at Belmond Miraflores Park, Lima, Peru. All three properties benefited from the Company's project capital expenditure investments over the past few years. Additionally, revenue at Belmond La Residence d'Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia, increased $0.2 million or 66% over the prior-year quarter following a full renovation of the property in 2016. Partially offsetting this growth was a combined $3.0 million or 20% year-over-year revenue decrease for the Company's two Brazilian hotels largely as a result of the country's political and economic issues. In constant currency, same store RevPAR for owned hotels increased 3% over the prior-year quarter as a result of a 1 percentage point increase in occupancy and 1% increase in ADR. Adjusted EBITDA for the region for the quarter of $2.4 million increased $0.3 million or 14% over adjusted EBITDA of $2.1 million for the prior-year quarter. In constant currency, adjusted EBITDA for the region increased $0.5 million or 24% over the prior-year quarter largely as a result of adjusted EBITDA increases of $1.0 million at Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, $0.6 million at Belmond Safaris, and $0.2 million or 34% at Belmond Miraflores Park. These increases were partially offset by a combined $1.4 million adjusted EBITDA decrease for the Company's two Brazilian hotels. Owned trains & cruises: Revenue for the second quarter of 2017 was $21.8 million, up $0.3 million or 1% over $21.5 million for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, revenue increased $2.7 million or 14% primarily as a result of the Belmond Grand Hibernian train in Ireland, which commenced its first full year of operations in April 2017 and recorded $2.0 million of revenue for the second quarter. Additionally, the Belmond Royal Scotsman train in Scotland grew revenue by $0.8 million or 39% year-over-year primarily as a result of generating higher-revenue charter business and operating one additional trip in the current-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $4.2 million, a $0.6 million or 17% increase over adjusted EBITDA of $3.6 million for the second quarter of 2016. In constant currency, adjusted EBITDA increased $1.1 million or 35% over the prior-year quarter largely due to adjusted EBITDA growth for Belmond Royal Scotsman and Belmond Grand Hibernian of $0.6 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Management fees: Adjusted EBITDA from management fees for the second quarter of 2017 was $4.4 million, an increase of $0.8 million or 22% over $3.6 million for the second quarter of 2016 primarily as a result of a $0.5 million or 19% increase in fees from the Company's PeruRail joint venture and a $0.4 million or 34% increase in fees from the Company's Peru hotels joint venture. The growth in management fee income from PeruRail resulted from increased revenue from both its passenger and freight operations, and the growth in management fee income from the Peru hotels joint venture was primarily the result of increased occupancy at the joint venture's two hotels in Cusco. Share of pre-tax earnings from unconsolidated companies: Adjusted share of pre-tax earnings from unconsolidated companies for the second quarter of 2017 was $5.3 million, an increase of $1.7 million of 47% over $3.6 million for the second quarter of 2016 largely for the same reasons described above for the management fees increase. Central overheads: For the second quarter of 2017, adjusted central overheads of $7.2 million were $1.1 million or 18% higher than adjusted central overheads of $6.1 million for the prior-year quarter mainly due to increased development and other corporate headcount to support the 2020 strategic growth plan. Depreciation and amortization: For the second quarter of 2017, depreciation and amortization of $15.1 million was $1.8 million or 14% higher than depreciation and amortization of $13.3 million for the prior-year quarter primarily as a result of the recent completion of several capital projects and accelerated depreciation expense to write-off assets that are expected to be replaced. Impairment of property, plant and equipment: In the second quarter of 2017, the Company recorded an $8.2 million impairment charge relating to property, plant and equipment, consisting of $7.1 million for the Belmond Road to Mandalay river cruise boat in Myanmar as a result of increased competition and anticipated lower occupancy levels and $1.1 million for the Belmond Northern Belle train in England due to forecasted lower demand. Provision for income taxes: For the second quarter of 2017, provision for income taxes was $2.1 million, which compared to provision for income taxes of $14.3 million for the prior-year quarter. The year-over-year decrease in income tax expense was largely attributable to a reduction in pre-tax earnings, mainly as a result of acquisition-related costs associated with Cap Juluca in the current-year quarter. Investments The Company continued its strategy of disciplined re-investment in core assets and projects with attractive forecasted returns. During the second quarter of 2017, the Company invested a total of $15.4 million in its portfolio, including $1.7 million on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train primarily for required statutory works; $1.1 million at Belmond La Residencia largely for the addition of six new suites; $1.0 million at Belmond Hotel Cipriani in part for works related to the renovation of two existing junior suites and the addition of a new junior suite; $1.0 million at Belmond Grand Hotel Europe largely for improvements to the hotel's heating and air conditioning system and renovation of its deluxe rooms; and $1.0 million for corporate projects, which included the Company's new enterprise resource planning system and website. Balance Sheet Following the May 2017 acquisition of Cap Juluca, at June 30, 2017, the Company had total debt of $647.9 million, including $45.0 million of borrowings on the Company's revolving credit facility to finance the acquisition, and cash balances of $125.3 million, resulting in total net debt of $522.6 million and a ratio of net debt to trailing-twelve-months adjusted EBITDA of 4.1 times, which compared to net debt of $435.1 million and a ratio of net debt to trailing-twelve-months adjusted EBITDA of 3.4 times at December 31, 2016. Following the Company's corporate credit facility refinancing, which closed after the end of the second quarter of 2017, total debt increased by $60.3 million and, after refinancing-related fees and expenses, cash increased by $51.1 million. After giving effect to this refinancing, pro forma as at June 30, 2017, the Company had total debt of $708.2 million and cash balances of $176.4 million, resulting in total net debt of $531.8 million and a ratio of net debt to trailing-twelve-months adjusted EBITDA of 4.2 times. In addition, the Company had $100.0 million available under its revolving credit facility. Outlook The Company is providing the following RevPAR and other guidance for the third quarter and full year 2017: (1) Projected same store RevPAR growth for the third quarter ending September 30, 2017 and full year ending December 31, 2017 excludes the operations of Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla, British West Indies, which was acquired in May 2017, and Belmond La Residence d'Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia, which closed for refurbishment in May 2016 and reopened in mid-November 2016. (2) Projected depreciation and amortization expense for the third quarter ending September 30, 2017 and full year ending December 31, 2017 includes forecasted accelerated depreciation related to an expected renovation at one of the Company's properties, which accelerated depreciation had not been assumed in the Company's prior depreciation and amortization guidance. (3) Interest expense, cash interest expense and scheduled loan repayments guidance includes the impact of the Company's corporate credit facility refinancing, which closed on July 3, 2017. (4) Tax expense guidance includes the Company's share of provision for income taxes of unconsolidated companies. (5) Cash tax expense guidance does not include the Company's share of provision for income taxes of unconsolidated companies. BELMOND LTD. EARNINGS RELEASE SCHEDULES TABLE OF CONTENTS Statements of Condensed Consolidated Operations 9 Segment Information - Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA 10 Summary of Operating Information for Owned Hotels 11 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets 12 Reconciliations - Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Share of Pre-Tax Earnings from Unconsolidated Companies 13 Reconciliations - Adjusted Net Earnings / (Losses) 14 Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA 15 BELMOND LTD. STATEMENTS OF CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS (Unaudited) $ millions except per share amounts Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenue 165.9 154.5 260.7 251.9 Expenses: Cost of services 66.8 69.4 112.8 114.5 Selling, general and administrative (1) 73.7 50.3 124.8 96.9 Depreciation and amortization 15.1 13.3 28.8 26.4 Impairment of property, plant and equipment 8.2 8.2 Total operating costs and expenses 163.8 133.0 274.6 237.8 Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 Earnings / (losses) from operations 2.3 21.7 (13.6 ) 14.4 Gain on extinguishment of debt 1.2 1.2 Interest income 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 Interest expense (7.9 ) (7.7 ) (15.5 ) (15.2 ) Foreign currency, net (1.0 ) 4.8 (1.2 ) 7.7 (Losses) / earnings before income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax (6.4 ) 20.2 (30.0 ) 8.4 (Provision) / benefit for income taxes (2.1 ) (14.3 ) 3.1 (4.8 ) (Losses) / earnings before earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax (8.5 ) 5.9 (26.9 ) 3.6 Earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax provision of $1.8, $1.4, $2.0 and $2.2 3.5 2.2 3.9 3.1 (Losses) / earnings from continuing operations (5.0 ) 8.1 (23.0 ) 6.7 Net earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax provision of $Nil, $Nil, $Nil and $Nil 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 Net (losses) / earnings (4.9 ) 8.3 (22.9 ) 6.8 Net losses / (earnings) attributable to non-controlling interests 0.1 (0.1 ) Net (losses) / earnings attributable to Belmond Ltd. (4.9 ) 8.4 (23.0 ) 6.8 EPS attributable to Belmond Ltd. (0.05 ) 0.08 (0.23 ) 0.07 Weighted average number of shares millions 102.15 101.53 102.01 101.42 (1) Selling, general and administrative expenses include operating costs of businesses plus central overheads, share-based compensation and central marketing costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses also included acquisition-related costs associated with the May 26, 2017 acquisition of Cap Juluca of $13.2 million and $13.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expenses also included certain trains and cruises expenses of $4.3 million that were reclassified from cost of services in the second quarter of 2017. BELMOND LTD. SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited) $ millions Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Revenue Owned hotels - Europe 72.1 67.1 84.1 80.5 - North America 42.4 38.0 82.3 77.7 - Rest of world 25.9 24.3 61.8 59.5 Total owned hotels 140.4 129.4 228.2 217.7 Owned trains & cruises 21.8 21.5 26.9 27.9 Management fees 3.7 3.6 5.6 6.3 Revenue 165.9 154.5 260.7 251.9 Adjusted EBITDA Owned hotels - Europe 30.9 26.3 22.8 20.7 - North America 9.7 8.5 19.6 18.6 - Rest of world 2.4 2.1 12.4 13.6 Total owned hotels 43.0 36.9 54.8 52.9 Owned trains & cruises 4.2 3.6 (0.1 ) 0.8 Management fees 4.4 3.6 6.8 6.3 Share of pre-tax earnings from unconsolidated companies 5.3 3.6 5.9 5.3 56.9 47.7 67.4 65.3 Central overheads (7.2 ) (6.1 ) (14.8 ) (13.0 ) Share-based compensation (2.0 ) (2.0 ) (3.6 ) (3.8 ) Central marketing costs (1.4 ) (1.5 ) (3.1 ) (2.5 ) Adjusted EBITDA 46.3 38.1 45.9 46.0 BELMOND LTD. SUMMARY OF OPERATING INFORMATION FOR OWNED HOTELS Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Room Nights Available Europe 84,278 83,159 127,318 126,944 North America 67,228 64,883 131,398 129,766 Rest of world 93,546 93,607 186,426 187,064 Worldwide 245,052 241,649 445,142 443,774 Rooms Nights Sold Europe 57,811 55,791 76,288 74,863 North America 47,721 45,519 91,704 90,272 Rest of world 44,523 42,863 101,177 105,887 Worldwide 150,055 144,173 269,169 271,022 Occupancy Europe 69% 67% 60% 59% North America 71% 70% 70% 70% Rest of world 48% 46% 54% 57% Worldwide 61% 60% 60% 61% ADR (in U.S. dollars) Europe 784 727 671 632 North America 443 422 454 445 Rest of world 341 327 379 350 Worldwide 544 512 488 460 RevPAR (in U.S. dollars) Europe 537 488 402 373 North America 315 296 317 310 Rest of world 162 150 206 198 Worldwide 333 305 295 281 Same Store RevPAR (in U.S. dollars) (1) Europe 537 488 402 373 North America 316 296 318 310 Rest of world 168 157 211 203 Worldwide 340 312 299 285 Same Store RevPAR (% change) U.S. dollar Constant currency U.S. dollar Constant currency Europe 10% 11% 8% 8% North America 7% 7% 3% 3% Rest of world 7% 3% 4% (7)% Worldwide 9% 8% 5% 2% (1) Same store RevPAR data for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016 excludes the operations of Belmond Cap Juluca, which was acquired in May 2017, and Belmond La Residence dAngkor, which closed for refurbishment in May 2016 and re-opened in November 2016. BELMOND LTD. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) $ millions June 30, December 31, 2017 2016 Assets Cash 113.9 153.4 Restricted cash 10.4 1.8 Accounts receivable 37.4 25.8 Due from unconsolidated companies 13.6 12.2 Prepaid expenses and other 13.7 12.3 Inventories 24.5 23.9 Total current assets 213.5 229.4 Property, plant & equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 1,164.0 1,074.7 Investments in unconsolidated companies 79.2 79.3 Goodwill 123.0 113.3 Other intangible assets 19.9 13.9 Other assets 13.1 13.5 Total assets (1) 1,612.7 1,524.1 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable 18.6 16.4 Accrued liabilities 81.9 69.0 Deferred revenue 45.2 31.3 Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases 51.2 5.3 Total current liabilities 196.9 122.0 Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases 596.7 585.8 Liability for pension benefit 0.6 1.4 Deferred income taxes 116.0 122.3 Other liabilities 4.7 5.4 Liability for uncertain tax positions 0.3 0.3 Total liabilities (2) 915.2 837.2 Shareholders equity 697.0 686.5 Non-controlling interests 0.5 0.4 Total equity 697.5 686.9 Total liabilities and equity 1,612.7 1,524.1 (1) Balance at June 30, 2017 includes $207.7 million (December 31, 2016 - $210.3 million) of assets of consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs") that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. (2) Balance at June 30, 2017 includes $120.7 million (December 31, 2016 - $121.6 million) of liabilities of consolidated VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to Belmond Ltd. BELMOND LTD. RECONCILIATIONS - ADJUSTED EBITDA AND ADJUSTED SHARE OF PRE-TAX EARNINGS FROM UNCONSOLIDATED COMPANIES (Unaudited) $ millions Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation: (Losses) / earnings from continuing operations (5.0 ) 8.1 (23.0 ) 6.7 Depreciation and amortization 15.1 13.3 28.8 26.4 Gain on extinguishment of debt (1.2 ) (1.2 ) Interest income (0.2 ) (0.2 ) (0.3 ) (0.3 ) Interest expense 7.9 7.7 15.5 15.2 Foreign currency, net 1.0 (4.8 ) 1.2 (7.7 ) Provision for income taxes 2.1 14.3 (3.1 ) 4.8 Share of provision for income taxes of unconsolidated companies 1.8 1.4 2.0 2.2 22.7 38.6 21.1 46.1 Restructuring and other special items (1) 2.4 (0.3 ) 3.1 0.2 Acquisition-related costs (2) 13.2 13.8 Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment (0.2 ) (0.2 ) (0.3 ) (0.3 ) Impairment of property, plant and equipment 8.2 8.2 Adjusted EBITDA 46.3 38.1 45.9 46.0 (1) Represents adjustments for restructuring, severance and redundancy costs, pre-opening costs and other items, net. (2) Represents professional fees incurred in preliminary design and planning, structuring, assessment of financing opportunities, legal, tax, accounting and engineering due diligence and the negotiation of the purchase and sale agreements, and other ancillary documents, with the principal owner and leaseholder, together with three owners of villas and separate subleases, as well as a memorandum of understanding and ground lease with the Government of Anguilla. $ millions Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Adjusted share of pre-tax earnings from unconsolidated companies reconciliation: Earnings from unconsolidated companies (1) 3.5 2.2 3.9 3.1 Share of provision for income taxes of unconsolidated companies 1.8 1.4 2.0 2.2 Adjusted share of pre-tax earnings from unconsolidated companies 5.3 3.6 5.9 5.3 (1) Represents the Company's share of earnings from unconsolidated companies. BELMOND LTD. RECONCILIATIONS - ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS / (LOSSES) (Unaudited) $ millions except per share amounts Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 Adjusted net earnings reconciliation: (Losses) / earnings from continuing operations (5.0 ) 8.1 (23.0 ) 6.7 Restructuring and other special items (1) 2.4 (0.3 ) 3.1 0.2 Acquisition-related costs (2) 13.2 13.8 Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment (0.2 ) (0.2 ) (0.3 ) (0.3 ) Impairment of property, plant and equipment 8.2 8.2 Gain on extinguishment of debt (3) (1.2 ) (1.2 ) Accelerated depreciation 0.4 1.3 Foreign currency, net (4) 1.1 (4.8 ) 1.2 (7.7 ) Tax-related adjustments 0.6 0.6 Income tax effect of adjusting items (5) 1.4 1.4 Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations 19.7 4.0 3.0 1.0 EPS from continuing operations (0.05 ) 0.08 (0.23 ) 0.07 Adjusted EPS from continuing operations 0.19 0.04 0.03 0.01 Weighted average number of shares (millions) 102.15 101.53 102.01 101.42 (1) Represents adjustments for restructuring, severance and redundancy costs, pre-opening costs and other items, net. (2) Represents professional fees incurred in preliminary design and planning, structuring, assessment of financing opportunities, legal, tax, accounting and engineering due diligence and the negotiation of the purchase and sale agreements, and other ancillary documents, with the principal owner and leaseholder, together with three owners of villas and separate subleases, as well as a memorandum of understanding and ground lease with the Government of Anguilla. (3) Represents $4.0 million negotiated discount on repayment less $2.8 million tax indemnification provided to partners in respect of such discount. (4) Non-cash item arising from the translation of certain assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective entity. (5) Represents income tax effect of adjusting items by applying the applicable statutory tax rate to the adjusting items. BELMOND LTD. NET DEBT TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (Unaudited) $ millions - except ratios Twelve months ended and as at June 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Cash Cash and cash equivalents 113.9 153.4 Restricted cash (including $1.0 million and $0.8 million classified within long-term other assets on the balance sheet for 2017 and 2016, respectively) 11.4 2.6 Total cash 125.3 156.0 Total debt Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases 51.2 5.3 Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases (1) 596.7 585.8 Total debt 647.9 591.1 Net debt 522.6 435.1 Adjusted EBITDA 128.1 128.2 Net debt / adjusted EBITDA 4.1 3.4 (1) Long-term debt is after the deduction of unamortized debt issuance costs and discount on secured term loans. $ millions For the twelve months ended June 30, 2017 Trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA calculation: Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 (1) 128.2 Less: Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2016 (46.0 ) Plus: Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2017 45.9 Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months 128.1 (1) As disclosed in the Company's 2016 earnings news release issued on February 27, 2017. About Belmond Ltd. Belmond (belmond.com) is a global collection of exceptional hotel and luxury travel adventures in some of the worlds most inspiring and enriching destinations. Established almost 40 years ago with the acquisition of Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, its unique and distinctive portfolio now embraces 49 hotel, rail and river cruise experiences, including one scheduled for a 2018 opening in London, in many of the worlds most celebrated destinations. From city landmarks to intimate resorts, the collection includes Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg; Belmond Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro; Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya; and Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara. Belmond also encompasses safaris, eight luxury tourist trains, including the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and three river cruises. Belmond also operates 21 Club, one of New Yorks most storied restaurants Omni Hotels & Resorts yesterday announced Daniel Surettes appointment as vice president of sales. With more than 30 years in the industry and 20 years of senior-level sales leadership experience, Surette will be responsible for creating and implementing revenue-generating strategies across the entire luxury hotel brand. Surette will oversee Omnis global sales team as well as its field area and regional directors of sales and marketing to set budgets and reach business plan objectives. He will report to Peter Strebel, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of sales. Dan has earned a well-deserved reputation for harnessing the industrys talents and tools to maximize revenue, unlock sales growth potential and drive market share, said Strebel. He has a true passion for setting and achieving ambitious business goals, which will make him a tremendous addition to the Omni family for many years to come. Prior to joining Omni, Surette worked at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. for more than 15 years. He most recently served as the vice president of North America sales and field marketing where he oversaw a large team of regional digital marketing experts handling sales and marketing for 400 Starwood properties. Surette previously worked with Hyatt Hotels Corporation for more than a decade, serving in sales and marketing roles of increasing responsibility. Surette attended Johnson & Wales University where he earned a degree in hospitality management. He has been a member of several leading professional organizations over the years, including Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Hospitality-Focused PVNG Is Easy to Use and Creates More Efficient Operations Aptech Computer Systems, a leading provider of hotel accounting software, hospitality enterprise accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and business intelligence systems, announced three hotel companies selected Aptechs PVNG Enterprise Back Office System. PVNG is a browser-based next generation enterprise hospitality accounting solution with a simple menu structure and easy to navigate platform. Click here for more on Aptechs products and services. Companies installing PVNG Enterprise Accounting include Stagewest Hospitality and The Colony Palm Beach. The companies operate a total of 10 properties. Stagewest Hospitality is implementing PVNG hotel accounting software at four hotels and its winery in British Columbia, Canada. PVNG helped us reduce labor costs because it is easy to use and simple to learn. We realized a significant cost savings by creating a more efficient operation with a reduced accounting staff. Our guests are the most important part of our company. If I can move two people to our front desk from accounting it benefits our guests and our company, said Azaz Ahmed, MBA, controller of Stagewest Hospitality. Aptech hosts our PVNG installations. We are hospitality professionals. With Aptech hosting our system we dont worry about our system operation, data security, and backups. Stagewest Hospitality properties include Stage West Calgary, Medicine Hat Lodge, and the Camrose Resort Casino. The Colony Palm Beach in Florida is live with PVNG this month. We installed PVNG because it is easy to learn and use and developed specifically for hotel companies. This is a big advantage over generic financial systems. I have experience with Aptechs systems at other properties and trust its solutions, said Tammy Shoffstall, finance director of The Colony Palm Beach. Cam Troutman, Aptech vice president, said, We leveraged 45 years of hotel accounting experience to build PVNG specifically for hotel companies. It supports one property or a large multi-brand, multi-property portfolio. PVNG uses the most current technology platform incorporating AP, GL, Statistics, Financials, and a Bank Reconciliation, all with easy to use, familiar browser navigation. We can also make it simple to become 11th Edition compliant by implementing our packaged chart of accounts and financial statements. Aptech Computer Systems is an IBM Premier Business Partner that offers Execuvue web-enabled Business Intelligence, Targetvue Budgeting and Forecasting, and PVNG Enterprise Back Office systems that are 100% hospitality specific. Aptech is the only company that provides a complete suite of financial management and analysis solutions for the hotel industry. Aptech systems can be deployed in the cloud, or on-premise at the client location to support an entire hotel companys portfolio via the Internet for individual and consolidated back office operations and financial reporting. About Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement. The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry, and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider and a Prophix Premier Business Partner. Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties - including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue and Profitvue are registered to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information please visit www.aptech-inc.com. CONTACTS: Aptech Computer Systems Cam Troutman, Vice President 135 Delta Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Email: vueinfo@aptech-inc.com Phone: 800-245-0720 or 412-963-7440 www.aptech-inc.com Media Contact Julie Keyser-Squires, APR Softscribe Inc. 609 SW 8th Street, Ste 600 Bentonville, AR 72712 Phone: 404-256-5512 Email: Julie(at)softscribeinc.com www.softscribeinc.com 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 Kolkata, Aug 8 (IBNS): Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management, the flagship college under the JIS Group, recently organized a students' orientation program. On the opening day, celebrity chefs Kunal Kapur and Sanjeev Kapoor addressed a batch of more than 750 students. They emphasized that the key to being successful in this industry was to have the right mindset and positive attitude . Each special invitee on subsequent days shared their industry experiences and motivated the students by giving valuable tips on how to cope and survive in this industry that requires young and dynamic people. Other prominent industry heads who attended the program were Anup Kumar Tewari (Regional Training Manager, Peerless Hotels), Aveek Sarkar (Hospitality Master Trainer), Jhuma Basak (Psycho-Analyst), Afzal Khan ( Food and Beverage Director, Taj Bengal Hotel, Kolkata), Kishore Ramola (Director, HR, Swissotel, Kolkata), Gaurav Goswami (General Manager, Pipal Tree Hotel, Kolkata ) and Anirban Guha (Assistat HR Manager, Swissotel, Kolkata). Washington, Aug 8 (IBNS): Muslim immigrants who feel marginalized and discriminated against in countries that expect them to integrate into their culture and society are more likely to experience psychological threats to their own significance that could be related to increased support of radicalism, according to new research presented at the American Psychological Associationas 125th Annual Convention. We found that immigrants who identify with neither their heritage culture nor the culture they are living in feel marginalized and insignificant, said presenter Sarah Lyons-Padilla, PhD, of Stanford University. Experiences of discrimination make the situation worse. Lyons-Padilla presented two studies, one focused on 198 Muslims (78 men) living all over the United States. They were asked about their cultural identities and attitudes toward extremism via online surveys. The participants were between the ages of 18 and 35 and the majority lived in Maryland, Virginia and California. In this sample, 92 were first-generation immigrants; the rest were second-generation American-born, with the majority (105 participants) identifying Pakistan as their heritage country. They were asked how connected they felt to their heritage culture as well as to American values, and how they felt about their level of integration in their new country. They were also asked if their religion or cultural background had ever led to their experiencing hostility or unfair treatment and how connected and significant they felt. Finally, they were presented with a description of a hypothetical fundamentalist group made up of young Muslims in the United States. This hypothetical group made clear its stance against American maltreatment of Muslims and promised belonging, commitment and loyalty to potential members. Violence was never explicitly mentioned but the group clearly justified extreme actions to support its cause. The participants were asked how much they thought most people they know would like the hypothetical group, how willing these friends would be to engage in activities on behalf of the group and to what extent their friends would sympathize with the group should it engage in extreme behaviors, such as participating in illegal or violent demonstrations or damaging peoples property. Marginalization and discrimination were found to predict feelings of insignificance, which became stronger with the experience of more discrimination and, in turn, predicted an attraction to fundamentalist groups and its extreme behavior, the research found. Another study Lyons-Padilla presented may help explain why countries in Europe are facing more cases of homegrown radicalization than the U.S. This survey of recent Muslim immigrants in Germany (204 participants) and the U.S. (198 participants) in late 2014 showed that in Germany, which is described as a tight society that expects more conformity, Muslims reported having a more difficult time integrating than immigrants in a looser society, such as the U.S. This could be due to the perception that the tighter society is not open to cultural diversity, said Lyons-Padilla. Those who were not well integrated were more likely to show support for extremist practices, the study found. In this survey, all participants were asked about their acculturation experiences and perceptions of the larger society. For example, they were asked to rate their agreement with statements such as, In this country, there are very clear expectations for how people should act in most situations, and Most Americans/Germans are not interested in learning about other peoples cultures. They were also asked about their desire for integration into their host countrys culture. Finally, to measure their support for radicalism, they were asked whether they would sacrifice their life or endure suffering for an important cause. She noted the results are preliminary as the study is undergoing peer review. In what has also been referred to as a vicious cycle of prejudice, we find that lower levels of openness to diversity are associated with lower levels of cultural integration, she said. Difficulty integrating, in turn, shapes support for extremism. Our findings therefore suggest that radicalization is not merely a process that takes place within individuals, but that the larger context of reception plays a crucial role. Image: Internet Wallpaper New York, Aug 8 (IBNS): When you're feeling blue, your photos turn bluer, too. And more gray and dark as well, with fewer faces shown. In other words, just like people can signal their sadness by body language and behaviorathink deep sighs and slumped shouldersadepression reveals itself in social media images. That's the conclusion of new research showing that computers, applying machine learning, can successfully detect depressed people from clues in their Instagram photos. The computer's detection rate of 70 percent is more reliable than the 42 percent success rate of general-practice doctors diagnosing depression in-person. "This points toward a new method for early screening of depression and other emerging mental illnesses," says Chris Danforth, a professor at the University of Vermont who co-led the new study with Andrew Reece of Harvard University. "This algorithm can sometimes detect depression before a clinical diagnosis is made." The team's results were published Aug. 8 in a leading data-science journal EPJ Data Science. The scientists asked volunteers, recruited from Amazon's Mechanical Turk, to share their Instagram feed as well as their mental health history. From 166 people, they collected 43,950 photos. The study was designed so that about half of the participants reported having been clinically depressed in the last three years. Then they analyzed these photos, using insights from well-established psychology research, about people's preferences for brightness, color, and shading. "Pixel analysis of the photos in our dataset revealed that depressed individuals in our sample tended to post photos that were, on average, bluer, darker, and grayer than those posted by healthy individuals," Danforth and Reece write in a blog post to accompany their new study. They also found that healthy individuals chose Instagram filters, like Valencia, that gave their photos a warmer brighter tone. Among depressed people the most popular filter was Inkwell, making the photo black-and-white. "In other words, people suffering from depression were more likely to favor a filter that literally drained all the color out the images they wanted to share," the scientists write. Faces in photos also turned out to provide signals about depression. The researchers found that depressed people were more likely than healthy people to post a photo with people's facesbut these photos had fewer faces on average than the healthy people's Instagram feeds. "Fewer faces may be an oblique indicator that depressed users interact in smaller settings," Danforth and Reece note, which corresponds to other research linking depression to reduced social interactionor it could be that depressed people take many self-portraits. "This 'sad-selfie' hypothesis remains untested," they write. As part of the new study, Danforth and Reece had volunteers attempt to distinguish between Instagram posts made by depressed people versus healthy. They could, but not as effectively as the statistical computer modeland the human ratings had little or no correlation with the features of the photos detected by the computer. "Obviously you know your friends better than a computer," says Chris Danforth, a professor in UVM's Department of Mathematics & Statistics and co-director of the university's Computational Story Lab, "but you might not, as a person casually flipping through Instagram, be as good at detecting depression as you think." Consider that more than half of a general practitioners' depression diagnoses are falsea very expensive health care problemwhile the computational algorithm did far better. The new study also shows that the computer model was able to detect signs of depression before a person's date of diagnosis. "This could help you get to a doctor sooner," Danforth says. "Or, imagine that you can go to doctor and push a button to let an algorithm read your social media history as part of the exam." As the world of machine learning and artificial intelligence expands into many areas of life, there are deep ethical questions and privacy concerns. "We have a lot of thinking to do about the morality of machines," Danforth says. "So much is encoded in our digital footprint. Clever artificial intelligence will be able to find signals, especially for something like mental illness." He thinks that this type of application may hold great promise for helping people early in the onset of mental illness, avoid false diagnoses, and offer a new lower-cost screening for mental health services, especially for those who might not otherwise have access to a trained expert, like a psychiatrist. "This study is not yet a diagnostic test, not by a long shot," says Danforth, "but it is a proof of concept of a new way to help people." Photo courtesy: EPJ Data Science Gurgaon, Aug 8 (IBNS): SpiceJet celebrated Raksha Bandhan a the festival that symbolises the eternal love and devotion of a brother and his sister - in a unique way this year. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the countrys favourite low-cost carrier flew almost 50 sisters and families of Army Jawans to meet their brothers posted on the western border and the national capital, in what was an exciting two-day event. SpiceJet scheduled these celebrations for Indias real heroes and their sisters both in Delhi and Srinagar on 6th and 7th August respectively. On Aug 5, eight sisters were flown in from various cities across India to be re-united on the special occasion with their brothers at the base station in Delhi. The sisters and families came from small towns in Darjeeling, Goa, Tezpur in Assam, Mohali, Visakhapatnam, Ganjam in Odisha and Panpur in Madhya Pradesh, besides one from Mumbai. The jawans and their sisters celebrated Raksha Bandhan with members of SpiceJet team at Shankar Vihar in Delhi on August 6. It was a heartwarming sight to see the sisters fondly relive the golden memories of their childhood with their brothers. The airline also provided refreshments and goodies to both the soldiers and their families. On Aug 7 morning, the other 40 siblings and their families along with a SpiceJet team travelled to Srinagar to celebrate the special occasion. SpiceJet made it possible for the families, traveling from across India, to reach Delhi and then travel to Srinagar to celebrate the enduring relationship; the airline also arranged the stay for the families both in Delhi and Srinagar. The contingent of 60 people drove from the Srinagar airport to the Srinagar Base Hospital, where injured army officers and jawans are treated. The sisters then tied the pious thread on their brothers wrists for their well-being and longevity. On this festive occasion, SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh said, Siblings share a beautiful bond that transcends time and distance. There can be no better gift for a brother and sister than the company of each other on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan more so in the case of our army jawans who rarely get an opportunity to meet their sisters on this day. As a mark of respect for their commitment, SpiceJet is proud to be a part of this endearing moment between the jawans and their sisters. Gandhinagar, Aug 8 (IBNS): Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, who recently quit the Congress, on Tuesday said he did not vote for the party's candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election of state. Interacting with the media, Vaghela said: "There is no point in voting someone who will not win." "I had freed Congress last month and today they also said that I am free to vote anyone", he said. Vaghela, who has allegedly triggered the recent spate of desertion of Congress legislators in Gujarat that threatens Patel's prospects for another term in the upper House, claimed only a few days ago that they have been in good relationship since 1977. Voting for Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat began on Tuesday morning. The election in the state has assumed much importance after several Congress MLAs resigned and few joined the ruling BJP's camp after Vaghela. Three of the deserters joined the BJP. To stem the rot before the crucial election in which the party was in a position to win one of the three seats at stake, the Congress flew 44 of its lawmakers to Bengaluru late last month. The party accused the incumbent Gujarat government of trying to lure 22 Congress lawmakers by offering Rs 15 crores and asking them to cross vote during the polls. Amid a high drama of political slugfest, Patel, the political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said he is sure of his victory as all the party MLAs are united. "We are confident, it can be seen on MLAs' faces. We are sure of victory," media reports quoted Patel as claiming. . After days of suspense that involved party legislators, who the Congress believed were being targeted by the BJP for horsetrading to ensure Patel's defeat, all the 44 MLAs returned to the state in the wee hours of Monday after they were kept huddled in a Karnataka resort. To guard against further desertions the Congress had whisked them away from the state for a "safer custody" . According to reports, they were taken to the Neejanand Resort in Gujarat's Anand district, located 77 km from Ahmedabad, ahead of the election for three seats. BJP's National President Amit Shah and Union textile minister Smriti Irani are also contesting the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat and are sure to sail through by virtue of BJP's strength in the state Assembly. While the Congress needs a minimum of 44 votes, Patel, pitted against BJP's third candidate BalvantSinh Rajput, a Congress deserter, finds the going tough with only 44 MLAs at disposal and the fear of cross-voting looming large. Image: Official Facebook page of Shankarsinh Vaghela. New Delhi, Aug 8 (IBNS): The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Tuesday following continuous agitation by Congress members over attack on Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat, according to media reports. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi violated security protocol during his visit to Gujarat, media reported. Stones were hurled at his car when he was visiting Gujarat to assess the flood situation. On Saturday, Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the BJP for not condemning the attack on party vice president Rahul Gandhi's convoy during his visit to Gujarat on Friday. Image: Official Twitter handle of Rahul Gandhi. New Delhi, Aug 8 (IBNS): The Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2017 report, a third party verification survey report to take stock of the progress made by the Swachh Bharat Mission in rural India, was launched in New Delhi on Tiesday by the Union Minister, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Narendra Singh Tomar, and Secretary, Parameswaran Iyer. The Quality Council of India (QCI) has conducted a third-party assessment of the present status of rural sanitation in all states and UTs, called Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2017. Under the Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2017, QCI surveyed 1.4 lakh rural households across 4,626 villages, and found the overall toilet coverage to be 62.45%. At the time of the survey, i.e. May-June 2017, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) MIS reported the coverage to be 63.73%. The survey also observed that 91.29% of the people having access to a toilet, use it. During the inauguration, the ministry announced that to encourage states and districts to improve their sanitation coverage and Solid Liquid Waste Management (SLWM), the MDWS will also begin ranking all districts in India based on the data available on the SBM-G IMIS quarterly. The ranking will be done based on parameters of Performance, Sustainability and Transparency, and the first ranking will be announced on October 2, 2017 for the quarter July-September 2017. To instil healthy competition amongst districts, they will also be given awards based on this ranking on a quarterly basis. Further, the minister announced that the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) will celebrate the week leading up to the 70th Independence Day as Khule Mein Shauch Se Azaadisaptaah. As part of the celebration, more than 24 states have prepared their Swachhta Action Plan for the week to reinforce their swachhta efforts by innovative methods and with community engagement. On August 12, 2017, MDWS and MoWR, RD & GR will jointly announce 24 Ganga Grams from five states, Uttarakhand (3), UP (10), Bihar (4), Jharkhand (5) and West Bengal (2) to make them Aadarsh Ganga Gram. Thirty SwachhtaRaths will be launched at Allahabad on August 12, 2017 in the presence of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Minister Tomar. Swachhta Raths will also be launched in other parts of the country. Tomar also announced that, in the run up to completion of three years of Swachh Bharat Mission, MDWS is planning various Swachhta events across the country from September 25 to October 2, 2017. Over 4.54 crore household toilets have been constructed since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin. 2,20,104 villages, 160 districts and 5 States declared ODF. Sanitation coverage has increased from 39% in October 2016 to 66% in August 2017, the minister said. Images: PIB Ahmedabad, Aug 8 (IBNS): Voting for the crucial Rajya Sabha elections for three seats in Gujarat, which is witnessing a prestige battle between the Congress and the BJP, ended on Tuesday amid speculations over the fate of Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel whom the ruling BJP is trying to defeat by going all out. The poll witnessed a tough battle with BJP fielding its key members-party president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani. The Congress is fighting the poll with its heavyweight candidate Ahmed Patel whose election also is important for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi since he is a close aide being and functions as the political secretary the Congress chief. Patel contested against BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput. Patel told NDTV: "Never seen such a tense and bitter battle in my entire political career." After the resignation of former Gujarat chief minister and veteran Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, and with three party members joining the BJP, the Congress had flown 44 of its lawmakers to Bengaluru late last month to stop any defection. Congress accused the incumbent Gujarat government of trying to lure 22 Congress lawmakers by offering Rs 15 crores to each MLA and asking them to cross vote during the polls. Amid a high drama of political slug fest senior Ahmed Patel on Monday said he is sure of his victory as all the party MLAs are united. Patel is seeking a fifth consecutive term which faces challenge with the ruling BJP going all out to scuttle his election. After days of suspense that involved party legislators, who the Congress believed were being targeted by BJP for horsetrading to ensure Patel's defeat, all the 44 MLAs returned to the state in the wee hours of Monday from Karnataka where they were flown to keep BJP feelers at bay. The Congress had whisked them away from the state for a "safer custody" after six of its MLAs deserted the party recently and three of them joined the BJP. According to reports, they were taken to the Neejanand Resort in Gujarat's Anand district, located 77 km from Ahmedabad, ahead of the election for three seats. Meanwhile, former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, who recently quit the Congress, on Tuesday said he did not vote for the party's candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election of state. Interacting with the media, Vaghela said: "There is no point in voting someone who will not win." "I had freed Congress last month and today they also said that I am free to vote anyone", he said. Image: ahmedmpatel.in Washington, Aug 8 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump is likely to visit India in November. She might visit India ti attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, media reports said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited her to visit India during his visit to the US recently. US President Donald Trumps daughter and advisor, Ivanka Trump, is scheduled to visit Hyderabad in the last week of November, for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (November 28), South Block sources told The Indian Express. Ivanka Trump in June had accepted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India. Accepting the invitation, Ivanka had tweeted: "Thank you, Prime Minister Modi, for inviting me to lead the U.S. delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in India this fall." Modi met Donald Trump during his visit the US recently. Image: Ivanka Trump Facebook page Chandigarh, Aug 8 (IBNS): Breaking his silence, BJP's Haryana unit chief Subhash Barala on Tuesday said the woman, who alleged that Vikas Barala stalked her, was like his 'daughter'. "Varnika is like my daughter," the BJP leader told media on the victim Varnika Kundu. He said no move was made to influence the investigation process in the case. Police arrested Vikas Barala, the 23-year-old son of BJPs Subhash Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar, 27, from the Housing Board light point late on Friday night. Both were later released on bail. The Chandigarh Police on Monday said they are doing everything to help the victim. Giving an update on the stalking case, the Chandigarh police said: "Technical analysis is going on." The police refused to give any details of the ongoing investigation to the media. Speaking about the charges, the police said: "We will give the sections (frame charges) which are demanding." The victim Varnika Kundu, who is a video jockey, alleged on Friday night her car was followed by a Tata Safari Storm (HR-23G-1008). According to her, the men driving the SUV were drunk and pulled up close to her car several time. She alleged that they even tried to block her way to force her to other routes. She claimed that at one point, the SUV blocked her way and the person in the co-drivers seat got down and started walking towards her vehicle. She then reversed the vehicle and started moving. However, the men continued to follow her. The girl then called up the 100 helpline and gave the number details of the SUV and her location. In a latest development to the Chandigarh stalking case, the police on Tuesday said the CCTV footage of the night is available. Gandhinagar, Aug 8 (IBNS): Congress made an allegation against its two rebel MLAs for showing their ballot papers to the Bharatiya Janata Party's polling agent in the Rajya Sabha election of Gujarat on Tuesday which has stalled the counting of votes. The Congress complained to the EC against its two MLAs for breaching secrecy in the election and urged the latter to disqualify their votes. As per law, the voters can show their ballot papers to their party's polling agent only. Voting for the crucial Rajya Sabha elections for three seats in Gujarat, which is witnessing a prestige battle between the Congress and the BJP, ended on Tuesday amid speculations over the fate of Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel whom the ruling BJP is trying to defeat by going all out. The poll witnessed a tough battle with BJP fielding its key members-party president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani. The Congress is fighting the poll with its heavyweight candidate Ahmed Patel whose election also is important for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi since he is a close aide being and functions as the political secretary the Congress chief. Patel contested against BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput. Patel told NDTV: "Never seen such a tense and bitter battle in my entire political career." After the resignation of former Gujarat chief minister and veteran Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, and with three party members joining the BJP, the Congress had flown 44 of its lawmakers to Bengaluru late last month to stop any defection. Congress accused the incumbent Gujarat government of trying to lure 22 Congress lawmakers by offering Rs 15 crores to each MLA and asking them to cross vote during the polls. Amid a high drama of political slug fest senior Ahmed Patel on Monday said he is sure of his victory as all the party MLAs are united. Patel is seeking a fifth consecutive term which faces challenge with the ruling BJP going all out to scuttle his election. After days of suspense that involved party legislators, who the Congress believed were being targeted by BJP for horsetrading to ensure Patel's defeat, all the 44 MLAs returned to the state in the wee hours of Monday from Karnataka where they were flown to keep BJP feelers at bay. The Congress had whisked them away from the state for a "safer custody" after six of its MLAs deserted the party recently and three of them joined the BJP. According to reports, they were taken to the Neejanand Resort in Gujarat's Anand district, located 77 km from Ahmedabad, ahead of the election for three seats. Meanwhile, former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, who recently quit the Congress, on Tuesday said he did not vote for the party's candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election of state. Interacting with the media, Vaghela said: "There is no point in voting someone who will not win." "I had freed Congress last month and today they also said that I am free to vote anyone", he said. Image: ahmedmpatel.in Gandhinagar, Aug 8 (IBNS): Differing from the party line, Janata Dal (United) MLA Chotubhai Vasava said he has cast his vote in favour of Congress' Ahmed Patel in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha election on Tuesday. Vasava told NDTV about his choice of voting. However, the national spokesperson of JD(U), K.C. Tyagi, said the party has voted for BJP in the RS poll. Despite the claims of Tyagi, Vasava told the channel: "I know whom I have voted." The JD(U) MLA even took on his chief Nitish Kumar for not consulting the party members before taking the decision of aligning with the BJP in Bihar recently. Voting for the crucial Rajya Sabha elections for three seats in Gujarat, which is witnessing a prestige battle between the Congress and the BJP, ended on Tuesday amid speculations over the fate of Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel whom the ruling BJP is trying to defeat by going all out. The poll witnessed a tough battle with BJP fielding its key members-party president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani. The Congress is fighting the poll with its heavyweight candidate Ahmed Patel whose election also is important for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi since he is a close aide being and functions as the political secretary the Congress chief. Patel contested against BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput. Patel told NDTV: "Never seen such a tense and bitter battle in my entire political career." After the resignation of former Gujarat chief minister and veteran Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, and with three party members joining the BJP, the Congress had flown 44 of its lawmakers to Bengaluru late last month to stop any defection. Congress accused the incumbent Gujarat government of trying to lure 22 Congress lawmakers by offering Rs 15 crores to each MLA and asking them to cross vote during the polls. Amid a high drama of political slug fest senior Ahmed Patel on Monday said he is sure of his victory as all the party MLAs are united. Patel is seeking a fifth consecutive term which faces challenge with the ruling BJP going all out to scuttle his election. After days of suspense that involved party legislators, who the Congress believed were being targeted by BJP for horsetrading to ensure Patel's defeat, all the 44 MLAs returned to the state in the wee hours of Monday from Karnataka where they were flown to keep BJP feelers at bay. The Congress had whisked them away from the state for a "safer custody" after six of its MLAs deserted the party recently and three of them joined the BJP. According to reports, they were taken to the Neejanand Resort in Gujarat's Anand district, located 77 km from Ahmedabad, ahead of the election for three seats. Meanwhile, former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, who recently quit the Congress, on Tuesday said he did not vote for the party's candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election of state. Interacting with the media, Vaghela said: "There is no point in voting someone who will not win." "I had freed Congress last month and today they also said that I am free to vote anyone", he said. Image: Creative Commons. Patna, Aug 8 (TheBiharPost/IBNS): RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday said Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has committed political suicide by joining hands with the BJP. Nitish Kumar has committed political suicide by joining the company of the BJP. The BJP will spare only two seats that he had won in the last Lok Sabha polls, said Prasad, talking to the media in Patna on Tuesday, and asked, Does any party part with its sitting seats? At that time, he (Nitish Kumar) will have no option other than accepting this humiliating offer and he will repent for his decision, he said. The BJP-led NDA had won 31 seats out of Bihars total 40 LS seats in the last 2014 general elections. The JD-U led by Kumar, on the other hand, had emerged victorious on only two seatsPurnia and Nalandaout of 40 it had contested. Prasad also accused the chief minister of singing paens to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nitish Kumar aabhi Modi ka jaikara kar rahe hain, he alleged. The RJD chief alleged there was conspiracy being hatched at the level of the BJP to eliminate Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. (thebiharpost.com) Patna, Aug 8 (TheBiharPost/IBNS): Bihar chief minister Nitsh Kumar has announced to take care of unclaimed animals found loitering on the streets and has asked the authorities to take necessary steps in this direction. My government has now decided to take care of unclaimed animals and protect them, the chief minister told a function in Patna on Monday. He said the unclaimed animals found roaming on the streets would be kept in the cowsheds adding he had issued necessary instructions to the Patna district magistrate in this regard. According to him, cow dung and urine of the bovines will be used in organic farming. The new decision of Nitish Kumar government has surprised the common men since it comes shortly after the JD-U joining hands with the BJP which has been launching campaign against slaughter of cows. Bihar has already reported two incidents of attacks on persons for allegedly carrying beef post the JD-U-BJP government coming to power last fortnight. The news government has also announced to shut al illegal slaughter houses running in Bihar. The state is said to have only two legal slaughter houses. (thebiharpost.com) New Delhi, Aug 8 (IBNS): BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress party is aware of their loss in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha election which has prompted the latter to stall the counting process by making allegations against its own MLAs for breaching secrecy on Tuesday. The Rajya Sabha election drama continued as a delegation of BJP went to meet the Election Commission after the Congress party stalled the counting process. The Congress made an allegation against its two rebel MLAs for showing their ballot papers to the Bharatiya Janata Party's polling agent in the Rajya Sabha election of Gujarat on Tuesday which has stalled the counting of votes. The Congress complained to the EC against its two MLAs for breaching secrecy in the election and urged the latter to disqualify their votes. Prasad questioned the Congress party for their delay in complaining to the EC. "When they became sure about their loss, they started to create a drama." "We urged the EC to immediately start the counting process" Union minister Piyush Goyal said. Voting for the crucial Rajya Sabha elections for three seats in Gujarat, which is witnessing a prestige battle between the Congress and the BJP, ended on Tuesday amid speculations over the fate of Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel whom the ruling BJP is trying to defeat by going all out. The poll witnessed a tough battle with BJP fielding its key members-party president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani. The Congress is fighting the poll with its heavyweight candidate Ahmed Patel whose election also is important for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi since he is a close aide being and functions as the political secretary the Congress chief. Patel contested against BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput. Patel told NDTV: "Never seen such a tense and bitter battle in my entire political career." After the resignation of former Gujarat chief minister and veteran Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, and with three party members joining the BJP, the Congress had flown 44 of its lawmakers to Bengaluru late last month to stop any defection. Congress accused the incumbent Gujarat government of trying to lure 22 Congress lawmakers by offering Rs 15 crores to each MLA and asking them to cross vote during the polls. Amid a high drama of political slug fest senior Ahmed Patel on Monday said he is sure of his victory as all the party MLAs are united. Patel is seeking a fifth consecutive term which faces challenge with the ruling BJP going all out to scuttle his election. After days of suspense that involved party legislators, who the Congress believed were being targeted by BJP for horsetrading to ensure Patel's defeat, all the 44 MLAs returned to the state in the wee hours of Monday from Karnataka where they were flown to keep BJP feelers at bay. The Congress had whisked them away from the state for a "safer custody" after six of its MLAs deserted the party recently and three of them joined the BJP. According to reports, they were taken to the Neejanand Resort in Gujarat's Anand district, located 77 km from Ahmedabad, ahead of the election for three seats. Meanwhile, former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, who recently quit the Congress, on Tuesday said he did not vote for the party's candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha election of state. Interacting with the media, Vaghela said: "There is no point in voting someone who will not win." "I had freed Congress last month and today they also said that I am free to vote anyone", he said. Image: Official Facebook page of Ravi Shankar Prasad. New Delhi, Aug 8 (IBNS): Congress vice president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said "self-appointed vigilantes" are threat to liberty and enemy of pluralism and diversity. "Anguished by assault on freedom. Self appointed vigilantes are a threat to liberty and enemy of pluralism and diversity," Gandhi said. She said her Congress must defend liberty and freedom of individual and institutions. The Congress supremo said: "Congress must always defend the liberty & freedom of individual and institutions." Gandhi was speaking at the Congress Working Committee meeting here on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also attended the event. He said he was concerned about the future of youth and peasantry as multiple problems persisted in the society post demonetisation and implementation of GST. Singh said: "I am deeply concerned about India's youth & peasantry as multiple problems persist post demonetisation and GST." Image: Congress Twitter page By Ruth Anderah: The Commercial Court has summoned DFCU bank to file a defence within 15 days explaining why it has refused to pay -off debts that were incurred by the now dissolved Crane Bank. This is after an advertising company; Premier Advertising and media Ltd sued DFCU bank claiming it demanded 112 million shillings from Crane Bank at the time Bank of Uganda transferred all its assets and liabilities to DFCU. According to the company manager David Esiat, the said money arises out of an advertising contract that Crane Bank entered into with his company to market its services. He says that despite repeated demands and reminders to DFCU bank, it has refused to settle this debt which has occasioned loss to his business. Kolkata/Nadia, Aug 8 (IBNS): At least eight persons, including four women and a child, were killed and several others were seriously injured after an over-speeding bus fell into a roadside canal near Galakata Battala area under Tehatta Police Station limits in West Bengal's Nadia district on Tuesday afternoon, reports said. According to reports, a Krishnanagar to Palashipara bound public bus suddenly lost its control, while it was trying to overtake another bus of same route, and fell into a water-filled ditch beside Krishnanagar-Karimpur Road at around 1 pm. Police, locals and rescue workers rushed to the scene and rescued over 80 passengers from the bus. All injured were taken to Tehatta Hospital where eight of them were declared brought dead. A local police official said that the deceased have been identified as Nijamuddin Mondal (65), Benjira Bibi (24), Reshma Bibi Mondal (35), Rezaul Karim Mondal (30), Bishakha Halder (40), Rita Pramanick (38), Rajesh Pramanick (32) and Anushka Halder (02). According to hospital reports, conditions of at least 38 injured persons are very critical and they have been referred to Shaktinagar District Hospital. Police, however, have started probe into the reason of mishap. "We have seized the bus while its driver is still absconding," a local police official told IBNS. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Meanwhile, at least nine persons were hurt as a speeding minibus crashed into another bus on Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu) in Kolkata on Tuesday morning, according to reports. (Reporting by Deepayan Sinha) New York, Aug 8(Just Earth News): The Government of Kenya should urge all parties to maintain the highest standards of behaviour before, during and after Tuesday's general elections to avoid a repeat of the violence that took place in 2007, three United Nations human rights experts have said. We call on the Kenyan authorities to do their utmost to ensure peaceful elections, as well as a free and fair voting process tomorrow, said the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Annalisa Ciampi, on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, and on summary executions, Agnes Callamard. Respect for people's fundamental rights and freedoms including the right to vote, freedom of expression, association and assembly are the key to free and fair elections and public participation, they noted in a joint statement on the eve of the polls to elect the president and members of parliament, among others. Since 2007, when the country plunged into bloodshed over disputed election results, Kenya had made significant progress in strengthening democracy, human rights and the rule of law, they said, noting it had taken important steps towards peacefully resolving tensions in the context of elections. However, in the light of recent incidents of political violence, the rise of hate speech and prevailing tensions, we emphasize the importance of all those involved in the process to commit themselves to peaceful conduct during and after elections, they said. We also call on their supporters to remain peaceful and refrain from any incitement to violence, added the experts. The Special Rapporteurs welcomed the Government's commitment not to shut down the internet, urging the authorities to ensure that media and civil society could report on and scrutinize the poll unhindered. They also highlighted the responsibility of security forces to facilitate the holding of peaceful demonstrations, and to hold constructive dialogue with protesters in an effort to defuse any tensions. UN Photo/Staton Winter Source: www.justearthnews.com New York, Aug 8(Just Earth News): Expressing a deep concern about reports of airstrikes on civilians in Yemen's Sa'ada Governorate, a senior United Nations relief official has urged all parties to the conflict and those who influence and support them to uphold their responsibility under international humanitarian law to protect civilians. All parties to the conflict continue to show a disregard for the protection of civilians and the principle of distinction between civilians and combatants in the conduct of hostilities, said Jamie McGoldrick, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, in a statement issued over the weekend by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Attacks on a house in As Safra District and on a private vehicle in Razih District on Friday have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 12 civilians, including women and children and the injury of 10 more people. While these new incidents are still being investigated by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), they are an example of the brutality in which the conflict is being conducted, McGoldrick stated. As I have said before, even wars have rules and such rules must be respected, he added. Meanwhile, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at UN Headquarters on Monday that there had been a delay in the delivery of fuel needed for the UN's humanitarian operations in the country but UN team has got assurances that fuel will be moving this week from Aden to the capital, Sana'a. We ask authorities for a mechanism to help ensure regular delivery of aviation fuel for UN operations, Dujarric said. Photo: OCHA/Philippe Kropf (file) Source: www.justearthnews.com Beijing, Aug 8 (IBNS): As bizarre as it sounds, a restaurant in mainland China incurred the wrath of its customers after it offered the female diners discounts depending on the size of their breasts! The Zhejiang-based restaurant was willing to provide five percent discount to someone with cup size A, but a further enhanced size, G, could land someone almost 65 percent discount. The entire scheme, starting from the slogan: 'The whole city is looking for BREASTS', didn't go down well with customers, who said that the adverts were 'discriminatory against women'. Despite the negative reviews against them, the manager of the restaurant said that their sales have improved by at least 20 percent. "Once the promotion started, customer numbers rose by about 20 percent," he said. "Some of the girls we met were very proud. They had nothing to hide." He also added that the customers preferred to claim their discounts from the waitresses rather than waiters, in order to avoid embarrassment. Image: Qianjiang Evening Post Saint John, Aug 8 (IBNS): A latest concern for the Canadian government is the influx of alarming number of Americans in Canada with arms, Global News said. The report stated six Americans were charged so far this summer for crossing the New Brunswick border with arms. Three men from Florida and two from New England pleaded guilty and also they were fined around $2,000. The first case occurred this summer was about a 69-year old New Hampshire man who confessed that he had a .357 Magnum after the inspection of his SUV by the border securities. The incident occurred on May 20. In one of the recent cases which occurred on June 23, a man was fined $2,000 for carrying two undeclared guns including a prohibited .25 calibre Raven Arms handgun. Federal Prosecutor Peter Thorn was quoted by the Global News saying: "The offences continue to occur with alarming frequency during the summer months." However, Thorn said most of the people who were caught for carrying guns are all respectful citizens of the USA and completely unaware that arms are prohibited in Canada. Thorn, who has been prosecuting these cases for years, said despite Canadian government's issue of travel advisories and signage at the border, Americans are bringing guns and above all they are denying. Thorn said he believes sentencing and not fining is the apt way of punishing the violators which could deter others from doing the same. "Unfortunately, whereas the offenders reside in the U.S.A., it is highly unlikely that the sentencing message will ever reach those who could take heed or notice of the message," Thorn said in an email interaction with the Canadian Press. (Reporting by Souvik Ghosh) Image: Creative Commons. New York, Aug 8(Just Earth News): An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Japanas Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station has addressed many of the recommendations and suggestions made in a 2015 review, but added that work should continue in some areas. The Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) concluded a five-day follow-up mission from 31 July to 4 August to assess how the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station on the northwest coast of Japan has followed up on recommendations and suggestions made in a 2015 OSART mission to Units 6 and 7. OSART missions aim to improve operational safety by objectively assessing safety performance using the IAEA's Safety Standards and proposing recommendations and suggestions for improvement where appropriate. The follow-up missions are standard components of the OSART programme and are typically conducted within two years of the initial mission. Units 6 and 7 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa station are both powered by 1356 megawatt advanced boiling water reactors. Both units have been shut down for several years. TEPCO has addressed several issues identified in the 2015 review, said Team Leader Peter Tarren, Head of the IAEAs Operational Safety Section. Though there has been progress, work is still needed to address some recommendations in order to strengthen the plants operational safety. The four-member team comprised an IAEA Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader and two members from the original OSART Mission in 2015. The team found that progress was made on all recommendations and suggestions. Several recommendations and suggestions from the 2015 review have been fully implemented, including: Update and integrate Emergency Operating Procedures, Standard Operating Procedures and Accident Management Guidance to extend their scope to cover shutdown operational regimes and the occurrence of an accident in the spent fuel pool under design extension conditions Improve the current emergency plan to ensure that it contains all the basic arrangements and concepts of operation for all key emergency response functions, and complete the existing emergency procedures to ensure that they are comprehensive, clear, consistent, unequivocal and standardized. Ensure that proper arrangements and practices for contamination control are implemented. The team recommended continuous work in several other areas, including: The station should implement an integrated system to manage all operating experience information and ensure that elements related to reporting, screening, analysis, corrective actions, trending and effectiveness reviews are fully developed and implemented. The station and TEPCOs Corporate Office should consider formalizing the design authority function and establish a procedure to ensure the availability of complete and reliable plant design data, including long term storage and safekeeping of detailed design documentation throughout the plants lifetime. The station should consider enhancing arrangements for the on-shift fire brigade to ensure an effective response to fire alarms. The team has provided a draft of its report to TEPCOs management, and the final report will be submitted to the Japanese Government within about three months. TEPCO expressed determination to complete work on all remaining recommendations and suggestions identified during the 2015 OSART mission. Source: www.justearthnews.com New York, Aug 9(Just Earth News): Rapid responses are critical to stemming a cholera outbreak that has afflicted South Sudan for more than a year, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation that has left approximately four million people displaced by conflict, according to the UN migration agency. In a country with mass displacement and severe levels of food insecurity, the effect of the continued cholera outbreak on the health of vulnerable populations is acute, explained Dr. Beldina Gikundi, Migration Health Emergency Officer of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in South Sudan. Since 18 June 2016, over 18,000 cholera cases including 328 deaths have been reported in South Sudan. IOM health and water, sanitation and hygiene teams continue to respond to the outbreak through case management and preventive measures across the country. Disease outbreaks are particularly dangerous for displaced and vulnerable populations, such as children under five years of age, who account for more than one-in-five cholera cases reported in 2017. IOM pointed out that many locations experiencing outbreaks are in proximity to the Nile River, increasing the rainy season's impact on the cholera outbreak and threat of spreading further. As we saw the outbreak continue, even during the dry season in 2017, we expect to see the trend persist throughout the rainy season, which leaves as much as 60 per cent of the country inaccessible by road, continued Dr. Gikundi, underscoring that sustained and flexible responses are crucial to stemming the continued transmission of the disease in this extremely challenging context. Saving lives on the ground Since the outbreak began, IOM teams have been deployed to cholera-affected areas across the country. Teams continue to conduct hygiene promotion, core relief item distribution and borehole repairs in Bentiu and Rubkona towns, and Wau town and surrounding areas, as well as in UN protection of civilian sites across the country. In collaboration with the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, IOM health teams are conducting oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns across the country. In an effort to reduce cholera cases in outbreak areas, IOM has recently reached more than 39,900 people in parts of Jonglei and Unity and is currently on the ground in Warrap, preparing to lead an upcoming OCV campaign targeting more than 189,000 people in Tonj East County. Since the beginning of the 2016 outbreak, IOM has managed the USAID Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance Rapid Response Fund (RFF) in deploying 14 missions to respond to and promote the prevention of cholera cases. Seven RRF partners are currently on the ground in three states, providing health and water and sanitation assistance to cholera-affected communities. File photo: UN Migration Agency 2017 Source: www.justearthnews.com Lahore, Aug 8 (IBNS): At least 46 people have been injured in a truck explosion in Pakistan's Lahore city, reports said. The incident took place on Monday evening. Local news outlet The Dawn quoted eye-witnesses as stating that the blast was heavy and may have damaged at least 100 vehicles, including motorbikes and small cars, that were parked along with the truck on Outfall Road. The blast also caused significant damaged to nearby buildings, shattering window panes. One eyewitness told the outlet that a nearby building suffered a roof-collapse due to the explosion. The blast also triggered a power-cut as high voltage electric wires too were damaged. Police said that the truck in question had been carrying apricots and had been stranded there for at least three days. The injured have been moved to a nearby hospital, 12 of whom were released following a basic first aid, however, four people are said to be critical. The blast also left a 10-15 feet crater on the spot. Mayor Mubashir Javed told reports that they will initiate an investigation and look at all angles. Image: twitter.com/MaryamNSharif Islamabad, Aug 8 (IBNS): In a major move, The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued notice to the PML-N and directed it to appoint a new party leader, media reports said. The current leader of the party is Nawaz Sharif. The ECP in the notice said that under the Political Parties Order 2002, a disqualified lawmaker cannot hold any office in a political party, reported Dawn News. Shortly after the ECP's notification was issued, DawnNews reported that the PML-N was holding a high-level meeting of senior party members, including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar. Nawaz Sharif last month stepped down from the post after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office. The court announced its verdict in connection with the Panama Papers case. His stepping down brought Nawaz Sharif's third term in power to an unceremonious end. He stepped down nearly an year before Pakistan would have participated in the scheduled general elections. By Damali Mukhaye: The government is set to deploy police officers in Kampala city to supervise the work of Kampala Capital City Authority enforcement team following the death of a city vendor. 35-year old Olivia Basemere, drowned in Nakivubo channel on Friday as she reportedly fled from KCCA enforcement officers. Basemera who was a handkerchief vendor was allegedly being pursuing by the officers when she fell into the channel. Addressing journalists at the Office of the President this morning, the state minister of Kampala Benny Namugwanya said that since police officers are well trained, they are better positioned to supervise the enforcement officers and advise them on how to handle difficult situations. She added that they are waiting for the official report from police about the circumstances under which the vendor died before the government decides the next step of action. Related stories From the Archive Awestruck by the Men in Uniform Myanmar Nows chief editor Ko Swe Win describes his personal experiences of the 1988 Uprising. In August 2010, when he was working with The Irrawaddy, Ba Kaung, a pseudonym for Myanmar Nows chief editor Swe Win, wrote about the people he met connected to the 1988 Uprising. The Irrawaddy republishes the story to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the 88 Uprising in Yangon, then known as Rangoon. Armed with an army knife, my father went out in search of my two elder brothers lost among the protesters at the peak of the 1988 uprising. My aunt, wielding a bunch of bananas, also left the house and I followed her because Id heard the soldiers were coming. Members of Tatmadaw must support the people, was one of the slogans the soldiers were shouting in stirring unison. Now it became clear why my aunt had carried out a bunch of bananaspeople were giving food to the soldiers, who didnt break their stride as they marched. I was 10 years old and awestruck by the long column of soldiers, who seemed to tower above me. Ominously, however, they wore uniforms of only two colorsnavy blue and khaki, identifying them as members of the navy and the air force. I didnt see a single soldier in a green uniform, the color worn by most members of the Burmese armed forces. I was aware that something was missing from this protest march, but I couldnt know then how the absence of the greens would change the whole scene. The forced social contract of 26 years had collapsed, followed by fearless criticism of societal ills and the formation of associations of every variety. All were enjoying the enthusiasm of anarchy, united and sharing what they had. Life was beginning to resemble Rousseaus natural state. Students, government employees or trishaw driversall seemed equal and anxious stakeholders in the future of their country. Soon, however, a few anarchists turned out to be not that benevolent. To win democracy is our cause! Our cause! was the rallying cry of a mob in our neighborhood of Rangoon. The group was rumored to be under the leadership of a mysterious swordsman called Yaung Gyi Bwe, which means Mr. Hair-knot in English. Brandishing samurai swords and scarlet peacock flags, they also held spikes crowned by the burnt, severed heads of suspected Socialist government agents. Ten years later, in late 1998, in a cell block in Rangoons Insein Prison, I found myself a neighbor of Naing Lin, a former army corporal jailed for two years for participating in the 1988 protests. After his release from a prison labor camp, he spent several years as a primary school teacher in a remote village in Shan State. In August 1998, Naing Lin gave up his teaching job and returned to Rangoon to participate in another round of anti-government protests. He was arrested and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment on charges of instigating public unrest. He joined the younger set of dissidents jailed in 1996 and 1998. Another of my prison comrades, Aung Swan, was a former fighter, a member of the militant All Burma Students Democratic Force, which he joined after taking part as a student in the 1988 uprising. He was arrested in 1994 while traveling secretly from his jungle base to visit his family in Tavoy. In prison, Aung Swan was thought to be insane because he no longer spoke with anybody after he was beaten up by a group of criminal trusties because prison guards found a fellow political prisoner throwing food to him. Both Naing Lin and Aung Swan have now been released. I recently discovered that Yaung Gyi Bwe, the mysterious swordsman, is living in the United States making Japanese sushi for a living. And my two brothers survived the crackdown unscathed. From the Archive Blood Stained My School Courtyard A ceremony in downtown Rangoon remembers those killed when security forces opened fire on people protesting against the one-party rule of Gen. Ne Win. / The Irrawaddy Former Irrawaddy reporter Min Naing Thu was a child when anti-government demonstrations of 1988 reached Monywa, Sagaing Region. In this Aug. 6, 2010 article he describes his experience of leaving classes to join the demonstrations, and their bloody end. When I first heard the word Tha-beik-hmauk [protest], in broadcasts by the Burmese service of the BBC, the expression was completely new to me, a 10-year-old living in Monywa. My parents tuned into the service every night, and I often heard that word used in the news programs without knowing what it meant. It wasnt long before I got to understand what Tha-beik-hmauk meant when the students demonstrations broke out in August 1988. By that time, I had moved on to the fifth grade of high school in my home town, Monywa. My school had only reopened one month earlier when the demonstrations broke out. Students from Rangoon University and 10th grade pupils gathered at the school and raised the fighting peacock flagthe first time I had seen the emblem. The teachers did nothing to stop the demonstration, advising students to listen attentively to the speeches being made. They were full of declarations like Soldiers rape female students Our country is impoverished We have to overthrow Ne Wins government We have to rise up against the evil BSPP system. The following day, the teachers joined the demonstrations and the school closed. Happy that lessons were over, I joined friends as they gathered by the schools flagpole. I was given three pieces of ba-yar-kyaw [an Indian style snack of fried mashed beans and spices]. To avoid bay-ba-yar [danger], lets eat Ba-yar-kyaw and march, said a teacher in a play of words that got us laughing as we paraded through the streets, chanting slogans and accepting gifts of food, water and sweets from the towns residents. In mid-August, a central camp was established for protestors in Monywa. We gathered at the camp at the end of each day of demonstrations and engaged in discussions and political speeches. Civil servants had also now joined the protests, which we learnt from BBC broadcasts were countrywide. After one month, in late September, army units took up positions in Monywa and our teachers told us to return home and stay there. One night we heard gunfire and my uncle, who was visiting us, identified it as the noise of automatic weapons. Are students being killed? he exclaimed. I cant just sit still. I must go. And he disappeared into the night. There were reports that troops had raided our camp and high school. In the morning I accompanied my mother to market and saw bloodstains on the streetsincluding in our school courtyard, where a discarded green school sarong was additional evidence of the night of violence. From the Archive Mothers Smile in Turmoil Daw Htay Htay Win (pictured), the mother of Kyaw Zwa Moe, died while he was in prison for his political activism during the 1988 Uprising. Kyaw Zwa Moe, editor of The Irrawaddys English edition, reflects in this 2010 article on his arrest and imprisonment following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, the 29th anniversary of which is commemorated this year. The sway of the train woke me as the sun was rising in a mist on an endless horizon of paddy fields. What a beautiful morning! But what I didnt know was that the train was not only taking me to Rangoon, where my mother was waiting for me, but that it was also the beginning of a much longer journey. That night in Rangoon at my mothers home, men entered the house. They asked for my mothers permission to take me for questioning. My mother merely nodded, calmly. But I knew she was crying inside. The intruders took me to a chilly, isolated and bloodstained cell. It was December 1991. I was arrested as a result of my actions during, and after, the 1988 pro-democracy uprising: on Aug. 7, 1988, I was in a street protest in Rangoon, eye-to-eye with a soldier whose bayonet was pointed at my body; in the following days, we marched in the streets, we ran from the soldiers when they fired their weapons; later, we secretly published a political journal and clandestinely distributed it; in secret military training, we practiced with wooden rifles; I traveled as a messenger to the Thai-Burmese border where my colleagues trained as a student army. My work after the uprising caught the attention of local authorities and military intelligence units and our home was seen in their eyes as a rebel location. Four times, the house was surrounded and searched by army troops and military intelligence officers. On two occasions, they were looking for my older brother. Two times, they were looking for me. That December night, they found me. A secret military court handed down a 10-year prison sentence. I was not allowed to present a defense. My mother visited me in jail. She brought me the gift of smilesno sad face or teary eyes. But again, I knew what she was feeling inside. Eight years later, when I was released from prison, I returned home. I could only remember the smiles she so bravely gave me, because she had passed away during my third year in prison. But the price I paid was small compared to some of my colleagues in 1988 and to some of my fellow prisoners. Tun Sein, Bo Ni Aung, Kyaw Theik, Htet Moe, Myint Aung and many others paid the highest pricedeathduring the 1988 protests or in prison, or following their release, or in exile. Their sacrifice affected Burmas history and has taken us to where we are today. Without their sacrifice during the 88 movement, late dictator Ne Wins authoritarian socialist regime would not have been swept away. Without the movement, the junta wouldnt have held the 1990 election, and the opposition National League for Democracy wouldnt have been the clear winner. Without the movement, the junta wouldnt have signed ceasefire agreements with ethnic armed groups, and they wouldnt be where they are today. Without it, the junta wouldnt have planned to hold elections this year. Without it, there would be no political parties to challenge the regimes candidates. Without it, the exiled media wouldnt have grown to be a reliable source of news and information about what goes on inside the regimes closed, insular world. We all recognize that the 88 generation and the following generations have paid a high price to get us where we are today, and about 2,100 political prisoners, including former student leader Min Ko Naing, still languish in jails. We must never forget that the road we go down today was built on the sacrifice of thousands of lives and souls. From the Archive The University Behind Bars Protestors during the '88 Uprising. Kay Latt was once a contributor to The Irrawaddy and now currently works for the Myanmar State Counselors Office. On this 29th anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, The Irrawaddy revisits his article from 2010, in which he reflects on education in prison. One day in March 1988, when I was a third year student at the Rangoon Arts and Science University, the noise of loud shouting reached our classroom from the recreation center. Our teacher left the room to investigate, and some of us followed. There was a crowd in front of the Convocation Hall, listening to speeches and shouting slogans. That afternoon, riot police intervened and arrested a number of students, piling them into a truck. We blocked the trucks way in Pyay Road and threw stones at the police. They responded with tear gaswhich I tasted for the first time in my life. The riot police mounted a counterattack and I ran into the Pegu hostel (Pago Saung), where friends of mine lived, and hid there until the police withdrew. Later, I learnt that some students had died on the banks of Inya Lake. Others had been beaten and arrested as they made for the Rangoon Institute of Technology. In June, when the universities briefly reopened, students again gathered in front of the recreation center at the Rangoon Arts and Science University and protested against the suppression of the students demonstrations by the authorities. Like many others, I wore a kerchief over my face as a disguise, but I removed it when one student leader fearlessly took his off. But I was very nervous as I returned home that day. In August, demonstrations broke out all over the country and I joined other students on the streets of Rangoon, shouting slogans and wearing arm bands, white shirts and Kachin longyi (sarong), the students uniform. Then, came the coup detat. I didnt know what to dowhether to follow my friends to the Thai-Burmese border and join their armed struggle, or to remain inside the country and to work for change from the underground or within a political party. I decided on the latter course of action. I joined the National League for Democracy, but not long after the 1990 election I was arrested because of my political involvement. After about seven months, during which no charge was laid against me, a prison warden toured the cells drawing up a list of the imprisoned students. I was filled with hope that this meant we would be freed in time for the rumored reopening of the universities, which had been closed since June 1988. On May 15, 1991, all universities across the country reopened. The prison authorities ordered me to collect my belongings, and I said farewell to my cheering comrades, who thought I was being freed. But it was a vain hopeI was arraigned before a military court and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, along with a number of other students. There is a saying that he who opens a schools door closes a prisons. But that wasnt to be in my caseprison was my school and university for nine long years. Prison is actually an exclusive university with very high admission requirements. I was admitted anyway Burma Inmates Pass Matriculation Exam, Receive Pardon The entrance to Obo Prison / The Irrawaddy MANDALAY Five inmates of Mandalays Obo Prison who passed Myanmars matriculation exam with honors in June were released on Monday under a Presidential pardon. I want to say thanks to the president and other authorities, including the prison superintendent and teachers, for making our dreams of attending university come true, said one of the prisoners 19-year-old Ma Shun Lae Wai Kyaw. I also want to tell everyone, especially young people, to stay away from drugs, which will affect your life goals, she added. In total, seven Obo Prison inmates passed the matriculation exams for the 2016-17 academic year. The five who passed with honorsfour males and one femalewere pardoned. I was so surprised and cried with joy when the warden told me I will be released, said Ko Hlaing Min Oo, a Kayah man from Loikaw, who passed the exam with one distinction. Ko Hlaing Min Oo, 18, was charged under Myanmars narcotics law and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. He had already served more than two years. I called my mother and she was overjoyed. She is now on her way to bring me back home, said Hlaing Min Oo. At the same time, I feel sad for my friends who have no chance to get out of the prison yet, he added. Superintendent of Obo Prison U Cho Win Tun thanked President U Htin Kyaw and other officials who had shown concern for the prisoners future. I am so happy, [the inmates] are like my own children, he said. Two other inmates from Insein Prison in Yangon who passed the exam with honors also received a presidential pardon and were released on the same day. According to figures from the Ministry of Education, 41 inmates from Obo, Insein, Tharyarwaddy and Hpa-An prisons took the 2016-17 matriculation exam, and 16 of them passed. This was the first academic year in which Obo Prison inmates could sit the exam at the prisonbefore, they had to travel to Insein Prison for the exam. According to prison officials, in Obo Prison alone, there were 38 inmates studying from grade 6 through matriculation this year. The classes were mainly taught by teachers who were also imprisoned. Teachers from local high schools helped prepare them for the matriculation exams under a program run by the education ministry. Burma Life and Death Behind Prison Walls A ceremony in downtown Rangoon remembers those killed when security forces opened fire on people protesting against the one-party rule of Gen. Ne Win. / The Irrawaddy Htet Aung was The Irrawaddys staff writer in 2010. Here he recalls the tragic death of his friend, prison mate and 1988 activist in an article originally published in 2010. One morning in January 2001, we all were startled to hear Si Thu declare: Ive been infected with HIV. All at once, the optimism and good wishes we had been expressing for his full recovery and his return alive to his cell from the prison hospital changed to sadness. Silence briefly blanketed our isolated world, where eight political prisoners were locked up in a building of eight cells in Thayawaddy prison, about 80 kilometers north of Rangoon, the former capital of Burma. All had spent more than a decade behind bars for their political beliefs. Anger broke the silenceanger at the prison authorities, who were consigning Si Thu to a section of the prison hospital where TB patients were held. Si Thu said: I want to die here with you, not there. We decided to demand that the prison authorities allow Si Thu to remain with us. Yet what could we do to save Si Thus life in the confines of our gloomy, unhygienic cells, where little help was to be expected from the outside world? We had no medicine, no clean water and no fresh, nutritious food. We could only give Si Thu our love, care and humane support. We felt that if Si Thu fell ill again he would not recover. The rainy season was approaching, a time when seasonal influenza struck many prisoners. We concentrated on caring for Si Thu and keeping him warm. One morning, Si Thu said with a soft smile: The junta has given me a death sentence. I have been prepared for it. I couldnt find any words to console him, and could only regard him with a feeling of unbearable sadness. Our efforts to get anti-retroviral drugs to combat the HIV virus were fruitless. Finally, the day we had been dreading came and Si Thu fell ill. He died on July 12, 2001, aged only 35. Si Thu was a prisoner of conscience because of his commitment to the struggle for democracy in Burma. He first became involved in politics as a student in the 1988 uprising. He was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1991, but later the sentence was changed to 10 years. Although he should have been a free man in July 2001, the junta kept him imprisoned under the terms of a security lawSection 10 (A) of the Law to Safeguard the State against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts. Burma Mon State Missing Out on Rubber Profits Rubber harvesting on Mon States Bilu Island / Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy MAWLAMYINE, Mon State Mon State rubber, which accounts for nearly half of Myanmars production of rubber, loses hundreds of millions of kyats in rubber exports because it is unable to produce high-grade rubber and relies solely on the Chinese market for exports, according to Mon State minister for agriculture, livestock, transportation and communications U Tun Htay. We are losing around 400 million kyats annually in unrealized profits as we are not able to produce high-grade rubber, the minister said. Mon State produces more than 100,000 tons of rubber per year and possesses 30 percent of the total rubber plantation acreage in Myanmar and 49 percent of the total output. The state, however, can only produce a small amount of ribbed smoked sheet (RSS) rubber, categorized into grades one, two, and three. Only the Shwe Yaung Pya rubber plantation operated by Max Myanmar Co. in Kyaikto Township, and Shwe Taungtan rubber plantation in Thanbyuzayat Township can produce RSS-grade rubber and export to foreign markets other than China. Other Mon State plantations produce low-grade raw rubber, which is refined by processing plants and produced as technically standard rubber (TSR). The Mon State chief minister on his Japan visit last month brought some rubber samples, and negotiated with Japanese agencies to help produce high-grade rubber for export to Japan, said head of Mon State agricultural department U Kyi Soe. We plan to establish a central rubber market probably in October in Mawlamyine together with a private rubber growers associations, the agricultural department and trade promotion department of the commerce ministry. We hope the government will be able to take a lead role in upgrading the quality of our rubber, U Kyi Soe told The Irrawaddy. Until 2005, the rubber market, including exports, was managed by Myanmar Perennial Crop Enterprise, which adjusted the rubber prices according to the global market. After the rubber market was privatized in 2005, the industry gradually declined due to reliance on China. More than 90 percent of total rubber production of Mon State is produced as raw rubber, said the minister. The state government has suggested to the Mon State Rubber Growers Association that it would partially fund a high-grade rubber processing plant in the state, but there are difficulties for small-scale farmers, said Nai Kyan Yit, chairman of the association. Individual rubber growers who operate less than 20 acres are not able to produce internationally marketable RSS-rubber because it takes at least a month to produce such quality. Small growers cant wait that long, so it is impossible, said Nai Kyan Yit. He said small-scale growers could work together to establish a high-grade rubber processing plant, but it would be hard for them to fund it. On Aug. 1, the Mon State government organized a two-day workshop on the production of high-grade rubber, and asked rubber growers to carefully get rid of dust, sand, and stones in rubber, and use formic acid instead of sulphuric acid for coagulation. Rubber is one of the five sectors prioritized for development by the Mon State government to help improve the states economic performance. Kenyans go to the polls today to choose a leader to steer the country for the next five years. Polling stations across the country are already open with thousands already queued up to cast their ballots. NTVs Herbert Zziwa has been to some of the polling centers in Nairobi and reports that queues started forming as early 4:00am. According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, over 19.6million people are expected to cast the ballot today from 11,155 polling centers spread out across the country. To ensure security, the Inspector General of police Joseph Boinnet said that over 150,000 officers have been deployed across the country to ensure a violent free election process. There are eight contenders in the race for Kenyas presidency. These are Ekuru Aukot from Third Way Alliance Kenya, Abduba Dida of the Alliance for Real Change, Cyrus Jirogo from United Democratic Party, Independent candidates Japheth Kaluyu, Michael Mwaura and Joseph Nyagah. The others are Raila Odinga from the National Super Alliance and the incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party of Kenya. The contest mainly between these two long-time rival is seen as too close to call. Uhuru Kenyatta, the 55-year-old son of Kenyas founding president, is seeking a second and final term in office and is expected to cast his vote at 10:00am at Gatundu. On the eve of the election, President Uhuru Kenyatta appealed for calm in a televised speech. He urged the 19 million registered voters to turn out in great numbers, but to do so in peace. Observers too have also reechoed the call for peace to prevail in the country. Former US Secretary of State John Kerry is among the world leaders that are in Kenya to observe the process. Back at home, the ministry of internal affairs has given assurance on the countrys border security. This follows fears raised over possible violence from todays elections in neighboring Kenya. In 2007 more than 1,100 Kenyans died and 600,000 were displaced after a disputed election. However, the ministry spokesperson Jacob Siminyu tells KFM that there is adequate security at the border ready to counter any situation that could arise. Burma Policeman Kills Two in Shan State Local people march in Kutkai town to raise awareness of a growing drug problem in northern Shan State on April 26, 2016Kachin National Anti-Narcotics Day. / Izawng / Facebook YANGON Two people were killed and three more injured in a shooting by a policeman on Sunday in northern Shan States Kutkai Township, another police officer from the areas Myoma station told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. The deceased were two men, aged 43 and 25 respectively, he said, under the condition of anonymity, adding that the shooting occurred in Kutkais Ward 3. We arrested [the shooter] on the spot after we received the information, the officer said, adding that the arrested individual held the rank of private. An investigation is continuing under Act 302/307, he added, referring to the criminal codes for murder and attempted murder. U Kham Nyunt, a township elder and chair of the Taang Literature and Culture Committee of Kutkai said that the area has long struggled with drug abuse and trafficking. Police representatives acknowledged this, however, said that no drugs were seized at the scene of the crime. Mal Mai, an ethnic Kachin youth leader in Kutkai, said that her 20-year-old cousin was among those wounded in the shooting, and that he was in recovery in a hospital in Lashio. She also said that she assumed that the violence was somehow drug-related. Every household [here] suffers from drug-related problems, Mal Mai said. Myanmar ranks as the second largest producer of opium in the world, behind Afghanistan, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Microsoft was so impressed with the work Brisbane-based GIS Peoples did with its Gruntify platform built upon Azure, that it flew out its people from the US to film a case study. Home to great natural beauty, Queensland, Australia is also susceptible to natural disasters, including storms, flooding, and fires and as natural disasters both seem to be more prevalent, even though Australia is well known as a land of drought and flooding plains, organisations across the world are looking for solutions that can help reduce the impacts to communities. Enter Gruntify, which is GIS Peoples flagship software solution for collecting, mapping and managing large numbers of field reports. To streamline the states disaster response efforts, Queensland engaged the help of GIS People a Microsoft CityNext partner to deploy the Gruntify platform to recovery workers. In doing so, were told that the state transformed the time-consuming manual process of documenting and cataloging storm damage. With its new data collection solution, Queensland has accelerated the reimbursement of relief funds and greatly eased disaster agency workloads". You see, the Queensland Government says it saw huge potential for Gruntify to be used in their rapid damage assessment following disasters, and the platform was set up to meet just that purpose for them. When Tropical Cyclone Debbie swept down the Queensland coast in March this year, the Gruntify technology was really put to the test". After all, critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges and power lines were damaged up and down the state. So, to assist with quick recovery, GIS People says its Gruntify mobile apps and Web platform were used to collect evidence of this damage, document it, and prepare reports, so that recovery and reconstruction activities can be expedited, and that the recovery operation is still ongoing and Gruntify is an integral part of managing that process". So, what of the grunty video that Microsoft produced? Well, it is embedded below, but the background is that Gruntify is built on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Through GIS Peoples partnership with Microsoft under the CityNext programme, GIS People proudly boasts that Microsoft heard about the exciting work that the Brisbane-based company have been collaborating on with Queensland Government. Microsoft loved the project so much, they decided to film a case study". "This led to a film crew flying out from the US to Brisbane, where they conducted interviews with Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, the deputy director-general of the Department of Transport Queensland, Miles Vass, and GIS Peoples chief executive Jamie Leach, who spoke about Gruntify and the work that that has been done in Queensland. The Microsoft production crew also filmed the GIS People and Queensland Government teams in action, using Gruntify in the field and in the office. Were told that, this filming opportunity has given GIS People the chance to show the world what Gruntify is all about, and how this platform can be used to make lives better". Heres the video: Prosecutors in the trial of Samsung Group's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong have demanded that he be jailed for 12 years for his alleged links to a corruption scandal that led to the ouster of South Korea's former president Park Geun-hye. The court will give its final ruling in the case on 25 August. The case ended on Monday and Lee can be detained, pending a ruling, until 27 August, The Wall Street Journal said. A report from the South Korean news agency Yonhap said the Samsung conglomerate, the largest in the country and one that accounts for almost a third of the value of the stock market, had not made a single statement during the trial. Lee, 49, has been in jail since February after being charged with providing about 43.3 billion won (US$38 million) to Choi Soon-il, a confidante of Park's, as a quid pro quo for the state pension backing the merger of two Samsung units in 2015. The only son and heir to Samsung chairman Lee Kwun-hee, Lee has more or less run the company after the elder Lee was taken to hospital following a heart attack in 2014. Yonhap said some industry watchers were of the opinion that the jail term sought by the independent counsel was more than predicted; back in 2007, a seven-year term and a fine of 350 billion won was sought against the elder Lee after he was charged with setting up a slush fund. But it added that others felt the jail term sought was reasonable given that it had been alleged that Lee secretly sent 7.8 billion won to Choi's company in Germany, an offence that could earn a 10-year jail term. The WSJ said that prosecutors had called for 10-year sentences for three other former Samsung officials involved in the same case, and a seven-year term for a fourth former Samsung official. In an unrelated development, police carried out a raid on a management office for family-owned Samsung residences in Seoul. This was in connection with a probe into allegations of misappropriation of funds and tax evasion during renovations of the residences between 2008 and 2015. Enterprise software firm TechnologyOne, currently in a legal stoush with Brisbane City Council over the loss of a major contract, claims it has broken its own 30-year record by delivering more than 50 customer project "go-lives" in the last eight weeks. While defending itself against an ambit claim from the council for loss and damage in excess of $50 million following the Council's decision to call off a 10-year contract, TechnologyOne says the record includes 12 go-lives on the first weekend in July, demonstrating that the company can rapidly onboard customers during peak end-of-year periods. TechnologyOnes new chief executive officer, Edward Chung, says the record results are a combination of high customer demand for its SaaS offering and an increased capacity to meet demand with implementation times accelerated by up to 50%. More than 60% of our implementations are being driven worldwide by customers seeking the immediate benefits of our SaaS offering, Chung says. Customers, recognise that the vital step in enabling their digital transformation is uptake of TechnologyOnes fully integrated enterprise SaaS with our automated, highly secure and fail-safe cloud technology. Our customers are also realising the benefits of digital enablement up to 50% faster due to our ability to rapidly mobilise SaaS projects in half the usual time. A recent example is Ticketek. We worked closely with Ticketek to not only introduce a new software product, but also move them from on-premise to our cloud environment within just four weeks. We also took Urban Maintenance Systems, live within one month, so they could deliver on a contract in New Zealand. Our new technology that simplifies and streamlines the SaaS go-live process reinforces the strategic benefit of reinvesting 20% of our profits into Research and Development. Open-source file syncing and sharing software company Nextcloud has announced a partnership with education and research institutions and software providers to produce a version directed at the education market. This will result in a Nextcloud release known as the Education Edition which will include the following apps in a bundle: Moodle integration app Zenodo (CERN research community) publishing app Dashboard app Circles group handling app Group Folders app Announcement centre app Administrator notifications app Quota warning app ORCID authentication SSO & SAML authentication The integration of Moodle, Zenodo, Dashboard, Circles and ORCID were developed as part of a collaborative effort with Nextcloud specifically for the Education Edition. All the apps are open source. The Education Edition has support for file handling integration in Moodle with its native OAuth2 support and a Moodle-side app adapted from work by Moodle community members at the University of Muenster. Nextcloud will continue the development and enhancement of this integration along with the Moodle community and Moodle Pty Ltd, the company behind Moodle. "The need for secure, self-hosted cloud collaboration solutions in the educational and research space is growing", said Frank Karlitschek, managing director of Nextcloud. "The Education Edition positions Nextcloud as the most integration focused solution in this market." Direct publishing into the Zendo.org shared research publishing platform has been developed along with DeiC, the Danish cooperative of universities. The Education Edition bundle is available with version 12.0.1 of Nextcloud. A tie-up with Univention, makers of the Univention Corporate Server, provides a virtual machine image with the Education Edition configured for immediate download. More apps can be downloaded from the Nextcloud store. Xero has promoted Ben Styles to the role of general manager financial web APAC, and appointed Ian Boyd as head of financial web in Australia. "Ben has worked tirelessly over the past three years to build strategic partnerships with Australian financial institutions. Now small businesses right across Asia Pacific will benefit from his expertise as he works to expand the Financial Web across the wider region," said managing director Trent Innes. Styles was previously head of financial web. He joined Xero in 2014 from NAB, where he held several positions, most recently senior manager of channel innovation for digital and direct banking. He previously served as a senior consultant at Dowling Consulting, and earlier in his career he worked in supply chain and purchasing at Ford, Whirlpool and Michelin. Stylesholds a Bachelor of Business degree from RMIT University. Boyd, Xero's new head of financial web, joins Xero from Visa. He held various senior positions with that organisation, most recently senior director of client program management. He previously worked at Barclays, ANZ Bank, Bevington Consulting, and Deloitte. "Ian joins the team with a wealth of expertise and knowledge from his time at Visa and other financial services firms, bolstering the team as we continue to drive business growth," said Innes. Boyd (below) holds an MA in philosophy from the University of St Andrews. Texas electrical engineering operator Power Quality Engineering has exposed electrical infrastructure data compiled by its engineers on such companies as Dell, the City of Austin, SBC, Freescale, Oracle and Texas Instruments to public view on the Internet. The exposed data was found by UpGuard's security lead Chris Vickery on 6 July when he found an open port configured to accept packets at an IP address. Vickery heads the company's Cyber Risk Team. When this was entered into a command-line interface, a fully downloadable data repository from PQE came down the pipe. "Among the data that was exposed was the contents of one folder, Dell folder 6807, with a document labelled 'Director of Central Intelligence Directive No. 6/9' serving as a startling indicator of how sensitive the data entrusted to third-party vendors can be," UpGuard said in a blog post. "Emanating from the director of Central Intelligence which, until 2005, referred to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency the 'Physical Security Standards for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities' are detailed at length, for the purposes of installation and configuration in the many far-flung locations in which such rooms are found." Such facilities are secure rooms used by security-cleared individuals to receive sensitive information. "Constructed with the specific goal of making external surveillance, eavesdropping, or interception of any information in the room as difficult as possible, SCIFs are common to intelligence community facilities and military installations," UpGuard said, adding that the location of such a secure room at a Dell facility in central Texas was clearly delineated. The size of the repository is unknown but Vickery had downloaded about 205GB by the time PQE secured its systems on 8 July after being notified of the exposure by UpGuard. The security firm pointed out that PQE had a poor CSTAR external cyber risk score of 181 out of a possible 950 at the time the data exposure was found. "Beyond this highlighting of potential weak points and trouble spots in customer electrical systems, publicly downloadable schematics reveal the specific locations and configurations of government-operated top secret intelligence transmission zones within at least one Dell facility," UpGuard said in a statement. "In addition to this exposed customer data, a plain text file of internal PQE passwords was also stored in the repository, potentially enabling further access to more company systems." Image of the main 'Clients' folder in the repository. Images: courtesy UpGuard. The port that was exposed, 873, is used by the tool rsync, developed by Australian developer Andrew Tridgell, that is used for easy and rapid copying of data to another machine. UpGuard said the configuration of PQEs rsync process to allow public access through an open port was very common in IT environments. "While IT personnel can restrict port access to only authorised PQE employees, such measures can easily be forgotten without processes in place to ensure security gaps are identified and closed immediately," the company said. "While the IP addresses able to access these systems via this port can be easily restricted by IT administrators using rsyncs 'hosts allow/deny' functions, this requires an extra step once the rsync utility is configured. This default accessibility, while simple to restrict, can be missed." The repository included folders labelled Clients, User, and Intuit. Within the Clients folder, there were sub-folders with the names of many well-known companies. "This data consists of reports and infrared imagery of weaknesses in clients power infrastructures as discovered and evaluated by PQE inspectors," UpGuard said. "Such infrared studies and their associated reporting reveal, with high levels of specificity, energy infrastructure inspection results of clients like HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin." British software researcher Marcus Hutchins is set to face a hearing in the US district court in Wisconsin on 14 August, following his arrest and subsequent release on bail on charges of having written and distributed a banking trojan known as Kronos. Hutchins will come up before Magistrate Judge Duffin at 10am that day (1am AEDT on 15 August). Update on @MalwareTechBlog: EDWI tells me he will NOT be arraigned tomorrow morn, citing the fact he only just made bail in Vegas. Kevin Collier (@kevincollier) 7 August 2017 He was arrested in Las Vegas on 2 August after he had boarded a plane to leave the country after attending the annual DEFCON conference. Whatever happens to @MalwareTechBlog, cybersec researchers/hackers who previously assisted governments are now less likely to offer help. Sheera Frenkel (@sheeraf) 7 August 2017 Hutchins gained prominence in May when he registered a domain found within the code of the WannaCry ransomware and inadvertently stopped its spread. While the chargesheet filed against Hutchins only accuses him of being involved in writing and spreading Kronon, the head of a security firm, Dave Aitel of Immunity, has alleged that he was involved in WannaCry himself. Prediction: without fanfare, on some Friday afternoon in the future (to avoid the media cycle), the gov will drop charges against MTB. Jake Williams (@MalwareJake) 8 August 2017 Hutchins' bail, set at US$30,000, was raised through donations. There was no time to raise sufficient funds last Friday so he was released on Monday. Anti-virus firm ESET has made changes to one of its posts about torrent files and clients, after an op-ed published on iTWire gained an airing on the Web. The company had put up a post that was in effect a blanket warning about the use of torrent clients and files, based on a few isolated examples. It was written by one Ondrej Kubovic, a so-called security evangelist, and headlined: "Why you should view torrents as a threat." iTWire claimed the company was spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt about torrents through the generalisations in the post. The op-ed was posted to the American technology news aggregation sitelast Friday. On Monday, the headline on the ESET post was changed to read: "How black-hats misuse the torrent ecosystem for fun and profit." The company also posted the following at the start of the article: "Update, Aug 7 14.50 CEST: We updated the article to acknowledge the many legitimate uses of the torrent technology as well as provide our telemetry data to show how frequently black-hats try to misuse the P2P ecosystem to spread their malicious products. This blog post didnt intend to denounce the technology as such." Canadian investment and financial planning software company PlanPlus has merged with Australias financial risk profiling firm FinaMetrica, with the merged entity branded as PlanPlus Global. The merger, effective on 1 August, will still see both the globally recognised PlanPlus and FinaMetrica brands continue to offer their products separately. The two companies say the merger means that PlanPlus Global can now offer an integrated solution around evidence-based investment suitability to banks, investment managers and financial advice enterprises that want to build robust, defensible planning and advice applications that can be scaled globally. PlanPlus founder and chief executive Shawn Brayman said: We believe we are the first truly world class provider of professional advice solutions for enterprises and individual planners. Our products range from the world's most respected psychometric risk tolerance profiler to a goal-based robo adviser to comprehensive financial planning, all in several languages with more than 12,000 users in dozens of countries. Brayman says the two firms have collaborated together for more than a decade, sharing a deeply-held belief that customers and providers all benefit when rigorous academic research underpins financial advice processes. According to Brayman, each has individually built an international reputation for delivering tools to help enterprises build consistency into scalable advice solutions. FinaMetrica co-founder Paul Resnik says the strategic match between FinaMetrica and PlanPlus is extraordinary. Our products complement each other and we share a common commitment to delivering financial systems that prioritise clients best interests. Meanwhile, we both have global businesses serving the corporate market and individual advisers. The merger comes at just the right time for us to meet the markets demands for an affordable, scalable and defensible advice solution that can be applied internationally across platforms, channels and borders. The two companies say the merged business serves customers in more than 30 countries with significant presences in Canada, the US, the UK and Australia, and substantial user bases in India, Germany, South Africa and Malaysia and PlanPlus Global has staff, offices and representatives in all major time zones to ensure all clients, large and small, are fully supported. FinaMetrica co-founder Geoff Davey will now exit the business after his retirement from executive roles in 2015. Resnik said FinaMetricas world leading reputation in financial risk tolerance is largely the result of Geoffs insight, intellectual rigour and hard work. We thank him and wish him a long and happy retirement. According to the two companies, PlanPlus Global is accelerating an ambitious development plan, including continued expansion of their collaborative platform that provides scaled advice from Do-It-Yourself to traditional adviser-driven, and exploring the potentials of big-data and artificial intelligence as additional components in standardising and automating the Know Your Client process. A large number of prominent technology and other firms among them IBM, Red Hat, Lexis Nexis, SAS, Unisys, Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton and PwC have attended presentations that detailed a plan to build a system that uses data mining to implement US President Donald Trump's "extreme vetting" to screen immigrants coming into the US. The Intercept reported that on 18 and 19 July, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations department had hosted an industry day for companies interested in building the system. Trump promised such a system during his campaigning for the 2016 presidential election. However, the interest was so great that the event, held at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, had to be extended into a second day. Full lists of those who attended and their company affiliations were posted online by the website (Day 1, Day 2). Trump promulgated a 90-day ban on entry for people from seven mainly Muslim majority countries - Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan - shortly after he took office; this was blocked by the courts which later allowed a modified version of it to stand. Iraq is no longer among the countries covered by the ban. More recently, Trump announced that legal immigration to the US would be cut by half. The Intercept said a document from ICE claimed that the current vetting practices were not sufficient to evaluate whether a prospective immigrant would indulge in criminal behaviour or become a terrorist. It was described as being "fragmented across mission areas and are both time-consuming and manually labour-intensive due to complexities in the current US immigration system". The system that is being sought is one that automates, centralises, and streamlines the current manual vetting process while simultaneously making determinations via automation if the data retrieved is actionable in order to implement the presidents various executive orders that address American immigration and border protection security and interests". The report said the vetting appeared to be targetting what ICE calls non-immigrants - foreigners seeking "temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose". One of the attendees raised a question about the FBI's attempt to build a similar system some years ago which failed to go ahead because of opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union. ICE officials apparently answered that a move against non-citizens would be less likely to attract opposition from civil liberties groups. The system is meant to scrape all data that is available on the public Internet, with the following having been specified: "The Contractor shall analyse and apply techniques to exploit publicly available information, such as media, blogs, public hearings, conferences, academic websites, social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, radio, television, press, geospatial sources, internet sites, and specialised publications with intent to extract pertinent information regarding targets, including criminals, fugitives, non-immigrant violators, and targeted national security threats and their location." Reddit Email 59 Shares Maan News Agency | RAMALLAH (Maan) The Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ) condemned the Israeli governments decision to shut down the office of Qatari news channel Al Jazeera in Jerusalem, expressing solidarity with Al Jazeera staff in the Palestinian territory. On Aug. 1, Israeli authorities revealed that they had launched official discussions aimed at drafting a bill that would force the closure of Al Jazeera in Israel. Communications Minister Ayoub Kara said at the time that professional discussions were underway in order to draft a bill that would shutter the award-winning news network. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also blamed at Al Jazeera for deliberately inciting violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for its coverage of events there in July, and demanded that Israeli authorities shutter their offices in Israel. On Sunday, Kara said Israel was planning to revoke the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists and pulling the news channel from the air in Israel, a move Netanyahu saluted on Twitter by saying that the minister was following my guidanceto end Al Jazeeras incitement in Israel. The FAJ called the Israeli decision a severe violation of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, which will have a dangerous impact on the publics right to be have access to differing points of view on the news, particularly with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The organization called on the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to immediately intervene and exert pressure on the Israeli government to halt its procedures against Al Jazeera and to hold Israel accountable for violating international law. The FAJ said Israels targeting of Al Jazeera was part of a broader escalation of measures targeting journalists and the media, adding that the moves were politically motivated and were unrelated to claims of stopping incitement. Al Jazeera has also denounced the attacks, adding that it would seek legal means of staving off attempts to shut the channels office down, The Times of Israel reported on Sunday. Al Jazeera deplores this action from a state that is called the only democratic state in the Middle East and considers what it has done is dangerous, an unnamed official from the Qatari news outlet said. Israels calls to close Al Jazeera are not new, as several attempts have been made in the past to shut down the network over its focus on Israels activities in the Palestinian territory, which Israeli authorities have deemed amounts to incitement against the Israeli state. The proposed Israeli bill targeting Al Jazeera comes amid a diplomatic fallout between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with Saudi Arabia and several other countries severing ties with Qatar in an effort to isolate the country and enforce several demands on the Qatari government. The main demand is that Qatar halt its funding to armed groups in the region, an allegation Qatar has consistently denied. Several countries have already shuttered Al Jazeeras offices, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Bahrain all of which are monarchies that have little to no press freedoms and Egypt, which Reporters Without Borders have called one of the biggest prisons for journalists. Analysts have pointed out that Arab nations have provided Israel with the perfect political climate to go forward with their longstanding inclination to pull the plug on the network. Others have pointed out that Al Jazeera has provided an important platform for Palestinian voices, which are often marginalized by Israels influence over international media, and for stories exploring the effects of Israels half-century military occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Some have pointed out the irony of the so-called only democracy in the Middle East shutting down a news network at the behest of a monarchy ruled by a royal family that is routinely accused of human rights abuses, and whose citizens have no basic rights of expression or press freedoms. Meanwhile, Israel has also come under fierce criticism in recent weeks for its attacks on Palestinian journalists and media institutions amid two weeks of protests around Israeli restrictions on Al-Aqsa. Via Maan News Agency Related video added by Juan Cole: Haaretz: Israel is threatening to ban Al Jazeera VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 08, 2017) - 62 FEET ASSAYING 32.5% ZINC-LEAD AND 5.8 OPT SILVER 35 FEET ASSAYING 24.0% ZINC-LEAD AND 21.0 OPT SILVER 36.5 FEET ASSAYING 17.1% ZINC-LEAD AND 3.1 OPT SILVER 17.5 FEET ASSAYING 14.5% ZINC-LEAD AND 2.2 OPT SILVER Arizona Mining Inc. (TSX: AZ) ("Arizona Mining" or the "Company") announces the results of three exploration holes from the current nine rig drill program focused on expansion of the Taylor Sulfide Zone ("TS") and Taylor Deeps Zone ("TDS") located on its 100%-owned Hermosa Project in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The drill holes highlighted in this release are successful step out exploration and infill drill holes indicating the potential for resource growth and increased grades from the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") (see Press Release dated April 3, 2017). "The drill results continue to significantly expand the Taylor Sulfide and Taylor Deeps Zones and show higher zinc-lead-silver grades. It is clear that the expanded drill program continues to not only add tons to the ultimate size of the deposit, but more importantly, they are higher grade tons that should benefit the economics of the project," said Chief Operating Officer Don Taylor. HDS-459 is a vertical hole located on the northwest corner of the Hardshell claim block, 150 feet east of the PEA resource outline (see Figure 2). The hole was drilled from the HDS-330 pad (original hole directed at the sulfide deposit) and targeted the Taylor Deeps Zone and extensions of the Taylor Sulfide Zone outside the resource grade shell used for the PEA. HDS-459 intersected robust sulfide intercepts in all three carbonate units in the Taylor Sulfide Zone and also in the Taylor Deeps Zone. The mineralization in this drill hole will extend both zones for the next resource calculation. Notable assays include: 36.5 feet assaying 10.2% zinc; 6.9% lead; and 3.1 ounces per ton ("opt") silver (TS) 35 feet assaying 10.8% zinc; 13.3% lead; 21.0 opt silver; and 1.2% copper (TDS) HDS-449 is a vertical hole located approximately 175 feet northwest of the Taylor sulfide PEA resource outline in the southeast portion of the Trench claim block (see Figure 1). The drill hole targeted the extension of the Taylor Sulfide Zone and infilling of the Taylor Deeps Zone between the resource outline and previously released drill hole HDS-453 (for results see Press Release dated July 13, 2017). The drill hole intersected a 138-foot-thick interval of Taylor Sulfide mineralization. The mineralization in HDS-449 will expand both the Taylor Sulfide and Taylor Deeps Zones beyond the PEA resource. Significant assays from HDS-449 include: 138 feet assaying 7.4% zinc; 9.3% lead; and 3.3 opt silver (TS) Including 62 feet assaying 14.1% zinc; 18.4% lead; and 5.8 opt silver HDS-448 is a vertical infill drill hole located within the PEA resource outline to infill a gap of approximately 400 feet in the drilling (see Figure 1). HDS-448 intersected five significant mineralized horizons in the Taylor Sulfide Zone with a cumulative thickness of 213 feet (for individual intervals see Table I). Most notable of the results from HDS-448 are: 25 feet assaying 6.7% zinc; 5.2% lead; and 1.6 opt silver (TS) 17.5 feet assaying 7.4% zinc; 7.1% lead; and 2.2 opt silver (TS) Figure 1. Drill Hole Location Map Figure 2. Plan View of Taylor Deeps with ZnEq Grade Contour Figure 3. Long Section of Hermosa Geology and Ore Deposits For a full list of the Trench Vein, Taylor Sulfide and Taylor Deeps Sulfide mineralized intervals from these holes please refer to Table I. Table I. Drill Hole Assay Summary DH_ID From (feet) To (feet) Interval (feet) From (meters) To (meters) Interval (meters) Ag opt Pb% Zn% Cu% Zone HDS-448 1540 1542.5 2.5 469.4 470.1 0.8 1.23 2.44 4.69 0.06 TVS HDS-448 1719.5 1730 10.5 524.1 527.3 3.2 1.68 2.47 0.44 0.08 TVS HDS-448 1792 1815 23 546.2 553.2 7.0 1.62 0.93 1.33 0.09 TS HDS-448 1910 2000 90 582.1 609.6 27.4 0.81 0.95 1.57 0.03 TS HDS-448 2215 2240 25 675.1 682.7 7.6 1.62 5.17 6.71 0.02 TS HDS-448 2295 2352.5 57.5 699.5 717.0 17.5 4.00 2.83 3.93 0.24 TS HDS-448 2495.5 2513 17.5 760.6 765.9 5.3 2.21 7.12 7.36 0.11 TS HDS-449 873 881 8 266.1 268.5 2.4 1.76 2.07 4.45 0.11 TVS HDS-449 2330 2468 138 710.1 752.2 42.1 3.28 9.28 7.37 0.15 TS Including 2353 2415 62 717.2 736.1 18.9 5.82 18.39 14.14 0.31 TS HDS-449 2666 2670 4 812.6 813.8 1.2 3.76 2.82 3.52 0.16 TVS HDS-449 3344 3362.5 18.5 1019.2 1024.8 5.6 3.49 2.65 2.26 0.19 TVS HDS-449 3418 3441 23 1041.8 1048.8 7.0 0.84 2.72 1.60 0.01 TDS HDS-449 3699.5 3707.5 8 1127.6 1130.0 2.4 2.50 1.61 2.77 0.27 TVS HDS-459 1414 1450.5 36.5 431.0 442.1 11.1 3.11 6.95 10.18 0.10 TS HDS-459 1497 1512 15 456.3 460.8 4.6 2.84 2.18 2.93 0.53 TS HDS-459 2255.5 2325.5 70 687.4 708.8 21.3 0.84 1.81 2.55 0.27 TS Including 2283.5 2305 21.5 696.0 702.5 6.6 1.46 3.19 5.08 0.39 TS HDS-459 2419 2482.5 63.5 737.3 756.6 19.4 0.64 1.64 1.54 0.06 TS HDS-459 2798 2802 4 852.8 854.0 1.2 7.99 1.77 0.99 0.08 TS HDS-459 2837 2872 35 864.7 875.3 10.7 21.00 13.25 10.79 1.15 TDS Drill intersections with a combined zinc and lead grade of greater than 9% are bolded. Sulfide drill intervals from the Taylor Sulfide Zone and Taylor Deeps Sulfide Zone are down-the-hole drill intervals but are considered to be within +5% of true width based on the dip of the mineralized stratigraphy at 20-25 degrees. The exception to this are the intervals noted as veins. It is not possible to determine the true width of the veins based on the drill density and no representation is made here regarding true width of the veins. Zones shown include; Taylor Sulfide Zone (TS); Taylor Deeps Sulfide Zone (TDS) and Trench Vein System (TVS). Qualified Person The results of the Arizona Mining Inc. drilling have been reviewed, verified and compiled by Donald R. Taylor, MSc., PG, Chief Operating Officer for Arizona Mining Inc., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Mr. Taylor has 30 years of mineral exploration and mining experience, and is a Registered Professional Geologist through the SME (registered member #4029597). Assays and Quality Assurance/Quality Control To ensure reliable sample results, the Company has a rigorous QA/QC program in place that monitors the chain-of-custody of samples and includes the insertion of blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards at statistically derived intervals within each batch of samples. Core is photographed and split in half with one-half retained in a secured facility for verification purposes. Sample preparation (crushing and pulverizing) has been performed at ALS Minerals Laboratories, an ISO/IEC accredited lab located in Tucson, Arizona. ALS Minerals Laboratories prepares a pulp of all samples and sends the pulps to their analytical laboratory in Vancouver, B.C. Canada for analysis. ALS analyzes the pulp sample by ICP following a 4-acid digestion (ME-ICP61 for 33 elements) including Cu (copper), Pb (lead), and Zn (zinc). All samples in which Cu (copper), Pb (lead), or Zn (zinc) are greater than 10,000 ppm are re-run using four acid digestion with an ICP - AES finish (Cu-OG62; Pb-OG62; and Zn-OG62) with the elements reported in percentage (%). Silver values are determined by ICP (ME-ICP61) with all samples with silver values greater than 100 ppm repeated using four acid digestion with an ICP-AES finish (Ag-OG62) calibrated for higher levels of silver contained. Any values over 1,500 ppm Ag trigger a fire assay with gravimetric finish analysis. Gold values are determined by a 30 gm fire assay with an ICP-AES finish (Au-ICP21). About Arizona Mining Arizona Mining Inc. (an augustagroup company) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the exploration and development of its 100%-owned Hermosa Project located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The Taylor Deposit, a zinc-lead-silver carbonate replacement deposit, has a resource of 8.6 million tons in the Measured Mineral Resource category grading 4.2% zinc, 4.0% lead and 1.6 opt silver, or 9.7% ZnEq, plus 63.8 million tons in the Indicated Mineral Resource category grading 4.5% zinc, 4.4% lead and 1.9 opt silver, or 10.6% ZnEq, and 38.6 million tons of Inferred Mineral Resources grading 4.4% zinc, 4.2% lead and 3.1 opt silver or 11.6% ZnEq, all reported in accordance with NI 43-101 guidelines utilizing a 4% ZnEq cutoff grade. The Taylor Deposit remains open to the north, west and south over land controlled by the Company and will be aggressively drilled to test the limits of the resource. The Company's other project on the Hermosa property is the Central Deposit, a silver-manganese manto oxide project. Vancouver, BC / TheNewswire / August 8, 2017 - Nortec Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: NVT; OTC-PK: NMNZF) (the "Company" or "Nortec") - Nortec has signed a diamond drilling contract with Energold Drilling (EMEA) Limited, an international drilling company based in United Kingdom with extensive experience in West Africa. Drilling on the Tomboko Permit (figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) is expected to commence in three weeks. Nortec's experienced management and technical team are on site to monitor and supervise the program. All access roads and drill pads have been constructed in preparation. The Company will issue a news release on the actual commencement of this first phase drilling program. The program will consist of 19 to 31 drill holes with total meterage ranging between 1700 to 2500 meters. Systematic drilling will be carried out on the Tom-1 North, Tom 1 South and Tom-2 targets on the Tomboko Permit. Figure 1: Location Map. Guinea, West Africa Figure 2: Outcrop Grab Sampling Results - Tom 1 North Target and Termite and Soil Geochemical Anomalies, Tom 1 North, Tom 1 South and Tom 3 targets - Tomboko Permit. Note that grab samples may not necessarily be representative of the rock unit or the mineralization style being sampled. Figure 3: Outcrop Grab Sampling Results and Termite and Soil Geochemical Anomalies and interpreted A-B cross-section with proposed drill holes - Tom 1 North Target, Tomboko Permit. Figure 4: Locations of planned drill holes, Tomboko Permit. Nortec had planned to drill the Tomboko Project with a reverse circulation (RC) drill but the program was delayed and with the onset of the rainy season RC drilling was not practical so the decision was made to use a diamond drill which has superior performance in wet conditions. Nortec signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire an 80% interest in pro-rata stages in the Tomboko Gold Property, held by The Golden Rule Limited (TGR). An Amendment to the Definitive Agreement was signed extending the due dates for completion of the Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 exploration programs by 6 months to December 31, 2017, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 respectively. Nortec will also earn an 80% interest in all of TGR's interests in other exploration permits located in Guinea. The properties consist of the 100% interest in the Tomboko permit, a 100% interest in the Diguifara Permit and minority interests in the Badamako and the Kouroussa permits. These land holdings cover prospective ground on three separate prolific mineralized trends. Details on the geology, geochemical soil, termite and rock sampling surveys on the Tomboko, Diguifara, Badamako and Kouroussa permits can be referred to in the Company's January 11, February 10, April 12 and June 26, 2017 news releases. Work carried out by TGR (2009 - 2012) consisting of termite mound and pit sampling (over 10,000 samples) plus detailed geological mapping delineated three target areas for initial drilling: Tom-1, Tom-2 and Tom-3. Termite mound sampling returned high gold values of 7.1 g/t, 3.5 g/t, 2.7 g/t 2.3 g/t, 2.2 g/t, 1.8 g/t, 1.7 g/t, 1.6 g/t, 1.5 g/t, 1.4 g/t, 1.2 g/t and 1.1 g/t (Figure 3). Geochemical soil anomalies were delineated over several kilometres on all three target areas defined by a >100 ppb gold contour. Outcrop grab sampling, consisting of 65 samples, on the Tom-1 Zone-North prospect returned high grade gold values of 84.6 g/t, 35.8 g/t, 13.9 g/t, 5.8 g/t, 4.7 g/t and 2.5 g/t. The objective of the rock geochemical sampling was to test various rock types that are associated with the NW-trending termite gold anomalies. Over 9779 termite mound samples and 212 bedrock samples were collected and analysed for gold. Gold assay results rock, soil, pit and termite mound sampling returned values ranging from detection limit for the respective analyses type up to and including the maximum values listed above for each sampling type. Note that grab samples may not necessarily be representative of the rock unit or the mineralization style being sampled (Figure 2 and Re: news releases dated January 11, February 10, 2017). Mohan R. Vulimiri, M.Sc., P.Geo, Director of Nortec and CEO of Nortec Minerals, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Vulimiri has approved the corporate and technical content contained in this press release. All the bedrock and termite mound samples were analysed by SGS Labs, an accredited laboratory in Bamako, Mali with a blank inserted in every 20th sample for quality control. Mr. Simon Meadows Smith, FIMMM, FGS, of SEMS Exploration has also been contracted to complete a Technical Report compliant with NI 43-101 standards on the Tomboko Permit. The Report is in process. About Nortec Minerals Corp. Nortec is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company has a 49% interest in the Tammela Gold & Lithium Project in South-West Finland. Avalon Minerals, a public Australian mining company has earned the 51% interest and is carrying out the 29% Stage 2 earn-in interest on the Tammela Project. Avalon has completed more than 3,000 meters diamond drilling on the Kietyonmaki lithium prospect and the Satulinmaki and Riukka prospects that comprise the Tammela Project. Detailed information on the Company's projects have been posted on the Company's website www.nortecminerals.com. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2017) - Austral Gold Limited (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) ('the Company" or "Austral") is pleased to announce that Juan Andres Morel, Min.Eng, MBA, has joined the Company as Chief Operating Officer. Rodrigo Ramirez, Min.Eng, has also been appointed as the Vice President of Technical Services. The strengthening of the operational team follows the significant growth in the company over the last year. "The addition of Mr Morel to manage our three operations in Chile (the new Amancaya Mine and existing Guanaco Mine) and Argentina (the Casposo Mine) is a significant achievement for the Company. Mr Morel has a wealth of executive and operational experience with top shelf companies such as Antofagasta PLC, CODELCO and Meridian Gold. We expect his leadership and operational expertise in both open pit and underground operations will be critical as we focus on high margins at our current operations and look to grow through acquisitions and discovery", said Stabro Kasaneva, CEO of Austral Gold. "The well-deserved promotion of Mr Ramirez, Mining Engineer, to Vice President of Technical Services solidifies his outstanding achievements at the Company since its founding in 2009. Rodrigo's successful track record with Antofagasta PLC and Meridian Gold and his key role in the growth of Austral Gold will help him lead our efforts to continuously improve our operations and look at other value adding opportunities." Chief Operating Officer Juan Andres Morel will assume this newly created role following the rapid expansion of the company from one operation in Chile to two operations and a new mine in Argentina in less than a year. He is a Senior Mining Executive with more than 25 years of experience in operations, business development, engineering and management of mining companies and projects. Mr Morel was most recently Manager of Operations at Antofagasta PLC's Los Pelambres open pit mine in Chile. Prior to that he was Executive Director for Antofagasta International, leading business development and exploration, CEO of an Antofagasta PLC JV (Twin Metals- Minnesota) and General Manager of Antofagasta PLC's El Tesoro mine in Chile. He has a Mining Engineering degree from Universidad de Chile and Executive-MBA from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Vice President of Technical Services Rodrigo Ramirez will assume the new role of VP Technical Services as the company looks to maximize efficiencies across three operations and seek out growth opportunities. He has been involved with the company since it was founded to recommission the Guanaco mine. He has led mining and engineering activities since then as well as all reviews and analysis of the Company's growth activities. He recently led the design and construction of the company's new agitation leach plant at Guanaco, and prior to joining Austral, had senior operational, planning and execution roles at Antofagasta PLC, and at Meridian Gold's (acquired by Yamana Gold) world class El Penon mine. He has a Mining Engineering Degree from the University of Chile. About Austral Gold Austral Gold Limited is a growing precious metals mining, development and exploration company building a portfolio of quality assets in Chile and Argentina. The Company's flagship Guanaco project in Chile is a low-cost gold and silver producing mine with further exploration upside. Austral commenced open-pit mining operations at Amancaya in 2017. The Company also owns 70% and is operator of the underground silver-gold Casposo mine in San Juan, Argentina. With an experienced local technical team and highly regarded major shareholder, Austral's goal is to continue to strengthen its asset base through acquisition and discovery. Austral Gold Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: AGLD), and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: AGD). For more information, please consult the company's website: www.australgold.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2017) - Ashanti Gold Corp. (TSXV: AGZ) ("Ashanti" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement to purchase 100% of the Kossanto East Project (the "Project") from Alecto Minerals PLC ("Alecto"). For a purchase price of CAD $1 million, Ashanti will have full ownership of the Kossanto East Project, while Alecto will retain a 1.5% Net Smelter Return ("NSR"). Ashanti has the right to purchase some or all of the 1.5% NSR by paying to Alecto $100,000 for each 0.1% NSR purchased (the "NSR"). The government of Mali has a carried 10% interest in all minerals and mining concessions in Mali, thus the 100% interest in the Project will be a net interest of 90% for Ashanti Gold. The Company currently holds an option to acquire a 65% interest in the Project upon completion of a pre-feasibility study within three years, while Alecto would retain the NSR (see press release November 28, 2016). Upon closing of the acquisition, the prior option agreement will terminate. Tim McCutcheon, CEO, says: "We are extremely happy to be able to make this acquisition. There was a one-time special situation whereby Ashanti could take title to Kossanto in a very favorable transaction, and we decided to take advantage of this opportunity." About Kossanto East Project The Project is a 66.41 km2 concession in the prolific Kenieba Inlier, the northwestern-most exposure of Birimian rocks in West Africa. The Project has six known pods of mineralization. Two have been partially explored by past operator, Alecto Minerals PLC. Ashanti completed a 53 hole, 6,073 metre drill program in June - July 2017 and is announcing drill results as available (see press releases July 10, 2017 and August 2, 2017). The Kenieba Inlier is a major geological province for gold mineralization. Over the last twenty-five years more than 40M ounces of gold has been discovered in proximity to key structures resulting in the construction of multiple mines, including the world class Loulo, Sadiola, Yatela, Gounkoto, Segala and Tabakoto (see Figure 1). Figure 1: Regional geologic map of the Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier, the most northwesterly exposure of Birimian rocks in the West African craton. The Kossanto East property lies between two regional structures, the Senegal-Mali Shear Zone and the Main Transcurrent Shear Zone both of which feature prominently in localizing mineralization for numerous gold deposits. Structural relationships on the property suggest that structures parallel to these shear zones pass through the property and control mineralization. ABOUT ASHANTI GOLD Ashanti is a gold-focused, exploration and development company with advanced projects in the northern Ashanti Belt of Ghana and the Kenieba Belt of Mali. The Company targets projects where existing work demonstrates attractive potential for near-term mine development and where it has a competitive advantage due to past work experience of the team and specific project know-how. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 8, 2017) - Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSX VENTURE:MUN) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company is mobilizing for the Phase II drill program at the Borsko Jezero license ("Borsko") where drilling is expected to commence in August. Borsko is one of the four licenses being sole funded by JOGMEC as part of the Amended Earn-in Agreement announced August 2016. Borsko is located in the central portion of the Timok Magmatic Complex ("Timok") and is directly west of the Serbian state-operated producing mines, RTB Group's Bor copper porphyry mine and the Veliki Krivelj copper-gold porphyry mine. HIGHLIGHTS The Borsko Phase II drill program is in follow-up to the Phase I drill program completed in May 2017 which tested two of the six generated drill targets. The Phase II drill program will test Target 1 with four diamond drill holes totalling approximately 3000 m (see Figure 1). The main goal of this drill program is to further test for epithermal high-sulphidation copper-gold mineralisation stepping out from the alteration intersected in BJ-06 and BJ-07 which began at approximately 580 m depth. Teo Dechev, CEO & President of Mundoro commented, "With our partner JOGMEC, we are looking forward to the Phase II step-out drill program to test Target 1 with 200 m step-out holes to the north, south, west and east. Mundoro will have an active H2-2017 field season comprising of the two JOGMEC funded drill programs: (i) Borsko Phase II step-out drill program in order to test for the epithermal high-sulphidation copper-gold mineralization, and (ii) Zeleznik Phase III fence drill program in order to further delineate the mineralized zones. As of Q1-2017, Mundoro had approximately $4.2 mln in cash and is debt free." Figure 1: Location Map of Borsko Phase II Drill Program Summary of Borsko Drill Program Core logging and assay results from BJ-06 and BJ-07 highlighted important findings: The highest concentration of geochemical anomalism in both BJ-06 and 07 is situated in the uppermost 30 m of the lithocap. The highest gold and copper values are related to breccia and veins within and cross-cutting the lithocap. The contact between the lithocap and overlying chlorite-smectite zone is a replacement front, as defined by the narrow transitional alteration zone and the magnetite remnants in the uppermost 1 to 2 m of the advanced argillic lithocap (see Figure 2). A similar abrupt vertical change from advanced argillic to chloritic alteration appears to correlate with the tops of the Cukaru Peki (approximately 10 km to the southeast) and Bor epithermal high-sulphidation copper-gold orebodies(approximately 4 km to the east) all within the Timok Magmatic Belt. Interpretation of the geology and alteration encountered in the Borsko Phase I drilling program highlights the uppermost part of the lithocap, immediately below the less-altered volcanic sequence, as the prime target for epithermal high-sulphidation copper-gold orebodies of the Bor and Cukaru Peki type. In order to further test the Borsko Target 1 for its copper-gold potential, the Company has designed the Phase II step-out drilling program to attain vectoring information towards a epithermal high-sulphidation system. The goal is to use geochemical and alteration information obtained in the four Phase II drill holes (drilled in four quadrants) to vector towards a epithermal high-sulphidation centre, if it is not directly intersected by Phase II drilling. For further description of the Borkso geology and Phase I drill program, see press release from June 7, 2017 at www.mundoro.com. Figure 2: Cross Section of Borsko Target 1 Next Steps The Company expects to complete the drilling in Q4-2017 and to release the results around year-end. About Mundoro Capital Inc. Mundoro is a Canadian mineral exploration and development public company focused on building value for its shareholders through directly investing in mineral projects that have the ability to generate future returns for shareholders. The Company currently holds a diverse portfolio of projects in two European countries as well as an investment in a producing gold mine in Bulgaria and a feasibility stage gold project in China. The Company holds eight 100% owned projects in Serbia, the four Timok North Projects are in option to JOGMEC, and the four Timok South Projects are being advanced by Mundoro. Mundoro's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "MUN". Qualified Person Technical information contained in this Press Release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. G. Magaranov, P. Geo., Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Sampling and Analysis Drill hole orientations were surveyed at approximately 30 metre intervals. Company personnel monitored the drilling, with core delivered daily to the Company's core storage facility in the town of Bor, where it was logged, cut and sampled. Core recovery is recorded as 95-100% in most intervals, with the exception of the more intensely tectonized sections. The samples were collected in accordance with the Company's protocols that are compatible with accepted industry procedures and best practice standards. Most samples through the mineralized intervals were 1 m in length, up to a maximum 2 metres. In sections of poorly mineralized or unaltered and unmineralised rocks one 2 meter sample was collected at every 15 meter core. The samples were submitted to ALS Laboratory in Bor, Serbia, for sample preparation and analysis. Drill core samples are assayed using 50-gram fire assay with atomic absorption finish and ME-MS61 by ALS Romania. In addition to the laboratory's internal QA/QC procedures, the Company conducted its own QA/QC with the systematic inclusion of certified reference materials every 20 samples, blank samples every 20 samples and field duplicates at every 25 samples. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 8, 2017) - High-grade, visible-gold mineralization intersected in Swan Zone up to 90 metres ("m") down plunge of recently released Mineral Reserve Key intercepts: 338 g/t Au over 33.6 m (Estimated True Width ("ETW") 4.6 m), 42.9 g/t Au over 49.5 m (ETW 3.6 m) and 11.4 g/t Au over 18.65 m (ETW 18.0 m) Continuity of mineralization of Swan Zone defined over strike extent of 300 m with vertical extent of 200 m. Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. ("Kirkland Lake Gold" or the "Company") (TSX:KL) (OTCQX:KLGDF) is pleased to report continued high-grade drill results at depth from underground drilling at Fosterville Mine in Australia. Underground definition drilling continues to infill and target down-plunge extensions of the Swan Zone of the Lower Phoenix gold system to increase Mineral Resource confidence and assess the potential of further Mineral Reserve expansion. Recent drill results returned from six underground holes totaling 2,652 metres ("m") into existing Mineral Resources and extensions of the Swan Zone (previously referred to as the Lower Phoenix Footwall) of the Lower Phoenix gold system continue to return intervals of extremely high grades with visible gold. Continuity of high-grade visible gold mineralization in the Swan Zone has now been defined over a strike extent of 300 m and vertical extent of 200 m. Recent drilling confirms that high-grade visible-gold mineralization extends approximately 80 m laterally to the south and 40 m below Swan Mineral Reserves as reported in the July 27, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release. Mr. Tony Makuch, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: "Today's drill results continue to demonstrate both the continuity and growth potential of the high-grade Swan Zone within the Lower Phoenix gold system. The Swan Zone is the highest-grade area of the Fosterville mine, with a recently released Mineral Reserve including 532,000 ounces at an average grade of 58.8 g/t Au. Today's results include two intercepts that are located between 70 and 90 m down plunge of the current Swan Zone Mineral Reserve, with additional high-grade mineralization being intersected to the south and at depth of the Zone. The results we are seeing from the ongoing drilling program are increasing our confidence in the geological controls and continuity of grade within the Swan Zone. They are also supporting our view that the potential exists to significantly grow the Swan Zone Mineral Reserve, where the average grade is well in excess of Fosterville's overall underground Mineral Reserve, which includes 1,030,000 ounces at an average grade of 17.9 g/t Au. "We intend to accelerate progressive step-out extension drilling on the Swan Zone of Lower Phoenix gold system during the second half of 2017, which remains open down plunge. Drilling will also continue to focus on the extensions of the Eagle and Lower Phoenix Zones in the Lower Phoenix gold system as well as on the Harrier gold system to potentially significantly expand Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves at Fosterville." Swan Mineralized Zone Underground Drilling Program Results of the ongoing underground resource drilling program at the Swan Zone continue to demonstrate high-grade continuity down plunge. Key intercepts are listed below, with further details provided in the commentary that follows. Key Intercepts: 338 g/t Au (1)(2) over 33.6 m, including 4,177 g/t Au (1)(2) over 0.95 m, 3,079 g/t Au (1)(2) over 0.65 m and 1,037 g/t Au (1)(2) over 3.55 m in hole UDH2081A; over 33.6 m, including 4,177 g/t Au over 0.95 m, 3,079 g/t Au over 0.65 m and 1,037 g/t Au over 3.55 m in hole UDH2081A; 42.9 g/t Au (1) over 49.5 m, including 1,856 g/t Au (1) over 0.6 m in hole UDH2084D; and over 49.5 m, including 1,856 g/t Au over 0.6 m in hole UDH2084D; and 11.4 g/t Au(1) over 18.65 m, including 42.1 g/t Au(1) over 3.65 m in hole UDE138 Since the May 3, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release, underground diamond drilling has continued to focus on multiple targets, including further testing of the Swan mineralized zone. Reported drill results are from six holes (2,652 m), of which five have significant intercepts. Drill Hole UDH2081A is located within the Swan Inferred Mineral Resource approximately 70 m down plunge of the Swan Mineral Reserve. The drill hole is oriented sub-parallel to the Swan dip surface and returned a significant intercept of 338 g/t Au(1)(2) over 33.6 m (ETW 4.6 m), including 4,177 g/t Au(1)(2) over 0.95 m (ETW 0.1 m), 3,079 g/t Au(1)(2) over 0.65 m (ETW 0.1 m), 1,037 g/t Au(1)(2) over 3.55 m (ETW 0.5 m) and 714 g/t Au(1)(2) over 1.85 m (ETW 0.3 m). The drill intercepts for holes UDE138 and UDH2084D occur on 6350mN and 6325mN, respectively, and are 80-90 m down plunge from the Swan Mineral Reserve. Significant results of 11.4 g/t Au(1) over 18.65 m (ETW 18.0 m), including 42.1 g/t Au(1) over 3.65 m (ETW 3.5 m) are reported in hole UDE138. Drill hole UDH2084D is oriented sub-parallel to the Swan dip surface and returned 42.9 g/t Au(1) over 49.5 m (ETW 3.6 m), including 244 g/t Au(1) over 6.25 m (ETW 0.5 m), 1,856 g/t Au(1) over 0.6 m (ETW 0.04 m) and 618 g/t Au(1) over 0.5 m (ETW 0.04 m). The results for the above three holes confirm that the approximate 40 west-dipping Swan Zone is continuously mineralized southwards down plunge, where high grades exist and are associated with observed disseminated visible gold in quartz. Drill holes UDE136 and UDE145 were recently drilled and returned intercepts that fall between 4090mRL and 4070mRLs and have the potential to support approximately 30 m of Mineral Reserve extension at these elevations. Significant results for these holes comprise 7.1 g/t Au over 13.8 m (ETW 12.3 m), including 25.4 g/t Au over 2.85 m (ETW 2.3 m), in hole UDE136 and 7.1 g/t Au(1) over 8.15 m (ETW 7.9 m), including 16.6 g/t Au(1) over 1.45 m (ETW 1.4 m) in hole UDE145. (1) Visible gold present in drill intercept; All drill results are presented in Table 1, and drill collars in Table 2 (2) Results included in June 30, 2017 Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves update Figure 1. Longitudinal View Fosterville Gold Mine Figure 2. Longitudinal View Swan Mineralization at Fosterville Gold Mine Qualified Persons Troy Fuller, MAIG, Geology Manager, Fosterville Gold Mine, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this News Release. Drilling and Assay QAQC Kirkland Lake Gold has in place quality-control systems to ensure best practice in drilling, sampling and analysis of drill core. All diamond drill hole collars (Table 2) are accurately surveyed using a Leica Total Stations instrument and down-hole deviations are measured by electronic multi-shot cameras. Sampling consisted of NQ2 diamond drill core that was cut longitudinally in half with a diamond saw; one-half of the drill core was sent to an independent laboratory for analysis and the other drill core half retained for reference. Drill core sample intervals vary between 0.3 and 1.2 m in length and were determined from logging of sulphide and visible gold. Samples containing visible gold or considered likely to contain visible gold were separated from sulphide gold samples and dispatched independently for assaying. At the laboratory "visible gold" jobs were processed through a single pulverizer and material barren of gold was crushed before and after each sample to minimize the potential for gold to contaminate successive samples. Sample pulps are returned from the assay laboratory for future reference. Assay results (Table 1) are based on 25-gram charge fire assays. Mean grades are calculated using a variable lower grade cut-off (generally 2 g/t Au) and maximum 2 m internal dilution. No upper gold grade cut is applied to the data. However, during future Mineral Resource studies the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed. Drill samples were assayed at On Site Laboratories, an independent laboratory in Bendigo, Victoria. The facility is registered ISO 9001:2008 (CERT-C33510). About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a mid-tier gold producer with 2017 target production of 570,000 to 590,000 ounces from mines in Canada and Australia. The production profile of the company is anchored from two high-grade, low-cost operations, including the Macassa Mine located in northeastern Ontario and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise. VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 08, 2017) - Anfield Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: ARY) (OTCQB: ANLDF) (FRANKFURT: 0AD) ("Anfield" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the receipt of an NI 43-101 mineral resource technical report for the Clarkson Hill uranium project, entitled "Clarkson Hill Uranium Project, Mineral Resource NI 43-101 Technical Report, Natrona County, Wyoming, USA" with effective date July 27, 2017 (the "Clarkson Hill Report"). Further to Anfield's news release of March 21, 2017, the Clarkson Hill Report is the second in a series of NI 43-101 technical reports related to Anfield's 24 Wyoming uranium projects. The report was completed by BRS, Inc., a consulting and engineering firm with nearly 40 years of experience assessing Wyoming uranium projects. The resource estimate includes an Inferred Resource of 957,000 tons of mineralized material with an average grade of 0.058% (equivalent to an Inferred Resource of 1,113,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 ). Corey Dias, Anfield's CEO stated, "This report reflects Anfield's continued drive to both identify and delineate the uranium resource on the Company's properties in Wyoming in an effort to determine which of these projects are the most prospective. Ultimately, Anfield aims to pair a future viable uranium resource with the Resin Processing Agreement it has in place with Uranium One in Wyoming whereby it can process up to 500,000 pounds of uranium per year at Uranium One's Irigaray Central Processing Plant." A summary of the Inferred Mineral Resource included in the Clarkson Hill Report is presented in Table 1. Table 1 Inferred Mineral Resources GT minimum Pounds % eU 3 O 8 Tons Average Grade %eU 3 O 8 0.20 1,113,000 957,000 0.058 Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability in accordance with CIM standards. Inferred Mineral Resources are too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them which would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. The Clarkson Hill project comprises approximately 500 acres of the mineral holdings of Anfield, and includes 25 unpatented mining lode claims located approximately 20 air miles southwest of Casper, Wyoming. The data used in the report consists of radiometric-equivalent data (eU3O8) for 255 holes; drill intercept data from 17 core holes and 238 rotary drill holes were utilized, along with drill intercepts, chemical assay certificates and both lithological and geophysical logs. To the best of our knowledge there are no other legal or environmental matters that could materially affect the potential development of these resources. Radiometric equilibrium was assumed and is supported by available data. A unit weight of 125 pounds per cubic foot or 16 cubic feet per ton was assumed, based on available data and the Author's direct mining experience within the host formation. The deposit is closely drilled, approximately fifty to one hundred foot centers. The drilling demonstrates continuity particularly along the mineralized trends. Based on the drill density and the apparent continuity of the deposit along trend the mineral resource estimate would meet the criteria as an Indicated Mineral Resource. However, due to the lack of current drilling to verify the pre-2008 drill data, the Author has classified the estimate as Inferred Mineral Resources under the CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves. The estimated mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability, but they have had technical and economic constraints applied to them to establish reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The author expects the majority of the Inferred could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with additional drilling. NI 43-101 Disclosure The NI 43-101 Resource Technical Report completed for Clarkson Hill has been authored by Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G. Principal Engineer, of BRS Inc. The author has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. A technical report on the Resource Technical Report will be published on the System for Electronic Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") and the Company's website within the 45 days permitted under NI 43-101. About BRS BRS, Inc. is an engineering and geology consulting corporation with expertise in mining and mineral exploration. Of particular note, it specializes in uranium exploration, mineral resource evaluation, mine design, feasibility, mine operations, and reclamation. It has completed numerous uranium projects including technical reports and feasibility studies for underground, open pit, ISR, and conventional uranium mills. Representative projects include technical reports and due diligence for project financing for conventional uranium projects including the Sheep Mountain and the JAB-RD open pit in Wyoming, the Cibola Project in New Mexico, the Coles Hill, Virginia open pit and underground mine, and numerous ISR uranium projects in Wyoming and Paraguay. Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G., the principal engineer at BRS, is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 with 40 years of professional and managerial experience. Mr. Beahm has a proven track record in a variety of mining and mine reclamation projects including surface and underground mining, heap leach recovery, ISR, and uranium mill tailings projects. Mr. Beahm's experience includes coal, precious metals, and industrial minerals, but his emphasis throughout his career has been on uranium. About Anfield Anfield is an energy metals exploration, development and near-term production company that is committed to becoming a top-tier energy-related fuels supplier by creating value through sustainable, efficient growth in its energy metals assets. Anfield is a publicly-traded corporation listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (ARY-V), the OTCQB Marketplace (ANLDF) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (0AD). Anfield is focused on two production centres, as summarized below: Arizona/Colorado/Utah -- Shootaring Canyon Mill A key asset in Anfield's existing portfolio is the Shootaring Canyon Mill in Garfield County, Utah. The Shootaring Canyon Mill is strategically located within one of the historically most prolific uranium production areas in the United States, and is one of only three licensed uranium mills in the United States. Anfield's conventional uranium assets consist of mining claims and state leases in southeastern Utah, Colorado and Arizona, targeting areas where past uranium mining or prospecting occurred. Anfield's conventional uranium assets include the Velvet-Wood Project, the Frank M Uranium Project, as well as the Findlay Tank breccia pipe. All conventional uranium assets are situated within a 125-mile radius of the Shootaring Mill. Wyoming -- Irigaray ISR Processing Plant (Resin Processing Agreement) Anfield has also signed a Resin Processing Agreement with Uranium One wherein Anfield would process up to 500,000 pounds per annum of its mined material at Uranium One's Irigaray processing plant in Wyoming. In addition, should Anfield sign uranium sales contracts, the Company can both buy and borrow uranium from Uranium One in order to fulfill some or all of its contracts. Anfield's ISR mining projects are located in the Black Hills, Powder River Basin, Great Divide Basin, Laramie Basin, Shirley Basin and Wind River Basin areas in Wyoming. A security official from the Korean presidential office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, hands out an ice-cream to a protester in front of Cheong Wa Dae on Aug. 3. / Screen capture from TV Chosun News' Youtube Channel By Chyung Eun-ju Last Thursday, Korea saw a new chapter in its history of protesting as a rare occurrence was witnessed: security officials in front of the presidential residence handed out ice-cream to one-man protesters in the hot weather. "Receiving an ice-cream in this unbearable heat feels as refreshing as achieving the protest's goal," said one recipient who has been protesting since mid-May. Temperatures in the city hit 34 degrees Celsius Thursday, resulting in a spike in heat-related conditions. Prolonged exposure to the scorching heat can cause heatstroke and exhaustion leading to fatalities. Nonetheless, dozens of people gathered around a fountain in front of Cheong Wa Dae to protest. Officials started buying ice-cream for the protesters twice a day, July 27. The cost was covered by Cheong Wa Dae's business operating expenses. "The idea to give ice cream came as we discussed how to deal with emergency situations involving one-man protesters in excessive heat, such as health problems," said a security official. "It is an opportunity to communicate and understand each other's perspective while cooling down with ice-cream." Protesters were at the site to oppose the installation of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, deployed to counter North Korean missile threats; to appeal for a revision on the Special Acts for South Korean Prisoners of War; or other government policies. The officials aren't required to report one-man protesters. The "ice-cream" appears to denote a shift in attitudes toward protesters. Political scientists say that protests in Korea are no longer provocative but rather have become part of people's daily lives. After the country was occupied by Japan in 1910, Koreans demonstrated to demand independence in March 1919 in the Samil Movement. After Korea became a democracy in 1987, public protests became a basic right. The Constitution's Article 21 guarantees the freedom of assembly. But during former President Park Geun-hye's tenure, critics said public protests were often cracked down on by the government, as police dispersed protesters with tear gas and water cannon. Police even sprayed dye on demonstrators to identify and arrest them later. Four months into Moon's era, democracy has seen a change for the better. By Andres Oppenheimer In light of the tragic events in Venezuela, it's time for us in the media to start calling things by their name, and refer to Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro as what he is a dictator. Most media organizations still refer to Maduro as "Venezuelan President," "Venezuelan leader" or "Venezuela's head of state." That's OK for a first reference, but it puts Maduro at the same level as Germany's Angela Merkel, or even if you consider him a disastrous president, as I do Donald Trump. According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, a dictator is "a person who rules a country with total authority and often in a cruel or brutal way." You won't find any definition of a dictator in any other dictionary that doesn't apply to Maduro. That's why U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster was right on target when he stated on July 31 that "Maduro is not just a bad leader: He is now a dictator." Maduro has completed the job started by his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, of dismantling Venezuela's democratic institutions. After winning a highly dubious election in 2013 with 50.5 percent of the vote, Maduro filled his government with corrupt generals and escalated repression of political opponents. In 2015, despite widespread intimidation and stringent press controls, the opposition won legislative elections by a landslide. It won an impressive two-thirds majority of the National Assembly, which enabled it to fire ministers or change the constitution. But Maduro immediately blocked several opposition legislators from taking their seats, depriving the opposition from its absolute majority, and then packed the Supreme Court with 13 new justices. From then on, he has used the Supreme Court to gradually reduce the parliament's powers. A few months ago, Maduro tried to dissolve the National Assembly altogether, but had to reverse himself after a national and international outcry. Now, Maduro has gone all the way to try to impose a Cuba-style dictatorship in Venezuela: He convened a sham July 30 election for a constituent assembly that plans to re-write the constitution and close down the National Assembly. The vote was a farce: As in Cuba, you could only vote for government supporters. All 5,500 candidates were members of Maduro's socialist party. There were no credible international observers, and reporters were forced to remain 500 meters 550 yards away from the polls. To make things worse, Maduro's dubious claim that more than 8 million people voted in the constituent assembly election was later refuted by the election technology firm in charge of counting the votes. The company, Smartmatic, said the government had manipulated the count and added at least 1 million votes. According to internal electoral council documents disclosed by Reuters, only 3.7 million people had voted by 5:30 pm, which would have made in virtually impossible to reach the government's number by the end of the voting shortly thereafter. If all of that doesn't meet the dictionary's definition of "a person who rules a country with total authority," what does? And as for the second part of the definition, stating that dictators often rule "in a cruel or brutal way," there have been at least 120 deaths in the government's repression of street protests over the past four months. Of course, Maduro is not the only despot we in the media rarely call a "dictator." Journalistic etiquette calls for refraining from using such words in the news pages, and reserving them for the opinion sections. And we have a long-standing habit of referring to dictators as "presidents" while they are in power, and to only call them "dictators" once they are toppled or dead. We did the same with rightwing Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in Chile, and with leftist dictator Fidel Castro in Cuba. And we are still doing it today with Cuba's Raul Castro. It's time to change all of that. Calling these people dictators is not a matter of opinion. It's a fact. And if you don't agree with me, please show me any definition of a "dictator" under which Maduro would not deserve to be called that. Andres Oppenheimer is a columnist for the Miami Herald. Readers may email him at aoppenheimer@miamiherald.com. This article was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. On 2 August, US Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William Brownfield urged Colombia to reinforce efforts to eradicate cocaine trafficking and to create a disincentive to coca cultivation in the country. According to a press release issued by the US State Department, Secretary Brownfield joined the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (SFRC) to discuss counternarcotic efforts in Colombia following the signing of a peace deal between the Colombian government led by President Juan Manuel Santos and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) guerrilla group. Assistant Secretary Brownfield said that after years of fighting against it, today Colombia has become once again the worlds largest producer of cocaine in the world. According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 90% of the cocaine seized in the US comes from Colombia. Furthermore, between 2013 and 2016 coca cultivation in Colombia went from 80,5000 hectares (ha) to 188,000ha, soaring by more than 130%. Assistant Secretary Brownfield noted that the large increase in coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia is deeply concerning. While acknowledging the Santos governments efforts to eradicate coca cultivation (and he expressed the US governments commitment to continue helping Colombia in this regard), Brownfield said that the US and Colombia could have bilateral political problems if coca cultivation and cocaine production continues to increase in Colombia despite these efforts. End of preview - This article contains approximately 867 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Scientists have created paper-like biomaterials from organs such as the ovaries, uterus, heart, liver and muscle that are thin and flexible enough to fold into origami birds and other structures. These new "tissue paper" materials retain the cellular properties of the organ, so they could help the body regenerate the relevant organ tissue to aid healing of wounds, scientists said. "Because it has components that are found in the actual tissue in the organs, the cells will recognize it once it's implanted," study co-author Ramille Shah, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, said of the tissue paper in a video statement. [11 Body Parts Grown in the Lab] An ink spill An accidental ink spill sparked the invention of these new materials. Lead study author Adam Jakus, formerly a materials engineer at Northwestern University, had created an ink made of an ovary for use in a 3D printer. When he went to wipe up the spill, the ovary ink had already formed a dry sheet. "When I tried to pick it up, it felt strong," Jakus said in a statement. "The light bulb went on in my head. I could do this with other organs." So, Jakus and his colleagues took a pig or cow organ and used detergents to strip it of its cells. This left behind the extracellular matrix of the organ the scaffold of proteins that helps give an organ its structure. The scientists then freeze-dried this organ material, ground it into a powder and mixed it with a solvent to create an ink. When films of this ink were dried, they became flat sheets of paper-like materials. Each thin, flexible sheet of tissue paper felt and behaved much like standard office paper, Jakus said. He could even fold these sheets into an origami bird, he said. "They're easy to store, fold, roll, suture and cut, like paper," Jakus told Live Science. "Their flat, flexible nature is important if doctors want to shape and manipulate them in surgical situations." Growing human cells Each sheet of tissue paper contains residual biological molecules and protein structures from its source organs. In experiments, this tissue paper could support the growth of adult human stem cells. The researchers suggested their new materials could stimulate cells to behave in potentially therapeutic ways. For instance, tissue paper made of muscle could help foster the growth of muscle cells. "A lot of muscles in the face are flat and thin, and perhaps muscle tissue paper can help foster the growth of muscle cells for people who've experienced traumatic injuries, or children born with congenital defects," Jakus said. If a kidney or a uterus is nicked by an injury or during surgery, "those organs can bleed a lot very quickly," Jakus said. "Tissue paper could act like an internal bandage for such cuts." In addition, in experiments, ovarian tissue paper seeded with ovarian cells could produce hormones linked to puberty and fertility. Such implants could help restore normal hormone function in female cancer patients, who often lose their hormone function due to chemotherapy and radiation, said study co-author Teresa Woodruff, a reproductive scientist at Northwestern University. "It is really amazing that meat and animal byproducts like a kidney, liver, heart and uterus can be transformed into paper-like biomaterials that can potentially regenerate and restore function to tissues and organs," Jakus said in the statement. "I'll never look at a steak or pork tenderloin the same way again." Future research should explore if these new materials are safe and effective for use in the human body, Jakus said. In addition, the scientists are investigating making 3D objects from their organ inks using 3D printers, he said. Jakus is now chief technology officer and co-founder of the startup company Dimension Inx, which will develop, produce and sell 3D-printable materials primarily for medical applications. These new inks will be licensed to Dimension Inx. The scientists detailed their findings today (Aug. 7) in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. Original article on Live Science. Most people who get their braces off are happy to forget about their years of dental "train tracks." But one woman in Australia had her braces come back to haunt her when doctors discovered a piece of dental wire tearing through her abdomen, according to a new report. The wire had been in her digestive tract for 10 years before she started showing symptoms, the report said. The woman, who was 30 when the report was written, went to the emergency room after experiencing worsening abdominal pain for two days. At first, doctors thought the pain might be due to a gallstone, but a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a wire-shaped object in her small intestine. The woman underwent emergency surgery, and doctors found a 2.8-inch-long (7 centimeters) piece of orthodontic wire in her intestine. The wire had pierced through several parts of her small intestine, which caused the intestine to twist around itself, the report said. [11 Weird Things People Have Swallowed] The woman said it had been a decade since she had worn braces, and she didn't remember ever swallowing a piece of wire or having a wire go missing, the report said. The wire was removed, and the woman recovered completely with no further complications. The report shows that doctors should consider "foreign body ingestion" as a possible cause of abdominal pain if the patient does not have a medical or surgical history that might explain the pain, the authors said. The report was published today (Aug. 7) in the journal BMJ Case Reports.. Original article on Live Science. Tiny marine creatures each measuring a fraction of an inch in length gnawed a teenager's legs bloody during a seaside dip in Melbourne, Australia, and experts identified a type of scavenging crustacean as the culprit in this exceedingly rare encounter. On Saturday (Aug. 5), 16-year-old Sam Kanizay emerged from the water at Melbourne's Brighton Beach to find blood pouring down his shins and ankles from what appeared to be hundreds of needle-like punctures, the teen's father, Jarrod Kanizay, told the BBC. "It wasn't clotting at all. It just kept bleeding and bleeding," he said. Kanizay later returned to the beach to capture some of the tiny animals that had bitten his son for identification purposes, the BBC reported. Genefor Walker-Smith, a marine biologist with the Museums Victoria in Melbourne, examined the creatures that Kanizay collected, and identified the mystery chewers as amphipods a type of minuscule shrimp-like crustacean in the Lysianssidae family. Walker-Smith described them yesterday (Aug. 7) in a Facebook post, saying they "have no venomous properties and will not cause lasting damage." [In Images: The Menagerie of Seussian Creatures Under the Sea] The teen had been standing in chilly waist-high water for about 30 minutes, unaware that masses of sea fleas were biting him, he told the BBC. Though he felt a prickling sensation on his legs at the time, he thought that was due to the cold, he said. Once he was out of the water, he brushed away what he thought were grains of sand on his legs, only then discovering that he had been covered in tiny, biting animals, the BBC reported. Anticoagulants produced by the amphipods could account for the copious bleeding he experienced after the biters were removed, Walker-Smith said on Facebook. Currently, none of the lysianssid amphipods are known to produce an anticoagulant but then, no one's yet investigated that adaptation in the group, Les Watling, a professor with the Darling Marine Center at the University of Maine, told Live Science in an email. "If an anticoagulant is present, it would be because the amphipods were preying on or parasitizing fish," he said. While doctors at a local hospital were attending to the boy's wounds, his father donned a wetsuit and returned to the bay with a pool net, snaring "thousands" of the amphipods, he told Australian news website The Age. Footage that he shot of his "catch," uploaded to YouTube on Sunday (Aug. 6), shows a dish of water teeming with amphipods as they darted around and devoured several pieces of raw meat. Lysianssid amphipods also known as "sea fleas" vary greatly in size, from as small as a few millimeters to as large as 8 inches (20 centimeters) in length, with the largest found in the deep sea, and the smallest living mostly in the tropics, Watling said. Amphipods in this group are mostly scavengers, playing an important part in marine food webs by eating dead and decaying plants and animals. However, some amphipods are active predators, and though tiny, they would certainly be capable of piercing human flesh with their mandibles, Watling explained. "The mouthparts, especially the mandibles, have wide, sharp, blades designed for cutting animal tissue. These shallow-water species may also feed on algae, but they mostly are likely feeding on other animals living in the algae," he told Live Science. In this photo taken Aug. 5 at Sandringham Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, teenager Sam Kanizay's feet are seen covered in what looked like hundreds of bleeding pinpricks. (Image credit: Jarrod Kanizay/AP) The marks on the teen's legs were certainly small enough to have been made by amphipods, and their patterns suggest how the amphipods may have been feeding, Watling said. "Several [of the marks] look like they are in irregular 'trails,' suggesting the amphipod was biting the surface and moving along to get another bite, rather than biting deeply and digging in," he said. Sam Kanizay may have disturbed a feeding group of amphipods when he stepped into the water. And the longer he stood still, the more of them followed the blood trail to the feeding frenzy but amphipods typically don't launch piranha-like attacks against people, Walker-Smith said on Facebook. "I do wonder if he had scratches or something that would have attracted the amphipods," Watling said. "But they might have just determined him to be 'fish' and decided to have dinner," he added. Original article on Live Science. Even people who don't believe in God judge other nonbelievers as less moral than religious types, new research finds. The study showed that in 13 very different countries, people were more likely to think that a serial killer must be an atheist rather than a believer. These findings persisted even in highly secular countries such as Finland and China; they were also true even for people who reported zero belief in God. "Even as secularism reduces overt religiosity in many places, religion has apparently still left a deep and abiding mark on human moral intuitions," study researcher Will Gervais, a psychologist at the University of Kentucky, wrote with his colleagues Aug. 7 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. [8 Ways Religion Impacts Your Life] Atheism's reputation Though there's no precise count of the number of atheists worldwide, the group of nonbelievers seems to be growing. In the United States, about 3 percent of adults call themselves atheist, and 4 percent say they're agnostic, according to a 2014 Pew survey. Those numbers were up from 1.6 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively, in 2007. (Nearly 16 percent of American adults also said that they were "nothing in particular" with regard to religion as of 2014 but did not explicitly disavow belief in God.) However, because there is a social stigma against atheism, some researchers think that atheists are undercounted. A 2017 study that asked the question more indirectly by having participants count statements that were true about them, including some statements about religious belief estimated that about 26 percent of Americans are nonbelievers. In 2016, an annual survey in Norway found that 39 percent of the population identified as atheist more than the 37 percent who said they were religious. Still, atheists get a bad rap compared with most other groups. In 2017, Pew asked people to rate their warmth toward various religious groups on a scale of zero to 100. The results placed atheists at 50, making them the least-liked group other than Muslims, who came in at 48. (For comparison, Jews were the most-liked group, with a rating of 67 on the 100-point scale.) One 2015 study found that in people's minds, atheism is linked with thoughts of death, perhaps because of atheists' implied lack of belief in the afterlife. It might seem natural that religious people would resent atheists, but atheists should feel good about themselves right? That wasn't the case, according to the new study. Judging a serial killer The researchers didn't ask people directly for their views on atheists, because they were interested in more subtle, almost unconscious, attitudes. So they took advantage of something called the "conjunction fallacy." This is the tendency of the mind to think that specific situations are more likely than general ones. In this case, 3,256 study participants from 13 different countries read a description of a man who tortured animals as a child and then became more and more violent in adulthood, eventually murdering five homeless people. Half of the participants were then asked whether this serial killer was more likely to be a teacher or a teacher who believes in God. The other half were asked whether he was more likely to be a teacher or a teacher who is a nonbeliever. Logically, "a teacher" is always the correct answer, because it's the less specific choice and thus more likely to be applicable. But people tend to make snap judgments, such that when the additional information meshes with their biases, they pick the more specific choice. The specific choice that resonated with a description of a serial killer turned out to be "nonbeliever." Overall, people were nearly twice as likely to make the error of choosing the more specific option when that option described an atheist. Fifty-eight percent of the people who chose either a "teacher" or a "teacher and nonbeliever" said the serial killer was a nonbeliever teacher, compared with only 30 percent who chose "teacher and believer" instead of "teacher" alone. [Infographic: The World's Top Religions] Internal prejudice Most surprisingly, there was little difference in this error rate when the researchers looked at only the answers from the people who said they, themselves, were nonbelievers. About 52 percent of nonbelievers made the error of calling the serial-killing teacher a nonbeliever, compared with 28 percent who made the error of calling the killer a believer. Even absolute atheists, who rated their belief in a deity at zero, still made the conjunction fallacy more often when the choice was "nonbeliever teacher" (61 percent of the time) than when it was "believer teacher" (50 percent of the time). The researchers repeated the study with different scenarios (such as skipping out on a dinner check) and even with crimes people might associate with religion. In the case of child molestation, for example, people were still more likely to think that the perpetrator was a priest who didn't believe in God than a priest who did believe in God. "Participants intuitively assume that the perpetrators of immoral acts are probably atheists," the researchers wrote. "These effects appeared across religiously diverse societies, including countries with Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim and nonreligious majorities." Original article on Live Science. If you want a job protecting Earth from threats from outer space or even protecting Mars from us NASA has an opening for you sort of. The job of planetary protection officer generated quite a bit of buzz last week, when the public learned that a role seemingly out of a science fiction novel was actually a bonafide NASA job. But the position has nothing to do with protecting Earth from little green men, but a whole lot to do with important interplanetary science. A primary task of the officer is to make sure that during NASA missions earthly microbes don't contaminate potentially habitable environments. And should a mission bring back samples from outer space, the officer is tasked with making sure that dust, or rocks, or whatever is brought back from outer space doesn't contaminate us. John Rummel, a biology professor at East Carolina University, held the position twice, first between 1990 and 1993 and again from 1998 to 2006. "The planetary protection job was mostly challenging in that it was not just important for each mission to do the right required by requirements thing, but to know why they were doing it, and why it was important to do a good job," Rummel said. "From that aspect, the job was definitely worth it. But as to 'rewards,' those were mostly internal." Rummel explained that the planetary protection office reports to the associate administrator for each mission, who oversees the cost of the project. That means recommendations made by the officer are often judged in the context of whether or not they will cost the administrator more money a vexing problem many of us might easily understand from our own work experiences. RELATED: The Mars Colony of the Future Could Be Powered by This Advanced Microgrid Rummel's time as planetary protection officer coincided with the restart of NASA's Mars program. After the successful twin Viking landings of the 1970s, a few famous searching-for-life experiments came up empty. NASA shifted its attention to other locations in the solar system, and Mars didn't get a launch opportunity until the failed Mars Observer mission in 1992. A slew of missions followed, however, including the Mars Pathfinder mission that made it all the way to the surface in 1996 and deployed a mini-rover Sojourner. Several other landing and orbiting missions followed some successful, others not. Those missions wouldn't have been possible without the approval of the planetary protection officer, who ensured that Sojourner and other Martian spacecraft were sterile enough to prevent microbes from taking root in potentially life-friendly areas. One of Rummel's first tasks in 1990 was to look at the risk of contamination on Mars and how scientific understanding had changed since the days of the Viking missions. "I knew people would like to go back and land on Mars, but I also knew we didn't have current advice," Rummel said. So he assisted in the drafting of a 1992 report Biological Contamination of Mars. The report concluded that a large part of the surface was "extremely inhospitable to terrestrial life" and for that reason, future missions would not need to be sterilized as much as the Viking missions. But changes in landing technology meant that NASA had to be extra mindful of different scenarios for its missions. Pathfinder, for example, was supposed to fall to the surface using airbags. If the airbags failed, the mission would need to withstand a fall and possible burial in the soil of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) without exposing possible Earth microbes to the Martian environment. NASA has seen extensive evidence of briny water flow in recurring slope lineae, which are features that develop on the slopes of craters. Rummel, among others, speculated about recurring slope lineae as early as 2002. While researchers have long observed the formations, it was only in 2015 that NASA had strong enough evidence to say the formations are probably due to liquid water on the surface. Rummel warned against sending Curiosity to investigate a nearby recurring slope lineae. The materials on the rover's surface could not be thoroughly sterilized with UV radiation due to their properties. And inside the rover is a warm electronics box that could melt any ice with which the box comes into contact. RELATED: NASA Center Shows Off Sleek New Mars Rover Concept Vehicle for Astronauts Rummel was also part of early-stage planning for a "sample return" mission to bring pieces of Mars back to Earth, in collaboration with the French space agency CNES. While that mission never went forward, NASA has left the door open for future sample return missions. The next Mars rover, called Mars 2020, is expected to leave "caches" of interesting material behind for future missions to potentially pick up and bring back to Earth, when we presumably know a little more about how to protect ourselves. Of course, Mars wasn't the only target of note back in the 1990s when Rummel began his work. NASA already had a Jupiter probe called Galileo and was about to launch Cassini, which has now been orbiting Saturn since 2004. Those missions confirmed some intriguing Voyager mission results from the 1970s and 1980s, showing that some of the moons are icy and potentially habitable. Rummel remembers modifying the planetary protection plan for Galileo as evidence emerged that a liquid ocean might lie underneath Europa's icy surface. At the end of Galileo's mission, an option was included to deliberately crash the probe into Io or Jupiter, just in case it happened to fall into Europa, damaging a potentially habitable environment underneath the ice. Because the mission planners were uncomfortable with changing Galileo's orbit to fall into Io, they went for a Jupiter extermination collecting science all the way down. NASA said the job posting has generated "a lot of excitement," including from Jack Davis a fourth grader from New Jersey and self-described "Guardian of the Galaxy." In a letter to the agency, Davis said he was fit for the job because his sister thought he was an alien, among other qualifications. Although the planetary protection officer is no intergalactic warrior, it's a position that clearly provokes the imagination of skywatchers young and old. Originally published on Seeker. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, August 7, 2017 Invoca created technology to train custom predictive models that identifies the nuances of a voice call to a business. Allstate, Frontier Communications, and 3 Day Blinds are among the brands testing Invoca Signal AI in private beta. The new technology allows brands to mine the data from these predictive algorithms. Signal AI analyzes in real-time the entire context of the conversation for language patterns and identifies customer intent and behavior as well as the outcome of the call. The technology processes massive amounts of data in very short order. It gives marketers the ability to analyze offline phone conversations and optimize digital marketing campaigns, similar to the way it's done for online as the transaction occurs. Invoca CEO Gregg Johnson, who joined the company in October 2016, said the focus is on matching online activities with follow-up phone calls. For example, he recently booked a family trip and then called to confirm the last part of the reservation with an agent to make sure he got a good rate and that the room will be located in close proximity to a friend. Connecting the online transaction with the phone call helps brands gain a better understanding of their customers and what drives the conversions. "I also want to know if that consumer completed the transaction, because I don't want them to go back online and retarget them for something they just purchased," he said. Voice calls have traditionally relied on the keywords in the conversation. Now the technology lets brands identify the exact triggers that drove the outcome of the calls. It is done by giving Invoca a sample of between 500 and 1,000 calls. Invoca creates an algorithm based on those calls that analyzes and mines each conversation looking for different patterns of keywords and inflections. The technology uses machine learning and natural-language processing to identify patterns. Those calls become the basis for the predictive algorithm that analyzes each incoming call to see if it matches any of the previous patterns. The algorithms look for specific conversion events. Johnson also said last year the company began leveraging IBM Watson for speech-to-text transcription. by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, August 8, 2017 The mainstream media has suddenly discovered Sinclair. Oh no! cry the media watchdogs -- this company known formally as Sinclair Broadcast Group has a conservative slant to its newscasts. That's a no-no, say the watchdogs, even though many sources of news on TV seem to have a slant these days. But the problem isn't the slant, of course. It's the conservative slant. Sinclair is in the media watchdogs crosshairs because it is the largest single owner of local TV stations in the United States in terms of the number of properties the company owns. Many of the stations have local news. This Maryland-based company has been the largest TV-station owner for quite some time, but is only now drawing the attention of media critics and John Oliver because Sinclair is in the midst of finalizing a deal to buy all of the TV stations owned by Tribune Media Co. advertisement advertisement This deal valued at $3.9 billion will not only add 42 Tribune stations to its holdings, it will give Sinclair new stations in markets that are far larger than the ones in which it currently operates, including the top three -- New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The merger will create a company with a very large national footprint, theoretically giving it a great deal of clout in the advertising marketplace. By attaining near-national coverage, the thinking goes, Sinclair-Tribune will be able to compete for the kinds of national advertising dollars that national TV networks, both broadcast and cable, compete for. Whether this will actually occur cannot be determined yet. This deal, announced on May 7, is wending its way through the regulatory approval process, which means it won't close for a while. However, since at least two of those top three markets mentioned above are where the nation's media elite are most concentrated (in addition to Washington, D.C., and its surroundings), Sinclair is suddenly on the media elites radar. Sinclair Reveals Tribune Deal, Raising Worries It Will Be Too Powerful, read a headline back in May on the New York Times Web site. This too-powerful complaint is the same one that some news organizations trot out every time media companies merge or grow. It is a ridiculous argument because in todays fragmented media world, no one entity can achieve the kind of clout these stories always warn us about -- except maybe Facebook or Google. Last month, no less a personage than John Oliver devoted an entire episode of his HBO show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver to complaining about Sinclair. Oliver paid the lions share of his attention to one guy. The man's name is Boris Epshteyn and he apparently has the title of chief political analyst for Sinclair. In this role, he tapes commentaries on current events that then air on various Sinclair stations during their newscasts. That's him doing one of his Bottom Line with Boris commentaries in the screen-grab above. The watchdogs often point out that the local Sinclair stations are being directed (or ordered) by overseers at Sinclair's national headquarters to make sure they insert the Boris commentaries in their newscasts. The watchdogs make it sound as if this kind of management from a company's national headquarters is unusual or nefarious. It is neither. Nor is it a crime. The knock on Epshteyn is that he is a former staffer in the Trump White House and some of his commentaries have defended the Trump administration at times when it is under fire from most of the other news media (except Sean Hannity and Fox and Friends, presumably). The watchdog group called Media Matters, for example, has labeled Epshteyn's commentaries as propaganda that toes the administration's line on a given news story. Whatever. In the face of this guy's conservative commentaries that the liberal media watchdogs wish to quash, it doesn't seem to ever dawn on them that there are former staff members from numerous presidential administrations all over the news channels today flying to the defense of the presidents they served. To learn more about the commentaries of Boris Epshteyn, one has to expend no more effort than to search Bottom Line with Boris on YouTube. You will then see dozens of examples of this man's commentaries. Whether you agree with them or not, they are no different than a thousand other such things that you see and hear every day. Our discussion-media today is a cacophonous melting pot of opinions representing the right, left and everything in between. I have seen these too-powerful arguments arise time and time again over the course of my 34-year career covering television. As a result, I have come to the conclusion that a company such as Sinclair could own a million stations and the commentaries of Boris Epshteyn would not be any more influential or watched by a bigger audience than any number of other commentators from MSNBC to Fox News Channel. by Larissa Faw , August 7, 2017 MDC Partners significantly outpaced the industry in second-quarter 2017 with revenue up 15.9% to $390.5 million, beating industry estimates by $21.85 million. This performance was accelerated with organic revenue growth of 11.7% and net new business wins totaling $26 million (in terms of revenue) during the quarter. For the first half of the year, MDC's revenue increased 13.8% to $735.2 million with organic revenue growth of 8.7%. Net new business totaled $51.6 million thanks to wins from Amazon, Electrolux and IKEA. Rival Omnicom, by comparison, reported 3.5% organic growth for the second quarter and 3.9% growth for the first half (albeit from a much larger revenue base). IPG reported 0.6% second-quarter and 1.5% for the half. And Publicis Groupe posted 0.8% second-quarter organic growth and 0.2% growth for the first half. "This industry-leading growth is testament to MDC's modern and flexible operating model, and our unique culture and entrepreneurial mindset," said Scott Kauffman, chairman/CEO, MDC Partners. "As we look ahead, we are well positioned to remain a leader as our industry continues to evolve at a time of accelerated change for advertising, content and commerce." advertisement advertisement "Keep one thing in mind: Marketers are fed up with the status quo and our agencies represent change," said Kauffman on an investor call Monday afternoon. MDC is not "caught up in challenges" faced by legacy holding companies. We are designed for a "post-digital world" by offering a full-range of services, such as product innovation, design, technology, omnichannel marketing, as well as analytics. "We have been consultants all along," said Kauffman. Each agency delivers specific expertise, but MDC's secret sauce is its ability to work together via "unmatched creativity," he said. MDC's cash flow helped to strengthen its balance sheet during the first half. The firms net loss attributable to MDC Partners common shareholders improved to $-1.7 million vs $-22.8 million last year. Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for the first six months of 2017 was $82.8 million, an increase of 10.8% compared to $74.7 million in the first six months of 2016. Looking forward, the firm is upgrading its guidance for organic growth for the full year. It is now targeting approximately 7% organic revenue growth for the period, versus the 4% gain it projected when it released Q1 results. But the firm has tapered its projected Improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin a bit, to 0.6% from the 1% it forecast after Q1. The firm got a nice bump in its stock price Monday evening during after-hours trading, when it rose nearly 14% to $10.65 on the unexpected results. by Tanya Gazdik , August 8, 2017 Petsmart has donated 30 million meals to dogs and cats in need via a program the pet retailer created in conjunction with its 30th anniversary. During the Buy A Bag, Give A Meal promotion, the company will donate a meal for every bag of dog or cat food purchased (any brand, any size) in stores and online through 2017. A meal is 5 ounces of dog food or 1.5 ounces of cat food, based on the daily requirements for a typical adult 40-pound dog or 10-pound cat. The retailer created a TV spot (with both 60-second and 30-second versions) to promote the initiative. PetSmart Charities is distributing the meal donations to pet shelters, food banks, animal welfare organizations or other similar organizations based on the needs of these recipients. The program began March 1 and runs through Dec. 31. The retailer is teaming up with GreaterGood.org's Rescue Bank program and Feeding America, two national nonprofit organizations, to help deliver the bulk of the meals. American Nutrition, a custom manufacturer that produces pet food and treats for branded companies and retailers, is manufacturing the donated pet food. advertisement advertisement The retailer aims to donate 60 million meals or more. That goal is based on past sales for a similar time period. The allocation of food donations to beneficiary organizations will be based on PetSmart Charities evaluation of the needs among potential recipients, the ability of potential recipients to receive, handle and distribute the food donations, and where the donated meals can be most effectively delivered. It is anticipated that the allocation of food donations will be approximately 50% for dogs and 50% for cats. However, the exact allocation of meals between dogs and cats may be impacted by availability and a PetSmart Charities review process. It is anticipated that each qualifying purchase in the U.S. will generate a meal donation to PetSmart Charities, Inc. (U.S.), and each qualifying purchase in Canada will generate a meal donation to PetSmart Charities of Canada. Each charity will distribute the donated meals to organizations within its respective country. Up to 7 million pets enter shelters each year, but not all pets in need live in shelterssome live with pet parents who rely on food banks. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, August 8, 2017 The taxman cometh for Amazon sellers, many of whom advertise across the marketplace in a variety of states across the U.S. One company leading a grassroots movement on social sites like Facebook claims the behemoth marketplace lacks the educational program to alert these merchants. A new Sales Tax Amnesty Program, recently announced, will directly impact Amazon sellers in more than a dozen states. James Thomson, CEO at Prosper Show and former Amazon executive, helped to develop the educational program. Thomson once ran Amazon Services, the group that brought in the majority of sellers to the marketplace. "I'd love to advertise on Amazon to get the word out, but that costs between $25,000 and $35,000 a month to do it effectively," Thomson said. "We're an educational organization, so we have had to do it through a grassroots [campaign] on sites like Facebook. We're not financially equip to do what Amazon could do, message everyone, with a snap of a finger." advertisement advertisement Thomson said Amazon doesn't invest in educational services to help sellers run their businesses correctly. "We're doing this because Amazon has refused to tell people about this amnesty program," he said. "Amazon is being ridiculously hypocritical. They don't want to be viewed as tax advisors, yet they sell tax services to Amazon sellers." Amazon moves sellers' products from state to state through its distribution centers, but never tells the seller when they do. About 5% of what an online seller generates is tax liability, Thomson said. Many companies don't realize they have the liability until they receive a letter in the mail from a state government. The Multistate Tax Commission agreement will forgive unpaid sales taxes without penalty for Amazon sellers for a limited time starting August 17. Thomson says "you can't bankrupt your way through this tax liability," and any sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon have sales tax liabilities in potentially 24 states. The seller may not advertise or sell products in Alabama, for example, but their inventory is warehoused and shipped from Amazon's distribution center in Alabama, so the business owes the state sales tax. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 8, 2017 Digital rights groups are backing Google's request to block enforcement of a Canadian order requiring the company to remove search results. The takedown order "sets a dangerous and unbounded precedent," the Electronic Frontier Foundation and other organizations write in a proposed friend-of-the-court brief submitted Monday to U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California. "If one foreign court can impose its speech-restrictive rules on the entire Internet -- despite the conflict between its rules and those of a foreign jurisdiction -- the norms of expectations of all Internet users are at risk." The groups are weighing in on Google's long-running battle with the technology company Equustek. The dispute dates to 2012, when Equustek asked a judge in British Columbia to order Google to remove search results for Datalink Technologies, which allegedly stole trade secrets from Equustek and engaged in counterfeiting. advertisement advertisement The Canadian court issued a worldwide injunction prohibiting Google from displaying search results for Datalink and its products, which allegedly were derived from trade secrets. That order was upheld in June by Canada's Supreme Court. Last month, Google sought a declaratory judgment invalidating the order, arguing that it goes against free speech principles. The company also asked Davila to issue an injunction blocking enforcement in the U.S. Google told Davila that Equustek didn't seek to prevent other search engines from displaying results for Datalink, and hasn't prevented Amazon from selling Datalink products. The EFF, along with Public Knowledge, the Center for Democracy & Technology and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, are asking Davila to grant Google's request. Corynne McSherry, the EFF's legal director, says the Canadian takedown order "runs contrary to core values in the United States," adding that the order not only affects Google, but also potentially deprives Google's users of information. "Just as web search engines have a right to provide search results, users have a corollary right to receive those results," the organizations write in their legal papers. "They do not lose that right simply because some of the information on a website involves products rather than explicit social commentary or other forms of speech." McSherry adds that other courts have ordered web platforms to take down information that may be protected under free speech principles. "I don't think this issue's going to go away, much as we'd like it to," she says. Among other instances, regulators in France have said the so-called "right to be forgotten" requires Google to remove some search results worldwide. The right to be forgotten requires search engines to remove links to embarrassing material about Europeans at their request, after weighing their privacy rights against the public interest in the information. Google argues that the right to be forgotten only requires the company to delete links from its European search pages, like Google.fr, and not its worldwide search results. Europe's highest court could soon decide that question. by Ray Schultz , August 8, 2017 First responders can now rely on a global communications network based on a combining of email and physical addresses. Alphabet Communication, a Canadian company, has assigned an email address to every physical address on the planet. The resulting worldwide network will facilitate emergency and crisis communications, the company says. If an emergency occurs, an alert can be sent to all residents via email and text. Rescue missions can then be targeted, based on responses such "I am safe," "I am away" or "I need help." First responders will control the alerts. And user addresses will be authenticated via cell phone number verification, the company adds. Names will not be collected for privacy reasons. But data will include the number of occupants in a residence and their age cohort. Colors will be assigned based on the response, with red signifying addresses that need immediate help. 1916-1917: an infantry revolution 1916 was a year of great offensives at Verdun and on the Somme offensives made possible by the creation of total war economies able to sustain unprecedented levels of manpower mobilisation and munitions production. But still the decisive victory proved elusive whether by breakthrough (as the British planned on the Somme), or by attrition (as the Germans hoped at Verdun). The experience of both battles led to major changes in military organisation and battlefield tactics. The winter of 1916/17 was a turning-point, the moment when the linear tactics of the 19th century finally gave way completely to the fire-and-movement tactics of the 20th. It was nothing short of an infantry revolution. Passchendaele, 1917 Passchendaele was a very different battle from the Somme, not just in the conditions the mud and rain of the Flanders plain in autumn 1917 as opposed to the chalk downs of the Somme in summer 1916. The German defences tended to be a lacework of emplacements and bunkers ranged in depth, with reserves held well back, to be used only when the main force of the attack had spent itself and the enemy had been degraded and disorganised. Amid the chaos and carnage, despite the ultimate futility of the battle, a new approach to ground combat, both attack and defence, was being worked out. The following year, it would produce the great breakthrough battles of 1918. Battle Phases The Battle of Passchendaele consisted of three main phases: July-August 1917: Goughs general assault September-October 1917: Plumers bite-and-hold attacks October-November 1917: Haigs final push The map above depicts the Passchendaele offensive, 31 July-10 November 1917, showing the main phases of British operations. Key: British front-line, 7 June British front-line after Messines, 14 June British front-line after Goughs general assault, 16 August British front-line after Plumers bite-and-hold attacks, 13 October British front-line at end of the offensive, 7 November This is an extract from Neil Faulkners special feature on Passchendaele, MHM 83. Click here to purchase the back issue and read the full feature. To subscribe to the magazine, click here. A number of local and international companies have signed up for the maiden edition of the Ghana Meets Naija UK concert. The event, which is happening at Building 6, o2, London, on August 25, is getting enormous corporate support from the companies, who are coming through with various packages. RigWorld, Menzgold, uniBank and British Airways are among a tall list that are supporting the event. Shatta Wale, and Burna Boy are headlining what is expected to be a huge concert. Other supporting acts include Stonebwoy, Eugy, and Kwamz and Flava among an impressive selection of Ghanaian and Nigerian Disc Jockeys. The maiden edition of the Ghana Meets Naija UK event comes after the highly successful Ghana edition which held in May. Started in 2011, the Ghana Meets Naija franchise is yet West Africa's biggest night in music brining together artistes from Ghana and Nigeria for a day's celebration of musical rivalry from across the two countries. Over the years, the event has hosted some of the continent's biggest names in music. This year, Empire Ghana, organizers and franchise owners, kicked off other country editions, the UK's being the first. Plans are in place for other versions to hold in Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Some selected Ghanaian gospel music icons last Sunday turned the ICGC Calvary Temple located on the Spintex Road in Accra upside down when they thrilled thousands of gospel music fans at this year's edition of a gospel musical concert dubbed 'Tehilla Experience'. The much-anticipated gospel concert saw the headline artiste, Ohemaa Mercy, perform some of her popular old hit songs and some new tracks from her current album. There were other performances from renowned gospel stars such as Elder Mireku, Cecelia Marfo, Uncle Ato, Ceccy Twum, Minister Ramzy Amui, Francis Amo, Bro Philemon, Pastor Isaiah and a host of others. The annual event which was under the theme 'The Cross Effect' was organised by Ohemaa Mercy's Ministries. Energetic Ohemaa Mercy proved she was worth all the screams and cheers that greeted her when she mounted the stage. Ohemaa Mercy and her band staged a brilliant performance, proving that when it comes to gospel music, one must work hard to earn the respect and all accolades that come with it. Beginning with some worship songs, she gradually raised the tempo and finally exploded with her popular hit songs. It was a night of praise, worship and an enthralling show of stage performance displayed by all the gospel music icons who thrilled patrons with their various hit songs. Ceccy Twum also set the auditorium on fire with her stagecraft and unique style of delivery. Other gospel stars such as Elder Mireku, Ramzy, Uncle Ato and others performed spectacularly on that day. By George Clifford Owusu Offinso (Ash), Aug 07, GNA - The management of the Saint Patrick's Hospital at Offinso, has expressed deep worry about the overpowering stench from a huge pile of refuse, left standing outside the walls of the facility. Mr. Alex Sarfo, the Administrator, said this had become a big bother and giving them sleepless nights. They had been spending large sums of money to periodically fumigate the place to fight mosquitoes, houseflies and other dangerous reptiles. Residents in four Offinso cluster communities have been dumping waste at the place and he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that several petitions made to the municipal assembly to tackle the unhealthy situation, were yet to receive any positive response. That, he indicated, was creating a lot of discomfort for the patients, doctors, nurses and other personnel of the hospital. He renewed the appeal to the assembly to act quickly to clear the mountain of garbage and to find a more suitable dumping site for the people. Mr. Solomon Kesse, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), when contacted, gave firm assurance that the site would be cleared. He said the assembly had made environmental sanitation one of its major priorities and that everything would be done to tidy the place and turn into a car park. He added that containers would be provided for people in the four communities, who had been using the place as refuse dump. Mr. Kesse said detailed plans for this had already been discussed and agreed by the assembly. GNA By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA Accra, Aug. 7 - (UPI/GNA) - North Korea is expected to soon make an announcement on its position regarding the latest round of sanctions that passed at the United Nations Security Council. North Korea spokesman, Bang Kwang Hyok, told South Korean news service, Money Today on Monday he would make an announcement "today" regarding its stance on the tougher measures. Bang was in the Philippines with a North Korean delegation that includes North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. Ri is scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Regional Security Forum, or ARF. The statement from North Korea comes at a time when Pyongyang is showing no sign of interest in cooperating with Seoul or responding to invitations to civic-level engagement. According to Yonhap, Ri recently rebuffed South Korea's recent offer of talks, citing a "lack of sincerity." The talks the North Korean foreign minister were referring to include dialogue Seoul has proposed, aiming to alleviate tensions at the demilitarized zone. South Korea's top diplomat Kang Kyung-hwa had said she wanted to hear a response to the offer "as soon as possible," when she briefly exchanged words with Ri on Sunday evening, according to the report. While Ri spurned talks with the South, he went ahead and held bilateral talks with the Russian and Philippine prime minister, Money Today reported. "Today at the Philippine International Convention Center we met with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to exchange views on regional issues and bilateral relations," Bang said. "Afterward we met with the Philippine foreign minister to exchange views on bilateral relations, especially regarding ASEAN." Ahead of the gathering, the United States had urged ASEAN countries to "downgrade" its North Korea ties. Southeast Asian countries participating in the forum had earlier issued a statement, expressing concern about North Korea's test of what is believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile. The ASEAN Regional Forum provides opportunities for top diplomats to hold talks on the sidelines. GNA Accra, Aug. 7 - (UPI/GNA) - U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said, on Monday that, he told Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, that the Kremlin's reputed interference in last fall's election has "seriously" damaged relations between Moscow and Washington. Tillerson made the comments during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Regional Forum in Manila, Philippines, on Monday. The Trump administration's top U.S. diplomat said he told Lavrov that "meddling in the elections is certainly a serious incident" during a bilateral meeting between the two Sunday. "Trying to help Russia understand just how serious this incident had been and how seriously it had damaged the relationship between the U.S. and the American people and the Russian people," Tillerson said. "I said this had created serious mistrust between our two countries and that we simply have to find some way to deal with that." The meeting between Tillerson and Lavrov occurred four days after President Donald Trump signed into law a bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia, North Korea and Iran. The bill, which the House and Senate passed by wide margins last week, toughens sanctions on the three nations -- specifically with Russia over its presence in Ukraine and Syria, as well as the U.S. intelligence community's assertion that Moscow tried to influence November's presidential election in Trump's favor. After Congress approved the sanctions, but prior to Trump signing the bill, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the United States to reduce its diplomatic personnel in Russia by 755. The Russian Foreign Ministry also said it would seize two U.S. diplomatic properties -- cottages just outside Moscow's city center and a warehouse facility in the capital. Tillerson also said Monday that Trump's administration is preparing to respond to Moscow's demands. Despite the U.S. sanctions and Russia's demands, Tillerson said cooperation with Russia is a necessity. "We want to work with them on areas that are [of] serious national security interest to us, while at the same time having this extraordinary issue of mistrust that divides us," Tillerson added. "That's just what we in the diplomatic part of our relationship are required to do. "I don't think it is useful to just cut everything off on one single issue." GNA It was just another busy day for my husband as he left home to have several meetings in town with clients. He had barely been gone for 3 hours when my phone rang. He was so calm and collected when he said, I have been arrested for expiry of the car insurance. I am going to the police station with the policeman. Snap. But I am pretty sure a stronger expletive came out of my mouth. Policeman arrests me because insurance expired. I ask him lets go to the station and hes trying to waste my time. Bribe from me? Nah bruh! Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 2, 2017 I could barely focus on the rest of the work ahead of me and the hunger pangs I had felt earlier just dropped into a black hole. I have always been careful and dutiful in renewing the car insurance and I just couldnt believe time had flown by so quickly which had now led to this. Kmt. Edem called me again to say that the policeman was being slow and didnt want to get out of the car when they arrived at the police station. I said, yeah hes wants you to give him something so he lets you go. I WILL NOT PAY! he said adamantly. Good on you I silently thought to myself but then again I knew how he was about to be frustrated by the police for failing to give something small. At the Airport Police Station, the policewoman behind the counter called him and told him he was being processed for court. Edem acquiesced. A few people in the station looked up in surprise at him. The policewoman who obviously couldnt believe her ears repeated herself. Ok! he said again. Processing him for court took another hour but my husband calmly waited for it to be over. The system is designed to frustrate you so much that you just give in a bribe your way out. Its really sad. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 2, 2017 I called my lawyer friend for his counsel on what happens in instances like this and he said what I was already dreading; they will impound the car. All of a sudden I started thinking of the two meetings I had the next day and how unreliable and almost non-existent Uber is in my area. So I relayed this information to Edem who wasnt surprised. He was told to come the next day at 8am for court. This was going to be fun! I dashed off to the insurance company to get a new license. We woke up really early to avoid the traffic on the Madina road, walked up the dusty & untarred road. Edem had taken the day off from work so he was more relaxed and looked ready to see this through. I took out my phone and opened the Uber app. By some divine favor there were two Uber cars within five minutes of our location! I booked it fast! Why is it so awkward and almost fearful to enter a Ghana Police Station? Even if you have a case to report its as though you are the criminal. I wasnt a criminal but I already felt fearful. We got to the police station 7:45am only to be told that the policeman taking us to court said he will be in at 9am. More fun! So we waited an hour but because we brought our gadgets with us we were able to get some work done. Its 9am. He still hasnt showed up his colleague is calling him asking chale where you dey? 9 oclock catch O https://t.co/4jl4FsfEw3 Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 He came in wiping his mouth with his hands as though he had just finished eating waakye. I asked Edem which court we were going to and he said High Street. Ah okay. How were we going to go there? Via trotro and the policeman will be paying as well. Oh wow! I told the guy the new insurance is with me and he asked me why I didnt to and show it to the guy who arrested me and beg him to let me go https://t.co/nB21kh5oaH Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 Here we were walking and crossing the main road from the police station towards the Accra Tema Station bound bus stop and I almost found it funny if not ludicrous. For a first time offender like my husband, surely this wasnt the solution. Yes the law states explicitly that any driver whos insurance cover has expired must be arrested. But the expiration wasnt even up to a month yet? That was me in my thoughts. As we waited at the stop, a Tema station trotro pulled up and we jumped in. Man! Been forever since I took a trotro. The last time I did was about four years ago when I slipped and fell whilst getting out of a trotro. Never again until this day. We alighted at Tema Station and walked towards National Arts & Culture Center. I was confused..what court is this again? Or we are being led to some dangerous corner bi? so disconcerting. We passed through several stalls which took us to the back of the center and I was pretty intrigued to see see wooden shacks and mini slums growing at the back of the cultural center. Then we finally saw the court. sItauated right behind the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum. Several people stood nearby waiting for their cases to be called whilst others looked so desponsdent as though pronounced guilty already. If you watch Suits and think going to court dey be, this is what Accra Central District court looks like. pic.twitter.com/Pi0BdEqJMD Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 We sat on a bench outside the motor court as directed by our friendly policeman. He then found a higher ranking officer who glanced through our court case papers and I could almost read his face as he seemed to ask the policeman what this case was doing here. Like some lambasting was going on eh . waiting to be heard. A ranking officer asked the one who brought us here what he was there for. He read the docs and said Why?? https://t.co/SWUjbmG1xT Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 The court house was not filled to capacity and the people in there looked to be middle-aged to senior citizens. It was only much later that Edem told me that most people were there to get their tenants evicted. The judge arose or went on some break of sorts so we waited some more. So this is what most Ghanaians fear and end up paying bribes to policemen? The waiting process? So because the system itself is frustrating, the police take advantage and threaten us with court to force us to pay bribe. Unless its a serious offence I bet they wont be arresting us by heart because they are not equipped to process charges at scale. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 What I keep wondering is this: what if all of us started refusing to pay bribes and went through this process? Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 Unfortunately I had to run off to a meeting I was already late for but was keeping tabs via Telegram. I had a meeting with my Uncle who wasnt sympathetic one bit and told us to be ready to pay a penalty of about GHC500. No chill at all. It was finally his turn. My charge was read as failure to renew insurance policy since July 08th. Judge asked if thats up to one month. Police officer said no. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 After a few minutes the judge said hes heard the charge but however there was no evidence that I have refused to renew my license. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 Edem asked permission to speak. In tthe meantime my car would be impounded. So I asked for permission to speak and said: My Lord, I have the new insurance policy right here Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 The judge asked why he was there in the first place Then he asked so what are you doing here? You should have showed that at the police station Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 I replied: I tried to show them but they insisted I still come to court because i have already been processed. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 And indeed had the policeman listened, we wouldnt be in this place. But noo! After confirming that the new license was valid my husband was asked to go pick the car. Officer confirmed that it was valid and the judge told me Im free to go and pick my car. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 Frustrations upon frustrations but I ended up paying nothing. This is how it should be done. The end. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 Meanwhile, reactions to his experience was being shared by his followers. Imagine if we all stopped paying bribe and went through this process. Like the police ppl themselves would stop stopping us unnecessarily Josie Ngminvielu (@kuu_ire) August 3, 2017 Well done man. We shouldn't be intimidated by the police when we're right. They're always ripping us off with the law. Tsatsu (@tsa_tsu) August 3, 2017 He shared his lessons from the eventful experience with me, 1. Better to pay than be corrupt. I know this sounds cliche but I actually believe in our judicial system. If I had been fined for this charge I would have happily paid. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 2. Always know your rights. Speak to your lawyer or your lawyer friend to share counsel. 3. Expect to be frustrated. I took the whole day off to handle this incident. Clear your calendar. Let your boss know what happened 4. Organisations should implement a no-bribery policy which translates into employees taking emergency day-off to go to court and sort out their issues. I can understand why people would. If you have a typical 9-5 job and this happens to you, your employer may not give you a free pass. Edem Kumodzi (@edemkumodzi) August 3, 2017 5. Always renew your insurance policy at the right time . I had to go back to my insurance company and reminded them to send me reminders when the policy was near expiration. That was quite an experience but nothing scary about it especially when you know your rights. I couldnt help but remark earlier to Edem ( when we were waiting for the policeman to show up) about the behaviour of citizens on reaching a police station. Its almost a deference, worshipping attitude. No wonder we are also talked to by heart sometimes by the police as though we the victims are criminals. Well, I hope by this our experience we will be bolder and more confident in refusing to bribe Ghana Police. The corruption in this country must stop and it must stop with us paying what we shouldnt pay. If we have to pay, it has to go into the Judiciary systems coffers not into the pocket of a policeman. Ghana police all due respect, y3n ara asaase ne. Why frustrate those who want to do the right thing? Eno na men tease no! I cant think far! What about you? Have you ever had this experience with the police before? Did you pay or not ? What made you pay though? By: Naa Oyo Quartey TSHIKAPA (DR Congo) (AFP) - "Before, we were able to go to work in any mine to dig for diamonds. But today, we're all afraid of dying," artisanal miner Banayi Ilunga says grimly. Diamonds are the blessing of Kasai, a vast region of five provinces in Democratic Republic of Congo that in many ways holds the key to the country's future. To Ilunga, an 11-year mining veteran, the poorly regulated industry offers a lifeline -- but in the past year, his hard-scrabble existence has become even tougher. He has had to abandon the most profitable sites for the safety of mines close to the city of Tshikapa, where the pickings are slim. But that is the price to pay for staying alive. Kasai's year of torment began on August 12, 2016, when security forces killed a local tribal chief, Jean-Prince Mpandi, who was at loggerheads with the state administration and posing a challenge to the rule of President Joseph Kabila. The death of Mpandi -- known by the tribal title of Kamwina Nsapu -- and the failure to give him a funeral with rites befitting his status sparked an insurrection, which led to a brutal repression, in which civilians are paying a terrible price. The Roman Catholic Church estimates that more than 3,000 lives have been lost, including those of two experts mandated to investigate the conflict by the United Nations. Safe but afraid: An Internally Displaced Person (IDP) at a camp in Kikwit On Friday, the UN gave details of more than 250 "extra-judicial or targeted killings" in Kasai from mid-March to mid-June, including dozens of children. About 1.4 million people have fled the atrocities, many of them to Angola. In office since he succeeded his murdered father in 2001 while war wracked the nation, Kabila failed to stand down last year at the end of his final elected constitutional term. A deal was cut by the regime and a minority within the opposition to hold elections by the end of 2017. But whether the ballot can go ahead may well hang on what happens in Kasai. A million people cut off Astride the Kasai river weaving its way past palm trees, Tshikapa is home to a million people who are largely cut off from the rest of the world. They live like a population under siege, for to take to the roads and waterways is to roll the dice with death. "When the Kamwina Nsapu arrived here in mid-December, a whaler (a light transport vessel) and a speedboat of the provincial government were set on fire," Mama Ngombe said, referring to a tribal militia of the same name as their leader. "There is still disorder and killings of passengers." River traffic at Tshikapa is almost at a standstill because of the violence In July, the Association of Navigators of Kasai-Tshikapa (Anakat) temporarily suspended river traffic in protest at the insecurity. Navigation has since resumed warily. The highways are especially dangerous, and people are advised never to travel alone but in convoy. The road from Tshikapa to another major town, Kananga, is similarly under the control of the Kamwina Nsapu, according to specialists in the region. The main road to Kinshasa, meanwhile, is in the grip of Pende militia, from another local tribe. The enforced isolation has sent prices soaring. In the marketplace, the price of corn, cassava and palm oil has risen by 50, 100 and 150 percent respectively. Homeless and burned Tshikapa has taken in more than 70,000 people displaced by fighting between security forces and the Kamwina Nsapu, as well as bloody rivalry among communities such as the Luba, Tchokwe and Pende. Agnes Mupetu lost her husband and six children and was badly burned when her home was torched One of the displaced, Agnes Mupetu, 37, lost all her six children to the flames when her home was razed. She has visible burn injuries. "I don't know how I got out of our house when it was burned down. I woke up in the forest with no medicine. I didn't even have access to traditional medicines. People picked me up with my wounds in the forest," said Mupetu. Her husband went missing in the fire. Food, clothing and health care have been provided for only 30,000 people by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and local NGOs. "We have limited resources," said local FAO official Moise Muhindo. A volunteer brings daily food rations for a camp at Kikwit for people displaced by the bloody Kasai conflict The UN body also provides seeds, hoes, rakes and watering cans to farming families in a bid to help them get agricultural activity going again. The authorities are keen to emphasise signs of a return to normal life since Kabila visited the troubled Kasai region in mid-June. Their latest announcement, jointly with Angolan provincial authorities, was that the 31,000 Congolese refugees in Angola can return. But in the past few weeks, only about 1,400 are estimated to have come home voluntarily. Kasai the key On the political front, Kasai's problems weigh heavily on the prospect of stability. The head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Corneille Nangaa, has said it would be impossible to organise a presidential poll by year's end, notably because of the region's insecurity. Map of the D. R. Congo locating Kasai, with details of bloodshed and displacements since August 2016 Speaking to AFP in Tshikapa recently after a new tour of the region, he saw signs of an improvement. "We think that our action will help bring peace and calm," Nangaa said. Launching an electoral census in Kasai -- a vital first step -- could begin, he said. But he mentioned no date. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Mostly cloudy with snow flurries and snow showers, especially overnight. Low 27F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with snow flurries and snow showers, especially overnight. Low 27F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Himan Students Union (HSU) of Prestea-Himan in the Prestea Huni-Valley District of the Western Region has given Golden Star Bogoso-Prestea Mining Company a week ultimatum to attend to their complains of not employing indigenes of the communities they operate otherwise they would advised themselves. About Golden Star has a 17 year history of producing gold in Ghana. Golden Star is an established gold mining company with two producing mines on the prolific Ashanti Gold Belt in Ghana. Both of the Companys mines, Wassa and Prestea, are expanding to develop underground mines below existing open pit operations. This will enable Golden Star to transform into a high grade, low cost gold producer with strong exploration upside potential. Golden Star Resources own 90% of the gold mine whiles Ghana has 10%. Speaking at a press conference organized over the week end, Vice Chairman for the youth group, Mr Kwabena Okyere, hinted that even though the company had the formal licence from the government, the social licence which lies in the people is very skeptical. "The youth in the community cannot find jobs, yet people from different parts of the country who are not directly affected by the operation of the company has dominated the work force", he lamented. He further explained that the company has not been able to exhaust section 2(J) of the Local Employment Agreement (LEA) which stated that "the company shall adopt a policy to provide preferential employment to community citizens when recruiting skilled workforce with the aim of increasing the percentage of community citizens in skilled workforce. He pleaded with the Member of Parliament for Prestea-Huni Valley Constituency, District Chief Executive for the area, Western Regional Minister and other stakeholders to join in their cry in seeking for redress for the communities. Speaking to the Golden Star Community Affairs and Sustainability Manager, Mr Robert Gyamfi in a telephone interview with the reporter, Daniel Kaku, he said the company has received a copy of the youth's press conference. Mr Gyamfi added that the company's relationship with the community is unbreakable and therefore saw no need for him to have a media encounter with the youth. "Currently I'm on leave but we are going to meet them and address their concerns, the media encounter will not solve the problem at hand", he added. 08.08.2017 LISTEN The 2017 entrepreneurship and business summit was dubbed; the business is more than the business and was held at Takoradi Technical University Auditorium last Saturday. (5th August 2017). In attendance were graduate from various schools, workers, business men and women and entrepreneurs within and around the western region. In an open address, the CEO of Enlighten Business Solutions, Mr Eboyi Nathan said, there are so many opportunities around us but our ability to identify them has become a problem. People have gotten dreams but for them to develop an idea is major challenge. Michael Asiedu Gyensare, the first speaker of the day, touched on the topic DEVELOPING BUSIINESS IDEAS. He started the presentation by mentioning some prominent entrepreneurs in the world, some of the names he mentioned are Bill Gate, Aliko Dangote, Steve Jobs and Strive Masiyiwa. He stated that there are three types of ideas that develop into startups and these are Type A, Type B and Type C. he went ahead to talk about D.S.V. (Desirability, Sustainability and Value Creation). He also talked about the Steps involved in Developing a Business Idea. Sir David, the second speaker for the day elaborated on the topic; YOUR BUSINESS IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET. He started with a quote by David. F. R (2005) - Success only rarely occurs by accident; rather it is the result of hard work directed toward achieving certain objectives. He went ahead to explain what a business is and he said a business Is giving what you have in exchange for what you need or lack. He explained further by stating the implications in the definition and some of these implications are; Everybody has something to offer and therefore potential for billions of businesses Many people are already offering what they have, so how do you enter and rise above them? The best businesses are those built based on passion, gifts, talents or skill sets. He went ahead to state the three types of competitors and they are; supra competitors, same-level competitors and sub competitors. He also talked about strategic management. Bismark Tay, the third speaker also made a presentation on the topic DEVELOPING THE OWNER AND THEN THE BUSINESS. Mr. Tay stated that a business is part of the mind and also developing a good mind to power a good business and how to develop a good mind. He also talked about the nine mindsets needed by every smart entrepreneur. Mr. Johnson Kwame Wor, the final speaker for the day made a presentation on the topic WAYS TO ADVERTISE YOURSELF AS A BUSINESS ENTITY. Mr. Wor explained what advertisement is and stated the reasons for advertisement, ways to advertise and strategies in advertising. At the end of the summit, participants were awarded with certificates. The CEO of Enlighten Business Solutions, the organizers of the 2017 entrepreneurship and business summit entreated participant to make good use of knowledge acquired to help reduce unemployment in Africa. The next edition comes of on the 11th of November at Winneba. He entreated everyone to take part of the summit, risk is not avoidable but it takes courageous people to face it. 08.08.2017 LISTEN Around June 1997 a queen mother from one of the Ashanti region towns paid a courtesy call on Nana Akwasi Agyeman (aka kumkom) then Mayor of Kumasi (the Ashanti Regional capital) at his residence near Dekyemso. I was investigating the maverick over allegations that he was using KMAs forklifts and earthmoving machines to do his private business among other things. The interview had barely commenced when the beautiful middle-aged woman arrived. Her mission: KMA Task Force had destroyed or pulled down a petro filling station shed put up in one of the suburbs in Kumasi. The petrol station had been built on a site already earmarked for road construction. Shed touched a wrong nerve unbeknownst to her. The KMA Boss turned around as though hed a message for me. And it was simply this: You see how Kumasi people behave. This is a queen mother. You call yourself a queen mother, when you encroach lands you should know better. Yet you chose to do the wrong thing and now youre here to plead with me, he charged. His eyes still fixated on the woman, seething with anger. How can I condone with wrong doing? he asked the woman. And as if that wasnt enough he asked the queen mother to leave his residence immediately. See, when I destroyed stores and stalls at Asafo market, he narrated. I was characterised as a wicked man. My own uncle Otumfuo Opoku Ware II called me and said: Akwasi everyone is talking ill about you. Would halt this exerciseBut I couldnt be bothered. That was then two decades ago. Roughly two or three weeks ago, the police in Tarkwa, western region arrested a group of Chinse nationals that were allegedly mining in a school zone (Tarkwa Senior High Secondary School, formerly Tarsco). May I ask: Can you do this in China, Russia or in the United States? I dont know whats become of that case. But I hope the laws will deal with them, if its proven to be true to serve as a deterrent to others. And just as one thought, the act of indiscipline and lawlessness must be put on breaks elsewhere in the Greater Accra region a certain petrol station operator has done the unthinkable. Reports from the local media say owners and parents of pupils of Obek Preparatory and Young Royals Academy Schools at Manhean near Ablekuma in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region are battling with the owner of a fuel station thats building the facility near the school. The location of the fuel station, which is currently under construction, according to them, poses grave danger to both pupils of the two schools and also residents around. Can EPA and others stop the project? The Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA Ghana) is an agency of Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation, established by EPA Act 490 (1994). The agency is dedicated to improving, conserving and promoting the countrys environment and striving for environmentally sustainable development with sound, efficient resource management taking into account social and equity issues. It oversees the implementation of the National Environment Policy EPA Ghana's mission is to manage, protect and enhance the countrys environment and seek common solutions to global environmental problems. In recent times the agency has been flooded with fire outbreaks most of them resulting from illegal siting of petrol stations. According to the school all efforts to stop the owner of the under construction filling station had yielded no positive result. And it portends to be a long battle. In the meantime the authorities of the school and parents have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) requesting for the immediate stoppage of the pump station. Theyre also calling on the government to stop the project immediately. And did you know that living close to a petrol station can be a health hazard beside fire outbreaks risks? Health experts have warned that living near a petrol station is 'bad for your health. They say the air in the immediate vicinity of garages is often polluted with airborne particles from evaporated fuel and therefore harmful to local residents. Scientists from the University of Murcia in Spain who studied the effects of contamination at petrol stations have stated that: Dangerous airborne organic compounds can travel as far as 100m from petrol stations. Also, they found that dangerous airborne pollutants from garages could contaminate buildings as far as 100m away. The scientists said a 'minimum' distance of 50 metres should therefore be maintained between petrol stations and housing, and 100 metres for 'especially vulnerable' facilities such as hospitals, health centres, schools and old people's homes. Crackdowns Not long ago there were calls to remove filling stations from r residential areas. It was basically due to the rampant fire outbreak at a Liquefied Petroleum Gas Station at Dansoman Estates in Accra that claimed one life and injured some people has shocked many people. Currently most people who live close to gas and petrol stations live in fear that sooner or later they could suffer the same fate. Studies have shown that EPA rules are often not followed either by the city authorities or those who are responsible for allocating plots of land to petrol station owners. The study also named Abeka-Lapaz. There, eight fuel and nine gas stations were found sited close to houses, restaurants, super markets, schools and churches. The situation wasnt different in places such as Osu, Kaneshie, Mallam and Odorkor... Fuel and gas stations had been sited near the Osu Police Station. The Greater Accra Region is not the only region that seems to have fallen foul of the law. At Kumasi specifically near the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology junction and Asafo, there are eight fuel stations which are all located close to houses and businesses. As a means of solving this problem The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to remove all Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) stations in residential areas that fail to meet the guidelines for the establishment of such businesses by the end of next year. Is it understood EPA has taken steps to deal with problems posed by illegally sited LP Gas stations by the EPA is good it must be extended to cover all illegally sited petrol stations as well. There is also the need for the formation of a high powered committee made up civil society actors, technocrats and men from the Ghana Fire Service to study the processes leading to the granting of permits to all gas stations in Accra and other parts of the country, the study reveals. Lets not allow the situation to remain as it is currently otherwise Thousands of lives and property in residential areas of the country will be under threat of possible fire outbreaks resulting in distraction and death. We must all abide by rules and regulations in the construction of gas and fuel stations in residential areas of Ghana. So, somehow it seems in our part of the world its a taboo to enforce the laws or do whats right. The reason, you could lose power in the next general elections. Theres often a threat issued by the law breakers or nonconformists. Thing is if they could warn the president saying we wont vote for you in 2020, if you stop illegal mining. But the president had called their bluff. Youve got to give the president credit. Our leaders rarely do that. Interestingly, many of our politicians and public office holders have fallen flat on this sword. Basically, you succumb to pressure and allow indiscipline to take its course. Heres another example, its a common sight squatter and hawkers swarm the streets of Accra and other big cities day in day out. Yet you cannot ask them to leave. Why? Its a taboo. You cannot stop or evict them else theyd lose their livelihood. Yes, its a taboo as Ive already indicated to crack down on illegal miners, when theyre brazenly destroying the ecosystems. Mind you if we give up theyll take us for a ride. Lets say no to indiscipline. Accra, Aug.7, GNA - Mrs Patience Akyianu, the Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Ghana, has urged the Government to build an economy that rewards entrepreneurship, supports production and creates jobs. She said the Bank would continue to support the business community, entrepreneurs and the Government to achieve sustainable development. She said the Bank had transformed many lives and businesses with excellent banking services over the past 100 years it had been operating in Ghana. Mrs Akyianu said this at the Sixth Edition of the Ghana Economic Forum in Accra on Monday, on the theme: 'Building a Ghanaian Owned Economy, 60 years after Independence'. The event was organised by the Business and Financial Times and partnered by the Ghana News Agency, EIB Media Group and Citi FM. The Barclays Bank was the lead sponsor for the forum, which brought together business and economic gurus, policy-makers and policy think tanks to brainstorm on how to shape the country's economic agenda for growth. Issues discussed at the forum included; Investment in Ghana, the Energy, Agriculture and Insurance sectors and how Ghanaian businesses could take advantage of the macroeconomic stability to make gains. It attracted more than 500 captains of industries and entrepreneurs across the country. Mr Felix Meshiam, a participant and provider of agriculture services, told the GNA that he expected the forum to take concrete decisions that would support the agriculture sector. He said agriculture was the backbone of the economy, therefore, government must create a conducive environment for farmers to sell their produce. 'The biggest challenge for our farmers now is lack of market to sell their produce and, therefore, results in post-harvest losses. 'Therefore government should take a serious look at providing accessible market for our farmers by ensuring that importation of certain food items like rice are reduced,' he said. Mr Pious Abiou, a participant who works with an energy firm, said his company borrows from the domestic market and urged government to maintain and sustain the macroeconomic stability in order to inure to the benefit of the private sector. Mr Ebenezer Gani, another participant, who works with an investment firm, expressed the hope that government would factor the small and medium-scale enterprises into the 'One District, One Factory'' initiative. This, he said, would ensure that the financial resources that would be invested in the programme would be retained in the local economy. GNA By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA Accra, Aug. 7, GNA - Mr Kofi Venyo, the Chief Executive Officer of Kofi Venyo and Company Limited, a commercial agriculture firm, has called on government to cut subsidies in the agriculture sector. He said this would enable farmers to see themselves as business entities and access credits to operate and improve on their yields. Mr Venyo said this in a presentation during the two-day Ghana Economic Forum (GEF) on the theme: 'Building A Ghanaian Owned Economy, 60 Years After Independence' in Accra. The event brought together more than 500 local and international business leaders to dialogue and chart a clear path for Ghanaian businesses to own the Ghanaian economy. Some strategic issues that were discussed during the plenary sessions included: Macroeconomic trends affecting the global economy; the attributes that have allowed emerging market companies to play an increasing role on the international stage; the rise of the Ghanaian urban consumer; and the interrelated social and demographic changes creating new domestic engines of growth. Speaking on: Supporting the private sector to provide affordable solution to farmers and creating incentive to attract youth into agriculture,' Mr Venyo said government should speed up most of the policies in the sector to continue to improve on agriculture. He said famers needed training and capacity building to enable them to produce to meet the demands of the international market and continue to feed the country. 'Planting for Food and Jobs is a good concept, which needs to be linked with agriculture modernisation,' he added. He urged government to train farmers before the commencement of the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative. The CEO said government needed to support farmers to venture into value addition and waive taxes on agriculture inputs. Dr Sagri Bambangi, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, said government was working with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and other players in the seed value chain to improve on seed production. He said government would also support some private seed growers to have improvement in the seed supply in next year's farming season. 'With support of all Ghanaians, government will be able to transform the agriculture sector to continue to feed the country,' he said. Mr Richard Nunekpenu, the Chief Farmer, Anyako Farms, said over the years government had paid attention to only small scale farmers and that it was time it redirected its attention to the commercial farms. He said the 'wholesale' support to the small scale farmers in terms of interventions with the intent to win election had never been in the best interest of the sector. 'We need to change the idea of supplying freebies to farmers,' he added. He said government should view farming as a business and provide the enabling environment to support in accessing credit. The Brazilian Ambassador, Laudemar Aquiar, said the Brazilian Government had started cooperating with Ghana on cashew production to add value to the industry. He said there was also south-south cooperation between the two countries to support the agric sector to produce more. Thematic workshops would also be held to enable participants to tap into the ideas of Ghanaian and international business experts concerning management issues and trends. Since 2012 the Ghana Economic Forum had rallied some of the country's most remarkable minds to discuss, debate and gain insights needed to advance the economy of Ghana. GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Accra, Aug. 7, GNA - The Ghana Chamber of Commerce has urged the Government to take a critical look at taxation of the telecommunication sector by specifically reviewing the mobile sector taxes to enhance efficiency and affordability. 'Government need to critically look at mobile sector specific taxes, which need to be removed if possible, to enhance efficiency such that the gains could be passed into rolling out networks in rural communities to help affordability as well,' Mr Derek Laryea, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce (GCC), said on Monday. Speaking to the GNA on the side-lines of the Sixth Edition of the Ghana Economic Forum in Accra, Mr Laryea said taxes were good but data from 2015 GSM and Deloit Research showed that telecom was being taxed in the same bracket as alcohol and tobacco. 'In Ghana telecoms are taxed in the same vain as alcohol and tobacco, which are luxury goods and are 'sin taxes' aimed at discouraging people from using them. Mr Laryea, who doubles as the Head of Research and Communication at the GCC, said phones were no longer luxury goods but are necessities that were helping people and boosting productivity. He said the mobile industry could be incentivised through the removal of taxes as a way of government's support so they could expand their infrastructure to places that were not covered. Meanwhile, during a plenary discussion on 'Entrepreneurship and Innovation,' Mr Laryea said Telcos needed to support the upcoming tech start-ups much more than they were doing through forging stronger partnerships and linkages to come out with innovative solutions to help push the economy. He said the very innovative young people needed to be pushed by mobile operators to come out with more local ideas and solutions to solve local problem. 'It is important to provide young innovators with infrastructure and data for them to be able to develop relevant applications to help grow a vibrant start-up space on the back of the telecom industry,' Mr Laryea said. He said government should, therefore, continue to stimulate dialogue to provide a platform for critical thinking about the importance of each business idea. 'There is a room for more synergies and greater conversations between mobile services providers and the younger folks to inure support for more innovation,' he noted. Ms Patricia Appiagyei, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said Ghanaians needed to interrogate their attitudes towards life to improve their living standards and create the right innovative ideas. She said the school curriculum must change to make students more aware of their environment and interrogate why things happened the way they do. Ms Appiagyei said the Government, as an enabler, was determined to come out with the right policies and legal framework to protect and help people promote their innovative ideas. She noted that at the moment the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy is being developed to guide the country in its science and innovation agenda. Mr Yoofi Grant, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, said young people must be given the needed exposure to exhibit their innovation to earn a living. He said entrepreneurs must be protected and provided with incentives to thrive in the ever changing market economy. 'It is said that the services sector has outperformed many other sectors of the economy over the past half decade. This growth has been driven by the telecommunications/ICT, banking, tourism and hospitality sub-sectors,' he said. The two-day event is on the theme: 'Building a Ghanaian Owned Economy, 60 Years after Independence' and brought together captains of industries and entrepreneurs to brainstorm on the country's economic challenges and chart the way forward. The Business and Financial Times newspaper is organising the Forum with Barclays Bank being the lead sponsor. Among the issues being discussed are: Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Investment in Ghana; the Energy, Economy, Agriculture and Insurance sectors and how Ghanaian businesses could take advantage to benefit from the economy. GNA By Lydia Asamoah, GNA Johannesburg (AFP) - If South African lawmakers vote in favour of Tuesday's no-confidence motion in President Jacob Zuma, he will be forced to resign along with his entire cabinet. But the process has no precedent in South Africa, and it throws up thorny questions about the constitution and the political turmoil that would be triggered by a shock victory for his opponents. After the president resigns, the parliamentary Speaker would become acting president and the national assembly would then have to elect a new president from its members within 30 days. The ruling ANC party has a large majority in the house, and would choose the incoming national leader. But the party could be torn apart by the ousting of Zuma and the debate over who should succeed him. Analysts say that MPs might back deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa -- while the party's executive might go for another candidate such as the Speaker herself, Baleka Mbete. Ramaphosa's main rival Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Zuma's former wife, would not be eligible as she is not a lawmaker at present. "Passing a vote of no confidence may create chaos within the governing ANC," constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos wrote in the Daily Maverick online news site. Divisions between MPs and the party executive "could lead to instability and even open warfare," he said. 'All hell would break out' A long power struggle could also ensue if the ANC executive tried to ensure victory for its preferred candidate by replacing current MPs with new loyal members. "ANC MPs against whom action is taken would be able to approach the courts to challenge the expulsion. The process could drag on for years," said de Vos. The timing of the vote adds to the uncertainty, as the ANC is already entering a period of change. Zuma is due to resign as ANC party chief in December, and he must step down as national president ahead of the 2019 general election. If he is ousted on Tuesday, "all hell would break out within the party ahead of its conference in December," said Roger Southall, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. "The ANC would be at war with itself, with little or no prospect of it facing the electorate in 2019 in one piece." Zuma is widely seen as preparing the ground for his ex-wife Dlamini-Zuma to succeed him as party chief in December and then as national president. But if -- against the odds -- he was forced out of the office by the vote, all bets would be off. Opposition parties, led by the centrist Democratic Alliance and the radical Economic Freedom Fighters, hope the turmoil could mean the once all-powerful ANC is defeated or forced into coalition in the 2019 election. Nairobi (AFP) - Kenyans were voting Tuesday in elections headlined by a knife-edge battle between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga that has sent tensions soaring in east Africa's richest economy. From first-time voters to those bent with age, from urbanites to ethnic Samburu warriors, thousands descended upon polling stations long before dawn to cast their ballots. Voting began relatively smoothly, with delays, technical hiccups and unexpected downpours slowing the process at some of the 41,000 polling stations, but the electoral commission (IEBC) said the situation was being dealt with. "We shall extend the time of voting for the same amount of hours lost before opening," said IEBC chief Wafula Chebukati. Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and challenger Raila Odinga At one polling station police fired tear gas to calm a crowd angry over delays, but voting quickly resumed. "We would like to reassure you that our officers have been deployed to resolve technical issues... and we have been informed that voting is going smoothly," Chebukati said. The streets of normally traffic-choked Nairobi were deserted as voters flocked to polling booths. In the centre of the country Samburu draped in colourful beads were asked to leave their spears outside the polling station before entering to be identified by fingerprint. No stranger to violent polls Kenyan inmates wait in line to cast their vote in Kisumu, on Lake Victoria, on August 8, 2017 All eyes are on the biometric voter identification and tallying system which failed massively in 2013 and is seen as crucial to a smooth election amid opposition accusations of a plot to rig the vote. Kenyans are no strangers to violent polls, and tensions have soared over fraud claims and the murder of an official in charge of the electronic voting system in the final days of campaigning. Tuesday's elections are taking place a decade after a shambolic vote -- which foreign observers agreed was riddled with irregularities -- sparked violence which left more than 1,100 people dead and 600,000 displaced. More than 150,000 members of the security forces -- including wildlife, prison and forestry officers -- have been deployed for polling day. The international community is also keeping a close eye on the election in a country considered a bastion of stability in east Africa and a key partner in the fight against the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab. Hundreds of foreign observers, including former US secretary of state John Kerry and former South African president Thabo Mbeki, as well as delegations from the European Union, are overseeing the election. 'Democracy after all' Voters queue as they wait for a polling station to open in Kibera, Nairobi, one the largest slums in Africa, on August 8, 2017 "I voted Raila, because he will be so much better to us. But if he does not win, it's ok. It's a democracy after all. Really, there's no need for violence," said Tom Mboya, 43, who works in construction and voted in the capital's largest slum Kibera. Odinga, 72, the flagbearer for the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, is taking his fourth and likely final stab at the presidency. He claims elections in 2007 and 2013 were stolen from him. "In the unlikely event that I lose I don't need a speech, I will just speak from my heart," Odinga said shortly before voting. Both he and Kenyatta cast their votes shortly before midday. People wait to cast their votes in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, Kenya, on August 8, 2017 The devolution of power to Kenya's 47 counties after a post-conflict constitutional reform means elections are now a complex affair, with citizens casting six different ballots. Several tight races for posts such as governor have seen tensions flaring at the local level. Dynastic rivalry Violence flared after former Kenya president Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election in 2007 The election is set to be the final showdown of a dynastic rivalry that has lasted more than half a century since the presidential candidates' fathers Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga went from allies in the struggle for independence to bitter rivals. The men belong to two of Kenya's main ethnic groups, Kenyatta from the Kikuyu, the largest, and Odinga from the Luo. Both have secured formidable alliances with other influential communities in a country where voting takes place largely along tribal lines. Kenyatta, 55, is seeking re-election after a first term in which he oversaw a massive infrastructure drive and steady economic growth of more than five percent. Former US secretary of state John Kerry is a co-leader in the Carter Center's election observation mission in Kenya "He has done a lot for the country and he must absolutely be re-elected. He has built a lot of infrastructure, like the SGR train (between Nairobi and Mombasa), he has created jobs," said Evelyn Sum, 32, dressed in an elegant brown coat. However Kenyatta is criticised for soaring food prices -- with prices jumping 20 percent year-on-year in May -- and massive corruption scandals on his watch. "Life is more and more expensive, especially the flour and the sugar. That's not good for poor people like us, and we hope that Odinga will change this," said Rose Lida, 48, wrapped in a red Maasai blanket on the chilly morning. There are more than 19 million registered voters in the nation of 48 million. Half are aged under 35. Counting will begin immediately after voting ends at 5 pm (1400 GMT) and first results are expected around Wednesday. Officials have a week to release final results. A run-off is possible but seen as unlikely by pollsters, with six other, little-known presidential candidates garnering barely one percent of the vote between them. Khartoum (AFP) - Resting on a hospital bed after a session of chemotherapy, Sudanese banker Mohamed Hasan vividly recalls the day when doctors told him he had blood cancer. It is a shock in any country but in Sudan, where access to drugs and treatment is impaired by 20-year-old US sanctions, it can be more life-threatening. "It was the first week of my honeymoon when I fell sick and was admitted to hospital," Hasan, 30, told AFP as a nurse prepared him for a sponge bath. "I never imagined it would be cancer ... it was a real tragedy." For a year now, Hasan has been receiving treatment at the Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum, the biggest state-run cancer hospital in Sudan. Life-saving drugs and medical equipment supplied to Sudan are theoretically exempt from Washington's complex set of trade embargoes. But restrictions on banking transactions, exchange of technology and spare parts, and other cumbersome trade regulations have hampered treatment of patients. The Khartoum cancer hospital is no exception. Two of its four radiation therapy machines have been broken for months and repairing them has become a nightmare, general manager Khatir Al-Alla said. "Their spare parts have to be brought from America or Europe," Alla told AFP. Patients wait for treatment at Sudan's largest state-run cancer hospital, the Radiation and Isotopes Centre Khartoum, on July 25, 2017 "But because of diplomatic issues we are facing problems." Importing equipment or components directly from manufacturers is cumbersome given the restrictions on transferring funds overseas. Long waiting lists Washington imposed sanctions on Khartoum in 1997 for its alleged support of Islamist militant groups. Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden lived in Khartoum between 1992 and 1996. Over the years, successive US administrations have tightened the sanctions, accusing Khartoum of human rights violations, particularly in the 14-year-old conflict with ethnic minority rebels in the western region of Darfur. Relations between Washington and Khartoum have improved in recent months, officials say, and on October 12 President Donald Trump is to decide whether to lift the sanctions permanently. But doctors say the situation remains difficult. The Khartoum cancer hospital receives about 1,000 new patients a month, and another 500 visit daily for follow-ups. "The waiting period is between three to four weeks... which is too long for cancer patients," Alla said. Frustrated with the long waiting period, Hasan now plans to seek further treatment in India. Cancer patient Ghada Mohammed Ali awaits treatment at the Khartoum Breast Care Centre on July 27, 2017 The situation is no different at the Khartoum Breast Care Centre (KBCC), the only specialised facility in Sudan to treat breast cancer. The clinic's mammography machine has been broken for weeks, said British-trained radiologist Dr Hania Fadl, the founder of the not-for-profit hospital. "The problem is with the service... we don't have proper agents to service the equipment," Fadl said. The technicians have to come from Egypt or Kenya to fix the mammography machine, the main equipment in detecting breast cancer. It becomes a major concern when a new patient comes to the clinic. She might have an easily detectable lump in one breast, Fadl said, but in the absence of a mammography machine, it becomes difficult to detect if she has a small lump in the other. "You have to have a mammogram done on the other breast ... it is mandatory," Fadl said. "If we go blindly and do the surgery, maybe after two or three months we might find she got another one." If the sanctions are fully lifted, repairing the machines will take less time, she said. "If anything goes wrong ... the engineer will come and they will have spare parts locally." Fadl's patient Ghada Mohammed Ali, 47, who underwent surgery for breast cancer, said it was a big concern. "When we come for check-ups we find the machine broken," she said. "I am worried because the cancer might have spread." 08.08.2017 LISTEN On what grounds could the security agents or the government sanction eavesdropping on an individuals conversation? Should the person be a suspect earmarked for secret investigation to prove whether or not he/she has committed the crime they are suspected of? If the answer is yes, then how long will the person be secretly listened to? For better understanding of this publication, let me define eavesdropping as stated in the dictionary. Eavesdrop is to listen to someone's private conversation without them knowing. It is similar to bugging ones office as recently discovered to have been done by Inusah Fuseini, the former NDC Government Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. Eavesdropping could well be a double-edged sword that cuts both sides. What do I mean by this? It simply means as it could help uncover the criminal intentions and activities of the person being spied on if indeed the suspect has committed the crime being investigated, it could as well jeopardise the person conducting the undercover investigation if they happened to be exposed openly to have involved in that activity without the suspect having committed any crime. This was the circumstance of Mr Inusah Fuseini or whoever he was. There are instances of rumoured eavesdropping that baffle my gumption. These instances are where people rendering services to their people and country or community are being shadowed using eavesdropping. Their telephones are tapped without their knowledge. Is it a crime for say, Rockson Adofo, to be genuinely at the service of his people and country in the way many an incorruptible, honest and selfless person has come to know him of? Should the Ghanaian authorities eavesdrop on his telephone conversations by tapping his phone conversations remotely? It is purely criminal on the part of the government, any telephone provider, security services, etc. to engage in such spurious moves directed at intimidating or victimising innocent individuals. It carries its own adverse consequences or punitive measures for whichever authority sanctions the purposive eavesdropping should it backfire. In July 2011, the uncovered phone-hacking by some journalists in the UK caused national outrage. The scandal shuttered a major Sunday tabloid newspaper - The News of the World - and led to the arrests of numerous journalists and the conviction of some, including the papers former editor, Andy Coulson reported by Los Angeles Time on 11 June 2015. Yes, I bear witness to the problems faced by the journalists as a result of the phone-hacking they criminally embarked on. Some were convicted. Their untoward attitudes called for the Leveson Inquiry into their activities. This culminated in the imprisonment of some journalists, the tarnishing of the reputation of Rupert Murdoch, the American owner of some news tabloids including The News of the World which he subsequently abolished following the scandal. This is how serious phone-hacking for all stupid reasons is. Therefore, should it be as it is alleged, then I shall strongly advise whoever is behind that nefarious eavesdropping on innocent individuals conversations to stop henceforth. What I am hearing about the hacking of some persons phone started from the days of the former President Mahamas government and it is continuing. It is simply absurd to hack genuine individuals phones while actual criminals roam audaciously about in the country. I shall be surprised to hear that phone-hacking is an ongoing effective weapon to wield against people of integrity instead of the criminals. Rockson Adofo